Political leaders address Asian community concerns at historic hustings event
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty visit Neasden Temple
Anusha Singh
It is clear that human activities have significantly warmed the atmosphere, oceans, and land Surface temperature measurements indicate a rise of approximately 1 1°C since the pre-industrial era Each of the last three decades has been progressively warmer than its predecessor, with the seven warmest years on record occurring between 2015 and 2021 This warming trend has been more pronounced over land than over oceans and has accelerated at more than double the rate in the Arctic
“No place for discrimination of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs or any other group in Britain”
Rupanjana Dutta
Sir Keir Starmer could be the next Prime Minister of Britain, with Labour forming government for 18 consecutive years Exit polls published by Savanta on
Reform parties.
Yet experts are of the opinion that this election is not a straightforward one ‘Voting hesitancy’ among Britain s 5 6 million Asian voters persist Issues like Reform candidate Andrew Parker hurling a racial slur at the Prime Minister and suggesting migrants should be used as “target practice”, deepens worries about disparities and inequalities thriving at the heart of today’s Britain
Full story on page 06
CB Patel, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar with the panellists, moderator Alpesh Patel OBE and wife Aekta Mahajan, moderator Jasvir Singh CBE, Param Singh MBE and Rupanjana Dutta
Sir Keir Starmer offering prayer at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury
Wrongly jailed sub-postmistress rejects apology
A fo rm er sub-postmistress, w rongly jailed while pregnant, h as refused to accept an ap olog y from a former Fujitsu engineer wh ose testimony contributed to her convictio n S
too late " The Post Off ice wrongly prosecuted approxi
ters between 1999 and 2015 for theft and fraud based on inaccurate data from their IT system
During the inquir y into t
understand "why on Earth he did what he did " D u
Fu j i t s u , M r Je n k i n s w a s involved in the development of the Horizon accountancy software, which was utilised b y s u b - p o s t m a s t e r s throughout the UK
Four
Trespass incident leads to four arrests at PM’s home
according to North Yorkshire Police
The men were detained
escorted off the property, and subsequently arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass
The force added that the men included a 52-year-old from London, a 43-year-old
the Prime Minister’s property and appearing to defecate in a lake The group described the action as a "parting gift" for the Prime Minister and t
ment
I
group identif ied the man in the video as Oliver, a 21-yearo
Manchester, and included
statement from him
" We
computer software system in both criminal and civil cases
During Mrs Misra's trial in 2010, he neglected to disclose to the court a bug in the software that could have weakened the case against her Mrs Misra, residing in We s t By f l
, Su r r e y, w a s convicted of theft and false accounting and was incarcerated while she was eight weeks pregnant
He r c o n
s quashed in 2021
As an expert witness, Mr Jenkins played a crucial role in assisting the Post Off ice
dance, music and delectable Bengali food
from Manchester, and
They remain in police custody as inquiries continue A video released by the protest group Youth Demand shows a young man entering
thank the Tories for: from crumbling schools, polluted rivers, and a collapsing NHS,
Criticism for Sadiq Khan's £24 mn office return scheme with "negligible" impact
Sadiq Khan faced criticism as data indicated that his
ai med at boosting the c apital's economy, had little to no impact
encourage people back into central London by eliminating rush hour peak Tube and rail fares at the end of each workweek T
A
, e s p
c i a l l y post-pandemic, has led to quieter Fridays in the city c e n t r e c o m p a r e d t o p r eC o v i d t i m e s Ho w e v e r, Tu b e r i d e r s h i p d a t a s u g -
gests that the scheme has only seen a three percent increase in ridership
R o u g h l y 4 0 6 m i l l i o n
Un d e r g r o u n d j o u r n e y s were made on Fridays duri n g t h e t r i a l p e r i o d –
e xc l u d i n g G o o d Fr i d a y, when all fares were off-peak
anyway due to it being a bank holiday
R i d e r s h i p d u r i n g t h e same set of Fridays in 2023 was only slightly lower, at about 39 4 million journeys
– a g a i n e xc l u d i n g G o o d Friday
The f igures, available on Tr a n s p o r t fo r L o n d o n ’ s ( Tf L) w e b s i t e , c o v e r o n l y Tube journeys and exclude ridership on the Elizabeth line, Overground, DLR, and London’s national rail ser-
v i c e s , a l l o f w h i c h w e r e
included in the trial A c c o r d i n g t o Tf L's f inance report earlier this m o n t h , t o t a l j o u r n e y s across all its ser vices have increased by just over 6 percent compared to last year
This suggests that the 3 percent rise on the Tube on Fr i d a y s m a y h a v e l a r g e l y occurred independently of t h e t r i a l A d d i t i o n a l l y, national rail strikes affected ridership levels on two relevant Fridays in 2023
Migrant nurse gains legal victory against UK firm
f irm after
judge indicated
likely to win his unfair dismissal cas
preced ent for similar claims
Healthcare, a London-based
Rathod unpaid wages after it dismissed him in 2023 The ruling could leave him eligi-
ble for a payout of more than £13,000 R a t h o d w a s
d fo r questioning the inadequate w o
k a s s i g n m e n t s , a l o n g with fellow colleagues who
relocated to the UK with promises of full-time jobs
A d v o c a t e s a n t i c i p a t e t h i s initial ruling will encourage numerous others to step forw a r d , fo l l o w i n g r e c e n t reports exposing widespread claims of exploitation in the sector A f inal verdict on the case is anticipated later this year
"Sarmila Bose, head of e m p l o y m e
Wo
Rights Centre, representing Rathod, commented: 'This judgement is highly signif icant as it marks the f irst
secured this type of relief in principle ' Ni
head of the Royal College of Nursing, added: 'This
University honours Chancellor's wife with building name
Th e Un i v er s i t y of Wol ve r ha m pt on h as renamed a university bui lding in honour of the late
w i fe of i ts l on g - s ta n di n g Chancellor, Lord Swraj Paul of Maryleb one Lord Paul, renowned for
• Satyanarayan puja
• Shradh puja
• Durga puja
C r e d i t : U n i v e r s ity o f W o l v e r h a m tp o n
founding a steel business named Caparo Group, has
's chancellor for over 25 years Lady Aruna Swraj Paul, who was born in India and passed away suddenly at the age of 86 in 2022, has been honoured by her husband with the unveiling of the new name for the School of
husband, Lord Swraj Paul of
Hindu Priest Manohar Das
Kirankumar Rathod
Seema Mishra
Rishi Sunak
A Prime Minister who puts his country first
By the time this issue of Asian Voice reaches readers, the result of 4 July general elections has come out and a new government is possibly in place Opinion polls have predicted a significant majority for the Labour Party led by Sir Keir Starmer However, the current Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak who is leading the Conservative Party, that has governed Britain for the last 14 years, is not ready to give up easily No one can deny that Mr Sunak has largely fulfilled his promises during his 18-month tenure as the PM
When Sunak became Prime Minister in October 2022, succeeding Liz Truss, he made five promises to the British public He has largely succeeded in keeping three of these promises, which he is using to appeal to British voters With inflation at around 11% in the October-December 2022 period, Sunak promised the public, suffering from the cost-ofliving crisis, that he would bring inflation back to the Bank of England's 2% percent target He has achieved this, with the inflation rate falling to 2% in May 2024
Mr Sunak also promised to revive the British economy, which was destabilised by Liz Truss's mini budget The British economy emerged from recession in the first quarter of 2024, thanks to the policies adopted by Mr Sunak and Jeremy Hunt Britain recorded the highest growth rate
among the G-7 countries PM Sunak prioritised reducing illegal migration and net immigration, promising to stop small boats crossing the English Channel and deporting certain migrants to African countries under the Rwanda scheme
Parliament, he couldn't stop the small boats, and the plan is currently on hold due to the elections However, he did manage to reduce net immigration by banning dependents of foreign students coming to the UK
Rishi Sunak s major failures include reducing NHS waiting list, banning smoking among minors, and implementing net zero policies Thus, Rishi Sunak's performance as Prime Minister could be rated 70 out of 100, but he has already laid the foundation for the next government’s success If a Labour government comes to power, it will not face as much as economic challenges as Mr Sunak did It’s a huge achievement and now it depends on the voters Regardless of the outcome, Rishi Sunak's confidence and his “country first” attitude is acknowledged even by biggest of his critics
However, with Labour’s victory, they should not undo Rishi Sunak’s efforts for Britain and its financial stability No economy can stand on large borrowings and tax hikes, or money raised only through various taxations
Biden under pressure, Trump eyes a comeback
Criticism is mounting against President Joe Biden following his underwhelming performance in the first 2024 presidential debate against former President Donald Trump Biden’s difficulties during the debate, which represents the earliest general election showdown in modern political history, have intensified doubts about his fitness for office Numerous reports indicate that Democrats are under pressure to consider replacing their presidential candidate
Democrats had hoped a strong performance by Biden would allay concerns about his age and fitness for office Instead, his faltering debate exacerbated these worries This h a s s
, Democratic voters, donors, and undecided voters about his stamina and mental sharpness There is some support for replacing Biden now However, it will be rather difficult to force him out from the top of the ticket
Replacing a sitting president as the party's candidate is complex and risky While the benefits of a more dynamic candidate are evident, there are significant risks of appearing divided and indecisive Vice President Kamala Harris leads the list of contenders Democratic governors like California's Gavin Newsom have also gained national prominence despite their initial support for Biden Governors from traditionally Republican states, such as Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Roy Cooper of North Carolina, are seen as less likely contenders
During the debate, Biden and Trump clashed over climate policy, trade, and China, emphasising their tough stances on foreign relations ahead of the November election Biden highlighted a decrease in the U S -China trade deficit to its lowest since 2010, criticising Trump's handling of Beijing Reports
confirmed a deficit of $279 billion last year, down from $418 billion in 2018 under Trump Both candidates vowed stringent measures on China: Trump proposed tariff hikes and Biden maintained existing tariffs while announcing new ones, particularly on electric vehicles
According to a CBS News/YouGov poll, 72% of registered voters doubted Biden's mental fitness to serve as President At 81, Biden appeared older and less energetic compared to his 78year-old rival, Trump, during the debate More concerning for the Democratic Party, the poll revealed that 45% of registered Democrats preferred Biden to step aside for another candidate
Many US allies are uneasy about Trump's America First rhetoric, threats to withdraw from NATO, and protectionist trade policies At European Union summits, some leaders avoid mentioning his potential return for fear of increasing its likelihood, according to a senior diplomat
In Eastern Europe, officials warn that 2024 could be critical for Europe's security amid Vladimir Putin's prolonged invasion of Ukraine In the Middle East, Trump's strong support for Israel has raised concerns among EU diplomats about potential
refugee issues for Europe
However, some nations in the Global South view Trump's transactional approach as offering opportunities Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had a close relationship with Trump, favoured the previous administration over Biden's, which has criticised India on human rights while seeking its support against China, officials say There is hope among some in India that Trump may choose Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy as his cabinet member
Cricket as a powerful testament to the role of sports
India ended its ICC tournament dry spell with a thrilling victory in Barbados The Men in Blue secured the ICC T20 World Cup, marking their first major title since the 2013 Champions Trophy in England
Rohit Sharma’s squad clinched a narrow seven-run victory over South Africa as Virat Kohli’s impressive 76 runs, along with contributions from all-rounders Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya, played pivotal roles Suryakumar Yadav’s crucial catch and Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional bowling further secured India's triumph
With this historic win, came the retirement announcements of Rohit, Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and coach Rahul Dravid, signalling the end of an era in Indian T20 cricket The tournament, spanning the West Indies and the United States, showcased challenging pitches that limited big sixes, with Afghanistan’s semifinal journey standing out for its resilience amid adversity
The tournament was replete with surprises and memorable moments, and was the perfect reflection of cricket's deep-rooted significance in Indian culture Cricket in India transcends age, gender, and socio-economic status, uniting millions as they gather around television sets during major events The sport is an emotion in the country, the players hailed as God
Cricket has increasingly captivated more people in India due to the myriad opportunities it offers For some, it provides an escape from everyday life, while for others, it represents a path to becoming a legendary athlete The appeal of cricket transcends boundaries, accommodating diverse aspirations and passions within the sport
The nation, divided by caste, class and religion comes together beautifully for the sport, showcasing the real “unity in diversity” What’s more? Cricket has been instrumental in lifting many out of poverty and has significantly contributed to India’s economic growth It has facilitated social mobility among Indians, enabling cricketers from humble backgrounds to excel in the sport and relocate to
larger cities to showcase their talents This aspect of cricket has empowered numerous individuals to enhance their lives and elevate their societal status, exemplified by figures like Rinku Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal
India stands as the world’s largest consumer of cricket, driving 60% of the global cricket income With a population exceeding one billion, India naturally commands the largest television audiences Moreover, cricket is more than a mere spectator sport for many Indians and South Asians; it is actively played across various levels
For individuals from impoverished backgrounds, cricket serves as a pathway out of poverty, offering opportunities to achieve international acclaim and stardom a route that has been available for decades Participation in cricket not only exposes players to Indian culture but also showcases them on prestigious platforms such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) and international competitions This exposure allows global audiences to appreciate the sport and its players
The commercialisation of cricket, notably through the IPL, has transformed it into a robust multi-billion-dollar industry This growth has raised standards and created lucrative opportunities across various facets of the sport
Besides being the pride of India, the sport was celebrated by Indian diaspora all over the world as the men in blue clinched the World Cup Indian fans in London were witnessed celebrating in Queensbury, where fans cheered and mounted signage outside the Station, luxury cars like
Fireworks and celebrations erupted throughout Harrow, creating a vibrant atmosphere while fans in Wembley took to the streets to celebrate the T20 victory with dhol music, fireworks, the tricolour and an array of festive activities
The positive impact of cricket serves as a powerful testament to the role of sports in driving meaningful change and improving lives across the globe, reflected by the pure elation of fans across the world
Political Sketchbook
Political Leadership
In one week, bo th the lead ers of the US and UK went head to head with those who seek to replace th em The F rench are voting in a new P ri me Minister P oliti cal leadershi p h as been stud ied fo r centu ri es Since so many lead ers wi ll take u p of fice (or be re-appoi ntd ) I thought I wou ld share the to p lesso ns from Kauti lya' s (Chanakya' s) "Arthashastra":
1 Statecraft and Governance: The Arthashastra is a comprehensive treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy, emphasizing the role of a ruler in maintaining a stable and prosperous state
2 Raja Dharma (Duty of the King): It outlines the duties and responsibilities of a king, stressing the importance of righteousness, justice, and welfare of the subjects
3 Economic Policies: Kautilya provides detailed guidelines on various economic activities, including agriculture, trade, taxation, and state-controlled industries He advocates for a mixed economy with a significant role for the state
4 Spies and Intelligence: The use of spies and intelligence is extensively discussed, highlighting the importance of gathering information to ensure the security and stability of the state
5 Diplomacy and Alliances: Kautilya emphasizes the importance of diplomacy and forming strategic alliances He introduces the concept of the "Circle of Kings," where neighboring states are seen as potential allies or enemies
6 War and Defence: The Arthashastra provides detailed strategies for warfare, including the types of warfare (open, concealed, and silent) and the use of different types of troops and formations
7 Law and Order: The text outlines a legal framework for the administration of justice, including various laws, punishments, and the role of judges It stresses the importance of law and order for a stable society
8 Public Welfare: Kautilya advocates for the welfare of the people, including the construction of public works such as roads, water management systems, and the establishment of educational institutions
9 Economic Espionage and Sabotage: The text discusses tactics for economic espionage and sabotage against rival states to weaken their economies and gain a strategic advantage
10 Ethics and Morality: While the Arthashastra is often seen as pragmatic and even ruthless, it also emphasizes ethical and moral considerations in governance Kautilya advises rulers to be just and compassionate while also being shrewd and strategic
And should you prefer something more contemporary and more Western Well, this is the summary of Kissinger’s “Leadership”:
1 Concept of Realpolitik: Kissinger emphasizes the importance of pragmatic, results-oriented politics over ideological purity
2 Balance of Power: He discusses the necessity of maintaining a balance of power to ensure global stability
3 Diplomacy as an Art: Kissinger views diplomacy as a complex art form, requiring skill, patience, and strategic thinking
4 Historical Context: Understanding historical context is crucial for effective leadership and policy-making
5 Moral Ambiguity: Leadership often involves making morally ambiguous decisions for the greater good
6 Crisis Management: Effective leaders must excel in managing crises and turning challenges into opportunities
7 Long-term Strategy: Leaders should focus on longterm strategies rather than short-term gains
8 Role of Culture: Cultural understanding and sensitivity are vital for international relations and leadership
9 Influence of Personality: The personality and character of leaders significantly impact their decision-making and leadership style
Fax: 020 7749 4081 Email: aveditorial@abplgroup com Website: www abplgroup com
207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp Jain Derasar, Nr Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad-380 015 Tel: +91 79 4601 2649
Amrit is revolutionising the care sector as a social force to be reckoned with altruistically from within: his rising reputable enterprise, Walfinch, not only champions avant-garde professionalism but also aptly the significance of innovation alongside genuine heart The result is a microcosm of philanthropic progress: “the care industry is totally about people – from the care workers to clients and their families That is why strong empathetic leadership is integral I am always learning and honing the soft skills that are crucial to this sector.”
I n d e e d , W a l f
n c h uniquely centres on wellbeing so that customers are empowered as well as
ing health in the prevent i o n o f d e t e r i o r a t i o n a c r o s s r e s p e c t i
plans: “ we keep tech on the radar and can gather 5 years of medical analytics
supported through a challenging time of vulnerability, accommodating for a diverse range of clientele too This is going the extra mile in an industry where simply maintenance of the e l d e r l y i s t h e p r a c t i s e d norm “Keeping fit and active is deeply beneficial,” the CEO shared: “ so we
a i m t o p r o v i d e t h a t f o r those under care so that they may be re-enabled as well as assisted: fully facilitated independence is the aim Fitness in general is essential and I am personally very passionate about this I know this is what makes me feel content and comfortable We are thus p r i m a r i l y a w e l l b e i n g brand for older people but are also open to all ages People may have injuries
t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e y a r e s t r u g g l i n g t o r e c o v e r , underlying health conditions or learning disabilities Whoever you are, we aim to create a solid structure of wellness as well as giving reliable, committed care ”
In short it is important for Walfinch to make sure that clients are safe, happy and healthy longterm This is helped along u s i n g t e c h , s h o u l d o n e wish, to monitor underly-
to measure elements such as intake of water etc and calculate potential risks or the state of one ’ s wellbei n g i n t h e f u t u r e t o addresses this specifically W h e n I f o u n d e d t h e e n t e r p r i s e , I w a n t e d t o contribute in a way that was modern especially –working with options that exist today to enhance the q u a l i t y
m
r r o w I wanted to update the sector ” Indeed, this extends
t o A m r i t ’ s i n t e r n a l e n t r e p r e n e u r i a l m o d e l where staff are treated as r e s p e c t f u l l y a s t h e c u stomer:
"If it was just about profit, the journey would be boring – it is equally about interesting people and fostering valuable ideas”
“ I t i s a p p a l l i n g t h a t y o u n g p e o p l e
who survived a 4kg rare cancer tumour calls for people to listen to their body
L o n d o n G P K
pa S h o r t t faced a st ar k r eality check whe n a 4 kg tumour, e quiva
lent to a sma ll bowling ball, w
In January 2022, Kripa n
larger, initially attributing it to post-pregnancy changes a n d
healthy lifestyle and regular exercise, the bulge persisted a
nent, noticeable even during
growth accelerated, prompting Kripa to seek medical help A CT scan in January
2
toneal liposarcoma, a rare cancer deep in her abdomen
programs that equip carers in this job and beyond We want staff to be able to go on a journey and not
career paths
A very low glass ceiling is one of several issues in “ a broken
However, Amrit was careful to emphasise the many wonderful and hardworking people in his profession where making friends has been a highlight: “getting to know everybody in the sector as I was launching my own franchise has been a privilege If it was just about profit, the journey would be boring – it is equally about interesting people and fostering valuable ideas ”
importance of attention to detail which is a hallmark of true investment: “This brings a different dimension of thinking Noticing the small things make all the difference which can
Indeed, this translates into
viability of inclusive compassion but also its realisation as a robust exemplary community Amrit is the recipient of several awards including the Franchisee of the Year Award for his work in social care
Find out more W: https://walfinch com/
Within a week, she underwent surgery, where a 20
removed, along with part of her large intestine “As a GP, I recognise the
with running, weight training and yoga and eating
recounts "Yet, I found myself battling sarcoma It can happen to anybody, but regardless of this, we should try our best
I sought medical advice when I recognised that something was different in my body I a d v i s e
u
o t
t their instincts and seek medical advice when they have concerns about a lump, new s y m p t o m
c h a n g e s i n their body I am very lucky to have been diagnosed early, and my treatment enabled me to overcome the cancer I advise everyone to be aware of their own body, and when something seems worrying, please see their GP to get checked "
RCM urges next government to end racism in maternity services
The RCM c alls on UK politic i a ns t o e ns ur e e qu it y in m a t e r n it y s e r v ic e s f or a l l , regar dl ess of rac e or bac kground, as the general election nears its end Servic es m u s t r e f l e c t c om m un it y needs a nd s upport al l sta ff equall y T h e R C M h i g h l i g h t s alarming disparities in pregn a n c y o u t c o m e s s u c h a s Black women are three times more likely and Asian women twice as likely to die during o r s h o r t l y a f t e r p r e g n a n c y compared to white women, a s p e r M B R R A C E - U K Urgent action is needed to a d d
tragedies
Midwives and maternity s u p p o r t w o r k e r s ( M S W s ) from ethnic minority backgrounds face persistent discrimination, including bullying and harassment in their workplaces A recent NHS s t a f f s u r v e y r e v e a l e d t h a t nearly half of midwives who reported discrimination cited their ethnic background as the cause These staff members also encounter higher rates of disciplinary actions and barriers to advancing in t h e m
hierarchy
Walton, RCM Chief
need for maternity services
community needs and staff
wives to provide compassionate care regardless of race or background Addressing the disparity in pregnancy outc
d groups is critical, requiring collaborative efforts from all involved in maternity care delivery and policy-making Investment in training and
o enhance care quality
Guru faces £8 mn lawsuit over abuse claims
Seven former disciples of a Hind u g uru are su ing him for £8 m illion, alleging that he posed as a “God o n earth” wh ile sexually abusing and raping them
A High Court judge has heard that Rajinder Kalia, 68, from Coventry, claimed to be a miracle worker and was crowned as a deity The s e v e n w o m e n s u i n g h i m allege that Kalia manipulated his disciples, raping four o f t h e m , t h r e e o f w h o m were underage
Kalia's lawyer told the court that he denied all alleg a t i o n s , d e s c r i b i n g t h e w o m e n a s " f u n d a m e n t a l l y dishonest " Kalia, who came
to the UK at 21 in 1986 after a motorcycle crash in India, claimed a miraculous recovery that enabled him to walk a g a i n a f t e r v i s i t i n g Himachal Pradesh, a region associated with the Hindu god Baba Balak Nath
A c c o r d i n g t o a D a i l y Mail report, Kalia opened his own Baba Balak Nath t
i m s e l f a s a n incarnation of God through the purported performance o f m i r a c l e s , " s t a t e d M a r k Jones, the barrister repres e n t i n g t h e w o m e n , i n court Jones added that over time, the disciples' ability to
K a l i a ' s demands for financial and sexual favours was overridden, leaving them incapable of resisting K a l i a r e s i d e s w i t h h i s wife, Sachitra, 67, in a property valued at over £1 million i n R y t o n - o n - D u n s m o r e , Warwickshire
Brewdog fires Asian employee over EDL encounter
B rew d o g ter m i nat ed a n A s i an e m p lo y ee a ft er s h e raised co ncerns up on d isc o v er in g m e m be rs o f t h e E ng li sh D ef en ce L ea g u e ( EDL ) m eeting in th e bar wh ere she was w orking
T h e f o r m e r e m p l o y e e voiced her discomfort to her manager upon discovering m e m b e r s o f t h e f a r - r i g h t o r g a n i s a t i o n i n t h e b a r a h e a d o f t h e i r r a l l y i n London, where police subsequently arrested 10 people
L a t e r , s h e s p o k e w i t h her manager to apologise for her emotional reaction and clarified that her family had
p r e v i o u s l y e n d u r e d r a c i a l
abuse from the EDL
D e s p i t e t h i s , B r e w d o g representatives accused her of serious misconduct, citi n g " a g g r e s s i v e b e h a v i o u r a n d u s e o f i n a p p r o p r i a t e l a n g u a g e , " l e a d i n g t o h e r dismissal
N a t a s h a K e a r s l a k e , director of HR consultancy
O r g a n i c P & O S o l u t i o n s , emphasised the importance of fostering a workplace culture where employees feel
c o m f o r t a b l e e x p r
She stated, "Employers
She added, Creating a safe environment for staff to voice worries without fear
AMRIT DHALIWAL
Kripa Shortt
Rajinder Kalia
Habiba Khatoon discusses sector rebound and job market strategies
Subhasini
Naicker
A Law grad uate from Birmingham Univ ersity, Habiba Khatoon transitioned into recruitm ent, am assing o ver 15 years in M idlands’ p rofessio nal serv ices
Jo ining Robert Walters in 20 14, sh e streng thened the Birmingham finance team and led the Midland s ’ finance recruitm ent Now reg ional head at Robert Walters, she o versees a team of ov er 40 sp ecialists, serv icing diverse clients from FTS E 100 to SM Es acro ss Finance, Legal, T echnology, HR, Supply C hain & Pro curement
In an interview with Asian Voice, she spoke about current job market trends, strategies recommending the job seekers and much more
Can you describe the current job market trends, especially in light of recent economic shifts?
Although not technically in recession, the effects are still being felt, with the cost-of-living remaining high, not to mention geopolitical tensions and upcoming elections Although hiring budgets are remaining tight, modest economic growth is generating cautious optimism in the current market
In keeping with those tight budgets, hiring has taken a hit and when employers are hiring they are extremely careful and fastidious when it comes to deciding who to onboard – on the flip side, candidates are sharing this sentiment with many wary to move due to fears over job stability, adding further to reports of professionals mood being reflective in “The Big Stay”
There are hopeful signs amidst challenges: inflation is down, real earnings are ticking up, and consumer confidence is on the rise These are cautious indicators of economic recovery, with the market gradually regaining momentum As confidence strengthens and these early signs of growth expand, we anticipate a more pronounced positive impact on the labour market heading into the second half of the year
How have you observed the demand for specific roles changing over the past year, and which sectors seem to be rebounding the fastest?
In this dynamic period, influenced by geopolitical
tensions, an upcoming general election, and rapid technological advancements, it's challenging to pinpoint the fastest rebounding sector However, we've observed stability and even growth across all sectors we recruit for
Those areas which contribute to BAU functions are showing the most resilience – for example, whilst Technology took one of the biggest hits to hiring over the past several years, certain areas are buckingthe-trend, namely Cybersecurity due to the fact adequate cybersecurity defences are now integral to the functioning of most organisations Similarly, the demand for Data Privacy Lawyers remains steady With ongoing advancements in technology like GenAI and the increasing centrality of social media in business communications and processes, there is a constant need for experts well-versed in data privacy legislation
Within Supply Chain & Procurement there has been significant demand for renewable energy skill sets as companies seek to make their procedures more green aligning with net-zero goals – this will continue to be a huge area of growth
Withongoing economic uncertainties, what strategies do you recommend for job seekers looking to navigate the current job market?
Currently in the market there is a focus on skills-based hiring – with many skills shortages still operating, having the right mixture of technical and soft skills is crucial for professionals to stand out So capitalising on any upskilling opportunities, taking on new projects, making sideways moves into new roles or industries – are all ways in which they build upon their current skills
Don’t be too cautious, sometimes being too scared to take the plunge
into a new role or company can hold you back from actually pushing yourself forward
So my advice is to make calculated decisions, take time to really consider whether opportunities are the right fit for your abilities and avoid shying away from new and diverse experiences to build up your CV
Keep an ear-to-theground within your industry – stay abreast of current news and events within your sector, that way you’ll always be aware of any emerging trends, in-demand skills and opportunities which you can capitalise on In times of economic uncertainty and external challenges, staying informed and upto-date is crucial for navigating the market effectively
There's been increased scrutiny on CEO pay gaps From your perspective, how are companies addressing this issue, and what impact do you foresee on corporate governance?
Recent figures have shown that the gap between pay of blue-chip chief executives in the UK and US has been widening While pay in the UK has gone up just 0 5% over the past year, meanwhile it increased at its fastest rate in 14 years in the US This will directly result in companies having more trouble securing top Chief Exec talent and casts doubts over the Capital’s ability to attract and retain UK firms attempting to directly match the heftier US salaries will quickly run into trouble with shareholder and board reactions to such substantial increases It’s hard to overlook something as important as salary, however companies are beginning to look at the issue holistically, considering the range of ways they can fill the gap of a higher salary
Some include: offering competitive benefits that increase a CEO’s earnings – bonuses, stock and equity options A greater work/life balance for CEOs – the UK has a very different working-culture than across-the-pond and UK companies can offer their CEOs considerable flexibility to help ensure they have a work-life balance Highlighting the other benefits to working in the UK – such as tax advantages which offset a lower salary
PM Rishi Sunak visits Bestway Healthcare Service Centre depot in Stoke-on-Trent
Pr im e Minister Rishi Sun ak
elcom
de pot in Stoke -on-Tre
by
Haide r Choudre y fr om the Bestwa y Gr oup Keen to see first-hand the results of the significant investment which has been poured into the multi-chan-
Group, and which delivers to over 760 Well Pharmacies and over 5000 independent pharmacies every day, houses their online digital phar-
p , centralised script fulfilment
10m packs of medicine in
was impressed by the levels of automation and innovation that make the HSC such
model
Following a tour of the site, staff were invited to join him in a Q&A session and when probed about funding
Lo cal Hend on comm unity organisations and residents h av e come together to show their opposition ag ai ns t th e p ro p o s ed d e v el o p m en t o f th e 5sto rey Rotunda Bu ild ing as p a rt o f M i d d le s ex U niv ersity
The proposed development would eliminate the much-needed car park
Prime Minister spoke pass
experience of the value of community pharmacy, coming from a family of pharmacists and spending much of his youth helping the family with prescription deliveries, before expressing his support for the expansion of the Pharmacy First programme
o n T h e B u r r o u g h s a n d Egerton Gardens, removing all parking spaces currently used by residents, businesses, and community groups for essential activities
Chinmaya Mission UK, a Hindu organisation local to the area organised a respectful silent protest on 30 June The protest saw its members flyer their cars with a plead to council to reconsider the p r o p o s e d d e v e l o p m e n t
plans and be sensitive to the needs of the local community S u r e s h W a d h w a n i , T r u s t e e a n d P r e s i d e n t o f Chinmaya Mission UK said, “While we acknowledge the n e e d f o r u r b a n d e v e l o pment, we are deeply concerned about the impact of the proposed loss of parking a n d a c c e s s o n t h e t h r e e vibrant religious organisations that have been serving t h e a r e a f o r d e c a d e s
Although Barnet council has a stated objective to protect community facilities, without careful consideration and consultation with the impacted o
oposed development goes against the council's own o
v e s W i t h t h e Mayor of London having sent the decision back to the council, we urge the developers and council to reconsider their plans and work with the community to find a s o l u t i o n t h a t b a l
development plans with the needs of local people and
from the council that
Habiba Khatoon
Hader Choudrey Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Lord Zameer Choudrey
PM Sunak Interacting with the staff in presence of Hader Choudrey
Prime Minister addressing the staff at Bestway Healthcare Service Centre depot in Stoke-on-Trent
Political leaders address Asian community concerns at historic hustings event
Anusha Singh
Asian Voi ce, in partnership with City S ikhs and City Hindus Netwo rk, recently hosted the first national p oliti cal hustings fo r the Asian community Representati ves from fou r major parti es co ntesting i n this electi on faced questions abou t healthcare, edu catio n, and issu es specifically co nc erning the diaspo ra
As the event began, Rupanjana Dutta, the Managing Editor of Asian Voice, took the stage to explain why the hustings were organised She shared that the newsweekly’s extensive reporting on the upcoming elections revealed uncertainty about how British Asians will vote this time, according to experts and think tanks
Rupanjana stated, “A general apathy since Covid-19, distrust, ‘voting
OBE, Chair of British Hindus and President of the India League
One of the biggest questions asked during the event was that about the Labour party winning back the voters alienated by a perceived anti India stance To this, Anneliese Dodds responded, stating, “We would certainly never take any group of voters for granted, regardless of where they are from I would never claim that any particular group has
hesitancy,’ and other factors like Palestine issues and the cost of living are driving voters to rethink their usual go-to parties So, no party can take us for granted ” She emphasised the importance of the event, stating, “It is our chance to ask questions, make our concerns clear, and let our voices be heard ” Rup anj ana then intro du ced the p anellists, including:
- Felicity Buchan, representing the Conservative Party, Minister at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
- Anneliese Dodds from the Labour Party, Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, and Chair of the Labour Party
- Lord Christopher Fox, Chief Executive of the Liberal Democrats
- Pallavi Devulapalli, Spokesperson for Health, Social Care & Public Health, and MP candidate for SW Norfolk, representing the Green Party
The panel was moderated by Jasvir Singh CBE, co-chair of City Sikhs and co-founder of South Asian Heritage Month, and Alpesh Patel
been won back or otherwise; it is, after all, a secret ballot We are working hard for everyone's votes
“We believe it is crucial to maintain a strong connection between the UK and India, particularly given the significant diaspora within the UK, of which we are very proud Beyond warm words, we are committed to building practical, strong relationships
“Labour has emphasised the importance of a strategic partnership with India, which includes trade We are keen to ensure that we establish this trade partnership in the future and are focused on making it a reality However, we also seek cooperation in other areas, including new technologies, the environment, and security ”
On being asked if there was an anti-India sentiments within the elected representatives and officials within the Labour Party, she claimed that the party led by Keir Starmer is confident of having cleansed its ranks of any members with such extremist views She also made a commitment that the party would work towards building a strong
strategic partnership with the Narendra Modi-led Indian administration
The moderator quickly stepped into let her know that the public opinion was different and emphasised that “the community and the paper would be more than happy to arrange a meeting with you, along with representatives from this room and various organisations, to discuss their concerns and worries Even if you don't enter government, it is clear that this is an important community that feels disrespected and neglected ”
Another important conversation stemmed from the hate crimes, especially against the Sikh community The Sikh community has been significantly affected by hate crimes and despite some acknowledgment of Islamophobia, there's a noticeable lack of specific action against anti-Sikh hate crimes in public policy Parents fear for their children's safety in expressing their Sikh identity Discussing this critical issue and plans to tackle this concern Felicity expressed deep regret over the dilemma faced by Sikh families, emphasising that all forms of religious hate crime are unacceptable, including anti-Sikh hate crimes
She mentioned the government's financial support for protecting religious institutions such as gurdwaras, mosques, and synagogues, highlighting the importance of effective action by the Metropolitan Police against extremism Felicity assured the community of the
Conservative Party’s commitment to combating religious hatred and ensuring their safety
On being questioned why there hasn’t been more proactive action against anti-Sikh hate crimes, despite the clear visibility of Sikhs, similar to measures taken against Islamophobia, Felicity reiterated that the government condemns all forms of religious hatred and maintains a broad focus on protecting all religions
Lord Fox, in his turn, criticised the divisive language used by the government, which he believes incites bad behaviour and contributes to societal problems He emphasised the need for education about different religions and cultures in schools to foster understanding and respect, advocating for a more inclusive and less divisive approach
Anneliese, on the other hand, expressed her belief that Sikh children should feel safe at school She highlighted the need for more action against hate crimes, including a modern counterextremism strategy and a comprehensive hate crime action plan She advocated for better data collection around religious identity to address specific community concerns effectively and ensure public services are inclusive and responsive, stressing the importance of discussing this with relevant government bodies to improve data collection and address community-specific concerns
Pallavi advocated for starting this education at a young age and involving schools in teaching about different cultures and religions She opposed punitive measures, instead promoting engagement and education to remove prejudices and foster respect for all communities
The event, that was held at the Edwardian I in Taj 51 Buckingham Gate, was attended by 150 people, saw the audience raising various questions on policies for the panellists to address This hustings was indeed a crucial opportunity for the British Asian community, marking a pivotal moment for political engagement and accountability
Sir Keir Starmer visits London temple, offers prayers for Labour victory
La
Keir Starmer reaffirmed his commi tment to the British H in du com mun i ty in his election campaign visit to th e S hr ee Sw am
Mandi r in Kingsbury, north London T
brighter future for all "My Labour Party will
building a Britain where all faith communities are safe and respected ” He also acknowledged s
Party’s British Hindu candi-
w a r m S c o
s h I n d i a n fusion-style welcome, and Sir Keir engaged with members of the British Indian c
votes for the upcoming July 4 general election to potentially lead a Labour Party government, he also participated in prayers, aiming towards electoral success Emphasising his stance against anti-Hindu hate, Sir K e i r
t there is absolutely no place for Hinduphobia" in contemporary Britain I n h i s a d d
s t o t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n , S i r K e i r added: “A Labour government will work with you to s u p p o r t y o u r w o r k a n d stand behind your community We will work for you, to make sure that in everything we do, our shared values of compassion, dignity a n d a s p i r a t i o n f o r e v e r y person in this country come together to build a better,
dates participating in the upcoming election, affirming their commitment to supporting the community and addressing their issues
Last year, during Diwali c e l e b r
"selfless sewa" (service) of Britain’s Hindu community "
want to express my admiration and respect for everything you contribute to our country The UK would be
without you," he had said at the time With the campaign now in its final days, both parties are intensifying their out-
on Monday 1 July
In February as the Shadow Foreign Secretary he had visited India to forge better ties with the country and its diaspora worldwide. Last week at the inaugural event of India Global Forum he spoke about the UKIndia FTA, which was stalled after a few rounds of negotiations
Photo courtesy: Raj D Bakrania, PrMediapix
Moderator Alpesh Patel OBE (from City Hindus Network) Green party’s Pallavi Devulapalli, Conservative party’s Felicity Buchan, Lib Dem party’s Rt Hon Lord Christopher Fox Labour party’s Anneliese Dodds and moderator Jasvir Singh CBE (from City Sikhs)
Rupanjana Dutta, Managing Editor, Asian Voice welcoming the guests
Audience at the political hustings
David Lammy MP, the ‘projected’ Foreign Secretary in a Labour government attended a briefing with the members of the Foreign Press Association
Sir Keir Starmer offering his prayer at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury
“No place for discrimination of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs or any other group in Britain”
Continued from page 1
Though Sir Keir stood by PM Rishi Sunak, saying “I share his disgust at the comments that were made,” our readers have come for-
w a r d w i t h i n t e n s i f y i n g f e a r s o f widespread anti-India sentiments, if the Labour party forms a government successfully
Three days before Britain went to poll, Asian Voice EXCLUSIVELY
L e a d e r o f H i s M a j e s t y ’ s Opposition, discussing key issues
c o n c e r n i n g t h e d i a s p o r a ,
s h e emphasised on the “change” under his leadership, especially forging a steadfast relationship with India and British Indians among others
A V: Pre-election, none o f the parties have been specifically interacting with th e British Asian com munities to und erstand their requirem ents and sentim ents Does it not bother the Labour Party that this d isconnect w ill lead to 5 6 millio n v oters not v oting for the Labo ur P arty or not v oting at all?
M y L a b o u r P a r t y w i l l n e v e r take British Asian communities for granted Just last week, I had the p r i v i l e g e o f v i s i t i n g t h e S h r e e Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury, where I joined a prayer ceremony I heard from the community there about the issues they’re facing I assured them that my Labour party
w o u l d a l w a y s l i s t e n t o B r i t i s h Asian communities and work with them on the things that are important to them – and I would say the same to Asian Voice readers
I know that my colleagues in the shadow cabinet and across the Labour Party have been visiting their local temples, gurdwaras and m o s q u e s T h e y ’ v e b e e n v i s i t i n g community centres and holding roundtables with Asian-led businesses That hasn’t just been happening since the election campaign began This is sustained engagement which has been of enormous value to me and my Party, and that will continue beyond the election The first overseas trip I made when
I b e c a m e a n M P w a s t o Bangladesh, because I know how important our international relationships are, but also how important it is for me to represent and support the Bangladeshi community in my own constituency
And, of course, I’m so proud that in this election Labour has many candidates of South Asian origin standing for parliament We have 21 South Asian candidates standing in key seats That’s fantastic, because it’s so important that our politics reflects the face of the people we serve There’s always more to do, but I know that with these fantastic colleagues we will make a real difference to the lives of British Asian communities
Our policy agenda is a reflect i o n o f o u r e n g a g e m e n t I t responds to issues that I know
that’s our plan to slash NHS waiting lists with 40,000 extra appointm e
c o s t - o f
l i v i n g c r i s i s s o f a m i l i e s don’t have to struggle with bills, mortgages and food prices that are currently through the roof We also have plans to introduce a landmark Race Equality Act That will enshrine in law the full right to
equal pay for Black, Asian, and o t h e r e t h n i c m i n o r i t y p e o p
dual discrimination and root out other racial inequalities
AV: T he Labour Party seems to be a recipient of criticism such as being called ‘ a T ory in L abour’s hat’ Do yo u t h in k t h at y o u r p ar ty h a s mov ed v ery far away from its co re values for the sake of “chang e”?
Since I became leader of the Labour Party, my mission has been to return politics to the service of working people
I have changed the Labour Party in line with its founding values, and mine And I’m proud
been about remembering who we are supposed to serve, and always putting them first
Too often over the last 14 years, we ’ ve seen the government
c o n s t
first, party before country That w i l l n e v e
h i s Labour party
So you won’t see gesture politics or politics of protest from us
At this election, we want to be a party that people can trust with the power of governing our country
W e a r e , a l w a y s h a v e b
always will be, a party for people who love this country, and want it to be better for their children and grandchildren
AV: Labo ur is leading in the exit polls, but th e L iberal Democrats and Reform UK could have the potential to prevent an absolu te majority Ho w are you planning to reach out to th e voters who decide to sup port th ese parties? If people want change, they have to vote for it So, if people want economic stability, cheaper bills, secure borders, the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future, safer streets, and the opportunities our children deserve, a vote for a local Labour MP sitting on government benches is the best way to get that
O n l y L a b o u r c a n s t o p t h e chaos, turn the page, and start to rebuild our country
AV: How do you respond to concerns th at the VAT grab on private schoo ls mig ht disp ro porti onately im p act c ertai n d em og rap hi cs or regions? What measures will be put in place to ensure the transparency and effectiveness of the prop osed tax?
M y p a r e n t s w o r k e d h a r d t o make sure I had the best start in life They knew the power of education – I was the first person in my family to go to university So, I know parents have huge aspirat i o n s f o r t h e i r c h i l d r e n i n t h i s country, and they know education
tion low After 14 years of chopping and changing, stability is change
Next, we need to get our NHS back on its feet So, we’ll have 40,000 more NHS appointments each and every week to cut waiting times We’ll pay for it by cracking down on tax avoidance and the non-dom status
T h i r d , w e ’ l l s e t u p a n e w
Border Security Command to keep o u r b o r d e r s s e c u r e , s m a s h t h e criminal gangs running the vile people smuggling trade and make sure nobody makes that perilous journey across the channel
We’ll also cut your bills for
is the key to a better life That aspiration isn't confined to those parents who pay for private education I believe that every single child in Britain deserves a world class education The vast majority of those children, around 94%, attend state schools And right now, we have a school system where those children don’t have the right teachers in their schools We have to fix that So, we ’ ve made the difficult decision to remove the tax break private schools have This cost is for schools and does not have to be passed onto parents in fees
That will raise £1 3 billion that be invested straight into our child r e n ’ s f u t u r e I t ’ s n o t a n e a s y choice to make, but my Labour government will always make the tough decisions to make sure all our children have the opportunities they deserve
A V: If you take ov er No 10, what w ill be th e g overnment’s priorities in th e first 100 d ays in office? How w i ll th e g ov ernm ent m ake su re that the specific need s of m ino rity s ta ke h o ld e rs s u ch as e th ni c m inorities and wo men, are represented and co nsid ered in po li cy m aking ?
The first thing you will see is a change in the way we do politics in this country We will return politics to public service And we have a really clear plan to get our country out of the hole it’s in at the moment That plan starts with six first steps They’re fully funded, fully costed and ready to go
The first step is economic stability We’ll have tough fiscal rules to keep mortgages, taxes and infla-
munities is celebrated
A V: T he FT A remains half-do ne, and it’s been a relationship dampener How do you intend to deal w i t h th i s u n fi n is h ed bu s i nes s , sho uld you win? Is it g oing to be back to the d rawing board or p ick up where the last g overnment left?
The number one mission for an incoming Labour government is higher growth For that, we need security in an increasingly unstable world So, our partnership with India, as the world’s fifth largest e c o n o m y a n d t h e U K ’ s s e c o n d biggest inward investor after the USA, is an important part of that mission
If we are elected to serve, we want a new UK-India strategic parentship The FTA is a base for this, and we will negotiate if we come into power We will deepen trade and focus on new and green techn
, domestic security and global security
We will also use our diplomatic network to attract foreign direct i n v e s t m e n t i n t o t h e U K f r o m India, expand Indian markets for B
g o o d w i t h G r e a t
British Energy A publicly owned company p r o d u c i n g c l e a n
British power, so we don’t have to rely on f o r e i g n d i c t a t o r s f o r expensive oil and gas
It’ll cut bills, create the n e x t g e n e r a t i o n o f good jobs and do our b i t f o r t h e e n v i r o nment at the same time
F i f t h , w e ’ l l p u t 13,000 neighbourhood police in your communities, keeping your streets safe
And finally, we’ll have 6,500 more teachers in our children’s schools, making sure they get the education they deserve
I k n o w p e o p l e w a n t t o s e e change – in the country and in their lives So, delivering on these six first steps will be our priority in the first 100 days of a new government
AV: You hav e been able to somewhat add ress the anti-India narrativ e in you r p arty and pu t an end to th e extremism revolving aro und it The British Ind ians, who were an orig inal v ote bank of L abour, now remain u nd ecided How wo uld yo u ensure that yo u win back that confidence? If not at this election but in the next one?
As I said to the community at S h r e e S w a m i n a r a y a n M a n d i r K i n g s b u r y , m y L a b o u r p a r t y i s determined to tackle the issues all of us, including British Asians, are facing, such as the NHS and the cost of living But we ’ re also going t o t a c k l e t h e i s s u e s s p e c i f i c t o British Asian communities
So, I want to be absolutely clear here, that there is absolutely no place for discrimination of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs or any other group in Britain Any efforts to divide us, stoke hatred and demonise people will not – and never will be – tolerated
This Labour party will always be committed to building a Britain where people of all faiths are safe, and respected We want a society where diversity and the huge contribution of our South Asian com-
emerging regulatory frameworks
Look at what we achieved during the pandemic with our cooperation on the vaccine – I want to build on that success to strengthen both our nations and our relationship with one another A V: Th ere are seats th at you may lose because o f you r p arty’s stand in the Palestine-Gaza conflict You h av e been expected to take a side How d o you p lan to sort this problem , or h av e you w ri tten th os e seats off?
We are not writing off a single seat in this election The suffering in Gaza is horrific, and it’s natural and right that people care strongly about that So, we will keep listening and working with communities to achieve an immediate ceasefire and a two-state solution
I t ’ s a b s o l u t e l y v i t a l t h a t w e have a ceasefire in Gaza, that the hostages are released and that desperately needed aid gets into Gaza as quickly as possible But we also need to get a foot in the door for a long-term political resolution of the conflict in the Middle East and be willing to do the hard yards to reach a two-state solution through a n e g o t i a t e d , d i p l o m a t i c a g r e ement
Throughout all this, I’ve been clear that international law must be respected and upheld including the judgements of the ICC and ICJ Palestinian statehood is not in the gift of a neighbour; it is an inalienable right of the Palestinian people and the clear logic of any c a l l f o r a t w
s t a t e s o l u
o n Labour will work alongside international partners to recognise the s t a t e o f P a l e s t i n e a l o n g s i d e t h e state of Israel, as part of efforts to contribute to securing a negotiated two state solution
There will not be a just and lasting peace until the occupation is brought to a permanent end, and both Palestinians and Israelis enjoy security, dignity and human rights That is what my Labour Party is committed to So, we will work to rebuild trust, to be a party that represents people here at home and calls for justice and peace on a world stage
Sir Starmer with young and old members of the community at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury
Sir Keir Starmer with members of the diaspora
Sir Starmer meeting worshippers and members of the Hindu community during his visit to the Kingsbury Temple
Insights from IGF London 2024 on UK-India relations
T he 6th ed itio n of I nd ia Global F o r u m , th e m ed 'P a th w ay s to a L imitless Future', co nv ened global l ea d ers , en tre p ren eu rs , and investo rs in Londo n and Wind sor F eatu ring over 30 0 sp eakers and 2, 000 p articipants acro ss 15 ev ents, inclu ding the IGF Fo rum , Climate & Business, WomenIN, Cultu re and C reati vi ty and the 6th U K-Ind ia A ward s, th e w eek-long event sho wcased India, th e UK, and their global partners collaborative efforts in t ec h no l o g y, tr ad e , cu l tu re , and com merce
The inaugural session of IGF London 2024, delves into the outcome of the Indian elections and looks ahead to what it means for the bilateral relationship, besides
a n a l y s i n g t h e w i d e r g e o p o l i t i c a l implications
M a n o j L a d w a , F o u n d e r a n d C h a i r m a n , I n d i a G l o b a l F o r u m (IGF), said: “As we gather against the backdrop of democratic milestones in the world’s oldest and l a r g e s t d e m o c r a c i e s , w e h a v e a unique opportunity to turn uncertainty and the headwinds of change into opportunities As we enter a new era in UK-India relations, we need new ideas not just for these two nations, but for global partners
“This week, IGF London will be a catalyst for ideas, collaborations, and conversations, driving innovation, economic growth, and social p r o g r e s s w o r l d w i d e L e v e r a g i n g this bilateral relationship's unique shared values and strengths, we aim to tackle global challenges and create a collaborative platform for a brighter future Together, we can
b u i l d p a t h w a y s t o a l i m i t l e s s future ”
n
T h e d a y b e g a n w i t h I n d i a ' s
Ashwini Vaishnaw, delivering his first global virtual address since the national elections He outlined the immediate priorities of the Modi 3 0 Government, emphasising the renewed mandate as a testament to the people's confidence in Prime Minister Modi and NDA policies
Ashwini highlighted how this reaff i r m e d f a i t h i n d e m o c r a c y h a s countered critics who previously doubted its strength Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the P r i m e M i n i s t e r ’ s E c o n o m i c Advisory Council and head of the
B h a r a t i y a J a n a t a P a r t y ’ s F o r e i g n Affairs Department, joined Vijay Chauthaiwale in a panel discussion
f o l l o w i n g M i n i s t e r A s h w i n i Vaishnaw's address, delving into India’s political and economic trajectory Vijay emphasised India's diversified foreign policy, asserting that national interests will drive future engagements Sanjeev highlighted India's improved business environment, stating, “Doing business in India is becoming significantly easier ”
S h a d o w F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y David Lammy used his speech at India Global Forum’s IGF London 2024 to address the re-elected Modi Government, describing India as a pivotal Asian power Lammy urged a reset in UK-India relations, advocating for a robust security partnership and urging swift progress on a t
counterparts to seize the opportunity for a free trade agreement
Former Minister of Women and
Child Development, Smriti Irani, reflected on her political journey at the IGF Stage Recounting her historic defeat of the sitting president of the Indian National Congress, Smriti emphasised resilience in politics, saying, “If you are a woman, you need to look like a girl, behave like a lady, work like a horse, and think like a man ” She encouraged women worldwide to seize opportunities and think on their feet for greater success
Tripathi and Lord Jeffrey Archer
Literature Lord Archer highlighted the significance of awards in recog-
underscored the award's focus on
Indian fiction, aiming to encourage impactful narratives
In the concluding session of the first event, the audience heard an
Deepa Malik, who won India a silver medal in the 2016 Paralympic Games among several other medals She shared about her harrowing cancer diagnosis at age 5 and then again at 29, the treatment for which left her paralysed below the waist “I wanted to prove the nay-sayers w r o n g b y d o i n g e x t r a o r d i n a r y activities like riding a bike or joining the first ever cricket team of Rajasthan,” said Malik C lim ate forum d rives change and green financing
During the 5th edition of the India Global Forum’s Climate and Business (ClimB) Forum, in part-
the cost-effectiveness of clean energy and the need for a global financial system to facilitate net inflows
Resilient Infrastructure initiative, Kate noted the leadership of emerging and developing economies in climate solutions, driven by shared climatic challenges and infrastructure needs
Rahul Munjal, Chairman and Managing Director of Hero Future Energies, discussed the potential of
Vijay Chauthaiwale of the BJP, who highlighted India's recent elections
Discussions also covered technology's role in climate action and AI's impact on future work environm e n t s , e m p h a s i s i n g w o r k f o r c e readiness amid ongoing changes
On Day 3 of India Global Forum in London, a session titled ‘Back to t h e F u t u r e ? E m b r a c i n g H o l i s t i c
H e a l t h c a r e ’ c o n c l u d e d w i t h t h e assertion that Ayurveda offers profound insights for modern health
feasibility in smaller projects while expressing doubts about large-scale readiness The forum emphasised innovation, global cooperation, and strategic financing to advance sustainable energy solutions
The London Stock Exchange
Global Forum (IGF), highlighting significant strides in UK-India eco-
gathered to explore
growth
nership with Bloomberg on Day 2, c r i t i c a l d i
n took centre stage Amit Kalyani, V i c e C h a
lenged the prevailing electric vehicle (EV) strategy, arguing against
Instead, Amit proposed integrating i n d u c t i v e e
e c t r i c c h a r g i n g i n t o new highway construction in India
London Stock Exchange, stressed t
green financing in India, crucial for the global energy transition She highlighted India's requirement for a s i g
n financing, projecting a need of 2 5% of GDP by 2030, rising to trillions for the transition to net zero K a t
Discussions on cutting ed ge topics
As part of IGF London 2024, the IGF Studio features live discussions on cutting-edge topics like tech, climate, macroeconomics, geopolitics, healthcare, and culture, with sectoral experts and analysts Dr Surjit Bhalla, former Executive Director at the IMF, highlighted India's current economic strength during
Amidst Global Turmoil' at the India
expressed confidence in India's
coming years
Surjit expressed confidence in
and international positioning, foreseeing policies that capitalise on this advantageous "sweet spot" for the next decade
The theme resonated with pan-
flaws realistically in biopics
Prasoon Joshi, Chairman of the Film Certification Board, highlighte d b a l a n c i n
o r i g i n a l i t y w i t h respecting cultural narratives and cautioned against overshadowing shared cultural truths in modern storytelling
Actor Aditi Rao Hydari, with a
guages, views cinema as transcending regional boundaries "I’ve never categorised cinema by region; it’s about connecting with audiences emotionally," she shared "Whether it’s Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, or Hindi, the director and the storytelling matter most to me I’m glad regional films are gaining recognition for their excellence and diverse storytelling voices in our syncretic country "
contributions to the UK-India partnership with glamour, style, and power networking Manoj Ladwa, CEO and Founder of IGF, highlighted India's transformation benefiting both nations, emphasising the UK s potential as a key partner He praised the UK's strengths in u
chains, sports, technology, defence, security, and financial services
E n t r e p r e n e u r F a i z a l K o t t i k o l l o n emphasised Ayurveda's relevance in t o d a y ' s c o n t e x t , h i g h l i g h t i n g i t s f o r e s i g h t i n t o p e r s o n a l i s e d m e d i c i n e a n d c e l l t h e r a p y D r
Michael Dixon of the UK’s College o f M e d i c i n e u n d e r s c o r e d
A y u r v e d a ' s h i s t o r i c a l p r e c e d e n c e over Hippocrates, advocating for its i n t e g r a t i o n t o a d d r e s s m o d e r n health challenges The session also explored mental health and global health security in the context of climate change
T h e e v e n t c o n c l u d e d w i t h a series of engaging and inspiring conversations featuring notable figu r e s : I n d i a ’ s O l y m p i c G o l d - w i nn i n g s h o o t e r A b h i n a v B i n d r a shared insights on resilience in the f a c e o f a d v e r s i t y A c t o r - p h i l a nthropist Vivek Oberoi discussed his f a m i l y ’ s P r o j e c t D e v i i n i t i a t i v e
a i m e d a t e m p o w e r i n g w o m e n Pragya Prasun Singh of Atijeevan Foundation highlighted her advoc a c y f o r b u r n v i c t i m s D r
A r u n a c h a l a m M u r u g a n a n t h a m ,
F o u n d e r & C E O o f J a y a s h r e e
Industries and advocate for female menstrual health, shared his journey as the inspiration behind the f i l m ‘ P a d M a n ’ s t a r r i n g A k s h a y Kumar
Celebrating creativity, innovatio n, and global partnersh ip s A c t o r N a w a z u d d i n S i d d i q u i c a p t i v a t e d t h e a u d i e n c e o n t h e f o u r t h d a y o f t h e I n d i a G l o b a l Forum’s 3rd Culture and Creative Economies Forum Sharing insights from his career, Siddiqui praised the unique silence on the set of McMafia, a British crime drama series, highlighting its impact on h
n Bollywood, noting the challenges of noisy sets Reflecting on his roles, including portraying a transgender w
importance of depicting character
The UK-India Awards 2024 celebrated excellence across diverse fields with honors for outstanding achievements in various categories AZB & Partners received the Legal Practice of the Year award, while Grant Thornton was recognized as Consultancy Firm of the Year Tata Group’s Agratas won Investment of the Year, and Zydus Lifesciences was named New Market Entrant of the Year BT Group received the Social Impact Project of the Year award, and the Serum Institute of India and Oxford University jointly won the Research & Innovation Award Ola Electric was honoured
received the Culture and Creativity
Group was acknowledged for its
India Relations, and Lord Anthony
Award,
were presented to Abhinav Bindra and Dr Deepa Malik IGF London concluded with its
Retreat at Fairmont Windsor Park, gathering global founders and funders to discuss emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and their transformative potential in various sectors Addressing concerns about AI's impact on jobs, Chris Jones from FCDO emphasised that while AI won't replace
L-R: Moderator Ben Thompson, IGF Founder Manoj Ladwa, Authors Amish Tripathi and Jeffrey Archer
Dr Michael Dixon CDO OBE FRCGP, Family Doctor and Chair, College of Medicine
Dr Elizabeth Thompson, Founder & CEO, National Centre for Integrative Medicine
L-R:
Simon Horner, Director of Strategy and Public Affairs, Green Finance Institute
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty visit
Neasden Temple
British Prime Minister Rish i S unak, accompanied by his w ife Aksh ata Murty, visited
B A P S S h r i S w a m i na ray an
M andir, London – pop ularly known as ‘Neasden Temple’ – on Saturd ay 29 Ju ne 2024
They were warmly wel-
Hindu manner by swamis as
BAPS UK & Europe
Mr Sunak and his wife were then guided on a brief tour of the Mandir where
Prime Minister for his video tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharaj during the centenary celebrations in India in 2022 He also recalled the P r i m e M i n i s t e r ’ s v i s i t t o Swaminarayan Akshardham i n N e w D e l h i d
t h e G20 Summit last year, and a
, “ W
B
Hindu Economic Meet: Mayank Gandhi shares his accomplishments in transforming the Indian economy
Forum (HEF) UK held the Hindu Economic Me et on 27
Mission De nha m The Guest
they paid their respects to the murtis and admired the traditional Hindu art and
a
o
prayers at the central shrine and then proceeded to perform the abhishek of Shri Nilkanth Varni
They spent considerable time meeting BAPS volunteers, with whom they discussed some of the Mandir’s
c h a r i t y a n d c o m m u n i t y w o r k t h a t t h e v o l u n t e e r s drive Mr Sunak and Mrs
M u r t y w e r e p a r t i c u l a r l y impressed by the dedication of some of the young volunteers The couple then proceeded to the prayer hall to join the evening assembly
Addressing the gathering, Mr Sunak paid tribute to the “contribution that the Temple and its community makes to Britain,” and to the “leadership and inspiration
o f H i s H o l i n e s s M a h a n t Swami Maharaj,” the global l e a d e r o
lowship
Mahant Swami Maharaj had sent a video message for Mr Sunak and his family in which he said, “I pray for the p e o p l e o f t h e U n i t e d Kingdom: May you all be blessed with peace and prosp e r i t y , h a r m o n y a n d s u ccess ” This message was also shown during the assembly
In his welcome address,
Y o g v i v e k d a s S w a m i , H e a d
Swami of BAPS in the UK
a n d E u r o p e , t h a n k e d t h e
in our lives have struggles and challenges Being able to look up to someone like Mahant Swami Maharaj to
something I find particularly helpful
Neasden Temple, Mr Sunak was introduced to the plans
Mandir in Paris Reflecting on this project, Mr Sunak added, “The Mandir in Paris
i t i s h Hindus, are always thankful for the opportunities that this great nation has given us We want to return the goodwill by celebrating the s
K
a s c o ntributing to its progress ” S h a r i n g s o m e f u r t h e r impressions from his visit, Mr Sunak said: “I am completely blown away by the sheer physical beauty of this t
m p l e T h e m
s
s p e c i a l thing about being here is the strength of the community Neasden Temple is a shining example of how to inspire a generation of young people
t o v o l u n t e e r a n d s u p p o r t their community “ H i s H o l i n e s s M a h a n t
Swami Maharaj is an inspir
d rightly so for the moral clarity that he brings All of us
will make sure communities of different faiths can come
that allow us to live in societies that are tolerant, inclusive, and accepting of everybody
for BAPS in the UK, shared, “It was an honour to have the Prime Minister join the local community of British Hindus at Neasden Temple We thank him for inspiring younger generations from all backgrounds to actively commit to public service, and we offer our prayers for
f our great nation ”
At the Neasden Temple, PM Rishi Sunak spoke about his Political Advisor Ameet Jogia, who is now standing as a parliamentary candidate from Hendon
PM said, “It’s a delight to have Ameet Jogia here As a young boy he grew up in this temple But he has also worked for me in Downing Street And I know he will be fantastic, a hard working member of parliament, by the right values So Akshata and I would be touched if many of you could help him to get out the vote in the coming days, because we need Ameet in the Parliament "
Trust
Mayank Gandhi’s speech left the audience spellbound, d
i s hments in transforming the I
H
s achievements include fighting against drought, poverty, a
y increasing farmers' incomes tenfold, harvesting over four billion litres of water, and p l a n t i n g o v e r 5 0 m i l l i o n trees in more than 4200 vill a g e s a c r o s s I n d i a H i s s p e e c h c o n c l u d e d w i t h a standing ovation from the audience
President of the UK chapter, Anil Puri, presented a monum e n t g i f t r e c o g n i s i n g t
K i n g ’ s h o n
u r ( O B E ) f o r their forums’ Vice President Subhash Thakrar as on the o
ship signifies their commitment to the mission HEF solely focuses on the economic advancement of the Hindu community, with a
regarding religion and politics The next HEF meeting
Birthday
Anil Puri also made an astounding announcement, p r o m o t i n g K S h a n k a r t o
CEO in recognition of his undivided vital dedication to s p e a r h e a d i n g H E F ' s e x p onential expansion in the UK “ T h e p l a t f o r m h a s a l r
c o n n e c t e d
h
usands of members with millions worth of business,” said Anil Puri, the President He further added, “HEF reflects its commitment to fostering e c o n o m i c e m p o w e r m e n t and collaboration, proven by t e s t i m o n i a l s a n d r e f e r r a l s The expansion of member-
H E F ’ s C h a i r m a n a n d f o u n d e r , S w a m i V i g y a n a n a n d j i , a n d
September, 2024 The venue and guest speaker will be announced shortly " The event was attended
investments, collaborations and franchise opportunities The event was co-hosted by Anoopam Mission and supported by IDUK committee members, showcasing their c
n g economic growth
(A detailed interview of Mayank Gandhi will be published in next week’s issue of Asian Voice)
Rishi Sunak and Akshata admiring the Neasden Temple architecture
BAPS Trustee Sanjay Kara showing the new Paris temple model to Mr Sunak and wife Akshata
Prime Minister addressing the audience
PM Sunak with Lord Dolar Popat, Bob Blackman, Ameet Jogia and others
Ameet Jogia, Parliamentary candidate for Hendon and wife Priya with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty
Swiss banks feeling the pinch of Indian funds
A recent news update highlighted a sharp 70% decline in Indian funds in Swiss banks in 2023 Traditionally viewed as a haven for black money, Swiss banks have seen reduced deposits from Indian clients for several reasons
Under Modi Governance, India’s economic policies and tax compliance measures have encouraged individuals and firms to bring their money back to the country Enhanced regulatory scrutiny and the automatic exchange of informat i o n b
deterred individuals from depositing unaccounted wealth in Swiss banks
Additionally, global economic uncertainties and market volatility may have influenced Indian investors to seek safer investment avenues elsewhere Switzerland’s active sharing of information on accounts suspected of financial wrongdoing has also reduced the appeal of Swiss banks for hiding illicit funds
Hopefully, this strong control over black money is paving the way for a better future for India, with more transparency and integrity in the economy
T arun Henry
LGBTQ+ acceptance lags in South Asian families
I read the interview with Sunil Gupta published in Asian Voice last week, which sheds light on crucial aspects of LGBTQ+ representation and acceptance within the South Asian community While strides have been made in media and legal frameworks, societal acceptance lags behind, especially within families
Mr Gupta's candid reflections on his personal journey and artistic endeavours highlights the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, both in India and abroad It's clear that continued dialogue and education are essential to bridge this gap and foster a more inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and accepted for who they are
Dhruv i Pansari
Well done Team India!
The euphoria following India's triumphant ICC T20 World Cup win is a testament to the nation's enduring passion for cricket After a 13-year wait, the victory in Barbados has not only brought immense joy to Indian fans worldwide but also signifies a significant milestone in Indian cricket history The tearful celebrations on the ground vividly expressed the players' overwhelming pride and joy
The victory was a team effort, with every player deserving credit for winning the long-awaited trophy and bringing celebrations worldwide Beyond its sporting significance, this win is a unifying moment that echoes across borders and across generations, uniting Indians globally in celebration
It was truly a festival for Indians everywhere, and I am profoundly proud to be Indian and proud of our victorious team
Jay Hind ! Satya Singh
Urgent call for India
The Henley Private Wealth Migration Report's recent findings revealing that 4,300 millionaires are projected to leave India in 2024 are concerning for the country's economic situation This exodus of high-net-worth individuals could potentially impact India s economy by reducing local invest-
entrepreneurial talent
The trend underscores the importance of creating a conducive environment for wealth creation and retention within India It calls for strategic measures to enhance domestic investment prospects, address economic challenges, and foster an environment that encourages high-net-worth individuals to stay and contribute to India's growth
As countries like the UAE draw in more millionaires with attractive policies, India needs to enhance its appeal as a destination for wealth and investment India needs to review and improve its policies to retain talent and boost local economic growth
A njali A rora
Doctor’s Day
Celebrating Doctor's Day (1 July), we took a moment to express our deepest gratitude and admiration for the selfless service and dedication of our medical professionals
Doctors are the beacons of hope in times of crisis, the guiding light in the darkest moments, and the heroes who save lives Their unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of others is truly inspiring We have witnessed their exceptional resilience and courage in the face of the Covid19 pandemic, which has tested their limits
As we celebrate Doctor's Day, let us remember that the work of a doctor goes far beyond the four walls of a hospi-
tal They are the ones who hold our hands when we're frightened, wipe our tears when we're sorrowful, and share our joy when we're celebrating They are an integral part of our lives, and their contributions are truly priceless
Let us extend our heartfelt gratitude to our doctors, thanking them for their unyielding service, and reassuring them that their efforts are truly appreciated May their dedication inspire generations of medical professionals to come, and may they continue to touch lives and heal hearts
TS Karthik
Anish Kapoor and other artists collaborate for youth vote billboard initiative
L ead in g ar tists such as Anish Ka poor, Kat har in e Hamne tt , a nd Ax el Scheffle r have cr e-
a te d art work for billboar ds
a cr o s s t h e U K t o i n s p ir e y oung people to par ticipate
i n t h e u p co m i n g
e le ct ion
The campaign, titled Art
t o t h e P o
e s diverse artworks aimed at urging young people to vote i n t h e u p c o m i n g g e n
e l e c t i o n J
B
g e r m a n ' s vibrant pieces depict voting as an act of self-care and encourage youth not to foll o w t h e e x
sombre-faced parents Gavin Turk employed AI to craft an optical illusion
House of Commons, embedding a hidden message urg-
t e Meanwhile, Joy Yamusangie i l l u s t
a t e d a c o m i c s t r i p where a character, feeling "hopeless," discovers a fort u n e c o o k i e w i t h t h e empowering message: "don’t underestimate your power " Kapoor, creator of a bold black and red poster urging "Disagree Disobey Disrupt Vote," emphasised the critic
u n g people's participation in voting
He remarked, "In an era marked by challenges such
increasing living expenses, it s crucial that young people remain actively engaged in democracy " "Voting empowers us to voice our concerns and push f o r n e c e s s a r y c h a n g e s Understanding the fragility and strength of democracy compels us to take responsibility and act to uphold it This project aims to inspire y o u n g p e o p l e t o
that sense of responsibility "
Police meet families over human ashes found at Hull funeral home
H umbe rside police ha ve me t with ov er 160 families whose r ela tives' remains wer e discovere d among human ashes a t the Legacy funer al home in H ul
unidentified ashes, following
families notified However, police have been unable to
found, leading to 163 families b
home
In April, police, alongside forensic scientists and spec i
ashes was not feasible due to the high temperatures during cremation, which would have degraded any potential samples beyond recognition
S
investigations and meticulous review of documenta-
Soneri Sangat
Last week on Soneri Sangat, we delved into the rich history, cultural heritage, and notable achievements of the Gadhvi Charan Community, highlighting their significant contributions to folk literature and music Our guest speakers included Dhiru Gadhvi, committee member of GCS and NCGO and former President of GCS; Mahesh Gadhvi, a renowned singer from the UK; Ram Gadhvi, a distinguished social worker from the USA; Hamir Gadhvi, a former committee member of GCS; Anamika Gadhvi, a well-known volunteer with ISKCON UK; and Rajal Gadhvi They shared their insights on the topic, and various Gujarati folk songs were presented during the program Their melodious tunes exemplified the essence of Gujarati culture, reflecting the enduring dedic
Gadhvi Community
For t hose who missed it , catch up on this e vent an d prev ious episode s by visiting our YouTube chan nel @abplgr oup8772
Stay t un ed for more ex citing conte nt coming your wa y!
Husband accused of killing wife in TikTok affair breakdown at court
A hu sband broke d own in tears as he recounted to a court how he accidentally strang led h is w ife and th en disposed of her body in a suitcase, tossing it into a river
Aminan Rahman, 47, is facing charges of murdering Suma Begum, 24, at their residence in Docklands, east London, on April 29 last year
The Old Bailey heard that Rahman, a chef at an Indian restaurant, had been arguing with Ms Begum over her TikTok relationship with 24-year-old Shahin Miah
During the trial, jurors were informed that Rahman had video-called Mr Miah, threatening him before the altercation between the 47-year-old and the 24-year-old unfolded
The court heard that he stuffed Ms Begum's body in a suitcase and threw it into the River Lea 'in a panic'
Suma Begum was allegedly attacked by her jealous husband in their Docklands flat after discovering her affair with a man her own age
Ms Begum moved to the UK in 2020 after marrying Rahman over the phone, and their children were two and four months old when she died Rahman denies murder and a previous assault on Ms Begum on February 6, 2023
London-based crime syndicate jailed for money laundering and smuggling
Sixteen peo ple fro m
a W e
to over 70 years in jail for their involvement in in
gl ing
b y
An investigation
h
N
t i o n
l C r i m e A g e n c y revealed that members of the network were responsible for s
tion found with individual ashes and at the premises h
v e b e e n c o n d u c t e d t o identify and locate next of kin “As a result, 163 families h a v e n o w b e e n i d e n t i f i e d and officers have been contacting them to provide an u p d a t e a n d d
u s s t h e options available to them,” Humberside police said in a statement
mately £70 million in cash out of the UK, conducting numerous trips to Dubai, UAE, between 2017 and 2019 NCA officers suspect that the money constituted proceeds from the sale of class A drugs and organised immigration activities
Although approximately £1 5 million was confiscated from couriers departing the UK, flight analysis, cash declarations in Dubai, and other evidence seized by the NCA indicated that the group had managed to transport significantly more funds
As part of their investiga-
tion, NCA officers uncovered a plot involving members of t h e O C G t o s m u g g l e 1 7 migrants, including five children and a pregnant woman, into the UK in the back of a van carrying tyres in 2019
The van was intercepted by Dutch police, collaborating with the NCA, before it could board a ferry at the H o o k o f H
l a n d I n November 2019, after weeks of surveillance, communication analysis, and flight data scrutiny, officers conducted arrests
Anish Kapoor
from a West London-based organised crime group
Yoga Day celebration at Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple in Harrow
I nte rnati o nal d ay o f yo g a w as celebrated at the Shree
K u t ch S at sa ng
S w am i na ray an T em p le
( SKSST ) in K enton Harrow,
o n Ju ne 1 8 T h e d ay w as m arked to em bo dy – sp irituality and a holistic approach to health and well-being
The event was graced by the regular Yoga enthusiasts
a n d d e v o
e s f r o m t h e Temple, who have benefite d i m m
classes
The Yoga participants, together with the Temple Trustees, have also worked with various local charities
o
D
c , A
c a p and St Lukes Hospice The
recently also had a visit by the Prime Minister , Rishi Sunak
The event drew 75 participants with varying abilities The important aspect of the classes is to ensure that people of all abilities can practice Yoga The classes run every Tuesday from 7
halls
The Yoga program has been a huge success due to
SRMD UK celebrates 20 years of divinity in the UK with Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji
S
Dharampur UK (SRMD UK) celebrated 20 years of spiritual growth, community service, and transformative impact under the guidance of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji The four-day celebrations were held at Harrow
Diksha (Renunciation) Ceremony took place for the first time in Britain This significant event stood as a profound testament to Amee Virani, a 34-year-old from North-West London, who under the guidance of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, transformed her life from worldly pursuits to spiritual seeking Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden also joined the celebration
the patient and determined approach of the lead teacher, Bharatbhai Mehta, who has served since inception The success of the classes h
places
The day concluded with all participants being treated
t
d dinner and most of the participants yearning for the next such gathering
Shree
Madhavpriyadasji Swami’s visit to Rayners Lane
Sadguru Shastri Shree Madhavpriyadasji Swami, the head of Gurukul Parivar- Shree
Pratishthanam (SGVP) made a special visit to Rayners Lane on 27 June 2024 In a social get-together at Vishwa Umiya Foundation UK’s Convenor and OFBJP UK - Gujarat Convenor Deepak Patel’s residence, he said that the ancient Gurukul education was the most successful way of educating a society The ancient Gurukul education was about earning and learning morals and duties and the word Veda means knowledge
CB Patel was the special guest of the evening He said, there is a need to encourage the Gurukul system outside India as well The whole concept of Gurukul education was for the betterment of the world
Indian Heritage Centre UK celebrates International Yoga Day
I HC U K c el eb rat ed
International Yo ga Day in June 2024 in Card iff, Wales (U K)
The occasion was graced by the eminent guests His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant
Sheriff of South Glamorgan
Consul of India Wales, Dr
from India Wales Club &
from Sikh Council of Wales
efforts of Indian Heritage Centre UK in bringing people together from all walks of life in society promoting h e a l t h , w e l l - b e i n g , p e a c e and harmony They emphasised that the Indian community in Wales is making a lot of efforts to promote the rich culture & heritage of the Indian way of life and a l s o c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h e economy, welfare & health
R t H o n H o n o r a r y Consul of India Wales Capt R a j A g g a r w a l s a i d " A l l
s c h o o l s a n d e d u c a t i o n a l establishments should have y o g a i n t h e i r c u r r i c u l u m
T h i s w i l l e n h a n c e w e l lb e i n g , p
pline, and happiness "
D r R a v i n d r a R a v i a n d R i y a K a l e a n c h o r e d t h e event seamlessly Riya Kale briefed on the significance of Yoga linked to ancient Indian Culture on Health, Harmony & Peace
D r G i r i s h G , a w e l l known multilingual singer s a n g a m e l o d i o u s p r a y e r song The students of Rekha N a t y a A c
strated yoga natya Before the cultural perf o r m
the Yoga Session which was well appreciated by the attendees IHC UK was encouraged to conduct regular Yoga Sessions
Left to right: Nitya, Param, Deepak Patel, PP Madhavpriyadasji Swami, CB Patel
Dr Priya Virmani’s The Trinity applies ancient Indian wisdom to better stress management in modern life
T he Trinity, a show abou t h ow ancient Indian wisdom can be used to nav igate stress in our liv es better, was perform ed at The Bhavan i n K ensi ng ton o n 1 9 Ju ne T h e
m essage was d elivered by loo king at the meaning beh ind the energ ies
o f The Holy Trinity in Hindusim –Brahm a (the creator), Vishnu (th e p r es er v er) a nd M ah e s h ( t h e d estroyer)
The evening was inaugurated by lighting of the lamp by Director
o f T h e B h a v a n , D r M N Nandakumara MBE and Mr Ravi Gandhi and his wife Mrs Suman
G a n d h i f r o m t h e C h e l l a r a m Foundation who have supported The Bhavan’s work for 30 years
O r a t o r , D r P r i y a V i r m a n i opened the narrative by likening the Trimurti to the three laws of science – creation, maintenance and destruction She then went on
to explore the meanings behind some of the most popular stories a n d c
Brahma, Krishna and Shiva and in so doing, revealed gems of wisdom
life-management Her storytelling was punctuated by Odissi dance, vocals and the beats of the table and flute Dr Virmani who also scripted and directed the show said, “I have
been researching Vedic philosophy for two decades now It is a treasure trove of wisdom that applies to all times as human nature has
despite incredible human progress
intention of sharing this wisdom”
The audience reaction to the content was superlative Mahim Prabhu, a monk based at the Iskon temple in Watford said, “It was an experience that was so captivating and mesmerising that it touched
Khanna, who works in the city shared, “It was very interesting to learn about our Hindu Gods and how we can bring those learnings to daily life”
The audience were also treated t
Michelin star chef Rohit Ghai of restaurants Kutir and Manthan
Aadya Pujya becomes world’s first performance on Ganesha Avataras
S a ns kr u ti C en tre f o r C u l tu ra l Excellence organised A ad ya Pujya at The Bhavan recently, p resenting
G an es h a A v a tar a S to tr a fr o m M udg ala Pu rana The captivating p erfo rm ance also becomes the first d anc e perfo rm ance ev er o n th e com position The ev ent was p art of p r o m o ti ng S an sk ri t and I nd i a n C ulture in collaboration with th e C entral Sanskrit U niv ersity, New Delh i T h e 9 0 - m i n u t e M u s i c a n d Dance showcase had thirty-eight young and professional artists presenting instrumental music and dances
The evening began traditionally with the lighting of the lamp by Dr MN Nandakumara, Dr Rishi Handa, Tejendra Sharma and Cllr Karthik Bonkur and Cllr Sharad
J h a V e e n a r e c i t a l o n V a t a p i Ganapatim Bhaje was presented by
P r a m o d R u d
p
n a , a
n t h generation artist of the family dedicated to Carnatic Music He was accompanied on Mrudangam by
Satheesh Gummadavelly Dances
b y S h a y a r e e P r i y a M e g h e f r o m India, Shreya Khare and Kritika Vulchi’s Ganapati were impressive The spellbinding finale piece of eight forms of Ganesha included K a l
Mohiniattam, Odissi, Kuchipudi and Kavadi dance styles and pre-
sented the stories of demons who get vanquished by Ganesha in his various orms
The story significantly focused not only on spiritual wisdom, but also on the values of moral conduct, right choices of behaviour, reflection and realisation, and how hurdles can be bridled through resilience
The packed hall of 200 plus
positively to the impactful content of the event, anchored by Radhika Joshi and Sushil Rapatwar The
offered by Shreeya’s Restaurant, coordinated by Harinath Lingala and Renu Gidoomal
Rt Hon Shailesh Vara presents Bhagavad Gita for
T he Rt Hon Shailesh Vara recently p res ented a speci al cop y of th e Bhagavad Gita to the Speaker of the House of Co mmons, the Rt Hon S ir Lind say Hoyle, for use by Hindu M Ps follow ing their election to Parliament
Upon their election, all MPs take an oath of allegiance to the Monarch and this specially blessed Bhagavad Gita will in future be used by Hindu MPs at their swearing in ceremony in the House of Commons Mr Vara was accompanied by His Grace Nila Madhava
D a s a A d h i k a r i , f r o m t h e H a
e Krishna temple near Watford
His Grace had ensured that this copy of the Bhagavad Gita was blessed at a sacred ceremony in the M a y a p u r t e m p l e a t t h e g l o b a l headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in India
T
y took place in the Speaker s House in the Palace of Westminster on 2
future Hindu MPs
Parliament was dissolved for the General Election His Grace Nila Madhava Dasa recited a prayer in Sanskrit as Mr Vara presented the Bhagavad Gita to Sir Lindsay
Following the presentation the Rt Hon Shailesh Vara said: "This was a truly memorable occasion
T h i s B h a g a v a d w i l l b e u s e d b y Hindu MPs entering Parliament f o l l o w i n g t h i s G e n e r a l E
e c t i o n and those who will enter in the generations to come
“I am grateful to his Grace Nila Madhava Dasa for making all the important arrangements and for
conducting such a beautiful ceremony in the Speaker's House during the presentation I am also grateful to Sir Lindsay for all his support and for making time just before Parliament was dissolved for the General Election " His Grace Nila Madhava Dasa Adhikari added, "On behalf of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and our founder H i s D i v i n e G r a c e A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada it was a great honour and privilege to have this "Bhagavad Gita As It Is" presented to the Rt Hon Sir L i n d s a y H o y l e , S p e a k e r o f t h e House of Commons, by the Rt Hon Shailesh Vara ”
and ener gy and also hel ps in get ting solutions ef fe ct iv ely
In daily life too, if we adapt to this learning, it can improve our efficiency by saving time Our focus would not be diverted to nonissues and hence we would not waste time there By not diverting our attention and resources to those aspects which are not relevant in the present situation, this mindset helps us save energy Why bother about things which are not going to help or hurt in the present situation? Better to let them pending for the later day, when we may really need to attend to them Till then, we can say, let's focus on the issue at hand
This practice minimizes wasted effort on irrelevant concerns and conserves mental and emotional resources for more impactful endeavors By adhering to this principle, both professional teams and individuals can streamline their decision-making process We can foster better communication and achieve more meaningful results in work and personal lives by applying this maxim The mantra of "focus on the issue at hand" serves as a practical guideline for efficiency, clarity, and effectiveness in navigating various challenges and responsibilities
Achievement requires focus If you focus on the issue at hand, give it your full attention, you will make desirable progress This concept emphasizes the importance of concentration and prioritization in achieving goals, whether in professional projects or personal endeavors It underscores the idea that by focusing on the task or problem that matters most in the present moment, individuals and teams can maximize their effectiveness and move closer to their objectives
So, whenever you are working on any important project, stay focused on the issue at hand Even while doing your household chores, focus should be only on the issue at hand
(Expressed opinions are personal)
International Yoga Day celebrated at Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Willesden
In te rn a ti o n al Y og a D a y i s ob served gl ob al ly and endorsed by the United Nations through resolution 69/1 31 on Decemb er 11, 2 014, and is celebrated annually on June 21st
The draft resolution establishing the International Day of
Yoga was proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states This year, the occasion was celebrated with profound enthusiasm at the hist o
W
l e s d e n ,
Walking Group and Grimsdyke Walking Group, based in North West London, having over 1,000 members T
Mehta, Prakash Morjaria, Amrat Kerai and Manju Raghwani
r e over 100 people participated The celebration at this venue took place on Thursday, June 20th, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, followed by a sumptuous meal, prepared on temple premises Opened in 1975, this beautiful temple will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next year The yoga session was held by
Rohit Vadhwana
Dr Priya Virmani with Odissi dancer Katrina Rute who performed to her story telling
Rt Hon Shailesh Vara presenting a Bhagavad Gita to Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle in presence of His Grace Nila Madhava Dasa Adhikari
Bridging cultural gaps through children’s books
Subhasini Naicker
R akhi Singh's jour ney from R ajasthan to t he UK has b een inspir ing Over the pa st two deca des, she has e xce ll ed in cul tural pr omotion, community ser vice, and e ntre pr eneurship As an a ut hor an d publ isher of over 5 0 childre n's books, including six b est sel le rs, she share s ca ptivating Indian cultura l st or ie s and e ducational resources Her publ icat ions, Ea rth Ras Publ icat ions and Fe st iva l Pr ess, highl ight Indian culture a nd festival s
She also leads 5th Peak Media, a digital media agency, and collaborates with various not-for-profits on community projects A passionate promoter of Hindi literature, Rakhi founded the digital platform 'Say a Poem ' She was honoured as an Outstanding Educational Role Model at the Houses of Parliament by IIW, London, for her innovative efforts in promoting Indian culture and enhancing children s literature
In an interview with Asian Voice, She spoke about the inspiration behind creating children's books, the evolving cultural landscape in the UK and much more
What motivat ed you to write children 's book s focusin g on Indian cul ture a nd festival s?
I come from Rajasthan, India, and I've been living in the UK for over two decades During my time here, I realised that we lack the cultural knowledge, awareness, and connection that come naturally in India
My children, along with many others, started missing that cultural touch It felt like a gap that needed to be filled As a responsible citizen from India, I felt it was my duty to pass on our cultural heritage and knowledge to my children and others
This inspired me to start writing children's books Although it may seem simple, writing for children is quite challenging Children have their own perspectives, different from adults, so the books need to resonate with them Besides cultural values, the books should have appealing presentations, engaging storylines, and relatable characters with names like Sonu or Raj, which can help form a connection with readers It's not just about imparting information but also about how it’s presented and received H ow do y ou create children 's book s that b lend Indian cultural festival s with e ngaging storytel ling, a ppe aling to both youn g r eader s and adult s?
As an author immersed
in showcasing Indian culture through children's literature, I continually face unique challenges and joys
Each festival or topic I select necessitates thorough research into its celebration nuances in India and translating these complexities into engaging narratives for young readers here in the UK For instance, while exploring Holi, I not only highlight the joy of playing with colours but also delve into its deeper spiritual meanings, such as the tales of Radha and Krishna
My collection of over 50 books spans themes like Diwali, Navratri, Sankranti, Holi, and Raksha Bandhan, tailored for various age groups up to twelve These stories serve as windows into our rich cultural heritage, appreciated by parents and educators alike for their concise yet comprehensive insights
Through these books, I aim to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indian traditions, bridging cultural gaps and enriching the literary landscape for children and adults alike
H ow have you ob ser ved the e vol ving cult ur al la ndscape in the UK, especiall y r egarding Indian tra dit ions a nd community a cceptance?
Over the past two decades, I've noticed positive changes in cultural awareness and acceptance in the UK While Indians used to feel like a minority, there's now greater recognition of our community s customs, festivals, and family life
However, many Indian families here, spanning multiple generations, have become disconnected from their original culture This challenge isn't just for younger generations but also for older ones who have adapted to their new surroundings It's important to embrace and appreciate other cultures while preserving our own heritage Fortunately, there's been progress nowadays, there's more availability and acceptance of Indian cuisine, Jain, vegetarian, and vegan options in restaurants, reflecting a shift towards inclusivity and appreciation within the broader community What upcoming proje cts or b ooks are you work in g on, a nd what can your reade rs l ook forward to?
With over 50 books under my belt, writing has always been my passion since childhood After rediscovering my love for writing, I realised many others share this dream but may need guidance Now, I assist aspiring authors in crafting their books, drawing from my own learning and experience in
book writing and digital media My ongoing mission includes helping children and adults alike publish their works and market their books effectively While I've covered many Indian festivals in my books, I'm also eager to explore and celebrate diverse cultures, such as Sikh festivals like Lohri and events like Baisakhi
I have written bilingual books about the bond between grandparents and grandchildren, in both Hindi and English These books aim to strengthen connections that can sometimes be lost due to distance or busy lives Inspired by this theme, I plan to explore more relationships in future projects, alongside continuing to celebrate diverse festivals and cultures across India and beyond
A tribute to heroes: Hollywood producer Jay Patel’s visit to India House, London
In a p oignant and d eeply m oving v isit, J ay P at el ,
Shyamji Krish na Varma in the film “S w atantra Veer S av arkar, ” recently v i si ted 65 C ro m w ell A v enu e, Ind i a House in Londo n Marc, the current owner of India House, welcomed Patel warmly and acknowledged him to explore the historic premises Patel was particularly touched when Marc gifted him a book on Shyamji Krishna Varma, written by Adam Yamey, a gesture that deepened the emotional connection to the place “It was incredible to imagine Shyamji and other freedom fighters planning, c o o k i n g , s
n g within these walls I was overwhelmed thinking about what these heroes did 120 years ago for our country’s freedom,” Patel shared
This recent visit to India House was not Patel’s first; he had previously visited in 1997 However, this time, as someone who delved deep into the life and legacy of Shyamji Krishna Varma f o r h i s r o l e i n “ S w a t a n t r a V e e r Savarkar,” the experience was prof o u n d l y d i f f
very steps where Varma and other revolutionaries once stood, Patel felt a powerful connection to the past
“Visiting India House now, after portraying Shyamji Krishna Varma, is an indescribable feeling,” Patel shared “I felt an overwhelming sense of power and emotion, imagining the courage and vision Varma had back in 1906 He started a revolution, provided scholarships, and lit the flame of independence that would eventually engulf the entire nation ” As Patel concluded his visit, he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of giants “I am so glad to be back here This visit has strengthened my resolve to continue sharing the stories of our freedom fighters and their unwavering quest for liberty ”
Newham's South Asian Heritage Month to feature diverse programmes
T he
Newham aims to highlight and celebrate the vibrant British South As ian heri tage, offering a variety of c ultural events appealing to all ages and interests
The events will feature a wide range of activities, offering a deep cultural experience From spoken word and music to art exhibitions, storytelling, film screenings, and more, there's something for everyone These gatherings provide both entertainment and educational opportunities,
inviting residents to engage with and
British South Asians
The programme starts off with
of exceptional events that shine a light on the rich history and vibrant diversity of South Asian people in our borough Through our close collaboration with local artists, venues, and businesses, as well as the active participation of our residents, we've wit-
impact these celebrations have had on our community throughout the years
Rakhi Singh
Jay Patel
C O M M U N I T Y ’ S C L I M A T E C H A L L E N G E S
The UK is not immune to these g l o b a l t r e n d s , e x p e r i e n c i n g i n c r e a s i n g
e m p e r a t u
T h e most recent decade (2012 to 2021) averaged 1 0°C warmer than the 1961 to 1990 average All of the
U K ' s t e n w a r m e s t y e a r s h a v e occurred since 2003, with 2022
m a r k i n g t h e h o t t e s t y e a r o n r e c o r d , s u r p a s s i n g
year-round temperature of 10°C for the first time
A s c l i m a t e c h a n g e e s c a l a t e s from a global concern to a pressi n g e m e r g e n c y , d i a l o g u e a n d action on the matter have become indispensable To advance discussions on climate change and sustainability, Asian Voice is hosting
t h e " B e T h e C h a n g e " p a n e l focused on the theme of "Climate C h a n g e " I n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h the Royal Air Force, this event will feature experts who will delve into
s u s t a i n a b i l i t y p r a c t i c e s , t h e i r diverse implications, and future directions Central to the discussion will be the exploration of how various sectors of the economy can pave the way for environmentally favourable practices
However, these topics represent only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to aspects factoring environmental conservation, and there are far more complex issues that also need addressing While climate change is impacting the whole world, it has been found that people from ethnic minority
c o m m u n i t i e s i n B r i t a i n f a c e
g r e a t e r i m p a c t s f r o m e n v i r o nmental crises compared to White British people This disparity is primarily due to deep-seated societal inequities Individuals from some ethnic minority groups are m o r e l i k e l y t o r e s i d e i n l o wincome households, compounded by historical and systemic racism and inequities that have led to sign i f i c a n t h e a l t h d i s p a r i t i e s T h e most pressing concerns for these communities, especially those in l o w e r - i n c o m e b r a c k e t s , i n c l u d e air pollution, climate change, and environmental degradation
With this article, Asian Voice
h i g h l i g h t s h o w c l i m a t e c h a n g e disproportionately affects ethnic minorities, explores the internal and external factors influencing the representation of these comm u n i t i e s i n t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l sector, examines the Net Zero targets, and discusses the priorities of the incoming government in this regard
The minority perspective
Growing up in Britain today, members of ethnic minority communities experience both immediate and lifelong impacts from environmental challenges Chris
D es a i , a p hi l a n th ro pi s t an d f o un d er of g lo b al pr o j ec t s UO CEAN 2 050 & UEARTH 2050, runs the largest BAME led environmental conservation charity in the UK According to him, BAME communities are often not represented accurately or fairly “This is due to a multitude of reasons There are self-imposed barriers within the community where sustainability or conservation are not seen as legitimate career paths
c o m p a r e d t o p r o f e s s i o n s l i k e accounting, medicine, or law It's
c r u c i a l t o p r o v i d e a c c e s s a n d opportunities”, he said
He also highlighted the lack of r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e
minorities in the environmental sector He shared that, “Recent r
p o
Oxford or Cambridge highlight that only 3% of the sustainability sector comprised ethnic minorities at one point, and this figure h a s m
between five and six percent this year This percentage remains disp r o p o r
BAME population in the UK “ M
come from backgrounds of trauma as refugees or newcomers to a c o u n t r y , s t r i v
security It's important to recogn
merely a national or racial concern but a global imperative We can pursue professions like technology, engineering, or law with a sustainable focus, ensuring that e
environmental responsibility ”
He is of the opinion that grassroots organisations can play a vital
access to conservation resources, encouraging more people to pursue careers in sustainability and legitimising these career paths
Associate of the Productive and Inclusive Net Zero (PRINZ ) project She is a Policy Fellow working on UK energy and climate policy with a particular focus on sustainable growth, economic opportunities of Net Zero and decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors She shared that the transition to a Net Zero economy also depends on ensuring that it is delivered in an inclusive way to gain and maintain public support
impacts of the transition on different parts of society and providing targeted support to ensure fair outcomes Deliberative democratic processes such as citizen juries and assemblies can be an important way of understanding such potential impacts and issues that the public are concerned with, and in turn, inform design of policies that are fair and secure broad public support”, she shared
The evidence of the impact of c l i m a t e c h a n g e a n d d e c l i n
g nature on Britain’s ethnic minority communities is limited, mainly b
enough Where evidence is available, it often provides comparative information, showing the experience of ethnic minority communities overall in comparison to W h i t e c o m m u n i t i e s I n r e a l i t y , experiences will vary between different ethnic minority communities, what is needed is more granular data and analysis to understand these nuances
The urgency of climate emergency
D r J y o ti r m oy R oy i s th e founder of G reenEnco Ltd and was prevented from a harrowing fate as he narrowly missed the Chennai tsunami That's why he believes that it is not merely climate change; it's an emergency “We need to react to this situation w i t h t h e u r g e n c y i t d e m a n d s However, as a global community,
we are not responding adequately We're seeing fragmented efforts rather than a unified response
needed to mitigate the climate threat is still far from sufficient”, he said
According to the World Bank, South Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate shocks and the region is living through a “ new climate normal ” Chris feels that the rest of the world needs to learn from the mistakes of the region He points out that sustainability is an age old tradition in South Asia with maximised the use of every product, practicing regenerative agriculture and utili s
n g b a n a n a l e a v e s a s p l a t e s , husks for bags, and shavings for various purposes “They understood the concept of creating sustainable circularity”, he shares
“ W e s h o u l d r e c o n s i d e r t h e types of products we allow into our countries For instance, India has become a dumping ground for the world's rubbish, with inadequate recycling facilities Villages and communities without proper infrastructure end up using these products Therefore, as a nation and as part of the global South, we s h o u
imported goods, as our geographical location makes us disproportionately vulnerable”, he added The goal of achieving Net Zero
During the general election campaign, one of the prominent issues raised is whether parties will adhere to the UK's 2050 'Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions t a r g e t a n d t h e i r s t r a t e g i e s t o attain this goal
A
t a i l s maintaining a balance between
sphere through natural processes like photosynthesis or other carbon capture and storage methods, resulting in a Net Zero presence of these gases in the atmosphere However, the pledges presented by different parties indicate that climate change is not a top urgent priority for any political party
A c c o r d i n g
, every major country has set a Net Zero target these days, but the realism of these plans is a big question mark “Take the UK as an
renewables and stakeholders pre-
lenge remains in achieving this Net Zero target Does the UK grid have sufficient capacity to handle the new distributed generation, which is dynamic due to the inter-
mittent nature of sun and wind? “Balancing these diverse generation portfolios and upgrading g r i d c a p a c i t y t o f a c i l i t a t
uptake of new generation techn
t
n t i a l gap Addressing this infrastructure gap requires policy intervention at governmental levels This critical aspect is currently missing The Net Zero target is in place, but when examining it at a granular level, there are significant gaps in the individual structures needed to achieve this goal ”
E s i n , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , believes that the UK has already made important progress towards the path of sustainable growth by decoupling its economic growth from emissions Part of this transition has involved a shift from a m a n u f a c t u r i n g - h e a v y t o a s e rv i c e s - h e a v y e c o n o m y “ A d d i t i o n a l l y , e m i s s i o n s r e d u ct i o n s i n t h e e l e c t r i c i t y s e c t o r , achieved by moving away from coal and rapidly expanding renewa b l e e n e r g y s o u r c e s , h a v e a l s o played a crucial role If the UK wants to be on a truly sustainable growth path, it needs to be even faster at adopting clean, efficient t e c h n o l o g i e s t o m o v e i t s o w n economy towards Net Zero emiss i o n s w h i l e b u i l d i n g d o m e s t i c supply chains to tap into growing m a r k e t s f o r t h e s e t e c h n o l o g i e s and associated services around the world
“There are many specific measures in the Net Zero policy toolkit that the UK can draw on as it works to achieve its Net Zero targ e t s i n c l u d i n g c a r b o n p r i c i n g , standards and regulations, consumer grants, R&D funding and skills programmes At an overarching level, the government needs to ensure these specific measures are all pointing in the same direction of achieving Net Zero, working consistently and ensuring the long-term certainty that private sector investors require Ideally this should be in the form of a new growth strategy with Net Zero at its core ” Blind spots an d the responsi bility of the i ncomi ng govern men t A lack of action on climate change will be catastrophic for f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s , m a k i n g i t imperative for the incoming government to "bring environmental matters to the forefront " Earlier t h i s m o n t h , a c a d e m i c s w a r n e d that if party leaders do not prioritize the climate, they jeopardize our future prosperity and wellbeing Dr Jyotirmoy feels that on close examination, none of the policies that were proposed by major parties, address any fun-
damental issue in the society
He explained that, “While people in power acknowledge clean tech and the climate emergency, these issues are not prioritised as major concerns Before we proceed, we must consider the impact of unpredictable weathe
flooding events in the UK The costs associated with rectifying these damages are escalating, resulting in significantly higher costs for recovery and repair
“It's crucial to reassess our approach holistically, not just from an economic standpoint While economic development is essential for any country's sur-
On the same matter, Chris adds, “Personally, I see that the parties are driven by economic growth, greed, and popularity
Parties need to recognise this fundamental truth Those that prioritise nature will ultimately succeed because they are placing value where it truly matters ”
He believes that the incoming government should prioritise public health above all else “When we have a nation suffering from pollution and poorquality food, and when poverty rates among children and disadvantaged communities are high, we must focus on community
local conservation and local pro-
impact
“Instead of treating sustainability as a separate agenda, it should be integrated into every policy, sector, and business This s
because while climate change
should
on transforming how
aspects of society
Of the two main contenders for No 10, Labour promises a "Green Prosperity Plan," which includes setting up Great British Energy to drive the move to renewables The Conservatives, on the other hand, claim that under their leadership, Britain became the first major economy to halve emissions and will continue to meet targets without "clobbering" households
How well these parties deliver on their promises remains to be seen
Dr Jyotirmoy Roy
Chris Desai
Esin Serin
The 3rd “Be The Change” discussion on Climate Change will be delivered by panellists with considerable knowledge and expertise in their respective fields
They will navigate the complexities of sustainability and exchange views on ways
to mitigate climate damage that is already being done In their long history Asian Voice and sister publication Gujarat Samachar have championed a number of pressing issues by offering objective views and indepth analyses that help readers make informed
choices. This panel discussion will address one of the most critical issues impacting our present and future. The evening will be moderated by Alpesh Patel OBE
This solution-oriented panel discussion will be followed by questions from the audience
Eco-investing: Where climate meets capital
Alpesh Patel, a leading authority on investi ng and entrepreneurship, invests in renewable energy, such as win d f arms, and contri butes to the fi ght against climate c hange As a UK G overnment Dealmaker, Alpesh sources global tech c ompanies that provi de c li mate c hange solutions, i ncluding carbon capture
As he gears up to participate in the “Be The Change” panel on climate change, he shares how businesses can work towards operating sustainability and climate consciousness
Can you share more about your investments in renewable energy projects?
How do you measure the impact of your investments on combating climate change?
Regarding renewable energy projects, our company, Praefinium invests in wind farms in Romania through private equity I often feel like Jeremy Irons' character from “Margin Call” when discussing renewable projects, relying on brilliant team members to handle the complex mathematics We invested in wind farms in Romania because our investors, primarily pension funds, wanted us to Saving the world was a bonus, not the primary motivation Combating climate change can be straightforward in this context, as you can measure how many megawatts are generated from wind power and calculate the carbon dioxide savings While our projects contribute positively to the environment, they were driven by commercial interests If it were purely charitable, our investors might not have been allowed to invest
In your work with global tech companies that provide climate change solutions, what are some of the most promising technologies you’ve encountered?
One of the companies I've helped bring over from India through my government connections is
Carbon Clean Solutions
They continue their impactful work in India, but they've also established a significant presence here We can easily calculate the environmental impact of our investments, though we often don't because our investors are primarily concerned with returns As a private equity company, we're not focused on publicising our positive environmental impact, although perhaps we should Carbon Clean Solutions recently entered Deloitte's EMEA Fast 500, covering Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, which makes me very proud It's now a British company as well I believe this kind of technology will ultimately save us from global warming
How do you incorporate sustainability into our overall business strategy?
When I'm investing in public companies like Microsoft, Apple, or Amazon, I cross-reference their environmental credentials These companies face significant pressure to improve their sustainability practices For instance, while Microsoft might generate a lot of carbon dioxide through its servers, its green credentials are impressive The same applies to Amazon and Alphabet, which are wellpositioned to make significant environmental impacts
In my approach, I invest in these companies and use my platform to promote their sustainability efforts outside my business This investment strategy not only pays my bills but also allows
me to maintain a minimal carbon footprint beyond my basic needs When these companies undertake great initiatives, I use various methods to spread the message One way is through physical events, like those organised with Asian Voice and the Royal Air Force, leveraging my ability to host such events Another way is through my TikTok channel, which has 370,000 followers, and traditional media appearances, such as the BBC and newspaper reviews
This perspective helps me determine where I can make the biggest impact, whether through hosting events or utilising my social media presence and traditional media platforms like the BBC
Whatadvice would you give to other entrepreneurs, investors looking to make positive impact on the environment?
What I'd say to them is that you re part of a generation that wants to change the world, whether it’s for the environment or other causes The generation before mine focused on getting a job, putting food on the table, and raising their families The new generation, however, thinks about the whole world first, and family last So, my advice is to live and breathe your values in everything you do Even if you can’t make a direct impact on the environment, you can still make a difference in other areas Regarding the environment, think about how you can use social media for messaging You can do it from home, from your phone, at any time there’s no friction to getting started Encourage children to get involved too My son often reminds me about environmental practices, saying things like, “Daddy, that would be bad for the environment,” or “Daddy, we need to recycle ” We’ve taught him from a young age, and now he’s always promoting these values You can do the same
Driving change together
I am delighted to host the
anel discussion on C
L ord s on 1 2th July
I had the opportunity to host the event last year and was greatly encouraged by the concern shown by the audience for the real threat posed by global warming and climate change Sadly the brunt of this scourge is borne by the poor and marginalised of our society in the form of extreme and uncertain weather patterns, food insecurity, disease, water scarcity and a host of other tragedies
Foundation which has been working tirelessly for the betterment of widows and their children in some of the most
“Food education will help, but legislation also has a role to play”
Mallika Basu, a celebrated food commentator and connoisseur whose culinary journ e y b e g a n w i t h r e s t a u r a n t reviews in India Moving to London, they launched the blog "Quick Indian Cooking" in 2006, published two cookbooks, and founded their own spice brand Passionate about sustainability, Mallika advocates for transforming food
s y s t e m s t o c o m b a t c l i m a t e change
In an interview with Asian Voice, she spokes about her journey, insights on food sust a i n a b i l i t y , a n d e x c i t i n g upcoming projects
1Can you tell us about your journey and what inspired you to become a food commentator/ connoisseur?
As a journalist in India in my early career, I was already reviewing restaurants for the national newspaper I worked at I started my journey in f o o d w r i t i n g i n e a r n e s t i n 2006 with a blog called Quick Indian Cooking, documenting my trials and tribulations a s I t a u g h t m y s e l f h o w t o cook Indian food alongside a busy London life I noticed a gap in the market for a fresh face and voice representing the cuisine of India and published two cookbooks Along t h e w a y , I b e c a m e a s p i c e brand owner myself and discovered the role of food as a force for good That's what drove me to turn it into my full time career
2How do you see the correlation between climate change and people's food habits, and what can we do to educate people about this relationship? Additionally, how do your cooking, storage, and waste management practices reflect sustainable principles? Healthy, sustainable diets are at the heart of food systems transformation, which is critical given its effect on nature and the climate The way we produce, distribute, consume and waste food con-
f greenhouse gases By putting pressure on land to increase production and yield, we've been destroying soil health, b i o d i v
natural resources like water The same eight crops that are most intensively farmed also form the basis for ultra processed foods, which we now k n o w h a v e t e r r i b l e h e a l t h implications We also eat way too much meat, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gases Add to that the v a s t q
waste which have their own c
e n s o many go hungry around the world, and no one is winning
P e o p l e a r e b r o a d l y d i s e ngaged from how food is produced, and see it as a source of sustenance, pleasure and joy Food education will help, but legislation also has a role to play Consumers are often p o w e r l e s s i n t h e f a c e o f sophisticated marketing campaigns and streets lined with poor food offerings I am a busy, urban professional and try to do my bit by cooking from scratch as much as possible, limiting our meat consumption at home, and o n l y b u y i n g t h e v e r y b e s t quality of sustainable produce I can afford I try and save food waste, operating a well organised freezer and doing a fridge clear out every Sunday before restocking Meal planning helps And finally, I buy British as much as I can, opting for seasonal products
3How do you engage with the community and promote culinary education and sustainability? Food sustainability as a topic can be quite off putting for people There is research that shows it actively leads to people switching off It can also be elitist telling people to eat costlier (or perceived to be costlier) ingredients I tend to focus on using seasonal prod u c e , s h o w c a s e w a y s t o reduce food waste and amplify food writers who do great
work as a way to promote the good stuff
4What role do you think chefs and the food industry play in raising awareness about food sustainability?
Chefs have a huge role to play and many are doing an i n c r e d i b l e j o b , p r o m o t i n g high nutrition products and ingredients like beans, millets and more, repurposing waste c r e a t
y a n d s h o w c a s i n g seasonal produce Food serv
mass market ones, have a role to play in reflecting sustainable thinking in their menus, e g offering vegetarian and
then we have food manufacturers who have a tall task
learning how to make profits from good food and not junk, making it easier for people to
themselves and the planet
5Can you tell us about any upcoming projects or initiatives you’re excited about?
I have recently moved the
newsletter to reflect the work I do on food, people and planet more closely and renamed it In Good Taste It's a passion project and I have some exciting plans unfolding in that
d about I also file recipes for Waitrose and write regularly for Juggernaut, which gives me something to look forward to!
Mallika Basu
Alpesh Patel OBE
“I aim to drive change on both climate change and racial inequality”
Ketan Dattani h as ov er 25 years of experience in Env ironmental Health and recruitment
He holds a degree in Environmental Biotechnology, a postgraduate degree in Environmental Planning and Management, and certificates in Employment Law and Recruitment Practice
Despite facing challenges during his studies, his passion for environmental issues drove him to persevere After completing his postgraduate studies in 1998, he struggled to find a job in the environmental sector, leading him to pivot to recruitment
This shift inspired him to found Buckingham Futures, a consultancy providing Environmental Health professionals nationwide Beyond business, Ketan volunteers with schools and universities, offering career guidance and actively supports global charities
Here, he discusses the environmental challenges facing the UK, the disproportionate impact of climate change on British Asian communities, and the importance of increasing representation in the sector
What are some key conservation challenges in the UK that need immediate attention? Are there any conservation practices from South Asia that you believe could be beneficially applied in the UK?
One of the most pressing conservation challenges in the UK is habitat loss and fragmentation, significantly impacting biodiversity and disrupting ecosystem functions The UK has experienced extensive habitat loss due to urban expansion, agricultural intensification, and infrastructure development Habitat fragmentation divides ecosystems into smaller, isolated patches, which can't support viable populations of many species, leading to reduced genetic diversity and increased vulnerability to diseases and environmental changes For instance, the rural hedgehog population has plummeted by about 50% since 2000 due to habitat fragmentation
Yet, there is a way forward! South Asia, with its diverse ecosystems and conservation challenges, offers innovative approaches that could be adapted to the UK context In the Sundarbans mangrove forests of India and Bangladesh, community involvement in conservation has proven highly effective Implementing community-
based conservation in the UK could involve local communities in managing natural reserves and green spaces Community-led initiatives could manage fragmented habitats like hedgerows and small woodlands, enhancing connectivity and biodiversity
How do you think climate change uniquely affects British Asian communities in the UK? How can policymakers better address the environmental health concerns of British Asian populations?
I recognise the strong connection between racial inequality and the impacts of climate change Marginalised communities, including South Asian, Black, and people of colour, often bear the brunt of environmental issues In the UK, South Asian and black are exposed to higher levels of air pollution than their white counterparts- up to 27% higher in London Despite these impacts, perspectives from this population are consistently overlooked in climate policy
Within my personal work, I aim to bring attention to these injustices and drive change on both climate change and racial inequality High exposure to air pollution and economic vulnerability are two concerns that uniquely affect British South Asian communities Mitigating the impacts of climate change, transitioning to sustainable energy sources, and implementing environmental conservation policies should be high priorities We must therefore drive forth valuable solutions such as empowering grassroots work through charities - as they have a unique opportunity to engage Black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities within the climate action sector
However, these projects often face the instability of funding cycles To counter this, the sector must innovate to ensure these initiatives become selfsustaining or deeply embedded within core operations
How would you describe the current state of diversity and inclusion within the environmental sector in the UK? What steps can be taken to improve representation in this field?
The lack of diversity in the environmental sector can deter underrepresented groups from pursuing careers in this field Without role models or a sense of belonging, these individuals are less likely to join or
remain in environmental professions, causing their perspectives to be overlooked To improve representation of British Asians and other minority groups, a holistic approach is needed This includes offering scholarships and grants for minority students pursuing environmental degrees, integrating environmental education into school curriculums, and providing mentorship programs to connect minority students with professionals Active participation and dialogue are essential in addressing diversity, equality, and inclusion A comprehensive strategy involving education, professional development, and systemic change can foster an inclusive environment, ensuring the environmental sector reflects and serves our diverse society
Whatare your thoughts on the current environmental policies in the UK? Are they adequate and how can the new government do better in this area?
The current environmental policies in the UK are a significant step forward, but there is room for improvement In September 2023, the UK government announced changes to its net zero policies, including delaying the ban on new petrol and diesel car sales to 2035 and scrapping policies to improve energy efficiency in buildings These changes were criticised for potentially undermining the UK’s ability to meet its net zero target
The UK faces several challenges in achieving its net zero target, including:
- Decarbonising the energy sector, still reliant on fossil fuels
- Reducing emissions from transport, a major source of greenhouse gases
- Improving energy efficiency in buildings
- Encouraging the adoption of low-carbon technologies and practices across all sectors
Despite challenges, the UK is making progress toward its net zero target, and the current policies are crucial to this goal
Unlocking the Potential of CAVs in Climate Solutions
Dr Sid dartha Kh astgir is an automo tiv e eng ineer on a mission to bring self-driving cars to a safe reality He is the Head of Verification & Validatio n (V&V) of Connected and Autonomous Veh icles ( CAV s) at WMG, University of Warwick He is the technical lead fo r WMG on v arious collabo rativ e research and develo pment pro jects
In an interview with Asian Voice, he shares how the automotive world can aid climate change and environmental conservation
How has your work in CAVs and climate change shaped your professional journey and outlook on the future?
With work in CAVs taught me two things: 1) the journey (of finding a solution) is as important as the destination (the solution itself); and 2) the need for a holistic (systems engineering) approach to problem solving Every problem is multifaceted, but most solutions are optimised for only one or few aspects This leads to surprises and our inability to cope with them Both CAV and Climate Change are multi-faceted challenges which require a holistic approach, rather than a siloed singular technology focus
For instance, advocating solely for vehicle electrification, though logical, overlooks crucial aspects If all vehicles in London were electric, the current electricity grid couldn't support the demand for charging This infrastructure limitation has already tempered the adoption of electric vehicles Therefore, mainstreaming EVs requires not only advancing technology but also addressing infrastructure challenges, emphasising the role of people and their behaviours in the process I strongly believe people are core to any technological developments, and their needs should be taken into account as part of a holistic approach to technology introduction
What are some of the critical standards being developed to ensure that autonomous vehicles contribute positively to climate change efforts?
Safety of autonomous vehicles (CAVs) remains the biggest challenge for the industry and the regulators As a result, the most critical standards for CAVs are the ones that focus on proving safety of the CAV One such example is the ISO 34503 which is a foundational
international standard for safety of CAVs and lays the requirements for objectively defining the capabilities of the CAVs I had the good fortune of leading this activity and grateful for its international acceptance by industry
Additionally, AI is a key component of any CAV, as part of their safety critical decision-making process
Another key area of standards is on proving safety of AI in CAVs There is lots of international activity on AI Governance and AI policy which is more crosssectoral and philosophical However, the industry needs sector specific AI standards, especially for domains like CAVs, where the implications are safety critical New standardisation activities have started at ISO on proving its safe use and responsible development for CAVs While it remains an open question, but is also an area of international collaboration
Withyour diverse industrial experience in India, Germany, and the UK, how do you see different regions approaching the integration of CAVs in their climate strategies? Are there particular innovations or policies from one region that you believe should be adopted globally?
There are three main aspects: - C ollaboration: Most countries have finally realised that challenges associated with CAVs, and Climate Changes can’t be solved by them individually Collaboration between countries is no longer a choice to make but a necessity for success There is a need to have global learning s to shape local solu tions For example, there is increasing collaboration between over 50 countries at the United Nations Economic Cooperation for Europe (UNECE) regulatory forums to co-create future regulations for ensuring safe CAVs I am fortunate to be part of this group to provide the research evidence to underpin the regulations - C ommu nicating with public: In today’s
hyperactive social media world, information (and misinformation) spreads like wildfire Governments needs to take a proactive approach in accurately shaping the narrative for future policy and technology introduction Such communication needs to be underpinned by strong research evidence and done in an inclusive and accessible manner - Taking a holistic ap proach to use case identificatio n: CAVs can have many shapes and forms From personal car ownership to public transport for people or goods on public or private land Key to success of CAVs and their integration in the transport infrastructure to help tackle Climate Change, is to take a holistic approach to identify use cases that are both commercially and economically viable Climate change is a multidisciplinary issue requiring collaboration across various fields. How do you see the role of interdisciplinary partnerships in advancing CAV technology and achieving climate goals?
Introducing any technology today demands a multidisciplinary approach that prioritises the end user the public often overlooked in stakeholder discussions Embracing a people-first approach is crucial for designing technologies and regulations In our interconnected world, adopting true systems thinking across research, design, processes, and policymaking becomes essential For emerging technologies like CAVs, electrification, and AI to effectively combat climate change and positively impact lives, we must integrate the public into our system considerations This approach naturally fosters inclusive and accessible products and services, rather than treating accessibility as an afterthought Addressing climate change requires collaboration beyond engineers and policymakers alone It demands informed contributions from diverse stakeholders and multidisciplinary researchers, centering discussions and decisions around the end user By fostering interdisciplinary partnerships, we harness expertise across fields to innovate solutions for climate challenges swiftly and effectively
Dr Siddartha Khastgir
Ketan Dattani
Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel
The Pow er of a Concentrated Portfolio: Why Less C an Be Mo re
The reason my pension and portfolio have done well is putting quality over quantity It’s why I set up my campaign to teach a million people worldwide how to add a million to their pensions over their lifetimes by improving their knowledge of investing
In the world of investing, the debate between concentrated portfolios and broadly diversified ones has been long-standing A concentrated portfolio, typically holding a smaller number of carefully chosen stocks say, around 15 high-quality companies can often outperform a more diversified "spray and pray" strategy This approach is famously endorsed by legendary investor Warren Buffett, who has long been an advocate of owning fewer, but better, investments Here’s why focusing on a concentrated portfolio can be a superior strategy
Quality Ov er Qu antity
At the heart of a concentrated portfolio is the principle of quality over quantity By limiting the number of stocks in your portfolio, you can focus your research and investment on companies that exhibit strong fundamentals, robust competitive advantages, and promising growth prospects This rigorous selection process ensures that each stock in the portfolio is there for a compelling reason Warren Buffett famously said, “Diversification is protection against ignorance It makes little sense if you know what you are doing ” When you concentrate your investments in a smaller number of high-quality stocks, you ’ re betting on businesses you understand deeply and believe in strongly
Enh anced U nderstanding and M onitoring
Managing a concentrated portfolio allows investors to gain an intimate understanding of each company they own This depth of knowledge can be a significant advantage When you have a profound understanding of a company's business model, competitive landscape, and financial health, you ’ re better equipped to make informed decisions You can more effectively monitor ongoing developments, respond to changes in the business environment, and adjust your strategy as needed
Conversely, a spray-and-pray approach, where investments are spread across a large number of stocks with minimal research, can dilute your attention and lead to missed opportunities or unaddressed risks
Potential for Superior Retu rns
While diversification is a well-known risk management strategy, it can also cap potential returns By spreading investments too thinly, you may end up with a portfolio that mirrors the market, leading to average performance A concentrated portfolio, however, has the potential to significantly outperform the market if the chosen stocks excel
B
point He has consistently focused on investing in businesses with durable competitive advantages, capable management, and favorable long-term prospects By putting substantial capital into a smaller number of such businesses, he has achieved extraordinary returns over his career Risk Management Through Deep Kno wledg e Critics of concentrated portfolios often cite increased risk as a downside While it's true that a concentrated portfolio is inherently less diversified and therefore more exposed to individual stock volatility, this risk can be mitigated through rigorous research and a thorough understanding of each investment
Moreover, holding a smaller number of stocks doesn’t mean ignoring diversification altogether Strategic diversification within a concentrated portfolio can still be achieved by selecting companies from different sectors or industries, thereby reducing sector-specific risks while maintaining focus
Em otio nal Discipline and C onv iction
Investing in a concentrated portfolio requires strong conviction and emotional discipline The ability to stay committed to your investments, even during market volatility, is crucial Investors in concentrated portfolios must trust their research and have confidence in their long-term thesis, much like Buffett does with his holdings
This conviction helps in avoiding common investor pitfalls such as panic selling during market downturns or chasing short-term gains Instead, it promotes a long-term perspective and patience, which are essential for realizing the full potential of high-quality investments
C onclusion
A
Buffett’s investment strategy, focuses on quality over quantity, offering the potential for superior returns and enhanced understanding of each investment While it comes with its own set of risks, these can be managed through rigorous research, strategic diversification, and strong conviction By concentrating on fewer, high-quality stocks, investors can harness the power of deep knowledge and disciplined investing to achieve their financial goals
Global elections risk UK financial stability UK households pay more for electricity than EU
Th e Bank of England ’ s latest f
hig hlights ongoing risks to
d omestic and g lo bal events
the sector, including "policy
upcoming elections in the UK, France, and the United States The financial policy
potential for
"sharp cor-
which have seen significant increases in recent years
view of the UK financial system's resilience, it notes that many households may face
gage repayments, potentially rising by 50% or more H
believes this impact will be
mitigated by strong income growth and a robust labour market T
received a positive assessment, as did the portion of
y affected by the Liz Truss
the global financial network
elections around the world c
volatility in 2024
stated, "Policy uncertainty associated with upcoming
heighten existing sovereign debt pressures, geopolitical
global fragmentation, making the economic outlook
l
financial market volatility
For the first tim e, UK hou seholds are facing high er electricity prices than anywh ere else in the EU
Over the second half of last year, British homes paid 36p per unit of electricity, while they paid the ninth lowest gas prices at just 8p per unit among 27 EU countries Experts warn that the high price of electricity compared to gas is discouraging consumers from switching to cleaner technologies, such as heat pumps
In the first half of 2023, Dutch and Belgian households were paying more for electricity than the UK, but for the rest of the year, the UK's 36p per unit cost was the highest, followed by Germany at 35p Historically, the UK had average electricity prices compared to the EU This is the first time UK households have faced higher electricity prices than any other EU country since 1998
One reason for high UK electricity prices is gas In 2021, gas set the wholesale price in UK power markets up to 97% of the time, more often than in any EU nation Another factor is levies, including schemes to help poorer households fit insulation and carbon taxes, which are paid via electricity bills but not gas Without these taxes and levies, UK domestic electricity prices would have been 27p per unit
Analysts predict that the energy bill for a typical dual-fuel consumer this autumn will be £40 lower than previously forecast However, the £1,723 annual cost from October will still be up 10% from the £1,568 a typical household will pay from Monday
Royal Mail bidder may offer staff stakes
The Czech billionaire aiming to buy Royal M ail has co nfirm ed he is co nsidering offering emp loyees a stake in the business
D a n i e l K r e t i n s k y ’ s E P
Group has asked shareholders to support its £3 6 billion takeover bid In a letter to shareholders, EP Group outlined its plans for the future
R
Services (IDS) Last month,
which would take the company off the public markets
Daniel Kretinsky
already holds a 27% share
e d t
t E P G r o u p i s exploring, following comp l e t i o n o f t h e a c q u i s i t i o n , potentially offering a form of e m p l o y e e p a r t i c i p a t i o n
m o d e l i n t h e b u s i n e s s , which could include profitsharing" for all staff members
U n i o n s r e p r e s e n t i n g postal workers have previously called for a restructuring to give staff a stake in the company EP Group is asking shareholders, including current and former staff, to sell their shares for 370p each Approval from shareholders holding at least 75% of IDS shares is needed Royal Mail s t a f f c u r r e n t l y o w n a b o u t 5 5% of the business through a share scheme established when the company was pri-
vatised in 2013 The remaining shares are owned by large i n s t i t u t i o n
BlackRock Shareholders will vote on the deal at their next meeting on September 27 Kretinsky, who has a net worth of £6 billion, also has
potential sale of Royal Mail’s owner has drawn significant scrutiny, with senior politicians and unions expressing concerns about the future of the postal service
Tata halts Port Talbot furnace closure plan
Ta ta St ee l, ow n er of th e Port Talbot steelworks, has de c i d ed to p os t pon e th e i mm e d i at e s h ut do wn of both blast furnaces at the plant following the canc ellation of a s trike by Unite
s reprieve, the company still plans to proceed with cutbacks that will result in the loss of 2,800 jobs later this year Unite members were set to begin strike action on 8 July, shortly after Tata Steel, owned by an Indian c o n g l o m e r a t
n i t i a t e d a gradual winding down proc e s s t h a t w i l l u l t i m a t
y mark the end of over seven
decades of steel production from scratch at the facility
U n i t e a n n o u n c e d t h e cancellation of the strike after Tata Steel's UK head, Rajesh Nair, reached out to the unions over the week-
end, offering further disc u s s i o n s o n f u
u r e investments at the Port Talbot site, beyond just j o b c u t s U n
investments in its operations, not limited to layoffs
tary, emphasised the import
ments through negotiations facilitated by Labour, stating that this breakthrough
Talbot workers to safeguard their jobs and community Initially, Tata Steel had planned to start shutting down blast furnace No 5 this week, with No 4 sched-
tion of these plans was in response to the strike threat
concerns due to inadequate staffing T a t a S
n f i r m e d that the wind-down process for blast furnace 5 has commenced, with the final iron p r o
conclude by the end of this week
Sudhir Nair
Dr Reddy’s to buy UK firm’s Nicotinell business for £500 mn
P harm a maj or Dr Red dy’ s
L abo ratories is set to buy British consumer h ealthcare
g ia nt H al eo n ’ s ni c o ti ne
rep lacem ent therap y (NRT)
p ortfolio, exclud ing the US business, for a 500 m illion
p ounds
T h e p o r t f o
i o b e i n g acquired by the Hyderabad-
b a s e d c o m p a n y i n c l u d e s
N
second biggest brand in the NRT space globally with a f
America and Asia Nicotinell is branded as Nicabate in Australia, Thrive in Canada
a n d H a b
t
o l i n N e w Zealand and Canada
“ T h e p r o p o s e d acquisition will be inclusive
o f a l l f o r m a t s s u c h a s
lozenge, patch, gum as well as pipeline products in all t h e a p p l i c a b l e g l o b a l markets outside of the US,” Dr Reddy’s said As part of
w n e d subsidiary of Dr Reddy’s will acquire 100% stake in newly incorporated Haleon group
c o m p a n y , N
a r Switzerland The company h
agreement for the same, it said in a filing
d
GST kitty growth slows to single digit
GST collections grew 7 7% in June to £ 17 4 bn, first tim e in three years when m onthly m op-up rose at single-d igit rate
During the month, based on transactions in May, central GST collections are estimated to have increased 3 4% to £3 20 bn, state GST went up 6 3% to £4 07 bn, according to available data The two numbers (combined) show an 8% rise to £7 31 bn, indicating a slower increase in integrated GST levied on imports and inter-state sales and cesses Foreign trade has remained weak due to depressed prices for several commodities
The IGST and compensation cess data was unavailable as the official numbers were not released by govt During the first quarter, the kitty is estimated to have swollen by 10 2% to £55 70 bn Since December, monthly collections have increased by 10-12%, in line with the nominal growth rate
“While the growth in collection in June seems to be on a lower side compared to previous month, overall GST collections have shown an encouraging trend over last few months
Adani Airports to chart next decade with £17.5
A dani
well as performance-
payments of up to 42 million pounds that
2025 and 2026 The
fourth quarter of 2024 and is
regulatory approvals
Dr Reddy’s said the deal will give it access to a global
strong footprint in Europe
vehicle to build its global consumer healthcare OTC business
cent via internal cash generation and the rest via
Birla’s UltraTech
acqui
Radhakishan Damani for
am Adani’s A mbuja C ements and ACC as both seek to challenge its po siti on as I n di a's
materials maker
second-largest shareholder of the Chennai-based India C
Infosys CEO Parekh settles insider trading case with Sebi
I n fo s ys C E O S al il P ar ekh
h a s ag r eed to p a y R s 2
t o p r ev e nt insider trading
P a r e k h e n t e r e d i n t o a settlement agreement with S e b i f o l l o w i n g a n i n v e s t i g a t i o n t h a t a s c
s w e r e i n v i o l a t i o n o f t h e provisions of the Sebi Act and PIT Regulations, 2015
bn infusion
Cement buys 23% in India Cements
founders, N Srinivasan and family, who hold 28% UltraTech, the world’s third-most-valued cement
c o m p a n y , d e s c r i b e d t h e deal as a “non-controlling f i n a n c i a l i n v e s t m e n t ” , acquiring shares at Rs 267 each
The 23% stake, which does not include a board position in India Cements, i s a l i t t l e s h y o f t h e t h r e s h o l d r e q u i r i n g a n acquirer to make an open offer to public shareholders
u n d e r t h e c o u n t r y ’ s t a k e o v e r c o d e D e s p i t e
S r i n i v a s a n a n d f a m i l y o w n i n
C
m
s , 4 6 % o
t h
t i s pledged, according to the company ’ s filings with the stock exchanges This transaction marks the exit of Damani, who is also the founder of retail chain DMart, from India
C e m e n t s , w h e r e h e f i r s t i n v e s t e d i n f i s c a l 2 0 2 0
O v e r t h e y e a r s , h e h a d increased his stake to 22 8% from a little over 1 3% Birla to inves t $50 m n in Texas M e a n w h i l e , B i r l a i s i n v e s
build a new chemical plant in the heart of the US oilr e f i n i n g r e g i o n a s h i s
Aditya Birla Group expands i t s N o r t h A m e r i c a n footprint The project will involve a “state-of-the-art advanced materials site” on 3 5 a c r e s i n B e a u m o n t , Texas, an area that’s home to some of the country’s
s , according to a statement T h e p l a n t w i l l h o u s e research-and-development f a c i l i t i e s a n d p r o d u c e epoxies, according to the s t a t e m e n t A d i t y a B i r l a styles itself as the largest Indian investor in the US, with more than $15 billion in assets in the country
Spectrum auction ends in 2 days, fetches £1.13 bn
a
T h e c a s e r e l a t e s t o Infosys’s deal with Vanguard
t h a t w a s s i g n e d i n 2 0 2 0 T h r o u g h t h e p a r t n e r s h i p ,
Infosys said it will assume d a y - t o - d a y o p e r a t i o n s supporting Vanguard’s DC
( d e f i n e d c o n t r i b u t i o n )
r e c o r d - k e e p i n g b u s i n e s s , i n c l u d i n
c i a t e d p r o c e s s e s A r o u n d 1 , 3 0 0 V a n g u a r d
The company, however, said there is no impact on its f i n a n c i a l , o p e r a t i o n a l , o r other activities pursuant to the settlement order
roles transitioned to Infosys
V a n g u a r d w a s t h e l a r g e s t asset manager in the defined
c o n t r i b u t i o n s p a c e , a n d
I n f o s y s w o u l d p r o v i d e a cloud-based record-keeping platform to Vanguard, the order said
T h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n c o n c l u d e s t h a t t h e information related to the
s t r a t e g i c p a r t n e r s h i p w a s covered under the definition
o f u n p u b l i s h e d p r i c esensitive information (UPSI) under the PIT Regulations, 2015
40 per cent rise in India's mobile phone exports With
t h
u g h C h i n a continues to be the leading exporter of mobile handsets, I n d i a i s s h o w i n g n o t a b l e progress
ietnam decreased by 2 78
p er cent and 17 6 per cent
r es p ec ti v e ly i n F Y 24 c om pared to the p revi ou s y ea r In c o nt ras t, I nd ia ’ s m obile p hone exports saw a sig nificant increase of 40 5 p er cent T h e r e p o r t i n d i c a t e d
D a t a f r o m t h e International Trade Centre (ITC) shows that Chinese mobile phone exports fell from $136 3 billion in FY23 to $
decrease, which translates to a $3 8 billion drop, the report noted
S
declined from $31 9 billion in FY23 to $26 27 billion in
exports from both countries totaled $9
Apple Inc has significantly increased its iPhone
The latest spectrum aucti on t o s e l l a i rw a ve s t o m o bi l e comp anies ended wi thi n two d a ys , wi th S u ni l Bh a rt i Mittal’s Bharti Ai rtel buying nearly 60 % of the £ 1 13 bn th at was s old After seven rounds of bi ddi ng, ju st over a quarter or 14 1 Mhz spectrum o f th e 53 3 Mhz th at w as o n of fer c o u l d b e so l d w i th Bh a rt i acquiri ng 97 Mhz across three band s, follo wed by Vod afone ( 30 Mh z ) an d R e l i a nc e Ji o (14 4 Mhz)
The auction revenue will b e l o w e r t h a n g o v t ’ s estimated flow, although an over £20 bn dividend bonanza
f r o m R B I w i l l m o r e t h a n m a k e u p f o r t h e s h o r t f a l l Govt had offered a total of 10
G H z o f s p e c t r u m , r a n g i n g between 800 MHz to 26 GHz, which was worth £9 62 bn at the base or auction start price There were no takers for at least three of the frequencies on offer, generating 12% of the base price
B h a r t i A i r t e l a n d
V o d a f o n e I d e
s u c c e s s
l
r
n e w e
“Spectrum auction 2024 w a s p a r t o f a c o n t i n
providers (TSPs) have taken s
continuity of service but for expanding their services but the volume is limited because already a large part of the
r expired spectrum in 900 MHz and 1,800 MHz bands, and f u r t h e r a n a d d i t i o n a l quantum of 87 2 MHz worth £616 5 mn has been acquired by telcos to augment their s e r v i c e s , D o T s a i d i n a statement
reporters
RBI’s Rs 2,000 note withdrawal reaches 97.87%
Th e Reserve Bank of Ind ia (RBI) on Monday, July 1, said the withdraw al of Rs 2 , 0 0 0 d en o m i na ti o n banknotes reach ed 97 87 per cent as of J une 28 On May 19, 2023
reduced by 2 29 per cent compared to last month's data release In May 2024, the total amount remaining for withdrawal was £775 5 m n T h e r e m a i n i n g notes floating in the system
60 Indians arrested in Sri Lanka for cyber crime operations
C OL OM BO: At least 60 Ind ian nationals, p art of a group engaged in o nline financial scams, have been arrested by Sri Lanka's C rim inal Investig ations Dep artm ent T hey w ere arrested from th e C olombo suburbs of M ad iwela and Battaram ulla and from th e w estern coastal town of Negom bo
A
Nihal Thalduwa, the CID conducted simultaneous raids in these areas, leading to the seizure of 135 mobile phones and 57 laptops T
WhatsApp group promising cash for social media interactions Further investigation
coerced into making deposits after initial payments In Peradeniya, a father-son duo
a
Mirror Lanka newspaper reported
Key evidence uncovered during a luxury house raid in Negombo led to the initial arrest of 13 suspects and the seizure of 57 phones and computers Subsequent opera-
Dubai and Afghanistan Victims included both locals and foreigners, the report added It is suspected that they were involved in financial fraud, illegal betting and various activities of gambling
Court upholds Imran, wife’s jail terms in illegal-marriage case
IS L A M A BA D: A district and sessions court i
appeal seeking suspension of their sentences in a case involving violation o f Islamic law g overning marriag e On Feb 3, five days ahead of the general elections that Imran’s PTI lost, a trial court ruled that the cricketer-turned-politician’s marriage to Bushra Bibi –his third wife – was solemnised without adhering to the stipulated iddat period The couple was sentenced to seven years in jail The petition was filed by Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Fareed Maneka, alleging that his estranged wife did not wait three months, as required under Islamic law after divorce or a spouse ’ s death, b
announced his marriage to Bushra Bibi in Feb 2018, months before he became PM
In response to the verdict, PTI funct i o n a r i e s a n d w o r k e r s p r o t e
Adiala jail, where a court had been set up for Imran’s trial MP Omar Ayub Khan said the party would appeal the decision in a higher court Imran has been battling a slew of charges ranging from corruption to terrorism He was acquitted earlier this month in cipher case, and got bail in another Imran remains in jail due to his conviction and sentencing in the iddat case
Heatwave kills 450 people in Karachi region in four days: NGO
KA R A C H I : A se a ri n g h e a t
w a v e ha s h i t Ka r a ch i , Pa kistan’s big gest ci ty , tha t le d to the de ath of at le ast 450 pe ople ov er the la st four da ys, a lea ding NGO cla ime d The E d hi Fo un d a t i on sa i d i t rece ive d a t least 427 bodie s i n the last four da ys Karachi has been hit by extreme hot weather with soaring mercury crossing 40 degrees, temperatures that are too high for a coastal area “We have four mortuaries operating in Karachi and we have reached a stage where there is no more space to keep more bodies in our m o r t u a r i e s , ” F a i s a l E d h i , who heads the Foundation, said
Anti-terror drive to be intensified, no new military offensive: Pak PM
I S LA M A B AD : Pakistan PM Shehbaz S harif clarified in the face of intense opp osition criticism that th e planned counter-terror-
in brief
MOTEL MANAGER DIES AFTER BEING PUNCHED
Hemant Mistry, a 59-year-old manager at a motel in Grove, died after being attacked on June 22 when he asked 41-year-old Richard Lewis to leave the motel property Lewis punched Mistry to the ground, where police later found him unconscious Despite being taken to a hospital, he succumbed to his injuries the following day according to the Oklahoma police A video of the assault has gone viral on social media In the footage Mistry can be seen engaged in a heated argument with Lewis The argument quickly escalates and Lewis lands a punch on Mistry s face causing him to collapse while Lewis walks away Lewis was later found at another hotel and arrested
2 YOUTHS FROM HARYANA DROWN IN US
Edhi Trust is the largest w e l f a r e f o u n d a t i o n i n Pakistan and provides various free or subsidised services to the poor, homeless, orphan street children, discarded babies and battered women “The sad fact is that many of these bodies have come from areas where a lot of load shedding is going on even in this harshest weather, ” he said
Edhi said most of the bodies belonged to homeless people and drug addicts on t h e s t r e e t s “ T h e e x t r e m e heat wave got them as these p e o p l e s p e n d t h e i r e n t i r e day out in the open searching for fixes,” he said He said on Tuesday itself they
had received 135 bodies at their morgues and 128 on Monday
Karachites also have to b r a v e l o n g h o u r s o f l o a d shedding in many areas with t h e e l e c t r i c i t y s u p p l i e r , Karachi Electric, now claiming it has to resort to power cuts because the Sindh government still has to clear dues of Rs 10 billion The cosmopolitan city, which is also the financial capital of Pakistan, is home to millions of migrants from other parts of the country and also from A f g h a n i s t a n a n d s o m e African countries and this includes hundreds of thousands of drug addicts who live on the streets
Death for Christian man in Pak for sharing hateful posts
M U L T A N : A c o u rt i n P a ki s tan s en ten ce d a C hristian m an to death for s h a ri ng w h at i t sa i d w a s h a te fu l c o nt ent a g ai ns t
M u sl im s o n s o ci al m ed i a after one of th e worst m ob attacks on Ch ristians in the eastern Pu njab province last year, h is lawyer said, add ing h e will app eal the v erdict In Aug 2023, groups of Muslim men burned dozens of homes and churches in the city of Jaranwala after some residents claimed they saw two Christian men teari n g o u t p a g e s f r o m t h e Quran, throwing them on t h e g r o u n d a n d w r i t i n g insulting remarks on other pages, authorities said Ehsan Shan, though not party to the desecration, was a c
on his TikTok account, his
said He also said he would
sentence issued
police officer who arrested Shan, said the man shared “
defaced pages of the Quran
sensitive time when authorities were already struggling to contain violence ”
(IBOs) rath er than lau nching a new, org anised military offensive Sharif had announced plans to launch a f
f f e n s i v e , n a m e d “ A z m - e -
Istehkam (Resolve for Stability)”, to elimin a t e t e r r o r i s m a n d e x t r e m
announcement drew sharp reactions from
nationals had likely influenced the decision Defence minister Khawaja Asif, meanwhile, said a majority of operations under “ A z m
Afghanistan “The operation has no political motive, its sole purpose is to counter surge in terrorism ”
“We fought two wars under Zia-ul-Haq and Musharraf for US interests This operation, however, is being conducted on our own terms, not at behest of China or anyone else,” he said, assuring there would be no evacuations
Kenya president backs down on tax hikes after unrest leaves 23 dead
N A I R O B I : K e nya n P re z Wi ll i am Ru to w i th d rew p la nn ed tax hikes, bowing to p re s su re f ro m protesters w ho had sto rm ed parliament, l au nc h ed d em o nstrations across the country and threatened m ore action this week
The move will be seen as a major victory for a week-old, youth-led protest movement that grew from online condemnations of tax rises into mass rallies demanding a political overhaul, in the most serious crisis of Ruto’s 2-year-old presidency
But some demonstrators said on social media that despite Ruto’s climb down they would go ahead with a rally, with many reiterating demands that he resign
Ruto announced he would not sign a finance bill including the tax increases, a day after violent clashes between police and protesters at the assembly and nationwide l e f t a t l e a s t 2 3 p e o p l e d e a d a n d s c o r e s wounded, according to medics
“Listening keenly to the people of Kenya who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this finance bill 2024, I concede And therefore, I will not sign the 2024 finance bill, and it shall subsequently be withdrawn,” he said in a televised address with lawmakers
Ruto said he would now start a dialogue w i t h K e n y a n y o u t h , w i t h o u t g o i n g i n t o details, and work on austerity measuresbeginning with cuts to the budget of the presidency - to make up the difference in the country’s finances
In a tragic incident two youths hailing from Kaithal district of Haryana drowned in the US The deceased have been identified as Sachin Kumar (22) and Pargat Singh (27), residents of Mohna village of Pundri As per information, Pargat, along with his three friends, went to a lake in California While Sachin reportedly drowned in the lake, Pargat was rescued and shifted to a hospital, where he died later Pargat’s father said his son went to the US about eight years ago and had come home in January for his wedding Meanwhile, Naresh Kumar, Sachin’s uncle, said: “Sachin was sent to America through the ‘donkey route’ after selling one-acre land in 2022
INDIAN ORIGIN MAN JAILED FOR FATAL GANG FIGHT
A 25-year-old Indian-origin man in Singapore was sentenced to more than a year in jail and fined SGD 2,000 for his involvement in a rival gang-inspired brawl at a hotel here in 2023 in which one person was killed Sharvin Jay Nair pleaded guilty to one charge of voluntarily causing hurt to Mohammad Isrrat Mohd Ismail, who died following the brawl at the hotel in the tourist belt of Orchard Road The Straits Times newspaper reported Nair who also admitted to other charges was sentenced to 12 months and eight weeks in jail by a court here More than 10 men have been charged over their alleged involvement in the brawl
MINISTER HELD FOR ‘PERFORMING BLACK MAGIC’
Police in the Maldives have arrested a state environment minister, with media in the Indian Ocean nation reporting she was accused of performing “black magic” on the president State minister for environment, climate change and energy, Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem was arrested along with two others in Male, police said She has been remanded in custody for a week pending investigations, officers added without giving details for her arrest “There have been reports that Shamnaz was arrested for performing black magic on President Mohamed Muizzu, said the Sun, a local media outlet
US HOUSE RESOLUTION SEEKS PROBE INTO PAK ELECTIONS
The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a resolution supporting democracy and human rights in Pakistan urging an independent probe into claims of irregularities in the country s Feb 8 general elections The polls were plagued by a nationwide mobile internet shutdown on election day arrests and violence during the lead up, and unusually delayed results These issues led to accusations of the vote being rigged The resolution passed by a 368-7 vote urged Prez Biden to collaborate with Pakistan in upholding democracy, human rights, and rule of law Islamabad criticised the resolution saying that it was neither constructive nor objective due to its lack of understanding of Pakistan s political situation and electoral process
William Ruto
in brief
CHINA LUNAR PROBE RETURNS WITH SAMPLES OF THE MOON
China s Chang e 6 probe returned on Earth with rock and soil samples from the littleexplored far side of the moon in a global first The probe landed in northern China last week in the Inner Mongolian region Chinese scientists anticipate the returned samples will include 2 5 million-year-old volcanic rock and other material that scientists hope will answer questions about geographic differences on the moon’s two sides The near side is what is seen from Earth, and the far side faces outer space The far side is also known to have mountains and impact craters, contrasting with the relatively flat expanses visible on the near side
TRUDEAU’S PARTY SUFFERS MAJOR UPSET
Canadian PM Trudeau’s Liberal party has suffered a major upset in a special election for a Toronto district it has held for three decades, raising doubts about Trudeau’s leadership ahead of next year’s general election Elections Canada reported that opposition Conservative candidate Don Stewart won the Toronto-St Paul’s district by almost 600 votes 42 1% over the Liberal candidate’s 40 5% with all 192 polling stations The Liberals had held Toronto-St Paul’s since 1993 It is one of 338 seats in Canada s House of Commons Losing in Canada s largest city, a traditional Liberal stronghold, does not bode well for Trudeau ahead of the election expected in the fall of 2025
RUSSIA STARTS SECRET TRIAL FOR US SCRIBE
US journalist Evan Gershkovich went on trial behind closed doors in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg where he faces charges of espionage and a likely sentence of up to 20 years in prison Prosecutors say the Wall Street Journal reporter gathered secret information on the orders of the US Central Intelligence Agency about a company that manufactures tanks for Russia’s war in Ukraine Gershkovich, his newspaper and the US govt all reject the allegations and say that he was just doing his job as a reporter accredited by the foreign ministry to work in Russia “This bogus accusation of espionage will inevitably lead to a bogus conviction for an innocent man, Wall Street Journal editorin-chief Emma Tucker said in a letter
ASSANGE RETURNS HOME AFTER US PLEA DEAL
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange landed to an ecstatic welcome in Australia after pleading guilty to violating US espionage law in a deal that sets him free from a 14-year legal battle Assange disembarked from a private jet at Canberra airport waving to waiting media and cheering supporters before passionately kissing his wife, Stella, and lifting her off the ground He embraced his father before entering the terminal building with his legal team Assange has not spoken publicly since being released and did not appear at a Wikileaks press conference at a hotel in Canberra where Stella said it was too soon to say what her husband would do next
N KOREA'S HYPERSONIC MISSILE EXPLODES IN FLIGHT
A suspected hypersonic missile launched by North Korea exploded in flight, South Korea s military said The missile was travelling off the North’s east coast before it blew up, South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said Missile fragments were scattered in the water up to 250 km from the launch site near North Korea’s capital, it said No damage was immediately reported The joint chiefs of staff said the launch generated more smoke than normal, possibly because of an engine fault
Trudeau's party MP slams decision to honour Nijjar in Parliament
OT T A WA : A Canad ian M em ber of Parliament (M P) from Prime Minister Justin T rud eau's party h as co n d em ned t h e g o v
ment's
of
eep
Singh Nijj ar's death by holding a mom ent of silence in the House of C omm ons Chandra Arya, a L ib era
Canada, condemned th e tribute, saying it was inapp ropriate to honour Nijjar
Parliament observes a minute of
Canadians immensely for most of their lives, and Nijjar didn't at all fit into it, reports The Globe and Mail
MPs from all parties took a moment to honour Nijjar, who was murdered outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2 0 2 3 J u
there were "credible allegations" linking the murder to the Indian
between Canada and India India vehemently denied any such involvement, and termed
motivated"
Arya pointed to a Globe and
links to extremism, his entry into Canada
Chicago billionaire Rishi Shah gets 7.5 year sentence for fraud
CHI CAGO: Former Outcome
Health CEO Ris hi Shah, on ce feted in the ci ty, has bee n se ntenced to 7 5 years i n pris on f or orche st rat in g a bi
che me
lavis h lif esty le fea turing private aircraft and yachts
US District Judge Thomas Durkin handed down the sentence after a hearing for Shah and his co-defendants, former O
P
Operating Officer Brad Purdy
Among other things, authorities will seize Shah’s $8 million mansion on the North Side of Chicago following his sentenc-
ing Shah,38, the son of a doctor, dropped out of Northwestern University to start a previous company which morphed into Outcome Health Estimated to be several billion dollars worth b
American’s flash it was found was all based on lies and fraud Outcome Health installed television screens and tablets in doctors’ offices nationwide and sold advertising space on these d
Indian-American couple jailed for forcing cousin to work at petrol pump
WA SH I NG TON : A US court has s en t en c ed an I n d i a n - A mer i c an couple to prison for coercin g thei r relati ve to work at thei r gas stati on an d con v en i ence s tore fo r over three years by brin gin g hi m to the Uni ted States on the pretext of helpin g enrol hi m in a school
Harmanpreet Singh, 31, was sentenced to 135 months (11 25 years) in prison and Kulbir Kaur, 43, to 87 months (7 25 years) by the court that also asked them to pay the victim, his cousin, USD 2
mately) in restitution The couple has since divorced
their relationship with the victim to lure him to the United States w
would help enrol him in school,"
Division said
"The defendants confiscated the victim's immigration docum
threats, physical force and mental abuse to coerce him to work long hours for minimal pay," she said
"This sentence should send a strong message that such forced labour will not be tolerated in our communities," she added US Attorney Jessica D Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia said the defendants preyed on the victim's earnest desire to attain an education and improve his life
Instead, they deprived him of the most basic human needs and robbed him of his freedom, the attorney said T
trial demonstrated that in 2018, the defendants enticed the victim, Singh's cousin and then a minor, to travel to the US from India with false promises of helpi n g e n r o l h i m i n s c h o o l , t h e Department of Justice said It said that after the victim arrived in the US, the defendants took his immigration documents and instead forced him to provide labour and services at Singh's s t o r e f o r o v e r t h
y e a r s , between March 2018 and May 2021
inventory the company did not have and then under-delivered on its advertising campaigns D
clients as if it had delivered in full
They lied or caused others to lie to conceal the underdeliveries from clients, creating the illusion that the company w a
a l obligations Purdy and others at Outcome also inflated metrics to show increased patient e n g a g e m e n t w i t h O u t c o m e ’ s tablets This scheme, which ran from 2011 to 2017, resulted in at least $45 million in over billed
advertising services, according to the Department of Justice
The three were also conv
investors The under-delivery to advertising clients led to
and 2016 Shah was convicted of five counts of mail fraud, 10 c
counts of bank fraud, and two counts of money laundering Agarwal, who awaits sentenc-
counts of wire fraud, and two counts of bank fraud
Indian farmworkers protest 'slavery' conditions in Italy after grisly death
L A T I N A ( I T A L Y ) : T h o u sa nd s o f I nd ia n farm labourers u rged an end to "slav ery" in Italy after the g ruesome death of a worker shone a lig ht on th e brutal exploitation o f u n d o cu m ent ed mig rants
S a t n a m S i n g h , 3 1 , who had been working w i t h o u t l e g a l p a p e r s , died last week after his arm was sliced off by a machine The farmer he was working for dumped him by the road, along with his severed limb "He was thrown out like a dog There is exploitation every day, we suffer it every day, it must end now," said Gurmukh Singh, head of the Indian community in the Lazio region of central Italy "We come here to
work, not to die," he said
Kamala Harris is top choice to replace Joe Biden
WA S HIN G TO N : A n ew poll has foun d Vice Preside nt Kama la Har ris is the t op choice to re pla ce Pr esiden t Joe Bide n should he a ba ndon his r eelection campa ign Biden 's r ecen t sha ky de ba te performa nce ha s led some De mocr at s t o con sid er whe the r he should be r eplaced on t he ballot before Nov ember
The Biden campaign has said the president is not dropping out If he did, Harris, his vice president and running mate, would most likely join other top Democrats looking to replace him at the top of the ticket A Data for Progress flash poll, found Harris was the most popular choice to replace Biden The poll surveyed 1,011 US likely voters, including 387 Democratic likely voters, and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points
Asked who should be picked if the Democratic Party holds a convention among party members to choose a replacement for Biden, 39 per cent of Democrat respondents chose Harris
The Biden campaign has been contacted for comment Seth Schuster, a Biden campaign spokesman, previously told Newsweek: "Joe Biden is not dropping out "
Children held up colourful s i g n s r e a d i n g " J u s t i c e f o r Satnam Singh" as the procession snaked through Latina, a city in a rural area south of Rome that is home to tens of thousands of Indian migrant workers Indians have worked in the A g r o P o n t i n o - t h e P o n t i n e Marshes - since the mid-1980s, h a r v e s t i n g p u m p k i n s , l e e k s , beans and tomatoes, and working on flower farms or in buffalo mozzarella production
S i n g h ' s d e a t h i s b e i n g investigated, but it has sparked a wider debate in Italy over how to tackle systemic abuses in the agriculture sector, where use of undocumented workers and their abuse by farmers or gangmasters is rife "Satnam died in one day, I die every day Because I too am a labour victim," said Parambar Singh, whose eye was seriously hurt in a work accident My boss said he couldn't take me to hospital because I didn't have a contract," said the 33-year-old, w h o h a s s t r u g g l e d t o w o r k since "I have been waiting 10 months for justice," he said
India's Army, Navy chiefs from same state, same class
In a first in India’s military h istory, the Army and Navy
c h ief s a re fro m th e sam e state, school and batch In fact, they used to sh are the s a m e b enc h i n th e classroom
Chief of Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi, who took
batch) in MP Their story is like one of brothers beyond
went through the gruelling
Defence Academy together
Sainik School Rewa has p
n 7 0 0 military officers, including at least 25 of General rank, two of whom are now fourstar Service chiefs “It is a very proud moment for us, our school and our state It’s for the first time that chiefs
o f t w o w i n g s o f a r m e d
f o r c e s a r e c l a s s m a t e s a n d schoolmates and from the
s a m e s t a t e , ” s a i d D r R S P a n d e y , s e n i o r m a s t e r a t
Sainik School Rewa
The school principal was
i n v i t e d t o t h e c e r e m o n y
w h e r e G e n D w i v e d i t o o k
charge of India’s 1 3 millionstrong Army Several of his classmates were there, too “Our batch is a closeknit family Even today, 18 of us are here as our batchmate a n d f r i e n d G e n D w i v e d i t a k e s c
Tiwari, a classmate, said
“Both of them were very
m c o n t r o v
s i e s T h e y were never a part of any groupism, which is normal d u
School of Life Sciences at APS University, Rewa, and currently with TRS College, Rewa
School records of Gen Dwivedi say he was an above a
Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha hospitalised
V e ter an B o ll yw o o d ac to r -
p olitician S hatrug han Sinha,
7 7 , h as be en a d m it ted to K o k i lab en D h ir u bh a i
A m ba ni H o s p i tal i n M umbai S hatru ghan’ s son
L uv S i nh a c o nf ir m ed th e news
Luv said, “Dad had viral fever and weakness in the last couple of days so we decided to admit him to the
h o s p i t a l ” S h a t r u g h a n
S i n h a ’ s h o s p i t a l i s a t i o n
c o m e s d a y s a f t e r h i s daughter Sonakshi Sinha’s
i n t e r f a i t h w e d d i n g w i t h Zaheer Iqbal
A c t o r s S o n a k s h i S i n h a and Zaheer Iqbal exchanged
v o w s i n a n i n t i m a t e
c e r e m o n y o n J u n e 2 3 , sealing their love in a private
c e l e b r a t i o n t h a t w a s n o t h i n g s h o r t o f h e a r t w a r m i n g T h e n e w l y w e d s w e r e r e c e n t l y s p o t t e d a r r i v i n g h a n d i n hand for a family dinner, in
M u m b a i , r a d i a t i n g n e w l y married glow and infectious energy
Mischievous as a boy and
commanding
battalion in Op Rakshak and a sector in O
Infantry
punctual, who never said
themselves heard Also, both
connected with their alma mater The school has been
Admiral Tripathi took over as Navy chief in May Gen D
doubled the joy
Shatrughan Sinha
Prior to the wedding, S h a t r u g h a n S i n h a h a d a h e c t i c c a m p a i g n s c h e d u l e for the Lok Sabha polls The T r i n a m o o l C o n g r e s s M P w o n f r o m W e s t B e n g a l ’ s A s a n s o l c o n s t i t u e n c y b y 59,564 votes
Bishnoi gang planned Moose Walalike hit on Salman: Chargesheet A
m obile p hones, fo rmatio n of a W h at s A p p g ro u p , t o w e r l
s , s u gg es t s t h a t m e m b er s o f j a il e d g an gs t e r La w r en c e
Bish no i’s gang were p lanning
t o ki l l a c to r Sa l ma n K h a n w ith so p his tic ated weap ons f rom P akistan incl uding AK47, th e chargesh eet f iled by th e P anvel po lice s aid
The attack was allegedly p l a n n e d t o b e c a r r i e d o u t either during the movie shoot o r w h i l e l e a v i n g h e w a s leaving his Panvel farmhouse, w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n t o k i l l Khan in a manner similar to Sidhu Moose Wala’s murder, according to the chargesheet
The Panvel police submitted
a 3 5 0 - p a g e c h a r g e s h e e t
a g a i n s t f i v e B i s h n o i g a n g m e m b e r s t o t h e P a n v e l magistrate court last week, detailing the plot, planned attack and escape routes
The chargesheet was filed
a g a i n s t f i v e a c c u s e d : D h a n a n j a y T a p s i n g h a l i a s Ajay Kashyap (28), Gautam V i n o d B h a t i a ( 2 9 ) , V a s p i Mehmood Khan alias China ( 3 6 ) , R i z w a n H a s s a n a l i a s Javed Khan (25), and Deepak H a w a s i n g h a l i a s J o h n Walmiki (30) The police have invoked IPC Sections 120 B ( c r i m i n a l c o n s p i r a c y ) , 1 1 5 ( a b
) ,
n
5 0 6 ( 2 ) (criminal intimidation) I n e a r l y A p r i l , P a n v e l p o l i c e i n s p e c t o r N i t i n T h a c k e r a y g o t i n t e l l i g e n c e reports about Bishnoi gang members planning an attack o n K h a n I n v e s t i g a t i o n s r e v e a l e d j
5 soldiers in tank swept away in Ladakh floods
F i v e A rm y m
w n ed wh en their tank go t stuck after a flash flood in Shyok river in the Daulat Beg Oldie ( D BO ) r eg i o n o f e as te rn Ladakh, which is near the Line of Actual C ontro l w ith C hina
The Russian-origin T72 main-battle tank, which had a crew of one junior c o m m i s s i o n e d o f
(JCO) and four jawans, was
military exercise when the
e v e l ” a r o u n d midnight
“ R e s c u e t e a m s , i n c l u d i n g c o m b a t engineers in boats, rushed t o t h e l o c a t i o n B u t t h e soldiers could not be saved due to the strong current in
the swollen river All the b o d i e s w e r e l a t e r recovered,” an officer said The 52 Armoured Regiment s o l d i e r s w h o d i e d w e r e identified as MRK Reddy ( J C O ) , S u b h a n K h a n , B h u p e n d r a N e g i , E k e i d a u n g T e i b a m a n d Sadarbonia Nagaraju T h e n i g h
place amid the continuing military confrontation with C
which is into
fifth year n
Organisation, incidentally, is
in the final stages
supari (contract) to
WhatsApp group with 15-16 members, including Bishnoi’s Canada-based cousin Anmol B i s h n o i , G o l d y B r a r , A j a y Kashyap, Vinod Bhatia, Vaspi Mehmood Khan alias China and Rizwan Hassan Khan to
the attack
Kashyap rented a house near Khan’s
116 killed in stampede at religious event in Uttar Pradesh
A t l eas t 1 1 6 p eo p l e, includi ng 10 6 wom en and seven children, were killed after a stam ped e broke out at a relig ious ev ent in Uttar P ra d es h ' s H at h ras o n Tuesday, o fficials said T he stamp ed e occurred d uring a ' sa ts ang ' ( p ray er m ee ti ng ) w h i c h w as at ten d ed b y thousand s In a post on X, Chief
M i n i s t e r Y o g i A d i t y a n a t h said instructions have been given to officials to conduct relief and rescue operations
o n a w a r f o o t i n g a n d t o provide proper treatment to t h e i n j u r e d H e s a i d t w o state ministers have left for t h e v i l l a g e a n d t h e C h i e f Secretary and the Director General of Police have also been sent there He said a committee has been set up to investigate the incident
P r i m e M i n i s t e r
N a r e n d r a M o d i a n d President Droupadi Murmu also expressed condolences
to the families of those who were killed and said they were praying for the speedy recovery of the injured PM
M o d i s a i d t h e C e n t r e i s extending all possible help t o t h e U t t a r P r a d e s h government
I n s p e c t o
Mathur, said, "So far, 116 deaths have been confirmed Twenty seven bodies are in the Etah mortuary and the rest are in Hathras They h a v
the organisers
Army rolls out phase-II of Agniveer recruitment
A r m y ha s a n n o un c ed p ha s e I I o f A g n i v e e r r e c r ui t m e n t p r oc es s “T h i s p ha s e m ar k s a s i g n i f i c an t m i l e s t on e i n t h e A r m y ’ s e f f o rt s t o t ra n s f o r m i t s re qui rem en ts proc ed ures and ens ure a sea mless and effi cien t selec ti on proc ess f o r a s p i r i n g c a n d i d a t e s T h e re c ru i t m e n t ra l l y i s free, fai r, and trans paren t s o a ll c a n d i d a t e s a re a d v i s e d n ot t o a p pr o ac h a n y ty p e o f t o ut , ” P R O defen ce, Guwahati sa id
T h e A g n i p a t h r e c r u i t m e n t s c h e m e w a s rolled out in June 2022 for s h o r t - t e r m i n d u c t i o n o f personnel with the aim of b r i n g i n g d o w n t h e a g e profile of the three services
U n d e r t h e s c h e m e , r e c r u i t m e n t o f y o u t h s between the age bracket of 17-and-half years and 21 for four years is done with a provision to retain 25% of them for 15 more years
T h e r e c r u i t m e n t p r o c e s s i n v o l v e s t w o phases, the first being an
Army Chief Designate Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi (L) and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi (R)
India calls US religious freedom report as 'deeply biased'
I n d i a hi t out a t t he U S s t at e
d e pa r tm e n t r e li g i ou s f re e d om report, saying it’s deeply b iased, lacks understanding about India’ s s oci al fab ric and is dri ven by vote b ank cons iderations In a lengthy respons e, Indian govt also told US that the “legitimate” dialogue on h um a n r i gh ts an d r e s pe c t f or d i ve rs i t y s hou ld n ot b e c om e a lic ence for forei gn interference in other polities
A s i t s l a m m e d t h e r e p o r t , Indian govt said it has also raised with American authorities “political space to advocates of extremism and terrorism abroad”
e
Releasing the annual report on
world this week, secretary of state A n t o n y B l
k e n h a d s a i d t h a t there’s a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities in India
Rejecting the report, foreign m i n i s
itself is a mix of imputations, misrepre- sentations, selective usage of facts, reliance on biased sources a n d
issues “This extends even to the depiction of our Constitutional provisions and duly enacted laws of India It has selectively picked incidents to advance a preconceived narrative as well,” said MEA
spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal
In some cases, he said, the very validity of laws and regulations are questioned by the report, as are the right of legislatures to e n a c
s
appears to challenge the integrity of certain legal judgments given by Indian courts, added the official
While there’s little risk of US taking any action against India, like including it in its annual black list of countries violating religious freedom, Indian govt sees such reports and remarks as pinpricks not in consonance with the growing strategic partnership between the two democracies
Medha Patkar gets 5-month jail in Delhi LG defamation case
A Delhi court sentenced activist M edha Patkar to five months of s imple imprisonment in a c ri minal defamation case f iled by Delhi L G VK S ax e n a The c ou rt of m etropolitan ma gi strate Raghav Sharma took note of the 70-yearold ac ti vi st’ s age and medical condition but observed that thes e factors “do not absolve her of the s erious nature of her offence”
The court also directed Patkar to pay Rs 10,00,000 as compensation to Saxena saying that the imposition of such a substantial fine would serve as a compensatory measure for the complainant It r e c o g n i s e s t h e “ e x t e n s i v e h a r m and prolonged suffering the complainant had endured over the 2324 years of legal battle” and was a tangible acknowledgement of his pain and distress, said the court
The offence entailed a maxi-
imprisonment of up to two years or fine or both
The sentence will remain suspended for 30 days to give Patkar e n o u g h
appeal, said the court It had on May 24 convicted the activist in the case filed in 2000 by Saxena
National Council of Civil Liberties
release
“The unfounded accusations, such as involvement in hawala transactions and compromising the interests of Gujarat's people for foreign entities, were designed to ruin the complainant's public image and credibility The comp
damage to his reputation, trustworthiness and social standing These defamatory remarks led to s
o n a l hardships, forcing complainant to s u f f e r t h r o u
drawn-out legal battle for over 20 years, ” said the court
Rahul’s ‘Hindu’ remark in Lok Sabha sparks faceoff with PM Modi
The much-anticipated showdown
b e t we e n N ar e n dr a Mo di an d R ahul Gandhi un folded in dramatic fashi on i n Lok Sabha wi th t he n ew l y- a p poi n t e d le a d er of opposition saying, “ those who call
t he m s e lv e s H i n d us i n du lg e i n h a tr e d, v i ol e nc e a n d un t ru th s 2 4x7 ” , drawing a strong rebuttal from the prime minister Rahul’s remarks, during the debate on the motion of thanks o n t h e P r e s i d e n t ’ s a d d r e s s , inflamed what was already building up as an intense duel Modi immediately got up to protest, saying, “Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a serious issue ” I n h i s r h e t o r i c a l , d r a m a t i c style, Rahul shot back, “Modiji is not the entire Hindu community, BJP and RSS are not BJP does not have the community’s contract A Hindu can never spread violence or fear or hatred, but BJP all the time is hatred and violence, hatred and violence ”
T h e e x c h a n g e w a s o n e o f m a n y w h i c h m a r k e d R a h u l s maiden speech as leader of oppos i t i o n W h i l e h e a p p e a r e d c h a r g e d , t a r g e t i n g
MSP, an indication of BJP’s combative intent came right at the outset in the form of the PM’s riposte to Rahul’s jibe about his face betraying no expression “I
h a v e b e e n t a u g h t b y t h e Constitution and democracy to take the LoP seriously,” Narendra Modi said The PM got support from his senior colleagues Home
m i n i s t e r A m i t S h a h s u p p o r t e d M o d i ’ s c h a r g e t h a t R a h u l h a d insulted Hindus
“Crores of people in the coun-
t r y p r o u d l y c a l l t h e m s e l v e s
H i n d u s A r e t h e y a l l s p e a k i n g about violence? Linking violence to any religion, that too by some-
b o d y h o l d i n g a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p o s i t i o n I b e l i e v e h e s h o u l d apologise,” Shah said With the t r e a s u r y b e n c h e s u p i n a r m s , Rahul retorted, “Aap Hindu ho hi nahin (You are not Hindus) ” Rahul said when the opposition was “violently crushed”, with two chief ministers put in jail, they sought refuge in “Shivji”, as he flashed a poster of the deity The Speaker and BJP members objected to it He said the snake
a r o u n d S h i v a ’ s n e c k , t r i d e n t b e h i n d h i s l e f t s h o u l d e r a n d “ a b h a y m u d r a ” t a u g h t f e a r l e s sness, non-violence and courage
H e s a i d t h e B J P l e a d e r s h i p spent 10 years spreading “hate, fear and violence” against anyone who opposed their policies, calling s u c h a c t i o n s c o n t r a r y t o t h e teachings of Lord Shiva and precepts of other religions He said the two BJP tenures witnessed relentless assault on the founda-
India's envoy to Türkiye Virander
Paul passes away
India's external affairs m inister S J a is h a nka r and t h e d i p lo m a ti c com munity m ourned the demise o f Ind ian diplomat Virander Paul, w ho was Ind ia’ s envoy to Türkiye Jaishankar described Paul’s demise a s a “ g reat l os s ” to th e Ind i an F oreign S ervice (IFS) in a p ost on X P aul was know n for his imp actful professional contribu tion and d ied in New Delhi last week following p rolonged illness
A 1991-batch IFS officer, Paul was struggling with health issues for over one-and-a-half years and he breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi last week Paul held a medical degree from AIIMS Paul is survived by his wife Racheline and two daughters
B e f o r e h i s a p p o i n t m e n t a s India’s ambassador to Türkiye in the second half of 2022, he served as India’s High Commissioner to K e n y a a n d A m b a s s a d o r t o Somalia Prior to these roles, he was an additional secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, focusing on multilateral engagement in India’s neighbourhood Academic Omair Anas of the Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University also in a tweet grieved the passing
of the diplomat and highlighted h i s c o n
Türkiye relations
In his illustrious career, Paul also served as deputy high com-
(2013-2016), Minister (Press) at the
(2010-2013), Director in the Prime M
2010, and Counsellor (Political) at the Indian Embassy in Moscow from 2003-2007 He also held diplomatic positions in the Indian missions in Almaty, Vladivostok, Rome and St Petersburg During his other pre-
External Affairs Headquarters, he
Americas Divisions
PM hails people for ‘unwavering faith’
in constitution
Address ing h is first ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast after returning to o ffice f or a third s traight term , PM N arendra Mo di hailed peo ple “fo r h aving reiterated their unwavering f aith in o ur Co ns titu tio n and th e demo cratic sys tem s o f the c ountry” w hile wish ing Indian ath letes h eaded to th e P aris O lympics
t i o n a l i d e a s o f I n d i a a n d t h e Constitution, with farmers, students, small businessmen, opposition leaders and soldiers bearing the brunt of whimsical policies and “vendetta” He also repeatedly mocked PM as “non-biological” who has “direct connection with the almighty”, ribbing Modi on his campaign-time claims
Referring to the Lok Sabha elections, he said, “The 2024 elections were the biggest elections in the world An election as big as this, in which 650 million people cast their votes, has never taken place in any other country in the world For this, I c o n g r a t u l a t e t h e E l e c t i o n Commission and everyone involved in the voting process ”
Returning to his radio broadcast in its 111th episode after taking a pause before the LS polls in Feb, Modi expressed delight to be back Using a Sanskrit phrase “IIti Vida Punarmilanaaya (I take leave of you,
to meet again)”, he said, “With this very feeling, I had told you in Feb that I will meet you again after the election results And today, with ‘Mann Ki Baat’, I am again present among you ”
As the Indian continent will be l e a v i n g f o r t h e P a r i s O l y m p i c s , Modi recalled the performance of Indian athletes in Tokyo four years ago “Indian players together have participated in nearly 900 international competitions since the Tokyo Olympics This is a very big number The whole country is hoping that o u r p l a y e r s p e r f o r m w e l l i n t h e Olympics as well win medals in these games and also win the hearts of the countrymen ” He introduced a hashtag #Cheer4Bharat, to support the Paris-bound Olympians PM made an appeal to boost the plantation drive, ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke N a a m ’ , l a u n c h e d o n W o r l d Environment Day on June 5
Soren gets bail as HC says there’s no reason to believe he is guilty
Jharkhand high court ordered former CM Hemant Soren’s releas e on b a il a f t e r 1 4 9 da y s in c us t o dy , ob serving that “ none of t he registers /revenue rec or ds ” cited by ED in its land s cam and m oney laundering probe “bear imprint of the direct involvem ent of the pet itioner”
“The overall conspectus of the case, based on broad probabilities, does not specifically or indirectly assign the petitioner to be involved in the acquisition and possession as well as concealment of 8 86 acres of l a n d a t S h a n t i N a g a r , B a r a g a i n , Ranchi, connected to the proceeds of crime,” the single-judge bench of Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay said Soren, who had resigned as CM hours before his Jan 31 arrest to pave the way for Champai Soren to take over, walked out of Ranchi’s Birsa Munda jail to chants of “jail ka
t a l a t o o t g a y a , H e m a n t S o r e n chhoot gaya ” from a crowd of supporters In his first remarks after his release, he said, “A story was concocted to keep me inside jail for five months The entire country knows why I was imprisoned The Delhi chief minister (Arvind Kejriwal) is in jail At times I get worried at the w a y p o l i t i c i a n s , c h i e f m i n i s t e r s , ministers, social workers, writers and journalists are being imprisoned in recent times in an effort to muffle their voices ” ED has alleged that Soren misused his position as chief minister to “unlawfully” acquire the land in Baragain It said witnesses it had examined alleged Soren’s involvement Additional solicitor general S V R a j u , r e
Soren’s media consultant Abhishek Prasad had informed the agency
that the ex-CM had instructed him to influence circle office employees of Baragain into altering official documents to change the nature and ownership of the land in the r e
H
l s
n
tioned that ED seized from Vinod Kumar, an aide of Soren, a construction plan for a banquet hall on the disputed land The location and dimension of the land matches the 8 86-acre plot in Badgain, the additional solicitor general said I n t h e c o u r t r o o m , S o r e n ’ s counsel and Supreme Court advocate Kapil Sibal accused ED of tampering with evidence and producing false documents to frame his client in the land case “The original landowner, Raj Kumar Pahan, filed for restoration of the land in his name and this has already been processed,” he said
Virander Paul
Medha Patkar
a
SOUTH INDIA in
Former YSRCP MLA who smashed EVM during polling arrested
H Y D E R A B A D : P ol ic e in A
hr a Pra desh hav e ar rest ed for mer YSR CP
MLA Pin ne lli Rama kr ishn a R eddy for allege dly grabbin g an d sma shing to th e gr ound an electron ic vot ing ma chin e (EVM) a t a polling booth on Ma y 13 , whe n v oting for simultan eous Assembly an d Pa rlia men t e le ct ion wa s in prog ress in t he stat e
Reddy, who was caught on CCTV inside the polling booth, had applied for bail after an FIR was registered against him The High Court last week rejected his anticipatory bail and directed the police to take him into custody
R e d d y i s a f
t i m e M L A f r o m
Macherla Assembly constituency He won on a Congress ticket in 2004 and 2009 before switching to the YSRCP and winning the 2012 bypoll He also won the polls in 2014 and 2019 polls
The FIR against him states that on May 13, Pinnelli vented his ire at several p o l l i n g b o o t h s i n t h e M a c h e r l a constituency after coming to know that he was lagging behind his TDP rival It was at a polling booth in Palvaigate in
damaged the EVM
The MLA allegedly attacked TDP agent Namburi Seshagiri Rao, who tried
alleged that Pinnelli instigated YSRCP
managers and leaders
Reddy was named as accused in the case Another FIR against him states that on May 14, he, along with his brother Venkatrami Reddy’s followers, created a ruckus in Karempudi village, allegedly disrupting the voting process
Since then, he had gone into hiding, fearing that he would be arrested He filed a bail petition in the High Court, w
However, last week the court rejected his anticipatory bail, leading to him being taken into custody
Chargesheet filed against Yediyurappa in POSCO case
B ENG A LU R U : The C ID in K arnataka fi led a 7 50-p age ch argesh eet agains t form er c h i ef m i ni s te r B S Yediyurappa of BJP and three others alleging sexual assault o n a 1 7 - ye ar- o l d g ir l th at contains the statem ents of 7 4 witnesses in a Po cso cou rt D e p u t y S P a n d investigating officer Puneeth Kumar R cited forensic and digital evidence while naming Yediyurappa as the first accused in the chargesheet, filed under sections 8 (sexual assault) of the Pocso Act and 354 A (sexual harassment), 204 (destruction of evidence), and 214 (inducement to shield offender) of the IPC The other t
Mariswamy
Rudresh and Mariswamy stand accused of visiting the survivor's house after the alleged assault and later
mother to Yediyurappa’s house, where they deleted a purportedly incriminating video stored on a phone and also uploaded to Facebook The chargesheet mentions that Rudresh gave Rs 200,000 to the girl's mother as hush money, allegedly on Yediyurappa's instructions,
investigators interrogated the 81-year-old ex-CM and recorded his statement on June 17 The statements of his co-accused were recorded earlier
Revolt in SAD: Senior leaders ask Badal to quit party leadership
C H A N D I G A R H : A re v o lt erupted in Shiromani Akali Dal (SA D), days after th e party’s rout in the L ok Sabh a polls in P unjab, with a sizeable section of senior netas urg ing SA D chief Sukh bir Singh Badal to hand over the p ar ty ’ s rei ns i n th
ty ag
(
c e) to so m eo ne “ wh o can m aintai n a balance between relig ion and politics”
The faction loyal to Badal hit back with district presidents and constituency in charges passing
p rooted conspiracies by BJP” to divide and weaken the party by
“ some selfish and opportunistic
constituency in-charges lauded
Badal’s leadership Badal said at a meeting at the
SAD to become a puppet of antiPanth designs Those ready to betray Panth, Punjab, farmers and the deprived sections of the people are free to follow their course ” A
SAD’s core vote base - the Sikhs - have turned against the party since the Bargari sacrilege and B
n 2015 during the SAD-BJP regime
T h e s l i d e h a
c o n t i n u e d i n successive elections and bypolls since 2017: in the recent Lok
Bengal Governor Bose files defamation case against Mamata
K O L K A T A : W e s t B e n ga l G ove rnor CV An an da Bos e f i
M a m a
B a n e rj e e a t th e Calcutta H igh Court, a day a ft er s he s ai d tha t w ome n c omplai ned to her saying that they were afraid to vi sit the R aj B hava n bec aus e of the ac tivities there, a source said
B o s e e a r l i e r i n t h e d a y c r i t i c i s e d Banerjee for her remarks and stated it was expected of public representatives not to create “ erroneous and slanderous impressions” The Bengal governor also f i l e d d e f a m a t i o n s u i t a g a i n s t c e r t a i n TMC leaders for making similar remarks, the source said
During an administrative meeting in the state secretariat, Banerjee claimed that "Women have informed her they are afraid to visit Raj Bhavan due to recent incidents reported there"
O n M a y 2 , a c o n t r a c t u a l w o m a n
e m p l o y e e o f R a j B h a v a n h a d a l l e g e d molestation by Bose following which the Kolkata Police also started a probe
When contacted, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen said that she would not be
able to comment on the matter without discussing it with the party leadership "I have to talk to my party leadership to find out what actually happened This is quite a sensitive matter," Sen said Senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha said that Bose took the right decision "I think G o v
decision long back I fully support him for this," Sinha said Veteran CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said that the tussle between Bose and Banerjee is not helping the state "It's actually taking us down They
s
acts are damaging West Bengal's image at the national level, Chakraborty said
13 OF FAMILY KILLED IN KARNATAKA TEMPO CRASH
Thirteen members of an extended family, including two children, were killed and four others injured when their recently purchased Tempo Traveller crashed into a sugar-laden truck at high speed in Karnataka s Haveri while returning from a temple trip “While 11 were killed on the spot two died after they were taken to hospital,” said SP Anshu Kumar Srivastava about the crash on Pune-Bengaluru National Highway 48 in Byadagi taluk Chief minister Siddaramaiah announced a Rs 200,000 compensation for the next of kin of each person killed, while district in-charge minister Shivanand Patil made a personal contribution of Rs 50,000 to the family of each deceased Two of the injured were said to be critical in a Shivamogga hospital “A total of 17 people were in the vehicle when it collided with the truck
STALIN PROMISES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT HOSUR
Sabha polls, SAD won just one of the 13 seats in Punjab
After a five-hour meeting in Jalandhar, the faction opposed to Badal announced the launch of ‘SAD Bachao Lehar (Save SAD M o v e m e n t ) ’ f r o m t h e A k a l Takht During this campaign, SAD will contact sympathisers of the Panth, intellectuals, and others to seek their suggestions to “ save the party” Senior SAD member Prem Singh Chandumajra said: “We have appealed to Sukhbir Singh Badal that he should respect and a c c e p t t h e s e n t i m e n t s o f workers and people and hand over the leadership of the party ”
Swearing in of 2 MLAs: Bengal speaker seeks President's help
KO L KA TA : West Be nga l Assembly Spea ke r Biman
Ba n e rj e e w r ot e to Pr e sid e nt Dr ou pa d i Mu rm u se ekin g he r in ter ven tion to r esolv e t he impa sse conce rnin g the oat h-tak ing cer emony of two ne wly e le ct ed TMC MLA s "I have written to the President and sought her intervention into the matter so that she can speak to the Governor and end this impasse What is happening regarding the swearing in of the MLAs is unacceptable We hope to get justice," he said
T h e c o n t r
swearing in ceremony of the two MLAs escalated when the legislators refused to take oath at Raj Bhavan as directed by Governor CV Ananda Bose a
Hossain Sarkar sat on the dharna before the BR Ambedkar statue in the West Bengal Vidhan Sabha complex They demanded that Bose enable them to perform their duties as legislators by facilitating the oath-taking ceremony in the assembly
The governor had invited the two MLAs, who were elected in the recent bypolls, to take the oath in the Raj Bhavan However, they declined the invitation, claiming that convention dictates that in the case of bypoll winners, the governor assigns the speaker or the deputy speaker to administer the oath
The industrial town of Hosur in Tamil Nadu is set to get an international airport, Chief Minister MK Stalin announced in the state assembly "It will come up on a 2000 acre area with a capacity to handle 30 million passengers in a year" the Chief Minister said A master plan for Hosur is nearly ready said MK Stalin Hosur which has been a hub for electronic, automobile and automotive component manufacturing is now emerging to be a hot spot for electric vehicle and related component manufacturing as well "This government believes it is essential to build an airport in Hosur, to develop the city into a key economic growth city This will also develop Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts" Mr Stalin said
5 AIDES OF CANADA-BASED TERRORIST ARRESTED
Police in Jalandhar arrested five operatives of Canada-based Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa on charges of extortion, murder and smuggling of arms and drugs across the border Five foreign-made pistols were recovered from the accused during the 15-day operation launched to nab them Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said the arrested were involved in arms and drug smuggling across the border multiple heinous crimes such as murder, extortion, ransom and many other criminal activities in many districts of Punjab In December last year, India declared Lakhbir Landa as a terrorist Landa's name had also figured in connection with the RPG attack at Sarhali police station in Tarn Taran in December 2022 Landa belongs to Punjab but has been living in Canada for the past few years He has been involved in hatching conspiracies against India
TMC MAN ASSAULTS COUPLE, HELD AS VIDEO GOES VIRAL
Police registered a case and launched an investigation after a video of a man brutally thrashing a woman and her male friend over an extra-marital relationship in Bengal’s North Dinajpur went viral The accused, a TMC functionary, has been arrested The accused was identified as Tajemul alias JCB The party dissociated itself from Tajemul saying police would act tough on the perpetrator BJP CPM and Congress have strongly condemned the incident The woman has a 14-year-old daughter and her husband is a migrant labourer While she had been warned by her in-laws to stay away from the man who was also married, the couple continued to see each other They were caught by some men and assaulted by Tajemul In the video Tajemul was seen beating the woman and the man with a bunch of sticks even as she begged him to stop and cried in pain He continued to hit her till she fainted and kicked her once she was unconscious
Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy
BS Yediyurappa
Sukhbir Singh Badal
CV Ananda Bose & Mamata Banerjee
Indian diaspora breaks record with $107 bn remittance in FY24
In the financial year 202324, Indians residing abroad
sent an unprecedented $1 07
b i l li o n i n r em i tta n ce s to their families i n India, sur-
p as s i ng th e $1 00
t h r es h o
co nsecu tive year, according to a repo rt Thi s amou nt o f net remittances nearly doubles the combined total
during the same p erio
a
A
remittances from the Indian diaspora, categorised as pri-
gross figure of $119 billion in FY24 Recent global studies and domestic research highlight a correlation between remittances and migration
funds is also recognised as a significant factor influencing the volume of overseas remittances
US is th e largest so urce o f remittances
According to a survey by the Reserve Bank of India o
contributor, constituting 23
remittances from the Gulf
decline during this period
The majority of these funds a
support, with a portion also
such as deposits, according
remittances
One killed as roof of Delhi airport collapses during heavy rain
In an alarm ing incident
India ($125 bn), followed by Mexico ($67 bn), China ($50
bn), and Egypt ($24 bn)
In December, the World B
Development Brief" showed that India continues to lead globally in receiving remit-
This trend has persisted for
largely by the migration of IT professionals to North America and Europe since the 1990s
The report quoted Dilip Ratha, lead economist and
World Bank report as saying
I
The cost
l e v e l s i n d i f f e r e n t economies, as well as the employment conditions in countries of origin
States remained the largest contributor to remittances globally The leading recipi-
development assistance in recent years This trend is
widening, he said
PM Modi likely to visit Russia for annual summit
PM Narendra Modi is likely to vi sit Mosc ow this month for the India-Russia annual s ummit, the highes t institutionalised dialogue mechan i s m b e tw e en t he tw o c ountries W hile an offic ial announc ement is awai ted, b o th s i d es a re e x pl or i n g dates i n the second week of J uly for the proposed daylong vis it July 9 is one of the dates bei ng c onsidered If the visit happens, and with no other foreign visit
s c h e d u l e d f o r P M i n t h e next few weeks, it may also turn out to be Modi’s first b i l a t
consecutive term in office e
h Previously, he has chosen to visit countries in the neighb
office
The visit will take place days after the SCO summit in Astana, which Modi has
decided to skip this time It will also be his first visit to t h e c o u n t r y s i n c e R u s s i a i n v a d e d U k r a i n e i n F e b
2022 PM is expected to visit Russia again later this year for the Brics summit
While 21 such annual summits have taken place so far alternatively in India and Russia, this will be the first time Modi will travel to Russia for the same since 2019 The summit couldn’t take place in 2020 because of Covid-19 but President V l a d
e the next year for the 21st summit, although only for a few hours
on
the
lleged
nvolvemen
a s it s ee ks accoun tab ili
f rom In dia, d eputy secreta ry of s tate Kurt Campbell s aid Campbell, who met for-
e i g n s e c r e t a r y V i n a y K w a t r a a n d d e p u t y N S A V i k r i m M i s r i d u r i n g h i s visit to India last week, furt h e r s a i d “ I n d i a n c o lleagues” are looking caref u l l y a t w h a t p o t e n t i a l “ i n s t i t u t i o n a l r e f o r m s ” might be necessary in the wake of some of the allegat i o n s a n d r e p o r t s i n t h e media He was responding to a question on whether the US would accept the unconfirmed ‘ rogue agent
t h e o r y ’ r e p o r t e d i n t h e media
The remarks are significant as India has so far said
nothing about the outcome of its probe Campbell said India has been responsive to concerns raised by the U S a b o u t t h e f o i l e d a t t e m p t t o m u r d e r Pannun, a US national
According to Campbell, t h e t w o c o u n t r i e s a r e p r e s e n t l y h a v i n g a c o nstructive dialogue on the issue “We’ve made clear that we seek accountability from the govt of India,” he said in a virtual interaction w i t h I n d i a n j o u r n a l i s t s from Washington “And we have consistently asked for
updates on the Indian
i n v e s t i g a t i o n A n d I would just simply say we raised the issues directly with the Indian govt at the most senior levels ”
India last week with NSA J
s mainly focused on the initiative on critical and e
y (iCET) This is the first time either of them has spoken publicly about the plot since the visit The US
h a s o f f i c i a l l y n o t c o nfirmed if the Pannun issue was raised in Sullivan and C a m
here
with Russia could come in the way of cooperation in s
t i v e t e c h n o l o g y s e ctors, Campbell said the US h a s e x p r e s s e d c o n c e r n about it and the two sides remain clear what areas are affected by the continued m i l i t a r y r
h i p between India and Russia
th a t le d to m any re d faces, the heavy downpou r bro ught do wn the canopy at the forecourt o f T er m i na
at I GI
A irport last week, leavi
cab dri v
T
ead
i s th re w flig hts at th e term inal into disarray
A b i g g e r t r a g e d y w a s averted as eyewitnesses said around 100 people were present at the spot when the i n c i d e n t t o o k p l a c e T h e c a n o p y
c h allowed most of the people to escape
The deceased was identified as Ramesh Kumar (45) He had come to drop a pass e n g e r a n d w a s a b o u t t o head home when the incid e n t t o o k p l a c e A c a s e u n d e r I P C S e c t i o n s 3 0 4 A
( c a u s i n g d e a t h b y n e g l igence) and 337 (causing hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety of others) has been registered by police and an investigation launched Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has formed a t e c h n i c a l c o m m i t t e e t o establish the reasons for the incident Govt sources said the structure that collapsed
h a d b e e n e r e c t e d i n 2008-09
A t u l G a r g , d i r e c t o r o f
Delhi Fire Service said they had sent four fire tenders to the spot along with 20 firefighters for the rescue operation Another fire officer added that they found that a cab had been crushed by an iron pillar and the driver was trapped in his seat and was unconscious “We called a crane and removed the cab With the help of cutters, we extricated the person, who w a s r u s h e d t o h o s p i t a l where he was unfortunately declared dead,” the officer said “ A
tions from Terminal 1 have been suspended till further notice and rescheduled by t
areas are restored for opera-
20,00,000 for the
operations were also affected due to the incident
Three new criminal laws come into force in India
The t hree new c rim inal laws h av e c om e i n t o e f f ec t in India The Bharatiya Nyaya S an h it a (B N S) , B
i al er
I nd ia n P en a l C od e (I PC ), Code of Crim ina l Proc edure (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act, res pec tively These laws will bring several reforms to India’s criminal justice system The legislation, which the Centre says will ensure “speedy justice”, has provisions like Zero FIR, online registration of police complaints and summoning
t h r o u g h e l e c t r o n i c m o d e s such as SMS After the new criminal laws were enforced, the first FIR was filed at 12 10 a m i n M a d h y a P r a d e s h ’ s Gwalior in case of motorcycle theft The Delhi Police on Monday (July 1) lodged its first FIR under provisions of the BNS against a street vendor in the Kamala Market
T h e C e n t r e s t a r t
switch
Affairs (MHA) has conducted multiple meetings with states and Union Territories (UTs)
An MHA official said that the
States and
London's Terra Skin & Aesthetics opens clinic in Ahmedabad
Lon don' s leadin g dermatolog y clin ic Terra Ski n & Aesthetics opened their newest cli nic at Law Garden i n Ahmedabad With this n ew addi ti on they i ntrod uced high- en d state-oft he - ar t t ec hn o l o g i es i n th e In dian aesthetic dermatolog y i ndustry
Founded in the year 2011 with a vision to offer safe and effective solutions for skin, hair and body concerns, Terra Skin & Aesthetics has gained a reputation for its superb e f f i c i e n c y a n d s i g n i f i c a n t results With each of their clinics, they have brought
beauty industry Terra Skin & Aesthetics has believed in providing the best standard in beauty maintenance and making interna-
Keeping
Aesthetics
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun
L-R; Dr Bhumi Kalavadiya (Co-Founder, Terra London), Dr Prashant Kalavadiya (Founder, Terra London), Parshottam Rupala (MP), Amul Bhatt (MLA), Kanchan Radadiya (MLA), Mansing Solanki (Councillor)
Sri Lanka navy nabs 25 Indian fishermen and four boats
Ramanathapuram district and fo ur of their crafts
charg
p oaching in their territorial waters Fo llowing the arrests,
d em anding their release
Among the four boats, three sailed from Pamban village and one from Nambuthalai Sri Lankan navy said they conducted an operation to chase away the Indian fishing boats resulting in the seizure of four dhows and 25 fishermen off Delft Island
The dhows and fishermen were taken to Kankesanthurai harbour and handed over to Mailadi fisheries department for onward legal action The navy said it had seized 32 Indian fishing boats and apprehended 239 fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters so far this year
Though Sri Lankan navy regularly detains mechanised trawlers, they are not usually aggressive towards country boats since they don’t use trawl nets banned in the island nation Trawling has been the cause of a stalemate in r e p e a t e d t a l k s b e t w e e n S r i L a n
fishermen
M Karunamoorthi, district secretary of CITU’s fish workers association, said the Union govt has not taken measures to salvage the country boats detained by Lanka in 2017 The sudden change in Lanka’s attitude could be due to the recent death of a Sri Lankan sailor during an operation to detain a trawler and 10 fishermen from Nagapattinam, he said Fishermen protest demanding release of their arrested c o l l e a g u e s a n d b o a t s
Rameshwaram
Modi govt's 2024 budget to roll out historic steps, speed up reforms: President
Presid ent Droup ad
l
M odi’s third term will have several h istoric steps, go ing beyond eco nom ic and so cial d ecisions
“This Budget will be an effective document of govt’s
futuristic vision The pace of reforms will be further accelerated in tune with the
development,” the President said in her address to the joint sitting of Parliament
have been building up since Modi returned to office for a third consecutive term, with
, including job creation and inflation through a push for
x concessions to spur demand and provide more money to households
The PM has also spoken about the Budget being a key element of the govt’s
which will include a 100-day
o action points and targets up to 2030 C
A PART OF THE LEGA BE LEEGACY
, Gujar As you all know
eaders, Dear R ogeth o
e invite you to share W , there are many subscriber or the other way, to the p everyone who have not only contributed to our publishing journey but also, in some unforgettable. In this special souvenir , it is an Gujarat Samachar celebrating its 52nd anniversary. While this celebration marks the foundation day of
events from the time you and your family left your homeland and settled in this country.
such organisations have a Whether at home or ab independent committee wil
e kindly invit community. W
l ld i ti contributions and impact.
’t delay-pick up you Don in our community. play elders organisations, in role a
photos is July 6, 2024
(Asian Business Publica
Note that submissions will not be returned, so please keep a copy for your records. An length of 3000 words. Plea writte article should be The S i l side en , , Middlese North Harrow
Budget has been heightened by the estimate in political
c o m e u p w i t h m
u
e s which may help alleviate the grudges behind BJP’s lowerthan-expected seats tally In any case, despite being in a good fiscal spot, govt had held off on coming out with schemes for specific sections in the interim budget It is expected to make good for the restraint in the coming
B u d g e t , b e s i d e s h a v i n g reach outs to sections like women M u r m u ’ s a d d r e s s w a s marked by confidence and an effort to amplify the message that BJP’s reduced numbers will not be a deterrent in its pursuit of bold measures
The President cited the favourable environment for I n d i a a n d u n d e r l i n e d t h e need for lawmakers to fulfil their responsibilities so that the country can harness its potential She listed out the a
terms -from an average 8% GDP growth during the last three years to India emerging as the fifth largest economy and record profits by State B
and geopolitical tension in Ukraine and West Asia
“With the reforms that have taken place in the last
infused in the country, we
strengthening the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and decriminalising several laws Murmu also reflected govt’s grouse over what it considers baseless propaganda by the
Congress, that the Modi govt has undermined the public sector and that GST, dubbed “Gabbar Singh Tax” by the
device
Om Birla elected Speaker for second time on voice vote
Om B irl a, three-tim e BJP M P f rom Kota, was re-elec ted Lok Sabha Speaker f or a s econd c ons ecutive term in a contes t that was not to be as the opposition flinc hed from seeking a vote des pite Congress f ie lding its c andidate K Sur esh
There were 13 sets of proposals in favour of Birla, the first moved by PM Narendra Modi and seconded by defence minister Rajnath Singh Other proposers were drawn from among NDA partners and BJP’s own, representing various castes
With Congress and its allies Shiv Sena (UBT), DMK, NCP and RSP proposing the c a n d i d a t u r e o f S u r e s h a m i d s t r o n g indications of their desire to make it a play on his Dalit background, a contest - the first in almost five decades - seemed imminent
A n e f f o r t i n v o l v i n g C o n g r e s s ’ s K C Venugopal and DMK’s T R Baalu from the o p p o s i t i o n s i d e a n d U n i o n m i n i s t e r s Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and J P Nadda to evolve a consensus had failed with govt again turning down the demand that the deputy speaker be from the opposition
But Congress did not press for a vote, despite an attempt by Union minister for animal husbandry Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan’
to bait them into seeking one, leading to the 62-year-old Birla being elected by voice vote TMC’s decision not to propose Suresh in p r o t e s t a g a i n s t
declaring him to be the challenger to Birla appeared to be the main reason for the latter not to force a contest Modi congratulated B i
parliamentarians and play a big role in the House to fulfil people’s expectations
members that there should be a new vision and resolve for the 18th Lok Sabha He called for Lok Sabha to be a centre of creative thinking and new ideas, which would establish high levels of parliamentary
parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju were joined by leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi in escorting Birla to the Speaker’s chair after his election, marking a moment of harmony Birla got a second consecutive term, the fifth time that a Speaker will serve beyond the tenure of one Lok Sabha It is
conventionally decided by consensus
Nearly 50% Indian adult inactive and unfit, fails WHO guidelines: Study
Nearly 50% of Indian adults are unfit and fail to adh ere to World Health Organisation r ec o m m en d at io n s f o r ad equ a te p h y si c al activ ity, according to a study publish ed in m ed ical jo urnal The Lancet Global Health Th e research , cond ucted in 197 countries and territories from 200 0 to 2022, found a significant gend er disparity, w ith 52 6% of w om en and 3 8 4 % m en fou nd p hysi cally inactive in 2022
The most concerning aspect was the increase in the prevalence of insufficient physical activity among Indian adults, which surged from 22 4% in 2000 to 45 4% in 2022 If the trend of 2010-22 continues, levels of inactivity are projected to rise to 55% by 2030 To maintain optimal health, WHO r e c o m
minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes
of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or equivalent, per week” Failing to meet these
consequences Physically inactive adults are
cardiovascular diseases and face an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, dementia and breast and colon cancer According to Delhi-based doctors, the lack of physical activity and increased consumption of unhealthy food are among major factors contributing to the
further reducing physical movement The availability of snacks and beverages within the office has also limited the need for employees to move around This sedentary lifestyle affects
Mallorca, away from the bustling coastal resorts, lies
Known for its rustic charm and rich cultural heritage, Sineu offers visitors a glimpse into authentic Mallorcan life and a variety of activities that cater
t o b o t h
exploration Whether you're a history buff, a food enthusiast, or simply seeking a peaceful retreat, Sineu has something to offer for everyone.
Discovering historical treasures
Sineu boasts a fascinating history that dates back centuries Begin your journey at t h e R
Monastery of Valldemossa, a serene retreat surrounded by lush gardens and steeped in r
through its corridors adorned with centuries-old frescoes and soak in the tranquillity of its c
Jaume Church in the heart of Sineu is an iconic Gothic landmark, steeped in rich heritage Its intricate façade and towering spires have drawn locals a n d v i s i
trove of religious art and arte-
enchanting mediaeval streets of S i n e u , w h e r e
m s t o stand still amidst historic stone
b u i l d i n g s a d
Unravelling the essence of island life in Sineu
wrought iron balconies These winding streets invite leisurely exploration, offering glimpses into centuries-old architecture
t h a t w h i s p e r s t a l e s o f t h e town's past
Accommodation and local experiences
Accommodation options in S i n e u
boutique hotels to cosy guesthouses, offering a comfortable stay in this idyllic town One such luxurious boutique hotel is Ten Mallorca Its design blends
London style with Mallorcan
t
enced by its 1919 pilgrimage history Their philosophy emphasises a "home from home" experience, where edgy, fashion-forward design meets comfortably informal and homely service
Speaking about the amenities, Joanna from Ten Mallorca stated, “We re an adults-only hotel that also caters to family gatherings and special occasions like weddings and birthdays, offering exclusive use for up to 20
personalised experiences such as sunset beach picnics, bespoke cakes, and unique activities like private boot camps and cooking
We also have a large saltwater pool and a well equipped gym that is open 24 hours One of our special rooms also has its
infrared in room sauna We can help with yoga classes and pers
here as well ”
Discussing which activities or excursions do you recommend for guests to experience the best of Sineu and Mallorca, She said, “There are so many
Island We personalise our service to suit the individual from horse riding, sailing, kayaking, k
activities such as wine tasting, antique shopping and gastronomy Of course there is also plenty of shopping from designer outlets to local boutiques The
Mallorcan markets offer some
leather, fabrics and of course food and they are always prepared to allow for a little haggling The island has a lot to offer from beaches and coves to pretty little towns and lovely countryside in the centre of the Island It is a haven for both cyclists and walkers with very good roads, little traffic and a very relaxed way of life ” She added, “Many visitors flock to Sineu for its unique authenticity, boasting mediaeval streets ideal for leisurely strolls, the oldest and largest
restaurants offering delightful local cuisine ” Culinary delights and relaxation Mallorca is celebrated for its
stands out with its gastronomic offerings Dive into a culinary journey at Celler Es Grop, a charming restaurant nestled in
a historic cellar Here, tradi-
expertly prepared with a modern flair, promising a delightful dining experience
prowess, Sineu beckons visitors with a blend of cultural richness and relaxation Throughout the year, the town hosts vibrant festivals like Sant Jaume, honouring its patron saint with lively parades, traditional music, and dazzling fireworks It's a time when locals unite to celebrate their heritage amidst a festive atmosphere
After immersing yourself in cultural festivities, unwind at
Baths Amidst in serene sur-
waters, offering rejuvenating spa treatments and natural mineral pools It's the per-
Mallorca's picturesque countryside and rich cultural tapestry
The Inheritance of Loss
as, and New York City
In Kalimpong, retired judge Jemubhai Patel lives with his granddaughter Sai Their quiet life is disrupted by political u n
n d movement Gyan, a Nepali tutor, arrives and falls in love with Sai, causing tension between locals and the Gorkha community Meanwhile, in New York City, Biju,
a n i l l e g a l immigrant, struggles to survive while supporting his family in India
The novel explores themes of identity, cultural alienation, and the lasting impacts of colonialism through these
c h a r a c t e r s ' i n t e r c o n n e
title, The Inheritance of Loss, reflects the main theme of the book loss of identity, home, love, and dreams The novel’s strength lies in its deeply developed characters, each with human flaws that make them relatable Desai portrays their complexities so readers can understand their decisions and actions, even when they are morally unclear
America She weaves multiple storylines together against the backdrop of significant social and political changes
While the book is commendable in its exploration of culture, its complex char-
some readers might find its
Cartuja de Va ldemosa (Royal Carthusian Monastery of Jesus of Nazareth)
Windmi l in sineu, ma lorca (majorca)
Ten Ma lorca
Regular walks effective for relieving low back pain
Rese arc h published in The
L an c e t j o ur n a l s ug g e s ts
t ha t t h e s i m p l e a c
, based on a s tudy i nvolvi ng approxi mately 700 adults
w ho h a d r e c e n t l y recovered from s uc h pain episodes
P a r t i c i p a n t s w e r e divided into three groups:
o n e e n g a g e d i n a p e r s o n a l i z e d w a l k i n g
p r o g r a m , a n o t h e r
u n d e r w e n t p h y s i o t h e r a p y sessions over six months,
a n d a t h i r d r e c e i v e d n o
i n t e r v e n t i o n T h e s t u d y , which included researchers from Macquarie University, Australia, revealed that the walking group experienced greater relief and enjoyed a l o n g e r p a i n - f r e e p e r i o d before any recurrence
P r o f e s s o r M a r k Hancock, a senior author and physiotherapy expert, emphasized that walking is a l o w - c o s t , u n i v e r s a l l y accessible exercise suitable for people of all ages and backgrounds, regardless of t h e i r l o c a t i o n o r s o c i oeconomic status He noted that these findings could significantly influence the management of low back pain
L e a d a u t h o r N a t a s h a P o c o v i h i g h l i g h t e d
t h e p o t e n t i a l s c a l a b i l i t y
o f w a l k i n g a s a n e f f e c t i v e e x e r
intervention compared to
w h i c h r e q u i r
supervision and specialized equipment, making them
a n y patients
While the exact reasons for walking's effectiveness in pain relief are not fully
movements strengthen the spine, promote relaxation, and trigger the release of endorphins natural "feel-
(WHO), low back pain is t h e l e a d i n g c a u s e o
quality of life
In 2020, approximately 6 2 0 m i l l i o n p e
affected by this condition, a number expected to rise to over 840 million by 2050
WHO issues global alert on fake Ozempic drugs
The Worl d Heal th Organisation (WHO) has issued a gl ob al ale rt about coun terfeit v ersions of Ozempic, a drug that ha s gained popul arity as a we ig ht -l oss aid despite it s primary use for tr eating ty pe 2 dia bete s
The WHO warns that these fake medications pose serious health risks The organisation strongly advises sourcing Ozempic only from reputable sources, such as doctors, rather than from obscure websites or through social media channels Ozempic's active ingredient, semaglutide, helps people with type 2 diabetes regulate their blood sugar levels
Additionally, the weekly injection reduces the urge to eat by signalling to the brain that the person is full, which has led to its use as a weight-loss medication by individuals without diabetes This off-label use has resulted in shortages for d i a b e t e s p a t i e n t s a n d c r e a t e d a l u c r a t i v e m a r k e t f o r counterfeit drugs
The WHO has been monitoring increasing reports of fake Ozempic globally since 2022, with counterfeit batches seized by authorities in the UK, US, and Brazil
Versatile wellness tonic
Apple cider vinegar contains beneficial probiotics and enzymes that support digestive health by promoting the growth of good bacteria in the gut. It aids in weight management by regulating blood sugar levels and improving insulin sensitivity It is also known for its antimicrobial properties, potentially helping to fight off harmful bacteria and pathogens. Some studies suggest it could lower cholesterol and improve heart health markers
Anusha Singh
PHarnessing the benefits of physiotherapy
and rehabilitation, offering
advanced care This vision
Mission Health ”
He is of the opinion that r egular physiotherapy vis its e
of injuries, illnes
condit ions like Br
and dis-
oke, Par kinson ism, Spina
Cor d injury et c However, phys iotherapy
echniques
and well being by
act ive and independent
graduate studies Driven by his passion for healthcare and his desire to help people lead healthier lives, he began his journey with a B
'
i n Physiotherapy, followed by a Master's, and ultimately a PhD in spine His dedication has led him to assist
Mission Health
Dr Shah, discussing his vision for Mission Health he e
, expressed to Asian Voice, “I imagined a specialised facility for physiotherapy, fitness,
s i n g joint conditions, updating exercise patterns for home p
ments ensure ongoing monitoring of progress, adjustment of exercises to address any changes or challenges, a n d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o p r o a c t i v e l y a d d r e s s a n y emerging issues before they escalate”, he said
T h i s a d v i c e r e m a i n s valid given the average age of mobility declining to the 50s from the expected 70s, varying depending on individual health, and genetic factors It emphasises the n e e d t o a d d r e s s m u s c u -
l o s k e l e t a l d i s o r d e r s a n d injuries urgently “Physical t h e r a p y e n h a n c e s w e l lbeing by reducing anxiety
a n d d e p r e s s i o n t h r o u g h exercise, boosting cognitive function, improving social interaction, promoting bett e r s l e e p , a n d i n c r e a s i n g independence by building strength and confidence It
m a i n t a i n s m o b i l i t y b y
s t r e n g t h e n i n g m u s c l e s , improving balance, enhanci n g f l e x i b i l i t y , m a n a g i n g
p a i n , a n d p r o v i d i n g c u stomised exercise programs
t o e n s u r e s a f e t y a n d progress ” , he emphasised
D r S h a h a l s o e m p h asised that incorr ect posture
a n d a s e d e n t a r y l if e s t y le cont ribut e sign ifica nt ly t o m a n y o r t h o p a e d i c i ss u e s Regarding poor posture, he e l a b o r a t e d o n i t s a d v e r s e effects, highlighting how it can result in back and neck pain, joint problems, digestive issues, headaches, and n e g a t i v e l y i m p a c t b o t h mental and physical health, leading to reduced confidence and an unfavourable appearance
He further added that, “A sedentary lifestyle poses l o n g - t e r m h e a l t h r i s k s including obesity, heart dise a s e , d i a b e t e s , p o o r p o st u r e , a n d m e n t a l h e a l t h i s s u e s T
p o r a t e physical activity into daily routines, individuals with s e d e n t a r y w o r k l i f e s t y l e s can take short breaks every 30 minutes to stand and
stretch, use stairs instead of elevators, opt for walking meetings, perform simple desk exercises, and choose active commuting methods such as walking or cycling to work when possible ” His fundamental tips for maint a i n i n g g o o d p o s t u r e i n c l u d e i n s t i
p
sitting habits in children from a young age, ensuring e r g
setups with screens at eye level and keyboards/mouse within reach, incorporating core-strengthening exercises like planks and bridges, and remaining mindful of p o s t u r e , m a k i n g c o r r e ctions as necessary Dr Sh ah also ad dressed a comm on m isco nceptio n about chro nic p ain, which is the belief that rest is
p ain med ication is the only solution Hig hlig hting that m
ication and surg ery are n
n, h e shared, “Physiotherap y h as evolv ed significantly, o ffering not only an alternativ e to medication but also to surgical optio ns We h av e p
UK children shorter, fatter, sicker due to poor diet and poverty
C h i ld ren i n t h e U K are becom ing sh orter, heavier, an d l es s h ea lth y d u e
"shocking levels" of pov erty an
n, according to a new report by The Food F ound ation
n d wellbeing to the "aggressive p r o m o t i o n o f c h e a p j u n k f o o d "
s that the average height of five-year-olds has decreased y
with boys and girls in the U K n o
a n k i n g t h e s h o r t e s t a n d s e c o n d
If
shortest respectively among h i g h - i n c o m e c o u n t r i e s , b a s e d o n d a t a f r o m t h e N o n - C o m m u n i c a b l e
D i s e a s e s R i s k F a c t o r Collaboration, a network of health scientists
T h e r e p o r t a l s o highlights a 30% increase in o b e s i t y a m o n g 1 0 - 1 1 - y e a rolds since 2006, with one in f i v e c h i l d r e n c l a s s i f i e d a s obese by the time they finish primary school, as per data
f r o m t h e N a t i o n a l C h i l d
M e a s u r e m e n t P r o g r a m m e
A d d i t i o n a l l y , d i e t - r e l a t e d i l l n e s s e s s u c h a s T y p e 2 diabetes have risen by 22%
a m o n g u n d e r - 2 5 s o v e r t h e p a s t f i v e years, according to d a t a f r o m t h e
N a t i o n a l D i a b e t e s Audit 2021-2022
T h e N H S
d e f i n e s a c h i l d o r
e
g e r a s v e r
v e r w e i g h t i f t h e i r body mass index (BMI) is higher than 98 out of 100 o t h e r s i n t h e s a m e a g e g r o u p C a m p a i g n e r s f r o m
The Food Foundation say the cost of living crisis has exacerbated these issues and are calling for urgent action from the next government t o " r e v e r s e t h e c u r r e
Lower mortality risk for sedentary coffee drinkers
nt
y lifes tyle, drinking coff ee m ay of fer s om e protec tion agains t mortal ity risks , ac cording
(BMC) Public Health
Non-coffee drinkers who sit for six or more hours a day a
likely to die from all causes compared to coffee drinkers, as per findings by researchers
Soochow University’s School of Public Health in China
mortality compared to noncoffee drinkers who sit for at least six hours daily The study tracked over 10,000 adults in the US for up to 13 years, with results calculated at the request of The Washington Post "The
s Coffee consumption appears
t o r e d u c e t h e r i s k o f m e t a b o l i c i s s u e s t h a t e x a c e r b a t e i n f l a m m a t i o n , w h i c h i n t u r n i n c r e a s e s m o r t a l i t y r i s k d u e t o sedentary lifestyles
A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e s t u d y found that participants who c o n s u m e d t h e h i g h e s t amounts of coffee had a 33% lower risk of death from any c a u s e c o m p a r e d t o n o nc o f f e e d r i n k e r s T h e s e findings align with previous r e s e a r c h l i n k i n g h i g h e r coffee intake with lower risks o f m o r t a l i t y a n d h e a r t disease
T h
Dr Aalap Shah
B P T , M S P T, Ph D Founder & Director, Mission Health
Shabana Azmi, SS Rajamouli and other
Indians invited to join The Academy
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited 487 artists and executives worldwide to join its ranks Among them are Indian luminaries such as veteran actor Shabana Azmi, filmmaker SS Rajamouli, his costume designer wife Rama Rajamouli, "NaatuNaatu" choreographer Prem Rakshith, and producer Ritesh Sidhwani.
The Academy announced its new members on its website, emphasising
inclusion, and equity Among the 487
nominees, including 19 winners S
National Award-winning artist, was
fueled by the Oscar buzz of "RRR," received invitations to the Directors
respectively The film s Best Original
S o n g w
choreographer, Prem Rakshit, to join t
branch
"We are thrilled to welcome this year's class of new members to the Academy," said Academy CEO Bill K
and professionals from around the world have made a significant impact on our filmmaking community " The Academy noted that the 2024 c
, 4 1 % from underrepresented ethnic/racial
c o m m u n i t i e s , a n d 5 6 % f r o m 5 6 countries and territories outside the US
‘ K
A L K I 2898 A D ’
Sci-fi film set to be pan-India hit, Hindi version becomes biggest opener
NagAshwin's "Kalki 2898 AD" has made a strong box office debut, achieving over Rs 37 crore in pre-sales Trade experts predict the film, a 3D spectacle, could revive the Indian movie industry by surpassing Rs 200 crore globally on its opening day, according to PTI.
The sci-fi-meets-mythology extravaganza "Kalki 2898 AD," starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan, is making waves with a USD 4 million premiere day in the US, Canada, and other territories This surpasses SS Rajamouli's "RRR," which grossed USD 3 3 million on its North American premiere in 2022 According to Sacnilk, "Kalki 2898 AD" now holds the record for the biggest premiere of an Indian movie in North America
Produced by Vyjayanthi Movies, Kalki 2898 AD has been released in six languages: Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, and English Previously titled "Project K," it is arguably the most expensive film in Indian cinema history, with a budget of Rs 600 crore The film, directed by Nag Ashwin of "Mahanati" fame, is a blend of the Hindu epic Mahabharata and science fiction
Starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan, the film is set for global box office domination with its star power, spectacle, stunts, and sci-fi elements Industry insiders believe it has the makings of a blockbuster hit Trade expert Taran Adarsh predicts that its Hindi version could be the biggest opener of the year, with even the India vs England T20 World Cup semifinal unlikely to dampen enthusiasm
Nawazuddin Siddiqui confesses to 'smoking up' in his youth: “I want to apologise for that”
Nawazuddin Siddiqui admitted that he once found himself influenced by people who encouraged him to smoke marijuana In a recent interview, he reflected on that period, confessing he regrets those mistakes
D
Siddiqui was asked if he had ever tried smoking marijuana He admitted to trying it, saying, "I was with some people who smoked up, so I ended up doing that too Later, I realised I don't want to promote it I've made mistakes, but the benefit was t h a t i t a d d e d t o t h e e n j o y m e n t o f travelling " He emphasised, "I do not want to promote it at all It was our mistake, and I want to apologise for that " In the same conversation, Nawazuddin admitted to trying bhaang multiple times, particularly during Holi He shared, "After consuming it, I felt like I was the biggest actor in the world " He continued, "I would imagine people as my audience and the world as my stage I would take on roles like Ashwatthama, Karn, or Krishna and perform for hours The effect would keep me in a loop, performing from morning till night Later, when it wore off, people would say, 'Have you gone mad? You've been repeating the same dialogue all day!' I would perform in parks, buses, anywhere "
Sharmila Tagore and Rajesh Khanna's iconic film "Aradhana" remains cherished by fans as a highlight of their careers However, in a recent interview, Farida Jalal, who also starred in the 1969 film, revealed that the set wasn't without its challenges She recalled feeling inexperienced at the time, and Sharmila Tagore was so protective of her that she would even dismiss Rajesh Khanna during the shoot
When asked about working with Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila described it as "very nice " She reflected on her n
noting her upbringing as a convent girl raised by her maternal grandmother and mother Despite coming from a small family with no father figure since her parents' divorce when she was two, she recalled her shy demeanour upon
school, especially during her romantic song sequences with Rajesh Khanna She continued, "Sharmila ji, whom I used to call Rinku di, was such a pillar of support She looked after me and
something
on set, she w
dismiss Shakti Da and Rajesh Khanna if needed During the romantic song 'Baghon Mein Bahar Hai' with Rajesh Khanna, I was nervous and asked for an extra rehearsal His response put me off for the rest of the film, but Sharmila ji reassured me, saying we could have as many rehearsals as needed She was a darling "
Kamal Haasan, S Shankar confirm ‘Indian 3’: “Our initial idea was to do only one film, but… ”
Lakshmi Manchu questions
stars' entourages: "Why bring so many people?"
Lakshmi
Manchu, daughter of veteran actor Mohan Babu, transitioned from child acting in Indian cinema to Hollywood after starring in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films In a recent interview, she highlighted differences between Hollywood and Indian cinema, criticising the excessive number of people on Indian sets She questioned the necessity of large entourages, a topic currently debated in Bollywood amid cost-cutting measures
Lakshmi Manchu discussed the differences she noticed between Hollywood and Indian cinema, saying, "In Indian cinema, each language Tamil, Telugu, Hindi has its own nuances As an actor, it's about adapting to these differences In America, less is more I brought that approach to India; if given four pages of dialogue, I aim to condense it to one page and enhance it through performance and behaviour There's a significant contrast, but that's the beauty of portraying diverse roles "
Discussing cultural differences between Hollywood and Indian cinema, Manchu explained, "Coming from a family of actors, I'm accustomed to Indian sets In South India, it's customary to stand up and greet senior actors when they enter In America, they found it amusing and discouraged me from standing up repeatedly when older actors arrived, saying, 'Please, don't get up every time I enter the room '"
Raghava Lawrence, SJ Suryah and Fahadh Faasil team up for Lokesh
Kanagaraj's new film
Actor Kamal Haasan and filmmaker S Shankar have announced that the much-awaited "Indian 2" (Hindustani 2) will be split into two parts: "Indian 2" and "Indian 3 " The sequel will hit theatres on July 12, with "Indian 3" slated for release in 2025, a few months later.
At the trailer launch event of "Indian 2" in Mumbai, Kamal Haasan disclosed that both "Indian 2" and "Indian 3" were s h o t s i m u l t a n e o u s l y H e e x p l a i n e d , "That's the choice of the director When I made Vishwaroop, we started with a 350page script From day one, I decided it would be a two-part film I informed my crew and ensured they were compensated accordingly Similarly, Shankar made t h e d e c i s i o n t o s h o o t s p o r a d i c a l l y between two films " Kamal then highlighted how Shankar secured the backing of Lyca Productions, a banner willing to support his vision for b o t h " I n d i a n 2 " a n d " I n d i a n 3 " H e remarked, "Many filmmakers struggle to find support for one film, but Shankar managed to persuade them for two If it were me, I might have opted for one film,
as many competent directors do But Shankar saw an opportunity to create two films and seized it That's his vision, and I respect that
Actor and choreographer Raghava Lawrence has teamed up with director Bakkiyaraj, known for films like Sivakarthikeyan's 'Remo' and Karthi's 'Sultan', for a new action thriller Titled 'Benz' and penned by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film promises to deliver high-octane excitement.
India Glitz reported that shooting for the film will commence soon, with actors SJ Suryah and Fahadh Faasil joining the cast as antagonists This marks Raghava Lawrence and SJ Suryah's second collaboration following their previous blockbuster, Jigarthanda Double X , directed by Karthik Subbaraj 'Benz', an action thriller featuring three phenomenal stars, has sparked immense interest among fans, eagerly awaiting the
Fahadh Faasil and SJ Suryah are reportedly teaming up for another Malayalam film under Vipin Das' direction
Fahadh Faasil anticipates the release of 'Vettaiyan' in Tamil and 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' in Telugu, while SJ Suryah has 'Game
awaiting release
Rumours of divorce swirl as Aarti Ravi deletes Instagram
photos with Jayam Ravi
Rumours of trouble in Jayam Ravi and Aarti Ravi's marriage escalated when Aarti deleted her husband's pictures from Instagram Speculation about their separation spread, fueled by gossip However, a recent Instagram update from Aarti has raised concerns among her followers
A Twitter handle posted their wedding photos, stating, " S h o
emoji) Jayam Ravi's wife Aarti R
Instagram photos with Jayam Ravi (shocking and heartbreak emojis) " Responding to the speculation, a user noted, "She mentioned in an Instagram Q&A that she intends to keep her marriage life private and focus on individual photos " Another user questioned the
judging others " A fan defended the couple by pointing out Aarti's Instagram bio, which still states her marriage to
Another fan expressed disappointment with "Nooo (three broken heart emojis) " Jayam Ravi married Aarti, daughter of noted television
couple has two sons and has
about their relationship Jayam Ravi made his acting debut with "Jayam" and portrayed the character of Arulmozhi Varman, also known as the great Chola Emperor Raja Raja Chola, in Mani Ratnam's "Ponniyin Selvan -
and
"Iraivan" and "Siren " Upcoming releases for Jayam Ravi include "Brother," "Genie," and "KadhalikaNeramillai," slated for the end of 2024
Hina
Khan diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer:
“I am determined to overcome this disease”
Actor Hina Khan has disclosed that she has been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer amid speculations about her health. She announced on her Instagram that treatment has commenced and expressed determination to conquer this challenge and emerge healthy and resilient. She reassured her fans of her well-being and requested their good wishes during this time.
“Hello Everyone, To address the recent rumour, I want to share some important news with all the Hinaholics and everyone who loves and cares for me I have been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer Despite this challenging diagnosis, I wish to reassure everyone that I am doing well I am strong, determined and fully committed to overcoming this disease My treatment has already begun and I am ready to do everything necessary to emerge from this even stronger,” Hina wrote
I kindly ask for your respect and understanding during this time Your love, strength, and blessings mean a lot to me Your personal experiences, stories, and supportive suggestions would be invaluable as I navigate this journey My family and I remain focused, determined, and optimistic With faith in the almighty, we believe I will overcome this challenge and regain complete health Please continue to send your prayers, blessings, and love," she added
Celebrities enjoying vacation in the UK
Numerous Bollywood celebrities have recently embarked on vacations to the UK, indulging in leisure activities and sightseeing across iconic British destinations
These stars are making the most of their time away from film sets and promotions, sharing glimpses of their travels on social media
Gadar actress Ameesha Patel
where she was spotted enjoying
among fans and media alike, eager to catch glimpses of her activities in the vibrant metropolis
Aditi Rao Hydari, known for
experience at Heathrow Airport in the UK during her travel for
missing She finally received her belongings after two days Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, celebrated for his performances in "Gangs of Wassepur," "Sacred Games," and more, was also en route to the UK for an event T
who are currently in the news for their alleged breakup, are painting the London city red with their romantic photos The couple is
having the best time of their life
F I L M A N A L Y S I S
‘ M A H A R A J ’
In the 1860s, journalist and social reformer Karsandas Mulji faced a legal battle for exposing sexual predators linked to a powerful godman Over a century later, "Maharaj," a Netflix film depicting his life and starring Junaid Khan in his debut, faced a temporary release suspension due to objections from a religious sect Following a Gujarat High Court review, the stay was lifted on June 21, affirming the film did not violate religious sentiments
Based on Saurabh Shah
2013
historic 1862 Maharaj libel case
Supreme Court The case sparked significant public debate amidst British colonial rule in India
the courtroom scenes to the end of his film, likely to avoid the clichés of Hindi period dramas with their
accents Instead, the film focuses on the intense conflict between Karsandas (played by Junaid) and Jadunath (Jaideep Ahlawat), known
followers JJ, a charismatic leader, manipulates and exploits female devotees, while Karsandas, despite h
s s e c t ' s superstitious practices yet loyal to his faith I n h i s i n t r o d u c t o r y s c e n e s , K a r s a n d a s s t a n d s o u t f o r advocating widow remarriage and b r i d g i n g s o c i a l d i v i d e s , s u c h a
s
'untouchable' The film drives his crusade against JJ, motivated by personal tragedy when his fiancée, K
) , f a l l s victim to JJ's exploitation and takes
her own life Karsandas grapples with his role as a male saviour in a p a t r i a r c h a l s o c i e t y , w h i l e t h e
n a r r a t i v e e x p l o r e s c o n f l i c t i n g ideals in 19th-century Bombay m o d e r n i s i n g r e f o r m s v e r s u s entrenched religious power Some respite is offered in the form of Viraaj (Sharvari Wagh), who makes a late entry into Karsan’s life and joins him in his crusade against JJ
T h e f i l m ' s p r o d u c t i o n a n d a r t design, akin to a stage set, reflect a painterly quality through Rajeev Ravi’s cinematography
T h e f i l m v i v i d l y d e p i c t s J J ' s powerful influence over his sect, consolidating wealth and power under his leadership It critiques blind faith and personality cults while emphasising the essence of religion The narrative also echoes t h e J a n m a s h t a m i t a l e w i t h a d r a m a t i c r e s c u e o f a p r e g n a n t couple by bullock cart at midnight J u n a i d K h a n e a r n e s t l y p o r t r a y s Karsandas, though his courtroom s c e n e s l a c k d y n a m i s m J a i d e e p Ahlawat impresses as the calm yet menacing JJ, contrasting sharply w i t h K h a n s c h a r a c t e r S h a r v a r i Wagh adds charm in her brief role, a n d J a y U p a d h y a y ( S c a m 1 9 9 2 ) shines as JJ's cunning aide "Maharaj" rem ains relevant tod ay as the events of 1862 reso nate with contemporary m ind sets Speaking about the “Maharaj” controversy, Cinema academician, independent filmmaker and film analyst, Rochak Saxena said, “The Vaishnavite sect Pustimargi alleged t h e f i l m m i s r e p r e s e n t e d t h e i r religious beliefs This happened before the release of the film This is also a rare case where not even
the trailer had been put out The film is based on a book, which is a l r e a d y o u t i n p u b
d o m a i n , hence I personally believe that the controversy was uncalled for A Gujarat High Court order however temporarily halted the film's June 14 release based on these concerns However, the film got a clean chit later and finally released on Netflix on June 21 It did invite a lot of
resulted in heavy viewing of the film upon its release ”
Discussing the controversy of
strikingly similar to the audience's
‘Ashram’ today Many cases also came to fore on social media It was evident that such incidents do happen Asaram Bapu and Baba Ram Rahim cases are examples The film ‘Sirf Ek Banda Kaafi Hai’
phenomenon Ofcourse, there are criticisms as well But where there is art, there will be criticism What h
intolerance, the moment we point
misconstrued as pointing fingers a
d film ‘Spotlight’ is a classic example Pakistani films, ‘Khuda Ke Liye’ a n
examples ‘OMG Oh My God’ has b
play, adapted into a film In such times, it is important for audiences and people from all walks of life to
series don’t tarnish the religion but o
themselves are Godly ‘Maharaj’ is relevant because an incident that h a p p e n
y w e l l connected to the mind-set of the people today, and it is important that we understand the difference between right and wrong well ”
Jitendra Kumar attributes
'Kota Factory' character's popularity to lack of mentor-figures
Actor Jitendra Kumar, reflecting on the popularity of his beloved character from "Kota Factory," suggests that the resonance of Jeetu Bhaiya highlights a lack of mentor figures in people's lives
In the series set in Kota, Jeetu Bhaiya serves as a mentor and teacher at a coaching i
competitive Indian Institute of Technology entrance exams Jitendra explains that the character serves as a vital support system for students facing significant challenges
"In trying to understand the love this show and character have garnered, the message I decode is that there's a significant scarcity of mentor figures Either mentorship isn't readily available or lacks the right kind of guidance, leaving people feeling isolated
"As social beings, we crave expression and s
environments, we hesitate to confide in peers who are also in the race This is why people have resonated with the fictional character of
interview
A proud moment for Indian cricket
India's agonising 11-year wait for a global title was brought to an end by Virat
K
studded team outwitted South Africa by seven runs in a see-saw final to lift its s e c o n d T 2 0 W o r l d C
y o n Saturday last. India posted 176 for 7 in 20 overs after captain Rohit won the toss and opted to bat first at Kensington Oval, Barbados. In reply, South Africa were restricted to 169/8.
T h i s g r o u p h a
painful defeats earlier The World Test Championship mace was within touching distance but Australia snatched it away at the Oval The ODI World Cup was a win away but Travis Head decided to have the day of his life in Ahmedabad on Nov 19, 2023 And it was very close to an encore of disappointment on Saturday as well before Heinrich Klaasen’s edge off Hardik Pandya started the South African choke And when Suryakumar Yadav latched on to David
Miller’s skier off the first ball of the 20th over to complete the greatest catch in Indian cricket history since Kapil Dev’s catch to dismiss Viv Richards in the 1983 World Cup final
But this World Cup was not won in a day Outgoing coach Rahul Dravid revealed how the planning had started long back “It was way back in Sept 2021 that ideas started forming We worked on it over the years, and here we are, on this beautiful Barbados afternoon,” Dravid said
While it was a moment of redemption for a team, there are a few in the group for whom it meant a little more Dravid had never won a World Cup as a player, and he d
a lifetime” for him Hardik had gone through i n c
answered all those both with the bat and the ball
And then, there’s a Virat The greatest T20 batter ever for India was having a torrid time in this World Cup till it all
Hamza Shaikh named England U19 test captain
W ar w ic k sh i re te ena g er
Hamza Shaikh will captain
o f E ng land ’ s under-19s test
s i d e i n tw o yo u t h t es ts
a g ai n st S r i L ank a at W o rm s le y C C , H ig h
W yc o m b e ( 8 -1 1 J u l y) and C heltenham CC (16-19 July)
The 18-year-old has 15 U19 caps to his name but it’s the first time he’s skippered
t h e n a t i o n a l s i d e “Captaining England at any l e v e l i s a n i n c r e d i b l e honour,” said Shaikh, who p l a y e d t w o y o u t h t e s t s
a g a i n s t A u s t r a l i a l a s t summer and has an average
o f 5 3 i n h i s 1 3 u n d e r - 1 9 ODIs
It’s a busy few days for Shaikh who will represent Warwickshire in a first class counties select XI to face the West Indies before meeting u p w i t h h i s E n g l a n d teammates He’s part of a 13player squad that will play a
three-day game against the W i n d i e
starting 3 July as part of the tourists test preparations
McCann (Nottinghamshire), Harry Moore (Derbyshire), Noah Thain (Essex), Archie Vaughan (Somerset)
Rahane joins Leicestershire
F or m er I n di a s k i pp er A j i nk y a
R ah an e has si gn ed w i th E ngl i sh c ounty side Lei cestershire for the s econd half of the ongoi ng season H e will partic ipate in the team's
f i n a l f i v e g am e s of th e C ou nt y Championship and play in the One
D ay C up , w he re L ei c e s t er s hi r e Foxes are the defending champi ons Rahane, 36, joins Leicestershire to fill in for Wiaan Mulder, who will likely be travelling to the West Indies with the South African team in August Rahane has over 26,000
r u n s a c r o s s v a r i o u s f o r m a t
including First-Class, List-A, and T20, boasting 51 hundreds with a top score of an unbeaten 265
For Team India, Rahane has scored over 8,000 runs, including 15 centuries, with his highest Test s c o r e b e i n g 1 8 8 a g
Zealand in 2016 “I'm really excited t
come to Leicestershire I've built
(Thomas), and I'm looking forward t o p l
statement
“We are thrilled to welcome s
Leicestershire's Director of Cricket, Claude Henderson
PM Modi congratulates Team India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Indian cricket team on the phone and congratulated its members on their T20 World Cup win against South Africa
“Spoke to the Indian cricket team and congratulated them on their exemplary success at the T20 World Cup They have
player’s commitment is very motivating,” PM Narendra Modi on X
In a series of posts, Modi lauded
captain Rohit Sharma and star batsman Virat Kohli for clinching the T20 World Cup Modi said Rahul Dravid’s incredible coaching journey has shaped the success of Indian cricket
During the phone call, Modi also
turned around in the final Many of them are exiting the Indian T20 set up Coach Rahul Dravid had announced before the tournament that this would be his last stint Virat Kohli said goodbye to the format at t
asked Rohit about his thoughts on his T20 c a r e e r , t h e c a p t a i n s a i d : “ T h i s i s t h e moment for me to leave this format I hadn’t thought of it before, but the way things shaped up, this is the time to go Later, India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also announced his retirement from T20 Internationals
BCCI announces £12.5 mn bonanza
BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced a prize money of £12 5 mn for Team India “I am pleased to announce a prize money of £12 5 mn for Team India for winning the
praised Hardik Pandya for his final over and Suryakumar Yadav for his splendid catch He also talked highly of Jaspreet Bumrah's contribution, officials said
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 The team h
Congratulations to all the players, coaches,
achievement!” Shah posted on X Celebrations across UK
Team India's triumph in T20 World Cup ignited celebrations across India and the UK The Indian diaspora joined in the jubilant festivities, marking the victory with
celebrations erupted in Harrow and Indians in Wembley took to the streets to celebrate the occasion with dhol music, fireworks, and an array of festive activities
Indian deaf cricket team win T20 series against England
T h e I n d i a n d e a f c r i c k et t e a m d e f e a t ed h os t s England by s ix wic kets in the s eventh and fin al T20 to claim the series 5-2 in Leic ester Electin g to bowl, In dia res tri cted England to 164 for 4 and then chased down the target with four b a l l s to s pa r e , r i d i n g on half-c enturi es by A bhishek ( 68) and U mar As hraf (56) India did not have the best of starts to their chase, l o s i n g t h e f i r s t t h r e e wickets for only 46 runs But Abhishek and Ashraf s h a r e d a 9 5 - r u n partnership to rebuild the innings and took the side
o v e r t
title of Man of the Match while Sai Akash was named a s M
wickets
“The
Just as well for the full-house that the world No 269, who
champion, who rang the bell at SW19, got The Championships off to a sparkling start -heartstopping spin and touch coupled with unbounded athleticism and pulsating power The canvas was cold, but the art was ripe Alcaraz won 7-6 (3),
winners in the 2-hours and 22minutes on court Among the women, French
