AV 11th September 2021

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE Is a winter lockdown approaching?

US to mark 20th anniversary of 9/11

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Sunak, Sitharaman announce new steps to tackle climate change SEE PAGE - 25

Indian markets extend gains, hit record highs once again SEE PAGE - 26

R

inside

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

11 - 17 SEPTEMBER 2021 - VOL 50 ISSUE 19

Skipping Sikh: “I believe we can do anything we want to”

Understanding the psychology of a sexual assault survivor

PM Modi likely to visit US this month, to meet Biden

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OPERATION EMPATHY It’s time to learn from the past, to give a better future to Afghan refugees in the UK.

Go Dharmic team with relief material for Afghan refugees in the UK

Shefali Saxena As Britain continues to work towards making ‘Operation Warm Welcome’ successful to support incoming Afghan refugees after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, it is imperative to remember our past, learn from what worked back then, and embrace the helpless for a safer and promising future.

49 years ago, when Ugandan Asians were expelled by the brutal dictator Idi Amin, Edward Heath’s Conservative government committed to Britain’s duty to help those who were a part of the expulsion.

Despite advertisements in Leicester newspapers that warned Ugandans to not go there due to lack of jobs Continued on page 6 and homes, Ugandan Asians became an integral part of Britain.

2 UK

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

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11 - 17 September 2021

with Keith Vaz

Trouble for doctor

Nita Solanki Councillor Nita Solanki, was born and raised in Belgrave, Leicester to parents Late Cllr Mansukhlal Chohan and Hemlata Chohan. Nita lives in Leicester with her husband and 2 school aged children. She graduated with a BSC (Hons) in Human Psychology and went on to gain a Post Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Management. Nita has vast experience in Retail Management, Training, Coaching and People Development. Nita currently works as a Learning Solutions Developer, within the area of Learning and Development.

Nita was first elected to the City Council in May 2019. Growing up around and having an interest in local politics from a young age, inspired her to move into local politics, to support the hard to reach communities. Her motivation for going into local politics was to be a voice for those that are underrepresented. She is also a Local Authority School Governor for a school in her ward. Nita's focus as a ward councillor is on the issues that have an impact on people’s daily lives and to make sure the needs of the community are met as best as possible.

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

Leicester will always be home, and Belgrave in particular will always remain a special place for me. It's where I grew up, spent my childhood and youth, it's the ward I was elected as a Councillor!

2. What are your proudest achievements?

It's an honour and privilege to represent the local community. I'm grateful to be given the opportunity. Also, supporting people over the pandemic, through working with organisations to provide food parcels for the vulnerable, making sure individuals, businesses and community organisation got the support they needed. I worked to ensure Belgrave had the provision for a Holiday Hunger scheme.

Recently I worked with partner agencies , including LCC Public Health and the Leicestershire Police to raise awareness about Mental Health in the local community. Mental Health is as important as one's physical health and getting communities to talk about this is vital.

3. What inspires you?

Making a positive difference to the lives of others is important to me. Also, partnership working, over the pandemic we saw communities and numerous partner agencies working together, people from all walks of life coming together, supporting each other in their hardest times, that was inspiring to see.

4. What has been biggest obstacle in your career?

Coming from a learning and development background I believe with challenges comes learning experience, so I can't say there's been any major obstacles rather lots of opportunities to learn!

5. Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?

My Parents, my mother has always encouraged me to aim high and not be afraid to fail but try again, she often says you learn more from failure than success.

My mum is my go-to person if I need advice or to get a balanced perspective. Although

my father is sadly no longer with us, his values of supporting those in need and standing up for what you believe in, even if you stand alone is something that will always resonate with me.

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

The constituent work, I enjoy the ward surgeries, although they are virtual at the moment. It's also rewarding to not just support constituents but to empower them to support themselves. There's nothing quite like knowing your making a positive difference to people's lives, no matter how small it may seem.

7. And the worst?

It's frustrating watching people struggle due to lack of resource or government funding.

8. What are your long-term goals?

I am over halfway through the term with still a large amount I want to achieve, including doing more for the younger generations. After that, who knows!

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

The Right to Buy Scheme, it has supported many families to buy their own homes, who otherwise may not be able to afford to, however with a depletion in housing stock, due to new homes not replacing those sold off, is creating a shortage in social housing, the brunt which is being felt by those most in need.

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

Emmeline Pankhurst, a key figure in the feminist movement. It was due to the Suffrage movement and those like Pankhurst who fought for the rights of women and the reason that woman can vote today. We must never forget the sacrifices of others, battles they fought for the things we take for granted today. It's great to see Women such as Jacinda Arden PM for New Zealand, taking on roles to lead their countries.

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33-year-old Dr Raisah Sawati was struck off for sleeping on a shift because she was suffering from period pain.

The doctor claims that she was unfairly treated because of her health issues, which were ignored. She was found asleep on a bench at Fairfield hospital near Bury. The Daily Mail reported that this doctor had also failed a patient who died of

sufficiently engaged in learning from day to day patients in the medical unit competence and performance was not improving the clinical exposure. The doctor claims that she has reflected deeply upon the incidents which have given rise to these allegations, which to her appear largely characterised by confusion and misinterpretation.

Nurse practising with forged papers for 20 years Authorities in Sheffield have noticed that a nurse practised for 20 years with allegedly illegitimate papers from Pakistan until they noticed.

Then Dilal Ali was registered as a nurse in the UK in April 2000 using forms that were stamped by the Pakistan Nursing Council, assuring that he was certi-

fied. Last year it was found that he had never worked in Pakistan as a nurse. A report from the hearing by the nursing and midwifery counselling reads the public would be shocked to discover a person had secured entry onto the NMC register by use of falsified document and would expect action to be

taken, the submission of falsified documentation, intended to deliberately mislead the NMC is an extremely serious matter.

And the panel considered that taking no action in the circumstances will be wholly inadequate. The panel is suspended Mr Ali for 18 months, to prevent him from practising.

England is facing disruption in winter flu jobs due to vaccine shortage Being the largest supplier of flu jabs, England is experiencing delivery delays.

While ministers have been told to get a grip, following the news of delays in flu vaccine jab deliveries.

A lot of patients have had to reschedule their appointment.

Shadow Health Secretary John

Ashworth has said, “GPs are at their wit's end. First forced to cancel blood tests because of water shortages,

and now we learn flu vaccines will be delayed.

This has been a summer of crisis for the NHS for patients paying the price. But winter coming and flu resurgence, huge risk ministers must urgently, Get a grip.”

What is Mu strain?

A new Covid strain has been added to the World Health Organization's variants of interest list. It is called the Mu Covid strain. It has left scientists concerned about invading people's immunity despite vaccinations.

The strain is also called B.1.621 was added to the WHO’s watchlist on August 30. This has so far been effective in 39 countries and was first discovered in Columbia in January. Since then, cases of new variants have been reported in the UK mainland Europe, the US, and Hong Kong. It makes up for 0.1% of Covid infections, globally. At least 55 cases of the radiant were

London crosses 1 million Covid cases mark The Evening Standard reported last week that London has crossed the one million mark in Covid cases.

“They show there have been 1,000,791 confirmed infections in the capital since February 11 last year, the date of the first published such case,” they reported. Health Secretary Sajid Javid tweeted: “More than half of people aged 1617 have now been vaccinated with one dose – fantastic news! “Thanks to everyone

respiratory failure at a nursing home and was criticized for her work during a string of training placements tribunal Sawati has since passed the foundation here and is appealing the erasure decision. The report also mentioned that this doctor's record-keeping was unacceptable. A third assessment according to Daily Mail concluded, Dr Sawati was not

who has done their bit to help us live safely with this virus. “Please get your jabs as soon as you can.”

detected in the UK. Epidemiology of the new variant in South America, but particularly with the circulation of the Delta variant will be monitored for changes, a WHO bulletin stated. Public Health England released a risk assessment of the Mu variant in August, referring it to as the VU21July-01. The report states at present

there is no evidence that VU21uly-01 is competing the Delta variant, and it is unlikely that it is more transmissible.

Three men who gang-raped teenage girls, jailed After more than eight hours of jury deliberations, Zahid Hassan, Saqib Raheel and Sholan James were convicted following a nine-day trial at Leeds Crown Court in May. As per Yorkshire Live reports, in 2006, jurors heard an 18-year-old girl was raped by Hassan and his friend 'Fred' and an after few years, a 15-year-old girl was sexually abused by Raheel, James and a third man before being raped by Raheel.

The trial was recently held in West Yorkshire Police's Operation Tendersea investigation into non-recent child sexual exploitation in Kirklees.

Judge Simon Phillips

QC expressed the grooming as "insidious and persistent".

"When the girls reached home they were almost senseless and were targeted because of their intense vulnerability and perceived naivety,” he said.

Judge Phillips QC added the sentences he imposed were "severe" and intended to be so to make sure others do not behave in the same way and emphasised that the courts have to do what they can to save girls from abuse.

Last week, a judge at Leeds Crown Court sentenced Hassan to 21 years of imprisonment, Raheel to 10-and-a-half years and James to six years in jail.

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AsianVoiceNewsweekly

11 - 17 September 2021

Take a long hard look at who is left behind Summer vacation is over. Schools have reopened as normal, employers are ushering workers to return offices, while the Parliament has re-opened with a new session. On Tuesday Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he is going to raise taxes to fund social and healthcare reform. This has raised severe concerns amidst other Parliamentarians, but this will ensure an extra 36 billion pounds in next three years, with some 5.4 billion for the NHS. The PM has new challenges in his hands. First the refugee crisis is at its peak and he needs to ensure that the Afghan immigrants are given a home and warm food till they stand on their own feet. With winter arriving, this may be a test they are not ready for. Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has urged world leaders to ensure the Afghan futures are not lost.

Second, as the backlash on GPs rise, the Prime Minister needs further funds for health and social services that can take care of a pandemic Britain. With widespread vaccination, and increasing cases of covid, it becomes quite clear that keeping oneself safe from coronavirus is going to be a major lifestyle issue- which may not be possible if the country needs to remain open for business. International travel is still banned. The home tourism sector remains expensive and not worth the price.

However, according to the ONS, the unemployment rate has fallen by 4.7% in the first quarter of this year. Interestingly, there is a mismatch between demand for workers in industries from manufacturing to hospitality and the lack of skilled staff, the number of vacancies soared in July to 1,034,000 from June.

The number of employees also remained 201,000 below February 2020 levels, as the Guardian pointed out, indicating that many self-employed people who lost work in the previous 18 months were still unable to find a job or return to the labour market.

The Asian community in the UK has many self-employed workers. In 2018, data showed, 15.1% of workers in the UK were self-employed. Out of that 20.4% of workers in the combined Pakistani and Bangladeshi ethnic group were self-employed, the highest percentage out of all ethnic groups. Among Indians, in 2017, self-employed were 12.8%, in 2018 it increased to 13.2%.

The next of challenges are foster care and care homes. Over 65,000 children in the UK live with almost 55,000 foster families across the UK each day.

While Britain’s now elderly may have made brilliant investments as their children migrate across the world, these old parents now feel the need to move to the security of care homes.

While for some of them, their London properties cost no less than 750,000 pounds, they automatically become ineligible for government help. Private care homes cost no less than 1000 pounds a week. So, in a post pandemic country, where income is not proportionate to expenses, this is not something the Prime Minister can overlook. Moreover, with scrapping the triple lock on pensions, another promise is broken. With two million pensioners living in poverty, the triple lock was their guarantee that they wouldn’t have to face the old days of 75p rises.

According to the ONS, there are nearly 12 million people aged 65 and above in the UK of which: 5.4 million people are aged 75+, 1.6 million are aged 85+, and over 500,000 people are 90+.

There are 14,430 who are centenarians. With the new variant of coronavirus, this stratum of the community remains vulnerable.

Raising taxes is not the right solution in a post-pandemic society. It may be a necessary evil but a rich treasury along with security of jobs and a robust healthcare system are undoubtedly important. But how to spend that fund allocated is also something Mr Johnson needs to consider. It is time to do some hard thinking about those left behind.

An important rendezvous?

US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are due to meet later this month for the first time in person while attending the Quad Summit. Mr Biden has a halfIndian Vice President in his team and has also selected many Indian-origin Americans in various roles in the administration.

While Donald Trump had a remarkable relationship with PM Modi, the world has its eyes on the shifting alliance between India and the US. The visit also comes at a time when the US will observe 20 years of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US. While a team will reach the US before 9 September, PM Modi’s visit will start with a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden at Washington DC on 23 September. This will be followed by a physical Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) summit on 24 September.

PM Modi will then address the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 25 September before flying back to India. This is his first international visit after Bangladesh in March 2021.

Anu Sharma in an article in The Week magazine said, with the withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s takeover in Kabul, the diplomatic situation is complicated for both India and Iran. The Taliban’s violent means to establish power in Afghanistan have resulted in refugees escaping Afghanistan to neighbouring countries like India and Iran.

This massive Afghan refugee population is also looking for asy-

lum in India, which could burden the Indian economy.

Therefore, India once again is looking forward to rebuilding its ties with Iran. The new President in White House raises hopes of a probable and ultimate breakthrough between Iran and the US related talks on the nuclear deal and removal of sanctions.

In 2019, the US-India bilateral trade in goods and services reached $149 billion. Last year, Indian students enrolled at US colleges and universities contributed over $8 billion to the US economy. The total number of Indian students in the US has more than doubled over the last decade, from 81,000 in 2008 to a record high of 202,000 in 2019.

With Afghanistan claiming a right to “upheld the plight of Kashmiri Muslims in India” Mr Modi has much to talk about with the US. There was a time President Biden and Vice President Harris believed that the Modi government was wrong to make changes to Article 370. But today, with China, Russia and Pakistan rising to power with the help of the Taliban, if the US wants a connection with the Indo-Pacific region, India’s position is insurmountable. But in a post pandemic world, with India itself slowly finding its feet, much remains uncertain for its international commitments. Of course, today India can call the US an ally, as Pakistan’s bond weakens with America, and as Taliban danger increases, how far will President Biden go to secure and protect this friendship remains a million-dollar question

Gulf countries opening up to lure foreign funds The Gulf countries have announced new schemes to attract talent and boost growth. The United Arab Emirates is the first country to open up with 'Green Visa' which will allow expatriates to apply for work without being sponsored by an employer, targeting investors and highly skilled workers as well as top students and graduates. Green visa holders will be able to sponsor their parents and children up to the age of 25 on their permits. It targets highly skilled individuals, investors, business people, entrepreneurs, as well as exceptional students and postgraduates. The government also said it would allow people who’ve lost their jobs to remain in the country for up to 180 days, a major incentive as most visas are tied to employment contracts. And in an effort to loosen the job market, it’s allowing for the hiring of temporary workers. Foreign residents make up more than 80 per cent of the population of the UAE and have been a mainstay of the economy for decades, doing most private sector jobs and spending their money on property or shopping in some of the world’s largest malls.

The oil-rich Gulf states have long resisted offering permanent residency, let alone citizenship, to their millions of foreign workers, guarding generous privileges enjoyed by their nationals. But forced by the 2014 oil-price slump, they are now seeking to entice wealthy people to stay, a trend that was reinforced during the Covid-19 pandemic, when governments took steps to ensure those who lost their jobs could remain. In 2019, the UAE launched the 10-year “Golden visa” to attract wealthy individuals and highly skilled workers. Similar programmes have since been launched in other Gulf countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Riyadh said that it will offer permanent residency for 800,000 riyals and a one-year renewable residency costing 100,000 riyals, allowing expats to do

business and buy property without a Saudi sponsor. Doha also opened its property market to foreigners, with a scheme giving those buying homes or stores the right to longer-term or permanent residency permits. Now they are trying to boost their Covid-19-battered economies by opening up to tourists once again.

The UAE has started allowing tourists from anywhere in the world, provided they can prove they are fully vaccinated with a Covid-19 vaccine approved by the World Health Organisation. The move was linked to a desire to boost tourism numbers ahead of the opening of the Expo 2020 world fair, which begins in Dubai on October 1. For many Gulf countries, tourism is one of the most important sources of their non-oil economies. Neighbouring Oman is also planning to reopen its border to incoming tourists. Saudi Arabia has also lifted some restrictions, although entry conditions there remain tough. They have recently lifted a ban on nationals from 20 countries entering the kingdom. Kuwait meanwhile has been preparing to restart direct flights with a number of countries including India, Egypt and Pakistan – important source markets for the local labour force.

The Gulf countries which were promoting ultra-conservative Islam are being forced into a comprehensive rethink of their religions, political and economic systems, triggered by drastically declining oil revenues. Pushed by younger powerful royals, many Gulf states are now keen to show that a tolerant, liberalized Islam. Simultaneously, Gulf states face the question of changing regional political alliances: the accelerating integration of Israeli businesses since the signing of the Abraham Accords, and wider global reconfigurations within the Muslim world and beyond.

“No one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land.”

— Warsan Shire

Alpesh Patel

India, Pakistan and Afghanistan ‘Did you know that two thousand years ago a Roman citizen could walk across the face of the known world free of the fear of molestation? He could walk across the Earth unharmed, cloaked only in the protection of the words civis Romanus -- I am a Roman citizen. So great was the retribution of Rome, universally understood as certain, should any harm befall even one of its citizens. Where was American Citizen’s protection in Kabul, or anybody else at that airport? Where was the retribution for the families, and where is the warning to the rest of the world that Americans shall walk this Earth unharmed, lest the clenched fist of the most mighty military force in the history of mankind comes crashing down on your house?!’

I have amended the words of the fictional US President in the show the West Wing. But it conveys the feelings of many today.

The cheers of ordinary Pakistanis at the Chief of their Intelligence Agency sipping tea in Kabul is sad as it belies the extremist values of Pakistan, where terrorism is State policy – not by the PM – he is there at the pleasure of the Army and the ISI, but by their military and intelligence agencies.

India is the only secular major democracy left in Asia.

Pakistan has been ruled by its military for half of its history. And Afghanistan, which used to be a monarchy, is now completely non-democratic. Around twenty-one countries in Asia are Muslim or Islamic in their policy. India is the only country in Asia where both Muslims and Hindus have equal rights under the Constitution.

Many Muslims living in Pakistan do not want to live under equal law with non-Muslims; they want to live under Islamic law or Sharia. But this does not mean that this desire will lead them to create their own country where they will live under stricter Islamic law.

Afghanistan In Afghanistan, after its independence from Britain, there were two groups of people - the Pashtuns and the Tajiks. The Pashtuns had been living in Afghanistan for hundreds of years while the Tajiks arrived in Afghanistan more recently.

The problem is that although a pure Islamic state has been favoured by Afghans for hundreds of years, the reality is that the Afghan government is actually secular in practice and not really Islamic at all according to its own laws or even according to international laws. So the Afghan people are actually struggling between reality and their desire of having an Islamic country. Just as Islam is struggling with medieval practices the Christians long ago rid themselves of and modern liberal practices where people are free to do as they please as long as they do not cause physical or financial harm to others. Afghans may well want to create an Islamic state, but they do not want to create a purely Islamic state as it could be led by Islamists who would impose religious dictatorship on the country.

So I think that Afghans will struggle for years to come until they create a system of government that is acceptable to everyone. And this system will most likely be a hybrid of Islamic and democratic systems where Afghan citizens are able to live under their own laws, but where Islamic law plays an important role in the government. If Afghans want religious freedom, democracy and equality under law, they will have to accept a democratic system.

But if they want an Islamic state, it will have to be governed by centralised laws derived from Islam or Sharia.

Afghans are struggling between what they want and what may actually happen. Islam is struggling between what it perceives itself to be and what it’s extreme adherents with guns want to impose on all mankind. And that becomes the West’s problem.

I leave you with this quote, from the same show I mentioned at the start of this article, “You're all frightened... as well you should be. Not since the ProtestantCatholic wars in the 16th Century has Western society known anything remotely comparable to the subcontinent's religious malevolence. Uh, to a lesser observer, the intensity of the emotional frenzy is so illogical as to border on mass psychosis. And I looked and I beheld a pale horse, and the name that sat on him was Death and, Hell followed with him."

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SIGN UP TODAY Steward volunteers needed to help South Asian community with Covid-19 vaccinations NHS Volunteer Responders is reaching out to the South Asian community, calling for more Steward Volunteers to support at local vaccination sites.

There is a growing need for steward volunteers and the NHS is calling for help to get the community vaccinated.

Getting both doses of the vaccine is the best way for people to protect themselves and those around them from the virus and volunteers in this role will be supporting the clinical staff at vaccination sites and helping the people that have come for their jab to complete the process safely and comfortably.

Volunteers help to ensure social distancing measures are in place and identify people who require additional support.

Volunteer safety is a priority, with sites providing a full briefing ahead of the shift.

People interested in signing up as a SV can go to www.nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk.

Shifts usually last up to six hours with your expenses covered. No experience or qualifications are required.

The NHS Volunteer Responders programme was set up by NHS England and NHS Improvement to support the pandemic response and is delivered by Royal Voluntary Service and GoodSAM. Volunteers use a mobile phone app to choose what shifts they would like to do and when.

Motivated by the loss of a neighbour to Covid-19 last year, Jasbir Bangerh is passionate about volunteering and supporting the NHS and says that she can’t get enough of volunteering in her NHS Volunteer Responders Steward role.

Jasbir said, “I think that vaccine uptake

Jasbir Bangerh

is low among people of my background and often they may be nervous when they arrive on site, but I think it helps to reassure them when they see that I am someone they can relate to. My Punjabi isn’t the strongest but at times I have been able to communicate with people in Punjabi and support them through their visit, which is very rewarding.

You have the chance to make a positive impact on someone’s vaccination experience and if they have a good experience, they might go on and share that positivity with their friends or family and you could be making a real difference.

Professor Sir Keith Willet, SRO – NHS Covid-19 vaccine deployment programme at NHS England said, “We are incredibly appreciative of everyone who has stepped forward to support the vaccine rollout so far. All out vaccination volunteers are performing a critical role and are a key part of the programme’s success. Our Steward Volunteers do a fantastic job of freeing up our staff to focus on the task at hand, and at this crucial stage we need these volunteers now more than ever so we can make sure as many eligible people as possible get all their jabs done.”

Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service said, “We are at a crucial moment in the vaccination rollout. There is a real urgency to this, and we are working at pace to get people vaccinated as fast as possible. There is a particular need for steward volunteers to help the vaccination programme reach communities most in need. If you are able to help by joining the team, please don’t hesitate.

Together we can get the jabs done.”

Two school kids contract Covid Leicestershire primary school recently witnessed two cases of Coronavirus in different years and alerted parents accordingly.

Leicester Live reported, “Parents of Year 4 and Year 5 children at Eastfield Primary School in Thurmaston received an email from headteacher, Tim Gilbert. One pupil in both year groups has tested positive for the virus. Mr Gilbert said the pupils belonged to classes 4JH and 5LC. They both tested positive at home after taking a lateral flow test.

They are both isolating for the required ten days. He added that children and staff in the year groups do not need to isolate unless they also test positive, but requests parents keep an eye out for symptoms in their children.”

Sue Welford, principal education officer for Leicester City Council, said: “At this stage of the term, that has made schools very anxious because they are so used to taking proactive measures.

“Now what they're looking at is these children or this child or this teacher has tested positive, actually the children are staying in school because the new Government guidance is that, unless you are positive or have symptoms and you’re a child, you continue to go about your normal day-to-day business.

“What we are seeing is some really good and creative work in schools to deliver the curriculum with some measures still in place.

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People seeking NHS weight loss help heavier than those before, Covid new study finds People seeking NHS help to lose weight during the pandemic are on average five pounds heavier than those starting the programme during the previous three years, new NHS research has revealed.

Extra weight, gained as people lived through the Covid pandemic, means people are at higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

The study, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, showed that people aged under 40 enrolling on the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme have seen the greatest differences in weight and are an average of eight pounds heavier than those enrolling before.

It is estimated that weight gain of one kilogram, or 2.2 pounds, can increase someone’s risk of diabetes by around 8%.

More than 405,000 have been helped by the Programme since it was first established in 2016 and have been provided with bespoke advice on healthy eating, physical exercise and weight management. Latest NHS data show that people completing the programme typically achieve an average weight loss of 3.3 kilograms, and 3.6 kilograms for those who are overweight or obese, reducing their risk of Type 2 dia-

Skipping Sikh: “I believe we can do anything we want to” Shefali Saxena Rajinder Singh, aka the 'Skipping Sikh', will be running his first-ever marathon when he takes part in the London Marathon at the age of 74. Mr Singh, who turns 75 in October will be raising money for the learning disability charity, Mencap. In an exclusive Q&A with Asian Voice, he revealed his fitness regime and eating habits.

- What is your mantra to stay fit?

Q

My faith and one word Waheguru which means wonderful god. I rise early to pray, I eat well. I stay positive and happy.

- As Asians, where do you think we go wrong in fitness?

We eat the wrong food, too many jalebis, mithai and it's not good for us. We need to control the amount we eat and be sensible - At what age should we start to balance fitness and nutrition?

When and how did you do that? I have done it from a young age and I think everyone’s body is different, we should really balance it when we are adults.

- You are about to run your first marathon at 74. What kind of Documents have been leaked that reveals what will happen when the Queen dies. It is said that preparation goes into this?

I train every day little with her passing, Prince Charles will become the King and the Prime Minister will be the first bit and try and push myself weekly by running government member to issue a statement.

The Queen will be buried 10 days after she more and walking more. I dies. The sovereign's coffin will lie in state for also skip, cycle, do weights three days at the Houses of Parliament, with and have protein powder authorities anticipating hundreds of thousands as I am a vegetarian.

- What do you do for of people to descend on London - sparking mental fitness? Please fears over gridlock, policing and even food shortages. Parliament will be suspended for 10 give some advice to our days. Details of what will happen, named readers to balance the mind Operation London Bridge, have been leaked to and body.

Politico, which reports that officials will refer My faith, prayer is all I to the day the Queen dies as 'D Day'. Her funer- need to help me with my al will take place at Westminster Abbey, and mental fitness. I believe we committal service will be held at St George's can do anything we want Chapel, which is at Windsor Castle, where the to. We just need to have Queen will be buried at King George VI faith and be focused and Memorial Chapel. determined we can do it.

Q

Q

Documents leaked: What will happen when the Queen dies?

Q

Q

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betes significantly.

The NHS has fast-tracked access to the Programme after research found that people are twice as likely to die from Covid-19 if they have Type 2 Diabetes.

People can easily check their risk online and self-refer themselves for weight loss support through the world-leading programme.

NHS national clinical director for diabetes and obesity Jonathan Valabhji said: “The pandemic has changed every part of our lives and taken a toll on mind and body, with thousands of people paying a heavy price, and many gaining weight during the lockdown. The increase in weight also means an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes – which is associated with many of the common types of cancer, blindness, amputations as well as heart attacks and strokes.

“As we return to normal life, there has never been a better time to make small changes to improve our health – our NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme can help people do just that. It is quick and easy to check your risk so if you are worried, please do check your risk today. The NHS is here to help you.”

Q

- What does a day in the life of Skipping Sikh look like when it comes to food and fitness?

I eat smaller portions 5 times a day. I eat dark chocolate, I only eat brown bread, raw vegetables which are slightly cooked, brown rice, I drink coffee, water and like raisins, dates and milk. I eat bananas but no other fruit. My diet is very simple and I don't eat Indian food unless I go to the Gurdwara where I will have daal and a prashada (Chapati) as this is langar and it's blessed food.

- How much has your family imbibed from you when it comes to staying fit?

They have taken it seriously, my wife has started to run, skip and hula hoop at 70. My daughter is taking exercise seriously and loves skipping now.

- In a pandemic ridden world where movement is restricted, how did you manage to stay fit?

I went to the allotment and I skipped every day. I went for a run, walks, cycling and I kept active every day. I am always on the go, never sit down.

- As the father of a daughter, what would be your advice to Asian fathers who seldom take interest in the fitness of their daughters?

It is so important to encourage our daughters to stay fit and active. It's down to us as fathers to be role models so we should look after our health so our daughters feel inspired by us. We should exercise together and make it a family fitness which is fun.

Q Q Q

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NHS Couch to 5K app motivates South Asian adults to get fit this summer A recent England-wide survey by Public Health England (PHE) reveals that more than a third of South Asian adults feel a lack of motivation might prevent them from adopting a healthier lifestyle. Of those surveyed, 72% believe that having access to ideas around effective exercise routines could help them to reach their health and fitness goals. In response, PHE is encouraging adults across the nation to use the NHS Couch to 5K app. This is one of several free apps available from Better Health, designed to support people to become more active and lose weight.

Natasha Gupta has been using the Couch to 5K app since lockdown started and has found each week to be easier than the one before. “I felt I could run for longer,” she says. “I felt healthier, I felt fitter, and my stamina has increased."

Natasha has particularly enjoyed being able to kickstart her running regime remotely with friends, and they've been using the app to keep each other motivated. "Better yet, I've had my teen kids join in, and run with me!" she shares.

Harri Dokia hadn’t been very physically active during lockdown but wanted to do more. So when her friends suggested they all do the challenge together, she agreed immediately. She has been using the app

for the last six months, and has been running with both her husband and friends. “I really recommend doing Couch to 5K with someone; they can help you stay motivated and hold you accountable at the same time.”

Professor John Newton, Director of Health Improvement at PHE, welcomed the news: “We’re thrilled that so many people have been using the Couch to 5K app to get more active over lockdown.

Keeping active is not only good for our physical health but also crucial for our mental health, and we hope the app has helped people to cope better with the challenges the pandemic has brought.”

Vin Patel, Fitness Trainer said: "Being active is good for your body and mind - and the more you do, the more you'll benefit. So if you're thinking about getting more active to improve your health, fitness and wellbeing, just go for it! Everyone deserves to enjoy the benefits of being active and it's far easier to get started than people may think."

The free NHS Couch to 5K app can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play.

You can also search ‘Better Health’ or visit nhs.uk/betterhealth for free advice and support to help you get active and eat healthier this summer.

BAPS volunteer Dev Patel receives Brent Youth Leader Award Dev Patel, a young volunteer at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London – popularly known as ‘Neasden Temple’ – was presented with the Young Leader Award at the Pride of Brent Youth Awards on 17 August 2021.

The Pride of Brent Youth Awards recognises outstanding achievements of brilliant young people in the London borough of Brent, celebrating those who have reached ‘above and beyond’ to support their local community and others during 2020-2021.

This year’s awards especially distinguished the work of young people from Brent in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dev, aged 20, is a law student, who adjusted exceptionally well to the cancellation of lectures during his first year at SOAS, University of London, outstanding achieving results. Amid these difficult circumstances, Dev overcame barriers and also volunteered to deliver tiffins to the elderly and most vulnerable during the early period of the pandemic through the Neasden Temple’s ‘Connect & Care’ programme. Dev participated 2-3 times a week, to shine a light of hope to the external community whilst remaining steadfast in his studies. His commitment to serving others is exemplary.

Dev is also a key volunteer for youth activities at the Temple and helped lead a team of individuals to deliver the Temple’s 25th-anniversary celebrations in 2020. His efforts helped over 100,000 devotees to observe and participate in these iconic festivities online from their homes. Dev’s leadership and tenacity galvanised a team of vol-

unteers who worked tirelessly day and night to create a high-quality production of devotion and inspiration.

The Young Leader Award was presented at a special awards ceremony at the Civic Centre in Wembley by Cllr Lia Colacicco, the Mayor of Brent.

After receiving the award, Dev said, “I am inspired by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life motto, ‘In the joy of others lies our own.’ His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj continues to motivate us all

by imbibing these principles and so when he issued a call for everyone to support the vulnerable at the outset of the pandemic, I just had to do my bit.

“The Mandir has provided me and many others like me a sense of purpose and belonging, an opportunity to give something back to the community, particularly during the adversities of Covid. Honestly, without the Mandir, I’d be lost. And so I dedicate this award to my Gurus, to everyone at the Mandir, and to every other BAPS volunteer who has helped to keep people safe and connected during the pandemic.”

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OPERATION EMPATHY Continued from page 1 “The rest as they say is history. The tale of Ugandan Asians in Britain is one that makes me proud, particularly when I see how much the new generation of British Indians of Ugandan origin has excelled. In 49 years, we have come far, and I hope that our community continues to pay Britain back for what she has given us. Former Prime Minister David Cameron referred to us as, “one of the most successful groups of immigrants to any country anywhere in history.” We became the model immigrant community, used as an example of how immigration can be successful,” Lord Dolar Popat articulated in his moving Ode to Ugandan Asians in Britain in Asian Voice on the 49th anniversary of the Ugandan expulsion this year.

He further explained how those who had to flee Uganda have seen amazing levels of success, from family-run businesses becoming major global trading companies and dominating the Rich Lists in the UK, to the boardrooms of FTSE 100 firms, Ugandan Asians have woven themselves into the fabric of British life.

“Notable Ugandan Asians in key posts include Tushar Morzaria (Group Finance Director at Barclays), Baroness Shriti Vadera (Chair, Santander), Nitin Ganatra (Actor) and of course our Home Secretary Priti Patel. Our Parliament has effectively become Uganda’s second chamber, with eight Parliamentarians of Ugandan origin,” he wrote.

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron had also expressed the same sentiment in 2012, that Indians and Asians from Uganda are “one of the most successful groups of immigrants anywhere in the history of the world”.

If we as a community can rise above our misfortune and hurdles to have come so far as the country reopens and the UK witnesses one of the most successful vaccination drives in the world, then we sure can help Afghans who are seeking solace in a home away from home. Most of them will grow up here, find foster homes, find a reason to live, marry and raise their children. Let’s nurture ‘Operation Empathy’.

Asian Voice has tried to compile some initiatives by the members of the community which may set an example for future generations, that we learnt well from our past and practised empathy towards Afghans who may never be able to return home after all.

Reacting to the ongoing operations to rehabilitate Afghans in the UK, renowned social worker Kanti Nagda MBE told us, “Many Indians are aware of the tragedy Ugandan Asians faced when Idi Amin expelled them, similarly Indians have witnessed the way Afghanis have had to leave Afghanistan and as human beings are very eager to assist them when they come to settle in the UK. Indian groups have collected essential items and funds and are donating them to the newly arrived refugees coupled with taking part in demonstrations to welcome them to some cities in the UK. Indians are known for their generosity, and they will certainly assist them to settle in the UK. " Go Dharmic helping displaced Afghan Refugees Go Dharmic has a campaign going both in the UK and India for Afghan refugees. The charity has organised within areas where they have food distribution facilities in the UK and near any of the Afghan refugee families in need now to aid them in food, clothing & toiletries.

Their distribution in the UK is all over the country, but they also mainly focusing on Hertfordshire.

Hanuman Dass, Chairman & Founder of Go Dharmic told Asian Voice, “The pandemic has shown us how vulnerable we all truly are. Many of us used to consider charity to be supporting people in distant lands, far removed from our reality here in the UK. Covid has changed this. The elderly isolated, people around us were lost and thousands struggled to feed their own children.

Hanuman Dass

Kanti Nagda MBE

“Our hearts have been softened and we are becoming more sensitive. After 20 years of relative freedom, the Taliban have ousted the Government in Kabul and people are seeking refuge from the global community.

Dharma is Love for All beings, and GD volunteers have been collecting thousands of items of clothing for the refugees reaching the UK. Each week there are ten Go Dharmic food distributions where people in need can collect food for free. We will and should do everything we can to ease their suffering.

“In India, the last remaining Afghan Hindus and Sikhs are desperate to reach Delhi. For those lucky enough to get out, we are in constant touch providing food aid and educational support to the children of the Refugees. The highest expression of Sanatan Dharma is compassion. We must act in the now, rather than being passive bystanders.”

Meeting Afghans in the UK in solidarity “The international community must keep borders open and provide protection to Afghans,” Migrant Voice said. Salman Mirza, Birmingham Network Worker for Migrant Voice shared details of what his team has been trying to do so far to support Afghan refugees across the UK and Europe.

Migrant Voice has signed a statement released by RISE – Refugees Ideas and Solutions for Europe, in response to the escalating humanitarian crisis, we urge global leaders and the United Nations to ensure that: Everyone whose life and rights are at risk in Afghanistan should be granted refugee protection and safe, legal routes to access protection; The international community should support Afghans fleeing to neighbouring countries and offer them humanitarian assistance; Every Afghan asylum seeker must be given immediate protection wherever they are in the world; Resettlement schemes must be scaled up and accelerated; Family reunification must be accelerated and expanded to cover a wider circle of family members; All removals and deportations to Afghanistan must be permanently suspended; The international community should listen to the voices of Afghan refugees and work with them to develop strategies and responses to the unfolding humanitarian situation.

During a meeting organised by Migrant Voice in solidarity with Afghan refugees and communities, the Emergency Network heard stories shared by many Afghan speakers and participants, including a medical student who had fled Afghanistan aged five and a journalist who was recently evacuated to the UK from Kabul. The meeting was attended by over 60 people from the UK and from Europe.

Speakers from Afghanistan told of their desperation in watching events back in their home country: of how they are unable to help family members, whose lives are now at risk.

There was a collective agreement that the UK government must step up and take in many more Afghans who need protection.

Its resettlement scheme was also criticised for not providing enough details to the charities and NGOs supporting Afghan asylum seekers, who are ready and willing to support the resettlement efforts.

One refugee-led group which supports Afghan families in the West Midlands told of how Afghans have arrived at the UK with nothing. However, he said that the local community had fortunately stepped up to

provide support and donations.

At the same time, concern was also expressed that the exclusive focus on evacuation and resettlement neglects the desperate situation Afghan asylum seekers in the UK are faced with. UK could and should be granting protection to those in the territory as a matter of priority so that they can join the efforts to offer welcome

Go Dharmic's Refugee aid material

to new arrivals too and start the family reunification process.

Nazek Ramadan from Migrant Voice UK participated as one of the key speakers in sharing messages of support and offers of help, with a shared sense of solidarity around how to continue supporting Afghan people to get to safety.

Petition to save an Afghan refugee in the UK from Taliban Salman Mirza has also started an online petition to help Bashir Ahmadzai, an Afghan refugee in the UK, to stay back in the country. The petition on Change.org mentions Bashir Ahmadzai came to the UK when he was 14, escaping the Taliban over 10 years ago. Bashir claimed asylum in 2008 as a child fleeing war, but his claim was rejected by the Home Office.

His father and brother were murdered by the Taliban as they refused to join, so Bashir then had no choice other than to leave when he was just a child. Even though the judge in his case accepted "there has been a deterioration in the security situation in Kabul" they insist he goes and lives there even though he’s never been to Kabul. The judge went on to say "I have no doubt that removal from the UK would be ..difficult" The Taliban have now taken control of Afghanistan so to deport Bashir to Kabul could be a death sentence. On arrival in the UK Bashir was placed into foster care and looked after by local authority, Bashir was granted a temporary Status in the UK until he turned 18, in the last 10 years he has integrated into UK society making many friends and like many other young people has hopes and dreams of a peaceful life.

Bashir’s foster mother views him as a ‘part of the family’ and has described him as a ‘genuine, polite, respectful, caring and kind’ young man who is ‘always willing to help with anything’. She feels ‘certain Bashir will succeed if given the opportunity’. Bashir had spent nearly half of his life in the UK and considers Britain as home. The petition has nearly 35,000 signatures.

Birmingham Live spoke to Bashir who said, "I am really shocked, and heartbroken to see what's happening and now it is going backwards from the past 20 years.

"It's an unsafe and lawless country that has collapsed and has no law and order so for me to go back would be a death sentence.

"People are panicked and fleeing for their lives. So we should welcome them to Birmingham and console them with what they have went through."

Bashir's mother and sister are in Afghanistan but unfortunately, he doesn't

know where they are, and whether or not they are safe.

Hoola Loop challenge to support Afghan women refugees The Skipping Sikh MBE’s daughter, Minreet Kaur is hosting ‘Hoola Loop challenge to help Afghan Women Refugees’ with her mother. It’ll take place on September 11, at 8:15 am at Nuffield Health Gym, Stockley Park, Studio 1. There will be free Krispy Kreme donuts, free hoops and music.

Sharing this information, Rajinder Singh tweeted, “Please support this great cause. We want you to get involved. You don’t need to be a member. If you can make it please contact @minkaur5 and we will provide hoops, free donut/fruit and it’s all to help women in #Afghanistan and support a fantastic cause.”

Finding hotels while refugees being "let go" after their obligatory quarantine period The ORefugee Aid team led by Onjali Rauf in the UK, is helping Afghan families to find shelter and temporary spaces to stay in England. Sharing details of how one can help, Onjali Rauf, founder ORefugee Aid Team tweeted, “We have requests for help to fund hotel/room spaces for Afghan families coming into London. For anyone who can donate towards this (rooms cost approx £45£60 a night dep. on family size) we would be most grateful. Central govt responses are dire. https://osrefugeeaidteam.org/donate/” Her team that’s tirelessly working to help these refugees tweeted in despair, “What we're seeing is refugees being "let go" after their obligatory quarantine period in a government-sanctioned hotel is up, with

Relief material for Afghan refugees by Go Dharmic Charity

zero or severely delayed local authority housing solutions available to them in some areas of London. How can we take people in & be this un-ready?”

Left in limbo Together With Migrant Children UK (TwMC UK) have reacted to the latest rules published by the government that returns for Afghanistan are paused now. Responsibly articulating the adversities faced by Afghans, TwMC UK said, “There is an urgent need to grant refugee status to all Afghan's already in the UK. Paused returns, clearly not safe to return = Leaving people in most often an enforced state of destitution in the UK pending decisions, those refused etc. It's an affront to human rights.

“B, one of our care leavers had their claim refused a while ago. In section 4 support currently with further submissions.

How long does this young man get left in limbo for?

“N, another one of our care leavers in a similar position. No credible threat to his life on return. Again, left in limbo slowly lurching towards the age where his care leaver support will be withdrawn, and he has to face to brutality of asylum support.

“H and family, they have a pending claim currently, which now seem to be on hold whilst the government release their new policy. Already been waiting since forever for a decision. How long do they need to remain in limbo?

Years later, when Ugandan Asians look back at their expulsion, many credit Amin for doing what he did because it changed their fortunes for the better. Afghans may not be able to do even that.

But, at this hour, while the world continues to fight the pandemic, Afghans are fighting not one, but two battles - one is Covid, the second if worse, losing a home. If the Asian community across sectors and homes has learnt one thing from the pandemic, that perseverance.

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Government trying to avert another Matt Hancock scandal The Sun has recently reported that Tory MPs have been instructed by bigwigs in the government to keep an eye on their colleagues in order to prevent another scandal like Matt Hancock’s CCTV footage leak where he was seen having an intimate moment with a close aide, post which he resigned accepting the fact that

he broke Covid protocol of social distancing.

One source told the tabloid: “They’ve told MPs and whips to be keeping a close eye on who is going into whose offices and so on. They don’t want to be caught out again.”

On the holy day of Maha Parve Paryushan, to all our readers, advertisers, supporters and well-wishers, ‘Michchhami Dukkadam’.

Over a third of adults say they’re unable to afford adult education A YouGov survey of 2,109 GB adults commissioned by distance learning provider The Oxford Open Learning Trust found that, although more than two thirds (69%) of respondents said they could be motivated to learn for any type of new qualification - from GCSEs to PHDs and industry certificates only just over a quarter of Brits (27%) are likely to actually do so.

The biggest barrier to British adults continuing their education is cost, with more

than a third (35%) saying they’re unable to afford to study, while almost a fifth (19%) say they don’t have time.

The research also revealed that many British adults would be happy to continue learning if they felt they could. Receiving a boost to their pay packet is only the third most common incentive, agreed by three in ten (30%) of Brits, whereas 42% would be more likely to take a course simply out of their own general interest in the subject.

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A special Do you wear any jewellery?

JANMASHTAMI at Bhaktivedanta Manor

Rohit Vadhwana

Over the Bank holiday weekend Saturday 28th through to Monday 30th August, ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor held its annual Janmashtami festival, celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna.

The Temple management had been working closely with local Health Authorities and Hertsmere Council to deliver a safe event.

The festival was ticketed and designed to spread the number of visitors evenly throughout the three days to prevent overcrowding on-site and to keep social distancing measures in place. There were no more than about 4500 attendees on-site at any one time. Around 35,000 in total visited over the entire three days.

Many other measures had been put in place to safeguard the volunteers and pilgrims, such as temperature checks, hand-cleansing stations and the wearing of masks.

All the hundreds of volunteers had been trained and LFT tested in time for the event.

As a result of these measures, festival features were scaled-down compared to pre-pandemic levels. The management's main priority was to help attendees of all ages remain safe.

Traffic management was in place to avoid congestion and the staggered and fewer overall numbers of visitors throughout the three days helped reduce any issues.

The Temple President, Her Grace Visakha Dasi said: “It is so wonderful that so many people were able to experience the atmosphere and spiritual upliftment of visiting

Bhaktivedanta Manor. I want to thank the hundreds of volunteers who have made the festival possible by their dedication and service."

Ambika, 21 years of age from Brent, who is a volunteer in the car parking team said that she “…has not been able to serve at the Temple for over a year and now it is so exciting that I could spend time with my friends to volunteer to make this festival safe and successful”.

Lilaben Patel from Harrow, 83 years of age, chopped vegetables in one of the Manor’s three kitchens. She volunteers to help prepare the thousands of plates of free vegetarian food that guests enjoy over the three days.

Twenty tonnes of vegetables were used during the festival, with volunteers manning stoves around the clock.

After only a brief pause at the beginning of the first UK lock-down in March last year, Bhaktivedanta Manor has been able to remain open for private prayer. That was possible due to its ongoing stringent social distancing rules. The temple has provided much-needed spiritual relief for tens of thousands of people.

Meanwhile, devotees of Bhaktivedanta Manor have been offering pastoral care and other types of help for its huge congregation, especially for the vulnerable in the congregation.

Youngsters from the Jain community bring the message of organ donation sewa this Paryushan A group of youngsters from the Jain community are helping to promote organ donation during Paryushan 2021 (The festival of Forgiveness) through a powerful video.

The seven youngsters are encouraging all Jains in the UK to talk about organ donation during Paryushan and register to donate organs after death as a form of Sewa.

The video, commissioned by the Jain and Hindu Organ Donation Alliance (JHOD), in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), will be seen by thousands of Jains during Paryushan events organised by numerous Jain organisations in the UK, as well as through social media.

Kirit Modi, Chair of JHOD, said: “I am delighted that youngsters are taking the lead in promoting organ donation during Paryushan this year. Statistics published by NHSBT show that organ transplants have understandably reduced because of the pandemic in 2020/21. Patients from BAME communities waiting for an organ

decision to donate the heart of their loved one.

Prafula Shah, the Secretary/Trustee of JHOD, said: “There is an urgent shortage of organ donors in the UK and sadly hundreds of people From left to right: Sandeep Shah – heart trans- are still waiting for a transplant and some die waiting. I plant recipient – December 2019 Aashi Shah, Parishi Shah and Veer Shah am delighted that through this Back: Bharti Bhika, Krish Shah video young people from the and Prafula Shah Jain community are urging us all to think about organ donatransplant have been affected tion as a form of compassionate more compared to the whole popsewa this Paryushan”. ulation. The Jain community has Manharbhai Mehta, Trustee of taken a leading role in promoting JHOD, said: “The main principle of organ donation for many years. I Jainism is non-violence (Ahimsa), am urging all Jains to support us the purpose of which is to preserve during this period of recovery from all living things as far as possible. the effects of the pandemic by regFor Jains, Paryushan is the period istering to donate organs”. to promote Ahimsa and in the proThe video is part of a JHOD’s cess, show compassion to others.

Paryushan campaign and as well as The special leaflet with the Jain the powerful messages by the perspective that is being published, seven youngsters, it features two brings to us the messages of comtransplant recipients from the passion through organ donation by community. Rakhi Shah - who Jain spiritual leaders. It also has an received a new kidney in July 2021 extract from the Jain scripture of a after waiting for two years; and king donating parts of his body, Sandeep Shah – a heart transplant and ultimately the whole body, to recipient, who received the gift of save a pigeon.” life because a family made the

Do you wear any jewellery? What is your favourite jewellery?

What kind of metal or material do you like most in your jewellery? Wearing of jewellery has been in custom since time immemorial since the human being has learned to live on the planet earth, and perhaps as soon as Eve had the first bite of the legendary apple.

If you do not sport an idea of looking good, projecting a particular style and personality, you are perhaps an odd one out. Because 'jewellery is a universal form of adornment," says the website of Victoria and Albert Museum. Even those who dress very simple and modest, pose a typical style. After all, simplicity also demands a particular style of clothes and accessories. Jewellery depicts human love for the body and art. The way we decorate ourselves, by wearing rings, earrings, necklaces, belts or any other piece of accessories, becomes our style statement. These artefacts speak for themselves. In ancient times, jewellery used to be the prerogative of royals but today almost everyone can afford something nice to wear. It may not be diamond, gold or silver, but imitation and artificial jewellery have a big market.

In some cultures, jewellery becomes part of the custom, associated with various occasions. For example, in some ancient civilisations, jewellery was buried with a dead body in the belief that it will be part of the afterlife of the deceased.

While most women have a natural inclination towards the use of jewellery and accessories, men can also sport them very effectively. The belt, tie and cufflinks are pieces of jewellery for men and they can be pretty beautiful and costly. Watches and pens can be other pieces of accessories that men use as jewellery. Some men also wear rings, bracelets, neck-chain or some other jewellery but it depends on the individual's style.

Whatever ornament you wear, it depicts your personality.

We see people shining with gold and diamonds on the one hand, and having nothing at all on the body on the other hand.

There are style statements of very bold and big jewellery on the one hand, while sober and delicate pieces could be another way of showcasing a class and elegance. It depends on what you are wearing and how you like to portray yourself. Next time when you put on a piece of any accessory, be mindful of how you will project yourself.

(Expressed opinions are personal)

Dr Kailash Chand OBE’s son reveals how shortage of paramedics lead to his untimely demise “I didn’t know I was He mentions capable of such a that it took 35 scream.

Sitting minutes from alone in my when the ambuLondon flat, tears lance call was streaming down my made and 30 minface, I had to preutes from when pare myself to travthe cardiac arrest el to Manchester Dr Aseem Malhotra and Late occurred before Dr Kailash Chand OBE for one of the most the paramedics difficult train journeys of my life. got to the flat. “By then it was too To say goodbye to my father, my late. Through FaceTime, I was able best friend and the last surviving to see the cardiac monitor of the member of my immediate family,” defibrillator. It was a flat line. There Dr Aseem Malhotra wrote an OpEd was nothing to shock. He was that appeared in iNews. gone,” Dr Malhotra writes in this unfortunate account of the shortUK lost one of its pioneers in age of health facilities in the UK. Dr medicine when Dr Kailash Chand Malhotra realised that the chest OBE breathed his last on July 26. discomfort that Dr Chand had The honorary vice president of experienced was something called BMA had complained of chest pain unstable angina. So, if the ambuand his son Dr Aseem Malhotra lance had arrived according to norsuspected that there was something mal acceptable response time, he more to the story than just a cardiac almost certainly would have had a arrest that took Dr Chand’s life. shockable heart rhythm and would In the OpEd, Dr Malhotra have survived,” he writes. A North writes: When I called back 15 minWest Ambulance Service utes later there was no answer. I spokesperson said: “We offer our kept calling until a panic-stricken sincere condolences to Dr Malhotra friend of Dad’s, a consultant physiand his family and can confirm that cian at Manchester Royal Infirmary, we have received a formal comanswered his phone saying: plaint from him. We are investigat“Aseem, your dad has had a cardiac ing the incident and will liaise with arrest. Me and my husband are the family to discuss the matter furdoing CPR on him. The ambulance ther.” is on its way.”

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READERS' VOICE

In the land of the blind

Fiasco in Afghanistan

As the saying goes, in the land of the blind, one-eyed Jack is the king. This is exactly the situation in most Western nations, especially on the political and economic front.

Our politicians are clueless when it comes to dealing with foreign nations, especially troublesome nations like Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Somalia and a few more, in sharp contrast to the success enjoyed by nations like China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and a few more.

Our holier than thou attitude has made us laughingstock throughout the developing world.

Our interventions made the situation worse. We try to impose our democratic values, free elections by the threat of boycott which had no effect on friendly nations like Egypt and Algeria who soon turned to army rule after election results were not to their liking.

I have never seen such a low standard of law and order, moral issues, economic meltdown, turning this once great manufacturing nation into the industrial desert. Whatever we buy, whether it is simple face masks, surgical gloves, all types of stationeries, clothes, pots and pans and more, are manufactured in China, Japan, South Korea and India. Other nations like Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and a few more are fast catching up.

When Donald Trump was elected president, we thought it was one-off a mistake by US voters.

Unfortunately, Joe Bidden is no better, handing billions of dollars of military equipment, like armed vehicles, tanks, machine guns and even helicopters to Taliban who now have one of the best-equipped army in the region! Why the hell, West went into Afghanistan if they had no intention of securing the country, making it safe for ordinary people to live in peace and harmony! This is the worse betrayal since Brutus stabbed mighty Julius Caesar in the back, Shakespearian literary history repeated on the world stage.

Our politicians are no better. While disabled elderly deserves to be in carehome, our clueless politicians grumble as to who would pay the bill, as if raising 1p in income tax would bankrupt political morality!

Bhupendra M. Gandhi

Tragically and unfortunately what this current US administration has orchestrated in Afghanistan will likely have long term ramifications around the world and especially in India. I have to say the world was busy demonising the Trump administration (and their supporters) and yet they seem to overlook the peace that existed during those four years and policies that made a positive difference in average Americans' lives. Now that this new US president who the world and US media idolized has royally goofed up costing the NATO alliance as well causing a new crisis, trouble is brewing internationally as well domestically in the US. But then again it is typical of the Democratic party chaos and creating new crisis after crisis is the normal way to live, gain control and keep people in fear.

I am sure many of the anti-Trump supporters who worried about Trump's hair, his tweets, the way he talks are satisfied with the new US president. At least Biden tends to remember things and is coherent (nah), keeps his promises (no), does not lie (not really), needs no prescripted questions when in front of the media (he needs a lot of those), oh and he is not racist (probably the most looking at his 50 years in US politics and the most corrupt politician), looks at his watch with coffins of US soldiers arriving in the US (he is late for his nap). How sad, things do not look good for India either, with emboldened Islamic terrorist groups after the bounty left behind by Biden of US weapons, vehicles and aircraft (by the way are US taxpayer-funded) which will be used to continue attacks against India, but also around the world. One thing I see is the Taliban are happy, unfortunately for minorities in Afghanistan, they will have a very bad time including women and the young.

Authoritarian regimes are emboldened and will begin to be more aggressive in their influence around the world ie China, Iran and North Korea to name a few. This new US administration has failed miserably at huge costs not just to the American people but to the world and notice the celebrations around the world by terrorist groups and their supporters.

Visvas Patel

Is your wellbeing your first priority?

Life is getting busier as the Covid crisis eases and we try to get back to our previous routines and activities.

This means that there is less time for us. So, how do we still ensure we still have ample time for ourselves so we can rest, relax and keep our wellbeing to optimum levels?

There are many of us who will soon begin to think, ‘I wish I had a few weeks where there is no work, no rushing about, just time for myself…’ .

Nobody will come and hand you the time unless you make this available for yourself. When you do, it is important that the time is used constructively to rest and build up your strength as well as your mental health.

No matter how much people love you, nobody can exercise for your body, meditate for your peace of mind and boost your wellbeing, unless you make the time for yourself.

So, build a routine where you pay very good attention to your body, mind and soul. Include exercise, healthy eating for the body, meditation to calm your mind and soul, and meaningful interaction with loved ones. Make sure life does not take over you at the cost of your wellbeing.

Hansa Pankhania

A money-spinning venture

8,700 CHAIN STORES CLOSED IN BRITISH HIGH STREETS Store closure figures collected by the Local Data Company on behalf of accountancy firm PwC has suggested that an average of nearly 50 outlets a day were impacted by the pandemic. This has led to the closure of over 8700 chain stores in British High Streets. City centres have had far more losses than retail parks.

“The Local Data Company tracked more than 200,000 stores operated by businesses with more than five outlets across Great Britain. These include everything from retail and restaurants, to cafes, banks and gyms. As the chart below shows, although 3,488 stores opened in the first six months of 2021 the closures were far greater. A total of 8,739 shops shut creating a net decline of 5,251 outlets - a huge number, but 750 less than this time last year,” a media report said.

Swami Amarnathanandaji becomes the Spiritual Head of London Sevashram Sangh

Entrepreneurs who are searching for a business that will make them mountains of money should look no further than care homes. These homes, for elderly folk, charge what I consider exorbitant fees. How many retired people can afford to splash out £1,000 a week or more to be looked after in these establishments? We pay national insurance all our working lives in the UK, so care homes should be free of charge. Otherwise, what does "national insurance" cover?

Where are the benefits?

Rudy Otter

Thanks and regards, Team Asian Voice

KHICHADI Kapil’s

Follow me on Twitter: @kk_OEG

BBC - A Mouthpiece for the Terrorists?

Kapil Dudakia For decades learned individuals and organisations have said openly that they felt the BBC tended to be on the side of the extremists and the terrorists. Of course, the BBC denied such allegations and given its huge resources, money and personnel, it overpowers all opposition. However, in the last 5 years we have seen a change in some politicians as well as advocates of truth. They will no longer be silenced, and they will have their day. Unfortunately, such challenges are rare and to this day, the BBC even under its new management structure led by the Director General Tim Davie, fails in its primary duty of care of impartiality and truthfulness.

Internationally renowned presenters like Andrew Neil left the BBC under what many believe to be the BBC’s bias towards the left, and in how it seemed to champion rogues and anti-nationals. Nigel Farage was of course the most vociferous in his condemnation of the BBC, but he was ridiculed at the time. Time it seems is proving him to be right.

This love affair that the BBC and many of its presenters have with extremism and anti-nationals came to light once again on 4th September. The BBC invited an expert, Dr Christine Fair an associate professor in the Security Studies Program within the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University to give her views. No sooner had she started and the BBC host, Philippa Thomas, started interrupting. A classic BBC ploy to break down the train of thought and muddy the argument being put forward. Dr Christine Fair put forward concrete ideas about the role of Pakistan. That Pakistan was not just the sponsor of the Taliban but also a host to countless terror groups who are given state security to carry on with their terrorist activities. This of course is a view of the rest of the world as well. However, Philippa interrupted Dr Fair several times.

When she failed to stop the truth coming out, she said it was unfair on Pakistan because the BBC did not have anyone there to defend their position.

One wonders if Pakistan needed anyone to defend its position given how well Phillipa was doing on their behalf.

Under the pretence of ‘impartiality’ she wanted to promote the narrative of a rogue terrorist state. If the BBC were to look at the United Nations list of terror organisations, they will find that Pakistan is the home of terrorism. The whole world knows that Pakistan was and is behind the Taliban and their brand of brutality. To this end, even the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan. came out and rejoiced that the Taliban had taken over Afghanistan.

So I ask Richard Sharp Chairman of the BBC, Tim Davie Director General of the BBC, The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and our Prime Minister Rt Hons Boris Johnson MP: ‘What will it take before you get a grip on this national disgrace called the BBC?’.

The BBC has become the mouthpiece for Pakistan.

Indeed, I would go as far as saying it has become the mouthpiece for extremism in all its forms. From its bias towards the left in politics, to undermining the nation and to championing rogue groups like Extinction Rebellion.

It's only a matter of time before the BBC will have a fulltime Taliban spokesperson to trumpet the caliphate. The time has come to stop this madness before it devours the very roots of this nation.

WEMBLEY PARK DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN TROUBLE

Thank you for subscribing to Asian Voice Dear Readers, Over the past few weeks, we have received immense appreciation from you in the form of letters, emails and social media acknowledgements for our efforts and content. We are truly grateful for the faith and support you have provided to our publication while embracing the changes we have made in our approach towards storytelling to be able to serve the best interest of the community. We hope to continue meeting your expectations and we assure you that we will try to incorporate your suggestions and keep improvising. Please keep writing to us.

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After the sad demise of the head of the London Sevashram Sangh, Swami Nirliptanandji, the former head of the Bharat Sevashram Sangh, New Jersey branch, Swami Amarnathanandaji, will administer all work of the London Sevashram Sangh as the spiritual head.

Plans to build five new tower blocks in Wembley Park may not see the light of the day after all. “An application for a 454-home development at Wembley Park Station, Brook Avenue, was called in by the secretary of state Robert Jenrick following concerns around its impact on the area,” Kilburn Times reported. The housing minister has written to Robert Jenrick to recognise that the area is currently liveable and neat. People living in nearby areas have previously objected to the plans. The publication also reported that Brent Conservatives leader Cllr Suresh Kansagra said he was “shook up” by the plans and suggested they departed from conditions outlined in the Wembley Area Action Plan, which was adopted by the council in 2015.

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

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Victory or Folly?

Ruchi Ghanashyam Mrs. Ruchi Ghanashyam is the former High Commissioner of India to the UK. With a career in Indian Foreign Service for over 38 years, she has been posted in many countries including South Africa, Ghana, before arriving in the UK. She was only the second woman High Commissioner to the UK since India’s independence and during her tenure, she witnessed a number of significant developments in the UK-India relations. @RuchiGhanashyam I had planned to write this week about the celebration of India’s Independence Day in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh last month. I have received many beautiful pictures of the hoisting of the Indian Tricolour in this beautiful part of India. Friends based in parts of Kashmir, have shared reports of the celebrations around them. However, I put aside reports of our celebrations as the dramatic developments in Afghanistan needed immediate comment.

The entry of Taliban forces into Kabul, followed by the frenzied evacuations took over our thoughts this Independence Day. At press conferences following the Taliban’s entry into Kabul, the Taliban projected a

changed image. Their spokesmen tried to distance this Taliban from the inherited legacy of brute force against civilians and the savage oppression of women and ethnic minorities which had characterised the earlier regime of the Taliban. Instead, Taliban representatives emphasised their concern for the safety and security of all Afghans.

Taliban’s statements about the intent to provide good governance generated considerable scepticism. Notwithstanding the public pronouncements, most people preferred to judge the Taliban by their actions.

An interesting observation referred to the difference between moderation and restraint/ pragmatism shown by the Taliban. There is no doubt that Taliban’s pronouncements on its apparently changed approach do not indicate a moderation of its medieval ideology.

Taliban recently put out a statement claiming to have "completely captured" the Panjshir Valley. This claim was disputed by the resistance forces in Panjshir. Around this time, the Indian media widely reported claims that the Panjshir province was bombed by Pakistan Air Force drones. The claim was made by former Afghan MP Zia Arianjad. Fahim Dashty, the spokesperson of the Resistance Force, was reported to be killed during fighting with the Taliban in Panjshir, as confirmed by the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan in a statement on Facebook.

Panjshir Valley had proved to be a thorn in the Taliban's side in the first takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban; it had remained unconquered. With resistance emerging yet again in Panjshir, Pakistan seems to have given up the pretence of ‘behind the scenes support’ and appears to have helped the Taliban fight the Resistance. In this endeavour, Pakistan Air Force reportedly used drones to drop bombs on Panjshir.

Pakistan’s special forces were also claimed to be assisting the Taliban in capturing the defiant province. With the chief of

Pakistan’s spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt Gen Faiz Hameed arriving in Kabul amid infighting in the Taliban ranks over the issue of government formation, the fig leaf covering Pakistan’s naked aggression in Afghanistan, seems to have finally dropped.

Simultaneously, former Vice President, Amarullah Saleh, wrote to the UN warning of a serious humanitarian crisis, as he alleged that the Taliban had blocked relief supplies, including medicines to the valley, cut off phones and electricity, and were using young Panjshir civilians as mine-clearing tools.

In an official statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that the blockade of the Panjshir Valley contravenes international law as well as humanitarian law.

Condemning the attack on Panjshir in the strongest possible terms, the Iranian spokesman said that “starving” the people of Panjshir and “cutting their water and electricity is a cause of concern and regret”. The statement asked the Taliban to abide by international law.

In a tweet, noted journalist Shekhar Gupta, described Pakistan’s involvement in Afghanistan as Rawalpindi based Pak GHQ’s third coming of its ‘we the colonial power’ fantasy. The first resulted in the loss of half of Pakistan in 1971, while the second one ruined the economy and won for Pakistan the tags of ‘global migraine’ and

‘University of Jehad’. The results of the third coming are yet to be seen.

Pakistanis on social media have made no attempt to hide their jubilation at the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The distressing images and reports emerging from there, have shamelessly been abandoned in this momentary triumph.

This jubilation can perhaps be seen as the machismo of a country and people who have been at the receiving end of global criticism, unable to raise its head high due to the disastrous economy and utter dependence on loans from its ‘all-weather friend’.

Right thinking Pakistanis should be wondering if Pakistan has not bitten off more than it can chew! A country unable to manage its own economy successfully will

henceforth have to bear the burden of the poverty-stricken nation of Afghanistan, run by an inexperienced and medieval Taliban.

The drain on Pakistan will not just be economic. Any remaining vestige of liberalism will be driven out of the country by the ultra-conservative religious fundamentalism that will flow in from a Taliban controlled Afghanistan into Pakistan while giving a filip to organisations like the Tehrik-eTaliban Pakistan.

The triumphant arrival of Pakistan supported Taliban in Kabul seriously begets the question, is it victory or its biggest folly yet.

Discrimination in promotion as Black surgeons promoted far less than white colleagues in England As per the analysis of NHS medics’ careers, black surgeons are far less likely to be promoted in comparison to their white colleagues in England.

According to The Guardian, the black males who were junior surgeons in 2010 were 27% less likely to be promoted to a consultant than white men between 2016 and 2020, while black women were 42% less likely.

The Royal College of Surgeons explained the study of more than 3,000 doctors as “extremely concerning”.

Senior black doctors said the research matched their experiences and warned of a lack of support for minority doctors to pass the tests required to reach the best-paid ranks. It follows government research that identified racial barriers to promotion in the civil service and that almost a fifth of FTSE

100 companies have no ethnic minority board members.

The data from NHS records by academics at the University of Surrey revealed that the proportion of consultants who were men actually increased over the decade from 57% to 63%.

Prof Carol Woodhams of the University of Surrey Business school said, “The most striking finding is that even when Indian women, white women and black men conform to white male patterns of working, the progression gap is wide and, in some cases, very wide. This is objective evidence that disadvantage against varied groups in surgery is deep and a new progressive milieu in the NHS and the broader society has not yet translated into a solid and progressive outcome.”

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Back to work On Monday, London saw its busiest rush hour since the pandemic hit. London Evening Standard reported, “Early figures showed a 19 per cent jump in passengers on the Tube network up to 9 am, compared with last Tuesday, and 43 per cent more on buses.

The return to work picked up even more speed during the morning and between 7 am and 8 am there were 277,000 “taps” on the Tube, up 24 per cent on last week, and 297,000 taps on buses, an increase of 56 per cent.”

Between 8 am and 9 am, there were 332,000 taps on the Tube, up 22 per cent and 321,000 on buses, 71 per cent higher than last Tuesday, the comparison day as Monday was a bank holiday, according to figures from Transport for London.

Workers in the UK who are returning to offices have been complaining that

there's no point in coming to the office because they still end up doing video calls.

While some are appreciating the move and happy to be back in the office, many have not been able to fix their schedules, and sync them with important office timings.

An architect was quoted by The Guardian saying that he ended up doing video calls from the office anyway. However, the same person also reported that he met many of his colleagues for the first time.

Yet, many workers in the UK do not know what their colleagues look like.

Manchester-based Parina Patel, who is a Chartered Engineer at a building consultancy firm told The Guardian that she books her desk in advance, and is happy to do so. However, working from home was really good for her parents. She was able to work without any distractions at home.

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12

MEDIA WATCH

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SCRUTATOR’S This fisherman becomes a millionaire overnight Chandrakant Tare, a fisherman from Maharashtra, became a millionaire overnight. Tare took his boat to the sea for the first time on August 28 after the monsoon ban on fishing was lifted. While fishing, he noticed that the net had become heavy and he immediately pulled it out with the help of his crew members. He was surprised to see that he had caught around 150 ghol fish in the net at once. Ghol fish is not only a delicacy but also has many medicinal properties and is highly valued in various countries. Its parts are used to make medicines and other high-priced products. The fish is also known as "the fish with the heart of gold." When the fishermen returned from sea, the catch was auctioned and it attracted a bid of around £133,000. According to Chandrakant's son Somnath, there is a pouch in the stomach of the ghol fish, which is in great demand overseas. The ghol fish, scientific name Protonibea diacanthus, is a type of blackspotted croaker fish found in the Indo-Pacific region and is considered among the most-expensive variety of marine fish. (Agency) MLA seen moving in train on his underwear

An MLA of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party was seen moving around in his underwear in the AC first class compartment of the Tejas Rajdhani Express, on a journey from Patna to New Delhi last week. Other passengers objected strongly to JDU MLA Gopal Mandal's display and it almost led to a fight. Police and the ticket examiner had to step in to persuade both the parties. Mandal blamed an upset stomach for his sartorial choice.

"I was in an underwear and vest. I had just boarded the train and had an upset stomach. I do not lie," said the MLA. The legislator insisted that the co-passengers had "over-reacted", claiming: "I was suffering from dysentery. As soon as the journey began I felt the need to go to the washroom. So I ripped off my kurta and pyjama and made a dash to the toilet." On allegations that his attire made female passengers uncomfortable, the MLA claimed there was no woman in the coach.

The Opposition RJD said Nitish Kumar should take note of the MLA's "foul behaviour". Lok Janshakti Party MP Chirag Paswan blamed such incidents for "Bihar's poor reputation. (Agency) Tunnel to Red Fort used by British found

Assembly, which was used as Central Legislative Assembly after shifting of capital from Kolkata to Delhi in 1912, was turned into a court in 1926 and Britishers used this tunnel to bring freedom fighters to the court. "We all knew about the presence of a gallows room here but never opened it. Now it was the 75th year of independence and I decided to inspect that room. We intend to change that room into a shrine of freedom fighters as a tribute to them," he said. He said that he intends to open the gallows room for the tourists by the next independence day and the work for the same has already started.

(Agency) A face pack to beat aging Beauty is serious business and to stay young is everyone's desire. Now, that the Veraval-based CIFT (Central Institute of Fisheries Technology) has come up with its own concoction that will help skin retain its youthfulness. Collagen extracted from fish scale mixed with seaweed extract promises to give the beauty market a revolutionary makeover. Scientists at CIFT claim that the marine face pack is capable of decreasing wrinkles on the human face and is considered to have anti-aging properties. According to the scientists, “this face pack once applied on the face, will start glowing and it will decrease wrinkles on the face so no one can presume your age by your face.”

Collagen-based products are rarely available in India. The difference of our product from other cosmetic products available in the market is that this one is free of harmful preservatives and is available at a much cheaper cost,” CIFT scientist Ashish Kumar Jha said. Scientists have been working on fish collegian for years and its benefits are proven through various researches worldwide. CIFT has also added seaweed extract which also has an immense role in the cosmetic industry.

(The Times of India) Ratan Tata clarifies on 'link liquor sale to Aadhar' quote

sharing a screenshot of the post, along with a GIF with the words "Fake News".

This is not the first time that Tata has had to flag a quote wrongly attributed to him.

Last year, he gave a clarification after a post with remarks attributed to him linking "huge downfall of economy" to the coronavirus pandemic - was widely shared on social media. Tata, at the time, had people to verify media circulated on WhatsApp and over social media platforms before sharing it. "If I have something to say, I will say it on my official channels," Tata had written. Another industrialist was also forced to issue a clarification on a post attributed wrongly to him. The post purportedly contained some "life changing advice" from Anand Mahindra, but the chairman of Mahindra Group clarified that he never said those words. (Agency) Restaurateur shot dead for delay in order The owner of a restaurant in Greater Noida near Delhi was shot dead in a fight that started over a delay in an order. Three accused men were arrested after an encounter with the police. The owner was running the restaurant inside an apartment complex. Late on Tuesday last, a delivery agent for online platform Swiggy reached the restaurant to collect an order. Three young men on a bike, who say they were driving around near the restaurant, stopped and approached the delivery agent, the police said. One of the bikers used to work with another food delivery service and had stopped to ask the Swiggy agent about a job. When the Swiggy agent's order was delayed, he got into an argument with an employee. The three men, who were drunk, jumped into the fight and allegedly shot its owner, Sunil Agarwal, in the head, the police said.

The owner was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead. The men escaped on their bike after the shooting. After an encounter, the police later arrested all the three suspects. Initial reports had suggested the possible involvement of the Swiggy agent, but police say they are focusing their investigation on the three bikers. (Agency) Best friends live even after death

A tunnel-like structure was discovered at the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel said. He said the tunnel connects the legislative assembly to Red Fort and was used by the Britishers to avoid reprisal while moving freedom fighters. "When I became an MLA in 1993, there was hearsay about a tunnel present here that goes till Red Fort and I tried to search for its history. But there was no clarity over it," he stated. "Now we have got the mouth of the tunnel but we are not digging it further as all the paths of the tunnel have been destroyed due to metro projects and sewer installations," he added. Goel said that the Delhi Legislative

Industrialist Ratan Tata took to Instagram to flag a quote wrongly attributed to him. The widely-shared quote seems to suggest that Tata had advocated for "liquor sales through Aadhaar cards." Ratan Tata flagged the post as fake. "This was not said by me.

Thank you," the 83-year-old wrote while

In a living example of generosity beyond life, the parents of two 18-year-old

best friends, inseparable since Class I, donated the boys’ organs after they were both declared brain dead. They were victims of a road accident on August 26.

Meet Pandya and Krish Gandhi, gone too soon from this world, have given a new lease of life to critical patients through 12 organs donated to them. The two Class 12 students from Surat were on their twowheeler when a car hit them from behind, throwing them off the vehicle. They sustained grievous head injuries. The boys were taken to the nearest hospital where they were diagnosed with brain haemorrhage and subsequently declared brain dead by a panel of doctors on August 28. After the Donate Life NGO spoke to the families, they immediately agreed to donate organs, leading to 12 patients having already received or about to receive their organs. While Meet’s heart was transplanted into a 21-year-old female from Vadodara, Krish’s lungs were transplanted into a 54-year-old CRPF personnel in Hyderabad. All four kidneys went to the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC) in Ahmedabad. Meet’s liver was transplanted into a 47-year-old Bayad resident, while Krish’s liver was received by a 55-year-old Rajkot resident. All four eyes were donated to the Lok Drashti Eye Bank in Surat. (The Times of India) Mobile phone addiction claims two lives

Extreme fallouts of mobile addiction led to murder of a man by his son, while another teenager took her own life in two separate incidents. While the police detained a 17-year-old boy for allegedly killing his 40-year-old labourer father in a fit of rage over being scolded for playing too much on the phone in a village near Surat, a 16-year-old girl in Surat’s Ved Road killed herself after her parents refused to hand over her mobile phone as they thought she wasted time on it ignoring her studies. Shockingly the boy even attempted to cover his sinister act by trying to pass it off as an accident that his father met with by falling on the bathroom floor. However, the postmortem revealed that the man had died from strangulation. The boy revealed to police that his father often reprimanded him for wasting time playing games on mobile phone. The scolding took a turn for the worst when the frustrated boy strangled his father to death in a fit of rage. (Agency)

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11 - 17 September 2021

Understanding the psychology of a sexual assault survivor

Q

Dr Ananta Dave

Shefali Saxena From Harvey Weinstein to Cristiano Ronaldo, men accused of sexual misconduct and rape continue to be shielded, celebrated and ignored for their wrongdoings by friends, family, lawyers and most importantly, bystanders. What goes on in the mind of a survivor when they witness this oblivious attitude in society towards the heinous crimes that leave them scarred for life? Asian Voice exclusively interviewed Dr Ananta Dave, an Executive Medical Director in the NHS, a Consultant Psychiatrist and President of the British Indian Psychiatric Association.

- What kind of psychological impact does sexual assault have on women?

It can be wide-ranging and profound.

From guilt, shame, fear, anxiety, panic, sleeplessness, depression, traumatic memories, to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), inability to trust, difficulties with intimate relationships, loss of self-worth and confidence. Women can sometimes be distressed enough to feel suicidal too.

- Is there a specific classification of the kind of impact it has on women?

The impact can range from a range of emotions and psychological reactions to a diagnosable mental disorder which will need assessment by a suitably trained professional. There is not a specific classification. There can be physical impacts too, depending on the nature of the assault-

Q

Q

physical injuries, difficulty with intercourse, pain, and a range of other problems.

- For how long can the impact last?

Q

Each case is very different and there is no set time frame. It depends on the severity of the assault, frequency, relationship with the perpetrator, circumstances surrounding the assault, the support provided to a survivor of assault, criminal proceedings, whether the perpetrator was brought to justice, etc.

- What can be done to extend psychological and emotional support towards sexual assault survivors?

Firstly believe them, validate their distress, offer support including options for safe residence if required - refuges etc.

Secondly don’t blame them they are not at fault or responsible. The perpetrator is the one responsible and should be brought to justice.

Thirdly signpost/encourage them to seek psychological support/counselling/sexual violence advisors, mental health services es, physical health support as required Then help them to report and bring the perpetrator to justice.

- In recent news where many globally known sexual assault accused men have been celebrated for their achievements. What impact does this kind of event have on a survivor?

Can have a profoundly adverse impact -

Q

Q

An unwelcomed homecoming for Harry and Meghan While Harry has been to the UK twice since he and Meghan Markle denounced Royal titles, the latest update on the couple is that they’re about to arrive in the UK to see the Queen.

Many Britons are terming this as ‘sheer nerve’ after the couple’s explosive allegations that were broadcast on Oprah’s show last year. The news of their potential visit has not gone down well and the people at the palace are apparently shocked.

A source was quote by Mirror, saying: "Harry and Meghan have made this offer but a lot of people are shocked by the sheer nerve of it. They may genuinely want to see the Queen but it’s breathtaking given what they’ve put her through this year.

"Her Majesty’s staff have not responded so far. In fact, there has also been discussion

about Christmas — and whether an invitation should be sent to Harry and Meghan after they spurned one last year.

"The Queen is still very fond of Harry and would love to see Lilibet and her brother Archie. But courtiers are surprised by the move, especially from Meghan, after what has happened."

Clarence House denies allegations concerning Prince Charles’ charities Last week, Michael Fawcett resigned from the role of chief executive of the Prince's Foundation amid claims that he fixed an honour for a Saudi tycoon, who has donated to royal charities, Hello Magazine reported.

On behalf of Prince Charles, Clarence House has issued a statement that he has knowledge of allegations based on donations to his charities.

A spokeswoman for The Prince’s Foundation said earlier: "The Prince’s

Foundation takes very seriously the allegations that have recently been brought to its attention and the matter is currently under investigation.

A spokesman for the Prince said on Monday: "The Prince of Wales has no knowledge of the alleged offer of honours or British citizenship on the basis of donation to his charities and fully supports the investigation now underway by The Prince's Foundation."

grief, fang, anger and also invalidation and a mockery of their devastating experiences.

Also loss of hope that justice can prevail and fear that survivors can’t be safe and culture will not change.

- When women are displaced from their homes (like refugees or migrants or survivors), how is their mental health affected?

Again in all the ways as described above.

These are complex traumatic experiences and can lead to reactions ranging from understandable distress to psychological symptoms to a full-blown mental illness like PTSD. - What kind of help does the UK extend to such women? What should be the immediate step that we can take to help them?

There is support available through local authorities, independent sexual violence advocates, police liaison officers, psychological and counselling services, charities, women’s aid, refuge etc.

The first step is to help them/children be in a safe place, then report to police and then ensure help for physical and emotional impact.

- Can sexual assault of any kind hamper the future decisions and personality of women?

Yes, as described above. Not inevitable.

Each situation is different. Can lead to loss of confidence, self-worth and trust, guilt,

Q

Q

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grief, trauma, mood changes. Can affect personal and professional lives.

- What is the right way to go about informing employers or partners/spouses about sexual assault cases, before survivors join workplaces or marry?

On a need to know basis. What feels comfortable to survivor, maintains her dignity and privacy, as per laws of confidentiality and information sharing, data protection act.

If there are immediate concerns of course a public duty of safety may override confidentiality.

- How can employers, family and partners be educated when dealing with survivors?

Listen to women, enable them to speak up, start teaching boys/young men about respecting women and respect in relationships. It is important to have the right sex and relationship educations, provide free confidential drip on sessions for young people and relationship advice as part of psychological counselling on the NHS.

Q

“Start teaching boys and young men about respecting women”

14 WOMEN’S VOICE

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11 - 17 September 2021

in brief

‘When a strong-minded woman wants something, she will go above and beyond to achieve her dreams’ Shefali Saxena Neha Dhull is a finalist for Miss Great Britain.

Miss Great Britain is England's first and most prestigious pageant. If she wins she will be the first British Asian to win. The finals are on 16th and 17th September 2021. Neha is a Social Worker and a Law Student. Her aim is to be a Child Rights Lawyer. Both her parents are from India and she was born and brought up in England. In an exclusive chat with Asian Voice, she spoke about her journey and plans.

When and how did you decide to participate?

I decided to participate in Miss Great Britain as it is Britain's first and most prestigious pageant. I completed my application earlier this year and won the title to represent London and qualify for the Finals. I also decided to participate as I wanted to be the first British Asian to win this title and to empower other women of colour to take part in pageants.

If you win, what do you wish to do with the title?

If I was to win, I would use my platform to further spread awareness about the importance of protecting and supporting vulnerable children as I believe that children are the future of our society.

I have personally experienced racism in my school and work life, if I was to win, I would be the first British Asian to win. This would empower other women who have suffered racism, that they can overcome this and achieve success.

As someone who cares about social work, law and child rights, what kind of changes do you wish to see and make, especially in the current crisis with the ongoing Afghanistan exodus?

I envision that one day I will be working for the family courts representing vulnerable children and helping them find their voice.

With the current crisis in Afghanistan, I think it is important that we remain informed and appeal to the leaders of our countries about the importance of keeping the lives of innocent children safe. Every child deserves a happy home with all the basic necessities in life. It is sad to see that there are children in this world that don’t have access to basic necessities in life. Just like every child, they deserve a loving family who will protect and support them and brings me so much joy to see a lot of people already stepping up and offering their homes to those seeking refuge in the UK. How does a pageant change someone's life?

I believe pageants are an opportunity to make new friends and be part of a community that always uplifts and empowers all women. Pageants provide a platform for young women to voice their concerns and raise awareness about causes they are passionate about.

How supportive is your family in this endeavour?

My family have always been very supportive of my endeavours, they’ve taught me to always make the most of every opportunity.

WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE

Neha Dhull Why should women participate in such pageants?

Pageants empower and celebrate women for who they are. You get to meet women from all different backgrounds and make friendships for life. The women that I am participating with are incredible women, they are so kind and inspirational. I have made friends for life.

Your message to women on surviving, especially in the post-Covid world.

Keep doing what you’re doing! I think many women who had goals set still managed to reach them despite the circumstances.

When a strong-minded woman wants something, she will go above and beyond to achieve her dreams.

Home Office launches online tool for women and girls to flag unsafe areas to police The Home Office has launched a tool with National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) which will help women and girls to report unsafe areas to police. The flagging will be anonymous and will help cover poorly lit walkways or streets where they have experienced harassment. The digital scheme is called StreetSafe.

“The collected data will be used as part of a three-month pilot alongside other information to help police forces make decisions on how to keep communities safe,” Metro UK reported.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), around 49% of women reported feeling unsafe walking alone after

nightfall in a busy public place, such as a high street or railway station. A similar proportion

also feels unsafe walking alone on a quiet street near their home at night. In comparison, one in five men said they felt unsafe when walking alone in a busy public area after dark.

Instead, they said it will likely result in disproportionate policing and surveillance of black and minoritised communities. In a statement on Twitter, the women’s group said: ‘What we need is action to prevent male violence against all women and girls, not pilots that risk exacerbating existing inequalities. ‘We have consistently raised the alarm about this alongside other women’s organisations and set out key principles for the fund.’

A six-week course has been launched to help discover the critical role women have played in the development of modern architecture via an in-person evening course.

The course provides an engaging introduction to the history of female architects, exploring their careers and just some of their iconic and groundbreaking buildings. One can learn about the women who first joined the profession, the obstacles they faced and continue to face to this day, and how they have shaped our environments. Throughout the six weeks, the course will look at architects such as Lilly Reich, Charlotte Perriand, Anne Tyng, Cini Boeri, Gae Alunti, Lin Huiyin, Minnette de Silva, Anne Lacaton, Jeanne Gang and the work of MATRIX Design Cooperative and Muf. This course is open to everyone, from architecture enthusiasts to those just starting out on their architecture journey.

More information is available on barbican.co.uk

AT HOME ABORTIONS WORK FOR WOMEN In a petition titled ‘Don’t let the Government roll back our rights to at-home medical abortion services’ Women’s Equality Party wrote: At home medical abortion services have revolutionised access to sexual healthcare. It has reduced the number of women accessing online abortion pills illegally by nearly 90%, increased speed of access to services despite a global pandemic and is the preferred form of treatment for the majority of patients. There is absolutely no justification for withdrawing telemedical abortion services, and denying many women access to services and putting even more pressure on our health service. They demand that the Government maintain access to telemedical abortion services.

ONE IN TEN WOMEN HAVE POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME IN THE UK

Digital poverty among Woman goes into surprise labour ethnic minority women with no knowledge of pregnancy “Women in ethnic minority communities are most likely to suffer the economic and social disadvantages that this brings,” Al Jazeera recently reported.

capability” are women; in terms of possession of investible assets and pensions, men are also ahead.

The same report notes that women are more likely

A report by the Financial Conduct Authority, the financial services regulator in the UK, shows that the most immediate consequences for women are economic.

Sixty percent of those “showing low financial

than men to have at least one type of vulnerability – such as an underlying health condition or poor knowledge of financial matters – which may leave them further disenfranchised, as support becomes increasingly digitised.

A woman in the UK went into surprise labour without a visible baby bump. She had not known that she was in fact eight and a half months pregnant.

ods throughout the pregnancy. One in 450 women in the UK doesn't get an idea of pregnancy until the 20th week, Daily Mail had reported. It further stated that one in 2,500

23-year-old Lavinia Stanton was unaware of her pregnancy and delivered a baby last month. She was shocked because she had peri-

women comes to know of her pregnancy when she goes in labour. This phenomenon is called cryptic pregnancy.

Polycystic ovary syndrome affects 10 per cent of UK women, but it can go under the radar and be difficult to treat, say experts.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition in which the ovaries produce an abnormal amount of androgens, male sex hormones that are usually present in women in small amounts. The name polycystic ovary syndrome describes the numerous small cysts (fluid-filled sacs) that form in the ovaries. The cause of polycystic ovary syndrome isn't well understood, but may involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Symptoms include menstrual irregularity, excess hair growth, acne and obesity. If you have any PCOS related concerns, you may want to consult a doctor. Symptoms may include: Missed periods, irregular periods, or very light periods. Ovaries that are large or have many cysts. Excess body hair, including the chest, stomach, and back (hirsutism), Weight gain, especially around the belly (abdomen), Acne or oily skin, Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair and Infertility.

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11 - 17 September 2021

in brief in brief TEN PAINTINGS AND BUSTS REMOVED FROM THE BANK OF ENGLAND DUE TO KNOWN LINKS TO SLAVERY Following the Black Lives Matter protest last year, the Bank of England has removed paintings of leaders with known connections to the slave trade. Total ten paintings and busts of seven governors and directors have been removed.

The bank that was founded in 1964 to act as a banker to the government has also hired a researcher on slavery for its museum. The researcher will explore the Bank’s historic links with the transatlantic slave trade in detail. The bank has removed these paintings from within its headquarters and adjoining museum.

The review announced in June 2020 is now complete. The bank has confirmed that it has never been directly involved in the slave trade, but, apologized for the ‘inexcusable connections’ involving former governors and directors.

TRIBUNAL BACKS SALESMAN FOR GETTING RACIALLY ABUSED AT A PORSCHE DEALERSHIP An employment tribunal has ruled that Shailesh Rathod, 49, who complained about racist colleagues, was unfairly dismissed by a Porsche dealership in Sutton Coldfield near Birmingham The tribunal was told that the sales floor at the garage was rife with sexism, racism and homophobia. Rathod who joined as the only non-white salesman was the target of practical jokes by colleagues. When Rathod visited the dealership with his son on a dayoff, a banana was thrown by a male colleague onto the floor next to his son.

After Rathod complained to his bosses, he was sacked after being accused of subjecting a white colleague to racial and sexual harassment.

HEAVY SHORTFALL OF DRIVERS MAY LEAD TO EASING BREXIT RULES FOR DRIVERS Due to mounting pressure from supermarket chains to end the shortage of lorry drivers, ministers will consider easing post-Brexit immigration rules.

About 14000 European drivers left during the pandemic and are yet to return. There is also a delay at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency due to changes to working patterns during the lockdown, creating a backlog of drivers taking their HGV tests.

Immigrants usually need to pay GBP25,600 a year and have minimum qualifications to enter on a skilled worker visa.

To tackle an estimated shortfall of 100,000 drivers, a review of the shortage occupation list could be brought forward to give employers more flexibility to hire overseas recruits.

Krishna Mistry awarded the best bowler of 2021 by Wembley Cricket Club Krishna Mistry has been awarded the best bowler of 2021 by the Wembley Cricket club.

She is a devotee and volunteer of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha and has been a Member of Wembley Cricket Club since 2019.

They started a women’s section this season and entered the Derick Morgan league game.

Throughout the league, she achieved excellent bowling figures including a 5 wick-

PM Johnson is ignoring the security advice he gave his colleagues According to legal documents, the PM texted Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and Sir James Dyson, the businessman from his personal mobile phone, in spite of the warning not to conduct official business on their personal phones. After winning the 2019 elections, Johnson issued ministers with classified advice on the risk of hacking personal mobile and email accounts.

After the widespread use of Whatsapp in government, Labour has accused the government of ignoring national security which puts the nation at risk and lets them cover up their dodgy dealings in absence of any scrutiny.

However, the government source has said that the PM follows all guidance and has special security arrangements regarding his mobile phone.

Prospective parents given more choice over when to start a family People across the UK will have more choice over when to start a family as the government sets out plans to increase the storage limits for eggs, sperm and embryos. Following a public consultation earlier this year, proposals will be introduced to increase the statutory storage limits for everyone from the current 10 years, to a 10 year renewable storage period up to a maximum of 55 years. Under the new system, prospective parents will be given the option at 10-year intervals to keep or dispose of frozen eggs, sperm and embryos.

This update not only ensures greater reproductive choice and less pressured decision-making for parents thinking about when to start a family, but it will also ensure greater equality as the same rules will apply to everyone and storage limits will not be dictated by medical needs.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, said: “The current storage arrangements can be severely restrictive for those making the important decision about when to start a family, and this new legislation will help turn off the ticking clock in the back of people’s minds.

“There are many number of reasons why someone may choose to preserve their fertility, and it is one of the most personal decisions any of us can make. Technological breakthroughs – including in egg freezing – have changed the equation in recent years and it's only right that this progress puts more power into the hands of potential parents. By making these changes, we are going to take a huge step forwards – not just for giving people greater freedom over their fertility, but for equality too.”

The proposed changes are made possible by using the latest freezing methods. Evidence shows frozen eggs can be stored indefinitely without deterioration, due to a new freezing technique called vitrification, and changes reflect the increasing success of using frozen embryos in routine IVF treatment. It would be inappropriate for the limit to apply to all cases so there will be additional conditions around third party donors and posthumous use. This will be consulted upon separately.

et haul for 11 runs, together with a hat trick - all bowled against Crouch End in our last game of the season.

20% of the teams’ wickets were taken Left of picture: Krishna Mistry.

Right of picture Reena captain of WCC Women’s Team

by Krishna over the season. With pride and great team effort, Wembley Cricket Club women’s was born and brought up in South London team came 2nd in the Derick Morgan and studied at Middlesex University with a Division (East, North, West).

BA in Business Information Systems with an Krishna Mistry is an NHS worker, who IT degree.

Asian Restaurant Awards – The Winners Winners of the prestigious Asian Restaurant Awards were revealed at a glittering awards ceremony at the Manchester Mercure Piccadilly, on Tuesday 31st

Indian restaurant in the UK to a Michelin Star, won Best Asian Restaurant (London).

Grand Trunk Road’s and Tamarin’s former head chef Dayashankar Sharma

Bangladeshi restaurants and takeaways in East London and Essex received the award for Best Group.

There were also special prizes for Shabit Hussain of

Asma Khan

Dayashankar Sharma

Rajesh Suri

August, hosted by BBC news anchor Samantha Simmonds.

Top accolades went to Asma Khan’s who femaleonly kitchen of former home cooks at London’s Darjeeling Express, who won Best Casual Dining Restaurant Rajesh Suri, the owner of Grand Trunk Road, who led Tamarind to the first

received the Best Newcomer award for his Heritage Dulwich debutant.

“India’s answer to Heston Blumenthal”, Stephen Gomes, collected the award for Best Fusion Restaurant for DUSK in Brentwood, Essex for his “spectacular” molecular gastronomy.

The Kushi chain of

the Akbar Group (Curry King), a Lifetime Achievement Award for the Aagrah Group’s Mohammed Aslam, and Community Hero Awards for Mohamed Shajad Khan of Blue Tiffin in Oldham and Mahi Masum.

The evening was attended by 500 leading restaurateurs, chefs, food writers and VIP guests.

A nostalgic nation: Brits’ favourite way to spend time with their grandparents Reminiscing about the past (32%) is the nation’s favourite activity to do with their grandparents, new research has revealed. The study was conducted by Gala Bingo, the nation’s favourite bingo site, to launch its new Paddle Pals TV advert, which celebrates the bond we have with our grandparents.

Playing card games (31%), looking through old photographs (30%) and baking (30%) were some of the other ways in which we cherish time with Grandma and Grandad. Men and women tend to have different favourites, however, as while talking about history is the favourite grandparent pastime for men, baking takes the top spot for women. Almost two in five (38%) women say baking is their favourite thing to do with their grandparents, compared to just 21% of men. Yet men and women equally enjoy spending time planting and pruning in the garden (26%) with their elders.

Interestingly, age plays a

part in which activities are most enjoyed. Cooking alongside their grandparents is a popular activity for both the 25-34 (41%) and the 35-44 (33%) age groups. For the younger generation (1824), taking the dog for a walk with their grandparents topped the list at 31%.

There is also variation across the UK. Playing board games with the grandparents is the preferred activity for people in Bristol (37%) and Edinburgh (37%), whereas taking a stroll around a park is the favourite thing to do for

those in Liverpool (31%) and Sheffield (33%).

Psychotherapist and author Andre Radmall commented that: “The relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren is immensely important.

Spending time with each other provides innumerable benefits for both.

“Grandchildren can learn from the experience of grandparents, passing on their wisdom through to adulthood which can be a rewarding and meaningful experience for grandchildren.”

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Time-lapse map revealed upcoming days are worse for England and Wales Schools in Scotland reopened from August 11, when cases were at around 1,400 a day, but fast forward to August 26, after a week, Scotland has reached a record number of cases at an average of 5,000 per day.

The map, from the Government Covid-19 dashboard, explains most areas of Scotland were recording no more than 200 cases per 100,000 people, apart from around the Dumfries and Galloway and

Strathclyde - home to Glasgow.

More than double the numbers of below 18s are being diagnosed each day compared with its previous last peak, in July, and thrice that of January.

Scotland being the only country to record a noticeable increase in the number of people admitted to hospital each day, with doctors already warning they can’t take the pressure - and it’s not even winter yet.

As per the reports published

in The Sun, one of the reasons for the surge in cases maybe it has the lowest vaccination rate of all home nations - 77.4 per cent of people are fully vaccinated compared to Wales’ 83.6 per cent, amid the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant.

While in England, cases have been stable for the last three weeks, with around 25,000 per day.

They are increasing in Wales, as it lifted all remaining restric-

tions on August 7, later than England’s “Freedom Day” on July 19.

Office for National Statistics revealed in the latest survey that around one in 30 people from school year 12 to age 24 are estimated to have had Covid in the week to August 20: the highest positivity rate for any age group.

Teaching unions have recommended that if cases do continue to rise, they may restart social distancing measures very shortly.

Raab not confident about number of people left behind in Afghanistan Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab told the Foreign Affairs Select Committee that he was "not confident with precision to give you a set number".

In a conversation with Labour MP Chris Bryant, Raab said, “The number of UK citizens left in Afghanistan was in the ‘low hundreds’ but declined to be more specific. If I could give you any more precision, I would."

Bryant stressed asking the

Foreign Secretary: "Do you mean 110, sort of area? Or do you mean 200, 300, 400?"

Raab said the government is not having an exact number but insisted Boris Johnson was right when he says we have got an overwhelming majority of people.

There were calls for him to resign from opposition MPs after it emerged he had been unavailable to make a phone call as he

Dominic Raab

was on holiday.

In his opening exchanges

with the committee chair, Conservative MP and former soldier Tom Tugendhat, Raab was not able to reply about how many foreign office ministers had visited the region recently.

"I had more than 40 meetings or telephonic conversations from mid-March to August 30 where Afghanistan was the main discussion. So that's broadly one every four days," he told the committee.

Lady Scotland in a battle for top Commonwealth role A controversial former Labour minister could lose a top Commonwealth job after Kenya put forward a competitor candidate. Lady Scotland, the secretarygeneral of the Commonwealth is facing a battle to remain in the organisation's secretary-general after the East African nation's president Uhuru Kenyatta nominated his defence secretary Monica Juma to replace her.

The peer, who as Patricia Scotland was attorney general,

has a series of allegations about her leadership style and spending in her office, including claims she spent £338,000 refurbishing her apartment in Mayfair. She has also been criticised for appointing political allies to key posts, and the UK Government had refused to automatically support her re-election.

Kenya believes the vote could be held as early as October, or

next March.

Kenyatta praised Juma’s diplomatic experience, predicting she would be a consensus candidate.

Scotland, a QC, became the first female attorney general in 2007 under the Labour government of Gordon Brown. She is the sixth Commonwealth secretary-general and has been in office since 1 April 2016.

Government seeks clampdown on possessing laughing gas Laughing gas could be banned as it is the second most popular drug by 16 to 24-year-olds in the UK, with 8.7% saying they had taken it in the past 12 months – equivalent to 549,000 youngsters. Longer use can even lead to vitamin B12 deficiency and anaemia.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was ready to “take severe

actions” and called on the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to carry out a review of nitrous oxide after more than half a million young people admitted taking the drug in 2019-20.

As per the 2016 Psychoactive Substances Act, the selling of nitrous oxide for its psychoactive effects were made illegal. But at

present, to possess the drug is not a crime.

In 2014, The ACMD issued advice on nitrous oxide which concluded that it should not be banned and if used properly, it works as a pain reliever and is generally used as a sedative for patients undergoing minor medical procedures, including dental treatments.

1.25% points National Insurance hike Booster vaccine plan needs to be urgent as to raise £36bn for social care On Tuesday, Boris Johnson announced a hike of 1.25 per cent points in National Insurance in order to pay for social care in England. The social care plan was sanctioned by ministers at a Cabinet meeting.

This step has been taken in order to fight the "unpredictable and catastrophic costs" in the country. This percentage increase in taxes is expected to raise about £12bn which, in the early years, will mainly be used to fund dealing with the NHS backlog, the report suggested. It further explained that this includes £2.2 billion a year for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as tax changes affect the whole of

the UK. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the costs will be divided between "those who earn more will pay more". From October 2023, anyone with assets under £20,000 have their care costs fully covered by the state, while those with between £20,000 and

£100,000 will be expected to contribute to their costs but will also receive state support. He added that there will be a cap of £86,000 on what people will be asked to pay over their lifetime for care. This will help raise £36 billion over the next three years. This according to Johnson will help in clearing backlogs at hospitals by increasing hospital capacity "to 110% and enabling 9 million more appointments, scans and operations".

"As a result, while waiting lists will get worse before they get better, the NHS will aim to be treating around 30% more elective patients by 2024-2025 than before Covid," the PM said.

effect of jabs wane after 6 months

According to a leading scientist, protection from two doses may wane even within six months, which means the protection for older people and healthcare workers could be as low as 50% by winter.

The latest analysis from Zoe suggested that Pfizer vaccine protection fell to 74% after 5-6 months of the second dose, while that of AstraZeneca fell to 67% 4-5 months later.

Lead scientist professor Tim Spector has asked for an urgent need to make plans for vaccine boosters. However, he has said that waning protection is no reason to not get vaccinated.

A final decision on the groups who will be offered booster jabs is expected imminently from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

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in brief in brief 10% OF CARE HOME STAFF ARE YET TO RECEIVE FIRST DOSE According to NHS data over 46,500 staff in older adult care homes in England are yet to receive any doses of vaccination. Around 89,400 people have received only a single dose so far.

According to the deadline imposed by the government, all home staff have to get their first dose by 16 September and get fully vaccinated by November 11, after which they would not be able to work in care homes unless double vaccinated or exempted.

According to managers the main reasons for refusing the vaccine were pregnancy or fertility concerns, religions or ethical concerns, fear of vaccination or that they were against vaccinations. Fear of side effects was also a matter of concern.

FACEBOOK DOMINATES APP MARKET DURING LOCKDOWN A new study shows that while TikTok has been revealed as the world’s most popular and downloaded mobile app, social media giant Facebook dominates the market with four of its platforms. Research conducted by app development company Bacancy Technology outlines that social video-sharing platform TikTok was downloaded a total of 850 million times last year, receiving 250 million more downloads than the second most popular app on the list, WhatsApp. However, having acquired Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014, Facebook takes up four spots in the Top 10 most popular apps of 2020, with a combined total of more than two billion downloads. This figure accounts for 46% of the total download figures within the top 10 list. Following last year’s increase in remote working, conference call platform Zoom – which ranks fifth on the global list – received 477 million downloads last year, coupled with an increase in revenue of 317% over figures from 2019.

PHE REPORT SAYS OVER 100,000 COVID-19 DEATHS PREVENTED BY VACCINATION The Health Secretary, Sajid Javid has described the latest report of 102,500 to 109,500 deaths saved due to the vaccination scheme as the ‘testament to the UK’s vaccination program’. The Public Health England’s previous report estimated that between 91,700 to 98,700 deaths were averted due to the jabs in total. However, the new report has upgraded the estimates to over 100,000. While Javid calls this ‘phenomenal’, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi has called upon people to get their jab, if they haven’t already considered the new report by the local official as yet further proof that vaccines work.

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKING AT PHARMACIES FROM OCT 11,300 NHS pharmacies on high streets will give free blood pressure tests to people over 40 years old. According to NHS estimates this could prevent 3700 strokes and 2500 heart attacks over the next five years.

High blood pressure is a key indicator of risk for cardiovascular problems. NHS’s decision to offer free on-the-spot heart health checks will not only save thousands of lives but also reduce the burden on GP. Pharmacists would be paid £440 for set-up and £15 for each ‘clinic check’. They will then provide lifestyle advice to keep blood pressure under control. The move has been welcomed by all, however, at the same time, it is important to note that pharmacists are not substitutes for GPs.

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in brief BESPOKE LOANS FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT The government schemes of student loans will now cover short skill-development courses at 20 universities.

Universities have been asked to design short courses to bid for the first 20 slots until the end of September, in what is being run as a competition. Starting September next year, the courses have to be focused on helping students to find work. In the beginning, the courses will be offered on Stem subjects, healthcare, education and digital innovation and also subjects supporting the net-zero emissions target. Students will get a certificate which they can show to employers or use it for further courses. By 2025, the government aims to replace the current 3-year course loan with a lifelong loan entitlement.

PROMINENT LAWYERS AND CAMPAIGNERS UNKNOWINGLY BACK A CONVICTED FRAUDSTER Prominent women who will appear in ‘The View’ magazine’s exhibition titled ‘Someone’s Daughter’ are angry after knowing that the publication has close links to Farah Damji, who has convictions for fraud and theft dating from the 1990s. The magazine’s crowdfunding campaign is seeking a ‘substantial amount’ of money to fund the exhibition and publish a book of photographs which will be sent to all MPs and prison libraries. Supreme Court’s first female president Baroness Hall of Richmond, Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws QC, anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller and human rights activist Bianca Jagger are among the few prominent women who will appear in the exhibition. However, some of these subjects were not aware of Damji’s connection to The View when they were photographed for the exhibition.

EARLY AUTUMN AFTER 50% MORE RAINFALL IN MANY PARTS OF ENGLAND Due to a soggy summer with Met office data showing 50 per cent more rainfall than long term summer averages, autumn has been showing its colours in parts of England according to weather experts.

The south and southeast England have been particularly wet this year. The downpours and some sunshine has led to autumn-type sights in forests. It is to be noted that the autumn sights this year are weeks earlier than normally expected every year. It is expected that this year Britons will be able to visualize striking displays of autumn leaves and seasonal colours of trees as they get enough sunlight and rainwater during their growing season.

MAN ATTACKED IN HOUNSLOW On 18 August, Mehmood Shamshi, 61, was taken to hospital after suffering a severe head injury in an attack on Staines Road, Hounslow.

Detectives have launched an investigation and a 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion and bailed. It is believed that Mehmood was assaulted two hours earlier near the Cromwell Road junction. He died in the early hours of Saturday, 21 August. Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin, leading the investigation, said: "Mehmood’s family and friends are shocked by his death and we are working hard to work out the series of events that led to severe injuries, which we believe ultimately led to his death. “I would like to speak to anyone who was nearby or who had seen anything doubtful, including drivers who may have any video recording of 17 August between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm. Anyone who was in the area and witnessed anything is asked to call 0208 785 8244, quoting Op Tinos or 101 and quote CAD 212/18Aug, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0300 555 111.

G20 ministers to collaborate on bolstering health security, vaccine confidence and antimicrobial resistance G20 Health Ministers have united to pledge global action to improve future health security, increase vaccine confidence and tackle antimicrobial resistance.

The G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting, which took place in Rome, Italy, focused on building on strong cooperation and collaboration to end the Covid-19 pandemic and support recovery around the world, and to continue contributing to better prevent, detect and respond to global health threats and emergencies. A Health Declaration with commitments from all G20 countries has been published today (Monday 6 September 2021).

The nations agreed to work together to enhance timely global access to safe, affordable and effective Covid-19 vaccines,

therapeutics and diagnostics, building on the work led by the Prime Minister at the UKhosted G7 earlier this year for these three interventions to be available within 100 days of a future pandemic threat being identified.

To protect one of the pillars of medicine, antimicrobials that protect against infection, the G20 commits to building capacity for surveillance of

antimicrobial use and resistance. A key focus of future action will be on support for the development of new safe and effective antimicrobials, in particular antibiotics, and incentivising the production of low-cost, affordable generic antimicrobials to safeguard the ability to fight infections for future generations.

Meeting counterparts on his first international visit as Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid made clear the UK’s position on the need for Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial participants to have their vaccination status recognised globally.

To promote vaccine confidence, G20 Health ministers agreed to implement the most effective, culturally appropriate, and science-based

public communication. This will help tailor reliable information to specific communities, combat misinformation and improve vaccine uptake.

The G20 also recognised the importance of recognising gender when designing and implementing health policies, considering the specific needs of women and girls, with a view to achieving gender equality in healthcare delivery. This builds on the UK’s Women’s Health Strategy which is working to put women’s voices at the heart of change and making sure the health and care system delivers for them.

A joint Finance and Health Ministers’ G20 meeting will take place in October, ahead of the main G20 Summit on 30 and 31 October.

Covid response: £5.4 billion over the next 6 months for NHS The NHS will receive an extra £5.4 billion over the next 6 months to support its response to Covid-19 and help tackle waiting lists, the Prime Minister and Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid have announced today.

The funding will immediately go towards supporting the NHS to manage the immediate pressures of the pandemic. This includes an extra £1 billion to help tackle the Covid-19 backlog, £2.8 billion to cover related costs such as enhanced infection control measures to keep staff and patients safe from the virus and £478 million to continue the hospital discharge programme, freeing up beds.

The additional £5.4 billion brings the government’s total investment to health services for Covid-19 so far this year to over £34 billion, with £2 billion in total for the NHS to tackle the elective backlog.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “The NHS was there for us during the pandemic – but treating Covid patients has created huge backlogs. This funding will go straight to the frontline, to provide more patients with the treatments they need but aren’t getting quickly enough.

“We will continue to make sure our NHS has what it needs to bust the Covid backlogs and help the health service build back better from the worst pandemic in a century.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “The NHS has been phenomenal as it has faced one of the biggest challenges in its history.

“Today’s additional £5.4 billion funding over the next 6 months is critical to ensuring the health service has what it needs to manage the ongoing pandemic and helping to tackle waiting lists.

“We know waiting lists will

get worse before they get better as people come forward for help, and I want to reassure you the NHS is open, and we are doing what we can to support the NHS to deliver routine operations and treatment to patients across the country.”

The waiting list for routine operations and treatments such as hip replacements and eye cataract surgery could potentially increase to as high as 13 million. While extra £1 billion funding will go some way to help reduce this number, waiting lists will rise before they improve as more people who didn’t seek care over the pandemic come forward. £478 million of this new funding has been dedicated to continuing the hospital discharge programme so staff can ensure patients leave the hospital as quickly and as safely as possible, with the right community or at-home support. This will free up

Is a winter lockdown approaching?

There could be a winter lockdown in the UK, reports from Downing street have given rise to contemplations.

The PM’s spokesperson said on Monday: “With regards to what comes next we need to carefully monitor the situation. “As a responsible government, we retain

the ability to take further steps if necessary but it is thanks to significant defences of the vaccination programme that we are able to be one of the most open societies in Europe. “And we will continue to push forward with vaccination programmes and that remains the case.”

Covid jabs: Kid versus parents In an interview with Times Radio on Sunday morning, Mr Nadhim Zahawi has said that if 12 to 14 years old want to take a Covid jab, the decision will be just as competent and good and overrule the parents’ refusal for the child to be vaccinated. According to The Telegraph, government ministers could defy the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, and go ahead with jabs. They await a decision from the UK as chief medical officers.

The JCVI said in a statement: “The available evidence indicates that the individual health benefits from Covid-19 vaccination are small in those aged 12 to 15 years who do not have underlying health conditions which put them at risk of severe Covid-19. The potential risks from vaccination are also small, with reports of post-vaccination myocarditis being very rare, but potentially serious and still in the process of being described.”

thousands of extra beds and staff time to help the NHS recover services.

The government has also invested £500 million in capital funding for extra theatre capacity and productivity-boosting technology, to increase the number of surgeries able to take place.

This funding is for England only.

On top of this funding, the NHS recently launched a £160 million initiative to tackle waiting lists. This is looking to accelerate the recovery of routine treatments and operations by trialling new ways of working, including a highvolume cataract service, onestop testing facilities where people can get tests done quickly and efficiently, to speed up the time to treatment, greater access to specialist advice for GPs and pop-up clinics so patients can be seen and discharged closer to home.

Marcus Rashford MBE launches national campaign to end child food poverty Marcus Rashford, MBE supports 3 recommendations in the National Food Strategy to help feed the nation’s children as food insecurity levels rise across the UK. #WriteNow campaign launches to encourage the general public to contact their MPs and call for urgent action to End Child Food Poverty.

New data from The Food Foundation shows that more households with children (in the UK aged 17 and under) are experiencing food insecurity than in the first wave of the pandemic. 15% have experienced food insecurity in the past 6 months. These levels are approximately 27% higher than before Covid (reference).

Marcus Rashford, Footballer and food poverty campaigner said: “Whilst we’ve come a long way in the last 20 months, placing the issue of child food poverty at the forefront, devastatingly, the issue is getting worse, not better.

The entire nation got behind the national team this summer so let’s put these figures in football terms: You can fill 27 Wembley stadiums with the 2.5 million children that are struggling to know where their next meal might be coming from today.

I am, today, pledging my support for 3 recommendations from Part 2 of the National Food Strategy. I hope that we see the required investment pledged during the Autumn Spending Review. I will be writing to my MP about it, and I would encourage you all to do the same.”

18 UK - FINANCE

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11 - 17 September 2021

Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel Is It Time to Ditch the FAANGs? The FAANGs — the name given to five of the best performing tech stocks, Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google (now called Alphabet) — have produced fantastic returns for years. However, regulatory headwinds and a reopening economy have led some analysts to sound a note of caution. Is it time to ditch the Faangs?

We Indians run a lot of these companies – so we may be somewhat pre-disposed to having them in our Pensions, SIPPs, ISAs as I have recommended over the past few years and more recently in my campaignforamillion.com On a recent episode of Real Money's Real Talk, Jim Cramer and guests discussed the Faangs, and asked whether they were dead or not. Of course, we should put the term "dead" in context. As contributor Kevin Curran suggested, there were questions about whether the companies were still the market leaders in their verticals.

Additionally, Chris Versace wondered if these companies were as disruptive as they once were.

Over the last decade, the FAANGs have become investors favourites because of their consistent strong returns. In fact, they have been one of the primary reasons why the S&P 500 produced returns of almost 300% during that period.

Why the FAANGs Could Stop Growing However, some analysts, like Mike Bell, global market strategist at JP Morgan, believe these companies can't continue to overperform. Bell thinks that Fed tapers and rising bond yields will favour value stocks by the end of the year. He goes on to add that these conditions traditionally help financials and small-caps.

While it is tempting to listen to contrarian investors, it seems that there is plenty of steam left in the big tech companies. To put it all in context, the FAANGs are still driving the Nasdaq 100. Last financial year, they provided one-third of the Nasdaq's return. Indeed, they strongly outperformed that particular index, with many other major indices success hinging on how many FAANGs they had.

Alphabet's Massive Q2 Alphabet's earnings in the last quarter exceeded the expectations of many. Revenues of $55.3 billion, which were up 34% year over year, have led to an 11% increase from the last quarter. However, with GOOGL already operating in all global markets, sectors and industries, some investors are wondering what room is left for them to grow?

For many, worries about the FAANGs come down to continued market dominance. However, Google's search engine has few competitors, while the iPhone holds a considerable segment of the smartphone industry.

Additionally, Amazon and Facebook show little sign of slowing down.

Potential Areas of Growth Considering these companies' appetite for innovation, the growth areas for the companies could come from unexpected places. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has identified Google Cloud as a huge avenue of growth, for example.

Conclusion The FAANGs strong growth over the last decade has led to market dominance. However, some feel that the pace of returns can't continue. The Joe Biden administration has tech stocks in its regulatory crosshairs, and rising bond yields and Fed tapers could result in good conditions that support value stocks.

However, the FAANG stocks excellent earnings and constant innovation mean that they still have a lot left in the tank.

UK labour crisis may last for two years: CBI Britain’s leading business lobby group, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned that the labour crisis could last for up to two years, calling upon ministers to take action on visas for foreign workers and stop “waiting for shortages to solve themselves.” The CBI launched a broadside against the government, saying the UK’s economic recovery from the winter lockdown was being undermined by a lack of skills in key positions, with mounting risks that the problem would continue for some time.

CBI director general Tony Danker said, “Standing firm and waiting for shortages to solve themselves is not the way to run an economy. We need to simultaneously address short-term economic needs

and long-term economic reform.” Danker said the government’s ambition to make the British labour force more highly skilled and productive was right, and that businesses would train and hire more homegrown workers in time.

Danker said, “A refusal to deploy temporary and targeted interventions to enable economic recovery is self-defeating.” The CBI is calling for the government’s shortage occupation list to be updated to include lorry drivers, welders, butchers, and bricklayers. A lack of butchers in slaughterhouses has caused a crisis on pig farms, and the National Pig Association has warned that farmers may have to kill and burn nearly 100,000 animals unless ministers agree to a temporary relaxation of visa rules.

Britain also needs about 100,000 more lorry drivers if the Road H a u l a g e Association is to be believed.

Danker said, “Businesses are already spending significant amounts on training, but that takes time to yield results, and some members suggest it could take two years rather than a couple of months for labour shortages to be fully eliminated.”

Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng wrote to business leaders last month calling for firms to hire British workers to deal with labour shortages rather than relying on immigration. With the furlough scheme due to be removed

at the end of September, Danker suggested domestic workers should be a priority. Dnaker said, “Many UKbased workers now face an uncertain future and need to find new employment opportunities.”

He added, “Furlough ending is not the panacea some people think will magically fit labour supply gaps.

These shortages are already affecting business operations and will have a negative impact on the UK’s economic recovery.”

House prices in UK hit record high in August The Halifax, UK's largest mortgage lender said that house prices hit a record high in August, but the annual pace of growth in property values slowed. The lender said the cost of a typical home rose 0.7% last month to £262,954. In the year to August, house prices rose 7.1%, it said, down from a rate of 7.6% in July.

But that figure masked big differences between different regions, reflecting buyers' interests in seeking more space and rural locations. "Given the rapid gains seen over the past 12 months, August's rise was relatively modest and the

annual rate of house price inflation continued to slow," said Russell Galley, managing director, Halifax. The broader economic environment was positive, with high job vacancies and consumer

confidence returning, which benefited the housing market, he said.

But the stamp duty holiday, put in place at the start of the pandemic to support the housing market, runs out at the end of September, and was no longer having a significant impact on the market, Galley added.

Instead, record levels of buyer activity were being

driven by buyers' demand for more space as many continue to work from home.

"These trends look to persist and the price gains made since the start of the pandemic are unlikely to be reversed once the remaining tax break comes to an end later this month," said Galley. The pace of price rises varied across the UK, the Halifax said. In Wales, annual house price inflation was 11.6% last month, while in the south west of England it was 9.6%. Northern Ireland saw annual house price inflation of 9.3%, but in Scotland price growth slowed to 8.4%.

Demand for rental home mortgages sees boom A rise in domestic holidays has prompted a surge in demand for mortgages for UK holiday rental homes.

According to financial data provider Moneyfacts, the number of “holiday let” mortgage deals on the market has more than doubled in a year.

The findings coincided

with an analysis of government figures by the real estate adviser firm Altus Group that showed more than 11,000 second home owners in England had “flipped” their properties to become holiday rentals since the start of the pandemic. Holiday let mortgages, as they are called,

British regulator calls out celebrity for pushing unknown crypto The chairman of the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the payment Systems Regulator (PSR), Charles Randell, singled out an American media personality for pushing unknown cryptocurrency. In a new warning about crypto scams, Randell singled out Kim Kardashian West during a speech at the Cambridge International Symposium on economic crime.

Discussing “the risks of token regulation” and the “rules which protect people from investment fraud and scams”, Randell detailed how online platforms can give advice about scams to help investors avoid making bad decisions. He said, “We’ll work with online platforms who want to protect both consumers and their own

brands, and we’ll call out those who aren’t playing their part and are destroying the trust of their users.”

Randell argued that Kardashian “didn’t have to disclose that Ethereum Max, not to be confused with Ethereum, was a speculative digital token created a month before by unknown developers, one of hundreds of such tokens that fill the cryptoexchanges.”

He said, “Of course, I can’t say whether this particular token is a scam. But social media influencers are routinely paid by scammers to help them pump and dump new tokens on the back of pure speculation. Some influencers promote coins that turn out simply not to exist at all.” He said despite the risks, “the hype around

them generates a powerful fear of missing out from some consumers who may have little understanding of their risks.”

Randell proceeded to discuss regulations stating that “it will take a great deal of careful thought to craft a regulatory regime which will be effective in the decentralised world of digital tokens.” He elaborated that “it’s clear that legislators need to consider three issues.” The first is “how to make it harder for digital tokens to be used for financial crime.” The second is “how to support useful innovation”, and the third is “the extent to which consumers should be free to buy unregulated, purely speculative tokens and to take the responsibility for their decisions to do so.”

are a type of buy-to-let home loan, and those taking them out include landlords who previously let their properties to traditional tenants, and investors buying a holiday home that they can rent out when they are not there. The routine has created what some have described as a coastal housing crisis, and there is speculation that the government is planning a range of changes to clamp down on second homes.

Moneyfacts said there were 186 holiday let mortgage deals available this

month, compared with 74 in August 2020.

Meanwhile, many more lenders have entered the market, with 25 now vying for business, up from 14 in August last year.

Spokeswoman for Moneyfacts, Rachel Springall said, “As the demand for staycations remains evident, it would not be too surprising to see more growth in this market in the months to come.”

The trend seems to be driven by several buy-to-let landlords looking to diversify in response to regulatory and tax changes.

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11 - 17 September 2021

Reliance aims at 100 GW renewable energy by 2030 Reliance Industries will by 2030 create or enable capacity to generate at least 100 gigawatts of electricity from renewable sources, which can be converted into carbon-free green hydrogen, its chairman Mukesh Ambani said as he outlined a 1-1-1 vision to bring down the cost of hydrogen to under USD 1 per 1 kg in one decade.

The focus on generating electricity from renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind -will help cut carbon emissions in the world’s third-largest greenhouse gas emitter. The same electricity, when converted into green hydrogen, can replace petrol and diesel in automobiles and other fuels in the industry, helping cut down on the use of fossil fuels, carbon emissions and reduce import dependence. at the Speaking International Climate Summit 2021, Ambani said

Mukesh Ambani

Reliance will pursue the target of bringing down the cost of making green hydrogen to under $ 2 per kg initially and ultimately to bring it down to under $ 1 per kg in a decade. Green hydrogen produced with renewable resources costs between about $ 3 per kg and 6.55 a kg. With abundant sunlight, India can generate over 1,000 GW of solar energy on just 0.5 per cent of landmass, he said, adding that the nation has already achieved the 100 GW of installed renewable energy capacity and the target of 175 GW by December 2022 is now well within sight.

Further, the nation is

targeting 450 GW of renewable energy by “Green 2030.

Hydrogen is zerocarbon energy. It is the best and cleanest source of energy, which can play a fundamental role in the world’s decarbonisation plans,” he said. Hydrogen is the latest buzz for meeting the world’s energy needs. Being the cleanest form of energy, it can be produced from a variety of resources, such as natural gas, biomass, and renewable power like solar and wind. It can be used in cars, in houses, for portable power and in many more applications.

Green hydrogen is derived from water electrolysis using renewable energy such as solar or wind.

Ambani said hydrogen has a high gravimetric energy and can be density reconverted into electricity and heat with zero

emissions.

“Although the costs of hydrogen from electrolysis today are high, they are expected to fall significantly in the coming years. New technologies are emerging for hydrogen storage and transportation, which will dramatically reduce the cost of distribution,” he said.

He said efforts are on globally to make green hydrogen most affordable fuel option by bringing down its cost to initially under USD 2 per kg. “Let me assure you all that Reliance will aggressively pursue this target and achieve it well before the turn of this decade,” he said. “I am sure that India can set even more aggressive target of achieving under USD 1 per kg within a decade.” This, according to him, will make India the first country globally to achieve USD 1 per 1 kilogram in 1 decade – the 1-1-1 target for green hydrogen.

Apple hit with antitrust case in India over its 30% commission A non-profit organisation has filed an antitrust case against Apple over in-app payment concerns.

The petitioner says that the 30% commission rate harms customers and app developers, creating barriers to entry and increasing costs. The iPhone-maker has been the subject of similar lawsuits in other markets like the European Union, while regulators in South Korea and Japan have used the law to force the company to concede.

According to a report, the antitrust case against Apple was filed by a relatively less known nonprofit group, “Together We

Fight Society”, based in Rajasthan. "The existence of the 30% commission means that some app developers will never make it to the market. This could also result in consumer harm,” the group was quoted as saying. The case has been filed with the Competition Commission of India, a statutory body of the Indian government set up to promote competition and prevent activities that have an adverse effect on competition.

The group that filed the case suggests that Apple’s 30% commission acts as a barrier for app developers while also hurting

customers.

"These payments and policies act as a hindrance for many developers due to which they never make it to the market," said Rakesh Deshmukh, cofounder of Indus App Bazaar, an Indian alternative app store.

Apple has already buckled under pressure and conceded to some extent when it comes to in-app payments in Japan, allowing apps and services like Netflix, Spotify and Kindle link to their web pages to accept payments from their respective subscribers. This means that Apple will not be

able to take a cut of the payments that these services receive from their subscribers in Japan.

However, the concession is only limited to “reader apps” such as these, so there’s still a long way to go as far as in-app payments across the App Store are concerned.

India's exports rose by 45% in Aug; trade deficit widened to 4-month high India’s merchandise exports in August touched $33.14 billion, 45.17% higher than a year ago and 27.5% over the prepandemic level of August 2019, but the trade deficit widened to a four-month high driven by a sharp uptick in gold imports, as per preliminary estimates released last week.

Merchandise imports during the month grew 51.47% year-on-year to $47 billion, which is also 18% higher than August 2019. The trade deficit widened 69.15% year-on-year to touch $13.87 billion but was just 0.07% higher than the pre-Covid level of 2019.

“With merchandise imports continuing to scale up, even as exports receded from their all-time high, the trade deficit came in higher than anticipated,” said Aditi Nayar, chief economist at rating agency ICRA, expressing concerns about rising gold imports. In August 2020, gold imports stood at $3.7 billion, implying an 82.22% jump in imports of the yellow metal last month.

“Gold imports surged further to a

five-month high of $6.7 billion in August 2021 and were responsible for 88% of the rise in the merchandise trade deficit relative to July 2021. Unless a weaker agricultural outlook restrains demand, gold imports may well touch $40 billion in 2021-22,” Nayar warned.

Exports rose 45% in August Net oil imports remained largely stable, benefiting from a moderation in crude oil prices, despite a rise in mobility in the country, she pointed out. In the first five months of 2021-22, India’s merchandise exports have now touched $163.67 billion, nearly 67% higher than the same period last year and 22.9% higher than 2019. The government has set a target of merchandise exports worth $400 billion for the year.

Exporters said the steady recovery in global trade was helping their order books but sought urgent attention from the government on the runaway freight rates, rampant container shortages and other policy constraints, including the release of pending benefits under

earlier export incentive schemes.

“The government needs to provide freight support to all exports till March 31, 2022, as freight rates have skyrocketed,” said A Sakthivel, president of the Federation of Indian Exporters’ Organisations. Apart from augmenting the flow of empty containers to Indian ports, he suggested that the government should establish a regulatory authority to seek justification of freight hikes and imposition of various charges by shipping lines.

Among the major commodity groups, excluding petroleum, and gems and jewellery, which entail marginal value addition, engineering goods recorded a healthy 58.8% rise to $9.6 billion, while cotton yarn, fabrics and handloom products jumped 55.6% to about $1.3 billion. Electronics goods exports rose 31.5% from a year ago, to hit $1.15 billion. The employmentintensive readymade garments sector, however, only recorded a 14% growth at $1.23 billion in August.

IT’S THE WAY YOU CUT IT

Suresh Vagjiani, Sow & Reap Properties Ltd

Currently, we are looking to refinance a block of flats for a client. The property is freehold block and is in Kilburn.

It was purchased in 2013 for £900K. It contains 6 flats and is held within a Limited Company.

There are two slight complications in placing this deal with a lender. One is it’s a freehold block of flats; the other is each flat is below the minimum standard requirement.

This whittles down the number of lenders available.

There is no issue with the valuation which is expected to come in at £1.6M, and it has a rental income of £6,800 per month; a yield of circa 5%, which is what you would expect on a property like this.

The client’s preference is to obtain a 5 year fixed rate on the property.

One can see this was a very shrewd investment in 2013.

Indicative of the client, who has been in the industry for several decades. The property has increased by almost 80% since the time he purchased it, and given the request for a 5 year fixed he’s not planning to sell it any time soon.

The rate we managed to obtain for him is a fixed rate of 3.84%, with a very reasonable arrangement fee of £1,495.

Similar products with similar rates were showing with arrangement fees of 1.5% and 2%.

On the amount he wishes to borrow of £750,000 this equates to £2,400 per month. This will ensure he continues to have a healthy cash flow of about £4.4K per month, which I’m sure will only increase with time. Some people have to go to university and get quite a decent job to earn this kind of income, this shrewd investor has it flowing in while he sleeps.

On another case which is a leasehold building, we also have 6 flats. Here the goal is to pull out as much equity as possible, therefore a different approach has been taken.

Using a simple strategy, which can be applied to this particular building, we have separated the units. This increases the overall valuation and therefore the loan to value increases, thereby opening up the lender pool. The lender always looks at a deal from the point of view of how they can get their money back in the event of repossession.

The administration costs in doing this obviously increases. But overall it is more advantageous to do so, as it will both release more money for the investors and at a cheaper rate. The saving in chopping into smaller pieces and remortgaging as opposed to remortgaging a lump of six will be about £25K, over two years, not to be sniffed at.

If you require any lending why don’t you get in touch with the office and see what we can do for you.

NCLT orders freezing of all assets of Videocon’s Dhoot In a fresh twist in the Videocon case, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has ordered a countrywide search and freeze of the assets of Venugopal Dhoot, his wife, his company and the firm’s chief financial officer as well as company secretary.

The order was in response to a petition filed by the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) against the bankrupt group. The MCA’s move comes in the wake of banks being able to recover only 4% of their admitted claims of £6.48 billion under the bankruptcy process. The government had approached the tribunal under Section 241 and 242 of the Companies Act, which empowers the MCA to act if there is a fraud, misfeasance or persistent negligence.

Responding to the petition, the tribunal has instructed the MCA to serve notices to disclose on affidavit moveable and immovable properties/assets, including bank accounts, owned by them in India or anywhere in the world. It also directed the Central Depository Services (CDSL) and National Securities Depository (NSDL) to freeze all securities held by the respondent, which include the Dhoots, the company and senior management. The Central Board of Direct Taxes has also been asked to disclose the information it has in its possession of all the respondents.

The Indian Banks Association has been directed to facilitate disclosures of the details of the bank accounts, lockers owned by the respondents (numbers 2 to 6) and such bank accounts and lockers also be frozen with immediate effect. Finally, the MCA has been instructed to write to state governments and Union Territories to identify and disclose all details of immovable properties held by the respondents.

Despite receiving a bid for only 4% of the admitted debt, which was close to the liquidation value, lenders had agreed to sell Videocon to Twin Star, a Vedanta company. Unlike enforcement authorities that have sweeping powers, banks under insolvency can only pursue assets of the company that has gone bankrupt. The sale was, however, stalled as the appellate tribunal granted a stay following an appeal from Bank of Maharashtra - a dissenting creditor.

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11 - 17 September 2021

Taliban unveil new cabinet, includes US-designated terrorist KABUL: The Taliban included the leader of a US-designated terrorist organization in a new government to formally mark the group's return to power after 20 years of war with America, as the West grapples with whether to recognize the new administration. Mullah Mohammad Hassan, the little-known head of the Taliban's leadership council, was named as acting prime minister, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said at a press conference in Kabul on Tuesday.

Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the main public face of the group who signed a peace deal with the Trump administration last year, will serve as his deputy.

Sirajuddin Haqqani, leader of the Haqqani Network who is on the FBI's most wanted list for terrorism, will serve as acting interior minister. That may complicate any moves by the US to cooperate with the Taliban, particularly as President Joe Biden urges the Taliban to cut all ties with terrorist groups.

The Taliban want good relations with all countries in the world, including the US, Mujahed told reporters. He called the cabinet a "diverse group" that included a variety of ethnicities and backgrounds, although no women were chosen. "We're not a tribal force," Mujahed said, adding that the group wanted good relations with the US despite the war.

"We hope all countries in the world will recognize the legitimacy of our government and our Islamic regime."

The US and its allies have been watching to see whether the Taliban would form an inclusive government that can stabilize the country and prevent a return to civil war. Other demands include freedom of travel for those who want to leave Afghanistan and rights for women, who faced extreme repression when the Taliban last held power at the turn of the century.

At a briefing, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said she didn't have a timeline for when the US would recognize the new Taliban government and was

But many Afghans are cautious about the promised shifts in the Taliban's stance, highlighted by two weeks of desperate scenes at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Several people died as Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund and massive crowds Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar rushed to the tarmac still working to evacuate soon after the terrorist group remaining Americans. "There's takeover, and even the suicide no rush to recognition," she said. bombing failed to deter crowds.

"It is really going to be depenWon't allow any country to dent on what steps the Taliban interfere take. The world will be watchThe Taliban asserted that it ing, the United States included." will not allow any country, For the new Taliban governincluding Pakistan, to interfere ment, lots is at stake. Signs of an in Afghanistan’s internal affairs economic crisis are brewing, as it confirmed that ISI chief Lt with prices of essential goods General Faiz Hameed met the rising in Kabul while banks run insurgent group’s de-facto leader short on cash. The US has frozen Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in roughly $9 billion in assets Kabul. The questions of interferbelonging to Da Afghanistan ence were raised after Hameed Bank, or DAB, the nation's cendashed to Kabul on an unantral bank, and the International nounced visit last week.

Monetary Fund cut off the Taliban spokesperson group from using fund reserve Zabiullah Mujahid said that the assets. group will not allow any country, Mujahed made no mention including Pakistan, to interfere of Taliban Supreme in Afghanistan’s affairs. Hameed Haibatullah Commander was the first high-ranking forAkhundzada, who hasn't been eign official to visit Afghanistan seen in public since becoming since the Taliban seized the the group's leader in 2016.

Afghan capital. During a press Mohammad Yaqoob, the son of conference in Kabul, Mujahid former supreme leader Mullah confirmed that the ISI chief had Mohammad Omar - who met with Mullah Baradar during refused to give up Osama bin his visit to Kabul. The Taliban Laden to the US before the 2001 have assured Islamabad that invasion - became acting Afghan territory will not be used defense minister. against Pakistan, he said.

Other key cabinet members The Taliban earlier said that included: Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Pakistani spy chief was in second deputy prime minister; Afghanistan to improve bilateral Amir Khan Muttaqi as acting ties between Kabul and foreign minister; Hedayatullah Islamabad. Ahmadullah Wasiq, Badri as acting finance minister; deputy head of the Taliban’s culDin Mohammad as acting tural commission, said that economy minister; Mohammad Taliban leaders talked with Edris as acting governor of the Hameed about bilateral ties and central bank. the problems of Afghan passenThe Taliban has sought to gers at the Torkham and Spin recast themselves in a more Boldak passes between moderate mold: promising Afghanistan and Pakistan. “This amnesty for their enemies, vowPakistani official has come to ing to build an inclusive governsolve Afghan passengers’ probment with various ethnic groups, lems at the border areas, espekeep terrorist groups off Afghan cially in Torkham and Spin soil and allowing women to Boldak. They wanted (his visit) work within the bounds of and we accepted,” Wasiq was Shariah law. quoted as saying.

Panjshir valley has fallen The Taliban announced they had captured Panjshir valley, ousting the resistance force that had been a key obstacle in the way of the outfit announcing its government in Afghanistan.

Reports said that Turkey, China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar would be invited to attend the inauguration function of the new government.

Just after Taliban claimed Afghan ex-vice-president Amrullah Saleh, one of the leaders of National Resistance Front fighting the Taliban in Panshir, had escaped to Tajikistan, NRF chief Massoud tweeted, “We are in Panjshir and our resistance will continue.” Massoud said he was ready to hold peace talks, as suggested by religious scholars, if Taliban fighters halted their offensive.

Massoud’s post emerged after the Taliban had declared they had entered Bazarak, the provincial capital.

Taliban leader Baradar hurt in clash Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was reported injured in a clash between his group and ally Haqqani Network, prompting ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed to rush to Kabul in a quick change of role from professed bystander to active troubleshooter. “Don't worry, everything will be okay,” Hameed was quoted as saying in a video clip on his arrival in Kabul. Asked if he would be meeting the Taliban leadership, the ISI chief paused to look at Pakistan’s ambassador to Kabul, Mansour Ahmad Khan, before responding himself, “I have just landed. We are working for peace and stability in Afghanistan.”

Women demand place in govt The Taliban have already stated that women will be allowed to work in government institutions but not in higherranking positions. The protesters urged the Taliban and the international community to protect the political, social and economic rights of women that they had achieved in the last two decades.

"No society will make progress without women’s active role," civil society activist Taranum Saeedi said.

Pak ISI chief meets Taliban leader Mullah Baradar KABUL: Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Faiz Hameed's meeting with its defactor leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar as the terrorist group is finalising a government in Afghanistan.

Hameed reached Kabul last week in an unannounced visit, becoming the first foreign official to reach Kabul since the fall of the Ashraf Ghani administration in mid-August. On August 21, Hameed was seen offering prayers with Taliban terrorists including Mullah Biradar in an unknown location.

In a press conference, Taliban spokesperson Mujahid said that Hameed met with Baradar during his visit to Kabul. He further assured Imran Khan's administration

Faiz Hameed

that Afghanistan soil will not be used for anti-Pakistan activities. Earlier, Pakistani media outlets had reported that a senior delegation led by the ISI chief was in Afghanistan's capital at the invitation of the Taliban, but the insurgent group said that Islamabad has

proposed its visit to Kabul.

On Sunday, the Taliban had said that Hameed was in Kabul to improve bilateral relations b e t w e e n Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"This Pakistani official has come to solve Afghan passengers' problems at the border areas, especially in Torkham and Spin Boldak. They wanted (his visit to Kabul) and we accepted," Ahmadullah Wasiq, a highlevel Taliban leader, was quoted as saying.

Hameed's visit to Kabul came at a time when the Taliban is facing pressure to form an inclusive government

acceptable to the international community. Coincidentally, since the ISI chief's visit, the Taliban has increased its offensive against Panjshir, the last free province in Afghanistan.

In an audio message, National Resistance Front leader Ahmad Massoud said that Pakistan is involved with the Taliban in attacking Panjshir.

"We saw that along with Taliban, there were people from other countries who were fighting with us," Massoud said while referring to Pakistan and ISI forces.

Visuals accessed by Republic Media Network also confirmed Pakistan's role in the Panjshir attacks. The visuals show the Pakistani Air Force's helicopters and commandoes assisting the Taliban in bombing the valley.

in brief HINDU TEMPLE VANDALISED IN PAKISTAN Radical Islamists in Pakistan have vandalised a Hindu temple and broke the murti of Shri Krishna at Khipro in the Sanghar district of Sindh province on the Janmashtami day last week. The incident took place when locals were celebrating Janmashtami rituals at the temple. Journalist Aditya Raj Kaul took to Twitter to share the pictures of the damaged Krishna murti. He also shared a snippet where an elderly Hindu woman, who was an eyewitness to the crime, is heard categorically saying that some Islamists desecrated the Krishna murti. In Pakistan, there has been an increase in attacks against religious minorities’ houses of worship in recent years. The international community has repeatedly chastised the country for failing to protect the interests of its minority.

Despite this, the Imran Khan government has done little to address the situation.

PAK HOSTS VIRTUAL MEET OF AF NEIGHBOURS Pakistan on Sunday hosted a virtual meeting of the special representatives and envoys of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries, including China and Iran, during which the participants agreed that peace in the wartorn nation is crucial for security and stability of the region. The meeting chaired

by Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq was attended by representatives of China, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, the foreign office said. “ During the meeting, views were exchanged on the latest situation in Afghanistan,” it said. Sadiq highlighted the importance of evolving a regional approach to address challenges and to realise the new opportunities arising from a stable Afghanistan, it said. “Colleagues were unanimous that peace in Afghanistan is vital for security, stability and prosperity of the region,” Sadiq said.

PAK TALIBAN BOMBER BLOWS HIMSELF UP A suicide bomber of the outlawed Tehreeke-Taliban Pakistan blew himself up in the country’s restive Balochistan province, killing at least four security personnel and injuring 20 people, a top police official said. The attack targeted a Frontier Corps (FC) check post on the Mastung road in Quetta, the provincial capital, deputy inspector General of Quetta police Azhar Akram said. He told reporters that an initial investigations suggested that the suicide bomber drove an explosives laden motorcycle into a vehicle carrying Frontier Corps. “The bomb disposal squad has estimated that the motorcycle was laden with 6kg of explosives,” he said.

Condemning the attack, PM Imran Khan took to Twitter to offer condolences to the families of those killed. Balochistan home minister also condemned the attack and sought a report.

NEPAL WARNS ITS CITIZENS AGAINST DISGRACEFUL ACTS The Nepal government warned its citizens against carrying out any “reprehensible and disgraceful” actions that may hurt the dignity of the friendly nations after some people burnt effigies of PM Narendra Modi during protests in the country. In a statement, Nepal’s home ministry said that the PM has taken a note of “chanting slogans, holding demonstrations and protest and burning effigies to tarnish the image of the neighbouring friendly nation’s PM”. The home ministry statement, however, did not identify the leader. The statement came after students and youth organisations belonging to both the ruling alliance and the opposition burnt effigies of PM Modi during protests over the death of a Nepalese youth when he was crossing the Mahakali river near the border with India in July.

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in brief

DUBAI EATERY LAUNCHES WORLD’S FIRST GOLD VADA PAV An Indian restaurant in Dubai has come up with a Mumbai vada pav variation involving real gold. Unveiling the world’s first ‘22 Karat O’Gold Vada Pao’, the eatery teased fans with a video of their new dish, priced at AED 99 (Rs 1,970). The vada is far from the humble potato patty found in Mumbai street stalls. The vada is filled with cheese and imported French truffle butter, while the bread is topped with homemade mint mayonnaise dip. The flavoured potato patty is wrapped with premium quality Frenchimported 22-karat golden leaves. Served in a wooden carved box lit with a nitrogen base, it comes with a side of sweet potato fries and mint lemonade.

ISRAELI PRESIDENT AND JORDANIAN KING HOLD SECRET TALKS Israeli President Isaac Herzog has revealed he met King Abdullah II of Jordan in Amman, an unannounced meeting held against the backdrop of improving diplomatic ties between the two countries. “Last week I met and had a very long conversation with the king of Jordan, I was in his palace, an entire evening. It was an excellent meeting,” Herzog said in clips from an interview broadcast on Israeli television. “Jordan is a very important country. I have immense respect for King Abdullah, a great leader and a highly significant regional actor,” Herzog said. The meeting took place at King Abdullah’s palace, with the two leaders discussing a series of political and economic issues including energy and sustainability, according to the statement. It spoke of a “warm meeting, held at the king’s invitation”, during which the two discussed “deep strategic issues”.

GREEK COMPOSER MIKIS THEODORAKIS PASSES AWAY Mikis Theodorakis, the beloved Greek composer whose rousing music and life of political defiance won acclaim abroad and inspired millions at home, died last week. He was 96. The cause was cardiopulmonary arrest. Born Michail Theodorakis on the eastern Aegean island of Chios on July 29, 1925, he was exposed to music and politics from a young age. He began writing music and poetry in his teens, just as Greece entered World War II. During the war, he was arrested by the country’s Italian and German occupiers for his involvement in left-wing resistance groups. Some of those same groups opposed the government and monarchy that led Greece after the war, leading to a 1946-49 civil war in which the Communist- backed rebels eventually lost.

Theodorakis was jailed and sent to remote Greek islands. As a result of severe beatings and torture, Theodorakis suffered broken limbs, respiratory problems and other injuries that plagued his health for the rest of his life.

He suffered tuberculosis, was thrown into a psychiatric hospital, and was subjected to mock executions.

GERMANY MUST ENGAGE WITH TALIBAN: MERKEL Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel has said that the country must engage with the Taliban in order to help evacuate Afghans who had worked for them. Merkel told reporters that “we simply have to talk to the Taliban about how we can get the people who used to work for Germany out of the country and to safety”. She added: “They are the ones one needs to talk to now.” Merkel said that it was also in Germany’s interest to support international aid organsations who are helping improve the humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan.

Former SA president Zuma released on medical parole DURBAN: Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been released from prison on medical parole, prison authorities have confirmed.

Zuma, 79, was sentenced to a 15-month prison sentence two months ago by the country’s Constitutional Court for contempt after he refused to appear before a judicial commission probing corruption during his nearly decade-long presidency.

The former president began his sentence on July 8 at the Estcourt prison in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province, about 180km (110 miles) northwest of Durban, before he was admitted to a hospital where he later underwent surgery. Two weeks

Jacob Zuma

later, he was allowed to leave prison to attend his brother’s funeral at his Nkandla rural home.

“Medical parole placement for Zuma means that he will complete the remainder of the

sentence in the system of community corrections, whereby he must comply with a specific set of conditions and will be subjected to supervision until his sentence expires,” the Department of Correctional Services said in a statement.

The department said the decision was impelled by a medical report it received. “Apart from being terminally ill and physically incapacitated, inmates suffering from an illness that severely limits their daily activity or self-care can also be considered for medical parole,” it

said.

Zuma’s jailing in July led to violent riots in South Africa, killing more than 300 people and witnessing looting and vandalism estimated to cost businesses in the billions of South African rand. His successor Cyril Ramaphosa described the unrest as an orchestrated attempt to destabilise the country and pledged to crack down on alleged instigators.

The Jacob Zuma Foundation welcomed the decision. “He is still in hospital right now,” said the foundation in a statement, adding that more detailed remarks would be issued “in due course after consultation with the legal team of President Zuma”.

Lanka declares state of emergency over food shortages COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency after basic food supplies began running low as a foreign exchange crisis in the country sees private banks struggling to pay for imports. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the south Asian nation’s president, announced the measure in order to prevent the hoarding of essential items, including rice and sugar.

The new ruling gives authorities the power to seize stocks of food and detain those found to be hoarding supplies. It follows a steep rise in prices for staples such as potatoes, onions and rice and shortages of items like milk powder and cooking gas.

Importers have complained that there are not enough dollars to pay for foreign-made foods as the country’s foreign reserves have fallen by twothirds over the last 18 months, to $2.8bn (£2bn) in July.

Sri Lanka has been suffering from a devastating economic crisis only worsened by the pandemic, which struck the tourism industry that usually provides jobs for more than 3 million people and accounts for about 12 per cent of GDP. Its foreign exchange reserves have dwindled, hindering the country’s ability to repay large debt and forcing it to cut back on imports of farm chemicals, cars and even its staple spice, turmeric.

Toothbrush handles, strawberries, vinegar, wet wipes and sugar are also among the hundreds of foreign goods that have been banned or made subject to special licensing requirements – a move that is pushing prices up and triggering protests. Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange reserves have fallen to barely enough to pay for three months of imports.

The petroleum minister, Udaya Gammapila, recently said the country did not have enough cash to pay for oil imports

Anti-racism protests over ‘whitesonly graduation party’ in SA CAPE TOWN: The South African police fired tear gas at opposition activists protesting against alleged racism at a Cape Town school after a so-called “whites-only” year-end dance party organised off-site, reportedly by parents. Anti-riot police fired tear gas and water cannon at nearly 2,000 members of the radical left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party who gathered near the school.

“Police fired tears, stun grenade and used water cannon to prevent the protesters from approaching the school,” reports said. The protesters dispersed and regrouped a few blocks away. Reports said the protesters were “quite peaceful” and have accused the police of being heavy-handed. “They are also angry at the police and saying they won’t respond in the same manner against white protesters,” the reports said.

Police later told the protest organisers only 100 people were allowed to march to the school. The protests were the latest in a string of demonstrations against alleged racism at Brackenfell High School following the party, which was held at a winery farm in Stellenbosch, east of Cape Town.

Prior to the event, a flyer was shared on a dedicated WhatsApp group that included several teachers, Black students from the school said. The flyer was not shared via regular class WhatsApp groups, one student said, saying it was clear Black students were meant to be excluded. The school denies the event was an official function and maintains it was privately organised by parents.

“The masked ball, referred to as a matric farewell, was a private party organised by the parents of matriculants, and did not fall under the control of the school at all,” the school’s governing body wrote in a letter to parents.

“The function was held on a private venue and not at the school, as certain allegations claim. The governing body and staff of Brackenfell High School therefore distance themselves from any allegations that Brackenfell High School will condone or accommodate any events that are exclusively reserved for certain groups, and especially racial groups.”

A few days after the party, EFF members tried to march to the school but were blocked by some of the students’ parents resulting in fistfights. Widely shared video footage showed dramatic scenes of angry white parents punching the EFF’s Black protesters on the streets. The confrontation disturbed President Cyril Ramaphosa who called for an investigation, describing the clashes as “deeply regrettable”.

either.

To conserve precious foreign exchange, the government has limited US dollar transactions but despite this, imports still outpace the country's exports of tea, rubber, seafood and garments.

Tanzania oppn leader Freeman Mbowe appears in court DAR ES SALAAM: The leader of Tanzania's main opposition party appeared in the High Court to face terrorism charges in a case described by his party as a politically-motivated move to crush dissent. Chadema party chairman Freeman Mbowe and his supporters accuse police of torturing him in custody to force him to make a statement in the trial, which opened under tight security, with most journalists banned from the courtroom by police.

Mbowe has been behind bars since July 21 when he was arrested along with a number of other senior Chadema officials in a nighttime police raid just hours before they were to hold a public forum to demand constitutional reforms in the East African country.

The 59-year-old has been charged with terrorism financing and conspiracy in a case that has sparked concerns about the state of democracy and the rule of law under President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

His lawyer Peter Kibatala argued that the court's Corruption and Economic Crimes Division where Mbowe appeared had no powers to hear the case, which was previously being handled by a magistrate's court. "The bottom line is that it cannot hear (the) terrorism case," he told reporters, calling for Mbowe to be freed.

In response, state attorneys said the court had "full authority" to handle the trial. The case against Mbowe and his three co-defendants was adjourned when the court said it will rule on the issue. Later, Mbowe had appeared in court to pursue a case against top legal officials, claiming his constitutional rights had been violated during his arrest and when he was charged.

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Biden to mark 20th anniversary of 9/11 at 3 memorial sites WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden will visit all three 9/11 memorial sites to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and pay his respects to the nearly 3,000 people killed that day.

Biden will visit ground zero in New York City, the Pentagon and the memorial outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United Flight 93 was forced down, the White House said. First lady Jill Biden will accompany him.

Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, for a separate event before joining the president at the Pentagon, the White House said. Harris will travel with her spouse, Doug Emhoff.

Biden's itinerary is similar

to the one President Barack Obama followed in 2011 on the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

Obama's visit to New York City coincided with the opening of a memorial at the site where the two World Trade Center towers once stood.

Next Saturday's anniversary falls less than two weeks after the end of the nearly twodecade-long US war in Afghanistan. The war was launched weeks after the 9/11 attacks to retaliate against the alQaida plotters and the Taliban, who provided them a haven.

Biden has found support from the public for ending the conflict but has faced sharp criticism, even from allies, for the chaotic evacuation of US troops and allied Afghans during the final two weeks of August. On Friday, Biden

Joe Biden and Jill Biden

directed the declassification of certain documents related to the September 11 attacks in a gesture toward victims' families who have long sought the records in hopes of implicating the Saudi government.

The conflict between the government and the families

over what classified information could be made public came became more open last month after many relatives, survivors and first responders said they would object to Biden's participation in 9/11 memorial events if the documents remained classified.

4 Indian-origin people among over 50 killed in US floods NEW YORK: Four Indian-origin people were among over 50 people killed in US states of New Jersey and New York after they were swept away by flash floods caused by Hurricane Ida. A report in patch.com said 31-yearold Dhanush Reddy died last week after being swept into a 36inch storm sewer pipe in New Jersey. Another Indian origin person, Malathi Kanche, 46, a software designer, was driving home when her vehicle was hit by waist-deep floodwater in New Jersey. Malathi was swept away in the torrent and was confirmed dead. In Queens, New York, Tara Ramskriet and her 22-year-old son, Nick, drowned when their apartment was flooded, leaving them trapped inside.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced that 23 people died as a result of the storm, which made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 4

hurricane, reports Xinhua news agency. “The majority of these deaths were individuals who got caught in their vehicles by flooding and were overtaken by the water,” Murphy tweeted. At least 15 people died in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

Among them, four women, three men and a two-year-old boy died in the basements of residential homes in separate flooding

Dev Patel to star in film based on entrepreneur Somen ‘Steve’ Banerjee CALIFORNIA: British Indian actor Dev Patel, whose latest release, “The Green Knight,” just hit the theaters, will star in “Chippendales,” a film that will tell the story of Somen ‘Steve’ Banerjee, the Indian American entrepreneur who started the stripper troupe, Chippendales.

The movie, according to Deadline, will follow Banerjee (Patel), who emigrated from India to Los Angeles, Calif., to chase the dream of fame and fortune. His entrepreneurial journey began when he acquired the struggling L.A. rock club Destiny II and turned it into a major success.

He transformed it with a new name and theme nights that included female mud wrestling and a “male exotic dance night for ladies only,” with the latter catching on, Deadline reported, adding that Banerjee and his partners “earned $8 million annually from club receipts, millions of calendars of its main attraction being sold, with a large amount coming from touring companies.”

The rags to riches story also had its fair share of scandals.

Hours before Banerjee was to be sentenced in 1994 for having his business partner, Emmy-winning director and choreographer Nick De Noia, killed in 1987, Banerjee committed suicide.

He was also charged with conspiring to kill three of his former Chippendales coworkers. However, this isn’t the only cinematic treatment that Banerjee’s life is receiving. Pakistani American actor Kumail Nanjiani is also set to star as Banerjee in the upcoming Hulu series, “Immigrant.” At one point, even Bollywood actor Salman Khan had admitted to producing the film.

incidents in Queens, according to an NBC report, citing New York Police Department Commissioner Dermot Shea.

Many commuters were stranded overnight in the New York subway stations, some sleeping on benches with service suspended and no way to get to their destinations, according to local media reports.

Central Park in New York

City recorded 3.15 inches of rainfall in just one hour, surpassing the previous recorded high of 1.94 inches in one hour during Tropical Storm Henri on August 21.There were three people reportedly killed in Pennsylvania, one in Maryland and one in Connecticut.

Authorities also located the body of a Virginia resident missing in flooding earlier this week.

The powerful storm in southern New Jersey levelled a stretch of houses. More than 1,50,000 homes in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania remain without power, and states of emergency have been declared across the region. The extremely heavy rain turned streets and subway platforms into rivers and sent emergency responders in boats rescuing people from the rooftops of cars.

Hundreds of people on trains and subways were evacuated.

Lankan national stabs 6 in New Zealand; shot dead WELLINGTON: New Zealand authorities shot dead an ISinspired man within 60 seconds of him unleashing a frenzied knife attack that wounded six people at an Auckland supermarket last week. Three of the shoppers were taken to Auckland hospitals in critical condition, police said.

Another was in serious condition, while two others were in moderate condition.

PM Jacinda Ardern said it was a terror attack. She said the man was a Sri Lankan national who was inspired by the IS group and was well known to the nation’s security agencies. Ardern said she had been personally briefed on the man in the past but there had been no legal reason for him to be detained.

“Had he done something that would have allowed us to put him into prison, he would have been in prison,” Ardern said.

The attack unfolded at a Countdown supermarket in New Zealand’s largest city. Police commissioner Andrew Coster said

a police surveillance team and a specialist tactics group had followed the man from his home to the supermarket. The man appeared to be going into the store to do his grocery shopping. “He entered the store, as he had done before. He obtained a knife from within the store,” Coster said.

Witnesses said the man shouted “Allahu akbar” and started stabbing random shoppers. Coster said that when the commotion started, two policemen from the special tactics group rushed over. He said the man charged at the officers with the knife and so they shot and killed him.

Ardern said the man had first moved to New Zealand in 2011 and had been monitored by security agencies since 2016. She said authorities are confident he acted alone in the attack.

Extremist ideology is rare in New Zealand. In 2019, a white supremacist gunned down worshippers at two Christchurch mosques, killing 51.

in brief PARIS LOWERS SPEED LIMIT TO PROTECT CLIMATE No more zipping past the Eiffel Tower or through the Latin Quarter without slowing down to soak in the sights. The speed limit in nearly all of Paris is just 30 kmph. It’s the latest initiative by a city trying to burnish its climate credentials and transform people’s relationship to their vehicles. City officials say it’s also aimed at reducing accidents and making Paris more pedestrian-friendly. Car owners and commuters are fuming. Delivery drivers say it will create longer wait times for customers. Taxi drivers say it will drive up rates and hurt business. And some critics say it won’t make much of a dent in pollution.

“People take a cab because they’re in a hurry.

At 30 kmph, they might as well walk'” a cab driver said. But polls suggest most Parisians support the idea, notably in hopes that it makes the streets safer and quieter.

TEXAS GETS SC NOD TO KEEP ABORTION BAN A Texas abortion ban that is the strictest in the US in almost half a century will remain in place for the foreseeable future after a US Supreme Court decision that raised questions about how it will rule on another upcoming case on women’s rights. The court’s move to leave in place a ban on abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy could foreshadow what is to come as the 6-3 conservative majority court decides in the coming months whether to curb abortion rights nationwide. By a 5-4 vote, the justices denied an emergency request by abortion and women’s health providers for an injunction on enforcement of the ban, which prohibits abortion at six weeks. The law could still be blocked at some other stage. The law would amount to a near-total ban on the procedures in Texas as 85% to 90% of abortions are obtained after six weeks of pregnancy, and would probably force many clinics to close, abortion rights groups said.

TWITTER LAUNCHES ‘SUPER FOLLOWS’ IN US Twitter Inc launched a “super follows” feature on its social media platform, which would allow creators to generate monthly revenue by sharing subscriber-only content with their followers. People in the US and Canada using iOS can super follow a select group of people within the United States, the company said, adding that it would roll the feature out to people using iOS globally in the next few weeks. In February, the company had outlined plans, which included tipping and paid subscriptions to “super follow” some accounts, to attain at least $7.5 billion in annual revenue and 315 million monetizable daily active users (mDAU) by the end of 2023. Creators can set a monthly subscription of $2.99, $4.99 or $9.99 a month to monetize bonus, behind-the-scenes content for their most engaged followers through the feature, Twitter said. Earlier in the day, Twitter said it would launch a safety feature that allows users to temporarily block accounts for seven days for using harmful language or sending uninvited replies.

MUAMMAR GADDAFI'S SON RELEASED FROM PRISON Authorities in Libya have released Saadi Gaddafi, a son of the former leader Muammar Gaddafi who was ousted and killed during a 2011 uprising. Prime minister-designate Abdul Hamid Dbeibah said in a tweet that Gaddafi, 48, had been released in compliance with a previous court order. Gaddafi immediately departed on a plane to Istanbul. Saadi Gaddafi, who was known for his playboy lifestyle during his father’s dictatorship and for being a professional footballer, fled for Niger during the Nato-backed uprising. But he was tracked down and extradited to Libya in 2014 and has been imprisoned since then in Tripoli. During the uprising, three of the dictator’s seven sons were killed and the country has since sunk into chaos, with rival factions vying for power.

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PM Modi likely to visit US this month, to meet Biden Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to Washington DC and New York in the last week of September, according to top government sources. This will be his first visit to the United States since President Joe Biden assumed office early this year. If the schedule works out as per ongoing discussions, the window of opportunity that is being explored is September 22-27, said sources.

This will be Modi’s first in-person meeting with Biden. The two have met virtually on at least three occasions - the Quad summit in March, the climate change summit in April, and the G-7 summit in June this year. Modi was supposed to travel to the UK for the G-7 summit where he could have met Biden, but had to cancel the trip due to the second Covid-19 wave across India.

With the situation in Afghanistan unfolding rapidly, Modi’s visit is significant. Besides meeting Biden, he is expected to have important meetings with the top echelons of the US administration. Modi last visited the US in September 2019, when then US President Donald Trump had addressed the Howdy Modi event - the Prime

Narendra Modi and Joe Biden

Minister’s “abki baar Trump sarkar” line had not gone down well with the Democratic party’s establishment.

Two years since, it will be an effort to reach out to the Democratic establishment, which has been quite vocal about the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir. On the strategic side, the two sides will work on an ambitious agenda on the Indo-Pacific – with the Chinese challenge being one of the shared concerns. In this context, an inperson Quad leaders’ summit is being planned in Washington DC, around the same time as Modi’s visit.

But Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga’s decision to step down after a one-year tenure has put a spanner in the works. Sources said that while an in-person summit for all the Quad leaders looks like a remote possibility, a “hybrid format” could

be an option, where at least two leaders – Modi and Biden – join in person, while Australia’s Scott Morrison and Japan’s Suga join virtually.

In a bid to give shape to the PM’s agenda, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has met top Biden administration officials in Washington DC, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman, and held substantive discussions with them on the strategic bilateral ties and regional and global issues like the current situation in Afghanistan. This was the first high-level discussion between the officials of the two countries after the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan on August 31. Shringla, who arrived in the US capital met Blinken at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department.

Difficult to hold ’22 polls if EVMs not freed: EC Uncertainty looms over next year's assembly elections in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur as the Election Commission moved the Supreme Court seeking timely release of EVMs and VVPATs used in state elections last year and this year, which are kept in safe custody in anticipation of filing of election petitions.

As per the statute, EVMs are to be kept untouched and safe for 45 days from the declaration of results, which is the time limit for a defeated candidate to file an election petition challenging the results. If no election petition is filed within the period of limitation (45 days), EVMs can be released for re-use in subsequent elections.

The problem faced by EC stems from an order of the Supreme Court which, keeping in mind the difficulties posed by the Covid pandemic, indefinitely extended the limitation period since the disease gripped the country from March last year. This means, all election results declared within 45 days of the lockdown enforced in March last year due to the pandemic, would still be open for challenge by the

defeated candidates. Thus, all the EVMs deployed for assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Delhi, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal could not be reused unless the SC fixed a specific time period for filing of election petitions concerning these polls.

Senior advocate Vikas Singh mentioned the EC's application before a bench headed by CJI N V Ramana and sought an urgent hearing while conveying the anxiety of the poll panel about the uncertainty around next year’s state elections, given the fact that about 450,000 EVMs, used in the assembly polls this year and last year, remain locked. The bench agreed to list the application as early as possible.

The EC, in its application, said, "Every Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) used in an election and kept in the custody of the District Election Officer shall be kept untouched, under the standard protocol of security, till confirmation of election petition position from the high court concerned after the completion of the period for filing election petition, that is, 45 days from the declaration of the

result."

"In the case of elections, where no election petitions have been filed or no other court cases are pending, after the aforesaid period of 45 days, EVMs may be used for any future election or any other purpose like movement, physical verification of EVMs. In case of any election where election petition has been filed, the following action shall be taken: (i) If EVMs are the subject of the election petition, EVMs used at all polling stations in the constituency concerned shall continue to be kept in the safe custody of the District Election Officer, till such time the election petition is finally disposed of by the courts. (ii) If EVMs are not the subject of the election petition, an application may be moved to the court concerned for allowing EVMs concerned to be taken out of the strong room for any future election or any other purpose like movement, physical verification of EVMs etc," the EC said.

EC said for next year’s assembly elections in five states, 460,000 EVMs and 400,000 VVPATs would be required. It said it has a stock of 140,000 EVMs and 100,000 VVPATs.

Farmers meet in UP, call for Bharat bandh on Sept 27 Farmers in large numbers converged on the Government Inter College Ground at Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh for the mahapanchayat on Sunday. While the district administration estimated a turnout of 100,000, the farmers’ unions said 10,00,000 had arrived in the city over 24 hours for the “historic” meeting. The farmers’ unions called for a “Bharat bandh” on September 27.

“We have kicked off UP and ‘Mission Uttarakhand’ from this stage. We will not let BJP win the upcoming elections,” said a statement by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of 40 farmer organisations, which organised the maha“The panchayat.

Muzaffarnagar kisan mazdoor mahapanchayat will be remembered as a historic day and will prove to be a turning point in the Indian political landscape.

Farmers won’t be polarised by communal pol-

itics. Let us chant Allah Hu Akbar and Har Har Mahadev together,” said Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait, sharing the stage with BKU national president Naresh Tikait, social activist Medha Patkar, Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav and influential farmer leader Ghulam Mohammad Jola. A founding member of BKU, Jola had quit the organisation after the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.

Announcing a farmer association for UP, like SKM, Tikait said it would

“defeat the Yogi (Adityanath) government” in 2022. “They sold our rivers, our water. We will not let them sell our land …

I will lay down my life if needed but will not leave the protest site until we emerge victorious,” he said. “The struggle for Independence went on for 90 years. I have no idea how long ours will continue.” A host of farmer leaders, each addressing the gathering for a minute or two, spoke from the dais. All of them said the protests would continue until the government promised a “legal guarantee of MSP.”

Centre, Assam ink pact with KarbiAnglong ultra groups A tripartite peace accord was inked by representatives of the Centre, Assam government and five KarbiAnglong groups, as part of which 1,000 armed cadres have abjured violence and joined the mainstream.

The Centre and Assam government shall release a £100 million Special Development Package over the next five years for undertaking specific projects for development of Karbi areas. The agreement assures greater devolution of autonomy to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council without affecting the territorial and administrative integrity of Assam and protection of identity, language and culture of Karbi people.

The Karbi-Anglong pact takes forward the Modi government’s vision of an “insurgency-free and prosperous northeast” and seeks to end a decades-old problem while keeping the territorial integrity of Assam intact, said home minister Amit Shah, in whose presence the accord was signed at North Block in New

Delhi.

Earlier, the government had signed three key peace accords with insurgent groups active in the northeast – the NLFT Tripura Agreement signed on August 10, 2019, Bru Accord finalised on January 1, 2020 for permanent settlement of 6,959 Bru families (37,136 persons) in Tripura and Bodo Peace Accord signed on January 27, 2020 under which 1,615 cadres of NDFB groups surrendered their weapons.

Those part of the signing ceremony were Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal, MoS (Home) Nityanad Rai, Karbi Anglong

Autonomous Council chief executive member Tuliram Ronghang, representatives of Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front, People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri, United People’s Liberation Army, Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers and senior officers from home ministry and Assam.

Shah, while addressing the event, said it is the policy of the Centre that those who give up arms be brought into the mainstream. “We talk to them even more politely and give them more than they ask for,” he said, adding that this policy had helped to get rid of old problems.

London-bound AI flight delayed after detection of ants in business class An Air India flight about to depart from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) on Monday morning was delayed its take off by more than three hours after a swarm of ants was noticed in the business class.

After the issue was

addressed, the AI-111 flight departed from the airport in the evening, people familiar with the development said.

Ants were found in the business class section right before the flight was on the verge of taking off from the airport. Later, Air India

changed the aircraft and substituted it with another Boeing 787-8.

Among the passengers onboard the plane was Prince of Bhutan Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck – the son and heir apparent of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

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SOUTH INDIA

Amid rising Covid cases, Kerala faces new challenges with Nipah virus THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As Kerala reeled under a daily increase of nearly 30,000 cases of Covid-19, the deadly Nipah virus has come as another thorn in its side, prompting the state to further heighten the alertness of its health machinery to prevent an outbreak of a different infection.

The southern state, which already saw a localised outbreak of 63 cases of Zika virus in July that were mostly confined to Thiruvananthapuram, however, need not be concerned about the spread of Nipah infection as preventive measures like use of masks and PPE kits - are already in place due to Covid and intensive contact tracing was going on, state health minister Veena George said.

Meanwhile, the central government has rushed a team from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to provide support to the state, where a 12 year-old boy died due to Nipah on Sunday and two others displayed symptoms of

the virus infection. However, experts, like Dr Amar Fettle, Dr TS Anish and Dr TN Suresh, said that there was less cause for concern at present as the state has already dealt with the Nipah virus twice in the past - when it reared its head in 2018 and 2019 - and the risk of transmission would be less this time round as protective measures, like wearing of masks and PPE kits, are already in place.

They also said that Nipah infections are usually confined to small clusters or areas. The experts said that "intensive contact tracing" and quarantine of all primary contacts were the two main steps to be taken to

ensure effective control over spread of the infection.

Dr Fettle, the nodal officer for H1N1, said that the Nipah infection is very pathogenic, but it is more likely to spread once the patient's condition becomes severe - when they are hospitalised. He said that risk of the infection spreading would, therefore, be higher in the hospital than at community level.

Hence, while doing contact tracing, people who may have come into contact with the patient at the hospitals should be "meticulously traced", he said.

He said that steps taken by the state to tackle Covid, like preparing a time stamped route map of patients, would come in handy here also as it would help public health authorities inform people about the places visited by the infected person and at what times.

This will let people know as to who all need to quarantine themselves or come forward for testing if they exhibit symptoms

and would avoid widespread panic in the district or state, he said. Dr Anish, a specialist in Community medicine, and Dr Suresh, general secretary of the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association, were also of a similar view that contact tracing and quarantine of primary contacts were the two most important steps presently.

Dr Anish said that Nipah usually remains confined to smaller areas or clusters and its numbers remain very few and hardly ever crosses even 50. Dr Suresh said that the state has already dealt with the virus twice in the past and therefore, it already has a model in place to "effectively" tackle it. Moreover, due to the prevailing Covid pandemic, people are already taking preventive steps like wearing masks and kits, and therefore, the spread of Nipah may be less. Also, due to Covid, the victim's list of contacts would be limited, he said and added that local containment activities are already in motion.

PUNJAB

Govt denies 'glamourising' Jallianwala Bagh complex NEW DELHI: Amid allegations the government was “glamourising” the Jallianwala Bagh complex, the Culture Ministry day said it has been “restored” by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conserve it for posterity. It also said a “poignant” soundtrack has been chosen as part of the sound and light show describing the event on the day of the massacre. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated four new galleries and opened the renovated memorial virtually, a year-anda-half after it was closed for the revamp.

The well into which the people jumped when forces led

by Reginald Dyer opened fire on them has been covered with a transparent barrier. The narrow entrance has been adorned with sculptures. A daily sound and

light show explaining the events has been started. Ministry of Culture Secretary Raghvendra Singh argued the complex was in dire need of conservation.

“It has been restored by the ASI. Instead of letting a derelict structure to fall, we have restored it to conserve it for posterity,” he said, but refused to comment on the political storm brewing over the restoration. On the criticism over the light and sound show, Singh said that the show existed but it became defunct over time.

“The soundtrack is so poignant. It has been very sensitively done and is informative as well. Anyone coming to this place will leave better informed. The galleries too have been improved, technology has been improved to bring out the poignancy of the killings of innocents and

how the incident influenced other bravehearts,” said Singh.

He said the work has been done with “utmost respect”.

Slamming the revamp, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had said only a person who does not know the “meaning of martyrdom can inflict such an insult on the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh. I am the son of a martyr - I will not tolerate the insult of martyrs at any cost…We are against this indecent cruelty,” he had said earlier this week.

Some historians have also criticised the work terming it an “insult towards the martyrs”.

“This is corporatisation of monuments, where they end up as modern structures, losing the heritage value. Look after them without meddling with the flavours of the period these memorials represent,” tweeted

historian S Irfan Habib.

Officials, however, say that these allegations are “untrue”.

They said the accusation that the bullet marks have even “hidden” was false. The bullet marks have been conserved, they said. They said the earlier structure was “filthy” with defunct fountains which have now been restored, cleaned and a lily pond installed. The entire area has been landscaped, officials said, making the place visually appealing. Officials said the well was covered with rubbish, now it has been restored and even lit from inside.

WEST BENGAL

Mamata to contest Bhabanipur by-election NEW DELHI: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday announced the list of candidates contesting in the upcoming byelections in West Bengal and said that Mamata Banerjee will fight from the Bhabanipur assembly constituency.

According to the Election Commission, the by-elections will be held on September 30 and the counting of the votes will be held on October 3.

Besides the West Bengal Chief Minister, the TMC also announced the names of candidates for by-election in Jangipur and Samserganj where Jakir Hossain and Amirul Islam will contest respectively.

Mamata who had moved out of her traditional Bhabanipur seat to fight in Nandigram during the West Bengal

Mamata Banerjee

Assembly polls 2021, will now have a chance to become a member of the state legislative assembly. She is required to win a seat in the state assembly by November 5 in conformity with the constitutional provisions in order to continue as chief minister. The Constitution allows a non-member of a state legislature or Parliament to continue in a ministerial

position for six months.

The TMC chief had lost the Nandigram seat to her former close aide Suvendu Adhikari who contested on a BJP ticket. After her defeat in Nandigram, S o v a n d e b Chattopadhyay, state cabinet minister and TMC MLA from Bhabanipur, vacated the seat to facilitate Mamata's election from there.

Mamata Banerjee, notably, is a resident of Bhabanipur and has contested from the seat in the past two state assembly elections since 2011. The fate of Mamata and her two other candidates will be decided on the day of the counting of votes

which will take place on October 3.

The Bengal government had earlier insisted that bypolls to be held, submitting that the pandemic is under control in the state. In June Mamata also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the bypolls, saying "... when PM gives instructions, Election Commission will act..."

The government's pushing for the bypolls has been criticised by the BJP; last month state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh asked Mamata why she was "in such a hurry". Mamata's Trinamool Congress claimed an emphatic victory in the AprilMay election, winning 213 of a total of 294 seats in the Bengal Assembly, but she lost her individual contest.

in brief KARNATAKA TIGHTENS RULES FOR KERALA PASSENGERS The Karnataka government has issued a revised circular for people arriving from neighbouring Kerala, which has been contributing over 50 per cent of new cases and a third of deaths being reported across the country. The latest guidelines mandate people arriving from Kerala to produce negative RT-PCR reports not older than 72 hours, irrespective of the vaccination status.

The passengers will also have to undergo one-week compulsory home quarantine, according to the new SOP. Students and employees arriving from Kerala will have to undergo institutional quarantine, the arrangements of which will be made by the educational institution and respective companies to which they are part, the directive said. The new SOPs were shared by the Bengaluru airport on Twitter.

TN TO HIRE 10,000 PERSONNEL FOR TEMPLE SECURITY As many as 10,000 personnel would be recruited to provide security for temples and donations of gold, barring those needed for worship, shall be deposited in banks and the interest earned utilised for development initiatives of shrines, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P K Sekar Babu announced. A monthly incentive of Rs 1,000 would be provided to priests serving in 12,959 temples covered under a scheme that ensures pooja for a single time in a day and an allocation of £1.3 million shall be made, he said. This announcement on personnel for security purposes comes against the backdrop of ancient idols and precious items owned by temples getting stolen in the past. Several idols smuggled out of the country from various shrines have been brought back in recent years.

FARMERS CLASH WITH PUNJAB COPS After over 11 months of peaceful protests in Punjab against the Central farm laws, farmers clashed with the police at Moga last week when they were stopped from heading towards the venue of Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s rally. Following stone pelting by both sides, police resorted to lathicharge and used water cannons to disperse the protesters. Following this, irked farmers allegedly damaged over a dozen vehicles parked near the grain market, the venue of the SAD rally. Some policemen and protesters sustained injuries in the stone pelting and cane charge. The rally was arranged under the SAD campaign, ‘‘Gall Punjab Di: 100 days, 100 constituencies’’.

BENGAL CHALLENGES HC ORDER ON CBI PROBE The Bengal government has challenged a Calcutta High Court order for a CBI probe into post-poll violence in the Supreme Court, saying the agency will not conduct a fair investigation. "The Central Bureau of Investigation is working at behest of the Centre, don't expect a fair investigation," said the government of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, which has been at loggerheads with the agency for several years. The CBI, Bengal said, is busy registering cases against office-bearers of the Trinamool Congress. Mamata had dubbed the agency a tool of the Modi government, used to punish political opponents. Earlier, the Calcutta High Court had ordered a CBI probe into "heinous crimes of murder and rape" in the state after the assembly elections, in which Mamata's Trinamool Congress won a landslide victory in face of the BJP's mammoth election machine.

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INDIA 25

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Shah, Nadda hail PM Modi as global India to deploy research ship to survey gives him highest ranking track incoming hostile missiles Citing a global survey which has put Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the leader with the highest approval rating across the world, senior BJP leaders including home minister Amit Shah and party president J P Nadda on Sunday said it showed ‘popular support’ to the PM Mod’s ‘pro-people policies’.

The survey conducted

by Morning Consult, which tracks popularity ratings of a host of global leaders, has put PM Modi with 70% approval on the top of the list. The list also includes US President Joe Biden and UK PM Boris Johnson, whose approval rating is far below that of Modi.

“Self-reliant India and its hard-working leadership

Narendra Modi

are leading the world. PM Narendra Modi continues to top the list of world’s most popular leaders with a 70% global approval rating,” Shah said and added, “It is a symbol of the unwavering faith of every Indian in the works and visionary leadership of Modi ji.” Nadda said, “The highest ranking for

Narendra Modi in the global approval rating is a matter of pride and honour for the country. This is a result of people’s blessings to his welfare policies for the masses.”

The party's chief spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni said India's prestige has risen in an unprecedented manner under Modi.

India is all set to deploy its first specialised research ship to track incoming nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles and aircraft at long ranges as well as monitor low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, in a major boost to the country’s early-warning military capabilities.

The indigenous 15,000tonne missile range instrumentation ship, packed with long-range radars, domeshaped tracking antennae and advanced electronics, will be commissioned as INS Dhruv in the presence of NSA Ajit Doval and Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh on September 10, said sources. This comes at a time when a similar Chinese vessel is prowling the Indian Ocean Region on yet anoth-

er surveillance mission.

With INS Dhruv, India joins a select group of countries like the US, Russia, China and France to have such specialised vessels.

“INS Dhruv will act as an early-warning system to detect and track hostile ballistic missiles, with even multiple manoeuverable warheads,” said a source.

Once such incoming missiles are detected, landbased ballistic missile defence systems can take over to track and shoot them down. INS Dhruv can also be used to monitor LEO satellites being used by an adversary for military reconnaissance, spying and communications if required, said the source.

Sunak, Sitharaman announce new steps to tackle climate change UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced new steps to tackle climate change and boost investment at the 11th Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) between the UK and India held last week. These include a $1.2bn package of public and private investment in green projects and renewable energy, and the joint launch of the Climate Finance Leadership Initiative (CFLI) India partnership, to mobilise private capital into sustainable infrastructure in India.

These investments will support India’s target of 450GW renewable energy by 2030.

The UK-India economic relationship is already strong with bilateral trade of over £18bn in 2020, supporting nearly half-a-million jobs in each other’s economies.

Earlier this year, the UK and Indian Prime Ministers launched the UKIndia 2030 Roadmap, to bring the economies and people closer together over the next decade and boost cooperation in areas that matter to both countries. The countries have also set out an ambitious goal to double trade by

2030, including through negotiating a Free Trade Agreement.

At the dialogue, Sunak and Sitharaman also agreed to be ambitious when considering services in the upcoming UK-India trade negotiations, which could open up new opportunities for UK financial firms and help more Indian companies to access finance in the City of London. Services account for 71% of UK GDP, and 54% of Indian GDP. Sunak, said: “The UK and India already have strong ties, and today we’ve made important new agreements to boost our relationship and deliver for both our countries.

Supporting India’s green growth is a shared priority so I’m pleased that we’ve announced a $1.2bn investment package, and launched the new CFLI India partnership, to boost investment in sustainable projects in India as the UK gears up to host COP26. With trade negotiations also coming up, our agreement to be ambitious when considering services will create new opportunities in both markets, supporting jobs and investment in the UK and India.”

High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis, said: “The Economic and Financial Dialogue between our

Finance Ministers is another step towards realising the ambition agreed between Prime Ministers Johnson and Modi in the 2030 bilateral Roadmap; especially, with the COP26 climate conference starting in Glasgow in two months, in tackling climate change. Today’s discussions and agreements show what closer economic and financial ties between the UK and India can offer.”

Agreements welcomed at the Dialogue today include: A $1bn investment from CDC, the UK’s development finance institution in green projects in India between 2022-2026. This builds on CDC’s $1.99 billion existing portfolio of private sector investments in India.

Joint investments by both governments to support companies working on innovative green tech solutions, and a new $200m private and multilateral investment into the joint UK-India Green Growth Equity Fund which invests in Indian renewable energy.

The joint launch of CFLI India partnership to mobilise private capital into sustainable infrastructure in India, including clean ener-

gy like wind and solar power and other green technologies. The partnership will be led by a group of leading financial institutions responsible for $6.2tn of assets and chaired by Michael Bloomberg, UN Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions.

New cooperation under the UK-India Infrastructure Partnership with the UK’s Infrastructure Projects Authority to support India’s ambitious National Infrastructure Pipeline.

Further strengthening of the UK-India strategic partnership on Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT)-City, India’s first International Financial Services Centre, to support GIFT to become a Fintech and sustainable finance hub. Barclays became the third UK bank to commence operations in GIFT City this year, after HSBC and Standard Chartered.

The UK also welcomed India’s recent decision to lift the Foreign Direct Investment cap in the insurance sector from 49% to 74% which will help British firms to take greater ownership of their operations in India.

107 languages spoken in 68 names cleared for judgeship in 12 high courts Bengaluru dist, highest in India The three-member Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana last week recommended to the Union government names of 68 persons for appointment as judges in 12 high courts, most of which are hamstrung by 50% vacancies in judge posts even while struggling to deal with a heavy pendency.

The collegium comprising CJI Ramana and Justices U U Lalit and A M Kahnwilkar considered 113 names after intense deliberations spanning several days and found 68 suitable for being recommended for appointment to High Courts of Allahabad, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu,

Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab and Haryana, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Assam.

The significance of recommending 68 names at one go can be gauged from the strenuousness characterising the exercise, which included scrutinising the antecedents of the candidates in the zone of consideration, their income and reputation and their attitudinal suitability for holding the constitutional posts. In

contrast, from January to April this year, the collegium headed by then CJI S A Bobde and comprising Justices N V Ramana and R F Nariman in six different meetings could recommend names of only 46 persons for appointment as judges to nine HCs. Of the 68 names recommended by the collegium for appointment as HC judges, 44 are advocates and 24 are senior judicial officers in the district judge rank. The collegium has deferred consideration of 16 names awaiting further information on certain issues peculiar to each of them from the government or other authorities.

Bengaluru is the district where the most number of languages are spoken in india, says a recent analysis of the 2011 Census by two academics. No less than 107 languages are spoken in Bengaluru, including 22 scheduled and 84 non-scheduled languages. The other districts where more than 100 languages are spoken are Dimapur of Nagaland (103) and Sonitpur of Assam (101), says the analysis by Shamika Ravi, a non-resident senior fellow of Brookings Institution, and Mudit Kapoor, an associate professor of economics at Indian Statistical Institute.

The least diverse dis-

tricts include Yanam (Puducherry), Kaimur (Bhabua, Bihar), Kaushambi and Kanpur Dehat (Uttar Pradesh) and Ariyalur (Tamil Nadu). In these districts, less than 20 languages are spoken.

In Bengaluru, the total percentage of people who speak Kannada is 44%.

The other major languages include Tamil (15%), Telugu (14%), Urdu (12%), Hindi (6%), Malayalam (3%), Marathi (2%), Konkani (0.6%), Bengali (0.6%) and Odia (0.5%).

Languages like Pochury, Kondh, Sangtam and Wancho have the least number of speakers.

The authors point out that the census covers all

languages irrespective of the size of the population that speaks it. The linguistic diversity refers to mobility and, in turn, economic outcomes.

“Mobility is a good marker for economic dynamism...

Language is a good proxy for talent. When people speaking very different languages are coming to one place, the driving force is economy and job opportunities. The language tree for Bengaluru shows there are people from far and wide,” said Shamika Ravi.

She also pointed out that while 100-plus languages is a lot, melting pots like New York feature 600-plus languages.

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Indian markets extend gains, hit record highs once again The Indian markets closed higher for the third consecutive day after hitting another record on Monday with a global rally adding to the overall optimism and confidence among market investors. The BSE Sensex was up 166.96 points or 0.29% at 58,296.91. The Nifty gained 54.20 points or 0.31%, closing at 17,377.80. Stocks of other markets in the Asia-Pacific region were higher too, with Japan and China logging the best gains.

The Nikkei in Japan and Shanghai in China were up 1-2%. US markets were closed on Monday on account of the Labor Day holiday.

Ajit Mishra, vice-president, research, Religare Broking Ltd, said the markets are steadily inching higher, tracking

favourable global markets and supportive domestic sentiment.

Mishra feels there may be some consolidation ahead. The India volatility index or India VIX

gained 3.86% on Monday, closing at 15.11.

Hopes of continued economic support by the US Federal Reserve due to weak US jobs data and talks

of more stimulus in Japan and China boosted global markets.

Economic normalization attracted buyers in realty stocks, while safe haven IT stocks continued to lead the upbeat market, said Vinod Nair, head of research at Geojit Financial Services.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have started to return to Indian equities after a major selloff in July. In September so far, FIIs have pumped in $270.48 million in equities after an inflow of $779 million in the previous month. In July, FIIs had dumped Indian shares worth $1.7 billion.

According to Binod Modi, head strategy at Reliance Securities, the sharp revival in FII flow following dovish remarks by Fed chairman Jerome Powell and a

rebound in the rupee led domestic bourses to see a sharp uptick in recent weeks. “Additionally, weak non-farm jobs data for August augurs well for emerging markets including India as it may prompt the Fed to maintain its current stance," he said.

However, domestic institutional investors (DIIs), including mutual funds, pension funds and banks, have started to sell shares. In September, DIIs were net sellers of Indian equities worth £23.75 million after investing £2.53 billion in the previous two months. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley feels that a stronger recovery in India and Asean investment growth is expected to emerge from deep cyclical slowdowns.

Cairn accepts refund offer, to drop case against India UK-based Cairn Energy said it will drop litigations to seize Indian properties in countries ranging from France to the US, within a couple of days of getting a $ 1 billion refund resulting from the scrapping of a retrospective tax law. The firm, which gave India its biggest onland oil discovery, termed "bold" the legislation passed last month to cancel a 2012 policy that gave the tax department power to go back 50 years and slap capital gains levies wherever ownership had changed hands overseas but business assets were in India.

The offer to return money seized to enforce retrospective tax

demand in lieu of dropping all litigations against the government "is acceptable to us," Cairn CEO Simon Thomson said in an interview. Cairn will drop cases to seize diplomatic apartments in Paris and Air India airplanes in the US in "a matter of a couple of days" after the refund, he said adding Cairn's shareholders are in agreement with accepting the offer and moving on.

Seeking to repair India's damaged reputation as an investment destination, the government last month enacted new legislation to drop £11 billion in outstanding claims against multinationals such as telecoms

group Vodafone, pharmaceuticals company Sanofi and brewer SABMiller, now owned by AB InBev, and Cairn.

About £810 million collected from companies under the scrapped tax provision are to be refunded if the firms agreed to drop outstanding litigation, including claims for interest and penalties. Of this, £790 million is due only to Cairn. "Once we get to final resolution, part of that resolution is us dropping everything in terms of litigation.

We can do that within a very short period of time, just a matter of a couple of days or something," Thomson said. "So we are

Will not interfere in Kashmir: Haqqani Network Long-time Taliban ally Haqqani Network looks at Kashmir as being beyond its "jurisdiction" and, hence, any interference there would be against its stated policy, the outfit's scion Anas Haqqani said in an interview, coinciding with the last of the US troops leaving the Afghan capital.

Seeking to build on the feelers sent by Taliban leader Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai to the Indian government, Anas said that the new regime in Afghanistan wanted a "good relationship with India" and was "ready to forget everything and take the relationship forward."

The Haqqani Network is an Afghan guerrilla insurgent group that has been part of the Taliban since 1995. Anas is the youngest son of the late founder of the outfit, Jalaluddin Haqqani. Anas said that just as his outfit wouldn't meddle on the Kashmir issue, the Haqqanis would expect others not to interfere in Afghanistan's internal matters.

On whether that commitment also meant the Haqqani Network wouldn't support Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba's terror activities in Kashmir, Anas

Anas Haqqani

dismissed all such talk as "propaganda" and distanced himself from Pakistan vis-avis J&K. He alleged that the Indian media ‘is spreading negative propaganda about us’ and ‘spoiling the atmosphere.’ "We don’t want anyone to think wrong about us. India has helped our enemy for 20 years but we are ready to forget everything,” he said.

Allaying fears that Indians stranded in Afghanistan might be targeted, Anas claimed "everyone is safe in Afghanistan".

He said that since taking over Afghanistan, the Taliban had proved it would carry everyone along. “There was some panic and fear initially, but now things have settled and people are happy. Afghan Sikhs and Hindus are like any other

communities of Afghanistan and they would live happily.”

On pending development projects in Afghanistan involving India, Anas said the Taliban would seek help not only from India but also the rest of the world to continue the work.

preparing on the basis of getting this resolution quickly, all these cases being dropped, and putting all this behind."

He said all enforcement proceedings brought because of the Government of India's refusal to honour an international arbitration award asking it to return the value of money seized to enforce the retrospective tax demand, will be dropped. "Everything will be

dropped. There will be no more litigation, that will be it. It will clear the matter up," he said.

Bengal raises Centre-state dispute in SC Even as CBI and ED are both probing TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in the coal scam case, the Mamata Banerjee government has raised a Centre-State dispute before the Supreme Court accusing the Centre and its probe agencies of violating federal structure of the country by registering cases in West Bengal despite withdrawal of general consent.

Appearing for the state, senior advocate Sidharth Luthra sought urgent hearing on the original suit filed by the state under Article 131 of the Constitution and told a bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana, and Justices Surya Kant and A S Bopanna that even after three years of the

Sad demise of Anjan Dhirubhai Patel It is with deep sadness that we inform the passing away of Anjan Dhirubhai Patel on 26 August, 2021 at the age of 48.

The family is settled in Balham of South London. Anjan was suddenly unconscious and immediately shifted to a nearby hospital where the doctors diagnose him with Pneumonia. Unfortunately, during the treatment, Anjan passed away, leaving behind his father Dhirubhai, mother Prafulaben, sister Amita and 9 years old daughter Izabelle.

Dhirubhai, who is also known as ‘Major’, is originally from Mahudha town, situated near Nadiad district of Gujarat. At present, they are residing in Norby in England.

Dhirubhai pursued B.A. from Kolkata’s Shantiniketan College and thereafter completed Law from Mumbai College. He was serving as a Major in Indian Army during the 1985 emergency. For more details contact : 0208 679 1472. May the soul of Anjan rest in peace.

Abhishek Banerjee

state withdrawing general consent to CBI for registration of cases pertaining to incidents in West Bengal, the central agency continues to breach the federal structure of governance by suo motu registering cases.

West Bengal said that it had withdrawn general consent in the year 2018, but even after that the CBI has registered as many as12 cases pertaining to incidents that took place in the state.

Mamata Banerjee government said that law and order and police were constitutionally put under the exclusive jurisdiction of the states and that the registration of cases by the CBI were illegal and a transgression of the constitutionally distributed powers between the Centre and the states.

Among the12 CBI cases cited by the state was the alleged multi-million coal pilferage scam related to Eastern Coalfields Ltd mines

in which, on the basis of the CBI case, the ED had registered case under Prevention of Money Laundering Act and summoned TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee and his wife Rujira. Abhishek has denied the charges. The agency has also arrested Vikas Mishra, brother of TMC youth wing leader Vinay Mishra who has allegedly left the country and renounced Indian citizenship.

Rujira expresses inability to appear before ED Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujira expressed her inability to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in New Delhi in connection with the coal pilferage scam citing the prevailing Covid situation, and requested the agency sleuths to visit her Kolkata residence instead. The ED had summoned Abhishek Banerjee, the TMC general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP, and his wife for questioning in a money laundering case linked to an alleged coal scam in West Bengal. Rujira was asked to the appear before the ED on September 1, and the TMC leader, who is the nephew of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, on September 6.

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Core Pillars of Self-Esteem Psychologist Mamta Saha Dear Readers, I believe having a healthy level of self-esteem is at the root of our life experience. The more we believe in ourselves the stronger our confidence with life events.

The less likely we are to take things so personally.

Often you may hear “believe in yourself” and other motivating statements and I am sure you will agree that on a bad day it is never as easy as it sounds. Self-esteem has been a hot topic in psychology for decades. It’s one of my favorites as I too struggled with low self-esteem for years. That was until I learnt the key tools to manage it better. In this article I share with you some reflections on self-esteem that I hope will help you on your journey.

Your sense of identity can be understood by reflecting on the labels that you have attached to yourself, that for you define a part of who you are. These labels provide us with a sense of who we are across different contexts and in different situations. You have to be careful with the labels, so that you do not overly identify to any one role. If that particular role no longer exists, you may feel a sense of emptiness. So, the solution to this potential problem is to make sure that we have a diverse set of interests and relationships, so that we see ourselves as “more than” any one part of ourselves.

Self-esteem also depends on your ability to appreciate, value, enjoy, and express gratitude for what you have. It is important to remember that part of appreciation as it relates to a healthy sense of self-esteem involves accurately estimating the quality or worth of something. Practicing mindfulness and meditation encourages us to step into the role of observer, which can strengthen the ability to see things as they truly are.

In order to build healthy self-esteem, it is crucial that you work towards your ability to honestly accept all parts of yourself. When there are parts of the self that seem unforgivable or unacceptable in some way, it is time to begin the process of forgiveness. When you truly accept yourself for the way you are, you are ready and proud to present your true authentic self to the world.

Having a strong sense of self-confidence and belief in your abilities is a real game changer. Feeling confident no matter what, makes you more competent, be willing to take the risks involved, and trying new things and persisting in the face of defeat or adversity.

Confidence is like your superpower. Once you start to believe in yourself, magic starts happening.

My secret trick, to feel like a winner, this gives me confidence and esteem. I know you are winners too and that is why I am sharing this with you today. Always remember your worth, your beauty and the gift that you are to this world.

For more follow me on FB: Mamta Saha, IG: saha_mamta and don’t forget to get your free ebook on: www.mamtasaha.com and reach out, I always love hearing from each and every one of you: mamta@mamtasaha.com. Take care and as always, good luck!

Follow these morning rituals to increase productivity If you aren’t a morning person and usually wake up feeling dull and inactive, experts suggest spicing up your routine could boost your energy levels, concentration, and productivity.

They suggest that certain morning rituals should be followed to kickstart your days in a better, efficient and more refreshing way.

Quick techniques to get your brain in action: Practice Mindfulness: Take out a few minutes for

important it is to take out some time for quick breathing exercises like Anulom Vilom or asanas.Yoga could help release happy hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins.

Participate in some activity: If Yoga isn’t your thing, you could engage in

some form of physical activity like climbing stairs, walking within your room, or light weight-lifting.

Research proves that the shortest bouts of activities could have multiple health benefits. It can increase your basal metabolic rate, and can have a positive impact on your heart rate.

Here’s why you should eat soaked almonds every day In our pursuits of healthy diets, we have all encountered suggestions to eat soaked almonds at one point or another.

Maybe it came from a fitness expert, a friend, or even your grandmother.

Almonds are packed with nutrients and an excellent source of fibre, proteins, Vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, copper, phosphorus, and the list goes on.

From weight loss, good bone health, improving moods, lowering risk of heart diseases, cancer to diabetes, several healthy studies vouch for the many benefits of a regular consumption of almonds.

According to a study, people can reduce their breast cancer risk by consuming higher quantities of peanuts, walnuts, and almonds, compared with those who did not. Another proves that almonds significantly increase the levels

of antioxidants in the bloodstream, lowers blood pressure, and improves blood flow.

So what exactly are the benefits of eating soaked almonds?

Improves digestibility: Soaked almonds are better than raw or roasted ones. Not only does it become easier to chew and easier for the stomach to digest, its benefits multiply when soaked.

More nutrition: When we soak almonds, its nutrient-availability gets better and when we eat them, the bene-

fits of antioxidants and fibre gets enhanced. The process of soaking also removes impurities that could prevent absorption of certain nutrients.

Aids weight loss: When we soak almonds, it releases a few enzymes like lipase which boosts our metabolism and aids in weight loss.

Removes phytic acid: When we do not soak almonds, the phytic acid in them is not removed, which hinders nutrient absorption. So consuming raw almonds will prevent the body from soaking in the zinc and iron.

Young adults at highest risk of becoming obese: Study A new study suggests young adults between the age of 18 to 24 are at the highest risk of becoming overweight or developing obesity in the next decade of their life as compared to adults in any other age group.

The research led by sci-

Breast milk proven to enhance heart performance in premature babies A recent study by RCSI University of Medicine and Health Science researchers have demonstrated the beneficial effects of breast milk consumption on cardiovascular health and early cardiovascular development in premature infants. Findings of the study were published in the journal JAMA Network Open. The study of 80 preterm infants is the first of its kind to show that preterm infants with higher exposure to their mother’s own milk had enhanced cardiac function at age one year, with values approaching those of healthy full-term infants.

The research was led by Professor Afif El-Khuffash, Clinical Professor of Paediatrics at RCSI and Consultant Neonatologist at the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin in collaboration with researchers at the University of Oxford, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, and Harvard Medical School.

Children and adults who are born preterm are at increased risk of cardiovascular disorders, including ischemic heart dis-

yourself early in the morning and pay attention to what’s going around you.

Mindfulness can give a boost to your brain and improve your concentration.

Practice Gratitude: Utilise your mornings to focus on yourself and what helps you happy. Be thankful for your loved ones, your life, and everything around you.

Breathing Exercises: We cannot stress just how

ease, heart failure, systemic and pulmonary hypertension, and are more likely to die as a result of cardiovascular disease. The hearts of young people born early are known to have unique traits such as reduced biventricular volume, shorter length, lower systolic and diastolic function and a disproportionate increase in muscle mass.

This results in impaired heart function, which is significantly lower than that of healthy infants who are born at term. This dysfunction is detectable at hospital discharge and persists throughout their adolescence. The research showed that exclusive breast milk consumption in the first months after birth is associated with a normalisation of some of these traits.

These findings were apparent before discharge from the hospital and persisted up to a year of age (the duration of follow up).

“This study provides the first evidence of an association between early postnatal nutrition in preterm-born infants and heart function over the first year of age, and adds to the already known benefits of breast milk for infants born prematurely,” Professor ELKhuffash said.

entists at the University College London, the University of Cambridge, and Berlin Institute of Health at Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, found that being a young adult is a more important risk factor for weight gain than sex, ethnicity, geographic region, or socioeconomic area characteristics.

The researchers looked at anonymised primary care health records from more than 2 million adults in England between 1998 and 2016 to investigate the risk of weight changes at different ages and among different groups. They found that people aged 18 to 24 were four times more likely to become overweight or develop obesity over the next 10 years than those aged 65 to 74.

The authors provide the public an online tool to calculate their risk of weight change over the next one, five and 10 years based on an individual’s current weight and height, age, sex, ethnicity and socio-economic area characteristics. Co-senior author Professor Harry Hemingway said,

“Calculating the personal risk of transitioning to a higher weight category is important as the Covid-19 pandemic collides with the obesity pandemic, people are exercising less and finding it harder to eat healthy diets during lockdowns.”

Lead author Dr Michail Katsoulis said, “Our results show clearly that age is the most important socio demographic factor for BMI change. Young people aged 18 to 24 have the highest risk of BMI gain, compared to older people. We also found that among individuals with obesity, those aged between 35 and 54 had the highest risk of not losing weight compared to other adults.”

Co-senior author Dr Claudia Langenberg said, “Young people go through big life changes. They may start work, go to university or leave home for the first time, the habits they form in these years may stick through adulthood. If we are serious about preventing obesity, then we should develop interventions that can be targeted and are relevant for young adults.”

In the study, the risks of moving to a higher BMI category over 10 years were 4-6 times higher in the youngest than the oldest age group.

People aged 18-24 were 4.2 times more likely than people aged 65-74 to transition from normal weight to overweight/obesity, were 4.6 times more likely to transition from the overweight category to obesity and 5.9 times more likely to move from non-severe obesity to severe obesity.

The study used data from 400 primary care centres. Participants were aged 18 to 74 and had had their weight and BMI measured at their general practice on more than one occasion between 1998 and 2016.

Researchers looked at changes in BMI after one year, five years and 10 years, calculating the likelihood of moving between weight categories (underweight, nor-

To Our Readers

We are publishing these reports in good faith. Before you try any of these remedies, please consult the doctor. We are not responsible for any adverse effects.- Editor

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ART & CULTURE

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11 - 17 September 2021

Shefali Saxena Art Bytes is a new national, inter-school art competition, using art & technology to champion creativity in schools across England. 100 per cent of its teachers have claimed that this concept has improved confidence in children. In an exclusive interview with Asian Voice, the team explained how they’re marrying art with technology. riefly explain the concept of Art Bytes for our readers.

Art Bytes is a new, national programme for primary, secondary and SEND schools, combining an inter-school art competition with a virtual gallery and augmented reality technology.

It’s based on 9 years of our experience leading dot-art Schools - our forerunner programme - in the North West. This has been proven to nurture talent, raise ambition and develop confidence, as well as support mental health and help develop vital skills for future employment. ow can you marry technology and art to facilitate better creative learning?

Art Bytes utilises a bespoke, immersive, virtual gallery incorporating augmented reality elements. It gives participants the opportunity to see their art exhibited online and engage with new technology from the safety and convenience of their own home or school.

The accessibility of the format allows children and young people to see art galleries as places “for them”, building their confidence as they see that their work belongs to a setting like this. This acts as encouragement for future cultural engagement.

Technology has become much more integrated into supporting learning over the last year, including in art and creative subjects. Augmented reality technology offers a great way to engage with artworks more closely, acting as a self-led way of discovering areas of interest and as a gateway to independent discovery. Students may also use digital tools to create, edit and present their own art and design work – though doing so is not necessary for entering Art Bytes.

Our unique virtual curator tool offers students the chance to be a curator, designing their own exhibition in a virtual gallery. hy should schools sign up on your platform, especially when there's a lot to catch up already when schools reopen? How can Art Bytes improve learning?

As schools return the curriculum has to focus not just on catch-up, but on pupil well-being and the impact the pandemic has had on young people. The positive impact of our forerunner programme, dot-art Schools, on students’ mental health and well-being has been proven.

Research carried out by Liverpool Hope

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University and Curious Minds showed that taking part in dot-art Schools nurtures children and young people’s creativity and boosts their confidence. We learnt that the students gain a measurable sense of selfrespect from the process. Participating in the competition can also raise students’ aspirations and engage student’s families.

We know that the pandemic has increased the disadvantage gap markedly; engaging with dot-art Schools helps build valuable cultural capital in students. The skills developed in creative subjects play an essential role in learning and developing the skills for future career success. We know that the creative industries are the fastestgrowing in the UK. Art and creative subjects develop the creative thinking skills needed for future success. ince in-person classes took a back seat during the pandemic, creativity may not have been nurtured among students as much as it should be. Can Art Bytes help in reviving and nurturing that aspect of learning?

We know that creativity can play a key role in helping children and young people process and express their emotions, which is particularly important at this time. Our hope is that schools which participate in Art Bytes will be able to not only raise the profile of art and design in their own school but also to students families, and the wider community. hat kind of partnerships do you have so far?

A broad range of schools have already signed up to participate in Art Bytes 20212022 including state schools, academies, faith schools, independent schools and special schools. We are keen to welcome a really diverse mix of primary and secondary schools and their creative Year 5 and Year 9 students to be represented in the competition.

We are delighted to be partnering with a high profile cultural venue in each of the nine regions of England to deliver Art Bytes.

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As well as lending their expertise in arts education, each will host a celebration event every June.

We can now announce the first eight partner venues! u North West: The Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester u North East: The Baltic, Gateshead u Yorkshire and Humber: Leeds Art Gallery u East Midlands: Derby Quad u West Midlands, New Art Gallery Walsall u South West: Arnolfini, Bristol u South East: Modern Art Oxford u East of England, Wysing Arts Centre The Art Bytes team is super excited to be collaborating which such fantastic venues and cannot wait to start working together!

We are also honoured to have representatives from respected national organisations National Society for Education in Art & Design (NSEAD), The Big Draw and Access Art on the judging panel for Art Bytes. hat according to you, is the future of art post the pandemic?

We need art now more than ever. Based on the popularity of shows like Grayson's Art Club it’s clear many people also value creativity more since the lockdowns. Many people took up new art activities as a way of improving their mental health and hopefully will continue to enjoy being creative.

To acknowledge the idea that we can all continue being creative and demonstrate that to students we set up Teachers’ Corner, an online space for art teachers. Teachers’ Corner offers art educators a chance to showcase their own creativity by sharing artwork – our exhibition of submissions launches online at artbytes.co.uk from Monday 6th September. ow can institutions, parents and government work together to keep the arts economy afloat?

By always flying the flag for art and creativity. Celebrate the arts, advocate for it as a subject in school, support your local artists, visit and engage with arts & cultural venues. Encourage your children to keep making and creating, as they are the future.

If you’re an artist or creative reading this why not become an Art Bytes ambassador to help spread the word about the importance of creativity? It’s easy - just make a 30-second video clip introducing yourself and responding to one of these questions: What is the role of the artist in today's society?

Where has creativity taken you?

How do you use creativity in your daily life?

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in brief SATYAJIT RAY INSPIRED PREMIERE HELMS SEPTEMBER INDIAN FILM FESTIVALS The Birmingham Indian Film Festival, Manchester Indian Film Festival and Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival return from Saturday 18 September to cinemas and online for an autumn edition of premieres, shorts and classics, supported by the BFI using funds from the National Lottery and support from the BFI Film Audience Network through Film Hub London, Film Hub Midlands and Film Hub North. The Indian film festival group is excited and proud to present the UK Premiere of the Bengali drama Avijatrik (The Wanderlust of Apu), directed by Subhrajit Mitra; a new tale based on the legendary character Apu who was first brought to the screen by India's most internationally acclaimed director Satyajit Ray, in his Apu Trilogy in the 1950s.

JLF FIRST EDITION TO HOST THE VIRTUAL LAUNCH OF AZRA RAZA’S WORK, THE FIRST CELL Celebrated oncologist and author Azra Raza is a Professor of Medicine and Director of the MDS Center at Columbia University. Her new book, The First Cell, presents a new paradigm in the ongoing battle against cancer. A lyrical journey from hope to despair and back again, the narrative ties together medicine and society, emphasises the need for empathy, intelligence and optimism and explores cancer from every angle: medical, scientific, cultural and personal. Together with Pulitzer Prize-winning author and oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee, she explores the complex tapestry of the disease.

PENGUIN LAUNCHES AUDIOBOOK OF NEW GENERATION THINKERS The new audiobook Instant Expert will feature radio essays from the first 100 New Generation Thinkers and celebrate a decade of the scheme.

A new audiobook, published by Penguin and based on the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and BBC Radio 3 New Generation Thinkers scheme, will bring exciting arts and humanities research to new audiences. These intriguing radio essays represent the breadth of excellent arts and humanities research across the UK, with topics including: ¡ a pirate’s cookbook ¡ prison breaks ¡ the Berlin techno scene ¡ women in science fiction.

Festival of natural fibres in London focusses on fabric and fashion to combat climate change The Festival of Natural Fibres, now in its fourth year, is an annual event designed to bring together fashion and textile designers, brands, sustainability experts, students and activists – to focus on how to drive the changes required. The weekend of August 21st saw The Forge, an iconic venue in the Isle of Dogs in London, buzzing with activity.

Visitors trouped in from across the UK and further afield.

The event was organised by a core team from Khadi London, Freeweaver SAORI Studio, and ONE. Apart from being a part of the organising team, Erna Janine of Freeweaver SAORI Studio played the important role of facilitating with Craft Central. Paula Wolton of ONE’s role in getting speakers on board was crucial. A team of four people from Khadi London helped with organising the event; Kishore Shah, Jo Salter, Saumya Singh and Ashna Patel.

Ashna Patel is a garment and textiles designer and researcher based between

textile systems.

London and Denmark. Questioning the Reconnecting Farming to Fashion’ was values of the mainstream fashion system this year’s theme. This was brought to during her BA degree in Menswear led her to life by an exhibition showcasing go onto study MA Sustainable Design British and Indian natural fibres at Design School Kolding. In her – cotton, wool, forest silks and graduation project, through jute in the case of Indian connecting with Khadi London fibres and wool, flax, and and khadi, she began to deeply hemp for British fibres – realise the importance of a including the processes to practice rooted in natural fibres, turn these into the fabric. community-centred design, Curated by Erna Janine and developing equitable, reciprocal Saumya Singh, the exhibition value chains, and her Indian lineage.

Ashna Patel struck a crucial balance between She has since worked alongside the aesthetics and content. development of Denmark’s first smallA bonus this year was the presence of scale spinning mill in Odsherred, Denmark, students and recent graduates who had cultivating designs from local, raw wool fibres worked with khadi – and hand created fabric and plants in collaboration with local from India. They inaugurated the festival craftspeople making them fully traceable with the shaking of an embroidered forest silk from farm to the final product. Her practice banner, embroidered with a quote from continues to explore relationships between Gandhi, ‘in a gentle way you can shake the land, labour and culture in the context of earth’. The students, Sarah, Misha, Morgan, decentralised and regenerative garment and

Molly, Ashna and Caitlin were the panellists for the first session. The panel was moderated

by Safia Minney, author, activist and founder of pioneering fashion brand People Tree.

The ongoing festival is the brainchild of Kishore Shah, founder of Khadi London who said, “The goal of the festival is to create a movement for change. There are so many natural fibres available in the UK, India and other parts of the world that can be used to create beautiful fabrics with far less impact on the planet, as well as supporting skilled livelihoods.”

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11 - 17 September 2021

Deepika all praises for her team in new video

Deepika Padukone is a busy actress. With multiple projects in her kitty, she finds herself on the sets quite often. For Deepika, the best part about shooting a movie is having her team around her as it makes the process more enjoyable. The actress shared a video of herself talking about her favourite thing about shooting.

“I look forward to the team I am going to work with, especially my team because we have a lot of fun through the process. Especially on film shoots because it’s not always a smooth thing. There are tough days. Sometimes things go well, sometimes they don’t.” She adds, “But we are there for each other. Everyone gets each other. You kind of get through the day. If anyone is having a bad day, without being intrusive, you pep up the person and help them get through it.”

On the work front, Deepika is currently working on Shah Rukh Khan-starrer ‘Pathan’, helmed by Siddharth Anand of ‘WAR’ fame. She also has Shakun Batra’s yetuntitled drama, ‘Fighters’, and ’83’ in her kitty. Deepika is also set to feature in an upcoming cross-cultural romantic comedy, which is being developed by STXfilms; her second international outing since her 2017 debut with ‘xXx: Return of Xander Cage’.

Important to stay on top of your game: Emraan Hashmi Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi believes it is important for actors to strive to do better as any kind of slackness could throw them off the race in the highly competitive industry. Emraan said he has been able to do diverse work because he recognized early that only love for his craft could sustain him in the long run.

Emraan said, “Actors, generally, are insecure. Those who say they are not are lying. If you are not going to be on your toes, you won’t be around. Someone else standing in that line, a newcomer, or a peer, will grab it from you. It is that quest and struggle.” Emraan says seeking fame is not the right thing to do as one should be passionate about their craft.

He added, “It is not so much the fear of anonymity, that should never be the case. Being famous is just a byproduct of what you do. Seeking fame isn’t the right

thing to do, there has to be an inherent love for films and the filmmaking process. That’s what I love, which is why I will never be complacent.”

The actor said he aims to put himself in challenging situations, seeking roles that will “shake” him off of his comfort zone. “The day I feel that this is giving me the feeling of been there, done that, I will kick myself, to get up and do something that scares me. I have been part of that rut where I have done films that felt like a “been there, done that” situation and it is not fun. You should constantly try to do films that scare you.”

Emraan is currently seen in the thriller ‘Chehre’, which released theatrically last week. He will also be seen in the remake of the hit Malayalam film ‘Ezra’, which the actor said is most likely to release in October.

Colors TV to launch 'NRI Haadsa' season 2 Colors TV UK has announced the return of the highly successful crime show, 'NRI Haadsa” for season two which premieres on 11th September, every Saturday and Sunday at 7 pm. The new season promises to be even more intriguing and will be based on true stories of crimes against NonResident Indians. NRI Haadsa Season 2 is presented by Southall Travel and powered by Farani Taylor Solicitors, while Neelkanth Safe Deposit and Sunrise Radio have come on board as the associate partners.

Rushad Rana, who also hosted the previous season, will take the viewers through some of the most high-profile cases, sharing stories of frightening crimes and details that you may have not heard or seen on the news. The new season is specially crafted to appeal to Non- Resident Indians from around the globe as each episode tells an unnerving story of crime against NRIs from different countries like UK, US, Canada, UAE, Singapore, Australia and more.

Commenting on the show launch, Govind Shahi, Executive VP and Head, IndiaCast International Business, said, “The first season of NRI Haadsa was a great success and bringing even more intriguing stories for our viewers with Season 2 was the next logical step. We are extremely excited about the new season as it

demonstrates the variety of our offerings in this highly competitive industry. Through this show we also hope that the stories will inform and help our viewers globally.”

Adding to that, Sachin Gokhale, Senior VP and Business Head – Americas, Europe and UK, IndiaCast International Business, said, “With the success of NRI Haadsa Season 1 we found that audiences like to engage with stories that are closer to the truth and reality of life. NRI Haadsa Season 2 has a stronger focus on this aspect and the show not only offers a fresh take on the true-crime genre but also illustrates our commitment to high-quality programming.” NRI Haadsa Season 2 will have 8 unique stories across 16 episodes of half an hour each, every weekend.

Colors TV is available on Sky Ch. No. 706 and Virgin Media Ch. No. 826 in UK.

Kim Sharma makes relationship with Leander Paes official

Actress Kim Sharma has made her relationship with tennis star Leander Paes official.

She took to her Instagram handle to share a picture of the two. While Kim is looking at the camera, Leander appears to have only eyes for her. She captioned the photo with a ‘nazar’ amulet emoji and a couple kissing emoji.

Rumours of the couple dating began when they were spotted holidaying together. Kim and Leander vacationed in Goa a few weeks ago, and have made multiple appearances since. Last month,

Kim took to Instagram to pen an appreciation post for Leander. She had shared an old post of Leander’s winning moment at the Atlanta Olympics and congratulated him on the 25th anniversary of his bronze win.

While neither have spoken publicly about their relationship, Kim’s ex, actor Harshvardhan Rane had recently commented on the relationship. He had said, “I have no knowledge. It would be respectful if confirmed by them, but if true, that’s the hottest couple in town.”

30 BOLLYWOOD

AsianVoiceNews

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11 - 17 September 2021

Shanaya Kapoor

Saira Banu makes her acting debut discharged from hospital Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor’s daughter Shanaya has finally made her big acting debut. The budding actor showcased her skills in a commercial. Filmmaker Karan Johar shared the ad on his Instagram handle. He captioned it, “Oh my god, @shanayakapoor02! Your hair looks gorgeous. But are you sure you have seen a bowl of spaghetti before? Thank you for this gem @the_misfit_way!”

The advertisement is about a hair straightener, and features Shanaya eating handfuls of spaghetti straight out of the bowl. KJo’s post received mixed reviews, with several once again calling out nepotism within the industry.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Kapoor also shared the same commercial and wrote on his social media, “The shoot seems real fun @the_misfit_way! Love the way you devoured that bowl of pasta @shanayakapoor02. @maheepkapoor take notes.”

While Shanaya is yet to make an announcement about her Bollywood debut, it was earlier announced that she is represented

by Karan Johar’s talent wing, Dharma Cornerstone Agency (DCA).

Veteran actor Saira Banu has returned home after being discharged from a hospital, close family friend Faisal Farooqui said on Sunday. The 77-year-old 'Padosan' actor, who lost her husband Dilip Kumar in July, was admitted to the Hinduja Hospital, a non-Covid-19 facili-

TV actor Sidharth Shukla passes away at 40 The TV personality Sidharth Shukla died last week from a suspected heart attack. He was 40. The exact cause of his death is yet to be ascertained.

Sidharth first broke out into TV stardom with his work in the show 'Balika Vadhu' (2012), where he essayed the role of Shivraj Shekhar, a District Collector. Over three years, Sidharth played the character to overwhelming response, winning multiple awards. Soon after, he was roped in to co-star in 'Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania' (2014), again earning praise.

Police in Mumbai said Sidharth complained of chest pain at his residence in Oshiwara, Mumbai, before collapsing. His sister, brother-in-law and mother were in the house at that time. A doctor who arrived at the residence found that he had no pulse. The family called an ambulance and rushed him to the Dr RN Cooper hospital.

They reached around 9.45 am and he was declared dead before admission. Dr R Sukhdev, head of the forensic department, confirmed that Shukla was brought dead on Thursday last. The postmortem examination was conducted in the afternoon.

Before the autopsy, doctors and the police found no external injury on

his body. Dr Sailesh Mohite, dean at the hospital, declined to comment on the autopsy findings. Police believe he died of natural circumstances. They have not registered an offence or an accidental death report. Police said that after going to sleep on Wednesday night, Sidharth woke up at around 3:30 am on Thursday and asked for water. “His mother was present in the house at that time. He complained of uneasiness and after drinking water, he went back to sleep,” said an officer.

However, after waking up in the morning, Sidharth again experienced chest pain. His sister called their family doctor. “The doctor was on his way to personally inspect his health.

While drinking water Sidharth suddenly collapsed and fell unconscious. He passed away before the doctor could reach,” added another police officer.

Born and brought up in Mumbai, Sidharth started off as a model and later appeared in TV ad campaigns for Bajaj and ICICI Bank, among others. Soon after, he made his TV debut with 'Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na.' He also won Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi in 2016.

Pankaj Tripathi wants to work less, but filmmakers don't allow him Actor Pankaj Tripathi, has lately been expressing interest in slowing down at work. However, his desire to be a part of great stories seems to be getting in the way. In the last two years, Pankaj has delivered back-to-back performances in shows and films such as ‘Mirzapur’, ‘Criminal Justice’, ‘Ludo’, and ‘Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl’, among others.

Pankaj said he has been planning to take a break from acting but filmmakers are not yet ready to leave him alone. In an interview, he said, “In recent times, I have been getting this feeling that I should slow down and do less work. But what can I do? Filmmakers don’t leave me and want me to be part of their films. I also get enchanted by the stories that they are trying to tell. But I do believe that I need to take a break to preserve my well.”

The actor was honoured by the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) with the prestigious diversity in cinema award. Pankaj said the honour matters to him a lot as he believes that getting an award is equivalent to being praised by the audiences. “This award means a lot to me. For an actor, every kind of appreciation, even in the form of an award, is special. It motivates us to go an extra mile and do better with our performances.”

He is currently awaiting the release of two of his most ambitious films, Ranveer Singh-led ’83’, and Akshay Kumar-starrer ‘Bachchan Pandey’.

ty, in Khar on August 28 following breathlessness, high blood pressure and high sugar.

"Saira ji is doing well. She’s discharged and is back home. Resting. Thank you for your prayers," Faisal Farooqui said. Earlier, a hospital doctor had said that Saira Banu has been diagnosed with a heart problem acute coronary syndrome.

Saira Banu's husband and screen icon Dilip Kumar died on July 7 at the age of 98 after a long ailment. The couple, who acted together in several films, including 'Sagina' and 'Gopi', got married in 1966.

Saira Banu made her acting debut opposite Shammi Kapoor in the 1961 film 'Junglee' and went on to appear in movies such as 'Bluff Master', 'Jhuk Gaya Aasman', 'Aayi Milan Ki Bela', 'Pyar Mohabbat', 'Victoria No. 203', 'Aadmi Aur Insaan', 'Resham Ki Dori', 'Shagird' and 'Diwana'

Tiger Shroff gifts grand apartment to mother Ayesha Actor Tiger Shroff, the industry’s younger generation of stars, recently gifted a grand apartment to his mother Ayesha Shroff.

The home has now become their new family abode; One they own, and don’t rent.

He spoke about how it feels to be able to give his mother the house of her dreams.

Speaking in a recent interview, the actor said, “I see it as just that, a journey. I feel it’s my parents’ blessings that have brought me where I am. I couldn’t have hoped for a better family.” Tiger, along with his father/actor Jackie Shroff, mother Ayesha, and sister Krishna recently moved out of their Carter Road, Bandra home and shifted to a plush 8-bedroom apartment in Mumbai’s Khar west area.

When asked about the new place, Tiger said, “The size of the house doesn’t matter to me. I am just so grateful to the Lord that I am able to buy a house for my parents. This was on my to-do list even before I became an actor.”

Jackie has recently spoken about his son’s milestone moment. He had said, “Tiger dreamed of buying a house for his mother ever since he joined films. He kept working towards that dream. A child getting something for his mother is wonderful. He’s a very sweet and emotional guy.”

On the work front, Tiger is looking forward to the release of ‘Heropanti 2’ alongside Tara Sutaria. He also has Vikas Bahl’s ‘Ganpath’alongside Kriti Sanon, his ‘Rambo’ remake and Ahmed Khan’s ‘Baaghi 4’ in the kitty.

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Kalyani Priyadarshani, Mohanlal flex their biceps Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has garnered a lot of praise lately for his stunning physical transformation, and a recent photo is just further proof that the actor is aging in reverse. Actor and daughter of veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan, Kalyani Priyadarshan took to Instagram to share a photo of herself and Mohanlal. In the picture, the two can be seen flexing their biceps in a gymnasium.

The two are currently shooting for ‘Bro Daddy’ in Hyderabad. The movie also stars Prithviraj, Mallika Sukumaran, Meena, Lalu Alex, Murali Gopy, Kaniha, and Soubin.

Lalettan is currently also awaiting the release of the period drama ‘Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham’. The Priyadarshan directorial was earlier supposed to release on August 12, but was delayed due to the second wave of coronavirus.

Jyotika makes Instagram debut South actress Jyotika made her Instagram debut last week, and since, has posted photos from her picturesque trip to the Himalayas. The actor went for the trip on Independence Day as the first photo has her striking a pose with the Indian flag.

Sharing the pictures, Jyotika wrote that she is on the photosharing app to share a lot of positivity and give a glimpse of her lockdown diaries.

She captioned it, “Hello everyone! On social media for the very first time! A lot of positivity to share from my lockdown diaries. At the Himalayas on Independence Day, The beautiful Kashmir Great Lakes, 70 km trek With the awesome team of Bikat adventures- Rahul ,Sachin, Raul and Ashwin , n the Kashmir team Mushtaq n Riyaz bhai. Thank u. Life is only an existence, unless we start living it! India is gorgeous! Jai hind!”

One of the first to comment on the pictures, was her husband and superstar Suriya who was the first one to drop the comment. Welcoming her on Instagram, he wrote, “My pondatti Strongest!!! Thrilled to see you on Insta”.

In a statement, Jyotika talked about making her Instagram debut. She said, “I am happy to start my social media journey with Instagram today, and I look forward to sharing key moments from my life with my fans. For a very long time now, my well wishers have been urging me to join Instagram, which is loved by billions of people globally. Through my Instagram account, I look forward to spreading happiness, and connecting with all my loved ones – friends, family and fans.”

Shah Rukh, Nayanthara start shooting for Atlee’s next Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan has joined the sets for his next collaboration with Tamil filmmaker Atlee.

Sources close to the project said SRK alongside southern beauty Nayanthara have started shooting for the film in Pune.

They said, “While SRK started working on the film last week, Nayanthara has joined in a couple of days ago. It is also being said that Telugu superstar Rana

Dagubatti will play the antagonist in the film and he will join the cast later.”

This will be the first collaboration between SRK and Atlee.

The filmmaker has made a mark with films like 'Bigil' and 'Mersal'. The actor was recently also shooting for Yash Raj Films’ ‘Pathan’ with Deepika Padukone and John Abraham.

Siddharth faces hate and harassment since Sidharth Shukla’s death Tamil actor Siddharth took to Twitter last week and shared that he has been subject to “targeted hate and harassment” since the death of actor Sidharth Shukla.

He wrote, “Targetted hate and harassment. What have we been reduced to?”

Along with a screenshot of a tweet that showed his image with the caption “RIP Siddharth.”

While one would think this is a classic case of fans mistaking one Sidharth, for another, a now-deleted tweet by a troll allegedly brought out some really mean comments targeting Siddharth. Hours before this

SATURDAY 11 SEP 6.00

TV Listing

Dikri Hoye Toh Rakhje Kul Ni Laaj

13.00 Narsinh Mehta (Re-run) 14.00 RASOI SHOW

18.30 ABHILASHA - EK ASTITVANI 19.00 BHAKT GORA KUMBHAR

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 13 SEP FRI 17 SEP 2021 6.00

Halaman Jethwo

19.30 MANMILAP.COM

20.00 RASHI RIKSHAWALI 20.30 SHANI

21.00 BOLO KETLA TAKA

13.00 Narsinh Mehta (Re-run)

SUNDAY 12 SEP

18.30 ABHILASHA - EK ASTITVANI

15.00 Duniyadari

14.00 RASOI SHOW

19.00 BHAKT GORA KUMBHAR

19.30 MANMILAP.COM

20.00 RASHI RIKSHAWALI 20.30 SHANI

21.00 PREM NI BHAVAI

12.00 Ghar Ek Pakhkhino Malo

18.00 BOLO KETLA TAKA 19.00 SHU CHALE CHE

19.30 ABHILASHA - EK ASTITVANI 21.00 BOLO KETLA TAKA 22.00 SHU CHALE CHE

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 13 SEP FRI 17 SEP 2021 8.30 BHARADWAJ BAHUEIN 16.30 RASOI SHOW-DESI FLAVOURS 17.30 CHHUTA CHHEDA 18.00 TUM KAUN PIYA 18.30 DIL KA RISHTA 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 19.30 EK SHRINGAAR SWABHIMAAN 20.00 DIL SE DIL TAK 20.30 BARRISTER BABU 21.00 BALIKA VADHU 2 21.30 SASURAL SIMAR KA 2

tweet, Siddharth shared the now-deleted tweet with the caption, “This tweet and the replies. Nothing should surprise us these days I guess. I’m speechless.”

Known for speaking his mind, the actor is usually not deterred by trolls. A few months ago, he and actor Swara Bhasker had a hilarious exchange on Twitter wherein Sidharth mentioned that “Hindi speaking junta calling me south Ka @ReallySwara. Just to clarify…I would happily be Swara from anywhere or anytime. She’s awesome and a cutie.” Swara replied, “You are India ka Siddharth and we are soooooo thankful for you! Also, hey Hottie!”

SATURDAY 11 SEP 16.30 RASOI SHOW-DESI FLAVOURS 17.30 DESI BEAT (SEASON 3) 18.00 KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 19.30 EK SHRINGAAR SWABHIMAAN 20.00 DIL SE DIL TAK 20.30 DESI BEAT RESET 21.00 FEET UP WITH THE STARS (SEASON 1) 21.30 SASURAL SIMAR KA 2 SUNDAY 12 SEP 16.30 RASOI SHOW-DESI FLAVOURS 17.30 DESI BEAT (SEASON 3) 18.00 KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 19.30 EK SHRINGAAR SWABHIMAAN 20.00 DIL SE DIL TAK 20.30 DESI BEAT RESET 21.00 FEET UP WITH THE STARS (SEASON 1) 21.30 DESI BEAT RESET

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Historical finish for India’s paralympics campaign Indian contingent finished their campaign at the Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020 at an all-time high by securing a total of 19 medals which includes 5 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze medals. India sent its biggest ever contingent of 54 paraathletes across as many as 9 sporting disciplines at the Games.

Badminton and Taekwondo made their debut in Tokyo, both of which were represented by India.

Since making its first appearance at the Paralympics in 1968, India had won 12 medals in total till the 2016 Rio edition. The country has now massively improved upon that entire number by 7 medals at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 alone.

Out of a total of 162 nations, India finished 24th in the overall medal tally, while its accomplishment of 19 medals is ranked 20th based on the number

Five Indians won gold medals at Tokyo Paralympics of medals.

The Gold medalists from the Indian contingent at Tokyo Paralympics were: Avani Lekhara in Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1, Pramod Bhagat in

Men's singles SL3 badminton, Krishna Nagar in Men's singles SH6 badminton, Sumit Antil in Men's Javelin Throw F64, and Manish Narwal in Mixed 50m Pistol SH1.

Silver medalists were: Bhavinaben Patel in Women's Singles Class 4 Table Tennis, Singhraj Adhana in Mixed 50m Pistol SH1, Yogesh Kathuniya in Men's Discus F56, Nishad Kumar in Men's High Jump T47, Mariyappan Thangavelu in Men's High Jump T63, Praveen Kumar in Men's High Jump T64, Devendra Jhajharia in Men's Javelin F46, and, Suhas Yathiraj in Men's Singles Badminton SL4.

Bronze medalists were: Avani Lekhara in Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1, Harvinder Singh in Men's Individual Recurve Archery, Sharad Kumar in Men's High Jump T63, Sundar Singh Gurjar in Men's Javelin Throw F46, Manoj Sarkar in Men's Singles Badminton SL3, and Singhraj Adhana in Men's 10m Air Pistol SH1.

The records made by the

Indian medallists are as follows: Sumit Antil - World Record in F64 Men's Javelin (Gold), Avani Lekhara - Equalled the World Record and made a Paralympic Record in R2 Women's 10m Air Standing SH1 (Gold), Manish Narwal - Paralympic Record in P4 Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 (Gold), Nishad Kumar - Asian Record in Men's High Jump T47 (Silver), and Praveen Kumar - Asian Record in Men's High Jump T64 (Silver).

A few Indian para-athletes missed out on medals. Swaroop Unhalkar (Para Shooting, Sandeep Chaudhary, Soman Rana, Navdeep (Para-Athletics) and Tarun Dhillon (Para Badminton) finished fourth in their events, while Sakina Khatun (Para Powerlifting), Ram Pal, Amit Saroha (Para-Athletics) and Rahul Jakhar (Para Shooting) finished fifth.

India script incredible win at The Oval BCCI releases tender for two new IPL franchises

India pulled off a sensational 157run win in the fourth Test against England, only their second-ever at The Oval and first at the venue after 1971, to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

This is also only the second time in history - after 1986 - that India have won two Tests on one tour of England.

They had beaten England by 151 runs in the second Test at Lord’s last month. England had resumed the fifth and final day strongly placed at 77 without loss and even though they lost a couple of wickets in the first session, they had moved to 131/2 and looked good to draw the Test.

However, within 35 balls, between overs 61.3 and 67.2, pacer Jasprit Bumrah (2/27) and spinner Ravindra Jadeja (2/50) turned the game in India’s favour, sharing four wickets to spear the heart of England batting. Jadeja removed opener Haseeb Hameed (63 off 193) through one that turned from the rough and clipped his offstump.

Bumrah then hit England with a double whammy as he breached the defences of Ollie Pope (2) and

Jonny Bairstow (0) in his successive overs. Jadeja then picked Moeen Ali caught bat-pad.

England went from 141/2 to 147/6.

Jasprit Bumrah became the 23rd Indian bowler and ninth pacer from the country to get to 100 wickets in Test matches. The right-arm pace bowler, who took two early wickets in England’s first innings on Day 1 of the ongoing fourth Test to get to 99 scalps, had

to wait till the fifth day to reach the milestone in his 24th Test match.

He removed Ollie Pope for two with England’s score then at 146/4.

He followed it up immediately with the wicket of Jonny Bairstow.

He has played only two of the 24 Tests in India, picking six wickets in those home Tests. The remainder of his Test scalps have come overseas.

Kohli breaks Sachin's long-standing world record Despite the prolonged absence of a noteworthy big score in Test cricket, it’s difficult to keep India captain Virat Kohli away from the record books. Kohli on Thursday last became the fastest to get to 23,000 international runs. The Indian captain completed the milestone with a brilliant on-drive off his principal tormentor James Anderson on Day 1 of the IndiaEngland fourth Test match at The Oval.

Kohli reached 23,000 international runs in just 490 Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli innings, breaking Sachin to score more than 23,000 international runs is Rahul Tendulkar’s long-standing record with some ease.

Dravid. The former India captain had got it in 576 Sachin had reached the landmark in 522 innings. The innings. Kohli is only the seventh batsman in the third quickest in the list is former Australia captain history of international cricket to achieve the feat.

Ricky Ponting who had scored 23,000 international Kohli is also among the third highest run-scorer runs in 544 innings followed by former South African across formats for India only behind Sachin Tendulkar all-rounder Jacques Kallis (in 551 innings).

(34,357 runs) and Rahul Dravid (24,208 runs).

The only other Indian apart from Kohli and Sachin

The BCCI brought out the tender document inviting bids for two new franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL). This I n v i t a t i on - To - T e n d e r (ITT) is available for a price of Rs10,00,000 until October 5, following which the cricket board will announce the winners by around mid-October, to coincide with the final week of IPL-Phase 2 in the UAE. The ITT does not ask for a separate technical bid and the base price for bidding has been reserved at around £170 million – the value at which BCCI last sold its costliest franchise to Sahara Warriors.

Any individual, company or consortium looking to submit a bid must show a net valuation of their business at around £300 million, which is a mandatory requirement. Further, a potential bidder can write to the BCCI requesting clarifications in the ITT – one that will be reverted to over the next month until the submission of bids.

Pharma companies like the Torrent Group in Gujarat and Aurobindo based out of Hyderabad; retail and industrial services companies like the RPG Sanjiv Goenka Group; investment bankers and private equity players who hob-nob between Dalal Street and the Wall Street; and potential consortiums of lesserknown businessmen are eyeing the space right now.

“Pharma is a loaded sector.

Someone like Sanjiv Goenka has wanted a franchise forever now.

We recently saw the Rajasthan Royal deal with Redbird Capital, a US-based private investment firm.

Then there are aspiring businessmen who strongly believe IPL is their ticket to get into a room where the likes of Mukesh Ambani and Shah Rukh Khan delve in. So, when an IPL franchise is up for sale, there’s bound to be a great amount of interest always,” say those tracking developments.

A number of cities are in the fray, but Ahmedabad and

Lucknow remain favourites.

Ahmedabad because the city now boasts of a brand new 110,000 capacity stadium – the largest in the world and given the fascination that the Gujarati community has for the game.

Lucknow is the other favourite because the so-called ‘Hindi heartland’ – Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh & around – account for close to 75% of cricket’s consumption on television and OTT. “And UP alone accounts for close to 30% of that 75% space. So, the following is huge and the ‘heartland’ does not have its own franchise. So, there are those who see great potential in it,” add sources.

The two new franchises will be brought on board through a revenue-sharing formula of 50:50, like has been the case for the existing eight franchises in the IPL since 2018. That means, 50% of the central revenue share will continue to be held by the BCCI while the remaining 50% will be shared among the10 franchises (including the two new ones).

“That means, the two new franchises will continue to earn the same money as the other eight. In 2008, when the original eight franchises had first come on board, the revenue sharing formula between the franchises and the BCCI during the first ten years stood at 80:20 for first two years (in favour of franchises), 70:30 for year three & four and 60:40 for the remaining six years before settling down at 50:50,” says an industry executive. The BCCI, it is understood, has kept the revenue sharing at 50:50 to avoid complications.