Av 22nd June 2024

Approximately 9 5% of the UK population, i e around 5 6 million people, identify as Asian, yet major political parties show little interest in the needs of these communities Notably, the ethnic minorities are the most divided by religion in their views this election When it comes to representation, there are 65 ethnic minority MPs, making up 10% of UK s Parliament Among them, about 35 are of British Asian descent, including 15 are of Indian origin The new Parliament, is predicted to have around 14% of MPs coming from an ethnic minority background, will be closer than ever before to reflecting the diversity of the electorate. The question that still persists, is our voice ‘actually’ being heard? Is our representation enough?

speaks EXCLUSIVELY with Asian Voice

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Sir Keir Starmer at Neasden Temple

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, wife Akshata Murty and daughters Krishna and Anoushka, lighting diyas for Diwali outside 10 Downing Street

Poll shows Reform ahead of Conservatives

e le ct oral hopes

According to the YouGov sur vey conducted for The Times, support for Reform has risen by two points to 19 percent, while the Tories remained unchanged at 18 percent This poll marks the f irst instance where any survey has indicated Reform ahead of the Tories, a significant crossover moment It is particularly concerning for Tory strategists as the poll was conducted after the party released its manifesto on Tuesday Following the poll's release, Farage commented, “We are now the real opposition to Labour ”

Overall, Labour maintained a 19-point lead over the Conser vatives in the poll, while the Liberal Democrats slipped by one point to 14 percent Anthony

Wells, head of European political and social research at YouGov, noted the poll's signif icance, being the f irst to show Reform ahead of the Conservatives at this politically crucial juncture

Despite his party slipping into third place, Rishi Sunak has asserted that he will not alter his campaigning approach ahead of the July 4 general election The Prime Minister faced criticism from factions across the Conservative spectrum as anxiety spread among

Tor y candidates When asked if he was considering changing his campaigning strategy in response to the recent poll showing a shift in public opinion, Sunak responded with a f irm "No "

He emphasised the importance of being actively engaged in public interactions, stating, "We’re out and about and it’s really good that both [Tory and Labour] manifestos are out now because it’s really clear what the choice is at the election

Shapps warns of Starmer's unchecked power

Grant Shapps has issued a

w arn ing to v o ters ag ai nst

g ran ti ng L ab o ur a "s u p er

m ajo rity " in the upcom ing July 4 g eneral election, cautioning that such an o ut-

c o m e w o u l d g i v e Kei r

Starmer unchecked power

The defence secretar y expressed concerns that a decisive victory for Starmer could enable him to govern without constraints, describing this scenario as potentially placing the countr y in a "dangerous place," as reported by The Telegraph Shapps' remarks came in response to Conser vative social media advertisements hinting that the Tories could potentially be reduced to just 57 seats, signalling a defensive tone

in their campaign strategy

A recent YouGov poll showed the Conser vatives narrowly ahead of Reform UK by one point, while Labour maintained a signif icant lead The survey was conducted following Rishi Sunak's D-Day setback

Speaking on Times Radio, Shapps emphasised the importance of maintaining a robust system of accountability, stating, "If you want a proper system of accountability, you don’t want to give somebody a super majority If Keir Starmer were to go into No 10 with unchecked power, it would be very bad news for people in this country "

Highlighting the importance of a balanced Parliament, Shapps argued, "The country doesn’t function well with majorities the size of Blair’s There are many hardworking MPs who can hold the government to account, and we’d say those are Conservative MPs "

Female election candidates report rising abuse

I ns tances of mi streatmen t

t o w a r d fe m a l e e l e ct i o n

ca nd id ate s are es cal ati n g,

a s i n d i ca t e d b y r e p or t s

f rom can dida tes, a cti vists , a n d c h a r i t a b l e or g a n i s a -

tion s According to research conducted by the Electoral Commission during the May local elections in England, 43% of candidates

encountered some form of abuse or intimidation, with 10% characterising it as severe When confronted with specif ic scenarios like physical threats or threats directed at their families, friends, or staff, 56% of respondents reported experiencing abuse

Female candidates expressed heightened apprehension, with 56% opting not to campaign alone, a contrast to 19% of their male counterparts

Vijay Rangarajan, CEO of the Electoral Commission, emphasised the critical role of campaigning in democracy, noting, "Campaigning is vital to our democracy and usually carried out respectfully However, our research shows that far too many candidates are facing harassment and abuse "

Renters turn to benefits amid rising costs

Nearly a third of UK renters have h ad to rely on gov ernment benef its d ue to escalating rental costs, according to re se arc h by le nd e r Creditspring

The study reveals that three in ten renters have turned to benef its to make ends meet, while 40 percent report feeling more f inancially unstable than ever before

Data from the Off ice for National Statistics shows that average rent costs in the UK rose by 9 percent in the 12 months leading up to February this year, marking the highest annual increase since records began in 2015

Neil Kadagathur, chief

executive of Creditspring, says, "As rental prices have soared in recent years, many renters have depleted their savings and borrowed to make ends meet With these options exhausted, many are now turning to benef its to cover their monthly bills "

Research from data-

gathering website Statista indicates that landlords are raising prices due to the increasing costs of maintaining rental properties

The sharp rise in rental values disproportionately affects young people, who are less likely to own homes and more likely to live in rental accommodations As such, further research from Creditspring previously found that money worries are creating a mental health time bomb for young people, with almost 40 per cent of 18-to-34 year olds saying their mental health has signif icantly worsened as a direct result of the cost of living crisis

Top official calls for closure of hate crime legislation loopholes

T he natio n's top po lice off icial has urged for th e closure of "o utrageo us" loo ph oles in h ate crime legislation, citing instances where individuals can legally incite rac ial and religious h atred Sir Mark Rowley, leading the Metropolitan Police, condemned the legal ability for individuals to stir hatred as outrageous, particularly if they avoid being explicitly threatening or abusive The Met's handling of hate crimes and protests, notably regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict in London, has stirred controversy, leading to calls for Sir Mark's resignation

Under pressure from senior Conser vatives,

including former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, and advocacy groups, the police have faced calls to prohibit large proPalestinian demonstrations However, the police chief

explained that banning such demonstrations was not feasible due to the lack of meeting the legal threshold

In a discussion on the A Muslim and a Jew Go There podcast, co-host Baroness Sayeeda Warsi questioned Sir Mark on how the police would respond to derogatory language, such as the Yword, P-word, N-word, or C-word, based on different racial or ethnic backgrounds

The police chief expressed being "quite struck" by the def iciencies in hate crime laws while working on an extremism report before returning to the Metropolitan Police as Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley

Over half of students working long hours

Mo re th an h alf of full-time students are no w juggling long ho urs in jo bs to su pp ort themselves at university, spending nearly two days a week in paid emplo yment during term time due to th e cos t of living crisis

According to a sur vey conducted by the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) among 10,000 fulltime UK undergraduates, a record 56% reported having paid employment while

studying, averaging 14 5 hours of work per week

Experts have pointed out that inadequate maintenance support is contributing to a two-tier higher education system This divide is widening between students who must work extensive hours to make ends meet, while their wealthier peers can focus solely on their studies, thereby potentially improving their academic performance

When factoring in time spent attending lectures, classes, and other studyrelated activities, students with part-time jobs are averaging 48-hour work weeks during term time, with some logging up to 56 hours

This workload far exceeds the average of 36 6 hours worked by adults in full-time employment, as reported by the Off ice for National Statistics

Harrow School ranked among

for

Avanti House

Secondary School is one of 10 potential winners in the community collaboration categor y The awards are made up of f ive categories, with a shortlist drawn up for each Praised for its valuesbased approach, Avanti House, a Hindu secondary school in Stanmore, earns a nomination for World s Best School' prize Following

Barham Primary's nomination last year, it became the second North London school to be recognised Described as a 'trailblazer' for its holistic education approach, Avanti House integrates spirituality, mental health, and physical well-

being into its curriculum, offering classes like philosophy, ethics, yoga, and meditation as core subjects to all students A vegetarian meal program supports the school's health-oriented philosophy, aiming to teach students about the link between diet and well-being while promoting environmental awareness The leadership fosters a culture valuing spirituality and character development alongside academic excellence, praised for inclusive practices and community involvement

Nigel Farage Rishi Sunak

Grant Shapps

Neil Kadagathur

Faith, a unifying force

Rishi Sunak, unlike his predecessors who avoided discussing their faith after Tony Blair’s spin doctor Alastair Campbell famously declared, We don’t do God, openly embraces his Hindu beliefs As Britain’s first prime minister of Indian heritage, Sunak integrates his faith into his daily life, with a shrine in No 10 for family worship and a Lord Ganesh statue on his desk

His commitment to his faith guides his role as prime minister, which he views as his dharma, a Hindu concept that emphasises fulfilling one ’ s duty without focusing on the outcomes This principle, he admits, is challenging but provides him with the strength to face difficulties, and find fulfillment in doing what he believes is right

In recent weeks, Sunak's party has faced significant challenges, culminating in accusations that he insulted war veterans by leaving the D-Day commemoration early Amidst these controversies, Sunak revealed that he turns to his faith for resilience Despite potential frustration over the public’s lack of recognition for his efforts to stabilise the government following Liz Truss’ brief tenure, Sunak reiterated his commitment to dharma In an interview at the Borgo Egnazia resort in Puglia, he explained that dharma is about performing one ’ s duty without attachment to the results, a guiding principle that keeps him focused on doing what he believes is right

In contrast, Conservative MP Marco Longhi recently faced backlash after urging the British Pakistani community in Dudley North to vote for him by highlighting his condemnation of India's "illegal actions in Kashmir " Ahead of the July 4 UK polls, Longhi emphasised his stance against the Indian government’s treatment of Kashmiris in a letter marking Eid al-Adha, asking, "Who will speak for Kashmir in Parliament?" This approach contrasts sharply with Sunak's, as India maintains that Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh are integral parts of its territory Longhi also highlighted potential challenges for Kashmiris with

Narendra Modi’s BJP re-election in India, pledging to advocate for Kashmir in Parliament

This stance drew criticism from the Labour Party’s Rajesh Agrawal, who condemned Longhi’s letter as a shameful attempt to divide communities," offensive to both Muslims and Hindus Agrawal urged Sunak to disavow Longhi’s campaign and apologise for attempting to alienate British Indians, emphasising the need for unity rather than division

Leicester, a city of about 370,000 people, exemplifies the potential for faith to unite or divide Following the 2021 census, Leicester became one of the first British cities with a non-white majority The population includes 23 5% Muslims and 17 9% Hindus, primarily of Indian heritage, reflecting the city's diversity Historically, Leicester has experienced racial tensions, but recent violent conflicts between Hindus and Muslims are unprecedented

In September, the Indian and Pakistani high commissions condemned the violence, which attracted global attention, with India's foreign affairs minister raising the issue with the UK government This unrest led former Home Secretary Suella Braverman to cite Leicester as an example of multiculturalism’s "failure "

Sunak’s approach demonstrates how faith can provide solace and guidance, helping leaders navigate challenges with integrity

By contrast, using faith to highlight divisions, as seen in Longhi’s letter, can exacerbate tensions and alienate communities The situation in Leicester underscores the importance of using faith as a unifying force, promoting understanding and harmony in a diverse society

Faith can unite us positively, fostering understanding and mutual respect across diverse communities It encourages a shared commitment to common values, promoting social cohesion and harmony in a multicultural society

Arms spending soars as global tension swells

A two-day summit in Switzerland dedicated to forging a path forward to end the war in Ukraine has concluded Despite more than 80 countries and international organisations agreeing to a joint communique, several key powers declined to endorse it Additionally, some major developing nations at the conference did not participate in the agreement

Around 100 delegations, primarily from Western countries but also including some key developing nations, attended the conference Experts closely monitored whether these delegations would support the outcome document

However, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates represented by foreign ministers or lowerlevel envoys did not sign the final document The agreement focused on issues such as nuclear safety, food security, and the exchange of prisoners

The urgency of addressing global tensions and dangers underscored by the war in Ukraine has led to a substantial increase in the cost of ammunition NATO SecretaryGeneral Jens Stoltenberg revealed that a record 23 out of 32 member nations are meeting the alliance's defence spending target, reflecting a nearly fourfold surge from the previous year This surge in spending is a response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, heightening the threat of expanded conflict in Europe

Meanwhile, a recent report indicates a record high in global military expenditure, reaching $2440 billion (£1970 billion), following the largest annual rise in government arms spending in over a decade The 6 8% increase between 2022 and 2023 marks the steepest surge since 2009, pushing military spending to unprecedented levels, as reported by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)

In light of these developments, the imperative for peace-

ful dialogue over conflict is clear

Constructive communication fosters mutual understanding and cooperation, essential for resolving disputes and achieving sustainable solutions India, advocating for diplomacy and negotiation, maintains a neutral stance amid global tensions PM Modi's diplomatic efforts and his adeptness in establishing positive relationships with foreign leaders have significantly contributed to India's diplomatic standing on the global stage India recently expressed its stance on the Swiss summit regarding peace in Ukraine, affirming its commitment to engage with all parties involved, including both sides of the conflict India reiterated its dedication to facilitating lasting peace in Ukraine through ongoing diplomatic efforts and engagement

However, the pressure on developing nations by Western countries to support their aid efforts in conflict zones underscores the need for these nations to prioritise strengthening their own economies Once economic stability is achieved, they can better contribute to international efforts, avoiding interference driven by external interests This sentiment is especially crucial given historical instances where major powers, like the United States during the IndiaPakistan war in 1971, pursued strategic interests over impartial mediation, leaving conflicts unresolved and underscoring the importance of self-reliance and diplomatic finesse on the global stage highlighting the complexities and biases in international relations Furthermore, during the Kashmir issue, no major powers took a definitive stand, leaving the conflict unresolved and underscoring the need for developing nations to rely on their own strength and stability before getting involved in international disputes India, with its strong geopolitical standing, should focus on maintaining and enhancing this position

Modi’s exemplary leadership defeating challenges

At the G7 summit in Apulia, Italy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India's economic relevance and strong democratic credentials This trip marked Modi's first foreign visit after beginning his third term, providing a significant opportunity to engage with prominent Western leaders However, diplomatic outreach began with neighbouring countries being invited to the swearing-in ceremony of Modi 3 0

This was the 11th time India was invited to the G7 summit and the fifth consecutive invitation for Modi, making him a regular and expected presence Having won a third democratic election, Modi's position as a representative of the world’s largest democracy was reinforced His host, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, was similarly strengthened by her right-wing party's recent victory in the European elections The G7 countries increasingly seek India's partnership due to its rapid economic growth and large market Europe, facing challenges from the Ukraine crisis and its trade issues with Russia and China, aims for diversification Modi's participation in the G7, early in his new term, signals strong diplomatic prospects for India under Modi 3 0 Modi s victory for a third consecutive term was bolstered by strategic alliances with influential leaders TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu and JDU leader Nitish Kumar, who played a crucial role in tipping the balance of power in favour of the BJP during the general election

Recently, N Chandrababu Naidu was sworn in as the

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, with PM Modi and Union Ministers Amit Shah, JP Nadda, and Nitin Gadkari in attendance Actors Chiranjeevi, Rajnikanth, and Nandamuri Balakrishna also graced the occasion The warm exchange between Modi and Naidu onstage drew significant attention, highlighting the cohesion among coalition partners

The transition to power post-election posed distinct challenges for the BJP, necessitating intricate negotiations with allies like Naidu's TDP and Kumar's JDU to secure ministerial positions Despite falling short of a majority, the BJP efficiently orchestrated the formation of a comprehensive 72-member cabinet within days of the electoral outcome However, amidst this success, the question of who will assume the Lok Sabha Speaker's role looms large Reports suggest both the TDP and JDU are vying for the position, yet BJP sources indicate reluctance to relinquish control, underscoring the complexities of coalition governance

Despite the inherent instability of Coalitions historically, India's trajectory towards greatness is buoyed by the stalwart leadership and unwavering confidence of Prime Minister Modi His resolute guidance and vision have the power to navigate through turbulent political waters, ensuring that the nation remains on course towards prosperity and progress Modi's leadership inspires confidence not only within his party but across the diverse spectrum of Indian society, instilling a sense of unity and purpose towards achieving collective goals

"You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated ” - Maya Angelou

Political Sketchbook

Alpesh Patel

Politics and Religion

The UK PM mentioned how his faith helps him during the election campaign The Indian PM, showing his faith, helping him through the election leads to the likes of Arundhuti (aka Suzanne) Roy having a apoplectic fit The US President going to Church – no problem The UK Head of State sworn to uphold the Protestent Church – no problem Each of my books have a dedication to family or friends and each above the dedication have an ‘Om’ symbol Only in one country that was stated by my publisher as not advised Yes, in India, the birthplace of Hinduism

The assertion by the UK Prime Minister that his Hindu faith provides him support during elections can be understood through the lens of Hindu teachings and principles Here are several ways in which Hindu teachings might help during an election or indeed any difficult times:

1 Dha rma (Duty a nd R ig hteousne ss)

Hinduism emphasizes the concept of dharma, which refers to duty, righteousness, and moral law For a politician, this can translate into a sense of duty towards the country and its citizens, fostering a commitment to act ethically and responsibly The Bhagavad Gita, a central text in Hindu philosophy, underscores the importance of performing one ’ s duty without attachment to the results This principle can help a leader remain focused on their responsibilities rather than getting overly anxious about the election outcomes

2 Kar ma Yoga (Pa th of Se lfless Act ion )

The Bhagavad Gita also introduces the idea of karma yoga, which is the practice of selfless action performed for the benefit of others By focusing on service rather than personal gain, a politician can cultivate a sense of purpose and motivation that transcends personal ambitions This can be particularly empowering during an election, where the primary goal is to serve the public and address their needs

3 Resilie nce a nd Inn er St ren gth

Hinduism teaches the importance of inner strength and resilience The story of Lord Rama in the Ramayana is a testament to maintaining composure and moral integrity in the face of adversity Such narratives can inspire a politician to remain steadfast and resilient, even when facing criticism or challenges during an election campaign

4 Medita tion a nd Mind fulne ss

Practices such as meditation and mindfulness are integral to Hinduism and can significantly aid in stress management The regular practice of meditation can help in maintaining mental clarity, reducing anxiety, and improving decision-making abilities These benefits are crucial for anyone involved in the high-pressure world of politics

5 Equa nimity ( Samabhav a)

The concept of samabhava or equanimity is highly valued in Hindu teachings It refers to maintaining a balanced state of mind, regardless of success or failure This principle can help a politician deal with the ups and downs of an election campaign without becoming overly elated by success or despondent by setbacks

6 Spiritua l Guida nce an d Communit y Support

Hinduism often involves seeking guidance from spiritual leaders and engaging in community worship These practices can provide a sense of support and solidarity The communal aspect of Hindu worship can also foster a sense of belonging and mutual support, which can be comforting during the pressures of an election

7 Ethical Lea der ship

Hindu ethics promote honesty, integrity, and non-violence (ahimsa) These values are essential for building trust with the electorate By adhering to these principles, a politician can create a positive image and earn the respect of voters

Middlesex, HA1 4HN

Tel: 020 7749 4080 • Fax: 020 7749 4081

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Prestigious Prix Galien Award for PRINCIPLE and PANORAMIC team

The teams behind the PRINC IPL E an d PANO RA MI C

c l in i ca l t ri als , run in the Clinical Trials Unit at the N uff i el d D epa rtm ent of Pr i mary Ca re He alt h Sciences, have been awarded the prestigious Prix Galien B es t Publi c Sec tor Innovation Award 2024 for t hei r work in c onduc ti n g innovative, large-scale clinical trials during the Covid19 pandemic

The Prix Galien, considered the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in biopharmaceutical research, celebrates breakthrough innovations that progress our understanding in diagnosing, treating, and curing disease

The B es t Pub li c Sec tor Innovation award specifical-

ly recognises outstanding innovations in healthcare developed within or significantly supported by the public sector, spotlighting contributions that have profoundly impacted human health Nominations were assessed on criteria of originality, clinical utility,

Radical

ments for Covid-19 in community settings

The awards were held in the evening of The Galien Forum at the Natural History Museum in London Now in its third year, the forum is part of the Prix Galien UK’s annual celebration of excellence in the science of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, medical technologies and public health

knowledge contribution, impact, and independence from market factors

The PR I NCI PLE and PAN ORA MIC teams were honoured for their rapid implementation of adaptive platform trials, which significantly accelerated the evaluation of potential treat-

preacher sees notoriety as 'badge of honour'

A nj em C ho ud ary vi ew ed being recognised as the forem ost radi cal i nf luenc er in Britain as a point of pride, jurors at Woolwich Crown Court have been told

Choudary, 57, residing in east London, is currently standing trial facing multiple charges, including allegations of "directing" the banned group AlMuhajiroun under UK terrorism laws Khaled Hussein, 29, from Edmonton in Canada, is also on trial, accused of membership in a proscribed organisation

Both defendants have pleaded not guilty

During the proceedings, Tom Little KC, presenting the prosecution's case, continued to outline details It was revealed that Choudary frequently delivered online lectures to an American

group known as the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS), some of which were covertly recorded by undercover officers

Choudary faces charges related to directing a terrorist organisation, membership in a banned group, and supporting a proscribed

organisation The prosecution contends that ITS and Al Muhajiroun were essentially synonymous Jurors heard that Choudary occasionally cautioned his audience that he was not advocating for any particular course of action Mr Little stated, "Leopards don’t change their spots and Anjem Choudary has not changed his mindset "

Mr Little emphasised, "He considered being labelled the number one radicaliser in Britain an honour What does that reveal about his mindset?"

Choudary was previously convicted in 2016 for inviting support for the Islamic State group and served a prison sentence until his release in October 2018 Restrictions preventing him from preaching were lifted in July 2021

Naad Chikitsak, Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidanandaji returns to London after 12 years

‘Music for Meditation’ concert to be held at Richmond Theatre on 29 June 2024, 7-9pm

It is universally acknowledged that musicespecially Indian music could serve as a powerful therapy, transcending boundaries There is a wonderful raga-based ashram of Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidanandaji Swamiji in Mysore, South India, where he practices 'Naad Chikitsa' (sound healing) Recognised worldwide as a music therapist, Swamiji has garnered a large and devoted following

In September 2012, Swamiji's 'Music of the Divine' concert was held at the renowned Royal Albert Hall in London, organised by Sri Datta Yoga Centre (UK) During this event, a booklet titled Naad Chikitsa was launched, which was for the first time published in Gujarati and

well-received both in Gujarat and London Prior to its publication, the 'Naad Chikitsa' column had been a regular feature in Gujarat Samachar

After twelve years, H H Swamiji is returning to the UK with his music troupesomething that Britons could benefit from

The 'Music for Meditation' Swara Sudha Rag Sagar programme is

scheduled on Saturday 29 June, from 7-9pm at the 150 years old Richmond Theatre, Little Green, TW9 1QJ

Sri Ganapathy

Sachchidanandaji has significantly promoted Indian music therapy worldwide, having held around 350 such concerts across the globe, including in prestigious venues such as the Sydney Opera House in Australia and Carnegie Hall in the USA

Don't miss this opportunity Book your tickets at the earliest by contacting the Richmond Theatre box office

Proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Sri Datta Yoga Centre (UK) Charity For more details, please contact: Jitu Dave at 07939 021016

In a message to Asian Voice, Professor Mahendra G Pat el OBE PhD FHEA FNICE Alumni FIPA (India) FRPharmS, Director, Centre for Research Equity, University of Oxford said: “I am immensely delighted and proud beyond words to have contributed wherever I could through my role as

national pharmacy, inclusion and diversity lead in both the trials capturing the importance of inclusion and diversity to trial participation and achieving parity with national census demographics on many fronts to help ensure the evidence gathered is safe and effective

for all populations to benefit from, and not just a select few

“The trials brought consistent and effective community outreach work to the forefront of representative recruitment of people from different backgrounds

Moreover, its highly successful UK-wide recruitment strategies also proved how pharmacy can be a powerful resource when it comes to effectively reaching out to underserved and ethnically diverse communities “Thank you to all the participants and everyone involved both behind and in front of the scenes in helping to make a difference to people around the world and not just in the UK ”

Over nine million people are economically inactive, says ONS

Official statistics reveal that over nine million people in the U K are econ om ically inactive Notably, the number of working-age adults in this category has reached a record high of 2 8 million

The Office for National Statistics reports that 22 3% of adults aged 16 to 64 are not actively seeking work, the highest rate in nine years, with an increase of 132,000 in the three months ending in April Including students and

retirees, the economically inactive population totals 9 4 million

Contrary to some hopes, the UK's worker shortage has not improved since the end of Covid lockdowns A record number of Britons now suffer from long-term illnesses, exacerbated by growing NHS waiting lists and a surge in mental health issues The ONS's figures may be revised due to low response rates in its labour market survey

The worker shortage is a major issue for politicians and the Bank of England, costing the economy £39 billion Both Labour and the Conservatives have pledged to address this Christopher Rocks, lead economist at the Health Foundation, stressed that a new government must support workforce health and reconsider reducing health-related benefits, which could worsen poverty and health

Outrage over Farage's comments on Putin and Ukraine

N ig el F arag e h as s parked co ntro versy by s ug gesti n g that Ukraine should engage in negotiations with "clever political operator" Vladimir Putin

The leader of Reform UK made these remarks during an interview with the BBC's Nicky Campbell, where he revisited his previous statements about Putin In 2014, Farage had commented that while he admired Putin's political skills, he condemned him as a "murderous dictator " When pressed by Campbell about Putin's record, including the killing of journalists, Farage acknowledged his disdain for Putin's character but emphasised his effectiveness as a political figure

Nigel Farage

Asked by Campbell if Adolf Hitler's public speaking skills were also admirable, Farage cautiously acknowledged Hitler's dangerous charisma Farage then advocated for Ukraine to consider negotiating with Putin, despite the likelihood of territorial losses He argued that with the conflict in Ukraine having persisted for years

and with potentially millions of casualties, diplomatic talks were essential Farage recognised Crimea as a major sticking point due to Russia's illegal annexation a decade ago

Addressing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Farage suggested that while Western support for Ukraine would continue, the heavy toll in casualties among Ukrainian forces necessitated exploring negotiation options He expressed concern that without dialogue, the war could drag on indefinitely Putin's recent statements about nuclear war were also highlighted in the context of escalating tensions between Russia and NATO

London Universities rally for international students

Lon don un iv ers i ti es hav e l aunc hed a c ampa i gn to re st or e c onf ide nc e i n the capital as a safe and welcoming place for international students

The Study London campaign promotes the capital's diversity and career opportunities amidst concerns over international student restrictions Dr Diana Beech, CEO of London Higher, representing 50 universities, expresses concern over declining trust in UK education due to recent immigration rule changes In response, a campaign showcasing London student

stories aims to highlight the city's diversity and inclusivity, emphasising its benefits for both students and the nation

She asserts that London's top-tier universities are crucial for enhancing the UK's global competitiveness, especially with Imperial College London surpassing Oxford and Cambridge in global rankings, now ranked second only to Massachusetts Institute of Technology Four additional London universities secured spots in the global top 20: University College London, King’s

College London, the London School of Economics, and Queen Mary University of London Dr Beech emphasised that London remains a formidable global higher education hub, with its universities serving as catalysts for attracting top talent and driving growth locally and nationally Educating over half a million students annually, these institutions play a pivotal role in retaining talent within the UK while competing with other leading economies like Australia, Canada, and the United States

Anjem Choudary

Sri Ganapathy Sachchidanandaji Swamiji

The team behind The PRINCIPLE and PANORAMIC trials

Professor Mahendra G Patel OBE with the Award

Father and son face life for hiring assassin

A father and his son are facing potential life sentences a ft er a hir ed fe mal e American assassin failed in her attempt to carry out a r eve nge ki ll i ng whe n he r gun malfunctioned

ceeded to Mahamud’s residence and fired three shots

During the incident, she purportedly sent text messages to Mahamud taunting him, including messages like “Where are you hiding?

Mohammed Nazir, aged 30, and Mohammed Aslam, aged 56, allegedly conspired to murder Aslat Mahamud or his family members following a 2018 dispute at a jewellery store that left them both injured They enlisted the services of Aimee Betro, aged 44, who flew in from Chicago for the contract killing in Acocks Green, Birmingham, on September 7, 2019, according to Birmingham Crown Court Betro, instructed with a clear mandate, reportedly approached Sikander Ali, Mahamud’s son and a shop owner, under the guise of being interested in a Volkswagen Golf the family was selling Disguised in a hijab, she calmly aimed a gun at Ali's head but the firearm failed to discharge, prompting Ali to flee Undeterred by the initial failure, Betro allegedly pro-

Stop playing hide and seek ” Nazir and Aslam, both from Derby, were initially charged with conspiracy to murder and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, which they denied However, last week, they were found guilty of conspiracy to murder Additionally, Nazir was convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, perverting the course of justice, and illegally importing firearms as part of a scheme to bring guns into the country and frame another person Aslam was acquitted of firearm offenses

Sentencing for the pair is scheduled for August 9

During the trial, it was revealed that Betro had returned to the US and remains at large West Midlands Police stated that detectives are actively working to locate her

Lawyer suspended over relations with junior staff

A senior partner at a law f irm has been allowed to r ema in in the pr ofe ss i on despite engaging in sexual activity with a junior lawyer twice on his office desk

Jasvinder Gill, aged 50, allegedly began flirting with the woman shortly after she joined the firm, which operates from five offices in Kent, according to a disciplinary tribunal

The partner at the Gravesend office of Hatten Wyatt solicitors has been found to have misused his "position of authority and influence" by engaging in sexual relationships with multiple women Despite this, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal opted to suspend Gill for two years instead of removing him from the roll

During the hearing chaired by Alison Banks, the vice president of the tribunal, it was revealed that Gill instructed female staff that "proper office attire" consisted of "open-toed shoes, stockings (not tights), and short skirts "

The panel condemned Gill, a solicitor since 1999, for exploiting the "power imbalance" between himself and junior staff It stated that his behaviour towards four unnamed women instilled fear in them, preventing them from rejecting him for fear of career repercussions

Between 2015 and 2020, when he was aged 41 to 46, Gill was reported to have acted inappropriately towards younger colleagues In addition to suspending Gill from practice for two years, the tribunal mandated him to cover £85,501 in costs

Business, is it all a ‘gamble’?

The Lohana Community of North London (LCNL) hosted a Business & Professionals event- LCNL Link on 13 June 2024, at the Dhamecha Lohana Centre

The theme of the event was- Business, is it all a ‘gamble’? The event brought together professionals from diverse fields for an evening of networking, insightful discussions, and vibrant connectivity

The spotlight of the evening was the keynote address by Atul Pathak OBE, a luminary in the business community As the man behind the largest number of McDonald’s franchises in the UK, Atul’s journey from an ambitious

entrepreneur to a successful business magnate provided invaluable insights into entrepreneurship and leadership

A ‘fireside chat’ led by Young Lohana Society (YLS) Chairperson Tulsi Tanna and Sonal Magecha interacted with Atul, who captivated the audience with his stories of calculated risks, triumphs,

and the occasional setbacks that shaped his career His emphasis on the importance of supporting the future workforce resonated deeply with the attendees, many of whom are leaders in their respective fields Atul’s blend of practical advice and inspiring anecdotes left the audience motivated to pursue their own

entrepreneurial ambitions with renewed vigour

MOORE Kingston Smith’s Vijay Tanna and Tim Stovold delved into topics of non-domicile tax and business advisory

LCNL President Meena Jasani gave the welcome speech Sanjay C Rughani threw light on LCNL LINK A vote of thanks was given by Amit Chandarana and Amit Karia

Attendees enjoyed participating at the 'fake money' casino, which provided a fun and interactive way to mingle and connect with fellow professionals

Mohammed Aslam (left) and Mohammed Nazir

Jasvinder Gill

Insights from Azeem Rafiq on ‘It's Not Banter, It's Racism’

Subhasini Naicker

Azeem Rafiq's cricketing journey began in 2001 when he moved to England from Pakistan Rising through the ranks, he showcased his leadership skills by captaining England's Under-15 and Under-17 teams Rafiq's talent was further evident as he progressed through Yorkshire's age groups, culminating in a historic moment in 2012 when he became the youngest and first person of Asian origin to captain a Yorkshire side

In September 2020, Azeem Rafiq courageously came forward with accusations of racism and bullying within Yorkshire cricket

Subsequent investigations validated many of his claims, sparking widespread media attention The fallout resulted in multi resignations within the club and prompted inquiries by the ECB and the Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Select Committee in the UK

Parliament

experiences and having them translated into words was a profound journey, particularly as my case was ongoing Despite initial challenges, as time passed and my case concluded, I felt ready to proceed

Though I had to change ghostwriters along the way, we persevered, working tirelessly to complete the book I'm immensely proud of the

Azeem Rafiq

focused on using my platform responsibly, avoiding the temptation to respond to these attacks, and instead aimed to keep the conversation at the forefront while seeking solutions I know the system would prefer me to stop holding them accountable, but I must continue doing so

Howoutcome and hopeful that it will offer insight and inspire positive change for readers

Recently, Azeem authored a book titled "It's Not Banter, It's Racism," revealing the untold truth behind the racism accusations that garnered national attention The book chronicles Rafiq's journey from speaking up about racism to the consequential events that have profoundly impacted his life In an interview with Asian Voice, Azeem spoke about the process of creating the book, diversity and inclusion in cricket and much more

Can you walk us through the process of creating "It’s Not Banter, It’s Racism"? From initial concept to publication, what were the key stages and who were the important contributors along the way?

It has taken two and a half years, an incredible journey The idea for the book first emerged around 2021, discussed with my agent and potential ghostwriters After numerous meetings with various publishing houses, we settled on Orion Publishing, where the editor s British South Asian background resonated with us From there, the process proved challenging, but ultimately rewarding Sharing my

Can you share some of the key experiences and stories from the book that highlight the racism you faced in cricket?

The book delves into my experiences, from immigrating to the UK post-9/11 to the racism I encountered in cricket and society It highlights the normalisation of derogatory terms and the challenges faced in the Yorkshire dressing room, including incidents like being forced to drink red wine at 15 Additionally, it addresses the backlash and intimidation I faced after speaking out, including attacks on my parents' house and abusive messages on social media

Were there any challenges you faced while writing and publishing this book?

Initially, when I signed on for the book, I had a certain vision of what it would achieve However, by the time I finished it, that vision had evolved significantly Writing the book while the case was ongoing was incredibly challenging due to my fluctuating emotions It was crucial to ensure the cause was not forgotten despite the constant personal attacks I faced I

Ancestral Indian Art exhibition “In Praise of Identity”

London based Anrad Gallery an d Moni c a Col uss i , a prominent art curator, have joined forces in the creation of a n ew art ex hib i ti on titled, ‘In Praise of Identity’ 'In Praise of Identity' serves as a unifying platform for artistic communities in India, showcasing the country’s rich history through distinct art forms, often overshadowed by mass-produced imitations The collection seeks to promote these ancestral art forms, bridging the gap for local artists to showcase their work to an international audience

can grassroots cricket and other sports more inclusive to people m diverse backgrounds?

Firstly, it's crucial to ognise the underlying asons for implementing ange, rather than erely doing so for ppearance's sake nderstanding the ecessity of creating nclusive environments where everyone can hrive is paramount

This involves examining existing structures to ensure they support inclusivity and don't inadvertently perpetuate discrimination For instance, in recreational sports like cricket, which often centres around alcohol, there's a need to reassess such practices to foster greater inclusivity Sports culture often excludes those who don't drink, including British Muslims or individuals recovering from alcoholism

Recreational cricket, in particular, faces significant accessibility issues due to high costs, which need government and authority intervention

Acknowledging these problems is the first step, followed by understanding specific local issues and implementing tailored, organic changes to foster inclusivity

What do you hope readers take away from your book?

Through the pages, readers will witness my experiences and the abuse I endured, along with my journey of speaking out and seeking resolution I hope the book offers concrete solutions and encourages meaningful structural change rather than mere sound bites

From a South Asian community perspective, it's crucial to ensure our voices are represented and hold accountable those in positions of power who may not be doing enough

This conversation about racism shouldn't be comfortable, but it's necessary for progress

The exhibition has selected works and artists spanning the breadth of India, encompassing traditions from Rajasthani Pichwais to Bengali Kalighat's and Bihari Madhubanis These artworks, characterised by profound expressions of divine reverence, depictions from ancient epics, and poignant observations of nature, not only encapsulate the essence of each community's cultural legacy, but also offer a captivating glimpse into the soul of India By showcasing diversity in style, motif, and technique, ‘In Praise of Identity’ seeks to honour the individuality of each art style whilst simultaneously alluding to India's interwoven cultural heritage

Anuradha Nayar, a gallerist and art dealer, founded Anrad Gallery in 2018 to promote the traditional arts

of India, having collected works for several years Her appreciation for various traditional art forms deepened after living in India, having witnessed the unfortunate impact of commercialisation on the arts The artists represented by Anrad Gallery have received multiple awards, such as the Padma Shri, India’s foremost civil honour for an artist, and have exhibited across multiple Museums and Galleries in India Since establishing Anrad Gallery in London, Anuradha Nayar has exhibited with Asian Art in London and received the Apollo Award for ‘Outstanding Indian & Islamic Work of Art’ in 2023 for her showcase of a Kalamkari Tree of Life

Speaking to Asian Voice, Anuradha said, “In Praise of Identity showcases a tapestry of ancestral artistic traditions, giving us a win-

dow to appreciate the rich cultural heritage and unique identities of native communities

"I'm thrilled to bring In Praise of Identity to life here in London Art creates a space for connection, inspiration, and reflection, fostering cultural exchange and shaping perspectives This exhibition is a homage to ancient Indian art forms, ensuring new generations can appreciate their beauty and continue their legacy into the future " Monica Colussi, Art curator said, “I have many Indian friends but have myself never travelled to India This has been an opportunity to interact and learn from another culture through art It has been an empowering journey where art has served to erase the differences between people and enhanced their artistic sensibilities I believe this show is a powerful means to discover a nation, and her culture ”

Viewers can visit ‘In Praise of Identity’ from 11am till 7pm, 24th June – 7th July at Fitzrovia Gallery, 139 Whitfield Street, W1T 5EN

Philharmonia Orchestra names Vidya Patel as Artist in Residence

The Phi l harm oni a O rc hes tra appoi nt s Vi dy a Patel as Artist in Residence f or the 2 024 /2 5 Sea s on Continuing its fourth-year tr adi ti on , pre vi ous art is ts featured under this initiati ve i nc lude Hous e of Absolute (21/22), Love Ssega (22/23), and Soumik Datta (23/24)

Vidya Patel

Over the next 12 months, Vidya will collaborate with the Philharmonia and a group of musicians to create a new project fusing her expertise in dance, movement, and choreography with classical music Utilising Philharmonia archival material, she aims to blend original scores with existing ones, exploring themes of belonging, identity, and global humanity, as well as cultural and historical influences Through collaborative creative sessions and performances involving

Vidya, the musicians, and other practitioners, these ideas will be thoroughly explored and brought to life

The goal is to craft a piece that celebrates the South Asian and global diaspora, offering audiences an immersive experience blending music, dance, storytelling, and set design Vidya aims to provoke and interrogate the connection between audience and performers, delving into the relationship among dance artists, musicians, stage design, and the surrounding space through this collaborative endeavour

Fuel presents Khalid Abdalla's solo debut play "Nowhere"

Khalid Abdalla, known for his roles in United 93, The Kit e R un ne r, a n d Th e Crown, makes his writing d eb ut wit h a capt iva tin g solo show inspired by his in vol ve me nt in the 20 11 Egyptian revolution and the subsequent counter-revolution

Commissioned and produced by Fuel, the show titled "Nowhere" will premiere at Battersea Arts

Centre before moving to HOME in Manchester

Directed by Omar Elerian, known for his work on Misty, NASSIM, and ECHO: Every Cold-Hearted Oxygen, the performance will take audiences on a surprising journey through Abdalla's personal history, set against a backdrop of significant world events

From the legacies of colonialism and decolo-

nization, to themes of friendship and loss, and protests against regimes worldwide, Khalid intertwines personal and political narratives in an antibiographical exploration Addressing events like the violence in Gaza postOctober 7, 2023, he prompts reflection on our current circumstances and the quest for agency within the complexities of history

UK’s first South Asian Maternal Health Conference to address maternity care disparities

C ampa ig ner s are sta ging a top-leve l summit a imed a t tack ling ma

A sia n women – be lie ved to be t he first con fe ren ce of its ty pe in t he U K

The inaugural South Asian Maternal Health Conference is being organised by national law firm Irwin Mitchell and is due to be held later this month on 28 June

It’s being spearheaded by one of the firm’s lawyers Geeta Nayar who has lived with the impact of a birth trauma injury for 16 years

The conference will feature a number of experts of Asian heritage, who will be sharing their expertise in “order to truly address the disparities in maternal health outcomes ”

Geeta sustained a third-degree perineal tear and nerve damage during the delivery of her daughter in 2008 Despite surgery and extensive rehabilitation, she continues to struggle with pain, scar tissue and incontinence that affect her daily life

She is campaigning for equitable and safe maternity care to be a right for all women She says research has found that for decades South Asian women have experienced disproportionately poor outcomes in maternal and neonatal care Mums are at higher risk of dying and complications such as gestational diabetes, post-partum haemorrhage, stillbirth and preterm birth

Geeta said: “My journey began 16 years ago, and what followed was years of questions – why had this happened to me and why hadn’t I

been informed of my greater risk of injury?

“At that time, I had no idea that Asian women were at higher risk of OASI – obstetric anal sphincter injury – nor that maternal outcomes varied so widely based on ethnicity What began was a long journey of repair surgeries and procedures My daughter also needed treatment after suffering her own injuries

“I remain doubly incontinent and the impact on my life and my family has been huge ”

“In order to truly address the disparities in maternal health outcomes, I felt there needed to be a collaboration between policymakers, healthcare providers, mums, birth injury charities and organisations to discuss effective ways in achieving equity in care for South Asian women and helping to empower them

“This is why the conference, which is the first of its kind, is so important, and we ’ re so proud to have so many experts joining us We don’t just want to talk about it though, we want the event to generate meaningful actions to take forward to improve healthcare ” The event is being held at the

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ headquarters, with the President Dr Ranee Thakar among the speakers on the day P

said: “As a college, we ’ re committed to working collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure better outcomes for all women and reducing inequalities in care for those from a Black, Asian and minority ethnic background

“We’re pleased the South Asian Maternal Health Conference will be taking place at our Union Street building It aims to identify positive and meaningful ways to address these disparities and achieve equity in maternity care

“In the run-up to the election, the college is calling for the next UK Government to commit to a funded, time-limited target to end the higher risk of maternal mortality among ethnic minority women and for those living in more deprived areas ”

Other experts will include Baroness Shaista Gohir, CEO of the Muslim Women’s Network UK, Professor Habib Naqvi, the director of NHS Race and Health Observatory, Wendy Olayiwola, the National Maternity Lead for

Equality with NHS England, and Nighat Arif, a GP and resident doctor on BBC Breakfast and ITV’s

This Morning who specialises in women ’ s health

Mum sha res her birt h tra uma story

Harsimeran Kaur was admitted to the hospital for an elective Caesarean section for the delivery of her second son, who was lying sideways

On examination, however, her baby had moved position and it was agreed between Harsimeran and medics that she would try for a vaginal birth

Her waters were broken and labour progressed, but Harsimeran began complaining of a severe pain that she hadn’t experienced during her previous pregnancy, despite having an epidural

At the time, doctors reported the baby’s heart rate to be normal, but it was later identified that it had been pathological – indicating a need for urgent delivery – on more than one occasion

Harsimeran, from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, was eventually instructed to push, but she was in so much pain that she convulsed off the bed A doctor was called into the room and performed an ultrasound scan, which found there was blood in Harsimeran’s abdomen

She was rushed to the theatre for a C-section, where it was discovered that she had a 15cm rupture in her uterus and suffered a large haemorrhage She lost around three pints of blood Harsimeran, 42, was left psycho-

logically traumatised by what happened and is unable to carry any more children

Following her ordeal in August 2021, Harsimeran instructed specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her care The Health Trust admitted the rupture should have been avoided

Irwin Mitchell is now working with the Trust to agree a settlement for Harsimeran to ensure she has access to the ongoing treatment and therapies she needs

Harsimeran is now supporting Irwin Mitchell’s South Asian Maternal Health Conference to help improve care

By telling her story she hopes to raise awareness of the issues she faced and also empower women to share their stories to help affect change

She said: “To this day, I still struggle to comprehend everything that’s happened I really thought I might die and my children be left without a mum; to have that go through your mind is the most terrifying and devastating thought

“I’ve been left completely traumatised by it all, particularly that my son was also injured While I know that nothing can ever turn back the clock, I hope that by speaking out I can help others who may be going through something similar

“I was never aware of the information around maternal disparities in Asian women before my experience It’s hugely important that more people open up about it and something changes to help prevent others from suffering ”

Dr Ranee Thakar Geeta Nayar

BAPIO Wales holds symposium on tackling waiting times at NHS Wales

A fi r st -of - it s -k in d s ym po-

s i um on tac k li ng w ai ti ng

t i mes i n NH S Wa le s wa s or gan is e d by the B ri ti sh Association of Physicians of I n di an Or i gin (BAPI O) Wales on 1 June 2024

More than 100 delegates attended the symposium to hear the presentations given by 11 consultants regarding the possible solutions to improve waiting times Round table discussions also took place with contributions from all those present including patients

Prof Keshav Singhal CBE, Chairman of BAPIO Wales and Prof Hasmukh

Shah BEM, Secretary of BAPIO Wales said that the problems at NHS Wales needed innovative solutions, given the increasing waiting times for routine or emergency appointments for out patients and surgery The results are being compiled with high-level recommendations to be presented to Wales Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Baroness Eluned Morgan MS for immediate consideration

BAPIO is the largest organisation of primarily overseas-trained doctors with a diverse membership

Labour launches 2024 election manifesto in Harrow East

The Labour Party launched i ts 2 024 Gen eral E lec ti on manifesto in the capital, with an event at Barnet Football Club in the Harrow East constituency

economic stability, cut NHS waiting times, launch a new Border Security Command, create Great British Energy, crack down on antisocial behaviour and recruit 6,500

Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy hailed the document as a ‘manifesto centred on where the public is today, driven by a belief in our country’s future’ He said, “We have changed our party, and we stand ready to change Britain – beginning with our First Steps for Change to deliver

new teachers

Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Harrow East Primesh Patel, Candidate for Harrow West Gareth Thomas, Cllr Muhammed Butt, Senior leaders Navin Shah and Ajay Maru along with a large number of supporters were present at the launch

Kate returns to royal events

Kate, 42, in a light-coloured ensemble, was seen arriving at Buckingham Palace in a car with her children and her husband, the Prince of W ales, m arki ng he r firs t pub lic a ppeara nc e sin ce revealing her cancer diagnosis

official birthday The princess, who began treatment for an unspecified cancer in late February, and her three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis received cheers from crowds along The

They were there for the Trooping the Colour flypast to celebrate the King's

Over 700 celebrate Yoga Day at Trafalgar Square with a focus on

women's empowerment

ceremony

B rav in g the rai n a nd we t gr ound, 700 par ti ci pa nts performed yoga at Trafalgar Square on Saturday 15 June, ahead of International Yoga Day, in an event organised by th e Hi gh Commi s s ion of India in London

The International Day of Yoga celebrated worldwide on 21 June since its adoption by the United Nations in 2014, marks its 10th anniversary with the theme "Yoga for Women Empowerment," emphasising yoga's role in promoting gender equality and empowering women globally

Indian High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency Vikram Doraiswami expressed his delight at the event's success, stating, "It was a great pleasure to have well over 700 people here in this central spot in London, surrounded by iconic statues It was wonderful to see multiple yoga schools come together to lead us in the practice of yoga " He highlighted the diverse community partici-

pation, reinforcing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message that yoga unites and is for everyone

Mr Doraiswami also noted the increased number of participants and yoga schools involved this year,

along with the diversity of communities present He emphasised that the main focus remains on yoga's role in healing and personal growth, rather than the differences in participation

Inderpal Ohri Chandel

underscored this year's theme of women's empowerment and the importance of yoga for Indians and Asians, as it fosters cultural connection and significance She also mentioned the presence of the Indian Cricket Deaf Team members, who are playing matches against Great Britain and were felicitated by the High Commissioner at the event

The seven-match Deaf series began in Derby on 18 June moving to Kidderminster, Northamptonshire, and Warwickshire, before concluding in Leicestershire on 27 June

To celebrate yoga day, among many other organisations this week, the Jain Network and Patanjali Jog Peeth UK will be hosting a programme in the presence of Param Pujya Acharya Dr Pradyumna Ji Maharaj on Thursday 20 June 2024 from 10:30 to 11:30 am at the Flightways Resource Centre, The Concourse, Colindale, London NW9 5UX

A musical afternoon to pay homage to our beloved fathers

Jyotsna Shah

On Fr ida y 14 Jun e 2024 , Na vn at Va di l Ma nd al celebr a te d 'Fa t her 's Da y ’ an d 'Ji nda g i Ek U tsa v ’ Approximately 386-400 attende es ga t he re d a t Na vn a t Bhavan in Hayes, celebrating th e i rr e pla cea b le r ole of fathers in our lives

They also savoured 'Raspuri' (Mango Shake and Puri), a delightful sweet treat, while expressing heartfelt tributes to fathers worldwide through melodious performances

Natubhai Mehta, President of Navnat Vadil Mandal, extended a warm welcome to everyone and

introduced musician Vinod Patel This internationally acclaimed artist from Rajkot has made an invaluable contribution in preserving Gujarati identity, delivering over 3400 programmes across numerous countries

Vinodbhai, a master of devotional music, folk literature, classical music, and more, along with his group, performed Ganpati Vandana

Shishukunj announces 'Walk 4 Children' in Stanmore Common

Shi shuk unj Lon don i s a ch ari ty , a mong i ts glob al presence, that aims to spread positive values through the medium of Indian culture

They are organising 'Walk 4 Children’, which is a part of their Tuk Tuk Campaign (a rickshaw ride in India), dedicated to raising funds for several key initiatives - which are as follows:

Shishukunj International Sc hool i n Bhuj, I nd ia : Contributions will support the extension of the school with construction of accommodation for students and teachers, as well as a Teacher Training Centre to extend the opportunity of education to more disadvantaged children and spread teaching methods vested in Shishukunj values to more teachers

Shishukunj International Sewa Pr oje c ts : Funds will

help collect and distribute computers, books and care kits Furthermore it will support and fund the education of many underprivileged children in India and Kenya

Suppor ti ng Loc al UK Se wa Work: Proceeds will also support local UK projects, through the involvement of Shishukunj baalako

This will primarily support local foodbanks and homeless charities as well as other charitable causes

The walk has different distances which participants can choose from such as 1km, 5km, 10km, and 20km routes, ensuring there is something for everyone

To register simply visit https://www tickettailor co m/events/shishukunjlondon/1252631 To contact them directly for any questions, please email at charitywalk@shishukunj org uk

They adorned father's image with these ‘vandanas', as the family's protector and saviour

The programme coordinator, Bansriben, highlighted the significance of celebrating "Father's Day" and extended good wishes on the occasion to all the participants Surendra Shah, in expressing gratitude to everyone, especially acknowledged the sisters of the kitchen committee who prepared delicious food with love

Fernandes Vaz Solicitors wins “Excellence in UK India Corridor Award 2024”

Th e U K- Ind ia Legal Partnership (UKILP) has honoured Ms Maria Fernand es with an award for excellence, acknowledging h er decades of devoted service and significant contributions to fostering the bu si ness c orri d or between India and the UK

Ms Fernandes' outstanding efforts in both public and private spheres have set her apart as a pioneering leader and innovator within the community She received the "Excellence in UK India Corridor Award'' in the Immigration law category at UKILP’s Annual Awards Ceremony which was held at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom on 31 May 2024 The award was presented by former Chief Justice of India and Member of the Rajya Sabha Mr Ranjan Gogoi

The event saw esteemed attendees including Mr Nick Emmerson, President of the

Law Society of England & Wales, the Chair of the Bar Council of England & Wales, distinguished King’s Counsels and others

Ms Fernandes stated as follows: “It is a great honour and privilege to receive this award for immigration Mahatma Gandhi famously said: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” I have been lucky to practise immigration for nearly 4 decades and I have enjoyed and learned so much from my clients ” I was truly honoured to receive this award

Mall as they departed the palace in a carriage for the

Princess Kate arriving at Buckingham Palace with her children

The Indian Men’s Deaf cricket team in London on International Yoga Day

Vinod Patel (right) along with other artists on the stage

Guests at the event First row from the right: President Natubhai Mehta Past President - Nalin Udani, Subhash Bakhai, Navnat Vanik Mandal President - Jashwant Doshi, Cllr Nitin Parekh and Jayesh Doshi

Maria Fernandes

Advocating South Asian LGBTQ+ community with art

Subhasini Naicker

Reeta Loi (She/They) is a Storyteller, Music Artist and Buddhist and has been a leading voice for the South Asian LGBTQ+ community for a decade She has successfully lobbied for the decriminalisation of homosexuality in India and is the Forbes 100 Founder & CEO of Gaysians, the leading UK-based movement for the rights of South Asian LGBTQ+ people She is former Contributing Editor at Gay Times, has curated TEDxLondon Pride and shared her voice on stages around the world including The Oxford Union, Bloomsbury Festival and Mumbai Pride

In an interview with Asian Voice, Reeta discussed the inspiration behind starting Gaysians, the role of art and storytelling in bridging cultural gaps and fostering understanding about LGBTQ+ representation, and much more

What inspired you to start Gaysians, and what were your initial goals? How has it evolved, and what are some of its key achievements?

I kept my sexuality a secret for ten years before I told my parents when I was 28 years old and had met someone, I wanted to share my life with I was given an ultimatum and so I chose to live life honouring my sexuality and relationship, but I lost my culture After a long period of depression and not knowing where to go for support, I began sharing my story in the media in the hope that I might help other people like me feel less alone After about five years of doing this anonymously, I began using my name and face publicly in the hope that I might connect with other LGBTQ+ South Asians and find community Until recently we were nowhere to be seen Not on TV, in magazines or newspapers, in LGBTQ+ spaces or in Asian spaces Once I did this (initially as a columnist at DIVA magazine), people were more easily able to find me I had been out for 20 years by now and still couldn't see a single version of myself in the media and decided I'd have to be visible myself

Then I started Gaysians as a way to bring together the people, community organisations and charities I was meeting and learning about but were hard to find I set up gaysians org to help people find resources and connect with a very underground community

For seven years, Gaysians has been a vehicle for people to find support as LGBTQ South Asians with faith, gender, housing, mental health, sexual health and find community We've been entirely volunteer-run and have grown into a global network Over the years we ve spoken to thousands of people with a variety of support needs

The sector is hugely underfunded but over time our charity and community partners have gained more visibility and funding

What's interesting is that losing my family actually became my privilege I had nothing to lose, unlike many in our community So I was able to speak out in a way others couldn't This allowed me to fight for change, whether through my talks and live performances, my music or the VICE documentary I made On a personal level, through my art and activism I have been able to find a chosen family

Whatchallenges do South Asian LGBTQ+ individuals face, and how can these be addressed through community and advocacy work?

We face silencing, disownment, violence, abuse and persecution all over the world, in our homes and families, on the streets and at work We are still only just starting to unite as a global community and be heard in the media

The cost of being LGBTQ+ in our community is so terribly high that we more often than not live in secrecy and lead double lives This isn t good for our mental health If we come out we face abuse and disownment The South Asian community has developed a reputation for being unaccepting of their own LGBTQ+ community and this feels so at odds with who we really are We were once the Superpower of the world and liberal in our sexuality and celebrated gender diversity While the British are to blame for criminalising homosexuality so they could increase birth rates and extract more wealth from us, we are to blame for not choosing to love and

accept our own Being LGBTQ+ is not a western thing, we were always like this, just look at the Khajuraho temples or Jamali-Kamali and countless other sites across South Asia that depict our true essence

Whatrole do you think art and storytelling play in bridging cultural gaps and fostering understanding about LGBTQ+ representation?

In my TEDxLondon talk I share the story of India's colonisation, how this affects our lives today and how we can own our identities as our Superpowers I can't imagine what difference it would have made to me growing up to have seen and had access to stories like my own, to see myself reflected in the world Art and Storytelling are essential for us to share our experience and to be witnessed, to perhaps even find a sense of belonging and fight the isolation that so many of us experience Without voicing ourselves, how will others be able to have compassion for us and show up for us? Voicing ourselves and telling our own stories is vital Last year I curated Pride at Tara Theatre and it was heartwarming to share the stage with so many South Asian LGBTQ+ musicians, poets and actors, all sharing their voices and art Spaces like this are essential for us and there are more of these events happening now

How important is community support, and what can allies do to better support South Asian LGBTQ+ voices?

The number one thing I think allies can do is call out homophobia and transphobia within the South Asian community, whether at home with family or with friends The violence we experience from within our community is immense and we need your help to stand up for us and help protect us Also if you have a friend who is LGBTQ+, check in on us and go to events with us So many of us suffer alone And if you want to support your LGBTQ+ child or family member, head to gaysians org and check out the Resources section as well as the Letters section to learn about our experiences There's an amazing organisation called Naz & Matt Foundation that we partner with that are doing fantastic work in the UK to support parents and families and it's wonderful to see a wider community of parents emerging at long last

Reeta Loi

Are the British public ready for real democracy?

There is a misconception that we have a perfect, most advanced democracy in the world After all, we invented one person one vote democracy a long time ago when most nations, especially in Africa and Latin America were colonies, ruled by European nations thousands of miles away

Their main reason to colonise these islands (West Indies) and south American colonies (Guyana) was to exploit their natural riches and enrich their motherland in every way possible, including selling local, indigenous people as slaves, taken to West Indies, mainly from West African colonies like Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal to rich, fertile land of West Indies where valuable crops like sugarcane and cotton crops were widely grown but without local population, it was difficult to harvest, thus slave trade became the primary source of human labour which came from West and East Africa

So often questions were asked why Africans and not Asians were preferred as slaves The answer is simple While Africans are strong and robust people, Asians on other hand were weak with low immunity Most of them would perish in ships, on the way, as they were confined in small cabins below decks, deprived of sunlight and fresh air for long periods It usually took three months to cross the Atlantic Ocean

Our “First Pass the Post” (FPTP) political system is neither fair nor fit for the 21st century The best example is that some of our smaller political parties like Liberal Democrats (SDLP) and Nigel Farage’s “Brexit Party'' may get millions of votes overall, but may have a handful, even none MPs in HOC under FPTP system where one may be elected as an MP by a few votes as under 100 more votes than his or her opponent

So often it may take several recounts before the winner is declared, although most results are straight forward! The fairer system could be proportional representation where MPs are elected according to the number of votes each party may harvest!

One down side of such a system is that it often produces hung parliament with inefficient multi-party MPs from the government that may hinder the efficient running of the nation So often MPs are more interested in strengthening their party’s position at the expense of national interest

There was a distinct racial tone by the European Colonists, rulers who were only interested in exploiting their colonies, dependencies, by financially stripping them of their natural wealth such as valuable minerals like gold, diamond, silver, Cobalt and a few more precious metals

They often destroy flourishing forests, rich deltas where water loving animals like hippos, elephants, water buffaloes, crocodiles and their likes make their home, raise their young ones and maintain the balance between nature and the animals, including humans that have existed side by side for thousands of years

But it is now in danger, due to human greed and excesses where animals like elephants, rhinos, lions, jaguars and their likes are killed, slaughtered in thousands for their tusks, horns and skin, even bones which are used in Chinese medicine!

Then China, one of the most efficient, cunning, wellgoverned and ruthless nation on earth who would not hesitate even to rob graves if it benefits them, personally or nationally Any nation that comes under their influence, rule, will turn into a dust-bowl in no time at all

Yet, we have allowed China to flood our markets with consumer goods, so often half the price of the locally manufactured goods, as their manufacturing industry is highly subsidised by the government, breaking all international rules and treaties with impunity that governs world trade It is virtually impossible to have harmonious trade relations with China and the West is learning, paying a high price for trusting China

Bhupendra M Gandhi

Eid al-Adha celebrated worldwide

Eid al-Adha (also known as Bakra Eid or the Festival of Sacrifice), was celebrated with great joy and religious fervour all over the world on June 17

In Mumbai alone, the city in which I live, over five lakhs Muslims came out early in the morning dressed in their finery to offer their special Eid congregational prayers as thanksgiving at the 800-plus mosques across the city

After the solemn prayers, they joyfully greeted each other with hugs of 'Eid Mubarak'

After offering the Eid 'namaaz' (prayers), it was time for celebrations with family, friends, neighbours and community people, savouring and serving each other the festival special dish of 'sheer-korma' (a sweet preparation of milk, vermicelli and dry fruits)

The community was not alone as they were joined in large numbers by Hindus, Christians, Jains and even Parsis to meet, greet and celebrate with their Muslim brethren

Jubel D'Cruz, Mumbai, India

Accelerating Asian influence in UK politics

I am delighted to read the interview with Ameet Jogia in Asian Voice Having previously been elected from Harrow as a councillor, it is heartening to see him now standing as a MP from Hendon, representing our community in such a significant way Hendon, which is home to 4,000-5,000 Asian residents, is witnessing a strong and influential Asian presence in its political landscape

In addition to Ameet’s interview, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about other Asian candidates featured in Asian Voice for the last few weeks It is truly inspiring to see the increasing participation of Asians in UK politics These individuals mainly young faces are stepping up to contribute to the development and betterment of the UK, showcasing the diverse talents and perspectives within our community

I commend Asian Voice for highlighting these emerging leaders and providing them with a platform to share their visions and aspirations It is encouraging to see more Asians aspiring to join political roles, leaving white collar and cushiony jobs and aiming to make a difference These candidates bring unique insights and experiences that can significantly impact policy-making and community’s future development

However, the journey ahead is challenging The question remains: how many will be able to sustain the fight? Only time can tell

Ajay Singh

Reflection on Indian election

The editorial “India’s new governance and coalition dynamics” (AV dated 15-21 June 2024) gives a balanced view of the emerging political landscape in India

The onus lies on Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar to make sure that they support whole-heartedly to Narendra Modi so that his well-thought agenda is fulfilled Good work done by Narendra Modi for the last 10 years for the country might not have percolated down the line hence there is no outright majority for BJP That will be analysed by political pundits and corrective actions will be taken by the senior leadership of the BJP

Naidu and Nitish will have to give priority to the national agenda and not interfere unnecessarily with the tasks Narendra Modi wants to accomplish Since they are “kingmakers”, they should not misuse the power or twist BJP’s leadership to fulfil their regional dreams They should act judiciously for the next 5 years and support the government and the BJP in turn will have to take them into confidence about future plans

This is the time to act responsibly with maturity and unity to make sure that the speed of the journey started by Narendra Modi and his team is not reduced at all The country is on a growth trajectory and the momentum needs to continue Regional parties have their priorities to keep local people happy but they should not supersede the national priorities like defence to make the country self-reliant in critical sectors like energy and other important areas

Hitesh Hingu London

Soneri Sangat

In celebration of International Yoga Day, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar were delighted to host Kamu Palan as the special guest on "Soneri Sangat " Kamu Palan, a passionate yoga instructor and successful businesswoman with over a decade of experience, specialises in breathing techniques, asanas, chakras, and mudras During the program, she demonstrated various asanas and mudras while explaining their significance These simple practices are beneficial for people of all ages, promoting healthy living and reducing dependency on medication in daily life

Detailed report of this event can be read in this week’s Gujarat Samachar Pg no 22

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

Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way!

YOUR VOTE, YOUR VOICE

While political parties express their views on the country's issues and requirements, we aim to ensure that community voices are acknowledged and listened to. If you have questions, concerns, or grievances for the leaders and candidates in your area, please write to us at anusha.singh@abplgroup.com. We will work on amplifying your viewpoints and facilitating the provision of relevant answers

Out About & Upcoming show

This weekend's Out & About takes you back to the roaring twenties with the Women’s India Association charity event 'Gatsby Glam Gala' held at The Peninsula Hotel in Central London

Don’t miss to watch the show, only on Zee tv, Sunday 23 June 2024 @ 6 pm

Sky 707 Virgin 809

Lawyers challenge Lord Chancellor in High Court over legal aid fees

The Lord Chancellor faces a High Court challenge regarding allegations that low legal aid fees are hindering lawyers from offering representation to numero us eligible individuals The focus of the challenge is on access to legal aid for immigration and asylum cases, initiated by Duncan Lewis solicitors, a major provider of civil legal aid in this domain

The legal challenge accuses the Lord Chancellor, currently held by Alex Chalk, of neglecting to raise the rates for "controlled work" – referring to legal aid services in immigration and asylum cases

There's a significant gap between the demand for this assistance and its availability, leaving thousands, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, victims of domestic and sexual violence, and survivors of torture or trafficking, unable to access legal aid

Lawyers and NGOs in the civil legal aid sector argue that the government is well aware of these issues, having submitted ample evidence during consultations outlining the "devastating consequences" of insufficient legal aid

Challenges against the individual overseeing the courts are rare occurrences in the High Court Nick Emmerson, President of the Law Society, cautioned, "The civil justice system is in a delicate position, and those striving for justice will ultimately bear the brunt "

HMRC fails to fine offshore tax fraud 'enablers' in 5 years

Des pi te hav in g s ig n ifi can t powers to levy substan ti al fines, the UK's tax authority has not imposed a single fine on any "enabler" of offshore tax ev asion or non compliance in the past five years

Tory ministers asserted that the new laws implemented in 2017, enabling HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to pursue accountants, lawyers, and bankers facilitating offshore tax evasion, would establish a "level playing field," potentially resulting in fines amounting to several million pounds

Newly revealed figures obtained through freedom of information requests by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism show that no fines have been issued in the past five years under the powers granted to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) "The effectiveness of new HMRC powers is rendered pointless if they remain unused," remarked Dan Neidle, founder of the independent think tank Tax Policy Associates and former head of tax at global law firm Clifford Chance

Alex Chalk

Ankita Sharma: From New Zealand grassroots to Tandridge Council Chambers

Anusha Singh

A nkita Sharma, hai ls from New Zealan d, an d in the r

e a r s , h as t

ti on ed s eamles sly from her p o l i ti c a l en

M ovi ng to the UK in June 2 022, Anki ta s wiftly e ntered the politic al a re na and sec ured

Ta ndridge Dis tri ct Counci l duri ng the local e lections

Beginning her political journey in New Zealand, Ankita actively participated in various women's rights organisations and advocated for improved public infrastructure, including amenities like Wi-Fi and mobile charging stations on public transport, through petitions to the New Zealand Parliament

Here, she discusses her transition to UK politics, the journey it was and the future plans for her constituency and career as a politician

What personal values and experiences drive your commitment to public service? How do you balance your responsibilities as a councillor with your personal life?

My commitment to public service is driven by a deep-seated belief in equity, justice, and community empowerment Spending half of my life in New Zealand, I was actively involved in various women's rights organisations, which instilled in me the importance of advocacy and fighting for marginalised voices My work with BPW Women, UN Women, and the Zonta Club of Auckland highlighted the power of collective action and the necessity of public service in creating tangible change

Balancing my responsibilities as a councillor with my personal life requires meticulous time management and a supportive network I prioritise tasks based on urgency and importance, ensuring that I allocate time for both my public duties and personal well-being Maintaining open communication with my family and friends also helps me navigate the demands of my role while preserving my personal life

Can you share your experiences as a politician in New Zealand and how is the political environment different in the UK, in comparison?

In New Zealand, my political journey was heavily focused on advocacy and grassroots movements, particularly within women's rights organisations

Petitioning the New Zealand Parliament for public infrastructure

improvements was a significant experience that taught me the intricacies of policy-making and the importance of community engagement

The political environment in the UK presents different challenges and opportunities

The UK’s political landscape is more diverse and complex, with a richer historical context and a larger population Navigating this environment required me to quickly adapt to new political dynamics and build a local network

Despite the differences, the core principles of serving the community and advocating for constituents remain the same The UK's structured political frameworks have also provided me with new tools and platforms to drive change effectively

Whatwere some of the biggest challenges you faced when you first entered UK politics and how did you manage to quickly establish yourself and win a seat as a councillor in the Tandridge District Council?

One of the biggest challenges I faced was building credibility and a support network in a new country

Being relatively unknown in the UK political scene required me to work diligently to gain the trust of the local community I immersed myself in local issues, attended community meetings, and engaged with residents to understand their concerns

Another challenge was understanding the nuances of the UK’s political system, which differs significantly from New Zealand’s I invested time in learning the legislative processes and the structure of local governance My background in New Zealand politics equipped me with valuable skills in advocacy and community engagement, which I leveraged to address local issues effectively Winning a seat as a councillor in the Tandridge District Council was a culmination of persistent community engagement, canvassing, leaf-letting, understanding constituent needs, and presenting prac-

tical solutions

As the councillor in Tandridge District, what are your primary goals and priorities? How are you planning to leverage your background and experience from New Zealand to benefit your constituents in the UK?

As a councillor in Tandridge District, my primary goals include improving public infrastructure, enhancing community services, and fostering a more inclusive and engaged community I sit on the licensing, housing, Strategy and Resources committees as well as the Climate Change Working group I am committed to addressing issues such as housing, transportation, and local economic development My experience in advocating for public amenities in New Zealand, like Wi-Fi and mobile charging stations on public transport, provides a strong foundation for pushing similar initiatives in Tandridge I plan to leverage my background in community engagement by actively involving residents in decision-making processes, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met Additionally, my experience with women ’ s rights organisations equips me to champion equality and inclusivity within the community By drawing on my diverse experiences, I aim to implement innovative solutions and foster a collaborative environment for the betterment of Tandridge

What are your long-term goals in your political career?

In the long term, I aspire to continue making significant contributions to public service by addressing systemic issues and advocating for human rights, economic development on a more national level My immediate goal is to serve effectively as a councillor in Tandridge, ensuring that the community’s needs are met and their quality of life is improved Beyond my current role, I envision taking on more significant responsibilities at the national level, where I can influence broader policy changes and promote social justice on a larger scale I am particularly passionate about issues related to women's rights, public infrastructure, and environmental sustainability By building on my current achievements and continuously engaging with the community, I aim to create lasting positive impact and inspire others to contribute to public service Ultimately, my goal is to be a catalyst for change, promoting fairness, inclusivity, and prosperity for all

A PART OF THE LEGA BE LEEGACY

As you all know

celebrating its 52nd anniversary. While this celebration marks the foundation day of , Gujarat Samachar

Gujarat Samachar

everyone who have not only contributed to our publishing journey but also, in some unforgettable. In this special souvenir , it is an occasion for all of us. T

subscriber or the other way, to the progress of the entire British Gujarati community. As a loyal

e invite you to share your memories, struggles, achievements, or unforgettable W , there are many things you can do to support this milestone.

events from the time you and your family left your homeland and settled in this country.

independent committee will select articles to feature in our special edition.

Whether at home or abroad, charitable, voluntary, or community organisations have

such organisations have also played a vital role in the progress of the British Gujarati

eaders, Dear R ogeth l ld i ti contributions and impact.

photos is July 6, 2024. Please note that this opportunity is ex ’t delay-pick up you Don in our community. play elders organisations, in role a

(Asian Business Publications L

Note that submissions will not be returned, so please keep a copy for your records. An length of 3000 words. Please include a high-quality photograph with your submission. written article should be The S i l side of the paper en , , Middlese North

e kindly invite these organisations to submit a 750-word overview of their community. W

Harrow

Ankita Sharma

22 - 28

The King’s birthday honours list 2024

King's Birthday Honours celebrate diversity and impact

Over 1,000 people from across the UK have received honours in HM The King’s Birthday Honours List 2024, published b y the Cabinet Office of whom 4 6 per cent are Asian, 3 per cent are black, 1 6 per cent have a mixed ethnicity and 0 4 per cent come from “another” ethnic background

Women make up 48% of this year ’ s honourees, with 40% being awarded a CBE or higher This marks an improvement from the late Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2019, where only 31% of the highest honours went to women

Additionally, 30% of the recipients identify as coming from a lower socioeconomic background, a significant increase from 17 8% in the New Year’s List of 2021 when this metric was first recorded The youngest recipient is 20year-old Shamza Butt, who was honoured with a BEM for her contributions as a Member of the

National Citizens’ Service Trust Youth Voice Forum Rizwan Rehman, the chair of governors at Lapage Primary School and Nursery, also received a British Empire Medal for his services to education

Alan Bates, founder of the Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance, has been awarded a Knighthood for his services to justice Tracey Emin receives a DBE for her contributions to art, and Imelda Staunton is honoured with a DBE for her services to drama and charity

This year's list celebrates individuals who have made an immeasurable impact on people’s lives across the country, through innovative solutions and significant contributions to public life The honourees include active community champions, innovative social entrepreneurs, pioneering scientists, passionate health workers, and dedicated volunteers

Excellence of British Sikhs celebrated

Several distinguished individuals of Sikh and Sikh heritage have been honoured in the King's Birthday Honours List, celebrating their exceptional contributions across various fields, including community service, arts, education, and public service

Among the recipients is Jasvinder Kaur Sanghera CBE, a human rights campaigner and founder of the charity Karma Nirvana, which supports victims of forced marriages and honourbased abuse She has been extensively recognised for her courage and dedication to justice She receives a Damehood for services to victims of child, forced marriage, and honour-based abuse

Upon hearing about her honour, Jasvinder said, "As I receive my Damehood, the legacy of Karma Nirvana lives on, and I will persist in speaking out on issues that silence many individuals within our communities Currently, I am working on various campaigns, and I will utilise this honour for the greater good, as there is still much work to be done I would like to express my gratitude to all those who have collaborated with me over the years I thank you for providing platforms and believing

in the causes I have campaigned for I reflect on the fact that many have perceived me as being without honour I believe that my honour is their shame "

Another recipient is Lakhbir (Laks) Singh Mann Laks is a Metropolitan Police Officer and the LGBTQ+ lead for South Asian Heritage Month He is a Mayor of London appointed Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisor to City Hall, advocating through an intersectional lens of race, ethnicity, faith, LGBTQ+, and working-class lived experiences

Laks receives an MBE When asked about his honour, he said, "I've been at the forefront of national EDI initiatives in UK policing as the first South Asian and Sikh Police Officer to speak openly and publicly about being gay As a South Asian queer, I'm incredibly proud to be recognised with this accolade especially given its Pride month and just ahead of South Asian Heritage Month, of which I'm a Trustee This honour is dedicated to all those who strive for their intersectional identity to be lived to the fullest "

Other recipients of Sikh heritage in the civilian list include Dr Rabinder Kaur Buttar, Balwinder Kaur Dhanoa, and Dr Amrik Singh Mahal

L I S T O F A S I A N W I N N E R S

D ame Commander of the Order

of the B ritish Empire

Jasvinder K aur Sanghera

Founder, Karma Nirvana and Human Rights Campaigner

For services to the Victims of Child, Forced Marriage and Honour-Based Abuse

C ommand ers of the Ord er of the Br itish Empire

Monica Ali

Writer

For services to Literature

D avid Kr ishna Menon

Head of Division of Anaesthesia, University of Cambridge

For services to Neurocritical Care

Asif Rangoonwala

Chair, Rangoonwala Foundation

For services to Charity and to Philanthropy

D ipesh Jayantilal Shah

Lately Chair, National Highways

For services to Transport

Officer s of the Order of the Br itish Empire

Tabassum Ri zwan Ahmad

Chief Executive Officer, EmployAbility

For services to Inclusive Access to Employment for Neurodivergent and Disabled

Young People

Amira Amz our

Deputy Director, Environment Bill, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

For services to Environmental Legislation

Shalni Arora

Founder Trustee, Belong and Founder, Savannah Wisdom

Charitable Foundation

For services to Charity and to Philanthropy

Jamshed Bomanji

Head Clinical Department

Institute of Nuclear Medicine, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

For services to the NHS and to Global Nuclear Medicine

Rabinder Kaur B uttar

Senior Enterprise Fellow, Strathclyde University

For services to Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Leadership in Business, and to Life Sciences

Sonya Naiken Byers

Chief Executive Officer, Women in Transport and Patron, Women on the Move Against Cancer

For services to Diversity

Shr uti Kapila

Professor of History and Politics, Corpus Christi College University of Cambridge

For services to Research in Humanities

Rosh Mahtani

Founder, Alighieri Jewellery

For services to Jewellery Design and to Philanthropy

Hannana Sidd iqui

Head of Policy, Complaints and Research, Southhall Black Sisters

For services to the Prevention of Violence Against Women

Rajesh V asantlal Thakker

Lately President Society for Endocrinology

For services to Medical Science

and to People with Hereditary and Rare Disorders

Sub hash Vithaldas Thakker

Lately Chair, London Chamber of Commerce

For services to British Trade and Investment in Africa

Members of the Ord er of the Br itish Empi re

Halima Hashim Atcha

Diversity and Inclusion Lead, North West and North Central, Work and Health Service

Department for Work and Pensions

For services to Diversity and Inclusion

Puneet D wivedi

For services to the community in Scotland

Imr an R afi

General Practitioner and Reader in Primary Care and Genomics, St George s, University of London

For services to General Practice and Genomics

Saima Ashraf

Senior Finance Auditor, Merseyside Police

For services to Policing

Hari Bahadur B ud ha Magar

Adventurer Campaigner and Charitable Fundraiser For services to Disability Awareness

Namir Rahim C howdhur y

Regional Representative for Europe and the Americas, Commonwealth Youth Council For services to Young People in the UK and Abroad

Zia Us Samad C howdhur y For services to the Bangladeshi Community in the West Midlands

Archana Rao Dannamaneni Customer Compliance Group, HM Revenue and Customs For services to Tax Compliance

Balwinder Kaur D hanoa Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Progress Care Group, West Midlands

For services to Children with SEND and their Families

Bharati D warampud i Advanced Customer Support

Senior Leader, Department for Work and Pensions For Public Service

Jamila Eli zabeth Gavin

Writer

For services to Children s Literature

Shobna Gulati

Actor Writer and Dancer For services to the Cultural Industries

Syed Nasir Jaffr i For services to Integration in Glasgow

Samina K han Director, Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach, University of Oxford For services to Higher Education

Rakesh Kumar

Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, Hergest Unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd

For services to the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities

Tar iq Mahmood

Founder, Feed the Needy and Vice-Chair, Havering Inter Faith

Forum

For services to Charity and to Interfaith Relations

Lakhb ir Singh Mann

Founder, Gaysians For services to Charity, Integration and to LGBTQ+ Communities

Shir az Mast er

Founder and Managing Director

Simply Doughnuts For services to the Promotion of Food and Drink, to Business and to Philanthropy

Furq an Naeem

Founding Organiser, Greater Manchester Citizens For services to Interfaith Relations and to the community in Greater Manchester Nevita Pandya

Headteacher, Townley Grammar School, Bexleyheath, London Borough of Bexley

For services to Education

Prad ip Patel

Lately Chair, Frimley Health NHS

Foundation Trust

For services to the NHS

Hassan Christopher Pillai

Volunteer For services to Fundraising and to Cancer Support

Amar Shah

Chief Quality Officer, East London Foundation Trust and National Clinical Director for Improvement, NHS England For services to Healthcare Improvement

Kir an Jethalal Shah Stuntman and Scaledouble For services to the Film Industry Tanvi Bakul Kumar V yas

Member, Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee For services to Transport

Medallists of the Ord er of the Br itish Empi re Shamza B utt

Member National Citizens Service Trust Youth Voice Forum For services to Young People

Sellathurai C handrakumar

Postmaster

For services to the community in Notting Hill, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Amr ik Singh Mahal

Global Head of IT for Research, AstraZeneca

For services to Science and the Covid-19 Response

Jaysukhlal Shantilal Mehta

Director and OneJAIN Panel

Coordinator, Institute of Jainology and OneJAIN UK

For services to Faith, Integration and Humanitarianism

Supr iya Nagarajan

Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director, Manasamitra

For services to Music

Riz wan Rehman

Chair of Governors Lapage

Primary School and Nursery, Bradford, West Yorkshire For services to Education

Chand ulal Hir ji Rughani Chair, Lohana Social Club

For services to the community in North London

Lakhbir (Laks) Singh Mann MBE

Jasvinder Kaur Sanghera CBE

The King's Birthday Honours List 2024

British Asian Trust Vice-Chairs honoured

In recognition of their phila nthropic se rvices , British Asian Trust ’ s Vice-Chairs , Asif R angoonwala an d Shal ni Arora , hav e been awar ded CBE a nd OB E r espe ctive ly by His Ma je st y King Char les III in the Birt hday H on ours list 2024

Asif Rangoonwala CBE received the honour for services to Charity and Philanthropy As a prominent business leader and philanthropist, Asif has been a driving force in the philanthropic landscape for many years, with a focus on creating positive change within communities both in the UK and South Asia Through the Rangoonwala Foundation, he has championed numerous projects aimed at improving the quality of life for disadvantaged individuals

The Foundation's work includes providing scholarships for underprivileged students, funding medical research and facilities and supporting community development programmes Asif said, "I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive this recognition I will strive to further

our mission of creating a more equitable and compassionate world "

Shalni Arora OBE received her award for Social Cohesion and Philanthropy She has dedicated decades to supporting numerous charitable causes As a philanthropist and social entrepreneur, she has been actively involved in numerous charitable initiatives that address critical social issues One of her notable achievements includes founding the Savannah Wisdom Foundation, which supports a range of projects aimed at empowering disadvantaged communities

OBE for Subhash Thakrar

Subh as h V Thakrar OBE, a chartered acc ountant and recip ient o f a l if etime achievement award from t h e I n s t it u t

Acco untants, is also a Fell ow of th e Ro yal Society o f Arts

Notably, he served as Chair of the London Chamber of Commerce, founded the Asian Business Association at the Chamber, and was a Commissioner at the UK Government's Department for International Development Subhash has led and participated in prime ministerial trade missions to Africa and India

He is the founding Chair of Charity Clarity and serves as a trustee for charities such as the Jaspar Foundation, 3Rs Trust, and most recently as Chair of the Attlee Centre He received an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Reacting to the honour, Mr Thakrar told Asian Voice, “This

was indeed a pleasant surprise which I accept in all humility These events happen due to well wishes of family and friends of whom my wife Rekha in most noteworthy She has to be a joint owner of this honour ”

Anoopam Mission will honour and celebrate Mr Thakrar’s appointment on Friday, June 21,2024 in the presence of Sadguru Sant Param Pujya Ashvindada

Shamza Butt: A young achiever

T he yo ung est recipient in HM T he King’ s Birthd ay Honours is

S h a m z a B u tt, 20 , se rv e s as a p olice officer, and has taken on an array of v oluntary roles as w ell as p rojects to help her local comm u n ity , an d to c o m ba t yo u th crime

Shamza was nominated by NCS and has received a BEM in HM The King’s Birthday Honours Shamza said: “When the headed letter from Buckingham Palace came through the post, I couldn’t have felt more honoured! I had to Google it and double check to make sure it was real!”

She added: “I have done so much work with National Citizen Service, from social action and charitable work to volunteering at the Queen’s funeral and the King’s Coronation My work with the Peer Action Collective has

enabled me to campaign against knife crime

“I arrived in the UK as a young 16 year old who wanted to learn the language and make some friends I joined NCS for a summer and it is the best thing I ever did My confidence boosted up and I have met so many people including friends for life and done so many remarkable things

“My parents are very proud I’m the first to do a lot of things in my family, including volunteering and winning an award ”

Shalni said, “This award is a testament not just to me but to the incredible work of so many partners Together, we strive to create a more inclusive and compassionate society, and I share this award with everyone who has supported our mission ”

In their roles at the British Asian Trust, Asif and Shalni have been instrumental in advancing the Trust's mission to tackle poverty and inequality Their efforts have significantly contributed to the Trust's programmes which have impacted the lives of millions of people across South Asia

NHS staff recognised

NHS st aff including paramedics, nu rses and do ctor s ar e am ong dozens o f fr ontline workers recognised in the King’s B ir thday Hono urs

The head of the NHS, Amanda Pritchard, has said the awards recognise the dedication and skill of NHS staff, saying, “The NHS is incredibly lucky to have such skilled and dedicated staff, and I am delighted that so many of them have been recognised in the Birthday Honours

“This is another opportunity to recognise the breadth of expertise within the health service - from embedding the latest technology into nursing and maternity care to supporting people with learning disabilities – these recipients all show the very best of the NHS “I want to congratulate everyone in in the NHS and care sector receiving an honour – it is very much deserved ” British Asians recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours include, Professor Jamshed Bomanjo, Pradip Patel, Dr Imran Rafi and Dr Amar Shah

Celebrating diversity in Engineering

about diversity, it’s easy to just think about a mix of genders and skin tones, but diversity of thought is a concept we can’t overlook

Professor Anusha Shah President, Institution of Civil Engineers

As the current president of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), I am honored to be only the third female and first person of color in over 200 years ’ history of the institution

Diversity and inclusion have been an important thread throughout my career and initiatives like International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), highlight how women are significantly contributing to the essential work we do in improving the quality of life in harmony with nature and why we still need to focus on improving diversity in the industry

This year ’ s INWED theme is ‘#enhancedbyengineering’ and ‘enhance’ is such a good word to apply to the work women do across engineering, and what the sector does more broadly At its heart, engineering is about improving and enhancing people’s lives What we need to do is to find every opportunity to enhance the nature and environment too

This takes many shapes and forms – for example, through improving access to public transport by building new rail infrastructure, supplying water to communities or by enhancing access to green space and reducing flood risk by building a community park

Every year on INWED, the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) releases a list every year of women who are leading the way, and in my own career, and throughout my presidency, I’ve met women who are making amazing contributions daily

Women like Claire Price, associate director at WSP, Georgia Thompson, a design manager at Costain, or Dr Priti Parekh, Professor of Infrastructure Engineering and International Development at University College London, and Paula McMohan, Regional Supervising Officer, Sir Robert McAlpine Priti and Paula both serve as ICE Trustees as well

But it is not just about gender When we think

This means drawing on the experience of not only different genders and people of different ethnic backgrounds, but also those who are of different abilities and socio-economic statuses, from different places around the world, and even from different fields than our own

Having diverse teams brings a breadth of different perspectives that enhance creativity and problemsolving capabilities We can’t solve the problems we face by remaining in silos, we must look for collaborative solutions across sectors, geographies and generations

In my own career, one such project that is doing this is the 50L home initiative I am lucky to represent my company, Arcadis, on this project

It’s a global publicprivate collaboration which aims to build low carbon homes where 50L water consumption feels like 500L Making sustainable living irresistible by bringing together diverse partners who focus on the same consumer and enable the transformation through different touch points, from the water fittings to the washing machine to the shampoo they use.

One of the unique things about this project is that it brings together thought leaders from across many sectors Civil engineers like me are working with the likes of Procter & Gamble, Engie, Electrolux, Ikea, L’Occitane, Scottish Water and more

The diversity of thought that these professionals bring to the table is what makes the biggest impact –we all approach the problem in different ways but for the shared outcomes.

To address the big problems of our day, like the climate and nature emergency, diversity is critical We need more holistic and inclusive approaches to tackle these issues head on

I hope to encourage diversity and inclusion throughout the rest of my tenure as ICE president and beyond, ensuring that the engineering industry continues to evolve and adapt, and I am looking forward to meeting more diverse, female, trailblazers, innovators, and creators

Asif Rangoonwala CBE

Shalni Arora OBE

Subhash Thakrar OBE

Shamza Butt BEM

Dr Amar Shah MBE

Anusha Singh

An analysis conducted by polling expert Sir John Curtice indicates that faith in the UK's politics and election s ys tem are currently at their lowest point, with 45 percent of res pond ent s ex pre ss i ng tha t they never trust governments to prioritise the country's needs over party in terests and whi le man y expect the Labour party to be the 'government in waiting', there is scepticism about their ability to fulfil their promises of "Change"

As public faith wanes, the Conservatives appear to be depending on the same faith as they brace for a potentially disastrous outcome on 4 July

Recently, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has encountered significant hurdles in the past week, including accusations that he offended war veterans by departing the D-Day commemoration early Amid these controversies, Mr Sunak disclosed that he draws strength from his ‘Hindu’ faith Despite potential frustrations over the public's perceived lack of acknowledgment for his efforts to stabilise the government after Liz Truss' brief tenure, Mr Sunak reaffirmed his commitment to his ‘dharma’ (see page 3)

In an interview with The Times and Sunday Times, he explained that ‘dharma’ entails fulfilling one's duty without being attached to the outcomes, a guiding principle in Hinduism that helps him stay focused on doing what he believes is right

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron, speaking at a Foreign Press Association (FPA) event last week also said something on the similar lines When asked about Conservatives trailing in polls, he said that the party is doing its best for the people of the UK and have left the rest on the voters, having faith in their decision How will ethnic minorities vote?

At an event hosted by FPA, Rupanjana Dutta, Managing Editor of Asian Voice interacted with the team from ‘U K i n a c hang in g Eur ope ’ D ir ec tor, P rof A nan d M enon ; R es ea rc h As soc i at e, Sophie Stowers and Senior Fellow, Prof Rob Ford

Rupanjana highlighted the perceived lack of engagement from the Labour Party with the British Asian diaspora, while the Conservative Party taking their support for granted and asked how the community might vote in the upcoming election

Answering that and referring to an upcoming report on ethnic minority voters from UK in a changing Europe, Sophie discussed why ethnic minorities vote the way they do and how they have voted historically, stating, “Discussions often generalise ethnic minority populations as a single voting bloc, largely aligning with Labour historically However, our analysis reveals significant intergroup diversity, with British Indians serving as a prime example We observe that this group is increasingly aligning their votes with their economic and social values rather than simply out of allegiance to Labour Specifically, British Indians tend to hold more conservative economic and social views, particularly among British Hindus

“It's important to specify that this shift towards the Conservatives among Indian

ASIAN VOTES MATTER

Hindus has been one of the most rapid changes in voting patterns

This trend became particularly pronounced around 2019, which we consider a tipping point

Assessing the continuity of this trend in the upcoming election remains complex, especially with the current significant swing towards Labour across various demographic groups nationwide ”

She further explained a shift in the voting patterns of minorities and a religion based divide in the voting shift She said, “Based on our evidence, particularly from the report I've been working on, it does suggest a shift among Christians and Hindus towards the Conservatives The critical question is the pace and scale of this shift Is it happening rapidly enough and with sufficient numbers to constitute a swing vote or a significant bloc that could sway outcomes in constituencies?

“Currently, my sense is that voters' intentions may not have changed significantly enough to have a decisive impact Looking at recent local elections, there were indications that British Muslims expressed discontent with Labour's stance on Gaza, influencing local election results However, replicating this impact in a general election is challenging ”

However, even with religious divisions, how are community members meant to choose their local MP, when they are unaware of the candidates' pledges specific to the needs of their community?

The lack of personal engagement therefore demotivates the voters

Nevertheless, it's crucial to emphasise that voting is one ’ s fundamental right and duty of every citizen

We must all make an effort to step out on 4 July and cast our votes What are the main issues affecting ethnic minorities?

In conversation with Asian Voice, Keiran Pedley, a Research Director at Ipsos and an expert on elections, political polling and public opinion research, discussed the main issues that the ethnic minorities want to be addressed, stating, “The top issue for the ethnic minorities is inflation and the rising cost of living, followed by concerns about the NHS and the economy While these issues are generally significant across the public as a whole, the primary concern for ethnic minorities is the cost of living, unlike for white Britons where it ranks joint third or fourth in importance

“Regarding other issues and their differences, ethnic minorities tend to place slightly higher importance on foreign affairs and foreign policy compared to white Britons Additionally, discussions around foreign policy can mean different things to different ethnic minority groups Currently, there's significant focus on Gaza, but other issues like Kashmir or other geopolitical concerns can vary in impor-

tance among different groups ”

Keiren also noted that the ethnic minorities tend to vote less frequently than white Britons and that this has been a consistent pattern over time On being asked about the reason behind this, he said, “I believe there are multiple reasons why individuals choose not to vote It could be influenced by the candidate's background and their alignment with personal values Moreover, it extends to whether communities or individuals feel adequately represented by politics in general As I mentioned earlier, for ethnic minorities in Britain, the cost of living ranks as the top concern Therefore, if people perceive that political parties aren't addressing these issues effectively, they may feel disillusioned and see little reason to participate in elections

“Dissatisfaction with the broader workings of government and our electoral system could also play a role In many constituencies, the first-past-the-post system might lead some to question the impact of their vote Thus, the decision not to vote is multifaceted and influenced by various factors ”

Community members speak out on plans and promises

Vivek Saraogi, Chairperson of the ICAI UK, shared his opinion on the pledges made on taxation and economy in the various manifestos and the representation of South Asias in his constituency About the former he said, “I don't think the proposed measures are very practical At the same time, I believe the UK is lacking strong leadership and no one has presented a clear plan We've talked about cost-cutting measures, which will ultimately affect public services, but no one has discussed where to invest or how to increase revenue Revenue isn't solely based on taxes; it's also derived from GDP growth and other key economic factors that drive the economy ”

Further discussing community representation, he said, “Living near London Bridge, I notice that candidates don't seem to care much about the South Asian community Whether we vote for them or not doesn't seem to matter In this area, they're more concerned about the white and black communities because those groups still have some voting power The South Asian community here is relatively small, and in central areas, there seems to be little engagement with us We don't even receive ballots properly and often have to request them ourselves ”

On being asked if this lack of representation affects voting morale, Vivek was quick to point out that voting is a duty He said, “It depends on the individual Personally, I took the initiative to ensure I received my ballot when I wasn't registered, and now I'm eli-

gible to vote I m also an active trustee and worker at various temples and we encourage people in our community to register and vote, highlighting the importance of making our voices heard This way, our community doesn't get left out and everyone can participate ”

Pranav Vora, the Founder of Aum Care shared his opinion on what needs to happen for elder care, care workers and the NHS as a new government comes in According to him, the NHS needs urgent attention “More funding is required, particularly to allow people to choose their own care We see many people who need care but aren't receiving funding, leaving them without necessary support This issue is critical and needs to be addressed”, he said

In South Asian culture, children tend to live with their parents for much longer and take up caring duties On whether the parties took this cultural aspect in account when drafting their plans for carers, Pranav shared his opinion, highlighting the crucial role unpaid carers play, especially in South Asian families where we often live with or support our loved ones even if they don’t live with us and the importance for there to be a strong system of support for these individuals and families

Shalina Patel is a s ec ondary school teacher and an author, who shared her opinion on what is being offered to teachers and the education system She said, “Anyone who remembers the teachers strikes from early 2023 knows that schools are really struggling with funding, workload and retention and recruitment of teachers

“The Labour manifesto has promised to recruit new teachers and I think many in education will welcome the reforms they’ve have suggested to the inspection system as well as supportive measures like mental health support for students The references to an inclusive curriculum are really positive to see also

“As a secondary school teacher, the Conservative manifesto suggestion of an ‘ advanced British Standard’ to replace A Level is quite alarming as this is a huge change but with little detail on how it will work It feels like some of the pledges they’ve made are not actually for those in the education sector - for example the reality is that people in education will already tell you that school don’t allow students to be on their phones for example and will be aware that school curriculums are already transparent and available for parents to see

“I would definitely like to see both parties making it clearer what they will do to retain the brilliant teachers we already have - so many teachers are leaving the profession

due to poor pay “and conditions and it would be great to see teachers being valued for the amazing work that they do ”

Aneet Kapoor is a Pharmacist who lives in Manchester About having the needs of the community heard, he said, “Having attentive ears in this process is paramount Recently, the Hindu Manifesto was unveiled during the Action For Harmony conference It's only through such collaborative endeavours that political parties can start incorporating these concerns into their agendas It's imperative for all South Asian communities to unite and express their requirements ”

In a positive spin, Aneet observes an increasing number of South Asian MPs in the area, this representation aiding in fostering a better understanding of the community's sentiments and culture

Anirban Mukhopadhyay from Harrow is a resident deeply concerned about the upcoming elections He pointed out that despite the pledges and promises being made by candidates, there's a palpable anxiety within the Indian community, particularly among those who have lived there for many years “We fear that if the Labour Party comes into power, there may be an increase in antiIndia rhetoric”, he said

He also highlighted recent Khalistani events in and around the area have increased He expressed concern that neither the government nor the Labour Party has addressed these issues He worries that if a party perceived as anti-India takes office, combined with incidents like the Khalistani events, the situation could become increasingly unsettling

He believes this issue has not received sufficient attention from political parties and candidates Given that Harrow is predominantly Asian, Anirban stressed on the importance of addressing these concerns promptly and urged political leaders to acknowledge and respond to these anxieties, ensuring they do not escalate further

The political parties seem to be overlooking more than just ethnic minorities as caterers, a vital part of the hospitality industry, also feel ignored Oli Khan MBE, President of Bangladesh Caterers Association (BCA), the UK’s largest organisation representing 12,000 UK curry restaurants and takeaways, spoke out about the apathy from the political parties towards his sector

He said, “Till now I and the rest of BCA have not seen any political party recognise our value It’s worth remembering that pre the pandemic, we were an industry that contributed £4 2 billion per year to the UK’s economy Our industry must make its concerns known to politicians of all parties We will be asking them as they campaign to support this vital industry

“We need to see all political parties recognise our sector's significance and contribution to gross domestic product and employment We need to see the real evidence of measures that can unlock the potential of our industry to do more and put us back to where we were in 2019 ”

He has also put forward a list of four demands for the parties

Shalina Patel Keiran Pedley

Vivek Saraogi

“Conservatives can win this election”

Lord Cameron was popular among the British Hindus, especially for starting the much talked about Diwali celebration at No 10 – that has continued till 2023. He also started Vaisakhi and Eid celebrations at No 10.

Like many among the diaspora, he visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden with wife Samantha, often draped in gorgeous sarees. His young children were seen playing in traditional Indian clothes at the Downing Street Diwali, quietly picking up ‘ladoos’ (Indian sweets) from the table and running away.

His prediction in Wembley Stadium in front of 40,000 British Indians, who had gathered to welcome the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that it would not be long before there was a British Indian Prime Minister in Downing Street, also came true.

Lord Cameron quit politics in 2016 after the UK voted for Brexit, and his return as the Foreign Secretary in 2023 raised many eyebrows.

As we go to poll in two weeks’ time, Lord Cameron speaks EXCLUSIVELY to Asian Voice about why the British Asian voters should support the Conservative party, UK-India special relationship, the strength of his party manifesto, the government’s foreign policy achievements and much more.

AV : A t th e F o reig n P ress Association (FPA) briefing on last T h u rs day, yo u ment io ned t h e UK-India FTA We have had many promises over the last two years regarding this FTA, many Diwali deadl ines h ave p as sed, but it remains in a deadlock even after some 14 rounds Do you think if the Conservative Party wins, this UK-India FTA at all has a future?

Yes, absolutely. This Conservative government launched negotiations with India on a free trade agreement and our manifesto commits to finalising that agreement. We are aiming for a historic deal covering goods and services, which benefits both of our countries. In the negotiations we need to be ambitious on both sides and make the most of this once-in-a-generation opportunity. AV: Regarding India’s relationship wi th R uss ia, m uch h as com e under scrutiny Britain has told the Indian government in its own way to reconsider it and therefore the trade deal between UK and India has also come under severe criticism You, during your times as PM had renewed the UK-India relationship and taken it to a new dimension of closeness with the M odi go v er nment Sh o ul d t h e T o r ies be r e-elec ted, and yo u remain in your current role, do yo u int end to br ing u p t h e Ukrai ne-Ru ssia issu e wit h I ndia/op en th at di alo g ue wit h India?

My first bilateral meeting as Foreign Secretary was with Dr Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister. We have a very close relationship with India, and we are able to talk, as friends, about a wide range of global issues and shared challenges – including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza and the importance of the Indo-Pacific region to

global growth and prosperity.

I believe the UK is a great defence partner for India. We already have a valuable defence relationship, exercising together across land, sea and air. We of course collaborate on counterterrorism too.

A V: Th e C onser v at iv es h av e promised to raise defence spending to two and a half percent of G DP by 2030 wit ho ut act uall y telling us how they'll pay for it What is your comment on that?

The Conservative Party has a clear plan for steadily increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by the end of the decade. It is vital that we sustain a clear focus on security, doing what is required to harden our defences in a more dangerous, insecure world.

Labour has failed to match our pledge, which shows they have failed to grasp the scale of the challenge.

AV: What ar e t he key for eig n

p o l icy ac hi evem ents o f t h e

C ons er v at iv e go v er nment th at you believe can help sway voters?

I am proud of our record on defence and diplomacy in an increasingly dangerous and contested world. We have been stand-

I hugely value the thriving relationship between the UK and India

ing up for our values at a time when they are being openly challenged by our adversaries.

We have invested in our defences, strengthened old alliances and forged new ones. We have led the world in support of Ukraine, taken bold action to degrade the capabilities of the Houthis and built a formidable sanctions programme to deter those who wish to harm our democracy and economy.

We’ve stood behind Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international humanitarian war and also done everything possible to get more aid into Gaza by land, sea and air.

Furthermore, we have established the AUKUS security partnership to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

And to support the most vulnerable people and help build a better world, we spent £15.4 billion on official development assistance last year.

AV: What is your vision for the U K' s r o le in t h e wo r l d if t h e Conservative Party wins the general election?

Conservatives will continue to ensure Britain remains a force for good in the world, with an outward looking and global perspective.

We are clear that we must be prepared to tackle the axis of authoritarian states and hostile actors who are working together to threaten international security. And we will work against the global rollback of people’s rights and freedoms.

As we set out in our manifesto, we will strengthen our relationships with like-minded partners, strengthen the

Commonwealth, continue to support the global fight against disease and maintain our leadership on climate change, among other things.

AV: How would you continue to work to s tren gthen the U K's position on the global stage with other countries especially with India?

I hugely value the thriving relationship between the UK and India. This Conservative government has published a roadmap for enhancing UK-India relations, because we want to deepen our cooperation on health, climate, trade, education, science and technology, and defence.

Under this Conservative government, our trade in goods and services with India (exports plus imports) grew to £39 billion last year, up from £16.6 billion in 2014. And we are negotiating an ambitious new free trade agreement with India to further boost our trading relationship.

AV: What message do you have for the undecided British Asian v ot er s w ho ar e c on si der in g whet her t o s uppo r t t he Co n serv at i v e Par ty in t he upcoming election? Why do you think they should vote for the Tories, besides of course Rishi’s heritage as the PM?

The Conservatives are the only party at this election who have a clear plan and we are the only party willing to take bold action to help build a more secure future. Our manifesto is clear: we will cut taxes for hard working people and the selfemployed, and we will stop the state pension being dragged into income tax. Labour will raise your taxes.

I also believe Rishi Sunak is a strong and capable leader and the right person to take this country forward.

Back in 2015, Prime Minister Modi and I addressed Wembley stadium together. It was a spectacular celebration of BritishIndian relations. We share an enduring, living bridge connecting our people, and the diaspora community here in the UK makes a hugely valuable contribution to our national life.

I predicted that one day there would be a British Indian Prime Minister in Downing Street. Rishi was in the audience at Wembley that day.

AV: Acc o rdi n g to po l ls, t he Conservatives are not going to return to power In 2015, during your own election campaign as the PM, while giving an interview to us, you had predicted al most the exact v ot e div i de between the parti es, and the margin of victory As per your experience, what do you think will happen this time? Is there a way your party can salvage its reputation and make a miraculous comeback?

The only poll that counts is on July 4th. And I believe the Conservatives can win this election. We have a manifesto full of bold action for the future, a strong track record and the right team. Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has no plan or vision – and that is becoming clearer by the day.

(With additional inputs from Anusha Singh)

Calls grow for Hindu representation in Scotland

Scottish Hindu Foundation(SHF) emerged from the necessity to represent Scottish Hindu Mandirs on a nat ion al lev el Followi ng the Le ic es te r vi ol enc e in Oc tob er 2022, there was widespread concern within the UK Hindu community

Amidst this anxiety, conversations and meetings took place which led to the formation of the Scottish Hindu Foundation, which is now the Representative body to the Scottish Government and is actively engaged in promoting and protecting the interests of Scottish Hindus and Mandirs in Scotland.

In a conversation with Asian Voice, Dr Richa Sinha and Mrs Naina Penman, the Chairperson and the Vice Chair of the foundation respectively, share the sentiments of the Hindu diaspora and representation.

Lack of genuine representation hinders progress

The leaders shared their opinion on the current representation and challenges facing Hindus in Scotland. Dr Sinha who is the Hindu Representative to the Scottish Government's Faith and Belief Committee feels that the lack of elected representation within our community is a big challenge in itself. Explaining further, she said, “Before the establishment of the Scottish Hindu Foundation, most representation was selected based on individual friendships or partisan opinions . They may have had minimal connections to a single temple, or no real mandate to speak on behalf of the whole community, yet they were appointed as representatives. This lack of scrutiny over who represents us, what they contribute, whilst in their roles, and who they report to was a critical issue that needed to be addressed.”

Adding to the same, Vice President Nainaji, who sits on the Dundee interfaith Body, said, “Before a national strategy and organisation We didn't realise we had representation in interfaith communities across many cities and towns included within the Scottish Interfaith network. While Hindu communities are spread throughout Scotland, they are sometimes overlooked because they are not in the social consciousness due to successful integration into the fabric of Scotland and their representation within Interfaith groups as mentioned can be individual based and disconnected from temples This lack of cohesion means that important consultations and opportunities are not always shared effectively, unlike our counterparts in other faith groups who are well-established, organised and informed about where to seek support and raise awareness consistently.”

“Now, with the establishment of the Scottish Hindu Foundation,which has united Scottish Hindu temples and organisations, we are starting to see positive changes. While we are not yet where we aim to be, these efforts are just the beginning , and our community is becoming more visible and earning respect through our diplomacy and outreach efforts. .”

Push for recognition and representation

Dr Sinha and Naina also shared the expectations of the

Hindu community from the incoming government. Currently, the primary focus of the foundation is in advocacy efforts to gain recognition for Hinduphobia as a legitimate form of hate.

“Unfortunately, many people, including police officers and civil servants, are unfamiliar with Hinduphobia, and we lack the resources to raise awareness effectively. Even our representatives often lack sufficient knowledge about Hinduphobia or anti hindu hate. We are in discussion with the respective bodies to understand the appointment process and ensure individuals who are appointed have the requisite credentials and mandate to deliver for the Scottish Hindu community.

“We appreciate the dialogue initiated by the Hindu manifesto, it is essential for Hindus in Scotland to voice our specific concerns and take a defined document along as a starting point when meeting their local MP candidate”, explained Dr Sinha on the matter. Naina further added, “It would be beneficial to see these points acknowledged and integrated into the agenda of the incoming government, rather than overlooked or dismissed”, she said.

She also stressed that someone representing Hindus in any discussions should be part of a robust organisation capable of effectively communicating and advocating the interests and needs; and the transition to a new government presents a prime opportunity to assert these needs prominently. Call for action against Ignorance

Both Dr Sinha and Naina also shared their thoughts on the issue of hate crimes and the misunderstanding of Hindu culture in that context stating that the lack of understanding was evident and even the Hate Crime Bill failed to represent the community's lived experiences and perspectives.

“Currently, we're focused on preparing a report on Hinduphobia for the UN. This will probably be the first report submitted to the UN on Hinduphobia. Even though this process should have started earlier, possibly before the Hate Crime Bill became law, we remain committed to ensuring our report to the UN is comprehensive and impactful”, shared Dr Sinha.

Lastly, the leaders expressed that while the Hindu Manifesto UK 2024 is comprehensive and welcome, the foundation is currently deliberating on including a Scottish addendum to it. Dr Sinha said, “One critical point under consideration is addressing the labelling and gaslighting of Hindus with terms that are prejudiced and derogatory for example rituals, practices or political and philosophical expressions.

Dr Richa Sinha and Naina Penman

P A R T Y M A N I F E S T O S 2024

All five major parties contesting the election the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, and the Green Party have now unveiled their manifestos Despite the election's earlier-than-expected timing, each party's key promises to the electorate have been in development for some time. Below, you'll find summaries of their main pledges on critical issues such as the NHS, economy, defence, housing, and education.

Leading health change in Kingswinford and South Staffordshire

Subhasini Naicker

Gulvinder Bansal (Gully) is a resident of Codsall, South Staffordshire. With a successful career in digital transformation, he is also a devoted family person and an active member of the Liberal Democrats.

Gully is committed to advocating for an NHS that meets the needs of every citizen. In an interview with Asian Voice, he spoke about the pressing issues facing his constituency, measures to advocate for seamless healthcare and more.

1)What motivated you to become a Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Liberal Democrats in Kingswinford and South Staffordshire?

I am driven to build a better future for my sons, Harveer and Rohan, and all our children. It's incredibly frustrating to see our essential services being neglected and destroyed. This directly impacts their future, and it fuels my commitment to bring about real change.

Witnessing the mismanagement of the cost of living crisis and the severe damage done to the NHS by the Conservative government has been deeply motivating. The rising costs of everyday essentials are making it harder for families to make ends meet, while our healthcare system is struggling under immense pressure. These issues highlight the urgent need for a different approach and stronger advocacy for our community.

I am motivated to become a Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Liberal Democrats in Kingswinford and South Staffordshire because I believe our community deserves a representative who will fight for fairness, opportunity, and positive change. The Liberal Democrats’ vision, as outlined in "For a Fair Deal," resonates with my values of social justice, equality, and sustainability. I am passionate about ensuring that every individual has the chance to succeed and that our local area thrives economically and socially.

2)What do you see as the most pressing issues facing Kingswinford and South Staffordshire, and how do you plan to address them?

One of Kingswinford and South Staffordshire's most pressing issues is the state of NHS services. Unacceptable long waiting times and inadequate healthcare access need urgent attention. To address this, I support the Liberal Democrats' £9bn plan to improve health and care services. This includes guaranteeing that everyone can see a GP within seven

days and ensuring timely access to NHS dental care, which is crucial for our community’s well-being.

Another significant concern is the pollution in our waterways. The issue of sewage discharge has been ignored for too long, leading to severe environmental and public health risks. The Liberal Democrats plan to overhaul the water industry, implementing strict measures to prevent sewage from contaminating our rivers and streams.

Finally, the poor condition of our roads, particularly the prevalence of potholes, is a major issue impacting daily life and safety in our area. Potholes cause damage to vehicles and pose a danger to cyclists and pedestrians. I will advocate for increased investment in road maintenance and infrastructure, ensuring that our roads are safe and well-maintained.

The Liberal Democrats’ values of fairness, community, and sustainability resonate deeply with the needs of Kingswinford and South Staffordshire. Our policies are designed to address the critical issues that residents face, ensuring a better quality of life for all.

3)As a dedicated supporter of the NHS, what measures will you advocate to make healthcare more seamless for everyone?

As a dedicated supporter of the NHS, I am committed to advocating for measures that will make healthcare more seamless and accessible for everyone. Our £9bn manifesto pledge is central to this vision, ensuring comprehensive improvements to our health and care services.

First, I will push for the implementation of our plan to guarantee everyone the right to see a GP within seven days, or within 24 hours if urgently needed. This will be made possible by recruiting an additional 8,000 GPs, significantly reducing waiting times and ensuring timely access to primary care.

Second, I will advocate for guaranteed access to NHS dental care for everyone needing urgent and emergency treatment. The rise of "dental deserts" and DIY dentistry is unacceptable, and our plan aims to end these practices, ensuring that dental health is not neglected.

Third, boosting cancer survival rates is a top priority. Our manifesto includes a guarantee that 100% of patients will start treatment for cancer within 62 days from an urgent referral. This commitment is crucial for improving outcomes and providing timely, lifesaving treatments.

Our manifesto details plans to integrate health and social care more effectively, investing in mental health services with a professional in every school to provide early support. These measures, supported by our fully costed plan, aim to create an efficient, responsive, and accessible healthcare system for all, ensuring the NHS effectively serves our community.

4)Lastly, what personal qualities or experiences do you believe make you well-suited to represent the people of Kingswinford and South Staffordshire in Parliament?

My real-world experience and professional background make me well-suited to represent the people of Kingswinford and South Staffordshire in Parliament. Unlike career politicians, I have spent years working in the private sector, which has instilled in me a strong drive to achieve high-quality results and a deep understanding of the challenges that businesses and employees face daily.

One of my key strengths is my ability to bring people together and serve as a natural mediator. Throughout my career, I have successfully navigated diverse teams and stakeholders, fostering collaboration and ensuring that different perspectives are heard and valued. This skill is crucial for effective representation, as it allows me to build consensus and drive positive change within our community.

My professional experience has also equipped me with a pragmatic approach to problem-solving and a focus on delivering tangible outcomes. In the private sector, achieving high standards and meeting targets are non-negotiable, and I bring this same commitment to my political work. I am dedicated to implementing policies that address the real concerns of our residents, such as improving the NHS, fixing our roads, and protecting our environment.

In addition, my direct interactions with the people of Kingswinford and South Staffordshire have given me a deep understanding of their frustrations and aspirations. I am not disconnected from the community I aim to serve; I grew up in the local area and know the place and the people really well.

Education Not Taxation responds to Labour party manifesto

Shefali Saxena

Educ ati on N ot Taxa ti on ad voc ate s f or ri gor ous s cr uti ny an d thorough i mpac t a ss es s men t of La bour' s propos ed Educ ati on Ta x poli c y, reg ardle ss of t he el ecti on outc ome Shoul d La bour come into power, the campaign insists that the policy undergo formal public consultation and scrutiny by the O ff ic e for Budg eta ry R es pons i bi li ty , whi ch s hould i n cl ude dy na mi c an al ys i s to c ompl eme nt existing static approaches

They also emphasise the need for discussions at the Education Select Committee to delve into the policy's implications. Specifically, they call for detailed assessments on how the tax could affect children, including its impact on local authorities, special educational needs (SEN), military families, bursaries, partnerships, and the dynamics of competition among state schools in sought-after areas like premium catchment zones and grammar schools. These measures are seen as essential to ensure transparency and to mitigate potential negative consequences of the proposed policy on education and communities.

In response to the Labour Party Manifesto launch on 13th June 2024, Education Not Taxation released a statement saying, “The Education Not Taxation campaign supports all schools, is non-partisan, and does not debate Labour’s spending plans”

“Labour’s Education Tax is inconsistent with their flirting with growth, working people and young people. It claims to raise £1.51bn,

exceeding the most optimistic of published estimates. No account is taken of the harms, risks and uncertainties of the tax. Labour leaders do not even agree on what the harms will be. Nobody from Labour has looked in the eyes of families and teachers whose education and livelihood are threatened, or those whose state education will be harmed, not helped, by this half-baked policy.”

“No other party supports the Education Tax and a strong majority of voters will vote against it. If Labour forms the government, their Education Tax will lack legitimacy, and requires much more detailed scrutiny and a full dynamic impact assessment.”

The Education Not Taxation campaign supports all schools is non-partisan, and does not debate Labour’s spending plans. According to the initiative, if spending money on education is important, a serious economist should recognise the social benefit and taxpayer saving of £812k per child, a total £4-6bn, from independent education, by raising money in some other less harmful way that does not harm children.

The press statement says that Sir Keir Starmer’s first strategic pillar is to secure the “highest sustained growth in the G7”; he does not believe in “raising taxes on working people”; is “pro-business and proworking people” and is “choosing to back young people”.

Despite years of preparation in Opposition, the Education Not Taxation group believes that policy is not ready for Parliament, has enjoyed no industry

engagement, has not been presented to the electorate in any detail, and has not been scrutinised in the leadership debates. To the extent some voters express support for the policy, it comes on the back of years of hard-left rhetoric, including the misleading “tax break” claim, accompanied by no transparency or accountability for the harms it will cause.

“We note that Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Reform parties all robustly reject Labour’s Education Tax. The Green and Scottish National Parties do not support Labour’s Education Tax – the situation in Scotland is particularly challenging. We can expect a strong majority of voters to reject the policy at the ballot box,” the statement read.

Love ena Tan don, Spok es per son , Educ ati on N ot Ta xat ion told Asian Voice, “As parents, we have long warned that adding VAT on independent school fees will force children out of their schools. We are now witnessing the chaos this is causing: independent schools are closing, state schools are facing rising demand, and local authorities are struggling to accommodate these children.

“Despite our concerns, the Labour Party remains determined to implement this policy. Labour leaders have even said they're "fine" with children being forced from their schools, leading to overcrowded state school classrooms.

“We asked multiple times to meet with Labour leaders to discuss our grave concerns. We hope to meet with them soon."

Tory candidate accused of stirring trouble

The Conservative candidate in Dud le y N ort h, Ma rc o Longhi, has faced criticism f or se n ding le tt er s to British-Pakistani voters that suggest they should support him over his Labour rival due to her Indian surname

The letter has been accused of employing dogwhistle politics and of attempting to create division among voters, particularly within the British Hindu community. In a letter addressed to "voters of the British Pakistani/Kashmiri community in Dudley," Longhi questioned whether the Labour candidate would advocate for Kashmir in parliament, emphasising Kumar's name in bold, capitalised, and underlined text.

Ra je sh Ag ra wa l, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate in Leicester East said, "This is a shameful attempt to divide communities and is offensive to both Muslim and Hindu communities. There should

be zero tolerance of the dog-whistle politics Mr Longhi is engaged in. Rishi Sunak should put country before party and immediately remove his Party’s support for Mr Longhi campaign and apologise for attempting to alienate British Indians.”

Navin Sha h CBE, former Labour politician commented on the issue, stating, “The letter is nothing but a crude diversion from a desperate Tory candidate who instead of apologising for the Tory inflicted cost of crisis on our residents is attacking India on an issue which is a matter for the two sovereign states to settle.

Kr upe sh Hira ni A M, London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow also commented, stating, “It is shocking to see this level of anti-India campaigning from the Conservatives. They have targeted and singled out Labour's Indian origin candidate Sonia Kumar and have capitalised underlined and put in bold her Indian surname to make a point of her being Indian”.

Krish Raval OBE, Chair of Labour Indian said, “Labour Indians condemn Marco Longhi’s deeply divisive tactics to divide and rule communities in Dudley for political gain. It is also deeply disheartening to see an Indian-origin leader of the Conservatives let antiIndian racism run rife through his party, as we saw recently with the comments made by Tory Party donor, Frank Hester.”

“The fact is that the shambolic Conservative government needs to go and any attempt at smearing India cannot deflect the fact that thanks to the Tory government the country is on its knees, lurching from one crisis to another. I am confident that voters in Dudley and across the nation will reject the Tory culture of dividing communities and creating tensions.”

Gulvinder Bansal

"I

live to serve. I love Leicester"

Anusha Singh

Keith Vaz is making a return to politics , having ann ounced hi s candidacy

f or the 2 024 general election to rec laim hi s f ormer Lei cester East seat after more than four years s ince his retirement

The former MP, who represented Leicester East for 32 years, is contesting against Claudia Webbe, his successor and another former Labour member Mr Vaz is running under the banner of the newly formed One Leicester Party, founded in August 2023 by Rita Patel, also a former Leicester Labour councillor

As he campaigns for victory on July 4, Mar Vaz spoke to Asian Voice about his return to active politics, his vision for Leicester East and why he is the best choice for the constituency

1What prompted your decision to come out of retirement and stand as a candidate in the 2024 general election for the Leicester East seat?

I've decided to stand again and come out of retirement because of the state of the country, nationally The state of the city, locally and the general way in which our politics is broken

At the last election, 35,000 of the people of Leicester East voted for me and gave me a majority of 22,000 It was the greatest privilege of my life to serve as the MP Now I am shocked with what I see Despite so many opportunities, Leicester is unrecognisable and on the edge of bankruptcy

Instead of being a city of the future, it has become a city of closed High Street shops, traffic congestion, areas of crime and over 6,000 people on the housing waiting list

The Labour Mayor announced he will close the celebrated Leicester market and end one of the most famous events, the “Diwali light switch-on ceremony ”

It's for those reasons that I felt I couldn't stand aside, but instead, I had to stand in

2Could you elaborate on your vision for Leicester East and how it aligns with the goals of the One Leicester Party? How will you work to rebuild trust and confidence in the political system among constituents who may have become disillusioned?

One Leicester is

committed to rebuilding trust and confidence in the local community where people of all religions can work together and none The best way to do that is to bring communities together Now in time, our communities are divided

We need to fix the broken promises and the broken politics that we have, and I hope that this will change the way how the great City of Leicester operates

3There are significant narratives around Islamophobia and antisemitism in the UK, and Labour has been in the spotlight, especially after incidents involving Faiza Shaheen and Diane Abbott As someone who was affiliated to the party for a long time until recently, do you think the party is serious about safeguarding the interests of the minority communities?

I'm not convinced these days that the Labour Party is the Labour Party I joined when I was a very young person I think ethnic minority people have been marginalised in the way in which the party has operated and to some extent it seems that other parties have done better We need to value exactly what the black and Asian communities have done and make sure that they are praised and rewarded for being part of the political system

4Alternatively, how do you plan to represent and advocate for minorities in your constituency, drawing from your own lived experience?

As the first person of Indian origin to be elected for 50 years in 1987 of course, I want to plan and advocate for minorities in my constituency We are a growing population with many different cultures and it's important that everyone should feel part of the same fabric At the moment, I'm afraid communities are pretty divided

5What makes you the better choice for Leicester East as compared to Conservative’s Shivani Raja, Labours party’s Rajesh Agarwal and your ex-Labour successor, Claudia Webb, along with other candidates in the running?

I have a wealth of experience I have been a Member of Parliament for Thirty-Two and a half years I've taken up,

41,000 cases I have held 1664 surgeries and I've spent 3,326 hours in surgeries

In my last year as an MP, I sent out 10,542 letters and emails

I believe at this moment in time you need someone of confidence, someone with commitment and someone with a great deal of experience It's not going to be easy with a change of government We need to make sure that we change the government and make it work for the people If there is a change in government, we need to make sure it's ready for local people I think that you need someone who is a big hitter and I believe that I can do the job I have already said I only want to do this for five years

6Usually new parties or independent candidates struggle to sustain and help the community without any long-term funding and support How do you plan to continue to keep that consistency?

I am quite sure that the One Leicester party will be able to sustain itself I am also sure that it will succeed in the future It is a voluntary party and people will make contributions I am myself pledged to do 3 very important things for local people

I want to make sure that we open the first ever seven days a week MP's office

When I first came here, I set up the first MP's office and decided I will not take a salary but instead donate my salary to good causes through an independent trust

Finally, I want to protect the General Hospital

It's a very, very important hospital to me and I want to make sure that it is properly and adequately protected We need 3X in hospitals in Leicester and that is an essential part of my campaign

I Live to serve I love Leicester

"I want the next decade to be better for us”

Seem a Malhotra has been the M emb er of Parliam ent (MP) for Feltham a nd Heston, represe nting the Labour Party, si nce 2011 Currently, she holds the position of Shadow Minister for Skills and Further Education from 2023 onwards Previously, she has served on the opposition front bench in various roles, including Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Shadow Minister for Business and Consumers, Shadow Minister for Employment, and a shadow Home Office minister

In conversation with Asian Voice, she discusses Labour’s future plans if the party forms the government, her work as an MP and as a Shadow Minister so far and her plans for her constituency

How will you describe the last 14 years of Conservatives leading the UK and what do you think are the main challenges that the party will inherit? If elected, what immediate actions will be taken?

Britain is a great country, but it has been badly led in recent years

The political and economic instability we have seen has hit our economy and business investment hard Our public services are on their knees, NHS wait lists at a record high and tax rises have squeezed the incomes of the public This is the first Parliament where people are worse off at the end of the Parliament than at the start If the Tories won again, it would all just carry on Labour is ready to rebuild our country Our first steps will be to ensure economic stability, invest in our schools with 6,500 new teachers and more work experience for all young people, cutting NHS waiting lists with 40,000 more weekend and evening appointments in the NHS and investing in new technology, setting up a new Border Security Command to smash criminal gangs and fix our broken asylum system, and set up a new publicly-owned energy

company to cut bills and create new jobs We will harness Britain’s sun, wind and waves to save UK households £93bn

Having worked for the people of Feltham and Heston for the past thirteen years, can you describe the work you’ve done in the constituency and its diverse community so far and what is your vision for the future? Since being elected MP, I have worked tirelessly to support working families, small businesses and women entrepreneurs, and for our NHS In the last five years, I have dealt with over 20,000 cases and queries from constituents, and spoken more than 1000 times in Parliament I’ve worked with the police, faith and community groups to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, and successfully campaigned to Feltham Station Ticket Office and Feltham Police Station open I co-founded the London West Innovation Network bringing in new partnerships and funding to support entrepreneurs in West London I’ve worked with foodbanks across the constituency to support families during Covid and the cost of living crisis and championed regeneration plans across the constituency I set up local charity Hounslow’s Promise which has supported young people with mentoring, masterclasses, laptops and quiet study spaces

Every child deserves the best chance in life I founded the Hounslow Christmas Project 4 years ago, buying, wrapping and delivering more than 2,500 presents for children last year I want the next decade to be better for us – to replace decline with renewal This is what I’ve achieved in the face of a Conservative government more focused on infighting than improving lives Just imagine what I could get done working hand-inhand with a Labour government

Reform

UK’s candidate for Feltham and Heston told Asian Voice that Labour focuses more on rhetoric than results and promised to bring a fresh perspective to the constituency What is your response to that and what makes you a better candidate as compared to your contemporaries?

I’m proud to be standing again as the Labour candidate for Feltham and Heston where I grew up, with a track record in supporting local regeneration, campaigning to save local services, supporting community projects to protect our heritage and green spaces, working with all our faith communities, helping local families during the Tory cost of living crisis and growing our local economy Reform are led by Nigel Farage, a man who wants to get rid of the NHS as we know it and who this week has backed Enoch Powell’s rivers of blood speech which condemned the Race Relations Bill and stoked violence against Asians in the 1970s Reform are a symptom of Rishi Sunak’s failure Time and again he has shown he is too weak to put country above party and caves in to his back benchers This is about a collapse of trust in the Tories, even among their own

What message do you want to convey to the voters of Feltham and Heston as they prepare to cast their ballots?

I’m passionate about our area and about the community I grew up in, where my father ran our small family shop and where my mum taught in our local schools I have a track record of standing up for our area, and in supporting local families and businesses We have seen the damage the Tories have done to Feltham and Heston, with GP appointments too hard to get, NHS waiting lists up, police numbers down, our families worse off, and child poverty on the rise More than half of schools in Feltham and Heston have at least one building element in poor or bad condition The Tories cut the Building Schools for the Future programme, stopped work experience being compulsory and narrowed the curriculum It's time for a change, for a Labour government with a plan to stop the chaos, turn the page and rebuild Britain A vote for Labour in this election is a vote for economic stability and more good jobs, our NHS off its knees and fit for the future, clean cheap British power in your home, more opportunities for everyone in our communities and safer streets

Keith Vaz

Seema Malhotra

Dear Financial Voice Reader,

Alpesh Patel

Taking Action: Steps to Take if Your IFA or Wealth Manager is Underperforming Your Pension

In today's complex financial landscape, many individuals rely on Independent Financial Advisors (IFAs) and wealth managers to navigate their retirement planning and investment strategies While these professionals are expected to maximize your pension's performance, there are instances where they fall short If you find yourself in this situation, it's crucial to take proactive steps to protect and enhance your financial future Here are some strategies to consider if your IFA or wealth manager is underperforming your pension

1. Assess the Situation

Before making any decisions, it's important to conduct a thorough assessment of your current situation Review your pension statements and compare the performance of your investments against relevant benchmarks Take note of the fees being charged and evaluate whether they are justified by the returns generated Understanding the full scope of the underperformance is the first step towards addressing it

2. Communicate Your Concerns

Open and honest communication is key Schedule a meeting with your IFA or wealth manager to discuss your concerns Present your findings and ask for an explanation of the underperformance It’s possible that market conditions or other external factors are temporarily affecting your investments Your advisor should provide a clear and detailed response, including any steps they plan to take to improve performance

Beware of excuses Why did they not put 10% of your money in nVidia? Why not 10% in Microsoft Why do they spray and pray sums in to funds which put so little into the best companies? Isn’t their job to know what’s good? Why did they lose so much money in 2022? Why do they barely beat a bank account? Why do they underperform the Nasdaq index? Why are they not only benchmarking that? Why can they not hold cash in bad years?

3 Request a Performance Review

If the initial discussion does not yield satisfactory answers, request a formal performance review This review should include an analysis of your investment strategy, asset allocation, and the advisor's decision-making process A comprehensive review can highlight any missteps or areas that require adjustment

4. Seek a Second Opinion

Sometimes, an external perspective can provide valuable insights Consider consulting another financial advisor for a second opinion This advisor can offer an unbiased review of your portfolio and the performance of your current IFA or wealth manager They may also suggest alternative strategies or investments that could better suit your goals

5 Consider Changing Advisors

If after thorough evaluation and discussions, you remain dissatisfied with your IFA or wealth manager ’ s performance, it may be time to consider switching advisors Research potential candidates thoroughly, focusing on their track record, fee structures, and client reviews Selecting an advisor who aligns with your financial goals and risk tolerance is crucial for long-term success Personally, if you cannot afford Goldman Sachs Wealth Management, think about an index tracker eg S&P500 or learning more on my free resources: www campaignforamillion com

6 Understand the Costs and Implications

Switching advisors can involve costs and potential tax implications Ensure you understand any exit fees, transfer costs, or tax consequences associated with moving your investments A new advisor should help you navigate this transition smoothly, minimizing any financial disruption

7. Educate Yourself

Empowering yourself with knowledge can help you make more informed decisions Take the time to educate yourself about investment strategies, market trends, and financial planning principles Numerous resources are available online, including courses, webinars, and reputable financial news sites An informed investor is better equipped to hold their advisor accountable and make strategic decisions

8 Monitor Performance Regularly

Once you ’ ve addressed the issue, establish a routine for regularly monitoring your pension’s performance Set up periodic reviews with your advisor and keep track of how your investments are performing relative to benchmarks and your financial goals Continuous oversight can prevent future underperformance from going unnoticed

9. Utilize Technology

Technology offers tools and platforms that can assist in monitoring and managing your investments Robo-advisors, financial planning apps, and online investment platforms provide an additional layer of transparency and control These tools can complement the advice of a professional, offering real-time insights and automated rebalancing features I love the free tool at www tradingview com to see prices and past stock performance

Revenues for top Indian-owned UK companies soar

As negotiations for a UK-India Free Trade Agreement paused following the 14th round of talks earlier this year, new research from

adviser Grant Thornton UK LLP has revealed that a record number of Indian-owned businesses in the U

increase by at least 10%, with top-

an average annual growth rate of nearly 50%

The India Meets Britain report, developed in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry, identifies a record 971 Indian-owned businesses operating in the UK, up from 954 the previous year These 971 companies contribute significantly to the UK economy by:

• Employing 118,430 people, up from 105,931 in the 2023 report

• Generating a combined turnover of £68 09 billion, up from £50 5 billion in 2023

• Paying £1 17 billion in corporation tax, compared with £944 million in 2023

The report highlights the robust performance of Indian-owned companies in the UK, with those reporting two years of consistent accounts achieving an average annual growth rate of 24%

Record number of Indian companies in the UK achieve double-digit growth

The research also includes a Tracker that identifies the fastestgrowing Indian companies in the UK each year, focusing on those with a turnover of more than £5 million, year-on-year revenue growth of at least 10%, and a minimum two-year track record in the UK

For the first time, the Tracker identifies 100 businesses out of the 971 included in the research that expanded their revenues by 10% or more This marks a significant increase from 79 in the 2023 report and 37 the year before

The top 100 performing companies achieved an average revenue growth rate of 48% The three fastestgrowing companies are Interglobe Enterprises (UK) Ltd (323%), SAR Overseas Ltd (319%), and Sterlite Technologies UK Ventures Ltd (244%)

Automotive manufacturing company Jaguar Land Rover was also included in the 2024 Tracker after achieving a 25% growth rate over the previous year Its inclusion helped boost the combined turnover of the 2024 Tracker companies to £42 80 billion, an increase of over 70% from the 2023 combined turnover of £25 billion Technology, media, and telecommuni ca ti ons compa ni es domi na te the tracker

Technology, media, and telecom-

UK's 'net worth' drops by £600 billion in 2023

Ac cor di ng t o rec en t da ta from the Office for National Stat is ti c s (ON S), t he UK’s tota l ne t worth ha s decreased by over £600 billion since 2022

The national balance sheet, which represents the total value of all assets in the UK, stood at £12 trillion, averaging just under £200,000 per person Nonproduced assets, primarily land, accounted for more than half of this total, amounting to £6 8 trillion Land values in the UK declined by 6 3% over the year, marking the first such decrease since 2011, following the global financial crisis

The value of residential land, which constitutes the majority of land value in the UK, decreased by 4 4%, while the decline in commercial

land value was more pronounced but contributed less to the overall reduction Produced assets contributed £6 1 trillion to the total, while the UK’s financial net worth was negative at minus £800 billion, driven by increasing debt levels

The value of residential structures, excluding land, saw an increase Household net worth accounted for most of the total at £11 5 trillion, although this represented a 0 8% decline from the previous year The decrease was primarily in non-produced assets, likely impacted by higher interest rates affecting land values, with household land value declining by 5%

Overall, the UK’s household net worth is now lower than its level in 2020

munications companies retain their top spot, accounting for the most companies in this year ’ s Tracker at 27% (up from 24%) They are followed by manufacturing and engineering (20%) and pharmaceuticals and chemicals (16%) The financial services sector also made significant strides, accounting for 6% of the fastest-growing companies, up from 1% the previous year, marking the sector’s best showing in the Tracker since 2021 London remains top spot for fastestgrowing Indian companies

London remains the most popular location for the fastest-growing Indian-owned businesses in the UK, with more than 50% of the 100 companies in this year ’ s Tracker based in the capital Of the 52 London-based Tracker companies, 21 operate in the technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) sector The South is the second most prevalent region for this year ’ s fastest-growing companies, accounting for 18%, followed by the North at 16%

Bank of England to cut rates in August

The B ank of Engl and i s expec te d to s tar t c utti ng in ter es t ra tes i n Augus t, according to all but two of the 65 economists polled by Reuters

Most anticipate at least one additional reduction this year despite persistently high wage and services inflation One of the first central banks to raise rates following the COVID pandemic, the BoE increased the Bank Rate by 515 basis points from December 2021 to August 2023, reaching a 16-year high of 5 25% to combat soaring price pressures Overall inflation eased to 2 3% in April, nearing the central bank's 2 0% target, down from a peak of 11 1% in October 2022

While the job market has begun to slow, and the

Virgin Money warns of challenges before takeover

Virgin Money has warned of "headwinds" due to anticipated interest rate cuts and has acknowledged upcoming cost pressures as it temporarily halts some restructuring efforts ahead of its £2 9 billion acquisition by N ati onw id e Bui ldi n g

Society

The high street lender, which agreed to the takeover in March, reported an 18% rise in pre-tax profits to £279 million for the six months ending March 31 However, it expects its net interest margin a crucial performance indicator for retail banks to decrease in the second half of the year due to the anticipated rate

cuts and ongoing sector competition

Cost pressures are also mounting for Virgin Money due to rising wage bills and broader inflation The group has limited options to mitigate these costs because it is pausing some restructuring activities in light of the upcoming acquisition Nationwide has committed to retaining branches as part of the merger, promis-

ing to maintain a branch in each location where the combined group operates until at least early 2028

Virgin Money has not announced any further branch closures this year and has delayed previously planned staff reductions

The company reduced its full-time workforce by about 150 in the first quarter and had indicated in an earlier trading update that more staff cuts were expected

Additionally, Virgin Money stated that fees related to the takeover will be "significantly" higher in the second half of the year, adding to the cost pressures

economy stalled in April partly due to unusually rainy weather, wage and services inflation remain around 6%, a key concern for the BoE Only two of the 65 economists polled expected the BoE to delay the rate cut until September instead of August All 24 economists who participated in both the latest and previous month's poll and had forecasted a June 20 cut have now shifted their prediction to August Financial markets are currently pricing in only one BoE rate cut this year, slated for September Before the Monetary Policy Committee meets in August to release its detailed quarterly forecasts, one set of labour market data and two more inflation reports are expected When asked if any other MPC members would vote for a rate cut in June, as Dave Ramsden and Swati Dhingra did in May, about three-quarters (22 of 30 economists) said no, while the rest said yes

The poll's median forecast indicated that the Bank Rate would be a half-point lower by year-end It is expected to be at 5 00% by the end of September and 4 75% by year-end, compared to 4 75% and 4 50%, respectively, in last month's poll

World Bank raises India’s FY25 growth forecast to 6.6%

The World Bank rai sed India’s growth projection for the current fiscal to 6 6%, compared with 6 4% estimated earlier, dri ven by domestic demand

“India will remain the fastest-growing of the world’s largest economies, although its pace of expansion is expected to moderate After a high growth rate in FY24 (8 2%), steady growth of 6 7% per year, on average, is projected for the three fiscal years beginning in FY25 This moderation is mainly due to a slowdown in investment from a high base,” it said in the latest Global Economic

Prospects

The multilateral agency said that investment is expected to remain strong for the next three years with strong public investment accompanied by the private sector “Private consumption growth is expected to benefit from a recovery of agricultural production and declining inflation Govt

consumption is projected to grow only slowly, in line with the govt’s aim of reducing current expenditure relative to GDP,” the World Bank said It also said that strong revenue flows are expected to help reduce the fiscal deficit

For South Asia, it, however, cautioned against the risk of commodity price spikes due to geopolitical tensions as well as climate change and cited higher than expected US growth and faster moderation in inflation as potential upsides

India's forex reserves surged to $655.8 bn, a record high

In dia' s forei gn ex change reserves surged to a record high of $655 8 billion on June 7, 2024, marking an increase of $4 3 billion over the week

The increase in reserve was largely because of the rise in foreign currency assets which rose by $3 8 billion to $576 3 billion The value of RBI’s gold holdings rose by $481 million during the week to $57 billion

Dealers believe that the RBI will keep adding to the reserves if there are significant inflows this month when the inclusion of Indian bonds into the JP

Adani buys Penna Cement from Reddys in £1 bn deal

The Gautam Adani family owned Ambuja Cements is b uyi ng Pe nna C emen t Industries in a deal valued at £ 1 04 b n in cl udi ng deb t, ex pandi ng i ts prese nce i n the south The transaction marks Ambuja’s fourth M&A after Adani checked into the sector through the former in Sept 2022

Hyderabad-based Penna, promoted by P Prathap Reddy and family, has an annual production capacity of 14 million tons (of which 4 million tons is under construction) It also has lime-

stone reserves and captive power plants

The Penna acquisition, to be financed by internal accruals, will improve Ambuja’s share by 8% in south India and comes months after market leader

UltraTech Cement ramped up its play in the region by buying Kesoram Industries’ building materials units As of April end, Ambuja had cash of £2 43 bn on its books, having received warrant money of £833 9 mn from the Adani family

The Penna transaction will help Ambuja and its arms, including ACC and Sanghi Industries, beef up capacity to 89 million tons, moving towards its larger goal of 140 million tons by 2028 UltraTech, owned by Kumar Mangalam Birla, has a

capacity of over 150 million tons Ambuja previously acquired Gujarat-based Sanghi, My Home’s cement unit in Tamil Nadu and Asian Concretes and Cements’ plants in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab Penna’s seven plants in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rajasthan (under construction) and limestone reserves “provide an opportunity to increase cement capacity through debottlenecking and additional investment”, said Ambuja Cements CEO Ajay Kapur

Hyundai Motor plans £2.5 bn IPO, India’s biggest so far

Korean car major Hyundai

M otor i s l ooki ng to s el l a round 17% s ta ke i n i ts Indian arm through an initial share sale (IPO), which may be India’s biggest issue so far, to raise as much as £2,5 billion, valuing the company at around £15 bn With this, Hyundai will join other auto players such as Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors in tapping the capital markets for raising funds

Others such as Ola have also lined up an IPO, with the proposal cleared by market regulator Sebi recently The Indian arm of the Korean company, which had been preparing for the IPO for

Will pursue reforms to push growth, macro stability: Sitharaman

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Modi govt intends to move on the reforms path to boost macroeconomic stability and growth, amid indications that the Uni on Budget wi ll be presented around the third week of July, with consultations set to kick off over the next few days

After taking charge as finance minister for a second term, Sitharaman said the govt is fully committed to ensuring ‘Ease of Living’ for its citizens and will continue to take more steps

“She also highlighted India’s commendable growth story in recent years amid global challenges and noted that there is an optimistic economic outlook for coming years, ” an official statement said India has emerged as the fastest growing major economy, clocking 8 2% growth during the last financial year with RBI projecting a 7 2% expansion during the current fiscal year Faster growth also helped the Centre report a further improvement in the fiscal deficit, which was estimated at 5 6% of GDP at the end of the last financial year, raising prospects of govt improving upon the 5 1% target set for the current year when the full Budget is presented

the last one year or so, is likely to file the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with Sebi very soon, detailing the fund raise plans, growth opportunities, and other key financial metrics Hyundai India’s IPO will be an offer for sale by the existing shareholder, with no fresh issue of shares planned Citi India, JP Morgan India, Kotak Mahindra Capital are among the merchant bankers which will be man-

aging the offer, sources said

The timing is, however, yet to be finalised “Sebi’s process may stretch for a few months The stock markets are at record highs and look buoyant Hyundai will want to see an early clearance to take benefit from the current positive sentiments,” a source said

“The company is also in a rush as the car market appears to be veering towards a slowdown,” the source added

retail inflation

In dia s r eta il in fl a tion e a se d slightly to a 12-month low in May with prices of some food it em s m ode ra tin g ma rgin a ll y, w hil e the in dex of ind ust ria l p rod uction (IIP) gr owt h hel d steady at 5% level in April

Data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) showed retail inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose an annual 4 8% in May, nearly at the same level as the previous month Rural inflation was higher at 5 3%, while urban was at 4 2% The food price index was at 8 7%, similar to the level in April

This is the ninth consecutive month when retail inflation has been below the 6% upper tolerance level of RBI The data showed food and beverages inflation at 7 9%, while fuel and light contracted 3 8% Vegetable

Morgan emerging markets index becomes effective

This week, however, RBI has been selling dollars in the market as the rupee came under pressure and touched a new low of 83 57

Meanwhile, among other data released by RBI, the credit deposit ratio improved marginally during the week with the addition of deposits outpacing bank credit Bank deposits have grown 3% during FY25 to £2,108 7 billion, while bank credit has grown 2 1% to £1,678 1 billion

Voda Idea to issue shares to clear Nokia, Ericsson dues

Debt-ridden telecom operator Vodafone Idea (VIL) will allocate shares worth £245 8 mn to key infra vendors - Nokia and Ericsson - to clear partial dues

VIL’s board cleared the allotment of shares on a preferential basis at about 35% higher price compared to the follow-on offer price, and this comes with a lock-in of 6 months, the company said in a regulatory filing

“The Board approved preferential allotment of about 1,660 million equity shares of face value of Rs 10 each, at an issue price of Rs 14 8 per share, for an aggregate consideration of up to £245 8 mn to Nokia Solutions and Networks India and Ericsson India,” the filing said

Nokia and Ericsson will participate for up to £152 mn and £93 8 mn respectively, subject to approval by VIL shareholders at the EGM to be held on July 10

“Nokia and Ericsson both have a long-term partnership with VIL, as key suppliers of network equipment, and this preferential allotment will enable VIL to clear part of their outstanding dues,” the filing said

Post this preferential issuance, the shareholding of Nokia and Ericsson in the company will be 1 5% and 0 9%, respectively The cumulative shareholding of VIL promotersAditya Birla Group and Vodafone - will stand at 37 3%, while govt’s shareholding will come down to 23 2% and the balance 37 1% will be public shareholding

prices continued to be a concern, rising an annual 27 3% in May, while pulses and products rose 17 1% during the month Core inflation, which is estimated after stripping out food and fuel, was steady at 3 1% Vegetable prices have come under pressure due to the heatwave sweeping parts of the country

“Looking ahead, a favourable base effect is expected to persist until July 2024, helping absorb potential upward risks to price pressures to a certain extent For FY25, we expect inflation to average 4 8% If food inflation moderates, we expect the RBI to cut the policy interest rate by a shallow 50 basis points in two tranches in the second half of the fiscal year, ” said Rajani Sinha, chief economist at ratings agency CareEdge

R el ia n ce Jio ha s r ece ive d approva l f rom t he Indian space re gulat or to launch satellite-based Internet services in India According to reports, the authorisations were granted in April and June by the Indian National Spa ce Pr omo tion a n d Authorization Centre (INSPACe)

It will allow Orbit Connect to operate satellites above India However, the company still needs approval from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) before commencing operation

For the unaware, Reliance Jio partnered with Luxembourg-based SES to deliver high-speed broadband internet connectivity in the country, including areas where fiber or mobile connectivity is not feasible The company will utilize

the medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite technology, including SES’s O3b and new O3b mPOWER satellites to provide broadbandlike high-speed internet service in India Moreover, it will also support additional capacity for mobile backhaul

Back in October 2023, Reliance Jio demonstrated its satellite-based internet service at the India Mobile Congress The company connected four of the remotest locations in India, including Gir in Gujarat, Korba in Chhattisgarh, Nabrangpur in Odisha, and ONGC-Jorhat in Assam, with JioSpaceFiber technology

Apart from Reliance Jio, Other global players like Starlink and OneWeb are also making strides to launch their satellite-based internet services in India

Gautam Adani

Clash between Pak judiciary and military establishment intensifies

I S L A M A BA D : T h e cla sh between Pakistan’s judiciary and th e military establishment has intensified as judges have started questioning the conduct of army and Inter Services Intelligence ( IS I ) o ff ic ers o ver blat ant interference in judicial matters

Several high court and lower court judges have complained that since May 9, 2023, Pakistan’s “ powerful” authorities (i e army, ISI) have tried to pressurise them using intimidatory tactics such as secret surveillance, and even abduction and torture of their family members, to secure favourable outcomes in political cases related to PTI party and its incarcerated founder, Imran Khan

At an event in Rawalpindi, Lahore high court chief justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad claimed he has got complaints - many verbally - and letters regarding interference in judicial matters by “institutions” (a reference to the army and ISI) “To get rid of the (military) establishment’s interference, we ’ ve to face it with bravery, courage, and without any fear, and with the belief that this interference will end soon Temporary worries do

come but you have to face them eye to eye and not be a target of any of their blackmailing Do not be hesitant to make any kind of sacrifice ” Justice Ahmad said Pakistan was currently “going through one of the longest periods of a civil govt”, adding that the 2007 lawyers’ movement “closed the doors for martial law forever”

Earlier, the Lahore HC had summoned Punjab police chief Usman Anwar and other officials

on a complaint from a presiding judge of an anti-terrorism court alleging harassment by intelligence and law enforcement agencies

Earlier, in March, six of the eight Islamabad HC judges had penned a startling letter to Supreme Court judges about attempts by the ISI to pressure them through the abduction and torture of their relatives as well as secret surveillance inside their homes Following the letter, judges from other HCs also acknowledged interference by spy agencies in judicial functions It led the apex court to take suo motu notice of the matter, with high courts submitting their responses and recommendations as proceedings continued

Despite financial crunch, 15% hike in Pak defence spending

I S L A MA B A D : Pa k is ta n

a nnounced a nearly 15 per cent hike in its defence spending and a llocated Rs 2,122 billion in the 2 024 -25 bu dg e t, ma r ki n g a significant increase fr om last year

a mid strenuous efforts to secure a fresh loan fr om the IMF to meet th e c as h-s tra p pe d n a tio n 's e xternal liabilities

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the budget in the National Assembly, the first budget of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) coalition government which came to power after the February 8 general elections

Last year, the government allocated Rs 1,804 billion for defence, which was higher than the Rs 1,523 billion allocated the previous year Aurangzeb said the government set a 3 6 per cent GDP growth target for the next year - higher than the 3 5 per cent set for the outgoing year The country, however, missed that target and could only achieve 2 38 per cent growth He said the total volume of the budget would be Rs 18,877 billion and announced a Rs 2,122 billion allocation for defence spending, reflecting a 14 98 per cent increase Over Rs 1,804 billion was budgeted for the fiscal year 2023-

Ramaphosa re-elected as South Africa president

C A P E T O W N : Th e A fri can National Congress and its largest rival, the white-led, pro-business Democratic Alliance, agreed to work together in South Africa's new g overnm ent of natio nal unity, a change after 30 years of ANC rule

Once unthinkable, the accord allowed President Cyril Ramaphosa to win a second term in office He was re-elected by lawmakers with 283 votes

The deal between two sharply antagonistic parties is the most momentous political shift in South Africa since Nelson Mandela led the ANC to victory in the 1994 election that marked the end of apartheid

"It will once again be a privilege and pleasure to serve this great nation (as) president, the 71-year-old leader said in a speech to parliament, describing the coming government as an era of hope and inclusivity

"That a number of parties that had opposed each other have decided to work together to deliver this result has given a new birth, a new era to our country," he said The ANC lost its majority for the first time in an election on May 29 and spent two weeks in talks with other parties that went down to the wire as the new parliament was convening in Cape Town

24, ending on June 30 The defence sector expenses are the second biggest component of the annual expenditure after the debt payments, which for the next year would be Rs 9,700 billion and constitute the single biggest expense of the debt-trapped country, which is dependent on loans from friendly nations like China

He said the inflation target for the next fiscal year would be 12 per cent while the budget deficit would be 6 9 per cent of the GDP The minister said the tax collection target would be Rs 12,970 billion - 38 per cent higher than the previous year He said the non-tax revenue

target of the government would be Rs 3,587 billion against Rs 2,963 billion set for the previous year

The government also decided to provide a historic Rs 1,500 billion Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) at the federal level and by adding the provincial component of the development budget, the net PSDP comes to a whopping Rs 3,797 billion

The minister said the economic crisis had ended and the government fast-tracked the development process by offering new opportunities He also announced plans to speed up the privatisation of loss-making state-owned entities as well as outsource various airports

Indian suspect in plot to kill Sikh separatist pleads not guilty in US

court

WASHINGTON: An Indian suspected by the US of involvement in an unsuc cessful Indian government-backed plot to ki ll a Si kh separatist on American soil pleaded not guilty to murder-for-hire conspiracy charges in federal court in Manhattan

Nikhil Gupta has been accused by US federal prosecutors of plotting with an Indian government official to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US resident who advocated for a sovereign Sikh state in northern India

Last June, Gupta traveled to Prague from India and was arrested by Czech authorities A Czech court last month rejected his petition to avoid being sent to the US He was extradited to the US on Friday last, Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek said

At a hearing in Manhattan, US Magistrate Judge James Cott ordered Gupta, 52, detained at least until the next conference in his case on June 28 Gupta is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, US Bureau of Prisons records showed

The discovery of alleged assassination plots against Sikh separatists in the US and Canada has tested relations with India New Delhi denies involvement in such plots

Indian origin man arrested, sent to jail

TE XA S: Taral Patel, a candidate for Fort Bend Co u nty co mm is si oner, h as b een arrested and accu sed of creati ng a fak e Facebook account to attack his opponents and make racist comments under his own posts

Authorities allege that Patel used this fake account to post derogatory comments targeting himself, alleging terrorism, and communism, and making disparaging remarks about Hinduism Patel was booked into jail on June 12, with a $20,000 bond for the felony charge and a $2,500 bond for the misdemeanor charge

Patel faces a third-degree felony charge of online impersonation and a misdemeanor charge of misrepresentation of identity

Patel had won the Democratic primary for the commissioner seat in March

Last fall, Patel issued a press release claiming he was the target of racist comments on social media However, investigators allege that at least three of those comments came from a fake account

Patel created himself According to court records, the district attorney’s office found that Patel created the account, named “Antonio Scalywag,” in 2021 to criticize his opponents, Houston Public Media reported

In 2022, Patel allegedly added a profile picture of a man from Fort Bend County to the fake account This man told investigators that he did not run the account and did not consent to the use of his photo

In a statement after the hearing, Pannun called Gupta a "foot soldier" and said he was confident that the US justice system would also hold the Indian officials who hired him accountable Indian government has dissociated itself from the plot against Pannun, saying it was against government policy It has said it would formally investigate security concerns raised by Washington

New Delhi has long complained about Sikh separatist groups outside India, viewing them as security threats The groups have kept alive the movement for Khalistan, or the demand for an independent Sikh state to be carved out of India Last month, Washington said it was satisfied so far with India's moves to ensure accountability in the alleged plots, but added that many steps still needed to be taken

THIEVES ROB INDIAN JEWELLER IN US

Five suspects were arrested after a robbery at the Indian American owned Sunnyvale store PNG Jewellers which involved nearly two dozen individuals The robbery took place at the showroom located in the Hacienda shopping center in Sunnyvale California Approximately 20 suspects used hammers and other tools to break into display cases and steal merchandise, fleeing in multiple vehicles before officers could arrive Officers identified two suspect vehicles and attempted to stop them, but both fled Five suspects were later arrested Some of the stolen jewellery has been recovered, although the total value of the stolen items is not yet known No injuries were reported during the robbery and police chase

POLICEMAN SHOOTS, INJURES MAGISTRATE IN COURT

A police officer shot and injured magistrate Monica Kivuti at the Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi after she denied bail to his wife The officer was then killed in a shootout with other officers Kivuti and three officers injured in the incident are stable and receiving treatment, according to local news report Chief Justice Martha Koome confirmed the shooter intended to kill the magistrate and ordered increased security at all courts The policeman's wife had pleaded guilty to obtaining 2 9 million Kenyan shillings ($22 700) by false pretences The officer entered the court through the magistrate s door and shot Kivuti in the chest and hip before being fatally shot by another officer

49 FEARED DEAD AFTER A MIGRANT BOAT SINKS

A boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of Yemen killing at least 49 people and leaving another 140 missing the UN agency said Tuesday The boat was carrying about 260 Somalis and Ethiopians from the northern coast of Somalia on the 320-km journey across the Gulf of Aden when it sank Monday off of Yemen s southern coast, the International Organization for Migration said in a statement Seventy-one people have been rescued and the search is ongoing, the group said noting that 31 women and six children are among the dead Yemen is a major route for migrants from East Africa and the Horn of Africa trying to reach Gulf countries for work

4 INSTRUCTORS FROM US STABBED IN CHINA

Four American instructors from a Iowa university were injured in a stabbing attack at a public park in China’s Jilin province last week Local police said the incident occurred at a park in Jilin city and the suspect, a 55-year-old local man Cui, was detained the same day “Cui collided into a foreigner while walking in Beishan Park, and then stabbed the foreigner and three fellow foreigners with a knife, as well as a Chinese tourist who tried to stop him ” police said, adding, the victims’ injuries were “not life-threatening” No further motive for the attack was disclosed in the statement The educators from Cornell College were on a teaching exchange programme with a partner university Beihua in Jilin City

HOLLYWOOD HELPS BIDEN RAISE $30 MN

Some of Hollywood’s brightest stars headlined a fundraiser for Prez Joe Biden that took in a record $30 million-plus for a Democratic candidate according to his campaign George Clooney Julia Roberts and Barbra Streisand were among those who took the stage at the 7 100-seat Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel interviewed Biden and former prez Barack Obama, who both stressed the need to defeat former prez Donald Trump in a race that s expected to be exceedingly close The amount raised outpaced the then-record $26 million from Biden s fundraiser in March in New York that featured late-night host Stephen Colbert interviewing Biden, Obama and Bill Clinton

INDIAN ORIGIN KILLED, ANOTHER INJURED AFTER BEING SHOT

An Indian-origin woman was killed and another critically injured after they were shot in the US state of New Jersey allegedly by a 19-year-old Indian-origin man The shooting occurred in Middlesex County Responding to a shooting report, officers located two female victims who had sustained gunshot wounds and airlifted them to the hospital Jasvir Kaur, 29, of Carteret, was pronounced dead at the hospital, while the other victim, a 20-year-old woman was critical, it said The other victim was Kaur’s cousin according to CBS News Police arrested Gaurav Gill, 19 in connection with the shooting He was on the run and was cornered by law enforcement in a backyard about a half mile from where the shooting happened the report said

BIBI DISSOLVES WAR CABINET

Israeli PM Benjamin has dissolved his war cabinet, a move that had been widely expected after the departures of two key members prompted demands from far-right politicians for representation in the influential group that made key decisions about the conflict in the Gaza Strip The two members Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot quit Netanyahu’s small war Cabinet last week amid disagreements over the direction of the war The men both former military chiefs, had been seen as voices of moderation in the five-member body, which was formed in October after the Hamas- led assault on Israel

DOG RUNS 6 KM TO GET HELP FOR OWNER AFTER CAR CRASH

A dog has helped his owner get rescued after a car crash in a steep ravine in Oregon The man was driving with his four dogs on a remote road on June 2 when he crashed into a ravi ne below One of the dogs travelled nearly 6kms to the campsite where the man was staying with family His family located his car the following day and called 911 as they couldn’t reach it in the steep terrain The man was airlifted to a hospital His other dogs were found alive at the crash site

RUSSIAN FORCES KILL SIX IS-LINKED HOSTAGE TAKERS

Russian special forces freed two prison guards and shot dead six inmates linked to the Islamic State militant group who had taken them hostage at a detention centre in the southern city of Rostov Russian media said State media said that some of the men had been convicted of terrorism offences and were accused of affiliation with the Islamic State militant group, which claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a Moscow concert hall in March The six hostage takers knocked out window bars and climbed down several floors before taking the guards hostage In the video, one was shown brandishing a knife beside one of the bound guards They demanded free passage out of the prison

SWEDEN, IRAN SWAP PRISONERS AFTER DEAL

Sweden and Iran carried out a prisoner exchange last week officials said with Sweden freeing a former Iranian official convicted for his role in a mass execution in the 1980s while Iran released two Swedes being held there

The prisoner swap was mediated by Oman, the country s foreign ministry said in a statement Omani efforts resulted in the two sides agreeing on a mutual release as those released were transferred from Tehran and Stockholm ” it said Sweden freed former Iranian official Hamid Noury who had been convicted for his part in a mass execution of political prisoners in Iran in 1988 Iran s official IRNA news agency published footage of Noury arriving at Tehran s Mehrabad airport where he was welcomed by his family

World leaders discuss global challenges and concerns at G7 summit

APULIA (I TALY): Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the G7 Summit for the fifth consecutive time at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

Many participants, including the US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel were present Pope Francis became the first pontiff to join the summit Besides India, Meloni also invited leaders from Africa, South America and the Indo-Pacific region for the summit

UK PM Rishi Sunak attended the summit at a crucial time as he faces a general election on 4 July French President Macron, after a disappointing EU election outcome, and has called for an early parliamentary election Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden is preparing for a challenging reelection fight in November, with polls indicating a close contest with Donald Trump

With a focus on AI and energy, PM Modi emphasised India's four key principles for energy - availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability During the session, Modi said that the global community should work to make advanced technology widely available This will help create an inclusive society and reduce social inequalities Modi also said that India will collaborate with all countries to ensure Artificial Intelligence is transparent, fair, secure, accessible, and responsible

In a significant achievement for PM Modi, the G7 leaders have committed to supporting infrastructure projects like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) This commitment was highlighted in the G7 Summit Communique issued at the conclusion of the three-day summit

Modi interacts with various leaders

During the summit, Modi assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of India's commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict through "dialogue and diplomacy " Modi also highlighted India's "human-centric"

approach and discussed the upcoming Swiss peace conference for Ukraine Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for India's high-level delegation attending the conference

In a separate meeting, Modi and Macron reviewed India-France relations under the 'Horizon 2047' initiative, discussing cooperation in defence, nuclear energy, space, education, climate action, digital infrastructure, connectivity, and cultural exchanges They agreed to strengthen strategic defence cooperation, focusing on 'Make in India,' and expand collaboration in AI, emerging technologies, energy, and sports

Modi also met with British PM Rishi Sunak to discuss bilateral relations, expediting FTA talks initiated in January 2022, set to resume after the UK election on July 4 They aim to boost bilateral trade, currently valued at 38 1 billion pounds annually In another discussion, Modi highlighted India-Japan collaboration in defence, technology, clean energy, and digital sectors to bolster infrastructure and cultural ties Stressing the importance of strong IndiaJapan relations for Indo-Pacific stability

PM Modi and Meloni reviewed the India-Italy partnership, pleased with the increasing trade and economic collaboration They highlighted the importance of expanding commercial ties in clean energy, manufacturing, space, telecom, AI, and critical minerals to bolster resilient supply chains They also anticipated the visit of the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and training ship ITS Vespucci to India later this year He also met Biden, Canadian PM Trudeau and Pope Francis during the summit

Pope Francis' historic appearance Pope Francis, addressing the summit,

Every fifth immigrant doctor in US is an Indian

MU MBAI : India is the top source country when it comes to immigrant physicians and surgeons (doctors) working in the US and the second-largest source country for registered nurses In terms of the total number of immigrant healthcare professionals working in the US, including home health aid es and nur si ng as si stants, Ind ia d ro pp ed to thi rd p lace, after the Philippines and Mexico

Of the 990,000 doctors in the US, nearly 26 5%, or 260,000, are immigrants More Indians have moved to the US to work as physicians than any other country There are 59,000 Indian doctors in the US - one in five (or 22%) of all immigrant doctors are Indians

In comparison, there are only 16,000 doctors who were born in China and Hong Kong (or 6% of the immigrant doctor population) who are currently practicing in the US Pakistan rounds off the top three with 13,000 immigrant doctors (constituting 5% to the immigrant doctor population) New Jersey, Florida and

New York were the top destination American states for immigrant doctors

Remitly, a US-based company that provides digital financial/remittance services, recently released its “Immigrant Healthcare Index” based on its analysis of data of the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) and US Bureau of Labour Statistics

The data shows that of the 34,10,000 actively employed registered nurses, 540,000, or nearly 16%, are immigrants A significant number – 140,000 Filipino registered nurses - are currently working in the US, meaning that 26% of immigrant registered nurses were born in the Philippines Indians (32,000, or 6%, of the immigrant registered nurse workforce) and Nigerians (24,000, or 5%, of the immigrant registered nurse workforce) ranked as the second and third most common immigrant nationalities in this profession California, Nevada and New Jersey were the top destination American states for immigrant registered nurses

urged world leaders to prioritise human dignity in the development and use of artificial intelligence He urged politicians to ensure AI remains human-centric, emphasising that decisions about using weapons or other tools should always be made by humans, not machines

The members expressed concern over China's economic influence and perceived unfair market practices in sectors such as electric vehicles, steel, and renewable energy They pledged to tackle what they termed harmful business practices by China

Tackling migration crises

Leaders also addressed immigration, a significant concern for Meloni, who advocates for Europe s assistance in reducing illegal migration from Africa She has initiated a plan to enhance development in Africa to tackle the root causes of migration The G7 leaders agreed to establish a coalition to combat human smuggling, focusing on increased cooperation in investigating trafficking networks and seizing their assets

Sunak noted that it was the first time a G7 summit had discussed migration, calling it a sign of progress "Illegal migration is now a global emergency We all agree that it's for sovereign nations to control their borders and not criminal gangs," Sunak said

Aid for Ukraine

The leaders, meanwhile, reached a preliminary agreement to extend $50 billion in loans to Ukraine, backed by interest accrued from frozen Russian assets They hailed the agreement as a robust display of Western resolve In their summit statement, the leaders declared their intent to impose further penalties on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine

Indian origin shoots brother dead, injures mother, kills self

NEW YOR K: A n In di an American man, shot his brother dead, injured his mother, and then killed himself, according to police

Karamjit Multani, 33, shot his brother Vipanpal, 27, on June 9 in their home in the Richmond Hill neighborhood and went out and turned the gun on himself, police said Police said that when they went to their house after getting a call about a shooting, they found Vipanpal “unresponsive” with several gunshot wounds, and their 52-year-old mother with an injury to her stomach Later, Multani was found dead near a street corner with a gunshot wound to his head and a gun nearby, according to police

The mother, who was not identified by name, was taken to a hospital where she was said to be out of danger

Richmond Hill has a large concentration of Asians, most of them of Indian descent from India or the Caribbean, accounting for 26 per cent of

the area ’ s population

According to the city, “The southern portion of Richmond Hill is home to several tight-knit communities, such as the Punjabi Sikh”

CBS New York reported that the man ’ s father, Bhupinder Multani, told the station that he did not know what set off his older son

Asked by the station’s reporter if the sons had any issues, he said: “Not big problems Sometimes little disagreements, no problems ” He said that the family had settled in for a quiet evening with pizza when Multani opened the door to his brother’s room and shot him without warning The father said that he ran to the house of a neighbor to seek help The neighbor told the station that when she entered the house, she found Vipanpal wounded and pleading for help

“He told me, ‘Please, don’t let me die’,” the neighbor said, and died later “in my hands”

PM Modi in a family photograph during the outreach session of 50th G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy

Kannada actor, GF held for killing man for Insta posts

BENGALURU: Kannada film

s tar Darshan, his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda and 11 others were arrested for allegedly murdering Renuka Swamy, a 3 3- ye ar- old mal e f an fr om C hi trad urga who ha d allegedly posted derogatory comments about the actor’s partner

Swamy’s body was found in a drain in Bengaluru’s Kamakshipalya area, about 200 km from Chitradurga from where he was abducted the previous day Investigations indicated that the pharmacy store employee was thrashed and tortured to death before his body was dumped Darshan and the others have been remanded in six days’ police custody

According to police sources, Swamy’s alleged comment against Pavitra, 37, on social media is said to have angered her 47-year-old star Darshan is accused of getting Swamy kidnapped and being present along with Pavithra when he was beaten to death

Darshan had been arrested earlier on charges of attempting to murder his wife in 2011 Pavithra, who has acted in a few films and now runs a boutique in Bengaluru, claims she and Darshan have been together for over 10 years Darshan and his wife later reached a compromise in the murder attempt case and she withdrew her complaint through court

Darshan was picked up from a star hotel in Mysuru and brought to Bengaluru He has been shooting in Mysuru since June 9 for his upcoming movie 'Devil'

Meanwhile, Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara said that no special treatment was given to actor Darshan and emphasised that police should be allowed to conduct their investigation without interference

Responding to allegations of preferential treatment for Darshan, Parameshwara clarified that the actor and his associate are being treated like any other accused

Former Karnataka CM Yediyurappa appears before CID in Pocso case

BENGAL URU : Former Karnataka chief minister and senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa appeared before the CID of the state police in connection with a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act case registered against him in March this year

State BJP president and Yediyurappa’s son B Y Vijayendra said his father has faith in the legal system and will face the investigations CID obtained an arrest warrant against Yediyurappa on June 13 but the arrest was restrained by the Karnataka High Court following a petition for anticipatory bail and quashing of the case on June 14 The High Court also directed Yediyurappa to appear for the probe

Yediyurappa has been accused by the mother of a minor girl of sexual assault The incident allegedly occurred on February 2, 2024, when the mother and daughter met Yediyurappa for help in seeking justice in an earlier case of sexual assault on the girl by a relative A police case was registered on March 14, 2024, in Bengaluru and the case was transferred to CID for probe on March 15

Yediyurappa moved the High Court after the brother of the victim approached the court alleging slow progress in the probe of the case on June 10 after the death of his mother – the original complainant – on May 26 Yediyurappa in his petition denied the allegations and claimed that the case was politically motivated and that there was over a month’s delay in its filing

Amritsar man among two killed while fighting for Russia

AMRIT SAR: A 30-year-old man from Amritsar was among the tw o In di an n ati on als wh ose d eaths i n th e Ru ssi a-Ukrain e warfront were announced by the Ministry of External Affairs

Tejpal Singh was killed on March 12, but the family said they came to know about his death on June 9 The MEA said in a statement that two Indian nationals recruited by the Russian Army were killed in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine The identity of the second victim was yet to be known

Tejpal’s father Preetpal Singh runs a grocery store in Palam Vihar Tejpal is the elder of Preetpal’s two sons His wife Parminder Kaur, whom he married in 2017, said he had initially tried to join the Indian Army but was unsuccessful He then decided to go abroad to support his family On January 12, he went to Russia on a tourist visa and joined the Army there, she said The couple has a sixyear-old son and a three-yearold daughter After completing his

training, he was deployed to the border with Ukraine Kaur said that on March 3, he called her and said that he would not be able to talk for a few days because he was going to fight When there was no contact for a long time, Kaur called the Russian Army headquarters and found out that he had died

The family said they had little hope that they would get Tejpal’s body from Russia “We have no information about the body The government should let us know if we can get his body or not,” said Kaur

“We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased Our Embassy in Moscow has pressed the Russian authorities, including the

Ministry of Defence, for early repatriation of mortal remains,” the MEA said in its statement It also said it had strongly taken up with the Russian authorities the matter of the release and return of all Indian nationals in the Russian Army

In March, two Indians were killed during the conflict when they were forced to fight alongside the Russian Army The deceased, Hemil Ashvinbhai Mangukiya, 23, of Surat in Gujarat, and Mohammad Asfan, 31, from Hyderabad, were hired as helpers for the Russian Army but were forced to participate in the ongoing war, their families had said Their bodies were brought to Delhi on March 16 and flown to their homes in Surat and Hyderabad, respectively

9 killed as goods train rams into Kanchanjunga Express in Bengal

KOL KATA: Nine people were killed died and over 41 others were injured after three bogies of the Kanchanjunga Express derailed on Monday after being hit from beh ind by a g oods train in Bengal's Siliguri The Kanchanjunga Express was en route to the Sealdah station in Kolkata from Tripura's Agartala when the accident took place

Chairperson and CEO of the Railway Board Jaya Varma Sinha said rescue operations were completed She added that a preliminary investigation suggested the driver of the goods train disregarded the signal and hit the Kanchanjunga Express

However, internal documents showed that the goods train was allowed to cross all red signals as the automatic signalling had "failed" Three rear compartments of the Kanchanjunga Express derailed as a result of the massive collision, with one coach being

flung into the air The accident happened in Siliguri's Rangapani region, near to North Bengal's New Jalpaiguri station

A source said that the automatic signalling system between Ranipatra station and Chattar Hat Junction in West Bengal, where the accident took place, was defective since morning

A financial aid of Rs 200,000 from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund has been

announced for the families of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 for those injured Meanwhile, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced financial aid of Rs 10,00,000 to the families of the deceased, Rs 250,000 for those grievously injured and Rs 50,000 for those who sustained minor injuries

Railways Minister took stock of relief operations at the accident site Congress demanded Vaishnaw's resignation while flagging the

CONTAMINATED WATER KILLS SIX IN KARNATAKA

Six people including a three-year-old, have died and over 100 others have fallen ill after drinking contaminated water during a temple fair in Tumakuru district, 90 km from Bengaluru The six-day fair, which began on last Sunday in Chinnenahalli village, was attended by thousands of devotees from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, according to residents At the end of Day 1 of celebrations, over 35 people complained of diarrhoea and vomiting after consuming water during the fair Many were admitted to hospitals Over the next two days, three senior citizens died of multiple complications Soon, the number of infected people crossed 100 and the death toll increased Two more senior citizens died and a three-year-old admitted to a private hospital also died according to officials Karnataka cooperation minister and Madhugiri MLA KN Rajanna reviewed the situation Tumakuru district minister G Parameshwara also visited the ailing patients

ILLEGAL PARTS OF JAGAN’S HOME DEMOLISHED

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation officials razed two rooms built on the footpath outside the Jubilee Hills residence of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy The makeshift structures that encroached the footpath along the compound wall of Jagan s residence housed security personnel Bulldozers brought down the two illegal structures less than a fortnight after Jagan s party suffered a crushing defeat in the assembly election The officials had arrived at the spot with local police in tow anticipating protests It is learnt that a few days ago, the municipal authorities had informed Jagan s staff to remove the structures citing obstruction to traffic

PUNJAB DRUG OVERDOSE: 14 DEATHS IN 14 DAYS

"mismanagement" of the ministry Congress's Supriya Shrinate said the minister was "busy with making reels" and had no time to spare to discuss the safety of people

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives, calling the incident "saddening" President Droupadi Murmu, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, and Union Minister JP Nadda, among others, also condoled the loss of lives in the accident and wished a speedy recovery of the injured passengers

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed "shock" over the tragic accident, saying the district magistrate, doctors and ambulances had been rushed to the spot She also visited the accident site

Speaking to reporters, most of the passengers blamed the negligence of the Indian Railways for the accident

At least 14 alleged drug overdose deaths have been reported in Punjab over the past two weeks, bringing to focus again how the authorities concerned have been struggling to root out the menace in the border state where the problem is often attributed to smuggling from Pakistan Nine of these deaths have taken place over the past week alone according to information The data is based mainly on the statements of family members of the deceased and the local police Three deaths have been reported in Gurdaspur two each in Abohar Moga Amritsar and Ferozepur and one each in Muktsar Faridkot and Ludhiana The high incidence of fatalities is reminiscent of a June 2018 drug overdose crisis in Punjab when 23 youths died, with some found having syringes still in their arms The police have registered cases against alleged drug suppliers in nearly half of the recent deaths

TMC MAN SHOT AT, BOMBS HURLED AT PARTY NETA’S HOUSE

A Trinamool Congress (TMC) functionary was shot at in a tea stall in Basirhat and bombs were hurled at another’s house in Amdanga as violence raged across North 24 Parganas in West Bengal A BJP functionary was injured after he was beaten up in Haroa Basirhat TMC functionary Altaf Mali 38 was at a tea stall when six to seven armed youths fired at him twice The bullets hit Mali in his waist and back He was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery According to police sources history sheeter Ayub Gaji was among the attackers As the news spread, a group of TMC supporters allegedly ransacked Gaji s house and shop In another incident bombs were hurled at the house of an Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress (INTTUC) functionary Abdul Hannan at Amdanga’s Beraberia The family managed to escape unhurt while the house was damaged

Pavithra Gowda & Darshan Thoogudeepa

Tejpal Singh

EVMs can be hacked: Musk; not in India, says ex-IT minister

Electronic voting machines

(EVMs) were once again in focus with Elon Musk, the multi-billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX, and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar engaging in a debate on X after Musk s ugge st ed e li mi nat in g the machines following reports of E V M i rr egul ari t ie s in Puerto Rico’s primary elections

Chandrasekhar, a former MoS for electronics and IT, strongly disagreed with Musk and said it was a “huge sweeping generalisation” that held no truth for the EVMs used in India which are standalone systems not connected to the internet

“We should eliminate electronic voting machines The risk of being hacked by humans or AI, while small, is still too high," Musk wrote on X, sharing a post by

Robert F Kennedy Jr which cited media reports about hundreds of voting irregularities related to EVMs in Puerto Rico

Chandrasekhar argued that Musk’s view may be applicable to the US and other places where regular computing platforms are used to build “internet-connected voting machines”

“This is a huge sweeping generalisation statement that implies no one can

build secure digital hardware Wrong,’ he added

Chandrasekhar added, “Indian EVMs are custom designed, secure and isolated from any network or media - no connectivity, no bluetooth, wifi, internet, ie, there is no way in Factory programmed controllers that cannot be reprogrammed ”

He said EVMs could be “architected and built correctly”, as India has done,

and even offered to run a tutorial for Musk on the subject Replying to this, Musk said, “Anything can be hacked ”

Chandrasekhar agreed that “anything is possible”, at least in theory “With quantum compute, I can decrypt any level of encryption With lab-level tech and plenty of resources, I can hack any digital hardware/ system including the flight controls of a glass cockpit of a jet, etc But that’s a different type of conversation from EVMs being secure and reliable,” he said

The Supreme Court on April 26 upheld the EVM system of polling and refused a plea to revive paper ballots, saying “blind distrust” of an institution or a system “bred unwarranted scepticism and impeded progress ”

Home Ministry to hold talks with Meiteis and Kukis to bridge ethnic divide

The home ministry will hold talks “at the earliest” with Meitei and Kuki representatives from Manipur as part of a fresh bid to bridge the ethnic divide that has been c aus i ng re cur ren t unre st a nd cl as hes b etw een the state’s indigenous communities over the past one year

This was stated by home minister Amit Shah at a meeting chaired by him to review the security situation in Manipur, particularly in the wake of fresh ethnic tension triggered by the June 6 killing of a farmer in Jiribam, a town bordering Assam that until now was unaffected by violence Sources said the talks led by MHA will be different from the off-and-on peace parleys

held thus far by a central team led by senior Intelligence Bureau officer A K Mishra, usually involving separate talks with the ethnic groups or civil society representatives “There is a need to bring representatives of both the communities, Kukis and Meiteis, to the table together and resolve issues causing mistrust between them as it is done in a political-level dialogue,” a senior official said

, Kuki leaders are said to have resisted sitting across the table with Meiteis under the current Manipur regime led by chief minister N Biren Singh Singh, interestingly, was conspicuous by his absence at Monday’s meeting, the first after BJP lost both Lok Sabha seats in the state Home ministry sources insisted that the review was limited to the level of officials, which included adviser to Manipur govt Kuldiep Singh, state chief secretary and DGP, Army chief Gen Manoj Pande, Army chiefdesignate Lt Gen Upendra

Deploy full strength of counter-terror apparatus in J&K: PM Modi

As Prime Minister Narendra M o di asked o ff ic ials to deploy the full strength of c ou nter-te rror ap paratu s ag ai nst terrori sts beh i nd recent strikes in Jammu, law enf orc ement ag enci es are s eeing th e cu rrent j ih ad i es calat io n as an ef fort to open a new axis of violence and unrest in Jammu region

On a day when the PM reviewed the uptick in terrorist violence with NSA Ajit Doval and others, J&K DGP R R Swain said counter-terrorism strategies were being tweaked to beat the “unique challenge” represented by 40-50 terrorists who infiltrated from Pakistan and were now holed up in mountainous terrain of Jammuwhere road connectivity and communication facilities do not match those in the Valley, making it longer for the forces to respond to information

The shift in security strategy includes returning to the force deployment pattern of the 1990s, with more personnel guarding mountain tops, resuming and intensifying counter-terror operations sector-wise and strengthening village defence committees in Jammu by refining their training and equipping them better to bust terror strikes

Maintaining that attacks in Reasi, Doda and Kathua were a recent phenomenon in that particular axis, Swain said, “After the Valley is relatively pacified, terrorist outfits like Lashkar e-Taiba have shifted attention to Jammu, activating different axes that run through Chenab, Tawi and Ujh-Ravi rivers It is a determined effort on part of Pakistan-based elements to ratchet up things for reasons that include boosting morale of fighters and creating

inter-communal tension in a region with mixed population (by religion),” the DGP said 50 detained Security teams assisted by drone crews and military dogs are scouring deep forests and high-altitude terrain in Jammu division to catch or kill suspected Pakistani terrorists responsible for four attacks on June 9, 11, and 12 in 3 districts of the region

Authorities have detained 50 local people for questioning regarding the June 9 ambush on a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi district Nine people were killed and 41 injured in the attack DGP RR Swain warned against aiding terrorists

“Some enemy agents are helping the terrorists for money and narcotics They will be identified and dealt with sternly,” Sain said

Over 50 hospitals in Mumbai get bomb threat email

Over 50 hospitals and a c ollege i n M umb ai r ec ei ve d bom b thr ea t s via email, officials said Several hospitals across the city, including Jaslok Hospit a l, Rahe ja Hospit a l, Se ve n H ills Hospital, Kohinoor Hospital, K E M Hospit al, J J H osp ita l, and St George Hospital, have r ec ei ve d b omb t hre at s v ia email

hospitals, an official said Upon receiving the threats, the hospitals immediately notified the police

A similar threat mail was also received by Hinduja College of Commerce located in Girgaon area of the city

According to police, the hospitals received threatening emails, claiming that bombs had been planted under beds and in bathrooms, which could destroy the hospitals upon detonation

Dwivedi, Assam Rifles DG and senior officers of the MHA

Singh, in recent media interviews, had spoken about the need for “central forces to actively support the state’s initiatives” There have also been rumblings that the state security set-up had failed to act on alerts from the CM’s office about possible ethnic flare-up in Jiribam, which police sources refuted as baseless, citing the fivemonth gap between the alerts sent in July and the tension in Jiribam A senior IPS officer said the situation in Jiribam was under control and the movement of essential goods resumed 2-3 days ago

The Mumbai Police also confirmed that the threatening emails were sent to all these hospitals using a VPN network Initial investigation revealed that the threatening emails were sent from a website named Beeble com Each email was individually crafted and sent to more than 50

BAPS

Subsequently, police and bomb disposal squads conducted thorough searches in the hospitals but did not find any suspicious objects The police have not yet identified the sender of the emails, nor have they ascertained the motive behind these threats The bomb threats were received by the hospitals and college hours after 41 airports across the country got similar warnings, prompting authorities to scramble for contingency measures and carry out security checks that lasted hours However, the threat mails sent to all airports, including Chennai, Patna and Jaipur, were found to be a hoax

temple in UAE gets 10,00,000 visitors in 100 days

The BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi welcomed 10,00,000 pilgrims and visitors since it was thrown open to the public on March 1 this year It may be recalled that on the first Sunday after its opening, over 65,000 devotees and visitors thronged the temple, creating a record of sorts

The temple was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Feb 14 Since the opening of the temple, several heads of the state, diplomats, filmstars and famous personalities have visited it With the UAE govt’s intervention, a new bus route (203) from Abu Dhabi to the temple has been started, facilitating weekend visits by devotees and visitors, emphasizing the country’s commitment to fostering cultural diversity and inclusivity

The BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi not only marks a significant milestone in promoting spiritual and cultural unity, but also stands as a testament to the UAE’s forwardthinking approach to diversity and inclusion

Jain Tirthankaras' idols 'vandalised' in Vadodara

The alleged vandalisation of Jain Tirthankara idols on the st air s le ad ing to the Shaktipeeth Mahakali Mandir a top Pa va ga dh hill ne ar V ad odar a has spar ke d w ide spre ad outr ag e a mon g the local Jain community As per a report, the Jain Sangh of V ad odar a led by M aha ra j Saheb marched to the residence of the collector to lodge a formal c omplaint be sides issuing a three-day ultimatum to restore the idols He called for non-violent protests and stressed the need for unity within the Jain Sangh, emphasising that the preservation of ancient architecture is government's responsibility Jain leader Deepak Shah claimed that the idols were dismantled under the supervision of the site manager, Vikram, who discarded them as garbage “The Jain community will not rest until the idols are restored,” he said While Jainism advocates non-violence, Shah underlined that this principle “should not be mistaken for passivity” He also warned against attempts to divide the community and demanded the maintenance of all temples in Pavagadh, which have been worship sites for centuries The Pavagadh temple trustee Ashokbhai clarified that the idols were not broken intentionally He said, "The idols were placed in the

old temple People were informed about the shifting even before the work started 20 days ago It was informed long ago that if anyone wants to keep the idols, then they should take them away Despite requests, no one come forward to take away the idols " Ashokbhai said that during shifting one idol was damaged and it was not intentional He said that if anybody wanted to worship these idols, then they would be reinstalled

Elon Musk & Rajeev Chandrasekhar

India opts out of Ukraine declaration at peace summit in Switzerland

T h e is s u e o f R u ss i a ’ s absence loomed large at th e

p e ac e s u m m i t in S witzerland, as India jo ined

o ver a d ozen co untries in

n o t si g n i ng a jo i n t com munique that declared any peace agreement m ust

b e b as ed o n U k ra in e ’ s territorial integ rity India backed out saying abiding peace wasn ’t possible in the absence of options acceptable to both sides, as the summit also could not elicit the kind of support Ukraine was hoping for from the Global South

Among others who did not back the communique, which was endorsed by 84 countries and organisations out of the 100 that participated, were important Indian BRICS partners like UAE, Brazil and South Africa, apart from countries in the extended neighbourhood like

Indonesia and Thailand

Given the efforts to keep Russia out and Moscow’s own reservations about the summit, India was represented by a secretarylevel official at the two-day summit that ended on Sunday

Justifying India’s decision to not associate itself with any c o m m u n i q u e / d o c u m e n t emerging from this summit, MEA secretary (west) Pavan Kapoor, who led the Indian delegation, said in India’s

view, only those options acceptable to both parties could lead to abiding peace

In a separate statement, the foreign ministry said a lasting and peaceful resolution required “sincere and practical engagement between the two parties to the conflict”

“India’s participation in the summit, as well as in the preceding NSA/political director-level meetings based on Ukraine’s peace formula, was in line with our consistent approach to

facilitate a lasting and peaceful resolution to the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy,” said the Indian statement, alluding to PM Narendra Modi’s repeated assurances to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that India would do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution

However, India and others who did not endorse the communique had doubts whether the peace summit would be able to achieve its objective of “just peace ” in the absence of Russia, the main party to the conflict along with Ukraine The govt also said India will continue to remain engaged with all stakeholders as well as both the parties to contribute to all “earnest efforts” to bring about an early and abiding peace

Majhi takes oath as Odisha's first BJP chief minister

A new p o li ti c al e ra h as began in Odisha with fourtime tribal leg islator Moh an C haran M ajh i taking oath o f office as the first BJ P CM along with 15 ministers at an e v en t i n th e p re s enc e o f former CM Naveen P atnaik

Majhi who visited Patnaik's home to invite him and “seek his blessings”, was on the Janata Maidan dais in Bhubaneswar with PM Modi and a heavy-duty BJP lineup that included home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh, health minister and BJP president J P Nadda, and road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari

After the ceremony, Modi and Naveen were seen chatting for a while Majhi's team, with two deputies in

Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and first-time MLA Pravati Parida, has 11 cabinet ministers and five ministers of state with independent charge Soon after the ceremony, PM Modi took to X and congratulated Majhi for taking over the CM s post "It's a historic day in Odisha! With the blessings of my sisters and brothers of Odisha, @BJP4Odisha is forming its first-ever government in the state," he said in a post

Several chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, including Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand also attended the event

Speaking to reporters earlier, Manji said that the work will begin within 100 days of the formation of the new government to fulfil the promises made in the BJP's manifesto

3 rd term for Khand u in Arunachal Pema Khandu was sworn as CM of a BJP govt in Arunachal Pradesh for a third consecutive term Khandu took the oath of office along with 11 ministers in the presence of home minister Amit Shah

and BJP president JP Nadda Chowna Mein got another term as Khandu’s deputy At Khandu’s first cabinet meeting of a new term, a 100-day agenda for the govt was approved The cabinet also authorised a disbursement of £10 mn under the CM's Social Security Scheme to benefit around 80,000 underprivileged people Led by Khandu, who won his family borough Mukto uncontested, BJP scripted its second consecutive electoral landslide in the frontier state, winning 46 of 60 assembly constituencies Ten of these MLAs won unopposed NDA ally NPP won five seats, the same as in 2019, while NCP made a comeback, garnering three

Naidu appoints Pawan Kalyan as deputy CM of Andhra

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Naidu’s son Nara

Lokesh retained IT besides getting electronics

Additionally, he will handle HRD and real-time governance portfolios

Two-time MLA Vangalapudi Anitha, 40, is the new home minister

The only BJP member in the cabinet, Satya Kumar Yadav, has been given

health, family welfare, and medical education portfolios

Meanwhile, Naidu has created a separate portfolio for MSMEs and NRI empowerment

Earlier, Naidu took oath of office as Andhra CM for the fourth time along with 24 cabinet ministers

PM Modi led the BJP pantheon, including home minister Amit Shah and health minister and BJP president J P Nadda, at the swearing-in of their party's key ally at the Centre and the state Pawan Kalyan, who was instrumental in forging the winning combination with TDP and BJP, also joined the cabinet Naidu ensured that all regions of the state were being represented in the cabinet The mix takes into account original 13 districts of the bifurcated state

before YSRCP govt of Jagan Mohan Reddy doubled that number The new CM balanced caste priorities by giving eight ministerial

berths to representatives of backward classes The Kamma community got five, while the Kapus received four

IAF brings back bodies of 45 Indians killed in Kuwait building fire

An I n di a n Ai r F o r c e transp ort plane carrying th e remai ns of 45 Indians who died in a building fire in Ku wai t arri ved a t Co ch i

Minister o f State V K S ingh acco mpani ed th e bodi es o

th e flight back to India

The devastating fire in a labour accommodation in Mangaf, Kuwait, on June 12 claimed the lives of at least 45 Indians Among the deceased, 23 were from Kerala, seven from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and one each from Bihar, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Haryana, Punjab, and West Bengal

Kuwaiti authorities conducted DNA testing to confirm the identities of the deceased and then handed over their remains to Indian officials

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, along with ministers K Rajan, P Rajeeve, and Veena George,

received the bodies at the airport Podiums were set up for ministers and others to pay their respects to the dead Authorities have confirmed the identities of 45 Indian and three Filipino victims Preliminary investigations by Kuwaiti officials revealed that flammable materials used as partitions in the building contributed to the rapid spread of smoke, leading to suffocation of many victims The victims were unable to escape to the rooftop as it was locked, according to Kuwait Fire Department Col Sayed AlMousawi The building in southern Kuwait's Mangaf area housed around 195 migrant workers 3 arrested Kuwaiti authorities, meanwhile, arrested three people on charges of manslaughter and causing injuries due to negligence Of the three who have been arrested, one is Kuwaiti and two are foreigners

India hits out at Pakistan and China for J&K reference

India hit out at China a nd Pakistan for a gain referr in g to J& K in a joint sta tement , w a r n in g B e i ji n g a ga in st le git imisin g Pak ista n ’ s ill egal o ccu pa t io n of In d i a n ter ritory through the China Pakistan Economic Cor ridor (CPEC) that passes through the Gilgit-Bal tist an re gion in Pak istan occupied Ka shmir (PoK)

Not for the first time, the two countries brought up the J&K issue in a joint statement issued after Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China during which both sides announced plans also to upgrade cooperation under CPEC The govt reiterated in its response that the Union Territories of J&K and

Ladakh “have been, are and will always be integral and inalienable parts of India”

“We have noted unwarranted references to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement between China and Pakistan of June 7 We categorically reject such references Our position on the issue is consistent and well known to the concerned parties The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India,’’ MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, adding that no other country had the locus standi to comment on the same

Air India passenger finds blade in flight meal, airline responds

An

Pau l, a jo urnalist, took to so cial media to sh are h is ordeal abo ard Air India AI 17 5 flight last week

In his post, Paul said that he was enjoying his inflight meal of roasted sweet potato and fig chaat when he felt a piece of metal in his mouth Upon inspecting it, he realised it was a metal blade

"Air India food can cut like a knife Hiding in its roasted sweet potato and fig chaat was a metal piece

that looked like a blade I got a feel of it only after chewing the grub for a few seconds Thankfully, no harm was done Of course, the blame squarely lies with Air India s catering service but the incident doesn't help the image I have of Air India," he said, sharing an image of the bowl showing the metal blade next to the food

Paul highlighted the serious consequences of the error wondering what would have happened if the meal was served to a child "What if the metal piece was in the food served to a child? First picture shows

the metal piece that I spat out and the second picture shows the meal before it put metal into my life," he added

In response to the incident, Air India contacted the passenger and offered a one-way business class ticket valid redeemable on any Air India flight for up to one year However, Paul reportedly declined the offer, terming the gesture as a 'bribe' In its response, the airline claimed that the blade was part of a vegetable chopping machine used by its

catering vendor "After investigation, it has been identified as coming from the vegetable processing machine used at the facilities of our catering partner, Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India, said Responding to Paul's post on X, Air India said, "Dear Mr Paul, we are sorry to know about this This does not represent the level of service we aim to provide to our passengers Please DM us your booking details along with your seat number We'll ensure this matter is promptly reviewed and addressed "

Narendra Modi & Mohan Charan Majhi

Palestine PM seeks PM Modi's help for Gaza truce

Palestine continues to press India to facilitate international efforts for an immediate ceasefire and increased huma ni tari an ai d i n warr ava ged G az a In a l ett er c ong rat ulat i ng PM

Narendra Modi for his third term in office, Palestine PM a nd f orei gn mi ni st er Mohammad Mustafa said as a global leader and a nation t hat va lues human ri ght s and peace, India has a significant role in bringing an end to the “genocide” in Gaza

“It is imperative for India to utilise all diplomatic channels to call for an immediate ceasefire, increase humanitarian aid to Gaza to help alleviate the suffering, collaborate with the international community to ensure the protection and safety of Palestinians civilians, and take a resolute stance against the atrocities being perpetrated,” said Mustafa

India backed a UNGA resolution last year seeking

an immediate ceasefire but has not explicitly called for the same In a message to Israel though, Indian govt has been strongly condemning civilian deaths in the Israel-Hamas conflict, while also calling for international humanitarian law to be respected under all circumstances

Mustafa said the situation in Gaza constitutes a humanitarian catastrophe that demands immediate and decisive action “I would like to affirm the importance

of advancing our bilateral relations and mutual interests which are based on solid and long lasting foundation I am confident that these unbreakable ties will continue to strengthen and develop in the years to come, ” he said

The minister thanked Modi for the “steadfast support and solidarity” that he said India has consistently extended towards the Palestinian cause and the rights of the Palestinian people

Rahul to keep Rae Bareli, Priyanka to contest from Wayanad

In what may change the complexion of both Parliament and opposition politics, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will take the electoral plunge from Wayanad L ok Sabh a con st it uenc y i n Ker ala , which her brother Rahul Gandhi has decided to vacate while retaining Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge made the announcements to the media, after detailed discussions at his residence which involved Sonia Gandhi, the Gandhi siblings and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal Lauding Priyanka for party’s victories in key Lok Sabha seats, Kharge said, “jeet unke haath mein hai (she’s destined to win)”

Rahul won from both the constituencies in the 2024 LS polls, triggering speculation about the seat he would retain The announcement also kept open the possibility of Rahul agreeing to CWC’s request to be the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha To a

query, he accepted that Mallikarjun Kharge has “warned” him of disciplinary action if he does not heed the apex body’s resolution passed last week

Rahul said while Kharge asked him to opt for Rae Bareli, he, too, felt that given the situation in the country, the main fight was in UP

As Kharge said Rahul was vacating Wayanad with “great pain”, the scion spoke about “emotional bond” with Rae Bareli and Wayanad, adding that he would stay in touch with the Kerala seat which, he expressed confidence, Priyanka would win – a sentiment that his sister reciprocated while underlining her long connection with Rae Bareli and Amethi “Both (Wayanad and Rae Bareli) will have two MPs,” Rahul quipped He said he will remember Wayanad’s love for life, as “it gave me energy to fight in very difficult times”

Kharge thanked Priyanka for backing the party in difficult times with her

Trudeau sees 'opportunity' in India ties after meeting PM Modi in Italy

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he sees an "opportunity" to en gage with the n ew I ndi an gove rnm en t, including on economic ties and national security, after hi s m eeti ng wi th Prim e Minister Narendra Modi at the G7 Summit in Italy

Speaking to the Canadian media, Trudeau said one of the really good things about the G7 Summit is that "you get an opportunity to engage directly with a huge range of different leaders with whom there are various issues and certainly with India, there are massive people to people ties, they're really important economic ties "

"There's alignment on a number of big issues that we need to work on as, as democracies as a global community But now that he (Modi) is through his

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra & Rahul Gandhi

campaigning, especially helping win back Amethi and managing Rahul’s election in Rae Bareli Priyanka said, “I am very happy to be able to represent Wayanad I won’t let them feel Rahul’s absence I have an old relationship with Rae Bareli I will help Bhaiyya in Rae Bareli also We will both be in Rae Bareli and Wayanad ” When asked if she was nervous, Priyanka said, “Not at all ” Priyanka’s electoral debut implies that three members of the Gandhi family are now likely to be in Parliament, with Sonia Gandhi having moved to the Rajya Sabha recently It marks a show of confidence given that PM Modi and BJP have been trying to corner the Gandhis with the insinuation of “dynasty politics”, a theme that was used widely in the recent polls

NSA Ajit Doval, principal secretary P K Mishra get another term

PM N arend ra Modi has retained his two trusted aides, national security adviser Ajit Doval and principal secretary P K Mishra, in his third term Their reappointment with Cabinet rank was notified after the appointments committee of Cabinet cleared it and ended speculation over who would get the coveted and crucial jobs

Modi also opted to give another term to two of his advisers in PMO, Amit Khare and Tarun Kapoor

Coming after Modi kept his faith in the CCS team - home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and foreign minister S Jaishankar - renewed terms for Doval and Mishra are seen as the second important statement of continuity from him

The reappointment of 79 year-old Doval for an unprecedented third term indicates his cruciality in Modi govt s response to different security challenges A renewed term for Doval, who played a key role in planning and executing surgical and air strikes against terrorists inside Pakistan, is significant also

because of a purported campaign, abroad as well as back home, to link him to the controversies over the alleged plot to kill proKhalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun The only IPS officer to have been awarded a Kirti Chakra and seen as the best “operations person ” India has had, Doval played an important role also in evacuating Indian nationals from the war zones of Russia and Ukraine and other disaster-hit areas

Known for his extensive contacts in West Asia, he was involved in conceptualising and pushing strategic initiatives such as the IndiaMiddle East Europe-Economic Corridor

His personal rapport with his counterparts across the world has played a crucial role in getting results from the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology as also in restoring trade relations with the US Mishra, too, is someone whom Modi has trusted enormously since his days as Gujarat CM In an interview, he had acknowledged how the Gujarat cadre officer had helped him pick up administrative nuances after he took over as CM

election, I think there is an opportunity for us to engage, including on some very serious issues around national security and keeping Canadians safe and the rule of law that we will be engaging," the Canadian Prime Minister was quoted as saying by CBC News

PM Modi and Trudeau briefly interacted on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy This was their first face-to-face meeting after Trudeau alleged in September last year of "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated Sikh terrorist

Later, PM Modi posted an image on social media of the two leaders shaking hands, with a one-liner saying "met Canadian PM Justin Trudeau at the G7 Summit

When asked if he has

seen improvement in cooperation from India on the Canadian probe into the murder of Nijjar in Surrey in British Columbia, Trudeau said, "There is work ongoing very much " India had strongly rejected Trudeau's allegations from last year, calling them "absurd and motivated" In turn, New Delhi has accused Canada of giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from its soil with impunity India has repeatedly conveyed its "deep concerns to Canada and New Delhi expects Ottawa to take strong action against those elements

Nijjar's murder is being probed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Four Indian nationals have been arrested in this connection by the RCMP

US woman tricked into spending £560,000 on £3 jewellery

Shopke eper s i n I ndi a all ege dly c onn ed an American woman into buying cheap gold-plated jewell er y wort h f or £3 f or £563,000

The woman, identified as Cherish in a police complaint, bought the jewellery from a shop in Johri Bazar in Rajasthan At the time of the purchase nearly two years ago, she even received a hallmark certificate confirming the purity of the ornament

When she returned to the US and displayed the jewellery at an exhibition, she learned it was a counterfeit worth no more than Rs 300 (£2 82), prompting her

India, US agree to do away with trade barriers

US national security advisor Jake Sullivan and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval committed “concrete action” in the coming months against long-standing barriers to strategic trade, technology and industrial cooperation, while pledging to prevent leakage of sensitive technologies to countries of concern, in what was the first high-level engagement between the two countries since the return of NDA govt this month

Sullivan arrived in India Monday to undertake a comprehensive review of cooperation under the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) with Doval The initiative is expected to propel the relationship to the next level by removing regulatory barriers and developing a new defence industrial road map for joint development and production

Sullivan also held talks with foreign minister S Jaishankar and called on PM Modi who on X said that India remains committed to strengthening the India-US partnership for global good Sullivan briefed him on the progress in iCET cooperation in areas like AI, semiconductors, defence and space In the meeting, Modi expressed satisfaction at the speed and scale of the growing partnership and the convergence on regional and global issues The NSAs exchanged views also on issues like the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in Gaza According to a joint fact sheet issued after the meeting, Doval and Sullivan, in what was their second iCET talks, underscored the vital importance of adapting their “technology protection toolkits” and resolved to prevent leakage of sensitive and dual-use technologies to countries of concern

to return to India and confront the shopkeeper, Gaurav Soni

The shopkeeper has denied the allegation Cherish informed the US embassy, which helped her file a police complaint against the jeweller and his father Rajendra Soni

“Police sent the jewellery for testing The results showed that the diamonds in it were moonstones,” Jaipur police’s deputy chief, Bajrang Singh Shekhawat, said “The tests further showed that the gold content in the jewellery, which should have been 14 carats, was two carats ” The accused jewellers also filed a complaint alleging that the American woman fled with jewellery from their shop “But when we checked the CCTV footage, it turned out to be false,” Shekhawat said

“The accused jewellers are on the run but we have arrested one Nandkishore, who issued the fake hallmark certificate ” Police have formed special teams to trace the two men

“Following the complaint by this woman from the US, the police also received several other complaints alleging fraud worth millions by Gaurav Soni and Rajendra Soni, who are currently under investigation," Shekhawat said Cherish, who first got in touch with the Sonis on Instagram in 2022, said that they “have been systematically cheating me in jewellery They have been shipping me nine-carat and gold plates instead of 14carat,” she said

PM Narendra Modi & Mohammad Mustafa

Mealtime scrolling linked to obesity

Letting children scroll on phones during mealtimes or eat in front of the TV can le ad t o ob es it y, n e w research reveals

A study of 735 primary school children found that those who regularly used screens during breakfast, lunch, or dinner were 15 percent more likely to be overweight Presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Venice, this research adds to the growing evidence about the health risks associated with young children using smartphones

Experts urge parents to make dinner tables phonefree zones to help children develop mindful eating habits Dr Ana Duarte from the University of Minho in Portugal, who led the study, explained, "When children are eating while watching TV or using a mobile phone, they don t realise when they re full and continue eating just because they're distracted "

The study involved 735

children aged six to ten, asking them and their parents about their meals and screen use in the last 24 hours Even after adjusting for social and economic factors, the findings showed that children who used screens at mealtimes were 15 percent more likely to be overweight NHS figures indicate that nearly one in four children are obese by the time they finish primary school at age 11

Additionally, Ofcom data shows that 91 percent of children in the UK own a smartphone by age 11, with eight-year-olds typically spending two hours and 45 minutes online daily, increasing to over four hours by the start of secondary school

Research shows heatwave impact on people with disabilities

A st udy c ond uct ed b y r es ea rc hers f rom Pusa n National University, South Korea, revealed that people w it h d is a bi li ti e s ar e disproportionately affected by heatwaves, leading to a rise in hospitalizations due to extreme heat exposure

The researchers examined the impact of heat exposure on emergency admissions during the warm seasons in the country, from June to September

Examining individuals with four types of disabilities physical, brain lesion disorders, vision, and hearing impairments the study, published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal, revealed that this demographic faced double the risk of hospitalisation compared to the general population, particularly due to mental and respiratory

illnesses

The researchers identified a fourfold increase in emergency admissions and sevenfold higher medical costs among people with disabilities Additionally, individuals with brain lesion disorders and severe physical disabilities, as well as women and those over 65 years old, were found to be particularly vulnerable to extreme heat within this demographic

The authors noted that the findings underscored disparities in admissions and medical expenses between individuals with disabilities and those without They emphasised the importance of informed public health policies to support and address the specific needs of this demographic

Health benefits of Curry leaves

Curry leaves, also known as kadi patta, are believed to have various health benefits. They are rich in antioxidants, vitamins like vitamins A, B, and C, and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron These leaves are also known for their potential medicinal properties, including aiding digestion, promoting hair health, and having anti-inflammatory effects

Five asanas that can benefit women’s healthier life

Yoga off er s a pl ethor a of hea lt h be ne fi ts , s pan ni ng f rom mus c le strengthening to alleviating symptoms of va ri ous c hroni c di s orde rs It presents a holistic approach to healing, targeting both the body and the mind

Throughout their lives, women experience distinct stages such as reproduction, menstruation, and menopause, all influenced by hormonal fluctuations Challenges like disrupted menstrual cycles, early menstruation onset, and prolonged menopausal transitions are common, potentially leading to conditions like fibroids, adenomyosis, and other reproductive disorders Here are the lists of five yoga asanas that can help that can help women live a healthier life:

1. Baddha Konasana (butterfly pose)

Known as the butterfly pose, this

seated posture effectively opens the hips and stimulates the pelvic region, providing relief from menstrual discomfort while enhancing circulation to the reproductive organs

2. Surya Namaskara (sun salutation)

a n d C h a n d r a N a m a s k a r a ( m o o n salutation)

Surya Namaskara boosts vitality and strength, while Chandra Namaskara promotes introspection and emotional balance, collectively nurturing hormonal equilibrium

3. The healing walk

The healing walk entails walking with hands raised above the head, palms facing outward This gentle exercise enhances internal communication within the body, alleviates muscle tension, and fosters overall well-being

4. Hanumanasana (Lord Hanuman pose)

The split pose stretches the hamstrings, groin, and hips, improving flexibility and circulation in the lower body Additionally, it stimulates the reproductive organs, fostering overall pelvic health

5. Vajrasana with Vajra Mudra

Sitting in Vajrasana and holding Vajra Mudra aids in balancing circulation, stimulating blood supply, and channeling energy in the Vajra nadi, contributing to overall health

Study reveals mood shifts heighten pleasure responses in people with bipolar disorder

Research suggests that even momentary mood changes

c an si gn i fi c ant ly i nc rea se the bra in 's re spon se to pleasure in individuals with bipolar disorder

Individuals with this mental condition, characterised by extreme shifts in moods and energy levels, are more susceptible to what researchers term as "mood bias " This phenomenon occurs when a person's good mood leads them to view everything more favourably, thus gaining momentum in their

mood

Liam Mason, co-lead author of the study published in the journal Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science and affiliated with University College London s Psychology and Language Sciences, explained, "Imagine going to a new restaurant for the first time If you happen to be in a fantastic mood, you're likely to perceive the experience as being even better than it actually is "

The findings shed light on why individuals with

bipolar disorder often find themselves caught in a "vicious cycle," where mood escalation can lead to taking bigger risks than usual, the researchers noted

In the study, researchers scanned the brains of participants while they played a computerised version of the Roulette game The study involved 21 participants with bipolar disorder and 21 without During the game, participants made bets on which compartment of a revolving wheel a small ball

would land in Using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), the researchers tracked the participants' brain responses to winning and losing They utilised computer models to measure how mood changes affected the "reward signals" in the brain within seconds

The results revealed heightened activity in the brain's anterior insula, a region associated with mood changes, in both groups of participants during the game

Exercises that help lose weight without dieting

f oods H oweve r, wha t i f shedding those extra pounds didn't require drastic dietary changes? Exercise is pivotal in weight management, with n umerous a ct iv i ti es effectively burning calories

While maintaining a balanced diet is advised Here are a few exercises that can notably contribute to weight loss even without adhering to a strict eating regimen

1) Stairs climbing

Stair climbing is an excellent way to burn

calories and boost cardiovascular health This high-intensity exercise engages multiple muscle groups, particularly the legs and glutes According to a study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, climbing stairs burns approximately 0 17 calories per step, making it an efficient calorie-burning activity Start with a few flights and gradually increase as your stamina improves 2) Jumping rope Jumping rope isn't just child's play; it's a potent workout that torches

calories rapidly A study in the Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport reveals it can burn up to 10 calories per minute while enhancing coordination, cardiovascular health, and muscle tone

Start with brief intervals, like 30 seconds of jumping and 30 seconds of rest, and gradually extend sessions to 10-15 minutes as fitness improves 3) Pilates

Pilates targets core strength, flexibility, and posture, yielding significant improvements in body composition and muscle tone Consider beginner

videos or classes to learn proper techniques, integrating Pilates into your routine 2-3 times weekly for optimal results 4) Jogging

Jogging is a great way to burn calories and boost heart health According to the American Council on Exercise, jogging at a moderate pace can burn about 298 calories in 30 minutes for a 155-pound person Begin by walking and progress to jogging, aiming for 20-30 minute sessions, 3-4 times a week, with walking intervals as needed

Alcohol worsens bipolar disorder

Individuals with bipolar disorder should avoid alcohol or strictly limit their intake, as n ew re se arc h i ndi cat es that drinking can exacerbate symptoms and impair work performance

Researchers from the University of Michigan examined the long-term impact of alcohol consumption on mood and functioning in adults with bipolar disorder, a condition characterised by extreme mood swings, energy shifts, and sometimes hallucinations and delusions

The study, published in The Journal of the American

Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open, included 584 adults diagnosed with bipolar disorder who were part of the ongoing Prechter Longitudinal Study of Bipolar Disorder (PLS-BD) for at least five years Data was collected over a 5-16 year follow-up period

Participants’ alcohol use was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, a WHO-approved screening tool, alongside standardised questionnaires measuring depression, mania or hypomania, anxiety, and overall functioning Findings revealed that

increased alcohol consumption correlated with heightened depressive and manic or hypomanic symptoms and decreased work performance

The study noted, "A person reporting alcohol use above their own mean amount tended to experience more depressive symptoms at the next time point, but increased depressive symptoms were not associated with greater subsequent alcohol use "

The impact of high alcohol consumption was more pronounced in patients not taking antipsychotic and antidepressant medications compared to those on these medications The researchers emphasised the importance of monitoring alcohol consumption in patients with bipolar disorder as part of their treatment plan

Sharvari on working in YRF's spy universe film: "I am over the moon"

Pashmina Roshan opens up about past struggles with depression

Pashmina

Roshan, Hrithik Roshan's cousin, is set to make her Bollywood debut with "Ishq Vishk Rebound " She recently revealed the reason behind her past struggles with depression and expressed her deep love for acting, which began on the sets of "Koi Mil Gaya " In a media conversation, she recalled her early years of confusion, saying, "In the initial years, I was very confused about whether I could be a good actor or not "

Pashmina Roshan, set to debut in "Ishq Vishk Rebound," revealed her past struggles with depression and uncertainty about her acting career Despite doing theatre in school, she applied to UK universities for marketing but felt unsatisfied Depressed during summer holidays while her friends partied, she realised marketing wasn't fulfilling A photo shoot and encouragement from her father and uncle led her to pursue acting seriously She took acting and dance classes, including Bharatanatyam, and began auditioning consistently

After facing numerous rejections, Pashmina Roshan finally got the opportunity to be part of "Ishq Vishk Rebound " She shared, "After continuously evaluating myself, taking feedback from family, and many years of perseverance, I got this opportunity and this film I am very grateful for that "

Actor Sharvari has been receiving praise lately. Her recent film 'Munjya' has earned positive reviews from both audiences and critics.

In a conversation with the media, the young actress expressed her gratitude towards fans for their appreciation of the movie

"I've been longing for this level of appreciation for so long I'm truly speechless The audience's love for our film is overwhelming My mother's pride in me means the world; she's been my rock through it all When she saw the film, her words of pride were everything to me There's no greater joy than receiving blessings from people I recall surprising fans by attending a screening of Munjya , and one woman came up to me and blessed me I'm incredibly grateful for all the love," Sharvari expressed

'Munjya', a horror-comedy rooted in Marathi folklore, has been drawing audiences to theatres since its June 7 release Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, the film stars Mona Singh, Abhay Verma, and Sathyaraj

In the coming months, Sharvari will also appear alongside Alia Bhatt in YRF's spy universe film However, an official announcement regarding the project is still pending

Expressing her excitement, she shared, "I am over the moon Working on (YRF's spy universe film) is a big responsibility I have always dreamt of working in big films so it feels great when your dreams get fulfilled "

Fardeen Khan recalls being a ‘worldwide trending topic’ after weight gain

for his

is

widespread

" This marks the actor's return to the screen after a 14-year hiatus. In a recent interview, Fardeen opened up about the trolling he faced due to his weight gain.

Fardeen recalled becoming a trending topic due to his weight gain, expressing his surprise at the attention it garnered He remarked, “People remembered me in a certain way and were shocked to see the change I had let myself go, and suddenly, I was a worldwide trending topic, but for the wrong reasons Having been in the business for a while, you develop thick skin You teach yourself, or even force yourself, not to take it personally as much as possible You find humour in it, philosophise about it, and learn from it I tried to do all three It was a punch, and I took it on the chin ” He further said, “The intensity or the degree of meanness was a revelation It does surprise you that people would find joy in someone else’s misery and despair ” In "Heeramandi," Fardeen Khan portrays the character Nawab Wali Bin Zayed-Al Mohammed The series also features Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sharmin Segal, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Shekhar Suman, Adhyayan Suman, and Farida Jalal in pivotal roles This project marks Sanjay Leela Bhansali's debut in the OTT space

Sunny Deol to reprise fauji role in ‘Border 2’ after 27years

Bollywood star Sunny Deol announced the sequel to "Border" on the 27th anniversary of the 1997 blockbuster. The makers describe the upcoming film as "India's biggest war film," to be directed by Anurag Singh, known for "Kesari" and the first two "Jatt & Juliet" films JP Dutta, the director of the original "Border," will produce the sequel alongside his daughter Nidhi Dutt through JP Films Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar will also coproduce under the T-Series banner.

Sunny Deol shared the announcement teaser for "Border 2" on his official X page, writing, "Ek fauji apne 27 saal purane waade ko pura karne, aa raha hai phirse India's biggest war film, Border 2 Produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, JP Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta, and directed by Anurag Singh #TSeries #JPFilms "

Released on June 13, 1997, "Border" depicted the Battle of Longewala during the India-Pakistan War of 1971

Alongside Sunny Deol, the film starred Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Akshaye Khanna, Sudesh Berry, and Puneet Issar, with a

supporting cast including Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Tabu, Raakhee, Pooja Bhatt, and Sharbani Mukherjee

As one of the top-grossing films of 1997, "Border" owes much of its popularity to its captivating soundtrack, featuring songs written by Javed Akhtar and composed by Anu Malik Tracks like "Sandese Aate Hain," "Ae Jaate Hue Lamhon," and "Mere Dushman, Mere Bhai" continue to resonate with audiences

Fardeen Khan

receiving

praise

digital debut in the epic series "Heeramandi

Parvathy Thiruvothu addresses gender representation in Mollywood

Parvathy Thiruvothu weighed in on the ongoing discussion about gender representation in the Malayalam film industry

Despite recent successes like 'Manjummel Boys,' 'Aadujeevitham,' 'Aavesham,' 'Premalu,' and 'Bramayugam,' criticism has surfaced regarding the absence of women in the narratives

The online debate was sparked by director Anjali Menon's question, "Where are women in Malayalam cinema?" in her post

In a recent interview, Parvathy acknowledged both positive reactions and criticisms of her perspective She agreed that many narratives primarily focus on men and emphasised the importance of not forcefully inserting female characters into such stories

Parvathy explained that filmmakers are free to choose the films they want to make, and given their control over production and distribution, this reality cannot be denied

Parvathy stressed the significance of filmmakers concentrating on creating their own projects rather than expecting them to alter their approach She questioned whether the criticism was directed at the appropriate individuals, highlighting her role as an actor, which doesn't entail decision-making authority Parvathy pointed out that even if she were to direct, she would still operate under a producer She voiced her apprehension about the deliberate sidelining of films predominantly featuring women

Vijay Sethupathi's clashes with Vignesh Shivan on 'Naanum Rowdy Dhaan'

Vijay Sethupathi recently shared insights into his experiences during the shooting of "Naanum Rowdy Dhaan" with director Vignesh Shivan. This collaboration marked a significant moment in both their careers. Reflecting on his two-decade-long journey as an actor, Sethupathi reminisced about the conflicts he encountered with various directors over the years

Initially, Vijay Sethupathi didn't see eye to eye with Vignesh Shivan, as the director had different expectations from him It took some time for them to align their visions Sethupathi recalled, "After the first day of shooting 'Naanum Rowdy Dhaan,' I called Vicky and confronted him I said 'You're trying to teach me acting You haven't understood me ' After four days, Nayanthara asked me what the issue was between us I explained that he wanted me to portray the Paandi character with more flair "

Sethupathi elaborated, "When Vicky

narrated the script, it was wonderful Initially, I was attempting to emulate Vicky's vision, but it took us some time to grasp each other's perspectives. Vishnu Vishal rightly pointed out that portraying the character wasn't straightforward If he es, everyone should laugh He's a good guy but a fraud I struggled to grasp the character during the initial four days, and during that period, I felt very insecure "

Director Lingusamy to do a

pan-Indian film on ‘Ramayanam’

Lingusamy is a highly successful director in the South Indian film industry, renowned for his partnership with leading stars in Tamil and Telugu cinema Despite his recent Telugu-Tamil bilingual "The Warriorr," starring Ram Pothineni, not meeting box office expectations upon its 2022 release, Lingusamy remains a prominent figure

While he has taken a twoyear hiatus from filmmaking is currently gearing up to un next project

Social media speculation suggests that Lingusamy has commenced the scripting process for his upcoming directorial project, reportedly inspired by the Ramayana Lingusamy has brought together a team of both young and seasoned writers to craft the

screenplay Working from Kodaikanal, the team is dedicated to creating a twofilm Casting and crew ection will be finalised pon the completion of the script

Lingusamy has found himself entangled in a dispute with Kamal Haasan regarding the financial setback incurred from the film "Uttama Villain "

ingusamy's production mpany filed a petition t the renowned actor at the Tamil Film Producers Council

Despite Kamal Haasan's previous pledge to collaborate on a film with Lingusamy and his brothers' production house as compensation for the loss, this commitment remains unfulfilled even nine years after the release of "Uttama Villain "

MON 28 JUN - FRI 28 JUN 2024

9:30 DESHI BEATS

14:30 SORATHNI MRS SINGHAM

15:30 RANGAI JAANE RANGMA

16:00 MANYATA

16:30 JODE REHJO RAAJ

17:00 MARU MAN MOHI GAYU

17:30 RASOI SHOW

18:30 RANGAI JAANE RANGMA

19:00 MANYATA

19:30 MARU MAN MOHI GAYU

20:00 RASHI RIKSHAWALI

20:30 MOTI BAA NI NANI VAHU 21:00 GEETA

22:00 MARU MAN MOHI GAYU

22:30 TARI DHUN LAGI RE SATURDAY 29 JUN 2024

9:30 DESHI BEATS

14:30 SORATHNI MRS SINGHAM

15:30 RANGAI JAANE RANGMA

16:00 MANYATA

16:30 JODE REHJO RAAJ

17:00 MARU MAN MOHI GAYU

17:30 RASOI SHOW

18:30 RANGAI JAANE RANGMA

19:00 MANYATA

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20:00 RASHI RIKSHAWALI

20:30 MOTI BAA NI NANI VAHU

21:00 GEETA

22:00 MARU MAN MOHI GAYU

22:30 TARI DHUN LAGI RE SUNDAY 30 JUN 2024

9:30 DESHI BEATS

10:30 BEST OF RASOI SHOW

11:30 ASHUDE BHINJAY GHARCHODU ASHUDE BHINJAYE CHUNADI

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20:30 MOTI BAA NI NANI VAHU

21:00 GEETA

22:00 MARU MAN MOHI GAYU

23:00 MOLKKI

22:30 TARI DHUN LAGI RE MON 24 JUN - FRI 28 JUN 2024

16:30 RASOI SHOW DESI FLAVOURS

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19:00 AJNABI BANE HUMSAFAR

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20:00 MOLKKI

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SATURDAY 29 JUN 2024

16:30 RASOI SHOW DESI FLAVOURS

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19:00 AJNABI BANE HUMSAFAR

19:30 RAMACHARI

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SUNDAY 30 JUN 2024

16:30 RASOI SHOW DESI FLAVOURS

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21:00 COMEDY NIGHTS BACHAO

22:00 RAMACHARI

Amitabh Bachchan to make cameo appearance in Gujarati film 'Fakt Purusho Maate'

Megastar Amitabh

Bachchan is set to make a cameo appearance in the upcoming Gujarati film “Fakt Purusho Maate,” as confirmed by the makers Bachchan previously lent his voice as the narrator in the franchise's first film, titled “Fakt Mahilao Maate” (2022).

In the upcoming instalment, the 81-year-old star will portray the role of God Produced by Anand Pandit and Vaishal Shah, the film is written and directed by Jay Bodas and Parth Trivedi, starring Yash Soni, Mitra Gadhvi, Esha Kansara, and Darshan Jariwala Pandit remarked that everyone on the set was mesmerised by Bachchan's aura and professionalism during the shoot "We filmed with Mr Bachchan on June 6, and his energy, dedication, legendary professionalism, and larger-than-life presence left us all in awe," he stated Pandit also expressed his admiration for Bachchan's contribution to "Fakt Mahilao Maate" and emphasised that it's difficult to envision a project without him "Anyone who has worked with him once wants to work with him again and again," Pandit added "Mr Bachchan portrays a compelling role in this sequel to ‘Fakt Mahilao Maate’ and significantly influences the unfolding of the story," commented Shah "His enduring stardom is indescribable, and this film will reaffirm why he remains a legendary figure," Shah continued "Fakt Purusho Maate" is a family drama addressing themes of gender equality and generational conflicts

Diljit Dosanjh's memorable debut on "The Tonight Show"

Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh made a guest appearance on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon Delighting the audience, he performed his popular tracks "G O A T" and "Born To Shine " Fallon introduced Diljit as 'the biggest Punjabi artist on the planet' and encouraged fans to catch him on his ongoing Dil-Luminati music tour across North America

Diljit took the stage adorned in traditional Punjabi attire, including a matching turban, pleated fan, and a gleaming watch, proudly representing his cultural heritage After his dynamic performances, he paused the music to sing the iconic line "Mein hu Punjab" from his film Amar Singh Chamkila with Imtiaz Ali Jimmy Fallon, thoroughly impressed, joined Diljit on stage, exclaiming, "That is how you do it!" Diljit responded with a playful gesture, twirling his moustache in true P b f h

Jitendra

Kumar on rumours that

he's the highest paid actor on

‘Panchayat 3’

Excitement surrounding Panchayat 3 is at its peak post-release, fueled by rumors suggesting Jitendra Kumar was the highest-paid actor among the cast, earning 70,000 per episode Responding to the buzz, the actor expressed discomfort with discussions about salaries, deeming it unfair to delve into such matters.

A recent report disclosed that Jitendra earned 5 6 lakh from the third season of Panchayat, solidifying his status as the highest-paid actor Following closely behind was actor Neena Gupta, reportedly earning 50,000 per episode

Portraying the role of Abhishek Tripathi in the acclaimed series, the actor expressed disdain towards the reports

Ali Fazal talks about challenges he facedportraying

As the third season's release in July approaches, actor Ali Fazal reminisces about the challenges he encountered while stepping back into the shoes of Guddu Pandit Reflecting on the character's journey, he acknowledges the complexity of portraying a young man amidst societal corruption, retaining his innocence despite the adversities

Fazal expresses uncertainty about what lies ahead in season 3 but asserts his dedication to justifying the character's growth He shares, "It has taken a lot out of me, but I will always cherish the experience "

He elaborated, "It's a world and character I don't naturally belong to, but I've strived to understand it through

analytical study examining the writing, mindset, and interactions within those areas Stories can be told from various angles, and here, it's from Guddu's viewpoint The rest the bodybuilding, masculinity, and madness are manifestations of the core traumas he's endured " Ali elaborated on his preparation for the role, emphasising the need for deep compassion to accurately portray the character's experiences He highlighted the challenge of distancing oneself from the role and observing it objectively, without judgement Ali expressed his hope that this approach would resonate with audiences and evoke genuine emotion on screen, regardless of where it's viewed

While neither confirming nor denying the rumours, he criticises the trend of discussing individuals' salaries and financial matters "Well, I think discussing somebody’s salary and financial matters is really unfair," Jitendra remarks He emphasises, "Nothing good comes out of the discussion, and it’s not even fruitful So, I think one should avoid falling for any such rumours; they should not be a thing "

Created by The Viral Fever, the Amazon Prime Video show, directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, and written by Chandan Kumar, has been a huge success since the start Now, the third reason, which was released in May, also got a positive response

India’s Divya is world’s junior chess champion

I ndia’ s Divya Des hmukh is the new w orld juni or girls

c hess c hampion The two-

t

wom en ’ s c hes s champion is

n ow the U- 20 queen of the w o r ld I n h er s e c on d appearanc e at the Worlds,

w

De

h rem ained unb eaten to win h e r m ai de n U - 2 0 c

c ollec ting 10 poi nts

Exactly 21 days after winning the classical open Sharjah Challengers title, where the 18-year-old participated to gain some match practice, Divya played with confidence and proved her mettle in the U-

20 championship This triumph, without losing a single game, takes Divya’s tally of international gold medals to 21 while representing India in 38 age category tournaments

Despite becoming the Asian Women’s Chess champion last year, the U20 world crown was missing in Divya’s kitty

After winning the sixth round of the world juniors against Ayan Allahverdiyeva, Divya took the lead and maintained the advantage to lift the title In a tense 11th and final round, Divya played for over five hours to pull off a thrilling win over

T20 W O R L D C U P

Super 8 schedule, dates and venues

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 stage will commence on June 19 in Antigua, with South Africa facing the USA at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. On the same day, co-hosts West Indies will take on England at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia.

Bulgaria’s third seed

Krasteva Beloslava in a marathon battle of 57 moves On the podium, Divya was followed by Armenia’s second seed Mariam Mkrtchyan at 9 5 points and Ayan of Azerbaijan (8 5) Divya Deshmukh

Smriti ton drives India to 143-run win over SA

Smr iti Ma ndhana spear he aded

I ndia’s charge agains t South Africa women in th e o pening

m a t c h a t t h e M

C h in na s w a m

B

w as th e standout perfo rmer in th e cru shing 143- run win

w hich h elped th e hos ts take

1- 0 lead in th e th ree-match s eries

On the back of Smriti’s 117 and lower-order contributions from Deepti Sharma (37) and Pooja Vastrakar (31 n o), India scored 265/8 in their 50 overs after Ayabonga Khaka’s three-fer Debutant Asha Sobhana also joined the party, scalping four wickets with her flight and spin to dismiss the visitors for 122

runs The leg-spinner’s first wicket was Marizanne Kapp (24) in the 22nd over before she bagged the last three South African wickets to complete the rout in style

After opting to bat first, the home team lost wickets regularly They were five wickets down, including

Indian football federation sacks coach Stimac

The All India Footba ll Federa tion (AIFF) is b racing it se lf for a l egal b attl e after sacking Igor St imac, e nding his five-ye ar r eign as h ea d coach of t he se nior men ’ s na ti ona l t eam Stimac, a World Cup br on ze meda l winne r in 1998 and former ly coach of the Cr oa tian na tiona l te am, joine d In dia in 2019

H e was in charge for 5 3 matche s, winning 19, dr awin g 14 an d l osing 20

The Croatian had come under heavy pressure since India’s failure to score a goal, or pick up a point, during the three groupstage games at the Asian Cup 2023 in Qatar early this year The team ended with the worst performance among the 24 participating teams

When India failed to qualify for the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, despite winning the first game against Kuwait, the writing was on the wall The only hindrance was his contract that ran till June 2026, without any clause for termination with a standard three-month compensation

“Stimac had publicly said that he would resign if he does not take India to the third round (of the World Cup qualifiers) India exited on June 11 and since then we have not heard anything from him

This decision has been taken in national interest Compensation is secondary,” a senior AIFF official said

India

those of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (10), Shafali Verma (7) and Jemimah Rodrigues (17), before India reached the three-figure mark While lower-order batters Deepti and Pooja came up with useful contributions, the onus continued to be on Smriti to take her team to a good total and she did not disappoint

B r i e f s c o r e s : India

women: 265/8 in 50 overs

(Smriti Mandhana 117, Deepti Sharma 37, Pooja Vastrakar 31 n o; Ayabonga Khaka 3-47, Masabata Klaas 2-51) beat South Africa women: 122 in 37 4 overs

(Sune Luus 33, M Kaap 24; Deepti 2-10, Asha Sobhana 4-21)

seek

probe into Qatar's controversial goal

The All In dia Football Federati on ( AIFF) has fi led a c omplaint to s eek a probe into the c on ten tious goa l award ed to Qa tar duri ng India's m us t-win c las h agai nst them in a FIFA World Cup q uali fier game i n Doha

The eight teams that have made it to the Super 8 stage are: Group A: India, USA; Group B: Australia, England; Group C: West Indies, Afghanistan; Group D: South Africa, Bangladesh

These teams have been

divided into two groupsGroup A: India, Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh; Group B: USA, England, West Indies, South Africa In Super 8, each team plays against the three others in its group, earning two points for each win

The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for June 26 The winners of each group will play the runners-up from the other group The grand final will be held on June 29 in Barbados

Nepal's stellar performance in last T20 match

He inri ch K lasse n's deci si ve r u n -o u t of t h e f i na l

d e l i v e r y s e c u r e d a na i lbiti ng one-run vi ctory for Sou th Af rica ag ai nst Nepa l, e n d i n g t h e Asi a n si d e ' s ho pes of a dva ncing to the S u p e r 8 s t a g e i n t h e Gr ou nd D ma tch o f th e ICC T20 World Cup at the St Vincent Sta di um

Needing two runs from the last ball to stay alive in the tournament, Nepal's Gulsan Jha was run out at the non-striker s end by Klaasen, preventing what seemed like an inevitable Super Over It was a heartbreaking end for Nepal, who had outperformed South Africa for much of the match

who scored 43 runs, while Tristan Stubbs was the only other batter to cross a strike rate of 100, finishing unbeaten on 27 off 18 balls Nepal's bowlers, Kushal Bhurtel and Dipendra Singh Airee, were exceptional, sharing seven wickets between them and keeping the Proteas' batters in check

In response, Nepal looked well on their way to victory Their top-order batsmen had the chase under control, reaching 85/2 by the 14th over with the required rate comfortably manageable

nerve, bowling the final two overs to perfection and leaving Nepal needing eight runs from the last over The tension peaked as Gulsan Jha struck a boundary off the third ball of the final over, bringing the equation down to two runs from the last ball Klassen's quick reflexes and sharp throw ensured that Jha was caught short of the crease, sealing a memorable win for South Africa and breaking Nepalese hearts

Yousef Aymen's equaliser in the 73rd minute was awarded to Qatar despite the ball clearly going out of the playing area Qatar's Hashmi Hussein dragged the ball into play before Aymen seized the opportunity and converted it into a goal

The Indian players expressed their displeasure at the South Korean referee Kim Woo-Sung's decision and even protested for a while but it all went in vain as the on-field official upheld his decision

Iran's Hamed Momeni was the match commissioner for the fixture and the AIFF has lodged a complaint with him

"We have lodged a complaint with the match commissioner and are seeking a thorough investigation into the whole thing," an AIFF official said

Nepal's spinners had dominated, restricting South Africa to a modest 115/7 The South African innings was anchored by opener Reeza Hendricks,

However, South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi turned the tide with a brilliant spell, taking 4/19, which put immense pressure on the Nepali chase Fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Ottneil Baartman then held their

Brief Score: South Africa 115 for 7 in 20 overs (Reeza Hendricks 43, Tristan Stubbs 27; Kushal Bhurtel 4-19, Dipendra Singh Airee 3-21) beat Nepal 114 for 7 in 20 overs (Aasif Sheikh 42, Anil Sah 27; Tabraiz Shamsi 4-19, Aiden Markram 1-8) by one run

Smriti Mandhana

Sumit