AV 19th July 2014

SEE INSIDE ....

Chinese President invites Modi for APEC summit

SEE INSIDE ....

First & Foremost Asian Weekly in Europe

Sir Anwar Pervez favourite to buy Co-op

See Page - 13

Indian cagers win over China in Asia Cup Gandhi: An asset to Parliament Square

See Page - 13

See Page 26

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

VOL 43. ISSUE 11

See Page - 4

80p

19th July to 25th July 2014

" ## $ "%

& ' (

% %)

% *

+ %

, # % -

&% -

-!- . /

More Women Yet Less "( (

Welcome to the world of TRAVELIN STYLE

ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILIBILITY

Cabinet Reshuffle

FR FR FR FR FR FR FR FR FR

ÂŁ460 ÂŁ490 ÂŁ470 ÂŁ495 ÂŁ505 ÂŁ485 ÂŁ555 ÂŁ555 ÂŁ1505

Promotion for Priti Patel

Patel, 42, whose parents came to Britain from Uganda, after Idi Amin's expulsion, is believed to be Conservatives' first Asian female MP, after she won her seat at Witham constituency in 2010.

Despite being a member of David Cameron's A-list of MPs, since 2010, this is the first time she has been offered a proper Cabinet position.

Before she became an MP, Ms Patel was the Director of Corporate Communications at the international company Weber Shandwick.

First budget of Narendra Modi government has given a green signal for foreign investors to delve further into the country’s industries as a means of stimulating growth in the country’s sputtering economy. The Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely said

Continued on page 2

Honeymoons, Birthdays, Anniversaries: we are here to help 20 very helpful staff to give you the honest advice Very competitive prices Fully bonded for your peace of mind

Call 0203 751 4242 0208 954 0077

Call 0203 751 4242 0208 954 0077

-

! !

Modi govt’s first budget woos foreign investors

During her time in Parliament, she has sat on the 1922 committee of backbencher and in October 2013, she was appointed by the Prime Minister to sit on the Conservative Party Policy Board, and in November 2013, he appointed her as the first ever UK Indian Diaspora Champion. She is also Chair of the APPG for Small Shops, Co-Chair of the APPG for Victims and Witnesses of Crime, and ViceChair of the IndoBritish APPG.

Holidays to all corners of the world, Hotels, Car hire, World-wide of your choice

,% %

It seems the British Prime Minister David Cameron has finally taken his wife Samantha's suggestion seriously. During a trip to India in 2013, he admitted that he did not have enough women in his Cabinet, and now in the current reshuffle, he has introduced 7 women in prominent roles including an Asian MP- a significant improvement from his last reshuffle.

However many hoped that there would still be more women promoted to the Cabinet. Regardless, Indian Diaspora Champion Priti Patel MP has been promoted to the Treasury as the Exchequer Secretary dealing with Tax policy in PM Cameron's recent Cabinet reshuffle.

AHMEDABAD – DELHI – MUMBAI – GOA – SINGAPORE – BARODA– BHUJ – RAJKOT – BUSINESS CLASS TO INDIA -

that he would raise the cap on foreign investment in the defence and insurance sectors to 49 per cent from 26 per cent, a figure that would still bar nonresidents from taking full ownership in projects that supply India.

Continued on page 26

CALL

TRAVLIN

STYLE

0203 751 4242 0208 954 0077

5938

OR EMAIL email@travelinstyle.com *Subject to availability

2

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

Keith Vazwith MP

Keith Vaz MP

Arup Ganguly

opportunities I would like to pursue.

If I was working for someone else, I wouldn’t have the choice. At large orgs you tend to get pigeon holed.

Working for myself also gives me the ability to carve out time for projects like Sewa Day.

Arup Ganguly was born in the UK and educated in London and New Delhi. After graduating with a degree in Economics, Arup joined General Electric (USA), where he spent a couple of years before moving to Goldman Sachs, the investment bank. Arup spent over eleven years in the employment of Goldman Sachs across various divisions and had reached the level of director of sales.

Thereafter, he went on to found London based securities broker KNG Securities LLP. Arup’s experience in capital markets together with his global client base has enabled him to arrange financing for many companies, both here and in India. Indeed, Arup has been instrumental in building the firm's profile with corporate and institutional investors.

Away from his day job, Arup Ganguly is Chairman and a founder of the global volunteering charity Sewa Day. Arup lives in North London with his wife, Harshi and three sons.

1) Please tell me about your current position?

By day: managing partner, KNG securities; by night: Chairman, Sewa Day 2) What are your proudest achievements? a) Starting my own business 12 years ago; b) starting Sewa day 4 years ago and watching it Continued from page 1

grow into a global phenomenon; and c) my three sons!

3) What inspires you?

Great acts of kindness and selflessness by others (Current heroes, Bill Gates and friends).

4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career? Me!

Priti is particularly interested in business, trade and ensuring that British businesses flourish. Her political beliefs in this area were formed around her own experiences in business, from assisting her parents who have run a number of small businesses around the South East

University of Essex Married with a young son, she spends her time between Westminster and her home in Witham, where she has initiated a number of local campaigns aimed at tackling diverse issues such as: literacy in schools, improvement in local infrastructure and tackling youth unemployment.

Anna Soubry

and East of England, to her career in the communications industry, where she worked in corporate communications for a variety of international companies.

Born in London, Priti was educated at a comprehensive school in Watford before studying economics at Keele University and completing her postgraduate studies at the

7) And the worst?

It’s my firm, so that means the buck stops with me. I don’t get to pass it along!

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

My father. His ethics – honesty, positivity and hard work I think rubbed off on me.

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

Having the freedom to pick and choose which business

8) What are your long term goals?

To develop my current business for as long as I’m making a positive contribution and thereafter enter some form of public service – either in government/ NGO/ Not for profit organisation.

9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you

More Women Yet Less

change?

Many of our youth feel disengaged with society and bereft of hope. We need more apprenticeships and I would bring national service back. We need programmes that promote selfrespect and respect for others.

We also need to develop a system of education that values vocational skills as highly as pure academia. The Germans have got this right which is why they are the economic powerhouse of Europe, not us.

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

John Lennon. His music and lyrics captured the imagination of millions and continues to be listened to today. He was also a very vocal pacifist who in turn was inspired by the teachings of Gandhi, Hare Krishna, Buddha and ML King….in many ways, his music inspired my desire to promote harmony and peace in our world….and he had a wicked sense of humour too. ments, and Mike Penning will become the new Minister of State at the Home Office and Ministry of Justice.

Senior Tory MP Ken Clarke, 74, announced his retirement as Minister Without Portfolio on Monday evening after spending more than 20 years as a minister.

Owen Paterson was

promoted from Exchequer Secretary to Financial Secretary, replacing Ms Morgan.

Esther McVey meanwhile was told she would continue as the Minister for Employment and Disabilities. Anna Soubry was promoted to Minister

known for taking part in ITV's programme Splash! became the new minister at Communities and Local Govt - and Minister for Coastal Communities.

Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, was promoted to Foreign Secretary. Michael Fallon,

In other positions, Mr Cameron said Stephen Crabb will be the new Secretary of State for Wales and Greg Clark will become Minister for Science and Universities and Minister of State at the Cabinet Office.

Baroness Tina Stowell has become the new Leader of the House of Lord and Chancellor of the Duchy

Baroness Tina Stowell

Elizabeth Truss

Claire Perry

Esther-McVey

Nicky Morgan

In other significant moves, Michael Gove has left his post as Education Secretary to take up a less senior post as Government whip. The new Education Secretary is Nicky Morgan, a big promotion for a highly-rated minister who became a Treasury minister last October and Minister for Women in April this year. Treasury minister David Gauke was

of State at the Ministry of Defence.

Claire Perry, who led the Government's campaign for filters on online pornography, replaces Stephen Hammond as Rail Minister.

It has been announced that Amber Rudd would be promoted to minister at Department for Energy and Climate Change, while Penny Mordaunt - also

has become the Minister of State for Business and the Min ister of State for Energy.

Mark Harper, who resigned as immigration minister earlier this year after discovering he had employed an illegal immigrant as a cleaner, has been brought back in by Mr Cameron as Minister of State at the Department for Work and Pensions.

of Lancaster.

Jeremy Wright was told he would take the reins from the current Attorney General Dominic Grieve, while Matt Hancock was announced next as the new Minister of State for Business, Enterprise and Energy.

Nick Boles is Minister of State for the Business and Education depart-

sacked as Environment Secretary and Elizabeth Truss, the Education Minister responsible for childcare, replaced Mr Paterson at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Other junior ministers to have lost their jobs include David Willetts, Nick Hurd, Alan Duncan and Damian Green.

)% %'" +! /() ** ',)" ) / ** , ) " !+ )-" *

$ %' %""

)

'

"( '%# ) ( '%# )'% 1

!'() "! &"+

"

) %*'! '(

',&*$'. ,*"& **

)#

$"

0

*'%& ',&*$'.

% "$ * $ *

) "

/

")*+ $" !+ , & +

' )'% 1 )%*

)% ( ) "$'

"( )% $ ! ( ) "$' '& "+"'&* (($0

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

COMMENT

Jaitley Budget a cautious step forward

It was unrealistic to expect Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to deliver what media free marketers hoped would be a “transformational” Budget. Only when a country is confronted with a dire existential crisis, such as the one India faced in 1991, are the keepers of the public purse required to deliver root and branch reform or be damned.The challenge before Mr Jaitley was in many ways a more arduous undertaking: how to fine-tune an economy that was no longer trapped in a licence-and-permit-raj hall of mirrors – that release having been accomplished over two decades and more ago – and move it out of sluggish growth, persistent high inflation and lack lustre investment. Considering that he had a mere 45 days to produce his Budget, Mr Jaitley has done pretty well. He has balanced continuity with change, surely a triumph of common sense. Just as too abrupt an alteration of course can imperil the stability of an ocean liner on the high seas, similar abruptness can derail a large and complex economy and send it spinning out of control. Mr Jaitley has wisely opted to stay with the financial consolidation outlined by his predecessor P.Chidambaram. Hence his determination to reduce the fiscal deficit from an interim 4.1 per cent starting point. Corrective fiscal measures have been coordinated by the Reserve Bank of India ((RBI) and the government of the day, as the RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan pointed out in a recent press briefing. It was the cornerstone of the restoration of macro-economic stability. Give Mr Chidambaram credit for overseen the reduction of the fiscal deficit from 5.7 per cent to 4.5 per cent. Mr Jaitley’s next budget, due for delivery in February 2015, should be as more finished product: comprehensive, coherent and leavened by vision orientation in its detail. He will have had the time and experience to optimize all the desired features in his presentation; and can be justifiably faulted if he fails to do so.

Returning to the present, media analysts as a whole have responded to the Budget with a thumbs up, and cautionary caveats. They point to tax breaks for the middle class – a significant BJP support base

today - beginning with an initial rise in the income tax bar. But what say the industrialists and bankers - the true movers and shakers of any economy?

Consider a few representative samples. Adi Godrej Chairman, Godrej Group: “A good Budget. MNREGA [food security] benefits will now be through works that are more productive. This will reduce wastage. 49 per cent Foreign Direct Investment in defence and insurance are good steps.” Gautam Adani Chairman, Adani Group: “Focus on fiscal consolidation, reduction of fiscal deficit….focused expenditure on infrastructure and social sectors are positives.” Japan’s Kenichi Ayukawa MD, CEO, Maruti Suzuki: “FM shows commitment to fiscal discipline, making sizeable allocations to roads, ports urban housing and social development. The resolve to roll out [an uniform] GST [Goods and Services Tax] by year-end is a positive for manufacturing. ” South Korea’s Soon Kwon MD, LG India: “Announcement of investment allowance is ca boost for manufacturing….bring a smile to consumers with increased tax exemptions that will leave them with extra disposable income to invest in white goods.”

N. Chandrashekaran CEO,MD, Tata Consultancy Services: ”The Budget signals…. a drive to the next generation of reforms. It spells out the commitment to PPP [Public-Private sector Partnerships].”

Chanda Kocha MD, CEO, ICICI Bank: “Focus on fiscal consolidation, commitment to stable tax policies should enhance investor confidence. The direction set by the Budget is clear.” Uday Kotak Executive Vice Chairman, MD Kotak Mahendra Bank: “The thrust on infrastructure, education and urban renewal will ensure inclusive growth. The boost to financial savings is very positive.” “There will be an increase in Bank credit,” opined Arundhati Bhattacharya Chairman, State Bank of India.

These observations give a rounded perspective of Finance Minister Jaitley’s Budget, warts and all. If all goes as well as intended, India should return to its previous high growth cycle of 7—9 per cent by 2016.

Best to be patient.

Among the most damaging acts inflicted on India’s body politic was the overturning of a Supreme Court ruling, that a 70year-old Muslim woman, divorced by her lawyer husband should be paid a fair and just alimony. Then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was persuaded to hurry through retrospective legislation (his Congress Party had a two-thirds majority in parliament) that permitted Muslim Personal Law to prevail over the nation’s secular code. Shah Bano, the woman in question, was thus denied natural justice. The damage done to the rule of law was compounded by the blow to Mr Gandhi’s credibility and integrity. His reputation on both counts went into free-fall, his political career nosedived. The ignominy of vote bank politics was subjected to indecent exposure. However, this dubious victory for religious obscurantism emboldened regressive sections of the Islamic clergy to make a brazen claim of enforceable obedience to a religiously-ordained fatwa. Not so, pronounced the Supreme Court of India. “A fatwa issued by whatever body,” not having emanated “from any judicial system recognized by law, is not binding on anyone, including the person who had asked for it. Further, such as adjudication or fatwa does not have the force of law and, therefore, cannot be enforced by any process using coercive methods.”

Any such enforcement or attempted enforce-

ment will be deemed illegal and “dealt with in accordance with the law [and].....is not sanctioned under our constitutional scheme.” A fatwa purports to be an expert opinion and nothing more. The case had arisen from a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by a private citizen outraged by two instances of women being raped by their fathers-in-law, these followed by fatwas issued by the Darul Uloom Deoband deeming the marriages dissolved. However, one of the fatwas directed the rape victim to live as the wife of her rapist father-in-law. Incredible. “A country governed by the rule of law cannot fathom it,” opined Justice Prasad. Let us not embroil ourselves with the casuistry of fatwa: whether its decrees are enforceable or not, or who bears responsibility for their injunctions. Truth is they do belong, however loosely, to the corpus of Islamic jurisprudence and have no place in a secular civil society in any shape or form. Liberal inertia has allowed such poisonous weeds to take root. India has a Constitution that provides guidance to the country’s law makers. The country’s parliament frames laws in accordance with the broad principles laid down by the Constitution. Where obsolescence sets in, amendments are passed by the legislature, if need be.

Abolition of a law that has outlived its purpose is also permissible under due process. These are tried and tested norms. Obey them. Period

The British Government’s decision to honour the memory of Mahatma Gandhi with a statue in London’s Parliament Square is one that does the Government and the country much credit. Gandhi will join Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela.

Foreign Secretary William Hague and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, during their recent visit to India, said: “Gandhiji’s view of communal peace and resistance to division……his commitment to non-violence left a legacy that is as relevant today as it was during his life. He remains a towering inspiration and a source of strength. We will honour him with a statue alongside those of other great leaders in Parliament Square.”

The essence of the Mahatma’s message was the abjuring of hatred in the search for conflict resolution. He drew on the wisdom of other great men,

such as Tolstoy and Thoreau, and the shared injunctions of the great scriptures. His fight for India’s freedom was in no way animated by dislike, let alone hatred, of British leaders or the British people., among whom he had many close and life-long friendships. Britain, as he well knew, spoke with contrasting voices, many holding views similar to his own. A free and independent India, he believed, would be the condition of an abiding Indo-British relationship based on shared and enduring values. British rule in India had become a burden from which both parties would find welcome release. Hatred begets hatred.

Gandhi understood this only too well. But cussed sections of the human race view violence as a panacea for their ills. Such is the world in which we live.

Obedience to fatwas not enforceable: Supreme Court

Honouring Gandhi in the UK

3 Never be afraid to tread the path alone.

Know which is your path and follow it wherever it may lead you. Do not feel you have to follow is someone else's footsteps

- Eileen Caddy

Baroness Shreela Flather of Windsor and Maidenhead

Why do we need a plethora of religious schools?

I have to express my view which is not the same as Lord Sheikh's. I disagree with him on many of the points he has raised and I have disagreed with him in the chamber of the House of Lords. I am personally a firm believer that education is about education and not about nurturing religion.

Nurturing religion belongs with the home and the place of worship, not the school. The school should do the best it can to teach the values which we all subscribe to, particularly in the British society, and teach religion in an objective manner with all the major religions being included. All religions, as we know, have universal values which are extremely important for us because we need to live by them. But different religions have other teachings which are not always right for today's world. Hindus believe in the caste system. Even though it has been made illegal to discriminate on caste in the constitution, the discrimination has not stopped. In my view this is a blot on Hinduism.

Look at the Catholics. They say "contraception is a sin".

In developing countries women keep having children and they cannot feed them. They cannot afford medicine when the children are ill, so many of them die. But it is still a sin in God's eyes to stop those children being borne. How can that be right? Every year 9 million children die and the Catholic Church says that it is a sin to use contraception.

The world is groaning under the weight of population and we do not like to face it. In 1950 there

were 2.6 billion people in the world. Today there are over 7 billion. It is expected that by 2050 there'll be 10 billion.

Where will the water come from? Where will the food and medicine come from?

Let's come to the values of Islam. Women are inferior to men. Muslims tell me that the Koran doesn't say that and the Prophet didn't say that.

But in practise that is a fact. For example girls inherit half of what a boy inherits under Sharia. A man can divorce his wife any time he wishes by repeating “I divorce you” three times. A woman may not ever be able to get a Sharia divorce.

There are women waiting for years for a divorce to be granted. A father can take any child away from its mother once it reaches 7 years of age.

Some Muslim countries have laws which say that gay men should be put to death. Whilst here we have just passed a law allowing gay men and women to have a proper marriage.

The most important of British values is that we do not accept discrimination in any form.

Lord Sheikh says that faith schools encourage community cohesion. How can faith based schools encourage community cohesion when you have children of a single faith in it.

They are an antithesis to community cohesion. We should have learned this important lesson from what happened in Northern Ireland.

Separating children on the basis of religion is not going to help them to understand each other.

Continued on page 8

ASIAN VOICE is published by Asian Business Publications Ltd Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080 Fax: 020 7749 4081 Email: aveditorial@abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications www.abplgroup.com AsianVoiceNewsweekly

AsianVoiceNews

4

UK

Gandhi an asset to the Parliament Square

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

Last week, the visiting envoy from PM Cameron's Cabinet announced in India that a statue of Mahatma Gandhi would be erected in the Parliament Square.

This will be the second statue of Mahatma Gandhi in London, after the first one sculpted by Fredda Brilliant was installed at Tavistock Square in 1968.

When George Osborne and William Hague in New Delhi, announced their decision to install this statue, Baroness Shreela Flather told the Asian Voice: “If anybody deserves to be placed in Parliament Square, it is Gandhiji. He was the role model for both Martin Luther King and Mandela and he should really be in Parliament Square as someone who influenced so many leaders who took on his teachings and followed them through.”

Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP in a statement told AV, “I am very pleased that, after years of campaigning, Mahatma Gandhi’s statue is finally going to come to Parliament Square. This decision shows that India is the UK’s best friend in Asia. This is excellent news and will be a wonderful way to commemorate the incredible work done in the name of peace by this great man.”

While many other Britons, especially Asians, have also agreed that Parliament Square should be the rightful home for India's 'Father of the Nation' (beside the statue of Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George and Nelson Mandela), it has sparked widespread controversy in Whitehall.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that Ivan Saxton, founder of the Public Memorials Appeal Trust Charity, had been raising money to erect a monument at the same place for the late Baroness Margaret Thatcher. Saxton reportedly said, “We don't want to be gazumped by this Gandhi statue.”

The plan already has the backing of a number of Tory MPs who have worked with Lady Thatcher. Last week Saxton met Graham Brady, Chairman of the 1922 Committee, to secure more support. Now apparently he has written to PM David Cameron to win his backing.

The Public Memorials Appeal Trust has raised half of the £300,000 needed to erect the statue and have also commissioned a sculptor, who has started working on a design.

Saxton reportedly said, “I don't want anyone to pop up and bag this site.

Margaret Thatcher is going to get a statue in the Parliament Square, and it will be the definitive statue.”

The Gandhi statue in Tavistock Square, London

Conor Burnps MP, who was close to Lady Thatcher in her retirement, added: “It seems appropriate that we honour the longest-serving prime minister of the 20th Century, who left an indelible stamp on Britain and her people. With statues to Gandhi, Mandela and Lincoln, Parliament Square is starting to look like a congested United Nations.”

Westminster City Council which manages the square, usually insists that the statues can only be erected 10 years after the person's death. This rule however has been waived off before - notably for Mandela.

In the letters to the Editor section in The Times newspaper on Saturday 12th July, Randhir Singh Bains from Gants Hill and Malathy Sitaram from Swindon wrote letters supporting that Gandhi deserves a statue in the Parliament Square.

In fact Ms Sitaram speaking about reaction to this news, emphasised that the Sikhs in India would be proud that a statue of Mahatma Gandhi will be installed in Westminster. However she added, "It is some Sikhs in the West who have developed an extreme ideology of victimhood and a consequent hostility to India based on the massacre that followed the assassination of Mrs (Indira) Gandhi by a Sikh bodyguard. Some of these Sikhs have probably never been to India. Their claims that Gandhi was a racist, a ‘sexual weirdo’ and a proponent of the caste system are risible.

“Gandhi was anything but a racist, and his support for the rights of Muslims led to his assassination. He worked hard to free people from their belief in a caste hierarchy.

“As for being a “sexual weirdo”, there may be some purchase here. He was obsessed with the notion of celibacy which is an important part of Hindu mythology and theology. He tested himself in unusual ways which could and does attract criticism because he was selfish in getting young women to play a part in testing his willpower. He was a complex man but his life, work and achievements have secured his place in history as an extraordinary and great leader. He ranks with Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, who were both inspired by him.”

Anthony Martin from South East London however argued, “A statue of Gandhi already exists in Tavistock Square, near the British Museum.

Gandhi’s reputation is not without blemish. On December 24, 1940, he congratulated his “dear friend” Adolf Hitler on his “bravery and devotion to [his] fatherland”. He had sent similar letters in the 1930s. Gandhi also preferred to trust India’s fate to “God or the Japanese” rather than the hated British. Following the old principle of “my enemy’s enemy is my friend” led the “pacifist” Gandhi to keep some unusual company.”

In another letter, Dennis Lanner, from Guestling wrote, “There are already ten statues in Parliament Square: seven British prime ministers, one South African prime minister, and two presidents. All were considered to have been outstanding statesmen of their time. Gandhi never held high office and although he was a great man he was not, strictly speaking, a statesman.”

Anne Hewson, from Cheshire said, “Forgive my cynicism but if we are erecting a statue to the Father of India and former opponent of the British Empire could we not erect one of Michael Collins, who fought for freedom from English rule too?”

But whatever be the popular belief, as Peter Watson in his article 'Why Gandhi belongs in a new British pantheon' (The Times, 11 July) correctly writes, “There is plenty of space in the square, so let's move with all deliberate speed to create more statues, more monuments to people who have led lives of example...

“Let's hope the statue of Gandhi boosts relationship with India. But let's also hope it's just the latest in a long line of freedom fighters honoured in a very understated British way.”

A new South Asia Institute in London

In January 2014 SOAS University of London established a new Institute to further promote its research and teaching on South Asia. The study of India and South Asia has been core to the SOAS mission throughout its first century of existence, and SOAS now has the largest multi-disciplinary community of scholars working exclusively on South Asia of any university in Europe. More than fifty academics in twelve different departments offer more than 100 courses on the anthropology, art, culture, development, economics, films, history, law, literature, music, politics and religions of South Asia.

Uniquely in the UK, they also teach five South Asian languages to degree level: Bengali, Hindi, Nepali, Sanskrit and Urdu.

The South Asia

Institute’s teaching and research will attend to the achievements of South Asian societies and the challenges that face them, and to both geographical South Asia and South Asian diaspora communities worldwide.

A new two-year Masters in Intensive South Asian Studies, available from September 2014, will include compulsory lan-

guage training and will provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to work or conduct research in the region. New research initiatives will be taken in priority areas including resource pressures, citizenship and inequality, cultural and religious politics, art, history and economics.

The Institute will strengthen its partnerships with institu-

tions of higher learning in the region and in London it will continue to host and organise a rich programme of events, most of which are open to the public.

The Institute’s founding Director, Professor Michael Hutt, sums up its purpose in the following words: ‘As India and its neighbours become an increasingly powerful economic and cultural force in our world, it is all the more important for us to understand and explain South Asia in the world-renowned SOAS way—across the full range of humanities and social sciences disciplines; with a solid grounding in the regional languages; and in close collaboration with our partners there.’

For more information on the SOAS South Asia Institute, please visit http://www.soas.ac.uk/ssai/

Government demands justice for British victims in Gujarat riot

William Hague with Sushma Swaraj

The former British Foreign Minister William Hague during his visit to India recently, has reportedly urged the Indian government to speed up action against those who murdered three British citizens during the Gujarat riot.

UK Foreign Office reportedly said the matter was discussed between Hague and the Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj who "took note of the concerns". Three British citizens, who were of Gujarati origin - brothers Saeed and Shakil Dawood and their friend, Mohammed Aswat were among more than 1,000 people, who were killed in those riots. The family of the Dawood brothers are now running a campaign to get justice.

The families of the three had requested Hague to bring up the issue with the Indian government. They had reportedly told Hague that even after 12 years of the killing, the remains had still not been returned to them. Also, the perpetrators of the crime had not been brought to justice.

Six men were initially charged with the murder of the British citizens but they were released on bail and a number of key witnesses turned hostile.

Manchester city centre opens up for late night to celebrate Eid

In a first for Manchester, the city’s retailers are set to open their doors for late night shopping in the run up to Eid al-Fitr, with many stores opening until 9pm on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th July.

The Muslim religious holiday marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. The spirit of gift giving is prevalent in the run up to Eid, gifts usually include new clothes for women and children and donning new items on the day of Eid is a celebratory tradition.

Retailers across the Heart of Manchester BID (Business Improvement District) are honouring Eid with extended opening hours and special offers. Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, House of Fraser, Debenhams, Next, Boots, Jack Wills and many more across the city centre will open until 9pm, with various stores running promotions.

5

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

* &# $ # $ $ $ * & & &"$ # # & $ * & ! # $ # $ $ # &! & # ) # & $ # $ * '" & # # "

'& # $ # ' & * & ' & '& # &* # # # & & # $ # $ $& # ' # & ( $ & " $ " % " # "

6

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

Innocent minds’ art work on display Spriha Srivastava

So it’s the much awaited summer time in London and probably one of the most happening times in the city. The city is full of tourists making their way to everything from Madame Tussaud’s to Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square. And it doesn’t end there. How can we forget shopping?

With the summer collection out, tourists and Londoners are leaving no shops, be it the Oxford high street shops to the posh Harrods. Well that’s what summer is for.

Shop, eat and enjoy a glass of wine at the sunny Hyde Park. But there’s a lot more that is taking place over this summer.

Well, the Nehru Centre, the Indian High Commission’s cultural wing recently opened its doors to Paint Our World (POW), a humanitarian project dedicated to making a positive difference to the lives of underserved children.

How about a little about POW before I tell you about the event itself? The organisation works to emotionally empower children who have been through trauma - this includes child sexual abuse and becoming orphaned. POW provides child sensitised, psychologically verified activity therapy (storytelling, dance, music, skits, and art among others) that makes a meaningful intervention and helps the children to process and overcome the trauma they have been through. Their activity therapies, in subtly therapeutic and imaginative ways, teach the children safety, trust, care and the like.

This mitigates the emotional stress commonly found in the lives of the children and in so doing translates into better self esteem and focus and facilitates the development of key skills. In the process, the workshops also become a space for children that are associated with security and fun, that are essentially what childhoods ought to be about.

POW believes that every child deserves utmost love and care but sadly

there are still millions of children who do not receive this. POW’s vision for India’s underserved children is that they have more equitable access to opportunities.

The organization gives the children a ray of hope to express themselves in the way they like without being held

display at the Nehru Centre gallery and I was extremely touched by their innocence. There were bright colours that showed enthusiasm and a sense of hope that POW has inculcated in these kids.

POW puts a strong emphasis on creating a safe environment for

Scottish Actress gives birth on hospital street Actress Vivian Gray gave birth to a healthy baby boy on Saturday 12th July. Yet rather than a traditional birth in a hospital, Ms Gray has told how she gave birth on a burberry coat on a pavement, only yards away from the hospital doors she was aiming for.

She believed she had plenty of time to walk to her maternity unit when her waters broke a week before her due date.

She left for Chelsea and Westminster Hospital with her husband Adrian Jayasinha, 38, an investment banker, and her mother Alicia Gray, a plastic surgeon, believing it would be quicker to walk than to wait for a taxi.

But less than a minute’s walk from the entrance of the hospital, 31-year-old Ms Gray realised that her baby Sky was about to be delivered.

Fortunately, her mother whipped off her Burberry coat, quickly

spreading it across the ground for Ms Gray to lie on before rushing off for help.

Scottish-born Ms Gray gave birth to 7lb 9oz Baby Sky on Saturday just before 6am, just half an hour after her waters broke.

Twin sisters Salma and Zahra Halane, 16, who are feared to have left Britain to join fighters in Syria, are seeking to become “jihadist brides”, according to Police.

The Halane sisters are believed to be trying to join their older brother who allegedly is fighting with the extremist group Isis (the Islamic State of Iraq and alSham.)

The twins from Manchester, who had excelled in their GCSE exams and had hoped to train as doctors, are said to have crossed the bor-

der into Syria.

Their elder brother, one of 11 siblings, is said to have dropped an academic career to join the fighters. The Muslim

youngsters, who are said to be “deeply religious”, have ignored their family’s pleas to come home and told them they have no intention of returning.

increased but it was now falling and was "just over 508,000" at the end of last week.

He defended the Passport Office's work, reportedly telling the MPs:

being resolved. The couple, from Watford, have been trying to bring their son Darsh home since he was born to a surrogate mother in December 2013.

Delays have meant that while Darsh has not been granted British citizenship, he still has not been given a passport. His parents have spent £30,000 in legal and travel costs to try to bring him home.

For the past six months, the family have been separated, after Mr Patel, a chartered civil engineer, had to come back to the UK to work soon after his son's birth, while Mrs Patel stayed in India.

Darsh was granted citizenship on Jan 29 after Mr Patel's lawyers sent off the application, but since then his passport application has been indefinitely delayed.

Twin schoolgirls fled to Syria to become jihadist brides

back.

The project was founded by Priya Virmani in Sonagachi, Kolkata’s notorious red light district, and became an official Charitable Trust last year. In this small space of time, POW has expanded to working with children in Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bangalore. The programme employs youthful teams who can connect with the children, sourced from India’s esteemed institutions, such as IIT, and trained

by POW’s professional team.

The exhibition at the prestigious Nehru Centre was a POW’s way of both celebrating the artwork of the incredible children whom the organization works with in India and of marking their landmark first birthday.

The event started with the lighting of the inaugural lamp, followed by an audio-visual presentation of POW’s work.

The crowd also heard wonderful words from chief guest Lord Paul who encouraged the work done by POW. The event continued with an Indian dance performance, followed by a piano recital. Delicious food was served in the end from the famous Mint Leaf Restaurant.

I took a round of the beautiful paintings on

children. A solace from the dangers which they have previously faced, POW offers children a fun, secure space in which to really be kids.

POW aim to provide children with valuable childhood memories that they would otherwise miss out on. Past experiences have included cinema trips, birthday parties, days out to parks, fun fairs and even a Cruise Party. One POW worker was especially touched when a child came to them after the collective Birthday party in a Delhi farmhouse and said, ‘I had never dreamed I could ever have so much fun’. This is the type of small difference to a child’s day that makes a huge difference to their life.

At a time when India’s children are suffering more than ever, this service has never been more valuable. A 2007 study showed that 4% of India’s children are orphans, whilst cases of child sexual abuse have risen by 336 per cent between 2001 and now. POW’s teams (who call themselves ‘POWers’) aim to spread their good work as widely as possible throughout the country to produce a new generation of happy, stable and purposeful adults.

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at aveditorial@abplgroup.com

Passport head denies Office is in “chaos” as another baby is stranded in India

The head of the Passport Office, Paul Pugh, has denied that his organisation is in “chaos” whilst admitting to MPs that the official backlog of applications was above 500,000.

Mr Pugh said the body was issuing more than 170,000 applications each week, a figure which will increase to 180,000 in coming weeks.

Appearing before the Home Affairs Select Committee, he reportedly said the “vast majority” of customers were receiving their documents within a “reasonable period”.

The committee’s Labour chairman Keith Vaz said at least 483,000 applications were being classed as “work in progress” on June 1, a figure which had now increased.

Mr Pugh acknowledged the figure had

“The organisation is not in chaos, we are continuing to issue to our customers over 170,000 cases per week.”

However, yet another couple, bringing the total to two reported cases, Viral and Tulsi Patel have been stuck in India for the last six months after officials failed to provide their newborn son with a passport, showing that the passport crisis is far from

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

7

8

UK

Leading Lights

Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

Morgan Stanley V-P turnedSocial Investor and Game Changer Akash Kumar Nahar, FRSA, CFP, was the youngest Vice President at Morgan Stanley Financial Services, India, before switching to full time Impact Investments. Prior to Morgan Stanley, he worked with the American Express Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank.

Akash is the Director and Co-founder of the Yes We Can Foundation. He facilitates its program by liaising with local and central government bodies, global foundations, thought leaders, dignitaries and vendors.

He is the International Business Head of Common Wealth Pvt.Ltd. As the proposed President of the Bangalore+ Acumen Chapter, he is spearheading the Bangalore Chapter for Acumen Fund, New York - Impact investment co. supported by the Rockefeller and Cisco foundation with investments surpassing US $ 81m.

For his work with

Akash Kumar Nahar

Impact Investments and Social Capital, Akash has been nominated as an FRSA - Fellow at Royal Society of Arts, London.

Akash is from one of Bangalore’s most important business families. His father, Gautam Nahar,

heads the Nahar Asia Group of companies.

Akash says his mother Fulwa, a social entrepreneur who believes in the ideal of non-violence, is his greatest influence.

Akash is, in my opinion, now a significant thought

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

leader in his own right, with eclectic interests from pure tea making to elephant preservation. He courageously follows his own path, a role model for many. His ambition puts him head and shoulders above many contemporaries; it is to raise a billion dollars within five years- not for himself, but for social entrepreneur and social impact start up companies. He is soon to start an MA in Public Administration at the London School of Economics.

The Yes We Can Foundation includes items like water purification, low cost housing and rural healthcare projects.

“We will not invest in an IPad app, which might be of interest to some, but has no tangible social impact,” Akash told me in the hushed oak-panelled corridors of the House of Commons, UK Parliament last week. He had just given a presentation at the South India-UK business meet held by the BSICC to which he is an Adviser, and whose Chief Co-ordinator is his and our friend, two- times Leading Light, Sujit Nair.

“Our aim is to make Bangalore the philanthropic capital of the country. It has all the ingredients to be one,” commented Akash.

He was surprised to find himself the youngest vice president at Morgan Stanley, but having reached that pinnacle he decided to turn his back on the corporate world.

He told me that he was interacting with peers; like

the TCS, Global Head, Sales and Consultancy, R . Ra m a m u r t h i , and Mallika Srinivasan, CEO, TAFE, when one of them, Mallika, said that now she was in her fifties, money held less value for her than seeing social change on the ground.

This caused Akash to think, “If they are saying this now, maybe after twenty years, I might be

“Our aim is to make Bangalore the philanthropic capital of the country.” the MD of a company, but it might not give me a kick and would not define me fully. If I do a change in society, it might give me a kick.

So I said ‘fine, can I take a pause?’

My family was extremely supportive.

They said; ‘You are extremely young. If you don’t take a chance now, when will you take it?”

Akash is the youngest in his family, so no-one was dependent on him financially.

He said that he is grateful for having been able to interact with people he could learn from, and so could take the decision to quit Morgan Stanley. “I’ve taken a call to not chase money, but to make a huge social impact. That gives me the biggest kick. When I see a small child laughing, running and hugging and kissing me when I go to a

school, that gives me immense pleasure.”

Yes We Can has adopted schools on the outskirts of Bangalore and got an agreement from local industries to take the best leavers as interns and potential employees.

But I always want to know how good work in India can really impact the poverty there. Isn’t it a drop in the ocean, Akash?

Akash addressed the matter with his board.

They subsequently widened their programme and named it Hosa Belaku (Kannada for New Light), adopting whole villages in addition to the schools. ”Instead of spreading yourself too thin across various geographies, you need to be focussed on two or three villages, “he explained. “In one of them, we adopted a school and contributed to the local temple- in Indian culture, a magnet for the community.” After discovering a local killer stomach phenomenon arising from poor hygiene, that kills 600m children round the world, the Yes We Can Foundation linked with World Without Worms in Canada and the Wockhardt Foundation, which developed a tablet costing one rupee. If a child takes the tablet twice a year for three years, he or she becomes immune. “We don’t just cut a cheque, develop the school and sit in our ivory towers. If I can gift life to a child and give a child back to its mother, that’s the best service I can do,” Akash passionately concluded.

Why do we need a plethora of religious schools?

Continued from page 3 The relationships formed in school tend to be the most enduring.

In this country we have Anglican schools.

They all accept children from other faiths which means that at least there is a mix of faiths. They came into existence originally because they were the only schools who provided education for those who could not pay for education. We have Catholic schools, some of whom accept children of other faiths, but many do not.

They came into existence because at one time the Catholics were not accepted in Anglican schools. We have Jewish schools which now have falling rolls. Once again they came into being because the Jewish children were not accepted into other schools. Today everyone has free education and freedom to a great extent to choose where they wish to send their children.

Why do we need a plethora of religious schools

Halal meat is already pre stunned.

We should ask for proper labelling as I will no longer buy Halal meat unless it is labelled as pre stunned.

Lord Sheikh is trying to tell us what is right, what is wrong, what are the moral values. But let us not forget that this is a man about whom the News Lord Sheikh of the World carried headlines about his which will stop children relationship with his girlgetting to know each other friend of 10 years who he from day one? had just abandoned. More Lord Sheikh has been recently he got engaged to arguing that killing an ania 27 year old east mal in the halal way is betEuropean girl. Someone ter than killing an animal with those morals is hardwhich is pre stunned. He ly the best example for any says that the people who young person to follow. do the Halal killing are so (B aro n e ss Sh re e la skilled that it’s even F l a t h e r was the first quicker than stunning. I Asian woman to receive a find this very difficult to peerage. She has written understand because if the and spoken about many animal is awake it will be burning issues. Your comwriggling away. How can ment on this article is it be quicker to kill an animost welcome and you mal that is wriggling can write to us at aveditoaround unless there are rial@abplgroup.com in several people holding it? not more than 150 words) In this country 70% of

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

9

10

YOUR VOICE

Roadside Snacks

ISIS message to Middle East

We all enjoy eating the tasty snacks and chaats when we visit India, specially the bhel puri and pani poori served at the Chowpati or other roadside food stalls in Bombay.

The after effects of eating these spicy snacks are well known as they make you run to the bathroom and only give in after we take appropriate medication to stop the incessant diahhroea. There have also been reports of the contaminated water used to make the spicy pani served with the pani poori.

Recently a case has come to light of a ten year old boy who fell sick after eating a pineapple which he bought from a roadside vendor. Later when he had his health checkcarried out, the doctors diagnosed that he had contacted AIDS. His parents couldn’t believe it. Then the entire family under went a checkup and it was found that none of them suffered from Aids. So the doctors asked the boy if he had eaten out. When the boy replied in the affirmative that he had eaten pineapple that evening, a group from the hospital went to the pineapple vendor to investigate.

They found the pineapple seller had cut his finger while cutting the pineapple and that his blood had spread onto the fruit.

On having his blood checked it was found that the guy was suffering from AIDS but he was not aware of it.

So pease take care while you eat the tasty Vadapav or Paani Puri on the road side.

Message by Jehadists/ISIS has spread ripples of fear globally. Security at airports is tightened. Yet, all Muslims are not in favour, as is seen by protests by all Imams in Britain. Paradoxically, it has found favourable trend in Urdu press in India. These are happy that Caliphate is restored after being banished in 1920.

Another paradox is about alleged favourable treatment to some nurses caught up in this turmoil. Some said that they would not return. Some one stated that in spite of adverse and sordid publicity, jihadists cannot be branded as terrorists.

But holistic picture clearly shows struggle between Shia and Sunnis. If jehadism prevails, democracy, human rights, humanism, freedom to worship will not function in healthy manner.

At this dark hour, one must open their eyes to the inclusiveness and benevolence of Hindu scriptures, ahinsa and yoga hammered by popular godmen.

Validity and soothing effects of such exercises must be acknowledged whole heartedly and unanimously. Vatican has shown magnanimity by allowing Morari bapu to deliver Hindu scriptural message there. It also must be noted that unlike Islamic scripturlly. Hindu practices need no force or coercion. Yoga/ meditation non-violence are accepted on secular/health grounds globaby.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Atoning for sins

Dineshbhai, I read with interest your elaborate article of the 12th July as to how sabudana is made!

You have asked the question if it’s okay for Jains and vegetarians to eat it and you have also answered it yourself implying at the end not to eat it. After knowing such a very long messy, dirty and unhygienic process of making sabudana even non-vegetarians and others wouldn’t eat it. I would rather eat khichdi or vada of shredded potatoes with peanuts and sesame seeds and sleep peacefully.

If you are a strict Jain, you may not even eat fast food or go to Indian restaurants as you do not know how the food was cooked and how long it is stored!

Even while everyday walking we kill so many ants and insects and do five types of sins. Hinduism advises to feed birds, animals and give dry rice and pulses, etc. to Brahmins (as it preaches to treat equally all living beings) to atone for them.

Besides, you can forgo breakfast, lunch or dinner at least once a week and donate that much to the poor and hapless, this will keep you healthy and of course happy, others and you as well!

Ramesh Jhalla By email

India’s image needs a boost

That front-page painting behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi and British Foreign Secretary William Hague in last week’s Asian Voice is not straight but dips to the right. At first I thought it was an optical illusion caused by the angle at which the scene was photographed, but when you look at the painting in relation to the two lights on either side, it’s clear it is not perfectly aligned. A small point which should nevertheless have been spotted and corrected by the Delhi meeting’s organisers.

Talking of Delhi meetings, I once saw a conference hall in the capital ready to welcome guests. The floor looked a mess, covered by crumpled tarpaulin, and the microphones on the top table pointed in various directions, requiring speakers to position the mikes towards themselves in a neat row. The tablecloth also had a crumpled look and the scene, if televised or photographed, would have looked shambolic.

When India was a Third World country, such lapses were affectionately overlooked. Now, however, it is not only a “developing country” but a rapidly developing one and should be reflecting the highest standards, particularly at international events when India is in the full glare of the world’s media.

Subscribe Today

What do readers think?

Upendra Kapadia By email

Asian Voice in UK for only £27.50 for one year

Rudy Otter By email

ASIAN VOICE

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

Footpaths, pedestrian crossings, bicycle lanes and public toilets

I visit cities in India often. People going about their business, young and old, hardly walk. They travel in motor cycles, cars or three wheelers. Traffic flows in complete chaos and costs the country in poor physical health, in Co2 emissions costs and unaffordable oil imports costs.

The latest Union Budget has rightly allocated funds and/or changed rules to attract privatisation, public private partnerships, facilitated foreign companies and governments FDI and FII investments to improve the country’s infrastructure in railways, roads and air travel.

However, urban planning also urgently requires better footpaths, pedestrian crossings, bicycle lanes and public toilets to improve the quality of life in every city.

Technology is likely to develop further in the field of communications by video conferencing so that travel will be less necessary.

Births per thousand in India is 22 compared to 13 in China. The population is more or less the same now at 1.3bn and 1.14bn. The density of population in India per square kilometre is far higher than China. Even though life expectancy in India is 65 compared to 74 in China, population is likely to grow faster in India. Cities will become even more congested.

Slow and steady progress, step by step, in wider aspects of daily life could be the long term answer rather than faster progress in some areas and neglect in others equally important.

Bring back the bicycle to India for much wider short term travel rather than the scooter [with bicycle lanes].

Nagindas Khajuria By email

Take the poorest students if want the best

I cannot not figure out what Alpesh Patel in his column ‘take the poorest students if you want the best’ means. I do not understand why poor people have to depend on charity for education.

Mr Patel should realise that more than 95 per cent of the children in this country go to the same school irrespective of caste, religion and race and they are treated in the same way. In addition poor children are provided with free food and grants for clothes. In addition low income groups are provided with social security benefits. Children who do not speak English are provided with additional language help. Children have to stay in school till the age of 16 since education is compulsory and there is no question of dropping out.

Majority of second generation Indians (Hindus) because of grants from the government, are studying for medical, dental and computer science courses and a high percentage of them are women.

It is evil to charge money for education and make fortune out of it. Mr Patel says money does not motivate but if my

Please detach the form and send it with your payment or credit card instructions to address below

Karma Yoga House substantial reduction in 12 Hoxton Market (Off Coronet Street)

London N1 6HW

Tel: 020 7749 4080 Fax: 020 7749 4081 E-mail: support@abplgroup.com

Please note the

subscription rates for Europe and world after reconsideration.

New Subscription rates from 1st October 2013

UK EUROPE WORLD 1 Year £27.50 £75 £85 2 Years £50 £140 £160 Subscriptions paid will not be refunded

Dear Readers, Diwali is now three months away. The New Year is knocking at the door waiting to bring in colours and light to our lives with fervour of joy and ever lasting happiness.

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar as every year will be publishing the ‘Diwali Special’ Magazine for our fabulous and supportive readers like yourself. This year in the English section, we are doing something special for our young readers. l If you are between 7-25 years of age, write an article in English on 'how you celebrate your Diwali every year' or 'your most memorable Diwali with friends and family' or 'how you celebrate Diwali in your school' in no more than 700 words, along with a suitable photo.

Or l if you an organisation, which has a youth wing or support youth activities, tell us how your young members or youth wing celebrates Diwali in 500-600 words with 2 pictures (in no less than 300dpi).

Last date of entry is Sunday 20 September 2014.

Please email your article to aveditorial@abplgroup.com with your full name, age and contact number.

- Asian Voice

Minimum wage

Currently, because there is no set levels of paying workers, most people are hand to mouth. They, the workers have barely enough money for day to day living expenses!!!

By having a minimum wage, workers would have some money in their pockets.

In Kenya, at Independence, President Jomo Kenyatta set, I believe, Shs 80.00 per month. his meant, people had some money to spend. This created demand on products and services. Every one wins.

Something to think about and may be apply.

Praful Padia By email parents had money I would have gone to medical school. My children went to medical schools in this country because of equal opportunity. Grammar schools are free and are far better than independent and private schools.

What Mr Patel writes does not apply to British education system.

Arun Vaidyanathan Via Email

Have something to say about the stories featured in Asian Voice?

Letters are welcome at: aveditorial@abplgroup.com Word limit: 200 words.

Visit our website: www.abplgroup.com

NAME

ADDRESS POST CODE Email:

TEL:

I'd like to be kept up to date by email with offers and news from ABPL

Please charge my VISA / ACCESS / MASTERCARD for £

Card No:

Signature

Card Expiry date

Date

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

11

12

MEDIA WATCH

The Augean Stables of India’s railways has at last received the cleansing promise of a brighter tomorrow. Long years of mindless populism, hallow promises of expansion into new territory, simply for electoral gain, had reduced much of the network to a creaking hulk.

The necessary reform of structure and pricing and investment to make the system fit for 21st century purpose had been sadly lacking until Railways Minister Sadananda Gowda’s Budget with its roadmap to a future that works. Mint, the financial daily, proclaimed (July 8): “Gowda puts railways

of the railways. Minister Gowda has broken the mould; he has initiated a process that could well turn out to be gamechanger in the fullness of time.

Cleanliness

Stress will be laid on cleanliness on trains and stations. Private firms are to be contracted to deliver desired services to to the appropriate standard. The investmentstarved system – bloated at the best of times – was unable to reach an accepted level of performance. The leaner, more manageable private companies are likely to do better since profit will be aligned to results. There will be no routine reliance on the public purse to fund gross inefficiency.

Sadananda Gowda presenting the Railway Budget

on the right track.” The deviation from past practice of announcing new trains and what it meant for the country was well described: “Significantly, only one of the 99 new line projects announced in the last 10 years was actually finished while a majority of the 676 projects announced in the last 30 years are yet to be completed.” Mr Gowda’s Budget signalled the arrival of seed-time and remedy. Mint again: “He has decided to focus on improving the efficiency of the existing network, using technology more intensively and inviting private capital through public-private partnerships and foreign direct investment.” Passenger fares will have to rise periodically to keep up with need. The era of free lunches has ended.

Hurrah!

Bullet train corridors His vision statement echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s: to construct a highspeed bullet train corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the first of similar projects lined up for future development by the previous UPA regime. Rail links to the country’s strategic North East are to be speeded up with an infusion of financial aid.

Fiscal responsibility, not profligacy, is the benchmark of success. The Sam Pitroda committee which had looked into myriad functions of the railways in February 2012 estimated that its modernization would entail a massive expenditure of Rs 5.6 trillion over five years – which is 1000 times more than the present operating surplus

Catering

Meals and catering facilities, including food courts, at railway stations are to be modernized, with private sector participation playing a major role. Foreign direct investment may also join in. The project will provide allround facilities covering rest and recreation. The details are work in progress, but its direction is clear.

Indo-British trade deals

Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, and Foreign Secretary William Hague (and their impressively large delegations) appeared well satisfied with the fruits of their two-day visit to India, where they met with Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, apart from interacting with leading Indian businessmen and investors in India’s commercial capital, Mumbai. Beginning their visit in Mumbai, the Chancellor, told a select audience, which included Ratan Tata and other leading industrialists, that he had detected a “buzz” in the air, and that good days” were ahead for the Indo-British relationship and describing the

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

BJP’s election victory as “stunning,”

Drive, pace, confidence

Mr Osborne said, “It is a measure of the ambition and drive and pace of the new government of Prime Minister Modi, that the complete turnaround in sentiment about the Indian economy has been achieved in just seven short weeks…..[and was matched by the] confidence among international investors abroad” in the future of Indian economy.

Foreign Secretary Hague pointed to the series of British ministerial visits to India, starting David Cameron’s in 2010, and supplemented by those of high profile British businessmen and industrialists, whnich he said was evidence of Britain’s interest in closer economic and strategic ties with India. Mr Osborne pointed to the UK construction company JCB’s decision to open two construction plants in Jaipur, while Diageo, a UK drinks company would be investing $1 billion in an Indian partner..

Financial partnership

Britain and India are to set up a body to facilitate a financial partnership that would link Mumbai and London as the principal hubs in financial services. The project is due to come up in the next three months (Business Line July 9)

Defence contracts

Me Osborne continued: “In the last couple of days we have concluded a 250 million pound (sterling) deal to supply British defence equipment to the Indian Air Force.” He was referring to the contract with MBDA UK for the supply of advanced shortrange air-to-air missiles for the IAF’s Jaguar fleet, the weapon to be called the “New Generation Close Combat Missile” by its Indian owners. Meanwhile carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra will be releasing its first electric vehicles in the UK next year, while Cipla, the Mumbai-based pharmaceutical giant will be investing 100 million pounds in its UK subsidiary for drugs manufactures.”This kind of hightech, research-driven investment is the future for both our countries,” said Chancellor Osborne (Hindu, Mint July 8)

Hero in Colombia

South America is where Prime Minister Narendra will be when he attends the BRICS summit in

William Hague, George Osborne with Narendra Modi, other ministers

Brazil. During that trip he is also scheduled to meet with the leaders of the continent, who have been invited by the Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to meet their BRICS counterparts on the sidelines of the summit. India’s economic presence in the area is plainly evident, but it is now set to grow to its true potential. Hero MotoCorp will be setting up as manufacturing facility in Colombia, having formed a wholly owned subsidiary in the country, which is designed to cater to the South American market. The plant is expected to go on stream by the middle 2015. “The commencement of our operations in Colombia is a definitive leap into the next level of our global foray,” said Pawan Munjal, the company’s Managing Director and CEO (Telegraph July 8)

Poverty decline

An expert committee headed by C. Rangarajan, former chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, has confirmed the findings of a previous committee, that India’s poverty level has declined, a fact revealed in the 2011 Census The Rangarajan data.

Committee estimated that India’s poverty ratio had fallen from 29.8 per cent in 2009-10 to 21.9 per cent in 2011-12.

“Totally, 91.6 million individuals were lifted out of poverty during this period (between 2009-10 and 2011-12),” the report said (Mint July 8)

World Trade Center for Bhubaneswar

Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik laid the foundation stone for a convention-cum trade zone in the State capital entailing an investment of Rs 300 crore. A World Trade Center, including an office and commercial spaces will be built beside the Fortune Tower and will be part of this facility. A 1.7 kilometre skywalk will connect the Convention Centre to nearby hotels and the heart of this enormous complex. The timeline for the project is three years. This will be the fifth World Trade Centre in India and will become part of ‘One Global Network’, spanning 100 countries and 300 World Trade Centers. The zone in Bhubaneswar is certain to spur Odisha’s trade, investment and tourism.

Advanced BrahMos test-fired

An advanced version of India’s supersonic (2.8 mach) missile was successfully test-fired last week on the Odisha coast on the Bay of Bengal. The launch in steep-dive mode for precision attack against targets behind mountain ridges, was undertaken from a mobile platform by the Army’s third BrahMos regiment.

It validated the the new indigenous software algorithm resulting in “pinpoint accuracy against hidden land targets.”

The two-stage missile is capable of delivering a 200-300 kg conventional warhead. Sivathanu Pillai, CEO and Managing Director BrahMos Aerospace Ltd described the exercise as ca textbook launch. (Hindu July 9)

Nuclear weapons operational

India’s Defence Research & and Development (DRDO) chief Avinash Chander said the country’s nuclear weapons on land,

BrahMos missile

air and sea were now operational. He also confirmed that the nuclear reactor onboard INS Arihant, India’s nuclear submarine had attained criticality as it commenced its recent sea trials.(Mint July 8)

Amit Shah

Amit Shah, the mastermind behind the BJP’s astonishing victory in India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, which opened the way to an amazing electoral performance nationally, has been justly rewarded with his appointment as President of the party. He has clearly emerged from the shadows onto the national centre stage, his every word and action hereon to be subjected to close critical scrutiny in the corridors of power and in the public domain.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with team in front of Parliament See comment page 3

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

Tax fraudster pleads to come home and hand himself in

Our Histories Are Too Often His Stories

I write to you on the eve of my birthday. I am reminded of this poem about a patriotic woman war hero: "The life that I have, Is all that I have, And the life that I have, Is yours.

The love that I have, Of the life that I have, Is yours and yours and yours.

A sleep I shall have, A rest I shall have. Yet death will be but a pause.

For the peace of my years, In the long green grass, Will be yours and yours and yours."

Too often our histories become his stories. The Cabinet reshuffle and the promotion of women reminds us how pre-historic we still are – truly British Indian Minister Verma should have been promoted to more trade related roles and Priti Patel could have been elevated beyond Exchequer Secretary, given Ester McVey has been catapulted to Cabinet. Missed opportunities.

So what birthday wishes do I have?

That I play my part in helping the world’s largest democracy to fulfill its glorious promise and specifically the recognition of women. And that each of us recognizes that because one in six humans on this planet lives under that Constitution, it matters to all of us to help that democracy, India. A patriot of the whole world would help, regardless of nationality, hold up the Indian Constitution. So I have three birthday wishes, renewed from last year, enshrined in the Indian Constitution: Article 15 states, ‘The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex,

place of birth or any of them.’ My wish this year is to continue taking from rich bankers as I did last year to give more than ever as Co-Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Loomba Trust which helps widows in India.

Article 21A; “The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine” My wish this year, like last year, to do another amazing fund raising auction, for Akshaya Patra. Without education there can be no ‘world’s largest Democracy’ – and without the education of girls there is no democracy at all.

Article 23; “Traffic in human beings and begging and other similar forms of forced labour are prohibited.” This year, my wish is lobby the new Indian Government to do more with International Justice Mission whose sole aim is to fulfill this article of the Indian Constitution – ending trafficking, especially as it disproportionately means trafficking of women.

To all those – such as Goal and UnLimited – for whom I’ve not been able to raise funds this past year –forgive me.

Can we do all this? Is it not an impossible task?

‘And how can man die better; Than facing fearful odds; For the ashes of his fathers; And the temples of his Gods.’ Do, or die trying. We come from the land of the Ramayan – in which even a God faced fearful odds to save his wife from enslavement. We face fearful odds trying to make the Indian Constitution a reality.

British Imams condemn ISIS Leading British Imams have strongly condemned the Islamist militant group ISIS in an online video published this week targeted at deterring young British Muslims from fighting in Iraq and Syria.

Their comments against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and its self-proclaimed "caliphate" is considered to be the highest-profile announcement thus far

from Muslim leaders in Britain to the extremist Islamist group that has taken control of large areas of Northern and Western Iraq and Eastern Syria. The British Imams

Manager of nursery where toddler choked to death blames piece of jelly The manager of Dicky Birds Day Nursery, Derek Hayes, where 22 month old Tiya Chauhan, pictured, choked to death on a cube of jelly, has told an inquest that the problem was not a lack of supervision but instant asphyxiation.

Mr Hayes has been accused of failing to properly supervise toddler Tiya Chauhan who was found lying unconscious at the nursery and died the following day.

Mr Hayes, operations manager at the nursery, deliberately missed the incident in his formal report to Ofsted and provided inaccurate informa-

tion about how many staff were on duty, it was claimed.

The nursery boss then suspended an assistant even though she had done nothing to deserve it, to try and appease the inspectors and keep the nursery open, the inquest heard.

13

appearing in the video reportedly described ISIS insurgents as “corrupt, evil, viscous cowboys and terrorists.”

T h e y said their film aims to counter the digital-media campaign that ISIS and other extremist groups have started in an attempt to lure foreign fighters to its new “caliphate.”

Tax evader Nasser Ahmed, who has been on the run for a decade after a £156 million fraud, is urging Britain to let him come 'home', after complaining that he cannot hand himself in because his passport has run out.

Nasser Ahmed, pictured, fled Britain only moments before a Bristol jury found him guilty of defrauding HM Revenue and Customs and he was sentenced in his absence to six years in jail in February 2005. Nine years later, Ahmed has decided that he wants to hand himself in after reportedly deciding that “life on the run isn’t as glamorous as it seems”.

The fraudster said that he had contacted the courts, a British embassy, the Foreign Office and the

HMRC’s “most wanted” hotline, which publicised his case, but complained that his pleas to face justice had been ignored.

Ahmed said that he was unable to return to the UK because he no longer held a passport and it is understood that he cannot apply for one because he is a wanted criminal.

To get his voice heard, Ahmed, who was believed to be in Dubai, contacted a local newspaper, to ask for help. But he made no

mention of repaying the profits of his four-year VAT fraud, which involved importing computer chips from Luxembourg.

A confiscation hearing held after an investigation into Ahmed’s finances was told that he was convicted of defrauding £800,000, but the true amount by which he had benefited from the complex VAT scam was an “astronomical” £156,577,417.29.

The court was told that investigators had located only £5 million that could be seized.

Ahmed is likely to have to serve the six years in prison handed to him at Bristol Crown Court as well as further penalties for failing to pay a confiscation order and skipping bail.

Cash-and-carry king set to be favourite to buy Co-op

Billionaire cash-and-carry king Sir Anwar Pervez has surprisingly emerged as the frontrunner to buy the Co-operative Group’s pharmacies for a reported £600m.

The businessman's Bestway group has overtaken competition from the likes of Lloyds Pharmacy, Alliance Boots and Carlyle, the US buyout firm, and is expected to be named the preferred bidder in the next few days.

Pervez, who used to be a former bus conductor, founded his business empire from a single convenience store in London’s Earls Court.

From that store, Pervez managed to create one of the country’s largest cash-and-carry networks.

Today, the 79-year-old entrepreneur is worth £1.3bn, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.It

Sir Anwar Pervez

is not yet clear how Bestway will finance the pharmacies deal.

Co-op, which employs about 6,500 staff, put its 700 chemists up for sale this year as part of efforts to maintain the group, which lost £2.5bn last

year and owes lenders £1.4bn. A deal to sell the chain to Bestway is attractive because it is unlikely to lead to the kind of large-scale job cuts that a sale to a rival would probably have resulted in.

FOX MANDAL LLP

020 7936 4786

Service we Provide • Real Estate in India | Bangladesh • Will probate in India | Bangladesh • Property Management in India | Bangladesh • Property Development in India | Bangladesh • Litigation in India | Bangladesh Other Services • Arbitrations • Joint Ventures • Employment • Immigration • TMT • Intellectual Property • Taxation

• Mergers and Acquisitions • Outsourcing • Project Finance & Banking

London Office: 178-181, 2nd Floor, Temple Chambers, 3-7 Temple Avenue, London, EC4Y 0HP. Tel: 020 7936 4786 Email: london@foxmandalllp.com Web: www.foxmandalllp.com

Also group offices in: • Ahmedabad • Bangalore • Bhubaneswar • Chandigarh • Chennai • Dhaka (Bangladesh) • Hyderabad • Kochi • Kolkata • London • Mumbai • New Delhi • Noida & • Pune

14

UK

Sanskruti successfully displays heritage of Tanjore Kingdom

A Bharatnatyam presentation on the compositions authored during the Tanjore Maratha Kingdom was hosted by the Nehru Centre on 11 July. Dancer Ragasudha Vinjamuri presented the classical dance on Sanskrit, Marathi and Telugu compositions authored by King Shahaji Bhonsle 2, the nephew of Chatrapati Shivaji. Director of the Nehru Centre and Culture Minister Sangeeta Bahadur has given an opening message welcoming the audience and outlining the artiste background. A brief audio visual presen-

tation was shown on the rulers and lineage of the Tanjore Kingdom.

Shivaji’s brother Ekoji was the first Tanjore Maratha ruler. His son Shahaji’s reign is termed as the golden period during which music, dance

and literature flourished.

Students of Sanskruti

Centre for Cultural Excellence Mugdha, Nikhita, Lochana, Sneha, Anumita, Siya and Sriya under tutelage of the Ragasudha have first performed the invocation to Ganesha, Saraswati, Lakshmi and to Nataraja. This was followed by the composition on Nataraja, the Lord of Dance and Parvatihis consort. The pleasant aspect of Kanchi Kamakshi and her fierce aspect while protecting her devotees from evil were distinctly shown by seasoned Ragasudha to a hall packed with audience. The music was very fresh and engaging, and were presented for the first time in the UK after the compositions were picked from Tanjavur Saraswati Library Mahal recently.

An impromptu sketch of the dancer was made by a senior artiste in the audience.

Multi-million pound drive announced to boost diversity in creative industries

Government is joining forces with employers, charities and industry partners to develop new pathways into the creative industries for hundreds of people from underrepresented groups, especially ethnic minorities. The project will open doors for future filmmakers, designers and TV producers.

Former Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock announced a further £4million of funding to match industry investment, in a major boost to the creative industries.

The project will see nearly 300 black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) young people recruited into living wage internships. The interns will gain first-hand experience with 150 employers

from across the sector with opportunities ranging from training on the sets of shows like EastEnders and Holby City to assisting with curating an exhibition at the South Bank Centre.

Young people will attend monthly masterclasses where they can meet and learn from industry leaders. The project will help more than 3,000 young people develop CVs, draft applications and prepare for interviews.

The project, which will be delivered by the charity Creative Access and skills body Creative Skillset, has been launched as part of the successful bid submitted by Channel 4 on behalf of the creative industries for the Employer Ownership of Skills Pilot.

This project will also

provide bespoke bursaries for 900 people to support their progression to senior and influential levels in the creative industries.

The news follows the announcement earlier this month of £16m of coinvestment to develop the current and future creative workforce supporting the Creative Industries Council’s new industry strategy. The strategy, outlines a plan for businesses and Government to work together to maintain the UK’s position as a world leader for the creative industries.

Other developments in the overall bid such as the delivery of quality apprenticeships and business leadership provision will also hopes to help to progress diversity in the industries.

Arjuna Weerasinghe

who died three days later.

But he had to wait another 14 months for hospital chiefs to respond to a coroner’s request for information about the case and an initial internal report was altered to remove a sentence exonerating Weerasinghe of any blame. The decision to sack Weerasinghe was made by Dr Chanaka Karunaratne, the hospital’s clinical director for surgery. He reportedly refused to read a threepage report from Weerasinghe’s GP before

Whistleblower surgeon wins fight against NHS

A surgeon, who worked at Basildon Hospital in Essex, is seeking a sevenfigure compensation payout after an employment tribunal ruled he was unfairly sacked for gross misconduct after blowing the whistle on poor patient care at a hospital.

Arjuna Weerasinghe believes he contracted pneumonia in a dirty operating theatre at Basildon Hospital in Essex. He raised his concerns in 2010 after crucial equipment was unavailable when he performed surgery on a man

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

Judgement on minimum income threshold for spouses disappoints families The judgment on the long awaited case of MM v Secretary of State for the Home Department that challenged the minimum income threshold for spouses wishing to enter the UK, has led to a heartbreaking result for those families forced apart by the rule. The judgement suggests that applicants who have met all the requirements to enter the UK, apart from the minimum income threshold will now stand to be refused.

According to the judgement, the minimum income threshold for British citizens to sponsor a non-EEA spouse or partner or child to come and live in the UK was introduced in July 2012. It aims to ensure that family migrants do not become reliant on the taxpayer for financial support and are able to integrate effectively. The minimum income threshold was set, following advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee, at £18,600 for sponsoring a spouse or partner, rising to £22,400 for also sponsoring a child and an additional £2,400 for each fur-

ther child.

The judgment overturns an earlier High Court judgment from July 2013, which was supportive of the approach but found that the impact of the minimum income threshold on family life could be disproportionate.

The judgment now means that, from the 28 July, the 4,000 individuals whose applications are currently on hold, pending this judgment, will now receive a decision.

An appeal to the Supreme Court will be attempted, but it will be many months until any outcome is known.

Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire said: “I am delighted that the Court of Appeal has comprehensively upheld the lawfulness of this important policy.

“We welcome those who wish to make a life in the UK with their family, work hard and make a contribution, but family life must not be established in the UK at the taxpayer’s expense and family migrants must be able to integrate.

The minimum income

threshold to sponsor family migrants is delivering these objectives and this judgment recognises the important public interest it serves.”

Mr. Kanti Nagda of Sangat Advice Centre told Asian Voice that every Government has the right to decide on its Immigration Policy provided it does not discriminate against one section of the community.

In the cases of foreign spouses, added Mr. Nagda, the Government has failed to be seen to be doing justice as the minimum wage set by the Government is not in line with the requirement of the £18,600.00 minimum threshold for spouses.

He further said that the Prime Minister, when in Opposition said that his Government would be most family friendly Government we have ever had in this country and we would do everything to support families – every sort of family. Mr. Nagda called on the PM to level playing field and assist over 4000 foreign spouses who would now be refused visa to join their husband/wife.

Staff at Muslim school filmed describing how clapping hands is Satanic

Footage obtained for a Channel 4 documentary at The Olive School in Blackburn allegedly shows teachers at the Muslim faith primary school referring to clapping hands as ‘Satanic’, discussing whether music in school might be un-Islamic, how ties could be turned into snakes and that gay people should be stoned to death.

The school has 600 pupils in Blackburn and is run by the Tauheedul Islam Faith, Education

and Community Trust.

The Trust has reportedly labelled the discussions as ‘staff room gossip’.

Channel 4 did not say what footage from the school would be aired. Officials at the Trust contacted the Department for Education after learning of the allegations.

The Trust invited inspectors to visit the school, and the DfE ordered an emergency ‘no notice’ Ofsted inspection last week.

The Trust later said that

this inspection went ‘very well’.

A Tauheedul governor reportedly said: ‘The Trust’s schools provide a first class education for young people in modern-day Britain… We need to look at what these schools have achieved for their pupils.’

Blackburn MP Jack Straw reportedly said: ‘I reserve final judgment until I see the programme. From what I know the allegations are groundless.’

the disciplinary hearing, arguing that it would have taken 30 minutes to do so.

In the same year that Weerasinghe raised concern with his bosses over the lack of vital equip-

ment, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was named by the Care Quality Commission, the health regulator, as one of 25 trusts in need of

urgent investigation over high mortality rates. The tribunal also heard how hospital staff complained in November 2010 that walls in operating theatres had not been cleaned for 16 months.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

Human Achievers Foundation hosts first Award ceremony in House of Lords

From L-R: Mr Jagajit & Manjit Singh, Dr Rami Ranger, Talwinder Hayre, Dr Ajay Gupta, Richard Harrington MP, Dr Amit Kumar, BR Shetty, Senorita Isaac and Atul Pathak

The Human Achievers Foundation hosted its first Awards ceremony at the House of Lords on Thursday 10th July, where an intimate number of guests gathered to mingle with the community's finest. Hosted by Senorita Isaac, Founder and Chairman of the Foundation, the awards rewarded and honoured exceptional individuals who have contributed to the society to make it better place.

The Foundation is a group of passionate people who are determined to bring a smile to every face.

With a focus on destitute, uneducated women and sexually abused children, the trust works towards innovating new ways of supporting and reaching

out to the needy members of the society. Its objectives include charitable, religious social work, medical, scientific, literary and educational activities.

The Chief Guest at the Awards ceremony was Richard Harrington MP, who expressed his delight at being able to be a part of such inspirational event.

Winners of the prestigious awards included Lord Diljit Rana, a British politician and member of the House of Lords, who received the Legend of the Lord Award, Mr Jagajit & Manjit Singh, who run Jagat Rice, one of the leading certified manufacturer and exporters of premium quality rice, received the Green Innovators of the Year Award, Talwinder

Hayre received the Award for Sustainable Real Estate Developers of the Year, Dr Amit Kumar received the Award for Gift of Life, Dr Ajay Gupta received the Global Affordable Healthcare Innovation Award, Atual Pathak, Managing Director of a cooperation of McDonalds, received Leading Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Rami Managing Ranger, Director of Sun Mark Limited, received the Pride of India Award and BR Shetty, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Based New Medical Centre Group of Companies And UAE Exchange, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

When three-year-old Mikaeel Kular, pictured, went missing in January, it sparked a major search by the Edinburgh emergency services and members of the public, instigated by his mother, Rosdeep Adekoya. In a shocking turn of events, on Tuesday 8 July, Ms Adekoya, 34 appeared in court accused of murdering her son. She is charged with assaulting Mikaeel at her Edinburgh home in January and hiding his body in woodland in Fife. It is alleged she attempted to coverup her actions by pretending to police he had gone missing, sparking a major search.

Ms Adekoya appeared before judge Lord Boyd at the High Court in Edinburgh. It is alleged that she murdered her son after assaulting him on various occasions between January 12 and January 15.

Prosecutors also claim that she attempted to defeat the ends of justice by telling lies to police officers who were investigating her child’s disappearance. The second charge claims that between January 14 and January 17 2014, at the Edinburgh address and an area of woodland behind a house in Kirkcaldy, Fife,

and at Drylaw Police Office in Edinburgh, Ms A d e k o y a attempted to lie.

She is alleged to have wrapped Mikaeel's body in a duvet cover, put it in a suitcase and driven to Fife, where prosecutors say she hid the case under a bush in woods behind a

house. She is alleged to have reported her son missing to police, telling officers he got out of bed and climbed on a stool to unlock the front door of his home. The case continues and is expected to next call at the High Court in Edinburgh on July 25.

Killer mother accused of punching and hiding son's body in a suitcase

We at Bloomsbury law have expert Immigration lawyers, who speak your language and understand your problems thereby finding an ideal way out if you are stuck in this immigration maze, specifically tailored to your requirement at an affordable cost.

We advise individuals, businesses and corporate entities in all areas including: Visit Visa Applications Family Applications EEA Applications Settlement Applications Asylum and Human Rights Applications British Citizenship Applications Removal, Detentions and Deportation Applications Appeals, Administrative Reviews and Judicial Review Point based Applications - Tiers – 1, 2, 4 and 5

Call us today !!

We are here to guide you and advise you through your process

17 Manchester Street, London W1U 4DJ

T: 020 7998 7777 www.bloomsbury-law.com

UK

15

Birmingham jihadists bought 'Islam for Dummies' book before travelling to Syria Two childhood friends from Birmingham, who fled the UK to fight in Syria, ordered a number of books from Amazon, including Islam For Dummies, The Koran For Dummies and Arabic For Dummies, ahead of their trip, a court has heard.

After eight months fighting in Syria, Mohammed Nahin Ahmed and Yusuf Zubair Sarwar, 22, were arrested on their return to Heathrow Airport in January after their relatives informed counterterrorism detectives.

Sarwar had left a note for his mother arguing going 'to do jihad' in Syria was 'doing the best deed in Allah's eyes' and said the Taliban and Al Qaeda 'are

not bad', so she went to the police.

Upon returning to Britain they told officers they had been doing humanitarian work but a camera containing 'thousands' of images, including some of them posing with guns on the front line, was discovered in their luggage. Sarwar left a hand-

written letter for his mother when he fled for Syria, but she went to the police who intercepted him and his friend Ahmed when they flew back to Britain eight months later.

In the letter, he wrote that he had left to join a terrorist group called Kataib al Muhajireen (KaM) - later renamed Kateeba al-Kawthar - 'to do jihad'.

They each admitted one count of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorism acts contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act on Tuesday 8 July.

Ahmed, who was born in Bangladesh, moved to Britain as a child, while Sarwar, who is of Pakistani descent, was born in Britain.

Care Home provider set to get £5m bonus from sale of former Southern Cross homes Directors at a care home company, which was created from the remainder of the unsuccessful Southern Cross care home empire, are moving closer to a multi-million pound payday from its sale.

HC-One, which took on 240 care homes when Southern Cross failed three years ago, is close to being sold to a giant American nursing home operator in the coming weeks, sparking a one-off

£5m bonus for senior management. The executive team, led by healthcare businessman Chai Patel, pictured, the former head of The Priory reha-

bilitation clinics, negotiated some of the proceeds from any future sale of the company when they took control of the properties in 2011. They took over responsibility after Southern Cross collapsed under a large amount of debt and rising rents.

Court Cavendish, Mr Patel’s company, teamed up with NHP, Southern Cross’s biggest landlord, forming an operating company called HC-One.

UK

PM Cameron woos audience at CF India annual lunch

16

Rupanjana Dutta

Alok Sharma MP

Ranjit Singh Baxi

Lord Andrew Feldman

Minister to the esteemed audience, Alok praised Mr Cameron for making three trade missions to India in four years and for making the decision to erect a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament Square. He also added that “no Conservative Leader has ever done more” to engage with India and the BritishIndian community.

David Cameron, keeping in mind the huge

Narendra Modi.

“I won’t forget my conversation with Prime Minister Modi congratulating him on his victory. I picked up the phone and said, ‘It's great to be talking to someone who just got more votes than any other politician anywhere in the universe’,” he said.

He described the growing importance he attached to both the relationship with the British Indian community and

ing more into the UK than the rest of the European Union put together; second, UK is the biggest inward investor into India, so the economic partnership is getting ever greater; and fact number three is that Britain's biggest diplomatic presence anywhere in the world is actually in India.”

Making reference to the recent Indian elections David Cameron said: “Britain and India

now both have bold reforming governments that believe in free enterprise, that believe in progress, that believe that if we take long term difficult decisions, we can serve our countries.”

Making clear his commitment to building on that relationship, the Prime Minister went on to say: “we have not yet even scratched the surface of how far this relationship can go.”

Speaking about the UK's upcoming general election due in May 2015, Mr Cameron impressed the audience by saying, “What is at stake at the next elections are not just the policies and plans but the values that lie behind them. That is where I believe British Indians have so much to contribute to this fight that we have in front of us. The values that will help Britain succeed are the values that your communities hold dear. As Gandhi said, the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

CF India Co-chairman Mr Ranjit Baxi concluded with the vote of thanks, thanking the Prime Minister for attending the special occasion. He thanked everyone in the room for their support, in particular the contribution made by the Indian women present. He noted that the party Chairman, Lord Feldman, was proud of the contribution made to society by British Indians, “who not only uphold the rich Indian culture and family values that are so close to the Conservative Party, but are also leaders in their own right.”

The show 'All You Need Is Love' featured as part of a season of themed festivals called The Summer of Love – a coming together of hundreds of artists and community groups to celebrate the theme of love.

The producers of the

fantastic event included James Biddulph, Artistic Director and Headteacher of Avanti Court, Jane Heeler, Musical Director and Shammi Pithia, Narrator and Musician.

Guests included John Simpson, Chair of Avanti Schools Trust, Shailesh Vara MP, Dhiraj Pankhania and Family, the sponsor for the event and Sir David Brewer and Manoj Ladwa, Friends of Avanti Schools Trust.

Bringing music from a wide palette, the story follows the triumph of light over darkness, of good-

Co Chairmen Alok Sharma MP and entrepreneur Ranjt Singh Baxi, organised the Conservative Friends of India annual lunch on Thursday 10th July. The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. David Cameron MP, delivered a keynote address during this lunch at London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, with more than 400 prominent members of the British Indian community present in the audience, including 35 Parliamentarians and Parliamentary candidates, businessmen, journalists as well as the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, HE Ranjan Mathai.

Welcoming the guests and introducing the Prime

PM David Cameron addressing guests at CF India lunch

Indian audience present, in a humorous speech disclosed his private conversation with the Indian counterpart, Shri

India. Outlining three “fabulous facts” about Britain’s relationship with India he said: “Firstly, Indian business is invest-

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

CII organises Annual India Conference in London Indian Economy on the Upswing and India UK Partnerships

On Monday 21st July 2014, CII supported by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), will be organizing its Annual India-UK Conference, “Indian Economy on the Upswing and India UK Partnerships”at St James Court, Taj Hotel Buckingham Gate, London.

In May 2014 the people of India delivered a biggest mandate in three decades, giving the newly elected government the ease of working with a clear majority.

Government’s emphasis is on ‘less government and more governance’, a move expected to have a great positive impact on the growth and development agenda. Markets have been showing positive trends. The Indian Industry mood is buoyant, expectations high.

The first budget of

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, kickstarted the government's reform agenda. In such exciting times, the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) Annual CEOs delegation, led by Mr Ajay Shriram, President, CII and Chairman and Senior Managing Director, DCM Shriram Consolidated Limited, will be in London to discuss with industry and government in the UK, the renewed opportunities that India offers for business.The Conference will have senior industry leaders from India and UK discussing the new government’s agenda, especially in the light of its first budget and what it holds for the economy; businesses; foreign relations; foreign investors in India.

This will be followed by a reception in the evening at the Banqueting House, Whitehall.

18-year-old Kasim Ahmed, from the Darnell area in Sheffiled, has confessed to the murder of a Sri Lankan student, who studied at the Sheffield Hallam University, according to foreign media reports.

Mr Ahmed pleaded guilty to the murder of Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, pictured, a Sheffield Hallam IT graduate who had moved to the UK from his homeland in search of ‘a better life’, at Sheffield Crown Court.

He had originally been due to stand trial at Sheffield Crown Court but entered a guilty plea. He admitted another two counts of robbery, which took place on October 27

last year – the same day Mr Peiris was killed.

Mr Peiris was preparing to begin a dream job as an IT consultant when he was called out to deliver a pizza in Southey Green.

He was later found at the wheel of his Domino’s delivery car with stab wounds in his chest.

His mother and father, Sarath and Sudarma, spoke of their ‘broken hearts’ following Mr Peiris’ death.

British Teenager admits to the murder of Sri Lankan student

'All you Need is Love' - a fantastic display of colour, joy, happiness and love

- Tanveer Mann

The message of the Ramayana was beautifully explored through a journey of music from around the world, on the evening of Monday 14 July. The age-old story of Ram and Sita, which has captured the minds and lives of thousands of people, was depicted by 200 young children from the Avanti family of schools, in a show titled 'All you Need is Love' at The Southbank Centre.

The exhilarating fusion musical performance of the Ramayana, featured pupils from Avanti Court Primary School, Redbridge, Avanti House Secondary School,

Harrow, Krishna Avanti Primary School, Harrow and Krishna Avanti Primary School, Leicester, who all came together after months of rehearsals and hard work, to perform at the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Hall.

ness over evil, of love over hate – all in line with the ethos and values shared across all of the Avanti schools.

Songs performed by the talented children included Mozart's opera 'The Magic Flute', performed to show the first time Rama and Sita saw each other, the wellknown Bollywood Song Mehndi Lagake Rakhna, for when the happy couple marry, George Harrison's well known ballad, My Sweet Lord, performed by Sita when Ravana, the ten-headed mighty kind kidnaps her and locks her away, Na Chika le, an African call and response chant when Lord Rama and his

brother returned from hunting and saw that Sita was not there, Power in Me by Rebecca Lawrence, Jai Ho from the hit film Slum Dog Millionaire, Maha Mantra and All You Need Is Love by George Harrison.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

Assisted Dying Bill: Should we have the right to end our life?

The question of whether we should have the right to end our life or not has recently been brought to attention, after the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey, supported by Desmond Tutu, shockingly announced that he would support legislation to allow the terminally ill in England and Wales get help to end their lives. His comment comes ahead of the scheduled debate in the House of Lords on Friday 18th July, chaired

by Lord Falconer, the former Lord Chancellor, which will see the Assisted Dying Bill get its Second Reading, and subject to opponents, be voted on by around 110 peers.

Lord Falconer's legislation would make it legal for adults in England and Wales to be given assistance ending their own life and would apply to those with less than six months to live. Two doctors would have to independently confirm the patient was terminally ill and had reached their own, informed decision to die.

Several attempts to legalise assisted dying have been made in the past but have repeatedly been put down with medical professions and disability rights groups, among others, arguing that the law is there to protect the vulnerable in society.

The former Archbishop's comments have created mixed reactions, not least because both Carey and Tutu still has some influence in the

Church, especially amongst the more tradiminded tionalist Anglicans, all who disagree with the bill.

Currently, the 1961 Suicide Act makes it an offence to encourage or assist a suicide or a suicide attempt in England and Wales and anyone doing so could face up to 14 years in prison.

Patients who wish to end their life have to go abroad to countries such as Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, where legislation has already been introduced to allow assisted dying.

With such a sensitive topic comes backlash. The current Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby reportedly warned that Lord Falconer's bill would mean elderly and disabled people coming under pressure to end their lives.

"What sort of society would we be creating if we were to allow this sword of Damocles to hang over the head of every vulnerable, terminally-ill person in the country?" he reportedly said in a national daily.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton also voiced fears that opponents of assisted

dying would attempt to destroy his bill on the issue by tabling a wrecking amendment in the House of Lords on Friday.

However, Lord Dholakia, a British Liberal Democrat politician, is committed to supporting the Bill being tabled on Friday. He said, “I welcome this Bill and the important debate that it raises. If made into law it would result in fewer dying adults facing unnecessary suffering at the end of their lives, whilst providing strict safeguards to prevent abuse. The current situation has seen terminally ill people take matters into their own hands without adequate support, and often putting their relatives at risk of prosecution.”

“Members of the public are increasingly behind the move. Polls have found that 62% of religious people are supportive of assisted dying for terminal ill people and prominent religious figures from both the Church of England and the Hindu Council have given public support to these proposals.”

Milapfest’s annual festival of world-class Indian performing arts returns to The Capstone Theatre from Friday 25 July to Friday 1 August 2014.

With a host of India’s leading artistes performing, this year’s festival features classical music and dance evening performances, traditional morning raga concerts and a family friendly garden party.

The theme of Indika 2014 is collaboration, and throughout the week audiences will see collaborations between Indian music genres and dance styles alongside unusual instrument combinations.

The opening performance Light on the Path will be a highlight of the festival on 25 July.

Featuring India’s leading Bharatanatyam dance duo The Dhanajayans, Carnatic pianist Anil Srinivasan and vocalist Sikkil Gurucharan, this innovative performance explores the theme of light, devotion and enlightenment.

The Garden Party on 26 July is a chance for friends and families to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the award winning Angel Field Gardens with entertainment ranging from

Bhangra dancing to classical music and world music rhythms along with a variety of Indian food and drink. Other highlights of the festival include the popular Morning Raga concerts at 8am on 27 and 30 July, the Ratna Award Competition performances on 28 and 29 July, and the final night performance by Pandit Birju Maharaj, affectionately known as the Father of Kathak. Running as part of IFB Culture, Indika is the biggest celebration of classical Indian arts in Europe and a highlight of the Liverpool festival season.

Lord Care

Lord Dholakia

UK

Leader of Harrow Council prioritises the most in need

David Perry, pictured, has been a Labour Party Councillor for the past 8 years, in which time he has been Portfolio Holder for Community & Culture, and became Leader of the Labour Group in 2013.

Following the election in May 2014, David has now become the new Leader of Harrow Council.

Speaking exclusively to Asian Voice, David said, “First and foremost, its obviously an honour and a privilege to be the leader of Harrow Council.

I've lived in Harrow my whole life and so its a borough I know well, I love living here and I've worked in Harrow for many years as well.

“One thing I learnt very quickly, in my role as Portfolio Holder for Community & Culture, is the diversity in Harrow and the richness we've got with the different communities and different backgrounds. I think that's going to be something which will feature in our administration.”

Under David’s leadership the priorities for the new administration will be to make a difference for families, communities, local businesses and those in need. At a time when Harrow Council have had £75m in cuts imposed on

them by the Conservative Government over the next 4 years, David has set out an agenda for the council to work with local residents and voluntary organisations to protect those most in need.

“I think we've been very clear of what our priorities are in Harrow.

During our campaigning and in our manifesto, we were very clear that we'd be supporting, trying to make a difference to families. We want to be very people focused, supporting communities and especially, given the financial climate, we want to be able to support the most in need, the vulnerable in our community from some of the budget reductions which the government are imposing on us and businesses. I think those are our four key flagships areas where we want to make a difference.”

In his professional life David works for a construction company as a Business Development Manager, working on the negotiations to acquire new business and to maintain current business relationships with clients.

Asking him how he plans to integrate the Asian community, he explained, “We do have a sizeable Asian community amongst a lot of other communities as well but I think what we're trying to do as a Labour Party is try to build relationships within all communities, celebrate diversity, various community events that occur we come along to, we've supported in the past. One of the most important things we've done, in amongst the budget reductions, is those community festivals, we've ring-fenced that budget in order to help continue to celebrate the different community festivals in Harrow and obviously there's some major ones of which the Asian community celebrate as well.”

David also has 5 years’ experience of being a local Magistrate, as well as being a Governor at Marlborough Primary School. David has lived in Harrow all his life.

The 4th annual Indika festival returns to Liverpool this summer

British prison Imams have links to extremist groups and could be radicalising inmates Imams with links to extremist Muslim groups are helping to turn Britain’s prisons into ‘state-funded breeding grounds for extremism’, an expert has warned.

The Prison Officers’ Association described the

threat of inmates being radicalised as a ‘real problem’. There are 11,683 Muslim prisoners in Britain’s jails and the government has deployed imams to help steer them away from extremist paths.

However, the Prison Officers’ Association has issued a warning about this process, saying that some extremist imams had reportedly ‘slipped through the net’, a national daily has reported.

17

1 Carat Diamond Ring for £2000 We are never beaten on price for Certificated Diamond Rings Minar Jewellers

181 Upper Tooting Road, London SW17 7TG

020 8767 7627

www.minarjewellers.com

The National Association Of Goldsmiths Member

18

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

Dear Financial Voice Reader,

It’s summer and the Indian invasion has begun. I even bumped into Abhishek Bachchaan outside my office. I’ve been asked to give some tips to a top UK Government Official on addressing a delegation of Indian CEOs. My top tips when dealing with India and Finance: They tend to be very senior experienced business people with businesses in the UK and will have heard the common statistics many times before, so I would caution against the same line unless the statistic is likely to be lesser known. Ones which surprise and therefore should be used include EU is about the size of the US in terms of GDP and population.

Do go beyond the simple selling the UK. The best speeches to this audience will be passionate, inspiring ones about how their colleagues have done extraordinary things in the UK with their investments.

When I addressed them, including the Birlas, at Chatham House – I made the case that in the UK you have a Government with a ‘blank sheet of paper’ for you. Imagine that. A whole Government saying work with us, tell us what you want and we will do whatever it takes. You are the entrepreneurs. You are the business people – you tell us. It is the opportunity of a lifetime for any business for any Government to say that.

So consider that.

Mr Birla invited me to his home after that – ie inspire them and you will be remembered. Take the risk of not doing the same old same old speech.

Sell the benefits of UK NOT the features.

I want to tell you a story about a country in which everyone said manufacturing of cars is dead. They said the country lacked the infrastructure, the know-how, the skills, the factories, the supply chains, the commitment from the workforce to the Government, the ability then to export thereafter, the scientists to innovate, the Universities to produce the R&D and add to that unhelpful labour laws. A real basket case.

There was at this time another country, of which it was said they could not do manufacturing. They had no brand in car manufacturing, no international global leadership in management and certainly no expertise in foreign acquisitions. Companies from both these countries got together. In 365 days their joint company made a profit in making cars of $1 billion. Those countries were the UK and India of course and I am speaking about Jaguar Land Rover. NEVER ever underestimate what Britain and India can do together.

I am asked – okay we see that success – so how can the UK Government help us in our industry replicate that? Make us our billion pounds too. Well I can’t make you call billionaires in just one year – but I can tell you the support and help UKTI gave Tata is the same support we can give you.

The profit that one Indian company made from one British acquisition over one year was greater than the profits made last year by Amazon and Twitter! I’m speaking of Jaguar Land Rover of course. But it’s not just traditional manufacturing where the UK beats American giants – King – the makers of Candy Crush are as British as you can get. Made in Britain – investors from the US. If you want to know where to find the next $7 billion dollar giant – because that’s what the Company behind Candy Crush is – just visit TechCity – or Liverpool, or Belfast for that matter. If you are looking at genius at work and undiscovered, undervalued – we have them here – without the hype and the overprice tag.

DGCA scraps all objections against Tata- SIA service

The Tata-Singapore Airlines (SIA) JV domestic carrier is all set to take to the skies by September, making it the third domestic full service carrier along with Air India and Jet Airways.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) disposed off all the objections against the airline's application for grant of flying licence.

This effectively paves the way for the airline to now get all the required

infrastructure to start the airline, get the flying licence from the DGCA and start flights. However, the order will be subject to the final verdict of the Delhi High Court where the purview of the government's FDI policy has been challenged.

The objections against Tata-SIA came from the Federation of Indian airlines (FIA, an umbrella organization of existing domestic carriers) and an individual.

Creating avenues for stronger UK- South India trade relations

Following the successful business meets over the years, British South Indian Chamber of Commerce (BSICC) hosted its annual business meet, UK- South India Business Meet 2014 at the House of Commons on 10th July 2014.

Chaired by Virendra Sharma MP, Patron of BSICC, Lord Swraj Paul was invited as a special guest.

The audience included representatives from British Indian community and South Indian states, MPs and Peers and representatives from other countries.

The business meet commenced with Virendra Sharma starting the proceedings and formally welcoming the delegates.

Following this Philip Abraham, BSICC Vice Chair - Kerala provided a brief overview of BSICC and its activities. Alister Jones, Deputy Director Global Operations at UKTI gave an overview on how it supports overseas companies to invest and grow in the UK. Mike Knowles, who is part of British Business Group, Delhi spoke about the lessons that India can learn from the UK of 1964 in his talk titled "India 2014 - UK 1964. Lessons to be learnt."

Bradley Starr, Founder of Bizantra.com, who has extensive experi-

ence in pursuing cross cultural business activities between UK and India offered his perspective on what is required to successfully pursue IT business between UK and India.

Srinivas Rao Jalakkam, BSICC Vice Chair for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and Radhakishore Pandrangi, who was Office Director of US Commercial Service in Hyderabad spoke about various opportunities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Promising Telugu actor Rahul Venkat provided insights into the business opportunities available in the Telugu film industry.

Veteran journalist Rani Singh, delved deeper into PR and media relationships that are required for Indian companies in the UK. Julian Marwitz, CEO of Arineos UG, spoke about "Affordable housing and energy efficiency - smarter ways for

housing." Salman Ahmed, Presidency college, Bangalore spoke about educational opportunities in Karnataka.

Prof KP Haridas, Chairman and Managing Director, Lords Hospitals, Kerala talked about new models in healthcare relevant to South India.

Akash Nahar, Director, Yes We Can Foundation, Bangalore spoke in detail about making impactful social investments in South India.

Sowri Manoharan, Priya Shah and Aneesha Ramani from UKTNCC spoke about the business opportunities in Tamil Nadu. Jayant Nadiger and Filippe De Potter from Belgium investment and trade body took a bi-thematic approach for their talk titled "Karnataka, gateway to IndiaBelgium, gateway to continental Europe."

Kurinjivenden of Bharathidasan Govt College, Pondicherry

Central University spoke about business opportunities in Puducherry. Harish Haridas, an entrepreneur from Kerala, spoke about business opportunities in Kerala.

BSICC Director Pius John spoke about ongoing and upcoming mega projects in Kerala. Noted singer from Kerala, Franco, also interacted with the audience. Jacob Ravibalan, BSICC Vice Chair - Tamil Nadu delivered the vote of thanks.

Sujit S Nair, the Chief Coordinator/Director of BSICC was the MC for the day.

During the business meet, BSICC celebrated the achievements of few individuals and organisations from South India who have not only made a huge difference to the lives of the people in the South India but have also contributed to the economic development of their respective states.

Prof KP Haridas, Chairman and Managing Director, Lords Hospitals was honoured with "Lifetime Achievement Award". Presidency Group of Institutions was honoured with "Most Promising Education Institute" for their amazing work in the field of education. Noted dancer Tony Vanchinthanam was honoured with Young Talent Award.

date.

Negotiations to create the bank dragged on for more than two years as Brazil and India fought China's attempts to get a bigger share in the lender than the others.

The stark economic and political differences between the BRICS countries has made it difficult for the group to turn rhetoric to concrete action in coordinating policies.

Russian and Indian officials have signalled that China's business hub, Shanghai, was the frontrunner in the race to land the headquarters.

Standard & Poor's said the budget would not have an impact on India's sovereign ratings until the agency could see how the measures will be implemented, especially regarding meeting the fiscal deficit target. India’s Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said last week India would stick to the fiscal deficit target of 4.1 per cent of gross domestic product for the year ending in March 2015 unveiled by the previous government. "We think the budget is favourable to credit fundamentals to the extent that fiscal debt and interest ratios are expected to continue to improve," said Agost Benard, an associate director, at Standard & Poor's Ratings Services. "But it remains to be seen how and to what extent will the various measures proposed be implemented and in particular how the deficit targets will be met," he added.

No decision yet on launching BRICS bank

On the eve of the signing of a deal to launch a joint development bank, the BRICS nations have still not agreed on where the lender will be headquartered, a senior official involved in the talks said.

The leaders of the five emerging market economies are expected to sign a deal that creates the $100 billion bank and a reserves fund of the same size to challenge Western dominance over global finance. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was keen on the creation of the bank.

The five nations are Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa.

Negotiations have stalled for now on a dispute between China, India and South Africa over who will host the bank. The disagreement has also delayed a decision on which of the countries will hold the first 5-year presidency of the bank. "This should be easy to resolve but we have this

dispute. If it doesn't move forward, we may have to leave the decision for another meeting," said the official. Another negotiator confirmed that no decision has been reached.

A delay could be an embarrassment for the BRICS, which see the creation of the bank as a major step to gain more influence in the shaping of the world's financial architecture. The official said that if no deal was reached on Tuesday, the leaders could still sign off on creation of the bank and decide on the headquarters and its president at a later

Budget has no impact on ratings: S&P

REAL ESTATE VOICE

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

19

Why doing things back to front makes sense

Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

Today I’m going to see a property we might be exchanging on, the property is a freehold building consisting of 11 studios. It’s described as being in St John’s Wood, however closer inspection shows it backs onto railway lines close to Kilburn Station. This property has been listed in the coming Allsops Auction; auctioneers often list properties in posher locations than they actually are as this attracts more interest than the property deserves. When you’re given a few seconds of someone’s time you need to have a hook in order to focus the reader’s attention, this is one such hook, even though it is misleading.

Often we end up doing things back to front, offers are made prior to seeing the properties. Agents generally take offers only after they know you have been to view it otherwise they tend not to entertain any interest. However if we went to see every property we offered on it would take up a lot of unnecessary time. After all it costs nothing to put an offer in, it can be done for free. There is no real obligation to follow through, however you will stand to lose credibility if it’s been accepted.

Most of the work can be done prior to actually physically seeing the property. With the aid of google maps and the internet the pounds per sq. ft. of nearby properties can be ascertained. This is in two forms, one is known as a comparable, these are properties which have actually been sold and the other is properties currently on the market. A point of note is comparables by nature can be out of date, as the price is agreed a few months prior to completion, therefore the date given in the land registry is already a few months out of date; in a rising or falling market this is important. So comparables have their limitations. A property we purchased in Shepherds Bush made no sense at all from the research we carried out on the internet, based on this it wasn't a deal. However the market had moved on so fast the data was out of sync with what was happening on the ground. We ended up purchasing for £710k and reselling for £875k in three months without doing any work. break up profit to be made in this deal. There are a couple of issues in selling these properties. One is if you’re selling prior to holding the property for more than six months, the incoming purchaser will have issues in obtaining a mortgage, the second is because these are studios many lenders have a minimum square footage rules therefore there will be a restriction in the number of lenders you can place this with.

The deal in effect means you’re buying property in bulk as wholesale and selling individual units at retail price and making a margin in between. The same as what cash and carrys do.

H o we v e r we a re i n a f l at m ark e t at t h e m o m e n t an d d u e a c o m b i n a t i o n o f e v e n t s, t h e m ar ke t h as c h a n g e d ra p id l y f ro m e ve n a f e w mo n t h s ag o . I n m y o pi n i o n , t h e re a so n i s pa rt l y s e a so n al , an d p ar t l y d u e t o t h e wo r l d c u p. T h e c o mi n g e l e c t io n s a n d t h e n e w m o r t g a g e po l i c y h av e al s o s e rve d t o c re at e u n c e rt a i n t y in t h e ma rk e t a n d m a n y a re pa u s in g f o r b re a t h t o s e e wh a t h ap p e n s . It i s at t i m e s l i ke t h e se w h e n t h e m as se s a re si t t in g o n t h e f e n c e ; t h e t i m e i s ri p e t o s t a rt p i c k i n g u p d e al s .

The price we offered for this property is £1.8m for 2,800 sq. ft. of property, which is about £642 a sq. ft. Our research tells us the correct price is around £800 per sq. ft. Furthermore the information given on the EPC regarding the sq. ft. tells us it is more than 2,800.

This means the property is actually worth £500k more than what we are paying. In the absence of floor plans we can only speculate as to what the actual sizes are. The offer is almost confirmed and hence we are doing the viewing! The aim of this purchase will be to buy and resell. Stamp duty fees under the new rules will only be 1% of the purchase price, contrary to many lawyers’ opinions. There is a

T h e re are o n l y s o m an y re a so n s w h y y o u c a n p u rc h as e d i sc o u n t e d p ro pe r t i e s , t h e se a re d e at h , d i v o rc e an d d is t re ss , an d s o m e t i m e s o c c as i o n al l y sh e e r i g n o r an c e . N o ma t t e r wh a t p h as e t h e ma rk e t i s g o i n g t h ro u g h t h e se wi l l al w ays be o c c u r ri n g , a n d s o t h e re ’ s al w ay s a d e a l t o b e done.

A few years ago we bought a freehold property in Hugh St, Victoria, the property was exchanged for £1.04m and resold promptly for £1.242m within 38 days prior to completion. What was even more interesting is we only used 5% of the purchase price to exchange. This means from £50k we made £177,500 within one month.

A similar deal has been struck this week, a property nearby has been agreed at £1.8m with a resell of £2.1m prior to completion.

With a 10% deposit of £180k you stand to make £300k in a short space of time. With a trade most of the time you can see the exit prior to coming into the deal, this is because there is plenty of meat left on the bone, and it is rare to see a good level of margin in these locations for the incoming purchaser.

Of course there is a risk that you may have to complete the deal, in this scenario we like to work with 50% in cash this means you will require £900k in cash for completion. Here the stamp duty will be 4% i.e. £72k, this will cut into the profit margin, which you will not have in the above deal. There is however a positive to completion though the costs have increased. The time pressure has been removed from the deal and you can then sell for as close to the true market value which will be well in excess of the £2.1m we would be willing to accept prior to completion.

The Real Deal

South Kensington, London, SW7 Purchase Price: £1.15m l A large and beautiful one double bedroom raised ground floor flat in an excellent location l High ceilings and attractive features l Share of freehold l Priced at around £1,620 per sq. ft. while properties in this location are being sold at around £1,800 per sq. ft. l Excellent BTL opportunity l Potential to increase the Sq Footage.

Call us now to secure this deal!

0207 993 0103

We provide a turnkey solution. Contact us now:

Specialists in

Central London Property Sourcing

info@sowandreap.co.uk

www.sowandreap.co.uk

55 Bryanston Street, Marble Arch Tower, London, W1H 7AA

Follow us online:

Sowandreapuk

SowandReapProperties

Tips of the Week

l Investing in bricks and mortar means the investment is real, hence it cannot simply disappear, like non tangible investments such as stocks and shares.

l To determine if anything is a good investment, you should look at the risk versus return factor. Generally if an investment is high risk it is high return and low risk means low returns. Property is considered low risk, hence the banks will lend you 75%, BUT you can make high returns, if done well.

20

LEGAL VOICE

Indian companies looking to invest in Ireland

Indian companies are looking to invest in Ireland, according Industrial Development Agency (IDA) Ireland.

It said: "We are hoping to make a number of announcements of Indian companies investing in Ireland over the next few weeks."

Currently, 20 firms from India are operating in Ireland, including HCL, Wipro, Wockhardt, Reliance Life Sciences, Ranbaxy, Crompton Greaves, Consultancy Tata Ser vices and Firstsource.in.

They employ over 3,000 people. Last year IDA Ireland announced further investments by Aditi Technologies and Synowledge. Ireland is

Savers withdrawing money from British banks

People in Britain are finding that saving money in British banks are not earning them enough interest. So they are withdrawing money from their savings account or moved it to easy-access current accounts. They have withdrawn £23 billion out of long-term savings in the past 12 months, equivalent to £900 for every household in the country.

The interest rates of little less than 1 per cent is not very attractive. The Bank’s figures suggest that record low interest rates have convinced many to give up on the prospect of meaningful returns on their savings.

However, the withdrawals may also have helped to power Britain’s economic recovery, with much of the cash being spent on consumer goods.

The figures represent a reversal of a trend to hold on to money which began in 2007, at the start of the credit crisis.

In the year to Oct 2012, £24.8 billion was added to savings accounts overall. But long-term savings fell by almost the same amount, a 4.7 per cent decline, in the year to October 2013.

It marks the biggest fall since the 1970s, analysis by Sky News found. Meanwhile, cash in consumers’ pockets or instant access accounts went up by 11.2 per cent.

Experts said that the figures would raise fresh fears about the sustainability of the recovery.

They urged the Chancellor to use his Autumn Statement to encourage saving for the future.

targeting Indian companies in the area of life sciences, medical technologies, electronics, software, financial services, digital media and high-end manufacturing. In 2013, Indian companies accounted for 2.4% of all FDI projects into Ireland and IDA Ireland plans to double FDI from India by 2016 and make it five-fold by 2020.

IDA Ireland’s Strategy document – Horizon 2020 - aims to have 20% of FDI from emerging markets such as India. IDA Ireland's announcement comes at a time when Indian companies, who have pitched their tents in England to use it as a staging post not only for entire Britain but

for the whole of the common market of the European Union (EU), are slightly ner vous about September's referendum in Scotland about independence from the United Kingdom (UK) and the Conservative party-led government's British promise of a plebiscite in 2017 on whether to remain in the EU or not.

Familiarity with the English language has largely influenced Indian investment in England. The Tatas' acquisitions include Jaguar Land Rover, Corus Steel and Tetley Tea, not to mention the major presence of Tata Consultancy Ser vices.

If for any reason, unfettered trade with the

rest of Europe is jeopardised by the UK no longer being a full member state of the EU, such companies may shift their bases to Ireland (which is English speaking) and Holland (which boasts a high competence in English).

However, latest opinion polls indicate the Scots are likely to reject independence from Britain. And the UK withdrawing from the EU is dependent on the Conservatives winning the general election next year. It is also being said the Conservatives' current stance is a negotiating stance to extract concessions rather than a serious intent to cut its links with the EU.

UK India Business Council has opened its second business centre in Bangalore, within a year of the launch of its first centre in Gurgaon. The opening was attended by the UK India Business Council chair, Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt, CEO Richard Heald, Ian Felton, British deputy high commissioner, and an array of leading business figures.

The establishment of the centre in Bangalore is part of UKIBC's expansion strategy to connect UK companies active in, or wanting to enter, Bangalore and South India to local business keen to work with British companies.

The UK India Business Council will work closely with UK Trade and

Investment (UKTI), the British Business Group Bangalore, and with both UK and Indian businesses and institutions. The centre will support businesses across sectors, but techrich sectors are likely to be strong given the complementarity in these areas between the UK and Bangalore.

At 12,600 square feet, the Bangalore centre will be the UK India Business Council's largest in India, and there are already signed in clients, including British Airways, the UK trade body Aerospace & Defence Security Systems, CDC and TechHub Bangalore, the community and workspace for tech entrepreneurs, which is using the UKIBC centre to establish its entry into India. The UKIBC has

also signed an MoU with TiE Bangalore to leverage UKIBC's Centre in Bangalore, its membership in India and the UK and TiE's extensive network, membership and reputation in Bangalore and to promote entrepreneurship between the UK and India.

The UKIBC's Bangalore centre has the full support of the Deputy High Commission in Bangalore, the UKTI, the British Council in India, and the Bangalore based members of the UKIBC Advisory Council - Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chair and managing director of Biocon Limited and TV Mohandas Pai, chairman of Manipal Global Education and former member of the board of directors of Infosys.

Nirmala Sitharaman to treat its members’ food security programmes.

India’s grain stockpiles are a highly sensitive issue in the country of 1.2 billion people, where more than 40 per cent of children under five years old are malnourished. How to treat such schemes under WTO rules remains an area of contention that ministers in Bali agreed to tackle by 2017. India gives farmers a minimum support price for cultivating wheat and other cereals, then distributes the grain to the

poor at a subsidised price.

Some countries say such schemes distort global markets, while others say they are necessary in a world of rising food prices.

She said that India was not willing to wait till 2017 and wanted quick and substantive movement on this.

India stunned fellow WTO members this month when it unexpectedly announced it would not support proceeding with the trade facilitation deal. But it has been unclear since, senior officials in Geneva say, exactly what India wants in return for its vote.

South Africa is backing India, and other African members of the WTO have raised concerns over whether the financial aid they were promised to help revamp customs procedures will materialise.

UK India Business Council opens centre in Bangalore

India threatens to block WTO deal over food security

The Indian government has threatened to block the implementation of a deal struck in Bali last year by trade ministers from around the world, further damaging the reputation of the World Trade Organisation. The deal has to be ratified by the end of this month.

India’s commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman said New Delhi would not back that protocol because it was unhappy with the progress of talks on food security that was committed to in Bali. India wants immediate and intensive negotiations over the unresolved issue of its vast grain stockpiling and food subsidy programmes, she said. It did not want to wait until 2017, the deadline set in Bali for a “permanent solution” on how

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

Maria Fernandes

Minimum income requirement upheld

The Court of Appeal have should substitute its own finally delivered its judge- view of what the approment in the long awaited priate level of income case on the lawfulness of should be. The judgment the minimum income concluded that it was not requirement and the up to the court to impose result will particularly its own view of the miniaffect 4000 applicants mum income requirement “objectively whose cases were held in unless, abeyance awaiting the judged the levels are irraresult. Just to recap, in tional, inherently unjust the Upper Tribunal the or inherently unfair”. It court decided that the also concluded that the introduction of a mini- decision in the new rules mum salary of £18600 to exclude third party required to qualify for support was not an irraentry breached Art 8 of tional decision as it was the European Convention based on research.

It is likely that this of Human Rights. At the heart of the appeal is the case will be appealed and question whether the will make its way to the Secretary of State had to highest court in the land, frame the rules so that the Supreme Court. If it they “systematically” pro- does the pending cases tected the Article 8 rights will be held in abeyance of the UK partner by any pending that decision.

Post Study Workers means or whether it was Changes took effect sufficient to have measures to enable the part- on the 11th July without ner to qualify (for exam- warning to Tier 1 The ple by the use of excep- (Entrepreneurs).

UKVI have justified this tional circumstances).

The Court concluded course of action on the that the UK partners right basis that it was necesto reside is a personal sary to avoid a “surge of applications”. right and cannot be abusive extended to others. Post Study Workers will There is no constitutional only be able to switch to right for UK citizens to Tier 1 if they have access live in the UK with part- to £50000 to invest from or more UK ners who do not have that one seed right.

Although there Entrepreneurial competitions must be a right to respect funding those Art 8 rights, they endorsed by the UKTI, or are not absolute rights G o v e r n m e n t and must be able to be Departments or have justified. The Judgment access to £50000 from indicated throughout its any source and have decision that the Home established themselves in Office had extensively business before the 11th researched the issue of July and are working in a income and concluded skilled occupation. The that the higher the evidence requirements income the less likely this are in the process of being would place a burden on tightened. It will also be made clear that these the taxpayer.

The question was are applicants are only entithe measures the tled to work for their own Government imposed business. They cannot necessary and do they claim to be self employed strike the right balance. yet work in a de facto They also considered to employment relationship what extent the court with another employer.

To co ntact Maria Fernande s, please email at: info@fernandesvaz.com

India’s June WPI inflation eases to four-month low India's wholesale price inflation eased to a fourmonth low in June after the new government curbed farm exports, but a growing risk that drought will shrivel summer crops could encourage the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to keep interest rates on hold.

Wholesale prices rose 5.43 per cent year-onyear last month, their slowest pace since February, compared with

a 5.80 per cent annual rise forecast by economists. In May, prices rose 6.01 per cent from a year earlier.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, elected in May amid anger over persistently high inflation, particularly food inflation, has ordered a crackdown on hoarding to hold down food prices and set limits on the export of staples, such as onions and potatoes.

CURRENCY VOICE

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

21

Foreign Exchange

Paresh Davdra is the Dealing Director of RationalFX, Currency Specialists.

UK economy grew by 3.2% in last 12 months Last week UK manufacturing output has suffered its biggest decline in 16 months, suggesting that Britain's recovery may not be as secure as hoped. Total factory production across the UK fell by 0.7% in May compared to April, dashing expectations of a 0.2% rise.

Manufacturing led the decline, with output falling 1.3% economists expected a 0.4% increase.

Manufacturers continue to face a number of headwinds, especially subdued external demand across Europe, which continues to hamper their export prospects.

It was reported UK house prices fell by 0.6% in June, according to Halifax's monthly survey of the sector. This is a bigger drop than expected, and suggests the property sector may be cooling off as new mortgage affordability rules are applied. The index also shows that prices have risen by 8.8% across the country in the last year, pushing up the average house price to ÂŁ183,462.

In more positive news for the Pound it was estimated that the UK economy grew by

0.9% in the second quarter of 2014. This is a slight acceleration on the 0.8% recorded in the first three months of the year.

This would mean that the UK economy had grown by a healthy 3.2% in the last 12 months, making it larger than its pre-crisis peak In the US on Thursday The Federal Reserve released the minutes from their latest policy meeting stating that its quanti-

tative-easing programme is on track to end in October. As a result there will be less new money flowing into the markets to help stimulate the US economy.

However the Federal Reserve is also worried about America's labour market and the impact that raising interest rates will have on unemployment rates in the US. They believe there is still a great deal of spare

capacity and the headline unemployment of 6.1% is not a true reflection of the labour market.

They cited the fact that a number of workers are still employed part time and there is a low labour participation rate Industrial production in the Eurozone fell by 1.1% in May and a 2.4% fall in production of intermediate goods - such as parts used for cars. There was a 2.2% drop in the production of non-durable items such as food or cosmetics. The energy sector was the only one to grow, showing a 3% increase after a 1.2% growth in April.

Over In Greece inflation continued to fall in June, but at a slower rate. Prices fell by 1.5% in June, on compared with June 2013. They'd shrunk by 2% annually in May. Unemployment in Greece has remained high as the government has been forced lay off workers in a bid to adhere to austerity measures placed on Greece by the ECB to bail help bail out the Greek economy.

Higher unemployment has led to lower demand for goods and services pushing prices lower.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 15th July 2014 @ 5.30pm

GBP - INR = 103.19 USD - INR = 60.14 EUR - INR = 81.67 GBP - USD = 1.72 GBP - EUR = 1.26

EUR - USD = 1.36 GBP - AED = 6.30

GBP - CAD = 1.85

GBP - NZD = 1.96

GBP - AUD = 1.83

GBP - ZAR = 18.37

GBP - HUF = 391.02

www.rationalfx.com

Information provided by RationalFX. None of the information on this page constitutes, nor should be construed as financial advice. The exchange rates used are the commercial foreign exchange rates provided by RationalFX. For a live quote or to find out more about how RationalFX can help you, call us on 0207 220 8181.

22

PAKISTAN - LONDON

Afghan presidential rivals reach deal to recount all votes

Kabul: US Secretary of State John F Kerry helped ease a major political crisis in Afghanistan on Saturday, persuading rival presidential candidates to agree to a full recount of votes cast in a runoff election marred by widespread fraud.

Emerging from at least 20 hours of talks over two days, Kerry said that United Nations and international observers, along with observers from each campaign, will preside over the inspection of all 8 million ballots, which international troops will transfer to Kabul from Afghanistan’s 34 provinces. The winner of the recount, which Kerry said could take “many weeks,” will then form a national consensus gov-

Dilip Kumar's ancestral home in Pak a national heritage

Peshawar: Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has declared the ancestral home of Bollywood's legendary actor Dilip Kumar, as national heritage and directed the ministry of information, broadcasting and national heritage to acquire the house in order to promote cultural relations between the people of India and Pakistan.

After acquiring Dilip Kumar's home, the Pakistan government is reportedly planning to convert it into a museum and the Prime Minister has ordered the authorities concerned to expedite the task after which he will invite Dilip Kumar and other members of his family to the country.

Acting Director General PNCA Mashood Mirza confirmed that the council had received the orders from the information ministry with the instruction to implement it as soon as possible and that a special meeting would be held to review all aspects to develop the great actor's home.

Dilip Kumar's ancestral home in Pesawar's famous Qisa Khawani Bazaar area is reportedly in a shabby condition.

According to Mirza, at present somebody, claiming to be Dilip Kumar's relative, had been illegally occupying the house. As per the directions of the Prime Minister, the PNCA would reconstruct the house keeping in view of stature of Dilip Kumar who has fans all around the world.

ernment.

The incumbent president, Hamid Karzai, has been asked to postpone his successor’s inauguration, which had been scheduled for Aug. 2, and has agreed to stay on as president until the new government is formed.

“Today, we’re here at a pivotal moment for Afghanistan and its democracy as it seeks to complete a historical transition,” Kerry said at a joint news conference

with the two candidates, ex-foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and former World Bank executive Ashraf Ghani.

The rivals shook hands and eventually hugged, each praising the other’s commitment to Afghanistan and democracy.

Kerry sounded a note of caution, however, warning that there is a long way to go before the political crisis is resolved. “This job will not be done until Afghanistan’s leaders certify an election and honour the determination of millions of Afghans to make their voices heard,” he said.

Preliminary results from a June 14 run-off

round put Ghani, a former World Bank official, in the lead but Abdullah rejected the result, calling it a "coup" against the people, and his aides have threatened to set up an alternative administration.

Abdullah's rejection of the outcome has set the stage for a possible bloody standoff between ethnic groups or even secession of parts of the fragile country, which is already deeply divided along tribal lines.

Ghani, speaking earlier, said he favoured a comprehensive audit. "Our commitment is to ensure that the election process enjoys the integrity and the legitimacy that the people of Afghanistan and the world will believe in," he said.

Ketan Somaia wins temporary reprieve from imprisonment

London: Ketan Somaia, who was convicted of swindling wealthy investors in the UK Sh1.6 billion, has won a temporary reprieve on the argument that sending him to jail would “infringe on his human rights”. His lawyer argued that Somaia needed regular dialysis and his life would be risked if the normal prison entry procedures are applied. He argued that if the jailers failed to take Somaia for dialysis, the situation would be life-threatening.

The 52-year-old former Kenya resident was at the centre of the Goldenberg scandal. He later relocated to the UK. His life took a dramatic twist when he was convicted on June 23 of nine counts of obtaining money transfers by deception at London’s Old

Bailey criminal courts.

The court in London last month found that Somaia duped investors into handing over their money with false promises of huge profits. He lavished his would-be victims with luxury gifts, champagne and trips around the world. Somaia gave the impression of being a successful businessman.

He posed as a friend of the billionaire Hinduja brothers and claimed to own assets worth Sh42.5 billion in banking and hotel

industries. The crimes took place between 1999 and 2000 when Somaia was President and Chief Executive of the Dolphin Group of Companies.

The prosecution argued he used his wealth and status within the Indian community to persuade Murli Mirchandani (the primary complainant) to make payments totalling Sh1.6 billion ($19.5 million) after promising him high returns.

Mirchandani, who claims to be worth more than Sh10 billion ($120 million) pursued Somaia in the civil court before finally launching a private prosecution.

Miranshah (Pakistan): Missiles from a US drone slammed into a mud house and killed six suspected militants in Pakistan's rugged northwest, officials said, as the Pakistani military said it had seized control of 80 per cent of a key city from the Taliban.

Drone strikes in Pakistan resumed after a six-month hiatus, days before the military launched an air campaign on June 15 to drive Pakistani Taliban militants out of the remote border region of North Waziristan.

The strike in the Datta Khel district killed six militants and injured two, security officials said. The site of the strike was about 45 km (28 miles) west of the regional capital of Miranshah, near the Afghan border.

The region, the base of some of the country's most

feared al Qaeda linked terrorists, has been sealed off and there is no way to verify the military's accounts or casualty figures. But the presence of many senior officers suggested that the army had secured broad control over the area.

Reporters were led through sites ranging from dingy two-room shops to large buildings piled high with cylinders and explosives, all described as workplaces to manufacture bombs. Also on display was a complex of a couple of dozen rooms with a courtyard, described as a training site for suicide bombers.

"North Waziristan had transformed into a hub and safe haven for terrorists of all colours and creeds," General Zafarullah Khan, the region's commander, said. "But with the operation, 80 per cent of

Miranshah and the adjoining areas has been cleared."

The army launched the offensive after months of failed negotiations between the government and the militants, punctuated by Taliban attacks. A brazen assault last month on the airport in the southern city of Karachi killed 34. The army responded by dispatching fighters to bomb suspected militant hideouts in North Waziristan.

It ordered the region's entire civilian population - estimated at about half a million - to leave and pushed on with a ground offensive on June 30.

Pakistan's army had previously operated strictly within its Miranshah headquarters. The rest of the city, including homes, schools, shops and even hospitals, was under Taliban control.

Pakistan army seizes most of key city from Taliban

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

In Brief

Council to empty bins once in every three weeks

London: In a cost cutting measure, a number of Labour-run councils in Wales and Scotland have decided to empty the bins once in every three weeks. Bury council, in Greater Manchester, hopes that cutting down from fortnightly collections of general waste will encourage recycling and save on landfill tax and treatment costs. Brandon Lewis, the local government minister, has criticised the move and said that the local authorities were denying basic services to taxpayers. He said that the Labour party have a clear political agenda of moving to monthly bin collections. The Labour-run Welsh government is doing it in Wales, and now Labour councils are following in England, he added.

MPs charging exchequer for frivolous expenses

London: Some MPs and ministers are charging the exchequer for money they spent on scissors, stapler and plastic rulers. A Conservative MP who earns almost £400,000 a year besides his MP’s salary charged the taxpayer £11.25 for driving around his constituency.

Another MP claimed £14.20 for two days’ parking charges. David Cameron charged 8p to the taxpayer for a box of ten bulldog clips. The prime minister also bought a pack of folders for £2.71. Kenneth Clarke, Conservative MP for Rushcliffe, claimed 11p for a transparent plastic ruler, while Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat business secretary, claimed 48p for a pair of scissors and 62p for a stapler.

Vasectomies increase risk of prostate cancer

Boston: A study by Harvard School of Public Health in Boston revealed that those who undergo vasectomy have an increased risk of prostrate cancer. Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of male cancer death. The researchers studied data from nearly 50,000 men in the US who were followed up for up to 24 years from 1986 to 2010. During that time, 6,023 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed, including 811 lethal cases. One in four of the men in this study reported having a vasectomy. The results showed a 10 per cent increased risk of prostate cancer in men who had a vasectomy.

Move to provide therapy to depressed benefit claimants

London: The British government is planning to enact a law to provide therapy to those who claim support allowance on the ground of mental health problems so that they can return to work. A source at the Department for Work and Pensions denied claims that the Conservatives were planning to force claimants to accept help or risk losing their benefits. However, there is alarm that 46 per cent of those receiving ESA have mental health problems. A report claims that Tories were considering including plans for compulsory treatment for mental health claimants in the party’s election manifesto.

Police face sack for being rude to public

London: Under a new code of ethics, the government is planning to discipline the police if they fail to be polite to the public. The police will be banned from having sex while on duty. The code is designed to re-build battered trust of police following a series of scandals such as the Plebgate row, the investigation into the Hillsborough disaster and phone hacking. Policemen and policewomen will be required to treat the public and their colleagues with 'courtesy and respect', it was reported.

Judge hid sex abuse allegations against bishop

London: Reports reveal that a retired judge heading child abuse inquiry hid allegations about a bishop in a review of how the Church of England dealt with two paedophile priests. According to the report, Baroness Butler-Sloss told a victim of alleged abuse that she did not want his claims to be made public because “the press would love a bishop.” Her comments were made three years ago during a meeting at the House of Lords with Phil Johnson, who suffered abuse by two priests when he was a choirboy in the Church of England Diocese of Chichester. Johnson, who kept a detailed record of the meeting, says he felt “pressured” into withholding allegations against the bishop.

Mothers drinking too much during pregnancies

London: An investigation has found that thousands of women are drinking too much during their pregnancies.

Although government guidelines warn pregnant women against drinking more than four units a week, hospitals have recorded a significant number drinking much more.

The first hospital figures of their kind suggest that more than 2,000 babies a year are born to mothers who have breached alcohol guidelines. Heavy drinking during pregnancy increases the health risks to children.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

In Brief

Probe into paedophile ring allegations

London: A retired judge has been appointed to probe paedophile ring allegations and the MPs have ordered the Home Office to hand over the titles of the missing 114 child abuse files by the end of the week. A Home Office internal investigation had been unable to trace the files which are thought to contain allegations of child abuse by politicians and other high-profile figures.

The all-party Home Affairs Select Committee was told

by Mark Sedwill, the department’s permanent secretary, that the archive titles of the missing files were still in existence, along with other details including dates and file numbers. Keith Vaz, the committee chairman, said the list of titles should be handed over by Friday in a bid to establish the significance of the missing documents.

Malala pledges to help free kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls

Abuja: Pakistani rights activist Malala Yousafzai while on a trip to Nigeria has pledged to help free a group of schoolgirls abducted by Islamist militants there.

She met parents of the more than 200 girls who were kidnapped by the militant group Boko Haram from a school in the northeastern village of Chibok in April.

Some of the parents broke down in tears as Malala spoke at a hotel in the capital Abuja. "I can see those girls as my sisters ... and I'm going to speak up for them until they are released," said Malala.

Good manners more important

London: Kate Reardon, 46, who herself educated at elite schools, told young girls that they should focus on good manners rather than on good qualifications. She told the girls that it doesn’t matter what kind of a degree you have but what matters was about good manners. Reardon said it was easy to avoid face-toface contact in the modern digital age but urged the pupils 'never hide behind a computer or mobile phone'.

According to her good manners are the key to success.

Immigration negatively affects house prices

London: A research by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) showed that immigration has a negative impact on house prices when foreigners move to areas previously dominated by British citizens. If the immigrant population of a local authority grows by one in 100 overall, then house prices will fall by 1.6 per cent on average, the study found. The MAC said research in the area suggested the phenomenon was down to a range of factors including migrants being more willing to live in overcrowded conditions heading to a general fall in demand in the market.

Harriet Harman vents anger against Gordon Brown

London: Labour Party’s deputy leader Harriet Harman has accused Gordon Brown, David Cameron and journalists who cover Westminster politics for failing to promote equality and reflect modern Britain. In a lecture, she expressed surprise and horror at her treatment at the hands of the former Labour leader when she won the contest for her present job in 2007.

She said that she wanted Ed Miliband to hand her the title of deputy prime minister if Labour enters power.

She also condemned the role of women at the G20 summit in April 2009 in London, an event Brown regards as his crowning achievement as Prime Minister.

She also blamed Cameron for the practice of “donuting” -surrounding himself with women at Prime Minister’s Questions - claiming it makes the party look more representative than it should.

Married couple break up after husband’s remark

London: A couple broke up shortly after a man told his wife that he would pray for her to get cancer, a court has heard. The woman told how her husband said she was "always ill" and added: "I pray to Allah that you'll have cancer because you want people to feel sorry for you." It emerged during a family court hearing. Judge Marcia Levy was asked to make a series of findings of fact following the hearing in Barnet, north London.

NICE asks GPs to give advice on dementia to middle aged

London: The NICE has asked the GPs to give advice on the prevention of dementia and disability to middleaged patients. The draft public health guidance says GPs should emphasise the benefits of stopping smoking, drinking in moderation and eating healthily in mid-life, in order to prevent or delay the onset of dementia, disability and frailty in later life, as part of the NHS Health Checks scheme.

LONDON - PAKISTAN - SRI LANKA

Church of England finally gives go-ahead to females bishops

London: The Church of England finally voted to let women to become bishops,a move that angers many traditionalists. The move was passed by a comfortable majority at a tense gathering of its parliament, the General Synod, in York.

It ended 14 years of faction-fighting, delighting Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and almost all of his fellow bishops. The decision freed the Church from the risk of intervention by politicians.

MPs had threatened to step in to force the Church to accept women bishops in 2012, after a disastrously botched vote saw traditionalists nar-

rowly block reform. David Cameron described the vote as ‘a great day for the Church and for equality’.

Ed Miliband said it was ‘wonderful news’, while Nick Clegg called the decision a ‘long overdue step’.

But some evangelical conservatives and AngloCatholics – a branch of

23

the Church which affirms its Catholic heritage – were left divided and angry, having long argued that the Bible and tradition do not permit women to become bishops. One said he had ‘betrayed’ his supporters, while others accused Synod members of being too worried about outside reaction.

Their comments provoked protests from Church liberals and left the Synod chairman, the Archbishop of York John Sentamu, calling for quiet, telling its members not to behave like rowdy MPs. The crucial vote, in which lay members of the Synod approved women bishops by a majority of more than three to one, led to clapping and a single shout of ‘brill’.

Only Parliamentary formalities now remain before the Church can appoint its first female bishop. This is expected to come early next year, 21 years after women were first ordained as priests by the CofE.

and that he had been declared a terrorist by the US and the UN solely because of Indian “propaganda”. Vaidik told the media that Saeed had described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a person who is “dangerous for Vaidik-Hafiz in Pak sparks the whole of South Asia”.

He claimed he had told Saeed that his thinking was not right and that there was no need to fear Modi.

Asked about the propriety of meeting a person like Saeed who has been declared a terrorist, Vaidik said even former prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh had met ex-dictator Pervez Musharraf, whose

actions had led to the Kargil conflict that claimed the lives of hundreds of Indian soldiers.

“Even President George Bush, who is considered a war criminal by some, was invited to visit India,” he added.

Vaidik said Saeed had told him that he was even willing to come to India and address a gathering in Delhi or Mumbai to “clear his name”.

Diplomacy: During his visit, Vaidik met Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his advisor on national security, Sartaj Aziz, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry, PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan and several leaders from PoK. He insisted the visit was not part of any Track II diplomacy.

“Most of the leaders said Prime Minister Modi should visit Pakistan.

I told them they should provide a compelling reason for such a visit, such as the grant of MFN-status or some nuclear CBMs,” he said.

Ramdev aide Vaidik meets Hafiz Saeed in Pak

New Delhi: Ved Pratap Vaidik, a close associate of yoga guru Ramdev, has often visited Pakistan, where he has hobnobbed with top leaders like Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari. But the former journalist was at the centre of a controversy on Sunday when he revealed that he had met Lashkar-eTayyeba founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed on his latest trip across the border.

Hour-long meet: Vaidik, who recently spent almost 20 days in Pakistan, met Saeed at his home in Johar Town area of Lahore on July 2. He said that the hour-long meeting was the outcome of a “mutual desire” from both sides and it was arranged with the help of Pakistani journalists.

During the meeting, Saeed reportedly sought to rubbish allegations by India and the US that he was a terrorist and the mastermind behind the 2006 Mumbai attacks, saying he had been “cleared”

by the Lahore High Court of all the charges levelled against him. “The start of the meeting was tense, but Saeed slowly opened up as he spoke to me. He tried to explain to me that he was not a terrorist,” Vaidik said. “I said if he was involved in jihadi activities, it was wrong and he should seek forgiveness from God.” Vaidik quoted Saeed as saying that he had not committed any crime and that he would not come in the way of good relations between India and Pakistan.

However, Saeed reiterated his allegations – for which he has never offered proof – that India was conspiring against Pakistan from Afghan soil

Colombo: A radical Buddhist monk is accused of being behind the worst religious riots in Sri Lanka.The monk says that Sri Lanka’s small Muslim minority is a threat to Buddhists by taking their jobs.

Calls for the arrest of Galagoda Atte Gnanasara have grown in recent days after videos surfaced of him shouting, “Yes, we are racists! Yes, we are religious extremists!” to a crowd of followers. Days later, riots claimed the lives of five people, injured 80, and left as many as 10,000 displaced in camps. The riots, allegedly perpetrated by Gnanasara’s group, Bodu Bala Sena (Buddhist Power Force), began as an

ambush in the dead of night. Attackers arrived in vans in the coastal districts of Aluthgama and Beruwala. Dozens of Muslim businesses were damaged or burned, and an unknown number of homes looted. In the videos that came to light later, Gnanasara is seen warning “marakkalayas”, a local slur for Muslims, that he would bring doom to their shops in Aluthgama and Beruwala.

The US government has revoked a visa that had been granted to Gnanasara in the light of the tension enveloping the region and President Rajapaksa is drawing sharp criticism from his government for failing to arrest him.

Buddhist monk accused of promoting Lanka riots

FEMALE TRUSTEES FOR ENFIELD SAHELI Would you like to use your skills and expertise to help the local community in Enfield?

Enfield Saheli is currently seeking members for its board. Saheli aims to enable women to participate fully in the social, cultural and civic life. We are a serviceoriented charity providing support to improve the health and wellbeing of vulnerable women and their families in Enfield. We offer Advice Information, Training and Advocacy on range of issues.

We are seeking a total of 4 new female trustees that can lend their expertise to our board. Our Trustees are all unpaid volunteers with a variety of skills and experience who manage Enfield Saheli effectively.

Trustees attend monthly board meetings in the evening, normally for 2 hours, in Enfield For an Application Pack: Contact Enfield Saheli on 020 8373 6218 or email: info@enfield-saheli.org.uk Deadline for Applications – 11th August 2014 Registered Charity No: 1129308 Company No: 6663604

24

INDIA

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

Dhoti issue rocks Tamil Nadu Assembly

Chennai: The opposition parties in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday asked the government to take action against the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association Club in Chennai for denying entry to a dhoti-clad judge into its premises. DMK leader and former deputy chief minister M K Stalin said that several clubs followed similar practices in the state and that the government should immediately intervene and establish the pride of Tamil culture.

"Dhoti-clad Tamils had made significant contributions in sending out colonial

M K Stalin rulers 67 years ago. Today, not only TNCA club, even other clubs in Chennai do not allow entry to dhoti-clad persons, including Madras Gymkhana Club, MCC and Boat Club," he said. He reminded the House of the 'Vesti Day' observed by Tamil Nadu government-run Co-

optex every year to promote the traditional Tamil attire.

Madras high court judge Justice D Hariparanthaman, along with senior advocates R Gandhi and G R Swaminathan visited the cricket club following an invitation to participate at a private function organized to release a book. However, they were denied entry into the club as they were wearing dhotis. CPM floor leader A Soundararajan said the incident was a shameful act. The government should bring in a new legislation if the club did not relax its rules. CPI leader M Arumugam contended

Hyderabad: Andhra police busted a rave party on the premises of a poultry farm and arrested 26 people, including 12 women, in the early hours of Sunday. The cops seized four cars and Rs 298,000 cash from the revellers. Acting on a tip-off, police raided a poultry farm located in a narrow lane off the Turkapally-Koltur road.

After crossing a series of sheds where chicken were kept, police found a building with asbestos roofing, in front of which several vehicles were parked. On seeing the cops, the men who were standing guard at the entrance ran way after alerting the people inside. The cops immediately blocked the entrance, but not before a few men managed to escape.

"Inside the building, there were several men and women consuming liquor and indulging in obscene dances. The women were skimpily clad," Shamirpet

inspector TN Babji said. The building had a huge hall decorated with disco lights and curtains. Several tables and sofa sets were arranged to consume liquor and a counter was there to serve liquor.

There were also several small rooms with beds. The entire place was fitted with air conditioners, the inspector added. Police took the 14 men and 12 women into custody. On interrogation, the men revealed they were businessmen from Raichur in Karnataka on a city tour.

They had reached the city on Saturday morning and while trying to book rooms at two popular resorts in Shamirpet, one Raju alias Rajan met them. Rajan convinced the men to come to the secret party, promising them liquor and women.

During the raid, Rajan managed to escape. Of the 12 women, three were from Kolkata, one from Mumbai and the rest from Telangana and AP.

Chennai: Justice S Vaidhyanathan of the Madras high court lamented that it is unfortunate that India does not have laws to chop off hands and fingers of fraudsters who forge property documents. "In Islamic countries, horrifying punishment of cutting hands and chopping off fingers for even petty thefts is implemented. For forgery, this court is of the view that such a stringent punishment of chopping off fingers should be awarded to the petitioner," the judge said.

"Unfortunately, in our country there is no stringent law to cut off the hands of persons who indulge in fabricating documents. If laws are rigid and deterrent, criminals will not dare to indulge in illegal activities like the case on hand, wherein officials of a sub-registrar office were hand in glove with criminals to help them usurp and loot the properties of innocents," he said.

The matter relates to a petition filed by P M Elavarasan, seeking to direct the Saidapet district registrar and Virugambakkam sub-registrar to assign a registration number to his property and release the documents. The authorities withheld the documents after realising that the property belonged to V V V Nachiappan's family and the land documents had been forged by Elavarasan.

Justice Vaidhyanathan, rejecting the demand, said it was a clear attempt to grab land and expressed shock that such fraud took place with the connivance of officials in the registration department.

permission of the Chandigarh: Peoples' government would Party of Punjab be required and the (PPP) chief violators would be Manpreet Singh punished," he said.

Badal has criticized Manpreet said it the state government was ironic that such for revival of draconanti-democratic ian Punjab move had originated Prevention of Damage to Public with the government Manpreet and Private Property Singh Badal of Akali Dal, a party Bill saying the party which had a long history of struggles since its would vociferously resist inception in 1920. "It is the such "nefarious designs to Akali Dal, which sent thouimpose dictatorship to curb sands of people to jail as increasing voices of dissent." part of various agitations Commenting on the that the party launched decision taken by the before and after Parkash Singh Badal govIndependence. This move ernment at the cabinet has further proved that this meeting recently to revive second oldest political party this legislation, which had has made a clean break with to be earlier withdrawn in its past and shed all prethe face of stiff opposition tence of democratic ethos," from people in 2010 after having been adopted in the he said.

Punjab assembly, Manpreet "People are seething made it clear that no demowith anger and the same was reflected in the Lok cratic government worth its Sabha elections, especially salt had any right to curtail in Bathinda where the peofundamental rights of the ple went to the extent of people to air their grievshowing black flags to the ances through protests, ralruling party candidate lies and demonstrations.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal and "This law would put village after village boyrestraints on the people for cotted her," he alleged. voicing their protests as the

Chandigarh: Amid protests

by Opposition INLD and BJP, the Haryana government on Friday passed the controversial Bill for a separate Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. The Bill will pave the way for a separate gurdwara parbandhak committee for the management of Haryana gurdwaras. The House ignored the Amritsarbased SGPC’s decision to form a separate 11-member panel for Haryana. The Bill was passed in absence of both INLD and BJP members, as they walked out before it was put to vote. The INLD maintained that the Bill was not needed when the SGPC has already formed a separate sub-committee for Haryana. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is opposed to a separate SGPC. Sehajdhari Sikh Party warns govt: Meanwhile, the Sehajdhari Sikh Party (SSP) has warned Haryana government against making a group

of Sikh community happy at the cost of ignoring majority of Sikh population by forming a separate body for managing Haryana gurdwaras.

"The Haryana government's move could backfire in the ensuing assembly elections if Sehajdhari Sikhs are not given due representation as per the population in the state," said SSP president P S Ranu. One of the leaders of HSGPC (ad hoc) Didar Singh Nalvi had expressed apprehensions on giving voting rights and representation to Sehajdhari Sikhs in the proposed HSGPC and had sought a clarification on Sehajdhari Sikhs. "Eighty per cent of Sikh population in Haryana are ‘Sehajdhari Sikhs' who have no other religions except Sikhism and are the integral part of the Sikh religion. They are duly recognized and defined in the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925. Depriving the large chunk of these Sikhs their rights will violate Article 26 of the Constitution," he said.

Andhra cops bust rave party, 26 held

Badal govt blamed for draconian anti-protest bill

that it was a mockery of Tamil culture and tradition.

Congress MLA K Gopinath said the public representatives kept the tradition of wearing the dhoti. "Former chief minister K Kamaraj had visited foreign countries wearing the dhoti," he said.

Leaders of the PMK, Kongu Ilaignar Peravai, Forward Bloc and All India Samathuva Makkal Kuttani also sought action from the government. School education minister K Veeramani said the government would consult the legal department and take action against the club.

Judge wants to chop off hands of forgers

South Brief

Tamil Nadu govt allocates Rs 4.86 bn to distribute saris, dhotis

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has allocated Rs 4.86 billion towards manufacture of 17.3 million saris and 17.2 million dhotis for distribution during the 2015 Pongal season.

The saris will be of polycot variety. Based on the instructions of chief minister J Jayalalithaa, orders have been placed with weavers. A sum of Rs 2.41 billion will be given as advance to the weavers, according to an official release.

The state government has been distributing saris and dhotis to poor people during Pongal.

Karnataka to probe NGOs funding

Bangalore: Karnataka government ordered an inquiry into the funding and spending of NGOs registered in the state. Home minister KJ George announced in the assembly that the Internal Security Division of the state police department would conduct the probe about the source of funding of the NGOs registered in the state and the utilization of those funds.

"I don't say all NGOs are bad. Some are bogus and are involved in misuse of funds and corruption. We will probe all NGOs and take action against those found guilty,'' the minister said.

Mobiles blamed for rise in rape, molestation cases in Karnataka

Haryana House passes Bill for separate SGPC

Bangalore: A house committee of the Karnataka legislative assembly has recommended that the state government ban mobile phones in schools and colleges, blaming the devices for rise in the number of rape and molestation cases. A report tabled by the women and child welfare committee in the legislative assembly said that there were several instances where mobile phones were used to lure girls to remote places and rape them. The report said that mobile phones are debasing the educational atmosphere in schools and colleges and wanted a ban on it.

North Brief

Punjab and Haryana high court CJ’s appointment stalled

Chandigarh: The appointment of Justice K L Manjunath of Karnataka high court as new chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana high court has been stalled. Sources said that the Central government has called back the file pertaining to elevation of Justice Manjunath as chief justice of the HC. However, present incumbent chief justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul of the Punjab and Haryana high court is all set to join as new chief justice of Madras high court. The transfer order of Justice Kaul is awaited. With the withdrawal of Justice Manjunath's name, justice Ashutosh Mohunta, who has been recently transferred from Andhra Pradesh high court to Chandigarh, is expected to take over as acting chief justice.

ED questions Punjab police IG

Jalandhar: Bathinda Zonal IG Paramraj Singh Umranangal was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in the synthetic drug racket case. Drug lord Raja Kandhola was the kingpin of this ring. Sources said he was questioned about financial transactions as well as his acquaintance with Kandhola. Umranangal happens to be the first senior police officer of Punjab to be grilled by the ED in the drug racket case. Despite remaining at the centre of various controversies, he has been getting plum postings. He was placed under suspension last year when he was DIG, but was later reinstated.

Punjab to get Rs 250 mn central aid for tourism

Chandigarh: The Central government would grant Rs 250 million to Punjab every year as financial assistance for the upcoming iconic heritage and tourism projects across the state.

This was announced by the Union minister for tourism and culture affairs Shripad Yesso Naik in a meeting with Punjab chief Minister Parkash Badal in Delhi. In the meeting, Badal senior highlighted the efforts of the goverment to preserve and highlight the rich cultural heritage of the state by constructing Virasat-e-Khalsa Memorial at Ananpur Sahib, drawing nearly 10,000 visitors everyday.

INDIA

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

25

Modi govt asks UN mission to vacate rent-free office in Delhi

The Narendra Modi government has asked the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to vacate the government bungalow housing its office in the heart of the Capital, in a sign of its toughening stand towards the UN mission.

India and Pakistan both claim Kashmir in its entirety, and India discourages any intervention or criticism in the dispute.

The two countries fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Kashmir. A UN official confirmed that the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan was asked to vacate the bungalow.

"No reason was given.

We were asked to vacate the bungalow," Maj. Nicholas Diaz said. The bungalow is situated around the corner from the Supreme Court in a coveted part of central Delhi. A foreign ministry spokesman said the move was in line with efforts to rationalize the UN body's presence in India.

The decision was "consistent with India's longstanding view that UNMOGIP has outlived its relevance," said Syed Akbaruddin, external affairs ministry spokesman. India maintains that the UN agency had no role to play after India and Pakistan signed a landmark agreement in 1972 on finding a bilateral solution to their dispute over Kashmir.

Diaz said a UN Security Council resolution calls for the body to monitor and observe the border and report violations of a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan. India has never been comfortable with the presence of the UN body overseeing its borders and has often said that no third party can have a role in resolving the dispute over Kashmir. "We have at best tolerated them because this is one of those by-products of history," said Hardeep Singh Puri, a former permanent representative of India to the UN. "This was an issue of rationalizing. I don't know who had given them this largesse of free accommodation. They were not even paying normal rent for it, let alone market rent," he said. Diaz said the UN observer group has started looking for new office space to rent. Relations between India and Pakistan were frozen after an attack on Mumbai in 2008 in which Pakistani terrorists killed 166 people.

A mild thaw since then has helped trade and people-topeople links, but the Kashmir dispute is far from resolution.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a tough line in his election campaign on Pakistan's

role in sponsoring terror attacks in India. He softened his stand somewhat and invited Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to India for his inaugural.

Never accepted Kashmir's accession to India: Pakistan Upping its ante, Pakistan asserted that it had never accepted Kashmir's accession to

India saying that the UNSC mandate remains till the Kashmir issue is resolved. Reacting to India's move asking the

United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to vacate their office building in New Delhi,

Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said such measures would not have any impact on the legal status of the Kashmir dispute.

"Asking the UN observers to move out of a building or payment of rent is inconsequential in the context of the status of Jammu & Kashmir. There is a reason why UNMOGIP is present in

the first place. Asking them to move out of the building does not abolish the mandate which was given by the UN Security Council in 1951 under Resolution 91.

"As long as the Kashmir dispute is not resolved, the UNSC mandate remains.

These measures are inconsequential and they do not have any impact on the legal status of the dispute," she said.

26

INDIA

Chinese President invites Modi for APEC summit

Amid rivalry of the two most populous nations – India and China – over who would host the headquarters of a proposed BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) group joint development bank, the Chinese President Xi Jinping invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend a summit of the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) trade group in November this year.

Xi and Modi met for around 80 minutes soon after their arrival at Brazilian city of Fortaleza on the sidelines of sixth BRICS summit in the Latin American nation.

The Chinese president said the two countries should join hands in setting global rules and suggested Modi attend the November meeting of the 21-nation APEC in Beijing, as well as take part in Chinese-led regional initiatives. India has never attended an APEC summit, and has long sought to become a member to help boost its economy.

The bonhomie was partially overshadowed by news that the BRICS groups had not yet decided on where to locate the headquarters of the development bank. Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s trade minister said that it would be every country's desire, and so will it be India's, to have it in India, because Delhi or any city in India has its natural advantages, English-speaking, very skilled manpower, and if you look at the geographi-

cal position of all the BRICS countries, the five of them, India is very centrally located. Sitharaman is accompanying Modi in Brazil as part of Indian delegation.

Leaders of the five countries were expected to a sign a deal to establish a $100 billion bank and a reserves fund of the same size to challenge western dominance over development lending.

Apart from BRICS related talks, Xi also called for speedy negotiations to settle disputes over the 4,000 km (2,500mile) Himalayan border over which India and China went to war in 1962 and which have flared in recent years over allegations of cross-border incursions.

“Xi suggested the two sides manage, control and handle differences with a positive and forward-looking attitude and find fair,

reasonable and mutually acceptable solutions to their border issues at an early date,” a Chinese agency said.

China claims more than 90,000 sq km (35,000 sq miles) in the eastern sector of the Himalayas.

India says China occupies 38,000 sq km of its territory on the Aksai Chin plateau in the west. On the other hand, Indian premier Modi called for strengthening ‘mutual trust’ and maintaining peace on the border.

Modi also suggested the addition of one more route for the KailashMansarovar Yatra, keeping in view the terrain difficulties.

Xi "accepted this as a suggestion for consideration", said the sources.

Modi also called for enhanced Chinese investment in the infrastructure sector in India, and hoped that the trade imbalance

between the two countries is resolved. Modi has also expressed hope that Xi's planned visit to India this year would be an opportunity to chart a new and ambitious agenda for the strategic partnership between the two nations.

APEC includes Canada, Mexico, Russia and the United States and accounts for about 40 per cent of the world's population, 55 per cent of global gross domestic product and 44 per cent of world trade. New Delhi's bid to become an APEC member has been stymied for two decades because its economy wasn't integrated into the global system and in later years because of a membership freeze.

The Indian Prime Minister is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Minister of State for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman, National Security Adviser A K Doval, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and Finance Secretary Arvind Mayaram.

PM arrives in Berlin en route to BRICS Summit.

Modi is visiting Brazil at the invitation of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to attend the Sixth BRICS Summit.

“I look at the BRICS Summit as an opportunity to discuss with my BRICS partners how we can contribute to international efforts to address regional crises, address security threats and restore a climate of peace and stability in the world,” said Modi before his departure from India.

Continued from page 1 The opening of India’s defence industry presents an intriguing opportunity for many investors. Of the world’s top ten purchasers of weapons, India has the second-lowest domestic production, trailing only Saudi Arabia. Analysts attribute the reliance on foreign investment in India to poor infrastructure, corruption and limited property.

He has also eased up FDI in construction by reducing the minimum built-up area requirement from 50,000 sq m to 20,000 sq m and halving the capital requirement to $10 million. Apart from providing a fillip to the development of smart cities, this could also help Indian developers strapped for cash.

The Modi government rode on a long wish list of policies and reforms, with limited resources and reveals the government’s priorities in the near and medium term. This budget sets the stage for a future

roadmap in growth, rather than drive acceleration in real GDP this year.

The Finance Minister announced that he would also permit foreign manufacturers to sell their wares online without special permission from the government, meaning that retailers can manufacture products in India and sell them online. The government did not, however, clarify its position on allowing foreign investment into e-commerce.

One of the features of the budget was the setting aside of $1.3 billion to build 100 “smart cities,” a concept that he often discussed while on the campaign trail this year.

Jaitley said that his budget represented “only the beginning” of a longer journey toward sustained GDP growth of 7 to 8 per cent, a goal he hopes to reach by the fiscal year of 2016-2017.

Expectations had been high that the government would convert India's strongest election man-

date in 30 years into radical steps comparable to the 1991 market reforms that unleashed an era of high economic growth.

But constrained by a twoyear spell of growth of less than 5 per cent, the government instead announced incremental steps to boost capital spending in Asia's third largest economy and reassure foreign investors that they would get fair treatment.

In another signature initiative, the government will launch a tax reform in 2014 to unify India's 29 states into a common market, a measure that economist say would boost revenue and at the same time make it easier to do business.

Foreign contractors had sought a higher threshold to justify sharing technology when they locate operations in India.

He also said he would set up a high-level committee to review retrospective tax claims blamed for choking off foreign investment

after companies such as Britain's Vodafone were hit with massive demands.

Vodafone and India have been locked in a $2.2 billion tax standoff since the British company acquired Hutchison Whampoa's Indian mobile assets in 2007. Vodafone, the world's second-largest mobile operator, thought it had finally secured victory in the case in 2012, when the Supreme Court dismissed the tax demand.

But the government responded by announcing retrospective legislation that would change the rules.

The increase in dutyfree baggage allowance for air travellers, proposed by finance minister Arun Jaitley in his maiden budget, has been welcomed by the expatriate community.

The minister announced an increase in the dutyfree allowance from Rs 35,000 to Rs 45,000. The goods valued over the free allowances will attract a 35% customs duty at the airport.

Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping

Modi govt’s first budget woos foreign investors

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014 Kamalaben Patel (mother of Shri Rameshbhai Patel) has expired at the age of 96 (B.1918) on 9 July 2014.

She was a very loving, spiritual and helpful person, teaching the virtue of patience to all. She spent her early years in Burma and later in Nasik and Karamsad. Kamalaben visited Britain and the US often and enjoyed good health till recently.

Amit Shah appointed as BJP president

Amit Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's closest confidant and key election strategist who crafted an unprecedented victory in Uttatr Pradesh, was appointed as the next BJP president.

In the process, the controversial yet politically suave Shah, 50, scripted history by becoming the youngest president of the party in which veterans have called the shots since its inception.

Home minister Rajnath Singh announced that he was stepping down as the BJP president and declared Shah as his successor.

Addressing a news conference, Rajnath Singh lauded Amit Shah's "management skills" and credited him with the BJP's success in Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh.

Considered an invalu-

able deputy to any neta, he has taken less than a year to catapult himself from a Gujarat BJP strongman to the party's supremo on the national stage.

Most leaders in the BJP agree that Shah, who was associated with the RSS in his early days, has earned every bit of his success.

What worked eventually in favour of Shah was his extra-ordinary political performance in UP where as BJP's general secretary in-charge he led the party to a dream run wresting 71 of the total 80 Lok Sabha seats in the politically crucial state.

Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ram Naik was on Monday appointed as governor of Uttar Pradesh and party's veteran Delhi leader O P Kohli will move to Gujarat, in the first appointment of five governors by the Narendra Modi government.

Keshari Nath Tripathi, a former Uttar Pradesh Speaker will take over in West Bengal. Balram Das Tandon, 87, founder member of Jan Sangh in 1951, was appointed governor of Chhatisgarh. Padmanabha

Acharya, a member of working group on north east region of BJP and coconvener of overseas friends of BJP, was appointed governor of Nagaland after President Pranab Mukherjee accepted resignation of Tripura governor Vakkom Purushothaman, who was also officiating as Nagaland governor.

The President asked Acharaya to perform the duties of Tripura governor until regular arrangements are made, the a Rashtrapathi Bhavan communique said.

Extending a formal invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a visit to the US, President Barack Obama has expressed keenness to work closely with him to make the bilateral relations a ‘defining partnership’ in the 21st century.

Reactomg on the American President’s invitation, Modi said he looks forward to a result-oriented visit in September with ‘concrete outcomes’ that impart ‘new momentum and energy’ to the strategic partnership. Obama's letter of invitation was handed over to Modi by deputy secretary of state William Burns when he called on him in Delhi.

Obama said in his invi-

tation to Modi to visit Washington in September and to work closely with him to make India-US relations a "defining partnership" for the 21st century, a PMO statement said on Friday. The Prime Minister was of the view that reenergising the partnership between India and the US would send an important message to the region and beyond.

Articulating his vision for India-US relations, Modi said that the relationship between the world's oldest and largest democracies should not only be for the benefit of the two countries, but "should emerge as a powerful force of good for peace, stability and prosperity in the world".

Five states get new governors

Narendra Modi to visit US in September

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

HEALTH STOP

Breath freshening foods

Arthritis

How to keep moving

Following are some food items which help you to freshens your breath

W

ater:Water is a quick and an easily accessible remedy for rapidly making that breath fresh.

And it is a simple tip to follow. Just swish and swirl some water in the mouth as if you are gargling ( but softly, not loudly) and drink it up or rinse it out. The logic behind doing this is when we get dehydrated, the saliva generated in our mouth automatically decreases. This is because our body tries to conserve moisture.

Saliva tends to clean our mouth by diluting the bacteria. Bacteria and their by-products are responsible for that offensive bad breath or that a person might have. Therefore rinsing the mouth with water clears out these odour generating bacteria.

Water is a short term but a super fast way of freshening up breath in a jiffy.

Oranges, sweet lime, lemons, kiwis, and all cit-

A

rus fruits rich in Vitamin C: These help in keeping the breath fresh. Vitamin C is known to fight the bacteria. It is also an antioxidant - thus it helps in reducing the toxins in the body, this includes those produced by the bacteria in the mouth. You may have these fruits as whole or even drink up or sip on their juices.

Spices and herbs: These are super amazing at keeping the breath free of any malodour for a good period of time.

Examples are cardamom (elaichi), fennel (saunf), spear mint, parsley, rosemary, eucalyptus, coriander (dhania daal), cinnamon (dal chini), cloves (laung) etc. From amongst these, the following are favourites with most folks Cardamom and Eucalyptus both contain a substance called cineole.

Cineole has antibacterial, antiseptic properties and

thus attacks the stinker bacteria in the mouth.

With these harbingers of foul smell gone for good, the mouth feels and smells fresh.

Cardamom seeds can be kept as such in the mouth and biting into them intermittently to release that typical delicate flavour and aroma of elaichi which most of us tend to like.

Parsley and coriander: These are rich in the green pigment chlorophyll which because of it's alkaline properties cleanses the body in a generic sense. It attacks the bacteria of the mouth thus rendering them ineffective.

Chlorophyll also possesses detoxifying ability.

Cinnamon (dal chini): The essential oil present in cinnamon is antiseptic and kills the germs giving rise to bad breath.

Fennel seed (saunf) is an age old Indian remedy to keep the mouth fresh and the breath smelling sweet. Fennel is known to possess aromatic and medicinal properties.

Probiotics: Probiotics such as yogurt rid mouth of hydrogen sulphide. For instance Lactobacillus salivarius also helps in case of dental and gum related problems.

It

enables healing of the sores in mouth. Gum and teeth related conditions make the oral environment conducive to bacterial growth which in turn makes the breath smell lousy. Probiotics thus help those with bad breath.

Veggie land: Broccoli, carrots and cucumber are known to keep the mouth fresh by diminishing the bacterial content of the mouth. Chewing onto them floods the mouth with saliva.

Apples: When we crunch on to an apple, salivary secretion gets stimulated. This literally bathes the mouth and rinses out the odour generating bacteria in mouth thereby making the breath fresh.

Chewing gum: This also increases the secretion of saliva. Chewing gum helps in dislodging the stuck up food particles in the mouth. This prevents stink formation.

Sugar free xylitol containing chewing gum is better than the sugared one.

Green tea: Green tea is rich in flavonoids. These reduce and prevent the adhesion of stink causing germs to the teeth.

Cinnamon tea is particularly helpful in keeping the mouth and breath fresh.

are found in some of the most common and everyday foods that we consume like spices, teas, fruits and vegetables.

The researchers conducted a study on 38 adults and after monitoring their diet and analyzing their stool samples, they came out with some astonishing findings. The results showed how citrus

fruits can actually be bad for your stomach. Pectin, a compound present in the citrus fruits lowers the levels of some helpful bacteria.

On the contrary, their most novel finding was that white bread boosted Lactobacillus, a group of beneficial bacteria and hence is beneficial for stomach.

White bread is good for your stomach

ccording to a recent study, the much maligned white bread can actually encourage the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. The good bacteria or microbiome present in the stomach are vital for healthy living. They keep our immune system strong. A drop in the count of these microbiome may cause your immunity to weaken and make your body more prone to viruses, infections and allergies. One of the most effective ways to maintain

To Our Readers

We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement it. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

a good balance of the microbes living in our guts is through our diets.

Several studies have looked at the effects of individual fibers and probiotics to analyze those dietary ingredients that promote these helpful gut bacteria. Many recent studies have identified polyphenols and fibrous foods to be extremely significant in balancing the gut microbes. Polyphenols

Neeta’s Herbal Clinic for Hair & Skin Care

Coventry Now Open

A traumatic experience when one is balding or suffering from hair loss If you have been one to watch in despair as your luscious locks disappeard down the plug-hole everyday, then there is hope to save your crowing glory!

While lustrous, healthy hair is a source of pride for men and women alike, many are forced to battle with hair problems.

There are many reasons why a person can start losing their hair.

Research has shown that stress plays a vital factor in determining hair condition. Poor hair care, environment, lifestyle and diet too has its effect on hair growth.

It is very important to ascertain what kind of hair you have and then look after it accordingly.

Hair loss falls into two categories, where it is distributed over the whole scalp and where hair loss is limited to localised areas. Hair loss is often more than a beauty problem. In some cases of alopecia, the condition is caused by bacteria or other infection or may even indicate a severe systemic disease. In the case of Hair loss, the hair follicles loose the capacity to initiate new growth.

Neeta’s Herbal offers a safe and natural solution to combat hair and skin problems.

For Free Consultation:- Please call Coventry North London West London 317 Foleshill Road, North Finchley Hounslow Coventry, CV1 4JS. 0208 446 7020 0208 577 6821 Tel: 02476 681 649 www.neetasherbaluk.com

27

Sushma Bhanot Pharmacist, Ayurvedic and Homeopathic Consultant, Lecturer and Author. Heads Research and Development at Coolherbals

Arthritis is a painful and degenerative condition marked by inflammation in the joints that causes stiffness and pain.

Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, gets worse with age and is caused by wear and tear over the years.

In the UK, around 10 million people have arthritis. Some of the symptoms include: Joint pain, tendernessand stiffness, inflammation, restricted movement of the joint, warmness, muscle weakness and muscle wasting.

What can I do? A main factor which affects any type of arthritis is weight. Putting any sort of extra weight puts more pressure on your joints, especially your knees, hips, and feet however reducing the stress on your joints by losing weight will improve your mobility, decrease pain, and prevent future damage to your joints.Ask for the CoolSlim Plan – a safe way to slim.

Low-impact exercises like water aerobics or swimming flex your joints without adding further stress. This can benefit anyone suffering from arthritis.

Long, warm showers or baths, especially in the morning help ease stiffness in your joints.

Use an electric blanket or heating pad at night to keep your joints loose.

A traditional hot ayurvedic potli is excellent for relieving pain anywhere. Please email for details or ring as these are available readymade for you.

Meditation and relaxation techniques

may be able to help you reduce pain from arthritis by reducing stress and enabling you to cope with it better.

Researchers also found that those with depression and arthritis benefited the most from meditation.

Regular massaging of arthritic joints can help reduce pain, stiffness, and improve your range of motion.Contact us to find a local ayurvedic massage therapist.

Boswelia capsules or Indian Frankincense, have been shown to help in inflammation and degeneration of the muscles. Researchers have concluded that the boswellic acids are more beneficial, less toxic and more potent than standard anti-inflammatory drugs.

What foods can I eat to help? Omega-3 fats, which are found in salmon, sardines, mackerel, trout. If you are vegetarian have flaxseeds (alsi) and walnuts. A vegetarian Omega 3 is also available.

Turmeric(haldi) contains a chemical called curcumin that may be able to reduce arthritis pain. The secret is its anti-inflammatory properties.

Add Brussels sprouts, kale, and spinach to your regular diet, green vegetables have been shown to reduce some of the symptoms of arthritis.Adding vitamin D to your diet can be beneficial. The best way is by sitting in the sun (when it’s out) rather than through dairy products. Olive oil has been shown to have antiinflammatory properties.

There is evidence to support the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant role of ginger (adrak) Use peppers, oranges, mangos, strawberries, pineapple, and kidney beans. Also have cherries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, squash, pumpkin, papayas, and apricots for their anti oxidant.

Alternatively take a protein multivitamin and mineral supplement.

Such as the Coolherbals Advanced Protein, Vitamin and Mineral supplement. There are lots of ways of easing the pain and improving your quality of life. Ring us now for details.

Coolherbals Boswellia Capsules For healthy joints

Coolherbals Ltd. 386 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex, IG3 9JU

www.coolherbals.com

Tel: 020 8597 9039 Email: sushma@coolherbals.com

28

I

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

Simbu and Hansika are the best couple

n an recent award function hosted by the popular Tamil channel, Priya Anand was taking part in a rapid fire round and encountered a question about, who's the best couple in cinema? Without hesitating for a second, she replied - Simbu and Hansika are the best. The cameras were turned immediately to see the reaction of, Hansika, and

she displayed some discomfort. But the audience have clearly enjoyed the moment. They have broken up in the real life, but they could be the best couple in the reel life. It seems, Priya Anand has echoed the wishes of people who loves to see Simbu and Hansika together.

Surabhi to go glam in the T'wood debut

A

ctress Surabhi who played the perfect girl next door character in director Saravanan’s ‘Ivan vera Mathiri’ is making her Tollywood debut with the film diected by Kanamani. Two schedules of the shoot of this film have been completed. The actress has revealed that she has been paired up with Sudheep Krishnan of ‘Yaaruda Mahesh’ fame in this film. She has also added that unlike her Tamil debut, this film will be a glamorous one. Back in Tamil, Surabhi was supposed to play one of the female leads in director Suseenthiran’s upcoming film ‘Jeeva’ which has Vishnu Vishal in the lead role. However, the actress has opted out of the project due to date issues.

Oviya and Meera Nandan to act with Sarathkumar V

eteran actor Sarathkumar’s upcoming film ‘Sandamarutham’ has created huge buzz since the actor plays dual role after a long time and one among them is a negative role.

The film that is being directed by A.Venkatesh commenced a few months ago and has been progressing at a rapid pace. The film has two heroines and earlier it was said that Avani Modi of ‘Naan Rajavaga Pogiren’ and

‘Hate Story 2’

‘Amit Sahni Ki List’

It is a romantic comedy film produced by Pyxis Pictures and directed by Ajay

re you a girl between 17 and 24, about 5'7"? Then you will catch Sivakarthikeyan’s eye. He began his career as a character artiste in supporting role. Though he kicked off as the protagonist in 'Marina', his real break came a year later in 'Ethir Neechal', establishing himself as a full fledged lead actor. Sivakarthikeyan is a definite choice for box office hit, the most recent of his success stories being 'Maan Karate', where he shared the screen with Hansika. And now he is in the look out for a heroine for his next flick. Team Linguswamy and director Ponram are the makers of Siva's next project. So if you fit into the criteria, and if you think you have it in you, then rush in your application to stand a chance to co-star the latest sensation in town.

Veteran actress Zohra Sehgal passes away at 102

V

‘Pizza’

It is an erotic thriller film directed by Vishal Pandya. Produced by T-Series Films, it stars Surveen Chawla, Jay Bhanushali and Sushant Singh in pivotal roles. It is the sequel to

A

Malayalam actress Sarayu will be playing them. However, now it has been confirmed that actresses Oviya and Meera Nandan of ‘Valmiki’ fame have been signed up for the roles and they will start shooting for the film soon.

‘Sandamarutham’ is being produced by ‘Magic Frames’ banner owned by actress Radhika Sarathkumar and Listin Stephen.

Vijay Antony is scoring the music while crime thriller nove specialist Rajesh Kumar has written the script.

the 2012 “Hate Story” starring Paoli Dam and Gulshan Devaiya.

Pizza is an upcoming supernatural thriller film written and directed by debutant, Akshay Akkineni. The film features Akshay Oberoi, Parvathy Omanakuttan and Dipannita Sharma in lead roles, while Arunoday Singh, Rajesh Sharma, Omkar Das Manikpuri and Sonali Sachdev play supporting roles. The film is a remake of 2012–Tamil hit, Pizza, directed by Karthik Subbaraj.

Sivakarthikeyan searches for a heroine

Bhuyan. The film stars Vir Das, Vega Tamotia, Kavi Shastri and Anindita Nayar in lead roles, and tells the story of Amit Sahni (a successful investment banker) which revolves around his quests, pursuits and twists in finding love and Ms. Perfect based on his list. The film is produced by Tina Nagpaul, Kavita Kulkarni and Sujata Vemuri under the Pyxis Pictures banner.

eteran actress Z o h r a Sehgal died last week of c a r d i a c arrest at the age of 102.

She died of heart attack at Max Hospital in Delhi. She was staying here with her daughter, renowned Odissi danseuse Kiran Sehgal.

She was cremated on Friday. A theatre veteran, Sehgal was well-versed with the Hindi film industry and is one of the few actors who worked with four generations of Bollywood's famous Kapoor family. She is best remembered for her appearances in "Bhaji on the Beach" (1992), "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam", "Bend It Like Beckham" (2002), and "Dil Se..." (1998). Her last big screen appearance was in "Saawariya".

Among several awards, she was honoured with the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.

29

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

J

ohn Abraham will star in Sanjay Gupta's film “Jazba,” starring Aishwarya Rai. John's role is modelled on gangster Abu Salem after he was extradited to India. A source close to the film says, "John is very happy to work with Aishwarya. He loved the role and immediately said yes."

The rest of the cast is yet to be finalised.

Gupta starts shooting the action-packed thriller from January 2015. Aishwarya was last seen onscreen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's “Guzaarish” in 2010. Known for directing entertainers like “Kaante” and the “Shootout At Lokhandwala,” Gupta is collaborating with Aishwarya for the first time.

“Jazba” will be John's fifth film with Gupta after “Zinda,” “Shootout at Lokhandwala,” “Shootout at Wadala” and Gupta's next-in-line “Mumbai Saga.” Added the source, "John's role may not be very big in Jazba but it is a significant part of the story." John missed working with Aishwarya in Sriram Raghavan's “Happy Birthday.” When signed for the same, John had then said: "I think Aishwarya and I will make a good couple. It's a great script, Sriram is a good

Nargis Fakhri finds Bollywood more comfortable Actress Nargis Fakhri, who is making her debut in Hollywood with the film “Spy”, says she is comparatively more comfortable in Bollywood. “I think I am feeling comfortable in Bollywood more than in Hollywood because I have spent more time here now and I am understanding a lot of things. I am feeling pretty good here. I really don’t plan on running off anywhere,” Nargis, who finds it “easier” to communicate in English, said.

“What I do love so much is music and dancing so, that’s why I prefer to give more attention here.

I love music,” she added. “I always wanted to do a bit of Bollywood and a bit of Hollywood. I am in a great phase and very happy. I have made it on my own, so it’s been an interesting journey,” she added.

The “Rockstar” actress is currently in process of looking at some scripts. “I like to take my own time and I don’t like to rush.

I do take time and I have patience.

I have worked with biggest actors from the beginning I am hoping God will bless me to work with other big actors,” added Nargis.

Sonakshi Sinha all set to appear in ‘Superstar’

B

ollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha, who has been showing off her slim avatar nowadays, is all set to feature in rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh’s international music video, ‘Superstar.’

Sonakshi, who released her first look from the songs, looks smoking hot in black hot pants, short bike jacket and baseball cap paired with strapped high-heeled footwear. According to reports, ‘Dabangg’ star’s look has been inspired by Hollywood actor-singer Jennifer Lopez. The leather jack, crop tops and denim shorts are said to be Jlo’s style statement. This 10minute long video has been largely shot in desserts and beaches of California. The video has car chase sequences shot by an international artist.

John Abraham to work with Aishwarya

director and I am extremely excited about it." The film was supposed to be produced by Gaurang Doshi but never got made. “Jazba” was announced at the Cannes Film Festival this year

by Aishwarya.

Vidya keen to act in Malayalam, Bengali films V

iday Balan who carved a niche for herself in Hindi filmdom with stellar performances in “Parineeta”, “Paa”, “Ishqiya” and “Kahaani,” is keen to expand her horizon as an actor. She is keen to act in Malayalam and Bengali films.

Earlier she received interesting scripts from southern filmmakers but could not be able to do them due to lack of planning on the filmmakers’ part.

“I keep getting offers from Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Bengali filmmakers. I have been excited by scripts in Marathi, Bengali and Malayalam, but they don’t plan well in advance so the dates didn’t match,” Vidya said “Some scripts I have really liked but because of lack of time I have not been able to do them, but hopefully, sometime in future I will do an interesting film in any one of the languages. Tamil and Telugu filmmakers have not yet offered me exciting roles, honestly which is why I am looking forward to do Malayalam and Bengali films. I always look forward to an exciting film,” she added.

Currently seen as a detective in “Bobby Jasoos”, the actress is happy that women centric films are doing well at the box office.

“It’s fantastic if a good film works as you feel good. It’s not about every women centric film working; a good film will always work. It’s not that easy for women centric films to get good opening, but if it works it’s a huge thing.

Shraddha Kapoor too hot for Pak daily

S

hraddha Kapoor who was clicked casually in denim shorts and a top for a promotional event of her just - released movie was too hot for a Pakistani daily.

The Daily Mashriq, which claims to be "the largest circulated newspaper of the region", obviously felt that the outfit was too risky for its readers. And so they decided to digitally add on a pair of knee-length black leggings and cover Shraddha's legs. A source familiar with the workings of the Pakistani press said that it is a common practice in some part of the country.

Salman joins hands with Kareena

K

areena Kapoor Khan will be seen once again with her Bodyguard co-star Salman Khan in a film being directed by Kabir Khan titled “Bajrangi Bhaijaan.” This film that will released on Eid 2015 will be presented by Salman himself under his own company 'Salman Khan Ventures' and will have Salman play the role of the title character Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Confirming the news, director Kabir Khan said, "The film is unique for both Salman and me and has a larger-than-life background with a human story. It's a very important story in today's day and age and we are both very excited to start shooting it.

While I have done three films with Katrina Kaif, I have always admired Kareena and wanted to work with her.

Arjun Rampal in Soni Razdan's ‘Love Affair’

A

ctor Arjun Rampal will now be a part of Soni Razdan's directorial venture titled “Love Affair.”

The actor has agreed to play the lead in the film that is said to be based on the well-known Nanavati murder case. Arjun, who is currently busy shooting for his upcoming film “Roy”, has given his nod to the film but no official announcement has been made yet. A spokesperson confirmed this news saying, "Arjun will be part of the film but the talks are still in the nascent stages and the actor has yet to sign a contract for the film." The producers and director are busy assembling the rest of the cast and there are also talks about the casting of an international face, but for now, nothing has been revealed.

30

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

Women gives birth in living room after being turned away from maternity unit A new mother has spoken out about her traumatic birth after she was turned away by a hospital’s maternity unit – only to have the baby 40 minutes later in her mother’s living room.

Zeenat Patel reportedly said she was refused a second labour check by a triage nurse when she called her local hospital.

Miss Patel and her partner, Yaseen Lockhat, first went to the maternity unit at Royal Bolton Hospital about 3.30pm on Thursday, July 3. She claims a triage nurse told her she was not in 'active' labour and advised her to go home until the contractions became more frequent. But an hour after the couple left, Miss Patel, 26, found herself in constant pain and called the maternity triage nurse at 5.50pm - and was told again to wait at home.

Concerned their baby was just minutes away from being born, the couple drove back to the hospital. Miss Patel said: 'My labour pains were getting a lot stronger and I just knew the baby was going to come soon. By the time I had explained this over the phone, got cut off and got back through again, we

Zeenat Patel with baby Liyana

were outside the hospital doors. I was told that because I was talking between contractions I couldn’t be that close, but I was in pain all the time.

They spoke to me like I was a child, like I didn’t know my own body. I’d given birth before and I knew what was happening, but they wouldn't listen.

We were left with no alternative but to go home.' But as soon as Mr Lockhat dropped her off at her mother’s house, she started to give birth. Mrs Patel managed to help her daughter to the living room where she delivered the baby herself at 6.30pm, with the aid of an ambulance call-handler.

Paramedics arrived 25 minutes after baby Liyana was born - weighing 6lb 2oz - and took mother and daughter to hospital.

Young Sikh Man confirmed as Big Brother 2014 contestant

Pavandeep Paul has been confirmed as one of the contestants on the Channel 5 reality show Big Brother.

The 22-year-old cheeky ladies’ man, comes from an affluent Sikh background and hopes that by going into the house, he will be able to educate the world on Sikhism and portray Sikhs as liberal loving people 'who know how to have fun'. Due to his beliefs, Pavandeep has never cut

his hair and has always worn a turban when out socially. Yet although he has traditional values, his beliefs are modern and he insists he will not have an arranged marriage, but 'will marry someone I love and care for no matter what religion they are.’ He currently works for the family business in property where he is equal partners with his dad and uncle and lives with his family.

Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Editorial Executive: Tanveer Mann Tel: 020 7749 4010 - Email: tanveer.mann@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Freelance Correspondent: Rudy Otter Chief Operating Officer: Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 Email: george@abplgroup.com Chief Financial Officer: Surendra Patel Tel: 020 7749 4093 Mobile: 078712 229 220 Email: surendra.patel@abplgroup.com Chief Accountant: Akshay Desai Tel: 020 7749 4087 Email:accounts@abplgroup.com Business Manager: Alka Shah Tel: 020 7749 4002 - Mobile: 07944 1121 893 Email: alka.shah@abplgroup.com Advertising Manager: Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 40912 - Mobile: 078712 229 088 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Business Development Managers: Rovin J George - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 078712 229 219 Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Graphic Designers: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Ragini Nayak Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad.

Tel / Fax: +91 79 2646 12960

Visa scheme for Entrepreneurs strengthened after new scam is uncovered With a rapid surge in applications from 118 in 2009, to 10,000 in 2013, more and more checks have revealed thousands of potentially fake applications.

Ministers are strengthening the “entrepreneur” visa scheme after an investigation uncovered a new scam involving thousands of fake applications.

The increase in entrepreneur visa applications coincided with ministers’ decision to close another visa route. Immigration officials uncovered the scam after comparing their files with tax records which showed many of the

so-called “entrepreneurs” had been working fulltime for employers after obtaining their visas, sometimes in low-skilled jobs. Under the terms of an entrepreneur visa, the holder is only allowed to work for their own business and not take employed work elsewhere.

Under new rules, applicants will now have produce more evidence of their business activities to secure an entrepreneur visa and other restrictions will be placed on switching to the visa from other immigration routes, the spokesman reportedly said.

Coming Events

l Saturday 26th July 2014 – Indo-UK Theatre Arts presents A Gujlish Drama at Shree Lohana Mahajan Hall, Hildyard Road, Leicester LE4 5GG from 7.30pm. Contact: 07984685597. l Saturday 26th July 2014 - The 3rd Prideview Cricketers’ Cup at Merchant Taylors’ School.

Contact: nilesh@pridemanagement.co.uk. l Sunday 27th July 2014 – Subrang Arts presents Janak Dulari Sita at Watersmeet Theatre High Street Rickmansworth. 5.30pm to 7pm Dinner, show starts at 7.30pm. Contact: 0208 424 8686. l Sunday 27th July 2014 – Dharmaj Society of London Summer BBQ at Ruislip Social Club – Sports Ground, Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip Manor, Middlesex HA4 6JQ. From 2pm.

Contact: 07980 929 633. l Wednesday 30th July 2014 – Record breaking Gujrati comedy play Var Maro lagne Lagne Kuwaro at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 4a Castletown Road, West Kensington, London W14 9HE. From 7pm. Contact: 0207 381 3086. l Monday 4th August 2014 – WW1 Centenary Remembrance Day at Shri Venkateswara Temple, Dudley Road East, Tividale, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 3DU from 10.30am.

Contact: 0121 544 2256.

Jupiter, planet of growth and expansion with Sun is transiting your solar fifth house. You are likely to see benefits, and experience growth, in the areas of romance, creative expression and children. For single Aquarians, meeting a special person is highly likely.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21

Jupiter, the planet of plenty graces and Sun in your solar 4th house for some time to come, bringing noticeable improvements to your environment. This is a time when you put down roots and seek to belong. Besides, the focus can be on cultivating and nourishing your inner foundations that support you and your growth.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22

Jupiter, the planet of growth and expansion with Sun is transiting your solar third house. During this period educational and communication opportunities present themselves and your ideas will be well received. The ability to express and communicate your ideas is extremely important to you at this time.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

Jupiter and Sun are transiting your solar second house. During this cycle, you are likely to see and enjoy benefits to your earning power and this will boost your own sense of security and wealth. Money problems from the past may clear up, if you manage your resources properly.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 Jupiter and Sun is transiting your sign. Your charisma, appearance and self-expression are to the forefront.

This transit heightens your optimism and generosity, and the entire cycle has the potential for being a relaxed, fortunate, and hopeful time in your life. Furthering your personal ambitions comes more easily.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 Jupiter and Sun is transiting your solar twelfth house. This transit brings benefits to activities that take place "behind the scenes". Meditation and retreats may be particularly helpful to you now, as they regenerate and invigorate your spirit.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 With Jupiter and Sun riding high in your 11th house, you should enjoy a very popular phase in your life where everyone wants to invite you to parties. This will give you a chance to meet people of your own calibre and pursue any romantic liaisons that might present themselves.

With Jupiter and Sun in your solar 10th house, your career is lit up and bodes well for the coming weeks. Some of you will be in a reflective mood and taking stock of your lives and working out the best direction to take. This is a good time to re-assess your home and work balance.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

Bureau Chief: Nilesh Parmar (M) +91 94266 36912 Email: nilesh.parmar@abplgroup.com Consulting Editor: Bhupatbhai Parekh, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Tel: +91 79 2630 4142 Urvashi Jagadeesan (India) Mumbai: Kanti Bhatt, Hemraj Shah (Jumbo Advertiser) Horizon Advertising & Marketing: 2012, Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar,Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad. Tel / Fax: +91 79 2646 12960 Email: horizon.marketing@abplgroup.com Business Manager: Hardik Shah (M) +91 992120 42936 Email: hardik.shah@abplgroup.com Advertising Manager: Neeta Patel (Vadodara) M: +91 9821212 11702 Email: neeta_abplgroup@yahoo.co.in Business Co-ordinator: Shrijit Rajan M: +91 98798 82312 Email: shrijit.rajan@abplgroup.com International Advertisement Representative: Jain Group (South India) Tel: +91 44 42041122/3/4 Fax: +91 44 212362973 Mumbai: +91 222471 4122 Email: jain@jaingroup.net Delhi Office: Tel: +91 44 931112811297

Asian Voice Head Office

Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080, Fax: 020 7749 4081 www.abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

Asian Voice switchboard: 020 7749 4000 Gujarat Samachar switchboard: 020 7749 4080 Advertising Sales: 020 7749 40812 AsianVoiceNewsweekly AsianVoiceNews

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

Expansive Jupiter and Sun in your Solar 9th house of travel and spirituality is good for widening your horizons. Business dealings, particularly long-distance ones and those involving publicity and promotion, are likely to be profitable now.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

Jupiter and Sun are transiting your solar eighth house of joint finances, loans, taxes, sexuality, and psychological matters. This is a time of increased accumulation of wealth and in some cases, a significant tax refund or inheritance, or other such benefits.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

Jupiter and Sun in your opposite sign makes you feel invincible, but the way to utilise this transit is to sift through all the opportunities that come your way. You know you have no choice but to streamline and reassess your priorities. Try to create a balance between expansion and conservation.

If your ambitions have been undefined, don't worry as from now on, you understand exactly what kind of impact you need to make on the world. Jupiter and Sun in your work sector rules your daily life.

All those little details should run perfectly, without you constantly worrying. Health-wise you will be feeling fit and relaxed.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

India, England first Test ends in draw

England and India drew the first Test at Trent Bridge as Bhuvneshwar Kumar became the second number nine in Test history to make two half centuries in the same match. Play ended on day five with Kumar undefeated on 63 after 58 in the first innings - when India declared their second innings at 391-9 in the final session.

India led by 352 by the end but had resisted the temptation to declare earlier and have an outside chance of causing England any concern.

Earlier, England had struck three times in the opening session as they looked to try and force a result which always looked unlikely on a lifeless and slow pitch.

"It is a tough job being a groundsman. But it was not ideal," England captain Alastair Cook admitted. "It was pretty flat and you were just trying to wait for a batsman error."

Stuart Broad provided England with an early breakthrough when he trapped Virat Kohli on eight. In his next over, Ajinkya Rahane (24) edged Broad behind to Matt Prior.

And Broad was unfortunate not to take the wicket of India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who edged to his opposite

number Cook at first slip on five, only for Cook to drop a straightforward chance.

But Dhoni did not take full advantage of his reprieve, adding only six more runs before Liam Plunkett bowled him with his first ball of the day.

Debutant Stuart Binny then came to the crease and guided India away from danger with his knock of 78, aided by 31 from Ravindra Jadeja whose innings ended when he edged James Anderson behind to Prior.

All-rounder Binny, who only made one run in the first innings and failed to take a wicket in his 10 overs bowled, brought up his maiden half-century with consecutive fours off Plunkett. He had faced 86 balls.

"He has played a lot of domestic cricket and that exposure has really helped

him," Dhoni said of Binny.

"He is someone who can definitely contribute for a long time. This wicket did not suit him much but I feel as the series progresses, he will be a good bowler."

Alongside Kumar, Binny put on a 91-run partnership for the eighth wicket before Moeen Ali removed him lbw.

Kumar, who also got a five-wicket haul in England's innings, then brought up his 50 with a single off Ali to become the second player batting ninth to make two 50s in the same Test after Australia's Peter Siddle, against India in Delhi in 2013.

Cook, who surprisingly bowled two overs to the delight of home fans at Trent Bridge, then removed Sharma for 13, who was caught behind by Prior before India declared for a draw.

It was Cook's first Test wicket.

"It was a good Test for us," Dhoni said. "We put pressure on them in their first innings. We tried quite a few things but it doesn't always go your way. It was difficult when the bowlers got tired and the ball got softer." England's Anderson was awarded man of the match for his Test record 10th-wicket 198-run partnership with Joe Root, which saw him set the highest ever batting score by an England number 11 of 81. "I'm actually more stiff from batting, to be honest," said Anderson, who bowled 59 overs in the Test match. "I've got a new found respect for batsmen.

I think you've got to give credit to both teams on that pitch for trying to create entertaining cricket. We tried really hard today to force a win but it wasn't to be." Cook also praised the efforts of Anderson and Root, who made an unbeaten 154, as they batted from 298-9 to 496 all out on day four.

"It was an outstanding hundred from Joe Root who has really come back to his best," Cook said. "For Jimmy to get 80, I didn't see it coming but thank God he got it."

The second Test of the five-match series starts on Thursday at Lord's.

unbelievable for me and everyone here. What our team did has never happened before."

"With coach Scott, we all have worked really hard for this performance.

Today's win is a result of a great team work, especially in the defence. We certainly deserved to win," he

added.

Elated with the feat, India's American coach Scott Flemming said, "I am humbled to be a part of such a historic win. I am so glad for our players and for India. We have worked hard to get to this point. It has made the journey worth it."

Elaborating on the team strategy, he added, "I thought our defence came up big tonight. My players have heard me say often that you can't always control how you shoot but you can always control how hard you play and how you play the defence. We did make some big shots down the stretch as well. We were able to survive their comeback even when they took the lead."

Indian cagers win over China in Asia Cup

Indian hoopsters scripted history in China. Keeping their focus mainly on post play, India put up a fine display of grit and character to upset world No. 12 China 65-58 and post their first major victory in the 5th Fiba Asia Cup at Wuhan, China, on Sunday.

It was India's maiden win over the more fancied rivals, that too in front of their home crowd and in an Asian Championship. A day after a false start, India tried many defensive moves for a better part of their second game and held their nerves to keep China at bay and post a surprising win. Having suffered a 23-point defeat against Japan in the opener, a determined Indian team displayed guts and

kept its cool in the crunch moments to provide a new twist to the proceedings in the preliminary round of the nine-day event.

Former India captain and experienced guard Vishesh Briguvanshi said, "I don't have words to express my feelings. A victory over China is still

India may accept umpire review system

The International Cricket Council is pressing India to accept the Decision Review System and ICC is confident that India will accept the system by the end of the year and Matt Prior’s dismissal on Friday will surely convince them it is the right move, even if the incident helps them to win this Test.

With or without DRS in operation it courts controversy at Trent Bridge.

The Prior incident followed last year’s Ashes Test here that ended with England seeking “clarifi-

cation” from the ICC over a contentious lbw decision involving Jonathan Trott, which was the result of the third umpire, Marais Erasmus, failing to follow the right protocol in giving him out.

DRS is not in use in this series and if it had been, Prior would have had his caught-behind decision overturned.

Television replays quickly concluded that his bat had been a long way from the ball.

The decision was not shown on the replay screen at the ground, a

move designed to protect the umpires, but many spectators wear earpieces to listen to the television or radio commentary and booed when they learned about the mistake.

“It is a little bit of frustrating for us there is no DRS,” Joe Root, who was at the other end when Prior was given out, said.

“Until the ICC make it mandatory all we can do is make sure that we give the umpire as few opportunities as possible to give us out.”

India’s isolation over DRS is one of many exam-

ples of the ICC’s inability to govern as a decisionmaking body. Despite many presentations from the scientists behind the DRS technology the Board of Control for Cricket in India has been unbending in its refusal to adopt the system.

It was thought that the opposition was led by Sachin Tendulkar and the old guard, who distrusted the system after playing in the first series in which it was used in Sri Lanka in 2008, when India were successful with just one of 20 referrals.

SPORT WORLD

Indian women to play one test, 3match ODI series against England

31

The Indian women will take on their English counterparts in a three-match One Day International series as the two teams begin their preparations for the 2017 ICC Women's World Cup. The Royal London Women's ODI series gets underway at the famous Scarborough Cricket Club in Yorkshire where the first two matches take place on August 21 and 23 before the two sides travel to Lord's on August 25 for the third and final game. The bilateral series will be the first round of the new ICC Women's Championship which involves the world's top eight ranked women's teams with results determining qualification for the World Cup which will be held in England and Wales. All eight teams will play each other, home and away, over the next two years with the top four gaining automatic qualification for the World Cup. Intriguingly, the bottom four will then play in a further qualifying tournament against teams from the International Cricket Council's regional structures, including against lesser well-known cricketing nations. ECB Head of England Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor, said: “The ICC Women’s Championship represents a significant step for the global development of the women’s game. For the first time, international women’s cricket will follow a long-term future tours programme to generate a meaningful ranking system to decide which countries qualify for the ICC Women’s World Cup in England in 2017. Ahead of the series, the two sides will play a four-day Test match beginning August 13 at the Wormsley Cricket Ground near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

Amul to sponsor India in Commonwealth, Asian games

After associating with the 2012 London Olympics, the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation that markets Amul is now taking “The Taste of India” to the Commonwealth and Asian Games. GCMMF announced its sponsorship for the July 23-August 3 Glasgow games and the September 19 October 4 Asian Games at Incheon in South Korea. GCMMF signed an MoU with the Indian Olympic Association through which Amul became the official sponsor of the Indian team in the category of dairy products. The MoU was signed by GCMMF managing director R S Sodhi and IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta. “This association and activities around it will engage kids and youth so they can enjoy a healthy life,” said Sodhi. “With the investment made by our country for our best athletes, we are confident that the Indians will deliver their best performance,” said Sodhi.

India at second place in latest ICC ODI rankings

India has been placed at the number two spot in the latest Reliance ICC ODI rankings that were released on Sunday. Australia has topped the ODI rankings, while South Africa's maiden ODI series win in Sri Lanka has helped the nation to rise up in the latest rankings.

South Africa are currently at the number four spot behind third placed Sri Lanka and are followed by England in the fifth place. Meanwhile, India's archrival Pakistan is placed at number six, the report added.

The Top 10 ODI teams in the latest ICC rankings are: Australia, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, England, Pakistan, New Zealand, West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Indian athletes leave for Glasgow C’wealth games

A 26-member Indian athletics squad has left for Glasgow to take part in the Commonwealth Games. Chief athletics coach Bahadur Singh admitted that competing at the Glasgow would be different experience for Indian athletes than what it was four years back in Delhi where they had won 12 medals in track and field events. “We produced our best performance in the Delhi CWG with 12 medals, which was also possible due to home crowd support.

Competing in Glasgow would be a different but we have a balanced squad comprising of experienced and fresh talent and I'm hoping that the entire team will put its best feet forward,” said Singh, a two-time Asian Games gold medallist in shot put.

32

SPORT

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014

Germany become world champions again

Germany became the world champions again after snatching victory against Argentina in the soccer showpiece with an extra-time goal by Mario Goetze to lift the trophy for the first time since 1990.

Hatched from the agony of their recent nearmisses, Germany's triumph secured a fourth World Cup title - their first since the country was reunited 24 years ago with a nail-biting 1-0 win in Sunday's final at the sprawling Maracana.

The win, sealed by substitute Goetze's brilliantly taken strike in the 113th minute, marked the first time a European country had won the sport's greatest prize in the Americas, although this World Cup was ultimately a triumph for all.

"We have been together for 55 days but the work started 10 years ago with (former national team manager) Juergen Klinsmann," said Germany coach Joachim Loew.

"We did everything to experience this day. The

team really deserved it. No one deserved it more than us."

The Argentina team, their homeland still recovering from a crippling debt crisis, were brave in defeat and with a bit more luck might well have won the greatest prize in sport.

They squandered a string of chances but lost no admirers in a match that was full of end-to-end action and unrelenting tension over two hours.

"I am very proud. The boys played an extraordinary World Cup," said Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella.

"Over and above the pain of a defeat, they can

look each other in the eye, they can look in the mirror and know they gave their all for Argentina."

Brazil finish fourth: Hosts Brazil did not make the final, finishing fourth as they buckled under the weight of expectation with two humbling losses, including a 7-1 semi-final thrashing by Germany, but never has the samba nation shone so brightly on the world stage.

Germany and Argentina were meeting in the final for the third time, with the South Americans winning 3-2 in Mexico City in 1986 then the Europeans triumphing 1-0 in Rome four years later in

what was their last appearance as West Germany.

Germany went into Sunday's final as strong favourites after demolishing Brazil in the semifinals but had to shed blood, sweat and tears to see off a resilient Argentina side that was left to rue at least three golden opportunities to score.

Striker Gonzalo Higuain shot wide when gifted a chance by a careless header towards his own goal from Toni Kroos and also had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi missed the target in the second period with an angled shot from inside the box.

Substitute Rodrigo Palacio then misdirected his lob in extra time over the head of advancing Manuel Neuer, who won the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

Scant consolation: Messi won the Golden Ball as the best player at the finals but it was scant con-

solation for missing out on the big prize.

"Bitterness, sadness.

We deserved a bit more after the match we played," said the Argentina captain.

"We are hurting because we had chances. Even if they had more possession, we had the clearest chance.

"Today was the day (to win). We didn't have luck, and we weren't able to apply the finishing touch.

We had clear chances but we couldn't do it."

On being awarded the Golden Ball, Messi added: "It's a sad prize which I won, because we wanted to lift the trophy for Argentina."

Germany hit the post just before halftime from a powerful header by Benedikt Hoewedes and the match had seemed destined to go to a penalty shootout until Goetze's stunning winner.

Fellow substitute Andre Schuerrle escaped down the left and fired in a cross that Goetze controlled on his chest before volleying into the net, igniting a roar from the

German fans in the stands and the thousands at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

When Germany's players climbed the steps to receive the trophy, with the country having lost in the semi-finals in 2006 and 2010 and the final in 2002, they filed past 10 heads of state, including Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, who will host the next World Cup in 2018.

Germany captain Philipp Lahm summed up an emotional night for himself and his triumphant team mates by saying: "It feels incredible. What we did for 120 minutes, the way we worked so hard, and the way the bench was backing us the whole time.

"You‘ve got to have the best team. We got better in each match and didn't let ourselves be distracted. It's unbelievable to have won the World Cup," he added after the world champions were showered with confetti to mark their success.