AV 30th November 2024

Canada says no proof to link

FAITH LEADERS OPPOSE ASSISTED DYING

Clashes erupt in Bangladesh over arrest of Iskcon priest

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari

Russian President Vladimir Putin and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Liz Kendall pledges to reduce welfare dependence

that those relying on benef its are poorer, less healthy, and less happy She is staking her

t h e welfare bill and helping more people return to work

Speaking at a job centre

i n St r a t fo rd , E a s t L o n d o n , Kendall explained her unwavering belief in the value of work, stating, “The benef its of work go far beyond a pay-

c h e c k Wo r k b r i n g s p r i d e , self-respect, dignity, and is good for your mental health

As a woman, I believe work can also bring independence and equality ” When asked if she was committing to reducing the number of people on welfare, she conf irmed, “Yes I’m not in politics to fail I’m here to succeed And this will be one

of the biggest reforms this government implements ”

focusing on providing more opportunities for work A central part of her plan will involve a tough new ultimatum for young adults: those aged 21 and under will be required to either take up work or training, with benef

who refuse

She will also introduce measures to cut £3 billion annually from the welfare budget by reassessing those on long-term sick and dis-

quently

NHS short staffing linked to 4 ,000 deaths

A d am n i ng s tu d y h a s rev ealed that NHS staff ing sh ortag es are responsible for at least 4,0 00 extra d eath s annually

The research, conducted

b y C a m b r i d g e Un i v e r s i t y Hospitals Foundation Trust and the University of Surrey, analysed data from 8 1 million patients admitted to 148 h o s p i t a l t r u s t s a c r o s s England It found that high turnover rates among nurses and senior doctors, compounded by a reliance on a g e n c y w o r ke r s , d i r e c t l y c o n t r i b u t e d t o a r i s e i n

d e a t h s , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n

A c c i d e n t & E m e r g e n c y (A&E) departments

The study, which covered the period from 2010 to 2019, highlighted that each 1 2 1 p e r c e n t a g e p o i n t increase in nurse turnover r o u g h l y a n a d d i t i o n a l 2 0 nurses leaving per month was linked to 35 extra deaths per 100,000 hospital admiss i o n s w i t h i n 3 0 d a y s Si m i l a r l y, i n c r e a s e d turnover among senior doctors resulted in an additiona l 1 4 d e a t h s p e r 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 admissions These f indings

s u g g e s t t h a t t h e h i g h turnover rate is responsible fo r a p p r ox i m a t e l y 4 , 0 2 0 additional deaths each year

D r G i u s e p p e Mo s c e l l i , lead researcher, emphasised

that the real impact of staff shortages goes beyond mortality rates, as it also worsens patient outcomes and creates a strain on remaining staff Patricia Marquis from the Royal College of Nu r s i n g ( R C N ) c a l l e d fo r improved recruitment and retention, citing how pressures like low pay and overw h e l m i n g w o r k l o a d s a

patient safety

T h e N H S’s w o r k fo r c e crisis was further exacerbated by a £150,000 shortfall of permanent staff identif ied in last year ’ s NHS workforce review

MPs to summon Musk on X's riot role

M Ps are set to su mmon Elon M us k to tes tify abo ut X's role in the spread of disinformation as p art of a parliam entary inquir y into the UK riots and the rise of h armful

A I- g en era ted co nt ent, th e Guardian has learned Senior executives from Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, as well as TikTok, are also expected to be called to answer questions in the Commons science and technology select

c o m m i t t e e's i n v e s t i g a t i o n into social media The f irst hearings will take place in

the new year, amid growing c

safety laws may struggle to ke

evolving technology and the increasing politicisation of platforms like X The MPs will examine the impact of generative AI,

images on Facebook and X

killing of three schoolgirls in Southport in August The inquir y will also scrutinise Silicon Valley business models that may promote the

harmful content C

AI exploited for sextortion, scams, child abuse, warns UK police chief

A senior police off icial h as w arned that paedo philes, scam mers, hackers, and oth er crimi nals are i nc reasi ng ly exp loi ti ng arti f ic ial intelligence (A I) to targ et v ictims in harmful and innovativ e w ays Alex Murray, the national police lead for AI, highlighted the rapid growth of AI use in criminal activities due to its increasing accessibility, stressing the need for law enforcement to “ move fast” to keep up with emerging threats

“Historically, criminals have always found inventive ways to commit crime, and AI is no different They’re def initely using it now, ” Murray said “Whether it’s on a large-scale international level or happening in someone ’ s bedroom, AI is being leveraged across various types of crime Just think of any crime, apply the AI lens, and it opens up new opportunities ”

At the National Police Chiefs’ Council c o n fe re n c e i n L o n d o n , Mu r r ay e x p re s s e d concerns about AI-driven fraud, particularly “AI heists” where criminals use deepfake technology to impersonate company executives, fooling employees into transferring signif icant amounts of money One notable case this year involved a f inance worker at a multinational f irm who was tricked into transferring HK$200 million (£20 5m) after a video call with scammers posing as the company ’ s chief f inancial off icer Similar incidents have been reported globally, with the f irst such heist believed to have targeted a UK energy f irm in 2019 Murray, also director of threat leadership at the National Crime Agency, described this as a “high-cost, low-prevalence crime,” noting that he is personally aware of dozens of similar cases in the UK However, he said that the largest volume of AI-driven criminal activity is coming from paedophiles who are using generative AI to create disturbing images and videos of child sexual abuse

Family accuses police after woman's tragic death

The family of Har shit a Bre lla, a 24 -ye ar-old Ind ia n woman foun d dea d in a car boot in e ast Lon don, hav e accuse d t he police of failin g to prot ect her despite he r f ilin g a compla in t a bout dome stic a buse wee ks ea rlie r Brella's body was discovered last Thursday in Ilford, and her husband, Pankaj Lamba, is the primar y suspect, though police believe he has fled the countr y Brella, who moved to the UK in April after an arranged marriage to Lamba, had reportedly experienced ongoing abuse since arriving in the UK On August 28, she fled her home in Northamptonshire and sought help from a colleague before allegedly f i l i n g c h a r g e s o f d o m e s t i c a b u s e a g a i n s t Lamba, after which he was arrested

UK WORKERS EXPERIENCE EUROPE'S HIGHEST JOB STRESS

British workplaces are among the least favourable in Europe for long hours, tight deadlines, and limited autonomy, yet these conditions fail to boost productivity, a new report reveals Prepared as the Labour government drafts stricter employment rules, the report highlights that three -fifths of UK workers face tight deadlines two -fifths work at high speed, and only a third have control over their work pace among the worst metric s in Europe The study commissioned by the Commission for Healthier Working Lives a body established by the Health Foundation with trade union representation calls for immediate action on long hours work intensity, and lack of work autonomy, according to Jonny Gifford, a principal research fellow at the Institute for Employment Studies Co -author Tony Wilson, a former IES director, recently joined the Labour ministry as a senior advisor Businesses have expressed concerns over the government ’s approach The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) warned that stricter employment regulations, combined with rising social security taxes and an increasing minimum wage, could harm employment wages, and investment

UK TOURISTS MAY FACE LOCAL VISITOR LEVY

Millions of tourists visiting the UK may soon face a local visitor levy as councils seek additional funds to support essential services Nearly half of Scotland s councils are considering implementing a tourist tax on overnight stays to manage the strain of increased tourism on destinations like Skye, the Callanish Stones on Lewis, and Orkney s neolithic sites Highland Council overseeing popular spots such as Skye’s Fairy Pools and the Glenfinnan Viaduct, is consulting businesses and residents on a proposed 5% levy on overnight stays, potentially starting in late 2026

LONDON CITY, BRISTOL , AND BIRMINGHAM AIRPORTS UP FOR SALE

Labour chair of the committ

aspects of this I would certainly like the opportunity to cross-examine him and see how he reconciles his

with his support for disinformation " Peter Mandelson, a former Labour minister tipped

ambassador to Washington, recently called for an end to the UK government's "feud"

The family claims that, despite her reporting the abuse, Brella received inadequate support from the police, describing a period of i s o l a t i o n a n d fe a r i n t e m p o r a r y h o u s i n g where she had a miscarriage Her sister, Sonia Dabas, believes that police mishandled the case and that their response left Brella feeling abandoned and unsafe, ultimately leading her to reconnect with her abusive husband

A Northamptonshire police spokesperson stated, “This tragic case will undergo a domestic homicide review, during which all police a c t i o n s w i l l b e t h o r o u g h l y e x a m i n e d

Therefore, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time ”

T h e f a m i l y i s d e m a n d i n g j u s t i c e a n d answers from UK authorities, with Harshita's father, Satbir Brella, prioritising bringing his daughter's body home to conduct traditional funeral rites The family has criticised both No r t h a m p t o

I n d i a n embassy for their lack of assistance in repatriating her body

Birmingham, Bristol, and London City airports are reportedly being offered for sale by their owner, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), as the fund seeks to capitalise on the postpandemic rebound in air travel OTPP which holds stakes of 25%-70% in the airports is in discussions with minority shareholders who have a 30 - day right of first refusal However the potential sale could also lead smaller stakeholders to divest their shares The portfolio, including Copenhagen and Brussels airports, is valued at over £10 billion In case minority shareholders decline the offer, OTPP has approached potential external buyers, such as Australian investor Macquarie, according to reports from The Sunday Times The UK government has been monitoring foreign investments closely, aiming to encourage domestic stakeholders to invest in national infrastructure and boost pension returns for UK workers

Liz Kendall

Elon Musk

Time to press the ‘reset' button?

The UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is set to relaunch in early 2025, following discussions between British PM Keir Starmer and Indian PM Narendra Modi at the G20 Summit

This relaunch comes after a period of political instability in the UK that had previously stalled negotiations

As the FTA takes shape, it promises to play a crucial role in reinforcing bilateral ties, diversifying global supply chains, and reducing dependence on China It also highlights the challenges both countries face as they navigate the complex terrain of trade, immigration, and bureaucratic hurdles

For the UK, post-Brexit economic strategy increasingly focuses on building stronger ties with India, the world’s fifth-largest economy and one of its fastest-growing markets In return, India stands to benefit from enhanced access to the UK a key gateway to European markets

However, several hurdles persist, particularly high UK tariffs on Indian exports and restrictive immigration policies that continue to impact workforce mobility The proposed FTA aims to alleviate these barriers, offering the potential for job creation, increased economic growth, and better market access for businesses in both countries With current trade valued at £29 6 billion, the FTA presents an opportunity to solidify these economic ties and create longterm prosperity for both sides

While trade relations are critical, the UK’s visa policies continue to be a focal point of discussion Indian nationals consistently receive the highest number of visas for visiting, studying, and working in the UK, reflecting the growing importance of India as a partner The UK’s willingness to

maintain open and supportive visa policies signals its ongo-

However, challenges remain in ensuring these policies are accessible and equitable

Visa applications to countries like the UK and those in the Schengen zone continue to be an arduous process, espec

nationals, in particular, face significant hurdles in navigating the bureaucratic maze of visa requirements

High fees, long wait times, and the increasing likelihood of rejections create frustration for those seeking to travel In fact, between 2013 and 2023, the refusal rate for Schengen visas tripled from 5% to 16%, while wait times for US visas stretch to over a year in cities like Mumbai

The booming visa-processing market, forecast to exceed $5 billion by 2030, demonstrates how visa restrictions are monetised While governments defend outsourcing as a means to reduce administrative burdens, the high costs and cumbersome processes place a strain on individuals, limiting the potential for economic exchanges With countries like India being some of the world’s largest spenders on tourism and business, relaxing visa policies could significantly boost trade, tourism, and cross-cultural exchange

Ultimately, the UK-India FTA and its associated challenges around visa policy reflect the broader need to balance national security and economic openness Strengthening the partnership between these two nations is essential for global growth and prosperity, but it requires addressing both the trade barriers and visa-related frustrations that continue to hinder the full potential of this relationship

The global charm of cricket and cinema

When you visit Lord’s Cricket Ground, amidst portraits of England’s cricketing greats, you’ll also see the faces of global icons like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Bishan Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, and Brian Lara

Each is displayed with equal reverence and pride, underscoring cricket’s universal appeal and its ability to transcend national boundaries

Introduced by the British, cricket has evolved into a global phenomenon, deeply rooted in the cultures of countries with colonial histories and beyond Today, the “gentlemen’s game ” thrives in over 100 nations, celebrated in formats ranging from timeless Test matches to high-octane T20 leagues For millions of fans, cricket is more than a sport, it’s a shared passion that bridges cultures and unites communities worldwide

Picture a cricket enthusiast in India, or anywhere in the world for that matter, cheering passionately for Sri Lanka or the West Indies They may have never visited these countries or know much about their culture, yet they feel an undeniable connection Fans are drawn by the underdog spirit, the brilliance of individual players, or the pure thrill of the game Cricket goes beyond the scoreboard, sparking curiosity and cultural appreciation by encouraging fans to explore the traditions and stories of the nations they support Global tournaments like the Cricket World Cup and leagues such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) epitomise cricket’s power to unite The IPL, in particular, stands as a testament to how cricket dissolves barriers, bringing together players from historically rival nations like India and Pakistan or Australia and England into the same teams These athletes

strategize, collaborate, and celebrate together, fostering mutual respect and camaraderie

Similarly, Bollywood has transcended borders through its captivating storytelling, vibrant music, and emotional depth By exploring universal themes like love, loss, and triumph, Bollywood bridges cultural divides, resonating with audiences worldwide

Raj Kapoor, affectionately called "Comrade Awaara" in the Soviet Union, remains a cultural icon in Russia decades after his passing His films forged a lasting bond with Russian audiences In Interlaken, Switzerland, a memorial honours Yash Chopra, whose films not only showcased the stunning Swiss Alps but also significantly boosted tourism to the region Meanwhile, global stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra have extended Bollywood’s reach, collaborating with Hollywood and captivating international audiences

Bollywood’s impact is equally profound in countries as diverse as Nigeria, Egypt, the United States, the UK, and the UAE In many of these regions, Indian films are dubbed into local languages or screened regularly in cinemas, reflecting their widespread popularity Bollywood’s music and films are now integral to cultural life in places like the Middle East, further strengthening cross-cultural bonds

Both cricket and Bollywood transcend entertainment they are powerful cultural forces that bring people together across the globe Whether through the exhilaration of a closely fought match or the emotional journey of a blockbuster film, they unite diverse audiences, dissolve borders, and foster a collective sense of humanity

A befitting opportunity for the BJP

Maharashtra witnessed a landmark victory for the Mahayuti alliance, which secured a commanding 234 out of 288 seats in the Assembly elections Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the Jan Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led INDIA coalition achieved a decisive win, forming the government for the second consecutive term by clinching 56 seats in the 81-member Assembly, defeating the BJP

The recent Maharashtra Assembly election results have delivered a clear and resounding message to the nation, especially to political observers within the state: the people of Maharashtra have decisively endorsed the policies and vision of the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government

The Mahayuti’s emphatic victory highlights the import a n c e o f s t r o n g r e g i o n a l l e a d e r s h i p , w i t h f i g u r e s l i k e

Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar playing pivotal roles However, the overarching narrative remains the soaring popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi These election results reaffirm the enduring appeal of Brand Modi while underscoring the widespread acceptance of the NDA’s developmental agenda, which has firmly resonated with the people of Maharashtra

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) played a pivotal role in consolidating Hindutva votes and engaging with Dalit communities, significantly contributing to the BJP's electoral success Its grassroots outreach and ability to build cultural and ideological alignment strengthened the party's position across diverse voter bases Additionally, the BJP's strong communication strategies proved instrumental in countering the Opposition's narratives, particularly those misrepresenting

BJP policies and their stance on the Constitution

The results in Jharkhand, which went to polls alongside Maharashtra, provided the INDIA alliance a much-needed boost Just six months ago, the BJP had dominated the Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand, winning nine of the 14 seats and leading in 50 assembly segments However, that summer wave has since receded, giving way to a political landscape shaped by tribal assertion and a pushback against the BJP’s perceived divisive strategies The JMM’s victory underscores the growing prominence of regional leaders and the rising influence of welfare-centric campaigns Programmes like the M

women, played a pivotal role in bolstering the JMM's performance This emphasis on welfare, particularly for women, is becoming a defining feature of electoral strategies in both Jharkhand and Maharashtra, signalling a shift in voter priorities

For the BJP, the defeat in Jharkhand is more than just an electoral setback it serves as a stark reminder of the risks of overlooking foundational support while pursuing broader ambitions Once celebrated as the creator of Jharkhand, the party now finds itself alienated from the very tribal communities it once vowed to uplift

Opposition, acting as a speed bump to the BJP-led NDA’s otherwise unchallenged pursuit of its core agenda However, it also presents an opportunity for the BJP leadership to reaffirm its dominance in Indian politics, especially given the Indian National Congress’s limited capacity to effectively counter its momentum

“In order to write about life first you must live it ” –

Political Sketchbook

Clashes at a Mosque Survey in India

few months a go I vi site d M athura The ma ndir i s ove rshadowe d by a monumen ta l mosque

This week people died at a 16th Century Mosque in Sambhal in UP State The survey was ordered by a local court last week, hours after a petition claimed that the mosque had been built on the site of a destroyed temple

The Ayodhya dispute, culminating in the landmark 2019 Supreme Court judgment, is among India's most contentious and historically significant legal cases However, it is critical to understand why this case is considered unique and why similar conversions cannot be legally sanctioned under Indian law Basically, if you thought all the Mosques built on Mandirs can be converted, you ’ re in for a (legal) surprise Unless the law is changed Unlikely

The Supreme Court judgment on the Ayodhya dispute hinged on several legal principles, primarily the application of the doctrine of adverse possession and the consideration of historical evidence regarding the site Here are the key legal aspects:

The Prop erty Dis pute: The case was primarily a title suit: the court ruled that the land belonged to Ram Lalla based on historical and archaeological evidence that suggested continuous worship by Hindus at the site

Doc tri ne of Ad verse Po ssessi on: The legal principle of adverse possession, which recognizes continuous and uninterrupted possession over a specific period, played a significant role in determining ownership

Evidence from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): The ASI's findings indicated the presence of a non-Islamic structure beneath the Babri Masjid, which was interpreted as evidence of a pre-existing Hindu temple

Secular Principles and Compensation: In its judgment, the Supreme Court emphasized that the decision did not endorse any form of religious favouritism To uphold secularism, the court directed the government to provide a five-acre plot of land in Ayodhya for the construction of a mosque as compensation for the demolished Babri Masjid

Why O ther Reli gi ous Conversio ns Cannot Be Permitted

The Ayodhya case is often cited as a unique instance, and its outcome cannot serve as a precedent for other religious conversions for several reasons:

The P lac es of Worshi p Act, 1991: This legislation is the most significant legal safeguard against the conversion of religious sites It mandates that the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947, must be maintained The only exception to this law is the Ayodhya dispute, as the case was already under litigation when the Act came into force

Protection of Secularis m: India's constitutional commitment to secularism ensures that all religious communities have equal rights to their places of worship Allowing conversions of religious sites would violate this principle and risk communal harmony

Jud ici al Precedent: The Ayodhya verdict was based on specific historical, archaeological, and legal contexts unique to the disputed site The judgment explicitly stated that its findings were not applicable to other cases and that the principles applied were limited to the facts presented in this specific instance

Mai ntaining Communal H armony: Given India s diverse religious landscape, the Places of Worship Act is crucial in preventing disputes that could lead to social unrest Any deviation from this law would threaten the fragile balance of communal relations in the country Before you let slip the dogs of war, think carefully what is important to you

If you want to convert places of worship legally, you would need to convert to another faith and go to a country where that faith is constitutionally enshrined as the official religion and above others in the Constitution That country isn’t India You might not like that But, that’s how democracies work You can lobby to change the constitution But you might as well ask the Uzbek Government for reparations for the invasion and conquest by Babur the Barbarian and creation of the Mongol Empire in India (Pronounced ‘Mughal’ by the sophisticated elite, Mongrol is the origin of Mongol –as in ‘mongrel dog’ one which is of no determined breed –because they raped and pillaged their way across central Asia’s many racial and ethnic groups )

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Alpesh Patel

Ernest Hemingway

£300k ketamine dealer jailed

A drug deal er ca ught with

o v e r £ 3 00 , 0 00 wo r t h of k etamine and cannab is in his car boot has bee n sente nce d t o over six yea rs in prison,

l e a v in g h is p r e g n a n

wi fe b ehind

A b d u l S u f f i , 3 0 , w a s described as a "delinquent"

d u e t o h i s p a s t o f f e n s e s , despite claiming his life had changed since meeting his partner He will now miss the birth of his first child and the early years of fatherhood Suffi was exposed as a key player in drug dealing after police responded to a violent incident on Hampton Road, Aston, on April 14 CCTV footage captured

him accessing the boot of his BMW, which was later seized by authorities Inside, offi-

bags containing illegal sub-

£300,000 and one containing cannabis worth £6,000 A

S

w a s n o t charged in connection with

possession of ketamine and

cannabis with intent to supply

On November 21, he was sentenced to six years and three months in prison at Birmingham Crown Court, with up to half the term to be served in custody The court heard Suffi had a history of 37 previous offenses,

perverting the course of justice

played a limited role in the drug operation, claiming he was holding the substances for someone else and had agreed to do so due to his cocaine addiction

Britain's largest police force to lose 2,000 officers

T h e M et ro p o li ta n P o li c e, Britain’s largest po lice force, i s b ra ci ng f o

g n if i ca nt cuts that could result in the lo ss of 2,0 00 o fficers and 4 00 civ ilian staff positio ns

'No religion' overtakes other faiths in civil service

For the first tim e, mo re civil serv ants identify as h av i ng no rel ig i o n th a n as C h ri st ia n, acco rding to the C abinet Office's 2024 civil serv ice statistics

The update shows that 168,870 civil servants reported having no religion, compared to 166,140 who identified as Christian This marks a significant shift, as Christianity was previously the dominant response in the survey In 2019, 92,690 civil servants said they had no religion, and 125,560 identified as Christian This means that around 15% of civil servants now report having no religion, up from about 10% five years ago

The next most common religious affiliat i o n s w e r e M u s l i m ( 2 1 , 6 6 0 ) , f o l l o w e d b y "other" (17,575), Hindu (7,265), Sikh (4,790), Buddhist (1,645), and Jewish (1,250) Despite 153,645 civil servants choosing not to answer the faith question, the proportion of respondents disclosing their faith has risen from 55% in 2019 to 72% in 2024

T e o d o r G r a m a , a r e s e a r c h e r a t t h e

I N B R I E

ENGLAND MAY TAX CARS BY WEIGHT

England may introduce a new car tax system that charges drivers based on vehicle weight rather than emissions A recent study in the East of England has criticised the current Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) system as "deeply flawed " The findings, outlined in the upcoming book Critical Mass The One Thing You Need to Know About Green Cars,’ challenge the current Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) system A spokesperson stated, “We are dedicated to supporting the automotive sector as we transition to electric vehicles to meet our legally binding climate targets ” Under the proposed system, car owners could save £100 annually by driving 1,000 fewer miles or opting for a vehicle that's 150kg lighter Felix Leach co-author of the report explained: “The proposed tax rates are compared with existing ones to highlight the winners and losers winners being small city cars while high-mileage heavy vehicles and SUVs fall into the losing category

The force faces a £450 m i l l i o n r e d u c t i o n t o i t s annual budget, prompting concerns about its ability to e

The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime is set to announce the new budget f i g u r e s a t 1 1 p m t o n i g h t , along with the tough measures required to address the f i n a n c i a l s h o r t f a l l M a t t C a n e o f t h e P

c e L o n d o n

Some police stations in the c a p i t a l a r e e x p e c t e d t o reduce their public opening

h o u r s , w i t h o p e r a t i o n s scaled back from 9 am to 5 pm The 12 8 per cent budg e t c u t , d o w n f r o m t h i s year ’ s £3 5 billion, surpasses

t h e " e y e - w a t e r i n g " r e d u ctions previously anticipated by Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley

we ’ ve said time and again, c u t s h a v e c o n s e q u e n c e s These will clearly impact the M

London effectively ” Retired

C h i e f S u p e r i n t e n d e n t Simon Ovens echoed these concerns, warning the cuts could push officers to leave for other careers

The Met is already projected to shrink to 32,750

Sir Mark Rowley

strength of 35,415 Losing an additional 2,000 officers in t h e n e x t f i n a n c i a l y e a r would bring numbers back to 2013 levels

Sir Mark Rowley recently voiced alarm over the proposed reductions, emphasizing that London's per capita spending on policing lags behind cities like New York and Sydney

Social care providers face collapse

E n gl and’ s a dul t soc ia l c ar e s ect or is set to f ace an addit ional £2 8 b ill ion in c os ts ne xt year, following c hanges a nnounce d in la st m onth’s B u dg e t , ne w r es ea r c h ha s r evealed

The Nuffield Trust found

t h a t c h a n g e s t o e m p l o y e r national insurance contributions (ENICs) alone will add more than £940 million to the sector’s financial burden

Additionally, the increase in the national living wage is expected to cost providers

a n o t h e r £ 1 8

local councils are unable to pay higher fees to social care providers, many small busi-

could be at risk of collapse

Nuffield Trust, said, "Adult social care is already fragile

cuts, inflationary pressures, and the impact of Covid-19

The sector was in desperate

Budget both gave with one hand and took away with the

other " She further cautioned that while the Government has expressed a commitment t

there might be little left to reform if the sector contin-

u e s t o f a c e s u c h f i n a n c i a l strain

David Fothergill, chair of t h e L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t A s s o c i a t i o

e d these concerns, urging the Government to fully fund the increases in the national living wage and ENIC contributions

Institute for Government, suggested that the increase in people reporting no religion may reflect growing comfort among staff in disclosing their beliefs, as seen in the reduced number of non-respondents

Schools lack funds to address rising behaviour issues

Scho ol leaders h av e exp ressed concerns o ver the lack of resources to ad dress rising challengi ng beh av iour in schools, with recent data hig hlighting a sharp increase in suspensions and exp ulsions since th e C ovid pandemic

A c c o r d i n g t o f i g u r e s f r o m t h e

Department for Education (DfE), the number o f s u s p e n s i o n s h a s n e a r l y d o u b l e d , w i t h 346,000 issued in the autumn term of 2023, c o m p a r e d t o 1 7 4 , 0 0 0 i n a u t u m n 2 0 1 9

Permanent exclusions also rose by nearly a third, from 3,167 in 2019 to 4,168 in 2023

T e a c h e r s h a v e r e p o r t e d w o r s e n i n g

behaviour, particularly among older students, with suspension rates in secondary schools rising by a third between 2022 and 2023

C o n c u r r e n t l y , s c h o o l s a r e g r a p p l i n g w i t h higher levels of absenteeism, a record number of students on free school meals, and an increase in pupils facing mental health challenges and special educational needs

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, warned that the education system is “teetering on the brink of collapse” due to funding shortages and a lack of specialist support He called on the government to urgently address these issues Education Minister Stephen Morgan acknowledged the crisis, pledging significant investments in special education and mental health support for schools

Nearly half of child sexual abuse perpetrators are underage

Nearly half o f those involved in g roup ch ild sexu al exp loitation are ag ed 10 to 17 , acco rding to police d ata

A national taskforce revealed that 48% of the 4,768 perpetrators recorded in 2023 fell within this age group Additionally, 430 were

under 10, despite the UK's age of criminal responsibility being 10

Assistant Chief Constable Becky Riggs, the UK’s lead for child pro-

behaviour among young offenders S

aim to criminalise

Assistant

Chief Constable Becky Riggs

behaviour, far beyond exploratory actions Ms Riggs stressed the need for

PHARMACIES MAY CUT HOURS OVER FUNDING ROW

Many pharmacies could stop opening in the evenings and weekends in the new year after owners voted for collective action for the first time The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said members do not want to cut services but have "no option" if the government does not increase funding Some pharmacies may also consider halting deliveries, consultations and emergency contraception services if an agreement cannot be reached The fees pharmacies receive for supplying medicines to the NHS are set at fixed rates by the government The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) highlighted that funding for pharmacies has not increased in a decade Over the past two years around 700 pharmacies in England have closed, with a total of 1,250 closures in the last ten years While pharmacies are contracted to operate for 40 hours per week most stay open for an average of 50 hours, according to the NPA

£600MN REDEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR DERELICT NORTH LONDON

SITE REVEALED

Riggs empha-

she said Richard Fewkes, director of the National Police Chiefs' Council child sexual exploitation taskforce, added that what some children see online has “normalised” harmful behaviour

Plans to redevelop a derelict area in North London will be revealed this month, aiming to deliver over 1 000 homes a new leisure centre hotel and parks The £600mn project part of the Hillside Regeneration Corridor in Stonebridge is a collaboration between Brent Council and Stonebridge Real Estate Development Limited (SRED) to transform Bridge Park and the vacant Unisys office site, which has been derelict for over 20 years The plans, set for exhibition at two November events for public feedback, propose more than doubling the size of the Bridge Park Leisure Centre, adding a new swimming pool, sports hall, gym meeting rooms, and café The redevelopment will bring over 1,000 new homes, parks, a 263-room hotel, and workspaces Developers aim to maximise environmental benefits and promote sustainable travel Brent Council states the Bridge Park Leisure Centre is beyond repair, with costly repairs, including major lift work, deemed unaffordable

"India's pragmatic diplomacy can guide UK's long-term goals"

Anusha Singh

Th is week marked a signi fi cant escalation in th e ongoing war i n Ukraine, as th e US and UK crossed a bo undary set by Russian President Vladimir Pu ti n

Both nations allowed Ukraine to fire Westernsupplied longer-range missiles into Russian territory, intensifying the conflict The UK is believed to have allowed its Storm Shadow missiles to be used in Russia’s Kursk region, while the US has given the green light for its ATACMS weapons to target sites within Russia

In response, Putin issued a stark warning to the UK, the US, and any other nations providing such weapons, stating that Russia considers itself entitled to strike military facilities in those countries that enable the use of their weapons against Russian targets As the war enters its third year, Putin’s threats raise an urgent question about what he will do next The Kremlin has accused the “collective West” of escalating the war, despite a history of being the primary actor driving escalation in the quest to assert control over Ukraine or, at the very least, to secure peace on his terms

From his initial fullscale invasion to his annexation of Ukrainian territories, Putin has repeatedly raised the stakes This week alone, he deployed North Korean troops to the Kursk region and targeted Ukraine’s Dnipro with a new hypersonic missile apart from issuing explicit threats to the West

Ni tish Rai Parwani, Head o f th e 'Diasp oric communities' desk at the Internatio nal Centre fo r Su stainability (ICfS), shared his perspective on this whole situation with Asian Voice, stating, “The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, now nearing its third year, continues to reshape global geopolitics With leadership change in the United States, the dynamics of international involvement are likely to shift significantly Donald Trump has hinted at reducing US funding to Ukraine and prioritising negotiations, signalling a possible pivot in Western strategy As a NATO member, a US ally, and a friend of Ukraine, the UK has supported Ukraine through military aid and sanctions on Russia,

despite the economic costs However, a shift in US policy may prompt the UK to reconsider its approach

“The UK faces critical decisions as these dynamics evolve A potential improvement in US-Russia relations under Trump, alongside Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO or other global alliances, demands a careful balancing act Furthermore, the post-war landscape will require the UK to reassess its international engagement strategy, fostering ties with both nations while safeguarding its national interests Adopting India’s pragmatic diplomacy could guide the UK in aligning its long-term goals with global peace and stability

“Amid this, India’s diplomatic stance stands out as a model of balance and maturity By maintaining cordial relations with both Russia and Ukraine, India has leveraged its position to advocate for dialogue and a peaceful resolution while avoiding overt alignment This strategy has allowed India to safeguard its strategic interests and promote peace simultaneously ” D iplomatic tensions h eigh ten

Russia expelled a British diplomat on Tuesday, accusing him of espionage and escalating tensions between the two countries Moscow stated that it would not tolerate "undeclared" intelligence officers operating on its soil, further fuelling an ongoing diplomatic dispute with London

The British government has denied the allegations, rejecting claims that one of its embassy employees was a spy This marks the latest in a series of espionage accusations that have contributed to the already fraught relationship between the two nations The Russian foreign ministry summoned British Ambassador Nigel

Casey after the FSB (Federal Security Service) claimed to have uncovered a British spy

The FSB identified the diplomat as the embassy's second secretary and accused him of conducting “intelligence and subversive activities that threatened Russia's national security Moscow’s foreign ministry stated that the diplomat was being expelled for providing false information on his visa and accreditation applications

State media footage showed Ambassador Casey surrounded by journalists as he arrived at the foreign ministry in Moscow The UK government quickly rejected the accusations, dismissing them as malicious and unfounded A Foreign Office spokesperson stated, “This is not the first time that Russia has made baseless accusations against our staff We will respond in due course ” This expulsion follows the earlier ejection of six British diplomats by Russia, also on espionage charges

In a separate move, Russia’s foreign ministry announced a travel ban on several British cabinet ministers, citing what it described as London’s “Russophobic” policies Among those targeted were Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, and ministers from various sectors including education, environment, health, and energy

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has added hundreds of Western politicians, journalists, and business leaders to its “stop list” in retaliation for Western sanctions and travel restrictions

The US Embassy in Kyiv was closed on Wednesday, November 20, due to concerns over a "potential significant air attack," according to a statement from the Department of State’s Consular Affairs

"Out of an abundance of caution, the embassy will be closed, and embassy personnel have been instructed to shelter in place," the statement read "The US Embassy advises American citizens to be prepared to take shelter immediately if an air alert is issued," the message posted on the embassy's website added

UK has lowest life expectancy in Western Europe

A repo rt by the Organisation for Econom ic Co-op eration and Dev elopm ent (OECD) h as found that the UK has the lo west life expectancy in Western Europe, with people in Britain and No rthern Ireland expected to live to nearly 81

The UK's life expectancy lags behind the EU average of 81 5 years and is the lowest in Western

Europe Life expectancy improvements stalled in the decade before the pandemic and have declined since

According to the Office for National Statistics, life expectancy in England and Wales from 2021 to 2022 was 79 years for men and 83 years for women, about six and three months shorter, respectively, than the record highs seen between 2017 and 2019

Experts attribute the UK's declining life expectancy to the obesity epidemic, preventable illnesses, and the high number of excess deaths during the pandemic The OECD report highlights that the UK has fallen behind other European countries, many of which have returned to prepandemic life expectancy levels

Gatwick Airport evacuated due to security incident

Gatwick Airport was evac uated on Friday, November 2 2, due to a "s ecurity inc ident," wi th hundreds of pass engers being told to leave as poli ce and emergency s ervic es respond to the situati on The official Gatwick Express account on X (formerly Twitter) announced: "Gatwick Airport will not be served until further notice due to

a police operation at the airport " Several passengers were left uncertain about the status of their flights after the sudden evacuation One passenger tweeted, “Gatwick airport evacuation today 10:27am All flights delayed ” In an update, Gatwick Airport confirmed, "A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we

continue to investigate the security incident Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal during this time " The statement emphasized, "The safety and security of our passengers and staff remains our top priority We are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible "

Nitish Rai Parwani

r

ce

of

During the seminar, I had the o

David and other members of the Jewish community, who shared insights about Israel's experiences in addressing similar challenges R

i n t o a B e n e

I s r a e l J e w i s h f a m i l y i n Ahmedabad He was the founder of the well-known Kankaria Zoo, n o w c a l l e d t h e K a m a l a N e h r u Zoological Garden, as well as the

C h a c h a N e h r u B a l v a t i k a i n Ahmedabad

It was fascinating to hear how Israel, which came into existence on 14 May 1948 as a small nation covering just 8,630 square miles, managed to overcome significant obstacles in its formative years Their innovative approaches and resourcefulness offered valuable lessons for addressing water crises

David Ben-Gurion, head of the Jewish Agency, declared the establishment of the State of Israel in

a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e U n i t e d

N a t i o n s ’ p l a n t o p a r t i t i o n Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states At that time, much of the land in Israel was barren, with limited natural resources and the population included approximately 650,000 Jewish people, while Arabs made up the majority in the region

F o r o v e r 2 , 0 0 0 y e a r s , t h e Jewish people lived as a stateless diaspora, often facing discrimination and expulsion In medieval Europe, entire Jewish communities were frequently expelled by monarchs or governments, includi n g i n E n g l a n d , w h e r e K i n g

From Adversity to Achievement : Exploring the common threads of Indian and Jewish History

Expulsion in 1290, forcing Jews to leave the country Similar expulsions occurred in other nations, such as Spain in 1492 during the Spanish Inquisition

Despite being scattered across E u r o p e a n d o t h e r p a r t s o f t h

world, often without a homeland or secure roots, the Jewish people maintained their cultural and religious identity This perseverance laid the foundation for their eventual return to the land of Israel in the 20th century, culminating in the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948

Today, nearly 74% of Israel's population is Jewish and the country has undergone an extraordin

innovative techniques such as drip

Israel has turned its once arid and rocky terrain into fertile farmland, making it a global leader in water

m

technology In addition to agriculture, Israel is now a highly developed nation with a thriving IT i n d u s t

defence sector and a per capita income of over $55,000 D

e p l y impressed not only to learn about Israel's innovative approaches to water management but also about the history of the Jewish people and the Jewish diaspora I also learnt that during the 17th and 18th centuries, Jewish scholars and thinkers began shaping the idea of

a Jewish homeland, which later evolved into Zionism

I came to know more about

moved to London as a student at Lincoln's Inn In June 1967, during the Six-Day War between Israel and its neighbouring countries, there was extensive coverage in the British press, which sparked my interest in the Jewish people and their history I also had the opportunity to know a Jewish student at the time and through our c o n v e r s a t i o n s , I g a i n e d i n s i g h t into the unique challenges faced by the Jewish community, both political and social Historically,

resilience and contributions to the global community Their success reminds me of our Zoroastrian friends, another small yet remarkably accomplished community In 1982, I had the opportunity

Jews are part of the Abrahamic faith tradition, Jesus Christ was

believed to have descended from the same Abrahamic lineage

What fascinated me the most is the extraordinary achievements of the Jewish people despite their small numbers A significant number of Nobel laureates are Jewish and their contributions span fields like science, literature and peace In India, figures like Lieutenant General J F R Jacob, a key leader in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and Jewish contributions to academia and cinema stand out

The Jewish diaspora and forma tion of IJA (n ow BIJA)

Like other diasporas, such as the Indian and Gujarati communities, the Jewish diaspora has also a c h i e v

d

e m a r k

s u c c e s s across various fields Their accomplishments in science, business,

Israeli leader faces arrest if he visits UK

I s ra eli P ri m e M i ni st er Binyamin Netanyahu faces p otential arrest if he enters B ri ta i n f o ll o w i ng an I n ter nat io n al C ri m i n al C o urt (IC C ) ru li ng c alling for h is trial on charg es of crimes against hum anity

The ICC panel of judges has accused Netanyahu of u s i n g " s t a r v a t i o n a s a method of warfare," as well as committing "murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts" during Israel's

o f f e n s i v e i n G a z a T h i s marks the first time the ICC has issued such a warrant against a leader of a Western democracy Under the ICC s jurisdiction, member states, including the UK, are obligated to arrest Netanyahu if he enters their territory

The UK's Labour Party l

, h

s expressed support for the ICC’s ruling, committing to respect its jurisdiction once it is ratified by a UK court A Downing Street spokesperson reaffirmed the UK government's c o m m i t m e n t t o c o m p l y with its legal obligations but emphasized that Israel has a right to defend itself, disting

groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah

The ruling has sparked s i g n i f i c a n t c o

v e r s y Israel has condemned the

office rejected the charges

straining relations with Israel and the

the US, which has expressed its rejection of the ICC’s decision

2023, also includes charges

Gallant A warrant was also issued for Hamas military c

Masri for crimes including mass killings and hostage-

ICC's actions,

Janner, who was also a columnist fo r Ne w Lif e fo r sever al years Along with individuals like Pranlal Sheth, Anil Pota, Arjun Lal Sharma and others, we discussed the many s i m i l a r i t i e s b e t w e e n t h e I n d i a n and Jewish communities, particularly in their way of life, culture and traditions This led to the idea of creating a socio-cultural organisation to foster closer ties between the two communities The Indian J e w i s h A s s o c i a t i o n ( I J A ) w a s founded in 1996 to facilitate the friendship between the Indian and Jewish communities with the supp o r t o f J e w i s h l e a d e r s M i k e Whine MBE and John Levy were involved for many years, before handing over the co-chairing to Z a k i C o o p e r a n d D r P e t e r S

C h a d h a A n i l R a j a n i a n d m a n y others have been dedicated to the cause of BIJA and continues to work tirelessly to advance its mission

I w a s p r i v i l e g e d t o h a v e a small contribution in IJA's founding Interestingly, the name IJA had already been in use since 1947 b y t h e I n d i a n J o u r n a l i s t s ' Association, a different organisation representing Indian journali s t s S o , t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n w a s

n c i a l C o n d u ct A u t h o r i t y ( FC A ) , ha s come un der fier ce crit icism in a d am nin g re por t from a g roup of MPs a nd pe ers T h e r e p o r t l a b e l s t h

F C A a s " i n c o m p e t e n t , " accusing it of repeatedly failing to perform its duties and calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the organisation

The FCA has been subject to increasing scrutiny in recent years, with several independent reviews highlighting its s h o r t c o m i n g s W h i l e t h e regulator did not have access to the full report before its publication, a spokesperson f o r t h e F C A t o l d t h e

named the British Indian Jewish Association (BIJA), focusing on social, cultural and other areas of collaboration to help both communities learn from one another and progress together This initiat i v e a i m e d t o s t r e n g t h e n t i e s , acknowledging the shared challenges and values between the Indian and Jewish communities It is important to recognise that the Jewish community has faced unique challenges, including the Holocaust and the ongoing experiences of being a diaspora In the 1960s and 1970s, there were dozens of Jewish MPs in the B r i t i s h P a r l i a m e n t a n d b y t h e 1980s, there were at times three to four Jewish cabinet ministers across different political parties This was a reflection of the community’s brilliance and contribution to British society Even today p

Maan,

Alpesh Patel, Kapil Dudakia and others continue to do exceptional work for their respective communities, ensuring that the legacy of Indian and Jewish achievements remains strong The creation of BIJA stands as an example of how communities can come together to support and learn from each other It highlights the deep and enduring ties between the Indian and Jewish communities, both of whom have shared histories of overcoming adversity, and creating meaningful legacies

Financial Times, “We sympathise with those who have lost out as a result of wrongdoing in financial services, however we strongly reject the characterisation of the organisation " T h e s p o k e s p e r s o n a d d e d , “ W e h a v e l e a r n e d from past issues and transformed as an organisation to better serve consumers, the market, and the wider economy ” This latest report follows a series of scandals in w h i c h f i n a n c i a l s e r v i c e s firms have been accused of mistreating consumers and small businesses The FCA h a s b e e n c r i t i c i s e d f o r responding "too little, too late, or nothing at all" to pre-

, according to Bob Blackman, co-chair of the group The report was compiled b

group based on written testimony from 175 respondents collected over two and a half y e a

victims of scams, and cur-

F C A employees The findings concluded that the FCA was "incompet

n s described as slow and inadequate " The report also criticised the FCA’s leadership for being "opaque and unaccountable "

CB Patel

CB Patel receiving the award from David Pannick a distinguished British barrister crossbencher in the House of Lords, and member of Blackstone Chambers, during the 25th Anniversary celebration of BIJA

Padma Shri Reuben David founder of Kankaria Zoo at Ahmedabad

Zaki Cooper, Co-Chair, BIJA

Binyamin Netanyahu

Starmer defends Labour amid calls for election re-run and public frustration

A petition on Parliament's webs ite, which accuses Labour of breaking prom ises and demands a new election, has amas sed over two million s ignatures, m aki ng it the third mos t- signed petition s ince 2010

The petition, which has garnered over 100,000 signatures, is likely to be debated in Parliament but will not trigger a new election Keir Starmer responded, saying, "There will be plenty of people who didn't want us in the first place my focus is on the decisions I make daily "

He also stated that he had "inherited a lot of problems" from the previous government and chose to take the hard decisions first "

"I’m not surprised that, as we tackle tough issues, some people are unhappy," said PM Keir "But we must make crucial decisions on the NHS and schools that are vital for both the present and the future "

A petition calling for a new general election, backed by Nigel Farage and Elon Musk, has gained traction To sign, individuals must confirm UK citizenship or residency

The petition criticises Labour for not fulfilling its pre-election promises, despite its July victory with

9 7 million votes and 412 seats, securing just 35% of the vote the lowest for a single-party government since WWII

One of the main reasons people are signing the petition is concerns over the economy and taxation (refer to page 18) Economi c polici es draw c ri tic ism from business leaders

Kundan Bhaduri, Property Developer at The Kushman Group commented: "Labour's first months in power have been about as reassuring as a builder telling you, "Trust me, it'll hold " As a property developer and business owner, Labour's so-called wealthgeneration strategy seems more focused on taxing success than fostering it No wonder this petition hit a million signatures faster

than a Londoner spots a parking warden It is a clear sign of the public s mounting frustration Even Elon Musk’s wry “interesting” on X adds a touch of global curiosity to this British drama So will the petition lead to a snap election? Extraordinarily unlikely But it will surely turn up the heat in Parliament and serve as a stark reminder that voters don’t take kindly to economic policies that treat business owners and employers as cash cows Labour’s fixation on taxing those who create jobs and wealth has already started stalling growth and innovation since the Budget "

Riz Malik, Independent Financial Adviser at R3 Wealth commented: "This is far from what Keir Starmer or the great British public expected so soon into the new administration For Keir to survive, one step needs to be taken Rachel needs to reverse some of the changes in the budget, or she needs to go She has proven she is out of her depth and does not understand the economy The only time she has been economical is with her CV and Linkedin profile We need someone credible to look after the country's purse strings "

Labour MP Navendu Mishra faces scrutiny over alleged India-related donations

L abo ur M P for Sto ckport, Nav endu Mish ra, reportedly asked a series o f written parliam entary questions about

organisations, accord ing to magazine ‘POLITIC O’

POLITICO's scrutiny of parliamentary records, alleged that Mishra received £4,929

Commission to sponsor

Party conference last year and also allegedly accepted an £11,304 50 trip to India funded by the Federation of

groups Navendu Mishra, MP for Stockport since 2019, previously worked for the John Lewis Partnership and as a u n i o n o r g a n i s e r f o r U N I

SON, where he supported care workers in precarious jobs He also has a long track record of engaging on issues related to India and being a p r o m i n e

a d v o c a t e f o r strengthening the UK-India relationship, often championing it at a time when few within his party took a clear stance on the matter

U p o n a p p r o a c h i n g Mishra for a comment, in a statement to Asian Voice, a

L

d that, “Navendu Mishra has c o n s i s t e n t l y d e c l a r e d h i s interests when speaking in p a r l i a m

done this for written questions, he has notified the Commons Registrar ” “As an MP of Indian heri t a g e , t h

n p a r l i

mentary questions Navendu has tabled represent legiti-

interest in affairs related to India They do not and have never represented any commercial interests, and any s u

e i s completely inaccurate ”

The spokesperson also clarified that the funds from t h e L a b o u r P a r t y C o n f e r e n c e e v e n t w e n t toward covering food and p h o t o g r a p h y c o

t s , w i t h Navendu receiving no direct

benefit They added that his t

capacity as a shadow cabinet PPS, supporting the shadow cabinet’s efforts to strengthen ties with India, and was fully declared in accordance with parliamentary rules S

Navendu has tabled 14 ques-

relations Some of the questions tabled included

Secretary, if he will make

ask-

assessment of the potential merits of supporting a per-

India in the last 12 months, among others Asian Voice has reached

Commission for

comment and awaiting reply

Keir Starmer

Navendu Mishra

Southall Travel bags silver at the British Travel Awards 2024

In the category of Best Travel Company to the Middle East/North Africa

S outh all T ravel has won the S ilv er Award in the category o f Best Trav el Com pany to the Midd le East/North A frica at the prestig ious British Trav el Aw ards 2024

This recognition marks a significant milestone for Southall Travel, underscoring the company ’ s dedication to delivering exceptional travel experiences to one of the world’s most dynamic and sought-after regions

“Winning this award is a tremendous honour, and it’s all thanks to our customers,” said A nuja Bhag at, Marketing Manager at Southall Travel “Your trust and loyalty inspire us to continually elevate our services, ensuring your journeys are unforgettable and seamless ”

Neela Goyal, Product Manager, Middle East at Southall Travel echoed this sentiment, adding, “This

award showcases the hard work and passion of our entire team We strive to make every customer experience extraordinary, and it’s gratifying to see those efforts recognised on such a prestigious platform ” P riti Bh udia, Product Manager, Africa at Southall Travel, emphasised the company ’ s commitment to innovation, saying, “As we celebrate this achievement,

Diwali celebrations at Punjab National Bank (International) Limited

P u n j ab N ati o na l Ba nk ( I n ter nat io n al ) L i m i ted ( PNBIL) celebrated th e festiv al o f D i w al i w it h g re at enthusiasm and cultural ferv our at its corporate office at the M oorg ate Th e ev ent was l ed by M r Ri te sh M i s h ra, M anaging Director and CEO o f PNBIL, who inspired the g a th erin g w ith a h eartf elt a d d

nd sh ared cultural v alues

ritual dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, symbolizing prosp

actively participated in this sacred tradition, contributing to an atmosphere of spirituality and positivity PNBIL, a wholly owned

been

the Indian diaspora in the UK since 2007 through its seven branches

The occasion was graced by Shri CB Patel, Publisher and Editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, who a

Honour His distinguished presence elevated the event's s i g n i f i c a n c e ,

n g PNBIL's commitment to fostering community and cultural ties

T h e c e l e b r a

o n s c o mmenced with the traditional Lakshmi Poojan ceremony, a

a trusted partner for its customers

The event not only celebrated Diwali but also reinforced PNBIL's dedication to its employees and communi-

deep-rooted

we ’ re also looking ahead to how we can further enhance our offerings ” Southall Travel’s expertise in crafting tailored travel experiences to destinations in the Middle East and North Africa has been a cornerstone of its success Whether it’s luxury escapes to Dubai, cultural adventures in Morocco, or business trips across the region, the company ’ s

commitment to excellence has earned the loyalty of travellers from all walks of life

Jaym in Borkh atria, Chief Commercial Officer at Southall Travel said, “This Silver Award reflects not just Southall Travel’s commitment to its customers but also its ambition to lead the travel industry in innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction ”

The Nehru Centre in London came alive with a vibrant celebration as it hosted the UK book launch of Modialogue: Conversations for a Viksit Bharat, authored by Dr Ashwin Fernandes. The event was attended by Smriti Zubin Irani, Former Cabinet Minister of India, Lord Raj Loomba, Sujit Ghosh, Indian Deputy High Commissioner to the UK and Dr Ashwin Fernandes, the author and Executive Director at QS Quacquarelli Symonds Over 150 guests, including members of the Indian diaspora and prominent figures from academia, business, and the diplomatic community, attended the launch

In an exciting turn of ev ents, C hetan Dh okiya, a d ev oted su bscriber and a read er of A sian Voice and Gujarat Samach ar newspapers has struck gold with LemFi Money Transfer By participating in an exclusive promotion featured in our newsweeklies, he turned a simple act of sending money to India into a winning stroke of luck Chetan was the lucky winner of a gold coin, courtesy of a special code provided by LemFi for our readers to be entered into a Raffle for the gold coin Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar extend our warmest congratulations to

Chetan and our deepest gratitude to LemFi Money Transfer for creating this golden opportunity This partnership highlights the rewarding possibilities that come with engaging our loyal subscribers and enriches our community with joyous moments

The importance of self-freedom

Rohit

Vadhwana

In Chemistry, there is a princip le called Boyle's Law It states that the p ressure of a g as is inversely pro portional to its v olum e wh en tem perature is held constant To simplify, it means that the greater the pressure, th e sm aller the vo lum e, and the lesser the p ressu re, th e g reater th e v olu me In o ther w ord s, if you apply pressure to a g as, its v olume will decrease because it cannot exp and in space But if you reduce the pressure on the gas, it will expand , g ro wing in v olume mu ch more than expected

This idea might apply to life as well If you put too much pressure on an individual, they cannot grow in life, career, or society This pressure can kill self-confidence and the ability to grow Rather, giving freedom and not applying pressure is the best way to get the most out of someone

A seed planted in soil needs free movement of air and water to grow into a plant If the soil is pressed too hard, the seed will fail to germinate Does this happen with human beings as well? Yes, it is a proven fact that a child needs encouragement and freedom to reach their full potential When the burden of expectations is placed on a child, they often enter a state of non-performance If they are asked to behave in a certain way, and this becomes a pressure, they may not be able to break free from that mold Giving freedom and space is essential for a child’s growth

This is also true for adults In the workplace, if you want to get the best work from employees, give them room to maneuver Allow them to operate in their own style Rather than directing them for every small task and micromanaging them, it’s better to let them perform Let them decide Let them choose the method When they don’t feel pressured, their performance will likely exceed expectations The reason? The same law of Chemistry – if there is less pressure, the volume of gas increases due to the space and freedom

How do you operate in your personal life? Do you take on too much pressure with every task in your personal, professional, and social life? Or do you allow your imagination, creativity, and freedom to decide how to live, work, and interact? If you are a stickler and do not allow yourself to explore the unknown sides of your own life, perhaps your growth is limited by the rules and limitations you ’ ve imposed on yourself But if you give yourself freedom, your growth will be remarkable because it will occur in a conducive, low-pressure atmosphere

(Expressed opinions are personal)

Harrow resident joins 3,000km Tuk Tuk challenge for good cause

Jayshree Shah, a hospital manager at Northwic k Park, Harrow, will embark on a 3, 000km journey across Indi a this D ecember in a convoy of 36 Tuk Tuks The fundraiser supports Shishukunj, a charity aiding underprivileged c hildren

duties with her brother and sister-in-law, staying in ashrams and hostels along the way The fundraising will help build a teacher training centre in Bhuj, Gujarat

Despite never having driven a rickshaw, Jayshree

Jayshree Shah, a hospital manager at Northwick Park, will join 106 volunteers on a 12-day, 3,000km Tuk Tuk journey across India to raise funds for Shishukunj, a charity supporting underprivileged children

She'll share driving

is excited for the challenge and says, "It will be a nice change from sitting behind a desk "

Jayshree has a strong history of fundraising, having completed four marathons and trekked in the Himalayas to support various causes

L-R: Meet Raichana, Neela Goyal, Anuja Bhagat, Tony Paschina, Shuban Kotwal and Priti Bhudia Jaymin Borkhatria

Photo courtesy: Raj D Bakrania PrMediapix

L to R: Snehal Bhrahmbhatt, a relative of Chetan Dhokiya receiving the gold coin on his behalf in presence of Pooja Raval from ABPL and Abhinav Pathak, Business head of LemFi

L-R: Pooja Raval, CB Patel and Mr Ritesh Mishra, the MD & CEO of PNBIL

Jayshree Shah with her family

Government of Karnataka delegation pays tribute to Lord Basaveshwara statue in London

A disting uished delegatio n of M em ber of Parliam ent (M P) and Members of L eg islativ e

A ss em bl y ( M L A s ) fr o m

K arnataka, led by A sia net

S uvarna News and Kannad a P rabh a rep resentativ es, o fficially paid tribute to the stat-

u e o f Lord Basav eshw ara in L ond on T he delegation w as led by Mr Rav i Heg de, E dito r o f Kannada Prabha

The delegation included prominent figures such as Mr K Rajashekar Basavaraj

H

C

Khanapur Constituency, and Mr Vishwas Vasant Vaidya,

Dignitaries present at the event

Yellamma Constituency

graced by political leaders, businesspersons, and distinguished social workers from Karnataka including BJP and

Hebbalkar

Dr Neeraj Patil, former

Ganapati Bhat members of British Kannada community

felicitated them

the Lambeth Basaveshwara

Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Siddaramaiah, to attend the upcoming Basava Jayanti celebrations on 30th April

Parliament and five MLAs pledged to convey the official invitation to the Honourable Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Siddaramaiah

The Punjabi Society of the British Isles (1928) celebrates its 96th anniversary

T he Punj abi Society of th e British Isles (1928) , d istinct from oth er similarly named

o r g an is a ti o ns , c ele br ate d

Diw ali and its 96th anniversary at the prestig ious Clay Oven Banqu eting Suites in W em b le y T h e ev ent a ls o aimed to raise fu nds for fo od banks and suppo rt efforts to feed the hom eless

M o r e t h a n 1 5 0 g u e s t s attended the glittering dinn e r , i n c l u d i n g t h e h o nourable Seema Malhotra MP,

P a r l i a m e n t a r y U n d e r -

S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r Migration and Citizenship, w h o i s a l s o a n h o n o r a r y patron of the society and the first Punjabi woman to serve as an MP

I n h e r s p e e c h , S e e m a Malhotra praised the PSBI for raising the profile of the Punjabi community and fos-

t e r i n g c o n n e c t i o n s i n t h e

U K S h e h i g h l i g h t e d t h e importance of maintaining purpose and commended the S o c i e t y f o r i t s s u p p o r t o f foodbanks and the homeless

d u r i n g t o u g h e c o n o m i c times

L-R: Parag Bhargava (General Secretary) Ashaa Bhargava Ajay Arora (VP/Asst Secretary), Sanjay Jand, Trilochan S Sahni (Patron/Special Advisor), Rita Sahni, Gurbaksh S Bhalla (Patron/Special Advisor), Asha Arora, Nirbhai Rai (President) Tarlochan S Chahal (VP/Treasurer), Baljit S Sood (VP), Seema Jand, Indu Sood

Bestway Foundation UK donates £100,000 to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

Lo rd Zam eer Ch oudrey CBE S I P k, C h i ef E x ec u ti v e o f Bestway Group, and Dawood P erv ez, M anagi ng Di rec tor of Bestway Wholesale, presented a £10 0,0 00 cheque to

Grou p ’ s Head Office in Park R

com mitm ent to empow ering young people across th e U K The cheque presentation was attended by Ruth Marvel OBE, CEO of The Duke of E

with key Bestway directors,

z O B E H P k

The £100,000 donation was raised during Bestway’s 31st annual Ascot Charity Race Day in June 2024, an event attended by over 750 busin e s s p a r t n e r s , c o l l e a g u e s , and supporters

B e s t w a y W h o l e s a l e ’ s annual Charity Race Day, a k e y c o r p o r a t e e v e n t s i n c e 1994, has supported over 27 c h a r i

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award,

dence, and resilience, aligns perfectly with our commit-

future of youth

Founded in 1987 by Sir Anwar Pervez, the Bestway F o

Charity Race Day highlights o u

organisations like The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award We’ve partnered with them for over 30 years, and we ’ re proud of our Gold Partner status The charity’s work in empower-

charitable arm of Bestway Group, focusing on education and healthcare It has donated over £35 million to charities, hospitals, schools, and university scholarships, with £15 million contributed by Bestway Group in the UK

Magna Carta Peace Conference tackles climate and conflict

M a g n a C a r t a P e a c e Con fe ren ce 2024 was or ganised on 9 N ovember 2024 at St Jam es Ch ur ch, W oodle y, R ead in g Ma ny par ticipa nt s a nd dign itar ies were prese nt a t the e ven t

L o r d S h a r m a K C M G , former president of COP 26, stressed that the climate crisis transcends borders, urging global responsibility to address climate change and e n s u r e p

MP, representing Earley and W o o d l e y , h i g h l i g h t e

r e n t c o n f l i c t z o n e s a

d advocated for policies that promote peace with justice

P

The Magna Carta World

between and within nations

P r o f Y i n s h a n T a n g o f H e n l e y B u s i n e s s S c h o o l highlighted that economic

Uganda’s High Commissioner to the UK,

Uganda’s honorary consul

E , w h o recently led a trade delegat i o n f r

U K t o Uganda, shared his personal experience

Over three-quarters of Uganda’s 4 7 million population are aged under 30 The aspiring and enterpris-

ing youth can be a huge asset to investors, Miriam Otengo from the Uganda Embassy in London referenced this in her presentation The MC was Mr Guma Komwiswa

Paresh Rughani livened up

development is key to peace, while greed remains a central driver of conflict

L o r d

work with Queen Elizabeth II, while Deputy Mayor of W

Jewell, highlighted commu-

Participants at the conference

the room with his A to Z on

U g a n d a O t h e r s p e a k

r s included septuagenarian Dr Manoj Joshi, Chairman of t h e B r a d f o

d E c o n o m i c

Partnership, who retired at 50 and now serves as a volunteer to many organisat i o n s a n d P r o f e s s o r s K a m l e s h K h u n t i a n d Nishan Canagarajah from University of Leicester

E a g l e - e y e d o b s

noted how a script helped attendees sing along to the Uganda National Anthem, b u t s i n g i n g t h e B r i t i s h National Anthem proved a c h a l

n g e , e v e n w i t h i t being played on loudspeaker on YouTube

Romail Gulzar, Councillor

Dr Manju Shahul-Hameed f r o m C

o y d o n , R

r t Watson, Mustafa Abdulali, Salim Boodhoo, Riaz Ravat, Shahid Sheikh OBE, Suzan O w e r a , R e n e e , s o n o f Uganda MP Robert Rukaari M b a r a r a , M o h a m m e d Mirsad Ali who plays for Leicester City FC under-21s and Rushey Mead School former headteacher Steve White

Gurbaksh S Bhalla was presented his award by Seema Malhotra (MP) Also pictured are Nirbhai Rai (President) and Asha Arora

Credit: Rav Bol na

Ascot

Dr Prem Sharma

L-R: Jaffer Kapasi OBE, Cllr Deepak Bajaj, HE Nimisha Madhvani and Renee Mbarara

Steve White with HE Nimisha Madhvani

Delhi’s pollution crisis

The life-threatening “Severe Plus” pollution level in Delhi (AV 23-29 Nov 2024) is shocking as well as alarming from different angles India as a country needs balanced growth, not at the cost of the health of people especially the y

Prosperity and Peace and not P for Pollution

Economic growth and advancement are important but people need to think whether they are paying too much indirect costs to achieve this Pollution should not reach the level where intervention of the Supreme Court is required

The world is watching India closely so overall growth is important If the health of our youth is compromised today, they may have irreversible life-threatening harmful diseases which will have cascading negative impacts on the economy and the health system

Only government enforcement cannot reduce pollution, people should themselves understand and support the government initiatives Use the vehicles judicially, reduce plastic and food waste, switch off the lights when not required and keep offices and homes clean for better hygienic conditions are some of the measures which are easy to implement Only joint efforts can reduce pollution Time is running out so quick and timely action is a must

H itesh Hingu

Ottawa unaware of evidence linking Modi to crimes in Canada

(As posted by the staff of The Canadian Press on November 22, 2024)

In response to a question about reports suggesting the federal government was unaware of any evidence linking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to alleged c r i m i n a l a c

Trudeau stated on Friday in Brampton, Ontario, that those "leaking top-secret information to the media" were "criminal" and "unreliable "

A senior official confirmed that the Canadian government has no evidence connecting Modi to alleged c r i m

Canadian soil Nathalie Drouin, the national security adviser to Prime Minister Trudeau, further clarified that there is no evidence implicating India s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar or National Security Adviser Ajit Doval Drouin emphasised that any suggestions to the contrary are both speculative and inaccurate

S uresh a nd Bha vna Pa tel Scratched out

A grim future

I feel sorry for ambitious youngsters these days Whatever their goal in life they are likely to be challenged by Artificial Intelligence, namely robots How are future generations expected to make a living if every job available is whisked away by robot workers? Cars, trains, planes will all be automated Ditto offices and factories, shops, supermarkets, farms, even hospitals

Employers will prefer robots to humans because robots will not go on strike for more pay, fall ill, take maternity leave or cause any other problems Moreover they will work night and day, for free, without a break, making union power irrelevant What do readers think about this looming catastrophe for the human race?

Ash Gupta

Make the environment eco-friendly

This is to highlight the issue of air and noise pollution

c a u s e d b y f i r e w o r k s d u r i n g f e s t i v a l s l i k e D i w

Christmas and New Year

While the festivities bring joy and excitement, the environmental consequences are severe and demand immediate attention The air quality deteriorates due to the release of smoke from fireworks, posing a serious threat to public health People with breathing problems and those suffering from asthma are most vulnerable to it

Fireworks also leave behind debris and chemical residues, contributing to soil and water pollution This not only harms the ecosystem but also endangers the diverse flora and fauna in our surroundings

Considering these issues, I would like to urge the authorities to consider implementing stricter regulations on the use of fireworks during festivals like Diwali, Christmas and New Year Encouraging alternative, ecofriendly celebrations will not only reduce the environmental impact but will also promote a healthier and safer environment for everyone

Jubel D'Cruz

I bought a scratch card that promised thousands of pounds to the lucky winner To my surprise and delight, I spotted a diagonal line bearing the same three symbols Punching the air, I hurried back to the shop and presented the card to the assistant, adding: “Hope I’ve hit the jackpot!” The assistant put my card into the prize-checking machine and shook her head “Sorry, you haven’t been lucky,” she said, handing me a “Not a winner” slip that popped out Stunned, I pointed at the line of three identical symbols “Ah,” she said, “the symbols have to appear in a straight line, not diagonally ”

The last time I bought a scratch card, which didn’t win either, was several years ago, No prizes for guessing if I ever buy another card!

Ru dy Otter

Time to care about Mother Earth

First up, we should pay attention to such natural disasters as earthquakes Practically speaking, we have miles to go in matters of tackling earthquakes

Plus, the international community has been grappling with other bigger issues like climate change and droughts to mention a few True, issues like climate change crises have been gaining global attention now Way to go indeed! At the same time, the occurrence of earthquakes worldwide has only stressed the urgent need for tackling them head-tohead

researched and studied thoroughly Furthermore, time has come to churn out a lot more seismologists from across the world so as to be able to brush up on the nitty-gritty of earthquakes

As a matter of fact, humanity has been in existence on the planet almost from the period of Homo sapiens The inference from this statement is that human activities have been impacting Mother Earth one way or another right up till date

Truly speaking, the over-exploitation of natural sources

Incidentally, my native areas like Korkai, Tiruchendur,

Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu have been tucked in the midst of natural resources like rivers, seas, mountains and big green trees, not to mention farmlands Fortunately, these areas have still been home to such natural resources thanks to appropriate use of sources

Remember, the 2004 deadly tsunami and the trails of destruction have been fresh in mind even now All things considered, the Himalayan nations like Nepal, Pakistan and India, and other Asian coastal countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Maldives and Indonesia should be roped in altogether probably as part of large-scale natural disaster management

In that event, technological advances, public awareness of natural disasters, precautionary measures and above all, faultless forecasts of catastrophes will go the extra mile to tackle natural calamities head-to-head

To cap it all, it is all the more important to protect Mother Earth through proper means and methods like reforestation, nurturing natural resources and much more so as to counterbalance the probability of a natural calamity

P S enthil Saravana Durai

Curriculum 'too focused on middle-class interests'

Schools are being urged to s

ref erenc es to middle-class acti vities l ike sk iin g holidays from les sons, according to a government curri culum review

Lee Elliot Major, a professor of social mobility at

that pupils from disadvan-

alienated when exam questions include references to jam-making, rocking horses, or home ownership He

on topics such as the min-

Charles Dickens and Mary

e relatable to working-class students

K A P I L’S K H I C H A D I Lest We Forget – 26/11

Sixteen years ago, on 26th N ove mber 2 008, Pak istani state s pons ored terrorists attack ed the good people of M um bai in a cowardly ac t of hate The attacks took plac e at multi ple locations in cluding Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station, Leopold Café an d even at hospitals The terror continued at other locations i ncluding N ariman Hous e (J ewish Chabad) and the luxury hotels Ob eroi Trident, Taj Mahal Palace, and Tower Taj hotel

To this day, and in my opinion, the victims of that attack have still not received true justice Under the lame leadership of the then Prime Minister,Dr Manmohan Singh, we witnessed events unfolding showing the incompetency of India’s preparednessforsuch terrorist attacks The Congress party has always sided with I

extremists and in this case, terrorists And they have bowed to the whims of America who after all are the puppet master behind the failed state of Pakistan

I visited the sites that were attacked And on January 20th, 2010, I was with HRH Prince Michael of Kent

Mumbai We were accompanied on the visit by Israeli

Fund As we walked through each level of the multistorey building, you could not but be shocked with the number of bullet holes in every wall, in the staircase, and in the ceilings Everyone was visibly disturbed with the ferocity of the violence that must have taken place to leave behind a building in such total devastation We also went to the roof to see the menorah It stood on the exact spot where Indian commandos had landed their helicopter to end the siege

The attacks left more than 165 dead, and more than 300 injured That is a heavy toll to bear for any nation

We have seen in the west how they escalate the remembrance of such tragedies to impress upon their citizens the sacrifices of the nation against the evil of its enemies India has consistently failed in its duty to its own history of how millions have perished at the hands of Islamists,andalsoduring the British Raj This history of its enslavement, its abuse and the death toll reaching millions has never been narrated and remembered India still teaches the history of its invaders whilst those who paid the ultimate price are all too readily forgotten

Minister Modi said: "This day of 26/11 also reminds us of the damage that weak and incapable governments can cause to the country In 2014, you removed the weak government of the Congress and elected the strong government of BJP because of which terrorism is being eliminated from the country today"

The title of this piece is, ‘Lest we Forget’ I hope we don’t forget I hope we expose the Pakistani terrorists state for its indulgence with evil, each and every year I hope India finally begins to mark events with remembrance at the national level, and on the same scale as we see for Holocaust Memorial Day If India does not teach the generations to come of the sacrifices of their ancestors, who else will?

also called for a revision of "outdated" biology, physics,

better engage students with the subjects A survey from t

Society of Biology, and the Institute of Physics found that 72% of science teachers

Additionally, more than a quarter of teachers felt the curriculum was irrelevant

comes

The consultation on the c

part of a wider review com-

Secretary Bridget Phillipson and led by Professor Becky

closes on Friday

I agree with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who last year said, "Our quest to bring those responsible for planning and executing these horrific acts to justice continues" Sixteen years on and they still await Words are easy for politicians to sanitise and manage situations, but what is needed is action Make the price of attacking India so huge, that those who wish India harm would think multiple times before embarking on such madness

Aesop: ‘Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to your ruin’

Kapil Dudakia

Survey finds strong support for British Museum's slave trade display

A m ajority of peo ple in the U K be li ev e th e Br i ti sh

M useu m should have a p er-

m anent exhibitio n d ed icated to the transatlantic slave trade, accord ing to YouGov p olling

o

The data shows that 53%

Britain’s role in the trade, while two-thirds agree the museum has a responsibility to educate the public on the UK's history in slavery

In response to the state-

m e n t , “ P

about the British empire is important for understandi

respondents agreed

The online poll, co-commissioned by the Good Law P r o j e c t a n d W o r l d

Reimagined, an art education programme known for its globe sculptures on the

l e g a c i e s o f s l a v e r y , h i g hlights growing support for a p e r m a n e n t e x h i b i t i o n o n the transatlantic slave trade

Call for d eeper exploration of slavery’s legacy

Speaking to Asian Voice,

H i s t o r i a n T r i p u rd am an S ing h highlights the British Museum's key role in edu-

c a t i n g t h e p u b l i c a b o u t Britain's involvement in the

t r a n s a t l a n t i c s l a v e t r a d e , given its origins tied to Hans Sloane He argues that a permanent display would help Britain confront its past but stresses the need for sensit i v i t y : " I t ’ s v i t a l t o t r e a d carefully and avoid the project getting bogged down in culture wars " Tripurdaman emphasises the importance

, a n d transparency in the exhibit

T r i p u r d a m a n a

emphasises that the history of South Asian colonialism s

slavery He said, “Following

colonies was often replaced by indentured labour from I n d i a O v e r 1 6 m i l l i o n Indians were transported to various parts of the world

through a system of indentured servitude, and so some a s p e c t s o f t h e h i s t o r y o f colonialism in South Asia –and the consequent demog r a p h i c i m p a c t o n p l a c e s like the Caribbean – is very obviously linked with the history of slavery This part of South Asian colonial history should ideally be integrated into this narrative, and in my opinion, go a long way in educating the public on the much broader repercussions of the slave trade, and the intertwined histories of slavery, colonialism and migration ” A B r i t i s h M u s e u m spokesperson said that the m u s e u m

t about its collection's origins and encourages debate on related issues They highlighted the current exhibition by artist Hew Locke,

Trade, along with a perman e n t d i s p l a y i n t h e Enlightenment Gallery and the Collecting and Empire t r a i l T h e s p o k e s p e r s o n emphasised the museum's commitment to educating visitors on all aspects of history and continually evolving its displays to provide the best experience

Birmingham dad drops six stone after ditching £6K takeaway habit

Bill C hana, 56, from Sutton

C o ld f i eld , sh e d s ix st o ne a fter h i s wi fe enco u rag ed

h im to d itch his £6,00 0-ayear takeaw ay habit At his

h e av i es t, h e w e ig h e d 1 9 st 7lbs and wore size XXX L

A father-of-one, used to rely on takeaways and dining out 90% of the time, enjoying McDonald's breakfasts and chip shop dinners

H o w e v e r , a f t e r s t r u g g l i n g w i t h e v e r y d a y t a s k s a n d being diagnosed with type 2

d i a b e t e s , h i g h c h o l e s t e r o l , and asthma, he decided to make a change

A f t e r e n c o u r a g e m e n t from his wife, Sita, Bill, 56, joined Slimming World and

l o s t s i x s t o n e i n e i g h t

m o n t h s , d r o p p i n g t o 1 2 s t 13lbs and fitting into size L clothes He swapped take-

a w a y s f o r h o m e - c o o k e d

meals and now attends the gym regularly Bill, who used to spend £6,000 a year on takeaways, d i n i n g o u t , a n d a l c o h o l , said, "I was in denial and t h o u g h t S l i m m i n g W o r l d w a s f o r w o m e n , b u t S i t a k e p t

were filled with fast food and drinking, but now he’s fully committed to cooking at home

B i l l , o n c e s k e p t i c a l about losing weight, found his unhealthy habits taking a toll on his health After being diagnosed with type two diabetes, high cholest e r o l , a n d a s t h m a i n J u l y 2022, his GP urged immediate lifestyle changes

H i s w i f e , S i t a , h a d already lost five stone with S l i m m i n g W o r l d a n d

encouraged him to join Bill was shocked to lose eight pounds at his first weigh-in and, within 38 days, had lost a stone He switched from fast food to home-cooked meals like chicken curry and began working out twice a week As a result, his health improved, and he no longer needed medication, entering remission with no fatty liver

London tops UK for antibioticresistant infections, study finds

N ational surveillance data

f r om t he UK H e a lt h

Securi ty Agenc y reveals that

a n t i b i oti c - re s i s ta n t i n f ections in 2023 surpass ed prep a nd e m i

region with the hi ghest bur-

Prescribing and Utilisation R e p o r t ( E

U

that 65% of antibiotic-resistant bloodstream infections in the past five years were caused by E coli, a common

Diwali lights up Wembley Stadium in first-ever Faith and Football event

Dr Paresh Rughani, BA, ACMA, CGMA - International Motivational Speaker

T h e w o rld -f am o u s Wem bley Stadiu m, in co ll abo r ati o n w i th B A P S (Neasden Temple) and the F A , h o s ted a m a g ni f ic en t and spectacular Diwali celebration Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, sym bolises the triumph of know ledg e o v e r i g n o ran ce , an d " Goo d ness ov er Darknes s" (GOD)

As part of the Faith and Football series, this was a historic first event, where the festival of lights brought together a unique blend of culture, diversity, and the beautiful game at the iconic home of English football

T h e

Indian dances and Bhangra, w o n d e r f u l l y p r e s e n t e d b y the enthusiastic and energetic volunteers of Neasden Temple

The event was attended by various Hindu and comm u n i t y l e a d e r s , i n c l u d i n g

CB Patel (Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar) After the traditional lighting of the Diya, t h e c e l e b r a t i o n f e a t u r e d speeches and panel discussions with former Liverpool and England football legend

John Barnes, along with past P r

L

d "Secrets of Success" (SOS) with a passionate audience of nearly 500 people

The icing on the cake ( a s i d e f r o m t h e d

satvic (vegetarian) meal prepared by the one and only Shayona Caterers), was the h e a

speech by FA Chair Debbie Hewitt, where she candidly reflected on her recent visit to Neasden Temple to cele-

Maharaj, the spiritual head of BAPS globally

In an emotional speech, Debbie reflected on receiving the warmest welcome and hospitality from all the t r u s t e e s , v o l u n t e e r s , a n d w e l l - w i s h e r s a t

Temple

Moreover, she highlighte d m

young people who explained

faith and how football plays a

n g them feel included in their diverse wider society It was a great reminder of how football can bring together communities, providing a common universal language across all faiths At its heart, football is a game for all, irrespective of race, colour, or gender

Finally, Debbie thanked Neasden Temple for partnering with the FA to organi s

tionally saying: "I will never forget just how welcomed you made me feel " This personally reminds me of one of the famous quotes I use in my Magic of Motivation masterclass, by M

learned that people will forget what you said; people will forget what you did; but people will never forget how you made them feel ” Thank you, Debbie, the FA, the Board of Trustees of Neasden Temple, and everyone who helped to make the evening such a resounding success It was a night filled with joy and happiness, resonating with the life mantra of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the founder and inspirer of B A P S S h r i S w a m i n a r a y a n Mandir: "In the joy of others lies your own "

Karan Bilimoria named chair of UK trade body

L o rd K ar an B il im o ri a h as been appointed chair of the I nte rna ti on al C h am b er o f C ommerce United Kingd om (IC CU K)

In his new role, he welcomed the British government’s decision to relaunch Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks Bilimoria, founder of C o b r a B e e r , w i l l a s s u m e leadership of ICCUK in the new year, as India-UK FTA

n e g o t i a t i o n s a r e s e t t o resume following a meeting

b e t w e e n P r i m e M i n i s t e r s Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi at the G20 Summit in Brazil

As a strong advocate for

closer India-UK trade ties, businessman Lord Bilimoria w e l c o m

Agreement (FTA) and urged both governments to set

c o m p l e t i o n d e a d l i n e H e highlighted the significant

benefits for both nations in goods, investments, and services, noting that India is the world s fastest-growing

key investors in the UK "An FTA will strengthen

between India and the UK

deadline, such as June 30,

with major delegations to both nations

NHS managers who silence whistleblowers risk dismissal

U n de r ne w go ve rn m e n t plans , NHS managers who s i l en c e w hi s t le b l owe r s o r endanger patients could be s a c k ed an d pe rm a n en t ly b a n ne d f ro m wo rk i n g i n the health service

cause of urinary tract infections, diarrhoea, and fever

R e s i s t a n t b a c t e r i a a r e harder to treat, leading to serious complications like sepsis, increased hospitalisation, and a higher risk of death within 30 days compared to infections sensitive to antibiotics

The proposals, aimed at tackling a “culture of coverup, ” will be subject to a public consultation and follow s c a n d a l s a t t r u s t s l i k e Morecambe Bay, East Kent, a n d S h r e w s b u r y a n d Telford

The government is cons i d e r i n g i n t r o d u c i n g a statutory duty of candour, h o l d i n g N H S m a n a g

patient safety concerns

P r o p o s e d m e a s u r e s i n c l u d e a “ s t a t u t o r y b a rr i n g ” s y s t e m , s i m i l a r t o those for teachers, to ban unfit managers from working in the NHS Currently, there is no unified framework to regulate NHS managers like doctors and nurses A 12-week consultation w i l l g a t h e r v i e w s b e f o r e m i n i s t e r s d e c i d e o n n e x t steps Karin Smyth, a Health and Social Care minister, said the proposals aim to e n d t h e “ r e v

v i n g d o o r ” t h a t a l l o w s f a i l i n g N H S managers to move between organisations She emphasised the need for a culture of transparency and strong l e a d e r s h i p t o i m p r o v e p a t i e n t s a f e t y a n d t r a n sform the NHS T h e p r o p o s e d r e g u l ation aims to close the looph o l e a l l o w i n g p o o r - p e rf o r m i n g o r m i s c o n d u c t e d NHS managers to continue working in the health service Options under consultation include a voluntary a c c r e d i t a t i o n r e g i s t e r , statutory barring, and full r e g i s t r a t i o n F e e d b a c k i s being sought on introducing a statutory duty of cand o u r , m a k i n g m a n a g e r s l e g a l l y a c c o u n t a b l e f o r a d d r e s s i n g p a t i e n t s a f e t y concerns

Tripurdaman Singh

Dr Paresh Rughani

Bill Chana

Lord Karan Bilimoria

FAITH LEADERS OPPOSE ASSISTED DYING

On 29 November, MPs will vote on whether to legalise assisted dying, as proposed in Kim Leadbeater's Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill The legislation confirms that the medication to end a patient's life would need to be selfadministered, and that individuals must be terminally ill with a prognosis of six months or less to live

However, Mahmood questioned the accuracy of life expectancy predictions "Doctors can only predict a date of death with certainty in the final days of life," she said "Thus, the decision on who qualifies for assisted suicide will inevitably be subjective and imprecise

In response to this intervention by Mahmood, Labour peer and ally of Keir Starmer, Charlie Falconer, stated that the Justice Secretary’s opposition to assisted dying was rooted in “religious and spiritual reasons ” He added that cabinet ministers should not impose their personal religious beliefs on others when voicing objections to assisted dying

Many

However, this debate touches upon the diverse perspectives within British Asian communities, where various faiths hold differing views on assisted dying and these views should be considered Whether or not the bill comes into action, there needs to be sensitive discussions and tailored approaches that respect cultural and spiritual values while addressing the moral and ethical complexities of end-of-life decisions

F ai th leaders unite to opp ose assisted dying

A coalition of 29 faith leaders has united to oppose assisted dying in the largest religious intervention on the issue to date

Senior figures representing Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Sikhism have raised concerns that the proposed assisted dying Bill could lead to vulnerable individuals feeling pressured to end their lives in order to avoid being a burden on their families or the NHS They warn that a "right to die" could easily evolve into a "duty to die "

In an open letter signed by prominent leaders, including the Bishop of London, the Roman Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, and the Chief Rabbi, the group expresses deep concern about the potential impact of the Bill on society's most vulnerable members They argue that it could lead to lifethreatening abuse and coercion

The letter highlights that an estimated 2 7 million older people in the UK are already victims of abuse, and many could be at risk of being pressured into prematurely ending their lives

The letter further emphasises that even individuals surrounded by loving family and friends may feel like a burden toward the end of their lives, especially in a system where adult social care remains underfunded In such an

environment, they argue, the “right to die” could easily shift into a “duty to die ”

The open letter, co-signed by senior representatives from the UK’s five major faiths as well as Buddhist, Zoroastrian, and Jain leaders, argues that the current law offers much greater security for vulnerable individuals

Among the signatories are Anil Bhanot, managing trustee of the Hindu Council UK; Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia, spiritual leader and chair of the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha; Trupti Patel, president of the Hindu Forum of Britain; Mehool Sanghrajka, chair of the Institute of Jainology; and Lord Singh of Wimbledon, director of the Network of Sikh Organisations UK, all of whom oppose the proposed legislation

A few weeks ago, Anil Bhanot, th e Managing T rustee of Hindu Cou nci l UK, shared his concerns with Asian Voice regarding the growing trend of assisted dying legislation He cited the example of Canada, where the laws have become so permissive referred to as a "slippery slope" that assisted dying can be accessed with just one independent witness, who could even be the clinic’s receptionist Bhanot described this as an unimaginably horrific scenario, where individuals could easily walk into a clinic and end their lives

He expressed concern that what was originally intended for those suffering unbearable pain from terminal illness has increasingly morphed into a form of euthanasia, which, in Hinduism, is viewed as a cowardly and sinful act Bhanot emphasised that, in Hindu philosophy, the right to life always takes precedence over the right to die, even in the face of suffering He explained that pain and illness are often seen as part of one ’ s karma, and enduring these hardships can lead to a more hopeful outcome

While acknowledging that there may be cases where terminal illness and extreme pain could exhaust one s karma, Bhanot argued that a soul should only be released from the body after all palliative care options have been exhausted

palliative care team should be required as well He further questioned the bill's wording, arguing that it should be more specific "If this bill is about the terminally ill," he said, "why not call it the 'Terminally Ill Legislation' rather than a broader 'Assisted Dying Legislation' that gives people the choice to end their lives?"

Disability campaigners and advocates for women in abusive relationships also warn of the unintended consequences of legalising assisted dying

In a statement representing the Hindu community to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Trup ti Patel, P resident o f th e H indu Forum o f Britain, highlighted key values of the Hindu faith, asserting that "from a Hindu perspective, it is inappropriate to support assisted dying for anyone Additionally, asking someone to help them end their life is not supported by Hindu teachings "

Patel emphasised that assisted dying contradicts the core Hindu principle of ahimsa (non-violence), a value that Hindus uphold in all aspects of life "Committing violence or causing harm to end someone ’ s life, whether for personal reasons or external pressures, is against Hindu beliefs, she said

She further clarified that assisted dying is distinct from end-of-life care, where individuals receive support to manage symptoms in the final stages of life when medical treatments are no longer effective "End-of-life care aims to alleviate suffering and improve the quality of life when curative treatment is no longer possible," Patel explained "Assisted dying, on the other hand, involves actively facilitating the ending of a person ’ s life, which cannot be equated to care "

She affirmed that while death is inevitable, aiding or encouraging someone to die contradicts the fundamental values of Hinduism

Islamic principles regarding the sanctity of life and the purpose of hardship The Qur’an teaches us that 'every soul will taste death' and that we are tested 'with evil and with good as a trial '”

He expressed concern about the potential societal impact of the Assisted Dying Bill, particularly on vulnerable groups “What worries me is how this law could alter the way society treats vulnerable people, especially the elderly, disabled, or those who are poor They may feel pressured into choosing assisted dying, mistakenly believing they are a burden on their families This contradicts the Islamic principle of caring for one another, particularly for the elderly, poor, and most vulnerable in our community ”

Shaykh Qayum emphasised that the focus should be on improving palliative care, mental health support, and community services rather than legalising assisted dying “Islamic teachings guide us on how to treat the sick and those in their final days with dignity We do this by offering comfort, supporting their families, and ensuring they receive the best possible care until their natural end, preserving their dignity throughout ”

Many faith and community leaders declined to comment when approached by Asian Voice

As pects beyond moral c onsi deration need to be addressed

Critics of the bill raise concerns about the sanctity of life, fearing it could set a dangerous precedent that normalises untimely death There is also apprehension that the passage of an assisted dying bill might divert resources and attention away from end-of-life comfort measures, such as palliative care If assisted dying becomes more accepted, the focus could shift away from improving treatments and medications to enhance quality of life, in favour of simply ending life

arise about how wills and probate would be affected in the event that the bill is passed, adding another layer of complexity to an already delicate process

Former Lord Chief J ustic e, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, has raised concerns about the potential impact of assisted dying legislation on the court system, particularly family courts Speaking on BBC Radio 4 ’ s Today programme, he warned that “ no one has grappled with the details” of how the legislation will affect court proceedings

Lord Thomas explained, “The one really difficult question that hasn’t been addressed is how the judge is to proceed This cannot be a rubber-stamping exercise There has to be a process where evidence is presented before the judge, and the judge will need assistance either from the official solicitor or another body to bring the evidence forward ” He added, “It is not possible to assess from the bill what the full impact of this will be ” According to Lord Thomas, the judicial process is a vital element in determining how the legislation should be implemented He emphasised, “No one has tackled the details And because it’s such a fundamental part of the bill, you can’t just say, ‘This will be sorted out later ’ It needs to be addressed now ”

Public opinion indicates strong support for changing the law, with a recent YouGov poll revealing that 73% of Britons are in favour of allowing assisted dying in principle Campaigning continues on both sides, marking the first public indication of MPs' support for the proposed legislation South Asi an MP lends s upport to the bill

Many supporters believe the growing public support for assisted dying will be reflected in Parliament, especially among the influx of new Labour MPs

Dr Jeevun Sandher, MP for Loughborough, is a prominent advocate, offering both public support and making the case to his colleagues for backing the bill introduced by Kim Leadbeater He explained, "Every day, 70 people die in this country for whom palliative care isn't enough They've built a tolerance to opioids, or they're allergic to them You can't simply keep administering morphine

He also commented on the Assisted Dying Bill, which includes safeguards such as two independent medical assessments and court approval However, Bhanot suggested that an additional evaluation by the

A comment by Shaykh Abdul Qayum, Chief Imam of the East London Mosq ue and the London Muslim Centre shared a clear and unambiguous perspective on end-of-life issues, emphasising Islam's teachings on human suffering and the sanctity of life, stated, “The proposed bill is being presented as a way to help those suffering at the end of their lives However, this contradicts

In addition to these moral concerns, there are practical implications to consider The already overloaded justice system would likely face additional strain, and it’s unclear how crematoriums, which are already operating at capacity, would handle the increased demand Furthermore, questions

"For those nearing the end of their life, the choice is clear to me We should be focused on alleviating their suffering in a safe, responsible way, which is exactly what Kim’s bill does "

Dr Sandher added, "Some will choose to end their life, and others will not Both are perfectly valid But what we're talking about here are the final six months it's about shortening some truly painful deaths "

He is a co-sponsor of Kim Leadbeater's assisted suicide bill Continued from page 1

Trupti Patel

John Thomas, Baron Thomas of Cwmgiedd

Dr Jeevun Sandher

Pushing boundaries for women in action cinema

Subhasini Naicker

Ay esh a Hu ss ain , bo rn t o a Rajput m oth er and Omani fath er, accidentally d isco vered h er path as a stunt performer after years as a professional knife thrower A t 27, she delv ed into her Indian Rajput heritage, feeling a strong connection to Talvar Bazi ( sw ord fighting ), a key aspect of Rajput cultu re

This newfound passion led her to act in action films and eventually pursue a career as a stuntwoman Ayesha now aims to be a role

m o d e l f o r y o u n g w o m e n f r o m Asian and Arab backgrounds, especially those not typically encour-

a g e d t o p u r s u e a t h l e t i c s S h e recently appeared in the Marvel film ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

In an interview with Ayesha discusses challenges she faced in the industry, journey as both an actor and a stunt woman shaped you as a person and more W o m en in a fi el d tra d i ti o na ll y d o m i nat ed b y m en, w h at ch a ll en g es h a v e yo u f ac ed i n y o u r indu stry and have you seen a shift in how w omen are viewed in this p rofessio n?

We’re definitely in a time of change, but there’s still a lot of work to be done Pioneers like

A n g e l i n a J o l i e , H a l l e B e r r y a n d Michelle Yeoh have made incredible strides in representing women in action, but often female roles

s t i l l f a l l s h o r t F o r i n s t a n c e , i n

m a n y a c t i o n f i l m s , w o m e n a r e

r e d u c e d t o j u s t b e i n g " t h e h o t woman with a knife," like in the Bond films While the industry is shifting, there’s still a long way to go, especially for women of color It’s traditionally a male-dominated field, and as a woman of color, you constantly face doubts and challenges

T h a t ’ s w h y v i s i b i l i t y i s s o i m p o r t a n t M y f i l m c o l l e c t i v e , ‘Babes with Blades’, was created to address this gap, particularly for Asian women in action The name was a playful jab at how women in action films are often sidelined, with no significant narrative role Alongside my co-founder Jade Ang

Ayesha Hussain

Jackman, we wanted to create a platform for women of color in action, film, sport, and fashion For example, we created a short film, ‘Split’, which explores the physicality of two women fighting over a bill something inspired by our personal experiences growing up as Asian women

Short Film Festival in January, featuring films like Nida Manzoor’s P o l i t e S o c i e t y , s h o w c a s i n g t h e growing influence of women in action Despite challenges, women are breaking barriers and reshaping this male-dominated industry, t h o u g h t h e r e ’ s s t i l l w o r k t o b e done

Are there any actors turn p erformers or filmm akers w ho inspire you in your work?

There are so many actors who i n s p i r e m

K e a n u R

,

s t a n d s o u t N o t o n l y i s h e a n incredible actor, but he also gives

c r e d i t t o h i s s t u n t p e r f o r m e r s , which is rare in the industry He’s a great person, and you never hear a bad word about him Another huge i n s p i r a t i o n f o r m e i s N i k k i

Berwick, an amazing female stunt coordinator known for her work on ‘Gladiator II’, ‘Napoleon’, and ‘Citadel’ Nikki was instrumental in my early career, especially on ‘ C i t a d e l ’ , w h e r e s h e g u i d e d m e through the challenges of being a

n e w p e r f o r m e r I n a n i n d u s t r y t h a t ’ s o f t e n t o u g h f o r w o m e n , Nikki has always supported me and shown me how to be a better

performer and team leader I hope to one day do for others what she did for me

How h as your jo urney as both an actor and a stunt wom an shaped you as a perso n? Hav e you learned anyth ing about yourself th roug h this unique career path ?

Every day, I learn something

n e w a b o u t m

humility I didn’t come from an athletic background, but in just a few years, I’ve achieved things like becoming a scuba dive master, a c o m p e t i t i v e h o r s e r i d e r , a n d almost a brown belt in kickboxing

I’m now training to become a rock climbing instructor, and I’ve done all of this after starting in my 30s

I t ’ s s h o w n m e t h a t n o t h i n g i s impossible if you ’ re truly passionate, and that the only barrier to success is yourself Learning to be a beginner again and again has been one of the most valuable life skills

I’ve gained It’s taught me that success isn’t linear, and being comfortable with discomfort is key to growth Ironically, this high-intensity lifestyle has brought me the most peace I’ve ever had What adv ice wo uld you gi ve to young g irls asp iring to be actors or stunt perform ers in this ch allenging field?

The best advice I could give is that failure is never failure; it’s simply a redirection Pursuing your p a s s i o n m e a n s f a c i n g c o n s t a n t rejection for every "yes," there will be ten "no"s You must persevere and dig deep to understand your true motivation For me, it’s about inspiring young women and proving to my younger self that anything is possible If you ’ re chasing fame or glory, you’ll never be grounded enough to appreciate the successes that come Ask yourself why you ’ re doing it, and stay true t o t h a t p u r p o s e W h e n I f a c e d rejection early on, I almost gave up But Nikki Berwick reminded me to keep going Many people told me I wasn’t cut out for it, but if I had listened to them, I wouldn't be the first South Asian X-Men in the M a r v e l U n i v e r s e t o d a y S t a y focused on your purpose and never let others' opinions stop you

Surge in single women choosing fertility treatment

Officia l data shows that more sin gle wome n in their t hir ties are choosing to have a b aby on the ir own, ta king contr ol of t heir futures

The number of single women using IVF with a sperm donor has tripled from 1,400 in 2012 to 4,800 in 2022, driven by reduced social stigma On average, single women start IVF at age 36, a year older than women in couples, according to the HFEA

Egg freezing has risen signifi-

cantly, with 4,600 cycles in 2022, up from 2,600 in 2019 Of those, 89% are single women Sarah Norcross, director of the f e r t i l i t y c h a r i t y P r o g r e s s Educational Trust, suggested the trend could be linked to the Covid l o c k d o w n s " M a n y w o m e n m a y have used this time to reflect on their fertility and chose to become single mothers by choice," she said "They may have preferred to take control of their future rather than

wait for a partner These decisions often involve careful consideration, along with support from friends and family "

The HFEA reported that the number of same-sex female couples having children rose from 1,300 in 2012 to 3,300 in 2022 However, less t h a n 2 0 % o f s i n g l

n a n d same-sex couples receive free fertility treatment on the NHS, compared to 50% of heterosexual couples

Supreme Court reviews case on defining woman

Th e Su preme Co urt is deliberating on how wo men should be leg ally defined in a case w ith significant imp lications for transg ender rig hts and the legal recognition o f gender The case, initially sparked by a Scottish P arliament disp ute, could h a v e w i d e sp rea d c o ns eq u enc es across the UK, particularly reg arding the treatment of transg ender individ uals and the operation of single-sex spaces and serv ices

On Tuesday, lawyers from For

Women Scotland argued that the rights of trans people could impact women ’ s rights, with a focus on

whether sex should be determined by biological factors or by gender identity as outlined in the gender recognition process The Scottish government will present its argum

judges are expected to issue

ruling within weeks

Keir Starmer pledges action against spiking in government’s new push for safer streets

Police chiefs, indu stry executiv es, and transport bosses were urged to collaborate to imp rov e the safety of w omen and g irls as the Prim e M i ni s ter c o nv e ned l ead ers a t Dow ning S treet o n M ond ay, 2 5 Nov em ber

Reiterating his personal comm i t m e n

y

The case will not change the laws themselves but could influence how they are interpreted, particularly in relation to the Gender Recognition Act (2004) and the Equality Act (2010) These laws have led to controversy, especially a

Scotland, which were blocked by the UK government due to concerns about the Equality Act’s protections

Prime Minister confirmed that his government had introduced a new criminal offence for spiking This announcement underscored that spiking is a serious crime, ensuring perpetrators face the full force of the law while empowering victims to report offences with confidence in the justice system's support

During the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized that this new offence was just one part of a comprehensive solution He called for coordinated efforts among police f

d venues to eradicate this cowardly act and reclaim public spaces

As part of the initiative, thousands of nighttime economy staff were set to receive training on identifying and addressing spiking Piloted in December, the training was designed to equip staff with the skills to prevent incidents, support victims, and assist police in collecting evidence The program aimed to train up to 10,000 bar staff nationwide by spring of the following year

The meeting took place weeks before Christmas, a period associa t e d

Prime Minister listened to police forces and industry leaders share successful tactics already in place to protect women and encouraged others to adopt similar measures

Chief Constable Jason Hogg of Thames Valley Police highlighted his force’s deployment of plainclothes officers in areas around bars and clubs to detect predatory sexual behavior a tactic adopted by over 20 forces across England and Wales Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi of British Transport Police detailed efforts to improve safety on public transport, including the r e l a u n c h o f t h e t e x t - t o - r e p

number, 61016 In one instance, a victim used the service, leading to an offender’s arrest within half an hour K a t e N i c h o l l s , C E O o f

UKHospitality and Chair of the Institute of Licensing, expressed s u p p o r t f o r t h e H o m e O f f i c e ’ s plans to provide nationwide training for door and bar staff Chief C o n s t a b l e M a g g i e B l y t h e , t h e NPCC lead for Violence Against Women and Girls, addressed the ongoing prevalence of such violence in the nighttime economy and stressed the need for robust policing to reduce victimization

stated, "My government was elected on a pledge to take back our streets, and we will never achieve this if women and girls do not feel safe at night

" T o d a y , I b r o u g h t t o g e t h e r police chiefs, heads of industry, and transport bosses to demand coordinated action to stop women being targeted, whether they are out with friends or simply travelling home

"Cracking down on spiking is central to that mission We know it can be incredibly difficult for victims to come forward to report this awful crime, and these cases can be very hard to prosecute We must do more to bring the vile perpetrators who carry out this cowardly act, usually against young women and often to commit a sexual offence, to justice

"That is why I made a promise to make spiking a new criminal offence Today, I am proud to have delivered on that pledge "

A s si s ta

C

ie f C on s tab le Samantha Millar, NPC C Vio lence A

to r, added, "Spiking can have a significant, traumatic impact on victims and feelings of safety in the nightt i m e e c o n o m y , p a r t i c u l a r l y f o r women and girls

"Spiking is a complex offence to investigate, as drugs can pass through the system quickly, and there is often a lack of evidential

including forensic testing, are crucial

"Police forces across the country have been working proactively to stop spiking and improve safety for women and girls This includes regular patrols of busy town centres and engaging with organizations such as universities to raise awareness

"During the first national spiking police week of action in March, f

1,900 licensed venues to ensure staff understood how to support victims

"The policing response to protect women and girls in the nighttime economy demonstrates our c

safer I encourage any victim of spiking to report it to the police you will be listened to, and you will be taken seriously " T

broader manifesto commitment to halve violence against women and girls within the next decade, a crucial step in its mission to make streets safer

Prime M inister K eir Starm er

Keir Starmer

Samantha Millar

BAFTA announces 2024 Breakthrough Cohort featuring emerging talent from the UK, US, and India

Shefali Saxena

BA FTA has unveiled its 20 24 BAFTA

Breakthrough coh ort, h ighlighting 43 exceptional UK, U SA, and Indian creativ es shaping the fu ture of film , games, and telev isio n S upported by Netflix, this flagship initiativ e o ffers year-long p rofessio nal d ev elopm ent,

m ento rship, and g lobal networking o pportunities

Now in its 11 th year, BA FTA Breakthro ugh has been instrum ental in adv ancing the careers of p rom inent talents like A mbika Mo d, Bella Ramsey, Paapa Essiedu, Rose Ayling-Ellis, and L etitia Wright

This program is designed to support individuals on the brink of transformative career moments, spanning various creative disciplines such as costume design, directing, production, casting, editing, performance, games development, composing, and cinematography

Participants can access one-on-one mentorship, tailored career guidance, full voting membership, exclusive BAFTA screenings, events, and global networking platforms These opportunities aim to elevate their creative journeys and foster an international exchange of ideas within the entertainment industry

The 2024 cohort includes 21 trailblazers from the UK, 13 from the USA, and nine from India, celebrating diverse cultural and creative contributions

Representing India are industry disruptors like Varun Grover, the writerdirector of All India Rank;

Monisha Thyagarajan, the series producer of The Hunt for Veerappan; and Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy, a writer, director, and performer known for Aachar & Co Other Indian talents include Abhinav Chokhavatia, game producer of Down and Out; Christo Tomy, director of Curry and Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case; Deepa Bhatia, a writer, director, and producer of First Act; Dhiman Karmakar, sound designer of Amar Singh Chamkila; Jaydeep Sarkar, showrunner of Rainbow Rishta; and Neeraj Kumar, producer and lead developer of Artifice: War Tactics

By featuring creatives from diverse cultural and professional landscapes, BAFTA Breakthrough emphasizes its dedication to fostering emerging talent worldwide This initiative has become a vital platform for bridging the gap between rising stars and established industry leaders, supporting innovation and inclusion across the global entertainment sector

Jane M illichip, BA FTA CEO, said: “BAFTA Breakthrough, now in its 11th year, spotlights a host of emerging and talented ‘must-watch’ creative practitioners working across film, games and television This year we have an amazing roster of casting directors, producers, writers, performers, lead artists, cinematographers, lead developers, and more We urge the industry to take note A huge thank you to Netflix, whose support makes BAFTA Breakthrough possible ”

Anne Mensah, Vice Presid ent, U K Co ntent at

Netflix said: “We are so proud to support the exceptional group of creatives who make up BAFTA Breakthrough Breakthrough is brilliant at unearthing fresh voices, spotlighting talent and providing the support needed to help creatives reach their full potential "

Guneet Mo ng a Kapo or, F ilm P rod ucer and Am bassad or for BA FTA Breakthrough in India, said: “A massive congratulations to this year ’ s nine India Breakthroughs, who demonstrate once again that there is no shortage of creative talent in India It was extremely difficult to narrow down the pool of talented candidates I can’t wait to see how this year ’ s cohort harnesses BAFTA Breakthrough’s opportunities to hone their craft!”

This year ’ s Breakthrough UK cohort was selected by five specialist sub-committees comprising industry figures from the world of film, television, craft and tech, unscripted and games with BAFTA and Netflix representatives In the US, a jury of leading cross-industry figures including producer Kerstin Emhoff and actor John David Washington selected this year ’ s cohort

The Breakthrough India jury was chaired by film producer and Breakthrough India ambassador Guneet Monga Kapoor and also featured leading crossindustry figures including Vice President of Content, Netflix India, Monika Shergill and filmmaker Sushmit Ghosh

PHOTO CREDITS: Image ©BAFTA/Vikas Gotra, 2024

UK art imports drop 16% for second year

ift in g lo bal w ealth to wards A sia R

Baroness Shriti Vadera named co-chair of Creative Industries Council

Baron ess Shr iti Vade ra ha s been appoin ted co-chair of t h e C r e a t iv e I n d u

Coun cil,

with

or She will take over from

held the role since 2021, next summer Currently the chair

Company, Baroness Vadera is also co-chair of the World

Investment Lab She made history as the first woman and person of colour to chair both the Royal Shakespeare Company and a British bank Her appointment is for 18 months, with a permanent

n through an open competition in 2026

The Creative Industries C o u n c

s d e v e l o p

n g a growth strategy for the sector, which generates £125 bill

Vadera and Peter Bazalgette will co-chair a newly formed taskforce to guide the strategy, with plans to unveil a S

Industrial Strategy Culture S

expressed gratitude to Peter Bazalgette for his contribu-

Baroness Vadera’s appointment She highlighted her extensive experience in both business and the arts, saying, “The Council is an invalu-

Under her leadership, I look forward to a renewed focus on delivering growth, jobs, and opportunities ” Baroness Vadera shared her enthusiasm for supporting the creative industries, saying, “I look forward to w

extraordinary creative talent and organisations it repre-

delighted to be collaborating with the inimitable Baz in this endeavour ”

Padams and Javalis captivate the audience in London

K B C A rts , a d i v i s i on o f KA ZA Business C onsultants

Indian classical music ev ent titled "Javalis and Padams" at t h e S ri M a h al aks h m i T e m p le i n E as t Ha m , Lo nd on, on 24 Nov ember

The Padam is the emot i o n a l o u t p o u r i n g o f a lovelorn woman who chastises the God of Love for not doing a good job A Javali, presented in a faster tempo, is more risqué in content

While Padams feature celestial beings (mostly Krishna) as the lover, some Javalis h a v e r e a l p e o p l e p l a y i n g starring roles

The event featured mesm e r i s i n g p e r f o r m a n c e s b y dancers Deepa Viswamohan (Director of Abhinaya Fine

A r t s ) , L a v a n y a R a o , D r Chamu Kuppuswamy (Herts U n i ) , T h a n y a K u m a r ,

H a r s h i n i B h u p a t h i r a j u , R a c h a n a S u r e s h K u

(SanskritiUK), Jaya Lalitha Sharvani, and Padmavathy Vijayraj Kannan

T h e m u s i c a l p e r

mances were highlighted by t h e y

, Mahathi Srinath who also expertly anchored the event a n d p r o v i d e d i n s i g h t f u

h e essence of love through classical music, concluded with a Pooja and blessings from t h e t e m p l e p r i e s t s , w h o praised the performers and supporters for their enthusiasm

British Library gradually resumes services after cyber-attack

O f f ic ia l s at t h e British Library repo rt th at key services are g ra du al l y be in g resto red after a devastating c yber- attack o n its digital systems las t O ctober

A p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 , 0 0 0 d i g i t i s e d manuscripts are now a c c e s s i b l e o n l i n e , including significant w o r k s s u c h a s t h e Sherborne Missal (c 1399-1407), an illustrated best i a r y w i t h a d d i t i o n s f r o m

G e r a l d o f W a l e s ’ s Topographia Hibernica (late 12th century), and the Eadui Psalter (c 1012-23), a medieval t e x t u s e d b y B e n e d i c t i n e monks

d i g i t a l i n f r a s t r u c t u r e R o l y K e a t i n g , t h e l i b r a r y ’ s c h i e f executive, explained in July that the prolonged recovery process reflects the depth of the attack’s impact on their systems

United Nations, featured in the

Basel/UBS Survey of

The ransomware attack, p a r t o f a w o r r y i n g r i s e i n cyber threats targeting cult u r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s , s e v e r e l y d a m a g e d t h e l i b r a r y ’ s c o r e

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e F i n a n c i a l T i m e s , h a c k e r s claimed to have stolen sensitive

Deepa Bhatia

Monisha Thyagarajan

Varun Grover

Baroness Shriti Vadera

Virendra Sharma reflects on a lifetime of public service

Anusha Singh

Vir end ra Kuma r Sha rma is a

p r o m i n e n t Br i t i sh - In d i a n

L abour Part y polit ician who

s e r v e d a s t he M e m be r o f

P arliame nt (MP) for Ea ling

S out hall from 2007 to 20 24

Born on April 5, 1947, in Mandhali, Nawanshahr, in

t h e P u n j a b P r o v i n c e o f

British India, Sharma hails

f r o m a P u n j a b i H i n d u Brahmin family His journey into politics began after he moved to Hanwell, Ealing, London, in 1968, where he initially worked as a bus con-

d

O

became a day services manager for people with learning disabilities in Hillingdon Sharma's political path began with the Liberal Party before he switched to the

L a b o u r P a r t y , w h e r e h e played an important role as the Race Equalities Officer His commitment to public service was reflected in his long tenure as a councillor in

t h e L o n d o n B o r o u g h o f Ealing from 1982 to 2010, including a term as Mayor In 2007, he was elected as MP for Ealing Southall during a by-election, securing 4 1 5 % o f t h e v o t e a n d a majority of 5,070 He went

o n t o r e p r e s e n t t h e c o nstituency until his decision to step down in 2024

I n a n e x c l u s i v e i n t e r -

v i e w , h e t a l k s a b o u t h i s remarkable journey in public service as well as his experi-

e n c e s , c h a l l e n g e s a n d achievements that defined his career W hat inspire d you t o pur sue

a car ee r in public se rv ice?

H o w d o y ou t h i n k y o ur

I n d ia n h e r it a g e h a s i n flue nced y our political va lue s, d ecision -m akin g, a nd ove ra ll ca ree r?

I believe my upbringing played a significant role in shaping my path, particularly the environment created by my family, my parents, siblings, and extended family My parents, particularly, played a significant role in

s h a p i n g m y v a l u e s M y father was involved in public

l i f e , a n d m y m o t h e r w a s active in social work, instilling strong moral principles in me I was inspired by their way of life and their encouragement The environment I grew up in emphasised that

w h i l e e a r n i n g m o n e y i s important, it should not be the sole focus of one ’ s life Financial stability is essen-

t i a l , b u t c h a s i n g w e a l t h should not come at the cost of integrity or purpose

W h e n I c a m e t o t h i s

c o u n t r y a s a n e c o n o m i c m i

w o r k i n g l i f e , t h o s e v a l u e s

g u i d e d m e A t t h e t i m e , racism was at its peak, and many people were primarily focused on making money

b y a n y m e a n s n e c e s s a r y

However, I chose a different path While I acknowledged the importance of financial

security, I believed it was equally, if not more, important to earn respect, secure legal rights, and fight against racism and discrimination

This belief led me to join the t r a d e u n i o n m o v e m e n t , where I began advocating for the rights of working-class people, including those from South Asian communities I a l s o b e c a m e a c t i v e l y involved in the labour movement, focusing on combating social inequalities and creating a fairer society for everyone

How ha ve you see n Ea ling S o u t h a ll e v o l v e o v e r t h e y ea rs? Wha t would you conside r your g rea te st achieveme nt s, both as an MP an d a s a social work er in t he commun ity?

I w o u l d a p p r o a c h t h i s question a bit differently I don’t believe achievements belong to an individual; they are always collective Success is the result of collaboration, with many people coming together to work toward a common goal Similarly, failures are also shared rather than the responsibility of a s i n g l e p e r s o n W h e n I became part of the movement, I joined hundreds of others who were fighting for the rights of working-class people Together, we challenged discriminatory practices, including unjust immig r a t i o n p o l i c i e s a n d i n e q u i t a b l e e m p l o y m e n t practices across various sectors The trade union movement, the labour movement, a n d s o c i

equality all played a vital role in this struggle

Through our collective efforts, we achieved signific a n t m i l e s t

landmark legislation such as the Race Relations Act and the Sex Discrimination Act These were not individual a c c o m p

results of widespread campai gns invo lv ing co un tl ess people dedicated to justice Later, we also advocated for protections for older people a n d l e g

address and combat discrim-

City Sikhs celebrates Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 555th anniversary

C ity Sikhs m arked the 555th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji at the U K Parliament, h o s ted b y War i nd e r Juss M P and sup ported b y G u ri nd e

S i n g h Josan M P T h e

v e n t c e l ebrated Guru Nanak's message of equality, compassion, and selfless service, b

occurred These efforts led t o p r o f o u n d s o c i e t a l

changes Over time, individuals from underrepresented

b a c k g r o u n d s

recognised for their contrib

comes as the achievements of a collective The credit b

believed in the cause and supported the struggle during those challenging times Sin ce st eppin g down a s an MP, what ve nt ures a nd cause s ha ve you been in volved in ?

It has only been three or four months since I decided to step down from my elect-

n actively involved in the community I continue to participate in local activities and s t a y e n g a g e d w i t h

Parliament regularly, where I meet with both new and veteran MPs I offer my support and share my life experiences Additionally, I stay active through public speaking and by attending various social and political events, ensuring I remain connected to the causes and issues that matter to me

As someon e who r egular ly in t e ra ct s wit h bot h y ou ng a n d s e a s o n e d po l it i c ia n s, wha t adv ice would y ou offer t o those from m in ority commun ities who are en te ring politics or lookin g to e st ablish t hemselves in t he fie ld?

I believe that public ser-

v i c e i s o n e o f t h e m o s t sacred and fulfilling aspects of life It should not be pursued with the sole aim of attaining a title or an elected position, such as becoming an MP, but rather with a genuine desire to serve and make a positive difference Public service means cont

pporting the elderly, empowering young people, or helping those in need wherever opportunities and resources allow Leadership roles and i n f l u e n t i a l p o s i t

naturally follow if you are truly dedicated and comm

o focus on these values and align your efforts with the opportunities that the pub-

l i c a n d p o

y , t h e clear and unwavering goal should always be to serve the public

and community activists to highlight the continued relevance of his teachings in today’s world

A m r i t S i n g h B a

founder of the ‘ 555 Acts of Kindness’ initiative, urged

global acts of kindness based on Guru Nanak's principles P

stressed understanding Sikh scriptures beyond transla-

Charley Baginsky discussed faith’s guidance in daily life, while Akeela Ahmed MBE highlighted

MBE and Jasvir Singh CBE said, “Guru Nanak’s teachings

UK can further diverge from EU rules, says Lord Mayor

Brita in ha s t he poten tial t o e ase more fina ncia l re gulat ion s away fr om EU standa rds t o boost it s compe tit i ve n e s s, a cc or d in g t o t he n ew City of Lond on chie f Alastair King, who took on the role this month as the ceremonial head of the City, told Reuters that the UK can p o s i t i o n i t s e l f a s a v i a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e t o t h e U n i t e d

States under Donald Trump King, who is engaging with t h e B r i t i s h g o v e r n m e n t about opportunities for regulatory divergence, emphasised that while the UK seeks areas where it can gain a c o m p e t i t i v e e d g e , i t a l s o a i m s t o m a i n t a i n s t r o n g

r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e E U

"There are some opportunities there," he said

"We want to have our o w n a r e a s w h e r e w e c a n have a competitive advantage, but also we want to k e e p o n v e r y g o o d t e r m s with the EU He refrained from specifying which regulatory areas could be targeted for reform

Earlier this month, UK f i n a n c e m i n i s t e r R a c h e l Reeves promised to overhaul financial services regulation, which she said had hindered the City's potential Her pred e c e s s o r a n d B a n k o f E n g l a n d o f f i c i a l s h a v e already begun to use postB r e x i t f r e e d o m s t o a d j u s t rules, including changes to B a s e l g l o b a l b a n k c a p i t a l requirements and proposals to reduce the deferral perio d s f o r b o n u s p a y o u t s i n d i c a t i o n s o f a g r o w i n g willingness to diverge from EU regulations

This regulatory flexibility comes as leaders anticip a t e p o s s i b l e d e r e g u l a t i o n o n W a l l S t r e e t d u r i n g Trump's second term King, who will serve as the figurehead for the UK’s financial a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l s e r v i c e s industry over the next year, sees Trump’s re-election as an opportunity for London "We have this extraordin a r y i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e a c h which gives us an exceptiona l a d v a n t a g e , " h e s a i d "Remember that old expression, if you want to meet Americans, go to New York I f y o u w a n t t o m e e t t h e world, come to London I think that still holds "

KC Sidhu denies allegations of misconduct

N AV J O T “ J o ” S i d h u , a K i n g ’ s Co u n s el ( K C) , h a s denied allegatio ns of prof es s i o n al mi s c o n du c t i n vo l vi n g tw o as p i r in g female barristers, asserting that h e is neith er a “ mo nster” nor a “predato r ” Th e 5 8 - y ea r- o l d fa c es te n ch arges related to inapp rop riate sexual beh aviou r T h e a l l e g a t i o n s d a t e

b a c k t o N o v e m b e r a n d

D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8 , w h e n

Sidhu is accused of inviting t w o w o m e n t o h i s h o t e l room and engaging in inapp r o p r i a t e s e x u a l a c t i v i t y

One of the women, identified as Person 2, claimed that Sidhu made advances

during her work experience as a paralegal She testified that although she did not want to engage in sexual activity, she ultimately did so after expressing reluct a n c e , a c c o r d i n g t o T h e Times

A n o t h e r w o m a n , r e f e r r e d t o a s P e r s o n 3 , alleged that she reached out to Sidhu via LinkedIn for career advice She claimed

S i d h

her Their communication reportedly continued with sexually explicit messages

Williamson KC, contended that the relationships were consensual and should not be considered professional misconduct He argued that the interactions were personal, not predatory, and s

were being presented differently by the complainants in retrospect Earlier in the hearing, the tribunal dismissed five other charges against Sidhu due to a lack of evidence Sidhu has denied all charges and attended the hearing via video link The tribunal is expected to deliver its verdict next month

Covid inquiry set to cost £208mn

The Cov id inquiry is proje

t ion in Br itish history , wit

a n estima ted cost of £208 million

According to analysis by the TaxPayers' Alliance, the inquiry has been running at nearly £150,000 a day since i t s e s t a b l i

h m e n t i n J u n e 2022 It is scheduled to cont i n

million has been spent on legal counsel, while £557,000 has been paid to Baroness Hallett, the inquiry's chairw

has also employed hundreds of civil servants to work on

September, £124 million had already been spent, and if spending continues at this rate, the final cost will reach £208 million

This would surpass the costs of any of the 22 statut o r y i n q u i r i e s c o n d u c t e d since the Inquiries Act was i n t r o d u c e d i n 2 0 0 5 F o r c o m p a r i s o n , t h e Manchester Arena bombing inquiry cost £35 6 million, while the Leveson phoneh a c k i n g i n q u i r y c o s t £ 5 4 million J o h n O ’ C o n n e l l , c h i e f executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, criticised the ongoing spending and called for a clear deadline and tighter controls on expenditure In response, a spokesman for the Covid inquiry dismissed t h e s e f i g u r e s a s " f l a w e d analysis

Virendra Sharma with the late Queen Elizabeth III

Virendra Sharma

L-R: Amrit Singh Bahia Professor Eleanor Nesbitt Warinder Juss MP Jasvir Singh CBE Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Dr Deesha Chadha OBE and Param Singh MBE

Photo cred t Tajpa Dhamu

'Walsall

Kidnapper' Rambo Baeram,

25, jailed for attacking women

Rambo Baeram , 25, has been jailed for five years after brutally attacking a wom an and a teenager while attempting to kidnap them

one victim as she tried to

e

occurred just days apart in Walsall, with the first taking place in the early hours of February 28 on Scarborough Road, when a woman in her

m behind She sustained bruising and swelling after being punched in the face during the altercation She escaped and fled to the closest house for assistance when Baeram attempted to get her into his car

Another attack four days

later resulted in the sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl Just before 11 p m on March 2, a man in a car approached her and attempted to get her

refused he got out of the vehicle then punched and

assaulted her She was able to get away

and fled to a nearby house for assistance By using her cell phone's emergency call feature, the girl informed the police Both individuals s

heads and faces The CCTV footage that officers were able to get from both occurrences showed a black Audi pulling up next to both victims After police connected it to Baeram, he was taken into custody

sleeping during the attacks

However, both victims identified him in an ID parade

attempted kidnap, assault, and sexual assault

State and private schools achieve equal GCSE results, research finds

A ne w s tudy revea ls tha t pupils in fee-paying sc hools no longer outperform thei r s tate school peers in core G CSE s when adj usted for s o c i oe c on o mi c b ac kground

R e s e a r c h e r s s u g g e s t state school students have made strong progress in science, maths, and English, t h a n k s t o c u r r i c u l u m changes over the past two decades, though they still lag in the creative arts A s t u d y f r o m U n i v e r s i t y

College London found that private school pupils still o u t p e r f o r m s t a t e s c h o o l students in music, drama, and art, even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors

Lead author Prof Jake Anders explained that while r a w d a t a s h o w s p r i v a t e schools' advantage, adjusting for socioeconomic status narrows the gap, with p r i v a t e s c h o o l p u p i l s achieving just slightly better grades across eight subjects In core subjects like

maths, science, and English, state school pupils outperform their private school p

with scores higher by up to two-thirds of a grade

half a grade higher in creative arts, even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors, raising concerns about

lacking similar opportunities

Inquest opens into grandfather Bhim Kohli's death

A n inquest has been opened

a nd a d j o u rne d i nto t h e d eath of 80-year-old Bhim

K o h l i , w h o w as f ata ll y injured du ring an assault in a park just m etres from his h ome

The hearing took place at Leicester Coroner’s Court on Thursday, November 21, w h e r e C o r o n e r I v a n C a r t w r i g h t i n f o r m e d t h e f a m i l y p r e s e n t t h a t t h e inquest would be paused to allow for criminal proceedings to take place

M r C a r t w r i g h t s t a t e d , "Today, I am opening and suspending the inquest into the death of Mr Bhim Kohli

I am aware that a 14-yearold male has been charged with murder, and a criminal

t r i a l i s s c h e d u l e d f o r February 2025 Therefore, I am required to suspend the inquest at this stage " W h i l e a p r e l i m i n a r y c a u s e o f d e a t h h a s b e e n identified as a neck injury, further tests are still pending The final cause of death has yet to be determined Mr Kohli died at Queen’s

M e d i c a l C e n t r e i n Nottingham on the evening of Monday, September 2, a day after he was attacked in Franklin Park, Braunstone

T o w n , w h i l e w a l k i n g h i s dog, Rocky Five children, including a 14-year-old boy and four others aged 12, were initially a r r e s t e d o n s u s p i c i o n o f murder Four were released

without charge, and the 14year-old has been charged with murder Due to his age, he cannot be named, and is expected to enter a plea at Leicester Crown Court on Friday

Mydentist turns to India as losses widen

M ydentist, one of the UK's l argest dental providers , has deepened its f inanc ial loss es a s it s eeks to hire more overs eas staf f f oll owing the UK Governme nt's rel axed rules

T

c o

d

n t a l s c h o o l places and limited availability for overseas hires to take

Following a rule change last year, Mydentist can now hire more overseas dentists

based company has also partnered with a dental school in

recruitment opportunities

Mydentist said it continues to expand recruitment to increase clinician hours for patients, despite challenges While recruiting from both

Lancashire restaurants recognised at 2024 Asian Curry Awards

Tw o restau rants in Lancash ire have been awarded at the 20 24 Asian C urry A wards Dubbed the Curry Oscars, the finalists were selected from over 200 restaurants and takeaways nationwide Judges from the Asian

shortlist to crown regional winners

In the North West, two winners from Blackburn, Lancashire, were honoured, with Kebabish Original on Whalley New Road winning Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year My Lahore on Whitebirk Road won Asian Fusion Restaurant of the Year, celebrated for its British Asian-influenced dishes O

blends flavours from "samosas to shepherd's pie and karahis to cornflake tarts "

Catering Federation, said: "We’re thrilled by the turnout of votes for this year ’ s favourites The quality of finalists is outstanding, and the inclusion of excellent newcomers is a positive sign for the industry, which continu

economy

Ex-Labour deputy Prime Minister John Prescott passes away

Former Labour deputy Prim e M inister John Prescott has d ied at 86 after a battle with A lzheimer's, his fam ily announced

A former trade union activist and merchant seaman, Prescott served as MP for Kingston upon Hull East for 40 years and played a key role in New Labour under Tony Blair

His family described him as a lifelong advocate for social justice and the environment Lord Prescott passed away peacefully on November 20, surrounded by family at his care home In a statement, his wife Pauline and sons Johnathan and David said serving the people of Hull was his "greatest honour "

the UK and overseas, the UK supply is limited by dental school placements O

has also been constrained by the availability of slots for t h e O v e r s e a s R e g i s t r a t i o n Exam (ORE) However, the recent Section 60 legislation change is expected to ease these barriers, opening more routes for overseas clinicians to sit the ORE

In a statement, his family said: "We are d e e p

Prescott, our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully at 86, surrounded by family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery

"John dedicated his life to improving the lives of others, fighting for social justice and the environment, from his early days as a c r u i s e l

s longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister He deeply loved Hull, and representing its people in Parliament for 40 years was his greatest honour "

I N B R I E F

RAILWAYS TO RETURN TO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP

Britain s railways are poised to return to public ownership after the House of Lords passed legislation to renationalise train services The swift approval of the Passenger Rail Services (Public Ownership) Bill by peers has taken many by surprise, and it now only requires Royal Assent to become law This move marks a significant milestone for Sir Keir Starmer’s government, which has achieved its first major public service reform since taking office on 5 July A proud Sir Keir tweeted, "We said we would create Great British Railways We are " Under the new legislation, the rail networks will be brought into public ownership through a new operating body, Greater British Rail As private sector contracts expire Greater British Rail will take over ownership and management of the lines The railways are expected to be fully renationalised by the time of the next election

POTHOLE CLAIMS DOUBLE IN A YEAR

The number of pothole compensation claims made to local councils has more than doubled in just one year new data reveals In 2023 20 432 claims were filed with 18 councils overseeing some of the UK s longest road networks up from 8 327 in 2022 However the RAC found that 17 councils paid out on only 15% of these claims with five councils rejecting over 90% of requests When asked how many claims were rejected due to councils being unaware of the potholes, nine authorities responded, stating that 74% of claims were dismissed on these grounds Thirteen councils also reported spending over £166,000 in legal fees to defend against pothole-related claims

OUTRAGE OVER KING CHARLES’S CORONATION COST

The coronation of King Charles in May 2023 cost taxpayers at least £72 million, official figures reveal Policing the event cost £21 7 million while the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) added £50 3 million in expenses The DCMS report called the event a once-in-a-generation moment that united the country and showcased the UK worldwide Republic a group campaigning for an elected head of state, condemned the coronation as an obscene waste of taxpayer money Its CEO, Graham Smith questioned whether £72 million was the full cost citing additional expenses from the Ministry of Defence, Transport for London, and local councils, with some estimates putting the total between £100 million and £250 million Smith criticized the spending, especially amid public service cuts

INDIAN RESTAURANT CROWNED UK’S BEST

A renowned Indian restaurant in West London has claimed the prestigious title of Best International Kitchen at the Hospitality Awards UK 2024 Brilliant, located on Western Road in Southall, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year In addition to serving as an Indian cookery school, the restaurant proudly incorporates Kenyan influences into its authentic North Indian Punjabi cuisine The award was presented during a glittering ceremony at the Law Society in Chancery Lane London The event coincided with the global Week of Italian Cuisine in the World' celebration supported by the Italian Consulate which honoured excellence in the UK hospitality industry Coowners Dipna Anand a celebrated chef cookbook author, and the so-called curry queen," and her father, Gulu Anand, were among the 15 standout figures recognized for their contributions to the hospitality sector

Rambo Baeram

John Prescott

Bhim Kohli

Revolutionising safety gear for Sikh children and beyond

Anusha Singh

Tina Singh is the founder and CEO of Bold Helmets, an Occupational Therapist, Digital Content

Creator, and a proud mom of three In January 2023, Tina launched Bold Helmets, introducing the first safetycertified multi-sport helmet specifically designed for Sikh children who maintain their hair

Driven by a commitment to children's safety and identity, Tina believes in the importance of simplicity when balancing religious practices and protective gear She explains that the core mission of Bold Helmets is to offer children safe options that allow them to express their cultural identity

In this interview with Asian Voice, Tina shares the inspiration behind Bold Helmets, her entrepreneurial journey, and her insights on expanding into the UK market

What inspired the creation of Bold Helmets, and where d idea come from to de safety-certified helm specifically for Sikh children?

The motivation behind Bold Helmets really came from my own experience as a parent I have three boys under the age of 12, and when my oldest started learni to ride his bike, I, as Occupational Thera with a background i and brain injury, alw emphasised the importance of safety gear I encouraged them to try new things, but always with the proper protection

Parents, like me, who struggled with this, needed an option that worked with the hair as it is So, the motivation really came from my own life and the practical challenges I faced as a parent

Can you tell us about the materials and features that make Bold Helmets unique?

It was a long journey, and I worked on it alongside other responsibilities for many years When it came to the design and materials, we focused on using standard materials commonly found in

dreadlocks and others who maintain longer hairstyles Many school programs have adopted our product, and it has proven useful for a wider demographic than originally anticipated We developed the product with a specific purpose in mind, but we see potential for it to serve a larger market

Whatwere some of the biggest challenges you faced in building the brand?

One of the biggest challenges we faced in getting this product off the ground was figuring out where to start Although I have a background in healthcare and knowledge about head injuries, I had no experience in product design or development So, one of the initial hurdles was identifying the right engineer and manufacturer to bring the idea to life

Another challenge was a lack of confidence When you're creating a product for the first time, it's a large-scale investment, and there's no guarantee it will work until you have a prototype Even with a t t pe, you still have to t passes safety which adds another of uncertainty This a significant allenge in the eginning, though we've crossed that hurdle now Can you tell us more about your presence in the UK?

When my oldest was about three years old, I noticed how difficult it was to find a helmet that would fit properly with his hair I started experimenting with different ways of tying his hair to make it work, but he hated it because he was used to wearing his hair a certain way It became impractical for both of us I didn’t want to keep retying his hair constantly, and he didn’t like the changes I sat with this frustration for a long time This was when my oldest was three, and now he’s 12, so this idea has been on my mind for quite a while The issue continued when my other kid started playing hockey, and I realised that the problem wasn’t going to get any better; it was only going to get worse

I felt that there needed to be a solution for kids whose hair didn’t fit easily into conventional helmets

all helmets The materials we use are identical to those in any typical helmet, as we wanted to ensure the same composition and safety standards Our helmet undergoes the same safety testing as any other bicycle helmet on the market The unique aspect of our helmet is the dome portion, which was specifically added to create space for a top knot or anyone with a lot of hair worn up This feature sets it apart, but in terms of materials, they're standard and tested just like any other helmet

Do you see Bold Helmets appealing to a broader audience beyond just Sikh kids, potentially addressing other cultural needs as well?

Yes, we're very interested in expanding our reach While our initial focus has been on the Sikh community, we believe that our product can appeal to a broader audience In fact, we already have customers from various cultural backgrounds, including African Americans with

Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh wraps up productive London engagements

The Hon 'ble Chief Min ist

Moha n Yada v,

n ificant day in stre ngt hen

We have a onnection to the K through a tnership where provided some of ducts for use y, we export our to the UK from Canada We offer good shipping rates that we ’ re able to pass on to our customers, but our goal is to make things even easier By 2025, we hope to expand our product range in the UK and improve shipping speed and costs There is a large demand for our products in the UK, and while we currently ship from Canada with flat-rate shipping, we aim to make it even more convenient for our customers

On a related note, I’ve noticed that in the UK, many parents reach out urgently for orders, especially when their children are going on school trips, like overnight stays Parents often email us asking for rush deliveries, needing the product within a few days for their child's trip I encourage people to give us a chance to try our product We’re also always looking for distributors and are open to conversations about getting our product in more markets

Un ited Kin gdom

During his first official visit as the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, he had an

with industry, members of parliament and people from

Mohan Yadav is currently on a 7 day visit along with

offered by Madhya Pradesh

The day began with a r e c e p t i o n a t t h e B r i t i s h Parliament, where Baroness Verma, President of the AllParty Parliamentary Group i n I n d i a , w e l c o m e d C h i e f Minister Dr Yadav During a tour of Parliament, they disc u s s e d

c

nomic ties between Madhya P

a d e s h a n d t h e U K D r Yadav also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue in Westminster, reflecting on Gandhian principles of peace, progress, and sus-

tainable development

D r Y a d a v ' s d i p l o m a t i c visit continued with a parliamentary luncheon where he presented Madhya Pradesh's v i s i o n f o r s u s t a i n a b l e

g r o w t h , h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e state's leadership in renewable energy and its commitment to an investor-friendly e n v i r o n m e n t H e a l s o extended a formal invitation to the UK to be a Partner C o u n t r y a t t h e G l o b a l Investors Summit in Bhopal in February 2025 Later, Dr Y

toured the Kings Cross redevelopment project, engaging w

and public-private partnership models for large-scale developments

The day culminated in a m o m e n t o u s d i a

Madhya Pradesh The Chief Minister

urging the diaspora to contribute to the state's

emphasised the state's

aspirations " Drawing on the Prime Minister’s words, he called the diaspora a "living bridge"

invited the global community to experience the state's diverse attractions

London assembly member unveils tree planting figures for Brent and Harrow

A s N a ti on al Tr e e Pl a n t in g W ee k r e v e a l s n e w f ig ur e s that over the past eight years, M ayor of London Sadiq K han has funded the planting of 4,9 30 trees in Brent and 4,45 1 tree s in Harr ow 5,682 m ore than during the tenur e of the previous mayor

G r e e n i n g L o n d o n ’ s s t r e e t s i s c r u c i a l f o r t h e health and wellbeing of its residents, helping to keep the city cool as the UK faces risi n g t e m p e r a t u r e s a n d extreme weather conditions due to the climate emergency

These figures stem from a £30 million investment in green spaces and tree planting, driven by the Mayor’s E n v i r o n m e n t S t r a t e g y a n d London Plan Both initiatives aim to combat nature deplet i o n , i n c r e a s e b i o d i v e r s i t y , a n d e x p a n d g r e e n s p a c e s across the city

Additionally, the Mayor has supported over 350 comm u

n s u r i n g local communities play a key role in designing and managing their green spaces

K r u p e s h H i r a

, London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow, said:

enhancing the appearance of local areas; it's crucial for creating a healthier city by improving air quality, cool-

reducing the risk of flooding ”

High Commission of India in London commemorates 26/11 terrorist attack

T he Hig h C o m mi ss io n o

The exhibition not only

but also acknowledged the sacrifices made by the security forces who risked

were remembered with deep gratitude

This poignant event was a reminder of the

shared by both nations in the ongoing fight against terrorism As the display o f

nated the events of that tragic day, it underscored the call to “Never Forget,

Together, they paid their respects to the victims of the tragic events of 26th November 2008

Tina Singh

Dr Mohan Yadav

Smriti Irani

Priti Patel pays her respects

Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel

The rec ent headlin es highlight a growing concern for the U K’s pension sec tor B ri tish B usines s Bank has suggested that pen sion tax breaks might be clawed b ack i f funds f ail to allocate suffic ient capital domesti cally B ut this rai ses a crucial q ues tion: is this i n the bes t interest of U K pens ioners?

The answer is a resounding no This debate isn’t just about fund managers or tax reliefs; it’s about the real value pensioners derive from their hard-earned savings Pensioners deserve access to the best investment opportunities globally, not limited by geographical biases or politically motivated investment strategies

Investi ng Abroad: A B etter Alternative for UK Pensi on ers

The UK pension system offers powerful tools for

Accounts), which allow for tax-free growth and withdrawals These vehicles empower pensioners to look beyond UK borders and allocate their savings to global markets, where the returns are often far superior

This strategy isn't short-term thinking In my very first column for the Financial Times in 1999, I argued the case for investing in U S stocks over UK ones Why? Because the U S market consistently delivered better returns, driven by a combination of innovative companies, a strong entrepreneurial culture, and a huge market Fast-forward 25 years, and the evidence is even more compelling

U S equity markets, led by the likes of the S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq, have outperformed the FTSE 100 in almost every rolling period over the past two decades Add to this the rise of emerging markets, where burgeoning economies offer growth rates that the UK simply cannot match, and the argument becomes even stronger For UK pensioners, investing abroad isn’t just an option; it’s a necessity for maximizing long-term returns Why "Hom e Bi as" Hurts Pen sioners

The pressure to buy British is nothing new, but it often leads to suboptimal outcomes This “home bias” in investment is a well-documented phenomenon where individuals or institutions overallocate to domestic assets, even when global options offer better returns In the case of UK pension funds, this bias can result in missed opportunities and diminished retirement wealth

Moreover, the Government’s focus on domestic i n v e s t m e n t f o r t a x r e l i e f p u r p o s e s i s m i s g u i d e d Pensioners spending their tax-free withdrawals in the UK, whether earned domestically or abroad, ultimately benefit the UK economy Whether the income comes from dividends on Apple stock or BP shares is irrelevant what matters is how the wealth is utilized, not where it was generated

The Real Agenda of Fund M anagers

At the heart of this issue is the fund management industry itself By lobbying for stricter domestic investment requirements, fund managers seek to safeguard t h e i r f e e s t r u c t u r e s a n d A U M ( A s s e t s U n d e r Management) However, these motives rarely align with the best interests of pensioners While fund managers collect their management fees, pensioners bear the brunt of poor returns from underperforming domestic assets

The rise of low-cost index funds and ETFs has further exposed the inefficiencies of traditional fund managers Investors are now more aware that paying high fees for mediocre returns is a losing game Platforms like SIPPs and ISAs allow pensioners to bypass these intermediaries entirely and take control of their financial futures

Empowerin g Pe nsioners to Tak e Control

The solution is simple: educate pensioners about their investment options and empower them to make informed decisions The tools are already available

It’s time to stop perpetuating the myth that investing abroad is somehow unpatriotic or detrimental to the UK On the contrary, a wealthier retired population benefits

t h e U K e c o n o m y t h r o u g h i n c r e a s e d s p e n d i n g a n d reduced dependence on state benefits

The Bi gger Picture

The Government must recognize that aligning pension investment strategies with fund managers' interests does not serve the broader public Instead, policymakers should focus on encouraging financial literacy and providing transparent, unbiased information to pensioners

As I argued in 1999, the world is too interconnected to limit one ’ s financial future to national borders The tools, technology, and knowledge are at our fingertips to invest globally and achieve better outcomes The time has come to embrace these opportunities and ensure that pensioners' interests are put first where they belong

Reeves pledges public spending cuts, no tax hikes

Rach el Reeves has warned th at pu blic servic es will face another four years of budget co ns tr ai n ts u nl e ss th

go

refo rms , as sh

reiterated

raising taxes again

firmed she would not seek additional funds from busi-

ruled out any increases in

estimate that, without extra funding, key services such

local government may need

between 2026 and the next election, leading to a decline in service quality Reeves emphasised that improvements in public services must come through

Budget, she raised taxes by £40 billion and borrowed an

avoid the real-term spend-

posed by the Conservatives

S p e a k i n g a t t h e C B I business conference, Reeves defended her tax increases, stating that without these difficult decisions, the economy would not have stabilised She said, "We have now drawn a line under the i n h

Public finances are now on a firm footing, and our public services are properly funded We’ve now set the envelope for those services for the rest of this parliament, which means we won’t have to ask for more " R e e v e s s t r e s s e d t h a t public services must now operate within the spending limits established for this t e r m , w h i c h w i l l r e q u i r e reforms "I’m very clear that I’m not coming back with m o r e b o r r o w i n g o r m o r e taxes," she added

S h e a l s o a r g u e d t h a t p u b l i c s e r v i c e s c o u l d

improve by leveraging business expertise and adopting best practices from the private sector to achieve better v a l u e f o r t a x p a y e r s T h e

Budget included an additional boost to government

spending this year and a smaller increase next y e a r , e n s u r i n g t h a t

m o s t W h i t e h a l l departments see realterms funding growth, e x c l u d i n g o n e - o f f s p e n d i n g c o m m i tments

Public services to suffer From the 2026/27

f i s c a l y e a r u n t i l t h e next general election, o v e r a l l s p e n d i n g i s expected to grow by around 1 3% annually

T h e I n s t i t u t e f o r

Fiscal Studies has estimated this would result in an avera g e a n n u a l c u t o f 1 4 %

a c r o s s m

d e p a r t m

, g i v e n t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s commitment to maintaini n g t h e N H S , c h i l d c a r e , defence, and international aid budgets

To reverse these cuts, an additional £9 billion would be needed The full details o f t h e s p e n d i n g s q u e e z e across departments will be revealed after the Treasury’s c o m p r e h e n s i v e s p e n d i n g review next spring

A recent report from the I n s t i t u t e f o r G o v e r n m e n t ( I f G ) i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e spending plans outlined in t h e B u d g e t w o u l d l e a v e m o s t s e r v i c e s w i t h l e s s funding, adjusted for inflation, than they had before t h e a

began in 2010 The think t a n k p

d i c t e d t h a t , between 2025 and the next election, schools, local gove r n m e n t , c o u r t s , p r i s o n s , and police would all face funding reductions relative to growing demand Prior to this year ’ s election, Reeves had consistently stated that she did not intend to raise taxes or borrow more to fund public services, except for specific policies outlined in Labour’s

change of stance to a £22 billion "black hole" in the public finances left by the

her speech at the CBI, Kemi

the government might need

acknowledging the public’s desire for the government

pointed out that the UK’s record debt levels and the rising costs of debt servicing had created significant challenges She concluded, "This is partly how we have got ourselves into a state where debt is at record levels, and we are spending more on

UK’s economic climate is becoming tougher for investment

Britain

Pladis, the comp any behind brand

and Jacob’s

growing concerns about the

very bullish on the UK In fact, the largest share of our global investment over the past decade has been in the UK,” Amin said “However, it’s becoming increasingly

what the case for investment is going forward We s

environment is making that harder to justify ” Amin’s comments add to

a growing chorus of concerns from business leaders

ment policies, particularly t h

Newton-Smith, CEO of the CBI, also warned that tax increases in the budget were d

t

e g o v e

n

n t ' s g o a l o f getting more people into the workforce A recent survey by the CBI revealed that half of employers are now considering job cuts due to a £25 billion increase in national i n s u r a n c e c o n t r i b u t i o n s , while nearly two-thirds are r e e v a l u a t i n g t h e i r r e c r u i tment plans

Newton-Smith stressed that businesses will play a critical role in getting the n i n e m i l l i o n w o r k i n g - a g e individuals currently out of

the labour force back into jobs “Business is absolutely essential to that effort,” she said “But after the budget, it’s become harder for firms t o t a k e a c h a n c e o n n e w hires ” She also highlighted the challenges facing firms, noti n g t h a t C F O s a c

reluctant to invest or expand in the current environment

“The rise in national insurance, the lower threshold, a n d t h e i n c

explained

In his closing remarks, Rupert Soames, chairman of

& Nephew, expressed

Bank of England to gradually cut rates

The B a nk of E ng l a n d i s expec ted to k eep the Bank Ra t e un c ha n g ed in Decem ber, as gl oba l infl ation conc ern s re surf ac e, ac c or din g t o a R e ut

The poll also revealed a split in opinions regarding the potential impact of US P

Trump s proposed tariffs on the UK economy Trump’s plan, which includes a 10% tariff on imports from all foreign countries and 60% on

imports from China, is anticipated to slow global growth a n d r e i g n i t e i n f l a t i o n a r y p r e s s u r e s

scope for central banks to ease monetary policy

N e a r

y 9 0 % o f economists (22 out of 25) in the November 13-19 survey p r e d i c t e d t h a t t h e t a r i f f s would be implemented early next year However, opinions were divided on how these tariffs would affect the UK economy over the next two to three years While 11 out of

21 economists believed the impact would be negligible, the rest thought it would be significant This contrasted with a separate survey on the e u r o z o n e e c o n o m y , w h e r e the majority of economists (34 out of 39) believed the tariffs would have a considerable effect

Since beginning its easing cycle in August, the Bank of England has reduced the Bank Rate from 5 25%, a 16year high, to 4 75%, with two 25 basis point cuts All 66

economists surveyed predicted that the BoE will maintain t h e c u r r e n t r a t e i n December The median forecast suggests further rate cuts of 25 basis points per quarter in 2024, bringing the rate to 3 75% by the end of 2025

The majority of respondents (58 economists) expected the Bank Rate to fall by 100 basis points next year, with 19 predicting a cut of 125 basis points or more, and 10 forecasting a smaller cut of 75 basis points or less

Rachel Reeves

for the fiscal

equity shares,

At a company earnings call in Oct, CEO Tim Cook

x p r

s performance He was upbeat about India registering an

Adani

A dani I nfra, whi ch is part of

d

all-time revenue record “We also opened two new stores during the quarter, and we can’t wait to bring four new

n India,” he said in the call A p

expansion is also boosting iPhone sales With India’s

company

s timing couldn’t

India

consisting of devices

category now represents 17%

accounting for 45% of the total market value

ecosystems at Counterpoint

Harsha Vardhan Agarwal takes over as FICCI President for 2024-25

H

vice chair man &

t ook over as FIC CI Preside nt for 20 24-2025, from Anish Sha

97th

G oenk a, vice chairma n, RPG G roup, has be

lead ership as Vice Preside nt Harsha Vardhan Agarwal

i

revenues expected to cross the $10 billion mark in 2025, there will be growth in all other hardware categories Sales of

iPads, watches, AirPods, and

projected to see substantial increases as Indian customers e

offerings,” he said

leader of the Emami Group He was awarded as one of I

prestigious 'Forty Under 40' list by The Economic Times & Spencer Stuart in 2016

A

FMCG business of Emami Limited as its Vice Chairman & Managing Director

Group, with interests in the tyre, infrastructure, pharma, IT and speciality sectors He is also the Vice-President of the FICCI, and the former Chairman of the Automotive

T

s Association (ATMA) Prior to j

i n i n g C E A T , A n a n t worked with Unilever and KEC International He was the recipient of the “Kabiller Science of Empathy Prize” from the Kellogg School of Management in 2023 Anant has also been recognised by F

Generation Business Leader of the Year” in 2017 and as

Chairman of The Sanmar G

headquartered in Chennai,

Infra to acquire 30% stake in PSP Projects India's forex reserves drop by record $18bn in week ending Nov 15

Enterprise s Limi ted ( AEL), an noun ced plans to acq

P r oj ec ts f

A dani In fra (In dia) Ltd is t h e PM C a r m o

A

n i Portfolio, which i s own ed 100% by the Adan i Family

H e a d q u a r t e r e d i n Ahmedabad, PSP Projects Limited is an EPC company

w i t h a n o r d e r b o o k o f £654 6mn Some of the key

p r o j e c t s i m p l e m e n t e d b y the company include Surat

D i a m o n d B o u r s e , S a b a r m a t i R i v e r f r o n t

H o u s e , G u j a r a t V i d h a n Sabha and several projects

i n G I F T C i t y , a m o n g others

S P

a

i t s c u r r e n t t r a d i n g price, signalling confidence in the company ’ s long-term g r o w t h p o t e n t i a l A d a n i Portfolio of Companies is

A d a n i I n f r a h a s launched an open offer to a c q u i r e 1 0 3 0 m n e q u i t y shares, equivalent to 26% o f P S P P r o j e c t s ’ v o t i n g s h a r e c a p i t a l , w i t h o f f e r p r i c e d a t R s 6 4 2 0 6 p e r s h a r e , a g g r e g a t i n g t o £66 176mn Adani Infra’s offer values

Eco nom ists exp ect rates to r em ain h ig h er f o r lo ng er, w ith the latest inflation data

e xc ee d i ng RB I ’ s t ol er anc e band ahead of th e upcom ing m onetary p olicy comm ittee ( MPC ) meeting At the same

t i m e, F M Ni rm a la S itharaman and com merce

m inister Piyush Goyal have

m ad e a c as e f o r R BI to o verlook the spike in food p ri ces and red uce interest rates

“Both govt and RBI are t a l

objectives and both help to

m

RBI’s MPC is mandated to s

consider this while deciding

Sabnavis, chief economist, Bank of Baroda Sabnavis said that while

spending primarily depends

borrowings

existing Chairman, MD & CEO Prahladbhai Patel, the founder promoter of PSP

As part of the transaction, Adani Infra will get equal rights and representation on the board

l o o k i n g t o i n v e s t $ 1 0 0 b i l l i o n a s c a p e x o v e r t h e course of next decade

In di a's forei gn exch ange res erves fell by nearly $18 billion in the week ending No v 1 5 - the sh arp est fall o n reco rd - as global investors continued pu lling out funds from Indian stock markets

According to RBI data, forex reserves declined by $17 8 billion to $657 9 billion during that week The decline was largely due to a $15 5 billion drop in foreign currency assets to $569 8 billion, coupled with a $2 billion decrease in gold reserves to $65 7 billion

investors selling in equity markets W h

decisions are largely driven by capacity utilisation,” he

deposit rates peaking, some, including SBI, now expect

impacted perishables’ costs along with pass-through of import tax hikes on oilseeds

These will push the Q3FY25 quarterly inflation above the RBI’s projection for a second consecutive quarter, to mid5% compared to the official forecast at 4 8% YoY ” Rao

, creating a narrow window for rate cuts in early 2025

“We expect rate cuts to start in Feb 2025, but revise the magnitude to 75bps by end2025, ” she said

Still undec ided on its decision to participate in govt’s new EV policy, Vietnam ese elec tric c a r m a k e r V i nF as t is h ol d in g s e pa r a t e dis c uss ions with Hyd era ba d-he adq uart er ed M egha Engineering & Infr astructures (ME IL) a n d a l s o A da n i g r oup t o t h ra s h out a partners hip be fore l aunc hing its c ars A source said VinFast, which is in the process of setting up a factory in Tamil Nadu, h a d i n i t i a t e d c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h t h e t w o companies as it looks to raise a part of the c a p i t a l t h r o u g h a l o c a l p a r t n e r A l s o , i t believes that having a local partner will be h e l p f u l i n n a v i g a t i n g t h e r e g u l a t o r y e n v i r o n m e n t , l a b o u r r e l a t i o n s a n d i n development of a credible and cost-effective

RBI’s intervention, it does not fully represent dollar sales, as the data also reflects changes in the value of foreign currency bonds and non-dollar assets when converted to dollar terms Dealers estimate revaluation losses would be less than $10 billion

Current forex reserves are sufficient to cover 11 months of imports “Import cover should not be the sole metric for measuring forex adequacy The key measure now is the reserves ’ capacity to handle foreign portfolio outflows,” said a dealer

Reserves had peaked at $704 9 billion on Sep 27, falling by $47 billion over the next 49 days Dealers indicated that this drop reflects the scale of the central bank’s intervention in the forex market, supplying dollars to meet

component supplier base

“However, not much headway has been made so far No concrete decision has been reached regarding a joint venture with either of the two companies,” the source said W h

“collaborations” across countries where it operates The electoral bond fame Megha Engineering is currently making buses under t

support from China’s largest electric vehicle maker BYD It has a factory for buses on the outskirts of Hyderabad

Essar Group co-founder Shashi Ruia dies at 81

Sh ash ikant Rui a, th e c o-founder of E ssa r G r o u

Essar Group took on significant infrastructure projects, including bridges, dams, and power plants By the 1980s,

Harsha Vardhan Agarwal

Nirmala Sitharaman

Hindus in Bangladesh seek quotas for minorities in parliament

Jatiya Sangsad that 4

Hindu organisations, comes as the chorus for holding

and a day after the president

polls

Yunus-led interim govt does not accept the demand, the

Hindu community will not participate in any election, Mahajote secretary general

Gobinda Chandra Pramanik said at a press conference

W

polling stations,” he added P

(Hindu 10% and Buddhists a n d C h

% )

Pramanik said out of the 42

Hindus, three for Buddhists, and one for Christians

“Being a minority, we are deprived of our rights and our demands are not heard We hope govt and people of other religions look at us with a sympathetic eye ”

Abu Dhabi BAPS Hindu Mandir wins two awards

ABU D H ABI : Th e BAPS

H i ndu M andi r i n Abu

D habi has received two p restigious awards at th e

M E E D P ro j e ct Aw ard s

2 024 in asso ciatio n wi th

M a sh re q, h e ld o n

No vember 20, at th e J W

Marrio tt Hotel in D ubai

M a ri n a, U AE T h e Mandir was hono red with th e awards for Best Cu ltural

P roject in th e UAE and Best

C u l tu r al P ro j ec t i n th e

M i dd le E as t an d N o rt h Africa (MENA), recognizing i ts arch itec tu ral brilliance, c u l tu ra l s i gn i fi c a nc e , an d p ositive so cietal imp act

T h e M E E D P r o j e c t

A w a r d s , r e g a r d e d a s t h e gold standard in the MENA region since 2007, celebrate t h e b e s t i n e n g i n e e r i n g ,

innovation, and sustainabili t y T h e a w a r d c e r e m o n y brought together over 400 attendees, with 40+ nominees representing groundbreaking projects across the region

T h e B A P S H i n d u Mandir Committee, along with their partners, attended the event to receive the a w a r d s S p e a k i n g f r o m India upon learning of the award, Pujya Brahmavihari

Swami, The Head of t h e B A P S H i n d u M a n d i r e m p h a s i z e d the profound significance of the recognition:

" T h e s e a w a r d s highlight not only the technical and architectural excellence of the B A P S H i n d u M a n d i r b u t also the spirit of unity and harmony that inspired its c r e a t i o n T h i s d r e a m became a reality thanks to t h e l o v i n g g e n e r o s i t y o f

H H S h e i k h M o h a m m e d bin Zayed Al Nahyan and t h e g u i d a n c e o f H i s

H o l i n e s s M a h a n t S w a m i Maharaj, who has tirelessly promoted love and inclusivity in the UAE, the Middle East and across the world

Cop killed, dozens hurt as Imran backers storm Islamabad

I S LA M A B AD : A t least one p oliceman w as k il le d an d d o ze ns o f p eo p l e in j u red i n Pakistan as th ousands of former P M Im ran Khan’s suppo rters clashed w ith law enforcement personnel on the outskirts of the capital, Islam abad , o n M onday Khan’ s supporters have called for his release from prison, with his wife Bush ra Bibi saying th e d em onstration w ould co ntinue until th eir d em and is met

Vowing not to allow the protest, the govt h a d b l o c k e d a l l r o u t e s i n t o a n d o u t o f Islamabad with shipping containers, and heavy contingents of police and other security forces were deployed across the city The protesters, however, accompanied by lifting e q u i p m e n t a n d o t h e r h e a v y m a c h i n e s worked their way by removing hurdles Led b y K h y b e r - P a k h t u n k h w a C M A l i A m i n Gandapur and Bushra, the marchers entered the territorial jurisdiction of the national capital by night from Sangjani toll plaza

They intend to set up camp at Islamabad DChowk, a large square near a number of significant govt buildings, including the PM’s office, parliament and the Supreme Court

Punjab police said constable Muhammad M u b a s h i r B i l a l , w h o w a s d e p u t e d i n Islamabad to deal with the security, succumbed to his injuries caused by the “violence of miscreants” while carrying out his duties It also said another constable was

Bukhari said about 80 of Khan’s supporters were arrested, adding that at least 70 others were injured in the clashes

Khan’s party PTI said scores of its workers were also hurt, as it accused the govt of using violent tactics to block protesters

“They even fired live bullets,” Khan’s aide Shaukat Yousafzai told Geo News TV

Imran has billed the ongoing protest as the “final call” to meet three demands - his release from jail, along with hundreds of detained party workers; reversal of the 26th Constitutional Amendment which curtailed powers of judiciary; and return of the “stolen mandate” of the Feb 8 elections

PTI brass on Monday met Khan in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where he is lodged, to brief him on the protest and take his guidance on the matter The leaders, including party chairman Gohar Ali Khan, Khyber

P a k h t u n k h w a ’ s i n f o r m a t i

Barrister Saif and Ali Mohammad Khan, said it was important to keep him informed on the party’s strategy

More than 100 killed in Pakistan violence

I SL A MA BA D: More than 100 people w ere k i l le d i n di f f e re n t v i ol e n t i n ci d en t s i n

Pa kis tan durin g the pa st w eek In the fi rst i nciden t, at lea st 50 people, includin g eight w omen and f ive childre n, were k illed a nd

3 0 o t h e r s w ou n d e d w h e n g u n m e n a mb ushed a convoy of pa sse nger ve hicles i n Kurram trib al di strict of n orthwes tern

P ak i st an ’ s re s ti ve Kh yb er Pa k htu nk hw a provi nce b orderin g Af ghani sta n

The attack happened in the remote Ochat area when a convoy of about 200 vehicles was travelling from the region’s administrative headquarters Parachinar to Peshawar Kurram district has a long history of sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia groups In recent years, it has become a hotspot for attacks by Pakistan Taliban and Islamic State terrorists, both o f w h i c h a r e v e h

a

Kurram, a region with a large Taliban presence, has seen repeated clashes between Sunni and Shia tribes this year, often tied to land disputes

In the second incident in the same area, more than 30 people have been killed and dozens injured in renewed clashes between Sunni and Shia Muslim groups Adul Nabi Bangash, a local politician in Parachinar said that a group Shia Muslims a

c h a s B a

n bazaar, with light and heavy weapons An official said that at least 18 Shias and 14 Sunnis were killed in the clashes

In another clash, 12 soldiers and 6 militants killed in Bannu district of Pakistan’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province The fighting took place in Bannu’s Mali Khel area, where terrorists “attempted to attack a joint check post” of the Pakistani army and paramilitary troops It came a day after four people, including a tribal chief and a woman, were killed and as many injured when unknown armed men opened fire on a vehicle in Bannu

Bangladesh panel seeks review of power pacts, including Adani group’s

D HA K A : T he national rev iew comm ittee o f Bang lad esh ’ s pow er and energ y m inistry recom mend ed a review of major po wer contracts awarded by th e ousted Sheikh Hasina go vt, includ ing th e one to Ad ani Group in Jharkhand A

Muhammad Yunus’s office said the committee is currently reviewing seven major energy and power projects, including the Adani (Godda) BIFPCL 1234 4 MW coal-fired plant

The development comes at a time when Adani Power awaits its delayed payments

Meanwhile, in an extraordinary resolution, the committee, headed by retired high court judge Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, stated that it needed more time to further analyse all contracts

The panel is gathering evidence that may lead to the potential renegotiation or cancellation of contracts in accordance with international arbitration laws and proceedings, the review committee said in its resolution “To facilitate this, we recommend the immediate engagement of one or more topquality international legal and investigative firms to assist our committee,” it said

The panel emphasised that it wants to ensure its investigations align with international standards and will be acceptable in international negotiations and arbitration

Adani Group had recently sent a letter to the Yunus govt over its unpaid $800 million power supply bill while Bangladesh’s staterun Power Development Board said they had already paid $150 million despite its dollar crisis and was expecting to pay the full amount

in brief INDIAN ARRESTED FOR SUPPLYING AVIATION GOODS TO RUSSIA

A 57-year-old Indian national has been arrested in the US on charges of procuring aerospace components on behalf of Russian entities in violation of export control laws Sanjay Kaushik, managing partner of New Delhi-based air charter services provider Arezo Aviation, was arrested in Miami on October 17 after he landed from India on an official travel, the Department of Justice said According to the company's website, Arezo Aviation is based in Delhi and is an aviation services firm involved in air charters, air ambulances and the distribution of aircraft spare parts, lubricants, and pilot supply for commercial, general, and corporate aviation Currently detained in an Oregon jail, Kaushik has not sought release

4 PUNJABIS APPOINTED TO BRITISH COLUMBIA CABINET

In a landmark move four Punjabis have been appointed to key positions in the newly formed Cabinet of British Columbia (BC) Announced by Premier David Eby the appointments mark a significant milestone for Indo-Canadians in the province Niki Sharma has been appointed as deputy premier Joining her are Ravi Kahlon, Jagrup Brar and Ravi Parmar, who have been inducted as ministers Ravi Kahlon will now oversee municipal affairs in addition to his existing responsibilities Jagrup Brar will take on a new portfolio dedicated exclusively to mining Ravi Parmar, promoted from his previous role as parliament secretary, will serve as minister of forest

JAY BHATTACHARYA TOP CANDIDATE FOR NIH CHIEF

Jay Bhattacharya is now the presumptive favourite to be selected by President-elect Donald Trump as the next director of the National Institutes of Health, the Washington Post reported The Stanford-trained physician and economist met with Robert F Kennedy Jr, Trump’s pick to lead HHS this week and impressed him with his ideas to overhaul NIH, the report said Trump s transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment Bhattacharya has called for shifting the agency’s focus toward funding more innovative research and reducing the influence of some of its longest-serving career officials the report added

ASSASSINATION THREAT AGAINST PHILIPPINE PREZ

Philippine security agencies stepped up safety protocols after Vice President Sara Duterte said she would have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr assassinated if she herself were killed In a dramatic sign of a widening rift between the two most powerful political families in the Southeast Asian nation Duterte said that she had spoken to an assassin and instructed him to kill Marcos his wife, and the speaker of the Philippine House, if she were to be killed The Presidential Security Command said it had heightened and strengthened security protocols We are also closely coordinating with law enforcement agencies to detect deter and defend against any and all threats to the president and the first family ” it said in a statement IMF APPROVES $2 9BN BAILOUT TO LANKA The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved the third review of Sri Lanka s $2 9bn bailout but warned that the South

in brief

INDIAN CHARGED FOR SEXUALLY HARASSING WOMEN

A 73-year-old Indian national was charged in a Singapore court for allegedly molesting four women while on board a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight from the United States to Singapore Balasubramanian Ramesh is accused of molesting one of the women four times and is said to have targeted the three others once each on the flight on November 18 He was handed seven molestation charges in a district court Court documents do not disclose if the women were the carrier s passengers or crew and they cannot be named due to a gag order to protect their identities

UN CELEBRATES DIAMOND JUBILEE OF HINDI DIWAS

The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations recently organized the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Hindi Diwas in New York on November 22 2024 This landmark event commemorated the 75th anniversary of Hindi s adoption as an official language of India on September 14, 1949 The event was attended by a visiting delegation of Indian Members of Parliament, including Birendra Prasad Baishya, Pradan Baruah Sushmita Dev, Akshay Yadav, Sandhya Ray, Tejasvi Surya, and Bansuri Swaraj Also present were Permanent Representatives (PR) and Deputy PRs from over 40 countries, senior UN officials, academics, diaspora members, and winners of various competitions

BANGLADESH FORMS NEW ELECTION PANEL

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin appointed a new five-member election commission headed by AMM Nasir Uddin amid growing pressure for early national elections While Nasir leads the panel as chief election commissioner, retired additional secretary Anwarul Islam Sarkar, retired district and sessions judge Abdur Rahmanel Masud, retired joint secretary Begum Tahmida Ahmed and Brig Gen Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah (Retd) are election commissioners The interim govt earlier formed a search committee for recommending names for CEC and election commissioners

IMRAN KHAN GETS BAIL IN ANOTHER CASE

A Pakistani court granted bail to former PM Imran Khan in a graft case, his lawyer said But with other charges pending against him, Khan will stay in prison Still, the order was a boost for Khan in the case in which he is accused, along with his wife of keeping and selling state gifts in violation of govt rules when he was in power Khan has denied the charge The hearings in the trial on the graft charges started in July and are ongoing Khan has so far been embroiled in over 150 cases and has been sentenced in several, including to three years 10 years 14 years and seven years to be served concurrently His convictions were later overturned in appeals but he cannot be freed due to other, pending cases

HONG KONG JAILS 45 PRODEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS

A Hong Kong court sentenced 45 prodemocracy activists to jail terms of up to 10 years, in the first-ever mass sentencing since Beijing imposed a controversial national security law on the semi-autonomous Chinese city The activists were among 47 people arrested in 2021 for organising unofficial primary elections to choose pro-democracy legislative candidates Authorities alleged the action violated the sweeping Beijing security law first introduced in 2020 Foreign governments and rights groups swiftly condemned the verdict amid concerns of democratic backslide and human rights violations in the city of seven million

Indian-Americans rally for Hindu safety in Canada

Ameri cans in Silicon Valley held a solidarity rally for H indus

Ca nad a an d Ba ngl ade sh ove

violence agai nst them in these two countries

Addressing a gathering of

Milpitas City Hall, prominent community leaders spoke out about the attacks on the Hindu minority urging US leaders to condemn the human rights violations and hold the Canadian

The Bay Area is home to more

Americans

Canada increases security screening of travellers to India

OTTAWA: Pas sen ge rs trave ling from Canada to India will now fac e additional sec urity s creening a m id h e ig ht

e ns ion s between New Del hi and Ottawa Ca n a da ’ s

Anita Anand, announce d the new temporary protocols, st ating tha t the meas ure s were implem ented “out of an abundanc

of

tional security screening mea-

noted that passengers “ may expe-

place ” In light of the new measures,

Air Canada has urged passengers travelling to India to arrive at airports at least four hours before their scheduled departure, warning of longer wait times at security checkpoints

The enhanced security protocols are being enforced by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, the agency responsible f o r p a s

screening at Canadian airports T

Mounted Police said it has evidence linking “agents” allegedly acting on behalf of the Indian government to organized crimes in Canada

In another challenge to Trudeau, Canadian minister steps down

O ttawa: A member of Canada’s

L iberal govt stepped d own ami d allegati ons h e mis represented hi s background, dealing another chall enge to beleaguered PM Justi n T ru d eau E mp lo yment mi ni s ter R and y Bo i s s o nna u l t “ w i l l s te p a w ay f r o m C ab i n et e f f ec t i ve i mm ed i at e ly ( and ) f o c u s o n cl earing allegati ons made against h im,” Trud eau' s offi ce said i n a two- line statement

The announcement marks a sharp change in approach from Trudeau, who recently defended Boissonnault against opposition

charges he had falsely claimed to have indigenous roots In 2018, Boissonnault said his great-grandmother was a member of the Cree nation Last week he changed his account, saying he did not in fact have any aboriginal blood Trudeau made his announcement at a time when some Liberal legislators are complaining about his leadership after nine years in p o w e r O p i n i o n p o l l s s h o w Liberals are on track to lose the next federal election, which must be held by late Oct 2025

New York Post now urges Trump to ditch Tulsi Gabbard

NEW YOR K: The Ne w York Post Editoria l Boa rd has shar ply crit icized Pre sid ent -elect Dona ld Trump’s r epor ted cabin et nomin ation s of Tulsi Ga bbard a s Direct or of Na tiona l Inte lligen ce a nd Ma tt G aet z as At torn ey Ge ner al, urg ing him to r econsider the se contr over sia l choices In a piece published on N ov ember 19, t he boar d labeled the two as “distra cting chaos ag ent s ” who risk de ra iling Tr ump ’ s a gen da

The editorial highlights Gabbard’s foreign policy positions as a key concern While her anti-interventionist stance may align with Trump’s skepticism of prolonged US entanglements abroad, the Post argues that she lacks the pragmatic balance required for the role Gabbard’s support for the Iran nuclear deal and criticism of the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani are presented as evidence that she prioritizes isolationism over a robust defense strategy The board fears she would downplay global threats, undermining Trump’s ability to maintain a strategic balance of avoiding war while addressing international dangers

Pam Bondi is new AG

Trump has, meanwhile, nominated veteran prosecutor Pam Bondi as his new pick for attorney general, hours after Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration Bondi has a long track record in law enforcement and previously served as Florida's attorney general The 59-year-old is a long-time Trump ally who defended him during his first Senate impeachment trial Losing his first choice, Gaetz, to run the Justice Department is a setback for Trump but his new pick should have a less bumpy ride from senators who must approve the appointment

out the attacks by Khalistanis on Hindus in Canada and by radical groups in Bangladesh "We are one world, one family, one future,” he said Pushpita Prasad from the Coalition of Hindus in North America (CoHNA) raised concerns about her team in Canada being targeted and profiled by S

banned organisation in India but operates freely in the US and Canada

Trump entrusts Musk with cutting federal budget spending

or th odox ie s an d d er eg ulat e in the n ame of growt h Trump has a ma nda te for such d isr up tion

Weeks after helping Trump w i n t h e e l e c t i o n , M u s k h a s climbed to the apex of power Trump has appointed him to a new advisory body, called DOGE ( D e p a r t m e n t o f G o v e r n m e n t Efficiency), tasked with slashing spending

M u s k i s a l s o d i f f e r e n t because he is a disrupter Rather than exploiting monopolies to raise prices, or creating a stable banking system as the foundation for finance, most of Musk

I n c u s e s t e c h n o l o g y t o s l a s h

c o s t s i n c o m p e t i t i v e m a r k e t s

This disruption is central to Musk’s ideology, in which innovation conquers humanity’s intractable challenges from climate change to colonising Mars

R e a l i s i n g t h e s e d i s t a n t g o a l s depends on a genius for cons t a n t l y r e t h i n k i n g i n d u s t r i a l processes

Both Trump and Musk want to disrupt the entire federal government Musk has said DOGE may aim to cut as much as $2trn from the $7trn annual federal budget and abolish many agencies

At the same time Musk could bungle, especially when he is outside his areas of expertise He has shown erratic judgm e n t i n f o r e i g n a f f a i r s , b y micromanaging the use of the S t a r l i n k s a t e l l i t e s e r v i c e i n U k r a i n e a n d c o m p a r i n g

Taiwan’s status to Hawaii’s His love of the limelight and cons p i r a c i e s , a n d o f t h e s w i r l o f social media, are worrying He could also fail before he even starts, because of the combustibility of the Trump-Musk combination The next president loves hiring and firing The tech tycoon burns through executives and relationships, too I f M u s k ’ s p o l i t i c a l c a r e e r proves to be brief, it could still h

c i o u s effects One would be to turn politicians away from reforming g o v e r n m e n t T h e o t h e r e f f e c t would be to normalise collusion between politicians and tycoons

ug u r a l a w a r d , wh ich wi ll la t e r be pr e se n te d an nua lly or bie nn ially t o AAP alumni who ex emplify a commitme nt t o societa l bett er ment “ R a t a n T a t a ’ s i m p a c t o n

C o r n e l l w a s t r a n s f o r m a t i v e , ” said Interim President Michael I K o t

Canada says no proof to link PM Modi with Nijjar plot

C ana da has officially de nied

it ha s an y evide nce to link

PM M odi, for eign minister S J a i s ha n k

Dova l wit h the murde r of p

i n C a n a d a p e r p e t r a t e d b y agents of the govt of India,”

C a n a d i a n N S A N a t h a l i e

culpa bilit y for

he crime

India had described the

t a w a t h a t s u c h s m e a r

c a m p a i g n s w i l l f u r t h e r damage the already strained ties

“On Oct 14th, because of

a s i g n i f i c a n t a n d o n g o i n g threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the

e x t r a o r d i n a r y s t e p o f making public accusations of serious criminal activity

Drouin said in an official statement

“The govt of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of e v

Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity

w i t h i n C a n

suggestion to the contrary is

inaccurate,” the official said Canada had last month a c c u s e d U n i o n h o m e

the country India had described the allegation a

d Canada that “unfounded i n s i n u a t i o

w i l l h a v e serious consequences for the bilateral relationship Canada’s RCMP on O

d involvement of Indian high c

Indian diplomats in criminal activities, leading to their expulsion by the Canadian

the officials

A report appeared in the Globe and Mail earlier in the week, based apparently on an intelligence assessment s

eliminate Nijjar

Anmol Bishnoi applies for asylum in US

Anm ol Bishnoi, the younger b r o t he r of n o t or io us

ga ngste r Lawrenc e Bishnoi, is l earnt to have applied f or a sylum in t he US through his c oun s e l B is hn oi , d e t ai n e d l ast week , has been l odged at t h e Po t ta wa t t a m ie Cou nt y prison in Iowa, s ources s aid

A c c o r di ng t o in f o r m a t io n, A n m ol w as be i n g

i n ve s ti g at e d b y IC E ( Imm igr at ion and Cus tom s

E nf o rc e m e n t) , wh ic h de a l s with cr os s-border c rim e and undoc um ented im migration

While Anmol’s arrest in the US seems triggered by information shared by the Indian govt about his illegal e n t r y i n t o t h e c o u n t r y , sources, however, suggested t h a t h e m a y h a v e deliberately surrendered to US authorities as a tactical move to seek asylum This

d e v e l o p m e n t c a m e a f t e r

M u m b a i P o l i c e i n i t i a t e d

e x t r a d i t i o n p r o c e e d i n g s against him

Sources said before his d e t e n t i o n , A n m o l h a d applied for asylum through t h e U S C i t i z e n s h i p a n d Immigration Services Now that he has initiated asylum p r o c e e d i n g s t h r o u g h l e g a l channels, it’s unlikely that he will be extradited to India or any other country The US legal system’s tendency to grant bail in such cases, coupled with the precedent set by gangster Goldy Brar’s release, raises the possibility t h a t A n m o l m i g h t e v a d e extradition to India Brar, too, has applied for asylum, sources said

A l s o , t h e r e i s a p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t C a n a d a police may try to get access to him in connection with s o m e g a n g - r e l a t e d c a s e s b e i n g i n v

RCMP

escalation to bu ild greater t ru s t a nd co n fi d e nc e between the two countries

“We need to focus on c o o p

conflict,” Singh said at the d e l e g a t i o

g with the Chinese defence minister on the sidelines of the Asean defence ministers’ meeting-plus (ADMM-Plus) in Vientiane

D e s c r

The FBI is learnt to be in t h e p r o c e s s o f v e r i f y i n g A n m o l ’ s i d e n t i t y

through a voice sample or a DNA match, sources said

who had earlier this month confirmed his presence in America, are in touch with

including his deportation

Anmol, who has a red notice issued against him by Interpol, is an accused in

including the recent murder

minister Baba Siddique and the firing incident outside

been accused of providing arms and logistical support t o t h e s h o o t

s o f S i d h u Moosewala who was killed on May 29, 2022

5 killed as protest against UP mosque survey turns violent

With the death o f two mo re

S unday’s vio lent clash es in S am bh a l o n Mo n day , th e death toll in th e incident

o b j ec t ed to a c o u rt m an da te d s u rv ey a t th e Mughal-era Jama Masj id in S ambhal As a result of the violence, three p eople died ea rli er a nd s eve ral o th ers injured, inclu ding 20 police p ersonnel

Meanwhile, seven FIRs

h a v e b e e n l o d g e d a g a i n s t

m o r e t h a n 2 , 5 0 0 p e o p l e , including Samajwadi Party

M P Z i a - u r R a h m a n B a r q and MLA Iqbal Mahmood’s son Sohail Police detained 25 suspects and claimed that m o r e a c c u s e d w e r e b e i n g

i d e n t i f i e d t h r o u g h d r o n e footage

Internet services in the

c i t y r e m a i n e d s u s p e n d e d and schools were closed on M o n d a y O u t s i d e r s h a v e been barred from entering the area until Dec 1 Police

also sealed the area around

J a m a M a s j i d ( w h e r e t h e clash took place) and were conducting flag marches in sensitive zones

Divisional commissioner

Aunjaneya Singh said that

F I R s h a v e b e e n r e g i s t e r e d against 15 identified people while the remaining accused

a r e u n i d e n t i f i e d “ T h e

c o n d i t i o n o f a n i n j u r e d person and a policeman is critical The families of the d e c e a s e d m e n h a v e b e e n t o l d t h a t t h e y c a n a l s o register an FIR,” Singh said A senior police officer said, “The SP MP delivered o f f e n s i v e s t a t e m e n t s , a n d t h e M L A ’ s s o n g a t h e r e d p e o p l e a n d l a u n c h e d a n a t t a c k o n p o l i c e a n d t h e s u r v e y t e a m T h e y b o t h came to the mosque when the survey was conducted on Nov 19, and then they came on Friday as well We h a v e s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c

Assembly bypolls: BJP, allies bag over half the seats

Giving another bo ost to BJP and its allies, in a contest i nv o lv i ng 4 8 a ss e m bl y byp olls across 1 5 states, NDA em erg ed th e d o m i nan t f o rc e, s ec u ri ng 2 6 s ea ts

A m on g th e bi g w in s w as K u nd ark i co n st i tu en cy i n U P , wh ic h BJP p icked up after 3 1 years, h av ing las t wo n the seat in 1993 It had rem ained an SP stronghold since 2012

C o n t i n u i n g i t s dominance in Assam, BJPl e d N D A s e c u r e d a l l f i v e seats, while the lone seat of Gambegre in Meghalaya was w o n b y i t s a l l y N P P

C o n g r e s s s o m e w h a t r e d e e m e d i t s h o l d Karnataka and Punjab In

Punjab, while AAP retained three of four seats, Congress wrested Barnala from AAP In Gujarat, BJP wrested the Vav assembly constituency from Congress

B J P c o n t i n u i n g i t s dominance in Assam, Uttar

P r a d e s h a n d R a j a s t h a n There were nine bypolls in U P w i t h B J P w i n n i n g s i x s

S P

Sishamau (since 2012) In West Bengal, TMC swept all six seats in the state

bypolls

the Wayanad seat in

Charusat starts Diabetik Autolab for patients with diabetes

positive implications” for global peace and prosperity

as well as help stabilise the world economy, he said T

n e s e t r o o p s d i s e n g a g e d a t t h e remaining face-off sites at Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh last month a n d t h e n r e s u m e d “coordinated” patrolling in the two areas

T h e D ep ar tm en t o f Community P hysiotherap y, Asho k & Rita P atel Institu te of Ph ysiotherap y (ARIP) of C h ar u s at U n iv er s i ty , C h an ga h av e i n i ti a te d a Diabetik Auto lab wo rth Rs 420, 000 to investigate the f o o t p ro b l em s f o r th e p atients suffering from diabetes ARIP Co llege is the o n ly i n s ti tu t e i n e n ti re Gujarat where th is typ e of Diabetik Autolab faci lity is available For the first time in Gu jarat, this lab h as been started in Ch arusat for the p atients with diabetes and also facilitates th e ph ysiot h er ap y s t u de nt s f o r th e p urp ose of research , training and learning According to the World D i a b e t e s F e d e r a t i o

Gujarat Principal of ARIP

Dr Dhruv Dave, Assistant P r o f e s s o r D r M a n s i Bhadiyadra and Dr Shipra Shah said that diabetes is a silent disease, therefore the symptoms are not visible i m m e d i a t e l y A m o n g t h e s y m p t o m s ,

Rajnath Singh & Admiral Dong Jun

India stands for peace, refrains from expansionism: PM Modi

I

ndi a h as never moved fo rward with selfishness or with a sp iri t of e x p an s i o n is m an d h as a lw ay s refrained fro m grabbing reso urces, said P M Narendra Mo di address-

i n g Gu y an a ’ s P ar li am en t Mo d i

b eca me th e fi rst In dian P M t o address the Guyana Parliament

“We have always stayed away

f r o m t h e f e e l i n g o f o c c u p y i n g resources and grabbing resources I believe, be it space or sea, these should not be subjects of universal conflict but of universal co-operation,’’ Modi said His visit to the South American country is also the first by any Indian PM in 56 years

Modi said this is not the time for conflict for the world, but the t

them “Today, there are many such c h a l l e n g e s l i k e t e r r o r i s m ,

, cyber crime, only by facing which

Narendra Modi

future of our future generations And, this is possible only when we

First Humanity First,’’ said Modi, adding that this was the time for Global South awakening and for developing countries to stay united

“This is an opportunity for us to work together and create a new global order,” said Modi, adding India has always worked on the basis of trust, transparency, and principles

The PM also said India stood

for global development and peace “With this spirit, today India has

Global South India is of the view that the Global South has suffered a lot in the past We progressed in the past by preserving nature as per our nature and values But many countries developed while harming the environment,” said Modi

“Today, the countries of the

G20 declaration avoids condemning Russia

For the second year i n succession, t he G

Russia for its invasion of Ukraine while diluting further the s upport for Kyi v amid pres sure from the inc oming Trump administration to end the war

W

2022 Bali declaration The summit took place against the backdrop of a likely escalation in the war with the US having approved use of long-range missiles by Ukraine against Russia

While seeking a comprehensive ceasefire, the Rio joint communique recalled discussions in New Delhi and highlighted the h u m

biggest price for climate change,” he added Modi conferred h igh

G

ho nours

conferred their top awards on PM Modi for his contributions during the Covid-19 pandemic and efforts in strengthening bilateral ties with the two Caribbean nations The PM was conferred ‘The Order of Excellence’ by Guyanese President Irfaan Ali

Mumbai’s infrastructure undergoing major changes

U po n taki ng o ff ic e as I nd i a ’ s p r i m e m i ni s ter i n 2

N

boosted infrastructu re sp ending M any s tate and local go v ernm ents fo llowed suit The country desperately needed it Urban infrastructure h as end ured years o f neg lect even as cities expanded in size and p opulation

Nowhere is this more so than Mumbai, the commercial capital H o m e t o 2 2 m n p e o p l e , I n d i a ’ s r i c h e s t

, w i t h g r

c k e d roads, packed trains and an airport at capacity In 2025 some of the city’s new infrastructure projects will, at last, be complete

P e r h a p s t h e m o s t e a g e r l y awaited will be the opening of new metro lines One that will connect the city’s southern tip to other business districts and the airport is expected to be fully operational by t h

Mumbai’s first mass-transit link to the existing airport A n o t h e r m u c h - a n t i c i p a t e d project is a coastal road running along the city’s west coast, part of which opened in 2024 The plan is to use the road, built on reclaimed land, to link the west with a bridge on the east of the city, in turn connecting the Mumbai peninsula to the mainland The 10km road will be completed in 2025, with 175 acres of new parks and seaside promenades alongside it

Rajnath Singh to visit Russia from December 8-10

India's def ense m inister Rajnath S ing h w il l v isit Ru ssia f ro m D ecember 8 -10, Ru ssia's TAS S state news agency repor ted Singh's itinerary includes a visit to M o s c o w a n d K a l i n i n g r a d , a E u r o p e a n exclave of Russia

The announcement comes as India and Russia have been engaged in a series of diplomatic engagements to strengthen bilateral ties

Earlier this month, reports indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin could visit India in the next few months However, no dates have been confirmed yet The invitation was extended by Prime M i n i s t e r N a r e n d r a M o d i d u r i n g t h e i r talks in Moscow in July The talks were part of PM Modi's diplomatic visit to

p w

t h Russia and push dialogue as a way to peace amid conflicts

Apart from the July visit, PM Modi also visited Russia from October 22-23 on President Putin's invitation The visit was meant to attend the 16th Brics Summit in K a z a n D u r i n g h i s v i s i t , P u t i n h o s t e d Modi at his official residence at NovoOgaryovo for a private engagement

The Russian leader lauded PM Modi f o

progress during the meeting

e project to open in 2025 will be a vast new airport on the c i t y ’ s o u t s k i r t s M u m b a i ’ s existing airport has just one usable runway and is in the middle of the city The completion of these mega projects will build upon a spate of ribbon-cuttings in 2024 More are on the way, including a highspeed rail link to Ahmedabad and a motorway to Delhi

To pay for all this, and similar projects across the country, India has in recent years turbocharged public investment A record 11trn rupees ($130bn), or 3 4% of gdp, has been set aside for infrastructure in the year to the end of March 2025, three times the annual amount of a decade ago Much more spending and building will be necessary to expand it

PM Modi urges youth to join politics to push growth agenda

PM Narend ra M odi exhorted the you th, esp ecially those without a fam ily backgro und in politics, to enter the political arena and p articipate in natio nal dev elopm ent, reiterating a call h e made after the BJP-head ed Mahayuti’s thu mping v ictory in th e Maharash tra assembly po lls

In the 116th episode of his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, Modi, while urging youngsters to enter politics, invited them to participate in the ‘Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue’, which will be held from Jan 11-12 in Delhi

“You might remember that from the ramparts of the Red Fort, I have urged youths to join politics, none of whose family members or even the entire family have had a political background,” the PM said, adding that to connect 100,000 such youngsters with politics, many special campaigns and initiatives - the dialogue being one of them -will be run in the country

To mark NCC Day, Modi shared his experience as a cadet of the National Cadet Corps “I myself have been an NCC cadet, so I can say with full confidence that the experience I got from it is invaluable for me The NCC instills a spirit of discipline, leadership, and service in the youth,” he said Mentioning that the young leaders dialogue will coincide with Swami Vivekananda’s 162nd birth anniversary, the PM said, “ This time it will be celebrated in a very special way On this occasion, a ‘maha kumbh’ of young minds is going to be held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi on Jan 11 and 12 Millions of youth from all over India will participate in it ” He added that 2,000 youngsters, selected from villages, blocks, districts, and states, will gather at the event

“Experts from the country and abroad” will attend the dialogue, he said “The youth will get an opportunity to present their ideas directly before us , ” he said Citing examples of young individuals assisting senior citizens with digital life certificates and raising awareness about cybercrimes like ‘digital arrest’, he said, “We have to explain to people again and again that there is no provision of digital arrest in the govt; this (digital arrest) is a blatant lie ”

Declaration too was seen as soft on Russia, focused as it was more on social consequences of the war than on holding Moscow liable, it had seven paragraphs dedicated to addressing the situation as against just one specifically on Ukraine in the Rio Declaration

Declaration PM Modi’s big mes-

Vladimir Putin - this isn’t the era of war - that found mention in both Bali and Delhi joint statements

The Delhi declaration, which I n d

d

through an eleventh-hour consensus, had a standalone paragraph that just said today’s era must not be of war The same sentence had been used earlier in the

added impacts of the war with regard to global food and energy security, supply chains, macrofinancial stability, inflation and growth

“We welcome all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just and durable peace, upholding all the purposes and principles of the UN C h a r

peaceful, friendly, and good neighbourly relations among, ” it said T

, which was endorsed by Russia as

omitted the text from the previous G20 declaration referring to

Russia from Ukraine

BJP candidate wrests Vav seat from Cong

T he B JP , still s marting f ro m i t s d ef ea t i n th e Banaskantha Lok Sabha s eat ear li er t h is ye ar, tu r ned th e t ab les by clinching a crucial victory in th e Vav assembly by el ec ti o n T h e se at, w h i c h w a s a C o ng r es s stronghold for th e past 10 years, is now in the BJP’ s fold, m a rki n g a w i n ah ea

B

elections in 2025

182 seats in the state in 2022 The win further adds to BJP’s dominance i n t h e s t a t e a s s e m b l y , raising its tally to 162, w h

Samajwadi Party 1, with

C

n g r e s s rival, Gulabsinh Rajput, by bagging 9 2 , 1 7 6 v o t e s a g a i n s t R a j p u t ’ s 89,734 The byelection was necessitated by the resignation of twoterm Congress MLA Geni Thakor, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from Banaskantha earlier this year

V a v a s s e m b l y s e g m e n t f a l l s under Banaskantha LS constituency and was one of the 17 seats that the Congress won out of the total

challenges There was a keen contest between the Congress and the BJP as both held spirited campaigns to woo the 310,000 registered voters However, a rift in the local BJP unit led to the entry of veteran BJP leader Mavji Patel as an independent candidate, skewing the straight contest between

Swaroopji, who had lost to Geni Thakor in 2022, surmounted this hurdle by winning with a slim

Rajput

Three women among 10 Maoists killed in Bastar, toll reaches 207

At least 10 M ao ists - including thr ee women - wer e sho t dead by s ec u r i t y f o r c es i n B as t ar ’ s S u k m a d is t r i ct T h is i s t h e big gest enco unter since t he Oct 3 gunf ig ht in which 38 Maoist s were killed Th e Maoist death toll th is year has now r isen to 207, this week alo ne accou nt ing fo r 15 death s An AK-47, an Insas rifle and an SLR were am ong 10 firear ms seized The Maoists’ South Bastar d i v i s i o n ‘ m i l i t

h

r g e ’ , Madkam Masa, who carried a bounty of Rs 800,000, was eliminated in the encounter Five other cadres were identifiedd i v i s i o n a l ‘ s m a l l a c t i o n t e a m ’ c o m m a n d e r L a k h m a M a d v i , who had a Rs 500,000 bounty, p l a t o o n 4 m e m b e r D o o d h i Hungi, and cadres Madkam Jitu,

Madkam Kosi and Kovasi Kesa, w h

200,000 each

Four dead Maoists are yet to be identified The innocuously named ‘small action team’, is the one that kills civilians and offduty policemen in public places to strike terror Bastar range IG P Sundarraj said the operation was planned on specific inputs t

move in Bhandarpadar region T

Andhra Pradesh, around 500km from Raipur T

District Reserve Guards set out from different camps to interc

pronged move The encounter broke out in Bhandarpadar

Swarupji Thakor

SOUTH INDIA

Big win for Priyanka Gandhi in Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll

NEW D EL HI : Congress leader Priyanka

Gand hi Vad ra has won her debut byelectio n fro m Wayanad with a big ger m argin than her brother Rahul Gand hi

S he fills the v acancy left by Rahul when

h e h ad mo v ed to Raebareli in U ttar

P radesh Her final score stood at over

6 0 0 , 0 0 0 v o te s w h en th e c o u nt in g en d ed , ov er 40 0 , 0 0 0 m ore th an h er

nearest riv al and C PI veteran Sath yan

M okeri s tally of about 200, 000 v otes

Rahul Gand hi had won th e seat by a m argin of ov er 365,00 0 v otes in the L ok

S abha elections held earlier this year, d own from the 4 30, 000 m argin he had secured in 2019

Priyanka thanked the voters in a long post on X, saying that she was overwhelmed by the trust people have p o s e d i n h e r S h e a l s o p r a i s e d t h e contribution of her party colleagues, and her family members, including mother Sonia Gandhi, brother Rahul Gandhi, husband Robert Vadra and their two children

Rahul Gandhi was elected from this seat for the first time in 2019, which allowed him to remain a Lok Sabha member despite losing in Amethi In 2024, he contested from both Wayanad

and Rae Bareli, left vacant by his mother Sonia Gandhi after she moved to Rajya Sabha Having won both the seats, he decided to keep Rae Bareli and let his sister Priyanka contest from Wayanad Cong wins all 3 seats in Karnataka

The Congress party in Karnataka won all the three assembly bypolls -

This came as a huge setback to the BJP-

ministers’ sons, Nikhil Kumaraswamy and Bharat Bommai, faced defeats in Channapatna and Shiggaon The leaders vacated the three seats to contest the Lok Sabha elections in May this year S

wife, E Annapoorna, won in Sandur with over 9,000 votes against BJP’s Bangaru Hanumantappa, a Kannada actor

HC orders CBI probe

into TN liquor tragedy that killed 68 people

CH EN N AI: In a setb ack to the ruling D MK in Tamil Nadu, t he Madr as High Court has orde red a pr ob e b y the Centr al Bureau of In vestigation int o the ill icit l i q uo

Vil lupur am district

The state government had already transferred the case to the Crime Branch wing of the CID and had opposed the transfer to the CBI It argued that it has a r r e s t e d 2 4 p e

suspended the SP and transferred key police officials Plus the source of methanol has been traced and

toxicology reports become available, it had contended

investigation and argued that the government has learnt no lessons from a similar tragedy earlier They also pointed out that inter-state ramifications are easier for the CBI to deal, with methanol allegedly coming from neighbouring states

The locals where the tragedy took place have

sellers, local police and the enforcement agencies Balu, PMK leader and advocate, said, "The ruling DMK should have volunteered for a CBI probe The families who lost their loved ones need justice We hope the DMK will not appeal against this in the Supreme Court" DMK spokesperson Constantine said, "We have nothing to comment on the order but our worry is CBI probe could delay justice"

AAP wins 3 seats, Cong one in Punjab bypolls

N EW D EL HI: In a boost t o Pun jab's r uling

AAP, t he par ty won t he Gid der baha , Dera

Ba ba N a n a k , a n d C h a b be w a l A s s e m bly

se g m e n t s w h il e t h e C on g r e s s w on t h e

Ba rna la sea t in the bypolls The BJP fa iled t o win an y sea t a s it s ca ndida tes r ema in ed a t a dist an t t hird spot in the four sea ts Three of it s ca n d id a t e s i n De r a Ba b a N a n a k , G id d e r ba h a a n d C h a bb e w a l lo s t t he ir

se cur ity de posits Howe ver , its ca ndida te in Ba rna la put up a good fight The Shiroman i Aka li Da l ha d st ay ed awa y from the byp olls

The bypolls were necessitated after the incumbent legislators were elected to the Lok Sabha earlier this year

In Gidderbaha, AAP candidate Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon defeated his nearest rival Congress nominee Amrita Warring, who is the wife of Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring

WEST BENGAL

Raja Warring represented this seat in 2012, 2017 and 2022

AAP candidate Gurdeep Singh Randhawa won the Dera Baba Nanak seat after he defeated Congress nominee Jatinder Kaur by a margin of 5,699 votes

AAP nominee Ishank Kumar Chabbewal won the Chabbewal segment in Hoshiarpur

He defeated his nearest rival and Congress nominee Ranjit Kumar by a margin of 28,690

v o t e s T h e C

s necessitated after Raj Kumar Chabbewal, who was a Congress MLA but later joined the AAP, was elected to the Lok Sabha from H

sprang a surprise for the ruling party as it lost to the Congress Congress candidate Kuldeep S

Barnala seat was seen as the AAP's citadel

Trinamool sweeps Bengal bypolls, wrests

Madarihat seat from BJP after 8 years

K O L K A T A : M am a ta B ane rj ee 's Trinamool C ongress h as swep t the West

Be ng a l as se m b ly b yp o ll s T h e p art y m an ag e d to w re st t h e M a d ari h a t co n st i tu en cy i n A li p u rd u ar d i st ri c t, which had g one to the BJP in the 2021 and 20 1 6 e lec ti o ns T ri nam o o l candid ates have also emerg ed victo rious in Sitai, Haroa, Naihati, Taldangra, and Medinipur constituencies

Sangita Roy won in Sitai by a 130,000

m a r g i n , b a g g i n g o v e r 1 6 0 , 0 0 0 v o t e s against the BJP's Dipak Kumar Ray, who could manage to win just 35,000 votes

I n M a d a r i h a t , B J P ' s R a h u l L o h a r c o n c e d e d t h e e l e c t i o n t o J a y p r a k a s h Toppo by over 28,000 votes while Sanat Dey in Naihati defeated the BJP's Rupak Mitra by a margin of nearly 50,000 votes In Haroa, Trinamool's Sheikh Rabiul Islam defeated AISF's Piyarul Islam by over 130,000 votes

I n M e d i n i p u r , T r i n a m o o l ' s S u j o y Hazra has defeated his BJP rival Subhajit

Aman Arora replaces Mann as Punjab AAP state president C HAN DIG ARH : The Aam Aadm i Party (AAP) nam ed c abinet minister Ama n Arora, 50, as the new sta te pres ident of the party in Punjab Chief minister and present state unit c h i e f B h a g

appointment on X, a day after Arora’s name was cleared for the post by the political affairs committee of the AAP at a meeting held in Delhi The AAP has also appointed Batala MLA Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi, 37, as the state working president of the party

A r o r a , t h e m i n i s t e r f o r n e w a n d renewable energy and governance reforms, is a prominent Hindu face of the AAP in Punjab He has replaced Mann, a Jat Sikh, as the state president Arora’s appointment is widely seen in political circles as an effort by the AAP to attract Hindu voters, particularly in urban areas

Death of patient sparks rampage at Kolkata hospital

NORTH-EAST

blames for

The announcement by security adviser

Kuldiep Singh, the former CRPF director general heading the Unified Command for state and central forces, coincided with the funerals of nine people – including three women and as many children – at Jiribam's Ningsingkhul Biodiversity Park

Eight of the deceased were inmates of a shelter for displaced Meitei people, near

"militants" on Nov 11 W

suspected to have been abducted in the melee, were found floating in the Barak river

neighbouring south Assam, the bodies of two elderly inmates of the shelter were found a day after the gunfight The ninth casualty was a young man killed in police firing on protesters in Jiribam the same week

The funerals were arranged by a joint

community after the bodies arrived from Silchar Medical College in Assam's Cachar

mourners, many of them in traditional attire

Kuki-Zo groups say those killed by CRPF and police on Nov 11 were Hmar "volunteers" tasked with protecting their tribal villages rather than "militants"

Security adviser Kuldiep Singh said the recent spurt of violence prompted the Biren Singh govt to request 20 companies of CAPF to supplement the 198 that were deployed in the state until last week

"With 70 more companies on the way, we will have 288 of them We are distributing forces to protect the lives and properties of citizens and vulnerable points, he said The proposed "foolproof arrangements", he said, include setting up district coordination cells and joint control rooms in each district "We have reviewed whatever joint control room a n d c o o r d

d y functioning in the state Also, SoPs have been prepared ”

candidates for their decisive victories in the WB bypolls, defying the narratives created by the zamindar, the media and a s

Bengal for their own vested interests

Madarihat for giving us the opportunity to serve you for the first time I bow before the people of West Bengal for democratically dismantling the Bangla B

R o y b y n e a r l y 3 4 , 0 0 0 v o t e s F a l g u n i Singhababu of the Trinamool won in Taldangra by a margin of over 34,000 votes He defeated the BJP's Ananya Roy Chakraborty Mamata Banerjee has congratulated her supporters, saying, "Your blessings inspire us to work for the people We all are common people That's our identity We are not zamindar We are pahadadar (guards) " H e r n e p h

reaffirming their trust in us

KO LKA TA: At l east thr ee nur ses at Vidyasagar State General Ho sp ital in Behala were injuredone of them needed hosp italisation - af ter 100odd family member s and neig hbour s of a 3 2-yearold p atient , who died f ollo wing do uble hear t at tack, went o n th e rampage, al leg ing negligence and dem anding an “explanat ion” for th e deat h T h e m o b , w h i c h h a d d e m a n d e d a n explanation for the death, reportedly smashed f u r n i t u r e , r a n s a c k e d r o o m s , s h a t t e r e d g l a s s panes and flung medicines and injections from shelves A police team from the division and L a l b a z a r , l e d b y a j o i n t c o m m i s s i o n e r , t o o k almost an hour to rein in the mob though the violence left everyone at the hospital anxious and scared

N u r s e s a n d d o c t o r s q u e s t i o n e d t h e administration’s promise of security for health workers after the RG Kar crime and pointed out

t h a t d e s p i t e t h e c l a i m o f 9 0 % p r o g r e s s i n e n s u r i n g s a f e t y a t h o s p i t a l s , n o s e c u r i t y personnel could be found during the violence

“ we urge you to take stringent action to s t o p s u c h v a n d a l i s m a n d v i o l e n c e W e a l s o r e q u e

Bongaigaon and Sidli seats respectively

The NDA was expected to win all seats except Samaguri, a Congress bastion But BJP’s Diplu Ranjan Sarmah managed to defeat Congress’ Tanzil Hussain, son of Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain A series of incidents of prepoll violence were reported from here

Diptimoyee, wife of Barpeta MP and AGP veteran Phani Bhushan Choudhury, defeated Brajenjit Singha of Congress

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Mamata Banerjee

Gautam Adani indicted in New York for fraud, bribery

G au ta m A d a ni , th e bi l li o na ir e

ch airman of th e A dani Group and o ne o f the wo rld’s wealth iest indiv iduals, has been indicted in New Yo rk for his alleged role in a multi-

b i lli o n -d ol la r f rau d and br ib er y

s c h em e , a cc o rd i n g to th e U S A ttorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York Th e charg es also implicate his neph ew, Sagar A d ani, and former A dani Green Energ y CE O Vneet Jaain

d

T h e i n d

scheme to defraud US investors and global financial institutions by concealing widespread corruption while raising more than $3 billion in loans and bonds Prosecutors allege that Adani and his co-con-

s p i r a

n bribes to Indian government officials to secure lucrative solar ener-

gy contracts projected to yield over $ 2 b i l l i o n i n p r o f i t s

decades

In internal communications, conspirators allegedly referred to Gautam Adani using code names like “Numero Uno” and “the big man, ” while Sagar Adani reportedly used his cellphone to track details of the bribery payments

P

encrypted messaging and bribetracking documents were used to manage the scheme

Authorities say Adani and his team misrepresented the compan y ’

investors, securing capital under false pretenses The funds were raised through loans and bond offerings marketed in the US and other financial hubs “Adani and

international markets,” said US Attorney Breon Peace

The indictment also accuses

dence, withholding information

As Parliament session begins, oppn demands JPC on Adani

Adani group ’ s i ndi ctment i n the US dominated the disc ours e on the opening day

o f th e w i n te r s e s s i o n o f

P a rl i a me n t , a s t h e j oi n t opposition demanded that a JPC be formed to inves tigate the issue aris ing out of the American probe which has “tarnished the image of t he c o un tr y an d ra i s e d i ssues of corrupti on ” T h e m a t t e r w a s a l s o raised in the two Houses

t h r o u g h a d j o u r n m e n t notices by leader of opposit i o n i n R a j y a S a b h a Mallikarjun Kharge (under r u l e 2 6 7 ) a n d C o n g r e s s whip Manickam Tagore in LS, though the proceedings

w e r e a d j o u r n e d w i t h o u t any business

Q u e s t i o n i n g t h e R S Chair’s refusal to allow the notice, Kharge trained his guns at PM Modi by alleging that “alignment of his d i p l o m a t i c v i s i t s w i t h Adani’s international business expansion” has been

s u c h t h a t M o d i ’ s f o r e i g n

t o u r s h a v e r e s u l t e d i n

infrastructure contracts to t h e b u s i n e s s h o u s e i n B

n

e s h , I s r a

, S i n g a p o r e , S r i L a n k a , N e p a l , T a n z a n i a , K e n y a , Vietnam, Greece “Without the PM’s blessings, which country will give its contracts to Adani when there are so many reputed comp a n i e s i n I n d i a ? T h i s i s impacting the country,” he r e m a r k e d

e ’ s money has been used to pay bribes allegedly facilitated by the central govt’s Solar E n e r g y C o r p o r a t i o n o f India there are questions about it,” he added T h e H o u s e w a s adjourned till Wednesday as there will be no sitting of Parliament on Tuesday to c o m m e m o r a t e t h e 7 5 t h

n s t i t u

A s s e m b l y ’ s a d o p t i o n o f t h e Constitution in 1949 Leaders of the INDIA

p a r t i e s m e t i n K h a r g e ’ s chamber ahead of the start of the parliament, where it

was decided that Adani is an important issue of public concern and should be discussed TMC was not pres e n t i n t h

Kanimozhi (DMK), Supriya S u l e ( N C P - S P ) , N K Premachandran (RSP), and MPs of RJD, SP, AAP, Left parties among others

After a Congress strategy group in the evening, spokesman Jairam Ramesh said the demand for JPC is crucial and the opposition will not budge on it

Given the strong stance taken by the opposition, the coming days could witness a prolonged confrontation in the Parliament Congress

l e a d e r R a h u l G a n d h i h a s

a l r e a d y d e m a n d e d t h e arrest of Adani in the wake of US indictment Congress MPs K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh chided the govt for being “scared” of u t t e r i n g e v e n a w o r d o n

A d a n i , “ w h o a l s o s u ppressed information” from Indian regulators

Clashes erupt in Bangladesh over arrest of Iskcon priest

Continued from Page 1

I s k c o n m o n k Brahmachari was arrested by Bangladeshi authorities on

M

g from Dhaka to Chittagong His sudden detention led to a nationwide protest by his supporters and widespread

protests turned violent when supporters of Brahmachari, a member of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group, surrounded the prison van transporting the priest after his court appearance in Chittagong W h

taken away from the court,

baton charges to disperse the

eventually taken to prison

incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh,” the MEA said The ministry further said that there are several documented cases of

lishments,

during internal probes, and lying to federal authorities “The defendants jeopardized

Dennehy

This case represents a notable e

Department’s efforts to combat international corruption If convicted, Adani and his co-defendants face severe penalties

that they were not involved in bribery Charges baseless, we’ll seek legal recourse: Group Adani Group dismissed allegations of bribery levelled against it as ‘baseless’ “As stated by the D

charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are

until proven guilty All possible legal recourse will be sought,” said a group spokesperson

C

Separately, the US Securities E

charged Gautam and Sagar Adani and Cyril Cabanes, a former director on the Azure Power board, w

accused them of raising money from investors based in the US on “false and misleading statements”

Kenya junks $2 6bn airport, energy deals

Kenya President William Ruto

expansion and energy deals worth

Adani Group after the US bribery and fraud indictments

BJP triumphs in Maharashtra, losses in Jharkhand

Th e Na t ion al D em oc

ic Al l ia n c e ( ND A)

s cored a dec isive victory in Maharashtra, with the BJP winning 132 s eat s to b ec om e the s tate's la rgest party In Jharkhand, the JM MCon gr es s c oa li tion a c hie ve d a r em a rk ab l e res ul t, s ecuring a sec ond consec utive term I n M a h a r a s h t r a , t h e r u l i n g M a h a y u t i alliance consisting of the BJP, Ajit Pawar’s N C P f a c t i o n , a n d E k n a t h S h i n d e ’ s S h i v

Sena secured a comfortable victory, winning 233 seats in the 288-member Assembly The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) won 49 seats The majority mark in Maharashtra is 145

At a post-victory press briefing, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with deputies

Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, credited their success to the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a women-focused welfare scheme, calling it a "game changer " Top BJP leaders, including PM Modi, JP Nadda, Rajnath Singh, and Amit Shah, gathered at the party headquarters in Delhi to celebrate the Maharashtra Assembly e l e c t i o n v i c t o r y P r i m e M i n i s t e r M o d i , addressing the gathering, hailed the win as a triumph of development, good governance, and "true" social justice

Jharkhand s election saw a fierce contest, but the ruling coalition led by Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) secured 56 seats, comfortably surpassing the majority mark of 41 in the 81-member Assembly The NDA trailed with just 24 seats

The BJP entered the Jharkhand elections with a fierce campaign, raising issues like B a n g l a d e s h i i n f i l t r a t i o n , c o r r u p t i o n , a n d dynastic politics Taking a hardline stance, they promised to deport Bangladeshi Muslims if they came to power, and claimed parts of Jharkhand, particularly Santhal Pargana, were becoming a "mini-Bangladesh " However, this r h e t o r i c b a c k f i r e d a s t h e r u l i n g J M M - l e d coalition successfully framed the BJP's tactics as a communal divide-and-rule agenda

Political analysts noted that while the BJP promised ₹2,100 direct money transfers to women to challenge Soren's Maiya Samman Yojana (₹1,000 per month), the BJP failed to e f f e c t i v e l y b u i l d a c o m p e l l i n g n a r r a t i v e around this policy

Unfulfilled promises, divisive rhetoric, and an inability to adapt have left the BJP confronting a harsh reality For now, the saffron wave has receded, leaving behind a landscape marred by broken trust

E k n a t h S h i n d e h a s r e s i g n e d a s C h i e f

Minister, with BJP leaders backing former CM Devendra Fadnavis for the role, while Shiv Sena MLAs support Shinde's continuation

The NCP, led by Ajit Pawar, is reportedly backing Fadnavis With the BJP holding 132 seats, Shiv Sena 57, and NCP 41, the BJP needs just one ally to reach the 145 majority in the 288-member Assembly This leaves Shinde with limited leverage for the CM's post By the time the article was published, no decision had been made regarding the post of the Maharashtra Chief Minister Soren to take oath as Jharkhand CM on November 28

Outgoing Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren staked claim to form the next govt in the state after INDIA bloc (JMM, Congress, RJD and CPI-ML) unanimously elected him legislative party leader

Even as Hemant prepared for his oathtaking as the 14th CM of Jharkhand on Nov 28, RJD said it expected at least two cabinet berths in the new govt after the party put up a good performance in the assembly polls, winning four seats, three more than its tally in 2019

“Although berth distribution is prerogative of the CM, we expect at least two,” Jharkhand RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav said in Patna On Sunday, Hemant, accompanied by INDIA bloc members and a few MLAs, submitted his resignation to governor Santosh Gangwar at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi He submitted a letter of support from 56 MLAs to the governor, JMM said

“The governor accepted his resignation and urged him to continue as caretaker CM until the new govt takes oath,” a Raj Bhavan communique said

“The new govt will take oath of office on Nov 28 We have begun preparations for the formalities,” Hemant said

Earlier in the day, he met INDIA bloc members at his Kanke Road house in Ranchi Sources in JMM and Congress said Hemant is likely to replicate his 2019 model while forming the cabinet

“One minister from each of the alliance parties will be sworn-in along with Hemant, like it was the last time The cabinet will be expanded later,” a senior Congress member said JMM insiders said the oath-taking ceremony, to be organised at Morabadi Ground, will be an open-air event

Gautam Adani

Protest in Bangladesh

Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar

Work progressing fast for GIFT City near Gandhinagar

something more pragmatic

India’s onerous red tape and strict capital controls, while granting 100 per cent tax

n u mb e r o f or gan isa tions flock ing t o the

c it y - a lo n g-s ta n di n g p et

p r o j e ct o f P r i m e Mi n i st e r N ar endr a M od i an d crea te d in his home sta te - alre ady

e xcee ds 70 0

T h i s i s e v e n m o r e impressive given GIFT City’s location in one of India’s few dry states It is a world away from the choked up chaos

a n d e n e r g e t i c d r i v e o f

c o s m o p o l i t a n f i n a n c i a l

c a p i t a l M u m b a i

dining

F i t t i n g l y , G I F T c i t y , which sits on the banks of the Sabarmati River in a flat and dusty landscape, offers

have lured businesses from JP Morgan to HSBC as well

leasers and local tech titansInfosys and Wipro Already, it is rising up the Global Financial Centres

I

hundred hubs, from 92 three years ago to 52 That places it

Modi’s baby and allows his administration to say they are opening up, ” said one western diplomat who has visited Although more than 2 0 , 0

work here, the area remains

paved roads carry little traffic Entertainment

slow to arrive There have already

laws Late last year the state

allow the sale of alcohol in parts of the city A fund manager preparing to set up

district’s early days to those of Dubai, another arid and

financial hotspot

The long-term political viability of GIFT City has

returned to power following

electoral showing earlier in the year Rajaraman brushes

country “unstoppable” and the new city’s growth a key part of that drive No matter who has been in power, he s

m story has been continuous for decades ”

Indian students in US now turn babysitters

I t w a s o n c e t he b e s t of

ti mes But f or students in the U S now, it appears to b e gettin g wors e by the day

While as per US norms

s t u d e n t s a r e a l l o w e d t o

t a k e u p o n l y o n - c a m p u s work, many used to find

p a r t - t i m e ( i l l e g a l ) w o r k o u t s i d e t o c o v e r t h e i r

e x p e n s e s B u t w i t h s u c h p a r t - t i m e w o r k t o o becoming difficult to find in the current market, to make ends meet a lot of

s t u d e n t s h a v e t u r n e d t o f i n d i n g j o b s n e x t d o o rbabysitting

S t u d e n t s f r o m

Telangana, Andhra Pradesh

a n d e l s e w h e r e a r e n o w

t a p p i n g i n t o t h e I n d i a n community settled there to find a way out of a financial hole

This is also a preferred option for many girls as it provides for a safer work environment and they get paid anywhere between $13

a n d $ 1 8 p e r h o u r , w i t h some even covering food, accommodation, or both

“I babysit a six-year-old boy for about eight hours a

d a y a n d g e t p a i d $ 1 3 a n hour I also get a meal for taking care of the boy,” said a s t u d e n t f r o m t h e H y d e r a b a d s t u d y i n g i n Ohio, adding that it was way better than working in

a local store or gas station

a s t h e j o b i s w i t h i n t h e community she lives in

A n o t h e r T e l u g u student in Connecticut said she is provided with food and accommodation by her employer “I have to take care of a two-and-a-halfyear-old six days a week For those six days, food and accommodation are taken care of by the girl’s parents On Sundays, I stay in my friend’s room, ” the 23-yearold said

She said she gets paid only about $10 an hour, but was more than happy to take the job as her rent was covered

India, US seek to advance collaboration for rare diseases

T he Indo-U S Brid ging RARE

s u m m i t 2 0 2 4 t o o k p lac e f ro m No v em ber 1 6 to 18

T h e ev e nt f eat u red k ey s p e ake rs fr o m bo th cou ntries, d iscussing cru cial topics such as rare diseases, o rph an d rug clinical trials, a nd d i v ers i ty, eq ui ty , and i n cl u si o n i n o rp h a n d ru g d ev elopm ent

Hosted by the Indo-US

O r g a n i z a t i o n f o r R a r e Diseases and the All-India

I n s t i t u t e o f M e d i c a l S c i e n c e s , N e w D e l h i , t h e

s u m m i t c o v e r e d v a r i o u s t h e m e s , i n c l u d i n g c r o s sborder patient engagement, digitization of rare diseases, orphan drug clinical trials, and regulatory pathways for orphan drugs

The summit’s main goal w a s t o t r a n s f o r m r a r e diseases from being “rarely s e e n ” t o b e i n g m o r e r e c o g n i z e d a n d t r e a t e d A l t h o u g h r a r e d i s e a s e s impact millions of people g l o b a l l y , e a c h p a t i e n t ’ s journey is often marked by i s o l a t i o n a n d u n c e r t a i n t y The summit focused on how to turn this isolation into inclusion, with an emphasis o n c r o s s - b o r d e r collaboration

B y p o o l i n g r e s o u r c e s and knowledge, the summit a i m e d t o a c c e l e r a t e t h e discovery of treatments and c u r e s t h a t w i l l p o s i t i v e l y i m p a c t l i v e s w o r l d w i d e N o t a b l y , i t i d e n t i f i e d a n d p r o m o t e d 1 2 C e n t e r s o f

World’s

tallest and shortest women meet for tea

The world’s tallest and shortest women have met for afternoon tea in celebration of the 20th annual Guinness World Records Day Rumeysa Gelgi, a 27-year-old Turkish web developer, and Indian actress Jyoti Amge, 30, swapped stories and life experiences during their meeting at The Savoy hotel in London Gelgi holds the Guinness World Record (GWR) for being the world’s tallest woman at 215 16cm (7ft 1in), while Amge is the shortest woman at 62 8cm (2ft 1in) “It was so amazing meeting Jyoti for the first time,” said Gelgi “It was difficult for us to make eye contact at times due to our height difference, but it was great “We do have things in common; we both love make-up, self-care, and doing our nails ” GWR editor-in-chief Craig Glenday said: “Guinness World Records is all about celebrating differences, and by bringing together these two amazing, iconic women, they can share their perspectives on life with each other and also with us

Student commutes between China and Australia for love

A Chinese man studying in Australia has captured the internet's attention with his extraordinary dedication to love For three months, 28-year-old Xu Guangli commuted weekly between his home in Shandong province, China, and RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, where he is completing a master's degree in arts management From August to October, Xu made the 11-week journey to attend a single weekly class while also spending time with his girlfriend, who had returned to China after completing her studies in Australia Each round trip took him three days Xu's journey began at 7 am in his hometown of Dezhou, where he travelled to Jinan to catch a flight After a layover, he arrived in Melbourne the next day for class and returned home on the third day "It was my last semester, and I only needed one class to meet the graduation requirements," Xu explained "More importantly, my girlfriend had returned to China, and life in Melbourne on my own was lonely "

Canadian grandma breaks world record for pushups

A Canadian grandmother completed 1,575 pushups in one hour, earning her second Guinness World Records title Donna Jean Wilde, 59, of Beazer, Alberta, took on the title for the most pushups in one hour (female) and managed to surpass the previous record with 17 minutes of her attempt remaining "I had to fight back the happy tears and emotions and keep going," Wilde told Guinness World Records "I still felt quite strong and I was aiming for a high number of push ups to complete in the next 17 minutes " Wilde previously set the record for the longest time in an abdominal plank position (female) at 4 hours, 30 minutes and 11 seconds She said training for that record prepared her to take on the pushup title Wilde's latest record attempt was attended by 11 of her 12 grand kids

Woman buys 18 identical lottery tickets, wins

$180,000

A Washington woman who felt especially confident about her lottery numbers bought 18 identical tickets for a single drawing and scored a total $180,000 The Yakima woman said she stopped at Wray's Marketfresh Meadowbrook and bought 18 tickets bearing a combination of numbers that represented her birthday and the day she got "a second chance at life " The woman said she shrieked when she checked the results from the drawing and learned each of her tickets had won $10,000 Her granddaughter ran into the room to check on her and reviewed her tickets to verify the player had scored a total $180,000 The winner told officials she plans to share her winnings with family members in the United States and the Philippines

A Georgia city will blow up an old hotel to greet 2025

One Georgia city will welcome 2025 with a larger-than-average bang The MaconBibb County Commission approved a plan to implode a vacant 16-story hotel at midnight on New Year’s Eve Macon-Bibb County spent $4 5 million last year to buy the hotel in a federal bankruptcy proceeding The city-county agreed to hire a demolition firm to blow up the building at a cost of up to $2 6 million “We acquired this property to blow it up, ” Macon Mayor Lester Miller said The hotel was opened in 1970 and its guests included Elvis, but it was never a financial success Most notably, the New York Banking Department seized the hotel in 1991, saying it was one asset that was part of a fraud and money-laundering scheme linked to the Bank of Credit and Commerce International The bank was accused of helping Saddam Hussein hide Iraqi oil profits and backing Oliver North’s arms deals with Iran

YouTuber's unique way to honour her father

Excellence for rare diseases across India, and established f i v e N i d a n K e n d r a s f o r g e n e t i c t e s t i n g a n d counseling

A key takeaway from the summit was the importance of connecting patients and t h e i r f a m i l i e s I t a l s o highlighted how India’s vast, g e n e t i c a l l y d i v e r s e p o p

American YouTuber Rosanna Pansino is making headlines for paying tribute to her father in a very unconventional way In the first episode of her new podcast called 'Rodiculous', the 39-year-old social media star honoured her father by smoking cannabis grown in a pot of his ashes She titled the episode 'Smoking My Dead Dad' In the podcast, she revealed that her father's unusual dying wish before he died five years ago was for her to light a joint filled with his remains "My dad was a badass and quite a little rebel and I will be following in his footsteps, like father like daughter, so to start this episode I want to tell you guys about my dad's dying wish," the YouTuber told her listeners "Before he passed, he told me and my mom what he would like us to do with his ashes, she added noting how her mom was hesitant at first, fearing people would judge them because of how "hippie" it was "But as time has gone on and it's been five years now, we just really think that it's the right time to do what Dad wanted and to honour him the way he wanted," Pansino continued

Grandmother from Zambia becomes a fashion icon

An 85-year-old woman from rural Zambia has become an unexpected global fashion icon, delighting the internet with her bold and eclectic style Through her Instagram account "Legendary Glamma", Margaret Chola has amassed an impressive 105,000

contribute significantly to a more comprehensive global h

conclusion

sunglasses to elaborate jewellery This creative idea was initiated by her fashionista granddaughter Diana Koumba, who visited her in Zambia from New York City Chola stars in the "Granny Series," and her playful dress-up sessions have captured hearts worldwide Her rise to fame began when Kaumba dressed her grandmother in her highfashion wardrobe during a visit to Zambia The turning point came in April 2024 when Kaumba shared a show-stopping photo series on social media that went viral She now regularly poses in

UK may launch ringvaccination for mpox outbreak

T he UK is we ighin g a ri ng

v a c ci n a t i o n s t r a t e g y to curb the sprea d of a new , more dange rous s train of mpox a fter f our cas es were conf irmed i n Lon don

This method, successfully deployed in past outb r e a k s o f s m a l l p o x a n d Ebola, involves vaccinating the close contacts of conf i r m

i e n d s , a n d colleagues, creating a protective "ring" around each infected individual to prevent further transmission

C u r r e n t l y , t h e s m a l l number of known cases is

b e i n g m a n a g e d t h r o u g h isolation in specialist hospital wards However, the p r o p o s e d s t r a t e g y w o u l d aim to stop the Clade 1b

s t r a i n s p r e a d i n g r a p i d l y i n p a r t s o f A f r i c a f r o m taking hold in the UK population

“We are looking at a

ring vaccination strategy to control the virus if more cases are detected in the UK,” a senior government source told The Telegraph “It could involve vaccinating between a dozen to a

h u n d r e d p

emphasised that while ring vaccination is a proven tool

effectiveness will depend on understanding how this

most affected

I f C l a d

nstrates an ability to spread

their close contacts, the UK

H

y (UKHSA) may expand the

reports

NHS launches world’s first cancer vaccine trial

The UK’ s National Health

S

ing

With

cancer in their lifetime and 20 million new cases identi-

Economic Forum’s Global H e a l t h E q u i t y N e t w o r k

More than a medical milestone, the trial underscores the potential to reshape the f u t u r e f o r m i l l i o n s T h e N H S C a n c e r V a c c i n e

Launch Pad (CVLP) is set to accelerate access to clinical t r i a l s f o r c a n c e r p a t i e n t s and expedite the development of personalised cancer vaccines

culmination of decades of research

Its development high-

d

A p e r s o n a l i s e d c a n c e r vaccine could revolutionise global cancer treatment By 2030, up to 10,000 patients could receive bespoke treatments through the NHS the world’s largest publicly funded healthcare system

This marks a critical step toward significantly reduci n g c a n c e r r a t e s a n d i m p r o v i n g o u t c o m e s worldwide

Declutter your space

A tidy environment can greatly enhance mental clarity and alleviate feelings of overwhelm By organising and removing unnecessary items, you create a sense of order that promotes focus and calm Start with small areas like a desk or drawer and gradually build the habit. A clutterfree space not only minimises distractions but also boosts your ability to concentrate, reduces stress, and improves overall productivity and well-being.

Protecting children’s health this winter as they return back to school

Nowthat children have returned to classrooms after the halfterm break, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding parents of simple yet effective steps to curb the spread of winter illnesses and stomach bugs With flu and norovirus cases rising norovirus activity in recent weeks more than double the 5-season average staying vigilant is key to keeping children and their families healthy this term

Teaching Good Hygiene Habits

with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or the use of hand sanitiser when necessary Teach children to use tissues to catch coughs and sneezes, a

germ transmission

Stomach bugs spread quickly in schools and nurseries Ensure thor-

preparing food or visiting hospitals and care homes if unwell, and wait 48 h

returning to normal activities

When to keep children at home:

• Send them to school if: They have mild symptoms like a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough, provided they don’t have a fever and are otherwise well

• Keep them at home if: They have

Children should remain home until the fever subsides and for at least 48 hours after diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms clear up

Vaccinations: A crucial defence

Seasonal flu vaccinations are available for all primary school children, secondary students in Years 7–11, and

children aged 2–3 years (as of S

vaccines protect not only the individual child but also the

and vulnerable relatives R o

measles, mumps, and polio, are equally essential Parents unsure about their child’s vaccination status can check their child’s red book or contact their GP

Infections at UKHSA, emphasised:

“As children return to school, sim-

hygiene, keeping unwell children at home, and ensuring vaccinations are up to date can make a significant difference These actions not only protect individual children but also reduce disruption for families and the wider school community during the winter months ”

By following these recommenda-

healthier and more resilient winter season

Freshness, variety, and nutrition: The health benefits of eating seasonal produce

Eating with the seasons is more than just a culinary trend it’s a natural, sustainable, and nutritious way to support your health and the environment. Seasonal fruits and vegetables, grown and harvested at their peak, are fresher, more flavourful, and packed with nutrients compared to out-of-season produce

Choosing to eat seasonal fruits and vegetables is not just a treat for your taste buds it’s a wholesome gift to your body Here’s why embracing what’s in season matters for your health:

Nutrient Density Seasonal produce is harvested at its peak ripeness, ensuring the highest levels of vitamins and minerals For instance, British strawberries, available in summer,

3. Encourages Dietary Variety Eating seasonally natu-

in winter 2 Superior Freshness Seasonal

How web-browsing and mental health influence each other

A groundbreaking study funded by Wellcome and published in Nature Human Behaviour has found a causal and bidirectional relationship between mental health and online browsing habits.

R e s e a r c h e r s d i s c o v e r e d that the type of content people consume online directly i m p a c t s t h e i

d , a n d their mental state influences

t h e k i n d o f c

e n t t h e y seek out To address this, the researchers developed a b r o w s e r p l u g - i n t o o l t h a t attaches "content labels" to webpages, much like nutrition labels on food These labels provide insights into t h e e m o t i o n a l i m p a c t o f content alongside its practicality and informativeness,

aiming

P r o f e s s o r T a l i S h a r o t , co-lead author from UCL a n d M I T , e x p l a i n e d , “ B r o w s i n g n e g a t i v e l y valenced content not only

r e f l e c t s a p e r s o n ’ s m o o d but can actively worsen it, c r e a t i n g a f e e d b a c k l o o p t h a t p e r p e t u a t e s m e n t a l h e a l t h c h a l l e n g e s o v e r time " The study involved over 1 , 0 0 0 p a r t i c i p a n t s w h o shared their web-browsing history and answered quest i o n s a b o u t t h e i r m e n t a l health Using natural lan-

g u a g e p r o c e s s i n g , r e s e a r c h

Top winter holiday destinations for Brits

New research by Betway reveals that Iceland is the most popular winter holiday destination among Brits, with a remarkable 1.6 million searches in the past month. But what other destinations are capturing the nation’s attention?

Here are the most searched-for winter getaways

1. Iceland - 1.6M monthly searches

Iceland is a winter wonderland, offering stunning snowy landscapes and the aweinspiring northern lights, making it the

embrace the Christmas spirit With

choice for Brits seeking

winter holiday

skating, and carol singing

2 Vienna - 843K monthly searches

The Austrian capital, Vienna offers a perfect blend of rich culture and stunning s

break destination As the year draws

c

markets illuminate the streets, earning a reputation as some of the best in Europe

It’s no surprise that Brits have taken notice,

Christmas is a time for family, joy, and making cherished memories While many families have their own traditions, why not start something new this year to make the season even more special? Whether you're seeking fun activities to bond over, ideas to add a touch of magic to your home, or ways to give back, here are some fresh Christmas traditions to create lasting memories for years to come

1 Festive movie nights

A festive movie marathon is the perfect way to cozy up on cold winter nights Start with classics like ‘Home Alone’, ‘The Polar Express’, or ‘Love Actually’, and make it more fun by creating a “Christmas Movie Bingo” card with items to spot in each film, like "snowfall" or "Santa’s sleigh " You can rotate who picks the movie each year or try a new holiday film each season Add hot cocoa, popcorn, and b l a n k e t s t o c r e

t

forward to 2 Baking Christmas treats together

This Christmas, elevate the classic baking tradition by dedicating a day to making cookies, gingerbread houses,

o

pudding Involve everyone, including the kids, in decorating For added fun, host a “Christmas Bake-Off” where f

with over 843K searches for Vienna in the past month

3 New York - 790K monthly searches

A winter visit to New York is a dream c

Christmas, when the city transforms into a festive wonderland with twinkling lights, i

C

snow With a remarkable 790K monthly searches, it's clear that Brits are eager to experience the magic of The Big Apple this winter

4. Tenerife - 471K monthly searches

complaining about the weather So, it's no surprise that many are escaping the cold for the sunny warmth of Tenerife Even in the heart of winter, temperatures on the island rarely dip below 20 C Pack your shades and swimsuit – you're in for a warm winter getaway!

5 Switzerland - 145K monthly searches

With its stunning alpine landscapes, charming medieval towns, and deliciously creamy chocolate, Switzerland is an ideal winter getaway The official winter season runs from December to February, bringing

Whether you're skiing on pristine peaks or

Swiss winter experience is truly a bucketlist adventure

6. Lapland - 136K monthly searches

Lapland offers a truly magical winter experience, from the Midnight Sun to the N

blanketed in thick snow during the winter

opportunities As the official home of Santa Claus, Lapland is the perfect destination to embrace the festive magic of Christmas

7 Disneyland Paris - 127K monthly searches W

"Disneyland Paris" in the past month, it's

destination This winter, Disneyland Paris

creations, and everyone votes for their favorite treat You could also share your baked goods with neighbors or friends to spread some festive cheer

3 Volunteer together

volunteering as a family Serve meals at a local shelter, donate clothes or toys, or help decorate a community space

You can also adopt a family in need,

donation drive for food and essentials

Teaching your children the value of generosity and empathy will make this holiday season truly special

4 DIY Christmas ornaments

Try crafting your own Christmas o

everyone unleash their creativity while creating keepsakes to cherish for years

Use materials like clay, felt, fabric, or even repurpose old Christmas cards for

unique tree ornaments Over time, your collection will grow, each piece holding memories of past holiday

activity for all ages to enjoy together

5 Family Christmas caroling

Gather the family and start a caroling tradition this Christmas Sing classic carols or modern holiday songs to spread festive cheer You can carol around the neighborhood or perform for friends and family at home For an extra touch, record a video and share it with loved ones or on social media to spread even more holiday joy

6. Christmas morning scavenger hunt

Instead of the usual gift-opening

scavenger hunt! Hide small gifts or clues around the house that lead to the main present Use themed clues related

holiday movies to add excitement and make the morning even more magical for everyone

7 Gratitude jar

t o Christmas, have each family member write down something they’re thankful for daily and place it in a jar On Christmas Day, read the notes aloud and share what you appreciate about each other

It’s a heartwarming way to reflect on the year ’ s blessings and set a tone of gratitude for the holidays

Taapsee Pannu on ‘Dunki’: "Pressure is on Shah Rukh Khan, Rajkumar Hirani"

Taapsee Pannu is no stranger to leading her films, but occasionally, she takes on roles opposite bigger male stars ’Dunki’ being a prime example In a recent interview, the actor shared her desire to do more such projects, where the responsibility and pressure don’t rest solely on her shoulders

“My managers often say people assume I won’t take up films with big heroes, but that’s not true,” Taapsee shared “In such films, like ‘Dunki’ with Hirani and SRK, the pressure isn’t on me I can relax I want to do more substantial roles in these projects, with meaty characters, without carrying the entire burden of the film’s success ” Co-written by Rajkumar Hirani, Abhijat Joshi, and Kanika Dhillon, ‘Dunki’ was co-produced by Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment, Rajkumar Hirani Films, and Jio Studios Released last Christmas, the film also featured Vicky Kaushal in an extended cameo and grossed ₹470 6 crore worldwide It marked Taapsee’s sole release in 2023

Amitabh Bachchan praises Abhishek after ‘I Want To Talk’: “Let Them Say What They Say”

Days after Abhishek

Bachchan's film I Want To Talk was released, actor Amitabh Bachchan finally watched his son's film. Taking to his blog, Amitabh shared how the film made him feel and also spoke about Abhishek Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan p ‘I Want To Talk’ in a hea note, writing, "Some film entertain, while some in you to be the film ‘I Wa To Talk’ does just that gently lifts you from you seat and places you with the screen, making you live its life with no escap into escapism " Addressing Abhishek’s performance, he added, You are not Abhishek in this film you are Arjun Sen " Reflecting on his father’ wisdom, he remarked, "People see me as good o bad based on their own to perceive me, and that how they recognise me " Amitabh elaborated,

A N A N Y A P A N D A Y speaks out on bullying, cheating rumors

spread by fake account

Ananya Panday reflected on the emotional challenges she faced in her first year in the film industry, including rumors on social media questioning her academic achievements She had been accepted into several prestigious US universities but chose to follow her acting dream after being offered a role in ‘Student of the Year 2’

In an interview with Barkha Dutt, Ananya Panday opened up about the impact of social media on her self-confidence She recalled being bullied in school with names like "hunchback" and "chicken legs" and shared how social media amplifies criticism “Self-love is a journey, not a destination,” she said

Ananya also reflected on how criticism affected her younger sister, Rysa, who isn’t an actress but faced negativity when tagged in posts “She would ask us not to tag her because of the nasty messages she received,” Ananya revealed She recalled an incident in her early career when someone created a fake Instagram account claiming to be her schoolmate and spreading rumors about her The account accused her of lying about her education and being a bully Initially, Ananya dismissed it, thinking no one would believe the claims, but she was shocked when people did In response, Ananya posted on Instagram, defending her academic achievements and sending positivity to those trying to bring her down She wrote, “Even though they claim to be my classmates, I know the people I went to school with would never do something like this ”

Madhuri Dixit Nene praises women taking charge as producers

Madhuri

"Your perception of me good or bad reflects your own need, not who I am It was your desire to see me as good or bad that defined your recognition of me Your understanding t mm d fr m

Dixit Nene reflects on how Bollywood has evolved, especially for women, since the '80s and '90s The actress, who debuted in 1984 with ‘Abodh’ and starred in hits like ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ and ‘Tezaab’, recalls how early movie sets would typically feature only female actors and their hairdressers Today, more women are taking on diverse roles, including as producers, marking a significant shift in the industry.

Madhuri Dixit Nene reflects on the progress women have made in Bollywood, noting how, in the '80s and '90s, women on set were limited to actors and hairdressers Today, she’s amazed to see women in key roles like DOPs, ADs, writers, and action directors Praising this shift, she highlighted how women have moved beyond being seen as "eye-candy" to taking on diverse roles, including producing films Madhuri Dixit Nene praised the rise of women in action roles, recalling her own experience in ‘Gulaab Gang’,

and stressed the need for more women-centric commercial films She highlighted that many actresses, including Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, and Kangana Ranaut, are now becoming producers to create films that align with their vision While acknowledging the progress, Madhuri noted that change takes time, as the industry is still largely maledominated She was last seen in ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 ’ , alongside Kartik Aaryan, Triptii Dimri, and Vidya Balan

Janhvi Kapoor kicks off shooting for her 2nd Telugu film in Mysore

Buchi

Babu Sana's second film, ‘RC 16’, starring Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor, began shooting in Mysore The director shared a picture from the Chamundeshwari Matha temple early in the day, seeking blessings from fans.

Buchi Babu Sana shared a picture of himself holding the ‘RC 16’ script in front of the Chamundeshwari Matha temple on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram He captioned the post, “It's a BIG DAY The most awaited moment Started with the blessings of Chamundeshwari Matha, Mysore Blessings needed #RC16 ” Janhvi Kapoor, excited about the film’s start, commented with fire, heart, claps, and prayer emojis Ram Charan’s ‘Magadheera’ co-star Dev Gill also showed support with flag and heart emojis, while Ram’s cousin Pawan Tej Konidela wrote, “We all are waiting too All the best Buchimayya, eragathisey (kill it, my friend Buchi) ” The producers of ‘RC 16’, Mythri Movie Makers, announced that Jagapathi Babu has been cast as a 'commanding character' in the film They shared, “Team #RC16 welcomes the incredibly talented @IamJagguBhai for a role that will impress everyone ” This marks Jagapathi’s second collaboration with Ram Charan, after their previous work together in Sukumar’s ‘Rangasthalam’

Naga Chaitanya on his second marriage: Sobhita Dhulipala “fills a void”

Naga

Chaitanya and Sobhita

Dhulipala, who got engaged in August, will tie the knot on December 4 at Annapurna Studios In a recent interview, Chaitanya broke his silence on their love story, sharing that he is "looking forward" to this new journey with her I

shared, “I’m excited to start this new journey with Sobhita and celebrate life together We have a deep connection she understands me perfectly and fills a void in my life It’s going to be an amazing journey ahead ” H

y excitement and butterflies, mainly due

to the planning and logistics organising the guest list and finalising wedding details The ceremony will take p

Hyderabad, a location with special sentimental value It was a conscious decision by our families to hold the wedding there, in front of my grandfather’s statue, to seek his blessings Our families are thrilled to come together and celebrate ” Chaitanya and Sobhita dated for two years before getting engaged in

vacations, they only went public after their engagement Chaitanya was previously married to Samantha Ruth Prabhu, but they separated in 2021

Allu Arjun says Sukumar saved his career after debut:

“No one offered me a film”

Twenty years ago, debut director Sukumar and then-unknown lead actor Allu Arjun teamed up for ‘Arya’, a film that became a legendary hit. Their collaboration continued with ‘Arya 2’ (2009) and ‘Pushpa’ (2021), with each film growing in scale and success Now, they are back together for ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’, proving their winning formula for success

At a pre-release event in Chennai, Allu Arjun shared a heartfelt reflection on his

Sukumar He credited the director for giving his career a much-needed boost, saying, “I

garu ’ s ‘Gangotri’, which was a hit, but my

performance didn’t connect I was out of

revealed that his fortunes changed when Sukumar, a debut filmmaker at the time,

point of his career

Sukumar, unable to attend the event due to a packed post-production schedule, was lavished with praise by Allu Arjun, whose speech put to rest any rumors about tension between the actor and director Allu Arjun said, “When I reflect on my career, the person who’s had the greatest impact on my life is Sukumar Even now, as he’s busy with post-production, his absence speaks louder than words I miss you, Sukku We are all in this together ”

Saira Banu defends AR Rahman, slams media for spreading false rumors

The recent separation announcement by legendary composer AR Rahman and Saira Banu shocked many in the Indian cinema world While the couple requested privacy, some media outlets ignored their wishes, leading to various unfounded speculations about the reasons behind their separation. This marked the first time Rahman's personal life had become the subject of public discussion, fueling rumors In response, Saira addressed the situation through a voice note via her PR

Currently in Mumbai for medical treatment, Saira explained that her health issues were the primary reason for the separation, stating, “I had to take a break from AR due to my health I request YouTubers and Tamil media not to say anything negative about him ” She added, “He is a gem of a person, the best man in the world My departure from Chennai was due to my health, and his busy schedule made it difficult for us to be together ” Reiterating that AR Rahman is an “amazing human being,” Saira Banu asked the public to respect his privacy and stop spreading false allegations “I trust him with my life, and he loves me the same, ” she said “I request you to stop the rumors God bless, and I pray we ’ re left alone ”

Saira also urged people to wait until she returns to Chennai before making judgments, adding, “We have not officially announced anything yet ” With a firm tone, she concluded, “Stop tarnishing his name he is a gem of a person ”

From Yash Chopra to Waves: How Indian cinema fuels film tourism and global co-productions at IFFI Goa 2024

Ata panel held during the Film Bazaar in Goa at the 55th IFFI Goa Film Festival, former Cannes Film Market head Jérôme Paillard, now an advisor to India’s Film Bazaar, led a discussion with leading international producers on the dynamics of India-Europe coproductions Film Federation of India

President Ravi Kottarakara traced the evolution of these collaborations over the past four decades, highlighting the transition from simple distribution deals to today’s incentive-driven partnerships He emphasised the importance of creating globally resonant content, urging filmmakers to produce stories that appeal not only to their home country but also to co-producing nations and international audiences: “Make content which is acceptable to my country and to the coproducing country and other countries ” Kottarakara explained

how veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra opened the floodgates of film tourism in Europe, especially in Western Europe by filming his movies abroad That led to inspiring tourists to flock to Europe from India and experience the culture and beauty of European countries This brought a landmark change in how grants and treaties were shaped for filmmaking - for Indians Some of which, the FFI President wrote himself India’s perception and tryst with Europe wouldn’t have been the same if Indian movies hadn’t been made abroad That became instrumental in how coproductions happened in Indian cinema with international ties

Responding to Paillard’s questions about the practical challenges of India-Europe coproductions, the panellists identified significant hurdles, including differing funding structures, distribution models, and business cultures Producer

Sandeep Modi calls International Emmys representation a huge honour for India

Director Sandeep Modi expressed pride in representing India at the International Emmys, where his series ‘The Night Manager’ is nominated for Best Drama. Starring Aditya Roy Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, and Sobhita Dhulipala, the series is India’s sole entry across 14 categories at the prestigious awards Ahead of the International Emmys, the Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) hosted a reception at the Sundaram Tagore Gallery to celebrate ‘The Night Manager’’s nomination and honor its team, including director Sandeep Modi and producer Deepak Dhar Modi expressed pride in representing India, saying, “It’s an honor to represent Indian cinema at the Emmys, and I hope we can win this award and repay the love from fans worldwide ” He also mentioned being deeply moved by the warm reception from New York’s Indian diaspora and the IAAC family Co-directed by Priyanka Ghose, ‘The Night Manager’ is adapted from John le Carré’s novel and the British series, starring Tom Hiddleston and

Hugh Laurie The nomination marks a proud milestone for Indian storytelling, according to IAAC, which praised the series' success for showcasing the potential of Indian creators on the global stage At the reception, Modi and Dhar discussed the creative process behind the show, while IAAC Vice-Chair Rakesh Kaul emphasised its cultural impact and universal storytelling ’ The show competed against three other nominees: Les Gouttes de Dieu (France), The Newsreader Season 2 (Australia), and Iosi, El Espia Arrepentido Season 2 (Argentina) Les Gouttes de Dieu was announced as the winner

Chassagne compared coproductions to marriages, emphasising the necessity of clear communication and early agreement on terms “You need to have all the hard conversations as soon as possible,” she advised, underscoring the importance of upfront planning

The discussion also touched on the impact of streaming platforms on traditional territorybased sales models Academy Award-Winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor highlighted how negotiations over digital rights have added layers of complexity to co-production agreements, altering the way cross-border partnerships are structured in the streaming era Together, the panel offered valuable insights into navigating the evolving landscape of international coproductions

IFFI Goa 2024 also marked the advent of state broadcaster Prasar Bharti’s newly launched OTT app called WAVES which

will have films and content around racism, and child marriage while bringing back nostalgia from the 80s and 90s Doordarshan shows back to OTT Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant launched Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform, ‘WAVES,’ at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) opening ceremony

The platform blends classic Doordarshan shows like Ramayan and Shaktimaan with diverse, modern content in 12+ languages across 10+ genres

Offering video-on-demand, live TV, gaming, radio streaming, and e-commerce, WAVES bridges tradition with innovation It supports young creators, showcasing student films from top media institutes and National Creator Awardees like Kamiya Jani and RJ Raunac Emphasising Indian culture with a global outlook, WAVES aims to redefine digital engagement for all generations

Samantha Ruth Prabhu

considered recasting her role in ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ due to health

Samantha Ruth Prabhu recently revealed how her battle with myositis affected her health while filming Citadel: Honey Bunny’ She shared that at one point, she even suggested recasting her role to directors Raj and DK, recommending actresses like Kiara Advani or Kriti Sanon

Reflecting on the tough period, Samantha admitted, "I didn’t think I’d be in a position to request a replacement, but the circumstances made it impossible for me to continue " Samantha even sent directors Raj and DK photos of potential replacements, including Kiara Advani and Kriti Sanon, saying, "They’ll be amazing for the action scenes Please, I can’t do it " However, the directors reassured her, saying, “We know them ” Despite her health struggles, Samantha completed her action-packed role in ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’, earning praise for her

Govinda and Krushna Abhishek reconcile with

a hug on ‘The

Great Indian Kapil Show’ Krushna

Abhishek and Govinda have had a full-circle reconciliation Years ago, Krushna refused to appear on ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’ when his uncle Govinda and aunt Sunita Ahuja were guests, fueling a longstanding feud. Now, they’ve patched things up on Netflix’s ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’.

struggles

resilience Co-star Varun Dhawan applauded her strength, saying, “Samantha’s dedication inspired all of us Witnessing her push through such challenges was truly inspirational ” Citadel: Honey Bunny is the Indian spin-off of the American spy-action series ‘Citadel’, starring Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden

In the latest episode, Govinda, Chunky Panday, and Shakti Kapoor join as guests Govinda, recovered from a recent gunshot injury, makes a grand "hero's entry" on stage He teases Shakti Kapoor about his affairs and then dances with Krushna Abhishek, who’s dressed as a character from ‘Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves’ The moment turns emotional as Krushna and Govinda share a hug, with Krushna s sister Arti moved by the reunion Krushna says, "We’ve met after a long time Won’t let you go now " Govinda jokingly calls him a "gadha" (donkey)

Krushna Abhishek and his uncle, Govinda, endured a public feud starting in 2016 after Krushna made a joke on his show that Govinda found disrespectful Tensions worsened when Krushna's wife, Kashmera Shah, tweeted something perceived as targeting Govinda Over the years, both parties aired grievances in the media, deepening the rift In 2024, they reconciled when Govinda attended his niece Arti Singh's wedding, ending their seven-year estrangement

t

Centuries by Yas has vi Jaiswal a nd Virat K ohli, foll owed by Jas prit Bumra h ma gnif ic ent

b o wl in g

Austral ia by 2 95 runs in the f irst Tes t of t he five-m atch

s eries

C h a s i n g 5 3 4 , A u s t

k e p t o n l o s

I

bundled them out for 238 For India, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah scalped

Washington Sundar took two wickets For Australia, Travis Head was the star player as he scored 89 runs Apart from him, Mitchell Marsh scored 47 while Alex Carey scored 36 Earlier, Jaiswal scored 161 while Kohli brought up his

India thrash Australia in first test

taken 1-0 lead in the fivematch series W i t h t h e

popular belief was the Team India is likely to face a hard time in Australia in the first Test However, the star pacer Jasprit Bumrah accepted the responsibility with a smiling face and propelled India to a marvelous 295-run victory

With a Test century after around 500 days, Virat finally

roared back to the form in a territory where he thrives the

several records and adding

sixes His runs came at strike rate of 69 93 After scoring the century, Virat had a sight of relief as he raised his bat

Rishabh Pant becomes IPL’s most expensive player

At the mega IPL a uct ion in Jeddah, Ris hab h Pant f etched a jaw-dropping £2 7m n f rom t he Luc know Supe r Gia nts ( L SG ), s ur pa s s in g Sh r ey a s Iyer (b ought for £2 67mn b y Punjab Kings) to become the c os tlies t pla yer in IPL his tory W h i l e P a n t a n d I y e r broke the bank, another Iyer a l s o r a k e d i n t h e m o o l a h Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), after initially deciding not to retain him, used the Right-

t o - M a t c h ( R T M ) c a r d t o s e c u r e V e n k a t e s h I y e r f o r £ 2 3 7 m n , m a k i n g h i m t h e

t h i r d h i g h e s t b u y o f t h e auction The 38-year-old offs p i n n e r R A s h w i n w a s bought by the Chennai Super

K i n g s ( C S K ) f o r £ 9 7 5 , 0 0 0 CSK also splashed out £1mn f o r A f g h a n i s t a n l e f t - a r m spinner Noor Ahmed Punjab, equipped with a

h e f t y p u r s e , a l s o m a d e s i g n i f i c a n t p u r c h a s e s , i n c l u d i n g r e a c q u i r i n g l e f tarm pacer Arshdeep Singh

f o r £ 1 8 m n , a n d s i g n i n g Y u z v e n d r a C h a h a l f o r t h e same amount Among other

n o t a b l e m o v e s , K L R a h u l found a new home with the DC for £1 4mn Mohammed

S h a m i w a s b o u g h t b y S u n r i s e r s H y d e r a b a d f o r £1mn, while Gujarat Titans secured Mohammed Siraj for £ 1 2 2 m n S R H a l s o s i g n e d w i c k e t k e e p e r - b a t t e r I s h a n K i s h a n f o r £ 1 1 2 m n M e a n w h i l e , K a g i s o R a b a d a j o i n e d G u j a r a t T i t a n s f o r £1 07mn

Bumrah & Boult

reunite at MI

Having retained their top six players for £7 5mn, the Mumbai Indians had only a £4 5mn purse for the mega auction and swung into the action only late in the day when they snapped up New

Z e a l a n d ’ s v e t e r a n l e f t - a r m

p a c e r T r e n t B o u l t f o r £1 25mn

I n d i a p a c e r s B h u v n e s h w a r K u m a r ,

Deepak Chahar, Akash Deep

a n d M u k e s h K u m a r , a n d

South Africa s Marco Jansen sparked a bidding war on Day 2 of IPL auction Bhuvi

w a s t h e c o s t l i e s t o n t h e second of the auction as RCB paid £1 07mn for him

Chahar got £925,000 while A k a s h D e e p a n d M u k e s h g o t £ 8 0 0 , 0 0 0 e a c h f r o m LSG and DC, respectively

J a n s e n , w h o h a d a b a s e price of £125,000, was roped in by PBKS for £700,000

K r u n a l P a n d y a i s s t i l l a sought-after buy in the IPL

a s R C B b o u g h t h i m f o r £ 5 7 5 , 0 0 0 K K R d i d n ' t b i d for Nitish Rana at all He went to RR for £420,000 India's in-form all-rounder

In a groundbr eaking mome

W a s h i n g t o n S u n d a r w a s bought by Gujarat Titans for £320,000 after Rovman

P o w e l l b e c a m e t h e f i r s t player to be sold on Day 2

T h e W e s t I n d i e s a l lrounder was picked up by KKR for his base price of £ 1 5 0 , 0 0 0 F a f d u P l e s s i s went to Delhi Capitals for £ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 N e w Z e a l a n d cricketers Kane Williamson

a n d G l e n n P h i l l i p s a n d India's Ajinkya Rahane and

P r i t h v i S h a w r e m a i n e d unsold England's Will Jacks grabbed the headlines after getting £525,000 from the M u m b a i I n d i a n s M u s t a f i z u r R a h m a n a n d

U m r a n M a l i k f o u n d n o takers

Suryava nshi be came the youngest pla yer ever selected in the Indian P

prestigious Ranji Trophy at just 12 years old, representing Bihar against Mumbai His remarkable performances since then include a stunning triple-century in a local tournament and a blazing 58-ball hundred for India’s under-19 team against Australia in September Rahul Dravid, head coach of the Rajasthan Royals and a former Indian international, expressed excitement about the young cricketer’s potential “He impressed us during trials with his exceptional skills,” Dravid said “We believe the IPL environment will provide the perfect platform for his growth ”

above his head

Now, Virat has scored his

and continues his chase for i

record of 100 international c

30th Test century Now in 119 m

9,145 runs at an average of 48 13, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties His best score is 254*

A l s o , w i t h 5 4 L i s t A centuries, nine T20 centuries and 37 first-class centuries, V i r a t h a s c o m p l e t e d 1 0 0 c e n t u r i e s i n p r o f e s s i o n a l cricket

T h i s i s V i r a t ' s 1 2 t h i n t e r n a t i o n a l c e n t u r y i n

Australia, the most by any batter He has scored 3,531 runs in 43 matches and 55 innings at an average of 56 95 in Australia, with 12 centuries

S

and 19 fifties and best score of 169 He has levelled with

i n s t W e s

I n d i e s ) f o r m o s t T e s t hundreds in an away country for India

H e h a s a l s o e q u a l l e d

Sachin Tendulkar's tally of n i n e c e n t u r i e s a g a i n s t

Australia for joint third-most centuries in Tests against an opponent for India Coming to the match, India won the toss and opted to bat first India was bundled out for j

crucial knocks and forming

stand

Australia's reply was even worse and they were reduced

However, Mitchell Starc (26)

Aussies to 104 runs, giving India a lead of 46 runs Jasprit Bumrah was the top-most bowler for India,

Harshit Rana also impressed on debut with a spell of 3/48 In their second innings,

massively There was

201run opening stand between KL Rahul (77 in 176 balls) and Jaiswal Jaiswal also had a fine 74 run stand with Devdutt

and Nitish Kumar Reddy (38*) pushed India to 487/6 India lead by

gigantic 534 runs to win

Don’t snub Pakistani stars: IPL Hundred buyers told

IPL fr anchise owne rs hopin g

the

t our na ment It is est ima te d tha t sev en of the 15 t o 20 bidde rs still in volved in the sa le pr oce ss for the e ight Hundr ed te ams, which should be complete d ne xt yea r, a lr ead y run IPL side s O wing to political t ensions sin ce t he te rror ist a tt acks on Mumba i in 200 8, Pa kistan play ers have long be en ex clude d from the IPL

I t i s u n d e r s t o o d t h a t s o m e M C C members have expressed concerns about the possibility of London Spirit, the Hundred team based at Lord’s, being sold to an IPL franchise that may not commit to selecting Pakistan players Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants have all been mooted as potential buyers IPL franchises now own almost 20 teams across the globe playing in T20 tournaments in South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and the Caribbean, but w h i l e n i n e P a k i s t a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l s w e r e involved in the most recent editions of these f o

identified who belongs to teams run by IPL

IPL to be played from March 14 to May 25

The BCCI has a nnounced the dates for the ne xt thre e IPL se asons, offi ci ally comm uni ca ti ng the time lines to the franchises, just a couple of day s a he ad of the IPL aucti on in Je ddah The IPL2025 sea son is slated to run from Ma rch 1 4 to Ma y 25 IPL-2026 wi ll run from March 15 to May 3 1, while IPL-2027 will b e held from Ma rch 14 to Ma y 3 0 In the past, IPL officials ha ve wai te d until the la st m inute to re lea se the da te s

The start time of the IPL auction has also been pushed to 3 30 pm at the request of the broadcaster to ensure it doesn’t clash with the Perth Test Archer, Netravalkar added to auction list M e a n w h i l e , t h e B C C I h a s a d d e d Barbados-born English paceman Jofra Archer, who will now be available for the season, to the auction list, along with US left-arm pacer S a u r a b h N e t r a v a l k a r a n d M u m b a i w i c k e t

keeper batter Hardik Tamore Archer's base price is £200,000, while Netravalkar, who performed well for the US in the 2024 T20 World Cup (six wickets in six matches at an economy rate of 6 63), and Tamore's base price is Rs 30,00,000 “The lowest base price of a player has been raised from Rs 20,00,000 to 30,00,00 now, ” a source said

owners I

Swansea, played 130 times for Pakistan in one-day internationals and T20s between 2 0 1

represented Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20 in the UAE and Seattle Orcas in the Major League Cricket tournament in the United States GMR, who bought Seattle, are c

recently acquired Hampshire and the Utilita Bowl in Southampton

Some of those involved in overseeing the sale of the Hundred teams expect that c

Pakistan players will be broached before deals are completed The ECB is understood to be prepared to warn franchise owners that discrimination would be unacceptable - although it is unclear how much power the governing body would have to prevent it Four Pakistan men ’ s international players took part in this year ’ s Hundred Wasim played for Trent Rockets, while Haris Rauf featured at Welsh Fire and Usama Mir at

replacement for the Oval Invincibles

India girls beat China; retain Asian hockey champions trophy

Deepika, a 20-year-old girl fr om His ar, sc ored the onl y goal of the m atch at Rajgir Spor ts Complex to help India def end their Asian Hock ey Champions Trophy title by bea ting China 1-0 in the final las t week It was a goall ess first hal f, and in the opening m inute of the t hird quarter that India won their fift h penal ty corner of the matc h when Deepika was abl e t o break the deadlock The push was well directed but Sushila Chanu failed to trap the ball You could say, it s t

and played it to Deepika on her left Unlike in the earlier matches, rather than going for the shot immediately, the young striker calmly made space for herself, took her time, and placed it into the bottom right corner past Ting Li, the Chinese goalkeeper’s outstretched left foot It was Deepika’s 11th

hoardings have been reminding us all through the tournament, she was undeniably the ‘Goal Queen’ Of the 11 goals she has scored in the ACT, four were field goals, six came off PCs and one from a penalty stroke

Rishabh Pant Shreyas Iyer

Vaibhav Suryavanshi