AV 27th January 2024

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE Barriers faced by Black and Asian business leaders highlighted

Indian student enrollment in Canada drops by 86% amid political dispute

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British Asians exhibit a concerning proportion of antibiotic-resistant infections

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India's Republic Day- A fusion of military might and economic resilience

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

THE LONG-AWAITED

HOMECOMING

VOL 52 - ISSUE 37

10 Downing Street hosts Thai Pongal reception for British Tamils

500-year-long ‘vanvas’ ends in Ayodhya; Lord Ram is finally home Subhasini Naicker

After 500 years, on 22 January 2024, a historic day unfolded in India, garnering global attention as the city of Ayodhya hosted the consecration ceremony for the new Ram Temple.

The day marked the celebration of Ram’s true homecoming in the magnificent Ram Mandir that has come to life after five centuries of being historically demolished by Mughal emperors, only to be found again in the form of a Ram idol buried beneath the land of Babri Masjid.

The British Tamil community and other guests outside 10 Downing Street

Rupanjana Dutta

PM Modi at the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Shree Ram Janmaboomi Temple in Ayodhya

Continued on page 16

10 Downing Street organised a community reception to celebrate Thai Pongal, second year in a row, as people from the community in beautiful traditional silk sarees and veshtis (Tamil dhoti) braved the -8 degrees Centigrade temperature in London, to queue to get in.

Thai Pongal is the harvest festival celebrated by Tamils in correspondence with Makara Shankranti.

The harvest festival is named after the ceremonial "Pongal", which means "to boil over or overflow" and refers to a traditional dish prepared by the Tamils, marking the end of winter solstice.

Continued on page 08

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Telangana means business, says CM Revanth Reddy during his maiden visit to London

Police abandoned children to Rochdale grooming gangs, report finds Credit: World Economic Forum / Faruk Pinjo

A report published about Operation Span and nonrecent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale has revealed that girls were exposed to paedophile grooming gangs for years due to failures by senior police and council officials, covering the period from 2004 to 2013.

The review highlights multiple unsuccessful investigations by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and underscores Andy Burnham the apparent indifference of Chief Constable Stephen Watson happened that we can be sure of bringing the local authorities to the plight of numerous whole system culture change needed when it youngsters identified as potential victims of comes to protecting children from abuse.”

Asian men. . The report also identifies 96 He also added that, “I have asked Greater men still considered a potential risk to chilManchester Police and Rochdale Council to dren, but notes this is only a portion of those ensure that every possible action is taken to involved in the abuse. follow up any leads arising from this report GMP has issued an apology and emphaand to pursue any potential perpetrators.” sised that such cases are now handled differThe mayor has additionally called for ently. Chief Constable Stephen Watson disciplinary action against police officers, expressed profound regret over the failure council officials, and some prosecutors who and issued an apology to the victims let "failed in their duties", while praising down by Greater Manchester Police. He said: whistleblowers, including health worker “One of the primary responsibilities of the Sara Rowbotham and former GMP detective police is to protect the vulnerable from cruel Maggie Oliver, for raising concerns despite and the predatory and, in this regard, we facing criticism from authorities. The report, failed you. focusing on 111 cases in Rochdale from 2004 “GMP failed to heed the voices of those to 2013, reveals compelling evidence of who were speaking on behalf of victims and widespread organised sexual exploitation of who were pointing to the inadequacy of the children, failure by statutory agencies to organisational response.” respond appropriately, and serious deficienIn response to the report, Mayor of cies in protecting the children involved.

Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: The report concludes that the threat of “This report is hard to read. It gives a child sexual exploitation was not addressed detailed and distressing account of how between 2004 and 2007, and the issue was a many young people were so seriously failed. low priority and under-resourced by GMP. That said, it fulfils the purpose of why I set The concerns raised by Rowbotham and up this review in the first place. It is only by Oliver were substantiated. facing up fully and unflinchingly to what

Telangana Chief Minister A.Revanth Reddy undertook a study-cum-business tour to London. In the business round table at India House, Mr Reddy hinted that two of the world’s biggest electric vehicle manufacturers, Tesla and BYD may soon go to Hyderabad. The state is in active communication with these companies.

In the presence of a select audience at the High Commission of India in London, Mr Reddy proclaimed, “Telangana means business. I am trying to make the state the best business-friendly in the world. My purpose for the London visit is to focus on the sectors of Pharma-Life science, Green Tech, Renewable energy, Emerging Technologies, Electronics and Electrical Vehicle. We are working on Mega Master Plan 2050, which aims to achieve industrial growth in the entire Telangana State by 2050.

“We are aiming that soon Hyderabad could become the Hub of AI, Green energy and Electrical Vehicle. I am also working to develop Medical Tourism in Rural areas so that Telangana can be a Global Medical Destination. To ease the procedure, I will appoint escort officers for every department and sector. Our competition is not with our neighbour states but with the world.”

High Commissioner of India to the UK H.E. Vikram Doraiswami said, “Hyderabad is India’s greatest success story. It’s a vibrant city, a hub of knowledge and sports. It is well-known that Hyderabad is one of the most sought-after destinations for foreign multinationals looking to set up a base in India.”

Musi River to be reinvigorated taking inspiration from the Thames

Britain’s “strictest headteacher” fights prayer ban for unity Katharine Birbalsingh, known pupil, claiming disas Britain's "strictest headcrimination. teacher," has expressed conBirbalsingh and her cern that lifting the ban on teaching staff are prayer at Michaela reportedly "nervous Community School in but hopeful" about the Wembley could cause despair legal outcome. She among many parents and chilhighlighted the school's dren. She emphasised her efforts to ensure that commitment to not dividing children from diverse children based on race or relibackgrounds mix, statgion. ing that allowing separation for prayer during The ban on prayer rituals lunchtime would was implemented in response impact the school's to violence, intimidation, and ethos. She expressed racial harassment against Katharine Birbalsingh concern about the teachers in March of the previpotential division of students based on race ous year, restoring calm and order. A legal and religion, explaining that the school challenge to the ban has been initiated by a actively encourages children to bridge those divides.

During an interview on Times Radio, she stated, "I do not want to divide children according to race and religion.

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CM Reddy held three-hour discussions with representatives and specialists from the Port of London Authority, the main organisation that oversees the Thames River. He discussed his plans to revitalise the Musi River. His visit to London was aimed at learning about the management of the river Thames, understanding and gathering insights from its management and collating best practices.

"Strengthening democracy imperative to solve world problems” Chief Minister Reddy stressed that

strengthening democracy was only imperative to solve the problems plaguing the world. Addressing the House of Commons meeting room, he said the world was facing many challenges, including war, terrorism, violence, denial of rights, and assault on democracy. The problems are numerous but the answer is one – empowering people through democracy”.

Labour MP Virendra Sharma, representing Ealing, Southall constituency hosted the meeting and seven other British MPs attended the meeting.

"Congress is ready to dig a 100-meter-deep grave to bury the BRS party" In the event of the London-based Telangana NRI community, Revanth Reddy said, “Congress is ready to dig a 100-meterdeep grave to bury the BRS party by defeating it in the ensuing Parliament elections.

He said the BRS leaders continue to be arrogant despite people rejecting them in the State Assembly elections in 2023. BRS will be nowhere in the Parliament elections and its flag will vanish soon.

Meeting with Owaisi sparks speculations

The meeting between Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) floor leader in the state assembly, Akbaruddin Owaisi, in London on 19 January sparked speculations in political circles ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The Telangana government released a photograph of Revanth Reddy and Akbaruddin Owaisi visiting the London Shard, to study the Thames River. Later, Owaisi shared a video clip showing him with the chief minister observing the presentation on ‘The Musi River Rejuvenation.’

Edwardian Group sells 10 hotels to Starwood Renowned British Asian strong trading across the hotelier, Jasminder Singh portfolio, this sale repreOBE, has finalised the sale sents an opportunity to of 10 properties, including refocus the group and Radisson Blu Edwardian position it for its next establishments in central chapter.

London, to Starwood “Our three landmark Capital. The transaction is properties – The estimated to be valued at Londoner, The May Fair around £800 million.

Hotel, and The Edwardian Jasminder Singh OBE Manchester – are perfect During the transitional showcases of our vision for the future, and phase, the Starwood Capital group is set to we remain committed to investing in and manage the entire portfolio. The deal delivering distinctive experiences for guests includes the retention and ongoing operain high-end, purpose-built, city-centre tion of The Londoner, along with two hotels.”

Radisson Collection hotels—The May Fair Jasminder Singh OBE initiated his career and The Edwardian Manchester. Although a in the hospitality industry in 1977, and since Bloomberg report suggests the acquisition's then, the Edwardian Group has played a pivcost is approximately £800 million, official otal role in actively overseeing and expandconfirmation is still pending. ing its hospitality portfolio. This strategic Inderneel Singh, CEO of Edwardian approach laid the groundwork for the estabGroup, said, “Following the successful lishment of Edwardian Hotels London. launch of The Londoner and a period of

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Education should be independent of the jingoism of faith Last week the UK’s health secretary Victoria Atkins was full of praise for British Tamils at the Prime Minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street, stating the UK “will always stand by your side to promote justice, accountability, and reconciliation” during a Thai Pongal celebration. This was just one testimonial to the fact that Britain has come a long way in embracing multiculturalism.

During the Ugandan expulsion in the 1960s and 70s and on many other occasions when foreigners arrived in the UK, there were two main issues - integration and language. While Indians were able to integrate and adapt far more quickly than their other Asian counterparts from Bangladesh and Pakistan, the rate of integration didn’t resolve that easily.

Researches have time and again revealed employment disparities among ethnic groups. Pakistani and Bangladeshi individuals face lower job rates but exhibit smaller gender gaps.

Employment gaps are decreasing, except for the recession's impact on all workers. Pakistani and Bangladeshi individuals, particularly men, are more likely to receive wages below the living wage, with significant gender pay gaps. The issue of integration and language remained particularly after World War II when many individuals from the Commonwealth were brought to aid in Britain's reconstruction. Yet, the richest in the UK are of Indian-origin - Gopichand Hinduja and family!

Despite the stupendous progress and contributions made by the diaspora in the UK, the overuse of the term "Asian” to describe “grooming gangs" has caused extreme discomfort, as research by the Institute for Social and Economic Research. the report has shown that they are predominantly of Pakistani origin. Therefore those not sharing the exact roots, have been wanting to stop the usage of a blanket identity of being called ‘Asians’.

Recently, the most outstanding school in the nation, assessed by student progress, challenged expectations. Situated in Wembley, London, Michaela, founded by Katharine Birbalsingh, caters to an underprivileged community. Despite facing criticism from the Left for its stringent teaching methods, recent news of a student suing the school over limitations on ritual prayer has startled those on the Right.

While Britain has succeeded in managing its multiracial identity in many aspects, visible self-segregation along ethnic and religious lines in towns and cities remains a glaring failure.

Activists, supported by academics and lawyers, capitalise on grievances to attain special treatment and institutional power.

The Michaela case exemplifies the societal battle, where authorities tend to appease rather than confront extremism.

The school visibly borrows and learns from Singapore's approach, ensuring equal treatment through a tough disciplinary policy. All students share vegetarian meals to avoid religious segregation during lunch, and there is no designated prayer room. Birbalsingh emphasises sacrifices from pupils of all backgrounds for communal harmony, promoting a shared identity and transcending individual beliefs.

This vision clashes with activists demanding exceptionalism over equality. Treating people differently is advocated in their worldview to respect beliefs and achieve equality of outcome. Some even seek to overturn invented hierarchies of oppression, leading to the toleration of discrimination against whites and Jews.

At Michaela, where half the pupils are Muslim, intervention occurred when approximately 30 students initiated public prayer rituals in the shared playground. The decision was made against a backdrop of violence, intimidation, and racial harassment of teachers. The subsequent lawsuit, backed by substantial legal aid, stems from a student's history of alleged intimidation and suspension.

Supported by a well-funded law firm and a barrister from Matrix Chambers, the lawsuit claims a de facto Muslim prayer ban, arguing that Islamic prayer is ritualised and not internal, unlike personal and quiet Christian prayers allowed by the school policy. This scenario echoes extremist tactics, as detailed by Ed Husain in The Islamist, where the total Islamisation of public space becomes a tool of power and intimidation. Aggressive behaviours followed the initiation of playground prayers at Michaela, pressuring a girl to wear a hijab and causing another to leave the choir due to the perceived haram nature of music.

The situation is not isolated, as seen in threats against Barclay Primary School and intimidation forcing St Stephen's to drop its ban on primary-age children wearing the hijab.

Extremists have targeted schools for protests against sex education and carried out kangaroo courts, turning educational institutions into battlegrounds. Instead of confronting this, authorities often appease and encourage intolerance.

The legal framework, especially equality and human rights laws, allows activists and at the same time extremists to exploit the system, while political correctness and American critical race theory infiltrate workplaces and public services. Rather than allowing ideologues to dismantle institutions, the need arises to construct more resilient, unifying establishments like Michaela, solely focused on excellence. In Wembley and beyond, a critical choice lies ahead, demanding earnest consideration.

Problems such as Asian grooming, school decorum and the failure of institutions to neutralise religious influences for the sake of education, establish an urgent need for discussion around integration. But one has to recognise both the duty of the natives to welcome multicultural folks and at the same time, develop tolerance towards immigrants. Immigrants also in return must integrate into their adopted country.

The rights of all Britons are safeguarded irrespective of their religion and identity, but the undue emphasis on religion hinders true integration and right intention. The argument extends to professional experiences, including the impact of Brexit on remaining migrants, while also highlighting the need for a balanced approach to integration.

Rejoice! Lord Ram is home 22 January marked the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the sacred rituals that welcomed Lord Ram home. Following the “Pran Pratishtha” ritual, Prime Minister Modi addressed a gathering of over 7,000 individuals, which included seers and prominent personalities, at the venue.

The consecration ceremony was made possible due to a Supreme Court decision in 2019 regarding the title suit of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid. Hindu claimants argued that the Babri Mosque was built on the site of a temple, which was believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram. Until 1949, Muslims used to offer prayers at the mosque and in 1992, the 16th-century mosque was demolished by kar-sevaks.

In 2019, the Indian Supreme Court made a ruling that granted ownership of the land to a Hindu trust. Simultaneously, a grand mosque "Masjid Muhammed bin Abdullah," named after Prophet Mohammad, will initiate construction in May. There is no denying of the fact that 2,000 people, both Hindus and Muslims have lost their lives for us to see a time when a grand temple and mosque are being built side by side and peacefully in Ayodhya. While no one can deny the painful past, this is not the time to look at things through a communal prism.

Both the Mandir and the Masjid have been granted their rightful places, legally. If the construction of Ram Temple be still tarnished by the memory of Babri masjid’s demolition, then it’s only fair we also mention the razing of Hindu temples during the Mughal empire in India or the unlawful conversions even during the British rule? Memory of India’s “bloody” historical past can’t be selective as it is rather hypocritical. Therefore, BBC’s narration of the temple opening has enraged the diaspora who have demanded for explanation from the corporation for “malicious” and “biased” reporting. It is a fact that in 1990, Lal Krishna Advani spearheaded the mass mobilisation of Hindus through his rath-yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya. One of the organisers of this significant event was Narendra Modi.

During that time, so-called 'secular' parties took various measures to impede the yatra. Advani himself was arrested at Samastipur in Bihar. This action not only sealed Muslim votes in favour of Lalu Yadav’s party but also set a precedent that

continues to influence voting patterns today. Similarly, the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh capitalised on the situation after police opened fire on kar-sevaks, employing it as a strategy to consolidate Muslim votes.

This approach became a widespread template across the country, exploiting anti-BJP sentiments to gain an advantage in our first-past-the-post electoral system. It is ironic that the BJP is being criticised for exploiting the sanctity of secularism when other political leaders have employed similar tactics and continue to do so.

The re-establishment of Ayodhya as “Ram Nagri” isn’t limited to just religious sentiments but also a boost in religious tourism that can positively impact the economy. Alongside the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh is poised to have a substantial economic impact, emerging as a prime tourist destination projected to attract over 50 million visitors annually. With a substantial investment exceeding $10 billion in infrastructure, including new airports and enhanced roads, Ayodhya anticipates welcoming 50 to 100 million tourists each year.

The joyous occasion of the Ram temple consecration was not only celebrated within India but also resonated across the global Indian diaspora. The festivities reached various corners of the world, with hundreds of temples and community organisations in the United States orchestrating events, including a significant one at Times Square in New York. In the UK, the celebrations were marked by car rallies, community events, and cultural gatherings, echoing the enthusiasm of the occasion (see page 1, 14-17 for full coverage).

In Nepal's Janakpurdham, the birthplace of goddess Sita, preparations for the consecration ceremony adorned the Janaki temple with garlands and flowers. The Hindu community in Janakpurdham actively participated in the celebrations, engaging in multiple cultural and religious festivities, chanting and writing "Jai Siyaram" with flowers.

As Hindus, globally, marked the return of Ram to his rightful place, it is time we let the bygones be bygones, avoid unnecessary provocation and politicisation of a genuinely joyous occasion for Hindus worldwide. Let this religiously momentous celebration be just that, a celebration!

Thought for the week “A goal is a dream with a deadline. ” — Napoleon Hill

Political Sketchbook Alpesh Patel

The Ram Mandir Inauguration: A Triumph of Faith and Justice Over Misplaced Secularist Concerns The recent inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a monumental event in the cultural and spiritual landscape of India, has been met with a spectrum of reactions.

While it is a moment of jubilation for many, it has also sparked a series of critiques from various quarters of the British press, including prominent publications like The Economist, The Guardian, and The Telegraph. These critiques, often draped in the garb of concern for minority rights and secular principles, warrant a closer examination, especially in the context of the Indian Supreme Court's ruling and the broader historical and cultural narratives.

Firstly, the argument that the opening of the Ram Mandir, believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram, somehow emboldens Hindus to be 'mean' towards minorities is a gross oversimplification. This perspective, often echoed in Western media, fails to grasp the complexity of India's social fabric and the deep-rooted reverence for Lord Ram in Hindu consciousness. The temple's construction is not a sudden, aggressive assertion of Hindu dominance, as some critics imply, but the culmination of a centuries-long journey marked by faith, struggle, and legal battles. It's essential to understand that the celebration of one's faith need not inherently translate to the oppression of another.

Secondly, the contention surrounding the Babri Masjid, which previously occupied the site, has been addressed with a nuanced understanding of historical injustices and legal frameworks. The Supreme Court of India, after an exhaustive examination of evidence and legal precedents, ruled in favour of the temple, acknowledging the site's ancient origins as a Hindu place of worship. This decision was accompanied by a directive to provide alternate land for the construction of a mosque, thereby upholding the principles of justice and reconciliation. It's crucial to note that such a legal and balanced approach to resolving historical disputes is not unprecedented globally.

The criticism often ignores the fact that the Supreme Court's decision was not merely a verdict on land, but a broader affirmation of India's commitment to a legal and democratic process. The court's ruling took into consideration archaeological, historical, and oral evidences, thereby setting a precedent for a judicious approach to sensitive cultural and religious issues. It's a manifestation of India's robust legal system and its ability to navigate complex historical and religious narratives.

Furthermore, the underlying insinuation in some of these critiques, that the celebration of Hindu faith equates to a rejection of secular values, is a misreading of both Hinduism and Indian secularism. Hinduism, with its inherent pluralism and philosophical breadth, has coexisted with a multitude of faiths and beliefs throughout history. Indian secularism, distinct from the Western model, is rooted in the principle of Sarva Dharma Sambhava (equality of all religions), rather than the separation of religion from public life. The Ram Mandir, in this context, is not a symbol of religious supremacy, but a testament to the diverse and pluralistic spirit of India.

In conclusion, the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is a landmark event that goes beyond the simplistic narratives of religious majoritarianism and minority oppression. It is a celebration of faith, a recognition of historical truths, and a testament to the strength of India's legal and democratic institutions. As observers and commentators, especially those from the Western media, it is imperative to delve beyond surface-level interpretations and appreciate the profound cultural, historical, and spiritual dimensions of this event. The Ram Mandir stands not as a symbol of division, but as a beacon of faith, justice, and the enduring power of reconciliation.

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Anusha Singh A report highlighting the potential for a substantial increase in productivity and economic activity in Greater Manchester by addressing barriers faced by Black and Asian business leaders has been released recently.

Commissioned by GM Business Growth Hub and conducted by The Black United Representation Network CIC (BURN), the study delves into the challenges encountered by Black and Asian-led businesses in accessing innovation support and networks in the region.

The comprehensive 'Barriers to Inclusion Research' report, spanning 31 pages, incorporates candid interviews and insights from 20 Black and Asian-led businesses. It offers a snapshot of their perspectives on the obstacles within the business support and innovation ecosystem in the city region and outlines their desired changes.

Azhar Quaiyoom, Q Sustain founder, said: “Nearly 30 per cent of Greater Manchester is of a diverse population. My experience of innovation networks does not nearly represent that of the region.

Greater EMB representation at the board level for Growth Hub, innovation and grant boards would help to shift the dial.”

Olu Alemoru, Nutmeg Animations founder, said: “Short of a magic wand, I would like to see a seismic change in attitudes amongst those key stakeholders.

There are good ideas and talent out there just waiting for those opportunities.”

Amman Ahmed, the owner of Music for Pets is also one of the participants who has contributed to the report. His business focuses on producing relaxing music and TV for cats and dogs, based on in-house research.

Getting his business started, one of the major challenges for him was the uniqueness of what he was offering, which led to a lack of support from the community.

“We lacked the necessary infrastructure and a genuine sense of community”, he said.

“I've come to realise the absence of a robust business community within the South Asian context. This absence is particularly noticeable when compared to experiences in other communities, such as the white community, where there seems to be a more estab-

Amman Ahmed

lished network that provides mutual assistance among businesses”, he added.

The reason behind this lack of support, according to Amman, is that only a limited number of South Asian entrepreneurs are venturing into diverse fields. The prevalent trend often involves individuals opting for more conventional paths like property, pharmacy, or other standard avenues.

“Establishing precedents in these areas can be essential to inspire others to pursue unique ventures. I hope that my journey serves as an example, demonstrating that South Asians can venture into unconventional fields, achieve success, and pave the way for others to do the same”, he said.

While Amman’s opinion provides an important insight into where the South Asian businesses and community fall short, the

report also underscores a stark reality: a mere fraction of Ethnic Minority Businesses (EMBs) are leveraging available resources, with challenges in fundraising and securing investments identified as significant hurdles. A stakeholder focus group revealed that proactive engagement of Ethnic Minority Businesses (EMBs) had not been a priority in the past.

Additionally, the report highlighted that ethnicity data is inconsistently captured to monitor the number of individuals accessing innovation networks. The proposed changes aim to not only bridge the £3.8 billion productivity gap but also promote diversity, equity, and inclusion for sustained economic growth in Greater Manchester.

Donna Edwards, Managing Director of BusinessSupport and Business Finance at GC, said:“The barriers faced by EMB owners underscore the urgent need fortargeted interventions to create an inclusive and supportive environment forethnic minority businesses in the region. We hope these findings inspire astronger, equitable local economy where everyone can thrive.”

UK medics instructed not to report illegal abortions The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) is set to release new guidance advising medical staff in the UK against reporting women to the police if they suspect patients have undergone illegal abortions. According to the upcoming guidance, it is stated that reporting women who have abortions to law enforcement or external agencies is never in the public interest.

The guidance emphasises that healthcare workers should refrain from disclosing information without consent unless there are con-

cerns for the woman's safety or the safety of others. The forthcoming guidance is endorsed by the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), the British Society of Abortion Care Providers, and the Faculty of Public Health.

In compliance with legal requirements, healthcare staff are prohibited from disclosing patients' data without their consent. Breaching confidentiality rules to provide information to the police about potential crimes is permissible only if it is deemed to be in the public interest.

A statement on the

RCOG’s website said: “The RCOG and the FSRH have stated that it is never in the public interest to investigate a patient who is suspected of ending their own pregnancy, a view endorsed by over 60 organisations and professionals.

“Healthcare professionals working in women’s health rarely need to liaise with the police. Unless a statute requires it (for example with female genital mutilation), healthcare must abide by their professional responsibility to justify any disclosure of confidential patient information or face potential fit-

ness to practice proceedings.

Where healthcare professionals do involve the police it should be in the patient’s best interests or needed to protect others – for example where there is a risk of death or serious harm.”

Since the year 2022, a minimum of six women have faced legal proceedings, and numerous others have been subject to investigations for purportedly terminating pregnancies outside the legal parameters governing abortion. This contrasts with the previous two decades, during which only three women were prosecuted.

Birmingham Council considers axing 600 jobs Birmingham City Council is facing the possibility of cutting hundreds of jobs as the struggling local authority endeavours to address its financial challenges.

Having declared effective bankruptcy in September of the previous year, the council is contem-

plating reducing up to 600 positions to address a £300 million budget deficit. A spokesperson for the council acknowledged that this development might be unsettling and emphasised that the proposed action is still subject to consultation.

"We will now start for-

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mal consultation with our corporate trade union representatives and follow these with directorate collective consultation meetings. These consultation meetings with trade unions will continue to take place regularly," stated the spokesperson.

Delcan Downes, GMB

Organiser, expressed concern, saying, "GMB has been calling on Birmingham City bosses to come clean on their plan for months.

Birmingham is already cut to the bone after years of Government austerity and cuts to vital local services."

"Cuts to jobs will see a massive impact on vital local services. This is nowhere more so than in services dominated by the same women workers the council has discriminated against for decades. After decades of ignoring rampant pay discrimination, this is a crisis of the council’s own making. Our union won’t stand by as working Brummies are expected to pay the price," Downes added.

Revived ancient Scottish tartan now available for wearing Experts have successfully recreated the oldest known piece of tartan ever discovered, originally found in a peat bog in Glen Affric in the Highlands around 40 years ago.

Last year, rigorous testing confirmed its authenticity as the oldest surviving example of the traditional patterned cloth. Dating from the period between 1500 and 1600, the Glen Affric tartan has been recreated by the House of Edgar, a tartan fabrics manufacturer and distributor. The Scottish Tartans Authority verified the colours through dye analysis, including green, yellow, and red derived from woad or indigo, along with other natural dyes.

Displayed at the V&A Dundee after its discovery, the tartan has now been

brought back to life for people to wear. Emma Wilkinson, the designer at House of Edgar who worked on the project, expressed the uniqueness of the endeavour, stating, "I create new tartans every day, but this project is truly special – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to recreate a piece of history."

Peter E MacDonald, head of research and collections at the Scottish Tartans Authority, served as the historian guiding the recreation process. He emphasised the significance of examining the Glen Affric specimen, noting its extraordinary status as a survivor in textile history.

The tartan, with its authentic colours and historical importance, is expected to be enjoyed by generations to come.

Birmingham teen killed in mistaken identity Detectives believe that a 17year-old, Muhammad Hassam Ali, was fatally stabbed in Birmingham city centre due to a case of mistaken identity. The incident occurred at around 3:30 PM GMT on Saturday in Victoria Square, prompting West Midlands Police to initiate a manhunt for the perpetrator. The police, who do not suspect any gang involvement, have renewed their appeal for information.

Victoria Square, a major pedestrian area adjacent to the Council House and the Town Hall, as well as close to various shops and bars, was the location of the attack.

Following the assault, Muhammad was urgently transported to the

Source: West Midlands Police

Barriers faced by Black and Asian business leaders highlighted

Muhammad Hassam Ali

hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood described the incident as a tragic case of a young man being killed in what appears to be a mistaken identity situation. Authorities are still working to ascertain the motive and encourage anyone present in the area at the time of the attack, especially those with photos or videos, to come forward with information.

Nottingham attacks victim hailed a 'hero' The family of a student fatally stabbed in Nottingham describes her as a "hero" who bravely attempted to save the life of her friend, also a victim of the same attack.

Grace O'MalleyKumar, aged 19, lost her life in the knife assault in June, alongside Barnaby Webber, while returning from a night of celebrating the conclusion of their exams. The assailant, Valdo Calocane, also killed school caretaker Ian Coates as he commuted to work. Calocane, 32, who is also known as Adam Mendes, admitted to the killings of Grace, Barnaby, and Ian, citing diminished responsibility.

Grace O'Malley-Kumar

The Crown Prosecution Service has accepted this plea. Calocane had a history of mental illness and had previously attempted to surrender himself at the MI5 headquarters in London, believing he was under the control of British security services.

Despite the family's desire for a murder trial, Calocane's plea has been acknowledged by the Crown Prosecution Service.

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Rising costs?

Let’s sit down.

The UK’s largest branch network is here to help.

Source data for number of UK banking brand branches provided by CACI Ltd, correct as at 1 October 2023. Excludes the Post Office®. For more information, search nationwide.co.uk/ways-to-bank/branch-banking. Nationwide Building Society. Head Office: Nationwide House, Pipers Way, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN38 1NW.

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Lord Popat attends the inauguration of President of Democratic Republic of the Congo In a display of the United Kingdom's commitment to global partnerships, Lord Popat, the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), attended the inauguration of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi on Saturday, January 20, marking a significant step towards fortifying economic ties between the two nations.

His presence at this historic event not only signifies the warm relations between the UK and the DRC but also underscores a strategic move to enhance collaboration and open new avenues for mutual growth. As the official representative responsible for trade, Lord Popat's role extends beyond ceremonial duties, showcasing the UK's keen interest in fostering diplomatic and economic bridges.

Attending President Tshisekedi's inauguration holds great importance, emphasizing the UK's commitment to its relationship with the DRC. The Trade Envoy known for his dedication to promoting trade and investment, sees this occasion as a unique opportunity to strengthen ties on both diplomatic and economic fronts.

President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi with Lord Dolar Popat

The DRC, with its abundant natural resources and untapped economic potential, holds a pivotal position in Africa. His attendance at the inauguration highlights the UK's recognition of the DRC as a key partner, not only within the African continent but on the global stage.

Popat's visit Lord extends well beyond the inauguration ceremony, featuring a series of planned meetings with the DRC business community and stakeholders in crucial sectors such as telecommunications, finance, energy, mining, technology, and logistics. These interactions underscore the pragmatic approach of the UK, aiming to explore and expand opportunities for trade and investment.

The inauguration was attended by 14 Heads of State of which Lord Popat met 12 including the Presidents of Kenya, Zambia and Malawi. They came together to celebrate the young democracy and progress the DRC have been making in recent years.

Several DRC Ministers made efforts to discuss their areas of responsibility with the envoy and how the UK can work with them to achieve their shared aims together. The President of the National Assembly, Hon Mboso who represented the DRC at King Charles’ Coronation was pleased to host Lord Popat continue to strengthen the relationship between the UK and DRC. In a pre-visit statement, Lord Popat expressed his deep sense of honour at

attending President Tshisekedi's inauguration.

He emphasized the immense economic potential of the DRC and underscored the UK's commitment to fostering a robust partnership. The overarching goal is to create a platform for dialogue and collaboration that transcends political milestones, laying the foundation for enduring economic cooperation.

Looking ahead, this visit sets the stage for future engagements between the UK and the DRC, acting as a prelude to the UK-Africa Investment Summit 2024.

Anticipated to take place in London, this summit aims to deepen economic ties and sustainable promote growth, building on the success of its predecessor in 2020.

The Trade Envoy’s attendance at the DRC inauguration is more than a diplomatic gesture – it is a strategic move to foster a that goes partnership beyond political niceties. As the UK and the DRC embark on a journey of increased collaboration, Lord Popat's presence becomes a beacon, guiding the way toward a future of shared prosperity and strengthened bilateral relations.

Virendra Sharma MP signs Holocaust Educational Trust Book of Commitment Virendra Sharma signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment, in doing so pledging his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who were murdered during the Holocaust as well as paying tribute to the extraordinary Holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people today.

Holocaust Memorial Day falls on 27th January every year, the anniversary of the liberation of the infamous former Nazi concentration and death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, in 1945. Across the UK – and world – people will come together to remember the horrors of the past.

In the lead up to and on Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemora-

Virendra Sharma MP

tive events will be arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. The theme for this year’s commemorations is ‘Fragility of Freedom’.

On Holocaust Memorial Day we also remember and pay tribute to all of those

High Commission of India invites bids for Replacement of two lifts at India House, High Commission of India WC2B 4NA.

Tender documents may be downloaded from https://www.hcilondon.gov.in/tenders.php

persecuted by the Nazis, including Roma and Sinti people, disabled people, gay men, political opponents to the Nazis and others. We also remember all of those affected by genocide since, in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

After signing the Book of Commitment, Virendra Sharma MP commented: “Holocaust Memorial Day is an important opportunity

for people from Ealing Southall to reflect on the darkest times of European history. Today, I pledge to remember the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered in the Holocaust and speak out against all forms of antisemitism, which in recent months has risen exponentially and which needs to be tackled head on.”

Holocaust Memorial Day to be observed in the UK A cross-party trio of politicians with Muslim and Palestinian backgrounds has jointly called on Britons to view this month's Holocaust Memorial Day as an opportunity for community cohesion, urging people not to let differences over the Gaza conflict escalate tensions.

MPs are scheduled to hold a debate on Holocaust Memorial Day on Thursday, January 25. In Greater Manchester, communities will come together on January 24 to observe Holocaust Memorial Day. Falinge Park High School students, recognised as a Beacon School for Holocaust Education, will read excerpts from Anne

Frank's Diary. The program will also feature musical performances by Cantor Charles Chait and a minute of silence.

Cumberland Council plans to illuminate buildings in purple on Saturday, while residents of Staffordshire will have the opportunity to watch Curated Moments from the Holocaust Memorial Day UK ceremony.

This year's Holocaust Memorial Day, themed 'The Fragility of Freedom,' encourages reflection on the gradual erosion of freedom and highlights how perpetrators target individuals, communities, and forms of expression to stifle challenge and dissent.

Sadiq Khan extends free holiday meals programme On Thursday (18), London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced the extension of the free holiday meals programme for an additional year. Allocating £4 million in his 2024/25 budget, Khan aims to continue providing free meals to families during school holidays and weekends, as outlined in a statement.

Since April 2023, the initiative, supported by the Mayor’s Fund for London and the Felix Project, has successfully distributed over 10.1 million free meals to families throughout London. The Felix Project has also played a role in delivering surplus food to nearly 1,000 charity organisations and schools.

Meanwhile, the Mayor’s Fund has been instrumental in offering free healthy meals through over 340 community partners and 90 Kitchen Social hubs, in addition to organising various school holiday activities.

Sadiq Khan

A recent YouGov poll, commissioned by City Hall, revealed that more than a third (35%) of parents or carers of children under 18 are reducing their food and essential purchases.

Additionally, 41% are using less water, energy, or fuel to manage living costs, with three in ten (30%) expressing financial struggles. The extended free holiday meals program aims to alleviate some of the challenges faced by families dealing with economic constraints.

Study reveals overlooked 'hidden' South Asian poverty Anti-poverty campaigners are urgently calling for action to address the hidden poverty faced by a significant number of south Asian households, according to recent research.

The study, conducted by Queen’s University in Belfast, highlights that ethnic minorities, particularly south Asian communities, are disproportionately affected by severe hardship in areas not accounted for in government measures targeting anti-deprivation funding.

The research indicates that approximately 220,000 Pakistani individuals and nearly 200,000 Bangladeshi individuals fall within the most deprived 10% of the population. However, their poverty often goes unnoticed due to neighbouring communities with better

economic conditions.

An example provided is the Leamouth peninsula in Tower Hamlets, where current deprivation measures rank it among the least deprived 10% of neighbourhoods in the country.

However, within this area, a Bangladeshi-origin community experiences poverty that places it among the most impoverished 10%.

Laurence Guinness, Chief Executive of The Childhood Trust, emphasised that the higher prevalence of poverty among people of Bangladeshi heritage in areas like Newham in east London results from complex factors such as low incomes and discrimination. Urgent measures are needed to address and rectify this hidden poverty affecting South Asian communities.

Sankranti Sambaralu 2024

Keeping up with a tradition of 18 years, the Telugu Association of London (TAL) celebrated Sankranti Sambaralu 2024 on Saturday, 20th January 2024.

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I ASSOCIA ATI WITH HM GO OVERNMENT PRODUCED IN TION W VERNM MENT

CANCCER: CER If someth thhing hi do doesn’t ’t fe feell righ i ht, t speaak to yyour o GP pr our pa Cancer R Res essearrcch UK anallys ysis sho ow wss one in tw wo o peo people e will in their liffetim etim me, with arro ound 375,40 00 cases diagnosed g ea ach y Cancer is w when cells divide in an n un nccontr ntrrollable w wa ay, a and if these abnorm mal cells can sprea read to o other parts of the bod dy. y.

Symptoms can be caused by a wid w e rrang angge o of things an nd mo time they wo won’t n’t be du due to cancerr.. Bu But if it is cancerr,, earrlly diagn d sa av ve li lives and d increase survival val an nd so it’’ss wo worth ggetting etting un nus us perrsis sistent cha anges checked out.

“I know m my ye early dia agn gnossis and treatm atmen nt is th he reason wh why I’ I’m m still here” 49-year-old Sham milla Mirza found found a pea pea-sh haped lump in her breast, so s booked an appointm ment with her GP who refferr ferred her to the breast clin nic at North Manchester General G Hospital for for tests.

The mother-of-two was shocked to be diagno osed with breast cancer but says the support of her faamily gavve her the strength h to face the disease.

Shamilla had a

mastectomy (an operration where breast tissue is removed) and breast reconstruction, fo followed by chemotherapy treatm ment.

On reflection she sayys: “I cannot thank the NH HS or my family enough h for for giving me the couragge to deal with cancer. I kn now my early diagnosis an nd treatment is the reasson why I’m still here for for my m family, f particularly my sons Zakir and Zain.”

In 2019, Shamilla unveiled a special parrk bench in Manchesterr marking her recoveryy from cancer. It salutees the scientists, doctors and nd nurses who are making ng game-changing progrress in tackling the disease.

The inscription on o her bench reads: “Shamilla lla ere…

Mirza loved sitting her and still does thanks to advances in cancerr research.”

HELP U US S HELP YO YOU Be Body Aware • Cancer signs and d symptoms vary from f person to person. n.

• Be bod dyy aaw ware – if something doesn n’t feel right feel r contacct your GP practicee.

• It maayy be nothin nothing ng serious, but find ding cancer earllyy mak kes it more treatable and a can saavve lives.

• To rrule out canccer, your GP maayy refffer er you for for tests.

Whatever the resul esult, the NHS is here for for you.

Shamilla Mirza

For mo Fo more inffo orma ation ati go tto o nhss..uk/ cancersym mp ptom ms

Contact your GP P practice if something in y yo our ur body doesn n’t ’t feell right or y yo ou experience an ny n y of these symptoms. Some symptoms can be har arder to notic i e: • Breathlessness • Frequent inffecti ections ns • Unexplained heavvyy, drenching night sweats weats • Unexplained weigh ht loss • An unusual lump anywhere on the body, like in the neck or armpit • Unexpected or unexplained bruising ing or bleeding • Difficulty swallowing • Mouth ulcers that don’t heal • White or red patches hes in the mouth and thrroat • Blood in your pee • Blood in your poo,, which may look red e or black For three wee Fo e ks or more: • A cough or a change ge to an existing cough • Changes in the voiice

such as hoarseness • Tummy trouble, succh as discomffort ort or bloating ing • Feeling tired and un nwell and not sure why • Heartburn or indigestion • Changes to your bowel wel habits, such as diarrhoea hoea or constipation, or unusual, pale or greasy asy poo • Unexplained pain orr discomffort ort It may be nothing serious, but finding cancer ancer early makes it more treatable. If you reach out to your GP and they haavve concerns about cancerr, they maayy ask you to do o some tests, like go ffor or a chest X-ray or complete te a home test kit that look ks ffor or hidden traces of blood in your poo, or reffer er yo ou to a specialist.

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Anusha Singh

Continued from page 1 The new harvest of rice is boiled in milk with jaggery, which is allowed to overflow while cooking, representing the “blessing of abundance” in life.

The celebration at No 10 The room at 10 Downing Street, that normally hosts most community receptions, buzzed with around 100 people from both Indian and Sri Lankan Tamil background on 18 January noon. Outside the door a nicely decorated ran-

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins congratulating dancers Athulya Jaganath and Saumya Vaidyanathan in presence of their teacher Usha Raghavan Photo source: X @VictoriaAtkins

Usha Raghavan is a distinguished Bharatnatyam performer residing in the UK. Having embarked on her performance journey at the age of 6, she has traversed the globe with her artistic endeavours.

Currently, she leads Kalasagara UK, an initiative founded to champion and preserve the authentic essence of Bharatnatyam.

Usha's vision extends beyond personal achievements, aiming to promote the rich tapestry of Indian culture and values. Her mission involves imparting this cultural legacy in its traditional purity to the generations, upcoming ensuring the continuity and appreciation of this classical art form.

In an interview with Asian Voice, she talks about her journey as a performer, a wife, a mother and a teacher proving effectively that women can in fact balance it all.

A shining example of how passion can propel someone to great heights Usha Raghavan‘s early experiences had a profound impact on shaping her understanding of Bharatnatyam and led her to truly appreciate the depth of this artistic expression. She found genuine enjoyment in her first performance, and that marked the beginning of a dancing journey where she performed for esteemed organisations and significant festivals, home and abroad.

The first opportunity to showcase her talent in the West came in 1982 when Usha received an invitation to visit Paris to perform and teach Bharatnatyam.

Initially invited for one to three months, the demand for classes and performances surged in Paris and what began as three classes per week expanded to daily sessions, including private and group classes, workshops, and more.

Describing her experience, she said, “I travelled extensively, from Lille to Grenoble, Nice, Marseille, and beyond, with a growing number of students showing interest in dance and music. My contract, which was initially set for three months, was extended to six months and eventually eight months.

“At 24, I received invitations for various performances, and without dwelling on potential challenges or cultural differences, I embraced the opportunity. The journey included performing for UNESCO in Paris, the International Yoga Conference in Switzerland and appearances for the

10 Downing Street hosts Thai Pongal reception for British Tamils Photo source: X @VictoriaAtkins

Usha Raghavan's dance through life's melodies

Usha Raghavan with her student performers at No 10 Pongal celebrations

French Prime Minister among many others.”

Usha has also worked with a theatre group in Milan, Italy and made stops in East Berlin. Always wanting to move forward, she let her passion propel her to great heights.

Finding that work-life balance Usha considers herself fortunate to have found a life partner in Raghavan, who not only accepted but supported her passion for dancing after marriage and has travelled extensively, showcasing her art, with her husband by her side.

“Through these experiences, he gained insight into the nature of my work, solidifying our understanding and support for each other”, she said.

When her daughter Srinidhi came into her life, Usha had to struggle to find a balance among her roles and was determined to prioritise both her child and dance, ensuring that she could still spend quality time with her daughter.

According to her, “As I continued to travel for performances, I made it a point to bring my daughter along.

Srinidhi, as a child, grew up watching me as a dancer, standing behind me and mimicking my movements while practising.

“As her interest in Bharatnatyam blossomed, I enrolled her in my dance class alongside other students, with the condition that once she entered the dance space, she would be a student—no special treatment as my daughter.

She willingly embraced this, adopting the discipline of a student. During rehearsals, she refrained from calling me "Mom" and acknowledged me as her teacher. This discipline instilled in her from a young age has played a pivotal role in shaping her character.”

Passing on the legacy to the next generation When Usha settled in London, she felt it was the

right time to establish a school that aimed to teach, propagate, and promote dance in a traditional manner. Observing the enthusiasm of people learning something Indian, she “realised the importance of passing on the legacy I had learned from great masters in the traditional way.”

Establishing Kalasagara UK provided a platform for Usha to teach with passion and create a familial atmosphere. About the teaching style at Kalasagara, she said, “I fondly refer to us as a dance family, a departure from the more formal teacher-student relationships often seen in India. I encourage my students to approach their learning with deep respect, akin to the reverence I hold for my own gurus. While upholding this respect, I understand their curiosity about the cultural roots and evolution of the art form.”

To provide a firsthand experience of the Indian cultural heritage, Usha has previously organised cultural heritage tours for her students from London and Europe, These tours involve visits to the inner towns of South India, where they witness the practice of this art form in its original context.

Describing these tours, she said, “I serve as a mentor for my students, guiding them not only as a teacher but also as someone who imparts valuable insights. I make sure my students live the life of a dancer, immersing themselves in the cultural nuances. With the 15-day immersion course, I challenge them to create a small choreography based on their experiences and document their journey in a diary.

“Even now, I continue to organise cultural heritage tours, combining workshops in significant locations with diverse projects, providing students with a holistic and immersive learning experience.”

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins meeting the Indian and Sri Lankan High Commissioners

goli was displayed, with a sugarcane arch and a clay pot (that is traditionally used to cook Pongal), while a small picture and statue of Lord Ganesha sat in the corner of the room, with flowers and sweet Pongal as offerings, and a beautiful, sweet incense filled up the room.

Nimbu paani (lemon juice) and mini idlis with chutney by Ruby’s Events Catering made rounds, as people mingled with each other, many of them part of the NHS. There were also present local businesses, councillors, MPs, ambassadors, professionals, and artists, who chatted away enthusiastically.

The reception had the High Commissioner of India to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami and his wife in attendance along with Rohitha Bogollagama, the newly appointed Sri Lankan High Commissioner (designate), to the UK. Addressing the audience the host, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins, hailed the UK’s Tamil community (which includes Tamils from India and Sri Lanka) for their incredible contributions towards the health sector, vaccination programme and various other walks of life.

She said, “As we mark the end of the winter solstice and

give thanks for the start of the harvest season and the brighter months to come, it’s terrific to see the room packed with members of the Tamil community from across local government, businesses, the law, civil society, and, of course, our NHS as well as the Parliamentarians who champion their interests and give voice to their concerns not only in the House, but also through their work as constituency MPs… “…The Tamil community makes a colossal contribution to British society enriching our culture, strengthening the diversity that is among our greatest strengths, supporting and representing so many of our communities. Thank you for everything you do, all your endeavour, and all the sacrifices that you, your families, and the entire Tamil community make for our country.

“For generations, you’ve embodied the true meaning of service, from the Tamil pilots who defended our shores during the Second World War, to the Tamil scientists who helped deliver the first ever vaccine for Covid-19 – saving millions of lives across the world.

“Today, thousands of Tamils work in our schools as teachers and teaching assistants, equipping the next gen-

eration with the knowledge, skills, and resilience they need to succeed. In London alone, Tamils run more than a hundred social care institutions, protecting some of our society’s most vulnerable people.

As many as 15,000 Tamils work across the NHS as doctors, dentists, nurses, paramedics, porters, physios, and managers - caring for patients and changing lives every day. Many are in this room – from doctors and dentists working on the frontline, to lecturers training the NHS staff of tomorrow as we deliver the first ever Long-Term Workforce Plan. I want to thank you all…”

The Minister also offered solidarity with Sri Lanka to promote justice, accountability, and reconciliationstrengthening the ties between the UK and Tamil communities across the world.

There was a short Bharatnatyam dance presentation by Athulya and Saumya, students Usha Raghavan from Kalasagara UK. People before leaving were offered sweet Pongal to taste.

Prime Minister’s message Last week, PM Sunak sent a "huge thank you" to the British Tamil community in a video message that was released to mark Pongal, stating that the community has made an "amazing contribution" to the country.

He reportedly said, “Let me first say a huge thank you to British Tamils for the amazing contribution you make in the NHS, education, science, business, public service…

“And as we look ahead, let me also renew my commitment to building a better, brighter future for everyone.”

No cervical cancer reported in HPV-vaccinated women A recent study conducted by Public Health Scotland (PHS) has revealed that among young women who received the complete course of the HPV (human papillomavirus) immunisation, no cases of cervical cancer have been identified.

The research emphasises the vaccine's high efficacy in preventing the development of cervical cancer, which is primarily caused by HPV, a

sexually transmitted infection responsible for nearly all cases of this cancer type. The HPV immunisation program, initiated in 2008, initially targeted girls aged 12 or 13 in their first year of secondary school and has since expanded to include boys.

This vaccine not only proves effective against cervical cancer but also offers protection against other HPVrelated cancers such as head,

neck, anogenital cancers, and genital warts. Published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the study underscores the significant impact of the HPV vaccination program in reducing the risk of cervical cancer.

Notably, cervical cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women aged 25 to 35 in Scotland, with approximately 300 new cases diagnosed annually.

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Family of four found dead in Norwich home Four individuals discovered dead on Friday at a residence in Norwich are believed to include a father and his two young daughters.

Norfolk police reported that officers entered a property in Costessey shortly before 7 am on Friday after receiving a call from a concerned member of the public. Inside, they found the bodies of a 45-year-old man, locally as identified Bartlomiej Kuczynski, and two young girls presumed to be his daughters. The fourth person, a 36-year-old woman, remains unidentified.

Police have confirmed that all four individuals were part of the same family, but only three of them resided in the house fulltime, with the fourth person staying there temporarily.

According to neighbours, Kuczynski lived in the house with his wife, Nanthaka, of Southeast Asian descent, and their two daughters.

Nanthaka's sister had reportedly been staying at the house in recent weeks to assist in caring for her brother-in-law. One neighbour mentioned that Mrs Kuczynski had not been seen at the house for several months.

Restaurant owner charged with attempting to drug woman The director of a Michelinstarred restaurant in London, Vikas Nath, has been charged with attempting to spike a woman's drink at a Mayfair private members' club.

Police were called to a private members' club in Mayfair during the early hours of January 15 following a report of an attempted spiking incident involving a female guest. Nath was

Vikas Nath

Vikas Nath, 61, residing on Knightsbridge Road, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on January 17, facing a charge of administering a substance with intent. Nath is identified on Companies House as a director of Termdeal Ltd, the entity behind the upscale Indian restaurant Benares in Mayfair. His LinkedIn profile indicates that the company manages seven restaurants in the UK and Spain, two of which hold Michelin stars.

arrested at the club and subsequently charged under Section 61 of the Sexual Offences Act. He has been remanded in custody and is set to appear at Southwark Crown Court on February 14.

Detective Inspector Kieron Vaughan, leading the investigation, encouraged anyone who suspects they may have been spiked to report it to the police promptly to facilitate the collection of time-sensitive evidence for the investigation.

MP urges Home Office help on temple visas Gareth Thomas MP has reached out to Home Secretary James Cleverly, seeking intervention regarding Tier 5 religious worker visas, crucial for UK temples to recruit priests.

Thomas, the Labour MP for Harrow West and Chair of the All Parliamentary Group for British Gujaratis, emphasised the risk of temple closures due to staff shortages caused by delays in obtaining these visas.

In a letter dated Wednesday (17), Thomas highlighted the impact on temples, leading to closures or reduced services. He stressed the significance of priests in the community, as they not only conduct prayer services but also play

a vital role in various religious ceremonies such as housewarmings and weddings.

After meeting with the Mandirs United group representing 20 Hindu temples in the UK, he urged Cleverly to establish an expert panel to address the concerns of these institutions. Temples, often reliant on a single paid religious worker funded through donations, face challenges when this worker's Tier 5 visa, which is temporary for two years with no extension option, nears expiration.

Thomas emphasised the need for a timely resolution to ensure the continued service of these temples to their communities.

Lions Club International Foundation awarded the prestigious Melvin Jones Award Lions Club International Foundation has awarded the highest Melvin Jones Award for meeting humanitarian needs in communities around the world to Rameshbhai Shah, Bhupendra Vasa and Dr Pragnaben Mandalia of the London Platinum Jubilee Lions Club on 8 January 2024. Details on the recipients as follows: Rameshbhai Shah is the current treasurer of Navnat Vanik Association and London Platinum Jubilee Lions Club, a member of Vanik Council of the UK and a trustee of Life Global UK. Bhupenbhai Vasa is the

ex-Vice President of Vadil Mandal and Vice President of the London Platinum Jubilee Lions Club.

Dr Pragnaben Mandalia served the Navjeevan Vadil Kendra as a committee member for 10 years. She organised many health events to raise awareness of various health issues and provided voluntary services.

Sikhs in Britain urge Macron to withdraw from India's Republic Day On Thursday (18), British Sikhs called on French President Emmanuel Macron to withdraw from India's Republic Day parade, citing the alleged targeting of Sikhs in other countries.

Macron had previously accepted an invitation to be the guest of honour at the January 26 celebrations, but the Sikh Federation, the largest Sikh group in Britain, urged him to reconsider. The Sikh Federation accused India of engaging in "transnational repression," specifically targeting Sikh activists in its diaspora. The group has written to

Macron, asking him to either "pull out" of India's Republic Day festivities or raise concerns directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit.

This call comes after US President Joe Biden backed out of attending the event, citing diplomatic tensions over an alleged Indian plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist in the US. The US Justice Department had charged an Indian citizen in November with plotting the killing, alleging the involvement of an Indian government official in the planning.

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Republic Day celebrations in India Republic Day is one of the most important national festivals in India. It is celebrated with great splendour and grandeur to commemorate the enforcement of the Indian Constitution that came into force on January 26, 1950.

Celebrations in the form of massive parades, playing patriotic songs, and organising social and cultural events take a front seat.Republic Day is an occasion for us to celebrate with the hoisting of our national flag, recitation of our national anthem, singing patriotic songs and organising social and cultural events.

On this day, we should also remember the sacrifices made by our various freedom fighters who fought bravely for our country’s independence and pay our due respect to them.We celebrate our nation’s 75th Republic Day this year and it was on this day in the year 1950 that the Constitution of India came into force and our country was proclaimed as a Sovereign, Democratic Republic.

The Constitution is the supreme document which governs our great country. Republic Day represents the true spirit of Independent India and marks the patriotic fervour of all Indians across the nation who keep celebrating this event with great enthusiasm every year.India was a slave under British rule for a very long time during which the Indians were forced to follow the laws made by the British government.After long years of struggle by the various freedom fighters, India finally became independent on August 15, 1947.

Two and half years later, the Indian Government implemented its own Constitution and declared India as a Sovereign, Democratic Republic.Around two years, eleven months and eighteen days were taken by the Constituent Assembly of India to pass the new Constitution which was done on January 26, 1950, declaring India as a Sovereign, Democratic Republic.

Celebrating Republic Day is a great honour for Indian citizens, as well as for those who have settled in foreign lands.Preparation work for the Republic Day celebrations at the Rajpath in New Delhi starts a month in advance and the way to India Gate becomes very close for the common man.Security arrangements are made a month in advance to avoid any type of untoward incidents during the celebrations.

A big celebration arrangement in the national capital, New Delhi and State capitals also takes place all over India.The celebration starts with the unfolding of the National Flag by the President of India and the singing of the National Anthem.

Following this, the Indian army parade, state-wise Jhankis, march-past and awards distribution ceremony take place.During the entire day, the whole environment is filled with the singing of the National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana) and other patriotic songs.Students of schools and colleges are also very keen to celebrate this event and start preparing months in advance.

Students performing well in academics, sports or other fields of education are honoured with awards, prizes and certificates on this day which is one of the three national holidays in India. The other two are Independence Day (August 15) and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2).

Jubel D'Cruz

Can we live in harmony with nature?

We only have one planet we can call home, where we can live in peace and harmony and that is one and only Mother Earth. It is our utmost duty to preserve this unique gift and yet we treat Earth with contempt. That is human nature, greedy and selfish to no end!

With polar ice melting, we are losing low-lying islands all over the world, including Andaman and Nicobar, Maldives, Polynesia, Pemba, Easter, and Diego Garcia, a few among many thousands of islands that litter our oceans.

Watching a wonderful wildlife series with expert commentary by one and only Sir Richard Attenboroughstole my heart, reliving our wonderful carefree life in Tanzania, with waves of warm Indian Ocean water washing the East African coastline.No wonder European nations were so eager to colonise much of the African continent and reluctant to leave when their time was up!

It seems wild animals don’t kill for fun, only for food or to protect their family and habitat. The prime example shown was Sir Attenborough sitting amongst the group of wild gorillas, gaining their trust and respect, and spending days observing their lifestyle, eating habits and social behaviours.

As gorillas are mostly vegetarian and humans pose no threats to them, they left him alone, accepted his presence and treated him as part of their group.

Other wild animals that pose no threat to humans are elephants, zebras and their likes. That is why humans can train them and use them as cheap labour! One may wonder how we could have survived without these animals, like horses, cattle and camels, especially before the invention of modern transport.

Our circus entertainment is mostly provided by highly trained animals that perform wonderful acts, for our cheap entertainment and so often involve cruelty that may put us off going to a circus!

Bhupendra M. Gandhi

KAPIL’S

India’s 75th Republic Day and its first President Dr Rajendra Prasad On January 26 , 2024 India is celebrating its 75th Republic Day when the Constitution of India came into effect in 1950.

Dr Rajendra Prasad served as the first President of India,holding the office from January 26, 1950, until May 13, 1962. Born on December 3 1984, in Bihar, Prasad waskey figure in the Indian freedom struggle and a stalwart of Indian politics, renowned for his humanity, wisdom, and dedication to the nation. Hereceived his education from the University of Calcutta, where he was a brilliant student. He initially embarked on a career in law and was known for his legal acumen.However, the call for national freedom stirred him, and he became deeply involved in the freedom struggle.

I was very fortunate and blessed to see him and listen to his speech at the tender age of 12, when Dr Rajendra Prasad came to Anand, Gujarat to laythe foundation stone on November 151954, for Amul Dairy. Dr Verghese Kurien who is known as the milkman of India founded the dairy Company Amul, one of India’s largest food brands. From single-handedly finding solutions to better India’s dairy industry to saving the lives of millions of farmers. Kurien deserves a lot more than our praise. Thanks to him, India is the world's largest producer of milk and it all began because he decided to make it happen.

In 1950, India’s first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad inaugurated a college of commerce, i.e, B.J.V.M. at Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India, an educational township in the rural area of Charurat district. In 1948, Lord Mountbatten,British India’s last viceroy inaugurated the state’s first college of Engineering for which Shri Ghanshyamdas Birlagenerously donated Rs.2.5 million.

Since then, the campushas been growing in leaps and bounds.

The township grew so rapidly that in 1955, Sardar Patel University sprung up without any Government funding and today it is one of the most well-known university townships in India.I am very proud to say that I earned my commerce degree in 1963 and studied at the commerce college inaugurated by Dr Rajendra Prasad.

The last time I saw and listened very closely to Dr Rajendra Prasad was when in 1961 he came to Vallabh Vidyanagar to unveila life-size statue of Sardar Vallbhbhai Patel, a reminder of a beautiful dream of how to use education as an instrument for rural change. This beautiful dream was blessed by two great sons of Mother India: Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. In 1945, the founding fathers registereda Public Charitable Trust: the Charutar Vidya Mandal,( the Parent body of this institution ) and laid the foundation of a unique township, which was inaugurated by India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. And the rest is history.

Sardar Patel first Deputy Prime Minister on November 13, 1947, promised to rebuild the Somnath Temple. Today’s Somnath Temple is built on its original place in seventh place fully raised by donations and sponsors, and despite Jawaharlal Nehru’s disapproval, Dr Rajendra Prasad inaugurated Somnath temple. Dr Rajendra Prasad also attended the funeral of Sardar Patel when he died in 1950 despite Nehru explicitly instructing his ministers and even President Rajendra Prasad not to attend.

On 75th India’s Republic Day, we convey our patriotic and holy Happy Republic Day wishes to all Indians residing in India and abroad.

Suresh and Bhavna Patel

Gujarat boat tragedy: Strengthen safety measures & rescue efforts “Safety measures are getting neglected every now and then” has again been proved with the recent sad boat tragedy in Gujarat in which over 14 school students died.

People should understand that safety efforts should start with them rather than with others. Furthermore, ruling regimes and other parties like officials concerned should take extra care of such difficult situations, implementing all the possible safety methods like providing life jackets.

Located on the peripheries of water bodies like rivers, canals and sea, my native areas such as Tiruchendur, Korkai, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu have so far come across many tragic incidents like boat tragedies and locals haveoften come to the rescue of tragedy victims on various occasions.

Similarly, immediate help, safety measures and emergency services will go a long way in the matter of saving the people in distress.

P. Senthil Saravana Durai

Ramayana Museum is a great idea Ramayana Museum is a great idea which can have idols, statues and 3D audio-video technology, laser shows whichdepict the entire story chapter-wise. Lessons from Indian scriptures like the Ramayanaare priceless and still valid in modern times. History is the study of the past in the present for the future. The museum will be a treat for children who will learn- in the end good triumphs over evil.

TS Karthik

Kapil Dudakia

KHICHADI

Who let the grooming gangs out?

The menace of grooming gangs abusing white vulnerable young girls (and those from other communities also) by predominantly men of Pakistani heritage has been going on for more than a few decades. Every public institution including local and national politicians, all failed these girls. As I write this column, I can confirm to you the readers – even today this madness continues up and down the country in atown near you.

It was therefore no surprise to me when the independent assurance review of the effectiveness of multi-agency responses to child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester reportpublished last week damned many institutional failures. The review into ‘Operation Span’ and the investigation of non-recent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale was conducted by Malcolm Newsam CBE and Gary Ridgway.It is one of the most damning reports to come out on the scourge of grooming gangs, and the failure of our agencies in protecting vulnerable girls.

I had a quick look at the towns and cities where there have been such crimes. Whilst the list is not exhaustive, it gives you an idea: Aylesbury, Birmingham, Blackburn, Bradford, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Halifax, Huddersfield, Ipswich, Keighley, Manchester, Newcastle, Oldham, Oxford, Peterborough, Preston, Rochdale, Rotherham, Slough, and Telford.

Do you notice anything unique about the names on this list? Let me help you, they are Labour controlled Councils.

Just a coincidence? Or is there something more sinister?

These towns and cities are also in the list of target seats wherethe Muslim community want to make sure that their candidate is elected. Which is their right of course. I have even heard of a master planto replicate the dominance they have orchestrated in Tower Hamlets,but to do so now at a national level.It has been a declared policy of the Islamists to engineer the introduction of aspects of Sharia into British Law, and to be in a position of brokering power in Parliament.You have to commend them for their sheer persistence in getting their way.

Raja Miah of the People's Alliance of Oldham and a Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Oldham West & Royton tweeted: He makes an open and direct charge on Andy Burnham, the Labour Mayor of Manchester.

One wonders why we have not had a full public inquiry into one of the biggest sexual abuse scandals of the 20th and 21st Century?

British media still continue to use the term, ‘Asian’. I have no idea what this term means in the context of Child Sexual Abuse (CSE). What I do know is that Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Chinese, Japanese, Singaporeans, Hong Kongers, Nepalese, Sri Lankans and many others are NOT responsible for these horrendous crimes.

Is it any wonder that in a report by INSIGHT UK (Published December 2023) titled ‘British Media and - How does the British Media portray Hindus and Indians?’,it said, ‘A resounding 91% of participants expressed their preference to be identified by the media as either "British Indian" or "British Hindu" or simply "Indian." In contrast, less than 5% of respondents favoured the use of the term "Asian" as a personal identifier’.

Yes, it is now time to call a spade a spade. If we as a nation cannot openly call out the problem, and make those in our public institutions accountable for their failures, then how on earth will we ever be able to protect our own?

I remember in 2017 Labour MP Naz Shah (Bradford West) tweeted, ‘Those abused girls in Rotherham and elsewhere just need to shut their mouths. For the good of diversity’. I want to remind all of you, she was recently appointed

by Keir Starmer as his shadow minister for crime reduction!Did you know that in 2016 the same Naz Shah was suspended for a short while from the Labour Party after being accused of antisemitism?

The Labour Party under Keir Starmer has become a safe place for Islamists. People who exhibit antisemitic views, anti-Hindu sentiments, anti-India and anti-Israel rhetoric seem to feel safe in Labour. I warned everyone in 2014 that Labour was on a course of moral and ethical bankruptcy. A policy of appeasement to secure block votes at any cost can never be right. Let us be clear, those who continue to be taken in by the lies of this party, you do so knowingly. You will help destroy the very fabric of this nation, andin time it will also impact you also adversely. By that time, I fear it will be too late. You have been warned. This is not about liking the Tories or voting for the Tories; it’s about knowing how bad a Labour Government would be for this nation. At your peril you cast that vote, for an error on election day by you couldsend this nation into a spiral of self-destruction.

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British Asians exhibit a concerning proportion of antibiotic-resistant infections Shefali Saxena In London, the British Asian community faces nearly double the proportion of antibiotic-resistant infections compared to the white UK population, according to cross-bench peer Baroness Murphy.

Speaking in the House of Lords during a debate on biosecurity and infectious diseases, she highlighted the global impact of antibiotic resistance, attributing it to travellers from abroad.

Currently, Asian and Asian British ethnic groups exhibit a 35% proportion of antibiotic-resistant infections, contrasting with the 19% observed in white British ethnic groups.

Baroness Murphy suggested this disparity may result from antibiotic overuse in parts of Asia. She emphasised the significance of international travel in transmitting antibioticresistant strains, referencing a study on enterobacteria causing dysentery in India and Pakistan. The study revealed the spread of subtypes throughout the UK due to global travel.

The Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London reported 92 travellers from South Asia and Nigeria with enteric fever, of which 30% were multiple drug resistant.

The debate delved into the broader issues of pathogens and pests spreading to the UK through global factors such as globalization, climate change, and international travel. Concerns were raised about inadequate biosecurity measures at international borders.

The indiscriminate use of antibiotics in animals in parts of South and Southeast Asia was identified as another serious risk.

Baroness Hayman added a dimension to the discussion, pointing out the potentially catastrophic air quality in Indian cities during extreme heat events.

The conversation highlighted the intricate relationship between global health challenges, international travel, and the need for robust biosecurity measures.

Not uncommon for British Asians to return with life-threatening sepsis following trips to India and the subcontinent Speaking to the Professor newsweekly, Indranil Chakravorty MBE, Consultant Physician, St George's University Hospital London told us, “South

Dr Indranil Chakravorty MBE

Asians are a large part of the migratory communities in Britain and face a rising trend of acquisition of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, due to several contributory factors. It is not uncommon for British Asians to return with lifethreatening sepsis following trips to India and the subcontinent. Antibiotic Resistance is a global phenomenon in many countries due equally to indiscriminate use in livestock rearing, leaking into the water supply as it is due to overuse. Antibiotics are life-saving, yet indiscriminate or unregulated use can contribute to increased mortality.”

Dr Chakravarty further said, “Among Asian countries, India accounts for the highest consumption of antibiotics in the world and is second only to China with the highest prevalence of antibiotic resistance.

Globally, antibiotic resistance is leading to the emergence of superbugs such as ones with the gene named the New Delhi Metallo-beta lactamase-1 isolated in India in 2008. The number of deaths related to antibiotic resistance is rising, as India and other low and middle-income countries rise the ranks. The close ties that many S Asians maintain with their home countries include frequent travel, family contact and taking advantage of easily available antibiotics without prescription.”

According to him, the poor access to doctors or healthcare facilities in much of rural India leads to a dependence on pharmacies with easy availability of combination drugs, and poor governance or secure supply chains. India is the largest manufacturer of generic drugs including affordable antibiotics supplying to much of the world, yet the lack of a robust regime of quality assurance, and greed amongst manufacturers leads to lower grades/ doses which in turn fuels resistance. There is also a practice amongst pre-

scribers to accept financial incentives for prescribing.

“Economic challenges often reduce availability and many people are not able to complete courses.

This is a common reason for the prevalence of multi-drug resistance in Tuberculosis in India and other LMICs. Even in patients where economic deprivation or lack of education is not an issue, there is a culture or belief that antibiotics are harmful, and make one weaker and therefore it is common to have inappropriately lower doses or not complete the course as recommended.

“What can South Asians do? My advice would be to only take antibiotics when it is clinically appropriate, preferably after obtaining a sample for culture, when prescribed by a doctor and to complete the course as prescribed. As doctors, we have a huge responsibility to educate our communities, prescribe in generic terms, and resist industry practice of incentives.”

Antibiotics don’t work against viruses GP Dr Aaliya Goyal, Nationally Elected RCGP Council Member, Vice Chair RCGP Midland Faculty and Occupational Health Doctor told us,

Dr Aaliya Goyal

“Antibiotic resistance is an important, and increasing, public health challenge.

The public can work together with health and care staff to use antibiotics responsibly so that they will continue to work to treat infections and help save lives when they are needed. Antibiotics don’t work against viruses, so insisting on antibiotics for a cold or the flu, for example, won’t help and may reduce the chance of them working in future.

Healthcare professionals can advise whether antibiotics are likely to be of benefit. If they are prescribed, make sure you take them as directed and complete the course so that the infection is treated completely.”

LCNL’s Dementia webinar displays 15 ways of improving brain function The Lohana Community North London hosted a Gujarati and English Dementia webinar on 10 January 2024. It was organised by the LCNL Aging Population Dementia Team, with a focus on early awareness and how to prevent dementia. Many people from multiple faith groups participated.

Lord Dolar Popat spoke about the Aging Population Report and the importance of raising awareness about dementia which is a major problem. He shared the vision to reduce suffering as people age.

Chandubhai Rughani, Chairperson of the Aging team and Population Lohana Social Senior Men’s Group shared the facts and figures of Lord Dolar Popat’s book “The Aging Population in the Lohana Community” which led to the formation of the LCNL Aging Population Dementia Team in 2021.

Dr Jitendra Kakad, a long-serving retired GP spoke about the risk factors and red-flag symptoms of dementia as well as the benefits of early diagnosis. Dr Dipa Modi, GP from Leicester, Chairperson of

the Aging Population Dementia Team spoke about the current evidencebased natural and alternative solutions for dementia.

In the webinar, fifteen ways of improving brain function were shown. These included adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle, using vitamins and minerals, omega 3 oil, coconut oil, turmeric, saffron and other supplements like Brahmi. Also, the benefits of Craniosacral therapy as taught by Micheal Morgan of the Institute Upledger International were shown to reverse Alzheimer’s dementia.

Jyotiben Joshi, MBA discussed the social impact of dementia. The problem of stigma and seeing the person and not the dementia was emphasised. Also, the need for care of the carer was highlighted.

Professor Bhik Kotecha, ENT Specialist and former Chairperson of the LCNL

Aging Population Dementia Team gave an update on the LCNL Dementia Medical Camp held in March 2023 attended by over 300 people at the Dhamecha Lohana Centre, South Harrow. 104 people were screened for dementia on the day and 9 were found positive for dementia.

Emphasis on more than 50 people to attend future events was made for earlier risk awareness.

The webinar started with Anita Thakkar reciting Gayatri Mantra. Sanjay Rughani, vice secretary of LCNL introduced the aim of the dementia webinar.

Meenaben Jasani, LCNL President gave a welcome speech and said, “As dementia is on the rise and can cause a huge impact on the quality of life of the sufferer this Gujarati and English educational recording can be viewed by anyone interested by searching on YouTube: LCNL Dementia.

We received many positive feedback and requests for the recording.”

Yatinbhai Davda, Vice Chairperson of the LCNL Aging Population Team gave a vote of thanks.

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COLOUR AND LIGHT AT PLAY IN “Ordered Form” Anusha Singh

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nternationally acclaimed artist, Rana Begum is bringing her artistic genius “Ordered Form” to the historic Assembly Room at St Albans Museum + Gallery.

Curated by the University of Hertfordshire Arts + Culture, the exhibition unveils a collection of new sculptures, paintings, and screenprints specially crafted for this showcase, complemented by pieces developed over the past three years. The exhibition also grants viewers a glimpse into Begum's artistic process through the display of her studio experiments and maquettes, offering a fascinating behindthe-scenes look into her creative journey.

An expansive mesh installation, installation 670, a striking focal point, graces the upstairs Assembly Room from January 20 to March 17, 2024.

Simultaneously, the main exhibition in the basement of Weston Gallery invites visitors to immerse themselves in Begum's captivating creations until April 14, 2024.

In an interview with Asian Voice, Rana Begum talks about the exhibition, her inspiration, challenges and various other aspects. ould you share some insights into the inspiration and process behind the pieces created for "Ordered Form"?

I’ve just installed installation 670 which constitutes the second part of the exhibition. It's located in the Assembly Room at St Albans Museum and Gallery.

This particular artwork revolves around the theme of movement—how people walk, and navigate their surroundings, and the dynamic interplay of colours. The installation explores the way colours emerge and vanish, their constant shifts and changes as people move. iven the fact that colour plays an important role in conveying the intended message and emotion of your art, how has your approach to the element been?

I initially approached it with some apprehension. Despite growing up in a culture rich in vibrant colours, working with colour did not come naturally to me. Being dyslexic and lacking the language to articulate colour theories, I chose a practical approach to understand it better.

My early research focused on observing how one colour interacts with another, studying their mutual influences, mood alterations, and the vibrant vibrations created when brought together. Exploring these dynamics became a starting point for my interest and it took years to build confidence in utilising colour effectively.

What fascinates me most is the natural interaction of colours, especially those that traditionally may not be paired together, like purple and brown.

I find the uneasiness and unexpected clashes intriguing.

Despite societal norms dictating certain colour combinations, I

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the art world truly captivating. ould you discuss any challenges you've faced throughout your career?

I believe challenges are good.

They encourage personal growth and the opportunity to push oneself. In my experience, factors like gender and race have often been prominent, especially as a parent. Being both a parent and an artist is immensely rewarding, despite the prevalent notion that

Rana Begum

appreciate the beauty in unconventional choices, noticing these clashes and decisions in our surroundings. hat impact does your religion have on your art?

I grew up both in Bangladesh and the UK. In Bangladesh, I attended the mosque daily, engaging in the rhythmic repetition of prayers.

This routine has significantly influenced my perspective and manifests in the calm, meditative, and contemplative essence of my work. Despite my affinity for vibrant and clashing colours, I always seek moments of tranquillity in my creations.

For instance, installation number 670 showcases bold colours like red, grey, and yellow, creating stark contrasts.

However, within this vibrant palette, there are moments of ephemeral lightness and calmness. This duality in the artistic experience is what I aim to achieve. My childhood experiences of reading the Quran and praying five times a day subtly influence my work.

Islamic art and architecture, with their intricate geometry and the concept of the infinite, have always fascinated me. re there specific artists or people who consistently have inspired your work?

My constant source of inspiration is my father, who was incredibly hardworking.

Growing up, I observed his relentless dedication and selfmotivation, always pushing himself to achieve more. Despite his absence now, the memory of his perseverance remains a crucial influence on me.

Additionally, throughout my educational journey, I've been fortunate to have incredible teachers who supported and encouraged me, starting from a time when I couldn't even speak.

Once they recognised my drawing abilities, they consistently provided materials and urged me to challenge myself.

In terms of artistic inspiration, I deeply admire the works of minimalist artists such as Agnes Martin, Donald Judd, Frank Stella (particularly his early works), Mary Martin, and Sol LeWitt. Their minimalist approaches resonate with me, and I find their contributions to

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Zayn teams up with South Asian stars AUR In the ever-evolving musical landscape, South Asia has swiftly emerged as a dynamic and captivating hub, fostering a multitude of rising stars fuelled by an immense and fervent audience.

This surge of talent has turned the region into a breeding ground for chart-topping global hits, exemplified by the sensational success of the Pakistani trio AUR and their breakout single 'Tu Hai Kahan.'

The track seamlessly blends AUR's poetic lyricism with the soulful vocals of Zayn, who effortlessly delivers the chorus in Hindi, marking his deeply personal foray into South Asian music. The original version of "Tu Hai Kahan" by AUR has garnered immense popularity in South Asia, accumulating hundreds of millions of streams and securing the top spot on

AUR

Spotify India, Pakistan, and Global Viral charts.

Now, the song makes its debut in the UK, accompanied by a new music video that invites fans into the parallel worlds of both artists.

Offering rare glimpses into Zayn's creative process in his home studio and providing an intimate portrayal of AUR's life in the heart of Karachi, Pakistan, the release promises to further elevate the global appeal of South Asian music.

Tara Theatre introduces the Abdul Shayek Directors Fellowship it may be too demanding. I have cherished the ability to travel and showcase my work globally.

While creating large-scale pieces poses its own set of challenges, it's a common aspect of the artistic journey. Sometimes, I wonder if my experience would be different if I were a male artist, imagining that life might unfold in distinct ways. s there a reason why you number your art instead of naming it?

I find it crucial not to title my works; instead, I prefer numbering them in the order of completion. This deliberate choice stems from my desire to allow viewers the freedom to form their own interpretations and have unique experiences with the artwork. I believe this approach avoids imposing a specific viewpoint on the audience and encourages a more open and personal engagement with the pieces. hat advice would you give to emerging artists looking to explore and establish their own unique voice in the art world?

I believe it's essential not to be deterred by challenges; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and motivation. Challenges are what shape and propel us toward our goals. Additionally, finding joy in the pursuit of your passion is crucial. Whatever path you choose—be it in science, art, or engineering—make sure to relish the process and the experiences that come with it. It's easy to forget to take moments to enjoy what you're doing, but that enjoyment is what makes the journey worthwhile.

Moreover, keeping an open mind is key. Don't close doors prematurely; stay receptive to new possibilities. Engaging in conversations and connecting with others enriches your perspectives and contributes to the richness of your ideas. So, in essence, embrace challenges, find joy in the process, and keep an open mind for a more fulfilling and dynamic journey.

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Following a celebraindustry-led traintion of Abdul Shayek’s ing and developlife and career at the ment programme, National’s Olivier two equipping Theatre today, Tara mid-career direcTheatre has tors per year with announced the Abdul the experience Shayek Directors and skills they Fellowship in honour need to take on Abdul Shayek of the late Artistic leadership posiDirector, who passed away in tions in theatres. It is designed to August 2023. create a network of industry partners working together to further The fellowship is designed to diversity in artistic leadership. address the underrepresentation The programme will offer of practitioners from global majorAssociate Director salaried placeity and lower socio-economic ments at producing theatres, backgrounds in UK theatre, someongoing support, advice and develthing Abdul fought for throughout opment from Tara Theatre, a comhis career. As a working-class theprehensive programme of masteratre director of Bangladeshi herclasses, ongoing mentorship from itage, Abdul was passionate about industry leaders and a fully funded equality of access to the arts and and resourced production for each supporting the next generation of recipient. The programme will run theatre-makers and artistic leadin two-year cycles with an initial ers. intake of two directors.

The fellowship will provide an

Canadian Punjabi band En Karma set for new release En Karma is gearing up to launch their latest track, 'Tere Te Marda,' featuring Harj Nagra. Recognised as North America's leading live Bhangra band, En Karma has spent the last two years dominating festivals and sharing stages with notable artists like Malkit Singh, Jazzy B, Miss Pooja, and Sukshinder Shinda.

Known for infusing vibrant energy both on stage and in the studio, En Karma is taking a brief pause from live performances to unleash a wave of new releases. Their upcoming single, 'Tere Te Marda,' is a collaboration with the acclaimed Canadian Producer Harj Nagra, featuring lyrics penned by Manni Sekhon.

En Karma comprises Nick Chowlia (keyboards/producer), Pip Dhaliwal (drummer), Inder Kooner (vocalist, and Karm (Dhol); En

Karma was formed in 2007.

Originally from England, The band's previous hits, such as 'Tohar Naal Jeena', 'Tere Bina Nahi Nachna' ft HDhami and 'Anakh Naal Din Kateya' ft KS Makhan, achieved global chart success.

Notably, their music was also featured in the mainstream primetime Canadian TV show “Our Big Punjabi Family.”

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Community proves Shri Ram resides in our hearts S

hri Ram has arrived in his birthplace in Ayodhya, but his arrival after 500 years of emotional and judicial battles is being celebrated globally by the Indian diaspora. While there is only one Indian woman, Bhartidevi Kantari - who was invited to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in India on 22 January, back in the UK - the Indian community welcomes Shri Ram Lalla with grandeur and utmost devotion.

While Gitali Khatri distributed copies of Shri Ramraksha Stortra to mem-

bers of the community along with Hanuman Chalisa, community organisations across north-south, east-west held their respective gatherings, prayer meetings and yajnas, where Indians in the UK dressed up in their best ethnic attires and cooked prasad to celebrate the Pran Pratishtha event being held in Ayodhya back home.

Shri Ram’s picture was also flashed on the Times Square digital board, while many people in their way paid tribute to the story of Ramayan. For instance,

Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt wore a saree embroidered with tropes from the Ramayan while she attended the Pran Pratishtha ceremony with her husband and actor Ranbir Kapoor in Ayodhya.

The three main actors Arun Govil (Ram), Deepika Chikhalia (Sita) and Sunil Lahiri (Laxman) from Ramanand Sagar’s immortalised version of Ramayan on TV also attend the ceremony in Ayodhya while releasing a special video in honour of Shri Ram. An AI-generated version

The only British Indian woman attending Pran Pratishtha ceremony shares her story on ‘meeting Ram ji’ Shefali Saxena

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hartidevi Kantaria has been a lifelong Ram Bhakta propagating Hanuman Chalisa, Seva and Raam Naam through the inspiration, grace and guidance of her Satguru Pujya Hirjibapa (who largely established Hinduism in East Africa) and her late father Sant Shri Rambapa who helped lay the foundation for Santan Dharma and Raam Naam in the UK, hosting the first katha for Pujya Moraribapu and conducting 108 Hanuman Chalisa path every Sunday for the past 50 years.

Bhartidevi was called to the opening in recognition of her work in supporting Sanatan Dharma in the UK and her satsang and seva projects in India under her foundation Divya Seva Foundation which works to uplift and empower women and girls in rural Gujarat, Covid response for India building an emergency hospital and spreading 'raam naam wherever she goes.

Bhartidevi is the only woman who was invited from the UK to attend the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony in India. Speaking exclusively to Asian Voice, she shared her experience of witnessing the grandeur of Ram Janmbhumi.

“Receiving the invitation was surreal! The realisation that I was chosen to witness my Ram Lalla's darshan left me in disbelief. Internally, I sensed a calling, a yearning I've held since my youth to see my Ram Ji in this lifetime. The hows and whens were uncertain, but when the invitation arrived, overwhelming emotions took

Bhartidevi Kantaria

over. Seated in my temple, I expressed gratitude a thousand times, humbled and thankful for being called to witness the Pran Pratishtha.

Later, I discovered I was the sole lady from the UK invited to the ceremony. Words can't convey the depth of humility and gratitude I felt,” Bhartidevi told Asian Voice.

She also said, “Feeling a sense of anxiety after many years away from Ayodhya, my apprehension vanished the moment I arrived. The atmosphere was incredibly pure and sanctified, reminiscent of Awadh. On the main day of the Pran Pratishtha, January 22nd, my emotions were in constant motion.

Experiencing a truly divine darshan, I was deeply moved. Since my youth, my father had gifted me a murti of Ram, and I've carried it with me everywhere. This moment, the darshan, and the atmosphere held such significance for me that words fail to capture the depth of my feelings.”

Commenting on the ongoing distortion of narratives in the Western media around Ram Mandir and its construction, she said, “Western media can say whatever they like, but the reality is, after 500 years of constant battle, we have been able to build this temple, reaching millions of followers worldwide. It means a lot.

People from all corners of the globe have travelled, even for just one day, to come and have darshan and participate in this function. Not just a single person, but individuals globally have attended this event. It holds significant meaning for them. For us, it's like a lifetime achievement, or perhaps even more, considering it has been 500 years in the making. This day has finally arrived, and generations to come may not witness it.

This was crucial to maintain our Hindu and Sanatan spirits; otherwise, we would have lost it.”

of the song Ram Aayenge was shared on social media.

In this version, a YouTube user used AI to create a rendition of the song in the voice of the late singer Lata Mangeshkar. Shared ahead of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir consecration ceremony taking place today, a video of the song has gone viral.

Inspired by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London (popularly known as ‘Neasden Temple’) joined almost 60 BAPS mandirs and centres in the UK and wider Europe as part

of a global BAPS tribute to commemorate the opening of the new Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. ISKCON-Bristol Hindu Temple lit 501 lamps to celebrate Shri Ram’s arrival.

Shobha Yatra in West Midlands, Rishi bhoj and grand events engulfed the community in a pious atmosphere - welcoming a new era of celebrating as well as reviving the cultural heritage of Hinduism and Shri Ram’s legacy - a truly global event.

8000 Approximately people, predominantly

Hindus, commemorated the 'Return of Lord Ram,' an Incarnation of Lord Vishnu in Auckland on Sunday, January 21, 2024. Named 'Ayodhya at Eden Park,' the five-hour event, held at Eden Park in Auckland, included Havan, renditions of Rama Kirtans, hymns praising Lord Ram (or Rama), a cultural program, and competitions for children. Guests of Honour were India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand Neeta Bhushan and Communities Ethnic Minister Melissa Lee.

Kalasagara UK celebrates Shri Ram Usha Raghavan, a Bharatnatyam performer based in the UK and her husband Raghavan and I were blessed with the darshan of Sri Ram Parivar in Ayodhya in August 2023. Speaking to us, Usha said, “We also had the good fortune of seeing the beautiful mandir being built.

No wonder hence it was quite an emotional experience for me to celebrate in

the UK the momentous occasion of Prana Pratishtha of Shri Rama at Ayodhya on 22 January 2024. To mark

this auspicious celebration I presented a Bharatanatyam offering along with my students of Kalasagara UK on 21st January, 2024. I will cherish this experience forever.

It was sponsored by Chinmaya Mission UK. Carnatic musiShri cian Vamshikrishna Vishnudas too took part in this performance.”

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A ‘sankalp’ to take Hanuman Chalisa and Sri Ramraksha Stotram to 100 houses in the UK Geetali Khatri was born in India and is now based in the UK. She took a "Sankalp" - a promise she made to herself - to take Hanuman Chalisa and Sri Ramraksha Stotram to 100 houses by 22nd Jan 2024.

In a social media post, sharing a video of the same, she wrote, “Me and my family enjoyed the process of designing, printing, posting and hand distributing these 100 books/booklets!

Congratulations to all the Raam bhakta - Raam aa gaye!

Very emotional moment for all of us who believe in the supreme power of Prabhu Ram!” Speaking to Asian Voice, Geetali Khatri said, “I personally believe in chanting

both - Hanuman Chalisa and Ram Raksha Stotra every day. And know that somewhere deep inside it does give me peace of mind and provides me positive energy. I wanted my friends

also to benefit, hence the project.”

The artwork on Hanuman Ji is made by Harsha Wadhwani Basu, a UK-based artist renewed for her Mithila Art paintings.

Aylesbury Hindu Temple Trust celebrates Ram Lalla

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he Aylesbury Hindu Temple Trust celebrated the consecration / inauguration of Ram Lalla at Ayodhya Ram Mandir. The atmosphere resonated with divine melodies as devotees engaged in soulful bhajankirtan.

“Enthusiastic children portrayed the divine arrival of Bhagwaan Ram, Mata Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman ji, infusing the atmosphere with exuberance. A vibrant costume parade unfolded, bringing the epic characters to life in a visual spectacle. The distribution of Prashad, offered with warmth and love was, savored by all. The night sky

illuminated with a humble display of fireworks, symbolising the triumph of righteousness. The evening culminated with a human formation of Shri Ram, adorned with radiant lights.

The festivities served as a testament to the enduring cultural and spiritual signif-

ardiff’s Sanatan Mandir joined the worldwide Hindus to celebrate the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ram Mandir, Ayodhya.

In a packed two-day programme (21 and 22 January 2024), Sanatan Mandir's exterior was decorated with colourful lights. The décor inside was equally impressive with Annakot displayed; large posters of Ram Darbar adorned the three

floors of the Mandir.

The proceedings started with invoking the 108 names of Lord Rama, the spiritual vibes of which

resonated throughout the Mandir.

The blissful chanting of Ram Dhun followed this. Ram bhajans were also sung including reciting Hanuman Chalisa. Little girls performed the divine Lord’s dance. Devotees lighted 108 diyas followed by

Inspired by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London (popularly known as ‘Neasden Temple’) joined almost 60 BAPS mandirs and centres in the UK and wider Europe as part of a global BAPS tribute to commemorate the opening of the new Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

The inauguration, at the sacred birthplace of Shri Ramchandraji Bhagwan was a historic moment of celebration for over a billion Hindus around the world. To mark this momentous occasion, a host of devotional festivities were organised at the Mandir from 20 to 22 January, including an ‘annakut’ (devotional offering of food dishes) to Sita Mata and Ramchandraji Bhagwan, an opportunity to participate in a special pujan (ceremonial worship) of Shri Ramchandraji Bhagwan

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj expressed his wish that the occassion the Shri Ram Janmabhumi be celebrated like Diwali

Murti Darshan of Bhagwan Shri Ramachandraji and Sitaji

icance of the Ram Mandir, uniting hearts and bringing people together. Close to 250 residents, including 70 children, gathered on a school night to express their support for this lustrous celebration,” Rajat Mahesh of Aylesbury Hindu Temple Trust told Asian Voice.

Cardiff Hindu community celebrates Ram Mandir inauguration

C

Neasden Temple joins global BAPS celebrations to commemorate the opening of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya

Prasad cooked by our volunteers.

In attendance were Mr Raj Aggarwal, OBE, Honorary Consul for India

and Christopher Norman, Headteacher of Willows High School On Monday, 22nd January, A special puja was conducted by Pandit to coincide with the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla held in Ayodhya.

Neasden Temple lit up in lights in celebrations of the Shri Ram Janmabhumi

as well as an Akshat Kumbh (ceremonial vessel containing sanctified rice grains from Ayodhya).

Visitors and wellwishers from the Hindu community arrived throughout the three days, many of whom joined the congregation on Saturday 20 January to enjoy a special assembly of bhajans, video presentations and discourses from learned swamis who paid homage to the exemplary life of Shri Ramachandra Bhagwan. Murtis of Bhagwan Shri Ram, Sitaji and Hanumanji along with the Akshat Kumbh were also joyously welcomed to the assembly in a colourful ‘palkhi yatra’ led by members of the congregation. The assembly drew upon the long history that BAPS cherishes with the Shri Ram Mandir, spanning seven decades from His

Holiness Yogiji Maharaj’s first visit to Ayodhya in 1953.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj performed the pujan of the first Shri Ram Shila in 1989. In 2020, Mahant Swami Maharaj performed a pujan for the shilanyas ceremony of the Shri Ram Mandir, with BAPS continuing its support for the Ayodhya Mandir in 2021 by making a substantial donation.

Mahant Swami Maharaj had also written a heartfelt handwritten letter, in which he expressed his overwhelming joy at the inauguration of the Shri Ram Mandir, and urged all BAPS devotees to celebrate this momentous occasion at home, with the same devotional fervour as Diwali. Several leaders and representatives from various Hindu and Jain

mandirs and organisations as well as local civic leaders also joined the celebrations on this momentous occasion.

Yogvivekdas Swami, head swami for BAPS in the UK and Europe, explained, “The three-day celebrations at the Mandir were a fitting tribute to the exemplary values and teachings of Shri Ramchandraji Bhagwan, lessons that are of great significance and importance today. This was also a welcome opportunity to work together with our friends from other Hindu mandirs and organisations to mark this historic occasion with unity, respect, and devotion.”

The vibrant festivities at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London, absolutely echoed the enduring legacy of Shri

Devotees and well-wishers offered their prayers and respects to the murtis of Bhagwan Shri Ramachandraji and Sitaji with sanctified rice grains from Ayodhya

Ramchandraji. A joyous congregation and special assemblies enriched the historic celebration of unity, respect, and devotion, embodying the profound teachings of Shri Ramachandra Bhagwan.

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Arya Samaj West Midlands celebrates Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha

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r Monaa Khurana, Secretary - Arya Samaj West Midlands told Asian Voice, "22nd January 2024 will be written with golden letters in the history of India.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir not only spreads spirituality but also mandir symbolises unity, faith and hope among everyone.

enthusiasm, excitement and happiness at Arya Samaj West Midlands (Birmingham).

We started the celebration with Hawan Yajna, where many children and parents participated.

Then we had a Shobha Yatra on Rookery Road, Birmingham. Many participants joined the celebration.

Indian Diaspora throng Eden Park in large numbers to welcome Lord Rama in Auckland On the eve of Ayodhya Ram Mandir 'Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, a religious fervour gripped New Zealand on Sunday (21 January) with special ceremonies of idols of Lord Rama and Mata Sita, brought from India by Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF), at Bhartiya Mandir Auckland and darshan of the sacred idols at a mass community programme at Outer Oval, Eden Park in Auckland.

Large number of people from Indian diaspora were present at the Shri Ram Mandir for 'shuddhikaran' (purification) and Vastra Grahan ceremonies of the idols, brought to New Zealand by IMF Convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu along with an Akshat Kalash (urn with worshipped rice) after a nearly 13,000-kilometre journey from India, by the head priest of the temple Pandit Upendra Shastri.

Some of devotees burst

Indian Diaspora and IMF Convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu carry the idols of Lord Rama and Mata Sita to participate in the Mahayagya ceremony

into tears after getting first glimpse of the idols as emotions ran high during the sacred event as chants of ‘Ek Hi Naara, Ek Ki Naam, Jai Shree Ram Jai Shree Ram and ‘Ram Lalla ki Jai Ho’ reverberated in the air while the temple priests performed Puja and sacred rituals according to the 'muhurta'.

After the extensive holy

ceremonies, idols were carried in a procession by road to Outer Oval, Eden Park in Auckland for Darshan following a Mahayagna performed by 30 priests from all over New Zealand in equal number of Kunds amid chanting of Vedic mantras and reciting of devotional songs.

Priests of different mandirs of New Zealand

sought blessings for PM Modi during the Mahayagya performed at the Eden Park in Auckland. The Hindu Community of Auckland said PM Modi has kept his promise to build a grand monumental Ram Mandir at Ayodhya and it has been a long wait of about 500 years for the aspirations of billions of people is getting fulfilled.

While participating in the rituals performed to welcome idols of Lord Rama from India, the youth of Indian Diaspora said they were all eagerly waiting to visit Ayodhya and through the Ram Mandir, PM Modi has reconnected the Indian Youth with the country’s rich culture, traditions, and rituals. The South Indian Community of Indian Diaspora living in Auckland said through Ayodhya Mandir, PM Modi has united the whole nation and spread the message of love in the whole world.

US celebrates Ram Mandir inauguration

The other attraction is magnificent architecture.

This encourages and attracts tourism in Ayodhya.

We celebrated it with full

After that, we had the Cultural Program, and many children and adults were a part of it, followed by Rishi Bhoj (meal)."

ISKCON-Bristol Ayodhya festival at Hindu temple

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r Ranjeet Gupta (known as Dr Rama Simha Das) told Asian Voice, " ISKCONBristol organised the 'Ayodhya Festival Welcoming Lord Rama' event at Hindu Temple Bristol.

Started with Sankalpa by lighting a lamp with chanting invocation mantras for the smooth temple opening in Ayodhya.

As a special offering, we lit a total of 501 lamps.

Rama Simha Das (Dr Ranjeet Gupta) gave a short Ram-Katha and then recited Ram Raksha Kavach Stotra, followed by bhajan offerings by members. Then

Hundreds of temples and community organisations across the United States organised events to celebrate the consecration of 'Ram Lalla' in Ayodhya.

Main events, led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, took place on Sunday, and a gathering at the iconic Times Square in New York marked the historic occasion.

In New York's Times Square, community members distributed laddoos to passersby and showcased pictures and visuals of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on screens. At the SV Lotus Temple in Fairfax County, Virginia, Sikh, Muslim, and

Pakistani American communities joined the celebrations, emphasising that it is a moment for the entire community to rejoice.

Congressman Rich McCormick conveyed his greetings to the Hindu community, acknowledging the

South African cricketer hails 'Jai Shri Ram' for Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya

there was dancing Kirtan alongside Arati offering to the Lord, and many attendees were dancing happily.

With approx. 300 attendees and many members observing special Ekadashi fasting for Lord Rama, we did Ekadashi Feast for all. "

South African cricketer Keshav Maharaj, who is Hindu by birth, sent his best wishes to the Indian community in South Africa for the 'Pran Pratistha' ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. In a video posted on his social media handle, the left-arm spinner, who is currently leading the Durban Super Giants SA T20, expressed his hope for peace and harmony through spiritual enlightenment.

"Namaste everyone. I just want to wish my Indian community in South Africa for the inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya tomorrow. May there be peace, harmony and spiritual enlightenment to all. Jai Shri Ram." the South African said.

Keshav Maharaj

Previously, Keshav Maharaj gained attention for the 'Ram Siya Ram' song being played when he walked into bat during Test matches and ODIs in India's tour of South Africa. Both KL Rahul (during the ODIs) and Virat Kohli (during the Tests) responded with interest to the song. Maharaj, 33, mentioned that it was his way of expressing gratitude to God.

significance of this achievement after 500 years of struggle. He congratulated his Hindu friends and constituents around the world, wishing them blessings.

In an event organised by the Hindus of Greater Houston, members from

various countries where Lord Rama is part of the culture were honoured. The consecration of 'Ram Lalla' in Ayodhya was widely celebrated across the United States, reflecting the diverse and multicultural nature of the Hindu diaspora.

'Ram Aayenge' in Lata Mangeshkar's voice goes viral A rendition of the song "Ram Aayenge," generated by artificial intelligence, has gained popularity on social media.

Uploaded by a YouTube user known as DJ MRA, the AIgenerated version mimics the voice of the late singer Lata Mangeshkar. Timely shared ahead of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir consecration ceremony, the video has gone viral, accumulating nearly 16,000 views since its posting on January 21. DJ MRA, in the video's caption, explained that the rendition was crafted using a combination of open-source tools and sound engineering, emphasising respect and appreciation for music and

Lata Mangeshkar

its creators.

The AI version, created out of love for music and as a tribute to departed artists, is explicitly stated to be non-profit. The share has sparked varied reactions and is circulating widely on different social media platforms.

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THE LONG-AWAITED HO Continued from page 1

Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ceremony marked the fulfilment of a longstanding demand to build a temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram. With over 7,000 guests in attendance, the event boasted the presence of acclaimed actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Rajnikanth, Ranbir Kapoor, Ram Charan, Chiranjeevi, Alia Bhatt, and Katrina Kaif. The star-studded gathering also featured sports legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, and Saina Nehwal, alongside prominent business figures including Mukesh Ambani, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Sunil Bharti Mittal, and Sajjan Jindal. Adding a touch of elegance, actress Alia Bhatt donned a custom-made saree adorned with hand-painted depictions of significant events from the Ramayana.

The Ambani family, which was present in Ayodhya for the Ram Lalla consecration ceremony, will contribute Rs 2.51 crore (£25.1 million) to Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust.

The ceremony, which commenced after noon, featured Prime Minister Modi unveiling a 4.3-foot-tall, 200kilogramme idol of Lord Ram carved from a single black stone. The subsequent consecration involved religious rituals aimed at bestowing the idol with divine powers.

The execution of such a grand event demanded meticulous planning. Over 13,000 security personnel were deployed, 10,000 CCTV cameras were strategically placed, and the entire city was transformed into a fortress. Ayodhya’s airport witnessed the arrival of over 100 flights in two days, including 40 chartered planes. The surge in demand for accommodations led hotels to elevate room rates, reaching up to Rs 1 lakh.

It is estimated that between 300,000 and 500,000 attendees graced the ceremony, posing a logistical challenge for the authorities.

In the days to come, a consistent influx is anticipated as the temple opens its doors for worship, with projections indicating over 100,000 pilgrims daily.

Against the backdrop of traditional Indian instruments playing during the consecration ceremony, Indian Air Force helicopters showered flower petals over the temple premises. Prime Minister Modi's message connected the Ram Temple to India's narrative of growth, prosperity, and strength.

While the temple aims for completion by year-end, the pilgrimage is slated to endure. Ambitious plans involve transforming Ayodhya into a global Hindu pilgrimage centre compara-

ble to the Vatican or Mecca.

The anticipated cost of the temple is Rs 1,800 crore, with donations serving as the primary source of funding.

Encompassing 2.7 acres, the temple complex is just one facet of Ayodhya's comprehensive transformation.

The city has recently celebrated the inauguration of a new airport, a project totalling Rs 1,450 crore (£1,37,221.20), along with upgrades to the railway station amounting to Rs 240 crore (£2,27,12,474.40).

Additionally, a colossal township project, valued at Rs 2,200 crore (£2,08,189.70), has been initiated to attract new residents.

The state government envisions a substantial boost in tax revenue, estimating an influx of around Rs 25,000 crore (£23,65,792.02) attributable to the temple.

This economic impact, coupled with the city's upgraded infrastructure, positions Ayodhya as a potential economic powerhouse.

take action against Yogita for biased, factually incorrect and malicious reporting.”

Today, our Ram has finally arrived, says PM In a pivotal moment of his public career, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered one of his most significant speeches, showcasing his well-recognised prowess as a powerful orator.

Skillfully combining raw emotion, rhetorical finesse, subtle political messaging, occasional humour, and numerous references to the significance of widespread prosperity and technology, Modi made a compelling impact.

In his 36-minute address, Modi masterfully conflated devotion to Lord Ram with an appeal to build a stronger nation. Extend your consciousness from ‘Dev se desh, Ram se rashtra’ (from deity to country, from Ram to nation), he repeatedly exhorted the thousands gathered at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in

Mukesh Ambani and family at the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Shree Ram Janmaboomi Temple in Ayodhya

The consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya transcended mere religious ceremony; it unfolded as a grand spectacle capturing global attention. As Ayodhya embarks on a new era, the temple's potential to drive economic and cultural transformation in the city is unmistakable, leaving an indelible mark on India's history.

Meanwhile, international media continued to present different fabricated narratives, which were criticised by the members of the Hindu community. The BBC sent out a notification to its readers that said: “India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates huge Hindu temple, built on a site of a mosque which was destroyed by a mob in 1992”. Reacting to this, Nitin Mehta told Asian Voice, “An extremely antiHindu broadcast by Yogita Limaye who accused Hindus of building a temple over a razed mosque. The Supreme Court of India had passed a judgement declaring the site as a Hindu temple which had been destroyed by the Mughal rulers of India.

Yogita's report encourages hatred of Hindus. Her report is factually incorrect. BBC 4 must issue an apology and

Ayodhya and the millions watching the event on myriad screens—from mobiles to multiplexes—worldwide.

The PM, who broke his 11-day fast by drinking water from the hands of a seer after the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, began by chanting “Siyavar Ramchandra ki..." as the crowd joined him in saying “jai!”

“Aaj hamaare Ram aa gaye (today, our Ram has finally arrived). He will no longer stay in a tent; he will now reside in a grand temple,” said Modi in a voice choked with emotion as the crowd erupted in cheers.

Hailing the significance of the moment, Modi said, “January 22, 2024, is not just a date on the calendar. It marks the beginning of a new cycle of time. Today, we have been rewarded for centuries of patience. Rising above the mentality of slavery and taking courage from every challenge of the past, the nation is creating the genesis of a new history. Even a thousand years from now, people will discuss this date and this moment. It is a great blessing of Lord Ram that we are witnessing it happen. This time is not ordinary. These are indelible memory lines inscribed on the wheel of

Such people fail to understand the purity of Indian society’s sentiments. This temple is a symbol of peace, patience, harmony, and coordination. This construction has not ignited any fire; it is giving birth to positive energy. Today, I call upon those people to rethink their perspective. Ram is not fire; Ram is energy. Ram is not conflict; Ram is resolution. Ram is not only ours; Ram is for everyone; a source of inspiration for each section to embark on the path to a brighter future.” Saying this is not just a moment of triumph but also one that requires humility, Modi praised Indians for the successful resolution of the dispute over the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. "Many countries have found it difficult to resolve such disputes. In fact, in many cases, attempts at resolution only further complicate matters. The sensitivity with which we have untangled this knot bequeathed by history shows that our future is going to be time with eternal ink."

"Today, I also seek forgiveness from Lord Shri Ram. There must have been some shortcomings in our efforts, our sacrifices, and our penance; we couldn’t accomplish this task for so many centuries. Today, that deficiency has been overcome. I believe Lord Ram will surely forgive us today," he added.

The Prime Minister expressed regret over the prolonged legal dispute surrounding the existence of

Celebrities at Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Shree Ram Janmaboomi Temple in Ayodhya

Sadhus and priests at the Pran Pratishtha ceremony

Shri Ram, despite his inclusion in the first copy of the Constitution. He extended gratitude to the Indian judiciary for upholding the dignity of justice and facilitating the construction of the Ram Mandir. He noted that the temple of Lord Ram, symbolising justice, was constructed in a fair and just manner..

He also questioned those who portrayed Ram as a divisive figure whose appeal is confined only to one part of the country. Referring to his experiences during travels across the country as part of the rituals for Pran Pratishtha, he said, “Ram is revered from Sagar (the

southern coast) to Saryu (Ayodhya) and is part of the consciousness of Indians.

There cannot be a stronger source for unity."

Celebrations across the world were a testament to the universal appeal of Ram, he added. He lauded the sacrifices and dedication of kar sevaks, saints, and spiritual leaders who toiled for the construction of the Ram temple, saying, “We are all indebted to them”.

Taking a dig at those who opposed the temple, Modi said, “There was a time when some people said if the Ram Mandir was built, the country would go up in flames.

better than our past."

Striking a lyrical note, Modi said, "Ram Bharat ki aastha hain, Ram Bharat ka aadhaar hain. Ram Bharat ka vichar hain, Ram Bharat ka vidhaan hain. Ram Bharat ki chetna hain, Ram Bharat ka chintan hain. Ram Bharat ki pratishtha hain, Ram Bharat ka pratap hain. Ram pravah hain, Ram prabhav hain. Ram neti bhi hain, Ram niti bhi hain. Ram nityata bhi hain, Ram nirantarta bhi hain.

Ram vibhu hain, vishad hain.

Ram vyapak hain, vishwa hain, vishwatma hain (Ram is the faith of India, the foundation of India). Ram is the thought of India, the law of

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History of Ram’s birthplace

OMECOMING

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he origins of the dispute over the Ram Mandir date back to 1528, when Mir Baqi, a deputy of the Mughal emperor Babur, constructed the Babri Masjid on what was believed to be the remnants of a Hindu temple. (See page 3 comment) During this period, Hafizullah, a court official, informed the Faizabad court that Babar had erected a mosque on the birthplace of Lord Ram. Citing the 2019 Supreme Court ruling on the Ayodhya suit, a newspaper highlighted that on July 28, 1855, a clash occurred between Hindus and Muslims at the Hanuman Garhi temple near the Babri Masjid. On that day, Hindus also gained control of Janmasthan, the alleged birthplace of Lord Ram. Subsequently, on November 30, 1858, Mohammad Salim filed an FIR against the Nihang Sikhs.

Glimpses of Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Shree Ram Janmaboomi Temple in Ayodhya

India. Ram is the consciousness of India, the contemplation of India.

Ram is the prestige of India, the might of India. Ram is the flow; Ram is the influence. Ram is the norm; Ram is the policy. Ram is the permanence, and Ram is the continuity.

Ram is vast; Ram is expansive. Ram is all-encompassing; Ram is the universe, the soul of the universe. And therefore, when Ram is established, the impact lasts not just for years or centuries but for thousands of years.”

Moving on to urge Indians to focus on creating a developed India, Modi said, “Generations a thousand years from now will remember our nation-building efforts of today.

Therefore, I say, yahi samay hain, sahi samay hain (this is the time, this is the right time). We have to lay the foundation for India for the next thousand years, starting at this sacred time. All of us must pledge to build a capable, magnificent, and divine India.”

Addressing the youth, he said, “You have the inspiration of thousands of years of tradition in front of you. You represent the generation of India that is hoisting the flag on the moon, successfully conducting Mission Aditya by travelling 15 lakh km towards the sun, waving the flag of Tejas in the sky, and Vikrant in the sea. You have to write about the new dawn of India while being proud of your heritage.”

Nationwide celebrations for Ram Mandir consecration ceremony This year, the festivities of Diwali seem to have arrived early, as the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony unfolds a sense of excitement that has spread throughout India.

Individuals have gathered in Ayodhya to witness this historic day.

For those unable to attend in person, innovative ways of celebrating the Ram Mandir opening have emerged. Some are paying early morning visits to temples, organising processions, distributing sweets, and engaging in various festive activities. Additionally, the ceremony is being broadcast live in several cities.

Streets and areas throughout India are adorned with lights, balloons, and flags, creating a festive atmosphere. Numerous groups are conducting rallies and processions, resonating with chants of 'Jai Shri Ram.' Remaking of Ayodhya In just 10 months, Ayodhya has transformed anything seen in centuries, with the consecration of the Ram Mandir adding to the city's newfound allure. A colossal Rs 50,000 crore (£47,30,469.50) makeover is underway, marked by towering cranes dominating the skyline as thousands of engineers, painters, carvers, fitters, and other workers contribute to the city's revitalization amidst the continuous hum of generators.

The Ayodhya railway station, now unrecognisable, and a newly emerged airport both mirror the grandeur of the temple. The Saryu waterfront has been rejuvenated, and six city gates, named after Ram, Laxman, Bharat, Hanuman, Garuda, and Jatayu, now stand proudly. Also, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is making a 70-kilometre-long road. It’s all part of a plan to make Ayodhya, India’s spiritual capital, the third vertex of a religious triangle besides Prayagraj and Varanasi.

Mural depicting “Ravana Vadh” at Maharshi Valmiki International Airport (Ayodhya)

Talking about the beautification of Maharshi Valmiki International Airport of Ayodhya, Curator and Designated Partner at Infine Art Ventures LLP, Sachin Kaluskar said, “My team and I contributed to the enhancement of the beauty of the airport by creating two large and stunning artworks at the airport.”

He emphasised, “The first is a 300-foot-long wall mural at the entrance, divided into 14 equal sections created with canvas paintings and fibreglass, which shows the life of Lord Rama from birth to Ram Darbar. These are painted on canvas.

Individuals deeply rooted in Ayodhya's heritage—the piece forms an arch reminiscent of temple architecture, inviting pilgrims into a sacred realm.”

“The second wall mural unfolds Hanuman's life, drawing from the Hanuman Chalisa. Spanning 16 sections, it delves into the emotional depth of Hanuman's journey, resonating with devotees. Kalamkari and Pattachitra techniques infuse vitality, crafting a visual narrative, he added.

Speaking about the artworks, Mr Kaluskar said, “These captivating artworks at the airport stand out with the blending of Indian traditional Kalamkari and Pattachitra styles."

“These artworks took so many revisions, iterations, and corrections to create such an experience, which took almost a year to finalise. Even after crafting and executing these designs, it took over 11 months to create these beautiful pieces of artwork. Many creative and engineering challenges are dealt with with precision and dedication to achieve end results,” he added.

Artworks from Maharshi Valmiki International Airport (Ayodhya)

The Sikhs installed the Nishan Sahib within the Babri Masjid and also conducted a 'havan' inside it. On the same day, Muhammad Asghar, the mosque's official, initiated legal proceedings against the individual responsible for erecting a platform in the courtyard, as reported by the newspaper. In 1885, according to media accounts, Raghubar Das, a priest of the Nirmohi Akhara, filed a lawsuit seeking permission to build a temple in the outer courtyard.

During that era, the British had demarcated distinct worship areas for the two faiths, placing a railing to prevent disputes. The 2019 verdict noted, "It is said that up to that time, Hindus and Muslims alike used to worship in the mosque temple. Since British Rule, a railing has been put up to prevent the disputes, within which, in the mosque, the Muhammadans pray, while outside the fence, the Hindus have raised a platform on which they make their offerings."

On the night of December 22, 1949, the 'Ram Lalla' idols mysteriously appeared inside the mosque following a week-long Ramayan Paath organised by Goraksha Peeth chief Mahant Digvijay Nath. While Muslims assert that Hindu leaders placed the idol, the Nirmohi Akhara sought the opportunity to worship the idols, and simultaneously, the Sunni Central Waqf Board aimed to control the site, according to media reports. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru instructed the state government to remove the idols, but city magistrate Guru Dutt Singh intervened, preventing then Chief Minister Govind Ballabh Pant from doing so.

Citing law and order concerns, the district magistrate, KK Nair, also refused to remove the idols, leading to the municipal board acquiring the site where the idol remained. Media reports state that in 1989, the then-Rajiv Gandhi government unlocked the Babri Masjid, allowing Hindus to worship inside.

This marked a seismic shift in the movement, with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) subsequently advocating for the construction of the Ram Mandir by 1990. BJP stalwart LK Advani embarked on his rath yatra, intensifying the momentum of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. The climax occurred in 1992, when Hindu activists demolished the Babri Masjid, sparking riots across India.

Following these events, the Lok Sabha passed the Acquisition of Certain Area in the Ayodhya Act, allowing the Centre to acquire 67.7 acres of land, including the disputed area. The Act specified that the acquisition was necessary to establish a Ram temple, a mosque, amenities for pilgrims, a library, a museum, and other suitable facilities. Dr Ismail Faruqui challenged the act, but a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled the acquisition as legal. The verdict stated that a mosque was not an 'essential part of the practice of the religion of Islam' and that namaz could be offered anywhere.

In 2002, the Allahabad High Court initiated hearings on the title of the disputed land, prompting a survey by the Archaeological Survey of India in 2003. The survey claimed to find fragments of a 10th-century Hindu temple. Subsequently, the Supreme Court ordered a status quo until the Allahabad High Court delivered its verdict.

In 2010, the Allahabad High Court, in a 2-1 ruling by Justices SU Khan, Sudhir Agarwal, and DV Sharma, declared both Hindus and Muslims as joint title holders of the disputed area. The court divided the 2.77-acre property between the Hindu Mahasabha, Sunni Waqf Board, and Nirmohi Akhara. It designated the central dome of the Babri Masjid as the 'exact birthplace of Lord Ram,' to be given to Hindus. The Muslims were allotted a third of the area in the inner and outer courtyards, while the Nirmohi Akhara received the Ram Chabutra, Bhandar, and Sita Rasoi structures in the outer courtyard.

Challenges from all three parties led to the Supreme Court's involvement in 2011, resulting in a stay on the Allahabad High Court order. In a landmark 2019 verdict led by then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, the Supreme Court ruled that the temple would be constructed on the Ayodhya land. The court also directed the government to provide Muslim parties with an alternative five-acre plot. On August 5, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Ram Temple construction.

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Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel OBE

Pension Crisis and the Need for a Revolutionary Asset Management Approach The Current State of Pension Management: A Crisis Unfolding The United Kingdom, like many other nations, is grappling with a burgeoning pension crisis. This situation draws uncomfortable parallels with the infamous Post Office scandal, underscoring systemic failures in financial advisory and management services. A critical examination reveals that Independent Financial Advisors (IFAs) and wealth managers often funnel clients into underperforming funds laden with exorbitant fees.

This practice is akin to second-hand car salesmen pushing subpar products without adequate client engagement.

The repercussions are evident: numerous individuals have lamented their meager pension growth – a paltry 5% over five years or 20% over a decade. Workplace pensions are not exempt from this malaise, suffering similar issues of poor performance and high fees.

The Root of the Problem: IFAs and Fund Managers The core issue lies in the disconnect between clients and fund managers. IFAs, acting as intermediaries, rarely possess the deep investment acumen required to navigate the complex financial markets effectively. Their role often reduces to that of salespeople, prioritizing commission over client welfare. This misalignment of interests leads to a lack of personalization in investment strategies and a reliance on generic, underperforming funds. Furthermore, the absence of direct communication between clients and fund managers exacerbates the problem, leaving clients in the dark about the rationale behind investment decisions.

A Vision for Change: Direct Access, Education, and Lifelong Support My ambition is to revolutionize asset management by fostering a direct conduit between investors and their investments. This approach is not merely a business model; it is a campaign to redefine the ethos of asset management.

The vision encompasses several key tenets: Direct Access to their investments: Investors should have unhindered access to the individual with fund management expertise, but the investor should be in direct ownership of their investments. This transparency ensures that investment decisions are made with a clear understanding of the client's goals and risk tolerance. And by the client, equipped with the education.

Empowering Through Education: Investors must be equipped with the knowledge to understand their investments. This empowerment through education enables them to make informed decisions and engage meaningfully with their investments. It takes me for instance one hour to bring someone up to date with knowhow who has never invested before.

Comprehensive Data Availability: Investors should have access to all relevant data about their investments. This includes performance metrics to give them control which with the education they received puts them in charge.

Personalized Hand-Holding: Asset management should be a journey of collaboration between the investor and the expert fund manager who acts as educator not as someone doing the picking or making the decisions. This partnership entails ongoing support, tailored data, and adjustments to strategies as life circumstances evolve.

Conclusion: A New Dawn in Asset Management The current pension crisis is a clarion call for a radical overhaul of asset management practices. My approach is designed to address the systemic issues plaguing the industry by fostering a relationship of trust, transparency, and mutual respect between investors and expert fund managers. This model not only promises better financial outcomes but also restores faith in the asset management industry. It's time to move away from the antiquated, salesdriven model and embrace a future where the investor's financial well-being is the paramount concern.

Hunt hints at more tax cuts soon Jeremy Hunt has suggested the possibility of significant tax reductions in the upcoming Budget, signalling a strategic move by the Conservatives to appeal to voters in anticipation of the next general election.

The Chancellor expressed the inclination for the UK to follow the example of prosperous low-tax emphasising economies, their dynamism and competitiveness. While speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he observed that economies experienc-

ing faster growth in North America and Asia often had lower taxes.

Hunt believes that lowtax economies are not only more dynamic and competitive but also generate greater revenue for public

FTSE 100 CEO loses £23m pay, benefits after dismissal Gold producer Endeavour Mining is set to recover over $29 million in pay and awards from its former CEO, Sébastien de Montessus, who was dismissed this month for alleged "serious misconduct" linked to a multimillion-dollar "irregular payment."

London-based Endeavour announced that de Montessus, who had led the FTSE 100 company since 2016, would be required to forfeit $29.1 million (£22.9 million) in remuneration. As the highest-paid FTSE 100 CEO in 2021, de Montessus will not receive any salary, pension, benefits, bonus, or share awards for the 2023 and 2024 financial years, amounting to $17.6 million. Additionally, the remuneration committee invoked a "clawback" for 2021 and 2022, totalling an extra $11.5 million.

Part of this sum will be offset against previous long-term incentive plan awards, but de Montessus is personally responsible for repaying $2.7 million. Endeavour announced de Montessus's immediate departure earlier this month and disclosed an investigation into whistleblower allegations regarding his conduct with colleagues.

Following the announcement, Endeavour's shares experienced a 12% decline, making it the largest decliner on the FTSE 100 for that day.

Endeavour Mining, which operates four mines in West Africa, including in Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso, explained that the investigation into the irregular payment pertained to a $5.9 million instruction by de Montessus, discovered during a review of acquisitions and disposals.

Google plans $1 billion investment in UK data centre Google has announced a £1 billion investment in constructing a data centre just outside of London, marking the U.S. technology giant's latest commitment to meeting the increasing demand for internet services in the region.

The data centre, situated on a 33acre (13-hectare) site acquired by Google in 2020, will be positioned in Waltham Cross, approximately 15 miles north of central London, according to a statement from the Alphabet-owned company. In response to Google's investment, the British government, advocating for increased business investment to support new infrastructure, particularly in growing sectors like technology and artificial intelligence, hailed it as a "huge vote of confidence" in the UK. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak commented in the Google statement,

Tenants sacrificing heating to pay rent A recent survey conducted by Quotezone.co.uk has uncovered that financially struggling rental tenants are making sacrifices, such as going without heating and food, to meet their monthly rent obligations.

According to the study, 26% of tenants reported turning off their heating to ensure they could afford their rent, while 15% stated they had skipped meals for the same reason.

Additionally, 7% admitted to turning off electrical items to save on energy bills.

The combination of a cost of living crisis, high fuel costs, and soaring rents is putting significant strain on tenants. More than

Jeremy Hunt

services like the NHS. However, he cautioned that it was premature to outline specific measures at this stage, stating, "That’s the direction of travel we would like to go in, but it is too early to say what we are going to do."

Scheduled to unveil the Budget on March 6, Mr Hunt also floated the idea of presenting an Autumn Statement before the next election to further alleviate tax burdens.

In remarks reported by

half of renters (53%) expressed stress over how they would find the funds to meet their rent payments. Furthermore, 37% of tenants revealed that concerns about paying rent have adversely affected their mental health.

This alarming trend comes amid official figures showing a 5.7% increase in private rent over the 12 months leading up to September 2023. This represents the most substantial annual percentage change recorded since data collection began in 2006.

The findings underscore the urgent need to address the challenges faced by tenants grappling with the financial burden of housing costs.

"Google's £1 billion investment is a testament to the fact that the UK is a centre of excellence in technology and has huge growth potential." This investment follows Google's £1 billion acquisition of a central London office building in 2022, near Covent Garden, and another site in nearby King's Cross, where the company is constructing a new office.

The announcement comes shortly after Microsoft unveiled plans to invest £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion) in Britain over three years, including expanding its data centre capacity to support future AI services. Alphabet Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat stated in the release, "This new data centre will help meet the growing demand for our AI and cloud services and bring crucial compute capacity to businesses across the UK while creating construction and technical jobs."

Over 47,000 UK businesses 'on brink of collapse' A report by insolvency specialists Begbies Traynor reveals that over 47,000 UK companies are teetering on the edge of collapse, reflecting a 25% surge in businesses grappling with "critical" financial distress during the final quarter of 2023. This marks the second consecutive quarter with a 25% increase in critical financial distress. Notably, the construction and property sectors contribute to 30% of businesses facing this predicament.

In various industries, the rate of increase in critical financial distress has surged, particularly in the construction sector (32.6%), health and education (41.3%), real estate and property services (25%), and support services (24%). The Bank of England's decision to raise interest rates from 0.1% in 2021 to 5.25% has significantly elevated borrowing costs for UK businesses, restricting their ability to manage financial challenges through inexpensive debt.

By the end of 2023, 539,900 UK firms were under "significant" financial stress, reflecting a 12.9% increase from the third quarter of the same year. Most businesses facing critical financial distress are located in London and the south-east, while the fewest are in the north-east and Northern Ireland.

the Guardian, he mentioned, "The Prime Minister hasn’t decided on the date of the election yet, or if he has, he hasn’t told me. By law, there have to be two fiscal events each year. We will see where we get to after the spring Budget."

According to a senior government official cited by the FT, inserting an Autumn Statement between the upcoming Tory party conference and a potential November election could allow the Conservatives to emphasise tax cuts at three consecutive fiscal events.

Tata Steel closes Port Talbot furnaces, risking 3,000 jobs The owners of Port Talbot Steelworks have declined a trade union proposal aimed at maintaining the operation of its blast furnaces, jeopardising nearly 3,000 jobs and positioning the UK to be the sole major economy unable to produce steel from raw materials.

Tata Steel, the Indian-owned parent company of Port Talbot, conveyed to workers' representatives that it could no longer sustain production at the financially struggling plant in south Wales. This decision comes as Tata Steel embarks on a four-year transition plan towards more environmentally friendly production methods.

Despite receiving £500 million in government aid for this transition, the company informed workers of the financial challenges at a summit held at the St James’ Court Hotel in London, owned by the Tata Group.

The rejection of the union proposal, described as a "crushing blow" by one union, raises concerns about the future of UK steelmaking. The shadow business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, criticised the government for providing Tata with funds for its green transition plans without securing job guarantees, characterising the strategy as "£500 million for 3,000 job losses."

Tata Steel's forthcoming plan, anticipated to be formally announced on Friday, involves the closure of Port Talbot's blast furnaces while the company constructs electric arc furnaces.

These furnaces use recycled scrap to produce steel, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective process.

Deliveroo raises profit forecast with returning takeaways Deliveroo has revised its annual profit forecast following an increased demand for takeaways in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The group experienced a 4% rise in total gross transaction value to £1.85 billion in the last quarter of 2023. Specifically, it increased by 7% to £1.1 billion in Britain and Ireland and by 1% internationally.

In the fourth quarter, order numbers in the UK and Ireland saw a modest 1% growth to £40.9 million, while overall order numbers remained unchanged across the group due to a 2% decline in the average number of active customers on the platform.

Deliveroo attributed the lower revenue growth to a change in marketing spending and targeted investments in consumer fees.

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Gautam Adani bets big on vast Jagrut Kotecha takes charge solar and wind plant at PepsiCo India In the desert along the Pakistan border, billionaire Gautam Adani is constructing the world's largest renewable energy park, a move aimed at securing his wealth as he looks to transition away from coal.

Gautam Adani's diverse business empire, spanning ports, airports, media, and energy, briefly elevated him to the position of the second-richest world's individual in 2022, with a staggering $154 billion fortune. However, just a year earlier, his companies faced allegations of a "bold stock manipulation and accounting fraud scheme" by the US-based shortseller Hindenburg

Gautam Adani

Research, resulting in a significant drop in their market value, which exceeded $150 billion.

Subsequently, Adani's companies have managed to regain a significant portion of their earlier losses.

Sagar Adani, Gautam's nephew and executive director of Adani Green Energy, told AFP that the

project's teams are working "at an accelerated pace".

When completed in 2027, the $2.3billion Khavda Renewable Energy Park will cover 726 square kilometres (280 square miles) -- nearly the size of New York City. The objective of the park is to achieve a remarkable capacity to produce 30 gigawatts of both solar and wind energy. This amount of energy would be sufficient to supply power to the residences of approximately 18 million individuals, surpassing the combined populations of London and New York.

India has more gold reserves than Saudi Arabia, UK The most recent estimates from the World Gold Council (WGC) stated that India now holds the ninthlargest gold reserves globally.

India's gold reserves, totaling 2,191.53 tonnes and valued at $131,795 million, position the country ahead of affluent Arab and Western nations, including Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.

In contrast, the United States secured the leading position with a substantial

gold reserve of 8,133.46 tonnes, as indicated by the WGC list, valued at $489,133 million. Germany followed in a distant second place, boasting estimated gold reserves of 3,352 tonnes.

Italy, France, and Russia hold the third, fourth, and fifth positions respectively, as reported by media.

Russia is currently making efforts to retrieve its gold reserves that were seized by Western countries in the aftermath of its

invasion of Ukraine. To prevent the West from continuing to hold these frozen reserves, Moscow has suggested the possibility of utilising them to fund a climate change initiative aimed at assisting developing nations.

Russia's climate envoy recently said at the COP28 summit the move would help to close the gap between developed and developing countries in tackling climate change.

Pepsico has undergone a leadership reorganisation, with Jagrut Kotecha appointed as the CEO of the company's India business, while Ahmed El Sheikh, the current CEO, will now lead the Middle East business unit.

Kotecha, who currently serves as the Chief Commercial Officer for PepsiCo in Africa, Middle East, and South Asia (AMESA), will step into the role of CEO for PepsiCo India, according to a statement by the company.

This move is part of Pepsico's strategic realignment of leadership responsibilities.

Ahmed El Sheikh, who has successfully led PepsiCo's India business for nearly seven years, is set to

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has announced its plans to commission a new energy Giga complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat, during the latter half of 2024, as stated in the company's earnings report. Spanning across 5,000 acres, the Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex includes five Giga factories dedicated to photovoltaic panels, fuel cell systems, green hydrogen, energy storage, and power electronics.

“On track to commence new energy facilities in phases this year," the company said.

Post third-quarter earnings announcement, RIL chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani said that the “New

James Quincey

merger agreement and has initiated arbitration.

Zee has contested all of Sony's claims, refuting the assertions and expressing intentions to take legal action against Sony while contesting the claims in arbitration proceedings.

The termination of the merger is anticipated to adversely affect both Sony and Zee. The collapse of the SonyZee merger negotiations comes at a time when the market is going through digital disruption and consolidation, where Reliance Industries’ Viacom18 and the India unit of Walt Disney are planning a merger.

transition to new responsibilities starting from March 2024, the company announced.

"This leadership change, reflecting PepsiCo's dynamic and forwardthinking global approach, has been meticulously planned and was communicated to the India office employees yesterday (Thursday) as part of a series

Reliance to commission green energy Giga complex in Jamnagar

Coca-Cola’s CEO praises Sony ends $10bn merger with Zee, seeks India at WEF in Davos $90m termination fee After two years of stalled negotiations, Japan's Sony Corp has officially cancelled the planned $10 billion merger between its Indian unit and Zee Entertainment Enterprises.

The termination notice, spanning 62 pages, from Sony Corp came at a point when Zee had sought an extension of the deal deadline. Sony attributed the termination to unmet merger conditions, with the primary point of contention between the two companies revolving around the leadership of the combined entity.

Zee proposed MD Punit Goenka would be at the helm, but Sony opposed this choice due to an ongoing regulatory investigation against him.

Sony insisted on its nominee, India MD N P Singh, leading the combined entity. Sony is seeking $90 million from Zee as termination fees for alleged breaches of the

Jagrut Kotecha

of leadership changes across AMESA," it said.

Eugene Willemsen, PepsiCo's CEO for Africa, Middle East, & South Asia, emphasised that India continues to be a vital market within the company's global strategy.

"Over the last six years, Ahmed has been instrumental in transforming our business, driving innovation, and steering the team through challenging landscapes. His leadership saw the introduction of pioneering products and various community-focused initiatives, and I look forward to continuing to work with him in his new capacity," he said.

“India has already seized the moment,”stated Hardeep Singh Puri, India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, during a panel at the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Coca-Cola's James Quincey agreed, stating, "The Indian government has seized the moment.” Quincey made this remark during a panel discussion with three Indian union ministers at the annual global conference in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. He highlighted the substantial reduction in bureaucratic hurdles and the impressive strength of digital platforms in India. In addition, improved physical infrastructure, the electrification of rural areas, and the wide and rapid adoption of the unified payments interface (UPI) have all helped the growth story.

While India is poised to grow at 6-8%, the consumer industry is growing even faster, both volumetrically and in terms of revenues, according to Quincey. “The framework and platform is there for growth so I think it's about the private sector seizing the moment,” he said.

Coca-Cola, headquartered in Atlanta, US, isn't starting from scratch. India is already its fifth-largest global market.

The company is significantly investing in the country, establishing new plants in Gujarat and Telangana, boosting advertising efforts, and introducing a ready-to-drink tea to cater to the chai-loving population.

Energy Giga Complex is all set to be commissioned in the second half of CY24. I am confident that Reliance's New Energy business will play a pivotal role in the global movement for adoption of cleaner fuels."

The company has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat government to establish a 100-gigawatt renewable power facility with a capital expenditure of ₹5 lakh crore.

Additionally, it has secured preliminary approval for 74,750 hectares of land in Kutch for its green hydrogen project.

The Giga complex is set to become one of the world's largest integrated renewable energy manufacturing facilities.

India imports bull semen from Brazil to raise milk production India has recently imported 40,000 doses of bull semen from Brazil for the first time. This move aims to enhance milk production through artificial insemination, as confirmed by a senior official from the Brazilian embassy.

The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), responsible for importing these doses, has a goal to augment the population of Indian native breeds such as Gir and Kankrej while simultaneously boosting their milk production.

NDDB operates under government ownership and manages the well-known Mother Dairy brand.

“The first imports of 40,000 semen doses just took place this month by India’s NDDB. It’s been a project for a long time. For three to four years, they have been discussing it.

Though it was a tough discussion, we managed to solve it and now import has taken place," said Angelo de Queiroz Mauricio,

agricultural attaché at Brazil’s embassy in New Delhi.

This development coincides with the government's ambitious target of achieving an annual milk production of 330 million tonnes (mt) by FY34. In FY23, India generated 230.6 mt of milk, marking a 3.8% growth compared to the previous year and a substantial 22.8% increase since FY19, as stated in an official Indian government release. India stands as the world's leading milk producer, contributing 24% to the global total, with the US and China following closely.

However, the country's current milk production matches its consumption, necessitating efforts to boost output, especially as demand is anticipated to keep rising.

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in brief

Indian student enrollment in Canada drops by 86% amid political dispute The number of study permits to Indian students in Canada saw a significant decline in late last year. This decline was attributed to the expulsion of Canadian diplomats by India, who were responsible for processing the permits. Additionally, fewer Indian students applied for permits due to a diplomatic conflict related to the murder of a Khalistani terrorist in Canada, a top Canadian official told the media.

In an interview, Immigration Minister Marc Miller expressed his belief that

the number of study permits to Indian students is unlikely to recover quickly. Diplomatic tensions escalated following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement in June, suggesting evidence linking Indian agents to the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.

The tensions are likely to weigh on the numbers going forward, Miller said.

"Our relationship with India has really halved our ability to process a lot of applications from India," Miller said.

In October, Canada faced a significant diplomatic setback when New Delhi ordered the withdrawal of 41 diplomats, which accounted for two-thirds of its staff in India. Furthermore, the ongoing dispute has motivated Indian students to explore educational opportunities in other nations, as confirmed by a spokeswoman for the minister.

As a result of these factors, the issuance of study permits to Indian students in the fourth quarter of the previous year witnessed an astounding 86% decline, plummeting from

Climate crisis raises cancer risk for millions in Bangladesh Research indicates that climate breakdown will increase the risk of cancer for tens of millions of people in Bangladesh due to contaminated well water.

The rising sea levels, unpredictable flooding, and extreme weather associated with climate change are expected to expedite the release of hazardous levels of arsenic into the country's drinking water, warn scientists.

This will further exacerbate an existing public health crisis in Bangladesh, where millions already suffer from skin, bladder, and lung cancers due to arsenic poisoning.

“Chronic arsenic poi-

soning from drinking water … is a real problem, not a theoretical exercise,” said the lead researcher, Dr Seth Frisbie, an emeritus professor of chemistry at Norwich University, in a recent presentation of the findings. “I once walked into a village where no one was over 30 years old.”

The crisis of arsenic water contamination traces its roots back to the 1970s when Bangladesh faced one of the world's highest rates of infant mortality caused by polluted surface water. In response, UN aid agencies and NGOs initiated an extensive program involving

deep tube wells to offer clean water for domestic use, crop irrigation, and fish farming. Although these new wells effectively lowered child mortality rates by minimising waterborne diseases, it was evident by the 1990s that water sourced from sedimentary rocks beneath Bangladesh contained elevated levels of naturally occurring arsenic.

The first case of chronic arsenic poisoning from drinking well water was diagnosed in Bangladesh in 1993 and the World Health Organization would go on to describe it as the “largest mass poisoning of a population in history”.

Uganda's President Museveni applauds Indian diaspora At the summit of the NonAligned Movement in Kampala, President Yoweri Museveni praised the noteworthy contributions made by individuals returning from India to the economic development of his country.Highlighting their remarkable achievements, President Museveni stated, "I was asking people how many factories have been built by our Indian returnees. They told me about the 900 factories that they had built since they came back."

Contemplating Uganda's history, especially the expul-

Yoweri Museveni

sion of Asians, primarily Indian Ugandans, during the era of Idi Amin's rule, President Museveni acknowledged the unfortunate errors made by the government.

He stated, "NAM countries also sometimes make

mistakes like here in Uganda." He recounted the adverse consequences of Amin's actions, including the economic impact on his country.

India during Amin's time had cut ties with his regime due to his actions.

President Museveni emphasised the adverse impact of Amin's decisions on the country's economy, noting, "You had a leader of a NAM country undermining his own economy." The expelled individuals were actively involved in various sectors, including sugar, hotels, and steel production.

Pakistan expels Iranian ambassador, recalls its envoy after 'unprovoked' missile strike Amid escalating tensions triggered by Iran's breach of Pakistani airspace, Islamabad has recalled its ambassador from Tehran and expelled the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan.

This decision follows a recent incident where Iranian missiles and drones struck targets in Pakistan's Balochistan, reportedly destroying what semi-official media referred to as "two key strongholds of the Jaysh alDhulm (Jaish al-Adl) terrorist

group."

Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson termed the strike as an “illegal and unacceptable act” and asserted that Islamabad reserves the right to respond, Reuters reported. Further, all ongoing and planned high-level visits between Pakistan and Iran in the coming days have been suspended, the spokesperson said.

Previously, Pakistan strongly condemned the unprovoked violation of its

airspace, stating that the attacks led to the tragic death of two innocent children and the injury of three girls.

The statement by the Pakistani foreign ministry said a protest had been lodged with Tehran, and the Iranian charge d’affaires had been summoned to the ministry “to convey our strongest condemnation”. The attacks took place in the town of Panjgur close to the border with Iran, media reported.

Marc Miller 108,940 to 14,910, according to official data that had not been disclosed previously.

KENYA MOVES 21 BLACK RHINOS TO LOISABA CONSERVANCY Kenya has initiated its largest-ever rhino relocation, aiming to move 21 critically endangered rhinos to a new location. The challenging process involves tracking, darting, and transporting the rhinos hundreds of miles in trucks. A previous attempt in 2018 resulted in the death of all 11 relocated rhinos. The current project faced initial challenges when a rhino was not subdued by a tranquiliser dart, prompting its release to avoid harm. The relocation, involving both male and female black rhinos, will span weeks as they move from three conservation parks to the Loisaba Conservancy in central Kenya, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service.

Sri Lankan church BULGARI INTRODUCES KADA BRACELET IN seeks sainthood for INDIA Renowned jewellers Bulgari are honouring the Easter attack victims, traditional Indian bangle, the Kada, with their exclusive 'B. zero1 Kada Bracelet.' Made in including 11 Indians yellow gold, this unique creation pays homage

On the fifth anniversary of the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bombings, Sri Lanka's catholic church, led by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo, has decided to progress toward canonizing all 273 individuals, including 11 Indians, who lost their lives in the tragic incident. This announcement was made during a mass ceremony.

"A person can be named a saint only after the completion of 5 years since one's sacrifice.

Therefore, we will move towards declaring Easter Sunday victims as saints on April 21 this year," Ranjith said.

On April 21, 2019, nine suicide bombers affiliated with the local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat (NTJ), linked to ISIS, carried out a series of explosions targeting three churches and three luxury hotels in Sri Lanka.

"Those who died in churches in April 2019 sacrificed their lives for what they believed in. They came to church because they believed in Christ," Ranjith said.

In the past five years, Cardinal Ranjith has been in conflict with the government, advocating for justice on behalf of the victims. He criticised all investigations, branding them as deceptive and a political smokescreen.

Ranjith has called for an international inquiry into the attacks, while the government asserts the arrest of hundreds of individuals and progress in legal proceedings.

Initially, it was reported that 270 people had lost their lives in the attacks.

Indian-origin Singapore minister resigns after corruption charges Singapore's Prime Minister disclosed the resignation of the Transport Minister, S Iswaran, who faces 27 charges in a corruption investigation that has implicated a prominent hotel tycoon. Iswaran, aged 61, was arrested in July 2023 and subsequently released on bail, marking a rare instance of high-level corruption scrutiny in the citystate.

He has declared his intention to plead not guilty to the charges brought forth by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau during his court appearance.

An AFP reporter saw Iswaran leave the court with his lawyers after his appearance.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed shortly after the hearing that Iswaran had submitted his resignation from the government, parliament and ruling People's Action Party (PAP) on January 16 after being given formal notice of the charges against him.

Iswaran has also pledged to return the money received as part of his salary and allowances since his arrest, Lee said.

to India's rich cultural connection with precious metals and stones. Symbolising "modern India," it seamlessly blends deeply rooted traditions with contemporary, global perspectives. Commenting on the occasion, Jean-Christophe Babin, Bulgari CEO, said, “With this important launch we wish to honour the Kada, recognizing its eternal meaning deeply rooted in Indian culture. The B. zero1 Kada bracelet is a jewel that embodies contemporary design and tradition at the same time, maintaining the consistency of the past reinterpreted in a contemporary form and with the same spirit of India, yesterday and today.”

SANJAY VIRMANI TO LEAD FBI COUNTERTERRORISM DIVISION IN DC FBI Director Christopher Wray has appointed Sanjay Virmani as the special agent in charge of the Counterterrorism Division at the Washington Field Office. Formerly the deputy assistant director in the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC, Virmani started his FBI career as a special agent in 2003, specialising in cyber and counterterrorism matters at the San Francisco Field Office. Over the years, he progressed to supervisory roles, including leading the San Francisco Field Office's Joint Terrorism Task Force in 2010. In 2013, Virmani was chosen to head the INTERPOL Digital Crime Center in Singapore, overseeing operational support for Interpol's 190 member countries in addressing cybercrime threats.

BOBI WINE, UGANDAN OPPOSITION LEADER, CLAIMS HOUSE ARREST Ugandan opposition leader and expresidential candidate Bobi Wine stated that his residence was surrounded by police, placing him "under house arrest" in anticipation of a scheduled protest. The opposition had organised demonstrations highlighting the state of Uganda's roads, coinciding with two global summits hosted by the country this month. Wine, a former pop star turned politician, reported being prevented from leaving his home in Magere, situated north of the capital Kampala, by police and soldiers.. "The cowardly military and police have surrounded our home and put us under house arrest but the protest is on," the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader said on his official social media accounts. "Fix our roads! Free Political Prisoners! Free Uganda!"

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in brief KENYA CULT LEADER CHARGED WITH ‘TERRORISM’ OVER STARVATION DEATHS In a Kenyan court, cult leader Paul Mackenzie, self-proclaimed pastor and head of the Good News International Church, has been charged with "terrorism"-related offences, along with 94 others, in connection with the deaths of 429 of his followers. The bodies were discovered in the Shakahola forest near the Indian Ocean, leading to Mackenzie's arrest last April. These charges, marking the first legal action against him, were officially announced during a court appearance in the southeastern city of Mombasa. Mackenzie and his co-defendants faced accusations of inciting their acolytes in southeastern Kenya to starve themselves and their children to death, purportedly in a belief that this drastic action would enable them to ascend to heaven before the impending end of the world.

SIX TEMPLES ATTACKED IN CALIFORNIA IN 2 WEEKS: INDIAN-AMERICAN POLITICIAN Democratic candidate Ritesh Tandon, vying for the US House seat in California's 17th Congressional District, asserted that multiple temples have been vandalised in the last two weeks. Tandon criticised Senator Aisha Wahab, accusing her of inaction following the attacks on the temples in California.

He suggested that it could be an opportune moment to contemplate a recall, specifically mentioning Senator Wahab. "Today, we held a protest rally in front of Senator Wahab's office, seeking a meeting with her or her staff.

Unfortunately, despite it being within office hours on a working day, the office was closed. This situation highlights the use of your tax dollars and suggests it might be time to consider a recall," he wrote on X - formerly known as Twitter.

CHINESE COMPANY GRANTS EMPLOYEE "MOOD LEAVE" FOR UNUSUAL REASON A woman in China gained attention when her company approved "mood leave" for her due to her dissatisfaction with the absence of snow in her location, as reported by the media. The incident sparked various reactions on Chinese social media platforms. Hailing from Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, the woman shared a video online detailing the process of obtaining this distinctive leave. In the clip, she is seen filling out the leave application form and stating the reason as "it isn't snowing in Hangzhou and I am feeling emotional".

According to the woman, the company has always offered "mood leave" in addition to leaves on Women's Day, Children's Day and breaks for weddings and bereavement.

ZOMBIE' VIRUS FROZEN FOR 48,500 YEARS IN ARCTIC COULD TRIGGER PANDEMIC Scientists are sounding the alarm about the potential hazards of viruses lurking beneath ice caps, particularly in the Arctic. The melting Arctic permafrost, driven by global warming, could unleash dormant 'zombie viruses,' leading to a potential global health crisis, warns a media report. The threat intensifies with rising temperatures causing the thawing of frozen ice. To comprehend the risks associated with these viruses, a scientist successfully revived some from samples collected in Siberian permafrost last year.

These viruses have remained frozen in the ground for thousands of years. Geneticist Jean-Michel Claverie of Aix-Marseille University said, "At the moment, analyses of pandemic threats focus on diseases that might emerge in southern regions and then spread north. By contrast, little attention has been given to an outbreak that might emerge in the far north and then travel south - and that is an oversight, I believe. There are viruses up there that have the potential to infect humans and start a new disease outbreak."

Indian CEO dies in stage mishap The CEO and founder of a multinational software company based in the US, of Indian origin, tragically lost his life in an accident at Ramoji Film City (RFC). The incident unfolded during a corporate event marking the 25th anniversary of Vistex Asia-Pacific Private Ltd. CEO Sanjay Shah, aged 56, succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital, while the company's president, Vishwanath Raju Datla, is in critical condition, fighting for his life, after an iron cage contraption collapsed.

Vistex had arranged accom-

Sanjay Shah

modations for its staff at RFC and had scheduled its silver jubilee celebrations to span two days. According to a company

representative, the descent of Shah and Raju from the cage onto the stage was a prearranged event intended to launch the celebrations.

The accident took place at night when Shah and Raju were being brought down from a height in the iron cage with the help of ropes and pulleys to the dais below. “Suddenly, one of the two wires attached to the cage snapped. Both plunged more than 15 feet and landed on the concrete dais. This caused multiple injuries,” sub inspector D Karunakar Reddy of Abdullapurmet police station

told the media.

“At the time of the accident, music was being played and Shah and Raju were waving to their staff while being lowered.”

They were rushed to a local hospital and later shifted to a corporate hospital when their condition deteriorated. Shah died a little while later. The cage had iron wires on both sides, grills on three sides and an opening through which the guests entered it. “A rolling machine was pulling the cage when the strings broke. The compartment collapsed at great speed,” a police officer said.

Perth to build world's tallest 721-foot Ram Temple Australia's Perth is set to house the world's tallest Ram temple, towering at about 721 feet. The ShriRam Vedic and Cultural Trust leads this monumental endeavour, spanning 150 acres and anticipated to cost around ₹600 crore.

Dr Harendra Rana, the deputy head of the Trust, revealed that the project extends beyond the conventional concept of a temple. The International Shri Ram Vedic

And Cultural Union (ISVACU) which is overseeing the project has envisioned the temple as a multifaceted hub encompassing cultural, spiritual, and community activities.

Accessible via River Road, the temple complex will showcase notable features such as a candle porch, Chitrakoot Vatika, and Panchvati Vatika gardens, along with a planned Ram Niwas hotel. The inclusive design will incorporate cultural spaces like

the Sita Rasoi restaurant, Ramayana Sadan Library, and Tulsidas Hall.

Within the temple premises, various spiritual spaces are planned, encompassing a yoga court, meditation court, Veda learning center, research center, and a museum. Additionally, technological features, including the technology garden, will be integrated into the temple's design.

Environmental sustainabili-

Japan becomes the fifth country to land a spacecraft on the moon Japan achieved a significant milestone by becoming the fifth country in history to land a spacecraft on the moon, successfully executing a soft landing without astronauts on board. Nonetheless, space authorities have indicated the need for additional time to assess whether the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) accomplished its primary mission objective of achieving a precise and pinpoint landing on the lunar surface.

Officials reported that the spacecraft's solar panel had malfunctioned, potentially limiting its lunar activity duration. Despite this setback, space authorities believe that SLIM's small rovers were successfully deployed and are transmitting data back to Earth.

According to Hitoshi Kuninaka, head of

the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, a division of Japan's space agency, the solar battery of SLIM is not generating power, and it has only a few remaining hours of battery life. The primary focus now is on maximising data collection regarding the moon and the landing using the remaining battery capacity.

Japan follows the United States, the Soviet Union, China and India in reaching the moon.

Kuninaka said he believes that Japan’s space program at least achieved “minimum” success. There was a tense wait for news after the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s mission control initially said that SLIM was on the lunar surface, but that it was still “checking its status.”

Laser on NASA’s LRO successfully ‘pings’ Chandrayaan-3 moon lander For the very first time on the lunar surface, a laser beam has been effectively transmitted and reflected between an orbiting NASA spacecraft and a device the size of an Oreo located on the Indian Space Research Organisation's Vikram lander as part of India's Chandrayaan-3 mission.

In separate statements, both space agencies confirmed the success of this groundbreaking experiment. This achievement now paves the way for a novel method of precisely determining the location of targets on the Moon's surface, as highlighted by the American space agency. The milestone occurred at 3 pm EST on December 12, 2023, when NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) directed its laser altimeter instrument towards Vikram. Positioned near the Manzinus crater in the Moon's south pole, the lander was 100 kilometres away from LRO when laser pulses were transmitted toward it.

Upon detecting reflected light from a minuscule NASA retroreflector positioned on Vikram, the orbiter successfully confirmed the effectiveness of the employed technique, as stated by the space agency. The

method involves sending laser pulses towards an object and gauging the time it takes for the light to rebound, a widely utilised approach for tracking the locations of Earth-orbiting satellites from the ground.

However, employing this technique in reverse—sending laser pulses from a mobile spacecraft to a stationary one to ascertain its exact location—holds numerous potential applications, according to scientists.

ty is set to take centre stage through the inclusion of a biosewage treatment plant and a solar power plant, ensuring a "zero carbon footprint", the Trust said.

Beyond its role as a spiritual centre, the temple complex will be a vibrant cultural space.

ISVACU plans to organise cultural shows, celebrate festivals, and host holistic well-being programmes, fostering community engagement and inclusivity.

Netanyahu rejects Hamas deal to end war, release captives Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declined a Hamas proposal to end the conflict, release captives, and withdraw Israeli forces. Netanyahu, facing increasing domestic pressure to secure the release of captives, stated that accepting Hamas's conditions would leave the armed group "intact" and deem the sacrifices of Israel's soldiers as having "fallen in vain."

“I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas,” Netanyahu said.

“If we accept this, we won’t be able to guarantee the safety of our citizens. We will not be able to bring evacuees home safely and the next October 7 will only be a matter of time,” the Israeli leader added.

Netanyahu earlier repeated his opposition to an independent Palestinian state, insisting he would not compromise on “full Israeli security control over the entire area in the west of Jordan”.

Facing mounting challenges, Netanyahu is pressured from various angles: families of captives demand a deal for their return, farright coalition members advocate for a war escalation, and strained relations with the Biden administration intensify.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum initiated a protest outside Netanyahu's private home in Jerusalem last week, vowing to stay until he agrees to a resolution for the captives' release.

“If the prime minister decides to sacrifice the hostages, he should show leadership and honestly share his position with the Israeli public,” the group said in a statement.

North Korean teens sentenced to 12 years hard labour for watching K-pop Once again, North Korea faces scrutiny for penalising individuals who indulge in South Korean pop culture, music, and entertainment. Recent footage from the South and North Development (SAND) Institute reveals the conviction of two 16year-olds in Pyongyang solely for their engagement with South Korean movies and music videos. The purported video displays the public sentencing of the two teenagers to 12 years of hard labour, all for the act of watching K-pop.

Significantly, in a bid to thwart poten-

tial erosion of the regime's influence, the government led by Kim Jong Un imposes stringent measures against individuals involved with South Korean culture. North Korea is notorious for its strict control over information within its borders and restrictions on access to foreign media, including South Korean films and dramas. Frequently cited in reports, the government's punishment of individuals embracing South Korean culture is seen as an attempt to uphold a monopoly on information and mould the worldview of its citizens.

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Vadodara tragedy: 14 school kids, 2 teachers dead in boat capsizing Tragedy struck last week as at least 14 school students and two teachers drowned when their boat capsized in Harni Lake on the outskirts of Vadodara, Gujarat, according to media reports.

The victims, from a private school, were on a picnic. The boat, designed for 16 persons, was carrying 34 passengers during the incident, as reported by an unidentified police official.

Of the occupants, 30 were students aged between 12 to 13 years, and the remaining four were teachers.

Among the occupants, 18 students and two teachers were successfully rescued, and one student has been hospitalised at Sir Sayajirao General Hospital

for treatment, as reported by an unidentified police official. The National Disaster Response Force stated that the rescue operation faced challenges to the sludge due accumulated on the lake bed.

Responding to the incident, the Gujarat home

department has instructed the Vadodara district magistrate to conduct an investigation and submit a report within 10 days. The investigation aims to determine whether the accident resulted from negligence, according to media reports.

Panna Momaya, the

deputy commissioner of police, informed the media that a first information report has been filed against five individuals. They are charged under Indian Penal Code Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to culpable homicide), and 337 (rash or negligent act endangering human life).

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel stated that he has directed the district administration to promptly offer relief and treatment to those who were rescued.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 50,000 to them.

President Droupadi Murmu India surpasses Hong Kong cautions India's youth against to become the world's the misuse of technology fourth-largest stock market

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu presenting the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar to children at a function

President Droupadi Murmu cautioned India's youth against the misuse of technology, particularly mentioning crimes facilitated by deep fakes, financial fraud, and the exploitation of children. While presenting the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar to 19 children, she emphasised the need for vigilance and urged youngsters to stay away from wrongful activities, emphasising the potential dangers to their future.

Referring to the recent consecration of the Lord Ram idol in Ayodhya, Murmu encouraged adopting ideals from the Ramayana. The awards, spanning innovation, scholastic achievement, sports, arts and culture, social service, and bravery, aimed to recognise and encourage the diverse talents of young achievers.

Murmu stressed the importance of guiding youth in the right direction, helping them utilise their talents and energy effectively. Recognising the invaluable resources in India's youth, she underscored the need to equip them with technological skills, encourage innovation, and foster entrepreneurship for their success in a rapidly changing world. Additionally, she promoted participation in sports for physical and mental well-being, emphasising its role in instilling team spirit. Award winners received a medal, a ₹1 lakh cash prize, and a certificate.

Myanmar army aircraft crash lands at Mizoram's Lengpui, 4 critical An army aircraft crashlanded at Mizoram's Lengpui airport's tabletop runway with 14 crew members on board. Four crew members are reported to be critically injured and have been admitted to Lengpui hospital.

The aircraft was deployed to airlift Myanmar army personnel in batches who had fled the country amid conflict with rebels and sought refuge in Mizoram last week.

"All flights to Aizawl airport have been diverted after Myanmar military plane crash," a Mizoram government official said,

adding that aviation regulator DGCA has ordered an investigation into the incident. A total of 276 Myanmar army soldiers were transported to Aizawl for repatriation from the Lengpui airport.

The Myanmar aircraft was planned to conduct multiple sorties to transport the army personnel in batches. In the previous year, Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters transported 104 Myanmar army personnel from various locations in Mizoram to the border town of Moreh in Manipur, facilitating their repatriation.

India has surpassed Hong Kong to become the world's fourth-largest stock market, with a combined value of shares listed on Indian exchanges reaching USD 4.33 trillion, compared to Hong Kong's USD 4.29 trillion.

Contributing factors include robust GDP growth forecasts, manageable inflation levels, political stability at the central government level, and indications that the central bank has completed its monetary policy tightening.

The Indian stock market's capitalisation exceeded USD 4 trillion for the first time on December 5, 2023, with significant growth over the past four years. The top three global stock markets are currently the US, China, and Japan. The past 12 months have been exceptional for Indian investors, with the Sensex and Nifty gaining 17-18% in 2023, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined by 32-33%.

Foreign portfolio investors have shown renewed interest in India, contributing to record highs in benchmark stock indices. Analysts attribute India's success to its stable political environment, consumption-driven economy, and positioning as an alternative to China.

Despite potential volatility, experts anticipate India's continued growth, driven by themes such as the financialisation of savings, private capex revival, and infrastructure development. The contrasting fortunes of India and Hong Kong underscore India's economic resurgence and appeal to global investors.

India has 4th strongest military in world, US claims top spot again The Global Firepower rankings for 2024 maintain that the United States possesses the world's most powerful military, followed

by Russia and China. India secured the fourth position in the global military strength index, which assessed 145 countries.

Notably, Pakistan is ranked at number 9, while Bhutan is identified as having the least powerful military worldwide.

The index considers approximately 60 factors, encompassing troop numbers, military equipment, financial stability, geographic location, and available resources. In the assessment, India obtains a Power Index score of 0.1023, with a score of 0.0000 deemed 'perfect.'

Comparatively, the United States holds a Power Index score of 0.0699, Russia at 0.0702, and China at 0.0706.

Remarkably, South Korea surpassed the UK, securing the fifth position as the most powerful country globally in terms of military strength, according to the Global Firepower rankings. Additionally, GFP conducted an analysis of the defence budgets for the 145 countries under assessment.

The US spends the most money on its military with a defence budget of $831 billion. It's followed by China ($227 billion), Russia ($107 billion) and India ($74 million). Among the top five defence spenders, the US accounts for 63.3% of the total expenditure share.

Socialist icon Karpoori Thakur awarded Bharat Ratna, a day before centenary Karpoori Thakur, the esteemed socialist leader and former Chief Minister of Bihar, is set to receive the posthumous honour of Bharat Ratna, as declared by the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Fondly referred to as 'Jannayak' by his supporters, Thakur is renowned for his dedicated efforts to empower the backward castes.

Karpoori Thakur Born on January 24, 1924, Thakur played a significant role in the Quit India Movement against the British regime, facing imprisonment for his convictions. His political journey began with a victorious election in 1952, marking the start of a career where he remained undefeated in subsequent elections.

Karpoori Thakur, a trailblazing leader, initiated the introduction of reservations for backward castes in government services in Bihar in 1978. This groundbreaking move played a crucial role in shaping the subsequent implementation of the Mandal Commission report in 1990.

His tenure as Chief Minister of Bihar occurred in two phases, from December 1970 to June 1971 and from December 1977 to April 1979. Karpoori Thakur, often hailed as 'Jannayak,' passed away on February 17, 1988.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to the Gandhian socialist leader. “I am delighted that the Government of India has decided to confer the Bharat Ratna on the beacon of social justice, the great Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Ji and that too at a time when we are marking his birth centenary. This prestigious recognition is a testament to his enduring efforts as a champion for the marginalised and a stalwart of equality and empowerment," he posted on social platform X.

CBI-ED-NIA team heads to UK for Mallya and Nirav Modi's extradition India is preparing to dispatch a delegation of senior officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to the United Kingdom.

The objective is to expedite the extradition process for Indian fugitives, including notable figures such as diamond trader Nirav Modi and Kingfisher's Vijay Mallya. As per sources, a high-ranking official from the foreign ministry is leading the team, scheduled to engage with UK authorities through the Indian High Commission in London.

The joint team comprising the ED, CBI, and NIA is actively working to identify properties of fugitives in the UK and other nations to seize the 'proceeds of crime.' Among the individuals targeted is arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, who fled the country in 2016 amid investigations by the income tax department and ED into defense deals during the UPA regime.

Bhandari, said to have close ties with Robert Vadra, husband of Congress general secretary Priyanka GandhiVadra, reportedly acquired properties in London and Dubai, transferring them to shell companies allegedly controlled by an associate of Vadra.

Under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), India and the UK are obligated to share information on criminal investigations concerning economic offenders. The team en route to London has long been slated for a bilateral discussion with UK authorities on the exchange of information.

PM Modi honours Netaji's legacy Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in honouring the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, celebrated as Parakram Diwas (Day of Valour). PM Modi paid floral tributes at Samvidhan Sadan (Old Parliament Building), joined by other leaders, including Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

President Droupadi Murmu highlighted Netaji's dedication to India's freedom, emphasising his courage and charisma that inspired fearless resistance against colonial rule. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar remembered Netaji's indomitable spirit, quoting his iconic words, "Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom." Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid a humble tribute, recognising Netaji's role as a national hero. The government declared January 23 as Parakram Diwas in 2021 to honour Netaji's birth anniversary.

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NRG-SPET Ratna Awards honour outstanding achievements of Non-Resident Gujaratis S

ix exceptional Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and NonResident Gujaratis (NRG) were honoured with the NRG-SPET Ratna Award at the NRG Meet organised by the NRG Centre.

These individuals have brought pride to their homeland through their notable achievements while living abroad. The NRG Centre is run by the Gujarat State Non-Resident Gujaratis Foundation in Gandhinagar and the Sardar Patel Education Trust (SPET) in Anand (Gujarat).

The NRG-SPET Ratna Award ceremony held on January 12, 2024, recognised distinguished individuals including CB Patel, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, along with Pankaj Patel (Kampala), Ramesh Patel (Australia), Vinod Patel (USA), Vatsal Patel (Ahmedabad), and Dr Jaideep Sarkar, the Head Coach of the Indian men's volleyball team.

Notably, Prof Chandrakantbhai Patel, author of over 110 books, and his wife were also honoured during the event.

At the beginning of the cere-

CB Patel was honoured with the NRG-SPET Ratna Award by Swami Dharmabandhu and Bhikhubhai Patel

mony, Dr Pratiksha Patel extended a warm welcome and introduced the dignitaries. Dr Malv Patel provided insights into the activities of the NRG Centre. Dr Bhikhubhai Patel, Chairman of the NRG Centre, Managing Trustee, and Secretary of Sardar Patel Education, expressed that the Sardar Patel Education Trust family is upholding its commitment to society, the state, and the nation by recognising deserving individuals at the appropriate juncture.

Talking about the significant achievements of Gujaratis living

abroad, Dr Patel emphasised their unique work ethic, skills, and entrepreneurship, contributing to Gujarat's global recognition. “The Gujarat State Non-Resident Gujarati Prestige, initiated by then Chief Minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2010, established the NRG Centre under the Sardar Patel Education Trust. This initiative aims to maintain the bond between nonresident Gujaratis and Gujarat, recognising their invaluable contributions to the state's development,” he said.

“Annually, the Sardar Patel

Rahul Gandhi's denied temple visit sparks controversy in Assam Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on his visit to Batadrava Than, the birthplace of revered Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva in Assam, made a subtle jab at Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his refusal to grant permission to enter the shrine.

"We want to visit the temple (Batadrava Than).

What crime have I committed that I cannot visit the temple?..." Rahul Gandhi said. "I want to go to the temple, what is wrong with this?

Earlier we were invited but now the administration is saying that we cannot go.

"Aaj sirf ek vyakti mandir mein ja sakta hain..."(Perhaps today only one person can go to the temple)," the Congress leader said in an apparent dig at Prime Minister Narendra

Modi ahead of the 'Pran Pratishta' ceremony at Ayodhya Ram Temple.

Currently in its Assam leg, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is ongoing.

The management committee of Batadrava Than announced that Rahul Gandhi would be allowed entry after the 'Pran Pratistha' ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.

"Tomorrow is the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Temple and many devotees will come to the Than. Apart from this, many programmes have been organised outside the Than premises where thousands of devotees will gather.

For that reason, Rahul Gandhi's visit programme will be after 3 pm and it has been decided in the meeting," Than Management Committee stated.

University of San Diego looks to open campus in Gujarat Dr Chell Roberts, the Dean of the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering at the University of San Diego, has announced intentions to establish a new campus in Gujarat. Collaborating with IIT Gandhinagar and various academic institutions, the innovative campus will be situated in GIFT City, Gandhinagar.

Roberts told the media, “We anticipate the introduction of dual-degree programs in collaboration with other universities. Some courses will be taught on the new campus, providing stu-

dents with the unique opportunity to split their studies between the United States and India.

Additionally, we are excited to introduce online programs, a novel initiative for India.”

He emphasised the strategic advantages of these programs, saying, “Through our online offerings, we aim to reach a larger student population in India. The hybrid programs, blending online and on-campus elements, will enable us to cater to more students in India at a reduced cost,

ensuring accessibility for a diverse group of learners.

While our fully on-ground options in the United States will offer great benefits, we are committed to providing a wide range of high-quality education options to create a significant impact.”

Commencing in April, the university intends to launch online programs in artificial intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity.

Roberts clarified that the initial emphasis will be on online programs, as they can be implemented more swiftly.

Awardees and other dignitaries on the stage

Education Trust confers the SPET Ratna, recognising noble individuals who have brought honour to Gujarat globally through their expertise. These honorees are distinguished for their outstanding social service and recognised rites of passage on an international scale,” he added.

During the ceremony, notable attendees included Swami Dharmabandhuji, Major General Dilawar Singh (former Director General-NYKS), Ghanshyam Shah (Joint Secretary of Sardar Patel

Education Trust), and several distinguished individuals such as Ramesh Patel, Mridulaben Patel, Anvesh Patel, Rakesh Shah, Pankaj Patel, Naginbhai Patel (President of Chamos Matrisansha), Chandrakant Patel (writer), Dr Mohan Patel (Principal of N S Patel Arts College), Dr Arpita Arora (Director of B N Patel Institute of Paramedical and Science), Dr R D Modi (Principal of C P Patel and F H Shah Commerce College), Jayshree Dixit from N S Patel Arts-Autonomous and other NRG’s also graced the occasion.

2800-year human settlement uncovered in Modi's village A collaborative effort involving researchers from IIT Kharagpur, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Deccan College has uncovered signs of human settlement dating back to 800 BCE in Vadnagar, Gujarat. This village holds significance as the native place of India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

According to a statement from IIT Kharagpur, in-depth archaeological research in Vadnagar reveals the ebb and flow of various kingdoms over 3,000 years, marked by repeated invasions of India by Central Asian warriors propelled by significant climate changes.

The outcomes of this study are documented in a paper titled 'Climate,

human settlement, and migration in South Asia from Early historic to mediaeval period: evidence from new archaeological excavation at Vadnagar, Western India,' published in the Elsevier journal 'Quaternary Science Reviews.'

While the excavation was led by ASI, the study was funded by the Directorate of Archaeology & Museums Government of Gujarat that is entrusted with building India's first experiential digital museum (experiential means the process of learning through experience) at Vadnagar.

The research at Vadnagar and Indus Valley civilization has also been supported by funding from Sudha Murthy, former Chairperson, Infosys Foundation. Vadnagar has been a multi-cultural and multi-religious (Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and Islamic) settlement.

"Excavation in its several deep trenches revealed the presence of seven cultural stages (periods) namely, Mauryan, Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian or ShakaKshatrapas, HinduSolankis, Sultanate-Mughal (Islamic) to GaekwadBritish colonial rule and the city is continuing even today. One of the oldest Buddhist monasteries has been discovered during our excavation,” said ASI archaeologist Abhijit Ambekar.

Apollo launches India’s first AI Precision Oncology Centre Bengaluru's Apollo Cancer Centre has recently unveiled India's first AI-Driven Precision Oncology Centre (POC), dedicated to delivering precise and timely oncology care through the power of AI. The POC focuses on accurate diagnosis, real-time insights, cancer risk assessment, treatment protocols, and a seamless continuum of care.

This patient-centric facility not only identifies suitable candidates for targeted therapy and

immunotherapy but also utilises conversational AI to provide education and address diagnosis and treatment FAQs. Dinesh Gundu Rao, the State Minister for Health & Family Welfare in Karnataka, praised this innovative integration of technology and healthcare, highlighting its importance for patients.

Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd, emphasised the dedication of this transformative initiative

to personalised medicine and technological innovation, reshaping the landscape of cancer care.

Dr Vijay Agarwal, Lead & Senior Consultant in Medical Oncology at ACC, Bengaluru, pointed out the pivotal role of the POC in identifying new patients, including autoalerts for eligible candidates and SOS alerts for those facing deteriorating outcomes.

Dr. Vishwanath S, Senior Consultant in Medical Oncology, highlighted the advantages of the POC.

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Singh and Chandra Shekhar's from Hindustan Republican Army, Abhinav Bharat Mandir in Maharashtra, Surya Sen's rebellion in Bengal, and the naval mutiny in 1945 were significant chapters, collectively resulting in the sacrifice of six lakh people.” he said.

He added, “From 1915 to 1942, noncooperation and non-violent struggles under the leadership of Satyagraha Gandhiji played a crucial role, ultimately leading to the attainment of freedom."

Speaking about values and principles enshrined in the Indian Constitution that continue to shape the nation’s identity, he said, “Indian culture and philosophy towards life reflect a commitment to the well-being of all, not just a specific group (Bahujan). This principle aligns with the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, emphasising the idea that the world is one family.”

Furthermore, Republic Day highlights the nation's economic aspirations. It reflects India's ongoing journey towards becoming a global economic powerhouse. The celebrations encompass various aspects of economic progress, including technological advancements, industrial growth, and entrepreneurial spirit. We have got guest articles in Asian Voice that talk about the trajectory of the Indian economy's growth and its potential to join the world’s largest economies. It also mentions the surge in digital payments and the Indian diaspora powerhouse.

India's Republic Day: A fusion of military might and economic resilience

R

epublic Day in India is not merely a celebration of constitutional principles; it's a vibrant testament to the nation's strong foundation in both defence and economy. This significant day, observed on January 26th each year, commemorates the day when India adopted its Constitution in 1950 and officially became a sovereign republic. It intertwines the concepts of defence and economy as it marks the country's commitment to safeguarding its democratic values while striving for economic growth and prosperity. The celebration also serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during the struggle for independence.

the Make in India initiative are the 155 mm Artillery Gun System Dhanush, Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Surface to Air Missile System Akash, Main Battle Tank Arjun, Weapon Locating Radar, Integrated Air Command and Control System, Cheetah helicopter, Advanced Light Helicopter Dornier Do-228, etc," he added.

Speaking about relations between India and France in defence cooperation and strategic partnership, Mr Marjani said, “French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to India holds significant importance in further strengthening the robust India-France ties. Over the past three decades, their relations have evolved, with France emerging as a major strategic partner for India. Notably, France is the secondlargest supplier of defence equipment to India, accounting for around 30% of the country's total defence procurement.”

“During Macron's visit, defence cooperation is expected to expand, with potential deals on the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine combat aircraft and the construction of three submarines in India. The focus will also be on adopting a defenceindustrial cooperation roadmap and exploring areas of joint design, development, testing, and manufacture of advanced defence technologies.

Additionally, India and France will explore cooperation in small modular reactor development.

Beyond defence, the two countries collaborate in technology domains like artificial intelligence, supercomputing, cloud computing, and fintech, he added.

Historian and writer Padmashri Vishnu Pandya emphasised the historical overview of India’s transition from colonial rule to becoming a republic in 1950. “India's quest for independence from the British Empire spanned over 200 years, involving diverse struggles from 1757 to 1945. The armed freedom wars encompassed tribal uprisings, the pivotal 1857 struggle, sacrifices made by revolutionaries PM Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron during the anti-partition movement of 1905, activities at India House in London and the Abhinav Bharat indigenisation is carried out according to the Defence initiative, Lala Hardayal's efforts in San Francisco in 1914, Acquisition Procedure 2020, a document that lays down the and Virendranath Chattopadhya of Berlin Committee, Raja policy and procedure for arms procurement. Particularly, it Mahendra Pratap's Azad government in Afghanistan, Netaji lays strong emphasis on acquiring capital items from domestic manufacturers.

Subhash Chandra Bose's Azad Hind Sena and government in “Some significant defence products manufactured under Rangoon, Anushilan Samiti organisation in Bengal, Bhagat On this auspicious occasion, India proudly showcases its military prowess through grand parades and displays of unity and strength. The participation of the defence forces in the Republic Day parade underscores the nation's dedication to safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The display of advanced weaponry and military precision serves as a reminder of India's preparedness to protect its democratic ideals and reaffirms the values that bind this diverse nation—equality, liberty, fraternity, and justice. This year, French President Emmanuel Macron will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. Asian Voice spoke to experts on the occasion of Republic Day about Indian history and defence.

Talking about indigenous defence production through initiatives like "Make in India," political analyst and researcher Niranjan Marjani said, “The Make in India initiative is intended to reduce India’s dependence on defence imports. Under this initiative, India’s domestic defence manufacturing has received a boost. The

India's economy to reach $10 trillion by 2030, predicts WEF President In a significant statement, World Economic Forum (WEF) President Borge Brende has predicted that India's economy will reach the USD 10 trillion mark by the end of this decade. Brende has expressed confidence in the Indian economy's growth trajectory, emphasising its potential to join the ranks of the world's largest economies.

Speaking to Business Today Executive Director Rahul Kanwal on the sidelines of the 54th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, WEF President Brende highlighted India's robust economic performance amidst global slowdown and geopolitical tensions.

"We think, in the coming decade, we can be speaking about a USD 10 trillion economy, at least in the coming two decades," Brende said, reflecting on India's economic prospects. The WEF President acknowledged India's rapid growth in the digital economy, which is expanding twice as fast as the rest of the economy, positioning the nation favourably on the global stage.

The optimism for India's economy is rooted in its significant growth rate, with Brende projecting an 8% growth for the current year. This positive outlook comes despite global trade growth slowing to 0.8% last year from 3.4%. Brende's confidence in the Indian economy is further supported by its resilience in the face of rising oil prices and the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which pose threats to global supply chains and have implications for oil-importing nations like India.

In his interaction with an Indian TV channel, Brende elaborated on India's potential for exponential economic growth, likening it to a "snowball effect." He emphasised that continued reforms, geopolitical peace, and investments in R&D and infrastructure are key to realising this ambitious economic goal.

Brende's remarks come at a time when India, currently the world's fifth-largest economy with a GDP of approximately USD 3.7 trillion, is prepared to grow even faster due to its service-oriented economy and the global boom in digital services trade.

Brende also touched upon the global economic scenario, noting that despite slowdowns and geopolitical conflicts dragging down the growth outlook worldwide, there are signs of recovery. He expects the US to avoid a recession and China to regain momentum in the latter part of the year.

India's digital payment surge: UPI transactions soar in FY 2023-24 In the realm of digital payments, India has witnessed a monumental shift, spearheaded by the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). As of December 2023, UPI recorded a staggering 857 million transactions in the current financial year, a testament to its dominant role in India's digital payment landscape, commanding an impressive 62% market share in FY 2022-23. This surge in UPI transactions is a clear indicator of the country's move towards a digitised economy.

The growth trajectory of UPI is nothing short of remarkable. Starting with a modest base in the

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financial year (FY) 2017-18, UPI transactions stood at 9.2 million. This initial figure, though significant for its time, was just a glimpse of the potential of UPI. Over the next five years, these transactions witnessed an extraordinary increase, culminating in 837.5 million transactions by FY 2022-23.

This rapid growth represents a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 147%, a rate that signifies not just growth but a seismic shift in consumer behaviour and technology adoption.

The remarkable aspect of this growth is not just in the number of transactions but also in their monetary value. In FY 2017-18, the total value of UPI transactions was USD 12 billion, a noteworthy figure for a nascent technology at that time. However, by FY 2022-23, this value had escalated to an astonishing USD 1671 billion. The CAGR of 168% in value terms is even more impressive than the transaction count, indicating that UPI is not only being used more frequently but also for higher-value transactions.

Behind this digital revolution are concerted efforts by the Indian government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Government initiatives have been crucial, including incentive schemes for RuPay Debit cards and BHIM UPI transactions, advisories for improving payment infrastructure, the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA) for enhancing digital literacy in rural areas, and setting targets for digital transactions and merchant acquisitions for banks.

The RBI has complemented these efforts with awareness programs like Electronic Banking Awareness and Training (e-BAAT), Digital Payments Awareness Week. The RBI's multimedia campaigns, particularly 'RBI Says' or 'RBI Kehta Hai', take a more broad-based approach to awareness.

These campaigns, spread across various media channels, serve as a continuous source of information and reassurance to the public.

RBI's multifaceted approach to promoting digital payments is to increase the volume of transactions and equally empower every stratum of society with the knowledge and confidence to participate in India's burgeoning digital economy. A significant innovation in this domain is the RBI's approval for linking RuPay credit cards to UPI. This move enhances customer convenience by enabling cardless transactions and widening credit card acceptance, even at small merchant outlets equipped with QR codes.

India's diaspora powerhouse: Leading the 2023 global remittance list with a record $125 Billion

Glimpse of Delhi tableaux of India's Republic Day 2017 parade

Kingdom, Singapore, and the Gulf Cooperation Council nations.

According to the World Bank’s latest Migration and Development Brief released on December 18, 2023, the total remittance flow to low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) reached approximately $669 billion in 2023. India's share, amounting to $125 billion, registers a significant increase from the previous year's figure of $111.22 billion.

This growth elevates India's contribution to South Asian remittances to 66% in 2023, up from 63% in 2022.

The United States, the United Kingdom, and Singapore emerge as the most significant contributors to India's remittance inflow, collectively accounting for 36% of the total. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates, also play a substantial role, contributing 18% to India's remittance inflow.

Several government initiatives have been pivotal in boosting these remittances. The linkage of India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with Singapore's payment systems and the cooperation between India and the UAE, which involves using local currencies for cross-border transactions, have significantly facilitated the flow of remittances.

India has also implemented non-residential deposit programs, attracting substantial

Editorial credit PradeepGaurs

India has achieved a remarkable milestone in 2023 by leading the global remittance charts with a staggering $125 billion, as reported by the World Bank. India's position at the top of the global remittance charts reflects the strength and impact of its global diaspora, marking their economic contribution to their home country.

Editorial credit Rakesh Roul

27 Jan - 2 Feb 2024

Children celebrating Republic day

This is particularly notable considering the size and spread of the Indian diaspora, which constitutes a significant workforce in various countries, especially in the United States, the United

foreign currency. As of September 2023, non-residential deposits in India amounted to $143 billion, witnessing an increase of $10 billion from the previous year, the World

Bank report said.

The report indicates that remittance costs play a crucial role in these flows. South Asia, and particularly the remittance corridor between India and Malaysia, boasts the lowest remittance costs globally, standing at just 1.9%. This factor, along with strong labour markets and declining inflation in high-income source countries, has been instrumental in the surge of remittances to India.

However, the World Bank cautions about the potential risks, including the possibility of a decline in real income for migrants in 2024 due to global inflation and low growth prospects. Despite these concerns, remittances to low- and middle-income countries are expected to grow, albeit at a slower pace, in the coming years.

Most importantly, this report sheds light on the multifaceted impact of these financial inflows on the Indian economy. The significance of this phenomenon extends beyond mere monetary value; it reflects a complex interplay of global migration, economic policy, and the pivotal role of the Indian diaspora.

At 7.2%, India was one of the fastest-growing major economies in FY22/23: World Bank report India continues to show resilience against the backdrop of a challenging global environment, says the latest India Development Update (IDU) released by the World Bank.

Despite significant global challenges, India was one of the fastest-growing major economies in FY22/23 at 7.2%, says the update. According to IDU, India’s growth rate was the second highest among G20 countries and almost twice the average for emerging market economies.

"This resilience was underpinned by robust domestic demand, strong public infrastructure investment and a strengthening financial sector. Bank credit growth increased to 15.8% in the first quarter of FY23/24 compared with 13.3% in the first quarter of FY22/23," says the IDU. Released in October 2023, the IDU is the World Bank’s flagship half-yearly report on the Indian economy.

The report expects that global headwinds "will continue to persist and intensify" due to high global interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and sluggish global demand. As a result, global economic growth is also set to slow down over the medium term against a background of these combined factors.

In this context, the World Bank forecasts India’s GDP growth for FY23/24 to be at 6.3%. The expected moderation is mainly due to challenging external conditions and waning pent-up demand. However, service sector activity is expected to remain strong with growth of 7.4% and investment growth is also projected to remain robust at 8.9%.

“An adverse global environment will continue to pose challenges in the short-term," said World Bank's Country Director in India Auguste Tano Kouame. “Tapping public spending that crowds in more private investments will create more favorable conditions for India to seize global opportunities in the future and thus achieve higher growth,” he explained.

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in brief

SOUTH INDIA

111-FOOT AGARBATTI PM Modi visited Tamil Nadu, ahead Kerala man of Pran Pratishtha ceremony conquers world's UNVEILED IN MYSURU highest volcano

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted prayers at the Kothandaramaswamy Temple in Rameswaram.

Prior to this, he made a visit to Arichal Munai, which is the location where the Ram Setu was constructed, situated near Dhanushkodi.

Here, he offered floral tributes along the seashore, a day in advance of the pranpratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya. Additionally, the Prime Minister was observed engaging in 'anulom vilom' practice at the Arichal Munai Point.

The Prime Minister embarked on a three-day tour of Tamil Nadu, commencing with his presence at the inauguration of the Khelo India Games 2023 in Chennai. During his tour, he

consecration of the Shri magnificent Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, scheduled for Monday. Earlier in the week, he also paid visits to temples in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, all of which hold significance in the Ramayana tale.

PM at Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy As part of the Temple in Rameswaram ongoing 11-day made notable stops at the rituals leading up to the Sri Ranganathaswamy inauguration, the Prime Temple in Srirangam and Minister participated in a Arulmigu the prayer ceremony at the Lord Ramanathaswamy Temple Temple in Krishna in Rameswaram.

Guruvayur town, located in These visits to Tamil Thrissur district. During his Nadu's temples, both with visit, he also had the honour connections to the epic of attending the wedding of Ramayana, are significant actor-turned-politician and precede the Suresh Gopi's daughter.

Shaikh Hassan Khan, a government employee in Kerala, has achieved the remarkable feat of scaling Ojos del Salado, the world's tallest volcano, standing at an impressive altitude of over 22,600 feet.

Notably, Ojos del Salado is also the highest peak in Chile. This accomplishment marks the seventh-highest peak successfully scaled by the 36-year-old Khan, hailing from Pathanamthitta.

Shaikh Hassan Khan, the son of MA Ali Ahammad Khan and J Shahida from Panthalam, has been serving as an assistant section officer in the finance department at the Kerala Secretariat. Talking to the media, Khan said that by submitting the world's highest volcano, he wanted to spread the message of climate change in a different way. "I wrote the slogan Climate Change is Real on my chest and showcased it at the top of Ojos del Salado," he said from Chile.

According to him, at 22,615 feet, Ojos del Salado is the world's highest volcano.

PUNJAB

Jathedar holds Mann guilty of religious misconduct

Pannun threatens Kejriwal, Mann again

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh declared Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann responsible for religious misconduct in connection with the police firing incident at Gurdwara Akal Bunga Chaoni Nihang Singha in Sultanpur Lodhi on Giani Raghbir Singh & Bhagwant Mann November 23, 2023. The jathedar's decision firing and tear gas, resulting in the comes approximately two weeks after disruption of the akhand path, took an SGPC panel found the CM place without any provocation or accountable for the incident. justifiable circumstances.

In a statement issued by the Akal These actions were deemed to be a Takht secretariat, Giani Raghbir Singh breach of maryada (the Sikh code of conveyed that, after thorough review conduct) and had inflicted harm on of the investigation report presented the religious sentiments of Sikhs, by the sub-committee designated by according to the jathedar. Raghbir the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Singh further explained that, as per Committee, it was concluded that the the sub-committee's conclusions, entry of the police force into Bhagwant Mann, who also held the Gurdwara Akal Bunga Chaoni Nihang position of the head of the home Singha while wearing shoes, and their department, bore direct responsibility subsequent use of force, including for these actions.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, identified as a Khalistani extremist, issued threats to the Chief Ministers of Delhi and Punjab following the arrest of his associates by the State Special Operation Cell of Punjab Police.

In a video message, he warned that if his companions, namely Jagdish Singh, Manjeet Singh, and Davinder Singh, who are all residents of Rajpura, were not released by the next month, both leaders would encounter a "political demise."

Pannun claimed that the three youths worked directly with the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) for Khalistan referendum’s voter registration.

He cautioned that both Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann would incur the ire of those who aided their Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in winning in Punjab.

Responding to a video from January 16 in which Pannun called on gangsters to unite for an assault on Mann and Punjab's Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, the Punjab Chief Minister expressed his lack of concern regarding these threats. The three individuals who were apprehended informed the police that Pannun had instructed them to hoist the Khalistan flag and spray-paint walls with proKhalistan slogans in preparation for Republic Day.

WEST BENGAL

ED conducts raids in Kolkata about Bengal school jobs scam "The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 18 initiated simultaneous raids at seven locations in and around Kolkata as part of its investigation into alleged recruitment irregularities in West Bengal schools," a senior officer confirmed.

Raids are being held at the residences and offices of those who allegedly "acted as middlemen" in the scam, he said.

"These middlemen used to collect money and transfer it to various addresses. We are conducting raids at residences and offices used by them," the ED officer told the media.

ED officers, accompanied by a significant contingent of central forces, initiated search operations in New Town, Nayabad on the eastern outskirts of Calcutta, and

Mukundapur in the south.

Additionally, they conducted interviews with family members of the suspected middlemen.

The officer mentioned that one of the individuals involved had close ties to former Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee and MLA Jibon Saha, both of whom were arrested in the scandal.

"One of the middlemen has accumulated properties at over 400 places in the state and we are trying to find out the source of the money. Our officers are going through the bank documents and other property-related papers," he said.

The agency reported that another middleman's name has surfaced during their investigation, and they are currently conducting search operations at his residence.

Cycle Pure Agarbathi, a renowned agarbatti manufacturer based in Mysuru, introduced a colossal 111-foot-long agarbathi as a homage to the region's profound tradition of craftsmanship. This event took place on January 22, concurrently in three culturally vibrant locations: Mysuru in Karnataka, Thane in Maharashtra, and Sankhali in Goa. It signifies a dedication to endorsing and commemorating the diverse artisanal heritage in these regions.

Saraswathi, mother of renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj, lit the agarbatti in the presence of Mysuru MP Pratap Simmha and MLA T.S. Srivatsa. The Ranga family of Cycle Pure Agarbathi, including Guru, Kiran Ranga, Vishnu Ranga, Anirudh Ranga, and Nikhil Ranga, were present to express support for preserving heritage and traditional art forms.

TELANGANA CM MEETS URBAN MASTER PLAN DEVELOPERS IN DUBAI Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, with a focus on the development of the 56-kilometre long Musi riverfront, engaged in in-depth discussions with leading international city planners, designers, mega master plan developers, and architects in Dubai. Reddy emphasised that Hyderabad's goal was not to compete with any Indian city or state but to establish a global benchmark. He urged the firms to create initial plan prototypes with the highest level of ambition.Welcoming the bestin-class firms to Hyderabad, he said, “Historically, cities have evolved near water.

Rivers and lakes define cities naturally. Once the Musi is rejuvenated, Hyderabad will be a rare city in the world to be defined by a river and several major lakes.” The extensive series of consecutive meetings had a primary focus on the creation of eco-friendly urban areas and the exploration of commercial connections and investment strategies along the Musi riverfront.

BSF TROOPS SEIZE ARMS, AMMUNITION NEAR INDIA-PAKISTAN BORDER A BSF spokesperson announced that "An AK47 assault rifle, two magazines, and 40 cartridges were discovered by the Border Security Force (BSF) in a field near the IndiaPakistan border in Punjab's Ferozepur district."

The seizure occurred during a BSF search operation on January 19, prompted by the observation of drone activity during the night of January 18 and 19. "This led to the discovery of a package wrapped in a white gunny sack, which, in addition to the firearms and ammunition, contained ₹40,000 in cash," the spokesperson stated. "The vigilant BSF personnel effectively thwarted the malicious intentions of individuals from across the border," the official added.

Mamata Banerjee holds all-faith rally amid 66 PEOPLE IN THEIR Ram temple consecration 60S RECEIVE TEACHER West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led an "all-faith" rally in Kolkata, coinciding with the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. During the rally, Banerjee visited various places of worship symbolising different religions, which included mosques, churches, and gurdwaras.

In a video shared on the TMC's official X(formerly known as Twitter) account, Banerjee, who initiated the 'Sanghati' march from Hazra More, can be observed walking through a sizable crowd and offering greetings with folded hands. The Chief Minister was dressed in her iconic white and bluebordered cotton saree, complemented by a shawl around her neck. The rally is scheduled to conclude at Park Circus Maidan with a large gathering later in the day.

The rally aligns with the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya. Earlier, the CM had declined the invitation to attend the consecration ceremony saying, “The event is a gimmick show before the Lok Sabha polls”. She added that she “does not support festivities that exclude other communities”.

Hitting out at the BJP, Banerjee had said, “It is not our (politicians) job to do 'Pran Pratishtha'. It is the job of the priests. Our job is to create infrastructure.”

JOB OFFERS 40 YEARS AFTER COURT CASE

One day ago, Tushar Banerjee, a resident of Furfura Sharif in Hooghly, received a letter from the West Bengal Board of Primary Education, notifying him of his appointment as a teacher in a government school. However, rather than being thrilled, Tushar found the job letter amusing. The reason: He is 65. He is not the only one. Sixty-six people, all above the retirement age of 60, have received the job offer letter. And three on that list are not alive anymore. After the controversy, the education board termed it a “faux pas” on its part and added that the appointment letters were sent to the 66 people acting on the order of the Calcutta High Court. According to the education board, around four decades ago, in 1983, a group of 66 people had filed a case demanding teachers’ jobs.

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Loving Yourself Psychologist Mamta Saha

T

oday, I’m going to share how you can start to love yourself. When you do you will feel confident, happy and at ease as you head into 2024. My tips will be practical, through provoking and proven to be successful and I encourage you to save this article so you can always look back at it to remind yourself of how you can be your best self.

So many of my clients share that they have days when they just don’t feel like themselves. They are constantly doing things for others, being there for the community or their family, work and neighbours and all of this at the cost of really taking care of themselves - keep reading if this sounds like you or someone you know – believe me, you are not alone.

When I work with these challenges, self-doubt is often the first emotion to unravel and unpack. This is because for so many being dependent on what others thought and being directed and lead by them was the only way to know what to do and how to find the way forward.

In my work I encourage my clients to first acknowledge this lack of self- belief, this is because we can have deep feelings of embarrassment and shame when it comes to feelings that are not deemed to be socially acceptable and as a result, we can mask our behaviour and push our true selves down untilwe can’t ignore it anymore. Therefore, the work is to allow my clients to feel and accept the fear and self-doubt in a safe way.We then work to re-connect with who they truly are until they get to a place of gratitude for themselves and develop positive rituals around self-care.

If you feel bad, wrong or ashamed for being yourself it’s worth taking the time to examine the judgements that you are making in your mind. If you were to write down what you hear in your mind and start to understand where the voices are coming from you can begin to understand where these thoughts were born. A choice can then be made as to whether they belong to you or not at all. These beliefs may have felt like all you knew in the past but when you step away you notice that these thoughts get in the way of you truly valuing and appreciating who you are.

If you find your mind drifting to thoughts that are unkind and self-depreciating, choose to think truthful thoughts about yourself instead. Look in the mirror and repeat some affirmations (I created some that you can buy on my website). Your brain will believe whatever you tell it, so be kind and when you make a commitment to do this you enhance the self-love you feel.

If doubt still arises (which it may), allow it to be there and then release those thoughts by using your affirmations to acknowledge the loving truth about yourself. Let me reassure you that self-doubt is it is perfectly normal and that you also have the choices of self-love available to. When you access that loving kindness for yourself you can then begin to send it to others. This mindset helps you heal, feel confident and move forward in peace.

If you, your family or community need support inworking through this then reach out and explore some workshops and coaching. I’d also love to know how you get on, email me: mamta@mamtasaha.com. Follow me on Linked in: Mamta Saha and IG: Saha_Mamta.

Download my free e-book: www.mamtasaha.com.

Sending you all the love that you truly deserve.

Dates: A nutrient-packed powerhouse for brain and heart health Dates are high in fiber and antioxidants. Their nutritional benefits support brain health and prevent disease. Dates are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B6. Its high fiber content aids digestion and helps prevent constipation. Also, it is a healthier alternative to refined sugars. Potassium in dates supports heart health by regulating blood pressure. Include 2-4 dates in your daily diet.

Health Views Disclaimer: The information provided is for general knowledge only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Prostate Cancer: Get checked Professor Prasanna Sooriakumaran Prostate cancer is the most common solid cancer in men in the Western world and the second most common cause of death from cancer after lung cancer. 1 in 8 white men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetimes. This risk doubles for those with a father or brother with prostate cancer. While the risk is lower for Asian men, the risk is rising towards that for white men due to the Westernised diet in the UK. Hence, prostate cancer is becoming a serious issue in the Asian community, especially for men in their 60s and older.

Prostate cancer is usually without any symptoms until it has spread to other regions of the body when it is too late for cure. Hence, it is vitally important to go looking for it rather than wait until it gives symptoms. The best way to do this is with regular blood tests for a marker called prostate-specific antigen (or PSA).

If the PSA is raised, an MRI scan of the prostate should be performed.

This is a non-invasive test where the man lies still in the scanner for about 30 minutes and pictures are taken of the prostate. If the MRI is suspicious for cancer, a biopsy is then performed.

A biopsy of the prostate can be done while the man is awake (under local anaesthetic) or asleep (under general anaesthetic) depending on the hospital and the surgeon’s preference.

If done under general anaesthetic, as is my preference, then the biopsy nee-

dles can go directly into the prostate and not through the rectum. This increases the accuracy of the biopsy and reduces the risk of infection from the biopsy. Also, I prefer to fuse the MRI pictures onto the ultrasound at the time of biopsy so I can be more accurate in taking samples from any suspicious areas; this is called a fusion prostate biopsy and is a state-of-theart diagnostic test for prostate cancer.

If there is cancer found, then there are 3 things the doctor will tell you: How aggressive is the cancer? This is the Gleason grade of the cancer and goes from a score of 6 (not aggressive) to a score of 10 (very aggressive). How aggressive the cancer is gives us an idea of how likely it is to spread.

How much cancer is there? This is the number of cores taken that are positive for cancer and the maximum amount of cancer in any one core. If there is a lot of cancer in the prostate, then this is worse than if there is a

small amount.

Is there any spread of cancer? If the cancer is of low grade (less aggressive) then there is little chance of spread, but if the cancer is high grade, then we will do scans (CT, bone scans, or PET scans) to check if there is cancer has spread outside the prostate to lymph nodes or bones.

If the cancer is found to have spread to the bones, then treatment is with hormones to keep the cancer at bay for as long as possible- usually a few years.

But if as we hope the cancer is contained in the prostate or has gone only to close by lymph nodes then surgery or radiotherapy is given with curative intent. There are highly precise surgical and radiotherapy techniques nowadays that have far fewer side effects than treatments in the past, including robotic surgery and stereotactic radiotherapy, and their cure rates are very high.

The key message therefore is to get checked – it’s a simple blood test and possibly an MRI scan. It could save your life!

(Professor Prasanna Sooriakumaran is a Professor of Urology Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Visiting Professor of Urology University of Oxford, Visiting Professor of Urology & Robotic Surgery All-India Institute of Medical Sciences.)

Reasons why you shouldn't sleep with the heating on B

ritons are being advised to refrain from using radiators overnight, as it may lead to the risk of catching colds and experiencing mold-related issues. With the onset of colder weather, individuals using heating systems may face increased costs to maintain warmth. Experts recommend maintaining an optimal temperature range of 17 to 19ºC in bedrooms.

Here’s why you shouldn’t be sleeping with the heating on at night: 1. Dry skin and difficulty in breathing: The warm air will strip natural oils from the skin which can cause dryness and itchiness. The heating can dry

out the air and make the room feel stuffy and uncomfortable to sleep.

2. Sweaty sleep: It can become quite uncomfortable sleeping with the heating on especially if it causes e remove stubborn yellow stains from bed-

ding.

3. Mould on the walls: Running the heating for a brief duration in the morning can be effective in preventing the growth of mould. However, keeping it on throughout the night may result in

warmer air interacting with cold windows, leading to window condensation.

4. Cold-like symptoms: Stuffy noses and sneezing are common problems to suffer from in the morning by having the radiators turned on at night.

Radiators can accumulate high levels of dust which causes allergies to flare up.

5. Swollen feet: Our feet tend to swell when our body is trying to cool down and regulate it’s temperature. If you notice you are waking up with a swollen feet, this could be indication that you are sleeping in a room where the temperature is too high.

New insight into tuberculosis treatment: Study In collaboration with research partners in Germany and France, researchers discovered new antibiotic molecules that target Mycobacterium tuberculosis and make it less pathogenic for humans. The findings were published in Cell Chemical Biology as 'Discovery of dual-active ethionamide boosters blocking the Mycobacterium tuberculosis ESX-1 secretion pathway.'

Tuberculosis (TB) mainly affects the lungs but can also damage other organs. If diagnosed early and treated with antibiotics, it is curable.

Although the disease is relatively rare in most

Western European countries, it still ranks among the infectious diseases that claim the most lives worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only Covid-19 was deadlier than TB in 2022.

Researchers at the University Hospital Cologne worked with colleagues from the Institute Pasteur in Lille, France, and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF).

They have now identified an alternative treatment strategy for the bacterium.

In their study, the researchers identified virulence blockers that utilize target structures fundamentally distinct from

those targeted by classical antibiotics.

"These molecules probably lead to significantly less selective pressure on the bacterium, and thus to less resistance," said Jan Rybniker, who heads the Translational Research Unit for Infectious Diseases at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) and initiated the study.

They also discovered that some newly identified chemical substances are dual-active molecules.

Thus, they attack the pathogen's virulence factors and enhance the activity of monooxygenases enzymes required to activate the conventional antibiotic ethionamide.

Ethionamide is a drug that has been used for many decades to treat TB. It is a so-called prodrug that needs to be enzymatically activated in the bacterium to kill it. Therefore, the discovered molecules act as prodrug boosters, providing another alternative approach to developing conventional antibiotics.

In cooperation with the research team led by Professor Alain Baulard at Lille, the precise molecular mechanism of this booster effect was deciphered.

Thus, combined with these new active substances, drugs already used against tuberculosis might continue to be employed effectively in the future.

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Alia Bhatt stuns in saree at Joy Awards in Riyadh A

ctor Alia Bhatt recently attended the Joy Awards in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where she was bestowed the Honorary Entertainment Makers Award.

Several pictures and videos of the actor at the event emerged on social media platforms. She opted for a unique red, blue and gold saree, a cape, and an offshoulder blouse. The actress finished the look with her hair half-tied and earrings.

In her acceptance speech, Alia said she was honoured. “It’s a privilege to be here in this nation, the nation that is currently doing so much to unite us all and bring us all under one roof in the name of cinema. It doesn’t happen very often where countless talents from the West, and East come together under one roof and celebrate each other. So thank you for making this happen.”

She added, "It's truly an extraordinary night. I'm obsessed with movies, it's all I know. I've said this before, I think when I was born, I came out on 'Lights, camera, action'. That's how much cinema means to me. One of the things, if we are talking about joy, one of the greatest things in our lives is love. So tonight when I go back home, I take back with me the love of the movies and the love that I felt here in Riyadh. So thank you so much, and here's to the magic of movies.”

Several fans shared videos and pictures of Alia on social media platforms. Reacting to a video, a fan said, "She looks gorgeous in that outfit.

It suits her so well." A comment read, "I love how she experiments with her sarees. Alia looks breathtaking." "Being awarded at an international level!

Kudos. You go girl!" wrote an X user. "You make us so proud, you pretty woman," commented another fan.

On the work front, Alia was last seen in ‘Rocky aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani.’ Helmed by Karan Johar, the film also starred Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi, Jaya Bachchan, Churni Ganguly and Ranveer Singh. It was released in theatres last year. Alia will be next seen in director Vasan Bala's next ‘Jigra.’

The film will be co-produced by Karan Johar and Alia herself. It is all set to hit the theatres on September 27, 2024.

Dabboo Ratnani on Hrithik Roshan’s first photoshoot: Actor was a star

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elebrity fashion photographer Dabboo Ratnani has revealed how the first-ever photoshoot of actor Hrithik Roshan took place in a renovated building with a leaking roof, borrowed jackets and delayed payments. He recalled how one day he got a call from Hrithik, much before his Bollywood debut, requesting if he could meet him for a portfolio.

Ananya reveals parents wanted her to finish college before ‘SOTY’

Nora Fatehi falls prey to deepfake video, calls it “shocking”

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In an interview with Siddharth Kanan, Ratnani said Hrithik didn’t mention he was Rakesh Roshan’s son. As he didn’t have a studio back then, he called the actor home and asked if he could get the clothes he would wear to take a look before the shoot.

Hrithik arrived with a bag of clothes, of which the photographer chose the ones he liked.

Ratnani said, “I wanted some jackets for him, so I borrowed them from my friends and took it for the shoot. I helped him to get the clothes because he didn’t have everything ready and wanted to do the shoot quickly. He reminded me that I was his school senior, I remembered him then. He requested if he could pay me two-three days after the shoot, I agreed and said no stress.”

He added, “We were planning to do an outdoor shoot but that day it started to rain heavily. I asked if we could do it later, but he insisted we do it that day. My studio in a rented place was under renovation, it was a terrace flat and there was some leakage too.

But he said no, we will do it there only. I was feeling bad taking him to this shoddy building with leaking roofs! Water was dripping where we were shooting, he was changing behind the backdrop.”

Dabboo said he was shooting a lot of newcomers then, but the moment he looked at Hrithik through the lens, “in the first five frames, I knew this guy is a star.” The photographer later got a call from Rakesh Roshan appreciating the pictures, which was when he realised that Hrithik was his son.

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ince her Bollywood debut with Karan Johar’s ‘Student of the Year 2,’ actress Ananya Panday has made quite the impression on the big screen. After the box office success of ‘Dream Girl 2,’ and rave reviews for her performance in ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan,’ the actress reveals her parents always wanted her to complete her education first.

In a recent interview, she said, “Before that (going to college), I had the opportunity to meet Karan (Johar, producer). I auditioned for Student (of the Year, debut film). The film worked out for me.

But they (her parents), still at that time, were like, ‘Listen, we think you should go to college. You want to do the film. So later, if things don’t work out later, don't blame us. Don't say we made you do this because we want you to attend college.' But it was solely my decision.”

Explaining that while she always wanted to be an actor, the bug didn’t bite her because her father was in the business. In fact, he would never take her to his film sets, barring three occasions. “It was also something my parents didn’t take seriously when I said I wanted to be an actor. They were always like kind of particular about my college and education, and finishing that and having a backup.”

She added, "Because my dad (Chunky Panday) has had a successful run, but it's been filled with ups and downs. It's not been the smoothest of journeys. More than anything, he understood how hazy it is. The failure rate is higher than the success. So he wanted me to have a backup. And his parents were doctors. So it's a generational thing that's been happening in our family.”

fter a string of actresses, Nora Fatehi is the latest to be affected by a deepfake video, or at least a video featuring her lookalike.

A video of a woman who looks like Nora promoting an end-of-season sale is doing the rounds on social media.

Nora took to her Instagram Stories to raise the alarm and clarify that the woman in the video wasn’t her. Sharing the video that shows the lookalike promoting a fashion brand, aping everything from her mannerisms to the look and voice, she wrote, “Shocked!! This is not me!” She also branded the video “fake” in bold letters to make it clearer.

The video comes close on the heels of Delhi Police arresting a student from Andhra Pradesh for creating a deepfake video of actress Rashmika Mandanna to increase the followers on his fan page. An FIR was registered about the case on November 10 last year after the video went viral. It was first posted on a fan page on October 13. Once the man realised the issue has blown up, he deleted the video from his devices and account, however, the police managed to trace it back to him.

Deepfake video refers to clips manipulated with the help of artificial intelligence. These typically involve misappropriating a person’s face or voice to an existing video or likeliness to another person.

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Taapsee Pannu reveals why she would have never done ‘Animal’ S

Shahid Kapoor didn’t hear anything “exciting” post Kabir Singh

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ctor Shahid Kapoor said he didn’t come across any “exciting” scripts after his 2019 blockbuster ‘Kabir Singh.’ The actor recently shared that love stories are “the most difficult genre to do.” He also revealed that he has been listening to “ten scripts a month.”

andeep Reddy Vanga’s Ranbir Kapoor-starrer ‘Animal’ has reportedly grossed over Rs 900 crores worldwide. While it continues to rope in people, it has been criticised by a section of people for its glorification of misogynistic, violent characters. Now, in a recent interview, actress Taapsee Pannu has weighed in on the film’s success and why she would never have done such a movie.

When asked about the movie, she said that even though she has not watched it, she “has a take on it.” She said, “Lot of people told me too much about it. Look, I am not an extremist, so I agree to disagree to a lot of people... don't compare it to Hollywood and say 'If you liked Gone Girl, how can you not like Animal'? You are catering to a different audience. In Hollywood, people don't start copying actors' hairstyles from movies or using a film's line in real life. They also don't start stalking women after seeing it in a movie. But all this happens in our country. This is our reality.

You cannot compare our film industries with Hollywood and say 'Why are these pseudos talking like this about Animal, when they can enjoy Gone Girl as an art'? Understand the difference.”

When asked if such movies should be made, Taapsee said it should, but with a “different outcome that you want the society to be influenced by.”

The actor said people should not get influenced by films and have a “solid moral compass” but that was “unfortunately not the case.”

Speaking about why she would not do a film like ‘Animal,’ Taapsee said, “Keeping the reality (of society) in mind, I need to exercise my power because Bollywood or being a star and actor gives you that soft power. And with power comes responsibility. So it is my opinion, and I am not one of those, who will tell XYZ actors that they should not do these films. They have their own choice; we are in a free country and we have a freedom of choice. I wouldn't do it (Animal) is what I am saying.”

Besides Ranbir, ‘Animal’ also stars Anil Kapor, Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol, and Triptii Dimri in pivotal roles. Produced by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar for T-Series, Murad Khetani for Cine1 Studios and Pranay Reddy Vanga for Bhadrakali Pictures.

Rohit Shetty reveals casting for Rakesh Maria biopic becoming a “problem” R

Speaking with reporters at the trailer launch of his upcoming movie, ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya,’ Shahid said, “I have been missing doing something light and fun definitely but honestly it is the most difficult genre to crack. I listen to ten scripts a month. People don't know that but there is so much to hear. I know people tell me, ‘Aur picture karo (Do more films)’ but it is so difficult to find scripts that you feel that you are going to offer the audience something new. Love stories are the most difficult genre to do.”

"When I did ‘Kabir Singh,’ the character was new for me, the entire journey, the way the entire relationship was, it was shocking but it was new. Post that I didn't hear anything that exciting... Then this film (came) and I was like, 'This is it. We have to tell a love story that hasn't been told before.

Will people like it or not, will they accept it or not, that's the journey you have to take as an artist and as a creative person,” he added.

The movie had received polarizing reviews, with its director, Sandeep Reddy Vanga criticised for perpetuating toxic masculinity. The movie, however, was a huge box-office success.

On the work front, Shahid is set to appear across Kriti Sanon in the romantic comedy, ’Teri Baaton Mein Asia Uljha Jiya.’

Dubbed as an “impossible love story,” the film is written and directed by first-time filmmakers Amit Joshi and Aradhana Sah. It also features Dharmendra and Dimple Kapadia in pivotal roles. The movie will release in theatres on February 9.

ohit Shetty is working on one of his career’s most crucial stories. The filmmaker announced in 2021 that he’s making the biopic of the celebrated former commissioner of Mumbai Police, Rakesh Maria. In an interview, he explained why it’s becoming a “problem” to cast.

When asked if the casting for the biopic has been done, Rohit said, “Abhi tak nahi ki. Karni hai. Kyunki kahani unki 1985 se Taj attack tak hai. So ek young boy se leke 50 years ka aadmi, wahan tak ki life ki kahani hai.

Toh uski casting mein thodi si problem aa rahi hai (We haven't locked the casting, we're yet to do it. Because his story goes from 1985 till the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. So his life story travels from a young boy to a 50-year-old man.

So we're facing a slight problem in his casting.”

He also added that he’ll starting filming once

he’s finished his next cop universe movie, ‘Singham Again,’ which is slated to release this Independence Day. An IPS officer from the 1981 batch, Rakesh Maria, cracked the 1993 Bombay serial blasts case as the deputy commissioner of police (Traffic). He later served as DCP (Crime), Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) and was appointed the Commissioner of Mumbai Police in 2014. In 2015, he was promoted to Director General of Home Guards.

He retired in 2017.

Rakesh solved the 2003 Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar twin blasts case during his tenure.

He was also given the responsibility of investigating the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008 and interrogating Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist captured alive.

The biopic is an adaptation of his 2020 autobiography ‘Let Me Say It Now.’

Zoya Akhtar reveals how much she paid the cast of ‘The Archies’ F

ilmmaker Zoya Akhtar’s directorial ‘The Archies’ was released in November last year. The film marked new faces' debut, including star kids Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor, Aditi Dot, Vedang Raina, Yuvraj Menda, and Mihir Ahuja. Now, almost a month after the release Zoya Akhtar’s directorial The Archies was released in November. The film marks the stellar debut of new faces, including Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter, Suhana Khan, Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson, Agastya Nanda and Janhvi Kapoor’s sister and Sridevi’s daughter, Khushi Kapoor, along with other talented actors. Now, movie producers Reema Kagti and Akhtar have spilled some details about the fees of the debutants.

In an interview, Zoya was asked about the remuneration given to all the star kids. Zoya responded, “I can’t tell you that.” Kagti said, “It’s not very unequal. It’s pretty much all in

the same range. All seven of them were treated equally.”

Directed by Zoya Akhtar, ‘The Archies is an Indian live-action musical film adapted from the well-known American comics of the

same name. It received mixed reviews from the audience. While some liked the movie, others did not appreciate the acting of all the cast. It was released on Netflix on November 22, 2023.

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Rashmika Mandanna responds to arrest of person who created her deepfake video A

Nayanthara shares cute picture with sons Uyir and Ulgham A

ctress Nayanthara appears to be settling in after the controversy surrounding her film ‘Annapoorni,’ which Netflix India pulled down. She took to her Instagram handle over the weekend and shared a picture of her carrying her son. She’s wearing a black polkadot top, and her face is only partially visible.

Her son leans his head comfortably on his mother’s shoulder. Nayan captioned the post, “All of god’s grace in one tiny face.”

In an Instagram Story, Nayan shared another picture with both her sons in her arms as they look into the greenery from a balcony. She se it to Jasleen Royal and Prateek Kuhad’s popular song ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan’ from Nitya Mehra's 2016 romantic sci-fi film ‘Baar Baar Dekho.’

Nayanthara offered a sincere apology over her latest Tamil film, ‘Annapoorni,’ a week after the makers were accused of hurting religious sentiments and the movie was pulled down from Netflix.

"Jai Shri Ram. I am writing this note with a heavy heart and a genuine desire to address the recent events concerning our film, 'Annapoorani'. Crafting 'Annapoorani' was not just a cinematic endeavour but a heartfelt pursuit of inspiring resilience and instilling the spirit of never giving up. It aimed to mirror life's journey, where we learn that obstacles can be overcome with sheer willpower... In our sincere attempt to share a positive message, we may have inadvertently caused hurt," Nayanthara wrote.

The complaints against Annapoorni alleged that the film makes controversial remarks about Lord Ram and also promotes 'love jihad'. After the complaints, the police in Maharashtra’s Thane district registered a case against eight persons, including Nayanthara, last week.

On the work front, Nayan will be next seen in ‘Test’ and ‘Mannangatti Since 1960.’

ctor Rashmika Mandanna has responded to the arrest of the person who created her deepfake video. Taking to X, she expressed her gratitude to the police and also shared a message for her fans. The Delhi Police arrested the main accused in the case over the weekend.

Rashmika wrote, Expressing my heartfelt gratitude to @DCP_IFSO (folded hands emoji), Thank you for apprehending those responsible. Feeling truly grateful for the community that embraces me with love, support and shields me (national flag emoji). Girls and boys - if your image is used or morphed anywhere without your consent. It is wrong! And I hope this is a reminder that you are surrounded by people who will support you and action will be taken! (White heart emoji).”

According to a media report, the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) Unit of Special Cell, Delhi Police, arrested Eemani Naveen, 24, the alleged mastermind who is said to have created and posted deep fake videos of the actress on social media platforms. According to police, the arrested person, a resident of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh, is a BTech graduate from a reputed engineering college in Chennai.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, IFSO Unit, Hemant Tiwari, said that Naveen used to run a Rashmika fan page and created two more fan pages for two noted celebrities. The 24-year-old reportedly got scared after he learned that his videos have courted nationwide controversy.

“Later when he realized that it became a national sensation. He also saw tweet from famous film stars against the said deep fake video. He got scared and deleted the said posts from the Instagram Channel and also changed the name of Insta channel. He had also deleted the relevant digital data from his devices," the police officer said.

Mohanlal’s ‘Malaikottai Vaaliban’ clears censor board with UA certificate I

t’s exciting times for Malayalam cinema fans as updates on Mohanlal’s muchawaited project have been revealed. The Central Board of Film Certification has awarded the Lijo Jose Pellissery directorial a UA certificate. The movie has a runtime of 155 minutes.

Mohanlal could be playing a black magician or an illusionist in the film, according to speculations. The movie is scheduled for release on January 25, 2024, inviting audiences to uncover the truth on the big screen.

A teaser shared earlier featuring Mohanlal in a striking pose with a scarf provided minimal

information about the film. Going by all the songs and promos, the movie comes across as a historical fantasy.

Produced by John & Mary Creative, Century Films, and Maxlab & Saregama, the movie is based on a script by P S Rafeeque. Earlier, Lijo

said that the idea for ‘Malaikottai Vaaliban’ took root years ago and matured into a comprehensive plot, with Rafeeq expanding the narrative. The film also features Sonalee Kulkarni, Hareesh Peradi, Danish Sait, Manoj Moses, Katha Nandi, and Manikandan Achari. The music of the movie is composed by Prashanth Pillai.

Ajith Kumar signs AK63 with Adhik Ravichandran I

f rumours are to be believed, Kollywood star Ajith Kumar might soon work with director Adhik Ravichandran of ‘Mark Anthony’ fame.

Sources quoted in an HT report said, “Yes, Mark Anthony director Adhik Ravichandran has been signed on for AK63. However, this has not been made official as of yet.”

More details can only be revealed when the movie is announced. There were reports that Pooja before the filming was conducted during Sankranti, and the shoot would start in April. Director Adhik debuted in 2015 in Tamil cinema with an adult comedy titled ‘Trisha Illana Nayanthara.’ In 2019, he acted in Ajith’s film ‘Nerkonda Parvai’ directed by H Vinoth. His 2023 sci-fi action film ‘Mark Anthony,’ was a blockbuster and grossed over Rs 100 crores at the box office.

On the work front, Ajith is busy shooting for his film ‘Vidaamuyarchi,’ helmed by director Magizh Thirumeni. The final shooting phase is progressing at a fast pace in Azerbaijan, and actor Aarav also posted pics with Ajith on the sets on his X profile.

‘Vidaamuyarchi’ will be released in April, possibly towards the end of the month.

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Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas meet fans at Malibu temple A ctress Priyanka Chopra and her husband-singer Nick Jonas visited a temple as their daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas clocked her second birthday. A fan shared several unseen pictures of Priyanka and Nick.

The actress was seen posing with the fan and her child in the first two photos. Peewee wore dark sunglasses and gave different poses.

In the last photo, Nick posed as a man clicked a selfie. Priyanka was seen walking behind them. Nick wore a white T-shirt under a blue jacket and pants for the visit.

Sharing the photos, the fan captioned the post, “Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas at the Malibu Hindu temple on their daughter Malti Marie’s birthday!

Priyanka was extremely down-toearth with no starry tantrums. I have a newfound appreciation for her as a person now!” Reacting to the post, another fan said, "She’s a celebrity, but above all she’s an amazing queen with a kind heart and grace."

Indian documentary feature film 'To Kill A Tiger' nominated at Oscars 2024 T he Indian documentary feature film 'To Kill A Tiger' has secured a nomination in the Best Documentary Feature Film category for the 96th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 10, 2024.

Directed by Nisha Pahuja based in Toronto, the film delves into the distressing incident of the Jharkhand gangrape case. Focusing on the gangrape of a 13-year-old girl in Jharkhand, the documentary sheds light on the horrific crime and the challenges faced by the victim's parents in their quest for justice.

With a powerful narrative, 'To Kill a Tiger' follows the emotional journey of an ordinary man confronting extraordinary circumstances.

The film, which received a theatrical release in North America last year, is lauded for its bold

"Priyanka is a humble person. She's the best," commented an Instagram user.

Meanwhile, Priyanka posted pictures of Malti in a garland inside the temple on Instagram. Nick also carried her in his arms as they, along with Priyanka and her mother, Madhu Chopra, prayed. She captioned the post, “She is our miracle. And she is 2.”

She also dropped a string of pictures from her family vacation to Mexico. Taking to Instagram, she shared the pics which she captioned, “Took some time to feed my soul.

2023 had me spent.. maybe I still am.

Here's to a 2024 highlighted by peace, respite, family, love, joy and community. Hold your loved ones close. We are very lucky if we can.

Happy New Year.”

Sid Sriram, AP Dhillon, and Nav to perform at Coachella 2024 I

approach to addressing a sensitive subject while advocating for awareness. Supported by executive producers including Dev Patel, Mindy Kaling, and Rupi Kaur, the documentary stands out for its powerful storytelling. TIFF jury praised the film's depiction of love and its transformative impact on a village, a country, and possibly the world. The Oscars ceremony, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, awaits the revelation of the winners.

n the previous year, Diljit Dosanjh achieved a significant milestone by becoming the inaugural artist of Punjabi descent to grace the stage at the Coachella Valley Music Festival. His electrifying performance captivated the hearts of numerous Indian fans.

Building on this groundbreaking momentum, the recently unveiled lineup for 2024 includes three more artists of Indian origin—AP Dhillon, Sid Sriram, and Nav. These talented individuals are set to enthrall audiences on both weekends, taking place from April 12-14 and 19-21, 2024, in Indio, California.

Sid Sriram took to Instagram and shared the news ecstacially, “We play day 1, both weekends.

Legendary set is a promise. Just the beginning.” He then added

another story to say, “When I say legendary set is a promise, I mean that sh*t with my chest man.

Deep, deep energy.”

The line-up this year features global headliners such as UK rock band Blur, the American ska/pop/rock group No Doubt, and hip-hop artists like Doja Cat and Tyler, the Creator. Pop sensation Lana Del Rey is also set to captivate the audience, among other stellar acts.

Siddharth Anand responds after Pakistani celebs slam ‘Fighter’ for “spreading hate” T

he trailer of Siddharth Anand’s ‘Fighter’ dropped recently, prompting several Pakistani celebrities like Hania Aamir, Annan Siddiqui and many other actors to react with criticism. The Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukonestarrer is set against the backdrop of the Indian Air Force’s air strike on Pakistan after a terror attack.

Now, the director has seemingly reacted to the criticism.

He reacted with a thinking face emoji to a tweet about Hania’s Instagram Stories. The tweet read, “Didn't she literally work in a movie which was anti-India? If Indian celebs have no issue with the anti-India stuff Pakistani celebs do in movies, why do Pak celebs care so much?"

Siddharth Anand responded

with "Oh!!" to another person, who had tweeted, "Was 'art' breathing here?" The original tweet was about the 2018 Pakistani film ‘Parwaaz Hai Junoon.’ It read, "Parwaaz Hai Junoon was an anti-Indian Air Force movie and Hania Aamir starred in it." Agreeing with it, an

X user also said, “Yes, they portrayed Indian Air Force as villain…”

Soon after ‘Fighter’ trailer was released on January 15, Hania wrote on Instagram Stories, "So sad and unfortunate to know that there are artists out there in this day and age who are aware of the

power that the cinema holds and still go ahead and feed the riff between the two countries. I feel sorry for the artists who try to bridge the gap by trusting their art as a medium. Distasteful; let art breathe.”

Meanwhile, Pakistani actor Adnan Siddiqui said that it was “disheartening” to see Bollywood

portray Pakistanis as villains. He recently tweeted, “Once celebrated for love, Bollywood now crafts hate-filled narratives, portraying us as villains. Despite our love for your films, it's disheartening. Art transcends boundaries; let's use it to promote love and peace. Two nations, victims of politics, deserve better.”

Reacting to the trailer, Pakistani actor Zara Noor Abbas said on Instagram Stories, "Aren't you guys tired of selling the same false crap?! Grow up, guys! The world is moving on and getting mature but why do you want to sell this cheap story of hatred?

Could have also promoted peace.

Don't we have enough hatred in the world that you had to boost more hate through this global medium of movies?”

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India Men's Hockey team India overcome Afghanistan in double Super Over drama to sweep T20 series 3-0 prepares for Olympics India secured a thrilling victory against Afghanistan in a T20 International series, completing a 3-0 sweep after an intense second Super Over. The series had already been won by the hosts with wins in Mohali and Indore.

The final match in Bengaluru was packed with drama as Afghanistan, in response to India's impressive 212-4, equaled the score with 212-6, leading to a tie.

In the initial Super Over, Afghanistan posted 16-1, and India matched it, prolonging the deadlock.

In the second Super Over, India managed to score 11-2, and spinner Ravi Bishnoi secured their victory in just three deliveries. During his spell,

he conceded only one run and took two crucial wickets.

"My heart-rate was high, but we had a lot of fun," leg-spinner Bishnoi said. "The moment we saw two right-handers come out, I was given the ball.

"The idea was to bowl back of a length to begin with from a little behind the crease."

In the early stages of

the match, India faced a challenging situation as they slumped to 22-4 within the first five overs after choosing to bat.

However, Captain Rohit Sharma played a spectacular innings, remaining unbeaten at 121 off 69 balls. Alongside him, Rinku Singh also contributed significantly with his unbeaten 69.

Together, they formed an

unbroken fifth-wicket partnership that added 190 runs to the scoreboard in just 95 balls.

The final over of the Indian innings, bowled by Karim Janat, proved to be a costly one as he conceded 36 runs. During that sevenball over, which included a no-ball, six sixes were struck. Rohit's remarkable innings featured eight sixes, while Rinku smashed six of them in his rapid 39ball performance.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (50), Ibrahim Zadran (50) and Mohammad Nabi (34) kept Afghanistan in the hunt but it was Gulbadin Naib unbeaten 55, which helped them match India's total even though they eventually finished the series without a win.

Shastri, Gill honoured with BCCI awards Former India all-rounder and former head coach Ravi Shastri is set to receive the BCCI's Lifetime Achievement Award in Hyderabad.

Additionally, Shubman Gill will be honoured with the Cricketer of the Year award, recognising his outstanding achievements over the past 12 months, including becoming the fastest player to reach the 2000-run milestone in ODIs and scoring five centuries in the format.

"He (Shastri) has been chosen for the honour while Gill will be awarded the cricketer of the year," said a BCCI official. The BCCI

Ravi Shastri & Shubman Gill will

awards will be held for the first time since 2019 and both India and England teams are expected to be in attendance ahead of the first Test beginning.

At the age of 61, Ravi

Shastri, who played 80 Tests and 150 ODIs for India, carved a successful career in broadcasting after his cricketing days. He also ventured into coaching, serving as the team director

from 2014 to 2016 and later returning as head coach alongside captain Virat Kohli, leading the team until the T20 World Cup in 2021.

During his tenure, the most notable achievement was India's consecutive Test series victories in Australia.

However, despite their efforts, Shastri and Kohli couldn't secure an ICC title for India. They reached the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) but fell short against New Zealand. Additionally, in 2019, India made it to the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup.

Hussamuddin returns to Suryakumar named India’s World Qualification captain of ICC men’s T20I Tournament boxing squad Team of the Year Boxer Mohammad In the women's section, Hussamuddin, a bronze medalist at the World Championships, has returned to the Indian squad after a six-month absence due to a knee injury. He will participate in the Olympics World Qualification Tournament (WQT) in Italy from February 29 to March 12.

Hussamuddin's comeback is expected to enhance India's prospects of securing a quota place in the 57kg category.

The squad for the Olympics World Qualification Tournament (WQT) features notable boxers including World Championships medalists Deepak Bhoria (51kg) and Nishant Dev (71kg), multiple Asian medalist Shiva Thapa (63.5kg), National champion Lakshya Chahar (80kg), former Asian champion Sanjeet (92kg), and Asian Games medalist Narender Berwal (+92kg) in the men's section.

Commonwealth Games medalist Jaismine Lamboria (60kg) and former World youth champion Arundhati Choudhary (66kg) have been selected. The boxers underwent a thorough evaluation process conducted by the highperformance coaching staff, considering various parameters.

“Our aim is to maximise India’s participation at the Paris Olympic Games 2024 and to achieve that we have undertaken a thorough and careful selection process for the first WQT. The highperformance team conducted a detailed evaluation process and gave points to boxers. Those securing highest points were selected. We are confident that these boxers possess the mettle to secure the coveted spots at the Olympics,” said Boxing Federation of India secretary Hemanta Kalita.

Suryakumar Yadav, known for his flamboyant middleorder batting, has been chosen as the captain of the ICC men's T20I Team of the Year. The team also features three other Indians: opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, spinner Ravi Bishnoi, and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh.

The ICC Team of the Year highlights 11 exceptional individuals who have made significant contributions with the bat, ball, or as all-round performers. Suryakumar Yadav, who has been consistent in T20Is, is a contender for the T20I men's Cricketer of the Year award after his strong performance in 2023.

His first innings of just seven to start the year against Sri Lanka was a mere speed bump in another prolific year, as he made scores of 51 (36) and

112 not out (51) in the next two matches.

Suryakumar Yadav's consistent scoring in the range of 20s to 40s continued, showcasing his reliability. His standout innings of 83 runs off 44 balls against the West Indies in Providence highlighted his class. He concluded the series against the West Indies with another impressive knock of 61 runs off 45 balls in Florida.

Yadav also took on the role of India's captain when Rohit Sharma was on a break later in the year. He delivered half-centuries against Australia (scoring 80 runs off 42 balls) and South Africa (making 56 runs from 36 balls). Notably, he recorded a century against South Africa, scoring 100 runs off just 56 balls in the final T20I of the year in Johannesburg.

2024 with South Africa tour With just over six months remaining before the commencement of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Indian Men's Hockey Team will participate in a series of preparatory matches in Cape Town, South Africa, from January 22-28.

They will face France (ranked 9th globally), South Africa (ranked 13th globally), and the world's number one team, Netherlands.

The Indian Men's Hockey Team, under the leadership of Captain Harmanpreet Singh and Vice-Captain Hardik Singh, is scheduled to play two matches against France on January 22 and January 24. Following that, they will compete against the host nation, South Africa, on January 26. The tour will conclude with a match against the Netherlands on January 28, as stated in a press release by Hockey India.

Indian skipper Harmanpreet Singh addressed the importance of the South Africa tour and said, "With the FIH Men's Hockey Pro League 2023/24 next month and the Paris Olympics 2024 just around the corner, it is crucial for our team to get as much game time that we can get so that we are in the correct mindset for the coming season."

After participating in the 5 Nations Tournament in Valencia in December 2023, where they won just one out of four matches, the Indian Men's Hockey Team is making a comeback with this tour. In the tournament, India faced a 01 loss to Spain, a 2-7 defeat against Belgium, and a 2-3 setback to Germany. However, they concluded the tour on a positive note by defeating France 5-4.

Tata Group bags 5-year IPL sponsorship rights for $300 million The Tata Group has secured the title sponsorship of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the period of 2024-2028, with a "record-breaking" deal worth $300 million, announced by the IPL organisers.

The IPL, featuring top international cricket players and backed by celebrity franchise owners, has become the world's wealthiest T20 tournament, estimated to have a brand value of $8.4 billion.

This has been a lucrative venture for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), as the media rights for the 10-team league from

2023 to 2027 fetched $6.2 billion. Tata Group has also been the title sponsor for the Women's Premier League, which began last year.

“The unprecedented financial commitment reflects the immense scale and global impact of the IPL on the international sports stage,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.

Several IPL franchise owners have expanded their investments by acquiring teams in T20 leagues across various countries, including the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, West Indies, and the United States.

Shoaib Malik ties knot with Pakistan actor Sana Javed Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik has announced his second marriage to Pakistani actor Sana Javed. Malik and Sana confirmed the news by posting pictures on their social media accounts.

Shoaib Malik was previously married to Sania Mirza, and they have a fiveyear-old son named Izaan.

Recently, Sania Mirza shared a Shoaib Malik and Sana Javed cryptic quote on her Instagram stories, saying, "Divorce is hard."

“Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard.

Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard. Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard. Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard. Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely (sic),” reads the quote Sania shared on her Instagram story.

Sania and Malik got married in 2010 and they used to live in the UAE. Sana javed was previously married to singer Umar Jaswal. The duo got married in 2020 and got separated in November last year.