AV 08th August 2020

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE

inside: Dwarkanath The Man who would be Prince SEE PAGE - 6

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Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

8 - 14 AUGUST 2020 - VOL 49 ISSUE 15

DO NOT BLAME US! WE WEREN’T ON THE BEACHES OR IN DURHAM

Two British Asians to receive peerage SEE PAGE - 11

Disability doesn’t mean it is the end of your life SEE PAGE - 15

Serum Institute gets nod for Phase 2 and 3 human trials of Oxford’s Covid vaccine SEE PAGE - 23

(Clockwise from left to right): Adil el-Tayar, Alfa Saadu, Mohamed Sami Shousha, Amged el-Hawrani, Anton Sebastianpillai, Jitendra Rathod, Habib Zaidi, Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, and (in the middle) Fayaz Ayache

Priyanka Mehta and Shefali Saxena

The Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community has been left hurt and angry, after being blamed for the increase in Covid-19 cases in certain pockets of the UK, including Greater Manchester, Bradford and Kirklees. Ahead of Eid-Al Adha celebrations, Tory MP Craig Whittaker claimed that “BAME communities are not taking this virus seriously” even as there is no evidence to support these claims.

Hitting out against Whittaker’s alleged racist comments, Liberal Democrat councillor for Shadwell, Rabina Khan told this newsweekly, “His comments are clearly one-sided and blinkered, as there are multiple factors that are involved. There will always be some people in every community – white and BAME – who fail to

adhere to government guidelines regarding social distancing. You only need to look at the recent mass gatherings on Bournemouth Beach, public parks and other such spots to realise that this is a national issue, not just a BAME one. We are all aware of the furore surrounding Dominic Cummings and the predominantly white journalists and photographers who gathered outside Mr Cummings’ home, shoulder to shoulder, jostling for position, with some not wearing masks, yet Craig Whittaker chose to ignore all these other incidents. Playing the blame game is always a dangerous move, as it promotes discrimination, which means that we take another step backwards in the campaign for equality, diversity and community cohesion.”

Continued on page 16 - 17

India asks China to complete troop disengagement SEE PAGE - 26

5 Rafale jets arrive; Rajnath Singh sends veiled warning to Beijing SEE PAGE - 26

2 UK

AsianVoiceNews

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8 - 14 August 2020

with Keith Vaz

Kareena Panthakey Kareena Panthakey is an experienced Optometrist with a specific focus on providing bespoke vision correction solutions and CQC appointed Clinic Manager at AccuVision: The Eye Clinic. Established in 2001, AccuVision is one of the UK's leading eye care clinics with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, technical expertise utilised with great ethical responsibility and forward-thinking ties with like-minded industry experts.

Having started as a niche service provided by a specialist team and state-of-the-art technology, the company has grown organically through word of mouth and recommendation, with clinics in London, Solihull, Wetherby and Bristol and several close relationships which have stood the test of time.

Which place, or city or country do you most feel Who has been the biggest influence on your at home in? career to date?

Amongst family, close friends and in the special My paternal grandmother, who still works every places and memories of my childhood. Bombay, day of her life, at over 90 years of age. She has a city that is usually described as an assault on all passed on to us that in life it is never game over no senses, but for me, weaves a thread of organised matter how many times you are knocked down. chaos and wonderful, colourful stories and herJust when you refuse to stand up tall again.

What is the best aspect about your current itage. These have added immense cultural value role? to my view on life in general, which shows in the Adding value to people's lives in every way I can. way we always respectfully interact with the peoAnd the worst? ple who depend on us.

What are your proudest achievements?

I am yet to find this.

What are your long-term goals?

I feel great pride in the small but immensely significant everyday achievements of our team.

With the unprecedented times we currently face Every thank you, every grateful, happy patient it seems strange to make "long term" plans. I whose life we may have added value to, every would hope to continue growing what we have acknowledgment for a job well done is motivabuilt and use it as a platform to contribute protion and keeps spurring us on to raise the bar on ductively both professionally and within our local ourselves.

What inspires you? communities.

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

The joy and curiosity I see in my spirited daughIn a social media driven world, the gap between ter. The drive to work at giving her the best narrative and reality seems ever increasing. When upbringing we can, seeing the good in others and my friends and I became mothers, it made me by setting an example for her. Our Asian cultural realise how different the present environment mentality and ethos of appreciating and elevating can be compared with when I was a child. If I what has been passed on to us through generawere able to effect change, it would be to promote tions, to create a better future for the next. A more support networks for mothers and young quote that left an indelible impression comes to families, much like the nurturing influences of mind, which we hope we live by. "Guard well extended families and communities. These safety within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know nets of wisdom and care (albeit with their occahow to give without hesitation, how to lose withsional pitfalls), seem lost in the rush to gain autonout regret, how to acquire without meanness." omy.

George Sand What has been biggest obstacle in your If you were marooned on a desert island, career? which historical figure would you like to I have always been taught to look at challenges as spend your time with and why? opportunities, not obstacles. Trying times as Some quiet time is sometimes welcome! I would much as good times are the circumstances that stick with my husband - great adventurer, skilfulenable us to grow, to become better, more ly practical, a bottomless pit of information, and authentic versions of ourselves. my friend. What more would I need?

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Trafficked survivor to lodge case against Patel A British victim of trafficking, drugged and abused is reported to lodge a case against home secretary, on grounds of unauthorised access to her personal information. Five other such survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation have threatened Priti Patel and Home Office of legal proceedings according to The Guardian.

Her case casts spotlight on the Home Office’s claim that it owns extensive data collected on victims of trafficking by charities contracted by the department, under the victim care contract.

The survivor’s legal team has argued that the Home

Office has unlawfully accessed legally privileged communication between the woman and her lawyers. They are also claiming that the Home Office has breached her human rights with access to her personal information without consent, has breached data regulations and failed to provide adequate guidance on the use of victims’ personal Priti Patel information, leading to systemic problems. workers who help victims of The Home Office has trafficking are “Home confirmed that she is a serial Office agents”, that it comvictim of modern-day slavplies with data protection ery. The department dislegislation and is the conputes that it has acted troller of data relating to unlawfully, saying support victims of trafficking.

Government rejects inclusion of BAME history to the national curriculum On Thursday 30th July, it emerged that the government had rejected the review urging for greater inclusion of Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) history to the national curriculum.

A cross-party of 30 politicians had recently written to the government demanding that black historians and leaders be asked to offer revisions to what is taught presently as well as new topic ideas. New topics proposed and agreed by the politicians could have potentially covered the Windrush generation and discuss the positive contribution people of all ethnicities to the UK. Layla Moran is the Liberal Democrats’ education spokesperson who had led the appeal and has accused ministers of being “tone deaf” to their request.

According to her, this proposal would have given more space to the historical injustices that have led to racism.

Moran said, “The Black Lives Matter movement has not only exposed the

inequalities faced by black people in the UK, but it has galvanised people right across the country who are desperate for change.

“If we are to tackle the institutional racism in our society, the curriculum must not only be diverse, but we must equip young people with an understanding of the historical injustices that have led to that very racism. As a former teacher, I know just how fundamental education can be in driving change in our society. The government’s rejection of a review of our curriculum demonstrates their reluctance to follow their platitudes with any meaningful action.”

However, The Guardian has reported that Nick Gibb, the schools minister, said there were no immediate plans to hold a review of the syllabus and that the Department for Education had been discussing BAME history with different organisations. He added that it would continue to explore what else could be done to support its teaching in the classroom.

Gibb said that, as part of a broad curriculum, pupils should be taught about different societies and that this can include the “voices and experience” of BAME people. He said, “It can also include the role of the countries of the former British empire in both world wars, and the part black and minority ethnic people have played in shaping the UK in the 20th century. I believe there is clear scope to teach the shared history we have.”

The Welsh government is conducting a review into the way black and minority ethnic history is taught in schools ahead of the introduction of a new curriculum in 2022.

Leicester eases lockdown, businesses receive £3m government funding On Thursday 30th July Health Secretary announced funding worth £3m to boost businesses in Leicestershire grappling with the longstanding lockdown clamped due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Matt Hancock’s confirmation of the extra money in a letter to Harborough MP NEil O'Brien appears after Leicester was subjected to a second lockdown following a sustained surge in the number of coronavirus cases. Leicester is slated to receive £2.6m, while Oadby and Wigston will share the remaining £400,000.

According to the Department of Health and Social Care, restaurants, cafes, bars and hairdressers in Leicester can trade again from Monday 3rd August but leisure centres, gyms and pools must remain closed. Cinemas and museums are also allowed to open and religious ceremonies can be held, a spokesman added.

Welcoming the Government clarification on the lockdown restrictions, Claudia Webbe, MP for Leicester East, tweeted, “It will be illegal for people who do not live together to meet in a private home or garden…you should not host or visit people you do not live with, unless they are

Claudia Webbe MP Leicester East

in your support bubble. You should not visit someone’s home or garden in or outside of the restricted area.”

On 30th July, Thursday, the mayor of Leicester, Sir

Peter Soulsby, had claimed that the central government had “messed about” with the city officials and following the announcement called for greater "clarity" on what city residents can do. Addressing a news conference on Friday, he said, "What we need is to understand what can open and when it can open, understand what we can do about meeting up with family and friends and where they can do that; and what is particularly unclear is what the travel restrictions are going to be."

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8 - 14 August 2020

House of Lords should be reformed not abolished It is an institution established to challenge the government.

Yet, the government appears to be intent on paralysing the Lords’ into becoming ‘Yes Men’ for the Prime Minister. Or so the string of latest nominations for the House of Lords indicate.

Johnson’s aides in the 36 new life peers include Russianborn newspaper owner Evgeny Lebedev and the Brexit-supporting former cricketer Ian Botham. Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s brother Jo Johnson, a former Tory MP, will receive a Conservative peerage, while Phillip May, the husband of former prime minister Theresa May – has been nominated for a knighthood for political service. Most fundamentally, not a single peer comes primarily from a manual background according to data from the Electoral Reform Society.

Therefore, perhaps it won’t be incorrect to state that the House of Lords is something akin to royalty and appears reserved primarily for the elite members of the cocktail club who either have the right connections to wield influence or the funds to sustain the party concerned. According, to a recent article in the Financial Times dated 01.08.2020, in the last 13 years 22 donors who have received peerage have contributed a whopping £50.4 million to three main political parties. Three of them are from Labour, four from Liberal Democrat and 15 from Conservatives. Perhaps, this is the reason why Robert Shrimsley in his piece for Financial Times argues that “British politics will stay sleazy until the Lords is reformed”. And there are multiple reasons for such a

widespread opinion across the board with countless stories enumerating the inappropriate code of conduct of certain Lords.

Nearly two years ago, Jaswinder Sanghera, a campaigner against forced marriage in a tell-all interview with The Times disclosed that she was promised peerage if she slept with Lord Lester. The 82-year-old Liberal Democrat peer eventually resigned from his position even as he insisted that the claims were “completely untrue”.

History chronicles the struggle between the Lords’ and the Commons’ dating back to the times of the English Civil War in 1649 and the execution of Charles I. The House of Commons had then passed an act of parliament. “[We find] by too long experience that the House of Lords is useless and dangerous to the people of England,” it declared. With that, the Lords was abolished, setting precedent for such a measure to occur in future. However, that defeats the very purpose for the creation of the second chamber in a bi-cameral government of administering checks and balances on the government’s actions. There are other notable peers diligently attending the voting sessions or stalling them, flagging up issues concerning people including the back and forth on the Brexit debacle. The House of Lords is therefore instrumental in acting as a firewall especially for a majoritarian government hell bent on passing Bills without any consensus with the opposition. But the House of Lords is a defeated institution if it were a mere shadow of the incumbent government.

Divide and rule is stooping too low Last week, ahead of Eid-Al Adha celebrations, a Conservative MP blamed the Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) community and particularly Muslims of violating lockdown rules resulting in the spread of Covid-19.

Craig Whittaker, MP for Calder Valley in an interview with LBC claimed that in his constituency there are sections of the community that are not taking the pandemic seriously. And blamed the BAME community. He added, how areas of high multiple occupancy - when you have multiple families living in one household add to the issues. He said, "Look at the areas.

You've got Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees. Bradford and Kirklees have two of the largest populations in West Yorkshire." Again, Ian clarified that he was referring to the immigrant population and the MP said, "Immigrant and Asian population."

Let’s rewind to the month of March, April and May. A large population of the BAME community, with all the adversities, came forward to save lives of Britons. 48% of NHS staff are from the BAME community, 34% in medical role. It is a pity when politicians blame the same community for spreading the deadly disease to others. But if you look at the managerial roles, you will not see more than 5.8% in very senior roles.

There were at least 3,876 deaths of BAME individuals in hospitals in England up to 9 June. This means that BAME people represented 15.5% of all coronavirus deaths up to this point.

Research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that deaths of black Africans from the virus are 3.7 times higher

than might be expected by geography and age, while the risk for Pakistanis is 2.9 times higher and for black Caribbean people it is 1.8 times higher. Even in June, of the 380 hospital and community-based pharmacists surveyed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the UK Black Pharmacists Association, 236 were from a BAME background. Of those, 166 (70%) said they had not been approached by their employer to have a risk assessment.

Fast forward to a sunny weekend in July. Britain’s beaches had to be closed down by Health Secretary Matt Hancock when thousands gathered despite lockdown. Even this weekend, as temperature sore to 34 degrees, Mancunians were seen venturing in city centre, enjoying the sunny spell. Lockdown measures were broken- there were many non-Asian faces, and we would like to know what the MP has to say about that.

Divide and rule policy, institutional racism, bigotry have always been political tools across the world. We expect better from Britain. It is a fair society and it has given people equal opportunities in many spheres. But such comments targeted at the Asian population, dilutes everything that the community has ever done for Britain. Historically, thousands of Indians have lost their lives trying to save the British Raj. We have 4 Indian cabinet ministers. There are proposals to include an Asian name to Britain’s currency. What more proof does the country want for Asian contribution? A second wave is imminent, whether Asians live in multigenerational families or not.

No one community can be blamed for this.

India's new education policy holds hope India's current education policy was framed 34 years ago. That we have been making do with the same old, despite the demands on the sector having undergone a sea change in the interim, speaks tragic volumes for our pace of reforms. But the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) approved by the government offers a ray of hope. By delivering on its promise of providing greater flexibility and skills to students and greater autonomy to educational institutions, it could prove a game changer.

During the 32 years of Congress rule from 1947 to 1979, five eminent persons Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Humayun Kabir, Mohd Carim Chagla, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and Nurul Hasanworked as India's education ministers. Is it not strange that students don't know about Vikramaditya, Maharana Pratap, Prithviraj Chauhan, but know mainly about the Moughal Emperors from Babur to Aurangzeb.

It is hoped that the new education policy has done justice by thoroughly rewriting the history of the country. NEP does good to bring the hitherto uncovered age group of three to six years under the school curriculum, as early childhood care is crucial for the development of mental faculties. As for older schoolchildren, they can look forward to the loosening of several rigid barriers such as those between arts and sciences, plus an emphasis on higher-order skills such as critical thinking.

Care, however, is needed that pushing the mother tongue or regional language as the medium of instruction “until at least Grade 5 but preferably till Grade 8 and beyond” does not translate into yet another assault on English medium schools, through which even the poorest parents try to improve their child’s prospects.

The NEP proposes the extension of the Right to Education (RTE) to all children up to the age of 18 but it is also alive to the criticism that while mandating accessibility, the RTE Act paid short shrift to learning outcomes. It talks about improving

foundational literacy and numeracy - deficits which have been underlined by several reports - and underlines the importance of education and technological interventions to scale down the learning crisis. It proposes a range of measures that aim “to make education more experiential, holistic, discovery-oriented, learner-centred and enjoyable” - including the move to make the mother tongue or the local language the medium of instruction. It is welcome that children will be given more choice of subjects, and “there will be no hard separation among arts, humanities and sciences”. In higher education too, it does well to envisage the breaking of boundaries between disciplines and transforming institutions “into large multi-disciplinary universities and colleges”.

Yet enormous challenges remain. The policy recognises, for instance, that “vibrant campus life is essential for highquality teaching and learning processes”. But if developments in some of the country’s premier universities are an indication, the campus’s promise as a space that nurtures critical thought, political argument and debate is increasingly embattled. The NEP’s claims will also come up against a sharpening fault line - India’s digital divide that has been highlighted and deepened by the Covid pandemic. As an ongoing series of reports during the lockdown have highlighted, the classroom itself is under pressure like never before. Disparities between the rich and poor, urban and rural, show up strikingly in access to digital tools. If technology is a force-multiplier in some cases, in others it is inaccessible. The looming economic distress is playing out harshly in schools with students dropping out, their parents out of work and unable to pay fees, teachers not being paid their dues. Surely, these are beyond the NEP’s brief, but the test of a policy is on the ground - not just on paper. With the largest number of young and poor in the world, the task is cut out.

Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.

- Rabindranath Tagore

Alpesh Patel

The Politics of the ‘Modern’ I recall Mayoral candidate Rory Stewart’s Twitter feed the following “Ended the afternoon trying to help my five year old - who wanted to find sculpture from the Ramayana in the @britishmuseum but - apart from the Garuda in the South Asian gallery - which is not Ramayana specific - no luck.

Tips anyone please?”

I was suitably impressed. Lord Gadhia was one of the first to offer a reply of the 88 respondents, “Rory - impressed by your daughter’s keen interest in Indian culture and traditions. The Garuda does play a brief role in the Ramayana during the battle at Lanka. The ‘king of birds’ relieves Lord Rama and Lakshmana from the noose of a serpent used by the son of the demon Ravana.”

But then it went down hill. Others posted sarcastic comments such as these: "Does he also have a passing interest in numerology and space-time continuum?”

“How about taking your five year old to the Park ? Lots of fun to be found there ...”

“Buy them a bag of sweets and go and see Paw Patrol.” “why not take him to the football?”

“Appealing to the masses or public school chums?”

“How ultra-educated is your five-year-old to want to find a sculpture from the Ramayana?

Most kids of that age would settle for Peppa Pig!” The attacks on Rory show a broader problem – the attack on anything intellectual. But, as the Ram Mandir is blessed this week, there is also among Hindus the turning back on anything Hindu. It’s seen as ‘village’ or ‘unmodern’.

God forbid a child is interested in anything other than Peppa Pig. And then there is the reverse snobbery. That the ‘salt of the earth’ folk who can compete to be the most ordinary, poor, down-trodden.

Culture, education, intellectual pursuits are defined by such individuals as elitist. When I became Chair of City Hindus I was asked a striking question on Facebook – ‘it won’t be elitist will it?’ I’ve never met a more elite group of people than British Indians. Striving, achieving. Are we to look down on such things now? Are we to elevate our children by the lack of qualifications?

Of course character is made of more important things than knowledge but it certainly does not come from elevating ignorance. This is part of the cohort who will sneer at culture as elitist.

Religion as not modern enough for them. The rush to ditch education comes from the same vein as to ditch tradition and culture and history and heritage. Oh how boring. We just wanna have fun DJ. You don’t think the DJ spinning the tunes is talented?

Whoever the pied piper whose tune you’re following, better to understand it’s a talented informed educated fellow. And he may just lead you off a cliff if you merrily follow the tune with your mind closed.

Editor: CB Patel Asian Voice is published by Asian Business Publications Ltd Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080 • Fax: 020 7749 4081 Email: aveditorial@abplgroup.com Website: www.abplgroup.com INDIA OFFICE Bureau Chief: Nilesh Parmar (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad-380 015. Tel: +91 79 2646 5960 Email: gs_ahd@abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

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Confusion in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire amidst new lockdown rules On Friday 31st July, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced new rules on social gatherings in Northern England to stem the spread of COVID-19 which are applicable to Leicester city as well.

The areas include the Greater Manchester area, Pendle, Hyndburn, Burnley, Rossendale, Blackburn with Darwen, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Leicester City.

The announcement appears in response to an increasing trend in the number of cases per 100,000 people in the area, and data from PHE and the JBC which suggests transmission among households is a key infection pathway in the area. It means people in these areas will not be permitted to mix with other

households (apart from those in their support bubbles) in private homes or gardens. Some exemptions will be put in place, including for the vulnerable.

Households may go to hospitality, for instance bars and pubs, but new guidance will make clear that two households should not go to hospitality together.

And on Saturday 1 August, Luton will be brought in line with the rest of the country after significant progress has been made in controlling the virus. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said, “We're constantly looking at the latest data on the spread of coronavirus, and unfortunately we've seen an increasing rate of transmission in parts of Northern England.

“We've been working with local leaders across the region, and today I chaired a meeting of the Local Action Gold Committee.

Based on the data, we decided that in Greater Manchester, parts of West Yorkshire and East Lancashire we need to take immediate action to keep people safe.

“The spread is largely due to households meeting and not abiding to social distancing. So from midnight tonight, people from different households will not be allowed to meet each other indoors in these areas.

“We take this action with a heavy heart, but we can see increasing rates of coronavirus across Europe and are determined to do whatever is necessary to keep people safe.”

The restrictions currently in place in Blackburn, announced last Friday, will continue.

From Saturday, these leisure facilities will open in Luton, bringing it in line with the rest of the country.

For those preparing to celebrate Eid Al Adha this weekend with friends and family these restrictions will come as a blow but everyone is being urged to follow the new rules and to protect the ones they love from catching coronavirus.

Mosques and other places of worship have reopened for prayer and communal worship, but in a different socially distanced and COVID-19 Secure way.

This means that while mosques can remain open, many will not able to welcome as many worshippers as before.

260 miles from his home to Durham during lockdown.

Prime minister’s chief aide left for Durham on the day his wife showed coronavirus symptoms and when he

They have also issued an appeal to the public for help in compiling it. They have also asked Durham police to reopen its investigation into Cummings movements in the county, claiming its initial three-day probe was “short, narrow and limited”.

Both police forces and the CPS have now rejected the request. Explaining its decision, in letter to Afzal, the Met said, “It would not be prudent for resources to be spent on the same or similar allegations.”

Earlier, this month, the former chief constable of Durham, Mike Barton, said Cummings’ behaviour had made it more difficult for officers to enforce the rules and that his name had been cited by some as an excuse for law-breaking. He said, “If the public don’t think the

police are operating in a fair and impartial way, you won’t get their trust and you won’t get their support.”

Afzal’s solicitor, Mike Schwarz, a partner at the firm Hodge Jones & Allen, in a statement to The Guardian said, “We appeal to any witness who can shed light on Mr Cummings’ activities, especially in March and April, to come forward. We are driven by what others should be doing – compiling a dossier of evidence and making our own assessment as to whether a prosecution should follow and presenting it to the director of public prosecutions.”

Afzal’s older brother Umar died of coronavirus when he was self-isolating at home on 8th April.

London switches to green electricity, fuel poverty highest in Asian boroughs London Power was launched by Sadiq Khan in a joint partnership with Octopus Energy and City Hall and stands as a competitor to Bulb, green energy start-up which was launched in 2015 and has about a million customers.

London has one of the lowest rates of supplier switching and large numbers of households on prepayment meters, a situation which leaves more than one in ten Londoners living in fuel poverty. Newham has the highest level of fuel poverty in England besides six other

Sadiq Khan

London boroughs including Brent, Waltham Forest, Haringey, Redbridge, Ealing and Harrow are in the worst 10 per cent.

Khan accuses Johnson for Former prosecutor says request into exclusion from Cummings lockdown breaches rejected Covid-19 planning On Sunday 2nd August, a former regional chief prosecutor alleged that his request for an investigation into lockdown breaches by Dominic Cummings were “rejected”.

Nazir Afzal, former north-west chief crown prosecutor questioned the impartiality of Durham police, the Met and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and in an interview to The Guardian stated that the police and his successors had “closed ranks” on the issue. According to him, they had ignored the “deep public concern” over Cummings’ trip to Durham and Barnard Castle in late March.

Cummings has insisted that he had acted reasonably and legally after driving

admitted there was a “distinct probability” he had already caught the virus too.

According to media reports, Afzal and his lawyers have now began preparing a dossier of evidence on Cummings’ lockdown movements at the height of the pandemic.

Shamima Begum’s case to be heard at Supreme Court On 31st July, the UK government won a bid for the Supreme Court to decide if Shamima Begum can return to the UK. The 20year-old girl was stripped of her British citizenship after joining the ISIL (ISIS) armed group in Syria in 2015 and can return to fight the decision.

Home secretary, Priti Patel, had successfully appealed a lower court ruling this month which would have allowed Shamima Begum, to return to the UK to pursue her appeal. The Bethnal Green schoolgirl was stripped off her British citizenship by

former Home Secretary Sajid Javid on security grounds in 2019 after she was found living in a refugee camp in Syria. The Court of Appeal has now decided that the case raised a point of law of public importance and that only the Supreme Court can resolve.

Earlier this month, three Court of Appeal judges ruled that the Bethnal Green schoolgirl should be allowed back to London to fight for the return of her citizenship.

Begum, lost the first stage of her case about the legality of the government's decision at the Special

Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) in February. However, the tribunal also ruled that she could not have a "fair and effective appeal" or play "any meaningful part" in the process, as she was living in a Syrian refugee camp.Three senior judges at the Court of Appeal upheld the SIAC ruling on July 16, concluding Begum should be allowed to come to the UK for the legal challenge. They ruled "fairness and justice" outweighed any national security concerns, which "could be addressed and managed if she returns".

But judge Eleanor King,

On Monday 3rd August, the mayor of London accused the Prime Minister of excluding him from Whitehall discussions over Covid-19 plans.

Sadiq Khan accused Boris Johnson of “riding roughshod” over democratically elected local leaders following accusations that Khan was excluded from discussions over new plans for London to go back into quarantine.

The prime minister is believed to be discussing proposals for an M25-wide lockdown with restrictions on people coming in and out of the capital if coronavirus resurges strongly in London. But neither the London mayor nor other London council leaders participated in the planning exercise or asked to comment on the pro-

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Khan said Johnson’s behaviours was “totally unacceptable” and an affront to millions of Londoners.

In the meantime. Sir Paul Nurse, the director of the Francis Crick Institute, has also accused the government of taking major decisions about coronavirus which have been “shrouded with secrecy” and called on the government to “treat the public as adults” in its communications about Covid-19.

“I think we need greater openness in the decision-making,” he told the BBC Today Programme. “It sometimes seems somewhat shrouded in secrecy.“And not only that, but better communication of what’s happening. Treat the public as adults.”

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Dwarkanath - The Man who would be Prince Abhiroop Sengupta Almost two hundred years back in the bustling city of Calcutta, which at that point in time was experiencing a renaissance, a man of Bengal decided to dream different. And looking back in time we can very well conclude that he dreamt big, probably so big that initially it was rather difficult for many to comprehend.

Dwarkanath Tagore was born in the year of 1794 in Kolkata. According to the 'Memoirs of Dwarkanath Tagore' by Kishori Chand Mitra, his grandfather Nilmoni Tagore was the younger son of Jayram Tagore who was the Amin of the 24 Parganas. Nilmoni who became a well-known professional himself rose to the rank of a Sheristadar and later settled in Joransanko in a house which was built on a piece of land previously owned by one Baistam Dass Sett. By the time he passed away Nilmoni Tagore left behind three sons. They were Ramlochan, Rammoni and Ramballabh. It was to Rammoni Tagore that Dwarkanath Tagore was born. But as his elder uncle Ramlochan was childless, he was designated as his heir.

Radhanath & Ramanath Tagore were his biological brothers. Ramanath the youngest was later conferred the title of Maharaja in 1877.

Importance of education He was educated at the school of Mr Sherbourne who was a Eurasian and was the son of a European father and a Brahmin mother.

While nothing can be traced of Mr Sherbourne's past or his other family members but there once lived another person by the name of Joseph Sherbourne in Kolkata who once owned a famous Bazaar and was also a senior government official by 1785. Now whether Mr Sherbourne, the teacher was anyway related to Mr Joseph Sherbourne, the market owning civil servant is something that cannot be determined in any way

owing to the lack of available literature. In the book 'Henry Derozio: The Eurasian Poet, Teacher & Journalist' by Thomas Edwards we get to know that Mr Sherbourne, the teacher was known to be proud of his unique parentage and also took an annual offering from his pupils. It is also mentioned that some of the most distinguished

also sown in him around this period. His closest friend who also influenced him greatly was none other but Raja Ram Mohun Roy, the reformer who laid the foundation of a movement which later became the Brahmo Samaj.

Training and appointment In 1807 Ramlochan Tagore passed away leaving his entire fortune to

ductive to the young Dwarkanath as he also expanded as a successful commercial agent by acquiring products like silk and indigo and exporting the same to Europe against orders.

He eventually took up the appointment as the Dewan to the Board of Customs, Salt and Opium and developed an everlast-

Dwarkanath led the operations and finance side of the business and we can assume that the firm also benefitted from his legal knowledge. A strict and able entrepreneur, his personal connections further aided the rapid growth of his business empire. This included the setting up of indigo and sugar factories, acquisition of more zamindari estates, a

The Times London reported on 3rd August 1846: “It is our melancholy task to announce the death of BabooDwarkanath Tagore, on Saturday last, the 1st at quarter past 6 pm, at his residence, St. George’s Hotel, Albemarle Street on the 52nd year of his life.”

174 years later on a bright sunny Saturday afternoon and on 1st of August 2020, members of Bengal Heritage Foundation came together at Kensal Green Cemetery to pay respects to India’s pioneering entrepreneur. The highlight was Gen Next talking about Dwarkanath Tagore.

Young members of Bengal Heritage Foundation, present on Saturday 1 August 2020 at Kensal Green Cemetery to commemorate the death anniversary of Dwarkanath Tagore

natives of that generation received the rudiments of English education under him. Dwarkanath continued his education at Mr Sherbourne's school along with his brother and cousins and among the books he studied there were 'Enfield's Spelling', 'Royal English Grammar', 'Universal Letter Writer' and 'Tutinama' or Tales of a Parrot which is a Persian series of fifty-two stories. We can assume that the balance of Eastern and Western cultures that we later find in the personality of Dwarkanath probably had its roots in a school run by a Eurasian teacher whom he later also provided a pension. He further educated himself by interacting with individuals like Reverend William Adams and also individuals like Mr JG Gordon and Mr James Calder who were partners in Mackintosh & Co, a wellknown firm of its day. It can be rightly said that the seeds of entrepreneurship were

Dwarkanath who did not take the plunge immediately as history tells us that he continued educating himself till 1810 when he finally left school. While he inherited a fortune, which comprised of zemindari or landed estates, but he decided not to spend his life like many other zamindars of that time. Realising the importance of legal education in the running of his estates he decided to pursue his training under the famous barrister, Robert Cutlar Fegusson who would later become the Advocate General of Bengal and who on his return to England served first as a MP and then as the Judge Advocate General. After training under him and becoming well versed in the required legal knowledge he himself became a Law Agent thus winning the confidence of some of the most wealthy and influential individuals of that time. These connections were useful and pro-

The tomb and bust of Dwarkanath Tagore at Kensal Green Cemetery

ing friendship with one Mr Plowden who was the Salt Agent and Collector of the Twenty Four Parganas and after serving in this position for a good duration he resigned from his service to become a partner in Carr, Tagore & Co, a managing agency. The other partners in the firm included Mr William Carr and Mr William Prinsep among others. While Carr, Tagore & Co is considered to be the first Indo-European partnership entity of its kind which probably it was in many ways considering the wide areas of businesses it ventured into but there was also the existence of another firm called Rustomjee, Turner & Co which was started by Rustomjee Cowasji Banaji, a Parsee friend of Dwarkanath Tagore which according to the 'Calcutta Magazine and Monthly Register', Volumes 21-24 dated 1831 was already in existence by the late 1820s. At Carr, Tagore & Co,

coal mining business, a shipping business involving some finely built clippers and he also explored the idea of setting up a railway company. For the management of his businesses he even hired European officials. A visionary, he saw the potential of the steam engine and implemented its use in different areas of his business including tugboats, steam ferries and mining.

Though successful in many areas, he also suffered business setbacks on more than one occasion which left an everlasting impact on his financial strength and that of his family. Dwarkanath was married to Digambari Devi and among his children were Girindranath, Debendranath and Nogendronath. Debendranath who later led the Brahmo Samaj was also the father of the poet Rabindra Nath Tagore.

Founder and backing of many associations The remaining years of

his life were marked with a lot of important endeavours which created the everlasting legacy of this person. He was behind the founding of the Landholders' Society, backed various associations, gave freely to charity including the City, the Calcutta Medical College, the Sans Souci Theatre and also funded the education of many. The memoir by KC Mitra further tells us that during his trips to Europe he was entertained by the Court of Directors at a public dinner at the London Tavern and he also visited both the houses of the Parliament. Among the nobles with whom he interacted were Lord John Copley, the Lord High Chancellor and the Duke of Wellington. He also attended a grand review of the troops by royal invitation.

He also visited Buckingham Palace, Stafford House, Chatsworth and frequented Hyde Park, Regent's Park and the Kensington Gardens. A very well-travelled person he had also personally met the Queen, the Prince Consort and even the Pope on different occasions.

On one occasion he also met the Scottish science writer, astronomer and polymath Mary Somerville. His adventurous life suddenly came to an abrupt end on the 1st of August 1846 at St George's Hotel, Albemarle Street in London. Looking back one can very well wonder that had he lived longer he would have surely received far many honours than he had already received which included the epithet of 'Prince'. writer, astronomer and polymath Mary Somerville. His adventurous life suddenly came to an abrupt end on the 1st of August 1846 at St George's Hotel, Albemarle Street in London. Looking back one can very well wonder that had he lived longer he would have surely received far many honours than he had already received which included the epithet of 'Prince'.

Ladakhi culture and art highlighted IJA members meet the new High Commissioner of India to UK for the UK audience Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence, in association with The Nehru Centre- London, hosted renowned songwriter, composer, musician and singer of Ladakh Rinchen Wacher recently, through which the Art and Culture of Ladakh were exclusively highlighted full length for the UK audience for the first time on the virtual platform.

In his opening remarks, Amish Tripathi, Author and Director of the Nehru Centre highlighted the importance of Ladakh to India and

Amish Tripathi, Director of the Nehru Centre London giving preface to the session on Ladakh

said “The name Indian comes from Indus, Greek pronunciation for the river Sindhu. Hindu (not with the religious connotation) comes from Sindhu, and Ladakh is the land that receives the river on its soil. I am

delighted to be part of this programme, and wonderful to be engaging with the culture and people of Ladakh.”

Rinchen Wacher was then warmly invited to speak, who started his rendition with “Jullay”, an expression equivalent to Namaste/Hello in Ladakhi. He explained how due to very high altitude and harsh winter, Ladakh remains isolated from the rest of the world for at least 6 months yearly, and the improvement done by the government in recent times. He then highlight-

Rinchen Wacher addressing the audience

ed various cultural aspects of Ladakh, the people, their nomadic life, language and music.

He sang two of his recent songs, one specially dedicated to real-life heroes who tirelessly served others in the wake of Corona pandemic. He also played Damnyan, the typical musical instrument of Ladakh. He described Losar, the new year festival celebrated in Ladakh.

Members of the Indian Journalists’ Association organised a virtual introductory meeting on Monday 3 August 2020, welcoming Ms Gaitri Issar Kumar, who has taken charge as the new High Commissioner of India to UK for a two-year term.

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NISAU hosts webinar for Indian students, Javid urges warns against educational agents businesses for spreading false information greater diversity The former chancellor of ex-chequer has urged that the government must not wait for the results of any further race reports to tackle discrimination in the UK. Sajid Javid has appealed to the prime minister and businesses to make immediate changes to improve diversity after Boris Johnson announced establishment of an independent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities in June – the sixth review into discrimination since 2014.

He suggested that prime minister’s announcement of the review was significant as was home secretary Priti Patel’s recent response to the Windrush Lessons Learned review by Wendy Williams, where she set out five reforms including training and recruitment at the department. Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch MP will oversee the review, which is being led by educational consultant and charity founder Tony Sewell.

Downing Street was heavily criticised for the appointment of Munira Mirza who has previously been sceptical of discussions around institutional racism.

He said, “We shouldn’t be waiting for the commission to do its job and thinking ‘there’s nothing to do

Sajid Javid

now, let’s wait for the commission, then we can follow what it says’.

“Because we cannot afford to wait,” Javid said in a discussion on racial equality by thinktank British Future.

Insisting that he still face criticism, Javid said, “If you look at my social media feed after this seminar you can see lots of people making racist comments about me. You get used to it, but we shouldn’t have to.”

“The more people you have that have come from different backgrounds … that will inevitably help the change that organisation and the culture.” He said Theresa May’s Race Disparity Audit had also provided invaluable information on diversity and levels of pay across different employment sectors and was part of the data available to government.

Parents forcefully removed from daughter’s bedside while she died On 3rd August, Dr. Rashid Abbasi disclosed that he and his wife were forcefully removed from their daughter’s bedside in the hospital ward, after they refused to leave her to die alone. The bodycam footage, which was takenby their family several months to secure from police, shows two officers pulling his wife by her hijab, and another two grabbing him by the neck.

Writing in his column in The Metro, he said, “When I told them I had chest pains and was suffering a heart attack (which I was), one told me callously that I’d ‘brought this on yourself’.

When I begged for my medicine, the response was conditional: if you calm down’. One officer shouted ‘you are acting like an animal, it’s disgusting’. Another seemed to agree, telling me that ‘if you act like an animal, you’ll be treated like one’.

“I was treated like one, although I did nothing wrong that night. Despite officers claiming that (while fully restrained) I kicked and bit them, I was quickly dearrested and have not been

charged with any crime. But in the eyes of the staff caring for my child, I was perhaps guilty of one: inconveniently trying to save my daughter’s life.

“The police cannot plead ignorance of the circumstances. As soon as they arrived, my wife told them ‘we have just been told about half an hour ago that they’re going to take the tube out and our daughter is going to die’. That was why, when repeatedly asked to leave her bedside, I refused.

Like any parents, my wife and I wanted to at least say goodbye. My wife and I are no strangers to the difficult conversations around child palliative care. We are both qualified doctors, and I have been a consultant in respiratory medicine for 24 years in a neighbouring NHS trust to the one that I entrusted with my daughter’s life.

When she was two years old, my daughter Zainab was diagnosed with a rare and incurable genetic disease.

For years afterwards, there was near constant pressure from doctors to switch off life support whenever she was unwell.”

The National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK hosted an exclusive firstof-its kind webinar for Indian students as it warned them about some educational agents spreading false information in India.

Attended by over 2000 viewers and with a reach of over 15,000, the #AskNISAU session saw current students in the UK addressing questions raised by prospective students interested in joining the UK university in the next academic year.

The session provided general insights about studying and living in the UK, career advisory, and changed realities in the wake of Covid-19. Panelists represented a cross-section of more than 30 universities covering universities in all 4 countries of the UK, that are

sought after by Indian students.Commenting on the #AskNISAU event, Sanam Arora, founder and chairperson of NISAU said, “This is the first time such an event has been organised and we’re delighted to see the phenomenal response, which demonstrates how valuable and timely both our survey and intervention to provide this time-sensitive information to students have been. So far, the NISAU is the only body of its kind to unite Indian students and alumni outside India on a national platform; and today by using technology to connect current and potential Indian students to help the latter make the right choice, has emerged as a pioneer once again when it comes to ensuring the welfare of

young Indians abroad. The Indian diaspora is a true asset, which must be cherished, nurtured and effectively deployed to shape India’s future but it all starts with empowering our youth with the right information that can enable sound decision-making in the first important step of their careers. We are delighted to be this platform that provides credible and unbiased information.”

NISAU recently conducted a survey of prospective Indian students and offer-holders to capture the concerns and requirements of Indian students in greater detail. It found that students have increasingly been complaining about receiving misleading/biased information from educational agents; a sector that remains

unregulated in India.

Notably, NISAU had previously called on the Indian Government to appropriately regulate this sector.

The session for Indian students hoping to begin their courses from September or in the future covered an overview of the UK's new points-based visa system applicable from January 2021, including the new post-study or Graduate Route visa, which allows overseas students the chance to stay on and find a job in the UK for a period of two to three years at the end of their degree course.

The NISAU will next be conducting a pre-departure briefing at the end of August for all those students who have chosen to commence their studies in the UK from September 2020.

Home Office scraps controversial algorithm for visa processing On Tuesday 4th August in a major victory for campaigners protesting against the “hostile environment” policy, the Home Office announced to scrap the controversial decision-making used since 2015 for people applying for UK visas.

The “streaming algorithm”, which campaigners have described as racist, has been used to process visa applications to the UK. It will be abandoned from Friday, according to a letter from Home Office solicitors.

The decision to scrap the algorithmappears ahead of a judicial review from the Joint Council for the

Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) which was to challenge the Home Office’s Artificial Intelligence system that filters UK visa applications.

Chai Patel, JCWI’s legal policy director, said, “The Home Office’s own independent review of the Windrush scandal found it was oblivious to the racist assumptions and systems it operates.

“This streaming tool took decades of institutionally racist practices, such as targeting particular nationalities for immigration raids, and turned them into software. The immigration sys-

tem needs to be rebuilt from the ground up to monitor such bias and to root it out.”

In their submission to the high court, JWCI and the technology justice campaign group Foxglove said the algorithm created three channels for applicants, including a so-called “fast lane” that would lead to “speedy boarding for white people” from the most favoured countries in the system.

In the Home Office letter, its solicitors confirm that the home secretary, Priti Patel, “has decided that she will discontinue the use of the streaming tool to

assess visa applications, pending a substitute review of its operation”.

A Home Office spokesperson in a statement to The Guardian said, “We have been reviewing how the visa application streaming tool operates and will be redesigning our processes to make them even more streamlined and secure.

“We do not accept the allegations Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants made in their judicial review claim and whilst litigation is still ongoing it would not be appropriate for the department to comment any further.”

Priority housing for key workers On Tuesday 4th August, as Asian Voice went to print, the mayor of London has proposed that key workers should get priority access to cheaper housing in the capital. Under the proposals, workers such as nurses, police officers and teachers would be given priority for shared ownership homes and property offered at the London Living Rent.

Sadiq Khan said key workers "keep London running" but "housing costs have driven far too many Londoners away". It is part of a wider consultation looking at intermediate housing for people who are unlikely to get homes at social rent levels, but cannot afford to buy or rent them on the open market.The survey looks at who should be prioritised for such housing and

which key worker occupations could be considered in the different boroughs.

However, Andrew Boff AM, housing spokesman for the Greater London Authority Conservatives in an interview with the BBC

described the plans as "yet another PR distraction from Sadiq Khan to hide his failure to build the homes he promised Londoners".

"If Khan wants to help London's Covid heroes put

down roots in our city, he urgently needs to review his housing policies which are failing to deliver homes fit for families," he said.

The consultation is likely to run until 11 October.

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Indian drugmaker to supply Sir Philip Barton appointed Permanent Under-Secretary of Foreign Covid-19 vaccines to the UK, manufacturing in North Wales Commonwealth and Development Office On Monday 3rd August, Indian drugmaker Wockhardt announced that it will supply millions of doses of multiple Covid-19 vaccines to the United Kingdom. The manufacturing is slated to be undertaken at CP Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Wockhardt based in Wrexham, North Wales.

The government had earlier announced that it had entered into an agreement with pharmaceutical and biotechnology major Wockhardt to provide 'fill and finish services'. The crucial 'fill and finish' stage of the manufacturing process involves dispensing the manufactured vaccine substance into vials ready for it to be distributed.

Dr Habil Khorakiwala, Founder Chairman of Wockhardt emphasised, “The pandemic of Covid-19 is a challenge for all and needs a concerted effort to overcome. We are proud to be collaborating with the UK Government to make

vaccines available and the arrangement brings in a huge sense of purpose and pride, it upholds our ongoing commitment to fight against such a pandemic of global human importance.

As a global organisation, we are focussed and committed to assist in mitigating the worldwide impact of Covid-19 .”

As per the terms of the agreement the company has reserved manufacturing capacity to allow for the supply of multiple vaccines to the UK including AZD1222, the vaccine developed by Oxford University and its spin-out company, Vaccitech and licensed by AstraZeneca.

Alok Sharma, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Government of UK said, “Ensuring the UK has the capability to research, develop and manufacture a safe and effective vaccine is critical in our fight against coronavirus. Today we have secured additional capacity to manufacture millions of doses of multiple Covid-19

candidates, guaranteeing the supply of vaccines we need to protect people across the UK rapidly and in large numbers." Kate Bingham, Chair of UK Vaccines Task Force in a statement said, “Never before have we needed to find and manufacture a vaccine at this speed and scale in order to protect the UK population. We have made significant progress in securing a diverse portfolio of potential vaccines and treatments for Covid-19, adding a fourth vaccine candidate from GSK and Sanofi last week.

However, discovering a successful vaccine is only part of the solution, we also need to be able to manufacture it. Fill Finish is a critical step in the process to get the vaccine in a form to be given to patients. The agreement with Wockhardt will boost our capability to ensure that from the moment a successful vaccine is identified we will be able to produce the quantities of vaccine required, as quickly as possible, for the people who need it."

Chancellor wants BAME faces on the coin to celebrate diversity On Sunday, 2nd August the Chancellor of exchequer confirmed that he was backing the campaign for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) individuals to be featured on the coin in a bid to celebrate the contributions of ethnic minorities to the UK. Celebrating influential names include Indian-origin British spy Noor Inayat Khan, Mahatma Gandhi and Khudadad Khan, the first soldier of the British Indian Army to become the recipient of the prestigious Victoria Cross, the highest military award for gallantry in the face of the enemy given to British and Commonwealth forces.

Sunak has written to the Royal Mint Advisory Committee that recommends themes and designs of coins, supporting a campaign called ‘We Too Built Britain’ seeking representation of non-white icons on British currency. The idea of Gandhi on a British coin was earlier considered by former chancellor Sajid Javid in October 2019.

In a letter to Zehra Zahidi, who has led the campaign, Sunak said, “Black, Asian and other ethnic minority (BAME) communities have made a profound contribution to the shared history of the United Kingdom.

“For generations, ethnic minority groups

have fought and died for this country we have built together; taught our children, nursed the sick, cared for the elderly; and through their enterprising spirit have started some of our most exciting and dynamic businesses, creating jobs and driving growth.

“I am writing today to the Chair of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee (RMAC), Lord Waldegrave…asking the RMAC SubCommittee on Themes to consider recognising this very great contribution on our nation’s coinage,” he wrote.The chancellor’s office confirmed that the RMAC is currently considering a coin to commemorate Gandhi, adding that Sunak is keen that British coins commemorate the work of the previous generations who have served the UK and nations that form the Commonwealth.Campaigners previously sought Noor Inayat Khan’s image on a new £50 note, but the Bank of England announced that the new series to enter circulation in 2021 will have the image of computer pioneer and code-breaker Alan Turing.

Local councils set up test-and-trace system to combat language hindrances in fight against Covid-19 On Tuesday, 4th August, local authorities announced setting up their own virus-hunting team after the national system failed to reach hundreds of its most vulnerable residents Blackburn with Darwen council, in Lancashire with the highest infection rate in England has launched its own contact-tracing system to plug holes in the £10bn national scheme described by Boris Johnson as “world-beating”.According to Dominic Harrison, the council’s director of public health the government programme was “simply not tracing enough cases and contacts fast enough”. The NHS system, which

is run by the former TalkTalk executive Dido Harding, involves more than 20,000 contact tracers employed by private firms such as Serco and Sitel. The council said under its new model, which was supported

by Public Health England, local teams would track down people who could not be reached by the national system after 48 hours. If local officials still did not make contact after two days, council workers would visit their address to pass on advice and offer support.

Crucially, the Blackburn model will factor in potential language issues and any other vulnerabilities using the knowledge of community-based teams.

On Monday 3rd August, Sir Philip Barton was announced as the Permanent UnderSecretary of the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Sir Philip is currently serving as the High Commissioner to New Delhi and has previously served as the acting Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee in the Cabinet Office. Earlier in his career he was the High Commissioner to Islamabad, Deputy Head of Mission in Washington, and Director, Foreign Policy and Afghanistan/Pakistan co-ordinator.

His appointment appears after Boris Johnson announced in June that he planned to merge the Department for International Development (DfID) - which is responsible for overseas aid - into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office by September. He replaces Sir Simon McDonald, who was asked in June to step down ahead of the merger. Welcoming his appointment, Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, said, “I am delighted that Sir Philip has been successfully selected as the Permanent Under-Secretary of the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. He is an outstanding public servant and diplomat with experience across all areas of foreign policy.

“I’d like to pay tribute to Sir Simon, one of the finest diplomats of his generation, who helped successfully steer the FCO during a remarkable period of change in the world. His legacy of progress and modernisation will be part of the DNA of the new department.”

The Cabinet Secretary, Sir Mark Sedwill, said, “I am delighted Sir Philip

Sir Philip Barton. Image Courtesy: Foreign Office

Barton has been appointed to lead the formation of the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Philip will bring to the role an understanding of overseas development funding together with experience of international relations. Under his leadership, I am confident that the new organisation will strengthen the UK’s global leadership by aligning our development and diplomatic efforts to bring more coherence to our international presence.

Commenting on his appointment, Sir Philip Barton said, “I am delighted to have been appointed as the Permanent Underof the new Foreign, Secretary Commonwealth and Development Office.

I look forward to bringing together our diplomats and development experts to deliver for the people of the UK and act as a force for good around the world.” Sir Philip will commence work on his new post on September 1.

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KHICHADI Kapil’s

India-Israel joint task force

Is Covid-19 a sign of Kalyug?

It is interesting to learn about India-Israel joint task force to develop a fast process to test Covid-19 (AV dated 1-7 August 2020). This will benefit both the countries in the beginning and will be able to support other countries as well in their fight to contain the disease.

Israel has got sophisticated R&D capabilities and India has got huge capacity for mast production which will help each other. In addition to this, India has got a huge database to draw meaningful conclusions and patients on whom they can try this new treatment. Since prime ministers of both the countries are taking an active interest and interacting with each other on a regular basis, chances of success of this mission are bright.

As reported in the paper, joint efforts are going to get the testing process down to a few seconds does not mean that people should compromise with the government guidelines on social distancing and other stringent measures. Public must follow the instructions given by the respective authority from time to time. It may seem harsh but if we look at the statistics of a rising number of cases in other developed and advanced countries, India has got very limited options but to implement rules very strictly to save the general public.

In our Hindu mythology, whenever human behaviour loses its control, becomes drunk with power and a threat to the rest of the world, a saintly soul descends on earth in human form to save the world, even universe. Lord Rama incarnated to save us from Raven and his army of rakshasa (Devils) while Lord Krishna acted similarly when Kaurava, under evil king Duryodhan who wanted to enslave the world for his personal gain, inflated his already bulging ego!

Other notable examples are Guru Nanak, Lord Jesus Christ, Prophet Mohamed and few more saintly souls, all created noble culture, religious beliefs and let truth triumph over lies, peace over war, and evil snared in the bud, made earth a better place to live, progress and thrive.

Could Covid-19 which is a threat for the survival of human race if we fail to develop vaccine, could bring the end of Satyayug, a period of peace and harmony, necessitating the incarnation of a holy soul to lead misguided humanity who are on the path of destroying Mother Earth by their insatiable desire of greed, burning Amazon forest, fishing seas until they become barren, filling atmosphere with carbon dioxide, raising sea and atmospheric temperature that will turn earth barren, melting snow submerging vast areas of low-lying nations, such as Netherland, Bangladesh and thousands of islands in Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans that may lead to war and refugee crisis we have never seen before, China playing the part of the devil, a modern day Raven, if not subjugated, will bring human civilization to end!

Then fault line lies with the West, in particular with Europe and America who filled China’s treasury to the brim while searching for cheap, subsidized Chinese goods, manufactured with slave labour. China is using this economic power to take over the world, subjugate neighbours and colonise South China Sea while the West is hibernating!

Hitesh Hingu London

Ram Mandir dream becoming reality Every Indian throughout the world was eagerly waiting for the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a historical place in line with the holly city of Mecca and the Vatican. Ayodhya is the blessed land where Lord Rama was born. Lord Rama is not just a Hindu God. He precedes every religion including Christianity and Islam; thus, Lord Rama is an inspiration, belongs to everyone, irrespective of caste, colour, creed or religion.

It was Gandhiji’s life-long dream to turn India into Ram-Rajya, a peaceful, progressive, secular and all-inclusive nation, indeed a heaven on earth for mankind. Then Gandhiji, along with Nehru and many other Congress leasers, with few exceptions like Sardar and Dr Ambedkar, were ideologists, dreamer, completely out of touch with reality on the ground. Many blames them for religious disharmony and fifth columnists that plagues India now.

PM Narendra Modi will be the Chief Guest who would lay the first five bricks made of pure silver. The main celebration will take place over three days, millions of Indians will celebrate the event all over India and beyond, with fasting, feasting, chanting, praying and by any other means they believe in. After all, Hinduism is a vast, varied and all-inclusive religion befitting the teachings of Lord Rama.

This would-be all-inclusive development with museum, learning centre, lakes, mini forest Vrindavan and accommodation for visitors and pilgrims. It will create thousands of jobs benefiting local economy.

Iqbal Ansari who was the part of the opposition group now welcomes the initiative and wants to be in the party that would welcome PM Modi. Although coronavirus will restrict number of attendees, it should include leading religious heads of various sects, making it truly multicultural celebrations. It will help to gain international recognition, making it world heritage centre in no time at all.

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A Suitable Boy We started watching A Suitable Boy with much enthusiasm, after so much of publicity across newspapers. The first episode was a bit disappointing, but we thought to ourselves, that it will pick up pace in due course. However, the second episode has been even more disappointing. When a book is adapted into a film, a clear visualisation of characters is important.

There are many good actors in this tv series, but the problem is not just acting. The adaptation is poor- therefore the actors are not utilised to their true potentials. When the same actors speak Hindi, they seem so natural. The language does not suit the sensibilities and theatrics. Why could BBC not have the same series in Hindi? Netflix seems to have many such tv series in foreign languages with subtitles, and they work perfectly well for UK audience.

As a spinoff to this problem will be the verdict: diversity does not work in British tv, as the TRP drops. No one will look at the actual factor - the script is odd, superficial and failing to express the right sentiment. Actors can only do so much. When we talk about diversity in art and culture, we often do not realise, what the actual problem is. The issue is in how diversity is perceived. Mainstream needs to look at diversity as a part, not by simplifying things but accepting them as a whole.

Mohini Roy

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Asians can’t be blamed alone

We read your story about Asian businesses and banquets, catering industry and wedding with much interest.

Recently the rule has been changed about weddings. Even 30 people can’t join any more.

My wife and I used to love frequenting to London’s hotels. Sometimes for tea, dinners or even staycation. My wife has a fear of flying, that makes us mostly take holidays in places where we can drive to and many times within the UK. While the travel industry is trying to encourage people to travel sooner or later, I have driven around Central London, to see much of our glorious hotels- all closed.

We are planning to travel to the lake district this bank holiday. But we do not know how the situation would be.

My niece has just been proposed by his boyfriend and they are expecting to get married next year, but nobody knows how those weddings would be. With all that discussion about vaccine, there is no guarantee that life would be the same, even when vaccine comes. It will take time to have a normal life. It is perhaps a reality that we should accept now, that life will never be what it was precoronavirus.

It is disappointing to learn that the Tory MP Chris Whittaker is blaming the Asian community for the new spread of coronavirus. I live near Margate. Every sunny day, there are many hundreds on the beach, and you have to count the Asians sunbathing or visiting there. My daughter lives in Leeds.

While there is a huge Asian population there, when you see the city centre, you will see many cross-community youngsters out and about. Not only Asians.

Of course, there is no denial everybody breaks law sometimes. In Leicester youngsters were the ones who were seen enjoying a bit too much, when it was still under lockdown, though the local politicians blamed language barrier to be a hindrance.

Blaming the Asian community entirely, that also on a festival day is a bit harsh. Why did Matt Hancock take so long to decide on the lockdown? I do feel it was a bit unfair as the Muslim community was looking forward to their celebration on the day. More as Ramadan and Eid thereafter were under lockdown. If the government feared such gatherings, and thought it could lead to further spread of the virus between houses, they should have taken precautions a bit early, right?

Moreover, with restaurants open, how do you justify not meeting at home? This simply gives out mixed messages to the disheartened community.

Manav Mehta

By Email

Malabika Chatterjee Kent

Follow me on Twitter: @kk_OEG

Is there a God? Kapil Dudakia I hope you don’t expect me to give you the answer!

This question I sense must have at some stage been on everyone’s mind. What conclusion they reach if course a construct of their own life experiences, knowledge of spiritual text and ultimately, their own personal belief.

It does get me thinking anyway. For example, if there was a God, would he rule the cosmos with fear? And I hear many voices shouting at me, ‘it could be a woman’.

Yes of course that is possible, assuming God indeed has a gender!

Would such a God create a faith that dedicates it time and resources to convert the masses through violence, threat of rape and even death?

Can a true God reward the killing and mass genocide of people and grant the evil doers’ access to the gates of heaven? Some even believe they will get their 72 virgins.

How can any God accept the prayers of those who subscribe to any faith that is built on lies, murder, rape, cultural destruction, land grab and much much more – all done in his name?

Can a just God turn his attention away from the mass systemic abuse of children by the very clergy meant to represent him?

How can a true God say on one hand, that he created everything and then reject the non-believers as kaffirs?

Surely that’s his failure!

Some believe that everything came into existence only a few thousand years ago, and to believe anything else is blasphemy. Others thought (and some still do) just a few hundred years ago that Earth was flat – yes, they really did! Can such nonsense be accepted in the 21st C? The powerful elite heading some religions have created the greatest mass illusion of all time, by using the power of fear. One faith calls it the original sin, i.e. that all of us are born with sin because Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Really, is God such a coward that he needs to ‘put the fear of God’ into everyone? And they call it a religion of love or the religion of peace, on what basis?

Humans have discredited God (remember, it’s up to you to conclude if God exists or not) by creating the institution of mass control called religion. In his name they created systems and structures to enslave the masses. If anything goes wrong, it is always your fault. It can never be God or the faith.

Of course, the construct of God means different things to different people. Especially if you are from the East and from an Indic background. Whilst the middle east and the west was full of barbarians, the heritage of India had already shown thousands of years ago how the cosmos was created, that Earth is round, that gravity exists, the notion of air travel and interplanetary travel, the notion of small and large numbers, planetary cycles and the list goes on. In India (Bharat Varsh) the concept of religion does not work. We have a concept that is far superior and interlinked with the very laws of nature and cosmos itself. Sanatan Dharma is for all. No exceptions.

The Law of Karma does not discriminate, we are all bound by it. The land of Namaste will rejoice in righting a historical wrong when the building of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir commences on 5th August 2020.

Lord Rama came to establish dharma, and Karma ensures the Mandir is built. I am a Hindu and blessed to be born in this dharmic heritage.

Follow the teachings of Lord Krishna The story of Lord Krishna’s birth is as fascinating as the events that took place during his lifetime. According to Hindu mythology, when evil and immoral forces took over the world, mother earth pleaded with Lord Brahma to bring an end to the prevailing conditions. Lord Brahma then asked Lord Vishnu for help, who proclaimed that he will soon take birth to banish all evil from the earth.Janmashtami is also known as Gokulashtami or Sreekrishna Jayanthi in some parts of the country. According to the Hindu calendar, Janmashtami is celebrated on the Ashtami (eighth day) of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the month of Shravana or Bhadra (in the Hindu calendar, there is a leap month once every three years).This Janmashtami on August 11 (also celebrated on Aug 12 in parts of the world), let us all hail Lord Krishna and absorb his teachings in our life.

Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai, India We are grateful to all letter writers for more and more versatile letters well within word limit. Please keep contributing as always.

If you are new, then write to Rupanjana at rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com - AV

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Two British Asians to receive peerage Two South Asians would be conferred with peerages in the UK’s House of Lords.

Indian-origin academic Prem Sikka, an Emeritus Professor of Accounting at the University of Sheffield in northern England, and Aamer A. Sarfraz, a social entrepreneur and venture capital investor are among 36 new peers to be con-

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ferred by The Queen upon the advice of the prime

Nominations from the Leader of the Conservative Party: Sir Henry Bellingham – lately Member of Parliament for North West Norfolk and former Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke CHQC – lately Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe and former Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Rt Hon Ruth Davidson MSP – Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh Central and former Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party.

Rt Hon Philip Hammond – lately Member of Parliament for Runnymede and Weybridge and former Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Rt Hon Nicholas Herbert CBE – lately Member of Parliament for Arundel and South Downs and former Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice.

Rt Hon Joseph Johnson – lately Member of Parliament for Orpington and Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation.

Colonel Rt Hon John Mark Lancaster TD VR – lately Member of Parliament for North East Milton Keynes and Minister for the Armed Forces.

Rt Hon Sir Patrick McLoughlin CH – lately Member of Parliament for Derbyshire Dales, former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Chairman

minister in a highly controversial honours’ list.

of the Conservative Party.

9. Aamer Sarfraz – Conservative Party Treasurer and Venture Partner at Draper Associates.

10. Rt Hon Edward Vaizey – lately Member of Parliament for Wantage and former Minister of State for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries.

Nominations for the Leader of the Labour Party: 11. Kate Clark – former Member of Parliament for North Ayrshire and Arran.

12. Brinley Davies – Director of Union Pension Services Ltd. Nominations for the Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party: 13. Rt Hon Nigel Dodds OBE – lately Member of Parliament for North Belfast and Deputy Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party.

Nominations for non-affiliated Peerages: 14. Rt Hon Frank Field – lately Member of Parliament for Birkenhead and Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee.

15. Kate Hoey – lately Member of Parliament for Vauxhall and former Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee.

16. Ian Austin – lately Member of Parliament for Dudley North and former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

British Red Cross marks 150th anniversary with 150 voices On Tuesday 4th August, the British Red Cross marked its 150th anniversary with members of the Royal Family recognising the work of the charity who have made a difference to the lives of millions of people who have faced crisis, both in the UK and overseas.

The Prince of Wales has recorded an introduction to a new online exhibition, ‘150 voices’, as part of the anniversary this year. The online exhibition showcases 150 objects from the British Red Cross museum and archives collection, which have been specially selected to highlight the role of the charity as it supported people during some of the darkest moments in the last century and a half.

Inspired by communities across the UK and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the exhibition includes objects such as a letter from Florence Nightingale, a WWI ambulance drivers’ cap and a food parcel distributed by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent during the

Syria crisis.

In the online introduction, The Prince of Wales says: “I am proud to say that my family has played its own part in supporting the work of the British Red Cross throughout its history.

“The work of the Red Cross is as essential today as it has ever been, helping those in need both in the United Kingdom and around the world, strengthening our communities and supporting people to face the challenges of an everchanging and unpredictable world.”

In 2018, His Royal Highness met Red Cross volunteers in the aftermath of the devastating Grenfell Tower fire.

As part of the 150th anniversary celebrations, The Duchess of Cambridge has penned a letter to 150 nominated Red Cross staff and volunteers, which will be sent alongside a commemorative coin from the Royal Mint. In the meantime, the charity’s longestserving Patron, The Queen has supported the British

Red Cross across the decades; and the then Princess Elizabeth, one of her earliest visits was to a Red Cross hut caring for tuberculosis patients in 1951.

Speaking about the anniversary, Mike Adamson, Chief Executive of the British Red Cross said, “The British Red Cross has been helping people in crisis for 150 years; through two World Wars, working hand in hand with the NHS since its creation in 1948 and today in communities across the UK and overseas during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Throughout our history it is the kindness of our volunteers, as well as the generosity of our supporters that has meant we can be there for people when they need us most, wherever they are and whomever they may be.”

Sikka who is also an Emeritus Professor at University of Essex, had led a Labour-commissioned inquiry in 2018 to analyse the pay of top executives, and recommended that remunerations at the helm of about 7,000 large companies should be subject to an annual binding vote.

In the meantime, Aamer A. Sarfraz is a

social entrepreneur and venture capital investor.

He is a Partner at Draper Associates, a leading Silicon Valley venture capital fund. He is currently the national Treasurer of the Conservative Party and has been championing for the welfare of the smallfarmers.

His holder Agritech business Better Grain supports thousands

17. Rt Hon Gisela Stuart – Chair of Wilton Park and former Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston.

18. John Woodcock – UK Special Envoy for Countering Violent Extremism and former Member of Parliament for Barrow and Furness.

Political Peerages in full Nominations from the Leader of the Conservative Party: 19. Lorraine Fullbrook – former Member of Parliament for South Ribble.

20. Sir Edward Udny-Lister – Chief Strategic Adviser to the Prime Minister and former Deputy Mayor of London.

21. Daniel Moylan – Chairman, Urban Design London and former member of Kensington and Chelsea Council.

22. Andrew Sharpe OBE – Chairman of the National Conservative Convention and Vice- Chair of Policy Forum.

23. Michael Spencer – Chairman of IPGL (Holdings) Ltd and Centre for Policy Studies.

24. Veronica Wadley CBE – Chair of the Expert Panel for Model Music Curriculum andformer editor of the Evening Standard.

25. James Wharton – former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development and Member of Parliament for Stockton South.

26. Dame Helena Morrissey – CEO of Newton Investment Management and

of smallholder farmers in Asia.Other nominations include former chancellor of ex-chequer Philip Hammond, Evgeny Lebedev and Sir Ian Botham. The government has previously stated that it is committed to reducing the size of the House of Lords despite the creation of 36 new life peers, the second-highest number added to the

founder of the 30 Per Cent Club 27. Neil Mendoza – Provost of Oriel College and Non-Executive Board Member of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Nominations from the former Leader of the Labour Party 28. Susan Hayman – lately Member of Parliament for Workington.

29. Prem Sikka – Professor of Accounting at the University of Sheffield.

30. Anthony Woodley – formerly JointGeneral Secretary of Unite.

Nominations for non-affiliated Peerages 31. Claire Fox – Director and founder of the Institute of Ideas.

32. Charles Moore – journalist and biographer Nominations for Crossbench Peerages 33. Sir Ian Botham – Cricket commentator and Chairman of Durham County Cricket Club.

34. Dame Louise Casey – Former Civil Servant, Visiting Professor King’s College London and Cofounder and Chair, Institute of Global Homelessness.

35. Evgeny Lebedev – Owner of The Independent, The Evening Standard and London Live and patron of Space for Giants.

36. Dame Nemat (Minouche) Shafik, Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science

BMA Giving honours charities supporting doctors during Covid-19 The BMA has awarded more than £154,000 to nine charities whose work supports doctors and medical students with the awards’ focus on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Those awarded this year included Doctors in Distress and BAPIO who have received £10,000 to assist future NHS doctors who are stranded due to the GMC cancelling the March PLAB exams needed by doctors who have trained overseas to work in the UK. Others included Mind, Melanin

Medics, Duty to Care Trust, BMA Charities Trust Fund, Body and Soul, Off the Record and Platform for Change. BMA Giving awards funds to smaller charities particularly those working at grass roots and community level and that align with the BMA’s mission of ‘we look after doctors so they can look after you’. "We are confident that the projects supported by BMA Giving will make a real difference to doctors and medical students, as well as the patients and communities they serve at this difficult time."

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SCRUTATOR’S Amitabh Bachchan erupts at troll Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who is currently under treatment for Covid-19 at a Mumbai hospital gave a sharp reply to an anonymous troll who wrote - 'I hope you die with this Covid.' Big B highlighted the topic of trolling and called out the people who anonymously troll him by calling him "mahishasur", "charitraheen", "besharam", "behaya" and more.

Referring to the troll, the 77-year-old actor wrote, "Hey Mr Anonymous .. you do not even write your Father's name,.. because you do not know who Fathered you .. there are only two things that can happen .. either I shall die or either I shall live." "If I die you wont get to write your diatribe anymore, by weathering your remark on a celebrity name .. pity .. for, the reason of your writing to be noticed was, because you took a swipe at Amitabh Bachchan .. that shall no longer exist .. !!," he added. Referring to his 90+ million followers, the actor further wrote, "but if I survive I shall .. and let me tell you they are a force incensed .. they traverse the entire World .. from the West to the East from the North to the South .. and they are not just the Ef of this page .. that extended family shall in the flash of an eye become 'extermination family' .. !!!!". "May you burn in your own stew!" he wrote at the end of the blog. (Agency) Guinness felicitates Shakuntala Devi Just ahead of the release of

her biopic, Guinness Book of World Records has finally felicitated the late mathematics genius, Shakuntala Devi, with an official certificate for the record of Fastest Human Computation.

The certificate was received by Anupama Banerji, daughter of the late Shakuntala Devi. Shakuntala Devi set the record by multiplying two randomly selected 13-digit numbers in just 28 seconds, at Imperial College London on June 18, 1980. "It is an overwhelming moment for me to be able to receive this honour on my mother's behalf,” said Anupama. She further added: "I am glad that I had the opportunity to provide significant inputs while developing the biopic, ‘Shakuntala Devi', to ensure that people get to know my mother the way she was in real life. The biopic chronicles the life of Shakuntala Devi as a person and as a math wiz through the eyes of her daughter. The film is written and directed by Anu Menon and it stars Vidya Balan as

Shakuntala Devi with Sanya Malhotra as Anupama Banerji, alongside Jisshu Sengupta as Shakuntala's husband Paritosh Banerjee and Amit Sadh as Anupama's husband Ajay Abhay Kumar. (Agency) Indian footprint on Nasa's Mars mission Nasa’s Perseverance mission to Mars will leave an Indian footprint on the Red Planet when it touches down at the Jezero crater on February 18, 2021.

No, there is no Indian astronaut aboard the spacecraft, which lifted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida last week. But Bengaluruborn scientist Swati Mohan of Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has played a major role in designing and developing a new landing technology called Terrain Relative Navigation that will make the touchdown less hazardous. Swati said that the new system will allow Perseverance to be the first rover to land with open eyes. She said a camera will take pictures of the ground as it descends. “This is analogous to putting your hands out in front and stopping when you feel the ground. Previous missions have relied on radar to land.... (It) allows Perseverance to look at the ground, compare it to an on-board map and figure where it is.’’ (The Times of India)

authorities to keep social distancing among beach surfers.

They were finding it difficult to manage the people when more than 200,000 surfers turned on one day after lockdown was eased. The panic-stricken BCP Council, however, found succour when a Rajkot IT firm helped local authorities with a mobile application that guides beach goers to maintain social distance.

The app will help revellers check beach’s congestion levels before they hit the sand. “This social distancing app is in response to last month’s chaos which can be avoided in future,” said Chintan Panara, promoter of the firm that has office in the UK and Netherlands. After working in Britain for a decade, IT expert Panara had founded the firm with two others in 2014. “BCP Beach Check app has a live traffic light system using the latest technology to help visitors and residents avoid busy hotspots.

The simple-to-use app is free to download,” he said. The app helps users check a particular beach or see a map indicating the busier areas (marked as red), less busy beaches (marked as amber) and those with plenty of available space (marked as green). The app allows visitors to make informed choices as to which parts of the beach to visit and which to avoid in order to maintain social distance during the pandemic.(The Times of India)

Karsan Dangar, trustee of KSVG, said, “After five months, this is the first case of adoption here.

The process is managed centrally and we followed the order. We conducted Covid-19 test for both children and submitted the report in court along with other documents.” The couple was waiting for the adoption for the past two years. Shrivastava said, “we wanted the children to complete our family. We had applied for one child but when we came to know that two children are there to be adopted as they are twins, it was like a bumper draw for us,” added Shrivastav. (The Times of India)

around the village. The woman's husband had accused his wife of having an extramarital affair with another man.

A panchayat was called and it was decided that the woman will have to carry her husband on her shoulders and move around the village. A case has been registered against seven persons on the complaint of the woman. The police said an investigation is underway and appropriate action will be taken once it concludes. No arrests have been made in the case so far. This is the second such incident in Jhabua in the past one month. (Agency)

Woman forced to carry husband on her shoulders

Tripura seeks SC nod to hire sacked teachers as peons The Tripura government has sought the Supreme Court's permission to re-appoint over 10,000 postgraduate, graduate and under-graduate teachers whose appointments were quashed on court orders, as peons, night guards, gardeners, cooks and lower division clerks.

The Tripura government in 2010 and 2014 recruited 10,313 candidates through oral interview under the Revised Employment Policy. The high court set aside the appointment of all teachers. The SC in 2017 upheld the HC order and asked the state to frame a fresh recruitment policy by 2017.Though the state framed the new employment policy in 2017, the state government continued the employment of terminated teachers on ad-hoc basis. The SC in 2018 had permitted the state to continue with the ad-hoc engagement of terminated teachers till March 31, 2020. However, the state devised a method to play around the SC order and sought to recruit the terminated teachers by creating 12,000 posts to absorb them as student counsellors, school library assistants, academic counsellors, hostel wardens and school assistants. (Agency)

Jamnagar twins get new parents It was celebration day at

In a bizarre incident an woman in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, was forced to carry her

Jamnagar’s Kasturba Stree Vikas Gruh (KSVG) last week when a Delhi-based couple adopted the twins - a boy and a girl -from the facility. The twins, Bharat and his sister Bharati, who turned two in March, were adopted by Amit Shrivastav and his wife Archana.

husband on her shoulders as a punishment for her alleged illicit relations with another man. The video of the incident has gone viral on the social media. In the video, a woman is seen carrying her husband on her shoulders and walking

Rajkot IT firm comes to the help of UK beach goers A Rajkot IT firm has come to the help of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP)

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Conservative Friends of India : Our mandate is to get Brexit done and set our own rules of immigration policy Shefali Saxena The Conservative Friends of India had an interactive session covering a wide range of issues ranging from the economy, the current pandemic and strengthening UK India bilateral links. It was led by Minister Political from the High Commission of India, Vishwesh Negi, who was in conversation with Rt Hon MP, Sajid Javid. The virtual event had more than 100 live participants.

Immigration & Brexit A major takeaway from the event was Javid’s thoughts on having easier and cheaper visas processed for Indian nationals to come to the UK. “Now that we have left the EU, from January 1, 2021, we can set our own rules of immigration policy. We now have the freedom. I’m sure a deal can be reached where we can work and use services together,” he said.

Sajid Javid was asked to comment on the Shamima Begum case and tell what he thinks are the chances for her to be allowed back despite the Home Secretary's appeal and the horrendous implications for UK’s security and also the enormous drain on overstretched resources. “If an individual should come back to the UK, it is a national security risk that cannot be fully mitigated.

You have to agree with the outcome of the decision and now it looks like, if they appeal and the decision stands. That undermines and defeats the whole purpose in the first place,” he said as he reiterated that the risk she represents cannot be mitigated and the risk will cost millions to monitor someone unless the case is resolved.

Covid-19 pandemic and succession Speaking his mind on the Coronavirus pandemic, Javid felt that this public health crisis is a ‘public led health crisis’. “Pandemics are something we’re going to live with and handle,” he said. Speaking about the massive economic impact Javid called the Covid-19 pandemic as the “biggest economic shock in our living memory” and the “economy is frozen” according to him. He hailed Chancellor Sunak for introducing some excellent policies. When asked if he’s happy with his successor, he said, “I am happy. I’m proud of him. I

can’t think of much that I could have done differently. One of the reasons why Rishi and I go on is so because of the big things he has done - by tackling this crisis economically (with cover loans, furlough scheme), all the right big things.”

He was also asked to react to Labour's criticism of the conservatives handling Covid-19. He said, “Both of my last two roles, people who replaced me are British Asians. It’s good to know, British Asians are doing really well in the separate party.”

Javid believes in a local resilience body. He said, “We didn’t get everything right. No country in the world had a perfect response to this. We’ve been really good and it says a lot about us as a country that intends to do the right thing.”

Indo-China faceoff Addressing India’s geopolitics with China, Javid admitted that the relationship between India and China was already strained. He said, “What happened in India with the Chinese intervention is sad. No country is going to be left without a changed relationship with the second largest economy in the

world,” he added. “It is very worrying! You have two large countries having a huge issue since the 60s.

It’s horrible to see, to act deaf to the death of soldiers on the border.” In terms of what the UK can do, he said that we need to be getting on with what we were elected for, he said, “Our mandate is to get Brexit done and to stick to our commitment to readying opportunities.”

When asked what more can Britain do with China, Javid elaborated that the challenges that we face are global, for instance, climate

change or the pandemic, “To beat these things we need to find good working relationships with China, the world’s second largest economy,” he said, as he also stated that at some point it will be the biggest economy. “That said, we cannot be blind to issues,” he added.

Touching upon UK’s stance on Huawei, he said, “In terms of our own position I think we have done the right thing in the recent announcement and by listening to professionals and their advice.”

According to him, when professionals' advice changes, a sensible government will be willing to learn.

Given most large tech firms are American followed by upcoming Chinese firms, how can Britain remain competitive on a global standpoint as people's habits shift? Javid reacted to this and said, “We have a story to tell in many sectors specially tech where the UK is the root.

We are open to talent and we should remain open to talent. We must introduce the ability for students to stay longer in the UK, which was removed wrongly before. We got to be careful with taxation as well.”

Javid was asked about his opinion on the role that young British Asians have in forging India - UK relations. He said, “It is not just about the personal relationship of the leaders but the country too. Naturally, British Indians understand India better than non British Indians. I think bringing that to the table, understanding trade, culture, and diplomatic exchange we see some of the best trade we get between countries, that trade began with British Indians.”

Is anyone taking you for granted?

Rohit Vadhwana Our self-confidence is important to maintain confidence. A person whose self-respect is hurt again and again does not reflect the exuberant personality.

Therefore, people advise being amongst the confidence boosters, rather than negative people. Some friends are energy drainers and some are positive in attitude. Some relatives are of critical and complaining nature. There are some people around you who do not respect you for what you are. They make it a point to find out some flaw or mistake in your behaviour. They also comment on your habits.

While we may be dedicated to our relations and social circle, it is important to find out whether we are being respected or someone is taking us for granted? In other words, are we given due credit and respect for what we are doing for them? It is difficult to say whether it is happening or not, but the following questions will help in making a decision whether you are being taken for granted: 1. If someone is not extending basic respect and courtesy to you, it is the first indicator that you are being taken for granted.

2. If they do not involve you in their personal matters and also remain detached about your personal issues, it is another indication.

3. At times they make you work for them but while it's their turn, they do not walk a mile. They do not take the trouble to help you out in your need.

4. Someone is not faithful to you, keeps backbiting and does badmouthing about you in your absence. This is certainly not acceptable.

5. Doing something which may hurt your self-respect and hurt you emotionally. And still not caring to explain to you the reason for doing so.

6. Taking advantage of your feelings and using your skills and resources for their benefit, without reciprocating when it's their turn.

7. You do not reflect anywhere in their priority or important relationship. Neither they do show that you matter to them in a relationship.

8. Do not exhibit any enthusiasm about your requirement, preference or liking. This is a clear indication of their indifference towards you.

9. Without trying to understand your opinion or viewpoint, they impose their own thoughts on you. Do not believe in balanced, frank debate but try to subdue your views.

10. Never accepts your advice or suggestions even if they are correct and useful. Rather they do something which is contrary to your suggestions.

This is an important game for the weekend. You can examine your close relations and social circle against these 10 questions. Give one point, positive or negative, against each of these ten traits. If anyone falls less than half of the total score, it is certainly a time to chose your future course of action in that particular relationship.

Let's examine who is taking us for granted!

(Expressed opinions are personal)

Friends & colleagues mourn the loss of the former Mayor of Harrow, Mrinal Choudhury The former Mayor of Harrow, Mrinal Choudhury passed away last Friday.

Assembly Member for Brent & Harrow, Chair of London Assembly, Navin Shah shared this sad news on Twitter. He tweeted : “A tragic and sudden loss of Mrinal Choudhury a close friend, former Mayor of #Harrow and respected community activist - passed away on last Friday. A poet, he loved art, culture and spirituality. Will be sorely missed by the diverse communities in Harrow and @UKLabour RIP MRINAL.” Mourning the loss of the

former Mayor, the London Mayors' Association also tweeted, “The London Mayors' Association is sad to learn of the sudden death of Councillor Mrinal Choudhury Mayor of the London Borough of Harrow 2011/12 and our Member.”

Gareth Thomas, Labour & Co-op MP for Harrow West; Shadow Minister for International Trade shared his message on the demise of his former colleague, “It was an honour to know and serve alongside the wonderful @UKLabour Cllr & former Mayor Mrinal Choudhury who has just

passed away. Here too with great friend @NavinShah2016 RIP old friend.”

Arjun Mittra, Labour Cllr for East Finchley, London Borough of Barnet tweeted, “Really sad to hear that Mrinal Choudhury has passed away. A dearly beloved uncle.”

Labour Councillor, Richard Cotton posted on Twitter, “So sad to hear of the death of Mrinal Choudhury who was Mayor of Harrow 2011-12, a wonderfully efficient Secretary of the London Labour Mayors’ Association and a

lovely man. When we get to celebrate our centenary we will pay special tribute to him. Sympathy to his wife & family.”

Krupesh Hirani, Brent Labour Councillor and Cabinet Member for Public Health, Culture and Leisure tweeted, “Sad to hear about the loss of Mrinal. He was a brilliant individual that worked so hard for the community. RIP.” Current councillor for Kenton West, past Mayor of Harrow 2014-15 and Cabinet Assistant for Business, Ajay Maru posted, “Sad loss indeed RIP Mrinal.”

Mrinal Choudhury, former Mayor of Harrow

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Disability doesn’t mean it is the end of your life Shefali Saxena

Bhavini Makwana and her Super Guide Dog Colin

Bhavini Makwana uses a guide dog & advanced technology to live with a serious vision impairment with the support of her family. She’s now a volunteer for a UK based charity that helps more such people.

Imagine you are looking through a tunnel. When you’re walking down a lane, you may not see anything that’s above you until it has hit you in the face. Or, if you’re walking at home and there’s something that’s left open, like a cupboard door or a drawer, or if there are toys or something left on the floor, you won’t see that because your peripheral vision has gone. Teachers and parents sometimes think that the child is naughty or they can’t read or they might not want to do things. It’s not because they want to, it’s because they can’t. This eye condition is called RP or Retinitis pigmentosa.

RP is an eye disease in which the back wall of the eye (retina) is damaged. Symptoms include decreased vision at night or in low light and loss of side vision. There's no effective treatment for this condition. Asian Voice spoke to Bhavini Makwana who has overcome obstacles and learned to live with this serious eye condition.

Bhavini was coming out of a wedding reception when she couldn’t see at all and everything went pitch dark.

She underwent tests for about eight months. She was 17. She said, “I thought I was normal. I thought everybody doesn’t see in the dark. I thought everyone wears sunglasses all the time because the Sun is too bright. It didn’t occur to me that I was different. I thought everyone was the same until I started bumping into things, missing steps.”

Unfortunately, the news of her condition wasn’t delivered to her in a sensitive manner. “We were told you would go blind and this cannot be treated, so we went into shock and I didn’t know what life was going to be like. I only became aware of how a blind person does things differently from 2012- 2013, so about 15 years later when I became aware of a charity,” Makwana said.

“I was married when I was 22,” she said. From her side of the family her mother was a great support. “It was challenging. I moved to London from Leicester and tried to learn a new city. But then I was a daughterin-law. I came from a family that had a typical view of a daughter-in-law. I couldn’t make round chapatis. For instance, sometimes I spilled things and I’d freak out because, you know that Asian mentality. Because I grew up with a family like that, so I felt I had the duty to look after my in-laws, but I was struggling,” she added.

Explaining how she goes around her daily routine activities, Bhavini said, “The way I use Facebook, Twitter or social media - I have a phone which talks to me, I dictate my messages and whenever I touch my screen, my phone reads the messages you will type to me and I can dictate back. I use a Macbook. It also has an inbuilt software that talks to me. If I’ve received an email or some document, it speaks it out to me.” Over the years, she says that her daughters have really been supportive. “They’ve grown up with me losing my sight over the years,” she said.

At home, her family knows they can’t just leave things lying around because if she doesn’t know, Bhavini can trip and hurt herself. “In my bathroom, I know where my shampoo and conditioner or my shower gel is. And if there are similar bottles, I place them differently so that I know what’s what,” she explained.

“When the doorbell rings, they know that I’m not going to answer it.

They ring in advance that they are coming or they ring me when they are outside because I don’t just open the door if I’m not expecting someone. So they’ve (her children) learnt, they’ve accepted that my eyes aren’t going to get better. When they were younger and they used to go to school, they made pictures and drawings they knew I couldn’t see so they used to put my hand on top of the drawing and then describe it to me so that I know what they’ve done.”

Bhavini has had her own guide dog named Colin since August 28, 2018. “When I used to go to a parents’ evening or school, there were teach-

ers and children. Either they’d get scared of him or they’d want to play with him. But when he’s working, he shouldn’t be interrupted, so she (her daughter) did a whole presentation on all about my eye condition and the guide dog. I thought it was so lovely,” she said.

Her guide dog is trained to stop at the crossing. “He will only cross the road when the road is safe and there’s no car or anything. If there’s steps, again he would stop and then I stop. If there’s roadwork, he'll take me to the edge of the curve to tell me that there’s road work going on and that we have to walk a little bit onto the road and then back to the pavement again. I go to work in Central london and I can actually do that by myself now,” she said.

Makwana has just started a podcast to spread more awareness around her condition. “The podcast is mainly to spread awareness about the sight losses from the BAME community and to educate people.

Because we’re in 2020, I still find that the Asian mentality hasn’t lost that.

Disability doesn’t mean it is the end of your life,” she said.

Many old aunties and uncles meet her at a supermarket or outside and they come and speak to her husband while she’s sitting or standing right there but they won’t speak to her and ask if she’s alright. “I can speak for myself. If I say I’m fine thank you, they still keep talking to my husband. Then there are those who say to you, `Oh don’t worry it must be Karma’ or they say to me ‘I’ll pray for you’,” she stated. “I always say that don’t assume that they (specially abled people) can’t do something. Ask them if they need your help first. People who don’t seek help may take longer or may do it differently, but they want to do it themselves and people should respect that,” Bhavini affirmed.

When Bhavini didn’t use a cane or a guide dog, she’d hold onto her husband’s arm for support and people gossiped about her being a controlling wife, not realising her condition. “I’m now in a phase where I don’t care anymore. This is my life, I’ve accepted it,” she said.

Student becomes the first Indian to win a full scholarship to attend the Felsted International Summer School 2021 Debashmi Chakrabarti of Modern High School For Girls, Kolkata, has become the first participant from India to win a 100 percent scholarship to attend the Felsted International Summer School 2021.

The Kolkata based student who is in the year nine of high school, took part in the Felsted Summer School Programme, which was organised virtually this year, from 6th to 17th July by Felsted School, Essex, United Kingdom.

The courses offered were, Global Studies and English. The IGCSE students of Modern High School for Girls, par-

ticipated in this Programme, along with over 600 participants from 40 countries. At the end, all the students took part in the Felsted Global Scholarship Competition.

Based on their contributions, Debashmi Chakrabarti emerged as the winner and she has been awarded a 100 percent scholarship to attend the Felsted International Summer School 2021.

Debashmi exclusively spoke to Asian Voice and shared that the course was introduced to her by her teachers. “We were basically given access to the online

summer school programme.

It was a two week course.

Everyday we got a new topic and we had 673 students from about 40 countries in the Global Studies course.

We learnt about international relations, wildlife protection, realism, social constructivism and more,” she said.

The entire course has had a huge impact on her holistic understanding of global issues which is also a subject in her school that was introduced this year.

Learning in a multicultural and truly global digital environment Debashmi said that she didn’t expect varied

responses for each question.

“Opinions varied from country to country and individual to individual,” she added. Explaining more about the scholarship that Debashmi has won for the Felsted International Summer School 2021, she said, “It’s a two week course.

We were given a sort of task where we were supposed to present a review of our take away from the programme and if we won the scholarship, why would be great for the course. So I made a video about that and I was fortunate enough to win the scholarship.”

A very excited Debashmi

Debashmi Chakrabarti

added, “I’m really looking forward to meeting those people in person.” When asked about her career goals and aspirations, she said, “I’m really leaning towards the field of journalism.

Because I love to write and

speak. I also like experimenting with mystery and psychological thrillers.” She writes movie reviews once in a month for a website that has collaborated with all prestigious schools of Kolkata.

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DO NOT BLAME US! WE WEREN’T O Continued from page - 1 However, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing and Local Communities Government told Asian Voice exclusively, “The Government is clear that no single community is responsible for the spread of COVID-19 and decisions around local lockdowns have been taken on the scientific evidence to prevent the further spread of the virus.

“We’ve seen British Muslims across the country step up as volunteers, front line workers and good friends and neighbours to support others during this time. This Eid has been a time to reflect and celebrate that effort while making sure everyone stays safe.”

temporarily suspended since late country to get this right and do it £10bn national scheme. Whilst Community, businesses and acaMarch due to the Covid-19 outtogether”. At a Downing Street local lockdowns are seen as a way to demics worry for future break. They are now extremely caupress conference he thanked all combat the spread of infection, the Anil Puri, Chairman at Purico tious of conducting any procedures faith and community leaders espegovernment is gearing up to launch before ensuring that every single cially the Imams and mosques for the largest flu vaccination Ltd. said, “We have noticed that patient that comes to the hospital is accurate dissemination of crucial drive this year espethere are pockets within the first tested for Covid-19. According information about coronavirus in cially as advisors country which are worse to him, the test results arrive in an the communities and said, “I think warn that complithan the rest of the hour and only then do they move it’s up to all of us in Government to cations from country, which partly forward with their line of treatment make sure that the message is being Covid-19 infeccomes down to reliand admissions. The latest statistics heard loud and clear by everybody tion during the gious issues etc., in Wolverhampton reveal that across the country, and to make onset of the flu where people are there was an average of 15.26 cases sure that everybody is complying season can still meeting up for per 100,000 residents over the with the guidance. I want to thank result in about religious occasions, seven days in the run up to August all the community leaders, I want 120,000 deaths thus assisting the 1, up from 14.49 cases a week to thank everybody, the mosques, across the UK. virus as I put it. But it before. In the meantime, Sandwell the imams who have worked hard Speaking about seems there are certain has also been placed on the list of with us to get messages across. But, the UK’s preparedpockets that are not listen“area of concern” by Public Health ultimately, it’s up everybody. It’s up ness for a second wave, Professor Imran Awan ing. I hope people will listen England. to the whole country to get this Dr Shariff said, “The promore and follow the guideReacting to Whittaker’s baseless right and do it together.” jections may or may not be correct. lines and will be better off with allegations about Asians and immiYet, recent analysis of fixedIf there were to be a second wave, that.”

Inflammatory attempt of the govgrants not following lockdown penalty notices issued under the we are much better prepared than Puri said that his leisure centre ernment to divide the community rules, Dr Shariff said, “They are not coronavirus regulations by we were in the beginning with new was shut down and it reopened particularly helpful statements and National Police Chiefs’ Council hospitals at our disposal. We do recently on July 4. He said, “The The MP for Calder Valley’s they pertain to a trend of blame (NPCC) found that BAME people have much better capacity now to start has been good, but we don't statements appear as the governgame without any accuwere 1.6 times more likely to deal with any kind of a surge in expect the business to be back in ment announced changes to rate information be fined than white peocases. With regards to the flu immediate strength. This could be rules on gatherings in being available. ple for violating the vaccine drive, we are or will be a horrible year for wedGreater Manchester, Yes, in lockdown rules. The always required to give a dings, but we hope that 2021 West Yorkshire and Birmingham we NPCC found flu jab to all our dialyshould be a fairly good year for us.

East Lancashire. As did see a large 17,039 fines were sis patients every sinWe will have the current year's many as four milnumber of issued between 27 gle year. And instead weddings and next year's wedlion people across coronavirus March and 25 of asking the GPs or dings. I appreciate the efforts that these regions now cases coming May, which repprimary care doctors the government has taken for the banned from in from the resents only three to provide a flu jab, industry, and this month ‘Eat Out’ meeting people BAME commufines per 10,000 we give it to our dialyfor three days in a week, subsidised from different nity. But that is people. But the rate sis patients before they rate for holidays, all of that is very households indoors. our local populafor black people was show up for their dialysis helpful.”

Declaring a major tion and the admis4.6 per 10,000 and for sessions to make things He also owns two care homes incident in the region, sion at our hospitals Dr. Adnan Shariff easier for the patients. So, as and had put it under a lockdown the Greater Manchester Councillor Rabina Khan Asian people it was 4.7. will be a reflection of This only demonstrates long as we use such initiatives much ahead of the government’s Combined Authority the population. It is true that certhat the BAME community is yet and ensure that all the vulnerable lockdown announcement.

(GMCA) has imposed new locktain ethnic groups have a much again found at the receiving end of groups are vaccinated, it should “We had stopped any family down restrictions in a bid to comhigher risk of contracting severe discrimination. help prevent any more complicamember from coming to the care bat a “second-wave” of Covid-19 Covid-19 and a disproportionate tions.” home. There were no visitors. In virus whilst emphasising that it was BAME doctors at Covid-19 amount of people from the BAME one of them, we did not have a “standard practice” and that “peofrontline Report highlights Islamophobic community who are likely to be single death of a resident due to ple should not be alarmed.” online cyber hubs admitted to Intensive Care Unit Covid-19. I am very proud of that.

The government appears to GMCA comprises of ten counand possibly die. But there are As an industry, we did not have have forgotten that the This concern about certain cils: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, other reasons for their the PPE in time due to the shortBAME community has right-wing groups and online Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, deaths including their age of it. We have done our own been disproportiontweets claiming that the commuStockport, Tameside, Trafford and socio-economic analysis of it and we found that it ately impacted by nity is not abiding by the Wigan. In the past week, there have lifestyle patterns and is not because of any mismanageCovid-19 due to Government guidelines around been 69 cases per 100,000 in pre-existing health ment in our teams. The nature of their socio-ecosocial distancing to prevent coronBlackburn with Darwen, which has issues. the virus was changing shape very nomic lifestyle, avirus was flagged up a few now crossed Leicester where the “There may be, rapidly. We were unable to guide pre-existing illmonths ago when Ramadan had infection rate has fallen to 50 cases some people in our key members and understand nesses with a just commenced. In his research per 100,000. However, there is no BAME communities their needs. This has been a chalmajority of them study Imran Awan, Professor of clear data indicating that a majority who may not be lenging industry as we know for a being employed Criminology at Birmingham City of the Covid-19 patients across properly following the long time and I think it will conas key frontlines University and Roxana Khanthese regions are from the BAME lockdown rules. But tinue to be a challenging industry workers as NHS Williams, found that community. there are people across in the near future.” doctors, care workIslamophobic online ‘Cyber Hubs’ Challenging the government ers, TfL bus drivers Claudia Webbe MP for Leicester East all ethnic groups who were being formed which linked Speaking about the investfor its “inflammatory attempt” of are not following these rules. We and at cash and carry shops.

Muslims to the spread of COVIDment and property sector, Puri dividing the community, Claudia have had a spell of nice weather and Dr Adnan Sharif is a consultant 19, and therefore spreading antiadded that he has been trying to Webbe, Labour MP for Leicester beaches in South England a couple transplant nephrologist at Queen Muslim memes and sharing fake help his tenants at shopping cenEast said, “We must oppose all of weeks ago were absolutely Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) news stories. Commenting on the tres. “We know the chaos of the attempts to divide our communipacked. Pictures showed that the Birmingham. QEH is part of the research study, Dr Awan had then major retailers. The business of ties, which have been under signifimajority of those people were peoUniversity Hospitals Birmingham said, “The rise of fake news and shops versus online has been a big cant strain and have made many ple from the white community. I NHS Foundation Trust, combining how social media spreads it has led challenge. Some of the bigger sacrifices during lockdown. don’t think the blame game is corfour hospitals together and has to a lot of these myths produced by shops and property will be affect“When people punch downrect because across the board there recorded the highest number of the far-right being spread to the ed I suspect,” he said. Puri’s enterwards, they let the powerful and is a majority of people who follow Covid-19 fatalities across the UK. point that some have actually prise also makes papers for the tea those responsible off the hook. At the rules and a minority who don’t.

According to Dr. Shariff said, “We made their way into mainstream bags, coffee pouches, papers for every step in this crisis - from lockBut that doesn’t mean one ethnic had just about 900 Covid-19 deaths, media, despite being debunked. the outer layer of the salamis and down delay, equipment shortages, group should be targeted or victhe highest number of Covid-19 sausages. He said, “All of this “What this report demonstrates care home neglect, testing delays, timised.” deaths reported across hospitals in business has had a phenomenal is how the COVID-19 crisis has insufficient data and much more – the UK with about 5,000 or more demand. To the retailers who are been used to create ‘others’ of the government has failed to adeFlu drive and contact tracing to coronavirus patients. We dissupplying to our customers the Muslims blaming them for the quately protect our communities. combat a second Covid-19 wave charged the final Covid-19 patient major high street retailers for spread of the virus, and the extent The government should be from our intensive care unit last domestic consumption, their sales to which the spread of fake news The government has reportedly ashamed at their inflammatory month. And since then, things have have gone up. Those customers online is contributing to this adopted several measures to preattempts to deflect from their own been much quieter than they were who were providing these services extremely worrying trend.” vent a second Covid-19 wave. This failures. Our diversity is our in April. to the hospitality and leisure serThe research was commisincludes local councils setting up strength – and we must reject these “It is difficult to estimate the vices have collapsed completely.” sioned by the independent memtheir own virus-hunting team after divide and rule tactics.” exact number of coronavirus At his mills, Puri’s teams have bers of the Anti-Muslim Hatred the national system failed to reach patients today but there may be been measuring temperatures of Working Group and the report is hundreds of its most vulnerable Johnson refuses to criticise about 10-25 active coronavirus workers, checking on them for available here: https://anti-musresidents. Blackburn with Darwen Whittaker cases at the hospital.” their well-being to make sure that lim-hatred-working-group.home. council, in Lancashire with the However, prime minister Boris Dr Shariff explains that the none of their family members blog/2020/04/20/coronavirushighest infection rate in England Johnson has refused to criticise QRH had resumed their kidney come in contact with a Covid-19 fear-and-how-islamophobiahas launched its own contact-tracWhittaker’s comments and instead transplant program which had been patient. spreads-on-social-media/ ing system to plug holes in the explained that “it is up to the whole

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ON THE BEACHES OR IN DURHAM Dr Subhajit Basu, (Chair, is totally unacceptable and unfair to as senior officials, senior academics sector but still we are unsure what exposed the systemic faults more single out and taint a specific or in leadership positions in the future holds as a second or third starkly than we could have ever BILETA, Managing Editor, IRLCT, community, when it is clear that the academia. The immediate concern is wave can decimate many businesses imagined. What it has also done is School of Law, University of Leeds) problem is caused by a small not so about safety but more about in this area.” to solidify the typologies around feels that the narrative that the Anindita Ghosh, Professor of percentage of all types of people. discrimination, and a sense of migrants, races and ethnicities. The BAME communities in Hearing Islamophobic comments so helplessness against illiterate, non-English speaking Britain are deliberately Modern Indian History at the close to Eid is very scapegoating and (warning leaflets needed printing in flaunting rules is University of disheartening but sadly scare-mongering,” he multiple languages), unhygienic Manchester feels dangerous, misguided something that I have said. (‘they don’t wash their hands’ - on that, while poverty and condemnable. come to expect from Reacting to the social media), irresponsible, milling and poor health Dr Basu told this our leaders. I wish this Islamophobic populations who threaten the might have had newsweekly, “For could be different and comments recently borders of the healthy bodies. It is a role to play, some people, this we could become a made by the MPs interesting that faced with a silence around challenges their more open and ahead of Eid, smallpox epidemic the British other key issues ill-conceived Ghanashyam Nabar, tolerant society , but colonial government in India had such as rhetoric around this also works both operated on the principle that a an Indian settled in race and immigration, structural racism ways as we must also ‘cordon sanitaire’ (sanitary cordon) the UK said, “The 'for any problem in in our society practice what we preach needed to be constructed around impact of Covid-19 is felt this country, blame the and our and embrace the change English and European populations is immigrants'. We have seen Dr Subhajit Basu by all and spirits have sadly institutions, that we hope will be living in the sub-continent, by been extremely low over last online toxicity and the BAME problematic. She said, Anil Puri bestowed upon us. introducing compulsory many months. Festivals like Eid community have faced outright “The racialised narrative of “However I do agree with the vaccination for the Indian bring back the community spirit, the racism. Stigmatisation also takes a blame is selective, tactical and has a government that some people, populations.

The underlying celebratory mood and above all the toll on those who are actually long history to do with empire, and Asians included have not been premise here was that all Indians feeling of belongingness. And affected by the disease. Attitudes with both irrationality and disease following the guidelines and rules as were vectors or carriers of the although digitally, families must towards immigrants have been being situated indelibly in colonial they should. There is a need to take a disease with potential for infecting have certainly made the most of this worsening over the years. bodies, cultures and mindsets.” closer look at the communities Europeans.” Ghosh feels that there beautiful festival, especially the kids “However, in recent years we Prof Ghosh also commented on where there are second spikes and has been a remarkable lack of and elders. I think it is time we all have seen a considerable increase in Islamophobia and language related try to analyse why this is happening. sympathy in the geography, manner become sensitive around what we anti-Muslim sentiment across rumours, “So let us consider what Is there total disregard for rules by and timing of the lockdown communicate and how we Britain and these misguided the experts have said so the community? Is it lack of messages. communicate in these testing times. comments by some of the MPs will far about the reasons education due to Covid-19 and “The most recent A kind and considerate word is all we fuel the existing racial and religious for higher numbers hygiene? Is it because extended one a few hours before need.” prejudices. I am apprehensive about of infections and families all live under one roof the Eid celebrations Speaking about the fate of Islamophobia within the political deaths among increasing chances for exposure? Is it were due to begin, businesses, he added, “The circle. Any large-scale gathering can South Asian lower socioeconomic areas operative in Government has actively become a hotspot for virus communities. tried to re-ignite the fire transmission regardless of the racial We are familiar where locals have jobs predominantly Muslim across sectors, regions profile of participants. The with the usual areas and let us where they interact and communities additional restrictions that have reasons cited by admit, not handled in more with the public through the been placed on people living in now by experts – the most sensitive and are more at injection of Greater Manchester, parts of East poverty, poor manner (first released risk? I’m not sure funding and Lancashire, West Yorkshire and housing, health via a twitter message). what the answer to various schemes.

Leicester highlights that some The government’s fear was these are. This inequality, frontline Anindita Ghosh However the people from the BAME community that the convivial occasion of does not mean that jobs and multigenerational Covid-19 impact are significantly more vulnerable Eid - when families and friends met only Asians are households. But while these might through the than others and that could be related for happy celebrations in situations causing increased be the obvious and immediate lockdown restriction to several factors including where social distancing is vastly spread , I think it’s a reasons for the virus to spread, it has not only impacted underlying health conditions due to reduced - might lead to widespread problem we have with points to deeper social inequalities UK Plc. but global their socioeconomically infection. A more holistic approach people as a whole as they that correspond with racial Ghanashyam Nabar businesses. With uncertainty disadvantaged background. People in tackling the disease would ensure are fed up with being at inequalities. It is worth asking the looming over a resurgence of a from minority communities often success. The virus does not home, and we must realise that it question why it is that BAME second wave, no one is able to live with extended families mingling discriminate, nor should the takes a huge psychological toll on all communities have suffered so. The correctly predict the future business in crowded conditions, where measures drawn up to tackle it,” of us. The government has done virus in my opinion has signalled environment. Fate of many maintaining social distancing she said. well in helping the hospitality the time for social change, and businesses remains undecided, sometimes can be very difficult. although it is definitely time to Even though we understand introspect and explore partnerships Covid-19 a bit more than what we with innovation for long term used to back in March, the sustainability and survival.” possibility and fear of a second wave In reference to the BAME were always predicted unless there is population, he further said, a vaccine. It could be argued that “Amongst the many things the relaxation of lockdown happened community has consistently done, it too fast and did not actually give has supported the NHS by being the enough time to flatten the pandemic first and last line of defence through curve successfully.” the huge number of nurses and Sharing his thoughts further on doctors who have sacrificed, in many how the community needs to go cases their lives in their dedication forward during the second wave, he to their patients. Racist remarks and said, “The stereotyping done by selective outrage will not only some of the MPs is a failure on the dampen the spirits of this motivated part of the government to expand community but it will also affect the public outreach, promote tolerance, future generations, making them and counter hate speech while rethink about their options.” aggressively investigating and A Muslim member of the BAME prosecuting hate crimes. The community who wants to remain government needs to ensure anonymous, shared with us how the individuals from the BAME family celebrated Eid this year. “Eid community can access the support was celebrated without friends and they need to avoid social isolation. family sharing meals, laughing The government should proactively together, with kids playing, we did restrict stereotypical and misleading The UK government has urged medicine suppliers to Steve Oldfield, wrote. not visit others homes and it did reporting about Covid-19 to stop build up stockpiles to prepare for possible border “However, we encourage companies to make have an impact on the whole further reinstatement towards the disruptions when Britain severs ties with the European stockpiling a key part of contingency plans, and ask celebration. But I think it was community.”

Union at the end of the year. In a letter published late industry, where possible, to stockpile to a target level of necessary to be cautious to protect From an academic point of view, Monday (3), the health ministry set out how firms six weeks’ total stock on UK soil.” the vulnerable. It is a known fact Dr Basu thinks that the UK is not could prepare for the end of the Brexit transition The government stockpiled some key products that Islamophobia exists in the UK sending the right message, period on December 31 and the introduction of new including medical devices ahead of January 31, and and many other countries particularly when UK Universities customs controls.

Oldfield said it would build this store back up to a sixworldwide. Unfortunately our are trying very hard to attract week level before December. leaders are the ones who help propel international students.

“This The letter also advises medical suppliers to plan on “We recognise that global supply chains are under such hate and discrimination and set stigmatisation will not help! how they might re-route supplies in case of disruption significant pressure, exacerbated by recent events with the narrative for a story that is biased Currently, people from BAME at major ports such as Dover.

Covid-19,” the ministry’s chief commercial officer, and twisted. In these trying times it communities are under-represented

Government urges suppliers to stockpile

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Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel Sustainability and Social Impact Investment is getting a lot of coverage. It’s the new big thing in investing. The big banks are getting behind it, the big entrepreneurs are too.

I can think of few things more Hindu than sustainability. So how can you do it? Especially when the City and investment has so much power to shape our world.

Well, you could exclude certain groups such as weapons, tobacco, alcohol, gambling companies. That’s common. But even here people would say they disagree with some issues there.

You could focus on companies who have ESG ratings, that is Governance, Social and Environmental factors. And you could say you will only invest where the social impact is measured. This is something a company I work with does using blockchain – www.worldwidegeneration.co and also another one www.finboot.com which for instance makes sure your clothes have not been produced by slave or child labour using blockchain to track.

Yes it’s small. Some say impact investing is $500 billion worldwide whilst $75 trillion is the value of all stock exchanges.

The good news is you have so much demand and will be on trend doing it because we know from UN Sustainable Development Goals, and scandals like VW, Enron, BP that these issues are no longer ignored and forgotten – or indeed Bhopal – but that has still been largely forgotten (Dow Chemicals owns the company which was responsible for the Bhopal disaster).

The good news is it’s also good for your pocket: Systematic reviews of the literatureconclude that integrating sustainable factors either improves financial returns, or causes no detriment to them, across all asset classes.” According to Professor Timo Busch, in 2017, from School of Business, Economics and Social sciences, University of Hamburg.

And we know from disasters that investors will punish companies who do not comply – just look at the share prices of Equifax, Valeant, Vale, VW after their respective failures of governance. Yes indeed, it’s not sustainable.

Covid has reminded us all that our food supplies, our living conditions, our modes of transport, our ways of working, they are all killing us. It’s time for change.

EasyJet expands flight schedule as demand grows EasyJet has expanded its summer schedule following rising demand and says it plans to operate about 1,000 flights a day in August. The budget carrier said popular destinations included Faro and Nice, along with city breaks such as Amsterdam and Paris. EasyJet will have 210 planes flying this month and expects to operate 40% of its capacity between July and September, higher than the 30% predicted at its first-half results.

Johan Lundgren, the chief executive, said the UK’s sudden decision to reimpose a quarantine for people arriving from Spain last month had not caused customers to cancel their travel plans but put them off making new bookings to the country. He said holidaymakers were now looking at other beach destinations such as Greece, Turkey and Croatia.

“Customers have an underlying desire and willingness to book and travel,” he said, with demand for flights to Portugal boosted by second-homeowners, despite a quarantine requirement. Lundgren called for more engagement from the UK government, saying the aviation sector had not been consulted about the quarantine move in advance. He proposed regional quarantines: “We urgently need to target quarantine requirements to where spikes have occurred rather than at national level,.”

EasyJet, along with other airlines, was recently criticised by the Civil Aviation Authority for not issuing refunds for cancelled flights quickly enough. Lundgren said he could understand the frustration of customers and the airline was processing refunds within 28 days, after hiring hundreds of people to deal with a huge backlog.

Labour party seeks extension of furlough subsidies The Labour party and a leading welfare thinktank have called on the government to extend furlough subsidies for the country's hardest-hit industries as employers are forced to make financial contributions towards temporarily laid-off workers.

The Resolution Foundation said around half of the 9.2 million people placed on the government's job retention scheme (JRS) since it launched in April have still not returned to work.

The group warned that

Rishi Sunak

these people faced the prospect of widespread redundancies when the scheme, which covers 80 per

cent of workers' wages, closes on October 31. Labour, meanwhile, said nightclubs and indoor soft-play areas, which are still banned from reopening, could be forced to cut thousands of jobs as employers face having to contribute to the scheme prior to its deadline.

Shadow Business Secretary Ed Miliband said the government would be “culpable for thousands of

workers across the country losing their jobs and livelihoods” unless it urgently adjusted the furlough scheme. He said, “Business in vastly different sectors and circumstances should not be treated in this uniform way, and it is clearly unfair and illogical for those employers still locked down and unable to trade.”

Labour said night-time industries alone could face costs into hundreds of million pounds, based on industry figures that suggest over 500,000 workers are furloughed in that sector.

Study reveals huge changes in migration patterns of UK citizens A brand new BritishGerman study reveals an exodus of economically productive people from the UK to EU nations on large scales. A project made up of Oxford University, four Berlin institutions, and the WZB Berlin Social Science Center, found a “seismic shift” in the number of UK citizens already living abroad.

The study says that migration from the UK to EU countries has increased by about 30 per cent compared to pre-Brexit num-

bers. Britons living in other EU countries who decided to obtain EU member state passports as well as their UK ones had increased by more than 500 per cent overall, and by 2,000 per cent in Germany. Coauthor of the report, Dr Daniel Auer said, “These increases in numbers are of a magnitude that you would expect when a country is hit by a major economic or political crisis.”

The study also found that UK migrants are among the most educated and skilled of those from

any nation. They are also with one of the highest net average income rates. In Germany, UK migrants were among the highest earners, bringing in on average €2,812 a month in 2019. There are now about 1.2 million British citizens living in the EU, between 120,000 and 150,000 of which are in Germany.

Some 31,600 Brits have been granted dual British/German citizenship in the four years since the Brexit referendum in 2016.

The report says about half of all British citizens living

in Germany will have dual UK/German nationality by the end of 2020. Co-author of the report Daniel Tetlow was quoted as saying, “We're observing a new social migration phenomenon and a redefining of what it means to be British-European. In 2019, Brits came in just behind Turks in numbers receiving German citizenship – way ahead of Poles, Romanians, Iraqis or Syrians, whom you might otherwise expect to be more eagerly applying for German/EU citizenship.”

UK factory output grows at UK property market fastest rate since 2017 - PMI rebounds, average house prices jump unexpectedly

The UK property market posted the biggest monthly rise since 2009 with average house prices jumped unexpectedly by £4,500 in July.

Nationwide said prices rose 1.7 per cent last month compared to June taking the average sale price of a UK home to £220,936.

However, the UK's biggest mortgage lender warned that July's increase could prove to be a “false dawn” driven primarily by pent-up demand.

British manufacturing output grew at its fastest pace in nearly three years in July as factories reopened and demand began to pick up after the coronavirus lockdown was eased, a closely watched business survey showed.

The IHS Markit/CIPS manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 53.3 in July from June’s 50.1, broadly in line with an earlier flash estimate of 53.6 and the highest since March 2019. The PMI’s output component - which survey compilers IHS Markit say currently gives a clearer sense of the sector’s health - rose to its highest since November 2017 at 59.3.

Orders grew for the first time in five months and optimism rose by the most in two years. However, the index levels represent the pace of growth rather than the amount of output, and the sector has a long

way to get back to where it was before the lockdown.

“Despite the solid start to the recovery, the road left to travel remains long and precarious. An extended period of growth is still needed to fully recoup the ground lost in recent months,” IHS Markit director Rob Dobson said.

Official data showed British manufacturing output collapsed by 28% over March and April, before rising 8% in May. Car production in the first half of 2020 was the lowest since 1954 and 40% below its level in the same period of 2019, according to industry data released last week.

Britain’s future trading relationship with the European Union is also a worry for many businesses that rely on panEuropean supply chains, as an 11month tariff-free transition period ends this year, with no sign yet of a replacement deal.

The world's largest building society warned the house price recovery may be built on shaky foundations. Nationwide's chief economist Robert Gardner said, “The bounceback in prices reflects the unexpectedly rapid recovery in housing market activity since the easing of lockdown restrictions.” He added, “There is a risk this proves to be something of a false dawn. Most forecasters expect labour market conditions to weaken significantly in the quarters ahead as a result of the aftereffects of the pandemic and as government support schemes wind down. If this comes to pass, it would likely dampen housing activity once again in the quarters ahead.”

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8 - 14 August 2020

India blocks another set of Chinese apps like Baidu & Weibo India has blocked Baidu Search and Weibo, among the most influential apps of China and dubbed as the country’s answer to Google search and Twitter respectively.

Weibo, launched in 2009 by Sina Corporation, has over 500 million registered users globally. It had Prime Minister Narendra Modi as one of its star users after the he opened an account on the microblogging Chinese website in 2015 ahead of his visit to the neighbouring country.

Baidu has been testing waters in India (one of its significant products here is Facemoji keyboard), and the

company wanted to increase its engagement in the country, something spoken about by its CEO Robin Li, who came visiting the IIT Madras campus in January this year. The two apps, which are among the flagship internet products of China, have been asked to be taken off from the app stores of Google and Apple, while the internet service providers (IPSs) have also

been told to block them.

“They are among the 47 new apps that the government had banned on July 27,” an official source said, adding that the government is also considering a decision to block more apps. While the first decision to ban 59 key apps, such as Tik-Tok, UC Browser, Helo, Likee, Shareit, Mi Community, We-Chat and CamScanner, was taken on June 29, the government had supplemented the list by adding 47 more, though this time refraining from making the list public.

Most of the apps in the second decision included clones and different versions of some of the original apps, such as TikTok Lite, Likee Lite, Bigo Live Lite, ShareIt Lite, and CAM Scanner HD. The government has decided to block the apps after accusing them of “engaging in activities which are prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.” During his visit, Baidu’s Li had said that the company wants to work with Indian technology institutions, specially in areas such as artificial intelligence and mobile computing.

Tata Motors to seek foreign partner in India car business Tata Motors has set the ball rolling to induct a foreign strategic partner in its India passenger vehicle business by transferring the unit to a wholly owned subsidiary for £941.7 million.

The flagship of the Tata Group is in talks with multiple automakers, including European and East Asian players, to sell up to 49% stake in its India passenger vehicle business, which accounted for 4% (£1.03 billion) of its turnover in fiscal 2020.

The move to bring in a strategic partner in the India car business comes 12 years after Tata Motors acquired Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) from Ford for $2.3

billion. The deal catapulted the Indian company into the club of the largest automotive players in the world. “The India passenger car business is something that we want to run and hence, we will not hand over majority control of the unit,” said a top official of Tata Motors.

India reviewing trade pact with Asean India is reviewing the continuation of its free trade agreement with Asean in the wake of the trading bloc’s reluctance to address India’s concerns over what it believes are asymmetries in the decade-old treaty.

India's main grouse is the rising trade deficit with the 10-country grouping, many of which is seen to be Chinese goods that are routed via some of the Asean members.

“Reciprocal arrangements are being sought with the countries with which we have opened up our markets. Reciprocity is a very critical point in our trade negotiations,” India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said at an Ficci event.

The Narendra Modi government has blamed the trade arrangements worked out by the UPA for a large part of the problem of trade deficit, arguing that the agreements with Asean, South Korea and Japan were signed in haste and India’s interests were not adequately protected. As a result, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal has been demanding renegotiation of certain provisions under a review mechanism, something that Asean has so far refused to accept.It has told India that the review can only take place after it concludes the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership with China, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Korea, showing its reluctance to engage.

The wholly owned subsidiary, TML Business Analytics Services, will issue fresh shares to Tata Motors towards the £941.7 million payment. Once the India passenger car business is separated, Tata Motors will be left with the commercial vehicle business and investments in JLR and other subsidiaries. Tata Motors, which started as Telco in September 1945 with the manufacturing of boilers and locomotives, ventured into commercial vehicles in 1954 and, after more than three decades, got into making passenger cars.

The company has held talks with various Chinese players, including Geely,

Changan and Chery. The latter is a partner in JLR’s China play, holding 50% stake in the venture. The deteriorating diplomatic relations between India and China has impacted dealmaking, said a source close to the developments.

Tata Motors has also held talks with other players, including France’s PSA group. But with PSA merging with Fiat Chrysler, things have gone slow, the source added. Fiat Chrysler already has a manufacturing joint venture with Tata Motors in India. PSA, on the other hand, is making a re-entry into India with plans to launch its Citroen brand next year.

PM Modi tells bankers to fund bankable projects sans fear Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged India's top lenders to fund bankable projects, undeterred by the nonperforming assets (NPAs) generated in the past, and promised to fully back the executives.

“The crucial role of the financial and banking system of supporting growth was discussed. It was noted that the small entrepreneurs, SHGs (self-help groups), farmers should be motivated to use institutional credit to meet their credit needs and grow. Each bank needs to introspect and take a relook at its practices to ensure stable credit growth. Banks should not treat all proposals with the same yardstick and need to distinguish and identify bankable proposals…,” the PM’s Office said in a statement after the meeting.

Modi also prodded bankers to push loans to MSMEs, farmers, microfinance institutions and non-banking finance companies, which were provided special thrust during the package announced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman two months ago. The meeting came in the backdrop of concerns in the government that banks were parking funds instead of lending for

Narendra Modi

productive use, which is seen to be crucial to revive growth. Bankers are risk averse as not just public sector executives but even those from the private sector, including the ICICI Bank top management, are facing corruption charges. Modi used the platform to once again reassure banks, saying that he was strongly behind them and they should not have any fear. The PM said that no banker was in jail for taking a decision in the course of his duty. On their part, bankers suggested that there was a need for assurances on cash flows from projects and that development institutions such as Sidbi and IIFCL should be providing equity capital instead of competing with banks.

Double the size for half the price!

Suresh Vagjiani, Sow & Reap Properties Ltd

We are currently renovating 6 flats we purchased in Perivale. On the fourth or fifth visit, in between contemplating whether we should do a light refurb for now or go for a full fit out, the penny dropped to say why don’t we turn each property into a 2 bedroom.

This simple procedure is expected to increase the rental income by 50%. It wasn’t obvious as these were smallish one bedrooms; however, each one had a square communal area which fed into the all the rooms. The kitchens were all in separate rooms. Therefore, with some clever reconfiguration we could have decently sized 2 bedroom flats with open plan kitchens.

I ran it by the corporate tenants we already have in mind to take the property, and as long as the minimum square footage is complied with, they are onboard.

A minor refurb here isn’t really appropriate as these properties haven’t been touched in a few decades.

The difference in cost is around £5K for a light refurb and around £25K for a full refurbishment.

With a light refurb, the incoming tenants would have continuously been reporting problems, and more importantly, the valuation would not have been to the level we would have liked.

We have now gained planning permission on the ground floor for 2 flats; we were looking to go back in for 3, however, we will be doing a U turn and sticking to the original plan.

This has been driven by the long term tenants we have in mind, the rent they will be paying for 2 four bedroom flats will far outweigh the rental which would have been achieved on three smaller units.

The aim is to finish the works as soon as possible, with a view of extracting our client's money out and then having a constant cash flow.

There is, however, much much more which can be done to this property; and looking at the building it looks intuitively possible.

Namely by going two stories higher and also pushing out to the rear, again 2 more stories.

There is a reason why we will not be holding our breath for this to come through. For this to happen we would enter the uncertain and whimsical world of planning. There is no fixed time for this to occur and no certainty as to whether it would occur.

So, from an investment angle it is better to play the cards you have, and tidy the deal so your investment is out and is still producing for you on a monthly basis. Your deal is now stabilised; and you are not dependent on the planning coming through. You can then look to cash in further. The tenants too have been chosen with a second peak of COVID19 in mind. It is anticipated that rental should still be coming in.

YES BANK SENDS POSSESSION NOTICE TO ANIL AMBANI Yes Bank has issued a notice of possession for Anil Ambani’s Reliance Group headquarters at Santacruz and two other offices in south Mumbai. In its notice, the bank said it was effecting recovery against a£289.2 million loan to Reliance Infrastructure. The bank’s action includes taking over two floors of office space in Nagin Mahal at Backbay under a law that allows it to sell assets of defaulters. The headquarters was situated on a 21,432-square metre plot, which was a legacy of Reliance’s acquisition of BSES two decades ago. BSES was rechristened Reliance Energy and subsequently repositioned as Reliance Infrastructure, which currently owns the property. The group shifted to the office at Santacruz in 2018. The building, off the Western Express Highway, overlooks Mumbai airport. Besides Reliance Infrastructure, it houses offices of Reliance's financial services including Reliance Capital, Reliance Housing Finance, Reliance General Insurance and other group firms. In recent months as the group shrunk its operations, most of the offices were consolidated in the North Wing, and the property was listed for lease with JLL.

MARUTI POSTS 1ST LOSS SINCE ’03 Maruti Suzuki reported its first loss since it became a listed entity in 2003 as lockdown and other restrictions crippled sales and production for the country’s largest car maker. The company, controlled by Japanese Suzuki Motor, said net loss in the April-June, FY21 stood at £24.9 million, a steep decline compared to a profit of £143.6 million in the same period of the previous fiscal. “Owing to the global pandemic of Covid-19, it was an unprecedented quarter in the company’s history wherein a large part of the quarter had zero production and zero sales in compliance with a lockdown stipulated by the government,” the company said. It said the production and sales could begin “in a very small way” only in the month of May. “The company’s first priority was the health, safety and well-being of all employees and associates across the value chain, including its customers.

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PAKISTAN & BANGLADESH

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Pak govt told to give India another chance to get Jadhav a lawyer ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: The Islamabad high court ordered the Pakistani government to make another offer to India to appoint a lawyer for its national Kulbhushan Jadhav who was sentenced to death by a secret military court in April 2017 for alleged spying. The case will now come up for hearing on September 3.

Kulbhushan Jadhav

However, while the court wants India to join the review process, the problem for India, according to official sources, is the lack of cooperation from Pakistani authorities. After Pakistan didn't allow India to hire a lawyer from outside the country, India had approached a Pakistani lawyer for filing a review petition in Islamabad high court.

The plea still couldn't be filed in the absence of any power

of attorney and also because Pakistan, as India had earlier said, refused to share the case files, including the FIR, with him. India had then distanced itself from the review process calling it farcical and accusing Pakistan of closing all avenues for justice to Jadhav. On July 22, the government had filed a petition in the Islamabad HC requesting appointment of legal representative for Jadhav.

Hearing the government’s plea, a

two-member special bench comprising Islamabad HC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb said another chance should be given to the Indian government for arranging a lawyer. Attorney general of Pakistan Khalid Javed Khan assured the court that the government was ready to make the offer again, and would contact India through the foreign office.

Official sources said that for the review to be credible, it was important for Pakistan to allow India to engage Jadhav on his legal rights by providing unimpeded and unconditional access to him. Speaking to reporters after the hearing in Islamabad, the AG said the court had not yet considered whether Indian lawyers would be allowed to represent Jadhav or assist the Pakistani legal team.

On July 17, Pakistan had offered Jadhav consular access for the third time after Indian diplomats protested over meeting him in the presence of Pakistani spies. According to New Delhi, Pakistan has not been serious in allowing an effective review of Jadhav’s case and said that it reserved its right to go for further remedies.

During the proceedings, Justice Minallah asked the AG to brief the court on the history of the case. The AG said Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016, for entering Pakistan illegally.

“Jadhav confessed to his links with RAW, and his involvement in espionage and terror activities in Pakistan. He was convicted by a military court which sentenced him to death in 2017, and his appeal for mercy is pending before the Chief of Army Staff,” the AG told the court.

Hundreds of prisoners flee before Afghan forces end IS jail siege JALALABAD: Afghan security forces on Monday killed at least 10 Islamic State fighters who had taken control of a prison in the eastern city of Jalalabad, ending a siege in which hundreds of prisoners escaped. At least 29 people were killed in the militants' assault on the prison on Sunday evening and subsequent clashes with security forces, a spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province said before the final shootout.

"The attack is now over," Sohrab Qaderi, a member of the provincial council, said after security forces clashed night and day with militants who had taken over the prison watchtowers. The violence comes at a sensitive time for Afghanistan as the United States attempts to usher peace talks between the Afghan government and the insurgent

Taliban, who say they oppose Islamic State and have fought against them.

More than 300 prisoners were still at large, Attaullah Khugyani, spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province, said. Of the 1,793 prisoners, more than 1,025 had tried to escape and been recaptured and 430 had remained inside. "The rest are missing," he said.

A defence ministry statement said all 10 attackers had

Cannot return, Sharif tells Pak court ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, currently in London for treatment, informed a court here that he is unable to return to the country as his doctors have told him not to go out as he may contract due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 70-year-old three-time premier is currently in London for treatment after he was diagnosed with an immune system disorder. He left for the UK in November last year after the Lahore High Court granted him four-week permission to go abroad for treatment. In his latest medical report, which he submitted to the Lahore High Court (LHC) through his counsel Amjad Pervaiz, doctors have recommended him to avoid going outside due to the coronavirus.

Sharif said he has low platelets counts, diabetes, heart, kidney and blood pressure related problems. "His heart is not getting an adequate supply of blood," the report says and adds that he may contract Covid-19 if he goes outside or return which may prove fatal for his life.

been killed by Afghan security forces, though a provincial council member and a witness inside the prison said the number was likely around 30.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, which came a day after the Afghan intelligence agency said special forces had killed a senior Islamic State commander near Jalalabad, the provincial capital.

After detonating a car bomb at the entrance on Sunday evening, Islamic State gunmen overran the prison where many Islamic State militants captured during a campaign in the past month were being held, along with Taliban fighters and common criminals.

Mohammad Idres, one of the prisoners trapped inside, said when the siege was under

way he could see around four bodies on the ground outside.

"We are very hungry, it's very hot and we don't have water," he said. "Sometimes it is quiet and then firing starts," he said.

"The security forces cannot seem to advance because the attackers hold strategic points, including the watchtowers."

Officials said Afghan Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen Yasin Zia arrived on Monday to oversee the operation, involving special forces. Khugyani said civilians, prisoners and members of the security forces were among the 29 dead and more than 50 wounded before the final assault. As the siege dragged through the day, the normally bustling city was placed under a curfew. "Jalalabad is completely empty," Qaderi said. Some 130 km east of Kabul, Jalalabad lies on the highway leading to the Khyber Pass and the Pakistani city of Peshawar.

Bangladesh thanks India for providing diesel locomotives DHAKA: Bangladesh thanked India for providing 10 broad gauge diesel locomotives, with its Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen saying it would help bring both sides even closer and further take the 'rock solid' bilateral relations to new heights. 'This would help bring our two peoples even closer,' the foreign minister said at the handing over ceremony of locomotives which was conducted online in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

Momen thanked India for offering Bangladesh the diesel locomotives as a mark of enduring friendship. Indian railway authorities handed over the locomotives at Darshana-Gede Interchange Point of Bangladesh's western border with India.

India provided the locomotives under its grant assistance programme which it committed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New Delhi in October 2019 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's renewed focus on 'neighbourhood first' policy.

Momen said over the past few years India and Bangladesh scripted a golden chapter in

partnership under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Bangladesh Railway Minister Md. Nurul Islam Sujan and Foreign Minister Momen, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das attended the online ceremony. From Indian side, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal attended the event.

'We are indeed enjoying the best of relations,' Momen said, mentioning that last week, for the first time, 50 containers loaded with FMCG cargoes and fabrics arrived in Bangladesh from India through BenapolePetrapole rail link. 'I am sure we would be able to further lift our relations to new heights in the coming days,' he said.

Jaishankar reciprocated Momen, saying, 'very few countries in the world share such close fraternal ties as ours'. 'Our partnership today stands out as a role model in the region for good neighbourly relations,' he added.

in brief AMERICAN KILLED IN PAK COURT WHILE STANDING TRIAL A man gunned down in a Pakistani courtroom while standing trial on a charge of blasphemy was a US citizen, according to a US state department statement. Tahir Naseem was “lured to Pakistan” from his home in Illinois and entrapped by the country’s blasphemy laws, the statement said. It did not elaborate on the circumstances in which Naseem came to be in Pakistan. Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy law calls for the death penalty for anyone found guilty of insulting Islam.

Pakistani officials said Naseem was charged with blasphemy after he declared himself a prophet. “We urge Pakistan to immediately reform its often abused blasphemy laws and its court system, which allow such abuses to occur, and to ensure that the suspect is prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” said the statement issued by Cale Brown, the state department’s principal deputy spokesperson.

The US Commission on International Freedom too condemned the killing.

AF PREZ TO KEEP 400 TALIBAN INSURGENTS IN JAIL Afghan President Ashraf Ghani dashed hopes for a start to negotiations with Taliban insurgents, announcing the final 400 Taliban prisoners whose release is a prerequisite to start talks, will remain jailed.

The announcement frustrates US efforts to find an end to Afghanistan’s years of relentless war. Addressing the nation, Ghani said the 400 Taliban are convicted of crimes he has no authority to forgive. Instead, he will call a loya jirga - or traditional grand council of elders - to decide whether they should go free. He said the council would meet “shortly”. Ghani’s announcement was certain to delay the start of negotiations between the warring sides.

SURGE IN BURNT NOTES AS S KOREANS TRY TO MICROWAVE THE VIRUS Worried South Koreans are putting banknotes in their microwaves and washing machines, damaging the bills in their attempts to cleanse them of the coronavirus. A Bank of Korea official said the amount of money returned to the bank after being burnt between January and June had risen to 1.32 billion won ($1.1 billion) from 480 million ($400 million) in the same period last year. In an example given by the bank, a person came in to redeem at least 35.5 million won ($30,000) in notes damaged after he had put them in the washing machine. Another person had put 5.2 million won in the microwave to sterilise it.

HINDU TEMPLE PRIEST ARRESTED The chief priest of Singapore's oldest Hindu temple was arrested on charges of 'criminal breach of trust', according to police. The Sri Mariamman Temple had lodged a police complaint after finding out that some gold ornaments, which were in the custody of the priest, had gone missing, the temple said in a statement. During an audit, it was discovered that the gold ornaments were missing, the temple said. 'Gold ornaments, which are frequently used for prayers, are kept under the custody of the chief priest in the inner sanctum of the temple. Regular audits are done to ensure that the gold ornaments are physically accounted for,' it said. The priest was questioned and he later returned all the missing items, the temple said. No other person was involved in the incident, according to the Sri Mariamman Temple committee.

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in brief AIDES TO PAK PM RESIGN AFTER ROW OVER DUAL NATIONALITIES Pakistan PM Imran Khan lost two of his key aides when they resigned after the assets and dual nationalities of over a dozen of his special assistants were made public, prompting the opposition to mount an attack on the government. Tania Aidrus, special assistant to PM on ‘Digital Pakistan’ announced her resignation and special assistant on health Dr Zafar Mirza too quit the high-profile job. The resignations come amid recent criticism levelled against the government after assets and nationalities of 15 special assistants to the PM were made public. Aidrus, a former Google executive, announced her resignation after documents found that she had a Canadian citizenship and was also a resident of Singapore. Hours after Aidrus’ resignation, Dr Mirza also quit: “I worked hard & honestly. It was a privilege to serve Pakistan. I am satisfied that I leave at a time when Covid-19 has declined in Pakistan as a result of a grand national effort. Due to the ongoing negative discussion about the role of SAPMs & criticism on the gov, I choose to resign,” Mirza tweeted.

AF PREZ TO KEEP 400 TALIBAN INSURGENTS IN JAIL Afghan President Ashraf Ghani dashed hopes for a start to negotiations with Taliban insurgents, announcing the final 400 Taliban prisoners whose release is a prerequisite to start talks, will remain jailed. The announcement frustrates US efforts to find an end to Afghanistan’s years of relentless war.

Addressing the nation, Ghani said the 400 Taliban are convicted of crimes he has no authority to forgive. Instead, he will call a loya jirga - or traditional grand council of elders - to decide whether they should go free. He said the council would meet “shortly”. Ghani’s announcement was certain to delay the start of negotiations between the warring sides.

HONG KONG DELAYS POLLS Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam postponed a September 6 election to the Chinese-ruled city’s legislature by a year because of a rise in coronavirus cases, dealing a blow to the prodemocracy opposition which had hoped to make huge gains. The decision came after 12 pro-democracy candidates were disqualified from running for perceived subversive intentions and opposition to a sweeping new security law imposed by Beijing. Avery Ng, secretary-general of the League of Social Democrats, said: “Obviously the Chinese Communist Party is using Covid-19 as a cover to stop Hong Kongers from voting against the government.” Lam said the decision was aimed at only safeguarding people’s health. Hong Kong has reported over 3,000 virus cases since January. The number of new infections has been in the triple-digits for the past 10 days.

US NATURALISATION APPLICATION FEE RAISED BY $520 The US has increased fees for certain immigration applications, a CNN report said.

According to a statement, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services increased the cost of online naturalisation applications from $640 to $1,160, a more than 80% rise. There will also be a first time $50 fee for asylum seekers. The new fees take effect on October 2. Unlike most government agencies, USCIS is fee funded and it last updated its fee structure in December 2016. “These overdue adjustments in fees are necessary to efficiently and fairly administer our nation’s lawful immigration system,” said Joseph Edlow, USCIS deputy director for policy.

Rajapaksas hope to tighten grip on power in Lanka election COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa hopes to tighten his hold on the nation's fractious politics in an election on Wednesday that could elevate his brother and allow the two to change the constitution if they prevail.

Rajapaksa, who claims credit for controlling the spread of the new coronavirus in the island nation, hopes to install his elder brother and former president current caretaker Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa - in the post formally with an outright election victory.

Voters in the tiny Indian Ocean nation of 21 million will wear masks, carry their own pens to mark ballot papers and maintain physical distancing for the parliamentary polling that has twice been postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Votes will be counted on Thursday.

"We will make it safe for you to vote," said chief election com-

Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa

missioner Mahinda Deshapriya, urging people to vote without fear. The Rajapaksa brothers, who built their political careers as Sinhalese Buddhist nationalists, are best known for crushing Tamil separatists fighting for a separate homeland for their ethnic minority. The 26-year civil war ended under the elder Rajapaksa's presidency.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who won the presidency in November, is not up for re-election in the parliamentary polls.

Given the support the brothers

enjoy among the Sinhalese majority, Mahinda is favoured to become prime minister over Sajith Premadasa, analysts say.

Sri Lanka does not have a tradition of conducting political opinion polls.

The opposition candidate is the son of Ranasinghe Premadasa, who was assassinated by a Tamil suicide bomber in 1993. The Rajapaksas want to return to the presidency powers that were diluted by previous governments as part of reforms to prevent abuses of power.

"The majority community in Sri Lanka have (shown) that they have already decided they want the Rajapaksas back by voting Gotabaya Rajapaksa into the presidency," said Jayadeva Uyangoda, an independent political commentator. The question, he said, is whether they will get a big majority to make sweeping changes.

The reforms created independent bodies, including judicial, human rights and police commissions to exercise powers that had been concentrated in the president.

President Rajapaksa says he cannot implement his agenda of economic growth because of the curbs on his power. “It is impossible to make any meaningful changes and implement the agenda that I presented to the people," he said last week.

Restoring those powers would require amending the constitution, which in turn requires a two-thirds majority in parliament.

Covid disrupts locust fight in Uganda KAMPALA: Farmers in Uganda are bracing for a fresh onslaught of desert locusts after two swarms entered the country from neighbouring Kenya last week, threatening to destroy crops and intensify hunger amid the struggle to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

Countries across East Africa are battling the worst locust outbreak in decades, with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warning that the situation remained "extremely alarming" as hopper bands and an increasing number of new swarms form in parts of the region. "This represents an unprecedented threat to food security and livelihoods because it coincides with the beginning of the long rains and the plant-

ing season," it said.

In Uganda, the latest insect invasion came through the eastern border district of Amudat on April 3, officials said. Unlike previous swarms of mature, less ravaging insects that crossed into the country in February, the new arrivals comprises insects at a "growth stage" that have the "potential to destroy vegetation wherever they go", said Vincent Ssempijja, Uganda's agriculture minister.

"The nymphs and young locust have high affinity for food. This may pose an imminent danger to food security and livelihoods," he added.

Agnes Kirabo, executive director of the Food Rights Alliance, said "this new exodus of swarms is more destructive and a big threat" to food security.

"Farmers have no other way of deriving a livelihood except their farms," she added. "To farmers, it's not a loss of food but a loss of life. This is very tragic and a big threat to an already less resilient agriculture sector and food system."

Farming communities and semi-nomadic herders in the

ODM accuses Kalonzo of staging a coup in Jubilee NAIROBI: Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement has alleged a “coup”

by Kalonzo Musyoka-led Wiper party in the latter’s Handshake deal with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee. The fresh claims by the party lifts the lid on the undercurrents surrounding the scramble by political parties to cajole President Kenyatta who is set to retire in 2022 with the hope of succeeding him.

Amani National Congress (ANC), led by Musalia Mudavadi, has also resolved to work with the President albeit through cooperation rather than a post-election coalition agreement. Mudavadi said that his party will work with Kenyatta “on matters of national interest, including the fight against corruption and addressing the Covid-19 pandemic”.

But it is the latest move by Musyoka’s Wiper to recommend a post-election deal with Jubilee that has set tongues wagging in the opposition, with ODM expressing open displeasure. Leaders of the Orange party, already working with the President after the March 9, 2018 political pact, say

they sense a sinister motive in Musyoka’s latest move.

Coalition with Jubilee “The decision was made following the realisation that the National Super Alliance (Nasa) has become totally dysfunctional,” Wiper Secretary-General Judith Sijeny revealed. She said that a Special Delegates Conference shall be convened “as soon as possible” to ratify the resolution concerning the envisaged coalition with Jubilee.

But Odinga’s party thinks otherwise.

ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna said the move is in bad taste and is aimed at undermining Odinga’s party. “Everything that Kalonzo and Wiper do is meant to undermine ODM. That is their modus operandi,” said Sifuna, adding that Wiper is rushing to seal the deal with Kenyatta “thinking that they can now play host to us in the arrangement.”

Wiper Vice-Chairman Mutula Kilonzo Jnr told the Nation that the party had not fully discussed the termination of their membership in Nasa and the legal implications of joining Jubilee.

east and the semi-arid northeast Karamoja region, often described as Uganda's poorest and most marginalised region, are particularly at risk, with the crisis exacerbated by the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

"At Karamojong, we have entered into cultivation season.

The locust nymphs have emerged now to do their business of destruction," said Loupa Pius, project officer at Dynamic Agropastoralist Development Organisation in Karamoja.

"The second wave of locusts will be another high-level disaster because the crops that have been planted in Karamoja are in danger," he added, calling the government to provide food supplies to the region's vulnerable population amid the pandemic.

Tanzania bans Kenya Airways from flying into country DODOMA: Tanzania has banned Kenya's national carrier from flying into the country, the latest move in a deepening row between the two neighbouring countries.

The Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) said Kenya Airways flights were being banned "on a reciprocal basis" after the Kenyan government decided against including Tanzania in a list of countries whose passengers would be allowed to enter Kenya when commercial flights resumed following the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.

"Tanzania has noted ... its exclusion in the list of countries whose people will be allowed to travel into Kenya," TCCA Director General Hamza Johari said in a letter sent to Kenya Airways. "The Tanzanian government has decided to nullify its approval for Kenya Airways (KQ) flights between Nairobi and Dar/ Kilimanjaro/ Zanzibar effective August 1, 2020 until further notice," Johari wrote.

"This letter also rescinds all previous arrangements that permit KQ flights into the United Republic of Tanzania."

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Biden notes suggest Kamala Harris may be his running mate WASHINGTON: California’s Caribbean-Indian-American Senator Kamala Harris has zoomed back into contention as Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s vice-presidential pick, a choice that is expected to have a great bearing on the outcome of the 2020 presidential polls.

Biden, who will be 78 and the oldest person to be elected President if he wins, was spotted holding positive talking points about Harris, who clashed bitterly with him during the Democratic debates.

A photographer who zoomed into Biden’s notes at a campaign event showed a page that under the heading Kamala Harris, listed “Do not hold grudges,” “Talented,” “Great respect for all,” among other bullet points.

Biden is expected to make the call on his running mate sometime next week. He has

Kamala Harris

confirmed repeatedly that his pick will be a woman, possibly an African-American, which would put the likes of Senator Elizabeth Warren out of contention, possibly also on account of her age (70) and her state (Massachusetts), which is a Democratic stronghold and requires no special effort to win.

Although California is also a Democratic fortress, Harris, 55, would bring geographic balance to the ticket (Biden is from

Delaware on the east coast) and fulfill, at least partially, the criteria of African-American heritage. Her father, Donald Harris, was a Jamaican academic and her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a breast cancer researcher from Tamil Nadu.

Her parents met in Berkeley during their college years in the 60s. Harris identifies herself as a Black-American although she speaks fondly of her South Indian heritage, including regular visits to Chennai to see her grandfather, PV Gopalan, an Indian civil servant, during her childhood days. Several other African-American vicepresident prospects are also in the Biden shortlist, including former national security adviser Susan Rice, Congresswomen Karen Bass (California) and Val Demmings (Georgia), and local leaders Stacey Abrams and Keisha Lance Bottoms. But

many pundits see Harris as a front-runner because she brings experience and prosecutorial chops to the table, with the ability to get under the Donald Trump’s skin.

She certainly got under Biden’s own skin, and many Democrats, notably Biden’s Senate colleague Christopher Dodd, are still unforgiving about the manner in which she mauled the former vice president in the debate. Biden though sounds more forgiving going by the bullet points in his notes, to the extent of going beyond the reservations of some AfricanAmericans who feel Harris’ policies were tough on the black community during her time as California’s attorney general.

On balance, she is seen as the strongest of nearly a dozen candidates being vetted and interviewed by Biden to ensure they are on the same page.

Indian-Americans want more representation in 2020 elections WASHINGTON: An IndianAmerican political group has planned to spend $10 million for the 2020 elections aimed at helping more members of the community win political office from Congress down to school boards, a media report said.

"This is a pivotal moment for our community and our country," The American Bazaar reported citing advocacy group Impact's new executive director, Neil Makhija, a public interest lawyer son of Indian immigrants, as saying. The group's efforts would be focused on recruiting, training and supporting candidates, and though it is not explicitly aligned with Democrats the group's "values certainly lean

that way", he told the media.

"After significant gains in previous election cycles, IndianAmericans are poised to assert our emerging power by electing more Indian-American candidates at every level of government, and by supporting excellent candidates of all backgrounds who share our ideals of inclusivity, equity, and civil rights," Makhija added.

Nepal to send revised map with Indian territory to UN, Google NEW DELHI: The Nepal government is preparing to send the newly updated map, which includes Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura as its integral part, to the United Nations and Google, Nepali media reported.

"We are soon delivering the revised map incorporating Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura to the international community," Nepali media quoted Minister for Land Management, Padma Aryal, as saying. The Nepal government is also preparing to publish a book including the "encroached territories" of Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura, adding that the first priority, however, is to print the English version of the updated map and distribute it to the international community, local media quoted Aryal as saying. On June 13, Nepal's parliament passed the amendment to include the new political map featuring areas of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura in its Constitution. The India-Nepal bilateral ties came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8.

According to the research firm CRW Strategy, over threequarters of Indian-American voters supported former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016, and Makhija said they were also likely to support presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden this November.

Indian-Americans are the second largest immigrant group in the US, after Mexicans, but they account for only five members of Congress. In a nod to the community's growing political clout, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is running an ad in Hindi, the main Indian language.

The lone Indian American

Senator Kamala Harris, who has emerged as a leading contender to be Biden's running mate welcomed the Impact announcement. "I'm excited about the Indian-American community's growing engagement in the political process - not just as an IndianAmerican, but as someone who believes the more Americans of all ethnicities and backgrounds feel ownership in our democracy, the stronger our democracy will be," Harris was quoted as saying in the American Bazaar report.

"As Impact moves to its next phase of leadership, I look forward to being joined in the Capitol by even more Indian Americans to move our country forward for everyone," she said.

Trump gives Microsoft 45 days to clinch TikTok deal WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has given Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella 45 days to complete the acquisition of the Chinese app TikTok. Trump had earlier threatened to completely ban the apps in the country.

Trump’s reversal of a ban that Satya Nadella was to come on Saturday followed pressure from globalists within the Republican Party who felt such a strong-arm action would reflect poorly on the administration, particularly since TikTok has over 100 million young users in the US. There was also the implicit threat of retaliation from China that would affect many American companies such as Apple, Tesla, and Microsoft itself, leading to an allout trade war, besides inviting legal challenges.

A case was made for allowing Microsoft to continue its negotiations with TikTok, with any eventual acquisition involving the app’s complete split from the parent company in China, including transfer of all data to the US. ByteDance, the Chinese

company that owns TikTok, had initially planned to hold on a minority stake while selling most of its US operations, an idea that Trump rejected, wanting a total 100% acquisition. “Microsoft fully appreciates the importance of addressing the president’s concerns. It is committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the US, including the US Treasury,” Microsoft said in a statement following Trump’s call with Nadella. Microsoft said there was no certainty a deal - which would involve a purchase of the TikTok service not just in the US, but also in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand - but it was aiming to conclude the negotiations by September 15. Microsoft had been talking to ByteDance even before Trump’s sudden rage against the foreign entity, ostensibly because some young Americans used the app to undermine his rally in Oklahoma, but now the clock is ticking for the Seattle giant even as it is being cast a purchasing arm of the US government.

in brief US IMPOSES RIGHTS CURBS ON CHINESE FIRM The US has imposed sanctions on a Chinese company and two officials related to the company for what it said were human rights abuses against Uighurs in China’s Xinjiang province. The move blacklisted the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps along with Sun Jinlong, former party secretary of the XPCC, and Peng Jiarui, deputy party secretary and XPCC commander, the treasury department said. It identified the firm as a paramilitary organisation subordinate to the Chinese Communist Party that “enhances internal control over the region”.

NZ NOW SUSPENDS EXTRADITION TREATY WITH HK New Zealand has reportedly suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong becoming the fourth country to do so, following the passage of a controversial national security law by China that “punishes secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign or external forces”. After Canada, United Kingdom and Australia, New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said that they had also made a number of other changes following China’s decision to impose a new law for the autonomous territory.

“New Zealand can no longer trust that Hong Kong’s criminal justice system is sufficiently independent from China. If China in future shows adherence to the ‘one country, two systems’ framework then we could reconsider this decision,” Peters reportedly said in a statement. However, the Chinese embassy in New Zealand reportedly called the decision a “violation of international law and gross interference in China’s internal affairs,” in a statement. New Zealand’s announcement comes in the wake of even the US adopting a stricter stance on China.

On 15 July, US President Donald Trump signed an order to end preferential treatment for Hong Kong.

FIRST DOG TO TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID IN US DIES The first dog to test positive for the coronavirus in the United States has died, National Geographic magazine reported, after struggling with symptoms that may be familiar to many of the virus's human sufferers. Buddy, the seven-year-old German shepherd became sick in April, around the same time his owner Robert Mahoney was recovering from Covid 19, according to the magazine. Buddy seemed to have a stuffed nose and difficulty in breathing, and his condition only worsened over the following weeks and months.

Mahoney and his wife eventually euthanized the dog on July 11 after Buddy began vomiting blood clots, urinating blood and was unable to walk. But the family told National Geographic they had a hard time confirming their suspicion that Buddy was infected with SARSCoV-2. "Without a shadow of a doubt, I thought (Buddy) was positive," Mahoney said, but many vets in their area were closed because of the pandemic. A clinic was finally able to confirm that Buddy was positive, and found that the family's 10-month-old puppy who was never sick - had virus antibodies.

ZIMBABWE MIN WHO HELPED OVERTHROW MUGABE DIES OF COVID Zimbabwe’s agriculture minister Perrance Shiri died of coronavirus. He led a military unit that massacred thousands of civilians during civil strife in the 1980s and helped plot the coup that overthrew the country’s longtime strongman leader Robert Mugabe in 2017. Shiri was 55, and was thought to have contracted the virus from his driver, who also died recently. Zimbabwe has reported 2,817 cases of the virus, and 40 deaths.

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Serum Institute gets nod for Phase 2 and 3 human trials of Oxford’s Covid vaccine Pune-based Serum Institute of India has received the drug regulator's permission to conduct Phase 2 and 3 - human trials for the Oxford University Covid-19 vaccine candidate.

With this, Serum Institute also joins the race for the vaccine in India where two other potential candidates - from Bharat Biotech and Cadila Healthcare - are already conducting Phase 1 and 2 human trials.

The trials by Serum Institute will involve around 1,600 people aged above 18 across 17 selected sites, including AIIMS Delhi and Jodhpur, BJ Medical College in Pune, RMRIMS in Patna and PGIMER Chandigarh, an official said. This would mean this is so far the largest trial for the coronavirus vaccine in the country as the other two candidates involve a relatively smaller participant base and trial size - 1,150 participants in eight sites and five sites with

1,000 participants.

The approval to Serum Institute is backed with recommendations from a subject expert committee on vaccines which had earlier raised queries on the initial proposal from the firm seeking permission for clinical trials in India.

While Serum addressed the concerns within hours, the committee gave its final approval following a meeting.

Serum Institute has partnered with British pharma giant AstraZeneca for Oxford University's Covid-19 vaccine candidate that showed promising results in early human trials (Phase 1 and 2) in the UK. The results showed the vaccine to be safe and capable of inducing an immune response.

Serum plans 1bn doses of jab in a year Once the trials are over successfully and

the vaccine is approved, Serum plans to make billion one doses of the jab over the next one year for India and other low- and m i d d l e income countries. “We will start producing a few millions of doses at personal risk. Based on the success of the trials we are expecting it to be available

by the end of this year. I believe by the first quarter of the next year it will start reaching the masses,” Serum Institute of India chief executive Adar Poonawalla said. Poonawalla has also said that the company will try to price the vaccine below Rs 1,000. Globally, around 24 vaccine candidates are in various stages of human trials.

Tech Mahindra and Hinduja Less stress on boards, college entrance test in new education policy Group’s CyQureX sign In sweeping reforms, seen as the most ambitious since the introduction of the 10+2+3 system, the Indian government last week unveiled the new National Education Policy that restructures school education by setting out age 3-6 years as pre-school, de-emphasises "high stakes" boards, introduces a SATlike university entrance test and offers the option of a four-year bachelor’s degree at the undergraduate level.

The changes in the board structure, which seek to make the exams a test of "core competencies", will be implemented from the 2021 academic session (exams to be held in 2022). The new university entrance test will be implemented for college admissions in the 2022 academic session. NEP aims to provide students with increased flexibility and subjects and there will be no rigid separation between arts and sciences, curricular and extracurricular activities, vocational and academic streams, the government said.

New policy seeks to emphasise learning in mother tongue Announcing the reforms, HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal and information & broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar said vocational education will start in schools from the sixth grade and will include internships. The policy seeks to emphasise learning in regional language or mother tongue.

“Since most of the learning happens in the mother tongue, we ensure that wherever possible, the medium of instruction until Class 5, but preferably till Class 8 and beyond, will be in home language, mother tongue, regional language. Starting from the foundational stage, children will be exposed

partnership deal

Prakash Javadekar

Ramesh Pokhriyal

to different languages with a particular emphasis on the mother tongue," said Pokhriyal.

The reforms look to substantially alter the college education system and replace the University Grants Commission with a new regulator - the Higher Education Commission of India with verticals for regulation, standard-setting, grants and accreditation. The NEP calls for flexible curricula, creative combinations of subjects, integration of vocational education and multiple entry and exit points at the undergraduate level. “UG education can be of three or four years with multiple exit options and appropriate certification, like certificate after one year, advanced diploma after two, bachelor’s degree after three and bachelor’s with research after four years," said the government. In course of time, colleges will not need to seek affiliations but award degrees themselves. After the master’s degree, there will be no MPhil prior to a PhD. The big push in the school education system is to convert it to a "5+3+3+4" system with three years as pre-schooling.

Tech Mahindra announced a global strategic partnership with Hinduja Group’s CyQureX. While Tech Mahindra is a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting, and business re-engineering services and solutions, CyQureX is a leading provider of advanced Cyber Security solutions worldwide through successful digital transformation.

The strategic partnership aims to empower global customers to have access to state-of-the-art cyber security protection for data assets across the entire life cycle. The two tech giants are looking forward to cracking the right synergy by using their decades of experience in consulting, expertise in digital transformation, planning, design integration, research and development centres across the globe. Their priority is to create a product which will become the new middle ware of the future.

CP Gurnani, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tech Mahindra, said, “As a global leading provider of digital services, Tech Mahindra is committed towards leveraging new-age technologies to unleash new business opportunities and experiences for our customers and partner ecosystem through strategic partnerships and world class solutions. We see cybersecurity not only as an essential service but as a key business differentiator for our clients.

The partnership with Hinduja Group’s CyQureX aligns with our core business proposition, and will further strengthen our position as the cyber security partner of choice for our customers globally.

GP Hinduja, Co-Chairman, Hinduja group said, “This partnership is a game changer in the cyber security domain. I am extremely delighted to see this strategic partnership formed, as it is in line with one of the core principles of our founder, Partnership for Growth. We are committed to develop many more indigenous state-ofthe-art cybersecurity products and technologies in the coming years, with a vision to be a major global player in the emerging cyber security solutions market”.

A Former National Security Advisor and Special Advisor on Intelligence and Security to the Prime Minister of India, M.K.Narayanan, Executive Chairman of CyQureX said, “This is a critical alliance and I am hopeful that it will be the catalyst to leverage next generation technologies like Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and create Cyber Security platforms to protect businesses, critical infrastructure and government. It promises to take digitalisation to the next level, providing clients across the globe with fully integrated cyber security solutions.”

This Delhi Ayurvedic doctor lost count after 50 murders An Ayurvedic doctor, allegedly the mastermind behind more than 50 murder cases of truck and taxi drivers across Delhi and its neighbouring states, was arrested from the city's Baprola area where he was living after jumping parole in January, police said.

Citing previous media reports, the police claimed he may have been involved in more than 100 murder cases but could not confirm the exact figure as the cases registered against him in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan are being investigated by the police of the concerned state.

Devender Sharma, 62, a BAMS degree holder, is from a village in Uttar Pradesh's Aligrah district and was arrested by Delhi Police's Crime Branch team last week, six months after he jumped parole in a murder case, they said. The police said Devender

Sharma was convicted in several cases of kidnapping and murder. He was arrested twice earlier for running a fake gas agency in Uttar Pradesh and was also jailed for running a kidney racket in different states.

"Sharma was serving life sentence in Jaipur in connection with a murder case and was out on parole for 20 days in January this year after spending 16 years in jail. But he jumped parole and stayed at his native village for a while before moving to Delhi in the beginning of March," police said. Earlier, he was living at the house of an acquaintance in Delhi's Mohan Garden and later moved to Baprola, where he married a widow. Our team arrested him after we received information about his hideout," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Paweriya said.

Devender Sharma

Sharma had come to Delhi with the intention of starting afresh and married his distant relative who knew about his criminal background, he said. He then began a property business and was currently mediating the sale of one Marshal House in Connaught Place to a property dealer in Jaipur, they added.

During interrogation he remained very calm and cooperated with the team. In fact, he disclosed details about his previous involvement in crime himself, the police official said. During the interrogation, he also confessed to being the mastermind behind more than 50 murders. He was arrested for several murder cases reported in 2002-2004 but was convicted only in six-seven cases. His wife and children left him in 2004 after they came to know about his activities, he added.

When police questioned Sharma about the media reports, he told them that he had lost count after 50 murders and it had become difficult for him to remember the exact number of the killings executed till date.

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in brief

Economic crisis looms large over Kerala, warns NDMA THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As Kerala's fight against Covid19 enters a critical phase, disaster mitigation agencies have warned the state of an impending economic crisis. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) - an international forum launched

by India - have come together to forecast that the state will face serious challenges in reviving the economy.

For recovery, Kerala can consider reopening the tourism sector partially by exploring the concept of 'travel bubble', the two agencies suggested in the report 'Response to Covid-19 Kerala'. However, health and finance experts differed on the suggestion to reopen tourism, terming it both 'suicidal' and 'unrealistic'.

According to the report,

though the s t a t e ' s handling of t h e coronavirus crisis is commendable, an economic crisis looms large over the state.

"Around 20 per cent of Kerala's population resides abroad and with the ongoing crisis, a large number of expats have been returning to Kerala. This puts Kerala in a uniquely vulnerable position due to an increased risk of the virus and a fall in foreign remittances," the report said. The report added that with foreign remittances accounting for one-third of the state's economy and with remittances predicted to fall by 15 to 20 per cent this year, the state will face serious challenges.

One solution suggested - exploring

the 'travel bubble' to reopen tourism - is a concept which countries like Australia, New Zealand and Fiji are considering, wherein borders will be opened to international tourists from nations free of coronavirus.

"Tourism is one of the major contributors to the economy of the state. It accounts for 10 per cent of the state GDP. For economic recovery, Kerala can consider partially opening limited tourist locations, for instance, the backwaters or the hill stations," the report highlighted.

State cannot decide on its own D Narayana, honourary professor, Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation (GIFT), said the Union government has to make a decision to that effect before the state can reopen its tourism sector. The Centre will also have to make clarifications on the quantum of flight and

train services and on how to handle foreign tourists.

"Reviving the tourism sector is a must. But the sector needs the handholding of the government for revival as it has been stagnant for the past six months. It seems the state can no longer rely on international tourists. It should focus on domestic tourists. But it is also going to be difficult as the situation is worsening by the day," Narayana said.

But health experts are not amused by the suggestion to reopen tourism in the NDMACDRI report. "Reopening the tourism sector now will only help increase the infection rate," said an officer with the Directorate of Health Services.

In a report submitted earlier to the government, GIFT had said the pandemic, with its severe impact, is likely to drive the state finances to a precarious and unprecedented condition.

PUNJAB

Spurious liquor claims 112 lives in Punjab AMRITSAR/TARN TARAN: With 25 more deaths in Tarn Taran and another in Amritsar, the toll in the spurious liquor tragedy in Punjab climbed to 112 on Sunday. Amritsar rural reported 13 deaths while 11 died in Gurdaspur’s Batala town. On the fourth day since the tragedy struck on Thursday, the number of dead rose to 88 in the border district of Tarn Taran, while six persons were undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital.

Two others had been referred to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH), Amritsar.

Similarly, one person from Madepur colony in Amritsar’s Muchhal village, undergoing treatment at the GNDH, lost his life. His brother, having already lost eyesight, was battling for life at the hospital. One person was referred from Batala and his condition was also stated to be critical. The unprecedented number of deaths has not only

left families shattered but also prolonged their wait for bodies due to a delay in post-mortem.

Doctors are working overtime to complete the autopsies.

Balkar Singh of Muchhal village said Joga Singh, who died on Friday, was cremated as the family had to wait for two days to get the autopsy done. “Due to non-availability of doctors at Baba Bakala Civil Hospital, the post-mortem could be conducted today only,” he said.

Similarly, Sajan Singh of Kadgill village, who had been doing rounds of the Tarn Taran Civil Hospital for the past three days, finally received his father Harjinder Singh’s body after the post-mortem. Dr Rohit Mehta, Senior Medical Officer, Tarn Taran Civil Hospital, said they could currently conduct simultaneous autopsies on two bodies. “Our teams are working overtime to complete the autopsies. The sheer number of deaths has overwhelmed the

facility,” he said. “Yesterday, our teams worked till 8 pm and conducted post-mortem on 13 bodies. We have already conducted 10 autopsies today,” said Dr Mehta, adding the doctors were still at work.

The police have so far arrested 25 people in more than 100 raids in the three affected districts, along with several other places in and around the Rajpura and Shambhu border.

According to the Excise Commissioner, though reports of the chemical analysis of the material seized in various raids are yet to come, a preliminary check showed that the material was denatured spirit, generally used in the paint and hardware industries. Following raids, a large amount of spurious liquor, drums and storage cans were recovered from the accused and have been sent for chemical analysis. According to officials, some of the families of the deceased refused to record their

statements, whereas some held protests at Muchhal village, seeking compensation from the government.

The family members of deceased Kirpal Singh kept his body at the protest site and demanded a compensation of Rs 10,00,000 while seeking strict action against the liquor mafia.

Many also threatened that they would block the AmritsarDelhi National Highway if their demands were not met. Khadoor Sahib MP Jasbir Singh Dimpa, Jandiala MLA Sukhwinder Singh Danny and Senior Superintendent of Police Dhruv Dhaiya reached the spot to pacify the protesters.

Dimpa announced Rs 100,000 compensation each to the families of the deceased. The family members, however, demanded higher compensation.

The Punjab government has ordered a magisterial inquiry by Divisional Commissioner of Jalandhar into the incident.

WEST BENGAL

Curbs on flights to Kolkata from six cities extended till Aug 15 KOLKATA: The Kolkata Airport announced that restrictions on flights arriving in Kolkata from six cities -Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Nagpur and Ahmedabad has been extended till August 15, amid the prevailing coronavirus crisis. The step has been taken as these cities are Covid -19 hotspots.

On July 17, the Kolkata Airport had announced that restrictions on flights arriving in Kolkata from these six cities have been extended till July 31. Earlier on July 4, the state government restricted the flight movements to Kolkata airport from the six

metro cities till July 19. The West Bengal government has requested the Civil Aviation Ministry to suspend flight operations to Kolkata from highrisk cities. The airlines that will be impacted include Indigo, Spicejet, Vistara, and Air India.

Airlines are operating on

domestic routes with up to 30 per cent network capacity, as per the DGCA orders. The pandemic has so far claimed the lives of over 2,739 people in the state till Monday. According to the health department said that the caseload in the state so far crossed 75,000. The number of active cases stood at 19,900.

Since July 29, 2,140 patients recovered from the disease, improving the discharge rate to 68.33 per cent, the bulletin said.

Unlock 3 guidelines A day after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), issued new guidelines for the opening up of more activities in areas outside

the containment zones, the West Bengal government issued directives for the state. In Unlock 3, which came into effect from August 1, the process of phased re-opening of activities has been extended further. However, strict enforcement of lockdown in containment zones will continue till August 31. In West Bengal schools, colleges, educational institutions, cinema hall, swimming pools, parks will not be allowed to open. Along with these, social, political and religious gatherings will also not be allowed. On the other hand, yoga centres, gyms will be allowed to open from August 5.

KARNATAKA CM TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday and has been admitted to a private hospital in Bengaluru. "I have tested positive for coronavirus. Whilst I am fine, I am being hospitalised as a precaution on the recommendation of doctors. I request those who have come in contact with me recently to be observant and exercise self quarantine," Yediyurappa announced on Twitter. His daughter, B Y Padmavati, has also tested positive for the disease, and has been admitted to Manipal Hospital. Seventy-seven-year-old Yediyurappa has been admitted to the Manipal hospital, his office confirmed. The hospital said that the CM is clinically stable and is being monitored closely by its team of doctors. He has had a series of public engagements and meetings this past week, including the inauguration of the project work on the Bengaluru Bio-life-sciences Park on July 29.

11 KILLED IN VIZAG CRANE COLLAPSE Eleven people were killed and another person received serious injures after a massive crane collapsed at the Hindustan Shipyard Limited complex in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

The crane collapsed during load-testing trials.

Four of them were shipyard employees and the rest were contract staff, Visakhapatnam police commissioner RK Meena said. An eight-second video showed the giant crane crashing down on the ground at the shipyard. Hindustan Shipyard Limited is a government undertaking involved in shipbuilding and catering to the needs of shipbuilding, ship repairs, submarine construction and refits as well as design and construction of offshore and onshore structures. Nearly three months before, 11 people were killed and over 1,000 were left sick after gas leaked at a chemical plant - LG Polymers facility in the city.

PAK-BACKED DRUGS, ARMS RACKET BUSTED The Punjab Police have busted yet another Pakistan-backed drugs and weapons smuggling racket with the arrest of two people and a BSF constable, who was posted in Tarn Taran district. The police are working to get the kingpin, Satnam Singh alias Satta, extradited from Muscat, Oman. Declared a proclaimed offender, Satta used a fake passport to escape to Oman, said DGP Dinkar Gupta, adding that the accused had five cases of smuggling registered against him. Satta’s ill-gotten property, which he purchased in the name of his relative, at Sandhu Colony Amritsar, has been frozen, he said. The Jalandhar (Rural) Police, which busted the racket, recovered a .30-bore pistol, five live rounds and Rs 24,50,000 from the three accused – Surmail Singh, Gurjant Singh and BSF constable Rajendra Prashad.

BENGAL CONG CHIEF SOMEN MITRA IS NO MORE West Bengal Congress chief Somen Mitra died at a Kolkata hospital last week. He was 78. He was suffering from heart and kidney problems.

He died following a cardiac arrest, hospital sources said. Born on December 31, 1941, in Jessore district (now Bangladesh), Somen Mitra was the eldest of five siblings. A stalwart in West Bengal politics, Somen Mitra joined politics in 1960s as a student leader. After his baptism in politics in 1967, he quickly rose through the ranks and became one of the most popular leaders of Congress along with late union minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi.

Mentored by Congress stalwarts like ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury, Somen Mitra's first brush with electoral politics was in 1972 when he became the youngest MLA in the West Bengal Assembly from the Sealdah seat at 26. He continued to win the the seat, except for 1977, for six consecutive terms from 1982 to 2006.

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8 - 14 August 2020

J&K achieves major progress in one year It has been one year since the government of India had abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories. On 5 August 1999, the state became the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The primary purpose of constituting the UTs was to promote development, provide good governance and deliver socio-economic justice to the people of J&K. Since then, over the last 12 months, a number of measures have been introduced and implemented to achieve the following aims: New laws to protect the vulnerable All central laws have been extended to the Union Territory of J&K- including laws that provide social, economic, and political rights to women, children, underprivileged sections and ensure transparent and accountable governance - which had not been applicable to the state while the rest of India enjoyed the rights that these legislations gave. Some examples: Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009; Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015; Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005; Protection of Human Rights Act, 1994; Right to Information Act, 2005; Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993, etc. Government has also brought to the people of J& K new rights through repeal or amendments to more than 100 local laws some of which were outdated. For example, a law that provided the state government to pay the income tax of the chief minister was repealed.

Strengthening local self government Elections to block development councils (Tier-II of the Panchayati Raj – local selfgovernment institutions) were held for the first time on 24 October 2019, which witnessed a voter turnout of over 98%. For the first time, women benefited from reservation of seats for women, and were able to thus enter mainstream politics. The second phase of a unique participatory programme called 'Back to Village' programme was held in November 2019, wherein government officers reached out to every unit of local self-government - Panchayats – to inform them about development programs and receive feedback from the grassroots.

Over 20,000 developmental works were identified through this exercise - of which about 7,000 have been implemented. Panchayats have been strengthened with funds and devolution of functions. Over £150 million has been transferred to Panchayats in the last year alone.

To strengthen grievance redressal, drop boxes have been placed in every Panchayat of J&K to facilitate registration of complaints and grievances by citizens.

Union Territory of J&K bagged three national awards under three separate categories for outstanding contribution by its Panchayati Raj institutions towards socioeconomic development of Gram Panchayats, adopting childfriendly practices, and preparing

Gram Panchayat Development Plan at the Panchayat level.

Agriculture A unique market intervention scheme for Kashmiri apples was introduced which envisaged procurement of apples from 5 designated wholesale markets by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED). Under this, over 15,000 metric tonnes of apples valued at over £7 million were directly procured from growers in the Kashmir valley by end-January 2020 – and paid for directly to the apple growers themselves through Direct Benefit Transfer scheme (DBT).

Kashmiri saffron, which is the only saffron grown at an altitude of 1,600-1,800 m in the world, was given a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. India International Kashmir Saffron Trading Centre has been constructed at Pampore under the National Saffron Mission to facilitate collection, processing, packaging, e- auction of Kashmiri saffron.

First e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) platform of J&K was inaugurated at fruit and vegetable market Parimpora. The online trading portal connects existing APMC (wholesale) markets to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities.

Investments Jammu and Kashmir government organized a first of its kind pre-summit meet of Global Investors’ Summit in New Delhi, inviting investments from across the world. This event showcased the policy and regulatory environment, and investment opportunities in 14 focus sectors to boost manufacturing and employment generation in J&K. Investment roadshows were also organized across Indian metropolitan cities, wherein, 168 MoUs worth £1.36 billion were signed.

Employment Reservation Responding to the local population, Government has restored reservation of all government jobs for residents of the J&K. In keeping with its promise of quick and transparent recruitment process, Government has advertised 10,000 posts for accelerated recruitment of youth in J&K during the first phase – and 25,000 more jobs later – which are in the pipeline, giving special consideration to domicile, divorced women and orphan girls, and similar factors. To boost employment opportunities and encourage entrepreneurship among technically qualified youth,

been sanctioned.

two IT parks - one each in Jammu and Srinagar are to be established.

Education and Research Under its start-up policy, J &K government sanctioned £120,000 for 12 selected start-ups for product research, development and marketing. Fifty new educational institutions with 25,000 vacancies were established in J &K which is the largest addition in 70 years.

Healthcare With a focus on building world class health sector, new health infrastructure worth £750 million is planned: two new Institutes of medical sciences Vijaypur in Jammu, and Awantipora in Kashmir, 7 new medical colleges, 5 new nursing colleges and a state cancer institute. About 1,400 medical/paramedical seats have been added for medical education.

Over 500,000 students from Kashmir availed different scholarship schemes of the government in the past one year, which is nearly four times higher than that of the year before.

Under a unique, first of its kind internship initiative, J&K government signed MoUs with four prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and three Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) to provide two-month internships for 500 final year students of J&K for the next academic session.

To strengthen industryacademia partnership and to bring qualitative improvements in technical education, Jammu & Kashmir government has sanctioned two Centres for Invention, Innovation, Incubation; Training (CIIIT) in J&K. Special Focus by Union Ministries In a unique and unprecedented drive, 36 Union Ministers visited over 50 locations in J&K, addressed public demands, and inaugurated over 200 projects.

Projects Bottlenecks for projects spanning across various sectors under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) have been removed - 17 of these projects have been completed or are nearing completion. Phase-I of Jhelum Flood Mitigation Project has been completed – increasing the carrying capacity of River Jhelum by 10,000 cusecs. Phase-II of the project will increase the carrying capacity by 15,000 cusecs.

Jammu & Kashmir Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (JKIDFC), set up to complete languishing projects, has assisted in completion of 500 projects worth over £60 million and over 2000 projects worth nearly £600 million have

Smart Cities Jammu and Srinagar are being developed into modern, sustainable, smart cities through 190 projects worth £700 million. To this end, a proposal for setting up Rail Transit Light System (LRTS) in both capital cities worth over £1 billion was approved, and a first- ever housing, slum development, rehabilitation and township policy was approved under which construction of 200,000 houses is planned.

Under the 'Saubhagya Scheme', over 300,000 households, including in remote areas of J&K have been provided electricity for the first time in 70 years. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission with the motto of ‘water to every home’, 29,300,000 households have been provided with household tap connections in 2019-20 with a goal of 100% coverage of all rural households by March 2022.

Social change Transgenders have been included as beneficiaries for the first time under J&K Integrated Social Security Scheme, which would, inter-alia, resolve about 2,000 pending pension cases of transgender applicants. As a part of government's comprehensive school health education plan to ensure better healthcare for school children and to facilitate allround development, a student health card scheme for school children has been launched and 800,000 student health cards issued.

J&K has completed the 1st phase of launching ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ Scheme. Under this initiative, eligible beneficiaries from J&K would be able to avail entitled food grain quantities under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) from any fair price shop in the country

with interstate ‘portability’.

Sports The first ever 'Khelo India Winter Games' were held in Gulmarg in March 2020, in which over 900 participants from across the other states of India participated such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snow baseball, etc.

Various sports programmes were held in J&K throughout the year wherein over 500,000 youth participated, and 126,000 youth received coaching.

Sports infrastructure has received impetus: government has planned indoor sports complexes in every district; a playfield in every Panchayat; floodlighting, synthetic turfing in stadia - and other international level facilities in Jammu and Srinagar.

Covid-19 management J&K is among the best performing states/UTs in the country - with a testing rate of 44,744 per million, which is almost 4 times that of average testing rate per million in India.

J&K was among the first states/UT to setup Covid-19 dedicated hospitals. There are 17 dedicated hospitals with 60,000 new beds including 20,000 ICU beds and 2,500 isolation beds with oxygen facilities. With its early response, aggressive contact tracing, and use of information technology, Srinagar was among 16 districts selected in India for best practices to tackle Covid-19.

To ease the economic impact of the lockdown due to Covid, a relief package of £35 million was sanctioned - covering people affected adversely in the tourism sector such as houseboat owners; women entrepreneurs and self-help groups engaged in handloom and handicrafts industry, construction workers and others requiring income support.

Repatriation and return home of over 2,50,000 residents of J&K stranded across the country and overseas, was facilitated.

India extends ban on international flights till August 31 India has extended the ban on international commercial passenger flights till August 31. But the restriction shall not apply to international cargo operations and flights specifically approved by aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

“The government has decided to extend the suspension on the Scheduled International Commercial Passenger Services to/from India up to 31st August,” the statement read.

Earlier this month, in the wake of a surge in Covid-19 cases across the country, the civil aviation ministry had extended the ban on international flights till July 31. Prior to that, the earlier order had said the ban would be in place till July 15. The ban on international flights was extended even as capacity on domestic routes has been hiked to 45% from the earlier 33%. To allow gradual movement of passenger traffic during the Covid-19 health crisis, ‘Transport Bubble’ agreements have been signed with the United States, France and Germany. Air France and United Airlines of the US will operate a limited number of international flights under the “air bubble” arrangements with India. The country has also signed a travel bubble agreement with Kuwait to evacuate stranded passengers both to and from India. Further similar arrangements are likely to be put in place by the aviation ministry to ease passenger movements from different countries. On July 9, India had announced an air bubble with the United Arab Emirates that would be in place from July 12 to 26.

A bilateral air bubble refers to a travel corridor between two countries that wish to reopen their borders and re-establish connections with each other. International flights to and from India have been suspended since March 23 as the Covid-19 pandemic spread across the world to nearly 185 countries.

26 INDIA

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India asks China to complete troop disengagement India made a renewed push for China to complete troop disengagement in Pangong Tso and Gogra areas as well as pullback from the Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh during top-level military talks between the two countries on Sunday. There was no official word on the outcome of the fifth round of talks between 14 Corps commander Lt-General Harinder Singh and South Xinjiang Military District chief Major General Liu Lin, which began after 11 am and continued till late in the night on the Chinese side of the Chushul-Moldo border personnel meeting point.

The talks were held amidst the continuing Chinese refusal to even disengage fully on the north bank of Pangong Tso as well as Patrolling Point (PP)-17A in Gogra, let alone begin deescalation and eventual de-induction of the over 30,000 troops each amassed by both sides along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

Consequently, India’s quest for restoration of status quo as it existed in April is still nowhere on the horizon. “The military talks seem to be going nowhere, with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) refusing to fully adhere to the

disengagement process finalised during the fourth round of talks on July 14. Higher politicaldiplomatic intervention may be needed,” an official said.

The PLA has been particularly adamant about not withdrawing eastwards from the 8-km stretch it has occupied from ‘Finger-4’ to ‘Finger-8’ (mountainous spurs jutting into the lake) after building scores of new fortifications and gun positions on the north bank of Pangong Tso since early May. India contends the PLA, which initially withdrew from the ‘base’ of Finger-4 but did not vacate the ridgeline there, must pull back all the way to ‘Finger-8’ since the LAC runs north to south there. But Chinese ambassador to India Sun Weidong openly rejected this just four days ago, claiming "China’s traditional customary boundary line is in accordance with the LAC” on the north bank of the lake. India had earlier not insisted on holding the corps commander-

level dialogue on July 30, as was initially proposed, due to lack of concrete progress on the ground despite several rounds of military and diplomatic talks. But the PLA called for the meeting late on Saturday evening to set the stage for the talks on Sunday.

Disengagement incomplete, says India After China claimed earlier this week that disengagement along the LAC had been completed at most locations, India said while there had been some progress, the process had "as yet not been completed". Responding to queries on

remarks by the Chinese foreign ministry, the ministry of external affairs said senior commanders of the two sides will meet in the near future to work out steps for further disengagement. Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the government expected China to sincerely work with India for complete disengagement and deescalation at the earliest as agreed to by special representatives Ajit Doval and Wang Yi. "As we have stated earlier, the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas is the basis of our bilateral relationship," said the official.

Disengagement, according to sources here, has been far from complete at least in the Pangong Tso and Depsang areas from where the Chinese troops are apparently reluctant to move back. This was one of the main reasons why India, in the last round of diplomatic talks, had insisted on early and complete disengagement.

"As border troops have disengaged in most localities, the situation on the ground is deescalating and the temperature is coming down," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin had said in Beijing.

5 Rafale jets arrive; Rajnath All set for construction of Ram Singh sends veiled warning temple in Ayodhya to Beijing

The first five omni-role Rafale fighters touched down at the Ambala airbase last week, with defence minister Rajnath Singh seizing the opportunity to warn those who threaten India’s territorial integrity. The Rafale jets, which have a decidedly deadly weapons package and can also deliver nuclear weapons, however, are not going to be deployed any time soon in the ongoing military confrontation with China.

It will take at least a couple of months, if not more, for the 4.5-generation Rafales to settle down in the 17 ‘Golden Arrows’ Squadron in Ambala and then be integrated into the IAF’s warfighting machinery after tactics and operational procedures are developed for them in Indian conditions, IAF officers said.

The government celebrated the arrival of the fighters. PM Narendra Modi welcomed the Rafales by tweeting a short video of the combat jets landing in Ambala and a Sanskrit shloka which said protecting the nation was the biggest of all virtues. Rajnath Singh marked the occasion with a combative tweet which was seen by many as aimed at China.

“I would like to add that if anyone should be worried about or critical about this new capability of IAF, it should be those who want to threaten our territorial integrity,” he said.

All 36 Rafales to be delivered by 2021-end All 36 Rafales, under the £5.90 billion deal inked with France in September 2016, will be delivered by end-2021. The first five

were received by Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria and Western Air Command chief Air Marshal B Suresh in Ambala on Wednesday last week.

The first fighters of western origin since the Mirage-2000s were inducted from France in the mid-1980s, the twin-engine Rafales pack quite a punch. Once armed with their ‘Meteor’ air-to-air missiles (120150 km strike range), ‘Scalp’ air-to-ground cruise missiles (over 300 km) and other armaments, they will be able to outgun their Pakistani and Chinese rivals such as F-16s, JF-17s and J-20s.

The 8,500 km flight was smooth for the five Rafales flown by IAF pilots all the way from Merignac in France, with mid-air refuelling, a stopover in the UAE, and a warm welcome of ‘may you touch the sky with glory’ by Indian destroyer INS Kolkata deployed in the Arabian Sea and finally an escort by two Sukhois as they entered Indian airspace on Wednesday.

But the acquisition process itself faced a lot of turbulence right since the IAF first demanded 126 new medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) way back in September 2000.The Modi government’s decision to go in for off-the-shelf purchase of 36 Rafales, without any ‘Make in India’ component after scrapping the earlier deadlocked MMRCA project, has witnessed a dogged BJP-Congress dogfight over corruption allegations for over two years now.

As Hindus prepare to celebrate the groundbreaking of a long-awaited temple at Ayodhya, Muslims say they have no firm plans yet to build a new mosque at an alternative site they were granted to replace the one torn down by Hindu hard-liners decades ago.

Wednesday's groundbreaking ceremony follows a ruling by India’s Supreme Court last November favouring the building of a Hindu temple on the disputed site in Uttar Pradesh state. Hindus believe their god Ram was born at the site and claim that the Muslim Emperor Babur built a mosque on top of a temple there.

The 16th century Babri Masjid mosque was destroyed by Hindu hard-liners in December 1992, sparking massive HinduMuslim violence that left some 2,000 people dead. The Supreme Court's verdict paved the way for the building of a temple in place of the demolished mosque. The court also ordered that Muslims be given 5 acres (2 hectares) of land to build a new mosque at a nearby site.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay five silver bricks as the temple foundation amid the chanting of religious hymns. Houses and other buildings close to the temple site in the city of Ayodhya are being painted yellow to recreate the look when the Hindu god Ram ruled there for thousands of years, according to the Hindu epic Ramayana.

More than 100,000 oil lamps will light up the city in celebration, said chief priest Satyendra Das. A security clampdown,

however, will allow only limited entry to Hindu devotees into the city because of the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, a priest and 15 police officers in the area tested positive for the virus. As ordered by the Supreme Court, the Uttar Pradesh government set up a trust last week for the building of a new mosque at a nearby site, in a village 25 km from the spot where the Babri mosque was demolished.

But there is no allocation of funds yet for the project. The government-run Sunni Central Waqf (Endowment) Board's chairman, Zafur Ahmed Faruqi, said mosques are always built with public support. “Money is bound to pour in,” he said. “We will open a bank account and ask people to donate for the construction of the mosque.”

Hindu began preparing for the new temple in the 1990s, and prefabricated blocks of huge, ornately carved stones displaying Hindu mythology are ready for once the construction work starts. The construction is expected to take 3 1/2 years.

Obituary It is with heavy heart we regret to announce the passing away of our Father Shree Umedlal Mohanlal Kothari, age 94 years, on 31.7.2020 after an operation on his fractured hip.

Formerly of Tanga, Mombasa, Mwanza and Musoma – Tanzania, thereafter resided in UK for past 45 years. He worked for Natural History Museum and retired 35 years ago. In retirement he devoted his time in providing social services in many matters including immigration, social security, housing, matrimonial, mentoring, mediation and other advocacy services.

He leaves behind an extended family of 4 children and spouses, 7 Grand Children, 1 great grandson. He will be missed by family and vast array of friends.

Umedlal Mohanlal Kothari

Family Contact : Harshad Kothari – 07956 334162 Email : harshad@sasconsultancy.com

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8 - 14 August 2020

Effects of pandemic will felt for decades, warns WHO World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus states the ongoing pandemic is the sort of disaster whose effects will last far into the future. Speaking at the WHO emergency committee meeting, he said, “The pandemic is a oncein-a-century health crisis, the effects of which will be felt for decades to come.”

The ongoing pandemic has killed over 6,93,154 people till Monday across the world. The United States, Brazil, Mexico and Britain have been particularly hard hit in recent weeks with their governments struggling to cope. Over 150

pharmaceutical companies are working on vaccines, the WHO said. Tedros said although knowledge about the new virus has advanced, several questions remain unanswered and populations remain vulnerable.

Tedros said, “Early results from serology (antibody) studies are painting a consistent picture: most of the world's people remain susceptible to this virus, even in areas that have experienced severe outbreaks. Many countries

that believed they were past the worst are now grappling with new outbreaks. Some that were less affected in the earliest weeks are now seeing escalating numbers of cases and deaths.” The organization “highlighted the anticipated lengthy duration of this Covid -19 pandemic” and warned of the risk of “response fatigue”. It said in a statement, “WHO continues to assess the global risk level of Covid-19 to be very high. The committee highlighted the anticipated lengthy duration of this Covid-19 pandemic, noting the importance of sustained community, national, regional, and global response efforts.”

Lockdown triggers sharp increase of insomnia cases in UK A recent study shows the Covid-19 lockdown triggered a sharp increase in anxiety-related sleeping problems. The worst-affected were recorded as mothers, key workers, and people from minority ethnic backgrounds. One in four suffer from sleep loss as a direct result of the huge disruption to people's social and working lives.

In a report in The Guardian quoted Prof Jane Falkingham, from the Economic and Social

Research Council-funded Centre for Population Change at Southampton University, as saying, “Sleep loss affected more people during the first four weeks of the Covid-19 related lockdown than it did before. We observed a large increase in the number of Britons, both men and women, suffering from anxiety-induced sleep problems.”

He added, “This reflects stress levels due to anxieties about health, financial consequences, changes in social life and the daily routine, all

of which may affect sleep.”

The research team studied 15,360-strong sample of the population, looking at how

Australia's Victoria declares 'state of disaster', announces stricter measures Australia's Victoria state has declared a 'state disaster' as its outbreak shows no signs of abating three weeks after capital Melbourne was placed under lockdown.

With the region posting 671 new cases, seven deaths on Sunday, state Premier Daniel Andrews declared a state of disaster from Sunday, giving police added powers.

Metropolitan Melbourne would be under a curfew limiting movement between 8 pm to 5 am.

The new restrictions will be in force for six weeks.

Andrews said it was “not acceptable” to face the state each day and report the numbers of residents

who had died. “We need to come down on this hard,” he said. He said the number of mystery cases that couldn't be traced to a known outbreak had risen to an “unacceptably high” level that could not be

continued.

This is Australia's second lockdown, with the first lasting roughly from March to May. It was one of the most successful in the world, bringing down cases to just a handful a day nationwide.

However, security failures at quarantine hotels for returning travellers and poor communication of critical information to migrant communities allowed the virus to come back in Victoria.

World fertility rates set to take a plunge Reports reveal the world remains unprepared for the global crash in fertility rates.

Plummeting crash in children being born would mean nearly every country could have shrinking populations by the end of the century.

Researchers at the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation showed the global fertility rate nearly halved to 2.4 in 2017, projecting it to further fall below 1.7 by 2100.

The report, published in The Lancet,

expects the number of people on the planet to peak at 9.7 billion around 2064, before falling down to 8.8 billion by the end of the century. According to the study, Japan's population is projected to fall from a peak of 128 million in 2017, to less than 53 million by the end of the century. Italy is expected to see an equally dramatic population crash from 61 million to 28 million over the same time frame.

The UK is predicted to peak at 75 million in 2063, and fall to 71 million by 2100.

people aged 16 and above slept both before the pandemic struck in March and then in April.

The overall incidence of worry-related sleep loss rose from 15.7 per cent to 24.7 per cent. But that 9 per cent increase nationally masked much bigger spikes in certain groups, particularly mothers of young children.

While the number of men experiencing poor sleep rose from 11.9 per cent to 16.5 per cent, the increase in women shot up from 18.9 per cent to 31.8 per cent.

Frontline health-care workers more likely to test positive despite PPE

A study published in the journal Lancet Public Health reveals frontline healthcare workers with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) have a three-fold increased risk of testing positive for Covid-19, as compared to the general population. It further suggested that healthcare workers from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds were most likely to test positive.

Researchers from King's College London and Harvard used the Civid Symptom Tracker App to look at data from 2,035,395 individuals and 99,795 frontline healthcare workers in the UK and US. The prevalence of Covid was 2,747 cases per 100,000 frontline healthcare workers compared with 242 cases per 100,000 people in the general community. A little over 20 per cent of frontline healthcare workers reported at least one symptom associated with Covid infection. More than 14.4 per cent of the general population recorded fatigue, loss of smell or taste, and hoarse voice.

BAME healthcare workers were at an especially high risk of Covid infection, with at least a five-fold increased risk of infection compared with the non-Hispanic white general community. Professor Sebastien Ourselin, senior author from King's College London said, “The findings of our study have a tremendous impact on healthcare workers and hospitals. The data is clear in revealing that there is still an elevated risk of SARS-CoV2 infection despite the availability of PPE. In particular, we note that the BAME community experiences elevated risk of infection and in some cases lack access to adequate PPE, or frequently reuse equipment.”

Researchers said their study not only shows the importance of adequate availability and use of PPE, but also the crucial need for additional strategies to protect healthcare workers like correct application and removal of PPE, and avoiding reuse. The study also noted differences in PPE adequacy according to race and ethnicity, with non-Hispanic white healthcare workers more frequently reporting reuse of or inadequate access to PPE. Joint first author Dr Mark Graham from King's College London, said, “The work is important in the context of the widely reported higher death rates among healthcare workers from BAME backgrounds.

Hopefully, a better understanding of the factors contributing to these disparities will inform efforts to better protect workers.”

British govt plans to boost cycling and walking Research carried out for the BikeIsBest organisation found 77 per cent of Britons would support changes in their local area to encourage more cycling and walking.

Data taken from a YouGov survey undertaken last week revealed 65 per cent of people said they wanted streets redesigned to protect pedestrians and cyclists. It found 51 per cent would cycle more if this happened. Meanwhile, 33 per cent said they would drive less if street layouts were changed.

Meanwhile, BikeIsBest said they believed something could be done about the dangers of motor traf-

fic. It found that 65 per cent of respondents believed children should be able to play in the street without the danger from rat-running traffic. Sixty-six per cent disagree with the idea

that nothing can be done.

The campaign was commissioned by Dr Ian Walker. He said, “Perhaps one reason negative voices find it so easy to sway things their way is that people have a tendency to misjudge public levels of support. The survey showed that, whilst most people think Britain would be a better place if more people cycled, they also guessed that other people were less supportive, and more hostile, to the idea than they were.”

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28 ART & CULTURE

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“This is a huge moment for the Asian community”: Abdullah Afzal Shefali Saxena When the world underwent a lockdown, the first thing that most people did to engage themselves was to turn towards artists. Art became an integral part of helping people get through the pandemic while people were strictly not allowed to meet friends or even families due to social distancing and risk of catching the Coronavirus.

Artists and their efforts to entertain us from home across the globe will always go down in the history of this pandemic as a saving grace for coping with the emotional and mental stress that comes with the solitude of quarantine life. But where do artists go to seek solace while saving the world in the pandemic through art forms? Actor and comedian Abdullah Afzal lost his mother during the pandemic and found comfort in religion. He spoke to Asian Voice about his experience through the pandemic, the need to take mental health more seriously as Asians, and other issues he strongly feels about.

Afzal said, “The lockdown actually gave me an opportunity to do more in terms of content online and social media. My normal day was so busy before, that what I was putting online was very limited and I found myself wanting to do more while I was at home. I was putting out content maybe once or twice a day for the first few weeks of lockdown. It was the response that I got that kind of made me think that why have I not been doing this all along because people have been appreciative of the content that I was putting out and I felt more needed, more important than I have ever felt before.It was nice because obviously when you come from an Asian Muslim background, going down the career path that I took was exactly not looked up to firstly. So the first time in a while I felt that I was doing something that was actually important to people. I've got so many messages from people.

Someone sent me a message saying she had a premature baby and she was in depression and that she stumbled upon one of my videos and it made her laugh and kind of gave her a tickle. These

each other during these times, he said, “I think our community first as a whole has been through a lot of experience in terms of hardship and struggle.

From our ancestors to now, it has always been a struggle in terms of my parents coming over here, the racist sixties and seventies and feeling quite low here. At that time it was a lot harder than it is now. The arts stream is a lot more unbalanced.”

He feels that the BAME community is resilient in striving through hardships. “The one thing I would say for Abdullah Afzal our community is that kinds of messages make you feel the people are very good at making needed and that you got your place sure that money is still coming in. in the community in the world.”

Our community has found ways He said that during the lockdown, around but they've got shops he has been planning in terms of opened, found ways of working where the money is going to come here and a got businesses opened. from now, but in actual terms, he Whether it is the taxi drivers or the said, “Spiritually, I feel great”. doctors and nurses, all there are Speaking about what the Asian busy saving lives.” community needs to do to help “I just feel that this is a huge

moment for the Asian community to show how important we are to this country because one of the things you know is that the beginning of the Covid-19 cases, the doctors and nurses who passed away were mainly from BAME background and that an incredible thing is that there are people out there who have an agenda. The Covid-19 pandemic has really allowed them to show how important we are to this country and that we truly are British,” he added.

We also asked Afzal to comment on how the mental health of artists like him is during these times and what they need to keep going. Afzal said, “I think there's a lot of support and talk about mental health when it comes to our industry, but I think it's a lot less when it comes to our community. If you go home to an old school aunt and say to her that I am suffering from depression, she will say there is nothing wrong with you. She'll say in my time we couldn’t even say this to anybody.

Their intention is not to help you but more about what is there to be depressed about. And I think that's something that needs to change.”

Meet the good samaritan who made ‘turban-friendly’ face masks

Book Recommendation

Our frontline workers have surpassed all limits of tolerance and discomfort by the virtue of their responsibility towards Covid19 patients.

Countless pictures of doctors, nurses and care workers with maskmarks are available on the internet.

Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a d e v o t e d following around the world.

This story, dazzling in its simplicity and wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy n a m e d Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an Alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a meditation on the treasures found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is art eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.

It’s never too late in life to read The Alchemist. We’re living through historic and unprecedented times where people are losing jobs, falling sick, facing mental stress, emotional turmoil and hope seems fragile. A good book can always help in healing, reminding yourself of your own strengths and virtues that make you, you. We’re all in this together. If you wish to seek a promising and symbolic perspective on the days to come, do read, The Alchemist. After all, “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” You will find this book on Amazon. The author has sold over 65 million copies of this book so far.

At the same time, at a community level, especially among the elderly citizens, it is intriguing to imagine that they would be able to wear masks for long periods of time without any discomfort despite their old age. Sunnie Delilah, a Birmingham based designer took notice of it and made a customised mask for her father-in-law who wears a turban. Asian Voice spoke to her to find out what went into making these masks and how community level care is the need of the hour.

What urged you to come up with the idea of making masks for Sikh men?

My father-in-law, a sikh man with a long beard and turban, was struggling with a standard mask, having to use an additional string with the masks provided by his workplace to hold in place over his turban. He also was not comfortable with the mask not covering all his face with his beard being visible under the mask. This led me to designing and creating a face covering to resolve the issues he was facing. After creating it for my father in

law it soon came to light that this was an issue for men all around the world.

This very simple thought is so basic yet so neglected in these times. Have you spotted anymore communities within BAME who need a certain specific garment or accessories during these testing times?

Yes, in fact following releasing this mask to the public to purchase and having done several TV or radio appearances. I was approached by many Muslim ladies who wear hijab (head scarf) that all mentioned having the issue of strugling with masks. As they put a lot of pressure on their ears under their head scarf. I had further created another version to suit people who wore head-wear but needed a standard size mask to help with this.

How important is community level participation and sensitisation for you?

Very, if you have the

capability to help then put it to use. I would be very disappointed in myself if I couldn't be there for the community, raise awareness and help.protect the elder generation.

How much energy and labour goes into making these masks? For what cost and how can people procure it from you?

These new masks and coverings that I have designed are not as simple as the standard ones available to purchase from many places. They have a more complex design, consisting of 3 layers and fastenings for ease of wear, comfort and wearability. You can purchase these specific masks from £15-£20 via my brand Delilahsdressingroom. com.

Every mask is washable, reusable and a

Sunnie Delilah

proportion of each sale is donated to the NHS. How difficult is it to manufacture these masks and sell them with safety guidelines given that it requires multiple hands to work on? How many have you sold so far?

The pattern and construction of these masks are more complex than standard masks and take longer to make. However they are made of high quality and made with love to serve a purpose. Each mask is only constructed by one person at any given time with safety guidelines in place. With these masks helping men and women from all around the world reaching as far as Australia and New Zealand.

Delilahsdressingroom.com has made and dispatched thousands of orders catering to the demand.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

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Kareena is 'up to some shade-y business' Actress Kareena Kapoor shared two brand new selfies to cheer up her fans over the weekend.

Hinting at a lazy weekend mood, she shared a glimpse of herself in a kaftan. Sharing the pictures on her social media, Kareena wrote, “Up to some shade-y business... #KaftanSeries.” The actor can be seen in a printed white-andpink kaftan as she enjoys the

sun in probably her balcony.

The actress made her Instagram debut earlier this year, and is often seen sharing unfiltered pictures and a glimpse of her and her family's candid moments. She had said in a recent interview, “I can't be dressed in couture all the time.

And, I do have days when my hair is out of place. The thing is,

I want to be as real as possible and be dressed in what makes me comfortable. I can't sit dressed up all day. I gets to me that people are looking at what I'm wearing all the time and scrutinising it. There are times when I just want to chill in a simple set of clothes and feel like myself, keep my hair tied or loose and just let things be.”

Amitabh Bachchan discharged from hospital

Ayushmann shares throwback picture on Friendship Day Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan has tested negative for Covid-19 and discharged from Mumbai's Nanavati Hospital. The news was confirmed by his son and actor Abhishek Bachchan who wrote on Twitter, “My father, thankfully, has tested negative on his latest Covid test and has been discharged from the hospital. He will be at home and rest.

Thank you all for all your prayers and wishes for him.”

Amitabh too took to Twitter to share the news, he wrote, “T 3613 – I have tested CoVid- have been discharged. I am back home in solitary quarantine. Grace of the Almighty, blessings of Ma Babuji, prayers & duas of near & dear & friends fans EF .. and the excellent care and nursing at Nanavati made it possible for me to see this day.”

The actor underwent treatment in the hospital for 23 days. Meanwhile, Abhishek remains in the hospital due to “some comorbidities”. In a separate tweet, he wrote, “I, Unfortunately due to some comorbidities remain Covid-19 positive and remain in hospital. Again, thank you all for your continued wishes and prayers for my family. Very humbled and indebted. I'll beat this and come back healthier! Promise.”

'Gulaabo Sitaabo' actor Ayushmann Khurrana acknowledged Friendship Day over the weekend with an adorable picture back from his college days. In a lengthy post along with the picture, he revealed that he remains in touch with 40 of his batchmates from college.

He wrote, “I am blessed to have great friends! My friends have been my pillars of strength. This picture was taken when we were getting ready for a college play. We had started this group called Aaghaaz, the play was called Kumaraswami and I played the lead character. We were a total of 10 boys in the play and all of us went bald during the peak winters in Chandigarh! Rochak and I have always shared a special bond. We were both inclined towards the creative arts. I have known him since the 8th grade. We

went to the same school since the late 90’s St. John’s High School, Chandigarh. We became friends in school when we discovered that both of us are crazily passionate about music. I’m lucky that we clicked and since then we have stayed tight through thick and thin.”

He added, “During a pandemic like this, you realise how important human connections are. Along with Rochak, I am in touch with nearly 40 of my batchmates and I truly consider this as a blessing Here’s wishing each and everyone of you a very Happy Friendship Day! @rochakkohli (Kumar Saurav, Jaiveer Singh and Mayank Choudhary also in the picture).”

On the work front, the actor will now be seen in a Raaj Shandilya film, and another movie with Anubhav Sinha.

Former girlfriend Ankita breaks silence on Sushant's death Actor Sushant Singh Rajput's ex-girlfriend, Ankita Lokhande has finally broken her silence on the actor's death over a month after he was found dead in his Bandra apartment. In an interview to Republic TV, she said he was “not the guy who could commit suicide.”

Ankita and Sushant met on the sets of their television show 'Pavitra Rishta', and were in a relationship for six years until 2016. She said, “How much ever I know him, he wasn't a depressed guy. I have not seen a person like Sushant, a guy who used to write his own dreams, he had a diary... He had his 5-year plan – what he wants to do, how he will look,

etc. And exactly after 5 years, he had fulfilled them. And when things like 'depression' are used after his name ... it is heartbreaking. He might be upset, anxious, yes, but depression is a big word. Calling someone 'bipolar' is a big thing.”

She added, “Everyone is writing their own portrayal of how 'depressed' he was, it hurts reading all of this.” Ankita was questioned by the Bihar Police at her Mumbai residence. Meanwhile, Mumbai police has so far questioned over 40 people. Sushant's father KK Singh filed an FIR against his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty.

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Sonam pulls all stops for husband Anand's birthday Actor Sonam Kapoor organised a lavish fancy birthday picnic for her husband Anand Ahuja. Sharing a picture on Instagram, she gave a glimpse of the outdoor picnic with a caption. She said, “Happening Right Now: my birthday gifts- @sonamkapoor & this outdoor picnic. #everydayphenomenal #shotoniphoneSE.” The photo features a flowy floral kurta and palazzos, smiling for the camera. A sheet on the grass, along with a number of cushions make the seating appear more cosy. A small picnic table is seen decked up with an assortment of flowers. A food cart decked up with white balloons can be seen in the background.

Fans, and fellow celebrities were blown away by the intimate gesture. Even Sonam's mother couldn't help but comment “Faaaaaabbbb”. The actor had been counting down to Anand's birthday on media. She made a filter on Instagram, and shared specially created stickers made out of Anand's favourite hashtags. Both, Sonam and Anand are currently in London.

Genre: Indian Black Comedy Duration: 132 minutes

The plight of a suitcase Nandan is a simple man that finds a suitcase full of cash that he decides to keep but doesn’t realise the implications this comes with.

Radhika Madan reminisces calling late actor Irrfan 'dad' on sets Actress Radhika Madan, who played the late actor Irrfan Khan's daughter in his final movie 'Angrezi Medium' recently revealed that she would call him “papa” or “dad” instead of “sir”. Recalling their first meeting, she said she was thankful about getting to share screen space with him. “I never addressed him as sir, I always addressed him as 'papa' or 'dad'! He would just smile. I remember when I first met him and I called him 'dad', instead of feeling weird about it, he gave me a big hug.

I will always remember him as

'dad',” she said in an interview.

Radhika added that she learnt a lot from the now deceased actor. “I feel so grateful that I got the opportunity to just stand in front of him and share screen space. I learnt so many things from him as an actor and as a person. Working with him was a big tick on my wish list,” she said.

Irrfan died on April 29 following a two-year battle with neuroendocrine tumour. He is survived by his wife Sutapa Sikdar, and sons Babil and Ayaan.

Sonu Sood walks down memory lane on his birthday Actor Sonu Sood turned 47 last week, and while he was showered with wishes both from in and out of the industry, he had a special moment for himself. Sonu remembered his first-ever birthday in Mumbai, when he had landed fresh in the city to pursue a career in the film industry, and has no friends yet.

In an interview, he said, “I remember when I just came up to Bombay for the first time and I came on the 25th or 26th of July 1st time in 1997/98. on the 30th of July, I did not know a single soul in the city and there was no one to wish me.” He said he rang in his birthday alone on a bridge in Lokhandwala, with tears in his eyes.

“I was siting at a bridge in Lokhandwala alone in the middle of the night. At 12 o'clock, my mom, my dad and my sister called me and they wished me. They asked, 'Do you have any friends there?' and I said 'I don't have any friends in Mumbai'. I was feeling alone and I had tears in my eyes, that this city is so big, with so many people, and there's no one to wish you personally.”

Sonu Sood added, “I feel that today after 22 years, that day is here when the whole world is going to celebrate my birthday with me. So it's a special journey and I will always remember that day when there was no one to wish me in this city.” The actor has been at the forefront of relief efforts ever since the pandemic hit.

Vir Das flays Indian media's insensitive reporting on mental health Actor and comedian Vir Das has raised objections to the insensitive reporting on mental health in television media over the last week. As actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death continues to be a topic of contention these days, several news channels and media houses have carried reports and interviews on depression, and his suicide.

Vir states the issues must be handled with care considering the large percentage of people who suffer from depression and other mental health problems in the country. He wrote in a tweet, “What's disturbing is to see the clueless and harsh rhetoric around depression on news channels this week. Please be mindful of the fact that a gigantic percentage of our country struggles with it, and watches you. It's important to communicate that it is nothing to be ashamed of.”

The actor further clarified that some with depression can seem fit and happy on the outside, not presenting any symptoms. “You can be depressed and be: Successful Fit Functional Cheerful Friendly Ambitious Hard working On medication On zero medication Focussed Optimistic All of the above at different times. Don't let your drive for ratings insult a great artist and a very large group of people.”

Minister Patil is sending a parcel with 10 boxes of mithai and a file to another minister but on its way it is intercepted by some goons of the gangster Bala as it is learned that the boxes actually contain cash. The boxes have been put it into the red suitcase which Bala’s men hide under some nearby boxes when they hear the police hoping to come back later for it.

Nandan lives with his wife Lata and son Auyush.

He is a simple man on his way home from work one day he sees the suitcase and opens it to find the cash. He takes it home and goes to hide it in his neighbour’s house as his neighbour is away. Nandan has not told his wife about the suitcase and when she questions him he lies and says he was sneaking out to have a smoke and seduces her instead.

Bala’s men realise the suitcase has been stolen and inform Bala and Patil’s men do the same. Patil comes to realise that the film has also gone missing and when Bala overhears this he sends him men to go and find the suitcase. Patil manages to blackmail a cop into working for him to find the case.

Nandan has been living like a king recently and has been buying gifts for his family and taking them out. Nandan finds out his wife has asked the cleaner to clean his neighbours house and so he rushes over and decides to split the money separately to hide it.

As the police are now involved they manage to get one of the CCTV cameras working and see Nandan getting into a rickshaw.

They manage to find the rickshaw driver but it comes to a halt when he cannot remember what Nandan looks like.

Will Nandan get tracked down

by Bala and Patil’s men or will he be free to spend the money he found?

Lootcase is a funny film that will keep you entertained whilst at home. As the cinemas have still not opened for release, the film is being streamed on Disney Hotstar.

You can get in touch with Vallisa: djvallisa@gmail.com

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Lockdown a 'crazy, challenging time' for Shruti Haasan Actor Shruti Haasan, who is currently in Hyderabad for a shoot believes the new normal would be about playing by the ear, one day at a time with extreme caution.

Calling the Covid-induced lockdown a “crazy, challenging time”, she said she tried to be productive, creative, and positive in the last four months.

She said, “The lockdown has allowed me to spend some time and get to know myself better. Apart from writing music and pros, I also did some photoshoots on my own with all the hair, make up and camera handling done by me alone. I really learnt a lot about it.” The 'Rocky Handsome' actor added, “I also think people will learn to be more cost

effective, smart and time efficient.”

When asked if shooting would be a little more challenging with less people on sets, Shruti said, “Yes, it will be challenging with less people, but I also think it will streamline the work, and people will be more focused. I rather see the positives of it since we don't have a choice.” She admits that “it is a scary time to start shooting.”

However, she says, “There are a lot of livelihoods that are dependent on the entertainment industry. It is difficult financially for so many people. So, if we can get back to work carefully and responsibly, I think it is important for everyone.”

Celebrities and fans celebrate Ajith's milestone!

Ajith Kumar, one of the popular icons of Kollywood and the favourite of the masses, has completed 28 years in the industry on August 2. It was exactly on August 2, 1992, the shooting began for his debut film, 'Prema Pusthakam' (Telugu). It is indeed a lesser known fact that the director of this film, Gollapudi Srinivas passed away during the making of this movie itself and he was replaced by his father, Gollapudi Maruthi Rao. His debut as a lead actor in Tamil cinema was with Amaravathi.

Following which, he decided to focus into driving and while training for

TV Listing

SS Rajamouli, family test positive for Covid-19

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli and his family members have tested positive for Covid-19. He said they were tested after developing a mild fever a few days ago. He took to Twitter to share the news, and wrote, “My family

members and I developed a slight fever few days ago. It subsided by itself but we got tested nevertheless. The result has shown a mild Covid positive today. We have home quarantined as prescribed by the doctors.”

He added in another tweet, “All of us are feeling better with no symptoms but are following all precautions and instructions...Just waiting to develop antibodies so that we can donate our plasma.” Rajamouli, before

the pandemic hit, was busy shooting for his upcoming 'RRR' with Jr NTR, Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, and Alia Bhatt.

The movie will feature Jr NTR and Ram Charan as revolutionary freedom fighters Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitarama Raju. It is being produced on a mammoth budget of £40 million. While the movie is 75 per cent complete, the remainder will be shot on a set in Hyderabad.

20:30 SHUBHARAMBH

21:00 NAATI PINKY KI LAMBI LOVE STORY

21:30 PAVITRA BHAGYAA

SATURDAY 8 AUG

18:30 INDIA UNLIMITED

19:00 ISHQ MEIN MARJAWAN 2

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 10 AUG FRI 14 AUG 2020 11:30 SRIMAD BHAGWAT

14:30 KASAM

15:30 INTERNETWALA LOVE

16:00 THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 19:00 ISHQ MEIN MARJAWAN 2 19:30 CHOTI SARDAARNI

20:00 SHAKTI

Tamil actor Vijaya Lakshmi reportedly attempts suicide Tamil actor Vijaya Lakshmi reportedly attempted suicide following social media bullying by the followers of Naam Tamizhar party. In a video posted by her on social media, she revealed that she has been under a lot of stress over the last few months due to the constant bullying and harassment by Seeman and his party members.

She urged Seeman and

popular political outfit Panankattu Padai's Hari Nadar be arrested for harassing her over difference of opinions. She can be heard saying in the video, “This is my last video. I have been under extreme stress in the last four months because of Seeman and his party men. I tried my best to survive for my mother and my sister. I have been humiliated by Hari Nadar

in the media.

I have consumed BP tablets. In some time my BP will be low and I will be dead.”

She went on to say that Seeman slut-shamed her through posts on social media.

She has been admitted to a private hospital where she's undergoing treatment.

an amateur race had injured his back and underwent three major surgeries, leaving him bed-ridden for a year-anda-half. Apart from the continuous back injuries and criticism, the actor majestically completed his 28 years in the industry.

Till date, he has 60 movies in his filmography and has signed his 61st film 'Valimai' with Boney Kapoor and HVinoth. The celebrities and fans have been celebrating this big day by trending the hashtag and unveiling mass posters designed specially by the fans for this day.

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 10 AUG FRI 14 AUG 2020 8:00 TERE NAAL ISHQ 8:30 BHARADWAJ BAHUEIN 15:30 JAI SHRI KRISHNA 16:00 DHARAM THI GUJARATI 16:30 RASOI SHOW 17:30 CHHUTA CHHEDA 18:00 TUM KAUN PIYA 18:30 DIL KA RISHTA 19:00 MERE HUMRAHI

19:30 CHOTI SARDAARNI

20:00 NAAGIN (SEASON 5) 21:00 DESI BEAT RESET

21:30 KHATRON KE KHILADI - MADE IN INDIA

SUNDAY 9 AUG

15:30

AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY

19:00

CHOTI SARDAARNI

18:30 20:00

21:00 21:30

DESI BEAT RESET

NAAGIN (SEASON 5) DESI BEAT RESET

KHATRON KE KHILADI - MADE IN INDIA

19:30 OM NAMAH SHIVAY 20:30 BARRISTER BABU 21:00 BALIKA VADHU-LAMHE PYAAR KE SATURDAY 8 AUG 11:00 DESI BEAT SEASON 2 17:00 DHARAM THI GUJARATI 18:00 BFFS WITH VOGUE (SEASON 3) 19:00 FEET UP WITH THE STARS (SEASON 2) 19:30 OM NAMAH SHIVAY 20:30 DESI BEAT SEASON 2 21:00 BALIKA VADHU SUNDAY 9 AUG 11:00 DESI BEAT SEASON 2 17:00 DHARAM THI GUJARATI 18:00 DESI BEAT SEASON 3 19:30 OM NAMAH SHIVAY 20:30 DESI BEAT SEASON 2 21:00 BALIKA VADHU

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Formula E driver Neel Jani raises awareness against racism TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E driver Neel Jani has urged the motorsport community to continue the fight against discrimination and racism ahead of the return of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.

The all-electric racing series will return on August 5 in Berlin for the most intense season finale in the history of motorsport with six races in nine days, but the racing will take place amid the backdrop of a global conversation around tackling racial inequality. Formula E recently launched the #Positively Charged campaign with a renewed focus on its founding principles to counteract the effects of climate change by accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles but also on creating a better future through racing.

While sustainability has been a bedrock of Formula E since it launched in 2014, it has also partnered with UNICEF to aid the fight against coronavirus and will be seeking to provide greater opportunity for underrepresented groups through the Positive Futures programme, launching next season. And Jani, whose father has an Indian heritage, underlined the importance of

keeping the conversation going and raising awareness.

“For sure it is a subject that is around now, and it is something we all need to look at”, he said. “My dad has experienced racism in his past, and it is thanks to him and my mother’s efforts that I am in a privileged position.

“It is a subject which has come up and needs to be looked after and everyone should stay on top of it,

although it is clear you can exaggerate everything and go too far on certain things, so it is about finding the balance.

But clearly things have to be done.”Mercedes-Benz EQ will also be racing in an all-black livery in Berlin representing the stand against racism and discrimination.

More #Positively Charged plans will be shared during the coverage of the Berlin E-Prix on August 5.

Along with the message of inclusivity there is also a title to be won and a competitive edge will be there with every driver still in with a shout mathematically of taking the title come the end of the nineday finale. Formula E is famed for its unpredictability with equal opportunities on the track for all drivers, with every single race having been won by a different driver this season and nine different winners last year.

England, Pak players eye improved rankings in the test series Pakistani players will be aiming to progress in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings as they revive their campaign in the ICC World Test Championship with a three-match series against England starting in Manchester on Wednesday.

Captain Azhar Ali and vice-captain Babar Azam will be among the players in focus for Pakistan, up against a side that last week completed its first come from behind threeTest series win on home soil since 1888, with players like Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad performing splendidly against the West Indies to make massive gains in the player rankings.

Azhar, presently 27th among batsmen, will be

hoping to regain the form that lifted him to sixth in December 2016, while Babar will be hoping to progress from a career-best aggregate of 800 rating points. Babar is currently sixth after having occupied a career-high fifth place in February. Asad Shafiq (18th) and Shan Masood (33rd) are other Pakistani batsmen to have enjoyed higher rankings in the past but will

have to contend with a sharp bowling attack in order to move up again.

Fast bowler Mohammad Abbas (13th) and experienced legspinner Yasir Shah (24th), who have in the past, been ranked third and first, respectively, and left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi (32nd) are other Pakistan players to watch.

For England, Stokes displaced West Indies captain Jason Holder from the top of the all-rounders’ list during their last series and formerly top-ranked Broad rose to third position in the bowlers’ list, currently led by Australia

fast bowler Pat Cummins.

Stokes is also England’s top-ranked batsman in fourth position, with captain Joe Root (ninth) and opener Rory Burns (17th) their next batsmen on the list. Dom Sibley (35th), Jos Buttler (44th) and Ollie Pope (46th) get a chance to build on recent progress in home conditions, as do fast bowlers Mark Wood, Sam Curran and Jofra Archer, ranked close to each other from 36th to 39th positions.

In the WTC points table, England moved up to third position after the series against the West Indies and could potentially leapfrog Australia to second place, while Pakistan have the chance of overtaking New Zealand to fourth position.

IPL players told to delay travel to UAE by a week The Indian Premier League’s governing council (GC) has decided to ask the franchises and other stakeholders to delay their travel to UAE approximately by a week possibly to set the Covid-19 protocols in place for this year’s edition - and travel only

by August 20. The GC also took a call to postpone the final of the tournament from November 8 to 10 to give broadcasters Star India an extra two days in the Diwali week and advance the start of the evening matches from 8 pm IST to 7.30 pm IST. In doing so, the IPL has moved away from its tradition of hosting the final on a Sunday. Those tracking

multiple viewpoints say “not having a final on the weekend won’t matter because it’s the Diwali week”. The major focus of Sunday’s discussion between the GC members was on “requesting” IPL’s stakeholders to travel to UAE only on August 20. Most franchises were initially planning to travel in the second week of August – between 10th and 15th – and had already started work on travel and accommodation during these dates.

GC’s view possibly stems from the fact that it needs to put the Covid protocols in place, discuss those protocols in detail with league’s stakeholders and then coordinate with the UAE

government and the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) before travel can begin. Majority of the franchises are in agreement with the decision.

All franchises landing in the UAE on the same day will mean creating a bubble from the airport to their respective hotels, which will then be the norm for the next two months of IPL. “We see logic in BCCI’s decision. They have to put certain protocols in place and coordinate with the UAE government to ensure that they will be followed to the ‘T’.

For instance, we’ll be travelling by road between cities – Dubai to Sharjah to Abu Dhabi. So, will we be checked at all departure and entry points?

How will two franchises – who

have their separate bio-secure bubbles – coordinate with each other’s protocols on match days? BCCI has a lot on its hands and they can expect our full cooperation,” team officials said. Franchises have been allowed to travel with their full squads – a maximum of 24 – but teams are expected to fly in more ‘working hands’ keeping in mind they will require net bowlers, fielders during training, general physicians (unrelated to Covid) and individuals in other essential categories. In fact, eight players from each franchise will travel from other countries and Indians flying to UAE, per squad, will be limited to not more than 14 to 16 players.

in brief KOHLI IN TROUBLE FOR ENDORSING ONLINE GAMBLING PLATFORM India skipper Virat Kohli seems to landed himself in some unnecessary trouble as an advocate from Chennai has filed a plea in Madras High Court seeking a ban on online gambling, and arrest & prosecution of all running such sites, and famous Virat Kohli personalities endorsing them, according to a report.The plea points out that gambling is a criminal offence in the country, and also there has been a rise in suicide cases in Tamil Nadu, due to heavy losses suffered by gamblers. The plea is likely to be taken up for hearing next week. “Youngsters are being hooked to this online gambling addiction by the organizers by providing huge cash bonuses to anyone. It uses the famous cricket and film personalities including cricketer like Virat Kohli and actress Tamannah who brainwash these young with their powerful appeal to join this game” the petition states.“This gambling addiction is more dangerous to the society and violative of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, as it infringes right to life.

Hence this writ petition seeking ban,” reads the plea.The petitioner Suryaprakasam said, “In online gambling the damage is done in a short span, whereas alcohol and cigarettes take about 15 years to harm an individual.

They are being lured in to play by celebrities who endorse it using their influence in the public minds.

Youth begin with pocket money, income and then exhaust family savings, later lend money. When the lender goes to their residence and embarrasses them, they take the extreme step. There are many cases like this in recent times and many more such unfortunate cases will emerge in the coming months, when youth are unemployed and idle."

HAMILTON CLINCHES BRITISH GP, CLOSES IN ON SCHUMI RECORD Lewis Hamilton held on to win the British Grand Prix on Sunday despite a puncture on the last lap to clinch an 87th career win and move within four of Michael Schumacher’s Formula One record. The championship leader’s record-extending seventh Silverstone win saw him finish six seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who unexpectedly moved up a place after Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas sustained a puncture with three laps left. With Hamilton so far ahead, Verstappen went in for a tire change in a bid to gain an extra point for the fastest lap but that pit stop ultimately cost him victory because Hamilton’s front left shredded with half a lap to go. Verstappen swallowed up most of the 25-second gap but ran out of time. Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari with Daniel Ricciardo fourth for improving Renault and British driver Lando Norris fifth for McLaren. “It was a very tricky race,” said Leclerc after his second podium of the season.

MANJREKAR'S PLEA TO BCCI Former India batsman-turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar, who was removed by the BCCI from its commentary panel in March this year just before the India-South Africa ODI series which was eventually cancelled due to the outbreak of Covid-19, has requested the Board to take him back for the forthcoming edition of the IPL in UAE, which will run from September 19 to November 8. In a short e-mail to the Apex Council members of the BCCI, the former Mumbai captain has assured the Board mandarins that he would “stick to the guidelines laid out” by the BCCI. According to sources, Manjrekar was sacked from the BCCI commentary panel after a few players in Team India complained to the Board about his controversial “bits and pieces” comment on all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja during the Workld Cup in England last year.

Manjrekar has already apologised for his comments on Jadeja and sorted out the issue with the concerned player. The final call on this issue will rest with BCCI president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah.