AV 02nd December 2023

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE The Bhavan remains the ‘go-to place' for Indian Arts: Anoushka Shankar

The Washing Machine Project: Empowering women, one machine at a time SEE PAGE - 14

SEE PAGE - 16

Babil Khan on carving his own path in the film world

R

SEE PAGE - 15

2 - 8 DECEMBER 2023

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

IMMIGRANTS MAKE

BRITAIN GREAT

Major reforms under the Autumn Statement SEE PAGE - 18

VOL 52 - ISSUE 30

I want to bring all the communities together in Leicester: Rajesh Agrawal

Nearly half of the most innovative companies have immigrant founders, Indians, constitute a significant portion of these immigrants, and yet multiculturalism is debated to be a failure. The community proves otherwise.

Shefali Saxena The influx of immigrants in Britain has surged, reaching a notable increase in UK immigration at 672,000 migrants.

Non-EU nationals, particularly Indians, constitute a significant portion of these immigrants, amounting to 253,000 individuals. Over the past decade, the UK's political landscape has been shaped by significant immigration levels, surpassing the 2015 figure by more than double. As the nation grapples with labour shortages, especially in healthcare, special visa schemes have been crucial.

The UK is anticipated to witness increased immigration from nonEU nations. Notably, the government issued a record 1.2 million visas in the first half of 2023, a 157% surge compared to the previous year, responding to heightened demand for foreign workers to address workforce shortages.

Rajesh Agrawal

FULL STORY ON PAGE 17

All 41 workers trapped at Uttarakhand tunnel rescued

Diaspora in traditional clothes at London’s Diwali on the Square

Continued on page 12

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami greeting the rescued miners

FULL STORY ON PAGE 25

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2 - 8 December 2023

London protest calls for permanent ceasefire in Gaza Tens of thousands of proPalestinian demonstrators marched through central London on Saturday (25) to demand a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The rally, involving approximately 45,000 campaigners according to police estimates, occurred during a four-day truce between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. Despite the temporary break in fighting, protesters expressed the need for a lasting resolution.

During the demonstration, police made 18 arrests

by 1900 GMT, including one individual carrying a placard with swastikas and six people who refused to disperse after the march. The Metropolitan Police's deputy assistant commissioner, Ade Adelekan, acknowledged the majority who protested lawfully but noted a small minority who believed the law did not apply to them.

This rally followed a previous march earlier in the month, during which over 120 protesters were arrested, and clashes occurred between police and far-right

groups opposing the proPalestinian demonstration. A protest against antisemitism was scheduled in London on Sunday (26), prompting the Metropolitan Police to deploy over 1,500 officers to handle both events.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman was dismissed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak following an unauthorised article where she accused the police of "double standards" in their handling of protests supporting Israel and proPalestinian demonstrations.

Royal Navy warship docks in India, signalling UK's Indo-Pacific focus The Royal Navy warship HMS Spey made its inaugural visit to India last week, marking a significant moment as the Batch 2 Offshore Patrol Vessel arrived in Port Blair, the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

During its visit, the ship berthed alongside the Naval Command Component (NAVCC) headquarters on the outskirts of Port Blair, where Royal Navy officials on HMS Spey engaged in planning discussions with their Indian

military counterparts.

Defence Advisor to India, Brigadier Nick Sawyer, hosted discussions on maritime security challenges and priorities within the Bay of Bengal, joined by Indian Navy Senior Officers, Chief of Staff Andaman and Nicobar Command, Rear Admiral Sandhu, and Sandeep Commodore Sugreev.

Lieutenant Commander Bridget Macnae, temporarily in command as the Executive Officer of HMS Spey, high-

lighted the importance of frequent port visits and multilateral exercises between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy in strengthening their relationship and operational cooperation.

She emphasised the shared commitment of the UK and India to the RulesBased International System, underlining their common interest in upholding international maritime law and supporting a free and open IndoPacific.

Ex-Newport GP dismissed over sexual misconduct allegations An independent tribunal has removed a former Newport GP and Labour councillor, Dr Ibrahim Hayat, from practice after finding him guilty of sexual misconduct. The tribunal, concluding on Wednesday (22), determined that Dr Hayat's fitness to practice is impaired, imposing an immediate suspension pending a 28-day appeal window.

The charges stem from an incident in September 2015 when Dr Hayat, a Labour candidate at the time, inappropriately touched a female patient and made explicit comments during an examination. The patient, described as vulnerable, accused the doctor of engaging in sexually motivated behaviour, a

Dr Ibrahim Hayat

charge deemed "deplorable" by the General Medical Council (GMC).

Despite the serious allegations, Dr Hayat continued working as a locum GP for the Aneurin Bevan Health Board, subject to agreed restrictions for patient safeguarding. The GMC allowed him to maintain his role as a Labour councillor until 2022. Dr Hayat claimed he informed the Labour Party

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about the allegations, but the party denied awareness of any sexual misconduct while acknowledging knowledge of his suspension and reinstatement by the GMC. In response to the tribunal's decision, Dr Hayat expressed shock and devastation, stating that he had reflected on the complaint and participated in professional development courses related to consent, confidentiality, chaperones, and safeguarding adults in primary care.

However, authorities deemed his remedial actions vague and insufficient, concluding that his behaviour fell significantly below expected standards with a substantial risk of repetition in the future.

Fake pharmacist jailed for drug dealing death A drug dealer who falsely presented himself as a 'pharmacist' has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison following the death of a University of Cambridge student of Indian origin, Keshava Iyengar.

Cambridgeshire Police traced Benjamin Brown after 20-year-old discovering Iyengar dead in a friend's room at Trinity College, Cambridge University, in March 2021. A coroner's report later confirmed the student's death as drugrelated, leading to a police investigation that uncovered

messages on Iyengar's phone from a drug dealer operating under the alias "Lean Xan Man." Detective Constable Dan Harper from Cambridgeshire Police, who led the investigation, stated, "Brown was running a huge operation from his bedroom in Surrey, which had tragic consequences." While it couldn't be conclusively proven that Brown's actions directly caused Iyengar's death, the case highlighted the destructive impact of drugs on lives Brown, aged 32 and

residing in Guildford, Surrey, described himself as a "pharmacist" and sold various prescription-only drugs through platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. His arrest in July 2021 led to the discovery of drugs, over £15,000 in cash, and labels with his "business logo" during a search of his home.

The sentencing took place at the Huntingdon Law Courts last week. The case underscores the dangers of illicit drug operations and the need for continued law enforcement efforts to address the issue.

Romesh Ranganathan discloses experience of racial abuse Renowned British-Sri Lankan comedian Romesh Ranganathan has disclosed that he experienced racial abuse during his time at the private Reigate Grammar School. The 45-year-old comedian attended the school from 1990 to 1992 and shared that he was viewed as an "outsider" by other boys.

Ranganathan, in an interview with Radio Times, explained, "My parents had come from Sri Lanka, and they were obsessed with me going to private school. I didn’t enjoy my time there. I was a bit of an outsider.

Without getting too dark, I was racially abused. So, I wasn’t that bothered about

Romesh Ranganathan

leaving. I went to a state school, had a great time, and went on to teach at that same school – which is where I met my wife."

Earlier, the comedian had opened up about his challenging childhood, revealing that their home was repossessed after his

accountant father was sentenced to two years in prison for fraud.

“This all happened very, very quickly. It was a struggle,” he added, “My mum found out my dad had been messing around. He fell into financial difficulty so we ended up getting our house taken away. We were supposed to go into a council flat, but they didn’t have enough so we were in a bedand-breakfast for a year and a half. And my dad was in prison. It was insane.”

In 2022, Romesh Ranganathan purchased a £3 million home just five miles from the terrace house where he spent his childhood.

Authorities accused of failing Channel tragedy victims The dreams of Twana Mohammad, an 18-year-old from Iraq aspiring to football glory with Manchester City, tragically ended in the English Channel. Twana's journey from Iraq to Turkey, through Serbia, Bulgaria, Italy, and finally France, concluded in a devastating incident on November 24, 2021.

He was one of at least 27 individuals who lost their lives when the inflatable boat they were on capsized during an attempt to cross the Channel. Two years after

the tragedy, Zana Mamand Mohammad, Twana's brother, expressed the families' frustration over the lack of answers. Twana's body has not been recovered, leaving the family deeply devastated.

Twana had embarked on his journey in August 2021, entrusting thousands of dollars to people traffickers in the pursuit of a better life.

Zana shared that his brother harboured aspirations of becoming a famous football player, but sadly, all his dreams came to an end in

the English Channel.

Zana Mamand Mohammad has joined others in signing an open letter that accuses the French and British authorities of failing desperate individuals seeking help when they faced distress in the water. The letter highlights the tragic loss of lives, including that of a pregnant woman and three children, and emphasises the need for accountability and improved measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Hunt criticised for deprioritising climate change at BoE Jeremy Hunt has faced criticism from environmental groups for removing climate change from a list of four priorities in a remit letter sent to the Bank of England committee responsible for financial stability. The Financial Policy Committee (FPC), which identifies and monitors risks to the financial system, receives recommendations from the chancellor annually.

In the letter to Bank of

England Governor Andrew Bailey, Hunt outlined the FPC's new priorities as growth and competitiveness, competition and innovation, home ownership, and boosting productive finance. This is a departure from the previous year when the four priorities included climate change and energy security, international competitiveness, competition, and home ownership.

The latest letter focused

Jeremy Hunt

on economic growth, with only one reference to climate change elsewhere,

stating that the FPC should consider climate change risks to be relevant to its "primary objective." This is a notable reduction compared to the three mentions in 2022 and 13 in 2021.

Environmental groups argue that the removal of climate change from the key priorities signals a downgrade in the government's commitment to addressing the climate crisis within the financial system.

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Thought for the week

Money, a terrible master and excellent servant A record number of sitting MPs, including Sir Jacob-Rees Mogg, Dame Priti Patel, and Sir Gavin Williamson, have received knighthoods or damehoods under Conservative rule. Since the 2010 general election, at least 96 MPs have been honoured, with two-thirds going to Tories, fuelling accusations of cronyism. This figure is over eight times higher than during Labour's 1997-2010 tenure, where only 11 MPs were honoured.

Recipients include dismissed or resigned ministers and staunch Brexiteers like Sir Bernard Jenkin, Sir John Hayes, and Sir Iain Duncan Smith. Boris Johnson's resignation honours list featured seven serving MPs, and Liz Truss is expected to release her list.

Critics, including Sir Alistair Graham, ex-chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, express concern that honours are being used for political gain, potentially influencing MPs' decisions and compromising the integrity of the honours system.

Labour achieved a record quarter in funding, surpassing £10.4 million, indicating financial dominance over the Conservatives in the lead-up to the next election. Major contributions included a £3 million donation from supermarket tycoon David Sainsbury and £2.2 million from Autoglass owner Gary Lubner. Fiona Mactaggart, former Labour MP, added £250,000. Public funding and trade union donations, including £290,125 from the GMB and £215,740 from Usdaw, also bolstered Labour's finances.

The Conservatives secured about £10 million, mainly

from private donors, with notable contributions from Frank Hester and hedge fund manager Alan Howard.

Labour's total donations reached approximately £16 million, while the Conservatives raised £22 million in 2023.

The cumulative donations across parties for the quarter exceeded £24 million, signalling substantial war chest growth ahead of the anticipated election.

Unlike Conservatives, the Labour Party’s funding seems more believable on paper and transparent. There are fewer Labour Party members (198) in the House of Lords than Conservatives (350). It speaks some underlying truth about the process through which they get a foot in the door.

Interestingly some of the Asian Peers, especially from the Tory party who have acquired a seat for themselves in the House of Lords and enjoy a good reputation, Lords do not necessarily do anything extra for the community, nor do they participate in House of Lords debates, making their contribution nil to the broader society as a Peer.

Conservative Party deputy chairman, Lee Anderson, was allegedly clandestinely recorded revealing that he was offered substantial sums to defect to Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. Anderson made these comments during a private meeting, stating he was approached by a party starting with an "R." The leaked recording raised concerns in Downing Street, coinciding with heightened fears of a Conservative split over immigration. With Farage potentially exploiting divisions, PM Boris Johnson emphasised that voting

“Give light and people will find the way.”

— Ella Baker against the Conservatives could lead to Keir Starmer's leadership.

Reform UK leader Richard Tice denied the offer, dismissing it as desperate lies by Tories. However, the Conservative Party revealed that Anderson had reported the offer to Chief Whip Simon Hart in February. Hart, in turn, informed the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, expressing concerns about potential "bribes" and potential breaches of electoral law. Reform UK, backed by millionaire donors, aims to challenge the Tories, with Tice vowing not to stand aside for them.

Using money to gain power and multiplying it ten-fold has always been scrutinised with a moral lens, whether it is for political gain or professional deals.

In the past, not just bureaucratic figures but many big Asian names in the business sector have exploited loopholes in the healthcare system and its pricing regulations, accumulating wealth by acquiring the rights to sell established medicines and significantly raising prices.

So, whether it is funding for a political party, its rising stature in the awards and honours lobby, or a businessperson exploiting loopholes in the system for professional gain, the taxpayer’s hard-earned money amid the rising cost of living crisis will always come back to show a mirror to the people involved. Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant.

Hope amid global tensions After nearly seven weeks of intense conflict between Israel and Hamas, a significant breakthrough has been achieved with a deal securing the release of 50 women and children held by Hamas, along with a pause in hostilities. This development comes as a relief following the immense trauma caused by the Palestinian militants' attack on October 7, which escalated into war, affecting around 240 hostages, including civilians.

In the lead-up to and during the humanitarian pause, intensive negotiations were undertaken by Qatar, supported by the United States and Egypt, to establish and extend the truce in Gaza. The aim was to create a more comprehensive and long-lasting ceasefire.

Under the terms of the agreement, Israel consented to a four-day suspension of its military offensive on Gaza. This pause was crucial to ensure the safe evacuation of hostages and to facilitate the entry of essential humanitarian aid into the region. Following this period, the ceasefire was further extended by two days, providing much-needed temporary relief to the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza. This deal marks a pivotal moment in the conflict, offering a glimmer of hope for a more stable and peaceful resolution. It underscores the critical role of diplomatic efforts in mitigating such crises and the importance of humanitarian considerations in conflict zones.

The world has witnessed a rise in youth activism advocating for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, which

marks a significant shift in how younger generations engage with international conflicts. Empowered by digital media's reach, which brings global issues closer to home, and driven by a strong sense of human rights and humanitarian awareness, young activists are increasingly influential. They use social media to share real-time stories from conflict areas, fostering empathy and a sense of urgency. This growing network of globally connected young people is actively pressing for peace, demonstrating their transition from passive observers to proactive changemakers in the global arena.

The ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict has elicited a polarised international response. Many Islamic countries have united in support of Palestine, while Israel and its Western allies, who adopt a different stance, face considerable global criticism. While some terrorist groups claim an Islamic identity, they do not represent the vast majority of Muslims worldwide, underscoring the complexity of terrorism as a global issue.

There has also been a rise of extremist ideologies through manipulations, which selectively use religious texts to justify violence, tapping into historical narratives of struggle and resistance. This manipulation of religious doctrine is a tactic to recruit followers and legitimise their actions, despite the condemnation and rejection from the majority of Muslim scholars and communities. Some extremist groups have received funding and support from foreign entities, further com-

plicating the situation.

Recently, India marked the 15-year anniversary of the deadly 2008 terror attack on Mumbai. During the attacks, ten Pakistani terrorists laid siege to Mumbai for over 60 hours, targeting and killing individuals in India’s financial hub, which resulted in the tragic loss of 166 lives that left a deep and lasting trauma on the Indian national psyche. The Hamas’ terror attack on Israel, compared to the 26/11 attack on Mumbai, was on a much bigger scale, and yet there are striking similarities between both incidents. There was failure of command and control in Tel Aviv as well as in Mumbai; response was delayed in both instances; there was failure to connect the dots of intelligence in both countries; and there was involvement of a neighbouring country—Pakistan in the Indian subcontinent and Iran in the Middle East.

The release of hostages during a humanitarian pause brings little closure, as the true extent of their experiences often remains untold. Many recall Moshe Holtzberg, the two-year-old Israeli boy rescued by his Indian nanny during a terrorist attack in which he tragically lost his parents. As a teenager living in northern Israel, far from the recent violence, Moshe's story is a poignant reminder of the lasting impact of such terror.

It echoes the untold stories of Israeli children affected by attacks, whose experiences often go unheard amidst global conflicts.

State polls to unveil 2024 election landscape With polling done in the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, and Rajasthan, attention now turns to Telangana, where voting is scheduled for November 30. Elections in these five states mark the final set of state polls before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, expected to take place in April-May, 2024. A total of 679 seats are at stake across the five states: 230 in Madhya Pradesh, 200 in Rajasthan, 119 in Telangana, 90 in Chhattisgarh, and 40 in Mizoram.

The outcomes of these elections will play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape ahead of the national elections in India. The main war of votes is between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition, Congress and when it comes to campaign strategies, the Congress has stuck to a familiar campaign style used in the Karnataka polls. The strategy involves putting state leaders at the forefront. On the contrary, the BJP is relying on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they seek a third consecutive term in the upcoming general election. Despite the BJP facing a significant loss in Karnataka earlier this year, there seems to be no change in their strategy, and they continue to place their trust in Modi's appeal.

These elections mean a great deal for both parties and will shape their outlook for the general election. If Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP emerges victorious, it would suggest that his popularity among voters remains strong despite setbacks in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. It will be considered a strong indication that the BJP, regardless of the strategies employed by its

competitors, is likely to be the most favoured party for winning a third term in the central government in 2024.

However, what happens if all isn't in favour of the BJP? Whether the party doubles down on the Modi appeal or they change their strategy, will be an interesting aspect to look out for in the general elections.

For Rahul Gandhi as well, these elections are a slippery slope. On one hand, if the opposition party experiences losses in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and is unable to regain control in Rajasthan, it will further strengthen the negative narrative against them. On the other hand, a victory will be highly beneficial for Rahul Gandhi in terms of his image if the Congress succeeds in securing power in one, two, or all three states. The dwindling faith of other counterparts of the INDIA alliance in Congress also hangs by the results of these state elections somehow.

It is, however, clearly visible that BJP has more at stake at this point, as far as the political landscape is concerned. Even one loss can prove detrimental for BJP given the colossal image the party has built since 2014, again Modi being the front and centre of it. For Congress, even one victory is a beacon of light and will be an indicator that the party has been able to bring about a gradual shift over the years with the revamping of Rahul Gandhi’s image as a strong leader and building a strong opposition.

At the end of the day, it is undeniable that Narendra Modi is a force to reckon with and the only choice for the Prime Minister in the nation’s outlook. What defi-

nitely adds to his appeal is all the public discourse focused on him. All opposition parties react to him, as he serves as the authoritative voice and spokesperson for BJP. This creates an image of a solitary warrior contending with numerous adversaries, a narrative that carries its own sense of impact and works beautifully for his party.

While the BJP might not be able to piggyback on Narendra Modi’s popularity forever, he is doing his best to extend the impact and benefits for as long as possible.

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Sunak cancels meeting with Greek PM The Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has denounced the decision of his British counterpart, Rishi Sunak, to cancel previously arranged discussions.

These talks were intended to address the matter of the Parthenon marbles, and tensions over the antiquities have flared up once again. Described by aides as "wrong and undignified," Sunak's decision to call off the scheduled Downing Street meeting at the eleventh hour drew irritation from Mitsotakis, who is currently in London for the visit.

“I express my annoyance at

Kyriakos Mitsotakis

the fact that the British prime minister cancelled our scheduled meeting a few hours before it was due to take place,” the

Arora Group acquires London's Heythrop site Arora Group, one of the UK's major private hotel operators, has acquired the Heythrop site in London from Zenprop. The 2.7-acre site, located just off Kensington High Street, currently has planning consent for a 320,000-square-foot, 142apartment senior living scheme.

The group, which manages over 7,000 hotel rooms and has assets valued at more than £2 billion, is expected to seek a change of use for the existing consent, considering the site's potential for various development schemes. The Heythrop site was purchased by Zenprop from Jesuits in Britain for around £110 million in 2017.

Arora Group's Chief Operating Officer, Sanjay Arora, stated that this acquisition aligns with the company's ambition to acquire assets with significant development potential in prime central London. He expressed excitement about owning such a prestigious building, highlighting its potential for various schemes.

“We have waited several years for the right opportunity to purchase an asset of this calibre in London, and we are very excited to own such a presti-

Kyriakos Mitsotakis

gious building, which can be held for future generations in our family business.

“The site has the potential for a number of different schemes, and we look forward to working closely with the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.” The group plans to collaborate closely with the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea on future developments. The group has grown to become a prominent player in the hospitality industry.

The group was founded by Surinder Arora, a tycoon who initiated his business journey by establishing a bed and breakfast near Heathrow after arriving in the UK from India at the age of 13.

Starmer discloses personal mission to combat violence Sir Keir Starmer has shared his personal commitment to addressing violence against women, expressing a desire for his young daughter and her friends to feel safe.

The Labour leader emphasised the need for schools and broader society to take more significant steps in addressing the attitudes and behaviour of young men and boys regarding consent and extreme online content.

In an interview with The Independent, Sir Keir identified misogyny as the "root cause" of violence against women and girls, advocating for the inclusion of efforts to combat such views as a "key part of school accountability."

These remarks follow criticism from senior Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, who rebuked her own government for not committing to a new sex

centre-right leader said in a statement released by his Maximou office as the diplomatic row intensified.

“Greece and Britain are united by traditionally strong ties of friendship and the framework of our bilateral relations is exceptionally broad. The views of Greece on the Parthenon sculptures are well known.

“I had hoped to have the opportunity to discuss them with my British counterpart along with other international challenges: Gaza; Ukraine; the climate crisis; migration.”

The statement concluded with Mitsotakis criticising

Sunak for not meeting the challenge of engaging in discussions about the destiny of antiquities that have triggered the longestrunning cultural dispute in the West. "Whoever believes in the correctness and justice of his views is never afraid of opposing arguments," the statement read.

The Greek Prime Minister was scheduled to visit Downing Street on Tuesday afternoon, marking the last day of his UK trip. However, on Monday evening, while engaged in discussions with the Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, news arrived that Sunak had decided to cancel the meeting.

in brief SUNAK AGREES TO RAISE MIGRANT SALARY THRESHOLD Rishi Sunak reportedly agreed to raise the salary threshold for migrant workers to £40,000 as part of a leadership contest deal with Suella Braverman. The deal, described as a "four-point migration plan," was allegedly reached between the Prime Minister and Mrs. Braverman, as revealed in a copy seen by The Daily Telegraph. This information follows Braverman's claim, made in a critical letter after her dismissal as home secretary, that she had entered into an agreement with Sunak, receiving "firm assurances" on key policy priorities, including commitments to reduce net migration and address challenges in deporting individuals arriving via small boats across the English Channel.

UK, unions agree, may halt MCDONALD’S UK BOSS senior doctor strikes LABELS ABUSE On Monday, the British government and medical trade unions announced an agreement that could potentially bring an end to months of disruptive strike action by senior doctors in England.

The Department of Health and Social Care revealed that the offer aims to reform the pay structure for senior doctors, known as consultants, starting from January. This reform includes reducing the number of pay brackets and the time required to reach the top, creating a clearer link between pay progression and evidence of skills, competencies, and experience.

The British Medical Association (BMA), representing

nearly 200,000 doctors in Britain, stated that the offer involves a 4.95% investment in pay, in addition to the 6% pay increase already granted for this year. The BMA mentioned that the additional uplift in pay could be as much as 12.8% for some doctors.

According to the offer, consultants will reach the top of the pay scale five years earlier than under the current arrangement.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed support for the deal, stating, "This is a fair deal for consultants who will benefit from major reform to their contract, it is fair for taxpayers because it will not risk our ongoing work to tackle inflation."

CLAIMS 'TRULY HORRIFIC’ The CEO of McDonald’s in Britain, Alistair Macrow, has stated that the fast-food giant faces "one to two" sexual harassment allegations from workers every week.

Speaking before a parliamentary committee, Macrow acknowledged the severity of the issue, stating that McDonald's management also receives around five reports a week of bullying. The report highlighted that many female employees under the age of 18 reported experiencing sexual or emotional harassment. Since the scandal emerged, McDonald's has taken action, dismissing 18 employees and implementing 75 disciplinary measures after examining 157 reported cases. However, 249 cases are still pending investigation. Law firm Leigh Day has initiated group legal action against McDonald's following the BBC's report.

Chair of scandal-hit health MAJOR HIGH STREET board earned £153,000 CHAIN TO CLOSE 1,400

The chairman of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), John Brown CBE, who is under investigation as a suspect in a corporate homicide probe related to a scandal-hit health board, reportedly earned up to £153,000 by providing advice to the government on how to manage the NHS. According to the Sunday Mail, Brown, who served as the co-chair of the NHS Scotland Corporate Governance Steering Group from 2019 to 2022, potentially doubled his income through his advisory role on NHS governance. During this period, he authored two reports titled "a blueprint for good governance." This means he could have earned up to £285,000 over

the three years while concurrently serving as the chairman of the NHSGGC board, where he would have earned around £131,433.

The revelation has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and the appropriateness of a figure under investigation for corporate homicide also advising the government on NHS governance.

Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader, has campaigned for change at the health board and said: “It is a disgrace that the SNP ever hired one of the people who oversaw the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital scandal as an advisor on ‘good governance’ and this eye-watering salary adds insult to injury.”

A prominent high street chain, boasting 1,400 stores across the UK, is slated to close one of its branches in the coming days. The WHSmith outlet on Market Street in Manchester is set to permanently shut its doors on December 2. The store is presently hosting a closing down sale, with a notice on the window conveying gratitude to customers for their patronage. The closure announcement specifies that the nearest WHSmith to Manchester will now be located at the Trafford Centre. WHSmith, with a total of 600 high street stores and over 800 travel stores in locations such as airports, train stations, hospitals, workplaces, and motorway services, recently revealed plans to close 22 stores.

A group of experts on child abuse and technology has issued a warning that children in British schools are using artificial intelligence (AI) to generate indecent images of other children.

Several schools have reported incidents where pupils use AI-generating technology to create images that legally constitute child sexual abuse material.

The UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC), a child protection organisation, has emphasised the urgent need for schools to implement better blocking

systems against child abuse material. It is illegal in the UK to create, possess, or distribute imagery of child sexual abuse, whether AI-generated or photographic. Even cartoon or less realistic depictions are considered illegal.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) had previously cautioned that AI-generated images of child sexual abuse were becoming increasingly realistic, to the point where they were indistinguishable from real imagery, posing a significant threat to online safety.

been honoured with the title of 'Takeaway of the Year' at the Asian Curry Awards, supported by Just Eat. The awards ceremony, often referred to as the 'Curry Oscars,' took place at the Grosvenor House in London’s Mayfair, with over 1200 guests in attendance. London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who was the guest of honour, praised the winners and emphasised the special place that Asian cuisine holds in British society.

Mohamed Tapader, the owner of Masala Maiden, expressed his pride and credited the local Maidenhead customers and the community for their support, stating, "I am really proud to say that all credit goes to my local Maidenhead customers and the local people who support us."

BRANCHES

MAIDENHEAD'S MASALA MAIDEN UK pupils employing AI for NAMED 'TAKEAWAY OF THE YEAR’ inappropriate content creation Masala Maiden, located in Maidenhead, has

Keir Starmer

education strategy aimed at addressing sexual harassment and gender-based violence among boys. The women and equalities committee had called for the strategy to be implemented in schools, recommending that relationships, sex, and health education (RSHE) become compulsory in sixth forms and colleges.

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in brief

NHS probes GP head of extremist group The National Health Service (NHS) is investigating Dr Wahid Asif Shaida, a family GP in north-west London since 2002, after he led an anti-Israel protest that included demonstrators calling for "jihad." Dr Shaida, also known as Abdul Wahid, serves as the UK leader of the extremist Islamic group Hizb utTahrir (HT), banned in several countries, including Germany.

During a rally outside the Egyptian and Turkish embassies in London last month, Dr Shaida addressed the crowd, stating, "Victory is coming, and everyone has to choose a side. Whose side are you going to be on?" A video clip revealed some in the crowd chanting "Jihad! Jihad! Jihad!" after the speeches. The

Metropolitan Police found no offenses in the clip.

Dr Shaida was also present at a recent HT protest outside the Egyptian Embassy, where a banner read: "Muslim Armies!

Rescue the People of Palestine."

At the same event, he expressed the vision of liberation as a system allowing Muslims, Jews, and Christians to coexist peacefully with everyone enjoying rights.

Police distributed leaflets before the demonstration, urging participants not to use racist language or incite hatred to avoid legal consequences. The NHS investigation is ongoing in response to concerns raised about Dr Shaida's involvement in the protest and the potential impact on his role as a GP.

Mahnoor Cheema, a 16-year-old prodigy from Slough, is being hailed as Britain's smartest teenager. Having achieved an astounding 34 A*s in her GCSEs, Mahnoor, who aspires to study medicine at Oxford University, has already completed four A levels in just two months.

In an ambitious pursuit, Mahnoor aims to study at least 28 A levels, a feat she believes could set a record. This exceptional teenager took on the challenge of completing 24 GCSEs in her own time, in addition to 10 at Langley Grammar School. Her remarkable results included 33 grade nines and one grade eight, equivalent to 33 A*s and one A/A*.

Born in the UK, Mahnoor moved with her parents to Lahore, Pakistan, in 2010, before relocating back to the UK in

Source: Twitter

Exceptional British teenager sets sights on Oxford

As part of the upcoming autumn statement, the UK government is set to introduce a policy that will require individuals with mobility and mental health issues to either work from home or face a reduction in benefits.

The proposal, framed as citizens "doing their duty," will be unveiled on Wednesday amid Rishi Sunak's efforts to overhaul what he deems an "unsustainable" welfare system. Under these plans, hundreds of thousands of people will be compelled to seek home-based employment or risk a cut in their benefits by £4,680 annually, as initially reported by the Times.

Laura Trott, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, emphasised the importance of supporting individuals to find work but also underscored the duty of citizens to contribute if they are capable of working outside the home, stating, "Those who can work and contribute should contribute."

The proposed policy has faced intense criticism from charities, them having expressed concerns over the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) plans to tighten health-related benefits, which currently support over 3 million working-age adults in the UK. These plans are anticipated to generate "huge anxiety" and potentially result in "sanctions" for disabled individuals, according to warnings issued by charities.

UK urges alternatives to Mastercard and Visa Mahnoor Cheema

2016. Her intellectual promise was evident early on when, at the age of one, she comforted her mother with the words "I'm here for you" following a bereavement.

Mahnoor's extraordinary academic achievements and her pursuit of multiple A levels showcase her exceptional dedication and intellectual prowess at such a young age.

Onkar Sahota informed of potential job loss Dr Onkar Sahota, an ally of Sadiq Khan and the current assembly member (AM) for Ealing and Hillingdon, has been informed that he will not be able to retain his City Hall position after the upcoming mayoral election in 2024.

Despite his desire to continue as Labour's candidate for the seat, the party has reportedly decided not to include Dr Sahota on its shortlist of candidates for the constituency. While it's customary for sitting AMs to be included on shortlists, the regional party has taken the stance that Dr Sahota's exclusion does not violate Labour's rules and procedures. Dr Sahota, who has held the seat for Labour since 2012 and currently serves as the Assembly's deputy chair, has chosen not to comment on the situation.

The two candidates who have made the shortlist to replace Dr Sahota as the Labour candidate are Ealing councillors Jasbir Anand and Bassam Mahfouz. Both councillors serve as cabinet members on the borough authority, with Anand focusing on tackling inequality

UK minister urges disabled people to work remotely

Dr Onkar Sahota

and Mahfouz on issues related to safe and genuinely affordable homes.

A report commissioned by the UK government has emphasised the need for a "digital alternative" to reduce reliance on Visa and Mastercard for card payments. The Future of Payments Review, released on Wednesday, echoes concerns in Europe about the dominance of the American card payment giants.

Despite ongoing regulatory efforts, attempts to establish a "homegrown" alternative have seen limited progress. The review highlighted dissatisfaction among shops, services, and merchants with the costs associated with card schemes. The lack of choice or digital alternatives

Cleverly apologises for swearing in Commons James Cleverly, the home secretary, has issued a formal apology for using "inappropriate language" towards Labour MP Alex Cunningham. However, Cleverly denied using the specific term "shithole" in reference to Stockton, the constituency represented by Cunningham.

The incident occurred when Cunningham challenged Chancellor Rishi Sunak over

Tory climb by four points with benefit rise Rishi Sunak experienced a fourpoint boost in polls following the autumn statement by Jeremy Hunt, where tax cuts were announced, according to YouGov polling for The Times.

The Conservatives reached a 25 percent rating, their highest since September.

Despite this, Labour maintains a commanding 19-point lead, and the poll indicates that most voters are sceptical about whether the chancellor's measures will improve their personal or national financial situation.

was identified as a potential contributing factor.

The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) in the UK is currently examining the fees charged by card schemes, particularly in the ongoing battle between Visa and Mastercard and the merchants accepting their cards. The report asserted that the market could benefit from a viable digital alternative to existing card schemes, suggesting that open banking, involving third-party fintechs using customer bank data (with permission) for payment services, could offer a lower-cost option for retailers.

Jeremy Hunt's proposed 2p national insurance cut received support from 61 percent of voters and 72 percent of those who backed the Conservatives in the last election. There was widespread approval for raising the minimum wage to £11.44 per hour, with 85 percent of the public supporting the idea.

However, opinions were divided on the affordability of the tax cuts, with 31 percent considering them affordable and 29 percent believing they were not.

James Cleverly

child poverty in Stockton North during a parliamentary session.

A source close to Cleverly stated that he called the MP "shit," and the comment was not directed at the northeastern town itself.

In his formal apology to the House of Commons, Cleverly, 54, clarified, "I rejected the accusation that I criticised his constituency," and acknowledged that his choice of language was inappropriate. Cunningham, 68, expressed disappointment, stating that it's "sad that the home secretary hasn't the guts to admit to his appalling remark about my Stockton North constituency from the front bench and apologise to the people I have the privilege of representing."

RANSOMWARE CYBER ATTACK CONFIRMED, DISRUPTS BRITISH LIBRARY SERVICES The British Library has recently confirmed that a significant outage affecting several locations is the result of a ransomware attack.

This cyber incident has rendered the website of the UK’s national library inaccessible, which serves a user base of over 11 million individuals annually. Additionally, the attack has disrupted WiFi services within the building adjacent to London St Pancras Station, impeding users from accessing and ordering materials from the library's extensive collection of 150 million items. In response to this breach, an investigation has been initiated with collaboration from the National Cyber Security Centre, the Metropolitan Police, and cybersecurity experts. The aim is to thoroughly examine the incident and mitigate its impact on the library's operations and services.

POTENTIAL END TO 400 YEARS OF COVENT GARDEN STREET THEATRE DUE TO COUNCIL CRACKDOWN For centuries, Covent Garden's vibrant street performers—fire-eaters, high-wire walkers, and magicians—have captivated audiences.

Now, they face a daunting challenge: evading council regulations that threaten to halt their traditional entertainment at the historic market square by Christmas. Westminster council's fee-based licensing system, initiated in April 2021 due to noise complaints, has sparked opposition from the Covent Garden Street Performers Association. Refusing to apply for licences, they argue that decades of self-regulation have been effective and fear that new restrictions on noise, pitch sizes, and props could jeopardise their livelihoods.

MAIDENHEAD PAEDOPHILE APPREHENDED A 47-year-old individual named Amri Bhachoo, caught with indecent images of children, has been revealed to have been researching a book addressing hebephilia.

Bhachoo was sentenced at Reading Crown Court for three counts of possessing indecent images of children. The images were discovered on various devices seized from Bhachoo's home, where police also found a search for the book 'Lolita,' a 1955 novel by Vladimir Nabokov that addresses hebephilia— an erotic preference for pubescent children.

Judge Amjad Nawaz handed Bhachoo a 12month prison sentence, suspended for two years. The court learned that Bhachoo's home in Westborough Road, Maidenhead, was searched in September last year after intelligence revealed an IP address from that location had been used to access indecent images of children.

UK VIGILANT OVER CHILDREN'S PNEUMONIA OUTBREAK IN CHINA Health experts in the UK are actively monitoring a pneumonia outbreak among children in China. Following hundreds of hospital admissions of young individuals with acute respiratory symptoms since October, the World Health Organization requested additional information from Chinese authorities earlier this week. The UK Health Security Agency stated its vigilance regarding the outbreak, maintaining an "open mind" while assessing any potential threat to the UK.

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Sunak unveils £29.5 billion in private investments Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has revealed a significant influx of private-sector investments into Britain amounting to £29.5 billion ($36.76 billion). This initiative is part of Sunak's strategy to position the country as the primary destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Europe.

Rishi Sunak

Notable contributions include £10 billion from Australian funds IFM Investors and £5 billion from Aware Super, targeting projects spanning infrastructure, energy transition, and affordable housing.

Additionally, Spanish power giant Iberdrola commits to adding £7 billion to its invest-

ment plans in Britain, with a focus on electricity transmission and distribution networks.

Microsoft is set to invest £2.5 billion in artificial intelligence infrastructure, as outlined in the statement released by Sunak's Downing Street office.

Sunak, ahead of an investment "summit" at Hampton Court Palace in London, stated that attracting global investment is a central component of his plan for economic growth.

Contact us at: 020 7749 4080

Barclays considers cutting up to 2,000 jobs

Out & About This weekend, brace yourself for an extraordinary episode of Zee TV's flagship community show, "Out & About"! The spotlight is on Birmingham's renowned Soho Road Diwali Mela – an event like no other, filled with vibrant colors, cultural richness, and festive fervor!

Sunday 3 December 2023 @ 6.00PM SKY 709 | VIRGIN 809

West Yorkshire cop convicted for mimicking Indian accent A police officer from northern England, Patrick Harrison, has been found guilty of gross misconduct for imitating the Indian accent of a woman reporting a hate crime to the West Yorkshire Police call centre.

The incident occurred in November last year, and Harrison was found guilty during a misconduct hearing last month. The panel concluded that he would have been dismissed had he not already resigned as a Police Constable (PC) from West Yorkshire Police.

The judgment noted that on November 29, 2022, Harrison, who was on duty in the Force Call Centre, made a call to a female member of the public, named only as "SA," who had reported a haterelated assault. Harrison accepted that his behaviour was "unacceptable and inexcusable" and breached the standards of professional conduct.

It was also revealed during the misconduct hearing that he took actions to conceal his wrongdoing and did not report it at the time.

Barclays is reportedly in the process of developing a £1 billion costcutting initiative that may result in the elimination of up to 2,000 jobs.

This strategic move comes shortly after the bank's leaders highlighted the imperative to restructure to enhance shareholders' profits and dividends.

The anticipated restructuring

is anticipated to predominantly impact back-office roles in departments such as compliance, human resources, and legal, as per information provided by a Reuters source. Barclays, whose market value has experienced declines of over 11% in the past 12 months and 15% year-to-date, currently employs around 87,000 individu-

als globally, with approximately 44,000 based in the UK. The primary focus of the £1 billion cost-cutting initiative is anticipated to be the internal division known as Barclays Execution Services (BX), established in 2017.

If the plans are fully implemented, it is suggested that 1,500 to 2,000 jobs within BX could be affected.

Nissan spearheads £2bn investment in UK electric car plant Nissan, in collaboration with its partners, has revealed a £2 billion initiative to manufacture three electric car models at its Sunderland plant. The Japanese company is set to produce electric Qashqai and Juke models at the facility, alongside the next generation of the electric Leaf, which is already being manufactured there.

This endeavour is expected to safeguard the jobs of approximately

6,000 employees directly and have a positive ripple effect on thousands more throughout the UK. In addition to the car production, Nissan emphasised the necessity for a significant new battery plant, commonly referred to as a "gigafactory."

This gigafactory, supplementing the existing one adjacent to the car plant and another being constructed by partner AESC, is crucial for electric vehicle production.

Nissan plans to allocate £1.12 billion to enhance its UK facilities, optimise the supply chain for the new models, and provide training for its workforce. Alongside the gigafactory, the overall new investment is estimated to reach up to £2 billion. While the specific form of government support remains unclear, Nissan has confirmed a £15 million funding injection for its research centre in Bedfordshire.

Capit ital co comes es to togeth ther to ra rais ise awa wareen nes ess ab about ut ch chang nges to to th the vo voti ting sy syste stem and enco coura rage vo voter ter re registrati tion among ngst unde der-r -registeerred and un unde der-repre resente ted ed Londo doner ers  The Greater London A Au uthority (GLA) has launched a campaign to help all eligible Londoners access their right to v vo ote, in collaboration with Shout Out UK, London borough electoral services and a coalition of civil society organisations.  South Asian faith leaders, public figures and community groups are supporting the campaign w wh hich is raising aaw wareness of changes to the voting system.  A third (33%) of Asian Londoners are unaaw ware of the new need for photo ID to vote in person.

media, traditio onal media, grassroots community en ngagement and through a WhatsApp Democracy chatbot (+44 7908 820 136). This includes accessible materials fo al for Deaf an nd disab abled Londoners, with resources av availlab able in Easy Read fo format and d 16 6 commu unity languages, including Bengal ali, Gujarrati, Punjab abi, Ta Tamil, Urduand British Sign Language.

Zamiha Deesai, Founder of ReccomendA dAsian and Profe fessional alAsian, said, “South Asian Londoners are amongst thosee that are under-registered and under-rep presented, with as many as a third of peoplee currently unaw aware of the need fo for photo o ID to vote in person. This means too maany South Asian Londoners are at risk of lo osing the opportunity to exercise their d democratic right to vote.

“We are prroud to support the GLA Voter ID aw Vo awareness campaign to ensure that South Asiian Londoners hav ave access to correct and d reliab able info formation so that we can in ncrease confidence, literacy, and action in tthis important matter. We hope that our support will help more South Asian Londoners understand the power of theirr vote and how they can use it to help shap ap pe policies on issues like education, heaal althcare, housing, aft fter al all, no vote, vote no vo oice ” oice.

T

hee G h GLA, LA, w LA with ith ssupport upport ffrom rom ffaith aith lleadeadpublic eers, rs, p ublic fi ffigures igures and and ccommunity an ommunity has public ggroups, roups, h as llaunched aunched aan au n iimpartial mpartial al p ublic aawareness aw war areness ccampaign ampaign tthat hat aaims ims tto oh elp help under-represented under-registered u nder-represented an aand nd u nder-registered L ondoners, iincluding ncluding S outh A sian Londoners, South Asian L ondoners, aaccess ccess ttheir heir rright ight tto o vvote. ote.

Londoners, London has one of the lowest voter registration rates in England, with analysis fr from the GLA showing that close to one in five people (18 per cent) fr from Asian, Black or Minority Ethnic background are at risk of losing their democratic voice because a they are not registered to vote, compared to just five per cent of White British Londoners who are i the in th same situation it ti .

The campaign aims to let those fr from under-registered and under-represented groups, including South Asian Londoners, know ab about the need fo for eligible voters to register as a first step. This includes the option to register anonymously fo for those concerned ab about their name and address appearing on the electoral ap al register. It will info form of the new requirement q to show an accepted fo form of photo ID to vote in person. This can be a UK, EU and

Commonweeal alth passport; a UK and EU Driving Liceence, a Blue Badge, Oyster 60+ photocard or o a Freedom Pass.

The cam mpaign will also advise on steps to ap apply p fo for a fr free Vo Voter Authority Certificate fo for Londoners who do not hav ave one of the accepted fo forms of photo

ID. Just one in fi f ive Londoners hav ave heard of the fr free Vo Voter Authority Certifi C f icates (20 per cent), and only fo four per p cent hav ave applied fo ap for one .

The campaign will reach South Asian Londoners across a variety of o engagement methods and channels inclu uding social al

There are three simple steps to getting heard: 1. Register to vote 2. Check if you haav ve an accepted form of photo voter ID 3. If not, apply for the free V Vo oter Au A uthority Certificaatte

For further information, visit the GLA Democracy Hub ub: https:// //registertovote.llondon/

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Hindu Forum of Britain celebrates multifaith Diwali at the House of Commons The Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB) celebrated the 22nd multicultural and multifaith Diwali at the House of Commons on 9 November 2023. It was a unique reception that gracefully upheld and made visible the Hindu community’s traditions and contributions to the UK. Lord Dholakia encouraged the gathered community to be more proactive in their engagement with key issues, to ensure that the Hindu voice represented at

Bob Blackman MP, Lord Dholakia, Truptiben, C B Patel, Shashibhai Vekaria, Pravinbhai and Veljibhai launching the 22nd Diwali magazine

Harrow, Harriet Crabtree Director of the Interfaith Network UK, Janak Amin and Varsha Mistry from MPHA. Guests joined the reception by listening to a beautiful flute rendition by Praveen Pratap. Artists of Sajan Nartan Academy,

Yogi Divine Society marks Annakut festival and New Year A grand Annakut Festival took place at Harisumiran Temple in Harrow, organised under the guidance of Pujya Guruprasad Swami and Pujya Harichintan Swami. The event featured over 800 food offerings before nine eminent Thakorjis.

Mehta, and Krish Patel's transformational story was also featured. Regional saints like Pujya Brahmavihari Swami and Guruhari Prabodh Swami, along with devotees, offered their contributions.

Guests and elders

Distinguished personalities and prominent elders attended the festival, which included a discourse by Pujya Harichintan Swami on the significance of Diwali reflected through various facets of the Annakut Festival.

Presentations about ongoing initiatives at Harisumiran Mandir were shared by P.B. Chiragbhai

showed reverence to the saints, engaging in Thakorjis' Aarti, and captured the moments through photographs.

Pujya Guruprasad Swami uplifted spirits with his blessings and spoke about the significance of Satsang and devotion in contemporary life, emphasising the preservation and nurturing of cultural values.

Euroken, Jayesh Hirani of Everglade, Asvin Halai from West Harrow Garage, Jayesh Patel of Abbeycare.

Leaders of various Mandir and Samaj were mentioned for their continued engagement, support and spiritual involvement.

Vinubhai Bhattessa and Dr

Members from His Majesty’s Armed Forces present at the event

all levels of the political engagement.

Padma Shri Bob Blackman MP CBE and Chair of the APPG for British Hindus addressed the audience with a lively speech stressing the contribution of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains of Indian origin to the British economy.

Lord Gadhia praised the Hindu community for their hard work and peaceful coexistence with all communities in the UK. The High Commissioner of Uganda HE Nimisha Madhvani wished all a very happy Diwali and invited the community to visit Uganda.

Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP commended the work of the HFB and pledged her unwavering support to combat ‘Anti-Hindu propaganda’.

Deputy Lord Mayor of Westminster, Honorary Alderwoman Angela Harvey; Mayor of Harrow, Cllr Ramji Chauhan; and Mayor of Brent, Cllr. Orleen Hylton; Mayor of Ealing, Cllr Hitesh Taylor shared a brief Diwali message.

President of HFB and Trustee of the HFB Charity, Truptiben Patel stated the

importance and significance of Diwali. Hanuman Dass, Founder of the GoDharmic charity shared the best Diwali wishes received for the HFB Diwali in Parliament event, from the Deputy PM Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE and from Dame Eleanor Fulton Laing DBE, the Deputy Speaker.

Brigadier John Kendal, Ashok Kumar Chauhan MBE and all present from the British Army, Navy and Airforce were invited to the stage. The Armed Forces were honoured by Pramila Sehgal of Transputec and Chandani Vora of Vascroft Foundation.

In the beginning, a minute’s silence was observed for the Remembrance Week. ‘The Asato Ma Sadgamaya’ shloka was recited by Vijay ji from team GD and diyas collectively lit by Vishakha Devi Dasi of ISKCON, Ramani Devi of Shiva Trust, Sister Dipti Khatri and Sister Jayminiben Patel of Brahma Kumaris, Swamini Suryaprabha Didi, Devyani Patel of Radha Krishna Mandir Blaham, Anita Goyal from HG Foundation, Ranu M Radia of School of

Cultural performance

choreographed by Neha Patel presented traditional devotional classical dance.

The event was brought to a close by Shivali Bhammer, a pioneering Bhajan vocalist.

The stunning choreography in Bharatanatyam by Priyadarshini was much appreciated.

Representatives from member organisations and businesses contributing to HFB’s objectives across the UK were honoured. These included Vijay Ramanaidoo of the Mohanji Foundation, Jay Jayshleen of Act Foundation, Hemant Panda of Ahimsa Café, Christopher Greenwood SMP, Nilesh and Heena Solanki, Kajal Nayee of Lubbock Fine LLP, Rajesh Vekaria of Finsol Tax Consultants, Chandani Vora, Umesh Amin of Revelstoke Pharmacy, Vinod Halai of

Mayank Shah of BAPS, Prakash Gandecha of Jalaram Mandir, Sri Rajnish Kashyap, General Secretary of HCUK, Arun Thakar President of NCHT, Sri Govind Bhai Patel SSGP, Dr Malav Bhimpuria of Cambridge Sanatan Village, Vinod Nakarja of Anoopam Mission, Vishal Shah of HSS, Bhavya Shah of NHSF, Sonal Sher from KPCS, Manu Khajuria of Dogra Society UK, Ameerjit Bhamra of APPG Indian Sciences and Kapil Dudakia, the first HFB PRO. The magazine was designed and printed by Bimalbhai Patel. Pravinbhai Amin, HFB Vice President of Community Liaison welcomed guests. The vote of thanks was conveyed by HFB Diwali Committee Chair Veljibhai.

Rahul Deshpande brings Vasantotsav tour to the UK Indian classical music has a rich heritage and a global audience, with the British Indian diaspora actively participating in and strengthening the cultural roots connected to this traditional art form in the UK. Local artists from the diaspora and professional singers from India continue to receive a great response from UK audiences.

Renowned Indian classical singer Rahul Deshpande

recently completed a series of events and concerts in Pune, western India, and has embarked on his next tour around the UK. The series of tours, titled 'Vasantostav,' is part of the 'Vasantostav' initiative, a music festival initiated by Deshpande and Vishal Bharadwaj in memory of the late Pandit Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande, a renowned classical singer and Rahul Deshpande's grandfather.

Navnat Vanik Association celebrates golden jubilee

BAPS Trustees take part in the memorial service at The Cenotaph

Team ABPL celebrates a member’s 60th birthday

London. Navnat Vanik Association celebrated its golden jubilee on 26 November 2023 at Navnat Centre. The grand celebration included cultural programmes incorporating glimpses of 5 decades of history. The detailed report will be published in the upcoming issue.

The National Service of Remembrance was held at The Cenotaph in Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday. King Charles led the National Service of Remembrance.

BAPS Trustees Vinu Bhattessa OBE and Nitin Palan MBE took part in this memorial service. The service honours the contribution of military and civilian servicemen and women in World War I and II, and other conflicts.

ABPL celebrated the milestone birthday of Surendrabhai Patel, one of the group’s oldest team members, and was attended by the Editor-in-Chief CB Patel.

A cake was cut while rejoicing Surendrabhai’s dedication, hard work, loyalty and all-round efforts in strengthening the ABPL group.

Photo: CB Patel, Surendrabhai Patel, Kiran Patel, Subhas Patel, Kishore Parmar, Pooja Raval and Preya Maniyar

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Ketan Dattani

Practising Traditional & Sustainable South Asian Medicine

T

raditional South Asian medicine, often referred to as Ayurveda in North India, Siddha in Tamil Nadu, and Unani in other parts of the region, has a rich history dating back thousands of years. These holistic systems of medicine have been passed down through generations and continue to play a significant role in healthcare in South Asia.

What sets these practices apart is their deeprooted connection to nature and their emphasis on sustainability.

Nature as the Source of Healing Traditional South Asian medicine systems view nature as the primary source of healing. Practitioners believe that everything in the universe is interconnected, and maintaining balance within oneself and with the environment is essential for good health.

Herbal remedies, minerals, and animal products are derived from nature and used to treat various ailments.

Plant-Based Medicines - Herbal medicine is a cornerstone of traditional South Asian medicine. Practitioners use a vast array of plant species, many of which are native to the region, for medicinal purposes. These remedies are prepared using sustainable harvesting techniques, ensuring the continued health of plant populations.

Ethical Harvesting Practices Sustainability is integral to traditional medicine. Practitioners are trained in ethical harvesting practices, which involve selecting the right plant parts, harvesting at the correct time, and ensuring minimal impact on the plant's survival. Overharvesting is discouraged, and the importance of conserving medicinal plants is emphasised.

Local Sourcing - Traditional South Asian medicine systems prioritise the use of locally available resources. This reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation and supports local communities.

Practitioners often grow medicinal plants in their own gardens or source them from nearby forests.

Minimal Waste - Traditional medicine practitioners are known for their resourcefulness. They use various parts of plants and animals to minimise waste. For example, roots, leaves, and seeds may all have differ-

ent medicinal uses. By using the whole organism or plant, they ensure minimal waste and maximum benefit.

Mind-Body Connection - South Asian medicine systems emphasise the importance of mental and emotional well-being in overall health. This holistic approach encourages practices like meditation and yoga, which promote mental balance and stress reduction. In turn, a healthier mental state reduces the need for excessive medical interventions and pharmaceuticals.

Preventive Healthcare - Traditional South Asian medicine places a strong emphasis on preventive healthcare. By promoting a balanced lifestyle, a nutritious diet, and regular exercise, it helps individuals maintain good health and reduce the need for medical treatments, thus lowering the environmental impact of healthcare.

Long-Term Sustainability - Traditional South Asian medicine has survived for millennia due to its sustainable practices. Its emphasis on balance, nature, and minimal ecological impact aligns with modern environmental values. In a world grappling with climate change and the overuse of natural resources, these ancient systems offer valuable lessons in sustainable living.

Modern Relevance - As awareness of environmental issues grows, there is a renewed interest in traditional South Asian medicine. Many are turning to these systems for their holistic approach and sustainable practices. Integrative medicine, which combines traditional and modern approaches, is gaining popularity as it addresses health concerns while minimising harm to the planet.

Traditional South Asian medicine systems offer a holistic approach to health that aligns seamlessly with sustainable practices and environmental conservation. By emphasising the importance of balance, nature, and ethical harvesting, these ancient traditions provide valuable lessons for a world facing increasing environmental challenges.

As we strive to create a more sustainable and harmonious future, we can draw inspiration from the wisdom of traditional South Asian medicine to promote both personal and planetary well-being.

LCNL Medical Camp on 3 December Lohana Community North London (LCNL) is organising a Medical Camp on 3 December 2023 from 10 am to 4 pm at Dhamecha Lohana Centre, South Harrow.

LCNL President Meenaben Jasani said, there will be a screening programme for Eye checks, Obesity, BMI screening, Blood pressure,

Polypharmacy discussion, Women’s health problems, and General mental health along with awareness regarding organ donation.

The lectures will run from 11 am to 1 pm which will include subjects like High Blood Pressure, Menopause, Prostate Cancer, Falls in the Elderly and Organ donation.

Christmas celebration by Harrow Business Centre

Harrow Business Centre organised a Christmas party on 24 November 2023. Proud clients of more than 40 offices in HBC joined the celebration. Group Managing Director Atul Sanghani welcomed the guests and said, “We are helping individuals and businesses in Harrow and beyond thrive through productive work environments. We provide flexible, spacious, and airy workspaces in the centre of North Harrow. Apart from that, Harrow Business Centre is accessible 24/7, so clients can work when they need to.”

Leicester’s Jalaram Temple honoured with King’s Award The Jalaram Charitable Trust's exceptional commitment to community service has garnered prestigious recognition through the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest accolade for local voluntary groups in the UK, akin to an MBE. This honour underscores the unwavering dedication and

Programme, managed by Hanuman Sewa Volunteers and Sunil, played a vital role.

In partnership with Patels Chemists, a Vaccination Centre at the Jalaram Community Centre was established, promoting vaccination and organ donation under the leadership of late Bharat and

tireless efforts of the Trust's volunteers, epitomizing values of selflessness and compassion.

Among the 262 local charities and voluntary groups honoured this year, the Shree Jalaram Charitable Trust stands out. Their impactful work mirrors the collective efforts of volunteers nationwide who strive to enhance local communities and improve lives.

The Temple's overarching vision includes fostering positive relations with all faiths and becoming a Centre of Excellence, offering educational opportunities for school children to explore the rich Hindu culture. Guided by Bapa’s ethos, the Trust is committed to serving the needy.

The Trust actively backs various local charities, hosting medical camps, and offering classes in Gujarati and Shushu Vikas.

Amid the pandemic, the Food Distribution

Avril. Collaborating with Leicester’s More Restaurant and other organizations, the Trust delivered over 15,000 meals to NHS staff.

The Temple's philanthropic reach extends nationally and internationally, supporting organisations like Cancer Research UK, LOROS, and delivering ambulances to Ahmedabad in India within an impressive 11-day timeframe. The King’s Award rightfully acknowledges the Jalaram Charitable Trust's profound impact and its embodiment of altruism and community service.

Pramod Thakkar, Chair of the Jalaram Charitable Trust said, “I am delighted that all our volunteer groups’ work has been recognised in this prestigious award. We are very proud and honoured to have been given The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. Your dedication is our inspiration.”

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Is Rishi tough enough to take radical steps to save his premiership?

Although a week in politics is a long time, most political pundits have already written off the Conservative party as Labour enjoys some 20% constant lead in the opinion polls.

Perhaps after thirteen years in government, people may think it is time for a change and who can blame them?

In PM Rishi Sunak, we have a capable and devoted PM who steadied the ship while sailing through troubled waters under the premiership of first Boris Johnson, then Teresa May and lastly Liz Truce who did more harm than good to the reputation of the Conservative Party. No wonder she was thrown out by her own MPs after the stock market and the pound plummeted, causing havoc, showing absolutely no confidence in her leadership.

Issues people are mostly concerned with include NHS, inflation, cost of living and illegal migration. While inflation seems to be under control, it is still too high to contend with, a way above the 2 per cent target PM has set himself.

NHS is in crisis and will always be, unless our politicians come out of their comfort zone and take unpopular steps, perhaps in harmony with the opposition, such as a £20 charge for a face-to-face visit with GPs, £50 for A & E and few more measures, after studying how French and German NHS is funded, treatment available practically on demand!

Our people are brainwashed into believing that it should be free at the point of delivery. There is no such thing as “Free Lunch”.

Britain is the most densely populated country in Europe, having overtaken the Netherland and the third in the world, after Japan and Bangladesh. Yet we are unable and unwilling to take appropriate steps, following in the footsteps of France where these economic refugees are treated with little sympathy, accommodation no better than tents in the open fields, compared to hotel accommodation we provide, a luxury for most of them who come from a long way to enter Britain, to taste our hospitality but hardly contribute anything to our economy. The record immigration, just under a million speaks for itself. No country size of Britain could accommodate such large influx without damaging our social structure, NHS, education and housing. Ultimately, it will give a platform to “Right-wing” politicians, a trend now emerging in EU. If the PM wants his Ruanda policy to succeed, he should stop sitting on the face, leave the EU Convention on Human Rights, and the European Court of Justice and not allow our own unelected judges to sabotage our laws passed by the elected parliament. But the question is, has the PM got the strength, guts and desire to succeed at any cost and will his own MPs support him? Only time will tell whether our politicians are capable of giving us the lifestyle we deserve.

Bhupendra M. Gandhi

Asian Voice Diwali Magazine I received this year’s Diwali magazine from ABPL, while it was still the festive season. You may ask what’s so special about receiving a hard-bound book-like magazine in the age of iPads and gadgets. It’s the good old feel of newsprint, glossy and full of stories untold. There’s no end to enjoying a magazine, especially on Indian heritage, sitting miles away from our home - this edition was as special as it can be. I personally loved the children’s section where they diligently write every year. The innocence reflected in their write-up, reassures me that our heritage, our culture will never be forgotten. Kudos to team ABPL for yet another issue of Diwali magazine in the new Samvatsara. We don’t always give due credit to community newspapers and ethnic press, but this stands as a testament to the vitality of such publications that still carefully weave and curate stories from our motherland, finding new people who tell their stories, reminding us that all’s not lost and our culture still contributes to the fabric of our society in Britain!

Asha London

End of live exports A heartfelt tribute to all who gave their everything to stop this vile trade Nitin Maheta A historic event took place on 6 November 2023 when King Charles III spelt out the plans of PM Rishi Sunak's government. He declared that a bill would be introduced to ban the export of live animals from the UK for slaughter and fattening abroad.

For decades animal rights campaigners have been trying to get this vile trade banned. Transporting animals thousands of miles away to other countries involves immense cruelty.

Stuck in cramped conditions without adequate food or water and suffering from many ailments these poor animals had no hope. Mental exhaustion, physical injury, hunger, stress and dehydration all take their toll.

Dead animals were just dumped in the sea. When they arrived at their destination these animals were subjected to brutal deaths so that their flesh could be eaten by humans. Around 1.6 million farm animals- cattle, calves, sheep, pigs and horses are transported huge distances across Europe.

This despicable trade had to be stopped. It required dedicated, compassionate human beings to take up the fight to stop this activity which was a shame on the human race.

Royal Society for Protection of Animals (RSPCA) was amongst the first organisations to start a campaign against live exports. It has been campaigning for more than 50 years. It collected millions of signatures on peti-

KAPIL’S

Sensitive people about AIDS World AIDS Day is celebrated every year on December 1 to show solidarity with the people living with AIDS, to commemorate those who succumbed to this fatal disease, and to raise public awareness.The first World AIDS Day took place in 1988, providing a platform to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS and honour the lives affected by the epidemic.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a public health hazard. It is caused by HIV which can enter the body through unprotected sex with an HIV-infected person, sharing needles during intravenous drug use, contaminated blood transfusion, sharing razor blades and infected mother to her child through the placenta.

A person infected with HIV suffers from declining immunity with symptoms like pneumonia, diarrhoea, tiredness, weight loss and fever. This impairment of the immune system can be slowed down by effective treatment and medication but cannot be fully cured. With AIDS, death is inevitable.

Although the prevalence of AIDS is comparatively less in India, it has steadily increased over the last two decades. The population at risk in our country includes blood donors, drug addicts, prisoners and sex workers. Government and NonGovernmental Organizations (NGOs) should jointly raise awareness of its causes, symptoms and diagnosis.

Moreover, it is the government’s job to build more rehabilitation centres for drug users, provide free nucleic acid tests (NAT) to determine its presence and open up job opportunities for transgender people to replace their sex work. Adequate public health awareness is urgently needed before the prevalence reaches an alarming limit. The theme of World AIDS Day 2023 is "Let communities lead".

Jubel D'Cruz

tions, and thousands of supporters got arrested in protest marches. In the 1970's the RSPCA created a special operation unit of dedicated undercover officers to trail and track lorries carrying animals and record data. One of those special officers was David Whiting, stepson of Lord Dowding. Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding was in charge of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. He was widely credited for defeating Hitler's plans to invade Britain. Lord Dowding became a Theosophist.

The teachings of the Theosophical Society are said to be based on Hinduism. He also became a Vegetarian and espoused the cause of animal rights. David's mother Muriel was a Vegetarian who was influenced by the teachings of the Theosophical Society. Founder of Beauty Without Cruelty, she was a visionary due to whom almost all beauty products today proudly claim to be Vegan and not tested on animals. In May 1999 David received an International Certificate of Appreciation, 'For valuable assistance to the Special Operations Unit' from the RSPCA. David was instrumental in getting India to ban the export of frog legs.

He carried out covert investigations into animal abuse in Nepal, Canada, South Africa, Iran, Ethiopia and India as well as in the Shoreham campaign to stop animal exports.

David is a recipient of our Mahaveer

Award. He now lives in Portugal with his wife Maria who also is an animal rights campaigner. The current CEO of RSPCA Chris Sherwood expressed his deep disappointment when the ' Kept Animals Bill' the forerunner of the current bill to ban live exports was left in limbo for 500 days. It looked like the Gods wanted to further test the resolve of campaigners.

Another organisation that never gave up hope and continued to raise the voice for animals is Compassion in World Farming. Started by the late legendary Peter Roberts in 1967 CIWF has fought to improve animal welfare for decades. In the 1960's Peter had spent time in India at the Ashram of Sathya Sai Baba. CIWF has co-ordinated 14 June as, 'Ban Live Exports International Awareness Day'.

Campaigners in over 40 countries take part in this protest. In 2022 CIWF supporters took over Parliament Square and called upon the government to ban live exports. They handed in 95,000 signatures calling for a ban on live exports to 10 Downing Street.

The fight will continue until the Human race declares peace with the animal kingdom. What we want is a fundamental change in human behaviour. It transcends nations, races, religions and ideologies. It is a new dawn in human civilisation that we are seeking. It is our tryst with destiny. We will pass on the baton to the next generation when we can no longer fight.

Kapil Dudakia

KHICHADI

World Hindu Congress 23 Every four years, the World Hindu Congress (WHC) meet in a strategic location to further its aim for Hindus to connect, share ideas, inspire one another, and impact the common good. This year, the WHC 2023 is being held in Bangkok from 24-26 November 2023.It brings together the stalwarts of yesteryears who have toiled the furrow for the new upcoming stars of Sanatan Dharma to grow and blossom under the grace of gurus of Satya, Dharma, Shanti and Prema.

For the aspiring Hindus, take a look here: https://www.worldhinducongress.org This year seven separate themes, but each interlocking with others, became the bedrock for the seminars and workshops. These are: Economy, Education, Media, Political, Women, Youth and Organisations.

In its preamble it states, ‘Hindus are a 1.2 billion strong community, comprising 16% of the world’s population with presence in around 200 countries. Across the world, we are the leaders and catalysts in all spheres of human endeavour - business, economy, education, governance, media, technology, and culture. As a civilisation, we have always aspired for a Dharmic world which is prosperous, just, and peaceful. However, such aspirations can only be realised if the Hindu leadership - spread across nations, societies, and cultures – comestogetherto organise and combine its energiesfor global welfare’.

I haveoften heard over the past few decades that Hindu unity is a must. And as soon as that is said, it allows everyone to pile in with their own set of grievancesand blame. I come from a position that often leaves people confused and rather perplexed. You see, in my view the very strength of Hindus is their diversity. Under the over-arching umbrella of Sanatan Dharma, we have multiple paths to higher enlightenment, and whilst sometimes some of these might look at odds with each other, if people looked closely, they would realise that each aspires to connect with that one universal reality that is the Brahman.So let our starting position be our diversity. Each brings to the whole, a set of strengths that when combined correctly, can bring us closer to our ultimate goal – a world and its people at peace with each other.

Dr Mohan Bhagwatji said it aptly, “We (Hindus) havestopped our descent. Nowwe are ascending.

Hindusneed to march together inone formation.

Thoughmoving forwardindividually, aware not tocollide with each other,but stepping together inthe same direction”.

The danger at such conferences,as the Christians might say, ‘it’s preaching to the converted’. Those in attendance, those who hooked up online, and those who followed proceedings via various media outlets are mostly the ones who probably don’t need too many lectures on Hindutva and Sanatan Dharma.

Maybe the time has comewhen this collective force needs to be guided towards practical action points that can yield results at the grassroots. The Hindu community faces threats from multiple sources. From Islamists and Khalistanis who seem intent in killing, raping, or converting all Hindus regardless of where they might be in the world. We have got Christians, in all their guises, who use intelligent and modern ‘liberal and woke’ ideology to infiltrate communities with a view to saving the soul of the ’heathen’. That’s you and me by the way!

Add to the mix, the Marxists, the socialists, those on various parts of the left, the morally corrupt academics and their institutions, the merchants of fake news – the mediawalas, and some governments who say one thing, yet they fund the very extremists that do us harm.

The Hindu community need to bring to the party a very modern outlook. 21st Century methods of tackling the fake narratives, of establishing our own think-tanks across the world and empowering and funding research that tells our historical and lived truths. We should also ask our billionaire Hindus – ‘why are you supporting our enemies?’. One also wonders about the ease with which they are granted direct access to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg so readily?

It is not that we are disunited as Hindus, our issue is that we are disunited in tackling the challenges we face as Hindus. When we consider the collective wealth and power of all our Sampradyas, how is it that we find ourselves in this precarious position? Most of our organisations are ultra-rich, yet where is the investment to protect Dharma?

In Bharat, people may feel everything is OK, yet on the international stagewe see systematic attacks on Hindus, on Sanatan Dharma and on our cultural and dharmic heritage.

The challenge for the WHC is to translate its core strength so it empowers people and organisations across the world who fight for Dharma. For a community that is so talented, so rich and so intelligent, sometimes one is left wondering – how did we ever allow ourselves to be so victimised?

World Hindu Congress 2026 is set to take place from December 18-20 at the Jio Convention Centre in Mumbai– are you all ready?

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Yaatra’s Diwali supper club menu celebrates blend of tradition and spice Yaatra located at stone’s throw away from Westminster Abbey, has converted the Old Westminster Fire Station into a land of India’s flavours and traditions, led by Executive Chef Amit Bagyal.

While the restaurant is now getting ready for Christmas day lunch, they recently celebrated Diwali with a specially curated menu for a supper club hosted in their premises in a private room.

The menu included veg and nonveg options. The supper club was attended by Londoners, and tourists from the US and Europe.

Perfect for those who crave a blend of tradition and spice, Chef Amit meticulously crafted a divine four-course set menu.

Accompanied by wine or drinks of your choice or an included Ginger and Rum Punch, the menu had Veg Sheekh Kebab or Tandoori Malai Prawn, Buttermilk Espuma Chaat with Samosa Tartlet, Apricot Paneer Tikka or Saffron Chicken Tikka and a fourth course of Black Carrot and Kohlrabi Kofta, Coconut Korma, Carrot Crisp and Toasted Lotus Seed with Dal Makhani, Saffron Rice and Butter Naan or the nonveg

Chaat in Samosa Tartlet

Chef Amit Bagyal

option included Lamb Rumb, Lamb Keema Mutter, Butternut Squash Puree, Chocolate Sauce with Dal Makhani, Saffron Rice and Butter Naan. Dessert was a Rose Chai Tiramisu, Besan Ladoo Crumble and Shahi Tukda Cannoli.

Every dish had a distinct and authentic taste, with an touch.

My innovative favourite was the Buttermilk Chaat served in a Samosa Tartlet. The filling tasted like cream cheese with right amount of salt and zing.

The main or the fourth course was generous, the twist of chocolate sauce with lamb as a dish made it unusual. However, while the first three courses were not that generous in portions, what made it difficult to contain was the gap in ser-

Dessert served at the Supper Club

vice between these courses.

What it required was accompaniments or palate cleansers which can act as fillers, for meals designed in Michelin-style menus. While quality and taste of everything served were undoubtedly excellent and authentic, some may find it too expensive for the quantity served.

Overall, a good experience with some foodies in the room, that was decorated with organic diyas. The staff were attentive and held in-depth knowledge on the menu, explaining each dish with passion. Chef Amit Bagyal’s presence was missed, but that perhaps calls another visit soon.

Widow, 78, faces deportation to life-threatening conditions A 78-year-old widow, Gurmit Kaur, is facing deportation to a country where she claims to "know no one" and fears she will die "an invisible person."

Despite living in the UK since arriving from India in 2009, the Home Office has rejected her latest appeal to stay.

Gurmit Kaur settled in Sandwell, where she volunteers in the community and at a local foodbank. In 2020, over 60,000 people supported her bid to remain in the UK. However, the recent Home Office decision has left her future uncertain.

The Home Office previously stated that Kaur's voluntary work demonstrated

Gurmit Kaur

she was "fit and well" enough to be sent back to India. She was given the option to leave voluntarily or face deportation. Kaur appealed, arguing that she has "no home to return to" in India. The latest Home Office ruling suggests that she "does still have contact with people" and would be

capable of reintegrating into life in the country.

Gurmit Kaur, who has been told by the Home Office to leave voluntarily or face deportation, had her appeal rejected despite her argument that she has 'no home to return to' in India.

The Home Office ruling contends that she 'does still have contact with people' and asserts that she would be capable of reintegrating into life in the country.

The decision is met with concern as Gurmit Kaur faces the prospect of being sent back to a place where she claims to 'know no one' and fears she will live out her life as 'an invisible person.'

Sentencing for carpet fitter who sexually assaulted Parvinder Singh, a carpet fitter found guilty of sexually assaulting a young girl, has had his sentencing date delayed.

Singh, from Havelock Road, Southall, Ealing, was convicted earlier this year at Reading Crown Court of "intentionally touching a woman aged 16 or over, and that touching was sexual when she did not consent, and he did not rea-

sonably believe that she was consenting."

The incident occurred on April 8, 2020, at a residence in Slough, where Singh, aged 36, was helping a friend install a carpet. The court heard that Singh kissed the girl on the cheek and touched her chest in her bedroom while plugging in an electric staple gun. The police were called to the

home, and pictures were taken of the workmen on site.

Singh, who denied any wrongdoing, admitted being in her bedroom but claimed he had "simply fallen on her" and had not intended to touch her. The sentencing, originally scheduled for November 21, was adjourned due to a lack of barristers.

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Tackling repercussions of online presence Tech Meets Law: Asian entrepreneur's start-up sets new UK standard for online privacy Shefali Saxena

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South Wales entrepreneur has chosen to put his legal skills to good use with the launch of a new business that will help individuals protect their reputations online.

Jeevan Mann, who graduated from Swansea University in 2022, is aiming to help UK citizens tap into the ‘Right to be Forgotten’

individuals' digital footprints reflect their true persona. hy do you think protecting online privacy is more important than ever now?

Protecting online privacy is crucial now more than ever due to the increasing amount of personal information available online. With the rise of social media and digital

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Jeevan Mann

legislation introduced under UK GDPR rules.

It means his company Reputation Online - can assist clients in removing unwanted personal content from major search engines, such as Google, Bing and Yahoo.

Around £20,000 of his own money has been invested into launching the venture and creating a custom-built online portal to securely handle all cases quickly and efficiently by a team of legal experts carefully assembled from across the UK. Funding has also been used in purchasing office space in Cardiff, securing the valuable www.reputation.online website address and marketing activities designed at educating people on the importance of ensuring your online presence does not cause you issues with work and in dayto-day life.

Mann spoke exclusively to Asian Voice about this. hat is at stake for anyone who has an online presence?

In today's digital age, virtually everyone has some form of online presence, which brings significant risks alongside its benefits.

Personal and professional reputations can be profoundly impacted by online content.

Negative or misleading information that appears in search engine results or on social media can damage reputations, hinder career opportunities, and affect personal relationships, and have a huge mental health impact. ow does your initiative help tackle some of the repercussions of having an online presence?

We tackle the repercussions of an online presence by removing harmful content and misinformation from Google, Bing (and other search engines) and various websites. We also aid in rebuilding and enhancing online reputations through positive press, ensuring that

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platforms, personal data is more exposed and susceptible to misuse. The emergence of technologies like deepfakes and widespread fake images further compounds these risks. Privacy breaches can lead to serious consequences such as identity theft and cyberbullying. It's essential that we ensure robust privacy measures to safeguard individuals from these vulnerabilities. an you bust some myths or give some unknown facts for our readers who may not know the hazards of online privacy infringement?

A common myth is that ‘private’ or ‘incognito’ modes in browsers offer complete privacy, which is not the case. They may not track your history, but your activity can still be visible to websites, your employer, or your internet service provider. Another lesser-known fact is that deleted content can often still be recovered or remain on servers long after deletion.

Understanding these nuances is vital for managing one's online footprint. hat must youngsters, especially Gen Z learn from the current state of online privacy?

Is there any data- especially related to South Asians on this?

Generation Z, having grown up in a digital world, must learn the importance of thoughtful content sharing. They should be aware that once information is online, it is difficult to erase completely. Responsible online behaviour, including understanding privacy settings and the long-term impact of digital footprints, is crucial. As for data specifically related to South Asians, it's important to recognise cultural differences in the perception and management of online privacy. However, detailed demographic-specific data was not readily available in the context of Reputation Online's services.

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IMMIGRANTS MAKE BRITAIN GREAT Continued from page 1

The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) migration statistics, analysed by the UK Home Office, underscore the significant role of skilled Indians in British society and economy.

While 'Skilled Worker' visas experienced a modest 9% increase, 'Skilled Worker – Health and Care' visa grants more than doubled with a notable 135% rise to 143,990. Indian nationals, alongside Nigerians and Zimbabweans, witnessed the most substantial increases in this visa category. However, following restrictions on overseas students bringing dependants, Indians no longer constitute the largest group in this category.

Additionally, Indians rank among the top nationalities for voluntary returns, after Albanians. Yet the yoke of crisis management and lack of validation for their contribution to British society is what lingers on when it comes to immigrants getting their due.

Nearly half of the most innovative companies have immigrant founders UK Prime Minister, amidst mounting concerns about rising immigration figures, hosted the Global Investment Summit at Hampton Court Palace in London. In light of these challenges, the British Indian leader took a moment to recognise the invaluable contributions of skilled workers from abroad. Emphasising the nation's openness to global talent, he remarked, "We don't have a monopoly on talent in this country," citing that nearly half of the most innovative companies have immigrant founders. He assured that the UK boasts the most competitive visa regime for highly skilled international talent, making it an optimal destination for investment and business. The recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) release underscored the substantial role of skilled Indians in Britain's society and economy.

Immigrants backbone of the NHS Immigrants compensate to cover up for the dire need for more staff at the NHS in order to clear its backlog. Robert Jenrick, the Immigration Minister, has formulated proposals to limit foreign health and care workers in the UK to bring only one relative. There are indications from certain sources that the Home Office might even consider a complete prohibition on bringing dependants. Additional measures under consideration involve imposing a cap on the recruitment of NHS and social care workers from overseas, along with revisions to the minimum salary requirements for foreign workers. At the beginning of last year, the government introduced a new immigration pathway, extending the health worker visa program to encompass care workers.

Fostering progress, creating jobs Reflecting on his role as the Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Chairman of London and Partners, Rajesh Agrawal highlighted, “Over the past seven years, our direct initiatives have generated 330,000 new jobs in London, equivalent

PM Rishi Sunak, his wife Akshata Murty and their two children Krishna and Anoushka, visit the Vedic Society Hindu Temple in Southampton

to the entire population of Leicester. To enhance employee working conditions, I initiated the Good Work Standards charter, benefiting 255,000 Londoners. We launched the Mayor’s International Business programme, aiding businesses in global expansion. Amidst Covid19, I formed a coalition of 25 diverse business organizations.”

Addressing national concerns, Rajesh remarked, “Our NHS is in dire straits, education standards have declined, and public services face cuts. Britain's global standing has diminished, requiring a collective change. The Labour government and the entire nation, including the Asian community, must contribute to this transformation.”

“As a tech entrepreneur, I'm passionate about digital technology and new skills. Our focus will be on developing skills for tomorrow's jobs, fostering progress towards a new age and economy. We must prepare for shifting global geopolitics, aligning with Britain's strategic interests,” Rajesh added.

Agrawal, an exemplary immigrant in the UK for 22 years, prompts reflection on why the burden of reforms and crisis management often falls on immigrants despite negative perceptions. Some of the UK's wealthiest individuals are immigrants, as highlighted in the Sunday Times Rich List for 2023.

The Hinduja family, with £35 billion, tops the list, followed by Lakshmi Mittal (£16 billion) and Akshata Murthy, rumoured to be wealthier than the late Queen of England. Business figures like Surinder Arora and Jasminder Singh have significantly contributed to the UK's economy, creating numerous jobs. There is undoubtedly a caveat that Asians in the UK don't invest in philanthropy as much as the US diaspora, but there is a lot that the community has done to help the nation. Ugandan Asians, the current breed of politicians and community members are immigrants.

On the 40th anniversary of the Ugandan Expulsion, Lord Dolar Popat highlighted the significant contributions of Ugandan Asians across various fields, including politics, journalism, sport, public services, and business. Their achievements underscore the positive impact of the Ugandan Asian community in shaping diverse aspects of British society.

Promise versus reality The education sector in the UK holds promise for reforms

and underscores the significant contributions of immigrants.

While challenges persist, such as the practice of agents attracting international students without adequate support, the UK's commitment includes quality education, infrastructure, and post-study work visas. In 2022/2023, Indian students led UK study visas, marking a 2% increase for main applicants.

Students and dependants accounted for 39% (378,000) of long-term non-EU immigrants, with a rise of 58,000 from the previous year. However, from January 2024, most students won't be allowed to bring dependents to reduce net migration, as per government regulations. In an earlier interview with the newsweekly, NISAU UK Chairperson Sanam Arora emphasised the positive impact of post-study work visas, fostering job opportunities, entrepreneurship, and contributions to the UK, dispelling anti-immigration rhetoric and encouraging a better life for students.

Encouraging more investment from Indian businesses, Sir Keir Starmer had gone on record to say, “There are things that we can do and one of those fortunes is going to be the partnership arrangement where businesses and government work together, strategically over a period of time.” Immigrants are important in not just the sociocultural fabric of the UK, but also in the larger economic and political scenario as well. The UK has always given importance to immigrants, even though they do not have the right to vote - also many of them aren’t vote Commonwealth citizens. But immigrants have a voice. The country needs more immigrants for more positive contributions.

Britain must not forget that the Covid vaccine originated and was disseminated with the help of immigrants. Diwali, Eid, Holi, Navratri and many other festivals are celebrated with grandeur in the UK - only because of the immigrant community. The head of the state is an immigrant, the healthcare sector is surviving because of immigrants, tikka masalas are sold across the country because of immigrants, and yet the British curriculum doesn’t teach its citizens about the hundreds of years of British colonial history and its aftermath on developing countries. Today, the FTA between India and the UK and ongoing ties within the Living Bridge are making up for the lost years and forging new ties.

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’The Empress' tells the story of British Asians in the 19th century Britain The Empress by Tanika Gupta is a play that doctrines the ‘Golden Era’ of the Empire. In the backdrop of the relationship between Victoria and Abdul, this story highlights the experiences of Indian ayahs and lascars who worked on the ships carrying trade goods and people from India to the UK. There is a parallel plot of the election of Dadabhai Naoroji, of the Lib Dem party, the first Indian politician to be elected as a Member of Parliament. This story reveals how socially diverse the Asian presence was in nineteenth century Britain and how their lives intertwined or how they crossed paths in different times.

Starting with a cruise were Rani, a starry-eyed and talented ayah travelled with an English family from Bengal to Tilbury. Her mum also served as an ayah to the family but in India. It showed relationships growing between a particular crew Hari and Rani. Upon arrival to England, Rani was dismissed cruelly by her employer, but with a good recommendation and money, which started her topsy turvy journey all alone, naïve, vulnerable, and preyed upon by male friends and employers, eventually falling pregnant and landing up on the streets with a tiny baby girl, Asha.

But her story did not end there.

She eventually joined a movement

by Dadabhai Naoroji for equal rights. She supported his campaign to be elected to Parliament.

Dadabhai employed Rani as his assistant and the two became as close as father and daughter.

At the same time, Hari who lost Rani to time, turned his life around, learnt to read and write and became a rich merchant, who

came looking for Rani’s hands in betrothal.

This all revolved around Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, whose friendship with Abdul Karim flourished, despite disapproval from family, peers, companions, advisers and staff. Her death drastically changed Abdul’s life, as did Britain’s future.

The play is not something that evokes deep horror at the Empire’s cruelty towards its subjects. The stories of lives that Tanika Gupta tells through the play are known to mostly all Indians, in different circumstances. But she threads them together like a beautiful garland, fitting perfectly together like a box of puzzle, narrating the reality of British Asian lives- from Tilbury docks to Windsor castle, the society’s views on women of any class and the challenges they faced throughout.

Work of actors Tanya Katyal as Rani, Raj Bajaj as Abdul Karim, Alexandra Gilbreath as Queen Victoria, Nicola Stephenson as Lascar Sally, Simon Rivers as Dadabhai Naoroji and Franchesca Faridany as Lady Sarah are commendable. A beautiful production, one of Gupta’s best so far.

The British Youth International College (BYITC) has announced the 12 winners of its International Maths Olympiad competition.

London - Ameya Mathew

Glasgow - Aaron Nanda

Rupanjana Dutta It was a cold yet crisp and sunny Saturday morning in London.

Millenium Tower Pier was buzzing with tourists, but among them stood women from ‘British Women in Sarees’ and spouses from the diaspora in their beautiful traditional Indian attires, chatting with each other eagerly about their day together. Some even discussed how they put together their outfits, source and inspirations, while others appreciated simply

Young South Asians shine at International Maths Challenge

The winners from across the UK include Preesha Kumar Singh, 6, from Manchester (Level 1), Parin Vaghani, 6, from Basingstoke (Level 2), Alden Ashly, 10, from Edinburgh (Level 3), Aariz Samir, 7, from London (Level 4/1A), Ameya Mathew, 10, from London (Level 5/2A), Joana Alencherry, 10, from Ardkeen, NI (Level 6/3A), Tafari Brown, 12, from London (Level 7/4A), Rasvitha Rajinikanthan, 9, from London (Level 8/5A), Zilkefal Khan, 10, from Glasgow (Level 9/6A), Aaron Nanda, 10, from Glasgow (Level 10/7A), Vishruth

Heritage Walk showcases India’s royal weaves on Britain’s soil

Keshettivar, 9, from Basingstoke (Level 11/8A), and Ojas Maniyar, 10, from Glasgow (All MT - Mental Theory).

First launched in February 2022, the most recent International Maths Olympiad in October coincided with National Maths Week Scotland and marked the third iteration of the innovative competition organised exclusively for BYITC Supermaths students across the world.

The first-of-its-kind challenge is based on the school’s pioneering Abacus Maths instruction. There were 50 questions in total and results were based on accuracy and time. The questions were set keeping in mind the complexities and advanced levels of each category.

Team Gujarat posing at Heritage Walk

Team Bengal at Heritage Walk

the efforts, by cheering for the participants.

The group was gathered on London’s bank to board a boat for a catwalk, showcasing India’s heritage and culture through its royal weaves and traditional outfits, woven by the weavers and artisans, especially from the rural India.

This time the organisation’s women were joined by their enthusiastic spouses, also in traditional attires with props that too were made by Indian artisans.

Walking mostly as couples, participants made grand entrance on the boat’s upper deck, dancing to popular and local film or folk songs, representing their own States in India.

Before boarding the boat Erasmus, some of them even posed enthusiastically against the majestic Tower of London, without a coat or even a shawl, showing off their gorgeous Indian sarees, ghagras, sherwanis and dhotis. Among them was organiser Dr Dipti Jain in a green and red saree- draped in traditional Bengali style, red bindi and royal jewellery, running around energetically, gathering groups State wise to queue up for the official photos.

As the boat sailed down River Thames, around 1pm, through London’s iconic landmarks, participants representing States viz.

West Bengal, Rajasthan, UP, Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra,

Bihar, Assam, Telengana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, showcased their talents through choreographed dancedrama. While a lot of the efforts were to raise awareness about India’s culture and handloom, ultimately the day was converted into a huge party, with people enjoying time with friends and family over food and drinks.

Organiser Dr Dipti Jain told Asian Voice, “At the Royal Heritage Walk on Thames Cruise, against the iconic Skyline of London, you could feel the excitement of the participants, who braved the chilly weather to come on a Saturday. So much effort has gone behind each State presentation - be it the way they have draped their weaves or given the flavour of their state through dances on folk songs. We truly brought our styles, colours, Indian values and our ‘mitti ki khushboo’ to the ‘soils’ of Great Britain!”

The organisation has previously hosted a walkathon in handloom sarees through the Whitehall to celebrate India’s Handloom Day and attended the Royal Ascot in saree and fascinators. Next year they are taking their Walkathon initiative to New York on 4 May.

Indian-origin yoga prodigy, 13, secures gold medal Ishwar Sharma clinched the Boys 12-14 category title at the Europe Cup 2023, part of the competition hosted by the International Yoga Sports Federation on November 18 and 19.

Hailing from Sevenoaks in Kent, this 13-year-old yoga prodigy of Indian origin, adorned with a multitude of accolades, added another Gold Medal to his collection at the 2023 European Yoga

Sports Championship in Sweden.

Initiating his yoga journey at the age of three, inspired by his father's daily practice, Ishwar Sharma has since gone on to achieve success on a global scale, securing victories in multiple World Championships.

His most recent triumph occurred last weekend in Malmo, where he participated in the European competition organised by the International Yoga Sports Federation in collaboration with the Swedish Yoga Ishwar Sharma Sports Federation, emergYoga ing victorious in the Boys 12-14 category at the Europe Cup 2023.

Bradford College announces new graduate award winners Two new awards were announced at the 2023 Bradford College graduation ceremonies to recognise the exceptional achievements of four graduates.

The ‘Principal’s Award for Excellence’ and ‘Principal’s Outstanding Resilience Award’ were handed out at two spectacular ceremonies at Bradford’s ‘Life Centre’. Over 400 students donned their caps and gowns to graduate in front of a packed audience of family, friends, staff, and VIP guests.

The special award winners were announced during the ceremonies.

The first ever Principal’s Award for Excellence went to BSc (Hons) Ophthalmic Dispensing graduate Mahmuda Islam, who achieved the

highest grades against all peers graduating in the morning. The second Principal’s Award for Excellence went to Frazer Ormondroyd, a BA (Hons) Counselling & Psychology in Community Settings student who achieved the Bradford College graduation ceremony 2023 highest grades against all peers graduating in the Management & Entrepreneurship afternoon. degree independently and to a very Chelsea Brown received the high standard.

Principal Outstanding Resilience In the afternoon, the same Award for staying power and fortiaward was given to Olivia Shaw tude in the face of adversity. who took the plunge into a fullChelsea overcame many challenges time BA (Hons) Youth Work & in her personal life over the three Community Development degree, years with the College, but still juggling the demands of parenting, delivered her BA (Hons) Business college, and work placements.

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The Washing Machine Project: Empowering women, one machine at a time Anusha Singh

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pproximately 70% of the global population lacks access to an electric washing machine.

While handwashing clothes may seem like a straightforward chore, this responsibility significantly impacts the well-being and livelihood of women across the globe.

‘The Washing Machine Project' is an organisation that aims to address this issue by offering accessible and sustainable washing solutions to low-income communities. The project's mission is to empower women by providing them with the time to take control of their lives. British-Sikh entrepreneur and founder of the organisation, Navjot Sawhney discusses the inspiration, inception and goals of the outfit.

“Women empowerment has always played a significant role in my life” The Washing Machine Project commenced in 2019, and the journey leading up to its inception is quite intriguing.

Raised in London Navjot Sawhney’s aerospace engineer father fuelled his passion for flight at airshows, but he lost him early in life. After the unfortunate demise of his father, he was raised by his mother and two older sisters. “This upbringing firsthand acquainted me with the vital role of women in the household, especially considering the challenges faced by my mother as the head of a single-parent family”, he said.

“Moreover, my family's history was marked by displacement, rooted in my father's experience during the Indian partition. The themes of women empowerment, engineering, and displacement have consistently played a significant role in my life”, he adds.

After completing his education Sawhney found

himself working with a leading appliance manufacturer, Dyson and he soon found himself weary of producing vacuum cleaners for affluent customers. Opting for change, he left his job to volunteer in Kalapalambu, South India. Collaborating with a cookstove company, he contributed to the development of fuel-efficient stoves.

“The impactful part of my stay, however, was witnessing the struggles of women like my next-door neighbour, Divya. Despite her proficiency in English, she faced numerous challenges due to unpaid labour, including child care, cooking, and cleaning”, explains Sawhney about the inspiration behind ‘The washing Machine Project’ and the Divya 1.5, a manual, off-thegrid washer-dryer machine which can help save up to 50% of water and 75% of the time compared to handwashing clothes.

“The mission was clear: design, manufacture, and distribute manual washing machines to alleviate the time, water, and effort burden for millions of women worldwide who hand wash clothes, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas. The DVR washing machine, our innovative creation, is the world's first flat-packable washing machine, easily assembled with an IKEA-style Allenkey and spanner within an hour”, he said.

The project, it’s operation and impact The Washing Machine Project is currently active in nine countries, deploying machines to various settings such as refugee camps, primary schools, orphanages, and low-income areas.

Sawhney further elaborates on the impact areas of the project, stating, “Recently, we have expanded our reach to include washing clothes

their time and skills, either through our corporate partnerships or within our broader network. These volunteers engage in tasks such as building machines and offering specialised skills, presenting a myriad of excit-

Navjot Sawhney

for homeless individuals on the streets of America. Our initiative encompasses a diverse range of applications, catering to the needs of individual households, communities, and everything in between.

“Our presence extends across the globe, from Uganda and Kenya to the United States, providing assistance to Ukrainian refugees in Poland, as well as operating in India, the Middle East (specifically Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon), and other regions. The project's versatility allows us to address distinct needs in numerous locations, fostering positive impacts in a variety of communities.”

The Washing Machine Project collaborates with major corporations, including those listed on the FTSE 100 and other entities traded on the stock exchange with extensive organisational structures. These corporate partners play a crucial role in financing the development and deployment of the machines. Additionally, partnership with the United Nations helps procure the machines, allowing free distribution.

Talking about his team and volunteers involved, Sawhney said, “As the Washing Machine Project continues to evolve, our team has grown to include seven dedicated individuals, with plans for further expansion in the coming months. We are proud to have a committed group of volunteers who contribute

Anusha Shah becomes ICE's first Indian-origin chief In a historic milestone for the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE), an autonomous professional association and charitable entity in the UK that represents 95,000 members, Professor Anusha Shah (pictured at the top) has been elected as its first Indianorigin president in its 205year history.

Assuming the role as the institution's 159th president, Shah delivered a presidential address at ICE's London headquarters earlier this month, focusing on the theme of nature-positive civil engineering. With over 22 years of experience in water and environmental engineering, Shah is committed to steering the pro-

Anusha Shah

fession towards a nature and people-positive ethos.

Expressing her vision, Shah highlighted the crucial need for understanding the intricate relationship between infrastructure and nature. While acknowledging global efforts to implement nature-based and green solutions, she emphasised that such practices are

not yet widespread.

Shah, now in her 40s, underscored the significant impact of construction on biodiversity, contributing to 30 per cent of global biodiversity loss. However, she believes that embracing a nature and people-positive approach can empower engineers to reverse environmental degradation.

“My presidential year will be dedicated to transforming our profession into one that is inherently nature and people-positive," Shah declared. "By doing so, not only will we accelerate our journey to net zero, but we will also enhance climate resilience and bring about multiple benefits for both society and the planet.”

ing opportunities for collaboration.”

The Washing Machine Project has successfully positively impacted the lives of 30,000 individuals. This accomplishment reflects the organisation’s ongoing commitment to making a meaningful difference in communities across various regions.

The Points of Light recognition ‘The Washing Machine Project’ won the “Sustainability Rising Star Award” and according to Sawhney, it came as a shock.

He said, “We were honoured to receive the Points of Light award in the UK from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Our recognition came in January, seemingly in acknowledgement of our efforts with Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

“The award was a delightful surprise, and as a grassroots organisation, such accolades significantly contribute to our visibility and credibility. A pinnacle moment was the invitation to Downing Street, where we had the privilege of enjoying lunch with other Points of Light winners during the king's coronation, adding a delightful touch to the recognition we received.”

‘Loose Change’ aims to help kids make the most of their money FTAdviser journalist publishes children’s book on saving Loose Change: Tina Learns to Save, is the new children’s book from FTAdviser’s deputy news editor, Sonia Rach.

Written for 6to 11-year-olds, it aims to introduce Carmen Reichman/FTAdviser the concept of savbe an important and coming and interest at an early pelling read for parents, age. The official launch for educators and children the book was held on 15th alike.

November at Barings, host“Colourful and engaging ed by Standard Life, part of imagery, together with usePhoenix Group. ful maths and a fun storyThe story follows the line is a must for children central character Tina as she and should be used to visits the supermarket with enhance learning about her (parents) and chooses money as part of the PSHE how to spend her pocket curriculum.” money. Richly and vibrantly Andrew Pearson, Head illustrated to engage the of Financial Education at children in the story, Loose Standard Life, part of Change introduces valuable Group, said: Phoenix learnings around the value “Learning about money and of money, spending, savings, how to manage it is a critical and the cost of items. part of the transition from First-time author Sonia childhood to adulthood, and Rach said, “I’m extremely getting into good habits at passionate about financial an early age can have a big education from a young age positive impact on future but unfortunately many get finances. Sadly, however, to their teenage years withnot everyone leaves school out the basic understanding with the right knowledge, of the world of money. skills and habits in place to “I got the idea for a book enable this to happen. from research that revealed “It’s great that Sonia is money habits can set in by taking a step towards the age of 7. It was eyeimproving children’s knowlopening and when I went to edge and understanding of buy a children’s book about their money.” money for my niece’s birthSarah Marks, chief execday, I quickly realised there utive at RedStart Educate were very few suitable books said: “Habits are formed in out there. children by the age of seven, “I am hoping that Loose so starting to talk to chilChange will be the first in a dren about money habits series of books to introduce when they are young is realchildren to the world of ly important. money and savings while “Reading to, or with, tackling some of the subchildren is a brilliant way to jects that even their parents achieve that, and this book may struggle to explain.” will help parents and carers Simoney Kyriakou, the convey the important meseditor at FTAdviser, said, sages about saving and “As a parent and a financial spending money wisely.” journalist, I find this book to

Survey reveals women workers face inadequate restroom facilities A survey conducted by the Unite union has revealed concerning conditions for women workers regarding access to toilets in the workplace. The research, which involved over 12,000 women, found that only 14% reported having sometimes or occasional access to workplace toilets, with 1% stating they never had access.

Among female bus workers surveyed, almost half reported only having access to toilets sometimes or occasionally. When it came to the cleanliness of facilities, including essential amenities like hot and

cold running water, soap, and toilet paper, 17% of respondents mentioned that the facilities occasionally or sometimes met standards. Additionally, 2% stated that they never had access to clean and hygienic facilities.

"I have had multiple urine infections since starting and have had to take sick days because of them," one woman told Unite.

"I had the constant urge to go which is not good for driving buses four hours at a time. I believe these have been caused by not being able to go when you need to sometimes," she added.

The research also highlighted challenges faced by civil air transport workers, with 27% indicating that they only sometimes or occasionally have access to clean and properly stocked toilets.

These findings underscore the need for improvements in workplace facilities to ensure the wellbeing and dignity of women workers.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "It is shameful that so many female workers still do not have decent toilets within the workplace. This is a very serious industrial issue."

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Salonee Batavia: Spacious Wings Therapies (Part Two) Sunetra Senior

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ndeed, the position of regressed consciousness can ultimately be seen as the subconscious state that is so submerged within the higher aspect of self that it is consequently linked with the collective unconscious as well as the natural interconnectedness of the universe and so profound order itself as stated in Jungian psychological theory: an increasingly popular approach in modern psychology. This “dreamier, surreal” individual space as Sal puts it, is to purely inhabit the soul – one’s very being – via the apt and intermediary vessel of inspired imagination. Through a variety of techniques which may include rapid induction, relaxation prompts and hypnosis, Sal helps the client securely yet creatively navigate this zone to allow one to passionately experience their own autonomy, and reclaim parts of one’s ‘inner self’ that may have become disassociated or lost where distress and tragedy may have occurred, allowing you to be remedially at the centre, and

past-life regression helps transport one to the exact psychic locus of the emotional dysfunction underlying the repeated patterns of disruption in life: the essential nature of the personal distortion and how it SALONEE BATAVIA is holding one

Babil Khan on carving his own path in the film world Subhasini Naicker

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abil Khan, a fresh and dynamic talent in the acting world, has already left an indelible mark with stellar performances in his first two film roles, Qala and Friday Night Plan. Now, he's poised to captivate audiences once again with his thriller and historical series “The Railway Men,” which also stars R Madhavan, Kay Kay Menon, and Divyenndu. The four-episode series is directed by debutant director Shiv Rawail and is set against the backdrop of the Bhopal Gas Leak, which has a thrilling account of courage and a salute to humanity and bravery.

Emerging as a standout performer, Babil Khan brought a unique blend of authenticity and magnetism to the OTT platform, earning critical acclaim and a rapidly growing fanbase. In an interview with Asian Voice, he discusses his new series, the digital versus theatrical debate, and all things work. ongratulations on the release of your new series “The Railway Men”. Could you tell us about your character and what drew you to this particular role?

Thank you! My character’s name is Imad Riyaz, and I play a locomotive driver in the series. Imad’s character is about discovering a hero in every human being. He is empathetic and does everything possible and beyond in the unfortunate Bhopal Gas tragedy. He embodies resilience and compassion, symbolising the indomitable spirit of underprivileged individuals. His character illuminates their inherent strength and selflessness in facing adversity, portraying human courage and altruism in challenging times. hat aspects of the series do you think resonate most strongly with audiences?

Can you share any memorable or challenging moments from the sets of your recent project?

It’s not easy to understand what connects with the audience, but I feel the act of humanity in the vicious, dark reality is what is connecting most strongly. The ray of hope, the possibility of humanity in the most inhumane incident, is getting the smile through the tears for the audience.

About the challenges on the set, I am a newcomer and so for me, challenges are to be overcome and not to mull over them, and doing a series like ‘The Railway Men’ taught me exactly that. hat’s your opinion on the digital versus theatrical release debate, given that your work is exclusively on digital platforms?

Any film is dependent on the audience, be it digital or theatrical, and each film caters to a unique audience demographic.

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back, where, the therapy performed allows one to proactively overcome what is found there, and transform and heal whilst being in full awareness and control. This unfettered psychological place is that of spirituality: the total alignment of the body and mind which sparks the raw demonstration of the spirit. *** Indeed, the all-encompassing, feeling dynamism of past-life regression therapy is an organically effective way to address the full scope of one’s inner world in a way that could be limited in tradition one-to-one therapy: clients may still be putting up subconscious barriers or deterred by the clinieven having fun along the way! There are cal scrutiny where the overall experience often beautiful and moving moments and can be solipsistic as opposed to illuminathumour and joy as part of the journey. This ingly expansive. Past-life regression does is in order to empower the client to free not simply address an isolated mental side themselves of limiting beliefs and blocks. of you, but moreover inclusively all of you: Within this process, you are essentially “People turn up to my sessions, having working in a multilayered manner, yourself tried a lot of other therapies, including talk poetically reshaping the events. One may therapy, but cannot seem to shake the not have immediate control of their life but heaviness and destabilisation in their lives. can access the elevated workings of the Sometimes they attend in a full face of wider cosmos to assert this equally impactmake-up and I’ll joke ‘are you not planning fully there. This is the alchemy of symbolon doing any work today?’ This could be a ism. One may not be able to resolve an subliminal defence we carry around withissue or tell the full truth to their loved out even knowing it. The hypnotherapy ones but can safely and usefully assert helps comfortably disarm themselves in the you to ensure an authentic realm of their own experience while the energis"Whether it is deep consciousness ing storytelling of the pastthus reconstituting life regression takes you on attempting to heal the self. “The conthe journey of deep-rooted, sultation itself is from a string of colourful recovery.” Indeed, clinical and we will Sal’s many instructional have an idea of the fractured meditations, used to mentalproblem area on ly prepare clients, are vibrant which the client relationships or other to the point where you can wishes to focus, chosen goals, you may sensorily connect to the radiwhether it is ant descriptions: “imagine a attempting to heal continue to face the beautiful violent or purple from a string of light shining down from same difficulty fractured relationabove you,” ushers one ships or other chorecording, “coming right lifetime after lifetime, sen goals. You may down through the top of continue to face the or impenetrably in the your crown…” Sal has an same difficulty lifeimitable ability to value peopresent, if you do not ple’s time after lifetime, vulnerability, respecting or impenetrably in work through it at a it through the strong and the present, if you sometimes complex process. do not work profound, soulthrough it at a proW: https://www.spafound, soul-shifting shifting level” ciouswingstherapies.com/ level.” In short,

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Unfortunately, for a film to run in theatres in India today, it has its own definition, and to spend an exorbitant amount on tickets in India, one needs to assure the audience of its payback, which is not about content; it’s more about the experience—the sound, the action, the music, etc. Not every film possesses the budgetary capacity to deliver stories in such a manner. However, the essence of storytelling, which is imperative to be heard, finds a welcoming space in the digital realm. Digital platforms provide an inclusive space for a wide array of stories beyond the confines of budget limitations associated with theatrical productions. The audience today is vast in the digital space as well, and it’s also giving opportunities to new voices, directors, and actors. So, the audience is getting a much larger buffet than commercial cinema. s there a piece of advice or a mantra from your parents that has been particularly influential in your acting career?

Honestly, my parents were the most non-filmy people associated with the industry, so we saw great films. I just learned to overhear their conversations, which were mostly about performances and films. But they never sat me down to talk about films as such. I just gathered that for them, especially from my Baba (Irrfan Khan), being in this situation was the most important. hat have you learned from the characters you have portrayed in your projects? And how do you adapt to the nuances of your characters?

At a young age, I've gleaned valuable life lessons from every character, recognising the importance of such guidance in my journey of learning and growth. Especially with my debut film ‘Qala’, it is about performing art.

My takeaway from that film was that nothing is black and white in life. To judge and to be judged are both vices and sooner or later, karma catches up. My second film ‘Friday Night Plan', was about growing up, as it was shown in the film. It’s interesting how I enter these fictitious characters’ houses as a stranger, and as I explore, I become one of them, leaving once the project is finished, carrying little memories and life lessons, and returning as Babil with a wealth of wisdom from each character.

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Irish writer Paul Lynch clinches Booker Prize Irish author Paul Lynch claimed the prestigious 2023 Booker Prize on Sunday (26) for his fifth novel, 'Prophet Song.' The narrative unfolds the tale of a family and a nation teetering on the edge of catastrophe as an imaginary Irish government steers toward tyranny.

Lynch's work aims to depict the unrest within Western democracies and their apathy toward calamities, drawing parallels with real-world events such as the disintegration of Syria.

Describing 'Prophet

Paul Lynch

Song,' Esi Edugyan, chair of the 2023 Booker judges, remarked, "From that first knock at the door, 'Prophet

Song' forces us out of our complacency as we follow the terrifying plight of a woman seeking to protect her family in an Ireland descending into totalitarianism. This is a triumph of emotional storytelling, bracing and brave."

Lynch, formerly the chief film critic for Ireland’s Sunday Tribune newspaper, expressed his desire for readers to grasp the essence of totalitarianism by infusing the dystopian narrative with the intense realism characteristic of his writing.

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The Bhavan remains the ‘go-to place' for Indian Arts: Anoushka Shankar By: Rupanjana Dutta Guest of Honour Anoushka Shankar addressing the audience

The Bhavan celebrated Diwali on Saturday 25 November, which was attended by hundreds of people in a central London hotel, from the diaspora, including celebrities, supporters, patrons, artists and admirers.

His Excellency Vikram Doraiswami, the High Commissioner of India to the UK was the Chief Guest, and sitar player and musician Anoushka Shankar was the Guest of Honour.

Raghu Nandakumara and Mira Manek were the comperes for the evening.

Lord and Lady Dholakia, Lord Paul, Lord and Lady Popat and Lord and Lady Ranger were among many key attendees.

offers is so beautiful and meaningful…

“And of course, coming to my father, he had such a great love and appreciation for The Bhavan and supported everything that it stood for and so the relationship continued on, more deeply…”

Dr Nandakumara, Vinod Thakrar, Surekha Mehta, Anoushka Shankar, Ruby Bunker, Janaki Nandakumara and Subhanu Saxena

spoke about her experience and relationship with The Bhavan and her fondness and regards for Dr Nandakumara who not only presided over her wedding rites but also performed the last rites after Pandit Ravi Shankar’s death.

She addressed the audience and spoke about her childhood memories at The Bhavan. The 42-year-old recollected her first visit to

‘Bhavan – the bridge connecting UK with India’ Chief guest India’s High Commissioner to the UK, HE Vikram Doraiswami, who was present with wife Sangeeta, in his speech paid homage to Pandit Ravi Shankar, to the unique relationship between a gurushishya and finally cheered for the Indian culture, where he said, “there are no binaries or dualities”.

Chief Guest HE Vikram Doraiswami giving a speech

continues to be celebrated through its culture, and that makes the Bhavan one of the wonderful bridges that connects the UK with India.”

This was followed by a beautiful Bharatanatyam

CB Patel, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar (standing) with Lord and Lady Ranger and Lord and Lady Dholakia

Bharatanatyam performance by students of resident Guru Sri Prakash Yadagudde

Music performance by The Bhavan students, composed and conducted by resident Guru Pandit Rajkumar Misra

‘My father had such a great love and appreciation for the Bhavan' The event began with a vibrant music ensemble performance by The Bhavan students, composed and conducted by resident Guru Pandit Rajkumar Misra.

Executive Director Dr Nandakumara MBE chanted a prayer after which The Bhavan’s Chairman Subhanu Saxena gave his welcome address. He spoke about the responsibility of carrying forward the legacy, while thanking the services of staff, teachers, and the dedication of The Bhavan’s students.

This was followed by a scintillating Kathak performance by students taught by resident teachers Abhinav Mishra and Amun Bhachu.

Anoushka Shankar who was the Guest of Honour

watch ‘The adventures of Mowgli’ as child and recounted other instances of her time spent at The Bhavan along with her father Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar. She expressed that The Bhavan remains the ‘go-to place' for Indian Arts, and that anyone who wants to explore, learn and experience should come to The Bhavan.

She was just 15 in late 1990s, when she collaborated with artists from The Bhavan, assisting her father on the famous ‘Chants of India’ album produced by late Beatle George Harrison.

Speaking at the event, Anoushka, dressed in a Sabyasachi gown said, “My earliest memory of Bhavan is seeing the adventures of Mowgli on stage, by my mother’s dance teachers. So, my mum, use to take me to the show. And I think I was two, three, somewhere

Indian High Commissioner HE Vikram Doraiswamibeing welcomed by The Bhavan's Chairman Subhanu Saxena and Dr Nandakumara MBE with Poorna Kumbha

around that age. To be living here in London and get taken to the public, and get to see on stage, ‘The Adventures of Mowgli’, and there were snakes and tigers, and elephants, but it was powerful enough to have the music, and it was all seeping in, in in my background, and I was kind of transported by this beautiful story.”

She went on to say, “Fast forward over the years, I've continued to come to see all these great legendary artists performing at the Bhavan. And I remember that it was such a welcoming place for children, like when we would get fidgety, we'd go and run, run in the hallways and be allowed to just stretch our legs a little and then come back. And it just meant that we could be there as kids!

“When George Harrison and my father wanted to work with a select Indian musicians and singers, of course, they called The Bhavan - that was where the teachers and the artists from the UK were…

“I live back in London again now. And it's the place where anyone asks me, I want my child to learn flute, where would I send someone to learn kathak, and I always say, call the Bhavan - it's my number one place that I would think of. It's an incredibly special place that we have, and I keep coming back to being a child and knowing that, of course, as an adult, I can appreciate it. For children to have that kind of exposure to their roots, to arts, to culture, to mythology, to all the things that come through what the Bhavan

Anoushka Shankar and Sangeeta Doraiswami, wife of the Indian High Commissioner to the UK

He said, “The Bhavan’s work in the last 51 years has made India and its culture accessible to all. It has brought a whole new generation of young people into a greater understanding and celebration of what it means to understand Indian art and culture; and it has made this accessible to a broader audience.

The High Commissioner added, “That says a lot, of course, for this country to start with, that the connection with India

performance by The Bhavan students taught by resident Guru Sri Prakash Yadagudde.

Vice Chair of The Bhavan, Dr Surekha Mehta, gave the vote of thanks. The event concluded with a brilliant Odissi performance by The Bhavan students trained by resident teacher Katrina Rute.

The cultural segment ended with a short film showcasing The Bhavan’s annual activities and events, which has made UK its home since 1972.

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in brief

I want to bring all the communities together in Leicester: Rajesh Agrawal

CAPITA ANNOUNCES PLANS TO REDUCE 900 JOBS IN COST-CUTTING A special conversation with the Labour Party's new Leicester East candidate and leaders INITIATIVE Mahesh Liloriya perspective, Rajesh said, “Our Capita, a company managing services for various sectors including local councils, the military, NHS, and BBC TV licence fee, intends to cut 900 jobs predominantly in the UK as a cost-saving measure. The reductions will primarily impact support function roles like administration, rather than customer-facing positions. With a workforce of 43,000, largely situated in the UK and spread across Europe, India, and South Africa, Capita operates from six main hubs in London, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Edinburgh, and Belfast. The London-listed firm plans to initiate discussions with employees concerning these changes, aiming to achieve annual savings of £60 million from the following year.

LONDON UNDERGROUND STAFF TO VOTE ON POTENTIAL INDUSTRIAL ACTION London Underground employees are preparing to vote on potential strike action concerning pay concerns. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) expressed dissatisfaction with the recent pay proposal from London Underground, particularly highlighting concerns about frozen pay bands leading to a divided workforce. Transport for London (TfL), the entity overseeing London Underground, urged RMT to maintain dialogue and present their offer to its members. TfL clarified that it had proposed a 5% pay rise for 2023 and acknowledged that specific roles on the Tube had their pay bands frozen for the current year, affecting a minority—less than 2%—of London Underground staff.

ROYAL MAIL RELEASES CHRISTMAS DELIVERY DEADLINES FOR DECEMBER 2023 With Christmas approaching and shopping underway, Royal Mail is advising customers to prepare ahead to avoid the holiday rush. The delivery service has published recommended posting deadlines for the festive season, urging customers to send letters and parcels early to ensure timely delivery. Emphasising the importance of ordering online gifts in advance and sending seasonal greetings early, Royal Mail aims to support its postal workers in managing the expected surge in holiday mail. The Royal Mail recommends posting any parcels with second class stamps

by December 18 at the latest. Post being sent first class should be sent by December 19 at the latest in order to ensure it arrives in time for Christmas, Royal Mail say.

UK RECORDS FIRST HUMAN CASE OF SWINE FLU A new strain of swine flu has been identified in a person in the UK, marking the first instance of such detection. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that the virus strain found in pigs was discovered in an individual with mild respiratory symptoms during a routine test by a general practitioner.

While investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection, close contacts of the individual, who has fully recovered, are being monitored. Dr Meera Chand, Incident Director at the UKHSA, emphasised that routine flu surveillance and genome sequencing played a crucial role in the early detection of the new virus strain, named Influenza A(H1N2)v.

London's deputy mayor for business, Rajesh Agrawal, has quit City Hall to run as a Labour MP from Leicester East. He shared his vision in a special conversation organised by Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar.

Labour (Co-op) MP for Harrow West and Shadow Minister for International Trade Gareth Thomas, London Assembly Member City and East, Dep Chair London Assembly Police Committee Unmesh Desai, Tokyngton Councillor and Leader of Brent Council Cllr Muhammed Butt were present to support Rajesh Agrawal.

Talking about his priority, Rajesh said, “Supporting businesses is very important because they are the ones that create jobs and wealth. Leicester is a beacon of diversity and it is the most diverse constituency in

NHS is on its knees. Satisfaction is at its lowest level. Education standards have fallen. School buildings are crumbling. Our other public services like policing, funding, youth centres and libraries are facing cuts. This is totally unacceptable. Britain’s stage in the world is diminished today. It has to be reversed and the time has come for a change

L to R : Subhas Patel, Kishore Parmar, Anirban Mukhopadhyay, Cllr Muhammed Butt, Deven Sangani, Rajesh Agrawal, CB Patel, Mahesh Liloriya, Kiran Patel, Unmesh Desai, Surendra Patel and Pooja Raval

Rajesh Agarwal with CB Patel

the whole country. I want to bring all communities together. I am very proud to be the first Hindu Deputy Mayor of London working alongside the first Muslim Mayor of London. That’s how I always work and will bring this to Leicester too, along with the economic success, because 50% of the children are growing up in poverty.

That’s unacceptable in the 5th richest country in the world. I want to bring economic success. We can all do it together.

"I’m passionate about entrepreneurship and opportunity. It’s why I’m standing to become the next Labour MP for Leicester East because I believe there’s a Labour way to grow our economy; one that’s pro-worker and proemployer too.”

He shared his achievements as the Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Chairman of London and Partners and said, “In the last seven years, from the direct initiatives, we have created 330,000 new jobs just in London.

That’s equivalent to the entire population of Leicester. To improve the working conditions of the employees, I started good work standards; a charter to achieve higher standards.

255,000 Londoners are now covered by it and getting benefits from it. We started the Mayor’s International Business programme and helped the businesses to take business abroad. During COVID-19 times, I created a group of 25 different business organisations.”

Taking in the country's

L to R : Deven Sangani, Unmesh Desai AM, Cllr Muhammed Butt, Rajesh Agrawal, CB Patel, Gareth Thomas MP

now. The Labour government can do it but we can all do it as a Nation together. This nation is incomplete without the Asian community's contribution.”

“I am also a tech entrepreneur; so digital technology and new skills are the things I am passionate about. We will focus on the kind of skills the people need to develop and the jobs of tomorrow. We will work for the country that progresses towards a new age, and new economy and make sure that the workforce is ready for it.

We also have to prepare our country for changing geopolitics around the world, where the strategic interest of Britain lies and to work accordingly” added Rajesh.

Recalling the long-term relationship with Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, Rajesh added, “I came to this country 22 years ago. I grew up in poverty in Indore. Until I was 10 years old, we didn’t have a bed, we needed to sleep on the floor. I came here at the age of 24. Never been on a plane or outside of India before I came here. Do you know where I ended up? In North Harrow, just near to this office. Then I eventually set up my business.

But I never imagined in my life that I would land up with the Deputy Mayor of the greatest city on Earth. Not once but twice.

"I have known CB for the last 20 years. His charisma is still as inspiring as it was 20 years ago.

We met at the Labour Party conference. He offered me a lift and we had a long conversation

from Brighton to London. I wrote for Asian Voice for many years. When anybody like me comes from a foreign country there is really a need for people like CB, who care, motivate and nurture you. By means of newspapers, he brings the community together and that’s what I want to do in Leicester.

To bring different communities together.”

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar successfully raising the voice of the community: Gareth Thomas Gareth Thomas MP said, “Rajesh has a proven track record. We are really pleased to select Rajesh as the candidate for Leicester East. CB is a brilliant newspaperman. Over the years he has given his whole life to the community. His papers are very well-read. It’s a way of connecting the people who live in different places. Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar have both been successful in raising the voice of the community.”

CB’s publications are uplifting the community: Unmesh Desai Unmesh Desai AM said, “Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar play a major role in the upliftment of the community.

Rajesh, you are the latest in the long conveyor belt of politicians that CB has nurtured. I have seen the development of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar from the Mid-eighties.

Rajesh has done outstanding work as Deputy Mayor of business, creating 330,000 jobs and bringing investment from so many countries through London and Partners.”

It’s going to be a turning point for the Labour Party: Cllr Butt Cllr Muhammed Butt said, “I have seen Rajesh’s work and he supported me at the Brent council with the businesses and creation of so many entities and opportunities. One thing I have to say, we don’t have enough of our own communities at the top level. We will see Rajesh bhai elected very soon. It's going to be a turning point for the Labour Party. The Indian community is striving in the business and is

successful contributing so much to the success of this country.

People like CB started strengthening the community many years ago and due to that strong foundation, we are here.”

Bridge-building to be on top priority: CB Patel Publisher and Editor-inChief of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar CB Patel said, “We want such a member of parliament who could be bridge builders, creators. Not only wealth but cohesion to be on top priority. I genuinely believe that there is nobody better qualified than Rajesh Agrawal. Whatever your religion or political favour, the future government is going to make or break this country.

Rajesh can do a wonderful job for the Labour Party and for this country. He will play an important role as a Labour candidate for Leicester East and the politics of this country. What he has done to bring investment to London and the UK, created more than 300,000 small jobs.

This is what we wantinvestment, job creation and new industry.”

Kanti Nagda MBE, CEO of Sangat Centre said, “It is great news that Rajesh is selected as a candidate for Leicester East by Labour Party. We had the headquarters of the Confederation of Indian Organisation in Leicester until two years ago. It is the right time for you to be selected as a candidate.”

Kiran Patel, Principal, Albury Associates said, “One thing I discovered about Rajesh is that he will ask you a question, he knows what the answer is and he knows what the second question is. I think that’s what makes people different. It doesn't matter what party you represent, it doesn't matter where you come from, If you can run Britain through Parliament, the way you have run your business, we will all be millionaires.”

Anirban Mukhopadhyay, Chairman of London Overseas Centre of Cost Accountants (of India), Director- Heritage Bengal Global said, “I observed many times that we Indians don’t care much about voting. You must create awareness in the people that they should go and vote.

There is a very strong connection between Leicester and India.

Leicester City Football Club is the sister club of the very popular East Bengal Club.”

ABPL Senior Advertising Manager Kishore Parmar and Business Manager Pooja Raval along with Preya Maniyar welcomed the guests.

A vote of thanks was given by Group Editor Mahesh Liloriya.

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Major reforms under the Autumn Statement

Jeremy Hunt

C

hancellor Jeremy Hunt presented the 2023 Autumn Statement to Parliament on November 22, along with supporting documents. Following the statement, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) released updated forecasts for the UK's economic and fiscal outlook.

Hunt emphasised delivering a growth-focused Autumn Statement, aligning with the Prime Minister's priorities to halve inflation, boost economic growth, and reduce debt.

The Chancellor outlined growth measures supporting British businesses and initiatives to enhance work remuneration.

In his speech, the Chancellor said he was delivering an “Autumn Statement for growth”. He said the OBR’s forecast shows that the Prime Minister’s priorities for the economy are being met. The economic priorities are to halve inflation, grow the economy and reduce debt.

The Chancellor said the Autumn Statement set out “growth measures to back British business” and “measures to make work pay”.

The following policies were announced: • The government plans to reduce National Insurance Contributions (NICs) for employees and self-employed individuals. The changes include lowering 1 NIC from 12% to 10%, reducing 4 NIC from 9% to 8%. Additionally, selfemployed individuals will only be

required to pay 4 NIC, with the elimination of the obligation for both 1 and 4 NIC. Further reforms for Class 2 are anticipated next year.

• The “full expensing” rule that allows businesses to fully deduct the cost of specific investments from their taxes is now set to be permanent, replacing a temporary provision scheduled to conclude in March 2026. This shift will result in a reduction of £9.2 billion in corporation tax revenue for the government.

• The temporary reduction in bills for retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses, amounting to up to 75%, will be extended for one more year, incurring a one-off cost of £2.7 billion.

• Several measures pertaining to tax reliefs have been introduced, encompassing enhanced support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in Research and Development (R&D), an extension of the 'sunset date' for freeport tax reliefs, and adminis-

trative adjustments to tax reliefs within the creative industry.

• The investment zones program will be extended from five to ten years.

• VAT on period pants has been eliminated.

• A 75% increase in the longterm sickness bill is registered.

There will be a freeze on alcohol duty until August 2024, while the duty on rolling tobacco will see an increase of 18.1 per cent.

• The employment plans involve allocating additional funds, approximately £0.4 billion annually from 2024 to 2027, to expand employment programs.

• The local housing allowance rates will see an increase to match the 30th percentile of an area's market rents in 2024/25.

Subsequently, these rates will be maintained in cash terms in the following years.

• Commencing from April 1, 2024, the National Living Wage for

eligible workers in the UK aged 21 and over will experience a 9.8% increase, reaching £11.44 per hour.

• The freezing of personal income tax bands until 2027-28 will result in eventual additional taxes being paid.

• The Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment (MTD for ITSA) system is set for enhancements and simplifications, eliminating the End of Period Statement requirement and providing flexibility for multiple tax agents.

• The Finance Bill will now allow organisations to reduce extra PAYE taxes under off-payroll working rules, considering previous Income and Corporation Tax payments.

After these announcements, The OBR predicts a slower economic growth than forecasted in March 2023. The forecast indicates more persistent and domestically driven inflation, benefiting public finances.

UK is turning the corner in seeing debt falling and better days ahead for growth

S

iddhartha Bandyopadhyay is a globally recognised economist specializing in political economy and public policy.

Awarded the Duncan Black prize in 2015, his work on electoral incentives and political coalitions is published in top journals, influencing academic courses.

Focused on the economics of crime, his research delves into game theoretic modelling, statistical analysis, and costbenefit evaluations.

His extensive contributions span reputable journals, policy reports, and media features. As lead economist on funded projects exceeding £3 million, Siddhartha directs the Centre for Crime, Justice, and Policing, leading the transnational crime theme at the Institute of Global Innovation. Here’s his exclusive Q&A on the Autumn Statement 2023.

What is the key message the autumn statement conveys this year, which layman may not have understood correctly?

The Autumn Statement tries to convey the message that the UK is turning the corner in terms of seeing debt falling and better days ahead for growth making some tax cuts (in the form of a 2% cut in national insurance contributions and hints of more to come) possible which masks the fact that the outlook for growth is bleak and inflation forecasts are if anything worse than expected.

What will be the potential impact of the autumn statement on the UK economy, especially considering the inflation and cost-of-living crisis? Does it change anything for the middle class?

While the small cut in national insurance contributions is welcome news for many, with inflation people’s real income keeps falling and the average tax burden is the highest since the 1940’s and people including the middle class will struggle with the cost of living. This will also come with no improvement in public services that will adversely affect most people, including the middle class.

What potential economic outcomes do you foresee from the increased investment in employment initiatives?

Which sector will possibly see better employment opportunities?

The investment in employment oppor-

tunities is welcome, including retraining opportunities for over 50 but many are unable to work because cuts to public spending in real terms have left the NHS unable to see people who are not actively seeking jobs in a timely fashion because of illhealth. Hence, a major cause behind people leaving the labour force has not been addressed.

Does the Budget align with the UK's long-term economic strategy? Would it be right to call this a futuristic budget?

The budget is portrayed by the government as helping towards meeting 5 broad aims outlined by the Chancellor: reducing debt, cutting of Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay taxes and incentivising work, bolstering British business, building domestic and sustainable energy How do you anticipate the combined and delivering world-class education. impact of NIC relaxations and increased There are measures to help people get back taxes from frozen income bands on to work and some marginal tax relief and British businesses will gain from full families and individuals, considering the expensing. It is not entirely clear how the contrasting nature of these policies? ambition of world class education and susThe tax burden remains high and containable energy are being promoted in tinues to grow. These are not contrasting terms of clear initiatives in the Autum policies, rather the reduction in NI Statement. It is a budget that on the whole marginally lowers the growth in tax burden makes some marginal changes without any given the frozen income bands but the net plans on how to improve public services effect still leaves individuals and families that are in a precarious state. Admittedly, it worse off in real terms. is a challenging task for a Chancellor facing How does the autumn statement fare gloomy forecasts from the Office of Budget when it comes to small businesses, Responsibility to lay out a future vision that tackles these problems but in any case especially the hospitality sector and for it is not what one would call a futuristic entrepreneurs? budget.

By making permanent, what is known

as full expensing, small businesses, and entrepreneurs in general will benefit. Full expensing allows any investment made for certain categories: IT, plant or machinery equipment to be deducted in full and immediately from the business’ profits.

Further, it allows businesses to save 25p in every pound spent on other types of investment. All these are expected to incentivise investment.

What economic factors drove the government's decision to boost longterm sickness support? Is this move a strategic one or election-oriented?

The UK faces a large workforce shortage so there are sound economic reasons for getting people back to work. The punitive measures if people do not purportedly engage with the process may be partly election-oriented. At first glance, many will applaud getting people who are able to work off benefits but a large portion are off work because of their long term health needs not being met because of long waiting times in the NHS, an issue that is not being addressed.

How does this Budget compare to previous ones regarding its approach to economic challenges?

This is not a budget in the traditional sense though tax adjustments can be made in the Autumn statement. While there was some hype surrounding possible personal or corporate tax cuts, in actuality there is no real move towards making inflation adjustments leading to a higher tax burden. While there is a hint of tax cuts coming in the future the tax freeze is unlikely to radically change (unless there are political compulsions), given the pessimistic growth forecasts and there is no major point of departure from the last few budgets/Autum statements aside from some incentives to business and the beginning of a plan to get people back to work.

With elections on the cards, do you think this autumn statement is more politicised for electoral benefits?

Elections inevitably play a role in any government’s decision making and maintaining the triple lock for state pensions

may be partly driven by political compulsions. Nonetheless, these will leave the next government with less flexibility to invest in public services if it is to balance the budget. Similarly, the work initiatives are good but the underlying premise of cutting benefits for those who do not engage has a populist streak.

Do you think the next government that comes to power will be able to sustain this budget and its futuristic goals?

Many in the media have commented that the Autumn statement lays traps by introducing a NI cut and a large increase in state pensions that will leave a new government with little headroom for improving public services or investing upfront to grow the economy and meet its ‘green targets’. These are to an extent true and implicitly assumes the Chancellor does not believe the current government will come back to power. Yet, this assumes that if Labour comes to power, it will not be bold enough to invest for growth (which includes the education sector and for improving productivity by having more people get timely treatment by investing in the NHS) but instead will try to balance the budget year on year. Thus, a new government can meet this challenge by making a cogent case that the needed investment will actually yield higher return in a few years and thus any borrowing is strictly to improve productivity and grow the economy.

What does Britain really need from any ruling party right now or in the future to come back on its feet?

Britain’s productivity and growth have suffered, and public finances are in a precarious state leading to the health and education sectors being in crisis mode, so the ruling party and any government that comes to power will need to invest in improving productivity, this includes a sustainable plan for the health sector as that has caused a considerable portion of people to be less productive or even leave the workforce. Covid also exacerbated the digital divide so levelling up in opportunities through investment in education (including vocational) is also essential if Britain is to become a high growth economy. This may need governments to make prudent and well costed decisions to borrow but with a clear plan on how this will help boost productivity.

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2 - 8 December 2023

Tata Technologies IPO subscribed nearly 70 times The main board of the bourses saw five companies make primary offers during a busy week. The overall demand for shares from these offers hovered around £30 billion, compared to the almost £740 million worth of stock that was on offer.

When it came to the amount of money raised, the largest offer was £304.3 million for Tata Technologies. The remaining four were for Fedbank Financial, Flair Writing, Gandhar Oil Refinery, and Indian Renewable Energy Agency Development (IREDA).

The response generated in these offers, which saw four offers subscribed multiple times, proved that there was enough appetite among investors in India for new offers from good

companies, market players said. All the companies are set to be listed soon.

Out of the four, the Tata Technologies IPO, which was the group's first initial public offering in almost 20

years, was subscribed a little more than 69 times.

According to data on the BSE, the overall demand was for slightly more than 3126 million shares, against an offer of 45 million shares made during the bidding process. Fund-wise, the Tata Tech IPO is valued at £304.3 million, but the overall book size was close to £16 billion.

The £215 million IPO for IREDA closed through which the government is divesting its stake in the financier for renewable energy projects. This offer was subscribed 39 times.

Amazon to use inland waterways for delivery of items Amazon is planning to use interior waterways in India to ship items to customers in an effort to find more affordable and environmentally friendly ways to deliver goods.

Towards this end, the ecommerce major signed a of memorandum understanding (MoU) with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).

“The premise of inland waterways is to be able to

reduce the cost of transportation and reduce the impact on the environment as it is a lot more sustainable as a solution than road or rail.

How do you make it a viable alternative not just for bulk carriage but also timesensitive deliveries…that’s what this MoU is aimed at. A developed water network is the cheapest mode of transportation. This will also benefit the cost of Amazon as

a company,” Abhinav Singh, vice-president, operations at Amazon India said.

With the help of IWAI and its carriers, the business will launch a trial run on the Patna to Kolkata waterways as part of the cooperation.

According to Singh, the corporation would be able to distribute goods in locations that are inaccessible due to flooding by using inland waterways.

"When air connectivity to the area may

be disrupted, shipping can be used to deliver in places like Majuli Island in Assam or a place like Andaman & Nicobar Island," Singh stated.

“A supply chain is a combination of where you deploy the inventory and how you transport it post you deploy it. Water can be a very big enabler in helping us forward deployed inventory in a very cost efficient way,” Singh added.

Currency in circulation falls during Diwali week

The currency in circulation (CIC) decreased during Diwali week for the second time in 20 years as people switched to using digital payment methods to make their seasonal shopping.

According to RBI data, the amount of money in circulation decreased by £593.4 million to £336 billion in the week ending November 17. The Diwali celebration took place this year from November 10 to 14.

There has been a decrease of £2.27 billion in the amount of currency in circulation this financial year. Although bankers claim that 97% of the £200 million in banknotes that were taken out were returned in October, a portion of the reduction can be attributed to this process.

According to Soumya

Kanti Ghosh, group chief economic adviser, SBI, the cash decline reflects the power of digital transactions. “With the increased acceptance of digital payments in the country, the over-reliance on cash is slowly fading. In October 2023, UPI increased (month-on month) by 853 million transactions of £13.66 billion in value terms,” he said. An Ecowrap research report by SBI analysed the movement of currency in circulation during Diwali week for the previous two decades. In every year, the CIC has gone up, barring 2009, following the global financial crisis. In 2021, Diwali saw CIC increase £4.4 billion during the festival week. A year earlier, during the pandemic, it rose by £4.38 billion.

Go First lenders to vote India's FDI equity inflows Tesla may set up on liquidation amid factory in India in 2024 dip 34% in April-June 2023 lack of suitors Days after a bid deadline passed with no takers for the firm, Go First's lenders will cast their votes on a plan to liquidate the bankrupt Indian airline, two banking sources said. "The proposal whether or not to liquidate the airline has been floated and individual lenders will take the proposal to their boards and submit final votes in 10-15 days," said a banker with a state-run bank that has exposure to Go First.

"It appears that there is no interest from suitors for the airline and bankers are inclined to opt for liquidation rather than restarting the insolvency

process."

Go First owes its creditors $785.6 million in total. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in May. Among the airline's creditors are the Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, IDBI Bank, and Deutsche Bank.

The only business whose bid to acquire Go First was approved by creditors, Jindal Power, likewise chose not to proceed with a bid, according to reports.

"Liquidation is the only viable option before banks as legal troubles are deterring suitors," said the second banker.

The agreement between Elon Musk's electric car business Tesla and the Indian government to import American-made cars is probably going to be finalised. It has been reported that Tesla may make its way into the Indian market around 2024.

According to reports, Tesla Inc. and India are getting closer to exchanging business, which would enable the US automaker to export vehicles to the nation. It is anticipated that Tesla will establish a factory in India in 2024 as part of this agreement.

The announcement regarding the deal can be made during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in January 2024, said a source. Tesla is considering Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat to set up their electric vehicle (EV) factory.

Tesla is also expected to make an initial investment of USD 2 billion to set up shop in India, and would look to increase purchases of auto parts from the nation to as much as USD 15 billion, according to reports.

Additionally, according to sources, the plans have not been formalised and may change in the future. Due to their existing ecosystems for exporting electric vehicles, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are of interest to Elon Musk's company. Gujarat is under consideration due to the state's rapid infrastructure development.

Govt planning to add 100 new members to NCLT The government is debating a significant expansion of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) that might add up to 100 members, one of the largest steps to enhance the NCLT's operation. Even though there are currently 63 members authorised, there are usually vacancies because the government takes a long time to designate new members.

The idea is not just to speed up insolvency resolution, which has slowed down considerably in recent years, but also seek faster disposal of company law matters that are also heard by NCLT benches, a senior official said.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has been closely monitoring the time being taken and the process and has discussed multiple options with the

government and other stakeholders to improve the functioning of NCLT. According to the most recent data available with IBBI, 67% of cases are continuing past 270 days, and 80% of cases have gone over the 180-day limit for bankruptcy resolution - despite the Bankruptcy & Bankruptcy Code's provision for a 90-day extension. A few months back, IBBI released research that revealed significant delays in the admissions process.

In September 2022, the US had 345 bankruptcy judges, who dealt with over 380,000 cases. In India, between November 2017 and August 2022, over 31,000 IBC cases had been filed with close to 26,000 adjudicated, according to data available on NCLT website.

Government data shows that between April and June 2023, foreign direct investment (FDI) into India fell 34% to USD 10.94 billion, mostly due to reduced inflows into the computer hardware and software, telecom, auto, and pharmaceutical industries.

From April to June of 2022–2023 FDI inflows were USD 16.58 billion. Additionally, inflows fell by 40.55 per cent to USD 9.28 billion between January and March of 2023.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) released data indicating that foreign investments decreased to USD 5.1 billion, 2.67 billion and 3.16 billion in April, May, and June of this fiscal year, compared to USD 6.46 billion, 6.15 billion and 3.98 billion in the corresponding periods last year.

Total FDI, which includes equity inflows, reinvested earnings and other capital, contracted 21.4 per cent to USD 17.56 billion during the period under review as against USD 22.34 billion in April-June 2022.

During the quarter, FDI equity inflows decreased from major countries including Singapore, Mauritius, the US, UK, and UAE. Cayman Islands and Cyprus saw a sharp decline in investments from April to June 2023, falling to USD 75 million and USD 6 million respectively from USD 450 million and USD 605 million in the same time the previous year.

SC junks plea seeking probe against SBI, LIC A Congress leader who demanded, "without a shred of evidence," an independent investigation into State Bank of India and Life Insurance Corporation for making large investments in Adani group stocks and incurring significant losses in the group share meltdown after the Hindenburg report was rebuked by the Supreme Court.

A bench consisting of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, spontaneously responded to lawyer Varun Thakur's appeal on behalf of petitioner Jaya Thakur by declaring that reckless demands were being made without supporting documentation and without considering the impact they would have on the nation's economy.

CJI Chandrachud said, “As lawyers, when

you argue a case, please be responsible for the nature of submissions before the court. You are asking the court, without a shred of evidence, to direct investigations against SBI and LIC? Do you realise the impact of the direction which you are seeking? “Is this some debate in college or are you making submissions in court? Do you realise the impact of investigations directed by the Supreme Court against SBI and LIC? Do you realise the impact it will have on the stability of our financial markets? Surely, the counsel must exercise some responsibility, while making submissions.” Thakur attempted to draw the court’s attention to the petitioner’s submissions. Brushing it aside, the CJI-led bench said, “There is absolutely no material furnished by you and you are seeking a probe against SBI and LIC.”

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in brief

BAPS temple in Abu Dhabi all set to be opened on February 14, 2024 ABU DHABI: The grand opening of the Abu Dhabi's first traditional Hindu temple is set on February 14, 2024. The construction of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in the UAE capital, which began in December 2019, is nearing completion.

Recently, Sadguru Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami, the global convener of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, the organisation building the temple, performed a ceremony of showering flower petals over the spires.

Ishwarcharan Swami, along with Pujya Brahmaviharidas

Swami, head of the BAPS Hindu Mandir, went up in a crane-lifted box to perform the ritual of blessing the seven spires, each representing an emirate of the UAE. The day marked a momen-

tous occasion for the temple, serving as a symbol of worldwide unity, tranquility, and inclusivity. Artisans, volunteers, devotees, and Ishwarcharan Swami all shared a profound sense of pride and joy as they witnessed the majestic and groundbreaking progress of Abu Dhabi's inaugural temple.

“It looks incredible and magnificent from above,” Ishwarcharan Swami said after his aerial survey of the temple.

Brahmaviharidas Swami, who

Ishwarcharan accompanied Swami, elaborated on the construction of the temple, which is made of pink sandstones and white marble on 27 acres of land in Abu Mureikha, off the DubaiAbu Dhabi highway.

“The entire complex, parking, and the main pinnacle with smaller pinnacles, all look astonishing. The whole view is majestic,” Ishwarcharan Swami said.

The monumental work of artisans depicts key moments from the Indian mythological epics Ramayana, Mahabharata, and other narratives from Hindu scriptures.

Pakistan applies for BRICS membership; seeks Russia's support MOSCOW: Pakistan has filed an application to join the BRICS group of nations in 2024 and is counting on Russia’s assistance during the membership process, Pakistan’s newly-appointed Ambassador to Russia Muhammad Khalid Jamali has told the Russian media.

In an interview with TASS, Jamali said the Pakistan plans to join the group next year, under Russia’s presidency and added that Islamabad was in contact with member countries for support of the country’s member-

ship but counted on Russia’s assistance.

"Pakistan would like to be part of this important organisation and we are in process of contacting member countries for extending support to Pakistan’s membership in general and Russian Federation in particular," Jamali said.

When asked whether Islamabad has filed its BRICS membership bid, Ambassador Khalid Jamali replied that Pakistan had already applied. While responding to another question,

Pak SC accepts Imran's plea for bail ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court accepted a bail application from detained former PM Imran Khan, his lawyer said, a day after another court declared illegal his trial on charges of leaking state secrets.

The former cricketer is waging a number of court challenges in an attempt to get out of jail and to lead his party in the general election that is scheduled for February 8 and which his bitter adversary, another former prime minister, is expecting to win. For illegally selling gifts from the state while serving as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, the 71-year-old was sentenced to three years in prison on August 5. According to his lawyer, the Supreme Court granted the bail request.

“A decision will come in the next hearing after arguments from both sides,” lawyer Naeem Panjutha said.

No date had been set for the hearing, he said, adding that the

Supreme Court would seek input from the government on the application.

Khan has been at the centre of protracted political turmoil in nuclear-armed Pakistan that has shone a spotlight on the powerful military’s influence over civilian politics.

He was removed from office in 2022 following a no-confidence vote in parliament. At the time, he said the military was attempting to distance itself from him following a disagreement with the generals over selections to high security positions. Khan's conviction prevents him from running in the February election, but his party will compete against Nawaz Sharif's, who was overthrown in a coup in 1999 and driven out of office once more in 2017 after a court decision. After four years of self-exile, he returned home last month to support his party's continued hold on power.

the Pakistani diplomat confirmed that Islamabad planned to join the group next year.

Formed in 2010, BRICS is made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – all major emerging economies looking for a greater say in a global order long dominated by the United States and its Western allies.

At the 15th BRICS Summit in August this year, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi

Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had been invited to join the organisation, with their full membership scheduled to take effect on January 1 2024.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said last month that BRICS planned to agree on a list of candidates for partner-state status ahead of the upcoming summit in Kazan.

He added that during the Russian chairmanship, special attention would be paid to expanding the "circle of BRICS friends".

shouting chants in support of the former king, Gyanendra.

They were blocked by riot police who used water cannons, tear gas and bamboo batons to beat them. Both teams had some minor injuries.

Authorities had banned protests in key areas of the city prior to the rally.

“We love our king and country more than our lives.

Bring back the monarchy.

Abolish the republic,” the

A 26-year-old Indian doctoral student died after being shot inside a car in the US state of Ohio, in an incident described by his medical university as “sudden, tragic and senseless”.

Aaditya Adlakha was a fourth-year doctoral student in the molecular and developmental biology programme at the University of Cincinnati Medical School, according to a statement from the medical school. Adlakha died earlier this month at the UC Medical Center, according to the Hamilton County Coroner's Office. After police were informed about the shooting, Adlakha was transported to UC Medical Center where he was in critical condition and was pronounced dead two days later.

INDIAN ORIGIN COUPLE APOLOGISES Krushi Mistry, the Wall Street oil analyst who was dismissed after being seen on camera ordering a Jewish American to "go back to your country" and covering hostage posters with antisemitic placards, has apologised. In it, Mistry and his partner, Shailja Gupta, wrote, “After taking time to contemplate and reflect on our recent actions, we want to send our sincerest apologies to the Jewish gentleman we yelled at as well as apologize to the global Jewish community for our recent actions in NYC. Our behavior was simply unacceptable, and we are ashamed of our actions and words.

We hope to have the opportunity in the near future to speak to the gentleman personally and apologise directly to him. They added, “We have never supported Hamas and have always believed it is a terrorist organisation.

TANKER SEIZED; Two ancient Hindu temples OIL INDIANS AMONG CREW in Pakistan demolished ISLAMABAD: Pakistan continues to eliminate the final remnants of Hinduism from the country as the authorities now have demolished two prominent Hindu places of worship, a report said. The assault on religious minorities claimed the existence of the Hinglaj Mata Mandir (temple) in Sindh province where officials in the Tharparkar District demolished the holy place in the city of Mithi under the pretext of a court decision.

Furthermore, the Sharda Peeth Mandir, which is another Hindu shrine along the Line of Control (LOC) has been destroyed. The anti-Hindu action transpired notwithstanding a permanent Supreme Court judgment meant to safeguard the temple.

Notably, the temple is recognised as a UNESCO site, but even that has not helped to protect the place from Pakistani crackdown. There

are accounts that a coffee shop is being established next to the religious site with an opening planned for November of this year.

Official sources admitted that there are regular occurrences of crimes against Hindus in Pakistan. The marginalised religious minority has consistently had to endure issues like murders, targeted violence and land invasions. Local participation in these shocking activities which is frequently accompanied by official government approval has been a consistent trend.

The action against Sharda Peeth casts doubt on the region’s ability to preserve its rich cultural and religious legacy as well as runs counter to global preservation initiatives.

These incidents serve as a reminder of the ongoing discrimination that Hindus suffer in the Muslim-majority nation.

Protesters seeking restoration of Nepal’s monarchy clash with police KATHMANDU: Tens of thousands of followers of Nepal's former king attempted to march on the capital to demand the return of the monarchy and the country's prior status as a Hindu state, but were stopped by riot police using batons and tear gas.

The demonstrators assembled on the outskirts of Kathmandu and made an attempt to make their way into the city centre while holding the national flag and

INDIAN STUDENT SHOT DEAD INSIDE A CAR IN US

crowd chanted.

Supporters of the former king came to Kathmandu from all over the country to demand the return of the monarchy that was abolished in 2008. They accused the government and political parties of corruption and failed governance.

Weeks of street protests in 2006 forced then-King Gyanendra to abandon his

Attackers seized a tanker linked to Israel off the coast of Aden, Yemen, authorities said.

The attackers seized the Liberian-flagged Central Park, managed by Zodiac Maritime, in the Gulf of Aden. Zodiac called the attack “a suspected piracy incident. Our priority is the safety of our 22 crew onboard,” it said. “The Turkish-captained vessel has a multinational crew consisting of a crew of Russian, Vietnamese, Bulgarian, Indian, Georgian and Filipino nationals. The vessel is carrying a full cargo of phosphoric acid.” London-based Zodiac Maritime is part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group.

STOP USING ‘SAHIB’ FOR GOVT OFFICIALS: PAK CJ Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa has barred the addition of the word “sahib” to the title of public servants, saying that it unnecessarily elevates their status and makes them feel not accountable to the people. In a two-page order, Chief Justice Isa said adding sahib with one’s job title is not favourable as it may instill delusions of grandeur and a perception of unaccountability, which is unacceptable since it is against the interests of the public whom they are meant to serve, The Express Tribute newspaper reported.

PLEA IN PAK SC FOR REMOVAL OF PRESIDENT

authoritarian rule and introduce democracy.

Two years later, a newly elected parliament voted to abolish the monarchy and declared Nepal a republic with a president as head of state.

A petition has been filed in Pakistan’s Supreme Court seeking President Arif Alvi’s removal as the head of the state over “misconduct” and failure to maintain impartiality in performing his duties, according to media reports. The petition, filed by one Ghulam Murtaza Khan, alleges that the president has been evasive in performing his constitutional obligations. “He has violated the Constitution and committed gross misconduct; therefore, he is not eligible to continue his duties as the president and needs to be declared that he should not continue as president of Pakistan,” the petition said.

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in brief IRAN HANGS 17-YEAROLD FOR MURDER Iran has executed a 17-year-old convicted of murder, two rights groups said, expressing outrage that the Islamic republic continues to hang people for crimes committed as minors.

Hamidreza Azari was executed in prison in the eastern town of Sabzevar in Razavi Khorasan province, the Norway-based Hengaw and Iran Human Rights (IHR) groups said in separate statements. Persian-language satellite TV channel Iran International also reported the execution, saying Azari was the only child in his family and despite his age, he had already started working as a scrap worker a few years ago. Citing documents they had seen, both Hengaw and IHR said he was 16 years old at the time of the crime and 17 when executed. He had reportedly been sentenced to death for killing a man in a brawl in May.

US NAVY PLANE MISSES RUNWAY, ENDS UP IN OCEAN The Marine Corps reported that a US Navy maritime patrol plane that had landed at a Marine Corps installation in Hawaii overshot a runway and ended up in surrounding waters.

Nine crew members made it out of the situation unscathed. According to Lt Hailey Harms, the base's assistant director of public affairs, the mishap happened close to Marine Corps Base Hawaii, which is located near Kaneohe Bay. A standard training mission had been flown by the aircraft, a P-8A Poseidon, according to her. All nine navy personnel on board escaped from the aircraft and were later rescued from an inflatable life raft floating in the water, Harms said.

WORLD’S LARGEST ICEBERG HAS BROKEN FREE The world’s largest iceberg is on the move for the first time in over three decades, scientists said. At almost 4,000 square km, the Antarctic iceberg called A23a is roughly three times the size of New York City. Since calving off West Antarctica’s Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in 1986, the berg - which once hosted a Soviet research station - has been stranded after its base became stuck to the floor of Weddell Sea. Satellite images reveal the iceberg, weighing nearly a trillion metric tonnes, is now drifting quickly past the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, aided by strong winds and currents. It’s rare to see an iceberg of this size on the move, said British Antarctic Survey glaciologist Oliver Marsh.

SEVERING TIES WILL BE A MISTAKE: CHINA TO ARGENTINA China said it would be a “serious mistake” if Argentina were to cut ties, after the weekend presidential election victory of a right-wing libertarian who has said he will not deal with communists. Argentinian president-elect Javier Milei has criticised China as well as Brazil, which are among his country’s key trading partners.

Milei has even likened the Chinese government to an “assassin” and said the people of China were “not free”. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the development of relations with Argentina had been showing good momentum, and it would be a “serious mistake” for Argentina to cut ties with China and Brazil.

CHINA TO ALLOW VISA-FREE ENTRY TO BOOST TOURISM China announced it will allow visa-free entry for citizens of five European countries and Malaysia as it tries to encourage more people to visit for business and tourism. Starting December 1, citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia will be allowed to enter China for up to 15 days without a visa. The trial programme will be in effect for one year. The aim is “to facilitate the high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and high-level opening up to the outside world,” a foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Indians are third largest undocumented immigrants in US WASHINGTON: New estimates from the Pew Research Centre place the number of undocumented Indian immigrants in the US at roughly 725,000, making them the third largest group behind those from Mexico and El Salvador.

The think tank stated that as of 2021, 10.5 million undocumented immigrants in the nation made up 22% of the people who were born outside of the

US and approximately 3% of the US population as a whole.

Between 2007 and 2021, there was a discernible growth in the number of undocumented immigrants entering the United States from almost every corner of the world; the biggest increases were from South and East Asia (180,000) and Central America (240,000).

While the number of unauthorised immigrants from

Mexico - 4.1 million in 2021 - was the lowest since the 1990s, El Salvador - 800,000 - and India with 725,000 immigrants saw an increase in the numbers, the report said. The six states with the largest unauthorised immigrant populations in 2021 were: California (1.9 million), Texas (1.6 million), Florida (900,000), New York (600,000), New Jersey (450,000) and Illinois (400,000), the report said.

The number of undocumented immigrants from other countries was 6.4 million in 2021, an increase of 900,000 from the previous year, according to the data. Other nations that contributed for the majority of unlawful immigration were Honduras (525,000) and Guatemala (700,000). According to the research, there were rises from 2017 in Guatemala, Honduras, and India.

Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza Indian-origin wins extended by two more days Australian Senate election CAIRO/JERUSALEM: A truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza that was on the verge of expiring was extended by two days, mediator Qatar said on Monday, raising the prospect the Palestinian group will free hostages beyond the 69 released since Friday.

The truce will prolong a pause in the seven-week war between Israel and the Islamist Palestinian group, which triggered the latest conflict with an Oct 7 incursion into southern Israel in which it killed about 1,200 people and took roughly 240 hostage.

Each day since the four-day truce began on Friday, Hamas has released some of the hostages while Israel has freed some of the Palestinians it holds.

Israel previously said it would extend the truce by one day for every 10 more hostages released, providing some respite to Palestinians in the Mediterranean seaside strip

from the war, which has killed thousands and laid waste to the enclave.

"An agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian pause for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip," a Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson said in a post on social media platform X. Hamas also said it had agreed a two-day extension. There was no immediate comment from Israel, but a White House official confirmed agreement had been reached.

US President Joe Biden thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as Qatar and Egypt - who have facilitated indirect talks between the two sides - for a pact that would free more hostages and allow more aid into Gaza.

On Monday, the Israeli military said 11 Israeli hostages - the latest to be freed under the terms of the original truce that was due to end on Monday - had arrived in Israel.

MELBOURNE: Dave Sharma, who became the first Indianorigin lawmaker in Australia's Parliament in 2019, will return to politics after his victory in the New South Wales Liberal Senate race. Sharma, 47, will replace exforeign minister Marise Payne, who has retired from the Senate, the Australian Associated Press reported.

Sharma, who represented the Sydney seat of Wentworth until his defeat at the 2022 election, beat former New South Wales (NSW) minister Andrew Constance, a frontrunner backed by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

In a vote by the New South Wales Liberal Party members, Sharma defeated Constance 251-206 in the final ballot on Sunday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Sharma, who served as Australia's ambassador to Israel

from 2013 to 2017, was backed by the moderates within the party.

Asserting that taking over from former Senator Payne was a privilege, Sharma said, "I would like to thank the party members for the opportunity to hold the Albanese government to account in the Senate over its many missteps and wrong decisions, and to fight for the many households across New South Wales (NSW) struggling to deal with Labor's cost-of-living crisis."

"The opportunity to serve in the Senate will allow me to fight for our nation's national security interests in a time of greater global turmoil," he was quoted as saying in the report.

Congratulating him on securing the NSW Senate position, Opposition leader Dutton said Sharma's entry to the Senate would come at a crucial time.

SFJ's Pannun puts onus on US for his protection WASHINGTON: Putting the onus on the Joe Biden administration for his protection, Sikhs for Justice chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a designated terrorist in India, alleged the Indian government wanted to kill him for running the global Khalistan referendum voting campaign.

“It is a challenge to American sovereignty. It is a threat to freedom of speech and democracy in America itself.

But I will let US authorities speak more on this,” Pannun said in an interview.

Last week, India said the US shared inputs on a nexus between organised criminals, gun runners and terrorists dur-

senior most levels, raised the concern with India and expected those deemed responsible to be held accountable.

India, according to the US, was surprised and concerned when Gurpatwant Singh Pannun the issue was raised, and said ing the course of recent discusthat this was not government sions, and relevant departpolicy and will investigate the ments were examining them, matter. after reports said that American The remarks by the ministry authorities thwarted a plot to of external affairs (MEA) came kill Pannun on US soil. The in response to the report in the Biden administration, too, conLondon-based newspaper firmed that the US, at the which also suggested that the

US warned India against any involvement in a plot to kill Pannun, a Sikh extremist the government of India officially designated as a terrorist but who also happens to be a dual American and Canadian citizen.

During the interview, when Pannun was asked that he had reportedly angered Indian officials after issuing a video where he warned Sikhs not to fly on Air India because it would be “life-threatening,” the Khalistani separatist replied, "I was saying ‘boycott’ Air India, but the whole Indian narrative shifted to ‘bomb’ Air India.

Somebody has to be a zombie to not differentiate between boycotting and bombing.

Pro-Khalistan protesters heckle India’s envoy at NY gurdwara WASHINGTON: India’s ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu was heckled by proKhalistan protesters during a visit to a New York gurdwara on Sunday before the agitators were escorted out by mainstream Sikhs who welcomed the envoy.

Pro-Khalistan elements falsely claimed that an “embarrassed and agitated” Sandhu “aborted” his visit and “fled the Hicksville gurdwara in haste”. Footage and photographs of the visit showed Sandhu going on to complete his engagement after being welcomed by moderate Sikhs, who constitute a majority of the

community.

“Privileged to join the local Sangat, including from Afghanistan, at Guru Nanak Darbar of Long Island in celebrating Gurpurab - listened to Kirtan, spoke about Guru Nanak’s everlasting message of togetherness, unity, & equality, partook langar, and sought blessings for all,” Sandhu tweeted after the visit.

In the clip, Himmat Singh is heard accusing the Indian government of orchestrating the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, designated by India as a terrorist, who was president of the

Surrey gurdwara in Canada and the coordinator for the Canadian chapter of the Khalistan Referendum, a charge endorsed by the Trudeau government in Canada, leading to a rift between New Delhi and Ottawa.

“I only wanted answers from ambassador Sandhu as to why India is using violence to stop the global Khalistan Referendum voting,” the organization, Sikhs for Justice, quoted Himmat Singh as saying.

In a communication, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, SFJ general counsel, said that

Himmat Singh led the group of Khalistanis at the Hicksville gurdwara in New York while also accusing ambassador Sandhu in connection with what he claimed was India’s role in the killing of Nijjar.

Pannun, who alleges he was the target of an Indian assassination plot foiled by US intelligence, a claim implicitly endorsed by US intelligence sources in leaks to the media, said that the “American phase” of the “Khalistan referendum voting is going to start from January 28, 2024 in San Francisco, California”.

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‘Enriching experience’, says PM Modi Aditya L1 spacecraft nearing its final phase, as he takes sortie on Tejas fighter says Isro chief Somanath

Putting his personal stamp of approval on the indigenous Tejas fighter, which will become the mainstay of the IAF in the years ahead instead of foreign jets, PM Narendra Modi flew in a twin-seat variant of the Tejas light combat aircraft for a 30-minute sortie last week.

“The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country’s indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential. A flight to remember! Tejas is India’s pride, a manifestation of the strength and skills of 1.4 billion Indians,” said Modi, after becoming the first PM to fly in a fighter jet.

The Tejas trainer in which he flew was piloted by Group Captain Debanjan Mandal, with IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari present at the HAL airport in Bengaluru.

The capabilities of the lightweight, multi-role 4.5-generation Tejas were demonstrated to the PM during

the flight, and it comes at a time when the defence ministry is set to give preliminary approval to an order for 97 more LCAs to add to the 123 already contracted earlier.

President Droupadi Murmu recently flew in a twin-engine Sukhoi30MKI, as did her predecessors APJ Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil. Some defence ministers, including Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, Manohar Parrikar and George Fernandes have

also flown in fighters and trainers. Modi, in turn, made his debut in the single-engine, homegrown Tejas. Modi, who has been pushing for “Make in India” in defence production, also visited the Tejas hangar at HAL’s Bengaluru complex and appreciated efforts by the PSU and its team.

Tejas, designed by the Bengaluru-based DRDO lab Aeronautical Development Agency, has had a long and tortuous development saga. But the all-weather fighter is now flying high, though HAL will have to work hard to step up its production rate from eight a year to 16 by 2025, and then 24 annually. Of the first order for 40 Tejas Mark-1 jets, which was to be initially completed by December 2016, HAL has delivered 32 single seat fighters and two of the eight twin-seat trainers to the IAF so far.

29 killed as unseasonal rain, lightning strike Gujarat At least 29 people were killed as unseasonal rain and lightning strike Gujarat on Sunday last. According to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), out of the total deaths, 27 were caused by lightning alone. The other two deaths were from a structural collapse incident in Dahod district.

A senior SEOC official said, “Tabulation of new cases is still on and hence, district-wise figures would be updated later.” The 27 deaths from lightning strikes in a single day is more than half of the annual average number of such deaths across the state. From 2017 to 2021, Gujarat recorded an average 49 deaths annually from lightning strikes, according to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

Among the deaths, Dahod recorded the highest at four, followed by three deaths each in Banaskantha and Bharuch, and two in Tapi. Eleven

districts recorded one death each. Of these, two persons were reported dead in the same incident in Ambheta of Bharuch district’s Hansot taluka.

Officials associated with relief and rescue operations in the state said that while the single-day deaths are high, they are also one of the highest among states that experienced the impact of Sunday’s Western Disturbance.

In an incident in Mehsana, a youth seated in an autorickshaw parked under a tree died when the tree collapsed after being hit by a lightning bolt. The weather was particularly

stormy on Sunday,” said a senior fire services official in Ahmedabad.

Lightning also claimed the lives of 71 animals including cattle, buffaloes, camels and goats. Banaskantha recorded 19 deaths – the highest followed by 15 in Kheda.

According to SEOC figures, the state recorded 27mm rainfall on Sunday with heavy rainfall in parts of south Gujarat. Sagbara in Narmada district recorded 144mm rainfall, followed by 128mm in Surat city, 122mm in Umarpada near Surat, 116mm in Mandvi near Surat, and 111mm in Chuda in Surendranagar district. In all, 31 talukas recorded rainfall of 50mm or more, and 77 talukas received 25 mm to 50 mm. Out of 252 talukas of Gujarat, 235 received rainfall of 2mm or more.

Met department officials said Sunday’s rainfall is believed to be among the highest single day rainfall in the past 10 years.

The final stages of Aditya L1, India's first space-based mission to study the Sun, are almost complete, and ISRO Chairman S Somanath anticipates that manoeuvres to enter the L1 point would be finished by January 7, 2024.

"Aditya is on the way. I think it has reached almost its final phase," the ISRO chief said on the sidelines of an event organised at VSSC to commemorate the 60th year of the First Sounding Rocket Launch.

He said that the last preparations for the spacecraft's entry into the L1 are currently point

underway incrementally.

"Possibly by January 7th, the final maneuvers will be done for entering into the L1 point," Somanath added.

Aditya L1 was successfully launched on September 2 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota. It is anticipated that the spacecraft would enter a Halo orbit around the Lagrangian point L1, which is thought to be the closest to the Sun, after travelling roughly 1.5 million km from Earth over 125 days. It will take and send images of the Sun for scientific research, among other things.

Governor unveils three books by Vishnu Pandya and late Aarti Pandya

Campaigning for Telangana Assembly poll ends, voting on Nov 30 Campaigning for the Telangana Assembly election ended on 28 November at 5 pm. Chief electoral officer Vikas Raj said that all arrangements for the Telangana Assembly polls on November 30 are complete. Section 144 will be imposed 48 hours before 30th November wherein the gathering of four or more people would be prohibited in the state.

The state has experienced the longest poll season among the four states that have already held elections: Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram. The model code of conduct was implemented in the state following the Elections Commission's October 9 announcement of the schedule.

The results of the assembly elections in Telangana, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh will be announced on December 3. This would initiate the important elections that are thought to be the semifinals of the general elections in 2024. The BJP has been working nonstop to gain power, while the Congress has been battling tooth and nail to make a comeback and the BRS is attempting to hold onto power for a third term in a row.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

addressed a dozen meetings during the campaign period, besides a roadshow in Hyderabad amid huge fanfare.

Rajasthan sees 75% turnout, stray violence Rajasthan recorded 74.96% polling in 199 of the 200 Assembly seats, Election Commission officials said.

Apart from a few skirmishes in some regions of the state, voting was generally quiet. The death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar caused the polling in Sriganganagar's Karanpur seat to be postponed. In the 2018 Assembly elections 74.06% of voters cast their votes.

According to the EC, Pokaran in

Jaisalmer district, where cabinet minister Shale Mohammad is pitted against Mahant Pratap Puri of the BJP, saw the highest turnout - 81.12% followed by 80.85% in Tijara, where Congress’ Imran Khan is up against Alwar MP Mahant Balaknath.

The BJP fielded Congress turncoat Girraj Singh Malinga, who made headlines for his violent attack on a Dalit government employee, and received the third-highest polling percentage from Bari in Dholpur.

Malinga will take on Congressman Prashant Singh Parmar. Reports of violence mainly came from Bharatpur and Shekhawati regions.

(L-R): General Secretary of History Research Center, Dr Darshan Mashroo, Padmashri Vishnu Pandya, Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chancellor of Babasaheb Ambedkar, Dr Ami Upadhyay and Scholar, Dr Vijay Pandya

Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat unveils late Dr Aarti Pandya's research book and two trilingual books, co-authored with Padmashri Vishnu Pandya, at Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar on November 26. During the event, the Governor praised the contribution made by Vishnu Pandya, highlighting how he not only wrote extensively but also played a pivotal role in reshaping history. The governor emphasised Vishnu Pandya's perseverance through challenging times, facing crisis and censorship, even enduring imprisonment. Acknowledging his impressive feat of authoring more than 150 books, the Governor expressed hopes that this achievement would serve as an inspiration to the younger generation.

CBI starts probe into bribe charges against Moitra CBI has initiated an inquiry into the cash forquery allegations against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on a reference from anticorruption ombudsman Lokpal, sources said.

Officials said that Lokpal received a complaint from BJP MP Nishikant Dubey against Moitra alleging that she had taken bribes to raise questions in Parliament. He had also accused Moitra of compromising national security for monetary gains.

“We have started an inquiry on the reference. The next step would be to register a formal preliminary enquiry (PE) to ascertain if the allegations merit a full-fledged investigation. If enough prima facie material

is found during the PE, CBI can convert it into an FIR,” a senior official explained.

There was no formal statement from either CBI or the Lokpal on the issue. Dubey had accused Moitra of asking questions in Lok Sabha to target the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for gifts.

Moitra has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that she was being targeted as she had raised questions on the deals of the Adani Group.

She posted on X: “Neither has Lok Pal uploaded any referral order on website as per

the Lokpal Act nor has CBI put out anything official. Sources telling journos as per usual media circus. Hope £1.3 billion Adani coal scam merits CBI PE before my witchhunt.”

Moitra said she was “amused to see how headless Lokpal with no full-time Chairman referred” her case to the CBI. The Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha has already adopted a report by majority, recommending Moitra’s expulsion from the House for accepting “illegal gratifications” to raise questions in the Parliament. The report has been submitted to the Speaker who is to table it in the House during the winter session.

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Governors can’t sit on bills and ED seizes assets worth £75.1 mn in probe veto legislative action, says SC against Congress-linked companies The Supreme Court ruled that, as nominal heads of state, governors lack the authority to veto legislative actions of elected governments or to stall the passage of laws that have been duly passed by the legislature, in an effort to clearly define the governors' scope of action when a bill passed by a state assembly is sent for their assent.

The ruling dated November 10, which addressed the Punjab government's appeal against the governor, Banwarilal Purohit, was posted on the Supreme Court's website last week. The bench of CJI D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said unbridled

powers to “unelected head of state” to sit indefinitely over bills “virtually veto the functioning of the legislative domain by a duly elected legislature by simply declaring that assent is withheld without any further recourse”.

CJI Chandrachud, who authored the judgment, said, “Such a course of action would be contrary to

fundamental principles of a constitutional democracy based on a parliamentary pattern of governance.” The bench also held that the speaker enjoys absolute power for adjourning and proroguing the House. “It is the right of each House of the legislature to be the sole judge of the lawfulness of its own proceedings so as to be immune from challenge before a court of law. During the tenure of the assembly, the House is governed by the decisions which are taken by the speaker in matters of adjournment and prorogation,” the order said.

Dawoodi Bohra head to get Pakistan's highest civilian award Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, head of the Dawoodi Bohra sect of Islam, will be conferred ‘ N i s h a n- e- P ak i s t a n’ , making him the fourth Indian to be honoured with Pakistan’s highest civilian award.

The announcement of the award comes as an acknowledgement of Dr Saiduddin’s services, according to a statement

by Pakistan President Arif Alvi, who approved the conferment. The date for the investiture ceremony was, however, not made public.

The Grand Cross of the Order of Pakistan, also known as Nishan-ePakistan, is the highest civilian award given for exceptionally distinguished contributions rendered to Pakistan's national interest.

It is comparable to the greatest military decoration, Nishan-e-Haider.

President Alvi approved

of the order is Dr Saifuddin, the leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, which is dispersed throughout more than 40 nations, with a sizable membership in Pakistan.

The Dawoodi Bohras work for the betterment of the poor in each of Dr Syedna Mufaddal these nations the conferment of the civil through developmental award under Article 259 (2) projects. of the Constitution and the As per the official webDecorations Act 1975. site of the Dawoodi Bohras, Every year, on August the community traces its 14, Pakistan's Independence heritage to the Fatimi Day, the honours are Imams, direct descendants announced. The following of the Prophet Mohammed, year, on March 23, which is in Egypt. “The Dawoodi Pakistan National Day, the Bohras throughout the awards are given out. world are guided by their However, these deadlines leader known as the al-dai are not adhered to under al-mutlaq (unrestricted exceptional circumstances, missionary), who first operand the investiture might ated from Yemen and then, take place at any moment. for the last 450 years, from The 53rd Da’i al-Mutlaq India,” it said.

Gujarat CM meets top Japanese officials to promote Vibrant Gujarat On the second day of his tion to Kataoka and visit to Japan to proothers to attend mote the Vibrant VGGS. The delegaGujarat Global Summit tion travelled to (VGGS) in Gandhinagar Yokohama city on a from January 10 to 12, bullet train and chief minister held a meeting Bhupendra Patel met with the governor Susumu Kataoka, presiof Tokyo, Yuriko dent of JETRO (Japan Koike. Patel told Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel with officials External Trade her about the role JETRO’s partnership with Organization), in Tokyo, played by Prime Minister Gujarat can help the state and later travelled to Narendra Modi in strengthattract new investment to Yokohama, where he met ening relations between various sectors, such as key officials and invited India and Japan, the statesemiconductors, green them to the summit. ment said. “Nearly 350 technology, bulk drugs, Japanese firms are currently Discussing JETRO’s medical devices, ceramics operating in Gujarat,” Patel role in bringing investors to and textiles. JETRO officesaid and stressed that Gujarat, the CM appreciatbearers also expressed keen ed JETRO for opening its Gujarat and Japan can work interest in Gujarat’s develBusiness Support Centre in closely on smart cities and opment journey and said Ahmedabad to guide sustainable urban developthey are eager to strengthJapanese firms wanting to ment. A high-level delegaen relations with Gujarat. start businesses in Gujarat, tion led by Patel reached The chief minister foran official statement said.

Tokyo on Sunday morning mally extended an invitaPatel told Kataoka that to promote VGGS.

In connection with an investigation into money laundering, the Enforcement Directorate has confiscated assets totaling £75.19 million from Young Indian and Associated Journals Ltd., two organisations connected to the Congress. After a money laundering inquiry, a Delhi court found that Young Indian and the other accused had committed crimes such as dishonest property misappropriation, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and cheating.

“Investigation revealed that M/s.

Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL) is in possession of proceeds of crime in the form of immovable properties spread across many cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow to the tune of £66.16 million and M/s. Young Indian (YI) is in possession of proceeds of crime to the tune of £9.02 million in the form of investment in equity shares of AJL,” ED

said in a statement.

The leader of the Congress, Abhishek Singhvi, described the ED's action as a "distraction created by the ruling BJP to divert attention from their possible defeat in the upcoming state elections". Singhvi stated that no complainants had reported being defrauded. He further stated that the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) only permits action in cases where there are indications of an offence, but in this instance, there was no transfer of real estate and no revenue was obtained from the purported offence. The investigation found out that there was a criminal conspiracy to acquire properties worth millions of AJL through Young Indian. AJL had received land at concessional rates for publishing newspapers, but it closed its operations in 2008 and used the properties for commercial purposes.

Gandhi Ashram land sale scam sparks govt probe The income tax raids on a pharmaceutical company owned by Sanskruti Jayesh Patel, granddaughter of former Chief Minister Anandi Patel, and current Governor of Uttar Pradesh, have led the Gujarat government to initiate an inquiry into the suspected irregularities within a trust predominantly controlled by Jayesh Ishwar Patel, Anandi Patel's son-in-law.

To investigate the alleged scams revolving around the repeated sale of land owned by the Harijan Ashram Trust, a vital part of the Sabarmati Satyagraha Ashram, the state law department has formed a Special Investigation Committee (SIT). The committee comprises retired IAS officer Vinay Vyas and Charity Commissioner Y S Shukla, entrusted with probing these alleged irregularities and submitting a comprehensive report to the government.

Of the 104 acres belonging to the Sabarmati Satyagraha Ashram, initially established by Mahatma Gandhi, the Harijan Ashram Trust has reportedly sold over 40,000 square meters of land to developers at significantly undervalued prices, without seeking approval from the Charity Commissioner.

Among the six trusts associated with the Satyagraha Ashram, the Harijan Ashram Trust, formerly overseen by late Ishwar Patel and now managed by Jayesh Patel, has been at the centre of these controversial land transactions. Notably, several builders have purportedly constructed residential complexes and commercial buildings on multiple survey numbers without obtaining requisite government approvals.

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in brief

SOUTH INDIA

Stalin unveils statue of VP Singh, 4 killed, over 60 injured in ANDHRA TO BEGIN calls for nationwide caste census Cochin University stampede CASTE CENSUS ON DEC 9 CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin unveiled a statue of former Prime Minister VP Singh here, calling it a "duty" of the ruling DMK to honour the late "guardian of social justice." He also called upon the Centre to take up caste-wise census along with the "delayed" national population census to ensure proportionate reservation for the deserving. If Uttar Pradesh was Singh's mother-state, Tamil Nadu was his "father-state," Stalin said.

Stalin unveiled life-sized statue, installed on the Presidency College premises in the city, in lines with an announcement made by him in the Tamil Nadu Assembly in April this year.

Samajwadi Party leader and former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and Singh's family members were present on the occasion.

Later, addressing a public event, Stalin said he considered it as his duty to install the statue of the guardian of social justice on the college premises so that the life and achievements of Singh could be learnt by everyone.

"His history should be told to the students. That's why we have erected his statue in a college... also, the DMK considers it as its duty to install Singh's statue," he said. He added the statue is

located near the memorial of late DMK president M Karunanidhi on the Marina Beach.

Stalin said he had met Singh only twice in his lifetime and the former Prime Minister had appreciated him for the massive procession he had taken in Chennai in 1988. He recorded his appreciation for Singh's family including his wife Sita Kumari, son Ajay Singh, and others, for attending the function.

"I don't wish to call you as V P Singh's family...we are also part of the V P Singh family. We are showing our gratitude to him by installing a statue for Singh, who firmly implemented the Mandal Commission recommendation," Stalin said. Ajay Singh thanked Stalin for his gesture. Akhilesh Yadav said the unveiling of the statue sent a clear message across the country ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

KOCHI (KERALA): Four students, two of them women, died in a stampede during a fest at Kerala’s Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat). The tragedy apparently triggered by rain that caused waiting throngs to suddenly rush into an auditorium where singer Nikhita Gandhi was performing.

Around 50 others were injured and hospitalised, with four of them critical. “Entry to the programme was restricted to pass-holders. But students and others who didn’t have such passes had also gathered on the campus,” a Cusat faculty member said.

As more people rushed into the auditorium, some fell off the stairs leading to the hall. Then, more fell on those already lying on the floor, an eyewitness said, adding that the lack of multiple exits worsened the crush.

ADGP Ajith Kumar and city police commissioner A Akbar claimed the organisers had not informed them about the event.

Three of the deceased have been identified and all of them are Cusat students. Saturday was the concluding day of the fest and it drew students from tech colleges across the state. According to ADGP Kumar, the size of the auditorium indicated it had a 1,000-1,500 capacity.

Expert panel to probe stampede The Kerala government said it has decided to constitute an expert committee to look into the stampede. State Higher Education Minister R Bindu said the expert panel will also frame terms of reference to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future.

PUNJAB

Punjab farmers discuss demands with State agriculture minister CHANDIGARH: Farmers' representatives on Tuesday met Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian over their various demands on the last day of their three-day protest under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha. The farmers are now set to meet Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit over their various demands.

As part of their protest, scores of farmers have gathered at the Mohali-Chandigarh border to press the Centre to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops.

The protesting farmers are also demanding the withdrawal of cases filed against them during the 2020-21 stir against the now-repealed farm laws, compensation and jobs for a family member of the farmers who died during the stir, debt waiver, and pension.

Addressing the media after a

delegation of Punjab farmers' representatives met him here, Khudian told reporters that farmers have said they will submit a detailed memorandum to the state government by December 4 regarding various demands.

Farmers' representatives will also meet the Punjab chief minister on December 19, he said. Farmer leader Ruldu Singh Mansa said a memorandum was submitted to the Agriculture Minister regarding demands pertaining to the state government while a detailed memorandum will be given by December 4."By December 4, we will submit a detailed memorandum to Agriculture Minister.

Concerned departments will also take part in the December 19 meeting pertaining to our various demands which include compensation issue and withdrawal of cases against farmers," he said.

Punjab based financier shot dead in Philippines LUDHIANA: Gurdev Singh (58) of Nand Singh Avenue in Khanna, Punjab, was shot dead in Manila, Philippines, on Saturday. The deceased went to Manila two years ago where he started a finance business with his son.

On Saturday, when family members of the victim in Khanna got to know about the murder, they were inconsolable. The deceased was survived by his wife, son and two daughters.

Gurdev’s son had also been staying in Manila with his father but recently he had returned to India for some work.

As per information, preparations were going on to welcome the prabhat feri being taken out to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev and their house in Khanna was decorated with flowers. But after the news of the death of Gurdev Singh came, a pall of gloom descended on them.

Lakhvir Singh Bhatti, deceased’s kin, said Gurdev and his son used to do finance business in Manila. A few days ago, Gurdev’s son came to Punjab while the former was in Manila.

The Andhra Pradesh government will begin a comprehensive caste census on December 9 to enumerate all castes, Information and Public Relations Minister C Srinivasa Venugopala Krishna said. Noting that completing the caste census is a major goal of the YSRCP government, the minister said, "It is important to have a caste census to transform the living standards of people". Noting that there has been no caste census in India post independence but only a population census, the minister noted that the government is eliciting opinions from caste representatives across the state, an official release said. Exuding confidence that the state would conduct the caste census in a fair and comprehensive manner, Krishna said Andhra Pradesh's enumeration exercise will emerge as a role model across the country. He asserted that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is renowned for ensuring social justice, and claimed that opposition parties are shivering at the mere mentioning of a caste census.

KARNATAKA NOD FOR WITHDRAWING DA CASE AGAINST DKS The Karnataka cabinet decided to revoke sanction given to the CBI by the erstwhile BJP government to investigate a disproportionate assets case against deputy CM D K Shivakumar, terming it "unlawful" based on legal opinion from the current advocate general and his predecessor. Shivakumar wasn't present at the cabinet meeting that took the decision. State law and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil said the Congress cabinet withdrew sanction to the CBI after due diligence.

SP SUSPENDED OVER SECURITY LAPSE A superintendent of police in Punjab has been suspended for alleged dereliction of duty in connection with the security lapse during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state. On January 5 last year, Modi had to abort his visit to Punjab’s Ferozepur, which led to a massive controversy. His convoy was stuck on a flyover for over 15 minutes as protestors blocked the road to Hussainiwala village in the district. The Centre had described it a “major security lapse”. An order issued by the Punjab Home Department said that Bathinda Superintendent of Police Gurbinder Singh has been suspended from duty with immediate effect. Singh was the superintendent of police (operations) in Ferozepur at the time of the security lapse.

The order came after the Punjab director general of police said in a report to the home department that Singh did not properly perform his duty.

WEST BENGAL

Bengal gets investment proposals worth £37.6 bn Bengal BJP leader Suvendu suspended KOLKATA: West Bengal received investment proposals worth over £37.6 billion at the seventh Bengal Global Business Summit, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.

Speaking at the valedictory session, Banerjee said a total of 188 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) and Letters of Intent (LoIs) were signed.

The Chief Minister said it was a true global event with about 5,000 delegates and 400 international delegates from 17 partner countries, business and official delegations from nearly 40 countries and 15 Ambassadors and High Commissioners taking part.

Banerjee also spoke about central investigating agencies and said they are breathing down the necks of industrialists. She said that industrialists should not have to put up with harassment by these agencies.

Mamata Banerjee

During the second and final day of the BGBS, multi-business conglomerate ITC launched the ITCMAARS (Metamarket for Advanced Agriculture and Rural Services), the company’s pioneering super app and ‘phygital’ ecosystem, in West Bengal.

ITC Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Puri, who was cochair of agriculture and allied sector for the summit, said 93 MoUs were signed between the state government and the private players in the agriculture and allied sector.

These investment proposals were worth £131.4 million.

About 25 LOIs ( Letter of Intent) were signed in the healthcare sector amounting to proposals of around £793.3 million. The IT & ITeS sector received five MoUs with investment proposals of around £400 million.

The other highlights of the business summit include Coca-Cola India signing an MoU with tea major Luxmi Tea to enter the world of ready-to-drink tea beverages and provide consumers with wider beverage options.

Ride sharing app Uber and the Transport Department, government of West Bengal, signed an MoU to launch ‘Uber Shuttle’ - a bus service for daily commute in Kolkata. The West Bengal government also received investment proposals for school education and higher education worth £167.6 million and £36 million respectively.

for the entire assembly session KOLKATA: Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was suspended for the entire winter session of the West Bengal Assembly for making "objectionable remarks" against Speaker Biman Banerjee. The suspension happened during a discussion on 'Constitution Day' in the state assembly.

A resolution under Rule 169 was tabled in the assembly to discuss "how the Constitution of the country was under threat".

During the discussion, BJP MLA Sankar Ghosh wondered how MLAs who defected from the BJP were still holding onto their posts without resigning as MLAs. The Speaker issued instructions to expunge the statement from assembly

records, following which BJP MLAs led by Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition, trooped down to the well of the House and raised slogans against Banerjee.

The BJP legislature party dubbed the Speaker's decision as "unconstitutional, "and staged a walk-out from the House.

Later, TMC MLA Tapas Ray brought a motion against Adhikari and demanded his suspension from the House, to which the Speaker agreed.

Adhikari, however, said the Speaker and the ruling party are functioning in an unconstitutional manner. The BJP legislative party is planning to move a 'no confidence motion' against the Speaker during the ongoing session.

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All 41 workers trapped at Uttarakhand tunnel rescued All 41 men trapped underground in a tunnel in Uttarakhand's Silkyara were rescued late on Tuesday, after a frantic 17-day multi-agency operation that relied, in the final stretch, on the banned manual "rathole"-mining technique employed after high-tech machines, or augers, failed to drill through the nearly 60 metres of rock that has threatened to bury the workers.

The extraction process took some time to allow each worker to reacclimatise to surface conditions, where the temperature is around 14 degrees Celsius at this time.

The workers were brought out on specially modified stretchers; these were lowered manually down a two-metre-wide pipe inserted into holes drilled into the hillside.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was at the spot, hugging the workers as they

came out.

Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force, or NDRF, had gone down the pipe first to assess the condition of the trapped men and guide them through rescue protocols. Each worker was strapped to the stretcher that was then manually pulled up through

60 metres of rock and debris.

The ambulances - 41 of them, one for each worker - moved out in batches from the tunnel site with the rescued workers for the emergency medical facilities set up in Chinyalisaur, around 30 km away.

As soon as the first workers came out of the tunnel, the rescue

personnel and those at the site welcomed them with garlands, sweets, and cheers. Families of the trapped workers rejoiced after meeting their loved ones for the first time in 17 days. The rescued workers then spoke to their families back home.

Prime Minister Narendra

Modi led the nation in praising the courage and patience of the trapped workers and their families and the bravery and determination of the rescue personnel.

"The success of the rescue operation of our labourer brothers in Uttarkashi is making everyone emotional. I want to say to those trapped in the tunnel that your courage and patience are inspiring everyone. I wish you all well and good health. It is a matter of great satisfaction that after a long wait, our friends will now meet their loved ones. The patience and courage these families have shown in this challenging time cannot be appreciated enough," the PM wrote on X.

India crushing terror with full courage: Qatar accepts India's plea against death penalty to 8 ex-Navy veterans PM Modi on 26/11 anniversary On the anniversary of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared, "We can never forget November 26." He also mentioned how the 2008 Lashkar-e-Taiba attack highlighted the risk of an ineffective government.

He added, "The 26/11 attacks remind us of the damage that can be caused by weak and inefficient governments," while speaking at a Telangana election rally.

You overthrew the weak Congress administration in 2014 by voting for a powerful BJP government, and as a result, terrorism is presently totally eradicated in the nation.

Ajmal Kasab and his collaborators were trained by Pakistan's intelligence agency, the InterServices Agency,

Narendra Modi

which is why the UPA alliance chose not to launch a military counteroffensive against Pakistan. The allusion was unmistakably made to the disorganised reaction to the seaborne Islamist attack.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister stated, "We can never forget November 26," during his monthly radio address, Mann Ki Baat.

The worst terrorist attack to ever strike the nation hap-

pened on this day. The entire nation, including Mumbai, was rocked by terrorists.

However, India's ability to bounce back from that tragedy and now face forth against terrorism with all our bravery speaks for itself.

Coinciding with Constitution Day, the PM criticised Telangana CM and BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao for allegedly disrespecting Dr BR Ambedkar by calling for changes to the Constitution.

He also accused Congress of disrespecting the architect of the Constitution.

“Congress also insulted Babasaheb by defeating him in elections. They did not even confer Bharat Ratna on him. It was the BJP which honoured him,” he said.

Israel proscribes LeT ahead of 26/11 anniversary Israel outlawed the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which is located in Pakistan and was sanctioned by the UN, before the 15th anniversary of the Mumbai attacks.

The Israeli embassy declared in a statement that Tel Aviv had officially finished all required procedures and had "satisfied all required checks and regulations to the result of introducing Lashkar-e-Taiba into the Israeli list of illegal terror organisations," despite not having been asked to do so by the Indian government.

“To symbolise the mark-

ing of the 15th year of commemoration of the Mumbai terror attacks, the state of Israel has listed Lashkar-eTaiba as a terror organisation,” it said in a statement.

Israel has been pushing India for a similar ban on Hamas whose assault on Israel on October 7 was condemned by India as a terrorist attack. Hamas has been proscribed by the US, EU, UK and Canada, but not by the UNSC. Israel hopes that by imposing the ban, it will allay Indian worries that it has been too preoccupied with Iranian "terrorism" and

not enough with cross-border terrorism carried out by Pakistan.

“While Israel only lists terror organisations that are operating against it from within or around its borders, or in a similar manner to India and those globally recognised by UNSC or US state department, the Israeli ministries of defence and foreign affairs have jointly worked towards an expedited and extraordinary listing of LeT to highlight the importance of a unified global front in combating terrorism,” said Israel in its announcement.

A Qatar court has accepted India's appeal against the death penalty to eight former Indian Navy personnel, who were handed the sentence last month in an alleged case of espionage.

Sources said that the Qatari court will set a hearing date after examining the appeal.

According to reports, the eight men were arrested in August 2022 by Qatar's intelligence agency for spying. But the Qatari authorities haven't made the charges against them public yet. Their bail petitions were rejected several times and the verdict against them was

claimed to have lost over £700 million as a result of the accused's alleged actions of obtaining fictitious Letters of Understanding (LoUs).

The bank requested the release or restoration of properties that are exempt from seizure, secured, mortgaged, and hypothecated. These comprise 18 properties, such as eight cars, including a Bentley valued at Rs 26,00,000, office spaces in Kurla, 16 pieces of jewellery that were part of the

Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht and Sailor Ragesh Gopakumar.

All of the former Navy officers have a distinguished service record of up to 20 years in the Indian Navy and have held important positions including that of instructors in the force.

Meetu Bhargava, the sister of one of the former officers detained, had sought help from the government to bring her brother back. In a post on X on June 8, she had appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene.

Two Captains among four Army personnel killed in Kashmir gunfight In the Rajouri district of Jammu division, joint troops of the Army, paramilitary, and J&K police are conducting an anti-terrorism operation that resulted in the deaths of two Captains and at least two soldiers and the wounding of a Major, according to government sources. They disclosed that a terrorist had been shot dead and that his companions had been encircled.

Security personnel were keeping a tight cordon in place to block any means of escape.

The troops were fired upon by terrorists during a search in the thickly forested Kalakote area, resulting in casualties. The Army’s White Knight Corps

Court orders release of 18 properties linked to Nirav Modi, firms The bank and liquidators of Punjab National Bank (PNB) would benefit from the release of 18 properties worth over £7.1 million that were connected to the fugitive diamond trader Nirav Modi and his companies. This decision was made by a special court.

The bank claimed ownership of specific properties that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had attached, both individually and on behalf of a group of banks. They

pronounced last month by the Court of First Instance in Qatar.

Granted consular access to them, Indian authorities have been working to secure their release. The Ministry of External Affairs has urged everyone to refrain from "engaging in speculation" due to the sensitive nature of the case.

The arrested Indian Navy veterans are Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Captain Navtej Singh Gill,

display stock at a five-star hotel, and valuables lying with the custodian of Bharat Diamond Bourse that were received from Hong Kong and Dubai and are valued at over £4 million.

The court directed that the properties as per the respective category they fall under be released to the liquidator appointed for two firms of Modi, Firestar International Limited and Firestar Diamond International Limited and to PNB.

spokesperson acknowledged the deaths, saying they were killed while “trying to prevent collateral damage to women and children”.

Official sources confirmed the deaths of two Captains (one each from 63 Rashtriya Rifles and 9 Para (Special Forces)) and a Havildar (from 9 Para). The sources said there had been a death among the soldiers, but they could not elaborate.

The place has seen sporadic shooting, therefore the bodies have not been recovered.

A Major from 9 Para (SF), who took bullets in his chest and an arm, has been evacuated to the military hospital in Udhampur and is reported to be stable. Police said two terrorists are believed to be wounded and surrounded, and security reinforcements have been rushed to the area.

HAL to make 12 fighter jets for Indian Air Force The Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking to strengthen its squadrons, therefore the Ministry of Defence put out a tender for 12 Sukohi-30 MKI fighter jets, at £1 billion, to be bid on by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). By the end of December, HAL is supposed to react to the tender.

The Indian Air Force's declining fighter strength prompted the national government to make its decision. Notably, the new aircraft will fill in the void that has been created by the loss of 12 Su-30MKI fighters in accidents in the past 20 years.

The aircraft will be manufactured in India by HAL and will carry 60 per cent indigenous contents.

The aircraft will be the most modern Su-30MKIs in the Indian Air Force fleet of more than 260 such aircraft. The Su30MKI is a multi-role fighter aircraft designed to dominate the airspace. It is capable of carrying a wide variety of weaponry, including the long-range Astra Mk-1 air-to-air missile, the Brahmos air-launched missile, and various bombs.

The famous vertical Charlie manoeuvre is just one of the many manoeuvres that the Su-30MKI, an aircraft of the 4.5 generation, is capable of performing at both high and low speeds.

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VILNIUS UNWRAPPED Remembrance Day Must-visit holiday destinations

Annually, Vilnius picks a fresh locale for its open-air skating rink.

This year, it graces the courtyard of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of

Christmas Market

Lithuania, a meticulously restored 15th-century Renaissance palace renowned for its architectural grandeur. A hub of outdoor activities in warmer seasons, the palace

this location outside the Old Town features a 9-meter tall propane flame as its centrepiece. Witness the creativity of artists and engineers through additional installations and art pieces in the surrounding area, making for a truly out-of-the-box starting in experience December.

Winter in Vilnius

transforms this December into a magical scene, where skaters twirl under the stars amid the palace's intricate balustrades.

Culinary Extravaganza at Lukiškės Prison Discover one of Vilnius' most distinctive spaces at the reimagined Lukiškės Prison, a formerly central penitentiary transformed into a cultural and artistic hub. From December 7-10 and 14-17, its courtyard hosts a Christmas gastro market, inviting visitors to indulge in local delights such as hot wine, cakes, and candies.

Adding to the festive atmosphere, the iconic Church of St. Nicholas, a splendid Orthodox church within Lukiškės, will be open for exploration, enhancing the charm of this unique holiday experience.

Flame Art at Liepkalnis Water Storage

Christmas tree at the Glass Quarter

Experience the extraordinary at the recently inaugurated Liepkalnis Water Storage with a unique firethemed art installation. Transformed from a century-old underground reservoir into a venue for performances and artistic displays,

Unique Christmas Tree at Cathedral Square

Vilnius's Cathedral Square hosts a yearly Christmas tree, renowned for its distinct theme, unique ornaments, and Credit- Monika Krilaviciene

s the festive season nears, Vilnius, Lithuania's capital, is ready to captivate the world with its unique blend of traditional and special holiday offerings. Beyond the usual Christmas market, Vilnius is set to establish itself as a mustvisit holiday destination, turning into an enchanting realm of Christmas events and attractions.

Explore what Vilnius has prepared for holiday visitors starting from December 1.

Ice Skating at the Palace of the Grand Dukes

Credit- Gabriel Kihterer

A

Christmas Train in the Old Town

enchanting atmosphere. In recent years, the city has showcased large-scale tree-like art installations reflecting the holiday spirit and the city's uniqueness.

While anticipating this year's reveal, explore captivating tree designs from past seasons.

Festive Market Extravaganza in Cathedral Square Experience holiday enchantment at Vilnius's celebrated Christmas markets surrounding the Cathedral Square and Vincas Kudirka Square. Indulge in local flavours, delightful treats, and warm beverages as you shop for the perfect holiday gifts. Opening from December 1st, these markets promise a magical atmosphere for all.

Kaikeyi: A Novel by Vaishnavi Patel

“Kaikeyi: A Novel" by Vaishnavi Patel is a captivating reimagining of one of the most complex characters in Indian mythology. This debut novel is a bold and refreshing take on the story of Queen Kaikeyi, traditionally portrayed as the villain in the epic Ramayana. Patel's rendition turns the tables, offering readers a nuanced perspective that challenges conventional narratives.

In the mythical world of ancient India, divine beings, powerful magic, and complex human emotions populate the novel's setting. Patel dives deep into the character of Kaikeyi, the queen, who is often vilified for sending Lord Rama, the crown prince of Ayodhya, into exile. In this retelling,

POEM

Kaikeyi is not the antagonist but a strong, intelligent woman with agency, grappling with the intricacies of court politics, familial duties, and her destiny.

The narrative style of the novel is another aspect worth noting. Patel's prose is lyrical yet accessible, blending poetic descriptions with a pace that keeps the reader engaged. The author's ability to maintain this balance is commendable and contributes significantly to the immersive quality of the book.

The book also shines in its character development. Kaikeyi’s journey from a young, curious girl to a wise queen is compelling and relatable.

Patel skillfully portrays her inner conflicts, strengths, and vulnerabilities, making her a character that readers can empathise with and root for. The supporting characters are well-developed, each contributing to Kaikeyi's story in meaningful ways.

From her relationship with her husband, King Dasharatha, to her interactions with her co-queens and her son Bharata, each relationship is nuanced and adds to the layers of her character. Patel's portrayal of these relationships is complex and multifaceted, avoiding onedimensional characterizations and instead presenting characters with

Book Review

their own motivations and struggles.

Patel also does not shy away from the darker aspects of mythology. The novel addresses the societal and familial challenges Kaikeyi faces, including patriarchal norms and political machinations within the royal court. These elements provide a realistic backdrop against which the story unfolds, making Kaikeyi's struggles and triumphs all the more impactful.

For those familiar with the Ramayana, "Kaikeyi: A Novel" offers a fresh perspective that might challenge long-held perceptions. For new readers, it's an introduction to a rich and enchanting world full of gods, heroes, and powerful women. The novel encourages readers to question and rethink the narratives that have been handed down through generations. In essence, Vaishnavi Patel’s "Kaikeyi" is not just a retelling but a reclamation of a character’s story. It's a powerful narrative that gives voice to a woman who has been misunderstood and maligned in mythology. This book is a significant contribution to the genre of mythological fiction, offering a story that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. Patel has crafted a work that is sure to resonate with readers long after they turn the final page.

A Remembrance Poem competition was held in schools across Harrow and 11-year-old Paarth Hitesh Pabari from Belmont school wrote a poem that was highly commended.

He received an award certificate at the Civic Centre by the Mayor of Harrow, Cllr Ramji Chauhan on 12 November.

The valleys of quietness and tranquility Trees dancing and birds flying with agility, Full of never-ending silence and peace, With calmness beginning to just increase, The gurgling of crystal-clear, narrow rivers, The radiant, blazing rays of the sun delivers, Life on extraordinary Earth, full of trees, Shall give us oxygen and a nice breeze, While the green bushes rustle immensely, Mountains over the sky grow cold intensely, It becomes a lovely, magnificent paradise, Until the Horrible. Heart-breaking. Devise.

Superior soldiers began to cause many fights, During long-lasting days and pitch black nights, By rifle-machine gun-trench mortar-grenade, Soldiers’ useful lives begins to quickly fade, They regret enlisting for being a part of the army, Because it was a treacherous, adventurous journey, To protect themselves the soldiers dug trenches, To give them some strong, overpowering defenses, They we’re bombarded. Left-right-center-everywhere, They were shot by mortars through the heavy air, But then a miracle happened on the first Christmas, Because at that time it was very special and auspicious, As there was a special truce for one day to celebrate, Which helped them to make a relationship generate, They then played an exciting game called football, Helped each other to understand each of them all, They shared their emotions about the terrible war, And how they lived and survived long time before, The next day they didn’t want to fight each other, But the soldiers were forced and they had to suffer, Throwing the explosive bombs. Shooting the guns, Some began to try to leave and do many risky runs, If you were caught trying to leave you would of died, As they enlisted their names in the contract they’d applied, They had to survive from the dangerous mustard gas, By wearing their gas mask made by a tube of brass, Sometimes they would of got a disease, trench foot, Shell shock-which made them stay in WW1, put, The staggering war ended on 11th of November 1918, Called ‘The Great War’ as it was the greatest scene, Poppies grew and grew in the fields of Flanders, Matching the crosses of soldiers and commanders, We respect them for fighting in the war bravely, And now we shall respect each of them gravely, Over 1million people dead is quite depressing, But the soldiers were forced so it is upsetting, - By Paarth Hitesh Pabari

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Adults urged to take common pill once a day to help cut dementia risk

A recent study indicates that taking vitamin D pills on a regular basis can significantly reduce the risk of dementia.

People with vitamin D levels less than 50 nmol/L were almost three times more likely to acquire Alzheimer's disease, according to research from France. It is estimated that almost 60% of the UK is below these thresholds.

More than 12,000 people aged 70 years or older who were dementia-free participated in a different study conducted earlier this year, and the results showed that supplements can effectively lower the risk of dementia. The incidence of dementia decreased by 40% in people who used vitamin D supplements, accounting for 37% of the total.

Vitamin D expert Dr William Grant, advisor to the prevention charity foodforthebrain.org, claims people are still underestimating the power of the vitamin. He says: "All the evidence regarding cardiometabolic diseases, cancer, diabetes, infectious diseases, and pregnancy outcomes shows that you need a blood level of vitamin D above 75 nmol/L to be healthy, and the same is proving true for the brain." You can buy vitamin D for as low as 2p per tablet from your local pharmacy. However, taking too much vitamin D can also have unwanted side effects. Speak to your GP before starting any new vitamins or supplements.

Drink ginger tea to alleviate indigestion, bloating Indigestion, bloating, and appetite loss are among the most prevalent problems that a lot of individuals encounter.

Ginger is well-known for its medicinal qualities and has long been praised as a cureall for a wide range of illnesses, most notably digestive issues. Ginger, which has a unique spicy flavour, is high in gingerol, a bioactive compound that has digestive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-nausea properties.

In an Instagram post, nutritionist Leema Mahajan shares one such ginger marinate remedy that can be prepared at home and kept in a jar.

She writes, “Indigestion is the main reason for bloating, and ginger can help you get relief from it

and improve appetite. It also has antispasmodic (helps deal with pain due to gas movement) properties, improves digestive issues, and reduces excess waste.”

Ingredients: Thinly sliced 2-inch ginger; 1 tbsp lemon juice; pinch of rock salt Method: Put everything in a jar and let it marinate.

Have a slice or two 15 minutes before lunch or dinner.

However, do not take this before breakfast.

Avoid taking if: Experiencing bleeding of any kind - a nosebleed, menstruation, or blood in your stool or urine. Any kind of burning sensations on the skin, burning headaches, or excessive body heat.

Keep diabetes at a distance with these simple life rules Millions of people worldwide suffer from diabetes. Around 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, and the disease is directly responsible for nearly 1.5 million fatalities each year, according to the WHO. Nonetheless, evidence suggests that lifestyle modifications and preventative actions are essential in lowering the incidence of type 2 diabetes.

People can drastically reduce their risk of developing diabetes and adopt a healthy lifestyle by implementing essential lifestyle standards into their everyday activities.

Nourishing diet: The cornerstone of diabetes prevention lies in a balanced and nutritious diet. Focus on various whole foods, emphasising vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

Regular physical activity: The best

healthy weight lowers the risk of diabetes considerably. Research indicates that a mere 5–10% reduction in body weight for those who are overweight or obese might significantly contribute to the prevention of diabetes. To reach and maintain a healthy weight, combine regular exercise with a well-balway to avoid diabetes is to exercise regularly. WHO suggests engaging in moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, including cycling, swimming, or brisk walking, for at least 150 minutes every week. In addition to lowering blood sugar and improving insulin sensitivity, exercise aids in weight control.

Weight management: Retaining a

anced diet.

Monitor blood sugar levels: Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is crucial, especially for individuals with a family history of diabetes or those at higher risk. Understanding your blood glucose levels helps in the early detection and proactive management of potential risks.

Sleep deprivation leads to insulin resistance and higher glucose levels in women A study found that persistent sleep deprivation can increase insulin resistance in otherwise healthy women, with post-menopausal women seeing more severe effects. The study emphasises how important getting enough sleep is to reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, which is a condition where the body is unable to use insulin, a crucial hormone, to keep blood sugar levels in check.

“Women report poorer sleep than men, so understanding how sleep disturbances impact their health across the lifespan is critical, especially for postmenopausal women," said Marishka Brown, Ph.D., director of the

National Centre on Sleep Disorder Research at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which cofunded the study with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), both part of NIH. Restriction of sleep has been linked

to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and disorders of glucose metabolism, which can result in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, a lot of research was restricted to men or concentrated on acute, short-term sleep deprivation.

In order to conduct the study, 40 women between the ages of 20 and 75 who had regular sleep schedules (at least 7-9 hours per night) and normal fasting glucose levels were enrolled.

These women had elevated risks for cardiometabolic disease because they were obese or overweight, had a family history of type 2 diabetes, had elevated blood lipid levels, or had cardiovascular disease.

Myths about dementia – the misunderstood condition The majority of us are somewhat aware of this terrible ailment, which is essentially a conglomeration of numerous distinct ailments.

Dementia progressively deteriorates cognitive, memory, and behavioural issues by causing damage to multiple brain regions. According to the charity Race Against Dementia, one in three of us will eventually pass away from dementia.

“We are still waiting for a definitive treatment or a cure but today in 2023, there’s so much that can be done,” says James Rowe, professor of cognitive neurology at the University of Cambridge.

“A person’s individual risk of developing dementia at any given age is much less than it was,” Rowe says. “If you’re 70 for example, your chances of having dementia are about 25 per cent less than it was 25 years ago. So we’ve done a lot of risk reduction already.”

Here are a few myths when it comes around Dementia: Myth 1: Dementia and Alzheimer’s are the same thing Although Alzheimer's is the most prevalent type of dementia, there are others as well. There are, in reality, over 200 different varieties of dementia, each with its unique symptom profile and underlying pathology. These types of dementia include vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and mixed dementia. Researchers are constantly gaining more insight into the mechanisms underlying the various types of dementia, which may eventually lead to the development of novel therapies.

Myth 2: Dementia only happens when you’re old There are various types of dementia that might develop at an unforeseen early age. According to the findings, individuals at the age of 40 years may exhibit the signs of frontotemporal

dementia, but those in their twenties and thirties may be diagnosed with young-onset dementia under certain circumstances.

NHS estimates that there are 40,000 people below the age of 65 in the UK who are living with dementia.

“While dementia really explodes in prevalence as you come into much later life, there are many people in their twenties through to their fifties who have dementia,” says Rowe.

Myth 3: Tackling dementia is too expensive The Alzheimer's Society estimates that dementia costs the UK £34.7 billion annually, a sum that is expected to almost treble to over £94 billion by 2040. According to Rowe, we can do a lot more to help those with dementia receive better care by managing their symptoms and extending their lives, as well as by allocating more resources to the ongoing search for a cure.

Do air cleaners stop you from getting sick? Study claims no Harnessing warm water: Relief for muscles & joints Warm water is beneficial for various conditions that impact muscles, bones, and tendons, such as arthritis, back pain, and joint pain. It promotes blood flow to targeted areas, aiding in gentle stretching and working of these regions.

However, caution is advised, especially for individuals with skin conditions, to avoid excessive heat. The recommended temperature range for optimal effect is between 92 and 100° F. Health Views Disclaimer: The information provided is for general knowledge only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.

New research from the University of East Anglia claims that air filtration systems do not reduce the risk of contracting viral illnesses. It demonstrates that, in practise, technologies intended to increase the safety of social interactions in indoor environments are useless.

The group looked into ionisers, germicidal lamps, and air filtering systems.

Despite examining all the data, they could not find

much to bolster the optimism that these technologies will protect the air from gastrointestinal or respiratory illnesses.

From UEA’s Norwich Medical School, Prof Paul Hunter said, “Air cleaners are designed to filter pollutants or contaminants out of the air that passes through them. When Covid pandemic hit, many large companies and governments investigated installing this type of tech-

nology in a bid to reduce airborne virus particles in buildings and small spaces."

He added, “But air treatment technologies can be expensive. So it's reasonable to weigh up the benefits against costs and to understand the current capabilities of such technologies.” The research team studied evidence about whether air cleaning technologies make people safe from catching airborne

respiratory or gastrointestinal infections.

Lead researcher Dr. Julii Brainard said, “The kinds of technologies that we considered included filtration, germicidal lights, ionisers and any other way of safely removing viruses or deactivating them in breathable air. In short, we found no strong evidence that air treatment technologies are likely to protect people in real-world settings.”

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Ranbir Kapoor sports new Raha tattoo A

ctor Ranbir Kapoor is currently gearing up for the release of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s ‘Animal,’ which recently appeared on Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna’s show ‘Unstoppable with NBK.’ A video clip from the show is being widely shared on fan pages, and it shows the actor showing off his Raha tattoo that he recently got inked on his collarbone.

Ileana D’Cruz finally reveals her partner’s face

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leana D’Cruz recently confirmed she is not “single-parenting” her son Koa Phoenix Dolan. She also posted a picture of a man as they laughed together on her social media. The actress answered several questions posed by her fans during the Ask Me Anything session she conducted on Instagram. When a fan asked, “How you single parenting your child?”, she posted a picture of herself with a man and wrote, “I’m not.” In a separate response, Ileana also said that she is thankful for her “baby daddy,” apart from being thankful for her baby.

Another fan also asked her about her first reaction when she got to know about her pregnancy. She wrote, “Found out pretty much exactly one year ago that I was pregnant and it was the most surreal unbelievably emotional moment. It feels so surreal holding my little darling boy right now. It feels like a big cloudy happy dream.”

Ileana gave birth to her first child earlier this year and shared a picture of the newborn to announce his arrival. She was previously in a long-term relationship with photographer Andrew Kneebone and was later rumoured to be dating Katrina Kaif’s brother Sebastian Laurent Michel.

She posted a picture with a man, but with his face blurred when she announced her pregnancy. She also wrote about her partner, "And on the days I forget to be kind to myself, this lovely man has been my rock. He's held me when he feels me starting to crack. And wipes the tears away. And cracks goofy jokes to make me smile. Or just offers a hug when he knows that's exactly what I need in that moment. And everything doesn't seem so hard anymore.”

On the work front, Ileana was last seen alongside Abhishek Bachchan in Ajay Devgn’s production ‘The Big Bull.’ She has Randeep Hooda-starrer ‘Unfair and Lovely’ in the pipeline.

No need to believe women are equal to men: Neena Gupta

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Ranbir and Alia Bhatt welcomed their daughter Raha Kapoor in November 2022. Earlier this year, they had said they were planning to get tattoos. In a 2022 interview, Ranbir shared that he did not have any tattoos yet, but he could get a tattoo of his future kid’s name.

When asked if he had tattoos, he said, “None yet. Hopefully soon. The 8 or something I don’t know. Maybe my (tattoo is) going to be children’s names or I don’t know.”

Alia and Ranbir married at their Mumbai home Vastu in April last year.

At the intimate ceremony, the couple was joined by close friends from Bollywood and their family, including their mothers, Neetu Kapoor and Soni Razdan. Alia announced via an Instagram post the birth of their daughter on November 6, 2022.

ctress Neena Gupta opened up about her feminism during a recent conversation. Speaking with popular podcaster Ranveer Allahabadia, she called feminism “faltu” meaning useless in Hindi. She added there is no need to believe in equality between men and women.

Gupta said, “I want to say that it’s not necessary to believe in ‘faltu feminism’ (useless feminism) or the idea that 'women are equal to men.' Instead, Actress Parineeti Chopra seems to focus on achieving financial independence and giving attention to your work. If you’re a have taken offence to fan clubs of housewife, don’t look down on it; it’s an other artists putting out fake important role. Boost your self-esteem and quotes attributed to her. Without avoid thinking of yourself as small. That’s the specifying the context, she main message I want to convey. warned that she’d take action Additionally, men and women are not against them.

The actress took to equal. The day men start getting pregnant, her Instagram Stories over the that day we will be equal.” weekend to pen a note warning the She added an example from her life, fan clubs. saying, “You need a man. I will tell a She wrote, “I am seeing fan clubs put small story. I had to catch a flight once at out quotes in favour of their artists, using 6 am. I did not have a boyfriend at that my name. These are fake. I have given no time. I came out of the house at 4 am interviews/quotes about anyone, and it was dark. A man started following congratulating them or appreciating them. I me, and I was so am watching, and will be reporting you. scared. I went back Also - get your facts checked first! A little to my house and I Googling never hurt anyone (smile missed my flight. emoji).”

The next day I On the work front, Pari was initially booked the signed for the role of Geetanjali in same flight. But Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming I stayed at my gangster film ‘Animal.’ However, she male friend’s opted out of the movie, and Rashmika house and he Mandana stepped in. She will be dropped me off. next seen in Imtiaz Ali’s period I need a musical ‘Chamkila’ opposite man.”

Diljit Dosanjh, who plays the On the titular role of the popular work front, Punjabi singer.

Gupta was The ‘Mission Raniganj’ seen in ‘Mrs actress tied the knot with Chatterjee vs Aam Aadmi Party MP Norway’ and Raghav Chadha in a lavish Vishal ceremony in Udaipur in Bhardwaj’s web September. They series ‘Charlie reportedly met when Chopra’ and ‘The they were studying Mystery of Solang in London and Valley.’ She also rekindled their starred in R Balki’s romance short film ‘Lust last year.

Stories 2.’ Neena has Anurag Basu’s ‘Metro in Dino’ in the pipeline.

Parineeti warns fan clubs against putting out her fake quotes

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Unfortunate that I couldn’t be a part of ‘Lagaan,' says Rani Mukerji

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uring an interactive session at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, Rani Mukerji shared that the only film she felt “unfortunate” she couldn’t be a part of was Aamir Khan’s 2001 movie ‘Lagaan.’

At the event, she said, “The only film which I could say I was unfortunate that I couldn't be part of was ‘Lagaan’ because there was a particular date clash and Aamir was turning producer with the film and he said that, 'Rani I am shooting this film in a particular way, so I want all my actors in this particular place for 6 months and not move'. He wanted everybody to be there, he had this particular way.”

Rani added, “And I had already signed a film before that which was about 20 days and Aamir was like, 'Rani I won't be able to let you come back even for those

10 or 15 days because it would be unfair of me not to let the others travel'. I also asked the other producers if they would be okay if I left the film because I would really like to do Aamir's film, he's a close friend of mine. But the producer refused to let me go. It was very sad.”

Helmed by Ashutosh Gowariker, ‘Lagaan’ went on to become a big hit. It received critical acclaim and achieved commercial success and both international recognition. Aamir starred in the film alongside Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley and Paul Blackthorne.

Rani made her Bollywood debut with ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat.’ She then went on to get commercial success with ‘Ghulam,’ and a breakthrough with Karan Johar’s ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.’ The actor was last seen in the drama film ‘Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway,’ and is yet to announce her next project.

Randeep Hooda, Lin Laishram announce wedding date

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andeep Hooda is all set to tie the knot with actress Lin Laishram. The actor took to Instagram and announced they would marry in Imphal on November 29. He wrote in the caption, “We have exciting news…”

The post included a card picture with a message written on it. The message read, “We are getting married with the blessings from our families and friends…We are filled with immense joy to share that our marriage will take place on the 29th of November, 2023, in Imphal, Manipur, followed by a reception in Mumbai. As we embark on this journey, we seek your blessings and love for this union of cultures, for which we are forever indebted and grateful. In love and light, Lin and Randeep.”

While the two never confirmed their relationship in public earlier, they often posted pictures of each other on social media. They shared a string of cheerful photos on Diwali, with a caption that said, “From ours to yours, Happy Diwali.” ce actor Salman Khan recently opened up on his bond with fellow superstar

Salman says offscreen chemistry with Shah Rukh 'even better' than onscreen

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Shah Rukh Khan. In an interview, he talked about his off-screen and onscreen chemistry with Shah Rukh and warned his fans against bursting firecrackers during ‘Tiger 3’ shows.

He said, “Our off-screen chemistry is better than our onscreen chemistry.

When the onscreen chemistry is so good, you can understand the off-screen chemistry.” Salman made a cameo fighting alongside Shah in Sidharth Anand’s spy thriller ‘Pathaan,’ earlier this year. The latter returned the favour in Salman’s Diwali release ‘Tiger 3.’ They are also set to share the screen space in lead roles in the upcoming YRF Spy Universe film ‘Tiger vs Pathaan.’

Salman said, “I always tell my fans that he is your brother’s brother, so nothing should happen to him. So my fans didn’t do that much. And I don’t see that much social media, I don’t understand this negativity and trolling, so the thing that I don’t understand does not bother me much, and neither does Shah Rukh.”

In the same interview, he talked about his fans bursting firecrackers to celebrate his film release. He said, “Don't do that. This is very dangerous, it is not cool at all. If these fans think that they earn my respect by doing this, then that is not the case. A fire can break out and people can lose their lives and I don't want any accident to take place...So, do enjoy but don't pour milk on my posters...If you have to do it, offer milk to poor children.”

Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan were against Alia being cast in ‘SOTY’

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hile guests Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan tried their best not to let anything controversial slip on filmmaker Karan Johar’s ‘Koffee with Karan’ last week, the host dropped a bombshell. KJo revealed that while they now share a good bond, initially, Sid and Varun did not want Alia Bhatt to star with them in their debut movie ‘Student of the Year.’

He said, “I still remember with Alia, the first time that she walked in, how both of you sent me messages saying you can’t cast her. One of you said she is too young. I am saying it started like this but when we shot with her, three months post that for a photo shoot, I remember she stood quiet and didn’t look at either of you. Either she was conscious or shy because you all already knew me. She didn’t know me at all. We did the photo shoot, and right after that, I mean, I knew at the first shot.”

Karan also mentioned that Varun would show him pictures of other actors he could cast instead of Alia. Thankfully, he did not listen to Varun and stuck with his decision.

While ‘SOTY’ did not receive much acclaim and is considered one of Karan's least impressive works, it did launch Alia, Varun and Sidharth to stardom.

For the episode, Alia shared a message for her co-stars. She shared some lesserknown facts about them, including how Varun can be intentionally funny, and Sidharth has a great singing voice.

Producer-director Rajkumar Kohli passes away

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roducer-director Rajkumar Kohli, who became synonymous with delivering blockbusters like 'Nagin' (1976) and 'Jaani Dushman' (1979), passed away at his Mumbai residence following a heart attack. He was 93.

“Kohli-ji passed away peacefully.

He had gone to take a shower in the morning and when he didn’t step out for a while, his son Armaan broke open the door and found him on the floor. A doctor came home and declared him dead,” family friend Vijay Grover said. In the Kohli universe, major stars often had minor parts. Nagin, a snake’s tale of revenge, was a megaensemble of seven heroes and five heroines.

Unlike most thrillers of the time, the super hit had a woman protagonist. Jaani Dushman, another neatly crafted supernatural yarn, hosted a galaxy of stars including Sanjeev Kumar, Sunil Dutt, Jeetendra, Shatrughan Sinha, Neetu Singh, Rekha and Reena Roy.

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Trisha responds to Mansoor Ali Khan’s cryptic apology

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he feud between Trisha Krishnan and Mansoor Ali Khan seems unending and made headlines again recently. The latter folded under pressure and released a statement apologising to the actress for misogynistic comments he made about her a few days ago. Trisha took to X to respond, seemingly forgiving him for his transgression.

Without addressing Mansoor or the statement he released earlier in the day, Trisha wrote on X, “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” While she may want to put the whole ordeal behind her with the statement, fans appear to be in no mood to forgive. One fan wrote in the comment section, “He apologised only after so many people condemned his words and case registered.

His apology is out of fear over going to jail. I bet. He will do this again after some time.”

Another wrote, “Stay strong trish we are all always with you.”

While promoting their film ‘Leo,’ Mansoor made a few objectionable comments to the press about wanting to film exploitative scenes with Trisha. Actors from the movie industry and the movie team condemned his statement. At the get-go, Mansoor remained steadfast and refused to apologise to the actress. He even held a press meeting where he said, “A rape scene onscreen does not translate to abuse in real life. I have done nothing wrong and I refuse to apologise.”

However, after the National Commission for Women took suo moto cognizance on the matter, and the Chennai police counselled him, he released a statement on Friday that read, “My co-actress Trisha, Please forgive me! May God bless me with the fortune of blessing your Mangalyam (mangalsutra) as it goes around on a coconut during the ritual! Amen. --Mansoor Ali Khan.”

Rashmika Mandanna teaches Ranbir to talk in Telugu A

ctors Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna were recently spotted out and about in Mumbai while promoting their upcoming film ‘Animal.’ A paparazzo, whose mother tongue was Telugu, asked Ranbir to try speaking in the language. In a video that has surfaced online, the actor immediately quipped, “Andariki namaskaram (namate to everyone),” before asking how the paparazzi knew the language. Rashmika, who made a career out of acting in Telugu movies, stepped in to teach him a new greeting. She teaches him how to say, “Nenu bagunanu, meeru baagunara (I am well, how are you?)”

The actors and the team of ‘Animal’ were recently guests on Nandamuri Balakrishna’s talk show, ‘Unstoppable with NDK.’ While there, the Bollywood actor enacted the veteran actor’s famous dialogue from his film ‘Legend.’ He said on the show, “Flute jinka mundu udu, simham mundu kadu.” Ranbir also pulled Rashmika’s leg and asked her to choose between him and her rumoured boyfriend, Vijay Deverakonda.

Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga of ‘Arjun Reddy’ and ‘Kabir Singh' fame, ‘Animal’ stars Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol in the lead roles. The film’s trailer will be released on November 23 and hit screens on December 1 this year in multiple languages. After this film, Sandeep will work with Prabhas for ‘Spirit’ and an untitled film with Allu Arjun.

Rashmika has numerous projects lined up, including the muchawaited sequel of ‘Pushpa.’ She will soon be seen in films titled ‘Rainbow’ and ‘Girlfriend,’ apart from a project in Hindi.

Samantha calls ‘Kaathal The Core’ as the 'movie of the year' M

ammootty and Jyothika’s ‘Kathaal: The Core’ has been receiving universal acclaim from critics and the audience. Amongst those to praise the Jeo Baby directorial is actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu who took to her Instagram Stories to share her review. She called it the “movie of the year” and praised Mammootty’s performance.

Samantha took to her Instagram Stories to add the ‘Kaathal: The Core’ poster and wrote in the caption, "Movie of the year (white heart emoticon). Do yourself a favour and watch this beautiful yey powerful gem of a film. #Kaathalthecore @mammootty Sir you are my hero. I will not be able to get over this performance for a long long time. @jyotika Love youu @jeobabymusic legendary.”

The movie was released in theatres on November 23. It features Mammootty as Mathew Devassy, a retired-banker-turned-politician, and Jyotika as Omana Mathew, his wife.

The film revolves around their marriage dynamics amidst a tight-knit village community. Mammootty is seen in the role of a closet homosexual. It is his falling out with his wife and the resultant legal battle, which then goes

on to affect Mathew’s political ambitions and the lives of the people around them.

On the work front, Sam was last seen in ‘Kushi,’ opposite Vijay Deverakonda. She has been on a long break from films and has not signed any new projects. The actor is using this time to regain her health and seek additional treatment for myositis.

ED summons actor Prakash Raj in money laundering case

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ctor Prakash Raj has been called by the Enforcement Directorate to appear for questioning in a money laundering case related to a purported £10 million ponzi scheme and fraud case against a jewellery firm situated in Tiruchirapalli, according to official sources.

The inquiry concerns a case against Pranav Jewellers, a Tiruchirapalli-based partnership firm that was raided by the ED on November 20th, during which they allegedly found some gold jewellery and Rs. 237,000 in "unexplained" cash.

Actor Raj (58), a recipient of numerous national awards, has served as this company's brand ambassador. The federal agency in Chennai has requested that he appear in person during the first week of December.

According to sources, the ED wants to record his statement and understand some purported payments made by the company to the Bengaluru-based actor-politician and some other financial transactions.

Actor Raj has appeared in films in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and Kannada. He has been a vocal opponent of the BJP. He ran an unsuccessful independent campaign for the Bengaluru Central constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. An FIR from the Tamil Nadu Police Economic Offences Wing is the basis for the ED case.

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Priyanka hugs Lewis Hamilton at F1 Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi A

ctor Priyanka Chopra attended the F1 Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi over the weekend, and several pictures of the actor posing for the cameras appeared online. For the event, she wore a black and pink sleeveless outfit. She also wore matching tights and dark sunglasses. She also interacted with several people in the venue.

In a clip, she is seen hugging racing driver Lewis Hamilton.

Scuderia Ferrari's Instagram page shared photos of Priyanka from the event. The caption read, “Pleasure to welcome @priyankachopra to our garage at the #AbuDhabiGP!” Naomi Campbell was also present at the event. She spoke with Lewis and gave him a hug. At the event, Max Verstappen earned the title of Formula One champion.

Max finished ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Mercedes driver George Russell, collecting a bonus point for the

fastest lap.

Priyanka's visit to Abu Dhabi comes a few weeks after she and her husband-singer Nick Jonas hosted a Diwali bash for their family and friends in Los Angeles. Priyanka wore a velvet maroon blouse with gold and peach lehenga for the occasion. She wore diamond jewellery and a cape-style dupatta and completed her look with a sleek bun adorned with red roses. She also flaunted sindoor. Nick wore a white kurta with a floral print jacket.

Pri will be seen with John Cena and Idris Elba on the work front in ‘Heads Of State.’

Filmmaker Ilya Naishuller is directing a script

by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec. She was recently seen in Russo Brothers' ‘Citadel.’

The actor also featured in the Hollywood film ‘Love Again,’ in which she costarred with Sam Heughan and Celine Dion. The film also had a cameo by husband Nick Jonas.

Ali Zafar poses with Nargis Fakhri, Aditi Rao Hydari at Dubai award event

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elebrities from India and Pakistan were seen in attendance at the recently held Distinctive International Arab Festivals Awards in Dubai.

Pakistani singer-actor Ali Zafar was honoured with the Pakistani Singer of the Year award. He was accompanied by his wife, Ayesha Fazli, at the event.

Ishwak Singh bags Best Actor Award at SAIFF for film 'Berlin' Anurag Kashyap shares pics with Mads Mikkelsen from Marrakech Film Festival

A

ctor Ishwak Singh recently clinched the Best Actor award at the Stars Asian International Film Festival for his

He quickly recorded an acceptance speech dedicated to his director. Ishwak said, “I want to dedicate the award to my

F

ilmmaker Anurag Kashyap took to his Instagram account to share a series of pictures, where he was seen posing with actor Mads Mikkelsen at the Marrakech International Film Festival. In the photos, he was seen sitting with Mads and posing with a cigar.

While Anurag looked dapper in an all-black tuxedo and trousers, Mads paired a white shirt with a black coat and trousers.

He captioned the post, “Sharing a rolled up golden Virginia with @theofficialmads at @marrakechfilmfestival .

The most fuckin’ amazing human being and a brilliant actor and so so much more .. stories that I will tell for life to my people . So much beautiful time spent drinking , talking and just hanging out…”

Several people rushed to the comments section. Actor Vijay Varma commented, “Kashyap on home ground.” Kubbra Sait wrote, “I’m loving the casual flex!” Not only Mads, Anurag earlier had shared a post where he posed with Academy Award-nominated actor William Dafoe, who is known for films including ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel,’ ‘The Florida Project, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ and ‘Platoon.’

Kashyap has been doing the rounds of film festivals throughout the year with his upcoming film ‘Kennedy.’ It features actors Rahul Bhat, Sunny Leone and Abhilash Thapliyal in the lead roles. The film revolves around an insomniac ex-cop, long thought to be dead but still looking for redemption.

‘Kennedy’ is a Noirish thriller which follows the titular character working for a corrupt police force with scores to settle. It is coproduced by Zee Studios and Good Bad Films.

performance in the film ‘Berlin.’

Calling it a “mosquitoridden moment,” he shared how the good news unfolded in an interview.

Singh said, “It is like the old cliché which is so relevant that ‘Life doesn’t fail to surprise you.’ I had broken sleep, woke up in the middle of the night, hating the mosquito that was biting me and so irritated.” He added, “There were several messages from my director ‘Call me, it’s urgent’ because he is in the US attending the festival. I called him, and he told me that I’ve won the award, and the event is in the next hour. So, it was a surprising news in the middle of the night.”

director mainly because he was really inspiring for me. He lets you soar and fly.”

Recognition on an international stage left him humbled, especially among the presence of Hollywood’s elite.

He said, “It’s a big deal, and it’s amazing as there were so many huge Hollywood stars sitting there. They are aware of my work, and Atul told me that they really loved the performance and wanted to meet me. It feels great.”

In his acceptance speech, Ali said, “I'm particularly moved by the gesture that this ceremony brings to light the plights of a very important cause which is what is happening in Gaza, what has been happening in Palestine for decades. I think we as artists, yes we are entertainers, we are actors, we are singers but first and foremost we are human beings. I believe when God gives you voice and a place and space where you..."

Several pictures from the event did the rounds on the internet, with pictures of Ali with Bollywood actors also emerging.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, actress Nargis Fakhri also posted a series of pictures. In a photo, she posed with Aditi Rao Hydari and Turkish actor Burak Deniz.

Nargis wore a green offshoulder dress for the event, while Aditi Rao Hydari opted for a black and white outfit. Burak was seen in a white shirt, cream blazer and pants. Nargis wrote "lovely evening" and tagged them.

In another picture, Aditi clicked a selfie, which also featured Nargis, Ali and Ayesha.

All of them smiled, looking at the camera. Nargis wrote “reunion” and tagged Ali and Aditi. Ali and Aditi reunited over a decade after featuring in the 2012 film London, Paris, New York.

Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez was also seen with Ali in a photo. They stood in front of each other as they shared a laugh.

For the event, Jacqueline wore an off-shoulder white dress.

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www.asian-voice.com

2 - 8 December 2023

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Advani wins World Billiards Championship for his 26th world title Indian cueist Pankaj Advani rallied to win the IBSF World Billiards Championship title for a staggering 26th world title, beating compatriot Sourav Kothari in the final at Doha.

Trailing 26-180 in the first hour, Advani rallied to defeat the 2018 world champion Kothari 1,000– 416 in a rematch of last year’s title clash in Kuala Lumpur. back-to-back Playing matches, Kothari took the initial lead and was going strong but faltered on a couple of easy chances to allow Advani recover

from the deficit. From there, it got a little scrappy with both exchanging visits players between them and a couple of 150-plus breaks by Advani helped him stretch the lead while Kothari could not fully capitalise on the chances he got. Advani fired in a break of 214, the highest of the match, and looked unstoppable after that.

Describing the feeling as “unreal”, Advani said: “I have won before so I know how it feels, but to repeat it year on year is what makes all those hours of

work on skill, body and mind totally worth it. To me, consistency is the hallmark of success and continuing to bring home world titles for the country is what drives me the most.”

Kothari blamed fatigue for squandering his early lead.

"My semifinals stretched on for almost five hours and I had to play the final with just a little more than an hour's break. So I guess I was fatigued," Kothari said.

Pankaj Advani

in brief 1.25 MN FANS ATTENDED WC, SAYS ICC A record 1.25 million fans attended matches during the 13th edition of the World Cup, which concluded recently with Australia beating hosts India for their sixth title, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said. A total of 1,250,307 fans watched the Oct 5-Nov 19 showpiece event from the stands, surpassing the previous mark of 1.016 million set at the 2015 edition in Australia and New Zealand. While the early matches not involving runners-up India had plenty of empty seats in venues, overall spectator figures had already surpassed the one million mark with six games to go. ICC head of events Chris Tetley said the ODI tournament had been a "great success."

Laxman likely to Hardik returns to Mumbai Indians, Gill named new Gujarat Titans captain replace Dravid as team ROOT, STOKES TO SKIP IPL Gujarat Titans appointed Shubman Gill as their captain for the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) following Hardik Pandya’s decision to move back to Mumbai Indians.

The Gujarat Titans will receive £1.5 million from MI for the all-cash trade deal apart from a hefty undisclosed transfer fee, a part of which will also go to the cricketer.

Once Pandya’s exit was sure, 24year-old opener Gill was an obvious captaincy choice, having won the coveted ‘Orange Cap’ in the last season with 890 runs, second to only Virat

Kohli’s all-time record of 973.

“I am delighted to assume the captaincy of Titans and thank the franchise for their trust in me to lead such a fine team,” Gill said in a statement. GT Team Director Vikram Solanki, in a statement, said: “As the first captain of Titans, Hardik Pandya has helped the franchise deliver two fantastic seasons that resulted in winning one IPL championship. He has now expressed a desire to return Shubman Gill to his original team MI. We respect his decision and wish him all the best.”

Maxwell powers Australia to a fivewicket win in third T20 Ruturaj Gaikwad showcased an exceptional performance, marking his debut T20 international by scoring an unbeaten 123 runs off just 57 balls. His remarkable innings led India to a formidable total of 222/3 against Australia in the third match of the five-match T20 series. However, despite Gaikwad's stellar effort, Australia's Glenn Maxwell turned the game around with a phenomenal 104* off 48 balls, securing a stunning victory and keeping Australia's hopes alive in the series. Earlier in the first two T20s India won comfortably.

In this crucial match, Australian skipper Matthew Wade elected to bowl first after winning the toss. India faced an early setback with Yashasvi Jaiswal departing for 6 runs in the second over, caught by Wade off Jason Behrendorff's delivery. Soon after, Ishan Kishan fell victim to Kane Richardson on the third delivery of the third over, caught by Stoinis.

Suryakumar Yadav stepped in and

contributed 39 runs off 29 balls before being dismissed by Hardie in the 11th over.

Gaikwad then accelerated the innings, achieving his maiden T20I century in 52 balls, eventually remaining unbeaten on 123 runs off 57 balls. Tilak Verma provided valuable support, scoring an unbeaten 31 runs in 24 balls, leading to a significant 141run partnership in just 67 balls. India concluded their innings with a substantial total of 222/3 in 20 overs, setting a target of 223 runs for Australia to chase.

Australia's batsmen managed to maintain the required run rate, with Glenn Maxwell taking charge and almost singlehandedly driving their pursuit. While Marcus Stoinis struggled, Captain Matthew Wade gradually found his rhythm, supporting Maxwell's aggressive play.

Maxwell's incredible unbeaten 104 off 48 balls, accompanied by Wade's 28 off 16, sealed the victory as Maxwell finished off with a six and three fours in the last four balls of the match.

India's head coach

Team India’s ODI final against Australia could be the last match for Rahul Dravid as head coach.

Sources said that the legendary batsman, whose two-year contract ended with the conclusion of the World Cup, has decided not to continue as the fulltime head coach of the Indian team and has communicated the same to the BCCI. Dravid is set to be replaced by his former batting colleague in the Indian team and close friend VVS Laxman, who is currently the head coach of a secondstring Indian team which is taking Australia in a five-match T20I series.

Laxman is also the head of the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy (NCA) and was the interim head coach of the Indian team during the T20I series in Ireland before the ODI World Cup and the white-ball series against New Zealand after the T20 World Cup last year.

“Laxman has expressed his keenness for the job. During the World Cup, Laxman travelled to Ahmedabad to meet the BCCI’s top bosses in this regard. He’s likely to sign up a long-term contract as Team India coach, and will certainly travel with the team in that capacity for the upcoming tour of South Africa, which will be his first as full-time head coach,” a source said. The first T20I against South Africa is scheduled for December 10, and the team is likely to depart by December 4.

Dravid had been appointed as head coach in November 2021 on a two-year term which ended with World Cup. Dravid’s two-year stint saw India lose in the T20 World Cup semifinals in Australia, triumph in the Asia Cup, reach the ODI World Cup final, win the home Test series against Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand, and the away series in Bangladesh and West Indies. There were home T20I series wins against Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka too.

Uday Saharan to captain India in Under-19 Asia Cup Promising batsman Uday Saharan will lead defending champions India in the ACC Men's Under-19 Asia Cup to be played in the UAE from December 8.

Saharan, a 19-year-old cricketer from Punjab, has been on the selection radar for a while and he was also drafted in as a back-up player after the Indian squad was hit by Covid during last year's Under-19 World Cup in Antigua. Saumy Kumar Pandey was named as vice captain of the 15-member side.

India are the most successful team in

the U19 Asia Cup having won the title eight times.

India are grouped with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal in the tournament.

They will begin the campaign with a match against the Afghans on December 8 at the ICC Academy Oval-1. In a muchanticipated match, India will lock horns with Pakistan on December 10 at the same venue, and in their final group match, they will face Nepal on December 12.

The final is scheduled to be played at the Dubai International Stadium on

December 17.

India U19 squad: Uday Saharan (Captain), Saumy Kumar Pandey (vicecaptain), Arshin Kulkarni, Adarsh Singh, Rudra Mayur Patel, Sachin Dhas, Priyanshu Moliya, Musheer Khan, Dhanush Gowda, Avinash Rao (wk), M Abhishek, Innesh Mahajan (wk), Aardhya Shukla, Raj Limbani, Naman Tiwari.

Travelling reserves: Prem Devkar, Ansh Gosai, Mohammad Aman.

Non-travelling reserves: Digvijay Patil, Jayant Goyat, P Vignesh, Kiran Chormale.

Joe Root has opted out of next year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), his franchise said, following his England team mate Ben Stokes, who made himself unavailable for the T20 league, citing workload. Root played just three matches for Rajasthan Royals in his IPL debut. Rob Key, managing director of England’s men’s cricket had said the 32-yearold “needs a break” after the 50-overs World Cup in India. “During our retention conversations, Joe informed us of his decision to not take part in IPL 2024,” Kumar Sangakkara, Rajasthan’s director of cricket said in a statement. The franchise thanked Root for guiding the likes of Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal at Rajasthan. Stokes had joined CSK ahead of IPL 2023 but played in only two matches as he was managing a troublesome knee injury throughout the course of the two-month long tournament.

WIMBLEDON'S EXPANSION PLANS REJECTED Wimbledon's ambitious expansion plans for 39 new courts, including an 8,000-seater show court, have suffered a blow after being unanimously rejected by Wandsworth Council. The £200 million overhaul by the All England Club was previously approved by Merton Council, but their Wandsworth counterparts rejected the plans by seven votes to nil at a planning committee meeting.

The boundaries cover both councils and, although the majority of the plot lies in Merton Council territory, the plans need the approval of both councils. The Wandsworth rejection means the project will now be referred to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the Greater London Authority. It could then be sent to Government level.

EX-WINDIES STAR SAMUELS BANNED FOR 6 YEARS Former West Indies star Marlon Samuels has been banned from all cricket for six years for breaching an anti-corruption code, the sport’s world body said. The charges relate to the 42-year-old’s stint in a T10 league in the United Arab Emirates in 2019. He has since retired from all forms of cricket. The former top-order batsman was found by an independent tribunal to have made four breaches of the Emirates Cricket Board’s Anti-Corruption Code. “Though he is retired now, Samuels was a participant when the offences were committed,” said Alex Marshall, general manager of the International Cricket Council (ICC). “The ban of six years will act as a strong deterrent to any participant who intends to break the rules.”