AV 23rd November 2024

Jaishankar launches website, NRIs can register now for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas P26

A L A R M I N G I N C R E A S E I N

S T U D E N T H O M E L E S S N E S S

As international students hesitate to come to Britain, the country witnesses a worrying 20% drop in Indian student applications

The United Kingdom has long been a top destination for international students seeking world-class education and cultural diversity

However, an alarming trend is casting a shadow over the allure of British universities: a growing number of international students are finding themselves homeless or in precarious housing situations.

Soaring rental costs, limited availability of affordable accommodation, and administrative hurdles have exacerbated the housing crisis for these students, many of whom arrive with high hopes but limited financial support

Often juggling part-time jobs, hefty tuition fees, and cultural adjustments, international students are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and housing insecurity.

British Asian elderlies face record high fraud and abuses

Anusha Singh

The elderly in the UK are increasingly

with phone-based fraud and economic exploitation reaching alarming levels,

‘Fear and Phoning: Telephones, Fraud, and Older Adults in the UK’, highlights that two-fifths (40%) of elderly adults face phone-based fraud attempts daily, weekly, or monthly

The study, published in December 2023, interviewed nearly 2,000 participants, with more than 80% over the age

thirds of respondents had experienced at least one fraud attempt in the past

Subhasini Naicker

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin

UK to relaunch India trade talks: Downing Street

T he U K will restart trad

talks with India early next y ear, D

announced

The decision follows

Starmer and Indian Prime

during the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro An off icial

m e e t i n g revealed that both leaders aim to develop an “ambit i o u s U K-I n d

trade, investment, security,

c

imate, health, and education

T h e a n n o u n c e m e n t coincides with the summit's

c l o s i n g , d u r i n g w h i c h Si r Keir faced questions about the use of Storm Shadow

m i s s i l e s i n R u s s i a H i g h l i g h t i n g t h e i m p o rtance of the agreement, Sir Keir stated: “Boosting economic growth is essential for improving living standards A new trade deal with India will support UK jobs

a n d p r o s p e r i t y, a d v a n c i n g

o u r m i s s i o n t o d e l i v e r

g r o w t h a n d o p p

T

MPs to scrutinise overseas takeover of Royal Mail

Th e £ 3 6 billion takeov er of Ro yal Mail's paren t co m p a ny, I nte rna ti o na l D i s tri b ut io n Services (IDS), by EP Group, ow ned by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, is set to face scru ti ny fro m M Ps on th e new ly form ed C o m m o n s Bu s i nes s an

Com mittee

t

“vital trading partner for the UK ” He emphasised that reducing Indian tariffs and increasing bilateral investm

n t c u r

n t l y s u p p o r ting over 600,000 jobs across both nations aligns with t h e g o v e r n m e n t 's g o a l o f driving economic growth

Efforts to f inalise a trade a g r e e

under previous administra-

r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h I n d i a i s already signif icant, valued at £42 billion in the 12 months l

Minister Boris Johnson set

timed with Diwali celebrations, but progress slowed under Rishi Sunak’s government, which opted against

However, earlier this year, the UK and India signed a cooperative agreement on

emerging technologies

Sir Keir is expected to continue discussions with

with the 1,000th day since R

Ukraine

No 10 apologises for meat at Diwali event

Dow nin g Stree t ha s is sued a n apology af ter me at and a lcoho l w ere s er ve d at a

D i w a l i e v e n t h e l d l a s t month, ackn owledgi ng the e rror i n organ is ing the cele brati on

S

C o n s e

M

h e decision as "not in keeping

with the customs of many Hindus" and highlighting a "d i s a p p o i n t i n g l a c k o f knowledge" about the traditions cherished by many British citizens A Downing Street spokesperson admitt e d t h a t "a m i s t a ke w a s made in the organisation of the event," and assured that it would not be repeated, offering an apology to the

community for the oversight The tradition of hosting Diwali events at Downing Street dates back to 2009 under then-Prime Minister

G o r d o n B r o w n , a n d h a s continued with successive l e a d e r s , i n c l u d i n g R i s h i Su n a k , w h o b e c a m e t h e

U

Minister in 2022

Youth benefits at risk without training participation

Youn g pe o ple a g ed 18 -2 1 will fac e cuts to their benef its i f they refuse training or a p pr en t ic e s h i p o f fer s , as part of a new back-to-work plan set to be unvei led this month

Secretar y, is expected to be questioned on the matter next week by the committee, which is chaired by former Labour minister Liam Byrne The hearing will form part of a broader review into the implications of the acquisition Although the deal was agreed in May, parliamentar y oversight has been delayed due to the timing of the summer general election and the reconstitution of the select committee in the new parliament

The acquisition is currently under review

Investment Act, with discussions ongoing between the Department for Business and Trade and EP Group regarding undertakings and commitments related to the deal

IDS's board has endorsed the 370p-pershare offer, and shareholders are awaiting further developments The company is set to release its interim results on Thursday, where it is likely to face additional pressure to provide updates on the progress of the takeover

Radical proposal to addre ss criminal court backlog

A lex C halk KC, the former justice secretary, has pro posed a b ol d s o lu ti o n to tac kle th e g ro w i ng crisis in the Cro wn C o u rt s o f En g la nd an d Wale s, w h e re the case backlog is expec ted to exceed 80 ,00 0

n g h

The policy, framed as a “youth guarantee,” will task councils and mayors with i d e n t

thousands of unemployed or unwell young people to offer them tailored support in f inding jobs or education Ministers are adamant that young people cannot remain outside the work-

ties

Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretar y, is spearheading the initiative

the post-Covid surge in economic inactivity, which she deems one of the biggest

economy While the youth

and more radical reforms to the sickness benef its system are planned for early next year to address the alarming rise in long-term illness Cu

people are out of work due to long-term illness, with the cost of sickness benef its ballooning from £40 billion pre-pandemic to £65

Chalk has called for the creation of an intermediar y tier of c r i m i n a l c o u r t s t o ease the pressure on the system This new tier, operating as a subsidiar y of the Crown Court, would handle cases of medium seriousness without juries, leaving magistrates' courts to deal with minor offenses and full j u r y t r i a l s re s e r v e d fo r t h e m o s t s e r i o u s crimes such as murder, rape, and high-level fraud

This proposal, inspired by recommendations from Lord Justice Auld in 2001, suggests that the intermediar y courts would be presided over by a circuit judge and two lay magistrates Chalk highlighted the structural similarity to existing Crown Court appeals, where a judge and two lay magistrates hear cases

Speaking at the Times Crime and Justice Commission, Chalk argued the necessity of this reform to prevent further delays in trials, which currently see some serious cases postponed for up to three years These delays have exacerbated issues such as overcrowding in prisons and victims withdrawing from prosecutions

While acknowledging that his proposal might ignite controversy, with critics fearing an erosion of the jur y trial system, Chalk maintained that his plan offers flexibility "If people think it’s gone too far, then you dial it back,” he said, emphasising the importance of balancing eff iciency and justice

I N B R I E F

LABOUR MPS WARNED OVER PHONE THEFT

Government Whips have urged Labour MPs to exercise caution when using mobile phones around Westminster after multiple reports of devices being stolen In a letter circulated on Tuesday, the Whips office advised MPs to be vigilant near the parliamentary estate highlighting recent incidents "Colleagues should be aware that a number of MPs have had their phones snatched within the vicinity of the estate Colleagues are reminded to be wary when not on the estate," the letter stated The warning follows an attack on Chris Webb, Labour MP for Blackpool South, earlier this month Webb was assaulted and mugged by a group of youths while walking to his flat in south London The newly elected MP described the attackers as a group wearing balaclavas and riding bicycles He said the incident left him shaken but determined to continue his work

EQUALITY WATCHDOG CHAIR’S ROLE EXTENSION AMID CONTROVERSY

Kishwer Falkner chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC ) and an appointee of Liz Truss has been granted a 12-month extension in her role, ministers have announced The decision has sparked frustration among some EHRC staff who had anticipated a potential leadership change under a Labour government The Office for Equality and Opportunity, which made the announcement, clarified that a search for Falkner ’s successor is underway, with a new chair expected to be appointed next year The extension was reportedly granted to allow more time to identify a replacement, as her current four-year term concludes at the end of this year Lady Falkner ’s tenure has been marked by internal challenges, including contentious debates over transgender policies and an investigation into complaints from both current and former staff members

REDUNDANCY THREAT FOR LEICESTER UNIVERSITY STAFF

De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester has stated it "cannot rule out" redundancies due to ongoing financial difficulties In an email sent to staff, Vice Chancellor Professor Katie Normington revealed that the university would be offering a voluntary severance scheme to staff in a bid to avoid formal layoffs Professor Normington urged academic leaders to encourage their teams to consider voluntary severance as part of efforts to prevent redundancies

However she acknowledged that the need for formal redundancies cannot be ruled out" at this stage The university has also hinted at the possibility of increasing student fees next year, in line with new government regulations on tuition fees While no final decision has been made, DMU indicated that the additional revenue would likely be used to cover increased National Insurance costs for the university as an employer DMU has attributed its financial struggles to a "shortfall of students," resulting in reduced income

Prime Minister Keir Starmer with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 Summit in

Alex Chalk KC

Britain needs to address tangible offences over 'hurt feelings'

PM Keir Starmer has urged police forces to focus their efforts on addressing crimes that "matter most to their communities" rather than allocating public funds to investigate incidents involving "hurt feelings " The Prime Minister’s comments come in the wake of The Times report highlighting over 13,000 non-crime hate incidents recorded in the past year, including cases involving schoolchildren Starmer stressed that police would be "held to account" for their priorities, underlining the need for a more effective allocation of resources

T h i s d e b a t

h i n l a w enforcement- how to balance the need to address harmful but non-criminal behaviours with the imperative to tackle crimes that directly impact public safety and trust Starmer’s stance reflects a broader public sentiment that police should prioritise crimes such as theft, assault, and vandalism, offenses that have identifiable victims, cause tangible harm, and often lead to a decline in community confidence Effective action against these crimes will not only deter further offenses but also foster trust in the justice system and enhances quality of life

Non-crime hate incidents, while not constituting criminal behaviours, are documented as part of efforts to address haterelated actions that could escalate into serious offenses Critics argue that recording such incidents diverts valuable resources from tackling pressing crimes and risks criminalising everyday interactions, some contend that these efforts may overreach into areas better suited for community-based solutions, such as education and dialogue

Additionally, proponents also believe that tracking noncrime hate incidents provides law enforcement with valuable

data on patterns of discriminatory behaviours, enabling them to preempt potential hate crimes This approach is rooted in a preventive philosophy, recognising the potential harm such behaviours can cause, even if they fall short of criminality Yet, this must be balanced with ensuring police resources are not overstretched or misdirected Instead, collaboration with community organisations, social workers, and educational institutions could provide more nuanced and effective solutions

The UK’s law enforcement faces significant challenges Between 2015 and 2023, the percentage of crimes leading to charges and court proceedings plummeted from 16% to just 5 7% For rape cases, the statistics are even grimmer, with only around 2% resulting in charges from the Crown Prosecution Service This steep decline has eroded public confidence in the police and the broader justice system, and highlighted systemic issues such as understaffing, inadequate infrastructure, and delays in legal proceedings

Addressing these challenges requires urgent investment in the justice system This includes building more prisons, increasing the number of courts and judges, and equipping police forces with the resources necessary to investigate and solve crimes effectively Without these measures, any discussion of priorities risks becoming a moot point, as the system struggles to meet even basic expectations

Ultimately, the UK's approach to crime and public safety requires a comprehensive overhaul Policing strategies must strike a balance and a collaborative approach, combining law enforcement with community engagement and education, is essential for building safer, more resilient communities

Can China's challenges reshape global power?

China has long dominated global markets as a manufacturing powerhouse, attracting international factories and investments due to its cost-efficient production capabilities and vast workforce Even after facing criticism as the origin of the coronavirus pandemic, which initially disrupted its economy, China has managed to rebound and maintain a strong presence in global trade

In recent years, China has strategically aligned itself with certain nations and blocs, aiming to bolster its economic and geopolitical security as a safety net This shift comes as China faces strained relations with several major global economies, prompting efforts to rebuild ties and maintain its influence on the world stage

The competition between the US and China has intensified over the years, with tensions escalating during the Biden administration over tariffs, Taiwan, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine While dialogue continued, including US officials visiting Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against a "new cold war," calling efforts to contain China "unwise and bound to fail " Biden focused on strengthening alliances across Asia, collaborating with South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam to counter China Trump’s “America First” approach often sidelined traditional allies, focusing on deals and demanding financial contributions, as seen with South Korea in 2018 Meanwhile, Beijing has strengthened alliances with emerging economies, sought closer ties with the UK and Europe, and worked to resolve historical disputes with neighbours like South Korea and Japan

The UK and China have faced turbulent relations over issues such as cyberattacks, data harvesting, and human rights

concerns in Hong Kong and Xinjiang However, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer seeks a "pragmatic relationship" with China, acknowledging its economic importance Starmer sees improved ties as a means to boost Britain’s growth and plans to address military support for Russia during the G20 summit Downing Street also highlights potential cooperation on climate change and stability, with Labour’s clean energy goals relying on China’s dominance in solar panel production

Even India and China have faced persistent tensions over border disputes, trade imbalances, and geopolitical rivalries, yet opportunities for cooperation remain Recently, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro Wang Yi encouraged India to enhance cooperation on resuming direct flights, easing visa processes, and facilitating journalist exchanges The two leaders acknowledged progress in recent disengagement efforts in Ladakh and discussed steps to strengthen bilateral ties while addressing broader global issues

Right now, China is now grappling with significant challenges Its economy is sluggish, the property sector is in crisis, nearly 20% of young people face unemployment, and it is burdened with one of the fastest-growing ageing populations This period of economic and social strain presents an opportunity for India to strengthen its position on the global stage India could leverage strategic diplomacy and robust international relations areas where China currently struggles to assert its influence, even within the United Nations, where it has long sought a permanent seat This is the best time for India’s next move which could be pivotal in reshaping its role in global geopolitics

The unfair burden on developing nations

Sanatan traditions uphold a deep respect for nature, honouring rivers, mountains, stones, and all-natural resources as sacred These timeless principles of harmony and preservation align seamlessly with modern conversations on sustainability and environmental care For centuries, Sanatan teachings have emphasised living in balance with the environment, fostering responsible use of resources and reverence for the Earth

In today’s global efforts to address climate challenges, these ancient values offer enduring wisdom, demonstrating that sustainability is not just a modern goal but a deeply rooted cultural ethos This perspective bridges ancient traditions with contemporary environmental priorities, inspiring holistic ecological stewardship

Delhi’s air pollution crisis has reached a shocking new low, with Air Quality Index (AQI) figures exceeding 1,000 in some areas hazardous levels that surpass global health standards On certain days, the AQI spiked to nearly 1,500, exposing residents to dangerous pollutants equivalent to smoking dozens of cigarettes daily This alarming scenario reflects broader environmental challenges developing nations face, which are on the frontlines of climate change despite minimally contributing to its root causes

D e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s f a c e a n u p h i l l b a t t l e a g a i n s t t h e impacts of climate change Over 800 million people in India are at high risk due to extreme heat, water scarcity, and flooding For instance, Delhi's hazardous AQI levels driven by stubble burning in Punjab and inadequate enforcement of pollution controls are symbolic of the interplay between local issues and global warming

Similarly, Bangladesh, with its low-lying coastal geography, is witnessing rising sea levels that could displace millions by 2050

Such vulnerabilities starkly contrast with the West, which, while historically responsible for most emissions, has the infrastructure and resources to mitigate immediate effects

Western nations often dictate the global climate agenda, framing the crisis in ways that sometimes overlook the specific challenges of the Global South While international agreements like the Paris Accord recognise the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities," financial support for adaptation and loss-and-damage measures remains insufficient At COP27, the establishment of a loss-and-damage fund was a step forward, but developing countries still await meaningful financial flows

Moreover, Western politics frequently sidesteps the urgency of climate justice Policy shifts in major economies like the US under administrations sceptical of climate science can delay progress globally, leaving developing nations to grapple with the fallout of a warming planet

Despite these challenges, developing countries are working toward solutions India, for example, is increasing its investment in Natural Climate Solutions (NCS), which include reforestation, sustainable agriculture, and water conservation

These efforts not only mitigate emissions but also enhance resilience to climate impacts However, without adequate funding and technology transfer from wealthier nations, the scale of adaptation will fall short The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) underscores that limiting global warming to 1 5°C by 2030 requires immediate and substantial emission cuts

The climate crisis is as much about justice as it is about survival Developed nations must acknowledge their historical responsibility and ensure that climate action prioritises the needs of the most affected regions

Political Sketchbook

Alpesh Patel

Where Are the Tractor Parades Now? A Tale of Selective Farmer Advocacy

I t seems s ome Britis h and Canadian Indians h ave lost their p as sion fo r f armer protes ts Remember the fervor s urrou nding the I ndian farmer protes ts? The same individual s w ho declared th em selves warrio rs for agricu ltural justice, waving fl ags and chanting sl ogans , no w seem cu riou sly s ilent about farmer struggles muc h clos er to h ome

The current plight of UK farmers deserves attention Crushed under the weight of falling prices, climate pressures, and post-Brexit policy chaos, British farmers are fighting for their livelihoods Some are protesting; others are simply walking away from generational legacies And yet, the diaspora voices who once claimed solidarity with farmers everywhere have turned a deaf ear Where are the marches? Where are the hashtags? Where are the langars for British farmers?

Ah, but there’s the rub, isn’t it? Supporting Punjabi farmers in India wasn’t about farmers at all It was a thinly veiled excuse to express displeasure with the Indian government The outrage wasn’t about MSPs, land ownership, or agrarian distress; it was about taking a political stance against a government some disliked Fair enough people are free to express opinions But let’s not kid ourselves that it was ever about farming

Why the silence now? Surely, the principles of justice and equality for farmers should transcend borders Or is the lack of response a quiet admission that these supposed champions of the agricultural sector never truly cared about farming? After all, it’s much easier to be outraged about a distant issue when it comes with little real-world cost and makes you look righteous in the process British farmers, on the other hand, might not fit the desired narrative They lack the same romanticized imagery of “ploughing through adversity” in the name of tradition and culture Worse, their grievances might actually require serious policy discussions, not just tweets

And what about Canada? The vocal Indian diaspora that turned Canadian streets into tractor-themed protests for Punjab now seems far more interested in diplomatic spats than agricultural woes Canadian farmers, like their British counterparts, are struggling with supply chain disruptions and climate challenges Yet, not a peep from those who once stood in solidarity under the banner of “justice for farmers ” Apparently, some farmers are more equal than others

The truth is uncomfortable but clear: The previous protests were not a movement to protect the dignity and livelihoods of farmers They were a political spectacle, driven more by antipathy toward the Indian government than by genuine concern for rural communities It was an act of selective outrage, dressed up as humanitarian concern

If these self-proclaimed farmer advocates truly cared about farmers, they would have shown the same zeal for B

hypocrisy Perhaps it’s time to admit that the tractors, flags, and hashtags weren’t about farming they were about politics And if the politics aren’t convenient, neither is the advocacy Greta? Rhianna? Why is no one talking about this? Any little kids writing to the King?

But don’t worry Maybe the next time there’s an opportunity to oppose a government they dislike, they’ll dust off their banners and slogans Until then, British farmers, sadly, you ’ re on your own

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself -Franklin D Roosevelt

Downing Street sidesteps Elon Musk’s criticism

D o w n in g S t ree t h a s

d eclined to eng ag e in a d isp ute w ith Elon Mu sk after the billionaire accused the U K Government of "g oing full Stalin" in its approach to farm ers

M u s k , w h o o w n s t h e s o c i a l m e d i a p l a t f o

(

) , m a d e the remark in response to proposed changes to inheritance tax relief for farmers

during the Budget These reforms aim to encourage the redistribution of large farmland holdings, potentially giving younger farmers more opportunities to purchase land

Sharing a screenshot of a Guardian opinion piece titled “Farmers have hoard-

e d l a n d f o r t o o l o n g Inheritance tax will bring new life to rural Britain”, Musk criticised the reforms, comparing them to the policies of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, whose forced collectivisation program brought

p r i v a t e l y o w n e d f a r m s under state control between 1928 and 1940

When asked to respond, a D o w n i n g S t r e e t

responses I gave this morning continue to be the case:

and explain how the process works It remains the case

majority to be unaffected by the changes ”

Pressed further, she reit-

Prime Minister’s own words are very clear in terms of the support that we have for f

tance We will continue to c

Police search for Indianorigin man in murder

British police are search ing

f o r P ank aj L am b a, a n Indian-o rigin man believed to h av e m urd ered his wife, Harshita Brella, w hose bod y w as fou nd in th e bo ot of a car in Ilford, East Londo n, last week

N o r t h a m p t o n s h i r

P o l i c e h a v e i d e n t i f i e d Lamba as the prime suspect in the death of 24-year-old Harshita Brella, who lived in Corby Authorities suspect that Lamba fled the country after killing his wife earlier

t h i s m o n t h " W e b e l i e v e

L a m b a t r a n s p o r t e d

H a r s h i t a ’ s b o d y f r o m Northamptonshire to Ilford by car, and we suspect he has now fled abroad," said Chief Inspector Paul Cash at a p r e s s c o n f e r e n c e o n

Sunday

The investigation began

o n W e d n e s d a y a f t e r c o ncerns were raised for Brella’s welfare Officers visited her home in Corby but received n o r e s p o n s e T h e s e a r c h then escalated to a missing person case, which led to the discovery of her body early on Thursday morning

i n t h e b o o t o f a c a r o n

S o u c e N o r h a m p t o n s h r e P o e

Brisbane Road, Ilford

A post-mortem examination on Friday confirmed that Brella had been murdered Investigators believe the killing was targeted and h a v e a p p e a l e d f o r p u b l i c assistance "She was a young woman with her whole life ahead of her, and it is deeply tragic that her life was cut short in this way," said Chief

t h a t B

h a d been under a domestic viol e n c e p r o t e c t i o n o r d e r issued in early September, prior to her murder

More than 60 detectives are now working on the case

a s t h e h u n t f o r L a m b a intensifies An image of the suspect has been released to help the public identify him

Organisation for Economic

Development (OECD)

Although this surge in

Conservative government,

pressure on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to fulfil his pledge to reduce immigration numbers Rob Bates

Migration Control stated,

interna-

on a disastrous policy of

Bates warned that without significant changes, public s e r v i c e s c

d b e o v e rwhelmed, and the quality of life for British citizens could deteriorate further

A spokesperson for Sir Keir Starmer said, “The PM has been consistently clear that migration has been far too high in recent years It needs to come down ” The Conservative Party, on the other hand, attempted to d

m t h e issue, arguing that a packa g e o f i m

i o n c o ntrols introduced earlier this y e a r w i l l h e l p r e d u c e migration numbers

Police probe 'murder threat' to Pakistan's minister

P o li ce are i n v es ti g a ti ng th re ats o f m u r d er m a

M

a Muhamm ed Asif d uring an in ci d e nt ab o ard an El iz ab eth L i n e tr ai n ne ar Heathrow Airport

T h e a t t a c k , w h i c h occurred around 3:30pm on November 11, was captured in a viral video, where Asif, 75, reported being verbally h a r a s s e d a n d t h r e a t e n e d with a knife while traveling to Reading with a friend In the footage, an unidentified individual allegedly verbally abused and threatened Asif

T h e m i n i s t e r , w h o i s i n London to meet with members of the Pakistan Muslim

L e a g u e , a m a j o r p o l i t i c a l party in Pakistan, confirmed

t h e i n c i d e n t t o P a k i s t a n i media Asif has served in his current position since April 2022 and has been active in politics since 1991

On November 14, staterun media shared images of a meeting between Asif and B r i t i s h T r a n s p o r t P o l i c e officers at the Pakistan High C o m m i s s i o n i n L o n

i n c i d e n t A s i f c a l l e d t h e event shameful and regrettable" and urged the authori t i e s t o r e v i e w C C T V footage from the train Asif also called on the British T r a n s p o r t P o l i c e t o u s e CCTV footage to identify the perpetrators, emphasising that such acts of harassment and threats were not

regrettable for the 1 7 million British-Pakistani citizens living in the UK

circulating on social media and stated that investigations are ongoing

I N B R I E F

CHURCH OFFICIALS FACE DISMISSAL AFTER ARCHBISHOP RESIGNS

Thirty members of the Church of England are under investigation for their failure to prevent John Smyth KC a barrister believed to be one of the most prolific abusers in the institution s history, from continuing his abuse The officials are being scrutinised by the Church s safeguarding team after a report revealed that they were aware of Smyth's "abhorrent abuse" of children and young men The Church leaders are accused of not taking action to stop his actions, which spanned decades The scandal follows the resignation of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who faced growing pressure to step down due to his failure to alert authorities about Smyth’s behaviour Despite awareness of Smyth s abuse at the highest levels of the Church, it wasn’t until 2017 after Smyth was exposed in a Channel 4 News report that Hampshire Police launched an investigation Following an internal review, dozens of Church leaders, including several bishops, could face removal from office for their involvement

LANDLORD RENTS FIVE-BED HOUSE TO 13

An unscrupulous landlord in East London has been fined over £60,000 after failing to licence a dangerously overcrowded property Ilyas Patel was found to own a mid-terrace house on Altmore Avenue in East Ham, where 13 people were living During an inspection in November 2023, Environmental Health Officers discovered that five rooms were being occupied by at least four unrelated families including two with young children All 13 residents were sharing a single kitchen and bathroom Tenants reported paying between £600 and £750 a month in rent The property was also found to have a severe mice infestation After a hearing at Thames Magistrates Court Patel was fined a total of £63 977 19 which included additional costs

OXFORD USING 'DELIVEROOSTYLE' CONTRACTS FOR TUTORIALS

Oxford University has faced criticism for relying heavily on academics with "Deliveroo-style" precarious fixed-term contracts to deliver the majority of its tutorials, according to new research The data, obtained through freedom of information requests by the University and College Union (UCU) reveals that only about a third of lessons are taught by full-time professors The research shows that approximately 61% of core tutorial teaching is carried out by academics on fixed-term contracts or in hourly-paid positions The union has argued that, while pay is often based on contact hours with students, when factoring in preparation, marking, and student support the effective hourly wage often falls below the minimum wage in real terms

Protests against Oxford Union debate on Kashmir independence

INSIGHT UK, a social mov eme n t r e p r e s e n t in g B r i t is h Hindus an d Indians, staged a protest outside the Oxfor d Un i on , op po si ng a de b a t e title d “This House Bel ie ves in the In dependent Stat e of Ka shmir ” The group raised slogans in protest, citing concerns over the two speakers supp o r t i n g t h e m o t i o n : Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur and Zafar Khan In a letter to the Oxford Union Society, I N S I G H T U

linked to groups associated with violent extremism and terrorism

INSIGHT UK specifically accused Muzzammil Ayyub T h a k u r o f i n c

organisations under investigation for terrorism-related activities The letter highlighted that Thakur, presi-

c

dent of the “World Kashmir F r

- f o

o f “ M e r c y Universal” with his father, had reportedly been investigated by the UK’s Scotland Y a r d , t h e C h a r i t y Commission, and the FBI for suspected terrorist ties T h e g r o u p f u r t h e r

(Prevention) Act for his role in creating fear and inciting p u

also criticised Zafar Khan,

(JKLF), accusing him of links to a group responsible for v i

n s t t h e Kashmiri Hindu community The letter referred to the J K L F ' s

1984 kidnapping and murder of Indian diplomat Ravindra Mhatre in the UK

Khawaja Muhammed Asif

Victim- Harshita Brella

British Asian elderlies face record high fraud and abuses

S tudy auth or Mark Bu tto n, Direct or of th e Centre for Cybercrime and Econo mic Crim e, described phone fraud as a widespread issue targeting older technologies "These calls are often daily or weekly occurrences for older adults," he noted "Even when many recognise the fraud and hang up, the constant pressure has significant impacts on mental health and quality of life "

Despite this, data from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reveals a shift in fraud tactics

Between 2020 and 2023, email and text-based scams surged, while phone impersonation attempts dropped from 67% to 32% However, the study suggests older adults remain disproportionately affected by phone-based scams in the UK

E conomic abuse

o n th e rise t oo

Alongside fraud, economic abuse against the elderly is escalating Hourglass, the UK's only charity dedicated to safeguarding older adults, reported a 65% increase in calls to its helpline during 2023/24, totalling over 75,000 contacts These included cases of economic abuse amounting to over £53 million in reported losses across three years an average of £87,000 per case

Commenting on the figures, Richard Robinson CE O of Ho urg lass, said, “There is no question we are facing an epidemic of abuse of older people in the UK but it remains firmly under the radar

We estimate that abuse of older people costs the UK economy £16 billion per year, excluding economic abuse, and this equates to a figure of £50k per victim-survivor per year

“We are sleepwalking into a scenario where we are expecting more than nine million extra older people in the UK by 2050, equivalent to another city with the population of London, but with little pre-planning around safer ageing, abuse services and specialist safeguarding We are already at epidemic levels – without urgent work, we are looking at a tidal wave of issues ” N ew winter fuel p ayments scam p reys o n pensioners

As the colder months approach, a newly uncovered scam is targeting elderly citizens,

exploiting government programs designed to assist with winter heating costs

Fraudsters are sending fake text messages about Winter Fuel Payments and cost-of-living support, urging recipients to visit fraudulent websites

These sites are designed to harvest personal and payment information, putting pensioners’ finances at serious risk

The scam comes at a particularly opportunistic time, coinciding with recent updates to the UK government’s Winter Fuel Payments program

The fraudulent campaign often begins with a text message urging recipients to fill out an application form to avoid missing payments or benefits Some messages are disguised as final notices, claiming the form must be completed by a specific date, such as November 12, to receive winter fuel credits on time The messages include links to websites mimicking official UK government pages, with domain names designed to appear credible, often containing phrases like "gov" and "notices " Once on these phishing pages, victims are prompted to provide personal and payment details, which scammers can use to commit fraud UK law enforcement agencies are warning pensioners to remain vigilant against such scams Officials advise against clicking on

unsolicited links or sharing sensitive information through suspicious messages The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which administers Winter Fuel Payments, has also emphasised that official communications will not require payment details to be submitted online Pensioners are encouraged to verify the legitimacy of any correspondence by directly contacting government agencies “Ar eas of sig nificant co ncern that rem ain negl ected”

Virendra Shar ma, former Member of Parl iamen t for Ealing Sout hall, in his time as an MP has raised this issue extensively and even ran a campaign about the same In conversation with Asian Voice about elderly abuse in general, he said, “ I believe this is an area that is often overlooked by the public, with many showing little interest in it However, I strongly feel that this is a crucial time to address it During my time in Parliament, I raised this issue, engaged with local communities, and held meetings in various areas to bring attention to it and I continue to support such initiatives ”

Mr Sharma doesn’t believe this issue has received the attention it truly deserves “While some progress has been made, there are still areas of significant concern that remain neglected People often fail to pay enough attention to them Coming from a different cultural background, I view this issue through a unique lens, shaped by my heritage Among the Asian community, in particular, this area is increasingly being overlooked or ignored ”

He further added, “In addition to common

crimes like pickpocketing and chain-snatching, I believe that online fraud, is on the rise It's not just about online scams many elderly individuals, especially within the South Asian community, are less informed about these risks As a result, they can become easy targets Scammers have become increasingly sophisticated, and they prey on innocent people who trust others too easily, making them more vulnerable In my constituency, particularly among the South Asian community, there has been a noticeable increase in both online fraud and general crime ” Commenting on what needs to change, the former MP said, “The system, along with those who care for the elderly, needs to engage with day centres and encourage families to offer moral support to their elderly members It's important for the system to partner with local communities to raise awareness and provide the necessary resources and support where it is most needed ”

Ofcom sets online safety priorities, studies social media impact on children

Peter Kyle has outli ned the government’s pri orities for O fcom as it prepares to enforce the Online Safety

Ac

next year

Strategic Priorities’ focus-

into platforms, increasing tech company transparency on online harms, and

include:

Safety by Desi gn: Protecting users, especially children, and eliminating illegal activity

Transparenc y: Holding tech companies accountable and building trust

Agi le Regulation: Tackling emerging risks like AIgenerated content

study will

inclusive digital environment A

media on children to guide future online safety policies F

will align with these goals while regularly reporting

Inclus ivity: Promoting a harm-resistant digital world

Innovation: Advancing online safety technologies The NSPCC welcomed the move, urging action to disrupt abuse and protect children The government pledged swift implementation of the Act to create safer online spaces

MPs support ending hereditary peers

M Ps hav e backed a bill to

of L

s, w ith the proposal passing by 4 35 votes to 73

This bill, currently maki n g i t s w a y t h r o u g h Parliament, aims to remove the seats held by those who inherit their titles, a change t

While Labour and Liberal D e m o

d the move, the Conservatives opposed it The Labour Party's mani

s t o f u

r p r o m

s

s broader reforms, including a mandatory retirement age of 80 for Lords members and replacing the House of Lords with a more representative chamber

Virendra Sharma

Richard Robinson

On 14 November 2024, I had the privilege of witnessing an extraordinary and unprecedented event

The Football Association (FA) celebrated Diwali at Wembley Stadium as part of its 'Faith and Football Series,' with joint support from BAPS Neasden Temple

Today, BAPS is far more than just a spiritual or religious organisation, and not limited to Gujarat or India

o n l y I t h a s b e c o m e a n international and multiracial embodiment of Sanatan faith, a profound thought and concept BAPS and its

s p i r i t u a l t e a c h i n g s h a v e touched hearts across nearly every continent, inspiring people with its timeless values and wisdom

I share a deep and per-

s o n a l c o n n e c t i o n w i t h

B A P S , a s m y g r a n d f a t h e r was involved even before HH Shastriji Maharaj laid

t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f t h i s remarkable organisation I am also blessed to be among the fortunate few who had

t h e p r i v i l e g e o f h a v i n g physical darshan of Param

From Seymour Place to Wembley Stadium

Faith and Football: Faith in your mission and the faith in yourself

invited me to a small prayer gathering To elaborate, I had arrived in London for t

9

November 1966

At that time, I had to arrange tickets for my wife to join me from India A o n e -

around £100, a significant sum Back then, there was no social media, no internet

relied on word of mouth S

Patel in East London and shared his phone number

making a call on a landline while living in a small bedsit was a challenge The tele-

P u j y a S h a s t r i j i M a h a r a j , Param Pujya Yogiji Maharaj and Param Pujya Pramukh

S w a m i M a h a r a j i n Bochasan

I vividly recall the prof o u n d m o m e n t o n 2 6 September 2007, during the

B A P S c e n t e n a r y c e l e b r a -

t i o n s a t t h e N e a s d e n

S w a m i n a r a y a n T e m p l e i n L o n d o n A d d r e s s i n g t h e gathering of devotees, I felt

t r u l y b l i s s f u l w h e n P u j y a P r a m u k h S w a m i M a h a r a j spoke for nearly 20 minutes, recounting his special relationship with my grandfather Manibhai, my father

B a b u b h a i a n d m y u n c l e Apakaka He also graciously

a c k n o w l e d g e d , i f I m a y humbly add, my own small contributions

Rem em bering S hri

P oonambhai Patel

R e t u r n i n g f r o m Wembley Stadium after my prayers, I couldn't help but reminisce about

f r o m M

S

a moment

,

humble soul who at that time used to work in a factory yet pursued his passion for teaching Gujarati Over time, he became a prominent Gujarati teacher at the S w a m i n a r a y a n M a n d i r I attended the satsang as part o f t h e a u d i e n c e a n d through Jayantibhai’s introduction, I had the privilege o f m e

Swamiji

hold a small satsang there, just 7 or 8 people You will meet our community and afterwards, we always have s o m e w a r m G u j a r a t i food ” I will be honest, while I enjoyed satsang, living far from my family i

enticing It was an offer I couldn’t resist!

Meeting P aram Pujya Pram ukh S wam iji Maharaj

Swamiji’s unique style of interaction left a lasting impression In Gujarati, he warmly asked, “Shu naam

phone operated on 3 pence coins, which seem insignificant today To continue

the machine

I spoke to Poonambhai

d h e g r e e t e d m e w i t h such warmth and kindness

He invited me to visit his p l a c e a n d s h a r e d h i s address Those days, I lived in Archway, while he lived near Forest Gate

Shri Poonambhai was a

s t a u n c h d e v o t e e o f t h e Swaminarayan Movement

When I visited him, he welcomed me with warm hospitality He encouraged me to stay focused on my studies and suggested I use the British Library, humorously adding that it was warm inside, so I wouldn’t have to worry about heating cost in my bedsit He then said, “ W h y d o n ’ t y o u , o n a Saturday evening after your studies, visit our gathering at an address in Seymour Place? A few friends and I

where a gentleman Mr P K Patel, with an equally big heart, served as the host He organised the satsang and provided a deli-

warmth and conversation It truly felt like home away from home

small group of 7–10 individuals, if I recall some names

h , Mahindrabhai Patel (then a barrister-in-training) and a few others, embarked on an incredible journey By 1970, their collective efforts culminated in the establish-

B A P S Hindu Temple in Islington, North London

I recollect, I was present during a momentous occasion in 1974 when I had a face-to-face darshan with P

Swamiji Maharaj He was visiting London and a satsang was held at a family residence near Queensbury Circle in Brent, hosted by

che? (What is your name?), Kona dikra? (Who is your father?), Kaya gaam na cho?

( W h i c h v i l l a g e a r e y o u from?)”

When I mentioned that I am the son of Babubhai Patel from Bhadran village, Swamiji immediately called me closer and embraced me w i t h i m m e n s e a f f e c t i o n

His gratitude and heartfelt remembrance of my father, Babubhai, were overwhelming, so profound that I still

l a c k t h e w o r d s t o f u l l y express the moment's significance

W h e n P r a m u k h

S w a m i j i M a h a r a j w a s a r o u n d 1 2 y e a r s o l d , h e

a t t e n d e d a S a n s k r i t p a t h s h a l a ( s c h o o l ) i n

Bhadran During that time,

a n u n f o r t u n a t e i n c i d e n t

o c c u r r e d w h e r e h e a n d another young Sadhu, just 11 years old, were mistreated in a religious premises Someone who disapproved of the spiritual movement

b e c a m e e n r a g e d , f o r c i b l y

evicting both young Sadhus

stood by you

Inclusivity in faith

Returning to the topic at hand, BAPS has a thriving s p o r t s a c t i v i t y , w h i c h i s q u i t e c o m m e n d a b l e

Similarly, I have had the p

n Hayes on several occasions

They also offer a unique approach to spirituality It’s the only place where one half of the temple is dedicated to a Hindu Mandir and the other half to the Jain "Tirthankar" tradition

H

Krishna" and "Jay Jinendra "

This pleasant blend of tra-

Indian faith

f r o m t h e t e m p l e T h e i r

b e l o n g i n g s w e r e t h r o w n out and they were made to stand outside in humiliation

When my father learned of this, he rushed to the s c e n e , d e e p l y u p s e t a n d angered by what had happened He took immediate action, restoring their dignity and confidence Not o n l y d i d h e e n s u r e t h e y stayed at the temple, but he a l s o c o n f r o n t e d t h o s e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e m i st r e a t m e n t , c o m p e l l i n g them to apologise and allow t h e y o u n g S a d h u s b a c k inside

Pujya Pramukh Swamiji

M a h a r a j m e n t i o n e d t h i s incident during his address in 2007, recalling it with h e a r t f e l t g r a t i t u d e O v e r the years, whether in the U K , I n d i a o r A m e r i c a , whenever I was fortunate e n o u g h t o m e e t h i m , h e never failed to recount his experience in Bhadran and

m y f a t h e r ’ s u n w a v e r i n g support during that chal-

l e n g i n g t i m e T h e r e i s a

v a l u a b l e l e s s o n h e r e : n o matter how high you climb i n l i f e , a l w a y s r e m e m b e r your roots, the challenges you faced and most import a n t l y , t h e p e o p l e w h o

Jainism, as ancient as

moniously with it, with no

and Jainetar’s (non-Jains)

There are numerous inspiring examples of this unity

This is what makes Sanatan D

Buddhism) so remarkable

These religions, all originat-

a , share a history of peaceful coexistence The belief in one God with many names, along with a deep respect for all religions, non-violence, service to all living things, forms a core principle One of the common f

c faiths is the recitation of the Shanti Path (Peace Prayer) The below universal prayer, c

and goodwill for all beings In our tradition, we not only revere the divine but a

Today, when the world disc

mate and nature, it aligns c

principles that have been cherished for thousands of years

Shanti Path Mantra

May peace radiate there in the whole sky as well as in the vast ethereal space everywhere

May peace reign all over this earth, in water and in all herbs, trees and creepers

May peace flow over the whole universe

May peace be in the Supreme Being Brahman. And may there always exist in all peace and peace alone

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti to us and all beings!

CB Patel

Manibhai Motibhai Patel

Sadhu Shri Pujya Babubhai Patel

In 1979, H H Pujya Pramukhswami visits Gujarat Samachar offices in Chiswick to give his blessings

CB Patel blessed by HH Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj

Prime Minister hosts faith leaders for breakfast roundtable

Diwali Basket Brigade supports 5,000 families in record drive

The gathering provided an opportunity for the leaders to discuss the importance of fostering relation-

mitment to a government of service, one that is dedicated to meeting the needs of all communities, irrespective of their faith or background

He emphasised that the concept of service drives his g o v e r n m e n t

s a p p r o a c h , asking, “Are we serving all of our communities? Are we

s e r v i n g t h e c o m m u n i t i e s and congregations that you

r e p r e s e n t ? “ T h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r r e f l e c

t h communities played during t h e u n p r e c e d e n t e d c h a ll e n g e s o f t h e C O V I D - 1 9 p a n d e m i c H e n o t e d t h a t t h e c r i s i s h i g h l i g h t e d t h e crucial support faith provides to individuals, particularly in times of uncertainty

“ I t s h o w e d t h a t f a i t h

anchors people,” he said “ W e s u d d e n l y e n t e r e d this complete unknown – a pandemic that none of us had really even imagined Life suddenly changed And in that moment, so many people across the country reached for their faith”, he added The discussion also c e n t r e d o n t h e t i r e l e s s e f f o

i

tives to supporting education and helping individuals navigate the most difficult times

T h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r expressed his gratitude for their unwavering commitment to serving communities, especially during times of crisis “Faith groups play an essential role in shaping

contributions go far beyond what we often see in the headlines ” Looking ahead, the Prime Minister invited faith leaders to partner with the government in creating positive change He expressed a strong desire to learn from their experiences and work collaboratively to improve the lives of millions of people across the UK “I am asking you to work with us, and for u s t o w o r k

u , t o improve the lives of millions of people across the country,” he said “Together, we can learn from one another and make lasting, meaningful change ”

committing to ongoing dialogue, expressing a strong w

these conversations in the months and years to come The meeting demonstrated the government's intention to strengthen ties with faith

their vital role in promoting social cohesion, charity, and

across the nation

UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific on first India tour

West

s i t t o D e l h i i n c l u d e c l i m a t e c h a n g e , technology, health, educat i o n , a n d d e v e l o p m e n t West is scheduled to meet

w i t h o f f i c i a l s f r o m t h e Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and particip a t e i n a n e d u c a t i o n r o u n d t a b l e a t t h e B r i t i s h Council "I am delighted to visit India for the first time as M i n i s t e r f o r t h e I n d oPacific," West said "As one o f t h e f a s t e s t -

India is a vital partner My visit reaffirms the UK’s comm i t m e n t t o d e e p e n i n g cooperation with India and driving greater growth and p r o s p e r i t y f o r b o t h o u r nations "

The FCDO added that her discussions will aim to unlock the full potential of t h e I n d i a - U K p a r t n e

continuing efforts to drive

UK Foreign Secretary David

A mid the cost-of-living cris i s, th e Di w al i B as ke t Bri g ad e ( DBB ) mar ked its seventh year with its largest c h ar it y d ri v e, d e li v er i ng 5,0 00 food hamp ers to famil ie s a cr o ss B ir m i ng h a m ,

L o n d o n, M an ch e s ter , an d

L e ic es te r T h i s v o l u nte erled i nitiati ve uni ted co mmu nities to tackle foo d insecurity and celebrate Diw ali's spirit of giv ing

T h e D i w a l i B a s k e t Brigade, run by The Diwali F o u n d a t i o n ( c h a r i t y n o

1190061), has supported vuln e r a b l e h o u s e h o l d s s i n c e 2018, providing over 14,000 hampers to feed 57,000 people This year, the charity delivered 5,000 hampers, up from 4,000 in 2023, working with 40+ food banks and charities to help those in need during Diwali

T h i s y e a r ’ s p a c k i n g e v e n t s o n O c t o b e

2 6

n B i r m i n g h

Manchester and Leicester, brought together volunteers f r o m a l l b a c k g r o u n d s t o spread light and support to those in need “ O u r g o a l h a s a l w a y s been to do more each year, ” s a y s D e e p a k P a r e k h ,

founder of the Diwali Basket Brigade “In 2024, we aimed higher than ever, and with the support of our volunteers and donors, I’m confident we made a real difference Diwali is about more than just celebration - it’s about community, kindness, and sharing hope with those who need it most No one should have to go hungry, and through this initiative, w e ’ r e s h o w i n g t h a t w e ’ r e stronger together ” T h e D i w a l i B a s k e t Brigade saw its most successful year in 2024, thanks t o c o m m u n i t y s u p p o r t across the UK The charity invites everyone to join the effort in 2025 by volunteering, donating, or spreading the word Every contribution helps fight food insecurity and bring hope to those in need

West will also emphasise the UK’s ongoing commitment to negotiating a Free

Bilateral Investment Treaty with India, according to the F

roundtable, West will high-

between the UK and India,

Keir Starmer with religious leaders at 10 Downing Street

Keir Starmer interacting with religious leaders at the meeting

DBB Manchester, Rt Hon Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister and MP for Ashton-Under-Lyne visiting our Manchester event to pack hampers alongside DBB Manchester Event Lead Deepa Parekh

DBB Birmingham, Founder Deepak Parekh (centre) with Jean Templeton Chief Executive Officer of recipient charity St Basils and further members of the board, sitting amongst filled hampers to be distributed out

Catherine

Kingston Diwali Utsav 2024: An evening of traditions and illuminations

Namaste Kingst on hosted it s

D iw a l i Ut s a v 20 24 a t Th e

Ki n g st o n A ca d e m

Oct ob er 19th, attr act in

bers

The Mayor of Kingston praised the event’s role in f o s t e r i n g c o m m u n i t y u n i t y a n d c e l e

diversity Sir Ed Davey and Sarah Olney acknowledged

Mayor of Kingston

comed dignitaries and shared the story behind

tion established in 2023 to promote cultural diversity, support local businesses, and nurture artistic talent

The festivities began with dignitaries lighting diyas, followed by performances such

a s K a t h a k d a n c e , T a b l a , Carnatic vocals, and a group dance by Teen Taal Kathak Institute Bollywood dances and Diwali-themed activities for children added to the celebration Over 40 small businesses displayed their products, complemented by stalls offering Indian cuisine and art

Glimpse of traditional Indian performance that took place

the South Asian community's c

ough Namaste Kingston also launched the Kingston 2025

C

borough through residents’ perspectives Anshul Gupta l

‘Seva’ in building community spirit

h

Diwali Utsav 2024 was a successful celebration of unity and cultural appreciation

Diwali festivities shine at Global Co-operation House, London

Over 400 peop le gath ered at Global Co -op eratio n H ouse

i n Londo n on 10 No vember to celebrate Di wali Si ster

J a y mi n i, d i re c to r o f B K P u b li c at i o ns , h i gh l i gh t ed t h e f es t i va l' s s i gn i fi c a nc e , saying, “Diwali is a time for r en e wa l, a wak e ni n g do rmant virtues, and connecti ng with th e Di vine ” She added, “Virtues like compassion, simplicity, and purity form the foundation of both material and spiritu-

a l a b u n d a n c e ” S i s t e r Jaymini also led a guided m e d i t a t i o n , e n c o u r a g i n g

participants to “detox mentally and spiritually, embracing the light within ” A candle-lighting cerem o n y l e d b y S i s t e r D i p t i o f f e r e d m e s s a g e s o f h o p e and blessings BK Mahesh Patel, trustee of the Brahma K

C

Muhammed Butt, spoke on t h e p o w e r o f c o n n e c t i o n and shared joy The event e n d e d w i t h a c e l e b r a t o r y dance symbolising the light and joy of Diwali

U P C O M I N G E V E N T S

Delhi-based tabla artist Manmohan Dogra, with 20+ years of experience, will present ‘Rhythms of Tradition: A Tabla Journey’ at The Nehru Centre, London, on 22 November 2024 at 6:30 pm.

Maharashtra Mandal London honours visionary leaders

S

Goenka, MD & CEO of ZEE

by M

London, a 92-year-old registered charity S hri Pawar was

B

Pawar has significantly

T e c h n o l o g i c a l U n i v e r s i t y , advancing technical educat i o n a n d i n n o v a t i o n H i s

c o m m i t m e n t e x t e n d s t o social development through initiatives like Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan

reco gnised for his contributi ons to m ed ia, ed ucatio n, and so

nt, while Mr Goenka was celebrated fo r his leadership in the M ed ia & Entertainment Indu stry

Accepting the award on behalf of Mr Goenka, Parul Goel conveyed his gratitude, w

M

G

, "This recognition is a testament to my team's efforts that continue to bring pride to ZEE " H o s t

M P J o y Morrissey, the Global Pride of Maharashtra Award celebrates visionary leaders like S

Group Under his leadership, Sakal has become a trusted and influential media organi

journalism

Samiti, promoting scientific t h i n k i n g a n d s o c i e t a l progress

S h r i P r a t a p r a o P a w a r ,

C h a i r m a n o f S a k a l M e d i a Group, was honoured with a n H o n o r a r y L i f e Membership of Maharashtra Mandal London and invited to guide its global platform for entrepreneurs and prof e s s i o n a l s A c c e p t i n g t h e ‘Global Pride of Maharashtra

A w a r d ’ , S h r i P a w a r expressed gratitude, dedicating the honour to his team’s c o m m i t m e n t t o i n t e g r i t y and service

V r u s h a l K h a n d k e , P r e s i d e n t o f M a h a r a s h t r a

Mandal London, praised Shri Pawar’s transformative contributions to media, educat i o n , a n d s o c i a l d e v e l o pment, highlighting his role in s h o w c a s i n g M a h a r a s h t r a ’ s legacy on the global stage

Recipe from Chef Sanjeev Kapoor's 'khazana' to fight hunger in children in the UK

C el eb ri ty C h e f S an j eev

K ap o o r v i si te d A k sh aya

P atr a' s L o nd o n ch a ri ty kitchen, part of a 24 -year-old

In d i an -o r ig in o rg ani s at io n feeding 2 25 millio n children daily in sch ools acro ss India and the U K

Akshaya Patra's first UK k i t c h e n , o p e n e d i n N o r t h London in 2020, has served over 700,000 meals to child r e n i n n e e d D u r i n g h i s visit, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor collaborated with the charit y ' s c h e f s , s h a r i n

and tips for creating nutritious, cost-effective, and flavorful meals that cater to Britain's diverse palates

C h e f a n d F o o d Ambassador Sanjeev Kapoor called his visit to Akshaya

P

moment “This Indian-origin charity feeds millions of children to support education, and here in the UK, where food poverty is staggering, their efforts are truly commendable,” he said He p r a i

U K t e a m f o r developing a unique model tailored to local needs, creating a meaningful impact Daniel Adams, CEO of A k s h a y

U K , s a i d : "Akshaya Patra has a long history of delivering transformative school meals programmes It is a sad reality for a country such as the UK, that a charity like Akshaya Patra needs to get involved

nutritional needs and help them make the most of their education We provide meals i n a f t e r - s c h

schools as part of our Hot Meals and Homework clubs "

of

dishes full of nutrition and Chef Sanjeev Kapoor's visit, his wisdom in cooking will be very beneficial for us to cater to the diverse British palate " Sanjeev Kapoor prepared a v i b

fresh sauce, seasonal vegetables, and a crunchy salad, showcasing how nutritious food can be both affordable

d Akshaya Patra for using daily meals to attract disadvan-

l s , calling it a unique way to harness the power of food for education

Bapashree

devotees gather for satsang assemblies, participating in meditation, bhajans, and kir-

and fellow faith leaders The support of the council and the Woolwich community makes their journey even

meaningful

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Kumkum

occasion of 180th Pragatya Jayanti of Jeevanpran Bapashree

Dignitaries and community members at the event

L to R: Vaibhav Khandge Uday Dholakia Prataprao Pawar Vasant Ranade Parul Goel Sushil Gaikwad and Vrushal Khandke

Sanjeev Kapoor

Guests pose together at the event

J

House of Lords meeting explores new approaches to the Kashmir conflict through Dr Aman Hingorani's latest book

L ord L oomba CBE hosted a thoug ht-p rovoking ga the ring at the Ho use of Lo rds

o n 12 Nove mbe r t o d iscuss a new bo ok by Dr Aman H ingora ni , wh ich of fe rs an i nnov ati ve lega l a pproa ch

t o r e s ol v i ng t h e l on gsta nd ing K ashmir confl ict

audience, including Lord

M

First Minister of Scotland and Chair of the All-Party

G

P

the UN Global Goals The

a t t e n d e e s e n g

g e d i n a lively and insightful ques-

t i o n - a n d - a n s w e r s e s s i o n following Dr Hingorani's introduction to his book

“ K a s h m i r i s o n e o f those issues whose resolution is severely hampered by the fog of war, ” Lord L o o m b a s t a t e d “ T h e longer the conflicts have dragged on, the harder it is to see the issues involved with clarity What we do know is that if we don’t find a way of resolving it, it will continue undermining international stability ” Dr Aman Hingorani, a Senior Advocate at India’s

S

revised book, Unravelling t h e K a s h m i

lished by Macmillan The book explores the potential for India to seek a ruling from the International C

Hingorani believes could open new pathways for a peaceful resolution With his deep academic and practical expertise on the issue, Dr Hingorani shared insights from his

continues in this revised work

The discussion that followed featured questions from an engaged audience Lord McConnell and other P

tributed to a robust dialogue, examining both the internal and international dimensions of the Kashmir conflict and the potential impact of Dr Hingorani’s proposals

Dr Hingorani’s sisters, Priya Hingorani, a Senior Advocate at the Supreme C o u r t o f I

D

Shweta Hingorani, a seasoned mediator and corporate lawyer, were also in attendance, underscoring the importance of the family’s commitment to justice and legal expertise in India

Lord Loomba reiterat-

issue with fresh perspec-

o bring clarity and a possible legal pathway to a problem that has impacted millions

Tooting Broadway hosts vibrant Diwali and Sardar Patel tribute

T oo ti n g B ro

Sa maj Hall hosted a me morab le ev ent on Nove mbe r 1 0th, a night that se amle ssly blen de d re v

cultural pride The ev ent wa s j oi n tl y or g a n i se d b y Va s o Nag rik Manda l and Karamsa d Sa maj

The evening commenced with a solemn tribute to the late Mr Pravinbhai Amin, a respected figure in the community A moment of silence was observed to honour his memory

The sombre mood soon transitioned into a celebration of Diwali, the festival of lights The event was further elevated by commemorating the 150th

b

Man of India

and dances that showcased the rich cultural heritage of India

The audience was enthralled

b y t h e c

energetic performances Live m u s i c

atmosphere, creating

truly immersive experience

more outreach events to f o s t e r c o n

e d i alogue with the local community

The event was attended by local city councillors, the city's Labour MP Andrew P a k e s a n d t h e m a y o r , Marco

Cereste Mr Pakes attended to learn about the mosque's community work, praising faith communities as the lifeblood of Peterborough

H e h i g h l i g h t e d t h e Khadijah Mosque’s charitable efforts through Icare, which supports the com-

British Indian Jewish Association celebrates unity at winter reception

Ov

Associa

Wing of

on Mon day , 18 Nove mbe r

The event featured dist

Deputy Mayor for Business in London

The gathering brought together professionals and c

both the Indian and Jewish communities

Chadha said, “Tonight celebrates the strong friendship

Jewish communities, united

and pride in both our identities and our Britishness

Jewish community since the October 7th attacks, highlighting a significant rise in

expressed gratitude for the s

Indian and other communities, emphasizing that true friendship is tested in tough times

Committee member Amrit S Maan OBE JP said, “We were

delighted to host this event, a n d t h

m o s p h e r e o f friendship and warmth in the room was palpable We will continue to build the bonds of understanding and goodwill between our two communities ” Guests were updated on recent BIJA events, including a reception with Josh Glancy and Manveen Rana, community awards for CB Patel and J u s t

n C o h e n , a n d a roundtable with the High Commissioner of India BIJA also hosted a successful RAF Museum event on the Indian a n d J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s ’ contributions to the air force and raised over £120,000 for Covid relief efforts in India t h r o u g h t h e B a g e l s a n d Samosas webinars

The event was graced by

Mr CB Patel, Mr Ajitbhai Desai, Mr Pradipbhai Amin, M

Mr Naineshbhai Patel and M

Mrs Janakben Amin and her s

were also present to grace the occasion

T h e o r g a n

n g t e a m deserves immense credit for curating such a successful and memorable event Their hard work and dedication ensured a seamless experience for all attendees

munity with its food bank, youth work, and activities

Founded in 1986 in a small house, the mosque on Cromwell Road has grown a n d i s p a r t o f t h e U K I s l a m i c M i s s i o n F a i s a l Mahmood from the comm i t t e e s a i d t h e m o s q u e aims to serve as a place of w o r s h i p a n d c o m m u n i t y development, offering education, charity, sports, and social activities The event focused on fostering community cohesion and building stronger connections

Lord Loomba CBE

BIJA Co-Chairs Zaki Cooper and Dr Peter Chadha with Board of Deputies delegation

Rajesh Agrawal speaking at the event

Greetings for the month of celebration

Our heartfelt divine, spiritual, and holy wishes to all the esteemed readers of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, England as the month marks the celebration of various festivals November also marks Hindu Heritage Month in Ontario, Canada

Dev Deepawali, also known as the "Diwali of the Gods," occurs 15 days after the regular Diwali celebrations It takes place on the full moon night of Kartik Purnima, which falls in the Hindu month of Kartik Dev Diwali celebrates the victory of Lord Shiva over the demon Tripurasur It is a day of spiritual significance and divine triumph According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that on this sacred day, all the gods and goddesses descended to Earth and gathered in the holy city of Varanasi to honour Lord Shiva’s victory Guru Nanak Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru, Nanak Dev Ji, will be celebrated on November 15, 2024 This marks his 555th birth anniversary On this auspicious day, we offer our prayers from the bottom of our hearts to all readers of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar and their staff for a healthy, happy, and peaceful life ahead

Bill 56 from Parliament Session 2 of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the Hindu Heritage Month Act, 2016, established November 1 as Canada's first Hindu Heritage Month This day is a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the many outstanding contributions that Canadians of Hindu heritage continue to make in building a strong and prosperous country

C a n a d a i s p r o u d t o b e h o m e t o n e a r l y 8 3 0 , 0 0 0

Canadians of Hindu heritage, and no matter where they are in the country, the positive impact of this community can be seen in all aspects of society From politics to art, business to medicine, and everything in between, Canadians of Hindu heritage are at the forefront of continued growth and development in Canada S uresh and Bhavna Patel

Ragging menace

Even though we have banned ragging, some senior students still enjoy ragging the junior student of their colleges The same cycle continues every year Some senior students harass their juniors in the name of personality development

Despite the best of governmental efforts, the menace of ragging refuses to die down in our country Though most of the states have anti-ragging laws, the lack of uniformity in the laws in different states is disturbing The incidents of ragging that are now reported are obviously only the tip of the iceberg Most ragging incidents are swept under the carpet by colleges to preserve their “reputation and honour ” More often than not, the students are advised to compromise with their tormentors Also, some students do not come forward to complain out of fear and are unwilling to put their future at stake

Unfortunately, the dangerous evil of ragging, which was largely confined to medical and engineering colleges, has crept into other professional colleges as well Recent incidents of ragging reported from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Haryana, Assam and Uttar Pradesh have proved that ragging is here to stay

D'C ru z

This week’s Asian Voice

I noticed that this week’s issue (9th November) is only a few pages long There are no letters, no Kapil’s Khichadi, and no healthy lifestyle articles Instead, the issue seems to be filled mainly with self-congratulations and personal photos You should reinstate the usual content, including the regular articles, otherwise the paper becomes boring

Protect delivery riders

The exclusion of delivery riders from protections against assault in the Crime and Policing Bill is deeply disappointing In a world where we rely heavily on delivery services, it’s alarming that those who keep our daily lives running smoothly are left vulnerable to abuse and harm Defaming, rude behaviour, and physical assaults against delivery riders are entirely unacceptable These individuals are human beings, working hard to support themselves and their families, often in challenging conditions

The surge in verbal abuse, racism, sexism and thefts faced by riders, underscores the urgent need for stronger protections Such mistreatment is not only a moral failure but also undermines the respect and dignity that every worker deserves Whether delivering meals or enforcing rules like checking IDs for alcohol, riders are simply doing their jobs to ensure safety and convenience for the rest of us It’s time the government acknowledges the critical role these workers play in our economy and community by extending legal safeguards to them

Rajan

New

A new eye screening initiative has been introduced to help prevent blindness in people with diabetes Diabetesrelated conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy, can lead to blindness if not detected early, and this scheme allows for regular screenings outside of traditional hospital settings Diabetes is an increasingly prevalent issue today, and when coupled with deteriorating eyesight, it becomes a significant obstacle, in addition to other health challenges I believe this initiative will be highly beneficial for those with diabetes

The use of advanced 3D OCT scans to provide more accurate results will ensure that diabetic eye conditions are caught early, minimising the risk of sight loss It’s a remarkable example of how technology can be harnessed to improve patient outcomes and make healthcare more efficient

This initiative addresses a critical need by making screenings more accessible, and I hope it continues to grow, benefiting even more people in the future By focusing on early detection and prevention, it offers a significant opportunity to improve the quality of life for those living with diabetes and reduce the strain on healthcare services

Vanshika Ag rawal

Visa salary threshold rise to cost Britain £25bn

Ex perts warn that r ais ing th e s a la r y t h r e s h o l d f or ski lled worke rs to qua lify for a UK vis a could cos t the nati on £25 b illion ove r the nex t decade

The Oxford Migration Observatory's analysis predicts a £32 5 billion cost from increasing the thresho l d f r o m £ 2 6 , 2 0 0 t o £38,700 in April 2024, with only £7 billion in benefits, resulting in a net deficit of £25 5 billion Dr Madeleine Sumption, Director of the O b s e r v a t o r y , e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e e f f e c t s d e p e n d largely on how employers react If they reduce hiring, particularly of high-earni n g w o r k e r s w h o c o ntribute the most in taxes, public finances could suffer

However, if employers maintain their recruitment and pay higher salaries, it c o u l d b e n e f i t p u b l i c finances in the short term

The report also looked at restricting visas for international students' dependants, estimating a small net cost of £0 55 billion, with £22 6 billion in costs and £22 billion in benefits In contrast, limiting visas for care workers’ dependants shows a positive fiscal benefit of £29 8 billion, though it could exacerbate s t a f f s h o r t a g e s i n c a r e homes

Despite these concerns, the government supports t h e s a l a r y t h r e s h o l d i n c r e a s e , w i t h H o m e S e c r e t a r y Y v e t t e C o o p

requesting a review of sectors like IT and engineering that heavily depend on international recruitment A Home Office spokesperson stressed the need to reduce net migration, tackl e d o m e s t i c s k i l l s s h o r tages, and focus on building a homegrown workforce to boost economic growth

UK unhealthy food habits cost £268bn annually

The UK's rising ad dicti on to unhe alth y f ood costs a n

accor ding to new re se arch

This figure reflects the devastating impact of poor

, salt, and processed foods on both public health and

8 billion cost is broken down

include £92 billion spent

healthcare, social care, and w

d d r e s s i n g d i seases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and kidney failure Indirect costs total £176 billion, resulting from lost productivity due to illness and the human costs o f p a i n a n d p r e m a t u r e death

Professor Tim Jackson, who conducted the study, described the £268 billion estimate as “conservative,” and warned that the curr e n t f o

d s y s t e m , i n

K A P I L’S K H I C H A D I Culture of Dishonesty and Abuse?

M uch h as happened over the past year, the past few d ecades, and beyo nd One canno t attempt to ad dress all the outstanding exam ples o f dishonesty and abuse th at seem to hav e become part of everyday culture for th e elite in British society

However, let’s look at a few recent examples

The Church, thriving on its royal patronage has delivered us wholesale abuse from sex trafficking, child abuse, slavery, money enterprises, robbing of global assets, ethnocide of indigenous cultures, to name but the tip of a massive iceberg For such exemplary devotion to breaking the Ten Commandments, twenty-six bishops sit in our House of Lords as the so called ‘conscience’ of the nation and bring about legislation and governance for the masses Not so long-agoElizabethan England had four main classes: the Nobility, the Gentry, the Yeomanry, and the Poor And each of these also had subcategories This my friends are the origin of the caste enterprise of the British Raj on India And the Indian fools fell for it hook, line and sinker The arbiter of the nation’s moral compass, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, was forced to resign last week onhis role following a damning report into a prolific child abuser associated with the Church of England

Of course,the so called ‘educated elite’ also pack our centres of power and decision making From Government to many of our leading institutions Yes, I refer to Universities like Oxford, Cambridge, the LSE and so on These institutions are the breeding grounds of a social enterprise, creating an elite class that thinks in a particular way In the early days it was for Queen and country However, since the turn of the last century they have shifted gradually to be pollutedwith the socialist gene During the two world wars we saw double agents who were directly or indirectly linked to such institutions Over the past few decades, many have gone woke mad Some can’t even tell the difference between a man or a woman, and they lecture us on gender equality Others can’t tell the difference between a victim of terrorism and a terrorist

A case in question, only last week we witnessed the fiasco at Oxford University The Oxford Union set up one of its debates titled, ‘This House believes in the independent state of Kashmir’ This is not the first time a university like Oxford has allowed its premises to be used to promote extremists This time Oxford Union had invited well known extremists (some might even call them terrorist sympathisers) like Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur and Zafar Khan Think about it, Oxford Union gave platform to those with links to the banned terrorist organisation Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) This is the same terrorist outfit that has been responsible for countless deaths, ethnic cleansing and the genocide of Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir

It is a matter of international law, and the decree of Her Majesty’s Government that the whole of Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India and therefore was, is, and will always remain integral to India However, these bastions of corrupt and warped educational thinking encourage the appeasers of murderers and terrorism to spew their hate and venom on British soil It seems some hate speeches are acceptable to the establishment

Given such depravity in these elite circles, was it any wonder that Diwali at Number 10, an event hosted by none other than the Prime Minister, also turned into a fiasco when they ended up serving meat It took Number 10 and PM Starmer a long time before they came out with a pathetic apology They have still not answered the basic questions of who was in charge, who did they consult, who was invited and the basis on which past well-established protocols were discarded?

Dr Dolly van Tulleken, an obesity expert, criticised the government for failing to regulate the food industry over the past 30 years, leading to a system where t h e c o s t s o f p o o r f o o d c h o i c e s a r e p a s s e d o n t o society The Food, Farming a n d C o u n t r y s i d e Commission (FFCC) calls f o r u r g e n t r e g u l a t o r y action and support for lowincome families to access healthier food options

ue n c e d b y p o w e r f u l f o o d corporations, is leading to w i d e s p r e a d s i c k n e s s H e e m p h a s i s e d t h a t r o b u s t regulation is necessary to curb the damage caused by u n h e a l t h y f o o d T h e research also shows that to a d o p t t h e g o v e r n m e n t ' s r e c o m m e n d e d h e a l t h y d i e t , h o u s e h o l d s w o u l d need to spend an extra £38 a week, totalling £57 billion annually This would be a significant burden on lowi n c o m e f a m i l i e s a l r e a d y struggling with food insecurity

The culture of dishonesty and abuse always stems from the top We have seen how they protect their own, be they politicians, royalty, clergy or their funders In the past such wholesale abuse was for their self-gratification, and ironically for country Today self-gratification is still their priority, but instead of nation, it seems the promotion of an ideology that promotes socialism, wokeness, and the appeasement of extremists and terrorists seems to be the priority This is social engineering that has gone mad

So today we are left with nobilitythat has sold out to protect their own interests, the gentry follows suit since their enterprise depends on the benevolence of nobility, the yeomanry are the foot soldiers who are paid to maintain that distance between the elite and the poor And the poor, they remain exactly where they have always been, beneath the boots that tramplethem daily The culture of dishonesty and abuse that was the bedrock of the British Raj, has today become the very source of it very own downfall Karma works in mysterious ways, I guess

Kapil Dudakia

Jubel

Husband and wife donate stem cells to save lives, urge more Asian donors to register

Anusha Singh

A married co uple has donated life-saving stem cells, an event being called

u po n fo r which has odds o f

1 in 4, 000, 000, giving two cancer p atients a ch ance at a cu re

Nirav and Kanan

Chokshi each registered independently with the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry, where the odds of being selected as a match

register as well

Kanan: Then, in March of this year, I got the call saying they’d found a match for me I knew the procedure well since Nirav had already gone through it, so while I was a little scared, I wasn’t too worried In March, I completed my donation, and everything went smoothly I’m feeling great now

for a patient in need of a stem cell transplant are 1 in 2,000 In an incredibly rare twist, both husband and wife were asked to donate, each providing stem cells to adults battling acute leukaemia

Nirav signed up as a stem cell donor in 2016 and made his donation in 2018

Inspired by his experience, Kanan registered in 2024 and also donated The couple, who reside in Hounslow, London, and were both born in India, are now urging other people of Asian heritage to join the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry This call comes in response to the urgent need for more donors from these communities

In an interview with Asian Voice, the couple shares their journey and sheds light on the common misconceptions surrounding the donation process

H ow did th e overall experience feel from start to finish ?

Nirav: I was the first to be called in I’m a blood donor in the UK, and during an appointment in 2016, they asked if I’d like to be added to the stem cell donor registry They needed an extra sample of my blood, and I agreed without really knowing what it involved

It wasn’t until 2018, when I got a call saying I was a potential match, that I started to understand how rare it is to find a match and began learning more about the donation process

Knowing what it involved, I didn’t think twice I agreed immediately Everything went smoothly, and I made the donation in 2018 Afterward, I encouraged Kanan to

did full body checks and thorough exams, and the doctors explained everything clearly So yes, I felt well-prepared and fine afterward

As you encourage the South As ian c ommunity to regis ter as s tem cell donors, how are you s preadi ng the word?

Ni ra v: My wife and I both started by sharing a message on our Facebook accounts It gained a lot of attention, and then the blood and transplant team encouraged us to take it further by speaking to the media We were more than willing because we understand just how rare it is to find a match about one in 2,000 for an individual, and one in 4 million for a couple

Knowing how difficult it is for people, especially in the Asian and minority communities in the UK, to

Ho w did yo u prepare p hysically and emoti onally fo r the donation? Did you experience any p redonati on jitters, and ho w did yo u manage them?

Nirav: I would say I didn’t listen to the misconceptions and fears around stem cell donation There’s definitely a sense of fear and misunderstanding, especially among South Asians and Indians, because people often think the procedure is very intense Traditionally, donating stem cells or bone marrow involved an injection into the spine or hip bone, and patients would be put under full anaesthesia That method could have side effects, sometimes leaving people with back pain for the rest of their lives

But once I understood the process for the method Kanan and I used, called Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) donation which is done entirely through blood I felt more at ease I did hear concerns from friends, but I mostly listened to the experts who explained the entire process, and I trusted them

Kanan: For me, Nirav’s experience was a huge reassurance He’d done it already and was completely fine I was a little anxious, as I mentioned, but Nirav encouraged me They also

Rishi Sunak returns to Commons as backbencher

find a match made us realise how important it is to raise awareness Many people from these communities are underrepresented in donor registries So, even if you don’t get called, simply being on the register can make a difference by increasing the chances for those suffering from leukaemia and blood cancers to find a match

What mess age would you lik e to share with readers from the South A sian c om munity who may feel hesi tant or fearful about be coming a don or?

Ni ra v: My message is that the process isn’t as intimidating as it sounds It’s straightforward, with virtually no side effects

Both my wife, Kanan, and I felt back to normal within 12 hours after donating I would encourage everyone to set aside any fear and get registered We’re happy to speak with anyone who has questions or concerns, and we want to assure people that you don’t even need to be a blood donor to join the stem cell registry Registering is simple, just express interest on the website, and they’ll send you a kit to provide a small sample, usually with a saliva swab Then, you ’ re on the registry

Rishi Sunak has resu med h is role as a backbench MP , representing th

No

Yorksh ire

rural

Commons session Sunak officially stepped down as Conservative Party leader on July 5 Despite resign-

during the extended Tory leadership race, which concluded earlier this month with Kemi Badenoch elected as the new leader

Throughout the election

C o n s e r v a t

c o n s i s t e n

y trailed in the polls, Sunak had vowed to remain an MP i f t h e p a r t y l o s t D u r i n g L

Reeves' Budget announcement in October, she alluded to speculation that he might relocate to the United

duty (APD) for private jet users Referring to a hypothetical flight, she quipped, “That is equivalent to £450 per passenger for

MPs, drawing laughter in the chamber

Alongside Rishi Sunak, Sir Oliver Dowden, his former deputy prime minister, also returned to the backbenches on Thursday Both figures now play key roles in shaping the future of the

recent defeat and rebuild its political standing

Landlords hurry to evict tenants before ban

C a m p ai g n ers h a v e ra is ed concerns th at land lo rds are ru s h i ng to ev i c t ten an ts before L abour’s planned ban on no-fault ev ictions takes effect

Labour leaders, including Angela Rayner and Sir Keir Starmer, have promised to outlaw Section 21 evictions, with the ban expected b y n e x t s u m m e r R e c e n t data from the Ministry of J u s t i c e s h o w s a s u r g e i n evictions, with 8,425 househ o l d s i n E n g l a n d s e r v e d Section 21 notices between J u l y a n d S e p t e m b e r a n e i g h t - y e a r h i g h T h i s marked a 23% increase in b a i l i f f - l e d e v i c t i o n s c o m -

pared to the previous year

Housing charities have u r g e d t h e g o v e r n m e n t t o speed up the Renters’ Rights

B i l l , a s n e a r l y 1 1 0 , 0 0 0 households have been evicted under Section 21 since Theresa May’s 2019 promise t o e n d i t T h e R e n t e r s ' R e f o r m C o a l i t i o n ( R R C ) criticised the ongoing evictions, especially with winter a p p r o a c h i n g , n o t i n g t h a t no-fault evictions cause sign i f i c a n t d i s r u p t i o n a n d financial strain, potentially leading to homelessness

The Renters’ Rights Bill, w h i c h p a s s e d i t s s e c o n d reading in October, aims to end Section 21 evictions and

s t r e n g t h e n t

tions It includes measures s u c h a s l i m i t i n g r e n t increases to once a year at market rates and providing t e n a n t s w i t h o n e y e a r o f protection at the start of t h e i

k e selling the property or landl o

notice periods for evictions and the establishment of a new ombudsman service for quicker dispute resolution

landlords and support tenants' right to keep pets

British Bangladeshi men face highest lung cancer rates

A new study h as rev ealed th a t B ri ti s h B ang lad es h i men have the high est rates of lung cancer in England, hig hlighting significant disparities in h ow th e disease imp acts d ifferent com munities

The research, conducted by the University of Oxford, analysed the health records of 17 5 million people and 84,000 lung cancer cases It f o u n d t h a t e t h n i c b a c kg r o u n d a n d s o c i a l f a c t o r s are key contributors to cancer risk, development, and type The study also coincides with the nationwide rollout of a targeted lung h e a l t h c h e c k p r o g r a m i n

E n g l a n d , a i m i

40% of the eligible popula-

100% by 2030

According to the findings, lung cancer rates were twice as high in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived Among men, the incidence in the poorest areas was 215 cases per 100,000 people, comp a r e d t o 9 4 c a s e s i n t h e w e a l t h i e s t a r e a s F o r women, the rates were 147 cases in deprived areas and 62 in affluent areas Bangladeshi men were found to have the highest lung cancer rates, followed b y w h i t e , C h i n e s e , a n d Caribbean men The study

a l s o h i g h l i g h t e d t h a t w o m e n a n d p e o p l e f r o m

I n d i a n , C a r i b b e a n , B l a c k African, Chinese, and other

A s i a n b a c

y not only smoking but also genetic, social, and economic factors Dr Daniel TzuHsuan Chen, who led the study, emphasised that ethn

stances play a crucial role in cancer risk and progression The findings come amid the expansion of lung canc

l y

n high-risk, deprived communities Prof Julia HippisleyCox, a senior author of the study, stressed the importance of ensuring that cancer services effectively reach all communities to improve health outcomes

Kanan Chokshi

Nirav Chokshi

Rishi Sunak

Alarming increase in student homelessness

Addressing this crisis requires a collective effort from universities, landlords, and policymakers to ensure that international students are provided with the support and stability they need to thrive This issue also impacts students' academic performance and mental health

Under revised regulations, students planning to study in London must show £1,483 in monthly savings, up from £1,334 For those outside London, the monthly requirement rises to £1,136 from £1,023

The National Union of Students (NUS) surveyed over 1,100 international students, revealing that 29% have experienced homelessness while studying in the UK, more than twice the rate of home students

The survey also found that 70% of international students work alongside their studies, with three-fifths wanting the 20-hour work limit lifted to improve financial support and career opportunities

Two-thirds reported higher housing costs, with over a third struggling to pay rent or bills

The cost-of-living crisis is affecting 63% of students' income, and 51% have seen a significant impact on the income of their financial supporters

It also revealed significant challenges in the housing system for students and apprentices Over a quarter (26%) struggled to pay their rent in full, and more than a third (36%) found securing a guarantor stressful

The research also showed that 60% of student renters needed a guarantor, with 40% facing difficulties in securing one This issue was particularly prominent among international and low-income students, who often lack the financial support available to others

Students struggling wi th sc ams and fi nanc ial gaps

Sanam Arora, Founder and Chairperson of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU), identified several key factors contributing to the risk of homelessness among international students She said, “One major issue is the delay in securing accommodation, with many students waiting until their university offer is confirmed before starting their search This often leads to limited options, pushing students into desperation, where they may sign up for unsuitable accommodations or fall victim to scams Students should begin their housing search at least a month in advance to avoid these risks

“Another significant problem is students falling prey to scams Some students rent properties from private landlords they meet through

informal channels like WhatsApp, only to discover the accommodation doesn’t exist or is misrepresented These cases are becoming increasingly common due to a lack of due diligence Lastly, economic challenges also contribute to housing issues While students may show sufficient funds on paper to meet visa requirements, many struggle financially once in the UK Agents may promise job opportunities that don’t materialise, leaving students unable to afford rent and at risk of homelessness These issues are often exacerbated by poor planning and a misunderstanding of financial requirements, she added

Speaking about accommodation playing a role in maintaining mental health and academic success for students, Sanam said, “When you're facing any form of distress, it inevitably affects your well-being, state of mind, and academic performance For international students, housing is often the biggest concern upon arriving in a new country If students are struggling with accommodation issues, it can severely impact their studies and mental peace Beyond academics, securing stable housing is a top priority, and when that’s in jeopardy, it can take a significant toll on their overall well-being ”

Cost of li ving has inc reased over past four years

Founder & Chairman of SEVA Trust UK, Charan Se khon M BE stated, “International students in the UK are facing increasingly challenging times, highlighting a significant and growing problem The situation was dire during and immediately after Covid-19, and while the current government is taking steps to stabilise matters, many students continue to struggle The cost of living has risen sharply over the past four years, compounded by soaring rental prices ”

“A key challenge is the difficulty in securing part-time work a lifeline for many students who rely on these jobs to cover daily expenses PostCovid job losses have made finding such work even harder, exacerbating the financial strain on international students and leaving many in precarious situations,” he added

Speaking about policy level to protect international students, Charan said, “The policy for international students is clear: when applying for a visa, they must show sufficient funds to cover tuition, rent, and living expenses when applying for a visa However, the funds often shown for visa purposes may not be available long-term, underscoring the need for thorough financial planning

While many students rely on part-time jobs, the unpredictable job market makes having a backup plan essential Unfortunately, many students arrive without one, leaving them vulnerable Although safeguards are in place, universities must do more to support students facing unexpected challenges, like job losses or health issues

Expanding hardship funds and emergency support is crucial, especially given rising living costs Universities should prioritise financial distress cases, recognising the significant contributions international students make A collaborative effort from students, families, universities, and organisations is necessary to create a more supportive environment,” he added

A spokesperson from Evolve Housing + Support underscored the rising crisis of youth homelessness, “With an estimated 136,000 young people homeless in 2023 a number that charities fear could increase in 2024 Homelessness is particularly dangerous for young people, exposing them to risks of violence, exploitation, and lasting mental health challenges Many have been in care, experienced family breakdowns, or endured abuse, leaving them with nowhere to turn The situation is worsened by financial barriers Young people face lower wages and reduced Universal Credit allowances, making it harder to secure housing Many also report discrimination from landlords, further limiting their options for safe and stable accommodation ”

In ternational s tude nts are i ntegral part of our comm unity

Addressing the South Asian community in the UK about homelessness among international students, CEO of Khalsa Aid, Ravi Si ngh emphasised the need for fairness and compassion: “When international students come to

UK sees 20% drop in Indian student applications

UK universities are experiencing financial pressure as a sharp decline in internatio nal student num bers starts to impact their bu dgets

A report from the Office for Students (OfS) stated that applications from Indian students fell by 20 4% in the 2023-24 academic year compared to the previous year

It also highlighted a sharp decline in the number of Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) issued to Indian students, dropping from 139,914 to 111,329 This decline is concerning, as Indian students, who recently surpassed Chinese applicants, have become a key source of revenue for UK universities

A range of factors is discouraging Indian students from applying to UK universities which includes restrictions on bringing dependents, limited job prospects, and heightened safety concerns, especially in the wake of anti-immigration riots in certain cities Sanam Arora highlighted factors behind the 20%

the UK, they bring hopes for a brighter future, much like our parents and elders once did It’s crucial to treat them with respect and fairness

Unfortunately, while many are supportive, a significant number exploit these students through unfair work conditions or excessive rental practices These young individuals are not outsiders they are part of our community, and we must stop taking advantage of them

Landlords should offer fair rental terms, prioritising student well-being over profit

Exploitation leaves many struggling, with homelessness often resulting from inadequate preparation and lack of community support a shared responsibility that demands action Community initiatives, like tea mornings at Gurdwaras, provide safe spaces for students to connect, share experiences, and build support networks Such efforts foster friendships, encourage collaboration, and often help students find better housing solutions By working

decline in Indian students coming to the UK She said, “First, the Conservative government’s decision to restrict dependent visas has deterred many postgraduate students who would typically bring partners or children Second, the uncertainty surrounding the graduate route, or post-study work visa, fueled fears in India, compounded by years of policy changes ”

Despite these setbacks, Sanam praised the new Labour government for affirming the graduate route’s stability for the next five years, providing much-needed clarity However, she also emphasised the need for better communication in India to address misinformation and for UK universities to invest more in career services, as only 3% of international graduates find jobs through university support Indian students contribute significantly to the UK economy, with an estimated £20 billion annually, meaning the decline could result in a loss of billions for the UK

together, we can create a supportive and welcoming environment for these students ”

Saranya Tham biraj ah, NUS Vice President for Liberation and Equality, highlighted gaps in the Renters’ Rights Bill, “The bill is a strong start, but with further regulation, it could be significantly improved Current landlord practices, like requiring UK-based homeowners as guarantors or demanding rent upfront, are not addressed and disproportionately affect students from deprived backgrounds, care leavers, estranged students, and international students International students are often asked for up to 12 months’ rent in advance, leaving many in debt or temporarily homeless, with some forced to live in hostels These exploitative practices are predatory and discriminatory, and we urge the government to legislate against them as part of the RRB ”

(Refer to page 13)

Sanam Arora

Charan Sekhon MBE

Ravi Singh Saranya Thambirajah

Student leaders demand action as 29% of international students face homelessness

Shefali Saxena

On 23 rd October 20 24, student lead ers from across th e U K will g ather in Westminster for NUS ’ s National Lo bby Day for No Mo re Guarantors, calling for systemic chang es to improve international stu dents' living conditions

This action follows a shocking survey revealing that 29% of international students have experienced homelessness, a rate more than double that of domestic students The National Union of Students highlights challenges such as rising housing costs, restrictive 20-hour work limits, and the burdensome guarantor system that often requires international students to pay a year ’ s rent upfront The campaign aims to address these barriers and end hostile environment policies

What specific steps d o you believe the gov ernment co uld take to allev iate the housing ch alleng es faced by international stu dents, beyond ending guarantor requirements?

The Government’s Renters’ Rights bill is a strong piece of legislation, but by just going slightly further with regulation, it could be so much stronger Landlord practices of asking for UK-based homeowners as guarantors, and for rent upfront are not addressed by the bill in its current form Both these practices have a devastating and disproportionate impact on students from more deprived backgrounds, as well as estranged students, students leaving care and international students International students can be asked for as much as 12 months' rent up front, and we hear countless stories of students who have been essentially homeless for periods and have had to live in hostels or borrow money which further drives them into debt The government must legislate to stop landlords from using such predatory exploitative and discriminatory methods - and we urge them to include this in the RRB

How can univ ersities, in add ition to the gov ernm ent, contribute effectively to ensure afford able and accessible h ousing fo r international students?

There is a host of things that universities and the government could do to improve the housing situation for students Universities can collaborate with local authorities to increase the availability of affordable housing options in the city, as well as ensure that a large enough proportion of university-owned accommodation is being leased at a genuinely affordable rate They should also extend their

hardship funds to include international students, ensuring they have access to financial support when needed Universities should also develop more on-campus housing to reduce student’s reliance on the private rental market

With many internatio nal students already working along side their studies, what im pact could remo ving th e 20h our w orking lim it have on both stud ents and th eir acad em ic experiences?

Removing the 20-hour working limit could provide international students with greater financial stability, allowing them to better support themselves and reduce stress related to financial pressures International students have long called for this and there is no reason for the government to deny them the same working rights as home students International students have been using food banks at shocking rates – this must stop in one of the richest countries in the world where they have come to seek an education, allowing them to dictate their own working hours is the least we can do to alleviate this

What role do you think stu dent u nions can play in advo cating for policy chang es that ad dress the financial and housing d ifficulties faced by international stu dents?

Students’ Unions play a crucial role by organising campaigns and lobbying efforts to highlight the challenges faced by international students NUS has shown how effective this can be, and in our National Lobby Day on 23rd October, we organised for 50 students’ unions to converge on Westminster and together we met with 74 MPs and discussed with them the need to abolish the landlord practice of asking for guarantors And our efforts don’t stop there NUS will continue to work with Students’ Unions, and with the government, to champion students and advocate for a sustainable future for further and higher education where all students, regardless of their background, can flourish and meet their potential

Gang of drug dealers jailed for 90 years

Eighteen drug dealers from East Lancashire have been sentenced to a total of nearl y 90 years in prison

An organised crime group (OCG) from Blackburn, operating in Burnley, Brierfield, and Nelson, has been sentenced for flooding East Lancashire streets with crack cocaine, heroin, and cocaine through the Ace and 'Adam' drug lines

The group also tried to take over rival territories, leading to violent clashes The conspiracy, uncovered by the East Targeted Crime Unit, ran from December 2021 to July 2023

Police shut down the drug

members to court, ending their

November 13, 18 members were

Burnley Crown Court

DCI Sarah Denson, from the East Targeted Crime Unit, said: “This OCG caused widespread violence and disruption in local communities These sentences reflect the seriousness of their crimes, and law-abiding citizens will now have some relief from their chaos Anyone with information about drug dealers in their area should contact police on 101, knowing we will take action to dismantle these operations and bring offenders to justice ”

The 18 drug dealers convicted include Amar Ayad, 29, of Blackburn, sentenced to 11 years and six months for possession

cocaine and criminal property; Hassan Saqib, 29, of Blackburn, sentenced to nine years for similar charges; Shezad Sikander, 36, of Briercliffe, sentenced to seven years and seven months; and Dannyal Choudry, 21, of Blackburn, sentenced to seven years and four months for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine, heroin, and cocaine Other sentences include Abdul Haleem, 22, and Mustafa Mehmood, 22, both sentenced to over six years; Adiel Nadeem, 26, sentenced to s i x y e a r s a n d o n e m o n t h ; Dilaawaiz Malik, 24, sentenced to six years; Michael Bray, 32,

sentenced to five years and 11 months; Azeem Ismail, 26, sent e n c e d t o f i v e y e a r s a n d s i x months; Joni Necker, 37, and Uzair Bhatti, 26, both sentenced to three years and nine months; S h a m i r M

d , 2 1 , s e ntenced to three years and four months; Saqib Ali, 38, sentenced to three years and three months; Nasir Zafar, 28, sentenced to three years and two months; A m m a a r M

, 2 1 , w h o received a 24-month suspended s e n t e n c e ; S a q i b A l i , 1 8

received a 20-month suspended sentence; and Abdul Munaf, 38, w h o w i l l b

December

Retailers warn of job cuts after budget

M aj o r U K re tai l ers , i nc l ud in g

Tesco, A mazon, Greg gs, and Next, are warning that job losses, rising p ri ce s, a nd s h o p c lo s u re s ar e inevitable d ue to tax hikes in th e Bu d g e t and o th er ri s in g c o s ts They are urging th e Treasury to rethink som e of the m easures

In a letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, UK retailers warned that t h e " c u m u l a t i v e b u r d e n " o f t h e Budget changes, along with other upcoming policies, will add billions in costs to a sector already operat-

ing on a 3% to 5% profit margin A T r e a s u r y s p o k e s p e r s o n defended the measures, stating the government had to "make difficult choices to fix the foundations of the country " The proposed rise in the tax firms pay on staff wages has faced widespread criticism from businesses, who argue it will stifle growth

Concerns have been especially strong among retailers and hospitality businesses, which provide m a n y y o u

These sectors also face higher costs due to next year's minimum wage rise

While individual retailers have raised alarms, this letter marks the first time so many have united in o

include major UK retailers such as A l d

, Primark, and Sainsbury's, as well as the British Heart Foundation and

d Independent Stores

London MPs demand explanation for ‘poor’ service to leaseholders

London MP s h ave c all ed f or the CEO of England 's largest hous ing management f irm to explai n i ts "po or" servic e to some leasehold ers, whi le it “ aggres sively” h ikes charges

Two dozen Labour MPs have written to FirstPort, citing "consistent complaints" from constituents about rising service charges and poor service

In a letter to managing director

Martin King, they said charges had i

explanation, and the company had failed to provide adequate responses to requests for evidence The MPs also noted that the service standards did not justify the steep charge hikes

Rachel Blake, Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP Danny Beales, Chipping B

Kumaran, and Hendon MP David Pinto-Duschinsky

Mr Pinto-Duschinsky said, “My constituents are frustrated with the high service charges and poor service from managing agents like FirstPort E

these companies accountable and fight for a better deal for our residents ”

Watchdog places care firm in special measures

Saranya Thambirajah

Nikhita Gandhi raises funds for Rajasthan charity in the UK

P op u lar sing er Ni

Diwali Ball in London, rai s in g fu nd s f o r c hi l-

d r en' s c au s es i n

R aj as th a n, i nc lu d i n g a special needs school in Bhilwara and a gov ernment school in Barmer Gandhi, known for her chart-topping tracks across five languages in hit films, expressed her d

m reception from the UK audience "Sometimes I feel

e r e enjoys the same music and

films as we do in India, or if their preferences are different," Gandhi shared at the end of her UK tour earlier this week

"But I was truly over-

knew all my songs, from old favourites to recent releases When I sang ‘O S

Raja’, the audience sang

word It felt amazing to

incredible time performing for such a meaningful cause

poverty, hardship, and distress, focusing primarily on underprivileged women and children in Rajasthan

Samantha Harvey wins 2024 Booker Prize for 'Orbital'

B ri ti s h au th or S am

ar ’ s Booker P rize for her novel

* Orb i tal * , s et ab o ar d t h e

International S pace S tation

Th e aw ard was announced at a cerem ony in Londo n ’ s Old Billing sg ate ‘Orbital’ has sold around 2 9 , 0 0 0 c o p i e s , s u r p a s s i n g the combined sales of the last three Booker Prize win-

n e r s b e f o r e t h e y r e c e i v e d the award

A c c e p t i n g t h e t r o p h y , Harvey dedicated it to those

w h o " s p e a k f o r a n d n o t against the Earth" and "for the dignity of all humans

a n d l i f e , a n d t h o s e w h o work for peace " T h e f o r m e r m u s e u m

w o r k e r - t u r n e d - a u t h o r revealed she plans to spend the £50,000 prize on taking t i m e o f f t o s c u l p t a n d i n

Danish liquorice

Prize in 2009 for her debut novel ‘The Wilderness’, is the 19th woman to win since t h e a w a r d ' s i n c e p t i o n i n 1969 In contrast, 36 men have received the honour H a r v e y a d m i t t e d s h e nearly gave up on the novel, saying, "I lost my nerve I o r i g i n a l l y t h o u g h t , ' W h y would anyone want to hear from a woman in Wiltshire writing about space, imagining what it's like, when peop l e h a v e a c t u a l l y b e e n there?'"

Taking place over a 24hour time frame as astron a u t s o r b i t t h e E a r t h 1 6 times, Orbital is the secondshortest book to claim the prize at 136 pages long

Southall to hosts exhibition celebrating British Indian

women’s legacy of dissent

o f g r o u p s s u c h a s S o u t h a l l B l a c k S i s t e r s a n d

British Indian women who protested India’s Citizenship Amendment Act

I m m e r s i v e d i s p l a y s include interactive prompts

includes a panel discussion

Asian women and features s

activist Sheila Sengupta, and r

Chattopadhyay The exhibition highlights the contribu-

a n d h e a d p h o n e s t a t i o n s sharing personal stories of r e s i l i e n c e , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e from Partition Curated by Megan Drabble, who studied Dalit theatre and politics in India, the exhibition draws parallels between women ’ s movements in India and the U K , s h o w c a s i n g s h a r e d methods, songs, and strug-

gles A section inspired by

I n d i a ’ s S h a h e e n B a g h protests offers a reflective space for visitors

“This untold history of South Asian women ’ s dissent

d e s e r v e s r e c o g n i t i o n , ” s

D

Coordinator for the Platform f

added, “This exhibition cele-

impact in our communities ” The event invites all ages to explore this rich legacy of p r o t

community, and dialogue

Pritish Narula brings his stand-up to the UK

Mak in g t he leap from ba nking and entre pr eneurship to c ome d y ma y ha v e s e em e d l ike a bol d, r isky move for

P r i t is h N a r ul a , b ut t he Indian stan d-up comic has pr ove n t ha t it was a decision t hat paid off W i t h h i s d i s t i n c t i v e blend of storytelling, jokes, a n d r e l a t a b l e h u m o u r , Narula has quickly captivate d a u d i e n c e s a c r o

e globe Known for his perfor-

mances in both Hindi and P

resonates with a wide range of viewers H i s s h o w s o f f e r a refreshing mix of personal a n e c d o t e s

observations, making him

preparing to bring his unique style to UK audiences with a series of shows this weekend

Artist Sravya Attaluri launches 'Desi in Design' podcast

A ward- winning artist, creati ve d irector, and m ental

h e alt h ad v o ca te S r av y

ttalu

‘ D es i in De

wh ich high lig hts the journeys, ch alleng es, and successes of South Asian artists and desig ners g lobally

m s t o challenge South Asian stigmas around creative careers,

finances, creative obstacles, and race-related barriers It

guests including fine artist Laxmi Hussain, tattoo artist Nikki Kotecha, and 3D artist Hashmukh Kerai

“Growing up as a thirdculture South Asian artist,

Sravya Attaluri, Host of Desi in Design “I hope this podcast can help build

support network of fellow creatives

other’s unique cultural and

He will perform in London on Friday, November 15, at The Camden Club, located at 72-73 Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AN On Saturday, November 16, he will take the stage at T h e O p

Shopping Centre, B67 7RA) before wrapping up his UK tour on Sunday, November 17, at The Curve in Slough (William Street, SL1 1XY)

Sravya

illustrator,

and representation Born in India and raised in

Noor Inayat Khan's George Cross medal to display

p y an d descendant of Tip u S ultan, Noor Inayat K han, for her “ m o s t c o ns p i c uo u s courag e, ” will be disp layed at the Ro yal A ir F orce (RAF) M u s eu m in C o li n d al e, no r th w e st L o n d o n, f ro m next m onth Khan, who went undercover in Nazi-occupied Paris during World War II as part o f B r i t a i n ’ s S p e c i a l Operations Executive (SOE), gave her life in service to the Allied Forces She was honoured with the UK's highest civilian award for her brave r y i n F r a n c e , w h e r e s h e e n d u r e d b r u t a l i n t e r r o g ation before being executed b y t h e N a z i s a t D a c h a u

C o n c e n t r a t i o n C a m p i n September 1944

“ I a m d e l i g h t e d t h a t

N o o r ’ s G e o r g e C r o s s w i l l now be housed at the RAF

Museum, where it will be seen by hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, ” said Shrabani Basu, author of ‘Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan’ “Noor was immensely proud of her W o m e n s A u x i l i a r y A i r Force (WAAF) uniform As the first woman radio operat o r f l o w n i n t o o c c u p i e d France, she performed one of the most dangerous tasks i n t h e f i e l d T h e G e o r g e Cross acknowledges Noor’s bravery in her fight against the Nazis, and this exhibition is a fitting tribute to her

legacy, inspiring future generations ” T h e G e o r g e C r o s s , o n l o a n f r o

will be displayed alongside the logbook of the pilot who flew her into France on her mission Shrabani Basu will

Mahmood, during the exhib

December 2 “ W e

George Cross with our visitors,” said Maggie Appleton, CEO of the RAF Museum “Her story of courage and determination continues to resonate across time, inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds ” The medal, along with the pilot’s logbook and the M u s e u m ’ s S p e c i a l D u t i e s Lysander, will serve as powerful symbols of Khan’s service and sacrifice

Glastonbury 2025 tickets sell out in just 35 minutes

Ti c kets f or nex t ye ar ’ s Glastonbury Festival sold out in a record-breaking 35 m inutes on Su nd ay, with ov er 20 0,0 00 festiv al -g o ers ex p ec ted t o flock to the iconic event in r u ral s o u th w e st Eng land

S a l e s o p e n e d a t

9 : 0 0 a m ( 0 9 0 0 G M T ) , and by 9:35am, event organisers confirmed the tickets h a d b e e n s n a p p e d u p “ T i c k e t s f o r G l a s t o n b u r y 2025 have now sold out,” they announced on social media platform X “Thanks to everyone who bought one a n d s o r r y t o t h o s e w h o missed out, on a morning w h e n d e m a n d w a s m u c h higher than supply There will be a resale of any cancelled or returned tickets in spring 2025 ” The 2024 festival, which is set to take place from June 25 to 29, will feature British-

Albanian pop sensation Dua

L i p a a n d i n d i e r o c k e r s C o l d p l a y a s h e a d l i n e r s O r g a n i s e r s a r e r e p o r t e d l y already in talks to secure acts for next year ’ s festival, which promises to deliver another unforgettable lineup Glastonbury’s enduring p o p u l a r i t y i s e v i d e n t , a s thousands of tents will once a g a i n c

Worthy Farm in Pilton, a q u i n t e s s e n t i a l i m a g e o f British summer First held in 1970, the festival has grown to become a symbol of the

UK’s counterculture and an international musical celebration

festival will host

mances across

stages,

Sravya Attaluri

Noor Inayat Khan

Samantha Harvey

Nikhita Gandhi

Film that rewrites the narrative of women's empowerment

Subhasini Naicker

S h r i m oy e e C ha k r a bo r t y , a

t a le n t e d ch e f , f i lm m a k e r , a n d TV host , h as r ece nt ly

u n v e il e d h e r la t e s t d o cu -

m ent ary , ‘In The Na me of

D u r g a ’ I n a n i n si g h t fu l in te rview wit h Asian Voice, S hr imo ye e de lv es i nt o t he in sp ir at ion be hind t he docum ent ary , shar in g the moti-

v at ion s a nd de epe r rea sons t hat led he r to ex plor e this p owe rful subje ct

Speaking about the pro-

c e s s o

S h r i m o y e e s a i d , “ I w a s deeply affected by the tragic events at R G Kar Hospital, especially since it happened

i n m y h o m e t o w n a n d involved people I knew in the medical profession As I read the stories, I felt a mix of helplessness and anxiety I

w a n t e d t o d o s o m e t h i n g

m e a n i n g f u l b u t s t r u g g l e d

w i t h t h e i d e a o f p o s t i n g a b o u t i t o n s o c i a l m e d i a , unsure of its impact

”

“ W h e n I w e n t t o Calcutta for Durga Pujo with my daughter, I knew I couldn’t just visit without doing something As a filmmaker, I felt a responsibility to take action in my own capacity

A f t e r d i s c u s s i n g w i t h m y f r i e n d a n d D O P , R u s h a Bose, who also shared similar experiences, we decided to shoot a film However, I didn’t want the project to feel exploitative or capitalising on someone ’ s tragedy It was important to me that it came from a genuine place,” she added

S h e s a i d , “ T h e f i l m became a cathartic process for me, allowing me to speak openly about my own experience for the first time I didn’t want to use another girl’s story but wanted to highlight the real voices of Calcutta ordinary women, like the female artisans making idols, whose stories are o f t e n o v e r l o o k e d I a l s o

w a n t e d t o i n c o r p o r a t e a male perspective, so the film i n c l u d e s a c o n v e r s a t i o n between Shrijit Chakraborty (my brother) and me, as I believe these discussions are crucial for societal change

T h e f i l m c a m e t o g e t h e r effortlessly over two days, and it was one of the easiest shoots I’ve done It was born

o f responsibility and a desire to speak out meaningfully, giving space to real women and t h e i r v o i c

also great help ” Shift from e arly pr ogre ssive moveme nt s t o mode rn re alities

S h r i m o y e e s h a r e d t h e moments in ‘In The Name of D u r g a ’ t h a t l e f t a l a s t i n g i m p a c t o n h e r S h e remarked, “I was astounded to discover that the Pujo we celebrate in Calcutta began 180 years ago to honour a widow, challenging the traditional notion of widows as oppressed India, especially C a l c u t t a , h a s l o n g b e e n h o m e t o v i s i o n a r i e s l i k e

Rabindranath Tagore, who redefined views on women Yet, as a society, we seem to h a v e f o r g o t t e n t h e s e p r og r e s s i v e r o o t s T h e s t a r k contrast between those early movements and today's reality was truly eye-opening ”

S h e c o n t i n u e d , “ W h a t really struck me during the film was the raw honesty a n d f e a r l e s s n e s s o f t h e women I interviewed Their anger was palpable, and it was powerful to witness It wasn't shocking, but rather cathartic, to hear them speak so openly about their experiences The response to the film has been overwhelming, with thousands of women and girls reaching out, saying, 'Thank you for speaking o u t , ' m a n y o f w h o m h a d never shared their trauma with their families before ” Wome n should feel empowere d to own the ir storie s

Speaking about a broade r m e s s a g e t h a t v i e w e r s want to take away from her documentary, she said, “ The overarching message is this: there is no shame A girl should never feel ashamed of owning or speaking about an incident that happened to h e r T h a t ’ s w h y I ’ v e b e e n m a t t e r - o f - f a c t a b o u t m y own experience it wasn’t my fault, and there’s no rea-

son for me to feel shame

Women should feel empowered to own their stories, and there should be no stigma attached to speaking out

At the same time, we must hold perpetrators accounta b l e a n d c a l l

tion

“Families must stay vigilant, listen, and provide the s u

about gender conflict but a collective effort to uphold

Their active participation is

free from societal conditioning that silences them By speaking out and working

safer, more empathetic society,” she added

Socia l med ia is lik e a d ouble -edg ed sword

S

concerns about social media, noting that while it empowe r s w o m

n a n d

m

s important conversations, it also poses serious risks, particularly for teenagers She said, “Social media normalis-

e s h a r a s

, i n c l u d i n g rape threats, and promotes unrealistic body standards, creating a harmful environment While it can spread vital messages like for my film it also brings negativity and hate The pressure, especially on women, can be overwhelming and has led to d e v a s t a t i n g c o n s e q u e n c e s , i n c l u d i n g

Ultimately, I see social media

with its harmful effects often outweighing its benefits ”

Streeting slams NHS for treating women as ‘alien species’

H ea lt h S e cr eta ry We s

S t ree ti ng c ri ti c is e

N HS h ealth inequ alities, stating that women are often treated like "an alien species" by d octors Mr Streeting highlighte d t

healthcare inequalities He also pointed out disparities

c

men are two and

celebrities including Claudia Winkleman, Gary Lineker, a

T h e charity is urging for routine s

groups, such as Black men and those with a family history of prostate cancer

Earlier this month, Mr Streeting urged the NHS to

OU celebrates youngest-ever law graduate at UK ceremony

Th e Open University (OU) congratulates Ind ian alumnu s K r is h an g i M e sh r am , wh o became its you ng estever Law g raduate Starting her studies at just 15, Krishangi completed h e r F i r s t C l a s s H o n o u r s

Degree in Law at 18 She recently attended a graduat i o n c e r e m o n y a

n Manchester to receive her degree

N o w 2 0 , K r i s h a n g i shared her excitement: "I’m so happy to be here and celebrate After three years of hard work, it’s amazing to see it pay off!" She chose law for its transferable skills, like document analysis and essay

writing It was during her Y

that she realised becoming a lawyer was her true calling Studying with the OU also offered much more than she expected Professor Hugh McFaul,

Head of the OU Law School, congratulated Krishangi on her achievement, expressing pride in supporting her succ e s s w

h e r family in West Bengal He highlighted her story as an example of the transformative power of open-access education and wished her

with

ing

completed her LPC and a Masters in Business, Law, and Management from the University of Law, and is now focused on finalising her legal specialism

Severe gynaecology waiting times leave women waiting in pain

Wai ting lis ts for gy nae cology appoi ntments i n the UK h av e mor e th an d o ub le d s ince Februa ry 2020, with B BC r e s e a r ch r e v e a l i n g t h a t n e a rl y 75 5 ,0 0 0 w o me n ’

ments are now

pan demic

This surge suggests at l e a s t 6 3 0 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e a r e waiting for care related to conditions such as fibroids, e n d o m e t r i o s i s , i n c o n t i -

W h i l e h

t h m i n i s t e r

across the UK are working o n p l a n s t o a d d r e s s t h e issue, health leaders warn that women are being let down by the system Anna Cooper, 31, from n e a r W r e x h a m , h a s s u ff e r e d f r o m s e v e r e e n d o m e t r i o s i s s i n c e h e r teens, a condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows outside it The disease has caused perma-

nent organ damage, leadi

t i o n s , including a hysterectomy, and the removal of much of h

partner and young daugh-

h e

social, work, and daily life It’s not just a period problem – it ripples through your body," she says

screenings after his terminal

and that the UK National S

s reviewing the case for population screening “The data doesn’t lie black men and those with a family history face two to three times greater risk of p r o s t a t e c

M r

Streeting said He added, “It i s n o t

n g founded in 1948, the same year the Empire Windrush arrived, and despite the contributions of successive generations of Caribbean families, we still see significant racial inequalities in health outcomes ”

Krishangi Meshram

Seven million immigrants now hold one in five jobs in Britain

A r e co r d s e v e n m i lli o n i m m i g r a n t s a r e n o w e mploy ed in Brita in, hold ing on e in five jobs, accordin g to r ecen t figure s This numbe r ha s sur ged by two million ov er t he past de cade

Since the pandemic, 1 4

m i l l i o n n o n - E U w

have arrived, while the number of EU-born workers has decreased by 230,000 to 2 2

National Statistics reported

Robert Bates from the C e n t r e f o

M

Control stated, It’s become too easy for businesses to bypass their obligations to the British public by opting

f o

i s a p p r o a c h needs to change if we aim to build a high-skill, high-wage economy "

N o 1 0 s t a t e d t h a t S i r

Keir Starmer believes cur-

rent immigration numbers are “far too high” and must

migrant labour is partly due

training for young people

He emphasised that while the new Skills England initiative aims to address these skill gaps, there is no quick fix

A

p M

Migration Watch commented, In late 2019, we warned

The Football Association and Neasden Temple host historic Diwali celebration at Wembley Stadium

T

( FA ) partnered

BAP S

Sh ri Sw am inarayan M andir, L ond on – p opularly known as ‘Neasden T emp le’ – to celebrate Diwali at Wem bley

S

Diversity & Inclusion at The

from Hindu and Sikh heritage It’s been wonderful to s e

tions, both landmarks in the Wembley and Brent areas, come together for the first time at the home of English football ” Deepan Lakhani, a lead-

large

system introduced in 2021 would expose nine million full-time UK jobs to

remain accessible to foreign

Himanshu Makwana convicted of rape

H i m an s h u M a kw a na , o f

T h u r lb y Ro a d , W em b ley ,

w as c o nv i c ted a t H ar ro w

C ro wn C ourt of rap ing two teenag e victim s he gro omed o n S n ap c h at , w

o f f enc es o c cu

ri ng f o u r years apart

He spent several months corresponding with an 18y e a r - o l d g i r l o n a s o c i a l m e d i a p l a t f o r m i n 2 0 1 8 before they agreed to meet in person

He took her to a deserted office complex, where he sexually assaulted her No suspect was named at the time, despite the fact that it was reported to the police

T h e n , i n A p r i l 2 0 2 3 , Makwana phoned Samir on Snapchat while pretending to be 19 in order to talk to his second victim, who had just turned 16

Later, he waited for the victim to call for assistance while parking on a street near her school After she assisted Makwana in carry-

i n g s o m e b o o k s , h e informed her he was Samir

and locked her in his car

After giving the victim drinks, Makwana took her to a vacant business building and sexually assaulted her

One day after the seco n d v i c t i m r e p o r t e d t h e incident, on November 27 of last year, he was taken into custody

H e w a s r e c o g n i s e d a s t h e h i t h e r t o u n i d e n t i

suspect for the 2019 crime against the first victim after a DNA sample taken during his detention was analysed

On December 22, 2023, h e w a s c h

i t h t h e rapes of both victims and p l a c e d u n d e r r e m a n d f o r trial

Next year, Makwana will be sentenced at the same court on January 17

Sara Sharif’s father admits full responsibility for her death

U rfan Sha rif, a 42-ye ar-old

t ax i dr iver , a dmitt ed to ta kin g "full r esponsibility" for t he dea th of his 10-ye ar-old d aught er, Sar a Sha rif, durin g c r o ss - e x a m i n a t i o n a t t he

O ld Bailey His wife, Bein ash Bat ool, 30, br oke down in t ea rs as he mad e the admission

Urfan Sharif, who previ-

o u s l y b l a m e d h i s w i f e , B e i n a s h B a t o o l , f o r h i s daughter Sara's death, made

a d r a m a t i c a d m i s s i o n t o jurors, saying, "I accept every single thing " Sara, 10, was

f o u n d d e a d a t t h e f a m i l y home in Woking, Surrey, on

A u g u s t 1 0 l a s t y e a r , w i t h jurors hearing she had suf-

for the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities It also highlighted The FA s commitment to working with faith c

football participation This event is part of The FA's

Football Series’

inspiring football talks and interactive panels with professional players and coach-

footballers These sessions aimed to promote community engagement in football and physical well-being FA Chair Debbie Hewitt MBE, joining from Athens w

England men s senior team, shared a personal video message She expressed her gratitude, saying, "A big thank you to Neasden Temple, our neighbours in Wembley, for

said, “Football is meant to be diverse and inclusive, so it’s fantastic to see the partners h i p b e t w e e n N e a s d e n Temple and The FA This

engagement has increased girls’ participation, especially in South-East Asian communities ”

Neasden Temple, expressed

Association for hosting the

Wembley He added, “It was an honour to partner with them and celebrate Diwali with the British Hindu com-

teaches

to 'widen the circle of harmony,' and this event showcased how football can unite diverse communities, promote fitness,

lessons ”

Moment of unity and spiritual renewal

n tonight’s Diwali celebration I fondly remember my visit to your iconic temple and the strong sense of togetherness and hope I felt I hope you all experience that same spirit tonight as we celebrate Diwali at Wembley " Pooja Patel, a youth volunteer at Neasden Temple,

D u r i n g c r o s s - e x a m i n ation, Caroline Carberry KC

q u e s t i o n e d U r f a n S h a r i f about a note he left beside Sara's body before fleeing to Pakistan, in which he confessed, “It’s me, Urfan Sharif, who killed my daughter by beating ” Sharif admitted to inflicting injuries, including fractures caused by hitting

h e r w i t h a c r i c k e t b a t o r p o l e , t h o u g h h e d e n i e d responsibility for burn and bite marks When asked if he broke Sara’s neck bone, he said, “I take full responsibility ” Ms Carberry suggested

h e s e v e r e l y b e a t S a r a o n August 6, to which Sharif, speaking softly, replied, “I accept everything ”

f e r e d d o z e n s o f i n j u r i e s , i n c l u d i n g b i t e m a r k s a n d iron burns Sharif, Batool, a n d S a r a ’ s u n c l e F a i s a l Malik, 29, deny charges of m u r d e r a n d c a u s i n g o r allowing her death

from participating for a local football club Youths from

mances, including a colourful pitch-side dance and the aarti ceremony John Barnes shared his thoughts on the event, saying, “I’ve played in this area

Willesden, Neasden – so I know it well It’s great to see Neasden Temple supporting this event at Wembley, the h o m e o f f o o t b a l l H a p p y Diwali to all!”

A

England footballer and current coach at Bristol City,

Sp eaking to Asian Voice, abo ut the experience of celebrating th e first Diwali at Wem bley Stad ium, professional in the financial ind ustry and an activ e v olunteer within the Hindu comm unity, Kh ushboo Miyani said , “Help ing o rganise th e first-ev er Diwali celebration at Wembley Stad ium, an iconic venue, in collaboration with T he Foo tball Association ( FA) and Neasd en Temple, was a truly privileg ed m oment for me As part of the Neasden T emp le team , I w as honoured to contribu te to this historic event

She continued, “Diwali is not just a festival of fireworks, food, and festivities; it is a moment of personal, social, and spiritual renewal His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, explains: “We need to illuminate the light within us The ultimate goal is to cleanse one ’ s inner self, connect with God, and live

in love, peace, and harmony ” Khushboo reflected on how the deeper understanding of Diwali resonated with her throughout the event She said, “The FA and Neasden Temple serve different purposes sport and spirituality they share core values of unity, inclusivity, and community The FA unites millions through sport, transcending cultural barriers, while Neasden Temple, a beacon of spirituality, has welcomed over 10 million visitors ”

“Standing in Wembley Stadium, speaking about Diwali’s values, listening to Sanskrit Vedic shlokas for peace, and hearing the aarti accompanied by drums for the first time, I felt immense pride as a British Hindu,” she added Khushboo also highlighted the event's role in encouraging greater South Asian participation in sports, especially for women By fostering mentorship and support, barriers can be broken, and glass ceilings shattered She also expressed deep gratitude to The FA for the invitation and to Neasden Temple (BAPS) for allowing her to contribute to such a historic occasion "

L-R: Ravi Bhanot CB Patel Jayendra Patel Dal Darroch Kishor Parmar

L-R: Adarniya Diptiben and Jayminiben (Brahmakumari), Jitubhai Patel, (Managing Trustree BAPS), AP Patel (Trustee, BAPS), CB Patel and Vinay Tanna with his son

Girishbhai Poonambhai Patel and CB Patel with other prominent dignitaries

Guests performing arti (lighted wick ceremony) pitch side at Wembley Stadium at the home of English football

L to R: Jasmin Shah Khushboo Miyani and CB Patel

Himanshu Makwana

A grand celebration of Indian classical arts: Bhavan’s Diwali Gala 2024

Tanisha Gujarathi

Bhavan’s Diwali Gala 202 4, held at the London Marr iott Hotel on Novemb er 16, was a r es plendent celebr ation of Indian class ical ar ts and culture Hosted b y the Bhavan, a revered ins titution dedicated to promoting Indian arts and her itage in the U nited Kingdom, the gala was a convergence of artis tic br illiance, philanthropic spirit, and cr oss -cultur al appreciation

The evening was graced by an eminent array of dignitaries His Excellency Vikram Doraiswami, the High Commissioner of India to the UK along with his wife Sangeeta, attended as the Chief Guest, reflecting the deepening cultural ties between the two nations The Guest of Honour was celebrated author and philanthropist, Sudha Murty, whose inspiring work has left an indelible mark on millions across the globe Accompanying her were former UK

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata

political spheres

The evening commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, symbolising the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance The evening was compered by Rajni Mehta The programme began with a soul-stirring rendition of Carnatic music, Kuchippudi, Bharatanatyam and Kathak dance

two things First is good education which gives you wings to fly, the second and most important is great Indian culture

“You can lead a life without music, dance and literature, but it’s not a life at all Thanks to Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan UK that the nature, the culture is not lost It is necessary to sustain our culture to lead a good and righteous life ”

Murty, whose presence underscored their commitment to fostering cultural and artistic exchanges between India and the UK

The event, impeccably organised, was not merely a celebration of Diwali but also an earnest endeavour to support and sustain the Indian classical arts With its theme of "Illuminating Heritage," the gala featured breathtaking performances by virtuosos of Indian classical music and dance, captivating an audience that included influential figures from the arts, business, and

unwavering commitment to preserving and propagating the rich traditions of Indian art in the UK He said, “No matter where you travel or study or work, you must foster your roots and culture Bhavan‘s Diwali Gala is one way to do that ”

This was followed by Sudha Murray’s heartfelt speech, where she highlighted the universal appeal of Indian classical arts and their ability to

performances by the students of The Bhavan

HE Vikram Doraiswami, in his inaugural address, emphasised the importance of cultural diplomacy and lauded the Bhavan for its

foster empathy and unity Her words, infused with wisdom and humility, resonated deeply with the audience Murty said, “I strongly believe that parents give their child

Grand Diwali celebration at Navnat Vadil Mandal

On Nov ember 8, 2024, the Navnat Vadil Manda l hoste d a delightful Diwa li cel ebr ation at Navna t Hall , ble nding honour, music, and birthday festivities int o a me mora ble e vent The gathering wel comed ov er 500 se nior s who enjoye d the vibran t, festive at mosphe re The event highlighted

community In celebration of Padmaben Kamdar’s 80th birthday, a member of the Mandal, the Diwali programme was generously sponsored by Padmaben and her family The evening was filled with joy as artists from Melody Music performed a captivating

the invaluable contributions of the ladies who lovingly prepared fresh, hot and delicious meals, evoking deep respect and appreciation from all attendees In recognition of their dedication, the President of the Vadil Mandal, Shri Natubhai Mehta, along with the committee, honoured the efforts of the entire kitchen team Additionally, Shakuben Sheth, head of the kitchen committee, received a special honour from Shri Natubhai Mehta and Smt Pallaviben Mehta, acknowledging her outstanding leadership and commitment to serving the

selection of songs and music, providing entertainment for all Additionally, Kishorbhai Bataviya kindly handled the audio-visual services for the event For Diwali, all members received sweet boxes as a festive token The celebration concluded joyfully, thanks to the efforts of coordinators Shri Nitinbhai Savadiya and Yogeshbhai Modi, whose dedication made the event a success The elders eagerly look forward to Fridays, as the Vadil Mandal continually brings new energy and vibrancy to their lives through its ongoing initiatives

True to its mission, the Bhavan used the gala as a platform to support emerging talents in the field of Indian classical arts Proceeds from the event were dedicated to scholarships for young artists and the maintenance of the Bhavan’s state-of-the-art facilities in London

The Bhavan’s Diwali Gala 2024 will be remembered not only for its artistic magnificence but also for its heartfelt message of cultural unity and philanthropy In an era where preserving cultural heritage is more critical than ever, the Bhavan continues to shine as a beacon of hope and inspiration

As the evening drew to a close, guests left with hearts full of gratitude and minds illuminated by the timeless beauty of Indian classical arts The gala was a luminous reminder of the power of culture to unite, inspire, and transform, making it an indelible chapter in the cultural tapestry of

Mayor of Tower Hamlets faces high court battle over LTN removal

A Londo n boro ugh m ayor faces criticism for " rid ing roug hshod " ov er resid ents' views as a land mark case o n low traffic neighbourhood s heads to the High C ourt

The Save Our Safer Streets group has filed a claim against Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman, following his decision in September 2023 to scrap three LTN schemes in Bethnal Green

Re-elected on a pro-car platform in 2022, Mayor Rahman argued the LTNs shifted traffic onto main roads, affecting less affluent residents However, his decision sparked strong backlash in support of the LTNs, which cover Columbia Road, Arnold Circus, and Old Bethnal Green Road

Over 1,400 people have pledged more than £78,000 for a judicial review to challenge Mayor Rahman’s decision to remove the LTNs

Lawyers from Leigh Day will argue that the mayor ignored government guidance, ran a flawed

consultation, and failed to justify using £2 5 million of public funds to remove the safer street layouts Ricardo Gama, senior associate solicitor at Leigh Day, said: “Lutfur Rahman promised a legal consultation process before removing the safer street layouts Our client argues the process followed was flawed, disregarding the voices of local residents, particularly those without cars, and bypassing legal safeguards for local government decisionmaking ”

“The High Court will examine why the procedure followed by Mr Rahman and the council seems to have deviated from the legal requirements

“Our client argues that by bypassing essential safeguards for local government decisionmaking, Mr Rahman and the council have disregarded the diverse voices of Tower Hamlets residents, especially the majority who do not own cars ”

the United Kingdom

Bashir Nathoo (Chairman, 4C Hotel Group) and Shashi Vekaria (Chairman Vascroft Contractors)

L to R: CB Patel Jayesh Kotak and Nicken Kotak

Guest of Honour Sudha Murty former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wife Akshata Murty H E Vikram Doraiswami High Commissioner of India to the UK performers from Bhavan teammates and guests

An auspicious Hindu ceremony by Dr Nandakumara in presence of Rishi Sunak, Akshata Murty, Sudha Murty and Parvati Nair

L to R: Vijay Sharma, CB Patel, Ameet and Priya Jogia

The

Community members present at the event

Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh P

A fter Trump o ne thi ng i s clear

Given the recent tax increases affecting UK pensioners, it's imperative to enhance pension performance to mitigate financial strain Allocating a portion of Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) to U S stocks offers several advantages:

R obust Market Perfo rmance: The U S stock market, particularly the S&P 500, has reached record highs, driven by leading technology companies This growth potential can significantly boost pension returns

Currency Di versi ficatio n: Investing in U S equities introduces exposure to the U S dollar, providing a hedge against potential depreciation of the British pound Sector Expos ure: The U S market offers access to highgrowth sectors, especially technology and healthcare, which may not be as prevalent in the UK market

However, it's essential to consider associated risks, such as market volatility and currency fluctuations Diversifying investments and consulting with financial advisors can help manage these risks effectively By strategically incorporating U S stocks into SIPPs, pensioners can enhance their portfolios' resilience and growth potential amidst increasing tax pressures

The recent fiscal policies in the United Kingdom have introduced significant tax burdens on pensioners, necessitating a strategic reassessment of retirement planning The

A

Reeves, has implemented measures that directly impact pensioners' finances Notably, the state pension is set to rise by 4 1% in April 2025, aligning with the triple lock guarantee

This adjustment will increase the full new state pension to £230 30 per week (£11,975 annually) and the full old basic state pension to £176 45 per week (£9,175 annually)

However, this increase may inadvertently push more pensioners into higher tax brackets due to the freezing of income tax thresholds The personal allowance threshold remains at £12,570, and with pension incomes rising, an estimated 1 6 million pensioners are expected to become liable for income tax by 2027-28 This scenario underscores the importance of optimizing pension performance to mitigate the effects of increased taxation

Investing in the U S stock market presents a compelling opportunity for enhancing pension returns As of November 2024, U S equities have demonstrated robust performance, with the S&P 500 reaching record highs The index has risen by approximately 21% in the first three quarters of 2024, marking its best year-to-date performance of the 21st century I continue to do free live weekly webinars to help as many British people, especially Asian Voice readers, as possible You

c a n r e g i s t e r f o r a l l m y f r e e t o o l s a t www alpeshpatel com/links its part of my campaign for a million to teach a million people to invest better and add a million to their pensions across their lifetimes

AstraZeneca reviews

£450 million UK investment

Astr aZen eca, t he Lon don-liste d pha rmaceut ica l compan y, has sta te d tha t its plan ned £450 million ($576 7 million) inv estme nt in vaccine r esea rch an d de velopmen t in t he UK, an nounce d in Mar ch, is curre ntly unde r r evie w as d iscussion s with th e gove rnme nt ov er pot ent ial in ce ntiv es con tinue

AstraZeneca's Chief Financial Officer, Aradhana Sarin, confirmed during a media briefing following the company ’ s third-quarter results: We’re still in discussions with the UK government to determine what incentives may be available We don't have anything new to report at this time " When asked if the investment was on hold while these discussions were ongoing, Sarin replied, "That's correct "

However, an AstraZeneca spokesperson later clarified to Reuters that the discussions with the UK government are still ongoing and should not be described as being "on hold " The spokesperson added, "We are reviewing the incentives for investment in the UK "

Building a healthier future: Rahil Vora

Anusha Singh

Withon Revital’s vision and success

over 30 years of experience, Revital LTD stands as the UK's leading independent health and wellness retailer. What began as a single health food store in Willesden Green, London, has now expanded into 18 thriving locations, continuing to grow in response to the demand for accessible, highquality health products

Over the past two decades, Revital has remained committed to providing customers with not just a store, but an education on healthy living, nutrition, and the diverse range of supplements and diet foods available in today's market The company prides itself on investing in its team’s professional development through in-house training, ensuring that staff are equipped with the latest knowledge and expertise in health and wellness

Rahil Vora, who has served as the CEO of Revital LTD since 2010, brings a wealth of experience to the company and in an interview with Asian Voice, Rahil shares insights into the evolut

industry, and his leadership journey

Can you share more about the company?

We’ve been in the vitamins, supplements, and healthy food business for 35 years It was started by my parents, with my dad playing the leading role and my mom also working in the business They began with a single s t o r e i n W i l s o n

bought a second one For about 15-20 years, the business operated with just those two stores

I joined the business around 15-16 years ago, and we decided to expand Over the years, we opened an additional 15 stores and developed our ecommerce presence My dad had ini-

t

logues, but we eventually shifted to online sales In 2017, we sold shares in the business to private equity Today, we ’ re a national e-commerce company We manufacture our own products, as well as sell third-party products, all within the healthy food space

What do you think sets your business apart from others in the market?

One of the key factors is that my dad was a pioneer in this industry Thirty-five years ago, there were only a few independent shops, but he was one of the first to import American b r a n d s i n t o t h e U K , r i g h t a f t e r

Holland and Barrett Today, we ’ re the second-largest retailer in the UK, with 18 stores, while Holland and Barrett remains the largest with 700 stores T h i s i l l u s t r a t e s t h e d i f f e r e n c e between first and second in the industry

Our brand is well-established, and we take pride in offering high-quality products We focus on UK-manufactured brands, with 99% of our products made in the UK, ensuring topnotch quality While we ’ re not the cheapest option out there there are certainly stores with cheaper products we prioritise quality and rigorous testing In each of our stores, we

like a friendship than a typical working relationship Trust has been a key factor

I took over the business seven years ago when my dad stepped back, but it took us eight years to reach that point It required a huge level of trust from his side to hand over control I believe this trust is crucial In many family

b u s i n e s s e s , t h a t t r u s t i s n ’ t a l w a y s there, and sometimes the handover doesn’t happen properly, leading to confusion, especially when multiple people are in charge One of the most important things my dad did was to step back and trust me with the responsibility This approach has worked very well for us

have a nutritionist available to provide guidance, and we don't offer

c o m m i s s i o n s f o r p u s h i n g s p e c i f i c brands or products Our recommendations are completely unbiased What is your opinion on working in a family business? How is it different from other businesses, and what makes it better?

M y e x p e r i e n c e h a s b e e n g r e a t

Right now, I sit in an office next door to my dad We worked side by side for 15 years Initially, I never thought I would join the family business, but now I can't imagine doing anything else For me, it all comes down to the relationship I have with my dad We have a great bond, and it feels more

When I first started, I was an employee for eight years I worked my way up, starting in the warehouse and then moving into the

through hard work, with no special treatment I received the same salaries, pay rises, and incentives as everyone else This approach motivat-

myself

Where do you see Revita heading in the next five years?

Retail in the UK is tough, so we're f

store presence E-commerce has been a game changer for us, and we ’ re w

presence and building our own brand We're already in some international markets, but our primary focus mov-

e international markets and growing our global reach

London achieves 1,000 sustainable B Corps milestone

London has em erged as the global capital for B Corps, boasting over 1, 000 com panies certified for their comm i tm en t to s u s tai n abl e practices

Nearly half of the UK’s B Corps are based in London, with notable names such as

C a p i t a l Management, Hawksmoor, Charlie Bigham’s, Chilly’s,

Brompton Bicycle, Notpla, Ten Lifestyle Group, Pizza Pilgrims, Here We Flo, and Candy Kittens leading the charge

The movement is largely driven by smaller businesses in the capital, with around

500 certified B Corps having between 10 and 49 employees Additionally, London is home to approximately 300 micro-businesses with 1 to 9 e m p l o y e e s , 2 0 0 m e d i u msized companies employing 50 to 249 people, and 50 larger firms with 250 to 999 employees

Achieving B Corp certification requires businesses to

The world’s largest festival of entrepreneurship kicks-off

e i r impact across areas such as e m p l o y e e w e l l - b e i n g , c u stomer satisfaction, community support, and environmental sustainability This also involves a legal commitment, with companies amending their Articles of Association to align with the principles of the B Corp movement

(G EW), the world’s larges

startup supporters, kic ked off on M ond ay wi th

pow e rf ul m essage- entrepreneurs are buildin g succes sful compani es across the UK, and thi s i s a thriving environment for i nnovation

L a u n c h e d i n

Foundation, GEW has grown into a global initiative celebrating and p

including workshops, mentoring sessions, networking, and learn-

will also showcase the best

emphasizing the importance of fostering the next generation of innovators

A new report by global consultancy Startup Genome, supported by the Global Entrepreneurship Network, will be presented at the G20 summit in Rio The report,

with events across 200 countries In the UK, GEW UK, organized by the Global Enterprise Network

authored by Dr Chris Haley, Head of Research at Startup Genome, highlights that the UK ranks second only to the US in turning

actual startup success However, the report also cautions that there is room for improvement, with only one UK city (London) ranking in the top 40 global startup ecosystems Gareth Thomas MP, Minister for Small Businesses, said, "This Government has made clear its c o m m i t m e n t t o

drive this growth, we are determined to support a new generation of British entrepreneurs to scale their ideas and create new

across the country During Global Entrepreneurship Week, we aim to show the world that Britain is a prime location to start, grow, and invest in businesses " The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, added, “I’m thrilled that Global Entrepreneurship Week is kicking off with an event in our capital My Grow London Local

January London is a city that welcomes all entrepreneurs, and the businesses they create are essential to our economy, providing the products and services we rely on every day as we work toward

London for

Ahead of GEW, over twenty of

Revital Founder Raj Vora and his son and CEO Rahil Vora

g rowth ra te of 7 2%, while

g ovt expects i t to grow in t he range of 6 5%-7%

T ata group will buy into the India o perations of A pple’ s m anu f ac tu r in g p a rtn er

P eg atron almost a year after

a cq u i ri ng th e bu s in es s o f

a no th er s up p li er Wis tro n

T h e d e al w i ll m a ke th e com pany one of the bigg est

c o nt rac t s u p p li er s to th e A merican electro nics g iant, along with Taiw anese giant F oxconn Tata group, which has been making inroads into manufacturing ecosystem of A p p l e a n d h a s s t a r t e d making latest generation of iPhone 16, will be buying around 60% in operations of Pegatron

T h e d i v e r s i f i e d conglomerate is expanding i n t o e l e c t r o n i c s manufacturing eco-system,

i n

country

Sources said that talks between Pegatron and Tata Electronics had been going on for the past one year as t h e T a i w a n e s

s u p p l i e r wanted to induct an Indian partner in view of the low m a r g i n s o f t h e manufacturing business and challenges in handling the workers’ demand “ B e i n g a c o n t r a c t

m

not an easy business, and the margins are also very

s o p h i s t i c a t e d n a t u r e o f Apple’s products, and there

cannot be any disruptions in production as supplies are catering to global markets,” a top official, who is part of A p p l e ’ s

n u f a c t u r i n g ecosystem, said Wistron, which was one

manufacturing in India, had faced violence at its factory i n l a t e 2 0 2 0 , w h i c h s a w workers break glass panes and doors and attack the offices of senior officials Pegatron is believed to h

r o d u c t i o n l a s t y

, a n d has a factory in Tamil Nadu Tata and Pegatron may be p a r t n e r f o r a n u p c o m i n g factory at Hosur in Tamil Nadu

Swiggy surges 17% on BSE debut

S w ig g y ’ s s to c k cl o se d 1 7% h i g h e r on Wednesday - its first d ay of trading - ev en as the sensex d ived nearly 1, 000 points Th e food delivery company ’ s stock, which w as sold at Rs 390 d uring th e IPO, opened th e d ay at Rs 4 12 on th e BSE, hit an intrad ay hig h at Rs 465 and closed at Rs 456

T h r a l l y t o o k S w i g g y ’ s m a r k e t capitalisation to just above £10bn, making it the 86th most valued listed company in India Rival Zomato has a market cap of £23bn and is the 38th most valued listed company in the country

On the first day of its listing, more than 120 mn Swiggy shares were traded on the NSE and the BSE combined About half of

indicating that those were bought not for speculative, day trading purposes

Last week, Swiggy closed its £1 132bn IPO with a subscription of 3 6 times the offer size The IPO was managed by Kotak Mahindra Capital, JP Morgan India, Citigroup Global

, Jefferies India, ICICI Securities and Avendus Capital

India's retail inflation surges to a 14-month high in Oct

R e ta i l i n fl a ti o n j u mp ed to a 1 4- mo nt h month h igh in Oct on the back o f stu bbo rn fo od prices, breach ing RBI’ s up per to lerance band and dashing ho pes o f any interest rate cu t for now, while industrial ou tp ut gro wth rebounded in Sep t, led by manufactu ring, data sh owed

Vegetables, cereals, fruits, oils and fats led the price surge, which pushed the food and beverages inflation rate closer to double digits at 9 7% High food inflation has been identified as a key reason for the slowdown

i n d e m a n d i n u r b a n a r e a s b y s o m e consumer goods companies as households have been hurt by soaring prices

T

6 7%, while urban was at 5 6% The food price index surged to 10 9% in Oct, up from the 9 2% in Sept

Inflation in vegetables was up 42 2% during the month while that in oils and fats inched up to 9 5% Inflation in fruits was at 8 4% “CPI inflation has shocked with a 6 2% reading This ensures that no rate action can be considered in Dec Food inflation has

k a nd A m az on ’ s K u ip e r be fo r e awarding satellite spectrum amid concerns local p layers c o u ld su f fe r, a le tte r show ed Reliance’s letter, which is not public, is Ambani’s l

n

n ongoing face-off with Musk over how India should grant

services While Reliance has called for an auction, India has sided with Musk who –in line with global trends –w a n t e d a n a d m i n i s t r a t i v e allocation

I n t h e l e t t e r , R e l i a n c e s a i d i t c a r r i e d a b o u t 1 5

b i l l i o n g i g a b y t e s o f d a t a every month in India after spending about $23 billion on spectrum auctions over the years, but Starlink would

Musk

target the same customers with a potential capacity of nearly 18 billion gigabytes of data via its satellites with a likely much lower outlay

E x p e r t s s a y a u c t i o n s tend to mean higher initial i n v e s t m e n t s w h i c h c o

h

v e d

t e r

e i g n players in favor of Reliance “ T h e a u t h o r i t y s h o u l d c r i t i c a l l y e x a m i n e t h e capacities created by these mega constellations such as Starlink and Kuiper,” the letter said

PSU banks

A s e n i o r g o v e r n m e n t s o u r c e a t t h e t e l e c o

tentatively before the yearend

broadband services in India and will get a permit if it satisfies all conditions, the telecom minister said this week

report highest ever half-yearly profits

P u bl i c s ec t o r ba nk s h av e r ep o rte d a c o ll ec t i ve ne t p r o f i t o f £4 5 5b n fo r th e S ep t quarter, an increase of 3 5 4% o ve r th e y ea r- a go p eriod T he operating p ro fit for th e first half of FY2 5 was £1 5b n , u p 1 4 4% y e ar -o nyear, while net profit stoo d at £8 55bn - a 25 6% increase over the same period and the highest in any h alf year, a govt statement said Th e finance ministry issued th e s ta te me n t f o l lo w i ng a review meeting with pu blic sector lenders to take sto ck of reforms

T h e i n c r e a s e i n n e t profit was primarily driven b y b e t t e r a s s e t q u a l i t y , w h i c h l o w e r e d

relieved from the onetime staff cost provisions made in the previous year

N e t i

improved as credit growth surpassed deposit growth A change in RBI regulations, t

fees, boosted other income M a n y

reversed

benefiting from the decline i n g o

d s following India’s inclusion in global bond indices In absolute terms, the biggest contribution to the i n c

o

i t c a m e from SBI, which reported a net profit of £1 83bn for the quarter, the highest among any listed entity In percentage terms, the

India registers record exports and imports in Oct

s t m a s d e m a n d , c o m m e r c e s e c r e t a r y S u n i l Barthwal said the pace now will be better than last year and overall exports could hit a record high in 2024-25, c r o

yielding results Our focus o n m a n u f a c t u r i n g competitiveness, due to PLI and other schemes, is also y i e l d i n g r e s u l t s , ” B a r t h w a l told reporters, adding that non-oil exports during AprilO

countries, which account for 60% of global imports The six products have a two-third share of global imports

c

I n r

n t m o n t h s , India’s export growth has been muted due to a weak demand in Europe and the US, disruptions caused by tension in west Asia as well as due to a fall in commodity prices Between April and Oct, exports are estimated to have increased 3 3% to $252 billion, while imports

Baroda, said

Gautam Adani

Mukesh Ambani & Elon Musk

Hindu pilgrim on way to Nankana

Sahib shot dead

LAHO RE : A P akistani Hindu p il grim , wh o w as go ing to attend 5 55th birth anniversary c elebrations o f Gu ru Nanak

Dev in Nankana Sahib, was s ho t dead by robbers, po lice s aid

A native of Larkana city

o f S i n d h p r o

n c e , R a j e s h

K u m a r , w a s g o i n g t o

Nankana Sahib from Lahore by a car along with his friend

a n d b r o

Nankana Sahib Road, some 60 km from Lahore

“ T h e g u n m e n s n a t c

in Pakistan

Lanka president's leftist bloc wins 71% seats in parliament

in brief PUNJABI SINGER ASSAULTED DURING LIVE SHOW IN AUSTRALIA

vant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code

shifted to a hospital in a critical condition, where he succumbed to his injuries

A case has been registered against unidentified men on

PKR 4,50,000 from the trio and also PKR 10,000 from the driver After Kumar resisted, the robbers opened fire on him and fled,” police said After the robbery and fir-

The main event of Guru Nanak birth anniversary was held last week in Gurdwara Janamsthan Nankana Sahib, i n w h i c h o

,

0 0 S i k h s from India and a good number of local and foreign pilgrims participated

Will seek Hasina's extradition from India:Yunus

D H A K A : Ba ng l ad e sh ’ s interim leader M uhammad Yu nus said that h is ad ministratio n will seek the extradition of deposed P M S heikh H as ina from Ind ia, w here sh e h as been in exile since fleeing a m ass student-led u prising in A ug

In a televised address to the nation on his first 100 days in office, Yunus said

t h e i n t e r i m g o v t w i l l t r y those responsible including H a s i n a f o r h u n d r e d s o f deaths during the studentled uprising Yunus took the helm on Aug 8, three days after Hasina fled the country He said that not only the deaths in the uprising but all other violations of human

while Hasina was in power, would be investigated “We will seek the return of the f a l l e n a u t o c r a t S h e i k h Hasina from India,” Yunus

s a i d “ I h a v e a l r e a d y d i scussed the issue with chief p

Court Karim Khan ” Y u n u s a l s o s a i d h i s govt’s most important task was to hold a new election to hand over power to an elected govt, but he did not spell out any timeframe Yunus denies widespread v iolence against Hindus

Y u n u s , m e a n w h i l e , downplayed reports of rising attacks on Hindus in his nation, claiming that violence against minorities had o c c u r r e d “ o n l y i n s o m e cases ” and most complaints

were “completely exaggerated ” His remarks came amid ongoing protests by Hindus in Bangladesh over attacks on their community, temples, and deities In a televised address to the nation, Yunus attempted to deflect b l a m e f r o m h i s g o v t , attributing the violence to political motives “The main reason for the few incidents

o f v i o l e n c e t h a t o c c u r r e d w a s p o l i t i c a l , ”

Yunus alleged an attempt to d

s h b y framing these attacks with a r e l i g i o u s n a r r a t i v e “ W

the cooperation of all of you, we have firmly handled this situation,” he said Yunus also assured that his govt is thoroughly investigating all reported cases of attacks on Hindus

AG seeks removal of ‘secularism’ &

‘socialism’

DH A KA : Ban gladesh attorney gen eral M d Asaduzzaman has called for remov i ng “ soci alis m ” an d “ s ecu lari sm ” fro m th e c o u n tr y ’ s co n s t i tu t i on , sp ar ki n g co n c ern s t h at th e predominantly Muslim nation could be shifti ng toward an Is l ami c st ate T he p ro p os al comes just months after the mass uprisin g that un seated the Shei kh Hasin a-led Awami League gov t early Aug

A c c o r d i n g t o a g e n c y reports, Asaduzzaman argued during a high court hearing on the validity of the 15th constitutional amendment that “socialism and secularism do not reflect the realities of a nation where 90% of the population is Muslim” The sugg e s t i o n i n t e n s i f i e d d e b a t e over Bangladesh’s future ideological direction

T h e c o u n t r y ’ s t o p l a w o f f i c i a l , a p p o i n t e d b y t h e Muhammad Yunus-led interim govt, asserted that “democracy, not socialism, can be the fundamental principle of state policy,” and urged the court to declare the 15th amendment unconstitutional, suggesting that only select provisions be

from Bangladesh statute

retained

T h e 1 5 t h a m e n d m e n t , passed in 2011 under the nowousted Awami League administration, designated “nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism” as foundat i o n a l p r i n c i p l e s o f B a n g l a d e s h ’ s s t a t e p o l i c y , restored freedom of religion, and increased women ’ s repres e n t a t i o n T h e a m e n d m e n t also abolished the caretaker g o v t s y s t e m f o r o v e r s e e i n g elections, introduced capital punishment for unconstitutional regime changes, and d e s i g n a t e d B a n g l a d e s h ’

M

i b u r R a h m a n a s t h e “father of the nation” Asaduzzaman contended that the amendment “directly contradicts” the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War, the anti autocracy movement of the 1990s, and the mass uprising in July-August 2024 “If this amendment is not scrapped, t h e s o u l s o f t h e m a r t y r s , i n

n peace, ” he said

Rahman, popularly known as

general accused the Awami

League politicised him in the party’s interest ”

C O L O M BO : Les s t h an tw o m o nt hs af te r

being elec ted Sri Lanka’s P resident, Anu ra Dissanayake c onsol idated h is p os ition with a th ump ing majority fo r h is lef tist co al ition in P arl iament in a s nap election India wel comed th e develo pment wh il e reaffirming its commitment to working with th e neigh bour fo r mu tual benefit New Del hi reiterated its invitation f or th e p resident to visit India at an early date

W i t h 1 5 9 s

o t e s , National People’s Power won a two-thirds majority in the 225-member Parliament The a l l i a n c

D

Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), had only three seats in the outgoing House

Significantly, despite the Sinhala nationalism associated with JVP, the alliance even outperformed Tamil parties in the north, including in the Tamil stronghold of Jaffna Sri Lanka's Samagi Jana Balawegaya headed by Sajith Premadasa was a distant second with 40 seats Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi got 8 seats, N e w D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t 5 , a n d S r i L a n k a

Podujana Peramuna and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress 3 each Lanka P M

President Dissanayake reappointed Harini Amarasuriya as Lanka PM while retaining the key finance portfolio Dissanayake also reappointed veteran legislator Vijitha Herath to helm the foreign affairs ministry Dissanayake, who has held the key finance minister portfolio since he was elected in September, will continue in that role A delegation from the I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Colombo for a third review of its $2 9 billion

tranche of about $337 million The new parliament will meet on Thursday to elect a speaker and Dissanayake will present his key policy priorities to the newly minted lawmakers C oncern o ver Adani pro jec t I n d i a r e m a

Dissanayake's threat to scrap a wind power project of the Adani group because of environmental issues and concerns that have been raised The president sees the project as violating Lanka’s “ energy sovereignty” and his govt told Supreme Court last month that it is reconsidering the approval granted to it by the previous govt It also said that the final decision will be conveyed to the court after the parliamentary polls and installation of the new cabinet

US Congressman against imposing tariffs on India

W ASH I N GT ON : US Congress man

Suh

India as i t will lead to a trade war between the two countries

S

came amid the likelihood of higher tariffs on Indian exports by the new T

support (imposing) tariffs on India

I think that would be really bad It would lead to a trade war And I d o n ’ t t h i

country,” Subramanyam said Ahead of his election as US

P r e s i d e n t , D o n a

taken a potshot at India’s tariff structure and talked about imposing reciprocal tax on countries like

Punjabi singer Garry Sandhu was allegedly attacked during a live performance in Australia The incident occurred when a fan ran to the stage and allegedly attacked Sandhu Private security guards and police present at the event caught the attacker and took him off the stage before arresting him Garry was performing in New South Wales as part of his Australian tour when the incident took place As per reports the attacker became aggressive after Sandhu reportedly made an offensive gesture which did not go down well with the fan leading to the confrontation on the stage

AFTER THREAT, EVENT CANCELLED AT TORONTO TEMPLE

Amid fears of an attack by Khalistan supporters Brampton Triveni Mandir and Community Centre has cancelled a consular camp that was to be organised in collaboration with Indian High Commission to assist retired Indian civil servants who have migrated in continuing to receive pension benefits The camp was scheduled to take place on Nov 17, where Indian-origin Hindus and Sikhs could renew life certificates or provide proof of life, ensuring their pension entitlements would continue Earlier, pro-Khalistan terrorist and SFJ chief, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, issued a statement that Indian diplomats will be targeted at Hindu temples on Nov 16 and 17

INDIAN RESTAURANT IN HOUSTON WINS MICHELIN STAR

Musaafer Indian Restaurant, located in Houston’s Galleria has been awarded a Michelin star marking a significant milestone for Indian cuisine in the US Owners Shammi and Mithu Malik alongside executive corporate chef Mayank Istwal expressed their immense gratitude for the honor We are deeply grateful to Michelin for this recognition of one coveted star, which reflects the dedication, passion, and tireless efforts of our entire Musaafer family, said Shammi Malik This honor reaffirms our commitment to delivering an unparalleled dining experience inspired by the rich culinary heritage of India

BOMB BLAST KILLS 5 MILITANTS, 2 KIDS IN PAKISTAN

A powerful car bomb accidentally detonated at the house of a Pakistani Taliban militant in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least two children and five suspected militants, police said The explosion took place in the city of Mir Ali in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when a man identified a local commander of the militants, Rasool Jan, was fitting a bomb in a car at his house police official Irfan Khan said He said other militants from the Pakistani Taliban group quickly arrived at the scene and removed the bodies of the insurgents who died Authorities later found the bodies of two children in the rubble of the house which collapsed in the explosion

China and India With Trump set to assume charge as US president, there is a likelihood of higher tariffs on Indian exports

“There’s a lot of businesses that do really great work in India and a l o t o f I n d i a n c o m p a n i e s a r e expanding to the US So the more our countries work together economically, the stronger we’ll be,” Subramanyam said

“India, for instance, is one of the largest democracies, and the U S - I n d i a r e l a t i o n s h i p i s v e r y important to both countries,” he said Subramanyam, 38, is the sixth Indian-American elected to the US House of Representatives

PAK’S PUNJAB DECLARES HEALTH EMERGENCY

A Pakistani province declared a health emergency due to smog and imposed a shutdown in two major cities Smog has choked Punjab for weeks sickening nearly 2 million people and shrouding vast swathes of the province in a toxic haze A senior provincial minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb, announced a host of measures to combat the growing crisis Time off for medical staff is cancelled all education institutions are shut until further notice, restaurants are closing at 4 pm Authorities are imposing a lock down in the cities of Multan and Lahore and halting construction work in those two places Average air quality index readings in parts of Lahore a city of 11 million, exceeded 600 Anything over 300 is considered hazardous to health

in brief

AJAY BANGA LEADS

TIME'S LIST OF CLIMATE LEADERS

Ajay Banga World Bank president; Gaurav Sant, founder of Equatic, and Sandeep Nijhawan who co-founded Electra in 2020, were three Indian Americans featured in Time magazine’s 2024 list of the 100 most influential climate leaders in business These leaders represented a growing movement of individuals driving meaningful progress in the battle against climate change Also included in the list were Sumant Sinha founder and CEO of Indiabased ReNew Madhur Jain CEO of Varaha ClimateAg and London Mayor Sadiq Khan

CARGO SHIP FROM KARACHI ARRIVES AT BANGLA PORT

A cargo vessel from Karachi docked at Chattogram port, marking the inaugural direct maritime connection between Pakistan and Bangladesh This underscores the Muhammad Yunus-led interim govt’s shift in regional approach as it has been working to strengthen ties with Pakistan Pakistan high commissioner Syed Ahmed Maroof described the establishment of the shipping route as a “major step” forward in strengthening trade and business relations “The initiative will accelerate existing trade flows and promote new opportunities for businesses on both sides, from small traders to large exporters ” he said

N KOREA ORDERS MASS PRODUCTION OF SUICIDE DRONES

North Korea s Kim Jong-un guided a test of suicide drones and ordered a mass production of the aerial weapon, saying the introduction of such drones around the world requires an urgent update of military theory Kim had previously supervised the test of suicide drones, earlier in the year amid a rapidly developing military cooperation with Russia, raising questions as to whether he was receiving technical help from Moscow to develop them Also known as loitering munitions, such weapons have been widely used in the war in Ukraine as well as in West Asia “(Kim) underscored the need to build a serial production system as early as possible and go into full-scale mass production,” state news agency KCNA said

X'S RIVAL BLUESKY ADDS 1MN USERS SINCE US POLLS

Social media site Bluesky has gained 1 million new users in the week since the US election, as some X users look for an alternative platform Bluesky said that its total users surged to 15 million, up from roughly 13 million at the end of Oct Championed by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Bluesky was an invitation-only space until it opened to the public in Feb The platform resembles Elon Musk’s X with a discover” feed as well a chronological feed for accounts that users follow Users can send direct messages and pin posts as well as find starter packs that provide a curated list of people and custom feeds to follow

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR NOT WEARING A HIJAB

A woman has been detained for not wearing a hijab while being harassed by a man in Iran s capital of Tehran Footage circulating on X shows a motorcyclist ambushing the victim on a street in the middle of the day She has been identified as Roshanak Molaei Alishah, a Turkish woman from Tabriz in the East Azerbaijan Province In a CCTV video, the 25year-old is seen trying to push off her attacker from his bike What it also shows is that she was not wearing a head covering made mandatory as part of the Islamic Republic’s draconian laws dictating the lives of women and girls in the country

Trump names Tulsi Gabbard as intelligence chief

W AS H IN

Donald Trum p has made a flurry of pi ck s for hi s ca b in

othe r high-ra nki ng adm inistra

ti on s followi ng his election

ctory Tul

chief: Trump has named Tulsi G

representative and critic of the

B

director of national intelligence

Party in 2022 to become an inde-

work If confirmed, she would become the top official in the US

Trump starts his second term in January

Tulsi Gabbard, often mistak-

because of her first name, has no direct links with India Her mother, converted to Hinduism, gave her children Hindu names, and G

Hindu She made history as the first Hindu member of the US Congress Of American Samoan descent, Gabbard took her congressional oath with her hand on the Bhagavad Gita With both European and Samoan ancestry, Gabbard was raised in a multicultural household Her mother was born in Indiana and grew up in Michigan Her father, who is of Samoan and European ancestry, was born in American Samoa and lived in Hawaii and Florida as a child After moving to Hawaii, Gabbard's mother became intere

Hindu names to all her children Gabbard's own name, "Tulsi," is the Sanskrit word for holy basil, regarded as an earthly manifestation of the goddess Tulasi

Musk and Ramaswamy, a former

Efficiency, rewarding two of his well-known supporters from the private sector Trump said that M

reduce government bureaucracy,

agencies

American biotech entrepreneur who drew national attention with his bid for the Republican nomination in the 2024 US presidential election He suspended his campaign in January 2024 and subsequently endorsed Trump R a

high-school class After finishing a bachelor’s degree in biology at Harvard University in 2007, he

future wife, Apoorva Tewari,

medical student (later, a throat

Ramaswamy was 29, he started

Roivant Sciences By 2023 he had made

least

quarter million dollars in personal income from the company Trump's other picks up are: Marco Rubio, secretary of state; M

adviser; Tom Homan, 'border czar'; Karoline Leavit, press secretary and Robert F Kennedy Jr, health boss

worked as a geriatric psychiatrist, and his father, an engineer and patent lawyer at General Electric, moved to the US from Kerala, in the 1970s Ramaswamy was born in 1985 in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he grew up He was a nationally ranked junior tennis player and

Musk’s wealth to hit new heights as deals fire up SpaceX and xAI

Washington: Two of Elon Musk’s private companies are set to s ec ure multi- billion dollar j umps in valuation as investors race to back the sprawling b usiness interes ts of the world’s ric hest man

SpaceX, the largest private company in the US, is preparing to launch a tender offer in December to sell existing shares at about $135 each, according to people with knowledge That would value the rocket builder at more than $250bn, up from about $210bn after a similar deal this year

M e a n w h i l e , M u s k ’ s a r t i f i c i a l i n t e

igence start-up xAI has raised $5bn at a valuation of $45bn, almost double its valuation a few months ago, according to the people

The fund raising come as Musk widens h

Washington, helping to deliver the US election to Donald Trump and becoming a confidant to the president-elect

Trump has appointed Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and f o r m e r p r e s i d e n t i a l h o p e f u l , t o l e a d a department of government efficiency It will give “advice and guidance from outside of government” and “dismantle” bureaucracy, Trump said Musk’s proximity to Trump has also

helped boost the share price of Tesla, the electric-car maker he runs, by almost 30 per cent since last week’s election The value of Musk’s Tesla stake has risen almost $30bn during that time The people close to the xAI fundraising said the deal had been “fully allocated”, meaning all new shares had been assigned to investors, although it will not formally close until the end of the month They added the deal was oversubscribed and featured only investors who had backed t h e s t a r t - u p p r e v i o u s l y T h e s i g n i f i c a n t interest in xAI, which operates a ChatGPT rival called Grok, has fuelled Musk’s efforts to compete with rivals such as OpenAI It has also already prompted speculation on a subsequent fundraising in the first quarter of next year that could value the company at as much as $75bn, according to two of the people Musk’s AI systems are likely to play a critical role across his enterprises, including X, Tesla, SpaceX and Neuralink Musk's new US government leanness committee, greenlit by Trump, shares an acronym with a novelty shiba inu-themed cryptocurrency Musk's SpaceX launches Isro's GSAT-20 satellite Billionaire ELon Musk's SpaceX suc-

India to pursue extradition of Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dalla

cto chie f of the Khal ista

Tige r For ce, Arsh Singh Gill al ia s Arsh Dal la, t he Indian govt said it wil l pursue his ext radition and e x pr

deported to face just ice in India

Dal la, be lieved to b e a n aide of sl a

Hard eep Singh Nijjar, is among the 27 individual s whose extra dition ha d b een sought by India Ottawa has blamed Indian g

N

s reported that India-designated t e r r o r i s t D

l a a l o n g w i t h a n associate had been arrested and charged in connection with a recent shooting in Ontario He’s said to be awaiting a bail hearing

“In view of the recent arrest,

our agencies will be following up on an extradition request Given Arsh Dalla’s criminal record in I n d i

Canada, it is expected that he will be extradited or deported to face justice in India,” said MEA s p

t s circulating since Nov 10 about the Dalla’s arrest in Canada Canadian print and television media have widely reported the arrest and the Ontario Court has also listed the case for hearing The Canadian govt had earlie r r e f u s e d t o a c t o n I n d i a ’ s request for his arrest India has repeatedly stated that its main issue with Canada is the impunity enjoyed by Khalistan separatists targeting Indian interests

Research Organisation’s (Isro) communication satellite, GSAT-N2, from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida

The advanced satellite was carried aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, marking a significant milestone as India’s first collaboration with the global space tech giant

The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 12 01 a

Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral It placed GSAT-N2, developed by New Space India L

chairman and managing director of Nsil, Isro’s commercial arm, said that the satellite had been placed in orbit with precision

This launch is the first of many anticipated commercial collaborations between Isro and SpaceX, highlighting a growing global partnership in the space sector

GSAT-N2, also known as GSAT-20, is a

jointly developed by Isro’s Satellite Centre and Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre It has a data transmission capacity of 48 Gbps and is meant to improve broadband ser-

across India

Canada is our own country, says Khalistan sympathiser

Sur re y : In a t wo- min ute v ira l video - re porte dly shot durin g a 'N aga r Kirt an' pr oce ssion in the Surre y ar ea of Ca nad a's Br itish Columbia , a Kha list a n sy mpathiser is he ar d calling Can adia ns "inva der s" a nd ask ing the m t o “ g o ba ck t o En g la n d a n d Eur ope ” T h e v i d e o s h o w s p e o p l e slowly marching in one direction as religious songs are played in the background Several men can also be seen waving Khalistan flags in the video

“White people are invaders” and “We are owners of Canada”, he is heard saying in the clip, a d d i n g t h a t “ w h i t e C a n a d i a n s should go back to England and Europe”

“This is Canada, our own c o u n t r y Y o u [ C a n a d i a n s ] g o

back," he said The video was posted on X by a user Daniel B o r d m a n “ K h a l i s t a n i s m a r c h around Surrey BC and claim “ we are the owners of Canada” and “white people should go back to Europe and Israel How are we allowing these r*tards to shape our foreign policy?”, he wrote The video has surfaced as ties between India and Canada have c o m e u n d e r s t r a i n f o l l o w i n g Canadian Prime Minister Justin T r u d e a u ' s a l l e g a t i o n s i n S e p t e m b e r l a s t y e a r o f I n d i a ’ s alleged hand in killing Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil

Recently an incident of viol e n c e a g a i n s t H i n d u d e v o t e e s allegedly by Khalistani sympathisers were reported on November 3 at a temple in Brampton

Tulsi Gabbard

Vivek Ramaswamy

Air pollution in Delhi reaches life threatening ‘severe plus’ levels

With air p ollution in Delh i

r eac h i ng li f e th re ate ni ng

‘ sev ere plus’ levels, Sup reme

C ou rt d i rec ted Del h i and NCR states - UP, Haryana, Rajasthan and Pu njab - to strictly enforce stage IV of the Graded Resp onse A ction

P lan ( Grap) and imm ed iately take a call on m easures su ch

a s c lo s i ng sc h o o l s fo r a ll c lasses, allow ing g ov t and p riv ate em ployees to wo rk

f ro m h o m e an d sh u t ti ng

indu stries

I

continue till further orders from the court, even if AQI d r o p s b

severe ’ category threshold

T h e j u d i c i a l c r a c k d o w n came on a day when Delhi

s u f f e r e d a d y s t o p i a n

n i g h t m a r e w i t h a t h i c k l a y e r o f p u n g e n t s m o k e

f i l l i n g t h e a i r T h e d a y ’ s average AQI was 494 at the highest end of ‘severe-plus’,

the worst in eight years and t

average AQI maxed out at 500 at 15 stations at 5pm a n d

even on short exposures to the toxic fumes

The bench of Justices

Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih slammed the “wait and watch” approach of the Commission for Air

Q

(CAQM) in enforcing Grap measures It directed that c

immediately after the AQI

of the met department’s

judges, to wear masks

Pleading for closure of all classes in schools, senior

to court’s notice that Delhi govt was allowing physical classes for classes 10 and 12, a

number of school buses were running on roads to ferry them The court, thereafter, ordered, " States should take an immediate call to stop

standards up to class 12

500,000 elderly citizens aged 70 and above enroll for Ayushman cards

N e a r l y 5 00 , 0 00 se n i or c it i ze n s w h o a r e 70 a n d a bove hav e be en e nroll ed for A y ushm an ca rd s sin ce t he e x pa n s io n of t h e he a l t h a s su r a n ce sch e m e A B -

PMJAY

The highest number of applications for enrollment

w e r e i n M a d h y a P r a d e s h (166,000), followed by Kerala (128,000), UP (69,044) and G u j a r a t ( 2 5 , 4 9 1 ) u n d e r t h e

A y u s h m a n B h a r a t P r a d h a n Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana PM Modi had launched

t h e e x p a n s i o n o f t h e A B -

P M J A Y t o i n c l u d e p e o p l e

a g e d 7 0 a n d a b o v e , regardless of their income, t w o w e e k s a g o T i l l d a t e , more than 500,000 request

f o r e n r o l l m e n t h a v e b e e n received under the yojana, according to data shared by the scheme’s implementing a g e n c y , N a t i o n a l H e a l t h

Authority (NHA) Of these,

4 6 9 , 0 0 0 a p p l i c a t i o n s h a v e been approved

B e f o r e t h e s c h e m e ’ s e x p a n

w o t h e r c a t e g o r i e s o f

workers, for example ASHA workers, were eligible under the scheme, which offers an annual health cover of Rs 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 p e r f a m i l y f o r secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation

“ W e h a v e s h a r e d I E C ( i n f o r m a t i o n ,

n , c

m

c a t i o n )

e r i a l with all states on the topic A s w o r d s p r e a d s , w e a r e c o n f i d e n t t h a t m o r e a n d

m o r e s e n i o r c i t i z e n s w i l l become involved,” an official said

The eligible beneficiaries can apply for the Ayush man

B h a r a t S e n i o r C i t i z e n

S c h e m e t h r o u g h w w w

beneficiary nha gov in or by using the Ayushman app It is a simple process in w

d eligibility through Aadhaar eKYC Aadhaar serves as the p r i m a r y d

beneficiary’s age and state of residence, and it is the only d

explained

The annual premium per

PMJAY is Rs 1,102 at present, i

0 administrative charges

Of this, 60% is paid by the Centre, while the rest is paid by states Sources in the health ministry said the govt is considering an increase in the premium amount paid by the Centre

AAP minister Gahlot resigns from cabinet and party

S e ni o r A A P f un c ti o nar y K a i las h Ga h lo t s tep p ed d own from his ministerial p ositions and resig ned from t h e p art y, s p ark i ng s p e cu l ati o n a bo u t h is p otential mov e to BJP ahead o f upcoming Delhi assembly electio ns Gahlot, AAP’s Jat face in the city and twice MLA from Najafgarh, was a minister since 2017 and in charge of key portfolios in Delhi govt, including home, transport,

I T a n d w o m e n a n d c h i l d d e v e l o p m e n t C M A t i s h i

, official sources said

In his resignation letter to AAP national convener A r v i n d K e j r i w a l , G

c l a i m

d t

t y h a d drifted from its core values He wrote: “Today, AAP faces

g r a v e c h a l l e n g e s t o t h e very values that brought us t o g e t h e r t o (

Saying that many promises have been unfulfilled as a result, he added: “Take for example the Yamuna, which w e h a d p r o m i s e d t o transform into a clean river, b u t n e v

g

u n d t o doing it Now, the river is perhaps even more polluted than ever before ”

11 newborns killed UP hospital fire

A fire a t Maha ra ni Lax mi Bai M ed ica l C olle ge in Jha n si, Ut tar Pr ade sh, tha t t rag ica lly c la i m e d t h e li v e s of 1 1 n ewbor ns ha s been d eeme d a cc id e n t a l, a cc or d in g t o a t w o - me m be r i n v e s t i g a t i v

committ ee r eport

T h e i n c i d e n t , w h i c h occurred in the neonatal wards of the hospital last week, has not resulted in the registration of any First Information Report (FIR) as t h e p a n e l f o u n d n o

e v i d e n c e o f c r i m i n a l conspiracy or negligence

T h e t w o - m e m b e r c o m m i t t e e , w h i c h w a s s u p p o s e d t o s u b m i t i t s

r e p o r t w i t h i n 2 4 h o u r s , c o n s i s t e d o f J h a n s i

Commissioner Vipul Dubey and DIG Range Kalanidhi Nathani The committee s

findings revealed that fire i

could not be controlled as water sprinklers were not installed

D u r i n g t h e i n c i d e n t , two doctors, six nurses and other staff were present in the ward In an attempt to control the fire, one of the nurses suffered burns on her legs

The fire was caused due

quickly to the oxygen concentrator By the time paramedical staff

control However, the

Gahlot also appeared to take a jab at Kejriwal “Apart f r o m t h i s , n o w t h e r e

‘sheeshmahal’ ” he said His reference to the issue comes against the backdrop of BJP functionaries using the term

items and modern facilities

I n h i s l e t t

, G a h l o t further claimed “fighting for our own political agenda h a s s e v e r e l y c r i p p l e d o u r ability to even deliver basic

Delhi It is now obvious that r e a l p r o g r e s s f o

D e l h i cannot happen if Delhi govt spends majority of its time fighting with the Centre ”

64.8% vote in Jharkhand 1st phase, higher than in 2019

Th e ov erall v oter turnout in th e f ir st p h as e o f th e J h ar kh a nd e lec ti o n o n Wed nesday last, for 43 seats, w a s r ec o rd ed at 6 4 8 % , hig her th an 63 7% for these 43 seats in 2019

R u r a l a r e a s , m o s t l y t r i b a l b e l t s i n J M M ’ s s t r o n g h o l d o f K o l h a n d i v i s i o n , s a w b r i s k v o t i n g

s i n c e t h e m o r n i n g , w h i l e

u r b a n a p a t h y l e d t o l o w t u r n o u t s a c r o s s constituencies overlapping Ranchi and Jamshedpur as 137 million voters cast their ballots

A t 7 7 3 2 % K h a r s a w a n (ST seat) saw the highest

t u r n o u t , w h i l e R a n c h i

r e c o r d e d t h e l o w e s t turnout, 51 %

J a m s h e d p u r E a s t a n d

W e s t s e g m e n t s s e t t l e d a t

5 6 7 2 % a n d 5 5 9 5 % ,

r e s p e c t i v e l y “ I n B u d h a

P a h a d a r e a i n G a r h w a district, once considered a s t r o n g h o l d o f e x t r e m i s t s , long queues, and peaceful p o l l i n g a t H e s a t u P o l l i n g station signalled the deep penetration of democratic ethos this polling station was set up in Budha Pahad

a r e a f o r t h e L o k S a b h a

E l e c t i o n s 2 0 2 4 , a l l o w i n g residents to vote in their own village,” the Election Commission said

Even as voters lined up o u t s i d e b o o t h s , h e c t i c campaigning for the second phase of the election for the 38 remaining seats, in the crucial JMM strongholds of t r i b a l h e a r t l a n d S a n t h a l

P a r g a n a a n d c o a l - r i c h Koylanchal, picked up pace

The final phase of voting will be held on Nov 20 Early in the day, Odisha governor

R a g h u b a r D a s v o t e d i n J a m s h e d p u r ( E a s t ) , w h i l e CM Hemant Soren and his wife, Kalpana Soren, Rajya

S a b h a d e p u t y c h a i r m a n Harivansh Narayan Singh, f o r m e r I n d i a n c r i c k e t e r Mahendra Singh Dhoni and other VIPs cast their votes in Ranchi

F o r m e r C M C h a m p a i Soren, who cast his vote in S e r a i k e l a ( S T ) , s a i d B J P w o u l d r i d e h o m e o n t h e issue of infiltration

The INDIA bloc of JMM, C o n g r e s s a n d R J D , a n d NDA, led by BJP Ajsu party and JDU, remained hopeful of a good show in the first phase Of the 43 seats where

voting was held last week, JMM holds the most seats (17), followed by BJP (12) and Congress (9) In 2019, BJP lost all 14 seats to JMM and C o n g r e s s i n t h e c r u c i a l K o l h a n d i v i s i o n , w h i c h c o m p r i s e s J a m s h e d

urban seats and the iron-ore r

h i n t e r l a n d s o f W e s t Singhbhum and SeraikelaKharsawan districts

7 0 55% voting in Gu jarat’s Vav The by-election to the

as per the data shared by poll authorities The counting of

November 23 The Vav

MLA Geniben Thakor, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Banaskantha seat in June Congress candidate and f

Rajput and BJP’s Swaroopji T

Anmol, brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, held in US

An m o l Bi s h n o i, y o u n ge r broth er o f notoriou s gangster Lawrenc e Bis hnoi, is learnt to h a v e b e en de ta in e d in Sacramento , US T he F BI is learnt to be in th e p ro cess o f verif ying h is identity, po ssibly th rough a voice samp le or a DNA m atch, sou rces said The US agency officials, who had earlier this month

c o n f i r m e d h i s

c e

A m e r i c a , a r e i n t o u c h w i t h Indian agencies for subsequent p r o c e s s e s , i n c l u d i n g h i s deportation

A n m o l , w h o h a s a r e d notice issued against him by Interpol, is accused in several h i g h - p r o f i l e c a s e s , i n c l u d i n g t

S i d d i q u e , a f o r m e r

Maharashtra minister, and the f i r i n g i n c i d e n t o u t s i d e

B o l l y w o o d a c t o r S a l m a n

Khan's residence in Mumbai

T h e N a t i o n a l I n v e s t i g a t i o n

Agency had in Oct announced a reward of Rs 10,00,000 on Anmol, shortly after his alleged

r o l e e m e r g e d i n S i d d i q u e ’ s murder

S u b s e q u e n t l y , M

Police have approached court

Anmol’s extradition and also sent a communication to the M E A t h r o u g h t h e h o m e ministry

Anmol’s notoriety extends to a litany of crimes, with 18 cases registered against him

T h e s e c a s e s e n c o m p a s s a range of offences, including e

w o

Anmol aka Bhanu, a resident of Fazilka in Punjab, is named in two chargesheets filed by N I A i n c a s e s r e g i s t e r e d i n 2022 Last year, NIA had filed a chargesheet against a dozen i

Lawrence Bishnoi and Anmol

Kailash Gahlot

Anmol Bishnoi

SC bans ‘bulldozer justice’, calls it unconstitutional, drafts norms

I m p os i n g a pa n I n d i a b a n on

i n s t a nt ‘ b ul ld oz e r j us t i c e ’ , Supreme Court said demoli tion of a ci tiz en ’ s house merely because he is an ac cused or even a convict, t hat too wi thout followi ng the due process as prescribed by law, will be “ totally uncons tituti onal”

It laid down a lengthy process for razing illegal structures and ruled that a state cannot breach a family’s right to shelter by demolishing their house only because one of its members is accused of a heinous crime

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan, which had

demolition of houses and proper-

accused in many states, especially in UP, ordered strict compliance

quences for officers indulging in

wanton demolition of private properties Violation of any of the directions would lead to initiation of contempt proceedings in addition to prosecution of officers If demolition is found to be in violation of orders of this court, the officers would be held responsib

e demolished property at his/their cost in addition to payment of damages,” the bench said

Beginning the 95-page judgment by quoting famous Hindi poet Pradeep to illuminate the

Putin’s plan to visit India fuels scepticism

Russian P resident Vlad imir

P utin is set to vi sit I nd ia soo n, with specific dates to b e a nno u n ce d s h o rtl y, accord ing to Krem lin p ress secretary Dmitry Peskov

He stated, "We hope to finalise the dates soon and

importance of shelter for a family, Justice Gavai said, “The chilling sight of a bulldozer demolishing a building, when authorities have failed to follow the basic principles of natural justice and have a c t e d w i t h o u t a d h e r i n g t o t h e principle of due process, reminds one of a law less state of affairs, where ‘might was right’ ” Justice Gavai pointed out that mere registration of an FIR naming a person, even in a heinous c

embodied in the concept of ‘innocent till proven guilty in a court of law’ “The executive cannot pre-

judge the guilt of an accused and p r o n o u n c e a d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e punishment, that too demolition of a house,” he said “In our Constitution, which rests on the foundation of ‘the rule of law’, such highhanded and arbitrary actions have no place

Such excesses at the hands of the executive will have to be dealt with by the heavy hand of the law

Our constitutional ethos and values would not permit any such abuse of power, and such misadventures cannot be tolerated by the court of law,” Justice Gavai said

US-provided weapons

White House has not

Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the reports,

Prime Minister Modi's two visits to Russia, we are now l o o k i n g f

President's visit to India "

h

K r e m l i n s p o k e s p e r s o n

Dmitry Peskov highlighted Russia's role in India-China relations, noting the bilater-

a l m e e t i n g b e t w e e n t h e i r leaders in Kazan was a posi-

entirely a bilateral initiative, with no interference from us, though we ’ re ready to

h e l p n o r m a l i s e r e l a t i o n s

b e t w e e n o u r f r i e n d s , " h e said

Addressing India's par-

t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e Q u a d ,

P e s k o v a d d e d , " I n d i a respects and values its cooperation with Russia, but as a sovereign nation, it seeks b e n e f i t s i n a l l d i r e c t i o n s , which we fully understand "

This will mark Putin's first visit to India since the R u s s i a - U k r a i n e c o n f l i c t began in 2022 His last visit was on December 6, 2021, when he travelled to New

D e l h i f o r t h e 2 1 s t I n d i aRussia Annual Summit with P r i m e M i n i s t e r N a r e n d r a Modi

W i t h t h e R u s s i a n P

l inevitably focus on India s diplomatic stance Known for its balanced approach, India rarely takes sides in c o n f l i c t s a n d c

advocates for peace

However, a Putin visit, especially amidst the ongoi n g R u s s i a - U k r a i n e w a r , could stir reactions, particularly from Western nations

W h i l e a T

cantly, other Western allies could perceive the visit as c o n

optics could risk backfiring on India, complicating its delicate balance of maintaining global partnerships while pursuing its independent foreign policy Ukraine to use US weapons to strike Ru ssia

Outgoing US President

J o e B i d e n h a s r e p o r t e d l y allowed Ukraine to use the

words The missiles will speak for themselves ” Polish Foreign

the move, saying it sends

message in “ a language that

stands

In response, Putin for-

threshold for using nuclear weapons, a move that risks escalating the war further

catastrophic consequences, endangering global stability,

worldwide

With two months left in office, President Joe Biden's

January 20 Trump and his team have expressed scepticism about strong support for Ukraine, raising uncertainty over whether he will reverse the move to allow Ukraine to use the US-sup-

Russia

Mrs Satwant K Marwa passed away at a Birmingham Hospice on 16 November 2024 aged 85 years She is survived by her daughter Harpreet K Sarai and granddaughter Miah K Sarai Satwant was born in Nairobi, Kenya on 2 March 1939 She was one of six children of Dalip Singh Matharu and Harnam Kaur Matharu Her father tragically lost his life in December 1946 when, responding to the cries of help from an Indian lady who had been attacked by an African, he was stabbed in the hear by the assailant

Satwant’s mother, widowed at the age of 32, was to suffer recurring bouts of unconsciousness for several years thereafter Satwant, aged only seven years at the time, had to undertake the catering and household needs of her three older and two younger brothers, her widowed mother and her paternal grandfather, who had lost his only son

Satwant’s eldest brother, the late U K Judge Sir Mota Singh QC, 16 years of age at the time of his father’s death, became the family head and discharged his responsibilities in full measure as a father figure to his siblings until they were all educated and married

Satwant was married in India in 1960 to Ajaib Singh Marwa but returned to Nairobi with her husband and then migrated to the U K in 1967 Throughout her life, Satwant never ceased praying for the well-being and happiness her brothers and their families

Th e Com pet it ion Co mm is si on of In d ia (C CI) ordered WhatsApp to s top sharing user data w ith other companies within the f old of its paren t Meta, w hich has been s lapped a f ine of £21 3mn f or abus ing its “domin an t pos ition” following chang es to the messag in g platf orm s privacy polic y in 2021 WhatsApp, which can challenge the order, has been directed to change its policies and ensure that users are given the choice to opt out of the data-sharing arrangement It has also been asked to give users an optionthrough a prominent tab - to review and modify their choice

Three years ago, WhatsApp, the dominant player among over-the-top (OTT) messaging platforms in the country, changed its 2016 poli c y o n s h a r i n g d a t a

removed the earlier option to opt out “The commission has concluded that the 2021 policy update by WhatsApp on a ‘take-it-or-leaveit’ basis constitutes an imposition of unfair condition under the (Competition) Act, as it

compels all users to accept expanded data collection terms and sharing of data within Meta Group without any opt out,” CCI said in a statement

It added that the updated privacy policy was an abuse of dominant position by Meta, given its network effects, and lack of effective alternatives

T h e C C I

g o f WhatsApp user data by the social media giant - whose offerings include the hugely popular Facebook and Instagram - for purposes other than providing the messaging platform’s services created an entry barrier for rivals, denying them access to the market for display advertisements Over the years, WhatsApp has argued that messages on its platform were encrypted and it denied access to govts even in cases of crises or law and order situations, but the CCI probe indicates that certain user information was being used to throw up ads while using Facebook

In Loving Memory

Late Zaviben Vershi Nagda

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Late Zaviben Vershi Nagda, who departed this world on 16 November, 2024, at the age of 98 in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

Late Zaviben was a beloved matriarch, deeply loved and respected by her family and community. As the beloved mother of Shri Kantibhai Nagda MBE, our esteemed Special Adviser and CEO of the Sangat Advice Centre, she played a pivotal role in shaping the values and dedication to service that he exemplifies today.

CB Patel and the entire ABPL team, extend their heartfelt condolences to Shri Kantibhai Nagda and the entire Nagda family during this difficult time. May her soul find eternal peace, and may the family find strength in the loving memories of her remarkable life. Om Shanti: Shanti: Shanti:

Wife of : Late Vershi Bhoja Nagda

Mother of : Kanti Nagda, Pushpa Hansraj Gosrani, Mahendra Nagda, Mukta Rashik Shah

Mother-in-law of : Bhanu Nagda,, Ela Mahendra Nagda

Vladimir Putin

SOUTH INDIA

Row in Karnataka over 4% quota for Muslims in

B E N G A L U R U : A

c

K arnataka had propo

M uslim s in civ il co ntracts

C M S iddaramaiah publicly

d is m i s s ed a ny s u ch

govt contracts

d ocuments emerged hours later indi cating that the p rocess had indeed been initiated at his directive

A

Ashoka and BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal shared a govt note on X, showing

Procurement Act

The amendment seeks to reserve 4% of govt contracts valued up to £100,000 for Muslims and was proposed after a petition from CM’s political secretary Nasir Ahmed and several MLCs

Ashoka accused CM of “messing up

Yatnal seconded the criticism, calling

the CM’s denial a “series of falsehoods” He pointed to

amend the Act

official WhatsApp group: “It is true that a demand for reservation has come But there is no

reservation

However, APMC minister Shivanand Patil defended the proposal, asserting

giving reservations to economically and educationally backward minorities “In a democracy, everyone has the right to demand reservation,” Patil said, adding that “not only poor Muslims, even poor

Lingayats are also seeking reservation ”

The debate comes amid heightened

particularly for Muslims Last year, BJP govt had scrapped the 4% reservation for Muslims under the OBC category

Wayanad sees low turnout of 64.72% in Priyanka’s debut contest

W AY AN AD: Th e Wayanad Lo k Sabh a constituency, which marks Co ngress leader P riyanka Gandhi’s first electoral contest, rec orded a vo ter turnout of 64 72 per cent in th e by-election h eld last w eek This is th e lo west turnou t since th e c onstituency’s incep tion in 2009

Of the 1 47 million eligible voters, 952,543 cast their votes, including 497,788 women District Collector DR Meghashree confirmed that no untoward incidents were reported during polling

Gandhi vacated the seat to retain his Rae Bareli seat in Uttar Pradesh A bypoll was also held in the Chelakkara Assembly constituency in Kerala’s Thrissur district, where voter turnout reached 72 54 per cent

In comparison, Wayanad recorded a turnout of 72 92 per cent in the general election earlier this year, a drop from 80 33 per cent in 2019, when Rahul Gandhi first contested from the seat

This time, Priyanka faces competition from CPI’s Sathyan Mokeri and BJP’s Navya Haridas The dip in voter participation comes as the Congress aimed for a “majority of 500,000 votes” for Priyanka

To bolster her campaign, AICC general secretaries KC Venugopal and Deepa Dasmunsi camped in the constituency, joining Priyanka during her meetings Congress MLAs were assigned to oversee Assembly

toured all panchayats to strengthen grassroots support

Two months after Akal Takht finds him guilty, Badal quits as SAD chief

C H A N D I G A R H : O v er tw o months after Akal Takh t - the highest temporal seat of S ikhsd eclared S h iro m ani A kali Dal (SAD) presid ent Sukhbir Singh Bad al ‘ tankhaiya’, or g uilty of relig ious misconduct, he sent h is res i g na ti o n t o t h e p a rty ’ s working comm ittee

Badal, 62, has stepped down ahead of the election for the post of party president, officebearers and members of the w o r k i n g c o m m i t t e e , d u e o n Dec 14

This is the first time in more than three decades that SAD would not have a Badal at the helm Though the late Parkash Singh Badal had remained chief

minister twice till 1980, he was not party president during the p e r i o d T h e p h a s e o f h i s hegemonic and familial control over the party started only after 1995 SAD functionary and former c a b i n e t m i n i s t e r D a l j i t S i n g h

Cheema said Badal had stepped

down to pave the way for the election of the new president

The party’s working

n g committee’s meeting to

course of action A day before

, Badal had appointed Bhunder as the party’s working president I

i r was the first to take the reins of t h

n

2008 As the Badals centralised all powers in their hands and

Sporadic incidents of violence mar bypolls in Bengal

K O LK AT A: Sporadic inc idents of unre st marre d the Wes t Bengal b ypoll s, wit h a local TM C work er As hok Shaw dying f oll owing a crude bomb att ack in Bhatpar a, an area adjoining Naihati as sem bly c ons tituency

The attack sparked political accusations of voter intimidation The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has sought a report regarding the incident The incident drew immediate political reactions, with BJP leader Arjun Singh accusing the TMC of using intimidation tactics to instill fear

a m o n g v o t e r s

constituencies

According to the CEO's office, polling remained largely peaceful in the byelections

constituencies with a voter turnout of 70 per cent

A c c o

complaints were filed, including 16 from

accused TMC workers of engaging in voter intimidation in various areas, particularly in Haroa, Madarihat, Sitai, and Taldangra constituencies The state's ruling party has dubbed the allegations as baseless Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari

threats across multiple booths in various

seats," a claim the TMC has dismissed as an attempt to discredit its position in the polls

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh called the

narratives to undermine the ruling party s electoral prospects

"It is TMC workers who are getting killed, and the opposition is blaming us The BJP and the opposition are trying to

alleged

The CPI (M)-led Left Front and the Congress are contesting the by-elections separately for the first time since 2021, following a recent change in the Bengal Congress leadership The Left Front has announced candidates for five of the six seats, including one CPI(ML) nominee The Congress has fielded candidates in all six assembly segments Votes will be counted on November 23

NORTH-EAST Protests rock Manipur, homes of CM kin and ministers attacked

M ani p u r ’ s v al ley d i s tr ic ts p lu

e d i n to v iolence as protesters torched property and attacked hom es of ministers and MLA s in Im phal, following the discovery of six bod ies in the Barak riv er in conflict-ridd en Jiribam o ver th e past two d ays State govt imposed a curfew in Imphal East, Imphal West and Bishnupur districts indefinitely and suspended internet and mobile data services in Imphal East, Imphal W e s t , B i s h n u p u r , T h o u b a l

, Kangpokpi, and Churachandpur to curb the spread of hate speech and inflammatory videos

The deceased are suspected to be six missing inmates from a camp for displaced Meiteis near the site where security forces killed 10 Hmar men on Nov 11 While the forces described them as militants, the KukiZ

volunteers

Protesters accused ministers and MLAs of failing to curb the escalating violence They also opposed re-imposition of AFSPA

legislators, including CM N Biren Singh’s

, Raghumani Singh, and Sapam Kunjakeswor were attacked Independent MLA Sapam N

Protesters also stormed the homes of health

SAD became synonymous with them, the blame for all missteps and failures, too, started falling on them, especially after the sacrilege incidents of 2015

In 1999, when Badal Senior controlled everything, from the organisation to the state, the Akal Takht jathedar was sacked a t h i s b e h e s t N o w , h i s s o n Sukhbir is facing the toughest challenge of his political career from the Akal Takht

While some view Sukhbir’s move as a calculated attempt to reclaim credibility, others see it a s a n i n e v i t a b l e r e s p o n s e t o mounting pressure from Sikh h i g h p r i e s t s a n d i n t e r n a l dissent

RG Kar case: Police try to prevent reporters from hearing accused's voice

B l o w in g t h e h o rn o f th e p r is o n ve h icl e and s la p p ing i ts b od y, Ko l ka ta P o lic e brou gh t R G Kar Medic al Co llege and Hos pital rape- murder accu sed Sanjay Ro y to Sealdah co urt in an app arent attemp t to prevent jo urnalists fro m h earing his voice

Roy had made certain remarks against former Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Goyal and claimed his innocence when he was being taken out of the prison van before being produced before Sealdah court

To prevent Roy from speaking during his appearance, police constantly honked the vehicle's horn and slapped its body as he was escorted to the court building, eyewitnesses said Police also replaced the van with a smaller one to transport Roy to avoid further disruptions Roy had been presented before the court as part of the ongoing trial, which is being heard on a day-to-day basis

So far, nine witnesses have testified in the trial, which is being conducted under Additional District a n d S e s s i o n s J u d g e A n i r b a n D a s T h e C B I i s investigating the case following an order from the Calcutta High Court The body of the on-duty doctor, who had been working at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, was discovered in the seminar room of the facility on August 9 The crime led to nationwide outrage and prolonged protests by junior doctors in Kolkata, demanding justice for the victim

affairs minister L Susindro Singh in Imphal M

violence since May 3, 2023, claiming over 240 lives and displacing over 60,000 Centre reimposes AFSPA in 6 areas The Centre restored the ‘disturbed area ’ status of six police stations across Manipur’s five districts - Imphal West, Imphal East, Jiribam, Kangpokpi and Bishnupur - under t

Powers) Act, 1958, amid the recent spurt in ethnic strife in these areas The grounds cited were continuing “volatile situation” and “ongoing ethnic violence” in the state and “intermittent firing” in “fringe areas of B i s h n

and Kangpokpi-Imphal West and Jiribam, with several instances of active participation o

violence”

Nagaland cabinet heading to Delhi to meet Shah on political dialogue

W ith th e N SC N- IM threatening to go back to jungles du e to delay in th e reso lution o f th e N aga po litical dialo gue w ith Government of I ndia, the N agal and cabinet has decided to m eet bo th nego tiating parties at the earlies t, o fficial s ourc es s aid

A delegation of Nagaland cabinet led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his deputies T R Zeliang and Y Patton are scheduled to leave for Delhi to meet union home minister Amit Shah to press for expediting the Naga political negotiations, the sources said I n a s t a t e m

secretary Th Muivah has alleged that the Centre was "deliberately refusing" to honour the key provisions of the historic agreement, s

national flag and constitution"

Threatening "violent armed conflict", the NSCN-IM on November 7 sought a thirdparty intervention to address the impasse over the Naga political issue The group, which has maintained ceasefire since 1997, accused the C

Agreement signed on August 3, 2015 In an interview, Zeliang had said that a cabinet meeting held during the day had

minister and also the NSCN-IM leadership

Siddaramaiah

Sukhbir Singh Badal

PM Modi backs global alliance against hunger, poverty

Ba ck in g Bra zi l’s

Pov erty” at the G20

s core d In dia’s concerns for the dev eloping world as

countri es are most

l y i mp acted by the

caus ed b y confli cts

Speaking at the session titled ‘Social Inclusion and the Fight Against Hunger and Poverty’, the PM Modi also drew attention to the need for reforms of global institutions saying the G20 will work towards achieving that objective “And just as we amplified the voice of the Global South by grant-

i

ship of G20 to the African U n i o n d u

reform institutions of glob-

successful if challenges and

South are kept in mind

The G20 sessions on the

were focused on fighting

also on reforms of global institutions of governance Modi said that the peoplecentric decisions taken at the G20 Summit in New Delhi had been taken forward during Brazil’s presidency and it was a matter of great satisfaction that G20

PM Modi meets world leaders at Brazil G20 summit

M ac ron were among

of w or ld l ea de r s who Pr im

Narendra M odi met on the sidelines of t he ongoing G20 Summ it in Braz il 's Rio De Janeiro

The Prime Minister also met his British, Norwegian, Portuguese and Spanish counterparts Keir Starmer, Jonas Gahr Store, Luis Montenegro and Pedro Sanchez, respectively, on Monday, as well as the Indonesian and South Korean Presidents Prabowo Subianto and Yoon Sukyeol Regarding his interaction with Biden, he said it was "always a delight" to meet the American leader PM Modi shared a picture of their meeting, while a video also surfaced online, showing the two shaking hands during the Summit

Paralympics in Paris earlier this year

Another comprehensive meeting was with

which PM Modi expressed eagerness to work closely in areas such as technology, green energy, security, innovation and technology

had prioritised SDG goals “We focused on inclusive development, womenled development, and youth power And gave wings to the hopes and aspirations of the Global South It is clear that One Earth One Family One Future is as relevant at this summit as it was last year, ’’ said Modi Listing India’s achievements in tackling poverty, Modi said that over the past 10 years, India had lifted 250 million people out of poverty and that over 800 m

cost He said India is also contributing to global food security and has provided

recently to Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe

P ledge to figh t terror and extremism E

Tinubu committed to jointly fight terrorism, violent

Modi for what was the first visit by an Indian PM to the West African country in 17

opening

chapter in

importance India attaches to its strategic partnership with Nigeria

three MoUs - on cultural exchange, customs cooperation and survey cooperation - were signed “Had a very productive discussion with

P

During his meeting with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, PM Modi discussed ways to strengthen ways to deepening ties in defence, security, trade and technology

"We also talked about how to boost cooperation in culture, education and other areas India-Italy friendship can greatly contribute to a better planet," he tweeted

With French President Macron, PM Modi discussed ways to continue working in sectors s

Intelligence and also congratulated him on the hosting of the Olympic Games and the

Partnership with the UK is of immense priority We also want to add strength to trade as well as cultural linkages, he tweeted

Prime Minister Modi also had brief interactions with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah AlSisi, IMF First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath and European Commission chief Ursula Von Der Leyen

After the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Guyana from November 19 to 21 at the invitation of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali This visit will make him the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Guyana in over 50 years

Indian aviation makes history, records 500,000 passengers in a single day

I ndian aviation made histo ry on N ovember 17, 2 0 2 4 w i th ai rl i ne s c a r ry in g o ve r 5 00, 00 0 dom estic pass engers in a s ingle day, fo r the f irs t time in the history All airl ines together c arried 5,05,412 do mes tic p ass engers ac ros s

3 ,17 3 do m es tic dep art ur es T h is ma rks th e s teady p ush fo r the l as t two weeks with days o f p eaks in air traff ic, November 8 recording 490,000 pas sengers, No vem ber 9 rep orting 496,000 p assengers Th is w as fol lowed by N ov 14 and Nov 15 recording 497,000, 499,000 pass engers, and No v 16 rec ording 498,000 pas sengers until th e final mark was made

T h i s c o m e s a m i d a r e l a t i v e l y m u t e d October leading up to Diwali and IndiGo announcing its Q2-FY25 results just before Diwali and reporting a loss after seven consecutive quarters of profit IndiGo had then mentioned that yields have normalised from the earlier high yield environment This is also an indicator that traffic is moving post Diwali rather than during Diwali with the wedding season kicking off and there is a remarkable shift from school holiday centric traffic to festivities centric traffic

The deployment of flights has been hovering at an average of 3,161 per day, this month This is about 8 flights a day more than the previous month but lower than what airlines managed to deploy during peak Diwali days

T h i s m i l e s t o n e i s a t e s t a m e n t t o t h e resilience of the Indian aviation sector, which has faced numerous challenges in the past, including the Covid-19 pandemic from which it has recovered faster than IATA’s estimate The industry's ability to adapt to changing circumstances and capitalise on emerging opportunities has been instrumental in its growth

As the country continues to develop and its economy expands, the demand for air travel is expected to further increase This presents a significant opportunity for the aviation sector to contribute to India's overall growth and development Traditionally aviation growth is twice the GDP growth India’s GDP is growing in the range of 6% to 7 5% but the aviation growth has been steady around 5%, largely due to lack of capacity The new milestone is a psychological push and could well lay the path ahead for 2025

momentum to our strategic p a r t n e r s h i p T h e r e i s immense scope for

education and more,

said Modi in

post on X Modi hono ured As Nigeria conferred its

Commander of the Order of Niger - on Modi for his contribution in fostering bilat-

between the two countries and their shared commitment to the aspirations of

recalled the African Union’s inclusion in G20 at the sum-

year

India tests first hypersonic ‘game changer’ missile

In a sig nificant develo pment amid the frenetic race among Ch ina, Russia and the U S to d ev elop and dep loy hypersonic weapons, India h as tested its first long-range m issile that is manoeuv rable mid fligh t and flies ov er five tim es the speed of sound to ev ad e enemy missile d efence systems

T h e h y p

carry various payloads for ranges over 1,500 km, was “successfully flight-tested” from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha last week, a defence ministry official said

The missile, which flew at Mach 6 speed, w

deployed in multiple domains

“The flight data obtained from down range ship stations confirmed the successful terminal manoeuvres and impact with high d e g

Defence minister Rajnath Singh said the flight-trial has propelled India into a group of select nations that has the capability to develop such “critical and advanced military technologies”

Former DRDO chairman G Satheesh Reddy said the missile is “ a game changer” with multiple applications in Army, Navy and IAF “A missile of this range with hypersonic velocities will provide a decisive edge

to India ”

The missile, with the speed of a ballistic missile as well as the manoeuvring capability of a cruise missile, of course, will have to be fine-tuned with several tests over the next few years before it is ready for production and deployment

The naval version will be geared towards destroying enemy warships at long ranges with pinpoint precision, an official said With their capability to defeat existing missile and air defence systems due to superfast speeds, high-manoeuvrability and low altitudes of flight, hypersonic weapons have become a major focus area for major military powers

T h e t w o m a i n t y p e s o f h y p e r s o n i c weapons are cruise missiles that are powered by air-breathing engines or “scramjets” during their entire flight and “glide vehicles” t h a t a r e l

before gliding to their targets at speeds over Mach 5

China and Russia are ahead of the US in d e s i

y m a n o

a b l e hypersonic weapons for use with nuclear warheads In July 2021, for instance, China’s test of a nuclear-capable missile carrying a hypersonic glide vehicle and warhead had sent shockwaves around the globe

AR Rahman and wife Saira Banu part ways

Saira Banu on Tuesday anno unced separation from h er husband and Oscar-w inning m usic com po ser AR Rahm an, s aying the “d ecision co mes after significant emotional strain in their relationsh ip ”

Saira’s lawyer Vandana Shah released a statement regarding the couple’s decision to part ways

“After many years of marriage, Saira has made the difficult decision to separate from her husband AR Rahman This decision comes after significant emotional strain in their relationship Despite their deep love for

each other, the couple has found that the tensions and difficulties have created an insurmountable gap between them, one that neither party feels able to bridge at this time

Saira emphasised that she has taken this

requests privacy and understanding from the public during this challenging time, as she navigates this difficult chapter in her life,” the statement read Rahman and Saira, who tied the knot in

, Raheema, and son Ameen

700 kg of drugs seized in Gujarat’s Porbandar

The Indian Navy, in a joint operation with the Na r c ot ic s C ont r ol B ur ea u (NC B) a nd t he Gujara t Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS), seized approximat ely 700 k g of metham phetam ine drugs fr om a boat on the c oa st of Guja rat’s Porb anda r E ight acc us ed fr om an int ernational drug c artel were apprehended by the agenc ies and taken f or ques tioning to the Spe cial Operations Group department

“This is the second major successful coordinated anti-narcotics operations at sea by the Navy this year Committed to ensuring a safe & secure maritime environment, while preventing illegal use of the seas, ” the Navy posted on X

A senior official who was part of the raid said that the gang was busted based on a tipoff received by the central NCB that a boat h e a d i n g t

n waters was concealing a consignment of MD drugs The officer said, “The raid was carried out late at night, intercepting an unregistered, suspicious boat in the middle of the waters As per the input, the contraband was found Eight persons, who were on the boat, were apprehended ” The security agencies are currently verifying the accused’s nationalities as no documents were found on their person, the official added “They said that they primarily arrived from Iran,” he said

Narendra Modi

Jaishankar launches website, NRIs

can register now for Pravasi

Bharatiya Divas

Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and people of Indian origin l iving a broad and de siring to a tte nd the Pr ava si Bha rat iy a Diva s (PB D), 2 0 25 , ca n n o w

he

A web site with al l deta il s an d the registrat ion p r oce ss wa s l au nch ed b y In d ia 's ex t e rn a l a ffairs minister S Jaishank ar and minist er of Odisha Mohan Chara n Ma jhi

The PBD-2025 is to be held from January 8 to 10 at Bhubaneswar, Odisha The ministry of external affairs said the launch of the PBD website marks the commencement of online r

convention

The website will also facilitate reservation of accommodation in Odisha The theme of t h e P B D c o n v e n t i o n i s " D i a s p o r a ’ s contribution to a Viksit Bharat” It will be i n a u g u r a t

M

Modi A youth edition of PBD will be held in partnership with the ministry of youth affairs and sports President Droupadi Murmu will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards and preside over the valedictory session

While launching the website, Jaishankar s a i d P

M

interactions with the diaspora during his

official visits abroad and the unwavering support of the latter to India’s growth story are a testimony to the strong bonds shared between India and its global community The EAM expressed confidence that the Indian diaspora will continue to play an important role in India’s march towards a Viksit Bharat The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated to

Gandhi in India from South Africa on January 9, 1915

India has been celebrating the Pravasi

country The last Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held at Indore in Madhya Pradesh in 2023

560,000 Indians migrated to rich OECD countries in 2022

Each year, Indians continue th eir j ourney o verseas, with many d rawn to rich natio ns like the US, U K, and Canada - countries w it h in th e O rg an i za

C ooperatio n and Dev elopment (OECD) that h av e historically opened doo rs to them

W h e t h e r a s n e w i m m i g r a n t s , international students, or those acquiring citizenship, Indians dominate the charts in i m m i g r a t i o n f l o w s t o O E C D n a t i o n s

However, recent protectionist policies hint that the open path may be narrowing Year 2022 proved to be a landmark year: a record 560,000 Indians moved to OECD countries - a substantial 35% jump over the previous year India maintained its lead as the top source of new migrants, with China following at 320,000 Indians made up 6 4% of all new immigrants to OECD countries, while China contributed 3 8%

A notable shift was Russia’s rise in the migration ranks With 260,000 Russians migrating to OECD nations in 2022, Russia surged from 18th place to displace Romania

The International Migration Outlook

2024, detailed these shifts In 2022, the UK welcomed 112,000 Indians, nearly double the figure from 2021, while 125,000 Indians migrated to the US, marking a 35% increase Canada, however, saw a dip with 118,000 Indians, an 8% decline from the previous y e a r I n

pathways, often as principal applicants or as accompanied family members

C

n t migration following two years of Covidrelated restrictions In 2022, over 300,000

C h i n e s e i m m i g

countries, up 13% from the previous year

Particularly in the US, migration flows from China jumped by 37%, returning to prepandemic levels with 68,000 new arrivals Russia and Romania, which contributed 270,000 new immigrants each, were the next top origin countries Türkiye, Israel, and Germany emerged as the primary OECD d e s t

, o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , l a r g e l y headed to Germany, Spain, and Italy

India is the capital of untreated diabetics: Lancet

India has the hig hest num ber of people with u n tre ate d d i ab et es , c lai m s a n ew s tu d y p ublished in The L ancet medical journal

According to the study, an estimated 828 million adults (aged 18 years and older) had diabetes in 2022 Of these, over a quarter (212 m i l l i o n ) l i v e d i n I n d i a , f o l l o w e d b y 1 4 8 million in China, 42 million in the US, 36 million in Pakistan, 25 million in Indonesia, and 22 million in Brazil

The study was carried out by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) - a g l o b a l n e t w o r k o f h e a l t h s c i e n t i s t s t h a t provides rigorous and timely data on risk f a c t o r s f o r n o n - c o m m u n i c a b l e d i s e a s e s (NCDs) for 200 countries and territories, in collaboration with WHO

Senior author professor Majid Ezzati of Imperial College London, said the study highlights widening global inequalities in diabetes, with treatment rates stagnating in

m a n y l o w a n d m i d d l e - i n c o m e c o u n t r i e s where numbers of adults with diabetes are drastically increasing

“This is especially concerning as people with diabetes tend to be younger in low-

Tipu Sultan’s sword sells for £340,000 in auction

The “sword with the shiny blade”, believed to have been part of Tipu Sultan’s armoury and the provenance of which can be traced back to the Battle of Seringapatam, sold at Bonhams auction house for £340,000 The sword has an unbroken provenance taking it back to the 1799 battle in which Tipu met his end It’s been in the hands of the British family whose ancestor was given the sword for his service in the battle The “steel tulwar” has the Tiger of Mysore’s hallmark “bubri (tiger stripe)” decoration adorning the hilt and the Arabic letter “ha” inlaid in gold on the blade, a reference to Tipu’s father, Hyder Ali The sword was presented to Captain James Andrew Dick in recognition of his service at Seringapatam and remained in the Dick family till June 2024

Japanese vlogger praises Bengaluru airport's Terminal 2

The Terminal-2 (T2) of Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has added one more admirer to its long list of admirers After being named one of the ‘World's Most Beautiful Airports' by Unesco and earning praise from a Silicon Valley CEO, among a plethora of others, a vlogger from Japan couldn't help but fall in love with it as well Kiki Chen, who goes by chromatic charms on Instagram, expressed her appreciation for the creativity that has gone into designing the airport

Chen shared a video on the social media platform giving a virtual tour of Terminal 2 of Bengaluru Airport The clip showed event spaces, entertainment areas, Nicobar lounge and more “With outdoor retail, event spaces, and entertainment areas India's best airport terminal! Everything built with bamboo even the check in counters,” the influencer captioned the post “Can't believe I was in the airport at India,” the text on the clip read Since being shared, the video has garnered more than 16 million views The T2 of KIA was also awarded the 'World Special Prize for an Interior 2023' by Unesco's Prix Versailles

Autistic boy, assaulted by Mercedes driver, gets SUV as gift

A 10-year-old autistic boy from California who was slapped by an irate Mercedes driver a few months ago received the surprise of his life recently when he was given an SUV The incident, which occurred in July 2024, was caught on camera and went viral, causing massive outrage In the footage, Alfredo Morales was seen seated on a bus bench alongside his older sister when a visibly angry man, identified as Scott Sakajian, slapped him in the face The incident reportedly occurred after Alfredo touched the emblem on the hood of Sakajian's $1,46,000 Mercedes-Benz sedan The incident led to Sakajian being charged with child cruelty and battery Alfredo's family, who had been living out of a heavily worn 2010 Ford F-150 due to financial hardship, soon became the focus of local support On November 11, 2024, when they took their vehicle to Airport Marina Ford in Los Angeles for repair, the dealership surprised them with a brand-new 2023 Ford Explorer, worth around $36,000 Dan Theroux, the general manager at Airport Marina Ford, was quoted as saying that Morales' old truck required costly replacements, including a new transmission and engine

GenZ employee's unique excuse for showing up late

A recent incident involving a young employee's late arrival to work has ignited a lively discussion on social media The employee, who had stayed late the night before, cited this as the reason for their tardiness The situation, shared by advocate Ayushi Doshi on X, has polarized opinions The screenshot read, "Hii Sir & Ma'am I will be coming tomorrow at 11 30 am Because I am currently leaving office at 8 30 pm " Doshi said she was left speechless after reading the message, "I can't believe my junior sent me this Today's kids are something else He stayed late, so now he's going to show up late to the office to make up for it What a move I am speechless mahn In a follow-up tweet, Doshi clarified, To everyone commenting, let me clarify the situation He was given a 3 deadline to complete a task that usually requires at least one full day of work His working hours were from 10 am to 7 pm, but if he wasn't able to finish within that time frame, he had to put in an barely 1 5 hours to complete the task The issue is that he's losing valuable time by being on his phone instead of staying focused on the work When there's a deadline to meet, sometimes a bit of extra time is necessary to get everything done!"

US comedian's hilarious

impersonation of Trump

income countries and, in the absence of effective treatment, are at risk of life-long complications - including amputation, heart disease, kidney damage or vision loss - or in some cases, premature death,” Ezzati said According to the study, global diabetes rates doubled in men (6 8% to 14 3%) and women (6 9% to 13 9%) between 1990 and 2022 Low and middle-income countries (LMICs), experienced the largest increases while some higher-income countries, such as Japan, Canada and some countries in w e s t e r n E u r o p e ( e g F r a n c e , S p a i n a n d Denmark), saw no change or even a small decrease in diabetes rate over the past three decades

In India, the researchers pointed out, the diabetes rate nearly doubled in women and men In women, it went up from 11 9% in 1990 to 24% in 2022 In men, it went up from 11 3% to 21 4% in the corresponding period I n c o m p a r i s o n , t h e t r e a t m e n t c o v e r a g e increased only marginally for both genders; 21 6% to 27 8% in women between 1990 and 2022 and 25 3% to 29 3% in men in the same period

US-based comedian Austin Nasso is going viral online for his hilarious impersonation of US-President-elect Donald Trump during a fictional visit to India In the video, shared on Instagram, Nasso nails the Republican leader's mannerisms and tone, leaving social media users in stitches The clip begins with the comedian quipping that Trump would be amazed at the sight of "tuk-tuks" in the Asian country "It's incredible they have tuktuks and tiny trucks Wow They're so tiny, they're like legos," Nasso says while imitating the president-elect's voice The comedian then goes on to exclaim while mimicking Trump's voice, "They have the most incredible cuisine we've ever seen We love to see it " "Wow Look at that Wow And their cities have sci-fi names- 'High-Tech City' Wow Look at that," he adds At one moment, while standing in front of the Lal Bagh Botanical Garden in Bengaluru, Nasso also channels Trump's voice "We love the Lal Bagh Botanical Garden They have a lot of trees And they also have plant and seed and also snail," he excitedly says He even quips about pigeons in the area "I'm at the house of pigeons Quite frankly, the pigeons have been abandoned by society They are the stray dogs of the sky," he adds

'No talking, no phone': Employee shares strict workplace rules

An employee's recent Reddit post has sparked outrage, painting a grim picture of their workplace as a "jail" rather than a productive environment The post details a highly restrictive environment where employees are forbidden from basic actions like looking away from their screens or using their phones The viral post features a screenshot which reveals a strictly controlled environment where looking away from the computer screen, even briefly, could lead to reprimand Phone usage is strictly prohibited, with family calls allowed only in cases of extreme urgency Frequent restroom breaks are discouraged to avoid "time consumption," and communication with coworkers is restricted to digital means Instead of casual conversations, the employee is required to message or use Microsoft Teams to connect with colleagues, supposedly to maintain a chaotic-free environment Describing the workplace, the employee wrote: "Silent office No talking even for a second Jail is better At least I can talk there, look around, or stand up if I want to "

Best Ayurvedic remedies for stronger bones

M aintaining stro ng bones is crucial for mo bility and prev enting fractures as we age K ey nutrients like calciu m, v itamin D, and m ag nesium p lay a pivo tal role in buildi n g and p r es erv in g bo n e s tr en g th In co r p o rat in g A yu rv ed i c re m ed i e s in to y o u r d ie t c an f u rth e r enhance bone health:

1 A rjuna: The bark of this tree is rich in antioxidants and minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc, which are known to improve bone mineral density

2 Ginger: Renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties, ginger helps reduce bone loss A warm cup of

ginger tea is an easy way to incorporate this into your daily routine

3 A

bones, and promotes overall skeletal health

4 Goksh ura: Known for bolstering musculoskeletal health, Gokshura aids calciu m

a n d enhances bone density

While Ayurvedic remedies offer holistic approaches to bone health, individual

essential to consult a qualified healthcare professional

treatments or supplements into your routine

Work exhaustion impairs emotional control, say scientists

F eeling crabby after a toug h day at work? S cientists sug gest you m ig ht h av e an excuse: exercising self-restraint can tire brain areas resp onsible for decision-m aking and imp ulse control, affecting your behavio ur Th is supports th e “ eg o d ep letion” theory, which posits that w illpow er is a finite reso urce that g ets d ep leted with effort

The findings suggest it’s wise to rest after mental exertion before tackling other tasks “If you ’ re mentally exhausted, avoid discussions with your partner,” advised Erica Ordali, lead author of the study from the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, Italy “Take your time and address it another day ”

While the concept of ego depletion has been debated, with some studies failing to replicate results, Ordali pointed out a key issue: many experiments involve tasks draining self-control for just 10 minutes, which may not accurately reflect real-life scenarios

In the ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences’, Erica Ordali and her team detailed their study on the effects of prolonged self-control They asked 44 participants to complete 45-minute computer-based tasks, including viewing emotive video clips Half were instructed to suppress their emotions, while the rest faced no such demands Participants wore EEG headsets to monitor brain activity throughout the tasks

The study revealed that participants in the self-control group exhibited increased delta brain wave activity in the prefrontal cortex, linked to decision-making and impulse control, compared to their initial readings This change was absent in the group that did not exert self-control

Take a break from digital devices

A digital detox involves taking one day a week to reduce screen time and focus on offline activities like reading, nature walks, hobbies, or spending time with loved ones

This break from phones, computers, and TVs helps reduce stress, boost mindfulness, and improve mental clarity.

Beat stress and lifestyle diseases with these Yoga poses and breathing techniques

Modern life’s fast pace often lea

ering blood pressure by balancing the flow of oxygen and calming the mind

, impacting both

to

ental and

stress can

issues like high blood pressu

2) Bhramari Pranayama Bhramari Pranayama, or H u m

nd dep ression Yog

In

ancient

holistic way to combat stress and

through its p hysical, mental, and

In

and breathing exercises into yo

h

lp redu ce stress and p rev ent lifestyle-related d iseases

Breathing exercises

1) Pranayama

P r a n a y a m a , o r b r e a t h control, is a key aspect of yoga, with Nadi Shodhana

( A l t e r n a t e N o s t r i l Breathing) being one of the most popular techniques T h i s p r a c t i c e a l t e r n

t h e n o strils, promoting relaxation, reducing anxiety, and low-

k i n g a s o o t h i n g h u mming sound This technique is highly effective in reducing stress and promoting calm The vibrations from the humming stimulate the v

g u s n e r v e , w h i c h h e l p s regulate the body’s stress response, fostering a sense of tranquillity

3) Kapalabhati Pranayama Kapalabhati Pranayama,

o r t h e S k u l l S h i n i n g

B r e a t h , i s a n e n e r g i s i n g breathing technique that involves forceful exhalations followed by passive i n h a l a t i o n s T h i s t e c hnique is known to improve r e s p i r a t o r y f u n c t i o n , increase oxygen supply to the brain, and promote a s e n s e o f a l e r t n e s s a n d mental clarity

Yoga poses

1) Child's pose (Balasana)

T h i s g e n t l e f o r w a r d b e n d i s a g r e a t p o s e f

relaxation and stress relief By folding the body over the thighs, it helps release tension in the back, shoulders, and neck The pose ’ s calming effects can lower blood p r e s s u r e a n d p r o m o t e a deep sense of tranquillity

2) Standing forward bend (Uttanasana)

3) Corpse pose (Savasana)

S a v a s a n a , o r c o r p s e pose, is a restorative pose practised at the end of a yoga session Lying flat on the back with closed eyes, it p r

n , lowers cortisol levels, and fosters a deep sense of calm and well-being

T h i s f o r w a r d f o l d s t r e t c h e s t h e h a m s t r i n g s and lower back while gently inverting the body With the head below the heart, it promotes relaxation and helps relieve stress, anxiety, and insomnia

Lower Alzheimer’s risk with just 2-3 days of exercise a week

Research hig hlig hts the significant benefits of p hysical activ ity on brain health , particularly in red ucing the risk

o f ne ur o d eg ene rat iv e d i seas es l ik e A lz h ei

recent stud y of ov er 1 0,0 00 participants fo und that regular exercise, such as brisk walking o r strength training, enhances cognitiv e function and protects the brain by increasing brain volume

MRI scans showed that just two to three days of moderate to vigorous exercise a week led to growth in key brain areas, like the hipp

y and cognition This increase in brain volume is linked to

r y - r e l a t e d conditions like Alzheimer’s A h e a l t h p r a c t i t i o n e r emphasises that even small, c o n s i s t e n t s t e p s t o w a r d physical activity can support l

l t h While not all exercises have the same impact, many ben-

e d a c t i v i t i e s include:

• W alk i ng : T h i s l o wimpact exercise boosts brain volume, particularly in older adults

• A ero b ic exe rc i se : Jogging, cycling, or swimming improve cardiovascular health and blood flow to

the brain, supporting neurogenesis

• S tre ng th tra in i ng : Resistance exercises stimul a t e g r o w t h f a c t o r s l i k e

B D N F , e n h a n

plasticity and memory

and meditatio n:

mental clarity, and emotional stability

Research highlights that

not only

How weight gain affects blood sugar levels

Weight gain, particularly in individuals predisposed to metabolic syndrome, significantly increases the risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Metabolic syndrome is characterised by high blood pressure, raised blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol levels, and obesity Here is the list of points that can affect humans

1 Insulin resistance

insulin resistance,

drome Insulin helps cells a

Type 2 diabetes

2 Increased free fatty acids and inflammation

Obesity raises free fatty

and worsen insulin resis-

t a n c e T h i s c r e a t e s a vicious cycle, raising blood sugar levels and exacerbat-

i n g t h e m e t a b o l i c s y ndrome, especially in those genetically predisposed to diabetes

L o w - g r a d e i n f l a m m ation associated with obesity can damage insulin-prod u c i n g c e l l s i n t h e p a nc r e a s A d i p o s e

releases cytokines that contribute to this damage, disrupting the body s ability to regulate blood sugar

3 Hormonal changes

hormone

that raises blood sugar) and d e c r e a s i n g a d

sensitivity) This hormonal

imbalance further hampers

contributing to metabolic dysfunction

Persistent weight gain in individuals with metabolic syndrome can lead to severe longterm health complications. Key risks include:

1 Type 2 Diabetes

Chronic insulin resistance leads to the pancreas being unable to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar, ultimately resulting in Type

2 diabetes

2 Cardiovascular disease

High blood sugar, along with associated issues like high cholesterol and blood pressure, significantly raises the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes

3. Other complications

Prolonged high blood

glucose can damage various organs, leading to complications like neuropathy (nerve damage), retinopathy (eye damage), and nephropathy (kidney damage)

4 Exacerbation of metabolic syndrome

Obesity creates a vicious cycle where weight gain worsens metabolic syndrome, leading to further complications Effective weight management through diet and exercise is crucial to prevent this cycle and its harmful effects

Celebrate Easter holidays at Langley castle

An impressive Northumberland hotel dating back to 1350, Langley Castle stands as a testament of history and architectural marvel. The castle offers nine uniquely designed rooms, each reflecting the grandeur of this mediaeval fortress. With seven-foot-thick walls, battlements, and 674 years of history, guests can either immerse themselves in the castle's rich past or experience the luxury of staying like royals

While Christmas bookings are already full, don’t worry

L

history of the castle with your family and friends Enjoy the festive spirit of Easter while

surroundings or explore the nearby attractions, the castle provides the ideal backdrop for a memorable holiday

Unique Easter-themed experiences or traditions at Langley Castle

e Langley Castle, Jane Hunt said, “ F

enjoy exploring its expansive g

taking part in an egg hunt Afterward, they can indulge in an Easter-inspired menu with E

delicious afternoon teas in the chandelier-lit Drawing Room

For a more regal experience, a mediaeval-style Easter Sunday

Guests

choosing their favourite egg style, along with a traditional

However, there’s always space for cuddles with Langley Bear, the castle’s mascot During the

will receive a Langley Bear, and children can also enjoy fun art activities, including colouring pictures of Langley Bear and decorating eggs

Accommodations for families or couples

Jane emphasised that for

Langley Castle offers exclusive use of its 28 rooms, allowing

Castle View suites and Lodge

provide stunning vistas A new option, 'castle hopping,' lets families stay at the nearby Toll Bar Luxury Villa, featuring two

Hadrian’s Wall, just a short d

C e l t costume, guides interpret life along the Wall in AD 122 and p r o v i

handle armour and view the c

y e y e s N

guests to immerse themselves

arranging special activities like bushcraft or parties She said, “Smaller families can choose

the castle's 7-feet-thick walls, dating back to 1350, offering

m

four-poster or period beds, and space for children's beds For a

Meals can be enjoyed a

hampers, depending on event availability ” Northumberland countryside and historic sites during Easter

s

Speaking about exploring the place near the castle, Jane

r b y mediaeval Hexham Abbey and t h e d e l i g h t f u l C a r l i s l e Cathedral (33 miles away) are h i s t o r i c r e l i g i o u s v e n u e s t o visit Whilst in Carlisle, families can track down more Roman h i s t o r y a t T u l l i e H o u s e a n d then, back in Northumberland, do the same at Hadrian’s Wall s i t e s i n c l

e a d s and Vindolanda “ A t B a m b u r g h , L u n d g r e n Tours offers guided visits to Bamburgh Castle, or you can head to Seahouses for a boat trip to the Farne Islands to see puffins and seals Explore the G r a c e D a r l i n g M u s e u m i n Bamburgh to learn about the lifeboat hero National Trust s i t e s l i k e N o r t h u m b e r l a n d i a h o s t E a s t e r e g g h u n t s , a n d Kielder Forest offers familyfriendly nature activities For racing fans, an Easter Raceday t

added

Top 7 Christmas markets in London and budget-friendly stays

It feels like just yesterday we were applying sun cream, but London’s top Christmas markets are already welcoming visitors Now, a leading travel expert shares their picks for the capital's seven must-visit festive markets this season. Lily Smith, a travel expert f r o m U n i v

says, "Christmas markets are

London hosts some of the most atmospheric in the country A stroll through colourful stalls filled with unique gifts, mulled wine, and hot chestnuts is

markets, like Lincoln’s historic

thriving Alongside traditional

year, offering great finds for savvy shoppers on a budget " 1 Covent Garden: A vibrant event with three daily markets featuring handmade crafts and

C r s t a n M B a l a t e / S h u t t e r s t o c k c o m

Diagon Alley in ‘Harry Potter’,

W

’ s open year-round, it shines even b r i g h t e r d u r i n g t h e h o l i d a y s , with special events and Monday openings starting December 2

7 K i n g s t on C h r i s t m a s M arket: Just outside the city c e n t r e , K i n g s t o n ’ s A n c i e n t Market Place transforms with c o s y G e r m a n - s t y l e c a b i n s E n j o y B a v a r i a n c u r l i n g , Bratwurst, hog roasts, and carol s i n g i n g f o r a t r u l y f e s t i v e experience

" F o r s e a s o n a l s h o p p e r s outside London, staying in the

c a p i t a l c a n b e p r i c e y , e v e n o u t s i d e p e a k s e a s o n U n i v e r s i t y R o o m s o f f e r s budget-friendly options during t h e s u m m e r w h e n s t u d e n t a c c o m m o d a t i o n s a r e v a c a n t T h e g o o d n e w s i s , s e v e r a l s t u d e n t r e s i d e n c e s a r e a l s o a v a i l a b l e t h i s a u t u m n a n d winter, including:

• Elm Grove (University of Roehampton)

crafts, live music, and even a vegan food market

6 Borough Market: A food

• G o o d e n o u g h C o l l e g e , Bloomsbury

• R o o m z z z L o n d o n Stratford

• T h e V i c t o r i a L e a g u e Student House, Bayswater"

Covent Garden

Madhuri Dixit on rejecting Hollywood and sons' reaction to Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3

Madhuri Dixit, Bollywood's iconic star, married Dr Shriram Nene, a cardiovascular surgeon, in 1999 at the peak of her career. After relocating to Colorado, she focused on family life, raising two sons, Arin and Ryan, while appearing in fewer films Returning to India in 2011, she recently shared why she turned down Hollywood offers during her time in the US

Hollywood offers while pregnant with her second child, as she didn’t want to work during that time Unlike some Bollywood peers who pursued careers in the West, she focused on building her family, which was also part of her dreams "I didn't actively think about Hollywood films; I was

worldwide," she shared

Madhuri Dixit shared how excited she was when her sons, Arin and Ryan, watched ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 ’ in a theatre and enjoyed her role as a ghost "They found it funny and really liked it I’ve got their approval for this film," she said

However, Madhuri prefers not to push her sons to watch her films, letting them discover her work on their own They sometimes watch scenes and tell me I was cool in the K Sera Sera music video, but I don’t make them watch my movies I'll let them explore that with their friends," she smiled

Karan Johar says real profit lies in middlebudget movies

Karan

Johar discussed his expansion plans for Dharma Productions following the sale of a 50% stake to Adar Poonawalla He aims to self-fund as many projects as possible to keep all revenue in-house, though he acknowledged the need for external funding on big-budget films. His focus, however, remains on smaller-scale ventures.

At a summit, Karan Johar discussed the motivation behind s e l l i n g a 5

intellectual property plays a key role in valuation He highlighted the challenge of always partnering with existing studios for big films, which meant sharing profits The deal, he said, allows Dharma Productions to fully own films and increase profitability While smaller projects can be self-funded, big-budget films like *Brahmastra* will still require studio support due to their high costs

Karan Johar shared that his focus is on producing smaller, middle-budget films, which offer high cost-to-profit ratios He believes these films, typically in the Rs 65-80 crore range, provide the best return on investment While big-budget films have long recovery periods and slim margins, middle-budget films can generate significant profits, and that’s the kind of project he’s now chasing, despite the common belief that bigger films always mean bigger profits

Aamir Khan talks retirement plans: "only 10 years left to create"

Afternearly four decades in the industry, Aamir Khan privately decided to quit during the pandemic However, his family persuaded him to reconsider Following the failure of ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ in 2022, he took a break to focus on his family, acknowledging years of neglect. Upon his return, he took on six projects, a first in his career. In a recent interview, Aamir shared the reason behind this decision.

In an interview, Aamir Khan explained why he took on six projects, saying it was driven by the realisation that the next 10 years might be the last of his active career At 59, he wants to make the most of this time, focusing on supporting and mentoring emerging talent in filmmaking When his ex-wife Kiran Rao dismissed the idea of him nearing the end of his career, citing Clint Eastwood as an example, Aamir responded, "You can't trust life I might die tomorrow I want these next 10 years to be my most productive

In the interview, Aamir Khan also shared his longing for a retired life, joking about spending time reading books and doing yoga Kiran Rao recalled how Aamir nearly announced his retirement to the family, with their daughter humorously telling him, "Please, papa, you can't spend all your time with us, we’ll go crazy " Aamir laughed, saying, “I would love a retired life ”

Balki’s debut film ‘Cheeni Kum’ (2007), starring Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu, remains a fan favourite The London-shot romantic drama about an older chef falling for a younger woman earned critical acclaim and commercial success Balki recently shared that the film, made on a modest budget, achieved a higher profit ratio than the star-studded *Salaam-e-Ishq*, produced by the same banner Remarkably, the ‘Cheeni Kum’ team completed the film using borrowed equipment from ‘Salaam-e-Ishq's’ set. R

Amitabh Bachchan agreed to star in ‘Cheeni Kum’, R Balki shared how he

Manchanda, a fellow ad producer and f

responded seriously, asking, “When do we start?” When Balki questioned his involvement, Sunil replied, “Who else is going to produce this?” Balki, still unfamiliar with film economics, learned that despite the film's modest budget, Sunil was producing ‘Salaame-Ishq’ a star-studded project with a budget of 60-70 crore Sunil had struck a deal with a studio, offering

revealed that he took a three-month leave from his role as chairman at Lowe Lintas to shoot the film, with the agency agreeing since he wasn’t drawing any salary from the project Balki recalled arriving in London with hopes of having a producer and resources, only to realise how difficult it was to fund ‘Cheeni Kum’ With no budget for a jib, they would borrow

during breaks at Trafalgar Square, often without even a focus puller, using just one camera When asked if

helped, Balki explained, “The

of

Maya S Krishnan praises Thalapathy Vijay’s big heart and empathy

Bigg Boss star and theatre actress Maya

S Krishnan, who had a cameo in Kamal Haasan's ‘Vikram’, praises Vijay, calling him a rare artist with a big heart and endless empathy Maya, who also worked as an assistant director on Lokesh Kanagaraj's *Leo* starring Vijay and Trisha, is in awe of the actor's generosity.

Maya, the second runner-up of ‘Bigg Boss Tamil’ season 7, faced online hate during the show She revealed that Vijay, or Thalapathy, had been checking up on her and offering encouragement throughout her journey

Maya S Krishnan shared a heartfelt moment with Vijay, or Thalapathy, after *Bigg Boss Tamil* She revealed that Vijay had been checking in on her and encouraging her journey, even reassuring her sister Maya, who felt like "a small artist from nowhere," was deeply touched by his kindness She praised his empathy, calling him a rare artist with a big heart and endless support for the next generation

Maya, who worked with Vijay on ‘Leo’, which released in October 2023, entered the ‘Bigg Boss Tamil’ house shortly after She remained on the show until January 2024 Despite their prior collaboration, Vijay continued to check on her progress during her time on the reality show, offering support and encouragement

‘Lady Superstar’ Nayanthara, soon to debut her Netflix documentary on her life and career, recently shared an open letter criticising actor-filmmaker Dhanush for refusing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to use elements from their 2015 film ‘Naanum Rowdy Dhaan’. Taking to Instagram, Nayanthara accused Dhanush of holding a personal grudge against her and her husband, filmmaker Vignesh Shivan, calling it a “low move” to demand 10 crore for a three-second snippet of songs from the film to be used in the documentary.

The Netflix feature will delve into Nayanthara and Vignesh’s love story, which began during the making of ‘

Wunderbar Films, the project was initially announced in 2013 with a different cast and producer Dhanush took over in 2014, recasting Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi in the lead roles, marking a turning point in their lives and careers

Vignesh Shivan credited Dhanush for not only saving his film but also playing cupid for him and Nayanthara In an interview, he revealed that Dhanush encouraged him to narrate the story to Nayanthara, who liked it and came on board Her involvement convinced Vijay Sethupathi, who was ini-

Vignesh, the film's writer-director,

brought him and Nayanthara closer, leading to their relationship within a year

Nayanthara referred to this incident in her open letter, where she wrote, “I have not forgotten the horrible things you said about a film that became one of your biggest hits as a producer and is still loved by audiences today Your words before its release left deep scars I heard through industry circles that your ego was hurt when the film became a blockbuster Your displeasure was evident, even to the public, at award events related to this film (Filmfare 2016) ”

Nayanthara

slams Dhanush for "vengeful grudge" against her and Vignesh Shivan

Allu Arjun hails Mahesh Babu for elevating Telugu cinema

Allu Arjun appeared on Season 4 of ‘Unstoppable with NBK’, hosted by Nandamuri Balakrishna, where he expressed his admiration for Mahesh Babu When Mahesh Babu’s photo was shown, Allu Arjun praised him for his remarkable comebacks after career setbacks, which he deeply admires

Allu Arjun further praised Mahesh Babu, saying, "He is a true cinema lover and has genuinely raised the standards of Telugu cinema I really respect him for that, Sir " He also acknowledged Mahesh's looks, adding, "Of course, everyone talks about his appearance, and that's a given "

Allu Arjun is currently promoting his much-anticipated film ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’, which stars Rashmika Mandanna and is set to release on December 5, 2024 The trailer, expected to feature highoctane action, will be launched on November 17, 2024, in Patna before going digital

Meanwhile, Mahesh Babu is collaborating with director SS Rajamouli on their upcoming film ‘SSMB29’, a globetrotting mega project with a budget of over Rs 1000 crore, which Mahesh is also co-producing

AR Rahman’s 'Periyone' from ‘Aadujeevitham’ nominated for Hollywood Music Awards

Prithviraj

Sukumaran’s acclaimed film ‘Aadujeevitham - The Goat Life’, which was a box office hit and won several awards, is now an official entry at the 2024 Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) The film features music by A R Rahman A R Rahman has been nominated in two categories at the 2024 Hollywood Music in Media Awards The first nomination is for Best Song in a Feature Film for his track "Periyone," sung by Jithin Raj, with lyrics by Rafeeq Ahmed The second nomination is for Best Score for an Independent Film (Foreign Language) for Rahman's background music in ‘Aadujeevitham - The Goat Life’ The film's song "Periyone," composed by Rahman and written by Rafeeq Ahmed, has earned praise from both audiences and critics The announcement celebrates the team's achievement, with congratulations to all the nominees for their

contributions to music and storytelling

The Hollywood Music in Media Awards honour original music in films, TV, and games

The ceremony, held on November 20 in Los Angeles, will feature stars like Elton John, Miley Cyrus, and Pharrell Williams, along with renowned composers such as Hans Zimmer and Harry GregsonWilliams

Shriya Pilgaonkar on being labelled an 'OTT actor': "It's not important"

Shriya Pilgaonkar reflects on her success with two OTT sequels, ‘The Broken News’ season 2 and ‘Taaza Khabar’ season 2, calling the latter's popularity akin to that of a commercial film However, she rejects being labelled solely as an "OTT actor," stating that the industry often boxes performers and doesn't explore their full potential. She believes such labels are irrelevant in today's entertainment landscape.

Shriya Pilgaonkar values both credibility and balance in her career, stressing the importance of being seen as a credible actor She also acknowledges the difference in treatment between hit OTT series and films, noting that the perception and PR around films remain distinct due to their larger scale

She shares that her OTT projects have been mostly coincidental, as she chooses work based on scripts rather than the medium She adds that while she’s worked primarily on series, she strives to balance her career with films, even if they aren’t theatrical releases

Bhavana Pandey reveals that Karan Johar balances drama andpeace

Karan Johar is often seen as both a provocateur and peacemaker on ‘The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives’, the reality show produced by his digital platform, Dharmatic Entertainment Bhavana Pandey shar similar view an interview Bhavana Pandey praised Karan Johar, calling him the "king of everything" for his remarkable work ethic energy She "When you message Karan, he may not call back immediately, but he'll always reply and let you know when to expect his call He's very good at managing his time " When asked if Karan also plays the role of peacemaker,

Bhavana laughed, saying, "He starts the fire and then puts it out " Bhavana, who has been part of ‘The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives’ since its debut in 2020, is the wife of actor Chunky Panday and m th r f actor a Panday third ason recently premiered on Netflix India The reality show also features Bhavana's ose friends fellow ood wives

Maheep Kapoor (wife of Sanjay Kapoor), Neelam (actress, jewellery designer, and wife of Sameer Soni), and Seema Sajdeh (fashion designer and ex-wife of Sohail Khan) since its first season

Manoj Bajpayee's ‘The Fable’ wins best film at Leeds festival

The competition jury praised Raam Reddy’s ‘The Fable’ as a “lyrical homage to timeless tales passed through generations, made ever-relevant through the steady rhythms and undeniable truths of life ” They highlighted the film’s exploration of colonialism and labour relations, delivered with a gentle yet powerful touch of magical realism, creating a tangible yet enchanting world

“No other film felt more deserving of the Constellation Competition Grand Prize,” the jury remarked, calling it an “inventive, entrancing work about stories carried by stars ” They expressed hope that wider audiences would experience its magic on the big screen

‘The Fable’, a US-Indian co-production, follows Dev as he uncovers mysteriously burnt trees in his vast fruit orchards nestled in the Indian Himalayas Despite his efforts to stop the fires, they persist, ultimately forcing him to confront the true nat syn

Ali Fazal recalls moral dilemma over 'unnecessary' violent scene in ‘Mirzapur’

Ali Fazal opened up about feeling uncomfortable while shooting a violent scene in ‘Mirzapur’. He admitted to facing a moral dilemma, questioning the necessity of the sequence.

In an interview, he shared, “I didn’t understand why anyone would write that ” Ali further explained that he now has the privilege to speak up about such dilemmas, but his stance has cost him work in the past He recalled a specific scene in ‘Mirzapur’ where he kills a character in a way he felt was unnecessary, and he couldn't justify or redeem the act

He also shared that during the ‘Mirzapur’ shoot, he constantly battled between his own beliefs and his character’s actions, questioning the necessity of certain scenes While he sought answers from the filmmakers, he noted that such conversations can become tense

Ali will next appear in Anurag Basu's ‘Metro In Dino’ (2024), Sunny Deol's ‘Lahore 1947 ’ , and Kamal Haasan's ‘Thug Life’ He also recently teased his role in ‘Mirzapur - The Film’ and confirmed his participation in the Hollywood film ‘Rule Breakers’, directed by Oscar winner Bill Guttentag, set to release in March 2025

Manoj Bajpayee-starrer ‘The Fable’, directed by Raam Reddy, won Best Film at the 38th Leeds International Film Festival in the UK. The film triumphed in the Constellation Feature Film Competition, celebrating innovative global cinema.

India win T20 series against SA; Samson, Tilak shine

Sa nju Samson and Ti lak Varma

hi t un be aten centuri es to lead I ndi a to a 135- run thras hin g of South A frica in Johan nes burg

a nd a 3- 1 T20 seri es victory

Samson struck 109 off 56 balls and Varma smashed 120 off 47 in a staggering unbroken stand of 210 for the second wicket as India posted 283-1 It i s t h e f i r s

mates have scored centuries in the same innings of a men's T20 international between full member nations

South Africa were bowled out for 148 off 18 2 overs in

taking 3-20

Left-hander Varma crashed nine fours and 10 sixes after joining Samson at 73-1 in the s

dismissal of Abhishek Sharma for 36 off 18

Having made an unbeaten 107 in the third T20, Varma is the second Indian and only fifth batter overall to hit centuries in consecutive men's T20 internationals

Wicketkeeper Samson was the first Indian to achieve the feat by smacking 107 in the opening T20 of this series In the fourth and final T20 at W

hit six fours and nine sixes

His partnership of 210 with Varma is the sixth highest in all men's T20 internationals, the highest for the second wicket and highest for India India's 283-1 is their second-highest

Varma reached his ton off

third-quickest century by an

October)

South Africa slumped to 104 in reply before Tristan Stubbs struck 43 off 29, but the Proteas still fell to their heaviest T20

Rohit pulls out of 1st Australia Test, Bumrah to lead

India cap tain Rohit Sh arma will m is s th e f i rs t

A ustralia at Perth starting Nov

22 In his pre-d ep arture m

nte racti

v ice-captain Jasprit Bum rah will captain th e team in th e Perth T est

Rohit informed BCCI that he needed to spend more time with his family following the birth of his second child last w e e k H o w e v e r , h e i s s e t t o return for the second match, a

p i n k - b a l l T e s t , b e g i n n i n g i n

Adelaide on Dec 6 The absence of both Rohit and No 3 batter S

Australia

Rohit Sharma & Jasprit Bumrah

Padikkal, who was touring with the India A squad for two

India to host World Para Athletics Championship for first time

India is all set to host the World P ara A th letics Ch amp io nsh ips in the national capital next year T he Paralym pics C omm ittee of India ( PCI) has signed an M oU w ith World Para Athletics – a

s u b co m m it tee o f t h e

I n ter nat io n al P a ra lym p ic C omm ittee (IPC) – to org anise

t h e p re st ig io u s m ee t at t h e Jawaharlal Neh ru (JLN) stadiu m, m os t l ik ely i n th e m o nth of Nov em ber

More than 100 countries are expected to participate in the Para Worlds, which will further

e n h a n c e I n d i a ' s g r o w i n g

r e p u t a t i o n i n s p o r t s f o r t h e differently-abled The event will be conducted at a cost of £45mn, for which the JLN stadium will undergo a major renovation in the next six months

According to officials, a new synthetic track will be laid to

meet the playing standards of World Para Athletics The PCI, on its part, has applied for a ‘ noo b j e c t i o n c e r t i f i c a t e ’ ( N O C ) from the Indian govt and the guarantee money to host the championships has already been paid to the world body

“ T h i s w i l l b e t h e b i g g e s t

sporting event in India for para players It will be huge for them

More than 1,000 para athletes from the world will come here to showcase their talent Last y e a r , w e h o s t e d t h e P a r a Shooting World Cup in New Delhi and it was a huge success, ” said a PCI official I t ’ s b e e n l e a r n t t h a t t h e

Sports Authority of India (SAI) has already awarded the tender w o r k t o r e n o v a t e t h e J L N stadium India is expected to field a large contingent at the meet, being the host nation

four-day matches, will

n o w s t a y b a c k a s a batting backup and be a d d e d t o t h e 1 8m e m b e r s q u a d i n

Rohit’s place for the first Test “He is likely

source said The lefthanded Padikkal made scores of 36, 88, 26, and during the India A tour

A

and familiarity with Australian conditions make him a suitable replacement

In a relief for Team India, s

n the nets, easing concerns about his fitness ahead of the first Test in Perth Rahul had sustained a blow to his elbow from pacer Prasidh Krishna during an intras q u a d p r a c t i c e m a t c h a t t h e WACA ground earlier

“The long gap between the first and second Test and the opportunity to play a tour match in Canberra, starting Nov 30, will give Rohit sufficient time to settle into Australian conditions before the second Test,” a source said

India in the final of the Women's Asian Champions Trophy

India beat Japan 2-0 to enter the final of the Wo men ’ s A sian Ch am pions Troph y in Rajg ir on T uesd ay After being frustrated for th ree quarters of the match , v ice-cap tain Navneet Kaur converted a penalty stroke in the 48th m inute while Lalaremsiami struck from field p lay in the 56th minute for India, wh o had plenty of scoring chances including as m any as 13 p enalty corners

Japan’s goalkeeper Yu Kudo was named player of the match for some superlative saves, an indicator of how stubborn Japan were India will now play China in the title clash on Wednesday China earlier beat Malaysia 3-1 in the first semifinal earlier in the day

Even though she couldn’t get on the scoresheet in the semifinal, Deepika has led the way in the scoring charts, with 10 strikers to her name so far after a slow start to the tournament She did win the penalty stroke that eventually led India to a breakthrough goal

Pak drops PoK from Champions Trophy tour after BCCI

The Pak ist an Cricke t Boa rd (P CB) is le ar nt t o

h a v e a g r e e d t o r e s t r i ct t h e

o f t he C hampions Tr ophy to t he t hree host cities of Ka ra chi, Lahore an d Ra walpindi a ft er Indian cr ick et boar d (BC CI) se cr et ary Jay Shah file d a n objection with t he Inte rn ation al C ricket C ouncil (ICC) ov er t he PCB move t o include Pa kista n-occupie d Kashmir (PoK) in t he t our it iner ary

“PCB is already in discussions with the ICC on how to proceed with the trophy tour t o e

continued to be promoted in Pakistan,” a P C B

I C C C h

m p i

s Trophy tour was planned in consultation and with the approval of the ICC The PCB had not unilaterally finalised the trophy tour schedule,” the source said A top BCCI official said that Jay Shah, who is set to take over as ICC Chairman on December 1, told the ICC it was unacceptable that the PCB was planning a trophy tour in PoK

in brief

GILL INJURES THUMB, OUT OF 1ST TEST

Team India has suffered a setback just a week before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener Shubman Gill, the team’s No 3 batter, sustained a left-thumb injury while fielding in the slips during match simulation in Perth last week It is learnt that Gill is dealing with a hairline fracture on his thumb and has been “ruled out” of the first Test against Australia starting on Nov 22 Gill’s absence raises questions about who will take the crucial No 3 spot In Oct during the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru Virat Kohli stepped into the position after Gill was sidelined with a stiff neck Another candidate for the slot is KL Rahul

ROHAN-EBDEN DUO FINISHES ON

A WINNING NOTE

Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden who climbed to the world No 1 ranking as a team early in the season, finished on a winning note in the ATP Finals in Turin Bopanna and Ebden who lost their first two group encounters, playing themselves out of the season ending feature, however claimed their last match as a team with a 7-5, 6-7 (6), 10-8 result against German pair of Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz

“BCCI secretary has objected to the PCB’s idea to hold a Champions Trophy tour in PoK The BCCI has no problem if the tour is conducted in any other city of Pakistan or even in a stadium outside PoK or in a mall But they cannot hold it in PoK,” a BCCI official said The tournament, last held in 2017, is already in controversy after the BCCI asked for its games to be shifted to Dubai because of security concerns, but the PCB has not agreed to the demand T he British A sian Rugby

files protest

C omm ons, celebrating the contribu tions of

models, welcomed over 100 attendees, including

Baroness Manzoor, MPs Harpreet Uppal, Lord Evans, and Lord Scriven With support from headline sponsor La

Prominent speakers, including Mr Speaker, Deputy Speaker Judith Cummins MP, Tony Sutton (CEO, RFL), Jatin Patel (Inclusion Director, RFU), and Phil Davies (former Wales Captain), inspired guests Dr Hanif Malik OBE hosted the

and

(Rising

with energy,

Award), Hamza Butt (Outstanding Talent Award), Parkinson

(Grassroots

Huddersfield Giants & Bradford Bulls (Professional Club Awards), Navneet Sembi (Coach of Excellence), Zeinab Drabu & Starr Zaman (Community Excellence),

Excellence)

Dignitaries present at the event