AV 14th September 2024

Championing South Asian representation in pharmacy (P-13)

Largest collection of wacky vehicles in a museum (P-14)

The grand celebration of paryushan (P16)

UKIIFB launched to mark strengthening of UK-India financial and professional service partnership (P-19)

Many Indian-Americans feature in Time 100 most influential people' list (P-22)

Moonquakes

Chandrayaan-3 records 250 seismic events (P-25)

Bollywood’s power couple blessed with baby girl (P-29)

British Indian teen completes solo English Channel swim for charity (P-32)

Community reacts

Four-day workweek could foster a more inclusive and supportive workforce

The latest data released by the Office of

N a t i on al S t a ti s t i c s i n d i c a t e s t h a t t he U K unemployment rate for people aged 16 and over was estimated at 4.1% between May and July 2024, a decrease from both the previous quarter and the same period a year ago While this shows improvement in the labour market, the economic inactivity rate for those aged 16 to 64 remains higher than a year ago, at 21 9%, though it has also fallen slightly in the latest quarter

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O N N O T T A X A T I O N ’

Five MoUs signed as PM Modi holds talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince

Research from the Adam Smith Institute suggests that Labour's policy to tax independent school fees could have significant negative impacts not only on children forced to leave their schools due to higher costs but also on the broader economy.

Education should be a fundamental right, accessible to all without financial barriers However, the recent discussions about imposing VAT which adds 20% on private school fees threaten to undermine this principle If implemented, this tax could significantly increase the cost of private education, placing an additional financial burden on families and potentially limiting access for those who rely on these schools This move is particularly concerning for families with children who have special needs, as they often depend on private institutions for tailored support and specialised resources

Shefali Saxena

Subhasini Naicker

Members of the ENT campaign before submitting their petition at 10 Downing Street

Actor Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with their family

PM Modi meets the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Boy, 14 , charged in murder of 80-year-old Bhim Kohli

A 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to legal issues, has been charged with murdering 80-year-old Bhim Kohli

In court, the boy dressed in a black jumper and tracksuit bottoms, only conf irmed his name and address

He is scheduled to appear at Leicester Crown Court on October 11 for a plea and trial preparation hearing, with a provisional trial date set for February 17

Mr Kohli was attacked while walking his dog in Franklin Park , near his home in Braunstone Town He suffered severe injuries and died later in hospital

Following the CPS's decision to authorise the murder charge, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Andrew Baxter emphasised: "The Crown Prosecution Ser vice reminds ever yone that criminal proceedings are now active and the defendant is entitled to a fair trial It is crucial that there is no reporting, com-

mentary, or sharing of information online that could potentially prejudice the case "

Earlier, Mr Kohli s family described him as a loving and caring" individual

In a statement released through the police, Mr Kohli's family described him as a "loving husband, father, and grandfather," who was also a cherished son, brother, and uncle They added, "He adored his grandchildren and cherished ever y moment with them Bhim was a warm and caring individual whose life revolved around his family He was known for his laughter, always cheerful and talkative, the family's joker who delighted in outsmarting us with a smile "

Woman steals £48k from charity for personal luxuries

A court has heard that Rajbinder Kaur allegedly stole nearly £50,000 from her own charity, Sikh Youth UK, because she couldn t afford her lifestyle

Kaur is accused of transferring signif icant sums of money from the charity into her personal accounts to cover everyday expenses

Birmingham Crown Court was told that 54-yearold Rajbinder Kaur, a former bank worker, was in "terrible debt" and used charity funds to pay her personal bills, including Sky T V and Severn Trent It was also alleged that she spent the money on concert tickets, shopping at Next, the Postcode Lottery, Tesco, and made transfers to relatives

Kaur, residing on Hamstead Road in Handsworth, has pleaded not guilty to six counts of theft totaling £47,927 61 and one count of money laundering Along with her brother, Kaldip Singh Lehal, 43, from Cedar Avenue, Twickenham both of

whom were reportedly directors at Sikh Youth UK she also denies accusations of falsifying information to The Charity Commission Prosecutor Tim Harrington told the jur y that Sikh Youth UK, a charity focused on supporting young people and raising awareness about issues like grooming and bullying, was betrayed by one of its directors, Rajbinder Kaur Instead of using the donations for their intended charitable purposes, Kaur allegedly stole the funds

Priti Patel eliminated from Tory leadership race with 14 votes

Priti Patel is the first Tory leadership candidate eliminated from the race to replace Rishi Sunak, leaving five contenders vying to lead the reduced Conservative Parliamentary Party

Robert Jenrick led the f irst round of voting with 28 Tory MP votes, followed by Kemi Badenoch with 22 and James Cleverly with 21 Tom Tugendhat, considered an outsider, secured 17 votes, narrowly surpassing Mel Stride, who received 16 votes Rishi Sunak, still serving as Opposition Leader, abstained from this round of voting

Parliament, and many have appeared on the airwaves and made speeches and visits to Tory activists across the countr y over the summer

The reports that he has been managing his own press and party discipline in the early stages of the campaign Kemi

These f inalists will present their positions at the party conference in early October Subsequent rounds of voting by MPs will then determine the f inal two candidates, with the chosen leader announced on November 2

Several of the candidates have off icially launched their campaigns in recent days as MPs returned to

Badenoch, the bookmakers' favourite, has positioned herself as a candidate who will govern more to the right At her launch event, she criticised the Tories for "talking right but governing left," claiming they sound like Conservatives but act like Labour

Mr Jenrick , viewed as Kemi Badenoch’s main rival, has focused his campaign on immigration He has pledged to implement a binding cap on legal migrants and to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights

Birmingham man avoids jail for getting underage girl pregnant despite age gap

A man who impregnated an underage girl despite a significant age gap has avoided jail Jason Singh was admonished by a judge, who told him he should be "disgusted" with his actions

The 23-year-old , formerly from Tyseley and now living on Warner Street, Derby, admitted to breaching a sexual harm prevention order twice However, having met the conditions of a deferred sentence, including no contact with the girl, he was spared immediate jail time at Birmingham Crown Court

Singh was given a 20-month suspended sentence for 18 months, including 60 hours of unpaid work and 30 days of rehabilitation He met

the girl on Facebook; she initially said she was 16 but later revealed she was 14 Singh, then 21, was under a child abduction notice and a sexual harm prevention order, which he breached by having sexual activity with her Judge Dean Kershaw remarked that, although not non-consensual, it involved a child who could not fully understand consent Addressing Singh, Judge Kershaw said, "Jason Singh, while the age gap may not seem large in years, it's signif icant From what I have read, I'm not convinced you fully understand the gravity of this situation "

Traders devastated by Diwali mela cancellation

Soho Road traders are disheartened by the cancellation of the annual Diwali Mela, fearing significant loss of business The Mela, which attracts over 30,000 visitors, typically takes place two weeks before Diwali and features musical performances, food, and festivities that energise Handsworth

The cancellation of the Diwali Mela, a major income boost for local businesses, has shocked the Soho Road community The Soho Road BID (Business Improvement District) cited a "funding freeze" and a challenge from a few businesses against a recent ballot result as

reasons for the cancellation With the BID's activities halted , traders will be packing away their decorations and lights

Diwali, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains worldwide, symbolises new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil This year, the festival will be observed on November 1

Jaya Chort, 49, owner of Chandni Chowk , said , "The Mela is our biggest day of the year We serve a buffet, set up an outside stall, and offer a variety of milkshakes It's a huge boost for our income and attracts many people

We’re very disappointed by its cancellation, especially since it's the busiest time for Soho Road and business has been slow due to rising crime "

Shaheela Mir, 34, owner of Red Stone Jeweller y, expressed her disappointment, saying, "It's heartbreaking because the Mela really brings Soho Road to life I've grown up with it The food, the music, and the vibrant atmosphere make it feel like home It draws people from all over, and they get to see our store Without it, we lose a vital part of our community and our business exposure "

I N B R I E F

BBC SETS £80M BUDGET TO ENHANCE ON-SCREEN DIVERSITY

The BBC has revealed plans to invest £80 million each year in creative diversity initiatives and to increase representation targets in production teams from 20% to 25% This move follows a review by the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, which made several key recommendations These included publishing annual intersectional analyses implementing "urgent large -scale interventions" to foster "transformative inclusion" for individuals with disabilities and eliminating broad or vague ethnic classifications The BBC's investment of £80 million is designed to ensure that its on-air stories authentically reflect the diverse audiences across the UK The funds will be allocated to TV and radio projects, with a focus on aligning diverse storytelling with enhanced off-air representation, particularly in senior production roles and leadership positions within production companies This initiative aims to boost diversity in ethnicity, disability and socio - economic status both on-screen and off-screen

HOME OFFICE SPENDS £ 500M ON TEMP STAFF IN TWO YEARS

The Home Office spent over £500 million on temporary staff in the past two years to address the asylum application backlog The Home Office spent £269 9 million on agency fees last year up from £254 2 million the previous year totaling over £500 million in two years This spending is three times higher than pre - Covid levels where £88 8 million was spent in 2019-2020 The increase in spending on agency staff coincided with record staff turnover in the civil service, reaching its highest level since 2010 In 2022-2023, 12% of Whitehall staff either changed jobs or left, a slight drop from 13 6% the previous year but still the highest in 14 years In its annual report, the Home Office attributed its agency costs to addressing backlogs in migrant casework , passport processing, and asylum applications, including the now- cancelled Rwanda deportation scheme Additional costs were incurred for supporting police efforts to reduce crime, enhancing safety for women and girls, and implementing digital and transformation plans

BERKSHIRE BUSINESSES

Two businesses in Berkshire have been fined £10,000 each for employing illegal workers Steakout Slough, located on Slough High Street, and Tinywell Healthcare Services, based on Anslow Place in Slough were both cited by the Home Office in its latest enforcement report The businesses were included in the Home Office's quarterly roundup of companies fined for employing illegal workers According to the most recent data which covers January 1 to March 31 2024 both Steakout Slough and Tinywell Healthcare Services were fined £10 000 each The Home Office publishes this information every three months with the latest update released on August 31 The government warns that employing individuals without the right to work can lead to severe penalties According to Gov uk: "You may face up to 5 years in prison and an unlimited fine if found guilty of employing someone you knew or reasonably suspected did not have the right to work in the UK "

Bhim Kohli

Priti Patel

Jason Singh

Rajbinder Kaur

A call for change

The rape of ‘Abhaya’, a trainee doctor at a prominent Kolkata hospital, is a horrifying act that has sparked outrage both in India and abroad The situation is further intensified by a disturbing conspiracy to conceal evidence, allegedly protected by hospital authorities or state officials

Women often face significant inequality They are not only denied equal opportunities in employment, property rights, and family legacy but also suffer from severe and inescapable sexual harassment This harassment can come from colleagues, family members or even prominent figures like celebrities, politicians and religious leaders who falsely present themselves as “guides” The pain and suffering a victim go through can leave lasting emotional scars and make it very difficult to move past the trauma

This issue is not limited to India; it affects women globally across various cultures In Kolkata, as well as other places in India and abroad, attempted or actual rapes are often skilfully covered up by the offenders Those with greater power and influence are frequently more successful in concealing their crimes

There are laws in the world, designed to protect women's sanctity, dignity and honour However, even well-educated, such as a medical professional or a financially independent women, often lack the resources that are needed to fight against such exploitation, especially when the state or influential figures are involved in covering up the crimes Family

members, teachers, leaders, and even spiritual leaders are sometimes complicit or remain silent, adding to the difficulty of pursuing justice

Some individuals, under the pretext of spirituality, use their positions to avoid legal consequences for their actions By exploiting their religious status or influence, they often evade justice, taking advantage of the respect and trust conferred upon them by their followers

Women who report such crimes frequently face threats, intimidation or bribery Many are forced into silence or disappear from official records, while their attackers go unpunished This deeply rooted societal issue persists until there is a fundamental change in mindset of men - leaders, gurus and influential figures

In situations of rape and sexual violence, it is crucial to remember that the affected women are often those who play fundamental roles in our lives; our mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, and more It is our collective responsibility to uphold their dignity, offer support, and ensure that they receive the justice they deserve Acknowledging their strength and providing compassionate care is not only a moral obligation but also a necessary step towards eradicating such issues We must come together to tackle and correct the deep-rooted practices that contribute to the ongoing sufferings and injustices By addressing them, we can finally work towards making the world safer for all women

Balancing the left and right beliefs

In recent years, Germany has experienced a worrying surge in far-right sentiment, sparking concerns both domestically and abroad due to its Nazi-era history This rise is most notably embodied by the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a party that has increasingly embraced extreme right-wing views and revisionist interpretations of the country’s past

The AfD scored a stunning win in an eastern German state election, amid voter discontent at Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s centre-left national government This was the first time a far-right party has won a state election in Germany since World War II

Many factors have led to the popularity of AfD among the people One of the key drivers has been the surge in immigration, particularly after the refugee crises of the mid-2010s, with the party leveraging public anxieties about the perceived threats to Germany's cultural and economic stability This message has resonated against the backdrop of broader societal uncertainties, including financial hardships, the Covid-19 pandemic, and geopolitical issues such as the ongoing war in Ukraine

The influx of asylum seekers from Syria, Afghanistan, and Turkey, along with Ukrainian refugees, has further intensified debates over immigration and integration, providing fertile ground for far-right rhetoric These concerns are compounded by economic frustrations and a growing sense of dissatisfaction with the current government’s effectiveness

In response to the rising influence of the far-right,

Today’s fragmented Indian subcontinent stands in stark contrast with the unified India during Emperor Chandragupta Over the centuries, invasions by various foreign powers broke Chandragupta's India into several small parts Today, the Indian subcontinent is divided into mainly eight countries, but India is the only one with a stable and successful democracy Other nations in the region, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives are grappling with significant political challenges

India and Pakistan were divided based on religion Since partition in 1947, Pakistan, has never witnessed stability Corrupt leaders and frequent coups have consistently contributed to the country’s volatility Afghanistan, once prosperous and known as Gandhara, has deteriorated since the departure of its moderate rulers The rise of the extremist Taliban has left men, women and children living in dire conditions, some perhaps worse than animals

Nepal, formerly a Hindu kingdom, is also under turmoil Its so-called democracy has been unpredictable, with no clear certainty about which government will come to power next Myanmar, which was once part of India (formerly Burma), is also under military rule

Bhutan, located in the northwest corner of India, is relatively stable, but its democracy is significantly influenced by the monarchy With a weak military and economy, it faces ongoing threats from expansionist nations like China Sri Lanka, the island nation to the south of India, was plagued by Tamil-Sinhala civil war for a long time Despite hopes for progress after the end of the civil war, corrupt leaders have ruined the economy Today, Sri Lanka depends on aid from India, China, and the World Bank

Least to say about Bangladesh which is already entangled

Germany has intensified its efforts in civic education, emphasising the importance of democratic principles and the risks posed by extremism Additionally, community integration initiatives have been launched to bring together people from diverse backgrounds, fostering unity and mutual respect across society

However, there is a limit to how far education alone can go in shaping perspectives True understanding comes from embracing diversity and multiculturalism European countries like France and the Netherlands, with their colonial histories, have developed a more grounded sense of multiculturalism In contrast, Germany, lacking such a diverse cultural foundation, could face challenges if the majority of its citizens share similar views without the benefit of diverse perspectives

Despite India being led by PM Narendra Modi, believed to be a right-wing leader, the country has not faced major destabilising situations so far While some incidents are framed through the lens of Hinduism by certain groups, many others in India, recognising the country's vast diversity, actively reject such narratives This diversity, along with the wide range of opinions it fosters, helps maintain a balance and prevent extremist ideologies from dominating the national discourse

Similarly, during Rishi Sunak’s tenure as UK's Prime Minister, while issues like racism persisted, there were no major crises or widespread unrest as people from different backgrounds often came together to stand against injustice, fostering unity within the community

between racial and political turmoil

The Maldives, which is farther away, has been politically unstable due to radical and extremist groups The shift from a pro-India government to an anti-India one has badly hurt the country's tourism industry, which depended a lot on steady inflow of Indian visitors, including celebrities

But India, after gaining independence from the British colonial rule, has achieved significantly and evolved into a matured and successful democracy The Indian people decisively rejected autocratic rule during the emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, sending a clear message that dictatorship has no place in India It upholds democratic values through its extensive electoral system, a variety of political parties, and active civil society Despite its vast size and diversity, India manages a complex democratic process with regular, transparent elections and a commitment to upholding freedoms and rights for its citizens

Economically, India has made remarkable strides and is celebrated as the fifth-largest economy in the world now It has seen continual progress in science and technology, contributing to its growing global influence Even in education, reputed Management Schools worldwide refer to ancient Indian scriptures such as chapters from Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita, while Indian B-schools such as S P Jain and a handful of Indian Institutes for Management (IIM) are now on the list of world’s 100 top schools teaching master’s in management, published by the Financial Times recently India's rich culture, strong democracy, and economic growth make it the leading, most capable nation and an ideal case study for grit and determination Its ability to constantly overcome challenges reflects its significant spot in the global stage and its key role in shaping the future of the subcontinent (or South Asia)

"No one has ever become poor by giving"

Anne Frank

Political Sketchbook

Alpesh Patel

India Under Fascism

Another week, another shrill headline about the decline and fall of India This time surprisingly from the Guardian oddly enough The irony of it I don’t think there is a democracy left which is not fascist according to such outlets But China, N Korea get a free pass And everyone is like Adolf in these countries There are several reasons why columnists, particularly in outlets like The Guardian, may use alarming language like "fascism" when discussing political developments i n countri es like India or the United States These reasons often involve a mix of ideological bias, political strategy, emotional appeal, and sometimes even the perception of foreign influence

1 Ideological Bias

Many columnists align themselves with specific political ideologies In the case of The Guardian, there is a distinct left-liberal bias, which may lead to criticism of rightwing governments like those led by Narendra Modi in India or Donald Trump in the U S The label "fascism" is often used to paint these governments as authoritarian, repressive, and undemocratic, even if such a description might seem exaggerated or misplaced Writers who oppose such political ideologies may be quick to jump to these terms to rally their readers and reinforce their own worldview

2 Political Strategy and Electoral Disappointments

Columnists critical of governments that lean to the right may have been disillusioned by elections that went against their preferred outcomes For example, Modi’s BJP has won significant electoral mandates in India, despite vocal opposition from certain intellectuals, writers, and political circles In this case, labeling the government as “fascist” serves as a way to delegitimize an electoral outcome they don’t agree with They might argue that such governments undermine democratic norms, even when elections are free and fair The fear-mongering helps build a narrative of illegitimacy for political regimes they dislike

3 Emotional Appeal and Fear Tactics

Writers may use strong language like "fascism" to evoke an emotional response from readers It’s a term loaded with historical connotations of dictatorships, repression, and totalitarian control, which evokes fear and urgency This rhetoric serves to heighten a sense of crisis, motivating people to stay engaged, protest, or vote against the governments being described Fear-based narratives can be incredibly effective in keeping audiences hooked and garnering attention

4 Simplified Narratives for Complex Realities

India and the U S are complex democracies with vast and diverse populations, making governance an inherently difficult task Sometimes columnists may oversimplify the nuanced realities of governing such nations For instance, any government’s steps to maintain law and order can be painted as draconian, even if the context is much more complex In India, for example, the BJP’s policies around nationalism or its stance on secularism are controversial, but calling them "fascist" ignores the more intricate societal and historical context behind them

5 Foreign Influence and Global Perception Management

There are suspicions in some circles that certain outlets and columnists are influenced by foreign interests that aim to shape the narrative around countries like India and the U S For instance, India’s increasing assertiveness on the global stage, particularly under Modi, might not sit well with certain global powers or international interests As a result, critical articles might be influenced by broader geopolitical considerations, even if indirectly Additionally, Western media has often had a fraught relationship with post-colonial nations that do not align with Western liberal values This ideological clash often leads to more negative portrayals of non-Western governments that emphasize nationalism or self-reliance

6 Hatred of the Country’s Current Leadership

Sometimes the language of fascism reflects personal animosity toward a country’s current leader rather than an objective analysis of the political system Modi and Trump, for instance, are deeply polarizing figures, and some writers despise them for their policies, personality, or perceived indifference to liberal values When columnists personally dislike a leader, it can skew their writing toward hyperbolic or exaggerated critiques, resulting in language that might seem shrill or panicked, as you described Having just returned from India, I did see a lot of Swastikas to be fair

Waheed Alli, Labour donor who gave £500k

Sir Keir Starmer's top donor, Lord Alli, a millionaire TV mogul and former investment banker, has unrestricted access to Downing Street

He also organised a poste le ct ion re ce pti on i n the Downing Street garden for t hose who suppor ted Labour's campaign

Granting Lord Alli a Downing Street pass and allowing him to host events has raised concerns and intensified scrutiny of the party’s donor relations Most in Downing Street are unclear about the reasoning behind the decision

Ian Corfield, a Labour donor, is leaving his Treasury role to become an unpaid adviser for the chancellor's October summit

His appointment, criticised by the Conservative Party, is part of a Cabinet Office review of recent hires

Waheed Alli, the first openly gay and youngest member of the House of Lords when appointed by Tony Blair in 1998, has seen his influence grow under Keir Starmer As a major Labour donor, he has con-

tributed £500,000 since 2020 and chaired the party’s fundraising At 59, with an estimated £200 million fortune, Alli, who owns the rights to ‘Survivor’ and previously chaired Asos, has also made substantial personal donations to Starmer He contributed £16,200 for the Prime Minister’s work clothing, £2,485 for glasses, and £36,400 for private office costs and accommodation during the election campaign Alli also hosted high-profile dinners at his Mayfair home for Labour politicians and wealthy donors His efforts were key in Labour’s ability to outspend the Tories by over £18 million in the year leading up to the election

Shakil Mullan appointed deputy head at UK's foreign office

According to local news re port, S ha kil Mul la n, a UK- b orn d iplo ma t with ro ots in Gujara t’s Bilimora , ha s b ee n a ppointed deputy hea d at the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Mullan, who has served the UK government for 17 years, previously worked in the British Embassy in India from 2016 to 2020

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Shakil Mullan played a key role in assisting the British Asian community with support from India

After his tenure in India, he worked in Beijing and later in the Anti-Corruption Department in London

Recognising his exceptional work, the UK government appointed him Deputy Head of

Sikhs

the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office to strengthen UK-India relations and boost trade between the two countries

Mullan was recently honoured with a "Certificate of Excellence" by the World Book of Records for his work in promoting immigration services

The award ceremony at the British Parliament was attended by notable figures, including Sanatan Dharma Bhushan Shri Raj Rajeshwar Guruji, MP Joy Morris, Labour Leader Virendra Sharma, and World Book of Records President Santosh Shukla

Despite growing up in Britain, Shakil Mullan has maintained a strong connec-

tion to his roots, with an impressive command of both Gujarati and Hindi He believes that language is a powerful tool for forging deep connections with people His fluency in these languages has not only reinforced his ties to his Indian heritage but also strengthened his bond with the wider Indian community

oppose Islamophobia definition, label it ‘censorship’

Britain's half a million Sikhs

ha ve ex pres s ed c onc ern s t hat a propos ed ba n on I s la mophobi a c ould li mi t their ability to discuss their own re li gi ous hi st ory, a cc ord in g to comm uni ty leaders

The proposed ban on claims that Islam was spread by the sword has sparked concern among Sikhs, who honour martyrs from the Mughal era who refused conversion They warn that this broad definition of Islamophobia could increase intercommunal tensions

and create a hierarchy among religions

Labour faces pressure to enhance protections for Britain’s four million Muslims following far-right attacks on mosques during the summer riots

However, Britain’s 500,000 Sikhs oppose a proposed ban on Islamophobia, fearing it could limit their ability to discuss their own religious history

Ministers are being urged to adopt a controversial 2018 definition of Islamophobia from an all-

party group, which describes it as racism targeting expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness

The definition includes examples like claims that Muhammad was a paedophile or that Islam spread by the sword The Network of Sikh Organisations wrote to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, accusing the proposal of historical revisionism and asserting that the spread of Islam by the sword and the subjugation of minorities under Islamic rule are historical facts

Remembering Sir Shridath

‘Sonny’ Ramphal

Shridath Surendranath Ramphal, born in 1928 in New Amsterdam, British Guiana (now Guyana), was the descendant of a great-grandmother exiled from India after refusing to immolate herself

Ramphal pursued law at King’s College, London, and in 1951, the same year he married English nurse Lois King, he was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn and began his career as a legal probationer for the colonial office

Shortly after joining Dingle Foot's chambers, Ramphal was sent to Kenya by the colonial office to address the Mau Mau emergency His patron later secured him a role as crown counsel in Guyana

A skilled lawyer, quick-witted politician, and gifted speaker, Ramphal studied at Harvard Law School in 1962 but returned to Guyana to draft its independence constitution As a proud West Indian, he held several ministerial roles, including foreign minister under Prime Minister Forbes Burnham

Ramphal broadened his global influence, serving as UN General Assembly vice-president twice and leading Guyana’s delegation from 1967 to 1974 In 1971, he advocated for stronger criticism of Western exploitation at a Non-Aligned Movement meeting His role expanded further in 1974 when he became Commonwealth Secretary-General, succeeding Arnold Smith and enhancing the Commonwealth's focus

By 1989, as Ramphal neared the end of his third term as Commonwealth Secretary-General, the British government nominated him for a Knight Grand Cross (GCMG) Despite a grand farewell at 10 Downing Street, a London paper soon reported his criticism of Thatcher, highlighting his strained relationship with Britain

Sir Shridath Ramphal, who served as Commonwealth Secretary-General from 1975 to 1990 and was a distinguished lawyer, was born on October 3, 1928 He passed away on August 30, 2024, at the age of 95

Grenfell report blames government failures and corporate dishonesty

T he G r en fe ll Towe r d isa st e r, which claimed 72 lives, was caused by "decades of failure" by the government to regulate combustible cladding and the "systematic dish one st y " of comp an ie s whose products fueled the fire, according to a seven-year public inquiry

A 1,700-page report from the Grenfell Tower inquiry found widespread blame for the 2017

tragedy Chair Sir Martin MooreBick cited three firms Arconic, Kingspan, and Celotex for deliberately misleading the market, while architects Studio E, builders Rydon and Harley Facades, and Kensington and Chelsea’s building control were also held responsible

Studio E, in particular, was criticised for failing to recognize the danger of the plastic-filled

panels, showing a "cavalier attitude" towards fire safety regulations The Grenfell Tower inquiry condemned the tenant management organisation (TMO), appointed by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), for consistently disregarding residents' concerns The report accused TMO chief executive Robert Black of a "pattern of

PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN CRISIS

As per the BBC analysis more than 180 council-run libraries have either closed or been handed over to volunteer groups in the UK since 2016 Around 2 000 jobs were post as well A body that supports the institutions across the UK said the figures “laid bare the scale of the crisis facing public libraries" A government spokesperson reportedly said it understands the pressures” on library services and it was committed to giving stability back to local councils As per the Freedom of Information requests sent to every library authority in the UK and Arts Council England, the country has lost one in 20 libraries since 2016, either by shutting them permanently or moving them over to volunteer-run groups The BBC also found that in the coming year dozens more closures might take place

ROYAL MAIL TO CONSIDER BIN COLLECTION-STYLE WEBSITE TO TRACK DELIVERY

Soon people will be able to track their mail delivery days as Royal Mail is planning to launch a bin-collection-type website for households, if the regulator gives green light to water down services The company has suggested a reduction in second-class letter deliveries to alternate weekdays by pushing to cut its services to save costs As per the new service introduced by the company customers can discover which days their letter deliveries are due by inputting their postcode And this would be different from services dedicated to tracking individual letters or parcels Royal Mail wants to reduce deliveries of secondclass letters to two or three days a week, cutting down nearly 1 000 jobs and saving £300m a year in the process Meanwhile, the proposal is being studied by Ofcom and said it would make a decision next year Also Royal Mail is being investigated by Ofcom for poor service and it was fined £5 6m last year by the company for missing delivery targets

BA CANCELS DOZENS OF FLIGHTS FROM LONDON AIRPORTS

concealment" regarding fire safety and labelled the TMO's approach to managing fire risks as a "betrayal" of its obligations

The inquiry's final report comes over seven years after the fire, which began in a fourth-floor flat and spread rapidly through combustible cladding Most victims, including 15 disabled individuals, died trapped on upper floors

Dozens of flights to and from Heathrow and Gatwick Airport were cancelled by British Airways due to the disruption caused by the wet weather Along with this the airline was not able to run more than 30 short haul flights connecting at the London terminal because of the poor weather and air-traffic control restrictions More than 700 flights were operated on Saturday alone and affected passengers were rebooked, informed a spokesperson Meanwhile, BA said that while low visibility and lighting storms over the weekend have caused disruption the majority of flights took off or landed as planned Flights for Malaga Nice and Rotterdam have also been cancelled from London City Airport Flights to Marrakech and Turin as well as Tampa and Las Vegas from London Gatwick were cancelled by BA

Waheed Alli

Shakil Mullan

Sir Shridath Ramphal

National memorial to be built for the Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Considering the historical significance and a close personal connection to the record-breaking monarch, a national memorial to the late Queen Elizabeth will be erected in a central London park, the British government has announced

On September 8, 2022, Elizabeth II died at her Scottish castle after more than seven decades on the throne Her death was followed by the days of mourning and poignant tributes

from across the country and the world

Adjacent to the famous Mall boulevard and on land running down to the park lake, the government said the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial would be created at a site in St James's Park

The reason the memorial committee selected the location was its proximity to Buckingham Palace, the headquarters of the Commonwealth "Queen Elizabeth II’s

enduring legacy of service and devotion to our country will never be forgotten,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a statement Robin Janvrin, a former private secretary to the late monarch and chair of the memorial committee reportedly added, "The Mall and St James's Park at the ceremonial heart of our capital provides a location closely identified with so many events of the late Queen's life ”

Thousands opposed rally in Glasgow backed by Tommy Robinson

500 people came out in Glasgow in order to oppose a rally of 500 backed by farright campaigner Tommy Robinson

To counter-protest against a “Pro-UK rally” backed by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen YaxleyLennon, around 2,000 antiracism activists gathered in George Square

There was a presence of a few hundred far-right activists but were vastly outnumbered Police were present as well who were busy keeping the groups separate

The display of unity from trade unionists, with a sea of banners and flags from more than ten different trade unions, interfaith

organisations, Muslim and Jewish activists, refugee rights charities, proPalestine activists and antiracists from across Scotland showed there is mass opposition to the farright and their violence

A Police Scotland spokesperson reportedly said, “A proportionate policing plan was in place for a planned protest in George Square, Glasgow

“A 40-year-old man was arrested for a hate crime and a 20-year-old man was arrested for carrying an offensive weapon Inquiries remain ongoing “Officers contained a small group of people to engage with them, maintain

public safety and minimise disruption

“Containment is an approved tactic used by highly trained officers where a breach of the peace is taking place or is reasonably thought to be imminent ”Talat Ahmed, Stand Up To Racism Scotland convenor said, "Our rally was about celebrating and defending multiculturalism and diversity and saying loud and clear that refugees are welcome here and aren't to blame for the problems in society And that the far right, with their toxic politics of hate and division, are not welcome in Scotland After Reform UK, a far-right party, achieved 7 percent of

the vote in Scotland in the general election, and the chilling news this week that the AfD, a party with a neonazi wing, had a breakthrough in German state elections, we urge all to unite against the far-right, racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism " Sabir Zazai Scottish Refugee Council CEO, said, “As a refugee charity, we are no strangers to messages of hate from the far-right But these are always overwhelmingly out-numbered by a huge amount of support from across Scotland We were in George Square on Saturday to make it clear that refugees are welcome here ”

Keir Starmer ridiculed for addressing Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister for

PM Keir Starmer was mocked for addressing Rishi Sunak as the Prime Minister, not once, but four times in their first Commons clash since Parliament returned from the summer recess

He was mocked online at the Despatch box against former Prime Minister Mr Sunak

One user said: "Does the Prime Minister know he’s the Prime Minister?"

Another added: "Starmer calls Sunak the PM He’s all over the place Useless ”

While addressing Mr Sunak, Sir Keir said:

four times

"The Prime Minister knows the legal framework"

From November 2, the Prime Minister will have a new MP opposing him at the Despatch box when Mr Sunak's

replacement is confirmed

Currently, Robert Jenrick, Mel Stride, Tom Tugendhat, Kemi Badenoch and James Cleverly are in the race to replace him

Whoever wins will lead the Conservative Party and will face Sir Keir at Prime Minister s Question Time each week

First permanent memorial to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in Oakham, Rutland, created by Hywel Pratley

PM Keir Starmer Rishi Sunak

AS I SEE IT

CB Patel

When I arrived in the UK, D r J ivraj Mehta was

the Indian High Commissioner I had the opportunity to meet him once, but I also had the privilege of meeting his wife, Dr Hansaben Mehta She was the ViceChancellor of Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and the daughter of Shri Manubhai Mehta, who served as the Diwan of both Gaekwad Baroda and Bikaner states Manubhai Mehta played a crucial role in the integration of Indian states, particularly when the Nawab of Bhopal, some Maharajas of Saurashtra, and the Maharaja of Baroda were contemplating joining Pakistan Thanks to Manubhai Mehta’s advice, these Maharajas reconsidered their plans and decided against it

Dr Hansa Mehta completed her graduation in Philosophy from Baroda College and later studied Journalism and Sociology in England Upon her return, she became President of the 'Bhagini Samaj' and was actively involved in the campaign against the Simon Commission, earning two prison sentences for her activism She later served as a member of the Constituent Assembly, President of the All India Women’s Conference, and represented India in the Joint Human Rights Commission and the working committee of UNESCO I was fortunate to interact with her, my Vice Chancellor when I was General Secretary of the Student’s Union

Appa Saheb Pant and N G Go re were my closest

India House and the legacy of diplomacy

Maharashtra His father gave away the state to the ‘Praja Mandal’ in 1924, following Gandhiji's advocacy of trusteeship Appa Saheb was appointed as the Indian High Commissioner in Kenya in 1951 and during the Indian government support for African emancipation in terms of supplying support to Kenya African National Union of Jomo Kenyatta, which relied on funds, gifts and publicity budget During the tumultuous days of the Mau Mau movement, which saw the deaths of thousands of Africans and some settlers, the British government, under Duncan Sandys, managed to persuade Jawaharlal Nehru to recall Appa Saheb from his position as High Commissioner in Nairobi, Kenya It’s important to note that India at that time was not the India of 1971 or 1972, but a different country altogether

India had no choice but to recall Appa Saheb, but after the 1971 war, Smt Indira Gandhi, with her elephantine memory and determination, made it clear that India would stand firm on its own Consequently, Appa Saheb was appointed as the High Commissioner of India in London Despite initial reluctance from the British government, Indira Gandhi insisted there was no other suitable candidate Eventually, Appa Saheb Pant was appointed and served successfully in London He also launched the Gujarat Samachar newsweekly on May 5, 1972 He was also a unique spiritual figure, closely connected with the Dalai Lama

Kingsbury woman aims to make defibrillators accessible

in

Regarding Nana Saheb Gore, he was a significant inspiration to me in 1955 when I was a student activist at MS University Baroda, particularly during the Goa liberation campaign N G Gore and others undertook a march to Goa, which left a lasting impression on me Nana Saheb’s son-in-law, a friend from my NCC days, further connected me to him Nana Saheb was a man of great honour When Morarji Desai was ousted due to internal factionalism within the Janata Dal, N G Gore resigned immediately

lectuals, and the judiciary, and traveled extensively across the UK I had the privilege of arranging his visits to Preston, Birmingham, Leicester, Brighton, various other parts of London and the UK He truly was a bridgebuilder In the latter half of the 1 9 9 0 s , H i gh Commiss ioner Singhvi and Mi nister for Coordi nation A j i

Whenever I visited Mumbai, I would make a point to travel to Pune to visit both N G Gore and Appa Saheb Pant in those days

Another High Commissioner with whom I had close contact was Kuldip Nayar, whose "Between the Lines" column was published in New Life, the predecessor of Asian Voice, for several years I was close to him and his wife, Bhartiben, whose father was a prominent Congress leader during Mahatma Gandhi’s era and served as Chief Minister of Punjab in the early years of Independence

My most significant contact was with D r La x m i M a l l S i ng h vi,

who came to London in 1990 During his first week, he organised a press meeting for Indian journalists I was deeply impressed by his insights, and shortly thereafter, an event for the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial Society was scheduled I requested Dr Singhvi to address the occasion, and he graciously accepted He immediately agreed and addressed a meeting of 400 people in South London, and met so many leaders of our Indian communities, like Shanto Ruparel, I K Patel, B K Joshi , his son Jashwant, (his grandson Shravan, who is now the head of the planning committee of the City of London), Lord Gulam Noon, Pranlal Sheth, Kanti Nagda, Pravin Amin and others

Dr Singhvi served as the High Commissioner in London for seven years, the longest tenure of any Indian High Commissioner or Ambassador in London His time in London was highly impactful; he excelled in building connections with community organisations, British intel-

A y o u n g w o m a n f r o m K in gs b u r y i s m o t iv at in g Lo ndoners to be a p art of a charity walk in o rder to rais e funds fo r m ore defibrillators acros s th e c ity

Olivia Christofides, who was able to save her stepfather’s life after he went into cardiac arrest, is backing the London Ambulance Charity’s ‘London Heart Starters’ campaign

exceptional team

our current National Security Advisor, collaborated closely with Dr Singhvi I recall several initiatives from that period, including one in 1994 where Dr Singhvi suggested organising a lavish banquet to address concerns about a statement by Robin Cook, then Shadow Foreign Secretary of the British Labour Party Gujarat Samachar and New Life (now Asian Voice) arranged the event under the Indian Councillors' Organisation with Robin Cook as the chief guest, seated between Dr Singhvi and Prof Lord Bhikhu Parekh During his speech, Cook provided corrective commentary on India’s democratic stance, which later sparked controversy This event showcased Dr Singhvi’s diplomatic skills and negotiation abilities I also had the opportunity to travel with him to Stanford University in the US for a week, where I witnessed his dedication to Indian culture and his unique blend of Jain and Hindu identity

We should also consider the writings of William Dalrymple and Mark Tully, which reflect how the British ruled, exploited, and often mistreated India Their works provide valuable insights into the complexities and consequences of colonial rule

Reflecting on the legacy of India House and its key figures, help us appreciate the rich history of IndoBritish relations Their efforts went beyond diplomacy, creating lasting connections between nations and communities and deepening our understanding of shared heritage As we celebrate their contributions, we honour the enduring impact of their works and the bridges they built between continents

The objective of this campaign is to raise money to make defibrillators accessible in local communities and also train more people in CPR These life-saving tools and skills can help when someone ’ s heart stops beating

One of the key fundraising events, The London Life Hike, took place on Sunday, 8 September The money raised from the event will be used for buying and installing public-access defibrillators in neighbourhoods that need them most 19-year-old Olivia sprang into action when her stepfather, Geraldo Folie, collapsed at home in March 2023 Using the CPR skills she learned in the Scouts, she performed chest compressions until paramedics arrived at her house She was in call with 999 and received further guidance over the phone

UK man sentenced to nine years for arson

A British ma n has bee n se nt e n ce d t o n in e y e a r s in prison who hel ped fuel a fire outside a hotel housin g more than 200 asyl um se eker s It is considered as the longest punishment handed down so far to those involved in last month’s wave of far-right riots in the United Kingdom Painter and decorator Thomas Birley pleaded guilty to the charge of arson with the intent to endanger life at the Holiday Inn Express hotel in nearby Rotherham at the sentencing at Sheffield

Crown Court in northern England on Friday In relation to the rioting outside the hotel on August 4, Judge Jeremy Richardson told 27-year-old Birley, that his case was one of the most serious of the dozens he dealt with in the past month He added that the case was “suffused with racism” Birley was filmed hurling missiles at the police, squaring up to officers while showing off a police baton and throwing a large bin that crashed into a line of police with riot shields

Deluge of abuse sent on X to prominent UK politicians

As a pa rt of the most compreh ensive studies of online abuse in polit ics, it has be en foun d t hat the UK’s most promine nt politician s we re su bj e c t e d t o a d e lu g e o f abuse on X dur ing t he ge neral e le ct ion per iod

According to the findings from researchers at the University of Sheffield, five politicians including Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer, Diane Abbott, Suella Braverman and Sadiq Khan were sent more than 85,000 clearly abusive messages between May 1 and July 30

Before narrowing the focus to the five most frequently targeted, the researchers initially looked at abusive posts towards 14 politicians in the spring

More than 6 percent of replies to Sunak, Starmer, Abbott, Braverman and Khan between May and July were reported abusive A range of abusive messages ranging from “milder” posts branding politicians liars to more severe abuse including personal attacks and racist and sexist insults were monitored by the study

“Our analysis shows very clearly the ways in which people vent their anger at world events, such as the Israel-Hamas war, by lashing out at politicians as a way of finding someone to blame We saw the same thing during the pandemic and events such as terrorist attacks,” the Sheffield researchers said

Ketamine addiction is soaring among youth in the UK

Deb Casserly wh o lost her son Barney in 20 18 owing to th e s u bs tanc e ab u se, sai d that it is an abso lute liv ing h ell to w a tc h yo u r c h i ld destroy them selves

Barney took his life at the age of 21 He had sought help for addiction twice

“That night, we just sat on the sofa together,” Casserly, who works in mental health said, describing the night before Barney died

“And he just said, mum, if this is living, I don’t want it I tried to say all the things I know about [ ] you

can recover, there is a way People do get better But he had in his head this idea that he was nothing but a burden ”

According to government statistics, Barney was not struggling with an opiate dependency, cannabis or cocaine but was using ketamine, once known as a “safe” party drug

Many experts believe that as ketamine is sold at low price, it has gained popularity among young people A class B drug, it costs just £10 a gram

contacts among the Indian High Commissioners Appa Saheb hailed from a small state called Aundh

Ajit Doval,

Continued from 6 Sept 2024 edition

Appa Saheb Pant launched the Gujarat Samachar newsweekly on May 5, 1972

Dr Laxmi Mall Singhvi

Dr Jivraj Mehta

Ajit Doval

N G Gore

Community reacts: Four-day workweek could foster a more inclusive and supportive workforce

These figures suggest some recovery in employment levels but also indicate ongoing challenges with economic inactivity and workforce engagement across certain sectors of the population

Riz Malik, Independent Fi n anc i al Adv is er at R3 Wealth: "The labour market

appears to be more resilient than expected, but this unexpected show of strength doesn't bode well for those hoping for a base rate cut in September The figures suggest the Bank of England may need to maintain its cautious stance, potentially pushing back the timeline for monetary easing With earnings growth still outpacing levels that are consistent with 2% headline inflation, the MPC might find itself compelled to hold rates steady for longer to ensure inflation is kept at bay However, with real wages remaining firmly positive, the outlook for the UK economy continues to look bright "

Labour government plans to strengthen workers' rights for a four-day working week could reshape flexible working in the UK

Employees would still need to work their full contracted hours but could compress them into four days Since April, workers have had the right to request flexible working from day one of employment, though companies are not obliged to agree A spokesperson from the Department for Business and Trade emphasised that any changes to employment legislation

would involve consultation with businesses Education Minister Jacqui Smith argued that flexible working boosts productivity by allowing people to manage childcare and other responsibilities, potentially encouraging more workforce participation However, concerns remain as businesses, including Morrisons and Asda, have scrapped fourday week trials due to staff dissatisfaction with longer shifts Ben Willmott of the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development noted that while flexible working supports work-life balance and employee retention, it must benefit both employers and employees to be sustainable

Asian Voice asked members of the community about their thoughts on the four-day working week idea Great for sustainability and recruitment of medical professionals I nd ran i l Chak ra vorty , Cons ult ant Phys ic i an , St Geor ge' s U ni ver si t y

Hospital, London told the newsweekly, “One of the main reasons for doctors and nurses to choose to leave the profession is 'burnout' and a toxic workplace Tired and demoralised staff are likely to make more mistakes and such mistakes account for much of the 300,000 incidents of harm recorded annually by UK NHS, including many deaths

“A four-day working schedule will make a huge difference to the recruitment, sustainability and retention of medical and nursing professionals It will make schedules work-

able, reduce the adverse impact of punishing schedules on health and wellbeing and reduce burnout

But there is a cost that the NHS, health providers and ultimately the public will have to pay, through taxes, insurance premiums or directly It is estimated that the costs of staffing will rise by almost a third On the face of it, a rise in the cost of healthcare appears to be unaffordable, but there is a way Most healthcare organisations spend almost 10-15% of their medical or nursing staffing costs on sick pay or locum pay to cover gaps This is paid at a premium over normal wages Reduction in such unexpected staffing costs will go a long way to compensate for the 4-day working It will produce happier staff, who are less likely to make mistakes and improve patient outcomes as well as provide a more fulfilling healthcare experience for all Cost benefit analyses will need to be made and staffing modelling will need to be undertaken before this shift to 4 day working (32h/week) shift from the current 48-63h weekly schedules is feasible But this will take political will and support from the public who will be rewarded with safer and more effective healthcare ” Neelam Heera, founder of Cys te rs gr oup said,

“Labour’s proposal for a 4day working week would be transformative, particularly for women with chronic illnesses As someone who has long managed conditions like endometriosis, PMDD, and PCOS, this change

NIA alleges Inderpal Gaba's role in 2023 Indian High Commission attack

The National Investigation

A g en cy (NIA ) h a s f ile d c ha rg e s ag a inst In de r pa l Singh Gaba, a primary suspect in the 2023 attack on t h e In d ian H igh Commission in London

Gaba, a Hounslow resident, was arrested by the NIA in the national capital on April 25 this year He is linked to the pro-Khalistani extremist attack on the Indian High Commission in London on March 19 and 22 last year

The NIA chargesheet identifies Gaba as an active participant in the anti-India

protest held outside the Indian High Commission on March 22

On March 22, 2023, over 2,000 pro-Khalistani supporters vandalised the Indian High Commission, throwing ink and other items to deface the building Three days earlier, a mob had removed the Indian flag during an attack that left some embassy staff injured

The assault was reportedly orchestrated by Avtar Singh Khanda, a leader of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), who later died

would have been invaluable during my time in the legal sector The lack of flexibility eventually led to my departure from the field Flexible working arrangements, such as the ability to work from home, enable those with health conditions to maintain a balance between their careers and well-being, without sacrificing job prospects This shift could foster a more inclusive and supportive workforce where everyone has the opportunity to thrive ”

Balancing cultural expectations of hard work

Varun B han ot, c of ounde r an d CE O of A I H

c ompan y, MAGIC AI told us, “A four-

day workweek could promote efficiency and worklife balance, especially in industries like tech and services However, in South Asia, where long hours are

often tied to dedication, it may face resistance initially Over time, productivityfocused cultures could embrace it Challenges include overcoming the perception that fewer workdays equal lower output, particularly in traditional industries Opportunities involve improved employee morale, reduced burnout, and potential talent retention, especially in younger, globalised sectors For South Asians, balancing cultural expectations of hard work with family life might be challenging, but a four-day workweek could enhance productivity and well-being For women, particularly working mothers, it could reduce the stress of juggling domestic and professional responsibilities, fostering gender equality at work ”

Women could benefit I mmi gra ti on Law yer

Shoa i b Khan said, “ Implementing a four-day workweek for South Asian workers and employers in the UK presents unique challenges and opportunities Culturally, long work hours are often seen as a sign of dedication, and a shorter week may be perceived as reducing commitment, leading to resistance among workers and con-

cerns from employers Many South Asians operate family-run businesses, where a reduced workweek could increase costs and strain operations However, the potential benefits are significant More time off could enhance family life, which is highly valued in South Asian communities, by allowing more caregiving time for children and elderly parents It could also improve mental health by reducing stress and offering more time for leisure or personal development Women, in particular, may benefit from this arrangement by balancing family responsibilities with career growth However, the four-day workweek must be implemented carefully to ensure it does not exacerbate the gender gap or harm small businesses, and productivity should remain a central focus ”

in a UK hospital in June of last year

Gaba was detained in December 2023 at the Attari border upon arrival from London via Pakistan, based on a lookout circular

The NIA launched an investigation against him and instructed him not to leave the country while the probe was ongoing The agency reported that Gaba's mobile phone was seized and analysed, revealing several incriminating videos and photos of the attack, which confirmed his involvement

Varun Bhanot

Indranil Chakravorty

Neelam Heera

Riz Malik

Shoaib Khan

Onam celebration takes over the UK

Shefali Saxena

Onam, one of Kerala’s most cherished festi va ls , s ymb oli ze s the spirit of unity, prosperity, and cultural harmony It is a time when families come togethe r to celebrate wi th traditional feasts, games, and rituals, reinforcing the value s of c ommuni t y and t oget hern es s MAUK ha s long upheld this tradition, organizing various events to e nga ge t he UK Ma la yal ee community and beyond

On Saturday, 21 September 2024, MAUK Tharavadu at Kerala House will host a special Pilleronam (Children’s Onam) celebration for local children The event aims to recreate the vibrant essence of Onam with activities like a puppet show, cultural performances, Athappoove (flower carpet) designing, traditional Onam games, and a unique twist on the Sadhya feast There will also be a Kalari (martial arts) demonstration and workshop, with each child receiving a special Onam gift from a guest This celebration promises to immerse the young attendees in the cultural richness of Onam while promoting the festival’s core values

MAUK’s annual Onasadhya event, taking place on 8 September 2024 at

Community School, Barking, Essex The renowned singer Vidhu Prathap and his team will perform, providing an unforgettable musical experience for attendees Various seating options are available, with discounted tickets for MAUK members

Speaking to Asian Voice about the Onam feast at The Tiffin Box, Chef Jomon shared the lavish menu, fea-

Little Ilford School, is another highlight of the season Volunteers, guided by MAUK Elders, prepare homemade dishes, reflecting the community’s dedication to preserving tradition With over 300 participants, the proceeds from this event are directed towards supporting vulnerable children and elders in Kerala, reinforcing Onam’s spirit of charity

The celebrations will culminate with the highly anticipated MAUK Ponnonam 2024 Ganamela on 28 September at Eastbury

turing traditional delicacies such as Ada Pradhaman, Saffron Wild Rice Payasam, Mambazha Payasam, and over 20 other dishes including Kootu Curry, Cabbage & Carrot Thoran, and Rasam Chef Jomon stated, “Onam is a celebration of flavours and diversity, and through our food, we aim to bring the same joy and unity that the festival symbolises ”

These events reflect the community's commitment to fostering cultural cohesion, bringing the community together, and celebrating

the rich heritage of Kerala Chef Jomon, the culinary mastermind behind TiffinboxCoventry, has dedicated his career to elevating Kerala cuisine on the global stage With a deep respect for traditional methods and a passion for experimenting with flavors, Chef Jomon and his team have crafted a menu that stays true to the roots of Kerala while appealing to contemporary palates “Our vision is to make Kerala cuisine known and loved worldwide,” says Chef Jomon “Each dish is prepared with the highest quality ingredients, with attention to detail that reflects the essence of Kerala

The fest featured a variety of payasams, from the classic Ada Pradhaman to innovative flavors like mango and jackfruit, delighting dessert lovers and offering a glimpse into Kerala’s sweet traditions

The Grand Onam Sadya at Tiffinbox Coventry

On the 14th and 15th of September, Tiffinbox Coventry will present its meticulously crafted Onam Sadya, available in two sittings from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM and 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM Chef Jomon and his team have curated a 25-item feast that promises to transport diners straight to Kerala

Maharashtra Mandal London celebrates Ganeshotsav

Tanisha Gujarathi

Maharashtra Mandal London (MML) has once again brought the spirit of Ganeshotsav to life, marking the 33rd year of its annual celebration of Lord Ganesha's festival Held on Saturday, 7 September, the event drew devotees and enthusiasts from across the city and beyond, eager to participate in the traditional and vibrant festivities This year's Ganeshotsav, which runs for ten days, has captivated attendees with its reverence, colorful rituals, and a deep sense of community

The arrival of Lord Ganesha, known as the ‘Aagman’, marked the commencement of the celebrations, and MML left no stone unturned in making it a grand spectacle The muchanticipated arrival was accompanied by the pulsating beats of MML’s own dhol-tasha band, a traditional Maharashtrian percussion ensemble that set the festive mood and energised the atmosphere Devotees joyfully hailed the arrival of the deity, chanting prayers and songs of devotion, decorated the venue, creating a visual delight for all present

In keeping with tradition, the theme of this year's Ganeshotsav was ‘Ram Ayodhya’, paying a tribute to Lord Ram and his birthplace, Ayodhya This theme was beautifully woven into the decorations and the overall ambiance of the event, reminding the attendees of

the rich cultural heritage that binds the Indian diaspora together The focus on Lord Ram's virtues of righteousness, compassion, and dedication to duty resonated deeply with the devotees, who embraced the theme wholeheartedly

The formal pooja was performed by the President of Maharashtra Mandal London, Vrushal Khandke

With great devotion and adherence to ancient customs, Mr Khandke led the congregation in offering their prayers to Lord Ganesha, seeking his blessings for wisdom, prosperity, and the removal of obstacles

The pooja, marked by the chanting of mantras and the lighting of the ceremonial lamps, was a deeply spiritual experience for those in attendance, leaving many with a profound sense of peace and connection to their faith

One of the highlights of the event was the Lazim performance, a traditional Maharashtrian folk dance The members managed to

create a vibrant mini-India in the heart of London The grand success of this year's Ganeshotsav is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the MML team, whose efforts have ensured that the festival remains a

Coventry University marks 10 years with PSB Academy

Cov entry Uni vers i ty a nd S inga po re ’ s P S B Acade my marked a decade of collaboration with a special event at Eden Hall, the British High Commissioner’s residence

Singapore This event marks a significant milestone in our shared commitment to providing world-class educational experiences that prepare students for global chal-

The anniversary highlights Coventry’s commitment to global education and research The celebration featured a joint alumni gathering with key stakeholders and industry leaders

British High Commissioner Nikesh Mehta OBE attended the event, marking 10 years of expanding global education in Southeast Asia Alumni shared their valuable experiences from Coventry University

Dr Michael Yap, Managing Director of Coventry University Group’s Singapore Hub, said: “We’re proud to celebrate a decade of educational excellence with PSB Academy This event highlights our commitment to global standards and preparing students for successful careers ”

Viva Sinniah, Chairman of PSB Academy, said: “We are proud to join with Coventry University in shaping the future of education in

cherished occasion for the Indian community in the UK The devotees were served the Prasad and refreshments

As the ten-day-long celebration continues, Maharashtra Mandal London promises more exciting events, spiritual rituals, and moments of joy, culminating in the grand ‘Visarjan' (immersion ceremony), where devotees will bid farewell to Lord Ganesha with a prayer to return next year For 33 years, this annual celebration has stood as a symbol of faith, culture, and community, and this year's event has only added to the legacy

Shree Hanuman Temple –Salangpur Dham Leicester celebrated its 3rd annual ‘Ganesh Mahotsav’ with the ‘Sthapna’ (installation) of Lord Ganesh’s idol on the auspicious occasion of ‘Ganesh Chaturthi , Saturday 7 September 2024 “This festival brings lots of joy to all ages of devotees and is becoming more popular every year said Secretary Rajesh Patel

lenges and opportunities " Coventry University has over 24,000 students at international campuses in Egypt, Morocco, China, and Kazakhstan, along with a network of global hubs Its efforts in global relations earned it the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade in 2023

British High Commissioner to Singapore, Nik Mehta OBE, commented: “In today’s interconnected world, transnational and global education are essential The partnership between Coventry University and PSB Academy exemplifies how to bridge educational excellence across borders

“Creating a thriving academic environment not only ensures quality education but also makes meaningful contributions to global challenges I am eager to see this collaboration continue to grow and succeed in the future ”

29th anniversary of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London

The 2 9 th a nni ve rs ar y of BAPS Sh ri Swami na ray an Mandir, London - popularly know as ‘Neasden Temple’ (ac cor di ng to th e Hi n du lunar calendar) was celebrated with various devotional activities on Wednesday 28 August 2024

The festivities began

with darshan and the abhishek of Shri Nilkanth Varni Vedic ceremonies for the ‘patotsav’ – marking the anniversary of the Mandir –followed thereafter

The programme also included devotional bhajans and inspiring talks from swamis which further

explained the historical significance of the Mandir and the profound impact it has imparted on the community as well as visitors from all over the world A special mahapuja was held on Saturday 31 August, to celebrate the 29th patotsav of London Mandir

Jomon Kuriakose

L to R: Derrick Chang Chief Executive Officer at PSBA; Nikesh Mehta OBE, the British High Commissioner to Singapore; Richard Wells, Coventry University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International)

CB, the 'Pride of Gujaratis’

Dr Sant Swami, Vadtal

"Meeting you for the first time today has made me indebted to Balvant Jani saheb Your vibrant and energetic nature, along with your fearless personality, has already left an indelible mark on my mind "

For over five and a half decades, Chandrakant Babubhai Patel (CB Patel) has been a distinguished figure, dedicated to serving the Gujarati community both within Gujarat and beyond In London, more than ten Gujaratis share this similar name, which

newspaper 'Gujarat Samachar’ in 1972, bringing news of Gujarat and Gujaratis to the diaspora He also started English newspaper 'New Life’, which is now known as 'Asian Voice’,

is why he embraced the nickname or affectionate short form given by the people, CB Patel Today, this name has become widely recognised across the country and the world His name has gained recognition through his work, and his work is driven by passion This passion stems from the blessings of his parents and saints and it continues to thrive and will endure

I never imagined that my first meeting with CB would be so warm and heartfelt, but it turned out to be true At the age of 88, he possesses an energetic, vibrant and spirited personality

There is no trace of lethargy in him, and witnessing his influence in London, combined with the blessings of both Saraswati (knowledge) and Lakshmi (wealth), was a joy The popular belief that "Saraswati and Lakshmi cannot reside together" was something I had never heard disproven before, but today, I witnessed it firsthand

58 years ago, living in London must have been quite an experience, one could wonder if Gujaratis were easily found, or if they could get Gujarati food and resources Only CB could truly speak to that experience However, today, London boasts a small Gujarati enclave Gujaratis are present and active CB Patel is the one who took over the

catering to the second and third generation of Asians in the UK, who can’t read Gujarati CB's hometown is Bhadran, Gujarat From the time of Bhagwan Swaminarayan in Bhadran, he is well connected with the Vadtal Sampraday His grandfather used to visit Vadtal and provide various services, and CB Patel mentioned that there is a room named after his grandfather in Vadtal His grandfather was a dedicated follower CB shared that he received blessings from his father, who had become a sanyasi (saint) When CB was also chasing material success, his sanyasi father, in his role as a guru, advised him, while money is important, it is not everything, understand this and live accordingly This advice led to a significant turning point in his life CB's expression as he pointed to the image of his sanyasi father seemed to convey deep emotion For modern individuals who often forget their parents and humanity after achieving success, this moment is truly inspiring

CB says that the revolutionary thoughts of Shreeji Maharaj have had a profound impact on his life Reflecting on his journey from the humble beginnings to a broader mission, he mentions that even those who were uneducated in

Gaudiya Mission commemorates 150th anniversary of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupad in London

The Gaudiya Mission, under the esteemed leadership of President Acharya Srila Bhakti Sundar Sanyasi Goswami Maharaj celebrated the 150th anniversary of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupad in London

society have experienced transformation through Bhagwan Swaminarayan Swami Sahajanand has provided the vision for living a life free from vices like theft and addiction, and instead embracing a life of virtues

“In London, there are temples from various regions of Gujarat, including those from Kutch and BAPS Maninagar, but I hold a special respect for the satsangis from Kutch They are known for their industrious and generous nature They never hesitate to contribute to society and religion through their donations

"Pravinbhai (V M Patel), who is with you, has also been very active in the community I have great respect for Daxesh Patel as well, who is the head of the 22 Gam Samaj These individuals should continue to step forward for our people We should keep contributing to language and religion Reflecting on my memories with BAPS, I noted that its origins also trace back to Vadtal The literary work you are doing for the 200th anniversary of Vadtal is incredibly important and necessary Balvant Jani, who is close to me, has acted as a bridge for his message during our meeting

"Through the Sarangpur temple and the Hanuman Katha, Swami Hariprakashdasji Athanavala, Pavan Swami of Kalali, Harigun Swami of Umreth introduced the youths to culture and values While we stood to acknowledge them, the bond formed has deeply resonated in our hearts ”

In a meeting, such an opinion can be seen as excessive enthusiasm, and whether my opinion is correct or not can be confirmed through a personal meeting He is a person who lives with humility, immersed in the joy of Mahadev A unique person, a devotee of Saraswati and Lakshmi, dedicated to spread his mother tongue

The inaugural event was held on August 31, 2024, at the Harrow Leisure Centre, where monks of the Gaudiya Vaishnavite order from various maths and missions gathered in a spirit of unity and devotion The event was graced by several distinguished personalities, including Bob Blackman MP, Mohammed Salim Chowdhury, Mayor of Harrow, Cllr Anjana Patel, Deputy Mayor of Harrow, Cllr Ramji Kanji Chauhan, former Mayor of Harrow and Vishakha Devi Dasi, President of ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor Their presence, along with a congregation of over 1000 people from all walks of life, underscored the universal appeal and spiritual significance of this historic celebra-

President Acharya of Gaudiya Mission Bhaktisundar Sanyasi Maharaj with H E Vikram K Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to the UK

tion His Majesty King Charles III and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, both acknowledged the event and sent their best wishes for its grand success

Following the Harrow event, a second commemorative programme was held on September 7, 2024, at the prestigious Mayfair Hall in Romford, Essex The event was graced by H E Vikram K Doraiswami, the High Commissioner of India to the UK, the President Acharya of Gaudiya Mission,

Bhaktisundar Sanyasi Maharaj, and his brotherhood monks of Gaudiya Mission, along with Swami Sarvasthananda, the President and Minister-inCharge of Ramakrishna Mission, UK, the President of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS UK), and other distinguished dignitaries Over 800 congregants were in attendance

The programme included enlightening speeches on the life of Srila Prabhupad by the secretary of Gaudiya Mission, Swami Bhaktipramod Puri Maharaj, as well as addresses by dignitaries The event featured soulful performances by Mahamaya Seal, Gorapada Deb and their entourage, kirtan by artist Himanshu Goswami, Gaudiya Nritya by Mahua Mukherjee and her troupe, and ‘Kobi Gaan’ by the legendary folk singer Asim Sarkar The event concluded on a joyous note with a grand Maha Aarati, congregation dance, and Mahaprasadam distribution

UK’s first National Suicide Memorial Day for health and care workers launches

The UK's inaugural National Suicide Memorial Day for Health and Care Workers will be held on September 17 Initiated by Doctors in Distress and NHS Practitioner Health, the day is dedicated to remembering healthcare workers who have died by suicide

Since 2011, the Office for National Statistics reports that 2,500 healthcare workers have died by suicide, averaging four each week

The National Suicide Memorial Day for Health and Care Workers, held annually on September 17, aims to provide a dedicated

day for reflection and remembrance On this day, NHS organisations nationwide will observe the memorial by planting trees and taking moments of reflection

Doctors in Distress, founded by Amandip Sidhu in 2019 after his brother Jagdip's suicide, has since 2020 supported over 3,000 healthcare workers through various mental health programs

Annually, about 2,000 NHS staff receiving treatment from NHS Practitioner Health report suicidal thoughts, with

around 650 having made active plans to end their lives

Amandip Sidhu, founder of Doctors in Distress, said: "Memorial Day offers loved ones of healthcare workers who died by suicide a chance to reflect on the system that failed them It highlights the sacrifices of those who faced severe mental health challenges in a setting meant to support them Recognising this day moves us closer to safeguarding both the people we care about and those who care for us "

Unlock Your Potential: Discover the Power of "Om Namah Shivaya" With Swami Swaroopananda

Embark on a transformative journey into the heart of ancient Hindu philosophy as Chinmaya Mission UK welcomes Swami Swaroopananda, Global Head of Chinmaya Mission, to London this September. Through a series of captivating talks titled "Sacred Sounds," Swami Swaroopananda will unlock the profound significance of the mantra "Om Namah Shivaya," guiding attendees to experience its transformative power. The talks will take place from September 24th to 28th.

Delve Deeper than Ever Before: For centuries, people across the world have chanted "Om Namah Shivaya," but its potent knowledge and supreme truth are often hidden beneath the surface. From September 24th to 28th, Swami Swaroopananda will take you on a journey to discover the beautiful wisdom of the famous text 'Shiva Panchakshara Strotram,' revealing the deeper layers of meaning within this sacred mantra.

Experience the Wisdom of a Global Spiritual Teacher: In an era rife with scepticism and confusion about spiritual matters, Swami Swaroopananda is a rare voice that blends authenticity with accessibility, theory with selfpractice, and logic with heart. A disciple of Swami Chinmayananda (founder of Chinmaya Mission), Swami Swaroopananda brings the timeless wisdom of Vedanta (Hindu philosophy) to the modern world for seekers from diverse backgrounds.

Event Details:

• D Dates: September 24th - 27th (7:30 PM - 9:00 PM) & September 28th (6:00 PM - 7:30 PM)

• L Location: Sattavis Patidar Centre, Wembley, HA9 9PE

• A Admission: Free and open to all. Register now at: http://www.bit.ly/yagna2024

Renowned spiritual leader and Kathakar, Rameshbhai Oza, affectionately known as 'Bhaishri,' is highly esteemed for his profound recitations of the Shrimad Bhagavat From September 12 to 18, he will be delivering the Bhagavat Katha in Northolt, London Currently as a guest of the Pankhania family, Bhaishri gave Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar an exclusive interview at the family's Hillfield residence on Tuesday During the discussion, he reflected on his 40-year association with London and the UK, offering deep spiritual insights and touching on the impacts of liberalisation and commercialisation in today’s world In the photograph, renowned businessman Vraj Pankhania, affectionately known as Vajubhai, is pictured alongside Bhaishri and CB Patel A detailed report will be featured in next week's edition of Asian Voice

Soneri Sangat

Last week on Soneri Sangat, we had an another enriching episode as India celebrates Teacher’s Day on 5 September This episode honoured the crucial role that teachers play in shaping our lives and communities, recognising their invaluable contributions to our personal and professional growth In addition, we explored the significance of the Gujarati language Our discussion will delved into its importance, focusing on how it plays a crucial role in preserving cultural identity and heritage We will examined the future of Gujarati, providing insights into how the language is evolving and adapting in a globalised world We will address strategies and initiatives for preserving the language, highlighting effective approaches to keep Gujarati vibrant and relevant for future generations Our guest speakers, Dr Amiben Upadhyay, Chandrakalaben Patel, Bhadraben Vadgama, Sonalben Shah, Heenaben Pancholi, Rekhaben Shah, Vijiyaben Bhanderi and Dr Jagdish Dave shed light on these subjects, offering valuable perspectives and insights

For those who missed it, catch up on this event and previous episodes by visiting our YouTube channel @abplgroup8772

Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way!

Man sentenced for sending abusive emails to MP

A B ir mi ngh am man w h o e mail ed an MP w i th abu s e i ncludi ng telling h er ‘hell is real, and you will burn,’ has been sentenced

Nabil Arif, 36, of Warwick Road, Birmingham, was sentenced on Monday, 9 September 2024 to 12 weeks custody at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court for making threats against MP Jess Phillips

He was also made subject of a restraining order barring him from contacting the MP until further notice

He was convicted of sending by public comication network an offensive, indecent, obscene, or menacing message or matter following a trial at the same court on 29 July 2024

The correspondence sent to Ms Phillips related to the Israel/Gaza conflict and were sent between 13 October 2023 and 20 February 2024

In her victim impact statement, Ms Phillips expressed fear that Arif’s aggression towards her might escalate and potentially lead to her coming to physical harm at his hands – which she said had changed her life immeasurably and said: “limited my freedom and my ability to do my job closely with the public as I used to do ”

On 20 February 2024, Arif sent Ms Phillips the final email which caused her alarm and distress The email called her ‘pathetic’ and threatened that she would ‘burn until her skin is no more ’ which prompted her to report the offence to the police the next day

Prime Minister commits to go further in tackling retail crime and shop worker abuse

Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed a response from the Prime Minister to a question from Usdaw on abuse of shopworkers Following his keynote address to the annual Trades Union Congress in Brighton, the Labour Leader took a series of questions from delegates

Usdaw President Jane Jones asked: “I work in retail and increasing levels of violence, threats and abuse are a massive concern for me and my colleagues Labour's welcome commitment to introduce a specific offence of assaulting a retail worker, will send out a clear message that this Government takes retail crime seriously What more will your Government do to help us feel safe at work?” In response Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “On the question of offences against retail workers, this truly is shocking Usdaw has a very important campaign on this and Paddy Lillis raises it with me pretty well every time we meet and rightly so It is not acceptable and it can’t be acceptable in any circumstances It is demoralising for the workforce and that’s why I’m pleased we can introduce an offence to deal with it

“But we have to go further than that We can’t have the situation where shoplifters can walk in, shoplift and walk back out again and nobody can do anything about it We’re going to change that, work with you, we have to take it seriously I’m not wanting to hear again from those on the frontline about the appalling attacks and insults that they are subjected to

Explore your passion at The Bhavan's open day

The Bhavan is inviting individuals to immerse themselves in the vibrant world of Indian classical arts, languages, and yoga at their Open Day This special event offers a unique opportunity to experience these rich traditions firsthand and discover a variety of disciplines under one roof

Attendees can join engaging taster sessions and interact with The Bhavan's skilled teachers, who will offer personalised guidance to help choose classes that match their interests Offerings include North Indian classical music, South Indian dance forms, and yoga, catering to a range of artistic and cultural interests The institution is committed to celebrating and nurturing the rich heritage of Indian arts and culture Interested individuals are encouraged to register now to secure their place and join The Bhavan's vibrant community

Escalating student’s mental health crisis

The growing number of students going straight from university to long-term sickness, especially due to mental health issues, is deeply concerning The Covid-19 pandemic has worsened this trend, with many young people, including overseas students far from their families, leaving education only to face prolonged illness These students come with hopes of building a bright future, but end up grappling with these challenges alone, without the support of loved ones

This affects not only their future careers and income but also places a heavy burden on the NHS and the economy It's vital for universities to strengthen mental health support, especially for international students, who face additional emotional and cultural stress Employers, too, must create environments that support mental health recovery

A coordinated effort between the government, NHS, educational institutions, and local authorities is essential Investing in mental health services and offering required support for students is key to reversing this trend and ensuring a healthy, thriving workforce

Tragic death of Bhim Kohli

Alia Seth

Bhim Kohli's tragic death is a sobering reminder of the growing need to address violence and antisocial behaviour in our communities Bhim, a kind-hearted and devoted gardener, tragically fell victim to a senseless act of violence that has left us all in shock His story highlights a broader issue, many vulnerable individuals, like Bhim, are increasingly at risk in our society

This heartbreaking incident should serve as a wake-up call It is deeply disturbing to see a 14-year-old involved in such a brutal crime At such a young age, it s shocking and tragic to witness someone committing such violence It highlights the need for better community support and stronger measures against youth violence and antisocial behaviour We talk about modernisation but unfortunately at the age when kids or teenagers should be focused on their studies, career or future, end up in such a crime

We must think about how to better protect those who, like Bhim, quietly contribute positively to our communities Bhim’s death is not just a personal tragedy for his family and friends, but a signal that we need to come together to address these deeper issues

Vivek Saxena

For over a decade I have been writing about my serious concerns about how I believe Labour is sleeping walking into the hands of Islamists I raised my concerns during the day s of Ed Milliband, Har riot Harma n, Jeremy Corbyn and of course Keir Starmer I list all the leaders sinc e often people say to me that maybe it’s just one rogue Labour leader who fell to the charms of the Islamists However, as you can see this narrative of Labour dancing to the tune of the Islamists has been ongoing for quite some time

The All Party Parliamentary (APPG) group for Muslimsinvented and championed a corrupt and grotesque definition of ‘Islamophobia’ That APPG was controlled then, as it isnow, mostly by Labour MPs Over the past five years Muslim Labour MPs, Muslim Labour Councillors and of course Muslim organisations have systematically promoted the adoption of this false ‘Islamophobia’ definition

The Labour Party adopted the APPG definition of ‘Islamophobia’in March 2019 in what it describedas an important statement of ‘principle and solidarity’ The Labour NEC reaffirms that position in its Code of Conducthandbook The majority of Councils that have already adopted this definition are of course also Labour

Recently Labour MP Afzal Khan on 22nd November 2023 attempted to use Parliament to adopt this absurd definition of Islamophobia Thankfully the Tories chucked it into the gutter where it belonged

In 2019, an open letter by Civitas (an Institute for the Study of Civil Society):said, ‘We are concerned that allegations of Islamophobia will be, indeed already are being, used toeffectively shield Islamic beliefs and even extremists from criticism, and that formalising thisdefinition will result in it being employed effectively as something of a backdoor blasphemy law’

That letter was supported by many faith groups and I am pleased to tell you that our Indic leaders who also cosigned it were:

Hardeep Singh, Network of Sikh Organisations (NSOUK)

Lord Singh of Wimbledon

Trupti Patel, President of Hindu Forum of Britain

Dr Lakshmi Vyas, President Hindu Forum of Europe

Harsha Shukla MBE, President Hindu Council of North UK

Tarang Shelat, President Hindu Council of Birmingham

Ashvin Patel, Chairman, Hindu Forum (Walsall)

Ashish Joshi, Sikh Media Monitoring Group

Satish K Sharma, National Council of Hindu Temples

It is therefore timely that this week the Network of Sikh Organisationswrote to The Rt Hon Angela Rayner the Deputy-Prime Minister expressing their grave concerns The letter provides ample evidence as to why the definition should be rejected In one telling example it highlights what the definition states is Islamophobic, ‘ claims of Muslims spreading Islam by the sword or subjugating minority groups under their rule ’ Ask any Sikh, Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Christian or anyone else and they will ALL tell you; Islam was spread by acts of utter brutality, pervertedviolence and by the sword

So if I were to speak or write about the atrocities committed by Islamic rulers who violently conquered vast expanse of Bharat (India) and subjugated and murdered my ancestors, then that will be deemed as Islamophobic i e If the Labour government puts this definition into law, then I and many millionwill be behind bars for telling the truth of history It’s a bit like the Germans demanding that we cannot talk about Hitler because that would be anti-German As I understand it, the Labour government is currently looking at making changes to the Race Equality Act Let’s hope Starmer does not take us down the cul-de-sac of selfdestruction

This madness goes way beyond just Hindus or Sikhs, this definition will put every one of you behind bars if you ever raise any issue of concern against Muslims or Islam The Prime Minister needs to rid his Labour party of this definition If he fails in his duty of care to this nation just to appease to the Islamists vote bank, then history will forever deem the Labour party as an antinational party

Let us be clear, yes there is antisemitism, as there is anti-Hindu, anti-Sikh and anti-Muslim hatred As there are many other types of prejudices that are already covered by existing legislation And yes, we as a nation must ensure all citizens are protected But we can never sacrifice the nation and its people for a morally and ethically corrupt definition that disenfranchises the majority and puts them at risk of being imprisoned for telling the truth about historical facts

There can only be One Law, for One Nation, and for One People

Kapil Dudakia

Jess Phillips MP

Anti-racism initiative by police fails

To combat racism within its r an k s in E n gl a nd a nd Wales, a flagship police plan has failed to spend almost a third of its budget since its in ce pt ion Th e Na tio n al Black Police Association is bew ildere d b y the rev elation

A m i d c o n c e r n s a b o u t community relations in the w

o

George Floyd in May 2020, the Police Race Action Plan (PRAP) was announced by the National Police Chiefs’

C o u n c

N P C C ) b y Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin which ignited the Black Lives Matter movement worldwide

The plan is described as

police force in England and Wales to improve trust and

ties”

A statement about the anti-racism programme on

“Policing is determined to

roots out bias and discrimination from our ranks ”

The PRAP team was not able to spend almost £1 8 million of the £6 million in

between 2021-2024, according to figures released to

The unspent amount more

2021/22 and 2023/24

Harrowing pandemic stories published by inquiry

The inquiry who was examining the impact of Covid-19 pan demi c has publ i she d har rowi ng s tori es fr om patients and NHS workers In reaching conclusions and making recommenda-

t

Story Matters record, which i s d

s s i s t U K Covid-19 Inquiry chairwoman Baroness Heather Hallett showcases stories of some patients who found it diffic

“In this, our first published

that demonstrate the impact of the pandemic on patients, their loved ones, healthcare

s y s t e m s a n d s e t t i n g s , a n d the people working within them

Princess of Wales ‘cancer free’

The Princess of Wales has completed her chemotherapy tr eat men t a nd i n t he coming months she is planni ng to return to limi ted public engagements

was relieved that her course of preventive chemotherapy was over after an “incredibly

focus,” she said

The princess added that her “path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as

ments for the

of the year

Government announces new independent appeals for sub-postmasters

reportedly said, “As

s o includes detail from 604 indepth interviews of those w h o w e r e i n v o l v e d w i t h healthcare

U K C o v i d - 1 9 I n q u i r y secretary Ben Connah said:

n d how some families faced significant challenges in supporting their loved ones at t

“It is a tough read in places – but it really brings to life how people experienced our healthcare systems during those pandemic

share it with us To find out

y m a tters co uk ”

Britain launches three strategic reviews of its foreign policy

To strengthen the country's global impact, Britain's forei gn of fi c e on M on day

la unc hed t hree s tra tegi c reviews of its foreign policy, saying it would deliver the outcomes of the reviews by the end of the year

T h e t h r e e e x t e r n a l

e x p e r

l e d r e v i e w s w i l l assess how to adapt Britain's diplomatic relationships to geopolitical changes, opti-

economic and trade goals

"These reviews will help

impact, build growth internationally and ensure devel-

c y work hand in hand," said F

Lammy

In power since July, the Labour government previously said long-term peace and security in the Middle East would be an immediate focus of its foreign policy It

As part of an add it ion al in depe nde nt appe als p rocess to the Horizon shortfall sc hem e (H SS), wron gly accused subpostmasters will be given an opportunity to have their cases re-assessed, announces the Government The Post Office prosecuted more than 700 subp o s t m a s t e r s , a n d b e t w e e

1999 and 2015, they received criminal convictions due to

that the

appeals will be easy to engage with and its outcomes would be “delivered

“This is not an issue of politics, but of justice ”

Afghan embassy in London to close

the UK Zalmai Rassoul took to X about the closure of the embassy

H

The Taliban has refused to recognise embassies establi sh ed by the pr evi ous Afg han r egi me , i nc ludi ng the on e at Pri nc es Ga te, Kensington As a result, they have dismissed the Afghan embas sy staff , f orci ng the embassy to cease operations

Foreign Secretary David Lammy

also aims to reset Britain s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e European Union, and has said that its commitment to NATO is "unshakeable”

Thousands of students reporting long-term sickness

I n re c en t ye ar s , t en s of thousands of students are going straight from university to long-term sickness after a steep rise in mental health problems

L i z K e n d a l l , t h e Secretary of State for Work

a n d P e n s i o n s , d e s c r i b e s "spiralling inactivity" as the greatest employment challenge of a generation and emphasises that addressing it is key to Labour's plans

f o r b o o s t i n g e c o n o m i c growth A record 2 8 million people are off work due to l o n g - t e r m s i c k n e s s , a n

Liz Kendall, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

increase of 700,000 since t h e C O V I D - 1 9 p a n d e m i c The cost of sickness benefits

is projected to reach £64 billion by the end of the parliament, up £30 billion from pre-Covid levels

l outlier, with sickness up by 27 percent since the pandemic And it has stayed the same or fallen in the rest of Europe 1 in every 15 people of working age in Britain are off through long-term illness, a rate that is 69 percent higher than Germany and more than twice Italy’s level

Killer who stabbed woman 60 times is out of jail

The parole board frees a killer who not only raped his victim but stabbed her 60 times

I n D e c e m b e r 1 9 9 8 , Steven Ling, a farm worker, was sentenced to life for m

early hours of Christmas Day, 1997 Before he could

be considered for parole, he was ordered to serve at least 20 years which was reduced to 18 years after a High Court appeal He has since served an additional nine years following four unsuccessful parole board reviews

A parole panel said that his imprisonment is “ no

protection of the public” Meanwhile, Tulip’s moth-

e r , D

the hearing was for namesake, “ a farce” and that she was “worried sick for the safety of women and girls

o n t h e s t

e

t s

F

1 2 m o n t h s , L i n g i s t o b e tracked with a GPS monitor as part of his conditions for release

“We thank and appreciate all colleagues, citizens, and

have sincerely co-operated with the Afghan Embassy in London during this period

said: “The embassy is being

As education plays a pivotal role in shaping future generations, it is essential to ensure that financial barriers do not restrict access to quality schooling and that every child, regardless of their background or needs, receives the support they deserve

The new Labour government is moving forward with its campaign pledge to tax independent school fees and has initiated a consultation to implement this starting in January 2025

Around 6-7% of UK pupils, approximately 560,000 to 570,000 students, are educated in independent schools

A 2019 report from the Sutton Trust and the Social Mobility Commission highlighted that many leaders in politics, business, and the media were educated at independent schools

Some schools specialise in teaching children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) In some cases, local authorities fund children with education, health and care (EHC) plans to attend independent special schools These schools represent a third of special schools and educate 5% of pupils with EHC plans In 2022, local authorities placed over 20,000 children and young people in independent special schools

The Government claims this move will fund priorities such as hiring 6,500 new state school teachers However, critics worry the state sector may struggle with increased demand, and some analyses suggest the policy could cost taxpayers £1 8 billion

To cover the average annual school fees of £17,000 for two children over 10 years, a family would need £340,000 in disposable income If the family cannot afford the additional VAT on these fees, they would essentially gain a significant financial advantage equivalent to enough savings to purchase a house

A 2018 Baines Cutler analysis and a 2023 EDSK report, estimate that adding VAT to independent school fees could push up to 25% of students to switch to state schools, with some schools potentially facing closure Independent schools themselves estimate up to 33% of children may be forced to leave Additionally, a survey by Ashbridge Partners found 18% of parents would "definitely" move their child to a state school, with 21% "probably" doing the same

Recently, lawyers have warned HM Treasury that the proposed policy could unfairly disadvantage children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and have threatened legal action if it is not abandoned

They argue that increasing school fees might force SEND students out of private schools, where their specific needs are currently better accommodated, leaving the state sector unable to provide adequate support

This marks the first formal legal challenge to Labour’s plans,

‘ E D U C A T I O N N O T T A X A T I O N ’

which have faced significant criticism Additional legal challenges may emerge concerning military families and students in faith schools

Labour’s VAT tax could backfire economically

Research from the Adam Smith Institute suggests that Labour's policy to tax independent school fees could have significant negative impacts not only on children forced to leave their schools due to higher costs but also on the broader economy While Labour estimates the policy could generate around £1 5 billion, the Adam Smith Institute predicts it would raise only £0 84 billion if 5% of students leave If 10% leave, the policy would break even, and if 25% exit, it could cost the Treasury £2 51 billion

Speaking to Asian Voice, Director of Research at Adam Smith Institute, Maxwell Marlow emphasised VAT exemption “could raise no money at all” and may even result in a £1 6bn loss

He said, “Independent schools, especially smaller ones, will likely increase fees to cover the new 20% VAT, as 71% of their budgets go to staffing. If parents cannot afford the higher fees, schools may lose students or even close, leading to job losses for teachers and support staff This could increase costs for the state, as more students would need to be accommodated in the state system, funded by local authorities Additionally, withdrawing 40% of the labour needed to earn these fees could impact downstream tax revenues and negatively affect economic output ”

Maxwell stated that policymakers should anticipate a 15–25% migration of students from independent to state schools He cautioned that, while exact numbers are uncertain, historical precedents, like the situation in Greece, suggest potential chaos He noted, “ 1525% migration, we would see about 100,000 students leave the private sector (reducing its revenue significantly and creating significant unemployment) The state sector, in some areas of the country, would be overwhelmed and spaces could not be provided for children This may force local authorities to continue paying the fees on behalf of parents, in order to maintain their statutory obligations of providing universal education ”

Parents fight back against VAT

Many parents are anxious about the impact of the VAT on

independent school fees To counter this, a group of concerned parents launched the “Education Not Taxation” petition to prevent the 20% VAT imposition and avoid forcing students to switch schools Asian Voice spoke with several parents who support the petition

Spokesperson of Education

Not Taxation, Loveena Tandon said, "The Education Not Taxation campaign has tirelessly fought to show that Labour's determination to tax independent school fees will force children out of their schools We have shown the effects this will have on children's wellbeing, as well as the pressure it will cause already strained state schools We took our concerns directly to Downing Street, through our petition with over 200,000 signatures It is clear that Labour have not heard us, and nor have they heard the concerns of their own colleagues in the House of Lords

Though the Education Not Taxation campaign continues to seek dialogue and hope reason will prevail, we fully support the parents who are pursuing legal action They, like many parents we hear from each and every day, feel that they have been given no other choice We wish them all the best of luck in this important fight

Senior Finance Manager, Bhaveen Jobanputra whose daughter is studying in an independent school explains his motivation for signing the “Education Not Taxation” petition He argues that taxing education is unjust, especially given past issues with such policies, like those in Greece He said, “As a taxpayer, I already contribute to education funding through my taxes, which feels like paying twice for something I don’t use My wife, a primary school teacher, has observed increased demand for state school places, raising concerns about the added pressure on the state system Additionally, children with special needs who require smaller class sizes and more attention are particularly vulnerable to being priced out of independent schools, which is unfair to families struggling to afford it

“There is also a misconception that all private school parents are wealthy, which is not true for many working-class families like ours Instead of targeting these families, other revenue sources could be explored, such as increasing taxes on gambling

companies or tackling tax avoidance by the super-wealthy Overall, there are better ways to address funding shortfalls without disproportionately affecting certain groups This is why I signed the petition and remain active in opposing this policy,” he added

Bhaveen expresses concern about the government's VAT increase on education, starting in January He said, “The government's plan to impose a VAT increase starting in January, midway through the school year, shows a lack of empathy for parents It forces families into hasty decisions and overlooks the need for a gradual implementation, such as a phased 5% increase The impact on children with special needs, who rely on private schools due to inadequate state provisions, is particularly concerning Many families are already stretched thin, and this sudden fee hike could be devastating The government's insensitivity to these issues, reminiscent of their handling of other matters like the winter fuel allowance, is deeply troubling ”

Vikkas Puri, Owner of Thekaa Gastropub, explained his decision to sign the petition, saying, “If you look at the broader picture, it’s clear that this approach seems unfair It feels like a targeted measure that penalises a specific group without addressing more pressing issues For example, private healthcare is a significant concern; many doctors are leaving the NHS for better pay in private sectors, which contributes to the leakage in the system If we ’ re talking about "levelling up," why not focus on these critical areas instead? Even when patients use private hospitals, the burden still falls on the NHS because all medical records and data are shared

“In contrast, this situation seems to single out a small group of students and parents without adequate notice or choice The abrupt change in policy, especially in the middle of a term, without proper communication or a clear process, feels very unfair I’ve tried to get clarity from the council, but their instructions are vague and unhelpful This lack of transparency and consideration for those affected make the treatment seem particularly unjust,” he added

Revathi*, a mother of two, highlighted how the VAT imposition on school fees would significantly impact her family’s finances She shared, “I used to

live in the US, my family situation in India wasn't great I lost my sister to Covid she was a doctor taking care of my parents and after her passing, everything fell on my shoulders Managing it all from the US became impossible, so we moved closer to India, with my husband’s company offering an opportunity in the UK Education is extremely important to us My kids worked hard to earn scholarships to private schools, not something we could afford easily We’ve made significant sacrifices no vacations, cutting expenses to give them the best education possible My 13-year-old even takes two buses and a tram to school to save money on coaching

“However, the financial pressure is mounting, especially with two kids in private school We’re doing everything we can, but a proposed 20% fee increase will make it impossible to continue If that happens, we have tough decisions ahead One option is to return to India, where my company offers a good job, and I can care for my father, who was diagnosed with blood cancer Another is to move the kids to state schools and work with them on extra classes, but that would mean reducing my work hours or even quitting my job, which adds to the stress We're trying to take it step by step, but balancing private school, elderly care, and household responsibilities has become overwhelming,” she added

Speaking about the proposed changes, Revathi stressed the need for more time to adapt "First, we need more time to adjust The proposed changes shouldn’t happen so quickly at least give us a year We want the petition to be delayed until September 2026 which will give the government time to plan state school provision for our children and also help us evaluate our financial condition to make decisions on changing housing etc Schools aren’t ready, and applications for our preferred schools aren’t open due to the rush My son is entering GCSE next year, so I need to find the right school now, and the time we have is just too short Second, the 20% increase is too high While inflation rises, salaries don’t I’ve lived in the US, Ireland, and India, and the UK has the highest taxes and mortgage rates Why are we being treated like we ’ re wealthy?”

“Private schools offer opportunities for bright kids to excel For example, my son, who is highly intelligent, was not challenged in state school, but in private school, he’s placed in a small group where they push him to new levels These kids are the future leaders, and closing private schools would be a loss for the country I work with state school kids through internship programmes, and while they have potential, it will take years to reach the same level I don’t want my child’s education sacrificed in that transition,” she added

*Name changed to protect anonymity

Maxwell Marlow

Bhaveen Jobanputra

Vikkas Puri

Championing South Asian representation in pharmacy

Subhasini Naicker

Sobha Sharma Kandel s pharmacy journey began with a passion for chemistry and early experiences at Hammersmith Hospital and Boots After earning her Master of Pharmacy from UCL in 2004 and qualifying in 2005, she expanded her expertise with an MSc in Pharmacy Practice and independent prescribing

In 2009, Sobha entered the independent pharmacy sector, growing her business to four branches by 2023 Despite balancing family, business, and studies, her dedication earned her a Fellowship of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

In an interview with Asian Voice, she spoke about the South Asian representation in pharmacy, challenges faced by local pharmacies and much more

1How has south asian representation in pharmacy evolved, and what changes have you seen in opportunities and recognition for South Asian pharmacists?

The history of independent community pharmacy in the UK is closely linked to immigrant stories, especially from the South Asian community In the 1980s, many young Asian immigrants pursued pharmacy for its entrepreneurial opportunities, leading to an estimated 50% of independent pharmacies in Britain being Asianowned today Pharmacy remains a popular and respected career choice for South Asians, with many receiving royal honours for their contributions and playing key roles in the sector's diversity and leadership

My parents migrated from Nepal to the UK in the early 70s, and I was born and raised in London in the 80s

Growing up, our local pharmacy, owned by Indian-origin pharmacists, supported our family immensely as my parents navigated healthcare challenges due to language and cultural barriers This experience deeply inspired me to support my community in a similar way I believe I am the first pharmacy contractor of Nepali origin in the UK, and I

am grateful for the opportunities and support I’ve received from the wider South Asian pharmacist community

2In what ways do you believe increased south asian representation in the pharmacy industry can positively impact the communities you serve?

Increased South Asian representation in pharmacy helps us provide culturally sensitive care, reducing health inequalities and improving accessibility In Greenwich, where Nepali is the second most spoken language, my Nepali heritage uniquely positions me to support the large Nepalese population

During my MSc, my thesis on medication adherence among exGurkha elders in Greenwich revealed medium to low adherence rates and concurrent use of herbal medicines, often undisclosed to healthcare professionals This presents challenges in patient care, necessitating better education for healthcare professionals on managing such cases My PhD research continues to focus on optimising patient care by improving healthcare professionals' understanding of herbal medicine use among patients, a topic relevant to all South Asians

3What are some of the major challenges facing local pharmacies today, and how do you address these challenges in your business?

The main challenges we face are NHS funding cuts, which have led to many pharmacy closures, worsened by inflation and workforce issues

Despite our significant contributions, the government doesn't fully recognise the role of community pharmacies, expecting us to do more with less support To address this, we ’ re

diversifying our income streams by offering private services like travel clinics, minor ailments clinics, and blood testing With general practice overstretched, community pharmacies must be relied upon as the frontline for diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care to promote patient health and wellbeing

I believe that Covid19 has helped shift public perception of community pharmacies from being a place where one goes to collect a prescription to a hub where one can access a range of healthcare advice and services A holistic approach is the way forward and this is what patients want as they are more proactive about their health

4How do your pharmacies engage with the local community, and what initiatives have you implemented to support and connect with customers?

We are passionate about increasing healthcare access and have worked on initiatives to reduce health inequalities in the South Asian community This includes volunteering with AFNO (Advocacy for Nepalese Organisation), providing weekly health advice and checks at our pharmacies, and organising physical and mental health awareness sessions Our pharmacy team has also boosted Covid-19 and flu vaccine uptake in BAME communities in Greenwich by creating bilingual videos in English and Nepali to promote vaccinations, supporting NHS Greenwich's efforts to reduce health disparities in the borough My team has engaged in outreach activities at local community centres, temples, and mosques, including vaccination programs We organised an information session with Public Health Greenwich on latent TB for the Nepalese community I also served on a panel at a health and wellbeing fair organised by the NHS during South Asian Heritage Month, where I spoke about local healthcare services available in pharmacies and the evolving role of pharmacists

Leicestershire police officer's community work earns national VAWG Award

P C D ip ti Manani fro m Leicestershire has been hono ur ed a t t he na tio na l V io le nce Agai ns t Wo me n and Girls (VAWG) Awards

She was a joint runnerup in the ‘Focusing VAWG Delivery with Seldom Heard Communities’ category for her impactful work supporting women and girls in east Leicester

In a diverse area with many languages and cultures, PC Dipti Manani partnered with the Zinthiya Trust to address communication challenges and support victims of domestic and sexual abuse

They organised monthly drop-in sessions with multilingual leaflets to reach

underreported cases The success led to expanding these sessions with additional charities and organisations to further build trust and break down cultural barriers

These cover topics such as gambling, food support, benefits and debt advice, energy, substance misuse, period poverty, alcohol and

drug awareness, and housing advice Currently, 80 agencies are involved in these sessions, which have been attended by over 1,000 people Dipti Manani expressed her surprise and joy at being named a joint runner-up for a National VAWG award, saying, "I had to read the email several times to believe it I’m incredibly grateful to my supervisors and all the agencies that supported us The success of the coffee mornings, which broke down language barriers and provided crucial support, has been life-changing for many Seeing the positive impact makes all the hard work worthwhile "

Surge in sexual violence support requests

Survivors in Transition, an Ipswich-based charity for sexual violence survivors, reported a surge in referrals following the closure of a similar local service

Monthly referrals, which had been around 5070, increased to 140 in July and 160 in August Suffolk Rape Crisis

closed due to funding issues, contributing to a surge in referrals at Survivors in Transition, which saw numbers rise from 50-70 to 160 monthly

CEO Fiona Ellis linked the increase to the reopening of a mental health referral pathway and urged

the government to ensure continued support for charities She emphasised the need for quick assurances on funding to prevent further service disruptions Despite the added demand, Ellis assured that her charity is prepared and committed to maintaining service quality

Sobha Sharma Kandel

PC Dipti Manani (Centre)

Largest collection of wacky vehicles in a museum

Shefali Saxena Sudhakar Kanyaboyina, 68, run s the Sudha C ars Mus eum i n H yd era ba d, I ndi a The ca rs come i n unusual shapes and siz es

Here’s his exclusive Q&A with Asian Voice on making it to Guinness Book of World Records:

Whatwas the initial inspiration behind turning everyday objects into wacky cars, and how did you decide to turn this childhood dream into a reality?

The initial inspiration behind turning everyday objects into wacky cars came from my childhood fascination with both automobiles and creativity One day, I looked at everyday objects around me and thought, "What would happen if they started moving?" That idea sparked a lifelong dream

Each object brings its challenges due to its different shape, wheel placement, body design, windshield, and chassis

Figuring out how to make something like a shoe or a burger function as a car is a real engineering puzzle, but I truly enjoyed creating them Turning that childhood dream into reality has been a thrilling journey, and sharing these quirky, functional works of art through the museum allows me to inspire others to look at the world a little differently

Among your collection, which vehicle holds the most sentimental value to you, and what was the process like creating your basketball-shaped car as a passionate player yourself?

Among my collection, the vehicle that holds the most sentimental value to me is the Shoe Car It was the first of my wacky creations, and building it was both an exciting and challenging experience

No one had ever made something like that before, so it was a completely new concept

The challenge of turning a shoe into a functional car pushed my creativity and technical skills to new limits That project marked the beginning of my journey into crafting these unique vehicles, and it will always be special to me

As someone passionate about sports and a national-level

re se mbl i ng ev ery day obj e ct s, f rom ba sk etb al ls and cricket bats to chess boards and snooker tables

The museum, which has been open for 24 years,

basketball player myself, creating the basketballshaped car was a deeply personal and exciting project for me The process was incredibly challenging mastering the grip was a strenuous job, and achieving the perfect spherical shape was a mammoth task

sees more than 1000 visitors every day who come to marvel at the wacky collection, including children on school trips from all over India

the fun I still thoroughly enjoy the entire process of bringing these unconventional ideas to life It’s something I’m deeply passionate about, and that passion continues to fuel me every day The thrill of turning imagination into reality never gets old for me

Whatdoes it mean to you to hold the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of wacky vehicles, and how has this recognition impacted your work and the museum?

Holding the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of wacky vehicles is a real

Since the car has six wheels, figuring out the proper wheel placement added even more complexity One of the most unique aspects is that it can spin like an actual basketball, on either side, which required careful engineering

It took me over a year to bring this idea to life

As a basketball player, I’ve learned resilience and persistence, and those qualities helped me push through the challenges of this project I didn’t give up, and in the end, it became one of my proudest creations

Howdo you continue to maintain the same enthusiasm and creativity after 24 years of running the museum and crafting unique cars?

Even after 24 years of running the museum and crafting unique cars, my enthusiasm and creativity have never wavered Seeing people enjoy these weird and wacky cars brings me immense joy and motivates me to keep creating more Each new design presents its own challenges, and I’ve embraced that as part of

IIW celebrates Teej festival in Britain

Hariyali Teej, a Hindu festival in the holy month of Sawan, celebrates the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Pa rvat i It coincides wit h the monsoon season, which br in gs r e lie f f ro m h e a t waves and joy to farmers with the rains nourishin g their crops

It is a joyful festival celebrated mainly in northern India, where women gather to apply mehndi (henna) and engage in singing and dancing Married women fast and pray for their husbands' well being, while unmarried women participate in hopes of finding a devoted life partner

The North India Chapter of Inspiring Indian Women (IIW), led by Sunita Chaubey, recently celebrated Hariyali Teej in the UK for the second year The vibrant event featured

colourful performances and festive activities, aiming to connect British Indian children with their Hindu traditions and festivals

This year ’ s Hariyali Teej celebration featured performances by Aneesha Saxena, Anusha Baranwal, Prachi Tawade, Amrita Dolly Pandey, and many others Juhi Srivastava and Shalini Jaiswal Shah spoke to

emphasise the festival's significance

The event featured stalls by women entrepreneurs showcasing sarees, accessories, and more IIW, a not-for-profit organisation, aims to promote Indian culture and support UK-based Indian women by sharing success stories and fostering mutual inspiration

Salman Rushdie’s ‘Knife’ longlisted for UK Non-Fiction Award

honor and a dream come true for me It’s an incredible recognition of the creativity and hard work I’ve poured into each of these unique cars over the years Achieving this milestone feels rewarding, not just for me but for everyone who has enjoyed and been inspired by these creations It’s a reminder that following your passion can lead to extraordinary things, and I’m proud to hold this title

This recognition, being my second Guinness World Recordmy first was for making the tallest tricycle in the world has had a tremendous impact on both my work and the museum It’s incredibly encouraging to receive global recognition, which motivates me to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity and design The exposure has brought more visitors to the museum, inspiring people of all ages to appreciate the blend of art and engineering It fuels my passion to create even more wacky vehicles, knowing that my work resonates with people around the world

Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie could become the first author to win major literary awards in both fiction and non-fiction His memoir about surviving an onstage assassination attempt has been longlisted for the £50,000 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction in London Salman Rushdie’s memoir, ‘Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder’, is among twelve books on the longlist for the prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction The judges praised it as an “intimate and personal account of a world-historical event,” reflecting Rushdie’s recovery from the severe stabbing he endured Isabel Hilton, chair of judges and a London-based journalist and broadcaster, expressed her delight at the

longlist results “In a year with so many exceptional non-fiction works, making the longlist was no small feat The books on this list are remarkable, shedding new light on our contemporary world through history, memory, science, and nature This collection exemplifies creativity, criti-

cal thinking, and outstanding writing, demonstrating the vibrant energy and talent in the non-fiction realm,” Hilton said Australian author Richard Flanagan, another Booker Prize winner, is also longlisted for the non-fiction prize with ‘Question 7 ’ , detailing his near-death experience Other longlisted works include Gary J Bass’s ‘Judgement at Tokyo’, Jonathan Blitzer’s ‘Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here’, Annie Jacobsen’s ‘Nuclear War: A Scenario’, and Adam Shatz’s ‘The Rebel’s Clinic’ Additionally, VietnameseAmerican Viet Thanh Nguyen is recognised for ‘A Man of Two Faces’, and Belgian David Van Reybrouck for ‘Revolusi: Indonesia and the Birth of the Modern World’

Ahir Shah’s stand-up special debuts on Netflix

2 02 3 E di nbur gh Comed y Awa rd win ne r Ahi r Shah releases hi s fi rst s tand- up special on Netflix

Recorded earlier this year at London’s Royal Court Theatre, Ahir Shah debut Netflix stand-up special, ‘Ends’, showcases his signature wit and dynamic performance The show delves into themes of immigration, family, and politics, offering an optimistic exploration of generational sacrifice

‘Ends’ began as a workin-progress at the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and quickly became the festival’s Best Show, receiving a flurry of five-star reviews

Following a sold-out fiveweek run at London’s Soho Theatre, the show was hailed as "the most important stand-up of the year, if not the decade It also featured at the Netflix is a Joke festival in Los Angeles Ahir Shah will tour the UK with *Ends* starting January 30, 2025 Ahir Shah has appeared on TV and radio shows such as ‘Live at the Apollo’ (BBC 2), ‘Have I Got News For You’ (BBC 1), ‘QI’ (BBC 2), and ‘The Last Leg’ (Channel 4) He also starred in ‘Jurassic World 3 ’ and will feature in BBC Radio 4 ’ s new sitcom ‘Do Gooders’ In 2021, he launched his first

Ahir Shah

special, ‘Dots’, on HBO Max Ahir has toured globally, performing sold-out shows in the UK, India, Melbourne, Adelaide, Montreal, and the US

Sudhakar Kanyaboyina

Salman Rushdie

Celebrating Sikh identity and diversity through action figures

Subhasini Naicker

Diversity can be introduced to children in various ways, and one powerful method is through the toys they play with Toys not only entertain but also shape children's understanding of the world around them

By offering diverse representation, toys can teach kids about different cultures, identities, and perspectives from an early age Sukh Singh, the

filled with iconic figures With a positive mindset and God's blessings, we set out to change that We

founder of Khalsa Toy Store, has embraced this idea by creating Sikh action figures that reflect Sikh culture and heritage His store provides children with toys that celebrate Sikh identity, helping them not only see themselves represented but also introducing others to the rich history and significance of the Sikh faith Through these figurines, Sukh Singh is fostering a sense of pride, inclusion, and understanding among young minds

Speaking to Asian Voice, Sukh spoke about inspiration to start toy store, feedback from the parents and children and much more

AV: What inspired you to start Khalsa toy store and focus on creating Sikh action figures?

Our inspiration came during a simple moment at my business partner’s home His two children, aged 6 and 8, were playing with generic toys while watching an animation They suddenly looked up and asked, "Dad, why don’t we have any toys that look like us?" By "us," they meant not just South Asian skin tones, but also as Sikhs, wearing turbans and keeping their hair It was a lightbulb moment We realised that growing up, we never had toys representing our identity, despite our rich history

began sketching ideas, aiming to create something meaningful After 14 months, we launched our first character, Baaj Singh a name chosen to honour our heritage

AV: Have you faced any challenges or resistance in bringing your Sikh action figures to market? How did you overcome these obstacles?

We haven't faced resistance, but challenges? Absolutely every day brings new ones While we have a strong understanding of the community, culture, and Sikh history, we had no experience in toy manufacturing or bringing a product to market From a business perspective, it’s been a steep learning curve Every day is a lesson in something new-whether it’s PR, media, building partnerships, or managing a business as just the two of us

One major challenge is meeting the growing global demand for our toys, especially across the Sikh diaspora We've seen significant interest not only in India but also in Canada, Australia, the US, New Zealand, and across Europe Making our products easily accessible in these countries is an ongoing challenge, and

we're constantly working to improve logistics, stock availability, and delivery services

The demand is clearwhenever we have pop-up stores or attend events, people are immediately drawn to our toys because they've never seen anything like this before We're proud of what we've achieved, and we're committed to meeting each challenge head-on to continue making our toys as accessible as possible worldwide

AV: What kind of feedback have you received from parents and children about your products?

The feedback has been phenomenal and deeply heartwarming We've been truly taken aback by the responses Parents have shared stories of children who, previously struggling with confidence and self-image due to bullying, are now embracing their appearance and identity They've told us how these new action heroes have positively influenced how their children present and carry themselves One particularly moving story was of a child who brought the toy to a school diversity session He proudly showed it to his peers, explaining, "This looks like me This is why we wear a turban " He used the toy to explain Sikh traditions, like wearing the 5 Ks, helping his classmates understand Sikh identity This has helped normalise our image and culture among non-Sikhs, creating a positive impact far beyond what we expected

AV: Do you have any plans to introduce new characters or expand the range of toys at Khalsa store?

We have a broad product roadmap in place and are currently working on rolling it out We're also developing an animation that will not only entertain but also educate children about key moments in Sikh history, while introducing new characters Though our focus is on Sikh action figures, we're also creating other Sikh educational toys for various age groups Our aim is to expand gradually, launching one product at a time to

NHS nurse suspended for blatant statement

A loose statement made by a nurse has cost her a job Nimmy George has been suspended for 18 months after boasting that she could "kill someone" in the UK and "still get a job" upon returning to India

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) investigated Nimmy George and brought before the Fitness to Practise Committee for a string of failings between December 2021 and September 2022 while working for the NHS North Cumbria Integrated Care Trust

The panel in a 111-page report mentioned that when she was asked if she needed a reference to return to India, she said: "I could kill someone here and I would still get a job at home"

She also said: "If I disposed of my passport that has my visa attached, and not declare, they would not know, I would have to stay in the country because of no passport ”

The hearing discovered the multiple incidents of her inappropriate behaviour while working as a nurse and she faced 95 charges in total

In one such incident that happened on June 20, 2022, a patient had passed away and when she realised it, she yelled: "It's my observation that the patient in bed five is dead!"

This was observed as "deeply inappropriate" thing to say "at such a volume, given that there were patients' family members in the ward next to them ”

George began working as

a supernumerary nurse on December 20 2021 at the North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) Trust, faced several charges related to her clinical abilities, behaviour, and attitude

A spokesperson for the North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) Trust reportedly said: "Our deputy chief nurse reported the nurse in question to the Nursing and Midwifery Council after concerns were raised about her competence to practice

The nurse had been fully supported by the Trust to improve her practice but unfortunately failed to respond She was dismissed after failing to meet required standards during probation, and her employment with NCIC was terminated on September 2, 2022 ”

Muslim woman arrested for making racial slur in a Church

Shortly before a Sunday morning service, a Muslim woman screamed 'Allahu Akbar' inside a church and said she was 'here to kill the God of the Jews' She entered around 10am allegedly shouting Islamic calls when Pastor Regan King had been preparing for worship at the evangelical Angel Church in Islington, North London,

with his Jewish wife Rachel and young children

She took over the church’s sound system and repeatedly shouted 'Allahu Akbar'

When the woman budged to leave the church and began shouting antiSemitic abuse and screamed: 'I am here to kill the God of the Jews', Metropolitan Police officers

were then called On the suspicion of a religiously-aggravated public order offence, police arrested her King said that his family and himself are deeply concerned and shaken by this incident, especially his wife who is Jewish She is traumatised and now fears going outside, he reportedly added

Bus service to safeguard Jewish Londoners

To help Jewish Londoners feel "safe when they travel", the mayor of London has launched a trial bus route in north London The 310 bus will be in service every 20 minutes between Stamford Hill in Hackney and Golders Green in Barnet

In response to longstanding requests from the Jewish community for a service connecting the neighbourhoods, the bus service was launched, the Mayor's office said

Sadiq Khan said that the route, which operates from 07:00 to 19:00 daily, was

part of one of his re-election pledges

Meanwhile, the London Jewish Forum and the Board of Deputies of British Jews welcomed the the bus route "This bus provides a significant enhancement for our strictly Orthodox community," they said in a statement The 310 trial is the first direct bus service that connectsStamford Hill and Golders Green and has cost Transport for London (TfL) more than £3,160,000

Early release scheme might distress victims: Domestic Abuse Commissioner

Ahead of the Government’s introduction of the temporary early release scheme in prisons, victims of domestic abuse are having “sleepless nights”, said the Domestic Abuse Commissioner

As some of the victims may not be aware of the situation, this can be troublesome and can put victims in danger, said Nicole Jacobs

The plan is set to begin on Tuesday In a bid to ease overcrowding, in July, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans to cut the proportion of sentences inmates must

serve behind bars from 50% to 40%

On Friday, the prison population reached a new record high of 88,521 people and over the past four

weeks, it has risen by more than 1,000 people Domestic abusers might be exempted from the scheme, however, newspapers have reported some domestic violence-related crimes are not always reported as such, leading to concerns that these prisoners could be released early as per the scheme

By March 2025, the Government plans to recruit 1,000 new trainee probation officers to meet additional demand, along with the early release scheme

Sukh Singh

London Mayor Sadiq Khan

E G R A N D C E L E B R A T I O N O F P A R Y U S H A N

A festival of devotion, penance and worship

Jyotsna Shah

The Ja in community, bo th Dera vas i a nd

Stha nakv asi, ha ve trad itiona lly o bser ved the reve red fes tiva l o f Pa ryusha n w orldwide Now, the Diga mba r community is celeb rating the Da sh Laks hani f estival

There are around 35 organisations across the UK, and all of them have, in their own way, engaged in religious activities such as fasting, chanting, meditation and self-study for eight days, striving to purify their body, mind, and soul, which is commendable

Lord and the Emperor, the essence of which is as follows:

In this world, attaining human birth is extremely rare After passing through 8 4 million life forms, one attains human birth due to the influence of one's virtuous deeds The only way to make it meaningful is by not wasting a single moment in carelessness

One must practice selfdiscipline and strive to know oneself Each breath we take should be filled with righteousness " Jainism is scientific, practical, and logical Over these eight days, one recharges their spiritual

At the Navnat Centre in Hayes, London, the Paryushan festival was observed with great devotion from 31 August to 7 September Scholar

Saman Shrutpragyaji (founder of Peace of Mind in Rajkot and Peace Mind Yogic Centre in the USA) explained the importance of Paryushan on the first day, stating that "The religious scripture, Kalpasutra, written by Bhadrabahu Swami, reveals new secrets each time it is heard It never goes out of date!”

He further elaborated that 2600 years ago, on this very auspicious day in the BharatKshetra of Jambudweep, Lord Mahavir's Samvasarana was established in the city of Rajgruhi in the Magadh region Lord Mahavir

realised

- Kshamapana: One must abandon feelings of enemity and cultivate friendship

- Chaitya Paripati: This involves visiting temples and pilgrimage sites

Second day of Paryushan

On the second day of Paryushan, which fell on a Sunday, the birth celebration of Lord Mahavir was observed

battery, which sustains them throughout the year Jainism is a religion of non-violence, friendship, and brotherhood It promotes love for one another and has no place for aggression During Paryushan, five duties are to be followed:

- Amari Pravartan: We must develop the ability to present Lord Mahavir’s principle of non-violence on the world stage

- Sadharmik Vatsalya: This refers to compassion and kindness towards those in need

- Religion must be practiced with discernment (vivek); it is not achieved through austerity alone but by

began delivering his teachings, and during that time, Emperor Shrenik was present A dialogue took place between the

conquering inner enemies

Until ego is eradicated, true religion cannot be

From Navnat, online Pratikraman (a ritual of repentance) and discourses were made available so that those unable to leave their homes could still participate and benefit from the observances

At Mahavir Foundation, under the leadership of young president Neeraj Sutaria and with the support of committee members, the Paryushan festival was celebrated with great enthusiasm Well-known musicians and scholars from India, Harshil and Mokshit Beladi, immersed everyone in the spirit of devotion and faith Many participants from all three generations took part, highlighting the significance of penance In this organisation, 82 penances of varying intensity were performed, including 58 "Atthai" (eight-day fasts) Even young children practiced penance, gaining control over hunger

During the Samvatsari Pratikraman (annual ritual of repentance), more than 1,000 participants of all ages joined with devotion, confessing the sins and mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly throughout the year This act truly embodied the essence of poet Kalapi s lines: “Yes, repentance is a vast spring flowing from heaven; by taking a dip in it, the sinner becomes virtuous ”

The Visha Oshwal

Samaj UK is the largest congregation, with various branches, including the Potters Bar Centre, participated in the Paryushan festival The

presented in English as well On Saturday, 14 September, from 8:00 to 10:00 PM, a program of satsang, devotion, and meditation will be held at

spiritual observances were enhanced by insightful lectures from the religious chairman, Shri Jayeshbhai Shah, along with online Pratikraman sessions Additionally, the community’s website featured well-curated presentations on the significance of Paryushan in English, covering various topics aimed at educating the younger generation

At the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission's Bushey Centre in London,

many devotees benefited from the discourses of Gurudev Shri Rakeshbhai during the Paryushan festival Regular activities such as yoga and meditation were also conducted at the centre With a focus on the youth, talks were

in the Barasa Sutra, and its viewing is considered highly auspicious The services of Jain Network s religious committee members, including Shri Vijaybhai Sheth, Beenaben Holden, Jayashreeben Modi, and Kusumben Punatar, were commendable

Fifth day of Paryushan On the fifth day of Paryushan, the birth of Lord Mahavir is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy The atmosphere is filled with bliss and excitement On the last day of Samvatsari, everyone seeks and offers forgiveness, experiencing a profound sense of purity and reconciliation This is the essence of this grand festival

SRMS London Spiritual Centre, Falcon Road, Bushey, WD23 3AD Prior to this, dinner will be served from 6:30 to 7:30 PM Those interested are requested to register in advance at london Somdev org/registe r Under the leadership of the Jain Network, the Paryushan festival was celebrated for the first time at the newly established Jainalay and centre in Colindale with great devotion, led by Dr Natubhai Shah’s daughter, Linaben, and son-in-law, Dr Ajaybhai Shah Spiritual influencers Shri Sameerbhai Sheth and Shaileshi Didi Ajmera ignited the flame of knowledge, while musician Shri Vijaybhai Doshi, with his melodious voice and music, immersed everyone in devotion On the day of Samvatsari, the Sheth family was blessed to witness the Barasa Sutra’s pictorial collection Throughout the eight-day festival, the religious scripture Kalpasutra was recited, presenting the life summaries of Lord Mahavir's 27 incarnations, along with other Tirthankaras The essence of Lord Mahavir’s teachings is encapsulated

Leicester Jain Samaj Europe, under the guidance of its leader, Shri Hiteshbhai Shah conducted the Paryushan festival with great devotion Following the Paryushan festival for Deravasi and Sthanakvasi communities, the celebration of the Dash Lakshani Maha Festival continues until September 17 For more details, please contact President Ushaben Mehta at 07440 056 701 This year, the Dubai Jain Sangh also had the opportunity to attend a series of discourses under the guidance of Acharya

Lokeshji, with a large number of attendees

During the Paryushan festival, there was a notable increase in participation in practices such as penance, darshan, worship, devotion, meditation, yoga and study This sacred festival, which focuses on the ten qualities of the soul, is also known as the Dash Lakshani festival This year, the number of Atthai performances exceeded 125, setting a new record Acharya Lokeshji stated that "the essence of the entire Paryushan practice is the development of equanimity and meditative insight in life "

A grand image of the ceremonial adornment during the Samvatsari festival at Kenton Jain Derasar

Acharya Lokeshmuniji at the Dubai Jain Sangh Paryushan Celebration

On the podium, Saman Shrutpragyaji addressing the attendees From the left are Navnat President Jashwant Doshi and Religious Committee Chairman Bhupendra Shah

At the new Jain Centre in Colindale, offering a viewing of the Barsa Sutra illustrations, from the left are Cllr Vipinbhai Mithani, Dr Ajaybhai Shah, Lina Shah, Vijay Sheth, Kiran Sheth, Kusum Punatar and Bina Holden

Gurudev Shri Rakeshbhai of the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission

In Dabhoi, Gujarat, following Paryushan, a grand procession of ascetics (Tapasvis) is held, which ranks as the second largest in India This is a glimpse of the procession that took place on 10th September

Bridging the Gap: Asthma awareness and cultural sensitivity in South Asian communities

Asthma awareness within the South Asian community is a crucial yet often underdiscussed topic Many South Asian families may not fully understand the prevalence, symptoms, or management of asthma, partly due to cultural barriers and limited access to tailored health information This lack of awareness can lead to delayed diagnoses, inadequate treatment, and significant health impacts

Addressing these gaps involves not only increasing education about asthma's symptoms and treatment options but also promoting culturally sensitive approaches to healthcare that resonate with South Asian values and practices Raising awareness can empower individuals and families to seek timely medical help, manage asthma more effectively, and improve overall respiratory health in the community

Challenges that South Asian fam ilies face in managing Asthma

Laura King, BN(Hons) RN(Child), Senior Children & Young People's Asthma Practitioner for North-East London, highlights the challenges South Asian families face in managing asthma, particularly due to language barriers and differing perceptions She explained, "Many South Asian families view conditions like asthma and allergies as nonexistent, making it difficult to communicate risks There's also a preference for natural remedies, but asthma involves airway inflammation that requires steroids for management Early treatment with inhalers is effective and carries minimal risks, whereas delays can lead to severe attacks needing potent oral steroids with greater risks "

Addressing the disparity in asthma treatment access among South Asian families, she noted, “Data shows that more Asian children are hospitalised with asthma attacks, especially in deprived areas When information isn’t accessible, managing asthma becomes very difficult Isolated communities often rely on peer support, which can be influenced by older beliefs that conditions like asthma don’t really exist ”

Importance of cultural dynamics

Speaking about the

cultural dynamics and stigma about Asthma in South Asian community, Professor Monica Lakhanpaul, Honorary Consultant Paediatrician

Whittington NHS Trust said, “When South Asian children in the UK still have asthma hospitalisation rates three times those of the majority White population and are more likely to suffer uncontrolled symptoms, have hospital admissions with acute asthma and be affected by underdiagnosed or delayed diagnosis, the importance of culturallysensitive healthcare provision in order to make a real difference to how chronic health conditions such as asthma are managed within the South Asian community becomes even more stark ”

“Just prescribing medication is not enough, we need to truly understand the complex link between culture and optimal asthma management We need to understand the importance of family dynamics, including wider support networks such as grandparents and extended family and recognise the need to deliver more inclusive education programmes We need to work with communities and families to address diverse cultural concerns such as fears of regular medication or steroids and also the stigma that still relates to a diagnosis of asthma

Asthma can be a silent killer but it does not need to be if we work in partnership with communities to raise awareness of the symptoms, diagnosis and the positive lives children can lead if treated properly,” she added

‘Every day, m illions of UK families, including mine’

Kashif Ahmed from Bradford said, “I've lived in Bradford all my life and have a deep fondness for the city However, there's an invisible threat here that constantly worries my family On bad days, it

leaves us coughing, wheezing, and struggling

to breathe As someone with asthma, toxic air worsens my symptoms and can trigger attacks It s not just me my two young sons, brother, and niece also suffer Every day, millions of UK families, including mine, are exposed to harmful air pollution without even realising it

"The number of cars has surged since I was younger, and emissions from older diesel engines are a major cause of pollution Children are especially vulnerable, with dirty air stunting lung growth and worsening asthma South Asians with asthma in the UK face greater challenges, including later diagnoses, more hospital visits, and a higher risk of death It’s frightening, and it shouldn’t be this way," he added

Brent schools offered free asthma training

Brent schools can receive free training to achieve asthma-friendly status, helping staff recognise and manage asthma attacks and administer medication correctly So far, 11 schools have been trained, with 25 more set to receive training next year The one-hour sessions can be delivered in person or virtually, during or after school hours

Cllr Neil Nerva, Cabinet Member for Community Health and Wellbeing, said, “Lots of children in the borough suffer from asthma and so it is a real comfort to parents to know that staff understand the condition and how to deal with issues should they arise

“This scheme not only trains teachers and other school staff, but also provides free equipment available from local pharmacies to ensure they have everything they need to keep children safe I would encourage all schools to apply for the training ”

Tory health reforms left UK susceptible to Covid calamity: Doctor’s report

Britain suffered a lot by the Covi d- 19 pan demi c than other devel oped countries due to the weakened NHS by di sa st rous govern men t policies over the preceding decade

As per the assessment of the NHS by the worldrenowned surgeon Prof Ara Darzi, commissioned in July by the Health Secretary Wes Streeting, will show that the health service reduced its “routine healthcare activity by a far greater percentage than other health systems” in many key areas during the Covid crisis

The report suggested that hip and knee replacements fell by 46% and 68% respectively and hospital discharges as a whole dropped by 18% between 2019 and 2020 in the UK

Prof Darzi will mostly criticise former Tory health secretary Andrew Lansley’s top-down reorganisation of the NHS under David Cameron’s prime ministership “The Health and Social Care Act of 2012 was a calamity without international precedent – it proved disastrous,” Darzi will say, adding: “The result of the

disruption was a permanent loss of capability from the NHS This is an important part of the explanation for the deterioration in performance of the NHS as a whole

“Rather than liberating the NHS, as it had promised, the Health and Social Care Act 2012 imprisoned more than a million NHS staff in a broken system for the best part of a decade ”

Impact of Covid lockdowns to disrupt England’s schools in 2030s:

If r e po r t to be be l ie v e d , repairing the damge done to the children's education impacted by the pandemic l ockd o w ns a nd cl os ur e s will ruin England s schools until the mid-2030s

The Association for School and College Leaders (ASCL), have published the analysis believes that the after-effects of the pandemic will hit schools in a series of waves, affecting different age groups requiring varying solutions for

their problems with learning, behaviour and absence

Tim Oates, the report’s author and an expert on assessment, said: “While secondary schools are reporting an increase in reading difficulties among year 7 pupils, poor personal organisation and challenging patterns of interaction, staff in primary schools are reporting very serious problems of arrested language development, lack of toilet training, anxiety in

Report

being in social spaces, and depressed executive function ” He added that it was a grave mistake to think that schools have returned to pre-pandemic normality

Meanwhile, Pepe Di’Iasio, the general secretary of the ASCL, said that this report shows that, while the headlines have moved on from Covid-19, the impact on schools and children remains a day-today reality

Almost half of doctors harassed by patients: Research

In a sh oc king revelatio n, almost half of doctors internationally have been sexually harassed by patients T hi s has led to calls for providing medics with panic alarms to help deter such behaviour

According to a review covering seven countries published in the Internal Medicine Journal, on an international level, 45% of doctors have suffered sexual harassment of different sorts from patients

The academics have

found that more than half (52 2%) of female doctors have experienced sexual harassment It means that they are much more likely to be affected than their male counterparts (34 4%)

Doctors often face various forms of sexual harassment, such as unwanted sexual advances, inappropriate jokes, requests for dates, unwelcome physical contact, and romantic messages or letters from patients

The findings have been

made from a meta analysis of 22 previously published research papers from different parts of the world which were analysed by Dr Caroline Kamau-Mitchell at Birkbeck College, which is part of the University of London

“I recommend that hospitals and clinics take these findings seriously, giving doctors who work in isolated wards, on night shifts or alone protection such as CCTV and panic alarms,” she reportedly said

NHS consultant and daughter may be forced to leave UK

Owing to a row with the Home Office over a visa for her elderly mother, an NHS paediatrician whose medic hus ban d di ed duri ng th e pandemic could be forced to le ave the UK wit h he r daughter

Dr Liza Harry and Katelyn, 11, were devastated when Dr Shree Vishna Rasiah, a neonatologist at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital –known as Vish passed away on 23 April 2020 after contracting Covid-19

On a six-month visiting visa, Dr Harry’s mother,

Zohora, arrived from Trinidad in June that year, but, she wanted to stay indefinitely to support her daughter Her indefinite

leave to remain visa application was rejected at first but then the Home Office promised to expedite the case following which Mrs Harry received a grant of leave for 30 months on compassionate grounds 76-year-old Mrs Harry applied for a visa extension in October 2023, however, the Home Office denied the extension in January

The family sought legal action, but a judge at the First-Tier Tribunal backed the refusal Dr Harry said the family will seek justice at the Upper Tribunal

Monica Lakhanpaul

Kashif Ahmed

Health Secretary Wes Streeting

Prof Ara Darzi

Dr Shree Vishna Rasiah

Campaigners welcome plans for no-fault eviction ban

As part of a Re nters’ Rights B ill, ministers are expected to introduce a ban on so-called n o -fa ult e v ic ti on s i n th e coming week

The previous government had promised it, but being concerned about its impact on landlords among Tory MPs led to its delay, and it ran out of time to come into effect before the elections

As per the Section 21

evictions, it allows landlords to evict their tenants with two months’ notice and without any given reason

Once the Bill became law, the ban would take place immediately, unlike the one planned by the Tories, which would have faced a delay amid court reforms

Dan Wilson Craw, deputy chief executive of Generation Rent, reportedly said, “Evictions have surged

in recent years, so it is welcome that the Government is acting quickly to introduce legislation to tackle this crisis

“The abolition of Section 21 evictions is long overdue and requiring landlords to provide a valid reason for eviction will give tenants more confidence to challenge disrepair and poor treatment by landlords and letting agents ”

Deliveroo accused of paying drivers below agreed pay

A s pa rt of the fi rs t- ev er uni on agreement to cover earnings in the gig economy, Deliveroo has been accused of payi ng drivers below a m in i mum pa y f loor the company agreed earlier this year

As per the analysis carried out by Rodeo, an app that aids gig economy workers to track their payments, disclosed that of 531 food orders completed in the past four months, 278 fell below the rate of £12 an hour agreed with the GMB union in May

Martin Wills, an Exeterbased driver working for the company since 2021, reportedly said, “Deliveroo has gained lots of positive PR [from the deal] but I found 48% of my orders were below the pay floor I’m fed up with big companies breaking their promises to working-class people and I’m determined they should be held accountable,” he said

A Deliveroo spokesperson reportedly said, “We guarantee all riders earn at least £12 an hour while completing a delivery and the majority earn far more than this This is audited annually to ensure compliance with this policy ”

PM defends winter fuel cut

In an interview with the BB C, th e p rime minist er said that his new government is "going to have to be unpopular" while defending his "tough" decision to cut winter fuel payments

In his first major interview in Downing Street, speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Sir Keir Starmer said he was determined to deliver change but this meant having to "do the difficult things now"

He said: "When we talk about tough decisions, I’m

talking about the things the last government ran away from ”

On his plan for winter fuel payments, Sir Keir said, "every Labour MP was elected on the same mandate as I was, which was to deliver the change that we need for the country"

He also expressed concern about the rise of the far right after the recent riots, however denied that the UK was a racist country Amid a backlash from ministers and unions over

decision to scrap winter fuel payments for most older people, Sir Keir Starmer is facing a revolt from dozens of Labour MPs More than 30 Labour MPs protested and backed a motion calling for the £300 payment to be reinstated for ten million pensioners this winter

The prime minister was accused by the union of cruelty and “picking pensioners’ pockets”, and Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, was compared to the “Grinch at Christmas”

HMRC sacks 179 civil servants

According to the latest Civil Service People Survey, levels of bullying and harassment at HMRC are at 8 percent (pc), whic h is the average across all departments 10pc of workers have experienced b ullying or harassment at DWP

However, compared to a benchmark of 64pc, levels of

engagement among tax office workers are lower than anywhere else in the civil service at 56pc

A government spokesman said: “All large organisations will face occasional issues with staff behaviour, and we take all allegations seriously to ensure we work in an inclu-

sive environment that is friendly, tolerant and respectful

“All our employees must ensure they follow our code of conduct alongside the civil service code, with breaches looked into and if necessary investigated, potentially resulting in dismissal ”

Ways Rachel Reeves can boost her spending power

Si nc e the Lab our Gover nment ha s c ome to power after their win in July, i t ha s st res s ed r epea tedl y just how the public finances are in poor shape blaming 14 years of Conservative rule

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned of "painful" decisions referring to the budget that will be presented by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves in October They believe this is necessary in order to repair what they claim is a £22bn "black hole" left by the Tories

Some left-leaning think tanks think that there are

other ways that Reeves could raise vital funds that haven't been the subject of much discussion up to now

relating to billions of pounds held by the Bank of England

The Institute for Public Policy Research and the New Economics Foundation believe exploring bank reserves might help saving money for the Government and will allow it to spend more to fund the UK's ailing public services

A change in the rules could free up money for ministers to spend money on areas like the NHS and schools, suggested former Labour prime minister

Gordon Brown

Woman wins appeal to challenge “cut-throat” corporate culture

In an employment tribunal ap peal , a woman wi th a chronic illness has won the ri ght t o c ha lle nge “ c utthroat” corporate culture

Sanju Pal, of West Hampstead was removed by financial services firm Accenture (UK) Ltd in 2019 claiming that she was underperforming

The company that operated an “ up or out” model, said any employee who is not promoted within four years should leave

However, the 41-year-

old, who claimed that her performance was compromised by chronic illness of Endometriosis, has won the right to challenge the legality of firing

Pal seeking £15,000 towards the legal costs of her appeal has launched a crowd-funding webpage where so far, she has raised almost £1,700

“I’ve gone through a horrific time with my mental health,” she said “But my core is strong My belief is that we have the capacity to change things in this world for the better I know that deep down, I am strong ”

140k Leicestershire residents might pay more tax

Am id s pec ula ti on ove r a pos si bl e Gove rnme nt r ul e change, people living alone in the city and county could be hit by a tax hike At present, si ngle-pers on households can avail a 25 per cent discount on the amount of council tax they pay

Angela Rayner, deputy prime minister, cleared that the Labour Government has no plans to scrap the discount, but refused to rule it out This has caused fears

that millions of people across the county might end up paying high bills, the Reach Data Unit reports

Around 138,561 people in Leicester and Leicestershire are currently eligible for the lower rate Of the county areas, residents of the Charnwood would be most impacted by the scrapping of the discount at 22,887 (30 per cent) However, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough and Melton District have the highest percentage of people within their boundaries who would be charged more i e 33 per cent

Work Christmas parties may soon become a thing of the past

Work Christmas parties may soon be consigned to history as UK workers no longer want them, according to a new study

A nationwide survey by gifting and reward experts

Love2shop has found 87% of workers would choose a Christmas bonus or gift card over a staff party in 2024 –up 5% from 83% last year

September is the key time of year of HR leaders to book and organise the annual festive celebration, but astonishingly only 8% of Brits would actually choose to have a work Christmas party at all, according to the poll

any kind of work celebration at all 63% of workers said no, they didn’t – a 7% increase on the previous year

Christmas parties, some employers continue to ask workers to contribute to them – despite the taxman allowing them to spend £150 per head tax-free on a celebration

When asked, 46% of workers said that for their last Christmas party they had to contribute on average £37 – four pounds more than the previous year

A ne w UNI SON r e po r t reveals that councils across the UK are facing a collect iv e fu nd ing sh o rt fa l l of £4 3bn by 2025/26, rising to £8 5bn by 2026/27 In England alone, the gap is expected to reach £6 9bn by 2026/27 These figures, based on freedom of information requests and councils' financial forecasts, exceed the Local Government Association's (LGA) earlier estimates of a £2 3bn shortfall in 2025/26, rising to £6 2bn by 2026/27 UNISON General

Secretary Christina McAnea warned, "Councils are teetering on the brink of financial disaster, putting countless essential services and jobs at risk, with dire consequences for communities across Britain "

Love2shop first investigated the state of British workplace Christmas parties in 2023 and already there is a clear trend that the traditional works ‘do’ is facing extinction as even more workers wish to see the end of them

In this year's study, when asked if they wanted

The biggest turn-off this year is awkward small talk, with half of Brits stating that having to chat to colleagues was the thing they hated most Drunken coworkers being annoying remains the second biggest issue for people, remaining unchanged year-on-year at 36% That’s a lot of potential irritation when 80% of Christmas parties involve alcohol

Despite the decline in popularity of work

On top of that there was the cost of outfits, transport and – in some cases –accommodation all of which has also increased in price

Of the 87% who would prefer a bonus, 16% would choose a gift card with the average value they could spend expected to be £110

Replacing a party with a gift is easier for employers too HMRC actually allows businesses to give each employee a non-cash gift up to the value of £50 with no paperwork, no National Insurance contribution and no tax

Chancellor Rachel Reeves

Sanju Pal

Deputy PM Angela Rayner

Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel

25 years ago today, my column in the Financial Times advocated moving into US stocks only Today the Financial Times published an article confirming UK pension funds hold the least UK stocks th ey ’ ve ever done

In 1999, you made a forward-thinking decision to divest from UK assets and shift focus to the US, foreseeing that US equities would outperform the UK market over the following decades Reflecting on this 25 years later, the underperformance of UK pensions and markets raises pertinent questions about why UK pension funds failed to adjust their strategies similarly and why domestic bias persisted, leading to substantial missed opportunities for pensioners and savers UK Pension Fund Underperformance

UKIIFB launched to mark strengthening of UK-India financial and professional service partnership

Rupanjana Dutta

The poor returns of UK pensions have been driven by multiple factors, many of which reflect a structural conservatism Historically, UK pension funds held significant portions of their assets in domestic equities However, as highlighted in a recent report, allocations to UK stocks have now hit a historic low, with just 4 4% of UK pension assets held in domestic equities as of 2024 This shift was largely driven by a series of regulatory changes and the de-risking of defined-benefit (DB) schemes, pushing pension funds towards bonds rather than equities

The preference for bonds was reinforced by a focus on stability and liability matching, especially as DB schemes matured and began to wind down As a result, while these funds secured some level of safety, they also missed out on the growth potential offered by equities, particularly in the booming US market Even though defined-contribution (DC) schemes, which are more growth-oriented, are now the fastest-growing area in the UK pension sector, their domestic bias persists Only around 8% of these schemes' assets are allocated to UK stocks, and their performance lags behind other global peers

Wh y Did UK Pension Funds Not Follow the US Example?

The fundamental question is why UK pension funds did not pivot sooner to growth opportunities in the US, as you did The answer lies in a mix of regulatory inertia, cost concerns, and a preference for home-country bias UK pension funds were pushed into "de-risking" strategies, which favoured bonds and safer investments over the long-term growth potential of equities This strategy may have been designed to secure short-term stability, but it overlooked the opportunities in higher-growth areas, such as US tech stocks, which performed remarkably well during this period

Another contributing factor was the cost sensitivity of UK pension funds, which led them to avoid investing in equities, especially foreign ones, which may have been seen as more expensive due to exchange rate risk and additional transaction costs Moreover, political and regulatory frameworks incentivized investment in domestic markets, despite evidence that higher returns were being achieved elsewhere

The Cost of Domestic Bias

The reluctance to embrace international equities, particularly the high-growth US market, has come at a substantial cost to UK pensioners and savers As you noted, US stocks, especially in the tech sector, have outperformed UK equities significantly over the last two decades For instance, the S&P 500 has consistently outpaced the FTSE 100 in terms of total return, benefiting from high-growth companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon UK pensioners, by maintaining a domestic bias, missed out on these growth opportunities

The true cost of this domestic bias is difficult to quantify precisely, but the scale of the underinvestment is clear According to estimates, UK pension funds could have doubled their allocation to UK stocks and still remained within international norms Had they taken a more global approach and invested more heavily in US growth stocks, pensioners could have reaped far higher returns Given the performance disparity between the US and UK markets, it’s plausible that this domestic bias has cost UK pensioners billions in lost potential gains

A Path Forward

Looking ahead, there is increasing pressure on UK pension funds to reassess their strategies There is debate within the UK government on whether pension schemes should have greater incentives or requirements to invest in British assets However, it is equally important for these funds to consider more globally diversified strategies to maximize returns for their beneficiaries A shift towards US equities and other global growth markets, as you advocated in 1999, would benefit UK pensioners significantly

My anger at UK pensioners being let down by Governments and fund managers led me to create my Campaign for a Million, to teach a million people, free, how to invest better and add an extra million across their lifetimes into their pensions – continuing the work I began in 1999

The Foreign Trade Agreement is “not dead” and pretty much part of the UK-India partnership agenda, focussing on service and skills, Chris

H

London Corporation assured, as the

Bridge (UKIIFB) was launched between the City of London Corporation and

Transforming India (NITI Aayog) on Wednesday 4 September at the Guild Hall in the City of London, marking the

between UK and India.

The Foreign Trade Agreement dialogue and negotiations between the two countries, started during the Tory government And after missing many completion deadline promises around Diwalis, it was stalled after the 15th round Though the snap election in the UK and general election in India were given as plausible explanations for stalling, rumours were the negotiations had hit a dead end over unresolved issues between the parties

Though Labour Party had listed the completion of UK-India FTA as a part of their manifesto, the progress on the existing draft or any movement towards a new draft is yet to be noted

On 4 September morning, a panel discussion between Ben Mellor, FCDO India and Indian Ocean Directorate, Indian High Commissioner Vikram K Doraiswami, BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO, Nitiayog and Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman, City of London Corporation emphasised that FTA is not be all and end of all It is in fact of many dialogues, initiatives and projects between UK-India

UKIIB is in fact one of such many initiatives, but the first of its kind to use UK’s expertise to eliminate issues pertaining to partnerships, so that investments are eased into India In other words, this UKIIFB initiative leverages the UK’s expertise in structuring and phasing major projects in order to unlock sustainable infrastructure investment into India

The UKIIFB also announced a steering committee, today, which includes representatives from HM Treasury, Aon, Arup, Mott MacDonald, Clifford Chance,Sequoia Investment Management Company, Department of Economic Affairs, Larsen & Toubro,

Sorin Investment Fund, Economic Laws Practice and AECOM India Private Limited

The steering committee will drive the recommend aims of the UKIIFB, such as:

• To suggest ways to accelerate the mobilisation of international private sector investment into Indian sustainable infrastructure

• To provide policy makers with recommendations on how to address barriers to international private sector investment in Indian sustainable infrastructure

• To work together towards developing knowledge and best practices on sustainable infrastructure projects and how these can be better positioned as investable and attractive to international investors

The first raft of projects under consultation in the partnership include national highways, regional rapid transport and renewable energy

Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, said, “I am delighted to today sign the UK India Infrastructure Financing Bridge welcoming a new chapter in the extensive business relationship between our two nations The UK’s expertise in professional services, finance and scaling major projects makes it a natural partner to meet India’s growing infrastructure needs, showcasing the City of London’s position as a global city

“Additionally, our leadership and talent in green finance can facilitate the development of India’s ambitious sustainable projects providing climate solutions in the push to net zero

“We look forward to further developing this new and exciting partnership ”

BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, said, “The UK India Infrastructure Financing Bridge (UKIIFB), jointly announced by the Hon’ble Finance Minister of India and the

UK needs huge extra investment for a decade to achieve 3% growth: report

British prime minister Keir Starmer said that he wanted the economy to achieve an annual growth rate of 2 5 to 3 per cent while campaigning in the run-up to July 4 election For achieving this growth rate, an extra investment of £100 billion a year is needed in the next 10 years, particularly in energy, housing and venture capital, according to the report by UK f in anc ial s ervi ce s l obby group Capi tal Mark ets Industry Taskforce

The investment could come out of the £6 trillion in longterm capital in Britain’s pensions and insurance sector, the report’s lead author Nigel Wilson said According to him, since there was under- investment in UK for a long time, there’s a massive gap between Britain and other G7 countries According to him the long-term capital in the country needs to be relocated

The economy needs an extra £50 billion annually in energy investment, as it seeks to meet net zero targets, £30 billion in housing and £20-30 billion in venture capital, the report said The government should look at incentives to investment, such as reductions in taxes on shares for retail investors, the report added

Chancellor of the Exchequer of the UK, represents a significant collaborative effort spearheaded jointly by NITI Aayog and the City of London This initiative underscores the commitment of both nations to work together in unlocking major infrastructure investment opportunities in India This is a game-changer that not only accelerates India's economic ascent but also strengthens its position on the global stage It is not limited to connecting the two nations; it connects India to its aspirations of becoming a global powerhouse "

HE Vikram K Doraiswamy, High Commissioner of India to the UK, said, “The team at the High Commission are delighted by the establishment of this financing bridge today Announced as an objective at the last India – UK Economic and Financial Dialogue in September 2023, this structure is the culmination of over a year of shared effort

“The UKIIFB is a striking testament to the complementarity of our bilateral economic relationship It is a means for India and the UK to use the respective strengths of their systems-the UK's sophisticated and wellresourced financial sector, and India's world-leading capacity to generate sustainable and high value returns in the long-term--to offer each other the benefit of growth-based partnerships for the long-term As India's NITI Aayog and the City of London implement the UKIIFB, and thereby jointly design large infrastructure project proposals in a manner that benefits private capital inflows, India and the UK will broaden and deepen their relationship by contributing to each other's lasting and sustainable growth ” Ben Mel lor, FCDO India and Indian Ocean Directorate added how FTA remains a priority, but we need to be realistic about it as it remains “the floor and not the ceiling” of potentials

UK regulator slams Google for ‘anti-competitive’ practices

Alphabet Inc ’ s Google is abusing its dominant position in advertising technology, the UK’s antitrust agency warned in a move that could pave the way for hefty fines and an order to change one of the tech giant’s most lucrative businesses

The Competition and Markets Authority said in its statement of objections that Google is using its dominance in tech advertising to prioritize its own services and is potentially harming thousands of UK publishers and advertisers

Google has long held a key position in which it’s able to collect data on users, allowing advertisers to target ads to them It also sells ad space and provides the technology that allows for advertisers to find publishers to sell their space

Using its own algorithms, Google automatically calculates and offers ad space and prices to advertisers and publishers as a user clicks on a web page Online advertising is Alphabet’s most lucrative business, generating about $225 billion, or about 80% of total revenue in 2022 “It’s so important that publishers and advertisers – who enable this free content –can benefit from effective competition and get a fair deal when buying or selling digital advertising space," said Juliette Enser, the CMA’s interim executive director of enforcement

BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog and Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation

Panellists Ben Mellor, FCDO India and Indian Ocean Directorate, Indian High Commissioner HE Vikram K Doraiswami, BVR

Subrahmanyam, CEO, Nitiayog and Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman, City of London Corporation with Moderator Simi Shah Director Trade & Investment City of London Corporation

Adani eyes Kenya airport, sets up unit amid protests

Adani Enterprises has set up a company in Kenya to

a c quir e a nd

c

e

c omp a ny, Air po r ts Infrastructure, is looking to take ove r the manageme nt of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

The move drew protests from the country’s transport workers over potential job losses, international media reported Adani Enterprises has established Airports Infrastructure through its Abu Dhabibased subsidiary, Global

Airports Operator, a statement to stock exchanges said It has proposed an investment of $750 million for a new terminal and taxiway system by 2029 to the Kenyan authorities, with an additional $92 million for improvements by 2035 If the deal is struck, it will be Adani’s first airport outside of India It

currently operates a little over half a dozen airports in India

Homegrown player GMR operates the Mactan Cebu International Airport in the Philippines The Hyderabad based company has also bagged deals to operate the Crete Airport in Greece as well as the Kualanamu International Airport in Indonesia

As part of its long-term plans, Adani Enterprises intends to list the airport business, housed under wholly-owned subsidiary Adani Airport Holdings, on the bourses by FY28

Ex-AirAsia India to be merged into AI Express

In d ia ’ s lo w co st ca r rie r (LCC) space is in for a major r e jig w ith T a ta Gro up ’ s

m e g a A ir In dia Ex pr e ss coming into being on Oct 1, 2024, when the process of m ergin g erstwhile AirAsia India into it gets completed The combined entity, with 7,000 employees, as of now

h a s 8 4 a ircr a ft (m ain l y

Bo e ing 7 37s an d a f e w

A ir b us A 3 20s) a nd t h is n umber will grow to 100 b efore en d of this calendar year

Erstwhile AirAsia India was Tata Group’s re-entry into the airline space for the first time after JRD Tata launching Air India in 1932 It started flying in June

2024 and from Oct 1 its designator code I5 will cease to exist Tata’s other JV airline, Vistara, which had started flying in Jan 2015, merges into AI on Nov 12 With India the fastest growing aviation market globally, the LCC market here is set to rise exponentially in coming years “The emergence of LCCs other than IndiGo should not be seen as competition to the latter as the market is too big for all but as choice for consumers Having a strong alternate means players will have to improve in areas they are weak in For IndiGo, it means

improving the onboard experience for flyers For AI Express, it means quickly expanding its network, frequencies and connecting city pairs Akasa is to watch out for if it can arrange funding and get Boeing to deliver the ordered planes on time,” said an industry observer

While market leader IndiGo is way ahead, the Tata LCC will position itself differently to appeal to passengers “Our two main differentiators are that we have hot meals on board and are less formal on the branding side, appealing more to today’s traveller,” said officials

Lulu Group unveils plans for $480mn mall in Ahmedabad

MA Yusuff Ali's Lulu Group is set to build what is being billed as "India's largest shopping mall in Ahmedabad Express ing joy at investing in India, Ali said that he is "very happy to give employment to his fellow citizens (Indians)"

"We already got the land I am getting full support from the central government, the Ministry of Commerce and all the ministries of the central government," he said

This is one of the biggest projects It is about 3,50,000 sq ft and 3,000 young boys and girls will get employment here," Ali

added

The mall will be built at an estimated cost of £400 mn, as per the report; and in an earlier interaction, Ali said construction is expected to begin this year (2024)

In September 2023, Ali hinted at two large shopping mall projects in India - in Chennai and Ahmedabad, the report said Lulu, at present, has malls in six Indian cities - Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Kochi, Lucknow, and Thiruvananthapuram The one in Hyderabad was inaugurated last year

Singapore realty fund looks to double India bet to $11bn

Sin ga por e ’ s re al e s ta te manager CapitaLand plans to double its funds under m an ag em en t (FUM ) in

I n dia to 14 8 b ill ion

Sin ga por e d oll ar ($1 1 3 billion) by 2028, it s aid This will contribute to its global

t ar ge t of a c hiev ing 2 00 b ill ion Sing ap ore do ll ar ($153 billion) in FUM over the four-year period

Air India lines up £140mn for repair hub at Bengaluru airport

Ai r I n di a i s se tti ng up a ma in te nan ce , re pai r, an d overhaul (MRO) facility on 35 acres at the Bengaluru International Ai rport The facility will serve as a key hub for m ai nta i ni ng t he airline’s fleet, contributing to the overall efficiency and re li ab i li ty of A ir I ndi a ’ s operations in the region

Air India has commenced the construction of the new facility and has earmarked £140 mn for the project, said the airline’s CEO and MD Campbell Wilson The facility is expected to be up and running by the beginning of 2026

Earlier this year, Air India signed an MoU with the Karnataka govt to set up an MRO facility in Bengaluru The airline has also signed an agreement with SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) to be its strategic partner for the

development of this facility

“This is not being set up as a cost-saving measure, although we hope that it will provide cost savings First and foremost, it’s about maintaining the Air India fleet to a world-class standard both in terms of its reliability and its presentability,” Wilson said

The MRO is expected to generate over 1,200 jobs for aviation engineers in India and support over 200 SMEs in Karnataka through a supply chain, the company said “While establishing a

physical facility, we are also setting up a basic maintenance training organisation, also in Bengaluru, which will initially train about 150 engineers per year to support the MRO as well as grow an ecosystem This will support our existing training academy in Gurugram,” Wilson added The MRO will feature a mega hangar to accommodate wide-body and narrow-body aircraft under a single roof for base maintenance

It’s raining IPOs on D-Street, 16 offers eye £900mn this week

Investors on Dalal Street wi ll have t he opti on to select from at least 16 IPOs to i nve st in the c omi ng week, making it one of the busiest weeks for primary of fe rs i n rec e nt yea rs Together, these 16 IPOs are aiming to raise nearly £900 mn from the market, data on Chittorgarh, a web portal on public offers, showed Of the 16 IPOs, three are already open and will close next week Twelve will open and close during the week Another IPO will open on Friday and close the following week Of the total, five are mainboard IPOs while11 are SME offers

The biggest among these 16 public offers, in terms of the amount of money to be raised, is by Bajaj Housing Finance The IPO is set to open on Sept 9 and close on Sept 11, and aims to raise £

656 mn, a release from the company said This will be followed by the £110 mn IPO by P N Gadgil Jewellers that will open on Sept 10 and close on Sept 12 Both companies are headquartered in Pune

According to a note from Pantomath Capital Advisors, a mid-market investment bank, the domestic primary market has demonstrated robust momentum this week and the outlook remains strong for the next 12 months “The persistent zest for IPOs and healthy subscription numbers

highlight the increasing investor confidence” in Indian IPOs According to an analysis by Pantomath, in Aug, 10 companies raised about £1 70 bn, “ making it the busiest period for public offerings since May 2022 ” Merchant bankers believe that a few factors are driving the current IPO frenzy Investors’ substantial liquidity to invest in IPOs is one Additionally, regulatory and other changes to the IPO market have made it tough for bad companies run by unscrupulous promoters to tap investors for funds Another reason is the FOMO (the fear of missing out) factor that’s driving this rush for IPOs, which have been witnessing good returns on listing

Tata Sons chairman Chandra takes home £13.5mn in FY24

Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran took home £13 5 mn in FY24, up 20% against the previous fiscal’s compensation, to retain his p os itio n as the h igh est-p aid pro fess ional chief of an Indian company

income in the form of dividend and brand subscription fee - following the abrupt exit of Rajesh Gopinathan

CapitaLand CEO Lee Chee Koon said India is a strategic market and a key contributor to the Singaporean company ’ s overall business “Our

CapitaLand, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in India, has investments in IT parks, logistics, lodging and data centres in the country, and is exploring deal opportunities in renewable energy and real estate private credit to grow and diversify its income streams, it said While CapitaLand continues to bet on India, like other foreign investors, it remains concerned about taxation, capital repatriation and currency volatility

investments in India have tripled in the last seven years Given our deep expertise in the country and the strong tailwinds, we are confident of more than doubling our current FUM of 7 4 billion Singapore dollar ($5 7 billion) in India by 2028 ” When CapitaLand acquired Ascendas - which pioneered the concept of business parks in Indiafrom Temasek in 2019, the India business was 4% of its assets This has now gone up to 7%

Tata Sons CFO Saurabh Agrawal earned £3 mn in FY24, making him the secondhighest paid executive within Tata GroupIndia’s largest conglomerate His earnings were higher than the FY24 compensation of the chiefs of the group ’ s operating companies such as TCS, Tata Steel, and IHCL (which runs Taj hotels) Agrawal’s earnings increased by about 8% over his FY23 compensation

TCS CEO K Krithivasan, IHCL head Puneet Chhatwal and Tata Steel chief T V Narendran, had a remuneration of £2 5 mn, £1 9 mn and £1 7 mn in FY24, respectively Krithivasan’s remuneration included compensation for his role as TCS’ global head of BFSI from April 1, 2023 to May 31, 2023 and as its CEO from June 1, 2023 to March 31, 2023 Krithivasan occupied the corner office at TCS - the biggest contributor to Tata Sons’

Other Tata Group firms’ CEOs - Praveer Sinha of Tata Power and Sunil D’Souza of Tata Consumer Products earned £1 mn each in FY24, while R Mukundan of Tata Chemicals received £800,000 during the same period Several CEOs also own shares of the Tata companies they run Chandrasekaran’s FY24 compensation at Tata Sons included £12 2 mn as commission earned on the profits of the company and the balance £1 3 mn as salary and perquisites Former Wipro CEO Thierry Delaporte earned £16 7 mn in FY24 but a significant amount of his compensation comprised severance payment and the vesting cost of stock options Delaporte, Wipro’s seventh chief, resigned without completing his five year term at the company In FY23, the French executive’s compensation in Wipro was £8 3 mn Chandrasekaran’s FY23 compensation was £11 3 mn

in brief

SIKH YOUTH KILLED IN CANADA'S EDMONTON

A 22-year-old Sikh youth was allegedly killed with a sharp-edged weapon in Downtown Edmonton parking, Alberta The victim, identified as Jashandeep Singh Mann, had arrived in Canada as an international student eight months ago The Edmonton Police have charged 40-year-old Edgar Whisker with second-degree murder Reports say that the suspect remained at the scene following the incident Jashandeep was a native of Badla village in Malerkotla district, Punjab The weapon used in the attack is believed to be a box cutter “We can confirm that both men were not known to one another and this appears to be an isolated incident Staff Sergeant Colin Leathem with EPS Homicide Section was quoted saying in the official release

INDIAN JAILED FOR SEXUALLY HARASSING GIRL

A 52-year-old Indian national in Singapore has been sentenced to 14 months of jail for molesting a teenage girl For molesting a child below 14 years old an offender can be jailed for up to five years fined caned or receive any combination of such punishments The man cannot be caned as he is over 50 The man pleaded guilty to a molestation charge, The Straits Times newspaper said The 13-year-old girl trusted him enough to go on a motorcycle ride with him one evening when he molested her near a playground in Sembawang, northern Singapore, Deputy Public Prosecutor Suriya Prakash told the court

HINDU ORGANISATION TO DISTRIBUTE HANUMAN CHALISA

A prominent Hindu organisation in South Africa has launched a programme to distribute for free one million pocket-sized copies of the Hanuman Chalisa in the next five years The launch and distribution of the first 10 000 copies, believed to be the smallest printed edition of the Hanuman Chalisa globally took place during an ‘Utsav of Devotion' at the Vishnu Temple in Johannesburg “We hosted the event, attended by representatives of over a dozen religious organisations across South Africa to celebrate spiritual growth community service and cultural preservation ” said Pandita Lucy Sigaban the founder of the SA Hindus

INDIAN CHARGED FOR CARRYING TORTOISES

An Indian national was charged for allegedly possessing 58 Indian star tortoises during his transit at Changi Airport in Singapore Abdul Jaffar Haji Ali, 40, was travelling from India to Jakarta when he made a transit halt here when the authorities found 58 Indian star tortoises concealed - sealed and not ventilated - in his personal luggage “A court here charged Ali with unlawfully bringing the animals into Singapore – an offence under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act He is accused of transporting them to the citystate without a valid permit or certificate Ali was also handed a charge under the Animals and Birds Act for allegedly failing to take reasonable steps in ensuring that the tortoises did not suffer unnecessarily

HUGE OIL, GAS RESERVES FOUND IN PAK WATERS

A substantial deposit of petroleum and natural gas has been discovered in Pakistan’s territorial waters, a cache so large its exploitation could change the country’s destiny, according to a media report A three-year survey was undertaken in collaboration with a friendly country to verify the presence of the oil and gas reserves, Dawn News TV quoted a senior security official as saying The geographic survey has allowed Pakistan to identify the location of the deposits, and the relevant departments have informed the govt of the resources found in Pakistani waters Terming it an effort to benefit from what he called the blue water economy the official said that proposals for bidding and exploration were being studied meaning that the exploration work can be started in the near future

Bangladesh-India ties must be based on fairness and equity: Yunus

D H A K A: I nt eri m gov t c hie f

adviser Muhammad Yunus said Bangladesh wants to maintain good relations with India while asserting that it should be based on equity and fairness Yunus, 84, made t he r ema rks whi le responding to a question at a meeting with students who had partic ipated i n the revolution that ousted PM Sheikh Hasina last month “We need to maintain good relations with India But it should be based on equity and fairness,” the chief adviser's spec ial assis tant Mahf uj Alam quoted him as saying Alam, who briefed the media after the meeting, said Yunus said Bangladesh always gives importance to mutual respect and equity in maintaining relations with neighbours He stressed reviving SAARC to enhance regional cooperation

Last week, Yunus expressed a desire for good ties with India but insisted Delhi must abandon the narrative that only Hasina’s leadership ensures the country’s stability

Meanwhile, Bangladesh foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain expressed surprise over defence minister Rajnath Singh’s remarks, emphasising

that he does not foresee any immediate threat of conflict between the neighbours “I am more surprised than concerned I don’t understand why he (Singh) made such remarks I don’t find any reason behind that,” he told reporters Extradition of Hasina

The newly appointed chief prosecutor of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) announced that the country will initiate steps to extradite Hasina from India to face trial on charges of genocide during the uprising

“Bangladesh has a criminal extradition treaty with India She will be brought back to the country in line with that agreement Not just Hasina, but all those involved in the massacre will be officially tried,” said chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul

Islam, who has a Jamaat-e-Islami background

As a Supreme Court advocate, Islam had served as deputy to barrister Abdur Razzaque, who led the legal defence team for former Jamaat leaders facing war crime charges at ICT Hasina urged to ‘keep quiet’ Yunus said that Hasina making political remarks from India is an “ unfriendly gesture,” asserting that she must remain silent to prevent the discomfort to both countries until Dhaka requests her extradition “If India wants to keep her until the time Bangladesh (govt) wants her back, the condition would be that she has to keep quiet She is there in India and at times she is talking, which is problematic,” he said in an interview “It is not good for us or for India There is discomfort regarding it ”

Pak army admits its role in Kargil war for first time

RAW ALP INDI: Th e Pakistani army has publicly admitted its involvement in the 1999 Kargil war against India for the first time Speaking at an event in Rawalpindi to mark the count r y 's D efenc e D ay, Pa kist an ar my ch ief G ener al As im Munir said several soldiers had l aid do wn t h eir l ives wh i le figh ting the wars in 1965, 1971 and in Kargil in 1999 "Be it 1948, 1965, 1971, or the Kargil war of 1999, thousands of soldiers have sacrificed their lives for Pakistan

and Islam," the Army chief said at the event The Pakistani army has never publicly acknowledged its direct role in the Kargil war and has officially claimed that it was the work of "mujahideen or freedom fighters"

Pakistan suffered a crushing defeat in the 1999 war, with Indian soldiers successfully reclaiming the positions occupied by infiltrators on the Indian side of the LoC in the Kargil sector, including Tiger Hill, after a nearly three-

US warns Pakistan of ‘ramifications’

WASHI NGTON: An American o ffi c ia l h as sta ted th at Wash ington w ould not advise any country, including Pakistan, of “considering business deals” with Iran, warning of “ramifications” such as sanctions

“We will continue to enforce our sanctions against Iran And as a matter of course, we also advise anyone considering business deals with Iran to be aware of the potential ramifications of those deals,” Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the US Department of State, told reporters in response to a question about Pakistan’s push to complete the pipeline and seek a US sanctions waiver

“At the same time, helping Pakistan address its energy shortage is a priority for the United States, and we continue

Pak man

to discuss energy security with the Government of Pakistan ”

The Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline, known as the Peace Pipeline, is a long-term project between Tehran and Islamabad, which has faced delays and funding challenges for over two decades The pipeline would transport natural gas from Iran to neighboring Pakistan

Pakistan announced in March it would seek a US sanctions waiver for the pipeline, to which the US responded publicly, saying it did not support the project and cautioned about the risk of sanctions in doing business with Tehran

Widespread media reports suggested Iran had slapped Pakistan with a final notice to finish its part of a cross-border gas pipeline or face international

charged over alleged

WASH I NG TON : A Pa ki s tan i ci t iz en li vi ng i n Ca na da wa s arrested and charged with planning an attack in New York City in support of the Islamic State, the Department of Justice said Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, is accused of plotting a mass shooting at a Jewish center in Brooklyn around Oct 7, 2024, nearly one year af ter Hamas ' atta ck in I sra el US Attorn ey General Merrick Garland said Khan, who i s als o kn own a s Shahzeb Jadoon, aimed to kill "as many Jewish people as possible " The Department of Justice was not able to confirm if Khan

month-long battle in Ladakh

Then US President Bill Clinton also asked Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to order the withdrawal of Army personnel from the Kargil sector

The day is observed as 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' to commemorate India's victory over Pakistan in the war A total of 545 soldiers laid down their lives fighting the Pakistani intruders

India has always maintained the operation was a

strategy by Pakistan to assert its claim over Kashmir

India has several evidence of involvement of the Pakistani army in Kargil, including prisoners of war, their pay books, uniforms, and weapons The Indian Army buried several dead Pakistani soldiers in Kargil after the war

The Pakistani Army had refused to accept the bodies of soldiers killed in Kargil The authorities had secretly sought bodies of Pakistani officers killed in the war

over business agreements with Iran

arbitration and possibly billions of dollars in fines

The pipeline deal, signed in 2010, envisaged the supply of 750 to a billion cubic feet per day of natural gas for 25 years from Iran’s South Pars gas field to Pakistan to meet its rising energy needs The pipeline was to stretch over 1,900 km - 1,150 km within Iran and 781 km within Pakistan

Tehran says it has already invested $2 billion to construct the pipeline on its side of the border, making it ready to export natural gas Pakistan, however, did not begin construction and shortly after the deal said the project was off the table for the time being, citing international sanctions on Iran as the reason

In 2014, Pakistan asked for a 10-year extension to build the

pipeline, which expires in September this year Iran can take Pakistan to international court and fine the country Local media has reported Pakistan can be fined up to $18 billion for not holding up its half of the agreement

Faced with a potential fine, Pakistan’s government earlier this year gave the go ahead in principle to commence plans to build an 80 km segment of the pipeline In March, Pakistan announced it would seek the sanctions’ waiver Recently, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced that Islamabad does not need to consult others on the important projects Mumtaz Zahra Baloch also stressed that Islamabad is in contact with Tehran

plot to attack NY City Jewish center

had obtained legal counsel Khan attempted to travel from Canada to the United States where he intended to use automatic and semi-automatic weapons to carry out the attack, according to the indictment

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement that they arrested Khan in Ormstown, Quebec, south of Montreal He is set to appear in court in Montreal on Sept 13 Khan told two undercover law enforcement officers of his plans to create "a real offline cell" of Islamic State supporters to carry out an attack, the indictment alleged He instructed them to obtain AR-style assault rifles, ammunition and other materials to carry out the attacks, and identified specific locations where the attacks would take place Khan targeted New York

City because it has "the largest Jewish population in America," prosecutors said We are deeply grateful to our Canadian partners for their critical law enforcement actions in this matter Jewish communities should not have to fear that they will be targeted by a hatefueled terrorist attack," Garland said in a statement Khan faces up to 20 years in prison Oct 7 would be the first anniversary of an attack by Hamas on Israel that left about 1,200 people dead and triggered an Israeli assault, now in its eleventh month, that has so far killed more than 40,000 people

Muhammad Yunus

Merrick Garland

At $361 mn, Kamala’s cash haul for August thrice that of Trump’s

WA S H IN GT ON : Ind icativ e of conti nu ed enthusi asm for h er

ca nd i d ac y d es p it e s o m e p ol ls sh owing a slowing mom entum , Kam ala Harris raised $361 m illion in Aug ust for her p residential election campaign, her aid es annou nced, boasting of political co n tri b ut i o ns al m o s t th re e times the $13 0 million Donald Trum p raised in the m onth

O v e r a l l , t h e H a r r i s c a mpaign has raised a staggering $615 million since she became the Democratic nominee, with $404 million still on hand compared to Trump’s $ 295 million, already making it a billion dollar presidential campaign with more to come

from nearly 3 million donors, including 1 3 million voters who gave for the first time this cycle

More than 605 of Aug donors were women and almost onefifth of donors were registered Republicans or independents, the campaign revealed

Among the new donors, 3 in 4 hadn’t given to Biden’s cam-

in brief MURDER SUSPECT IDENTIFIED IN STUDENT’S DEATH

T h e m o n e y s p i g o t f o r Harris, backed by both retail contributors and the wealthy elites of California and New York, shows no sign of petering out even as Trump is ratcheting up his description of her as a communist Wealthy contribu-

While Trump has his own set of fat-cats bankrolling his campaign, including Elon Musk

Jeffrey Katzenberg and investor

George Soros

Timothy Mellon, both sides are also milking rank and file voters, claiming greater grassroots support

The Harris campaign said

Many Indian-Americans feature in 'Time 100 most influential people' list

WASH ING TON: This year's 'Time 100 m os t inf luent ial people in AI 2 024' list features seve ral India n-Americ an innovators and lea der s who are m aking signif ic ant contribut ions to t h e f ie l d A m o ng t he n ot a b l e n a m e s a r e

Sunda r Pic hai, the vis ionary CEO of Google a nd Alphab et; Satya Nadel la, the pioneer ing CE O of M ic ros of t; Rohit Prasad, the SVP and h e a d s c i e nt i s t of A rt i f ic ia l Ge n e r a l Intel ligenc e at Am azon; and m any m or e

Other Indian-Americans who made it to the list are: Aravind Srinivas, the CEO of the AI “ answer engine” Perplexity, Amandeep Singh Gill, United Nations Secretary General’s envoy on Technology, Divya Siddharth, cof o u n d e r o f t h e n o n p r o f i t C o l l e c t i v e Intelligence Project, Anant Vijay Singh, product lead at Proton, Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, Dwarkesh Patel, host of D w a r k e s h P o d c a s t a n d A r a t i P r

Technology Policy

Time divided their top 100 list into partsleaders, innovators, shapers, and thinkers

“They span dozens of companies, regions, and perspectives, including 15-year-old Francesca Mani, who advocates across the US for protections for victims of deepfakes, and 77-year-old Andrew Yao, one of China’s most prominent computer scientists, who called last fall for an international regulatory body for AI ”

“If the world of AI was dominated by the e m e r g

n A I , Anthropic, and their competitors in 2023, this year, as critics and champions alike have noted, we ’ ve seen the outsize influence of a small number of tech giants Without them, upstart AI companies would not have the funding and computing power - known as compute - they need to propel their rapid acceleration ”

Not only NRIs but Time Magazine also featured notable Indian figures like Ashwini Vaishnaw, Indian Railways Minister and Anil Kapoor, a veteran Indian actor, as he won a case in a New Delhi high court in September over “unauthorized AI use of his likeness ”

Key ally withdraws support to Trudeau, leaves Canadian govt on shaky ground

OT TA WA : Canad ian Prime M inister Justin T rud eau suffered an unexpected blow w hen the small party help ing keep h is m ino rity L iberal gov ernm ent in pow er withdrew its automatic supp ort, forcing h im to attemp t new alliances to g overn

Promising to continue governing and p u s h i n

Trudeau dismissed talk of early elections

a f t e r t h e

N

i c

Party's leader Jagmeet Singh said he was "ripping up" a deal struck between the two men in 2022

But the move leaves Trudeau reliant on support from other opposition lawmakers to survive confidence votes in the lower chamber of parliament at a time when polls show he will lose badly if an election were held now An election must be held by the end of October 2025 under Canadian law

"An election will come in the coming year, hopefully not until next fall, because in the meantime, we're going to deliver for Canadians," Trudeau told reporters at a school where he had arrived to talk about expanding lunch programs

"I really hope the NDP stays focused on how we can deliver for Canadians, as we have over the past years, rather than focusing on politics "

T r u d

November 2015 but has over the last two years struggled to fend off attacks from the

opposition center-right Conservatives, who blame him for high inflation and a housing crisis

With the NDP's support, his government h a s p u s h

designed to address the cost of living B

growing frustration with Trudeau in recent months, especially over what he said was the Liberals' failure to deal with high prices at grocery stores

campaign said 98% of the $130 million it raised in Aug came in the form of donations under $200 with an average donation of $56 Trump has also been raising money hawking tacky merchandise, from gold-colour

even pieces of the suit he wore for his debate with Prez Biden

Boeing's

Starliner

returns to earth without astronauts

H O UST O N : Bo eing' s bel eaguered Starl iner r et u rne d to Ea rt h f r o m th e I n te rn at io na l Space Station (ISS) witho ut astro nauts Su nita Williams and Barry E Wil more Th e c apsu le l a nd ed g en t l y at t h e W h i t e S an ds Sp a c e Harbor in New Mexico, its des cent s low ed by p arac hutes and cu shioned by airbags, having departed the ISS around s ix ho urs earl ier

After years of delays, Starliner launched in June for what was meant to be a roughly weeklong test mission - a final shakedown before it could be certified to ferry crew to and from the orbital laboratory

B u t u n e x p e c t e d t h r u s t e r m a l f u n c t i o n s and helium leaks on its way up derailed those plans, and NASA ultimately decided it was s a f e r t o b r i n g B u t c h W i l m o r e a n d S u n i Williams back on a rival SpaceX Crew Dragon - though they'll have to wait until February 2025

G r o u n d t e a m s r e p o r t e d h e a r i n g s o n i c booms as it streaked red hot across the night sky, having endured temperatures of 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,650 degrees Celsius) during atmospheric reentry

A smooth, uneventful ride was seen as critical not only for salvaging some pride but also for Boeing's prospects of achieving certification in the future

The century-old aerospace giant had carried out extensive ground testing aimed at replicating the technical issues the spaceship had experienced on its ascent and devised plans to prevent more problems With its reputation already battered by safety concerns a f f e c t i n g i t s p a s

assurances in public and in private that it could be trusted to bring the astronauts home - an assessment not shared by NASA

4 Indians killed in Texas multi-vehicle crash

T E XA S : Fo ur Indians died as their SUV burst i nto flames after a mu lti-vehicle crash in Anna city in Texas, US T he families of the deceased are waiting for co nfirmation from th e US autho rities, who are do ing DNA fi ngerp rinting to identify the bo di es that were ch arred beyo nd reco gnition

The devastating crash involving five vehicles took place on Aug 30, when the four Indians were carpooling and heading towards Bentonville city in Arkansas A speeding truck rammed into their SUV, killing them on the spot

The victims have been identified as Aryan Raghunath Orampati and his friend

injuries in the accident, Anna city police said Mastan Vali, father of Farooq, said, “For the last three years, my son had been in the US for his M S course, which he completed recently ” He added that his daughter lived in the US and was talking to the authorities there about Farooq’s mortal remains Aryan’s parents had recently attended his convocation at University of Texas in Dallas They wanted him to return, but he was keen to work in the US for two years, a close relative said Aryan was returning home in Bentonville after visiting a cousin in Dallas along with Farooq Lokesh was heading to Bentonville to visit his wife, while Darshini - who was doing her master’s from University of Texas - was on her way to visit her uncle

Bobby Singh Shah, 51, was arrested and charged for the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Nepalese nursing student Muna Pandey in Houston Police were able to apprehend the suspect after a tipster recognised him from his alleged profile on a “Sugar Daddy” website According to a criminal complaint, an “unknown male” called her building manager to notify them about a dead body in her unit before hanging up This led to the recovery of the body of Muna Pandey of Houston Community College in a Houston apartment on August 26 The victim was last seen on the night of August 24 the same evening when the neighbours heard a loud thump coming from her apartment

PAK FOILS MAJOR TERROR ATTACK BID

Law enforcement agencies arrested 33 terrorists of various banned groups including al-Qaida and 133 Brigade and foiled a major terror plot in Punjab province of Pakistan police said Punjab police registered 32 cases against the terrorists and shifted them to an unknown location, according to the counter terrorism department (CTD) of Punjab police, which conducted 475 intelligence-based operations in different districts of the province this week “At least 475 suspected persons were interrogated,” CTD said adding, “The terror plot was foiled by arresting 33 terrorists belonging to banned outfits during operations in different areas of Punjab ” Terrorists from al-Qaida, 133 Brigade, Sipah Sahaba Pakistan, Lashkar Jhangvi and Tehreek Jafaria Pakistan were arrested with weapons, explosives, and other prohibited materials

17 CHILDREN KILLED IN KENYA SCHOOL FIRE

At least 17 students died after an elementary school in central Kenya caught fire Police said the toll could increase as more than a dozen others have been undergoing treatment in hospital with severe burns A probe has been launched to ascertain the cause of fire at Hillside Endarasha Primary in Nyeri county that broke out around midnight and engulfed rooms where children were sleeping Resila Onyango a spokesperson for the Kenya National Police Service was quoted as saying that bodies had been burnt beyond recognition Kenyan President William Ruto in a post said, our thoughts are with the families of the children who have lost their lives in the fire tragedy "

JAILBREAK BID LEAVES 129 DEAD AT CONGO PRISON

An attempted jailbreak in Congo s main prison left 129 people dead including some who were shot and others who died in a stampede at the overcrowded facility, authorities said Activists alleged the death toll was higher but did not provide a figure A provisional assessment showed that 24 inmates were fatally shot by “warning” shots fired by guards as they tried to escape from the Makala Central Prison in the capital of Kinshasa, Congolese interior minister Jacquemin Shabani said on X “There are also 59 injured people taken into care by the government, as well as some cases of women raped,” he said, adding that order has now been restored at the prison The prison holds both male and female inmates It was not known if all 129 fatalities were inmates

Kamala Harris & Donald Trump

Five MoUs signed as PM Modi holds talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince

India and the UAE discussed ways to boost their comprehe ns i ve s tra tegi c pa rtn ership with focus on energy

s e curi t y as PM Nar end ra Modi held talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bi n Mohamed bi n Zayed Al Nahyan The two

s i de s s ig ned f i ve MoU s, i ncluding one for nuc lear cooperation and another for l ong te rm L NG supp ly

b et ween Abu D hab i

N ati on al Oi l Compa ny (AD NO C) an d I ndi an Oi l Corporation Limited

This is the first visit by the Crown Prince, the son of

U A E P

d e n t M o h

m e d

bin Zayed Al Nahyan who is known to share a close rapport with Modi, to India in his official capacity A list of documents signed said the MoU for nuclear coopera-

t

Nuclear Power Cooperation of India Limited (NPCIL)

Barakah is UAE’s first nuclear plant and an important part of the country’s efforts

sources

The govt, in a statement, said, “The MoU on Nuclear Cooperation is expected to enhance cooperation in the operation and maintenance o

sourcing of nuclear goods

n d capacity building ” Modi in a

fruitful talks on

wide range

towards strong India-UAE friendship is clearly visible

authorities, the agreement for long-term supply of LNG is for 1 million metric tonne per annum and is the third such contract signed in just over a year These contracts

security in India by diversifying LNG sources, said the Indian govt

ADNOC and India Strategic

Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL) provides for exploring ADNOC's participation in additional opportunities for crude storage in India

acceptable terms and condit i

M

U between Urja Bharat (a JV of I

resources Ltd) and ADNOC, the first for any Indian company operating in the UAE, w

according to the govt, thus

country’s energy security

The Abu Dhabi Crown P

A

Nahyan is the one who gave permission for first Hindu temple to be built in the G u l f c o u n t r i e s Brahmaviharidas Swami of B A P S h a s d e s c r i b e d A b u Dhabi as the world's capital of harmony

India to join China, Russia for lunar N-power plant?

Two arch r ivals, India and China, ar e likely to team up with Russia for setting up a nuclear power plant on the Moon

This is according to a recent report in EurAsian Times, referring to Russia’s state-owned news agency Tass, saying this was highlighted by Rosatom chief, Alexey Likhachev Rosatom i s R u s s i a ’ s s t a t e n u c l e a r energy corporation having ties with India

Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum recently at Vladivostok in Russia, Likhachev said: “ with the involvement of the international community, our Chinese and Indian partners are very interested in this,’’ he said

India’s interest in the p r o j e c t a s s u m e s s i g n i f icance in the context of the c o u n t r y p l a n n i n g a m a n n e d m i s s i o n t o t h e

Moon by 2040 and setting up a base

According to Tass, the lunar power project, led by Rosatom, aims to build a small nuclear power plant capable of generating up to half a megawatt of energy, p r o v i d i n g

c

n

power for the base L i k h

c h e v r e i t e r a t e d that China and India are eager to be involved in creating this ground-breaking l u n a r e n e r g y s o l u t i o n

R u s s i a ’ s s p a c e a g e n c y , Roscosmos, had previously declared in May that work o n t h i s n u c l e a r p o w e r p l a n t w a s u n d e r w a y , intending to deploy it to the moon The reactor will provide energy for a prop o s e d l u n a r b a s e , w h i c h Russia and China are jointl y w o r k i n g o n I n d i a ’ s d e s i r e f o r a l u n a r b a s e coincides with its possible participation in the lunar power project

T h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f this lunar nuclear power p l a n t w i l l b e c o m p l e x Russia previously revealed that it would likely be carr i e d o u t a u t o n o m o u s l y without the direct involvement of humans In 2021, R u s s i a a n d C h i n a announced plans to build a joint lunar base called the I n t e r n a t i o n a l L u n a r

R e s e a r c h S t a t i o n ( I L R S ) which could be commissioned in phases between 2035 and 2045

Experts said India is p l a y i n g i t s d i p l o m a t i c cards carefully with the US and Russia While it is s e n d i n g S h u b h a n s h u Shukla of the Gaganyaan

m i s s i o n t o t h e

I n t e r n a t i o n a l S p a c e Station in the US, it is now exploring the possibility o f j o i n i n g h a n d s w i t h

C h i n a o n t h e R u s s i a n lunar power project

Doval to be part of Brics NSA meeting to be held in Russia

NSA Ajit Doval will leave to Russ ia to parti cipate in a meeting of Bri cs national security advisors, ahead of the summit in Oct in Kazan

A c c o r d i n g

Modi in his recent phone conversation with President V l a d i m i r P u t i n h a d expressed readiness to participate in the Brics summit that will see him visiting Russia for the second time this year, after the bilateral visit in July

T h e N S A s ’ m e

s held every year by the host

c o u n t r y , w h i c h h o

Art 370 is history, no one can bring it back: Shah

Pl edg in g t o en s ure that

A rti c le s 37 0 and 35 A are never restored and remain part of history, BJP released its manifesto for Jammu and Ka sh mi r as s emb ly poll s, a nn ounc in g 2 5 pr omi se s, including a slew of freebies, increase in ‘Kisan Samman Nidhi’ from Rs 6,000 per y ea r to R s 10, 000 and r es tora ti on of ov er 100 ruined temples

Releasing the manifesto, senior BJP leader and home minister Amit Shah asserted that Article 370 was buried forever and BJP won’t allow efforts aimed at its restoration while he mentioned the party’s promise to release a ‘white paper ’ on over 40,000 k i l l i n g s i n J & K a n d f i x responsibility

T h e a s s e r t i o n s e e m e d a i

Rahul Gandhi over the manifesto of their alliance partn

f

n c e , which has promised restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, besides resuming talks with Pakistan

“ I w a n t t o a s k R a h u l Gandhi if he and his party want revival of terrorism, separatism in J&K?”

Shah said, “Does Rahul support restoration of two flags and Article 370? He won’t answer But I want to

state here that Rahul is very much in support of the NC manifesto ” On restoration of statehood to J&K, he said as home minister he had promised in Parliament that statehood would be granted t o J & K a t a n a p p r o p r i a t e time after assembly polls “ W h y d e m a n d s o m ething that has already been a c c e p t e d ,

restored in due course after

P M Narendra Modi, in an inter-

solemn promise and he stood by it Responding to NC’s promise to restore Article 370, Shah said, “The agenda of NC cannot get

ground Article 370 is the past It is history Nobody can bring

talks with Pakistan, Shah

couldn’t go together “We will talk to the youth of

unless Pakistan stops terrorism,” he said Replying to a query whether trade

Pakistan, he said trade set the base for terrorism “So, no question of trade with P

s there,” he said

Rahul promises restoration of J&K statehood

Ra hul Ga ndh i ki cke d off his J& K ele ction campaign with rallies in Jammu and Anantnag, ac cus ing BJ P of “snatching” the region’s statehood and vowing that Con gress w ould have i t restored w ith help from its IN DIA Alliance partners

“ T h e y ( B J P ) snatched not only your statehood but also your rights, money, and everything,” Rahul told a rally at Sangaldan in Banihal con-

s t i t u e n c y o f J a m m u ’ s Ramban district ahead of the three-phased assembly polls from Sept 18 to Oct 1

i v e l y s u pporting any initiative for a diplomatic solution During his recent visit to Ukraine, Modi had urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to talk t o P

important to involve both sides in any effort for enduring peace

D o v a l i s

Significantly, Putin had s a i

in a meeting of Brics Sherpa and Sous Sherpa last week in Russia The Brics engagement takes place against the backdrop of renewed efforts to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end

h e rotating presidency, in the lead up to the Brics summit Russia holds the presidency this year The ‘Meeting of Brics and Brics Plus HighLevel Security Officials’ will be held in St Petersburg on 10-12 Sept

B r i c s c o u n t r i e s - I n d i a , China and Brazil - can be trusted to mediate in the conflict

T h e m e e

p security officials will discuss the conflict, with Doval likely to reiterate Modi’s stated i n t e n t i o n o f

x p e c t e d t o have several bilateral meetings with his counterparts He had met China’s Wang Y i , m e m b e r o f t h e Communist Party of China (CPC) Political Bureau, on the sidelines of the same meeting in Johannesburg in 2023 and conveyed to him that the situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh since 2020 had eroded strategic trust of the relationship

These are the first assemb l y p o l l s a f t e r t h e 2 0 1 9 abrogation of J&K’s special status

Congress is contesting the polls in a tie-up with INDIA bloc ally NC “For the first time in independ e n t I n d i a , a s t a t e w a s downgraded to a UT, and t h e r i g h t s o f p e o p l e s n a t c h e d , ” R a h u l s a i d , referring to 2019 abrogation

Ex-militants campaigning for NC & PDP,: Ram Madhav

N a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e ( N C ) a n d P e o p l e ’ s

D e m o c r a t i c P a r t y ( P D P ) are receiving support from former militants for the assembly elections in J&K, BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav said in

Srinagar He also alleged that the manifestos of the two regional parties advocate the “revival of terrorism” in the Union territory “ I h a v e i n f o r m a t i o n that former militants are o p e n l y c a m p a i g n i

the candidates of NC and PDP Now it is up to the people whether they want the revival of terrorism in J&K or continue with the

t peace, they have to vote for BJP,” Madhav said He was addressing BJP workers at the residence of Aijaz Hussain, the party’s c a n d i d a t e f o r S r i n a g a r ’ s Lal Chowk seat Madhav criticised the election manifestos of NC and PDP, which include promises to restore Article 370 and engage in talks with Pakistan to

resolve

said these proposals aim to

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan & Narendra Modi

Rahul Gandhi

Ajit Doval

SOUTH INDIA

After MUDA, fresh scam allegations in Karnataka

BE NGAL URU: The MUDA

s cam that h ad been

o cc up ying h eadl ines i n Karnataka has been pushed

as id e by a new s cam -

al leg ed mi sap p rop ri atio n

o f fu nd s to th e tune of m i lli ons meant to f ig h t Covid during the BJP rule in the state led by then chief minister BS Yeddiyurapparaising allegations of tit-for-tat scams A p reli mi nary rep o rt on th e m atter by J u sti ce J oh n Mi ch ael D'C u nha w as d i sc us sed by th e cab inet, wh ic h ap p arently m entio ned m any o ther irregularities

The report is expected to be finalized within the next six months and can even be tabled during the winter session of parliament The government has extended the tenure of the committee by six months, so it can submit the final report

Sources said the 1000-page interim report will now be analysed by officers and submitted to the government in less than a month

NIA files chargesheet against 4 in Bengaluru cafe blast case

NEW D ELH I: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against four accuse d in B en g alu ru ’ s R a me shw ara m Ca fe blas t ca se a nd revealed how the IS-influenced conspirators had earlier plotted other attacks, including a failed one at the Karnataka BJP office in Malleshwaram on the day of ‘ pran pratishtha’ ceremony in Ayodhya

Those named in the chargesheet include Mussavir Hussain Shazib, who had planted the bomb at the cafe on March 1 The explosion had injured nine people and caused heavy damage to the cafe

Others chargesheeted are Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taaha, Maaz Muneer Ahmed and Muzammil Shareef

NORTH-EAST 2 insurgent groups in Tripura sign peace deal

Two insurgent groups in Tripura sign a peace deal at a ceremony held in New Delhi, m a rk in g th e en d of d ec a de s of a rm e d conflict in the region Union home minister Amit Shah, who presided over the signing, hailed the event as a historic moment

"This is a matter of joy for all of us that after the struggle that was ongoing for 35 years, you have given up weapons and joined the mainstream," Shah said

Of these, sources said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made three crucial observations at the meeting

He said the judge has made very serious observations about millions of rupees being misappropriated The report has also said that there are many files missing that weren't placed before him despite his repeated requests, sources said

The overall spending during Covid in the state was to the tune of £1 3 bn While no figure was mentioned officially, sources indicated that around £100 mn was siphoned off

PUNJAB

Asked about the scam versus scam allegations, Law and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil said it is "unfortunate" that whenever an important report comes it is termed eye for an eye

"MUDA is less than two months old

The Cunha committee was appointed a year back How can you bring that analogy here? It was an administrative measure"

The Cunha report is seen as a boon to the Congress and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, whom the BJP has been trying to corer over the MUDA scam Siddaramaiah has gone to court challenging the Governor's clearance to prosecute him in the matter

BJP's Haryana list sparks discontent as it drops ministers

N EW DE LH I: Th e ru ling BJ P i n

Haryana released its second list of 21 candidates for th e state Assembly el ect io ns , dro pp i ng s even s i tti ng MLAs, including two ministers and s tate p arty p res i dent Mo ha n La l Badoli

The ministers who were denied tickets include school education minister and Badkhal MLA Seema Trikha, who has been replaced with Dhanesh Adlakha, and health minister and Bawal MLA Banwari Lal, who has been replaced with Krishna Kumar

Significantly, Trikha has been the only woman minister in the BJP Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini She had defeated in the Badkhal seat Congress candidates Vijay Pratap Singh and Mahendra Pratap Singh in the 2019 and 2014 polls, respectively Badoli, who represents the Rai

WEST BENGAL

seat in Sonipat district, has been replaced with Krishna Gehlawat Earlier, Badoli had declared that he would not contest the October 5 Assembly elections as he would “focus on trying to make the party win in all 90 seats of the state”

The BJP’s first list of 67 candidates announced last week triggered widespread resentment in the party ranks The second list, too, caused discontent in the party, with state unit executive member Shiv Kumar Mehta sending his resignation from the party to Badoli He was a ticket aspirant from the Narnaul seat, from where the party has fielded Om Prakash Yadav State BJP spokesperson Satyavrat Shastri also resigned from the party’s primary membership, alleging that the party has moved away from its values and was influenced by people with “opposite ideology”

Citizens unite to ‘Reclaim the Night’ in Kolkata ahead of SC hearing

KO L K A T A : T hou sa nd s floo de d th e streets as Kolkata saw a surge in citizen protests, praying that next day’s sun would bring with it the much-a waited verdict when the Supreme Court hears th e R G Ka r M e di ca l C olle g e ra pemurder case

The “Reclaim the Night” movement, marking a month since a 31-year-old postgraduate resident doctor was found raped and murdered in the hospital on Aug 9, saw participants with posters, banners, black balloons, and street performances continuing their demonstrations through the night

A ribbon of solidarity unfurled for 15km, linking the victim’s home in Sodepur to Shyambazar near RG Kar hospital through a human chain

From homemakers to schoolchildren and traders, people of all walks of life, free from political banners, stood shoulder to shoulder

Researcher Rimjhim Sinha, who initiated the “Reclaim the Night” campaign, expressed hope for a “fair judicial inquiry” and called for systemic changes “We are overwhelmed with the response it is about the safety of all of us, ” she said In south Kolkata’s Gariahat locality, former students from 52 schools held a rally, painted the streets and formed a human chain Movie artistes marched too, while painter Santan Dinda joined the protest by painting a Durga idol and leading a march that ended at Shyambazar

“We are the artists who give shape to the ten-armed goddess with clay It’s our duty to walk for justice for a Durga, whom we lost,” said artist Subal Paul Fans of rival football clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal participated in the marches, alongside artists and artisans wearing black bands and carrying Durga idols

NIA, which started investigating the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case on March 3, conducted several technical and field probes in coordination with various state police forces and other agencies The investigations found that Shazib, along with Taaha, was absconding since 2020 after the Al-Hind IS module was busted Extensive searches by NIA had led to arrest of the accused from their hideout in West Bengal 42 days after the cafe explosion Shazib and Taaha, both hailing from Karnataka’s Shivamogga, were indoctrinated and influenced by IS’s violent ideology and had earlier conspired to perform ‘hijra’ (religious visit) to IS territories in Syria They were actively involved in radicalising Muslim youth

He stressed the government's commitment to developing the Northeast, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi s leadership for bridging the physical and emotional gaps between the region and the rest of India

Ever since PM Modi became the prime minister, he has worked to remove the distance between the people of Northeast and Delhi, not just through road, rail and air connectivity but also by bringing hearts closer, Shah added

The ministry of home affairs, in a statement, said the Modi government has signed 12 important agreements to bring peace and prosperity in the Northeast, of which 3 relate to Tripura

“Due to signing of several agreements by Modi government, around 10,000 people have given up arms and joined mainstream,” it added

candidates for Haryana polls

No tie-up with Cong, AAP names 20

NE W D ELH I: Talks between Congress and AAP for a tie-up in Haryana collapsed, with Arvind Kejriwal’s outfit declaring candidates for 20 seats, including 12 for which Congress has already announced its nominees

AAP’s decision came after Congress cold shouldered its demand for at least 10 of the 90 seats Congress never agreed to give more than 4-5 and there, too, insisted that AAP field candidates in urban seats identified by AICC

Although the two sides seemed reluctant to acknowledge the failure of negotiations, the outcome, as signified by AAP's declaration of 20 candidates, surprised few The decision of the two parties to have a tie-up pulled against their public declarations that their alliance was limited to the Lok Sabha polls Congress, seemingly hopeful of a comeback in Haryana after a decade in opposition, had even started playing the opposition in Delhi by demanding action in the excise scam

Congress’s state unit, in particular, opposed the idea of a tie-up as it was dismissive of AAP’s claim to be a “force” in Haryana and had conveyed its stance to the central leadership, which was keen on an alliance for the sake of sending a message of larger opposition unity

Although the two sides’ reluctance to announce the demise of talks appeared leave the door ajar for a last-minute twist, the parties were already preparing to contest separately

SC junks RG Kar exhead’s plea on CBI probe

NEW D ELHI: Supreme Court dismissed a petition by Sandip Ghosh, arrested ex-principal of RG Kar medical co ll ege, s eeki ng t o i nte rvene in pr oc eedi ngs bef o re Calcutta HC The HC had ordered CBI to probe an alleged scam in biomedical waste disposal in the institute and whether this was linked to the rape-murder of a doctor on Aug 9

“You (Ghosh) were the principal when the alleged offence took place The HC is not commenting on the merit of your involvement in corruption or the offence Both are matters for investigation As an accused, you have no locus standi to intervene in a PIL in which the HC has transferred the probe to CBI and is monitoring it,” SC said “Let’s not stultify the investigation As the highest court is looking into the matter, it will ensure that the investigation is fair,” CJI DY Chandrachud said

For the ex-principal, senior advocate Meenakshi Arora said her client was prejudiced by the HC observation indicating a nexus between the offence (rape-murder) on Aug 9 and the alleged medical scam The CJI said, “That (nexus) is itself a matter of investigation ”

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta and additional solicitor general S V Raju said the alleged nexus was the precise matter for investigation by CBI

Tripura chief minister Manik Saha and senior officials of the MHA and the state government were also present during the signing of the Memorandum of Settlement with the representatives of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF)

ASSAM'S BID TO PROTECT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Assam govt has announced plans to implement 57 of 67 recommendations made by Union home ministry-appointed commission for safeguarding interests of indigenous people Among these is the identification of revenue circles where only “Assamese people” will be allowed to own and possess land This move comes as part of the effort to uphold Clause 6 of Assam Accord of 1985, aimed at providing constitutional, legal, and administrative protection to Assamese people In these designated areas, land transfers will be restricted exclusively to Assamese people Urban areas under Assam Municipal Act will be exempt from this restriction ensuring that land in cities and towns can be owned by any citizen of India without affecting interests of Assamese people Another key recommendation involves a time-bound three-year programme to issue land pattas to Assamese people who have occupied land for decades but lack official documentation Those occupying govt land and eligible for settlement under the 2019 Land Policy will also be granted pattas

MANIPUR STUDENTS PROTEST AT RAJ BHAVAN AS VIOLENCE SURGES

Hundreds of enraged students clashed with police in Imphal following killing of a retired havildar and a woman as violence flared up in Manipur that has claimed 11 lives since Sept 1 The unrest escalated into large-scale protests, shifting the epicentre of violence to Manipur’s Raj Bhavan as students demanded action against those responsible and called for resignation of top officials Police fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters leading to several injuries Protesters retaliated by throwing stones, resulting in injuries to both police and security personnel

A security source confirmed that the body of ex-havildar Limkholal Mate a resident of Motbung in Kangpokpi district, was found in Sekmai of Imphal West He had entered Sekmai Sunday night and was suspected to have been beaten to death Later that evening, the tribal village of Thangbuh in Kangpokpi was partially burned in an attack

Siddaramaiah

Jaishankar to address UNGA meet, PM Modi to join key summit

While PM Modi will travel to New York this month, he

w on ’t add res s th e U NG A

s es si on a nd al low fore ign

m in i st er S J ai sha nk ar t o speak for India at the annual de bate J ai shank ar i nstea d w il l addr es s the Ge ne ral Assembly on Sept 28

Modi, however, will address UN’s high-level Summit of the Future, which aims to explore ways of achieving a better future in the face of global upheaval and conflict, and participate in the Quad summit on Sept 21 Interestingly, the venue

for the summit will likely be Delaware, and not UNGA in New York as was previously thought, with US President Joe Biden playing the host Biden and Modi will be joined by Australian and Japanese PMs, Anthony Albanese and Fumio Kishida respectively, for the summit in Delaware’s Wilmington, Biden’s hometown

It was India’s turn to host the summit this year but with outgoing President Biden now taking over the role of host this year, India will host the summit in 2025, government sources

said The US was earlier supposed to host the summit in 2025 The development will allow India to host the summit at home and not on foreign soil

India could help establish a dialogue with Ukraine: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was constantly in touch with India, China and Brazil over the Ukraine war, adding these countries w ere s i nc er ely mak in g efforts to resolve the conflict An agency report from Vladivostok quoted him as saying these countries could act as mediators in potential peace talks over Ukraine

“If there is a desire of Ukraine to carry on with the negotiations, I can do that We respect our friends and partners, who, I believe, sincerely seek to resolve all issues surrounding this conflict, primarily China, Brazil and India I constantly keep in touch with our colleagues on this issue,” Putin said at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok

PM Narendra Modi had travelled to Moscow in July, where he told the Russian president that the conflict could not be resolved on the battlefield, and followed it up with a visit to Kyiv last month during which he reiterated India’s willingness to contribute in all possible

ways to facilitate an early return of peace On his return, Modi spoke to Putin and conveyed to him India’s readiness to actively support any political or diplomatic settlement

However, India has continued to maintain that it won’t initiate any peace process on its own and will mediate only if asked to India has also insisted that enduring peace is possible only if both sides are involved in any initiative

Separately, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Izvestia daily that India could help in establishing a dialogue on Ukraine Underlining the “highly constructive, even friendly relations” between

Modi and Putin, he said the Indian PM could “lead the line on getting first hand information from the participants in this conflict” as he “freely communicates with Putin, with Zelensky, and with the Americans”

“This gives a great opportunity for India to throw its weight in world affairs, to use its influence that would drive the Americans and Ukrainians towards using a greater political will and entering the peaceful settlement track,” Peskov said

For India to play any role though, it’s important that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also agrees He had suggested during Modi’s visit that India could consider hosting the next peace summit but then effectively ruled India out as he asserted that only a country that endorsed the joint communique at the first summit could play host India had not taken part in the first summit since Russia was not invited

Moonquakes: Chandrayaan-3 records 250 seismic events

I n a firs t c ollec tion of seismic data from Moon’s s outhern pola r re gion , C han dray aan -3 ha s detected over 250 seismic s ign als, som e of whi ch may be linked to moonquakes

This experiment, conducted by Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) aboard Vikram lander, is the first of its kind on the lunar surface since Apollo

“Of the more than 250 seismic events recorded, about 200 signals correlate to known activities involving Pragyan rover ’ s movements or the operation of scientific instruments, but the remaining 50 do not have any explanation Further studies are needed to understand what may have caused these unexplained signals,” Isro’s Laboratory for ElectroOptics Systems (LEOS)

saiddirector Sriram said The findings have been analysed and published by a group of Isro researchers in ICARUS, a scientific journal dedicated to planetary science

The paper notes, “As the distance between the rover and ILSA increased, there was a systematic reduction in the amplitude of the signal under normal roving conditions For example, when the rover was about 7 metres away from the lander, the average peak-to-peak amplitude was around 200 microgravity ” Researchers mentioned

that any events classified as deep or shallow quakes were beyond the targeted objectives and design specifications of ILSA They acknowledged the very low probability of such events occurring during the instrument’s operation over one lunar day

India had proposed that the much delayed summit it had to host this year be held on the sidelines of the upcoming UNGA session Biden, however, was keen

on having the summit in Delaware This will be the last Quad summit for both Biden and Kishida as they prepare to demit office India had also considered having the summit on the margins of the G7 summit in Italy this year but Australia wasn’t invited for the meeting The Indian government had first proposed hosting the summit on the margins of the Republic Day celebrations in January, for which Biden was invited as chief guest, but the president declined the invitation citing scheduling issues Modi

In US, Rahul

will be in New York to address a community event on September 22 at the 16,000-seater Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island He will also address the UN's landmark 'Summit of the Future' that is being convened at the global body's headquarters on September 22 and 23 The PM is also expected to have several bilateral meetings at the UN including one possibly with Bangladesh chief advisor Muhammad Yunus, who has sought a meeting with Modi in New York

slams govt on jobs; BJP says ‘tarnishing India’s image’

Taking up from where he had left off before the 202 4 el ect ions , Ra hul Gan dhi a gai n attacked the Modi govt while on a foreign tour, blaming the regime back home for unemployment, the growing influence of RSS and for the Sangh’s allegedly regressive views on women

The remarks, part of a wider discussion at the University of Texas, elicited a strong reaction from BJP which called the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha a “black spot” on Indian democracy “who sullies the image of India on foreign soil”

Speaking to students in the US, Rahul, asked about the employment problem, said the US used to be the production hub till the 1960s after which jobs moved to Korea, Japan and China, and China today dominated global production

“You go to India, you look at the phones,

you look at the furniture, you look at the clothes you will see on the back ‘Made in China’, that’s a fact,” he said, adding that America, Europe and India had given up on the idea of production that creates jobs and had handed it to China He said Bangladesh too had wiped India clean in textile production Rahul warned that continued slide in production would create massive social problems and “polarisation of our politics is because of this”

Giving his ideas about increasing the labour participation of women, Rahul said, “Also, this is part of the ideological fight between BJP and us BJP and RSS believe that women should be restricted to a particular role They should stay at home, they should cook food, they should not talk too much, and we believe that women should be allowed to aspire to whatever they want to do ”

Military modernisation projects worth £14bn get MoD nod

The defence ministry gave the preliminary approval for 10 military modernisation projects worth over £14 bn, i ncluding 1,770 futuri stic tanks for the Army and s even advanced multi-role stealth frigates for the Na vy in the lon g- ter m, wi th t he e verexpanding threat from China figuring high on the radar

The Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) also approved four “amendments” to the over £5 bn deal for 26 Rafale-Marine fighters currently being negotiated with France One of the amendments approved was to drop the proposed integration of the AESA (advanced electronically scanned array) radar being developed by DRDO with the French fighters, which will primarily operate from India’s new aircraft carrier INS Vikrant

“The indigenous radar integration would have proven very costly and time-consuming The aim is to ink the contract for the 22 single-seat jets and four twin-seat trainers within this fiscal,” a source said

The main DAC takeaways were the grant of the “acceptance of necessity (AoN)” to the

Hindu teen shot in the head by

Aryan Mishra, 19, was travelling in a car with friends in Farida bad when they were spotted and chased by another vehicle for 18 miles, apparently on suspicion of being Muslim cow smugglers

When their car eventually pulled over, in the early hours of August 24, the pursuers shot Mishra in the head Among the five men who had chased the Renault Duster down was Anil Kaushik, 38, who often patrolled the area as a self-

styled gau rakshak or “ cow protector”

After his arrest on suspicion of the teenager’s murder, Kaushik found himself face to face with Mishra’s father, Siyanand, at the police station Siyanand, 49, said Kaushik told him: “I made a big mistake Your son was a Hindu I thought he was a Muslim ” The father added: “I asked him, ‘Would it make the killing all right if my boy had been Muslim? For a cow? Is a Muslim not

£7 2 bn project to construct seven frigates, with advanced stealth features as well as the latest weapons and sensors, and the £5 7 bn programme for the future ready combat vehicles (FRCVs) or tanks

The Army wants to induct the 1,770 FRCVs, with superior mobility and all terrain ability, multilayered protection and realtime situational awareness, precision and lethal firepower, from 2030 onwards

The induction will be done in three phases, with 590 tanks in the first lot, to progressively replace the existing fleet of 2,400 Russian origin T-72 tanks Each phase will see induction of newer technologies to ensure the highest level of survivability, lethality and agilit

The first of the seven new frigates, with a displacement of around 7,000-tonne, will also roll out only by 2031-32 at the earliest under Project-17B

Of the total cost of AoNs accorded, 99% were from domestic sources under the Buy (Indian) and Buy (Indian, indigenously designed developed and manufactured) categories, the MoD said

‘cow vigilantes’

human?’ ” Four other men were arrested, but police do not expect to file charges until next month Kaushik’s gang is one of hundreds that roam north India pursuing Muslims on suspicion of killing cows or eating beef

But the gau rakshaks have been emboldened by the polarising rhetoric of BJP, often acting with the complicity of the police and against those falsely accused of eating beef Between 2010

and 2018, the latest figures available, India reported at least 123 violent crimes linked to conflict over cows Ninety-eight per cent took place after the BJP took power in 2014 The news of Mishra’s death made headlines across the country The shock was not over his killing but the fact that a Hindu had been mistakenly targeted Two incidents of cow-related violence against Muslims since have barely merited any coverage

Vladimir Putin

PM Modi holds talks with Singapore PM, Brunei Sultan

I n dia an d Sin ga por e upg ra de d bilateral ties to a comprehensive

s t ra te gic par tn e rs hip a s PM Narendra Modi held talks with his c ounterpart Lawren ce Wong to boost c ooperation in a range of a re a s f rom ad va nc e d manufacturing and digitalisation to skills and healthcare

F o u r M o U s w e r e s i g

including one for establishing a s e m

partnership that was hailed as a major takeaway from Modi’s first visit to the country in six years Amid growing concerns over Chinese assertiveness, the leaders

a l s o r e a

maintaining and promoting peace, s

overflight above the South China Sea (SCS) Agreeing that regional security and stability was essential for the growth of both nations, they called for pursuing peaceful r e s o l u t i o n o f d i s p u t e s

n accordance with international law,

without resorting to the threat or use of force

Probably for the first time, an

specifically mentioned not just SCS

agenda to support priorities and needs of countries in the Indo-

synergies for mutually beneficial cooperation

India and Singapore are looking to enhance bilateral cooperation through advanced manufacturing,

Modi and Wong also visited AEM,

sector

Panama deports 130 Indians who took Darien Gap

Panama deported 130 Indian migrants who had entered t he co u ntry vi a th e inhospitable Darien jungle, under a deal on repatriations signed with the US in July

T h i s w as th e fi rs t su c h

e xp ul si o n ou ts i de o f th e Ame ric as u nder th e deal, and the fourth in total US pledged $6 million

f o r m i g r a n

from the Central American

n a t i o n i n t h e h o p e o f reducing irregular crossings at its own southern border

P a n a m a ’ s d i r e c t o r o f

m i g r a t i o n , R o g e r M o j i c a , told reporters the Indians were deported on a charter flight to New Delhi At the same press meet, US security

attache for Central America

grateful to the government

u

p o r t ” , a d d i n g t h a t : “Irregular migration cannot continue ” The Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama has become a key corridor for migrants travelling overland f r o m S o u t h A m e r i c a

t h r o u g h C e n t r a l A m e r i c a and Mexico to the US

D e s p i t e t h e d a n g e r s , including attacks by criminal g a n g s , m o r e t h a n h

Venezuelans - crossed the Darien last year

Transit countries such as P a n a m a a n d M e

pressure from Washington

t o t a c k l e t h e h i g h l y contentious migration issue in a US election year

T h e J u l y d

s provision for a first phase of deporting migrants with a criminal record, but could see the repatriation of any

Darien Gap region It was

s i g n e d t h e s a m e d a y t h a t

Panamanian President Jose

R a u l M u l i n o t o o k o f f i c e , after a campaign in which he pledged to crack down on Darien Gap crossings

Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja joins BJP

Ha vi ng reti red fro m T2 0 i nternatio nals after I nd ia's T20 World Cup triumph this ye ar, cri cketer Ravi ndra J ad ej a app ears to have em barked o n a p ol iti cal journey by joining the BJP T h e anno uncem ent w as made by the cricketer's wife, Rivaba Jadeja, who is a BJP MLA from Gujarat In a post on X, Rivaba shared photos of Ravindra

J a d e j a ' s c a

m

o

d the BJP's 'sadasyata abhiyan', or membership drive, which began on September 2 Prime Minister Narendra Modi had

day Rivaba Jadeja joined the BJP in 2019 and contested the Gujarat Assembly polls

f r o m t h e J a m n a g a r N o r t h

c o n s t i t u e n c y i n 2 0 2 2 R a v i n d r a J a d e j a h a d a l s o campaigned for his wife and s h e h a d w o n f r o m t h e constituency by a margin of over 50,000 votes Ravindra Jadeja's father

and sister had campaigned for the Congress at the time and Rivaba had said that was not an issue On whether there were any ideological c o n f l i c t s b e t w e e n h e r a n d her cricketer husband, she had said, He and I are not two people, we are one Our thinking is one and we have t h e s a m e i d e o l o g y W e c o m p

e m e n t e a c h o t h e r There is no confusion in this We are very sure about what to do in life and what not to do There is no confusion in the family It is only a matter of ideology " B J P N a t i o n a l G e n e r a l Secretary Vinod Tawde said that over 10 million people had joined the party in three days since the membership drive began Party veterans

India, Brunei to boost cooperation in defence, space etc India and Brunei agreed to b

space, trade and investment, food

areas, as PM Modi held bilateral

Hassanal Bolkiah during his twoday visit to the southeast Asian country

expansionism, as he underlined India’s support for freedom of navigation and overflight under international laws like UNCLOS, while also calling for finalisation of the code of conduct under discussion for the region “ B

partner in India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Vision India has always given priority to Asean Centrality and will continue to do so, ” said Modi, announcing that

‘Enhanced Partnership’ Brunei is among the Asean countries that have overlapping maritime claims with China in South China Sea, although it has been largely non-confrontational about it “Both leaders reiterated t

peace, stability, maritime safety and security, as well as respecting

overflight and unimpeded lawful

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982,” said a joint statement Both leaders recognised the importance of food security and agreed to enhance cooperation in

joint statement They welcomed

connectivity between Bandar Seri Begawan and Chennai which will foster stronger people-to people linkages and facilitate trade and tourism

Wrestlers Vinesh, Punia join Congress ahead of Haryana poll

NE W DE LHI : A day after me eti n g Rahul Ga ndhi , wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and B aj ra ng Puni a joi n ed Congress, lashing out at BJP for “ditching them” during their struggle for honour

L a t e r , P h o g a t w a s announced as the Congress

c a n d i d a t e f r o m J u l a n a assembly constituency The party also issued a statement a n n o u n c i n g t h e appointment of Punia as the w o r k i n g c h a i r m a n o f A l l India Kisan Congress with immediate effect

C o n g r e s s g e n e r a l s e c r e t a r y K C V e n u g o p a l , f l a n k e d b y H a r y a n a u n i t chief Uday Bhan, state incharge Deepak Babaria and s p o k e s m a n P a w a n K h e r a , welcomed the two wrestlers

a n d s a i d “ i t i s a p r o u d moment for Congress” The wrestlers said they “will not be scared or back off” and will carry on their struggle The duo also met Congress

p r e s i d e n t M a l l i k a r j u n Kharge at his residence

V e n u g o p a l c o m p l a i n e d t h a t r a i l w a y s i s s u e d a showcause notice to Phogat for meeting Rahul Gandhi

L K A d v a n i a n d M u r l i Manohar Joshi also renewed their membership

the govt should relieve her f r o m h e r d u t i e s w i t h o u t d e l a y , a n d “ n o t p l a y politics” He said Punia too received a showcause notice “Is it a crime to stand with the leader of opposition of the country,” he asked P r o f u s e l y t h a n k i n g Congress, Phogat said, “It is i n t o u g h t i m e s t h a t o n e comes to know about the well-wishers When we were dragged on the roads, all the p a r t i e s e x c e p t B J P s t o o d with us and associated with our pain ” Instead, she said, BJP chose to support Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

e v e n t h o u g h s h e h a s resigned from her job He said the country stands with the Olympian wrestlers and

“ T h e f i g h t i s o n g o i n g and the case in the court is ongoing We won’t give up W e a r e c o m i n g o n t h i s p l a t f o r m t o s e r v e t h e country,” Phogat said The trial in the case began in J u l y , o v e r a y e a r a f t e r

against Singh in June 2023 The trial court had framed charges against him in May this year, under IPC sections 354 (assault or criminal force w

and

after Singh had pleaded

guilty

chargesheet against Singh,

Voting on

seats in Haryana will

and counting of votes will be undertaken on October 8

45th anniversary of Shri Muktajeevan Swamibapa’s divine departure observed

At Shr i Swa mi nar ay an Ma ndi r Kumkum- Ma ni na gar , Ahme dab ad established by Sadguru Shastri Shri Ana ndpr i yad as ji Swam i, commemorated the 45th anniversary of Muktajeevan Swamibapa’s di vine depa rtur e O n t his oc c as ion , a morning procession (Prabhatferi) was orga ni s ed in Ma ni na gar wi th the ch ant in g of the Swa mi na ray an mantra, followed by discourses on Shri Abjibapa’s teachings, devotional songs (Kirtan Bhakti), and a satsang sabha

D u r i n g t

Premvatsaldasji said that for the first

Swamibapa visited Trafalgar Square in

London in 1970 He addressed

Indian culture

During his lifetime, Shri

initiated 128 saints, with the first initiation being given to

teachings of

Jeevanpran Swamibapa across India and abroad, and he established the Kumkum Mandir

PM meets the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lawrence Wong in Singapore

PM meets His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah ahead of their Signing and Exchange of MoU, in Brunei

Rivaba Jadeja & Ravindra Jadeja

Shri Muktajeevan Swamibapa addressing the crowd at the Trafalgar Square in London in 1970

Indian student creates world's smallest vacuum cleaner

Tapala Nadamuni, an Indian college student, has created the world s smallest vacuum cleaner by repurposing a ballpoint pen, setting a new Guinness Book of World Record

The creative invention is only 0 25 inches in length on its shortest axis Nadamuni spent around $238 in transforming the pen into a fully functional vacuum Utilising a small revolving fan and a four-volt vibration motor, the gadget creates suction powerful enough to collect easily discharged dust particles According to Guinness Book, this is not Nadamuni's first record-breaking attempt In 2020, he was the winner of the same category after creating a 0 69-inch vacuum cleaner But later on, a gadget that was just 0 07 inches bigger than his most recent creation beat his record He revealed that he "came with a completely new design" this time around, preparing over 50 schematic diagrams to ensure his creation met the required standards Nadamuni's latest invention has reclaimed the title, solidifying his position as a pioneer in the field of miniature engineering "All the students in our college were amazed at this tiny vacuum cleaner, and my faculty told me that it's the most beautiful creation they've ever seen," Nadamuni told Guinness World Records

Off-duty cop saves man from tragic train accident

A Mumbai Police officer, who was off duty, heroically rushed to save a man's life on a local train platform The man had fallen while attempting to board a moving train, nearly slipping under it Thanks to the officer's quick thinking, a tragic accident was averted The incident occurred at Goregaon railway station In a post sharing the video of the incident, Mumbai Police captioned it, "PC Balaso Dhage, while commuting back home, noticed a man stuck between a moving train and the platform at Goregaon railway station Acting swiftly, PC Dhage averted a tragedy and saved his life " The video begins with a man trying to board a moving train He misses a step, falls, and gets stuck in the narrow gap between the train and the platform Upon seeing the man in danger, PC Balaso Dhage immediately rushes over and pulls him to safety

A customer's sweet gesture for delivery agent

A Zomato delivery agent experienced an unexpected birthday celebration while braving the heavy rains in Ahmedabad, and the heartwarming moment captured the internet's attention The video, shared by Yash Shah on Instagram, showcases the touching gesture The video starts with customers noticing that the delivery agent, soaked from the rain, was working on his birthday Eager to brighten his day, they decided to surprise him As he delivered their order, they welcomed him with a spirited rendition of Happy Birthday and handed him a small gift The delivery agent, clearly moved by the surprise, responded with a beaming smile, deeply touched by their kindness The post s caption reads, "Spread happiness by whatever means you can Thank you Zomato for giving us the opportunity "

UP school expels 7-year-old for getting biryani in tiffin

A seven-year-old student of a prominent school in Amroha was expelled for allegedly having biryani, a non-vegetarian dish, in his tiffin A purported video of an argument between the child’s mother and the school principal was circulated widely on social media, evoking condemnation In the clip, the principal, Avnish Kumar Sharma, can be purportedly heard making derogatory remarks about the Class III student’s Muslim background The principal also reiterated his refusal to educate students who bring nonvegetarian food to the school He could be heard saying that he “ won’t teach children who will demolish temples after growing up ” He then makes allegations about “converting others through such food dishes ” While confronting the principal for the “verbal abuse” and “locking her child in a room ” , his mother can be heard saying her child “doesn’t know this kind of language and is innocent” She said that after her son returned home, he recounted how he was mistreated and “punished for his meal ” The principal eventually threatened to call security “if she didn’t leave the premises ” Tiger's playful response to toddler's 'paw-punching'

A video of a curious toddler's playful fight with a tiger is melting the internet In a video reportedly from a zoo in eastern China, a majestic tiger can be seen playfully responding to the toddler's "paw-punching" through its enclosure, with just a thin sheet of glass separating them The video shows a toddler slapping on the glass, not realising that he was standing before a fierce beast Well, the tiger responded the same way The adorable play date between tiger and child has racked up around 12 million views with an array of comments A user wrote, "I'm almost believing that the tiger was playing too " Another user commented, "Game of cute hands really " Earlier, a group of tourists in Ranthambore National Park were thrown into a panic when a tiger suddenly leapt in front of them, an intense moment captured in a video that has since gone viral on social media The footage has sparked a discussion about the appropriate behaviour of tourists during safaris

US man's bold prediction comes true

A North Carolina man's confident prediction of winning the Cash 5 lotto jackpot came true, giving him a large $160,756 prize Cameron Vick, who was sure about his prospects, bought a $1 ticket from the North Carolina Education Lottery's website His belief paid off when he correctly matched the winning numbers, receiving the substantial payout The 37-year-old Vick told lottery officials that he told a man on his route that he would win the Cash 5 jackpot "I told him, I'm going to win this one," he recalled According to a release by the North Carolina Education Lottery, "He claimed his prize at lottery headquarters and, after required federal and state tax withholdings, took home $114,941 Vick said he plans to do some home repairs with his winnings " Odisha villagers stop cremation of ‘rape’ victim

Suspecting that a 25-year-old woman from their village in Odisha had been raped before being killed, locals refused to cremate her in the village, claiming it would bring them bad luck Police, who were awaiting the autopsy report to confirm rape, took district administration’s help to perform the last rites in Rairakhol town, about 40 km from the village The woman had been missing after leaving home to bathe in a stream near her village, prompting a frantic search by her kin Her father had filed a police complaint Later her naked body was found in a jungle by people from another village

India, Maldives hold defence talks in Delhi

Following the withdrawal of I ndi an m ili tary p erso nnel from Mald ives earli er thi s year, New Delhi and Male eng ag ed i n a def ense dialogue at the senior official level last w eek Th e d i scu ss io ns f oc us ed on ongoing defense cooperation p roj ects and p lanned bilateral military exercises

According to a statement from the defence ministry, the 5th Defence Cooperation Dialogue was led by Indian defence secretary Giridhar Aramane and Maldivian chief of defence force general Ibrahim Hilmy

The discussions addressed the expediting of

various defence projects, high-level exchanges, and capability development, along with planning for future military exercises

As per the statement, the talks were “productive,” aiming to advance mutual interests and contribute to stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region

The resumption of talks comes after a period of strained relations, when Mohamed Muizzu, seen as pro-China, took office in November 2023

Subsequently, he requested the withdrawal of Indian military personnel, leading to a

deadlock Later, an agreement was reached in February 2024 for India to withdraw around 80 military personnel between March 10 and May 10 Earlier in May, Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer visited India After a month, President Muizzu attended PM Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in June Then in August, India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar visited Male to discuss bilateral cooperation, emphasizing Maldives’ importance in India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy

Embrace 4-Rs for water conservation, says PM Modi

Emphasising the importance of water conservation, Prime M ini ster N arend ra Mo d i urged people to embrace the 4 -Rs m antra of “red u ce, reuse, recharge, and recycle”, while stating that water and envi ronm ent co nservati on are ing rai ned i n Ind i a ’ s cultural conscience

Modi addressed a gathering via video link after launching the Gujarat govt’s “Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari” initiative, which is aimed at strengthening community involvement in water conservation

Stating that India has only 4% of the world’s freshwater resources, Modi said that since 80% of the water is used for irrigation, sustainable agriculture techniques like drip irrigation should be encouraged

“Conservation of water and environment is not new for us It has been a part of India’s cultural consciousness In our culture, water is considered god and rivers are revered as

goddesses ” Modi said, "Narmada, Ganga, Godavari, and Kaveri are our mothers Our ancestors also knew the importance of conservation of water ”

He noted that in the last few days, various parts of India, including Gujarat, have been battered by torrential rain which he said was unprecedented

Recalling his days as Gujarat chief minister, Modi said his experiences in his home state give him the confidence to solve the country’s water crisis He stressed that not just policies but also people’s participation and social

commitment play a crucial role in a mass movement for water conservation In the name of saving water and rivers schemes worth millions of rupees were floated for decades, he said

Nearly 75% of households in the country are now getting tap water under the Jal Jeevan Mission, he said “WHO has projected that India will save 55 million hours of citizens thanks to piped water connections

This time will be used in developing our economy We will be able to save 400,000 lives every year from diarrhoea by providing clean water under the Jal Jeevan Mission,” the PM said

Cracks appear in 200 homes in Uttarakhand’s Bageshwar

Severe land subsidence has endangere d more than 200 h ome s in v ill a g e s in Ba g e sh w ar di str ict of Kumaon, with widespread cracks seen in roads, fields a nd h ouses He avy ra ins, co mbine d w it h e xt ensi ve mining in t he are a, have worsened the situation

The Uttarakhand Disaster Management Authority (UDMA) has identified 11 villages across the district as vulnerable, with a total of 450 homes at risk

Among these, 131 families in villages such as Kuwari and Seri are affected by landslides

Several other villages near soapstone mines, like Kandekanyal and Papon, are facing subsidence

Kanda and Reema valleys have suffered the most, with homes, fields, and roads sinking alarmingly In Kandekanyal village, around 40 out of 70 houses have been affected

Many villagers have been forced to abandon their homes, fearing for their safety Locals blame largescale mining operations for the increasing cracks in their homes “More than half a dozen mines operate in this area during the season, with several heavy excavators running simultaneously,” said a resident of Kandekanyal “As a result, large cracks have appeared in our house We can’t sleep at night, fearful that the house might collapse ” The

ancient Kalika temple, said to be established by Adi Shankaracharya, is also at risk The temple’s sanctum sanctorum is sinking due to land subsidence, locals said Bageshwar district is rich in highly-valued soapstone deposits, which is the reason for the extensive mining activity

Over 130 soapstone mines are operational in the region, mainly in the Kanda valley Soapstone, a valuable metamorphic rock, is sold for up to Rs 7,000 per ton and is used in industries such as paper, paint and cosmetics

However, locals claim that the continuous mining has destabilised the land, hollowing out entire villages

Narendra Modi

Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 is bringing festive cheer nationwide, as vibrant celebrations and heartfelt prayers prepare homes to welcome Lord Ganpati with love and devotion It s a time for families to unite and traditions to shine brightly

Naturally, Bollywood celebrities are joining in the celebration with the same enthusiasm and dedication Just as the rest of the country opens its doors and hearts to Ganpati Bappa, our stars are no exception Trust B-town celebrities to welcome Ganpati Bappa with their fashion game on point in the Bay

From lavish pandals to intimate family gatherings, they too are embracing the festive spirit with grandeur and devotion, making Ganesh Chaturthi a truly spectacular affair across tinseltown and beyond

Bollywood’s beloved fashion designer, Manish Malhotra, hosted a grand Ganesh Puja at his residence, drawing a starstudded crowd The event saw a mix of Bollywood’s rising stars and iconic veterans in attendance, all joining together to celebrate the festive occasion The designer shared glimpses of the celebration on Instagram, where the photos and videos were eagerly devoured by fans In one selfie, Kiara Advani dazzled in a red ethnic suit, posing alongside the designer Arjun Kapoor all smiles in a cream kurta, joined in, radiating charm ahead of his role in Singham Again

Ayushmann Khurrana, Tahira Kashyap, Iulia Vantur, and Kajol joined Manish Malhotra for a cheerful selfie at his Ganpati celebration, all dressed in elegant traditional outfits Shanaya Kapoor dazzled in yellow, Khushi Kapoor in pink, while veteran actress Rekha stole the show in a stunning green saree, radiating timeless

G A N E S H

rituals Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar and his family marked the occasion by performing puja at their home, sharing a video of their Ganpati welcome Kartik Aaryan visited Mumbai's iconic Lalbaugcha Raja for Ganesh Chaturthi, sharing photos on Instagram of himself seeking blessings from the deity His caption read, "HE is back and so am I for his blessings Modak Party Begins!!! Ganpati Bappa Morya " Meanwhile, Bollywood's newest parents, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, were spotted at Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple on the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi The couple, all smiles as they arrived, was photographed entering the temple to receive Lord Ganesha's blessings

Actress Sonakshi Sinha, now married to Zaheer Iqbal, shared a heartwarming video of them performing an aarti In the

Bollywood celebrates

C H A T U R T H I in style

beauty

Shilpa Shetty celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi in a sage green lehenga paired with a rani pink sleeveless blouse featuring a purple and gold border She completed the look with a matching dupatta, diamond nose ring, chandbalis, and purple, white, and pink bangles Shamita Shetty wore a cherry red leheriya salwar kameez with khadi gold prints and a matching polka dot dupatta with gold coin details She accessorised with red and gold jhumkas, complementing her look for Ganpati Darshan at both Manish Malhotra's and her sister Shilpa's homes

Bipasha Basu and her daughter Devi Basu Singh Grover twinned in matching bright yellow and gold sharara sets adorned with zari work Rakul Preet Singh celebrated her first Ganesh Chaturthi postmarriage with husband Jackky Bhagnani Bhagyashree attended Shilpa Shetty's celebration in a pink saree with gold zari design and a gold blouse with floral motifs Kusha Kapila dazzled in a teal blue silk

saree with silver thread embroidery at the same celebration Salman Khan and his sister Arpita Khan Sharma continue the tradition with grand Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, while Shah Rukh Khan shares heartfelt messages of devotion with his fans Shraddha Kapoor also celebrates the festival with family

caption, Sonakshi wrote, "Love grows in respect, when a couple honours each other’s beliefs in true harmony Our first Ganpati after shaadi " Superstar of the South film industry, Allu Arjun gave fans a glimpse of his Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at home via Instagram Stories, showing his daughter decorating the area for the deity Sharvari dazzled in a violet Kanjivaram saree as she celebrated the festival

The Ambani family celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi at their residence, Antilia, with great devotion, marking a special occasion as newlyweds Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant joined the festivities Ananya Panday dazzled in a golden saree, while

Shraddha Kapoor wore red Rajkummar Rao and his wife Patralekhaa, Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh, Aamir Khan with his sons Junaid and Azaad, and Salman Khan, all made notable appearances, adding to the grandeur of the celebration

Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani looked stunning as they posed together for the paparazzi, while Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan brought their signature sass to the red carpet The reunion of Kareena and Arjun Kapoor, stars of ‘Ki & Ka’, created a social media buzz Also making appearances were Sonam Kapoor, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sachin Tendulkar, and Jackie Shroff with his family This year ’ s Ganesh Chaturthi was made even more memorable by Anant Ambani’s donation of a 20-kilogram gold crown, valued at Rs 15 crore, to Mumbai's renowned Lalbaugcha Raja The intricate crown, which took artisans two months to craft, added a special touch to the celebrations

Kartik Aaryan praying at Lalbaugcha Raja

Salman Khan performs Ganpati Aarti

Ayushmann Khurrana and his wife Tahira Kashyap seeking Lord Ganesha s blessing

Shilpa Shetty with Kusha Kapila at her residence for Ganpati celebrations

Sara Ali Khan welcomes Lord Ganesha at her home

Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone at Siddhivinayak Temple

Shraddha Kapoor celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi at her home

Mukesh Ambani paying homage to Lord Ganesh

Bollywood’s power couple blessed with baby girl

On the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, Bollywood’s power couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh welcomed their first child a baby girl on September 8 The joyful news comes just a day after the couple was seen arriving at a Mumbai hospital, eagerly awaiting their daughter’s arrival

The timing of their baby’s birth is particularly special, coinciding with the festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha, who is revered for bringing good fortune and removing obstacles

Just a day before Deepika went into labour, she and Ranveer were spotted at Mumbai’s renowned Siddhivinayak Temple, seeking blessings from Lord Ganesha ahead of this life-changing moment According to insiders, both mother and baby are in good health, and the family is overjoyed with the arrival of their little princess

This new chapter in Deepika and Ranveer’s lives is a significant milestone for the couple and their fans, who have been eagerly anticipating this news since their fairytale wedding in November 2018

In February, Deepika and Ranveer announced their September due date on Instagram, though they didn’t specify the exact date Recently, rumours about the baby’s imminent arrival surfaced, prompting Ranveer to return to Mumbai from his film commitments to support Deepika On the work front, Deepika’s latest film, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, saw her working during her pregnancy, with the director humorously noting that even her baby contributed to the project The couple will be back in the limelight with their film ‘Singham Again’, set to release in November

Amar Kaushik to produce Ayushmann Khurrana's Vampire film ‘Thamba’

Amar Kaushik, celebrating the success of ‘Stree 2’, is set to produce a new supernatural horror-comedy Having previously produced ‘Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga’ and ‘Munjya’, Kaushik revealed t title of his latest vampire film from the Maddock Supernatural Universe in a recent interview. He has confirmed that he is producing a vampire movie titled ‘Thamba’, with shooting set to start in the next two months He also provided an update on ‘Bhediya 2 ’ , revealing that while the story is written, the screenplay is still being developed to address some issues with the

original narrative

A recent report vealed that Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna will star in Aditya Sarpotdar’s upcoming horror-comedy he film, titled a pires of Vijay Nagar’, will mark the first collaboration between the two actors Ayushmann, who previously worked with Dinesh Vijan on ‘Bala’, has been discussing this project with him for some time The script is currently being written, and pre-production is expected to begin by the end of the year Amar's recent release Stree 2 was a sequel to his 2018 horror-comedy Stree

Diljit Dosanjhjoins Border 2 after Varun Dhawan

Singer-actor

Diljit Dosanjh has officially joined the cast of ‘Border 2’, the sequel to the iconic 1997 film ‘Border’ He took to Instagram to share a clip featuring his voiceover, in which he spoke about the nation and its defence.

Diljit shared the post with the caption, "Pehli Goli Dushman Chalaega aur Akhri Goli Hum! Honoured to stand with such a powerful team and walk in the footsteps of our soldiers! #Border2 " Sunny Deol also took to Instagram, welcoming Diljit to the film, writing, "Welcoming Fauji @diljitdosanjh to the Battalion of #Border2 " Bobby Deol reacted to the post with clapping hands emojis, while fans expressed their excitement in the comments One fan wrote, "Border 2 is getting more exciting day by day!"

Another commented, "Blockbuster movie, Avengers vibes " An Instagram user added, "Double blockbuster movie," while someone else praised, "Sunny Deol is a legendary action superstar in Indian cinema history " One fan simply said, "Just goosebumps," with another echoing, "Avengers vibe "

Top directors offer to launch Aryan Khan as actor

Aryan

Khan, Shah Rukh Khan's son, is preparing for his directorial debut Following the release of his show ‘Stardom’, reports suggest that top Bollywood directors and producers are eager to collaborate with him on a major film. Aryan, the eldest child of Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan, may also explore acting opportunities with his father.

According to the report, Aryan Khan is seen as a potential future star, with many believing he could follow in Shah Rukh’s footsteps Filmmakers like Aditya Chopra, Karan Johar, and Farah Khan have reportedly offered to direct Aryan’s debut, while Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has approached the Khans with an epic project

The report also notes that Aryan Khan is concentrating fully on his directorial debut, ‘Stardom’, a web series about Bollywood stars lives and struggles Only after completing this project will he consider discussing acting opportunities with his father Aryan has long been drawn to filmmaking, a passion Shah Rukh Khan mentioned during the release of ‘Zero’ in 2018

Nadigar Sangam proposes 5-year ban, offers legal aid to victims

Nadigar Sangam met to address women's safety in the Tamil film industry, prompted by the Justice K Hema Committee report on exploitation in Malayalam cinema The resolution came after a review by their Gender Sensitisation and Internal Committee

Nassar, President of Nadigar Sangam, and his team, including Vishal as General Secretary, along with Karthi, Ponbannan, and Karunas, have resolved to provide legal aid to victims of sexual harassment in the Tamil film industry

Complaints will be thoroughly investigated, and if verified, the producers’ association will recommend a five-year ban for the offender Victims are advised to approach the committee before speaking to the media

Offenders will first receive a warning before further action is taken The committee has established a dedicated email and phone number for victims to file complaints Additionally, Nadigar Sangam will support those seeking to report offensive content on YouTube

Vijay

Antony says

that "Nothing can shake me"

Vijay Antony, who has already seen the release of ‘Romeo’ and ‘Mazhai Pidikkatha Manithan’ this year, is now preparing for his third film, an action thriller titled ‘Hitler’ In a conversation, he explained that the back-to-back releases weren’t part of a deliberate strategy “I had signed on for these films quite some time ago, but due to various delays, they’re all releasing around the same time It now looks like I’m having a new release every couple of months,” he shared

He shared, "I always give my 100% when working on a project, but I don't dwell on its success or failure Financial

pressure arises when a film doesn't recover its investment, but on a personal level, I remain unaffected I'm never overly excited, happy, or sad nothing stirs me I don't believe anything in this world can truly shake me "

Addressing the trend of hero-centric films, he said, "Hitler has all the ingredients of a typical commercial movie It's an action thriller that explores the theme of poverty Many hero-centric films today focus on poverty and the fight against it Over the next couple of years, we'll see many films tackling this subject, but each will have its own unique flavour The same holds true for my film as well "

Vikram opens up about marriage, praises wife’s perspective

Actor Vikram, receiving acclaim for his role in ‘Thangalaan’, recently discussed his interfaith marriage to Shailaja in an interview He expressed his happiness about meeting her and highlighted their contrasting personalities

In the interview, Vikram shared, “I’m Tamil and she’s Malayali, and back then, interfaith relationships were taboo I’m half Hindu, half Christian, and she’s from a different background Despite these differences, I’m grateful to have met her She’s been my constant support and is like an angel When we first met, I felt an immediate connection, and she later told me she knew instantly that I was the one for her ” Vikram reflected on their relationship, noting, “We’re very different she prefers simplicity while I like flashy things Her family are poets and scholars, while I’m an actor Initially, she tried to change me, but I made it clear that acting is my first love, and she’s my second At first, she even hoped my films wouldn’t succeed, but now she’s deeply invested in their success ”

Mukesh, Edavela Babu secure anticipatory bail in assault case

Malayalam actor-turned-politician

Mukesh and actor Edavela Babu have been granted anticipatory bail in a sexual assault case The court in Kochi, Kerala, approved the bail following allegations of rape by female actor M Mukesh and harassment claims against Edavela Babu and others Mukesh has denied the charges, claiming they are part of an extortion attempt by the complainant Both Mukesh and Edavela Babu face charges under Sections 354 and 509 of the IPC, relating to assault with intent to outrage a woman's modesty and insulting her modesty through words, gestures, or actions

This case is part of a larger investigation that has shaken the Malayalam film industry, sparked by the Justice K Hema Committee report Formed after the 2017 actress assault case, the committee's findings exposed widespread harassment and exploitation of women in Malayalam cinema Since then, multiple FIRs have been filed against high-profile figures in the industry, bringing long-hidden issues to light

Actor Nivin Pauly, recently accused of rape by a young woman, has denied the allegations Director Vineeth Sreenivasan has supported Pauly, confirming that he was on set for the film ‘Varshangalkku Shesham’ on the dates cited by the complainant

Manav Kaul says that ‘Demand quality or face low-rent OTT entertainment’

With just a click, viewers can access a diverse array of content across genres and languages, perfectly suited to their mood The OTT revolution, celebrated for showcasing stories from around the globe, offers a unique platform for artists to experiment and innovate.

Despite the OTT revolution, content quality has been declining, leading to viewer fatigue and complaints about diminished standards Actors like Sikandar Kher and Sharib Hashmi have previously emphasised the need for maintaining high content quality Actor Manav Kaul shares this concern, stating, “Everything is a reflection of society ” Kaul, known for his roles in shows such as ‘Ghoul’ (2018), ‘The Verdict: State vs Nanavati’ (2019), ‘The Fame Game’ (2023), and ‘Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper’, echoes the sentiment that the quality of content needs careful attention

The 47-year-old actor expresses, “We gave writers a new playground with this medium and they embraced it, but to sustain that, we haven’t provided them with the recognition they deserve The day we start celebrating writers, everything will change ”

He attributes the decline in content quality to audience preferences, noting, “The audience dictates what gets made If you ’ re entertained by shallow content, that’s what will keep being produced If you don’t seek out higher-quality entertainment, you’ll end up with ‘sasta’ entertainment ”

Sudhir Mishra says that ‘Anubhav Sinha exemplifies true patriotism’

Veteran

Ishaan Khatter talks working with Nicole Kidman in ‘The Perfect Couple’

Ishaan Khatter recently made his Hollywood debut in the Netflix series *The Perfect Couple*

At the show's premiere, he shared insights about his experience working on series and highlighted the signif maintaining a fun atmosphere o He remarked, “Having a se camaraderie is crucial as it cre for creativity. Trust is key, esp production of this scale It hel everyone stay focused and trea each day as just another opportunity to delve into the scene's substance and uncover the truth in the moment ”

Discussing the significance of cast bonding, the actor noted, “When there’s warmth and

Reema

camaraderie among colleagues, it becomes much easier to achieve great results ” He elaborated on the diverse characters in the ng, “Each of us played distinct unique voices For my and Eve’s as well, it was o remain grounded and alanced.”

Khatter also provided insights erfect Couple’, stating, “The is packed with drama, espite its humour and ntertainment This unpredictability is what makes it so engaging Every day on set was filled with surprises, all seen through Susanna’s lens What you experience is her imaginative vision ”

Reema Kagti turns Malegaon into a dream factory

Kagti’s upcoming film

‘Superboys of Malegaon’ will premiere globally at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)

Based on the lives of Nasir Shaikh and other amateur filmmakers in Malegaon, Maharashtra, the film draws inspiration from Faiza Ahmad Khan’s award-winning documentary *Supermen of Malegaon*

The trailer for ‘Superboys of Malegaon’ opens stunning cinematography by Swapnil Sonawane, who also worked on India’s official entry for the 95th Academy Awards, ‘Chhello Show’

The film tells the story of a group of young men in Malegaon who, desp communal tensions poverty, and hardship, unite to turn their passion for filmmaking into a vibrant dream factory

director Sudhir Mishra dismisses the controversy surrounding ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’, praising Anubhav Sinha for his patriotism Mishra asserts, “It’s hard to find a more patriotic Indian than Anubhav Sinha He has approached the story with great thought and care ” Sinha’s show, which dramatises the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814, has sparked controversy Some viewers have objected to the use of Hindu code names for the terrorists, arguing that it distorts historical accuracy In response to the backlash, Netflix updated the show’s opening disclaimer to include both the real and code names of the hijackers Mishra, known for his critically acclaimed films like ‘Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin’ and ‘Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi’, and a close friend of Sinha, praised the show “I found the series to be very wellcrafted,” he said “It’s up to individuals to react or not react But claiming that Anubhav Sinha is not patriotic is completely incorrect, as I know him very well ”

“You won’t find a more patriotic Indian than Anubhav Sinha,” Mishra stated “He’s deeply patriotic, having grown up in Benaras and studied in Aligarh He’s a sincere person, and it would be wrong to speak negatively about him ”

‘Superboys of Malegaon’ features a stellar cast, including Adarsh Gourav from ‘The White Tiger’, neet Kumar h of aaz ’ , and Shashank Arora from ‘Made In Heaven’ In a special preview, director Reema Kagti discussed

how the film’s unique genre sets it apart from contemporary Indian cinema and expressed hopes of appealing to the Indian diaspora, beginning with Canada Co-written by Varun Grover and Reema Kagti, ‘Superboys of Malegaon’ follows Nasir and his friends through life’s challenges The film blends humour, adventure, and vibrant characters, celebrating the magic of creativity, determination, loyalty, and friendship

The show, which boasts a stellar cast including Vijay Varma, Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah, Arvind Swamy, Dia Mirza, and Patralekhaa, faced criticism on social media for its empathetic portrayal of the terrorists Mishra, however, believes that Sinha was simply fulfilling the “dharma (duty) of storytelling ”

India’s para athletes win 29 medals at Paris

The Indian contingent produced their best performance at the Paris Paralympics this year as the athletes brought home a total of 29 medals Paris has given hope for a brighter future and has ensured that India’s para athletes are no pushovers when it comes to performing on the biggest stage

India’s 29 medals – seven gold, nine silver and 13 bronze – placed it 18th among the participating nations The country’s track and field athletes shone bright, winning 17 medals including three gold They were followed by badminton players (5 medals), shooters (4) and archers (2) Out of 29, women athletes won an impressive 10 medals – four in athletics and three each in badminton and shooting

India’s para athletes not only won medals but also broke several world, Paralympics and Asian records in Paris In archery, Sheetal Devi surpassed the previous world

(698) and Paralympic (694) record in the women ’ s compound open ranking round with a score of 703

She, however, missed setting the new world and Paralympic record by mere one point (New WR & PR704)

In athletics, Sumit Antil surpassed his own Paralympic record of 68 55m thrice to set the

new PR at 70 59m in the men ’ s javelin F64 event Sharad Kumar set the new Paralympic record in T42 category, bettering the old PR (1 86m) with the best jump of 1 88m in the men ’ s high jump T63 event Dharambir set the new Asian record with the best throw of 34 92m in the men ’ s club throw F51 event while Sachin Khilari rewrote

British Indian teen completes solo English Channel swim for charity

A British Indian schoolgirl of 16 has made history as one of the youngest to cross the notoriously choppy English Channel to raise funds for a charity fighting against childhood hunger across India and the UK

Prisha Tapre, a pupil at Bushey Meads School in north London, was motivated by a family discussion about the English Channel to take on the challenge when she was just 12 After four years of training, she went on to complete the 34-km swim from the coast of Dover in England to Cap Gris Nez in France last week in 11 hours and 48 minutes

The swimming enthusiast, who describes the lake near her home as her “ calm place”, used lots of meditative techniques and even felt a strange bond with the jellyfish that stung her along the way The UK-born teenager, whose parents hail from Maharashtra, raised GBP 3,700 for her chosen charity – Akshaya Patra UK, the British chapter of the India-headquartered nonprofit organisation with a mission to provide hot meals to children in need

“It was quite choppy at the start, but when the sun started to rise, I knew that the worst bit was done with,” said Tapre, reliving her mission in an interview from her home at Watford in Hertfordshire

Now, having completed such a tough mission with the support of the Watford Swimming Club, Tapre is keen to focus on her new school term which began this month

However, she remains determined to take on even bigger challenges even as she works towards a career in medicine, perhaps related to the field of sports

Axar Patel, KL Rahul make a return to Indian team

Nearly 21 months since he last played a Test match, Rishabh Pant is set to don the big gloves for India in whites again in the two-Test home series against Bangladesh this month The national selection committee picked a fullstrength team for the first Test, beginning Sept 19 in Chennai, after having missed some senior players during the series at home against England earlier this year

Axar Patel, who was benched midway during the England series, makes a comeback KL Rahul too comes back after getting injured after the first Test against England

Interestingly, the selectors decided to include Jasprit Bumrah in the squad They have been looking to groom a pool of fast bowlers after Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj This approach has led them to pick left-arm pacer Yash Dayal in the team

There were doubts whether Bumrah would be included for this series or not as the team management wanted to keep him fresh for the marquee five-Test series in Australia from Nov Since Shami has not been declared fit yet, the selectors opted to go with Bumrah’s experience However, sources said that Bumrah’s workload will be monitored and a call on how many matches he plays in the fiveTest home season before the Australia tour will be taken accordingly The Indian cricket board

(BCCI) expects Shami to be fit for the threeTest series against New Zealand in Oct

It is also learnt that the selectors and team management have been looking for a left arm seam option Dayal has pipped Arshdeep Singh and Khaleel Ahmed to the spot after an impressive Duleep Trophy outing this week “Khaleel has been made to play red-ball cricket regularly since last season The team management was keen on Arshdeep too but he hasn’t played much red-ball cricket in the past couple of years Dayal has been consistent in domestic cricket But the selectors didn’t want to throw young fast bowlers in the deep end The idea is to give young pacers exposure, ” a BCCI source said Interestingly, the selectors have not announced a vice-captain for the series It is learnt that even though Gill has been given the responsibility in the other two formats, he needs to prove his consistency in Test cricket Squad for the 1st test: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal

Series schedule: First Test Sept 19-23 in Chennai; Second Test Sept 27-Oct 1 in Kanpur

the Asian record with the best effort of 16 32m in the men ’ s shot put F46 event

In shooting, Avani Lekhara surpassed her own Paralympic record (PR) of 249 6 points by 0 1 point, to set the new PR of 249 7 in R2 – women ’ s 10m air rifle SH1 (final) event

Debutant Sheetal (para archery) became the youngest-ever medallist from India at 17 years, 7 months and 23 days Similarly, Dharambir became the oldest Indian athlete to win a gold medal at the Paralympics, achieving this feat at the age of 35 years and 7 months, surpassing Devendra Jhajharia, who was 35 years and 3 months old when he won gold at the Rio Paralympics 2016 Paris Paralympics also saw India sending a record number of female participants Out of 84 members, 32 were women athletes Female athletes won a total of 10

medals – one gold, one silver and eight bronze

There were as many as seven female debutants in Paris –Thulasimathi Murugesan (silver, badminton), Sheetal Devi (bronze, archery), Manisha Ramadass (bronze, badminton), Nithya Sre (bronze, badminton), Preethi Pal (two bronze, athletics), Deepthi Jeevanji (bronze, athletics) and Mona Agarwal (bronze, shooting) Medals Missed

Seven Indians came close to winning medals, finishing 4th place: Rakesh Kumar (individual compound archery), Sandeep (javelin throw F64), Sivarajan Solaimalai & Nithya Sre (mixed doubles SH-6 badminton), Sukant Kadam (men’s singles SL-4 badminton), Shailesh Kumar (men’s high jump T63), Harvinder Singh & Pooja (mixed team recurve open) and Simran (women’s 100m T35)

England all-rounder Moeen Ali

retires from international cricket

England all-rounder Moeen Ali has retired from international cricket at age 37, having represented the country in all formats of the game since 2014 Ali, the first Muslim and Asian-origin cricketer to captain England in T20 internationals (T20Is), announced his decision in an interview with former captain Nasser Hussain “I’m 37 years old and didn’t get picked for this month’s Australia series,” Ali said

“I have played a lot of cricket for England It’s time for the next generation, which was also explained to me It felt the time was right I’ve done my part ”

The Birmingham-born left-handed batter and right-arm spinner has played in 68 Tests, 138 oneday internationals (ODIs)

and 92 T20Is for England since 2014, with his last international appearance in June

Ali has scored five centuries in Tests and three in ODIs, also taking 366 wickets across all three formats He was in the squad when England won the 50-over ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019 and the ICC T20 World Cup in 2022

The reticent player said

he was proud of his international career “When you first play for England, you don’t know how many games you are going to play So to play nearly 300 I know they were the best days of my life,” Ali said He holds the England record for the fastest halfcentury in T20Is having reached fifty in 16 balls against South Africa in 2022

“I could hold on and try to play for England again, but I know in reality I won ’t,” he added “Even retiring, I don’t feel it’s because I’m not good enough but I get how things are, and the team needs to evolve into another cycle It’s about being real to myself Ali said he planned to keep playing in franchise cricket and take up coaching in the future

BCCI picks Ratra as national selector in place of Ankola

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) appointed former India wicket keeper Ajay Ratra in the senior national selection committee in place of Salil Ankola Ankola was relieved of his duties as chairman of the selection committee Ajit Agarkar too belonged to Mumbai It took BCCI nearly three months to announce the appointment after seeking applications immediately after the IPL 2024 Sources said that the decision to appoint Ratra was taken a month ago but the board delayed the announcement as he was assigned to coach the India ‘A’ women ’ s team in Australia last month Ratra will be assuming charge from the upcoming Duleep Trophy

The other shortlisted candidates for the job were Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Ajay Mehra and Shakti Singh Ratra pipped others to the job as he has been an integral part of BCCI’s system over the past few years Ratra, who played six Tests and 12 ODIs for India, has coached Punjab, Assam and Uttar Pradesh He was the head coach of Punjab when Shubman Gill was fast-

tracked into the senior state team He has also been a part of the coaching staff at the National Cricket Academy

“Ratra brings with him a wealth of experience and an impressive track record in both domestic and international cricket Ratra has extensive coaching experience having worked as head coach of Assam, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh He was also a part of the coaching staff of the Indian team during their ODI series in South Africa in 2023 His insights will be instrumental to the committee in ensuring that the best talent is identified, nurtured, and given the opportunity to excel at the highest level,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement

Moeen Ali

Ajay Ratra

Prisha Tapre