AV 20th July 2024

Anusha Singh

Modi lays the foundation stone of

Lord and Lady Loomba, CB Patel, Editor-in-Chief and Chairman, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, Members of the Royal Air Force and the panellists

Tories in turmoil as unity calls ignored

Two le adin g contend ers in the Cons er vati ve le aders hip ra ce, vy ing to s ucceed Ri shi Sun ak , hav e e ngage d i n a public spa t, un ders cori ng de epen ing i ntern al di vis ions wi thin the party

Shortly after former Home Secretary James Cleverly appealed for party unity, Suella Braverman launched a pointed criticism against her detractors, accusing them of being in "meltdown " She specif ically mentioned her rival, Kemi Badenoch, in a tweet, questioning whether Badenoch believed she was undergoing a "very public nervous breakdown "

Reports indicate that Badenoch made these remarks during the Conservative frontbench's f irst meeting since losing power Despite calls for unity, Badenoch appeared to stand by her comments, highlighting what she perceived as excessive complacency within the cabinet during their time in government

She also criticized Rishi Sunak's election campaign and his decision to call an early election without consulting his cabinet, describing it as a mistake that bordered on "unconstitutional " The shadow housing secretary condemned Sunak for

informing only a select group of colleagues, including Craig Williams, his parliamentary private secretary, instead of f irst informing cabinet ministers Williams later admitted to placing a bet on the election date, prompting her to call him a "buffoon "

Badenoch further criticized Sunak’s early return from D-Day commemorations, calling it "disastrous" and asserting that it overshadowed the election campaign She suggested that if he had extended his stay in France, colleagues like Penny Mordaunt might still be MPs Earlier, Cleverly had emphasized the urgency of unity within the party following a damaging leak from the shadow cabinet and internal disputes over

leadership positions, notably the influential 1922 Committee In an oped for The Times, Cleverly cautioned against succumbing to bitter inf ighting," warning that such divisions were detrimental and had contributed to the party's current challenges He stressed the need for humility, hard work, and a unif ied approach to restore the party's reputation for competence and integrity, rebuild trust among voters, and present a cohesive platform that would resonate with Conservative supporters Despite Cleverly's appeal, the internal tensions within the party appear unabated, reflecting broader challenges in aligning its leadership and direction moving forward

Rwanda refuses to repay £2 70m

A s ten si o n s es ca la ted

b etw ee n Rw and a an d th e

U K , the Rwandan gov ernm ent asserted that it is not o bliged to repay any portion

o f the £ 270 m illion receiv ed for th e cancelled d epo rtation scheme

Sir Keir Starmer declared the agreement "dead and buried" despite no migrants being deported under the Migration and Economic Development Partnership, signed in April 2022 Following its expansion in March to encompass failed asylum seekers, four individuals voluntarily relocated to Rwanda, enticed by a £3,000 offer to settle in Kigali

Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, has initiated an audit of the scheme Downing Street stated it would meticulously review the possibility of reclaiming funds from the agreement

Dr Doris Uwicyeza Picard from Rwanda's Ministry of Justice overseeing the scheme in Kigali emphasised that her government is not required to reimburse any funds, having fulf illed its commitments under the agreement Picard told, "We are not obliged to issue any refunds

“We will continue to engage in ongoing discussions However, it is clear that neither party is obligat-

Lisa Nandy vows to end culture wars as new

In her inaug ural sp eech as c u ltu re s ec reta r y, L i s a Nandy declared that the era of culture w ars is over and p le d g e d t h at h e r d ep a rtment w ould lead efforts to promote a more positive and united v ision of th e UK

"For too long, the narrative we hold about ourselves as a nation has failed to represent many people, their communities, or their lives," Lisa addressed the staff at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

"This is how polarisation, division, and isolation flourish In recent years, we have discovered numerous ways to separate ourselves from one another, losing the sense of a self-conf ident, outward-looking countr y that values its people in every part of the UK "

“Changing that is the

Culture Secretary

mission of this department

The era of culture wars is over ” Nandy, appointed culture secretar y after Thangam Debbonaire lost her Bristol seat to the Greens, stated that the Labour government "will be different " Off icials indicated that her focus would be on celebrating British culture and stories rather than engaging in conflicts with

institutions

During 14 years of Conser vative rule, there were 12 culture secretaries, many of whom spent a signif icant amount of time feuding with and criticising the BBC, or clashing with organisations like the National Trust

In a statem ent to Asian Vo

Secretar y said, “I am thrilled to be appointed to DCMS Its industries give meaning to millions of lives and bring communities in our towns, villages and cities together

“As Culture Secretary, I will do everything I can to harness the limitless potential of the extraordinar y people in these amazing sectors to drive economic growth, unlock opportunities for everyone and change lives for the better ”

Bob Blackman elected 1922 Committee Chair

Th e Conserv ative Party has ta ken a si g n i f ic an t st ep towards selecting a success o r to Ri s h i Su n ak b y appointing a new lead er for its backbench group

Bob Blackman has been elected as the new chair of the 1922 Committee following a meeting held in a House of Commons committee room He secured 61 votes compared to Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown's 37 votes, out of a total of 98 votes cast

ed to seek or provide a refund "

She further stated, "We have been informed of the UK’s decision and acknowledge their choice to terminate the agreement

“Rwanda has fulf illed its obligations under the agreement, having expanded its capacity to accommodate thousands of migrants and asylum seekers We have honoured our commitments as stipulated in the deal ”

The election process, however, was not without controversy Mark Francois, a Tory MP, criticised the voting procedure as unfair, accusing it of being bent He left the committee room abruptly, passing journalists waiting outside Francois alleged that despite being told voting would close at 6pm, he was denied the opportunity to cast his vote before that time Senior Conservatives Jeremy Hunt and Sir Edward Leigh also reported being turned away without voting

The 1922 Committee, often referred to as "The 22," is responsible for organising internal party matters such as leadership contests, which fall outside the purview of the frontbench The chair of the committee also serves as the recipient for letters of no conf idence in the party leader from Tory MPs; if enough letters are received, a vote of no conf idence can be triggered Bob Blackman

Police probe Gaza leaf lets targeting L abour

Police are currently investig ating allegatio ns o f electoral law v iolations d uring the L eicester So uth general election co ntest

Shockat Adam, 51, secured victory in the tradi-

tionally safe Labour seat with a margin of 979 votes, defeating Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow paymaster general, who previously held a substantial 22,000-vote majority

• Home Shanti yagya (Hawan)

• Griha Pravesh (house warming)

• Mundan (Baby’s first haircut)

• Annaprashan (First grain feeding for child)

• Satyanarayan puja

• Shradh puja

• Durga puja

• Katha & Kirtan with wonderful music...

Adam campaigned on a platform focused on Gaza and was one of f ive independent MPs elected on July 4 Ashworth has described facing what he calls the most "vitriolic and intimidating" campaign of his 14-year tenure as an MP He reported being barred from mosques, chased down streets while being f ilmed, and subjected to hostile remarks like "ever yone despises you" during canvassing, even in the presence of his young daughter

The 45-year-old Ashworth presented evidence of potentially illegal leaflets distributed in the constituency, which boasts one of the highest proportions of Muslim voters in the UK, nearly a third of the population These leaflets featured a photo of Ashworth superimposed on images of starving, weeping

children, claiming that a vote for Labour amounted to "a vote for genocide" and directing voters to support Adam

The leaflets appear to violate electoral law by failing to disclose who funded or printed them Leicestershire Police have acknowledged receiving numerous reports concerning election materials distributed before the July 4 general election They have stated that investigations are ongoing to determine if any criminal offenses were committed

In response to the controversy, Adam, an optician by profession, has sought to distance himself from the leaflets

Hindu Priest Manohar Das

Kemi Badenoch Suella Braverman

Lisa Nandy

Shockat Adam

Effective leadership with strategic investment crucial to safeguard communities

Public trust in the Metropolitan Police (Met) has plummeted to alarming levels, with only 41% of people in England expressing confidence in law enforcement, according to recent research This trust deficit is particularly acute in London, where the Met scores a disheartening 34 6%, reflecting deep-seated issues of sexism, racism, and homophobia within the force A 2023 YouGov poll underscores these concerns, revealing that 55% of ethnic minority Londoners lack faith in the Met's ability to serve and protect

The Met's reputation hit a new low following the Casey review, prompted by the tragic murder of Sarah Everard by a Met officer The review highlighted pervasive misconduct, including officers engaging in appalling behaviours such as throwing urine bags and defiling lockers Instances of racism, like placing bacon in a Muslim officer's boots, and forced shaving of a Sikh officer's beard, further underscore systemic issues Despite past promises, the Met continues to struggle with diversity and accountability, failing to address crimes effectively Meanwhile, London faces a surge in mobile phone thefts, with one device stolen every six minutes, totalling 90,864 incidents last year alone This epidemic disproportionately affects young people, exacerbating concerns about safety and security in the community

The Met itself acknowledges its shortcomings, admitting it is "not fit to serve Londoners effectively" due to severe resource constraints Shortages of experienced officers, coupled with budgetary pressures, hinder efforts to combat ris-

ing crime rates and provide adequate public safety The force currently operates with significant staffing gaps, projecting a shortfall of 1,415 officers by year's end and struggling to attract new recruits

In response to these challenges, the Labour government has proposed robust measures to restore public trust and enhance national security While maintaining commitments to NATO and AUKUS agreements, Labour aims to increase defence spending to 2 5% of GDP, prioritising a multifaceted approach to security This includes strengthening ties with the European Union for enhanced cooperation on defence and security issues and bolstering international alliances

However, experts caution that Labour's plans may face hurdles in implementation, particularly in navigating complex security dynamics and fiscal constraints They emphasise the need for sustained investment in policing and security infrastructure to address systemic issues and restore public confidence

As Britain navigates these critical security challenges, houses are burgled, gadgets snatched in open and shut cases with no help and fear in the ethnic minority community about their safety as well as zero recovery of monetary loss, the imperative for cohesive and proactive governance in law enforcement and national security policy remains paramount Effective leadership and strategic investment are essential to bridging trust deficits, combating crime, and safeguarding communities across the nation

Upholding values across political divides

In a dramatic turn of events on the campaign trail, Donald Trump, running for US president for the third time as a Republican candidate, survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania Trump was hurried off stage after gunshots echoed through the venue Before being ushered away by his security detail, Trump, with blood trickling from a wound on his ear, raised his fist defiantly toward the crowd a gesture that has since become a symbol of his resolve among supporters While Trump is safe and the injury is not lifethreatening, the impact on his campaign remains uncertain Assassination attempts on populist leaders often boost public support, making them symbols of resilience

Many European right-wing political figures have suggested a malevolent global plot, casting the media and left-wing parties as co-conspirators in assassination attack If Trump is elected, it could align America with Europe's far-right Despite a notable shift within the European far-right, few prominent voices have denounced their principles A more polarised parliament could hinder EU legislation on climate, immigration, industrial strategy, and defence Therefore, it is necessary to have left-wing parties, crucial for balance and democracy, advocating for social equality, workers' rights, and progressive policies, counterbalancing conservative views

In the wake of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, misinformation has spread rapidly Right-wing pundits and some elected officials speculated that the attack was an inside job, with some even suggesting that Joe Biden ordered it Conspiracy theories often flourish when incompetence seems an unsatisfying explanation The attacker, identified by the FBI as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Pennsylvania, managed to reach a nearby roof with an AR-15style rifle without police intervention Some on the left

Hopes and

claimed it was a false-flag operation designed to make Trump appear invincible and boost his election prospects, citing his deliberate pose with a raised fist and blood on his cheek Following the incident, Trump Media and gun stocks surged, as did his support base On the political wagering website PredictIt, contracts for a Trump election victory traded at 68 cents, up from 60 cents

This incident raises fundamental questions about upholding straightforward principles When a mob of supporters of then-President Donald J Trump attacked Capitol Hill, they disrupted a joint session of Congress convened to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election, which Trump had lost to his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden Despite this, Trump never condemned the wrongdoings carried out in his name Failing to address and punish such actions allows misinformation to spread, which reflects poorly on the leader's integrity and leadership

In contrast, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his first foreign trip since starting his third term, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow Alongside discussions on trade, energy, and defence ties, Modi urged Putin to seek a peace agreement with Ukraine during their formal talks This shows Modi’s stance against violence and his call for peace reflect a responsible approach to leadership, emphasising the importance of addressing conflicts and maintaining global stability Even though India has historically maintained good relations with Russia, it still takes a stand against the war Both Modi and Trump adhere to right-wing ideologies, yet they diverge significantly in their approaches to governance and international relations However, to determine whether Trump will be elected, one must wait for the results of the November elections

challenges for India’s upcoming budget

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will announce the Budget for the financial year 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha on July 23 Many are eagerly anticipating possible income tax reductions This is particularly important as the middle class seems unhappy, and there is hope that this Budget under Modi 3 0 will regain their support lost during elections

What complicates matters is that leading a coalition government means balancing the expectations of coalition partners, whose aspirations cannot be ignored In a position of leverage, the TDP-led Andhra Pradesh government could seek assistance, including funding centrally sponsored schemes in a 90:10 ratio between the Centre and the state, with the Centre providing 90% of funds for externally-aided projects as grants and 10% as loans to the state The Andhra Pradesh government has also requested central assistance for building Amaravati as the "sole capital of Andhra Pradesh," asking for Rs 15,000 crore for essential infrastructure development How Sitharaman accommodates these requests remains to be seen

Additionally, various industries are requesting tax breaks and GST exemptions There's also an expectation that the Finance Minister might allocate more funds to welfare programs and public spending The real estate industry hopes for renewed tax reliefs and infrastructure investments, while the financial sector looks forward to grants for Bank Mitras Environmental sustainability advocates urge for substantial funding to combat climate change, and the education sector anticipates a boost in teacher training and digital infrastructure Taxation experts suggest increased personal deductions and GST simplification, whereas the banking sector eyes privatisation and consumer tax relief

The MSME sector has significantly contracted due to

three major shocks over the years: demonetisation, the Goods and Services Tax (GST), and the COVID-19 lockdown This sector requires special attention, with a nuanced understanding of its needs While previous Budgets have focused on infrastructure, skill-based programs, credit for start-ups, and fiscal prudence to generate employment, this Budget should focus on MSMEs that cater to the domestic consumption of low-income and socially marginalised groups Given India's poor performance on the Human Development Index and Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index (MDPI), higher allocations for education, health, and housing for deprived sections, combined with employment-generation objectives, should be prioritised in this Budget

The upcoming Budget holds great significance as the BJP tries to impress the public after missing the mark for a majority and will face a strong opposition for the first time in 10 years However, the last two terms of the Indian Prime Minister’s leadership exemplify the reason behind the Indian masses re-electing him to a third term He has proven to be a visionary leader who is able to rise above distractions and criticism and do what is right for the country The implementation of GST, for instance, which met with heavy dislike when implemented, has now changed the way India’s economy operates and regulates It has helped reduce tax rates, remove multiple point taxation, and increase revenues

Despite backlash and criticism, both Modi and his cabinet keep working towards the vision he has for the country The top team of India is goal-oriented and makes Modi’s vision their own This is especially true for the top order, including names like Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, Nitin Gadkari, and S Jaishankar

Addressing Climate Change: An Integrated Approach to Individual, Community, and Global Action Alpesh Patel Political Sketchbook

As the urgency of climate c hange bec omes more pronounced, understandi ng and mi ti gating its i mpacts are critical for sustaining our planet That was the essence of the As ian Voice event wi th the Royal Ai rforce and the Loomba Trust

From individual actions to global collaboration, the journey toward a sustainable future requires a multifaceted approach Here, we explore the most pressing questions around climate change and how we can collectively address this monumental challenge

The Immediate I mpacts of Climate Change

Climate change is reshaping our world in profound ways Rising global temperatures have resulted in more frequent and severe weather events, such as hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts In 2023 alone, we witnessed unprecedented heatwaves across Europe, with temperatures soaring to record highs, impacting millions and straining healthcare systems The melting of polar ice caps contributes to rising sea levels, threatening coastal communities with displacement and loss of livelihoods According to NASA, sea levels have risen by about 8 inches since 1880, with the rate of increase doubling in recent decades Moreover, climate change is causing disruptions in ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss and affecting food security

The question is not only about recognizing these impacts but also about taking concrete actions to mitigate them Individuals can play a crucial role in reducing their carbon footprint Simple measures such as using energy-efficient appliances, reducing waste, and adopting sustainable transportation options like cycling or public transit can make a significant difference Moreover, making homes and businesses more energyefficient through better insulation, renewable energy sources, and smart technologies can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Sus tainable Choi ces in Diet and Consumption

One of the most effective ways individuals can contribute to sustainability is through their dietary choices The correlation between climate change and food habits is undeniable Livestock farming is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for approximately 14 5% of global emissions Adopting a plant-based diet can reduce an individual's carbon footprint from food by up to 73% Plant-based diets require fewer resources such as water and land and produce lower emissions compared to diets rich in animal products

Transitioning to a plant-based diet can seem daunting, but starting with small changes, such as incorporating more plant-based meals into one ’ s weekly routine, can ease the transition Education is key in this regard Informing people about the environmental benefits of sustainable diets and providing practical tips on how to make these changes can help overcome barriers to adoption

The Role o f C omm unity and Ind ustry

Communities and industries, particularly the food industry, play a pivotal role in promoting sustainability

Chefs and food businesses have the platform to influence public perception and behaviour By showcasing sustainable cooking, storage, and waste management practices, they can set a standard for environmental responsibility Community engagement through culinary education and sustainability initiatives can further reinforce these practices

For instance, local food festivals, cooking classes, and educational campaigns can raise awareness about sustainable food practices Encouraging community gardens and local food markets can also support sustainable consumption and reduce the carbon footprint associated with food transportation

Achieving Net Zero: Challeng es and S uccesses

The concept of Net Zero balancing the amount of emitted greenhouse gases with an equivalent amount of offsets is central to combating climate change The scale of this challenge is immense Achieving Net Zero requires transformative changes across various sectors, including energy, transportation, agriculture, and industry It also necessitates robust policies, technological innovations, and significant financial investments

Concept of white privilege nonsensical, says Braverman

Sue lla Bra ver man has a rgued t hat British people are being m an ipula te d in to belie ving t hey a re ra cist, crit icising the con ce pt of "wh it e priv ileg e"

Speaking on GB News, the former Home Secretary condemned what she termed as "nonsense" surrounding white privilege and alleged "systemic antiwhite discrimination" in the UK Braverman emphasised the need to stop labelling all English people as racist and to refrain from guilt-tripping white individuals

She dismissed the notion of white privilege as absurd, citing examples such as underachieving white working-class boys in literacy and numeracy, and victims of abuse in northern towns by predominantly Pakistani Muslim gangs

Reflecting on her tenure as Home Secretary and the controversy surrounding her views, Braverman asserted that her statements, though uncomfortable for some, reflect uncomfortable truths about contemporary Britain

She reiterated her commitment to speaking out on issues like grooming gangs, emphasising the importance of addressing uncomfortable realities rather than succumbing to political correctness, despite facing backlash within her own party

Braverman concluded by reaffirming her determination to continue advocating for her beliefs, even in the face of criticism and vilification, stating her duty to represent and speak for those who support her

Streeting taps ex-new Labour minister for NHS review

H

m inister L ord Ara Darzi to p r ep a re a c o m

rep ort on the NHS, aim ing to inform the g overnment's u pc om ing 1 0 -year plan to strengthen the h ealth serv ice

Streeting described eminent surgeon Lord Ara Darzi, who served as a health minister in Gordon Brown's government from June 2007 to July 2009, as tasked with providing a "comprehensive and candid evaluation" of the NHS's current status

The health secretary emphasised that Darzi's role would involve identifying the NHS s challenges prior to the government developing solutions Darzi previously authored a seminal report on NHS improvement for Brown and thenHealth Secretary Alan

Johnson in 2008

Streeting highlighted that Lord Ara Darzi, currently a non-affiliated member of the House of Lords, is recognised as one of the NHS's foremost experts and will conduct an "impartial inquiry" into its operations "He brings over three decades of NHS experience, making him ideally suited for this critical task, Streeting commented "I have tasked Lord Darzi with uncovering the unvarnished realities Both the NHS and my department have been directed to provide him with all necessary information "

Thousands of prisoners slated for release

T

housand s of prisoners are set to be released early start-

i n g i n S ep te m be r, a s a nno u n ce d b y th e j u st ic e s e cr eta ry, S h a ba na M ah mood

She has warned of the imminent risk of the prison system collapsing and a breakdown of law and order if urgent measures are not taken to alleviate overcrowding Her plan involves releasing some prisoners after they have served 40%

of their sentence in England and Wales, as opposed to the current 50%

She anticipates the initial release of "low thousands" of prisoners in September, with more releases planned over the next 18 months, and regular updates to Parliament every three months The Ministry of Justice estimates that up to 4,000 additional male prisoners and fewer than 1,000 female prisoners could be released under these new measures over the next 18 months Notably, serious violent offences of four years or more and sex offences will be excluded from early release, along with offenders convicted of domestic abuse-related crimes such as stalking and choking

Speaking at HMP Five Wells in Northamptonshire, Mahmood highlighted that prisons have been operating at 99% capacity since last year, with critical space shortages imminent She warned of potential overflow into police cells, which could lead to dangerous individuals being temporarily held without adequate facilities

Mahmood stressed that delaying action could paralyze the courts and embolden criminals, potentially sparking widespread criminal activity and public unrest She acknowledged that early prisoner release might face public backlash but emphasized it was necessary due to the crisis left by the previous administration

Cleverly favoured by voters, Badenoch by party for leadership

‘A ccord ing to polling by Th e Times, James

The YouGov survey indicated a lack of strong enthusiasm for any candidate, with none receiving net positive ratings However, Cleverly garnered the most support among frontrunners, with 19% viewing him as a good or very good leader, though 28% considered him a bad leader

In terms of Tory voters from the election, Cleverly also performed well, with 39% endorsing him as a good leader compared to 16% who disagreed

However, Kemi Badenoch leads among Conservative members with nearly double the support of her closest rival, according to a new poll The survey, conducted by Conservative Home among 995 grassroots members from July 8 to 10, shows Badenoch as the frontrunner with 25 83% support

Robert Jenrick, former Immigration Minister, follows in second place with 13 47%, narrowly ahead of Tom Tugendhat, the former Security Minister, at 12 96% Suella Braverman, former Home Secretary, and James Cleverly trail with 9 75% and 9 15%, respectively Priti Patel garners 3 32% support, Victoria Atkins 1 51%, and Esther McVey 1 21% However, over 16% of those polled remained undecided, indicating that the race remains wide open, especially given the early stage of the contest and the absence of any declared candidates

Conservative Home's polls are considered a reliable gauge of sentiment among the Tory activist base

Nearly half of the Tories favour Reform UK merger

A recent YouGov po ll reveals that nearly half of C onserv ative Party mem bers are in fav our of merg ing with Refo rm U K

Released shortly after the Conservatives suffered a significant loss of nearly 250 MPs to Labour in a historic election landslide, the poll also notes that Reform UK secured five MPs, including leader Nigel Farage

Among the 725 Tory members surveyed, 47 per cent expressed support for a merger with Reform UK, while 48 per cent opposed such a move During the election campaign, Farage articulated ambitions to "take over" the Conservative Party Meanwhile, a separate study by the More in Common think tank and UCL Policy Lab found that only 31% of Reform UK voters would have otherwise supported the Conservatives; the majority indicated they would have voted for other parties

With roughly four million voters backing Reform UK, the analysis suggests that even in the event of a merger, the Tories would still have fallen short of securing 200 parliamentary seats needed for a majority

I N B R I E F

POST OFFICE CEO STEPS BACK TEMPORARILY

The Post Office CEO will temporarily step aside from his role to focus fully on the upcoming stages of the Horizon inquiry Nick Read informed staff in a memo that he and the board have decided he should step back from operational duties during the summer to prepare for the proceedings starting in September After consulting with Nigel Railton and the board, we ve decided that I should focus entirely on preparing the business for phase 7," said Nick Read This phase will scrutinise the company's current practices, procedures, and future recommendations Read has led the organisation since 2019, succeeding Paula Vennells, 65, who relinquished her CBE this year amidst criticism of her handling of the Horizon scandal

STARMER OUTLINES OVERHAUL OF HOUSE OF LORDS

Sir Keir Starmer plans to introduce legislation to abolish hereditary peers from the House of Lords which will result in the removal of 47 Conservative peers and address a significant anachronism in UK democracy

The bill is part of a comprehensive legislative agenda to be outlined by King Charles during the state opening of parliament as confirmed by Labour officials While there is a strong push to swiftly remove the 92 remaining hereditary peers from the unelected House of Lords immediate legislation to enforce retirement at age 80 for peers is not expected According to officials, this proposal, promised in the manifesto will be introduced after a period of consultation

PLANS TO CUT STANDING CHARGES TO LOWER ENERGY BILLS

Households that consume less electricity and gas will see reduced energy bills under new plans to lower standing charges Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will hold discussions with the energy regulator Ofgem to address the charges consumers face before using any energy The proposed changes would shift a greater portion of energy bills to the unit cost of electricity Miliband believes the plan will assist poorer households with an analysis indicating that five million lowincome households could benefit Government sources have criticised standing charges as a poll tax, arguing that something has gone badly wrong with a system that imposes substantial fixed costs on consumers before any electricity is used Ofgem research indicates that reducing standing charges by 50% and transferring those costs to the unit price of electricity could save 5 5 million low-income households at least £35 annually

PLEA FOR WHOOPING COUGH VACCINATION

Nine infants have tragically lost their lives in a whooping cough outbreak, amidst a continued rise in cases across England In May alone, 2,591 cases of the disease were reported, bringing this year's total to 7,599 cases This marks a stark increase from 858 cases reported last year The UK Health Security Agency announced that nine infants have died from a bacterial infection since November last year Known as whooping cough or pertussis the disease affects individuals of all ages but poses particular danger to babies Health officials are strongly urging all pregnant women to receive vaccination The NHS provides expectant mothers with the whooping cough vaccine to confer immunity to their babies in the womb

Subsequently, infants receive vaccinations at eight, twelve, and sixteen weeks of age

Lord Ara Darzi

Shabana Mahmood

Kemi Badenoch James Cleverly

Jonathan Ashworth named new Labour thinktank boss

Jonathan Ashworth is set to become the chief executive of the influential Starmerite t hinkt ank, Labour

T ogeth er , follo wing h is defeat in the parliamentary seat of Leicester South to a p ro-Palestinian ind ependent candidate in a surprising election upset

The former shadow cabinet minister, who played a crucial role in Labour’s campaign strategy and preparations for government, will now lead Labour Together

This prominent appointment suggests that the thinktank will have a significant impact on Keir Starmer’s government

Ashworth’s extensive experience includes advising

Gordon Brown during his tenure as chancellor, making him a valued asset to Starmer

A s h w o r t h expressed his enthusiasm for his new role, stating, “Over the last decade, Labour Together has played a vital role in advancing progressive politics and helping Labour to return to power With Labour now in government, Labour Together will continue to generate the bold ideas needed for Labour to transform Britain for the better and win a second term I can’t wait to get

Jonathon Ashworth

started ” A spokesperson for Labour Together praised Ashworth, saying he would bring “ unparalleled insight, relationships, and political experience” to the role Ashworth succeeds Josh Simons, the former executive director of Labour Together, who was recently elected as the Labour MP for Makerfield in northwest England

As its first post-election initiative, the thinktank plans to review the election results and explore how they can help Labour secure a second term

Teen arrested for stabbings at Gurdwara

A 17-year-old boy has been arr est ed o n suspicion of att empt ed murd er and r acially agg rav at ed public disorder following an incid ent at Euro pe ’ s lar gest S ikh gur dw ar a in Gravesend, Kent

Reports suggest he was armed with a sword during the incident The teenager resides locally with a Sikh family and is reported to be dealing with mental health challenges

Video footage showed women with cuts on their arms and hands, although no serious injuries were reported Kent police recovered a bladed weapon from the scene

A worshipper recounted tackling a boy who was seated on a donation pot at the Siri Guru Nanak Darbar gurdwara Avtar Singh, 44,

described the boy as holding a sword without any head covering and appearing aggressive

"This goes against our religion," Singh said "I attempted to intervene he also threatened me with the sword, and we both fell to the ground "

"Then he fled we pursued him to [a nearby school], where two Indian youths stopped him, and the police arrived shortly after "

Jagdev Singh Virdee, 68, the general secretary of the gurdwara, emphasised its role as "a place of sanctity, security, and peace " He added, We aim to maintain our welcoming stance towards people from all communities at gurdwaras We will therefore review our security measures "

Pressure on Labour to scrap two-child benefit cap affecting 1.6m children

Fresh pressure mounts on the Labour government to scrap the two-child benefit limit following new official f igures revealing that a record 1 6 million children are in families impacted by the contentious policy Campaigners, charities, and MPs from various political backgrounds have criticised the figures as shameful, renewing calls for the abolition of the two-child benefit limit Introduced by the Conservative government seven years ago, the policy is now seen as the UK’s leading cause of child poverty

Labour MP Kim Johnson intends to introduce an early-day motion on Monday to assess support for her initiative and is prepared to propose an amendment to the king's speech that aims to appeal to a wide range of

Labour MPs

With just days left before the king’s speech and Labour's 411 MPs still taking their oaths, it remains uncertain how many will be willing to challenge Keir Starmer so early in the new parliament

The Liberal Democrats, focusing their attacks on the Conservatives, have pledged in their manifesto to abolish the policy and are likely to support a Labour amendment

Richard Burgon, Secretary of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs, emphasised that ending the cap would not only lift half a million children out of poverty but also signal a strong commitment from his party to enact crucial and positive changes that people urgently need

£7.3bn national wealth fund set in motion by Rachel Reeves

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is unveiling a £7 3bn national wealth fund, aimed at the newly elected Labour government's goal of attracting bil lions in pr iv ate se ctor investment for significa nt infra st ructure projects throughout the UK

The NWF, which Reeves stated would be set up “in less than a week,” aims to support projects like ports, gigafactories, hydrogen, and steel initiatives by attracting a combination of investments, targeting approximately £3 of private funds for every £1 of taxpayer money

Reeves described the fund as a “concierge service” for investors and businesses

looking to invest in Britain, providing them with a clear point of contact The investments will be managed by the existing UK Infrastructure Bank, led by former HSBC chief executive John Flint, with assistance from a restructured British Business Bank, renowned for its role in administering Covid business loan schemes

taskforce driving the project

Reeves made the announcement at No 11 Downing Street, following a meeting with City leaders who formed the specialised

The taskforce members included Aviva’s chief executive, Amanda Blanc; NatWest’s chief executive, Paul Thwaite; Barclays chief executive, CS Venkatakrishnan; and former Bank of England governor Mark Carney Labour has been developing the NWF for several months, having established the taskforce in March to determine precisely how to fulfil what became a key manifesto promise in the lead-up to last week s election

Rachel Reeves

Asian Nurse innovates skin tone card for pressure sore detection

A nurse in London is reportedly the first globally to advocate for the use of a skin tone card to detect early signs of pressure ulcers and skin damage among black and Asian patients

Luxmi Dhoonmoon was perplexed by the high number of patients from ethnic minorities who were arriving with advanced-stage ulcers that had not been previously diagnosed

In severe cases, advancedstage ulcers can lead to permanent muscle damage, extending down to the bone

The nurse consultant specialising in tissue viability,

Luxmi Dhoonmoon, noted that the initial signs of ulcers such as discoloured skin were often obscured by patients' darker skin tones, a fact that is sometimes overlooked despite its obviousness

As a response, every healthcare assistant and nurse within the hospital trust now possesses a skin tone card displaying a range of skin colours from light to dark This tool helps healthcare professionals identify potential issues, addressing the challenge of recognizing early signs of pressure ulcers among patients from ethnic minorities

Dermatologists have long employed skin-tone gradients to detect cancer, yet the application of these tools for identifying pressure ulcers went unrecognised until now

Fraudster convicted for falsifying qualifications as senior nurse

A woman has been convicted of fraud for providing false information and lying about her qualif ications while a pplying and interviewing for a senior nurse position at a Welsh neonatal unit

Following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court, Tanya Nasir, aged 45 and from Hertfordshire, was found guilty on nine charges

These charges include fraud, using a false document with intent, possession of articles for use in fraud, and unauthorised access to computer material with intent

Gayle Ramsay, repre-

senting the Crown Prosecution Service, noted that Tanya Nasir knowingly misrepresented her qualifications and employment history to obtain a senior

nursing role This position entailed significant responsibilities, including the care of newborn babies

"Nasir falsified not only her own qualifications but also misrepresented those of others In doing so, she breached trust with employers and colleagues, displaying a complete disregard for the welfare and safety of vulnerable patients, thereby jeopardising their lives significantly "

Following an inquiry led by the NHS Local Counter Fraud Authority, Nasir was prosecuted by the CPS

UNDERSTANDING MALE SEXUAL ABUSE

“You can be successful in your life, you can still have great friendships”Jeremy Indika talks to Asian Voice about sexual abuse, overcoming the stigma and supporting more people to report it.

Shefali Saxena

Speaking to Asian Voice, Jeremy narrated his ordeal against sexual abuse, “The memories of what happened came back when I was 25 years old Up until then, I'd never completely forgotten about it There would be triggers along the way, something come up on the news that would remind me of it, something come up in conversation that would remind me of it

When these memories came, I didn t know what to do with them I tried my hardest to ignore them But over the next two years, they just got worse and worse So I decided that I would tell someone for the first time And the first person that I told was my best friend And he gave me the perfect response He supported me ”

Jeremy’s friend let him know that he would support him in any move he needed to make from that point on, whether it involved telling someone again or discussing it further Speaking up for the first time made him feel immensely relieved, lifting a weight off his shoulders and giving him confidence This journey of increasing confidence ultimately led him to attempt to prosecute the man who wronged him by calling the police and reporting the crime Supportive parents

Jeremy’s parents also supported him once he revealed his ordeal to them He said, “I needed to tell my family because they needed to give statements to the police Now initially, I never wanted my family to find out what happened There would be no good to come from that because they're all only going to blame themselves for not noticing what happened for not spotting any signs and feeling some responsibility that this was their fault The person that did this to me was a family friend

So he was trusted by the adults around me

“I never really thought seriously about the level of taboo that this carries in South Asian communities Because I was very determined to continue the prosecution So talking to my family, and knowing that this hold such a taboo in our community wasn't a

concern for me at that time And because I told them, after I had reported it to the police, everybody kind of had no choice but to give statements And I feel very fortunate that I believe, even if I hadn't told the police, all of my family would have supported me through that anyway

All of my friends are English and come from an English culture So they didn't hold that taboo when I told them, they were only supportive And those friends that I told I had known for 20 years by the time I taught when I told them, so we were like brothers ” Running support groups

Today, Jeremy runs a support group named ‘Something to Say’

Sharing his aim behind starting the group, he said, “One of my aims with this work is inspiration Certain empowerment and information, because I believe one of the big reasons why people are afraid of this topic They are negative about this topic when responding to somebody who disclosed it because they don't understand the seriousness of it, they don't understand the effects of it on somebody

And so that's one of the big purposes of my work

And I am continually getting messages from people saying that I have given them another way of looking at what happened to them

Because all they are reading is negativity, sadness, and depression around this topic But I want to be, I want to show that there is a way through this

“You can still be successful in your life, you can still have great friendships, you can still build great families, and you can still have great relationships, this doesn't have to be the end of your evolution and

success ”

Educating children

He further spoke about educating children about sexual abuse

Jeremy told the newsweekly, “But when I go into the schools and speak to the students, which I think is very important, their eyes light up when I tell them, Okay, so I went through all this horrific stuff when I was eight years old, sexual abuse that lasted two years by another man, but I still made good of myself

And they love that story

Because people love to be encouraged off the back of something horrific that happened to somebody

“And I also think that seeing a man stand up on social media and be open and vulnerable, I think, has a strength about it

And people see that I am talking about being sexually abused by another man who was 35 years old at that time, I was eight years old I'm talking about that openly And it s taken me 11 years to get to this point ”

Speaking about how more people could learn from him and navigate this stigma, Jeremy said, “I am not trying to tell men, that you must speak out, I'm saying, I got so much benefit from speaking out It's incredible And I want to provide options for people to do that if they wish to

“When I go into the schools, I tell the assembly hall, please come to us if something is going on with you Because they are underage So the conversation is very different Because we want those children and young teenagers to come to us if something's happening to them, because we can help them we can stop that thing from happening, we can get them out of that situation ”

Tanya Nasir

Luxmi Dhoonmoon

Aston University report urges action on kidney health disparities

A new r ep o rt , co - a u th o re d by P rofesso r Shiv ani Sharm a o f A ston

K

U

d n ey Research UK 's find ing s on ong oing d isparities in kid ney health linked to factors such as ag e, gender, ethn i ci ty , e d u c ati o n, g eo g rap h i c al location, and socioeconom ic status

The foremost kidney research charity in the UK urges the research and clinical sectors to urgently address social and economic inequalities that increase the risk of kidney disease and hinder access to necessary care and treatment for patients

The latest report, "Time To Act: A New Review of Kidney Health Inequalities, is authored by a collaborative team of academics, clinicians, and patients It follows up on the charity's previous report on kidney health disparities from five years ago, which proposed 27 recommendations for transforming clinical and research practices

The latest review highlights the minimal advancements made since 2018, affecting people's disease risks and outcomes

The latest evidence reaffirms that certain communities continue to bear a disproportionate burden of kidney disease, with varying rates of disease progression among individuals The report underscores that disparities in quality of care persist, exacerbated by inadequate research focus on specific

communities, thereby overlooking their unique needs and experiences

The report shows that multiple inequalities intersect, heightening the risk of poor kidney health for many individuals For instance, Black African or Black Caribbean individuals in deprived areas face double the risk at a younger age Despite their higher risk, these communities are often underserved in broader research aimed at improving both physical and psychological well-being

The charity has pinpointed key research gaps: utilising genetic and societal risk factors for targeted interventions, enhancing public health communication tailored to patient needs, and leveraging digital health innovations to mitigate kidney health disparities They emphasise the importance of inclusive patient engagement across diverse demographics and life experiences in all research endeavours

Migrants in UK face illegal status as care agency loses visa sponsorship

Over a h und red m igrants and their fam ilies are at risk of illeg al status in B ri tai n as th e co m pany th at sponsored th eir U K work visas h as lost its end orsement au thority Employees of Brighton-based care agency Renaissance Personnel, who are foreign nationals, have a limited timeframe to secure new sponsorship or return to their home countries before their legal residency in the UK expires

The Home Office revoked Renaissance's sponsorship licence for migrant workers, citing concerns regarding the authenticity of job vacancies and payment practices for staff

Muhammad, aged 45, relocated

with his wife and four children from Pakistan to Britain in April 2023, lured by the prospect of employment as a care assistant with Renaissance Personnel They

now reside in a modest terraced house, where his children attend nearby schools and play in the small concrete-walled garden Muhammad told the media, "They had dreams of moving to the UK for better education Now, they're worried " He explained that his children ask him, Dad, what are we going to do now?' We used to have plans, but now everything seems uncertain " Muhammad alleges that he paid £19,000 to a recruitment agent before receiving a certificate of sponsorship and a job offer from Renaissance Personnel Renaissance Personnel denies any affiliation with foreign recruitment agents

Tensions in Reform UK over new leadership

Internal tensio ns within Reform UK have escalated fo llowing Nigel Farag e's d ecision to remov e its two longstanding deputy leaders and im p lem ent o th er l ea d er sh i p ch anges

Ben Habib, who had served as co-deputy leader since March 2023, expressed concerns about the party's control and decision-making processes after Farage informed him that he was being replaced by Reform MP and former leader Richard Tice "I have longstanding concerns about the party's governance and decisionmaking processes," said Habib, hinting at Reform UK's structure which limits member input and

provides little oversight on Farage's decisions

Millionaire businessman Zia Yusuf, a significant new supporter of Reform, has been appointed as the party's new chair Yusuf recently gained prominence by contributing nearly a third of the £600,000 raised by the party during the fourth week of the election campaign He garnered favourable reception from members after addressing a pre-election rally at the NEC in Birmingham

In further organizational changes, Reform announced that Richard Tice, who had stepped down as leader to allow Farage to resume the role, would transition

from his recent position as chair to serve as deputy leader both in the Commons and within the party This move replaces the former deputy leaders, Habib and David Bull

Shivani Sharma

Muhammad

Zia Yusuf

Emergency in India (1975-77) A Call for your personal experience

In light of PM Modi highlighting the Emergency of 1975, I have decided that those Indians currently living in the UK, who have personal experience of the said emergency, their testimony should be recorded and shared

I invite you to write to me at kd@mayfairtrust co uk on the topic of ‘My Personal Experience of the Emergency in India (1975-77)’:

Please put in your own words, no more than two pages of A4 (font size 12), your personal experience of the Emergency

Please include:

Your full name:

Your present location in UK (town/city only): When you came to the UK:

Your contact details: email and/or mobile number

The name of the state in India that best represents you (i e Gujarati, Tamil, Maharashtrian etc):

In your recollections you might want to include:

a What happened to you

b What happened to your family

c What happened to your friends

d How the Emergency affected you and others

e How you dealt with it

Your thoughts, fears and views on what was happening to India at that time

And your views on the India of today

I shall endeavour to collate the contributions By contributing you agree to all edits since that will of course be necessary

It is my intention to have it published by 25 June 2025

Kapil Dudakia

Navnat Vadil Mandal hosts 'Great Grand Variety Show'

On the morning of Friday 12 July, Navnat Hall was filled with youthful energy radiating from over 450 senior citizens The atmosphere was electrifying as many elders were eager to showcase their talents on stage

The hall was adorned with stunning decorations inspired by "Mann Mor Bani Thanganat Kare , " likely the creative vision of Hasmita Doshi Celebrating its tenth year, the show highlighted the remarkable efforts of convener Purnima Meshwani, whose contributions were specially acknowledged The talents displayed by these senior citizens proved that age is no barrier to pursuing hobbies, as they entertained everyone with one of the best shows of the year!

Following morning tea and breakfast, co-ordinators

Nitin Savadia and Purnima Meshwani outlined the programme, and President Natu Mehta extended a warm welcome to all The entire event was expertly moderated by Jasuben Seth and Jayashri Rajkotiya in their distinctive style The show commenced with a dance performance dedicated to Ganapati Vandana, followed by a series of dances, dramas, and garba

During the Kavi Sammelan, Harikishan Mehta, Nalin Udani, Lalit Mehta, Jasuben Seth, and Jyotsna Bakhai shared their

self-composed poems, revealing their inner creativity Committee members Kishore Bataviya and Kanak Trivedi managed the music system and song timings flawlessly Bharatbhai handled the challenging task of organising morning tea, breakfast, and afternoon meal, ensuring no one went hungry The elders demonstrated their skills and boundless energy across all aspects, including the latest technology The vote of thanks was delivered by Nitin Savadia

Indian Ecowheeler's 450-day cycling mission receives grand diaspora welcome

An Indian cycling enthusiast was warmly welcomed by the British Indian community upon reaching Tower Bridge in London, concluding a 450-day journey across 30 countries

Fayis Asraf Ali, originating from Kerala, embarked on his journey in August 2022 from South India and has pedalled through cities spanning 30 countries, including Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary and more His journey with Ecowheelers aimed to raise awareness about environ-

mental issues, specifically promoting zero carbon emissions through sustainable practices

He stated, "This journey holds significant social value beyond being an adventure

My goal is to raise awareness about fitness and healthcare, support Rotary's End Polio Now mission, promote conflict resolution and peacebuilding, advocate for zero

Indian captain and crew honoured for Red Sea rescue efforts

The Int ern at ion al Ma ritime O rga nisation (IMO) in Lon don ha s honoured Indian seafarers for their outstanding bravery and courage in its 2024 Bra ver y a t Sea awards Captain Avhilash Rawat and his crew of the oil tanker Marlin Luanda were awarded the IMO 2024 Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea for their remarkable courage during a rescue mission in the Red Sea Captain Brijesh Nambiar and the crew of the Indian Navy ship INS Visakhapatnam were commended with a Letter of Commendation for

their support to the Marlin Luanda during its distress

On the evening of January 26, 2024, the Marlin Luanda, carrying 84,147 tons

of Naphtha, was en route from Suez to Incheon when it was struck by an anti-ship ballistic missile The explosion ignited a cargo tank, resulting in flames over 5 metres high and creating a significant fire hazard Captain Avhilash Rawat swiftly organised firefighting efforts, ensuring the crew's safety and maintaining the ship's navigability amidst the chaos With the starboard lifeboat destroyed, the crew mustered at the port lifeboat station, ready for possible evacuation

London Business School awards Honorary Fellowship to Lord Karan Bilimoria

Lord Kara n Bilimoria ha s been awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the prestigious Lon don Business School (LBS), renowned globally as a top-ranking institution for business education

Known for its pioneering business education and impactful research, LBS awards Honorary Fellowships to individuals who have made remarkable contributions to global business and society Past recipients of this prestigious honour include Bill Gates, Cofounder of Microsoft, Michael Bloomberg, former Mayor of New York City and founder of Bloomberg L P , and Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations

The Fellowship was conferred during LBS's annual graduation ceremonies, honouring 1,600 graduates from MBA, Executive MBA,

Masters, and PhD programs

London Business School's recognition highlights Lord Bilimoria's lifelong dedication to driving change and making a lasting impact through his contributions to public service and business As the founder of Cobra Beer and a prominent member of the House of Lords, Lord Bilimoria continues to inspire and lead by example

On receiving the award Lord Bilimoria said: “I am truly honoured, privileged

and humbled to have been appointed an Honorary Fellow at London Business School of which I am a proud alumnus I will always be grateful for what I have learnt studying at London Business School, and I have been fortunate to return and lecture at LBS regularly over the years This is the 60th Anniversary Year of LBS, and the Business School has achieved so much within these decades, rising to being respected globally as one of the finest Business Schools in the world I am very grateful to the Chairman of the Governing Board, Dr David Pyott CBE and to Dr François Ortalo-Magné, Dean of LBS, for awarding me my Honorary Fellowship I also thank Dr Niro Sivanathan for the kind citation he delivered I look forward to being a lifelong ambassador for LBS ”

Akash Paul of Caparo Group awarded honorary doctorate

CEO of Caparo Group since the 1990s, Akash Paul has re ceived an Honorary D oct orate in Bus ines s Administration in recognition of his substantial efforts to advance investment initiatives in India

carbon emissions through eco-friendly practices, and deliver anti-drug messages through discussions and presentations at campuses along the way

Last month, the father of two, delighted, reunited with his two boys, nine-year-old Fahzin Omar and five-yearold Izin Nahel, along with his mother at the conclusion of his cycling tour

The degree was conferred by Lord Swraj Paul, Founder of the UK-based group and Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, to his son He emphasised that was in recognition of Akash's commitment to enhancing the company's success, especially its investments and ventures in India Akash Paul received the formal robes and citation from University ViceChancellor Professor Ebrahim Adia

Lord Paul, Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton for over

two decades, noted, "Akash took on the CEO role at Caparo Group in 1992 Under his leadership, Caparo expanded its growth strategy across the UK, Europe, USA, and India, bolstering operational capabilities and profitability in the UK He also held the position of President at Caparo

Automotive Espana in Spain and served on the Executive Board of Bull Moose Tube in the USA "

During his acceptance speech, Akash Paul humbly expressed deep gratitude for being honoured

He commented, I might be the only graduate who has received a degree from his own father, duly approved by the University Board, I should note This honorary doctorate represents a major personal achievement and highlights the exceptional support and guidance I've been privileged to receive during my academic and professional path It's often said that we build on the accomplishments of those who came before us, and in my experience, this holds particularly true "

Lord Karan Bilimoria

Akash Paul

UK election insights at “Soneri Sangat” with community leaders

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar hosted the 20th episode of ‘Soneri Sangat’ on July 11th The program provided a comprehensive analysis of the UK general election outcomes, examining their implications both nationally and internationally, particularly for the Indian diaspora Distinguished speakers offered insights into the political landscape, economic impacts, and social consequences arising from the results

Er Trupti Patel, President of the Hindu Forum of Britain, reflects

on the evolving political engagement of the Hindu community in the UK over the decades She recounts milestones such as Tony Blair becoming the first

Prime Minister to celebrate Diwali in the British Parliament, underscoring shifts in political awareness and participation among Hindus, she said, “If you can imagine that in those days it wasn't like conservative and labour In those days, our concerns were primarily about settling down, ensuring our children received a good education, and addressing issues of racism It was a time when we wondered who would listen to our problems, which were significantly different from those faced by the previous generation ” Trupti highlights the community's entrepreneurial spirit and professional contributions She notes, "After Jeremy Corbyn's leadership brought division, I recall a conversation where one sister-in-law, now a business owner, joined the Conservative Party Over the past 14 years, our community, mainly businesspeople and professionals, has sought change amidst Labour's evolution ” Trupti advocates electoral reforms and emphasises our commitment to Dharma principles and engagement

with supportive local MPs, echoing sentiments across Hindu communities CEO of Sangat Advice Centre, Kanti Nagda MBE

reflected on the recent UK general election outcome, noting a historic low in seats secured by the Conservative Party, he said “Over the past two centuries, only five leaders have led the Tories, including five Prime Ministers in under a decade Take the example of Witney in Oxfordshire, a Conservative stronghold for 102 years by David Cameron until it was lost to Labour, reflecting a significant shift in voter sentiment with a 69% decline in Tory support, including a 48% drop in votes Voters perceived the Tories as incompetent, delivering poor results and marred by internal conflicts.”

Kanti expressed pride

in witnessing Rishi Sunak, a fellow of Indian origin, ascend to become the UK's first Prime Minister of Indian descent, amidst enduring racial prejudices Addressing criticisms of Sunak, he remarked, "Despite his personal warmth and kindness, Sunak faced significant challenges in his role as a political leader At 44, he unexpectedly called a snap election outside Number 10 in May, contending with adverse weather that soaked his script and raised questions about the adequacy of basic provisions This move garnered criticism within his party, highlighting concerns over his policy decisions and financial stewardship "

“Despite Sunak's announcement of milestones in reducing inflation and economic growth, issues persisted with his famous 5-point plan and a controversial proposal to ban smoking for younger generations His term was marked by scandal, including accepting donations from controversial figures and personal controversies over lifestyle and political appointments. His legacy will be debated, especially

given the challenges faced during his tenure, despite notable efforts like the furlough scheme during the Covid-19 pandemic,” he added

Subhash V Thakrar OBE, Vice President and Past Chairman, London Chamber of Commerce

emphasised the evolving role of Hindu organisations in political engagement, stating, "Our Hindu organisations must think ahead and strategize how to influence existing political parties It's no longer viable for us to remain apolitical; we need to engage intelligently without overtly supporting any single party Instead, we should focus on increasing civic participation "

Reflecting on the recent elections, he added, "Firstly, I extend my best wishes to the new government for their

success, which is crucial for all of us Personally, I have reservations about their prospects but sincerely hope they succeed It's concerning that only 60% of eligible voters turned out, leaving 40% unrepresented We must explore why this happened whether protest or apathy and Asian Voice could initiate this discussion Despite the Labour Party's headlines, their vote share was only slightly above 30%, meaning around 20% of eligible voters backed them This discrepancy, amplified by our firstpast-the-post system, highlights a substantial lack of true representation, despite claims of a landslide victory "

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

Trupti Patel

Kanti Nagda MBE

Subhash V Thakrar OBE

Express gratitude towards your parents

Parent’s Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday in July

The day is celebrated to honour both the parents i e the father and the mother

Parent’s Day is dedicated to parents all over the world and is an occasion to show appreciation for the commitment to strengthen the family bond and to create an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding It is the parents’ who frame their child’s/children’s personality according to their inherent strengths, talents and bequeath to them moral values and the spirit of living life wholly Parent’s Day acknowledges the overpowering presence of parents in the lives of children

Parents are the most important people in our lives

They are the gift of God on earth and nobody can take their place in life They bring us into this beautiful world, care for us with love and care and provide us with education so that we may grow up into responsible and level headed human beings If you feel grateful for having the best parents on earth and want to let them know your heartfelt feelings, then Parent’s Day is the perfect time for you to convey your emotions Writing a poem is a fantastic way to express your feelings to them

Parents are the strength and support system of their children They carry with them so many responsibilities, yet they never show it We must be thankful to have parents in our lives as not everyone is lucky to have them They are our pillars of love and support, who have sacrificed many things for our well-being They have taught us good from bad and have carried us through all problems Hence, their undivided devotion must be acknowledged, and Parents Day is the best day to celebrate it

We entered this world because of our parents and it is them who have given us life and we must learn to be pleased with it I am grateful to my parents for everything they do for me

Parents are the strength and support system of their children They carry with them so many responsibilities yet they never show it We must be thankful to have parents in our lives as not everyone is lucky to have them

Parents mean different things to different people To most of us, they are our source of happiness and protection They are the ones who are the closest to us and understand our needs without having to say them out loud Similarly, they love us unconditionally for who we are without any ifs and buts

No other joy can surpass the ecstatic feeling of making your parents smile with your loving care They put your dreams and aspirations ahead of your needs and wants

Jubel D'Cr uz

The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, resulting in the tragic death of an innocent bystander at a campaign rally, is a reminder of the urgent need to address gun violence in the United States

The shooter, a 20-year-old from a Pittsburgh suburb, managed to carry out this terrible act despite the presence of security forces This incident raises serious questions on the security measures of the US government

Gun violence is not a new issue in America We have witnessed countless mass shootings in schools and public places, leaving a trail of devastation and loss The common thread in these tragedies is the ease with which individuals, including minors, can obtain firearms It is high time for the US government to implement stricter regulations to prevent such occurrences in the future

The recent attempt on a high-profile figure like former President Trump underscores a chilling reality: if such an attack can happen to a public figure under heavy security, what does it say about the safety of ordinary citi z e n s ? T h e s e n s e o f s e

deserves is being worn by the continuous threat of gun violence

Tusha r Sura na

The dark reality of migrant exploitation

The recent news of the arrest of two Indian nationals in Italy for allegedly enslaving 33 Indian farm labourers in Verona is a dark reality faced by many migrants in search of a better life This tragic incident comes on the death of Sikh farm worker Satnam Singh, who was left to die after a workplace accident These events underscore the urgent need to address the exploitation and modern slavery that continues to plague migrant workers worldwide

The attraction of better economic prospects often drives individuals from developing countries to seek work abroad However, the reality they encounter can be far from the dream they envisioned Desperation and the hunt for a better life can lead them into the hands of unscrupulous employers who exploit their vulnerability for profit Even this has become a profession of many to trap migrants It is imperative that potential migrants are educated about the risks and realities of working abroad

Many Indians, lured by the promise of high earnings, end up in deplorable conditions, often without the legal protections they would have in their home country This pursuit of a better life can, unfortunately, lead to situations far worse than the hardships they intended to escape

Instead of risking their lives and dignity abroad, individuals should consider the opportunities available in t

resources, it is possible to lead a fulfilling and prosperous life at home It is high time for our society to acknowledge that "all that glitters is not gold " The recent tragedies should serve as a wake-up call to both the government and the public

P riyanka G andh i

Books bridging generational divides

Rakhi Singh's dedication to promoting Indian culture through children's literature, as highlighted in an issue of Asian Voice, is truly inspiring Her initiative will not only educate young readers about Indian festivals but also instill a sense of cultural pride and identity among the diaspora in the UK

After reading this article, I particularly admire her efforts to address the cultural disconnection experienced by many Indian families living abroad Having also spent a significant time in the UK, I resonate deeply with this sentiment

Reflecting on my own childhood in India, where festivals were celebrated with tremendous joy and enthusia

changes Today, our children grow up in a world vastly different from ours, often missing the simple joys and experiences we cherished Rakhi Singh's work will not only preserve our cultural heritage but also bridge the gap between generations and cultures

Ak ans ha Sha rma

There was a time when the Romans felt the sun would never set on their vast empire We can say the same about t

, Spanish Empire, French colonial empire, Abbasid Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Yuan dynasty, Xiongnu Empire, and the list does go on Did you know that the Roman empire only ranks, in terms of land mass controlled, 25th in the list of some of the largest empires of the past By now many of you are probably jumping out of your seats shouting, ‘what about the British Empire’? Well, I have not forgotten the British of course The British Empire at one time controlled some 26% of the world land mass, it ranked at number one Just think about it, a little island nation ofsome 3m people in the year 1500 began their quest to conquer and exploit the world And it all started during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1 Unlike other empires, the British empire was truly global

We have seen empires come and go They leave behind a legacy of death and destruction A legacy of exploitation A legacy of looting resources A legacy of genocide and ethnocide A history that has hitherto been hidden from their own descendants

We live in a world that has been created by power brokers The ‘cabal’ as they are better known in certaincircles Today the cabal encompasses every major global institution You name it, and you’ll find its controlled by an element of the so-called cabal The cabal nations and their power brokers have enjoyed unfettered control over the world since the end of World War 2 They carved up the world to suit their needs, and in a manner that made it easier for them to keep control,but their fingerprints remain hidden

India represents a nation that since 2014 has begun to challenge the historical global tectonic plates of power Under PM Modi, India the largest democracy in the world has found its destiny for the 21st century and beyond What we are witnessing in the world of geopolitics today are the ‘stress’ and ‘shear’ forces of change galvanised by India (China and Russia)shifting the epicentre of this power The earthquake that is about to hitwill not only shake the very foundations of thisimperial cabal, but it will also reduce many of them to being second class nations

Those with power and privilege will of course never willingly let go of it We can see how they have gathered to undermine India and PM Modi They will spend trillions of dollars to buy out Indians in India, and many of its institutions They will use every resource possible to give a particular negative narrative about India And use social media and global institutions of influence to counter the rise of India

Therefore, was I surprised when this week the USA and other NATO member states began to peddle an antiIndia narrative given PM Modi made a visit to Russia That hug by PM Modi with President Putin was just too much for the west They have lost control over Russia and of course China The only serious and significant counterweight to these two nations would be India And India is not playing ball!

Handy moves

The Indian "joined-palms" greeting, Namaste, is catching on among Brits and other nationalities Increasingly on television I see showbiz personalities, politicians and sports folk respectfully joining their palms, not so much to greet one another but to express their gratitude and thanks

Namaste gestures are spreading lust like that joyful move called "high fives" - first practised by victorious American basketball players and now executed to signal success of any kind by happy hand-raising people of all ages all over the world

Rudy Otter

Addressing Climate Change: An Integrated Approach to Individual, Community, and Global Action

Continued from page 3 A c

Energy Agency (IEA), achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 will require annual investment in clean energy to triple to around $4 trillion by 2030

Despite the challenges, there are

Countries like Sweden and Denmark have made significant strides in

reduction Sweden aims to reach net zero emissions by 2045, having already

reduced emissions by 25% since 1990

These examples highlight the feasibility of achieving Net Zero with concerted efforts and innovation Building Public C onsensu s and Global C ollaboration

Achieving Net Zero is not just a technical challenge but also a social one Building public consent and fostering global collaboration are crucial

that convey the urgency and benefits of Net Zero can help garner public sup-

port Transparent and inclusive policymaking can ensure that the voices of all stakeholders are heard and respected

important Climate change is a transboundary issue that requires coordinated efforts International agreements like the Paris Agreement aim to unify c

reduce emissions and share technologies and resources Strengthening these collaborations can accelerate progress toward a sustainable future

When India took the decision to be neutral on Ukraine, the first attacks started Always led by the USA and followed quickly by their puppet nations This latest visit by the three-time election winner PM Modito Russia has been a left hook of power play This is PM Modi telling western nations, if you dare to undermine India then it has and will reserve its sovereign right to decide what is best for the people of India The days of the Lutyen cabal in India, pandering to their western paymasters,is well and truly over India will not pander to Russia either, as exemplifiedby PM Modi giving President Putin his thoughts on the Ukraine war Russia has understood that it’s not in its interest to antagonise India That it is better to work within the limits of political flexibility allowing both parties room to safeguard national interest as well as promote national interest Under PM Modi the use of the Rupee as a currency for international trading has started It’s a small step, but a necessary one so that in time,India has options outside of the US controlled dollar The geopolitical tectonic plates are indeed moving And whilst these moves take place, chaos will reign until the white noise of hypocrisy and bigotry is checked by the new world order How this all plays out is still not so clear China is an enigma that needs to be resolved, and so far, neither the west, nor Russia nor India has managed to do that successfully

What is clear to me is that the future will be more about population size and how productivethey can be, as well as natural resources and who controls them The empire builders will not relinquish their control willingly, and for those who wish to see in a new era of global equity and enterprise, their fight has just started We are entering an age of multipolarity There is a difference between multipolarity and hypocrisy, and the west needs to understand the difference fast How the UK positions itself within this

becomes the dustbin of Europe

Kapil Dudakia

Assassination attempt on Trump

Making waves for autism awareness through swimming

Subhasini Naicker

Dreams are never small, especially for para swimmers whose determination knows no bounds They navigate challenges with resilience, striving for excellence and inspiring others Jiya Rai embodies this spirit Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at two, she discovered a passion for swimming during daily park visits

Despite being nonverbal, her parents coached her through videos, leading to a successful para swimming career with numerous accolades On July 21, Jiya will attempt to cross the English Channel, a 34 km journey from England to France as part of Autism awareness

Speaking to Asian Voice, Jiya’s father Madan Rai spoke about Jiya’s journey as a para swimmer, challenges she faced and much more Can you tell us about Jiya's journey into para swimming and how she discovered her passion for open water swimming?

JiyaRai, born on May 10, 2008, showed typical development until signs of autism emerged around her second birthday After a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), we embraced her condition At age two and a half, Jiya’s love for water led us to a nearby pool, where swimming became her daily joy Despite challenges integrating her into mainstream school due to autism awareness issues in India, Jiyaexcelled in swimming Winning medals in para swimming competitions, she shifted her focus to para swimming, where she continues to excel

In 2019, at just 10 years old, Jiya faced challenges entering the National Para Swimming Championship in Porbandar due to the minimum age requirement of 14 After persistent requests, she was allowed to compete and won the 5kilometre event, setting a national record By 2019, she had earned 42 medals in national and state para swimming championships, including three world records From December 17 to 29, 2022, Jiya swam 1100 km in a relay from Mumbai to Goa and back to Vasai Fort, becoming the youngest and only female participant On March 20, 2022, she swam across the Palk Strait from Talaimannar (Sri Lanka) to Dhanuskodi (India) in 13 hours and 10 minutes, setting a world record as the youngest and fastest female swimmer to achieve this feat Her efforts were recognised by Prime

Minister Narendra Modi on his radio show "Mann Ki Baat " Jiya was also honoured with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puruskar and other prestigious accolades

What challenges did Jiya face in her swimming career, especially considering her Autism spectrum disorder?

Jiya’s autism presents unique challenges, especially in competitive swimming For instance, during her first event at Porbandar sea, organisers hesitated due to her condition, delaying her entry Similarly, getting approval for her English Channel swim in September 2023 took months, as no autistic swimmer had participated before By raising autism awareness, we hope future athletes won't face these barriers Jiya’s journey demonstrates that with understanding and support, autistic individuals can achieve remarkable feats

Jiya struggles to understand verbal instructions, making it challenging for her to learn from coaches To address this, we started showing her YouTube videos from a young age to help her grasp swimming techniques and pacing Visual learning proved highly effective, enabling Jiya to better understand and apply what she saw, significantly enhancing her swimming skills

In everyday life, misconceptions about autism persist Initially, even neighbours excluded Jiya from events, inviting only her younger brother Now, after witnessing her achievements, they seek her presence, though we remain cautious of their previous bias As parents, we aim to spread the message that autism is not an illness but a characteristic, deserving of respect and inclusion

Jiya’s Palk Strait swim video garnered 10 million views on YouTube, proving that her actions speak volumes

Raising awareness about autism is crucial, and through Jiya’s successes, we hope to inspire a more inclusive world

What role has swimming played in Jiya's life, both in terms of physical health and personal development?

Before swimming entered her life, Jiya was often seen as just a "special child" by doctors Now, through her swimming, she has earned her identity as Jiya Rai, the swimmer She competes not just for medals and awards, but to raise autism awareness Her upcoming swim across the English Channel is dedicated to this cause

While autism awareness is higher in parts of Europe,

many parts of the world remain unaware, often seeing autism as a barrier Jiya's journey challenges this perception, proving that autism does not limit success She is set to make history as the first girl with Autism Spectrum Disorder to swim the Channel, overcoming both legal and technical barriers

Every aspect of Jiya's training involves physical and mental exercises We constantly remind her that earning respect comes from hard work and dedication Jiya's daily routine is rigorous: waking up at 4 AM, she spends 40-50 minutes preparing for her day before beginning her three and a half hours of physical training by 5 AM This is followed by her academic studies and school Every day, she dedicates six to seven hours to swimming and three to four hours to physical training As she grows, her training hours have increased

Mentally, we show her numerous swimming videos for inspiration, reinforcing the idea that winning leads to medals We've found creative ways to keep Jiya motivated Swimming, known as the best exercise, has significantly helped reduce her hyperactivity associated with autism Jiya's dedication and resilience are truly inspiring

Looking ahead, what are Jiya's future goals in swimming and advocacy, particularly related to Autism awareness?

Jiya’s goal is to swim the seven oceans and the Palk Strait again, aiming to become the first female para swimmer to complete the seven ocean challenge Jiya serves as an inspiration for millions of parents, demonstrating that children with autism should not be confined indoors Instead, parents should nurture their skills, helping them become independent and forge their own identities Today, I am known not as Madan Rai, but as Jiya Rai’s father My message to parents is to believe in yourself and your children, focus on their strengths, and you will achieve remarkable results

Sangita Jindal appointed to India Advisory Council

The British Asian Trust has appointed Sangit a Jind al, Chair person o f JSW Fou nd at io n, a p rominent Indian business leader and philanthropist, to its India Advisory Council She joins a d istinguished gr oup of Indian business leaders serving as advisory members of the Trust

Jindal emphasised the importance of India's journey towards becoming a $7 trillion economy by 2030, highlighting the need for equitable access to quality education, healthcare, skilling, and job opportunities, particularly for women and children She underscored the balance needed between developmental priorities and biodiversity conservation, noting the catalytic role of social financing in achieving these goals She expressed eagerness to contribute meaningfully in this direction

Founded in 2007 by His Majesty King Charles III and visionary British Asian business leaders, the British Asian Trust focuses on innovative solutions in education, livelihoods, mental health, child protection, and conservation, positively impacting 12 million lives across South Asia to date

Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive of the British Asian Trust, welcomed Sangita to the India Advisory Council, noting her advocacy for innovative financing and philanthropy, and her alignment with the Trust's mission on women and youth empowerment He highlighted her expertise and contributions to India's social development, foreseeing substantial strengthening and scaling of Trust initiatives Under Jindal's leadership, JSW Foundation has significantly influenced India's social and cultural landscape, fostering comprehensive community change nationwide Previously, JSW Foundation collaborated with the

British Asian Trust on India’s first and largest impact bond, focusing on women's workforce participation through the Skill Impact Bond

Bharath Visweswariah, Executive Director – India at the British Asian Trust, expressed honor in having Sangita join the India Advisory Council He praised her steadfast support for innovative approaches to women's empowerment, exemplified by her backing of the Skill Impact Bond He emphasised Jindal's insights and experience as invaluable for scaling Trust initiatives in education, livelihoods, and gender empowerment towards fostering a developed India

Jiya Rai

Sangita Jindal

This proportion of people has risen in recent years, and notably so has their representation in political and public positions A record number of 90 ethnic minority MPs have been elected to sit in the UK’s most diverse parliament ever While the proportional representation of people from minority ethnic backgrounds in politics is lower as a whole, this particular historic advance is a step in the right direction and means that the new parliament comes closer than ever to reflecting the diversity of the electorate - with 13 8% of MPs coming from an ethnic minority background

The unique characteristics of UK's various minority ethnic groups, such as migration histories, settlement patterns, and demographic structures, make understanding their diverse outcomes particularly challenging Different factors may hold varying levels of significance for each group, and grasping the importance of these different drivers is essential for evaluating how various policies can either widen or reduce ethnic inequalities South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) does just that

The month-long celebration, which first took place in 2020, aims to commemorate, recognise, and celebrate South Asian cultures, histories, and communities It seeks to understand the diverse heritage and cultures that continue to connect the UK with South Asia This year, the theme is “Free to Be Me,” a great extension of previous year ’ s theme of “Stories to Tell” Wh y celebrating identity is i mp ortant

Jasvir S ingh CBE is a family law barrister and th e co -founder o f SAHM and for him, “Free to Be

Me” means discussing individual identities without reducing to labels, stereotypes, or tokenistic representations Explaining his perspective of identity better, he said, “I identify as Sikh, Punjabi, English; I wear a turban, I'm gay, and married to my husband I enjoy Bhangra, Bollywood, pop, and rock music all of these aspects define me, but none of them defines me entirely

“It's about celebrating our complete selves without shame or the need to hide any part of our identity It's also about acknowledging that not everyone feels equally free to express themselves openly Our goal is to embrace all these facets and allow people to express themselves as they wish, or to explain why they might not feel able to do so yet ” Jasvir underscored the importance of the celebrating

“ F R E E T O B E M E ”

heritage and acknowledging the rich diversity among South Asians as many aren't even aware of the richness, diversity, or uniqueness of the various cultures within the broader South Asian community “We are not a monolith; we are a multitude of people under the heading of South Asia, each with unique stories to tell”, he said Expanding on the significance of celebrating cultural identity, particularly as second and thirdgeneration immigrants navigate integrating into British identity while preserving their own, he said, “There may be individuals who feel somewhat embarrassed about being South Asian because they don't know much about their cultural heritage They might also feel the need to fit into mainstream society by downplaying what makes them different

This rings very true for Binita Kane, Consultant Resp iratory Ph ysician and co -founder o f

SAHM, who describes herself as someone who 'always wanted to fit in and not be different', being a South Asian woman who was born and brought up in a predominantly white Welsh community “It has taken many years to acknowledge and fully celebrate my own heritage and dual identity Growing up as the daughter of a Partition survivor I have witnessed the resilience and strength within my parent's generation and the sacrifices that took place to pave the way for me to live my life today

“Too often our stories in their entirety are not explored, understood or celebrated It was through understanding my own past that I have truly felt 'free to be me' in today's society Now I want to help others do the same through initiatives like South Asian Heritage Month which are hopefully triggering the right conversations ”

For her, the celebration and the theme are more important than ever, in the current climate marked by increased racial disparities and intolerance, providing a platform for stories that are often overlooked, hopefully enhancing the understanding and appreciation of the diverse fabric of British society “By understanding our history we can start to acknowledge and address the root causes of contemporary racism and inequality We can not only honour our past but also inspire the younger generation to stand up for their rights and identity in modern day Britain”, she said

“This month is an opportunity to say, regardless of where you are, where you live, or who you are, whether you're South Asian

or not, this is a chance to experience and embrace South Asian identity It aims to be as welcoming as possible, providing a sense of inclusivity rather than exclusivity”, added Jasveer

On the added p ressures of being a S outh Asian wo man

Women are a minority within the minority and South Asian women especially, have a lot less autonomy as compared to their white counterparts South Asian women can often feel more confined, there is immense pressure and judgment surrounding how they live their lives and constant judgement for their decisions, whether it's choosing an unconventional career, deciding to be childfree, or not acing the balancing act of various roles This is obviously not true for everyone, but this is a reality of life for many of them

According to Banita, for South Asian women to truly feel free to be themselves, societal attitudes and systemic structures need to evolve “For this to happen we need to challenge ingrained biases and stereotypes that dictate what is or isn't acceptable roles and behaviours for women

“Education is paramount; understanding our history, confronting the legacies of colonialism and institutional racism are key, as well as tackling cultural stigma and taboos which are often deeply ingrained We are standing on the shoulders of the South Asian female pioneers before us, looking up to and learning from the role models before us Things are slowly progressing, but we have a long way to go - having these conversations is incredibly important ”

Anu Vaidyanath an is a South

Asian immigrant who keeps venturing into new things, exploring what the world has to offer Racism, sexism or anything else, she has seen it all She is a filmmaker, comedian, and engi neer In 2009, she made history as the first Indi an triathlete, male or female, to co mp lete an Ironman T riathlon In the same year, she also became the first Asian triath lete to finish an Ultraman race

For Anu, “Free to Be Me”, means acknowledging and embracing who you truly are and recognising the joy that even simple things bring “If you're someone who cherishes the company of your kids or your family, don't feel pressured to prioritise progress at any cost These are parts of ourselves that sometimes get overlooked

Acknowledging the importance of breathing, space, and rest to our humanity isn't just about moving

from one point to another”, she said

Having grown up navigating the South Asian culture herself, she has seen women being told to manage it all “Our culture certainly has its ingrained principles, and they've been my guiding principles too In our densely populated culture, where everyone has opinions, it's common to encounter unkindness It's about putting their behaviour in perspective and moving on ”

She also feels that the portrayal of women being culturally oppressed isn't entirely accurate It's a nuanced issue with both positives and negatives “While there is judgement, there are also women supporting women For instance, there's immense value in having someone like my mom to call for advice on parenting challenges It s important to see things from both sides rather than painting them in a simplistic way for the sake of a good narrative We live in this world beyond the movie theatre, and it's about finding redeeming qualities even in what may seem limiting ”

“Navigating my culture involves accepting who I am and what I want, seeking help when needed, and not letting negativity derail me ”

The positive side of “ women supporting women ” that Anu mentions is exemplified in the extraordinary journey, following the awe inspiring adventure of a group of South Asian trailblazing amateur female climbers, documented in ‘Mother Kili’ The documentary showcases the climbers' journey, shedding light on their personal struggles, triumphs, and the cultural significance of their achievement, redefining what it means to be a South Asian woman (Anu talks more about her heritage, identity and debut production Refer to page 14 ) Need for conversatio n abou t rep resentation in sports

Sport has historically served as a catalyst for community cohesion, transcending racial, linguistic, and socioeconomic divides However, a concerning study commissioned by the UK's leading basketball club, The London Lions, in late 2023, revealed that 59% of individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds feel their identity as both minority and British is inadequately represented across the breadth of UK sports

The study further highlighted that six out of ten ethnic minority Britons do not perceive themselves as fully represented in UK sports, with a third citing racism as a barrier preventing their active participation or support in sporting activities

Aa tish Sh arma , CEO at South all FC, feels that there is a need to invest in the community to combat this “As a society, it is imperative that we continue to engage in discussions and implement strategies aimed at promoting equality, ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity in life

“By doing so, we can effectively combat the stereotypical views that the

South Asian community currently contends with Investing in the community is not just beneficial for its members but also contributes to the overall well-being and prosperity of society at large ” (Aatish discusses much more about sports and representation in conversation with the newsweekly Refer to page 13 )

Cultu ral repre se nt ati on is at the h ear t of it all

Th e S AHM 20 24 will or ganise var ious workshops, film screenings, quizzes, panel discussions, community lunches, etc to explore the various cultures and their nuances Pra sh ant Ku nwar, an active

British Nepalese working to promote UK-Nepal relationship and the Nepalese lead at SAHM shared more about his culture and celebrating the Nepalese culture in this one month He said, “Nepali community in the UK is relatively young compared to communities like Bangladeshi or Pakistani However, our connection with the United Kingdom spans a long history dating back more than 200 years Since 1815, the Gurkhas have been an integral part of the Crown, serving the United Kingdom with great dedication This heritage is something we wish to celebrate

“This month provides an opportunity to showcase Nepalese culture, food, and community, which are vibrant and integral parts of the broader South Asian community We aim to share our stories, culture, and festivals with others, fostering integration into British society ” Similarly, other communities will aim to shed a light on the nuances of their culture as well

The Bhavans, on their part, will continue their 50 year legacy to celebrate Indian arts to commemorate the month With music, dance, art and exhibitions, the outfit will highlight its commitment to preserving British South Asian heritage, enriching our community, and passing it on to the younger generation

Jasvir Singh CBE

Binita Kane

Anu Vaidyanathan

Aatish Sharma

Prashant Kunwar

Empowering LGBTQ+ and South Asian communities

Subhasini Naicker

La ks Man MB E is a founder

o f G a y s ia n s , t r us t e e a n d

L G B T

A sian H er ita ge Mont h h as

e nsure d South Asian queer

n

B ir thday Honours List 2024 with a Memb er of t he Order of the British Empir e (MBE)

H e a l so w on L G B TQ +

T

B ritish LGBT awards

In an interview with Asian Voice, Laks spoke about the message his MBE sends to the communities he serves, challenges faced by LGBTQ+ community and much more

1What message do you hope your MBE sends to the communities you serve, particularly the LGBTQ+ and South Asian communities?

For me, the message I hope to convey is the importance of being your authentic self This is something I’ve worked on for many years, ensuring it's safe for me to be authentically me

That means embracing my identity as a South Asian and as a queer individual in all aspects of my life at work, in my private life, with my parents, family, friends, and during my volunteering activities The message is that there is space for you to be yourself, just as I have been Living at the joyous intersection of being South Asian or Desi and being queer is a powerful experience

My work has helped increase awareness and acceptance, showing that within South Asian communities, there are people who are both South Asian and LGBTQ+ This recognition has shifted perceptions within both South Asian and wider LGBTQ+ communities, acknowledging the presence and contributions of queer South Asians who have long been overlooked

2What challenges do LGBTQ+ individuals from South Asian backgrounds face?

I founded Gaysians in 2013, creating a network and collective of charities, organisations, and community groups to challenge tired stereotypes and negative portrayals of South Asian LGBTQ+ communities often seen in media whether on TV, radio, magazines, or print These representations rarely capture the true diversity of our lives

Many struggle to express their true selves due to safety concerns, with phobias like biphobia, transphobia, and queerphobia often posing threats even within their own homes This can lead to verbal, physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, turning the supposed sanctuary of home into a place of significant

risk for LGBTQ+ individuals

That's why we create community spaces and safe havens where people can be themselves, live authentically, and feel secure Despite these efforts, we still need to work towards greater awareness and acceptance, showing that being LGBTQ+ is natural and that we are born this way Particularly within South Asian communities, it's crucial to recognise that queerness has always been part of our history South Asian culture has historically embraced queerness within its religions, deities, and temples, depicting diverse sexualities and gender identities Religious figures have often taken on different forms or returned in various forms, intertwining queerness with South Asian history from the beginning It is vital for South Asian and South Asian diaspora communities in the UK to decolonise their minds British colonialism exported homophobic Victorian-era laws that criminalise homosexuality and were used to oppress LGBTQ+ communities These challenges are largely self-created, as our rich history includes a tapestry of queerness interwoven with Indian society

3How does South Asian Heritage Month contribute to fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of South Asian contributions to British society?

South Asian Heritage Month, now in its 5th year, has rapidly become the UK’s fastest-growing cultural arts and heritage platform, and for good reason This year's theme, "Free to Be Me," was chosen by public vote For the first time, we are introducing Focus Fridays, each dedicated to amplifying different aspects of our community

South Asians are the largest minority community in the UK, with a long history of migration spanning multiple generations and regions We also have a centuries-old presence in the UK, arriving directly from the subcontinent or through Commonwealth countries like Southern and East Africa, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Fiji, and the Caribbean Discover more on the South Asian Heritage Month website

Our mission at South Asian Heritage Month

(SAHM) is to celebrate, commemorate, and educate These pillars raise awareness of South Asian contributions and make our heritage accessible, addressing gaps in understanding due to language barriers or lack of exposure, even among South Asians not raised within our communities

SAHM's growth has profoundly impacted British society, engaging community organisations, councils, and international corporations, while amplifying authentic South Asian narratives and fostering longoverdue recognition of our heritage

It's important to recognise the British Asian experience's uniqueness This is vital for those with South Asian heritage, whether they have South Asian parents or grandparents, were adopted or fostered into South Asian families, or were adopted out into other cultures and communities Moreover, South Asian Heritage Month is inclusive, inviting participation from everyone, regardless of their heritage

4What

are your future plans and goals in your various roles, and how do you plan to continue making an impact?

At the moment, I'm in a period of reflection and taking stock of my journey I ve been volunteering for 25 years and working in the inclusion space for about a decade Ten years ago, while on holiday in San Francisco, I was deeply inspired by the city's public street art and murals They showcased the intersections of marginalised communities, including queer individuals, people of colour, indigenous communities, working-class communities, trans people, homeless individuals, and sex workers The rich history of activism and the ongoing fight for these communities moved me profoundly I felt galvanised, thinking, "When I return to the UK, I m going to make a difference

From that inspiration, Gaysians was born, driven by my desire to impact South Asian, queer, and workingclass communities Ten years later, having received numerous awards, I reflect on my journey I now focus on empowering the next generation of activists and community organisers, mentoring new leaders to ensure our work continues to grow and make a lasting impact

For South Asian Heritage Month, I've organised a groundbreaking event titled "Desi Lesbians: The Pioneering Women " In collaboration with Queer Britain, South Asian Heritage Month, and DIVA, this event on August 4th will highlight the intersectional stories of pioneering South Asian lesbian women in the UK

Rising presence of South Asians in sports

In recent years, the landscape of sports h as seen a no table rise in particip ati o n and re p res e nta ti o n from the S outh Asian community, m arking a significant shift in th e industry

As more athletes of South Asian descent step onto fields, courts, and arenas around the globe, they not only showcase their skills but also challenge longstanding stereotypes and barriers This surge in participation signifies a growing commitment among the younger generation to pursue careers in sports seriously, both as players and as contributors to the broader sports ecosystem While there remains much ground to cover in terms of inclusivity and opportunities, the emergence of these athletes represents a promising milestone in diversifying and enriching the world of sports

Speaking to Asian Voice, Aatish Sharma, CEO of Southall FC about initiatives has Southall FC undertaken to promote inclusivity and diversity, participation of South Asian in professional sports and more

1Can you tell us about your journey to becoming CEO of Southall FC and your personal connection to sports?

Sports have always been a major part of my life growing up I was fortunate enough to have been brought up in a family that valued the importance of individual and collective sports My journey within the club started off as an Under 18s player, whilst my father simultaneously began to work within the club before taking over in 2017/2018 As we know the Covid pandemic led all sports being put on pause It was during this time we developed a plan to progress the club through the leagues and grow commercially The end of the Covid pandemic marked the beginning of my dedication in the Southall FC project

2South

Asian communities are often underrepresented in mainstream UK sports What initiatives has Southall FC undertaken to promote inclusivity and diversity?

Southall FC represents one of the most diverse communities in the UK In the 2023/2024 season, we launched the first phase of our long term community plan This saw the increase in community days; a mixture of public appearance events and community coaching days In addition, for the first time ever a complete player pathway

was structured in Southall thanks to our partnership with the ENG Southall Academy This saw boys and girls being able to participate from age 6 to adult football It’s been a successful year and with time this will continue to grow

3What key barriers or challenges historically hindered greater South Asian participation in professional sports, and how do cultural factors influence and potentially benefit South Asian involvement in sports today?

Historically, South Asian participation in sports has presented some challenges, and these challenges still exist These include, a mentality shift to encourage the next generation to participate in sports, access to facilities to meet demand, and a desire from South Asians to make sports a viable career path There is no hiding, racism still does exist Whether it is direct or indirect racism we have to overcome the stereotypes we face as a community, together I too have experienced racism in different environments from a young age, but I viewed it as fuel to an internal fire of wanting to improve as an individual and put my effort into making sure there are opportunities for all

During my tenure at Southall FC and throughout my experience in the sports industry, I ve witnessed a notable rise in participation from the South Asian community, especially in organised sports While there's still much progress to be made, it's clear that we're witnessing the emergence of a pioneering generation of South Asian athletes who are approaching careers in sports with dedication, both on and off the field

4Are there specific sports or areas within sports where you believe South Asian athletes have made significant strides or contributions?

The South Asian community does still need a push and support within sports, however without accessible facilities in areas such as Southall the challenge is exponentially

more difficult Over the past 7 years, we at Southall FC have made a strong and vocal push for more facilities in Southall, including a a mixture of grass of artificial football pitches, cricket pitches, a gym, a health and wellbeing centre, padel tennis, and a stadium to showcase the talent of the area At Southall FC we have developed an action plan for Women’s sports which we aim to deliver in the near future Furthermore, with the correct facilities I believe the provision for disability sports can adequately be delivered Sports is meant for all, it does not discriminate but it does bring people from all walks of life together, exemplified most recently by the Euro Championships and the T20 Cricket World Cup

5What strategies or programmes do you think are most effective in encouraging young South Asians to pursue careers in sports?

A difficulty I have found in my role over the last few years has been the difficulty in facilitating any initiatives and programmes put forward to encourage South Asian participation After taking on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (COP) Ambassador for the FA, I realised this is a view shared by many in other areas of the city and country I strongly encourage parents to register their children with grassroots clubs and community organisations that promote the good values, morals and principles we can find in sport

That being said, I envision a continued growing involvement from the South Asian community in all aspects of sports Naturally, we are beginning to see generation changes in the community and cultural differences towards sports slowly fading To deliver the desired impact, it is a joint effort between clubs/organisations, the local authorities and the public Without a strong relationship and commitment between all stakeholders, the potential for change becomes difficult

Laks Mann MBE

Aatish Sharma

Anu Vaidyanathan: Bridging cultures through comedy and courage

Anusha

Singh

A nu V aid yanath an is a filmm aker, comedian, and engineer In 2009, she m ad e history as the first Indian triath lete, male or female, to complete an Ironman Triathlon In the same year, she also became th e first Asian triath lete to finish an U ltraman race

She is now set to perform her debut theatre show, "Menagerie," recounting the journey of a South Indian immigrant who has navigated loss of direction and language, ultimately realizing the importance of seeking assistance "Menagerie" delves into modern motherhood, the immigrant experience, and her life as a South Indian married to a North Indian her polar opposite in physique, temperament, and wisdom

In an interview with Asian Voice, she discusses her cultural heritage, storytelling and finding the balance

Could you share a bit about your upbringing and personal experience as a South Asian immigrant and how it has influenced your work?

I have been living away from home since I was 16, and I embraced this independence with the resources I had at the time The comforts of living with your parents don't accompany you when you are on your own and must rely on yourself

Although I have been fortunate in many ways, such as pursuing education and sports, I now see things from a broader perspective This experience has helped me recognize the challenges and growth that come with stepping outside the home

While we do lose the privileges we take for granted, the good news is that this loss helps you discover your own potential, true desires, and the freedoms you seek I come from a household that has always encouraged independence; my parents never subscribed to stereotypes like those seen in "Bend It Like Beckham " They consistently told me to pursue what I wanted and to be the woman I aspired to be, emphasizing that I am equal to my brother

This approach to parenting was significant, rooted in a generous spirit, and it enabled me to truly discover my own path

My parents only ever emphasized the

importance of working very hard at whatever you do Nothing comes easy, and there is no sense of entitlement We were always reminded to understand our roots, and never had anything handed to us, even the privileges we did enjoy My parents never treated us as their favourite children or made us feel the world revolved around us There was high accountability but without control I never faced any limitations other than financial or access-related ones, as we didn't come from the wealthiest of neighbourhoods The freedom I had, allowed me to cultivate my interests independently, without constant external influence This autonomy was invaluable, helping me find my own direction and orientation

How has your heritage and culture influenced your approach towards storytelling and comedy?

I'm very grateful to whatever greater powers that I entered the Arts field as a fully formed adult When you lack a centre stage, especially as an immigrant without a foothold, you're often the diverse voice, the brown person in the room, the candidate there to make others feel better about themselves

Without these advantages, you can become an apologist, accepting limited narratives and dramaturgy However, I have no such issues, thanks to my family My grandmother, though illiterate, used to write songs She instilled in us a sense of discovery and play that cannot be formally taught in school The same goes for my sport I was an autodidact, with no one telling me what to do initially Eventually, I had a great coach who helped me think about how to structure my training, but that wasn't my starting point My culture and heritage deeply inform me, grounding me in who I want to be, I may not live in the country or home where I was raised, but I know where I want to go and who I don't want to become

In developing your show, how do you craft the storyline? How challenging is it to present something personal, drawing from your heritage and experiences?

I believe all my writing is deeply personal I don't limit myself to this world; I explore realms far beyond it in my pieces As

fiction writers, we have the expansive stage of our minds to draw upon Good writing, for me, stems not only from lived experiences but also from the realms my imagination can traverse where my heart envisions how things could or should be

The most challenging aspect, I find, is addressing taboo subjects As a mother, there's a pervasive expectation to always have everything under control Any display of vulnerability often invites criticism and judgment What I ve come to realize, especially through my journey into the arts, is that my values are uniquely mine It's been a profound discovery that amidst societal pressures, staying true to these values is paramount, even when faced with ethical and unkind behaviours around me I think about my grandmother, who couldn't read or write but wrote songs, and that sense of magic stays with me

Given all the diverse roles you juggle, how do you manage to balance these responsibilities alongside motherhood?

Actually, I don't manage balance very well, I'm quite unbalanced I believe it's essential to acknowledge your truth every day to make progress Throughout my various pursuits, I've always focused on one thing at a time

Multitasking, in my opinion, is another illusion we're sold, especially as women

We're often told we can do everything, but in reality, it's not feasible When I'm cooking dinner, I need to focus on that When my kids are upset, I need to focus on comforting them When I'm writing, I need to give my full attention to that task

The answer lies in understanding why and how How we approach things is crucial because we can't pursue everything I always strive to discern what's important each day This approach helps me stay grounded and true to myself amidst life's demands

Celebrating diversity and individuality as South Asian Heritage Month launched

Sout h Asian Herita ge Month commenced its an nua l celebr ation at the University of

Culture Forward

The event received overwhelming support, filling the room with representatives from various organisations such as Boots, Jaguar/Land Rover, Barclays, and AVIVA, alongside individuals from different NHS Trusts The event showcased the dynamic movements of the University of Birmingham Bhangra group, contrasted with the interpretive storytelling of SAMPAD's Hindu classical dancers, highlighting the unique characteristics, aesthetics, and expressive styles of these two distinct cultural communities

Dr Shahmima Akhtar, Assistant Professor of Black and Asian British History, shared reflections on their educational and career journey, as well as their research into anti-racist resistance within British Bangladeshi

communities in the late 20th century, focusing on Birmingham They concluded with the empowering words, "Do feel free to be yourself, as who knows where it will lead?"

Dr Manu Sehgal, Lecturer in South Asian History, emphasised the historian's engagement with both the living and past generations He encouraged the audience to visit archives and speak to archivists, noting that such interactions provide the most satisfacto-

ry engagement for historians

The panellists' speeches and their responses to audience questions about what "Free to be Me" means to them were insightful and powerful Many attendees found their perspectives relatable and thought-provoking, sparking interesting conversations

Overall, the launch event was an exciting and empowering start to this year ’ s South Asian Heritage Month

Belfast to host first Asian Women's Conference

Belfas t wi ll host th

of

Heri tage Mon th

Organised by the Belfast Asian Women's Academy (BAWA), this initiative aims to honour and celebrate the rich history and cultural diversity of South Asia The official kick-off took place at Parliament Buildings at Stormont, sponsored by Sinn Fein MLA for South Belfast, Deirdre Hargey, and attended by Junior Ministers Aisling Reilly and Pam Cameron

This conference will serve as a platform to amplify the voices and stories of South Asian women living in and contributing to Northern Ireland

Ana Chandran, representing BAWA, highlighted the significance of reclaiming identities and sharing narratives through the SAHM platform She added, The conference will not only raise awareness of the unique experiences of South Asian women but also foster net-

working opportunities and mutual learning Join us at the Asian Women's Conference to delve into the diverse narratives, experiences, and achievements of South Asian women in Northern Ireland and be part of a transformative and enlightening event "

Newham celebrates SAHM with diverse events

N ewham is s et to celebrate South Asian Heritage Mo nth with a divers e and dynamic p rogram me u nder th e th eme Free to be Me

Residents will have a variety of activities, including spoken word performances, music, art exhibitions, storytelling, film screenings, and more These events are designed to be both entertaining and educational, offering a unique opportunity to learn about the rich British South Asian heritage while enjoying the festivities

The programme kicks off with 'Chai Chronicles: Exploring the History of South Asian Tea and concludes with 'Desi Daydreams: A Throwback to the 1980s South Asian Rave Scene' at Old Town Hall Stratford Mohamed Hammoudan, Assistant Director for Resident Engagement and Participation, expressed his enthusiasm: "We are proud to offer a diverse range of exceptional events that shine a light on the rich history and vibrant diversity of South Asian people in our borough Through our close collaboration with local artists, venues, and businesses, as well as the active participation of our residents, we've witnessed the profoundly positive impact these celebrations have had on our community throughout the years We invite everyone to join us in being part of these events as we come together to showcase stories of South Asian Heritage "

Anu Vaidyanathan

Jasvir Singh CBE introducing this year’s theme Free to be Me’

A S T A R - S T U D D E D A F F A I R

Th e Wimble do n 2024

fina ls wer e a sta rst udd ed a ff air, with cele br ities a nd r oya lty fro m a cr oss the gl obe witnessing Carlo s Al ca ra z's v ictor y ove r Nova k Djokovic

Alcaraz defeated Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 to claim the championship title, marking the 21year-old Spaniard’s second consecutive Wimbledon championship and fourth Grand Slam title overall

The event saw an array of public figures in attendance, including the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, who received a standing ovation in her second public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis, along with Tom Cruise and Zendaya Numerous

Bollywood stars and Indian sports icons also graced the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament, some even forgoing the Ambani reception one of the biggest cultural events this year to attend the high-paced final Here’s a list of the Indian celebrities who attended Wimbledon 2024

Wimbled on 2024 : Indian Cele br ities in Atte nd ance

1 Pa rine et i Ch opra a nd Ragh av Cha dh a

Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha, who tied the knot in September last year, were present at the Alcaraz vs Djokovic finals Parineeti, last seen in Amar Singh Chamkila opposite Diljit Dosanjh, wore a white day dress and coat, while her politician husband Raghav donned a white shirt with a brown blazer and red tie

2 Sona m Ka poo r a nd

their fashion statements, attended the Wimbledon women ’ s finals between Czech Republic's B Krejčíkova and Italy's J Paolini The couple, who became parents in August 2022, looked stylish, with Sonam wearing a chic Bottega Veneta outfit a striped double-layered skirt and matching cotton top worth Rs 3 18 lakh

3 S id har th Malh otra a nd Kiara Ad vani

Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani were spotted at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding over the weekend but had traveled to London earlier in the week for the Wimbledon 2024 quarter-finals Advani wore a powder blue suit, while Malhotra sported a light-blue striped shirt, jeans, and blazer

4 Ro hit Sh arma

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma, enjoying a break after India’s victory at the T20 World Cup finals, attended the Wimbledon semi-finals He was seen in an olive suit with a tan brown tie and leather shoes, demonstrating his stylish side while still staying close to the sports scene

5 S achin Tendu lkar and Anjali Te ndulkar

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar attended the tournament in a threepiece Ralph Lauren suit, accompanied by his wife Anjali, who wore a bright floral co-ord set Sachin received a standing ovation as he stepped onto Centre Court inside the Royal Box, honouring his esteemed presence

6 Dine sh Karth ik

Former Indian wicketkeeper and batter, and current commentator, Dinesh Karthik, who retired from all forms of cricket after this year ’ s Indian Premier League (IPL), attended Wimbledon with his wife Dipika Pallikal Dipika, an ace squash player with gold medals at the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games, accompanied him to the event, adding to the glittering array of sports

stars present

7 Anous hka Sh anka r

The BritishAmerican sitar player and musician of Indian descent, also attended the Wimbledon finals She shared her photos on Instagram and wrote, “Without a doubt, tennis champions are some of the most inspiring humans on the planet Congratulations @carlitosalcarazz ! What joy to watch a Wimbledon final again! Happy birthday @manudelagomusic my dear friend Thank you @rolex for being the most gracious and wonderful hosts as always And My god, how is Naomi this beautiful?!”

UK universities struggle to recruit international students

UK universities are gra ppl in g wit h seve re finan cial chall enges as re cen t figures from t he H ome O ffice r ev e a l a sharp decline in inter nationa l st uden t a ppli ca tion s for the upcoming academic y ear

Applications for sponsored study visas have plummeted by 28%, indicating that previous governmentimposed visa restrictions continue to hinder recruitment efforts In June 2024, the Home Office received 28,200 applications, down from 38,900 in June 2023

Most student visa applications typically surge dur-

ing the summer months, leaving universities hopeful for an improvement by September However, recent data shared with the Guardian suggests ongoing difficulties for the sector

According to Enroly, a service that manages university enrolments for international students, data from 31 UK universities shows a significant decline with deposits and acceptances from international students having dropped by 41% through the end of July The decline is notably steep in postgraduate taught master’s

programs, down by 55% compared to 2023, with undergraduate numbers also decreasing by 23%

Since January, international students pursuing taught postgraduate or undergraduate degrees have been unable to bring family members or dependents on a student visa

Given that many universities heavily rely on income from international tuition fees and face a freeze on tuition fees for UK students in England, experts are warning of significant challenges ahead for the sector

Trainee left unsupervised, tribunal hears

A trainee solicitor wh o was t er mi n at ed a f te r ra i s i ng co ncerns about inadequ ate su pervisio n and poo r client s e rv ic e at Lo n do n f i rm Gillen D e Alwi s S olici to rs h as been awarded £36,362 in damages

Ms R Kaur, employed by the now-administered Mayfair practice from July 2021, was summarily dismissed nine months later The employment tribunal ruled that her internal disclosures regarding breaches of the SRA code, which she believed were harming clients, were in the public interest and a significant factor in her unfair dis-

missal

Judge LeonardJohnston criticised the firm for failing to fulfil the core purpose of Ms Kaur's training contract, citing insufficient supervision and a lack of proper training The tribunal also found evidence of bullying and harassment by Ms De Alwis, including unfair criticism, belittling language, and unwarranted changes in departmental assignments

Despite Ms Kaur's efforts to address disorganisation and mistreatment through internal channels and a formal grievance, the tribunal noted that her con-

cerns were ignored Her dismissal, purportedly for contractual breaches and misconduct, was deemed unjustifiable by the tribunal, which attributed it more likely to her whistleblowing activities than to her performance

In addition to compensation for unfair dismissal and breach of contract, the damages include a 25% increase for breaches of disciplinary and grievance procedure guidelines They also cover costs for counselling and acupuncture, reflecting the impact on Ms Kaur's mental health due to the ordeal

Ana nd Ahu ja

Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja, known for

Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha

Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja

Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani

Rohit Sharma

Sachin Tendulkar and Anjali Tendulkar

Dinesh Karthik

Anoushka Shankar

‘

B E T H E C H A N G E ’: A S I A N V O I C E

A N D R A F E L E V A T E

C L I M A T E D I S C O U R S E

On Friday, July 12, Asian Voice partnered with the Royal Air Force to hold the third edition of ‘Be The Change panel discussion on Climate Change at the Peers’ Dining Room, House of Lords

The event was hosted by Lord Raj Loomba CBE, Founder and Chairman Trustee, The Loomba Foundation Lord Loomba emphasised the disproportionate impact of climate change on the poor and marginalised in society and stressed the urgent need for global commitment to finding lasting solutions to reduce rising temperatures and mitigate climate change

Group Captain Gareth Taylor RAF shared his commitment to climate conservation and highlighted the RAF’s substantial strides in sustainability and addressing climate impacts. He remarked, “This event will explore why climate change is pivotal to our nation's and our organisation's efforts to foster a peaceful environment where we can thrive The Royal Air Force acknowledges its responsibility towards sustainability and remains committed to mitigate climate change.”

Expert take on the most pressing climate challenges

The panel discussion was moderated by Alpesh Patel OBE, a Visiting Fellow at Oxford University, CEO, and international best-selling Financial Times Author, renowned for his expertise in investing and entrepreneurship

Joining him were distinguished panellists Prof Siddartha Khastgir, Head of Safe Autonomy at WMG, University of Warwick; Mallika Basu, writer, commentator, and board advisor in food, drink, and hospitality, and Ketan Dattani, a multiaward-winning environmental entrepreneur with over 25 years of talent acquisition and consultancy experience in environmental sustainability

Mallika emphasised the significant role of our food system, which accounts for about 30% of greenhouse gas emissions She advocated for fixing this system starting with healthy, sustainable diets

According to her one of the simplest points one can start from is transitioning away from meat However, she did note the complexity of the transition due to the challenge of finding alternative vegetable proteins

Ketan added that while reducing meat consumption is important, it's equally critical to source meat organically Prof Khastgir highlighted the false misinformation surrounding the scale of the climate crisis, stressing the need for a comprehensive approach that considers energy production, consumption patterns, and

even the lifecycle of products

The panellists underscored the importance of global collaboration, effective policy implementation, and responsible resource management in addressing climate change Prof Khastgir highlighted that organisations and media must help shape public perception with accurate information, emphasising the "why" behind actions rather than just the "what " Mallika noted that effective communication is pivotal, acknowledging the daunting nature of climate crisis that often discourages

meaningful discussion She said, “While we pressure individuals and businesses to change, we often fail to provide the necessary support, funding, and investment to help them make these changes successfully ” Echoing Mallika's and Prof Khastgir's thoughts, Ketan highlighted that while individual actions are crucial, collective efforts across all sectors are necessary for meaningful environmental impact He emphasised the importance of clarity in understanding how today s actions will shape the future and the environment as a whole

Lord and Lady Loomba CB Patel, Editor-in-Chief and Chairman, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, Members of the Royal Air Force and the panellists

CB Patel, Editor-in-Chief and Chairman, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar delivering the vote of thanks

Lord Raj Loomba addressing the audience

Group Captain Gareth Taylor RAF

Q&A session with the audience

Squadron Leader Amir Khan and Sergeant Shiv Chand from the RAF Recruit and Select team

Rupanjana Du

TInsightful interaction with the audience

he audience brought a diverse range of perspectives to the conversation, spanning education, farming, technology, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

When asked about integrating climate change into the education system, Ketan advocated for incorporating environmental education into the curriculum from a young age He suggested careers in sustainability to inspire students who may not currently envision themselves in such roles Drawing from personal experience, Mallika critiqued the current state of food education in schools She argued that instilling a deeper understanding of food origins and nutrition early on is crucial for transforming food culture and systems Prof Khastgir supported outreach programs that educate students about complex topics like climate change in ways that align with their age and comprehension levels

A member of the audience from Ghana shared that many farms in her home country are being displaced due to gold mining Addressing this issue, Mallika pointed out that the global food system places farmers, who are among the world's poorest, at its core but often overlooks this global interdependence This leads to decisions driven solely by profit, devastating lives at the source Prof Khastgir emphasised the importance of raising awareness and implementing effective regulations to

drive innovation and improve lives Ketan highlighted that livestock farming currently occupies a significant portion of arable land He stressed the need for governments to optimise land use by collaborating with local communities to explore diverse income opportunities and enhance food production capacity

Finally, the panel discussed technologies that can positively impact climate change Ketan expressed enthusiasm for AI-powered approaches in work and daily life Mallika agreed, noting AI's potential to revolutionise farming by improving soil health, preserving natural resources, and minimising pollution She also highlighted the promise of lab-grown food Prof Khastgir focused on the improvement of electric vehicle recharging infrastructure as a critical advancement which he looks forward to

In closing CB Patel Chairman, ABPL reminded the audience that Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, over the last five decades, have campaigned tirelessly for various social causes, including climate change, and have offered a platform for those voices that are often overshadowed by the more privileged “The progress being made to mitigate climate is welcome, but there is still much to be done I'm heartened to see so many brilliant minds tonight who are eager to make a difference and shape a better future,” he remarked

Small shifts in behaviour can help mitigate climate change

ABPL's most recent Be the Change event on Sustainability at the Horse of Lords was a thoroughly absorbing panel discussion providing insights, data and information on how we can all help to alleviate Climate Change

S A N J A Y S H A B I, Board Director, UK & Worldwide EssenceMediacom, Chair Green Team ECG, Faith & Roots ECG Member

A tall order but we should never underestimate the power of small shifts in behaviour In my capacity as the Chair of EssenceMediaCom’s Green Team, an internally focused Employee Community Group within the UK’s leading media agency, we positively encourage staff to change their behaviour when it comes to making sustainable decisions by leveraging and amplifying key moments in the sustainability calendar There are various occasions to promote the trial and adoption of greener choices, which includes Veganuary at the start of the year, Earth Day in April, Plastic Free July, Zero Waste Week in early September and November’s World Vegan Month are a few favoured for celebration by EssenceMediaCom's Green Team Likewise, these are excellent opportunities for each one of us to embrace whether in or outside of the workplace

Some years ago, EssenceMediacom was the first media agency to pioneer a Carbon Calculator measuring mediarelated carbon emissions from advertising campaigns cradle-to-gate This is yet another way in which technology can help us measure and report on the outcomes of our actions within the sphere of advertising The Carbon Calculator was subsequently gifted to the media, marketing, and advertising industry by residing on the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising's website for all its member agencies to access free of charge Since then, the calculator continues to ever-evolve and improve in its methodology and outputs

Quite often, a green future is misconstrued as entailing compromise or trade off but rather, why is it not looked at as a different and arguably, better alternative? For instance, green behaviours can intersect in aiding our own personal welfare and wellbeing, like cycling and walking instead of always being reliant on automated modes of transport

Echoing C B Patel’s words at the Be the Change event, while we can wait for the next technological breakthrough for tackling Climate Change, it is in our own hands to do everything we can in our individual capacities to reduce our personal carbon footprints This fits very much into EssenceMediaCom’s Green Team ethos where we would encourage all Asian Voice’s readers to similarly reconsider Starting tomorrow what one change will you be making to help the climate crisis?

Members of the RAF

Panel discussion with (L-R) moderator Alpesh Patel OBE and panellists Ketan Dattani, Mallika Basu and Dr Siddhartha Khastgir

Networking by guests

Photo courtesy: Vineet Johri

Guests at the panel discussion

Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel

This past week the Financial Times reported the problems with pension funds

Pension fund managers are entrusted with the crucial responsibility of ensuring that retirees have a stable and secure financial future However, recent revelations and ongoing practices within the industry indicate that many fund managers are falling short of this duty, significantly undermining the financial wellbeing of pensioners

The recent article from the Financial Times highlights that UK pension plans are overpaying by approximately £1 5 billion annually in fees to fund managers, a stark reminder of the systemic inefficiencies and exploitative practices within the industry

Excessive Fees and Lack of Transparency

One of the primary ways pension fund managers are failing their clients is through the imposition of excessive fees These fees often erode the returns on investments, leaving pensioners with significantly less than they anticipated

The Financial Times article points out that many pension funds are paying higher fees than necessary due to a lack of effective negotiation and oversight

This is particularly concerning given that these funds are responsible for managing the life savings of millions of individuals

The lack of transparency in fee structures further exacerbates this issue Pension fund managers frequently employ complex fee arrangements that are difficult for trustees and beneficiaries to fully understand This opacity makes it challenging to hold fund managers accountable and to ensure that fees are justified by the performance of the investments

Underperformance Relative to Benchmarks

Another critical failure is the underperformance of pension funds relative to their benchmarks Many fund managers charge high fees under the premise of delivering superior returns; however, studies and market analysis often reveal that actively managed funds frequently underperform compared to passive index funds This underperformance, combined with high fees, significantly diminishes the value of the pension funds over time, impacting the financial security of retirees

Misalignment of Interests

The misalignment of interests between pension fund managers and beneficiaries is a significant issue Fund managers are often incentivized by short-term performance metrics and personal financial gains rather than the long-term financial health of the pensioners they serve This misalignment can lead to investment strategies that are riskier and less suitable for the stable, long-term growth needed for pension funds

Inefficiency and Bureaucracy

The operational inefficiency and bureaucratic inertia within many pension fund management firms also contribute to their failure Decision-making processes can be slow and convoluted, leading to missed opportunities and suboptimal investment decisions

Additionally, the excessive layering of management and administrative costs further eats into the funds available for investment, reducing overall returns

Solutions and Path Forward

To address these issues, several steps need to be taken:

1 Enhanced Transparency: There must be greater transparency in fee structures and investment strategies Pension funds should be required to disclose all fees and costs clearly and comprehensively

2 Performance-Based Fees: Introducing performance-based fees could align the interests of fund managers with those of the beneficiaries Fund managers should be rewarded based on the long-term performance of the funds rather than short-term gains

3 Increased Oversight and Regulation: Stronger regulatory frameworks and oversight mechanisms are necessary to ensure that pension fund managers act in the best interests of the beneficiaries This includes stricter scrutiny of fee structures and investment practices

4 Education and Em powerm ent: Educating trustees and beneficiaries about investment strategies and fee structures can empower them to make better decisions and hold fund managers accountable

5 Adoption of Passi ve Investment Strategies: Considering the consistent underperformance of active management, there should be a greater shift towards passive investment strategies, which offer lower fees and have historically matched or outperformed actively managed funds over the long term

SBI UK celebrates 50th anniversary of its Southall branch

State Bank of India (UK) Limited (SBI UK) proudly celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Southall branch in a grand ceremony held at the branch premises The event was attended by customers, VIP gues ts, and dedicated SBI UK staff, marking a significant milestone in the bank's history of serving the Southall community

The celebration saw key figures from SBI UK, and the local community come together to commemorate the occasion Sudhir Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, SBI UK, expressed his heartfelt gratitude towards the loyal customers and hardworking staff who have been integral to the branch's success He said, “This 50-year journey is a testament to the enduring trust and support we have

received from our esteemed customers and the relentless dedication of our staff As we celebrate this golden jubilee, we reaffirm our commitment to providing innovative banking solutions and unparalleled service to our customers Our goal is to continue building on this solid foundation and to remain a trusted partner in the community’s future successes ’’

Sakuntala

Sanyal, Executive Director &

Deputy CEO, SBI UK, addressed the gathering, emphasising the bank’s strategic vision and community-centric approach “The Southall branch’s halfcentury legacy reflects our unwavering commitment to catering to the financial needs of the Southall community

We are immensely proud of this achievement and eagerly anticipate many more years of successful partnerships and growth,” she said The event was further honoured by the presence of Rt Hon Virendra Sharma, former MP for Ealing Southall, who has had a long-standing relationship with SBI UK In his address, Mr Sharma praised the bank for its exemplary service and unwavering com-

mitment to the Southall community He said, “I have witnessed firsthand the positive impact that SBI UK has had on our community over the years Their dedication to providing reliable and accessible banking services has been invaluable, and I appreciate their ongoing commitment to Southall SBI UK’s presence has been a cornerstone of stability and support for countless individuals and businesses ” The 50th anniversary celebration was not only a moment to reflect on the past but also an opportunity to look forward to a promising future With a renewed commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, SBI UK is poised to continue its tradition of excellence in the years to come

LT Foods expands footprints to the UK to tap the £1 billion rice and rice-based food market

LT Foods, the more than 70year-old Indian-origin global FMCG Company in the consumer food space, has inaugurated a new state-of-theart facility in Harlow

With this new facility, LT Foods is set to revolutionise the rice market in the UK and meet the growing demand for authentic and premium rice and rice-based food products

The new facility is spread over an area of an impressive 100,000 square feet To provide a diverse range of options to meet varying consumer demands, the facility will offer both branded and private-label products

The rice and rice-based food market in the UK is worth around £1 billion To tap this opportunity, LT Foods has made an initial investment of £7 million in

this new facility with a commitment of further investment upto £50 million in the coming years The company is expecting annual revenue to the tune of £50 million over the next 2 years, with a targeted £100 million within the next 5 years The company will also provide employment opportunities to local talent The company has already partnered with 4

leading retailers in the UK with plans to further scale this up Moreover, the facility boasts a production capacity of 60,000 tonnes of rice per annum, setting the stage for substantial growth in the coming years

Speaking on the occasion, Vijay Arora, Chairman & Managing Director, LT Foods said, “We are very excited about our newest

cutting-edge facility in the UK It is an important market for our future growth as we intend to make deep inroads in this market ”

Ashwani Arora, Managing Director & CEO, LT Foods said, “Our stakeholders have always been at the heart of our success By expanding into the UK, we aim to bring our high-quality offerings closer to consumers while ensuring that we continue to provide exceptional value to our stakeholders ” Sharing his thoughts, Vikas Magoon, Managing Director, LT Foods Europe B V said, “The opening of this new state-of-the-art facility in the UK is a testament to our commitment to meeting the rising demand for high-quality rice products among the consumers in the UK ”

Pound reaches one-year high

The British pound is nearing a one-year peak against the US dollar foll owing stronger-than-expected economic growth in the UK, which has postponed expectations of interest rate cuts this year

Sterling climbed 0 7 per cent against the dollar to $1 29, its highest level since July 19 last year, as financial markets scaled back their predictions of an August

interest rate reduction by the Bank of England This reassessment was prompted by official data showing a 0 4per cent monthly GDP expansion in May, surpassing expectations of 0 2 per cent, putting the UK on track for its fastest annual growth in two years

A growing economy, coupled with persistent inflation in the services sector, may dissuade the Bank's

policymakers from lowering the base rate from its current 5 25 per cent next month

Huw Pill, the Bank's chief economist, highlighted that key wage inflation measures remained "uncomfortably" high Consequently, traders have reduced their odds of an August rate cut from 65 per cent earlier in the week to below 50 per cent May's GDP figures indicate a 0 9 per cent expansion

over the past three months and a 1 4 per cent increase year-on-year, rebounding from a brief recession at the end of 2023 and marking the strongest growth since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 The likelihood of a rate cut next month hinges on forthcoming data on wage growth, the labour market, and June's inflation figures, due next week

UK surpasses India in venture capital investment

The UK has surpassed India to become the world s third-largest venture capital market, despite a significant industry downturn where investments and deal numbers dropped notably last year

According to the British Business Bank, venture investment in the UK plummeted by 48 per cent to £8 8 billion in 2023 compared to the previous year, with the number of deals falling by 25 per cent to 2,152 This decline is attributed to factors such as higher interest rates reducing investor attrac-

tiveness, pressure on valuations, and a shortage of sale opportunities, which hampers fund managers' reinvestment capabilities

Louis Taylor, CEO of the bank, remains optimistic, stating, "I think these numbers are really exciting in many ways We're now the third-largest market for venture capital globally, and our market share has increased over the past few years "

Equity investment in private companies has returned to 2019 levels after

the pandemic-induced exuberance in private markets subsided Taylor noted that investments and valuations have normalised to "reasonable" levels

The UK now ranks just behind the United States and China in attracting venture capital, capturing nearly a third of all European venture funding in the first half of this year, according to new data from Dealroom, which monitors the industry This data indicates a promising "return to growth" for the UK venture capital sector in 2024

Ashwani Arora Managing Director & CEO (1st from left) Vijay Arora Chairman & Managing Director LT Foods (3rd from right) actor Vivek Oberoi (2nd from right) and others

L- R Sudhir Sharma Virendra Sharma Sakuntala Sanyal and Ravi Sharma

Direct tax collection till July 11 surges by 23% to £65 bn

Dire ct ta x coll ections in India increased over 23% to £ 64,52 bn durin g this financial year up to July 11, driven by a faster rise in pe rsona l income t ax , the C ent ral Boar d of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said Net collections were 19 5% higher at over £57 bn as refunds soared almost 65% to £7 09 bn during the period On a gross basis, corporate tax collections were 20 4% higher at £26 53 bn, while personal income, including securities transaction tax, rose 25 3% to a little under £38 bn

“Corporate profits continue to surge significantly, and these are clearly reflected in the first quarter advance tax

collections A booming stock market has also contributed to higher STT [securities transaction tax] collections Strong collections being the backdrop of the upcoming budget indicate the possibility of the govt reigning in the fiscal deficit,” said Rohinton Sidhwa, partner at Deloitte India

So far this year, tax collections have remained

on track, on both direct and indirect tax fronts, with a bumper dividend from Reserve Bank of India bolstering govt’s receipts Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to stick to her projections on the tax front given that the Indian economy is widely projected to grow over 7% during the current financial year

A higher than budgeted collections will come handy for the Centre which is under pressure to increase spending in crucial areas such as agriculture, health and education as well as maintain the capex for infrastructure sectors

India Inc raises record $30 bn in 6 months, riding FPO wave

Indian companies raised a record $29 5 billion (nearly £25 bn) in the equity market through IPOs & FPOs during the first half of 2024, more t ha n doub le the amount raised in the same period last year The Jan-June total is the highest ever in terms of proceeds, with the number of issuances also rising 64%

The surge has been driven by follow-on public offers (FPOs) this yearmaking up 85% of the total proceeds this year, LSEG’s India Investment Banking Review said

In the first half of 2024, Indian IPOs raised $4 4 billion -a 98% increase compared to the year-ago period The number of IPOs also saw a 71% jump year-onyear India accounted for

27% of global IPOs by volume, up from 13% in the same period last year

Follow-on offerings raised $25 1 billion, a 156% increase from a year ago The number of follow-on offerings grew by 56% over the same period last year An FPO refers to an additional issuance of a company ’ s shares after its IPO

Despite the flood of new shares, demand has continued to outstrip supply as investors rushed in to buy more equity after the general election results were announced, pushing Nifty up by 10% in the first half of the year

According to analysts, 2024 might well be a record year for equity issuances if Hyundai India proceeds

Adani Ports plots a trade

coup against China

Billionaire Gautam Adani is charting new waters, with plans to build a state-of-the-art port in Vietnam as part of his ambitious global expansion This venture by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd has reportedly received “inprinciple approval” from the Vietnamese government for a greenfield development in Da Nang, revealed Karan Adani, the company's managing director

This project, still in its nascent stage, will feature container terminals and multipurpose berths to handle diverse cargo, with investment details yet to be finalized, according to a report This will be Adani group's fourth international port, joining its counterparts in Haifa, Israel; Colombo, Sri Lanka; and the Port of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Just last week, Adani's new mega port in Kerala welcomed its first mother ship, signaling the company ’ s intent to aggressively expand and capture a larger slice of the international maritime trade, an arena currently dominated by China

"The vision is to establish India as a maritime hub," said Karan, the elder son of Gautam Adani "We are focusing on countries with high manufacturing output or large populations, driving high consumption Our target is to boost export volumes in these regions "

As India’s largest port operator, Adani Ports currently derives about 5% of its volume from international operations and aims to double this to 10% by 2030 The company is eyeing opportunities in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, East Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Vietnam, and Cambodia, regions that are pivotal to India’s trade Adani is also doubling down on his investment in the Vizhinjam port in Kerala, committing $2 4 billion to accelerate its expansion and attract some of the world’s largest vessels "We plan to invest $2 4 billion in the Vizhinjam international transshipment terminal by 2028," Karan said in an earlier presser

India can become 2nd-largest economy by 2031: RBI deputy governor

India can become the second largest economy by 2031 and the largest economy in the world by 2060, said Michael D ebab rata Patr a, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) during a program at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Nat ional Academy of Administration, Mussoorie

"It is possible to imagine India striking out into the next decade to become the second largest economy in the world not by 2048, but by 2031 and the largest economy of the world by 2060, said Patra

He also called India s journey in economic development an eventful and arduous one and added that during the last financial year 2023-24, India became a USD 3 6 trillion-dollar economy

The deputy governor

with its proposed $2 5-3 billion IPO - which will be India’s biggest ever Other large IPOs expected by the market include a £830 mn offer from Pine Labs, a £700 mn issue by Bajaj Housing Finance and a possible listing of HDB Finance

The significant inflow of funds into capital markets is anticipated to make available more shares to meet demand In the first half, promoters of 37 listed companies, including multinational corporations, offloaded their shares to both domestic and offshore investors There have been suggestions that govt should also divest its holdings in public sector companies to capitalise on current valuations

also added that if India wants to become a developed economy it will have to grow at a rate of 9 6 per cent per annum for the next ten years "If India can grow at the rate of 9 6 per cent per annum over the next ten years, it will break free of the shackles of the lower middle-income trap and become a developed economy," he said

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and

Development (OECD) projects that in PPP (purchasing power parity) terms, India will overtake the US by 2048 to become the second-largest economy in the world

For rising inflation in the Indian economy, the deputy governor stated that RBI is committed to aligning inflation with the target and the inflation will ease to 4 1 per cent in 2025-26

He also shared that the Gross Non-Performing assets (GNPAs) in the banking system have steadily fallen from their peak in March 2018 to 2 8 per cent of total assets by March 2024

The adjusted for provisions, net NPAs are just 0 6 per cent The capital and liquidity buffers of the country are well above the regulatory norms, he said

PM Modi meets economists and discuss ideas to push growth

Ahead of the Union Budget, Prime Minister N are ndr a Modi in ter acted with economists to discuss the state of the economy and ideas to push growth

The Budget will be unveiled by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 23 and it will be her seventh consecutive Budget, a record eclipsing Morarji Desai’s six in a row This will be the first Budget of the new coalition govt, which assumed office in June The Budget is being presented against the backdrop of global challenges and geopolitical tensions It is expected to spell out the steps for govt’s Viksit Bharat strategy and ensure that India emerges as

a developed country by 2047

The economy is in a sweet spot and is expected to continue to grow around the 7% range for the next few years, led by robust domestic demand

Sitharaman, Niti Aayog vice chairman Suman Bery and his team of advisors and B V R Subrahmanyam attended the meeting Noted economists such as Ashok

Gulati, Surjit Bhalla also expressed their views Eminent banker and financial market expert K V Kamath and chief economic advisor V Anantha Nageswaran also participated in the meeting FM has held several rounds of discussions with various stakeholders in the lead up to the Budget and the views will serve as crucial inputs

TCS reports 4.4% revenue growth in June quarter

TCS’s ye ar- on-year revenue grew by 4 4% in constant currency in the June quarter compared to the year-ago period Quarter-on-q ua rter, it grew 2 2 % i n constant currency

But even as India’s largest IT firm achieved allround growth, it is treading cautiously in determining whether it’s too early to declare sustained growth momentum as market conditions haven’t significantly changed since the previous quarter “We

are quite happy with the overall growth across all verticals and markets It’s too early to call whether the growth momentum is sustainable because market conditions continue to remain the same as they were in the last quarter

So, there is nothing new to add in terms of

market sentiments But we believe FY25 will be better than FY24,” TCS CEO K Krithivasan said in the earnings call

The UK recorded robust growth of 6%, while continental Europe saw a modest increase of 0 9% In contrast, North America faced a decline of

1 1%

Emerging markets, including India, AsiaPacific, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America, maintained their growth trajectory, reinforcing the company ’ s diversification strategy

Among these, India has emerged as the bright spot, with revenue surging by an impressive 61 8% compared to the previous year, led by the mammoth £1 5 bn BSNL deal it won last year for deploying 4G networks across India

At 5.1%, India's retail inflation rises to 4-month high

India's retail inflation rose to a four-month high in June, led by a s purt in pri ces of f ood and beverages, de lay ing any prospects of interest rate cuts for now, while industrial output growth surged to a seven-month high in May on the back of rob us t elec tri city sec tor expansion

Data released by the

National Statistical office (NSO) showed retail inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, rose an annual 5 1% in June, faster than the 4 8% in May and higher than the 4 9% in June 2023 Rural inflation was higher at 5 7%, while urban was at 4 4%

The surge in food prices was led by vegetables that rose to a four-month

high of 29 3%, which experts attributed to the impact on supplies due to the intense heatwave in some parts of the country

Inflation in pulses and products continued to be in double digits at 16 1%

According to HDFC Bank research, potato, onion and tomato inflation averaged 47 5%

“Even though food

inflation continues to remain a cause of concern, its outlook has brightened due to anticipation of a normal monsoon However, the temporal and spatial distribution of monsoon and progress of the kharif sowing would be critical factors to monitor,” said Rajani Sinha, chief economist at ratings agency CareEdge

Michael Debabrata Patra

Street in UAE named after 84-year-old doctor of Indian origin

DU BA I : A road in the U AE cap ital of A bu Dh abi has been named after an 8 4-year-old d octor w ith Ind ian roots as a tribute to h is si gnificant co ntributions to the co untry's h e al th se ct o r T h e De p ar tm en t o f M u nicip alities and Transp ort ( DM T) h as named a road in A bu Dhabi after Dr Georg e M atth ew to recognise his contributions as p art of its “Honouring UA E's Visionaries:

C o m m em o rat iv e S tr eet s ” p ro j e ct , w h ic h aims to h ono ur individ uals who have greatly contributed to the nation's develo pment

The road near Sheikh Shakbooth Medical City in Al Mafraq will now be known as George Matthew Street

Reflecting on his journey, Dr Matthew said, “When I first arrived in the UAE, the infrastructure was still evolving Inspired by the late HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Father of the Nation, I dedicated myself to helping the people I am deeply grateful that my efforts have been recognised ” Dr Matthew arrived in the UAE in 1967 at the age of 26 Initially preparing to move to the US, he was persuaded by a mis-

7 Indians among 62 people missing in Nepal landslide

K A T H M A N D U : A t l eas t se v en I nd i an

nationals are among over 60 passengers w ho are believed to be missing after two buses w ere swept away by a landslid e and pushed into a swollen river in central Nep al last w eek, officials said The two buses carrying 65 passengers went m issing in the Trishuli River in landslides at Simaltal area, 120 km w est of Kath mand u, alo ng th e Narayang hat M u g li ng r o ad i n C h i tw a n d i st ri ct , m yRepublica reported

Chief district officer of Chitwan, Indradev Yadav, said Kathmandu-bound Angel bus and Ganpati Deluxe, en route to Gaur from the capital, met with the accident at around 3 30am Twenty-four people were onboard the bus travelling to Kathmandu and 41 on the bus travelling to Gaur, police said Three of the passengers on Ganpati Deluxe escaped after jumping out of the vehicle, Kathmandu Post reported A third bus was hit by another landslide on the same highway Govt administrator Khima Nanada Bhusal said the driver was killed but it was not clear if there were any other casualties

Home minister Rabi Lamichhane told parliament that over 500 personnel have been assigned to the search operation Elsewhere, 17 people died and three more injured due to landslides in the past 24 hours, he said Six of the Indians were identified as Santosh Thakur, Surendra Sah, Adit Miyaan, Sunil, Shahnawaj Alam and Ansari PM Dahal said he was saddened by the news and expressed concern over recent flooding and landslides

sionary friend to stay in Al Ain

His application for a position as Al Ain's first government doctor was successful, leading to the opening of the first clinic under Sheikh Zayed's blessing

Starting his service as a general pPractitioner, Dr Matthew, affectionately called Matyous (Emirati pronunciation of Mathew) by the locals, witnessed and contributed to the growth of modern medicine in the UAE

He held several key positions, including Medical Director of Al Ain region in 1972 and Health Authority Consultant in 2001 His

contributions significantly advanced healthcare services in the emirate and promoted a modern medical culture in the country

Dr Matthew went to England to learn management of tropical diseases, and later to Harvard for specialised studies in hospital management

Known for his dedication and expertise, Dr Matthew has been a valuable source of medical knowledge for the Al Ain community In recognition of his service, the UAE granted Dr Matthew and his family citizenship 10 years ago

Dr Matthew continues to work in the private health department alongside Dr Abdul Rahim Jaafar, another leading healthcare expert in the country Expressing his gratitude, Dr Matthew said, “I am ready to do whatever I can for the country and its citizens as long as I live I pray that God will give me more time to serve ” Dr Matthew grew up in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, and graduated with an MBBS in 1965 from Trivandrum Medical College

Imran to remain in jail despite acquittal in illegal marriage case

IS L A M A BA D : Form er Prim e M inister Im ran Khan and his third wife were acquitted on charges o f marrying unlawfully by a P akistan court, yet h e w ill not be freed after authorities issued fresh orders to arrest him

The ruling came a day after his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won more seats in parliament, ramping up pressure on the country's fragile ruling coalition which is grappling to stabilise a broken economy

The couple were sentenced to seven years in February when a court found them guilty of breaking Islamic law by failing to observe the required interval between the divorce from a previous marriage of Bushra Khan, also known as Bushra Bibi, and her marriage to Khan

They had filed an appeal against their convictions "Both the appellants are acquitted of the charges," said an order by the appeal court They are directed to be released forthwith if not required to be

detained in any other case " Khan's PTI party said authorities have issued fresh arrest warrants for him in three cases linked to violence against the military and other state installations that erupted following his brief arrest in May 2023

An anti-terrorism court cancelled his bail in one of the May 9 cases registered against him and thousands of his supporters The party called it a "gimmick" aimed at prolonging his imprisonment

Bibi is on bail in a land corruption case in which she is also co-accused with Khan, who is a free person after the latest acquittal, the party added

All four jail sentences Khan received ahead of a February national election have now been overturned or suspended

Jailed since last August, he was acquitted last month of charges of leaking state secrets Two other corruption sentences have been suspended

Oli takes oath as Nepal PM after Prachanda loses trust vote

K AT H MAN DU : K P S harma Oli was sworn in as Nepal's P rime Minister for th e fou rth time to lead a new coalitio n go vernment th at faces th e dau nting challenge of providi ng p o l i ti c al s t ab i li ty i n t h e H i ma la ya n nation

The leader of Nepal's largest communist party was appointed as prime minister on Sunday by President Ram Chandra Paudel to lead the coalition government with Nepali Congress (NC), the largest party in Parliament, apart from other smaller parties

Kenya president yields to pressure, dissolves cabinet

NAI RO BI : K enya P resident William Ruto yielded to p ressu re and dissolved h is cabinet following two weeks o f p ro tests against th e government breach ing th e Kenyan parliament, a first in hi sto ry

“I want to first thank the Gen z for their effort because without them probably Ruto would have not made any changes to his cabinet that was already tainted,” said Amos Ouma, motorcycle taxi rider (bodaboda)

Kenyans are expressing dissatisfaction with certain former cabinet ministers, citing their incompetence and arrogance

Many have urged the president to replace them with skilled technocrats

Governance experts have also highlighted the prevalence of politicians in Ruto s Cabinet who were given positions as a reward for their support in the 2022 general elections

Patrick Musau, a businessman, stated that, “ we saw the cabinet was fully incompetent if I may say it, so we thank the president for that step, for that move "

Ruto is facing the challenge of combating corruption in his government and putting in place austerity measures to reduce spending, as a budget cut is imminent after the Finance Bill 2024 was withdrawn

in brief STUDENT FROM ANDHRA DROWNS IN US WATERFALL

Gadde Sai Surya Avinash from Chityala village in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district slipped into Barberville waterfall in Albany New York and drowned He left India about 18 months ago to pursue an MS degree in the US Avinash was visiting his relative s place as he had a three-day holiday Later, he went to the waterfall with his friends His friends said they were standing near the waterfall when Avinash slipped and fell By the time help arrived, he was dead His father is a farmer while his mother is a homemaker This is the second loss in the family in recent times Three months ago, a relative from the same family died in the US after suffering seizures

INDIAN MAN ARRESTED FOR GROPING IN CANADA

An Indian origin man was arrested for groping women at a public water park in Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said The 25year-old walking at a public water park on Mountain Road in Moncton, and groping people According to the police, there were at least 12 victims, some of whom were under the age of 16 Police located the man who was still on the premises, and arrested him He was later released from custody, and is now scheduled to appear in Moncton Provincial Court Police also asked people to come forward in case they know anything related to the case

ROBBERY AT INDIAN JEWELLERY FIRM

In a daylight heist, masked robbers armed with guns and sledgehammers stormed the Bombay Jewellery Company in Berkeley making off with $500 000 worth of merchandise authorities said According to the Berkeley police seven to eight individuals executed a coordinated attack forcing their way into the jewellery store The assailants used sledgehammers to shatter display cases and brandished firearms to threaten and control both staff and customers The alarm company initially alerted the police, who responded swiftly However, the robbers managed to spend just over a minute inside the store, fleeing with at least half a million dollars in jewellery

Oli, 72, succeeds Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda,' who lost the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives (HoR) last week, leading to the formation of the new government Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPNUML), Oli was sworn in by President Paudel at Shital Niwas, the main building of Rashtrapati Bhawan at a ceremony that was delayed by more than half an hour

The President also administered oaths to the two Deputy PMs - Prakash Man Singh and Bishnu Paudel - and 19 other ministers Singh would also look after the Urban Development Ministry while Vishnu Prakash Paudel would look after the Finance Ministry

Arzoo Rana Deuba, wife of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba is the Foreign Minister in the cabinet There are 10 cabinet ministers from Nepali Congress; eight, excluding PM, from CPNUML, two from Janata Samajwadi Party and one from Lokatantrik Samajwadi Party in the government Outgoing Prime Minister Prachanda was also present at the ceremony, which was attended by foreign diplomats and other dignitaries

Earlier on Sunday, President Paudel had appointed Oli as the new Prime Minister under Article 76-2 of the Constitution of Nepal, according to a notice issued by the President's Office

INDIAN CONSULATE TO HELP STUDENTS HIT BY HURRICANE

The Indian Mission in the US state of Texas is assisting hundreds of students from the country who are badly affected by widespread power outages in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl’s devastation Nearly a million homes and businesses remain without essential services plunging life in the region into uncertainty due to the impact of the hurricane The Category 1 storm knocked out power to nearly 2 7 million customers after it made landfall in Texas last week, according to US media reports Consul General of India, DC Manjunath,visited local educational institutions, including the University of Houston, to assess the well-being of Indian students

PAK REACHES $7BN AID DEAL WITH IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it reached a new $7 billion loan deal with Pakistan in a bid to bolster its faltering economy In exchange, Islamabad agreed to conduct further unpopular reforms, including widening the South Asian nation’s chronically low tax base Pakistan last year came to the brink of default as the economy shrivelled amid political chaos catastrophic 2022 monsoon floods and decades of mismanagement - as well as the global economic downturn

in

brief

MAN IN CHINA CAUGHT SMUGGLING SNAKES

A man has been caught trying to smuggle over 100 live snakes into mainland China by cramming them into his trousers The unnamed traveller was stopped by customs officers as he sought to slip out of Hong Kong and into the border city of Shenzhen, China Customs said “Upon inspection, customs officers discovered that the pockets of the trousers the passenger was wearing were packed with six canvas drawstring bags and sealed with tape ” it said “Once opened each bag was found to contain living snakes in all kinds of shapes sizes and colours The statement said officers seized 104 reptiles many of which were non-native species China is one of the world s biggest animal trafficking hubs, but authorities have cracked down on the illicit trade in recent years

WIFE OF FRANCE’S EXPREZ SARKOZY CHARGED

Former supermodel and French first lady Carla Bruni Sarkozy was given preliminary charges for involvement in alleged efforts to pressure a witness who accused ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy of receiving illegal campaign financing from Libya Bruni-Sarkozy was placed under judicial supervision, which included a ban on contact with all those involved in the proceedings with the exception of her husband, according to a judicial official Preliminary charges against Bruni-Sarkozy include witness tampering and participation in a criminal association with an attempt to commit fraud in efforts to deceive magistrates investigating her husband on suspicion of receiving illegal funds during his 2007 presidential election campaign the official said

CORRUPTION CASE AGAINST FORMER SA SPEAKER

The former speaker of South Africa s parliament was back in court to face charges of corruption and money laundering At the Magistrate's court Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula learned that her case was transferred to the high court in Pretoria for trial The development shows that the prosecution believes it has a solid case against MapisaNqakula The trial will start on October 16 Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of soliciting a R4 5 million from a defence contractor, during her time as South Africa's defence minister She resigned as speaker of the national assembly following her indictment in early April MapisaNqakula denies the charges against her

RUSSIAN COURT ORDERS ARREST OF NAVALNY’S WIFE

A court in Moscow ordered Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, arrested in absentia for two months The court accused Navalnaya who lives outside Russia, of participating in an “extremist” group The decision means she would face certain arrest if she set foot in the country Navalnaya has stepped into the spotlight following her husband’s death in an Arctic penal colony in Feb and said she will continue the fight for what Navalny called the “beautiful Russia of the future” Writing on X, Navalnaya told her supporters to focus not on the court order against her, but on the battle against Russian Prez Putin

WOMAN SWEPT TO SEA RESCUED 37 HOURS LATER

A Chinese woman in her 20s who was swept out to sea while swimming at a Japanese beach was rescued 37 hours later after drifting in a swimming ring more than 80 km in Pacific Ocean officials said The woman was spotted by a cargo ship off the southern tip of Boso Peninsula Two of its crew jumped into the sea and rescued the woman She was slightly dehydrated but in good health and walked away after being examined at a hospital

Trump becomes Republican candidate, picks 39-year-old senator as VP

MILWAUKEE: Donald Trump selected a 39-year-old US Senator James D Vance to serve as his vice presidential running mate, as the Republican Party officially nominated the former president as its 2024 presidential nominee at the start of t he part y ’ s nat ion al conv ent ion in Milwaukee

“As Vice President, JD will continue to fight for our Constitution, stand with our Troops, and will do everything he can to help me Make America Great Again,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform

The four-day convention opened in downtown Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum two days after Trump survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, and hours after he secured a major legal victory when a federal judge dismissed one of Trump’s criminal prosecutions

Trump is due to formally accept the party’s nomination in a prime time address on Thursday and will challenge Democratic president Joe Biden in the Nov 5 election

In the wake of the assassination attempt, Trump said he is revising his acceptance speech to emphasize national unity, rather than highlight his differences with Biden

VP pick reveals how his Hindu wife helped him

Senator JD Vance, who Trump chose as his running mate, has credited his Hindu wife Usha Chilukuri Vance for shaping his personal and spiritual life In an interview, he explained how his Indian-origin wife's Hindu faith had been instrumental in help-

ing him navigate challenges and reconcile his Catholic beliefs

He revealed he "was raised Christian but never baptised I was first baptised in 2018 Usha was actually raised non-Christian But I remember when I started to re-engage with my faith, Usha was very supportive, said the 38-year-old The couple met at Yale Law School and married in Kentucky in 2014

They had two ceremonies - a traditional wedding ceremony and a separate Hindu ceremony conducted by a Hindu priest, honouring Usha's Hindu heritage They have three children - Ewan, 6, Vivek, 4, and Mirabel, 2

Usha, reflecting on her upbringing in a "religious household", attributed her support for Vance's religious journey to her parents' influence "My parents are Hindu and that's one of the things that made them such good parents and good people And I have seen the power of that in my own life," said Usha "And I knew that JD was searching for something This just felt right for him," she added

19 per cent decline in Indian American support for Biden

WASHINGTON: There is a sharp 19 per cent dec line in Indian Americans s upporting incumbent President Joe Biden between the last election of 2020 and the 2024 election c ycle, according to a bi-annual Asian American Voter Survey (AAVS), the longestrunning survey of Asian-American voters

Conducted by Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), AAPI Data, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) and AARP, the survey reveals that 46 per cent of Indian Americans intend to vote for Biden this year as against 65 per cent in 2020

The alarming drop of 19 per cent is the largest among all the Asian American ethnic communities According to the survey, which was conducted before the June 27 presidential debate between Biden and his Republican challenger Donald Trump, 46 per cent Asian Americans are likely to vote for Biden, down eight percentage points since 2020, while 31 per cent are likely to vote for Trump, gaining one point since 2020

However, Trump has gained just 2 per cent in favourability rating (28 per cent in 2020 to 30 per cent in 2024), despite the record 19 per cent drop in Biden's support from Indian Americans

Asian Americans have been a rapidly

Diljit

growing group of eligible voters in the United States over the past two decades, growing by 15 per cent in the last four years alone and turning out in record numbers in every federal election since 2016 In 2020, a surge in the number of Asian American voters - especially those voting for the very first time - in battleground states was crucial to Biden's victory

The sharp decline in Indian American voters' support for Biden might be crucial, given that the community has a sizable presence in many battleground states

According to the survey, Biden has 55 per cent favourability rating among Indian Americans, while Trump has a favourability rating of 35 per cent Interestingly, both Biden and Trump have the same 42 per cent unfavourability rating among Indian Americans

Kamala Harris, who is the first Indian American and a woman to be elected as the vice-president, has a favourability rating of 54 per cent and an unfavourability rating of 38 per cent Former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has a favourability rating of just 33 per cent and an unfavourability rating of 46 per cent Interestingly, 11 per cent said they have not heard of Haley

Dosanjh meets Trudeau ahead of Toronto show

TORONTO: Diljit Dosanjh met Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at th e Rogers Centre during rehearsals for his sold-out stadium show here The Prime Minister congratulated Diljit on the profound cultural and economic impact of his work and the sold-out stadium shows he has achieved in Canada

Diljit began his tour with a sold-out performance at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and concluded the Dil-Luminati tour with a sold-out show at Rogers Centre in Toronto, making him the first Indian artist to achieve back-to-back sold-out shows across his tour

4 Indian Americans charged for running human trafficking racket

HO UST O N: Four Indian-Americans, including a woman, have been charged with allegedly running a human labour trafficking scheme out of a home in the US state of Texas, a media report said The Princeton Police Department released details of an investigation that led to four people being arrested after 15 women were found inside the home as alleged victims of human labour trafficking, news portal Fox4News com said

Chandan Dasireddy, 24, Dwaraka Gunda, 31, Santhosh Katkoori, 31, and Anil Male, 37, all arrested in March, are now charged with trafficking of persons, a second-degree felony, and more arrests are expected, the channel reported, quoting police

The authorities found that all the young women, living in the same home, were forced to sleep on the floor at a home on Ginsburg Lane in Collin County, Princeton "There was basically no furniture inside the home at the centre of human trafficking, just a bunch of computer electronics and blankets," police said Another news portal, McKinney Courier-Gazette said officers with the Princeton Police Department were dispatched on March 13 to a residence regarding a welfare concern and suspicious circumstance

"After further investigation of the initial report, Princeton Police CID detectives obtained a search warrant for the home of Santhosh Katkoori, where 15 adult females were located During the investigation, it was discovered that the females were forced to work for Katkoori and multiple programming shell companies owned by him and his wife, Dwaraka Gunda," it said

While the search warrant was executed, multiple laptops, cell phones, printers and fraudulent documents were seized It was later determined that multiple locations within Princeton, Melissa, and McKinney were involved in the forced labouring of the victims, including adult males, the portal said, adding, additional laptops, cell phones, and documents were seized from the other locations

Italian police free 33 Indian farm labourers from ‘slavery’

ROME: Italian police said they had freed 33 Indian farm labourers from slave-like w orki ng conditions i n the northern Verona provinc e and seize d almost $545,300 from their two alleged abusers Labour exploitation is in the spotlight in Italy following an accident in June in which an Indian fruit picker died after his arm was severed by machinery

In the latest case, police said the alleged gang-masters, also from India, brought fellow nationals to Italy on seasonal work permits, asking them to pay 17,000 euros ($18,564) each and promising them a better future

Diljit said in a statement: “I am deeply honoured and humbled by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recognition Seeing the incredible support from the community here is truly heartwarming ” He further mentioned, “This tour has been a celebration of our cultural heritage, and I am grateful for the opportunity to bring people together through music

Thank you to everyone who has made this journey possible ” Trudeau’s visit marks another moment in Diljit’s groundbreaking Dil-Luminati tour, during which he was also invited to on ‘The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon ’

The migrants were given farm jobs, working seven days a week and 10-12 hours a day for just 4 euros per hour, which was entirely docked from them until they settled all their debts, police said, describing the migrants’ treatment as “slavery”

Some were asked to continue working for free to pay an additional 13,000 euros for a permanent work permit “which, in reality, would have never been given to them,” the police statement said

The alleged abusers were charged with crimes connected to slavery and labour exploitation, while the victims will be offered protection, work opportunities and legal residency papers, the police said

Donald Trump & James D Vance

Muslim women entitled to maintenance under CrPC: Supreme Court

I n a l an d m ar k v er d i ct ,

S upreme Court said wom en, i rresp ectiv e o f th eir faith , w ere e nt it led to

m aintenance und er Section

1 25 of C rim inal P ro ced ure

C o d e and re j ec ted th e arg ument th at the Muslim

W o m en ( P ro t ec ti o n o f

R i g h ts o n Di v o r ce ) A ct ,

1 9 8 6, o r p erso nal law s of d if f ere nt c o m m un i ti es

b ar red th e m fr o m t aki n g ad v antage of mai ntenance

g u ara nte ed u nd er th e secular law

A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih held that it was for the Muslim woman to decide which of the two laws or both she should take recourse to “Maintenance is a facet of gender parity and enabler

o f e q u a l i t y , n o t c h a r i t y , ”

Justice Nagarathna said

I n s e p a r a t e b u t concurring judgments, the judges said Section 125 of CrPC applied to all married women, including Muslims It said the provision was a

measure for social justice to

personal laws of the parties

W

ascertained under both, the secular provision of Section 125 of CrPC 1973 and the

Section 3 of the 1986 Act,

leading to their harmonious construction and continued existence of the right to seek maintenance for a divorced Muslim woman under the p r o v i s i o n s o f C r P C 1 9 7 3

despite the enactment of the 1 9 8 6 A c t , ” J u s t i c e M a s i h said, adding that Parliament never sought to restrict the rights of a divorced Muslim woman to the ‘iddat’ period ‘Iddat’ refers to the period of time for which a Muslim w o m a n m u s t w

i t b e f o r e she can remarry, 3 months in case of a divorce T h e M u s l i m W o m e n

Divorce) Act was enacted by t h e R a j i v G a n d h i g o v t i n response to pressure from M u s l i m g r o u

politicians who were upset with the SC verdict in the Shah Bano case where the court had ordered that the old and indigent divorcee

f r o m B h o p

g i v e n a monthly maintenance of Rs 125 per month

Justice Nagarathna said

enacting the 1986 law was to

divorced Muslim woman in addition to what she would have been entitled to under S

contained in any other law for the time being in force’ w

s l y o

u

y time thereafter create any bar for a divorced Muslim w o m a n f r o m c l a i m i n g maintenance under Section 125 “ O n e c a n n o t r e a d

Section 3 of the 1986 Act containing the non obstante clause so as to restrict or d i m i n i s h t h e r i g h t t o maintenance of a divorced M u s l i m w o m a n u n d e r

S e c t i o n 1 2 5 o f C r P C a n d neither is it a substitute for t h e l a t t e r S u c h a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n w o u l d b e r e g r e s s i v e , a n t i - d i v o r c e d

M u s l i m w o m a n a n d

contrary to Articles 14, 15(1) and (3) as well as Article 39(e) of the Constitution,” Justice Nagarathna said

By 2100, India's population to decline, but still be 2.5 times that of China

In d i a ' s p o p ul a t i o n is projecte d to peak in t he ea rly

206 0 s a t a bo ut 1 7 billio n and the n declin e by 12 pe r ce n t, but t he coun t ry will r e m a i n t h e w o r ld ' s m os t po p u lo u s t h r o u g ho u t t h e

ce ntur y, the Unite d Na tions has sa id

T h e W o r l d P o p u l a t i o n

Puri Jagannath Temple’s ‘ratna bhandar’ reopened after

46 years

T h e P u r i J ag ann ath

Temple’s treasury called ‘ ra tna bh and ar ’ w a s reopened o n Sunday by an 11-m em ber team to carry out an inv ento ry and restoration after 46 ye ars , f u lf i ll in g a cam paign p rom ise by the newly elected BJP gov t in Od isha

The last inventory, conducted in 1978, was inconclusive

According to govt records, around 128 kg of gold and 221 kg of silver items were found

A large crowd of devotees gathered to witness the event

The team opened three locks of the outer chamber, but the d u p l i c

necessitating breaking them “We have put two new locks on the door to the inner chamber,” said Arabinda Padhee, chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA)

T h e a

contentious political issue The original keys were reported missing in 2018, halting the previous inventory efforts

Contrary to myths of snakes guarding the ratna bhandar, no reptiles were found “We did not come across any snakes, insects, or reptiles,” said Puri district collector Siddharth Shankar Swain To ensure safety, govt deployed 11 members of Snake Helpline, a voluntary unit specialising in snake rescue “Our services were not needed as no snake was found,” said Subhendu Mallik from the helpline

T

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) restores the ratna bhandar, which has developed cracks “We have shifted all the valuables from the outer chamber to a temporary strong room near the ratna bhandar However, due to the paucity of time, we could not transfer the valuables from the inner chamber It will be done another day,” said Padhee

S

population is projected to s

falling to 10 2 billion people by the end of the century

India, which surpassed China as the world's most populous nation last year, will continue to hold that position through 2100

The population of India, which is expected to remain t h e w o r l d ' s l a r g e s t throughout the century, will

Prospects 2024 report said that the world s population i s e x p e c t e d t o c o n t i n u e growing over the coming 5060 years, reaching a peak of around 10 3 billion people in the mid-2080s, up from 8 2 b i l l i o n i n 2 0 2 4 A f t

likely decline by 12 per cent after reaching its peak in the

Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Population Division said According to the report, India's population in 2024 is projected at 1 45 billion and this will peak to 1 69 billion in 2054 After this, India s p

decline to 1 5 billion by the end of the century in 2100,

l remain the most populous nation on Earth " I t i s a n t i c

l

d t h a t China, the country currently w i t h t h e w

s e c o n d

r g e s t p o p u l a t i o n , w i l l likely experience the largest a b s o l u t e p o p u l a t i o n l o s s between 2024 and 2054 (204 million)," followed by Japan (21 million) and Russia (10 m i l l i o n ) L o n g e r - r a n g e population projections are more uncertain" for China, it said

Elderly patient stuck in lift for 2 days at Kerala govt hospital

wing of t he govt-run fa cility got trapped inside a lift an d went un noticed for t wo da ys

A lift operator who came for duty last week noticed R a v e e n d

N

r unconscious inside the lift stuck between the first and s

pulled out by staff, nearly 48 hours after he entered the malfunctioning lift on way for a check-up

Two lift operators and a d u t y s e r g e a n t h a v e b e e n suspended based on a probe c a r r i e d o u t

directives Nair, a daily-wager at a

govt-run MLA Hostel, was up against more than just a snagged elevator Sometime after his ordeal started, Nair

s

slipped from his hands and broke when the lift shook v

stuttering to a halt, cutting off all contact A harrowing few hours followed for Nair, a resident of Ulloor area in the Kerala capital and local

s

Party of India (CPI) “I kept p r e s

i n g t h e a l a r m b u t t o n but no one came I also tried t h e e m e r g e n c y t e l e p h o n e inside No one answered I

s c r e a m e d a n d s h o o k t h e grille Again, no one came to help,” Nair said, adding that he had a panic attack later and fell unconscious After b e i n g r e s c u e d , N a i r w a s admitted to the hospital and d o c t o r s d e s c r i b e d h i s condition as stable

Centre gives more powers to J&K Lieutenant Governor

T he Centre h as vested more pow ers to th e Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jamm u a nd K as hm ir fo r tak in g dec isio ns o n p ol ice, officers of all- India s ervices such a s th e I AS a nd t h e I P S , an d gi vi ng s anc tio n f or pros ecution in vario us cas es

Bhubaneswar to Puri for storing the valuables, with nine more in production Justice Biswanath Rath, chairman of the committee overseeing the inventory, said the ratna bhandar was not fully dilapidated “We found five almirahs and six or seven wooden chests (sinduka) in the inner chamber We did not open them to check valuables ” Govt announced that the inventory would occur inside t h

work

CRPF jawan killed, cops hurt in Manipur attack

A CRPF consta ble from Bihar wa s killed and two Ma nipur cops an d an un iden tified civilia n wer e woun ded in an a mbush by suspecte d milit ant s in Jiriba m distr ict , the con flict-ridde n sta te ’ s n ew flashpoin t bor der in g sout h Assa m

CM N Biren Singh blamed the attack, the second one targeting security forces in just over a month, on an “armed group suspected to be Kuki militants” The attack at Morbung village of the district took place when a joint CRPF and Manipur Police team was en route to the area for an operation

The slain CRPF constable, 43-year-old Ajay Kumar Jha of Madhubani district, was felled by a bullet to his forehead, police said He was declared dead on arrival at a local hospital The wounded cops are said to be out of danger while the civilian is receiving treatment at a hospital in Assam’s Silchar

The ambush was the second such attack on security forces in Manipur in just over a month On June 10, suspected militants targeted the advance security convoy of CM Biren Singh in Kangpokpi district, injuring a policeman

previous concurrence of the Finance

D e

'Public Order', 'All India Service' and 'Anti- Corruption Bureau' to exercise the discretion of the Lieutenant Governor under the Act shall be concurred or rejected unless it has been placed before the Lieutenant Governor through the C

notification issued by the Union home ministry Besides, the ministry said, in the

D e c i s i o n s r e g a r d i n g t h e appointment of advocate general and o t h e r l a w o f f i c e r s , b e s i d e s m a t t e r s related to the anti-corruption bureau will also be taken by the LG These p o w e r s w e r e g i v e n t o t h e L G b y amending the rules issued under the Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which was enacted for the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, while abrogating Article 370 " N o p r o p

prosecution sanction or filing of appeal shall be placed before the LG through the chief secretary by the department of law, justice and parliamentary affairs In the principal rules, in rule 43, after the third proviso, the home ministry said, the following provisos shall be inserted, namely "Provided also that in

Prisons, Directorate of Prosecution and

Lieutenant Governor by Administrative Secretary, Home Department through the Chief Secretary," it said

At Morbung, the joint patrol team was bombarded by militants strategically positioned at five to six locations The security personnel retaliated and the gunfight continued until noon, after which the militants moved to the forested hills in the vicinity Jha, who was at the wheel of the vehicle ferrying the team, was apparently the first to be struck by a bullet A d d i t i o n a l s e c u r i t y f o r c e s h a v e b e e n d i s p a t c h e d t o Morbung for a combing operation to flush out the suspected militants CM Biren Singh wrote on X, “I strongly condemn the killing of a CRPF jawan His supreme sacrifice in the line of duty shall not go in vain ”

“The sustained and coordinated attacks on the Kuki Zo people in the Jiribam region represent a ruthless attempt to further ethnic persecution This has severely disrupted the l i v e s , s a f e t y , a n d s e c u r i t y o f t h e K u k i - Z o c o m m u n i t y

Hundreds of villagers have been compelled to flee their homes in Jiribam due to ongoing oppression by Meitei armed groups, with many now displaced in relief camps, ” it said

Kukis also criticised what it described as “ a deliberate failure of the CRPF to maintain neutrality”

Death of innocent people unacceptable, says PM Modi in Austria

Death of innocent people, w hether in Ukraine or Gaza o r anyw here else, is unacc ep tab le, P M Nar en d ra M odi said after talks with

A u st ri an C h an c ell o r K a rl Neham mer as the shad ow of U kraine ag ain loo med ov er w hat w as the first visit by an Indian PM to Austria in 41 years

Recalling the 19th cen-

t u r y V i e n n a C o n g r e s s , which provided direction to p e a c e a n d s t a b i l i t y i n Europe, Modi reiterated his m e s s a g e t o R u s s

President Vladimir Putin in 2022 that this isn’t the era of war “We discussed in detail

t h e o n g o i n g c o n f l i c t s around the world, whether it is the conflict in Ukraine o r t h e s i t u a t i o n i n W e s t Asia I have said before that this is not a time for war Problems cannot be solved on the battlefield The loss of innocent lives, anywhere, is unacceptable,” Modi said, a d d i n g I n d i a a n d A u s t r i a emphasised on dialogue and diplomacy for the earliest possible restoration of peace and stability “We are both ready to provide every possi-

ble cooperation to achieve this,” he said Interestingly, Nehammer said he and Modi agreed the West and Global South must

c o m

pursue the path chosen at t h e p e a c e s u m m i t i n Switzerland “Also, in this regard, India has a crucial r o l e T h e w a

must end,” he said

While India did particip

summit at the senior official level, it did not endorse the joint declaration that called for making Ukraine’s territorial integrity the basis of any peace process because Russia wasn’t invited to the conference India’s position h

involves both sides

In the joint statement, both leaders supported any collective effort to facilitate a peaceful resolution consistent with international law and the UN Charter Both sides believe that achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine requires bringing together all stakeholders and a sincere and e

between the two parties to the conflict ”

The leaders also stressed the need to intensify cooperation in a range of areas i n

water and waste management, infrastructure devel-

energy

Austria joined India in unequivocally condemning terrorism and lauded India’s leadership of the IMEC initiative “We both strongly c

i s m W e agree that it is unacceptable in any form and cannot be justified in any way, ” Modi s a i d w h i l

n

n g shared values like democracy and rule of law

Govt notifies emergency anniversary as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’

Escal ating its counte r t o the ‘ S a v e C o n st i t ut i on ’ ca mpaign that Congress and it s par tner s starte d a gainst B JP in the build-up to the Lok Sa bha poll s, the Cen tre notified June 25 , t he ann ive rsary

o f t he i mp os it i o n o f t h e e me rgency in the country in 1975 by the t he n PM Indira

G a n d h i, a s ‘ S a mv i dh a n H atya D iwas’

“(It is) a tribute to all

t h o s e w h o s u f f e r e d a n d fought against the gross misuse of power during the period of emergency and also recommit people of India to not support in any manner such gross misuse of power in future,” the union home

ministry stated in its gazette notification

“On June 25, 1975, the then PM Indira Gandhi, in a brazen display of a dictatoria l m i n d s e t , s t r a n g l e d t h e soul of our democracy by imposing emergency on the nation Millions of people were thrown behind bars for no fault of their own, and the v o i c e o f t h e m e d i a w a s s i l e n c e d , ” h o m

e r Amit Shah wrote on X BJP has been smarting

u n d e r t h e

a l i s a t i o n t h a t C o n g r e s s a n d o t h e r c o nstituents of INDIA bloc mana

U P , Maharashtra and Rajasthan

We Are All Humans (WAAH)

WAAH was launched by Shri Praful Amin in the

U n i t e d K i n g d o m ( U K ) t o bring together people who are interested in literature and community work The goal of establishing WAAH

w a s i t s i n v o l v e m e n t t o engage in social work, which s

d f

r d e v e l o p i n g scientific perspective in the community

With this aim, he started WAAH in India, his motherland, with the goal of providing scientific facilities that are lacking in interior rural area/s, identifying brilliant children and aiding them in

WAAH CSCs have been set up in 16 districts of Gujarat like Sabarkantha, Mehsana, A r a v a l l i , A n a n d , B a n a s k a n t h a , D w a r k a , Ahmedabad, Patan, Kutch,

S u r a t , N a r m a d a , V a l s a d ,

R a j k o t , A m r e l i , Gandhinagar and Vadodara

W A A H C S C s e t u p i n schools has sparked interest in students, teachers as well as the community towards

realizing their full potential, establishing R&D centres of excellence, and developing an R&D eco-system WAAH

in the LS polls by unleashing the “false propaganda” that BJP would change the constitution to scrap caste quotas if it won over 400 seats BJP’s own assessment, with which many independent political circles concur, was that the charge was effective in turning a large section of Dalits a w

o m t h

p

y a n d nudging them towards the I N D I A b l o c S h a h f u r t h e r said, “The decision made by the govt led by PM Narendra Modi ji is intended to honour the spirit of millions who struggled to revive democracy despite facing inexplicable persecution at the hands of an oppressive govt ”

WAAH CSC opened in Jamalpur

of F

e f f e c t i v e l y b e g a n i n Ahmedabad, India in 2015 WAAH distributed science activity material kits to 231 s c h o o l s i n G u j a r a t , t o encourage students understand science using ‘learning by doing’ approach and foster scientific mindset The t r u s t c o n d u c t e d s c i e n c e competitions and conducted Prof Dinesh O Shah s lecture series on 'cutting edge' scie n c e t h e m e s , t o e n h a n c e public understanding of scientific inquiry and innovat i v e t e c h n o l o g i e s F o r greater reach of WAAH and its vision, WAAH collaborated with Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre ( V A S C S C ) , A h m e d a b a d i n 2022 to popularize science

a n d p r o m o t e i n n o v a t i v e r e s e a r c h i n ‘ S c i e n c e f o r Society’ The main aspect of this collaboration is Setting u p W A A H C o m m u n i t y S c i e n c e C e n t r e s ( W A A H C S C s ) a n d c o n d u c t i n g W A A H S c i e n c e L a u r e a t e Awards

W A A H C S C s s u p p o r t t h e i n t e g r a t i o n o f S T E M

education in the school curriculum The aim is to prov i d e s t u d e n t s m u l t i d i s c ip l i n a r y a b i l i t i e s , p r o m o t e i n n o v a t i o n c u l t u r e a n d make them future-ready by giving them dedicated space f o r n u r t u r i n g s k i l l s l i k e

p r o b l e m - s o l v i n g , c r i t i c a l thinking, creative thinking, etc This facility targets students of std 6-12 They are e q u i p p e d w i t h T e a c h i n g L e a r n i n g M a t e r i a l ( T L M ) like models, teaching aids, large and small interactive exhibits, kits for performing experiments etc Till date 28

science and generated scientific outlook In the next y e a r s , W A A H h o p e s t o establish more of these centres throughout India This y e a r , ‘ W A A H S c i e n c e Fellowship’ – a fellowship programme has been initi-

motivate young aspirants to pursue science and encourage them to continue their higher studies and research in various fields of science and technology, for overall development of the society In WAAH Science Laureate Awards - First edition (2022) best 10 entries and during second edition (2023) best 7 e n t r i e s a l o n g w i t h t h e i r mentors for their innovative research/discovery for societal benefits were awarded

totalling

6,00,000 in each edition The Awardees and their mentors were highly m o

the Award This Award also assisted a few awardees in obtaining scholarships for h

research funds Innovative research beneficial for the society at grass root level a

nized Hence, in the year

announced wherein educa-

mandatory WAAH is now embarking

ated for strengthening and hand-holding of the WAAH C o m m u

n c

Centres It aims to enrich

them with training and realworld exposure and develop skills required for effective communication, to bridge t h e g a p b e t w e e n s c i e n c e and society WAAH Science Laureate Awards are aimed to encourage individuals as well as scientific community for research and also to recognize their innovative work for addressing societal issues and working towards innovative solutions to such issues The objective is to

on its third vision, which is to conduct research and develo p m e n t ( R & D ) a c

v i t i e s i n India It has been proved that a country's progress is based on its strong R&D India has many world-renowned institutes, like the Homi Bhabha N

Laboratory, and the Indian Space Research Organisation ( I S

nations Shri Praful Amin’s dream is to evolve WAAH organical-

Narendra Modi

WAAH Science Laureate Awards 2023 - Award Ceremony

Students of WAAH CSC Kesharpura with their model of circumpolar constellation

Students learning properties of light concept through double periscope at WAAH CSC Dharampur

Praful Amin

Former Andhra

CM Jagan, five others booked for murder bid

V IJ A Y A WA DA : Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and t wo senior IPS officers are among five people booked in an at temp t to mu rder case follow ing a co mplaint by a TDP MLA Former CID chief PV Sunil Kumar and former Intellig ence ch ief PSR Anjaneyulu ar e the two IPS officers who have been booked In his complaint, Undi MLA K Raghurama Krishna Raju alleged that he was arrested in 2021 by the CID in Hyderabad He accused Jagan and other officials of "plotting a criminal conspiracy" against him Raju, who was previously with the YSR Congress, alleged that after his arrest he was not produced before the local magistrate He also claimed that the CID did not have a transit arrest warrant, and he was shifted to the agency's office in Guntur Raju said that Sunil Kumar,

Anjaneyulu and other police officers thrashed him and he wasn't even allowed to take his medicines He also alleged that some officers "sat on his chest" in an attempt to kill him The TDP MLA said he was then shifted to a government hospital where he was not given proper treatment by former Guntur Government General Hospital superintendent Dr Prabhavathi He also alleged that Sunil Kumar threatened to kill him if he criticised the then chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy

ED detains

former Karnataka minister in £9.4 mn scam

BENGALURU: Enforcement Directorate detained former Karnataka minister B Nagendra in a moneylaundering case linked to the alleged Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation scam involving £9 4 mn

The detention followed a two-day ED search at multiple locations linked to Nagendra, corporation chairman Basanagouda Daddal and others Officials picked up Nagendra from his Bengaluru residence Nagendra’s houses in Bengaluru and Ballari were searched for two days and they also questioned Nagendra

Nagendra quit as tribal welfare minister early June after one of his aides was linked to the tribal welfare fund scam About £9 4 mn was allegedly transferred between Feb and May from the corporation’s bank accounts to multiple mule accounts opened using stolen identities

The scam surfaced after a corporation employee died by suicide in May, leaving behind a note in which he detailed how he was under pressure to divert the corporation’s funds The note had referred to ‘ a minister’

Under pressure from opposition BJP and JD(S), state govt constituted a SIT of CID to probe the case Nagendra resigned after probe revealed the role of his aide, Nekkuni Nagaraj, in the scam

ACCUSED IN MURDER OF BSP LEADER SHOT DEAD

A key accused in the murder of BSP Tamil Nadu chief K Armstrong was shot dead police said, adding that he allegedly opened fire at them and attempted to flee from their custody Opposition politicians raised questions about the police’s version of events that led to the killing of K Thiruvengadam According to police when Thiruvengadam was taken to Manali as part of the investigation, he escaped from their custody after pushing away the policemen on escort duty Though the police personnel tried to apprehend Thiruvengadam, he fled the police said Eventually the sleuths spotted him at a nearby locality When they tried to arrest him, the accused allegedly opened fire at the police using his unlicensed pistol For self-defence a police inspector shot Thiruvengadam, the police said

SC STAYS BLOCKING OF KANNADA TV CHANNEL

Rebel Akali leaders announce launching of SAD reform movement

CH ANDI GAR H: Tension prevailed at the head office of the Shiromani Akali Dal in Sector 28 following reports that the rebel group was trying to enter the place Police security increased as the you th wo rkers including members of the Stu dent Organis ation of I ndia (SOI) gathered at the gates to thwart the rebels

Meanwhile, the rebels assembled at Convention Centre, Sector 36 The rebels announced launching of the Shiromani Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar (SAD reform movement) and a presidium system of collective leadership They remembered stalwart Akali leader Gurcharan Singh Tohra Gurpartap Wadala was made convenor of the movement while Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa would be

PUNJAB WEST BENGAL

its patron

The move comes amid growing discontent with the current leadership, particularly SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, following the party's recent electoral losses

The dissenting leaders, including notable figures like former MP Chandumajra and exMLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala, have called for Badal to step down The group aims to

reconnect with expelled leaders and celebrate key anniversaries of historical figures to reinvigorate the party's base Wadala emphasized the need for new leadership, citing the unimplemented Jhunda committee report as a missed opportunity for change Akal Takht Jathedar

summons Badal

Meanwhile, the five High Priests led by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh summoned Badal to appear at the Akal Takht within 15 days to submit in writing his reply to the allegations levelled by a group of rebel Akali leaders

The decision was taken at a

‘Martyrs’ Day’ versus ‘Democracy Slaughter Day’ on July 21 in Bengal

K OLK A TA: West Bengal is headed for an eventful day on July 21 as Trinamoo l Co ngress will o bserve it as ‘Martyrs’ Day’ while the BJP has said they will o bserve the day as ‘ Demo cracy S laughter Day’

Trinamool will organise its annual ‘Martyrs’ Day’ programme on July 21 at central Kolkata as a tribute to the 13 people killed during a demonstration held by the West Bengal Youth Congress led by Mamata Banerjee on July 21, 1993

the day as ‘Democracy Slaughter Day’,” Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari announced at the end of BJP’s four-hour sit-in demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan in central Kolkata as a mark against the post-poll violence in the state

On the same day, the BJP will hold protest demonstrations in front of all the police stations of the state, calling it ‘Democracy Slaughter Day ’

“Trinamool government stopped the Hindu voters from casting their votes both in the Lok Sabha polls as well as in the bypolls this year I will request all the democracy-loving people to join our protest on July 21 We will observe

He said that the BJP will organise the protest against the continuing post-poll violence in West Bengal and added that around 10 million people were unable to cast their vote in the 2023 state panchayat polls as well

“The effigies of the Chief Minister will be burnt at the end of the demonstration on July 21, ” the LoP said

meeting of the five High Priests held at the Akal Takht Secretariat The rebel Akali leaders had submitted a written apology to Giani Raghbir Singh on July 1 In the letter, they had apologised for being part of the SAD government (2007-2017) when the top leadership committed several “ mistakes” leading to SAD’s debacle in the elections

In the letter, they had mentioned about the controversial exoneration of the Sirsa dera head, failure to punish the perpetrators of sacrilege instances at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura, appointment of controversial cops to top posts and justice not being delivered to the sacrilege victims during the SAD government

Bengal govt moves SC against governor for stalling 8 bills

KO L KA T A : We st Ben gal ’ s Mam ata Bane rjee -led Trinam ool g ovt move d Supr eme Court a gainst the governor for stalling eight bills passed by the assembly, six of which are pending for a year and 10 months and two for eight months The time frame coincides with the tenures of governor CV Ananda Bose, and his predecessor and current Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar Seven of the bills pertain to the appointment of vice-chancellors (VCs)

In its plea, the state has contended that a governor “must not be allowed to use pocket veto through the back door” when the Constitution does not give him or her such discretionary powers

The 124-page special leave petition (SLP) was mentioned before a bench of CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra “The bench said the matter will be heard early,” said Sanjay Basu, Bengal’s senior standing counsel in SC

The seven VC-related bills deal with the appointments in state-aided and private varsities These include the ones in which the CM replaces the governor as state university chancellor and state education minister replaces the governor as “visitor” in private universities

Six of these bills were passed in June 2022, when Dhankhar was governor The seventh was passed in Aug 2023 after Bose stepped into Raj Bhavan It seeks to expand the search-and-selection committee for VC appointment as per UGC norms, but in a manner that gives the majority voice to state nominees

The Supreme Court said suspension of broadcast by Kannada news channel Power TV after it extensively reported the alleged sex scandal involving JD(S) leaders appeared to be “sheer political vendetta” and stayed a Karnataka HC order that had virtually blocked its operations “We must zealously protect the right to free speech,” said a bench of CJI D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra Protesting the CJI’s remarks solicitor general Tushar Mehta said “The Supreme Court said something which may not be justified from the records The show cause notice to the channel was issued on Feb 9 as it was found that the license for uplink and downlink permissions have been sublet by the channel Subletting the uplink and downlink permissions can t be done without the ministry of home affairs express permission as it could be misused to the detriment of the nation

CHAUTALA'S INLD, MAYAWATI'S BSP FORM ALLIANCE

Haryana's Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) stitched a pre-poll alliance for the state Assembly elections likely to be held in October INLD Secretary General Abhay Chautala and BSP national coordinator Akash Anand said the alliance would explore options to join hands with other like-minded social and political outfits The alliance s Chief Minister face would be Abhay Chautala the grandson of former Deputy Prime Minister and state s tallest Jat leader Chaudhary Devi Lal While the INLD would contest on 53 out of 90 seats the BSP would fight on the remaining 37 seats As per the manifesto both parties promised to do away with contractual employment by offering permanent jobs, setting up solar plants to minimise the electricity bill of each household to ₹ 500, besides free water, old-age pension, unemployment allowance

TMC MAN SHOT DEAD AT BENGAL ROADSIDE DHABA

A Trinamool Congress functionary was gunned down and another seriously wounded when a gang of eight to 10 fired gunshots at them while they were having dinner at a roadside dhaba in Islampur in Bengal s Uttar Dinajpur district about 510 km north of Kolkata The murder of Bapi Ray 36, sparked daylong sporadic protests and roadblocks with party workers and locals demanding arrest of the assailants Ray’s wife Lipi demanded a CBI probe into the attack According to sources, business rivalry could be the murder motive Ray was jailed before for his involvement in the illicit liquor trade Police said an inter-state manhunt has been launched Dhaba workers were interrogated and CCTV footage checked Ray was eating along with a few other Trinamool workers when the gunmen arrived in a car They shot Ray in his chest and throat multiple times from close range and went away His friend Sajjad was also hit Both of them were taken taken to a hospital where Ray was declared dead

Suvendu Adhikari & Mamata Banerjee

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy

PM Modi launches infrastructure projects worth £2.9 bn in Mumbai

P rime Minister Narendra Modi said that he plans to turn Mumbai as world’s financial powerhouse and fintech capital

Inaugurating and launching various infrastructure projects worth £2 94 bn in the city, PM Modi also said that h e wants Maharash tra to p lay a key role to make India a developed nation in the next 25 years

PM Modi virtually launched and inaugurated various infrastructure projects from Goregaon’s Nesco Exhibition Centre It included groundbreaking of India’s longest urban tunnel project from Thane to Borivali at the cost of £1 6 bn, groundbreaking of twin tunnel project of Goregaon Mulund Link Road at the cost of £630 mn as well as inauguration of Mukhyamantri Yuva Karya Prashikshan Yojana to upskill 10,00,000 youth of Maharashtra every year at the cost of £554 mn

The PM also laid foundation of multiple railway projects including Kalyan Yard Remodeling at the cost of £81 3 mn and Gati Shakti Multimodal cargo terminal at Turbhe at the cost of £2 7 mn The construction of new platforms at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at the cost of £6 4

mn and extension of platform number 10 and 11 at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus at the cost of £5 2 mn was also inaugurated

While inaugurating various projects, PM Modi said, “Maharashtra has a prestigious history, an empowered present and a dream of an enriched future It will play a big role in making a Vikasit Bharat Today Maharashtra has power of industry, agriculture as well as finance sector, and my target is to use this power to turn Maharashtra into world’s financial powerhouse I also want to make Maharashtra tourism number one in the country,” said PM Modi

He added that the infrastructure development projects launched by the NDA government has increased employment opportunities in Maharashtra and will increase multi fold in the

coming times He claimed that the upcoming Wadhavan port in Maharashtra , which has been approved by the union government before two weeks, will generate 10,00,000 employment

Taking a dig at the Congress and other opposition parties, PM Modi accused them of being enemies of investment, infrastructure and India’s development “According to a report of RBI, the country has generated around 80 mn new employment opportunities in the last three to four years This has sealed the lips of those who were spreading the wrong narrative Their policies betray the youth and snatch employment from them,” he added He also took a dig against political parties and environmental activists for opposing the Atal Setu, claiming that it is benefiting around 20,000 people everyday

Patanjali halts sale of 14 products following licence suspension by Uttarakhand authorities

B aba Ra mde v ’ s Patan jal i Ay ur veda Ltd a nnounced that it has halted the sale of 14 products following the immediate suspe nsion of their manufacturing licences b y the Uttar akhand state l icensing authority The compa ny inf ormed the Supreme Court that it had directed its 1,606 franchise stores to withdraw t he se products

Patanjali also reported to the apex court that media platforms have been instructed to remove advertisements for these 14 prod-

ucts in all formats A bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta is scheduled to hear the matter on July 30

The Uttarakhand state licensing authority stated in an affidavit that the cancellation order was issued due to “repeated violations” of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 On April 30, the authority suspended the manufacturing licenses of 14 products made by Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd and Divya Pharmacy

with immediate effect

The Supreme Court is currently hearing a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) which alleges that Patanjali Ayurveda conducted a smear campaign against the Covid vaccination drive and modern systems of medicine

The top court had reserved its order on May 14 regarding the contempt notice issued to yoga guru Ramdev, his aide Balkrishna, and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd in the misleading advertisements case

INDIA bloc wins 10 of 13 by-elections

INDIA bloc emerged as a major gainer in the by-election by winning 10 seats, while the BJP won just 2 One seat was bagged by an independent candidate

Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool

Congress won all four seats of West Bengal that went to bypolls The Congress has bagged four seats - two each in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh The Aam Aadmi Party won the lone seat in Punjab An Independent candidate won Bihar's Rupauli seat

The BJP has bagged one seat each in Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh In West Bengal's Raiganj seat, TMC leader Krishna Kalyani defeated BJP leader Manas Kumar Ghosh by over 50,000 votes

Madhupurna Thakur of TMC defeated Binay Biswas of BJP by about 33,000 votes in Bagda seat of West Bengal TMC leader Mukut

Adhikari won the Ranaghat Dakshin seat by about 39,000 votes

Mahatma Gandhi's statue removed in Assam, CM says 'not

aware'

TMC candidate Supti Pandey defeated BJP Kayan Chaubey by a margin of about 62,000 votes from Maniktala Assembly constituency

Congress won two of the three seats that went to bypolls in Himachal Pradesh

Kamlesh Thakur, wife of Himachal Pradesh

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, won the Dehri bypolls Congress candidate Hardeep Singh Bawa has also won from Nalagarh seat in Himachal Pradesh defeating KL Thakur of the BJP by about 8,900 votes

BJP candidate Ashish Sharma defeated Congress leader Pushpinder Verma by about 1,500 votes in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur seat In Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Mohinder Bhagat won Jalandhar

West bypoll defeating Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Sheetal Angural by over 37000 votes, according to Election Commission of India

The removal of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the the tea town of Doomdooma in Assam had lead to a massive co ntroversy with student leaders protesting the sudden removal Two days ago, the 5 5 foo t statue of Mahatma Gandhi, placed at the town's Gandhi Chowk in Tinsukia district, was removed by an excavator, triggered widespread backlash

However, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that he was not aware of the decision to remove the statue "I am not aware of this decision taken by the district administration Let me verify the facts Assam owes so much to Mahatma Gandhi He stood firmly with Bharat Ratna Gopinath Bordoloi when the Congress party led by Nehru wanted to include Assam in Pakistan

under the Grouping Plan," he said

The prominent All Assam Student Union (AASU) launched protests alleging that Gandhi's statue was removed to build a clock tower "When we met the municipal board and the town committee, they told us they have a plan to build clock tower but our question is why the civil society here was not taken into confidence before taking the decision to uproot the Gandhi statue?" said Pritam Neog, an AASU leader

Earlier, Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma

Gandhi, had attacked the BJP government in Assam over the statue's removal "Not surprising that the BJP government in Assam decided to replace Bapu's statue with a clock tower in Dibrugarh," he said "We don't oppose any city beautification project but it cannot be at the cost of Gandhi's statue We won t allow it They have to keep the statue and build a clock tower," Congress leader and former MLA Durga Bhumij said

Responding to concerns, BJP MLA from Doomdooma Rupesh Gowala said that a new statue was being created and would be placed at the original site within six months The new state would be a foot taller and would be placed next to a clock tower

India sees highest number of suicides in the world

India has the dubious distinction of having the highest number of suicides in the world According to a National Crime Recor ds Bu reau (NCRB) r ep ort , 171,000 people died by suicide in 2022 in India

The suicide rate has increased to 12 4 per 1,00,000 -- the highest rate ever recorded in India

Health experts point out that the major reason is depression - a mental illness that in some can be genetic and can be induced by some kinds of stressors

"The most common underlying reason for suicide is depression which in layman's language we say stress otherwise it can be due to impulsiveness or other factors also, but the majority are because of depression," Rajiv Mehta, Vice Chairperson, Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, said

The doctor noted that

common stressors in life are related to work, finances, relationship issues, and health

"These are the four common areas where the ups and downs in life can produce stress and slowly when stress becomes severe, it gets converted into anxiety and depression, which leads to suicide," he explained

Studies also indicate that about 50 to 90 per cent of individuals who die by suicide also suffer from mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder

"Today, suicide is the largest public health crisis facing India It is the leading cause of death among youth Suicide can occur impulsively during periods of extreme stress, and those who are vulnerable may struggle to cope with such stressors as financial difficulties, medical conditions, or personal loss Loneliness and isolation are also significant risk factors,"

Shyam Bhat, Psychiatrist and Chairperson, LiveLoveLaugh, said

"The rising trend of suicide in India is quite concerning and calls for attention," added Shambhavi Jaiman, Consultant Psychiatrist, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram In addition to mental health concerns or mental illnesses like depression, economic stress, unemployment, financial instability, huge amounts of debt for whatever reasons in their business, family conflicts, and marital discord all leading to hopelessness, are other contributing factors, the doctor said Unfortunately, due to stigma and fear, discussions about suicide often happen in hushed tones, which only adds to its mystery Shyam called for offering genuine support without judgment or unsolicited advice to people in distress and helping them seek guidance

Sessions on the Hindu way of parenting in US

Dr Veemi Sanghavi from Mumbai vis ited Los Angeles , San Frans isco, Houston, and Phoenix and spoke about various topics relating to Hindu dharma, parenting, way of life, knowing Hindu roots, and the importance of rituals and customs

She is a management graduate with a background in internet technology Her interest in Vedic scriptures led her to create the website www hinduscriptures com and author a book series, Hindu Culture and Lifestyle, in three parts

She spoke at various temples and community centres, like the Vadtal Swaminarayan temple, and spoke about inculcating Hindu values to children living in the US She shared her insights on instilling

values that are time-tested, practical, and applicable in today's world Her approach modernises traditional practices to appeal to young parents, helping them understand traditional rituals more logically and practically

Dr Veemi Sanghavi

Indian among at least six killed in Muscat mosque attack

behind the attack were killed, the police statement added

The police gave a toll of six, including an

injured, including rescuers, paramedics, and people ‘from various nationalities ’

Ministry of Sultanate of Oman has informed that one Indian national has lost his life and another is injured We offer our sincere condolences and stand ready to offer all

platform X

The mosque is in Muscat s Al-Wadi AlKabira area, according to a statement by the

The victims include four Pakistanis as well, the foreign ministry said Thirty other Pakistanis were wounded The mosque was frequented by south Asian expatriates Oman is home to at least 400,000 Pakistanis,” Imran Ali, Pakistan's ambassador to the Gulf

shooting as a ‘divisive’ act, the United States embassy issued a security alert and cancelled all visa appointments for the day

PM Modi’s followers on X reach 100 mn milestone

Th e numb er of Pr ime Min iste r Na re ndr a Modi s fol lowers on his X ha ndle crosse d the 100-million mark on Sunday, re giste ring an impressive growth of near ly 30 million in the past thre e year s, official s said

He is already the most followed head of government on the social media platform globally Officials noted that his followers are q u i t

government with a large following are US

million)

In a post, Prime Minister Modi said, "A hundred million on @X! Happy to be on this vibrant medium and cherish the discussion, d e b a t e , i n s i g h t s , p e o p l e ' s b l e s s i n g s ,

constructive criticism and more Looking forward to an equally engaging time in the future as well " An official said, "PM Modi has more followers even compared to active global athletes like Virat Kohli (64 1 million), Brazilian footballer Neymar Jr (63 6 million) a n d A m e r i c a n b a s k e t b a l l p l a y e r L e B r o n James (52 9 million) "

"He is ahead of even celebrities like Taylor Swift (95 3 million), Lady Gaga (83 1 million), and Kim Kardashian (75 2 million)," the official said

H e s a i d w o r l d l e a d e r s o f t e n e a g e r l y engage with Modi on social media because connecting with him significantly boosts their own follower base, engagements, views and reposts This was seen recently in Italy as well as Austria, the official added Prime Minister Modi is also an influential presence on YouTube and Instagram with nearly 25 m i l l i o n s u b s c r i b e r s a n d m o r e t h a n 9 1 million followers respectively

The ABPL Group extends birthday wishes to, Alpesh B Patel OBE

We sincerely appreciate your invaluable contributions to Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar. Alpesh's insightful columns have enlightened and inspired our readers, making a significant impact in our community We extend our warmest wishes for his continued success, health, and happiness

Man receives call From Flipkart 6 years after placing order

A Mumbai man who placed an order on Flipkart six years ago recently received a call from the e-commerce platform Ahsan Kharbai ordered a pair of Sparx slippers in May 2018 but never received them After the long delay, Flipkart customer support recently reached out to him, leaving him amused He shared his strange experience on X with a screenshot of his order history He had ordered a pair of Sparx Slippers worth ₹485 on May 16, 2018 According to the order details, the slippers were shipped three days later, on May 19, and the delivery date was May 20 However, the order still shows as undelivered Kharbai said the slippers never arrived, and the app always showed they were "arriving today" Even now, the status remains the same, he said Kharbai explained the order was a cash-on-delivery transaction, hence he did not pursue the matter further There was no option to cancel the order on the app, he said, adding he wanted the order closed because it was the first item he saw in the Flipkart order section The customer care representative asked if he had received any call from the logistics team, and then apologised for the issue, saying they were "very sorry for this sir"

Canadian candidate receives zero votes

A Canadian man has become the first candidate in the nation's history to receive zero votes in a contested federal election Félix-Antoine Hamel was one of 84 candidates to run in a Toronto by-election after he and 76 others were approached by election reform group Longest Ballot Committee, which packed the race with candidates to successfully create the longest ballot in Canadian history Hamel was the only candidate in the race to receive zero votes He said he didn't even vote for himself because he is not a Toronto resident, and therefore not eligible to cast a ballot "When I saw the result, I was like: Well, I am the true unity candidate Everyone agrees not to vote for me, Hamel said Six other candidates in race received two votes each Hamel said he wasn t surprised by his showing in the election, but he was amused to learn of his unusual new distinction "I'm one of the last people that would be expected to make Canadian history in any way," he said

Six-legged dog settles into new life

A six-legged dog named Ariel, who was abandoned outside a B&M store in Pembrokeshire last September is settling into her new home She was only 11 weeks old at the time and was taken in by local centre Greenacres Rescue in Haverfordwest As well as six legs, the cocker spaniel was also born with two vulvas and only one kidney Ariel's new owner, Ollie Bird, runs an adaptive surf school in West Wales The 40year-old, who lives in Freshwater West, said that he and his family were "probably the only people in Wales" who had not heard about Ariel's story when they adopted her Ariel's arrival came at a time when the family were mourning the loss of their dog "We had a 16-year-old dog that we found 13 years ago wandering down Freshwater West beach And, unfortunately, he just suddenly passed away overnight," Bird said “And then we realised that our home felt empty without one and we applied to Greenacres for a dog " Greenacres then got back in touch with the family and they were introduced to Ariel

Upset over marriage refusal, woman bobbitises boyfriend

A 23-year-old woman allegedly chopped off the genitals of her boyfriend after he refused to marry her The 35-year-old Ravi, a street vendor, was admitted to the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial hospital in Delhi after the grisly incident, where he underwent surgery He was allegedly attacked at his girlfriend's house in outer Delhi's Mangolpuri area, where he was called by her relative, police said When he reached their home, his girlfriend of four years, broached the topic of marriage However, Ravi refused, saying his family was against it, police said The victim told police that the woman then pushed him inside the bathroom, undressed him and forced him to have sex with her She allegedly threatened him of dire consequences if he did not give in to the demand, a senior police officer said Enraged at his refusal, the accused chopped off the man's genitals with a kitchen knife, the officer said The victim said the woman's brother and sister-in-law were present at the house when the incident took place He alleged that they did nothing to stop the woman from attacking him After the attack, Ravi rushed out of the house shouting for help Some neighbours informed the police and rushed him to hospital After a surgery, he was referred to the Jaipur Golden Hospital

Sleepwalker

dies after falling from Mumbai building

A 19-year-old youth allegedly having sleepwalking condition died after falling from the sixth floor of a building in Mumbai, police said The incident took place at around 5 am at the Aqua Gem Tower on Nesbit Road in Mazgaon area in south Mumbai, an official said Mustafa Ibrahim Chunawala was found lying unconscious at the podium on the building’s third floor, he said After receiving information, police reached the spot and rushed him to Saifi Hospital where doctors declared him dead before arrival, the official said Chunawala was having the issue of ‘somnambulism’ (sleepwalking), he said The Byculla police have registered a case of accidental death, the official said, adding a probe was underway into the case

Karnataka farmer buys SUV after selling tomatoes

As tomato prices continue to soar across India, some farmers selling the expensive edible berry raking in huge profits A farmer in Karnataka reportedly earned almost Rs 40,00,000 this season by growing tomatoes on his 12-acre farm Speaking to TV9 Kannada, Rajesh from Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district said that he bought an SUV after selling his tomato harvest this season He said, “I have grown tomatoes on my 12 acres of farm I sold almost 800 bags of tomatoes and earned Rs 40,00,000 If the price of tomatoes remains the same for a few months, I might even make a profit of £100,000 I believed in my land and it did not disappoint It helped me to buy an SUV after selling tomatoes ” Rajesh also said that he would now look for a bride as he makes decent money to lead a good life “I was rejected earlier as families preferred grooms with government and corporate jobs I want to say that farmers can make more money than an employee if the right time comes I want to look for a bride now by going in my new SUV,” he added Tomato prices in Bengaluru continue to range from ₹100 to 120 per kilogram The high prices have been attributed to the sudden

The forgotten

Chivalric Orders of India - A study

Abhiroop Sengupta

Abhiroop Sengupta is a Kolkata based entrepreneur, fencer, amateur historian and writer Also a devoted Freemason and Rotarian, he spends most of his free time researching about varied subjects, especially those which he feels did not get their deserved due in the course of history

Chivalric Orders and Knighthoods have

subjects. It often acted, at least for the recipient’s psychology in some cases as a status elevator and in some other more deserving scenarios, as a true sign of

monarch or leader post the completion of an objective or post achieving something worthy of being awarded While the origin of the 'Chivalric orders' and 'Orders of M

concept, but it may be noted that the

Independence in 1857

The Back Ground

India s early brush with British & European chivalric orders started with a dream On one hand the dream to create an European supported governance and militia system by the Punjab Empire and on the other hand a dream of the young Indian Nawab Nazim of Bengal, Humayun Jah, to build himself a magnificent palace, The Hazardoari or the palace of the Thousand Doors As a token of respect, the young prince Humanyun Jah sent a model of his Palace to the British Monarch HM King William IV, who in return awarded him the Royal Guelphic Order This was around 1836 and he was in all probability the first Indian to receive an European Chivalric Order Following this in the early 1840s Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy became the first Indian to be knighted by the British monarch for his philanthropy (He later also became the first Indian to be made a Baronet) But beside the British Honors, there existed Indian Honours created by

Indian Monarchs throughout the 19th and 20th Century Here we will be talking about few of them

The Indian Orders

One of the earliest Western Style Chivalric Order system was established by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Sikh Empire between 1822 and 1837, which included the Order of the Propitious Star of Punjab and the Order of Guru Govind Singh They were believed to be in three classes each and in recent past, a badge of the first stated order was featured in the auction list of a major UK based auction house The Maharaja of Jammu & Kashmir, who belonged to a Dogra ruling house which had previously served the Sher-i-Punjab's court, too ended up establishing European styled medals for his troops from 1863 but one of the most interesting awards of his state was the Hunza Nagar Badge which was awarded in the form of a plaque(worn in a probable similar way how a chivalric

star is worn)

tuted multiple orders which included the Order of the Phul, The Royal Phulkian Family Order, The Order of Krishna, The Order of the Holy Saint and also an Order of Merit

The princely state of Mysore, boasted of the Gandabherunda Badge, a multi rank order with attached titles for its recipients The state also had the Mysore Distinguished Service Order which was established in 1913 In the eastern part of the nation, Order of Tripura with its titled ranks of Mahamanyabar and Manyabar was established by HH Maharaja Sir Bir Bikram Kishore Deb Burman of Tripura In Gujarat, the Shaktimant Makhapraphulla Order of Jhalavad of the 11 Gun Salute Princely State of Dhrangadhra was considered a respected order and was awarded to other ruling princes as well

Towards the twilight of the Empire, in the early 1940s General His Exalted Highness Nizam Sir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur of Hyderabad & Berar established the Osmani Crescent in a single class, while

The princely state of Rampur, in present day Uttar Pradesh, with its progressive

Nawabs, had two important decorations as well and they were the Nishan-i-Hamidiya and Nishan-i-Iqbal The Flamboyant & Francophile maharaja of Kapurthala, HH Sir Jagatjit Singh, too entered the scene in 1898 with the establishment of the Nishani-Shahi He further went on to establish the Nishan-i-Iftikhar and the Nishan-i-Askari (Military) Another unique order established by him involved the wearing of an miniature oval portrait of the Maharaja on the left breast of the recipient On the other hand, the Maharaja of Dewas(Senior) established the Jaripatka Decoration in three classes along with a separate Maharaja's Medal in a single class The Maharajadhiraj of Patiala, Lt General His Highness Sir Bhupinder Singh was not behind and between 1911 and 1937 he insti-

the Khusrow-i-Deccan medal was established by him in three classes The later and another decoration, called the Asafia Medal' which too was awarded in three classes shared an unique characteristic and that being that each of these classes had a limitation on the number of individuals it could be awarded to

Conclusion

Having mentioned about the above Orders it should be noted that it is just the tip of the iceberg as there were about 565 princely states in India during the time of independence with some quasi-raja zamindars taking the number even north Thus, the exact number of orders, knighthoods and medals, which came into existence during that phase is little difficult to arrive to without a deep, dedicated and largescale research

But in spite of this it cannot be forgotten that many of this orders at one point of time enjoyed a far different status and also earned the respect, desire and jealousy of the respective local populations they were entitled to and then again it should be noted that some of these orders are probably somewhat alive as Dynastic Orders, if not as Royal Orders and thus their legacy and heritage should be understood and documented for the generations to come

‘A Burning’ by Megha Majumdar

Burn ing”, took the lit era ry world by storm in 2020

It embodies many traits that define compelling literary fiction: it is highly political, challenges grammatical norms, and is designed to be devoured in one sitting What truly makes “A Burning” stand out is how the story of a young girl in Kolkata, India, reflects for the masses

The story follows three characters in the aftermath of a terrorist attack at a railroad station in a Kolkata slum Jivan is accused of aiding the terrorists, although her only "crimes" are writing anti-government Facebook posts and being in the wrong place at the wrong time

The other perspectives come from Jivan’s former physical education teacher, PT Sir, and Lovely, an aspiring actress who is a hijra, learning English from Jivan All three characters must deal with the repercussions of Jivan’s imprisonment and navigate the complex landscape of national politics and the

mob mentality fuelled by social media coverage The novel unfolds through the trials Jivan faces: first by the media, then by the court Meanwhile, Majumdar explores the moral dilemmas of Jivan’s two character witnesses: PT Sir and Lovely, both enticed by the promise of power and fame

The story serves as a cautionary tale for those who believe politics does not impact their lives Majumdar connects the private struggles of seemingly inconsequential people to the larger forces at play in India and globally She exposes issues of gender, religion, and class, compelling readers to continue even when they most want to look away

Rather than imposing her political opinions, Majumdar encourages readers to reflect on the influence of politics in their lives, particularly those who consider themselves apolitical

This novel isn't about easy answers or a driven plot This is the kind of story that will resonate during the day and keep you awake at night

Shefali Saxena

Spreading the spiritual benefits of yoga in the UK

Nimmi is a Chartered Accountant from Rajastha n, Ind ia who has lived in various countries before settling in London Yoga has been a passion of hers since childhood and she has completed two 200hour teacher training courses from The Yoga Institute in Mumbai and Adhiroha Yog a School in Rishikesh

Her goal is to share the spiritual benefits of yoga beyond just physical exercise As a co-founder of Anahat Yoga, she spoke to Asian Voice about her work:

1 Br ie fl y de scribe your background, family and how you started Anahat Yoga

At Anahat our goal is to make people experience the spirituality of India across the globe, as we endeavor to bring them closer to the yogic lifestyle

Me and my friend Sweta Bahri noticed a gap in the way yoga was perceived outside of India

After practising yoga in India and in the UK, we both felt the difference in yoga practice in the 2 continents We noticed that yoga was a more physical activity restricted to poses, alignments, muscle groups and spinal structure The anatomy took over the energy (prana) that resides beneath the physical body – the vital force that should be experienced on and off the mat However, we believe that yoga Asanas aren’t enough to bring you closer to what Yoga truly means

We decided to join hands and bring this Ancient knowledge to

the doorsteps of all the passionate yogis eager to deepen their practice but did not have access to the resources

I trained as a chartered accountant in Kolkota, and have since travelled the world with my husband and two children Sweta trained in India and began teaching there Yoga has always been a part of our lives but as the world heaved from the Covid pandemic it became essential to keep us moving and sane This is what we wanted to share when we started Anahat

2 Please explain to our readers a bit about Anahat Yoga What does it entail and how can readers sign up for it?

Anahat creates retreats for our yogis to totally immerse themselves in the practice, and create the right conditions for yoga Our locations are chosen to foster a sense of unity with nature, calm and quiet As they practice, our yogis can see acres of forests swaying and moving with them We hope they leave feeling connected and part of the system around them

We, at Anahat Yoga, offer a

NHS approves digital ADHD test

The NHS has received approval to implement a new digital test aimed at expediting the diagnosis of ADHD in children and young adults, a process that has historically taken several years

Draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) supports the use of the QbTest by psychiatrists and specialist pediatricians This computerbased assessment evaluates the primary traits of ADHD: inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity

Clinicians can integrate QbTest results with other diagnostic information to confirm or exclude ADHD in young individuals Nice indicated the test's applicability for diagnosing individuals aged six to seventeen in England and Wales

Experts have endorsed the introduction of the QbTest, predicting it will enable doctors to diagnose more individuals within six months of their initial assessment

Estimates using various diagnostic criteria suggest that anywhere between 1% and 9% of school-age children in the UK have ADHD

Pears: Nutrient-packed powerhouses

Pears are packed with nutrients and numerous beneficial plant compounds They can aid in weight loss and provide protection against certain chronic conditions Additionally, the fruit is an excellent source of essential minerals such as copper and potassium Copper supports immunity, cholesterol metabolism, and nerve function, while potassium is crucial for muscle contractions and heart function Moreover, pears are rich in polyphenol antioxidants, which guard against oxidative damage.

kirtans to breathwork to food habits to sleep hygiene to cultivating good habits- we offer a bit of everything to our guests With this approach, we are confident that each of our guests will leave the retreat taking back something valuable that will enhance their quality of life off the mat

'bento box' of spiritual avenues

We understand that one size does not fit all When it comes to understanding the depths of Indian spirituality- there is a plethora of getaways to reach the higher self There are many paths to reach the inner self within What may work for you to find inner peace may not work for me This is how we are different and if we may say so, 'unique' in our offering through our retreats

Our retreats are intentionally designed to open up various doorways to tap into the world of spirituality- from chanting to kriyas to

3 What does it take to nurture and revive the ancient practice of Yoga in the UK? Which cities do you cover?

We see classes advertised like 'speed yoga,' ' yoga bootcamp,' 'power yoga' and this is a real anathema to what we understand yoga to be, and what a teacher of yoga should offer Vitally, both Sweta and I trained in India in institutions which valued yoga as a way of being - a state of mind accessed through asana but so much more than just movement Sweta and I both have a deep spiritual practice and use yoga to find space, meaning and connection in

an isolated world It takes a lot of studying, practice and learning but most importantly a passion to make this the heart of our classes

Our yogis join us from different walks of life from working professionals to homemakers from all parts of UK Our past retreats have been in the beautiful serene countryside of UK,, but we have plans to branch out further

4 What kind of response have you received while practising yoga with non-Asians in the UK?

We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback NonAsians, like Asians, crave what yoga has to teach us when modern life becomes overwhelming and isolating Our non-Asians may have no other context for Vedic spiritual practice but have been deeply moved by what they feel during practice The chanting and kriya are a way to access something inside us that we carry everywhere but may not have noticed It feels very true It's a real privilege to teach this to people who may never have felt it before The challenge for all of us is to hold onto that feeling when we go back into the real world

5 Could you tell us briefly about your next retreats and plans?

All of our retreats to date have sold out and we are looking to offer more for our yogis next year We have at least two retreats in the cooking for 2025; one will be in the UK and we are also looking to offer our first international retreat Anyone interested can look out for announcements on our website or our Instagram page

No More shaming the night owls

Night owls tend to be mentally sha rper than morn in g peopl e, according to a study

Researchers discovered that adults who are more active in the evening rather than early in the morning generally performed better on various cognitive tests

A sleep expert emphasised that these findings support the idea that night owls should not be "shamed into fitting a stereotype that favours an ‘early to bed, early to rise’ practice "

The research team from Imperial College London analysed data from nearly 27,000 people aged 53 to 86 who participated in the UK Biobank project

They examined how different aspects of sleep such as duration, timing, and quality affected mental acuity and overall cognitive ability Participants completed computer-based tests to measure intelligence, reasoning skills, reaction times, and memory at a time of their choosing

The results showed that night owls

tended to perform better than morning larks Individuals with an “intermediate” chronotype, with no clear preference for mornings or evenings, scored in between the two groups

Dr Jessica Chelekis, a sleep expert from Brunel University London who was not involved in the study, stated:

“The main takeaway should be that the cultural belief that early risers are more productive than ‘night owls’ does not hold up to scientific scrutiny While

everyone should aim to get good quality sleep each night, we should also try to be aware of what time of day we are at our (cognitive) best and work in ways that suit us ”

The study also found that sleeping between seven and nine hours a night was optimal for mental sharpness, enhancing cognitive functions such as memory, reasoning, and processing speed In contrast, sleeping fewer than seven hours or more than nine hours had a “clearly detrimental” effect on brain function

Dr Raha West, from the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London, who co-led the research noted, “It is important to note that this doesn’t mean all morning people have worse cognitive performance The findings reflect an overall trend where the majority might lean towards better cognition in the evening types ”

Obesity jab may help prevent Dementia, help quit smoking

Weight loss injections like Ozempic might reduce the risk of dementia and help people quit smoking, new research suggests

A team from Oxford University explored the effects of semaglutide, marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy, on mental health and brain conditions They found that the drug is linked to a lower risk of cognitive problems such as memory loss, the first signs of dementia, and can also aid in smoking cessation

The study, which followed 130,000 American patients with type 2 diabetes over a year, including more

than 20,000 on semaglutide, found no negative mental health effects, reassuring diabetic patients with depression or anxiety about the drug's safety Semaglutide users did not show an increased risk of brain or psychiatric conditions, including dementia, depression, or anxiety, compared to those on other antidiabetic drugs Semaglutide was also associated with a reduced risk of nicotine dependence, adding to evidence that it might help treat addictions, including quitting cigarettes or alcohol Additionally, those taking the

drug were significantly less likely to develop cognitive impairments like memory loss or difficulties with attention and decision-making

The researchers claim this study provides the first robust evidence that semaglutide might enhance brain health and protect against addictions Dr Riccardo De Giorgi, the lead author, stated, "Our results suggest that semaglutide use could extend beyond managing diabetes, potentially offering unexpected benefits in treating and preventing cognitive decline and substance misuse "

Akshay Kumar

calls ‘Garam Masala’ his toughest film due to 10-minute single takes

Actor Akshay Kumar returns to theatres with the drama film *Sarfira*, directed by Sudha Kongara, featuring him in an intense role. Known for his versatility, Akshay has starred in numerous comedy films and has also ventured into the action genre In an interview, when asked to name the most challenging film of his career, Akshay cited the 2005 release *Garam Masala*, directed by Priyadarshan

Akshay began by stating, "The toughest? Honestly, it was *Garam Masala*! I used to get exhausted because Priyan [Priyadarshan, the director] Sir would take very long shots It felt more like performing in a play Despite the comedic premise of dating four women simultaneously, with all of them in the same house, I found it to be one of the most challenging films to work on "

He added, "It's hard to explain, but there was an expression change in almost every sentence I’d be talking to one girl, then she would turn away, and I'd have to immediately switch my expression for another girl, playing a different character because she expected something else from me Then Paresh Rawal would enter, bringing a completely different dynamic Priyan Sir would capture all of this in one continuous shot, sometimes lasting up to 10 minutes I found action and dance sequences easier because this required intense concentration, both physically and mentally "

Sonakshi Sinha confirms gatecrashers at wedding with Zaheer Iqbal: 'Some came to eat'

Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal tied the knot on June 23 in an intimate civil ceremony in Bandra, surrounded by loved ones The wedding was followed by a celebratory bash at Bastian, attended by several Bollywood celebrities In a recent interview, Sonakshi confirmed that there were gatecrashers at the party but joked that she was too occupied enjoying herself to notice

When asked about the presence of gatecrashers at the bash, Sonakshi confirmed, “There were wedding crashers here and there, but I was too engrossed in enjoying myself I'm glad they also had a good time (laughs) Every wedding, whether big or small, tends to have people dropping in to eat, and I think that's fine, although I've never crashed a wedding myself ” Regarding the planning of her wedding as an intimate ceremony, Sonakshi stated, “From the outset, we always intended to have an intimate wedding It was important for us that our wedding reflects who we are as individuals, our bond, and our love for each other "

Junaid Khan praises Kiran Rao's acting over Aamir Khan in family

Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan recently debuted in YRF’s *Maharaj*. However, in a recent interview, Junaid mentioned that he doesn't consider his father the best actor in their family He also revealed that he had previously auditioned for *Laal Singh Chadha*, a role ultimately played by Aamir Junaid shcared that he auditioned for 7-8 films before securing his first film role

In a conversation, Junaid revealed, "I've auditioned for numerous films, maybe around 7-8 " When asked about Kiran Rao's response to his film, Junaid said, "Kiran really enjoyed my film " He also disclosed an interesting detail about Kiran's acting abilities, suggesting she's a more talented actor than Aamir, who has been in the industry for over 35 years "Actually, Kiran is probably the est actor in the family," he said When asked about Aamir, Junaid uck to his opinion, reiterating, "No o, Kiran is definitely the best actor the family " He then revealed that iran had portrayed his mother uring his audition for Laal Singh hadha, adding, "I worked with her n the test for ‘Laal Singh Chadha’ he played my mother in a scene, nd from that experience, I can say he is by far the best actor in the family "

Vicky Kaushal reflects on 12-year journey from dreamer to superstar

Vicky Kaushal is gearing up for his upcoming romantic-comedy ‘Bad Newz’ While promoting his first release of 2024, he shared a throwback picture from his audition days on Instagram, along with a heartfelt note of gratitude

In the post shared by Vicky, he included two photos The first shows him holding a slate board with his name, age, height, date of birth, and other details The second photo captures him greeting the crowd with folded hands while standing on the roof of his car The ‘Bad Newz’ the actor captioned his post, "This day, 12 years apart nothing happens overnight Ever so grateful for all your love and blessings (heart and folded hand emojis) ”

Mrunal Thakur commented, "My heart is so happy for you @vickykaushal09 (blessings emoji) " Actor and casting director Abhishek Banerjee remarked, "This slate board looks familiar " Guneet Monga expressed, "My heart is so full god bless (heart emojis) " Ranveer Singh added, "Yaar (buddy)," with teary-eyed and heart emojis

Richa Chadha highlighted the picture from the days when ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ was in production, writing, Gangs of Wasseypur AD look (heart emoji) "

AR Rahman discloses that Michael Jackson almost sang for Rajinikanth’s Enthiran

AR Rahman shared insights into his meeting with Michael Jackson before the singer's death in 2009 In a video from a Malaysian media event, the music composer can be seen discussing with fans during a meet and greet Rahman revealed that the King of Pop was close to singing for Shankar’s Enthiran, starring Rajinikanth and Aishwarya Rai In early 2009, Rahman was in Los Angeles, USA, where he was introduced to someone who managed Michael Jackson "I expressed my interest in meeting him An email was sent, but there was no response

for a week Then, I received an Oscar nomination (for 'Jai Ho' from Slumdog Millionaire) Michael's team then contacted me saying he wanted to meet I responded, saying I preferred to meet him after winning an Oscar," Rahman recalled

And upon winning the Oscar, Rahman described the feeling as being "on top of the world I met him at a residence in LA the day after winning it He was very gracious; we discussed music and world peace He suggested we collaborate on the next 'We Are The World' and introduced me to his children He even demonstrated his heartfelt dance moves," Rahman recounted

Upon returning to India, Rahman shared details of his meeting with Michael Jackson with Shankar The director inquired if Jackson would collaborate for *Enthiran* "Shankar sir asked me if he would sing for the film I was amazed and asked, 'Will he sing a Tamil song?' He replied, 'Whatever you suggest, we will work on it together '" Unfortunately, the collaboration did not materialise as Michael passed away in June that year "He was unwell at that time," Rahman noted

‘Salaar’ overtakes ‘Pathaan’, becomes third largest Indian film opening in Japan

Salaar achieves the third-biggest Indian film opening in Japan, following RRR and Saaho Directed by Prashanth Neel, the film premiered in Japan on July 5, six months after its initial release last December Star Prabhas boasts a significant following in the country

According to Sacnilk, Salaar earned JPY 18 2 million (approximately Rs 95 lakh) in its debut weekend across nearly 200 screens in Japan

The film's opening surpasses the performance of Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan (2023), which grossed JPY 14 6 million in its first weekend, securing the third-largest opening for an Indian film in Japan

So far, SS Rajamouli’s *RRR*, featuring Jr NTR, Ram Charan, Alia Bhatt, and Ajay Devgn, holds the record for the highest opening for an Indian film in Japan, grossing JPY 44 million in 2022 Prabhas’ *Saaho* follows with

JPY 23 million *Salaar* has now reached JPY 23 million at the Japan box office, adding JPY 5 million in its recent earnings, as reported by Sacnilk Produced by Hombale Films, ‘Salaar’ featured

Siddharth credits Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan for influencing industry against alcohol, paan masala ads

Siddharth

has commended veteran actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan for establishing a standard in the Tamil film industry by never endorsing "alcohol, cigarettes, or paan masala." Speaking to the media, the actor mentioned that they made this choice long ago and have remained consistent with it.

Siddharth remarked, “Years ago, Rajini sir and Kamal sir made a decision they still uphold They refrain from endorsing surrogate advertisements for alcohol, smoking, paan masala, and similar products Their stance has set a precedent, and we're proud to have such legends in our industry They have been trailblazers in many aspects ”

In 2022, Akshay Kumar received criticism on social media for appearing in an advertisement for paan masala He had participated alongside Ajay Devgn and Shah Rukh Khan in promotions for Vimal's cardamom products, a brand that also markets tobacco items Following the backlash, he publicly announced his decision to end his association with the brand and apologised to his fans Kumar also pledged to dedicate the endorsement fee to a charitable cause, as stated in his message

Prabhas, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Shruti Haasan in lead roles Released on December 22, 2023, the film grossed over Rs 700 crore worldwide It ranked among the top-grossing Indian films of 2023 and was Prabhas' third highest-grossing film at that point

Netflix to release documentary featuring SS Rajamouli

Netflix

is set to launch a biographical documentary film on acclaimed director SS Rajamouli. The streaming platform made the announcement via an Instagram post. The poster shared by Netflix India

features an image of the director known for ‘Baahubali’ and ‘RRR’

Titled ‘Modern Masters: S S Rajamouli’, the documentary is set for release on August 2 Netflix India captioned the announcement: “One man Multiple blockbusters Boundless ambition What journey led this iconic filmmaker to the summit? ‘Modern Masters: S S Rajamouli’, premiering August 2, exclusively on Netflix!” Netflix is producing the documentary in collaboration with Applause Entertainment and Film Companion Studios

According to a report, Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli will be hosted by Anupama Chopra The documentary includes perspectives on the filmmaker's life from prominent figures such as James Cameron, Joe Russo, and Karan Johar, as well as insights from Rajamouli's close friends and industry colleagues like Prabhas, Jr NTR, Rana Daggubati, and Ram Charan, the report stated

Producer and host Anupama Chopra praised Rajamouli's impact on storytelling, stating, “SS Rajamouli is a visionary whose creativity has reshaped Indian cinema His cinematic mastery has enthralled global audiences His epic narratives have set new benchmarks in storytelling We are excited to collaborate with Netflix and Applause Entertainment to showcase his remarkable career and enduring influence on the film industry ”

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's starstudded wedding of the year

The youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, married his longtime girlfriend in a grand ceremony dubbed by many as the wedding of the year. Attended by global celebrities, business tycoons, and politicians, the event showcased the billionaire’simmensewealth and growinginfluence.

The celebrations of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant took place at the Ambani-owned Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, as well as the family home. The marriage marked the culmination of months of extravagant wedding events, featuring performances by pop stars such as Rihanna and Justin Bieber.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a reception organised by the Ambanis, where they hosted a “blessing ceremony” for friends and family to meet the newlyweds and extend their good wishes. Anant and Radhika's wedding cost approximately Rs 5000 crore (£500 million).

The groom, 29-year-old Anant,oversees his family's conglomerate's renewable and green energy expansion. Additionally, he manages a 3,000-acre (about 1,200hectare) animal rescue centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, the family's hometown. The bride, Radhika Merchant, also 29, is the daughter of

pharmaceutical tycoon Viren Merchant and serves as the marketing director for his company, Encore Healthcare.

From the beginning, the Ambani family's prewedding celebrations have been lavish and starstudded. In March, the Ambanis hosted a lavish prewedding bash for Anant, attended by 1,200 guests including former world leaders, tech tycoons, and Bollywood stars. Performances by Rihanna, Akon, and Diljit Dosanjh kicked off months of extravagant celebrations that dominated headlines and social media.

In May, the Ambani family organised a three-day cruise from Italy to France with performances by the Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry singing "Firework," and Pitbull. The festivities

included a mass wedding for over 50 underprivileged couples on July 2, followed by a star-studded prewedding concert featuring Justin Bieber and Bollywood icons Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, and Salman Khan. Renowned for blending tradition with contemporary elegance, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, the maestro of Indian bridal fashion, was noticeably

changing into more traditional attire for the ceremony. The bride looked resplendent in handembroidered bridal couture by the renowned Indian label Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla. Following Gujarati traditions, Merchant wore an opulent red-trimmed ivory ensemble, complete with a 16-foot-long veil embellished with stones and sequins. Her ensemble also

absent from the affair. His non-appearance is tied to strategic business decisions and investments within India's fashion industry, including a significant 51% stake held by the Aditya Birla Group, a corporate powerhouse with interests spanning fashion and textiles.

Reliance Brands Limited (RBL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, acquired a substantial 40% stake in MM Styles Private Ltd, led by designer Manish Malhotra. Additionally, Reliance secured a majority 52% stake in the esteemed designer label Ritu Kumar. In 2022, the Ambanis also

acquired a 51% stake in the Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla label.

Shubh Vivaah ceremony

The four-day wedding celebrations commenced with a traditional Hindu ceremony, to be followed by an extended weekend of festivities. Once inside the venue, transformed into a miniature version of the holy Indian city of Varanasi. Social media footage widely shared captured members of the Ambani family joining Indian singer Daler Mehndi on stage for a dance. The evening's entertainment lineup also featured Afrobeats star Rema, who performed his popular track "Calm Down."

As for the couple themselves, the groom initially arrived on the red carpet in a golden sherwani paired with sneakers, later

global president of Huda Beauty, with her husband

featured a long ghagra, or traditional skirt, with a nearly seven-foot-long detachable train.

Anant, on the other hand, donned a red sherwani embellished with intricate gold work, complemented by emerald

and diamond buttons. His ensemble was accessorised with a regal necklace and a massive diamond brooch featuring a panther crouched on a large 720carat emerald.

The following day, various dharma gurus gathered to bless the young Ambani couple as they embarked on married life, receiving wisdom and blessings from spiritual leaders of the Vedic tradition. Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, Swami Sadananda Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Dwarka Peeth, and Jyotirmath Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand were among the prominent seers who attended the 'Shubh Aashirwad' ceremony, which was attended by dignitaries from entertainment, politics, sports, business, and the spiritual world. International personalities graced the wedding events

The guest list boasts former British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Boris Johnson, John Kerry, the former US special envoy for climate, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H Nasser, along with prominent figures such as Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Mona Kattan,

Hassan Elamin, Singer and Actor Nick Jonas, WWE wrestler John Cena, Samsung chairman Jay Y Lee, FIFA President Giovanni Infantino, stylist Law Roach, Canadian singer and rapper AP Dhillon, Author and life coach Jay

Shetty and his wife Radhi Devlukia, Imagination Technologies Chairperson Bert Nordberg and many others.

Political dignitaries present at wedding celebrations

In a grand display of unity and goodwill, the wedding ceremony of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant drew a host of political dignitaries from across India. The Prime Minister was warmly welcomed into the venue, where celebrities, cricketers, business tycoons, and politicians had already gathered to celebrate the occasion.

The event was attended by a wide array of highprofile dignitaries, including Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal and President of TMC, Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Chief Minister of Bihar and President of RJD, along with former Chief Ministers Akhilesh Yadav of Uttar Pradesh, Sharad Pawar of NCP-SP, Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath of Madhya Pradesh, prominent Congress leaders Salman Khurshid and Kapil Sibal, and others like Abhishek M Singhvi, Sachin Pilot, Supriya Sule of NCP-SP, and DK Shivakumar of

diverse representation from across the political spectrum at this grand event.

From actors to cricketers attended the wedding festivities

Bollywood icons like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Ranbir Kapoor graced the wedding with their presence, delighting guests with their dance performances to popular Hindi movie songs.

Other actors such as Disha Patani, Suhana Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Rashi Khanna, Genelia D’Souza and Riteish Deshmukh, Alia Bhatt, Athiya Shetty and her partner who is a cricketer KL Rahul, Govinda were among the invitees.

South Indian personalities including Rajinikanth, Suriya, Jyotika, Ram Charan, Yash, Mahesh Babu, Rana Daggubati, Venkatesh Daggubati, Prithviraj, Atlee, and Nayanthara were also in attendance. Indian cricket legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav added to the star-studded guest list.

Lavish wedding culminates in grand reception

A wedding reception concluded the months-long celebrations for Anant Ambani the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani. Held at Mumbai’s Jio World Drive, a

event marked the "Mangal Utsav" (Festival of Bliss), widely regarded as the wedding of the year. Anant Ambani reportedly gifted his groomsmen exclusive luxury watches valued at Rs. 2 crore ( £138,000) each. The newlyweds were warmly greeted by friends and relatives, alongside world leaders and celebrities who graced both the wedding and reception. Even influencers attended the wedding reception. Popular content creators such as Dolly Singh, Kusha Kapila, Ankush Bahuguna, Apoorva, Komal Pandey, Siddharth Batra, Ritvi Shah, Juhi Godambe Jain, Parul Gulati, Ahsaas Channa, Ranveer Allahbadia, Tanmay Bhatt and more.

Oscar-winning music composer AR Rahman and National Award-winning singer Shreya Ghoshal reunited on stage, performing several of their hit songs at the Mangal Utsav wedding reception.

DrVinayRanigajoinsAnant-Radhika weddingcelebrations

Dr Vinay Raniga who is a NHS dental surgeon and was a prospective parliamentary candidate for Oxford West & Abingdon from Conservative party.

Speaking to Asian Voice, Vinay said, “It was a pleasure to attend the wedding functions of Anant & Radhika Ambani last weekend. There is no doubt that it was a spectacular celebration, the likes of which the world has never seen. However, what impressed me the most was how the Ambani family welcomed each and every guest with love, gratitude and humility regardless of who they were. That’s a testament to their character, and how they were able to imbibe India’s culture of atithi devo bhava perfectly. I wish Anant & Radhika many years of happiness.”

Dr Vinay Raniga with actor Govinda

Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone Kim and Khloe Kardashian

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas MS Dhoni with his family

John Cena

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt

L-R: Gauri Khan, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Savita Chhibber, Shriram Nene, Shah Rukh Khan, Aryan and Suhana Khan

India clinch T20I series against Zimbabwe 4-1

Sanju Samson’s 50 and Mukesh Kumar’s disciplined spell helped

In dia wind up the ir Zimbabwe tour with a comprehensive 42-run victory in the fifth and final T20I at Harare on Sunday With this win, In dia cl inched t he series 4-1 Samson’s (58 off 45b) was central to In dia’s 1 67 for six al ong with Shivam Dube’s flashy 26 (12b)

Then the India bowlers led by Mukesh (4/22), Shivam Dube (2/ 25) and Washington Sundar (1/7) did their job, bundling out Zimbabwe for 125 in 18 3 overs

After the early dismissal of Wessly Madhevere and Brian Bennett, the pair of Tadiwanashe Marumani (27) and Dion Myers (34) added 44 runs for the third wicket to keep the hosts in the hunt

Marumani’s switch-hit four off leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi was quite stunning in its execution But such shots were few and far between from the Zimbabwe batters

Marumani went for a sweep shot against Washington but missed the line altogether as the ball crashed on to his upper torso to get adjudged as leg-before Dube tailed a shuffling Myers with a quicker delivery onto his body, and the Zimbabwe batter merely chipped the ball to Abhishek Sharma at short third man

The final nail on their hope was the run out of skipper Sikandar Raza (8), which came in a

cartwheel of four wickets for nine runs Mukesh, who bagged his career-best T20 figures, fittingly ended the Zimbabwe innings with the wicket of Richard Ngarava

Brief scores:India 167 for 6 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 58, Shivam Dube 26; Blessing Muzarabani 2/19, Richard Ngarava 1/29) beat Zimbabwe 125 all out in 18 3 overs (Dion Myers, Faraz Akram 27; Mukesh Kumar 4/22, Shivam Dube 2/25) by 42 runs

Prideview Cricket Cup raises over £40,000 in annual charity event

The Prideview Group, held their twelfth #PrideviewCricketCup at Me rchant Taylor’s School in Northwood, Greater London

The popular annual event was organised to raise money for One Kind Act, which seeks to create a sustainable improvement in the lives of people suffering from poverty of health and education around the world

This year ’ s funds are being split between three charities: Made with Hope, supporting disadvantaged children in Tanzania with education and menstrual support, YUVA Unstoppable, which provides basic needs and educational support to children in India, and LandAid, the property industry charity, working to end youth homelessness in the UK

This year ’ s cricket day consisted of six 6-a-side cricket teams battling it out for the #PrideviewCricketCup Major Estates Harrow won the

tournament for the third year running, while newcomers to the event, Spector Constant & Williams, came second

The teams were joined by no less than six former international cricketers, Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa), Owais Shah (England), Saj Mahmood (England), Alex Tudor (England), Usman Afzal (Pakistan) and Ali Brown (England), each supporting one of the 6-a-side teams, imparting with their professional wisdom to help them play their best

Nilesh Raj Patel, Principal at The Prideview Group said, “A

President Murmu plays badminton with Saina at Rashtrapati Bhavan

President Droupadi Murmu played badminton with ace shuttler Saina Nehwal at the Badminton Court in Rashtrapati Bhavan last week

The official social media handle of the President of India shared a glimpse of President Murmu playing badminton

“President Droupadi Murmu’s natural love for sports and games was evident when she played badminton with Saina Nehwal at the Badminton Court in Rashtrapati Bhavan The President’s inspiring gesture aligns with India’s emergence as a badminton powerhouse, with women players making a significant impact on the world stage”, the official social media handle of the President said

“As part of the ‘Her Story – My Story’ lecture series featuring women Padma Awardees, Saina delivered a talk and interact with the audience at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre,” the post added

Hailing from Haryana, the 33-year-old shuttler has had an illustrious career, clinching a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi She has represented India in the Olympics three times, securing a bronze medal during her second appearance at London 2012

Her remarkable efforts have been recognized with the Arjuna Award in 2009 and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2010

Sp ain is t he kin g of Eur opean footba ll for a r ecord fourt h time For En gla nd, it is a not her agonising near miss in the team’s decades-long tale of underachievement Spain bea t Engl and 2-1 in the Eur opean Champ ion ship final on Sunday with Mikel O ya rzaba l the un like ly m atchwinner in the 86th minute Oyarzabal, a backup striker who came on as a substitute for captain Alvaro Morata, slid in to poke home a left-wing cross by Marc Cucurella, just when the game at Berlin’s Olympiastadion seemed destined for extra time

England, the birthplace of football, is still without a major title in the men ’ s game since winning the 1966 World Cup and its players watched on forlornly as Morata raised aloft the silver trophy to a backdrop of confetti and fireworks inside the stadium built for the 1936 Olympics

“Here we are, champions of Europe,” said Nico Williams,

heartfelt thank you to all our sponsors, supporters and spectators for digging deep and making our #PrideviewCricketCup the huge success it is ” A highlight of the event was a live ‘in conversation with’ interview with award-winning journalist and author Mihir Bose, known for his writing and broadcasting on social and historical issues, as well as sport, for outlets including the BBC, the Guardian, Financial Times, Evening Standard and Irish Times

Keeping in theme with the cricket-filled day, Mihir shared insights on his book, The Nine Waves: The Extraordinary Story of Indian Cricket, only days after India won the T20 Cricket World Cup

Alongside the cricket, the online and live auctions on the day helped to reach the total of £40,000

Navita Yadav, board trustee of AMREF (African Medical and Research Foundation) Health Africa UK and Europe CEO of Apex Group hos ted a unique cricket reception and fundraiser for AMREF Health Africa at Alfred D unhill Club in London on July 10 Cricket sta lwarts like Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Clive Lloyd, Allan Lamb, Devon Malcolm and a number of s enior profess ionals from the finance, industry and the art attended the function At the event, Navita Yadav said, “AMREF is the largest health organisation in Africa, founded in 1957 in Kenya Each year it reaches out to 30 million people across 35 countries with programmes to increase access to health services like safe water, sanitation, malaria

whose opening goal for Spain in the 47th minute was cancelled out by England substitute Cole Palmer in the 73rd “We are thrilled and hope this can keep going and we can go for the [2026] World Cup ” Spain won all seven games at this European Championship – an unprecedented feat – and broke the record for goals scored in a single tournament, with 15 As for England, the men ’ s team has now lost back-to-back Euro finals – it was defeated in a penalty shootout by Italy on home soil in the final in 2021 – and this was another painful loss for a team that will have gone six decades without a major title by the next World Cup

BCCI to give £100,000 to former cricketer Gaekwad for cancer treatment

The BCCI announced that it will provide £100,000 to former India cricketer Anshuman Gaekwad, who has been battling cancer for the last one year Gaekwad had written to the cri cket board a few mo nths ago seeking financial help

The BCCI assured all possible assistance to the Gaekwad family residing in Vadodara Several former cricketers, including 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev and Sandip Patil, urged the BCCI to help Gaekwad, who also coached the Indian cricket team Gaekwad's son, Shatrunjay, said that they wrote to the BCCI seeking help as a significant amount of money had been spent on his treatment in London

The 71-year-old former cricketer is currently undergoing treatment in Vadodara It s a good gesture from the BCCI to have extended financial support as Gaekwad has made an

immense contribution to Indian cricket I met him a day ago and spent some time His condition is not stable, but he has always been a fighter, and I hope he recovers soon," said Satyajit Gaekwad, BCA’s press and publicity committee chairman Gaekwad wasn't keeping well for over a year and was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a type of blood cancer, earlier this year Soon after the diagnosis, his treatment began, and the doctors suggested that he be treated in the UK He underwent chemotherapy there The son of former Indian cricket team captain D K Gaekwad, he began his international cricketing career in a test match in 1974 against the West Indies Gaekwad went on to play 40 Test matches, in which he scored 1,985 runs He played 15 OneDay Internationals and was also part of the Baroda Ranji team

and TB prevention, childhood and Covid vaccinations and other neglected tropical diseases The work involves a huge commitment at all system levels, from volunteers to specialist surgeons AMREF also supports governments at local and national levels to advocate for health resources, ” she added

The highlights included a special Q&A with Vivian Richards and Allan Lamb Cricket pioneers take a trip down memory lane Vivian revealed why he never wore helmets while batting He said,

“The passion for the game I felt was such that I wouldn't mind dying playing something that I love If this is what I chose and I go down here, what better way is there to go ”

AMREF Health Africa’s chief executive Camilla Knox-Peebles and director of fundraising Matt Wenham shared more details about the work and challenges

The winning team: Major Estate, Harrow

Navita Yadav and Sir Viv Richards

Piers Morgan Sir Viv Richards and Naynesh Desai Consultant Solicitor, Chan Neill Solicitors LLP