AV 04th September 2021

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE HSS UK condemns ‘Dismantling Global Hindutva’ conference SEE PAGE - 11

In a first, nine new SC judges take oath R

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inside

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side Operation Warm Welcome SEE PAGE - 9

4 - 10 SEPTEMBER 2021 - VOL 50 ISSUE 18 Men play an important role in advocating for all women SEE PAGE - 14

Taliban want ties with Delhi to continue as before, says senior leader SEE PAGE - 23

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4 - 10 September 2021

with Keith Vaz

Latest report reveals police using more prolonged Tasers for Blacks

Janet McKenna Trade Union Convenor Janet McKenna was born in Kettering in 1966 and grew up near Corby Northamptonshire where she went to the local comprehensive school and then on to North East London Polytechnic where she studied law.

After qualifying as a barrister in 1990 she had a short legal career. Finding herself unemployed she took a temporary job with Leicester County Council in a Children's Home. She enjoyed the experience and the challenges. Janet became a UNISON steward when staff were transferred to the City and in 1991 became a full-time Convenor for Social Care with the union. In 2020 Janet was elected Branch Secretary. She is married to a fellow trade union activist and am a proud Aunt and Great Aunt.

1. Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in?

I have lived in Leicester for 30 years (this year) the longest I've lived anywhere, so Leicester is very much my home. Scotland though is my other 'home'. Where most of my family were born and live, so I try and visit as often as possible.

2. What are your proudest achievements?

Passing my bar exams (they were tough!); the occasions I've represented UNISON members in situations where injustice was being done and I've managed to either prevent that or at least lessen the effects. Being there for members during their most difficult times.

3. What inspires you?

I think what inspires me is a sense of justice. If something is wrong or unfair it needs to be tackled. Turning a blind eye to inequality or injustice may often be the easier course of action but it's never the right one. Also, the passion and determination of fellow activists to make the workplace a better one for our members 4. What has been biggest obstacle in your career?

Short-sighted employers/managers who do the wrong thing because it's easier and quicker, failing to see that investing time to resolve a situation benefits everyone. More personally not enough time in the day to do everything that needs to be done 5. Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?

Probably my parents. My Dad - he was my biggest supporter, the person who encouraged me in my education and who allowed me to practice my advocacy skills with him (through frequent political arguments), which certainly helped me in subsequent careers.

My mum, who after my Dad's death moved from a small village in the Scottish Borders to the bright lights of Edinburgh city and who shows a fearlessness and a resilience that I hope to emulate.

6. What is the best aspect about your current role?

Having that opportunity to try and make a difference for members and seeing on a daily basis that the support of a trade union does make a difference to people's lives and their work. That unscrupulous and simply bad employers/managers can be brought to account and that the very presence of a trade union rep is often enough to make people act differently.

7. And the worst?

When despite our best efforts we can't change things for members.

When either the law or their contracts of employment prevent improving their situations. Also, when people don't join or join too late to get our help - that's always frustrating.

8. What are your long-term goals?

I am currently standing for election for UNISON's Labour Link Committee.

I hope to be elected to a body which dedicates it's time to highlighting the issues that matter to our members. At Branch level I hope that we can continue to grow; that we can impress on new employees that joining a trade union is essential and that we can turn some of those members into activists for the future.

9. If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?

That's a difficult one -there's so much! It's hard to confine my response to just one thing. Unsurprisingly I would like to see the repeal of some of the more punitive elements of employment legislation over recent years including the 2016 Trade Union Act, but I'd also like to see better investment in the forgotten service that is social care.

10. If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?

What a difficult question! After much deliberation I'd say Oliver Sacks, the clinical neurologist and author of books such as 'The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat’, 'Seeing Voices' and 'Awakenings'. I imagine he would have some fascinating tales to talk about the people he's met as well as being an incredibly interesting man in his own right.

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According to watchdog IOPC's report published in the month of May, out of those subjected to over five seconds of continuous Taser discharges, 60% were blacks and 29% whites. 67 seconds was recorded as the longest length of continuous discharges.

The IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) has called for greater scrutiny of this weapon for using disproportionately against black men and suspects with mental health issues. While analysing 101 investigations involving Taser since 2015,

evidence has been found of some officers making inappropriate comments during these incidents.

Considering this as a serious issue, IOPC has warned police against the risk of losing the trust and confidence of communities they serve.

Businessman caught for industrial-scale fake factory faces a four-year-sentence Inderjit Sangu, 67, of Coles Lane, West Bromwich, imitated luxury brands like Moncler, Canada Goose, Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, Versace, Prada, Givenchy, Lacoste, Nike & Adidas.

During the raid in August'19 on his unit based at Park Road, the officers found over 40,000 fake labels and

clothing items with fake labels exceeding GBP5million as per a reasonable estimate. Three

sewing loom machines were also found in this professional and well-organised operation.

Barrister defending Sangu argued that the fakes were supplied to market traders in working-class areas where buyers knew they were purchasing a duplicate item, which means it did not compete with high street and designer outlets.

British stamps banned in Chagos islands brings Mauritius symbolically closer to control The blocking of the usage of UK stamps on this archipelago has been considered as a blow to Britain and a sign of its growing isolation to its claim over Chagos islands.

Described by the British as British Indian Ocean Territory,

Chagos islands in the Indian Ocean are currently used by the US as a military airbase. The UK wants to maintain control on islands, which are part of Britain's old empire, for security purposes.

While all posts from Chagos

islands must now bear the stamp of Mauritius, Mauritius might now also seek to ban international flights over the area in coming times. The BBC correspondent says that indications show Britain have no allies left on the Chagos issue.

Will Nationality and Borders Bill block illegal immigration?

Home Secretary Priti Patel‘s Nationality and Borders Bill does make an attempt to resolve illegal migration issues, but, does it answer all the problems, many of which are of course beyond Britain’s borders.

One area of concern is the Mediterranean where people flee from countries like Tunisia, mostly aided by peo-

ple smugglers and without much worry about the consequences. The number of small boats crossing the English channel has broken a new record in addition to the new wave of Afghanistan migrants.

Chairman of Migration Watch Alp Mehmet considers the fact that after having arrived in the UK there

are few chances of being sent back, makes Britain one of the biggest destination choices.

Abusers may use pandemic as a ‘cover-up’ or ‘excuse’ for attacking and killing partners, Home Office report reveals The report that tracked all domestic deaths in one year of lockdown notes that homicides have not increased substantially. However, it warned the police of being prepared for an increased risk of domestic homicides and potentially suicides of domestic abuse victims

UK launches a commercial rocket Spaceport 1 launched a flight test vehicle ADA from Benbecula airport in the western isles on Thursday ahead of opening a spaceport for commercial suborbital launches.

Gravitilab aims to make space more accessible by providing reliable and affordable microgravity research and testing services for the first time in the UK aimed to be a part of the supply chain for small satellites that will transform the UK’s position in the world in the space sector.

The Department of Transport has also announced a framework of rules to regulate the space industry considering it as a potential GBP4billion market opportunity over the next 10 years.

as lockdown restrictions were lifted.

One of the concerns is an increased opportunity for serial perpetrators to find new victims as schools, colleges and universities will open.

EVAW Deputy Director Deniz Ugur says that many

women with care needs were left self-reliant on those who abuse them.

The home office report has advised police officers to be alert to Covid-blaming as an excuse or justification by the perpetrators for domestic abuse.

Moderate side effects of vaccines to children in 12-15 age group with coexisting conditions A study has found that Pfizer jab given to teenagers aged 12-15 with high risk of complications experienced mild to moderate side effects, all of which cleared up within a week.

The study was conducted on 27 children including 16 boys out of which 3 were hospital inpatients. After taking the jab only one child experienced severe fatigue and discomfort combined with

increased agitation.

After the first dose, there were a total of 8 events in six children which included headache, diarrhoea, mild rash, neck pain, difficulty sleeping, low blood glucose and presumed sore throat. All of them were resolved in 72 hours. After the second dose, 8 additional events occurred in 5 children. All recorded side effects cleared up within a week.

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COMMENTS 3

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

4 - 10 September 2021

Is global Britain a myth?

Ahead of the parliamentary recess coming to an end on 6 September and MPs returning to their full duties, health and wellness store Eden’s Gate wanted to ascertain the hardest working Prime Ministers of all time.

Using Hansard, they investigated how many spoken parliamentary contributions each PM has made, as well as how many weeks they held office, and ranked them to reveal the hardest working Prime Minister of the 20th and 21st century.

It turned out, Boris Johnson is the hardest working prime minister, making an average of 12.8 contributions in parliament per week.

James Callaghan and Theresa May come second and third, with an average of 11.3 and 6 contributions per week respectively.

The Labour party is the hardest working party overall, with average weekly contributions per PM of 4.8 compared to the Conservative party's 4.

Tony Blair only made one contribution per week on average, making him the least hard-working Prime Minister of the past decade.

Ever since Boris Johnson has taken his role up, the country continues to struggle against various crises. But the humanitarian crisis Britain is yet to face, is going to be a challenge for even the ‘hardest working Prime Minister’.

The Financial Times in an article recently talked about the crisis that will arise in Northern Ireland, as the UK reviews its human rights law. Jane Croft wrote that the review into the 1998 Act, headed by Sir Peter Gross, a retired judge, is due by the end of the year. Any changes, even ahead of the publication, will affect the fragile politics across both sides of the Irish border.

This Act, which is a part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement ended decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. It is supported by the UK’s Human Rights Act and academics, politi-

cians, and human rights campaigners fear any attempt to change this legislation will risk the peace accord and the already delicate ‘post-Brexit political balance in the region’.

Britain though finally accepts change more than any other nation does, the process is long, tedious and always conflicting.

In the light of Covid-19 outbreak, people forgot about the Brexit fiasco, like they would forget about the utter distress faced by those refugees who have arrived in Britain from Afghanistan or those who are yet to arrive from across a very disturbed Middle East. Who remembers how those Asians were treated like when they arrived from Uganda after Idi Amin’s expulsion?

The region that was once a bedrock of civilisation, is torn by wars, violence, and political upheavals. Today’s Afghanistan could be tomorrow’s Pakistan. Where does global Britain’s responsibility even begin?

Polly Tonbee in her column in The Guardian wrote, global Britain is perhaps an illusion. Post-Afghanistan, the government’s recent ‘integrated review’ of defence and foreign policy makes no sense- tilt to the Gulf and Pacific, step up in Africa, lead Nato in Europe, tread carefully with Xi and stand up to Putin, spend, spend, spend on extra nuclear warheads, with no tough choices.

The Britain that is trying to pin it’s hopes on an alliance in the pacific region, cannot stop China or Russia. With their friendship growing with Afghanistan and Pakistan, there is only so much India can do. Deserted by the US, Britain’s transatlantic bridge is broken.

As Tonbee said, like Aesop’s fable of the contest between the sun and the wind, we could have done better in Afghanistan if all the firepower that was blasted on invasion had been spent on shining down soft power. Britain can indeed no longer “punch above its weight”.

Taliban, a new leaf On Tuesday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said that the Indian envoy in Qatar, Deepak Mittal has raised India’s concerns that Afghanistan should not be a ground for breeding terrorist attack on India. The meeting was at the request of the Taliban Mission Head in Doha. Several positive indications have been pronounced by Taliban.

The media talked about how Taliban fighters fired their guns into the air in celebration in the Afghan capital as the United States completed withdrawal of it forces from Afghanistan, nearly 20 years after it invaded the country, following the 9/11 attack in 2001. A video emerged with a body dangling from a US military chopper being flown by the Taliban, reportedly over Kandahar in Afghanistan, posted by what the Taliban claims is their official handle, as the US troops retreated.

In the meantime, China said that Afghanistan has undergone tremendous changes. Taliban claims it has undergone changes too and it promises to bring change. First, no country can rule with the power of gun. Fear and therefore submission to authority rather than respect is not a benchmark any country’s government should ever have. China is a dictatorial nation too- but its people follow rules in fear of consequences which includes punishments, but fear of bullet is not one of them. North Korea is a similar regiment but it still does not propagate terrorism.

Second, for any country to prosper its women need to feel safe and be a part of the system. Locking women behind doors and underrepresentation in work or politics cannot be an example of a progressive nation. Taliban is trying to project the image

of a changed regime. But are they really changed? With one woman member in their delegation, they are actually presenting a false picture of liberalism.

What the Taliban did 20 years back, May not be its identity today. The world has changed significantly over the last two decades, with internet, social media and digital progress in every nation that call themselves “developed or developing”. The Taliban Cultural Commission uses Facebook and Twitter to spread its propaganda in multiple languages. But the main objective is to manipulate the global idea of Taliban and also reassure that their new regime is tolerant!

Sharia Law is actually an interpretation of the rule makers.

Like everything else, it also has room to evolve, though perfection isn’t a possibility in faith.

As Ebad Mobaligh in Modern Diplomacy wrote, “one size fits all” model doesn’t work in conflict-prone, failing, fragile or nondemocratic states. Afghanistan is a living proof of how America’s attempted implementation of a liberal peace model to establish democracy and stability in a nation failed.

Liberal peace promotes democracy by establishing the rule of law, free market, and emphasising human rights, governance, and security reforms. Critics of liberal peace claim that the model has not been very successful, because of the limited scope of human security, human rights, and transitional justice in its strategy. So we know why America’s policy failed in Afghanistan.

But question remains, has Taliban really turned a new leaf to lead its nation to a new dawn? Perhaps time will tell.

Why western writers can't digest India's progress?

India bashing is a favourite pastime of western writers. While reviewing two books – To Kill a Democracy by Debasish Roychoudhury and political scientist John Keane and Modi's India by Christophe Jaffrelot, a French academic, James Crabtree examines two books that look at the rise of autocracy and inequality in India and the strains placed on its people and western allies. The book To Kill Democracy, describes the long process of decay, after dating as far back as independence itself.

Their list of concerns is long. Three decades after economic liberation began in 1991, more than 365 million Indians remain in poverty, food and water scarcity are rife. The authors in a searing and polemic, albeit one that suggests India has made little economic or social progress over recent generations- an argument that made Modi's fiercer critics pause. Poverty rates have indeed risen during the pandemic. But as the authors briefly admit, they had previously fallen by well over 200 million in recent decades, an impressive achievement rooted in an admittedly faltering economic record.

In Modi's India author Christophe Jaffrelot aims more squarely at the prime minister himself. The author says the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has never hidden its aims of building a Hindu rashtra – a nation dominated by Hindus. Modi pushed this aim relatively gently in his first term in office, but has since moved forward more forcefully after his second victory in 2019.

The author suggests the result sees India 'transforming from a de facto Hindu rashtra to an authoritarian Hindu raj. The author provides accounts of everything from rise of vigilante violence against minorities to decline in judicial corruption.

Although different in focus, the two books come to many common conclusions. Both view India as part of what academics dub a new wave of global 'autocratisation' hitting countries from Hungary to the US under Donald Trump.

But world leaders did not agree with the views expressed by the authors. They did not see India as an autocratic country like China and Russia. Earlier British PM Boris Johnson and Prime minister Narendra Modi held a virtual summit, at which Johnson hailed a new era in mutual friendship. The UK and India share many fundamental values, Johnson claimed. The UK is one of the oldest democracies and India is the world's largest democracy. Such Indian courtship is far from unique. Other western nations are also aiming to tap into India’s potentially huge economy while also seeking a natural geopolitical hedge against China. The foreign authors always try to attack Modi in all that he is doing. The Indian electorates believe that Modi is an able leader who is capable of taking India to a new high in economic progress and in other fields. The Indian electorates are not stupid to vote him for the second time if they did not have faith in his honesty. India did not bring out any laws that prevent the minorities from practicing their religions. The book talks about Modi contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha Election.

Looking at the present scenario, he will handsomely win that election also. The electorate thinks that Modi would become a populist reformer, focused on rapid economic development of all Indians. Even the US is courting India in its fight against China and Russia. India is on its way to become a world superpower. While the minorities in Pakistan and other countries suffer, Indian minorities are enjoying the freedom like others.

Some western authors have always tried to browbeat India. They cannot digest the progress India is achieving in all fields. India is called the pharmacy of the world. Why, because India is the world's leading producer of medicines. In the IT sector Indians occupy top positions in a number of multinationals. Wherever Indians are, they progress better than even the locals. In the US, Indians are better educated than other emigrants.

“If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” – Steve Jobs

Alpesh Patel

We will no longer stand afraid Prime Minister 11 Ashoka Road New Delhi, 110001 Dear Prime Minister Modi-ji, The events in Afghanistan remind us of India that when a country is 70% Hindu, and the only historic home of the oldest of all faiths, then that country is home, wherever its sons and daughters may live.

For too long nations have limited their protection to their own Citizens. India, must extend this principle – to cover all those whose ancestors have called Hindustan their home.

Because unlike those of all other faiths, Hindus have no traditional, ancestral home, except India, it must be the policy of your Government that all Hindus wherever they are in the world will be extended the umbrella of protection of your Government.

From this day onward, the first determinant of your relations with any Foreign Government must be their treatment of the Hindu population within their borders. It has to be the business of this Government how Hindus are treated worldwide. If they want better relations with India, first make the best relations with Hindus in their own country.

This doctrine is not novel in international relations. The people of Israel provide protection for Jews wherever they are in the world, of whichever nationality. We shall extend no lesser protection to Hindus.

Nor should anyone ask, what of those of other faiths? Muslims, Christians, those of all other faiths who are Indian nationals will continue to have the full unwavering protections of the Indian State.

As Hindustan becomes and economic superpower, what use this wealth, this status, the hands of friendship of other nations, if they do not respect our people, for Hindus wherever they are will always be Hindustani first.

You are often called a Hindu Nationalist. So be it. You have never been embarrassed of the title.

This is Hindu Nationalism. This is an example of what it means. Justice for all, appeasement of none.

The Hindu nation is not confined to borders drawn by a colonial power. We are the Hindu nation, world over. Hindustan holds dominion over us all.

Extend this Doctrine to all Dharmic faiths who have no home except India – including the Sikhs, Jains, Parsees too.

I have termed this the Modi-Patel doctrine in tribute to India’s first Deputy PM, Sardar Patel, who was responsible with bringing all the States into the Union at Independence and thereby earned the title the ‘Iron Man of India’. Hereafter India will be Ironlike in its resolve in the protection of Hindus.

The riots of 2002 are testament to why Hindus need and must be protected, for it was there hundreds of Hindus were burnt alive, and the carnage and consequences for Muslims thereafter was truly horrific.

Therefore expect the full support of the global Muslim population that Hindus should nowhere in the world ever feel a minority. We will no longer stand afraid of protecting our own, for fear of offending others. We will no longer feel a minority in our own homeland.

Jai Hind.

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4 - 10 September 2021

Local newsagents Madhu and Jyoti bid farewell after over 40 years A local couple called Madhu and Jyoti Patel shut their local newsagent, Pedler’s in Edgware for the very last time after almost 43 years in service.

The couple, originally from Nairobi, Kenya have been running the local newsagent paper shop in Edgware for over 40 years.

They were a much loved and admired couple who were a vital part of the local community.

To say thank you and farewell, local residents organised a farewell party for the special couple.

Scores of local residents gathered to pay tribute, each with their own story and memory to tell. One resident even said that Mr Patel would always go out of his way to ensure she had her paper – delivering it personally during the lockdown.

An emotional Madhu Patel said he was humbled by the number of people who attended the farewell party, “I will miss everyone very much. It has been an honour to serve the community.”

When asked what they would do in the retirement, Jyoti Patel replied, “I will not know what to do with my time! I look forward to spending more time with my family – but I might be tempted to find another job!”

Local Ward Councillor Ameet Jogia was present to pay tribute to the couple, “Mr and Mrs Patel are an integral part of the local community. The number of residents here present is proof of just how much they are loved in the area.

Whilst we will be very sorry to see Cllr Ameet Jogia and the Mayor and Mayoress of Harrow with Madhu and Jyoti Pedler’s Newsagent Patel, owners of Pedler’s Newsagents go, we are all delightMadhu and Jyoti Patel’s children and ed that Mr and Mrs Patel will finally have grandchildren also attend to pay tribute to some time together to send on themselves! their parents who had worked so hard over They deserve a happy and healthy retirethe year. They said they had wonderful ment.” memories of growing up in the shop and Also present to pay tribute to Madhu look forward to seeing their parents finally and Jyoti was the Mayor of Harrow, Cllr relax.

Ghazanfar Ali who said, “Mr and Mrs Patel Mr and Mrs Patel have seen the area have given an incredible service to the local changed greatly over the last 40 years, but community and we wish them all the best.” they have moved with the times. During Local residents raised over £1,500 for the recent pandemic, they continued to go the Madhu and Jyoti to enjoy their above and beyond. retirement.

Recall of Parliament to debate the crisis in Afghanistan In the debate in the House of Lords during the emergency recall of Parliament last week Lord Dholakia the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats said,” In a fully functioning democracy, we would have expected the Government to inform us about the constantly changing situation in Afghanistan” He commented. The Foreign Secretary has almost remained muted for a long time, and it is our high-calibre journalists and newspapers that have been at the forefront of updating us about what precisely is going on in a country where we have substantially invested in promoting democracy and democratic values and human rights.”

Lord Dholakia continued by telling the House of his visit to Afghanistan and said, “In the past, I was privileged as a delegate to visit Camp Bastion, the British base, in the company of a number of other parliamentarians. we returned home in a plane that was specially adapted to bring our wounded soldiers back to the UK. That was an experience I shall never forget.”

He spoke of the over 450 British lives lost, and a large number of casualties inflicted together with civilian lives that have been

Lord Dholakia

lost. He commented, What a heavy price we have paid.

He went on to thank our Armed Forces for the remarkable humanitarian work that they undertook. Despite fierce resistance from the Taliban, the British Army delivered a turbine for a large-scale power scheme at the Kajaki dam, which generates enough power to feed 1.5 million people. Our medical and surgical facilities at Camp Bastion ensured that even enemies were not denied help.

Lord Dholakia spoke of a meeting he had

had with a number of Afghani delegates at an inter-parliamentary conference. One point that they often raised was Britain’s idea about promoting democracy in a predominantly tribal society. It is time that we think about how our work can be advanced and how democratic values should be promoted where religion and tribal rules and loyalty play an important part.

Lord Dholakia said, “The present crisis points to failures at various levels. Did we ever work out the policy implication of the Taliban takeover?

“My final point is about the Afghani people wishing to leave their homeland, they must be assisted and welcomed. I once had an interesting meeting with Lord Carr of Hadley, who dealt with this type of crisis as Home Secretary. He told me that it took less than five minutes for the Cabinet to take a decision that admitted 29,000 Ugandan Asians to this country.

We should look at the initiative that the Government took at that time, which is today proved by the remarkable contribution of this community in Britain. The same can happen with refugees from Afghanistan.”

Government bans single use plastic cutlery In what the ministers call a move to help reduce litter and cut the amount of plastic waste in oceans, the Government has banned single-use plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene cups in the country.

While according to government figures each person in England on average uses 18 single-use plastic plates and 37 single-use

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plastic items of cutlery in a year, the EU has already banned these items in July.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also have plans to ban cutlery made of single-use plastic.

However, as the ban may take over a year to become a law, campaigners have urged the government to move quickly.

Study reveals risk of blood clot much higher post Covid infection Some countries have restricted the use of the Oxford-AstraZenca vaccine for fear of blood clots.

Independent researchers have found that there are increased risks of some blood or blood vessel-related events after the first jab, but, the risk of these adverse events is substantially higher on getting infected from coronavirus.

The research, which used findings of over 29 million people, was fully independent of the University of Oxford team that worked with AstraZeneca. The researchers used

data collected from across England between 1-Dec-20 and 24-Apr-21.

Professor Julia Hippisley-Cox said that people should be aware of increased risks after vaccination, but, also aware that the risks are considerably higher with SARS-CoV-2.

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in brief in brief ENGLAND’S OLDEST MAN RECEIVES QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY CARD FOR THE NINTH TIME ON 109TH BIRTHDAY

John Tinniswood who used to work for Shell has now completed his 109th year living at a care home in Southport. He says he has now got used to Her Majesty’s Birthday Wishes whom he greatly respects.

He has advised that ‘Moderation’ is the key to longer life – “Don’t eat too much. Don’t drink too much. Try and keep fit.” Mr Tinniswood who has seen great changes in society and technology and lived through two world wars considers Electricity and Radio as the things that actually changed people’s lives. Despite being the oldest man in the country he still loves a good party.

BA PLANS A SUBSIDIARY TO RUN ON SHORT-ROUTES TO HAVE A COMPETITIVE OPERATING MODEL British Airways is planning a new subsidiary operation to run alongside their regular long-haul operations to help them become ‘agile and competitive’ and ‘build a sustainable presence over Gatwick over time’.

The plans of BA, owned by International Airlines Group, comes after speculation that BA might abandon its Gatwick routes.

BA’s statement says that they are working with their unions on proposals for a shorthaul operation at Gatwick.

General Secretary of pilot’s union Balpa, Martin Chalk has welcomed the decision to restart BA and homes for a conclusion soon on the matter. An internal letter to the staff mentioned that the furlough scheme that is ending on 30 September would steeply increase the payroll costs for the airline and in such a situation flexibility on the way of working would be vital.

PREVIOUSLY JAILED RADICAL SPEAKER NOW USES SOCIAL MEDIA TO STIR UP HATE Cleric Anjem Choudhary who was jailed in 2016 over his support to IS has now started to post his thoughts about issues like Sharia laws on broadcasting and chatting app Telegram. When Chaudhary was released in 2018 he was banned from public speaking. He is now free from the terms and has started gathering followers on the encrypted app Telegram. He uses the app favouring the Taliban to impose a stricter form of Islamic justice which includes extreme punishments like stone adulterers and chopping off the hands of the thieves. Henry Jackson Society’s Sam Armstrong has said that Anjem is dangerous and makes a mockery of the Government's deradicalisation programmes.

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4 - 10 September 2021

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6 UK

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AsianVoiceNewsweekly

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4 - 10 September 2021

BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON? Continued from page 1 Following news that Hollywood actor Daniel Craig would not be leaving his fortune to his children, the debate on inheritance has stirred up across the globe. In the meantime, research from the Hargreaves Lansdown survey has found that 82% of people plan to leave money to their children when they pass away while 7% plan to leave it to other family members.

Sarah Coles, a personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, has said, "It’s not just Daniel Craig: Almost one in five people don’t plan to leave most of their money to their kids when they pass away. Some have made sensible planning decisions for the benefit of their whole family.” Inheritance is an age-old practice, especially in the Asian community, that has long played an extremely important role in human societies, and a variety of Inheritance laws have been developed to regulate the process. We speak to members of the community and briefly outline where we stand in our cultural practices in matters of inheritance.

Criticism of inheritance The New World Encyclopaedia describes ‘inheritance’ as a sociological phenomenon. It says the ability to bequeath property to one's children or other heirs upon one's death has been criticised as incompatible with modern views of human equality since it makes it possible for a few to amass significant amounts of wealth without having to work or contribute to the society and world.

In this sense, inheritance has for centuries become a means of perpetuating social injustice, which is the result of human greed and the absence of conscience in the development of economic systems, including capitalism.

However, in defence of inheritance, denying the possibility of handing down the fruits of one's labours to one's descendants reduces the incentive for hard work, and thus risks reducing economic growth.

Like money itself, the practice of inheritance is neither good nor evil, but rather subject to the goodness or greed of human beings who have been influenced by an alltoo-often selfish and uncaring society.

Just as biological features, talents, or even skills learned from one's parents are inherited without equality or state control, inheritance of the physical fruits of one's parents' labours cannot be equalised by legislation.

However, in the Asian community, Lord Rami Ranger, a British businessman, and the founder of Sun Mark, an international marketing and distribution company, is one of the most successful British Asian businessmen in the UK whose journey from £2 to £200 million is extraordinary. Sunmark now spreads over 130 plus countries with over 10,000 products and awards.

Likewise, Lord Dolar Popat has also been involved with a number of community

organisations. He is a founding Director of St Luke’s Hospice, Harrow. Lord Popat founded and funds a registered charity, the Lord Dolar Popat Foundation, which makes contributions to medical and educational institutions predominately based in the UK. Further information can be found in that section of the website.

Renowned business tycoon Laxmi N Mittal boasts of a £14bn fortune as the Indian steel magnate in the United Kingdom.

In 2020, with a Net Worth of £480Million, Akshata Murthy was declared richer than Queen Elizabeth. Akshata Murthy is the daughter of Infosys founder Narayan Murthy and wife of British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.

She owns £480 Million worth of shares in her father’s tech giant while Queen Elizabeth’s personal wealth is around £350 Million.

Similarly, George and Mike Jatania have had a stellar record of once being the fifth richest Asians in the UK with wealth worth £850 million.

Hindujas: third place despite cracks in the empire Last year, the Hindujas in the Sunday Times Rich List 2021 shared the second spot with the Reubens. In 2021, the Hinduja brothers slipped to third place with an estimated net worth of £17 billion. The report didn’t fail to mention, “Cracks have appeared in the Hindujas' business empire, which has interests ranging from van manufacturing and luxury hotels to banking and healthcare.”

The Rich List 2021 further stated: “London-based Sri Hinduja, 85, has become embroiled in a legal skirmish with his three brothers, Gopi (GP), 81, Geneva-based Prakash (PP), 75, and Ashok (AP), 70, who is based in Mumbai… Sri is claiming personal ownership of the Switzerland-based Hinduja Bank, which is overseen by his eldest daughter, Shanu, and her son Karam.”

“In June last year, GP, PP and AP Hinduja had issued a joint statement to say that it is ‘very unfortunate’ that the proceedings are taking place,” The Sunday Times reported and further added that the Hindujas had gone on record to say that, “We intend to defend the claim to uphold these dearly held family values.”

Inheritance destroys families Vijay Thakkar of Black Stone Morgate

Vijay Thakkar

told Asian Voice, “For those families who have created wealth, have taken care by involving, trusting, and having faith in their children as part of succession planning. My belief is that among the younger generation 24 hour helpline e there is a strong sense of duty 020 8361 6151 towards their inheritance.

They feel obliged and have the drive to continually increase their family wealth either through growing organically or • An independent Hindu fam mily business diversifying into other busi• D Dedic di atted d Shiva Shi chapel h l off restt nesses to reduce the risk.

• Washing and dressing facilities “On the other hand, • Ritual service items provided Inheritance destroys families.

Youngsters can drift into lazi• Priest arranged for perforrming last rites ness and inactivity, reluctant to • Specialists in repatriation n to India work as they have more money than they need.

They take over family businesses and often find themselves over their heads having never managed their family business before “Education, guidance, forChandu Tailor 07957 250 851 ward planning and above all Jay Tailor 07583 616 151 trusting your children to do the Bhanubhai Patel 07939 232 664 right thing is the key to success Dee Kerai 07437 616 151 and transfer of wealth from 24 hour helpline: 020 8361 6151 | e: info@tailor.co.uk | w: www.tailor.co.uk one generation to the next.”

Chani House, Lower Park Road, New Southgate, London, N11 1QD Inheritance Tax

The standard Inheritance Tax rate is 40%.

It’s only charged on the part of your estate that’s above the threshold. The estate can pay Inheritance Tax at a reduced rate of 36% on some assets if you leave 10% or more of the ‘net value’ to charity in your will. Funds from your estate are used to pay Inheritance Tax to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). This is done by the person dealing with the estate (called the ‘executor’, if there’s a will). Your beneficiaries (the people who inherit your estate) do not normally pay tax on things they inherit. They may have related taxes to pay, for example, if they get rental income from a house left to them in a will. People you give gifts to might have to pay Inheritance Tax, but only if you give away more than £325,000 and die within 7 years.

Inheritance tax can be avoided Kaushik Desai, a principal in Chown Dewhurst LLP said that in his experience as a

are not keen to take it and often get stressed about what to do with it and all the tax implications that arise.

“Some will just feel it does not belong to them and will pass it down to the next generation. And then there are some lost cases who are eying on how much they will inherit and many end up just wasting it. These people also often end up with big legal fights on claiming their shares amongst other family members.

“These cases run on for years and beyond their own lives with huge legal bills! In such cases, inheritance is bad. I have seen cases where the next generation just gets wasted.

In my view, anyone with wealth more than £1m should take advice and plan as otherwise, their heirs will not really get the desired benefits.”

Communication gap, psychological and emotional factors Shilpa Panchmatia, Executive & Business Coach told the newsweekly that she knows of

Kaushik Desai Shilpa Panchmatia tax advisor, as people grow older, they tend to be concerned about the inheritance tax their children will have to pay on their passing.

“Some clients do not worry about it and take the view that their children will get at least 60% of their assets, which is better than what they received from their parents.

“Inheritance tax can be avoided, however, if one gifts assets to their children and thereafter survive at least seven years before passing but you should check the capital gains tax position before gifting. I do advise that you should give away only what you can afford to give away and not expect it back, particularly as many children may have used the assets one way or another and not be in a position to return the gifted asset back to you,” Desai told the newsweekly.

He further added, “Planning your needs in retirement is essential and, with low-interest rates, one requires a substantial amount of assets to generate a sufficient income in retirement. Interestingly, reports from the government indicate that it is the people with assets of between one to ten million who pay the most in inheritance tax as those with more assets dispose of them much earlier in life.

“I would recommend that you carefully consider how you pass on your assets to your children. Some of my clients do not want to provide their children with a substantial inheritance in order that they continue to be determined and motivated to do well in life themselves. Other clients worry that the assets that they have worked hard to build may be disassembled on inheritance.

“In view of this, I advise my clients to place their assets into a trust in such a manner that their children can enjoy the income and not spend the capital. Trust can be useful from asset preservation, more so than a tax, point of view to safeguarding generations to come to enjoy the inheritance you have built up.”

Wrong hands Sharing his sentiment on whether or not inheritance is a bad thing, Subhash V Thakrar

two businesses where she discussed inheritance and succession planning as part of the exit plan. According to Shilpa, the family dynamics of business is so massive that it often takes a seat at the dinner table which allows us to have open communication, or it can close communication because of the generation gap.

She said, “One of the biggest challenges that I’ve seen in both cases has been the lack of communication there has been an inherent assumption that the next generation will take over the business and sometimes the new generation is willing to and may have wanted to pursue a popular career such as being an actor or being a vlogger.

“The successor often has intense and immense knowledge about the business.

Haven’t been involved in it from youth- it’s likely that they have been unable to take on a greater leadership role as this was reserved for the older generation.”

Speaking further, she said that one of the businesses where the successor took over brought in modern leadership thoughts frameworks systems, Shilpa created a completely new e-commerce channel which allowed the business an extra 33% increase in revenue.

“The other challenge that I have found is that when the exit is happening the parents are often looking to fund their retirement from the business. This can be very distressing for the business and for both parties especially if it hasn’t been discussed and a proper succession and exit plan put into place.

“So, I always tend to look at the psychological and emotional factors involved as well as the rational factors of a state in succession planning business continuity and the change in leadership and goals,” Shilpa added.

Asian Voice wishes

Subhash V Thakrar

told us, “Yes if it comes to the wrong hands. I have seen mixed cases in my advisory work with families. In some ways, we are victims of our own success in that we have educated our children very well and they have become good wealth creators in their own right.

When such children inherit, I find that they

to all our readers from Jain community.

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UK

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

7

4 - 10 September 2021

PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH UK GOVERNMENT

Resuming schools in September What to expect as you return in the new academic year

Rupanjana Dutta September is always a refresh moment with the start of a new academic year.

Although caution is still needed to manage Covid, the new academic year should be an opportunity to continue face-to-face education experienced over the course of the past two academic years and with cautious optimism for the future.

Though education settings have remained open since March 2021, with Covid-19 restrictions eased, importance of education for children and young people remains paramount.

Delivering high quality face-to-face education and reducing disruption in their academic routine is key to their all-round progression especially mental health and physical wellbeing.

However, nurseries, schools and colleges are still expected to ensure they maintain good hygieneincluding frequent hand washing, appropriate cleaning regimes and keeping rooms well ventilated. At the start of the term, asymptomatic testing will resume in secondary schools and colleges - two lateral flow device tests at an on-site asymptomatic test site (ATS), 3-5 days apart on return and students should continue to test twice weekly at home until the end of September, when measures will be reviewed.

It is vital that we encourage and support our children and young people to continue going to school and college regularly, as the benefit of face-to-face education outweighs their Covid health risks. More importantly, all education staff have now been offered the vaccine and children aged 12 to 15 with specific underlying health conditions or who live with others at increased risk of getting seriously ill from Covid-19 are now eligible for the vaccine. In addition, many 16 and 17-year-olds are also eligible for the vaccine, enhancing the general level of immunity.

What is changing?

For schools and colleges, the easing of restrictions means bubbles and social distancing are no longer advised. Also, children who have been in close contact with someone with Covid will no longer have to self-isolate.

Changes to the safety measures in education settings include:

A more familiar school life Birmingham mum Aisha Begum is looking forward to daughter Zainab Rehman resuming Zainab and Aisha school life that feels more like it used to. Aisha who works as a receptionist at a GP, told Asian Voice, “While the youngsters learnt from home, they missed out in-person activities like sports, after-school clubs and staying over doing extra work. They were communicating with friends, but they were in bubbles. From September, the easing of restrictions allows children to get back to a greater sense of normality and my daughter Zainab can carry on doing her studies properly. When she studied from home, though it was good, and the school offered all the help possible, it was not the same as going into school in person.

“Now that Zainab is in Year 10, and taking her GCSE soon, it is important that she actually does classes from school. Zainab used to like PE clubs, and they had extra homework clubs which she can get back to in September.”

Year 10 student Zainab goes to Small Heath Leadership Academy and wants to be an Interior Designer in the future and is looking forward to after school activities like PE, playing football or netball. She told the newsweekly, “I am eagerly waiting to go back to school and work with all my friends and interact with everyone. There are normally extra homework sessions to help us. Moreover, if I’m stuck on any

subject, it helps to be able to ask my teachers questions face to face instead of online learning.”

Learning an overall process Sarada Basu, is a Science (Chemistry) teacher for GCSE and A level students in a grammar school in Kent. She said, “It’s important for the students to be in school as learning is an overall Sarada Basu process.

Students need to process that information with their friends, talking, hearing, listening, discussing, and associating the learning with other visual and other memories like smells, especially my subject. Science has a lot of practical aspects which is impossible to learn online or by doing the virtual experience.”

Socialising with peers an essential part of development Helen Spiers, head of counselling and child psychotherapist at Mable Therapy said, “Attending school in person is so psychologically important for young people.

Helen Spiers Socialising with peers is an essential part of our development, it helps us to build our sense of identity and gives us lots of skills such as empathy, communication, and the ability to compromise. Attending school

also gives children structure and routine which helps them to feel psychologically safe. If they know what their day is going to involve and there’s rules and boundaries keeping them on track, they feel more secure and have a purpose.

Add to that, the self-esteem children and young people get from feeling successful, whether it’s performing well in their favourite subject or playing in a school sports team or music group, and school is a hugely validating experience.

“Not every child will feel that way. For some children, they preferred being at home, but for many of them it wasn’t for the best reasons. For example, if they struggle with anxiety, then they may have liked avoiding the pressures of school. However, by having prolonged periods at home, the feelings of anxiety will have heightened as they built up the fear of returning to school, to the point where it may have become completely overwhelming.

“Importantly, we’ve found that a key benefit to children being back at school is that teachers and their peers are more able to pick up on mental health issues early. For parents, they may be busy working or may not have noticed subtle behaviour changes over time. However, a teacher may see a student alongside their peers and realise that they’re struggling. Or if they’re opening up to their peers about their mental health issues, there’s more chance their friend will report this if they’re at school and have access to the pastoral team.

Alternatively, the parent may have noticed it and been worried, but without access to school’s counselling they were unable to get them support.”

• It is no longer advised to keep children in consistent groups (‘bubbles’), which means in person assemblies and more group-based activities and sports with other classes and year groups can resume.

• Schools will no longer have to stagger start and finish times.

• Face coverings are no longer advised for pupils, staff, and visitors either in classrooms or in communal areas.

However, pupils aged 11 and over should continue to wear face coverings on dedicated school or college transport, when travelling to and from school or college.

• NHS Test and Trace is now responsible for contact tracing for nurseries, schools, and colleges.

• Pupils will not automatically be sent home if someone in the class gets Covid. Instead, they should take a PCR test and only self-isolate if it’s positive.

The easing of restrictions will provide more consistency and routine for children and young people. All schools should have plans in place on what to do if pupils, students or staff test positive for Covid-19, or how they would operate if they were advised to reintroduce any measures due to high prevalence of the virus.

To find out what to expect when pupils return to school, including asymptomatic testing in place visit gov.uk/backtoschool.

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AsianVoiceNewsweekly

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4 - 10 September 2021

Boris Johnson crowned hardest working Prime Minster of the century A study has revealed that Boris Johnson is the hardest working prime minister, making an average of 12.8 contributions in parliament per week.

Eden’s Gate used Hansard to find the number of spoken parliamentary contributions each prime minister made whilst in office. They then divided this by how many weeks each prime minister spent in the office to get the average number of contributions each PM made per week. They then ranked these in order to find the most and least

hard-working prime ministers of the 20th and 21st centuries.

To work out the average contribution per party, Eden’s Gate combined each party’s average contributions and divided the result by the number of MP’s in each party. James Callaghan and Theresa May come second and third, with an average of 11.3 and 6 contributions per week respectively. The Labour party is the hardest working party overall, with average weekly contributions per PM of 4.8 compared to the

Conservative party's 4. Tony Blair only made one contribution per week on average, mak-

ing him the least hard-working Prime Minister of the past decade.

Tyler Woodward, CEO of Health and Wellness store Eden’s Gate said “It comes as no surprise to me that Boris Johnson has been named hardest working PM in terms of parliamentary contributions. After all, he has been in office throughout Brexit and a worldwide health crisis! I’d suggest he makes sure to make time for himself and ensure he’s sleeping and eating well to avoid burnout.”

NHS to diagnose thousands of people with rare diabetes Genetic testing on the NHS will spot a rare form of diabetes in thousands of people unaware they are living with the disease, alongside a new training scheme for staff.

The test being rolled out across England can also spot whether people have passed the affected gene on to their children, while the health service is training hundreds of staff across the country to be experts in the rare condition.

Known as monogenic diabetes, around 12,000 people in England are thought to have the condition, which if left undetected can mean patients struggle to manage glucose levels.

If high glucose levels go untreated for a long period of time it can cause blindness, amputations and a greater risk of a heart attack.

Most patients newly diag-

nosed with monogenic diabetes will be able to manage their condition better by taking tablets or by diet to control their glucose levels instead of having to endure often unnecessary and time-consuming insulin injections.

The test can also detect whether children have inherited the affected gene and will go on to develop monogenic diabetes, typically before the age of thirty.

The condition makes up one in fifty diabetes cases, but it is

difficult to diagnose or distinguish from the more common types of the condition – type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

The NHS Long Term Plan is committed to increasing access to genomic testing and to improving diabetes care across the country.

Professor Partha Kar, NHS national speciality advisor for diabetes, said: “We are already making progress against the goals set out in the NHS Long Term Plan for better diabetes care, and the rollout of this programme will mean more patients across the country will benefit from access to specialist genetic testing and optimised treatment.

“Monogenic diabetes is difficult to diagnose, and we will more easily be able to identify those who need to be referred for genetic testing by training

teams on monogenic diabetes in each Trust.

“The NHS has long been at the forefront of clinical advances in care for major diseases like diabetes – being able to spot the condition from birth is just another example of how we are helping people with the condition to live longer and healthier lives.”

NHS trusts in England will be supported to put in place a team of monogenic diabetes experts to support patients – with up to 280 staff to be trained over the next year.

The new project, run in partnership between the NHS England Diabetes Programme and the NHS Genomic Medicine Service, will provide remote training to support teams in hospital trusts to improve diagnosis and identify people who may have the condition.

NHS Covid ‘Grab-A-Jab’ initiative boosts ethnic minority vaccinations The NHS Covid vaccination programme has protected more than 700,000 people from ethnic minority backgrounds since rolling out the Grab-A-Jab campaign.

An analysis of one Grab-AJab weekend in July found that 2 in 5 of the 80,000 walk-in doses administered were to people from ethnic minority groups, significantly more than the proportion in the wider community.

People have been able to turn up and ‘grab a jab’ at festivals, mosques, town halls, football grounds and other convenient sites since the campaign began earlier this summer.

The fastest growth in vaccinations was from people of mixed Asian and white backgrounds between 20th June and 22nd August, with numbers growing by a quarter from 81,000 to 101,000, closely followed by mixed white and Black African groups.

Dr Nikki Kanani, NHS medical director of primary care and deputy lead for the vaccination programme, said: “Increasing vaccine confidence has been at the heart of the NHS rollout and staff who know and care for their local communities are continuing to go above and beyond to set up sites that meet their

patients’ needs.

“This hard work is paying off and we are protecting people that were previously reluctant to get the vaccine, building on work we have already done, such as tackling misinformation online, translating materials into more than 20 languages and

90% of female doctors experience sexism at work, BMA survey reveals According to the British Medical Association, nine in ten female doctors have faced sexism at work in the UK. This includes being asked to give massages to male doctors during meetings, unwanted physical contact and denial of equal opportunities.

Guardian reported, “The doctors’ union sought members’ views and experiences in response to the Everyday Sexism in the NHS campaign,

which is run by Dr Chelcie Jewitt, a trainee hospital doctor.

It attracted 2,458 responses, of which 82% were from female doctors and 16% from male medics.”

The BMA survey revealed that about 91% of female doctors have experienced sexism at work. 70% of women who responded said that their clinical ability had been doubted or undervalued, while only 4% of men felt that they faced such

situations because of their gender.

It further revealed that 31% of female doctors had experienced unwanted physical conduct in their workplace, while more than the 23% of male medics had. Similarly, 56% of women had received unwanted verbal comments related to their gender, but only 28% of men had done so.

42% could not report sexism at work.

working with faith and community leaders to promote the vaccine’s safety.

“The vaccine is safe, effective and could save your life, and if you have any lingering questions or concerns, please come forward and speak to a trusted healthcare professional.”

The NHS also committed early on to publishing a regular breakdown of stats among ethnic groups and worked with local systems to make the vaccine as accessible as possible such as through pop-up clinics in places of worship and extended opening hours during Ramadan for “Twilight” clinics.

in brief PRINCE ANDREW PUTS BRITAIN UNDER PRESSURE Britain is under pressure from the United States of America to hand over Prince Andrew in order to be questioned for sex abuse claims against him. In a statement made by President Biden's office, it has been claimed that he expressed frustration over the Duke of York's stonewalling. US officials want the UK to reaffirm its close and resilient evidence sharing relationship, The Sun reported. A US government official said the US and the UK have a close productive and resilient law enforcement and mutual legal system relationship. We remain in close contact on many active cases on a daily basis and will continue to seek assistance in criminal matters as we provide similar listings and return. Duke is also facing a civil lawsuit from a sex slave in the US, over allegations that he sexually assaulted her. Prince Andrew has vehemently denied the claims.

SUNAK BEING CALLED THE ‘SCROOGE’ Chancellor Rishi Sunak is now being touted as the ‘Scrooge’, who could spoil the party for Boris Johnson. The Guardian reported that the Prime Minister's expansive vision for Britain faces many hurdles, the most awkward of which is his Chancellor. It also said that this could be one of the most difficult autumns faced by any prime minister. October, November are crucial for Britain. The government plans to transform the education system promotes skill-based and social care system and clear backlogs of NHS operations. In order to have net-zero carbon emissions started Sunak is shaping up to be as crude for our times, lecturing the nation about frugality, as he seeks to rein in a £300 billion deficit at a time of huge post overpressure on public services, The Guardian reported. Sunak has also been time and again defending the £4billion pound cuts to the UK overseas aid budget, and is not likely to sanction the previous commitment of returns of 0.7% of GDP for several years.

RAAB IGNORES PLEA TO MEET SCOTTISH SIKH Dominic Raab has ignored the plea to personally meet with the family of Scottish Sikh Jagtar Singh Johal, the Dumbarton man who was allegedly tortured, while in Indian prison.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had written to Raab, urging him to meet and provide assurance from the foreign office to his family.

She wrote, “I would ask you to personally meet with the family to hear their concerns”.

However, Raab reportedly did not acknowledge the request. The Scotsman quoted him saying that he told the Prime Minister, that he did secure agreement to a 2030 roadmap for India, UK future relations, which includes an objective to promote closer cooperation and consular matters, and to resolve long running or complex consular cases, of which we would consider Mr Johal one.” Johal has been in prison for four years.

Williamson holds parents responsible for Covid spike in schools Gavin Williamson is holding parents accountable for preventing Covid spikes when schools reopen.

Media reports suggest that he's failing to endear himself with the nation once more by suggesting that it's the parents’ fault if Covid spikes after schools reopen. In an article in the Daily Mail, the education secretary claimed that parents have a responsibility to help

prevent schools from closing when they reopen next week by regularly testing their children for the virus school communities still need to follow Covid precautions, especially regular testing for pupils families and stuff, but it is not just a matter for schools, he said, parents do have a responsibility to make sure that the children are tested regularly.

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After Kabul bombings, PM Johnson confirms that evacuation operations will continue In the wake of the two explosions in the Afghan capital, Boris Johnson has termed the attacks as ‘barbaric’ and said that UK’s evacuation operations in Afghanistan codenamed ‘Operation Pitting’ would continue.

60 Afghans were killed and 143 were injured in the explosion which also killed 12 US service members. No UK military or

government casualties have been reported so far. Meanwhile, an aviation notice advising airlines to avoid Afghan airspace under 25,000 feet has been issued by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

The Prime Minister has also said that he fully expects that those who want to leave Afghanistan after phase one, are allowed to do that by the Taliban.

More Afghans had applied for asylum in UK, even before Taliban took over The data of the Home office shows that in the second quarter when the Taliban were still to take over Afghanistan, actually more people as compared to the previous year had applied for asylum to the UK. In the first quarter of Apr-May-Jun 354 Afghans had applied for the UK as compared to 257 in the previous year for the same peri-

od. However, researcher Peter Welsh says that the uptick in asylum seekers from Afghanistan may not e as we did expect because it’s just difficult for them to get to the UK. The UK government has pledged to accept 5000 people over the next year as a part of the resettlement program, with the potential to accept up to 20,000 in the long term.

UK says it has the capabilities to hunt down ISIS militants in Afghanistan After ISIS claimed responsibility for two attacks outside Kabul airport killing over 90 people including 13 US defence personnel, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace on Friday told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that our country was ready to go after ISIS. He has confirmed that the country is already on a mission to deal with ISIS where they are threats to UK citizens and to the interests of the country. They may be in Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan.

So far the UK has successfully evacuated over 13,000 people from Afghanistan which includes 4000 British passport holders, 8000 Afghans who had worked for the government during the 20-year operations in the country and other vul-

nerable individuals. Taxi business owner succumbs to Covid without meeting his newborn The Lucky Seven Taxi firm boss Tahir Mahmood, 43, infected with Covid-19 was rushed to hospital last month. Tahir’s wife gave birth to a baby boy last week. On August 24, Tahir could not survive the infection and died. Tahir has left behind his widow, four other children and a family of five siblings. Tahir is described as the most beautiful soul by his younger brother Esa, saying he was passionate to go hungry at times, thinking about poor people of the world. His popularity could be gauged by 5000 people who gathered for his funeral in Staffordshire last week.

Operation Warm Welcome Shefali Saxena 35 students from Afghanistan, who won the prestigious Chevening scholarship this year have arrived in Britain. Some of them have come for a one-year master's degree course in the UK have been allowed to bring immediate family with them. However, scholars have also been told that it only applies to spouses and children, not parents. Many have complained that have complained and expressed concern about leaving their families behind in Kabul, Afghanistan, where their lives are under threat.

Dominic Raab told The Sky, “Most of those are difficult cases where it's not clear about eligibility because they're undocumented.” According to the Times, by the end of August 28, 1200 people were evacuated on British flights including 300 British nationals.

Meanwhile, Metro UK reported up to 30 councils in the UK, refused to accept any of the 1000s of refugees who were evacuated from Afghanistan in recent days. The government had pledged to house 20,000 people who fled from the country since the Taliban took charge. Many of them have been unable to find accommodation since they arrived.

Telegraph reported that a request was sent out to 333 councils in the UK, in an attempt to find suitable homes out of wait around 100 signed up to take some of the refugees but 30 said no, claiming that they don't have resources, and they have their own concerns amongst those who have fled, our translators and their families who worked with British forces in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister's Office 10 Downing Street, published a press release titled Operation Warm Welcome for Afghan arrivals, which said, “Work is underway across the whole of government to ensure that Afghans who stood by us in conflict, their families and those at highest risk who have been evacuated are supported as they now rebuild their lives in the UK. operation

G O L D S E T S T H E ‘ B A R’ H I G H Describing the relevance of gold as a s t r a t e g i c a s s e t 2 02 1 , W o r ld G o ld C o u nc i l s a y s , “ G o l d b e n e f i t s f r o m div erse sou rc es of dem and: as an investm ent, a reserve asset, jewellery, and a t e c h n o l o g y co m p o nent. It is highly liquid, has no one’s liability, carries no credit risk, and is scarce, historic a l l y p r e s e r v i n g i ts value over time.”

Data from the World Gold Council for Q1 2021 shows that bar and coin investment was – unsurprisingly – significantly up compared to the first quarter of 2020 when the pandemic kicked in, but was still an improvement on Q4 2020, with 'building inflationary pressures' cited.

Current trends A spokesperson from Gold Bank London told Asian Voice that after the lockdown, the price went down, which was approximately £200 less.* Many people invested in gold at that time in order to sell when the prices shoot up.

Who is buying gold?

Gold Bank London encourages everyone to invest in gold bars.

However, most of their customers fall in the age bracket of 25 to 55 and sometimes go up to age 65.

Given the current economic crisis as well as rising cybercrimes and bank-

ing frauds, it is imperative to ensure the security and assess the longevity of the investment, especially among elderly over age 65 who may not be digitally fluent or physically fit to reap the rewards of investments made in the given scenario.

Why youngsters must invest in gold bar Gold Bank London wants more young people to start planning to invest in gold bars, especially if they’re planning to save money. The investment can be small and systematic and they can start from as low as £65*, to begin with. Buying a 2.5 gram bar would be more cost-effective than buying one gram of gold bar. Gold bars always come in 24-carat gold. Compared to jewellery, there are fewer premiums if you're buying gold for gold jewellery because making charges accentuate the cost along with VAT. For further information on buying gold bars, you may visit https://www.gold-bank.co.uk/ and check out their ‘Buying Guide’ to make the most out of your investment. *These figures and costs are indicative and time-bound, therefore, should you wish to purchase any gold items, kindly refer to the latest rates and figures and do your own due diligence.

warm welcome will be overseen by Victoria Atkins, as the new minister for Afghan resettlement.”

More details will be announced in early September, which will include £5 million for local councils to provide housing support and offer a vaccine for everyone on arrival and access to rapid mental wellbeing and trauma support.

Reacting to the ongoing crisis, the Afghan Council of Great Britain (ACGB) exclusively listed few salient points for Asian Voice.

They read as follows: Through Asian Voice, we want: 1. The British Asian community to stand with us to raise their voice on the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Afghanistan, and call on their MPs and UK government to resettle and offer protection to all women, minorities and families of British Afghans who seek protection from UK. 2. The British Sikh community to work with us to help evacuate and resettle British Sikhs from Afghanistan, who face an existential risk to their lives and property.

3. The British Hindu community to raise their voice and work with us to help evacuate and resettle British Hindus from Afghanistan, who face an existential risk to their lives and property.

4. Similarly, we urge the British Muslim community to raise their voice and work with us to prevent and stop the ongoing persecution of Muslim minority sects and stop the ongoing sectarian persecution of the vulnerable Muslim groups such as Hazaras in Afghanistan.

5, Last, but not least, we call on the British Asian business community to work with us and Afghan Business Association to help create jobs for the new Afghans arriving in the UK, help them start businesses and turn them into engines of economic success for our communities and countries instead of turning them into donation addicts living on state benefits.

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READERS' VOICE

in brief brief in AIR POLLUTION INCREASES RISK OF SERIOUS MENTAL DISORDERS Exposure to high levels of air pollution might lead to an increased risk of serious mental health issues, according to the study, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry which analysed data from over 13,000 people in London. The findings were likely to apply to most developed cities of the world. It was revealed that a relatively small increase in exposure to nitrogen dioxide led to a 32% increase in the risk of needing community-based treatment and an 18% increase in the risk of being admitted to the hospital.

The study used the number of admissions to hospitals or visits to community doctors as a measure of severity. The researchers calculated that a small dropout in one pollutant alone could reduce sickness. Recent research has shown that small increases in air pollution are linked to higher instances of suicide, depression and schizophrenia. This adds to the significant physical damage pollution can cause—it could be affecting every part of the human body—which ranges from breathing problems to skin issues. Other research has found that air pollution is also linked to dementia. A global review in 2019 concluded that air pollution may be damaging every organ in the human body.

CONSERVATIVE PEER PAID £52,000 FOR PM’S FLAT REFURBISHMENT More than £52,000 worth of refurbishments to Johnson's Downing Street flat was paid for by a Tory donor, the party's accounts have revealed.

According to Sky News, the accounts published by the Conservative Party say its central office provided a ‘bridging loan’ of £52,802 toward the works after being invoiced by the Cabinet Office in June 2020. Lord Brownlow, then reimbursed the party ‘in full’ in October.

The financing vastly exceeded the £30,000 annual restrict the PM is allowed to spend on his residing quarters

SCOTLAND WILL HOLD COVID19 INQUIRY BY END OF 2021 Scotland will establish its own judge-led public inquiry for the Covid-19 pandemic by the end of 2021. The inquiry will scrutinise decisions that were taken over the course of the crisis, with the aim of learning lessons for any future pandemics. It will also inspect the “four harms” of the virus on health, non-Covid health impacts, societal impacts and economic impacts.

According to the reports published in Civil Service World, First minister Nicola Sturgeon said she believed, “It was appropriate to initiate the inquiry as soon as possible".

"I do believe that a full public inquiry has an extremely important role to play both in scrutinising the decisions we took, and indeed continue to take in the course of the pandemic, but also of course in identifying and learning appropriate lessons for the future. The same report quoted Covid recovery secretary John Swinney saying, “We will continue to listen to those affected by Covid-19, including bereaved families, as their response help in reviewing the suggested approach for an independent Scottish inquiry. The entire UK-wide inquiry is not due to start until spring 2022.

Hitesh Hingu London

Why Nepalese are isolated Community!

As the world knows; Nepalese soldiers, popularly known as Gurkhas, are the world’s best fighters. They are extremely loyal, beyond the call of duty, dedicated and brave beyond belief, would not hesitate to sacrifice their lives to save others. No other nationality can serve their pay-masters even remotely better than Gurkhas.

So often when the army on the battlefield had to conquer, neutralize or defend an un-defendable position, they use Gurkha troops for assault, as stormtroopers who normally succeed where others may fail but in the process, many brave Gurkhas will lose their lives.

I am glad that after thirteen days of fasting, right in front of No 10 Downing Street, the government has shown willingness to meet and discuss whatever demand, grievances they may want to discuss with MOD. No wonder the government climb-down. If a retired Gurkha soldier had died in front of PM residence, one can only imagine what public disaster, the humiliation the government would have been exposed to and the popularity of PM may have sunk without trace.

I have been a keen observer and participant of our Hindu community since I came to this country way back in 1968.

While cooperation between different communities among us, like Patels, Lohana, Vanik, Gujjar-Sutar and Brahmins, a few among vast and varied casts have reached a saturated proportion, sadly it is not the case when it comes to Nepalese and Kashmiri Hindus.

I may be wrong and many will disagree with my observation, fair enough. A few decades back HSS, OFBJP and many other organizations tried to assimilate Kashmiri Hindus, inviting them to our functions. Many used to attend but never integrated with us, some even unintentionally believed in their intellectual superiority, even refused to give their telephone numbers or addresses.

I state with a heavy heart that there is not a single Kashmiri Hindu on my long and wide friends’ list. This observation does not apply to the Nepalese community who are on the most part humble and friendly. Perhaps we are not making the right approach to invite them, make them welcome as latecomers!

Bhupendra M. Gandhi

Love Your Postcode Estate Pervert jailed for agent gets suspended physically assaulting a stranger in Stoke Street

An investigation by the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team revealed Amerjit Singh Dhuga, known as 'Bobby Singh' of Love Your Postcode, was) sentenced to a custodial sentence of six weeks, suspended for two years, and fined £4,000 at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 26 August as he was playing an active part in running the estate agency business despite being banned from engaging in estate agency work in 2013 As per the reports published in Birmingham Mail, the investigation found that Love Your Postcode Limited provided valuations to a number of consumers which were lower than the “For Sale” price, often to the sum of £10,000 less, to

KHICHADI Kapil’s

Autonomy As reported in AV dated 28 Aug – 3 Sept 2021, there is a discussion going about granting autonomy to the CBI like the Election Commission. It is high time to look into the way the Indian Government deal with criminals.

With the changing nature of crimes committed by individuals and organised gangs against ordinary citizens and businesses, the governments will have to act proactively to deal with them before it is too late, especially because of the hostile attitude of neighbouring countries.

There are many pending cases for want of resources and pieces of evidence. After a considerable time is lost, either the evidence becomes irrelevant or is destroyed.

I think it is time to have a robust approach with close integration and coordination amongst various crimerelated agencies like CBI, police force, forensic laboratories and hospitals for speedy disposal of cases in a credible way.

which Love Your Postcode Limited would retain as a “Performance Fee” as well as the usual commission.

The company also pleaded guilty to breaching professional diligence requirements by failing to state to the customers that Dhuga could not lawfully undertake estate agency work. The company has been fined £16,000 which was reduced to £12,000 because of its early guilty pleas.

The Chair of National Trading Standards Lord Toby Harris said: “Purchasing or renting a house is an important financial transaction and it is necessary that people can rely on trustworthy estate agents to offer services," he said.

According to the reports published in Stoke on Trent Live, on 15 October 2020, Pardeep Attwal, was staying at a hotel in Stoke when he carried out his 'distressing' sex attack.

Initially, he asked his victim for help before carrying out a physical attack that involved kissing and touching them wrongly.

Attwal, who belongs to Irvine, Ayrshire, has been jailed for two years and four months and also been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years after being convicted of the attack.

Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Zoe Kelsall, of Staffordshire

Police's Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team, said: “Attwal had been on a work visit to Stoke and was staying at a nearby hotel. The victim was walking home alone when they were assaulted by Attwal – who was unknown to them.

“We hope this incident acts as a reminder that we will do whatever it takes to bring lawbreakers to justice and will do our best to ensure people feel safe.”

If you are a victim of a sexual offence or connected to that someone you care about might be at risk, you can report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or contact on 999.

Follow me on Twitter: @kk_OEG

Bharat - The Light Prevails Kapil Dudakia Gods own country, Bharat, prevails regardless of the thousands of attacks it has had to endure over thousands of years. The people of Bharat never equated the acquisition of land mass to define their success or their superiority. This is a nation that once spanned Eastern Iran, present day Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, present day Bangladesh, Myanmar, parts of Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Seychelles. There are many who believe that its influence might have been even bigger. All these nations have a commonality, an Indic influenced culture with the values of Sanathan Dharma that flavoured local religious beliefs. It became almost like a federation of like-minded nations united by their values, not because of coercion or the brutality of invaders.

Over thousands of years these peace-loving people were attacked by barbaric external forces. Each invader wanted to subjugate them, steal the nation’s wealth, and force their customs and their ‘God’.

It probably started with Alexander III of Macedon, commonly known as Alexander the Great who was one of the first to invade India in 326 B.C. More recently we had the likes of Muhammad ibn Qasim al-Thaqafi who was first Muslim to invade India in 712 A.D. Who can forget Genghis Khan, also known as Chengiz Khan in India, who was the first ‘Great Khan’ of the Mongol Empire.

There followed a series of Islamic invaders from Timūr Gurkānī in 1398. Nader Shah Afshar the ruler of Iran who invaded India in 1738 who defeated the Mughal Emperor Muhammed Shah and carried with him the Peacock throne. Ahmad Shāh Durrānī the ruler of Afghanistan invaded India several times, the most famous in 1761 when he defeated the Marathas in the 3rd battle of Panipat.

And the most recent being the ‘British Raj’. Basically, a white Christian empire built to extract the very last ounce of wealth from India. The white Christian superiority complex also got the Portuguese involved in Goa with their unique brand of brutality. All sanctioned by Pope Nicholas V and implemented by Francis Xaviers and Martin Alfonso who were sent by King John III to convert Goans to Roman Catholicism by any means.

The above gives but a glimpse of the sustained attacks by external invaders on Bharat. Sanathan Dharma, the eternal universal dharma, sustained attack after attack.

Everything possible was done to the people to force them to become part of the Islamic caliphate or the Christian Christendom. Every invader wanted to dilute what existed and force their own deviant aspirations.

When you consider what the people of Bharat have gone through over thousands of years, you must marvel their resilience. Today it still maintains the very foundations of Indic dharma. The values of Satya, Dharma, Shanti and Prema sustains every aspect of the nation. It’s ancient languages not only remain, but some have seen a rebirth. And whilst western historians distort the true history of Bharat, the time is fast arriving when that truth with prevail.

As we witness the Islamic Taliban invading Afghanistan to set up their terrorist caliphate, let us not underestimate their brutality and their evil. However, let us also not underestimate our inner strength that has prevailed the test of time. The light of Bharat will shine in the 21st C, and it will emerge as the only nation that can save the world from the destructive forces of adharma. The siblings of Abraham have done much damage to this planet. Enough is enough, it’s time to expose the fruad.

Uganda Special I enjoyed reading the recent article by Lord Dolar Popat about Uganda. Fifty years ago, when I was in Tororo, Uganda, I had the opportunity to see young Dolar Popat. It's proud to see the way he has progressed and made a name for himself in the British government. I was delighted to see the photo of Lady Sandhyabhan. I am eagerly looking forward to the Uganda Special. It was a pleasure to learn about the celebration of the achievements of the Indians who have settled in Britain and other countries after 50-year of expulsion from Uganda.

Rajni Patel London We are grateful to all letter writers for more and more versatile letters well within word limit. Please keep contributing as always. If you are new, then write to Rupanjana at rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com

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Peace will take its time coming in Afghanistan

Ruchi Ghanashyam Mrs. Ruchi Ghanashyam is the former High Commissioner of India to the UK. With a career in Indian Foreign Service for over 38 years, she has been posted in many countries including South Africa, Ghana, before arriving in the UK. She was only the second woman High Commissioner to the UK since India’s independence and during her tenure, she witnessed a number of significant developments in the UK-India relations. @RuchiGhanashyam Two weeks after the entry of the Taliban into Kabul, the situation remains extremely fluid in Afghanistan. As the people of Kabul try to get used to the new situation, attacks on the airport have started. A suicide bomb attack at the airport killed both Afghans and US Service members. This was followed by several rockets fired at the airport in Kabul, amidst the evacuation of Americans and allies, as US troops raced to complete withdrawal from Afghanistan. Both attacks were claimed by ISIS. US drone strikes claimed to have hit an explosive-laden vehicle, carrying suicide bombers targeting Kabul airport, thus preventing another attack.

Meanwhile, resistance to the Taliban

has gathered from the long time stronghold of Panjshir valley. Lion of Panjshir, Ahmad Shah Masood and his band of fighters had defended the valley successfully during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan as well as against the Taliban in the nineties. Panjshir also remained out of bounds for the Taliban during the last twenty years. Masoud’s son, Ahmad Masood, and his fighters have put together armed resistance against the Taliban in Panjshir. The Valley would be harder to defend this time round as the supply routes from the north have narrowed, virtually squeezing the Panjshir valley. The road from Kabul to Panjshir is also said to be more modern and wider. Being young and having lived in a relatively peaceful Afghanistan, Ahmad Masood and his fighters lack fighting experience or the participation of senior commanders of the erstwhile fight against the Soviet forces. They face an uphill battle against Taliban forces, who are supported by Pakistan and bolstered with captured American weapons and equipment.

As the Taliban neared Kabul, Afghan Vice-President, Amarullah Saleh, who has been a staunch critic of the Taliban and Pakistan, went to his birthplace, Panjshir, where he proclaimed himself to be the

rightful President of Afghanistan as president Ghani was no longer in the country.

Looking at the current situation in Afghanistan, one can not but ask the question of whether the US forces should have stayed in Afghanistan at a reduced number for some more years. Examples are being cited in support of this position. The haphazard US evacuation has made the US look like a tired and defeated empire, as it seemed to be scrambling to get the last of its people out. It will take years for the US to redeem its image, if at all.

For India, the situation poses a dilemma. The Taliban have been making statements that indicate their changed approach to human rights and the rights of women.

They have said they will allow girls in schools and universities, within the norms of Sharia, in girls-only institutions. The deputy head of the Taliban office in Doha, Sher Mohammad Stanekzai, has said that India is “very important” for the subcontinent and the Taliban want to continue Afghanistan’s cultural, economic, political and trade ties with India “like in the past”. This is being interpreted as an outreach by the Taliban to India.

On the other hand, India has been a friend of the Afghan people. Indian efforts in Afghanistan have been aimed at capacity building and strengthening democracy, institutions and improving the lives of Afghans. India also has a long relationship with the Panjshiris. Welfare of the

Afghan people will remain a primary consideration in India’s approach to Afghanistan.

India has to weigh the Taliban overture carefully. Taliban’s success is built on the back of Pakistan’s ISI and Pakistani mercenaries. Fighters of the anti-India Haqqani network and even terrorist organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-elike Mohammad are known to have supported the Taliban. The latter two are active against India, especially in the Kashmir valley, and have been behind several terrorist attacks in India. The Haqqani network, at the alleged behest of Pakistan’s ISI, is said to have been responsible for the killing of two senior Indian diplomats and two ITBP guards amongst others, in a suicide bomb terror attack in 2008, outside the gates of the Indian Embassy in Kabul. In the first version of the Taliban in the nineties, antiIndia terrorist groups could find a safe haven and training ground in Afghanistan.

The hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC814, from Kathmandu to Kandahar, in 1999, was carried out by the supporters of Maulana Masood Azhar, founder of Jaish-eMohammad. Taliban sanctuary and support to Al Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden, is well known.

HSS UK condemns ‘Dismantling Global Hindutva’ conference Cosponsored by departments and centres of more than 60 centres and 45 universities, a three-day conference on ‘Dismantling Global Hindutva’ is going to take place between September 10 to September 12. It includes Departments and Centers at: Northwestern, UC Berkeley, UChicago, Columbia, Harvard, UPenn, Princeton and Stanford. Cosponsors Include Departments and Centers at Northwestern, UC Berkeley, UChicago, Columbia, Harvard, UPenn, Princeton, Stanford.

An excerpt from the description on Event Brite’s page for the registration reads: “This rise of militant Hindu groups in India and the corresponding escalation of violence against religious minorities and other marginalized communities is well documented, including by global media.

International attention has also been directed at the exclusionary Citizenship Amendment Act of 2019 pushed through by the ruling Hindutva-aligned Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the aggressive crackdown on all forms of democratic dissent, and the intimidation and imprisonment of journalists, human rights groups and activists working to empower marginalized caste and tribal communities.

“This overall erosion of democratic practices and freedoms in India has been noted by global research networks. There has also been some useful scholarship, journalism and community-based activism on the links between Hindutva and racism and caste-ism. We need now to develop a comprehensive understanding of Hindutva and its global implications through its different iterations in the large Indian Diaspora and its potential for building links with other supremacist ideologies, especially as Hindutva groups expand their influence well beyond India.”

“This conference will convene panels

on a variety of interlinked topics that address the threat and power of Hindutva.

Scholars, journalists, and activists will examine the historical development of Hindutva, the fascist dimensions of the ideology, its alignment with other supremacist movements and define all that is at stake across a range of political, sociocultural, and economic issues. We also aim for the conference to be a space for examining the history of dissent and resistance against Hindutva. Dalit and Feminist traditions have long resisted the singular narrative of Hinduism adopted by Hindu Supremacists,” it adds.

In a statement given to Asian Voice, Dhiraj D Shah, President HSS UK said, “Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK vehemently condemns the forthcoming Dismantle Global Hindutva conference which has been designed to project Hindus disproportionately and falsely as purveyors of extremism, deny genocide and ethnic cleansing of Hindu people and most troubling, label those who disagree as followers of Hindutva which it defines as Hindu extremism. The organisers are well known seasoned anti-Hindu/anti-India forces who have a well funded and well-resourced ecosystem in media and academia. Scores of universities (mainly in the USA) seem to have sponsored this hate conference but recent denial of such sponsorship by some universities exposes the falsehood and credibility of the organisers. Many keynote speakers are known for their open support to ultra-violent Maoist and Naxalite groups which have been conducting armed struggle against the Indian State. The world knows the liberal, inclusive and peace-loving nature of Hindu diaspora which has always contributed to the welfare of all irrespective of race, colour and religion.”

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SCRUTATOR’S Two new flights from Ahmedabad to London To meet the high demand from students and other travellers, three new international flights have started operating from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport in Ahmedabad. These include twice a week service between Ahmedabad and London. The Air India will operate the flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays every week, sources said.

The other one is a flight to Dubai on every Saturday. Five new domestic flights have also been launched to Nagpur, Agra, Nashik, Gwalior, and Udaipur. A Pune-bound flight is also expected to start soon. Three more flights to Muscat from Ahmedabad are also expected to begin operations from September 1. As the passenger footfalls are steadily increasing at the city airport, airlines are bullish about launching new flights to improve connectivity. Passenger footfalls surged by at least 48% in July versus June at SVPI airport, according to the Airports Authority of India data. “New destinations are being added as the passenger footfalls are gradually beginning to increase at the city airport,” said a source. “Uptakes for domestic travel have gone up significantly.”

(The Times of India) MP farmer hits jackpot 6th time in 2 years For the sixth time in two years, a farmer in Panna district of Madhya Pradesh has mined a high quality diamond - this time weighing 6.47 carat - in a land taken on lease from the government.

The farmer, Prakash Majumdar, found this diamond from a mine in Jaruapur village in the district, said Nutan Jain, incharge diamond officer. The 6.47 carat diamond will be put up for sale in the upcoming auction and the price will be fixed as per the government guidelines, she said. Majumdar said that he will share the amount received from the auction with his four partners engaged in quarrying the mine. "We are five partners.

We got the diamond weighing 6.47 carat, which we deposited at the Government Diamond Office," he said. He said that he had found a 7.44 carat diamond last year.

Besides, he had also mined four other precious stones weighing 2 to 2.5 carat in the past two years. Officials said that the raw diamond would be auctioned and the proceeds would be given to the farmer after deduction of government royalty and taxes. As per the private estimates, the 6.47 carat diamond is likely to fetch around Rs 30,00,000 in the auction. Panna district is estimated to have diamond reserves of 12,00,000 carats. (Agency) Kalahandi man ends life on wife’s pyre

Brooding over his wife’s death as her funeral pyre burned, a 70-year-old man suddenly broke away from the huddle of mourners and jumped into the flames to end his life in a remote tribal-dominated village of Odisha’s Kalahandi. The horrifying act of former panchayat member Nilamani Sabar choosing to die on his 65-year-old wife Raibari's pyre came days before what will be the 34th anniversary of the controversial Roop Kanwar sati case in Rajasthan. Kalahandi SP Sharvana Vivek said the incident took place at Sialjudi village in front of family members and relatives, including Nilamani and Raibari's four sons. The couple had been married for several decades and known to be active in community welfare, he as an ex-panchayat samiti representative and she as a sitting village ward committee member. "After the pyre was lit, some of the villagers escorted Nilamani’s four sons to a nearby pond for a bath. Nilamani suddenly got up and jumped onto the pyre. By the time the villagers realised what had happened, he

was severely burnt. They tried to get him out but the raging fire made it difficult," the SP said. The police said since nobody came forward to report the incident, they took suo motu cognisance of it and registered a case of unnatural death under Section 174 of the CrPC. (Agency) Kerala police reconstruct murder using cobra and dummy

A 25-year-old woman was allegedly murdered in May 2020 by her husband, with a cobra. In a bid to solve a murder mystery, the Kerala police reconstructed the scene of the crime by letting loose an actual snake. Police personnel performed a rarely used scientific test with a dummy to solve the case, wherein a woman was allegedly murdered by her husband using a cobra. Last year, the victim, identified as Uthra, a native of Kollam, was bitten twice by a viper. While the 25-year-old was recovering at her parents' house, she was bitten once again by a cobra, which ultimately resulted in her death. The experiment footage, released by the Kerala police, showed the snake moving into the corner of the room without biting the dummy. A piece of chicken was tied to the hand of the dummy to probe whether the snakebite was induced and not natural. In the experiment, the cops used a dummy that had the same weight of the woman.

The footage of the experiment, which was conducted in July last year, along with documents was submitted to a court earlier this month, the report added. “The snake was made to bite on the meat and the depth of the wound was determined.

The difference between a wound caused by a natural snakebite and the wound caused when the snake is made to bite the victim could be understood through this process,” the report explained. (The Indian Express) Unmarried couples not allowed at this park

Civic authorities in Hyderabad raked up a controversy after the image of a board they had put up outside popular Indira Park, went viral. The board read: nmarried couples are not allowed inside the park. Sharing the photograph on social media, activist Meera Sanghmitra termed the decision as “unconstitutional” and lashed out at officials for stooping to a “new level of moral policing. A public park is an open space for all law-abiding citizens, including consenting couples across genders,” she wrote. Her tweet gained traction almost immediately with a large number of residents and activists calling out the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) for its “regressive” move and demanding that it be pulled down immediately. While officials, giving in to the pressure, did remove the board within the next few hours, it failed to pacify many. This, as GHMC insisted that that area would continue to be patrolled by local cops to maintain “the serene atmosphere” of the park. “The banner was put up by some low-level officers. We removed it after it was brought to our notice. Police have, however, been asked to ensure visitors don’t indulge in activities like eve-teasing and property damage in the park, said B Srinivas Reddy, zonal commissioner, Secunderabad. When quzzed further he added: “Unmarried couples cause inconvenience and embarrassment to others; but I cannot explain the problem in detail.” (The Times of India)

came to an end the same year on June 2, 1969. On the other hand, the court continued to issue non-bailable warrants and even declared the other accused as absconders. However, they remained untraceable and the case went into the section of ‘dormant case’ file in 2002. As more than 50 years passed after filing of the case, principal sessions judge Shubhada Baxi initiated the process for disposal. She asked the public prosecutor to raise the issue of this long pending case and for its disposal. Accordingly, public prosecutor wrote to Ahmedabad district magistrate and requested him to use the government’s powers to withdraw the case. The prosecutor told the district magistrate that enough efforts were made to secure the presence of both the accused in court, but they did not yield any result. The district collector accepted the proposal to withdraw the case on August 12. (The Times of India) Surat's sewage reuse model goes global

Ahmedabad’s oldest pending case disposed

After 53 long years, the civil court in Ahmedabad recently disposed of its oldest pending criminal case as two of the accused could not be traced even after half a century. In this case, three persons – Trilokchand Sharma, Biharilal Sharma and Ramsnehi Subedar – were booked by police in1968 for criminal breach of trust after being entrusted with property as carriers and for assisting in concealment of stolen property and abatement. They were granted bail by the court. In 1969, when the court summoned them for the trial, only Trilokchand turned up. There was no information about Sharma and Subedar. In absence of two accused, the court separated Trilokchand’s case and it

The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) was the only civic body from India invited at the panel discussion on Zero Liquid Discharge Cities at the Stockholm World Water Week (WWW) 2021 which was organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).

The city treats around 1,400 MLD sewage water of which 320 MLD, that is around 33%, is reused. Apart from expanding its fleet of sewage treatment plants, the SMC has also started reusing the treated water. City municipal commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani represented SMC at the online penal discussion. WWW is a leading annual event on global water issues, organized

by SIWI since 1991. The week attracts over 4,000 participants from more than 135 countries. This year the WWW was held online from August 23 to 27 with the theme being ‘Building Resilience Faster’. Incidentally, the Surat city was awarded the Water+ certification as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM).

The Diamond City was the first city from the state to get the recognition which was awarded by the ministry of housing and urban Affairs for adopting best practices in waste water management. (The Times of India)

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4 - 10 September 2021

From Bengal to Britain, how a chef rose to fame during the pandemic

Shefali Saxena Sachchidananda Samanta was born in a village in West Bengal called Hargram in Burdwan district. He did my bachelor’s degree in commerce from Burdwan University and completed a Hotel Management diploma from Durgapur Society of Management Science. He then went to Goa and worked with Holiday Inn, Club Mahindra, Leela Palace, to later join Trident Hotels in Gurgaon and Kerala.

Samanta has also worked with Mirch Masala in Mumbai and Olive Beach restaurant in Bangalore. Before coming to the UK, he worked with Park Hotel in Kolkata. Samanta came to UK in 2008 and joined Brasserie Blanc, Leeds as Chef de Partie, where he later got promoted as Sous Chef and Head Chef. He has also worked with another French restaurant Bistort Pierre in Ilkley and later Fleece in Addingham.

In an exclusive interview with Asian Voice, Sachidananda Samanta spoke about coming to the UK from Bengal, his training and Asian food culture.

- Describe your journey from Bengal to the UK and your experience training with Raymond Blanc.

While I was working with Olive Beach (Mediterranean restaurant) in Bangalore I got an offer to come to UK and join Raymond Blanc’s restaurant Brasserie Blanc in 2008 as Chef de Partie. I learned all basic French cooking techniques there and soon got promoted as Sous chef and later as Head Chef.

- What were the challenges of starting your own restaurant? How did you navigate through the pandemic in terms of staffing and business?

It is always a challenge to open a restaurant for the first time. Sachi’s opened in January 2019 as world cuisine. During lockdown we found a big challenge to survive.

Then we come up with new idea to run as Indian Takeaway. We received great

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style of cooking when making fine sauces.

Presenting our weekly specials in a single plate with carbs and veggie, meat, and sauces. I love Bengali cooking and recipes like Prawn malai curry, mustard salmon are in my menu.

- What is the difference between the perception of Indian food between India and Britain?

I am surprised to see that most Indian restaurant in UK are describes as Curry

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responses from locals, then we decided to open as full fledge Indian fine dining restaurant in July 2020.

“There is a tremendous shortage of chefs after the pandemic, especially Indian chefs.”

There is a tremendous shortage of chefs after pandemic, especially Indian chefs. So, I had to stand very firm and run the business mainly on my shoulders. Recently, we received sponsorship licence to hire quality Indian chefs from India.

- What according to you makes a trained chef better than an untrained one?

Trained chefs are always better than untrained ones with so many things.

Understanding food hygiene, healthy cooking, controlling wastage, keep costs under control is important. Bringing new ideas about weekly specials as well.

- What is your style of cooking? Do you always make sure that your Bengali roots are present in each meal you prepare?

I use my French technique in my Indian

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houses and dishes are classified as how hot the dishes are and not by their actual flavours. In India we tase Indian food by their origin and actual flavours. You will find foods are very different one to another. I am trying to bring the authenticity of Indian cooking here in UK. You will find dishes from Goa, Bengal, Mumbai, Mangalore, Kerala etc.

- What are the top dishes one must try at your restaurant?

Bengali prawn curry, Chicken Chettinad, Pork Vindaloo are among the basic recipes.

From fine dining I must suggest Lamb rack or Lamb Shank, Monk tail, Cod loin, soft shell Crab Xacutti etc.

- Who is the best cook you've known in your life?

Raymond Blanc at Brasserie Blanc.

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14 WOMEN’S VOICE

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4 - 10 September 2021

Men play an important role in advocating for all women Shefali Saxena Dr Aaliya Goyal is a General Practitioner in Birmingham. She works within a majority South Asian population. She is a Deprivation Health Fellow and has worked with the migrant and refugee community. Dr Goyal has roles across multiple respected medical organisations including the Royal College of General Practitioners and Health Education England. Dr Goyal’s personal viewpoints have been published in internationally renowned online medical journals. In an exclusive interview with Asian Voice, she spoke about health inequalities among South Asian women.

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hat according to you, are the major talking points when it comes to inequality among South Asian women?

There are lots of talking points when it comes to inequality among South Asian women. Generally speaking, South Asian women may not talk openly about health concerns due to fear of being judged by their family or community. There can be a stigma attached to, for example, mental health or sexual health issues so women may not seek help until a late stage, if at all. The uptake of cervical cancer screening (“smears”) is often low among South Asian women for many reasons including fear, shame, embarrassment, or lack of understanding of its importance. There can be barriers to healthy lifestyle changes for some South Asian women, either through language barriers impacting on education, women prioritising caring for the family over self-care, being unable to have regular physical exercise due to safety fears or difficulty meeting family/religious requirements (women only

venues etc). It can be challenging and unacceptable to prepare traditional food in a different way to make it healthier. There are lots of factors that can exacerbate inequalities including the risk of developing obesity and diabetes. When South Asian women do seek help, they sometimes struggle to feel heard or to be taken seriously by some health professionals. Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan recently used the phrase “testimonial injustice” in an article in the Lancet. This is when a person’s voice is dismissed due to the listener holding some bias against them. It is often reported by diverse women and can mean that they are not believed because they are not seen as credible narrators. So, women may not get the help they need until later compared to a non-Asian woman, which can lead to poorer outcomes in health. s GP what are your primary observations when meeting women of South Asian origin who come to seek help from you?

When I meet women of South Asian origin face to face, there is a sense of connection between us. South Asian women can be more willing to share their concerns with someone who reflects a similar background to them. I can understand some of the pressures and challenges faced by South Asian women, in terms of family and community expectations, norms and attitudes. This means that it can be easier to build rapport and trust. Gaining trust is a privilege I can use to get to the heart of the issue compared to a doctor who may have less cultural understanding. I sometimes find that at the start of the conversation, women are frustrated because they have tried to seek help on multiple occasions and felt they were not being heard. So, all that is needed is to listen, validate their concerns and let them know that they are not alone. s per your assessment, what can be done at a community level to be able to reduce health inequalities amongst our women?

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It takes three years to return to pre-pregnancy fitness levels A research conducted by Martin Army Community Hospital in Georgia has found that it takes three years to return to prepregnancy fitness levels.

This data suggests that almost 75% of mums – even those who were very

30% had returned to prepregnancy fitness levels one year after giving birth.

Most of these women continued to do moderate exercises during pregnancy and the study mentions that they particularly struggled with sit ups after

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and respected faith-based medical organisations. f you were to give three pieces of advice, which the community can adhere to while empowering its women to deal with health issues, what would they be?

Family and community support is vital to empowering women to deal with health issues so be supportive, listen and encourage. Take a community approach, women’s health is important to everyone so educate everyone together. Invite trusted speakers into community spaces. Verify the medical information that you receive before sharing it. Incorrect information can be circulated through short videos and messages on social media such as Facebook and WhatsApp. Community members have a duty not to spread these messages further as they can have a negative impact and lead to harm. t what age and stage do females need to start keeping a tab on their health, whether they have a healthy body?

Education on good health should start from childhood. Parents play an important role in encouraging girls to learn about healthy eating and exercise to foster good habits. Sometimes there can be a difference between traditional views of health and medical views of health especially when it comes to weight. Body positivity is incredibly important. Females should not be judged on their physical appearance. Comments around weight can be internalised causing considerable distress. Parents should also ensure open and non-judgemental two-way communication so that girls grow up in an environment where they feel comfortable to discuss concerns. hat role do men play in the early diagnosis of health concerns that women complain of?

Men play an important role in advocating for all women, including their mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters. Men should also be educated in women’s health issues as issues that affect women affect everyone.

We need men to support women by listening to them, believing them and empowering women to go for screening or get the help they need. It is important for men to keep the channels of communication open with women to give women their voice.

Women can choose how they would like to be helped and men should be respectful of the choices that women make. I see men as supporters and facilitators and many men are.

I

Dr Aaliya Goyal

The coronavirus pandemic has shown us how important it is to engage communities to help spread key messages and combat misinformation. We can apply the same principles to reducing health inequalities among our women. We can seek trusted female and male role models and influential community or faith leaders to educate our communities to seek early support and medical help for our women. They can help destigmatise mental health, sexual health, and cancer screening for example. We can organise engagement events to listen to the concerns of the communities and work together to find acceptable solutions to tackling these concerns. We can help to educate families, by producing easy to understand the information in a variety of languages for people to access either through written documents or short videos. We can bring screening into community spaces such as blood pressure and diabetes checks to make it as easy as possible for people to get assessed at an early stage. We can help with group consultations of people facing similar challenges to provide peer support and empower women to make their health a priority. We can signpost to community groups for peer support as well, in addition to the support we give. o you think that the Asian community is educated and informed enough to tackle issues like infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, menopause, Osteoporosis, heart conditions and mental health in women?

There are lots of issues that affect all women. In South Asian communities, health information may come from elders in the community and may not match the advice from a healthcare professional. It is important to access trusted websites such as the NHS website and seek help from healthcare professionals in the community whether that is pharmacists, nurses, health visitors or General Practitioners. There are also community groups that produce information in written and video form as well as trusted

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(The views expressed here are Dr Goyal’s and not representative of the organisations she works for.)

Trauma of sexual assault survivors often goes unacknowledged According to an opinion piece published in The Guardian, research suggests that it can take years – sometimes decades – for some survivors to realise or accept that their experience amounts to sexual assault or rape.

“Psychologists refer to this as “unacknowledged rape” or “unacknowledged

assault”. One study on the subject from the US estimates a staggering 60% of female university students have experienced unacknowledged rape. Other studies have determined that between 30% and 88% of all sexual assaults go unacknowledged by survivors,” it reads.

The article also men-

tions a 2016 analysis of 28 studies, which were based on nearly 6,000 women and girls aged 14 or older who had experienced sexual violence found that 60% of survivors didn’t label their experience as “rape”. “Instead, they used descriptors such as “bad sex” or “miscommunication”,” the op-ed read.

The writer Rachel

Thompson also writes that while she was researching for her book, she spoke to 50 women or more from marginalised genders about the past violations which they described as “grey areas”, “just a weird night”, “not rape, but …”.

Research also shows that 90% of assault survivors knew their attacker.

Ethnic minority women barristers experience four times more bullying fit before getting pregnant – take three years to return to original fitness levels.

The research was conducted on 460 women soldiers out of which, only

giving birth following abdominal weakness.

It also talks about the societal pressure women have post pregnacy to come back to their prepregnancy body shape.

Researchers have found that ethnic minority women barristers were nearly four times as likely to experience bullying or harassment in their professional roles than their white male colleagues, The Times has reported.

It continues to describe an excerpt from leaked

research into discrimination in the legal profession that bullying and harassment among barristers have almost “trebled in the past eight years”.

Lynne Townley, chairwoman of the Association of Women Barristers, was quoted by The Times, saying, “An increase in report-

ing of incidents indicates that individuals are feeling empowered to challenge this behaviour. However, a lot of ground needs to be made up and the Bar is just at the very first stage of meaningfully tackling this behaviour. A lot more work needs to be done but there is appetite for change”.

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Gujarat Hindu Society launches a historic book

The Clicc: Tablescapes Sunetra Senior Over lockdown we learned to appreciate the domestic space. From introducing throw-cushions into the living room to expanding the garden, people began to attend to the nuances of the immediate; noticing its emotive impact.

The Clicc have then gone one step further to radiantly transform the evening and take their clients to an experiential ethereal space. The company offers a stunning range of tables arrangements, including crockery and fresh flowers should one opt for this, to physically elevate special dining occasions and conjure different dreamy worlds. These are Tablescapes. From their celebratory summery spread, Bloom, to the Mediterranean calm or mystical allure of layouts such as Lemonia and Dusk, The Clicc infuse gastronomical glamour into the everyday: “We generally love to socialise and

have people round” co-founders Rakhi Malde and Benita Tibb, explained: “Covid emphasised how important in-person interactions were. We wanted to make homes exciting for a variety of events, from birthdays and baby showers to weddings and hen-dos. We wish to bring people together while popularising homeware rental. Eventually, we’d like to cater to places outside of London too. We tailor the particulars of our Tablescapes e.g., the colour scheme to match

"Make momentous dining as memorable as possible!” a bride’s dress. There are many add-ons available. At the moment, we’re in the process of hosting a 100-person civil ceremony, adaptively scaling up. Our ethos is to make momentous dining as memorable as possible!” Primarily operating through Instagram, The Clicc offer a handful of sophisticated ornamental themes from which one can flexibly pick. They then organise the chosen décor, drop it off with an easy-to-use guide to set oneself up for the big night and collect everything the next day: “With litte effort, you can host an amazing dinner party!”

The concept has crested with highprofile endorsements and celebrities such as Rachel Rakhi & Benita Stevens from S-Club 7 and Tamsin Outhwaite of EastEnders as just a couple in a sea of happy customers. Professional partnerships include YHangry of Dragon’s Den who phenomenally secured backing from the dragons..They have also previously worked alongside Master Chef UK semifinalist, Nisha Parmar, who now provides private dining to celebrities. By renting, the Clicc allows you to host multiple elegant events with new décor, which would otherwise be costly and wasteful to buy each time: “We wanted to design different ablescape looks so that there is something for everyone and every event.” Indeed, living up to the exclusivity of their title, The

Clicc are very much on trend: “We don’t stop until we’re happy with every last detail e.g., chic candlesticks and syncing with the seasons! We have a wonderful wintry Christmas option launching soon.” The dried fruit exhibited across the select Tablescapes is also a noticeable delight.

Rakhi formerly worked in jewellery design while Benita possesses a natural proclivity towards art. The Tablescapes draw from a wealth of contemporary inspiration, from high-street and digital retail to gallery exhibits, but fundamentally remain the duo’s own creation. “Success has been a balancing act of championing strong concept and being able to mould the product according to the public’s reception. If you’re a rising entrepreneur, don’t be afraid to alter the original vision while having the initiative you need to materialise it. You won’t usually know at first what’s best, but that’s alright. Take advantage of the fact that you can change as a growing SME. Be open to learning and constantly re-invent: from how your business operates to arriving at the best name and logo. You must explore the idea before you settle. We are always moulding our product.”

Not only then do The Clicc demonstrate the inherent power of atmosphere, but also the secret to contemporary branding: having faith in oneself as much as the target market. In short, capturing creative essence results in the ultimate product. Being unique breaks through in business.

W: www.theclicc.com I: @theclicc.london

Black Swimming Association launches research programme and teams up with RNLI The Black Swimming Association (BSA) is launching a ground-breaking research programme, which could dispel some of the myths surrounding ethnically diverse communities and water safety.

According to Sport England, 95% of black adults and 80% of black children do not swim, while an estimated 532,000 children from ethnically diverse communities have missed out on swimming lessons due to the pandemic.

Now, the BSA hopes this new research programme will provide a greater understanding of the behaviours and barriers facing people of African, Caribbean and Asian heritage preventing them from taking part in aquatics, as well as water

safety knowledge around how to stay safe around water.

According to the Canal & River Trust, 20.5% of people in England and Wales who live within 1km of water are from ethnically diverse backgrounds, which is above the national average of 14%. Due to disengagement in aquatics, and consequently little to no knowledge of water safety education, these groups are considered to be high risk when it comes to drowning.

Professor Mike Tipton, MBE, lead researcher and academic partner at the University of Portsmouth will lead the water-based research, which is expected to analyse the physiological reasons that are widely believed to prevent people of

African, Caribbean and Asian heritage from being proficient swimmers, whilst teaching participants about palatability.

"By examining the physiological, anatomical and morphological characteristics of African, Caribbean and Asian volunteers in air and water, the proposed research will hopefully help to dispel the myth that these individuals are unable to stay afloat and therefore enjoy water-based activities,” said Professor Tipton.

The RNLI is backing the BSA’s innovative new research programme with the two organisations forming a partnership to collaborate on water safety and drowning prevention work.

Gujarat Hindu Society, Preston launched a new historic book based on the history and achievements of the centre on Sunday 29th August 2021.

invited as chief guests and had confirmed their presence. Alongside we had also invited all the Hindu mandirs affiliated to Hindu council of North and other

To celebrate this special day, past and present key role holders at the centre were honoured for their services at the centre.

President, Secretary, Treasurer and Trustees past and present were honoured as well as present staff members at the centre.

After many obstacles finally the hard work towards producing this important historic souvenir came to fruition when the printed books were delivered at the centre on Thursday 26th August.

Dashrathbhai, along with Ishwerbhai and Samit Nayi took the books into the mandir and asked our pujari Bhuminbhai to offer it on each shrine and seek blessings and ask for forgiveness if we have made any mistakes. List of names were put together and shared with the officers. Mr CB Patel, editor of Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice and Surendrabhai Patel both from London had been

mandirs we are associated with. An invitation was sent out to all GHS ex-presidents, secretaries, treasurers and trustees to attend who would be honoured for their services during their tenure with the society.

On the day a programme was organised by lighting of the lamp by dignitaries and president followed by a traditional dance performance by Abhinandana Dance Academy.

The GHS Secretary invited past members on stage and a brief of each person was given by the president and vice president. All were presented with a certificate, shawl and a souvenir book. The programme went as per plan and this was already historic moment for all present. A vote of thanks was given by our assistant secretary Chandubhai to all who had made a contribution towards the success of the day.

Britain needs foster care UK’s largest dedicated fostering charity has raised concerns that Britain would need thousands of foster carers for thousands of children fleeing Afghanistan in the coming months.

after the last airlifts from Kabul airport,” The Times reported. Foster carers will not only give them shelter and emotional support but may also be the ones arranging their weddings in

This number could be over 2000. “Registering as a foster carer takes about four to five months and applicants now will be ready for the majority of unaccompanied child refugees, who will begin to arrive after taking treacherous land routes out of Afghanistan

the next few years. Media reports suggest that Refugees at Home has had so many applications that it is now prioritising London, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol, Canterbury, Sheffield and Oxford.

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Shri Surendra Patel selected unanimously as President of CHARUSAT for fifth consecutive term Shri Surendra Patel was unanimously re- appointed as President of CHARUSAT in the Executive Council meeting of Shri Charotar Moti Sattavis Patidar Kelavani Mandal held on August 28, 2021 at CHARUSAT Campus, Changa. He was selected as President for the fifth consecutive term (2022 -2024) for three- years. It is noteworthy that he is the founding President of CHARUSAT in 2009.

Shri Surendra M Patel was born on December 11, 1937 at Changa in Anand district. He is a Civil Engineer by education, a renowned technocrat and former Chairman of Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA).

He has also set examples of a progressive public leader as a Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha).

CHAROTAR UNIVERSITY OF

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (CHARUSAT) has gradually stepped on apex of success from the time he has joined CHARUSAT as Chairman in 2004. Under his able leadership and visionary decisions CHARUSAT aspires to be among the league of Top 20 of Indian Universities in coming years.

When he became Chairman in the year 2004, the campus had only 240 Students, 4 UG Programmes, 1

Institute and an investment of Rs. 3 Crores. Today, CHARUSAT is running 72 UG, PG & Ph.D. Programmes in Engineering, Pharmacy, Computer Application, Business Administration, Applied Sciences, Physiotherapy, Nursing and Paramedical Sciences with 7500+ Students enrolled, and an investment base of Rs.150 Crores.

There is a dedicated R & D Center, a Space Research and Technology Center, Centre for Cosmology and

a Human Resource Development Center. The Campus is sprawling over 120 acres of land. The thrust is on research relevant to societal needs thereby enhancing quality of life. CHARUSAT is triggering ancillary socio economic development benefiting the surrounding rural community and society at large.

Dr. M C Patel, Secretary of Kelavani Mandal, the parent body of university, said “Surendrabhai’s association with Shri Charotar Moti Sattavis Patidar Kelavani Mandal started in 1999 as a Member on Board of Management of Charotar Institute of Technology.”

Further he added that subsequently Shri Surendra Patel became President of Kelavani Mandal in year 2004 for the term of five years. He has been leading

Kelavani Mandal as President for the fifth consecutive term from 2019. Since 2004, he has been the Chairman of all the institutes at erstwhile Education CampusChanga (Now, CHARUSAT).”

He became founding President of CHARUSAT in 2009. Now, he has been selected as President of CHARUSAT for fifth consecutive term from 2022-24. In-fact he had conceived the dream of CHARUSAT with active involvement of management members.

Shri Nagin Patel, President Matrusanstha and CHRF presented a bouquet of flowers to him.

Surendra Patel expressed his feelings of gratitude towards all the members for keeping trust in him.

He also reiterated his commitment towards making CHARUSAT- a world class university.

JAIN FESTIVAL OF FORGIVENESS Vinod Kapashi OBE The month of Shravan in the Vikram Calendar which is being observed in central and North India mainly, falls during the month of August or September. This month is a Holy month as per the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain calendars. The month of Shravan is one of the four months of the Rainy season.

The water gets contaminated and travelling becomes bit difficult during this time.

Jain monks and nuns usually stay at one place and do not travel during the rainy season to avoid harm to the tiniest living beings.

So, this is the period of concentrating on religious activities. Also, our digestive system gets sluggish in this period and we are advised to observe fasts and limit our intake of food.

Jain monks and Acharyas have advocated that before they (Monks and nuns) begin their monsoon sojourn, all Jains should come to gather and celebrate the holy days with great devotion. These days of religious observance are called Paryushan or DasLakshana Parva. Shvetamberas celebrate this for eight days and call it Paryushan and Digambara s celebrate this for 10 days and call it a Das Lakshana Parva.

This is the time for introspection and looking inwards. A time for repenting for any mistakes and any sin committed during the

whole year and beg each other’s forgiveness. This is the time when Jains cultivate humility and brotherhood by coming together and forgetting conflicts and differences between their nearest and dearest ones.

Fasting is a very important part of Paryushan.

Some Jains fast during the entire period of Paryushan and some fast only on the first and last day. On the days of fasting, they drink boiled/purified water only. They avoid green leafy vegetables. They read holy Jain books and scriptures. They meditate and pray to God. They sing devotional songs and listen to speeches and lectures by the Jain monks.

The festival concludes with people greeting each other ‘Micchami Dukkadam’ which means, "may all the evil that has been done be fruitless." On the last day, which is known as Samvatsari, people greet family, friends and all others with this phrase, thus seeking forgiveness for any kind of hurt or harm caused intentionally or unintentionally. By saying

this phrase, you are forgiving those who have done wrong to you and those to whom you have done wrong.

Jain follow the 24th enlightened beings.

The last one was Mahavir Swami who lived during 499 BCE to 427 BCE. He laid down and preached the principles of non-violence, truth, non-stealing, non-possessiveness and celibacy.

There are 60,000 Jains in this country and 32 Jain organisations. The beautiful temple in Potters Bar and the one in Leicester are large temples. One is being built in Colindale which will be a big place for all the Jains. There is a temple in Kenton, Harrow area of London and is quite popular amongst local Jains. There is a temple in Harrow for the Digambar sect and there are few small shrines at other places.

Jains are strict vegetarians and they follow the diet rules like what to eat and when to eat very strictly. Jains do not believe in harming or cutting down trees and plants.

They say that as there is life everywhere we must look after our resources and our environment with great respect and care.

OneJAIN activities & greetings for the Paryushan Das Lakshan festivals This last year, the pandemic has meant that OneJAIN has had to play a greater coordinating role. To manage events of the past year, we have held three virtual OneJAIN conferences for all Jain Presidents and Secretaries and together organised a collaborative Paryushana and Das Lakshana parvas, a combined response to Covid-19 and a Jain response to the Census.

Paryushana_Das Lakshana in 2020 was the first major Jain festival under lockdown, and in order to ensure that Jains could continue to celebrate and practice their faith, OneJAIN created a programme blessing all the devotees, featuring Acharyas from all Jain sects, and political, other religious and community leaders. We also coordinated a combined worship program that meant those at home could enjoy religious events from multiple organisations.

The Covid vaccine has been a glimmer of light for humanity and in order to ensure

the Jain community understood the science, we have had a number of events in various languages, featuring Jain doctors and scientists. The health videos were then expanded to cover common diseases and illnesses, and today have been viewed by an estimated 100,000 people.

These activities were over and above the large scale humanitarian activities of serving the vulnerable and elderly members of the community, frontline health workers and the poor and homeless with vegetarian meals, grains, household essentials and clothing undertaken by most of the 30 plus Jain organisations in the UK. On this auspicious occasion of Paryushan and Das Lakshna, we ask the well being of all those observing austerities and pray that these are completed without any hinderance. We also wish that all spiritual reflections are joyful and successful.

We seek forgiveness from all. Mitchami Dukkuddum

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Pramukh Swami Maharaj (Swamishri): Highlights of 1961 to 1971 Nitin and Kamu Palan Welcome to another chapter in the life of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. This week we will look at highlights of 1961 to1971. You can find a more detailed account on www.baps.org Gadhada kalash Festival: May 1961 The beautiful marble Akshar-Purushottam Mandir in Gadhada was complete and the kalash pots were to be placed on top of the spires. As the scriptures state, they contain nectar of elixir: “May those who see the kalash be blessed with and eternal place in Akshardham.” During the celebrations, over 40,000 devotees attended, and 51 educated youths were blessed by Yogiji Maharaj and Swamishri as they were initiated into the sadhu fold. This included Sadhu Keshavjivandas (later, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj).

Beginning of new Mumbai Mandir: 1961 The Sanstha officially acquired a property that Yogiji Maharaj had set his eyes upon, opposite Dadar Railway Station. Thus, the foundations of the mandir in Dadar, Mumbai were laid.

Guru agna despite loss of beloved mala Swamishri had been gifted a mala by Shastriji Maharaj, which had also been sanctified by Bhagwan Swaminarayan himself. Once an individual tricked Swamishri into giving it to him by saying he wants to borrow it for a few minutes. Once when Swamishri was performing puja in Ahmedabad, Yogiji Maharaj came holding the hand of that individual, and said: “From now on, don’t think of receiving the sanctified mala back. Take blessings!” Swamishri instantly replied: “Very well. I received it as per your wish; now if such is your wish, then let the mala remain with him.”

There is only one guru: 1965 One morning, Swamishri passed by his sevak, who was performing his daily puja. Swamishri noticed that the sadhu had kept his (Swamishri’s) murti in his puja. Swamishri instantly leaned forward, took the photo, tore it up and threw it away. He explained: “As long as there is Yogiji Maharaj, you can never keep the photo of anyone else. Believe only one as your guru.”

Yogiji Maharaj Amrut Mahotsav: 1967 Under the able leadership of Pramukh Swami, the BAPS Sanstha celebrated the 75th birth anniversary of Guru Yogiji Maharaj in Gondal. Despite the challenges, Pramukh Swami left no stone unturned in ensuring the success of the festival, playing a key role in ensuring that adequate water supplies were in place to cater for the tens of thousands of devotees who attended.

Swamishri’s first birthday celebrations in Mumbai: 1968 Pramukh Swami’s first birthday celebration took place in Mumbai when he was 48 years old in Mumbai. Despite his protests, Yogiji Maharaj insisted that Swamishri stay back in Mumbai for the evening festival celebrations. On this occasion, Yogiji Maharaj explained the glory of Pramukh Swami and blessed him that he would initiate 700 sadhu in the future.

BAPS Humanitarian work: 1969 The year of 1969 witnessed many areas around Gujarat severely affected by a drought. As part of the relief work for this callous calamity, the Sanstha undertook the responsibility of sheltering and providing for 700 cows for six months. In later years and many humanitarian projects later, BAPS’s reputation as a world class emergency relief provider was recognised.

Bhadra Mandir opening: 1969 Under the able leadership and guidance of Pramukh Swami, a spired mandir was established at the birthplace of Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami in Bhadra. Swamishri himself toiled for two months to ensure the digging of wells and the construction of a pipeline to ensure adequate water supplies.

Last Visit to Africa by Yogiji Maharaj: February to June 1970 Yogiji Maharaj, Swamishri and sadhus left Mumbai for Nairobi in February 1970. A new Mandir was consecrated by Yogiji Maharaj in Nairobi.

During their stay in East Africa for 108 days, the sadhus travelled across Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. Since their last visit in 1960, satsang in East Africa had expanded and was full of dedication. Towards the end of this trip, in Mombasa, Yogiji Maharaj was given an outstanding gift – some around 20 youths were ready to be initiated as sadhus!

Establishing Satsang in Europe: May to July 1970 Yogiji Maharaj wanted to visit London, but was reluctant because of the cold climate. However, he managed to extract a promise from the devotees in London to establish a small mandir. This was the first visit by any Swaminarayan sadhus to the UK. At the time, there was a small community of Indians already spread over various cities. Yogiji Maharaj opened the first BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir on western soil in Islington in the heart of London. He also sanctified the River Thames. The stay in UK lasted 46 days with Yogiji Maharaj predicting that there would be many more mandirs in Europe. A small group of sadhus later left for USA. Yogiji Maharaj further predicted that there would soon be a mandir built in New York in 2 to 4 years and that Pramukh Swami would come to open it. The sadhus returned to India in July 1970.

Yogiji Maharaj departs for Akshardham: 23 January 1971 Yogiji Maharaj’s health was now deteriorating quite rapidly. At one stage, he also gave his puja to Swamishri. In Gondal, when his health took turn for the worse, doctors suggested that he be moved to Mumbai for treatment.

Unfortunately, on 23 January 1971, he left his mortal body and departed for Akshardham, leaving a well-structured and deeply rooted Satsang community in the capable hands of Pramukh Swami, who now assumed the spiritual leadership as well as the administrative leadership of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha as previously instructed by Yogiji Maharaj.

At that time, BAPS had around 70 mandirs and a large following in India and East Africa, and around 150 sadhus.

South African variant being monitored by UK scientists Scientists have claimed that the new Covid-19 variant from South Africa is the most mutated. So far, they've also suggested that it could be more infectious and might evade vaccines. Named as C.1.2 strain, it was first identified in South Africa during the month of May and has been linked to increased transmissibility.

This variant was found in England, China, New Zealand, Portugal, and Switzerland.

Exports and South Africa's National Institute for communicable diseases have said that the strain has a mutation rate of about 41.8 per year. The scientists wrote, “We describe and characterize a newly identified source code to lineage,

with several spike mutations that is likely to have emerged in a major metropolitan area in South Africa after the first wave of the epidemic, and then to have spread to multiple locations within two neighbouring provinces.”

Public Health England has said that the C.1.2 strain is among 10 variants being monitored by UK scientists.

Error in vaccine records According to a report published in The Telegraph, hundreds of 1000s of job records contain errors in the UK, which leaves some double wrapped people without proof, they need to travel. This number is up to 700,000 vaccine passports, which are hit by NHS blunders as officials record wrong data.

The report mentioned that the freedom of information disclosed in these closures revealed 677,331 cases in which NHS Covid vaccine records have

had to be corrected. In addition, health officials admitted 212,939 cases in which records have to be deleted because of corrections or where duplicate entries had been

Knife fight in Harrow In a recent mishap at Harrow and Wealdstone station, a woman, and four men who were in their late teens or 20s were injured and a brawl.

According to Metro UK, two men are in serious but stable condition, while the others did not suffer lifethreatening injuries, no arrests have been made so

far. The Met Police said, ‘We were called at 4 am to a large fight in Railway Approach, Harrow.

‘Five people (age late teens or 20s) taken to hospital with stab injuries.

‘Conditions of two men and one woman are not life-changing or lifethreatening. ‘Two other men are in a serious but stable condition.’

Srila Prabhupada Appearance Day - 125th Year On Tuesday 31st August, Srila Prabhupada Appearance Day was celebrated from 6 pm onwards to mark the 125th birthday anniversary of FounderAcharya - His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada! H.G. Jai Nitai Dasa, was the special guest on this auspicious day. A commemorative coin was released by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 1, 2021, via video conferencing.

found.

The NHS is about to launch a vaccination data resolution service in order to deal with this crisis. A spokesman told the publication, “The vast majority of updates made to vaccination records by NHS digital do not relate to people's vaccine status. The NHS is proactively contacting people who have been vaccinated in England, and are showing, showing an incomplete record so that records can be urgently corrected.”

Gove in the club Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove was spotted partying on a dance floor in a nightclub in Aberdeen.

In a post shared on social media, Mr Gove was seen dancing after attending the Pipe club night at O'Neill's Bohemia nightclub. Sharing this video on their Facebook page, Pipe showed the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster captioning it “Gove in the club”. According to Adam Taylor, the co-manager of Pipe, Gove went upstairs in the club when he was asked if he would like to experience pretty lively music and dance and paid £5 to go up and said that he would love to dance. The nightclub owner wasn't expecting Gove to come up. He partied till 3 am In the morning.

Closer to the Queen The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - Prince William and Kate are reportedly planning to move closer to the Queen, who feels most at home at Windsor Castle.

Evening Standard reported that the couple is believed to be anger properties in areas that would be suitable for their three children.

Currently, the family divides their time between Kensington Palace in London, and their country home and Armin Hall in Norfolk.

A source told The Mail on Sunday: “Anmer Hall made sense while William was a helicopter pilot in East Anglia and it was useful for Christmases at Sandringham but it doesn’t really work anymore. It’s a little too far away for the weekend but Windsor is a perfect compromise.

“They are eyeing up options in the area.”

Social media gets stricter for teens To catch underage users, Facebook has planned a range of measures which will now include keying in of date of birth of all those who joined Instagram before 2019. While users will be able to dismiss the prompt, Instagram will blur sensitive and potentially unsuitable content for those under 18 years of age. This will also affect advertisers who target under 18 groups to sell their products. This comes ahead of the UK’s enforcement of the Age Appropriation Design Code.

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Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel State of the Stock Market - Over or Undervalued? What does it mean for your pension?

Since the post-pandemic stock market boom, analysts and experts have warned us that the market was overvalued. Some have gone even further and submitted that we're in a bubble that is set to burst. However, prices keep rising, suggesting many investors believe there is still value to be found. So which is it? Is the market over or undervalued?

The Case for an Undervalued Market While the S&P 500 has hit record values since the stock market dropped during the early stages of the coronavirus, the FTSE 100 has yet to recover fully. The drop of around 14% left a long way back at the time; however, values have steadily increased by about 5%.

A successful vaccine rollout and an easing of Brexit anxiety have made a big difference. In fact, for the first time in five years, investors are equal weight on the market.

However, despite all of this, the market remains at a significant discount. According to the broker Peel Hunt, the 12-month forward P/E is 25% cheaper than the eurozone and 40% cheaper than the US markets. So, all things being equal, it seems like Brexit economic fears still exist.

The case for the US stock market being undervalued may be more challenging to make, primarily because it keeps hitting all-time highs. However, some analysts believe bad maths and mistaken presumptions are behind the doomsday predictions.

In fact, John S. Tobey writes in Forbes that instead of using the P/E ratio, we should use the Earning/yield (E/P) to value stocks. He firmly believes that if we make this adjustment, the market is undervalued.

The Case for an Overvalued Market As always, there are plenty of voices who believe the market is overvalued. Additionally, two reliable measures of the market suggest the market is overvalued.

The Shiller P/E Ratio stands as 38 times. This number is close to the peak of 44 that it hit during the stock market boom. Strategists at SunDial Capital Research have said that historically a number over 25 is a precursor to significant market corrections. However, they have stopped short of issuing sell warnings.

The second valuation metric that is giving out warnings is the "Buffett Indicator", which takes the Wilshire 5000 Index and divides it by annual GDP. It currently stands at 238%. To put it in context, the value was at 159.2% before the dot com bubble burst. However, it's worth noting that this time might be different because interest rates are at historic lows.

Conclusion It isn't easy to draw any concrete conclusions about the market right now. In ways, it has been defying all predictions since the covid bounce back. While there are some fears about the delta variant, the successful vaccine rollout has meant a return to some form of normalcy.

My perspective which has delivered solid returns has been to pick companies that are resilient to falls because they are cash flow rich and grow in good markets like now – companies like Crocs and Adobe. I’ve created a campaign to teach people for free – www.campaignforamillion.com

British Airways to go ahead with job cuts British Airways said it was making progress with its plan to cut 12,000 jobs to help it shrink as a result of the pandemic, with more than 6,000 employees deciding to take voluntary redundancy. The airline, which is owned by IAG, will send out letters to its remaining staff to tell them whether they still have a job or not, and if they do, whether they will be required to accept a new contract or stay on their old one.

The pandemic has hit air travel hard and British Airways says demand won't recover for years. It is currently only flying about 20% of its schedule and burning through 20 million pounds per day. "We are having to make difficult decisions and take every possible action now to protect as many jobs as possible," a spokesman for BA said.

But trade union Unite, which represents cabin crew, argues that the airline has gone too far with the cuts it is proposing. It has accused BA of trying to bring in big pay reductions for staff that it will keep on and has organised protests against the airline, tried to drum up political support for its cause and threatened strike action.

While Unite says the pay cuts are as much as 70%, British Airways says some cabin crew would receive a pay rise, while others would see a 20% reduction in basic pay. British Airways, which had 42,000 staff at the beginning of the pandemic, has already agreed a jobs deal with pilots union BALPA for a pay cut of about 20% and some compulsory job cuts estimated around 270.

Issa Brothers plan to open 300 convenience stores The billionaire Issa brothers are set to make their mark as Asda’s new owners by reportedly planning to open over 300 Asda convenience stores across their EG Group estate. According to reports, Mohsin and Zuber Issa are planning to roll out “Asda on the Move” stores to 400 UK forecourts, following a successful trial of five of these sites.

The brothers acquired the Big 4 grocer last year with private equity firm TDR Capital after Walmart agreed to a £6.8 billion sale.

Under the new ownership structure, the Issa brothers and TDR Capital acquired the majority ownership stake in the supermarket.

The news follows reports of convenience retailer McColl’s preparing a £30 million equity raise to drive the expansion of its Morrisons Daily store format. McColl’s, a wholesale

partner of Morrisons which operates a 1,200 store network, is currently converting hundreds of its sites to Morrisons Daily formats.

The convenience store group has confirmed the speculations and said it is “currently exploring options relating to a potential capital raise to increase the number of its Morrisons Daily store conversions, accelerate the pace of roll-out of its Morrisons Daily store conversion programme, and strengthen its balance sheet”.

Asda spokesperson has refused to comment on the matter. “Given this is a speculative piece with little detail behind it we are not providing any comment,” Asda spokesperson said.

The news comes a week after it emerged that Lord Stuart Rose is reportedly set to become the next chair at

Issa brothers

Asda as the search for a chief executive for the Big 4 retailer continues.

Several reports suggest that Rose, who was Marks & Spencer’s boss between 2004 and 2011, is being considered for the chair role.

Rose is already the chair at EG Group, the Issa brothers’ petrol forecourt empire.

Speculation is also rife that retail veteran Ian McLeod could be returning to Asda as its new chief executive under new owners, the Issa brothers and TDR Capital.

A former boss of Halfords and Australian grocery giant Coles, McLeod had previously been part of the team that saw Asda avoid bankruptcy.

M&S Food chief Stuart Machin and Morrisons’ chief operating officer Trevor Strain also have been linked with taking the chief executive role as Asda boss Roger Burnley reportedly left the supermarket giant following the completion of its £6.8 billion takeover.

Business confidence in UK at four-year high, survey finds According to a survey, business confidence in UK hit highs on hopes the economy is recovering strongly to prepandemic levels. Employers in England's North West and East registered the biggest jump in confidence, the latest Lloyds Bank Business Barometer found.

There was caution among companies about inflation and staff shortages. But firms in manufacturing, services and construction all posted greater optimism that recovery would continue.

The monthly survey of 1,200 firms, conducted between 2 and 16 August, also saw business confidence in Northern Ireland turn positive after a negative response in July's poll. The barometer found that overall business confidence among UK firms rose by six points to +36% in August,

driven by improvements in companies' trading prospects and expectations of stronger growth in the year ahead.

Said Hann-Ju Ho, senior economist at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: "Business confidence reaching its highest level in over four years tells a positive story about the country's economic recovery. "This confidence is driven by the continued success of the vaccine rollout, the removal of lockdown restrictions and adjustments to self-isolation rules.

"Staff shortages remain a challenge, but as the economy moves back towards prepandemic levels we can be optimistic that the momentum for business confidence and economic optimism can be sustained in the months ahead."

Confidence increased in nine out of the

12 UK regions and nations in August with particularly strong rises in the North West, up 26 points to 64% and the East of England, showing a rise of 14 points to 39%.

Smaller rises were seen in the North East, up 6 points to 46% and London, up 4 points to 41%. For the North West, East of England and North East, confidence was at its highest since the survey sample was expanded in 2018.

Increases in confidence were also recorded for Scotland (34%), the South East (32%), the South West (37%) and Wales (19%). In Northern Ireland, confidence rose significantly to 18% (from 6% in July), but it remains the region of the UK with the lowest level of confidence. The remaining three regions saw slight confidence declines, with the

West Midlands at 27%, Yorkshire & the Humber at 26%, while there was a larger 10-point fall in the East Midlands to 28%.

The improved mood echoes recent official statistics. Earlier this month, jobs data from the Office for National Statistics suggested that the labour market continues to "rebound robustly". Government borrowing has also fallen as furlough support ends and tax receipts rise.

But like other survey data, the Lloyds barometer suggested that inflation which saw a surprise slowdown in the year to July, down to 2% from 2.5% in June - remains a worry. "It is clear there is still some level of uncertainty on inflation and the impact of price pressures," said Gareth Oakley, managing director for business banking at Lloyds.

Barclays Bank invests £300 mn in India to expand biz Barclays Bank has infused £300 milllion capital to expand its India operations.

This is the single largest infusion made since inception - the last large investment was £54 million in 2009-10. With this investment, the bank’s total capital deployed in India increases to £830 million.

“We have ambitious growth aspirations, and the investment will help accelerate that as we look to leverage the attractive opportunities that the present situation offers,” said Jaideep Khanna, head of Barclays Asia-Pacific and country CEO. “As economic activity gathers momentum,

there is increased demand for capital from clients. We are well placed to support their objectives and remain committed to working closely with them,” added Khanna.

According to a spokesperson, the money is

for the growth of the corporate investment bank and wealth management business. The British bank has four branches and a presence across six cities. As part of its expansion plans in India, Barclays Bank Plc also inaugurated its internation-

al banking unit (IBU) branch at GIFT City in Gujarat in February this year.

The spokesperson added that the 55% jump in capital base will enable the lender to significantly expand its exposure to Indian clients.

RBI rules cap a bank’s exposure to a single borrower, a business group and capital markets at 20%, 25% and 40% of their capital respectively. In 2019, the RBI came out with a large exposure framework, which made it difficult for foreign banks to have back-to-back arrangements with their head office for exposures in India as these too came under the ceiling.

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Future Retail moves SC against HC order on RIL deal Kishore Biyani-led Future Retail Ltd said it has approached the Supreme Court against orders passed by the Delhi High Court to maintain the status quo in relation to its £2.47 billion deal with Reliance Retail and directing it to enforce the order of the Singaporebased Emergency Arbitrator.

In a regulatory filing, Future Retail said, "Please be informed that the company has filed a special leave petition before Hon'ble Supreme Court of India against the impugned orders dated 2nd February 2021 and 18th March, 2021 passed by 'Ld. Single Judge'...The SLP will be listed for hearing in due course."

In its petition, the company stated that "here is extreme urgency to hear" and "stay the Impugned Orders" passed by the single-member bench of Delhi High Court, failing to which the company would go into liquidation. Future Retail, in its petition, said

scheme of the amalgamation, which will be listed before the NCLT, cannot go through due to the orders of the High Court. ".... and as a result of which the Scheme which benefits all the stakeholders, including the public at large and various public sector banks may fall through; If the Scheme falls through, it is inevitable that FRL will go into liquidation," it said.

Besides "approximately £2.8 billion of public money in the form of bank loans and debentures issued by FRL and its group companies is also be at risk," said the Future group firm in its appeal.

The magnitude of damage that may be caused to the public at large is "unimaginable" as livelihoods of more than 35,575 employees of FRL and various companies that are part of the Scheme may be lost, it added. "The solvency of over 8,050 SMEs

(excluding SMEs of Future Enterprises Limited) and their employees is at stake.

The scheme filed before the Mumbai bench of NCLT, entails consolidation of Future Group's retail and wholesale business, and the logistics and warehousing business into one entity Future Enterprises Ltd and then transferring it to Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL) as per the £2.47 billion deal with Reliance Industries Ltd. The deal is contested by Amazon, an investor in Future Coupons that in turn, is a shareholder in FRL. Amazon, had approached Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), where an Emergency Arbitrator (EA) had on October 25 last year restrained the Future group from going ahead with its deal with RIL. Later, the

matter was taken to the Delhi High Court, where on February 2, a single bench of Justice J R Midha had directed FRL to maintain status quo in relation to its deal with Reliance Retail.

Justice J R Midha said the court was satisfied that an immediate interim order was required to be passed to protect the rights of Amazon. Later, on March 18, the court upheld the Singapore Emergency Arbitrator's (EA) order restraining Future Retail Ltd (FRL) from going ahead with the e deal with Reliance Retail to sell its business, which was objected to by US-based e-commerce giant Amazon.

After Jio, Google planning big investment in Airtel After making large investments in Jio, Google is now planning to invest big money in Airtel. The companies have reportedly reached an advanced stage of discussion. It is believed that Google will make “substantial investments, running into billions of rupees”.

The companies have been in talks for the past year. Notably, Airtel had a debt of nearly £16 billion in June. So if the deal between Google and Airtel materialises, it would be a huge breather for Sunil

Mittal-led telecom company.

Google and Airtel did not make any formal announcements related to the supposed deal but top sources who are aware of the developments reported that the discussions are in an advanced stage.

“The entry of Google

adds strength to the balance sheet of Airtel. Also, it helps the company strategically as Google brings in innovation capabilities and strength on data analytics. Google’s data monetisation is far superior to any other company in the world, and it can help Airtel monetize its data much better to improve its

realisations and profitability,” a top analyst said about the GoogleAirtel deal.

Google had invested £3.37 billion in Reliance industries digital subsidiary, Jio Platforms Ltd. Google currently holds a 7.73% stake in Jio Platforms. Jio is a hot property among investors, companies like Facebook have invested massive amounts in the company.

Such investments have helped the company in erasing their debt ahead of the March 2021 target.

250% rise in India's mobile exports

Despite the impact of the second wave, mobile phone exports recorded a 250% year-on-year (YoY) growth in the April-June period.

Mobile phones worth £460 million were exported in this time, compared to £130 million in the same period of previous year, according to the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA). This association is the apex body for the mobile and electronics industry.

Sequentially, mobile phone exports fell from £863.6 million in the January to March 2021 period. Overall electronic goods’ exports doubled in April-June,

crossing the £2 billion mark.

“Despite the second wave of Covid, the prudent policy of the government to continue manufacturing and backed by the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, the industry has made significant progress in manufacturing and exports,” ICEA chairman Pankaj Mohindroo said.

He, however, noted that India still has a long way to go as a global exporter.

Imports of mobile phones were at an all-time low since 2014-15, standing at £60 million in the quarter compared to £310 million for the similar period of the

previous year. However, given the rising demand for computers (desktops, tablets and laptops), imports in laptops and tablet categories recorded over 50% growth in the period at £1 billion.

In January to March too, import value of laptops and tablets stood at £959.7 million, according to the ICEA data. “Our endeavour is to replicate the success of mobile phone manufacturing in India to ‘IT hardware’ (referring again to desktops, laptops and tablets). We are working with the government to create suitable policy intervention to support and create an ecosystem to build large-scale manufacturing of these products in India and cater to at least 25% of the global requirement,” Mohindroo said.

Sasikumar Gendham, India MD for electronics maker Salcomp, said demand is robust and production is back to normal. The shortage of

materials like integrated circuits in China and the availability and cost of containers for exports are some factors still hampering exports, he added.

Carving the deal Suresh Vagjiani, Sow & Reap Properties Ltd

We have managed to source a very interesting and lucrative deal in an area of London which is still being regenerated. This is very helpful as then you are not sailing against the wind; the currents are lifting the deal up. If the planning takes more time, at least prices will only be increasing. So, the pressure is reduced.

This property consists of several freehold buildings, about half of which are commercial, the other being residential. The great thing is the residential properties are currently producing income at a yield of a respectable 4% of the overall price of £3.5M. This means you will not starve whilst planning is being sought, income will be flowing in.

As the full price of the property equates to the same as the residential, this means you’re essentially getting the commercial for free.

There is the obvious commercial to resi conversion under the new legislation which has just come in, and there is also further development potential.

The price per square foot in the location is circa £500. Therefore, once this has been achieved you are expected to have a GDV of about £5.5M on a square foot of 11,000. The conversion costs should not be more then about £350K, allowing £50K per flat.

In short, for an injection of £350K you’re obtaining an uplift of £2M - not bad.

The game is not over at this point. There is development potential both above the property and to the rear of the property.

The aim is to do the planning in bite size chunks.

When the first phase is completed, we will look to refinance and place the residential element in a separate company, with a stable BTL rate.

The freehold will be hived off and placed in another SPV where we will only be concentrating on the development potential. From a previous project, this procedure can add 6 figures on to the profit margin. It also serves to de-risk the project, should anything thing unexpected come out of the woodwork in regards to planning.

Structure and foresight is incredibly important on a project this size.

It pays to have several rounds of discussion with the professionals to ensure this deal is carved out in the right manner, and it has been viewed from a 360 degree angle.

One often forgets it’s not the gross margin one gains from a profitable deal, but the net amount, the difference between the two can be whittled down through some clever planning and structuring.

On this deal there is the possibility to purchase the company. Purchasing shares as opposed to the underlying asset has the obvious advantage of stamp duty saving, though it requires more warranties in regards to the purchase of shares. You will also have a company which will be pregnant with a capital gain.

It may be worthwhile to cut the residential from the commercial immediately upon completion, rather than later on down the line. We will need to see how this can be executed without destabilising the deal.

This is an interesting deal, which is expected to yield a good margin in a short period of time. We will of course be keeping you abreast of how it develops over time.

Tata Sons FY21 profit more than doubles on TCS buyback Tata Sons profit more than doubled in fiscal 2021 on the back of gains made from participating in the share buyback programme of TCS. Profit zoomed 142% to £651.2 million from £268 million in FY20.

Revenue from operations - which mainly comprise dividend income, interest income and brand royalty fees - fell 62% to £946 million. Other income was higher at £1.01 billion as compared to £12.6 million in FY20. This, Tata Sons explained in its annual report, was because a substantial part of the other income was profit from buyback of shares by TCS. Either gains made from participating in the TCS share repurchase scheme or its special dividend payout has been boosting the earnings of Tata Sons, which has 269 subsidiaries, in the last four fiscals. Debt and borrowings reduced slightly to £3 billion, according to the FY21 report. Total expenses decreased 22% to £398.1 million.

On a consolidated basis, the company’s profit increased 78% to £1.94 billion. Tata Sons has called for an annual general meeting mid-September to seek shareholders’ approval on the reappointment of three directors. There is, however, no mention of chairman N Chandrasekaran’s re-appointment in the annual report. His term as a director of Tata Sons - he was appointed on October 25, 2016 - ends this October. His chairmanship tenure, however, ends in February.

The FY21 report said that the nomination and remuneration committee reviewed the performance of Tata Sons board as a whole, and its individual directors. It added that, in a separate meeting of independent directors, the performance of non-independent directors as well as the performance of the chairman was evaluated. The report didn’t elaborate further.

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Afghan pullout in final hours, US shoots down 5 rockets aimed at airport KABUL: As the US military raced toward a Tuesday deadline to withdraw from America’s longest war, sporadic violence in the Afghan capital underlined the perils ahead for a country already buffeted by insecurity, a humanitarian crisis and a terrorist threat. The US military shot down rockets aimed at Kabul airport by the Islamic StateKhorasan on Monday morning, a day after it said that one of its drones struck a vehicle full of explosives. The US has warned that more attacks, like the one last week outside the airport that killed more than 170 people, are possible before it withdraws on Tuesday.

US defence officials also acknowledged the possibility that civilians may have been killed after Sunday's drone hit.

Hours after the strike, at a family home in Kabul, survivors and neighbours said 10 people had been killed, including seven children, an aid worker for an American charity organisation and a contractor with the US military. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the US for failing to inform them before ordering the strike and described the action as unlawful.

Drone blows up bomb-laden IS car The US military on Sunday carried out a successful punitive airstrike against a suspected IED-rigged vehicle heading for the Kabul airport. The hit, following up on Saturday’s US drone attack that had killed two

IS-K planners of the August 26 airport bombing, came as the August 31 deadline for American withdrawal from Afghanistan ticked into view.

The Pentagon said Sunday’s unmanned strike was conducted in “self-defence” and eliminated an imminent IS-K threat to the airport. Significant secondary explosions from the vehicle indicated the presence of a substantial amount of explosive material. There were unconfirmed casualties from the airstrike that heralds the start of a new “overthe-horizon” warfare, which suggests the US won’t be intimated by the fact that 300 or so Americans are still stranded in Afghanistan and face the prospect retaliatory action by militants. Around the same time, a rocket struck a neighbourhood just northwest of the airport. Details of this attack are sketchy.

Rockets aimed at airport brought down A US official said the rockets aimed at Kabul airport on Monday were brought down by a counter-rocket system, and that there were no initial reports of casualties. The airport

Pakistan NSA denies warning of another 9/11, says statement 'misinterpreted NEW DELHI: Another 9/11 is possible if the West doesn't engage with the Taliban or repeats the mistakes of the 90s, Pakistan's national security adviser Moeed Yusuf has warned, according to UK's The Times. In an interview with The Times' Christina Lamb, Yusuf said “Mark my words...

If the mistakes of the nineties are made again and Afghanistan abandoned, the outcome will be absolutely the same - a security vacuum filled by undesirable elements who will threaten everyone, Pakistan and the West.”

The publication carried the interview with the sub-headline "Risk a second 9/11 if you don’t engage with Afghanistan’s new leaders, Pakistan’s national security adviser warns." On Sunday, Yusuf's office issued a statement that The Times retract what it termed a "frivolous interpretation" of the interview. It termed the British publication's story as a "gross mischaracterization" of the conversation that took place

Moeed Yusuf

between journalist Lamb and Yusuf.

"At no point did he state that the West should 'immediately recognize' the Taliban, as the article states. Nor was there any "warning" of a second 9/11 linked to formal "recognition" of the Taliban," the statement added. The Taliban are believed to have deep links with the Pakistani establishment, its military and intelligence wings. Pakistan is among the only three countries - the other two being Saudi Arabia and UAE - that recognised Afghanistan's Taliban regime that held power between 1996 and 2001, before being toppled by the US.

remained open, according to the official. Afghan media said the rocket attack was launched from the back of a vehicle.

The Pajhwok news agency said several rockets struck different parts of the Afghan capital.

“People are terrified... worried that rocket launching might continue,” said Farogh Danish, a Kabul resident.

The last US troops are due to leave Kabul by Tuesday after the biggest air evacuation in history.

The US and its allies have flown out 1,22,000 people, including their own citizens and Afghans who helped them over 20 years of war. Two US officials said “core” diplomatic staff were among 6,000 Americans to have left so far.

Kabul hospitals overwhelmed with patients Afghan media outlets reported that six Afghans were killed and several injured.

Several thousand Afghans are said to have fled into Pakistan using the Spin Boldak crossing point in southern Afghanistan.

Locals described the scene at Spin Boldak as chaotic, with many of those who had travelled to the border not being allowed to cross into Pakistan.

In Kabul, hospitals have been overwhelmed with patients, with fewer staff available as many health experts had left the country after the Taliban grabbed power. The condition

of many patients was described as critical. A number of families were desperately searching for their loved ones after the explosion.

Plan for new govt Meanwhile, reports from Kabul suggest that Taliban leaders have been planning to form an inclusive caretaker government as soon as possible. The caretaker government, according to the Taliban, will have an “Amir-ul Momineen” (Commander of the Faithful) to lead the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. They said a supreme leadership council has been convened to decide the form of the future government and to nominate ministers. The focus is on nominations to key ministries, including law, defence, foreign affairs, finance, information and national security. The group is considering the names of the sons of several non-Pashtun warlords and tribal chiefs to be part of the caretaker setup.

Sikhs, Hindus return to Af hometowns Most of the Sikhs and Hindus who were taking shelter at Gurdwara Dashmesh Pita in Kabul have returned to their hometowns and resumed their businesses. They said Taliban commanders have assured them of safety, but they still fear attacks from groups like the IS. India World Forum president Puneet Singh Chandok said he had spoken to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, who assured protection.

India, Pak each issue diplomatic visas to normalize ties ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India have issued a large number of assignment visas to each other's diplomatic staff in recent weeks, the Express Tribune reported.

Both countries have issued visas on all applications submitted by March 15 this year.

Pakistan issued visas to 33 Indian officials, while seven Pakistani diplomats received assignment visas from India.

Sources said there was a possibility of an agreement between Pakistan and India to issue visas on assignment applications by June 15. The two countries are likely to issue more visas to each other's diplomats after that.

All countries issue assignment visas to diplomats and embassy staff from other countries. In January this year, top intelligence officers from the two countries held secret talks in Dubai, reopening a back channel of diplomacy aimed at a modest roadmap to normalizing ties over the next several months, the report said.

Later in February, the two countries' militaries announced an unexpected joint ceasefire.

The UAE's envoy to Washington confirmed in April that the Gulf

state was mediating between India and Pakistan to help the nuclear-armed rivals reach a "healthy and functional" relationship.

Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba said in a virtual discussion with Stanford University's Hoover Institution that the UAE had played a role "in bringing Kashmir escalation down and created a ceasefire, hopefully ultimately leading to restoring diplomats and getting the relationship back to a healthy level.”

"They might not sort of become best friends but at least we want to get it to a level where it's functional, where it's operational, where they are speaking to each other," he added. In March this year, Pakistan's Chief of Amy Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa called on India and Pakistan to "bury the past" and move towards cooperation.

in brief PAK GETS $2.75 BN FROM IMF Pakistan last week received $2.75 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under a Special Drawing Rights (SDR) programme to support low-income countries hit by the coronavirus, its central bank said.

The funds, part of a $650 billion global programme, will shore up Pakistan’s foreign reserves, under pressure from a rise in the current account deficit and falling remittances from workers based abroad.

Pakistan entered a $6 billion IMF program in 2019, a sixth review of which has been pending since March. The country has reported more than 1.1 million coronavirus cases and more than 25,000 pandemicrelated deaths.

30 KILLED AS HOUTHIS STRIKE ON YEMEN MILITARY BASE At least 30 soldiers were killed and 60 wounded as Houthis strike on a military base belonging to forces of the Saudi-led coalition in southwest Yemen, a spokesman for the southern forces and medical sources said.

The Houthis have carried out several attacks using armed drones and ballistic missiles on the al-Anad military base, Yemeni southern forces spokesman Mohamed al-Naqeeb said.

Naqeeb said that between 30 to 40 soldiers were killed and at least 60 wounded, adding the death toll may still rise as rescuers were still clearing the scene. The southern forces are part of the Saudi-led coalition. Two medical sources said that several bodies had arrived at Lahj province’s main hospital along with another 16 wounded people. It was unclear if civilians were among the casualties.

MYSTERY SHROUDS DEATHS OF COUPLE, THEIR KID AND DOG The mysterious deaths of a family and their dog on a California hiking trail continue to baffle investigators, almost a week after their bodies were found. Autopsies conducted on John Gerrish, 45, his wife Ellen Chung, 31, and their one-year-old daughter, Miju, found no signs of attack or poisoning. “You come on scene and everyone is deceased,” Sheriff Jeremy Briese told San Francisco Chronicle.

“There’s no bullet holes, no medicine, not one clue. It’s a big mystery.” Briese said the couple were carrying water with them, ruling out dehydration. Investigators have combed the area for a disused mine shaft suspecting noxious fumes caused the deaths, but found nothing. They are now checking nearby streams to see if toxic algae could be the culprit.

PUTIN, XI AGREE TO STEP UP EFFORTS TO COMBAT THREATS FROM AFGHANISTAN Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed their countries will step up efforts to counter “threats” emerging from Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover, the Kremlin said. In a phone call, the two leaders “expressed their readiness to step up efforts to combat threats of terrorism and drug trafficking coming from the territory of Afghanistan,” the Kremlin said in a statement. They also spoke of the “importance of establishing peace” in Afghanistan and “preventing the spread of instability to adjacent regions”. Putin and Xi “agreed to intensify bilateral contacts” and “make the most of the potential” of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) that is due to convene for a summit in Tajikistan next month.

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in brief

TALLEST MAN IN US DIES AT 38 Igor Vovkovinskiy, the tallest man in the US, died at 38 in Minnesota. The Ukrainian-born Vovkovinskiy died of heart disease last week while getting treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, his family said. He was 7ft 8.33 inches tall and lived in Rochester. His mother Svetlana Vovkovinska, who is also an ICU nurse at Mayo, announced his death on Facebook. Vovkovinskiy came to the Mayo Clinic in 1989 for treatment. At that time, a tumour was pressing against his pituitary gland, which caused it to secrete abnormal levels of growth hormone. He appeared on TV shows, and was called out by ex-US president Barack Obama during a campaign rally in 2009.

WORLD BANK PAUSES AID TO AF The World Bank is halting all financial assistance for projects to Afghanistan in the aftermath of the Taliban assuming power in the country, a spokesperson said. “We have paused disbursements in our operations in Afghanistan and we are closely monitoring and assessing the situation in line with our internal policies and procedures. As we do so, we will continue to consult closely with the international community and development partners,” the spokesperson of World Bank saidbroadcaster. Deep concern was also expressed by the organisation in relation to “the impact on the country’s development prospects, especially for women.” The World Bank has invested $5.3 billion for development projects in the country, according to the organization’s website.

OIL PALM GROWING PICKS PACE IN UGANDA More Ugandan farmers have started growing oil palm since its introduction in 2013. As they prepare to plant new trees in March next year, they are battling price changes, environmental impact and fertilizer shortage.

Palm oil exports totaled 45 million dollars in 2020, the government has partnered with private companies to strengthen and broaden the market for a crop that is turning lives around in one of Uganda`'s poorest districts.

At least 280,000 dollar is generated from oil palm on Ssese islands alone every month.

There are not less than one million trees grown. Raziah Athman, a correspondent, said, “the farmers on these islands have been enjoying the monopoly of cultivating oil palm but now the project is being extended to other parts of the country. Those new to the crop are taking their chances in what accounts for 33% of global oils.”

UKRANIAN EVACUATION PLANE HIJACKED IN KABUL A Ukrainian plane that arrived in Afghanistan to evacuate Ukrainians has been hijacked by unidentified people who flew it into Iran, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Yenin said.

“Last Sunday, our plane was hijacked by other people. On Tuesday, the plane was practically stolen from us, it flew into Iran with an unidentified group of passengers onboard instead of airlifting Ukrainians. Our next three evacuation attempts were also not successful because our people could not get into the airport,” he said. According to him, the hijackers were armed. However, the deputy minister did not report anything about what happened to the plane or whether Kiev would seek to get it back or how the Ukrainian citizens got back from Kabul, onboard of this “practically stolen” plane or another one sent by Kiev. Yenin only underlined that the whole diplomatic service headed by Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba “had been working in the crash test mode” the whole week.

Security forces on high alert to avert any more troubles in Zuma's hometown Pietermaritzburg (S Africa): A group of soldiers from the South African National Defence Forces (SANDF) has landed in Pietermaritzburg following reports that there could be renewed protests in support of jailed former President Jacob Zuma. The presence of special forces in Pietermaritzburg, Durban and other parts of KZN became a spectacle. After being caught unprepared following violent protests that rocked two provinces in July, the State Security Agency, this time around, activated and alerted the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) to potential disturbances.

NatJOINTS sprang into action to avert any possible violent protests like the ones wit-

nessed in July. July’s rioting was sparked by the jailing of Zuma as his supporters demanded his release.

Further disturbances were planned, in what was called the national shutdown.

“Law enforcement agencies are on high alert and have, through the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, put mea-

sures in place to ensure the safety and security of South Africans amidst threats of a ‘ N a t i o n a l S h u t d o w n , ” NatJOINTS said.

“The NatJOINTS is aware of inflammatory messages on Jacob Zuma various social media platforms advocating for violence. Those behind these messages are warned that inciting violence is a criminal offence.

“Members of the public are cautioned against spreading such divisive messages. Equally, a different set of messages is also doing the rounds where people are mobilising to respond to the supposed shutdown.” The suc-

cess in intercepting renewed unrest could be credited to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s scrapping of the ministry of state security and moving intelligence operations to his office when he reshuffled the cabinet in early August.

With the State Security Agency now reporting directly to the president, the reaction was swift to summon NatJOINTS to duty in strategic areas in Gauteng and KZN. While the law enforcement agencies are justifying the deployment of soldiers as necessary to prevent anarchy and prevent the economy from further damage, Economic Freedom Fighters party leader Julius Malema thinks otherwise. The firebrand politician wants soldiers removed from the streets.

Sri Lanka starts regular flights from nine Indian cities COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has reopened its border to India, the country's high commission in New Delhi said, adding that fully vaccinated travellers will only require a negative PCR test report for coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The test should be conducted 72 hours prior to arrival while an on-arrival PCR test at a certified hotel, the Sri Lanka High Commission further said.

“We look forward to welcoming our closest neighbours yet again, so they may experience the variety that Sri Lanka has to offer. Our country’s heritage, culture, wildlife, nature, beaches and more have always

proven to be popular among Indian travellers, and they will be able to visit destinations across the country, while following the relevant health guidelines,” Kimarli Fernando, chairperson at Sri Lanka Tourism said in a statement.

Kenya's 2022 political scene is shrouded in uncertainty Nairobi: With major constitutional changes suspended for now, and swirling new alliances taking shape, Kenya's political scene is shrouded in uncertainty as the country eyes crucial elections due a year from now.

Earlier, Kenya's Court of Appeal rejected President Uhuru Kenyatta's bid to change the constitution, arguing that he had no right to do so. The decision marked the latest twist in a debate that has gripped the country since 2018.

According to Kenyatta, the so-called Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) would expand the executive and overturn the winner-takes-all electoral system that has been blamed for frequent explosions of pollrelated violence in the East African nation. But his detractors saw it as little more than a naked grab for power by a twoterm president who cannot run a third time, with the BBI potentially allowing him to assume the new position of prime minister.

In addition to creating new posts, the sweeping changes would also increase the number of parliamentarians from 290 to 360, prompting fresh alliances with a view to dividing the spoils come election time. Friday's judgment has put paid to those hopes.

Even if Kenyatta approaches the Supreme Court, the verdict will come too late to let his planned transformation take shape before the August 9 vote, throwing the field wide open.

Is 'the handshake' pact over?

The BBI came on the heels of a shock rapprochement between Kenyatta and his longtime foe Raila Odinga, who declared a truce with a headlinegrabbing handshake in March 2018, following deadly postelection clashes in 2017. The pact stoked speculation that Odinga would succeed Kenyatta, who would in turn become prime minister, with other politicians persuaded to fall in line in exchange for new posts.

It left Deputy President William Ruto, whom Kenyatta had initially anointed as his 2022 successor, out in the cold. The pair's frosty relationship became evident recently when the president challenged his deputy to resign "if he is not happy". Yet doubts have now emerged about how long the Kenyatta-Odinga coalition will last, with the BBI on its last legs. "The big question will be: will the alliance that is being built with Odinga be able to hold in the absence of the BBI?" said Nic Cheeseman, professor at Britain's University of Birmingham.

Lankan Sri Airlines will operate four weekly flights to Chennai, three to Mumbai, one to and Bengaluru under its new schedule, and is expected to introduce significant frequency enhancements.

Under the new schedules, the airline will be resuming services between Colombo and the Indian points; Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Trivandrum and Cochin with flights once a week, whilst Hyderabad and New Delhi will be connected to

Colombo with twice-weekly flights.

The frequency of Sri Lanka Airlines flights from Chennai and Mumbai will later be increased up to five times a week while the BengaluruColombo flight frequency will be increased to three times a week. To attract more travellers, Sri Lanka’s flagship carrier has also started a buy one get one free campaign.

“The relaxed guidelines are extremely clear, and we invite all travellers and travel agents to visit the portal to learn more about pre-arrival procedures, insurance and more,” Fernando added.

Uganda struggles to vaccinate against Covid amid fears of a new wave KAMPALA: Uganda has struggled to access vaccines to reach its target of inoculating 22 million people, as the world's rich nations continue to hold onto doses. The country has only received some 2 million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine and 300,000 doses of the Chinese-developed Sinovac shot.

Announcing the latest vaccination figures on August 20, Ugandan Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng said availability of vaccine would continue to decide the speed of the national rollout.

Uganda was ravaged by a second wave of coronavirus infections in June, pushing hospitals to full capacity and forcing the country back into lockdown restrictions.

The government is now using a "multi-pronged approach" to secure jabs, Aceng said, receiving donations through the COVAX program, as well as purchasing vaccines from a number of sources.

The urgency to obtain first and second doses in Uganda and across most poor countries contrasts sharply with rich countries now beginning to authorize booster shots.

Uganda's Covid -19 incident manager, Misaki Wayengera, joined the World Health Organization (WHO) and other countries in the African Union in requesting doses be released to poorer countries, ahead of rolling out third jabs. Seeking to supply and speed up vaccination campaigns across the continent is top of the agenda as African health ministers meet for the WHO's Regional Committee between August 24-26.

"If you leave pockets of unvaccinated people in sub-Saharan Africa, there are chances that new variants could emerge from here that might threaten the health of the people in the developed world," Wayengera warned.

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Indians in America are best educated, richest and growing Washington: Indians in America continue their march to greater learning and prosperity, with the latest US Census data showing them surpassing national metrics in college graduation and wealth by a wide margin. The median household income of Indians in the US is now $123,700, almost double the national figure of $63,922.

A remarkable 79% of Indians are college graduates, compared to the national figure of 34%, attesting to the emphasis on education in Indian families. Such is the progress made by Indians that they comfortably outstrip even other Asian cohorts in US in median household income levels, with the next best communities, Taiwanese and

Filipinos, coming in at $97,000 and $95,000 respectively.

Median household income of Chinese in the US is $85,229 and that of Japanese is $84,068.

Indians also have the least poor people with only 14% reporting median family income below $40,000 compared to a 33% nationally. A healthy 25% of Indian households reported an income of over $200,000 compared to the national figure of 8%. The census data shows that Indian immigrants on visas and US born citizens of Indian origin have approximately the same median family income of about $115,000. But naturalized US citizens from India report a higher median income 140,000.

Of the nearly four million Indians in the US, roughly 1.6 million are visa holders, 1.4

million are naturalised US citizens, and one million are US born citizens. This gap is wider among other Asian groups, suggesting that India sends its best and brightest to America, or that India’s so-called creamy layer is decamping or emigrating to the US, compared to less educated immigrants from other countries. For instance, among Korean households, those headed by a person born in US have a median income of $95,000, but ones headed by Koreans who are not citizens have a median income of $54,000.

“People of Indian descent hold a significant share of jobs in high-paying fields, including computer science, financial management and medicine.

Nine per cent of doctors in the

US are of Indian descent, and more than half of them are immigrants,” a New York Times analysis of the data noted.

The report said the number of people who identify as Asian in the US has nearly tripled in the past three decades, and Asians are now the fastestgrowing of the nation’s four largest racial and ethnic groups.

The number of counties where people of Asian descent represent more than 5% of the population has risen from 39 in 1990 to 176 in 2020. A Pew Research Center analysis of the data said the Asian population in the US, which currently stands at 23 million, is projected to reach 46 million by 2060. In 1990, the country’s Asian population numbered 6.6 million.

Hurricane Ida carves path of destruction across Louisiana NEW ORLEANS: Ida, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to hit the US Gulf Coast, knocked out power to over 1 million homes in Louisiana on Monday and prompted rescue operations in flooded communities around New Orleans as the weakening storm churned northward. Ida made landfall on Sunday as a Category 4 hurricane, 16 years to the day after Hurricane Katrina, evoking memories of a disaster that killed more than 1,800 people in 2005 and devastated New Orleans.

By late Monday afternoon, after dumping a deluge of rain in Louisiana and killing at least two people, Ida was downgraded to a tropical depression as its eye crawled through neighboring Mississippi. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said more fatalities were expected in his state.

"We didn't have another Katrina and that is something that we should be grateful for.

However, the impact is absolutely significant," New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell

told a news conference.

City officials vowed to comb every neighborhood block by block to assess damage and aid the afflicted, seeking to reassure a majority Black city that felt abandoned by the US government after Katrina. "No one will be left out," Cantrell said.

President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in the state, and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) sent 3,600 of its personnel and 3.4 million meals to the storm-devastated area.

Climate change is fueling deadly and disastrous weather across the globe, including stronger and more damaging hurricanes.

The National Guard said it has dispatched thousands of personnel as well as vehicles that can navigate flooded roads, boats and 34 helicopters to rescue people stranded by flooding. Local officials and "Cajun Navy" disaster relief volunteers sped to the small city of Houma, where volunteers searched for people who were reported trapped by

floodwaters.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto said he was coordinating a flotilla on Monday to rescue an estimated 400 people in Lafitte, a fishing community about 25 miles (40 km) south of New Orleans.

Another 40 people rode out the storm and appeared to be safe on the tiny barrier island of Grand Isle, just a few miles from where Ida made landfall at maximum strength on Sunday, Lopinto said.

A helicopter on a fly-over found people on Grand Isle flashing thumbs-up signs, Lopinto said.

Coast Guard aerial video showed widespread flooding on the island and significant roof damage to many homes. The town of La Place, on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain, also sustained damage, with homes crushed by trees or surrounded by several feet of water. People waded through floodwaters to check on their loved ones.

"The sky went black and what you could hear was a tornado," said Madeline Brewer, 30, shortly after being rescued by the US Army on Monday. "There was a whole tree that flew past."

POWER OUT Widespread power outages reached as far north as over 200 miles from where the hurricane made landfall. Many water systems in Louisiana were also out One transmission tower collapsed into the Mississippi River, the Jefferson Parish Emergency Management Department said. The entire New Orleans metropolitan area lost power after the failure of all eight transmission lines that deliver electricity to the city, the utility company Entergy Louisiana reported. Customers in the hardest-hit areas could experience power outages for weeks, Entergy said.

Narendra Pathak re-appointed to human rights commission

CALIFORNIA: Narendra Pathak of Sunnyvale, California was 4th time re-appointed to the Human Rights Commission by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. He was sworn into office on June 23, 2021, for a term that expires on June 30th, 2025.

A native of Karamsad, Gujarat, he holds a B.A. in Economics and Law Degrees in Labor Laws and Criminal Laws.

He is graduate USA & Santa Clara County Gov 101 Academy. He will advise on existing and potential programs and policies and will advise outside groups about community development, Human Rights, and other issues. The Human Rights Commission acts as an advisory body to the County, Board Of Supervisors on justice, social issues, peace building, immigration issues, human rights, criminal justice system, Jail Observer Program, death penalty system, Immigrant Relations, and Integration Services, hate crime and hate incidents, Cast and Wages discrimination, youth task force,

civil rights issues, and on ways to counter discrimination by age, disability, national origin, Affordable Housing, Below Market Rate Housing Program, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual harassment and other things on existing and potential state, federal programs, policies, community development programs, Human Trafficking, Terrorism issues International Human rights, other issues and Coordinating with the United Nation, United States Human Rights Commission. Input for the development of the Federal and State Human Rights and layout the General Plan.

Pathak has been active in the Santa Clara County’s Commissioner, Human Rights

Commission, Commissioner, Council on Equal Employment Opportunities, Advisory Board member, In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority (IHSS), Advisory Board member, Santa Clara Family Health Plan. His community activities include as Board of Trustees, Devotional Association of Sitaram, CoCoordinator of California Gujarat Sister State Association, India Heritage Research Foundation, Bay Area Gujarati Samaj, India Cultural Association of Bay Area and Brahamin Samaj of USA. He is married to Gita Pathak and they have a son, Sagar Pathak, daughter, Shruti Pathak, and granddaughter, Aria Piper Pathak.

in brief AL CAPONE’S FAVOURITE GUN TO BE AUCTIONED Notorious gangster Al Capone’s personal items including his favourite handgun, diamond encrusted jewellery with initials and family photographs are set to be auctioned. One of his granddaughters is hopeful that his soft side will be known to the world through the auction. The collection is titled ‘A Century of Notoriety: the Estate of Al Capone,’ and the auctioneers say it will “no doubt go down as one of the most important celebrity auctions in history.” The items also include a letter to his son written from Alcatraz, where he served an 11-year sentence following his 1934 tax evasion conviction. He has never been convicted for violence.

N KOREA ASKED TO CLARIFY ORDER TO SHOOT-ON-SIGHT UN human rights investigators have asked North Korea to clarify whether it has ordered troops to shoot on sight any trespassers who cross its northern border in violation of the country’s pandemic closure. They were referring to a report by a news site focused on North Korea, Daily NK, which published a photo of what it said was a poster describing an August 2020 proclamation prohibiting acts that impede the closure of the northern border, shared mostly with China and a smaller section with Russia. The poster describes a 1-2 km buffer zone and says any person who makes an unauthorized entry to North Korea “shall be shot unconditionally.” It also says trespassers from other countries found on the North Korean side of the Yulu and Tumen rivers will be “shot without prior warning.”

ALERT IN KENYA, TANZANIA OVER TERRORIST ATTACKS The rout of Islamist insurgents in northern Mozambique by Rwandan forces has set off alarm bells in Kenya and Tanzania, where some of the fighters originate, with intelligence agencies on high alert after reported re-entry of some of the fleeing suspects. Just this week, Kenya and Tanzania experienced terrorismlinked incidents, which security experts say point to a spillover from Cabo Delgado, a new headache for the region’s security agencies. A gunman recently killed four people in Tanzania before police shot him dead. Six other people were injured in the incident. This happened just two days after Kenyan security personnel in Mombasa arrested two suspected terrorists and found two AK-47 rifles and explosivemaking materials in their car. Police said they were suspected of planning to blow up several installations on the anniversary of the death of radical Muslim cleric Sheikh Aboud Rogo, who was shot dead on August 27, 2012 in Mombasa.

FORMER CONGO MINISTER ARRESTED OVER MISSING FUNDS Former Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo Eteni Longondo was placed under provisional arrest for alleged misappropriation of funds allocated to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, sources said.

He was health minister from 2019 until last April and is accused of "misappropriation of public funds of more than 7 million dollars intended for the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Longondo has denied having embezzled this money, arguing that "these documents were in the process of being verified by his services" at the time of the audit.

In November, he returned $721,900 to the public treasury, representing "the overpayment." Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has made the fight against corruption one of the priorities of his term.

Longondo is the first executive of the presidential party to be arrested for embezzling public funds. The former chief of staff to the Congolese leader, Vital Kamerhe, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for embezzling more than $50 million to build prefabricated houses for the military and police.

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Afghans in India seek refugee Afghanistan shouldn’t be used

by Pak-based terrorists status after Taliban blitz Hundreds of Afghans living in India took to the streets to ramp up demands for refugee status, amid growing fears in the community following the Taliban’s recent takeover of Afghanistan. They rallied outside the UN refugee agency’s office in the capital New Delhi, chanting slogans and demanding justice and security, especially for Afghan children and women.

“We were victims of war, and now we are the victims of an unclear future,” read one poster. Most of the protesting Afghans said they fled to India more than 10 years ago but are still waiting to be recognized as refugees. Many get trapped within a complex bureaucratic process to register as refugees in India, and struggle to live a dignified life, they said.

India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol. As of 2019, Afghans accounted for about a third of the nearly 40,000 refugees registered in India, according to the UN refugee agency. But this figure excludes those not registered with the UN. Ahmad Zia Ghani, 48, an Afghan refugee who came to India 10 years ago, said not being recognized as a

refugee has prevented access to even “basic facilities,” making his life exceedingly difficult.

Calls for formal recognition as refugees in India have intensified in recent days, as hopes for a return home held by thousands of Afghan refugees were dashed by the Taliban’s shockingly swift takeover of the country. “We’ve received nothing,” Ghani said. “Now we are requesting (refugee status) since Afghans don’t have any chance of returning to war-torn Afghanistan under this Taliban regime.”

Another protest in the capital aw dozens of Indian activists as well as Afghans gather to denounce the Taliban, as well as press for justice and asylum for Afghans fleeing the country.

Many Afghans fear the Taliban will erase the gains, especially for women,

achieved in the decades since the US-led invasion in 2001. When the militant group ran the country in the late 1990s, they imposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law, forcing a sequestered life for many, particularly women and girls who were forbidden from education and employment.

The Taliban now seek to present themselves as a more moderate force, offering amnesty to those who fought them and declaring the rights of women would be honored under Islamic law. But for many protesting, the biggest fear remained the future of women and children. “They (the Taliban) are making promises that this time, they won’t do any wrong to us,” said 34-year-old Tahmina Zaki, who was protesting outside the UN office. “We don’t believe that.”

Taliban want ties with Delhi to continue as before, says senior leader Describing India as an important country, senior Taliban leader Sher Muhammad Stanikzai said Afghanistan wanted a relationship with India like it was before with focus on trade and economic ties. In a televised speech apparently meant to address the fears of the international community, Stanikzai also seemed to bat for trade with India via Pakistan while also calling for the air trade route to remain open.

This is the latest in a series of remarks by Taliban leaders purporting to show an outreach to India after the government recalled all diplomatic personnel from Kabul fearing instability in the country following the Taliban takeover. The messaging indicates a desire to gain acceptance at a time most countries, including India, have highlighted concerns relating to terrorism.

Unlike on previous occasions though, as official sources said, this time the comments on ties with India have come from a much senior leader in the Taliban hierarchy who also happens to be the deputy head of the group's political office.

Stanikzai was also quoted as saying that Taliban attaches importance to cultural and political ties with India.

Following what it calls a "wait and watch" approach, India has been careful not to directly name Taliban in its statements at UNSC and also UNHRC while expressing concerns about the possibility of Afghanistan being used by groups like LeT and JeM to target countries in the region. Much would depend on the Taliban’s capacity and willingness to prevent Pakistan-based groups from using Afghanistan as a training and recruiting ground against India.

While India is unlikely to, as it has said, jump the gun on officially recognising the Taliban, sources said engagement with Taliban is not ruled out. Like the US and others, the government believes engagement is important for ensuring a

government in Kabul that is inclusive and representative.

Under its watch, the UNSC in a statement on August 16, a day after the Taliban takeover, rolled back its "declaration" that it won't accept restoration of an Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan. Last week, the UNSC dropped a mention of Taliban while calling upon all groups to not support terrorist activities.

"India is an important country in the region and we want extensive trade and economic ties (with India).

We want our relationship with India to continue as it was before," said Stanikzai, adding that trade with India through Pakistan was very important. He was also reported to have sought access to the Indian market for Afghan businesses.

While expressing concern over the “grave humanitarian crisis” unfolding in Afghanistan, India yet again voiced its apprehension about the security situation as it said Afghan territory should not be used by Pakistan-based terror groups to target any country in the neighbourhood.

Speaking at a UNHRC session on human rights concerns in Afghanistan, the government said stability in the country is linked to peace and security of the region and that India, with its millennia old friendship with Afghanistan, stood ready to assist its Afghan friends in fulfilling their aspirations. India also called for unhindered access to those in need of assistance in Afghanistan.

“We hope the situation in Afghanistan does not pose a challenge to its neighbours and its territory

is not used by terrorist groups such as LashkareTaiba (LeT) and Jaish-eMohammed (JeM) , to threaten any other country,” said the government in a statement.

Without naming the Taliban, or mentioning any specific atrocity committed by the group, India also said everyone was concerned about the increasing violations of fundamental rights of Afghan citizens who were worried about whether their right to live with dignity would be respected.

“We are closely monitoring the rapidly evolving security situation in Afghanistan and we continue to call upon parties concerned to maintain law and order, ensure the safety and security of all Afghan nationals, UN personnel and diplomatic staff members, and observe human rights and international

humanitarian law in all circumstances in Afghanistan,” said the government, adding that while the security situation remained precarious, a grave humanitarian crisis was unfolding.

India said thousands of people who had been internally displaced were facing acute shortage of food, medical care and shelter and that the basic rights of civilians, and women, children including freedom of speech and opinion, access to education and medical care had been “drastically” hampered.

“We call upon all parties concerned to allow unhindered access to international assistance for all those who are in the need of it,” said the government, while recalling that India’s development projects, mostly in critical areas like electricity and water supply, are located in every one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan.

Engineer describes his scary journey to India from Afghanistan Kunjal Zala India began evacuating its nationals as the Taliban swept into Kabul. The Indian government has rescued hundreds of Indians stranded in Afghanistan, by sending a special flight. A young man named Shivang Dave, from Bhavnagar, Gujarat recently returned to India from Kabul and heaved a sigh of relief. For the past 12 years, Shivang was in Afghanistan working as an engineer in a private firm.

He is the grandson of Gujarat's renowned poet Harindra Dave.

Remembering his ordeal, Shivang shared his experience with Asian Voice. “A lot of things unfolded right in front of my eyes,” he said. “I have witnessed explosions

Shivang Dave

and attacks from as close as 40-50 meters. Generally during the elections, bomb attacks were quite common for people living there.”

As he tried to leave Kabul, Shivang was afraid for his life. “I was scared of my journey to the Kabul International Airport, which was already occupied by Taliban.

“I faced some immigration issues initially.

Fortunately, they allowed the Air India flight to land and pick up the passengers from Kabul. I was holding my breath until the flight took off, afraid that something would go terribly wrong due to the continuous explosions.”

Shivang further added, “Taliban have decided that women in Afghanistan will have rights ‘within the rules of Islamic law or Shariah’, but it is still not clear what that means. It is possible that they may not allow women to work in specific roles.

When asked if he would like to return to Kabul in the future, a resilient Shivang told this newsweekly, “If the situation gets back to normal, I will surely go back to Kabul.”

No decision in haste on recognising Taliban: India While the government has said it is open to working with an Afghanistan dispensation that is ready to protect the interests of the Afghan people, it’s unlikely to take any decision in haste on recognising the Taliban, which is seeking international recognition and legitimacy. In a guarded response to questions on recognition for Taliban, India said the situation was still evolving and that there was no clarity on “any entity” forming the government in Kabul.

India, the US and other likeminded democracies agree there’s a need for as inclusive and as representative government as possible under the circumstances in Kabul. The responses come in the wake of bombers killing 170 people at Kabul airport last week, giving rise to concerns in New Delhi and other world capitals over Afghanistan becoming a full-fledged terror hub, and raising doubts over Taliban’s control over events.

The incidents could be a setback to Pakistan’s efforts to convince governments to recognise or accept the Taliban, all the

more so as alleged perpetrators ISISKhorasan have roots in Pakistani Taliban.

Interestingly enough, ISIS-K is seen to share a deadly rivalry with the Taliban. The MEA warned against “jumping the gun” on the issue of recognition for Taliban. “The situation on the ground is uncertain. The prime concern is the security and safety of the people,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

We want good ties with India A top official of the militant group, meanwhile, said that want good ties with all countries, including India, as he vowed not to allow Afghan soil to be used against any other country. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said that the group, which now rules Afghanistan, considers India an important part of the region. “We desire good ties with all countries, including India, which is an important part of the region. Our desire is that India devise its policy as per the interests of Afghan people," Mujahid was quoted as saying by Pakistan's ARY News channel.

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Covid fatality rate below national average: Kerala CM THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reacted sharply to the Opposition Congress allegations over "mismanagement'' in handling the Covid-19 pandemic, saying the state's Case Fatality Rate was below the national average, none had died due to lack of oxygen facility and no patient had to scramble to get a hospital bed.

Amid the rising cases and the opposition attack, Vijayan met the media after over a one month gap and alleged that certain elements were trying to malign the state and said the people had seen the reality, "which cannot be erased." He also announced that night curfew would be enforced in the state from next week from 10 pm to 6 am to prevent the spread of pandemic.

"In areas where the weekly infection population ratio is above seven per cent, the government has decided to implement a lockdown. From

Pinarayi Vijayan

next week, there will be a night curfew from 10 pm to 6 am, he said.

The Opposition Congress and the BJP have been attacking the Left government over the rising number of cases and demanding that the chief minister break his silence, as the daily Covid cases have crossed the 30,000 mark for the last four days. "No one died in the state due to lack of oxygen facility or no one had to scramble for hospitals in Kerala. No one had to queue up in front of crematoriums with the body of their dear ones. People here did not face any situation to dump

the dead bodies in rivers.

Whatever they say, the people have seen the reality... that cannot be erased. It was because we the people fought together," Vijayan said.

He said the state government was able to maintain the case fatality rate well below the national average as the health sector in Kerala was strengthened and was not overstretched.

Vijayan debunked the charge of Opposition leader VD Satheesan that officials have "hijacked" the Covid-19 management in the state and said starting from the Covid-19 volunteers at the local level, all officials are taking part in the fight against the pandemic.

"Not only officials, but our frontline workers, the people's representatives at the local level, volunteers and others are taking part in the fight against the pandemic. The government and the officials are not separate entities, but work together. It's

unfortunate that such statements are being made," the chief minister said.

Satheeshan had charged that the Covid management in Kerala was an "utter failure" and said the state has been reporting 68 per cent of the total cases in the country. Explaining the Covid situation in the state, Vijayan said the prime objective of the government was to save the lives of the maximum number of people in this pandemic. Vijayan also listed out various articles complimenting the Left government for its Covid management in the state.

"During a pandemic, the plan is always to save maximum lives. Kerala has a high density of population, high number of people with lifestyle diseases, high number of aged population and other factors that may result in high fatality rate. But reports show the CFR here is 0.51 per cent, whereas the national average is 1.34 per cent," Vijayan said.

PUNJAB

Will give a befitting reply if not allowed to take decisions: Sidhu CHANDIGARH: Just over a month after being appointed as Punjab PCC chief with the blessings of the Gandhis, Navjot Singh Sidhu displayed his belligerent face by telling the Congress high command that he should be given freedom to take decisions or else “I will give a befitting reply (itt naal itt wi bajaun)”.

Sidhu’s confrontational stand comes after Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh – who clearly appeared to be on the backfoot just a month ago – recovered lost ground in the state power play in the last few days, with Congress’s Punjab incharge Harish Rawat declaring that the party would fight the assembly elections under the CM’s leadership.

The former cricketer’s dare of sorts to the party high command amid his escalating feud with Amarinder comes after Rawat asked Sidhu to sack

his advisers Pyare Lal Garg and Malwinder Singh Mali for their controversial statements on Kashmir and Pakistan or else he would do so.

Speaking at a public meeting in Amritsar, Sidhu said, “I have told the (party) high command only one thing. If I fulfil the aspirations of the people and (implement) the Punjab model, I won’t let the Congress lose out in politics for the next 20 years.

But if you don’t let me take decisions, ‘main itt naal itt wi bajaun’. Because there is no use being a darshani ghoda (showpiece).”

Reacting to Sidhu’s remarks, Rawat told mediapersons that within the limits of the Congress traditions and the party’s constitution, Sidhu already has the freedom to take decisions. “I can’t question him on the basis of media speculation... I will see the context of the statement. He has his own style of saying things.

He is the party chief, who other than him can take decisions?”

Rawat, who met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi over the infighting in the Punjab unit, told mediapersons after the meeting.

“I have briefed her about the latest situation. I’ve told her that all parties will follow her instructions. There have been a few problems but we're trying to resolve them. Things are under control… There are two-three groups there and we expect that they will respect each other’s

Navjot Singh Sidhu

feelings and work together… It is expected that the chief minister, PPCC chief or the ministers will respect each other and work together. It is within the democratic right of MLAs and others to express their point of view. But it is for the Congress president to take a decision on the issues.”

Sidhu's adviser quits Under fire over his controversial comments on Kashmir, Malvinder Singh Mali quit as adviser to Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu. However, Mali did not term it as a “resignation”. In a statement, Mali said, “I humbly submit that I withdraw my consent given for tendering suggestions to Navjot Singh Sidhu.” In another Facebook post, he claimed that the question of his resignation does not arise as he never accepted the post. “Neither accepted any post, nor resigned from any post,” Mali said in a post in Punjabi. AICC general secretary Harish Rawat, who is in charge of Punjab affairs, had also said that the two advisers need to go.

WEST BENGAL

BJP govt trying to sell assets of India, alleges Mamata NEW DELHI/ KOLKATA: The BJP is using central agencies against us, claimed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, shortly after the Enforcement Directorate summoned Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee and his wife Rujira Banerjee in an alleged money laundering case involving coal smuggling. While the MP from Diamond Harbour has been asked to appear before the agency in New Delhi on September 6, his wife has been asked to appear before them on September 1.

Challenging the BJP to fight against her party politically, the Chief Minister said, "Why are

Mamata Banerjee

you unleashing the ED against us. Against your one case we will raise bagfuls. We know how to fight back. We know the history of Gujarat."

Stepping up the counter attack, Mamata Banerjee

pointed out that allocation of rights for natural resources like coal comes under the purview of the central government. "No use pointing fingers at the Trinamool for corruption in coal. It is under the centre. What about its ministers? What about the BJP leaders who looted the coal belt of Bengal, the Asansol region," she said at the party's foundation day programme.

Taking aim at the centre's recently announced National Monetisation Pipeline plan where underutilised government assets will be monetisatised by bringing in private participation - Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP government of trying to sell

the country's assets. "The government is trying to sell of the country. Railways, airports, PSUs...they want to sell everything off. Can you sell the soil of the country?" Banerjee said.

The government will monetise assets worth £16 billion from the roads sector, £15 billion from the railway sector and £7.9 billion from the power sector, said NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant. The centre will also monetise £2.08 billion from airports, £1.3 billion from ports, £3.5 billion from telecom, £1.15 from stadiums and £4.52 billion from power transmission sectors.

in brief 5 ARRESTED IN KARNATAKA GANG-RAPE CASE Five people have been arrested in connection with the gang-rape of a student in Mysuru and a vicious assault on her friend, Karnataka DGP Praveen Sood said. A sixth accused is on the run and the police are working to hunt him down, he said. All five are labourers from Tamil Nadu's Tiruppur district, Sood said, adding that one of those arrested seemed to be a juvenile; "... a 17-year-old. We are not sure... we are verifying," he said. The Karnataka top cop, whose force had been criticised for not making any arrests following the horrific events earlier, also said, "It is a sensitive case. We have technical and scientific evidence." The young woman - a 22-year-old MBA student from Maharashtra studying at a Mysuru university and her friend were attacked at Chamundi Hills (a popular tourist spot on the outskirts of the city) and allegedly raped one and assaulted the other.

TN ADOPTS RESOLUTION AGAINST CENTRE'S FARM LAWS The Tamil Nadu Assembly last week adopted a resolution urging the Centre to withdraw three contentious farm laws, against which some farmers' unions have been holding protests outside Delhi for months. The main opposition AIADMK and its ally BJP staged a walkout over the issue. As soon as the House convened, Chief Minister MK Stalin piloted the resolution, calling for its withdrawal and sought it to be adopted unanimously. Speaking on the debate, BJP opposed it and walked out. Deputy Leader of AIADMK legislature, O Panneerselvam said while the Chief Minister has listed the disadvantages of the farm laws, its advantages also need to be ascertained. He sought to know whether the state government has written to the Centre over the matter and if it has received a reply.

AMARINDER ASKED TO PROVE MAJORITY Amid the ongoing tussle in the ruling Congress in Punjab, opposition parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and SAD, asked the Amarinder Singh-led government to prove its majority in the Assembly. A delegation of AAP MLAs met the governor here and claimed that the Congress government was “in minority”. The group demanded that a special session of the state assembly be convened and the chief minister directed to prove his majority in the house.

The Congress has 80 MLAs in the 117-member Punjab Assembly. The opposition's demand has come at a time when the Punjab Congress is facing a crisis due to the ongoing power struggle between Amarinder Singh and state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal also asked Amarinder to prove its majority.

BJP MLA JOINS TRINAMOOL CONGRESS Tanmoy Ghosh, BJP MLA from Bishnupur in Bankura, West Bengal, rejoined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday. He won the recent polls with a margin of about 11,420 votes. He joined the BJP from the TMC in March last. With this, the number of BJP MLAs has come down to 73 from 77. Party MPs Jaganath Sarkar and Nisith Pramanik, who contested and won the elections, did not take oath as MLAs. Ghosh, who joined the Trinamool Congress in the presence of senior leader and Education Minister Bratya Basu, said the BJP was trying to snatch away the rights of Bengalis and malign the culture of the State. His decision to join the TMC was also in protest against the use of Central agencies as a tool of “political vendetta”. Basu said , “I will tell the BJP leadership that the attempts to control West Bengal and Bengalis from Delhi and Gujarat is not going well even among those in the party.”

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80% of Nariman Point, Mantralaya will be under water by 2050: BMC commissioner By 2050, 80 per cent of Nariman Point and Mantralaya will be under water and about 70 per cent of the city’s A, B, C and D wards, which cover major parts of south Mumbai, will be submerged due to rise in the sea level, BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said.

Speaking at the launch of Mumbai Climate Action Plan website, Chahal said: “We are getting warnings from nature (extreme weather events like heavy rainfall) and if we do not wake up, it will be a dangerous situation for the next 25 years. And it will not only be the next generation but the current generation will also suffer.”

The areas he spoke of included around 80 per cent of Cuffe Parade, Mantralaya in Churchgate

and Nariman Point. Localities like Umarkhadi, Mohammad Ali Road, Marine Lines, Girgaon and Breach Candy, all in island city, are also set to face flooding up to 70 per

cent by 2050 due to climate change.

“Earlier, we used to hear about climate change events like melting glaciers but it was not directly

Haryana CM defends cops but his deputy calls for action against Karnal SDM A day after Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar defended police action on agitating farmers and even blamed them for blocking the highway and pelting stones on cops, his deputy Dushyant Chautala called for action against Karnal sub-divisional magistrate Ayush Sinha for directing policemen to beat up the protesters.

“Action will be taken against the IAS officer. I am hurt by his conduct. This is not expected from an officer. It does not match the standards of conduct of an officer of his calibre. An IAS officer, who is a duty magistrate, must act cautiously.

We shall certainly ask for action after a probe,” Dushyant, whose Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) is part of the coalition government in Haryana, said during a media interaction.

JJP’s impressive perfor-

Manohar Lal Khattar

mance in the last assembly elections was largely due to his support base among the farmers in the state. During the farmers’ protest at the Bastara toll plaza in Karnal, Sinha, a 2018-batch IAS officer, was caught on camera instructing policemen to hit farmers and smash their heads in case they breached the security cordon.

Dushyant said the officer later clarified that he hadn’t slept for two nights. “But he should know that farmers too don’t sleep 200 days out

of 365 days in a year,” the Haryana deputy CM added.

Meanwhile, Ambala police booked Bharatiya Kisan Union-Charuni national president Gurnam Singh Charuni in two cases.

The cases - one for unlawful assembly and voluntarily causing hurt and the second for blocking highways - have been registered against Charuni and 14 workers of his union by name and hundreds of unknown persons at Shahzadpur police station.

affecting us. But now it has come to our doorstep,” said Chahal. Last February, a report from McKinsey India had stated that by 2050, Mumbai will see a 25 per cent increase in the intensity of flash floods and a 0.5 metre rise in the sea level, which will affect two to three million people living within 1 km radius of the coastline.

Experts have also warned that extreme rainfall events will become more frequent in Mumbai.

“In the last 15 months, there have been three cyclones. On August 5, 2020, many parts of south Mumbai were submerged in up to 5-ft of water due to heavy rain. There was no cyclone warning that day but the situation was like a cyclone,” Chahal said while

recounting flooding at Marine Drive and Girgaon Chowpatty.

He added that the city is witnessing extreme weather events like heavy rain in very less time.

This year, 70 per cent of July’s average rainfall was received in just four days – from July 17 to 20.

In May, while the average rainfall is zero, 200 mm of rainfall was recorded due to cyclone.

In recent years, Mumbai has been witnessing at least two to three days of extreme rainfall during monsoon. This year alone, on July 16 and 18, Mumbai recorded over 235 mm and 253 mm of rainfall, respectively, within a few hours leading to flooding in many parts of the city. It also faced the first extremely severe cyclonic storm Tauktae.

Govt told to spell out stand on FB, WA pleas against IT rules The Delhi high court sought the Centre’s stand on petitions by Facebook and its instant messaging platform WhatsApp challenging the new IT rules for social media intermediaries on the ground that these require messaging services to “trace” the originator of a particular message.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh asked the Centre, represented by its ministry of electronics and information technology, to file a reply by October 22 to the petition as well as application to stay the implementation of the rules.

During the hearing, the counsel for the Centre tried to seek an adjournment, but advocates Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for WhatsApp and Facebook respectively, urged the court to issue notice. WhatsApp, in its plea, said the requirement of intermediaries enabling the identification of the

first originator of information in India upon government or court order puts end-to-end encryption and its benefits “at risk.”

WhatsApp has urged HC to declare Rule 4(2) of the Intermediary Rules as unconstitutional, ultra vires to the IT Act unconstitutional as it requires to enable the identification of the first originator of information.

“Requiring messaging apps to ‘trace’ chats is the equivalent of asking us to keep a fingerprint of every

single message sent on WhatsApp, which would break end-to-end encryption and fundamentally undermine people’s right to privacy,” it had stated earlier.

The traceability clause says a significant social media intermediary providing services shall enable the identification of the first originator of information on its computer resource as may be required by a judicial order passed by a court or order passed under IT Rules, 2009.

India evacuates passport-less Afghanistan toddler

India-Australia early FTA set to cover half of goods trade

Less than four months old, Iknoor Singh, could hardly know the turmoil his parents were caught in as the Taliban took charge of Kabul. The toddler had no passport and with just a birth certificate in hand, the parents reached out to Indian authorities who brought them out of Afghanistan as a special case in the ongoing evacuation operation.

Those from the AfghanSikh community coordinating and supporting families shared that Iknoor’s paper work for travel happened in transit and the child was allowed to enter India with his parents with formalities completed at the Hindon airbase where officials of

As part of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), India and Australia are looking to conclude an early harvest scheme - covering tariff cuts on items that account for nearly half the trade as well as easier rules for service sectors - by December, over a decade after talks first started.

If the negotiations go as per plan, this will be the first among a set of trade deals that India is looking to clinch, with talks with the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada and the UAE being pursued. While negotiations on many of them had started almost a decade ago, they are being pushed more aggressively

the Foreigners Regional Registration Office were camped.

The child’s father, Kerpal Singh, his wife and three children were part of the group of evacuees, who arrived on Sunday last on board the C-17 heavy-lift military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

Meanwhile, away from the limelight, Iknoor and his parents are trying to recuperate at a relative’s house, having left behind their home and a shop that was the source of their livelihood. Iknoor’s father’s voice gets shaky as he remembers the developments over the last 10 days.

He shared that his two older children aged five and

three had passports. Had the Indian government not come forward to facilitate Iknoor’s travel they would not have been able to escape to safety.

The family had spent three days in the refuge of a gurudwara in Kabul before they were evacuated. Here in Delhi, Kerpal Singh is currently living with his sister who left Afghanistan two years ago due to the escalating violence. It is still early days for him to decide where the future lies for his family. This story is just one of the many that reflects the desperation and fear that made families leave everything behind to seek refuge away from what was till recently home.

after India exited a dialogue to be part of RCEP, the trade grouping with China, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand the Asean countries.

There are, however, gaps that need to be narrowed down with Australia. For instance, when it comes to trade facilitation, India is unwilling to go beyond what it has committed at the WTO. Plus, it has had concerns over allowing agriculture and processed food items.

Both sides are, however, confident of narrowing the differences. The December target was agreed upon during a meeting between commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and his Australian counterpart Dan

Tehan. During the meeting, sources said, Goyal set a midSeptember deadline for finalising the overall scope of the early harvest scheme. “The ministers appreciated the progress made in three rounds of talks between the chief trade negotiators of both sides and discussed the way forward for an early conclusion of a bilateral CECA… the ministers directed officials to speed up the negotiations and to meet as often as required to achieve an early harvest announcement by December 2021 on an interim agreement to liberalise and deepen bilateral trade in goods and services, and pave the way for a comprehensive agreement,” a joint statement issued last week said.

26 INDIA

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India's GDP growth surges 20.1% in June quarter Continued from page 1

This is the fastest growth since the mid-1990s when official quarterly data was available, and up sharply from 1.6% in the previous quarter and from a record contraction of 24.4% in the same quarter a year earlier. The growth in the current quarter is mainly on low-base effect. The growth marks a significant improvement from a deep slump last year helped by accelerated manufacturing in spite of a devastating second wave of Covid-19.

Furthermore, the quarterly gross value added (GVA) grew 18.8% at £304.8 billion, as against £256.6 billion in the year-ago period. “The GDP figures for the first quarter came in marginally weaker than our expectations (21.7% growth).

However, economic activity has been reviving since July and has picked up momentum. As vaccination pace picks up we expect the momentum to pickup further,

although remain wary on the evolution of delta variant cases," said Upasna Bhardwaj, senior economist, Kotak Mahindra Bank.

“GDP growth recorded at 20.1% for Q1FY22, was largely inline with expectations of 18-22%.

However, the double-digit growth is slightly deceptive given the low base effect when the economy had contracted by 24.4% in the corresponding quarter last year.

Visibility of revival in consumer demand increases with household consumption up by 19%, compared to contraction in FY21. Pick-up in construction by 68% also shows signs of green shoots. Though the general traction is still below preCovid levels, the severity of lockdowns is clearly lower this year compared to last year," said Naveen Kulkarni, Chief Officer, Axis Investment Securities.

In a first, nine new SC judges take oath Nine new Supreme Court judges, including three women, were administered their oaths of office by Chief Justice NV Ramana on Tuesday morning. It is for the first time in the history of the apex court that nine judges took oath of office at one go. The swearing-in ceremony was held in the auditorium of the Supreme Court’s additional building complex.

With the swearing-in of the nine new judges, the strength of the Supreme Court has now risen to 33, including the CJI, out of the sanctioned strength of 34.

The government’s nod to appoint nine judges comes a week after the Supreme Court collegium, ending a nearly two-year-long impasse, sent its recommendations. The list has three women, and includes Justice B V Nagarathna, who could become the first woman Chief Justice of India in 2027.

Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka will be the

most senior among the nine judges.

Others in the list include, in order of seniority, Gujarat High Court Chief Justice Vikram Nath, Sikkim High Court Chief Justice J K Maheshwari, Telangana High Court Chief Justice Hima Kohli, Karnataka High Court judge Justice B V Nagarathna, Justice C T Ravikumar of Kerala High Court, Justice M M Sundaresh of Madras High Court, Justice Bela Trivedi of Gujarat High Court, and senior advocate P S Narasimha.

Justices Nath, Nagarathna and senior advocate Narasimha will join the line of succession for the office of the CJI. While Justice Nath and Narasimha are likely to have a tenure of just over six months, the expected first woman CJI is likely to have a relatively short tenure of just over a month. With the additions, the apex court will have four women judges for the first time - Justices Nagarathna, Kohli and Trivedi, besides Justice Indira Banerjee, the only woman judge in SC at present.

UNSC omits Taliban reference from statement on terror The United Nations Security Council has dropped the Taliban reference from a paragraph in its statement on terrorist attacks near Kabul airport that called on Afghan groups not to support terrorists "operating on the territory of any other country". India, which assumed the rotating Presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of August, signed off on the statement and issued it in its capacity as the chair for this month.

In an earlier statement on Afghanistan on August 16, a day after Kabul fell to the Taliban, the UN Security Council's position was starkly different when it warned that "neither the Taliban nor any other Afghan group or individual should support terrorists operating on the territory of any other country".

Syed Akbaruddin, India's permanent

representative at the United Nations till April last year, pointed out the difference in the two statements and said "the 'T' word is gone". On August 19 when asked how India views and deals with the Taliban leadership, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said it is still "early days", adding the focus is on safety and security of the Indian nationals who are in Afghanistan. India on Friday said that the exact number of its citizens remaining in war-torn Afghanistan was unknown. India has already evacuated its mission staff from Kabul. Last week, the Taliban entered at least two of India's consulates in Afghanistan, searched for documents and took away parked cars, government sources had said, expressing worry that it meant the group is acting against the assurances its leaders have been giving to the world.

Asia's third-largest economy suffered one of the biggest hits among major economies, contracting 7.3% in the full financial year 2020-2021, after a nationwide lockdown early last year. But the economy has not been as badly affected from the second wave in April-May this year due to less stringent lockdowns by state governments.

In the March quarter, the Indian economy had grown 1.3% for the second time since novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Reserve Bank of India's estimate had revised down from its earlier projection of 26.2% in the first quarter to 21.4%, according to its latest Monetary Policy Committee (PC) resolution of August 6. Further, RBI also has forecast annual growth of 9.5% in the current fiscal year, although it has warned about the possibility of a third wave of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the country's April-July fiscal deficit came at 21.3% of £150.7 billion of FY22

target. The eight core sector growth came at 9.4% in July, against (-) 7.6% in year-ago period.

The production of coal, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement and electricity industries increased in July 2021 over the corresponding period of last year, according to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade data.

Crude oil production, however, dropped by 3.2 per cent.

Many sectors like retail, auto sales, farm output, construction and exports have picked up since June, supporting the government's claim of a fast recovery, but some sectors such as transport, tourism and consumer spending remain weak.

Unlike advanced economies, which announced massive stimulus to support consumers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi opted for raising spending on infrastructure, privatisation to bolster mid-term growth prospects, while providing free foodgrains to the poor.

India talks to Taliban, raises safe evacuation, terrorism India on Tuesday, for the first time, admitted to have held diplomatic talks with the Taliban which has taken control of Afghanistan in the past few days following the withdrawal of US forces from there. An Indian envoy met a leader of the terrorist group in Doha, Qatar's capital. The meeting took place following a request by the new rulers of the strifehit country.

Ambassador Deepak Mittal, India's envoy to Qatar, met Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, Head of Taliban's Political Office in that country, according to a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs.

They met at the Indian Embassy in Doha, the statement said. India raised its concern over the use of Afghanistan's territory by terrorists, while Stanekzai assured him that these issues would be positively addressed, according to the release.

"Discussions focused on safety, security, and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan.

The travel of Afghan nationals, especially minorities, who wish to visit India also came up," it said.

"Ambassador Mittal raised India's concern that Afghanistan's soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism in

any manner."

Stanikzai was trained with the Indian Army between 1979 and 1982 three years in the Army Cadet College, Nowgaon, and then at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. India was earlier engaged with "important stakeholders in Afghanistan", and had adopted a "wait and watch" approach, a report had said referring to a briefing to an all-party meeting by Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. "India is working with its key partners and is continuing engagement with the people of Afghanistan," the report had said citing Shringla.

Days after Rane’s arrest, ED summons Sena minister The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned state transport minister Anil Parab of the Shiv Sena, possibly in a money laundering case connected with former state home minister Anil Deshmukh. The ED asked Parab to appear before it to record his statement.

Speaking to the media, Parab said he received the notice on Sunday evening. “I do not know the notice is related to which case, as it does not mention any details. It only says that I will have to be present in their office on August 31 at 11am,” said Parab.

While people close to Parab said they had anticipated the move by the ED after the arrest of union minister Narayan Rane by the state police in Ratnagiri recently “for making derogatory remarks” against chief minister Uddhav

Thackeray, Parab only said he expected the notice. “But I will not make any comment at this moment.

We will examine it and will respond to the notice legally,” the minister said.

A video of Parab had gone viral a few days ago where he was heard issuing instructions for Rane’s arrest. Parab is a close adviser of the chief minister and he will be playing a crucial role in the upcoming election to the BMC, where his party has been the ruling

party for over two decades and where its rival, the BJP, would like to topple it.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut tweeted that the ED issued the notice after Rane’s arrest, which was Anil Parab expected after the Ratnagiri incident.

Rane was arrested after his remark about slapping Thackeray for his ignorance of the year of India’s independence. The same day, Parab’s video ordering police officers to arrest Rane without delay had gone viral. Nitesh Rane, BJP MLA and Narayan Rane’s son, reacting to the ED notice to Parab said: “It is not a love letter, unless it has some evidence, the ED will not send a notice to anyone.”

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HEALTH

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4 - 10 September 2021

Moderna set to launch human trials for HIV vaccines

Let’s get out of our comfort zone Psychologist Mamta Saha As a Psychologist I often find myself subconsciously observing the world around me and making sense of it from an objective lens. That said, I am who I am and of course, if I am not in a professional context, I cannot help but to apply my psychological filters, views, and values to make sense of what I see.

Social media has been around now for around 15 years and through my work and research I can see clearly that it is changing people. From choosing where to dine and what to wear, who to spend time with and who not to spend time with. We live in a world is that becoming focused on that one perfect photo, the perfected dance routine, and of course a witty statement with a pretty backdrop on a post.

Recently I had been reflecting a lot on what all of this means to me and I was inspired to write a poem which I am sharing with you below. Yes, this is far from my typical column however for all of you that regularly read my words, you would know that I am anything beyond surface level and I think that is why my words resonate with you as they do! I hope my poem does as well. I am coming out of my comfort zone to share it with you, and I truly hope it touches your heart and stimulates your mind.

Today’s world with yesterday’s Heart v I am not wowed by the number of followers you have v I am keen to know how you are healing your heart v I am not impressed by your collection of the material v I am touched by your willingness to serve those who have nothing to give you in return v I am not drawn in by your pretty pictures on social media v I wonder instead how often you lean into your wounds and speak of your pain v Your jazzy conversations do not sway me v But your ability to see others deep beyond their make-up blows me away v I am not inspired by how you ghosted old friends v I am touched by how, despite the discomfort you stayed and worked it through v I am not impressed by your shallow circles v I long to hear about how you authentically connect just by being yourself. v I am not interested in your BFF’s I wonder do you thirst for vulnerable, courageous conversations where you feel free to be your true self without judgement? v Your hollow, quick witted reactions put nothing on a compassionate, empathetic response at times when you have nothing left to give. v I am not moved by your ability to fill the space with noise v I want to feel the generosity and time you take to hold space for someone who needs to feel heard v My head is not turned by your perfect tik Tok dance routines v I crave to know if you dance like no one’s watching when the music of life touches your soul v I choose to see you beyond these layers of societal norms and expectations. What about you?

I’d love to know your thoughts on my words, email me on: mamta@mamtasaha.com and if you want more, watch my TED talk: Invisible No More and take a listen to the podcast: Saha Mindset on Spotify. Ah and don’t forget your free ebook on: www.mamtasaha.com. Till next time x

Czech Potato Salad Serves 4 When we opened our first restaurant we had a Czech chef called Kat. She cooked many Czech dishes, this one being my favourite. Much more interesting than a potato salad :) þ 200g diced potato þ 300g small diced mixed root veg - such as carrots, kohlrabi, celeriac, parsnip þ 100g peas (if using frozen, defrost in boiling water) þ 2 tbsp chopped gherkins þ 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley þ 1 small red onion very finely chopped þ 1/2 cup (60ml) vegan mayo Cook the potatoes and roots in boiling salted

Human trials for two new HIV vaccines developed by US biotech company Moderna are set to launch this week - A moment that has been described as a “potential first step forward” in protecting people against the deadly virus.

Moderna is set to recruit 56 healthy people aged between 18 and 50 into its phase 1 trial, which will assess the safety of the vaccines and their ability to generate a broad range of neutralizing antibodies against HIV. The study is expected to run until May 2023.

The spike-like protein that allows HIV to gain entry to human cells is coated in a sugar residue and hidden away from sight of the body’s antibodies, making it difficult to neutralise the virus. HIV can also linger in the body for years before developing into AIDS. During this time, the virus will frequently mutate parts of its spike protein, to the point that they become almost unrecognisable to antibodies.

The two Moderna vaccines, named mRNA-1644 and mRNA-1574, aim to tackle these challenges by inducing broadly neutralising antibodies (bnABs) to levels not previously reported with

other jabs. These antibodies can target multiple variants of HIV, and are capable of neutralising stable parts of the virus that don’t change as much as its mutates.

Professor Robin Shattock, an immunologist at Imperial College London, said, “Moderna are testing a complicated concept which starts the immune response against HIV. It gets you to first base but it’s not a home run.

Essentially we recognise that you need a series of vaccines to induce a response that gives you the breadth needed to neutralise HIV. It’s quite likely that their technology may allow them to start to look at that process, but we’re a very long way away from an effective vaccine.”

In a report, Prof Shattock described

the progression to human testing as “a potential first step forward on a very long journey”, and acknowledged that it was “exciting” that Moderna’s mRNA technology was being used in a HIV vaccine. Their Covid vaccine delivers genetic instructions to the body which code for the production of the spike protein that coats the outside of the virus.

This triggers an immune response and allows the body to create the necessary defences, antibodies, B cells, T cells, and more, which then provide protection against the real infection.

Prof Shattock said, “The mRNA technology may be key to solving the HIV vaccine issue, but it’s going to be a multi-year process. It’s exciting to see that it’s being brought for this very difficult challenge but there is no likelihood of a quick outcome.”

“It remains one of the biggest challenges to overcome in vaccinology. The vaccines may help us accelerate the process, but they won’t be game-changing in terms of solving the fundamental problem, which is knowing how to induce neutralising antibodies.”

The best yoga asanas for mental health Yoga is known to improve strength and flexibility, but it also has immense benefits for mental health ranging from improving mood, sharpening concentration, relieving stress and anxiety, and improving symptoms of depression and insomnia.

Here are the best yoga asanas for mental health: Uttanasana or standing forward bend pose: This is an intense forward stretch pose that works on the muscles of the entire back, improving strength and flexibility.

The uttanasana improves oxygen-rich blood flow to the brain as the head is positioned below the heart in this pose. Regular practice of uttanasana relieves anxiety and stress and helps calm the mind.

Start by standing straight; keep

hands on hips and inhale.

Extend hands above you and bend torso forward as you exhale. Keep bending and bring your hands to rest on the ground next to your feet.

If this is difficult, hold onto the ankles.

Hold the pose for 10-15 seconds and exit using your abs. Make sure your knees remain straight while performing the uttanasana.

Viparita karani or legs up the wall pose: This is a simple but effective anxiety-alleviating yoga that helps relax and calm the mind and stimulates the nervous system. Viparita karani also regulates blood flow and treats depression and insomnia.

Lie flat on your back with your butt positioned as close to the wall as possi-

ble; you can use a cushion to support your back. Inhale slowly and deeply. Walk your feet up the wall and rest them straight against it. Tilt toes towards your body and feel the pressure on your hamstrings. Keep hands stretched on either side of your body. Hold this position for at least five minutes as you focus on breathing slowly and deeply.

Shavasana or corpse pose: This pose is used at the end of yoga routines and is excellent for meditation, boosting mental health, and relaxing the body.

Lie flat on your back keeping the body straight and hands at the sides with palms facing upwards. Close eyes and hold position for at least five minutes. Consider counting your breaths as you meditate.

Vegan recipes by Louise Palmer Masterton, founder of Stem & Glory

water for 5-6 mins. Drain and allow to cool.

Mix the gherkins, parsley, red onion and vegan mayo together in a large bowl. Add the cooled vegetables and mix well. Add more mayo according to your personal preference - the veg should be well coated but not too runny ABOUT THE AUTHOR Louise Palmer-Masterton is founder of multiple award-winning restaurants Stem & Glory; hip and trendy but accessible plant-based restaurants, serving delicious gourmet vegan food from locally sourced ingredients. Stem & Glory also offers click-and-collect and local delivery in London and Cambridge. In addition, Stem & Glory offers a range of ready meals, finish at home pizzas, and recipe kits available for delivery across the UK.

https://www.stemandglory.uk/

Red Pepper Dip This is sweet and smoky and perfect as a dip, or served on the side with just about anything Serves 2-4 þ 1 red pepper cut into strips þ 1 red onion sliced þ 1 large whole clove garlic þ ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional) þ 1 tsp balsamic vinegar þ 1 tbsp olive oil þ ½ tsp salt & pepper Mix all the ingredients together so everything is lightly coated with olive oil. Add more oil if needed.

Place into a shallow baking tin and roast at 180C for 25 mins.

Allow to cool slightly, then blend until smooth. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper to your taste. The dip should be sweet, smoky and very tasty!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Louise Palmer-Masterton is founder of multiple award-winning restaurants Stem & Glory; hip and trendy but accessible plant-based restaurants, serving delicious gourmet vegan food from locally sourced ingredients. Stem & Glory also offers clickand-collect and local delivery in London and Cambridge. In addition, Stem & Glory offers a range of ready meals, finish at home pizzas, and recipe kits available for delivery across the UK.

Web: www.stemandglory.uk | Twitter: @stemandglory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stemandglory/ | Instagram: @stemandglory Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisepalmermasterton) https://www.linkedin.com/company/stem-glory/

To Our Readers

We are publishing these reports in good faith. Before you try any of these remedies, please consult the doctor. We are not responsible for any adverse effects.- Editor

28

ART & CULTURE

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4 - 10 September 2021

in brief

Book review :

COMMEMORATIVE BOOK FOR QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE

Kabir Bedi’s memoir 'Stories I Must Tell: The Emotional Life of an Actor' Shefali Saxena When Kabir Bedi fatefully interviewed The Beatles for the first time in India for All India Radio, he asked John Lenon about one advice he’d give to the youth back then.

Lenon told Bedi, “Question everything.

Don’t be afraid of being a rebel.”

Kabir Bedi’s memoir - 'Stories I Must Tell: The Emotional Life of an Actor' is symbolic of what Lenon said.

Published by Westland, Kabir’s memoir is brutally honest, explicit and detailed. With his charming vocabulary and articulation skills, Bedi manages to captivate the reader, not giving a moment to put down the memoir. What’s noteworthy is that he writes for all generations (which could totally be a coincidence). Anyone who picks up the book will quite naturally emerse in the world and life of Kabir Bedi, especially due to his penchant for describing moments and phases of his life in the most picturesque and visual way.

Unlike many other memoirs that require some sort of background context in reading, Kabir’s story flows like a tale that doesn't need an introduction.

Most of what is considered taboo in the Indian society and Asian culture per se, is what has practically happened in his life from falling in love multiple times to facing emotional hardships, losing a son to suicide

separation from the love of his life, having children, being the father, juggling his early days as a journalist and pouring into the world of advertising and further to that, becoming an actor in the Indian film industry, facing the consequences of stardom, Bedi’s life is worth a read.

Not just because it tells the tales and the stories that have often made headlines sensational ones to say in newspapers and magazines for years and continue to do so, but also because he fills the gaps, describes the larger picture of what happened and the series of events that followed.

And instead of justifying what happened, he explains how and why it happened and accepts where he was wrong. He accepts that he evolved as a person over the years, and what he probably was in a particular decade is not necessarily what he was in the later years of his life by the establishing that a person evolves over the years. Change is constant.

Even though Bedi is a little over 75, millennials and Generation Z will also relate to his writing because of his experiences of being in relationships, however tumultuous they may have been. Which kind of establishes the fact that human relationships have always been complicated.

Bedi’s life, which is quite popular on the internet and otherwise is basically what probably happens behind every second door

if you knock at any home around your neighborhood. The difference here is that Bedi decides to tell his story, accepts his flaws and moves on with it.

Noticeably one of the most interesting portions of this book is his relationship with the Gandhis in India, of being around Indira Gandhi, and mingling with Rajiv Gandhi in his younger days.

Like any other person who would grapple in a relationship that's twisted Bedi leaves himself vulnerable in his writing, and could be a little cathartic for many readers to probably see themselves in him and that is extremely brave of Kabir Bedi.

He takes responsibility for what is written and stands by it. He doesn't flinch in interviews given to the press, and proves that writing probably is the best way to move on in life. His audio book is available in the UK and the book can be bought on Amazon.

Disabled workers in UK television industry face ‘consistent difficulties’ – report Deeply damaging and inflexible workplace culture is preventing disabled workers working in the British television industry from progressing in their careers, according to new research.

The Career Routes and Barriers for Disabled People in the UK TV Industry report by the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity (LHC) at Birmingham City University has been released. The report, commissioned by the LHC, was produced by Kate Ansell, a disabled journalist, writer and executive producer with over 20 years of experience of producing current affairs and factual films for major broadcasters including BBC and Channel 4.

In the research, colleague’s attitudes toward disabled workers and lack of employer understanding about their legal

obligations are revealed as the most common barriers to disabled industry professionals staying and advancing in UK screen industry roles.

The study also identifies a lack of employer understanding about adjustments required by some disabled workers and describes ‘consistent difficulties’ experienced by disabled people in the industry. The report’s key recommendations include the creation of an industry-wide system to help implement adjustments when disabled people need them, as well as up-to-date training on equality law for all managers, and giving disabled people access to mentors, including other disabled people working in the industry, in addition to widening recruitment practices.

Such changes and improvements will

lead to higher retention of disabled workers and more disabled people working at a senior level in the industry, the report says.

86 disabled UK television industry professionals, including Senior, Executive and Series Producers; Heads of Development, Directors, Production Managers and Producers were surveyed as part of the research.

Over half (52%) of respondents have been working in the industry for over 10 years in a variety of genres, including news, current affairs, factual and factual entertainment programmes, and with a wide and varied experience of disability including people with physical impairments, people who are neurodiverse and people who have significant long term mental health conditions.

Marcus Hodge - forthcoming solo exhibition at the Osborne studio galleryartist who explores the world of the horse From Andalusia to India, this collection of paintings brings together images from a number of trips over the last two years.

Marcus Hodge explores the world of the horse, from the Marwari horses of Rajasthan, the international circus horses of Monaco, to the thoroughbreds and Arab horses of the Middle East.

These paintings have a unifying theme – a celebration of festivals and religious gatherings where animals play a part or merely stand by as part of the spectacle.

Marcus Hodge is a restless spirit who finds expression in the medium of painting, drawing, and sculpture. His work is conceived more instinctively than intellectually.

Hodge originally made his

name as a portrait painter. He studied Old Master techniques for five years at the Escuela Libre Del Mediterraneo in Palma.

On completing this rigorous training he became only the third person in the school’s history to be invited to remain as a tutor.

Following success as a portrait painter, he first travelled to India in 2000, which was the start of an intense fascination with the Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur, 30 x 45cm home of Marwari horses

Rajasthan horse fair

country, the driving force behind his first solo show, and a continuing powerful element in his art.

From classical beginnings, his style constantly evolved to become bolder and simpler, and sometimes figurative painting gives way to abstraction.

To mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, primary schools in the UK will receive a commemorative book under the Department for Education’s plan to start to look for a supplier for the patriotic gift.

“The "commemorative books on the Queen's reign" are due to be completed and delivered to schools by May 2022,” Politics Home reported. 53 per cent of Britons support the move, exclusive polling by Redfield & Wilton Strategies has revealed.

Allegedly, in order to “assist them in delivering a lesson and/or assembly on the Queen and her reign”, the DfE further plans to commission a series of teaching resources for primary and secondary school teachers.

The Conservative MP told PoliticsHome: “I cannot endorse this proposal from DfE highly enough. Next year Her Majesty the Queen will celebrate 70 years as the sovereign to our great and grateful nation, during which time she has helped to foster and maintain a sense of pride and identity that is unique.”

20 PLACES COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER TO BE THE NEXT ‘CITY OF CULTURE’ The culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, said: “This record number of applications from all four corners of the country is testament to the huge success of City of Culture in generating investment, creating jobs and boosting local pride. This prestigious prize creates a fantastic opportunity for towns and cities to build back better from the pandemic and I wish all bidders the very best of luck.”

There are over 20 bidders this year and the final shortlist will be released in early 2022.

The winner will be announced in May 2022.

The full list of bidders for UK City of Culture 2025 are Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon; the city of Bangor and north-west Wales; the Borderlands region, comprising Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders, Northumberland, Cumbria and Carlisle city; Bradford; Conwy county; Cornwall; Derby; County Durham; Lancashire; Medway; the city of Newport; Powys; Southampton; Stirling; the Tay Cities region; Torbay and Exeter; Wakefield district; the city of Wolverhampton; Wrexham county borough; and Great Yarmouth and East Suffolk.

DIGITAL DANCE FILM A new partnership between the University of Leeds and the world-renowned Northern Ballet has culminated in an original piece of dance exploring conceptual ideas of pattern and geometry. The choreography is informed by diffraction patterns and lattice structures of x-ray crystallography. The film captures moments where a crystal scatters a beam of x-rays and expresses changing states of matter within an atomic world.

Dr Thomas said: “Patterns are an elegant connection between art and science.

Repeating patterns in textiles are based on the same ideas of symmetry and groups that developed through the study of crystal structures. “It was this connection between the artistic expression of pattern and the science behind it that inspired us to create ÅNGSTRØM. Visual references to diffraction patterns, lattices, and the changing states of matter, are interwoven throughout the piece.” ÅNGSTRØM, a three-minute digital dance film

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BOLLYWOOD 29 4 - 10 September 2021

Kriti Sanon had a thriving modelling career before she entered the acting industry. In a recent interview, she looked back at her modelling days and recalled her very first ramp walk. Sanon was an engineering student when she took up modelling assignments. She fit the criteria because of her height, and decided to do it.

Sanon said, “When I did my first ramp show, I remember I messed up somewhere in the choreography and the choreographer was very rude to me. She screamed at me in front of some 20 models at the end of the show. Whenever someone scolds me, I can just start crying like this.”

She added, “So, I remember sitting in an auto and the moment I sat, I started crying. I went back home and I cried to my mother. My mother was like, ‘I don’t know if this profession is for you. I don’t. You need to be emotionally way stronger, you need to be a thick-skinned person and you need to be a lot more confident than you are. And I think confidence is something that I gained with time.”

On the work front, Kriti was recently seen in Laxman Utekar’s ‘Mimi’ . She has a number of projects including Farhad Samji’s ‘Bachchan Pandey’, Amar Kaushik’s horror-comedy ‘Bhediya’, and Om Raut’s adaptation of the Mahabharata titled ‘Adipurush.’

Kriti Sanon's bitter experience at her first ramp show Akshay’s ‘BellBottom’ screened at world’s highest mobile theatre

I’m trying to slow down: Pankaj Tripathi Actor Pankaj Tripathi has had a tight schedule in the past year and a half, with as many as eight projects releasing one after the other. However, he now confesses the crazy schedule has started to take a toll on him and he feels it’s time to take a pause and rest for a while.

In an interview, he said, “The packed shooting schedule becomes hectic. Personal life affect hone se zyada physical strain hota mujhe bahut. I feel physical rest has become important for me. Now, I feel ke thoda kum kaam karun, thodi chutti rahe, so I'm trying to balance it.”

He adds, “Soch raha hoon next year se speed kam karun.”

Tripathi, 44, has created quite the portfolio and a dedicated fan following over the years. In the last 18 months, while the world came to a halt, he releases multiple diverse projects, including ‘Mirzapur 2’, ‘Ludo’, ‘Extraction’, ‘Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl’, ‘Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors’, ‘Kaagaz’, and ‘Mimi’ through OTT. He is currently shooting another series in Ladakh and will later join the ‘Fukrey’ gang for the third instalment.

Tripathi said, “I’m not getting any break at the moment, usually I start shooting in a matter of three-four days.” He said that the love and appreciation he gets from the audience usually motivates him to push himself.

“Recently, I met some officials from the Army and CISF in Ladakh, and the way they were treating and praising me made me emotional. I never thought that they’d know me,” he said.

“All these years, I’ve only worked with honesty, with no gimmick. I never thought that I’d get so much love.

Mujhe samajh nahi aata ke itni mohabbat kaise lutaunga.

As an actor, I can only give back through my work, something which resonates with them and jis mein koi message,” Tripathi said.

Actor Akshay Kumar said he was thrilled that his recently released film ‘BellBottom’ was screened at a travelling cinema Hall in Ladakh. Ladakh got its first inflatable cinema with a private company, PictureTime Digiplex, installing the theatre in the union territory. The company installed the theatre in Yeh and claimed it to be the highest altitude theatre in the world, installed at a height of 11,562 feet.

‘BellBottom’ was released theatrically in the country on August 19, was screened for the Indian Army and CISF personnel on August 22. The actor took to Twitter and described the mobile theatre as “an amazing feat”. Akshay wrote, “Makes my heart swell with pride that BellBottom was screened at World’s highest mobile theatre at Leh in Ladakh. At an altitude of 11562 ft, the theatre can operate at -28 degrees C. What an amazing feat!”

Directed by Ranjit M Tewari, ‘BellBottom’ also stars Lara Dutta, Huma Qureshi and Vaani Kapoor.

Amitabh apologises for including fans in 'domestic issue'

In his recent-most blog, veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan shared issues he is facing at home. In a new post, he said he woke up at six in the morning as he had to arrive for an early shoot of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 13’, “only to find the water has stopped in the home system.”

In his post, he wrote that his body was “tired” and he had an early shoot to reach. “So I have been up since 6… ONLY to find the water has stopped in the home system! So as the system starts again, I am getting time to connect… Will see for another 5 then off to work as is and get ready in the vanity.”

He added, “Oh dear, such a bother… Sorry to include you in all this domestic issue but… OK, I am off… A bit of a trying DAY today.” Bachchan also wrote about his upcoming film ‘Chehre’ releasing in theatres in “some states, not all over.” He wrote, “So we wait for the protocol to improve. Till then… here we are at work.”

Bachchan has been posting regular updates on his blog for over 13 years now. Earlier this May, he talked about the decreasing number of comments he gets on his posts - “around a meagre 100” as opposed to the 1,000 comments he would sometimes get.

On the work front, Amitabh is seen on the small screen as the host of ‘KBC 13’ and his film ‘Chehre’ just released in theatres. He also has a slew of upcoming projects in the pipeline including ‘Jhund’, ‘Brahmastra’, ‘MayDay’, ‘Goodbye’, and ‘Project-K’.

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Priyanka Chopra wounds herself on the sets of ‘Citadel’ Priyanka Chopra Jonas wounded herself during the shooting of her upcoming series ‘Citadel’. She shared a picture on social media, posing with a bloodied face. She asked fans “What’s real and what’s not?” The actress later shared a fan’s reply stating the wound on her cheek was real, while the cut on her forehead was fake.

She posted it with a thumbs down and revealed the bruise on her eyebrow is real. The actor zoomed in on her injury, revealing that she had got cut right in the middle of her right eyebrow. Priyanka has been shooting for the series for quite some time. Pictures of the actor on the sets recently surfaced online, and she was seen filming an intense sequence.

She essays the role of a spy in ‘Citadel’, and will share the screen with ‘Game of Thrones’ alum and ‘Eternals’ star Richard Madden. The series is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video, and marks her web series debut. The show is being produced by Russo Brothers of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ fame.

Priyanka has been shooting for ‘Citadel’ since earlier this year, and has been stationed in London for months. On the work front, she has a number of projects in the pipeline.

This includes ‘The Matrix 4’, a romantic comedy with Mindy Kaling, a wedding-themed reality show, and a biopic of Ma Anand Sheela. She is also set to make her Bollywood comeback with ‘Jee Le Zara’ alongside Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt.

Shahid has a bigger bag collection: Mira Rajput Actor Shahid Kapoor may just be a bigger fashionista than wife Mira Rajput. In an interview, Mira spoke about her bag collection, sharing that daughter Misha has been “waddling” around with her bag before she could walk.

Speaking about one of her Louis Vuitton bags, she told Vogue India, “I am conscious about what I’m buying and how long it will last. Everyone has their own approach to sustainability. For me, it’s through the things that I buy. It needs to be multifunctional and relevant even decades later.

I’m a nostalgic person with an affinity for vintage fashion, so it will be special to pass this bag to my daughter who can make her own memoirs with it too. She’s already been waddling around with my bags before she could walk!”

However, she admitted that hers isn’t even the largest collection in the household. She said, “Shahid has more bags than I do! He has a refined fashion sensibility and a keen eye, so he’s always buying these really interesting pieces.”

Shahid and Mira tied the knot in 2016, and welcomed their daughter Misha in 2016. They welcomed their son Zain in 2018.

‘Shershaah’ garners praise from Indian Chief of Army Staff Sidharth Malhotra, Kiara Advani-starrer ‘Shershaah’ has garnered a lot of praise from fans and critics alike. The latest word of praise for the Captain Vikram Batra biopic came from none other than the Chief of Army Staff, General MM Naravane, who lauded the makers for the realistic portrayal of the 1999 Kargil war.

General Naravane wrote a letter of appreciation for the film crew, which was shared on Instagram by co-producer Shabbir Boxwala. An excerpt from the letter read, “I appreciate the genuine effort made by the entire crew in depicting realistic battle scenes of the Kargil war and the esprit-de-corps of the Indian Army. This movie, like other war movies in the past, will motivate us all.”

Shabbir wrote, “Humbled and beyond delighted to have received such high praise for #Shershaah from our Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Naravane. Our years of hard work have paid off. Long live Vikram Batra.

Long live the Indian Army!”

Directed by Vishnu Varadhan, ‘Shershaah’ was co-produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. The movie charts the life of Captain Vikram Batra, who laid down his life during the 1999 Kargil War.

Shibani gets boyfriend Farhan’s name tattooed on neck

Actor and television host Shibani Dandekar appears to have tattooed the name of her boyfriend and actor Farhan Akhtar on her neck as a birthday gesture. She took to Instagram Stories over the weekend to give a glimpse of the new tattoo. While her face isn’t visible in the picture, the word ‘Farha’ is written on the side of her neck. She captioned the picture, “Inked by the best”.

The original post was shared by tattoo artist Mr K, who tagged both Shibani and Farhan. Shibani dedicated the tattoo to Farhan on her 42nd birthday. Akhtar took to Instagram and shared a monochrome picture featuring himself and Shibani. He captioned it, “With all my heart.. happy birthday She. Love you. @shibanidandekar.”

Both Shibani and Farhan have been in a relationship for three years now. Earlier this month, Shibani spoke about tying the knot with Farhan, and how the recent lockdown made them evolve as a couple. She said in an interview, “Everybody is asking me that question. Honestly, the topic has not come up, but I have told people that I will figure it out and let you know. As of now, there’s nothing to it yet.”

On the work front, Shibani was last seen in ‘Love In The Times of Corona’. She also participated in reality shows like ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’, ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’, and ‘I Can Do That’. She has also played supporting roles in films like ‘Shaandaar’ and ‘Noor’, and featured in series such as ‘Four More Shots Please’ and ‘Hostages’.

Meanwhile, Farhan was last seen in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s ‘Toofaan’. He also recently announced his return to direction with ‘Jee Le Zaraa’ featuring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt, and Katrina Kaif.

SRK to shoot for Atlee’s next in Sept with a 10-day schedule Shah Rukh Khan is on a shooting spree! After extensively working on action entertainer ‘Pathan’, the actor is now planning to shift to his next project.

While he is yet to make it official, SRK will soon start shooting for Tamil director Atlee’s next. According to a news portal, SRK has completed shooting for ‘Pathan’ in Mumbai and the team is now working on an international shoot schedule and in the meantime the actor shifted attention to his next entertainer.

Shah Rukh will reportedly start shooting for Atlee’s yetuntitled film next month with a 10-day scheduled planned in Pune. The team will apparently make an official announcement about the film first day of its shoot. This entertainer reportedly features Nayanthara, Sanya Malhotra and Sunil Grover and will be shot extensively in Mumbai, Dubai and other locations.

On the big screen, Shah Rukh was last seen in ‘Zero’. The Aanand L Rai directorial hit the screens in December 2018 and tanked at the box office. Since then SRK has not announced his next project but has often been snapped shooting for ‘Pathan’ in Mumbai. Directed by Siddharth Anand, this action entertainer stars Deepika Padukone as the leading lady with John Abraham playing the villain.

Interestingly, Salman Khan has shot for an entertaining cameo in ‘Pathan’ and will be seen essaying his popular character of spy agent ‘Tiger’. Apart from ‘Pathan’ and Atlee’s next, Shah Rukh is also rumoured to have signed up for a film with director duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK. He has also shot for entertaining cameos in Aamir Khan’s ‘Lal Singh Chaddha’ and Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt starrer ‘Brahmastra.’

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Nobody knew who I was, used to sing at a restaurant: Shruti Haasan Shruti Haasan is a talented actor, lyricist, composer and singer. In an interview, the actress revealed that before she became famous, she used to sometimes sing at a restaurant in Mumbai. She said, “I used to sing there sometimes. Nobody knew who I was or anything. I used to sing. Like, Celine Dion, Bryan Adams.”

She also talked about how her ‘Ask Me Anything’ session on Instagram made the news. “There was a whole series of articles on how much I fart, that was bad. Because I just answered a question for fun. And

then it became like Shruti Haasan’s gas problem.

Anyone who tells you they don’t fart is an untrustworthy human. It’s like, bye,” she laughed.

Earlier this year, Shruti had opened up about resuming shoots amid the pandemic, and said it was “very scary” to be on a set without wearing a mask.

“We make different amounts of money, but we all have bills to pay and that is why I’ll have to get back to work,” she said.

On the work front, Shruti will be seen in Prashanth Neel’s ‘Salaar’ opposite Prabhas.

Samantha reveals surprise when Anushka Sharma DM’d her Samantha Akkineni revealed the time she was taken by surprise when Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma reacted to one of her Instagram Stories.

Speaking in an interview, Samantha was asked when was the last time she received a direct message from a celebrity, which left her in disbelief. “I felt that when Anushka Sharma reacted to one of my stories. It was like, wait, what?” She said.

She complimented Anushka for sharing empowering and uplifting posts.

“I think Anushka Sharma posts really valuable engagements. I just feel like her Instagram page really empowers and makes you feel happy inside. Yeah, so I like Anushka Sharma’s social media,” she said. Samantha has showered love on Anushka in the past, and constantly showers love emojis on her posts.

On the work front, Samantha made her digital debut with the second season of the Amazon Prime series ‘The Family Man’, also starring Manoj Bajpayee, Priyamani, Sharad Kelkar, Sharib Hashmi, and Shreya Dhanwanthary.

Top Tamil filmmakers join hands to launch production house

Sethupathi’s ‘Tughlaq Durbar’ set to premiere on Netflix Actor Vijay Sethupathi has announced that his upcoming film ‘Tughlaq Durbar’ is set to premiere on Netflix.

He, however, stopped short of announcing the release date. The trailer, which was released on August 31, is expected to reveal the premiere date.

However, ’Tughlaq Durbar’ will make its television premiere on Sun TV, before it debuts on Netflix. The movie will be Delhiprasad Deenadayalan’s directorial debut, which is touted to be an entertaining political drama. The movie also marks Sethupathi’s second collaboration with Parthiban. The duo previously shared screen space in Vignesh Shivan’s hit comedydrama ‘Naanum Rowdy Dhaan’.

The actor has three more films ready for release in September.

His muchawaited film ‘Laabam’ will open in cinemas on September 9, coinciding with the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

His latest collaboration with director M Manikandan titled ‘Kadaisi Vivasayi’ is also set to release on SonyLiv in September.

TV Listing * Schedule is subject to change

MON 6 SEP FRI 10 SEP 2021 6.00 Dikri To Parki Thapan Kahevay 13.00 Narsinh Mehta (Re-run) 14.00 RASOI SHOW 15.30 JAI SHRI KRISHNA 18.30 ABHILASHA - EK ASTITVANI 19.00 BHAKT GORA KUMBHAR 19.30 MANMILAP.COM 20.00 RASHI RIKSHAWALI 20.30 SHANI 21.00 PREM NI BHAVAI

SATURDAY 4 SEP 6.00 Kanchan Ane Ganga 13.00 Narsinh Mehta (Re-run) 14.00 RASOI SHOW 15.30 JAI SHRI KRISHNA 18.30 ABHILASHA - EK ASTITVANI 19.00 BHAKT GORA KUMBHAR 19.30 MANMILAP.COM 20.00 RASHI RIKSHAWALI 20.30 SHANI 21.00 BOLO KETLA TAKA SUNDAY 5 SEP 12.00 Kayado 15.00 Dhaakad 18.00 BOLO KETLA TAKA 19.00 SHU CHALE CHE 19.30 ABHILASHA - EK ASTITVANI 21.00 BOLO KETLA TAKA 22.00 SHU CHALE CHE

In big news for the Tamil movie industry, several acclaimed Tamil filmmakers have joined hands to launch a major production powerhouse. The new company called ‘Rain On Films’ is a collective of leading directors including Mani Ratnam, Shankar, Gautham Vasudev Menon, AR Murugadoss, Mysskin, Vetrimaaran, Lingusamy, Sasi, Vasanta Balan, Balaji Sakthivel, and Lokesh Kanagaraj.

‘Rain On Films’ will work as a corporate entity and fund feature films, anthologies, series and shows for leading OTT platforms in India. An official announcement is yet to be made. The studio is said to be an initiative by Mani Ratnam, who had also bankrolled Netflix’s latest anthology drama ‘Navarasa’.

The National Award-winning filmmaker had earlier professed

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 6 SEP FRI 10 SEP 2021 8.30 BHARADWAJ BAHUEIN 16.30 RASOI SHOW-DESI FLAVOURS 17.30 CHHUTA CHHEDA 18.00 TUM KAUN PIYA 18.30 DIL KA RISHTA 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 19.30 EK SHRINGAAR SWABHIMAAN 20.00 DIL SE DIL TAK 20.30 BARRISTER BABU 21.00 BALIKA VADHU 2 21.30 SASURAL SIMAR KA 2

his admiration for OTT platforms.

He noted that as a filmmaker, he finds streaming platforms very liberating as they allow him to tell a story in multiple formats.

If reports are to be believed, the first project from the Rain On Films banner will be helmed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. He will start the project after he finishes shooting his upcoming film ‘Vikram’, starring Kamal Hassan, Vijay Sethupathi, and Fahadh Faasil.

SATURDAY 4 SEP 16.30 RASOI SHOW-DESI FLAVOURS 17.30 DESI BEAT (SEASON 3) 18.00 KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 19.30 EK SHRINGAAR SWABHIMAAN 20.00 DIL SE DIL TAK 20.30 DESI BEAT RESET 21.00 FEET UP WITH THE STARS (SEASON 1) 21.30 SASURAL SIMAR KA 2 SUNDAY 5 SEP 16.30 RASOI SHOW-DESI FLAVOURS 17.30 DESI BEAT (SEASON 3) 18.00 KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 19.30 EK SHRINGAAR SWABHIMAAN 20.00 DIL SE DIL TAK 20.30 DESI BEAT RESET 21.00 FEET UP WITH THE STARS (SEASON 1) 21.30 DESI BEAT RESET

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India's best-ever day at Paralympics It was a day of rare and delightful sporting highs for India at the Paralympic Games as the country won an unprecedented 5 medals - 2 gold, 2 silver and a bronze - in a single day in Tokyo. The winners also included the country’s first-ever Paralympic gold medal winning woman athlete in shooter Avani Lekhara.

The day’s developments took India’s total medal tally to 7, their best ever at a Paralympic Games, raising hopes of ushering in a revolution for differently-abled athletes in a country where even ramps for the disabled are a rarity in public places. At the Rio Games in 2016, India had won 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze. “I can’t describe this feeling. I am on top of the world,” said Avini, speaking for all of the medal winners. Avani started the day for India with a gold and javelin thrower Sumit Antil ended it with another, along with a world record.

India’s tally could have been higher but they lost a bronze after athlete Vinod Kumar, who had finished third in discus (F52) on Sunday, was found ineligible in disability classification assessment. Avani equalled the world record while winning the gold in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1, while Antil bagged the top finish in men’s javelin (F64), beating his own world record by almost 6 metres. Yogesh Kathuniya won one of the two silvers in men’s discus (F56) while the other was won by the indefatigable Devendra Jhajharia in men’s javelin (F46) event. In the same javelin event, Sundar Singh Gurjar claimed bronze.

The 19-year-old Avani, who suffered spinal cord injuries following a car crash in 2012, showed what it takes for a shooter to finish on the podium at the Games by winning the gold quite convincingly. After qualifying for the final as the 7th of the 8 shooters, she raised her game when it mattered most. She took the lead after the

Bhavina Patel

Avani Lekhara

first round of five shots in the final and, barring for one round, maintained it. She finished with 249.6 points, ahead of Cuiping Zhang of China (248.9). Ukraine’s Iryna Shchetnik took the bronze.

Sumit Antil started with a world record – 66.9m – before bettering it twice in the next four throws. His first one was followed by efforts of 68.08m, 65.27m, 66.71m and 68.55m, leaving no chance to his rivals. The earlier record – 62.88m – was also in his name which he had set in Dubai in 2019.

Sadeep, another Indian in the fray, finished fourth with a best of 62.20. “This is my first Paralympics and I was a little nervous. I was hoping for a 70-metre-plus throw, maybe I can do 75m. It was not my best, but I am very happy to break the world record,” Sumit said.

Kathuniya had three fouls in his six attempts, but his last throw was 44.38m and it was good enough to push him to second position, behind Claudiney Batista of Brazil, who had 45.59, also in his last throw. An elated Yogesh later said that he was hoping his medal will help him get a job. “I hope I can get a job now. That will be very nice,” the 24-year-old Kathuniya said. Jhajharia followed his Rio gold with a silver, with a personal best of 64.35m. But the effort was not enough to earn him his third Paralympics gold.

Silver for Nishad, Bhavina Patel Indian athletes excelled on Sunday with

Nishad Kumar winning the high jump (T47) silver while Vinod Kumar finished third in men’s discus (F52) but was made to wait for his bronze medal confirmation as a protest was lodged. Meanwhile, Bhavina Patel lost 03 to world no. 1 Chinese paddler Ying Zhou in the women’s singles class 4 final, and had to settle for silver. It was a memorable evening for 21-year-old Nishad from Himachal, son of a marginal farmer, who clinched his medal with an Asian record of 2.06m. It was not Bhavina's day as her fans back at home in Gujarat waited with bated breath for a gold medal in table tennis at the Paralympics on Sunday. Though the 34year-old gave her all in the summit clash, she went down in straight sets to world No.1 Zhou Ying of China in the final, ending her singles campaign with a deserved silver medal.

Bhavina, however, became only the second Indian female athlete to win a medal in the Paralympics after Deepa Malik, who bagged silver in shot put F43 in 2016. The para paddler said, “I gave 100% in the final.

Though I could not win the gold, I am satisfied with my overall performance. That I have created history by winning a medal in table tennis at the Paralympics is in itself a huge achievement.” The doubles event begins on August 31 and Bhavina will be partnering Sonal Patel, who lost in the group stage in the singles. “We will give our best and try to win another medal for India,” said Bhavina.

The Vadnagar-born athlete, who is now a resident of Ahmedabad, was determined to change the narrative in the final and she matched Zhou stroke for stroke from the word go. But Zhou, a seasoned campaigner on the big stage, broke away at 3-3 in the opening game and maintained the lead to pocket the first game and never relaxed her grip for the rest of the match.

Hundred organisers dismiss doubts over new game A few days after it began, Sunil Gavaskar, one of India’s greatest former cricketers, denounced The Hundred - English cricket’s controversial attempt to revitalise the sport and attract new, younger audiences - as “insipid”. And yet, for all its detractors - and there have been many since the idea was first hatched by governing body the England and Wales Cricket Board five years ago - organisers insist that the new, shorter version of the game has been a hit.

At Lord’s, a sold-out crowd watched the climax of a competition designed to help safeguard the future of the

Sanjay Patel

sport. Over the past month, according to the ECB, more than 10m people have watched the Hundred on television, many of whom were newcomers to the game. By the time the competition ended, more than 450,000 people have watched the matches in person. Roughly

60 per cent of those are under 45, while women make up about a fifth of ticket buyers.

The competition, which uses the T20 format has grown into a multibillion-dollar business in little more than a decade since its launch. The ECB is investing £180m in the Hundred in the hope of encouraging more women and young people to play and watch the sport. It is set to generate a surplus of £10m on revenues of £49m-£52m in its first year, money that the ECB can invest back into the game.

But beyond the financial benefits, the decision to create new, city-based teams with

separate squads of men and women and to stage women’s and men’s matches back to back at the same venues has given the profile of female cricketers a big boost. “I think what the women’s competition will do for cricket in this country is transformational, genuinely transformational,” said Sanjay Patel, managing director of the Hundred. “Those players just absolutely loved being on that stage. One day I hope that the Hundred can have that clean window where it stands alone,” said Patel. He insisted that the “market is big enough, the appetite for cricket is big enough”.

England steer clear of verbal clash with Kohli Craig Overton, the Somerset paceman, admitted that England had had a “tricky” day in which they only took two wickets as India ate into England’s firstinnings lead of 354. Kohli finished the day unbeaten and Overton suggested that England, who got caught up in a war of words in a fractious final day of the second Test at Lord’s, which they lost, had avoided sledging him.

“I think he’s one of those characters who wants to get into a battle and as a side we are just trying to make sure that we do our business as best we can and not exactly ignore him but make sure that we stick to the basics of

what we do well and go from there,” Overton said. It was Overton who made the first breakthrough with the last ball before lunch, removing KL Rahul, thanks to a stunning diving catch by Jonny Bairstow,

but it was a rare high point for England.

“We knew they’d come back and fight today,” Overton said.

“We know what they are like as a team and what their characters are like so we knew it was going to be tricky but we just had to do Virat Kohli what we had been doing over the last two days and make the most of what we had. Credit to them though, they made it really hard for us.” Overton admitted that James Anderson, who went wicketless in the 19 overs he bowled, had “struggled for

rhythm” on a difficult day for England but he believes that the bowling group stuck to their task and that they didn’t get the rewards that they were, perhaps, due.

“I think we bowled better than the two wickets suggests,” Overton said. “But they also played very well - which they are entitled to do - but ideally we would have got three or four.

“We only need a couple more wickets to get into their bowlers.

“We are still in a good position in the game especially with the new ball in the morning. “If we get a couple of early wickets we can hammer it home a bit more.

The new ball is massive.”

FORMER ENGLAND CAPTAIN TED DEXTER PASSES AWAY AT 86 Former England captain Ted Dexter has died aged 86 after a recent illness, Marylebone Ted Dexter Cricket Club (MCC) said. Dexter, nicknamed "Lord Ted", was an aggressive batsman and part-time seam bowler who played 62 tests for England after making his debut in 1958 against New Zealand.

He captained England and Sussex in the early 1960s. "After a recent illness, he passed away peacefully in the Compton Hospice in Wolverhampton last week, surrounded by his family," MCC said in a statement. "Ted was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and one of England's greatest ever cricketers. He was captain in 30 of his 62 Test matches and played the game with the same sense of adventure and fun that captures much of the story of his remarkable life." Dexter scored 4,502 runs at an average of 47.89 during his test career and took 66 wickets at an average of 34.93. As a cricket administrator Dexter became chairman of the England selectors between 1989 and 1993. He also developed a test player ranking system that was formally adopted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2003 and forms the basis of the governing body's current test rankings. Dexter was later appointed president of MCC and was awarded a CBE in 2001.

HEADINGLEY BARS SHUT EARLY There was a capacity crowd of 16,991 at Headingley but by late in the evening session there were some sparsely populated stands after Yorkshire took the decision to shut the bars in the ground at 4.45 pm. The closure, which was 45 minutes earlier than on Thursday last, came with 28 overs of play still remaining in the day, meaning significant numbers of spectators - some of whom were audibly angry - decided to leave the ground.

Yorkshire said the decision had been taken by their ground safety officer, who has the discretion to close the bars if he believes that further alcohol sales could lead to drunk-anddisorderly behaviour. After the dismissal of Rohit Sharma, play was interrupted by a pitch invader - the same one who had got on to the playing field during the second Test at Lord’s.

The fan, known as “Jarvo”, walked to the crease in full cricket gear including pads, gloves, helmet and a bat and tried to take guard before Virat Kohli had got to the crease.

ENGLAND THRASH INDIA BY AN INNINGS AND 76 RUNS England thrashed India by an innings and 76 runs to win the third Test at Headingley on Saturday with more than a day to spare.

Victory saw England level the five-match series at 1-1 after India's 151-run win in the second Test at Lord's. India, 215-2 overnight in their second innings, collapsed against the new ball, losing eight wickets for 63 runs in 19.3 overs on Saturday with Ollie Robinson taking 5-65.

India's 278 all out, however, was 200 runs more than their woeful first innings of 78 -- made after captain Virat Kohli won the toss - which saw England great James Anderson rip through the top order with 3-6. The tourists resumed Saturday on 215-2 but, with 80 overs bowled, England took the new ball straight from the start of Saturday's play. From the moment Cheteshwar Pujara was lbw to Robinson without adding to his overnight 91, lbw playing no shot to Robinson, England were in complete command, with Kohli falling soon afterwards for 55 - his first 50 of the series.