Boosting organ donation awareness in South Asian communities (P-11)
Bharti Kher's 'Target Queen transforms Hayward Gallery with feminine energy (P-16)
origin Kevan Parekh named Apple s CFO from January 1 (P-19)
Over 24 000 Indian-Americans sign up for PM Modi's community event (P-21)
granted a licence by the Indian government to open this new campus in Delhi. This move comes as India has surpassed China in sending the highest number of foreign students to British universities
PM Modi arrives in Brunei for historic visit
Motherhood penalty has driven 250,000 women out of jobs and widened the gender pay gaps
Anusha Singh Motherhood is, for many women, a deeply cherished and pivotal chapter of life, often envisioned and planned for years in advance It embodies the culmination of personal dreams and the desire to nurture and raise the next generation Likewise, a career is another cornerstone of a woman's identity, built through years of education, hard work, and relentless determination Establishing oneself in a chosen field requires not only professional skills but also perseverance and passion, often becoming a significant part of who they are
Indian
Sumit, Nitesh win gold at Paris Paralympics
PM Modi lighting the lamp during the inauguration of the new Chancery premises of the High Commission of India, in Brunei Full story on page 25
Sumit Antil
Education tax reality check as IFS assumptions challenged
The UK's largest netw ork of ind ep endent sch ools, the Girls' Day Scho ol Trust (GDS T), w ill raise fees by 1 2% in January, ah ead of th e L abour gov ernm ent's 20% VAT on private sch ool fees set for 2025
f inances
On the other hand, a report by Adam Smith Institute (ASI) provides compelling evidence that parents who are priced out of fee-paying schools may face reduced incentives to
GDST's Chief Executive, Cher yl Giovannoni, stated that the trust can absorb some of the tax increase by leveraging its size and reclaiming VAT on other costs, preventing the full 20% from being passed on to parents In contrast, Eton College will pass the entire 20% increase to its fees, raising annual costs from £53,000 to nearly £63,000 Eton assured parents that full bursaries will remain unaffected, and partial bursaries will be adjusted accordingly
The tax, which would impose VAT on private school fees, is based on a report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) that Education Not Taxation (ENT) campaign, argues overlooks the real-world impact on families
The IFS report, which ser ves as the government's primar y justif ication for the Education Tax, assumes that households transitioning from private to state education will experience "no change in individuals’ overall expenditure, working behaviour, or saving choices " ENT, however, points out that this assumption lacks evidence and fails to account for the complexities of household
work Contrar y to the IFS's assumption that savings from school fees will be redirected into the economy, the ASI suggests that these savings could instead be used for leisure, leading to reduced economic activity This shift could result in parents scaling back their work commitments to compensate for the loss of ser vices previously provided by independent schools, such as extended hours and specialised care ENT has raised concerns with the Prime Minister and the Off ice for Budget Responsibility (OBR) about the many weaknesses in the IFS report The campaign urges careful scrutiny of the proposed Education Tax, emphasising that the OBR must consider the realities of household f inances rather than relying on speculative, evidence-free assumptions
"We urge ministers, MPs, and the OBR to engage with us and discuss these plans before they cause irreversible disruption and harm to both independent and state schools, as well as to pupils, an ENT spokesperson said
PM Starmer pledges 'ambitious' Europe reset
Keir Starm er has announced plans fo r a new treaty with Germany but insisted it wo uld no t m ean rev ersing Brexit
The leaders of Germany and the United Kingdom had unveiled plans on Wednesday to draft a treaty aimed at deepening the two nations' trade, defence, and other ties, as the new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, moved ahead with his plans for a “reset” of relations with the European Union
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that he welcomed fellow centre-left leader Starmer's desire for a new beginning in relations with the EU, adding, “ we want to take this outstretched hand ” Starmer, who had taken off ice in early July following the decisive defeat of the previous Conser vative government in an election, signalled his intentions by visiting Berlin early in his term unlike his predecessor, Rishi Sunak, who had taken 18 months to do so
However, Starmer’s talk of starting anew with the EU had its limits He had ruled out many of the major possible steps toward closer ties and had been cool to the idea of a youth m
nation bloc “I'm absolutely clear that we do want a reset with Europe, a reset with the EU,” Starmer said in Berlin
However, he emphasised, “that does not mean reversing Brexit or reentering the single market or the customs union, but it does mean a closer relationship on a number of fronts including the economy, defence, and exchanges, though we do not have plans for the youth mobility scheme ”
He said he hoped to conclude the bilateral agreement with Germany, which has Europe's biggest economy, by the end of the year
Tory leadership contest heats up
To r y MPs ar e pr e pa r in g for the f irst round of votin g in t heir par ty lead ership con test a s the y ret ur n t o We s t m in s t e r , ca n d idat es off icially k ick in g off their ca mpaign s Former Cabinet minister Dame Priti Patel has l a u n c h e d h e r c a m p a i g n , promising to restore professionalism and integrity
t o t h e p a r t y S h e a l s o pledged to give activists a greater voice in selecting candidates and shaping policies Patel criticised Labour for "trash talking" Britain and pledged to challenge Reform, but also e m p h a s i s e d t h a t t h e To r i e s m u s t avoid tr ying to be "all things to all people "
w h e r e s u p p o r t e r s s p o r t e d T- s h i r t s a n d caps with her slogan
“Priti: Unite to win,” Patel expressed conf idence in her ability to lead the party back to p o w e r d e s p i t e t h e i r recent electoral defeat
Ja m e s C l e v e r l y, another former Home
S e c r e t a r y ; To m
A s a fo r m e r Ho m e S e c r e t a r y, Patel defended her record on immig r a t i o n , h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e p o s i t i v e contributions of migrants such as NHS workers during the pandemic, Hong Kong nationals, and Ukrainians fleeing conflict Speaking to a large group of activists in Westminster,
Tu g e n d h a t , fo r m e r Security Minister and Ke m i B a d e n o c h , fo r m e r B u s i n e s s Secretar y have also launched their e v e n t s R o b e r t Je n r i c k , fo r m e r Immigration Minister, had already kicked off his campaign earlier this summer but will hold a rally Mel Stride, former Work and Pensions Secretar y, will focus on meetings with MPs ahead of the f irst vote
A recent YouGov poll of party members shows Badenoch leading, fo l l o w e d b y Tu g e n d h a t , w h i l e a Techne poll earlier this month places
C l e v e r l y i n t h e l e a d , fo l l o w e d b y Patel
‘Move older prisoners to care homes to ease overcrowding’
A charity fo rmerly led by th e p ri s o n s m in is t e r i s advocating fo r o lder crimina l s t o b e h o u s e d in prison c are h omes to al leviate o verc ro wding in jails
According to a report
b y t h e P r i s o n R e fo r m Trust, the ageing prison population in Britain pres e n t s s i g n i f i
h e prison system and related ser vices, as older inmates place a greater strain on health and care resources The charity, which was led by Lord Timpson until July, highlights that jails are increasingly unsuitable for elderly offenders, given the substantial rise in the prison population’s age
The number of prisoners over 50 in England and Wales has surged from approximately 5,000 in 2003 to an estimated 14,800 by next July This age group now makes up one in six of the p r
N B R I E F
OFFENDERS APOLOGISE TO AVOID CHARGES
The number of criminals avoiding prosecution by opting to apologise for their offenses has risen by 40% over the past five years In the year leading up to March, over 147,000 offenders received community resolutions instead of facing prosecution, up from 102 , 500 in the same period in 2019 This increase includes individuals who committed sexual, violent, and weapon-related crimes Accepting a community resolution allows offenders to bypass having a criminal record Police guidelines indicate that these resolutions should be applied only to low-level offenses Offenders are required to apologise to the victim, acknowledge their responsibility and offer some form of compensation Jess Phillips the Home Office minister responsible for safeguarding has launched a review of the police response to noncontact sexual offenses such as flashing which can be precursors to more serious sexual crimes
VACCINATION TO COMBAT SCHOOL MEASLES
Health experts have warned that measles cases could rise significantly this autumn if children are not vaccinated at the start of the school year Last year saw multiple outbreaks across the West Midlands, northwest England, and London, resulting in 362 confirmed cases, the highest number since 2012 Since January 1, an additional 2 ,278 cases have been reported Parents are urged to ensure their children are vaccinated against preventable diseases such as measles whooping cough meningitis diphtheria and polio The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England are spearheading a vaccination campaign that has already delivered 180,000 extra doses More than 13 percent of unvaccinated children under five have received their vaccinations through this initiative
TFL PAID £ 500,000 TO RENAME TWO STATIONS
c e s fo r sexual crimes, with 80% of those over 70 falling i
e d longevity and the trend t o w a r d s l o n g e r s e ntences
The charity is urging the Ministr y of Justice to develop a national strategy for the care and management of older prisoners, noting that it has been over three and a half years since the department promised such a strategy followi n g a Co
m
t t e e inquir y Pia Sinha, Chief Executive of the Prison Reform Trust, emphasised the urgency of adapting prison facilities to accommodate the growing number of older inmates, noting that the report sheds light on the human costs of the current system and offers guidance for t h e g
o increased prosecutions for historical sexual offenses Notably, about 45% of male inmates over 50 are s
issues
Transport for London (TfL) received £500 000 to temporarily rename two Tube stations, according to a Freedom of Information request The BBC discovered that TfL was paid sixfigure sums for these temporary name changes in the past year Old Street station was renamed Fold Street last month as part of a collaboration with Samsung, while Bond Street was temporarily changed to Burberry Street in September The BBC s request revealed that TfL received £300,000 for renaming Old Street and £200 000 for Bond Street Transport for All, a campaign group led by disabled individuals, criticised the renaming as “thoughtless PR stunts,” arguing that the funds should not compromise accessibility and safety for disabled passengers In response, TfL stated that any revenue from these collaborations is reinvested into the transport network A TfL spokesperson explained that such partnerships help engage the public in a fun and playful way while maintaining safety and accessibility
Keir Starmer meets Olaf Scholz during the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany in February 2024
Priti Patel
Pia Sinha
A charitable landscape?
In 2019, the British-Indian diaspora’s philanthropic landscape was shaped by deep personal and emotional attachments to specific causes, particularly those tied to India
Many British-Indians felt a strong sense of responsibility towards India’s development, with older generations also expressing a similar commitment to their local communities in the UK, whether defined by geography, ethnicity, or religion This sense of duty was reflected in their charitable contributions, with education and health being popular causes among donors Disaster relief also garnered significant support, particularly during large-scale crises such as Surat earthquake or Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, when the Indian diaspora often stepped in to fill gaps left by the Indian government’s refusal to accept foreign aid
However, the philanthropic tendencies of the BritishIndian community, unlike the Americans have begun to shift Younger generations, less connected to their heritage than their predecessors, showed a growing interest in supporting causes within the UK, such as mental health and homelessness This shift signalled a potential change in giving patterns, highlighting the evolving priorities of British-Indian philanthropists
In the broader context of UK philanthropy, a survey by Opinium, commissioned by Pro Bono Economics, revealed that those with over £100,000 in savings and investments had the potential to donate significantly more potentially a third more on average However, only 8% of the UK’s 5 8 mil-
advice, missing an opportunity to unlock substantial charita-
Transforming
ble contributions
This need for greater philanthropy becomes even more critical as the Labour Government's first Budget approached in October 2019 Reports indicated that wealthy individuals and entrepreneurs were preparing to leave Britain, driven by
Entrepreneurs who had invested heavily in their businesses now faced a significant increase in capital gains tax (CGT) if they chose to sell This situation raised critical concerns about the incentive to build and grow businesses in an environment where the state claimed a substantial portion of the returns
Sir Keir Starmer's warning that the “broad-shouldered” would bear the brunt of a “painful” Budget further fuelled these concerns While Labour aimed to redistribute wealth and fund public services, there was a real risk that this approach could discourage investment and drive away those who are vital to the country’s economic success
In this context, philanthropy emerged as a powerful tool to bridge the gap between private wealth and public need Encouraging wealthy individuals to donate to charities could help address social challenges without the negative consequences of punitive tax measures
The British Asian Trust exemplified the positive impact of philanthropy by addressing critical needs in the poorest communities in South Asia and the UK By investing in local, high-impact charities, the Trust demonstrated how targeted giving could create sustainable education, health, and enterprise improvements
India’s sports scene
The connection of sport with media, telecom, education, real estate, and tourism highlights the significant multiplier effect of boosting the sector Additionally, it plays a crucial role in improving public health, with studies indicating that participation can reduce obesity, a major cause of cardiovascular diseases, by 27%
Despite the benefits, only about 6% of India’s population participates in sports, compared to 20% in the US and Australia, and up to 60% in Japan However, the situation is improving, thanks to strategic government initiatives under PM Modi's leadership Programmes like Khelo India, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), the National Sports Talent Search Scheme, and the Sports Authority of India Training Centres Scheme are transforming India s sports ecosystem and encouraging greater participation
Even the investment in sports infrastructure has surged, with the creation of 1,000 district centres under the Khelo India scheme, and the establishment of the National Sports University and Major Dhyan Chand Sports University The National Air Sports Policy and the Fit India Movement highlight the government's commitment to fitness and sporting excellence The Khelo India Programme, launched in 2018, has significantly advanced India's sports landscape, serving as a crucial feeder system for Olympic aspirations In a country where academic success is often prioritised, there has been a notable shift towards investing time and money in sports for children The number of coaching institutes has surged, with parents increasingly enrolling their kids in specialised training across various sports such as cricket, swimming, football,
karate, tennis, golf, and equestrian disciplines
Team India’s performance at the Paris Olympics 2024 reflects significant progress, with six medals and eight athletes narrowly missing the podium, five of whom were debutantes For the first time, 15 Indian athletes reached the quarter-finals The Olympics showcased a revitalised India, with 28 Khelo India athletes in the 117-member contingent More than 2,700 athletes, including youngest-ever Olympic medalist Aman Sehrawat and pistol shooter Sarabjot Singh, benefit from the Khelo India programme Manu Bhaker, a double Olympic medalist, also highlights the programme ’ s impact, having excelled in both the Khelo India University and school games
India is also making waves at the Paris Paralympics 2024, setting new records Preeti Pal has made history as the first Indian woman to win two medals in track and field events at the Paralympics or Olympics Additionally, Sumit Antil has distinguished himself as the first Indian man to secure backto-back gold medals at the Paralympic Games
Despite India’s progress at the Paris Olympics, the total medal count remains lower compared to the recent decade, and still falls short of what is expected for a country of India's size and potential Looking ahead to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics (LA2028), which will feature around 35 disciplines with 350 medal events, India should aim to qualify in all disciplines with a contingent size that surpasses the number of events An immediate national-level planning meeting is needed to establish a strategic roadmap for achieving this goal
High-quality jobs and equal opportunities for women
American actress Donna Reed once said, “The phrase ‘working mother’ is redundant ” This sentiment resonates deeply with many mothers who find themselves navigating the complexities of balancing career and family life Women around the world face what is known as the "motherhood penalty” which manifests in various ways where mothers are often perceived as less suitable for leadership roles, evaluated as less competent and committed, receive lower salaries, and are frequently denied advancement opportunities
This disparity stems from entrenched gender norms and workplace cultures that prioritise male experiences and attributes while upholding traditional notions of leadership When these biases intersect with cultural expectations, especially within ethnic minority communities, the challenges for women become even more pronounced
In many Asian cultures, the pressure to embody the “ perfect mother” is immense Women, already grappling with the emotional and physical demands of childbirth, are expected to excel in their roles as mothers while also seamlessly reentering the workforce Societal expectations are often unrealistic: a mother must maintain a spotless home, prepare meals, and care for a child, all while performing at the highest level professionally Any attempt to balance these roles is met with criticism, and a woman who returns to work may be labelled as "too independent" or "heartless" for leaving her baby at home
I r o n i c a l l y , s u c h u n
imposed on men The double standards in how motherhood impacts women's careers reflect deep-rooted biases that persist in both professional and cultural spheres
What is disheartening is that an issue with such profound
implications for women ’ s lives concerns only 23 percent of people in the UK, who view gender inequality as one of the country’s most pressing issues This lack of widespread concern contrasts sharply with the UK's historically low rankings on global gender gap indices, such as the World Economic Forum’s 2022 report and the UNDP’s Gender Gap Index, where the UK placed 22nd and 27th, respectively Despite these troubling statistics, the level of awareness and urgency surrounding gender inequality remains alarmingly insufficient
This lack of concern may partly explain why the UK's childcare system remains inefficient and unsustainable It places a significant financial burden on families, couples in the UK spending an average of £157,562 on their children over the first 18 years, while lone parents facing costs exceeding £208,000 The exorbitant childcare expenses negatively impact women's employment and career advancement, as many mothers are forced to prioritise caregiving over their professional aspirations Despite having one of the highest childcare costs in the world, the government has yet to implement effective support measures for parents, particularly for mothers who are more likely to sacrifice their careers to manage care responsibilities
Policymakers must understand that while well-crafted policies and legislation are essential for addressing ongoing challenges, a renewed focus on integrating policy with practice is equally important Ensuring access to high-quality jobs and equal opportunities for women who now represent nearly half of the workforce is crucial This approach will not only help address skills gaps but also drive productivity gains in the UK (For more see p1)
Political Sketchbook
Alpesh Patel
How Ancient India Transformed the World
The tit le to Willam Dalrymple’ s latest book t o be released thi s week is “T he Golden Road: How An cien t In dia Tran sformed the W orld” Sin ce I have n o advance copy, her e is what I t hink he will writ e
1 An cien t Ind ia's Global In fluence: The book likely explores how ancient India was a hub of global trade, culture, and intellectual exchange, influencing regions as far as Rome, Greece, Persia, Southeast Asia, and China
2 Spread of Buddhism : One of the major exports of ancient India was Buddhism, which spread across Asia and became a dominant religious and cultural force, influencing societies from Central Asia to Japan
3 In dian Ocean T rade N etworks : The book would examine how ancient India's strategic location facilitated extensive maritime trade across the Indian Ocean, linking it with Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia
4 In tellectual Con tri buti on s : Ancient India was a center of learning, with contributions to mathematics (like the concept of zero), astronomy, medicine, and philosophy that had lasting impacts on other civilizations
5 Cultural Dif fusion : The influence of Indian art, architecture, and literature can be seen in various parts of Asia, where Indian motifs and styles were adapted and integrated into local cultures
6 Spi ces an d Luxur y Goods : India's wealth in spices, textiles, and precious stones was highly sought after, leading to the establishment of trade routes like the Silk Road, which facilitated the exchange of goods and ideas
7 The Role of Empir es : The Maurya and Gupta empires, among others, played a crucial role in consolidating India's influence, both through conquest and diplomacy, spreading Indian culture and governance models
8 Reli gi ous and Philosophical Ex changes : The book would highlight the interaction between Indian religious ideas and those of other regions, i n c
d Buddhism on local beliefs in Southeast Asia
9 Legacy in Southeast Asia : Indian influence is
Indianized kingdoms like Srivijaya and Majapahit emerged, blending Indian culture with local traditions
1 0 Decline and Con tin uity : Finally, the book might discuss the reasons for the decline of India's dominance in these areas, while also emphasizing how the cultural and intellectual legacy of ancient India continues to shape the modern world I look forward to reading the book
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Greater Manchester reports progress on gender-based violence strategy
effective delivery amid funding constraints
T h
Stra tegy, h ighl
ting inno-
violence in the city- region
Bolton introduced domestic
a
Manchester Police on domes-
gramme focuses on prevention, protecting women, and
aged volunteers to provide cost-effective services, boost l
ease service workloads, and deliver highly valued support to women
Dr Gill Smallwood MBE, Fortalice's lead for the Bolton domestic abuse crisis pilot,
with support workers This immediate access to services helps prevent further escalation of abuse through early intervention ”
Roselyn Baker of Salford
pilot in Salford, noted that “The pilot has fostered valu-
domestic abuse workers and police, enhancing services for victims As it enters its second year, it will continue to prioritise victim feedback and drive further improvements
Tory councillor's spouse guilty of stirring racial hatred
London: A chil dmin der
Conserva
social me dia post Lucy Connolly tweeted about hotels housing asylum
s e e k e r s o n t h e s a m e d a y t h r e e g i r l s w e r e f a t a l l y stabbed in Southport On X, she wrote: “Mass deportation now, set fire to all the fucking hotels full of the bastards for all I care If that makes me racist, so be it ”
At a hearing, Connolly,
a d m i t t e d t o p u b l i s h i n g material intended to incite r a c i a l h a t r e d S h e w i l l b e sentenced next month, with a judge warning of a poten-
t i a l “ s u b s t a n t i a l ” p r i s o n term Lucy pleaded guilty via v i d e o
H M P P
h e has been held since her first court appearance on August 10 Her husband, Raymond C o n n o l l y , a W e s t Northamptonshire councill o r a n d v i c e - c h a i r o f t h e adult social care and health
c o m m i t t e e , o b s e r v e d t h e proceedings from the public gallery
She spoke only to enter her plea and confirm she could hear the judge during the brief seven-minute hearing at Northampton Crown
C
adjourned for sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court o n O
Adrienne Lucking KC noted that the preparation of presentence reports does not predict the final sentence T
the case to Birmingham to a v o i d
t o Connolly's husband's political role Judge Lucking stated that sentencing will be
hearing but is expected to be
then
Man exonerated after false theft confession
A man who falsely adm itted to stealing money from his m oth er's post office to prot ec t h er f ro m p r is o n h a s sh ared his emotional relief
a ft er h i s c o nv ic ti o n w a s o verturned
Ravinder Naga pleaded
g u i l t y t o s t e a l i n g £ 3 5 , 0 0 0 following an alleged shortfall at Belville Street Post Office in Greenock, but his conviction was overturned by appeal judges
He is the eighth victim of the Post Office Horizon scandal to be exonerated in
S c o t l a n d N a g a s t a t e d h e would only feel true justice when all those involved have been cleared
In 2009, auditors discovered an alleged shortfall at t h e p o s t o f f i c e w h e r e
Ravinder Naga's mother was
years Despite these hard-
t taking the blame
Mr Naga explained that the family was deeply concerned his mother wouldn t survive a prison sentence Reflecting on his decision, he said, "If I hadn’t done what I did 15 years ago, I wouldn’t be here today havi n g m y c
Surgeon jailed for rape and misusing patient records
A trainee surgeo n, who is already im prisoned for raping two wom en, has been
hand ling p atient records at two hospitals
jailed in December 2023 for raping
Air India introduces upgraded A350 experience at Heathrow
commitment to enhancing the travel experience and exceeding customer expec-
Air
new uniforms designed by Manish Malhotra
Campbell Wilson, CEO
with
legroom, and 264 spacious Economy seats
Woman pleads guilty in death of her 10-year-old
West Mid land s: A m other has ad mitted to manslaughter for killing her 10-yearo ld d a u g h te r, S h ay K an g , wh o died from stab wounds to her chest J a s k i r a t K
Crown Court, citing diminished responsibility S
h
n R
C
daughter
Michael Chambers KC S h e l i s t e n e d i n t e n t l y , leaning forward to catch the p r o c e e
in court for the hearing Addressing Kaur, Judge Michael Chambers KC said,
guilty to theft He received
community service, and the family lost their business
During his community service, Naga contracted tuberculosis and faced difficulties finding work in subsequent
t h e s u b - p o s t m i s t r e s s T o buy time, Naga advised his m o t h e r t o c l a i m h e h a d stolen the money At that time, they were unaware that the Horizon IT system had bugs causing false shortfalls T h e m
CHANGE OF NAME
Maninder Kaur daughter of Malkit Singh Residing at Flat 3, 366-370 Uxbridge Road, Hayes UB4 0SE London - U. K, Formerly residing at Rampur Jagir, Tehsil Sultanpur Lodhi Dist Kapurthala Pin Code 144626 Punjab India, Hereby give notice of my intention to change my name to Kaur Maninder, so relinquished to the intent that I may hereafter be called /known and identified the new name of Kaur Maninder
receiving a letter about my
impact it would have had on our family "
, R o w l e y R e g i s , W e s t Midlands, after police were called around 12:10 pm on M o n d a y , M a r c h 4 T h e i n q u e s t a t B l a c k C o u n t r y Coroner's Court in March revealed that the Brickhouse Primary School pupil died from chest wounds Kaur, 33, pleaded guilty t
Met police officer charged in blackmail case
London: A former Metropol itan Pol ic e officer has been charged w ith extortion, specifical ly for demanding £1 0,000 in bl ackmail
Mohammad Raza, 27, of Gurney Close, Walthamstow, was serving as a police officer at the time of the alleged offences
He faces charges of blackmail, unauthorised computer access with intent to commit further offences, and
misconduct in public office The allegations state he used police systems to access unauthorised information about a family investigation and demanded £10,000 from a family member
The alleged offences occurred between March and April 2022, during which Mohammad Raza was a Met Police officer with the North West Command Unit, covering Barnet, Brent, and Harrow
she had denied murdering her daughter Prosecution c
y H o w e s K C confirmed that the Crown a c c e p t e d t h e p l e a , w h i l e defence barrister Katherine Goddard KC acknowledged that there was "no dispute over the facts " Attending the brief hearing via videolink in a grey jumper, Kaur
c o n f i r m e d h
n
m e a n d that she could hear Judge
Muslim groups demand inquiry into Islamophobia after riots
Dozens of Musl im organisations hav e urg ed the govern me nt to "take con cre te st eps" aga in st Isl amophobia fol lowin g recent far-right riots
Community leaders are calling for urgent actions, including an independent review, engagement with Muslim community representatives, and an updated definition of Islamophobia
The riots, driven by anti-immigration, racist, and Islamophobic sentiments, saw mosques
targeted with chants such as "stop the boats" and "we want our country back
The riots were triggered by false online claims that the Southport knifeman, who killed three young girls at a dance class in late July, was a Muslim migrant In response, 80 Muslim organisations and community leaders are urging the government to conduct an official investigation into the role of social media, political narratives, and mainstream media in inciting violence
Lucy Connolly
Salil Korambayil
Shay Kang
Ravinder Naga with his mother Gurbash Kaur Naga
c
University of Southampton becomes first foreign institution to open campus in India
Continued from page 1
date is yet to be confirmed, the campus will be
signifi-
Southampton s global presence
Currently, some British universities maintain offices or small bases in India, but this will be the first fullfledged branch campus from a top UK institution Recent
d
number of Indian students in the UK has skyrocketed,
combined total of students from Wales and Northern
ments
President of the University of Southampton told Asian
and honoured to be awarded
Commission to establish
i n India
“ W e h a v e i d e n t i f i e d India as the most exciting
a n d d y n a m i c l o c a t i o n f o r o u r i n t e r n a t i o n a l c a m p u s
When regulations came out in November 2023 allowing foreign universities to set up
c a m p u s e s i n I n d i a w e jumped at the opportunity India is the largest emerging nation globally and has a huge appetite and demand for higher education The quality of students and the talent in India make this a h u g e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e university
“We will offer the same degree in India as we do in the UK, ensuring students
graduating from our India campus have the same qual-
experience We will also
engagement at the campus, s
w e a r e p a
o
, a n d embedded in Indian society and a keynote of the ecosystem
“Approval of the India campus is a huge opportunit
Southampton We are looking forward to opening in 2025 and bringing a world
India ”
The new Southampton campus in India will focus on research, enterprise, and e d u c a t i o n T h e u n i v e r s i t y plans a phased expansion, guided by its ‘triple helix’
s t r a t e g y , w h i c h i n t e g r a t e s
e d u c a t i o n , r e s e a r c h , a n d
enterprise The campus is expected to be located in
G u r u g r a m , w i t h i n t h e
National Capital Region of
H a r y a n a , o f f e r i n g w o r l dclass teaching and learning opportunities across a range of top degree programs
T h e I n d i a B u s i n e s s G r o u p ( I B
n c y , w i l l play a key role in facilitating s t a k e h o l d e r e n g a g e m e n t , i n d u s t r y c o n n e c t i o n s , a n d
b u s i n e s s l i n k s t o s u p p o r t t h i s a m b i t i o u s p r o j e c t A m arj i t S in g h , C h i e f E x e c u t i v e o f t h e I n d i a
B u s i n e s s G r o u p a n d a n alumnus of the University said, “This is truly a landmark moment for the rapidl y e v o l v i n g U K a n d I n d i a relationship IBG is delighte d t o b e w o r k i n g w i t h Southampton as one of its strategic advisory partners We acknowledge that education, research and innova-
tion are key pillars of the b i l a t e r a l r e l a t i o n s h i p , a n d t h i s e x c
e
c
e n c e , e n g a g e m e n t with industry and government and strengthen the living bridge between our two great nations”
The new campus supp
India a “global study destination” and “global knowl-
University’s senior leaders
International Office to sup-
engagement with academia, industry and government T
strategic objectives, leaders
University of Southampton India Centre established in March 2019, which reaffirms i
ment in and with India
Keir Starmer: Far right is a real threat
S i r K e i r S t a r me r h a s d escribe d t he far right as a " ver y rea l thre at" tha t must be a ddre sse d During a visit to Paris, the Prime Minister emphasised that the best way to combat the "snake oil" of populism and nationalism is t h r o u g h " d e l i v e r y " a n d demonstrating that progress i v e , d e m o c r a t i c s o l u t i o n s can address the challenges we face
S t a r m e r s c o n c e r n s about the far right have been heightened by recent unrest in the UK and the growing influence of far-right parties i n E u r o p e O v e r t h e p a s t month, riots fuelled by farright, anti-immigration sentiment and misinformation
have erupted across England and Northern Ireland This unrest, coupled with significant gains by far-right parties in France and Germany, has heightened his alarm Starmer had previously c o n d e m n e d t h e s u m m e r ' s unrest in the UK as "far-right thuggery " In a speech on Tuesday, he described the r i o t s a s i n d i c a t i v e o f a "deeply unhealthy society" w e a k e n e d b y a d e c a d e o f division and decline, which h a d b e e n e x a c e r b a t e d b y populism and the failures of the previous government
Indian student files lawsuit against Oxford
I nd i a n s t u d en t L ak s h mi Balakri shnan, from Mad urai , T ami l Nadu , has fi led legal
a c ti o n ag ai n s t O x f o rd
U n i ve rs i ty , a c cu s i ng i t o f raci al bias, h arassment, and i njusti ce Enroll ed in October
2 0 1 8 f o r a P h D i n S h ake s p ea r e, Ba la kr i s h n an c lai ms the university s ap peals and complai nts process failed to add ress her co ncerns In November 2021, during
known as the confirmation of
failed by her Oxford assessors They claimed in their report that Shakespeare did not offer sufficient scope for doctorallevel research
B a l a k r i s h n a n c o n
d s that the university's actions amount to a "breach of cont r
UK seeks tougher police powers for protests
Britain is reattempting to gr a n t p ol i c e b r oa d er authority to impose conditions on street protests, a move that has drawn criticism from civil rights group Liberty for allegedly undermining the rule of law
Liberty had previously challenged changes to public order laws introduced by t h e f o r m e r C o n s e r v a t i v e g o v e r n m e n t I n M a y , London's High Court ruled that the government had o v e r s t e p p e d b y l o w e r i n g the threshold for police to i m p o s e c o n d i t i o n s o n protests The interior ministry's appeal against this r u l i n g w a s p o s t p o n e d i n July to allow for discussions
w i t h L i b e r t y f o l l o w i n g Labour's parliamentary victory T h i s m o n t h , t h e n e w government decided to proceed with the appeal, a decision that Liberty's director, A k i k o H a r t , d e s c r i b e d a s disappointing The interior ministry defended its posit i o n , s t a t i n g t h a t p u b l i c order legislation must balance with the fundamental right to protest “However, we disagree with the court's ruling and have appealed t h e i r d e c i s i o n , ” a spokesperson said
L i b e r t y ' s c a s e c h a llenged amendments to the P u b l i c O r d e r A c t , w h i c h previously allowed police to i m p o s e c o n d i t i o n s i f a protest could cause "serious disruption to the life of the community " The law was altered last year to enable police to act if a protest c o u l d c a u s e " m o r e t h a n minor" disruption Liberty argues that these changes e f f e c t i v e l y g r a n t p o l i c e nearly unlimited authority to shut down protests, refe r e n c i n g t h e a r r e s t o f S w e d i s h c l i m a t e a c t i v i s t Greta Thunberg, who was later acquitted A l t h o u g h t h e H i g h Court found the new powers unlawful, it has put the quashing of these powers on hold pending the outcome of the appeal
Over 2,000 workers seek Tata Steel redundancy
application clearly stated her PhD thesis would focus on Shakespeare, and since this scope remained unchanged, the university s failure in her assessment represents a fundamental breach Despite diligently following the appeals and complaints process, she feels these mechanisms have failed her "I want justice for my PhD confirmation issue," she said
O v e r 2, 0 0 0 w o r k e r s ha v e applied for volun tar y re dundan cy at Tat a Ste el’s South Wa les fa cilities, prima rily a t the Por t Talbot site , wher e the compa ny is se t to shut down its second blast furna ce in a mont h Tata Steel is currently evaluating whether the roles of those who have applied for redundancy align with t h e p o s i t i o n s t a r g e t e d f o r closure The initial wave of 2,800 job cuts is expected to begin in the coming weeks Unions are preparing to bal-
lot their members on the redundancy offer, which is t o u t e d a s t h e c o m p a n y ' s most generous to date The redundancy package includes 2 8 weeks' salary for each year of service, capped a t 2 5
m i n i m u m p a y m e n t o f £15,000, and an additional £5,000 based on attendance
A Tata Steel spokesperson commented, “We are assessing how individuals' aspirations match with the future needs of the organisation While we have put together a c o m
t package to assist those leaving, it is also crucial that we retain our essential knowledge, skills, and experience during this challenging period ” The three unions representing Tata Steel workers Community, Unite, and the GMB have agreed to a vote on the redundancy terms
Keir Starmer
Prof Andrew Atherton
Amarjit Singh
Ind
AS I SEE IT
CB Patel
ia House in A ld wych , th e present-day building under the authority of the Indian g overnment, has a v ery long history
It is held on a long leasehold by the Indian government, surrounded by institutions steeped in traditions such as legal hubs for lawyers and barristers like Lincoln’s Inn or Gray’s Inn, the prestigious King’s College London, esteemed colleges for surgeons, the Royal Court of Justice and even the seats of power at the Palace of Westminster, Whitehall and Downing Street are nearby
In 1928, during a discussion at the House of Commons in the British Parliament, on the Bardoli Satyagraha, brilliantly led by Vallabhbhai Patel (later known as Sardar Patel), a member of the House of
India House and the legacy of diplomacy
Indian students in Britain and offered scholarships to Indian youths for higher studies in England The building quickly became a hub for political activism and one of the most prominent centers for overseas revolutionary Indian nationalism "India House" informally referred to the nationalist
of Sir William H Curzon by Madanlal Dhingra in 1909, India House was swiftly shut down (A century later, the Gujarat government commissioned a life-size replica of the London India House in Mandvi, known as Kranti Tirth, to honour its legacy)
The British perception was quite clear, they
Commons remarked, "What will happen if the whole of India is ‘Bardolised’, embracing the non-cooperation movement?"
The British realised that after the First World War, the UK was nearly equal to the USA as the world's leading power They have a unique sense of innovation, a strong ability to correct themselves in necessary course, and the ability to continuously improvise
In 1900, when the Labour Party was established, Shyamji Krishna Verma, a barrister from Mandvi, Kutch, Gujarat, who had recently settled in the UK, was one of its generous supporters He contributed £1,000 at the time, which would be roughly 120 times more now Shyamji also started an anti-colonialist newspaper, ‘The Indian Sociologist’ (a bilingual English and Gujarati publication)
In 1905, Shyamji Krishna Verma founded a student residence named "India House" at 65 Cromwell Avenue, Highgate, North London
This institution was established to promote nationalist views among
organisations that operated within it over time
After Shyamji Krishna Verma's departure, the leadership of the organisation passed to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a law student who arrived in London in 1906 on a
recognised the significance, reputation, and emotional attachment associated with the name "India House " It's likely that the India House in Aldwych was named with this historical background in mind Like the new Consulate of India
scholarship from Krishna Verma Under Savarkar's leadership, India House was transformed into the headquarters of the Indian revolutionary movement in Britain The members of this movement were young men and women from all over India, with significant numbers hailing from Bengal, Punjab, Bombay, and Maharashtra
Following the assassination
India However, India House in Aldwych had no role in governing India, instead, it functioned as the purchasing hub for the Indian colonial government and all its provinces When I arrived in the UK in 1966, I was informed that India House wasn't confined to just that building; there were additional premises where staff worked At the time, around 700 people were employed there, and every import from India, from paper clips to railway engines, were supplied by Britain This served to extend British economic dominance After India's independence in 1947, the situation reversed, and V K Krishna Menon became
the first High Commissioner of India after Independence
Many of the High Commissioners appointed to London were stalwarts of the Indian independence movement, brilliant lawyers, and individuals with close connections to the Nehru and Gandhi families I had the privilege of knowing High Commissioner, M C Chagla, a brilliant lawyer from the Ismaili community who later became India’s Minister of Education
Before Independence, Sir Zafarullah Khan, who later became Pakistan's Foreign Minister and served as President of the UN General Assembly and
the International Court of Justice, represented Pakistan in the United Nations Security Council V K Krishna Menon represented India at that time During times when Western countries often aligned with Pakistan, it was only the Russian veto that helped to safeguard India
Interestingly, Zafarullah Khan was an Ahmadiyya Muslim, a group not recognised as Muslims by the Pakistani government Equally notable is that the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was born into an Ismaili Shia Muslim family but later converted to Shia Isnasheri
in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, inaugurated by Indian High Commissioner His Excellency Vikram K Doraiswami on 30 August is also named 'India House’ (for more see p9)
We should remember that India, a vast country nearly half the size of the Western Europe, was governed by the British through the Colonial Office and the Viceroy of
KamaleshSharmaJuly2004January2008
ShivShankarMukherjeeJanuary2008August2009
NalinSurieSeptember2009August2011
JaiminiBhagwatiFebruary2012December2013
RanjanMathaiDecember2013December2015
NavtejSarnaJanuary2016December2016
YashvardhanKumarSinhaDecember2016October2018
RuchiGhanashyamNovember20182June2020
GaitriIssarKumar3June202030June2022
VikramKDoraiswami22September2022Incumbent
Name
India House Cromwell Avenue
India House, Aldwych
Shyamji Krishna Verma
Midlands’ Nepalese community mark Teej
H ug s , h an d s ha k e s , s m i l es
a n d c us t om a ry ‘ n am a s t e ’
h a nd g re e ti n g s we r e e x c ha n g ed at th e T e ej
Festival in Bi rmi ngham on M onday this week
the arrival of the monsoon season and features singing, dancing, prayer rituals and fasting
In remembrance, two years on
As the coun try mar ks the secon d an nive rsar
of
in
of He
efle ct s on a life of
ing d edicat ion and se rvice
The annual festival, cel-
e b r a t e d m a i n l y b y t h e Hindu and Nepalese communities, is dedicated to the mother goddess Parvati and
h e r m a l e c o n s o r t , L o r d
Shiva This festival is mainly celebrated by women and girls wishing their husbands
a n d p a r t n e r s a l o n g a n d healthy life It also marks
O r g a n i s e d b y S h a n t i Nepali Samaj Belayat, the round table, family-friendly 4pm – 11pm ticketed event, brought together around a thousand people, of all ages Chief guest was Nepalese MP Dilli Ram Subedi T h e e v e
Nepalese national anthems, a raffle, dinner and more
Diwali festival cancelled due to 'funding freeze'
T h e B i rm i ng h am D iw a li
M ela festiv al has been can-
c el le d th i s y ear d u e to a " funding freeze," acco rd ing to the So ho Road Business Im pro vement District ( BID)
The organisation stated
t h a t i t c o u l d n o t p r o c e e d w i t h p l a n n e d c o m m
y events and services after an appeal was lodged against a successful ballot for the BID to continue for a third term
The cancellation, described as a "direct consequence" of the funding withdrawal, represents a significant setback
t o " c u l t u r a l p r i d e " i n t h e community
T h e B I D e x p r e s s e d i t s
" d e e p e s t a p o l o g i e s " t o t h e thousands of residents, visi-
t o r s , a n d b u s i n e s s e s w h o have come to cherish the fes-
t i v a l , w h i c h t y p i c a l l y s e e s thousands gather each year
t o c e l e b r a t e D i w a l i , w i t h
v i b r a n t l i g h t s i l l u m i n a t i n g streets like Soho Road and Holyhead Road
This year, Diwali falls on November 1 The BID noted that the Birmingham Diwali M e l a h a s b e e n a " c o r n e rstone of cultural expression" i n t h e a r e a f o r t h e p a s t decade The cancellation will also affect the "iconic festive l i g h
S
H
S
Road, and Holyhead Road d u r i n g c e l e b r a t i o n s o f Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas, E i d , C h r i s t m a s , a n d N e w Year
The BID has called on stakeholders to support the reinstatement of the festival a n d r e s o l v e t h e f u n d i n g "issue," urging those respons i b l e t o " r e c o n s i d e r t h e i r a c t i o n s a n d p r i o r i t i s e t h e greater good of the community "
Upcoming cultural events
v The Hindu Council UK's Annual General Meeting will take place at 2 PM on September 22, 2024, at The Brent Indian Association, located at 116 Ealing Road, Wembley, HA0 4TH
v The Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community (UK) is hosting the Chovis Gaam Ujamni Celebrations on Sunday, September 29, 2024, with a focus on reconnecting with cultural roots from 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM v BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir London will celebrate the 91st Janma Jayanti of Guruhari Mahant Swami
M a h a r a j o n S a t u r d a y , 2 8 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 4 F o r details, visit the BAPS website
v The Bhavan’s September events include a UK Hindi conference with the High Commission of India on 11 September, from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm A dance and music variety show will take place on 14 September Followed by performances by Roopalasya School of Dance and Rukmini Vijayakumar on 15 September, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
v The Nottingham Mela will be held at Wollaton Park on Sunday, 8 September 2024, from 12 pm to 5 pm Radio Faza 97 1 FM's Kite Azaadi Festival will follow at the same venue on 15 September, from 11 am to 5 pm
Queen Elizabeth II was not only the longest-reigning monarch in British history but also a symbol of stability and continuity in an ever-
found sense of duty, grace, and commitment to the people of the United Kingdom
these shores
As we remember Queen Elizabeth II, we honour her extraordinary life and the indelible mark she left on
history Her legacy continues to inspire us to embrace our shared values of compassion, respect, and service to others
Wheel of Light set for Diwali celebrations
ti ons w ill s till featu re the iconic Wheel of Ligh t L e i c e
C i t y C o u n c i l has submitted plans to bring back the popular attraction f o r t h i s y e a r ’ s s c a l e d - b a c k festivities This move fol-
events will not take place in 2024 due to financial constraints The city cannot currently afford the £250,000
reduction in festivities
As a result, the traditional light switch-on event has
been cancelled, with celebrations now focusing solely on Diwali Day, which falls on 31 October However, residents can still look forward to the
t h e Golden Mile, with city mayor
S i r P e t e r S o u l s b y a s s u r i n g that they will be installed as usual
According to the plans, the Wheel of Light is expecte d t o b e i n p l a c e f r o m 4
October to 4 November, situ a t e d i n t h e C r a n b o u r n e
Street parking area next to the Brahma Samaj Temple T h e c o u n c i l a i m s t o make a decision on the application by 26 September
A ten-day festival of devotion and celebration
Ganesh C haturthi, a major Hi nd u fe st i v al , be g i ns o n Sep tem ber 7, m ark ing th e birth of Lo rd Ganesha, the ele
and rem
s Devo tees bring his id ol h ome and w o r sh i p h i m fo r t en days, th ough som e observe the festival for five or three days
T h e c e l e b r a
, a l s o known as Ganesh Utsav or V i n a y a k a C
'Vignaharta,' or remover of obstacles It offers devotees a chance to seek divine assistance for overcoming life s challenges
The festival is widely cele b r a t e d i n s t a t e s l i k e Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, and marks the
b i r t h o f L o r d G a n e s h a
According to the Puranas, Ganesha was born in Bhadra Chaturthi, in the month of S a k a S a m w a t D e v o t e e s observe a fast and worship him on this day, which falls b e t w e e n A u g u s t a n d September
On the final day, known as Visarjana, devotees carry Ganesha idols in a process i o n , s i n g i n g a n d d a n c i n g before immersing the idols in water
Janmashtami celebrations at Wembley temple
More than 10,000 devotees attended throughout the day at Shri Sanatan Hindu Mandir, Wembley UK, to celebrate the auspicious Birthday of beloved Bhagwan Shree Krishna on Janmashtami, 26th August 2024 Krishna Janam was celebrated at 7 30pm in the UK (midnight in India)
The paradox of information age
Rohit Vadhwana
We are li ving i n a hyper- information age, yet we are the most i gnorant gen eration that has ever li ved i n this world This mi ght sound pa radoxi cal, but i t i s bec omin g m ore and m ore true every day The un fortun ate thing f or our forefa the rs was the lim itation of m eans to acq uire i nformati on , b ut for us , tha t prob lem does n't exis t at all Our dilem ma is that we don 't wa nt to know the truth behind all the fac ades shown to us In fac t, someti mes we are so conten t wi th the shin e, win e, and di ne pres ent in our lifes ty le that we don't question the layer of truth undern eath i t People, corporations, and govern ments are bus y c reating layers of mis inform ation for comm on men who don't da re to know the truth b ehind them, fearin g they w ould lose their comf ort They don't dare to as k ques tions but ins tead ac cept thei r situation
Immanuel Kant, a philosopher, said "Sapere Aude," which means "Dare to know " This Sapere Aude is the need of our time While there is enough to inquire about, it's daring that we are lacking But without knowing the truth of the society we live in, of the time we are in, our rationality and decision-making will remain impaired Being afraid of the dark side of truth is no justification for not making efforts to know The fear of losing the beautiful facade in no way justifies our ostrich-like behavior; burying our heads in the sand will not avoid the real danger
However, once you dare to know and adapt to Sapere Aude, it is not necessary that you will face the dark side Truth is not always bitter; it may be beautiful as well But not trying to know the truth is never an option for a person who wants to live rationally Our ethics and standards should be based on truth, not facades Reality should guide us to make our own judgments Decisions should be based on bold truths, whether in society, politics, personal, or professional life Sapere Aude will make life better, more rational, and ethical It will provide much-needed transparency in our daily lives and the confidence of knowing the truth, rather than the fear of burying our heads in the sand
(Expressed opinions are personal)
Neasden Temple hosts Gnanvatsaldas Swami on sanatan dharma's modern relevance
BA PS Sh ri Swaminarayan Mand ir, also known as ‘Neasden Temple,’ hosted an inspiring sem inar on the ‘Mod ern-Day Relevance of Sanatan Hindu Dharm a, ’ led by reno wned m otiv ational speaker P ujya Dr Gnanvatsaldas S wam i Guided by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, Gnanvatsaldas Swami, a respected sadhu of BAPS, captivated over 250 prominent Hindu community leaders from across the UK He highlighted how Sanatan Dharma offers timeless guidance for enlightened living and how its Vedic values remain crucial for navigating today’s complex
how their values of loyalty, trust, and respect can guide modern families and emphasised the need to rekindle the moral duty of caring for elders
world
He used ancient Hindu scriptures, including the Ramayana and Mahabharat, to address contemporary societal issues By referencing the trials of Bhagwan Shri Ramachandra, Mata Sitaji, and Shravan’s devotion to his parents, he illustrated
A key focus of the discourse was on the value of seva (selfless service) Gnanvatsaldas Swami emphasised the Vedic principles ‘Seva paramo dharma’ (service is the highest duty) and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) for promoting global harmony He cited His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj and His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj as models of these values and urged attendees to embrace and spread them He also stressed the importance of spiritual practices like meditation and daily devotion for finding inner peace amid materialism and social fragmentation
Final portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
Teenagers from the Yardless Nepalese Group who performed a stunning dance
M eenu M alhotra appointed Honorary Consul of India
Meen u Ma lhot ra DL, C hairma n of M alhot ra
G roup PLC, ha s bee n a ppointe d as the first -e ver Honor ary Consul of In dia for t he Nort h East The a nn oun cemen t was ma de by In dian High Commission er t o the UK, Vik ram K Dora iswa mi
In this new role, Malhotra will focus on fostering connections across various industries, including pharmaceuticals and green energy, as well as promoting cultural, political, and tourism initiatives between the UK and India As Honorary Consul, he will also assist businesses in the North East in establishing ties with India “It is a great honour to be able to represent both countries,” Malhotra stated
The new Consulate of India offices have been established in the former Parrish’s department store on Shields Road, Newcastleupon-Tyne, now renamed ‘India House ’ The building was officially opened by the High Commissioner For over 45 years, Malhotra has been a steadfast supporter of the Indian community and diaspora in
A
North East England and India He has worked closely with the Consul General Offices in Birmingham for over a decade and is eager to strengthen this relationship to benefit communities in the North East of England He has also been an informal supporter of international students for over two decades Malhotra’s family migrated from Ludhiana in Punjab, India, 43 years ago and settled in England He arrived in the UK shortly after completing school, starting his career humbly as a paperboy and later running a drapery shop
Despite coming from a wealthy family, Malhotra
The shortlist for the 22nd Asian Achievers Awards, the UK s most distinguished celebration of British Asian excellence, has been announced
This year ’ s ceremony will be held on Friday, 20th September 2024, at the prestigious London Hilton on Park Lane The event will host nearly 600 guests, including celebrities, business leaders, and global stars
The Awards received over 500 nominations across various categories, including Arts and Culture, Business Person of the Year, Community Service, Entrepreneur of
Personality of the Year, and Woman of the
diverse cross-section of society, including Cmd Umer Khan OBE (Commander of City of London Police), Dinesh Dhamija (former
A rts and Cultu re:
• Abi Sampa and Rushil Ranjan
• Ariana Abawe
• Nikesh Patel
• Shreena Patel
Business Person of the Year:
• Neeraj Kanwar
• Dr Neeraj Tripathi
• Reuben Brothers
• Sita Foxon
• Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia
C ommu nity Serv ice Perso n of th e Year:
• Himanshu Jain
• Iftikhar Chaudhri BCAv
• Satpal Singh
• Rashmi Becker MBE
Entrep reneur of the Year:
• Muhammed Ibrahim
• Sachinkumar Gupta
• Suleiman Raza MBE
• Dr Vanita Rattan
• Varun Bhanot
began acquiring properties to generate rental income, leading to his first care home purchase in 1986
Malhotra Group PLC, formally established in 1991, operates in the property, leisure, and care sectors, primarily in the North East UK, while its Indian arm, Malhotra Realty Private Limited (MRPL), is a real estate developer exploring opportunities in India
Operating under the banner of Prestwick Care, the group owns and manages more than a dozen care homes across Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Gateshead, North Tyneside, and Northumberland
Embracing Paryushan and Meditation: A global
call to protect and preserve mother earth
Nalinkant Nanalal Kothari
In an era where th e rap id
P aryush an and meditatio n offer timeless wisdom and guidance
These practices remind us not only of our responsibility to protect and preserve Mother Earth but also o
within, where true meaning and purpose are discovered Th e ancient wisdo m
f P aryush an
period of spiritual reflection and ethical living Rooted in the values of non-violence, t o l e r a n c e , a n d p e a c e , Paryushan encourages individuals to pause, reflect, and renew their commitment to living harmoniously with all forms of life It is a time w h e n J a i n s w o r l d w i d e engage in fasting, meditation, and seeking forgiven e s s , a l i g n i n g t h e i r l i v e s w i t h t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f Ahimsa (non-violence) and compassion
Th e global relevance of Paryu shan and meditation
President of TiE and founder of eBookers), Lubna Shuja (Immediate Past President of the Law Society of England and Wales),
Myles Stacey OBE (Former Advisor to PMs Johnson and Sunak), Priya Aggarwal-Shah
(
H Inclusion), and Aashni Shah (Founder and CEO of Aashni + Co) Pratik Dattani, Managing Director of EPG, remarked, “The shortlist highlights the
South Asians across the UK These individuals have made significant impacts in their fields and enriched the UK’s social, cultural, and business landscapes Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck for the Awards ”
The Asian Achievers Awards celebrate the achievements of South Asians in leadership roles across various sectors, including politics, business, and civil society
Media Person of the Year:
• Aditya Chakrabortty
• Divia Thani
• Shruti Tripathi Chopra
• Tasnim Nazeer
Professional of the Year:
• Geeta Nayar
• Dr Kesar Singh Sadhra
• Mamta Rani Singhal MBE
• Rishi Bhuchar
Sp orts P ersonality of the Year:
• Adil Rashid
• Hamza Choudhury
• Nasser Hussain
• Neil Taylor Woman of the Year:
• Farzana Baduel
• Leah Chowdhry
• Dr Nighat Arif
• Natasha Asghar MS
In today's world, where e n v i r o n m e n t a l c h a l l e n g e s threaten the well-being of our planet, the message of Paryushan is more relevant than ever This festival calls on us to extend our practice of non-violence and respect beyond human interactions,
t o e n c o m p a s s a l l l i v i n g
b e i n g s a n d t h e n a t u r a l world itself It is a reminder that our actions, however s m a l l , c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e larger effort of preserving the Earth for future generations
T he uncharted path withi n: T he po wer of meditation
As we face the complexities of modern life, where a n s w e r s t o m a n y o f o u r questions seem just a click away, we are often led to overlook the deeper, more e x i s
technology The practice of meditation, which has been embraced by cultures and religions across the globe, o f f e r s a p a t h t o e x p l o r e these questions and uncover the wisdom within
Historically, meditation has been a universal practice, transcending time and place From the Buddha's e n l i g h t e n m e n t u n d e r t h e
B o d h i t r e e t o M a h a v i r a s attainment of Kevala Jnana through intense meditation, to the contemplative practices of Christian mystics like St Teresa of Ávila, meditation has been the key to unlocking the mysteries of existence Whether through the silent reflection of Zen m e d i t a t i o n i n J a p a n , t h e rhythmic recitation of Sufi dhikr, or the solitary vision quests of Native American t r a d i t i o n s , m e d i t a t i o n offers a way to connect with the deeper truths of life
I n o u r d i g i t a l l y - d r i v e n society, where the constant barrage of information can lead to stress and disconn e c t i o n , m e d i t a t i o n p r ovides a much-needed sanctuary It allows us to step back from the chaos, reconnect with our inner selves, and find answers that no search engine can provide Scientific research continues to validate the benefits of meditation, from reduci n g s t r e s s t o e n h a n c i n g emotional well-being, yet its most profound impact lies in its ability to guide us on a journey of self-discovery
T o g e t h e r , P a r y u s h a n a n d m e d i t a t i o n o f f e r a holistic approach to life one that nurtures both our external environment and our inner world Paryushan reminds us of our responsibility to protect and preserve the Earth, encouraging us to live in harmony with nature and all living beings Meditation, on the o t h e r h a n d , i n v i t e s u s t o explore the uncharted territories of our minds, discovering the wisdom and peace that reside within As we embrace the spirit of Paryushan and the practice of meditation, we join a long lineage of seekers who have understood the importance of looking inward and living mindfully In doing
global effort to protect our
Mother Earth continues to
approach allows us to preserve not only the physical world around us but also the inner landscapes of our souls, leading to a life of balance, peace, and purpose Conclusio n: A unified j ourney T h
f Paryushan and meditation
between our minds and our
ancient wisdom of the past and the challenges of the
n o w ledge that the answers we seek, both for the preservation of our planet and for o u r p e r s o n
u l f i l l m e n t , a r e f o u n d w i t h i n B y embracing these practices, we take meaningful steps towards protecting Mother Nature and nurturing the global family with whom w e s h a r e t h i s b e a u t i f u l Earth
Celebration of Janmashtami at Brahma Kumaris
T h e au d it o ri u m , designed to evoke a p a rad i s i ac al w o rl d with peaco cks, lush greenery, and grand arches, set the stag e for the celebration of S ri K rish na's b irthd ay A p p ro xi m atel y 250 attend ees exp erienced th e ev ent in p e rs on , i nc lu d in g many newcom ers, while 8 5 joined online G u e s t s i n c l u d e d Truptiben Patel, President o f t h e H i n d u F o r u m o f Britain; Lakshmiben Vyas, P r e s i d e n t o f t h e H i n d u Forum of Europe; and Cllr
others The evening was hosted by Shrinidhi, a radio DJ and T V p r e s e n t e r , w h o w e lcomed everyone with "Om
S h a n t i " a n d e n c o u r a g e d t h e m t o e m b r a c e t h e
P a r v e e n R a n i , D e p u t y Mayor of Hertsmere, among
inner peace and see each other as embodiments of p
to explore the spiritual significance of Shri Krishna’s story D
House and a dynamic dancer who merges tradit i o n a l a n d c o n t e m p o r a r y styles, depicted the journey of Shri Krishna through her performance Despite dancing solo, she fully expressed t h e d i v i n e d a
e A t t h e end, Sister Indu distributed prasad and blessing cards to everyone
Vikram Doraiswami with Meenu Malhotra DL
Shrinidhi with Sister Indu at the event
The true meaning of Paryushan
The true meaning of “Paryushan,” a Jain festival, became clear to me during a European tour from England about 37 years ago Although I had been aware of Paryushan during my childhood in Karamsad, Gujarat (the birthplace of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India), it was during our 10-day tour of European countries that I gained a deeper understanding
G r o w i n g u p , I w a
Paryushan through my Jain friends and my visits to their Derasar (temple) in Karamsad We would exchange greetings of "Micchami Dukadam" at the end of the festival
In August 1987, while visiting England for my nephew Hemant Patel's wedding to Dipti Patel, my family and I along with our two daughters, Alpa and Aarti decided to take a family trip We embarked on a 10-day European tour organised by Taj Tours Our fellow tourists came from various parts of the world, including India, America, South Africa, East Africa, and the UK
Our tour manager, Raj Ghera, was attentive and informative, ensuring our comfort and guiding us through the various destinations Despite some delays caused by traffic, immigration, and weather issues, we were enjoying the trip However, on the eighth day, a few tourists decided to lodge a written complaint against Raj Ghera due to these issues They approached me, and I agreed to join them
During the tour, we grew close to two Jain families: the late Shri R D Shah and Smt Arunaben Shah from Nairobi, and the late Shri Manubhai Mehta and Smt Vidyaben Mehta from Harrow, England The Shahs’ sons had been very helpful with our luggage, and the Mehtas explained that, given the holy festival of Paryushan was underway, it was important to practice forgiveness rather than complain
Forgiveness and seeking forgiveness are central teachings of Paryushan, encapsulated in the phrase “Micchami Dukadam ” Inspired by this, we decided to forgo the written complaint and convinced others to do the same As a result, we enjoyed the remainder of the trip with fond memories
Happy and holy Paryushan to all Its teachings are valuable for everyone, regardless of their religion, and should be practiced in our daily lives
Suresh and Bh av na Patel
World Grandparents' Day
September 8 Grandparents not only love us more than your parents but also teach us some of the most important lessons about life
They play an integral role in shaping our lives and guide us when we are nothing, stand by us when the world is in our opposition, console us when we are emotionally broken, assist us when we are helpless, and protect us when we are in trouble
Hence, we must always be with them and try to gain their love and warmth as no one can replace them Through their prayers and good wishes, we succeed in our life and we progress in achieving our goals
Grandparents are like angels in disguise They always watch out for us and pray for us even when we don’t know it They provide us a safe space on which we can always count on They not only help their children and grandchildren in their learning and growth but also foster good habits and moral values amongst them They are the vitamins for the child’s development They are the ones who have made our parents the way they are It is because of their upbringing that our parents love us immensely and care for us the same way our grandparents did when they were children
My grandparents have always shown me what it means to live a life of fun, kindness and generosity
Jubel D'Cruz
12 year old rioter
The admission of a 12-year-old boy's involvement in the Manchester riots is deeply concerning, revealing serious issues about the influences and experiences affecting our youth
These young individuals are clearly at a formative stage of their lives, and their actions raise serious questions about the influences shaping their behavior Is it a result of negative company of friends, exposure to inappropriate content, o r p e r h a p s p e r s o n a l t r a
Understanding the root causes is essential for addressing these issues effectively
The future of any country depends on its children, and this disturbing trend underscores a critical need for targeted interventions Children could prove to be soft targets for those with wicked intentions who seek to create disharmony or exploit them for personal gain We must ensure that children are guided by positive influences and provided with supportive environments to foster their development
This incident is a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to safeguard and nurture our youth, ensuring they grow into responsible and contributing members of society
Rajan M acwan
Soneri Sangat
Last week on Soneri Sangat, we had an extraordinary celebration of Janmashtami The programme featured
Mayaben, which added a divine touch to the event We delved into the rich history of Shrinathdham
(Vaishnav Sangh of UK), with a special focus on their diverse and impactful activities It was a privilege to
vachanamrut with all participants during this Zoom programme
Rajan Pitamber, from the Vaishnav Sangh, also provided valuable insights into the spiritual, cultural,
offered by the Haveli
For those who missed it, c atch up on this even t and previous episodes by visiting our YouT ube channel @abplgroup87 72
Stay tuned for more exciting conten t coming your w ay!
Elderly man killed after raising concerns about local youths
An 80- year-old dog wa lk er, who wa s allegedly ki lle d by five children, had previously r ep o rt e d a n
behaviour b y youths to the polic e Bhim Sen Kohli, 80, was walking his dog in Franklin Park, Braunstone Town, near Leicester, last week when he was allegedly kicked in the neck He died on Monday night Detectives have arrested a 14-year-old boy and girl, a
s along with a 12-year-old boy, o
Police sources revealed that M
behaviour by youths in the area, but no action was taken Leicestershire Police has
Any na tion that truly wis hes to b e a democracy w orthy of its people mus t ens ure i ts a nati on w here the re i s on e law for all, a nati on that as sures justi ce for all, a nati on that as pires an d in spire s grea tnes s i n eve ry strata of society To do that, a n ation must ri d its elf of i llconcei ved anti -n ation al legis lation desi gned to ex ploit its own people
India has a legacy of mindless corrupt legislation that it has allowed to disenfranchise millions from all sections of society Be it the unconstitutional A370 in Jammu and Kashmir, to the Waqf Act, 1995 The latter was introduced to appease to a religious group to ensure that Congress secured it vote bank Can you imagine a law that is designed to give a religious group total power to steal any asset it wants and do so legally! The community in question, Muslim I am appalled that the Muslim community accepted such an act in the first place Surely as a community they have some sense of morality and ethics that tells them that an act that gives them such power over other religious groups is nothing short of corrupt How can a faith that prom o
grotesque legislation that undermines the majority of citizens in the nation?
Police Conduct
A n I O P C s p o k e s m a n stated: “We have received a referral from Leicestershire Police regarding this case We will assess it to determine if further action is needed ” Neighbours remembered Mr Kohli, a grandfather of two, as a kind man who took his daily walks in the park with his dog
Visa scam exploits students for millions
A global network has swindled stud ents o ut of thousands by pro viding fake visa d o cu m ent s t h at th e y th o u g h t w o u l d l
work in the UK
An investigation uncovered that middlemen, acting
exploited international students looking for work in the care industry
Students were charged up to £17,000 each for spon-
should have been provided a t n o c o
applied for skilled worker
v i s a s , t h e
were rejected by the Home Office because the paperwork was deemed invalid D
that Taimoor Raza sold 141
f i c a t e s , m o s t o f which were worthless, earni n g h i m £ 1 2 m i l l i o n H e denies any wrongdoing but has refunded some of the money to the students
Mr Raza set up offices and hired staff in the West
dents job placements in care homes and sponsorship for employment
While he initially sold legitimate documents, some s t u d e n
i d
c u
and genuine jobs However, many others lost their entire savings on worthless paperwork
Many students lost their entire savings on worthless paperwork Seventeen indiv i d u
e women in their 20s who
their experiences Promised
England while still in India, they instead found themselves broke and too fearful to inform their families
In 2022, the UK’s care
recruitment to international applicants, sparking a surge of interest from countries like India, Nigeria, and the Philippines
I was therefore heartened to learn that PM Modi, finally, has brought to parliament the ‘The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 ’ However, in my opinion it fails to address the elephant in the room The bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on August 8, 2024 It amends the Waqf Act, 1995 The Act regulates waqf property in India and defines waqf as an endowment of movable or immovable property for purposes considered pious, religious, or charitable under Muslim law Every state is required to constitute a Waqf Board to manage waqf T
Development Act, 1995 ’ i e Waqf will persist, albeit in a slightly altered state
I am not in favour of this piecemeal process to an amendment The reason why the total removal of A370 worked is because it was just that, ‘total removal’ The proposed amendment to Waqf still maintains the central concept of inequality Inequality where one faith is granted unprecedented power and control over all other faiths
Given the outrage from all sectors of society the J
(Amendment) Bill, 2024 has invited views and suggestions from the public, NGOs, experts, stakeholders and institutions It’s given a window of 15days during which citizens of India can voice their opinions I know those in favour of keeping Waqf are very well prepared and resourced They will no doubt put in multiple presentations from hundreds of their networked organisations I just hope other communities are also better organised and seek for the removal of this unethical unjust unacceptable and unconstitutional piece of legacy legislation
My adv ice to the Join t Committee would be very s imple:
a Abolish the Waqf Act of 1995 in its totality
b Abolish all Waqf Boards in every state
c All assets that have been secured by Waqf under the provisions of the said act should immediately become the property of the Government
d Set up a national commission to look into how best to re-distribute the seized assets and how best to compensate those who were exploited
There is precedent within the amendment bill where it statesthat where government property was declared as waqf: ‘that any government property identified as waqf will cease to be so ’ i e If the bill will at a stroke bring back all government property, then why should the same logic not apply to all other assets stolen under Waqf?
The anti-nationals who subscribe to their western paymasters no doubt will use this as ammunition to undermine the nation and create anarchy However, sometimes a nation must bear such hostilities in order to bring justice to the whole of society
No one said One Nation, One Law and One People was going to be easy It’s for all Indians to recognise that it is in their interest to jettison unconstitutional and unjust legislation How the Muslim community responds will become a defining moment of their integrity, honesty and allegiance
Kapil Dudakia
Bhim Sen Kohli
Boosting organ donation awareness in South Asian communities
O rgan donation is a vital, li fe-saving act, yet aware-
n e s s an d p ar t i c i pa ti o n r emai n low in the South As ian community Cultural
s e n s i t i vi t i e s , m i s c on c e ptions, and a lack of information have his torically hindered engagement, despite
t h e s i gn i f i c a n t i m pa c t donati on c an have on savi ng lives Rais ing awarenes s about organ donati on in the South Asi an c ommunity i s c rucial
O v e r c o m i n g b a r r i e r s and myths can boost participation and align with the community's values of com-
p a s s i o n a n d s e
mately saving more lives Cultural beliefs impact discussions on organ donation
Chair Designate of Jain and Hindu Organ Donation
tions ” P ro f A dn a n Sh a ri f ,
Consultant Nephrologist at U n i v e r s i t y H o s p i t a l s B i r m i n g h a m , n o t e s t
while awareness of organ donation in the South Asian community has improved o
“Asians make up 9 2% of the population in England and
A l l i a n c e ( J H O D ) , P ra f ul a
Shah spoke about the misconceptions or cultural barriers related to organ donation within this community She said, “In the Jain and Hindu communities, there is a mix of generosity and m i s c o n c e p t i o n s a b o u t
o r g a n d o n a t i o n W h i l e many view it as a noble act of seva, some believe their religious beliefs prohibit it, or they defer to elders who may lack accurate information Concerns about how the body will be treated and the impact on funeral rites, especially with open casket funerals, also contribute to hesitation However, organ donors are treated with dign i t y , a n d c o n c e r n s a b o u t b o d y a p p e a r a n c e a r e unwarranted Additionally,
m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n s a r e assessed by healthcare professionals, not by personal
a s s u m p t i o n s T h e r e i s a n e
information and education
t o a d d r e s s t h e s e c u l t u r a l a n d r e l i g i o u s m i s c o n c e p -
Wales, yet only 6 7% are on the UK organ donor register, and just 3 9% donate after death With 20 1% opting out, there is a significant gap compared to the W h i t e c o h o r t A s i a n s a r e more likely to be on transplant lists (18 8%), underscoring the need to bridge the gap between willingness to donate and the need for transplants ”
Urgent need for South As ian organ donors
Reflecting on her exper i
2018, I donated my left kidn
Hospital in London to my niece, Shakti, through the UK Kidney Sharing Scheme
Although our family wasn’t a direct match, my kidney helped someone else, and S
d n
y from an anonymous donor
This experience underscored the urgent need for organ donors in the South
A s i a n c o m m u n
conditions like diabetes and
been a positive shift, with o
Gujarati’s rising by 3 2% last year, more participation is
signing the organ donation register and potentially saving lives ”
A 5 2 - y e a
- o l d f r o m
Brecon, Wales, Kal Sandhu was born with a rare heart condition and has needed
Essex businesses fined thousands for hiring illegal workers
n d treatment throughout his life to help him live a full life is urging everyone to register their organ donat i o
awaits a heart transplant
H e s a i d , “ B e i n g o n t h e transplant list brings uncertainty that permeates every aspect of your life," " I t ’ s d
Taking time to go away to
pended from the list, and I could miss an organ offer while we are away "
Ta r un a K un dr a 's daughter, Zara, was diagnosed with acute myeloid
l e u k a e m i a i n 2 0 1 9 A f t e r
transplant from a US donor through the Royal Marsden
Despite this, Zara experienced graft-versus-host disease and was readmitted to
n December 2022 T a r u n a
" I w o u l d love to be able to encourage others to take part in giving blood or registering to be a stem cell donor It's very easy to register or sign up, and by signing up you will
could make a difference and save someone's life In my eyes, that is the greatest gift you could ever give anyone "
King hosts PM and wife at Balmoral for weekend
dent M Ps elected on proGaza platforms and is inviting more M Ps to join the coalition
Democratic Unionist Party, each with five MPs, and will surpass the Green Party and Plaid Cymru, who have four The group aims to
independent MPs Shockat Adam, Ayoub Khan, Adnan
were elected to offer hope amid despair This governm
allowances, maintained the two-child benefit cap, and ignored calls to halt arms sales to Israel We believe a collective voice can
Islington North, was barred from running as a Labour candidate in the last election The new parliamentary
Prafula Shah with her niece Shakti (Left)
Kal Sandhu with his family
Taruna with her daughter Zara
Balancing these two life-defining roles, however, can be a complex and demanding endeavour While the role of “mothering” is widely celebrated and valued in society, the reality of balancing a career with motherhood is fraught with difficulties These challenges frequently lead to career breaks, reduced work hours, and ultimately, a decline in workforce participation among mothers Cross-country research highlights this trend, showing that on average, 24% of women exit the labour market during their first year of motherhood Five years later, this figure drops to 17%, but even after a decade, 15% of mothers remain absent from the workforce
Given the prevailing expectation that continuous work is necessary for career progression, it is not surprising that mothers are significantly underrepresented in leadership positions The structural barriers that force many women to choose between their careers and their families contribute to this persistent inequality, making it clear that more needs to be done to support mothers in the workplace
Additionally, while the choice between motherhood and career is already challenging, Asian women often face additional difficulties due to longstanding customs and outdated traditional roles
“M oth erhood Penalty” is very real "Motherhood penalty" refers to the systematic and systemic disadvantages that mothers face in the workforce compared to their childless counterparts These disadvantages manifest in terms of pay, perceived competence, and benefits
In layman's terms, the motherhood penalty is a significant contributor to the gender pay gap, accounting for approximately 80% of it a staggering figure Recent data reveals that women aged 18 to 21 earn 0 2% more than their male peers, whereas women aged 40 to 49 earn 10% less than their male counterparts
Joeli Brearley, th e Founder o f Preg nant Then S crewed shared,
“Typically, women and men progress in their careers at a similar rate, especially if they share similar backgrounds and educational levels There is minimal gender pay disparity until a woman becomes pregnant Once pregnant, she is often perceived as less competent and less committed than her peers As a result, she may be sidelined, demoted, or face overt discrimination
‘The myth of having it all’
“After giving birth, a woman typically takes up to a year off work to care for her baby, as dictated by parental leave policies This time away from the workforce can stall her career progression When she returns, she is often expected to continue as the primary caregiver, which leads to further career sacrifices She may look at the cost of childcare, compare it to her salary, and conclude that it’s financially unfeasible to continue working full-time This often leads to requests for part-time work or other flexible working arrangements, which can result in reduced pay and further discrimination ”
Joeli also shared that this cycle of sacrifice and discrimination continues over the years By the time a woman's first child is 12 years old, her pay rate, according to the Institute of Fiscal Studies, is 33% lower than that of a man This stark difference illustrates the motherhood penalty the penalty in terms of earnings and career progression that women experience, while men typically do not
Dr Jana Jav ornik, Associate Professor of Work and
Em plo ym ent Relations at L eeds
U niv ersity Business Scho ol, is of
the opinion that women are more likely than men to cut the number of hours or leave the job when family needs arise They leave employment at different stages, especially when working hours and workplace requirements are difficult to manage alongside caring responsibilities for children and other dependants She said, “The implications for the gender opportunity gap are further pronounced when women have a second or third child, contributing to their cumulative disadvantage The existing motherhood and care-related penalties on employment and earnings also translate into a higher pension gap This means that women with care responsibilities are exposed to lower pension benefits and higher poverty risks in old age ”
She further added that “While many women choose to but many also need to return to paid employment This may be because of their need to earn household income, shortfalls or changes in family circumstances, including household income shocks
However, many returners are likely to move into lower-skilled or lower-paid roles, experiencing an immediate earnings reduction This happens for a host of reasons, including the need to work shorter hours because childcare just isn’t affordable or available This is pertinent to most but the wealthiest socio-economic groups ”
Aekta Patel, Global Head of Venture C apital at th e Department for Business and T rade, is a working mother who
never anticipated just how challenging it would be to balance motherhood and a demanding career Before becoming a mother, she frequently travelled overseas, attended evening events, and participated in breakfast meetings work consumed a significant portion of her life However, after returning from maternity leave, she found it impossible to maintain her previous work routine While the situation was difficult, she was determined not to give up the senior role she had worked so hard to attain Leveraging the years of credibility she had built within the civil service; she successfully persuaded her superiors to allow her to job share her role This arrangement enabled her to manage a large team on a part-time basis while still spending quality time with her 18-month-old son
Ethnic M ino rities have it hard er
Around a quarter of a million mothers with young children have been forced to leave their jobs due to the challenges of balancing work and childcare
Out of these countless women many face some form of discrimination These numbers are likely even higher due to the intersectional discrimination that disproportionately affects both Asian and Black women Prof Jana told Asian Voice that, “The situation is challenging for most women, but it is particularly dire for Black and South Asian women, especially those from Bangladeshi and Pakistani backgrounds, who have historically experienced the lowest employment rates due to various factors such as discrimination and long wait times to secure jobs
“However, these groups have also seen the largest increases in employment rates between 2004 and 2022 This is a complex issue that requires more in-depth discussion, but in general, women from lower socio-economic backgrounds face even greater difficulties due to limited options factors like race, ethnicity, and education levels all contribute to these challenges ”
For Shri moye e Ch akrab orty, C hef tur ned Fi lmmak er an d TV hos t, the biggest sources of discrimination and stereotypes came from within South Asian communities She said, “In South Asian communities, there’s an expectation that once you become a mother, you should no longer care about yourself When I try to look presentable in the morning, I face criticism for
being too dressed up, while if I don t make an effort, I m criticised for looking dishevelled
“Additionally, there’s a stark difference in how mothers and fathers are treated It seems there's an expectation for mothers to suddenly transform into a self-sacrificing, everpresent figure overnight, which is another stereotype in itself The expectations on mothers how they should speak, behave, and dress can be incredibly limiting and frustrating ” I s the govern men t s upporti ng w ome n ’ s careers ?
In February 2023, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) partnered with the leading panel provider Find Out Now to conduct a landmark survey involving over 4,100 respondents The research revealed that two-thirds of women believe they have missed out on career advancement opportunities due to childcare responsibilities
Governments and employers play a crucial role in shaping the support available to parents, and their decisions have significant consequences The difficulty of balancing work and parenting varies widely between countries, depending on their policies
Factors such as parental leave, sick leave, childcare availability (including after-school and summer programs), and flexible working arrangements all influence how supportive or challenging a country’s environment can be for working mothers and active fathers These policies define the framework within which employers operate and can either enhance or hinder parents' ability to access and utilise their rights and options
Childcare in the UK is one of the most expensive across the globe According to Prof Jana, “A chronic lack of adequate and affordable childcare, including after-school programs in primary schools, along with insufficient flexible working options and the need for commuting, are significant factors preventing women from working or seeking employment, opting for a lowerpaid, less demanding jobs ”
She also feels that shared parental leave legislation is an opportunity missed “Ten years after shared parental leave was introduced in the UK, there remains fertile ground for litigation by fathers who are not being offered the same benefits by their companies as women on maternity leave, i e legal challenges under equality law on the grounds of discrimination”,
she said
Joeli Brearley also shared her opinion on this parity According to her, “the current parental leave system is outdated and disproportionately favours women taking extended leave, while fathers receive only two weeks of paid paternity leave at a rate of £172 per week This disparity reinforces outdated gender roles and often forces families into debt as they struggle with inadequate support The pay for paternity leave is insufficient, contributing to financial strain and exacerbating the childcare crisis
She also raised an important point that significant changes are needed from both the government and employers to better support mothers and ensure they can be both effective parents and valued workers “The current situation is challenging, and with the decline in birth rates posing a threat to the future economy, it's crucial for the government to act quickly to address these issues”, she said
She added that the current childcare system is overly complex with multiple benefit schemes making it challenging for families to understand and access their entitlements “We propose scrapping the current system and moving to a single, streamlined benefit where families pay no more than 5% of their household income for early years education, with a focus on supporting lower-income families”, Joeli said
Providing a perspective in teaching profession, think tank The New Britain Project and the charity MTPT Project recommend that the government should implement a recruitment target for female headteachers, prioritise childcare places for teachers, and offer back-toschool coaching to address the “motherhood penalty ”
The report emphasises that retaining female teachers in their 30s should be the government’s “top priority,” as they represent the largest group exiting the profession annually “Focusing on their retention will create a crucial shift, helping to keep more experienced teachers in the field,” the report asserts “This will stabilise the workforce and ultimately address the unsustainable levels of teacher attrition ”
In the 2023-24 period, the overall recruitment target for teacher training, both primary and secondary, fell short by 38% Additionally, last year saw 9,147 women aged 30 to 39 leave their teaching positions, more than any other demographic
Adding a mum ’ s perspective, Aekta said, “You can implement all the policies you like but ultimately the culture and people are the hardest to change School timings and work timings don’t align Commuting to work and back is timely in London Babies and kids until high school age need their mums full stop So how do you work around this as a working mum? You fight and you keep using your voice to ensure that you get the right working pattern you need ”
Joeli Brearley
Dr Jana Javornik
Shrimoyee Chakraborty
Aekta Patel
UK invites indian women to apply for High Commissioner for a day contest
To m ark the International D ay o f th e Gi rl C h i ld , Britain’ s first fem ale High
C o m m is si one r to Ind i a i s inviting Ind ian w omen ag ed 18 to 23 to app ly for a unique op portunity to take o ver h er role for a d ay and experience the dynamic world of a top U K diplomat
i t
B
C o m m i s s
o n e r t o I n d i a Lindy Cameron stated, “The l a n d m a r k U K - I n d i a
T
Initiative represents a bold new approach for collaboration on the key technologies of this decade ”
“ T h e U K p i o n e e r e d g r a p h e n
semiconductor chip in every s m a r t p
n
, a n d i s n o w leading in the safe development of AI Similarly, India is making groundbreaking strides with mobile banking and its lunar mission By uniting our top talents, I’m
c
remarkable things together
Competition is
fantastic
their visions for change As the first female British High Commissioner to India, this cause is close to my heart
woman to share their best ideas and apply
Shreya Dharmarajan from
C
diplomatic activities such as leading UN discussions on
Goals in New Delhi, collaborating on UK-India research with Professor Ajay Sood,
vehicle charging report with
T
D
Department as part of the ASPIRE programme
A
Kindness should be taught in classrooms
ability, can also be tau ght in the classroom
A c c o r d
report, lessons in empathy enhance kindness and foster positive behaviour in children Ed Kirwan, a former science teacher and founder
remark
showcas ing thei r dedi cation to pres erving the ri ch heritage of the lan guage
A m o n g t h e m i s S i a n a Wakde, who proudly earned an A in her Sanskrit GCSE She shares her experience in h e r o w n w o r d s s t a t i n g , "Sanskrit has been part of our curriculum since primary school Initially, it was q u i t e m a n a g e a b l e , a s w e focused on the Devanagari script and basic words and sentences However, as we
p r o g r e s s e d , t h e s u b j e c t
b e c a m e i n c r e a s i n g l y c h a llenging We delved into stories from the Ramayana and M a h a b h a r a t a , w h i c h n o t
o n l y h e l p e d u s g r a s p t h e language but also deepened our understanding of cultural values
“ O u r s t u d i e s a l s o included Hindu philosophy, verses from the Bhagavad Gita, and the teachings of the Hitopadesha Although Sanskrit is a difficult sub-
Final portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
ject, it is incredibly rewarding Once you start unders t a n d i n g t h e w o r d s a n d their formations, it becomes fascinating "
Avanti House Secondary School continues to uphold the traditions and values of Sanskrit education, ensuring that students not only learn the language but also c o n n e c t d e e p l y w i t h t h e cultural and philosophical roots it represents The success of students like Siana is a testament to t h e d e d i c a t i o n o f t h e i r teacher, Mr Laxhman, who guided them through the c o m p l e x i t i e s o f S a n s k r i t with excellence
of Empathy Studios, developed a video-based course for schools Analysis by his company found that within ten weeks, the program sig-
across six countries, including the UK, who completed the course, showed notable
increasing empathy in students aged five to eighteen,
followed by 30 minutes of activities and discussion
Teachers rated students' e m
, a n d other traits on a scale of one to ten before the program, and again at five and ten weeks The
empathy score increased from
from
UK-bound Indian students face challenges
A s the British pound steadily approach es a one-year hig h, Indian stud ents preparing to study in the UK th is year could face substantial financial challeng es
Currently, the pound is valued at `110 95, nearing its peak for the year At the start of 2024, the exchange rate was `105 per pound,
and it fluctuated between `100 and `105 during the first half of the year before rising to `108 in July
O v e r t h e p a s t m o n t h , the British Pound Sterling h
upward trend, reaching new highs almost daily
e e n trading between `110 and
`111 per pound A rise of `5 in the exchange rate makes a significant impact when calculating the annual cost of education With an average British university charging
£12,000 for living expenses,
Weaving heritage and modernity into textile art
Rezia Wahid MBE is a Bangladeshi-born British textile artist whose work is deeply influenced by her personal journey and culture Moving to the UK at the age of five, Rezia was struck by the contrast between the vibrant textiles of her homeland-saris, kanthas, and embroidered piecesand the woollen fabrics of Britain
Although she never envisioned becoming a textile artist, her love for art and a deep interest in
encouraged me In further education, I realised that my unique identity made it essential for my art to be authentic and deeply rooted in my own experiences
As I moved into professional life, I faced the challenge of fitting my work into societal and market expectations Although my work was appreciated, it didn’t fit neatly into categories like fine art or craft I chose not to alter my vision for commercial success, instead focusing on maintaining my
How do the diverse cultural influences from your upbringing and heritage shape your artistic practice today?
My work is less about expressing my identity to the world and more about exploring my personal journey If a technique resonates with what I'm trying to achieve, I incorporate it naturally Identity is crucial, of course artists weave their DNA into their art My upbringing is deeply intercultural; although I'm Bangladeshi, I see no clear distinction between Indian and Bangladeshi cultures I grew up in a village where Hinduism and Islam coexisted naturally, and this blend of influences shapes who I am
In my art, I’m not consciously creating pieces based on my identity, but rather exploring and uncovering the threads that make up my identity My roots stretch from Bangladesh to East Pakistan, India, and even Yemen, where Sufiinfluenced Islam took hold Now, living in Britain, I weave these diverse cultural strands into my work, which enriches and inspires my artistic practice
the cultural heritage of Bangladeshi textiles eventually led her to create her own, blending tradition with personal expression
In an interview with Asian Voice, she spoke about her artistic practice, challenges she faced in the industry and much more What challenges have you faced in the textile industry, and how have you overcome them?
My journey as a South Asian British Muslim artist has been both rewarding and challenging The British art education system was crucial in shaping me, but initially, pursuing art was difficult due to its dismissal as a viable career. Thankfully, my supportive parents
artistic integrity despite criticism
Howdo you balance maintaining traditional techniques with exploring new and innovative approaches in your work?
My inspiration comes from the journeys and themes I explore, particularly in the way I work with yarns and threads I love the traditional method of weaving, but I'm also deeply interested in architecture and nature This blend of interests shapes my approach While traditional techniques can be intricate and detailed, I'm drawn to the Japanese concept of "less is more " This minimalist philosophy influences my work, allowing me to create pieces that feel
Shuchi Talati’s ‘Girls Will Be Girls’ lands in UK & Ireland cinemas
Talati's film ‘Girls Will Be
Festiv al T he mov ie, which explores them es of rebellion and sexual awakening , will
Septem ber 20
both contemporary and timeless, seamlessly combining tradition with modernity
Howdo you see the role of textile art in today’s contemporary art scene?
I believe there's a real renaissance happening in the world of handwoven textiles When I first moved to London as a 1998 graduate in handwoven textiles, people often didn’t understand what that meant They’d be surprised “Oh, you ’ ve got a first-class degree in handwoven textiles? Really? What is that?” But now, it’s wonderful to see how things have changed We have initiatives like the weaver line coming into London, craft fairs, and organisations like Cockpit Arts supporting artisans There’s a growing appreciation for handmade work, with more funding and opportunities available for makers It’s truly an exciting time for the craft
Whatfuture projects or goals are you excited about in your career?
I’m incredibly excited I’ve just received a scholarship for a PhD! As a student, I was captivated by the light, airy fabrics of Dhaka muslin and Jamdani For years, I’ve wanted to research these textiles, to understand the decline of the Jamdani cloth of Bengal But every time I delved into the history, the sadness and trauma surrounding it overwhelmed me, so I shelved the idea Instead, I focused on creating beautiful cloths, hoping to revive the tradition in my own way
Now, I realise my work needs to have a lasting impact, which is why I decided to pursue this PhD I’m thrilled to take my research and practice to the next level and hope to visit India and Bangladesh to connect with museums and galleries, and to physically piece together this rich history
Himalayan boarding school,
In ‘Girls Will Be Girls’, 16-year-old Mira’s journey o
awakening is interrupted by her mother, who never had a chance to come of age her-
of-age story It is part of a new wave of Indian filmmakers creating contemporary, impactful, and accessible cinema
‘Girls Will Be Girls’ is produced by Richa Chadha,
Shuchi Talati, and features
Kusruti Talati, known for award-winning shorts like ‘A Period Piece’ and ‘Mae
by the
Filmmakers Collective and other creative groups
New play explores East India Company history
A British Indian playwright and a former d ip lom at have collaborated o n an imm ersiv e theatrical experience set i n L o nd o n, e xp l o ri ng th e s to r y o f t h e E as t I nd i a C om p a ny a nd th
Bri ti sh Em pire
“A London Lark Rising,” a dramatised walking tour by Dr Anu Kumar Lazarus and Lisa Honan, will feature double shows on September
7 T h e " w a l k i n g p l a y " explores centuries of history through iconic and lesserknown London sites, high-
from India and the UK
A f t e r w r i
n g a l a r g e play about the East India
C
around London, I realised it was too grand for the stage and decided to take it to the streets that inspired it,” says Kumar Lazarus, a UK-born doctor and playwright with roots in Uttar Pradesh
“ H a v i n g e x p e r i e n c e d L i s a ’ s ‘ T h e E a s t I n d i a Company London Walk,’ I knew she was the perfect collaborator With her deep
Governor of Saint Helena, which was governed by the East India Company for 200 years, we set out to adapt and dramatise her walk ” The 90-minute walking p
a p r o m e n a d e experience, recounting the East India Company’s history at its original locations Featuring artists in period costumes, the tour immerses audiences in 16th-century London, exploring how the c i ty ’ s p a s
In
a h a s shaped its present
First female director of gallery pushes to severe fossil fuel connections
T h e n ew d ir ec to r o f th e
National Po rtrait Gallery is an env ironmental ad vocate w h o h a s ca ll ed o n art s o rganisations to sever th eir connections with the fossil fuel industry
Victoria Siddall, 46, previously the director of the Frieze art fair, has become the first woman to head the r e n o w n e d c e n t r a l L o n d o n institution
The gallery has been a focal point in the controvers y s u r r o u n d i n g f o s s i l f u e l s p o n s o r s h i p , p a r t i c u l a r l y due to BP’s historic backing of its annual portrait award, w h i c h c o n c l u d e d i n 2 0 2 2 after substantial protests
Victoria Siddall
activists have criticised the g a l l e r y f o r s w a p p i n g o n e c o n t r o v e r s i a l s p o n s o r f o r another by partnering with the law firm Herbert Smith
Freehills, whose clients have included BP, Chevron, and China National Petroleum
T h e c a m p a i g n g r o u p C u l t u r e U n s t a i n e d remarked in 2022: “Ending
your sponsorship deal with BP only to replace it with a law firm that has actively facilitated BP and other fossil fuel companies is a major climate failure ” While Siddall is not affili a t e d w i t h C u l t u r e Unstained, she co-founded t h e G a l l e r y C l i m a t e Coalition, which is connected to the group and encourages galleries to scrutinise their associations with companies, even those indirectly involved in fossil fuels In its advisory document " E f f e c t i v e A c t i o n s , " t h e Coalition recommends that g a l l e
i s e C u l t u r e Unstained as a resource
Art gallery to recreate 1907 exhibition
A historic exhibition f ro m 1 1 7 ye ar s ag o w i ll be recreated at W o lv e rh am p to n A rt Gallery later th is year, sh owcasing the wo rk o f pioneering female a rti s t E v ely n De M org an I n O c t o b e r , t h e g a l l
s , a n d sketches, echoing the original 1907 exhibition at the same venue At the time, this exhibition was considered groundbreaking, as it was "incredibly rare" for a gallery to dedicate a show to a solo female artist, according to Wolverhampton Art Gallery
T h e u p c o m i n g e x h i b it i o n h a s b e e n c a r e f u l l y curated to mirror the origin a l d i s p l a y , f e a t u r i n g o i l p a i n t i n g s , a p l a s t e r c a s t s c u l p t u r e , s k e t c h e s , d r a wi n g s , a n d n e w l y - p a i n t e d recreations of three of De M o r g a n ' s o r i g i n
k s that were lost in a fire in 1991 De Morgan, one of the few women associated with t h e P r e - R a p h
ment,
Wolverhampton "The exhibition not only highlights her talent, inspirations, and influences but also reveals her inner thoughts, social, and ethical values, she said
Rezia Wahid MBE
Subhasini Naicker
Kunal Thakkar: Scaling Up with a Smile
Sunetra Senior
Kun al is t he foun der of t he cont empor ary de n-
t a l g r ou p T o ot h C l ub , which h as seve ral loca tions in t he UK includ ing Suffolk , Essex , Her tfordshire , Ken t and soon to be in Surr ey The e bullien t CEO share d tha t he “loves the fa ct tha t t h e d e n t a l pr of e s si o n i s people-cent ric a nd wa nte d to r evolutionise it fr om this st a n d p oi n t ” In d e e d , t h e unique ethos of t he business eme rge d from Kunal’s own d esire to a ssuag e his anx iet y a round be ing in th e den tist’s cha ir and pe rsonal jour ne y : “th er e ’ s no rma lly the sm ell of disinfecta nt in the a ir, the soun d of dr illin g an d ma y be a r e ce pt ion is t who just won’t look up a t you an d this is a comm on sce nar io I wa nt ed to comba t tha t with a n appr oach tha t was all a bout t he satisfa ct ion of t he p atie nt, crea ting a spa ce tha t sme lled, felt a n d lo ok e d w e l co m i n g while prese rvin g the delivery of a n e xcelle nt stan dar d of c a r e ” T h is s e n t im e n t resulted in a fully-fle dge d busine ss t hat made the de nta l pro ce ss frie n dly, comfor table an d ple asan t – fun eve n A ft era ll, man y of us
a r e a p p r e h e n s i v e a bo u t re v isit in g th e d e nt ist a n d going on ce can be t axin g enoug h ***
A d d i t i o n a l l y , K u n a l s o u g h t t o i n t r o d u c e h i s m o d e l t o a r e a s t h a t w o u l d n ’ t o t h e r w i s e h a v e access to an affordable local p r a c t i c e , d u b b e d ‘ s q u a t practices’, combining both NHS contracts and the efficiency of private care: “ we wanted to be at the heart of community so ideally located on the high-street where people would find it easy to find us, with affordable pri-
v a t e d e n t i s t r y , a n d w e r e struggling to find a dentist
Accessibility was key: our p h o n e l i n e s a r e o p e n 1 2 hours a day and 7 days a week allowing patients to easily book appointments
w h e n t h e y n e e d T o o t h Club has been a huge hit with people which can be seen on social media with
c u s t o m e r s r e c o m m e n d i n g the novel but high-quality experience to their friends ”
T h e v i b r a n t d é c o r t h a t externally defines the chain certainly emanates positivity Kunal started his career in investment banking and the corporate sector, worki n g f o r g i a n t c o m p a n i e s
such as HSBC and Goldman Sachs However, he could n e v e r i g n o r e h i s “entrepreneurial spirit and made the switch to dent i s t r y a f t e r t a k i n g s o m e courses with a friend who was interested in the sector at the time ” Kunal elabor a t e d : “ I c o u l d h a v e f o llowed a very sure path to wealth and success but that entrepreneur in me wanted to take a risk, exploring the opportunity at hand ” H e r e , t h e f o u n d e r ’ s urban upbringing played a p i v o t a l r o l e : h e g r e w u p spending a lot of time in a video shop owned by his parents in East London on t h e f a m o u s h u s t l i n g
“It is better to work together and rely on others, motivating each other to deliver a shared vision You needn’t put the whole burden on your shoulders"
grounds of Green Street “I was learning about business from a young age, ” he comm e n t e d : “ I w a t c h e d m y father experience both the highs and lows as he ran his shop Watching him, I really l e a r n e d h o w t o g r a f t
However, being of a different generation, I also had to unlearn much of the indi-
v i d u a l i s t i c t h i n k i n g t h a t comes with it: if you are d o i n g e v e r y t h i n g y o u r s e l f and not reaching out and connecting with others, you are not growing Obviously, my parents who were first g e n e r a t i o n d i d n ’ t h a v e much choice in terms of having to survive, but my g e n e r a t i o n a r e f a r m o r e
l u c k i e r a n d h a v e m o r e options I could take risks and evolve and learn new skills: such as amicable and like-minded collaboration
Being able to build a strong mutually passionate team
h a s t r u l y a l l o w e d T o o t h Club to go from its inception I took a leap of faith, and it resulted in incredible g r o w t h ” T h e s u c c e s s o f Tooth Club then lies in its
e x c e p t i o n a l a p p r o a c h o f scaling up with a smile: “ I t i s b e t t e r t o w o r k together and rely on others,
m o t i v a t i n g e a c h o t h e r t o deliver a shared vision You needn’t put the whole bur-
d e n o n y o u r s h o u l d e r s ” B
current expansive venture, h
dental practice “I learned much from the mistakes I made in my old business such as the importance of clear and unapologetically authentic branding – you must always stay true to your values and core culture while keeping an eye on the rest of the competitive market This is what allows you t o d i s r u p t a n
r e a k through as a business ” Not only does the founder work to ensure the health of the p
o glowing up the tired image of dentistry itself Wha t h a v e be e n t he bigge st challen ges of laun chin g this fr anchise?
We’ve had the typical growing pains in terms of scaling up, especially during C
ment tends to be a particular challenge where Brexit hasn’t helped on that front However we position our s e l v
choice, that creates valuable careers and growth opportunities for our team
Whatha ve been some hig hlight s?
Being a non-dentist but deeply emotionally invested in the cause has always been interesting – I’ve built up a very supportive community through my personal conviction which has only gone upwards in terms of financial growth
Fin ally , hav e you e ncounter ed ma ny bar rier s a s a Sout h-Asian led busin ess in an alre ady v ery compe titive in dustry ?
Not really I have always been focussed on what I want to do and that’s been enough It is a sector, like many, that is typically dominated by white middleclass men, but South-Asian prof
y
e dynamic of the landscape has been organically swayed more towards equality and acceptance If you would like to find out more visit: W: https://www toothclub co uk/
Vaccine to prevent hospitalisations in children
Ilford MP Jas Athwal 'sorry' for flat faults
Ilfo rd South's new ly elected MP , Jas Athwal, h as issued a “profoundly sorry ” ap olo gy for alleged serious issues in som e of his rental p rop erties
Tenants have reported p
mould, ant infestations, and
alarms hanging by a single wire during a visit Athwal, w
his election on July 4, owns 15 rental homes in London,
register of members’ financial interests
A B B C i n
t i g a t i o n revealed conditions includi n g b l a c k
d , u n c l e a n communal areas, and loose fire alarms in some of these p r o p e r t i e s A d d i t i o n a l l y , some flats may lack the necessary property licences that A t h w a l h a d p r e v i o u s l y i m p l e m e n t e d d u r i n g h i s time in local government
In a statement, Athwal acknowledged his responsibility to address these issues
promptly “I’m profoundly sorry that tenants have been let down and will be reviewing the property management and how matters are escalated going forward,” he s a i d H e a l s o e x p r e s s e d shock at the reported condit i o n s a n d r e q u e s t e d a n explanation and immediate action from his managing agent
A t h w a l , w h o c o - o w n s the properties with a family member, described himself as a “renters’ champion” and s t a t e d t h a t h e r e n t s t h e homes below market rate
R e g a r d i n g t h e p r o p e r t y licences, he admitted that
while he believed all licences were current, he has recently discovered that some are due for renewal and is in the process of updating them London Assembly chairm a n A n d
h a s announced plans to call for a
n
o t h e matter, expressing concerns about the condition of the properties he visited
rental of flats with alleged mould and insect infestations as "unacceptable," stating, "It's unacceptable for any landlord, whether it's a Labour MP or anyone else " He acknowledged that Jas A t w a l h a s r e c o g n i s e d t h e issue and is taking necessary steps to resolve it, emphasising, "The sooner that's done, the better When asked if the MP
, Starmer responded, "I'm not going to say this is acceptable in any way it has to be put right He's taking action to address it and has agreed to do so as quickly as possible "
Workers to be weighed for health check
T he N H S is se t t o b r i n g
heal th che cks to offices, pubs an d b uil ding sites a s part of a na tion al initiat iv e to pr event hear t atta cks and st rokes O v e r t h e n e x t s i x months, more than 130,000 middle-aged individuals will be offered free health checks at their workplaces These "Health MoTs" will take 20 minutes and involve weighi n g e m p l o y e e s , m e a s u r i n g t h e i r b l o o d p r e s s u r e a n d a s s e s s i n g t h e i r c h o l e s t e r o l levels to determine their risk of type 2 diabetes or heart disease
The checks will be available to individuals over 40
with a focus on male-dominated industries such as fact o r i e s a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n where there is a higher risk of heart disease among men Companies participating in the scheme include Jaguar Land Rover, which will prov i d e t h e c h e c k s t o 4 , 5 0 0 employees at its Solihull site from the boardroom to the f a c t o r y f l o o r I f t h e t e s t s indicate high risk, employe e s w i l l b e o f f e r e d t r e a tments including blood pressure medication, statins to lower cholesterol, and referr a l s t o N H S w e i g h t - l o s s clinics
Backed by £7 million in g o v e r n m
month as part of Labour's prevention-focused healthc a r e s t r a t e g y , a i m i n g t o reduce chronic illness and enhance economic growth and productivity Currently, h e a l t h M o T s a r e o f f e r e d every five years to people aged 40 to 74 through GP surgeries, but only 40 percent of eligible individuals take up the offer
Data shows that these checks already help prevent more than 400 heart attacks a n d s t r o k e s a n n u a l l y a n d detect 33,000 cases of high blood pressure
'Copy the Dutch' to boost employment
M ay or s a nd loca l coun cils should be t aske d with gett in g pe ople ba ck to work as pa rt of a stra te gy to addr ess Br it a in ’ s t w o -t i e r s o ci e t y , a ccord ing to a t hin k t a nk r eport suppor te d by senior La bour figure s T h e S o c i a l J u s t i c e Commission, established by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), recommends that the g o v e r n m e n t o v e r h a u l t h e welfare system following the Dutch model, which keeps benefit payments centralised w h i l e d e v o l v i n g a u t h o r i t y o v e r e m p l o y m e n t s u p p o r t and adult education services
The report’s key proposal to Sir Keir Starmer is the t r a n s f e r o f £ 6 b i l l i o n i n p o w e r f r o m W h i t e h a l l t o local authorities Under this plan, job coaches and charities would take the lead in h e l p i n g t h o s e w h o a r e u n w e l l r e t u r n t o w o r k , p o t e n t i a l l y e m p l o y i n g 700,000 people and saving billions of pounds, according to the CSJ The commission includes prominent figures such as Andy Burnham, M a y o r o f G r e a t e r
Manchester, and Lord King o f L o t h b u r y , f o r m e r G o v e r n o r o f t h e B a n k o f England The chair of the commission is Martin Ivens, a f o r m e r e d i t o r o f T h e Sunday Times
Last year, the commission warned that Britain was a
between
connection between the recent riots and the issues highlighted in its previous report In its new study, ‘A United Nation,’ the commission urges Starmer to expand on his devolution
KUNAL THAKKAR
Jas Athwal
Bharti Kher's 'Target Queen' transforms Hayward Gallery with feminine energy
Shefali Saxena
Ta
r ge t Q ue e n , B h ar ti
Kher's large-sc ale outdoor work, transforms the H ayward Gallery's brutalist
a r c hi t e c tu re w i th s u pe rs ized bindis, infusi ng i t with powerful femi nine energy
This vibrant mural celebrates the goddess, blending humanity, nature, and s p i r i t u a l i t y , a n d m a r k s
Kher’s first ambitious outdoor piece presented by a London institution
How does Target Queen reflect your ongoing exploration of femininity and divinity, and what inspired you to incorporate the bindi as a central motif in this work?
I responded to the brutalist structure of the building really The bindi works have been part of a lan-
g u a g e I ’ v e b e e n w o r k i n g with that looks at perception and possibility
Target Queen became a m u r a l i n 2 0 1 2 a t T h e
R o c k b u n d M u s e u m i n China; and like that iteration I wanted to introduce a
feminine sensibility to the outdoor s p a c e I l o v e t h e idea that the bindi transformed from
and now becomes the third eye of the b u i l d i n g a n d beyond Many eyes watching also and b e i n g s e e n
gate to your inner w o r
y o u r consciousness So the work is reflective and also joyful
Your work often blurs the lines between cultural identity and universal themes. How do you see Target Queen resonating with both South Asian and global audiences?
I think people are now a lot more aware of the ideas t h a t h a v e c r o s s e d c o n t inents The inner world of y o u r b e i n g , M e d
, your spiritual journey and your inner wisdom is not o
monks and nuns in faraway
places This way of seeing the world has always been
Asian way being with the t
m , Hinduism and others I
making the bindi works and this work is simple in its message: “Look within”
How does Target Queen relate to your previous works that use found objects, and what does this piece represent in terms of your overall artistic evolution?
To work in the public space is very different Art m u s t s p e a k
u a l l y a n d conceptually I think sometimes my work can be quite complex and layered With this work, it's paired down to the concentric circle as itself A universal symbol of unity and infinity, totality and wholeness
With Target Queen being visible from public spaces like Belvedere Road and Waterloo Bridge, how do you hope this artwork will engage with and impact the daily lives of commuters and tourists?
The bindi is the giant third eye Many were placed together along the building for a shared consciousness and possibility The colours are intentionally celebratory We need happiness too and to be reminded that colour is life and has energy
change
Church of England blocks mosque conversion
T he C hurch of England has h alted plans to convert the d i su s ed Gra d e II - lis ted S t
J o h n ’ s C h u rch i n Han ley, S t af fo r d s h ir e, i nto a m osque
Despite an Islamic charity's recent planning permission, the Church invoked a r e s t r i c t i v e c o v e n a n t f r o m 2009, which prohibits the church from being used for non-Christian worship
Evidence sought for Border Force inspection
Th e U K’s imm ig ratio n watch dog h as called for evidence to sup port its inspection of the Bord er Force
Independent chief inspector David Bolt will assess the Border Force's effectiveness i
entry into the UK via concealed vehicles and freight The inspection will focus on the agency ’ s operations at its juxtaposed controls in northern France, such as Calais, Coquelles, and Dunkirk It will also evaluate the effectiveness of t h
Scheme, which fines vehicle owners, drivers, hirers, and operators for failing to secure their vehicles against illegal entry, as well as the Civil Penalty Accreditation Scheme for l
h knowledge or direct experience of clandestine entry to the UK via vehicle or freight, and the measures used to deter and detect such entries, are invited to submit evidence Information provided to the ICIBI may be included in the final report, with sources k
anonymised to the greatest extent possible David Bolt, who has recently returned as ICIBI following the departure of his predec
September
He highlighted the importance of firsthand accounts in revealing the often-hidden aspects of clandestine entry and is keen to collect a wide range of insights to pinpoint e f f e c t i
Channel migrant numbers hit 20,000
Over 20,0 00 mig rants h av e arriv ed in small boats this year, fo llowing a recent surg e in cro ssings
The Home Office reported that 614 people arrived in ten boats in the past two days, bringing the provisional total for 2024 to 20,433 migrants in 390 boats The latest arrivals included 525 migrants in eight boats, one of whom was a child in a wheelchair On a third consecutive day of crossings, dozens of migrants wearing orange life jackets were seen being brought into the western docks at Dover and then escorted to the immigration processing centre
I N B R I E F
AIRPORT CANNABIS SMUGGLING SOARS
Airport passengers are smuggling cannabis into the UK in record amounts, aided by the drug s increasing legalization abroad The National Crime Agency (NCA) has issued a warning to travellers arriving from countries like Thailand Canada and the United States that they could face jail sentences if caught with the drug following a significant rise in arrests Last year the number of arrests surged by 700 percent to 136 up from just 17 in 2022 This year 378 passengers have already been arrested Approximately 15 tonnes of cannabis have been detected and seized at airports this year, which is three times more than the total amount seized in 2023 In comparison, only two tonnes were seized in 2022 The NCA has indicated that couriers for criminal gangs, who can make more profit on imported cannabis than on domestically grown varieties, could be paid up to £10,000 However, many of these couriers, or "mules," may not realize they are risking lengthy prison sentences
MALE JAILS IN SPACE CRISIS
Men’s prisons were left with fewer than 100 available places as the prison system neared capacity A surge in arrests over the bank holiday weekend, including hundreds at the Notting Hill Carnival in west London, added significant strain to the already crowded facilities This situation has sparked concerns that further emergency measures such as Operation Brinker might need to be activated Operation Brinker a contingency plan that has never been used would implement a one-in one-out system for detainees Police are concerned that Brinker could lead to fewer arrests, as custody cells would become overcrowded with individuals who should be in prison Despite these challenges, prison service sources indicated they were not "overly worried yet " anticipating that yesterday's influx into prisons and police custody would represent a peak The prison service is still operating under an emergency measure that delays court hearings until sufficient prison space becomes available
recently received permission
y Council to convert it into a m o s q u e , m u s e u m , m u l t ifaith library, and women ’ s gym However, the Church of England has blocked the conversion using a restrictive covenant
Construction work had begun at the church before p l a n n i n g p e r m i s s i o n w a s
Built in 1788, the church has been unused since the 1 9 8 0 s d u e t o s t r u c t u r a l issues It was previously a c a f é a n d a n t i q u e s c e n t r e b e f o r e b e
officially granted A bulldozer had cleared the grounds for a car park, and internal partition walls and washing facilities were installed but had to be removed after the council intervened, as permission was still pending
Zabi Zamir, a spokespers o n f o r t h e Z a m i r Foundation, had previously praised the approval of planning permission as a “positive step toward enhancing c o m m u n i t y s e r v i c e s a n d promoting inclusivity ”
Whistleblower wins £500k after revealing spy visa scandal
A Ci ty d irector ha s b een
a w a r d e d o v e r £ 5 0 0 ,0 0 0
a ft er b e in g d is mi
e mp l oy e rs , w h o ha d i ns tructed him to secure a Briti sh vis a f or a sus pected C hin ese spy
Bharat Bhagani, a comp
arm of a Hong Kong-based company, was ordered to obtain a work visa for an individual who was later
espionage agent ” Bhagani, who reported a visa request for a suspecte
alerted the FCA and made claims of money launderi
y Global Investments T h e t r i b u n a l a l s o revealed he faced disputes with his bosses over cooperating with the appoint-
ment of two Hong Kong directors to London
would breach British financial rules and notified the
g bosses, “I’ve asked the regulators to come in Please s
with London staff You’ll
The group, mostly men, arrived on a Border Force vessel This year ’ s total stands at 20,433, which is 3% higher than at the same time in 2023 (19,801) but 18% lower than the record year of 2022 (25,065) The total marks the second highest number of arrivals in a single day since the general election, surpassed only by the 703 arrivals on August 11 The highest daily total this year remains 882, recorded on June 18
T h e s e f i g u r e s c o m e a s C o n s e r v a
Party leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat h
reduce net migration to below 100,000
Post
Office
IT help reduced despite system failures
The Post Office cut support for branch managers to cut costs under a new 2003 contract with Fujitsu, even as issues with the Horizon IT system were already emerging
The revised deal led to reduced opening hours for the Horizon help desk
Horizon contract amendment noted that help desk, maintenance, and data centre services would be simplified, leading to reduced service levels
Hundreds of sub-postmasters, who ran branches for the Post Office, were wrongful-
accounting due to unreliable data from the Horizon IT system, introduced in 1999
The scandal, considered one of the UK's largest miscarriages of justice, prompted the previous Conservative government to introduce emergency legislation this year to overturn the convictions en masse
GOVERNMENT RULES OUT MANDATING FOUR-DAY WORKWEEK
Despite speculation of an autumn announcement the government has denied plans to mandate a four-day workweek However, it may consider allowing companies to condense work hours New legislation could require companies to offer flexible working from day one, unless "not reasonably feasible " Ministers stress that no changes will be imposed on employers Conservative shadow business secretary Kevin Hollinrake has claimed that businesses are "petrified" about Labour’s Make Work Pay plans Education Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith said that the plans aim to offer workers more flexibility which can enhance productivity She clarified that the four-day week proposal does not mean reducing work hours but could involve a compressed hours arrangement For example, instead of working eight hours a day for five days employees might work ten hours a day for four days This approach allows workers to complete the same amount of work while better accommodating their personal commitments such as childcare and family responsibilities
f ro m ac ad e m i a, b u si n es s, p olicy, and thoug ht lead ersh ip to share their insights o n India's potential
Aspiring to become the largest platform of its kind at any university in Europe, OIF aims to spotlight India s advancements and innovations by bringing together
t h o u g h t l e a d e r s , i n d u s t r y experts, and students
I n a n i n t e r v i e w w i t h
Asian Voice, the founder of OIF shares his vision and
m i s s i o n f o r t h e o r g a n i s ation What insp ired you to create
t h e O xf o rd - I nd i a F o ru m ?
C an yo u sh are m ore about the primary objectiv es of the forum?
T h e O x f o r d - I n d i a
Forum is a dynamic platform uniting leading figures in academia, business, policy, and thought leadership
t o e x p l o r e I n d i a ' s v a s t potential and showcase its advancements Recognising
I n d i a s s i g n i f i c a n t g l o b a l
r o l e , t h e f o r u m a i m s t o d e e p e n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f the country's unique oppor-
t u n i t i e s a n d c h a l l e n g e s ,
a s p i r i n g t o b e c o m e t h e largest initiative of its kind
a t a E u r o p e a n u n i v e r s i t y
The platform seeks to drive collaboration in technology,
r e s e a r c h , a n d i n n o v a t i o n between the University of Oxford and Indian-led businesses worldwide, filling a gap in the UK similar to successful models in the United States In the coming years, the forum plans to expand
i t s r e a c h , b u i l d a s t r o n g
c o m m u n i t y , a n d c r e a t e a knowledge hub that drives innovation By staying true to its mission and adapting
t o e v o l v i n g n e e d s , t h e Oxford-India Forum aims to play a crucial role in shaping India's engagement with the global community
How do you see the OxfordIndia Forum contributing to
t h e b ro ad er d is c o u rs e o n I nd ia ’ s a d v an ce m ent s and innovations?
T h e O x f o r d - I n d i a Forum is poised to make a substantial impact on the global conversation around India’s advancements, par-
t i c u l a r l y b y c o n c e n t r a t i n g
A
growth and global progress
The forum's focus includes showcasing India’s net-zero development model, fostering collaborative research, a n d p r o m o t i n g t h o u g h t leadership
Additionally, key areas o f p o
U
s i t
e
Oxford include healthcare, with a strong emphasis on drug discovery, as well as a
and robotics, cloud computing, climate transition technology, and sustainable food s y s t e m s a n d a g r i c u l t u r e These partnerships aim to drive innovation and contribute to both India's develo p m e n t a n d g l o b a l s o l utions
What kind of partnership s are yo u loo king to establish through the forum , particularly w ith Indian businesses and global lead ers?
W e a i m t o e s t a b l i s h strategic partnerships that drive innovation and deliver impactful outcomes, bringing together diverse stakeh o l d e r s t o c o l l a b o r a t e o n projects that benefit both India and the global comm u n i t y O u r f o c u s i s o n p a r t n e r i n g w i t h r e s e a r c h institutions and think tanks, both in India and globally, to engage in joint research projects, academic exchanges, and knowledge-sharing initiatives
We seek collaborations with industry leaders in sect o r s s u c h a s t e c h n o l o g
and agriculture, aiming to develop new products, services, and technologies with r e a l - w o r l d i m p a c t
Partnering with government
tanks is crucial for influencing policy and driving systemic change By working with organisations like the C
Industry (CII), we connect
leaders
We are also proud of our
Services Institution of India; A think tank of the Ministry
Trust and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) How does the Oxford-Ind ia Forum intend to brid ge the
be
business practices?
B
expertise of students, faculty, and business leaders, OIF a
solutions for pressing challenges
OIF will lead collaborative research projects that
University of Oxford with industry experts from India
ness leaders, policymakers, and students Additionally, it will facilitate internships
offering students hands-on experience with Indian businesses
A
think tanks, consisting of academics, industry leaders, and policymakers, will pro-
Parents jeopardise pupils' futures by allowing absences
P a ren ts w h o f re qu e ntl y allow their ch ild ren to m iss s ch o ol are s i g ni f i ca ntl y harm ing their future earning potential, the ed ucation secretary has warned W i t h m i l l i o n s o f s t udents returning to school, Bridget Phillipson criticised t h e g r o w
among some parents of truancy for reasons like "cheap-
even for "birthday treats or minor illnesses " A new analysis by the Department for Education (DfE) reveals that each day missed from school can cost c
ings For the tens of thousands of students missing
could amount to thousands of pounds In an article for T
, Phillipson highlighted that 150,000 children were categorised as severely absent in
meaning they missed half of
the same period, one in five
students were persistently absent, missing at least a day every two weeks Phillipson vowed to "act decisively" to address what she called an "absence epidemic" and urged parents, schools, and local authorities to take responsibility While her primary focus is on supporting schools and parents to create a welcomi n g e n v i r
h e warned that she is prepared to be "tough" where necessary and would not hesitate to impose fines on parents To combat truancy, the government announced this year that fines for unauthor
d increase from £60 to £80, rising to £160 if not paid within 21 days These steeper penalties take effect as schools reopen
Suicide rates in England and Wales peak since 1999
Ministe rs are b eing urged t o re cognise suicide as a pub lic h e a l t h cr i si s fo l l o wi n g a re port reve aling t ha t the suici d e r a t e i n E n g l a n d a n d Wal es has reached its highest l evel in over two deca des According to official figu r e s d e s c r i b e d a s “ w o r s e than expected” by the suicide p r e v e n t i o n c h a r i t y Samaritans, there were 6,069 suicides registered in 2023, a s i g n i f i c a n t i n c r e a s e f r o m 5,642 in 2022 This represents the highest rate since 1999 The data, released by t h e O f f i c e f o r N a t i o n a l
Statistics (ONS), shows that three-quarters of those who died by suicide were male However, the female suicide rate also reached its highest level since 1994 Vahé Nafilyan, head of data and analysis for social care and health at the ONS, n o t e d , “ R a t e s i n c r e a s e d across all age groups compared to 2022, with a particul a r l y n o t a b l e r i s e a m o n g those aged 45 to 64 years
experts across diverse fields such as healthcare, material
statistics, sustainability, and Indian history
T
Forum is dedicated to mak-
India’s development and its role in the global community
St Marks Food and Wine sold knives to child
Maidenhead stated that the prosecution should serve as
ted by council trad ing standard s o fficers
Charan Singh Ahuja, the owner of St Marks Food and Wine on Powney Road in Maidenhead, admitted the o
quences of failing to adhere to the law O n N o v e m
year, during a test purchasing operation conducted by c
with Thames Valley Police, St Marks Food & Wine sold
minor Ahuja, 37, of Tollgate
Drive, Hayes, had previously been advised both in writing a n d v
Standards regarding the reg-
products
Among
aged 45 to 49, the rate increased to 25 5 per 100,000
Suicide rates either increased or remained unchanged in e a c h o f t h e n i n e E n g l i s h regions, with the north-west e x p e r i e n c i n g t h e l a r g e s t increase Suicide has a profound impact on individuals, families, and communities, a n d w e w i l l c o n t i n u e t o monitor these figures to support efforts to protect vulnerable individuals ” L o n d o n r e p o r t e d t h e lowest suicide rate of any region in England The rate for women across England a n d W a l e s w a s 5 7 p e r 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e , w h i l e f
Ex-UK Defence Secretary warns of Putin’s threat
Vladim ir Pu tin is co ming for us, a former Defence Secretary has w arned Ben Wallace, who served i n t h e r o l e u n d e r t h r e e Prime Ministers, has stated that the UK is firmly in the R u s s i a n P r e s i d e n t ' s " c r o s s h a i r s
Government must be
"inevitable" that Putin will target the UK with his war machine I
i c
o r T h e T e l e g r a p h , W a l l a c e described Putin as driven by " r e v e n g e , l e g a c y , a n d romance" rather than logic a n d p o i n t e d o
Russian officials have falsely c
behind Ukraine's invasion of K u
,
n d h e w a
, "Make no mistake, Putin is coming for us We must be prepared for the inevitable " He mentioned having alert-
threat Putin posed for years and highlighted that essays written by Putin reflect his b
blame for Russia's failures
T h e f o r m e r M P , w h o served as Defence Secretary from 2019 to 2023, recounted that during his last visit to Moscow before the inva-
Gerasimov told him, "Never again will we be humiliated We used to be the fourth army in the world, now we are the first or second " Ben Wallace
Police officers take yearly leave for mental health
Police officers in the UK collectively took the equiv alent of one week off wo rk each last year du e to poor mental h e alt h , ac co r d i ng to d ata o b tai ne d b y t h e T i m e s C r im e an d J u st ic e C ommission O
health issues in 2019, based on responses from 42 of the UK’s 45 police forces This figure increased by 55 perc e n t l a s t y e a r , r i s i n g t o 774,000 days equivalent to five days per officer The m e n t a l h e a l t h c h a l l e n g e s cited include post-traumatic stress, work-related stress, a n x i e t y , d e p r e s s i o n , a n d p o s t n a t a l d e p r e s s i o n I n 2022, 39 percent of sick days taken by officers were due to m e n t a l h e a l t h i s s u e s , u p from 33 percent in 2020 Hayley Aley, the wellbei n g l e a d a t t h e P o l i c e Federation of England and Wales, described the situation as "at crisis point," noting that officers have lacked adequate support for many years She also pointed out that the figures are likely u n d e r e s t i m a t e d , a s m a n y o f f i c e r s d o n o t d i s c l o s e mental health reasons for their sick days, fearing job loss or removal from frontline duties
This lack of support has led to an increasing number o f o f f i c e r s t a k i n g e a r l y r e t i r e m e n t o r l e a v i n g t h e force altogether From 2013 to last year, the proportion of officers resigning voluntarily rose from 18 percent to 56 percent, while those retiring after 30 years of service fell from 67 percent to 35 percent
Although the total numb e r o f p o l i c e o f f i c e r s h a s increased from 127,000 in 2016 to 150,000 this year, h i g h t u r n o v e r r a t e s m e a n t h a t f o r c e s a r e b e c o m i n g less experienced
Sidharth Sethi
Bridget Phillipson
Dear
Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel
In the wor ld of fin ance , t here ’ s a hidde n g ame tha t most pe ople ne ver se e a g ame play ed by highly pa id fun d mana ger s who, like baseball scouts before Money ba ll, have conv inced the world tha t t hey posse ss a k ind of fina ncial m agic The y ar e e ntr ust ed w it h the life sav ings of million s of people, the custod ia ns of pen sion fund s th at should, in t heor y, en sur e a comfort able re tire men t But he re ’ s the t wist : man y of t hese fund man age rs ar e n o be tte r a t bea ting t he mar ket t han a blind folded ma n t hrowing da rt s at a boar d
To understand this, let’s step into the world of UK pension funds Imagine you ’ re a typical British worker, diligently setting aside a portion of your salary each month into a pension fund You do this because you ’ ve been told by employers, by the government, by the financial services industry that this is the smart thing to do And why wouldn’t it be? After all, the people managing your money are supposed to be experts, the best in the business But what if I told you that these experts, on average, underperform the market year after year?
But why are these fund managers underperforming?
The answer lies in the fees they charge According to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the average cost of managing a pension fund in the UK is about 0 75% per annum Now, 0 75% might not sound like much But over time, these fees add up, eroding your returns like termites gnawing away at the foundation of a house John Bogle, the founder of Vanguard and a pioneer of low-cost index investing, once said that “in investing, you get what you don’t pay for ” He wasn’t wrong
But it’s not just the fees It’s the entire approach that traditional fund managers take Much like the baseball scouts who looked for all the wrong things home runs instead of on-base percentage fund managers often focus on the wrong metrics They chase trends, make bets based on gut feelings, and try to time the market This might work for a year, or even a few years, but over the long haul, it’s a losing strategy The data from S&P Dow Jones Indices is damning: over a 10-year period, more than 80% of actively managed funds underperform their benchmarks
Consider the 2023 report by Willis Towers Watson, one of the most respected names in pension consulting It found that only 15% of UK pension funds outperformed their benchmarks over the last five years The rest? They lagged behind, sometimes by margins that would make you wonder if these managers are even trying This isn’t just a case of bad luck; it’s a systemic issue Fund managers, like the oldschool baseball scouts, are peddling the illusion of expertise They’ve built a system that rewards mediocrity and punishes those who question the status quo
So, what’s the alternative? The answer lies in embracing a Moneyball approach to investing one that’s grounded in data, prioritizes efficiency, and doesn’t pretend that beating the market is as easy as fund managers would have you believe The rise of passive investing is a testament to this shift Nearly 40% of all equity assets under management in the UK are now in passive funds Investors are waking up to the fact that paying high fees for underperformance is a losing game But let’s not kid ourselves: changing the system won’t be easy The financial industry has a vested interest in maintaining the status quo Fund managers, after all, are making a very comfortable living from this underperformance Yet for the millions of pensioners relying on these funds, the stakes are far too high to ignore
The future of pension investing needs to move beyond the smoke and mirrors It’s about embracing a data-driven approach that puts the financial well-being of the many ahead of the profits of the few It’s about recognizing that in the world of investing, as in baseball, the most valuable players are not always the ones with the flashiest stats they’re the ones who quietly, consistently, and efficiently get the job done And in the realm of pensions, that means looking beyond the traditional fund manager and toward a more sustainable, data-driven way of investing
In the end, it's not about picking the players who look the best on paper; it's about finding those who actually deliver results And for pensioners everywhere, that could make all the difference
FCA voices concerns about £4bn life insurance market
T he UK financial w atchdog will inv estigate wh ether insurance com panies are exploiting " v ulnerable" customers who p urchase policies meant to pro vide financial protection in the ev ent of serious illness or death
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) plans to conduct a market study into pure protection products, aimed at supporting individuals and families financially in the event of death or serious illness, due to concerns over their sales practices The regulator has raised concerns that commission arrangements for some products, often sold through intermediaries like mortgage brokers or financial advisers, may not be fair
The FCA also expressed concerns about "poor value" for consumers, The FCA's initial step is a market study to assess consumer experiences and understanding of these products
Bank shares plunge following tax warning
Investo rs reacted sh arply to reports that th e gov ernm ent migh t increase taxes on UK banks, cau sing their shares to plumm et
were among the hardest hit on the FTSE 100, with their shares falling 3 3% and 2 7%,
dreds of millions from their market valuations Shares in Lloyds Banking Group, the U
lender, saw a decline of up to 3 3% at one point during the day before recovering slightly to end down 1 7%
The concern over poten-
Sev eral gov ernm ent departments have been instructed to id entify savings amounting to billions of p ound s, accord ing to rep orts C
costs," eliminate non-essen-
halt unnecessary consulting e x p e n
cuts totalling approximately £3 1 billion A
Times, Reeves has now set specific savings targets for i n d i v i d u a l d e p a
t s The Department of Health
coming in October and it’s going to be painful Those with the broadest shoulders should bear the heavier burden " In response, the government quickly reaffirmed its commitment not to increase the 25% corporation tax rate Dan Coatsworth, an investm
, remarked, “No one will be upset if banks are required to pay more of their profits
especially given their substantial earnings from higher interest rates while the rest of the country struggles
and Social Care has been tasked with finding around £1 3 billion in savings, while t h e D e p a r t m e n t f o r Education has been asked t o c u t a b o u t £ 1 b i l l i o n Other departments are also being requested to propose significant savings redundancies and hiring freezes are also being considered as part of these c o s t - c u t t i n g m e a s u r e s R e e v e s h a s a c k n o w l e d g e d the need for “difficult decisions” to address an estim a t e d £ 2 2 b i l l i o n g a p i n public finances and reitera t e d t h a t c u r r e n t p u b l i c spending levels are “ unsus-
tainable ”
A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e g o vernment is reportedly contemplating new tax increase s D u r i n g a v i s i t t o Scotland, Reeves comment-
tion rate for mortgage holders, and private rental costs added 2 2 percentage points t o t h e i n f l a t i o n r a t e f o r renters
l a t i o n r a t e o f 2 9% T h e O N S n o t e d t h a t mortgage interest payments
c o n t r i b u t e d 2 p e r c e n t a g e points to the annual infla-
Thames Water plans 60% bill hike by 2030
T h am e s Wat er, th e U K s larg est water supp lier, has warned that it may need to increase customer bills by up to nearly 60% by 203 0 to av o i d be co m in g "
nvestible "
The company ’ s alarming request came in response to O
tion, which proposed limiting bill increases to around £19 more per year on average Ofwat's draft, issued in July, suggests a cap that is a third less than what water f i r m s h a d r e q u e s t e d
Thames Water had initially proposed a 44% rise in bills over the next five years
However, Ofwat’s draft d e t e r m i n a t i o n l i m i t s
Thames Water's bill increases to 23% over the same perio d a n d c a p s s p e n d i n g a t £16 9 billion Thames Water
s
limits are insufficient, arguing that they threaten the company's ability to secure
investment and hinder its recovery efforts
Chris Weston, Thames Water’s CEO, stated: “The funds we ’ re requesting from
c
l f o r investing in new infrastructure and enhancing our services for both households and the environment This is not about charging customers twice but addressing the legacy of focusing on keeping bills low ” In addition, the water sector has cautioned Ofwat that its proposed cap could pose a "material risk" to sup-
ments, including addressing sewage leaks Water UK, the trade group for the industry, warned that the cap could undermine service improvements and deter investors
overhaul of Britain’s water infrastructure
with a cost of living crisis
Citigroup noted that
Chancellor before the election
Liberum, expressed surprise if there weren’t some tax increases in the upcoming
specifics about which sectors might face higher taxes
speculative at best
ed on potential tax hikes, stating, “The UK economy is just beginning to recover from last year ’ s recession, and two quarters of positive growth will not counteract over a decade of economic stagnation ” S h
need for economic growth t o r
that without
spending will persist “Our top priority is to break out of this cycle of doom by f
c growth,” Reeves added
T h e s e f i g u r e s h i g h l i g h t how rising prices and interest rates have intensified generational inequality According to the latest English Housing Survey, 70% of individuals aged 16 to 24 and 40% of those aged 25 to 34 are renting In contrast, only about
25% of people aged 55 and ove r a re re nt i ng , wit h th e m a j o r i t y o w n i n g t h e i r homes, though this includes some who still have mortgages The Bank of England raised the base rate to 5 25%, a 16-year high, from a record low of 0 1% before reducing it b y a q u a r t e r p o i n t t h i s month At its peak, annual rental inflation hit a record high of 9 2% in March but has since moderated to 8 6%
Banks bet on big gains for sterling
Th e p ou nd is p oised to be one o f th e world’s top -perfo r mi ng ma j o r c u rr en ci e s th is year, driven by ro bust eco nomic gro wth in Britain and a sh ift in government th at have help ed to cou nter overly negative p erceptions, ac c o r di ng to l e adi n g Am er i ca n i n ve s tm en t banks
Currency strategists at Bank of America forecast that the pound could reach a f o u r - y e a r h i g h o f $ 1 4 1 against the dollar by the end of next year and strengthen to $1 35 by the close of 2024 Sterling has already gained 3 5% against the dollar this y e a r , r e a c h i n g i t s h i g h e s t level since March 2022 This rise reflects traders' expectations of interest rate cuts in the United States and a s l o w e r p a c e o f m o n e t a r y e a s i n g b y t h e B a n
England
C u r r e n t l y
September 2022 Goldman Sachs analysts project that the pound’s upward trajectory will continue, thanks to a favourable interest rate
could further boost UK assets if the government achieves a balance between public investment and fiscal credibility
UK
solid growth momentum is likely to persist, helping to dispel negative views a n d
o f England’s outlook with its global counterparts Bank of America also predicts that the pound will strengthen
recently reached a two-year high of €1 18
n d i n g a t $1 31, the pound has surged by 22% from its all-time low of $1 03, which followed Liz T r u s s ’ s m i n i -
sector was triggered by Sir Keir Starmer's speech
Keir Starmer
Hurun rich list places Adani as India's richest person
com
1
a
calculations
overtaken
India, according to the
l i n g
h i m t o t h e t o p s p o t
A m b a n i , 6 7 , s l i d t o t h e
s e c o n d p o s i t i o n w i t h a w e a l t h o
1 0 1 b n B o t h billionaires added the most to their wealth in absolute terms
“Rising like a phoenix
a f t e r t h e H i n d e n b u r g allegations, Adani & family
have secured the top spot in this year ’ s rankings, with a 9 5 % i n c
n w e a l t h compared to last year Adani h a s r e c o r d e d t h e h i g h e s t wealth growth within the top 10 over the past five
following the report,” said A n a s R a h m a n J u n
researcher, Hurun India
T h e t o t a l w e a l t h o f those on the list has grown to £1,590 bn, surpassing the c o m b i n e d G
S
u d i Arabia and Switzerland and accounting for more than
half of India’s GDP
A m o n g t h e n e w
entrants is Shah Rukh Khan (58), who debuted on the list with a wealth of £730 mn, largely driven by his stake in Kolkata Knight Riders and Red Chillies Entertainment
O
joining the list include Juhi C
Karan Johar, and Amitabh Bachchan H y d e r a
third position in terms of residents on the Hurun list The list also highlights the
individuals who collectively
Additionally, 18 individuals are now worth £ 10 bn or more, up by six from the previous year
Vistara to merge into Air India on Nov 12 I
V istara will merge into Air India on Nov 1 2, 2024 and T ata Group patriarch Ratan
T ata’s nearly th ree-d ecadeo l d d rea m o f m aki ng A i r India a world class airline in p artnership with (SIA) cou ld soo n come true Go vt has approv ed S IA’s FDI into AI, a nd th e f orm e r w il l h av e
2 5 1 % s ta ke i n th e J V by investing £ 20 5 9 mn in it
C u s t o m e r s a l r e a d y
b o o k e d o n V i s t a r a f l i g h t s after Nov 12 will have their reservations converted to AI flight numbers “ This will occur in phases during Sept,
a n d c u s t o m e r s w i l l b e
individually informed when this occurs even though in nearly all cases the aircraft, schedule and operating crew w i l l b e u n c h a n g e d u
W i l s o n s a i d i n email to employees
T h e m e r g e r d a t e w a s c o m m u n i c a t e d s o o n a f t e r
India approved SIA’s FDI In
a s t a t e m e n t , S I A , w h i c h owned 49% in Vistara, said: “SIA and Tata Sons are firmly committed to supporting the g r o w t h a n d s u c c e s s o f A I
G r o u p , w h i c h p o s t - m e r g e r w i l l h a v e a s i g n i f i c a n t presence in all key Indian
airline market segments (full s e r v i c e , l o w - c o s t , international, and domestic)
This merger will reinforce SIA’s multi-hub strategy and underscore its long-standing c o m m i t m e n t t o I n d i a through a direct stake in this l a r g e a n d r a p i d l y g r o w i n g a v i a t i o n m a r k e t , ” t h e statement added
W h i l e w e l c o m i n g Vistara employees into the AI fold, Wilson urged them and AI staffers to “ ensure
t h a t o u r c o l l e c t i v e c u s t o m e r s a n d c o l l e a g u e s experience the smoothest of transitions ”
World Bank raises India's growth forecast to 7% from 6.6% earlier
The Wor ld B ank has r evis ed India's growth f orec ast for FY 25 t o 7 per cent f rom 6 6 per c ent earlier in its lat est India Developm ent Updat e rel eased on Tues day
“ G r o w t h w a s b o o s t e d b y p u b l i c infrastructure investment and an upswing in household investments in real estate On the supply side, it was supported by a buoyant manufacturing sector, which grew by 9 9 per cent, and resilient services activity, which c o m p e n s a
n agriculture,” the World Bank report said World Bank’s country director for India, Auguste Kouame, said that India is becoming more dynamic than ever in a challenging
environment and does not face the risk of
continues its policies and reforms
“India has had success despite adversity I don’t see the growth slowing down to the point it is trapped,” Kouame said India grew at 8 2 per cent in FY24, becoming the fastestgrowing major economy in the world
R e c
Fund (IMF) had raised India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for the current financial year to 7 per cent Moody’s Ratings has also raised India’s GDP growth projection for calendar year 2024 to 7 2 per cent from 6 8 per cent earlier
GST mop-up rises 10%, but higher refunds cap net kitty
G ST collections rose 10% to a lmost £ 17 5 bn on a gross basis, but hig her r efunds slowed down the n et ex pan sion of the k itty , la te st da ta sh owe d While ce nt ral GST colle ct ions
we re e st imate d to be 8 9% higher at £3 08 bn in Aug (based on tra nsactions in July ), sta te
G ST was pe gged at £3 84 bn , 7 3 % hig her t han a y ear ag o But inte gra ted GST - levie d on impor ts and in ter -st at e sales - wa s up 12 5% t o £9 3 6 bn, dr iv en by r obust colle ctions in G S T on i m p or t s a n d p oi n t e d t o st r o n g incr ease in shipme nts from over seas
o
“A 10% increase in collections at the start
Pictures Networks Reliance and Disney
cricket matches for the CCI approval to come into effect T h e r e g u l a t o r h a d expressed concerns about the merger hurting competition i n I n d i a ’ s m e d i a a n d e n t e r t a i n m e n t s e c t o r a s R e l i a n c e D i s n e y w i l l h a v e m o n o p o l y o
broadcast rights, which could r e s u l t i n t h e m j a c k i n g u p
advertisement rates Cricket has a fanatical following in India and outside of it, and b r o a d c a s t r i g h t s o f c r i c k e t t o u r n a m e n t s h o l d a significant commercial value, r u n n i n g i n t o b i l l i o n s o f dollars Reliance’s Viacom18 has TV rights for domestic a
whereas Disney has TV rights f o r I P L
Cricket Council’s matches in India till 2027 and Reliance’s J
rights for IPL till 2027
Reliance-Disney will
Reliance plans 1:1 bonus stock issue after 7 years
R eli an c e I n d u st ri es w i l l consider a 1:1 bonus share at its S ept 5 board meeting , its ch airm an Mukesh Am bani told shareholders Th is will be RIL ’ s sixth bo nus sh are issuance since it got listed in 1977 The last time it issued bo nu s sh ares (al so i n th e ra ti o o f 1 : 1 ) w as i n 2 0 1 7 wh en it celebrated its 40 th post-IPO anniv ersary
The move comes as RIL s e e k s t
c e a n d aggressive growth plans for its diversified businesses In FY24, RIL posted a record net profit of £ 7 90 bn “When Reliance grows, we reward o u r s h a r e h o l d e r s handsomely And when our s h a r e h o l d e r s a r e r e w a r d e d handsomely, Reliance grows f a s t e r a n d c r e a t e s m o r e value,” said Ambani at the c o m p a n y ’ s 4 7 t h p o s t - I P O annual general meeting In a bonus share offering, a company issues free shares to its existing shareholders by capitalising on its reserves
The corporate action doesn’t lead to any change in the investment value of the stock a s t h e s h a r e p r i c e g e t s a d j u s t e d a c c o r d i n g l y However, this will boost the s t o c k ’ s l i q u i d i t y A f t e r t h e bonus share issuance, RIL’s share capital will double to £ 1 3 5 b n f r o m t h e c u r r e n t base of £ 676 6 mn Ambani said RIL is on track to more than double in size before the end of this
position as one of the
Indian origin Kevan Parekh named Apple’s CFO from Jan 1
A p p l e h as n am e d I nd ia n o ri g i n ex ec u ti v e K ev a n
Parekh as its chief financial officer as part of a planned s u cc es s i o n p la n H e succeeds Luca Maestri, who will transitio n from his role ef f ec ti v e J an ua ry 1 , nex t year
Parekh, who is currently VP (financial planning and analysis), will become CFO & join the executive team, A p p l e s a i d P a r e k h h a s e m e r g e d a s t h e l a t e s t a d d i t i o n t o t h e g r o w i n g
r o s t e r o f I n d i a n - o r i g i n
targets for the year will be achieved The increase in collections for the month is also attributable to the increased focus on audits, w
, a partner at consulting firm Deloitte Refunds were the big talking point as they soared 38% to just a little under £2 5 bn, d r i
growth over last year ’ s corresponding period i n g r o s s G S T
collection has grown only by 6 5% due to higher refunds (both domestic and exports)
consumption is robust and will only improve in the coming festival months This will give r e n
CFOs who are making their mark in global corporations Tesla’s Vaibhav Taneja and Palo Alto Networks’ Dipak
G o l e c h h a a r e a m o n g a
g r o w i n g t r i b e o f s u c h professionals who are taking t h e t o p f i n a n c e r o l e s i n global firms Tesla’s Vaibhav Taneja
a n d P a l o A l t o N e t w o r k s ’ Dipak Golechha are among a g r o w i n g t r i b e o f s u c h
p r o f e s s i o n a l s w h o a r e i n c r e a s i n g l y t a k i n g t h e t o p f i n a n c e r o l e s i n g l o b a l c o m p a n i e s S e v e r a l I n d i a norigin CEOs are at the helm of big tech companies, a list that has grown over the years Kevan Parekh, who has been with Apple for 11 years, currently oversees financial p l a n n i n g a n d a n a l y s i s , b e n e f i t s f i n a n c e , i n v e s t o r r e l a t i o n s a n d m a r k e t r e s e a r c h P r e v i o u s l y , h e m a n a g e d t h e f i n a n c i a l support for worldwide sales, r e t a i l a n d m a r k e t i n g finance, as well as product m a r k e t i n g , i n t e r n e t s a l e s a n d s e r v i c e s a n d engineering teams He will j o i n
and report directly to CEO Tim Cook “For more than a decade,
“If our legal system wants, we will definitely try to bring her back There is an agreement (with India) and legal processes It is better not to speculate,” he told reporters
O n w h e t h e r t h e i n t e r i m
g o v t w a s a w a r e o f H a s i n a ’ s whereabouts in India, the foreign affairs adviser said, “It is better to ask India about it ”
B a n g l a d e s h h a s r e v o k e d
Hasina and her kin’s diplomatic
p a s s p o r t s , r a i s i
about whether she can stay in India any longer and whether she faces possible extradition
The approval for the ex-PM to
d
n
e d Bangladesh in the wake of a student-led uprising last month
h a d b
notice, according to officials at
the Indian ministry of external affairs
Hossain said in response to a question on MoUs with India that such agreements were not legally binding, and there was
a
them in national interest He
Yunus will attend 79th UNGA session this month
HC rejects plea for ban on Awami League
Bangladesh HC summarily rejected a writ petition seeking
League and cancellation of its
Call to boycott Lanka presidential poll in Tamil regions
COLO MB O: A h ardline Tami l nationalist p arty has launch ed a campaign to boycott th e S ept 21
p re si d en ti a l el ec t i o n, s a yi n g t h at no ma jo r c an di da te h as p ledged for the federal set-u p f o r p o li t ic a l a u to n o m y fo r T amils i n th e north and east of the country, local election monitoring group s said M o r e o v e r , S e l v a r a j a
K a j e n d r a n , T a m i l N a t i o n a l People’s Front (TNPF) general
s e c r e t a r y , h a s l o d g e d a c o m -
p l a i n t a g a i n s t p o l i c e f o r obstructing their leaflets distribution campaign in the eastern
r e g i o n o f T h i r u k k o v i l T N P F has also urged action by the
E l e c t i o n C o m m i s s i o n a n d
H u m a n R i g h t s C o m m i s s i o n against police for obstructing
them
“We will stop this boycott campaign if anyone offers a fede r a l s o l u t i o n t o T a m i l s , ” Kajendran was quoted as saying Meanwhile, Tamil votes in next month’s election have been sent into turmoil with Tamil g r o u p s p u l l i n g i n d i f f e r e n t d i r e c t i o n s T h e m a i n T a m i l party, Tamil National Alliance, is yet to make its position official on supporting front runners f r o m t h e m a j o r i t y S i n h a l e s e community A section has also expressed support for a comm o n T a m i l c a n d i d a t e f i e l d e d against the party’s wishes The votes of 2 2 million people from Tamil regions will be crucial for any front runner to be declared the winner
Pak blogger shares poem on rapes, gets arrested for blasphemy
NE W D EL H I: A ll it took was a p o em o f s o li d ar it y fo r a Pakistani blogg er to be charg ed with blasph em y and be put in jail Asma Batool, a blogg er from
P
s h are d a p o e m by S alm an H ai d er o n t h e h ara ss m e nt
w o m e n f ac e in S o u th A s i an countries, after the Kolkata rape case
“Khuda, Bhagwan or Ishwar, sab maujood they, jab rape hua (All the gods were witness when I was being violated), read the
p o e m t h a t B a t o o l s h a r e d o n Facebook In an Instagram post, she is seen narrating another poem with the caption, “Your country is the same as mine”
Now the police have picked her up on charges of blasphemy after religious clerics filed an
F I R a g a i n s t h e r f o r i n s u l t i n g
Allah The FIR was filed against her on 25 August by Maulana Tahir Bashir, president of Ahlus Sunnat Wal Jamaat District in Poonch Batool’s family has now filed a complaint with the local
p o l i c e , a l l e g i n g t h a t a m o b attacked their home, threatened to kill them, and attempted to set their house on fire over accu-
s a t i
faith
Activists across the country are now demanding her release and removal of the fabricated
c h a r g e s a g a i n s t h e r “ A s m a
Batool has been arrested for blasphemy charges for sharing a poem on her social media Aap maane ya na maaney, this is Pakistan” (agree or disagree, this is Pakistan), journalist Sabahat Zakariya wrote on X “And this w a s i
communal sentiments for secessionism instead of advocating for negotiations within a mixed polity ” B a t o o l h a s a c t i v e l y r a i s e d her voice against the oppression
o f m i n o r i t i e s i n P a k i s t a n o n s o c i a l m e d i a H e r Y o u T u b e
channel has videos of her celebrating Holi and talking about the people of Kashmir
Crackdown on H as ina’s c abi net M e a n w h i l e , t h e i n t e r i m govt continued its crackdown on top Awami League leaders, a r
minister Tipu Munshi Hasina’s p r i v a t e i n d u s t r y a n d i n v e s tment adviser and prominent b u s i n e s s m a n S a l m a n F
R a h m a n , f o r m e r m i n i s t e r s
Anisul Huq, Dr Dipu Moni, and Golam Dastagir Gazi, former deputy speaker Shamsul Haque
in brief
INDIAN ORIGIN GETS ‘BIZWOMAN OF YEAR’ AWARD IN US
involvement in killings during the student-led mass upsurge A
Mahbubul Islam said the inter-
ordered that protesters be shot at during the movement It said individuals, not the party, committed this crime At the hear-
Asaduzzaman urged the court to reject the petition, saying the current administration had no intention of banning any political organisation
T u k u , f o r m e r s t a t e m i n i s t e r Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Captain AB Tajul Islam (Retd), former d e p
Hossain, former in formation
minister and current president
Hasanul Haq Inu, and former m
Workers Party of Bangladesh R
among the arrested top politicians from Awami League-led
country
Indian instructor jailed for molesting 3 women during yoga classes
SI NGA P ORE : A form er Indian n ati o n
to
i n p rison and fou r strokes o f th e cane for molesting th ree w omen w hile co nd ucting clas ses with them
R
, 3
, w h
worked at Trust Yoga in Telok Ayer Street at the time of the o
lessons there All three victims w
when he molested them
Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz said S
e e women, whom she referred to as Ms C, Ms V and Ms R, according to a report by The Straits Times newspaper
The judge also said the trio had suffered emotional and psychological harm The judge said Ms C has been receiving therapy
from a counsellor, adding: “testified that she had regarded yoga classes as ‘ a safe space ’ and had not expected to have been violated during a yoga class by a teacher who was in a position of authority in the room ” The judge added that Ms V had testified that she remains “ very affected” by her ordeal and described it as a “ very traumatic experience”
After a 13-day trial, the judge convicted Singh on May 16 of five molestation charges involving the three women She had found that the trio were “ unusually convincing” witnesses Singh was acquitted of three o t h e r m o l e s t a t i o n c h a r g e s involving a fourth woman, Ms Y Singh had denied molesting the w o m e n D e f e n c e l a w y
A n
l Murkoth Changaroth said his client would appeal against his c o n v i c t i o n a n d s e n t e n c e H i s bail was set at SGD 50,000
Muizzu alleges bid to topple
his
govt after main bank cuts spending limit
M A LE : Police in Mald ives are investigating an alleged attemp t to to pp le Presi dent M oh amed M ui zzu by stirring anger o ver th e arch ipelag o ’ s wo rsening financial w oes
L a s t w e e k , t h e c o u n t r y ’ s m a i n c o m m e r c i a l b a n k d r a s t i c a l l y
reduced the foreign exchange spending allowed for Maldivians, sparking anger Muizzu has slammed the move as an “illegal attempt” to overthrow his govt, by making him unpopular and encouraging street protests There have been no demonstrations but scathing criticism of govt has erupted online “Hundreds of ‘bot’ accounts have been used to encourage people to take to the streets to overthrow govt and incite public unrest,” police said The crisis escalated over the weekend when Bank of Maldives Limited (BML) stopped debit card transactions and allowed a maximum monthly credit card spend of $100 for online transactions The bank said the changes, which they have since rescinded, came “in response to the escalating usage of foreign currency spend on cards and the static sale of foreign currency to the bank” Muizzu said the decision was a plot to discredit him and accused some BML directors of being loyal to the former govt He said the bank had made the decision despite his advise, adding that BML’s board does not have a govt majority yet “As of now, there are four govt directors The remaining five are not govt-aligned We have nominated two directors, but it will take time for them to be appointed,” he said
Rohini Rustogi, an Indian origin woman, has been awarded the ‘Business Woman of the Year award for Tampa Bay by the INDO Chamber of Commerce for the year 2024 Rohini is CEOcum-founder of The Brandon Montessori (BMS), Riverview Montessori (RMS), SouthShore Montessori (SMS) and Edward James Samuel (EJS) Montessori schools in the US Rohini said “With my roots deeply anchored in Kangra my ancestral home my educational journey largely unfolded in the picturesque town of Nainital as my parents were teaching in boarding schools there Our winter holidays however were always spent in Kangra, where our sprawling ancestral home became a place of warmth, tradition, and cherished memories
VIKAS KHANNA’S NY RESTAURANT GETS THREE STARS
Chef Vikas Khanna’s New York restaurant ‘Bungalow’ recently received a three-star rating from The New York Times It is after “almost 25 years,” that an Indian restaurant has achieved such a rating Earlier this month, the Michelin-star chef, who represents Indian cuisine on the global stage, shared a video on social media to thank everyone for their support Khanna said, “Thank you everyone for believing in us and supporting us and standing in line in the rain and constantly trying to book the restaurant bringing your parents your grandparents or making Bungalow a sacred space for our culture and for our cuisine I owe it all to you Thank you ”
CANADIAN HINDUS, SIKHS SEND NOTICE TO KFC
Hindus and Sikhs in Canada have sent a notice to Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) after its decision to serve only halal-certified chicken (as prescribed by Islamic law) across most of its restaurants in Ontario The switch to Halal meat began in when the company issued a memo to franchises informing them of the changes, saying it's committed to providing diverse and inclusive options for its customers However, it excludes restaurants in Thunder Bay and Ottawa Rahul Yendamuri, Director of Hindu Forum Canada said, “What if there are some people who are not necessarily aligned or their their religious practices do not accept the Halal practice of consumption of food and meat?”
SEARCH FOR INDIAN WOMAN IN MALAYSIA SINKHOLE
Five days since an Indian woman, Vijaya Lakshmi Gali, disappeared in a sinkhole in Malaysia, authorities in Kuala Lumpur are continuing their round-the-clock search and rescue operation in an attempt to find her The Indian High Commission has been in touch with Vijay Lakshmi s family and are updating them about the search and rescue operations The 48-year-old Vijaya Lakshmi, who frequently travels to Malaysia and Singapore for business, disappeared after falling into the 8 mdeep hole She was on her way to the temple when the ground suddenly caved in Her husband and son managed to escape the collapse
PAKISTANI ORIGIN MAN JAILED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE
A Pakistani origin man has been sentenced to 17 years in jail for over one of the worst online child sexual abuse schemes in Australia targeting hundreds of victims in the country and overseas by pretending to be a 15-year-old social media influencer with a large following Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed 29 pleaded guilty to 119 charges relating to 286 people from 20 countries including the UK, the US Japan and France Twothirds of his victims were aged under 16, BBC News reported A Perth court heard Rasheed coerced them into a cycle of increasingly extreme abuse by threatening to send explicit messages and images of them to their loved ones
Sheikh Hasina & Md Touhid Hossain
in brief TERROR ATTACKS
DELAY LAUNCH OF AIRPORT IN PAKISTAN
The start of operations of a Chinese-funded airport in Pakistan s Balochistan has been pushed back for a security review after last week s attacks by separatists in the area govt and aviation sources said More than 70 people were killed in the attacks where militants seeking the region s secession have been targeting govt forces and projects being developed as part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor The $200-million airport in Gwadar, a joint venture between Pakistan, Oman and China, is close to completion The initial plan was for PM Shehbaz Sharif to inaugurate it on Aug 14 alongside Chinese officials, but that was called off after an ethnic Baloch rights group started a sit-in protest, the officials said
AFGHAN WOMEN SING TO PROTEST TALIBAN
An Afghan woman sings in a video showing just a sliver of her face, one of dozens of women taking part in an online protest against a law that bans women from raising their voices in public Taliban authorities last week announced the law, which includes rules that women's faces, bodies and voices should be “covered” outside the home, among 35 articles dictating behaviour and lifestyle In response Afghan women inside and outside the country have posted videos on social media of them singing along with hashtags such as “My voice is not forbidden” and No to Taliban ”
FRENCH MUSEUM INVITES VISITORS TO GO NAKED
A museum in the southern French city Marseille is inviting visitors to discover Europe s relationship to the naturist lifestyle by wandering its halls in the nude Once a month, visitors to Museum of Civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean (Mucem) can explore the history of naturism in Europe in only their shoes - a precaution not for modesty’s sake but simply to “avoid getting splinters,” the head of France s FFN naturist organisation Eric Stefanut said Though there is no official ranking, Mucem describes France as “the world’s leading tourist destination” for those who enjoy going nude outdoors
DOLPHINS BITE, JAPAN BEACHGOERS TOLD
Authorities in central Japan are urging beachgoers to steer clear of dolphins after a sharp increase in biting incidents, with one expert saying the culprit may be a rogue individual This year has seen 18 swimmers bitten at several beaches in the Fukui region which logged just a handful of injuries related to dolphins in each of the past two years Most of the bites were minor
EDITORS CONVICTED OF SEDITION IN HK FACE 2 YEAR JAIL
A Hong Kong court found two editors of the now-defunct Stand News media outlet guilty of conspiring to publish seditious articles in a case that has drawn international scrutiny amid a security crackdown in the China-ruled city The two editors, Chung Puikuen and Patrick Lam, could be jailed for up to two years when they are sentenced on Sept 26 Their conviction is the first for sedition against any journalist or editor since Hong Kong s handover from Britain to China in 1997 Stand News was raided in Dec 2021, and had its assets frozen, leading to its closure Chung and Lam had pleaded not guilty with only Chung present in court for the verdict He edited or authorised most of the articles that the court found to be seditious
Over 24,000 Indian-Americans sign up for PM Modi's community event
N EW Y OR K: Mo re than 24, 000 members of the I ndian diasp ora have signed u p to attend a mega community event that will be ad dr es s e d by P ri m e M in i s te
month
The ‘Modi & US' Progress Together' event will be held on
Veterans Memorial Coliseum, which has a capacity of 15,000
T
Community of USA (IACU) said
Americans have signed up to attend the mega event, a community gathering that will be addressed by Modi
P
scheduled to address the highlevel UN General Assembly ses-
, according to a provisional list of speakers issued by the UN
The IACU said in a statement that registrations for the
event in Uniondale, Long Island have come through 590 com-
‘Welcome Partners', from across the United States
expected to attend, the response
g from the tri-state area, it said "We're committed to ensuring as many people as possible can participate in this historic
event," said a key organiser of the event "We're going to do our best to expand seating arrangements a
Welcome Partners to prioritise final seat allocations to those who will confirm they expect to
'Modi & US' event “promises to be a significant gathering cele-
wide range of religious communities, including members of the
Hindu communities They also
section of India's diverse lan-
Telugu, Punjabi, Tamil, Bengali, Malayalam, Gujarati, and others, IACU said
In addition to an address by Prime Minister Modi, the event will showcase cultural perfor-
prominent Indian-Americans in
ment, and the arts
Community of USA (IACU) fosters understanding of and unity within the Indo-American community through cultural events and public programmes
Earlier this month, sources said that preparations are in full swing for the community event in Long Island, coming 10 years after Modi addressed a massive c
famed Madison Square Garden in New York in September 2014 just months after he had first taken charge as Prime Minister and visited the city to attend the
Assembly session
Kamala edges out Trump; poll data shows lead in key swing states
“how close we can reasonably expect a survey result to fall relat
value
n
groun d st at es Trump initially made gains
according to a report by NBC News, Harris is performing better than Trump in nearly every national survey, even within the margins of error According to Pew Research, the margin of error represents
s h o w K
m
l a Harris getting 48 per cent votes, while Donald Trump has consistently polled at 47 per cent, within the margin of error
B
o o m b e r g / M o r n i n g C o n s u l t surveys in Georgia and Michigan all show him at the exact same number This marks a reversal from the polls seen before Joe Biden's withdrawal Bloomberg/Morning Consult
Indians in Copenhagen celebrate Janmashtami
The Indians in Copenhagen came together to celebrate Janmashtami, marking the birth of Lord Krishna Over 100 people gathered for the event, which featured bhajans, dancing, and a traditional aarti The celebration was a vibrant display of cultural pride, with children dressed as Radha and Krishna, and a feast of traditional Indian foods
polls indicate Harris has surpassed Trump, within the margin of error, in Georgia (50 per cent), Michigan (49 per cent), N e v
(
0 p e r
d Pennsylvania (51 per cent) In Wisconsin, a key swing state, the Vice President leads Trump by a wider margin of 53 per cent Arizona and North Carolina, on the other hand, have shown a t i g h t c o n t e s t b e t
s sharply with Joe Biden's perform a n c e d u r i n g h i s r e - e l e c t i o n campaign when he struggled to g a i n t r a c t i o n i n A r i z o n a , G e o r g i a , N e v a d a , a n d N o r t h Carolina
Before Kamala Harris took over as the Democratic candidate, Biden was trailing Trump, much before the US Presidential debate on June 27 Despite narrow margins in the Great Lakes swing states and larger gaps in the Sun Belt, Harris is performing better, and voters see her as a more trusted leader overall P o l l d a t a f r o m t h e W a l l Street Journal, Quinnipiac, and S u f f o l k / U S A T o d a y s h o w Kamala Harris leading with 48 per cent, 49 per cent, and 48 per cent, respectively, while Donald Trump is at 47 percent, 48 per cent, and 43 per cent in these surveys
Australia caps enrolment of foreign students at
270,000 for 2025
S YD NE Y: Australi a said it woul d li mi t the enrol men t n umber o f n e w i n t ern ati on a l st u d en t s t o 270,000 for 2025, as gov t looks to rei n in record mig ration that has contributed to a spike in home ren tal prices The decisi on follows a raft of acti ons since last year to end Covi d-era concessions for foreig n studen ts and wo rkers that h el p ed bu s i n es s es r ec ru i t s t af f locally while strict border controls kept ov erseas workers out “ T h e r e ’ s a b o u t 1 0 % m o r e international students in our univ e r s i t i e s t o d a y t h a n b e f o r e t h e
Indian students in Canada protest against deportation risks
N EW DE LHI : Hun dre ds of Ind ia n stud ent gra duat es hav e st age d prot ests a gain st a new fe der al policy in Ca nad a that puts t hem at r isk of get ting depor te d from the countr y Many int ern at ion al studen ts, par ticular ly t hose fr om In dia, dre am of moving t o the N orth Ame rican countr y in h ope s of building a bet ter life , but the ann ounced immigra tion p olicy chan ges ha ve left t he futur e of more tha n 70,000 stud ent grad uate s in un ce rt aint y Indian students have camped in front of the legislative assembly in Canada's Prince Edward Island province, protesting the sudden policy change for more than three months Similar demonstrations were also seen in the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia The new policies are aimed at reducing the
number of permanent residency nominations by 25 per cent as well as limiting study permits
The change comes as Canada saw rapid population growth over the last few years Around 97 per cent of last year s population increase in Canada was driven by immigration, according to Federal data
Representatives from student advocacy group Naujawan Support Network warned the graduates are at risk of being deported when their work permits expire at the end of this year
Amid a local housing and jobs crisis, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is under pressure to reduce the number of temporary residents, which has seen a staggering growth in recent years
pandemic and 50% more in private vocational and training providers,” s
b e capped at 145,000 for universities, which is around 2023 levels, and 9 5 , 0
based courses Clare said govt would inform universities on their enrolment caps University of Melbourne said it had received its indicative cap, w
implications “The cap will have detrimental consequences for our university, the higher education sector, and the nation for years to
Sydney also said it was studying the likely impact of the cap “We’ll continue to work collaboratively with govts and the sector on managed growth of international higher education, one of Australia’s most valuable exports,” it said Universities Australia, the peak body for universities, said the govt move would “apply
Narendra Modi
PM Modi apologises for the collapse of Shivaji statue
P M Mod i apologised befo re
a c ro w d o f o v e r 3 5 , 0 0 0
p eo ple in P alg har for th e collapse of th e C hhatrap ati
S h i v aj i M a h ara j s ta tu e at Rajkot fort in Sindh udu rg d istrict recently “ C h h a t r a p a t
M
name or a king for us For us, he is our ‘aradhya dev’ (revered deity) Today, I bow
m y h e a d a t h i s f e e t a n d apologise to my deity,” Modi
s a i d i n h i s f i r s t p u b l i c
r e m a r k s o n t h e s t a t u e collapse The 35-ft statue of
t h e 1 7 t h - c e n t u r y M a r a t h a king had been unveiled by Modi on Navy Day on Dec 4
He was speaking at an event where he virtually laid the foundation stone of the
£ 7 6 b n V a d h v a n p o r t , projected to be the largest
d e e p - w a t e r p o r t i n t h e country, in Dahanu
M o d i t o o k t h e s t a g e
with the slogan of ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ and expressed his deep reverence for the Maratha king He said the f i r s t t h i n g h e h a d d o n e when he was chosen by the BJP as the PM candidate in 2013 was go to Raigad and pray before the samadhi of Shivaji Maharaj
e p t abusing and insulting state icon Veer Savarkar but never
apologised for hurting the feelings of nationalists with
values are different For us, nothing is bigger than our deity,” he said C
Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit
P
respects to the Maratha king but did not dwell on the
further reclamation near the port for a third airport to serve the city
E
Varsha Gaikwad and other
moved on from the Global Fintech Fest in BKC Later
G
protested against Modi at Shivaji Park for the statue collapse
47 Indians trapped in cyber scam centres in Laos rescued
A t lea st 47 Indi an na t io na ls t rapped in C hinese-run cyber
s c a m c e nt r
h av e be e n r e s c u
d fr o m L a o s' s B o ke o pro vinc e, the Indian e mbassy i n Vi ent iane said The e mbassy sai d th at t he re sc ue d Indi an nat ionals were tr apped in cyber
s c am c e nt r e s a t t h e G o lde n
T r i a ng l e Spe c i a l E c o n o mi c Zo ne (SEZ) in Bokeo
"Of these, 29 were handed over to the Embassy by Laos
a u t h o r i t i e s a f t e r t h e i r crackdown on illegal activities in Golden Triangle SEZ, while other 18 had approached the Embassy in distress, seeking h e l p " , t h e r e l e a s e r e a d s "Ambassador of India to Laos, m e t t h e g r o u p u p o n t h e i r a r r i v a l t o d i s c u s s t h e challenges they faced and to a d v i s e f u r t h e r c o u r s e o f action"
T h e o f f i c i a l s t a t e m e n t further said that the embassy h a s u n d e r t a k e n a n d
Om Namah Shivay
c o m p l e t e d a l l p r o c e d u r a l r e q u i r e m e n t s o f L a o s a u t h o r i t i e s f o r
these 30 have already safely returned to India or are on t h e i r w a y , w h i l e t h e r e m a i n i n g 1 7 a r e o n l y awaiting travel arrangements to be firmed up and would be leaving Laos soon", it said After the rescue of Indian nationals from Laos, envoy
A g r a w a l e m p h a s i s e d t h a t "ensuring the safety and wellbeing" of Indians was a matter o f t o p p r i o r i t y f o r t h e
Embassy The Indian embassy i n V i e n t i a n e h a s s o f a r rescued 635 Indians from the south Asian country and has thanked Laos authorities for their help and cooperation
The Indian mission has a l s o u r g e d t h e l o c a l authorities to take action at t h e i r e n d a g a i n s t 'unscrupulous elements' and
has raised the matter at the h i g h e s t l e v e l T h
e m b a s s y h
t i o n e
I
n j o bseekers planning to take up job offers in Laos to exercise 'utmost caution' and do due diligence thoroughly to avoid b
them to carefully go through the detailed advisory available
i c i a l website or contact it in case of any doubt External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar last month discussed the issue
o
Siphandone during his visit to Vientiane The searches led to the seizure of incriminating m
i n g d i g i t a l devices and documents etc The targeted locations were p r e m i s e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h aides and offices of the key accused, Balwant alias Bobby Kataria
Jay Shree krishna
UpendrabhaiKrishnanath Gor
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of our beloved father, Upendrabhai Krishnanath Gor on Wednesday 28th August 2024. We pray for his divine soul to be at peace.
Nirav and Komal Gor • Yagnesh and Jignasa Gor
Bhargav and Bhargavi Gor
Dhruv, Urvi, Mit, Sakshi & Deevya
Jay Shree Krishna
Nirav Gor 07886 013270 • Yagnesh Gor 07985 743 331
Bhargav Gor 07940 729 525
Jai Ranchodrai - Om Shanti from the GOR Family
I
‘Enough
is enough’, says President on RG Kar hospital rape-murder
n t i on ,
President D roupa di Murmu spok e out a gainst a series of br ut al rape s in t he country an d call ed for “hone st selfintr ospection ” to go to the root of the “malaise” “The gruesome incident o f r a p e a n d m u r d e r o f a doctor in Kolkata has left the n
What’s more depressing is it is part of a series of crimes against women The victims i n c l u d e e v e n k i n d e r g a r t e n girls Let us collectively say enough is enough,” she said in a signed article “Even as s t u d e n t s , d o c t o r s a n d citizens were protesting in Kolkata, criminals remained on the prowl elsewhere “We owe it to our daughters to r e m o v e t h e h u r d l e s f r o m t h e i r p a t h o f w i n n i n g freedom from fear,” she said W h i l e t h e P r e s i d e n t
u s u a l l y r e f r a i n s f r o m c o m m e n t i n g o n s u c h developments, Murmu dealt with the issue amid protests over the rape and murder in Kolkata as well as a similar i n c i d e n t i n B a d l a p u r , Maharashtra The President l a m e n t e d t h e p a t t e r n o f
e p i s o d i c o u t r a g e a g a i n s t atrocities like the Nirbhaya
r a p e c a s e o n l y t o d e v e l o p “ c o l l e c t i v e a m n e s i a ” u n t i l jolted into a furious response
Amid China
by another gruesome crime against women
Recalling the Nirbhaya
i n c i d e n t , w h i c h g e n e r a t e d
“ s h o c k a n d
d e t e r m i n e d n o t t o l e t another Nirbhaya meet the same fate We made plans and devised strategies These i n i t i a t i v e s d i d m a k e a difference to an extent Yet, our task remains unfinished as long as any woman feels unsafe in the environment where she lives or works ”
President said “collective a m n e s i a ” a b o u t t h e gruesome incidents was as “obnoxious” as the mindset of some “I am of the firm belief that we should not let a m n e s i a p r e v a i l o v e r t h e memory of such criminality
L e t u s d e a l w i t h t h i s p e r v e r s i o n i n a comprehensive manner so as t o c u r b i t r i g h t a t t h e beginning We can do this
o n l y i
n
u r t h e memory of the victims by cultivating a social culture of r
remind us of our failures in the past and prepare us to be m o r e v i
Murmu
underlying causes such as
women by
few" which, she said, allowed crimes against women to keep happening
tough laws “ C o u n t e r i n
mindset is
task for both the state and society In India, over the years, the two have fought hard to change the wrong attitude There have been laws and there have been social campaigns Yet,
to come in the way and to torment us, ” she said
standoff, India set to boost naval power with 3rd N-sub in 6 months
Indi a plans to commissi on its th i r d n uc l ear - p ow er ed bal l i s ti c mi ss i l e s u bm ari n e (SSB N) i n an other six months to further bolster i ts sea-based leg o f the n ucl ear weapo ns triad, after the second such boat was fo rmall y i nd uc ted i n to t h e S tr at eg i c F o rc es Comman d as I NS Arig haat at Vi sakhapatnam last week
T h e t h i r d S S B N , undergoing trials ahead of her c o m m i s s i o n i n g a s I N S Aridhaman early next year, is slightly bigger than the first t w o , I N S A r i h a n t & I N S
A r i g h a a t , a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y capable of carrying more long range nuclear-tipped missiles
S i g n i f i c a n t l y , I N S
A r i g h a a t i s a l s o c a p a b l e o f carrying some K-4 missiles, which have a strike range of o v e r 3 , 0 0 0 - k m , u n l i k e h e r forerunner INS Arihant that is armed only with the 750-km range K-15 missiles
T h i s i s c r u c i a l f o r credible strategic deterrence amid the continuing military confrontation with China
C a p a b l e o f s t a y i n g s u b m e r g e d f o r m o n t h s ,
S S B N s a r e m o s t s e c u r e , s u r v i v a b l e a n d s t e a l t h y platforms for second-strike capabilities, which in turn
d e t e r a n a d v e r s a r y f r o m l a u n c h i n g a s u r p r i s e f i r s t strike
T h e c o m m i s s i o n i n g o f
INS Arighaat, which has a 6 , 0 0 0 - t o n n e d i s p l a c e m e n t and four silos on its ‘hump’ for vertical missiles launch, was conducted at
secret
n Vizag, with defence minister Rajnath Singh, CDS General A n i l C h a u
N
v y c h i e f Admiral Dinesh Tripathi and DRDO chief Samir Kamat in attendance “ I N S
Singh said
Cabinet clears 12 new industrial cities with investment of £2.86bn
In a bid to cr eate pl ug-an d-pl ay infrastruct ur e for industry to set up factories across In dia , the ca binet committee on e conomic affairs cl e a r e d 1 2 n e w i n d us t r ia l ci t i e s w i t h a n investment of £2 86 b n, with the l argest one , spread over 6 ,000 a cre , to come up ne ar Dighi port in pol l-bound Maha rasht ra
At least three of the proposed citiesmodelled on lines of the ones in Gujarat’s Dholera and MP’s Vikram Udyogpuri - are in allies ruled by key NDA constituents: Gaya in Bihar, and Orvakal and Kopparthy in Andhra Pradesh Another two are in Uttar Pradesh ( A g r a a n d P
opposition-governed states, Punjab (Rajpura Patiala), Kerala (Palakkad) and Telangana (Zaheerabad) have been allotted one project
infrastructure are often cited as roadblocks to the establishment of factories in several parts of the country and the projects are expected to bridge the gap
generate investment of
£15 bn But the estimates are conservative,” said commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, who piloted the proposal, adding that a little under 10,00,000 direct jobs will be created Tata group has emerged as one of the biggest investors in Dholera, while Toyota is among those going to Shendra-Bidkin in Maharashtra The two other existing ones
U
interest
Droupadi Murmu
Pakistan invites PM Modi for SCO meeting in October
Pa kista n has inv it ed Prime Minister Naren dra Modi for t h e up co mi n g S ha n g h a i C ooper at ion Or gan isat ion's (SCO) Coun cil of He ads of G ove rnment meet in g t o be
h e l d i n I sl a m a b a d in Octobe r
"Yes, we have received an invitation from Pakistan for the SCO's Council of Heads of State that is to happen We do not have an update on that," a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in response to a
r
p
n g his media briefing in Delhi Pakistan holds the rotating chairmanship of the SCO
C o u n c i l o f H e a d s o f Government (CHG) and in that capacity, it will be hosting the two-day in-person SCO Heads of Government meeting in October
I n v i t a t i o n s h a v e b e e n sent to the heads of coun-
t r i e s t o p
m e e t i n g , w
c h w i l l t a k e place on October 15-16 An invitation has also been sent
Foreign Office Spokesperson
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at her weekly press briefing in Pakistan
S
already confirmed their participation in the meeting and their names will be shared in d u
Islamabad summit meeting will be preceded by a minis-
meetings focused on financial, economic, socio-cultural and humanitarian cooperation among the SCO member states
The SCO was founded at a
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017 I
became a permanent member of the SCO at an India-
hosted virtual summit of the grouping The SCO, as an
security bloc, has emerged as
regional international organisations
Pakistan and India can hold
hosted the SCO Summit last year, organised virtually It
Sharif through a video link
However, Pakistan's then
Bhutto Zardari, visited India in May 2023 to attend the inperson two-day meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign M
was the first Pakistani foreign minister to visit India in almost 12 years Islamabad and New Delhi have a long history of strained relations, primarily due to the Kashmir issue as well as the cross-bord
from Pakistan
Central govt okays Kaynes’ chip unit in Sanand
T he central gov ernm ent has cleared a prop osal of Kaynes
S em ico n to set up a pou nd
3 3 0 7 m n s em i c o nd u c to r u nit in S anand that w ill have the capacity to churn ou t 6 3 m illion ch ips a d ay
I T m i n i s t e r A s h w i n i
Vaishnaw said an ecosystem for semiconductors is developing in the country and this has been fuelled by the I n d i a S e m i c o n d u c t o r Mission
“Today, the Cabinet has a p p r o v e d K a y n e s ’ p l a n t , with a capacity of 6 3 million chips per day The plant will come up in 46 acres It is a big plant and a large portion of the production will go for
K a y n e s I n d u s t r i e s I t h a s already been booked ”
The plant will also cater to chips related to the power
Philanthropist, Mombasa businessman Hasmukh Kanji is no more
Phila nthropist and Momb asa businessma n Hasmukh Kanji Bhudia ha s passe d away H e wa s t he o wn e r o f T or o r o
Cement an d ha s be en running severa l charity pr ojects in M o mb a s a , Ki l i fi a n d Kwal e counties
H a s m u k h , p o p u l a r l y known as Hasubhai, suffered a massive heart attack at his residence in Mombasa, last week According to his family members, he breathed his last while being rushed to the hospital
Hasubhai who was born in Photdi village of Bhuj taluk a , m
studying at the University of M
t
i n t h e U S , Hasubhai decided to quit his studies and start working at the age of 17 After studying in Kenya, he joined a business management course at Kingston University in the U K a n d f o u n d e d t h e Mombasa Cement Company i n 2 0 0 7 A r v i n d b h a i a l s o joined the family business
munity and the villages of K u t c h i L e w a M a h a n t Dharmanandandasji of Bhuj Swaminarayan Temple has paid tribute and said that the sect and society have lost a u n i q u e s e r v a n t w i t h t h e death of Hasubhai
Patel was running several charity projects in Mombasa, K i l i f i a n d K w a l e c o u n t i e s that benefitted hundreds of thousands of residents in the three counties
He was running a feeding program at the Kibarani
M i r a c l e P a r k , w h i c h h e
h e l p e d r e j u v e n a t e f r o m a dumpsite on orders of form e r P r e s i d e n t U h u r u Kenyatta The program was feeding at least 40,000 people daily
Chips produced in the unit will cater to a wide varie t y o f a p p l i c a
industrial, automobile, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, telecom, and mobile phones among others
P o w e r - r e l a t e d c h i p s u s e d i n a u t o m o b i l e s a n d home appliances, will also be produced in this plant,”
V a i s h n a w s a i d b r i e f i n g reporters
G i v i n g a n u p d a t e o n T a t a ’ s D h o l e r a p l a n t , t h e m i n i s t e r s a i d t h a t l a n d acquisition has already been done for the “massively large and complex project”
Tata Electronics is setting up a semiconductor fab i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
s e c t o r T h e c o m p a n y h a s already acquired land for the p r o j e c t , a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n will start soon
P o w e r c h i p S e m i c o n d
(PSMC) of Taiwan This fab will come up at Dholera in
G u j a r a t , a n d e n t a i l a n investment of pound 9 1 bn “Tata’s plant is basically a fab which is being done in a
J V w i t h P o w e r c h i p o f
T a i w a n I t ’ s a m a s s i v e l y large and complex project It will be operational at the 28n m n o d e S
h e d e s i g n work for the entire plant has b e e n d o n e , ” t h e m i n i s t e r said O n t h e s t a t u s o f
Micron’s project, the minister said that the first Made in India chip will come up in the middle of next year In
J u n e l a s t y e a r , M i c r o n announced an investment of $825 million to set up a new assembly and test facility in Gujarat
Delhi court gives nod to charge Tytler in ’84 anti-Sikh riots case
F o u r d ec ad e s a fte r th r ee m en were killed by a mob in P u l B an g as h are a o f o ld Delh i during the 1984 anti-
S i k h r io t s, a D el h i c o u rt
o r d er ed th e f ra m i ng o f c h a rg es a g ai ns t fo r m
C on g res s m em be r J ag d i sh
T y tl er i n th e c as e “ S u f fi c i ent g r o u nd s a re there to p roceed ag ainst the a cc u s ed p er so n , ” s p ec i al ju dge Rakesh Syal said The court directed framing of charges against Tytler u n d e r I P C s e c t i o n s 3 0 2 ( m u
d
r ) a n d 1 0 9 (
e
ment), among several others, while discharging him from offences under Section 148 (rioting armed with a deadly weapon)
T h e c o u r t l i s t e d t h e
m a t t e r o n S e p t e m b e r 1 3 when Tytler would have to appear in court and charges would be formally framed against him
On Nov 1, 1984, a mob had burnt to death three p e o p l e - S a r d a r T h a k u r S i n g h , B a d a l S i n g h , a n d G u r c h a r a n S i n g h - n e a r G u r d w a r a P u l B a n
Azad Market in north Delhi, which was also set on fire
As per CBI’s investigation, there was evidence on
mob gathered at Gurdwara Pul Bangash, resulting in the killings, arson and looting of shops
CBI claimed that Tytler
, they have killed our moth-
bodyguards on Oct 31, 1984
The complainant in the case, Lakhwinder Kaur, wife o
, was represented by senior advocate H S Phoolka and a
h , and the CBI was represented by public prosecutor Amit Jindal
Despite living across the seven seas, he did not forget h i s n a t i v e K u t c h H e h a s donated millions of rupees for the education and health sectors in Kutch and was the foremost donor of the Patel community of Kutch He init i a t e d f r e e e d u c a t i o n f o r Kachchi Leva Patel girls for 25 years He was also been instrumental for the running of the Leva Patel Hospital in B h u j D u r i n g h i s v i s i t t o K u t c h t h i s y e a r , h e announced girls' education at a token fee of one rupee African countries also benef i t e d f r o m h i s g e n e r o u s d o n a t i o n H e b e c a m e famous by building schools, hospitals, roads, canals,etc
His body was placed for public viewing before being cremated at the Hindu crematorium in Mombasa The n e w s o f H a s u b h a i ' s d e a t h has shocked the Patel com-
He was also running a h o s p i t a l p r o g r a m a t t h e Coast General Teaching and R e f e r r a l H o s p i t a l w h e r e patients who fail to pay their bills have them paid for by the company
R e l a t i v e s w h o c a n n o t afford to buy decent coffins for their lost loved ones ran t o h i m f o r h e l p a n d h e catered for their transportation to various parts of the country
e t T h u r s d
t w
f t e r n o o n mourned his death " W e h a v e l e a r n t w i t h sadness the passing of businessman Hasmukh Patel of Mombasa Cement Limited in Mombasa," tweeted Nassir
offer deepest condolences to the family of the departed," Nassir said K e n
President Museveni's family members, Ministers of the n
including the Governor of Mombasa paid their respects and expressed their condolences to the family at the
Community Hall
At 4 pm at the Hindu
nephew Suraj cremated the body
Tributes were offered at UK Community on Sunday W h i l
,
M o n d a y , September 2 from 8 am at Bhuj, a prayer meeting was held at 5 pm at Mombasa
He said Hasubhai will be remembered for his active p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n s o c i e t a l affairs in Mombasa as well as his generous support for the underprivileged "I take this opportunity on behalf of the county gove
It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved wife, Lady Pramila Parekh, at the age of 88. In Hull, she was deeply involved in community relations, working tirelessly to unite diverse communities and advocate for the needs of minorities, including their religious requirements. Her kindness and dedication were deeply appreciated by everyone who knew her. I first met Pramila in 1956 when I began my tenure as a lecturer at Baroda University. We married in 1959 and spent 65 wonderful years together, raising three accomplished sons who studied at Oxford University and are prominent figures in British life. Her loss is a tremendous sorrow for us, and it will take time to come to terms with her absence. May her soul rest in peace!
Lord Bhikhu Parekh Email: profparekh@gmail.com
Jagdish Tytler
Hasmukh Kanji Bhudia
SOUTH INDIA
ED imposes £90.8 mn fine on DMK MP in forex violation case
N E W D E L H I : T h e E nf o rc em en t
Directorate said it h as im posed a p enalty o f £90 8 m n o n DM K’s L ok S abha MP Jag athraksh akanin a case
o f FE M A v io l ati o n s, an d h is
p r o p ert i es w o rth o v er £ 8 9 m n, w hich w ere seized earlier, has been confiscated
T h e a g e n c y h a s a c c u s e d
J a g a t h r a k s h a k a n ,
b u s i n e s s m a n from Tamil Nadu and an MP, his family members and related Indian entities in its FEMA show cause notice, equivalent to a chargesheet
“ I n v e s t i g a t i o n r e s u l t e d i n t h e passing of seizure order of various movable and immovable properties held in the name of Jagathrakshakan and his family members valued at around £8 91 mn, ” the agency said
A f t e r c o n c l u s i o n o f l e g a l p r o c e e d i n g s , t h e p r o p e r t i e s w e r e confiscated, and a penalty of £90 8 mn has been levied through an adjudication order issued on Aug 26, the agency said “Upon examination o f t h e a l l e g e d v i o l a t i o n s b y t h e noticees vis-à-vis the written replies filed by them, it was found that the a l l e g e d ( F E M A ) v i o l a t i o n s w e r e c l e a r l y
PUNJAB
Jagathrakshakanin
penalty was levied with respect to each of the alleged violations,” ED said
members and related company were
respect of their investment of £4
incorporated in Singapore during 2 0
shares/ equities in Singapore and its s
e o f extant provisions of FEMA”
Sikh high priests found SAD chief Badal guilty of religious misconduct
Sikh h igh p riests pronounced SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal guilty of re li g i o u s m i s co n d u c t, o r “ ta nkh ai ya ” , i n a v e rd i c t th a t requires him to appear before the Akal Takht and seek forgiv eness fo r u ns p e ci f ie d “ m is ta ke s ” w h en h i s party was p art of coali tio n go vts with BJP in Punjab between 20 07 and 20 17
“Some of the decisions taken by Badal as deputy CM and president of SAD caused huge damage to the panthic image
SAD was weakened, and Sikh interests were badly harmed,” Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh said in Amritsar after the verdict
“Till Badal appears at Akal Takht in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib, Singh Sahibaans (high priests)
a n d s a n g a t ( c o n g r e g a t i o n ) t o apologise for his gunahan (crimes),
WEST BENGAL
he is declared tankhaiya ” The panel directed all Sikh cabinet ministers of t h e t w o c
specified period to appear before the
clarifications
Besides the Akal Takht Jathedar, the high priests who gave the joint
Sahib Jathedar Giani Sultan Singh,
H
Jathedar Giani Baldev Singh, Takht
D
Harpreet Singh, and Golden temple Granthi Giani Baljit Singh
Bengal assembly passes antirape bill, Mamata calls it 'historic'
K O L K A T A : T h e West Beng al A ss embly unanim ou sly p assed the 'Ap arajita Wo man and Ch ild Bill (West Beng al Criminal Law s a nd A m e nd m ent ) 2 0 2 4 ' o n
T u e sd ay, s ett in g a h i st o ri c p r ec ed e nt in I nd i a' s leg al fram ewo rk for ad dressing sexual v io lence With th is bi ll, West Beng al becom es th e first state to amend central laws relating to r ap e , g a ng - ra p e, and s ex u al crimes against children
The bill will now be sent to W e s t B e n g a l G o v e r n o r C V Ananda Bose and subsequently to President Droupadi Murmu for formal assent
C h i e f M i n i s t e r M a m a t a Banerjee described the bill as 'historic' and a 'model' for other states She stated that it serves as
Andhra, Telangana flood death toll climbs to 35
H YD ER AB A D: At least 3 5 peo ple w ere killed in v arious rainrelated incid ents in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana am id heavy rainfall and flood ing Over 4 7,00 0 people were shifted to relief camp s in both states
While 19 people died due to rain-related incidents in Andhra Pradesh, 16 were killed due to the rain and flood fury in Telangana
A
(IMD), the intensity of rainfall would reduce in both states, as the depression over East Vidarbha and Telangana will likely move northwestwards across Vidarbha and adjoining west Madhya Pradesh, before weakening into a low pressure area during the next 24 hours
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu called the floods in the state, especially in Vijayawada, the "biggest disaster" he had witnessed in the state
The Chief Minister, who is currently staying at the collectorate in NTR district, said he would request the Centre to announce the Andhra Pradesh floods as a natural calamity
A total of 47 rescue teams, including personnel from the NDRF and SDRF, were deployed for relief operations in the state Food packets were distributed to over 350,000 people in the state on Monday
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy echoed Naidu's request to declare the floods as a national calamity
Reddy said that damages worth over £500 mn were reported so far due to floods in the state and sought immediate relief assistance of £200 mn from the Centre He announced compensation of Rs 500,000 for the families of the deceased
EC defers Haryana assembly polls to Oct 5
NE W D EL H I: The Election
C
d the polling date in Haryana to Oct 5 to secure the vo ting righ ts of the state’s sizable
Ha rya na an d J
& Kashm ir to Oct 8
A s p e r t h e o r i g i n a l schedule announced on Aug 16, polling in Haryana was to be held on Oct 1 along with the last round of voting in J&K, followed by counting for both the states on Oct 4 J&K will still wind up polling as scheduled on Oct 1, but shall have to wait till Oct 8 for the results
The decision to change
t h e H a r y a n a p o l l d a t ewhich followed the receipt of representations a week
ago from parties like BJP and INLD, as well as All India Bishnoi Mahasabha, Bikaner“ was taken to honour the a g e - o l d t r a d i t i o n o f t h e
B i s h n o i c o m m u n i t y o f visiting their native village Mukam (Rajasthan) during ‘ a m a v a s ’ i n t h e m o n t h o f ‘ A s o j ’ f o r t h e i r a n n u a l festival in Bikaner district , EC had sought a report
f r o m t h e H a r y a n a c h i e f electoral officer (CEO) soon after the change in poll date w a s s o u g h t T h e C E O ’ s report was received on Aug 3 1 i n w h i c h h e c i t e d h i s
c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e d e p u t y c o m m i s s i o n e r s o f Hisar, Sirsa, and Fatehabad I n t h e p a s t t o o , E C h a s adjusted election dates to r e s p e c t t h e s e n t i m e n t s o f various communities
CBI arrests RG Kar hospital's ex-head on graft charges
NORTH-EAST
Assam CM scraps
2-hour namaz breaks on Fridays in Assembly A
tragically raped and murdered at R G K a r M e d i c a l C e n t r e a n d Hospital last month
T h e ' A p a r a j i t a B i l l ' introduces severe penalties for sexual offences, including the death penalty for perpetrators w h o s e a c t i o
victim's death or leave her in
convicted of rape will face life
possibility of parole I n h e r
r e s s t o t h e A s s e m b l y , B a n e r j e e u r g e d Leader of Opposition Suvendu
A d h i k a r i t o a d v o c a t e f o r t h e Governor’s prompt assent She
h i g h l i g h t e d t h e b i l l ' s r o l e i n a d d r e s s i n g
legislation, stating, "Rape is a grievous affront to humanity; w e n e e d s o c i a
eradicate such crimes "
K OL K A T A : C BI arrested RG Kar hospital’ s ex-p rincipal Sand ip Ghosh along with his security g uard and two others - a hospital v endor and a med icine store owner - after interrogating him th roug h the day on corruption charg es levelled against h im by a former colleag ue and a senio r health departm ent official
Ghosh, who had been facing interrogation by CBI’s Special Crime Branch regarding the RG Kar hospital rape-murder case, was taken to the Anti-Corruption Branch's office at Nizam Palace in south Kolkata shortly before his arrest
Ghosh has faced 17 days of questioning and two polygraph tests in the 21 days since CBI took over from Kolkata Police the probe into the Aug 9 rape-murder of a 31-year-old junior doctor studying for her postgraduation His arrested co-accused in the corruption case are Biplab Singha, owner of Ma Tara Traders; Suman Hazra, who runs a medical store in Howrah that allegedly sold recycled drugs collected from RG Kar hospital; and the ex-principal s security guard Afsar Ali Calcutta HC recently ordered a state govt formed SIT that was looking into the allegations to hand over the probe to CBI Ghosh had been at the Salt Lake CGO Complex office since 10 am, answering questions on the rape-murder, sources said A little before 7 pm, he was whisked away in a car to the agency's Nizam Palace office He was taken into custody around 8 pm The exprincipal resigned on Aug 12, facing a backlash over his handling of the aftermath of the rape-murder on campus
Daimary and the legislators for supporting this "historic decision " He emphasised that by abolishing the Jumma break, the Assam
productivity over practices that he views as outdated
The Chief Minister emphasised that the A
religious considerations
The scrapping of the namaz break in the A
unanimous decision made by all Assembly members, effectively ending the practice of a two-hour break from 12 pm to 2 pm on Fridays This decision marks a significant change in the Assembly’s schedule, which will now commence its proceedings at 9:30 am every day, including Fridays
2 KILLED AS MANIPUR REBELS OPEN FIRE
Suspected tribal militants opened fire from hilltops on two villages in restive Manipur s Imphal West district, killing a 31-year-old mother and an unidentified person in an attack that led the N Biren Singh govt to term it an act of creating havoc to derail peace efforts” Five people, including two police personnel and the slain woman’s eight-year-old daughter, were wounded The militants used RPGs, drones to drop explosives, and sophisticated firearms in the attack, primarily targeting Koutruk and Kadangband Part II villages officials said The govt didn’t identify the militant outfit that it suspected to be behind the latest instance of violence in a state that has seen frequent killings, rioting, and arson since the ethnic conflict erupted in May last year A total of 24 Kuki insurgent groups signed agreements for suspension of operations with the Centre and state in 2008 Manipur Police said the militants used drones to deploy explosives marking “a significant escalation” in hostilities It said the involvement of highly trained professionals, backed by technical expertise and support, couldn t be ruled out Villagers of Koutruk said explosives dropped from drones damaged the roofs of some houses The attack came a day after police arrested a militant of the UPPK a faction of PREPAK, from Thamnapokpi in Bishnupur district
7 DETAINED IN TRIPURA FOR ILLEGALLY ENTERING INDIA
Five Bangladeshis and two Rohingyas, who entered Tripura without valid documents, were arrested from two separate areas in the northeastern state police said Acting on a tipoff, Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel detained two persons from Agartala station, a senior officer said During interrogation the two persons admitted that they were inmates in Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camp in the neighbouring country he said "Ramzan Ali and Azida Begum crossed the international border and planned to go to Kolkata by train " Agartala GRP Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Tapas Das said In another incident five Bangladeshi infiltrators and two suspected Indian touts were arrested in Dhalai district All the arrested Bangladeshis are residents of Moulvibazar and Sylhet districts in the neighbouring country, a BSF official said "The Bangladesh nationals entered India without valid documents and the two Indians are believed to be actively involved in facilitating illegal migration," he added
Sukhbir Singh
PM Modi arrives in Brunei for historic visit
P ri me Mi n is t er Na re n dr a
Modi a rrived in Brunei on
T uesda y, marki ng the f irst-
e ver vis it b y an I ndi an he ad of sta te to the is land nati on d espi te 40 y ears of di plo-
m a t i c r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n the two countri es
Following his visit to Brunei, PM Modi will head to Singapore for a two-day visit from September 4 to 5, during which he will hold t a
S
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong Ahead of the Prime
M
External Affairs Minister S J
e time "ripe" for the visit
"Given the transformation underway in India and the changes in the world, they need to become more
and Singapore During the
Singapore so early in his
Jaishankar
B
the two-nation tour, the Prime Minister said in a statement on X, "Over the next two days, I will be vis-
will be on further deepening India’s ties with them
Brunei follows an invita-
Bolkiah The visit aims to strengthen bilateral coop-
eration across various sect
technology
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India and B
defence "
“India-Brunei Darussalam diplomatic ties complete 40 glorious years I look forward to meeting His Majesty
S u l t a n H a j i H a s s a n a l Bolkiah,” the Prime Minister tweeted ahead of his depart u r e P M M o d i ' s t r i p t o
S i n g a p o r e i s h i s f i r s t i n nearly six years and comes early in his third term as Prime Minister The MEA
said the visit comes at a crucial time, with a new leader in Singapore, offering an opportunity to further enhance bilateral relations “
identified under the IndiaS
during a press briefing
He noted that the ties between the two nations
steady growth in trade and investment, robust defence cooperation, and increasing cultural and educational exchanges
Mazumdar said recent
India-Singapore ministerial
Gujarat braces for another spell of heavy rain, death toll mounts to 47
Gujarat braces for another round of d ownpours, ev en as the official death toll in the five days of rain-lashing till Au g 29 climbed to 47
Between Aug 25 and 29, the maximum - seven - fatali t i e s w e r e r e p o r t e d f r o m Jamnagar district followed by Ahmedabad and Anand which recorded six deaths
, G
d h i n a g a r , Bharuch, Dahod and Chhota Udepur recorded two deaths while Morbi, Dang, Aravalli, P a n c h m a h a l s , D e v b h o o m i Dwarka reported one death each
H o w e v e r , t h e t o l l
d o e s n ’ t i n c l u d e t h e s e v e n
b o d i e s r e c o v e r e d i n
Vadodara some days ago, the s e v e n w h o d r o w n e d i n
Morbi, and two deaths due t o e l e c t r o c u t i o n i n
Vadodara
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a depression formed in the Bay of Bengal is travelling towards Gujarat and Maharashtra While parts of P a n c h m a h a l , D a h o d a n d Chhota Udepur are expected to get heavy rains, parts o f N a r m a d a a n d B h a r u c h will get heavy to very heavy r a i n s M a j o r i t y o f s o u t h
G u j a r a t d i s t r i c t s a n d
Bhavnagar are expected to get heavy rains
As on Aug 31, the state has received 111% of seasonal rainfall The Kutch region
has got 179% of its seasonal a v e r a g e , f o l l o w e d b y t h e Saurashtra with over 124%, and the South Gujarat with more than 111%
Eighty six talukas have got more than 1,000 mm of r a i n f a l l w h i l e 1 2 5 t a l u k a s have recorded between 500 to 1,000 mm since the onset o f m o n s o o n o n J u n e 1 5 W h i l e l i g h t t o m o d e r a t e
Rahul Gandhi to address Indian diaspora in
US on Sept 8
L ea de r of O pposit ion in t he Lok Sab ha Ra hul Gan dhi wil l address the In dia n diaspora in Texa s, Unite d St ates on Septembe r 8 during his week -l on g trip in the coun try, a nnoun ced the In dia n Ov erseas Congr ess in t he US This is Ga ndhi's first visit abr oa d as t he LoP as he is expected to inte ract wit h student s in at lea st two prestigious universit ie s and meet with US l awma kers
His last trip to the US was May 30, 2023, when he interacted with the Indian diaspora and others He participated in a meeting with over a thousand members of Silicon Valley citizens to talk about the ‘Bharat Jodo
future He also interacted with around 100
Artificial Intelligence, with focus on AI to take humanity to the next level
His visit is crucial as it comes months ahead of the US presidential elections where Vice President and Democratic nominee
Donald Trump His visit will wrap up ahead of crucial Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Maharashtra As per reports, Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit four or five cities, including Washington, Los Angeles, California, Chicago and Dallas
Doctors meet Kolkata police chief, demand his resignation
A de le gat ion of junior doctor s, prot esting aga inst t he R G Ka r ra pe a nd mur der, met Kolk ata Police Commissioner Vine et Goy al an d ha nde d ove r a lett er dema ndin g his r esig na t ion The y gi ft e d h im a r e plica of a human spin e
Hundreds of doctors, on a night-long protest near the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar, have been demanding the resignation of Goyal alleging police inaction in the case After a 22-hour impasse, the police
r e m o v e d g u a
s , a n d allowed the delegation of 22 doctors to meet the Commissioner
While protesters took out demonstrat i o n s f r o m n e a r b y P h e a r s L a n
t o w a r d s Lalbazar, the delegation representing the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front met Goyal in his office and held discussions for an hour Aniket Mahato, a junior doctor at the
R G Kar hospital, and one of the representa-
demanding his resignation
“He admitted failure of the police regarding what happened on August 12 (‘renovation work’ near the crime scene) and August 14 (attack on R G Kar hospital) We discussed other irregularities surrounding cordoning off of the crime scene and evidence tampering,” Mahato said after the meeting “He listened to us and said he was satisfied with the work of the police, but if his superiors ask him to resign, he would do so gladly,” he said Meqnwhile, thousands of citizens joined the human chain and commuters chanted “ we want justice” as they passed by the protesters “We should not forget the need for justice even when Durga Puja arrives,” one of the protesters said
rainfall is expected across most parts of the state, several districts are likely to face heavy rainfall till Sept 6
According to the IMD bulletin, an orange alert has been issued for Jamnagar,
P o r b a n d a r , D w a r k a , a n d Kutch, with expectations of heavy to very heavy rainfall
A d d i t i o n a l l y , J u n a g a d h , R a j k o t , M o r b i , G i r
S o m n a t h , a n d D i u a r e under a yellow warning due to anticipated heavy rains, while the remaining areas are expected to experience light to moderate showers
T h e I M D h a s i s s u e d a n
orange alert for Vadodara and Chhota Udepur, forecasting heavy to very heavy rains
Orange alert remains in e f f e c t f o r N a r m a d a a n d
B h a r u c h , w i t h a y e l l o w warning in place for Anand, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Surat, Dang, Tapi, Navsari, V a l s a d , D a m a n , D a d r a Nagar Haveli, Amreli, and Bhavnagar
In Jamnagar, which was badly hit by relentless rainfall, 15,000-20,000 people have been rescued or relocated with the help of army, NDRF and SDRF, and the coast guard
F l o o d s h a v e d a m a g e d infrastructure, blocking the r o a d c o n n e c t i n g P a d a n a Patiya to Changa Patiya and washing away a portion of a bridge over Sir PN Road
T
Surat have been deployed to a s s i s t w i t h r e s c u
a n d cleanup operations
Gujarat and the
Sanstha contributed to the
efforts as requested by the local government authorities In Vadodara, BAPS prepared and distributed hot khichdi to 60,000 people, hot shiro to 25,000 people and over 50,000 food packets comprising sev, bundi, biscuits and drinking water
y t h e floods In Jamnagar, BAPS prepared 5,000 food packets, of which 2,000 were distributed to the flood-affected by BAPS volunteers and 3,000 were handed to the local government for distribution
Pravinkant Nandubhai Amin
12th December 1941 - 2nd September 2024
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the peaceful passing of Pravinkant Nandubhai Amin on the 2nd of September 2024, at 8:10 pm. Aged 82, Pravinkantbhai lived a life full of grace, kindness, and dedication to his family, friends, and community.
He was actively involved in numerous community activities, notably contributing to NAPS, Chha Gam Nagrik Samaj, NCGO, SPMS and the Hindu Forum of Britain. His commitment to these organisations and his enduring friendships reflected his passion for serving others and making a positive impact on society. He was also a close friend of CB and had been associated with him for over 50 years. His legacy of service and dedication will be remembered fondly by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Janakben Amin, Sujata Patel, Kavita Patel, Chirag Amin, and the entire family during this difficult time as they navigate this profound loss.
The ABPL Team pays homage to this noble soul. May his soul find eternal peace.
Jay Shree krishna
Om Namah Shivay
PM Modi inaugurated the new Chancery premises of the High Commission of India, in Brunei
PM Modi at Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, in Brunei
Aryaman Shukla
Elevating young voices in climate solutions and advocacy
When I think about young people fighting global warming, I think of L
activist from India She has advocated for climate action and disaster risk reduction
s
protested outside the Indian parliament, demanding stronger air pollution laws, and even addressed world leaders at the 2
consistently called for mandatory climate change education in schools
G
Licypriya’s, such as Fridays for Future, h
cities, demonstrating the power of youth
n p
: G r e e n S q u a d , founded by Fahad Rizwan in Pakistan, t a c k l e s c l i m a t e c h a n g e t h r o u g h w a s t e m a n a g e m e n t , u r b a n a f f o r e s t a t i o n –
p l a n t i n g t r e e s w h e r e n o n e h a v e
t r a d i t i o n a l l y b e e n - a n d h a b i t a t restoration
The United Nations Security Council
h a s a s k e d m e m b e r s t a t e s t o p r i o r i t i z e youth participation, emphasizing the need for a greater voice in decision-making a c r o s s l o c a l , n a t i o n a l , r e g i o n a l , a n d international levels
T h e r e ’ s a r e a s o n f o r t h i s : W e ’ r e affected by climate change more than any g e n e r a t i o n i n r e c o r d e d h i s t o r y W e ’ r e already the victims of global warming and do not want future generations to face the same consequences
Science has now left doubters and d e n i e r s b e h i n d J o s h W i l l i s , a n oceanographer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion L a b o r a t o r y , i d e n t i f i e d r i s i n g c a r b o n dioxide emissions as the primary driver of ocean warming In recent decades, the ocean has absorbed as much as 90% of excess atmospheric heat, storing most of it near the surface This influences El Niño and La Niña, climate patterns that warm a n d c o o l t h e t r o p i c a l P a c i f i c O c e a n Warmer oceans fuel more powerful and frequent extreme weather events, affect marine life and potentially release stored
g
worsening the warming trend
According to NASA, May 2024 was the warmest May on record, capping a full year
o
Over the past 12 months, average global temperatures were 2 34 degrees Fahrenheit
(
century baseline In the United States, July temperatures have risen in 93% of cities
increase of 2 4°F, according to Climate Central Frequent and severe heat waves pose health risks such as heatstroke and exacerbate conditions such as drought and wildfires
As the countdown begins for the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan, leaders are focusing on new collective goals to meet climate plans set by previous conventions
A
C O P
ambitious objectives: achieving net-zero emissions, phasing out coal by 2040 and
2030 This year's conference will call for
measures
But many countries are still not on
targets from eight years ago Significant
Y
Forum in Vilnius, Lithuania, young leaders presented climate security priorities and left with three key recommendations for NATO, highlighted by the Council on S
involvement and positive outcomes
It’s time for young people to rise, and for leaders to involve them actively across all levels of governance As UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres urged activists, g
against climate change, “Never give up Never retreat Keep pushing forward ”
The writer is a junior at NC School of Science and Math, NC, USA and volunteer with Citizens’ Climate Lobby
Indians among over 600 Asian migrants stranded at Brazil airport for weeks
At least 666 Asian migrants, w h i c h i n c lu d es I n di a ns , N ep al es e an d V ie tn am es e p eople, have been stuck in a n ai rp o rt i n B razi l s S ao P aulo, waiti ng to enter th e c o u nt ry , ac c o r di ng to a repo rt
The migrants have been waiting to enter Brazil at the Sao Paulo International
A i r p o r t i n G u a r u l h o s w i t h o u t v i s a s , a n d a r e s t a y i n g i n t h e a i r p o r t i n p o o r c o n d i t i o n s a n d sleeping on the floor, the reports added
A spokesperson for the P u b l i c D e f e n d e r ' s O f f i c e was quoted as saying that the migrants are staying in a
r e s t r i c t e d a r e a w i t h n o access to food and water
The official further said that e v e n c h i l d r e n d o n ' t h a v e access to blankets as well
The official was quoted as saying that the health of
t h e m i g r a n t s w a s deteriorating at the airport, with a migrant from Ghana dying two weeks ago It was not clear whether he died while he was detained at the airport or on the way to hospital, the official said
T h e a g e n c y u r g e d t h e authorities to comply with Brazil's legislation based on the humanitarian principle of accepting refugees and not returning them to their country of origin
N o t a b l y , B r a z i l w i l l begin imposing restrictions on the entry of some Asians who are seeking refuge in the country in their attempt to migrate to the US and Canada, another report said T h i s m o v e w o u l d i m p a c t A s i a n m i g r a n t s w h o n e e d
according to the report
T h e m i g r a n t s b o o k tickets to other destinations
British couple wins lottery twice in 3 weeks using 'simple' trick
A lottery enthusiast from Darwen, Lancashire, has revealed his astonishing luck, winning not once, but twice, within just three weeks According to Bristol Live, Neil and his partner Hayley, who recently moved into a new home, credited their success to a simple yet effective technique available to anyone in the UK The couple's fortune changed just three months after they joined the People's Postcode Lottery Explaining the win, Neil, who is an electrician, stated: "We just bought the house three months ago I got a 10-pound prize the first month and now 30,000-pound " Their winning streak continued when their postcode struck gold again just three weeks later, bringing in another windfall, although smaller in amount than their initial prize The couple believe there's a simple reason behind their luck, that anyone can test out Encouraged by their success, Neil and Hayley urged their neighbours to join the lottery, resulting in a remarkable outcome A total of 18 residents from the area participated, and their collective winnings reached a staggering £540,000 The community was ecstatic, with all the winners sharing in the joy and excitement of their life-changing windfall Emma, a neighbour of Neil said, “It is amazing to win a lottery with your neighbours We were all talking to each other and it brought the street together Many of us are planning to go on vacation with the amount ''
Woman proposes to boyfriend mid-air
A lot of time and effort goes into planning the perfect proposal when a man decides to go down on one knee to ask for his lover's hand in marriage However, these days, people are ditching old-fashioned methods and coming up with unique ideas while popping the question In one such instance, a woman surprised her boyfriend by proposing to him on an IndiGo flight Taking to Instagram, user Aishwarya Bansal shared a video of the wholesome moment "I just proposed in the air," she wrote in the caption The video opens with Bansal and her boyfriend, Amulya Goyal, boarding the flight Seconds later, it cuts to Bansal walking towards her boyfriend and the flight attendant making an announcement for the couple The woman then kneels and proposes to her boyfriend She also expresses her love and puts the ring on his finger "Omg, the way I thought it was better than that I wanted to surprise him in some unique way, and randomly, this idea came to my mind I was not even sure if the crew would allow it or not, but now you know what happened " Bansal wrote while sharing the video
Nvidia CEO's work experience shocks internet
Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, is the 12th richest man in the world, as per the Bloomberg Billionaire Index In June, Nvidia became the world's most valuable public company, riding on an artificial intelligence-driven surge As a result, Huang added over $4 billion to his net worth in a single day Since the beginning of 2019, the company's stock has increased by 3,776% as the business reaps profits from the sale of the primary chip required for artificial intelligence applications Huang has frequently shared his journey from humble beginnings to leading the world's largest chip-making company Amid this, the billionaire's work experience on LinkedIn has caught the attention of several users Huang has listed two jobs in the work experience section The latest one mentions him as the Founder and CEO of Nvidia, from 1993 to the present Before this, his old job profile included being a "dishwasher, busboy and waiter" at Denny's The 61-year-old worked at the diner-style restaurant chain for five years, from 1978 – 1983
Anand Mahindra shares three 'Mantras' for success
Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra often shares fascinating videos that pique the interest of his followers This time, he shared three "Cs" that he derived from the 'Dahi Handi' tradition on the occasion of Janmashtami In his post, Mahindra shared a striking image of the Dahi Handi celebrations, with the camera angle making it seem like they are reaching for an aeroplane flying overhead With this, Mahindra also introduced the concept of "3Cs" - conviction, commitment and collaboration, which are essential for building human pyramids and overcoming life s challenges What a wonderful connection to make! The image of a human pyramid formed during Dahi Handi celebrations is a perfect representation of the power of Conviction, Commitment, and Collaboration These three 'Cs' are indeed essential for achieving success in any field or endeavor Conviction gives us the confidence to pursue our goals, Commitment drives us to work towards them with dedication, and Collaboration allows us to tap into the strengths and skills of others to achieve something greater together," wrote one user
with layovers at Sao Paulo’s i n t e r n
continue with their journey and stay back in Brazil to request for refuge
They stay in Sao Paulo as a convenient stopover for
preferred North American
Uema, said the rules would
seekers However, it is not clear whether the migrants who are already present in the Sao Paulo airport would be affected by the rules or they would apply only to those who arrive in Brazil after the enforcement of the rules
Man's laptop delivery post earns him unexpected gift
A Bengaluru man's post about his lightning-fast laptop delivery has taken the internet by storm, leading to an unexpected gift from e-commerce giant Flipkart Sunny R Gupta, a software developer, recently revealed that after placing an order for a laptop through Flipkart “Minutes”, the device was delivered to him in 13 minutes The rapid delivery not only impressed Gupta but also caught the attention of online users In response to the overwhelming attention, Flipkart reached out to Gupta with a gesture of appreciation: a complimentary laptop bag Gupta was browsing for a new Windows laptop on both Amazon and Flipkart when he discovered a model on Flipkart that fit his budget and requirements Noticing a new feature offering delivery within 15 minutes, he opted for it, finding it more convenient than waiting a day for a traditional delivery To his surprise, the laptop arrived in just 13 minutes, making him share his experience online “I posted about it in real time, and the posts went viral overnight, garnering millions of views and attracting attention from various media outlets,” he added Gupta stressed that his post was not part of a marketing stunt or planned promotion, but rather a “personal experience”
Man wins Rs 355,000 online, ends life after threat from crooks
A 24-year-old tea vendor’s elation at winning Rs 355,000 in an online lottery soon ended in despair leading to his suicide in Amethi after three locals seized his documents and threatened to fix him in a loan fraud case unless he paid them Rs 100,000 Shanti Devi, mother of the deceased Rakesh, filed an FIR against Anurag Jaiswal, Tufaan Singh, Vishal Singh and Hansraj Maurya for abetment to suicide and criminal intimidation Amethi SP Anup Singh said, “The accused seized Rakesh’s Aadhaar, PAN cards, and mobile phone on the pretext of getting him Rs 160,000 TDS refunded When he demanded back his douments, they assaulted him They threatened to ruin the life of his family by misusing his identity cards to secure a hefty loan in his name if he failed to pay them Rs 100,000 ”
and
Wellness tourism is valued at £505 billion (€592 billion)
g
increasing numbers of people seeking wellness-related experiences
Countries worldwide offer specialised wellness retreats:
India for Ayurvedic healing Other key wellness destina-
Japan
J o h n C h a r n o c k , C E O o f
m , stated: “Wellness tourism has surged in popularity as people i n c r e a s i n g l y p r i o r i t i s e t h e i r mental and physical health
Many destinations offer excel-
w i t h i t s o w n s p e c i a l t y F o r instance, India, known for its
Ayurvedic medicine, is ideal
f o r h e
Switzerland and Iceland are great choices for those seeking physical activities, such as hiking and yoga, amid stunning landscapes ” H e r e a
wellness retreat:
Thailand Thailand is renowned for its holistic wellness practices and is an exceptional destination for yoga enthusiasts The country's stunning landscapes provide a perfect backdrop for rejuvenation, with a blend of c u l t u r a
marks alongside pristine white sandy beaches
India
This South Asian nation is
Amedicinal system based on the
from imbalances in the body It is the perfect place for those
renowned as a top wellness retreat for those seeking rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation Portugal’s emphasis on detoxi f i c a t i o n a l i g n s s e a m l e s s l y with its Mediterranean diet, which highlights plant-based foods and healthy fats, enriching the overall wellness experience
Switzerland
S w i t z e r l a n d i s h o m e t o some of the world’s leading health clinics The Swiss Alps provide a perfect backdrop for wellness activities such as outdoor yoga and hiking, making t
even more invigorating
pursuing ayurvedic treatments,
development
Iceland
Their culture emphasises
renowned natural hot springs, Iceland is an ideal wellness destination Additionally, its stunn
such as hiking, further con-
experience
Portugal
The Algarve is especially
Bali
Bali is renowned for its wellness and healing culture
This serene destination highlights spirituality and self-disc o v e r y , m a k i n g i t i d e a l f o r those on a personal journey of self-exploration
Japan
In Japanese culture, minimalism and mindfulness cultiv
The country is renowned for its thousands of onsen (natu-
Overall, Japan prioritises harm o n y a n d b a l a n
n e v e r y aspect of life
Calls for change in British Museum's anti-slavery efforts
g roup of r acia lly d ive rse a rt ist s in vite d to r eint erp r e t a Br i t is h M u se u m colle ct ion re la ted to sla ver y ha ve r aised concer ns a bout pay men t, r e p
suppor t
While the artists appreciated the opportunity to contribute to t h e e x h
Museum in Aberystwyth, they f a c e d s
Neile-Hopton, one of the artists, commented, "I don’t want to dism
individuals and institutions are making it's just that we need to rethink how we approach these projects "
The British Museum, which is gathering feedback from the project, acknowledged that the
Interested, features objects coll
worked on slave plantations and used both English planters and
e n s l a v e d W e s t A f r i c a n s ’ a s s i stance to amass a collection of 800 plant specimens, animals, and curiosities Sloane's wealth was bolstered by his marriage to Elizabeth Langley Rose, whose family s Jamaican sugar plantations were worked by enslaved people Voices from the Edge, a mid
e s - b a s e d g r o u p , created artworks such as drawings and sculptures to accompany the exhibition, which is curr e n t l y a t C e r e d i g i o n M u s e u m
until September 7 Déa noted that all project representatives, i n c l u d i n g t h e m u s e u m a n d design team, were white, leading to feelings of being undervalued and underpaid "We were the unpaid workers asked to tackle c h a l l e n g i n g w o r k , s h e s a i d , highlighting that the £50 daily attendance fee did not adequately cover their time and effort
T h e B r i t i s h M u s e u m responded by stating that participation fees and travel expenses were arranged in advance with
the community participants, and additional funding was provided b y t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f Independent Museums (AIM) It was ag reed t ha t the a rtwo rk s would be returned after the exhibition
The museum also acknowle d g e d t h a t d i s c u s s i n g t o p i c s related to enslavement and colonialism can be emotionally chall e n g i n g I t r e a s s u r e d t h a t
C e r e d i g i o n M u s e u m h a d appointed a project coordinator of global majority heritage with experience in similar projects Group member Shamira Scott noted the mutual support within the group, which helped them through the difficult process
D r A l i c i a H u g h e s , P r o j e c t Curator for the Sloane Lab at the B r i t i s h M u s e u m , p r a i s e d t h e thoughtful contributions of the Voices from the Edge group She a c k n o w l e d g e d t h e c o m p l e x i t y and emotional weight of the subject matter and agreed that more funding is needed for such projects
Diabetes drugs might reduce dementia risk by 35%
M ed i c ati o n f o r typ e 2
d iabetes may cut the risk o f d ev eloping dementia by up to 3 5 percent, a new stud y sug gests
Experts are intrigued by t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r e x i s t i n g diabetes treatments to also prevent dementia, but stress that more research is needed to verify these findings The study examined data from
1 1 0 , 8 8 5 d i a b e t i c p a t i e n t s under the care of the Korea National Health Insurance
S e r v i c e , w h o w e r e p r e s c r i b e d e i t h e r s o d i u mg l u c o s e c o t r a n s p o r t e r - 2
( S G L T - 2 ) i n h i b i t o r s o r dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors
SGLT-2 inhibitors work
b y r e d u c i n g g l u c o s e absorption in the kidneys,
w h i l e D P P - 4 i n h i b i t o r s
block an enzyme that boosts i n s u l i n l e v e l s p o s t - m e a l
Over the follow-up period,
1 , 1 7 2 p a r t i c i p a n t s w e r e
d i a g n o s e d w i t h d e m e n t i a
The study found that those
t a k i n g S G L T - 2 i n h i b i t o r s
had a 35 percent lower risk
o f d e v e l o p i n g d e m e n t i a compared to those not on these medications
However, some experts
c a u t i o n t h a t t h e s t u d y ’ s d
influenced the results and
c a l l f o r f u r t h e r t r i a l s
William Whiteley, associate director of the British Heart
F o u n d a t i o n D a
need for randomised trials
might be due to study design q
medication itself
d y published in ‘Diabetes Care’,
Analysing MRI scans of over 31,000 people from the UK Biobank, researchers found that those with pre-diabetes or diabetes had brains that appeared six months to 2 3 years older than their actual age
Blood test to detect diabetes-related cancer risk
Millions o f typ e 2 diabetes p atients migh t soo n benefit from a bloo d test designed to gauge their canc er risk, according to new research
T h e s t u d y , s e t t o b e presented at the European Association for the Study of D i a b e t e s c o n f e r e n c e i n
M a d r i d , r e v e a l s t h a t patients with high levels of i n f l a m m a t o r y p r o t e i n s i n their blood are 51 percent
m o r e l i k e l y t o d e v e l o p
o b e s i t y - r e l a t e d c a n c e r s , such as breast and bowel cancer
The research, involving 6,466 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients from the Danish Centre for Strategic R e s e a r c h i n T y p e 2 Diabetes, tested for small
p r o t e i n s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h
c h r o n i c i n f l a m m a t i o n , including interleukin-6 (IL6), tumour necrosis factora l p h a ( T N F - a l p h a ) , a n d h i g h - s e n s i t i v i t y C - r e a c t i v e p r o t e
l o w - u p period, those with elevated IL-6 levels were found to have a significantly higher risk of developing cancer
M a t h i l d e D a h l i n Bennetsen from the Steno Diabetes Centre Odense in D e n m a r k , a c o - a u t h o r o f the study, emphasised the n e e d f o r r e g u l a r h e a l t h
c h e c k - u p s f o r d i a b e t e s patients to monitor these inflammatory markers and p o t e n t i a l l y r e d u c e t h e i r cancer risk
Weekend lie-in might be a lifesaver
S
enjoy lie-ins on Saturdays and Sundays are found to be 20% less likely to develop
which tracked 90,903 adults in the UK for nearly 14 years,
based on the extra hours
weekdays
Those who enjoyed the
averaging over an hour of
disease compared to those who did not sleep in at all T
presented at the European S
annual congress in London
Heart disease, affecting 7 6 million people in the UK, occurs when blood flow to
potentially leading to heart
catching up on sleep over
levels Professor James Leiper, associate medical director at t h e B r i t i s h H e a r t Foundation, noted, “Many
p e o p l e s t r u g g l e w i t h i n s u f f i c i e n t s l e e p d u e t o work or family obligations While a weekend lie-in is no
s u b s t i t u t e f o r r e g u l a r , a d e q u a t e s l e e p , t h i s substantial study suggests it m a y h e l p l o w e r h e a r t disease risk We know that
s l e e p d e p r i v a t i o n i m p a c t s
o v e r a l l h e a l t h , a n d t h i s
r e s e a r c h u n d e r s c o r e s t h e
importance of striving for at least seven hours of sleep each night ” T h e s t u d y a l s o f o u n d that the benefits of weekend s l e e p w e r e m o s t p r o n o u n c e d a m o n g t h
during the week, defined as g e t t i n g l e s s t h a n s e v e n h o u r s o f s l e e p
causes of death, the study highlights the crucial role of adequate sleep in preventing cardiovascular issues
Nature sounds cut commute stress
contrast, those who opt for music or podcasts see only an 11% decrease in stress
accordi ng to a new clai m by S outh W estern Ra ilway
T h e i r r e s e a r c h indicates that commuters w h o l i s t e n t o n a t u r e sounds experience a 35% reduction in stress levels, c o m p a r e d t o t h o s e w h o l i s t e n t o n o t h i n g I n
The kiwi is a large berry that grows on a woody vi ne from the genus Acti nidia With its sw eet and tangy f l a vo u r, th e k i w i i s a p op ul a r c h o i c e f o r a n u tr i t i o us b r e a k f a s t or l un c h T h ei r ta r t t a s t e, pleas ing texture, and low c alorie c ount m ake the m
a n e x c e l l e n t c h oi c e f or sn ackin g, as a si de dish, or even i n a uni que dessert Rich in Vitamin C and d
r numerous health benefits
Immu nity Boost: Kiwis are packed with Vitamin C, providing about 230% of the daily recommended intake This vitamin is crucial for
The sugar overload of juices
Many people view fruit juice as a healthy option because it's made from fruit. However, fruit juice often contains as much sugar as sugary soft drinks like Coca-Cola Despite offering some antioxidants, fruit juice lacks the fibre and chewing resistance of whole fruit, making it easy to consume excessive amounts of sugar For instance, a single cup (240 ml) of orange juice has as much sugar as two whole oranges. If you're avoiding sugar for health reasons, it's best to skip fruit juice While it might be slightly healthier than soft drinks, its high sugar content outweighs its antioxidant benefits
that
words
C o n d u c t e d i n collaboration with Charles S p e n c e , a p r o f e s s o r o f e x p e r i m e n t a l p s y c h o l o g y
a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Oxford, the research has n o t y e t u n d e r g o n e p e e r review or been published in scientific journals It was d e s c r i b e d a s a n
" e c o l o g i c a l l y v a l i d p r e l i m i n a r y s t u d y " a n d
involved a small sample of
4 2 p a s s e n g e r s o n a s p e c i a l l y c o m m i s s i o n e d c o m m u t e r t r a i n s e r v i c e
This train, operating on a
4 7 - m i n u t e c i r c u l a r r o u t e f r o m L o n d o n W a t e r l o o , s i m u l a t e d t y p i c a l commuting conditions
P a r t i c i p a n t s w e r e divided into two groups
O n e g r o u p l i s t e n e d t o n a t u r e s o u n d s f o r 1 5 minutes, took a 15-minute break, and then listened to
Health secrets of kiwis
system and reducing the risk
h i n antioxidants, which combat f r e e r a d i c a l s a n d r e d u c e oxidative stress, potentially p r o t e c t i n g a g a i n s t inflammation and disease
i
d i a g
h e
e
e d t
s e d y s l e x i a , a l e a r n i n g d i f f i c u l t y primarily affecting reading, writing, and spelling Researchers discovered t h a t m a n y a s s e s s o r s s t i l l r e l y o n o u t d a t e d o r unproven indicators, such as high creativity, motor s k i l l i s s u e s , o r p r o b l e m s w i t h r e a d i n g w o r d s i n certain colors or fonts This reliance on misconceptions could lead to misdiagnoses a n d h i g h l i g h t a l a c k o f
Heart health: Kiwis help l o w e r b l
s s u r
, reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease They are also high in dietary fibre, w h i c h l o w e r s L D L ( b a d ) cholesterol, decreasing the risk of atherosclerosis and
s t a n d a r d i s a t i o n i n assessment procedures
Dr Johny Daniel from D u r h a m U n i v e r s i t y ' s S c h o o l o f E d u c a t i o n emphasised the need for
e v i d e n c e - b a s e d p r a c t i c e s and government guidelines to improve the accuracy of dyslexia diagnoses
their choice of music or p o d c a s t s f o
a n o t h e r 1 5 minutes The other group e x p e r i e n c e d t h e s a m e sequence in reverse Their stress levels were assessed using an industry-standard mood questionnaire
T h e
levels when
other heart-related
help alleviate constipation
problems
Asthma relief: The high Vitamin C content in kiwis has been associated with a
H e p o i n t e d o u t t h a t e a r l y a n d a c c u r a t e identification is crucial for t i m e l y s u p p o r t , b u t t h e c u r r e n t v a r i a b i l i t y i n assessment methods could r e s u l t i n c h i l d r e n b e i n g e i t h e r m i s d i a g n o s e d o r o v
accessible and standardised a p p r o a c h t o e v a l u a t i n g r e a d i n g d i f f i c u l t i e s , arguing that families with fewer resources are often unable to afford necessary assessments T h e s t u d y a l s o h i g h l i g h t e d t h a t t h
Aamir Khan to reunite with Rajinikanth after 30years in ‘Coolie’
Aamir Khan and Rajinikanth are set to reunite after 30 years for Lokesh Kanagaraj's upcoming action-thriller, ‘Coolie’
According to a recent report, Aamir Khan is rumoured to have a cameo in the movie ‘Coolie,’ which would mark his
together in the 1995 crime action-drama ‘Aatank Hi Aatank’
The report also speculates that director Lokesh Kanagaraj might make his Bollywood debut by directing Aamir in a future project after ‘Coolie ’ However, there has been no o
regarding these rumours
Rajinikanth, a major figure in Tamil cinema and known for his commercial success in the South Indian film industry, has also made his mark in Bollywood with films like ‘Andha Kanoon,’ ‘Meri Adalat,’ ‘John Jani Janardhan,’ ‘Wafadaar,’ ‘Geraftaar,’ ‘Bhagwaan Dada,’ ‘Farshtey,’ and ‘Hum’
He is currently in Vizag filming ‘Coolie’, which features S h r u t i H a a s a n , U p e n d r a , S a
a n
Mahendran in key roles Rajinikanth's next project is TJ Gnanavel's ‘Vettaiyan’, where he will star alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Fahad Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier, Ritika Singh, Dushara Vijayan, Rohini, Rao Ramesh, Ramesh Thilak Rakshan and GM Sundar
Chopra recently shooting her ilm ‘The Bluff’, directed Flowers and co-starring
Throughout the shoot, ared behind-the-scenes ring glimpses of her es, and the remote sets, family and friends In a view, Priyanka, who is er, discussed the he faced while filming rama.
terview, Priyanka cussed getting injured of her film She shared, enjoyed the physical aspect of acting, but as you get older, you definitely feel it more
Priyanka Chopra talks about the rigorous
12-hour days filming ‘The Bluff’
The recovery isn’t as quick as it was in your twenties "
Reflecting on her demanding routine, the 42-year-old actor said, “My days were incredibly intense yet ironically routine I’d been filming ‘The Bluff’ since May, working six days a week
On non-night shoots, I’d wake up between 4:30 and 5 a m , work 12-hour days, come home, have dinner, play with my daughter, catch up with my mom or other work, then sleep and repeat it all the next day ”
The actor admitted that the film's schedule was both challenging and isolating She said, “While I was awake, my family, friends, and team were asleep, and when I was asleep, they were at full steam It’s just the nature of the job, I suppose ”
Varun Dhawan says, ‘My father never launched me; it's not our family tradition’
Actor
Varun Dhawan shared that his father, David Dhawan, didn't direct his debut film because their family doesn't follow the tradition of launching family members
Javed Akhtar says 'Society is unclear about
the modern woman'
In an interview, Javed Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar discussed cinema and the art of storytelling. The veteran lyricist and screenwriter shared his thoughts on how female characters are portrayed in films and reflected on contemporary society's evolving understanding of women. J a v e d A k h
storytelling, remarked, “When society is clear about its morals and aspirations, great writing and roles emerge Characters like Meena Kumari in ‘Saheb, Biwi Aur Ghulam’, Nargis in ‘Mother India’, and Waheeda Rehman in ‘Guide’ reflect this But when morality is unclear, issues arise ” He continued, “Take Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit both were immensely talented, yet they didn’t get a defining role,
uncertain about the modern woman We’re still searching for that clarity The only contemporary woman I’ve truly seen is in Zoya’s films, though she finds it embarrassing when I praise her ” Javed Akhtar recently appeared in the documentary series ‘Angry Young Men’, which explores his cinematic journey with Salim Khan Directed by Namrata Rao, the series highlights their collaboration, which produced 22 blockbusters out of 24 films It also delves into their eventual split The show features insights from Zoya and Farhan Akhtar, Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, and other celebrities
He said, She’s my niece, but I’m here more as an elder brother It’s a good film, and that’s why I’m supporting it My father didn’t launch me, as we don’t have that tradition in our family We don’t believe in taking credit for each other's success, and it would be wrong for me to do so "
"Genuinely, she has done it on her own and I am very proud of her that she has done this journey,” Dhawan told reporters here
Directed by Ssanjay Tripaathy, *Binny And Family* is a family drama that delves into the relationships and complexities between three generations, with Anjini in the lead role as Binny
Varun Dhawan expressed his hope that Anjini receives the same love and praise from audiences that he and his father, David Dhawan, have enjoyed over the years He d l d f e g I m my ty re e is k g
Frank E Flowers
Hema Committee Report: Army of women are coming out with their truths
The recently redacted Justice K Hema Committee report has highlighted the pervasive issue of sexual abuse within the Malayalam film industry However, it also draws attention to another insidious problem: widespread drug and alcohol abuse on film sets This issue is not just a backdrop but a catalyst that fuels misconduct and exploitation, often under the guise of "boosting" creativity
Survivors' testimonies reveal an industry where psychotropic substances flow freely, blurring ethical boundaries and compromising professional integrity This toxic culture, glamorised in films, quietly infiltrates the fabric of cinema, ensnaring the young and vulnerable in a dangerous spiral that undermines the very essence of artistic expression
While public attention often fixates on sexual exploitation, the lessdiscussed but equally alarming crisis of drug abuse festers unchecked, casting long shadows over an industry that shapes the dreams and imaginations of millions These substances act like silent puppeteers, manipulating and distorting reality, turning film sets into arenas of addiction where professional ethics disintegrate
Beneath the glitz of the silver screen lies a sobering reality a red line of substance abuse that is not just tolerated but often celebrated, marking the descent of an industry caught between illusion and decay
The report underscores the rampant use of drugs and alcohol among youngsters in the Malayalam film industry It states, "The consumption of alcohol and drugs is quite widespread in cinema One witness, a senior figure in the industry, noted that most people arrive on set after consuming alcohol, and drug use is also common "
The justification for this behaviour, as revealed by the witness, is that intoxicants supposedly enhance creativity The report details instances where an actress refused to attend a shoot due to being "mood off," causing significant financial losses for the producer It was only after much persuasion that she eventually showed up on set
The report also notes that many acts of sexual harassment have occurred after the consumption of alcohol or drugs " It emphasises that directors
and producers often face challenges with actors and actresses who arrive late to shoots, use abusive language, or exhibit unprofessional behaviour due to substance abuse
To address this issue, the Hema Committee made two key recommendations:
(1) Producers should strictly enforce a no-alcohol policy in the workplace, and substance abuse should be completely banned from film sets, and (2) Prominent notices should be displayed at all work locations, including studios, dubbing and editing rooms, and vehicles, declaring the prohibition of alcohol and drugs
The issue of drug abuse in the Malayalam film industry gained widespread attention following the ban on actors Shane Nigam and Sreenath Bhasi in April 2023 The Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) and the Kerala Film Producers' Association imposed the ban after producers alleged that the actors reported being set under the influence, causing significant disruptions
In response to these concerns, the Kochi city police announced the deployment of shadow police at shooting locations and planned raids based on credible information about drug use or trafficking This move sparked a debate within the industry
Actor Baburaj, a former executive committee member of AMMA, revealed that both the film industry and the police are aware of those involved in drug use
The Kerala Film Chamber President, Suresh Kumar, echoed similar sentiments, affirming that the association would not support individuals engaged in drug abuse
Reports indicate that the Kerala police have identified around 300 individuals actively involved in the drug trade, including some from the Malayalam film industry Legal action is expected to be taken against those violating the law
In light of the findings, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has called for the complete release of the Hema
Committee Report, emphasising the need to address workplace harassment, gender-based discrimination, and other forms of exploitation in the Malayalam film industry
Speaking to Asian Voice, filmmaker Leena Manimekalai said, “When a woman stands up for herself, she consciously or unconsciously stands up for every woman Thanks to the survivor’s resilience and the sustained fight by WCC that now shines as an epitome of sisterhood and the consequent Justice Hema Committee report that exposed the systemic violence against womenaltogether have changed the narrative and emboldened the survivors Army of women are coming out with their truths So the power brokers are covering down I am not surprised at all as every film industry, be it Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and the rest of it thrives on violating and profiting out of women ’ s bodies
“Art is labour Artists are workers Sexual Harassment is a labour issue Boys clubs like AMMA should be dissolved not only in Malayalam but in every film industry and there should be a “labour union” with safety for women as a top priority
“Bro code is not just about male supremacy It is also caste pride Sexual crime is the only crime where victims are blamed very conveniently We pay immense personal costs for speaking out The entire civil society acts as selfappointed lawyers to the predators Colonial libel laws are used to harass the survivors, silence and outcast them The justice system in India is always misused by money and mafia power and one of the major findings of the Justice Hema Committee is also that hence the redaction
“WCC and Justice Hema Committee have enforced weeding out in the Malayalam Industry It is just the beginning The time is up for major reformation First safety Then gender parity in work force and representation, equal wages, better working conditions and so much more Long way to go!”
Prabhudeva talks about the fun he had with Vijay and Prashanth
Prabhudeva marks 36 years in the acting industry this year. Although he appeared as a dancer in films from the late '80s, his debut as a leading actor came in the Tamil film ‘Indhu’ in 1994. Now a renowned choreographer, actor, and director, he continues to make an impact, with his latest role in Vijay’s upcoming action thriller ‘The Greatest Of All Time (The GOAT)’.
Reflecting on his career, he said, “It’s been 36 years since I entered the film industry Before I began acting, I worked as a choreographer for about six years, which was also a significant period for me I became an actor by chance; my dancing skills led to an opportunity to act ”
Discussing the ‘ABCD’ franchise, he said, “A new generation of Hindi-speaking audiences got to know me through ‘ABCD: Any Body Can Dance’ (2013) It was challenging because I was dancing alongside much younger, internationally trained performers while I had a more local background I’d dance for 2-3 minutes and get exhausted, while they could dance for 4-5 hours non-stop I joked with director Remo D’Souza, saying, ‘Please be mindful; I’m as old as you!’”
Reflecting on his experience with the ‘GOAT’ cast, he said, “It was fantastic to work with Vijay again, but it was my first time collaborating with Prashanth, and we quickly bonded like brothers We had a lot of fun on set, with Prashanth bringing a lot of joy and energy I couldn't help but wonder why we hadn’t worked together before ”
Nani calls Kamal Haasan 'a gift to cinema'
Nani who was promoting his film ‘Saripotha Sanivaaram’ directed by Vivek Athreya, expressed his deep admiration for Kamal Haasan in a recent interview. A lifelong fan, Nani described Ka l Haasan as "a gift cinema itself."
Nani, reflecting on his admiration for Kamal Haasan, said, "Cinema has given us so much, and if we could give anything back, it would be Kamal Haasan, sir He is truly a gift to cinema Kamal Haasan has excelled in every aspect of the Indian film industry, dedicating his entire life to it Starting his career at
just 5 years old, he continues to be a leading man, with major films still riding on his name His legacy is truly unbreakable " He added, "Having worked through different eras, K al Sir has tnessed the first of everything the transition to digital, the early makeup trials The changes we see now won't be on the same scale His contributions to nema are truly different level "
Nani expressed his admiration for Aamir Khan, highlighting ‘Lagaan’, ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, and ‘Rang De Basanti’ as some of his most memorable films
The much-anticipated UK tour ‘Rewind Queens,’ featuring iconic singers Alka Yagnik, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Anuradha Paudwal, and Alisha Chinai, has been postponed due to health concerns affecting Alka Yagnik
The tour, initially set for September 2024 in Birmingham and London, has been rescheduled to January 2025
Grace Entertainment, the concert promoters, announced the decision, stressing that Alka Yagnik's health and well-being are their utmost priority “The Rewind Queens concert, originally planned for earlier dates, has been postponed to January 25th and 26th, 2025 This adjustment follows recent health concerns for one of the legendary performers, Alka Yagnik, who needs additional time for a full recovery, ” the statement read
Alka Yagnik, a cherished icon in the Indian music industry, recently revealed her diagnosis of a rare condition called sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) In a heartfelt Instagram post on June 18th, she explained that the disorder emerged after a viral infection, impacting her ability to perform
Alka Yagnik’s health issues delay UK tour
Grace Entertainment assured fans that the show is still set to feature the same star-studded lineup, and all tickets purchased for the original dates will be honoured for the rescheduled performances
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's ‘Heeramandi’ nominated twice at Busan Film Festival
Divyenndu says ‘OTT proves art isn’t just a statistic’
Amid ongoing debates about how access to global content on streaming platforms has influenced audience preferences and affected theatre attendance, actor Divyendu, who recently appeared in the web series ‘Life Hill Gayi,’ shares that OTT has “satiated” his creative hunger as an artist
Reflecting on his journey, the actor, known for his roles in web series such as ‘Mirzapur’, ‘Salt City’, and ‘The Railway Men’, shares, “I was doing well in theatrical films and felt content, but when OTT platforms emerged, they became nourishment for my soul, fulfilling my artistic hunger like nothing else It ignited a fresh energy within me ”
He adds that OTT opened new opportunities for him, saying, “I wanted to dive into diverse characters and reveal different facets of my abilities OTT gave me the perfect platform to truly showcase my talent ”
The actor emphasises that the quality of work matters more to him than the medium “It’s not about how ‘successful’ you are in films What truly brings me happiness is choosing the right projects, collaborating with the right people, and doing the work I want to do,” says the 41-year-old He adds, “Films can sometimes feel restrictive with their do’s and don’ts, but OTT offers more freedom Otherwise, no one would have imagined a happy-golucky guy like me playing a character like Munna ”
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's series ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ has garnered two nominations at the upcoming Asia Contents Awards and Global OTT Awards, hosted by the Busan International Film Festival Set in pre-independence India, ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ began streaming on Netflix, featuring Manisha Koirala, Sharmin Segal, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, and Sanjeeda Sheikh The series follows the lives of courtesans in Lahore’s Heeramandi district during British rule
After the successful debut of ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’, the makers announced a second season The series has been nominated for Best OTT Original and Best Original Song for "Sakal Ban" at the Asia Contents Awards and Global OTT Awards Bhansali expressed his gratitude, saying, “It’s an honour to be nominated for the Asia Contents Awards I’m thankful to the jury and the audiences for this incredible recognition ”
Vijay
Varma opens up about Vitiligo and career concerns
Actor Vijay Varma has addressed his skin condition, vitiligo, which causes loss of pigment in patches He shared that while he "covered it up" for movie roles, he chose not to hide it during public appearances. Varma also admitted that there was a time when his condition concerned him
Vijay Varma commented, “I didn’t make a big deal out of it It’s just a cosmetic issue and doesn’t change the course of your life. We tend to exaggerate it because it’s visible, but I’ve never let it affect me significantly It used to worry me when I was struggling for work, wondering if it would be an obstacle However, now that I’m working and finding success, it no longer bothers me ” He added, “I cover it up for movies because it can be distracting, and I want the audience to focus solely on the performance However, I’ve never hidden it during public appearances Today’s generation is perceptive and responsible, and I haven’t faced any negative remarks about my skin condition In another era, it might have been a bigger topic of discussion ”
Sumit A nt il t ook In dia's gold medal t al ly to t hr ee,
a s h e b r o ke t he Paralympics javel in r ecord
t wice in t he F64 final at Paralympics 202 4 with a
b e s t t hr o w of 7
M e an w h
S iv an w o n t h e b r o n ze medal in t he SH6 women's singles badminton event Earlier, para badminton star Nitesh Kumar brought
h o m e I n d i a ' s
c o n d g o l d medal, winning the Men's Singles SL3 para badminton final He was not the only
b
Sumit, Nitesh win gold at Paris Paralympics
women's shot put F34 Final
Kumar, Sharad Kumar will be in action in men's high jump Ajeet Singh, Rinku, Sundar Singh Gurjar will eye medals in F46 javelin throw Final Nishad, Yogesh win silver each
events, both clinching silver N
n village in Himachal Pradesh, s
Bhagyashree Jadhav, missed
Afghan refugee Adnan Miakhel aims to play Test cricket for England
Adnan Miakhel’s is an astonis hing st ory that was t urbocharged by one of E ngland’s greate st pla yers, who f ound him in his BBC show Freddie Flintof f’s Fiel d of Dreams He has als o depended on the kindne ss of teac hers , the t im e of c oac hes and the unending support of f o s te r pa r en ts , but M ia khe l h as his he ad s cre wed on and his eye on the target
He is building on a promising start to life as an all-rounder This season, in cricket played both for Lancashire and in the tough local cricket leagues, Miakhel has scored 997 runs at an average of 27 69 and taken 26 wickets at 29 54, the latter despite sustaining a mid-season injury
I n o n e T w e n t y 2 0 , h e c a m e i n w h e n L a n c a s h i r e w e r e 1 1 - 5 a n d a n c h o r e d t h e innings, helping them to 81 all out He then took two wickets before his injury struck Without him, the match would have been a one-side affair, but he sees only room to improve “I didn’t make a 50, ” Miakhel says self-critically
He is now working hard, but it comes after a period when life was hard When he was 15, Miakhel’s father made his brother fight in the Afghan insurgency and his brother was killed At that point his mother decided to get him out of Afghanistan
People smugglers took him and by night he crossed into Iran, then Turkey, then into E u r o p e , e n d i n g u p i n P r e s t o n a s a n unaccompanied minor in the back of a lorry in April 2021 He had been beaten by police on six different occasions during his five-month journey He was granted asylum in 2022, and o n e o f t h e f e w t h i n g s h e b r o u g h t f r o m
Afghanistan was the word “cricket”, a game he thought he knew Then he arrived in England and, during the hunger of Ramadan, his foster family tried to distract him by turning on the Indian Premier League In that instant, he
moment I said, ‘I should start this I should definitely start this!’”
Miakhel asked to go and play that day but h a d t o w a i t u n
following month, when his foster parents took him to White Coppice Cricket Club in Chorley The start was inauspicious His first ball was so off target it flew over the cricket net and into the canal behind He nearly walked away then, but Miakhel is hugely grateful to those who persevered with him, even though he knew very little
Flintoff’s Field of Dreams, the former England all-rounder got Miakhel into Rossall School for a Btec diploma in sport He enters his final year of three next week With its indoor nets and superb facilities, it was the ideal place for the young man, if initially disorientating
Flintoff also put him on the radar of his old county Lancashire They liked what they saw and he has been playing for their age group system for the past two seasons Now
Miakhel knows what is possible This season he has been playing with Flintoff’s son Rocky, w h o s t a r t e d p l a y i n g f o
summer Miakhel’s ultimate aim is to play Test cricket for England, but he doesn’t deal in dreams, only what he calls “targets” The next one of those is in 2025 when he will have the chance to secure a professional contract
Paralympic Games after his season-best effort of 2 04m in the men ’ s high jump T47
c a t e g o r y l a t e o n S u n d a y night He had settled for a s e c o n d - p l a c e f i n i
years ago too, at the Tokyo Paralympics, with a jump of 2 06m O n M o n d a y , Y o g e s h , from Haryana’s Bahadurgarh
t o w n , a l s o
managed
discus throw final Av ani first Indian to win g old at two P aralympics I n d i a ’ s s
sisterhood continued to
Lekhara and Mona Agarwal earned a gold and a bronze respectively in the 10m air
BAPS supports Olympic and Paralympic experience for athletes with Hindu Faith Centre in Paris
providing
ential spiritual
upport and m editation facilities f or athletes from around the worl d This s ervice has of fered a s erene
c e f or a th l e t e s t o e ng a ge in pr a y e r s , m e d it a t io n a n d re f l ec t ion , h e l pi ng t h e m m ainta in their spiritual and mental wel l-b eing am id int ense competition
The Hindu Faith Centre has provided d
personalised spiritual guidance and support With a significant number of participants from India and various other countries, the H i n d u F a i t h C e n t r e o f f e r s f a m i l i a r a n d comforting religious practices, fostering a s e n s e o f c o m m u n i t y a n d s u p p o r t f o r a l l Hindu and Jain athletes far from home
This initiative highlights the importance o f m e n t a l a n d s p i r i t u a l w e l l - b e i n
h a n d
meditation can enhance performance and resilience, reflecting India’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage at a global level Indian athletes have expressed immense gratitude for the support and comfort provided by the Hindu Faith Centre, which has enriched their Olympic experience Archana Girish Kamath, who represented Team India in table tennis, shared, “Thank you for having a centre like this It has been really nice to come down here and pray Thank you so much ”
The Hindu Faith Centre is part of a c o m p r
includes places of prayer and reflection for Buddhists, Christians, Jews and Muslims, p r o m o t i n g i n t e r f a i t h h a r m o n y a n d understanding during the Olympics After meeting BAPS volunteers at the Hindu Faith Centre, Brother James Hayes, a Catholic Chaplain, observed, “What a delight to spend some time with you in your temple We have so much in common!” By housing various places of worship, the Multi Faith Centre ensures all athletes have access to spiritual support, reflecting the inclusive spirit of the O l y m p i c s a n d t h e c e l e b r a t i o n
f g l o b a l diversity Deep Patel, a BAPS volunteer from Paris, added, “We are pleased and grateful that BAPS was invited to set up this centre to serve Hindu athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games The centre reflects His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj’s emphasis on peace, unity and spiritual strength as values that transcend national and cultural boundaries to truly unite people, whether at the world’s foremost sporting event or far beyond ”
The BCCI ann ounced the
a ft er it was move d out of Ban gla desh rece ntly due to a v iolen t stude nt p rote st and cha nge of re gime the re
A s e x p e c t e d , t h e experienced and big-hitting Harmanpreet Kaur will lead
Verma, middle-order batter
Renuka Singh, who could be a handful under lights in the UAE, and Pooja Vastrakar will be the pace spearheads Wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia and Shreyanka have been included in the squad
s
Shreyanka took 13 wickets in eight matches@12 07 at an economy rate of 7 30 to play a k e y p a r t i n R C B ’ s t i t l e triumph in WPL 2024, and w i l l b e c r i t i c a l t o I n d i a ’ s chances
The 23-match event will feature the top 10 teams in
the world divided into two groups of five each Group A i n c l u d e
champions Australia, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, while Group B c
, England, South Africa, West Indies, and Scotland
S Q U A D : H a r m a n p r e e t Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Deepti S h a r m a , J e m i m a h
R o d r i g u e s , R i c h a G h o s h (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk)*, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati
R e d d y , R e n u k a S i n g h
T h a k u r , D a y a l a n Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, R a d
Patil*, Sajana Sajeevan
y
n
Jay Shah's journey from district level to ICC chairmanship
ch
i
I nte rna ti onal Cricket Counci l ( I CC ) H e w a s e le cte d unopposed to this prestigious position
Shah's formal entry into cricket administration began in 2009 when he took on a role at the district level with the Central Board of Cricket A h m e d a b a d ( C B C A ) H i s j o u r n e y p r o g r e s s e d a s h e j o i n e d t h e G u j a r a t C r i c k e t Association (GCA), where he became joint secretary in 2013 His tenure at GCA is marked by the implementation of a s t r u c t u r e d a g e - g r o u p
coaching system that paved the way for Gujarat's Ranji Trophy triumph in the 201617 season H e h a s c u l t i v a t e d a u n i q u e a n d r
u s t r e l a t
p w i t h p
s a c r o s s a l l l e v e l s o f I n d i a n c r i c k e t U n l i k e h i s p r e d e c e s s o r s , w h o o f t e n c o n s u l t e d s e n i o r p l a y e r s before making decisions at the I C C , S h a h h a s e s t a b l i s h e d open lines of communication with everyone from captain R o h i t S h a r m a a n d s t a r b a t s m a n V i r a t K o h l i t o emerging talents like Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya H
