AV 27th November 2021

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE

‘Being a woman of colour and heavily pregnant did not stop me from winning my first investment pitch’ SEE PAGE - 14

R

inside

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

US gets its first ever woman and Indian-origin acting president SEE PAGE - 22

27 NOV - 3 DEC 2021 - VOL 50 ISSUE 29

Labour Friends of India celebrates Diwali with Sir Keir Starmer

6-year-old to run 6kms to raise funds for classmate’s wheelchair

India resumes vaccine exports after 8 months

SEE PAGE - 5

SEE PAGE - 15

SEE PAGE - 23

DEMOCRACY WINS What’s being termed as a pre-election miracle by repealing three controversial farm laws in India, is perhaps a gutsy move by the leader of the world’s largest democracy and master communicator, PM Narendra Modi.

What happened to the multi-ethnic Britain?

Editorial credit: SANJEEV SYAL / Shutterstock.com

Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s whistle blower hotline receives 36 emails in a week.

Lord Bhikhu Parekh Indian PM Narendra Modi

Shefali Saxena “Today, I beg the forgiveness of my countrymen and say with a pure heart and honest mind that perhaps there was some shortcoming,” said, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Gurunanak Jayanti (Gurupurab) last week. With this apology, Modi left British Asians and Indians emotional across the globe as he announced that his government would repeal three farm laws in order to breathe life into the struggling agricultural economy of India.

Continued on page 6

The report ‘The Future of Multi-ethnic Britain’ back in the year 2000, stated: “The history of a nation often has a tendency to be written in an exclusive manner, stressing some groups or traditions at the expense of others. It is therefore always a contested site and constantly rewritten.”

Continued on page 9

2 UK

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

27 Nov - 3 Dec 2021

with Keith Vaz

Hero NHS doctor dies of Covid

Heten Tejura (BA Hons) Business Development Director Heten Tejura (BA Hons) was born in Leicester. His parents Subhash and Anjina Tejura came from Uganda (Masaka). Heten went to Local schools in Leicester, and obtained a degree in Business Studies at De Montfort University. His first job was with Tesco as Stock Controller and later as Store Manager. In 2006 he joined the Leicester Mercury (Reach PLC) one of the largest circulating regional newspapers in England, as Field Sales and worked his way up to becoming Director of Field Sales, leaving the Leicester Mercury after 15 years.

He is currently working with Champions UK PLC and is responsible for Events and Digital Media.

Heten has a 10-year-old son Yuvraj who is very close to him. Heten spend as much time of his free time as possible with his son Yuvraj who he adores.

1) Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in? (50 words response) Leicester, I was born and brought up in Leicester. It is my home, I have a good group of friends and majority of my family is based here. I would really miss Leicester if I had to ever leave.

2) What are your proudest achievements?

(50 words response) Completing my Bachelor’s degree and making my parents proud. I was always the rowdy one from the siblings, my brother was the one with the brains of the family, sadly he passed away at a young age and getting the degree, I knew would bring that smile to my parents.

2) What are your proudest achievements?

(50 words response) Completing my Bachelor’s degree and making my parents proud. I was always the rowdy one from the siblings, my brother was the one with the brains of the family, sadly he passed away at a young age and getting the degree, I knew would bring that smile back to my parents.

3) What inspires you? (50 words response) Helping people, I am always there for people that need it. It makes me feel good that I can help people and bring a smile to their face.

I became the governor for my son’s school to help them with fund raising and any other issues arising. My son enjoys playing football and he joined a local team that were struggling for coaches. I completed the FA courses and became a coach for their team, I now coach over 20 children with happy faces.

4) What has been biggest obstacle in your career? (50 words response) The loss of my 23 year old brother, who I was really close with, it was a very sad time for the whole family. I had to help my parents get through the emotional time, losing a child for a parent is the hardest thing to cope with in life.

5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date? (50 words response) My son changed my life, because of him I look at things in a different way. I

would never have thought of becoming a Coach or a Governor. I hope he doesn’t read this, but I have been the school Santa for the last 5 years and he still hasn’t realised that it is me. I must be doing a great job as he looks at the photos and is unable see his dad sitting next to him.

Basically my childhood days have comeback due of him.

6) What is the best aspect about your current role? (50 words response) Meeting new people, I attend many events and always look forward to meeting new people. I have recently been to the Leicester, Nottingham and Derby Business Awards where I met successful new businesses that set up during the Covid Lockdown. It is a pleasure meeting people that have done so well and help our economy prosper.

7) And the worst? (50 words response) The late nights, although events are great, the timings can take its toll. I attend many events which finish very late in the evening and by the time I get home my son sleeping, I miss his goodnight kiss and hug.

8) What are your long term goals? (50 words response) Making sure I’m there for my son and once I start to have free time, I would like to join some community Projects so I can do what I enjoy and help improve Leicester and support its local people.

9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change? (50 words response) Stop British companies being sold to other countries. I still feel strongly that we lost Cadburys to the USA. I want the world to know that Britain is a driving force and the world should follow us.

10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why. (50 words response) As a Cricket fanatic, it would have to be Sachin Tendulkar, not totally historical but he made history. I grew up watching him play cricket for India and he was the best batsmen I have ever seen.

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In a tragic incident NHS doctor Dr Irfan Halim, 45, died of Covid just days away from his boosters coming in. The doctor had spent months away from his family when he died.

His wife Saila Halim said that he was a hardworking husband and was eager to get his third dose, but tragically he caught the killer virus on September 10 – fighting the virus for nine months before tragically dying.

The beloved doctor who went to Swindon hospital and never came home has been remembered as a devoted father-of-four who worked tirelessly throughout his 25-year career treating more than 250,000 patients.

Dr Irfan Halim

Halim said that she was not sure which vaccine her husband received but he was double vaccinated and always wore full PPE when he was onwards.

A colleague says that Irfan was a fighter who never gave up and always kept believing he would recover. A friend said that Irfan did not smoke or drink and was someone who helped people all the

time.

Dr Irfan who held one of the highest volume practices in the UK, saw approximately 300 new patients every month and performed over 1200 procedures annually, was a widely respected surgeon and the entire medical community has been sharing their grief over the loss.

Mrs Halim described him as a 10 man in one body, who was the embodiment of ethics, unconditional friendship, a renaissance man of many skills and a scholar who taught thousands.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Dr Halim’s family and has already raised more than £80,000.

Poor and wealthy to pay equal after social care cap In September the PM announced an £86,000 cap on the amount anyone in England would pay for social care. The cap instead of a combination of all care costs including means-tested council funding, only private contributions would be counted.

This means a pensioner with a £90,000 home qualifies for council help could pay the same for their care out of their own pocket as

someone with property worth £250,000 or more in Surrey who is too wealthy for means-tested assistance.

Care could still eat into almost all of their assets forcing the sale of the house.

Boris Johnson was warned that MPs in the socalled red wall could revolt when the changes are put to a vote as the move will save the government hundreds of millions of pounds but leave many poorer homeowners

exposed to ‘catastrophic costs’ including the need to sell their homes to cover long-term care.

Labour said the government had failed to be straight with elderly people and described the care costs as a ‘con’. It said the announcement was sneaked out today under a cloud of Tory sleaze.

The DGSC defended the change and insisted it will mean everyone is better off.

Fire in Bexleyheath kills mother, two kids Fire on Thursday 8:30 pm at Bexleyheath, south-east London killed four or a family in a tragic horror blaze.

Three of the victims have now been named Niruba, one year daughter Shasna and son Thabish aged four.

The fourth victim is the

mother of Niruba who was reportedly visiting from Sri Lanka.

Emergency services that raced to the home, found a devastating scene. It is thought that the dad of the two children received a panicked phone call from his

wife while at work to say their home was on fire.

Another male relative who was helping the grandmother pack for her return flight jumped from the upstairs window. He broke both his legs and remains in hospital.

Leicester drug dealers, who used children to smuggle, jailed Uwimana Rahman, 22 from Leicester and Adam Curran, 32 from Birmingham has been jailed for their role in a heroin and crack cocaine plot which used children to smuggle the drugs into smaller communities.

Both men were arrested as a part of a series of

planned warrants executed in September this year targeting those that cause most harm.

Rahman of Keightley Road, New Parks was involved in a large so-called county line criminal enterprise moving Class A drugs around the country. He has

been sent for 5 years and 8 months of prison term.

Curran of Dearman Road was arrested following a search of the address on September 20. Charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin, he was sentenced to serve four years and one month.

Thames Water fined £4mn for Covid case highest in children aged 5-9 pouring sewage Thames Water Utilities Limited discharged the sewage into the Seacourt and Hinksey streams in Oxford on July 24 and 25 in 2016.

The utility was fined £4million at the conclusion of its third major prosecution this year and swelled the total of fines for water pollution since 2017 to a staggering £32.4million.

The company has also been ordered to pay the prosecution costs in the sum of £90,713 for the discharge that lasted approximately 30 hours and flowed for at least 2 miles along the streams, through a pub gar-

den and past community allotments.

The Environment Agency believes that it was responsible for the deaths of 3000 fish, including perch, chub, roach, gudgeon and bullheads.

The data up to November 14 shows that the covid cases rate in England is now highest among children aged five to nine overtaking older, secondary school-aged children for the first time.

Overall nearly 13.9 people in England have had a third dose of a Covid jab – about 24% of the population over 12 years have been vaccinated since their vaccination for Above-12 started in recent weeks.

The UK Health Security Agency report shows 723 cases recorded per 100,000 among children aged five to nine. That’s up week-on-week from 484.5 per 100,000.

The rate of 10-19-year-olds is 694.2, up from 571.7

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AsianVoiceNews

COMMENTS 3

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

27 Nov - 3 Dec 2021

Walking on thin ice Tories revolted against a 'chaotic and disrespectful' PM Boris Johnson on Monday following a major agitation on social care and anger at his shambolic speech to business chiefs at the CBI conference. The Prime Minister was forced to shuffle through his notes for twenty seconds in front of mystified business leaders, before going on to talk about a visit to a Peppa Pig theme.

“Forgive me, forgive me ... oh blast it.” He muttered to the crowd as he fumbled through the pages of his speech.

During a long, rambling speech, Mr Johnson also quoted Lenin and referred to himself as Moses. He also impersonated an accelerating car saying, “Broom broom brah brah!”.

Later in his speech, the PM urged Britons to take up their booster jab to boost economic growth. He also acknowledged that there were chronic problems underlying the UK economy.

However, keeping up to his climate change promises, he announced that new homes and buildings in England will be required by law to install electric vehicle charging points from next year.

Britain currently has about 25,000 charging points, but the Competition and Markets Authority has said it could need 10 times as many before 2030. The plan to expand charging points comes as the UK attempts to develop the necessary infrastructure to cope with its target of switching to electric cars, with new petrol and diesel cars sales banned from 2030.

Lord Karan Bilimoria who is the President of the CBI in a press conference prior to his speech on Wednesday, emphasised how much India meant to Britain, in the post-Brexit world. He said that as we're formally now going to start the FTA negotiations with India, the potential for that is huge. We are just scratching the surface with a country like India, which is the fifth-largest economy in the world. But he also raised alarm by

saying, India as an emerging global economic superpower, should be doing way more than 24 billion pounds a year in bilateral trade.

The CBI has helped the Department of Trade and Investment to set up bilateral trades with other countries.

There are key issues that the government needs to consider.

In its own problems and allegations of corruption, Britain fights a war of favouritism. During COP26, Boris Johnson faced a barrage of questions about ethical standards in politics that he was obliged to argue that the UK is not remotely a corrupt country.

But issues like trying to save a Conservative MP like Owen Peterson or lobbying for MPs’ second job, or peerage for sale, or breaking Covid rules, breaking international laws in case of Northern Ireland or having ‘murky’ standards for himself, Mr Johnson and the Tory government are walking on very thin ice.

Even Lord Bilimoria praising the 10-point-plan of the Prime Minister did not hold back from mentioning a labour shortage in restaurants, or in delivery trucks that almost wrecked Christmas last year, which are some things that the government needs to focus on. Collapsing of energy companies like Bulb, which was co-founded by Amit Gudka, before it was sold off, and the closure of high street stores with a lack of customers that can afford to buy – shows the challenge that the British industries face.

The Tory party is getting away with incompetency because of the lack of strong opposition. Sir Keir Starmer who is trying to reconnect with the Indian diaspora and welcomed community members at the Diwali celebration by Labour Friends of India last week, shows rectification of old mistakes have just now begun.

If Britain does not lookout for the well-being of its industries and minorities, including an open door policy, especially for SMEs, the coming months are only going to get harder for this country.

A precedence that we may regret?

Priti Patel, the Indian-origin Home Secretary is under tremendous pressure about small boat crossings. Media is anticipating that she might be battling to keep her job. While the focus is on a top and seasoned politician’s ‘chair’, the country is in absolute denial of its stand on human rights, especially to an Asian teenager with no other ‘home'.

Proposed rule changes to the new Nationality and Borders Bill would reportedly allow the UK government to remove citizenship without notice if it is not “reasonably practicable” to do so, or in the interests of national security, diplomatic relations or in the public interest.

Britain is home to many diasporas including the Asian communities, that have migrated to the UK, same as the Windrush community- much of which is to Britain’s financial benefit after the World War destructions or devastations.

Over the years the first generation of migrants has settled down with children and grandchildren who do not have any other identity than being British or English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish. Hundreds of young diasporas who migrated to the UK for higher education, eventually have stayed on with jobs and in two decades many of them have integrated into this country’s culture more than their Indian or Pakistani heritage.

There is a very fine difference between punishing a perpetrator for being a traitor to his or her own country, failing their moral duties and being racist in doing so.

Someone like Shamima Begum whose parents are Bangladeshi and who have never ever owned any other identity other than that of being a British Muslim, today faces a serious identity crisis. In no way her actions to join a terrorist group can be justified, but that does not.

It is difficult for any indigenous community settled in its own

territory, historically or otherwise to understand the existential questions that gen-two or three faces. While they are expected to have values like their parents, they are essentially different. But failure to be a good citizen cannot be justified being made stateless.

You cannot shun your own on the basis of skin colour or heritage, just because the parents are immigrants. And as we hold moral questions against nations turning their own displaced citizens into refugees, we are creating the same- and with much vengeance.

The Home Office has been able to remove citizenship since 2005, and most notably used the powers in the case of Shamima Begum. A Home Office spokesperson said, “British citizenship is a privilege, not a right”, but for a British born child being British is indeed his or her birthright and not a privilege unlike their parents or grandparents, who have earned or ‘naturalised’ to be so.

Essentially that right is non-transferrable, like a child born British cannot pass on their rights to immigrant parents.

As The Big Issue pointed out that campaigners have warned that the plans are “cruel and farcical”, and that the government is showing a “total disregard for international law”. The Runnymede Trust, a racial equality think tank, warned the clause could have a dire impact and called the Home Office statement “chilling”. They have also warned such precedence of removal of passport on basis of bad behaviours of non-white people is a much detrimental or problematic move.

This country is already fighting to establish an appreciation of multiculturalism. Despite integration at various levels, racism is ingrained at every institutional level. And at that point, a law justifying the removal of basic human rights on basis of “race”, is a failure of the very British ‘tolerance’ we have ever been proud of.

Major policy reversal by Modi to scrap farm laws In a major policy reversal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the scrapping controversial farm laws following a year of persistent street protests by the farmers. Modi apologized for failing to convince a section of farmers and said the parliament will repeal the legislation in the session that starts later this month.

When lawmakers passed the bills in September 2020 in a bid to boost investment and productivity, Modi had hailed them as a watershed moment in the history of Indian agriculture. The purpose of the laws was to strengthen the country’s farmers, especially small farmers, Modi said. We have failed to convince some farmers despite all our efforts. The announcement comes ahead of crucial elections in five states, including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, a home to many Sikh farmers who have spearheaded the protests by tens of thousands of farmers that began roughly a year ago.

The government introduced the farm laws with good intentions for the benefit of all farmers. But it did not go down well with the wealthy farmers. The wealthy farmers now have the assurance that the rest of the country will keep subsidising their economically irrational and environmentally dangerous production practices. A law on MSP will be the icing on this poisonous cake. First, don’t let hubris dictate the timing and process of reforms. The three farm laws was always critical of the manner in which they became laws. The government of India and BJP should have held consultations because they should have figured that rich farmers have been cosseted for so long that ramming reforms through may produce a big reaction. The farm reforms message got clouded by including provisions like corporate leasing of farm land – that was a gift to left wing supporters, who teamed up with rich farmers and fashioned a false narrative of ‘big capital vs humble kisan’. Even as the scrapping may help Modi’s party win the votes, it’s unclear what that means for his reform agenda. The repeal shows how politically difficult it will be for India to over-

haul a sector that helps support about 60% of the nation’s 1.4 billion people.

Prior to last year, India’s system for buying and selling crops had remained largely unchanged since the 1950s. The laws, which had already been suspended by the Supreme Court in January, allowed farmers to sell crops directly to private firms instead of licensed middlemen at state-controlled markets. While Modi has said the laws will help them earn more cash, farmers feared those companies wouldn’t give them minimum prices set by the government.

The basic purpose of bringing reforms was to increase income of farmers through creating an enabling environment in the sector and to have more investment in agriculture infrastructure. It will be a setback for foreign direct investment and agriculture investment. Now that the government has announced the scrapping of the laws, Samyukta Kisan Morcha said that it will continue with its scheduled protest rallies till its other demands are met.

Among a medley of its demands, the most dangerous is the one for a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP), and the most outrageous is the call for a repeal of the amendments proposed to the electricity law. Now, SKM is being wholly unreasonable and asking for changes that will make India an economic basket case.

Other demands are equally unreasonable. India’s electricity sector is broken, lurching from one crisis to another. The proposed electricity amendment bill tries to address some of the structural problems and is a matter under discussion between the GoI and states. SKM appears bent on preserving a status quo mainly defined by free or cheap power. Another demand relates to some provisions of a law that addresses stubble burning. To begin with, stubble burning continues as none of the relevant laws are ever enforced. Here too, the root cause is because of the distortions brought about by the MSP.

Ambition is the path to success.

Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in. — Bill Bradley

Alpesh Patel

I fully expect to be attacked for this The Home Secretary as proscribed as a terrorist organisation Hamas. All of it. No longer parts of it.

She especially highlighted their anti-Semitic rhetoric. I fully support her. For that, and for supporting these views of hers, I full expect to be attacked by the Left, by the blindly anti-Semitic, by apologists of terrorism, by those who simply don’t like Hindus. I await – but mark my words.

Hamas is the greatest threat to a Palestinian State. Do you think if Hamas were the ruling party of India that India would have got Statehood? No, when your ruling ideology is hatred of another religion and their destruction, then you cannot be conceded to, you cannot be pacified.

People won’t say it. They weep for poor Palestinian children, as they should, but Hamas does not. Priti Patel was right. Boy, am I going to get vitriol for that. And I think I know where I will get the hate from.

After all it was the Labour Party leaflet in the Batley election showing PMs of India and UK with the undertone that you shouldn’t therefore vote Conservative as they are friendly with Indian and Hindu is clear.

I remember in a Politics class at Oxford my tutor showed me an election leaflet from a renowned right wing Senator with a white hand helping a black hand and he asked me what I thought.

I said, well he could be speaking of unity and a helping hand. He made it clear what ‘dog-whistle’ politics is. Where you pretend you’re not saying what any sensible person knows what you are.

Division, sectarianism is to be loathed. I’ve seen angry Khalistanis attack me on social media because I disagree with their celebrating the murder of an unarmed woman (Indira Gandhi). That I disagreed with their desire for a Caliphate – Khaliphate. I don’t like theocracies. I like plural democracies. The se ISIS mimics want a country.

God help us.

I believe in a world where the best in all our faiths brings us forward as one humanity, not dogwhistling to division to incite hatred based on what your great great great grand-dad did to mine. There is enough of that.

I’ve met Tony Blair, Robin Cook, Patricia Hewitt – Labour MP’s from an era when they could win elections. Little wonder that by the time of the next General election, the last Labour leader to win an election before the last one would have been half a century ago. (Harold Wilson in case you’re wondering, before Blair). Anyway, go ahead hate me for being British, Indian, Hindu, Liberal, Democrat who does not like terrorism apologising, antiSemitic, Hamas and IRA supporting numpties who look on the Russian Revolution with nostalgia.

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AsianVoiceNewsweekly

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27 Nov - 3 Dec 2021

Make good on promises to Commitment to career growth as RPS becomes climate-threatened countries to avert humanitarian crisis, Lord Loomba warns ILM accredited training For the world to succeed in its efforts to keep global warming within acceptable limits, it is essential that poorer countries are given the funding they need to play their part. This was the key message delivered by Loomba Foundation Chair Lord Loomba speaking in the House of Lords this week [Thursday 18 November].

Describing the $100 billion promised to developing countries and not yet delivered as “a critical part of the grand bargain that underpins the Paris Agreement”, Lord Loomba denounced the failure to meet that pledge and said progress must be made during the remainder of the UK’s pres-

Lord Loomba

idency.

“We know… that some countries are already in grave peril and facing humanitarian crises. These include island nations and coastal communities in many other countries. The people in these affected parts, who have done nothing to cause this man-made

emergency, lack the means to mitigate or even escape the fate that awaits them,” he said, adding that “it would be most unfair to ask countries in subSaharan Africa, South Asia and South America, which already have a very low standard of living, to make further sacrifices without the support of the richer nations which have played a far more significant role in creating the situation.”

Responding to the debate on COP26 which had been initiated by

Baroness Young of Old Scone, Environment Minister Lord Goldsmith Lord acknowledged Loomba’s intervention and said that agreed that “even if we keep warming to 1.5 degrees, the world will change and the most vulnerable countries, particularly small island states, will be very badly affected.”

Lord Goldsmith pointed to the COP26 agreement to establish the Santiago Network to initiate a dialogue around finance for the loss and damage suffered by affected countries and agreed that “it is our job now as COP president for the next year to ensure that that dialogue leads to something.”

10 million women face working their entire careers without seeing equal pay 10 million women face working their entire careers without seeing equal pay as progress to close the gender pay gap goes back under the Conservatives.

The number of women set to work their entire careers without ever seeing equal pay has risen to over ten million – up from 8.5 million a year ago – new research by the Labour Party can reveal.

The analysis to mark Equal Pay Day shows progress on the gender pay gap has stalled significantly under Boris Johnson’s Conservatives, with the gap now not set to close until 2059 – seven years later than the projection made in 2020.

It means that an 18year-old woman entering employment today will have to wait until she turns 56 before the gender pay gap closes.

Reacting to the figures, Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary

Anneliese Dodds MP accused the Conservatives of “failing an entire generation of women”.

Labour has pledged urgent action to close the gender pay gap by: • Modernising equal pay legislation to allow for equal pay comparisons across employers where men and women are carrying out comparable work.

• Enforcing the requirement to report and eliminate pay gaps, with employers required to devise and implement plans to eradicate these inequalities.

• Ensuring outsourced workers are included in employers’ gender pay gap reporting and pay ratio reporting.

• Introducing mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting for firms with more than 250 staff, to mirror gender pay gap reporting rules.

The figures come as women continue to struggle with the hugely unequal 24 hour helpline e

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impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The gender pay gap increased by 13% between April 2020 and April 2021, when women were more likely to be furloughed, more likely to lose income to home-school, and more

likely to work in sectors that are expected to see the slowest economic recovery from the crisis. In the eight years of Labour Government between 2002 and 2010, the gender pay gap narrowed by just over 7%.

provider

Committed to creating a development environment for employees to grow their careers, global professional services firm RPS is now an accredited member of the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM).

The UK’s leading provider of specialist leadership qualifications, the ILM creates leaders and develops managers through expertly created training resources focused on real organisational application and improvement.

Launching in 2022, the ILM programmes will be available to employees at all levels within RPS, offering the opportunity to gain internationally recognised qualifications, skills and competencies in leadership, management, executive coaching and mentoring. A series of eLearning modules based on the syllabus of ILM at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels will also be made available for all.

Learning and Development Manager, Tom Gorman, said: “It’s an exciting time to be at RPS, with ILM being a fantastic addition to the professional development of all employees. Every year ILM qualifies 70,000 leaders and managers by helping them develop critical skills to succeed, and those looking to take the qualification will benefit immensely from the courses available.”

John Chubb, CEO – RPS Consulting UK & Ireland, adds: “RPS is a place you come to grow your career, and this is another important tool we will use to develop our team. We are passionate about growing our people and this investment further demonstrates our commitment.”

The ILM qualifications will consist of: Level 3 (predegree level equivalent, aimed at junior support staff), Level 4 (1st-year degree or HNC equivalent) and Level 5 (Foundation Degree or HND level equivalent, aimed at line managers and future line managers). A Master’s equivalent Level 7 in Executive Coaching and Mentoring is available in the second quarter of the year.

Covid deaths: Health Secretary orders racial bias review We’re all aware of the institutional racism that GPs and healthcare workers of colour underwent during the Covid-19 pandemic.

But, in a commendable yet unnerving move, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has ordered a racial bias review for Covid deaths during the past many months of the global pandemic.

According to The Lancet, analysis of data from Public Health England showed that deaths from coronavirus among people from ethnic-minority groups were two to four times greater than those among the white population in England.

This review will investigate and analyse medical equipment amid fears that thousands of ethnic-minority patients died of Covid-19 who should have survived.

The Sunday Times reported, “He has commis-

Sajid Javid

sioned the review after research showed that oximeters, which monitor oxygen levels in the blood and are used to assess whether Covid-19 patients need lifesaving treatment, are less accurate on people with darker skin.”

Writing for The Sunday Times, Javid wrote, “Like so many people I watched with horror last week the brave testimony of the cricketers who came forward to speak about their experiences of discrimination while playing the sport they loved.

“These stories struck a chord with me. The same

Departments told to drop social distancing measures To get more civil servants back into the office, the departments have been given green lights to drop social distancing measures.

While the previous update said social distancing guidelines were no longer in force, it asked to mitigate risk by reducing the number of people the workers came in contact with. The update on November 9 encourages

employers to focus their efforts on measures such as cleaning and ventilation to reduce the risk of coronavirus.

COO Alex Chisholm wrote to COOs across the government last week saying changes to Covid-19 safety guidance could mean a substantial increase in capacity for ministers and agencies in England.

word that was so ludicrously dismissed as the banter between teammates was used against me often when I grew up — and I can assure you, it’s not banter, it hurts.

Although attitudes have thankfully changed a lot since then, there are still too many people in this country who find the odds unfairly stacked against them.

“When I walk to my office, there’s a board showing everyone who’s held this role for over a century, and being the first name on that list from an ethnic minority is a responsibility I take very seriously. I’m determined to take a fresh perspective to this position and do whatever it takes so that in this country, your health and your experience of health and care isn’t dictated by where you live or where you come from.

“Because although we’ve come together as a nation to

fight this virus, the pandemic has shown that in many areas we’re far apart. At the height of the Covid peak last winter, black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups made up 28 per cent of critical-care admissions in England — about double their representation in the population as a whole.”

“For example, research has shown that oximeters, which monitor oxygen levels and are used to see whether treatment is needed for Covid-19, are less accurate on people with darker skin. One of the founding principles of our NHS is equality, and the possibility that a bias — even an inadvertent one — could lead to a poorer health outcome is totally unacceptable,” Javid added.

He said that he wants to fix this and that benefits of technology should be widely shared.

Met officer used force on teenage, faces investigation Six officers were on foot patrol and approached a group of black teenage boys standing near the school gates. The officer attempted to handcuff the boy who either fell or was taken to the ground.

The IOPC said the evidence gathered during the six-month investigation indicated that the officer had a case to answer for

gross misconduct for breaching standards of professional behaviour for use of force and duties and responsibilities.

The probe was launched

by IOPC on December 10 last year following a complaint from the boy and a referral from the Met about the incident in West Green Road, Haringey on December 8.

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Labour Friends of India celebrates Diwali with Sir Keir Starmer and prominent leaders from the Indian community in the UK The Labour Friends of India hosted their annual Diwali Reception with nearly 100 key figures from across the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities, including MPs, councillors, and Labour party on Tuesday 16 members November. The event was hosted

by Co-Chairmen of LFIN Rajesh Agrawal (Deputy Mayor of London for Business) and Darren Jones MP (Chair, House of Commons Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy Committee).

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer MP, Shadow Chancellor Angela Rayner and the Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple’s Alpesh Patel took part in the traditional lamp lighting ceremony to inaugurate the evening.

CB Patel, Publisher / Editor, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar with Her Majesty's Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer

Shadow Chancellor Angela Rayner, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer MP, Alpesh Patel of Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple, Darren Jones MP (Chair, House of Commons Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy Committee) and London's Deputy Mayor Business Rajesh Agrawal lighting the inaugural lamp

worked closely with the Keir Starmer’s office to continue to promote UK-India ties as well as continuing to raise any issues from the community to the leadership. We are pleased at such a positive turnout as we emerge from the pandemic.”

Last month, LFIN launched The Mahatma Gandhi Future Leaders Program, a mentoring and leadership program for a new generation of political leaders from

widely in attendance,” said Mr for the work of Labour friends of Jones.

India at this evening’s Diwali Mr Agrawal added, “Since the reception. I am committed to Labour Friends of India working closely with the Indian relaunched in 2019, we have community, including building stronger links with India’s business and cooperating on global issues such as climate change.”

Bollywood actors Anil Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja “Diwali is an important festival for the com- recently visited the popular restaurant Darjeeling London. munity. It was good to Sonam lives with her husband Anand Ahuja in an exquisite home celebrate it with so many and works out of an office that the couple has created for themof my fellow selves. The actor took her father to dine out at Asma Khan’s Parliamentarians and restaurant which has seen multiple visits from actors like Paul LFIN members. Our Rudd, Dan Levy among others.

Founder Asma Khan shared their photographs with the engagement with the Darjeeling London crew and tweeted: “They were so warm and Indian community has been going from strength charming-the father & daughter duo @AnilKapoor & to strength and we are @sonamakapoor took time to talk to all the chefs-AK surprised pleased to see attendees them by visiting the kitchen & Sonam told them how she from business, communi- enjoyed each dish she had eaten. What an incredible experience ty leadership and more for the team. #HeroesInTheHouse”

the Indian community in the UK, which will enhance the relationship between the UK and India.

The six-month program started in October 2021 and will run until the next Labour Party conference.

Labour Friends of India (LFIN) is a community of party members, supporters and political office holders which aspires to strengthen the relationship between British Indians and the Labour Party. The organisation also strives to fortify relations between the age-old relationship between the UK and India, the world’s largest democracy and the world’s oldest.

Set up in 1999, the LFIN was relaunched in January 2017 at an event attended by then Indian High Commissioner Ruchi Ghanshyam, and members of the shadow cabinet such as John McDonnell MP.

Heroes in the house

London's Deputy Mayor for Business Rajesh Agrawal, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Shadow Chancellor Angela Rayner

guests included Other Jonathan Ashworth MP, Stephen Timms MP, Catherine McKinnell MP, Fleur Anderson MP, Kate Osborne MP, Patrick McFadden MP, Virender Sharma MP and Tan Dhesi MP. Sir Starmer said, “I am delighted to see such enthusiastic support

Actor Anil Kapoor and daughter Sonam Kapoor Ahuja along with Asma Khan and her team at Darjeeling Express

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DEMOCRACY WINS Continued from page 1

Western media outlets termed this move by Modi as ‘eating humble pie’, ‘rare show of weakness’, and cited the lack of strong opposition as an added advantage on the ruling government’s part while speculating that miracles in India happen during election season (the BJP ruled state of Uttar Pradesh in India is due for its 2022 elections).

The Economist critiqued Modi, saying, “The trouble is that compared with the BJP’s simple core message of Hindu pride and nationalism, its scattered and multiple opponents have no shared story to tell.” The article also added that the pedigree of the younger Gandhis exposes them to the celibate Mr Modi’s well-placed barbs about nepotism. The piece further added, “...Modi’s best ally has been the weakness of his opponents, so the opposition’s best chance to capture power may stem from the actions of the prime minister himself. But it will take a gargantuan mistake to undo the seemingly unassailable Mr Modi.”

The western press can criticise Modi as much as it wants, but the fact remains that it takes a tremendous amount of courage for the leader of the largest democracy in the world to bow down to its people, even if it is in the name of an alleged political move to win an upcoming election. For this reason, Modi is counted as the ‘master communicator’.

Seconding that thought, Lord Rami Ranger CBE told Asian Voice,

the map for a business destination.

The opening of the Kartarpur Corridor is yet another example of his visionary leadership which could pave the way for friendship with Pakistan.”

Virendra Sharma MP told us, "I

Virendra Sharma MP am pleased to see the Indian Government has listened to citizens and is rethinking the farm laws. It is right for the Indian Government to propose changes to the country to modernise systems, but some may go too far too fast. As someone who was born in India, alongside millions in the Indian diaspora, I want to see the country thrive and go from strength to strength, and I look forward to the UK and India collaborating on ambitious international agreements."

Sanjay Jagatia, Chair of the Hindu Think Tank UK told

Sanjay Jagatia

Lord Rami Ranger CBE “It takes a great man to admit if he had got it wrong. Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi Ji by repealing farm laws has demonstrated two things. Firstly, he is a man of courage to accept that he had got it wrong to introduce farms bills without consulting the stakeholders, the farmers and secondly, by swallowing his pride, he has demonstrated that his love for his country and countrymen is above everything.

“Many lessons will be learnt from the outcome of a year-long protest of the farmers. To start with, it will make the Indian democracy even more, robust and secondly, the government will never pass any law unilaterally to avoid the consequences of people power.

“Finally, in all this, we should not ignore for minutes the great work Prime Minister has done and doing for the nation like repealing article 370 in Kashmir and making Triple Talaq illegal in India, thus giving women dignity and equality.

He is also beefing up India’s armed forces to deal with the Chinese threat. He has put India firmly on

IndianExpress that “it was heartening” to hear Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announce the repeal of the three controversial farm laws.

Supreme Sikh Council UK secretary general Gurmel Singh Kandola also told the publication, “Many diaspora Sikhs have been vilified for providing humanitarian aid to the farmers. The government now also needs to withdraw the charges in good grace and enter into constructive dialogue with the farmers’ representatives.”

Sikhs under no illusion that impending State elections drove the decision Harmeet Singh Gill, General Secretary, Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall differs in perspective

Harmeet Gill

towards the repealing of farms laws.

Speaking to the newsweekly, Harmeet Singh Gill said, “The climb down by the Modi regime on the farmer's laws was long overdue; it has taken over a year of protests by millions and the death of hundreds of Indian farmers on the borders of Delhi.

“The UK Sikh community, many of whom come from a farming background or still have family members dependent on farming, are waiting for the repeal to be formally repealed in Parliament before they can breathe a sigh of relief. The community is under no illusion that impending State elections drove the decision. There is hope that farmers will now use this momentum to push for farmer-led reforms that are desperately needed.”

UK protests and petitions It is important to reflect on the year-long protests by Sikhs across Europe and America who participated in large numbers in the ongoing Khalistan Referendum campaign.

29-year-old Daljit Singh had organised four kisan sleep-out protests outside the Indian High Commission in London. Daljit doesn’t wish to discontinue his mission. According to reports in The Times of India, Daljit will continue to protest and head towards a gurdwara car park in Letchworth on 27 November.

"We are going to keep protesting until it’s gone through the parliamentary process. There isn’t much trust in the Indian government — they have allowed the farmers to stay there for a year in the cold and spread propaganda against them and we have seen them face water cannon and tear gas. Some people in America have had their OCIs revoked just for protesting and we have all been labelled as anti-nationals. Once it has gone through the parliamentary process, people will go home,” Daljit Singh told ToI. Councillor Gurch Singh’s petition with 116,000 signatures urged the British government to demand India to ensure the safety of farmer protesters and journalists, which even led to a debate in the House of Commons. Rendered ‘speechless’, Singh was quoted by ToI saying that this is the biggest gift the Sikh community could receive on GuruPurab despite the debatable timing f this move. Singh thinks that the Indian government needs to rebuild India’s reputation on the global stage.

Indian media reported that intelligence sources have confirmed that the BJP govt was rattled at seeing large queues of Sikhs in the UK cities voting for Khalistan during the referendum campaign, organised by the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) group, which is campaigning for the creation of a separate Sikh homeland.

Reportedly, protests were happening in London as recently as last month, and on 21 November, and over 20,000 Sikhs showed up to vote at the polling stations set up in Leicester, Coventry and Derby, while last Sunday, Birmingham polling station saw lines of voters stretched to several city blocks for the Khalistan Referendum campaign.

Emotional British Indians like 20-year-old Balraj Purewal told a publication that had he not been in the UK, he’d be a farmer in India like his family. " It's just not fair.

They're taking the minimum wage away. My uncle goes back to India every year to check on his crops and check on his team. My cousin has been going to the protests. The police have been torturing and beating up our community," he told Newsbeat.

However, in an interview with Asian Voice earlier this year, BJP Spokesperson (Delhi) Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga countered the allega-

Tajinder Bagga tions against a political motive behind the government’s erstwhile stand on farm law. “The government has tried to talk to the farmers. There were more than eight to ten meetings that happened which included cabinet ministers along with the farmers. The farmers asked the government to give in writing that no MSP will be deducted which the government agreed to do. The government further said that it was ready to put a hold on the bill until both parties reach a consensus over the matter.

“Post that, the government made a committee with the Supreme Court of India, wherein both the government and the farmers were allowed to have a certain set number of people. But the farmers didn’t agree. This was being termed as a “political” movement, but now farmers' leader Rakesh Tikait is going to Bengal, Kerala and he said he will go to all the states where elections are happening and meet the farmers. So I think it is clear that their motive behind the protest is not the bill.

The motive behind the protests is that they hate BJP, they hate Modi.

They know that these protests will benefit them, hence they are letting them happen,” Bagga had told the newsweekly.

UK MPs laud the victory of farmers Sharing her sentiment on this historic repeal of farm laws by the Indian government, MP Preet Kaur Gill told us, "This is a huge victory

Preet Kaur Gill MP for Sikh farmers and Indian farmers unions, who have fought hard for the repeal of what they called the 'black laws’. This was the largest social movement in the world, and it shows the power people have when they peacefully join together to affect change.

"Indian Parliament will now resume the winter session on 29th November and the farmers are saying that they will not be returning to their homes until they actually see the change in the legislation of

the repealing of the laws and certain guarantees that they are requesting. This victory has clearly come at the cost of lives - 750 people have died as a result - and yesterday I attended an event that really took the time to recognise this loss of life. Hopefully, now the families will take some peace from knowing that their efforts were not in vain.

"It shows the power of some of the greatest social movements and what they can do especially now when the right to protest is under attack across the world."

MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi tweeted: “Given #FarmersProtest valiant struggles, glad the controversial farm laws being repealed.

Sections of media and establishment busy labelling farmers and those standing in solidarity with them as terrorists and separatists may well want to apologise”.

MP Seema Malhotra wrote: “This hugely welcome news that India will be repealing its three controversial farm laws, more than a year after the start of widespread protests against them is a huge victory for the farmers and families who protested against them and sacrificed so much.”

MP Valerie Vaz tweeted: “The repeal of the farm laws is brilliant news Today is Guru Nanak Sahebjee’s Birthday”.

Critiquing and contemplating how Indira Gandhi handled emergency and its relevance amid this victory for Indian farmers, an OpEd in the FreePressJournal said, “Hiding behind her own insecurities, she concocted the story of a ‘foreign-hand’ and fictionalised a democratic movement known as the JP movement as a threat to the young nation. She weaved the narrative that she had imposed Emergency to save democracy. But her bluff was called, and she, as well as her son, lost their elections.

That was the first time that democracy redeemed itself. But this time the threat is more vigorous, the conspiracy is deeper, the ideology is more dangerous and the rulers are more ruthless. Therefore, the occasion is more solemn.”

Note: Turn to Page 26 to read more about repealing farm laws in India.

I want to say with a sincere and pure heart that maybe something was lacking in our efforts that we could not explain the truth to some of our farmer brothers. Let us make a fresh start. I want to tell you that we have taken the farm laws back.

We are repealing the farm laws.

-PM Modi

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UK Trade Envoy to Uganda, Lord Popat’s visit to Kampala Lord Dolar Popat, the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo visited Kampala last week on a trade mission on behalf of the UK Government.

Much of Uganda continues to remain under lockdown, following a recent wave of infections and Lord Popat’s visit represents one of the first official foreign trips to the country since the pandemic began. The main aim of Lord Popat’s visit was to strengthen bilateral relations with Uganda and to assist them with their post-Covid economic recovery.

Lord Popat’s visit coincided with two deadly, terrorist bomb blasts in Kampala which rocked the city. However, Lord Popat was still able to meet with President Yoweri Museveni and continue his trip as planned.

During the visit, Lord Popat pledged his support to help the Ugandan Government with their industrialisation process. Lord Popat said British demand for Ugandan goods such as coffee, maize, sugar, wheat

Museveni said, “Uganda can produce anything as long as the communities are and organised mobilised. Our people have the capacity to produce a lot of coffee and fruits on small pieces of land.”

Aside from the export of agro-products to Britain, a Lord Dolar Popat, the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo visited Kampala last week on a trade mission on number of flagship behalf of the UK Government projects were discussed during Lord and barley had increased more than ever, Popat’s visit, including financing Uganda’s particularly after Brexit. pharmaceutical Namanve Park, the estabLord Popat assured to help Ugandans to lished of a British hospital in northern connect to buyers in the UK, particularly Uganda’s Hoima district and British electhrough the introduction of the long-awaittricity and solar energy projects. ed Uganda Airlines which would pave the Speaking during the visit, Lord Popat way for the cheaper and fastest export of said, “I am eager to continue to build the goods.

UK’s future trade relationship with Uganda.

Following Lord Popat’s visit, President

The pandemic has hit both our economics hard, but signs of recovery are on the horizon for Uganda.”

“Why is the UK investing so heavily in Uganda? The answer is simple: Uganda’s prosperity equals UK prosperity. Increased trade between the UK and Uganda will deliver more jobs, increased exports and technology transfers.”

Since Lord Popat’s appointment as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Uganda in 2016, trade with Uganda has quadrupled.

Trade figures have remained consistent over the lockdown, including the UK’s largest ever deal signed with Uganda earlier this summer worth $1.9bn with British company McDermott which Lord Popat helped oversee.

The visit by Lord Popat – who was born in Uganda - was also symbolic of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the expulsion of Ugandan Asians which will see a series of events taking place in 2022 by the Ugandan Asian diaspora.

Labour tells Conservatives to ‘get serious’ about tackling Islamophobia Labour has written to the Co-Chair of the Conservative Party asking him to take urgent action to tackle Islamophobia in his party and across the UK. Hate crime statistics for 2020/21 show that just under half of all religious hate crimes across England and Wales were targeted at Muslim people. To mark Islamophobia Awareness Month (November 2021), Anneliese Dodds MP, Labour Party

Chair and Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, and Afzal Khan MP, Labour’s Shadow Deputy Leader of the House and Chair of Labour Muslim Network, jointly wrote to Oliver Dowden MP calling on him to “do much more” to tackle the scourge of Islamophobia.

Dodds and Khan urged the Conservative Party to abandon what they call the “bizarre practice” of referring to ‘anti-Muslim hatred’

London Assembly Member hosts launch of report into impact of pandemic on Southeast Asian artists Tongues on Fire launched their new report on the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of Southeast Asian artists and the wider community at City Hall.

Labour’s London Assembly Health spokesperson, Dr Onkar Sahota AM, said it was “a privilege” to host the event alongside “an esteemed panel of speakers” to discuss “the importance of the arts and culture sector to boosting mental and physical health particularly during a time of crisis”.

Umesh Desai AM, Dr Onkar Sahota AM, Dr Pushpinder Chowdhry MBE, Tongues on Fire is the proProfessor Dinesh Bhugra and Dr Toyeeba Mushtaq ducer of the UK Asian Film Festival and during consecutive Dr Sahota has praised the report for its lockdown periods saw many of its annual focus on putting the principles of social preevents and programmes disrupted. scribing into practice. In December 2020, he The organisation’s new report, ‘Mental published his own report, Social Prescribing Health of South Asian Artists: Reimagining and Covid-19 looking at how community the Arts for Good Mental Health’ reflects on activities and support networks can help to how it adapted to the pandemic and offered alleviate some of the mental and physical virtual dance workshops, group sing-along health impacts of future waves of the pansessions, poetry recitals and film screenings as demic. a way of supporting Southeast Asian artists The launch marked one of the last events and members of the community who were left to be held at City Hall before the Greater socially isolated.

London Authority moved out of the building The UK Asian Film Festival also went a in a few weeks’ time. step further and set up a Talking Therapy Dr Sahota said, “We had an in-depth and helpline, whose participants were given a lively discussion about the importance of the secure place to discuss issues such as job loss, arts and culture sector to boosting mental loneliness and anxiety, bereavement and and physical health, particularly during a time being unable to perform traditional death ritof crisis, and I commend the report’s focus on uals for loved ones because of coronavirus putting the principles of social prescribing restrictions. into practice.

The report was presented to guests at City “Despite having its usual schedule of Hall by Dr Toyeba Mushtaq and discussed by events turned on its head during the pandema panel of speakers, including Dr Pushpinder ic, it was inspiring to hear how Tongues on Chowdhry MBE, Chair of Tongues on Fire, Fire and the UK Asian Film Festival readapted Rakhee Joshi, Bollywood Actress, Banita its focus to reaching out to the most isolated Sandhu and author of Mad Tales from in our communities through a raft of virtual Bollywood, Professor Dinesh Bhugra. group activities”.

instead of Islamophobia and call on him to commit to adopting the APPG on British Muslims’ definition of Islamophobia. The Conservative Party remains the only major UK political party that has refused to adopt the definition, which has been endorsed by over 800 British Muslim organisations.

The letter also noted that the Party faces a series of looming deadlines set out in its response to the Singh Investigation into alleged racism and discrimination in the Conservative Party, which promised a ‘zero-tolerance approach to discrimination’ despite not mentioning Islamophobia once.

Arguing that Boris Johnson’s ongoing refusal to apologise publicly for offensive remarks about Muslim women “makes a

mockery” of that commitment, Dodds and Khan called for the party Co-Chairs to “show some leadership” and apologise on the Prime Minister’s behalf.

They also called out the Prime Minister’s failure to respond to a letter from Khan warning about rising Islamophobia that was sent over a year ago and urged the Party to finally deliver the independent investigation into Islamophobia in the UK that it has promised.

The Labour Party has adopted the APPG definition and taken has taken proactive steps to tackle this hatred by adopting a new Code of Conduct on Islamophobia earlier this year.

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Legal batter over keeping Prince Philip’s will secret After the high court ruled in a secret hearing in September that Philip’s will should be hidden from the public for 90 years, legal action against the attorney general and Queen’s private lawyers have been initiated over a decision to ban media organizations from a court hearing about the Duke of Edinburgh’s will.

Under British law, when a person dies any will they have left behind is automatically made public. That is done in order to ensure the will is acted upon, to bring it

Prince Philip

to the attention of potential beneficiaries and to prevent fraud against a person’s estate. The Windsor family is exempt from this requirement. However, there is no established legal definition of who is, and who is not, a member of the royal family.

Single-use plastic ban to extend on cutlery The government is now a step closer to extending a ban on single-use plastic items to plates, cutlery and cups in England with the launch of a new public consultation.

In addition to this, there will be a separate call for evidence to investigate how to limit products creating avoidable waste, such as wet wipes containing plastic, tobacco filters and sachets.

The call will have a 12-week

consultation.

Apart from banning the use of plastic in these items, there could be mandatory labelling to ensure consumers dispose of them appropriately.

Environment Act powers could be used in order to put new charges on singleuse items, helping combat throwaway culture and incentivise consumers to choose sustainable alternatives.

Depression in adults almost doubled says, Javid In a speech to hospital bosses, health secretary Sajid Javid has highlighted the impact on mental health and less visible costs of the coronavirus crisis.

A study published last month found cases of anxiety and depression around the world increased dramatically in 2020, with an estimated 76 million extra cases of anxiety and 53 million extra cases of major depressive disorder than would have been expected had Covid-19 not struck.

Women and young people

are more likely to be affected than men or older people.

The health secretary said that almost 600,000 patients who have been admitted to hospital with

Rohit Vadhwana

Covid-19 in the UK are not the only ones who have felt the impact.

Home office can now remove citizenship without notice Under a proposed rule change quietly added to the nationality and borders bill, the Home Office could strip-off individuals of their

who fled Britain as a schoolgirl to join the Islamic State in Syria, is already a contentious power, and scrapping the requirement for

British citizenship without warning if it is reasonably practicable to do so, or in the interests of national security, diplomatic relations or otherwise in the public interest.

According to critics, removing citizenship, as in the case of Shamima Begum

notice would make the home secretary’s powers even more draconian.

According to experts this builds on previous measures to strip British-born dual nationals (mostly from ethnic minorities) of citizenship and to do it while they are abroad.

Police officer abused position to indulge in relationships Pc Norman Watson, who left Leicester Police before his hearing took place this week, formed emotional and/or sexual relationships with three women since early last year.

His actions came into light when the force, which he had served for 13 years, examined his work phone and other devices which uncovered his conversations with women he had met through his job.

In a message to a woman he met last year following a death in her family, he ended his posts with kisses and shared a personal phone number. He entered into a romantic relationship with a second woman whose daughter had raised concerns with police following a suspected overdose.

In-text messages to the third woman, the officer used language deemed inappropriate.

Coventry University students team up to maximise enjoyment of uni life Coventry University students are teaming up to help make the transition into higher education easier for first-year students.

The move to university can be daunting for some students, especially those who may be the first person in their family to go to university or international students adapting to a new country. Students who missed out on much of their final year at school because of the pandemic may also find the shift into higher education a significant change.

Second and third-year students are signing up to the university’s peer mentoring programme to help fellow

students get the most out of their time at Coventry University. Many of them had mentors during their first year at university.

The programme pairs mentees with mentors, allowing students to talk to each other about anything from academic studies and assignments to nightlife and sports societies. Typically, existing students mentor new first-year students with

the aim of answering questions, providing advice and offering a friendly welcome.

Maseeha Amin, student mentor at Coventry University, said, “Starting out with university life can be really daunting. I’m really glad I got myself a mentor when I was in first year as it really helped me to realise how many people and programmes the university had in place to support students

Is it possible to multitask mindfully?

and I always knew I had someone I could turn to if I needed anything.

“Now I’m in my second year, I want to share that same advice and reassurance with new students to help put them at ease and make their start to university life as smooth as possible.”

Ian Dunn, Coventry University Provost, said: “We’ve been delighted to welcome our students back onto campus and into the classroom this September, and whilst it’s been really exciting to return to face-toface teaching and learning, we recognise the importance of ensuring our students’ mental and pastoral wellbeing as they deal with change.”

There are two buzzwords in the market today: mindfulness and multitasking. People might be equally divided in opinion when you ask them about productivity - whether multitasking is important for best productivity or mindfulness.

A class of experts believe that one should be mindful of the task at hand to achieve the best result. Some management gurus also propose that you do not take more than a task on hand at a time; do not keep more than one tab open on your desktop; switch off your phone and log out of your social media accounts while working; create your own productivity bubble; and many more similar success tips. On the other hand, a class of experts believe that in today's fast-paced world, it is impossible to succeed without learning how to multitask. Unless you are managing work with both hands, you are surely going to miss out on something. While replying to an email, you need to know how to answer a phone; how to keep updated on the developments in the world and similar things - all simultaneously.

It is true that we do not have the luxury of time to finish one task at a time and then focus on another. In the time of social media, the maximum one can do is to keep the phone on silent mode and notification on mute, but perhaps it will be difficult for any individual to completely ignore the calls and stay away from that ultramodern device. If one can do so, either s/he is a very accomplished person or is completely amateurish. But for the lesser mortals who are struggling to keep their jobs, run their business in profit, and maintain contacts with family and friends - it is impossible to survive unless they learn to multitask.

There is also a genuine complaint that our attention span has been reduced and competing interests are pulling us in different directions. This demands that we devote more time to an important assignment at hand so that it gets due justice, which can happen only with mindfulness.

Any expertise or extraordinary art can be created with full dedication and mindfully meditative efforts. Without giving enough attention, no masterpiece can be created. Most serious tasks have to be attended without any interruption.

Therefore, it is really important to understand whether mindfulness or multitasking is the real mantra for success in today's life. Answers to this pertinent question may differ from person to person. It may also be different in different situations. But one thing that can be agreed is that some urgent tasks have to be finished by applying multitasking skills while more important and serious tasks may be accomplished with undivided attention in due course.

Perhaps a mix of them is a good strategy and safe to conclude that one cannot succeed, neither without multitasking nor without mindfulness.

(Expressed opinions are personal) Indian Society of Southwest Wales, UK had a gala Diwali dinner planned on 6 November 2021. They handed over a cheque for £7,851 from their members to BAPIO (British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin) for supporting those affected by Covid-19 in India and help providing food, oxygen supplying equipments, medicine & medical expertise (telemedicine, reporting of CT scans etc).

Dr Hasmukh Shah of BAPIO with members of Indian Society of Southwest Wales, UK

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Campaigners say, institutional racism is real and must be tackled Anti-racist campaigners have responded to today's testimony by Azeem Rafiq at a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee by demanding action on institutional racism across society, as well as in cricket and sport.

A government report this year responding to the global Black Lives Matter demonstrations claimed there was "no evidence" of institutional racism in the UK. Campaigners argue that in order to challenge institutional racism wherever it exists in society, it's vital that those at the top of society stop denying its existence.

Sabby Dhalu, Stand Up To Racism coconvenor, said, "Azeem Rafiq's brave testimony of the abuse and discrimination he faced at Yorkshire and his description of English Cricket as 'institutionally racist' is a stark example of racism and Islamophobia that thousands face in workplaces and institutions across the country.

"When Yorkshire CCC downplay racism or describe racist slurs as 'banter', they are following the line of the govern-

ment, whose own 'Sewell Report' denied institutional racism and attacked those who wish to combat it.

"All those who oppose racism must show solidarity with Azeem Rafiq and those brave enough to speak out about the racism and Islamophobia they are subject to. We must recognise the shocking levels of institutional racism that exist in our society, we must challenge it and defeat it.

Weyman Bennett, Stand Up To Racism co-convenor, said: "Using the P-word or the N-word is not banter. It's clear, open racism. It's vital that on days like today, when discrimination and racist abuse are exposed, we turn our thoughts to what can be done to defeat institutional racism. To do that we must first recognise that it exists. We want to show solidarity and unity with Azeem Rafiq, his family and all those standing up to racism and Islamophobia. We need a real report into institutional racism and a real strategy to talk about challenging it and removing it from our society."

What happened to the multi-ethnic Britain?

Continued from page 1 The report also said that “Race cannot be ghettoised” and recommended that all government departments should take full account of it and that we should evolve an inter-departmental co-ordinating mechanism located, perhaps, in the Cabinet Office. It demanded important changes are also needed in the police service, the wider criminal justice system, political representation, education, attitudes to asylum seekers and so on.

The report also concluded that although Britain had made considerable progress, which was greater than many other European countries, but still had a long way to go.

Two decades later, following the allegations and personal account of cricketer Azeem Rafiq being racially abused by the Yorkshire Cricket Club, it has been confirmed that 36 individuals have emailed the Yorkshire County Cricket Club whistle blower hotline since it became operational on Monday 15 November.

Are racism and such vivid accounts of abuse new to Britain? Think again. Former British Prime Minister David Cameron had denounced multiculturalism in his very first major speech as the prime minister. The same sentiment resonated with Angela Merkel.

21 years ago, Lord Bhikhu Parekh, the then Chairman of the Commission on the Future of Multi-ethnic Britain who served as president of the Academy of Social Sciences from 2003 to 2008 had gone on record, said: “What we are witnessing is the crudest form of racism that you could ever imagine.

“England has changed quite a bit as a result of Asian presence and black presence.

Look at music, drama, theatre, corner shops opening late, family values, all of these things have changed British culture. And likewise, Asians have changed as a result of British culture. Those who do not want to accept it resort to this kind of vulgar racism.”

21 years later, while Lord Parekh told The Guardian that there is “not a direct link” between Rafiq’s case and multiculturalism, he did say that he “can imagine people being one but not the other and can easily see how it is easy to slide from one manner of thinking into the other.” He further expressed that Britain is not racist, but it is trying to “fight and conquer, with uneven success, the legacy of its imperial past.”

regarding the volume of contact to the hotline and will share updates regularly, initially weekly.

For anyone wishing to lodge a formal complaint about any form of discrimination that they have suffered as a result of any act or omission of the Club, the terms of reference have been published on the dedicated website page: www.yorkshireccc.com/whistleblower.

Azeem Rafiq

Resenting the racial disparity report that came out earlier this year, Lord Parekh further added, that while he was a little surprised that racism continued to plague different sections of society, “at the same time … the changes that have come about the last 20 years have been absolutely remarkable.

Look at the number of MPs, not only from different ethnic minority groups but also Muslims, Hindus and others.”

According to him, multiculturalism means that no culture is perfect, and it is a process of mutual learning.

On 22 November, the Cricket Club has announced that Mohinderpal Sethi QC of Littleton Chambers – who has been appointed to lead the independent investigation process to consider complaints that are lodged through the newly installed whistleblowing hotline – has now confirmed the terms of reference for his investigation.

Professor The Lord Patel of Bradford OBE, Chair of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, said, “It is essential that those who have experienced or witnessed racism, discrimination and abuse are able to come forward to share their experiences. I thank all of those who have contacted the hotline so far.

“Lasting and authentic change, particularly in the face of a complex and systemic issue, takes consideration and time, and cannot happen without the voices of those who have suffered. Only through committing to listen, and to believe, those who have bravely shared their experiences – and those still to do so – can we truly understand the scale of the issue”.

All communications received by hotline are being reviewed, and Mr Sethi’s team will communicate directly with those who have made contact.

The club is committed to transparency

An excerpt from the 2000 report might unfortunately still resonate with many British Asians in 2021. It is as follows: “Racial discrimination continues to disfigure many areas of life, and racial prejudices are easily aroused, as was seen recently in the case of the asylum seekers.

Ethnic minorities do not enjoy full equality of opportunity, and valuable talents are wasted.”

10 UK

AsianVoiceNews

27 Nov - 3 Dec 2021

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

READERS' VOICE

Time to Break the Taboo

Was COP26 a success?

Earlier this month I spoke to students, parents, and universities, as part of the government's Talk Money Week.

The conclusion? It is starkly apparent that all of us with children studying at university - or whose children one day hope to - must do more to talk about students, mental health, and money.

As someone with extensive experience in the wellbeing of university students, the national state of student mental health is worse than any time in my twenty years of clinical work.

The recent Kortext State of UK Student Mental Health research revealed that nearly one-third of students have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. That is significantly more than the national average.

And financial anxiety is playing a major part of this negative spiral.

Things were already difficult pre-pandemic, with tuition fees rising to more than £9,000 a year, future home-ownership seemingly out of reach, and hidden costs, such as textbooks, adding on thousands.

This financial uncertainty had become one of the most common factors in my case work with students -leading in some cases to extreme mental health breakdowns.

However, this economic pressure has massively increased since the first lockdown as, unlike other sectors, most students received no financial support. Worse still, many had to continue paying for housing they could not live in and face-to-face lectures they could not attend, come what may.

Students told us in the annual National Student Survey that they were unhappy with their universities' responses to blended learning, citing value for money as being a real issue. This in turn has had a significant impact on their mental health, and we cannot afford to turn our back on our young people when they need us most.

It is likely that this generation will be the one that pays for the pandemic, literally. It is time now to focus on how we can support them.

As a starting point, please can we all simply start to have open conversations with our children about their education finances?

Money talk is still taboo for many in our society even in close families - and if Talk Money Week allows us to open up those conversations, then that alone would make a real difference towards better financial and mental wellbeing for the students in our lives.

If we don't, we will be letting down a generation.

We must act now. Please start those conversations with the students in your life today.

Was Cop26 a roaring success or a failure that would hardly dent the climate change, stop temperature rising beyond 1:5*C, a target if missed, will spell disaster, many small islands, especially in Pacific and Indian Ocean, like Maldives, Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Seychelles, Vanuatu, Marshall, Tonga and many more low lying islands will disappear under the flood of rising sea level.

The rise of carbon level is mainly due to ever rising use of coal, oil and gas that we use for cars, heating homes and generate electricity. But there are many natural ways we can generate electricity, such as hydropower, solar, tide and wind that can give us all the energy we need and more. Morocco is the prime example; it sells surplus solar energy to Europe.

Most countries in Africa, Middle and South East Asia, Australia and many more are blessed with almost 365 days of sunshine while Britain, Scandinavian countries and many more enjoys tidal waves, winds and rivers resources that can be utilise to generate electricity. All it needs is the will power; investment and determination to achieve this goal, along with restrict ever rising human population who consume, plunder these precious resources without second thought!

While it is impossible for 190 countries to arrive at a mutually beneficial decision, achieve common goal, when every country, like Saudi Arabia, China, Russia and many more will block any motion that may harm their economy.

Yet Alok Sharma, President of the Conference managed to persuade all these nations to sign common declaration, albeit with last minute changes demanded by India and China that somewhat water downed main aim.

One person that came-out with flying colours is our MP Alok Sharma, who presided over two weeks long Conference. He worked tirelessly, hardly had more than three hours’ sleep each night. He put his heart and soul to make it a success. He is the latest rising star on the Conservative bench with bright future.

Dr Dominique Thompson Student Mental Health Campaigner, and Clinical Advisor for Student Minds

Well Done, Nepal!

It is interesting to know that Nepal has been able to complete the reconstruction of the historical monument of Dharahara. It may be recalled that the ancient tower was completely damaged in an earthquake on 25 April 2015.

A historic site recognised by the UNESCO, this beautiful part of the Nepali architecture has been a tourist attraction for a long time now.

Tourism has been thriving across the world. Any sincere step to revive the sector must be encouraged. This is all the more important in the wake of the current pandemic conundrum. Due to the coronavirus, people have been under pressure both physically and mentally. Reviving the tourism sector will infuse new energy into them. Here, people have been visiting various tourist attractions in my native areas like Tiruchendur, Korkai, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu to worship and chill out.

Such beautiful architectural monuments as the Dharahara tower have been the mirrors of ancient times and history. Still, I remember visiting places like Kanyakumari, Trivandrum, Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai in the years like 1995 and 1998 as a student.

Next to the West, the Asian region has been home to great culture and the hub of beautiful tourist locations.

Going by history and geographical structure, it is clear that Asian nations have been tucked in the lap of natural creatures like seas, mountains, rivers and natural resources.

Now that Nepal has taken bold steps to open the Dharahara historical monument, it is understandable that this beautiful Himalayan region has always been ready to emerge stronger amid the pandemic and Nature's fury. This is a positive message to all in the region.

Well done and keep it up, Kathmandu!

P. Senthil Saravana Durai Mumbai

Bhupendra M. Gandhi London

Is there rampant corruption in Britain?

It was an interesting reading “Is there rampant corruption in Britain” by Nitin Mehta but not surprising because it is there, since the common people are not directly affected, it is invisible. Nitin Mehta has given all the facts and figures without mincing his words. It is at the institutional level where the elected representatives, top officials from the government departments and companies’ representatives work together.

Elected members who are supposed to devote their full time, if needed extra hours, to serve their constituents, provide paid “consultancy” to private sector organisations or do the second job, are also sophisticated forms of corruption.

Since elected representatives have powers and information by virtue of their positions, companies want to extract that by “employing” them.

The way to reduce corruption is to find all the assets/bank accounts of the last 5 years of all the elected representatives and any money earned outside the parliamentary work should be donated back to the country. The companies who paid money to parliamentarians should also contribute equivalent money as a penalty to HMRC. Name and shame can be used to deter companies from resorting to this kind of practice.

It is a time-consuming process but if it is started, it will create a positive impact on the new MPs and the younger generation. It will demotivate elected members to look for easy money by providing so-called consultancy services.

Hitesh Hingu London

Why do we give gifts on Christmas?

The tradition of giving gifts during Christmas has its roots that goes back as far as the Nativity story, whereupon the three wise men gave gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant Jesus.

The Romans had their own tradition of giving gifts during Saturnalia, which was a festival that began on the 17 December and lasted until the 23rd.

St. Nicholas was perhaps one of the most famous gift givers in Christmas history, as he delighted children and adults alike in the surprise presents he left behind in the shoes that were left outside their homes.

In the 13th century, many French nuns made and gave gifts to the needy on the eve of the feast of St. Nicholas which is celebrated on December 6th.

But it was in the 18th century that gift- giving became a central tradition of the Christmas festivities.

The gifts that were given were to remind those of the wise mens journey and of God’s selfless gift to humanity, and to help those who were unfortunate.

Jubel D'Cruz Mumbai, India

www.asian-voice.com

KHICHADI Kapil’s

Follow me on Twitter: @kk_OEG

Are you a Coconut?

Kapil Dudakia And as the coconuts read the headline, I can just see the steam coming out of their ears, eyes red hot and fuming iterations of foul language to vent their anger for daring to out them.

Coconut is often a slang used as a derogatory remark to describe a black or Asian person who conforms to white culture at the expense of their ancestral culture. The idea being that like a coconut, they appear dark on the outside but have white allegiance on the inside.

We saw this during the ‘British Raj’, the enslaved Indian who did the dirty work of the British by undermining their own people were often called ‘Sepoys’.

Before the British, we had witnessed some Hindus who had sold out to the Islamic invaders at the detriment of their country, faith and people.

There is a constant that runs through almost all major empires and dictatorships in history. The aggressor is almost always aided by a group of locals who sell their own people so they may benefit by being granted certain privileges.

They say prostitution is the oldest profession, but dare I say, treachery and being a traitor to your own people and heritage might be even older.

So we come back to the question, ‘are you a coconut’?

I am almost certain the universal response will be a big NO. However, let me assure you, a certain percentage of these people are liars. After all, one does not expect honesty from a bona fide coconut surely!

So having offended the traitors, who no doubt will come out in force to attack me as usual, let me explain why I have brought this up now.

There are powerful forces at play in the world today.

Each working hard to gain an upper hand in controlling the global narrative. You see this with leading Christian and Islamic organisations, with dictatorships like China, with the ideologies of the left, political parties, and of course the academics.

In the 21st C, the easiest route to controlling the narrative is to spend huge amounts on social media and buy out academic institutions and academics.

We have witnessed so called academics in India, UK, USA from leading universities who have spent decades creating false narratives by publishing dodgy dissertations based on corrupt data and research. The peer reviews are used to self-validate their corrupt reports which are then used to pursue a false narrative through the media to influence public and political opinion. They have many targets of course, but the one of interest to me is the targeting of Hindus and India.

The white master has given privileges to coconuts.

These highly qualified people of colour enjoy the trappings of honour and prestige bestowed on them for selling their own people, and for undermining their own heritage.

In the last decade or so, these attacks have been formulated around Caste, Hindutva, PM Modi, India, Kashmir, religious nationalism to name but a few. In most cases a coconut has been used to champion a narrative to undermine their own. Their disguise is human rights, but their motivation is anything but that.

So be very careful when you read or hear about any socalled research that belittles you and your heritage. It is designed to make you feel inferior. It is designed to keep you and your aspirations enslaved. It is designed to keep you on your knees so they can control you.

Beware of the coconut. They live amongst us, but bat for the opposition. As it is said, ‘There is no knife that cuts so sharply and with such poisoned blade as treachery’.

HOW ARE YOU CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS? Is your organisation/company/business or yourself celebrating Christmas with a twist? Doing something unusual for someone other than your loved ones?

Are you playing the Santa and doing something to spread the kindness or help the community in particular?

We would like to hear from you.

Share your story with us by 10 December on aveditorial@abplgroup.com. If we find it interesting and appropriate for our readers, we will be in touch for an interview.

We are grateful to all letter writers for more and more versatile letters well within word limit. Please keep contributing as always. If you are new, then write to Rupanjana at rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com

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27 Nov - 3 Dec 2021

in brief in brief

COP26: School children driving force for change

TRESPASSER AT BUCKINGHAM SCALED THE FENCE Cameron Kalani, 44, was held in the early hours of May 10.

Alexander Alawode, for the prosecution, said, “The defendant was seen by a fire marshal near Buckingham Palace Road said to be attempting to climb over the fence and trespass into the grounds." Kalani had a kitchen knife and cocaine in bag when caught. The court was told Kalani, of Haywards Heath, West Sussex, suffers from schizoaffective disorder and may have been in the midst of an episode at the time and could also have been under the influence of substances.

UNIVERSITY STAFF WILL STRIKE FOR THREE DAYS A dispute over pensions, pay and working conditions has surfaced in 58 Universities according to the UCU (University and College Union).

Lectures at these universities, which include universities like Cambridge, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds, will walkout for three days.

The strike which will start on December 1 will continue for 72 hours. UCU has warned that more action will follow in the spring if the row with the employers remains unresolved.

MONTHS BEFORE ATTACK, LIVERPOOL BOMBER RETURNED TO ISLAM Associates are believed to have told detectives that 32-yearold Iraqi asylum seeker Emad Al Swealmeen had since returned to Islam, although sources said that was “not a motive for an attack”. Counter terrorism police are yet to find evidence of an ideology that motivated him.

According to one theory Emad, who has converted to Christianity after his arrival in Britain, was trying to atone for an autopsy which is punishable by death by some Islamic scholars. He was regularly attending church in Fazakerley, Liverpool, until late 2019 when he moved house and stopped returning messages from the vicar. Counterterrorism police confirmed that Emad packed his device with ball bearings and it could have caused “significant injury or death”

PRITI PATEL ACCUSED CHINA OF BRAZENLY SPYING In an address to US think tank Heritage foundation, in Washington, Home Secretary Priti Patel said that the US and UK must no longer tolerate China's malign interference. She accused them of spying on British universities and businesses in a threat to national security.

Patel laid out her plans to overhaul Britain's outdated official secret laws, which will be implemented through an espionage bill next year and will 'better reflect the contemporary threat' and better counter the evolving nature of spying. She has considered hack-and-leak operations, covert surveillance and online trolling as one of the most significant threats to security.

The home secretary has assured that the upcoming legislation will represent the biggest counter state threats legislation in decades.

FOUR WOMEN TRY TO RIP-OFF TEENAGER'S HIJAB The shocking incident took place around 7:40 pm on October 14. Two Muslim girls aged 13 & 14 were leaving a place of worship in Sheffield. Police say they were by four unknown women, who assaulted them both by grabbing them and trying to remove their traditional Muslim dress and hijab.

The two girls also suffered minor injuries in the attack.

The incident falls into three categories: physical assault, verbal abuse and incitement to hatred. The police has requested that anyone who has any information on this incident that took place on Staniforth Road, can help by calling on 101 and quoting incident number 988 of October 14.

DRUG DEALERS’ GROUP FROM HARROW, NOTTINGHAM EXPOSED Saad Essa, 24 of Harrow, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs following a six-week trial after police found Essa was affiliated with Amin and Mushtaq.

Shakeel Amin and Zain Mustaq aged 29 & 22 had filmed themselves laughing for the camera while discarding many five-pound notes as they counted cash in a bedroom.

The video was played to a court as the pair admitted being part of a gang supplying class A and B drugs across Nottinghamshire. Ben Jones, 26 and Shamus Gulfraz and other two from The Meadows, Nottingham and Bulwell also admitted charge. According to Detective Constable this was a lengthy investigation involving many complex operations, warrants and covert tactics to bring the entire group to justice.

SEEMA MALHOTRA MP Member of Parliament for Feltham and Heston, Shadow Minister of State for Business and Consumers Last week, Parliament debated COP26 and its achievements in its first debate since the summit. In the debate, Sir Keir Starmer outlined the urgency of the moment when he said: “Although the summit has been one of modest progress, we cannot kid ourselves: plans to cut emissions are still way short. The pledges made in Glasgow for 2030, even if all fully implemented, represent less than 25% of the ambition required. Rather than a manageable 1.5°, they put us on track for a devastating 2.4°. That is why, according to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the goal of 1.5° is now on “life support”. We need to deliver intensive care, and that starts by being honest about what has gone wrong”

Speaking at the UK Hospitality Event about hospitality businesses reduce their carbon emissions and sustainability

ages. This must change. If we are to succeed, we need to see long term planning that boosts business confidence. Labour’s Climate Investment Pledge is a big step in that direction, investing an additional £28bn a year to 2030 mobilising businesses and financial institutions behind climate action.

I took the time at COP26 to see some examples of UK innovation – such as Oceanway’s world-first zero-emission submarine fleet that cleans up our ocean while transporting cargo, and JCB’s prototype electric Backhoe Loader and saw Scottish Power’s new sustainable telephone boxes. Great innovation is going to need a long term Government plan for business and industry to accelerate change across our economy.

But one thing also different at COP26 was the rise of consumer pres-

green economy we need.

I’m proud that many businesses are increasingly serious about change – something I saw this week on my visit to Southampton in support of Small Business Saturday. But particularly for small businesses, a clearer road map is needed. Small businesses have spoken of feeling “neglected” with all the talk from Governments seeming to be “pitched at larger businesses.” One woman business owner I spoke to in Glasgow who was also keen for women-led businesses to be on the radar said “Businesses want to play their part. The question is what is it that you need to do?”

It’s why at COP26 I launched a series of netzero small business roundtables, the first of which I hosted with Scottish Labour Leader Discussing the contributions of children from Anas Sarwar. Barriers Feltham and Heston with Asa Regner small businesses are facAssistant Secretary General of the UN and ing are around cost, time Deputy Executive Director of UN Women. We and clarity. The cost of also spoke about how Gender Justice, Climate getting it wrong can be Justice and Economic Justice must go hand in high. hand.

That’s why we need Seeing Scottish Power’s new sustainable telephone boxes as Government to work part of the COP26 exhibition. sure and young people’s voices. School with small business ownchildren across the world have become ers to help prioritise what steps are As Shadow Business Minister I conscious and a driving force for attended COP26 to meet businesses and countries’ representatives to discuss where progress is being made and what more needs to change. COP26 was an important and historic event in Glasgow to “keep 1.5 alive” - the Paris Agreement ambition of limiting global warming to 1.5C degrees above preindustrial by 2030. To achieve this, the world must collectively half the current level of emissions. COP26 laid bare the underlying tensions around which countries should do most, and how quickly, as well as who should pay for transition and whether countries impacted by climate change should receive compensation.

With last minute disagreements Piece of artwork from a student in Feltham and Heston particularly around the “phasing down” not “phasing out” of coal change. The vital role of young people necessary. The findings from the FSB’s power, the conference ended in some was why I wrote to schools in my conrecent report, Accelerating Progress disappointment for President Alok stituency asking their views on what how we must empower small busiSharma. they wanted to see change. I was overnesses on the journey to net-zero It’s welcome that an agreement whelmed by the response from chilshow that whilst 56% believe the planwas at least reached at COP26. But dren of all ages and backgrounds, et is facing a crisis, only 36% of small we’ve seen too many promises for many from minority ethnic backbusinesses have a plan to combat clitomorrow, not the action that’s needgrounds, and their clarity of purpose mate change. Many firms do not have ed today. Boris Johnson bears some about our planet and what they wantthe capital or knowledge to make responsibility for that – a Prime ed to tell leaders at COP26. Their investments in their sustainability.

Minister more notable by his absence range of suggestions from the very The FSB warns that things are further than his presence at an event that was local to the global were ones I dishampered by “mixed and poorly-tarabout global Britain. It’s why must use cussed with Asa Regner, Assistant geted messaging in an already confusthe final year of the UK’s presidency to Secretary-General of the United ing landscape.” rescue what COP26 hasn’t achieved.

Nations and also raised with Lord For minority ethnic businesses, But some important steps Deben, Chair of the Climate Change which new research shows have been emerged that must be built on now Committee. hit harder by the pandemic and have not later – China and the US striking a COP26 has shown that there is a greater barriers to reaching their full deal to work together, and India’s sighuge ambition for change from citipotential, this is even more important nificant pledge to half emissions by zens and businesses who want to do for accessing future opportunities.

2070. This includes energy sources we the right thing. Now Governments It’s why I’m worried that small are going to invest in, how much we must step up to meet the scale of that businesses are being asked to transican mitigate using carbon capture and ambition. The costs of climate change tion without clear advice or guidance, storage, how the planet’s depleting will be greater if the government does and being asked to do so whilst dealnatural resources and biodiversity not invest now for our people and our ing with high levels of debt, the cost of must be restored. And how businesses planet. living crisis and ongoing staff shortare supported to transition to the

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27 Nov - 3 Dec 2021

SCRUTATOR’S Meet 'Bheem', a buffalo worth £2.4 mn People travel to Jodhpur every year to exhibit their livestock at a fair.

When a 1,500 kg buffalo named "Bheem" arrived at the fair, the crowd was taken aback by its size. The price of Bheem is £2.4 million and is owned by Arvind Jangid. Arvind claims that an Afghan Sheikh who visited Jodhpur offered a price of £2.4 million for this buffalo, but he refused to sell it. He said that he had not taken the buffalo to the fair to sell it, but rather to demonstrate for the conservation of the Murrah breed of buffalo. Bheem received several awards and Arvind claims that he took him to the Pushkar fair in 2018 and 2019. Apart from that, he took him to Balotra, Nagaur and Dehradun, where Bheem received numerous awards. Bheem lives in opulence and has the stature of a nobleman. Arvind spends Rs 200,000 every month on its maintenance. Every day, this buffalo consumes one kg of ghee, 25 litres of milk and one kilo of cashew-almonds. There is high demand for its sperm; calves born from the sperm of this buffalo weigh 40 to 50 kg and produce 20 to 30 litres of milk per day. The price of 0.25 ml of sperm is Rs.500 and 0.25ml of sperm is equivalent to a pen refill. Arvind sells around 10,000 refills every year, with 4 to 5 ml of semen coming out at a time. This buffalo belongs to the most productive water buffalo breed and are easily resistant to diseases and also adapts to climatic conditions. (Agency) Sudan man to go back home with Indian lungs

The organ donation by the family of a 24-year-old youth in Surat would give new life to seven Indians and a foreign national. Prayag Hansraj Ghoniya, the son of a garment merchant in Surat, was on his way back home from Mumbai with friends in a car earlier this month when they ran into a road divider after a tyre burst. This caused serious injuries to his head and spine. He was first taken to a hospital in Vapi and later to another hospital in Surat. Blood clots were discovered in his brain and was operated. However, the next day, on November 15, he was declared brain dead by a panel of doctors. Praya's family was persuaded to donate his organs. His heart was transplanted to a patent in Ahmedabad and his lungs were transplanted into a Sudan national in Chennai after no Indian patient with B +ve blood group was found for transplantation. His kidneys were transplanted at CIMS and Zydus Hospitals in Ahmedabad. His eyes were donated to Lokdrashti Eye Bank. His liver was transplanted into a patient at the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre in Ahmedabad. (The Times of India) Incredible sighting of 6 tigers walking together The rare sight of six tigers walking together has wowed the Internet. Actor Randeep Hooda took to Twitter to share a video of a group of 6 tigers walking down an unpaved road in a forest. The video was reportedly filmed at Umred-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary near Nagpur in Maharashtra. In the video, two people can be heard talking as the tigers walk towards them. A few seconds into the clip, a vehicles approaches the big cats from behind. On spotting the vehicle, one of the tigers disappears into the forest, while others continue walking.

Tigers are solitary animals and do not form packs, which makes the sighting all the more special, as senior Indian Forest Service officer Ramesh Pandey pointed out in his response to the video. “There is something really interesting happening," he wrote on Twitter. However, while rare, sightings of tigers in groups are not unheard of. According to Pandey, packs of five tigers have been spotted in the past in various parts of the country, but the sight of six tigers together is a "really incredible" one. "In the recent past we saw groups of 5 tigers in Panna, Pench

and Dudhwa and now 6 tigers together is something really incredible," the IFS officer wrote. Other Twitter users were equally stunned by the clip, which has been viewed thousands of times on the microblogging platform. (Agency) Hapless Rajkot couple finds solace in Stockholm A Rajkot couple recently boarded an Air India flight to Chicago to attend their son’s wedding, but a midair medical emergency - the wife suffered a brain stroke landed them in Stockholm, a city they had never heard of.

However, right from the moment the flight was on ground, the hapless couple found helping hands everywhere, thanks to Sweden’s socialism and Indian diaspora’s resourcefulness. The hospital didn’t ask whether his wife was eligible to be treated there, whether he had the money, said Dr Jaysukh Makwana (60), a dentist. Makwana said they were midair when his wife Usha suddenly found herself immobile. Luckily, a neurologist who was on the flight, diagnosed it as a brain stroke. The flight was approaching the Norwegian sea then. The pilot, Capt N S Billimoria, had the Boeing 777 turn for a medical emergency and landed in Stockholm. In 45 minutes, the flight was on ground, the patient was put into a waiting ambulance, while the local police arranged an emergency visa for Makwana and dropped him at a hotel. While all this happened, the Indian embassy contacted Indranil Sinha, a researcher who worked nearby. Indranil went to see Makwana and did myriad jobs to assist them. Indranil later contacted his Gujarati friends who later looked after the needs of Makwanas.

(The Times of India) Techie hunting for flat harassed online A female executive was sexually harassed online while she was hunting for a rental accommodation in Mumbai.

The harasser got in touch with her on Facebook under the pretext of leasing out his flat and started demanding sexual favours, threatening her if she did not comply. The woman works in a suburban company. She was looking for an accommodation in the Malad-Goregaon belt. She has decided to create a Facebook account to find a flat. A few people responded to her inquiries. She received a message from one Akshay Singh. Singh asked if she needed the entire flat or wanted to share it with roommates. He then asked for her workplace details and finally her phone number. “We had barely exchanged messages for 10 minutes when the conversation took a sudden turn,” she said. Singh said she needn’t pay any rent and he would be willing to foot her expenses as well. He began to demand sexual favours and added that if she blocked him, he would create a fake profile with her phone number and post that she was a 'call girl'. The woman stopped responding but Singh continued to pester her with messages. She eventually blocked his profile and tweeted to Mumbai Police with a screenshot of the conversation. (Agency) Most commonly used password in India The pandemic saw a huge shift towards digital work spaces and online classes, but when it comes to cyber safety, it looks like India still has some way to go. New research from NordPass reveals that the most commonlyused password in India is "password". This despite repeated warnings from police departments and public agencies about choosing strong passwords that cannot be

cracked easily. Global password manager NordPass analysed passwords across 50 countries and the amount of time it takes to crack each one, according to 7 News. It found that in India, "password" was the most commonlyused password, followed by 12345, 123456, 123456789, 12345678, india123, 1234567890, 1234567, qwerty and abc123. All of these passwords, with the exception of "india123", can be cracked in less than one second, according to NordPass. India123 is a password that would take 17 minutes to crack. While these time frames are only indicative, they still provide an idea of how secure the password is. "It's important to understand that passwords are the gateway to our digital lives, and with us spending more and more time online, it's becoming enormously important to take better care of our cybersecurity," said NordPass CEO Jonas Karklys in a statement. (Agency) Newly erected Godse bust demolished A controversy has erupted in Jamnagar after members of a rightwing group installed the bust of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse, which was razed by Congress workers the next day.

The members who identified themselves as activists of Hindu Sena installed the statute at an ashram in Morkanda village adjoining Jamnagar city. They even raised slogans hailing Godse. However, local Congress leaders led by city’s party president Virendrasinh Jadeja razed the bust on the next day. Hindu Sena and Congress lodged cross-complaints with Jamnagar police. Pratik Bhatt, Gujarat president of Hindu Sena, claimed that they had sought a place from Jamnagar Municipal Corporation to install Godse’s bust but JMC did not respond to their application. When our demand was not heard, we did it on our own. In his complaint, Bhatt named Jadeja and another person. Meanwhile, Jadeja in his complaint alleged that erecting the bust of Godse was a blasphemous act. Jamnagar DSP, J S Chavda said that we have registered both FIRs and the matter is under investigation. (The Times of India) Elephant climbs over fence in viral video If humans thought they could stop elephants with fences, they were wrong. A video that is steadily going viral on social media shows an elephant trying to climb over an iron fence in Karnataka. The task might seem impossible in the beginning, but the elephant astounded viewers by climbing over the fence. Footage shows the animal planting its forelimbs on the other side of the fence before carefully clambering over it. The incident occurred in Nagarahole near Mysuru, Karnataka.

Mahesh Kumar, director of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, said that the video was recorded in the Veeranahosally Range, and added that the incident took place on the morning of November 16 when the animal was returning to the forest after crop raiding. Viewers were surprised to see an elephant cross a fence so easily. (Agency)

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in brief BULB ENERGY GONE BUST, PLACED ON BAILOUT Bulb is by far the largest energy supplier to go bust after a string of more than 20 company collapses since September. The company’s collapse has been long expected by industry rivals after it struggled to find new investment, or a willing buyer, before the UK’s looming winter energy crisis.

The company will now be placed into an untested bailout process that will rely on public money to manage the fallout of the UK’s biggest energy supplier collapse yet.

The company will be handed to a special administrator that will have access to government funds to keep it running to supply gas and electricity to its 1.7 million household customers.

UK COULD BE FIRST TO TRANSITION FROM COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO ENDEMIC Nadhim Zahawi indicated that the UK could be the first major economy to transition from the Covid-19 pandemic into endemic.

Zahawi, in an interview, said: “We will probably, I hope, without being complacent, be the first major economy in the world to demonstrate how you transition (from) pandemic to endemic using vaccines.”

The former Minister for Covid Vaccine Deployment, Nadhim Zahawi hailed the government’s decision to lift restrictions in the summer as a success. According to the former vaccine minister, the coronavirus vaccine rollout has helped to control the disease in the country. The comment of Zahawi comes after it was found that the most dominant Delta variant of the UK may have become self-extinct.

More than 14 million boosters and third doses had been administered in the UK with more than one million top-up jabs recorded as of last week, the Government said.

SOCIAL CARE REQUIRES PENSIONERS TO SELL THEIR HOMES A former cabinet minister and a member of the 2019 intake to the House of Commons have signalled their opposition before a vote tonight on changes that will mean far more people in England will have to pay up to the full £86,000 cap on costs. A minister has suggested that the government cannot rule out some people having to sell their homes to pay for care under cost-saving reforms that will hit poorer pensioners.

Business minister Paul Scully could only promise that there would be fewer people selling their houses which will add to unease over a damaging Tory rebellion against changes that were slipped out last week.

FORTY PEOPLE CLAIM A FORMER FACTORY, FOUR ARRESTED A group of three men and women allegedly forced their way into a building on Store Street which is a former factory premises.

The group allegedly threatened to harm those inside, unless they left. After that a mass of caravan arrived with up to 40 people inside and claimed the area. Police have arrested three men and a woman on suspicion of possession of firearms, burglary and threats to kill. They remain in custody at this time. The owner later called police and now the whole gaff is surrounded by armed police and there’s a stand-off. Though everyone was alright, they were just shaken.

Inauguration of Vocational Training for 250 BPL (Below Poverty Line) women On the historical occasion of the 75th year of India’s indepenNavnaat Vanik dence, Association of UK and Life Global UK jointly organised a program of vocational training to 250 women living below the poverty line to enable them with employment opportunities.

The program was inaugurated on November 23, 2021, at Ahmedabad’s Nawaz Jang Hall located in the Paldi area. The inauguration was done by Navnaat Vanik Association UK President Dilipbhai and Shrimati Taruniban Mithani who specially travelled from

UK to host international conference to promote freedom of religion or belief next summer in London The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will host a global summit to promote freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) next summer (Tuesday 5 July – Wednesday 6 July) in London.

The Summit will drive collective action in promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities around the world so that everyone, everywhere can practise their own religion or belief freely.

It will play a key role in shaping the network of liberty the UK, as a fierce champion of freedom, is building around the world.

Throughout 2021, the UK has made great strides with our international partners in collective efforts to stamp out intolerance and persecution relating to religious and non-religious beliefs. In May, under our G7 presidency, the UK secured – for the very first time - the inclusion of FoRB issues in the communique the G7 Foreign and

Development Ministers’ Meeting.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: “I want all people, everywhere, to be free from discrimination and persecution regardless of their opinions and beliefs. We have used our G7 Presidency this year to defend and advance these fundamental freedoms and will build on that next year when we host friends and partners from across the world.”

FCDO Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon said: “I warmly welcome that the UK will be hosting an international conference on freedom of religion or belief next summer in our vibrant capital, London. The UK continues to take any form of human rights abuses and violations extremely seriously, which is why we are laying the foundations for further global action to protect and promote freedom of religion or belief for all. International collaboration is the only way to bring about real change.”

Court of appeal clears seven former sub-postmasters The Court of Appeal has cleared seven more former sub-postmasters who were wrongly convicted in the Post Office Scandal.

So far, more than 70 people have had their convictions overturned. The Horizon scandal saw thousands of subpostmasters blamed for accounting shortfalls that were caused by errors in the Horizon computer system they use in branches. More than 750 were prosecuted, with many serving custodial sentences.

Earlier this year it was

reported that the government has said it will fund the initial compensation payments, although those affected can still seek extra compensation at a later date, via mediated settlements or through the civil courts.

Some of those claims could add up to millions of pounds.

Calling all creatives As the world opens up after the challenges of the last 18 months, Birmingham Hippodrome has announced new plans to open up spaces for local artists, producers and creatives to meet, develop practice, new ideas and new work at Birmingham Hippodrome.

The Hippodrome Creatives Card is a new free

initiative that will enable local creatives working professionally or semi-professionally to access free rehearsal space, space to work and meet in our foyers and café, ticket offers, discounts at our Café, Coffee Bar and Bars and much more.

For more info visit: https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com

London for the occasion.

Virtual vocational training was started in the trying times of Covid-19. During the pandemic over 1000 women were provided stability by empowering them economically and socially.

Life Employment Center

which was commenced in 2008 with an objective to empower 12,000 women has already helped 8500 women. The organization’s objective is to make 100,000 women self-reliant.

For more information, please check the upcoming issue.

Public role important to avoid terror risk The Met has said that firearms specialists and other officers trained to ‘stop tel-tale signs of people, who might be preparing an act of terrorism’ would be deployed in increased numbers over the coming weeks to shopping areas, transport hubs and other crowded locations across London.

However, the police have

declared that citizens could play an equally vital role in spotting signs of unusual behaviour among their friends and family and contacting police to allow investigations to begin before it becomes too late.

The Met Commissioner has also warned that London remains the focus of a significant proportion of terrorist plotting.

Man and woman murdered in Somerset, probe launched Officers were called to Dragon Rise at about 9:45pm where the man and a woman, both in their 30s, were found with serious injuries.

They were both pronounced dead at the scene. Two children were also inside the property at the time of the incident. The children were physically unharmed but understandably shaken. Two men,

aged 34 & 67, have been arrested and remain in custody. Police believe it is an isolated incident. A cordon remains in place at two properties on the street while investigations continue, including a forensic examination of the scene. A formal identification process and post-mortem examinations to determine the causes of death are expected in due course.

Projects to improve Black, Asian and minority ethnic students’ access to postgraduate research Thirteen new projects will tackle persistent inequalities that create barriers for Black, Asian and minority ethnic students to access and take part in postgraduate research.

The projects, worth nearly £8 million, are innovative in scope, scale and focus to an extent that has not been seen in England before. Delivered over the next four years, they will improve access into research, enhance research culture and the experience for Black, Asian and minority ethnic PGR students, and diversify and enhance routes into a range of careers.

The investment, by Research England – part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – and the Office for Students (OfS), is well spread geographically, across English higher education providers and their partners.

The projects range from targeting recruitment, admissions and transition to increasing the number of Black, Asian and minority ethnic female professors, and generating new admissions practices to creating longitudinal, systemic, and structural change at various English universities.

Panel co-Chairs, Dr AnneMarie Imafidon MBE and Maisha Islam, said, “Over the course of 2020-21, the longstanding urgency for racial equality was incredibly obvious. We are confident that this competition will be a significant step of tangible action, investment and commitment to supporting

these aims in the context of English Higher Education.

“The 13 projects will work collectively to support the entire PGR lifecycle using innovative methods and approaches. This includes reviewing admissions processes to tackle offer rate gaps and plans to extend routes into doctoral study via professional doctorates and partnering with the NHS. Other projects will focus specifically on intersectional inequalities related to Black female students and prioritise the mental health of their PGR students of colour.

“We have sought to back projects that have demonstrated authentic engagement and partnership work with their students and staff of colour, and a commitment to continue this as part of their own ongoing evaluations.

“This is only one of many first steps, as systemic inequalities will not disappear overnight. We are acutely aware of how much further the sector needs to travel to be in a position to allow people of all backgrounds to flourish and establish the most outstanding research and innovation sector with a formidable research culture to match.”

14 WOMEN'S VOICE

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‘Being a woman of colour and heavily pregnant did not stop me from winning my first investment pitch’ Shefali Saxena Zaffrin O’Sullivan, is the cofounder of Five Dot Botanics, an eco-friendly, gender-neutral, minimalist vegan beauty brand available online, on Amazon and across various online retailers.

When not leading the minimalist skincare revolution, Zaffrin is an experienced TV lawyer and mother to three beautiful children.

Zaffrin is a first-generation British Bangladeshi, raised in London. She went to university to study English literature and then went to law school. She lived and worked in Hong Kong and qualified as a solicitor working in TV before moving back to London.

In an exclusive interview with Asian Voice, she shared the journey of becoming an entrepreneur while being pregnant and as a woman of colour.

Being a woman of colour and taking up entrepreneurship while taking care of a family, did that idea scare you?

To be honest, I wasn’t scared

about the idea of entrepreneurship or starting a business. My husband and I share responsibility for raising our kids, we are equally invested, and it doesn’t just fall to me as the mum to do everything. Because of that mutual support, it made a huge difference in launching a business despite being busy parents. If anything, having children gave me confidence in my ability to juggle many things.

For me starting a business was always a dream and I didn’t want to wake up one day regretting not giving it a go. Five Dot Botanic launched when I was pregnant with my third baby and working full time in a day job. In fact, when I received the news of my first investor, I actually took the call while in hospital after being induced to give birth. My baby was born just hours after and he came with me to many board meetings after where I was breastfeeding throughout.

Internally, I never felt that my colour would impact my ability to

Zaffrin O’Sullivan

start and run a successful business. However, statistically, I was aware that investment in women of colour is low and that women like me are underrepresented.

I ask this because entrepreneurship - capital investment and emotional support from the family in houses of colour is a tough task. What steps did you take to make this a success?

I think success for us comes

from being fully invested in our products, being founder-led and being agile as a small business. I took out a hefty personal loan to launch Five Dot Botanics. Within a few months of launching, I took investment from Worth Capital.

It was a pretty stressful run-up to the birth of baby number three and I definitely think the tension of doing an investment raise just before going on maternity leave had something to do with it!

We launched in late 2019 and had big campaigns in retail planned for 2020. When Covid hit, we were luckily in a position to quickly launch on Amazon, which ensured Five Dot Botanics could continue business using Fulfilment By Amazon throughout the lockdown.

How challenging is it to be a woman in such a cutthroat industry and also promote vegan products in the west?

It is wonderful to be a woman in the skincare industry even though it is very competitive. It never used to have people like me

owning skincare businesses or building beauty brands. I love that it is changing and that launching a brand is more accessible. I took part in Sephora Accelerates in 2020 and it was designed to help women with beauty businesses accelerate their growth. I was one of 12 women from around the world selected to take part and they help loan my capital to grow my business (as a woman from an underrepresented group).

What is the future of this business and its relevant markets, given that climate change is a big deal right now?

We have made a pledge to be a part of the UK government’s SME Climate Commitment. This recognises that climate change poses a threat to the economy, nature and society-at-large and that Five Dot Botanics as a company commits to take action in order to reduce greenhouse emissions. We will also look to get BCorp Certified and all our activities will be framed within this.

70% of domestic and sexual abuse 14 charities to receive Tampon Tax funding among Sikh women suffered at hands of partner or family first of its kind report on the domestic and sexual abuse of silenced Sikh women shows that 70% of respondents have suffered at the hands of a partner or members of their extended family.

According to a piece published in The Guardian, Alia Waheed writes that “Toxic cultural practices” and a lack of culturally sensitive services are key parameters of this abuse. The report by Sikh Women’s Aid (SWA), the UK’s only frontline service for Sikh women, will be released later this week to coincide with the launch of the United Nations’ women’s annual 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. It creates a harrowing picture of the prevalence and effect of domestic abuse and child sexual abuse in the Sikh community.

The research was carried out over a fourmonth period over the summer, during which time SWA distributed anonymous surveys within the community across the UK. Researchers received replies from almost 700 respondents, and, of those, 70% said they had experienced domestic abuse, nearly half had experienced incidents with more than one perpetrator, including female members of their family. Over a third of respondents said that they had experienced child sexual abuse, and of these incidents, one in seven involved more than one perpetrator. Most victims knew their abuser, and nearly half of the incidents of abuse took place at home.

In an attempt to crowdfund and support victims of domestic and sexual violence in the Sikh community, Sikh Women’s Aid has started a fundraiser, aiming to raise £15,000.

In an official statement, they said, “We are delighted to announce the launch of Sikh Women’s Aid. This is a community-based organisation set up by women from the Sikh community from across the West Midlands.

The founders of Sikh Women’s Aid share a common ambition and have therefore set up an organisation to tackle the negative impact of cultural influences, and specifically where this influence can lead to the exploitation of women and girls.“The team has over 40 years of experience combined in the domestic abuse and violence against women and girls sector. This includes abuse in faith-based settings, grooming, child sexual exploitation,

A

rehabilitation and rebuilding lives. We have also worked with and supported vulnerable men, women, children including those with additional learning needs.

“Our goal is to empower victims to take control of their own lives to become survivors by breaking free of toxic cultural practices that seek to disempower the vulnerable, especially those with language barriers, that prevent them from accessing the right kind of help and support. Sikh Women’s Aid is developing a robust system of support that includes risk and safety planning to improve the health and well-being of survivors via our Five-Strand Framework.

1: Crisis Intervention and Support.

2: Early Intervention and Prevention.

3: Mental Health & Resilience building.

4: Grassroots Community Voice.

5: Feed into policy at all levels.

Our plans are big, our vision is far-reaching but we need your financial support to help make our vision a reality. Your donations will go towards supporting victims of any form of violence or abuse by trained professionals who have the right qualifications and experience

Thousands of women and girls will benefit as 14 charities have been confirmed to receive a share of the final round of the Government’s £11.25 million Tampon Tax Fund.

Projects helping victims of domestic abuse, improving postpartum safety and empowering women through physical activity are among those chosen to benefit from the new grants.

The UK-wide grants generated from the VAT on period products will be directly invested in vital projects tackling issues facing women and girls.

Over the last six years, the Tampon Tax Fund has awarded £79 million, with this final round bringing the total to £90.25 million.

In March last year, the Chancellor announced that following the UK’s departure from the EU on 1st

January 2021, the EU 5% VAT charge on period products would be removed, permanently reducing associated costs for these products.

At the same time, the Prime Minister has announced the latest Points of Light awards are being awarded to four individuals who have made exceptional contributions towards helping disadvantaged women and girls, helping to reduce period poverty and improving gender equality.

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries, said: “I’m delighted that these 14 organisations are receiving grants towards their exceptional projects helping disadvantaged women and girls. Over the last six years, the UK Government's Tampon Tax Fund has supported charities right across the UK, and I’m extremely pleased that we were able to use VAT on period products for these important causes.”

Foreign Secretary launches campaign to tackle sexual violence Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has launched a major global campaign to stop sexual violence against women and girls in conflict around the world.

Speaking at an event for the Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC) – established under the UK’s G7 Presidency to support women and girls around the world – the Foreign Secretary, who is also the UK’s Minister for Women and Equalities, will kick start a major new push by the UK to shatter the culture of impunity around the use of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war.

She is bringing together close partners to condemn rape and sexual violence in conflict

conflict. The announcements are the start of a wider move by the Foreign Secretary to ensure women and girls are at the centre of the UK’s foreign policy priorities.

The Foreign Secretary stepped up the UK’s commitment to women and Liz Truss girls around the world, as a ‘red line’. All options are on announcing: the table, including an interna£18 million of new funding tional convention, to end such to end child marriage through heinous acts once and for all. partners UNICEF and UNFPA The Foreign Secretary also (United Nations Population announced that the UK will Fund). This funding will benefit host a global conference next women and girls in 12 countries, year to unite the world in action including Sierra Leone, Uganda, to prevent sexual violence in Ethiopia, Bangladesh and

Yemen. UK support for this work has already helped avert 25 million child marriages over the last decade a £3 million boost to organisations on the frontline of tackling violence against women and girls. This will help survivors access health and counselling, as well as helping to prevent violence, including by educating men and boys. This funding will also support work with governments to improve policies and legislation £1.4 million of new funding for the Global Survivors Fund, which help support survivors of sexual violence, including through financial support and education

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6-year-old to run 6kms to raise funds for classmate’s wheelchair Shefali Saxena 6-year-old Vidyut is on a quest to help his classmate and friend, Sophie, by running six kilometres in six consecutive weeks to raise funds for Sophie’s new wheelchair. He started running on 20 November at Black Park Country Park in Wexham.

Sophie Guerra Valdés (6) lives with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic condition that causes muscle deterioration and difficulty moving. She’s from West Drayton. Due to SMA Sophie is unable to crawl, stand, walk, or move independently from one place to another. She was diagnosed with this condition when she was 18 months old.

Hoping to raise £27,000 for her wheelchair, Sophie’s mother Tammy told My London News, “She got a small wheelchair from the NHS - it gave her a little freedom. But Sophie needs to go to school, she likes to go to the park and to outdoor activities so this wheelchair is not suitable for her. It’s not a chair that covers all her necessities.”

Speaking exclusively to Asian Voice, Vidyut’s mother Nishtha Chugh told us that Vidyut and Sophie have been friends and classmates from day one of school. Both of them attend St. Martin's Primary School in West London.

Nishtha told Asian

Voice, “We are aware of Sophie's struggles as a wheelchair-using child.

Earlier this month, Sophie's mum Tammy Valdes launched a campaign to fundraise for a new and high-tech wheelchair to meet her changing needs.

After a week, we noticed it wasn't going well and decided to get involved. Our original plan was to sell cakes and cookies to raise funds but our local councillors never replied to our emails seeking permission. After discussing many options we decided on running.

“Vidyut has developed a passion for running since we started running our local Parkrun every weekend as a family this year. It was his idea to run 6km for the next six weeks "because both Sophie and I are six" (only a 6-yr old can come up with such a logic). In just three days since Vidyut's pledge, the fundraiser has received over £2000 in donations.

He ran his first run yesterday, 20 November 2021 and will have his last run on Christmas Day.” Empathy and compassion at a tender age When asked about the kind of emotional and mental maturity is needed at his age to be so empathetic, Nishtha said, “As Vidyut's parents, we have often been told he appears mature and patient for his age. Our home environment may have played a part in shap-

Vidyut and Sophie during the fund raiser

ing his character. Through our professions (I am a journalist, his dad a roboticist) been constantly he's exposed to news, books, podcasts, documentaries and magazines since he was a toddler.

“He started reading at an early age and continues to be a voracious reader. We have always encouraged him to ask questions, and we never shy away from discussing sensitive or complex issues like climate change, wars, religion, disability, poverty, racism etc with him. Vidyut is highly driven, strong-willed and hard working. He enjoys a high degree of autonomy and makes his own decisions most of the time. We never doubted his conviction when he said he wanted to run for Sophie.” £10K by Christmas Sharing her son's vision about this initiative at a tender age, Nishtha told the newsweekly that Vidyut

Building on Trust: Theology, Religion and Hindu Studies The relationship between the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and the University of Oxford’s Faculty of Theology and Religion has matured over more than two decades – working together to help develop the study of religion at Oxford.

With generous support from the OCHS, scholars from the OCHS have regularly been employed by the faculty to teach, tutor, and supervise students, and the Centre has also funded research positions, including that of the Professor of Hindu Studies and Comparative Religion.

By working cooperatively, the field of Religious Studies in Oxford has been enriched and Hindu Studies established.

With a view to consolidating this productive partnership the Faculty and the Centre are pleased to announce a new phase in their relationship.

They have established two new Research Lectureships, with Dr Jessica Frazier and Dr Rembert Lutjeharms appointed as the first post holders. Both will work part-time for both institutions, funded fully by the OCHS. The posts will consolidate Hindu Studies in Oxford, attracting more students, and encouraging new teaching, research, and publication. It will also ensure the broader study of religion, and comparative religion and philosophy.

Lord Dholakia, Chair of the Board of Governors, OCHS said, “The fact that Hindu Studies is being so recognised at this academic level, that the OCHS is the catalyst between the subject and the University, and the prospect of students of all backgrounds gaining access to a more serious consideration of these cultures, is an excellent step forward in education in this country.”

Central Synagogue representatives help food banks and shelters for Mitzvah Day Central Synagogue was active in its support for Mitzvah Day on Sunday 21 November 2021.

Mitzvah Day is an annual day of faith-based social action that takes place in November each year, mainly in the UK. On Mitzvah Day each year, community groups and individuals undertake a range of volunteer projects for those in need in their local community.

In particular, representatives of the Synagogue con-

Representatives of the Synagogue

gregated outside Waitrose in Marylebone High Street collecting items of food and toiletries from Waitrose customers. This carries on a strong tradition of support for Mitzvah Day by the Synagogue.

The collected items have been distributed to local food banks and shelters.

would like to raise the full £10K by Christmas. “He thinks this would make for a lovely Christmas present for Sophie. Since his pledge, he's become even more aware of Sophie's enormous daily struggles with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. His teachers have often told us how thoughtful and kind he is towards everyone in his class,” Vidyut’s mother said.

Further sharing an important experience from the six-year-old boy’s life, his mother said, “There's a particular example I would like to highlight here.

Marcus Rashford's campaign for free school meals in the UK a few months ago was a big talking point in our house for weeks.

Marcus' fight with the government to overturn their decision fascinated him. It was in the news almost every day, and Vidyut heard about stories of kindness, people coming together and sending out free school

Vidyut and Sophie

meals to poor children. At the dinner table, we would often talk about why our society couldn't survive without compassion and generosity. This is possibly the first time Vidyut truly became aware of his privileged and sheltered life.

This may have calibrated his moral compass and instilled a sense of empathy.”

“He runs like Forrest Gump, and won't stop unless you tell him to. He's surprised that "the grownups are surprised at his ability to run 6Km. At first, the sudden onslaught of attention after he joined the fundraiser overwhelmed him a bit. Yesterday, at the Finish Line he was surprised to see big banners with his name and his classmates cheering for him.

He's fine now and getting excited by the rising figure on the donation page. He's exhibiting a new sense of responsibility and determination, a sense of pride that

he's making a meaningful change to his friend's life.

Nishtha also said that there's no pressure since this is Vidyut’s own decision and well within his current ability. “In fact, he's been insisting on running a 10k for the last two months but we haven't let him, although he can easily cycle 10-15k. He's a happy and funny kid and we have no concerns about his mental health. If anything, getting involved in the fundraiser has boosted his confidence,” the mother told us.

Parents incredibly inspired

by Vidyut Nishtha said, “We are proud of Vidyut. This might surprise you but we find him incredibly inspiring. He has a strong willpower. To give you a recent example: a few Saturdays ago it was extremely cold in the morning and we didn't want to get up to go running. But Vidyut shamed us out of bed and got changed before us. He's the kind of child who says no to cake at birthday parties if he thinks he's had enough sugar for the day. Once he sets his heart on a target, he sees it right through the end.

Vidyut motivates us, pushes us all the time to raise the bar higher in everything we do. We are lucky to be his parents.”

Millions in London unaware of the power in pensions to fight climate change New research from the UK’s largest safety (29%) and use of plastic mutual pension and investment (29%) following closely behind. company, Royal London, reveals Sarah Pennells, Consumer that three fifths (59%) of pension Finance Specialist at Royal holders in London are unaware that London, said, “It’s encouraging to their pension could be invested in see that so many people consider ways to help fight climate change. themselves to be climate conOnly a third (29%) of pension holdscious and our research shows ers from the city currently invest that the nation is taking steps fortheir pension responsibly, but 46% Sarah Pennells, Consumer Finance ward to improve the health of the say they would like their pension to planet. But we all need to look at Specialist at Royal London be invested more responsibly. our finances and their collective power to do well and do good. From helping Royal London is the largest mutual life insurreduce emissions to promoting diversity, pensions ance, pensions and investment company in the can be invested to support individuals in retireUK, with assets under management of £153 billion, ment whilst helping us all move towards a more 8.8 million policies in force and 4,075 employees sustainable world.” (figures quoted are as at 30 June 2021).

What does investing responsibly mean?

With over half (57%) of UK 18-24-year-olds wanting their pension investments to harness a Terminology can be confusing. Three out of more sustainable planet, compared to just over a ten (31%) of adults in London are familiar with the quarter (29%) of 65-year-olds and over, it’s clear term ‘responsible investment,’ whilst a third (33%) there is still more that can be done to build a betper cent actually know what it means and underter understanding of inter-generational financial stand its collective power to protect the planet. resilience for the future.

Men are more likely to be familiar with the term The research also found: responsible investment than women (69% vs 50%) across the UK. u Almost half (45%) of pension holders in Almost two fifths (38%) of pension holders in London do not know how their pension funds London said they would consider investing a porare invested. tion of their pension responsibly. Just under a u Those who want to find out more about third (27%) were willing for over half their pension responsible investment would mostly value to be invested responsibly. With one in ten (12%) the advice of financial advisers (18%), free wanting between 90% and 100% of their pension guidance services, such as MoneyHelper (14%), invested responsibly. or their family and friends (12%).

Pension holders across the UK were also asked u Almost a fifth (18%) would carry out their own what criteria they would like a responsibly investresearch to find out about responsible invested pension to consider, with climate change and ment. protecting the environment (40%) being highly For more information visit: https://www.royrated in London. Social factors such as health and allondon.com/.

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Healthcare leaders meet at No 10 to raise awareness about paediatric palliative care Minister of State for Care, Gillian Keegan MP met with Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice and other healthcare leaders at 10 Downing Street to discuss a new study which has found that fewer than one in four (23%) paediatricians surveyed understand the criteria for referring children who are seriously unwell for local children’s hospice care.

The study, commissioned by the north London based hospice and authored by Dr Hannah Opstad, Paediatric Registrar at St Mary’s Hospital, London, surveyed 30 healthcare professionals across four London hospitals.

90% of those surveyed said that, having read the referral criteria, they believe that they have cared for at least one child who was eligible for children’s hospice care but has not been referred

for this specialist support.

The study demonstrates that a lack of understanding about what children’s palliative care is and who could benefit from it are key barriers to children gaining access to life-enhancing support.

The discussions at No 10, which were hosted by Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, Myles Stacey, centred on how charities such as Noah’s Ark can be integrated in the wider

healthcare system to improve outcomes for children and families.

Healthcare leaders in attendance included Sue Bottomley, the NHS’s National Head of Palliative and End of Life and Care, and Dr Sanjiv Sharma, Medical Director at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The research has also revealed a recurring misconception that doctors are facing.

Many respondents report that there is a societal stigma around hospice care acting as a barrier to children receiving support which will significantly improve the quality of their short lives, with one clinician asserting that “bringing up the subject with parents makes it sound like

their child is imminently dying."

Commenting on the discussions, Gillian Keegan MP, Minister of State for Care said, “It was a real pleasure to hear about the wonderful work being done at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice today. It was lovely to meet with staff from the hospice and healthcare leaders, to discuss their work, including new research into the life enhancing benefits of children’s hospice care. It is wonderful to see how much can be achieved when organisations with different perspectives work together for the benefit of patients and their families. I would like to thank them all for their tireless work to provide children and their families with support during the most difficult of times.”

Teaching voted as one of the most respected careers in London Teaching has been voted as one of the most respected careers in London, according to education charity, Teach First. The charity recruits, trains and places trainee teachers in schools serving disadvantaged communities.

As part of a national poll carried out my broadcast specialist Markettiers, nearly half (47%) of those surveyed in Greater London voted teachers as one of the most respect careers, alongside doctors (65%).

The charity also reveals over a half (53%) of people in Greater London have thought about becoming a teacher – with half of those (26%) saying the past year has encouraged them to think about it.

Almost half (43%) of Londoners agree that people underestimate how much impact a teacher can have on

someone’s childhood, while over half (56%) believe that teachers shape the future generation in wider society. Four in ten (41%) believe that their favourite teacher had a positive impact on their life.

The pandemic seems to be changing the public’s perceptions on teachers’ impacts with about a third (29%) of those in Greater London surveyed saying that the pandemic made them rethink how important teachers are to their local community, by stating that they have been vital to their local area. Almost four in ten (39%) also agreed that teachers aren’t given enough credit for the work they do.

Alongside this, three in 10 (37%) of Londoners also feel that teachers in their local community need to be given being given more time to support their pupils, should be paid more (39%) and that schools in their local areas need better learning resources (35%). As part of their school recovery manifesto, Teach First is calling for more support through a significant increase in funding for schools serving

disadvantaged communities over the next five years, to address growing inequality in education.

Encouraging public to think of the positive impacts of teachers, when asked their favourite teacher of TV and film, those in London voted Karate Kid’s Mr Miyagi first, closely followed by Matilda’s Miss Honey and Whoopi Goldberg’s Sister Act 2 character - Sister Mary Clarence. Londoners favoured the fictional teachers’ listening skills (28%), patience (27%) and intelligence (26%). It seems that they valued the same qualities in real teachers of today, citing patience (51%), good listeners (42%) and intelligence (40%) as the attributes that real teachers display.

Manningham Housing Association lifts high profile award for ‘incredible’ work during lockdown Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has triumphed in the Outstanding Approaches to Communications category at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Northern Awards 2021.

Staff at MHA were praised by the judges “for their incredible work with tenants and residents during the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The awards covering 13 different categories recognise the creativity, passion and innovation of housing organisations and individuals across the sector in the North of England.

As well as the association lifting the trophy for Outstanding Approaches to Communications, MHA’s Community Investment and Partnerships team was shortlisted in the Team of the Year category.

Manningham Housing Association (MHA) was founded in 1986 following a piece of research on the housing needs of Black and Asian communities in Bradford. This research proved

that the needs of the South Asian community were not being addressed. With an annual turnover of £8.2 million and a staff of 36, the association now manages more than 1,400 homes for over 6,000 residents. Around 75 per cent of MHA properties are large family homes with three or more bedrooms. Over 80 per cent of MHA residents are of South Asian origin but the association proudly serves all of those in need.

The award was collected at a ceremony held at the Hilton Gateshead by MHA’s Assistant Chief Executive Ulfat Hussain and Community Project Development Officer Aisha Begum.

Ulfat Hussain said, “I am always proud of the team at MHA but, since the onset of the pandemic, their dedication to caring for the needs of our tenants and surrounding communities has reached new heights.

“MHA may be one of the smaller housing associations in

Ulfat Hussain, MHA Assistant Chief Executive

the country, but we are also one of the best that punches well above our weight.

“It was satisfying to fly the flag for the BAME sector which is perennially underrepresented when awards are given out.

“I hope MHA’s success will serve as a catalyst for change and we see more BAME housing associations in the running at future ceremonies.”

MHA Chair Barrington Billings said, “On behalf of the Board, I want to pay tribute to our staff for their remarkable efforts stretching right back to the introduction of the first Covid restrictions.

“In those early days, every tenant was contacted to ensure they were safe and receiving additional support required whilst self-isolating. Hundreds of online events were arranged for tenants and the wider community, ranging from yoga sessions to CV writing. Those without access to a laptop were given or loaned machines.

“Alongside MHA’s inhouse magazine, which is delivered to the doorsteps of all tenants, weekly newsletters were sent out by email with information on activities that tenants could get involved in, together with the latest national Covid updates. All of this wonderful work was further enhanced by the boundless energy of Carolina Padovezi de Oliveira, our Corporate Services Officer, who has done so much to boost MHA’s social media presence.

“It has been a real team effort and every single member of the team played their part in winning this award.”

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in brief in brief 46% RISE IN OVERSEAS TRAVEL PLANS FOR YEAR AHEAD More than one in two British adults (57%) is planning an overseas holiday in the next 12 months – a 46% rise on this time last year, according to new research from travel insurance specialist AllClear. Despite parts of mainland Europe currently suffering from a Covid winter wave, the new AllClear data gives a clear early indication that British holidaymaker confidence is returning for 2022. The new AllClear poll asked a representative sample of 2,011 adults when, if at all, they planned to take an overseas holiday in the next year. Whilst the winter months look relatively quiet, the data suggests a travel boom is on the cards as early as next spring, with the proportion of people looking to book a holiday between March and May around twice as high as was the case this time last year.

The research also suggests the over 55’s will be driving the off-peak travel market next year, with 15% planning a holiday in May 2022, 19% planning an overseas break in September and 21% between October and the end of the year. These figures have almost doubled since the survey was last conducted this time last year.

Overall, the AllClear study suggests travel demand will reach an early peak next May and remain strong through the summer.

Significantly, UK households are already anticipating multiple overseas trips next year – with each survey respondent indicating an average of 2.1 overseas holidays for 2022.

BLENHEIM PALACE IS OFFICIALLY THE MOST POPULAR STATELY HOME IN THE UK New research has revealed that Blenheim Palace is the most Instagrammable stately home in the UK. A study by home cleaning and maintenance service company Fantastic Services analysed Instagram hashtag counts to establish which stately home in the UK provides the most Instagram potential – particularly for the festive season.

The stately home with the highest number of posts is Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire with 676,000 combined hashtags.

Christmas at Blenheim Palace is bound to provide plenty of Instagrammable photos with an after-dark illuminated trail with over a million lights and a Santa’s Grotto.

Derbyshire’s famous Chatsworth House ranked as the second most Instagrammable stately home in the UK with a hashtag count of 501,000. Christmas at Chatsworth returns from November 6th to January 9th after being cancelled last year due to the pandemic. Guests can expect to snap photos of a Winter Wonderland courtyard, the new decorations within the House itself and Chatsworth’s very own Christmas market.

Kensington Palace in London had the third highest number of posts at 410,000. The residence that is home to many Royals including William and Kate and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent have gardens that are open to the public throughout the year.

In the past, visitors to Kensington Palace at Christmas have enjoyed carol singers, mulled wine in the courtyard and the traditional 30ft Christmas tree on display.

Windsor Castle was revealed as the fourth most Instagrammable home in the UK with 393,000 posts to date. Windsor Castle will host a Royal Christmas with a pantomime exhibit as well as well as festive tours across the Castle to provide plenty of opportunity for social media sharing.

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in brief TOP UP JAB BOOKINGS OPEN FOR MORE THAN ONE MILLION PEOPLE More than one million people are eligible now to book their life-saving jab, as the NHS Covid-19 Vaccination programme continues to boost people’s protection ahead of winter.

From Monday 22 November, people aged 40 to 49 will be able to book their booster vaccine, and 16 and 17-year-olds their second jabs, just seven days after the JCVI updated their advice for these age groups.

Almost 500,000 people in their forties had their second dose at least six months ago, and are currently eligible to get their booster jab.

People can book their booster appointment on the National Booking Service a month before they become eligible, which means they can get their top-up jabs as soon as they reach the six month mark.

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said, “I’ve had my booster and I would urge everyone to get their vaccine whether their first, second or top-up dose as soon as possible, giving them and their loved ones vital protection over winter and the festive period.”

ROYAL GRANDCHILDREN EACH LIVE ON 27 TIMES THE SPACE OF A UK HOUSEHOLD

The Royal Family

The Royal grandchildren enjoy more space to themselves at home than the average British family. Prince George (8), Princess Charlotte (6) and Prince Louis (3) live on 219 times the space of the average British family. Prince George enjoys the space of 219 British average family homes.

Analysis was conducted by online gaming experts BedKingdom comparing the sq. ft of the average UK household, and each house of the Royal family members. The houses were then divided by the number of people living there, to equal the amount of space they would reside in, without having to share. 68% of Britons believe Prince William and Kate will have the greatest influence over the future of the Royal family (YouGov). It is interesting to take a look into their first line of influence, their three children. The average number of people in a UK family (2021) is 2.39. Dividing the average UK home by this numbers means that UK families live on 305 square feet per person. For the Royal grandchildren, they live on 40,268 square feet each.

Prince Harry and Megan now reside in California. Their home is 18,671 sq. ft. Their two children Archie and Lilibet enjoy 4667 sq. ft of space, without having to share with each other. This is 6 times the space of the average British family. On average, the Royal family grandchildren live on 20134 square feet. This is 27 times the average British household. Before lockdown, a record number of 3,285,000 people visited the official residences of the British Royal family. This generated £49,859,000.

According to Forbes, the British Royal family is estimated to have brought in £19 billion in revenue, pre-pandemic. According to YouGov, 67% of Britons believe Britain should continue to have a monarchy.

There are 28 Countries across the globe with Constitutional Royal Families.

Two thirds of young people say Covid-19 has made it harder to find decent jobs, with three quarters struggling with stress at work New research published by the Institute for Employment Studies details the struggle that young jobseekers are facing in the postlockdown labour market. Young people were among the hardest hit groups in the Covid-19 crisis, seeing the largest falls in employment, disruption to education and continued negative impacts on their mental health, aspirations, and future prospects.

The findings further stated three quarters of young people are struggling with stress at work, 57 per cent agree that their mental health has had an impact on their ability to access good quality work and over a third, 36 per cent, reference their physical health having a similar impact on their ability to access good work.

There are many more young people (approximately +35 to +45 per cent) reporting poor working conditions after the pandemic compared to before Covid-19 in respect of their work environment, job security, number of hours, impact on mental and physical health, and work-life balance.

62 per cent of young people feel that the pandemic has had a negative effect on their confidence and made it harder to find decent work. 46 per cent say it has negatively affected how they value the quality of work.

The report, ‘Not just any jobs, good jobs!’ forms part of the forthcoming Health Foundation’s ‘Young People’s Future Health Inquiry’ and draws together findings from interviews with 1,345 young people across the four UK nations. It takes a youthcentred approach to explore young people’s perspectives on what good quality work and support mean to them, the enablers and barriers they encounter, the quality of their experiences in work, and the impact of the pandemic on their perceptions and experiences of work.

Discrimination at work Nearly a quarter of young people reported experiences of discrimination at work (22 per cent), with 18 per cent experiencing bullying and 16 per cent experiencing harassment.

Young people expressed that health conditions as well as disabilities were barriers both in terms of confidence and motivation, and in terms of employer attitudes.

They felt careers services were often under-resourced, with a single adviser for many students or short sessions which felt rushed and could not address the specific

needs of students.

There is a keen interest to learn more about vocational routes – over a third of young people thought support accessed vocational through routes such as apprenticeships (42 per cent) and traineeships (33 per cent) was very useful.

Report author Cristiana Orlando said, “As we emerge from the pandemic, it is essential that the recovery has good and fair work for young guidance and support, people at its heart. investing in enhanced “Two thirds of young people forms of support, feel less confident about Largest independent, extending eligibility for the accessing good quality work, UK-wide survey of the DWP Youth Offer, around half now place less value repurposing and on the quality of work and they impacts of Covid-19 on promoting national careers are also reporting worsened service offers and building working conditions after Covid. youth employment systematic education“This sits alongside findings finds that despite falls business engagement. showing over half feel their - Increasing support for mental health impacts their in unemployment, the the 16-18 age group. There ability to access good quality Covid-19 pandemic has are three areas of action to work, and a third say so about support this: Developing their physical health. seen significant an enhanced 16-18 support “These findings highlight a offer, improving access to deteriorations in vocational real risk that the pre-pandemic routes and trend of the worsening quality working conditions, increasing young people’s of youth employment and awareness of their rights challenges in accessing good access to training and and responsibilities. jobs will become further mental health for - Investment in placeentrenched; and it is the duty of based approaches needs to those supporting them, from young people. be scaled up. There are government, to education, three areas of action to employers, and support services support this: Supporting to provide it.” local businesses to employ young Key areas to support jobs and skills people, supporting young people to The report sets out five key areas for enter local businesses and investing in government, education, employers and local transport and digital employment services to support young infrastructure. people’s jobs and skills. These include: - Improving mental health support and - Creating good quality training and literacy. There are four areas of action work opportunities needs to be to support this: Supporting young prioritised. people to build confidence and - Young people deserve better support to resilience, supporting employers to enter the world of work. There are five develop mental health literacy, areas for action to support this: developing robust support pathways Improving the quality of careers and normalising mental health.

National survey reveals that 70% of men haven’t studied since the age of 30 Over two-thirds of men (70 per cent) have not completed any form of education since the age of 30, according to a new nationwide survey by distance learning experts Open Study College, who are encouraging more men to invest in their education to improve employability and career prospects, as part of a nationwide awareness campaign launched on International Men’s Day (19 November).

This coincides with the recent news that the number of job vacancies in the UK hit a record high of 1.1 million, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The research, which polled 2,000 UK males, explored the reasons behind men not wanting to invest further in their education and found that

a quarter (24 percent) admitted to having no drive or motivation to study, while almost half (43 per cent) said they didn’t think additional qualifications were necessary to progress in their careers.

The survey also highlights the need to do more to help with men’s mental health: Over two thirds (69 per cent) of 18-30-year-olds polled said they have struggled with their mental health in the last two years.

42 per cent said they had taken up studying as a way of improving their mental health.

Samantha Rutter, CEO of Open Study College, which commissioned the study, said, “This new research isn’t surprising as only 20% of our own learners are male. We understand there are many reasons for this, a number of

which highlight the differences between male and female learners. Men feel less pressured than women to give themselves every advantage to progress in their careers as they are not affected by the ‘glass ceiling’. Men are also less likely to take career breaks and therefore feel they don’t need further education, but in today’s competitive workplace, our research shows that it’s more important than ever to give yourself every opportunity to improve your employability and career prospects – whatever your gender…”

Additional findings from the survey identified that younger generations put more importance on the need to gain qualifications: 92 per cent of 18–21-yearolds felt that additional

qualifications were necessary to progress further in your career, compared to only 38 percent of 41-50-year-olds.

Even fewer (26 per cent) of 51-60-year-olds said that they felt extra qualifications are necessary.

The poll also revealed a stark contrast between generations when it comes to further education: Only one in ten (11 per cent) of 18-21-year-olds surveyed had stopped studying after A Levels (post-secondary education), while a third (29 per cent) have gone on to study for a Master’s degree.

In comparison, almost a third (29 per cent) of 51-60year-olds said they had finished their studies after GCSEs and only six percent held a Master’s degree as their highest qualification.

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How Will 2022 Be For Stocks?

As December approaches and 2021 comes to an end, it's time to reflect. It's been an excellent year for stocks, but Alpesh Patel how will it end? And what will Dear Financial 2022 hold for the equity market?

Voice Reader, Since 2019, the stock market is up by 97%. These incredible returns have come despite the panic and disruption of a global pandemic.

However, with 2022 around the corner, the big question is if this run can continue? Several considerations could affect the price of stocks next year.

There are both positive and negative views from a recent UBS client note. They feel the S&P 500 will hit 5,000 by mid-2022. However, they have called a pullback from there, citing earning downgrades and high real rates as factors that will bring the index down to around 4,850 by the end of 2022.

Of course, several scenarios could hurt the market. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has put together a list of 10 factors that could affect the global economy. They believe China's relationships with the West and further fallout from the Evergrande debacle could be negative factors.

Similarly, inflation and economic-related social unrest are two other events that they forecast as possible destructive scenarios.

Sophomore Slump and the Fed Another situation to consider is a stock market "sophomore slump". Stocks have tended to drop short of their long-term annual average during a president's second year over the last 75 years. On its own, this is an interesting statistic. However, it becomes more convincing when coupled with fears that the economic stimulus packages will slow down.

As ever, the Fed will have a role to play. Last year, they cut interest rates to almost zero and began an extensive program of government bond purchases. These actions made it easier to borrow, which gave the markets and the economy a much-needed boost. However, inflation has been around 5% over the last few months.

The Fed suggests that inflation will slow down; they also announced that they would taper bond purchases.

Alongside this, they say that its benchmark lending rate will go up twice next year. All of this will lead to a tightening of monetary policy.

Historically, Fed bond tapering has actually been a longterm positive. CFRA Research points to a similar scenario in 2013-14. Then Fed chair, Ben Bernanke, made a surprise announcement that the central bank would cut back on bond purchases. What followed was a 5.8% rise the next month and a 17.5% rise for the next seven months.

If this trend holds, that would see the bull market continue into the middle of 2022. However, not everyone is so positive. Chris Harvey, head of equity strategy at Wells Fargo Securities, sounds a note of caution. His year-end target is 4,825, which he expects to drop around May 2022.

Harvey feels equities will hit unsustainable heights and is forecasting 4,715 by the time 2023 approaches.

2022 Predictions Of course, not everyone agrees that 2022 will finish with losses. Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs researchers think that stocks will continue their stellar performance throughout the following year. Wells Fargo forecasts a year ending between 5,100-5,300, with Goldman's suggesting 5,100. By contrast, Morgan Stanley suggests a slight dip to 4,400.

These differences are symbolic of the consistently strong diversity of opinion among analysts. Supply chain issues and further twists and turns with COVID-19 could keep inflation up. Inflation is at a 30-year high and could persist or even worsen through 2022. The level of uncertainty has led to a lack of consensus between analysts. Weak growth and an early Fed interest rate hike could hurt equities.

However, if we've learned one thing during 2019-2021, it's that many pessimistic market predictions haven't panned out. Inflation, monetary policy, and the Delta variant have all been significant concerns over recent months.

But the market has stayed resilient and pulled through.

Kathleen Brooks, the founder of Minerva Analysis, suggests that if the Fed can keep its feet off the break, the upward trajectory will continue into the Spring.

One last thing to consider is high valuations. The S&P 500's forward price-to-earnings ratio is at 21.71. This number is up from the 25 year average of 16.81. But this shouldn't cause anyone to rush out to sell; in fact, the data suggests it could still be a great time to buy.

Summary Political and social unrest, inflation, Fed interest hikes, and even the pandemic are all areas that could play a factor in 2022. However, this market has confounded doubters over the last 18 months and is set to end 2021 strongly. The first half of 2022 should continue to be positive, but May could bring some turbulence.

But there is no point sitting on the sidelines. If you’d like to learn – check my free campaign to teach a million people to be better investors at www.campaignforamillion.com

£335mn of taxpayer money at risk due to failure to conduct checks on Greensill A committee of MPs have recently found that almost £400mn of taxpayer money is at increased risk due to a failure to conduct sufficient checks on the now-collapsed Greensill Capital, a firm for which former prime minister David Cameron lobbied. In a new report by the House of Commons’ Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the group of MPs have scrutinised a decision to allow the firm to be a lender under governmentbacked Covid support schemes.

The government-owned British Business Bank approved Greensill as a lender for both the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), as well as the Coronavirus Large Business

diligence in accrediting Greensill was woefully inadequate” and criticised the Bank for striking the “wrong balance” between “making decisions quickly” during the pandemic and “protectDavid Cameron ing taxpayer interests.”

The report added, “In Interruption Loan Scheme the case of Greensill, the (CLBILS). It went on to loan Bank was insufficiently curi£400m under CLBILS, and ous about media reports £18.5m under CBILS. questioning Greensill’s lendHowever, it went on to file ing model, its over-exposure for insolvency in March this to borrowers, and ethical year. In their report, the standards until problems PAC found that “up to were clear and hundreds of £335m of taxpayer money is millions of taxpayers’ money at increased risk following left exposed.” It also found the British Business Bank’s that “a lack of informationfailure to conduct sufficient sharing across government” due diligence” into had “once again hampered Greensill. sound decision-making in The MPs concluded that government’s response to the Bank’s “approach to due the pandemic and allowed

Greensill access to taxpayerfunded schemes.”

The PAC also said that the government had “not yet identified the broader lessons from its accreditation of Greensill or from its Covid-19 business support schemes” and added it was “essential that these lessons are identified.” The MPs went on to say that it had been “insufficiently curious when identifying where money lent through the schemes, including by Greensill, has ultimately gone.”

They called on the Bank to review its accreditation process, and the Treasury, and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to publish a “full lessons-learned report” by July next year.

Top officials quit after Issa Chinese millionaires brothers acquire Asda bring £135 bn boost to UK Top managers of Asda have resigned following the take over of the supermarket by petrol station billionaires Mohsin and Zuber Issa in February.

Chief executive Roger Burnley announced that he would leave the business in 2022 after a successor had been found.

Burnley, in fact, departed over the summer, and the Leeds-based grocer says the recruitment process is “ongoing”. Chief operating officer Anthony Hemmerdinger and Preyash Thakrar, the strategy chief, have also gone, along with

Issa brothers

chief finance officer Rob McWilliam.

The fast-paced style of the Issa brothers is said to have led to the resignations.

Anyone eyeing the chief executive’s office should expect quite a ride. The Issas want to open 200 Asda convenience stores in their EG petrol stations by the end of next year and expand Asda into Europe.

UK has become the top investment destination of a number of Chinese millionaires. According to data, the number has surged to 650 in the past year, delivering 135 billion pound investment boost in the country. The law firm Boodle Hatfield found the number of affluent Chinese people moving to the UK has more than doubled in five years, with individuals with high net worths (HNWs) favouring Britain for its private schools, investment opportunities and the “relative stability and liquidity of the residential property market”.

The report found that

Chinese HNWs still considered the UK one of the most attractive, stable and secure jurisdictions to invest and hold assets in despite Covid-related uncertainty and the challenges posed by Brexit. The biggest proportion of HNWs who relocated to Britain in the past year came from China, with 650 of them moving here in 2019-20, oustripping Hong Kong, Spain and the US. The report said that the existing international makeup of London also acts as a magnet to other mobile HNWs, challenging claims that Britain’s tax regime is discouraging international investors.

JSW Steel to examine bid for Sanjeev Gupta's British business India's largest steel producer, JSW Steel, is considering a bid to buy Liberty Steel in Britain as well as mills elsewhere, two people familiar with the matter said, as would-be buyers circle Sanjeev Gupta's global commodities empire. JSW's interest, which extends to plants including Gupta's Adhunik steel mill in eastern India, could mark yet another chapter for Britain's steel industry, which has been privatised and sold to overseas buyers as its pre-eminence slid in lock-step with the country's manufacturing might In a statement, JSW Steel said its focus remained in India for now and it was not looking at acquiring any overseas assets. A sale would chip away at Gupta's sprawling network of businesses, comprising hundreds of privately held companies with interests spanning steel, aluminium, mining, financial services and real estate, built up over years of acquisitions.

Gupta has been scrambling to refinance after his go-to source of funding, British supply chain finance firm Greensill, filed for insolvency in March.

Britain's Serious Fraud Office said this month that it was investigating Gupta's businesses, including their links to Greensill.

Although JSW Steel, part of the metals-to-cement conglomerate JSW Group controlled by billionaire Sajjan

Jindal, was interested in bidding, one of the sources said, there were obstacles to any deal, including navigating the fallout from Brexit as well as India's coronavirus crisis. And no final decision had been taken on whether to bid for what the source described as a "surprise package"."The due diligence has not yet started.

After Brexit, it will not be easy to operate these assets," he said. A spokesman for GFG said it "continues to serve its customers around the world and is making progress in the refinancing of its operations, which are benefiting from the operational improvements it has made and the very strong steel, aluminium and iron ore markets."

Sanjeev Gupta

Gupta was lauded as the saviour of steel in Britain who bought distressed assets in economically deprived areas.

His group has 35,000 workers, including 5,000 in Britain, and annual revenues of $20 billion.

Any change of ownership of Liberty Steel, which employs around 3,000 people in Britain, will be politically sensitive. Darren Jones, who chairs the UK parliament's business, energy and industrial strategy committee, said he expected any buyer to require ministerial clearance."

Scottish govt gave Sanjeev Gupta £586mn guarantee Metal magnet Sanjeev Gupta's GFG alliance had bought an aluminium smelter in Lochaber, near Fort William, and two nearby hydropower plants from Rio Tinto in 2016. At that time the total gross guarantee provided by Edinburgh was £586mn.

After nearly two years freedom of information battle, the Scottish government has been forced to disclose that the value of the taxpayer guarantee it

provided to Gupta's business was £586mn.

The ministers, who had argued that revealing the size of the guarantee could disadvantage GFG, were eventually overruled by the Scottish Information Commissioner in September 2021.The Scottish government provided its guarantee, which covered annual amounts varying between £14m and £32m, in return for a fee.

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27 Nov - 3 Dec 2021

Paytm crashes on Day 2 too, down 37% since IPO Shares of Paytm fell by 13% on its second trading day, after crashing 27% during their debut on the stock exchanges. The shares closed at Rs 1,360, 37% below the issue price of Rs 2,150. At Monday’s closing price, the company’s market capitalisation stood at £8.82 billion compared to the valuation of nearly £14 billion in its IPO - which means shareholders have lost about £5.1 billion in two trading days.

Shares of the payments company opened at Rs 1,500 on Monday, down from its

previous close of Rs 1,564.

Around noon, when the company hit a low of Rs 1,271 and was inching towards its 20% lower circuit band, there was buying support that lifted it to the closing level of Rs 1,360. Investors who have supported the £1.83 billion

IPO include BlackRock and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.

The dismal performance of the company on the bourses was met with shock from investors.

On social media, investors were looking for answers on why a company that received backing from bluechip institutions and was subscribed 1.8 times tanked upon listing. This happened even as other startups such as Nykaa, Zomato and

Policybazaar showed resilience after listing. The issue was managed by top global and Indian investment banks. Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs Group, Axis Capital, ICICI Securities, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and HDFC Bank were the book-running lead managers.

The company’s shares tanked even after it released data on Sunday where it said that both the gross merchandise value of transactions and lending activity in the second quarter saw a big jump.

India's pharma industry record growth during Covid India's adoption stringent patent laws to comply with World Trade Organization requirements in 1995 has led to the formation of new forms of mutually beneficial partnerships between western and Indian pharmaceutical groups.

These tie-ups have come under the spotlight during the Covid-19 pandemic, as Indian entrepreneurs have struck deals with western drugs companies to scale up production of sought-after vaccines and Covid drugs for many parts of the global market.

According to Indian government figures, the

country exported more than $24bn worth of pharmaceutical products between April 2020 and March 2021, 18 per cent more than in the previous year, as global demand for drugs soared in the pandemic.

Growth is expected to remain buoyant as the production and export of jabs and medicines accelerates.

The pandemic offered new challenges and opportunities to the Serum Institute of India (SII) of Adar Poonawalla, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume.

Other Indian healthcare

have entrepreneurs prospered in the pandemic, as demand for their services surged. According to a report, India has seven billionaires who founded hospital chains, diagnostics labs or other healthcare services. These include Pratap Reddy, founder of Apollo Hospitals and Arvind Lal, the chair and owner of Dr Lal Pathlabs.

A clutch of other Indian companies - including Cipla, Zydus Cadila, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw’s Biocon and B Partha Saradhi Reddy’s Hetero - tied up with US pharma group Gilead Sciences to produce its

antiviral drug remdesivir.

Other Indian drugmakers such as Dilip Shanghvi’s Sun Pharma, the Murali Diviowned Divi’s Laboratories, Manju Gupta’s Lupin and Basudeo Narain Singh’s Alkem, as well as Cipla again - began producing the antiviral favipiravir.

US pharma giant Merck signed licensing has agreements with eight Indian companies, including Cipla, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Hetero and Sun Pharma, to make molnupiravir, an antiviral that studies suggest could cut the risk of hospitalisation and death of Covid patients.

India, US vow to boost trade ties, focus on supply chain India and the US vowed to improve their trade ties and “take it to the next level” with closer partnership on supply chains flagged as a key thrust area.

“At USTR, we hear frequently from our stakeholders on issues that will be familiar to those of you involved in moving goods and services between our two countries: Market access restrictions, high tariffs, unpredictable regulatory requirements, and restrictive digital trade measures. These are issues where we need to make progress and they will be on the top of my list while I’m

here,” US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said during her maiden trip to India to revive the Trade Policy Forum dialogue after a four-year hiatus.

The Trade Policy Forum, which is a ministerial-level engagement, is meant to remove frictions and identify new areas for growth.

Visas, the Totalisation Agreement and market access for some of its farm products is among key priority items on India’s wishlist, while the US has been demanding lower tariffs for its products,

doing away with local production mandates as well as easier data norms.

While the government is also looking to tap American investors for funds in key sectors, issues on the table at next week’s WTO ministerial meeting are also expected to figure during meetings between commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and Tai. Observing that the world looked at India as a trusted partner, Goyal said that India’s competitive advantages of cost, skilled

manpower and huge market combined with US’s innovation and investment can become a winning partnership among natural friends. Goyal said India and the US have realised the necessity of diversifying critical supply chains. “I’m also looking forward to discussing how further collaboration on workercentric policies can benefit our trade relationship,” Tai said.

Sitharaman urges India Inc to step up invest Arguing that India's economy is back on track and state-run banks have “remarkably turned around”, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman made an impassioned plea to India Inc to step up investment, while promising to remove whatever obstacles were being faced by the corporate sector.

“At a time when India is looking at healthy growth, I want Indian industry, India Inc, to be a lot more risktaking. I want Indian industry to show that we are going to stand up for India

and build India”, she said at an event organised by CII. Sitharaman has urged states, lenders and industry as the government seeks to spur investment to ensure that the growth momentum continues. Referring to public sector performance, the FM said, “The banking sector has remarkably turned around. They are no more the laggards of the Indian economy. Their NPAs have been drastically brought down, recoveries are on a high... More than £1 billion have been raised from the market and just in

the last three weeks ending Diwali, banks went on a credit outreach programme, more than £7.5 billion have been distributed to four-five different categories...

Liquidity was taken to those who needed for building their business, for buying their scooters or building their homes or for putting it in agriculture.”

The comments come just a day before PM Narendra Modi’s meeting with the lenders.

While crediting industry for playing a role in the turnaround, Sitharaman said that Modi had asked

government departments to identify how life can be made easier for businesses.

At the same time, she also argued for Indian investment on the grounds that the country needed to be Atmanirbhar, or selfreliant. “Unless each one of us makes an effort to make sure that this country stands on its own and be also able to supply to the world, our revival will always be facing a risk,” she said, while pointing to challenges in accessing fuel, chips, containers and shipping lines.

The key to recycling cash

Suresh Vagjiani, Sow & Reap Properties Ltd

I was introduced to a property trader / developer. He had just exchanged on several deals outside of London from someone he knew. The point being this was not a thirdparty transaction.

The properties had been purchased for around £220K each and they would all be refurbished into high standard HMOs, with about £150K being spent on each of them. Therefore, his cost would be around £370K each but the end value is expected at around £550K each.

This means the cost is less than 70% of the end value.

The properties are expected to produce £30K per annum rental, which to me seems a little on the low side.

Back in the day during the pre credit crunch era, one could fund a transaction such as this with no money, on the contrary you could even get cash back from a transaction like this; in essence extracting the discount and turning the equity into hard cash.

Post the credit crunch era, these types of transactions are only to be reminisced at.

Currently, if one purchases a property which is below market value, they would need to wait 6 months before they could take money out on the market value. The mortgage lender would use the purchase price, irrespective of what the property was worth. Previously, if one structured the transaction properly you could get funding based on the open market value, straight away without the need to wait 6 months.

However, when digging around for a suitable lender to place this deal with I came across a lender who surprisingly would lend on the open market value not the purchase price on day one. There are some conditions attached, one being there should be some substantial works to have been done on the property, so not just a lick of paint, which is the case on these deals.

They would require a schedule of works.

This means all these deals can be funded with no money in the transactions, and they would be producing about £15k each cash flow positive. This means the return on the investment is infinity, as there is no investment in the deal. Pre credit crunch when I was writing about these types of deals, there was very little interest given that I was describing how transactions can be funded for free. Many probably believed it was too good to be true.

If you’re a property trader, you don’t want money stuck in deals, you want to be able to keep moving on.

Therefore, this type of product is a Godsend and would allow one to keep building their portfolio, without the standard time lag. Even after writing everything I have, I would not recommend someone who has no funds to structure and execute a transaction such as this. It is not wise to be dependent on the whims of one lender or possibly more so the valuer on the day; as often they are a law on to themselves, with no recourse for the borrower.

The above is to be used as a cherry on the pie, and not as a crutch.

Reliance shares fall following scrapping of Saudi Aramco deal Shares in Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries fell more than 4 per cent after the revelation that the $15bn deal with Saudi Aramco had been Mukesh Ambani called off. RIL said in August 2019 that it had signed a “non-binding letter of intent” to sell 20 per cent of its refinery business to Saudi Aramco at a valuation of about $75bn. But talks stagnated with the onset of the pandemic, which caused turbulence in energy markets and hurt Saudi Aramco’s finances, exacerbating existing reservations within the kingdom about the deal’s high valuation.

Reliance said that the companies had “mutually determined that it would be beneficial for both parties to re-evaluate the proposed investment”. On the first day of trading after the announcement, shares in Reliance fell 4.3 per cent to Rs 2,365 in Mumbai, contributing to one of the worst days for India’s stock market in months. Ambani had continued to suggest that the deal would be finalised, most recently this year, and the two companies had held talks over a potential cash and share deal.

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Amnesty urges Pakistan to end enforced disappearances ISLAMABAD: Human rights group Amnesty International has called on Pakistani authorities to end the use of enforced disappearances as a tool of state policy, as it releases a new briefing documenting the effect of such illegal abductions on the families of those who go missing. The briefing, titled “Living Ghosts”, was released by the United Kingdom-based rights group, and is based on interviews with 10 family members of people “whose fate remains unknown after they were abducted by Pakistan’s security services”.

“Enforced disappearance is a cruel practice that has caused indelible pain to hundreds of families in Pakistan over the past two decades,” said Rehab Amnesty Mahamoor, International’s acting South Asia researcher. “On top of the

untold anguish of losing a loved one and having no idea of their whereabouts or safety, families endure other long-term effects, including ill health and financial problems.”

Enforced disappearances have long been documented by local and international rights groups in Pakistan, and in 2011 the Pakistani government formed a commission of inquiry to document and investigate cases of the disappeared, known in Pakistan as “missing persons”.

Since 2011, the commission has received complaints in at least 8,154 cases, of which 2,274 remain unresolved, according to the commission’s monthly report for September 2021.

In 2020, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), a legal rights group based in Switzerland, said the commission “has wholly failed to address entrenched impunity” and had not held any perpetrators of the crime to justice, even in cases where the whereabouts of the disappeared had been traced or the person had been released. Earlier this month, Pakistan’s lower house of parliament passed a bill that, for the first time in the country’s history, defined and criminalised the

practice of enforced disappearances.

It defined the act as the “illegal and without lawful authority arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by an agent of the State or by person or group of persons acting with the authorisation, support or acquiescence of the State”, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the fate of the disappeared person.

Rights groups, however, have criticised the proposed law – which is still pending passage in parliament’s upper house before it can become law – as not doing enough to hold perpetrators to justice. A controversial section of the law also criminalises “false allegations” of enforced disappearance, subject to five-year imprisonment and a 100,000 Pakistani rupees ($570) fine.

Protests in Pak’s Gwadar amid growing backlash against CPEC KARACHI: Massive protests have erupted in Pakistan’s port city of Gwadar against unnecessary checkpoints, part of a growing backlash in the country against China’s multibillion-dollar belt and road projects. The protests organised by workers of some political parties, civil rights activists, fishermen and concerned citizens have been going on for a week at Y Chowk on Port Road in Gwadar, a coastal town in the restive southwest Balochistan province of Pakistan. The protesters demand the removal of unnecessary security check posts, availability of drinking water and electricity, eviction of big fishing trawlers from

Makran coast and opening of the border with Iran from Panjgur to Gwadar, Jang newspaper reported.

Head of the ‘Give rights to Gwadar’ rally Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman said the protests would continue until their demands are met, asserting that the government has not been sincere in resolving the problems of the local people in the region. Rehman has strongly criticised the government in the past for failing to resolve the basic problems of the people of Gwadar. “We are demanding the rights of Gwadar, which were usurped by the rulers and the people were even deprived of basic

Overseas Pakistanis get voting rights ISLAMABAD: Amid strong protests by the opposition, the Imran Khan-led coalition government in Pakistan managed to bulldoze amendments to the Elections Act, 2017 in the joint session of parliament, thereby allowing the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and granting voting rights to overseas Pakistanis.

In protest, the opposition tore copies of the agenda and staged a walkout, chanting slogans against the PM and his government. The opposition and treasury members almost came to blows when the former tried to stop the proceedings of the joint session. Imran’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is considered to be the sole beneficiary if overseas Pakistanis are able to vote through internet. There are approximately 9 million Pakistanis living outside the country and the incumbent PM is said to very popular among them. The voting turnout of overseas nationals is also believed to be much higher than in Pakistan.

“The new laws were passed to steal the next election,” Jamaat-iIslami chief Sirajul Haq said. At the start of the session, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif, termed EVMs “evil and vicious machines” and accused the government of not being sincere in creating a consensus on electoral reforms. Sharif claimed that the “selected government” wanted to introduce EVMs because it can no longer ask the people for votes. “There are always allegations of rigging during the elections. This is the first time in history that there are allegations of rigging before the elections,” he said.

Pakistan Peoples Party chief Bilwal Bhutto Zardari said it was the first time in the history of Pakistan that a government tried to bring “unilateral” electoral reforms. Speaking about the EVM, he said even the Election Commission of Pakistan has rejected it after raising serious objections over the machine. He said the PPP will challenge the new laws in the Supreme Court. The ECP had earlier referred to various issues with the use of EVM, including lack of ballot secrecy, lack of capacity at all levels and lack of ensuring security and chain of custody for the machines. It also said that there would be no evidence available in case of poll dispute.

needs. The protests are part of growing discontent with China’s presence in Gwadar. The port is an integral part of the $60 billion CPEC, the flagship project of China’s multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative. India has protested to China over the CPEC as it traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Gwadar port has long been portrayed as the jewel in the CPEC crown, but in the process, the city has become the very embodiment of a security state. The authorities’ priorities are geared towards secur-

ing the port and its ancillary interests; the welfare of those for whom the area is home counts for little. Existing privations have deepened; people’s mobility is restricted by security forces and there is unwarranted questioning of their activities. Many say they are made to feel like strangers in their own land.

New Pak law allows chemical castration of serial rapists ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has introduced chemical castration as a possible punishment for serial rapists under a law that also calls for faster trials of suspected sexual offenders, a government official said. Parliament passed the law last week and it came into effect immediately, government official Waqar Hussain said.

Chemical castration, carried out by the use of drugs and reversible, is practised in Poland, South Korea, the Czech Republic and some US states.

PM Imran Khan said last year he wanted to introduce the penalty amid a national outcry over increasing offences and the specific case of a mother of two driving along a major highway who was dragged out of her car and raped by two men at gunpoint. Fewer than 3% of rapists are convicted in courts in Pakistan, according to the nonprofit organisation, War Against Rape. Amnesty International has called for investigations into the causes of sexual assaults instead of opting for harsher punishments.

The passage of the bill comes

almost a year after President Arif Alvi approved the new anti-rape ordinance that was cleared by the Pakistan cabinet, calling for the chemical castration of rapists with the consent of the convict and setting up of special courts for speedy trails. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2021 bill was passed along with 33 other bills by the joint session of parliament. It seeks to amend the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, the Dawn newspaper reported. “Chemical castration is a process duly notified by rules framed by the prime minister, whereby a person is rendered incapable of performing sexual intercourse for any period of his life, as may be determined by the court through administration of drugs which shall be conducted through a notified medical board,” according to the bill.

Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed protested over the bill and termed it un-Islamic and against Sharia. He said a rapist should be hanged publicly, but there was no mention of castration in Sharia.

in brief RADICAL PAK LEADER BEHIND TOON PROTESTS FREED Pakistan freed a hardline Islamist leader after removing his name from a terrorism watch list under a deal to end weeks of deadly protests by his followers. Saad Hussain Rizvi, the chief of Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) was released from a jail, a government spokesman said. The release came two weeks after the government agreed to free over 2,000 detained members of the TLP movement, lifted a ban on the group and agreed to let it contest elections. In return, the TLP would shun the politics of violence and withdraw a demand to have France's ambassador expelled over the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad by a French magazine. The TLP took to the streets in mid-October, kicking off weeks of protests and clashes that killed at least seven policemen and injured scores of others. Earlier, the government had designated the TLP as a terrorist group and arrested Rizvi amid violent protests earlier this year.

TWO BLASTS HIT KABUL’S SHIA AREAS Two explosions hit the Afghan capital Kabul, killing at least one person and wounding at least six, including three women, Taliban officials and residents said. There was no confirmation of casualty numbers and one Taliban official said seven people had been killed and nine wounded. A second explosion was also reported in the nearby Karte 3 area, local residents said. A Taliban official said security forces were still gathering information.

Images posted on social media showed a car destroyed by flames as well as twisted wreckage. The explosions added to a series of blasts to hit Kabul in recent days, with Shia areas in the west of the city targeted several times. There was no claim of responsibility but Islamic State militants have claimed several attacks on Shia targets including mosques.

Mohammad Nabi, a resident of Dashti Barchi, said it appeared that the second explosion had also caused casualties but there were no immediate details.

TIANANMEN VIGIL LEADER INVOKES GANDHI A leading Hong Kong democracy activist facing jail invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s civil disobedience campaign in court as he gave a defiant speech defending his decision to take part in a banned Tiananmen vigil. Lee Cheuk-yan is one of eight pro-democracy figures on trial for joining a vigil last year which had been banned by Hong Kong police for the first time in 31 years, citing the coronavirus and security fears. Five defendants, including Lee, have pleaded guilty to joining an “unauthorised assembly”. At the sentencing hearing, Lee compared Hong Kong’s democracy movement to India’s struggle for freedom from colonial Britain. “We are all followers of Gandhi’s idea of non-violent struggle, hoping to bring democratic reforms to Hong Kong,” he said, occasionally choking back sobs.

CAR RAMS XMAS PARADE IN US, 5 KILLED A speeding SUV plowed into dozens of people, including children, during a Christmas parade in a small Wisconsin city on Sunday, leaving a scene of chaos and carnage in its wake, with at least five people killed and 40 injured. Police chief Dan Thompson told reporters that one person was in custody and a sport utility vehicle had been recovered after the incident in Waukesha, about 32 km west of Milwaukee.

The number of dead and injured could change, authorities said. The suspect appeared to be fleeing another incident when the vehicle sped through the parade route. Although the investigation was in its early stages, authorities have found no connection to terrorism, the sources said. The incident also appeared to be unrelated to Friday’s not-guilty verdict in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse.

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in brief FRANCE, RUSSIA IN TUSSLE OVER ‘CHAMPAGNE’ France and Russia have been in a fight over which of the two nations get to call the champagne so, ever since France’s champagne group laid down a new Russian law that forces foreign producers to add a ‘sparkling wine’ reference to their bottles of champagne. Home of the original champagne, France jealously guards its right to use the term and has been in talks with Moscow about a law signed by President Vladimir Putin in July that bars French champagne producers from using the word on their bottles sold in Russia. France’s Trade Minister Franck Riester is “quite optimistic” that a resolution could be found to a dispute with Russia over labeling champagne bottles. In late October, Paris obtained a two-month delay in implementing the rule, which specifically forbids the use of the Russian translation of champagne ‘Shampanskoe’ - on imported bottles.

US SEES RUSSIAN 'INVASION' OF UKRAINE US intelligence officials are warning allies that there is a short window of time to prevent Russia from taking military action in Ukraine, pushing European countries to work with the US to develop a package of economic and military measures to deter Russia, according to US and European officials. Russia has not yet decided what it intends to do with the troops it has amassed near Ukraine, US officials said, but the buildup is being taken seriously and the US is not assuming it is a bluff. Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence, travelled to Brussels this week to brief Nato ambassadors about US intelligence on the situation and a possible Russian military intervention in Ukraine.

US TEEN SHOOTER ACQUITTED OF MURDER Kyle Rittenhouse’s acquittal on murder charges opened yet another front in America’s longstanding fight over gun rights: Is it acceptable for a teenager to bring an assault-style rifle to a protest?

Conservatives hailed Rittenhouse as a hero for exercising his right to self-defence when he fatally shot two demonstrators and wounded a third who he said attacked him last year at a racial justice protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Gun control advocates warned the jury’s verdict could inspire a new wave of armed vigilantism, after Rittenhouse travelled in August 2020 from his Illinois home to Kenosha after protests erupted following the police shooting of a black man, Jacob Blake.

GOOGLE SIGNS DEAL TO PAY FOR NEWS FROM AFP Alphabet Inc’s Google will begin paying Agence France-Presse for its news content as part of a five-year partnership that marks one of the biggest licensing deals struck by a tech giant under a new French law. News organisations, which have been losing ad revenue to online aggregators such as Google and Facebook, have complained for years about the tech companies using stories in search results without payment.

New laws in France and Australia have given publishers greater leverage, leading to a slew of licensing deals around the world collectively worth billions of dollars. The AFP accord follows France enacting a copyright law that creates “neighbouring rights,” requiring big tech companies to open talks with news publishers that want a licensing payment. Google declined to disclose financial terms of the deal, but confirmed it would run for five years. The companies said that they also will collaborate on projects, such as fact checking.

Uganda police kill five suspects following twin attacks KAMPALA: The Ugandan police have shot dead five suspects and arrested 21 people, officials said, following twin suicide bombings claimed by an ISIL (ISIS) affiliate that killed three people. Counterterrorism officers killed “four suspected terrorists in Ntoroko who were crossing back to DRC”, police spokesman Fred Enanga said.

A fifth man, Sheikh Abas Muhamed Kirevu, was killed near the capital as he tried to escape arrest, Enanga said, adding that Kirevu was a local Islamic leader who was “responsible for reawakening the terror cells in Kampala”.

Police also arrested 21 suspects as part of a crackdown on the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group active in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo that the

United States has linked to ISIL. The ADF, historically an Ugandan rebel group, has been accused of killing thousands of civilians in the eastern DRC. The recent explosions in the capital Kampala occurred within minutes of each other, with two suicide bombers on motorbikes disguised as “boda boda” motorcycle taxi drivers detonating a device near par-

liament, while a third attacker targeted a checkpoint near the central police station.

The twin attacks, which killed at least three people and injured 33 others, were the latest in a string of attacks in the East African country. ADF claimed responsibility for a bomb packed with nails and shrapnel that exploded near a popular street-side restau-

rant strip in Kawempe division in Kampala last month.

The group has long been opposed to the rule of longtime President Yoweri Museveni, a US security ally who was the first African leader to deploy peacekeepers in Somalia to protect the federal government from the alShabab armed group. Police arrested a number of suspected ADF operatives following the incident and warned that others were believed to be plotting a new attack on “major installations”.

Washington in March linked the ADF to the ISIL, which in 2019 began to claim some ADF attacks on social media, presenting the group as its regional branch – the Islamic State Central Africa Province, or ISCAP.

Maldives rejects ‘India Out’ campaign, describes India as ‘closest ally’ MALE: The Maldives government rejected what it said were attempts to spread “false information” through social media using the “India Out” slogan, and described India as the country’s “closest ally and trusted neighbour”.

The government in Male issued a statement in response to a fresh campaign in the media and social media that alleged cooperation between the governments of the two countries is undermining the national security and sovereignty of the Maldives.

The statement said the strong relationship between the Maldives and India is based on

shared historical and cultural ties and matched by dynamic people-to-people contacts.

“India has always been the Maldives’ closest ally and trusted neighbour, extending constant and consistent support to the people of Maldives on all fronts,” it said.

Though the statement did not name anybody, it is believed opposition parties and a section of the media in the Maldives have been engaged in renewed efforts to whip up anti-India sentiments. The “India Out” slogan was first used on social media platforms last year.

Recent media reports, especially in Dhiyares and its sister

newspaper The Maldives Journal, have sought to create an impression that India is seeking to establish a military presence in the Maldives through ongoing security cooperation.

The Maldives government’s statement coincided with the new Indian high commissioner, Munu Mahawar, presenting his credentials to President Ibrahim Solih at an official ceremony.

Solih “highlighted that the Maldives and India share a special relationship and that no third nation can take India’s place”, according to a readout from the president’s office.

Solih and the Indian envoy

IMF revives $6bn bailout for Pak economy ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it had agreed with Pakistan on measures needed to revive a stalled $6bn funding programme for the South Asian country, which faces growing economic challenges. “The Pakistani authorities and IMF staff have reached a staff-level agreement on policies and reforms needed to complete the sixth review,” the IMF said in a statement.

Pakistan had been in talks with the IMF for several months to seek a relaxation in the terms and conditions of the package. Its government bonds jumped between 1.3 and 2.8 cents on the United States dollar on the news of an agreement, and were on course for their best day in over a year.

“The agreement is subject to approval by the Executive Board, following the implementation of prior actions, notably on fiscal and institutional reforms,” the IMF said. The completion of the review, pending since earlier this year, would make available 750 million in IMF special drawing rights, or around $1bn, bringing total disbursements so far to about $3bn, the statement said.

Pakistan will ensure legislation is passed on central bank autonomy as agreed with the IMF, said Finance Adviser Shaukat Tarin, who is equivalent to the country’s finance minister. “God willing, we will get it passed,” he said. “We believe that the state bank … should be independent in monetary policy

and exchange rate.”

Pakistan’s government has a simple majority in parliament to pass the law.

Tarin also pledged the take another four actions as agreed before the fund’s board meets to consider whether to approve the issue of the latest tranche.

Those actions are: withdrawal of tax exemptions and subsidies, an increase in the petroleum levy, higher energy tariffs and an audit of some $1.4bn in extra funds lent to Pakistan in April 2020 to help it weather the Covid-19 pandemic.

“They have asked for it, and we have to do it,” Tarin told a news conference, referring to the audit. Pakistan entered the $6bn, 39month funding programme with the IMF in July 2019, but the funding stalled earlier this year due to issues over the required reforms.

Despite a difficult environment, progress continues to be made in implementing the programme, the IMF said. “All quantitative performance criteria (PCs) for end-June were met with wide margins, except for that on the primary budget deficit,” it said.

Pakistan has been grappling with a historical currency devaluation, high inflation, a current account deficit and dwindling foreign reserves – and the talks between the government and the IMF had added to investor nerves.

“This will remove [a] lot of uncertainties,” a finance ministry spokesman said of the agreement with the fund.

spoke about strengthening bilateral relations, especially in security cooperation, socio-economic development and climate change.

The Maldives government’s statement said cooperation and support provided by India, specifically on issues of maritime security, is “aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries and to ensure the safety and stability of the Indian Ocean region”.

Myanmar junta charges Suu Kyi with fraud during 2020 polls NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar's junta has charged ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi with electoral fraud during 2020 polls that her party won in a landslide, state media reported. Suu Kyi was accused of "election fraud and lawless actions", state-run newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar reported, without giving details on when court proceedings would begin.

Fifteen other officials - including former president Win Myint and the chairman of the election commission - faced the same charge, the report added. Myanmar has been in turmoil since a military coup in February sparked nationwide protests and a deadly crackdown on dissent.

Detained since the putsch, Suu Kyi, 76, faces a raft of charges including illegally importing walkie talkies, sedition and corruption, and faces decades in jail if convicted. She is already on trial for flouting coronavirus restrictions while campaigning ahead of the election, in which her National League for Democracy party (NLD) trounced a military-aligned party.

The junta has threatened to dissolve the NLD and last month jailed Win Htein, a close Suu Kyi aide and high-ranking leader, to 20 years on treason charges. More than 1,250 people have been killed by Myanmar junta security forces since the coup and over 10,000 arrested, according to a local monitoring group.

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US gets its first ever woman and Indianorigin acting president Kamala Harris held US presidency for 1 hour 25 mins WASHINGTON: Vice President Kamala Harris held presidential powers for a total of one hour and 25 minutes while President Joe Biden was under anesthetic, the White House said. The White House press office said that official letters to Congress declaring the temporary transfer of power were sent at 10:10 am (1510 GMT). "The president resumed his duties at 11:35 am," (1635 GMT), the White House said in a statement.

Meanwhile, White House physician Dr Kevin O’Conner gave a clean bill of health to Biden after a detailed physical examination, including a colonoscopy procedure that required anaesthesia. President Biden remains a healthy, vigorous, 78-year-old male, who

Kamala Harris

is fit to successfully execute the duties of the presidency,” O’Connor wrote in a six-page summary of the visit, in which he noted only two mildly discordant notes: the increasing frequency and severity of Biden’s “throat clearing” during speeches, and his worsening gait, both of which he said merited a more detailed

investigation.

The throat clearing, O’Connor noted, came from occasional symptoms of “gastroesophageal reflux” the president experienced, and although the episodes have been more frequent and more pronounced, the medical exam found no signs of tumors or polyps and his vocal cords looked and worked normally.

Biden’s stiffened gait, he suggested, could be a result of degenerative “wear and tear” on his spine, aggravated by a foot fracture that occurred last year when he was playing with his dog.

But overall the exam showed

the president’s health to be “fundamentally unchanged” from where it’s been previously, the doctor said. “An extremely detailed neurologic exam was reassuring in that there were no findings which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or ascending lateral sclerosis,” he wrote. The open and transparent medical results, which is customary for the US presidents, came even as right-wing conspiracy theorists worked themselves into a frenzy over Biden briefly ceding power to vice-president Kamala Harris, making her the first woman in US history to serve as commander-in-chief.

Huge protests across Europe over new Covid restrictions BRUSSELS: Tens of thousands of people have been marching in the Belgian capital, Brussels, to protest against anti-Covid measures. Some protesters threw fireworks at police officers, who intervened with tear gas and water cannon.

Demonstrators are mainly opposed to the use of Covid passes, which stops the unvaccinated from entering venues such as restaurants or bars.

This comes after fresh protests in the Netherlands against new lockdown rules.

Last week, people hurled fireworks at police and set fire to bicycles in The Hague, one night after protests in Rotterdam turned violent and police fired gunshots.

Thousands of demonstrators also took to the streets in Austria, Croatia and Italy as anger mounted over new curbs.

In Belgium, rules on face masks have been tightened,

including in places such as restaurants where Covid passes are already required, and most Belgians will also have to work from home four days a week until mid-December. There are also plans to make vaccinations for health workers compulsory.

Earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it was "very worried" about rising coronavirus cases on the continent. Its regional director, Dr Hans Kluge said that unless

US adds Russia, China and Pak to religious freedom blacklist WASHINGTON: The United States added Russia to a blacklist of countries singled out for “egregious violations of religious freedom,” the state department said. US secretary of state Antony Blinken said in a statement that he was designating Russia, as well as China and eight other states, as countries of concern “for having engaged in or tolerated ‘systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom’.”

Nigeria, which was on the list last year and where Blinken is due to visit this week, was removed. The other countries still on the US list for “religious freedom violations” are Myanmar, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Algeria, Comoros, Cuba and Nicaragua were placed on a watch list.

“The United States will not waiver in its commitment to advocate for freedom of religion or belief for all and in every country,” Blinken said. “In far too many places around the world, we continue to see governments harass, arrest, threaten, jail, and kill individuals simply for seeking to live their lives in accordance with their beliefs.” Blinken on Wednesday began a three-nation tour of Africa, warning of rising threats to democracy on the continent. His visit began in Kenya and will also include Senegal, as he stresses a new US commitment to Africa.

measures were tightened across Europe, half a million more deaths could be recorded by next spring. "Covid-19 has become once again the number one cause of mortality in our region," he said, adding "we know what needs to be done" in order to fight the virus - such as getting vaccinated, wearing masks, and using Covid passes.

Many governments across the continent are bringing in new restrictions to try to tackle

rising infections. A number of countries have recently reported record-high daily case numbers.

Tens of thousands of people protested in Austria's capital, Vienna, after the government announced a new national lockdown and plans to make jabs compulsory in February 2022. It is the first European country to make vaccination a legal requirement.

In Croatia, thousands marched in the capital, Zagreb, to show their anger at mandatory vaccinations for public sector workers, while in Italy, a few thousand protesters gathered at the ancient Circus Maximus chariot-racing ground in Rome to oppose "Green Pass" certificates required at workplaces, venues and on public transport.

French authorities are sending dozens more police officers to quell unrest on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, a French overseas department.

US plans to spend billions to increase Covid vax supplies WASHINGTON: The White House, under pressure from activists to increase the supply of coronavirus vaccines to poor nations, is prepared to invest billions of dollars to expand US manufacturing capacity, with the goal of producing at least 1 billion doses a year beginning in the second half of 2022, two top advisers to President Joe Biden said.

The investment is the first step in a new plan for the government to partner with industry to address immediate vaccine needs overseas and domestically and to prepare for future pandemics, said Dr. David Kessler, who oversees vaccine distribution for the administration, and Jeff Zients, Biden’s Covid response coordinator. “This is about assuring expanded capacity against variants and also preparing for next pandemic,” Kessler said. “The goal, in the case of a future pandemic, a future virus, is to have vaccine capability within six to nine months of identification of that pandemic pathogen, and to have enough vaccines for all Americans.”

The idea for the new public-private partnership is still in its early stages and the price tag is uncertain. Kessler, who has been working on the proposal for months, estimated it at “several billion.” The money has been set aside as part of the American

Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package Biden signed into law in March. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency intends to issue a “request for information” to solicit ideas from companies that have experience manufacturing vaccines using mRNA technology. Zients said officials wanted responses “in a very short period of time, 30 days, to understand how most efficiently, effectively and reliably we can increase manufacturing.” Activists, many of them veterans of the AIDS epidemic, have been demanding for months that Biden do more to scale up global vaccine manufacturing capacity. Some, furious with what they regard as slow progress, turned up at the home of Ron Klain, Biden’s chief of staff, in September and deposited a fake mountain of bones on the sidewalk. Whether the Biden plan will satisfy the critics is unclear. Many activists have demanded that the administration build up manufacturing capacity overseas, particularly in Africa, but the Biden plan is focused on building capacity among domestic vaccine-makers.

“This effort is specifically aimed at building US domestic capacity,” Kessler said. “But that capacity is important not only for the US supply, but for global supply.”

in brief ELEPHANT DIES AFTER TRUNK GETS CAUGHT IN TRAP A critically endangered Sumatran baby elephant has died after losing half of its trunk in a poacher’s trap. The one-year-old calf succumbed to a severe infection, two days after it was found by villagers in Aceh Jaya and despite subsequent efforts to save its life by amputating the rest of its injured trunk. “We couldn’t save it because the injury was severe and infected,” Agus Arianto, head of the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency, said.

Rampant deforestation has reduced the elephants’ habitat and brought them into increasing conflict with humans, while their tusks are prized in the illegal wildlife trade.

MISSING CHINESE TENNIS STAR APPEARS IN PUBLIC Missing tennis star Peng Shuai reappeared in public on Sunday at a youth tournament in Beijing, according to photos released by the organiser, as the ruling Communist Party tried to quell fears abroad while suppressing information in China about Peng after she accused a senior leader of sexual assault. The post by the China Open on the Weibo social media service made no mention of Peng’s disappearance or her accusation. The threetime Olympian and former Wimbledon champion was shown standing beside a court, waving and signing oversize commemorative tennis balls for children. The ruling party appears to be trying to defuse alarm about Peng without acknowledging her disappearance after she on November 2 accused Zhang Gaoli, a member of the party’s ruling Standing Committee until 2018, of forcing her to have sex.

BIDEN PLANNING DIPLOMATIC BOYCOTT OF BEIJING OLYMPICS President Joe Biden said he was considering a US diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, in what would be an attempt to show toughness over China’s rights abuses without impacting US athletes.

That is “something we are considering,” Biden told reporters while meeting with Canada PM Justin Trudeau, at the White House. The Beijing Olympics takes place next February.

Biden’s comments followed a video summit with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping last week, during which the two leaders said they wanted to ensure stability and prevent accidental conflicts. Biden is under pressure at home to speak out on China’s human rights abuses, especially in the Xinjiang region. China’s foreign ministry brushed off the rights accusations as “inconsistent with the truth and completely groundless”, calling Washington’s claims a “joke in the eyes of Chinese people”.

DR CONGO PRESIDENT ORDERS MINING LICENCES AUDIT Felix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has demanded a ban on issuing and trading mining permits until the country’s mining registry has been audited, a measure aimed at combating fraud within the sector. Tshisekedi told ministers he wanted to end the squandering of mining assets by unnamed political actors and officials involved in the administration of the mining register, which records mining concessions. The move is an escalation of Tshisekedi’s continuing review of deals struck by his predecessor Joseph Kabila, which includes a $6bn “infrastructure-for-minerals” deal with Chinese investors. The DRC is the world’s top producer of cobalt and Africa’s biggest copper producer, but more than 70 per cent of its roughly 100 million people live on less than $1.90 per day, according to the World Bank. Transparency activists have estimated the DRC has lost out on billions of dollars of revenue from mining deals over the past two decades.

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India resumes vaccine exports after 8 months Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal and Iran have been the first recipients of resumed vaccine exports from India almost eight months after they were halted due to rising cases of Covid. The Centre had stopped vaccine exports as the brutal second wave hit India in April-May this year. Its only after India had administered close to a billion doses of vaccines did the government relax restrictions.

Commercial contracts were also kept in abeyance as production was procured for domestic use. India resumed its exports to the Covax facility with the first lot of doses landing in African countries. Adar Poonawalla, chief of Serum Institute of India, was quoted by Axios news website as saying that by this week, he expected Covishield doses to land in African

countries.

"I think by the tenth of November you're gonna see the first - if not a bit sooner - you're gonna see the first doses arrive in Africa," Poonawalla told Axios.

Once shipments begin, Poonawalla said around 30 million doses per month could be supplied to COVAX. India now has a long list of vaccines - Covavax, Corbevax,

Gujarat eases rules for ex-gratia payment to kin of Covid victims Two days after the Supreme Court took the state government to task over “trying to overreach its directions” on the disbursement of compensation to the kin of Covid-19, the government of Gujarat issued two notifications for ease of disbursing Rs 50,000 ex gratia for Covid deaths.

Significantly, the notification by health & family welfare department clearly stated that in cases where Covid-19 is established as cause of death either through death certificate or positive RTPCR or other tests before 30 days of death would be termed death due to Covid. If there are any discrepancies, the Covid-19 Death Ascertaining Committee (CDAC) would approach the respective hospital to expedite the process to obtain required documents.

Another notification by revenue department stated that the Rs 50,000 compensation would be disbursed from the State Disaster Relief Fund.

As per the notification, district collectors are appointed as nodal officers for the process who are mandated to complete the process within 30 days of receipt of the application.

Last week, the SC bench of Justice M R Shah and Justice B V Nagarathna ordered the Gujarat government to simplify its procedure for disbursal of compensation among the Covid-affected families. The bench had sought response from the state authorities by November 22. The directive had asked the government ‘to take remedial steps and come out with a clear and simplified formula/notification so that the amount of compensation as ordered by this court is paid to the victim at the earliest and without any further harassment.’ The SC had frowned upon the state government's October 29 notification to form a Covid-19 death ascertaining committee (CDAC) at municipal corporation and district levels.

The powers to ascertain whether a person died due to Covid-19 infection were given to the registrar of birth and death at respective units (municipal corporation/municipality/village panchayat). The committee’s certificate was a prerequisite to proceed further for the compensation even as the state government had not clarified the amount or modalities.

The SC had asked the state authorities to adhere to its directives on October 4 and had warned that any deviation would be viewed very seriously. The court was upset with the state government forming a scrutiny committee for issuing death certificates,

which has made the affected families run from pillar to post. According to official figures, the state has so far recorded the death of 10,091 persons during the pandemic, whereas some quarters of public health experts believe that the number could be much more.

ZyCovD, Gennova’s mRNA vaccine - at various stages of regulatory approval. The first 50 million doses of SII produced Covavax will make its way to Indonesia this week though the vaccine is yet to be greenlighted by India’s DCGI, the WHO or the US FDA. While the government is focusing on getting more Indians covered by the second jab, it’s clear that supplies are no longer a constraint. Vaccine manufacturers are chomping at the bit, because they need to go out to the world with their exports.

Covishield, Covaxin recognised by 110 nations As of now as many as 110 countries have recognised India’s Covid-19 vaccines - Covishield and Covaxin - and have agreed to mutual recognition of Covid-19

vaccination certificates with India, said official sources in the Union health ministry.

A source with the Ministry said that at present, 110 countries have agreed to mutual recognition of vaccination certificates and those who recognise Indian vaccination certificates of travellers fully vaccinated with Covishield or World Health Organisation(WHO)approved Covid vaccines.

As per the new travel guidelines issued by the union health ministry, if a fully vaccinated traveller is coming from a country with which India has reciprocal arrangements for mutual acceptance of WHO-approved Covid-19 vaccines, they will be allowed to leave the airport and must self-monitor their health for 14 days’ post arrival.

Man declared dead found alive after spending night in morgue freezer A man who was pronounced dead after being hit by a motorbike was found alive in a morgue in Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) hospital after spending the night inside a freezer.

Srikesh Kumar was found in a critical condition after the collision in Moradabad.

He was then rushed to a private hospital where he was declared dead by a doctor on arrival.

Chief medical superintendent of Moradabad Dr Shiv Singh said: “The emergency medical officer had seen the patient at 3 am and there was no heartbeat. He had examined the man

multiple times.”

Kumar’s body was then taken to a government medical facility for a postmortem examination. The 45-year-old was placed inside the morgue freezer, where he remained overnight before the arrival of his family members six hours later. According to reports, a document was signed by his family agreeing to an autopsy after they identified his body. But his sister-in-law Madhu Bala noticed Kumar was showing signs of movement.

She can be heard saying in a video that has gone viral on social media: “He’s

not at all dead. How did this happen?” Rajendra Kumar, the hospital’s medical superintendent, said: “The emergency medical officer examined him. He did not find any signs of life and hence declared him dead.

When a police team and his family came over to initiate the paperwork for the autopsy, he was found alive.

This is nothing short of a miracle.”

He added that Kumar was still receiving treatment following the incident and remains in coma. The doctors mistake in declaring him dead is reportedly under investigation.

No ‘positive evidence’ against Aryan Khan in drugs case: HC There is no evidence of a conspiracy between Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha, arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) last month, to commit drug-related offences and nothing objectionable was found in the WhatsApp conversations between them, the Bombay high court said.

The court granted bail to Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, Merchant and Dhamecha in connection with the cruise ship drugs case on October 28 and the order was only released on Saturday.

“Having regard to the material brought on record by the Respondent on the issue of conspiracy, this Court prima facie has not noticed any positive evidence against the applicants on the said issue,” Justice Nitin Sambre said in the 14page order, according to Bar and Bench.

“This Court is of the opinion that the claim put forth by the respondent that applicants should be considered to have intention to commit an offence under the NDPS Act (Narcotic

Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act), having found in possession of commercial quantity, in the backdrop of case of hatching conspiracy is liable to be rejected," Sambre also said in the order.

The judge said that just because the accused were travelling on the cruise cannot be a ground to invoke the offence of Section 29 against the accused.

"This court is required to be sensitive to fact that there has to be presence of basic material in the form of evidence so as to substantiate the case of conspiracy against the applicants," the judge added.

No drug was found in Aryan Khan's possession while

the quantity recovered from Merchant and Dhamecha were 'small' under the NDPS Act, the court noted. But there was no such material, the judge held.

The NCB has alleged it seized 13 grams of cocaine, 5 grams of mephedrone MD, 21 grams of charas and 22 pills of MDMA ecstasy after its raid on the cruise ship.

The Bombay HC judge also observed that the WhatsApp chats of Aryan Khan did not have anything objectionable to suggest that he conspired to commit offences under the NDPS act. "After having gone through the Whats-App chats extracted from Applicant/Accused no. 1’s

(Khan) phone, nothing objectionable could be noticed to suggest that Applicant nos. 1 & 2 (Merchant) or all three applicants alongwith other accused persons in agreement have meeting of minds and have hatched conspiracy committing the offence in question," the order said.

"Rather the investigation carried out till this date suggests that applicant/accused nos. 1 & 2 (Khan and Merchant) were travelling independent of applicant/accused no.

3 (Dhamecha) and there was no meeting of minds on the aforesaid issue.”

Aryan Khan's bail application was rejected by additional chief metropolitan magistrate RM Nerlikar, saying that it was not maintainable as only the special court of sessions was entitled to hear the plea. Aryan Khan then moved the special court under the NDPS act seeking bail, which was also rejected on October 20. He then moved the high court, which granted him bail on October 28 under several conditons. Aryan Khan and others were then released from jail on October 30.

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SOUTH INDIA

Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu battle rain fury CHENNAI: Incessant heavy rains in parts of South India have left the region battered by flooding and water-logging at several places in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Andhra Pradesh has reported 41 deaths in rainrelated incidents. Twelve others were reported missing. The fresh worry for the people in the region is that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of more rainfall over the next few days.

The IMD said widespread light to moderate rainfall was expected in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry over the next 5 days.

The flood situation in Andhra Pradesh continued to be grim with arterial roads cut off even as the death toll increased to 41 with 12 more deaths reported on Sunday. Train and bus services remained affected while many villages and towns in Rayalaseema and Nellore district remained under water.

Streams, rivulets and village tanks were full to the brim and a few of them were overflowing causing concern to people living

in low-lying areas. On Sunday, six more bodies were retrieved in Rajampet mandal and two bodies in Chinnamandem mandal of Kadapa district, while four deaths were reported in Nellore district.

Officials said 15 bodies were handed over to the families.

Three unidentified bodies are lying at Rajampet government hospital in Kadapa district. The road bridge connecting KadapaTadipatri towns along the Papagni river collapsed due to the impact of flood in the early hours on Sunday.

Rail and road connectivity to the temple city of Tirupati remained cut off with the closure of Kadapa-Tirupati highway, Nellore-Tirupati highway, and BengaluruTirupati highway. Nearly 2,000 devotees, who boarded the

Tirumala Express to reach Tirupati, were dropped off at Kadapa railway station, sparking off protests.

Officials later arranged special buses and shifted them to Tirupati.

All arterial roads linking Tirupati with Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Vijayawada were affected. Even main railway route the connecting the temple city was affected forcing the authorities to cancel dozens of train services.

In Karnataka, people heaved a sigh of relief as rains took a break on Sunday. According to a report, 24 people have lost their lives in Karnataka in rain-related incidents. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai chaired a high-level meeting to review the rain and flood situation in the state. A state government report said Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Tumkuru, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagara and Hassan were the most affected districts in Karnataka.

In Tamil Nadu, heavy rainfall has led to flooding in parts of Villupuram and Cuddalore districts where Thenpennai river is overflowing. Three people were reported to have died in Krishnagiri and Tiruvannamalai districts of Tamil Nadu in rainrelated incidents. Huge swathes of land have come under flood water in Villupuram.

The National Highway-16 that connects Chennai and Kolkata has come under floodwater dividing the highway into two units at Nellore. Local reports say Nellore has not seen such flooding in the past 30 years. In Kerala, parts of Pathanamthitta district received heavy rainfall posing a threat to Sabarimala pilgrimage. The IMD has predicted more rainfall in Kerala till Thursday. Yellow alert has been issued for several districts of Kerala.

The IMD has predicted that Telangana will also receive light to moderate rain or thundershowers. The weather department said the affected areas of Telangana might see a surface wind speed of around 15kmph.

PUNJAB

BJP slams Sidhu for reported ‘bada bhai’ address for Imran NEW DELHI: BJP hit out at Congress after its Punjab president Navjot Singh Sidhu reportedly called Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan his "elder brother" during a trip to Kartarpur Sahib, alleging the opposition party sees terror groups like IS and Boko Haram in Hindutva and finds a "bhai jaan" in Khan.

A purported video of Sidhu being welcomed by a Pakistani official on behalf of Khan has gone viral in which the Congress leader is heard saying Khan was like a "bada bhai" to him and that he loved him a lot.

It is a serious matter of concern for India, BJP spokesperson

Sambit Patra said as the ruling party seized on the issue to target Congress.

He claimed that there was a larger design at work, and Sidhu's comments were linked to a number of Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, criticising Hindutva.

Referring to Congress leader Salman Khurshid's statement in his latest book, Patra said the opposition party sees terror groups such as ISIS and the Boko Haram in Hindutva while it finds a "bhai jaan" in Khan.

It is being done for appeasement politics as Congress still believes that there is a section in India which will

be happy with praise for Pakistan. There are no such people in India though, Patra added. He noted that Sidhu had praised Khan and Pakistan earlier too and Navjot Singh Sidhu hugged its army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa during security, and he had borrowed an earlier trip to the the term from Rahul Gandhi, neighbouring country. the BJP leader alleged. To a Noting that Punjab is a question about Congress leader border state where Pakistan Priyanka Gandhi writing a letter tries to foment troubles, Patra to Prime Minister Narendra said it needs a mature and Modi on the farmers' issue, patriotic leadership. Sidhu is Patra shot back and asked if she not right for India and Punjab also considers Khan an elder deserves better than him, he brother like Sidhu as she had in said. Pakistan's foreign minister the past called the Punjab leader had recently described her brother.

Hindutva as a threat to global

WEST BENGAL

Bengal govt launches ration at doorstep scheme KOLKATA: The Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal launched the ‘Duare Ration’ (ration at doorstep) scheme which the administration said will benefit around 10 crores of people of the state.

“This Duare Ration scheme will help 100 million people of the state. I will request all the ration dealers to make it a success,” Mamata said while launching the scheme and flagging off vehicles that would deliver the ration. Earlier, the Kejriwal government in Delhi decided to launch a similar ration delivery scheme from March 25 this year. The Union food and consumer affairs ministry, however, raised objections.

Mamata Banerjee

The ‘Duare Ration’ scheme is one of the many pet projects of Mamata and was announced ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections earlier this year. A section of dealers had moved the Calcutta High Court against the scheme but their plea was junked.

“Some are moving court while others are creating obstacles. Don’t do this. No one should create any disturbance else the food supply department would have to step in. Ensure its success,” Mamata told ration dealers.

There are around 21,000

rational dealers in the state. The government would provide a subsidy of Rs 100,000 to each dealer to purchase a delivery vehicle. The government also allowed ration dealers to recruit two assistants. The state would pay half their salaries. Each vehicle would be parked at a convenient location in a neighbourhood so that residents need not walk more than 500 metres to avail the ration.

At the programme, Mamata also inaugurated a WhatsApp chatbot for the Food and Supplies Department of the state government and a mobile application, ‘Khadya Sathi: Amar Ration Mobile App’ to help people apply for ration cards and get information about how to do it.

in brief FREE HEALTH COVER FOR TN ROAD ACCIDENT VICTIMS Victims of road accidents in Tamil Nadu, including those from other states and countries, will be offered a health cover for up to Rs 100,000 for 81 life saving procedures required within the first 48 hours of accident at 609 empanelled government and private hospitals, the state government said. The scheme will be offered to all road accident victims for a year. It will be dovetailed with the chief minister’s health insurance scheme after the annual review. “These procedures are not included in the state insurance scheme as of now. We will review the spending for a year before we add this to the state insurance scheme,” said a senior official.

NAIDU WALKS OUT OF ANDHRA ASSEMBLY Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu broke down as he walked out of the state assembly vowing not to re-enter the House for the rest of its term over the abusive comments by ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) members allegedly made about his wife. “I will not attend this assembly hereafter. I will return to the House only after becoming the chief minister,” said Naidu, 71. He fought back tears before walking out of the assembly with folded hands during a debate on the women empowerment on the second day of the assembly’s ongoing winter session.

Naidu was unable speak for a few minutes as he covered his face after breaking down while addressing a press conference at his Telegu Desam Party (TDP)’s state headquarters.

CAPT AMARINDER TO CONTEST FROM PATIALA Former Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh announced that he would contest from Patiala seat in the 2022 Assembly elections. “I will fight elections from Patiala only,” he posted on his 'Punjab Da Captain' Facebook page.

“Patiala has been with us for the last 400 years and I will not leave it for the sake of (Navjot) Sidhu,” he added. The Patiala Assembly seat has been the family bastion of the former chief minister. He had represented the seat four times 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017. Amarinder had resigned as MLA in 2014 after being elected from the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat.

His wife Preneet Kaur then contested from Patiala and represented the seat for three years.

TMC LEADER ARRESTED IN TRIPURA Trinamool Youth Congress president and Tollywood actor Saayoni Ghosh was arrested for attempt-to-murder charges by the Agartala police, a day after she posted a video on her Twitter handle, in which she was heard saying “Khela Hobe” - the party’s rallying cry popularised before the Bengal assembly elections - while passing by a rally being addressed by Tripura chief minister Biplab Deb. Coinciding with this development, days ahead of the November 25 Agartala Municipal Corporation polls, in which TMC is contesting all 51 wards, there were reports of violence against Trinamool workers, allegedly by BJP men. This prompted a Trinamool delegation to seek an appointment with President and Union home minister Amit Shah to raise the issue of repeated attacks against them in Tripura.

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Satellite images show second Chinese village along Arunachal border Fresh satellite images apparently show China to have built a second new village along the disputed border in Arunachal Pradesh, though the Indian Army stressed the “location was north of the Line of Actual Control (LAC)” in Chinese held territory.

The new enclave of 60 buildings in the Shi Yomi district, which did not exist in 2019, has come up “six km inside” the territory claimed by India “in the region between the LAC and the International Boundary” shown on Indian maps, as per reports.

The Army, however, said the “location in question lies north of the LAC as per the coordinates. An officer, in turn, added that “there has been no such construction within our perception of the LAC”.

The 3,488-km LAC, stretching from eastern Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, is the demarcation that separates the Indian-controlled territory from the Chinese, though the two sides have “differing perceptions” of the line with Beijing refusing to “jointly clarify” it till now.

China, of course, continues with

its salami-slicing tactics to nibble away territory of its neighbours like India and Bhutan. This is the second such newly-constructed Chinese village that has recently come to light on the disputed territory in Arunachal Pradesh.

The first was the 100-home village constructed on the banks of River Tsari Chu in the Upper Subansiri district last year, which lies 93 km west of the second enclave. The disputed area in the Upper Subansiri district has been under China’s “adverse occupa-

tion” since the Longju incident in 1959. China has been building as many as 628 ‘xiaokang’ model border defence villages to fortify the borders of the Tibetan Autonomous Region with India and Bhutan over the last few years.

Though a lot of these “dual-use” villages lie on the Chinese side of the LAC, some are on disputed territory with India.

“After the Doklam face-off in 2017, China DDhas also constructed some new villages on Bhutanese territory,” said an official.

Responding to the Chinese village constructed in the Upper Subansiri district, the external affairs ministry on November 11 said, “China has undertaken construction activities in the past several years along the border areas, including those that it has illegally occupied over the decades. India has neither accepted such illegal occupation of our territory nor has it accepted the unjustified Chinese claims.”

SC protects former top Mumbai cop from arrest, tells him to join probe In a relief to former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh, who went underground fearing arrest in criminal cases lodged against him and was subsequently declared an absconder, the Supreme Court granted him protection from arrest while asking him to join investigations after his counsel said the cop was very much in the country and had not gone abroad.

While granting relief to Singh, the court expressed deep concern over the ongoing battle between him and former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh, who is also being probed by the CBI and the ED on the allegations levelled by the senior IPS officer that the NCP functionary had asked for collection of bribes amounting to £10 million. It said if a former police chief could not trust the force he had served, where would a common person go for jus-

Param Bir Singh

tice. As the apex court earlier put a condition that he reveal his whereabouts for getting a hearing, Singh's counsel at the outset told a bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M M Sundresh that the the officer had not fled the country and was hiding in the country fearing a threat to his life from Maharashtra Police.

A magistrate court in Bombay earlier declared Singh a “proclaimed offender” in an extortion case registered against him and some other police officers.

Singh had last attended his office in May this year after which he went on leave. The state police had told the Bombay High Court last month that his whereabouts were not known.

Bimal Agrawal, a real estate developer and hotelier, had alleged the accused extorted Rs 900,000 from him for not conducting raids on two bars and restaurants which he ran in partnership, and also forced him to buy two smartphones worth around Rs 292,000 for them.

Mehul Choksi seeks relief in ED’s fugitive proceedings Businessman Mehul Choksi has moved the Bombay high court seeking that the proceedings initiated against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which has sought that he be declared a fugitive economic offender (FEO), be kept in abeyance.

Choksi, an accused in the Punjab National Bank fraud case worth £1.45 billion, moved the HC through senior lawyer Vijay Aggarwal. The ED, in 2019, had moved an application before the PMLA court seeking that Choksi be declared a FEO under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018.

As per the Act, a person can be declared a FEO if a warrant has been issued against him for an offence involving £10 million or more and if the person has left the country and refuses to return. Choksi claimed that

he could not be declared as a fugitive accused person, since he had not left India to avoid criminal prosecution, but had left well before any FIRs were registered against him.

The businessman said that in July 2021, he was granted bail by a court in Dominica and had been permitted to travel to Antigua and Barbuda for medical treatment. However, Choksi was facing difficulties in travelling because of the ongoing proceedings before the special PMLA court, the petition stated.

Choksi’s lawyer said the businessman was not refusing to return to India, but was prevented from doing so due to his medical condition. The high court granted the ED time to file a reply and posted the matter for further hearing to December 21.

SC appoints ex-judge to supervise Kheri probe To ensure “transparency, fairness and absolute impartiality” in the investigations into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence that resulted in eight deaths, the Supreme Court appointed retired Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Rakesh Kumar Jain to supervise the probe and reconstituted the special investigation team (SIT) by inducting three senior IPS officers.

A bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli said, “While investigating such offences, justice must not only be done, but also be seen and perceived to be done. We, thus, deem it appropriate to reconstitute the SIT hereafter to preserve the faith and trust of people in the administration of the justice system.” It appointed UP cadre IPS officer S B Shiradkar, who is a native of Nanded in Maharashtra, to head the SIT and drafted in two other UP cadre IPS officers, also hailing from outside the state, in the probe team.

“Further, to assure full and complete justice to the victims of crime, we are inclined to order that the ongoing investigation be monitored by a retired HC Judge, who too may not have his roots in Uttar Pradesh. We, therefore, appoint Justice (retd) Rakesh Kumar Jain of the P&H HC to monitor the ongoing investigation so as to ensure transparency, fairness and absolute impartiality in the outcome of the investigation into the Lakhimpur Kheri incident which is to be conducted in a time bound manner,” the bench said.

The CJI-led bench said it would post the matter for further hearing after Justice Jain submits a status report subsequent to the SIT filing chargesheets in the three separate incidents on October 3, which the court described in this manner — “Several protesters had been blocking the road to restrict passage for the UP deputy chief minister who was on his way to Banbirpur village. While standing and/ or walking on the road, these protesters were rammed from behind by a Mahindra Thar SUV, and then run over by the same vehicle.The incident resulted in eight deaths and several suffered injuries”.

Pilot, Gehlot mend fences following cabinet reshuffle The Congress government in Rajasthan returned to its full strength of 30 on Sunday with a carefully orchestrated reshuffle that marked the return of two sacked ministers and seemed to have enough in terms of representation for former deputy CM Sachin Pilot to bury the hatchet with CM Ashok Gehlot after 16 months of wrangling.

“The cabinet changes have guaranteed that Rajasthan’s Congress government will get repeated in 2023. BJP was predicting our government’s fall after the cabinet reshuffle, but the rejig has worked to strengthen us 25 times more,” Pilot said following the swearing-in of 15 ministers, 12 of them new faces.

While there was speculation about whether Pilot had gained anything for his troubles, he did appear to claw his way back into Congress’s circle of prominence, reflected in the party

past, I fulfilled it with total commitment. I shall do the same in future whenever a role is assigned to me.”

The former deputy CM claimed there Sachin Pilot & Ashok Gehlot were no “camps: in the state Congress. leadership giving in to his “We contested the 2018 demand for “respectable election collectively under representation to those who the leadership of Sonia toiled to form the governGandhi ji, Rahul Gandhi ji ment in 2018”. and Priyanka Gandhi ji. The Pilot said the reshuffle 2023 election, too, would be was based on feedback from fought the same way.” The the Congress ranks in the 15 ministers to whom goverstate. He thanked CM nor Kalraj Mishra adminisGehlot, AICC’s Rajasthan tered the oath of office minder Ajay Maken and include Vishvendra Singh PCC chief Govind Singh and Ramesh Meena, both of Dotasra along with the cenwhom had been fired last tral leadership for a “comyear for siding with Pilot in prehensive, accurate and his revolt against Gehlot. well-thought-out reshuffle” Four ministers of state were with increased dalit and elevated to cabinet rank.

Scheduled Tribe representaZahida Khan, the lone tion.

Muslim MLA among the On his own role in the new recruits, took oath in party, Pilot said, “I am satisEnglish, while the rest chose fied-...Whatever responsibilHindi. ity Congress gave me in the

Will let transit of wheat from India to Afghanistan: Pak Following intense speculation over the past several weeks on how Islamabad would respond to India’s proposal to deliver humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, Pakistan PM Imran Khan said his government will allow India to transport 50,000 mt wheat via land “as soon as modalities are finalised with the Indian side”.

The announcement by Khan and his office followed a meeting of Pakistan’s Afghanistan inter-ministerial coordination cell chaired by Khan, and during which Pakistan also announced its own humanitarian assistance package that included 50,000 tons of wheat and medical supplies.

“This is a welcome development. If India and Pakistan can find pragmatic ways to smoothen their interface on Afghanistan it will be a step forward for both, for Afghanistan

and for regional cooperation,” said TCA Raghavan, veteran diplomat and former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan.

Khan also announced Pakistan will also facilitate the return of Afghan patients who had gone to India for medical treatment and are stuck there. While there was no immediate response by India to the development, sources said India will wait for an official communication. Pakistan’s announcement came a little over six weeks after India proposed delivery of wheat via the Attari-Wagah border. If Pakistan does indeed allow land transport of wheat to Afghanistan, it will be quite a change from 2002 when it rejected the same proposal by India in similar circumstances even though then Afghan President Hamid Karzai had repeatedly taken up the issue with Islamabad.

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Despite PM Modi's offer, farmers yet to call off stir Unmoved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to repeal the three contentious farm laws, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) unleashed the combined might of 40 farm unions in Lucknow and warned of a prolonged agitation till all its six demands, including a legal guarantee on MSP for crops and Union junior minister Ajay Mishra Teni’s dismissal over the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, were met.

As hundreds of farmers from across UP and its neighbouring states, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan, converged on Lucknow’s Eco Garden for the kisan mahapanchayat, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait declared the year-long agitation he had been spearheading on the Delhi border was far from over.

“Sangharsh vishram ki ghoshna abhi humne nahi ki hai...humare masle bahut hain abhi (We have not stopped our agitation...a lot of issues are yet to be resolved),” he said.

The mahapanchayat slogan “MSP nahi toh andolan wahi (MSP off means agitation on)” - echoed what Tikait said. SKM threatened

to take the stir to different parts of the country if the Centre didn’t fulfil its demands.

The organisation has convened a meeting on the Delhi border on November 27 to decided its next course of action.

SKM’s wishlist includes repeal of the 2020 electricity bill, withdrawal of cases filed against farmers for stubble burning, rehabilitation of the families of farmers who died during the agitation so far and a memorial to them at the Singhu border.

Tikait slammed BJP and its allies for allegedly diverting people’s attention from the farm protests by raising “communal issues”. Picking on PM Modi’s reference to “kuch log (some

while people)” explaining why the Centre was forced to opt for a repeal of the farm laws, he alleged it was a ploy to divide the farmers.

“The PM’s apology will not help farmers get the right price for their produce. They will get this price only when MSP is given legal sanctity,” Tikait said, pointing out that a committee headed by Modi during his stint as Gujarat CM in 2011 had made the same recommendation.

“The report is still there with the PMO and awaits implementation,” he said. Jai Kisan Andolan convener Yogendra Yadav accused BJP of shielding junior home minister Teni, whose son allegedly ran over four protesting farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri. “He is the sutradhaar (facilitator) of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence,” Yadav said, addressing a gathering of farmers and asking them not to relent till the minister was sacked and jailed.

SKM’s combative move to call the mahapanchayat in Lucknow is

seen as hitting BJP where it might potentially hurt the most, especially with assembly elections due early next year.

Govt to repeal farm laws: PM Modi Earlier, PM Modi offered an apology for being unable to convince a section of farmers about the benefits of the new farm laws and announced that they would be withdrawn in the forthcoming winter session of Parliament.

Promising a new start to agitating farm unions, the PM justified the three laws meant to allow freer trade and introduce contract farming as beneficial to farmers.

He lamented that a small section failed to see this fact even when it was as clear as the light of the lamp, but refrained from pointing a finger. “There must have been shortcomings in our own efforts,” he said. This was the second significant retreat, leaving aside the reluctance to follow through with the enactment of Citizenship Amendment Act by preparing the National Population Register. PM Modi made the announcement in his address to the nation on Gurpurab, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

“While apologising to the countrymen, today I want to say sincerely that perhaps there must have been some deficiency in our tapasya that we could not explain the truth (about the farm laws) like the light of the lamp to the farmer brothers,” the PM said after outlining several decisions and measures the government had undertaken to improve income and benefits to the farming community. “Whatever I did, I did for the farmers and whatever I am doing, I am doing for the country,” the PM said.

He urged agitating farmers, who have set up blockades at border points around Delhi, to return to homes. The move is expected to bring the BJP some significant political spin-offs. Two of the states where the protest has been sharpest, are due for assembly elections early next year – Punjab where its fortunes have taken a downturn and the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. Since November last year, thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have been camping outside Delhi, demanding that the Centre cancel the laws.

FIR against Kangana for calling SC slams govt over lack of progress over community kitchens Sikhs 'Khalistani terrorists' An FIR has been registered against actor Kangana Ranaut in Mumbai following a complaint by members of the Sikh community for allegedly using derogatory language against them on social media. The FIR was filed by Amarjeet Singh Sandhu, a 47-year-old Mumbai-based businessman, along with leaders of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

The complainants accused Kangana of "intentionally and deliberately" portraying the farmers' protest (Kisan Morcha) as a "Khalistani" movement and calling the Sikh community "Khalistani terrorists".

"Khalistani terrorists may be arm twisting the government today... But let's not forget one woman... The only woman prime minister ne

Kangana Ranaut

inn ko apni jooti ke neeche crush kiya tha (the only woman PM who crushed them under her shoes). No matter how much suffering she caused to this nation... she crushed them like mosquitoes at the cost of her own life... Lekin desh k tukde nahi hone diye (but she did not let the nation get divided)," the controversial actor had posted on Instagram recently.

The FIR was lodged at the suburban Khar police station a day after the complaint against the actor.

Ms Kangana was booked

under section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and further investigation was underway, an official said.

A delegation led by Sirsa had met Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil and top officials of the Mumbai police and demanded action against Kangana.

Kangana was last year asked to apologise for her "derogatory" tweet on an elderly woman who she said was "available for 100", suggesting she can be hired to attend protests. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) had sent a legal notice to the actor.

Chafing at the lack of progress in framing a uniform scheme to ensure cooked food for the hungry and destitute across the states, the Supreme Court pilloried the Centre for filing a deficient affidavit, that too by a junior officer, before threatening to "throw out the affidavit" for the government's lack of respect to the highest court.

The SC's earnest endeavour to make the Centre frame a uniform policy and the latter not keeping its promise to work towards it irked a bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli, which said, "You had promised to frame a uniform policy. There is not a word about it in the affidavit. Your secretary is so arrogant that he undermines highest court by asking an undersecretary to file the affidavit. This cannot go on."

Such was intensity of questioning from the CJI and Justice Kohli that ASG Madhvi Divan had to repeatedly plead for permission to complete an argument on the difficulties faced by the Centre in framing a uniform scheme given the diversity of conditions in states, many of which are already implementing a scheme for highly subsidised cooked food for citizens. "We cannot thrust a scheme on community kitchens in the states," she

said.

As the ASG was finding it difficult to extricate the Centre from the situation, attorney general K K Venugopal intervened to calm frayed nerves, saying a uniform community kitchen scheme could be framed but only if the states agreed since the Constitution mandates poverty alleviation schemes and public distribution system implementation to the panchayati raj mechanism under the states.

He said the country has 663,000 villages and 255,000 panchayats. "We will deal with the matter and come out with a concrete scheme after a thorough consultation with the states. The scheme involves taking care of huge logistics foodgrains have to be transported to panchayats, storage space has to be created and kitchens have to be set up. We can come forward with a scheme while not violating the constitutional mandate about the three-tier governance system."

The CJI-led bench said, "If you (the governments) want to take care of hunger, no Constitution or law will negate or impede it. Don't think that we want linking community kitchens with the schemes to provide nourishment to children. We are only concerned with hunger."

Gurdwaras offer space for US expresses ‘concern’ over S-400 deliveries to India The US defence department has Indian and US militaries and had namaz in Gurgaon reiterated “concern” over reports of offered the Terminal High Altitude A local association of gurdwaras announced it would open its doors to allow namaz with the number of sites for Friday prayers having shrunk by almost half in the city because of protests by rightwing outfits and some local residents over the past few weeks.

Gurdwara Singh Sabha Committee of Gurgaon, which has five gurdwaras affiliated to it said it will approach the administration to seek permission to allow Muslims to offer namaz in small groups without compromising on Covid protocols.

“It was disturbing to learn about the opposition to namaz in open areas. The doors of our gurdwaras are always open to everyone. If Muslims are facing problems in finding a place for Friday prayers, they are welcome to offer namaz in gurdwaras,” said Harry Sindhu from the committee. He said that while each gurdwara has the capacity to accommodate thousands of people at a time, they have been allowing only small groups due to Covid norms. Sher Dil Singh, another member of the committee, said a gurdwara is “guru ka darbar” where anyone can come and pray.

India receiving the first supplies of the Russian S-400 missile defence system but there were no indications yet that the Biden administration was moving towards sanctions under a US law that seeks to punish Russia.

“I think we’ve been very clear with our Indian partners about our concern over this system,” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said to reporters in response to a question about India receiving the first supplies of the Russian weapon system.

Kirby referred to defence secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to India in March in which he had reiterated US concerns with India acquiring the missile defence. “We certainly have concerns over that system, but I don’t have any updates for you,” Kirby added. Dmitry

Shugayev, the head of the Russian military cooperation agency, announced the start of the deliveries last week. “The first supplies have already been started,” Russian news agency Interfax cited Shugayev as saying at an aerospace trade show in Dubai.

The United States had pressed India to call off the deal arguing, among other things, the Russian system will impede ongoing efforts to increase interoperability between

Area Defense (THAD) and Patriot Advance Capability (PAC-3) systems instead.

A 2017 US law that seeks to punish Russia - Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) requires the administration to impose secondary sanctions on countries that make substantial defence purchases from Russia. China was the first country sanctioned under this law in 2018; followed by Turkey, a Nato ally, in 2020; both over S-400. Trump administration official, specially then defence secretary James Mattis had argued for waiver for India and New Delhi has since, and because of other indications, believed its purchase of S400 will be exempted from sanctions.

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HEALTH

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27 Nov - 3 Dec 2021

Some winter superfoods to boost your immunity The onset of winter can bring with it certain health conditions like arthritis and skin conditions like dryness, eczema, and psoriasis.

Combating the cold will need much more than warm clothes and blankets. The right diet will keep you warm from inside and make your immunity strong.

Foods like amla, ghee, bajra, dates, millets, nuts, mustard, cruciferous vegetables keep seasonal health issues at bay during the winters. We discuss six such foods that will work wonders on your body this cold season.

Ghee: Pure ghee is one of the most easily digestible fats that is capable of generating instant heat and energy in your body. A moderated consumption of ghee can also keep skin from getting dry and flaky. Add ghee to your roti, rice, dal, or sabzis,

during the winter season.

Sweet Potatoes: These roots are a winter delight that offer so much. It is rich in fibre, Vitamin A, potassium, and other nutrients. Its regular consumption can help cure constipation, build immunity, and may reduce inflammation. A single piece of the vegetable is enough to provide a day’s worth of beta-carotene, and is good

for developing a strong immune system, and fulfilling the body’s vitamin C requirements.

Amla: The domestic gooseberry or Amla as most Indians know it by is with packed immunity-boosting vitamin C that helps to keep infections at bay.

Millets: Low-glycemic, high in fibre, and packed with a range of nutrients, millets like ragi, bajra give you enough warmth to sail through chilled winters.

Ragi is loaded with dietary fibre and helps in improving digestion. It is known to help with conditions of insomnia, anxiety, and depression too. Meanwhile, bajra is rich in fibre and

Vitamin B and promotes muscle gain.

Nuts: A regular intake of nuts in the winters ensures an active nervous system and helps to keep the heart and mind healthy. Almonds and walnuts lower bad cholesterol, control blood sugar levels, and reduce inflammation.

While almonds are rich in Vitamin E, antioxidants, and magnesium, walnuts are a great source of Omega-3.

Mustard Leaves: Who doesn’t love a delicious plate of Sarso Ka Saag and Makki Ki Roti. The combination is loaded with powerful antioxidants like Vitamin K, A, and C, along with a variety of minerals. It provides benefits to people suffering from health diseases, asthma, and menopausal symptoms, and plays a big role in boosting immunity.

Spices to manage your sweet cravings If you have a daily craving for sugar and can’t pass a single day without indulging in sugary treats, you might just be in a toxic relationship. Sugar often has a similar effect on one’s brain as an addictive drug, and removing it from your diet all of a sudden can give you withdrawal symptoms like fatigue, headaches, low moods, or cramps.

As serious as it may sound, there are ways to reduce these cravings to a healthy level with the help of a few kitchen spices that have an anti-inflammatory effect and insulin managing properties. Cravings for sugar can be reduced by

focusing on a diet abundant in earth-grown nutrients and doing at least a shortterm complete elimination of refined sugar. This can be done by “creating an abundance of delicious real whole food. There is a natural crowding out of unhealthy foods without a sense of

deprivation.

Refined sugar increases one's risk for inflammation, cancer, microbiome, and gut dysregulation, obesity, and diabetes. Refined sugar also acts on the same circuits in the brain typically hit by drugs.

The anti-inflammatory properties of earth-grown foods can help restore insulin sensitivity and allow the brain’s biochemistry to shift so that satiety hormones like leptin work well.

Real food does not spike dopamine the way refined foods do so our dopamine

receptors can come back into balance. Strictly eliminating refined sugar and processed foods even for a few weeks can help rewire those addiction circuits in the brain.

So, what are the spices that could help curb sugar cravings?

Black pepper: Has antiinflammatory piperine.

Coriander: Improves insulin secretion and reduces free-radical damage in insulin producing cells.

Cardamom: Reduces the need for added sugar.

Sumac: Blocks inflammation in multiple ways.

Turmeric: Curbs inflammation and supports the integrity of the gut lining.

Ayurvedic tips to help diabetics kick-start their day Starting the day on a healthy and cheerful note sets the mood for the entire day right. Also, the signs you experience in your body upon waking up are a great signal of what lies within. Some feel acidic while some feel bloated and low in energy even as some are just a ray of sunshine upon waking up!

“The foods you have first thing in the morning, especially if you are diabetic, should be the ones that help you keep your blood sugar levels under control, soothe any discomforts and help you get ready to go!” said a celebrity nutritionist.

Hydration is the first thing to remember upon waking up. As your body is thirsty after hours of not having water during sleep, the first thing you need to do is consume 1-2 glasses of warm water to quench your thirst and revive your system.

On rising, grind seven leaves each of baelpatta, curry patta, and basil in some water. “These leaves are a boon to the diabetic body. Drink this juice on an empty stomach for considerably low blood sugar levels throughout the day.

Later, have Arjun chaal (a natural tree bark herb) water which is a great tonic to manage high sugar levels.

Many people experience heartburn or acidity upon waking up. This could

be because of late dinner. “Try to keep your dinner time at least three hours before bedtime. To cure acidity upon waking up, have 8-10 soaked black raisins on empty stomach. Black raisins are rich in nutrients and neutralise the high acidic levels in your digestive system. People who feel bloated are advised to drink the tea made up of 1 tbsp cumin seeds, 1 cardamom, 1 tbsp fennel seeds, pinch of carom seeds in 500 ml water, boiled and brought to half. Make sure to drink it lukewarm.

Diabetics must have a light breakfast with seasonal fruits, and a combi-

nation of both carbohydrates and proteins. Having a full loaded breakfast of cereals is not advised in Ayurveda.

Having a heavy breakfast is a myth as your body is still digesting last night’s dinner. It will be an added burden on your digestive system to digest an even heavier breakfast. Ash gourd is an ideal vegetable with soothing benefits as it is alkaline, making it an excellent choice to have mid-morning to balance the blood sugar spikes. Avoid having tea or coffee first thing in the morning as they are the number one cause of acidity, constipation, and all gastric problems.

Fertility hope for survivors of childhood cancer There is hope for men left infertile by childhood cancer treatment thanks to revolutionary fertility transplants.

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh will seek permission in the new year to start the first human trials of the treatment. Cancer is affecting growing numbers of children; cases in the UK have risen by about 24 per cent since the 1990s. Scientists believe that increased pollution is partly driving the rise.

Experts said progress on the treatment would bring hope to boys

requiring treatments such as chemotherapy before puberty, which can damage their ability to make sperm in adulthood. Since 2016 scientists in Edinburgh and Oxford have been taking and freezing biopsies of healthy testicular tissue from children with cancer before they start treatment in the hope that the technology will evolve to allow them to father babies in future. If permission is granted for trials, it will be the first time they have been able to reimplant the tissue samples in cancer survivors.

No one heals themselves by wounding others Psychologist Mamta Saha Dear Readers, I am offering a free workshop next week, the details are at the end of this article This week is anti-bullying week in the UK, and I wanted to share my insights and advice with my dear readers. Bullying affects everyone involved, and it is hurtful to everyone involved, from the victims of bullying to the witnesses—and even to bullies themselves.

Remember that bullying is never about you.

It is important to remind yourself that you are not the problem. The reason people experience bullying is not because of their sexuality, gender identity, race, appearance, disability, or any other unique factor. The person who is bullying you is the one with the issue, not you. Basically, it's a reflection of their insecurities, not your flaws. Whatever the situation, bullying is never the right way to solve it, and it's never justifiable.

Even though you may want to, don’t isolate yourself.

I know it may feel like the best thing to do at the time, but it will only make things worse by keeping quiet and can also reduce your self-esteem. Often people who are bullied will understandably see themselves as victims, but it’s important that you look beyond that and don’t let the bullying dictate who you are. There is something incredibly rewarding about having someone that can walk alongside you through a rough phase. Be open to having someone support you through this tough time.

Practise self-love. Every single day.

It is important to acknowledge the feelings and thoughts that come along with bullying. Be kind to yourself. Talk to yourself gently and practice affirmations every day. Eat nutritiously, exercise daily, and get plenty of rest so you feel healthy and strong. Doing guided meditations can help calm your anxiety and spend plenty of time in nature to heal. In the end, your health and well-being are what matter the most. You must practice self-preservation and protect your mind, body, and soul from getting serious health issues from this. Ultimately, we need a substantial shift in our mindsets about the impact of bullying on children and adults. I hope that my tips will help you navigate through your tough times. If you are interested in attending my free workshop on how to deal with toxic relatives please email me at Mamta@mamtasaha.com sharing why a workshop like this will help you. Follow me on Instagram (@saha_mamta) and Facebook (Mamta Saha) for more resources for your wellbeing. Until then, stay in touch and I look forward to hearing from you! Good luck, dearest readers.

Chronic kidney disease patients are vulnerable to hospitalisation People with multiple health conditions – known as multimorbidity – are at risk of hospitalisation. New research has found the rates of hospitalisation in these people are even higher if they are suffering from chronic kidney disease. The research, led by the University of Glasgow, examined the rates of hospitalisation in people with multimorbidity, including those who also have chronic kidney disease as one of those conditions.

The study found that while multimorbidity itself was associated with high rates of hospitalisation – those with four or more long term health conditions were almost five times more likely to be admitted to hospital than those without any health conditions – the rates of hospitalisation are two to three times higher when chronic kidney disease is one of the conditions. Previous research has demonstrated how difficult it can be living with many conditions, such as needing to take multiple medications – known as polypharmacy – and this new study focuses on unplanned admissions to hospital.

Researchers suggest these findings reveal just how high-risk patients with chronic kidney disease are, and say that new research to better understand what might be causing this increased risk of hospitalisation is urgently needed so that patients can be better cared for and supported.

Dr Michael Sullivan, researcher at the University of Glasgow and lead author of the study, said: “Kidney disease is common (it affects 5 to 10% of the population) and we have demonstrated its importance in a person’s risk of being admitted to hospital. In the Covid era, we are all aware that people with health conditions are vulnerable to illnesses which lead to hospitalisation. Our research has shown that kidney disease is an incredibly important risk factor that must be recognised.”

To Our Readers

We are publishing these reports in good faith. Before you try any of these remedies, please consult the doctor. We are not responsible for any adverse effects.- Editor

28

ART & CULTURE

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27 Nov - 3 Dec 2021

Indian Food Culture The key to getting Indian cooking right is honouring the ingredients.

Shefali Saxena

1

Shashi Aggarwal arrived in Birmingham from India on a freezing day in January 1972 wearing just a sari to keep her warm. Knowing no one, Shashi found comfort in using the spices that reminded her of home. Since then, she has gone on to establish Spice Kitchen together with her son. Starting over the kitchen table on Christmas Day 2012, the business is centred around Shashi's vast spice knowledge. Mother and son team run Spice Kitchen and carefully handpick only the highest quality spices, manufacturing blends in-house to ensure freshness and flavour. Their signature products are an array of beautifully dressed sari wrapped spice tins, in honour of the sari Shashi wore when she first arrived.

The sari wrapped spice tins are colourful and stand out on shelves for luxury gifting.

In an exclusive interview with Asian Voice, she spoke about Indian food culture.

- If you were to describe traditional Indian food culture, what dishes and adjectives would you use?

This is a really interesting question and one I've been debating with my son Sanjay recently. Because when we look at culture and dishes from our

Q

heritage, it's so deeply rooted in family and what we inherited from our direct ancestors. So in a sense, we all experience food culture differently, which is what makes Indian food culture so exciting.

I've been a lifelong vegetarian, and when I asked the extended family to share what they feel are the dishes of our culture, they all had something to say! But the standouts were Kheer Pureh – which is a sweet Rice Pudding with flatbreads that are served as a main meal to celebrate the start of the rainy season. The rainy season is something we always celebrated when I was growing up back home.

Similarly, Sambar, which is a lentil vegetable stew. This is a South Indian staple recipe, served with various dishes, such as rice, dosa and steamed dumplings. It's both humble and versatile and would have been a go-to recipe for many households due to the availability and affordability of the ingredients.

At the moment, there are lots of people trying to recreate 'authentic' dishes and the conversations I've been having recently have led me to question whether that authenticity really exists, or whether authenticity really means trusting in the dishes you create at home, with your family, that bring you nourishment and hopefully, joy. Because that's

all our ancestors would have been doing.

- What according to you sets traditional Indian food apart from the most exotic worldly dishes?

The most obvious answer is, of course, spices! The colour, smell, flexibility, variation and vibrancy they can bring. But Indian food, for me, is all about sharing, connections and community.

When we make a meal at home or go out to a restaurant, we focus on sharing and experiencing lots of flavours and textures. No one has a dish and keeps it for themselves. I think this is beautifully symbolic when you think about what its beyond the kitchen table and into talking about a way of life.

- What are the foundation and a key method to getting Indian cooking right?

Great question! There's so much I could say, and I'm thinking now about some of my cooking techniques and can immediately hear my mother, sisters, aunties and even my son disagreeing with me. More than anything, I would say that the key to getting Indian cooking right is honouring the ingredients – particularly the spices – and learning how to get the best flavour out of them. You don't need to overload your dishes with masses of spice if you know how to layer

Q

Q

Shashi with her son, Sanjay

flavour.

- Do you think Asian restaurants in the UK have been able to propagate the right food culture when it comes to Indian dishes?

There are restaurants doing a great job, and then there are those that perhaps aren't necessarily following traditional methods.

But that's Ok; I feel like there is a place for all approaches. The most obvious example of a restaurant that has managed to capture both the spirit and culture of India is, of course, Dishoom!

- What does the food culture of a community say about its beliefs and traditions?

I think I touched on it before when I mentioned Indian

Q

Q

food being an all-around community and sharing.

It's certainly true for our family: food plays a significant part in bringing us together.

Often, at big family gatherings, everyone brings something to the table, and this is such a great metaphor for the wider culture and way of life, in terms of honouring each person and what they bring to the table.

Traditionally, everyone in the family had an important part to play in the running of the household, there was so much to do, and each person was crucial to that effort. So when we gather together, and everyone brings a dish, we honour that history simultaneously.

London Assembly Member hosts British-Asian Latin-pop star and trainee launch of report into impact of doctor releases his debut single pandemic on South East Asian artists Tongues on Fire launched their new report on the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of South East Asian artists and the wider community at City Hall on Wednesday (12th November). Labour’s London Assembly Health Spokesperson, Dr Onkar Sahota AM, said it was “a privilege” to host the event alongside “an esteemed panel of speakers” to discuss “the importance of the arts and culture sector to boosting mental and physical health particularly during a time of crisis”.

Tongues on Fire is the producer of the UK Asian Film Festival and during the consecutive lockdown, periods saw many of its annual events and programmes disrupted.

The organisation’s new report, Mental Health of South Asian Artists: Reimagining the Arts for Good Mental Health reflects on how it adapted to the pandemic and offered virtual dance workshops, group sing-along sessions, poetry recitals and film screenings as a way of supporting South East Asian artists and members of the community who were left socially isolated.

The UK Asian Film Festival also went a

step further and set up a Talking Therapy helpline, whose participants were given a secure place to discuss issues such as job loss, loneliness and anxiety, bereavement and being unable to perform traditional death rituals for loved ones as a result of coronavirus restrictions.

The report was presented to guests at City Hall by Dr Toyeba Mushtaq and discussed by a panel of speakers, including Chair of Tongues on Fire, Rakhee Joshi, Bollywood Actress, Banita Sandhu and author of Mad Tales from Bollywood, Professor Dinesh Bhugra.

Dr Sahota has praised the report for its focus on putting the principles of social prescribing into practice. In December 2020, he published his own report, Social Prescribing and Covid-19 looking at how community activities and support networks can help to alleviate some of the mental and physical health impacts of future waves of the pandemic.

The launch marked one of the last events to be held at City Hall before the Greater London Authority moves out of the building in a few weeks’ time.

Band Rojo hits all the right notes with Age Adare Gaining over 50,000 YouTube views overnight, the song Age Adare based on a true story about love and heartache is the first hit release of newly formed UK band Rojo. Since its release hashtag #rojofied has been trending online.

Lead singer Anjelo Leeson says, “Rojo was a life-long dream of mine and the band members, to do something different in the UK music industry and bring Sinhala music to the forefront.” Age Adare was written by Anjelo Leeson, who also stars in the music video alongside Venushka Condegama and Rachael Dixon, produced by TRojo’s multi-lingual and talented band members not only sing popular covers but also write, sing, and produce original English, Hindi and Sinhala songs and music. Whilst the lyrics of Age Adare can only be understood by a person who is proficient in Sinhala, the catchy tune will surely have you humming along to it in no time! Recently Sinhala music has particularly gained international popularity following the worldwide release of Sri Lankan hit song Manike Mage Hithe by Chamath Sangeeth, Satheeshan and Yohani, so much so that several artists have sung covers of the same song in a number of languages including Arabic, Bengali, Hindi and an English version by UK based, Arjun the artist.

Fitting for such a personal song, Senti (real name: Adil) plays all instruments on the single himself, with every instrument from classical guitar, bass, drumbeats, synthetic beats, and vocals oozing with the emotion to be expected of the modernday Romeo.

Beginning as a poem written for a woman Senti loved, the track took on a life of its own exploring the barricades on the path to true love. Whether a superficial and judgemental friend; a past lover; or even distance separating a couple, the sultry single strives to push beyond those.

Audiences would be surprised by Senti’s

shocking background.

Beginning his musical journey as a headbanging metal artist at the age of 12, Adil became enamoured with Spanish culture with flamenco particularly capturing his imagination.

An instant natural, poems came pouring out of Senti with accompanying songs as fast as they could keep up!

Nowadays, Adil stands on the cusp of being a medical doctor. Having had to put his musical dreams on hold while fighting on the frontlines on the greatest pandemic in modern history, the artist is now primed to heal fans physically and emotionally with He She It. With an accompanying music video.

Mural of local social activist, Jayaben Desai adds colour to Ealing Road Together with Artists in Residence, Alperton Community School and local residents, we have introduced a range of new colourful art installations along Ealing Road.

The art trail, funded from development via the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL), celebrates the vibrant local community and the areas rich cultural heritage.

Ealing Road, widely referred to as the Asian Jewel of the UK, is an iconic and much-loved location for our South Asian community. The new trail includes eyecatching peacock lighting and a mural of local social activist, Jayaben Desai.

Jayaben worked at the nearby Grunwick film processing factory in the 1970s and along with her colleagues was often subjected to degrading treatment and poor work conditions. She eventually resigned and went on to become a prominent leader

of the strikers in the Grunwick dispute in 1976.

Jayaben showed fierce bravery in the face of adversity, championing workers’ rights and speaking out against racism and sexism. The strike sent an important message about immigrant workers’ place in society and their determination to stand up for their rights.

Cllr Shama Tatler, Lead Member for Regeneration, Property & Planning at Brent Council said: “Regeneration is about supporting all of our residents and it’s fantastic to see Ealing Road come alive with colour, reflecting and celebrating the local South Asian community. It’s also brilliant that we are able to honour and celebrate Jayaben Desai, an inspirational Brent female icon. The new art trail complements our ongoing campaign to tackle paan spitting in the area and will benefit both residents and businesses here.”

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If a male actor is doing something on OTT, his trajectory will be glorified: Nushratt Bharuccha Shefali Saxena When male actors in Bollywood break a sweat or have sniffles during a film promotion or making, they most often go gung-ho on social media about it with millions of likes, thirst texts and comments. Stars trend for days and hours with a single static picture. However, the women of Bollywood, don’t seem to follow suit, and quite commendably so.

In Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming film 'Chhorii,' eight-month pregnant Sakshi, played by Nushratt Bharuccha, must save herself and her unborn child from the evil within society and from the fear that lies in the paranormal world.

Nushratt wore a pregnancy suit for about a month to get into the character, and yet, never went bonkers on the internet about it.

Speaking to Asian Voice, Nushratt said, “I've never been somebody who can really scream on top of my lungs for things. I can't be the one obsessed with it or full of it. If you didn't ask me how I prep for the film I would probably not speak about it. It’s my prep. It's personal to me.”

In one of her old interviews back in 2019, the actress said that “...his (her then co-star Kartik Aaryan’s) trajectory will always be more glorified, and would seem larger than mine.

Just being aware of where I am, makes things easy for me, I'm happy with my journey.”

Two years later, Nushratt has received accolades from audiences for her performance in Netflix’s 'Ajeeb Daastaans' and has some big movies lined up in the near future, one of which is 'Ram Setu' with Akshay Kumar.

Standing by her previous statement even today, Nushratt said, “I will stand by this statement even today. Because if a male actor is doing something on OTT, his trajectory even on OTT will be more glorified than mine. And that's just a fact. The reason I said I'm happy with my reality is that the disappointment of it, or the over expectation of things that are not going to change, are what they are.

“I walked into this field knowing what they are. I walked into this field saying, ‘Okay, I'm going to age here’. And we'll be 40 and 50 and 60 here. My ambition and goals are not to reach a certain level of glorification.”

The actress also mentioned that the director of Ajeeb Daastaans walked up to her and offered her the role, keeping her in mind and that she didn’t have to ask for it, which is very promising for her career.

'Chhorii' was shot during the pandemic and there were strict protocols that were put in place by the producers to safeguard the crew. Nushratt in fact rented an apartment away from her parents and grandma to protect them from any kind of potential exposure to the virus. Chhorii is shot in live locations, mostly without a green screen and interestingly, Nushratt hadn’t read the script.

So when her co-actors would be rehearsing or reading the script, she’d be away in her own bio bubble.

With the success of films like 'Pari' and 'Bulbull', 'Chhorri' might flourish and have a better shelf life on OTT than most other films in this genre. Commenting on that, the actress said, “I'm very happy that it has a sort

of longer shelf life for people to go back and watch it or people who missed it to watch it again or watch it at a different time at their leisure. For me specifically, I'm like a film buff. The first thing I say is, well, I get to watch it. And if the answer is an OTT platform, then that's the best.

Because I'm just going to sit back in my bedroom, put it on and quietly binge on that film. It could be a really old film, which was released years back but an OTT platform has acquired it and has it on a slate. So that access for me I think is a great boon for films across all platforms. I feel like whichever genre films it's a great boon.”

Freida Pinto and Cory Tran announce ZEE5 Global announces first of its kind desi noir birth of their son The 'Slumdog Millionaire' actor Freida Pinto posted a photograph of Cory Tran, holding their son, who was born on 21 November, on Instagram. Freida revealed that she gave birth to Rumi-Ray on Tran’s birthday in the caption which read: “Happy Birthday Dada Cory! I celebrate you my husband, friend and partner in life. To see you become not just a Dad but Super-Dad makes me so emotional and fills me with joy.”

“It also gives this sleep deprived Mama a break and you have no idea how much I appreciate that! I am so grateful and in love with how we do life together,” the actor wrote, adding, “Rumi-Ray, you are one lucky boy!”

Recently appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show, the 37-year-old

Amitabh Bachchan serves legal notice to pan masala brand Actor Amitabh Bachchan has reportedly sent a legal notice to a pan masala brand that has continued to air TV commercials featuring him despite termination of contract.

Bachchan had announced his withdrawal from the Kamala Pasand campaign in October after a national anti-tobacco organisation requested him to stop making such endorsements.

A media report quoted a source as saying, “Came to know from the office of Bachchan, that a legal notice has been sent to Kamala Pasand, to stop broadcasting the TV commercials with Bachchan

Freida revealed that the couple tied the knot in a secret ceremony during the Covid-induced lockdown last year. The pair got engaged in November 2019, after dating for two years, and announced they were expecting their first child in June this year.

In a separate Instagram post, Tran said Rumi-Ray was the “best birthday gift” he could have asked for. Addressing his wife, the photographer captioned the post: “Thank you for our sweet boy. I’m in awe of you more and more every day. Watching you give birth to Rumi-Ray was truly a miracle, you are such a warrior.”

Discussing their quiet pandemic wedding with Clarkson in October, Freida had said the nuptials were “absolutely perfect” and that the couple took “an afternoon nap” after they got married at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. immediately… as it was noticed that despite termination of the endorsement agreement ‘Kamala Pasand’ has ignored the same and is seen to continue airing the TV commercials.”

Bachchan had announced his withdrawal on his 79th birthday. He said he wasn’t aware that it came under surrogate advertisement. A statement from his office read, “Kamala Pasand … a few days after the commercial was aired, Bachchan contacted the brand and stepped out of it last week. Upon checking why this sudden move – it was revealed that when Bachchan became associated with the brand , he wasn’t aware that it falls under surrogate advertising. Bachchan has terminated the contract with the brand, has written to them his termination and has returned the money received for the promotion.”

The actor had also responded to a person on social media who had questioned his move. The commercial in question was released mid-September and mentioned Kamala Pasand “silver-coated elaichi”.

anthology

The world’s largest streaming platform for South Asian content, ZEE5 Global and Zindagi are set to stream a desi noir anthology ‘Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam’. Helmed by critically acclaimed British Indian director Meenu Gaur, the series features a stellar cast comprising of actors like Ahsan Khan, Osman Khalid Butt, Sheheryar Munawar, Saleem Mairaj, Samiya Mumtaz, Sanam Saeed, Sarwat Gilani, Mehar Bano, Faiza Gillani, Beo Raana Zafar and Eman Suleman.

Written by Farjad Nabi, and Gaur, the series is set in the timeless lanes of a mythical neighbourhood called ‘Androon Sheher’. It features stories of love, lust, power, and redemption.

Each story highlights women in a fearless light.

Nabi says, “‘Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam’ waves goodbye to the victim woman as seven fatales get their way through methods that are unexpected, sometimes horrifying, but always liberating. I am glad this show will be premiering on the Zee5 platform that focuses on bringing diverse and significant stories for

the global audience.”

Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 Global, Archana Anand said, “After the success of the genrebending Originals Churails and Dhoop Ki Deewar with Zindagi, we’re thrilled to bring a brilliant anthology under 'Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam'. As the foremost platform for South Asian content, we cherrypick stories from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh that will not only entertain audiences but also engage them at a deeper level. 'Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam' is one of those stories that’s not just about breaking stereotypes, but also creating new and powerful women characters who will be celebrated for their personalities.”

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I once gatecrashed Sonam Kapoor’s party: Sharvari Wagh

27 Nov - 3 Dec 2021

Alia lets her hair down at Anushka-Aditya's wedding festivities Actor Aditya Seal and Anushka Ranjan tied the knot after a series of wedding festivities that starred celebrities like Alia Bhatt, Vaani Kapoor, Krystle D’souza, Athiya Shetty, and others. Photos and videos from the events made the rounds on social media platforms and from what we gathered, it was quite the celebration.

A video showed actresses Alia, Athiya, and Vaani grooving together to dhol beats. Another video shared by a fan account showed Alia, Akansha and others dancing to the viral TikTok song, Sick With It Crew Drop. They threw off their sunglasses as the song ended and transitioned to Didi. Another video showed them all dancing to Lover,

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In a recent interview during the promotions of her debut film ‘Bunty Aur Babli 2’, Sharvari Wagh opened up about real-life cons she pulled off. Playing a round of ‘Never Have I Ever’, the actress said she gatecrashed Sonam Kapoor’s Diwali party once. She said, “I did it. I gatecrashed Sonam Kapoor’s Diwali party. I have a few friends, who were going to the party and I tagged along. I tagged in too fast as they have a list of guests at the door. This was when nobody knew me.”

Her co-star from the movie, Siddhant Chaturvedi, meanwhile, said that he doesn’t have the guts to pull something like that off and that he has only crashed “gully and mohalla” parties. “Itni him mat nahi hui ke Sonam Kapoor ke party mein jaun (I’ve never had the guts to crash Sonam Kapoor’s party).”

Released last week, ‘Bunty Aur Babli 2’ has received mixed reactions from fans and critics alike.

Tesher’s Jalebi Baby, Chhalka Re from Saathiya and more.

Aditya proposed to Anushka in Paris in October 2019. The two recently spoke about their wedding plans and said they wanted to get married sooner, “but then we waited for the pandemic to get over.”

Anushka added, “I have never wanted a big fat wedding, and I am happy we are having a small celebration with close friends. Also, I am not someone who will fuss over her lehenga or take days to decide on songs for my sangeet. The feeling of becoming a wife hasn’t sunk in yet, but I am happy that I will be with someone I have loved and known for a long time now and everyone around me is happy, too. That’s ideal.”

Feel new and energised, Yami on nearing a decade in Bollywood Actress Yami Gautam pegs 2019 as a career defining year for her, especially with the release of ‘Uri : The Surgical Strike’ and ‘Bala’.

Speaking in an interview, she said, “I knew that for me, to be able to stand out, I need to connect with the story and work with directors who believe in my craft and my caliber. 2019 was that year for me.

That’s how this whole series of interesting films started.”

Close to completing a decade in the film industry, Yami agrees she always wanted to move against the flow. Speaking in an interview, she said, “When I came to the city until I did my first film, I was fearless. But certain choices were made out of fear that a film worked for someone, it’ll also work for me. That “bhed-chaal” didn’t work for me. I came here with a very individualistic approach in terms of what I want to do. Advices are always welcome but eventually the decision has to be yours.”

She added, “It’s going to be 10 years, but I’ve just begun. That’s how new and energised I feel. That’s what you can do as an actor, leave everything behind and come fresh on a film and create something new.” The actress has an entire slew of films on the line including ‘Dasvi’, ‘OMG 2’, ‘A Thursday’, and ‘Lost’. Her recent release ‘Bhoot Police’ also got her positive reviews.

“I will be the silliest liar if I say I haven’t ever been this busy before. I’m shooting my sixth film this year. It’s not just about quantity but what kind of work you are doing. It’s been a good year,” she said. Yami has over the years collaborated with filmmakers like Shoojit Sircar, Amar Kaushik, Sanjay Gupta, Ram Gopal Varma, and others. She has also shared screen space with Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Ayushmann Khurrana, Vicky Kaushal, Varun Dhawan, and Shahid Kapoor.

Film background does not always mean privilege: Rani Mukerji

Rani Mukerji who is gearing up for the release of ‘Bunty Aur Babli 2’, spoke about the trials she experienced before making it big in Bollywood. She said that despite belonging to a reputed family with strong connections to the world of cinema, she was not exactly privileged. Rani’s father Ram Mukherjee was a film director, and her mother Krishna Mukherjee was a playback singer.

Rani explained that belonging to a film family did not guarantee wealth, back in the day. People would sell their homes just to release their films, and producers would be “left on the roads” because they didn’t have moneyRani said, “Being from a film family does not always speak of any privilege. People are poor also, they come from humble backgrounds.”

The actress, who made her film debut in 1996 with her father’s Bengali film ‘Biyer Phool’, said she wasn’t cast because she was “somebody’s daughter, somebody’s niece”. She was cast probably because he noticed a “spark” in her.

Rani said, “I was chosen because he thought I probably had the spark to be able to face the camera. And I did have to give an audition. The director and the DOP [director of photography] liked the way I looked, and Salim uncle was confident enough. All actors who make it big in the industry are newcomers when they start off, and they start somewhere. It was the same case with me. I started and I worked on myself and worked hard. I am happy that today I have fans who support me through thick and thin.”

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27 Nov - 3 Dec 2021

Nadiya’s workout goes Shruti Haasan does not viral on the internet want to pretend to be single Actress Shruti Haasan recently revealed details about her relationship with illustrator boyfriend Santanu Hazarika.

Speaking on Mandira Bedi’s show ‘The Love Laugh Live Show’, Shruti said the two developed a strong connection through art and other similar interests.

When Mandira asked her about Santanu and their relationship, Shruti revealed that Santanu had done a piece of art for one of their common friends but they had never really met each other properly. The actor said, “I think we crossed paths a couple of times and we completely just walked past each other.” Shruti said she and Hazarika started chatting online and had a lot of common interests like their love for art, Swedish metal band Meshuggah and graphic novels. She said, “Everything basically that I love.”

When asked if she wanted to hide the relationship with Shantanu, Shruti said, “I hid a lot in the past. I have been very particular. I have been like, ‘Oh my God, I am totally single’ for the longest time. Because people were like ‘you have to appear that way, you have to appear desirable, available’. And one day I was like, ‘For whom? For what?’ I also felt like it was disrespectful to my partner– to hide it. It may or may not work out. We don’t know but I think it’s important to respect your environment and the people in it.

Suriya over ‘Jai Bhim’ controversy: Thankful for the trust Tamil superstar Suriya took to Twitter last week to thank everyone who expressed solidarity with him in light of the fresh controversy surrounding his latest movie ‘Jai Bhim’. Suriya tweeted, “Dear all, this love for #Jaibhim is overwhelming. I’ve never witnessed this before! Can’t express in words how thankful I am for the trust & reassurance you all have given us. Heartfelt thanks for standing by us.”

The statement came a day after he received immense support from top movie celebrities as he faced threats. Meanwhile, Suriya’s Chennai residence has been provided with police security as the row continues to get bigger by the day.

Suriya’s ‘Jai Bhim’, which depicts systematic violence and discrimination against a marginalised tribal group, has received a lot of positive attention. However, the Vanniyar community has protested against certain scenes and served a legal notice to the film’s producer and director TJ Gnanvel, demanding £500,000 in damages.

Actress Nadiya posted quite the workout video on Instagram last week. The clip has gone on to garner more than 30K likes, and serves as an inspiration to all those who intend to venture down the fitness path. An active social media user Nadiya often treats her fans with snippets of her daily life.

Her workout video featured her completing a bunch of cardio, strength training and other exercises. She captioned it, “A huge Shout Out to all those who wanna Work Out !! Go #TrainLikeGhani #GhaniAnthem #Ghani”. She also tagged many Tollywood stars in her post and motivated them.

Nadiya predominantly appeared in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films. She made her Tamil debut through the movie ‘Poove Poochadava’ and also won the Filmfare award for best actress. She quit the show biz after her wedding with Shirish Godbole and settled in the United States.

She made her comeback in Tamil films with M. Kumaran and received critical acclaim for her performance.

Simbu breaks down during ‘Maanaadu’ pre-release event In a shocking turn of events, actor Simbu broke into tears while speaking at the pre-release event of his upcoming film ‘Maanaadu’. Without taking names, he claimed that he has been hounded by some people and requested his fans to keep supporting him like always.

“I faced a lot of problems,” Simbu said before choking up. He was consoled by director Venkat Prabhu and his friend Mahat. He later added, “They keep giving me a lot of problems. I will handle all of them. You just take care of me.” The actor has courted a slew of controversies concerning both his personal and professional life. He was served a “red card” by the Tamil producers’ council, and even fired from ‘Maanaadu’ by the movie producer Suresh Kamatchi. After which he announced that he would make ‘Maghaa Maanadu’ along with his father T Rajendhar, however, the project never happened.

He, however, ironed out the differences with the makers of ‘Maanaadu’ later. The movie is a fantasy drama about a man, who is trapped in a time loop and he’s forced to live the same day over and over again. The film also stars Kalyani Priyadarshan, S. J. Suryah, Bharathiraja, S. A. Chandrasekhar, Karunakaran, Premgi Amaren among others. ‘Maanaadu’ will open in cinemas on November 25.

SATURDAY 27 NOV 6.00

TV Listing

BHAV BHAV NA BHARTHAR

14.00 RASOI SHOW

18.30 ABHILASHA - EK ASTITVANI 19.00 BHAKT GORA KUMBHAR 19.30 MARU MAN MOHI GAYU

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 29 NOV FRI 3 DEC 2021 6.00 MARI NANANDINO VEER 14.00 RASOI SHOW 18.30 ABHILASHA - EK ASTITVANI 19.00 BHAKT GORA KUMBHAR 19.30 MARU MAN MOHI GAYU 20.00 RASHI RIKSHAWALI 20.30 MOTI BAA NI NANI VAHU 21.00 PREM NI BHAVAI 21.30 BOLO KETLA TAKA

20.00 RASHI RIKSHAWALI

20.30 MOTI BAA NI NANI VAHU

21.00 PREM NI BHAVAI

21.30 SUDI VACHCHE SOPARI

SUNDAY 28 NOV 12.00 Ventilator

15.00 I'm Gujju

18.00 BHAKT GORA KUMBHAR

19.00 SHU CHALE CHE

19.30 MOTI BAA NI NANI VAHU 22.00 SHU CHALE CHE

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 29 NOV FRI 3 DEC 2021 9.00 BIGG BOSS15-WEEKEND KA VAAR 15.00 DIL KA RISHTA 15.30 DIL SE DIL TAK 16.00 TUM KAUN PIYA 16.30 RASOI SHOW DESI FLAVOURS 17.30 CHHUTA CHHEDA 18.00 SASURAL SIMAR KA 18.30 TU AASHIQUI 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 19.30 EK SHRINGAAR SWABHIMAAN 20.00 BALIKA VADHU 2 20.30 SIRF TUM

21.00 THAPKI PYAR KI 2 21.30 SASURAL SIMAR KA 2 SATURDAY 27 NOV 9.00 BIGG BOSS 15 16.30 RASOI SHOW-DESI FLAVOURS 17.30 DESI BEAT 3 18.00 SASURAL SIMAR KA 18.30 TU AASHIQUI 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 19.30 EK SHRINGAAR SWABHIMAAN 20.00 KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA 21.00 THAPKI PYAR KI 2 21.30 SASURAL SIMAR KA 2 SUNDAY 28 NOV 9.00 BIGG BOSS 15 16.30 RASOI SHOW-DESI FLAVOURS 17.30 DESI BEAT 3 18.00 BFFs with Vogue - Season 2 19.00 Comedy Nights with Kapil 20.00 KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA

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India make clean sweep of T20 series against NZ India produced a clinical allround performance to thrash New Zealand by 73 runs in the third and final T20 and complete a 3-0 clean sweep in the three-match series at the iconic Eden Gardens, in Kolkata on Sunday. A fantastic 50 by captain Rohit Sharma (56 off 31 balls) and some late charge by the lower-order powered India to a competitive 184/7 in 20 overs.

Apart from Rohit, Ishan Kishan (29), Venkatesh Iyer (20) and Shreyas Iyer (25) also got good starts but they failed to capitalise. Mitchell Santner (3/27) was the highest wickettaker for the Kiwis.

In reply, Martin Guptill’s 50 (51 off 36 balls) went in vain as New Zealand were bowled out for 111 in 17.2 overs, losing by 73 runs. Tim Seifert (17) and Lockie Ferguson (14) also chipped in with the bat for the Kiwis but it

wasn’t enough to save them from a huge loss. Axar Patel (3/9) was the most successful bowler for India. Opener Guptill was New Zealand’s second success story of the day after stand-in skipper Mitchell Santner. The left-arm spinner, who walked in at the toss in place of Tim Southee, finished with three for 27. More importantly, he

applied the brakes when India seemed to be running away with the game.

For India, Sunday’s dead rubber was always going to be a platform to experiment and they did not disappoint. With Ishan Kishan walking in alongside Rohit to open the innings, another in-form player KL Rahul was being rested and

an outstanding opening combination was being broken.

The Kishan experiment paid off as long as it lasted, which was the powerplay zone of six overs. Both Rohit and Kishan went after the bowlers, with the skipper smacking some delectable shots. Kishan too had his moments, although with not as much authority as his senior partner. The six overs following powerplay fetched 39 runs and cost India four wickets.

Although the run-rate had plummeted, India still had enough on board, thanks to the blitz at the start. There were adequate reasons not to panic and more proof of the importance of a great start. The two Iyers – Shreyas and Venkatesh – scored briskly before Deepak Chahar’s cameo ensured India crossed the 180mark to set up a challenging target.

Cricket authorities in England promise cultural change England's leading cricket institutions have apologised to former player Azeem Rafiq for the racism he suffered during his career, admitting that discrimination is a “blight” on the game, and promised cultural change. The statement followed crisis talks in London, where the England and Wales Cricket Board, the domestic governing body; the Marylebone Cricket Club, which owns the Lord’s venue and is the guardian of the laws of the game; professional players and counties discussed measures to tackle racism and discrimination.

They said they had been “shocked, shamed and

saddened” by the revelations made by Rafiq in parliament this week. The former Yorkshire player said racism was widespread in the sport across the country. As further allegations emerged, the crisis escalated to one of national significance. The scale of the meeting shows how serious the allegations are for a sport that had already pledged to be more diverse and welcoming to new fans and players from different backgrounds as it seeks to broaden its appeal.

Failing to tackle racism could lead to big governance changes for the game, and particularly the ECB. Nigel

Somerset seamer Jack Brooks apologises to Pujara Somerset seamer Jack Brooks issued an apology for his role in nicknaming India batter Cheteshwar Pujara as "Steve" during his time at Yorkshire. He also issued an apology for using racist language in his tweets which date back to 2012. "I acknowledge that the language used in two tweets I made in 2012 was unacceptable and I deeply regret using it. I unreservedly apologise for any offence caused to anybody who may have seen these tweets," Brooks said in his statement.

Earlier in the week, Brooks' name had featured in Azeem Rafiq's testimony in front of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee. Rafiq had said that Brooks had started the practice of referring to Pujara as "Steve".

"With reference to my naming in Azeem Rafiq's statement to MPs this week, the use of the name 'Steve' related to some people having difficult names to pronounce. When this has occurred in the past in a dressing room environment, it has been commonplace to give nicknames, regardless of creed or race. I admit to having used it in this context and now accept that it was disrespectful and wrong to do so," said Brooks.

Huddleston, the UK sports minister, has threatened “the nuclear option” of legislating to establish an independent regulator. “To Rafiq and all those who have experienced any form of discrimination, we are truly sorry,” the group said after meeting for several hours at the Oval ground. “Our sport did not welcome you, our game did not

accept you as we should have done.

We apologise unreservedly for your suffering.”

Rafiq, 30, told a House of Commons hearing that he and other people from Asian backgrounds had been subjected to racist bullying during his playing days at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, urging authorities to tackle the issue.

MI, Man U owners, SRK part of six-team Emirates T20 league The Glazers, the family that owns and runs the Manchester United football club, along with Mumbai Indians, Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders franchise, financial services company Capri Global, Kiran Kumar Grandhi of Delhi Capitals and Big Bash League (BBL) club Sydney Sixers are now part of the band new Emirates T20 League that’s all set to get underway in early 2022.

The six-franchise league – a brainchild of former IPL chief operating officer Sundar Raman, and now being run by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) with the blessings of Sheikh Al Nahyan, who heads the UAE Ministry of Culture, Youth & Social Development – had been in the making for a couple of years now and will finally see the light of the day tentatively in January next year. ECB is all set to lock in a broadcaster soon.

Raman first began working on the league two years ago and the business model backing it and multiple IPL owners MI, CSK

and KKR – initially took interest. “However, as things changed and the ECB took charge, CSK opted out. Meanwhile, financial services company Capri Global too had submitted bids for an IPL franchise in the recent auction and are learnt to be taking active interest in the sport’s T20 landscape.

Delhi Capitals co-owner Grandhi is learnt to be investing in the league from an individual perspective. DC's other 50% coowner Parth Jindal will not be a part of this league. And for Shah Rukh, Dubai has always been a second home to him. This 'desert league' will work on a unique business model where the franchises will invest on an annual basis and work on substantial returns through broadcast and sponsorships. While there’s no word on whether the BCCI – that now shares a good working relationship with the ECB – will allow any Indian players to participate, the league’s organisers expect cricketers from across the globe to show huge interest.

in brief BCCI PRESIDENT GANGULY TO CHAIR ICC COMMITTEE BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has been appointed as the chair of the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee. Ganguly, the former India captain, succeeds his former teammate and India captain Anil Kumble, who stepped down after having served the maximum of three three-year terms. The decision was taken at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board Meeting in Dubai last week. “I am delighted to welcome Sourav to the position of Chair of the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee. His experience as one of the world’s best players and latterly as an administrator will help us shape our cricketing decisions moving forward. I would also like to thank Anil for his outstanding leadership over the last nine years which has included improving the international game through more regular and consistent application of DRS and a robust process for addressing suspect bowling actions,” said ICC chairman Greg Barclay.

SMRITI MANDHANA SMASH TON IN WBBL India women's team opening batter Smriti Mandhana became the first Indian player to score a century in the Women's Big Bash League. The southpaw achieved the feat during a game between the Sydney Thunder and the Melbourne Renegades at the Harrup Park in Queensland. Mandhana, who plays for the Thunder, stayed unbeaten on 114*, but couldn't take her team over the line as the Renegades won the game by a narrow margin. After winning the toss, Thunder decided to bowl against the Renegades. After being put on to bat first, the Renegades got off to a poor start as opener Jemimah Rodrigues and Carly Leeson were dismissed for cheap by Samantha Bates and Issy Wong, reducing the team to 9/2. However, Evelyn Jones and Harmanpreet Kaur steadied their ship, adding 91 runs for the third wicket before the former was also dismissed by Bates for a 33-ball 42. Harmanpreet, however, continued her onslaught as she and Jess Duffin took the Renegades to a total of 175/4. Harmanpreet remained unbeaten on 81 off 55 balls while Duffin was run out on the final ball of the Renegades' innings.

PAINFUL END TO PAINE’S CAPTAINCY Distraught and in tears, Tim Paine stepped down as captain of Australia’s Test cricket team after revelations he had been investigated and cleared over sexually explicit text messages sent to a female colleague four years ago. The scandal plunged Australia’s Ashes preparations into disarray three weeks before the first Test begins in Brisbane and placed the 36-yearold wicketkeeper’s international career in jeopardy. Breaking down while reading from a statement, Paine admitted he had been investigated by the sport’s national integrity unit over messages he sent to a former Cricket Tasmania staffer in 2017, a few months before he took over the captaincy.

Though cleared of wrongdoing, the husband and father-of-three said, on reflection, his actions had not met the standards of an Australian cricket captain or the wider community. “I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and pain that I have caused to my wife, my family, and to the other party,” Paine told reporters in Hobart. “I’m sorry for any damage that this does to the reputation of our sport and I believe that it is the right decision for me to stand down as captain, effective immediately.”