AV 27th January 2018

First & Foremost Asian Weekly in Europe

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Vol 46 Issue 37

27th January to 2nd February 2018

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side 80p

BEING MODI IN TRUMP'S WORLD

The first Indian Prime Minister to address the World Economic Forum annual summit in Davos on two decades, Narendra Modi responded in a namaste as he took the stage to a resounding applause. In a world that collectively faces friction from US President Donald Trump, the beloved leader delivered a strong message against protectionism and inward-focused economic policies, pitching instead for a “heaven of freedom” that stands free from divisions. In his nearly-hour long speech given in Hindi, Modi talked about grave concerns, including terrorism and climate change.

Defending globalisation, Modi criticised Trump's policies without taking his name. 'Instead of globalisation, the power of protectionism is putting its head up,” Modi said. “Their wish is not only to save themselves from globalisation, but to change the natural flow of globalisation.”

Prime Minster Narendra Modi addressing the World Economic Forum annual summit in Davos

The leader quoted upanishads and shlokas in a speech that had leaders present grab their translators.

“In fact,India has also believed in Samagrata or Purnata which is wholeness.

It means that the universe and all its creation and beings are always complete in themselves.

Because they represent the almighty who is always complete. For us the reality is one; only its descriptions are numerous. In terms of physical world also, ages ago, we echoed the same

thing by saying Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam,” he said.

“I don’t want the windows of my house to be closed from all directions. I want the winds of cultures of all countries to enter my house with aplomb and go out also," Modi said.

Addressing the issue of terrorism, Modi called for unity against the extreme forces. “Because of our belief in co-existence of races and religions; and because of our belief in non-violence, we have always opposed terrorism.

Indian Ministers evacuated after gas leak in London Continued on page 26

An Indian delegation in the UK for the Education World Forum 2018 was among hundreds evacuated from their hotel near Strand after a gas leak early on Tuesday.

The 10-member delegation, which included Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mr Dinesh Sharma as well as Minister of Education from Gujarat Mrs Mr Dinesh Sharma Vibhavari Dave were among others who were rushed out in their night clothes from Amba Hotel in Charing Cross area of London at around 2am on Tuesday.

Continued on page 11

Israel PM's visit to India resonates strongly with the British

“The blossoming relationship between India and Israel, marked by reciprocal state visits in just a few short months, is an expression of a new and necessary alliance in a rapidly shifting world,” wrote Lord Dolar Popat in an interesting read titled 'India and Israel: A relationship inspired by our communities in the UK'.

He wrote, “It is certainly true that India and Israel have a lot of common ground. The synergies of supply, demand and political priorities are striking: both countries are conscious of regional pressures, the threats to security and the need for a strong military presence.”

Continued on page 26

Nus Ghani, first female Muslim MP to speak in Commons

History has been made and the Asian Muslim community are feeling a sense of pride as Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden, East Sussex since 2015, has become the first female Muslim minister to speak from the Commons dispatch box, at the House of Commons.

Continued on page 6

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Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

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Keith Vaz, MP

Mohamed Khemiri Mohamed Khemiri was born in Tunisia, speaking a North African dialect Mohamed studied tourism, art and languages in the high institute of tourism and worked in the tourism industry for 17 years.

He has established his own Mosaic company having studied the ancient art of mosaic and has produced mosaics of many famous people. The artwork is done from using ancient stones and combining them in a special technique. Most of the works are done by using photographs rather than live sittings.

Mohamed is fascinated by ancient art and mosaics and promotes the ancient technique of handmade mosaic and believes that this is an art form that is in danger of being forgotten.

He is married and has two children.

1) Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in?

I was born in Tunis and Tunisia will always be my home where I feel most in my soul.

2)What are your proudest achievements?

Marrying a beautiful caring wife and having 2 gorgeous children.

3) What inspires you?

Politeness and humbleness of human kind combined with their highest skills and talents.

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

I must admit that the doors have been always wide open in front of me

and I am a very lucky person many times. Of course, obstacles appeared from time to time but solutions where found within a very short amount of time.

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

My parents. Also education, and my best teachers were a major guiding influence on my career and through my entire life.

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

I am passionate about art in general and calligraphy and mosaic artwork in particular.

Passion remains the best aspect about my current role as a mosaic designer.

7) And the worst?

Hoping to finding the right audience ‌

8) What are your long term goals?

To find the right people who can help keep the ancient Greco roman art of making mosaics going.

Hoping they will understand and appreciate this intricate handmade work of tiny little cubes of tesserae put together to achieve high quality artwork of mosaic.

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

I would ask football clubs to at least halve the football-players wages and give the rest to the increasing number of homeless people.

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

All prophets and messengers of God were the best chosen human beings to spread to true word of peace.

Prophet Mohammad peace and

prayers be with him remains my favourite and He is the one and only historical figure trustworthy and honest that I would like to meet.

12th Asian Voice Political and Public Life Awards 2018 NOMINATION FORM

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Lifetime Achievement of the year Community Service Awards

Young Entrepreneur of the year Restaurant of the year

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COMMENTS

India, Israel walk the talk into the future Veni, vidi, vichi – I came. I saw. I conquered – were words famously coined by the Roman historian Plutarch to describe one of Julius Caesar’s triumphs. Bridging the centuries, this ringing acclaim is fit for purpose for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to India. It was, on every count, indeed a thunderous success. The chemistry between host N arendra Modi and his guest was extraordinary. They revelled in each other’s company; no false bonhomie, this, but the genuine article.

Seasoned politicians, their hopes and expectations for the Indo-Israeli partnership going forward, was firmly grounded: the fight against terrorism had to be unrelenting. It was in the mutual interest of both countries to stay the course for a common cause. No scene was mor e moving than Mr Netanyahu’s visit to Chabad House in Colaba, Mumbai, which was attacked by jihadi gunmen on 26 November 2008, where its Jewish Rabbi Gavril and his wife Rivker Holzberg lost teir lives. The Premier unveiled a plaque to their memory.

Mr Netanyahu was received by the present incumbent Rabbi Kozlovsky and 11 year-old son, Moshe Holzberg, and was taken on a tour of the building. He was deeply moved by the experience. Rabbi Kozlovsky said he wanted the place to be a ‘beacon of light.’

Speaking subsequently to an IndianTV channel, Mr Netanyahu said that Israel and India ‘have some understanding’ should India decide on unilateral action across the Line of Control in Kashmir. He explained in answer to a leading question: ‘Well let’s say this, we have some understanding and I don’t think I have to add more.’ He said the India-Israel partnership was not directed at any third country.

Addressing the India-Israel Business Council in

Mumbai, Mr Netanyahu called for a reduction of tax rates and regulation to spur greater trade and investment. He said, ‘Our FTA [Free Trade Agreement] negotiations with India are moving fast. This is what we are going to focus on and this is the very clear message from the Israeli PM and PM Modi and that is how we will make it….When I spoke to Prime Minister Modi, I saw that he was doing exactly that. He is up to the task and understands innovation and the need to simplify.’

During his breakfast meeting with the captains of Indian industry, including big hitters, Ajay Piramal, Rahul Bajaj, Adi Godrej, Harsh Goenka, Anand Mahindra, Dilip Sanghvi, Ashok Hinduja, Atul Punj and Chanda Kocher, the Premier invited them to visit Israel to do business there and deepen India-Israel business ties, terming the India-Israel relationship as one ‘made in heaven.’ Competition and innovation would be the bedrock of the closer India-Israel relationship. ‘We have to continue this process not only in our countries but we also have to bring other countries together. Our ability to have this contact is enormous. If you come to Israel you will be received with great hospitality. There is in Israel an abiding interest about India.’

The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis spoke of the centuries-old Jewish migration to India seeking refuge from persecution and how the Jewish community had contributed to Indian culture and society, and to the delopment of Mumbai itself.

Mr Fadnavis could have mentioned also the Jewish contribution to Mumbai’s cinema industry in the early years of its development way back in the 1920s and 30s, when Jewish women frequently played lead roles, as a largely conservative society at the time was in denial over the appearance of wives and daughters appearing on the silver screen or on the stage.

Brouhaha over triple talaq The Supreme Court of India, several months ago, condemned the practice of triple talaq – the unilateral divorce of Muslim wives by their husbands, who were simply required to declare this thrice for it to take effect – as unlawful under the Indian Constitution. The case, significantly, was brought to the court by a number of Muslim wives with children, whose husbands had deserted their families, with few means, arbitrarily for another marriage.

The government, armed with the Supreme Court ruling, sought to codify it into law. The legislation was approved by the Lok Sabha. The sticking point was the second chamber, the Rajya Sabha, where the opposition Congress party and the two Communist parties have chosen to disrupt the measure by referring it to a panel for further consideration, even as they claimed, selfrighteously, to suppot the rights of Muslim women. In face of such blatant casuistry, the Muslim women who had appealed to the Supreme Court for justice have joined the ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party).

It was against this fraught background that M.J. Akbar, Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, voiced his feelings in an interview with The Economic Times (January 15). Mr Akbar, a seasoned journalist and writer, and once a devoted Congressman and a biographer of Jawaharlal Nehru, showed no hesitation about pulling his punches. Asked to ‘explain the passage of the bill in the Lok Sabha’ and what it meant for the country, he replied: ‘It establishes the government’s commitment to the reform. Historically, this has to be seen in the context of the failure in the

Shah Bano case where there was a Supreme Court judgment too. What she was asking for was a legitimate right to maintenance…She was asking just for Rs 179 which was meager even then (1986).’

The Congress government of the day, with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in the lead, annulled the Supreme Court judgment by amending the law with its two-thirds majority in parliament. There was widespread outrage at such chicanery. At the time the BJP had only two MPs in parliament. Following the general election of 1989; this representation surged to 119 seats. Indian politics underwent its greatest makeover since Independence in August 1947.

Mr Akbar referred to his time as editor of The Telegraph during which he crusaded for justice to the wronged Shah Bano, and denied that it was he who had advised Rajiv Gandhi to overturn the Supreme Court judgment on Shah Bano. He had contested the Kishenganj by-election and, against the odds, defeated Syed Shahabuddin, the fiercest opponent of the Supreme Court ruling.

‘By asking for the [present]bill to be sent to the standing committee, what the Congress party is trying to do now is to postpone the inevitable. One side they claim they support the bill but on the other they are trying to derail the process. They want to take it forward to another thirty years while a generation of Muslim women could have already had the reforms by now.’

What was true of the French Bourbons is as true of the present-day Congress party: ‘They have learnt nothing and forgotten nothing.’

Cherry picking the law is to undermine it Defenders of one rule of justice cannot have it their own way in opposing the same rule applicable to themselves. The Supreme Court has struck down the ban on screening a film named Padmaawat in States such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, all with BJP governments, on the plea that law and order would be under threat. The Judges opined that the maintenance of law and order was the responsibility of the governments concerned.

It is arrant nonsense for those governments proclaim that people’s sentiments would be hurt if the offending film was screened for public viewing. How does one measure such discontent? By the counting of heads or because of the stark truth that mobs linked to vote banks would go on the rampage.

To take the first point: there were injured

sentiments aplenty when a ban was instituted, way back in the nineteenth century, on the abominable practice of suttee, the practice of the self immolating of widows on the funeral pyres of their dead husbands; there was opposition from diehards against girls and young women receiving modern education; freedom of speech and thought was once opposed in Europe, as was Darwin’s theory of evolution of life on earth. All that was considered beyond the pale is perceived as an adjunct of civilized life.

Haryana, in particular, has a dismal record of gang rapes, lynchings of those suspected of cow slaughter.

Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh run Haryana close on these matters. These benighted folk cannot set the agenda for the rest of India, neither can their craven governments.

Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

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Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

CIIr Ketan Sheth

Councillor for Tokyngton Wembley Brent Council’s Chair of Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

Changes to Community Cardiology Service in Brent The Community Cardiology Service, which runs from Wembley Centre for Health and Care and Willesden Centre for Health and Care is to end on the 28th February 2018 in keeping with the current contract. The provider, the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, has indicated that they do not wish to continue to provide the service beyond the end of contract date. The local NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, Brent CCG, has been working closely with the provider to ensure a safe and effective transition of patients following the end of the contract.

Information has been provided to patients informing them that their future appointments will now take place at the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead. This affords continuity of care, as care will be given by the same team of doctors and other healthcare professionals, who run the service in Brent. Brent CCG has contacted Brent GPs informing them of the end of the community service. In keeping with patient choice, current and new patients can choose to be referred to the Royal Free Hospital or at a cardiology service at another Trust.

Dr Ethie Kong, Chair of Brent CCG said: “The care that our patients and residents receive is always at the forefront to any changes we make.

The end of contract gives us a great opportunity to engage with the public to find out how we can further improve the service. Until then patients currently using the service have been advised of the changes to ensure that their care continues and there is a safe and effective transition of the service.”

Options for the future provision of a community cardiology service have been discussed by the Brent CCG Governing Body earlier this month. Currently, cardiology pathways are being reviewed across North West London (NWL) with a view to standardising pathways.

Brent CCG will be represented at a NWL level working group that includes cardiology consultants from the four main acute Trusts in NWL to agree more consistent pathways for patients.

Under this option, the CCG Governing Body would defer its decision on renewing the community cardiology model until a North West London pathway is agreed. This would have the advantage of consistency across NWL, benefiting from research the latest evidence base to determine the most appropriate service.

The CCG will engage with patients, clinicians and other stakeholders to further understand and meet the needs of the local population. Meanwhile, the CCG will continue to work closely with the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and local GP practices during the transition.

For further information and updates, please visit www.brentccg.co.uk Editor: CB Patel

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Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

Tesco worker kicks customer 'over stolen Pot Noodle' Shocking footage released online shows a Tesco employee 'kick out' at an aggressive customer who then retaliates by charging at him with a huge stick, in what a witness claimed was a row about a stolen Pot Noodle.

The video shows a row that starts with a tug of war over a backpack outside a branch of the supermarket in Hackney Road, London.

Two customers are then pulled back into the store by staff. However, seconds later they reemerge onto the street. Harry Anderson, who filmed the video, said one of the customers then threw what looked like a Pot Noodle into the store.

The altercation continues down the road as staff follow the retreating customers and heated words are exchanged.

One of the Tesco employees then appears to kick out at the customer.

The customer retaliates by swinging his backpack at the worker before another employee runs in swinging his arms at the shopper.

Footage showing a Tesco worker kicking out at a customer over a stolen Pot Noodle

Moments later the bag is flung into the air by the shop worker who kicked out.

The brawl then appears to calm down as the customers leave the area. However, the man soon returns with a huge stick and charges at the Tesco workers chasing them back into the store. They run for safety and the customer smashes the stick

against the exterior of the shop.

Mr Anderson, who watched the whole thing unfold while on his lunch break on January 16, said he believed the incident may have started with an accusation of shoplifting, although there is no evidence that any crime was com-

mitted.

He said of the violent encounter: 'I don't think the Tesco worker should have reacted that way at all.'

'They showed absolutely no respect for each other – no matter who the person is you can't do that.'

A Tesco spokesperson said: 'We're aware of this incident and are investigating what's happened.'

Woman robbed at knifepoint in Melton Road area A woman was threatened with what is believed to be a knife before being robbed of her Jewellery and bag in the Melton Road area of Leicester.

The incident happened at about 5.20pm on Monday, January 15. Police say the woman was approached from

behind by a man, who prodded her in the back and told her that he had a knife.

The man then snatched her handbag before telling her to take off two rings she was wearing, which were also stolen. The woman said the suspect is white and of medium build, he spoke with a

Busy shopping centre evacuated after two men stabbed in front of horrified shoppers Two men were stabbed in a busy shopping centre in front of horrified onlookers last Sunday.

Shocking photos show a trail of blood and a large knife on the floor of The Mall shopping centre in Luton.

Videos also show panicked bystanders and paramedics rushing in to help the men who were covered in blood.

Part of the 128-store complex was cordoned off pending a police investigation while the two unknown victims were rushed to hospital. Their condition is unknown.

Tess Osborne, who works at the Mall, said she saw metal fences being put up to block off the gruesome scene from public view. She told a London newspaper : "When I

A trail of bloody footsteps covered the floor of The Mall in Luton

A large knife on the floor of The Mall in Luton where two men were stabbed

finished work there were metal fences and plastic sheets up — it really looked like a crime scene."

She added: "They should have closed the entire Mall not just corner off a little section".

A Bedfordshire Police spokesman said on Sunday: "We were called to reports of two men with stab wounds in The Mall, Luton at around 2.30pm. A number of officers attended, along with the Ambulance service and two men were taken to hospital.

Anyone with any information, or anyone who was in the area at around 2.30pm and witnessed anything, is asked to call 101 quoting reference number 184 of January 21.

local accent and smelt of cigarettes. She said he was wearing a black balaclava and a black puffa-style jacket.

The suspect then ran off along Coral Street and across Cross Street towards Ross Walk. The victim, who wasn’t injured in the incident has been left shaken by her

ordeal.

Police are keen to trace this man and are appealing for information. Anyone who may have seen a man matching this description and acting suspiciously in the area of Melton Road and Coral Street is asked to contact DC Sarah Askham on 101.

GP weeps in court as he is cleared of sexually assaulting male patient appointment to A GP has been see the doctor cleared of sexualbecause of a bad ly abusing a male back. patient during a He claimed he medical examinawas asked to get tion. on the couch to be Dr Farouk examined and Patel had been told to 'relax and accused of intipull his top up'. mately massagDr Patel told ing the man's police after his bottom and groin Dr Farouk Patel arrest that the during an patient had also complained appointment for a bad back in his consultation room at of a groin problem, so he carthe Belgrave Medical Centre ried out a routine examinain Leicester. tion in a professional manner The 35-year-old wept and said nothing of a sexual nature ever took place. with relief when he was The jury was out for three found not guilty of two sexual hours and 49 minutes before assaults on the man and reaching not guilty verdicts. causing him to engage in sexDr Patel, from Leicester, did ual activity without consent. not give evidence in court.

After the hearing at In admissions read out Leicester Crown Court, Dr during the trial agreed Patel thanked his wife and between the prosecution and family for supporting him. defence, he accepted that he He said in a statement: 'I previously had consensual am very grateful to the jury for their careful considerahomosexual encounters in tion of the evidence in my his consultation room. case, and to my family, in He admitted to similar particular my wife, for standencounters at the Merlyn Vaz Medical Centre, in Leicester's ing by me during this difficult Spinney Hills, where he also time.' worked.

The alleged offences were Those unrelated incisaid to have been carried out dents were always outside of

by Dr Patel, a married father, surgery hours and had not on July 25, 2016. involved any patients, the The patient, who is in his court was told.

30s, claimed he made an

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Kashmir Voice International hosts seminar

Kashmir Voice International (KVI) organized a seminar at Birmingham on 21st January 2018 on its first anniversary. The theme of the seminar was “Kashmir Issue-Support at International Level, an Analysis”.

People who spoke were from Pakistan, J & K and UK. Justice Shraief Hussain Bokhari from Lahore Pakistan said, ‘military operations or militancy cannot solve Kashmir dispute’.

While feeling the need for international support he said, ‘it is the responsibility of the people of J & K wherever they live to convince the international community that Kashmir is the issue of life and honor of 20 million people”.

Harrow Leisure Centre’s Active Community Mondays could benefit from Tesco Bags of Help scheme

Participants of Harrow Leisure Centre's 'Active Community Mondays'

A programme that encourages activity among older people is in the running for a £4,000 supermarket grant.

The ‘Active Community Mondays’ scheme at Harrow Leisure Centre, which was launched just over a year ago, gives older people the chance to meet others in a fun, safe environment and seeks to tackle feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Following its initial success, it has put forward an application for funding from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative in the hope of growing even more.

The scheme offers community projects financial support, and ‘Active Community Mondays’ has been shortlisted alongside two other projects with £4,000 up for grabs.

Teenager stabbed outside Zoroastrian Centre

A teenager was taken to hospital after he was stabbed in broad daylight outside a religious centre.

Police were called to Rayners Lane at around 2pm on January 22 after reports of a 17-year-old suffering a stab wound. They taped off the area near the Zoroastrian Centre, in Rayners Lane, while the victim was taken to hospital. His injuries are described as not life-threatening.

Two teenagers, aged 16 and 18, were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. Enquiries are ongoing and investigators are keeping an “open mind” with regards to a motive for the incident.

Northwood man celebrates giving 100 blood donations

A man was given a commemorative medal in recognition of his one hundredth blood donation. Vinod Unadkat, a linguist from Northwood, was celebrated at a special ceremony at St Paul’s Church, Hammersmith, which championed the Vinod Unadkat, 67, from Northwood efforts of serial donors. celebrates his feat Of those who give (Photo: Caters blood, just one per cent Photographic) will reach a century of donations – a figure which has the potential to save around three hundred lives.

Mr Unadkat explained how he had previously harboured ambitions to be a medic and decided to start donating blood as a quick and simple way to save and improve the lives of others.

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India League and High Commission of India to host Gandhi Martyrs’ Day The Indian High Commission and India League will host Gandhi Martyrs’ Day on Tuesday 30th January 2018, 11am, at Tavistock Square in the London Borough of Camden. Like every year, many esteemed members of the British Indian community, including MPs, Peers and Councillors will gather at the iconic statue to pay tribute to Gandhi on his death anniversary, followed by a musical tribute from the students of Bharatiya

Vidya Bhavan (UK). The programme will include dignitaries paying floral tribute to the statue followed by short speeches,

bhajans and vedic prayers.

This Gandhi Nirvaan Divas is usually attended by the Indian High Commissioner Y K Sinha and Deputy High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik and Mayor of Camden. They will be joined by India League Chairman CB Patel.

The event is open to public.

To learn more about India league, see our special story at https://www.asianvoice.com/Culture/Indi a-League

Aircraft engineer who drunkenly crashed into takeaway avoids jail 25-year-old aircraft engineer, Aamair Patel, who had drunkenly smashed his £22,500 Mercedes into Naz curry house in Bolton before speeding away, has avoided jail after he apologised for bringing shame on his Muslim family.

It is said that he had allegedly consumed vodka and Fanta and was three times the drink-drive limit when he had crashed his vehicle into the Indian takeaway in Greater Manchester.

After crashing into the Indian takeaway, Patel reversed his car and sped away, but hit another vehicle from behind as he drove off and then crashed head on into another vehicle.

When Patel was breathalysed, it was found that he had exceeded the drink-drive level, however, he later claimed that he

“Humanist” seeking asylum rejected It is said that a Pakistani man, Hamza bin Walayat, who is claiming asylum in the UK on the grounds that he has rejected his Islamic faith and become a humanist has had his application by the Home Office as he failed to identify Plato and Aristotle as h u m a n i s t Philosophers.

He said he has allegedly received death threats from family members and faces persecution if he is forced to leave the UK to return to Pakistan.

was giving a homeless man a lift who caused the accident to occur by trying to grab hold of a cola bottle from inside the car.

When confronted with CCTV footage of the crash at the Indian food joint, Patel said, “For f*** sake, Jesus can I see that one more time? I was completely out of control. I don't know how that happened. I didn't do this to myself.”

He was given a 12-month suspended sentence at Bolton Crown Court after he admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol and dangerous driving. He was also banned from driving for three years, as well as ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.

Aamair Patel, who works for Airbus Group in Chester, was involved in this accident 9th November, at around 8pm.

An earlier hearing was informed that Patel had started drinking socially at college and that his alcohol problem “brought shame” on his family.

Patel's lawyer, Russell Davies stressed that his client had since sought help for his alcohol problem by attending AA meetings and a local drug and alcohol group.

Davies added, “Of course there are emotions involved in this case, emotions of guilt and remorse that something in his upbringing cause this man to act completely to the contrary, obviously culturally but also to his family values. But immediate custody for this man

Aamair Patel

would be devastating for him and others who support him. But he has a very successful future to look forward to. I concede that this has crossed the custody threshold but it is my application that it can be suspended. He has looked for help with his alcohol issues and as far as I'm concerned it is genuine. He works for an international and possibly global aeronautical engineering company and they support him.”

While sentencing, Judge Timothy Clayson told Aamair Patel, “It is a miracle that nobody was hurt or worse. Your blood alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit.

But you have taken steps which I consider to be honest and not cynical to address your alcohol problem. You also have very good prospects and the support of a good family and that is a wonderful thing.”

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Builder allegedly raped and killed niece and locked her in freezer

Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

The Old Bailey heard how a builder, Mujahid Arshid, 33, allegedly kidnapped and raped his niece, Celine Dookhran, 20, and put her body in a deep freezer and padlocked it shut. He was caught after a second woman he abducted convinced him that they could be lovers and escaped.

Celine Dookhran

the two women. her throat as well, but she Crispin Aylett, QC, for was not to die from her The court was told that the prosecution said, injuries. Once he realised Arshid was “sexually fixat“Arshid drove the two he had not actually killed ed” on Celine Dookhran young women to the house her – he had told her she and her friend who cannot would be dead within ten and once he got them be named for legal reaminutes – she promised, in inside he tied them to the sons. order to get herself out, pipes in the utility room.

The Times newspaper that they could still be All the while he was armed suggests that Celine was a together and he British Indian. appears to have fallShe worked at en for that ruse.”

Barclays Bank in The prosecutor M i t c h a m , further added, “As S o u t h w e s t the second women London. Both vicwas trying to talk tims are said to Arshid round, he have fallen out described himself to with their families her as a nasty, horriabout their ble, evil person. It boyfriends. It is may be that after said that Celine's you have heard all step-father disapproved of her From left: Mujahid Arshid and Vincent Tappu the evidence in this case you will Libyan Muslim come to agree with his with a lock knife. He took boyfriend, and told her assessment of his characthe first woman upstairs to that she should be with a ter.” a bedroom and raped her Pakistani Muslim instead.

Mujahid Arshid from and then brought her back Arshid, who is a British Mitcham is accused of sexdown. Later, the same Pakistani builder, is ual assault; kidnap; two thing happened to Celine. accused of taking advanrapes; murder; as well as After he raped both tage of these women's attempted murder. He women he took Celine to family dispute, and plandenies all the charges the bathroom and he cut ning to kidnap them and against him. Vincent her throat while her making the scenario seem mouth was still stuffed Tappu from Acton, West as though they had run wth a sock. Celine died of a London, denies two away from home. combination of restriction charges of kidnap. Both On 19th July 2017, deny conspiracy to falsely of her airways and the Arshid and his accomplice, imprison the two women. blood that she lost. He Vincent Tappu, 28, who then took the second worked as a builder for The trial continues. woman upstairs and cut him, allegedly kidnapped

Boparan receives flak from MPs over biscuits Ranjit Boparan, also referred to as the “Chicken King”, has been accused of sending unsolicited gifts to the MPs who are investigating his 2 Sisters food company's scandal over poultry safety.

Chairman of the environment, food and rural affairs committee, Neil Parish, has written to Boparan saying that the gifts were an “inappropriate gesture on your part and an unwarranted attempt to impugn the committee's impartiality”.

Labour MP for Newport West, Paul Flynn informed The Daily Telegraph that only half of the MPs on the committee had received food

hampers estimated to be worth about £100, filled with biscuits made by Boparan's Fox's Biscuits.

Paul Flynn said, “The gifts caused a great deal of consternation as it suggested that the MPs who did receive the biscuits could be bought by biscuits. Those that didn't receive them could be judged to be beyond corruption. Biscuits will never buy us.”

Neil Parish wrote to Boparan stating that all gifts will be donated to charity or returned. “I would be grateful if you would respect the integrity and independence of the committee and avoid similar gestures in future.”

However, the compa-

Ranjit Boparan

ny said that they had written to Parish, explaining that the “hamper” was worth less than £25, which is sent to hundreds of “external stakeholders as a goodwill gesture for Christmas”.

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Irish PM mocked by Brexiteers over his EU Parliamentary speech Brexiteers have blasted the Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, branding him as “pretty weird” and warned to brush up on history after he claimed British war veterans fought for Europe.

Brexiteers said that the Irish Prime Minister was “talking rubbish” at the EU parliament as he made a strange plea for Britain to change its decision on exiting the European Union.

At the European Parliament, Varadkar suggested that Second World War veterans had “fought on the beaches of France” not only for Britain, but to also protect and further “European values”.

He also stated, “I really regret the decision on Brexit, because so much will be lost. Young people will lose their right to live, work and study anywhere

in the European Union – losing their rights as European citizens. My nice and nephew won't because they are entitled to Irish passports, but other kids in their class will and I think that's a real shame...

And also I'm conscious of British veterans, very brave people, who fought on the beaches of France not just for Britain but also for European democracy and for European values – and people like that are always on my mind.”

Although the Irish Prime Minister's comment was applauded by the European Parliament in Brussel, they were mocked in Britain by Tory MP James Gary, who served in the Territorial Army. He said, “If he was talking about D Day it's patently obvious that the troops were of course not fighting for the EU because it did-

Irish PM Leo Varadkar

n't exist at the time. I just think it's wrong. He is talking a lot of rubbish, isn't he? I have met a great many of veterans of the Second World War in my time and I've never met one who thought they were fighting for the European Union. And if that is what the Prime

Minister of the Republic of Ireland thinks then he doesn't know what he is talking about. The EU wasn't even a twinkle in anyone's eye that time.

Charles De Gaulle of course went to lengths to ensure that Britain didn't form part of any link at all.”

lead “separate lives” after their divorce in 2014.

Prosecutor, William Harbage told the jury, “After the divorce, Kiran joined a dating agency and had started to meet other men. That may also have been a source of tension or resentment for the defendant.”

Vivek and Shivam Daudia, sons of Ashwin and Kiran were close to their mother. The prosecutor continued, “You will hear that the relationship

between the defendant and Kiran was not a happy one. Vivek and Shivam sided their mother and had relatively little to do with their father. Not surprisingly, in view of the divorce, Kiran wanted the defendant out of the house which was in their joint names. The defendant was refusing to go and appeared to be doing everything he could to avoid doing so.”

Factory worker accused of murdering ex-wife

Factory worker, Ashwin Daudia, 51, is accused of strangling his former wife, Kiran Daudia, 46, and leaving her body in a suitcase by some bins. He denies murder.

The jury in the murder trial at Leicester Crown Court heard how Kiran was “always happy”, however, her relationship with the accused was not a pleasant one.

Ashwin and Kiran Daudia had an arranged marriage in 1988 in India

Kiran Daudia

and continued to live under the same roof but

Brands hesitate to advertise on Faceabook & Youtube According to an executive at the world's largest media agency, Group M, companies are now wary to advertise on Facebook and YouTube due to fears that they may appear next to inappropriate content. Group M's senior director of brand safety and digital risk, Bethan Crockett suggests that brands are now aware of the “inherent risk” of advertising on these prominent online platforms.

In 2017, an investigation led by The Times revealed how renowned brands were funding terrorism through adverts that appeared on YouTube videos posted by Islamic extremists.

Advertisers pay these online platforms to reach their users, however, they are unable to control where their advert appears.

Bethan Crockett stated, “They are starting to query whether they [their adverts] should run there. Can they run elsewhere where they can get the same audience reach and delivery of their messaging? And can they move away from using some of these platforms until the controls are approved?”

Pressure from coverage by the press regarding this issue forced the internet giants to start responding to advertisers' concerns, however, they would not fully take a stand unless more brands pulled out from advertising on these portals, Crockett predicts. She further said, “The influence will happen when the money is withdrawn.”

The trial continues.

Nus Ghani, first female Muslim MP to speak in Commons

Continued from page 1 Born in Kashmir, Nus Ghani, 45, who has recently been appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport and Assistant Government Whip, was cheered as she answered questions about station access for disabled people.

Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling said that her recent appointment as the Transport Minister cemented that the Tories “were a party of opportunity”, who also produced the first female Prime Minister in the UK as well.

Speaking at the Commons, Chris Grayling introduced Nus Ghani, stating, “We're the party to provide... the first Muslim woman minister to speak from the government dispatch box – the member for Wealden. I congratulate her – I'm very proud to sit alongside her.”

Ghani had previously worked for charities and the BBC World Service prior to first standing as a Conservative Party candidate in Birmingham in the 2010

general election.

She is considered to be one of the most active Members of Parliament who raises issues that matter, such as unreliable rural broadband connections, poor train performance, as well as opposing the Gatwick expansion.

Ghani has also had different opinions from her party colleagues which have been evident. She has consistently voted for allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life, while most of her peers voted against it; and she also voted against investigations into the Iraq war, while most of the Conservative MPs voted for the decision into an investigation.

Debuting as a Transport Minister, Nus Ghani tweeted, “Made my debut as @transportgovuk Minister and made a bit of history as the first female Muslim Minister to speak from the House of Commons dispatch box.

Supported by wonderful colleagues Chris Grayling, @JoJohnsonsUK & @Jesse_Norman @Conservatives.”

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Top primary school reverses ban on hijab The best primary school in England, St Stephen's in Newham, East London, received a lot of criticism and hence, decided to reverse its ban on children under the age of 8 wearing hijabs at school.

Chairman of the education select committee, Robert Halfon, said that it was “wrong” for the school to be receiving such criticism. This has led to the resignation of the chairman of governors at St Stephen's, Arif Qawi.

Robert Halfon said, “I am certainly in support of this school. It has very good results. We have to be very careful that very, very

Arif Qawi resigns as chairman of governors at St Stephen's Primary School

young children are not being forced by more hardline elements outside the school to do things that may not be right for the children.”

Jihadist bride held at Heathrow A 27-year-old Briton alleged to be a jihadist bride who gave birth to her son under ISIS in Syria has come back to the UK. She was arrested at London Heathrow Airport under terrorism laws, while her son who is under the age of two and whose nationality is unclear, has been taken into care. She was

released on bail while police investigations continue.

It is said that the authorities are expecting and employing measures to tackle a potential influx of ISIS brides and their children after the terrorist group was vanquished in its Iraqi and Syrian strongholds in 2017.

Life expectancy falls in some regions of England Official figures reveal for the first time that life expectancy has fallen in some parts of England by more than a year since 2011.

According to the first detailed analysis of national data, people in isolated rural regions, as well as posy-industrial towns are dying at s younger age, compared to London and parts of southeast England where longevity is on the rise.

Theories suggest that

the consistent falls in life expectancy over 5 years in several local authority areas are due to cuts to services and economic stagnation. Other causes may include the greater effect of drinking and smoking in poorer regions, increase in obesity rates, as well as loneliness or the lack of care when children move away from their parents. The rise in death from flu in recent winters is also said to be a contributing factor.

Women embarrassed to have smear tests

According to a cancer charity, many women are not attending smear tests as they are embarrassed about their bodies.

Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust said that it was concerned that body image issues could be putting women's lives in danger. Data from a survey was released, coin-

ciding with Cervical Cancer Prevention Week and the launch if its campaign #SmearForSmear 2018.

The results revealed that one in four women did not take up the invitation for their smear test, while 1/3 of women were worried about the shape of their body.

Six-figure gender pay gap increased According to a research conducted by the law firm, Wilsons, the gap between the number of men and women paid £100,000 has increased by nearly ¼ in five years. The research found that over 625,000 men receive at least a sixfigure salary in comparison to 155,000 women.

The report suggests

that the pay gap has increased by 23% over the past five years, partly due to mothers taking career breaks to have children.

Stephen Oxley of Wilsons claims that financial incentives for splitting parental leave equally between mothers and fathers could close the gender pay “gulf”.

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Asian teenage girl's arm broken in racist attack Police are searching for two women after they broke a 15-year old girl's arm in a racist attack in London. The teenager, who is of Asian appearance, was at a KFC in Waltham Forest, eating with friends when the two women threw food at her.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said that when the teenager turned around to speak to the women, they started to hurl racial abuse at her.

“The older of the two women then pulled the victim's hair causing her to fall to the floor. Both suspects kicked the victim whilst she was on the ground. As the victim stood up, a hot drink was

believed to be in her 50s while the other in her 20s, and could also be mother and daughter.

Detective Constable Rosie Doyle said, “This was an unproPolice want to speak to these two voked and vicious women after an Asian teenager had attack which has her arm broken in a racist attack left the victim very shaken and thrown at her face.” with serious injury. If you This incident had recognise the women in taken place on 6th these pictures, we would November 2017. Police urge you to get in touch. were called at around We do not tolerate hate 8:30pm and the victim crime of any form and was taken to the hospital encourage victims and by paramedics as she had witnesses to come forward suffered a broken arm in and report such incidents the assault. to the police.”

One suspect is

Convicted Pakistani paedophile claims it's “too dangerous” to be sent back home 39-year-old Adil Sultan, an alleged Pakistani paedophile believed he was chatting to a 14-year-old schoolgirl on the internet whom he encouraged to send him her explicit photographs and meet up with him for sex. However, he was actually exchanging messages with the vigilante group, Guardians of the North, who posed as a 14-yearold girl. They handed him over to the police.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Adil Sultan

Adil Sultan

pretended to be a 25-yearold on the internet and used a false name. It is said that Sultan believed

“it was okay” to have sex with a girl off 14 in the UK. It is said that he now plans to apply for asylum in the UK as he claims that his conviction means he cannot return to Pakistan as there is widespread anger in his homeland regarding a recent child rape case, which means it is unsafe for him to go home now.

Sultan was sentenced to 17 months in prison with ten years sex offender registration and sexual harm prevention order.

Car insurance costs more if your name is Mohammed

According to an investigation conducted by The Sun newspaper, top motor insurance firms allegedly charge you far more if your name is Mohammed.

The investigation revealed that motorists who are named Mohamed are exploited by £1,000 more to insure their vehicles, compared to someone with an English name.

While investigating, The Sun allegedly found a shocking example of an Admiral quote on GoCompare. They put in identical details apart from the name. For “John Smith”, a fully comprehensive insurance for a 2007 Ford Focus in Leicester was quoted as £1,333, whereas for “Mohammed Ali”, it was £2,252 – a massive £919 more. 36-year-old nursing assistant from Bradford, Mohammed Suleman Butt was angry after finding out the results in this investigation. He told The Sun, “They cannot say Mohammeds are worse

7

drivers than Johns.”

Butt told the newspaper that Admiral initially quoted him insurance thinking his first name was Suleman.

When he phoned the insurance company to Mohammed Suleman Butt inform them that name his name is Mohammed, was Jack Jones or David his premium increased by Smith. In what world do £166. He said, “They they think that's acceptadmitted the higher price able? It's racism, pure and was for no reason other simple.” Admiral boss, than my name. In no simDavid Stevens has denied ple terms, I have been the claims. charged more than if my

CHANGE OF NAME I, Rita Rani & Rita Rani Singh, residing at 80, Glenister Park Road, Streatham Vale, London SW16 5DU hereby give notice of my intention to change my name to Rita Rani Banger.

So relinquished to the intent that I may hereafter be called known and identified by the new name of Rita Rani Banger.

Aldi becomes 3rd best place to work for graduates A new report has found that working for the supermarket, Aldi, is now as remunerative for graduates as being an investment banker or lawyer.

According to the annual Graduate Market study, Aldi is offering graduates £44,000 plus a company car, which is the same salary as many of the UK's top law firm. The competitive remuneration package from the German supermarket chain the company's attempt to attract high calibre graduates as it seeks to compete with more established rivals with a bigger market share.

Graduates who win the opportunity to train at some of the UK's leading law firms are paid a starting salary of £44,000.

Managing director at High Fliers research, Martin Birchall said, “People assume the best starting salaries are in the City or at law firms. But Aldi are one of several in the retail sector who are really investing heavily in their new graduates. Aldi started recruiting in the UK 15 years ago, and it joined our top 100 firms 12

years ago. Retail used to be one of those areas where it was towards the bottom in terms of starting salary, it is right up in the top few now.” The report titled as Graduate Market 2018 looks at the top 100 employers. The list was put together by analysing interviews with 20,000 final-year students about which company they believe offers the best opportunities for graduates.

Aldi was ranked 65th in 2002 and steadily climbed its way up, reaching 5th place in 2013. And this year Aldi was ranked third.

On the supermarket's graduates page, Aldi says, “You've probably heard that we give our graduates a fantastic package

(including an Audi A4) and that it's 'really hard work'.

The programme lasts for 12 months and, yes, it's tough... By week 14, you could hold the keys to at least one store. Eventually, you could be running your own multimillion pound business.”

Graduates' choice Top 10 rated employers 1. PwC 2. Civil Service 3. Aldi 4. Teach First 5. Google 6. Deloitte 7. NHS 8. KPMG 9. EY 10. GSK Source: The Graduate Market in 2018

Government refuses to change immigration rule allowing guaranteed tourist visa to citizens’ families A petition started by the diaspora with British citizenship, to ask for a new immigration rule that allows their families an easy guaranteed tourist visa (not having to meet the same criteria as other applicants for a visit visa), has reached almost 64000 signatures as we went to press.

After crossing the 10,000 benchmark the government wrote to the petitioners saying that they have no plans to change the immigration rules for visitors to introduce automatic approval

of visit visas for families of British citizens.

It said, “Automatically approving visas for a select group of people would mean that important considerations against the Immigration Rules would not be applied consistently and could raise equality concerns. It could lead to discrimination against those who do not have family members in the UK but have just as valid a reason for wishing to visit the UK. “There is also a danger of additional complexity in the assessment process

around how an individual would prove that they are the family member of a British citizen. There could be unintended consequences that make the application process longer, more difficult and costly,” the Government added.

The petition that expires in June, will need to reach 100,000 signatures by then to ensure a serious debate in the Parliament about it, before any changes are made to the rule.

Check out the petition at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/206568

Job: Pushtimargiya Haveli Mukhyaji

• Employer: Pushti Nidhi (UK) Ltd • Wages : £15,600 per annum If required, accommodation can be provided to the successful candidate how ever this will be deducted as an expense from the salary • Hours : 40 hours/week flexible over 7 days • Location : Shreeji Dham Haveli 504 Melton Road Leicester LE4 7SP

Application closing date: 20 February 2018

Job Description: Responsible to the Chair of the Seva Committee and the Chief Patron HDH PP Goswami 108 Shree Dwarkeshlaji Maharajshree (Kankroli – Vadodara).

As Pushtimargiya Vaishnav Mukhyaji must be able to perform the duties as per the scriptures, serve necessary ritual/seva, Shringhar and Bhog within Pushtimargiya principles and traditions.

Responsibilities: The individual will be expected to perform ritual Seva, Service, Darshan 6 times a day.

The individual will be expected to prepare Bhog and should have experience in making various offerings/samagri in accordance with Pushtimargiya traditions and within strict guidance of scriptures in relation to the time, day, month, and festival during the year. The individual should be able to plan, organise and prepare the Shringhar and Vastra in advance, according to the time, day, month and festival/utsav of the year in keeping with the Tippani (vedic calendar). They should also maintain everything used for Seva.

The individual is responsible for the day to day running and care-taking duties of the Haveli.

The individual will be required to provide pastoral care to members of the congregation and the wider community. The individual will provide motivation, guidance and training in religious life for the people within the haveli.

Experience and qualifications for the role: The individual must have Brahmsambandh. The individual must have knowledge of the Pushtimargiya faith and a good understanding of vedic traditions and experience of religious rituals in accordance with Pushtimargiya Scriptures (Shastras). Experience of Haveli Sangeet/kirtan (music) would be an added advantage.

It would be helpful if the individual speaks more than one Indian language including Sanskrit as most of the original scriptures are written in Sanskrit and Vraj bhasha.

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COMMUNITY

Britain celebrates Vasant Panchami with much pomp and gaiety

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Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

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Rupanjana Dutta

While Britain is in the grip of an icy cold spell, preparations are under way to celebrate Saraswati puja (Vasant Panchami) once again. Not only Durga puja, Kali puja now even Vasant Panchami is a very big and integral part of the community’s culture, celebrated in many parts of the country with sit and draw competitions for children, 'adda', 'prashad' and cultural activities.

The celebration and Puja are spread across different dates for different organisations. While some have already celebrated it on Saturday 20th, Sunday 21st, or Monday 22 January, others have lined it up for 27, 28 January and even dates in February.

Now in their seventh glorious year, Croydon Bengali Connection in London have welcomed a new, exquisitely crafted 'shola' idol from the legendary artisans of Kumartuli, in Kolkata.

Over the years CBC have successfully hosted this joyous event, accompanied by a wonderful cultural extravaganza where the children are undoubtedly the star attraction. They have performed in many plays such as Tagore's Kabuliwala, Shaat Bhai Champa, Sukumar Roy's Tuntuni and more recently an excerpt from the life of Sister Nivedita.

This year on Saturday 27th January in London they shall sing and dance to the classic theme of 'Mile Sur Mera Tumhara'. There will be a wonderful performance by Eastern Euphony alongside a host of accomplished local singers. The program shall be inaugurated by Rt Hon Gavin Barwell who is now Prime Minister Theresa May's Chief of Staff, and Councillor

Devi Saraswati idol at the puja organised by the Essex Indians

Vidhi Mohan.The new Labour MP for Croydon Central, Sarah Jones, is also expected. It is worth noting that the members of Croydon Bengali Connection were instrumental in helping organize the Blue Plaque ceremony in Wimbledon that marked the 150th birth anniversary of Sister Nivedita, inaugurated by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

Basingstoke Indo cultural organisation had their puja on Saturday 20th at Crockwell village hall, which was joined by people from Reading , Slough , Winchester and Southampton.

Bristol Durga Puja Committee organised their Sarawati Puja at Bristol Hindu temple, Swindon had a puja in Eastcott community centre and Liverpool at Croxteth Sport Centre- all three had organised their Puja on Sunday 21st January. Milton Keynes Ananda Club Saraswati Puja entered its 8th year, and also celebrated on January 21st at the Irish Centre, In Milton Keynes. It is one of the oldest Saraswati puja in the area, that whole heartedly welcomes any one who wants to offer their prayers to Devi Saraswati, the

goddess of art and knowledge.

The Essex Indians also organised their gorgeous puja in Shenfield Parish Hall on Sunday 21st, which saw a great mix of different cultures under the same roof celebrating this auspicious day.

Bengali Association of Bromley organised their puja on January 22nd. One speciality of their puja is Kolkata style sit and draw competition where artist judges from Kolkata were linked up on projector virtually and announced winners. It was the first time such a thing happened in London.

Another unique puja is mobile Saraswati puja, what started off as an initiative by a family in Milton Keynes back in 2010, to relive the Sarawati puja days back in Kolkata with some friends who happen to have moved to UK, has now traveled half of England, From Milton Keynes 2010-2016 to Woking in 2017 and now in Reading 2018.

Believe it or not 9 years into the pujo, self funded by five families back in 2010 to now 10 families from all over the England, are yet to give this pujo a name. While this pujo is less publicised, as only close friends and family get

Saraswati puja by Essex Indians

invited, it is one of those authentic pujo's that also welcome any guests who wish to be a part of the Pujo. The highlight of this pujo has always been the cultural programme, with performers as young as 2 years, making their first stage appearance, even before "hathey khori" (officially learn to write). This year, the celebration is on 28 January at Coronation Hall in Reading.

Saraswati puja is returning to Wimbledon for the second year at Merton Arts Space in Wimbledon Library on this Saturday 27 January. Saudha, one of the leading Indian classical music promoters of the country is hosting the event as part of the celebration of the auspicious moments of worship for the Hindu mythical goddess of arts, music and knowledge Devi Saraswati. The event entails captivating sessions of serene music, haunting world poetry, colourful dance by a selection of prominent performers of this country. Curated by one of the top-most Indian classical singer in Europe Chandra Chakraborty, this free festival will kick from 4.30pm and finish

at 10pm with free dinner for audiences. Guru Sounds radio has also organised a music festival in Leyton, East London on Sunday 28th January to celebrate Saraswati puja.

This year, Bengalis are also celebrating Saraswati Puja in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh for the very first time. The Puja will be celebrated in February 03, Saturday at Gilmerton Society hall and will include Bengali social and cultural staples: music, adda and food!

Edinburgh has a long connection with Bengal. In particular, the University where great bengali alumni include: Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray (First Indian Chemist), Kadambini Ganguly (LRCP, Edinburgh), and Aghorenath Chattopadhyay (DSc from Edinburgh University, father of Sarojini Naidu).

Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore was also influenced by Scottish Music- Auld Lang Syne is very popular as “purano sei din et katha” The Saraswati idol has been donated by the Wales Bengali Committee. It was originally made in 2009 from simple materials like clay, hay and wood.

A memorial meeting was organised by the Indian Journalists’ Association at the India Club on Monday 22 January 2018 for the late Mr Batuk Gathani, a former foreign correspondent for The Hindu. The meeting was addressed by the Deputy High Commissioner of India to UK, Ambassador Dinesh Patnaik (in pic sitting). Batuk has been the IJA President in the past. Speaking in this picture, remembering him, is Mr Ashis Ray, the current President. Batuk passed away on Friday 1 December 2017, his wife Minal, close relatives and friends joined the gathering on this Monday.

The Indian Tamils in the UK paid homage to the statue of poet Thiruvalluvar, outside SOAS, London on 19 January, followed by the first time Pongal celebration in the High Commission of India, London organised by FeTAUK. The High Commissioner HE Y K Sinha addressed the gathering. A special thanks was given by the organisers to Mr. A S Rajan, Minister of Coordination & Mr. Ramaswamy Balaji, First Secretary and Mr. Bharat Joshi, British Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai

Telugu Association of London (TAL) celebrates Shankranti Festival on 13th January (West London) and 20th January 2018 (East London) with cultural programmes and get togethers.

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Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

Binny Shah - Patel; Travel and Food Blogger Taking Social Media by Storm How do you get to be an award winning food and travel blogger as well as a solopreneur, focusing on social media marketing, consultancy and management? And what is a solopreneur? Ask Binny ShahPatel.

How Binny turned from banking to focusing on her blog and social media management After a 10 year career in banking, Binny ShahPatel made a drastic career change and decided to focus on her passion, a food and travel blog. She told us, “I had been running my blog for two years whilst still running an investments platform as my day job. Limiting factors such as annual leave days allowance meant that I would sometimes miss opportunities to travel or attend events.

I had begun to make a second income from my blog through collaborations. I also had savings in the bank and the support of my husband, so I decided to take the leap, leave my career in banking and focus on my blog.

I had certain skills from my MSc. in Marketing, as well as from running the blog and my own social media platforms. These made me into a solopreneur, offering social media marketing

and management services, as well as consultancy.

This gave me a second i n c o m e stream.”

The Lifestyle Binny Shah-Patel has now

world as long as I have my laptop, iPhone and WiFi. I am also able to schedule my day on my own terms and I have no regrets.”

Social media workers are aplenty, but

h o w many of them can turn a profit and have a nice lifestyle from this platform? Binny Shah-Patel has managed it.

“It does turn a profit for me as my overhead costs and expenses are relatively low. What I love most is the freedom I now have to travel, as I can work from anywhere in the

What is Binny ShahPatel’s own use of social media, apps and technology?

Binny Shah-Patel

Some journalists can receive invitations from businesses wanting coverage from them. We wondered if any opportunities had come Binny's way through social media. Yes! Came the reply.

“I have been lucky to have some amazing expe-

TV grooming drama led driver to “run Muslims down” outside mosque A court was told that Darren Osborne, 28, who drove a van into Muslim worshippers outside a mosque in Finsbury Park was brainwashed by online right-wing propaganda after becoming outraged by s TV drama about grooming gangs.

Osborne is accused of murdering Makram Ali and injuring several others in the attack in North London. It is alleged that he had become a “ticking time bomb” obsessed with Muslims after watching the BBC programme, Three Girls, which looked at the Rochdale grooming scandal.

It is said that Osborne had left a note in the rented van used in the attack

Makram Ali died in the attack

of-four, Osborne, from Pentwyn, was Darren Osborne said to have become indoctrinated after on 19th June 2017, which watching videos online complained about “feral from far-right groups, such Muslim men preying in as Britain First and the parks, hunting for chilEnglish Defence League dren”, as well as “inbred (EDL). migrants”.

Osborne denies murThe court also heard der and attempted murhow unemployed fatherder. The trial continues.

Hay fever vaccine could help sufferers Scientists reveal that a vaccine to combat hay fever is on the cards after trials on humans showed that they could reduce symptoms by a quarter over two years.

Rudolf Valenta, who led the research at the

Medical University of Vienna said, “In the last study, still unpublished, we reach up to 60% [relief ] for certain patients after one year treatment. It is likely that we can make them symptom-free after

riences. A few of them were attending the Latin America 50 Best Restaurant Awards in Mexico City in 2016, interviewing the legendary Antonio Carluccio, having dinner cooked by James Martin whilst on a cruise on the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, travelling to wonderful destinations and meeting some amazing individuals.”

longer treatment. The planned schedule is five pre-seasonal injections before the pollen season of the first year and one daily refreshment every year.”

A follow-on study will start next year.

The tech-friendly Mrs Shah-Patel tells us, “I use social media constantly. I check my own platforms as well as those of my clients regularly. I post frequently. I primarily use Instagram, where I have 13,900 followers, Facebook, where I have 8300 fans, Twitter, where I have 5400 followers, and Pinterest, although I hope to experiment with Podcasts and YouTube in the near future.

I use my iPhone 8, GoPro Hero 5 and a Canon DSLR Camera for photography.”

How Binny sees social media evolving “I think social media will become more prominent in coming years. Platforms like Instagram are emerging as shoppable fronts, as an example. I also think the use of videos will become important. There's a trend already visible

Social media is where I find out news first. It can be used for good purposes. with the popular use of Facebook and Instagram Lives. We wondered how much social media controls Binny Shah-Patel, and if she has her phone by her side 24/7. She appears to have a healthy attitude to her industry's tools.

“Due to the social media platforms being my primary work outlets I spend time switching between my own accounts and those of my clients on

my phone. I do enforce a no phone rule for a couple of hours a day to relax, though.”

The importance of social media and its uses in 2018 “I think social media is important. It is where I find out news first, which is important in our increasingly volatile and unpredictable world. It can be used for good purposes, such as sharing wonderful causes, helping to find missing people, alerting people of danger, as well as for positivity.

My favourite example is from December 2017 when a newsagents in Twickenham, called Meet and Deep News posted a photo on their Facebook page with the message “We are open Christmas Day from 12-2 PM. If you are alone pop in for a hug and a mince pie! You don’t have to buy anything. We are family.” It went viral. It was shared in multiple Facebook groups and pages and was a wonderful way to spread Christmas cheer. https://binnyskitchen.com

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READERS’ VOICE

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Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

Donald Trump’s anniversary

President Donald Trump’s anniversary of his presidency has landed as a wet squib. The government has shut down, his poll rating are at the lowest, he had to cancel his visit to UK on a false pretext, he has infuriated African nations by calling them “shit-holes”, he is anti-climate change and is anti-media, accusing them of giving fake news. His ban on 6 Muslim nations was a fiasco as the Supreme Court had to over-rule him. His out of the blue controversial announcement of moving the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem unhinged and was not welcomed by the Palestinians and the entire Arab and Muslim world.

He is suffering from Obama phobia, and is hell bent in destroying his legacy in all areas. He wants to get rid of Obama Care, he is deporting thousands of Dreamers, (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act) introduced by Obama. There are roughly 1.8 million immigrants in the United States who might be, or might become, eligible for the Obama Administration’s “deferred action” initiative for unauthorized youth brought to this country as children. This is strongly opposed not by the dreamers but the Democratic Party and American at large.

He has sacked and some members of his cabinet have resigned in the first six months of his Presidency which is scarred by scandal and acrimony. He says he is not a racist but inclinations are tinged by racism.

The growth in economy, and low employment is not because of him but inspite of him. It has happened because of general growth in the Global economies.

His “America First” agenda is undermining transatlantic relations.

The United States is an oligarchy in which real political power is wielded by an unelected cabal of billionaires, intelligence operatives and generals.

Trump is the representative of these reactionary forces. His first year has had more minuses than pluses. Thus the second year does not augur well.

Baldev Sharma Rayners Lane, Harrow.

Kite Festival

The kite festival of Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti) is regarded as one of the biggest festivals celebrated in the western India. It marks the transition of the sun into the zodiacal sign of Makara (Capricorn) on its celestial path. The day is also believed to mark the arrival of spring in many parts of India. The tradition of kite-flying is said to have started among royalty and nobility which over the years gained popular appeal.

Kites flown are known to use a strong, special string (known as manjha) which is made by applying glass powder on it to provide it a cutting edge. This practice of using an abrasive thread especially for kite-fighting poses a great threat to birds and even humans. The impact on birds, however, is much larger. Birds, when in flight, fail to notice the fine glasscoated thread, get entangled in it, and injure themselves causing fractures, mutilation of wings and nerve injuries. At times, the minute glass pieces used on the manjha get embedded in their bodies adding to their painful misery and eventual death.

Additionally, this string does not lose its strength even after getting wet creating potential threat for the birds both local and migratory. With more kites competing for space with birds, the number of avian injuries has risen exponentially over the years.

I therefore appeal to all to take care of this important aspect so that birds are not hurt.

Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai, India

To unite India and Pakistan

The long term future for the citizens of India and Pakistan is for the two countries to unite. Religion had nothing to do with the partition of India as stated in the holy books of all religions, that believe in one ‘God’ that we are all children on ‘God’, but that the world is ruled by the evil one. So how does the evil one rule the world?

With a rule book of democracy that is over 2,500 years out of date based on the principle of divide and rule. The partition resulted in the death of 2 million innocent citizens and 80 million made homeless. A future war between India and Pakistan could well be started by an act of terrorism, resulting in a nuclear war with hundreds of millions of innocent citizens dead, injured or made homeless.

To unite India and Pakistan needs a new constitution, to have independent members of Parliament, who after an election elect a Prime Minister and Cabinet, in this way you have a government of unity, who work for

Whither Indian Republic

The article, “Whither Indian Republic etc” in Asian Voice was thought provoking and appropriately placed nearer to India’s Republic Day. Proving Churchill and B. R. Ambedkar wrong is good news.

But presence of mafia at Parliamentary levels is depressing. Add to this gloomy picture presented everyday by media.

Present picture of India is due to the fact that while Sardar Patel has united 556 princely states under Central government, the move has not been able to uplift citizens as Indian first. Caste, creed, and loyalty to state are predominant, and crippling any efforts of nationalistic, majoritarian patriot. Another factor is imposing colonised version of India’s history, where enemies are glorified and local Indians are depicted as zany, and primitive peoples. No governments have guts to decolonise history in favour of Indians. But the same authorities shamelessly ban and punish writers of corrective history books.

Inferiority complex still haunts majority, whose inclusiveness and tolerance are neither appreciated nor reciprocated.

Remedy is to instill sense of pride and dignity to be a majoritarian Indian. Indians’ backbone must be reinforced by exposing them to world history.

Examples of incredible patriotism, majoritarianism and courage by some nations must be cited. Britain ran all the way across Atlantic to protect its territory where sheep were more than human population; Israel rushed overnight to attack Entebbe to protect its citizens; America rushed across the world to avenge 3000 deaths. If they can do such brave acts, Indians can do it too, without fear or favour. That must be forcefully taught in India.

B. R. Ambedkar is right to advise shakti as necessity to march with rest of the physical world.

Ramesh Jhalla By email

Being taken for a ride

All our life we work hard, raise our childrn and pass the property, our homes, in their names in order to save them from the clutches of inheritance tax after our departure.

We toil and scrape and save to educate our children and give them a better life. The elderly people then depend on their pensions to survive and not ask for a penny from their children.

Even then the children are dependent on the parents to ferry their grand children to and from school and involve in other househlod chores while the son and daughter-in-law go out to work or enjoy their social outings.

In the event, in the twilight years of their lives, the retired elderly people get confined to their homes.

They give up their social life, stay at home being miserable and lose the opportunity to mingle with their peers at social gatherings for senior citizens.

The lonely parents lose touch with the outside world, are confined to their homes in the cold weather and become a burden on the national health service. They spend their day alone waiting for the time for the school to close and bring the grand children home.

I am not implying that they should not help their children but they must draw a line where their own well being is not being undermined in the process.

They must put a foot down so that they are not being taken for a ride.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

the good of the country and get rid of the corruption and dictators. To have a second assembly where all sections of the community send a delegate so that all laws passed by Parliament are approved by second assembly that they are compatible, with the laws of the universe (the laws of Physics and Chemistry) which is the highest law, before they are signed by the Heads of State.

At present science and technology are advancing faster than legislation to control it, with the result being, that man made chemicals, are destroying the organic life. If you destroy organic life you also destroy the bio-diversity and by doing that you destroy the Earth’s fragile eco-system and turn the planet into a desert. In this way you destroy the air you breath, the water you drink, and the soil you grow your food and kill all life on planet Earth. Please give peace a chance in the cause of freedom, equality, justice, security and prosperity for all citizens of our world as we are all children of ‘God’.

Jal Framji Wilmslow, Cheshire

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India’s determination to make taxi-ride safe for women

In the wake of rape of a young Financial Analyst in Delhi recently, as well as many such incidents in the past, Indian government is taking initiatives, determined to protect women who use taxis, especially late in the evening while going home from work, removing inhibition associated with use of taxis and buses.

New rules will make it mandatory for all public vehicles that include taxis and busses but not open three wheelers rickshaws to have GPS (Global Positioning System) as well as “Panic Button” installed within easy reach of all passengers. GPS is almost fool-proof, vehicles are tracked by at least four satellites and even in the heavy traffic of Delhi; police can reach distressed passengers well within minutes, as police vehicles are constantly patrolling Delhi streets.

At the moment 75% of all PSV (Public Service Vehicles) do not have GPS, thus passengers are at the mercy of drivers who take advantage of venerable female passengers, especially when travelling alone late at night.

Besides GPS in taxis, linked with not only police but also with registered, operational office which must be within city limit, use of clean fuel, such as CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) will be mandatory, along with driver verification process, onus will be on service providers. Operating licences will only be issued to those companies registered under Companies Act 1956, mandated to provide public transport services.

As such acts of physical and sexual violence in public vehicles are not that uncommon here in London; perhaps it is time to have similar regulations to safeguard our own people from sexual predators plying London streets in search of venerable females.

Kumudini Valambia By email

Deepening ties between India and Israel

In a reciprocal gesture, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu paid an official visit to India, following into the foot-steps of Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Israel where he was given rare honour to address both Israel Chambers, the reception normally reserved for visiting American Presidents.

PM Netanyahu was generous in praising Modi, even though India voted against Israel in UN when debating Jerusalem as the sole capital of Israel, in the wake of American decision to recognize united Jerusalem as the sole Capital and promising to move US embassy from Tel AVIV to Jerusalem, a move condemned by rest of the world.

His exact words in praise of Modi were, “You are a revolutionary leader and you are revolutionising India. You are catapulting this magnificent State into the future and you have revolutionised relations between Israel and India.” He even showed his willingness to participate in Yoga exercise with Indian PM. In reply PM Modi commented, “I have reputation for being impatient to get results and so do you, PM Netanyahu. We will strengthen our cooperation in areas that affect lives of our people, agriculture, science, technology and defence.”

Israel is far ahead in technical innovations in areas like management of water resources, agriculture and digital technologies, not to mention defence, especially in missile technology, the area where cooperation will benefit both nations immensely.

Besides meeting of two grandeur, luminous PMs, there were many meetings, discussions between various delegation members and Indian counterparts, like Ajit Doval (NSA) and Meir Ben-Shabbat, on security, counter-terrorism and associated subjects.

Let us hope that relations between these two enlightened States will progress by leaps and bounds, PM Netanyahu carrying home unstoppable momentum for mutual benefits to bring peace, progress and prosperity in the most troubled regions of Middle East and South East Asia.

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email

What do you think?

We want to know your views on this subject Write to Asian Voice 12 Hoxton Market London N1 6HW or e-mail: aveditorial@abplgroup.com

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Doctors warn wide-spreading rota gaps and worsening delivery of care in new survey Doctors are reporting wide-spread rota gaps and believe that the delivery of care in the NHS is getting worse, according to a new survey figures published last week by the British Medical Association (BMA).

The survey showed that more than seven in 10 hospital doctors (71 per cent) reported rota gaps in their departments and almost half (47 per cent) of GPs reported vacancies in their practice, with 73 per cent of those having at least one vacancy that remained unfilled for six months or more.

The results also showed that doctors believe the delivery of care has worsened in several areas over the last year.

The figures show that over the past 12 months, 67 per cent of respondents thought that the delivery urgent and emergency care services have worsened, 72 per cent of respondents felt that men-

tal health provision has worsened, 71 per cent of respondents felt that access to GP and primary care services has worsened and 86 per cent of respondents thought that NHS financial sustainability has worsened.

Commenting on the figures, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair, said: “These figures highlight doctors’ concerns about a decline in services and widespread staff shortages. As doctors, we want to be able to provide the best possible care for patients, but access and quality of care are being affected by staffing and

Indian Ministers evacuated after gas leak in London

Continued from page 1

A senior official from the Indian High Commission in London said that they were found alternate accommodation and also denied that Mrs Dave’s passport was allegedly destroyed in the carnage.

A senior official from the Indian High Commission in London said.The Education Forum, dubbed as the world's largest gathering of education and skills ministers, was opened on Monday by UK education minister Damian Hinds and is set to conclude tomorrow.The programme, which includes speakers from around the world, went ahead as planned on Tuesday.

The London Fire Brigade said that a ruptured gas main was responsible for the evacuation of the area, which affected around 1500 people from a hotel and a nightclub and were not yet aware of the cause of the

leak, as we went to press.

The Scotland Yard confirmed that they were working with the fire service and partner agencies to deal with the leak.

Two fire engines, 20 fire rescue units and 20 firefighters were sent to the scene.

Roads in the area were sealed off for long and a 150-metre cordon was placed while engineers from the National Grid worked on fixing the leak.

Residents who were evacuated were sent to a respite centre at Royal Horseguards Hotel in Whitehall Court, the Westminster Council has said.

The Education Forum, known as the world's largest gathering of education and skills ministers, was opened on by UK education minister Damian Hinds on Monday and is set to conclude on Wednesday. The programme, which includes speakers from around the world, went ahead as planned on Tuesday.

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financial pressures.

“The result is delays in patients being treated, and doctors juggling large numbers of patients to compensate for staff shortages. This isn’t safe for patients and it isn’t sustainable for doctors.

“With pressures rising year-on-year, we are calling on politicians to act now. We urgently need a long-term solution to the staffing and funding pressures facing the NHS, otherwise it simply won’t be able to provide the safe and high-quality care that patients deserve and doctors want to be able to deliver.”

Philosophy head gives expert opinion on caste discrimination in the UK The Course Leader of Philosophy at the University of Wolverhampton has been featured in an independent documentary to give expert opinion on caste discrimination in the UK. Dr Meena Dhanda, Reader in Philosophy and Cultural Politics was interviewed for the documentary “Caste Aside” produced by Priyanka Mogul. The documentary was due to be screened in London on 23rd January 2018 by The Warwick Policy Lab and Warwick in London, part of the University of Warwick. Dr Dhanda was also due to participate in a panel discussion following the screening.

Meena arrived in the UK from Punjab, India in 1987 with an award of the Commonwealth Scholarship for her doctoral work in Philosophy at Balliol College, Oxford University. She was a Rhodes Junior Research Fellow at St Hilda’s College, Oxford, before taking up a full-time lecturing position at the University of

Nine arrests after series of Asian gold burglaries During November and December 2017, there were about 30 Asian gold burglaries that had taken place in Wellingborough and Northampton, and hence, police have made it one of their utmost priorities to tackle this problem and so far nine arrests have already been made.

The increase of Asian gold burglaries has raised concerns in the communities affected and therefore, around 250 people attended a meeting organised in regards to the incidents at the Hindu Community Centre, in Wellingborough.

Chief Inspector Lara Alexander-Llyod from Northants Police also attended this meeting and described it as difficult but constructive. She said, “It's a priority and it has been for the past six weeks.

From the beginning of November. There have been 30 burglaries of this type. A few in there are classed as robbery, but what we are seeing is Asian gold burglary. The majority of the incidents

are happening in Northampton. But there have been 10 in Wellingborough and a couple elsewhere in the country.”

She added, “People are worried about it, quite rightly, but the meeting was about crime prevention and what they can do to make themselves less vulnerable to this type of burglary. It was difficult, but I feel it was constructive.”

Since the meeting, several actions have been agreed between community leaders and the police, such as regular updates on whether further crimes have been reported.

Following the nine arrests made, one person has been remanded in custody for offences in the area, however, no one has been charged in relation to Asian gold burglaries.

If you have any information regarding these incidents, you can call the police on 101, or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Wolverhampton in 1992, progressing to a Readership (Associate Professorship) in 2010.

In 2013-14, as a Principal Investigator of UK Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) project ‘Caste in Britain’, Dr Dhanda led a consortium of academic experts from five leading universities, producing two substantial reports internationally noted and widely discussed – on the proposed inclusion of a provision in the Equality Act 2010, to protect British citizens against caste discrimination.

There is a difference of opinion amongst diaspora communities on whether, and how, legal protection against caste discrimination must be

ensured.

Dr Dhanda said: “I am excited about the documentary and waiting to see how the heated debate on this contested topic is captured in it. In September 2017, it was good to see the Government Equalities Office finally conclude a public consultation on caste discrimination in the UK. My EHRC reports formed a key reference source in this consultation”.

“Amazingly, the public consultation on caste discrimination got 13000 responses. I earnestly hope the government now takes decisive steps to fulfil its duty to protect sufferers of caste discrimination. I have heard many painful stories of caste prejudice in the UK in my decade long research on the topic.

Legal protection for sufferers of caste discrimination is long overdue, and, as I have argued in my publications, the best way to provide protection is to explicitly state it in the UK Equality Act 2010.”

Muslims urged to donate to charities in the UK Mosque leaders in the UK have been told that the hundreds of millions of pounds donated by Muslims every year should be spent in the UK rather than on causes overseas.

Zakat which is one of the five pillars of Islam, which calls on Muslims to donate 2.5% of their wealth to help those in need. Chief executive of the National Zakat Foundation, Iqbal Nasim said that British Muslims

donate up to £300 million every year in zakat, and also stated that over 98% was donated for overseas aid, however, Islam teaches that zakat should support the donor's local community. Nasim further stated that Muslims could still donate separately for overseas aid but zakat was something else.

He said, “Zakat is not charity. It is more like a tax. It is supposed to be focused on the local areas where supporters live.”

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Enough is enough. That was the message conveyed to Pakistan by the Indian Army’s retaliatory strike across the Line of Control in Kashmir. Firing from across the border had resulted in loss of lives, civilian and military, on the Indian side. Protests and talks had become a routine, but a red line was crossed and the response was swift and robust. India’s Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat, a nononsense character; means what he says. Addressing troops on Army Day, he warned Pakistan that he was prepared to raise the level of India’s response if necessary.

In the interior, a jihadi suicide squad of the Jaish-eMohammad was ambushed by Indian security forces and five of their members killed.

Turning to the Sino-Indian border, General Rawat said border violations were sorted through prescribed channels of communications. China was a strong power, but neither was India a weak nation. (Hindu, Times of India, Economic Times, January 16).

Red carpet for Israeli PM

answered questions.. The next day Prime Minister Netanyahu and Ms Sara Netanyahu visited the site with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, amid tight security. (Print and TV media January 16, 17).

Modi-Netanyahu road show

Prime Ministers Modi and Netanyahu were star attractions in a spectacular road show from the airport to Gujarat’s first city, Ahmedabad, amid cheering crowds. A visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram at Sabarmati was high on the itinerary.

Meanwhile, Israeli technique is proving a game-changer for G u j a r a t ’ s v e g e t a b l e farmers. Kalpesh Patel, a vegetable farmer, was able to give his son Ridham an opportunity to fulfil his dream of becoming a Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes Israeli mechanical Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife e n g i n e e r .

Sara Netanyahu Thanks to Israeli methods – handshakes and warmer bear precision farming under hugs. Modi referred to his friend controlled environment - the ‘Bibi’, and Netanyahu responded farm produce has grown with ‘Narendra’. Referring to exponentially and is of threats posed by terrorism, remarkably superior Premier Netanyahu spoke of the quality(Business Line January unspeakable horror of the jihadi 11). assault on Mumbai in which 166 innocent lives were lost, Tata, Watergen tie-up including that of the young Rabbi, Gavriel Holzberg and his Tata Projects and Israel’s wife Rivka were killed by Watergen are to undertake a Pakistani jihadis. joint endeavour to extract cost Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was given a rousing welcome at the New Delhi airport by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The chemistry between the two men was reflected in warm

Poignant return Their two year-old son, Moshe Holtzberg escaped, thanks to the presence of mind of her Indian

effective drinking water from the atmosphere.

Watergen technology provides energyefficient clean water from the air, solutions with different models, while atmospheric water generation can serve clean drinking water with no other additional infrastructure in villages and cities across India, capable of producing 6,000 litres from the air every day (Business Line January 17).

Resurgent Bengal The Fourth Bengal Business Summit got off to a rousing start in Kolkata. The captains of industry were out in force, PM Netanyahu and Indian PM Modi especially the big hitters meet with Moshe Holtzberg Mukesh Ambani, the Jindals, Steel magnate Lakshmi nanny Sandra Samuels, who fled Mittal, Hiranandani , Adani, the scene clutching the infant Sanjiv Goenka et al. Bengal is Moshe. Moshe went to the site now ranked fourth, from the with his grandfather and uncles, previous seventh position who spoke to the media and

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people within 16 km along their respective borders. The four Indian States of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram that share an unfenced border with Myanmar have been instructed by the Central government to give local residents within the prescribed limits a ‘border pass.’ This is to be a reciprocal arrangement.

(Hindu January 14).

Cricketing delusions in indecent exposure Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with business heads

among the large Indian States with an annual economic growth rate of over 15 per cent, double the national average. Overall, over Rs 20,000 crore is to be invested by the private sector, with designated job creation of 2,00,000 people.

Changed perception The change in perception in the top business circles has been little short of spectacular. Under the three decade-old Communist-led Left Front rule, capital was in full flight from the State, as disruption at the workplace, strikes and violence, extensive power cuts and rest put West Bengal beyond the pale.

Kolkata, once described as a ‘dying city’ has been regenerated, the urban Metro system and extensive rural roadways have made a telling difference in ease of communications. Tycoons have their professional advisers take a close-up of business prospects before informed decisions are made.

This applies to multinationals as well. Dassault, Saudi Aramco, Samsung, PepsiCo etc have evinced interest. This is no more than an encouraging start to what promises to be a long journey (Economic Times, Times of India January 17, 18)

TCS bonanza Tata Consultancy Services hit a jackpot of $6 billion in a month with contracts from Transamerica, Nielsen, Scottish Widows, M&G Prudential and Marks & Spencer. Credit to the present CEO Rajesh Gopinathan, who succeeded N. Chandrasekaran, presently Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company. Analysts believe that TCS’s early pivot into digital has paid off. ‘TCS was the trailblazer when it came to splitting digital revenues (around 30 per cent of total revenues at last count)and this business is growing faster than the segments, ‘ said Hansa Iyengar of London-based Ovum Research (Times of India January 17).

Sensex in record 35,081 surge Indian stocks have been buoyed by a record high on hopes of a corporate earnings recovery and Government’s determination to prevent a slippage in the fiscal deficit in the current financial year ending March 31, by

limiting its market borrowing to Rs 20,000 crore instead of the projected Rs 50,000 crore.

Foreign investors have bought Indian shares worth $278.65 million in 2017.

HUL’s net profit signals rise in consumer demand Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) specialists in home appliances and utilities, reported strong quarterly sales and profit growth, signalling recovery in consumer demand.

The company’s net profit rose by a substantial 28 per cent year-onyear in the quarter ending December 2017.

‘Trade conditions are normalizing.’ said Chief Financial Officer, Srinivas Phatak. ‘These results were not spectacular but they were ahead of market expectations,’ said Sachin Bobade, Senior Equities Analyst at brokerage firm Dolat Capital (Mint January 18).

Record investments in 2017 Private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) investments in 2017 reached $26.8 billion across 589 deals, a 37 per cent rise over the last record high of 2015. 'The year 2017 was a watershed year for the Indian PE and VC sector,’ said Vivek Soni, Partner and Leader for PE Advisory and VC sector.

Investments grew significantly [65 per cent increase year-on-year] to a record high..’ The Indian PE and VC sector is likely to grow.

Capital markets are expected to stay buoyant.

Agni V missile ready for induction Agni V, India’s 5,000 km intercontinental ballistic missile, designed to carry a warhead, was test-fired for the final time from a roadside canister fixed to a truck from Abdul Kalam Island off the Orissa coast and will now be inducted into service under the Strategic Forces Command. Agni V has the capability to reach part of China and Central Asia. India has entered the exclusive club of nations, which include America, Russia, France and China. Agni 1, II, III and IV are of shorter intermediate range (Hindu, Times of India, Economic Times, Mint January 19).

India, Myanmar deal on border villages India and Myanmar are set to streamline free movement of

Indian cricket’s pretentious bubble was cruelly exposed in the demanding conditions of South Africa: fast bouncy wickets, and a disciplined team playing to their formidable strengths, bowling, fielding and catching.

Application and unremitting resolve with the bat rode the key passages of play.

Virat Kohli didn’t mince his words: ‘You can accept defeat but not the way we played, the way we let the advantage slip…So many soft dismissals in one match hurt a lot.’ Pujara ran himself out twice in a match in harebrained searches of an elusive run, Pandya failed to ground his bat, as he sauntered to his crease – a day dreaming rock star, also run out at a critical moment; fielders collided, running blindly for a catch, while other catches were spilled.

Batsmen wafted balls to the slips, their duty done, trod pavilion-wards. The bowlers kept India in game.

Cricket’s top prize for Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli’s light shone brightly amid the encircling gloom. The ICC Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy – world cricket’s greatest prize was awarded to him as the outstanding international cricketer of 2017.

Bradman’s take The peerless Don Bradman made it a point to play a brilliant wicketkeeper rather than one of moderate talent because a critical catch (or catches) behind the stumps could turn a match.

Parthiv Patel didn’t fit the bill.

Disguised mediocrities must be axed; the young talent waiting in the wings and allowed to flower on the larger stage. The massive jolt in South Africa, a tryst with reality, was long overdue. Free lunches are over.

Little Tommy Tucker must sing for his supper. (Hindu, January 18)18).

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The Politics of the Republic I write to you on my way to India. I like reading Constitutions. I was able to satisfy my thirst reading Constitutional Law, then Advanced Constitutional Law in my Law degree, then reading more Constitutions in my Politics degree!

‘The State of our Union is Strong’ proclaimed Barack Obama when he was President. This week also sees India celebrate Republic Day. On January 26th 1950, some two and half years after becoming a British Dominion (or ‘independent’), India became a Republic. As a Republic, she removed the British King as Head of State, something which she did not do at Independence in 1947 and adopted a new constitution.

As the American President does annually, perhaps India too should analyse the State of the Union, and to what extent the Constitution is being upheld to the original vision of the founding fathers of mother India.

After all some 60 years is long enough to ensure the Constitution is being executed faithfully. Article 15 states, ‘The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.’

The Indian Constitution goes on to say, ‘Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any special provision for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes’.

Article 17 says:’ “Untouchability” is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden.’

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Article 19; “All citizens shall have the right— (a) to freedom of speech and expression; (b) to assemble peaceably and without arms”.

Article 21A; “The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine” Article 23; “Traffic in human beings and begging and other similar forms of forced labour are prohibited and any contravention of this provision shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.”

Article 24: “ No child below the age of fourteen years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous employment.”

I won’t go on. No Constitution ever realises the dreams of its aspirations. But those few Articles would have been a good start. As mentioned, it even took the mighty US 200 years and it is still far from realising its Constitutional American Dream. So India shall wait.

But I should not whinge – I should inspire. How will this all happen? I tell you this, America had Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. India had Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. Is India any less capable of producing greatness? No, until one of her sons and daughters rises to be a Lincoln, Washington, Gandhi or Patel, let us keep reading the Constitution, because one in six humans on this planet lives under that Constitution and it matters – much more than Jaguars and GDP.

Change GCSE English Literature exam petition launched Last year, lots of students struggled with GCSE English Literature as it was a closed book exam.

Because of this many failed. How can exam boards expect students to remember quotes from 15 poems, plus how to analyse them, plus remembering the whole plot, themes, characters and quotes from another book.

Is it really fair that students have to remember so much, whilst also doing revision for other exams.

It is important to know how to do all that is asked in the exams, but when in life will you ever have to remember lots of information about lots of texts, then be expected to recall it perfectly under pressured conditions, on top of loads of other stresses, then write about it for strangers to judge whether or not you are worthy of a good grade or not.

An online petition has therefore been set up at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/200299 and has so far received over 152,590 signatures.

Deadline for signatures is Sunday March 18th.

Tower Hamlets Council clears 1.2m used laughing gas canisters off its streets An estimated 1.2million used laughing gas canisters have been cleared off the streets of Tower Hamlets since a campaign was launched by the council last August.

The aptly named ‘No Laughing Matter’ crusade, which also involves police and social landlords Tower Hamlets Homes, aims to tackle the littering, antisocial behaviour and dangerous driving caused by people under the influence of nitrous oxide –

which is illegal to buy for recreational use.

The campaign includes educating people about the perils of using laughing gas and gave residents details on how to report traders selling it illegally.

The council’s CCTV enforcement staff also tipped off the police about drivers suspected of being under influence of laughing gas. Motorists repeatedly caught using laughing gas could face having their cars seized.

49% of London parents indicate kids are anxious about the threat of terrorism A survey of parents with children aged 5 to 18 has revealed that 49 percent of parents in London think their children are anxious about the threat of terrorism compared to the national average of 41 percent. The YouGov survey of over 1800 GB parents included 221 parents across London, and was commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation to uncover the impact world events could be having on children, and equip parents to respond.

Almost a quarter of

parents in London (24 percent) indicated their children were anxious about the threat of nuclear war.

33 percent of parents in London thought their children were anxious about Donald Trump’s presidency. 41 percent of parents in London also thought their children were anxious about global warming and climate change. It found that overall almost four in ten UK parents (39 percent) were concerned that their children are becoming more anxious about world and national events.

Stay silent during rape and attacker could go free, warns head of CPS The director of public prosecutions, Alison Saunders said that rape complainants who stay silent during an alleged attack are at risk of creating an assumption that they had given their consent to sex.

Saunders, who is the head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has warned women that if they do not speak out, rape suspects could argue that they had reasonable belief that the woman had given her consent, and therefore, men would not be prosecuted.

Campaigners have warned that if a victim

fails to cry out during an attack, that does not mean that they have given their consent.

Rachel Krys, of End Violence Against Women, said that silence was known as a “very normal response to rape”. Krys also stated that Saunders has been trying to increase the rate of rape conviction for many years against a background of 85,000 complaints and “that should be the focus of attention”.

Alison Saunders reiterates that the CPS does not want to bring people wrongly to court. She said, “We are there not

LOVE DOESN’T ABUSE IS A CRIME TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

National Congress of Gujarati Organisations UK Invites you to a discussion on

Domestic Abuse (Violence against Women & Men) Alison Saunders

just to be able to prosecute cases where there has been an offence, but also not to prosecute cases where there isn't sufficient evidence.”

Jealous husband makes hoax bomb call to stop wife having fun Gift shop owner, Mo Ahmed, 42 was said to be jealous that his wife was going out while he was working at a second job and hence called the hotel pub to give a false bomb alert so that he can stop his wife from spending money at the pub.

Ahmed's hoax called led to police evacuating 25 overnight guests and 130 bar customers at The Duke

of Wellington in Minehead, Somerset, in the early hours of the morning.

The Duke of Wellington was forced to close early and ended up losing an estimated £840 in takings.

Mo Ahmed, from Minehead, admitted to making two false bomb alert calls and was jailed for six months, suspended

for a year. He was also ordered to pay £840 compensation.

Judge Geoffrey Mercer told Mo Ahmed, “These calls were bound to be traced because they were made from your own mobile phone. I am told you are thoroughly ashamed and so you should be. It was a bizarre way of thinking. It was an extraordinary thing to do.”

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UK

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Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

The Game of Love and Chai Director and artistic director of Tara Theatre, Jatinder Verma is teaming up with actor, comedia, novelist and playwright Nigel Planer, in a brandnew adaptation of Marivaux's classic French Farce. Transporting the story of a betrothal in 1730s France to twentyfirst century England, The Game of Love and Chai revolves around a marriage between two modern day Asian families combining familiar French farce with contemporary comedy and Bollywood song and dance.

Kamala wants her daughter Rani to marry successful but emotionally awkward businessman Raj. Rani bristles at going down the conventional route and arranges a test for Raj. She convinces her cousin Sita to swap places and pretend to be the suitable bride – unaware that Raj has come up with the same scheme with his driver, Nitin!

Jatinder Verma was awarded an MBE for services to diversity in the arts in 2017. Jatinder is one of the co-founders of Tara, and was the first Asian or

cal cultures of both halves of the planet. Nigel’s new play brilliantly re-imagines Marivaux for today’s multicultural audiences, bringing a touch of India to this comic clash of passion and class.”

Nigel Planer added,“I’ve been hooked on Indian cinema since 1973. I love its range, its daring and its ridiculous sense of fun. So Jatinder Verma when I came Black to direct at the across Marivaux’s play - a National Theatre, with his mistaken identity comedy own adaptation of about the foolish things Moliere'sTartuffe. His prewe do when we fall in love vious productions include - the connection seemed A Midsummer Night’s obvious. With Marivaux, as Dream, The Black Album with so-called at the National Theatre ‘Bollywood’, the main and Macbeth, the first tour thing is to completely for Black Theatre Live. abandon oneself and let Jatinder Verma said, foolishness and love take “Nigel Planer’s version of over.”

Marivaux’s classic farce Tara Arts will be tourbrings to the fore my abiding the UK from March to ing interest in connecting May with their new prothe worlds of East and duction. @Tara_Arts | West - connections that #LoveandChai | www.tarahave enriched the theatriarts.com

CQC rank Karuna Manor Care Home as Good

Advatech Healthcare donates an Ambulance to Humanity Hospital December was a festive month across the globe, but the community group, Essex Indians wanted to spend that time differently.

Inspired by Mrs. Subhasini Mistry who started Humanity Hospital - a vegetable seller on Kolkata footpath. She lost her husband due to ill health and lack of fund to treat her him. Then she decided to start her own hospital, where she will offer free treatments for all. She educated her son to become a doctor from Kolkata Medical College and her daughter a trained Nurse. Since last 25 years she is offering free treatments for the people of Sunderban and Haspukur in South 24 PGS. Essex Indians community group believes in supporting causes and giving back to their roots they decided to support the cause and arrange a fund-raising evening in collaboration with UKDoctorchef on 23rd December and 5th January.

Mr Samit Kumar Biswas, part of Essex Indians and owner of Advatech Healthcare Europe Ltd, extended his supporting hand as well.

He introduced a business model TACIT

( T e c h n o l o g y , Administration, C o n s u l t a n c y , Infrastructure, and Training) on which Advatech Healthcare have built their healthcare services. TACIT services are now being expanded in the UK and there are clear long-term economic benefits of delivering these TACIT services within the UK and to other countries such as India, Pakistan.

He has agreed to donate an air-conditioned ambulance to Humanity Hospital.

Money raised by Essex Indians and UKdoctorchef will be donated to the hospital to buy life-saving medical equipment for the ambulance.

Ambulance and donation were handed over by Dr Anirban Mondal , Trustee Essex Indians

and Mrs. Rajasree Ghosh Bagchi, Branch Head Advatech Healthcare Kolkata to the chief executive of Humanity Hospital DR Ajoy Mistry on 16th January 2018.

Trustee of Essex Indians and director of UkDoctorchef, Dr. Anirban Mandal, said it is a social responsibility of all of us to support Humanity Hospital.

Spokesperson of Advatech Health Mrs. Rajashree said they are always happy to support social causes.

Dr. Ajoy Mistry of Humanity Hospital expressed his heartfelt thanks to all three organisations.

He also mentioned that Humanity Hospital needs support from everyone to continue with its work as it needs extensive financial support presently.

Priyanka Kanvinde wins Mrs Classic Universe I Karuna Manor Care Home, an award-winning care home in Harrow has achieved Good in all areas following a recent Care Quality Commission inspection (CQC); Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well Led. This means that the overall result is ‘Good’ which is a great achievement for the

Home.

The Manager of the Home, Ruth Kigga said, “It is such an honour to part of Karuna Manor, from our happy residents and their families, to our dedicated team members”.

One of the residents told us “the staff here are wonderful, nothing is ever too much trouble for

them. They like to keep us busy and entertained and the vegetarian food is delicious”. A relative said “we are delighted with the care given to our mum. All of her spiritual needs are met through the in house Temple and many of the team speak Gujarati and Hindi which makes communication so much easier.”

Tendulkar inspires first ever cricket themed garden in Chelsea Flower Show Rupanjana Dutta Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has inspired the first cricket-themed garden at the UK's annual Chelsea Flower Show that will celebrate the UK India year of culture as well as the two country’s shared love for the game.

The garden designed by award winning designer Sarah Eberle has been commissioned by the British Council, also celebrating its 70 years in India.

Eberle who is currently in India for the first time,

wishes to decorate the garden in the Persian style of Mughal gardens in northern India, but the two huge wooden stumps would replace the usual Persian columns at the entrance.

In this unconventional garden, the blue cricket strip will be highlighted by the blue Himalayan poppies. These will be placed next to the wickets in red planters shaped like cricket balls.

The garden is meant to resonate with ideas sparked by the "hopes and dreams of young people in India". The special garden

that reflects the colourful Indian street life, will be showcased as part of the flower show, held over five days in May as every year by the Royal Horticulture Society.

This is the first ever cricket themed garden in the show’s 105 years of history, and named as India: A Billion Dreams, will symbolise the lives of hundreds who want to choose the cricketer’s footsteps.

Tendulkar has been already invited as the guest of honour to the event.

January 21, 2018 marks the landmark victory of the first ever Mrs India UK 2017 – Classic Universe winner, Priyanka Kanvinde, to compete at an international platform and emerged as a Winner, being crowned Mrs Classic Universe I 2018 Winner, amongst a host of countries who participated today in Sophia, Bulgaria.

Mrs India UK, conceptualized and organized by BrandWok Limited, founded and promoted by Aditi Patankar in September 2017, is the first ever pioneer beauty pageant recognizing Indian & British Indian married women residing in the United Kingdom. During this pageant’s 2017 season, Priyanka Kanvide won many hearts with her talent and beauty. She also won Business Woman in the contest. For past several months, she was preparing for the International Pageant organized by Mrs Universe to represent India and UK in the Mrs Classic Universe category.

Priyanka’s traditional outfit represents her Indian roots, traditionally coming from a

during one of the rounds of the Grand Finale. The Mandalas signify blossoming life and success reflecting perfection and wholeness measured from any dimension or direction.

A big win for Priyanka, as she will inspire many more who can represent talent and beauty, which is the real essence of being a woman. Priyanka and her doting husband, Truptesh Kanvinde, have two adorable sons and resident of UK for past few years and are also involved in various cultural & social events. She is not only a Doctor by profession but also a Zumba instructor and a dance enthusiast.

P r i y a n k a Priyanka Kanvinde crowned Kanvinde continues Mrs Classic Universe I 2018 to shine and brings a Maharashtrian family, proud moment to all those born and brought up in talented married women Mumbai, India. The outfit who are aiming to join the called as Nauvari saree Mrs India UK Platform. We worn with a Universe congratulate her on her chakra also known as victory and wish her sucMandalas was showcased cess in all her endeavors.

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Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

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UK Top honour for Paresh Rughani

ELENA FERNANDES SP

One of Britain's leading motivational speakers, Paresh Rughani, has been honoured by the Government of India for his 'positive contribution to diverse communities through his work globally'. Mr Rughani (pictured, centre) received the Hind Ratan "Jewel of India" Award, one of the highest Indian diasporic awards bestowed upon non-resi-

dent Indians, or NRIs, by the NRI Welfare Society of India. The awards are part of the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations and take place in New Delhi. Mr Rughani, formerly of Leicester, and an ardent devotee of the Shri Swaminarayan Sanstha, or BAPS, is son of Mansukhlalbhai and Manjulaben Rughani, originally of Mwanza, Tanzania.

TLIGHT

SUPER CONFIDENCE

Sunetra Senior

Dhiren Katwa

Elena is an award-winning super model, recently garnering the titles of ‘Maxim World Rising Star’ and ‘Asia's supermodel of The Year’.

She has featured prominently in Vogue, Maxim and Marie Claire, and also starred in Bollywood films, such as Karan Johar's ‘Kapoor & Sons’. Although she is known for her strong and striking looks, she is also an influential, international ambassador for female empowerment. The modelling world being the epitome of mainstream femininity, Elena can talk credibly about the issue of women’s confidence. “If you are a successful model, you will have the toughest skin,” she said. “It makes it easier to deal with social media because whatever people might be saying, my agent or manage-

*** “It’s a false image anyway,” she continued. “In Indian culture, for example, people assume fair skin is superior and that’s not true. It’s far more important to look inside and be able to formulate your own opinions and defend a sense of self. You should only ever compare yourself to yourself. I am a super geek and will always value academics and good personal discipline. For example, I am always travelling for my photo shoots – from London to India to the US – and I have to be primed 24/7. I can’t afford to get drunk and have an off day because my skin needs to be on point; I have to watch my figure and physical health more than the average person.”

The supermodel’s faithfulness to personal autonomy is also reflected in her proudly flaunted curvy figure and unique style: “I never follow fashion the definition of beauty is actually rooted in a great emotional depth.

Hijab model pulls out of L'Oréal following Anti-Israel tweet repercussion

Amena Khan

Amena Khan, 34, the first hijab-wearing model to appear in a L'Oréal shampoo advert, has pulled out of the campaign following a backlash over anti-Israel tweets she is alleged to have posted over three years ago.

The tweets, posted in 2014, is said to have called Israel “sinister” and “an illegal state”.

Amena's appearance adorning the hijab in L'Oréal's advert for the Elvive haircare products was considered to challenge traditional mainstream hair advertising.

However, the series of tweets posted in 2014 resurfaced, forcing her to step down. The tweets have since been deleted.

One of the tweets mentioned, “U repeatedly say 'nobody is above the law'. Well, under international law, Israel is an illegal state. Yet u support them. EXPLAIN.” Another tweet posted

was, “Israel = Pharoah.

Both are child murderers.”

In another tweet directed at Jon Snow, the Channel 4 news presenter, she allegedly wrote, “Your 'children of Gaza' piece was incredibly moving. Israel is a sinister state & the ones who suffer most are innocent children.”

Amena has apologised for her tweets. “I deeply regret the content of the tweets I made in 2014... championing diversity is one of my passions. I don't discriminate against anyone. I have chosen to delete them as they do not represent the message of harmony that I stand for. I recently took part in a campaign, which excited me because it celebrated inclusivity. With deep regret, I've decided to step down because the current conversations surrounding it detract from the positive and inclusive sentiment that it set out to deliver.”

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ment would have given me twice – trends. They are always fluctuating and thrice – the amount of harshness and repeating themselves anyway. I much critique. You have that distance and admire the punk rockers walking ability to deal with any left-field comaround Camden because they don’t ments or criticism. It's a life skill. You apologise for themselves, and really become your own PR.” Elena’s own their identity. High street fashion informed character and motivational retailers change their stock like every speaking are also bolstered by her law ten days anyway. It also always surprisdegree which make her both outspoes me when an industry professional ken and sharp: “I’ll never understand says, ‘oh, I love that style’, when that’s a why some women have to bash others look that was likely around since the for being too sexy or skinny – for Sixties! Regardless of the season, I love example that fiasco surroundhigh-waisted bottoms and off-theing Victoria Beckham’s weight. shoulder shirts. My favourite accesIt’s just as harmful as body sory would have to be sunglassshaming someone for being es. Even in the winter. The overweight or ‘ugly’. In a sun is out so why not?”

I’ll never feminist sense, it’s even But, of course, Elena’s hypocritical.

That understand why challenge to a flawed woman feels comsystem doesn’t some women are fortable in her stop at eyewear. bashed for being skin so why She is also an shouldn’t she do too sexy or skinny ardent activist, what she wants? Isn’t involved in animal welwomen’s equality about fare in India, and helping being able to make an educatwestern charities raise awareed choice?” The fierce role ness around “the invisible epimodel also made sure to stress the demic of poverty in these counimportance of education, personality tries.” Elena has assembled a and social awareness in her talks to squad to protect stray dogs in India, school children: “being half Peruvian providing basic first aid and neutering and Indian on my dad’s side, the latter to the animals. In the UK, she is a “repinfluence encouraged me to finish my resentative for an excellent charity legal qualifications before pursuing called Best Beginnings that helps chilthe modelling career, for which I was dren in Britain’s less affluent areas. A specially scouted. This has certainly child born in Bradford, in its first year of built the character and belief in life, is four times as likely to die than a myself that has been so central to my child born in London. And this is in a becoming a great model. That’s what I supposedly developed country! It’s always tell people: it doesn’t matter if shocking. Again, it’s about having a you are the most beautiful person in voice and giving a voice. I have had peothe world, if you don’t have a personple tell me: ‘you’re too rude. If you were ality, you won’t get far. I talk at softer spoken, you’d get further. But my schools about the fallacy of thinking work has never been sycophantic. It’s attractiveness is skin-deep. The picnot about kissing a**. I want to be indetures that young women are aspiring pendent and always make career choicto be are all air-brushed anyway.” es in earnest.” Thus, far from the Why then, Elena asks, would anyone stereotypical superficiality, Elena’s choose to be an airhead? individualistic trajectory shows us how

Charlotte Dawson, a judge on Australia’s Next Top Model, was driven to taking her own life from trolling. Do you have further comment?

People forget it’s someone’s life they’re affecting. If you wouldn’t say a criticism to someone’s face, why is it any different from behind a computer?

A lot of women bring each other down too. That just makes it easier for men to talk down to them. We need to learn to support each other. Instead of negativity why can’t we respond positively – ask the celebrity what fitness routine is helping them achieve that sort of body etc.

Female friendships are incredibly important. What’s your personal experience?

When I went into modelling, my life completely changed and I found out who my real friends were. Some were intimidated and couldn’t understand that I needed down time. From my side, I was always trying to show the effort. If someone is a good friend, you can always pick up from where you left off. It is key to communicate well too. If you have a gripe, sit down calmly and talk through the issue sensitively.

What are some of your favourite poses?

The key is to really be in tune with your body and work with the outfit and make-up you’re given to really channel the mood that the client wants. People think fashion has to be some extreme pose – it’s not. It’s more candid expression. Modelling is basically mime acting.

With your ability to argue, I’m guessing you’re an assassin on Twitter?

Yes - I’m already prepared. I know what the response is going to be, and what I’ll come back with. Having said that though, I’m always really careful not to victimise a ‘troll’. It’s a double standard. Just because you speak louder doesn’t make you right. Utilising and valuing the weight of words does.

I: elenarmf T: fernandes_elena

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INDIA AND ITS '56 INCH CHEST' ON THIS YEAR'S REPUBLIC DAY

REPUBLIC DAY SPECIAL

www.asian-voice.com

Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

Modi gives 'Act East' policy a boost

Trust Prime Minister Narendra Modi to shift gears. His style of governance has been the perfect amalgamation of the past and the future. A mix of policies initiated by his predecessors, and current needs.

International Relations has been a key focus for Modi and he has been mending old relations. The last time a Southeast Asian leader was made chief guest at India's Republic Day parade, was in 1950, when President Sukarno of Indonesia who shared a special chemistry with then prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru stood witness to the first annual R-Day parade.

Nearly seven decades later, only five others from the region have attended the celebrations since then.

Changing thoughts, 10 heads of states from ASEAN countries will be honoured as chief guests in the parade at the National Capital. Not only are the leaders are Southeast Asians, this is the first time India will hold not one, but ten chief guests. This is both unusual, and historic.

Looking at the past leaders India hosted, like former US president Barack Obama, UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and President François Hollande of France, it can be conceived that Indians don't take the parade lightly. In a very subtle fashion, the year's guest reveals the country's policy priorities. Modi reaching out to a whole region, instead of singling out counties makes the extended invitation not just honourable, but also brilliant. The move comes as boost to India's Act East Policy, one that has become of increasing interest to NaMo. The policy was the brainchild of former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao, who initiated it in 1991 has been seen as a multifaceted approach to establish strategic links with individual countries and make closer ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Under the Modi government, the policy was noticed back in 2014, at the East Asia Summit in Myanmar. The Indian leader has only been trying to re-engage with the region that has been neglected in the past.

The ten guests to arrive at the parade on January 26 are, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan Of Brunei, Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Of Philippines, Joko Widodo, the President Of Indonesia Najib Razak, Prime Minister Of Malaysia, Nguyen Xuân Phúc, Prime Minister Of Vietnam, President Halima Yacob of Singapore, President Htin Kyaw of Myanmar, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha of Thailand and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos.

By inviting the leaders, Modi not only wants to flaunt the country's military muscle, he also intends to impress ten countries for commercial purposes. Not only that, they can also make for strong support for India's ongoing bid to sit on the UN Security Council. India playing host to the ten countries signal for a bright future for its relationship with the East. The fact that all ten have agreed to be present shows the level of seriousness with which they acknowledge India.

Republic Day is celebrated with pride and grandeur every year, with ceremonious parades at the prestigious Rajpath in the National Capital. After gaining independence from the British on August 15, 1947, India was an independent dominion in the British Commonwealth of Nations. King George VI was still officially recognised as the state head of India. It was only after the constitution of India came into effect on January 26, 1950, that Bharat became a federal, democratic republic within the commonwealth, abolishing the monarchy.

The constitution was drafted by a drafting committee appointed by the Constituent Assembly, with Dr BR Ambedkar as the chairman.

January 26 marks the day the Constitution of India came into effect. The date was picked as the day for the Indian book of law to come into force is because back during the independence struggle in 1929, during the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress, when Jawaharlal Nehru was elected president, a resolution was passed demanding complete indepen-

Attack helicopter to make maiden appearance India's first indigenously-

as guests, a motorbike performance by an all-woman contingent, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' tableau, Republic Day this year is going to be much more than just our military might.

The parade of valour

ASEAN leaders to make Chief Guests 10 State leaders from the

With January 26 inching closer day by day, it is known that this year's Republic Day parade will feature a lot more

participating in the event said the event has given them an opportunity to learn about the cultural diversity of other countries.

“I will represent Malaysian culture. We did some research on the Internet, and saw videos, and it took us about a month to get the hang of it.

But, we learned so much about other countries.”

A total of five performances will take place, two from the Directorate of Education (DoE), Delhi government, and one each by groups from the North East Zone Cultural Centre and the South Central Zone Cultural Centre of the Ministry of

Members of the Paramilitary band contingent perform during rehearsals for the beating retreat ceremony

than is customary. Unique in every sense, preparations to make this year's show extraordinary are on in full force. It has been reported that the parade this year will boast of a couple of firsts; From not one, but ten ASEAN leaders to visit

dence for the first time. The day, January 26, was declared 'Purna Swaraj Diwas'. As an honour to first Independence Day, members of the constituent assembly decided to enforce the constitution on January 26.

R-Day Parade to feature Modi-style 'firsts'

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2017, Mann Ki Baat has earned close to Rs 10 Crore in revenue via advertisements. The show is aired in 18 languages and 33 dialects. “It's the first time that AIR is doing something like this. It is a good idea as it will help AIR popularise the show and further reach out to the remotest parts of the country. The tableau will definitely help the reach of Mann Ki Baat,” a former information and broadcasting ministry official said.

Ladakh Regiment bagpipers march to their own music

The annual Republic Day parade which is organised every year puts the Indian might and culture on display.

The event is telecast live on the public service broadcaster Doordarshan. Elaborate preparations have taken place ahead of the event. This year's parade has several special sets of performances and appearances.

AsianVoiceNews

international relations skills.

India has typically only hosted one guest for its Republic Day parade, except in 1985 and 1974, when the parade saw two guests. This year however, leaders of Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Brunei will be welcomed.

Over a hundred government agencies have participated in the preparations of the mammoth-sized event, and the allotted security is enough to give Fort Knox a complex. A 100 feet wide stage enclosed by a bullet-proof glass has already been erected at Rajpath, and needless to say, it is at least three times bigger than previous years. The convoy of each leader will be given nine luxury cars. A gap of 60 seconds will be maintained at the arrival of each dignitary at the podium. Practice drills are conducted every morning to avoid last minute confusion or goof ups.

All the foreign leaders will begin to arrive in New Delhi on January 24, for the IndiaASEAN commemorative summit, which is scheduled to take place on January 25. At the

Army personnel bearing flags of 10 ASEAN member nations during the rehearsal

Association of Southeast Asian Nations will be hosted by India this year, as PM Modi ups his

parade, as per protocol, the Prime Minister of Brunei will grace the occasion first, while

the Thai king will enter last.

All-woman bike contingent Brace yourselves for a brand new biker contingent this year, as they gear up to woo the country with their

have 7 each, Rajasthan, Manipur and Gujarat have 5 each, and Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh have 3 each.

The idea of bringing in an all-women team was from BSF Director General KK Sharma, who wanted to replace the men

BSF women motorcycle contingent all set to perform at the annual Republic Day parade

stunning and breathtaking stunts and acrobatics. While a troupe of biking daredevils end the parade every year with a gravity-defying display, an allwomen biker contingent from the Border Security Force (BSF) has taken up the honours this year.

Called Seema Bhavani or Border Bravehearts, the 113member squad includes women aged between 25 to 30 years. All of them have been carefully chosen from different combat ranks of the force. The contingent is led by subinspector Stanzin Noryang, a 28 year old from Ladakh. The team itself is a diverse mix of bold and daring women from all over the country. Punjab has the most number of participants with 20, West Bengal has 15, Madhya Pradesh, 10, Maharashtra,9, Uttar Pradesh, 8, Odisha, 6, Assam and Bihar

daredevils with women bikers.

The team will perform several stunts including classics like Pyramid, Fish Riding, Shaktiman, Bull Fighting, and Seema Prahari.

Mann Ki Baat tableau The All India Radio is all set to feature NaMo's monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat in its tableau. Owned by public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, AIR has received initial approvals and developed its tableau. “Mann Ki Baat is the flagship programme of All India Radio and the broadcaster wants to feature it,” a source said. They said the aim is to popularise the show and “reach out to the remotest parts of the country.”

AIR has so far aired 39 episodes of the show which was launched in October 2014.

It is reported that as of March

Indian attack helicopter Rudra

built Weapon System Integrated (WSI) helicopter (ALH WSI Mk-IV), Rudra will be part of the second formation of the eye-catching flypast and air display by various aircraft. Handed over to the Indian Army back in 2013, this will be the first time the multirole helicopter of 5.8 tonne class is showcased at the parade.

Rudra is the Mk-IV variant of advanced light helicopter designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

It is fitted with weapons, targeting systems, warning and counter-measure systems, and survivability features. It is fitted with three sighting systems like the Electro Optic Pod, Helmet Mounted Sight, and Fixed Sight.

Flypast by the Indian Air Force will involve 38 aircraft, including 21 fighters, 12 helicopters, and five transporters.

The Ensign formation of the flypast will include a Mi-17 V5 helicopter carrying the ASEAN flag to commemorate the summit meeting of India. Other formations will include C-130 J, AEW&C aircraft escorted by two Sukhoi-30 MKI, Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, Jaguar, MiG 29 Upgrade aircraft.

770 students to perform Demonstrations in Republic Day parade 2018 will not just feature the defence forces, but also 770 students who will perform Kathak, and folk dances of Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and other countries. Students

Culture. Another set of 150 students from Delhi's Mount Abu Public School will perform, dressed in the traditional attire of the 10 ASEAN countries.

16 Courageous children to be awarded the National Bravery Awards 2018

16 brave children have been selected from different parts of the country to be awarded the National Bravery Award. Given away every year under the aegis of the Indian Council for Child Welfare, winners of the awards will also participate in the march. This year, the children have been selected from 13 states, namely Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Karnataka, Punjab, Meghalaya, Odisha, Nagaland, Gujarat, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand. Four of the selected children will be awarded posthumously.

Recipients of the awards are given a medal, certificate and a cash prize. They are also given financial assistance to complete their schooling. The first award was presented to two children in 1958 by then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. One of the first recipient, Harish Chandra was honoured for saving the lives of hundreds of people trapped in tent that caught fire due to a short circuit at Delhi's Ramlila groun where Nehru was watching a performance.

REPUBLIC DAY SPECIAL

17

Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

Lord Jitesh Gadhia

UK-India relations set to intensify in 2018 During the past year, UK-India relations have witnessed an intense period of activity encompassing the 70th Anniversary of India’s Independence and a whole series of events to mark the UK-India Year of Culture.

One of the highlights has been an exhibition at the Science Museum in London called “Illuminating India – 5000 years of Science and Innovation”. It captures the amazing contribution of India to scientific discovery, technology, mathematics, engineering, communication, space exploration and medicine - including a set of weights and measures going back to the Indus Valley Civilisation and the world’s first written record of zero contained in the Bakhshali Manuscript from India stretching back 2,500 years, on special loan from the Bodleian Library at Oxford University.

The exhibition runs until 31 March 2018 and is a powerful reminder of the rich and historic strengths of our bilateral relationship.

Looking forward, 2018 promises to be an equally active year, with a return visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to UK, in April, for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Earlier the same month, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is also expected to visit London for the annual Economic and Financial Dialogue with his counterpart Chancellor Philip Hammond. We should also see more clarity on the Brexit negotiations which will define how more than 800 Indian businesses in Britain can continue to access the European Union (EU).

Going into the New Year, the two countries face contrasting macroeconomic and geo-political dynamics. India starts the year with a spring in its step. This confidence was on full display in Davos this week when Prime Minister Modi addressed the opening plenary session of the World Economic Forum, articulating his vision for New India and the attractions of the country as an investment destination. The Indian economy goes into 2018 with the wind in its sails; the World Bank recently confirming expectations for 7.3% GDP growth with further “enormous potential”.

In contrast, UK is facing headwinds and a more mixed picture.

The economy has slowed down, with consumption particularly subdued. At the same time, the overall picture is more resilient than anticipated with exports and manufacturing surprisingly buoyant. With 8 out of the 10 largest countries showing synchronised global growth, the UK boat has been lifted by the rising tide of the world economy.

Brexit, however, remains an allconsuming national narrative. The outcome of the negotiations will be important for Indian businesses operating in the UK who employ over 110,000 people and recorded

revenues of £47.5 billion. In particular, the risk of ‘no deal’ has diminished following the outline agreement reached last December on Phase 1 of the withdrawal talks with the EU. Going forward, it appears that Britain is heading towards a Canada style free trade agreement (FTA) and must agree upon Heads of Terms by March 2019. A transition phase lasting until the end of 2020 will follow during which the FTA will be finalised and ratified by all Member States. In the intervening period, Britain will remain in the EU in all but name. For many, this might not be an ideal outcome but we may be forced to accept a “take it or leave it offer” from the EU with the hope of improving it during the transition period. Indian businesses, particularly those who use UK as an entry point to the rest of Europe, will be watching intently.

I have argued in the House of Lords, that Britain’s focus should now shift to securing a soft landing for a hard Brexit. We should not become too obsessed with an FTA. Businesses know that it is ultimately competitiveness that matters for trade - not deals done by politicians. So, for example, continued access to skills; R&D collaboration; and integrated supply chains are arguably more important – and where the Government still holds relevant policy levers and must decide upon the best customs procedures.

Similarly, UK-India relations should not focus solely on an FTA either but encourage all forms of economic activity ranging from raising masala bonds in the City of London to more tourism or increasing bone fide Indian students. Indian businesses will be particularly interested in the new Immigration Bill expected from the UK Government and also the investigation into the impact of international students commissioned from the Migration Advisory Committee.

Finally, one of the biggest opportunities of 2018 will be persuading India to take a more proactive leadership role in the Commonwealth, where it represents more than half of the 2.4 billion population of its 52-member nations. The Commonwealth is a complex issue for India given the colonial connotations, but it should discard the historic baggage and look at the opportunity of harnessing such a powerful network.

Where else, for example, can India engage with African countries without direct Chinese competition? For Britain, rejuvenating the Commonwealth is also an important prize if it wants to demonstrate how Brexit can be made a success.

As we move into the New Year, it is clear that both India and UK are at important crossroads – and the events of 2018 will help shape their future destiny.

16

INDIA AND ITS '56 INCH CHEST' ON THIS YEAR'S REPUBLIC DAY

REPUBLIC DAY SPECIAL

www.asian-voice.com

Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

Modi gives 'Act East' policy a boost

Trust Prime Minister Narendra Modi to shift gears. His style of governance has been the perfect amalgamation of the past and the future. A mix of policies initiated by his predecessors, and current needs.

International Relations has been a key focus for Modi and he has been mending old relations. The last time a Southeast Asian leader was made chief guest at India's Republic Day parade, was in 1950, when President Sukarno of Indonesia who shared a special chemistry with then prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru stood witness to the first annual R-Day parade.

Nearly seven decades later, only five others from the region have attended the celebrations since then.

Changing thoughts, 10 heads of states from ASEAN countries will be honoured as chief guests in the parade at the National Capital. Not only are the leaders are Southeast Asians, this is the first time India will hold not one, but ten chief guests. This is both unusual, and historic.

Looking at the past leaders India hosted, like former US president Barack Obama, UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and President François Hollande of France, it can be conceived that Indians don't take the parade lightly. In a very subtle fashion, the year's guest reveals the country's policy priorities. Modi reaching out to a whole region, instead of singling out counties makes the extended invitation not just honourable, but also brilliant. The move comes as boost to India's Act East Policy, one that has become of increasing interest to NaMo. The policy was the brainchild of former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao, who initiated it in 1991 has been seen as a multifaceted approach to establish strategic links with individual countries and make closer ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Under the Modi government, the policy was noticed back in 2014, at the East Asia Summit in Myanmar. The Indian leader has only been trying to re-engage with the region that has been neglected in the past.

The ten guests to arrive at the parade on January 26 are, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan Of Brunei, Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Of Philippines, Joko Widodo, the President Of Indonesia Najib Razak, Prime Minister Of Malaysia, Nguyen Xuân Phúc, Prime Minister Of Vietnam, President Halima Yacob of Singapore, President Htin Kyaw of Myanmar, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha of Thailand and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos.

By inviting the leaders, Modi not only wants to flaunt the country's military muscle, he also intends to impress ten countries for commercial purposes. Not only that, they can also make for strong support for India's ongoing bid to sit on the UN Security Council. India playing host to the ten countries signal for a bright future for its relationship with the East. The fact that all ten have agreed to be present shows the level of seriousness with which they acknowledge India.

Republic Day is celebrated with pride and grandeur every year, with ceremonious parades at the prestigious Rajpath in the National Capital. After gaining independence from the British on August 15, 1947, India was an independent dominion in the British Commonwealth of Nations. King George VI was still officially recognised as the state head of India. It was only after the constitution of India came into effect on January 26, 1950, that Bharat became a federal, democratic republic within the commonwealth, abolishing the monarchy.

The constitution was drafted by a drafting committee appointed by the Constituent Assembly, with Dr BR Ambedkar as the chairman.

January 26 marks the day the Constitution of India came into effect. The date was picked as the day for the Indian book of law to come into force is because back during the independence struggle in 1929, during the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress, when Jawaharlal Nehru was elected president, a resolution was passed demanding complete indepen-

Attack helicopter to make maiden appearance India's first indigenously-

as guests, a motorbike performance by an all-woman contingent, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' tableau, Republic Day this year is going to be much more than just our military might.

The parade of valour

ASEAN leaders to make Chief Guests 10 State leaders from the

With January 26 inching closer day by day, it is known that this year's Republic Day parade will feature a lot more

participating in the event said the event has given them an opportunity to learn about the cultural diversity of other countries.

“I will represent Malaysian culture. We did some research on the Internet, and saw videos, and it took us about a month to get the hang of it.

But, we learned so much about other countries.”

A total of five performances will take place, two from the Directorate of Education (DoE), Delhi government, and one each by groups from the North East Zone Cultural Centre and the South Central Zone Cultural Centre of the Ministry of

Members of the Paramilitary band contingent perform during rehearsals for the beating retreat ceremony

than is customary. Unique in every sense, preparations to make this year's show extraordinary are on in full force. It has been reported that the parade this year will boast of a couple of firsts; From not one, but ten ASEAN leaders to visit

dence for the first time. The day, January 26, was declared 'Purna Swaraj Diwas'. As an honour to first Independence Day, members of the constituent assembly decided to enforce the constitution on January 26.

R-Day Parade to feature Modi-style 'firsts'

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

2017, Mann Ki Baat has earned close to Rs 10 Crore in revenue via advertisements. The show is aired in 18 languages and 33 dialects. “It's the first time that AIR is doing something like this. It is a good idea as it will help AIR popularise the show and further reach out to the remotest parts of the country. The tableau will definitely help the reach of Mann Ki Baat,” a former information and broadcasting ministry official said.

Ladakh Regiment bagpipers march to their own music

The annual Republic Day parade which is organised every year puts the Indian might and culture on display.

The event is telecast live on the public service broadcaster Doordarshan. Elaborate preparations have taken place ahead of the event. This year's parade has several special sets of performances and appearances.

AsianVoiceNews

international relations skills.

India has typically only hosted one guest for its Republic Day parade, except in 1985 and 1974, when the parade saw two guests. This year however, leaders of Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Brunei will be welcomed.

Over a hundred government agencies have participated in the preparations of the mammoth-sized event, and the allotted security is enough to give Fort Knox a complex. A 100 feet wide stage enclosed by a bullet-proof glass has already been erected at Rajpath, and needless to say, it is at least three times bigger than previous years. The convoy of each leader will be given nine luxury cars. A gap of 60 seconds will be maintained at the arrival of each dignitary at the podium. Practice drills are conducted every morning to avoid last minute confusion or goof ups.

All the foreign leaders will begin to arrive in New Delhi on January 24, for the IndiaASEAN commemorative summit, which is scheduled to take place on January 25. At the

Army personnel bearing flags of 10 ASEAN member nations during the rehearsal

Association of Southeast Asian Nations will be hosted by India this year, as PM Modi ups his

parade, as per protocol, the Prime Minister of Brunei will grace the occasion first, while

the Thai king will enter last.

All-woman bike contingent Brace yourselves for a brand new biker contingent this year, as they gear up to woo the country with their

have 7 each, Rajasthan, Manipur and Gujarat have 5 each, and Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh have 3 each.

The idea of bringing in an all-women team was from BSF Director General KK Sharma, who wanted to replace the men

BSF women motorcycle contingent all set to perform at the annual Republic Day parade

stunning and breathtaking stunts and acrobatics. While a troupe of biking daredevils end the parade every year with a gravity-defying display, an allwomen biker contingent from the Border Security Force (BSF) has taken up the honours this year.

Called Seema Bhavani or Border Bravehearts, the 113member squad includes women aged between 25 to 30 years. All of them have been carefully chosen from different combat ranks of the force. The contingent is led by subinspector Stanzin Noryang, a 28 year old from Ladakh. The team itself is a diverse mix of bold and daring women from all over the country. Punjab has the most number of participants with 20, West Bengal has 15, Madhya Pradesh, 10, Maharashtra,9, Uttar Pradesh, 8, Odisha, 6, Assam and Bihar

daredevils with women bikers.

The team will perform several stunts including classics like Pyramid, Fish Riding, Shaktiman, Bull Fighting, and Seema Prahari.

Mann Ki Baat tableau The All India Radio is all set to feature NaMo's monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat in its tableau. Owned by public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, AIR has received initial approvals and developed its tableau. “Mann Ki Baat is the flagship programme of All India Radio and the broadcaster wants to feature it,” a source said. They said the aim is to popularise the show and “reach out to the remotest parts of the country.”

AIR has so far aired 39 episodes of the show which was launched in October 2014.

It is reported that as of March

Indian attack helicopter Rudra

built Weapon System Integrated (WSI) helicopter (ALH WSI Mk-IV), Rudra will be part of the second formation of the eye-catching flypast and air display by various aircraft. Handed over to the Indian Army back in 2013, this will be the first time the multirole helicopter of 5.8 tonne class is showcased at the parade.

Rudra is the Mk-IV variant of advanced light helicopter designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

It is fitted with weapons, targeting systems, warning and counter-measure systems, and survivability features. It is fitted with three sighting systems like the Electro Optic Pod, Helmet Mounted Sight, and Fixed Sight.

Flypast by the Indian Air Force will involve 38 aircraft, including 21 fighters, 12 helicopters, and five transporters.

The Ensign formation of the flypast will include a Mi-17 V5 helicopter carrying the ASEAN flag to commemorate the summit meeting of India. Other formations will include C-130 J, AEW&C aircraft escorted by two Sukhoi-30 MKI, Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, Jaguar, MiG 29 Upgrade aircraft.

770 students to perform Demonstrations in Republic Day parade 2018 will not just feature the defence forces, but also 770 students who will perform Kathak, and folk dances of Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and other countries. Students

Culture. Another set of 150 students from Delhi's Mount Abu Public School will perform, dressed in the traditional attire of the 10 ASEAN countries.

16 Courageous children to be awarded the National Bravery Awards 2018

16 brave children have been selected from different parts of the country to be awarded the National Bravery Award. Given away every year under the aegis of the Indian Council for Child Welfare, winners of the awards will also participate in the march. This year, the children have been selected from 13 states, namely Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Karnataka, Punjab, Meghalaya, Odisha, Nagaland, Gujarat, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand. Four of the selected children will be awarded posthumously.

Recipients of the awards are given a medal, certificate and a cash prize. They are also given financial assistance to complete their schooling. The first award was presented to two children in 1958 by then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. One of the first recipient, Harish Chandra was honoured for saving the lives of hundreds of people trapped in tent that caught fire due to a short circuit at Delhi's Ramlila groun where Nehru was watching a performance.

REPUBLIC DAY SPECIAL

17

Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

Lord Jitesh Gadhia

UK-India relations set to intensify in 2018 During the past year, UK-India relations have witnessed an intense period of activity encompassing the 70th Anniversary of India’s Independence and a whole series of events to mark the UK-India Year of Culture.

One of the highlights has been an exhibition at the Science Museum in London called “Illuminating India – 5000 years of Science and Innovation”. It captures the amazing contribution of India to scientific discovery, technology, mathematics, engineering, communication, space exploration and medicine - including a set of weights and measures going back to the Indus Valley Civilisation and the world’s first written record of zero contained in the Bakhshali Manuscript from India stretching back 2,500 years, on special loan from the Bodleian Library at Oxford University.

The exhibition runs until 31 March 2018 and is a powerful reminder of the rich and historic strengths of our bilateral relationship.

Looking forward, 2018 promises to be an equally active year, with a return visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to UK, in April, for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Earlier the same month, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is also expected to visit London for the annual Economic and Financial Dialogue with his counterpart Chancellor Philip Hammond. We should also see more clarity on the Brexit negotiations which will define how more than 800 Indian businesses in Britain can continue to access the European Union (EU).

Going into the New Year, the two countries face contrasting macroeconomic and geo-political dynamics. India starts the year with a spring in its step. This confidence was on full display in Davos this week when Prime Minister Modi addressed the opening plenary session of the World Economic Forum, articulating his vision for New India and the attractions of the country as an investment destination. The Indian economy goes into 2018 with the wind in its sails; the World Bank recently confirming expectations for 7.3% GDP growth with further “enormous potential”.

In contrast, UK is facing headwinds and a more mixed picture.

The economy has slowed down, with consumption particularly subdued. At the same time, the overall picture is more resilient than anticipated with exports and manufacturing surprisingly buoyant. With 8 out of the 10 largest countries showing synchronised global growth, the UK boat has been lifted by the rising tide of the world economy.

Brexit, however, remains an allconsuming national narrative. The outcome of the negotiations will be important for Indian businesses operating in the UK who employ over 110,000 people and recorded

revenues of £47.5 billion. In particular, the risk of ‘no deal’ has diminished following the outline agreement reached last December on Phase 1 of the withdrawal talks with the EU. Going forward, it appears that Britain is heading towards a Canada style free trade agreement (FTA) and must agree upon Heads of Terms by March 2019. A transition phase lasting until the end of 2020 will follow during which the FTA will be finalised and ratified by all Member States. In the intervening period, Britain will remain in the EU in all but name. For many, this might not be an ideal outcome but we may be forced to accept a “take it or leave it offer” from the EU with the hope of improving it during the transition period. Indian businesses, particularly those who use UK as an entry point to the rest of Europe, will be watching intently.

I have argued in the House of Lords, that Britain’s focus should now shift to securing a soft landing for a hard Brexit. We should not become too obsessed with an FTA. Businesses know that it is ultimately competitiveness that matters for trade - not deals done by politicians. So, for example, continued access to skills; R&D collaboration; and integrated supply chains are arguably more important – and where the Government still holds relevant policy levers and must decide upon the best customs procedures.

Similarly, UK-India relations should not focus solely on an FTA either but encourage all forms of economic activity ranging from raising masala bonds in the City of London to more tourism or increasing bone fide Indian students. Indian businesses will be particularly interested in the new Immigration Bill expected from the UK Government and also the investigation into the impact of international students commissioned from the Migration Advisory Committee.

Finally, one of the biggest opportunities of 2018 will be persuading India to take a more proactive leadership role in the Commonwealth, where it represents more than half of the 2.4 billion population of its 52-member nations. The Commonwealth is a complex issue for India given the colonial connotations, but it should discard the historic baggage and look at the opportunity of harnessing such a powerful network.

Where else, for example, can India engage with African countries without direct Chinese competition? For Britain, rejuvenating the Commonwealth is also an important prize if it wants to demonstrate how Brexit can be made a success.

As we move into the New Year, it is clear that both India and UK are at important crossroads – and the events of 2018 will help shape their future destiny.

18

REPUBLIC DAY SPECIAL

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Social Media: The Indian Success Story

Vineeta Pandey, Senior Editor, The Pioneer

The world has discovered fast and furious ways of communicating and social media is prime among them. The Indian government has not only quickly adapted to the new technological revolution in connecting with people but also taken lead which is why five of its Twitter handles figure among the top ten most followed in the world. These are of Prime Minister Narendra Modi (@NarendraModi), his office (@PMOIndia), External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj (@sushmaswaraj), Ministry of Eternal Affairs (@MEAIndia) and President of India (@Rashtrapatibvn). PM Modi has the third largest following on Twitter in the world and he is the highest following on Instagram.

Swaraj is the most followed Foreign Minister in the world. MEA is among the top most followed government offices in the world.

Be it connecting with its citizens in a distress situation, facilitating documentations, visas, helping foreign nationals, or a means to connect with foreign leaders – Indian government has made most use from #Hashtag Diplomacy. And in order to bridge the gap between government and people,

Indian leaders and diplomats have perfected the art of speaking in 140 characters (on Twitter).

India is one of the few countries that has all its missions and top diplomats highly active on Twitter, disseminating information and providing support to Indians abroad.

In India the revolutionary shift by the government and diplomacy to the social media platform took place in May 2014, when the NDA government under PM Modi took charge. Not only is PM Modi himself active on social media but his entire government has strong presence on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. PM terms use of social media as `Direct Dialing’ where the government interacts directly with its citizens and gets their response immediately.

In a short span of three years, PM Modi has become the third most followed leader on Twitter (after Pope Francis and US President Donald Trump), with 32.1 million followers. According to ratings

by Twiplomacy, Modi is the top most followed leader in Asia. He is also most followed and effective world leader on Instagram with 6.8 million followers, closely followed

by Trump (6.3 million).

Each of Modi’s posts received on average

223,000 interactions, highest for all Instagram users. Modi’s Facebook (FB) page has 42,119,451 followers. PM effectively uses the platform to announce his visits to foreign countries and discuss the issue he plans to take up. He happily takes suggestions from people on their concerns. During his conversation with FB CEO Mark Zuckerberg in 2015, Modi explained the importance of social media for his government saying he finds it as a guide to know about things, how it allows for accountability and provide governance instantly.

Modi added that its helps government connect directly with its people, and get a feed back on a real time basis.

Indian diplomacy that has traditionally lived a conservative, protected life, has transformed itself to be the most active and interactive. Starting from Foreign Minister Swaraj,

all Indian missions and embassies are actively present on the social media. EAM Swaraj is the world’s most followed Foreign Minister (8.75 million) while MEA’s Twitter handle remains the third most popular Foreign Ministries in the world on the social media with 1.39 million followers. On FB, Swaraj’s has 2,853,852 followers and MEA’s is followed by 2,030,480 people. MEA’s passport division’s Twitter handle @passportsevamea and @CPVIndia (belonging to senior official handling passport division) is another major hit among people to resolve delays and other issues with regard to the travel document. Besides, the two Ministers of States –VK Singh and MJ Akbar too remain highly active and popular on the Twitter having 1 million and 90, 000 followers, respectively.

MEA in particular has created a mechanism where action begins in less than 24 hours on all grievances and issues are usually sorted out in the following next hours. All messages are handled with a sense of urgency, acknowledged and resolved in no time. This has not only generated a great deal of confidence among the citizens, but also created an environment for effective governance, empowered people, removed red-tapism, and made grievance redressal faster. Besides, a message has been clearly gone that an Indian stranded on a foreign soil, or needing help of the government will not be left alone at God’s mercy.

“Diplomacy in an age of social media is beginning to leave its ozone chamber, its protected past, to become interactive, better networked and more people-centred and people-friendly… Indian embassies and diplomatic missions across the world are active on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter these days and what was considered as a no-go for Indian officialdom until a few years ago is now de rigeur” former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said at a speech delivered at UNESCO in Paris.

Swaraj’s Twitter handle is an active 24x7 office in itself where a lot the

activity takes place. She effectively uses Twitter to help Indians and foreigners who need help. She is swarmed with requests for visas, passport, rescue calls not only from Indians but sometimes foreign nationals. The minister has a record of responding in no time, sometimes even at odd timings like 2 am and 4 am. Be it rebuking Amazon to withdraw the flip flops and doormats having Mahatma Gandhi’s picture, or providing last minute passport to a honeymooning couple – India has an #active FM. Possibly that’s why some use Twitter to resolve their household problems. One person tweeted Swaraj to help him with a faulty fridge.

Swaraj responded: “Brother I cannot help you in matters of a Refrigerator. I am very busy with human beings in distress.”

Another humoured: “I am stuck on Mars, food sent via Mangalayan (987) days ago is running out. When is Mangalayan II being sent?” Pat came her response: “Even if you are stuck on the Mars, Indian Embassy there will help you” – a statement that has now become the catch word for Indian diplomacy.

To read full article, visit our website www.asian-voice.com

‘E-Governance: The Indian paradigm for citizen friendly governance’ R S Sharma Chairman, TRAI Building trust between governments and citizens is fundamental to good governance. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been recognized as an essential tool for achieving the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by United Nations for the welfare of mankind. It is globally recognized that ICT promotes good governance.

ICT can help build trust by enabling citizen engagement in the policy process, promoting open and accountable governance.

Through e-governance, government services can be made available to citizens in a convenient, efficient and transparent manner. ICT can help in improving efficiency in mass processing tasks and public administration operations.

India is ranked at position 107 on e-Government Development Index (EGDI) published by United Nations for the year 2016. Due to consistent efforts by all stakeholders, ranking of the country has improved by

11 positions as comparison to the year 2014 where it was 118.

Similarly improvements have been reflected in eParticipation Index (EPART). India has been ranked at 27 for the year 2016 in comparison the rank 40 in 2014. However, notwithstanding the economic progress over the last decade, the digital divide in the country continues to be significant. As per telecom data released

by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI), at the end of May, 2017, the Urban Tele-density has reached to 172.28 and the Rural Tele-density has reached to 55.89.

Government’s Citizen friendly initiatives on e-Governance Digital India Program ‘Digital India’ initiative, announced as flagship program in 2015 by Govt aims to transform India into a digital economy with participation from citizens, businesses and promises to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and a knowledge economy with high intellectual capital. Among the nine pillars of ‘Digital India’, the

government has interalia stressed upon to: (1) Create Broadband Highways; (2) E-Governance – Reforming government through Technology; (3) eKranti – Electronic delivery of services.

Broadly Digital India initiative aims to help in achieving the vision of: 1. Digital Infrastructure as a Utility to Every Citizen 2. Governance & Services on Demand 3. Digital Empowerment of Citizens The government has taken numerous initiatives on citizen friendly e-governance in recent years. Some of the initiatives can be termed as unique to our country since there is huge diversity in cultural, language and traits.

vice for verifying the identity of any Indian resident through biometrics and demographic information by name called 'Aadhaar'.

The government has initiated delivery of services and several welfare schemes which have been intended to uplift and benefit the bottom line of citizens in society.

Further, governments have been successful in linking Aadhaar number with several welfare scheme like LPG subsidy, scholarship to the students, pension and Public Distribution System (PDS) etc to pass the benefits to the authorised persons only.

India's Digital Identity Infrastructure The government has initiated an ambitious egovernance projects Unique Identification (UID) project by organisation The Unique Identification Authority of India’s. The UID aims to provide a real-time ser-

India's Payment Infrastructure Unified Payments Interface Unified platforms and applications have been developed to promote and facilitate digital financial transactions by every stratum of citizens. Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

is one such system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood.

Introduction of Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app has enabled the masses to make digital financial transactions simpler, easier and quicker. Aadhaar number linked with mobile number makes the application an unique one.

Other e-Governance Initiatives Unified Mobile Application for New Age Governance (UMANG) application launched by the government provide a vast unified platform to citizens to access more than 200 e-Governance services from the Centre, States and even from local bodies and other private agencies on their mobile phone. UMANG services have been made available to the citizens in multiple channels like mobile app, web, IVR and SMS which can be accessed through

smart phones, features phones, computers, and tablets. UMANG also untilises Aadhaar based authentication mechanism.

Government eMarketplace (GeM) has been introduced by the government aims to enhance transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement. It provides the tools of ebidding, reverse e-auction and demand aggregation to facilitate the government users achieve the best value for their money. e-Pramaan offers secure authentication with various levels of assurances by verifying the credentials of ePramaan users accessing different e-Governance services through internet or mobile devices. ePraman provides uniformity in authentication method and eliminated to provide different types of identity proofs for accessing public services by the citizens. This application is benefitting the Lakhs of pensioners in the country.

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There has been a lot of interest in regards to UK property investment from some investors from India. Some I have recently met have already invested in London.

Primarily their decision to invest in London was driven by wealth preservation, rather than wealth creation.

Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap London Property Investment

Money can be made in India, but not without complications.

Unfortunately, anyone with any sort of power or position often tend to abuse it. The information I was given by some prominent industrialists was that even if one tries to be straight and pay his taxes, the tax inspector will suggest ways to reduce it in return for a fee. If you choose not to oblige him, he will open an investigation and look thread bear into your books. The idea being either way you lose, you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. Relative to this environment, it is

easy to see the attractiveness of investing in London.

Investors see the need to diversify their wealth, and there has been some talk of even staying out of the country for more than 180 days, which apparently allows one to declare residency, and therefore pay tax, in another jurisdiction. This way they circumvent any need to even declare tax in India.

Antigua was mentioned as a strong contender to reside, due to the strength of its passport and of course the low level of taxation.

The typical investment, of the investors that I have recently met, has been new build properties which have had a slight discount to them, typically 10-15%. One must bear in mind, new builds generally have a premium to them in the first place; in the same way as when you purchase a new car there’s always a premium.

AGONY AGENT IS HERE TO HELP! Q: I am looking to buy a property with a sitting tenant, is that a good idea?

A: This is a great question, I often get asked this on the sourcing and investment side of the business. A sitting tenant is when a landlord buys a property from another landlord with a long-term tenant already in place.

Landlords are doing this for better security as well as trying to boost their rental returns, in some

locations particularly in London, yields are being squeezed while property prices continue to increase. I read recently somewhere that as much as 25% of properties bought by landlords in London had a sitting tenant. Are there any good or bad points to this?

It seems high numbers of landlords are seeing the value of adding occupied properties to their portfolio, housing long-term tenants on longer term

BUY TO LET OPPORTUNITY

contracts. The main reason that you would buy a property with a sitting tenant is to make sure your rental income comes in immediately, which is great in areas with lower rental yields. Landlords taking advantage of this trend will also benefit from a quicker route to portfolio, as they won’t have to undertake the tenant finding process.

As with anything there are risks and downsides.

Firstly, you cannot choose

19

Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

Therefore, the discount in one sense may be illusory.

Nonetheless, they are satisfying the primary need, which is to place wealth in a more stable environment. However, there are some hoops to jump through. The correct vehicles need to be set up, bank accounts need to be opened, lending needs to be applied for (which needs to be non-recourse, in other words no personal guarantees). To top this all off, you have the antimoney laundering requirements (AML), which will need to be satisfied according to the requirements of every institution you deal with, depending on how they have interpreted the AML rules. This is the new environment we are in.

Although there are no restrictions to investing in London, there is a lot of paperwork required; none of which is insurmountable however.

There are a number of factors which have aligned, your own tenants. You will also have to go on the selling landlord’s word when it comes to the quality of the tenants in residence, keeping in mind that they are likely to be keen to sell quickly.

Landlords who carry out their own tenant referencing process may also not be able to vet their tenants to the detail they would prefer. You may also be stung as you are more than likely not be able to charge the monthly rent you want to if the sitting tenants were getting cheap or reduced rents from the previous

this is leading to this great exodus of money.

First, the market in India has dampened especially in the top end, much the same which has gone on in London over the last few years. Second, the Pound has dampened relative to the Rupee, and third, we have a damp property market in London which means good deals are now floating to the surface, which, in a stronger market would not see the light of day. The conjunction of these three factors pro-

vides the impetus to move money across continents, and ensures there is a heavily discounted property market in UK for it to land in.

Our angle is that we can provide deals which can be worked on to add further value, and which are also discounted from inception. The focus will be on the bottom end of the market, the bread and butter, staying well away from the top end, which over the last few years has taken a beating.

landlord.

Targeting occupied properties certainly presents some food for thought for ambitious landlords. It has to be said that the majority of longterm tenants are just that for a reason.

However, as with any investment purchase, detailed and thorough research will be the key to making it a successful and ultimately profitable investment.

If you have any questions about this situation, or

any other rental question, then please feel free to contact me. If you are looking to grow your portfolio or reduce it, then please contact our office for a chat and free advice on how we can help.

Richard Bond Lettings Manager Sow & Reap

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Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

Consultant Editor Financial Voice Alpesh Patel Dear Financial Voice Reader, We’ve been here before, with the “Dot-com bubble” Do you remember Webvan and Pets.com? Boo.com? I do.

Back then as well as trading the ups and downs of Nasdaq stocks, I also had my own trading show on Bloomberg TV covering this live – living and loving every minute.

These had grown exponentially, with the technology-dominated NASDAQ index leading the way, rising from under 1,000 to more than 5,000 in the space of 5 years.

Not only was it full of speculative investing, with no real evidence, but the over abundance of venture capital funding for startups was rife, turning a company with almost nothing of value into a highly sought out investment.

Traders like me knew we didn’t care what the companies were doing. Our job was to ride the bandwagon but jump before it fell off the cliff. With my investing hat, I knew truly valuable companies, like Amazon, were going to be too few to hold onto.

Most people cannot tell the difference.

Many of these investors and venture capitalists in the dotcom era had abandoned the standard approach of investing.

Instead, they feared they would miss out on the opportunities to capitalise on this ever growing market of tech stocks, and in doing so, they left common sense at the door and let their emotions take hold.

There is a rule when it comes to defining a bubble, which you may not have heard of before, and that is the 1000%/10 year rule. This rule states that if an asset appreciates in value by 1000% in the space of 10 years, the likelihood of the asset becoming a bubble is true.

When it comes to cryptocurrencies however, it is a different kettle of fish. These digital assets haven’t followed the same path as other assets.

It is pretty hard to miss the elephant in the room when it comes spotting what’s wrong. Where typical assets like commodities and the NASDAQ have taken 10 years to become embedded in the economy, Bitcoin on the other hand has taken approximately 2 years to reach an evaluation of over 1200%!

So what does this mean? Is Bitcoin a massive bubble waiting to burst? Bitcoin could very well be in a bubble, but that doesn’t mean we are going to see its collapse any time soon.

Allow me to draw your attention the NASDAQ. After the crash you can see there is a period of recovery during the years after, and then the housing crisis of 2008 took place, which caused it fall yet again, and from that point on, there has been a period of growth from 2008 to 2018. What this shows, is that an asset could potentially burst, but it always has the chance to recover and grow at an exponential rate and recover any of its losses it suffered in the first place.

If the likes of Bitcoin does crash, then I don’t think it would be the end of the cryptocurrency market for good, because there are some real world uses for the technology behind it. It would be a matter of time and interest before it picks up again and recovers from its loss, and becomes even stronger.

Alpesh Patel Alpesh Patel and Juventus Football Club are Official Partners of 24Option.com brokers.

Alpesh.patel@tradermind.com

Tata Group plans to merge 5 pvt equity units into single $1bn fund Tata Group is deliberating a merger of its multiple middle-market offerings into a single big fund. The main company has five funds amounting to a total of $1 billion under its wings. The largest corporate-sponsored PE franchise in the country, it has investments in major companies like Uber Technologies and Star Health Insurance.

Sources in the loop said Tata is expected to take a call on consolidating PE operations ahead of its plans to tap the market for raising fresh funds.

The proposal comes as the group plans to drive growth with a simpler organisational structure, scaling up businesses by combining units in similar lines of operations and benefiting from synergy effects. This will be the last consolidation

move within the group under chairman N Chandrasekaran. The last internal shuffle came under former chairman Cyrus Mistry, when CMC was merged with TCS. The latest development clashes with a process of leadership change at Tata Capital. Praveen Kadle, who has been at the helm of the company will move out from the CEO and MD's role in April. He will be replaced by former ICICI bank veteran and ex-True North partner Rajiv Sabharwal.

Tata Opportunities Fund made investments in Uber, Ginger hotels, Tata Sky, Shriram Properties, Varroc Engineering and TVS Logistics. Tata Capital Growth Fund counts Janalakshmi Financial Services and Star Health Insurance among its portfolio companies.

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Uncertainty over next date of hearing of Mallya's extradition trial The next date of hearing in the extradition trial of Vijay Mallya over alleged fraud remains uncertain as the case was not discussed in a London court due to differences among lawyers on a mutually convenient date.

Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot was listed to hear the case at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, with the 62-year-old embattled liquor baron exempt from attending. However, the case was not discussed in the court as the lawyers are yet to agree on a mutually convenient date. The next hearing date is expected within the next few weeks, to be determined internally between the legal counsels and announced at a later date. The case had been left undecided over the issue of admissibility of evidence presented by the Indian authorities at a hearing earlier this month. Judge Arbuthnot is set to rule on the issue once Mallya’s

Vijay Mallya

defence team completes its argument claiming “absence of a strong prima facie case” and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), arguing on behalf of the Indian government, responds in favour of the evidence.

Meanwhile, Mallya’s bail on an extradition warrant has been extended until April 2. The next hearing is expected to also lead to a time-frame for closing arguments and verdict in the case, which seeks to establish that there are no bars to Mallya being extradited to India to stand trial on the charges of fraud and

money laundering. A senior official had confirmed that the Indian government has now presented all clarifications sought by the judge during a hearing in the case in December, including regular medical assistance that will be made available to the businessman at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai where he is to be held.

At the last hearing on January 11, Mallya’s barrister Clare Montgomery argued that evidence that was claimed as a “blueprint of dishonesty” by the CPS was in fact privileged conversation between Mallya and his lawyer about “legal advice in clear contemplation of litigation” and hence should be inadmissible. On a separate category of evidence presented by the Indian government, Montgomery questioned the reliability of investigating officers in the case. She pointed to over 150 pages of “near identical material” purporting to be statement of witnesses taken

under Section 161 of the Indian CrPC. Dismissing the nature and source of these witness statements, Mallya’s defence claimed they do not meet “obligations” under the India-UK extradition treaty to provide “proper” statements.

The Indian authorities have stressed that they are confident the evidence meets all the requirements under the treaty. Mallya was arrested by Scotland Yard on an extradition warrant in April 2017 and has been out on bail on a bond worth 650,000 pounds. Chief Magistrate Arbuthnot will present her ruling within a timeframe she sets out at the end of the trial. If she rules in favour of the Indian government, the UK home secretary will have two months to sign Mallya’s extradition order. However, both sides will have the chance to appeal in higher courts in the UK against the chief magistrate’s verdict.

Modi govt may end FY18 with £9 bn selloff

The Modi government is expected to close the current financial year with record disinvestment receipts of over £9 billion on its stake sale in Hindustan Petroleum to ONGC. The mop-up will be almost twice the earlier record of over £4.6 billion that was achieved last year, prompting the government to eye £10 billion or more from stake sale in the next financial year. The exact amount to be raised through HPCL stake sale will be cleared over the next few weeks. It will depend on the valuation being undertaken by the PSU as well as the government. The transaction is

expected to conclude before March, and will fetch the government over £3 billion, sources said.

With more than 10 weeks left for the current financial year to close, the Centre has £5.43 billion in its kitty through public offer of shares, buybacks and disinvestment of “strategic holdings” of specified undertakings of UTI, which include shares of Axis Bank, ITC and L&T. The initial public offer of two public sector general insurers GIC and New India - have helped the government garner £1.73 billion against the budget target of £1.10 billion. While the £1.45 billion

exchange traded fund has been the top grosser, GIC helped the government raise £970 million, making it the largest public sector IPO so far this year.

The fund raising is despite strategic sales not taking place till the fourth year of the BJP government’s term although over half-adozen companies, including Air India and ITDC hotels, have been in the queue. While the finance ministry is eyeing £10 billion through disinvestment in the next financial year, sources said, it will be a tough ask. “This year’s programme was started during the last

Jio rings in £50.4 bn Q3 profit Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio has begun generating profits within 15 months of its launch, helped by a 15.8 per cent rise in subscribers and a sharp fall in interconnect charges. In a statement, Reliance Industries (RIL) said that its telecom unit posted a net profit of £50.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2018. It had recorded a loss of £27.1 million in the previous quarter.

Chairman and MD, Ambani said, “Jio's strong financial result reflects the fundamental strength of the business, significant efficiencies and right strategic initiatives. Jio has demonstrated that it can sustain its strong financial performance.”

Rising to the top, RIL with its refining, petrochemical and oil & gas ventures, reported a profit

of £ 845.4 million in Q3FY18, 5 per cent over £802.2 million in Q3FY17.

The company's standalone revenues expanded 14 per cent to £7.59 billion from £6.66 billion. Jio, which was launched in September 2016, earned an average of revenue of Rs 154 per subscriber in Q3FY18, compared to Rs 156 in the previous quarter. Operating profit rose 82 per cent to £262.8 million while operating margin expanded to 38.2 per cent. Expenses at Jio dropped about 7 per cent to £610.8 million in the October to December period.

RIL spent significant

funds on network operating costs, interconnect charges, and depreciation charges. On a consolidated basis, the company operated a net profit of £942.3 million on revenues of £10.99 billion in the October-December period.

“Our refining business has delivered 12 consecutive quarters of double-digit refining margins, demonstrating operating excellence and healthy industry fundamentals. Benefits of the large investments in petrochemical business are beginning to show with the segment reporting its highest ever earnings. We are excited about the prospects of both our energy and consumer businesses due to strong growth in Indian markets and constructive macro environment,” Ambani said.

financial year itself and a lot of things worked to Dipam’s (department of investment and public asset management) advantage but such a steep target may be tough to achieve,” warned an official.

With crucial state elections ahead of the 2019 general elections, the government may be wary of rushing through with strategic sales and will have to bank on public issues, buybacks and other innovative instruments to raise money. In any case, the strategic sale of companies is not going to help the government raise significant amount of money, officials said.

India lowers additional borrowings to £2 bn this fiscal

The Indian government has lowered the additional borrowing requirement for the current fiscal to £2 billion from £5 billion as estimated earlier. Just last month, the government, after consultation with the RBI, had said it would make an additional borrowing of £5 billion this fiscal through dated securities.

There, however, will be no change in the net borrowings as envisaged in the budget for 2017-18. The reduced borrowing would help contain fiscal deficit within the target.

A decline in revenue collections from the Goods and Services Tax, and lower nontax revenue have caused stress to the government about meeting the fiscal deficit target. According to the latest figure, fiscal deficit in November 2017 had breached budget target and touched 112 per cent of the budget estimate for 2017-18.

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PAKISTAN

BANGLADESH

No case filed against Hafiz Saeed: Abbasi ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that action could not be taken against Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed as no case has been filed against him in Islamabad. "Action is taken when there is a case registered [against someone]," said Abbasi in an interview.

Earlier in November, the Pakistan Prime Minister had claimed that India has provided "no evidence" against Saeed on the basis of which he can be prosecuted.

"The court, a three-judge bench, has released him (Saeed) saying there are no charges against him, the country has a law you know," said Abbasi. The Jamaat-udDawa (JuD) chief is also looking to contest the 2018 general elections in Pakistan and has, thereby, formed a party by the name of Milli Muslim League (MML). Pakistan has recently prohibited Saeed's JuD and Falah-i-Insaniat

Hafiz Saeed

Foundation (FIF) from collecting donations.

Saeed was released from house arrest after a Pakistani court cited lack of evidence against him in the 26/11 Mumbai attack case.

India has, time and again, protested against Pakistan for harbouring Saeed, who is wanted for plotting the Mumbai attacks.

UN team won't be given access to Hafiz Diplomatic sources said that Pakistan won't allow a sanctions monitoring team of the United Nations

Security Council (UNSC) any direct access to Hafiz Saeed or his entities when it visits the country later this week.

The UN team's visit will take place amid increasing pressure on Pakistan from the US and India on the inadequate implementation of the sanctions on Saeed and entities linked to him.

Saeed and his organisation the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) were put under sanctions by the UN in December 2008, a month after the Mumbai terror attack. The terrorist, who was released from house arrest in November last, in fact petitioned the UN after his release asking for his name be removed from their list of sanctioned terrorists.

The UNSC team, one Pakistani diplomatic source said, will visit to discuss "official information" on issues relating to the banned outfits and implementation of UN sanctions.

They will not seek access to the JuD or Hafiz Saeed and if

they do that, we will not allow it. We have been in talks and this visit was scheduled," said the diplomatic source.

The UNSC sanctions list includes the JuD, Al-Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Falah-eInsaniyat Foundation and Lashkar-e-Taiba (also banned by Pakistan, and of which the JuD is a front), among other organisations and individuals.

Last week, Pakistan's prime minister said there's no case against Saeed.

However, just days before that statement by the PM, Pakistan banned companies and individuals from making donations to the JuD, the related Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation and other organizations on the UNSC sanctions list. This double-speak did not make the US happy.

After the PM's statement, the US State Department sternly said Pakistan should prosecute Saeed "to the fullest extent of the law".

Pak doctor who aided US hunt down bin Laden languishes in jail PESHAWAR (PAKISTAN): Shakil Afridi who helped US Navy Seals to track down and kill the al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden has been languishing in jail since 2011. Americans might wonder how Pakistan could imprison a man who helped track down the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. "The Shakil Afridi saga is the perfect metaphor for USPakistan relations" - a growing tangle of mistrust and miscommunication that threatens to jeopardize key efforts against terrorism, said Michael Kugelman, Asia program deputy director at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington.

The US believes its financial support entitles it to Pakistan's backing in its efforts to defeat the Taliban as a candidate, Donald Trump pledged to free Afridi, telling in April 2016 he would get him out of prison in "two minutes ... Because

21

Shakil Afridi

we give a lot of aid to Pakistan." But Pakistan is resentful of what it sees as US interference in its affairs.

Mohammed Amir Rana, director of the independent Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies in Islamabad, said the trust deficit between the two countries is an old story that won't be rewritten until Pakistan and the US revise their expectations of each other, recognize their divergent security concerns and plot an Afghan war strategy, other than the current one

which is to both kill and talk to the Taliban.

Afridi hasn't seen his lawyer since 2012 and his wife and children are his only visitors. For two years his file "disappeared," delaying a court appeal that still hasn't proceeded. The courts now say a prosecutor is unavailable, his lawyer, Qamar Nadeem Afridi, said.

"Everyone is afraid to even talk about him," and not without reason, said Nadeem, who is also Afridi's cousin.

In Nadeem's office, the wind whistles through a clumsily covered window shattered by a bullet. On another window, clear tape covers a second bullet hole, both from a shooting incident several years ago in which no suspects have been named. Another of Afridi's lawyers was gunned down outside his Peshawar home and a Peshawar jail deputy superintendent, who had

advocated on Afridi's behalf, was shot and killed, said Nadeem.

Afridi he has not been charged in connection with the bin Laden operation. He was accused under tribal law alleging he aided and facilitated militants in the nearby Khyber tribal region, said Nadeem. Even the Taliban scoffed at the charge that was filed to make use of Pakistan's antiquated tribal system, which allows closed courts, does not require the defendant to be present in court, and limits the number of appeals, he said.

If charged with treason which Pakistani authorities say he committed - Afridi would have the right to public hearings and numerous appeals all the way to the Supreme Court, where the details of the bin Laden raid could be laid bare, something neither the civilian nor military establishments want, his lawyer said.

Rohingya repatriation to Myanmar postponed

DHAKA: The repatriation of Rohingya Muslim refugees back to Myanmar, which was scheduled to begin this week has been postponed, said an official of Bangladesh. Abul Kalam, commissioner of the Refugees, Relief and Repatriation Commission in the coastal area of Cox's Bazar, gave no details beyond saying that officials "are working on this." An agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar said their return home was to begin this week.

However, many Rohingya have expressed worries with the agreement, saying they do not feel safe returning home and would prefer to stay in Bangladesh refugee camps.

Over a million refugees Meanwhile, the Bangladesh army which began a biometric registering of the refugees last year, said that more than one million refugees are living in camps set up in Bangladesh, higher than previous estimates. "So far we've registered 1,004,742 Rohingya. They are given biometric registration cards," said Saidur Rahman, a brigadier general with the Bangladesh army who heads the

Rohingya registration project. Several thousand more have yet to be registered, he said.

The figures are higher than those provided by the UN, which estimates that there are 9,62,000 Rohingya living in southeast Bangladesh, near the Myanmar border. Some of the refugees have been living in Bangladesh for many years, but the repatriation agreement only covers those who have arrived since October 2016.

As per the agreement, the repatration was to be completed within a two years.

Rights groups have expressed concerns about the pace of the process, particularly as Rohingya are still fleeing Rakhine. "With memories of rape, killing and torture still fresh in the minds of Rohingya refugees, plans for their return to Myanmar are alarmingly premature," James Gomez, Amnesty International's regional director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said. "The obfuscation and denials of the Myanmar authorities give no reason to hope that the rights of returning Rohingya would be protected, or that the reasons for their original flight no longer exist."

22 killed as security men end Taliban siege at Kabul hotel KABUL: Al teast 22 people, including 14 foreigners, were killed, following an assault by Taliban militants on the Intercontinental Hotel in Afghanistan’s capital and pinned security forces down for more than 13 hours before the last attacker was killed. Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the victims were attending a conference. However a senior Afghan security official said the toll was over 30.

All five attackers were also killed, Danish said.

More than 150 guests were able to flee as parts of the building caught fire, with some shimmying down sheets tied together and dropped from upper-floor windows and others rescued by Afghan forces.

Local airline Kam Air said around 40 of its pilots and air crew, many of whom are foreigners, were staying in the hotel and as many as 10 had been killed. Local media reports said the dead included Venezuelans and Ukrainians.

The Taliban claimed the attack, which began on Saturday

night, saying five gunmen armed with suicide vests targetted foreigners and Afghan officials. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the insurgents initially planned to

attack the hotel but postponed the assault because there was a wedding underway and they wanted to avoid civilian casualties.

The attack unfolded almost six years after Taliban i n s u r g e n t s launched a similar assault on the property. The raid was the latest in a series of attacks that have underlined the city's vulnerability and the ability of militants to mount high-profile operations

aimed at undermining confidence in the Westernbacked government. In separate incidents on Sunday, eight people were killed by a roadside bomb in the western province of Herat and 18 members of local militia forces were killed at a checkpoint in the northern province of Balkh.

Pak told to banish Taliban After the attack on Kabul hotel, the United States told Pakistan that it needs to arrest or expel

Taliban leaders who operate from its territory. "We call on Pakistan to immediately arrest or expel the Taliban's leaders and prevent the group from using Pakistani territory to support its operations," Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House spokeswoman, said.

The White House statement came even as the Trump administration heightened pressure on Pakistan, which it says provides safe haven to terrorists and terror groups that carry out attacks in Afghanistan and in India.

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AFRICA

Kenyan's public debt touches record high in 2017 NAIROBI: Every Kenyan has to pay at least Sh100,000 in order to clear the country’s mushrooming public debt that reached Sh4.58 trillion in November. Kenya recorded its highest public debt in 2017. Latest data by the Central Bank of Kenya shows that the government’s internal debt at Sh2.22 trillion in November last year, while the external debt stood at Sh2.31 trillion in September 2017.

An analysis of public debt reveals that the government borrowed an average of Sh62.7 billion per month last year, compared to Sh54 billion in 2016 and Sh55 billion the previous year. The public debt moved from Sh3.89

trillion in January last year to reach Sh4.58 trillion in November, meaning that a total of Sh690 billion was borrowed during the period.

This is Sh110 billion more compared to the same period in 2016, when the government borrowed Sh580 billion.

Pundits have it that the debt could be more, considering that guaranteed loans and borrowings of state agencies running into hundreds of billions in Kenya shillings has not been factored in.

The debt is expected to swell further this year, with the 2017 Budget Review and Outlook (BROP) report indicating that Kenya’s debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to rise to

59 per cent in 2018/2019, up from the current 57 per cent, due to upcoming infrastructure projects and an expected drop in revenue collection compared to last year. Kenya has borrowed heavily in the past 10 years to fund its infrastructure. Even so, the Standard Gauge Railway, expected to sink the country into at least

$10 billion (Sh1 trillion) debt from China stands out, considering that it accounts for at least 22 per cent of Kenya’s total public debt.

In the first phase of the SGR that saw the railway line move from Mombasa to Nairobi, Chinese banks and the government lent Kenya Sh327 billion for the 472-

Kenya needs Raila's leadership, says Nasa stratesgist David Ndii NAIROBI: David Ndii has once again torn into the Jubilee Party administration, saying Kenya does need the "kingship" portrayed by president Uhuru Kenyatta. The NASA chief strategist accused Uhuru of undermining devolution and said he ought to be stopped.

He said Opposition leader Raila Odinga will take care of the public's concerns by taking oath of office through the People’s Assembly. Ndii noted that such a government would not be beneficial so NASA will seek its own legitimate administration.

The plan is for Raila and Kalonzo Musyoka, who were NASA's candidates in last year's general elections, to be inaugurated on January 30. The alliance is planning to use August 8

Zuma under pressure to quit JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s ruling ANC party said that it would “act decisively” to rebuild its reputation, as local media reported that President Jacob Zuma could soon be forced to quit office.

Zuma has been under growing pressure to resign since he was replaced as head of the African National Congress in December by his deputy Cyril Ramaphosa.

Signalling a clear shift in power, Ramaphosa announced a new board for Eskom, the troubled stateowned power company that has been linked to graft allegations.

Zuma’s presidency has been engulfed by corruption scandals and a weakening economy, with the party losing public support ahead of next year's general election.

NASA principal Raila Odinga during the coalition's rally in Kibera slum, Nairobi

election results, which it claims shows Raila defeated president Uhuru Kenyatta, to swear-in the former premier. "Electoral justice is very crucial. A valid and lawful August 8 vote was disallowed," Ndii said.

Ndii said the "dictatorial

Jubilee" will fall with Raila's inauguration and likened Kenya's story to those of the English, French and American revolutions. The revolutions are akin in that power was given to the people. Ndii, who is the head of the Opposition's assump-

tion of office committee, added that Uhuru is causing dictatorship to slip back into the system. “In Kenya, Jubilee has perfected the art of vote theft that has made a democratic process impossible,” Ndii told second Coast People's Assembly convention in Mombasa, adding this has seen unprecedented looting in public coffers. "The problem we are facing is that one person has refused to leave power even after the people rejected him."

He said only one poll 2002 - was free and fair while the rest were a sham.

"Jomo Kenyatta is the root cause of electoral theft.

Kanu won the election, Kenyatta took the prime minister's power and changed the constitution to be president for life. He died."

Cape Town may run out of water by April CAPE TOWN: Cape Town, South Africa's major tourist destination, may run out of water by April thereby forcing residents to join queues for emergency rations. "Day Zero" the date taps are due to run dry - has been fixed to April 22 as city authorities race to build desalination plants and drill underground boreholes.

Almost 2 million tourists flock to Cape Town every year. Travel and tourism accounted for an estimated 9 per cent or 412 billion rand ($33 billion) of South Africa's economic output last year. "At the current rate the city is likely to reach Day Zero on 22 April," said councilor Xanthea Limberg, Cape Town's mayoral committee member for water.

"There is a real risk that residents will have to queue."

Limberg said the dire

km stretch and a further Sh150 billion to push it to Naivasha. In May last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta led the Kenyan delegation in making a formal request for an additional $3.59 billion (Sh370 billion) from Exim Bank of China to finance the construction of the third phase of the SGR, a 270km-line between Naivasha and Kisumu, bringing the total loan from China to more than Sh850 billion.

China is also playing a major role in funding other infrastructural projects like geothermal energy and the geothermal power project. China is also funding construction of major roads in the country. This perhaps

explains why Beijing led another 14 countries that advanced bilateral loans to Kenya in 12 months to September last year.

According to the National Treasury, Kenya received $4.7 billion (Sh487 billion) from China, compared to $879 million and $688 million from Japan and France respectively.

Even though bilateral loans are earmarked for development, critics have questioned the sustainability of some of the projects funded, key among them the SGR. Besides accusing the state of inflating the construction price of the railway line, they argue that project may not repay the loan, forcing Kenyans to pay from their pockets.

SRI LANKA

High chemical residues found in Sri Lankan tea

COLOMBO: An independent international laboratory has found unusually high chemical residues in Sri Lankan tea. The tests were commissioned by the Sri Lanka Tea Board after it had “mentions” from various importers in Europe and Japan of chemical residues above acceptable levels, authoritative sources said.

Most Sri Lankan tea exports are blends of produce from several factories. This made it difficult to identify the source of the problem even when a complaint was received from an importing country. However, over the past few months, the Sri Lankan authorities identified estates that were repeatedly mentioned and conducted checks.

The sources were reluctant to say how many factories were inspected and how many were found to be sources of contami-

nated tea. But they revealed that “tea from various factories were found to have excessive residues”. The challenge now is to identify the reasons for contamination and to correct the problem. A meeting which was called will address these issues. “There has to be an reassurance to buyers of our tea that we will take the initiative to make sure our tea is clean,” a source said.

“It is our responsibility to do that and we intend to do it,” they added. “Exactly how to go about it we will know after the meeting.” It is feared that some quantity of existing stocks will have to be condemned. It is not immediately clear how much. The tests were done and the report produced by an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Good Laboratory Practices certified lab.

Singapore PM urged not to sign FTA with Lanka situation was being worsened by some people ignoring a push for residents and visitors to use no more than 87 litres of water per person per day.

Cape Town is home to many wealthy residents who have swimming pools and sprinkler systems, although the city does not want to play a "blame game" as lots of affluent residents are saving water, she said. Businesses in the hospitality industry also say they are trying to help, limiting showers to two

minutes and using water used for washing dishes and clothes to water gardens.

Authorities want to reduce the city's consumption to 500 million litres a day - half the amount used two years ago. "Everyone is taking as many steps and measures that they possibly can to try and make sure we don't reach Day Zero," said Gabrielle Bolton, spokeswoman for the fivestar Belmond Mount Nelson hotel.

COLOMBO: Professional groups in Sri Lanka, engaged as key stakeholders in discussions with the government on proposed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with India, China and Singapore, urged the visiting Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong not to sign the FTA, as scheduled by the Sri Lanka Government. In a letter to the Singapore Premier who arrived on Monday on an official visit, Nalaka C. Jayaweera, Chartered Architect – on behalf of the United Professional Movement (UPM), said there are many legal implications on

Singaporean investors and Singapore FTA as the government of Sri Lanka has not protected the rights of any foreigner and had failed to protect the rights of its own people.

Thus, he said, “… with great respect we sincerely request you, not to sign the proposed Singapore Sri Lanka FTA as confirmed by Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers”.

Professional groups have been opposing the proposed FTAs on the basis that certain fundamental laws and guidelines need to be set in place first before FTAs are formalised.

WORLD

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Trump 'imitates PM Modi's accent' at meetings: report WASHINGTON: US president Donald Trump and prime minister Narendra Modi are said to have a warm relationship, something that has been helped by the Indian leader being invited to the Oval Office on several occasions and the Trump administration's recent criticism of India's neighbour, Pakistan.

But in a development that could cause tension between the two countries, a new report claims Trump, who earlier this month triggered controversy when it was reported he used a derogatory phrase to refer Haiti and African nations, reportedly imitates the Indian leader's accent. The Washington Post reported Trump's behaviour in the context of the US' provision of additional troops to Afghanistan, where it is supposed to have adopted a non-combat role.

PIO woman new US assistant state secy

Manisha Singh

WASHINGTON: Indian American Manisha Singh, a lawyer and Congressional staffer, has been sworn in as the assistant secretary of state for economic and business affairs in President Trump’s administration.

She is the first woman appointed to the post.

Singh was sworn in by secretary of state Rex Tillerson. She will be responsible for advancing American prosperity, entrepreneurship and innovation worldwide. “We are excited to promote America’s growth and secure our future under her leadership!” the US state department’s economic & business affairs bureau tweeted after her swearingin ceremony.

Born in India, Singh was the chief lawyer and policy adviser to Republican senator Dan Sullivan. She had earlier done a stint as a deputy assistant secretary of state in the economic bureau in President George W Bush’s regime. During that stint she handled intellectual property issues, relations with the World Trade Organization, and trade. Her political career began as an staffer on the senate foreign relations committee. Before that she was in a law firm practicing in the international law.

PM Narendra Modi and Trump hug in the White House Rose Garden (File Photo)

It said Trump imitated the accent of Modi, who can speak and understand English but prefers to converse in his native Hindi, and claimed that he said to him: "Never has a country given so much away for so little in return" - as the United States in Afghanistan.

Trump claimed the Indian leader's

comment was proof the rest of the world viewed the United States as being taken advantage of in Afghanistan. Both the White House and State Department failed to respond to questions about the claim. Indian officials in Washington also did not immediately respond.

If true, it would not be

the first time Trump had adopted a fake Indian accent. In the spring of 2016, during the election campaign, Trump used such a voice to mock a call centre representative in India.

The New York billionaire claimed he called up his credit card company to find out whether their customer support is based in the US or overseas. US Congressman, Raja Krishnamoorthi, shared a statement on his Twitter, which said: ‘I was appalled to read that President Trump reportedly affected an Indian accent to imitate Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Americans are not defined by their accents, but by their commitment to this nation’s values and ideals.’ It’s not the first time Trump has been called out for mocking accents.

Trust in US institutions plunges DAVOS: Trust in US government institutions has plunged in President Donald Trump's first year in office, according to a survey released on the eve of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The annual Edelman Trust Barometer showed overall trust in the four institutions it measures - the government, media, business and non-governmental organisations - falling more steeply in the United States than in any of the 28 countries surveyed.

Trump has broken with presidential tradition and repeatedly denounced the media and judiciary attacks his critics say risk undermining public confidence in those institutions. By contrast, the country that saw the biggest trust gains among its own citizens was China, after a year in which President Xi Jinping cemented his hold on

power at a triumphal party congress. Faith in the Chinese government jumped 8 points to 84 per cent. In the United States it fell 14 points to 33 per cent.

"The United States is enduring an unprecedented crisis of trust," said Richard Edelman, head of the communications marketing firm that commissioned the research.

Xi was the headliner in Davos last year, days before Trump was inaugurated. This year, Trump is the main attraction. He is expected to defend his "America First" policies in a speech on the final day of the conference of policymakers, CEOs, bankers and celebrities in the Swiss Alps, which runs from Jan. 23-26.

Pointing to the steep erosion in trust in the United States, Edelman said it was the first time since the survey began 18

years ago that such a precipitous drop was not linked to a specific event, such as an economic crisis or catastrophe, like the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. Instead it comes at a time when the US economy is showing robust growth and stock markets are at record highs. "Normally when things are going well, trust is pretty good," Edelman said.

"Increasingly there is a disconnect between trust and economic outcomes."

Fake news He attributed this to a politicisation of the public discourse in the United States and elsewhere that has left many people confused about what is fact and what is fiction. The survey showed nearly 2 in 3 people are unable to distinguish reliable news from rumours and falsehoods.

13 shackled children rescued from parents

CALIFORNIA: Thirteen children who were being held captives by their parents were rescued after a 17-year-old girl who escaped from captivity alerted the authorites.

When 12 of her siblings were rescued, several of them were found shackled to their beds and malnourished. The 17-year-old used a cellphone she found in the home to call the police with her startling claim about her siblings being held against their will, the Riverside County Sheriff’s department said. Officers found the girl’s 12 siblings - who range in age from 2 to 29 -

23

in the foul-smelling house in Perris, California, living in the dark without access to adequate food or water, the department said.

Some of the children were restrained with chains and padlocks. “The parents were unable to immediately provide a logical reason why their children were restrained in that manner,” the sheriff’s department said. The officers did not immediately recognise that seven of the 13 siblings were adults because they were emaciated. The sheriff’s office said that the 17year-old girl who called the authorities looked to

be 10 years old.

Their parents, David Allen Turpin, 57, and Louise Anna Turpin, 49, were both arrested on nine counts each of torture and child endangerment. They were being held in jail.

The sheriff’s department did not say how long the siblings may have been held captive. Sheriff’s deputies provided food and water to the siblings, who claimed they were starving. They were later transported to hospitals for treatment. The school enrolled six students this year, in grades six through 12, and Turpin was listed as the principal.

US Senate reaches deal to end govt shutdown for now

Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer walks from a Democratic caucus meeting during the third day of a shut down

WASHINGTON: The US Senate voted overwhelmingly on Monday to end the three-day old government shutdown, with Democrats joining Republicans to clear the way for the passage of a short-term spending package that would fund the government through February 8 in exchange for a promise from Republican leaders to address the fate of young, undocumented immigrants known as Dreamers.

“In few hours, the government will reopen,” said Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader. “We have a lot to do.” The procedural vote does not immediately end the shutdown. The Senate must still grant final approval of the bill, and it must then be approved by the House. But final passage is a formality, and after a weekend of partisan fingerpointing - in which Democrats branded the shutdown the “Trump Shutdown,” after President Trump, and Republicans branded it the “Schumer shutdown” - the vote

offered both parties a way out of an ugly impasse that threatened to cause political harm to both parties.

Schumer, speaking on the Senate floor, announced that he and Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, had “come to an arrangement” to adopt the three-week spending measure while continuing to negotiate a “global agreement” that would include the fate of the dreamers, undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children.

Monday’s vote came after a frantic weekend of work by a bipartisan group of more than 20 senators, who on Sunday night were discussing a plan in which the government would stay open through early February, coupled with a promise from McConnell to allow a vote on a measure to protect the Dreamers from deportation.

McConnell pledged that he would permit a “free and open debate” on immigration next month if the issue had not been resolved by then.

UN chief asks India, Pak to resolve issues through talks UNITED NATIONS: UN chief Antonio Guterres has urged India and Pakistan to resolve outstanding issues through talks while ruling out any mediation to resolve the Kashmir issue unless all parties agree to it. The UN Secretar y-General's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that in principle good offices of the UN chief are always available for mediation, but everyone needs to agree on involving the world body.

Asked about escalating tensions between India and Pakistan due to ongoing skirmishes and firing along the border, Dujarric said, "We're obviously aware. We're following this... what's been going on, really for the last 10 days."

Asked why the Secretary-General is not so keen to involve himself in this crisis, Dujarric said, "In principle good offices of Guterres are always available for mediation, but everyone needs to agree on involving the UN."

Antonio Guterres

"As a matter of principle I'm not talking specifically about this issue, but about any issue where there is conflict between parties, the SecretaryGeneral's good offices are always available," he said.

"As in any issue, both parties or more than... you know, if there are multiple parties, everyone needs to agree on involving the UN. That is true of any mediation effort," Dujarric said.

"The Secretary-General would encourage both sides to address any outstanding issues through dialogue," he said.

24

INDIA

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Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

SOUTH

AP CM meets Modi amid reported strain in ties

NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as reports of strain in the state's ties with the Centre emerged to light. He sought the BJP supremo's help to fulfil promises made during the bifurcation of the state.

Naidu said Andhra continues to depend primarily on agriculture, consequently lacking in the services sector as compared to other south Indian states.

The contribution of the services sector to Andhra Pradesh's Gross State Domestic Product in the year 2016-17 stood at 46

per cent, while it was 64.64 per cent in Karnataka, 62.56 per cent in Telangana, and 56.8 per cent in Chandrababu Naidu meeting Narendra Modi sufficient,” he told the Tamil Nadu. He said his reporters. state was way behind the Ties between Naidu's national average of 53.66 Telugu Desam Party (TDP) per cent, blaming lack of and the BJP have appeared urbanisation for the poor to be frosty in recent time. performance of the services The TDP has been demandsector. “Even in terms of ing Special Category Status per capita income we are for Andhra Pradesh after its the lowest. Due to unscienbifurcation in 2014, a tific bifurcation AP has sufdemand bluntly rejected by fered badly. Whatever we the Centre. The party also have got so far is not at all

recently sided with the Opposition in forcing the Rajya Sabha, where the ruling BJP and its allies do not have a majority, to refer the triple talaq bill to a select committee.

When asked if delay in central aid would affect the TDP's relation with BJP, Naidu said the Modi government had TDP ministers and his dispensation in Andhra Pradesh had representatives of the BJP. “We will consistently follow up and that is the only solution for AP, and there is no issue with the alliance. The PM has assured he would look into the issue,” he said.

Rajinikanth ready to roar CHENNAI: Actor Rajinikanth has announced that he will contest the Tamil Nadu assembly election even if it is to be held within six months.

Speaking to reporters outside his residence, he said, “We will be ready”, when asked whether he and his yet-to-launch party will be prepared to face elections if they were held in the next few months. Thalaivar however, refused to answer queries on the possibility of allying with Kamal Haasan, who is also in the works to make his political debut.

“I always thought Kamal will start a political party before me,” Rajini said. Speculations of an alliance began to do the rounds when both the actors participated jointly in a function held in Kuala Lumpur recently.

On Haasan's state-wide tour from February 21, Rajini wished him success. In a statement, Haasan said she intends to embark on a 'Discovery of Tamil Nadu' journey from Ramanathapuram, his birth place. He also revealed he will announce the name of

his party and his stand on different political issues on the same day.

In the first phase of the tour, he will cover his home town, Madurai, Dindigul, and Sivaganga. “At the commencement of the journey, I intend to announce the name of my political party along with the guiding principles we intend to

Rajnikanth

live by. Finally, let's question mediocrity and raise the bar on governance and welfare for the people of Tamil Nadu. This journey is intended towards the goal,” Haasan said in his statement.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

WEST BENGAL

BJP to face rough show in Tripura NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janta Party is bracing itself for a tough election in Tripura, as it feels threatened by the ruling CPM. This is the first time Narendra Modi's party will directly challenge dominance of the Left in India.

The Community Party of India, led by Manik Sarkar, has secured four consecutive wins in the states, giving it an edge in the 'Battle Royale for the North East'.

BJP General Secretary in-charge of the North East, Ram Madhav said, “CPM leaders have called this elections Mahabharata and even the Battle of Waterloo. Yes, this will be the Battle Royale for us and we will form the government with a comfortable majority in the state.” Last election's Modi wave did little to deter the CPM from polling close to 12 Lakh votes in Tripura, while the BJP closed in less than 2

Lakh votes. This year, the national party will not announce a CM candidate in Tripura. Modi will himself spearhead the campaign and hold two rallies.

The party is also in talks with some tribal parties for a pre-poll alliance in the state. “Without compromising on the territorial integrity of Tripura, we are willing to discuss issues and strike alliance with regional parties,” Madhav said. The Tripura campaign will be flagged-off by Home Minister Rajnath Singh from Agartala next week.

The Election Commission had last week announced elections to 60 Assembly seats in the state to be held next month, along with two fellow Northeastern states, Meghalaya and Nagaland.

Protests in Kolkata hospitals over deaths

NORTH

15-year-old raped, tortured Angry over scolding, class 12 student guns down principal and killed in Haryana JIND (HARYANA): A teen who was missing since last week, was found dead in Jind, Haryana, with 19 severe injuries to her body along with signs of spinechilling torture. It has been found that the 15 year old victim was raped, strangled, and raped again after she died by two neighbours who have been arrested.

Doctors said her liver and lungs had been ruptured and an object had been jammed into her body.

The victim's body was found half naked, and mutilated near a canal about 100 km away from Jind. She was covered just by a torn shit. “The body had many injury marks, the private parts were mutilated, and there were lot of internal injuries.

Signs of sexual assault are visible and looks like three-four people were responsible, a hard and blunt thing was inserted inside her, signs of drowning also found,” said SK

Dattarwal, doctor at a hospital in Rohtak.

Meanwhile, the body of a 19 year old youth who is suspected as one of the alleged abductors was found in a canal. He was named in the FIR lodged by the girl's family. His body was identified by his parents from a tattoo on his arm. “His body was found from a canal near Jyotisar. Though there were no visible injury marks, the post-mortem will reveal the exact cause of his death,” Kurukshetra SP, Abhishek Garg. When asked about allegations that the police did not act upon complaints of the victim missing, Garg said the SHO concerned had been placed under suspension.

CHANDIGARH: A student studying in the 12th standard of a Haryana school walked into the principal’s office and shot her down with his father’s licensed revolver after he was scolded for low score and highhanded behaviour. Ritu Chhabra, the 47-year-old principal of Swami Vivekanand School at Yamunanagar, succumbed to her injuries later in a hospital.

Chhabra is believed to have taken the 18-yearold boy to task for picking up fights with schoolmates and teachers and for his poor academic record. After shooting her, the boy tried to flee, but was overpowered by parents and locals outside the campus. A large number of parents were in the school to attend a parentteacher meeting when the murder took place.

Besides booking the boy for murder, police have arrested his father, a moneylender whose revolver was used to kill Chhabra. This is the third case of a major crime

being committed in a school in tIndia in a matter of just three months.

According to sources, the commerce student was weak in studies and would not hesitate to argue with his teachers over petty matters. Chhabra had reprimanded him on a number of occasions.

“On the fateful day, the boy left home after telling his parents that he was going to his coaching class but landed up at the school instead,” said Yamunanagar SP Rajesh Kalia. “He went into the principal’s office on the pretext of getting a form signed. At the time, Chhabra was alone in the cabin. The boy first walked out and then immediately went back and fired four shots at Chhabra. While two bullets hit her arms, a third hit her in the chest. The fourth bullet brushed past her head.”

The school staff and the parents rushed Chhabra to a hospital where she died due to excessive bleeding.

KOLKATA: Three prominent private hospitals in Kolkata, West Bengal are in a soup over the death of three patients including a child. Police informed that family members of a two year old girl demonstrated at the Mukundapur unit of a private hospital alleging maltreatment and negligence and demanding action against those responsible.

The victim was admitted with acute respiratory distress with cough and hoarseness and high fever.

“She was admitted to the paediatric ward of the hospital on Monday and her condition improved this morning. But she was injected some medicine following which her condition deteriorated. We were told that she needed oxygen but no oxygen cylinder was provided following which our baby died,” a grieving family member said. However, an AMRI Mukundapur spokesperson countered the charges saying proper treatment was undertaken and there was no medical negligence on the hospital's part. “We have set up an investigation committee to look

into the incident,” he said.

Hospital authorities said unit head of AMRI Mukundapur, Jayanti Chatterjee, has been asked to go on leave till investigations are over. The hospital has also lodged a complaint with the police alleging physical harassment of paediatric unit head, who happens to be a female, and attempted vandalism of the hospital premises by the child's family members.

Similarly, there was an agitation at another private hospital in Kolkata, when a middle aged man died of respiratory complaints when he was not allowed admission. The victim's family has alleged that medical negligence, adding that they had reached the hospital with the patient in an ambulance in the evening, but was left waiting unattended despite repeated requests to the hospital authorities for admission.

“No doctor came to see the patient, and when one doctor came the next morning, he was declared dead. Who will be held responsible for his death? We want justice,” a relative said.

HERITAGE HISTORY

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Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

Dr. Hari Desai

Humour of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel “Don’t Spare Me, Shankar”: PM J L Nehru to the Cartoonist Shankar Humour and wit are gradually fading away, says PM Narendra Modi

moves a motion of Privilege against the opposition MP in the Parliament or a cartoonist is arrested by the Chief One would hardly expect the serious personalities like Minister, Mamata Gandhi and Patel having such lighter moments but Banerjee, in West Bengal! after all they were human beings and could not resist Hilarious humour is laughing while enjoying jokes or lighter comments recorded by Mahadev Desai, the Mahatma’s secOne would not be surow can one live retary, in the Diaries prised if the medical pracwithout humour? between Gandhi and titioners come up with a Even when during Patel. Bina Rathva, a tribal conclusion after carrying the freedom movement in research scholar at Sardar out a survey of presentIndia, Mahatma Gandhi, Patel Research Instituteday Indian politicians and Sardar Vallbhbhai Patel, CERLIP, brought out a Ministers that to live Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, book “Sardar Patelno longer one should be Mualana Azad and other Vinod” (SPV) with such lighter in life and enjoy leaders were in jail, they episodes which may laughing. The most glaring cracked jokes and enjoyed change the image of both example has been Vajubhai laughing at each other or Mahatma and Patel as Vala, the Governor of even at self. One would serious leaders. She was Karnataka, who unlike hardly expect the serious so impressed by both the Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel in a lighter mood other colleagues in Gujarat personalities like Gandhi charectors that even for Ministry, was known for and Patel having such known for her negative Yadav were presented the her Doctoral research precracking jokes and making lighter moments but after roles) and added while the o u t s t a n d i n g ferred to take up “Humour everybody lighter. all they were human Nationalist Congress Party Parliamentarian awards by of Gandhi and Sardar”. As “Humour and wit are gradbeings and could not resist (NCP) leader thoroughly the then President Pranab such right from the childually fading away from laughing while enjoying enjoyed the remarks, there Mukherjee in the presence hood days, not only Parliamentary proceedings jokes or lighter comments. was no proper coverage of of the then Vice-President Barrister Vallbhbhai but as members are apprehenIn his book, “The the lighter banter. Even Hamid Ansari and Lok his elder brother, Barrister sive as to what colour the Elephant, the Tiger & the the Finance Minister of Sabha Speaker Sumitra Vitthalbhai Patel, who Cell-phone: Reflections India, Arun Jaitley, feels became the first Indian on India in the 21st that humour and satire, President of the Central Century”, Shashi Tharoor which had a place in most Legislature of India, was notes: “There is, sadly, democracies, are losing also known for enacting very little evidence today their space in the Indian humourous actions. Both that Mahatma Gandhi’s political discourse. “There the brothers used to enjoy puckish sense of humour was a lot of place for such innocent misis inherited by his political humour and satire in chievous acts with malice heirs. Asked once what he Indian politics, which towards none.

As thought of western civislowly has come to an Gopalkrishna Gandhi lization, the Mahatma end.” Jaitley recollects the writes : “Gandhi loved replied, ‘It is a good idea.’ use of humour and satire Nehru, trusted (Rajendra) Upbraided for going to by former PM Atal Bihari Prasad, admired Rajaji, Buckingham Palace in his Vajpayee as well as late esteemed (Maulana) Azad. loincloth for an audience parliamentarians, Piloo But Patel, he with the King-Emperor, Mody and Madhu leaned on and Gandhi retorted, ‘His Dandavate. But laughed Next Column: Majesty had enough u n fo r t u n a t e l y, with. Patel Nehru and National Integration in a Cartoon Gen. Manekshaw clothes for two of us.’ the phase has regarded 24x7 (media) would give to Gandhiji was an excepcome when Mahajan in August 2014. scared PM Indira Gandhi as even one proverb they tion: the Indian nationalRahul Gandhi, the Modi recalled a barb by his mentor, utter,” Prime Minister ist leaders and politicians Congress President Sushma Swaraj on Sharad his leader.” On Narendra Modi said. He who followed them in genand a Lok Sabha MP, Pawar during a function in 11 June 1932 at Pune’s was speaking at a function eral a pretty humourless tweets using the spelling Parliament some decades Yerwada Jail, when Bapu at which Arun Jaitley, lot.” Of course, none can of Jaitley as “Jaitlie” sarback dubbing him as Lalita said ( in a somber mood, Karan Singh and Sharad match Nehru. He knew castically, the ruling party Pawar (veteran actress contemplating death): “ how to laugh at himself.

Some day or other one One may come across, must mount the shoulders Making Buffalos the Cows “Don’t Spare Me, of the bearers”, Patel was Sardar Patel was the main organizer of the Congress Convention at Haripura, Surat Shankar”, a compilation of quick to convey: “Bring in 1938. Subhas Chandra Bose was to preside over and top leaders of Indian National about 400 of 1,500 carthe ship to shore first and Congress including Mahatma Gandhi were to attend.

The Mahatma was keen that every toons Shankar, the then go anywhere you delegate should get cow milk. He conveyed it to Vallabhbhai. The Sardar replied renowned cartoonist of like.” Of course, the promptly, “Don’t worry.

It will be arranged.

We have lot many buffalos in Kheda district 1950s and 60s, drew of Mahatma died on 30 and will convert them into cows by painting them white!”

Nehru, most of them for January 1948 after India Gandhiji was taken aback.

He asked him again: “Do you get me?

We have to serve his magazine, Shankar’s got Independence on 15 only cow milk.” Sardar Patel told him not to worry and Gandhiji was relaxed. Patel used Weekly. Nehru enjoyed a August 1947!

As to make fun of Gandhi.He not only arranged the cows for providing milk to each delehearty laugh- often at his Vallbhbhai told Bapu in gate but gifted those cows to the farmers after the convention. (SVP) own expense.

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Sardar offered services as a Principal !

Gandhiji was having a brainstorming on the Nationalist Education system with various scholars. He had thought of establishing Gujarat Vidyapith (Established in 1920) at Ahmedabad.

Discussion was on who should be appointed the Principal of the College. Everybody was discussing and giving a thought on various options but could not zeroed down a suitable name. Vallabhbhai in a lighter way offered his services as a Principal saying : “ If you cannot get any, make me the Principal. I am quite capable of making the students forget what they have learnt.” Everybody including Gandhiji laughed, but the Mahatma could understand the pun Sardar made about the educated Indians who behave like Englishmen! (SPV) jail that he would like to be a Sanyasi after independence, Patel never aspired to be the Prime Minister or even the Minister. Even as the Deputy Prime Minister, he was so devoted to the nation that at the time of his death, his bank balance was just Rs.262!

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INDIA

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Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

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President praises BAPS for its social contributions President Ram Nath Kovind praised the BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar P u r u s h o t t a m Swaminarayan Sanstha) sect for its activities towards the welfare of the society. "Our country is fortunate to have saints who had made social service their life's main aim for the welfare of the people. Many saints have formed organisations which are leading in public welfare and BAPS is one of them," the president said while addressing followers of the sect in Gondal town in Gujarat's Rajkot district.

The president was invited to take part in the Akshar Deri Sardh Shatabdi Mahotsav (celebration of 150 years of Continued from page1 I say with full conviction that terrorism is bad in all its forms and facets. It is bad irrespective of its territory of origin or target of operation. We all must unite in fight against terrorism. India stands firmly with all such forces. I must also take the opportunity to appeal to all of you to see that such groups do not get money, arms and ammunition. It cannot be a good business to do business with such elements. We all know that, without peace, progress and prosperity is not possible.”

The statement came as an obvious hit at China who have consistently stood with their ally, Pakistan, despite the latter's open relations with extreme sources. Modi's keynote speech holds substantial significance considering he was once shunned by the West, even denied visa to the US. His speech only became more fiery with each line as he

Akshar Deri). The place, Akshar Deri, holds significance for the BAPS followers, as one of the sects prominent spiritual heads, Gunatitanand Swami, was cremated here. BAPS is a worldwide religious and civic organisation within the Swaminarayan branch of Hinduism.

"The organisation has launched many projects for the public welfare. It also works in health, education, environment...Its contribution is vital to empower followers", the President said.

"I have been told that the sect has over 10,00,000 followers and over 55,000 volunteers. The sect has built many temples, which are working for the overall development of the soci-

President Ram Nath Kovind being accorded a warm welcome at BAPS temple in Gondal. Gujarat Governor O P Kohli, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, his deputy Nitin Patel, Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama were among those who were present.

ety," Kovind said.

The President said that most of the Hindu temples are not as clean as they should be, but temples of

this sect are very clean and cleanliness brings morality, holiness and divinity in human beings," he said.

The president also urged

the sects followers to bring in the same level of cleanliness in other Hindu temples. "It would be a great project for the sect if their followers can bring the same cleanliness in Hindu temples too," Kovind said.

The President said that during the ten-day long celebration, the sect is going to conduct a "havan" (fire ritual) for the world peace, "and I pray that their prayer for the world peace is heard as the world is facing terrorism, tension and instability". BAPS is a worldwide religious and civic organisation within the Swaminarayan branch of Hinduism. "The organisation has launched many projects for the public welfare. It also works in health, education, envi-

Being Modi in Trump's World

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau, in Davos

made a jibe against richer nations who either abdicated their responsibilities or were unwilling to lend poorer nations a hand.

Addressing the issue of climate change, NaMo said, “We are not only aware of our responsibilities towards climate change; we are willing to take lead in

mitigating its effects.”

“Glaciers are receding, the Arctic ice is melting, islands are going underwater or are about to. Heat and cold, excessive rain and drought: Effects of extreme weather are seen everywhere. Even here, we are seeing the highest snowfall in 20 years. We should have

shed our divisions and united to tackle the challenge, but we must ask honestly if we have done so. Everyone says climate emissions must be reduced, But how many developed countries reach out to developing nations with the technology required to do so?” he asked. Modi's

speech showcased to the world, India's rise and its necessity in order to preserve liberal democracy.

India means business: Modi meets top global CEOs Modi interacted with top global CEOs at an International Business Council event, besides a series of meetings with world leaders after addressing the opening plenary of the summit. He also interacted with the international business community of the Geneva-based organisation that hosts the summit each year.

The meeting saw officials from 40 global companies and 20 Indian companies, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani, and Airbus CEO Dirk Hoke.

Titled 'India means busi-

ronment... Its contribution is vital to empower followers", the president said. "I have been told that the sect has over 10,00,000 followers and over 55,000 volunteers. The sect has built many temples, which are working for the overall development of the society," Kovind said.

Gujarat Governor O P Kohli, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, his deputy Nitin Patel, Education Minister B h u p e n d r a s i n h Chudasama were among those who were present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Rupani termed the occasion as “a confluence of Rashtra Satta (Centre), Rajya Satta (state government) and Dharma Satta (religious authority)”. ness', Modi said he was moving from working on the “ease of doing business to the ease of living”. He also presented opportunities for global businesses in India at the meeting, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

“The most interesting thing was uniform enthusiasm among CEOs of doing business with India, about the market, about the dynamism, about the greater ease of doing business, the sense of economic growth, and the sense of engagement in the 42 months that the Prime Minister has been Prime Minister,” remarked Daniel Yergin, Vice Chairman, HIS Markit. He stated it was “most interesting” how people were looking at India “very different than four years ago.”

“What struck me more than anything else is that he said we are moving from the ease of doing business to the ease of living, less fighting with governments, less conflict,” he said.

Israel PM's visit to India resonates strongly with the British Continued from page1 The Jewish community in Britain is a self-sufficient group that has been defying all odds, as history admits, to make a place for themselves in the country.

Deriving a comparison between the Jewish and the Indian communities in the UK, Lord Popat rightly talked about the cultural similarities between the two. “I believe the success of the British Indian community is owed in no small part to the example set by our Jewish friends. Like them, we were guided by aspiration, a passionate belief in enterprise and education, not to mention faith, family and community. Today we are friends, neighbours and business partners. India-Israel relations mirror the process

started in the UK in the 1970s and continues to this day,” he wrote.

In the article that dripped of special warmth for the Jewish community, Lord Popat talked about Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home-state Gujarat. It is no secret that Modi holds a special place in his heart for the Jewish community.

Even when he was chief minister, he was known to hold special ties with them. His strong bond with Netanyahu was more than evident when he broke protocol with a surprise welcome at the airport and a hug when the leader arrived in New Delhi. The Israeli PM's six-day visit was as Jewish media

described, “unprecedented”. Why wouldn't it be?

There isn't anything in the world like a Gujarati's hospitality.

PM Netanyahu along with his wife Sara and their enthusiastic and charming host Modi, made a one-day stop in Gujarat. They set out in a car from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel airport, only to be greeted with performances and the public, who cheered for their leader and his guests. Over 50 stages were erected along the decorated roads as both, Modi and Netanyahu waved at the people. The roadshow which stretched up to 8 km, concluded at the Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram. Both the guests tried their hands at Gandhi's cherished spin-

ning wheel. The visit to Gujarat coincided with the festival of Uttarayan. It was made sure that the guests took a try at flying kites in the ashram.

A statement released by the PMO said the couple “were greeted there by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as thousands of residents lined the streets waving Israel and Indian flags. Hundreds of signs were hung with the pictures of the two prime ministers and 'Welcome to Amdavad' in Hebrew.

Street appearances with traditional dances and special bands were also held.”

Foreign Ministry Director General Yuval Rotem said, “This is an unprecedented welcome. In all my years at the Foreign Ministry, I have not seen such a spe-

cial and impressive welcome with so many participants. The residents took to the streets to honour and applaud the prime ministers and relations between the countries.”

Both the leaders dedicated an innovation centre to the country, the iCREATE facility located outside Ahmedabad. The centre is created with the objective of facilitating entrepreneurship through creativity, innovation, engineering, product design and leveraging emerging technologies to deal with major issues.

Modi and Netanyahu visited various stalls highlighting different technologies and innovations across diverse fields. Innovation has a key role to play in bringing the people of

India and Israel, closer to each other, Modi said. He added that the entire world has taken note of the technological prowess and creativity of Israel.

The leaders also visited the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables in Vadrad in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat, where they were briefed on various achievements of the Centre. They also inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for date palms at Kukama, Kutch, through video link.

Netanyahu was accompanied by the largest-ever business delegation to travel with an Israeli leader, in his visit to Asia's third-largest economy. His team included executives in technology, agriculture, and defence.

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

14 Superfoods to Relieve Constipation Fast

The well being of a person has been linked to the health and the condition of the digestive system. So the digestive problems are the reason for Constipation. There are several foods to relive the constipation. This article is about 14 natural remedies for constipation and how to how to relieve fast?!

1. Berries: Berries are a family of foods that are very beneficial to the body. Any berry can be taken for instance and they are loaded with the fiber. The fibers are essential for the smooth running of the digestive system as they add bulk to the fecal waste and also help to remove them from the body. A cup of strawberry juice will have about 2.6grams of fiber while the blueberries will have about 3.5 grams of fiber, the blueberries and raspberries each will have about ten grams of the fiber content in them.

2. Prunes: It is an age old remedy that has been used in the treatment of the constipation problems.

The fruit and its juice have been proved to be effective in treating the problems

27

To Our Readers

We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement any advice. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

Yoga in schools related to constipation.

Researchers believe that dried fruits were found to have more fiber than the fresh ones.

3. Dried Fruits: Not only the dried prunes but also the other dried fruits will also help to be relieved from the problem of constipation. Fruits like banana, cranberry, apricots, peaches and apples can be eaten best when they are dried. This is because the drying concentrates the fiber content of the fruits. The dried fruits also possess high amounts of vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates.

4. Apples: These fruits are rich in nutrients and help the body in many ways and also provide them with the energy that a person needs for the activities to be done in a day. The apples also help in the digestion.

They also help to fight against the diarrhea. In case of constipation, the apples help to push the waste from the body and in the case of diarrhea they try to bind the stool together. They have a soluble fat called as pectin that clings to the fats in the digestive tract.

5. Beans: Beans come in many forms and they all have unique quantities of

After dinner one night, I asked my daughter Bella to fetch a broom from the back porch so I could sweep the floor. Complaining, she said, “But it’s dark out there.

I’m afraid.”

I said to her, “It’s OK, God is with you.” Slowly, Bella opened the porch door and said, “God, if you’re out there, would you hand me the broom?” *** A passenger in a taxi tapped the driver on the shoulder to ask him something. The driver screamed and lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus and drove up over the curb, stopping inches from a large window. For a few moments everything was silent in the cab. Then the driver quietly said, “Please don’t do that! You scared the daylights out of me.” The passenger, who was also frightened, apologized and said he didn’t realize a tap on the shoulder could startle someone so much—to which the driver replied, “It’s really not your fault. Today is my first day driving a cab. I’ve been driving a hearse for 25 years.” *** 7-year-old, Ethan, was excited about his turn for showand-tell coming up. He asked if he could bring our dog.

Ethan has a classmate who has severe allergies to nuts, and his mother wanted to be sure his friend wasn’t affected by nonfood allergies. “Is your classmate allergic to dogs?” she asked. Ethan replied, “I don’t know.

Do dogs have nuts in them?” *** Just before the final exam in my college finance class, a less-than-stellar student approached the professor.

“Can you tell me what grade I would need to get on the exam to pass the course?” he asked.

She gave him the bad news. “The exam is worth 100 points. You would need 113 points to earn a D.” “OK,” he said. “And how many points would I need to get a C?”

the fiber content in them.

They help to get a sense of fullness to the stomach.

They are rich in carbohydrates and stay in the gut for a longer time. Besides being rich in fiber content, they are also rich in vitamins and other minerals.

6. Lentils: Lentils are rich in the low carbs and can very well fit in any food.

They help to be cured of the irritable bowel syndrome and besides being rich in fiber they are also rich in vitamins and proteins.

7. Nuts & Seeds: Nuts are

a great store of the nutrients. The most common forms of the nuts include cashews and apricots. The seed varieties include pumpkin seeds.

8. Broccoli: Broccoli has been hailed as the coniferous foods. It has about 90% of water so the best

way to eat it is to have it raw. This is because the process of cooking it will deprive it of its fiber content and also will form the basis for the effective relief from the bowel problems. The vitamin C content of the broccoli will also help to be immune to various diseases.

9. Greens: Green leafy vegetables like the spinach and lettuce are rich in fiber and magnesium.

Magnesium is essential for

the movement of the wastes from the body to the outside. People who do not eat green leafy vegetables are deficient of the magnesium and are said to be having muscular cramps. The fiber content in the leaves will also help in the eradication of the constipation.

10. Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes are rich in fiber and are low in sugar.

A single sweet potato has about ten grams of the

fiber content which roughly calculates to about a tenth of the total intake of the fiber content for a day.

11. Aloe Vera: Aloe vera gels can not only be used for the treatment of skin

problems and other hair problems but it has been proved that they also improve the digestive system of the body and also help in the digestive functions. To get the most out of the gel they must be collected by cutting the leaves of the aloe vera plant. The aloe vera gel can be drunk after mixing them with any juice or water.

12. Brown Rice: People refrain from eating the rice as they think that it

induces constipation which is true with white rice but is not the case with brown which is rich in fibre. A cup of brown rice has about four grams of fiber that roughly contributes to about fourteen percent of the total amount of the fiber needed in a day.

13. Oatmeal: Most people think that oats are used only for relieving from the heart problems and also for the eradication of the scars and pimples. But they are rich in fiber content. It is becoming increasingly popular nowadays. Many people eat it as a part of their breakfast. There are a variety of types of oatmeal dishes in the market nowadays.

14. Banana: The fruit is rich in fiber content. They are rich in potassium too.

The banana has been used

for ages for the eradication of the constipation. The excessive eating of the banana has led to difficulty in the bowel movements and must be eaten in moderation.

If you were to go into the gym at any number of primary schools in the UK you may see children lying on their backs, cuddling a soft toy on their tummy, making a soft ‘shhhh’ noise while breathing in and out. You can just as easily find classrooms full of children sticking their tongues out and making silly faces while loudly exhaling before knuckling down to a complicated set of fractions.

Both practices are becoming increasingly common as part of the school day as more schools introduce yoga and mindfulness classes either as part of the PE curriculum or as an optional lunchtime or afterschool club, positioning them as a nurturing and fun way for children to develop body awareness and learn tools to keep them calm, present and happy.

After doing 10 weeks of classroom yoga, a University of Massachusetts study published in 2014 showed overall improvements in primary school aged children’s social interactions with classmates, attention span, academic performance, ability to deal with stress and anxiety as well as boosting their confidence, self-esteem and overall mood. In a similar 2016 study in southern Brazil, the children themselves were the greatest advocates for the practice.

Here are just some of the recognized benefits of yoga for children (and adults): Body: - Encourages midline crossing motions; motor development on both sides of the body and develops a strong and flexible body - Increases balance, body awareness and coordination - improves posture and alignment and develops core strength all of which are essential for good posture and correct physical alignment - Reduces injuries and improves performance - Improves digestion, circulation and elimination and

helps strengthen the immune system - Relaxes the body, promoting better sleep Mind: - Calms and clears the mind, bringing us into the present moment and relieves tension and stress - Increases concentration, focus and attention span and promotes thinking and memory and stimulates auditory processing and responsiveness - Expands imagination and creativity - Reduces stress and anxiety and improves ability to be less reactive and making them more mindful of thoughts, words and actions - Balances energy (high or low) Spirit: - Builds confidence and self-esteem and supports character development and emotional intelligence - Enhances team skills and social interaction and develops discipline and self-control - Supports individuality and self-expression - Encourages social and environmental awareness and responsibility Overall: - Improves mind/body connection and encourages a fit and healthy lifestyle - Promotes an overall sense of well-being and boosts their self-confidence - A child who learns yoga, mindfulness and relaxation will be developing essential skills for a lifetime of health and wellness in mind, body and spirit.

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Anushka Shetty's brilliant performance in 'Bhaagamathie' G

‘Padmavat’

Queen Padmavati who is known for her exceptional beauty, is the wife of Maharawal Ratan Singh and pride of the kingdom of Chittor. Her legend reaches the reigning sultan of Hindustan, Allaudin Khilji, a tyrant who is fixated with wanting her. He lays siege on the impregnable fortress of Chittorgarh to claim the Queen.

Telugu super-hit set to be remade in B-Town

L

ast year's criticallyacclaimed Telugu hit 'Arjun Reddy' is all set to be remade in Hindi, and will be directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga who had made his debut with the original. The controversial film which can be described as a contemporary take on 'Devdas', revolves around love and suffering in its purest and rawest form. Amongst speculations of which Bollywood hero will play the protagonist, it has come to light that Arjun Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor are in the lead.

A media source said Shahid is more likely to land the role as Sandeep is keen to with him. A source said, “Shahid is in talks for the remake and he's most likely to bag the opportunity. He met Sandeeo recently and both of them had a very healthy conversation about joining hands. He even watched the film and was really excited about being part of its remake. However, he can't immediately start shooting because he is committed to Imtiaz Ali's film which is expected to roll from March or April. Sandeep is willing to wait till September to see if he can have Shahid on board and until then wants to keep his options open.”

Ashok's upcoming trilingual horrort h r i l l e r 'Bhaagamathie' has brought Anushka Shetty back to the limelight.

“Anushka is a brilliant actress,” the director said ahead of the film's January 26 release.

“Everything, from the set to all the other details have come out really well, which has only complimented her acting. I can proudly say that this will be the best performance of her career.”

Calling the film a “screenplay-oriented thriller”, Ashok said, “The story and the concept is very unique. Each and every technician owned the film and made it great. I prepared the script for Anushka, that is for sure. In 2012, we narrated the script to her and she liked it a lot. But she already had commitments like 'Baahubali' and 'Linga'. The dates took some time. But fortunately or unfortunately, we got

some clarity on the script and we updated it in a

Pranav Mohanlal heads to the Himalayas

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alettan's son Pranav, who has our breath on hold for his on-screen presence, has set out to the Himalayas to pursue his passion for travelling.

The actor reportedly did not stay back for the promotions of his maiden hero film 'Aadhi'.

Director Jeethu Joseph said, “Pranav is all set to head to the Himalayas.

From the onset itself, it made it clear that he won't be here for the promotions or other activities related to the film.”

Speaking about what the audience can expect, Jeethu said, “If they are going to come to the

Kamal Haasan's blockbuster film to be re-released

M

egastar Kamal Haasan's 1985 super hit 'Kakki Sattai' is currently being readied for a re-release this year. The film, like any other re-release, has been digitally restored with 5.1 DTS format

by Darwin Pictures.

Directed by Rajasekhar, the film will release all across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and overseas, in March this year.

As his yesteryear blockbuster gets a digital makeover, Haasan has a lot on his plate, with a political career to kickstart,and a collaboration with Vikram. The 63 year old has confirmed that he is joining hands with the 'Iru Murugan' star for a project. He has also reportedly wished that his daughter Akshara would be a part of the film. Rajesh Selva of 'Thoongavanam' fame will direct the movie and took to Twitter to announce Ghibran as the music composer.

better way in the time. It is not a big deal that I

waited for the film, but all the technicians too waited due to the value of the content.”

The film tells the story of an honest IAS officer Chanchala, who is forced into a haunted mansion by corrupt police officers.

However, the meek character soon turns into strong and fiery Bhaagamathie. “I have already told the story through the trailer, so there will be no interest if I reveal anything more. It is a very different film.

You will understand when you watch it,” Ashok said.

All praises for Shetty, the filmmaker said no one could have pulled off the role better than Shetty.

“First of all, she was very keen on getting the graph of the character. Only after getting the clarity will she act. Her dedications is something I have never seen. Moreover, if we have to depict a queen on the screen, nobody else but Anushka will come to mind.”

theatres expecting a film heavy on action, they are setting themselves up to be disappointed. The action in the film is very realistic; not the usual stunts that you would associate with a 'mass film'. The movie also revolves around a family and has those emotions which form the core of the movie.”

“I think even Steven Spielberg would say that he wanted to do more with his movie. But I believe 'Aadhi' has turned out to be a good film. We have done whatever we could within our limitations,” he added.

Anjali, Athulya to play female leads in 'Naadodigal 2'

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irector Samuthirakani's upcoming, Sasikumar-starrer 'Naadodigal 2' has roped in Anjali to play the female lead. Not a sequel to the first film, Samu said it will be a completely different story.

“This one will have the flavour of 'Naadodigal', but it is a completely different story. Like that film, this one too is set in a town and will talk about love and friendship. It will also touch upon the issue of caste,” he said.

“This might sound cliched, but both Anjali and Sasikumar have such strong roles that either of the two could be contenders for the National Award,” Samu said.

Also part of the cast are Bharani and Namo Narayanan, both who were part of the first film, and young and talented Athulya Ravi, who will play a crucial role. “The story's focus is not on who is paired opposite whom, but on each of these characters, and how they become linked. I usually take inspiration for my characters from the society, and these characters, too, will be closer to real life. They will be representative of contemporary youngsters,” he said.

Music for the film will be rendered by Justin Prabhakaran of 'Oru Naal Koothu' fame.

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29

Sunny Leone

Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

'Dhadak' release postponed, two star to get own wax statue in debuts on hold

Madame Tussauds

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'G

ith a massive fan following to boast of, actress Sunny Leone is all set to join the ranks of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and other actors immortalised at the Madame Tussauds wax museum. Sharing the exciting news, Leone said, “So excited to see myself at the Delhi @madametussaudsdelhi Trying to find the exact color match of my eyes…such an amazing process!!” A team from Madame Tussaud's London flew down to Mumbai to take specific measurements and photos of the actress in order to make the lifesized figured.

Leone remarked, “I am thrilled and grateful to

Madame Tussaud’s for creating my figure.

Having my own wax figure is completely overwhelming. This is the first time I have undergone a sitting, and I must thank the entire team for making it a unique and memorable experience. I am equally excited to see ‘me’ at the attraction and can’t wait for the fans reaction later this year.”

Madame Tussauds has attractions in London, Hollywood, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore, Wuhan, Blackpool UK, Sydney, Nashville, and Delhi.

days in Swat Valley to her becoming the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Major part of the film has already been shot in Bhuj and Mumbai and we are here in Kashmir to shoot the last leg of the movie,”

Khan said. He added that the film aims to capture Malala's spirit, her fight, and also the reality and suffering of the people of Pakistan.

Surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban in 2012, Malala and her family moved to England.

At the age of 17, Yousafzai became the youngest person to win the prestigious award.

She founded the Malala Fund, a non-profit organisation and authored 'I am Malala' in 2013. She continues to advocate for education.

and prevent any untoward incident during the screen of the film after permission has been granted by the CBFC. A day after it lifted a four-state ban, the SC was yet again petitioned for a

ban by a lawyer called Manohar Lal Sharma.

He said the Censor Board clearance to the film was “illegal” and that the release of the movie may create law and order problems.

The court refused to entertain yet another plea against the movie, saying that its the court's job to “function as a constitutional court”, which it did with its decision. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, said, “The court has to function as a constitutional court and it has already in its interim order said that states can't block a movie from screening.”

Malala biopic shot in Kashmir

ul Makai', a film based on the life of teen activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, is being shot in the Ganderbal district of Kashmir.

Directed by Amjad Khan, Reem Shaikh will play the character of 20 year old Malala. The cast also includes Divya Dutta, Mukesh Rishi, Abhimanyu Singh, and Ajaz Khan.

The actors have been shooting in the valley since earlier this year. The film also casts around 150 local artists of Kashmir.

Produced by Anand Kumar under the banner of R e n a i s s a n c e Entertainment Pvt Ltd., the film is scheduled to release in July this year.

“The film chronicles the journey of Malala from her

O

ne of the highlyanticipated debut films of the year, release of Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter's 'Dhadak' has been postponed. Earlier slated to release on 6th July, it has now been moved to July 20. The news was shared by the film producer Karan Jogar, who wrote, “Six months to Dhadak #dhadak releasing 20th JULY 2018! Directed by @ShashankKhaitan and PRESENTING #Janhvi and #Ishaan @DharmaMovies @ZeeStudios_@apoorvamehta18.”

He made the announcement along with a beautiful poster of the film. Inspired by Marathi blockbuster 'Sairat', the movie is a love story between an upper caste

girl and a guy from a lower caste. Director Shashank Khaitan, of 'Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania' fame, have called the two young stars-in-the-making, very hardworking.

“Janhvi and Ishaan are great people and are very hardworking. These are the two things that I always look for in actors.”

Khaitan also clarified that the basic premise of his film and the Marathi hit is the same, but the setting is different. “The basic premise is same. But there are variations. My story is based on another set up. It is in Rajasthan.

It comes with its own challenges, conflicts and style of a love story. We are adapting 'Sairat' into the world that we want to.”

PeeCee spotted kissing co-star!

Karni Sena points fingers at CBFC chief

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ajasthan's Shri Rajput Karni Sena has pulled daggers against chief of the Central Board of Film Certification chief Prasoon Joshi, saying he will “not be allowed to enter Rajasthan”.

The group leader Sukhdev Singh blamed Joshi of misguiding the Supreme Court, which has ordered to stay the ban on the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Padmava' in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

Singh said, “We have not received the SC's decision as yet but as soon as we get it, we will go to the President. The court does not give a hearing date

before six months, I wonder how Joshi got the date within 12 hours. I am sure he has misled the court.”

In an interim order, the SC said all states are constitutionally obliged to maintain law and order

P

riyanka Chopra who is currently in New York shooting for her American television drama series 'Quantico', has been spotted passionately kissing her hunky co-star Alan Powell. Wearing a black gown with a thigh-high front slit and furry coat to go with it, the actress looked gorgeous and different with a sultry expression and wild curly mane. Much to the delight of her loyal fan group, the actress was seen kissing the dreamy actor on the cold streets

of NYC. Before you let your imaginations run wild, the two were shooting for a scene and the steaming liplock while raising temperatures, is strictly for the series. Just a couple of days back, the actress had given a sneak peek into the Versace number.

Priyanka plays FBIturned-CIA agent Alex Parrish and is headlining 'Quantico' since 2015.

The show, also starring Jake McLaughlin, Johanna Braddy, and Aunjanue Ellis, will premiere on April 26, 2018.

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UK

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Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

NCGOUK to discuss domestic violence

Mandir, in Sudbury, Wembley.

Renown speakers will be providing their support services at the event.

Admission is free and is open to both men and women. However, you must register your attender by 2nd February in order for your place to be confirmed.

For more information, visit: www.ncgouk.com

National Congress of Gujarati Organisations UK is holding an event where you are invited to discuss the topic of domestic violence against men and women. Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar are the media partners for this event.

The event will be held on Saturday 10th February, from 3pm- 5pm, at Shree Jalaram Jyot

NHWS seminar on child grooming

If your child has a good joke, poem or any suggestions they would like to share please email us with the name, age and school.

Email:- support@abplgroup.com

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

on what is “Life is like Camera you focus develop from es, tim d important, capture the goo work out, not do gs thin if and e the negativ t” sho take another

Facts You Didn't know about different countries

l Culturally, economically, climatically, racially, ethnically and

religiously, put together, India is the most diverse country in the world.

l Nauru is the fattest country in the world with 95% of its population overweight.

l With 50% of its population completing post-secondary school

education, Canada is the most educated country in the world.a

are being entrapped and groomed, and how one can help save a child from such scenarios.

The seminar in Walsall will be held at Shree Ram Mandir Community Hall, Walsall, at 10:30am- 1pm.

The seminar in Birmingham at Shree Geeta Bhawan Mandir, Handsworth, Birmingham, at 2:30pm to 5pm.

For more information, email: info.nhws@gmail.com

National Hindu Welfare Support will be hosting an interactive discussion that could save a young life, in the regions of Walsall and Birmingham on Saturday 17th February.

The free awareness seminar will touch on how to protect our children and the youth from grooming and entrapment. The reason behind this event is to make the community aware of how young children, as well as the youth,

l With 25% of the world's forest cover, Russia produces the most amount of Oxygen.

GERMAN DANISH IRISH HINDI ENGLISH SPANISH FRENCH CHINESE ARABIC

London, City banks, Westfield shopping centres, the Parliament, as well as London Heathrow Airport. It is also alleged that he spoke about attacking Shia Muslims, foreign embassies, English Defence League (EDL), and “media stations”.

Haque is accused of plotting barbaric attacks inspired by Islamic State, and also of enticing children into terrorism through videos and roleplay.

The trial continues.

Sneh Joshi

GW E DG B E E D S

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Experiment of the week

Invisible writing Experiment:Ingredients you want:Half a lemon Water Spoon Bowl Cotton bud White paper Lamp or other light bulb

INSTRUCTIONS Squeeze some lemon juice into the bowl and add a few drops of water.

Mix the water and lemon juice with the spoon.

Dip the cotton bud into the mixture and write a message onto the white paper.

Wait for the juice to dry so it becomes completely invisible.

When you are ready to read your secret message or show it to someone else, heat the paper by holding it close to a light bulb.

Task To Do For This Week

Easily Create & Design Your Family tree Family Outline

Joke of the week

1 Little Sam [on phone]: My Son is having High fever and he won't be able to come to school today.

Teacher: Who is this?

Little Sam: This is my Father speaking.

2 One Day teacher asked Sam that did his Father help him with is homework Sam simply said that” No, he did it all by himself”!

Sudoku Answer Edition 6

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The UK’s leading Vedic writer and TV personality

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 The total lunar eclipse on the 31st

falls in the solar axis of 5 and 11 in your chart, affecting your investments, friendships, children and romantic relationships. This could manifest, as a romantic proclamation from a lover, a creative project coming to its own conclusions, or your child revealing something significant to you. Be selective who you call your friends.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 It seems that the winds of change begin to gather momentum, with the lunar eclipse on the 31st. The Lunar eclipse falls in your solar 4th and 10th houses, focusing on your home and work issues. You need to strike the right balance between the two, if you want peace and harmony. Work out where you can make changes in your career path so that you can spend quality time at home.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 The Lunar eclipse on the 31st highlights your solar 3rd and 9th houses of communication, travel and spiritual knowledge. Surprises surrounding your siblings, neighbours, or communications are in store. Something that has been brewing for while comes to light which needs to be dealt with. A flurry of activity in your immediate environment requires attention.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

LANGUAGES WORD SEARCH

Sudoku Edition 7

Religious teacher enticed boys to join “death squad” A court heard that 25year-old religious teacher, Umar Haque allegedly brainwashed boys and encouraged them to join his “death squad” as he allegedly planned a terror attack on Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben and the “Queen's guard”.

The Old Bailey was informed that Haque, the administrator of Ripple Road Mosque in Barking, East London led evening classes for boys as young as 11. It is alleged that he discussed attacking the police, Transport for

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

The Lunar eclipse on the 31st falls in your financial axis of solar 2nd and 8th houses, highlighting wills, legacies, taxes and joint resources. You need to re-assess your future with this in mind. Be careful with your expenditure as you have a tendency to be extravagant. You may find that you can enrich your lifestyle by simplifying your priorities.

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The Lunar eclipse on the 31st falls in your solar 1st and 7th houses. The focus will be on yourself and your relationships. Your sector of personal appearance, initiative, and "me first" energy is involved. You will continue to be in a restless mood for some time to come. You are likely to experience some tension in close relationships. Use tact and diplomacy to smooth any ruffled feathers.

This Lunar Eclipse on the 31st activates your solar ninth house. Matters of personal philosophy, faith, travel, and the higher mind may be in store. This could manifest, for example, as a surprising adventure that takes you beyond your normal routine, a sudden opportunity to travel or for higher learning, and other such possibilities. You will also be in great demand socially, mixing with like-minded people.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 This Lunar Eclipse on the 31st stimulates your solar eleventh house. This surrounds your long-term goals, friendships, and group affiliations. This could test a friendship, or a friend may experience a little crisis and ask for your help. You could suddenly find yourself amongst people through no choice of your own. Once you set your mind on a goal you stay the course no matter what obstacles you encounter.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 The Lunar Eclipse on the 31st activates your solar seventh house. There will be a lot of things that need to be dealt with regarding partnerships and relationships. There are decisions to be made if something that has been bothering you and comes to light. Whatever you decide now, will impact your future.

Focus on essentials and establish a solid foundation, so that you feel secure in every sense.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

This Lunar Eclipse on the 31st stimulates your solar twelfth house. This part of your life is about the compassionate care and attention you give others - self-undoing, privacy, and dreams are involved. Finding a balance between practical concerns and spiritual or non-material matters is what this Lunar Eclipse is about for you. Your health matters are also to the fore.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

This Lunar Eclipse on the 31st stimulates your solar tenth house. Surprising issues surrounding career and reputation may surface - this could manifest, for example, as a career change or challenge that you didn't expect, a new promotion or career direction dropped into your lap, and other such possibilities. . You need to strike the right balance between the two, if you want peace and harmony.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 The Lunar Eclipse on the 31st activates your solar eighth house. Issues surrounding intimate matters, joint finances and resources, or financial support may be in store. This could manifest as, for example, the paying off of a loan, the loss of financial support, a change in your spouse's status and other such possibilities. Do not allow your emotions to cloud your judgement when making financial decisions.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

The Lunar Eclipse on the 31st stimulates your solar sixth house. Surprises surrounding work, daily routines, or health issues are in store. You can use this surge of emotional energy to improve your exercise or nutrition program that you've been thinking of. There is much to suggest that you are in touch with those hidden forces which often seem to take a guiding hand in one's life.

SPORT

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INDIA BEAT PAK, RETAIN BLIND WC TITLE

Sunil Ramesh slammed a superb 93 as India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by two wickets in a thrilling summit clash to retain the Blind Cricket World Cup title at Sharjah on Saturday.

Batting first, Pakistan amassed 307 for eight in 40 overs, courtesy some useful contribution by Badar Munir (57), Risayat Khan (48) and captain Nisar Ali (47).

For India, Deepak Malik and Rambir took two wickets, while Sunil Ramesh snapped one. Ramesh then blasted a scintillating 93 runs in 67 balls and skipper Ajay Reddy scored 62 in 60 balls as India overhauled the target with an over to spare to retain the trophy that they had won in 2014 after beating the same opponents at Cape Town,

South Africa.

Chasing the target, Prakash and Venkatesh opened in grand style and gave a flying start. They managed the scoring rate at 10 per over. Venkatesh scored 35 in 32 balls, while Prakash scored 44 in 42 balls.

India struggled in the final stages of their run chase as Pakistan claimed three successive wickets to

gain an upper hand over their arch-rivals. However, a wide delivery rolled on to the boundary and the pendulum swung back in India's favour. India had beaten Pakistan on January 13 in the group stage. The defending champions had beaten Bangladesh by seven wickets in the semi-final.

Accolades poured in for the Indian team with Prime Minister Narendra Modi

also congratulating the team for their achievement.

“Congratulations to our cricket team for winning the 2018 Blind Cricket World Cup! They make the nation proud and inspire every Indian with their game as well as phenomenal attitude. True champions!,” Modi wrote on his twitter handle.

Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also heaped praise on the team.

“What a win by # T e a m I n d i a .

Congratulations on winning #BlindCricketWorldCup,” he wrote.

Former India batsman VVS Laxman wrote: “Congratulations to each and every member of the Indian team for winning the #BlindCricketWorldCup.”

India lose second test and series All the pep talk, previous records and statistics have gone in vain as India have not only lost the second Test but also the Test series against South Africa in a lopsided manner. There was not much change in the script for the number one ranked India who once again failed to break the famous South African jinx despite a ‘favourable’ brown strip in Centurion. Debutant Lungi Ngidi played the role of chief tormentor to hand India a 135-run drubbing in the second Test at SuperSport Park.

After the 72-run loss in the opening Test, the margin got bigger in the second Test as the visitors handed the home side a 20 lead in the three-match series. Rohit Sharma's 47 was the lone noteworthy contribution in a chase of 287, which was a tall task from the beginning given the unpredictable bounce of the pitch. The visiting team folded for 151 in 50.2 overs, never really offering a fight.

The role of the toporder becomes highly important particularly in the longer format when a team depends on the top three to give them a good platform. Coming off from a splendid season at home – Murali Vijay, KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara simply failed to put their best foot forward on the testing strips in South Africa. In both the Test matches – Cape Town and Centurion, the famed names of the Indian batting unit fell like a pack of cards against some quality fast bowling from the hosts. Captain Virat Kohli also made a slight change

in the opening combination after losing the first Test as he included Rahul in place of Shikhar Dhawan. But, it didn’t change the outcome as the opening combination failed miserably to add to the list of woes for the visitors. Also, Pujara who was the second highest rungetter in 2017 (behind Steve Smith) also become a point of worry for the visitors. He got the start in Newlands in the first innings but failed in the second.

Costly drops and lethargic fielding Speaking at the postmatch conference, Indian

team skipper Virat Kohli quipped: “As a team, you want to win collectively.

We tried but we weren't good enough.

South Africa were better than us, especially in the fielding department, and that's why they are the winners. And they deserve to be."

This statement from the captain of a young side whose fielding standards have been ‘world-class’ in the last few years have certainly raised a few eyebrows. “Catches win matches” – this quote weighs in gold particularly for the visiting team, if we look at the highlights package of the last two Tests. Known for their athletic and brilliant field work, Team India came out with greasy hands in both the matches and dropped crucial catches.

From Virat Kohli to Parthiv Patel, Mohammed Shami to Hardik Pandya – everybody missed the chances which could have made an impact in the outcome of the series.

Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

Mumbai Marathon: Deksisa, Gobena take top honours

Solomon Deksisa

the motionless ball and threw it to West Indies wicketkeeper and captain Emmanuel Stewart, who then appealed.

The on-field officials consulted the third umpire before Pillay was adjudged dismissed as per Law 37.4 of the MCC rules. The South Africa opener was thus unlucky to miss out on what would have been a well-deserved half-century as he scored a steady 47 off 51 balls, but the dismissal sparked a huge controversy with even South African

captain Faf Du Plessis calling Windies captain's decision to appeal "an absolute joke" and certainly "not in the spirit of the game. "This is an absolute joke ... not in the spirit of the game. I have done this almost a 100 times," du Plessis tweeted.

However, former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson had a different take on the issue. "Maybe you should stop doing it.

Whether we like or not, it's law in the game. As for spirit of the game, the players didn't do anything wrong

right? #healthydebate," said Johnson to Du Plessis on social media.

Former Australia player Lisa Sthalekar and ex-West Indies pacer Ian Biship, who're both commentators now, too were quick to show their displeasure at the incident. "Can't believe what I am seeing @ICC #U19WorldCup," she tweeted. "WI appealed for handling the ball. The ball had stopped rolling & the player picked it up."

"This is an unfortunate issue," Bishop said. "The

Amane Gobena

Solomon Deksisa and Amane Gobena lived up to their billing as the fastest athletes in the elite men's and women's field respectively as the Ethiopian pair galloped to victory in the 2018 Tata Mumbai Marathon on Sunday. Deksisa crossed the tape in 2:09:34, almost a full minute short of Gideon Kipketer's course record (2:08:35) and even further behind the 2:06 mark he had sounded confident about completing the race in a couple of days earlier.

But the 23-year-old, who had to endure some anxious moments on the final stretch thanks to compatriot Shumet Akalnaw's late charge, was still a contented man, this being his first ever win in a marathon.

Akalnaw emerged a surprise runner-up, having started the run with the 16th fastest time among the elite men, but managing to set a new personal best mark of 2:10. Kenyan Joshua Kipkorir, last year's runner-up, was in the mix between the 28 and 34km mark before 'pain in his stomach' effectively ended his challenge and left him crossing the finish thirty seconds after Akalnaw in third.

Like Deksisa, Gobena too had fancied her chances of victory in Mumbai and the 35-year-old finished her maiden marathon here in 2:25:49. The near three-minute gap between Gobena and Bornes Kitur (2:28:48), the defending champion from Kenya, was an indication of how dominant a run this was from the Ethiopian, a veteran marathon runner.

Gobena's compatriot and friend Shuko Genemo, who had scripted an authoritative win of her own in 2016, appeared to struggle in the warmer conditions that prevailed on this occasion and settled for third (2:29:41).

The men's race expectedly got off to a quick start, with the runners possibly aiming to make the most of the conditions over the first 10km before the sun began to make its presence felt once the leading pack approached the sea link. The pacesetters, though, were apparently struggling to live up to the expectations of the runners as 11 men crossed the halfway mark in 64:28 - 30 seconds slower than the time requested by the latter.

Akalnaw and Kipkorir both made their displeasure known. "The problem was the pacemakers. They did not want to push, I had to tell them to push," said Kipkorir. "One dropped around the 15km, then 25k, another one dropped. So I tried to make the race quicker."

Controversy erupts at U-19 World Cup A major controversy erupted during the ongoing ICC U-19 World Cup in New Zealand when South African opener Jiveshan Pillay was given out for obstructing the field of play after he handed the ball back to the West Indies wicketkeeper during their Group A match at Mount Maunganui. The incident took place during the 17th over of the South African innings when Pillay stopped the ball from going on to hit the stumps. He then immediately picked up

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batsman isn't trying to gain an advantage. He is not trying to being unfair. The umpires have done what they need to do. The ball has stopped. It's not threatening the stumps. I don't necessarily feel as if that's a good law. It could take a relook. The batsman is not trying to gain an unfair advantage," he said.

Obstructing the field has always been a controversial rule in cricket even as the rule book is quite clear on the definition. The rule in question, however,

justifies that the decision should have been 'Out'.

According to Law 37.4 (Returning the ball to a fielder), "Either batsman is out Obstructing the field if, at any time while the ball is in play and, without the consent of a fielder, he/she uses the bat or any part of his/her person to return the ball to any fielder." As per the new law, introduced last year, handling the ball rule applies before the striker has "finished playing the ball", while obstructing the field applies afterwards.

Stewart later said that on reflection, he'd have withdrawn the appeal.

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Asian Voice | 27th January 2018

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ENGLAND WIN ODI SERIES AGAINST AUSTRALIA

England beat Australia by 16 runs in the third one day international (ODI) at the Sydney Cricket Ground to clinch their five-game series with two games to spare and hand the world champions their first ODI series defeat at home since 2010. After being thumped 4-0 in the Ashes test series, England’s limitedovers players produced a stunning turnaround to beat the Australians three times in a week, outplaying the home team both when chasing and defending big totals. Needing to win Sunday’s match to keep the series alive, Australia brought their best fast bowlers together for the first time since the Ashes but it was to no avail as England’s middle-order pounded Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins at the death to post an imposing total of 302 for six.

Jos Buttler hit two runs off the final ball to complete his first ODI century against Australia after sharing an unbroken 113-run partnership with Chris Woakes that proved the difference between the sides. “Jos was probably the difference between the sides. On a twopaced wicket, he paced it to perfection, played the anchor until about five or six overs

U-19 world cup: India face Bangladesh in quarters India will face Bangladesh in the ICC U-19 World Cup quarterfinals after the neighbouring nation qualified for the Super League following England's massive 282-run win over Canada in a Group C match. England, who completed the league with three wins to top the group, will play Australia in the Super League quarterfinals on January 23 while Bangladesh, who defeated Canada and Namibia, will take on India on January 26. In other matches, New Zealand defeated South Africa by 71runs to top Group A, in which the Windies won their first match as they drubbed Kenya by 222 runs, while Ireland pulled off a thrilling four-run victory to deny Afghanistan a top place finish in group D. In the Super League quarterfinals, New Zealand play Afghanistan while South Africa will run into two-time champions Pakistan.

out,” England captain Eoin Morgan said.

“This is one of the best wins from this group. With our bowling efforts, everybody was required to give a bit extra and everyone did.

With the ball we were outstanding.” The tourists had looked to be in trouble after slumping to 189-6 in the 39th over but rebounded in spectacular fashion with Buttler belting six boundaries and four sixes to finish 100 not out from just 83 balls, while Woakes chipped in with five fours and cleared the rope twice to remain unbeaten on 53 off only 36 deliveries.

The Australians did not help themselves in the field, bowling 13 wides and drop-

ping three catches, including one off Buttler when he was on 70. Australia’s reply began poorly when Dave Warner and Cameron White both went cheaply but Steve Smith’s men were thrown an unexpected lifeline when England paceman Liam Plunkett pulled a hamstring in his second over and was forced off the field, leaving the tourists a bowler short.

Most of the Australians made starts but none was able to go on and post a big total to match Buttler’s electrifying rate and they finished on 2866.

Aaron Finch, who made centuries in each of the first two matches, top scored with 62, while Marcus Stoinis (56)

and Mitchell Marsh (55) also made half-centuries after Smith was controversially given out for 45 when caught behind by Buttler although replays were inconclusive as to whether the ball had carried through.

“Disappointing tonight,” a rueful Smith said. “I thought the way we bowled in the first 45 overs was good, but Jos played exceptionally well, Woakesy too, but we bowled poorly at the end, can’t do that to a guy like Jos. “We were chasing probably 30 too many, batted well but not enough to get over the line.

Our one-day cricket hasn’t been up to scratch, we’ve got to find ways to win against quality opposition.”

India to host Afghanistan in inaugural test

Carrying on with its tradition of introducing nations toTest cricket, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) will host Afghanistan’s inaugural Test match from June 14 to 18 in Bengaluru. “India has good diplomatic relations with Afghanistan for a long time. We thought it was fitting that we host their landmark Test. We selected Bengaluru because other parts of India are either too hot or will witness monsoons during that period. We expect a lot of VIPs to attend the match. It’s an extension of what the board did when SouthAfrica re-entered the international scene in 1991,” BCCI’S acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said.

India had also played Bangladesh’s first Test in October 2000. In addition to hosting Afghanistan’s big match, the board has also extended an offer to provide a venue for the Afghan team to use as their home ground.

Afghanistan practised in Greater Noida a couple of years ago before shifting base to UAE. “We must thank BCCI for giving us this opportunity to

Virat Kohli named ICC Cricketer of the Year Though Indian cricket has suffered a debacle by losing the second test and the series against South Africa, captain Virat Kohli has something to cheer about. He was named the ICC Cricketer of the Year.

He was also named the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year and captain of both Virat Kohli ICC Test and ODI teams.

During the qualification period from September 21, 2016 to the end of 2017, Kohli scored 2,203 Test runs at an average of 77.80, including eight centuries and 1,818 ODI runs, including seven centuries at an average of 82.63 runs.

Kohli overtakes former Australian captain Ricky Ponting to second place in the all-time ODI centurion list with his 31st hundred that came against New Zealand in Mumbai in October last year. During the course of his 32nd ODI century, again against New Zealand in Kanpur, Kohli became the fastest batsman to score 9,000 ODI runs and the most successful captain in an ODI year, surpassing Ponting.

Kohli regained the No 1 spot on the ICC rankings for ODI batsmen with 889 rating points, the best ever by an Indian cricketer.

Ben Stokes charged over Bristol pub incident England all-rounder Ben Stokes has been charged with affray by prosecutors regarding his alleged involvement in an incident outside a nightclub in September, prosecutors said. The confrontation left a man with a fractured eye socket and saw Stokes suspended from internaBen Stokes tional cricket until "further notice" by the England and Wales Cricket Board, meaning he missed the Ashes series in Australia. Confirming the criminal charge, a spokesperson for England's Crown Prosecution Service said: "The CPS was passed a file of evidence by Avon and Somerset Police on 29 November in relation to an incident of disorder in Bristol city centre. Further material was subsequently received in late December. Following a review of all the available evidence, the CPS has today authorised the police to charge three men with affray in connection with the incident. Ben Stokes, 26, Ryan Ali, 28, and Ryan Hale, 26, are all due to appear before Bristol Magistrates' Court on a date to be fixed in relation to this charge."

Koreas to form unified ice hockey team

play our inaugural Test. We respect their busy schedule and I am sure the fans of Afghanistan team will travel to Bengaluru to watch the game,” said Afghanistan Cricket Board’s CEO Ashfaq Stanikzai. “The conditions in India suit us more than those in UAE,” he added. It is learnt that the Afghan officials will visit a few venues to finalise their ‘home ground’.

Afghanistan’s rise in

world cricket has been exciting in the last couple of years. While leg-spinner Rashid Khan has grown in stature in various T20 leagues across the world, the U-19 team has also been taking big strides. “We have started our first-class tournament in late 2017. We have been consistent performers in ICC intercontinental tournaments. It’s a pity that we can’t practice in our own country.

The two Koreas agreed during rare talks to form a combined women's ice hockey team to take part in next month's Winter Olympics in the South, and march together under a unified peninsula flag at the opening ceremony, a joint statement released by Seoul's unification ministry said. North Korea will send a 550-member delegation, including 230 cheerleaders, 140 artists and 30 Taekwondo players for a demonstration, the statement said.

The delegation is scheduled to begin arriving in South Korea on Jan. 25, the statement said. Reclusive North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North regularly threatens to destroy the South, Japan and their major ally, the United States.