AV 30th October 2021

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Diwali at Leicester SEE PAGE - 10

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Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

Community felicitates former Chief Minister of Gujarat

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30 OCT - 5 NOV 2021 - VOL 50 ISSUE 26

NEEDLE SPIKING, AN ‘EPIDEMIC’?

Activists are terming the rise in needle spiking cases at UK nightclubs as an ‘epidemic’ with increasing number of youngsters and women as victims.

inside

Mass protest outside Bangladesh High Commission in London SEE PAGE - 4

Full story on page 16-17

PM Modi to visit Italy, UK for G-20 Summit, COP-26 Women and gut health SEE PAGE - 14

Shefali Saxena

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to Rome, Italy and Glasgow in the United Kingdom from October 29 to November 2 to attend the 16th G-20 Summit and the World Leaders' Summit of COP-26 respectively, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

Continued on page 26

A petition demanding mandatory searches at nightclubs has over 130,000 signatures amid rising cases of needle spiking at nightclubs in the UK. Another petition, which had over 8,000 signatures, calls for free drink spiking test kits to be made available at all bars. Such kits would allow those who suspect someone may have interfered with their drink to get an instant result and react accordingly.

Continued on page 6

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Injustice to Jammu is over now: Amit Shah SEE PAGE - 23

2 UK

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30 Oct - 5 Nov 2021

with Keith Vaz

Marble Arch Mound draws controversy

Kanti Chudasama Kanti Chudasama was born in small village in Gujarat India. He came to Tanzania a British colony at the age of 5 with his parents in 1949. He was educated there and then worked as a civil servant.

Due to his father’s sudden death, he established his own business.

However due to the country’s political situation he had to leave the country.

He came to London in 1973 without any money along with his wife and two baby girls.

After a short stay in London, he settled in Leicester with the help of his family and friends, he found accommodation and a job at that time there was no government handouts.

Finally, he got a job in the largest computer company Unisys and progressed to the position of Business Manager based in Birmingham where he travelled on a daily basis.

As he had been a passionate community voluntary worker, he became the President of Jansari Mandal. He has been the Vice President of the Gujarat Hindu Association for 15 years he is also the Vice president of Leicester Hindu Festival Council.

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

I worked in London in a Job Centre as a front-line clerical officer. I moved to Leicester and worked in the Engineering Firm British United as a machine operator.

Then I worked as storekeeper in a shoe factory. Then finally I worked for 25 years in a largest American computer Unisys as Business Manager. At age of 65 I retired. I am 79 years old and fully enjoy the leisure activities.

2. What are your proudest achievements?

I am proud of the achievements that I achieved due to my hard work and experience when I got recognised for meeting the revenue target of 100 million in a year.

3. What inspires you?

To remain focused, to achieve your goals and be ambitious, have the vision, be true and don't give up till your aspirations are fulfilled.

4. What has been biggest obstacle in your career?

Setbacks are part of life don't deter, fight on, motivate yourself don't let negative thoughts rule your mind when people let you down.

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

Take example from people who do not have roof over their head, who don't have work to go to, who struggle to give one meal a day. Mahatma Gandhi led the freedom movement to fight the mighty British empire without army showed the world how non-violence can achieve victory.

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

Always be true to your cause no matter how many times you fall. Be resilient don't worry of criticism. Helping in making people lives better and then when you see the

smile on people's face whom you have helped makes you proud.

7. And the worst?

Many times, it's your own people whom you trust most lets you down because of jealousy, backstabbing really hearts and also, they pass on rumours to undermine your position.

8. What are your long-term goals?

I wish to spend my retirement spare time firstly to keep myself healthy and fit.

Do outdoor activities reading and helping charitable organisations in their work and pass my experience in organisation ingenious events. Visit patients in hospital who would like assistance in translation from English to Gujarati.

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

If I have to head this country, I will strive to build a fairer society equal opportunity for all. By providing good education health and housing.

Make no one go hungry. Cut down bureaucracy, easy access to justice Catch tax adjurers, change law of tax heavens.

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

Would spend time with Nelson Mandela. His lifestyle is so inspiring.

Though born in rich family he became the hero of millions of countrymen. He led the freedom movement against the most brutal apartheid moment. He went to prison for most of his life. Yet when he came out and became the President of the country, he taught lessons of reconciling and forgiveness. He thought of millions of his countryman how to give them better living standard and build new South Africa.

Backlogs at UK ports might ruin festivities Though blockages at Felixstowe Port is slowly clearing, industry figures believe that delayed shipments will last well into next year.

The UK’s largest commercial Felixstowe Port, which handles 36% of the country's freight container traffic, was turning away the container ships that contained furniture, toys,

electronic and white goods hinting of shortages this autumn.

“Further disruption may be unavoidable," Andrew Opie, the British Retail Consortium’s Director of Food & Sustainability told PoliticsHome.

Shipments are getting delayed further due to the lack of HGV drivers. The

world's largest shipping container company, Danish freight company Maersk, had to temporarily reroute cargo that was headed for Felixstowe to ports elsewhere in Europe.

UK’s PM Boris Johnson is believed to work on the supply chain disruption, but it seems that this disruption will continue beyond 25 December.

Migrants refusing age test will be rejected Migrants who refuse to participate in Home Office tests to check their age, will not be entertained, reports The Sun. Home Secretary Priti Patel is determined to bring in some tough and new measures in the Border Bill which will prevent migrants to lie about their age to seek

asylum.

According to The Sun, in the past 5 years, out of 3,929 people who were investigated by the Immigration Officers for an asylum, 2,135 were found to be lying of their age and were an adult.

Only Britain does not use scientific age assessment

methods i.e. X-rays or scans to determine a person’s age when they make an asylum claim.

Ms Patel said: “Our New Plan for Immigration will prioritise those who play by our rules, over those who seek to take our country for a ride.”

Marble Arch Mound, the temporary viewing platform commissioned by Westminster City Council was supposed to cost £2m but it ended up costing £6 million to build. As per the investigation, there was lack of proper oversight and basic planning while building the mound.

The report also said that

the Westminster City Council employees warned of the potential risks involved but was ignored.

It was built after lockdown to attract visitors to Oxford Street. However, many visitors complained about its patchy turf and not so great views from the artificial hill.

“This fundamental project failure meant that the Cabinet Members and other senior officers were unaware of project progress,” the report said. “This contributed to the mismanagement of costs and the lack of control over cost increases significantly beyond those approved.”

Home secretary upgrades MPs threat level to ‘substantial’ Amidst the murder of Sir David Amess, a Conservative MP since 1983, Priti Patel, the home secretary confirmed that the threat level to MPs was “now deemed to be substantial”.

“While we do not see any information or intelligence which points to any credible or specific or imminent threat, I must update the House that the threat

level facing members of parliament is now deemed to be substantial,” she said.

“This is the same level as the current national threat

to the United Kingdom as a whole, so I can assure the House that our world-class intelligence and security agencies and counterterror police will now ensure that this change is properly reflected in the operational posture.”

Substantial indicates that an attack is likely, while the lower level of moderate implies that an attack is possible, but not likely.

Lindsay Hoyle told to insist MPs to wear mask The FDA civil service union is demanding Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle to insist MPs to wear the masks when they are in the chamber.

Though there is rise in Covid cases, MPs are unsure of wearing mask in the

Commons and other enclosed spaces to set an example for other residents.

However, Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg expressed that MPs are following government guidelines by choosing to wear mask or not. He also added that they

don’t see any need to be worn on the Tory benches as MPs know each other and enjoy a "convivial fraternal spirit".

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has recommended people to keep their masks on in crowded spaces.

The Queen returns at Windsor healthy and hearty The 95-year-old monarch is now back at Windsor Castle after spending night at King Edward VII's Hospital which lies in Marylebone and is about 19 miles (32km) away from Windsor.

She was admitted for preliminary medical checks and returned at lunchtime on Thursday and is “in good spirits”, Buckingham Palace

said. The Queen’s scheduled visit to Northern Ireland on Wednesday was cancelled.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said "everybody sends Her Majesty our very, very best wishes".

The Queen has been forced to pull out of

Cop26 as she "regretfully decided that she will no longer travel to Glasgow on Monday.

She is "disappointed not to attend" but will deliver a video message.

Virendra Sharma MP challenges the government Last week, at the Prime Minister’s Questions, Virendra Sharma MP challenged the Government to reinstate the £20 a week Universal Credit lifeline for his constituents.

Speaking at today’s Prime Minister’s Questions, Virendra Sharma MP asked: Heating bills, food shops and fuel costs are all rising at a staggering speed. This

winter millions of families on Universal Credit will be forced to choose between eating or heating. Given the crisis in living costs we are now facing, will the Prime Minister reconsider his scrapping of the Universal Credit uplift and reinstate the £20 a week lifeline he has just taken away?

Millions of working families on universal credit

have their income cut by £1,000. In Ealing Southall, 12,510 households claim universal credit and 38% of these recipients are currently in work.

The Ealing Southall MP stressed that more than 8,000 children depend on universal credit and they will be left having to choose between heating and eating this winter.

Schools might send students home over rising Covid cases In the wake of rising Covid cases among pupils and dearth of teachers, Unions have alerted that they might send students’ home.

James Bowen, director of policy at the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), expressed that since the beginning of the pandemic, schools are

facing severe difficulties.

“Some might get to the stage where they are really struggling to keep classes running. No-one wants to see any more disruption, but there’s a reality to the situation that if all the teachers go off sick and there’s no one else [to cover], you do come under enormous pres-

sure," Bowen told PoliticsHome.

In order to reduce the number of positive cases in schools, the NAHT have urged the Department for Education to expediate the supply of ventilation units and air purifiers that are designed to reduce Covid transmission in classrooms.

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COMMENTS 3 30 Oct - 5 Nov 2021

COP26 is all about helping each other A few days to COP26, media is now buzzing with updates, speculations and what it means to the world going forward. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will fly in for a quick 2-day visit on Sunday night, after G20 in Rome. He will be accompanied by Harsh Vardhan Shringla, India’s Foreign Secretary. HE Gaitri Issar Kumar, the High Commissioner of India to the UK visited India last weekend with UK’s Foreign Secretary Liz Truss to make final preparations.

Also, in attendance at COP26 will be Lord Dolar Popat, Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Africa will play a key role at COP26 – particularly DRC which aside from having the world’s second largest forest, contains 70% of the world’s supply of cobalt. This rare earth metal is essential for the UK’s green revolution for electric cars, phones and batteries. Lord Popat will be receiving President Tsheikedi at Glasgow Airport and his delegation of 150 people. This will be one of the largest delegations present at COP. Our ancestors understood about the impact of climate change better. With time, the apparent need for industries (and greed) has taken over forests, lands, oceans, and mountains, causing the disruption and extinctions as we face today. The world is hotter, and oceans are deeper, fossil fuels in shortage. The energy crises that pose threat to our rising bills is not just a Brexit effect.

The developing nations are sitting on double-edged sword.

Last week, a coalition of 24 developing nations, issued a statement together criticising rich countries for “preaching” about net-zero goals by 2050. They argued, member countries should

not be forced onto the same timeline to cut emissions, as the industrialised world have done little to contribute to it.

For example, the ship breaking yards of Bangladesh- an environmental hazard that provides food on thousands’ table.

They are located just outside the major port city of Chattogram (formerly known as Chittagong). They stretch along the coastline of the Sitakund area for approximately 15 km. According to the article ‘Ship Breaking Industries and their Impacts on the Local People and Environment of Coastal Areas of Bangladesh’: The coastal area of Bangladesh is one of the most ecologically productive and it contains a rich biodiversity which includes several species that are endemic to this region. Much attention has been focused on ship breaking industries in the coastal areas because of the threat they pose to this thriving biological communities along with their other environmental impacts and the perilous working environment of the workers.

Moreover, the workers of this industry are exposed to an extremely risky and toxic working environment which makes them vulnerable to both physical and psychological disorder as well as to accidental deaths and injury.” Many of these ships originate from the West.

Let’s talk about vaccination. While the rich countries have reached their third booster dose, some countries have only started off!

The world has woken up late, but the onus is not only on the poorer nations. It is not enough to just clean your own backyard. Help thy neighbour is the motto.

NHS needs much more than just money This week’s budget will be a test to see if the tide of UK’s economy can change, after several awkward years. Government relations seem to be at an all-time low, with the corporation tax increasing, employers’ insurance going up as well as a proposed raise in minimum wage, which may discourage employment.

The country’s mood is sombre, despite hosting a Summit up north, with 25,000 guests coming across the world. Though the Chancellor promises a comfortable journey ahead, the country without a Plan B is facing one of the deadliest winters and possibly irreversible damages. Analysis of YouGov data reveals that 1 in 5 Brits would support a full lockdown similar to 2020 as of 26th October 2021. A new finding by bedroom experts Bed Kingdom reveals that 81% of Brits in favour of wearing face coverings on public transport and 76% wearing face coverings in shops. 59% of Brits would be in favour of increasing social distancing according to the YouGov data as well as well as almost half of Brits (49%) agreeing that nightclubs should close again.

Neil Debenham, a renowned business trouble-shooter, consultant, and private equity specialist thinks a simpler and smarter tax system for SMEs holds the key to the UK’s post pandemic recovery. Neil said: The March 2021 Budget offered support for SMEs to stay afloat but six months later, the circumstances are different. The government wants businesses to stand on their own two feet again, and the 2021 Autumn Budget will reflect this.

Announcing spending pledges during national emergencies is simple and straightforward. The real challenge is recovering the accrued debt through tax hikes and spending cuts. The Chancellor knows all too well that this Autumn Budget needs to address public debt, while not impacting productivity, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Hard decisions need to be made and a clever balancing act needs to be negotiated.

Overall, any reforms that are introduced should ultimately focus on the long-term growth of the private sector; namely,

start-ups and scale-up businesses which are vital to the future of the UK economy. Incentives need to be in place that collectively enable business growth through investment schemes or ongoing relief packages.

Businesses are faced with a long list of relatively new challenges – from ongoing pandemic uncertainty to Brexit, skills shortages, and the need to adapt to shifting consumer preferences. The fear is that additional regulations could put many smaller firms at risk of facing significant financial hardships.

SMEs are the backbone of economic health of any country.

Understandable closing shops and high street will be a blow to the economy, but there is no doubt that NHS is overwhelmed with pending appointments.

Simon Jenkins in his illuminating Guardian column has highlighted some key issues. He said, money is not the only problem that NHS faces. First it is often the senior staff and their opposition that hinders its productivity. Businessman Gerry Robinson made a celebrated documentary about trying to run an NHS hospital and how he collapsed in tears of frustration, created by the “unnecessary” senior staff antagonism. Challenging an organisation that is an ideological symbol does not mean challenging that ideology. It is difficult to measure ‘value for money’ in a public organisation. When Boris Johnson says, “Protect the NHS”, the question that always arises- protect NHS from whom?

NHS’s rivalry with the government affected the elderly care during pandemic. Yet, at different stages it simply cleared elderly hospitals into care homes. Then thousands died and more returned to hospitals. It is crucial the public healthcare is integrated with local government like that in Europe. This model that can work successfully in Britain too. And for that as Jenkins reiterates, the last thing NHS needs is a “reorganisation” by the Health Secretary Sajid Javid. It needs discipline, the willingness to let go and a pair of fresh eyes.

A milestone in India's vaccination drive India has completed the administration of 1 billion doses of the Covid-19 vaccine on October 21, 2021, in just about nine months since the start of the vaccination drive. This has been a tremendous journey in dealing with Covid-19, especially when we recall how things stood in early 2020. Humanity was dealing with such a pandemic after 100 years and no one knew much about the virus. The situation then was unpredictable and the humanity was faced with an unknown and invisible enemy mutating rapidly. India's journey from anxiety to assurance has happened and our country has emerged stronger, thanks to the world’s largest vaccination drive. As India crossed the milestone of 1 billion Covid vaccine shots, belying the predictions of a range of naysayers, it is difficult to overstate the triumph it represents in the battle against the virus - and in the realm of public health at large. More than 70 per cent of the adult population of the world’s second most populous country has received at least one shot of the vaccine and over 30 per cent of those eligible have received both the jabs.

That this target was reached in less than 10 months after the vaccines were rolled out, without the rural-urban divide holding back distribution, is a marvellous achievement for India’s scientific, regulatory and administrative agencies under the Centre and the states, as it is for the countless vaccinators on the frontlines. Covid-19 has taken a devastating toll of lives, inflicted social turmoil, exacted economic costs. But it also galvanised scientists, medical experts and policymakers to push the frontiers of their disciplines and domains.

In recent times, India’s vaccination successes have largely been in the realm of child immunisation which helped mobilise a cadre of reliable vaccinators, created cold storage facilities of reasonable quality and fostered the development of a credible adverse-impact reporting system. The country also had vaccine manufacturers of proven capabilities - including the Pune-based Serum Institute of India. Even then, the Covid inoculation project posed a different order of challenge. The emergency created

by the unpredictable virus required every agency involved in developing and delivering vaccines to work on compressed schedules, without compromising on safety and efficacy. It required building capacities, especially those of the country’s notoriously deficient public health infrastructure, and forging coordination mechanisms between scientific and administrative agencies at the Centre and state levels. Vaccine hesitancy tested the powers of persuasion and communication skills of local level officials and healthcare workers. The virulence of the second wave bared deficiencies of a vaccine procuring process that left the states to their own devices. But after a significant coursecorrection in the third week of June, prodded by the Supreme Court, the drive gathered impressive momentum.

India has, for decades now, boasted of state-of-the art medical research facilities. These institutions need more nurturing in a more enabling atmosphere. But a more important learning of the past 10 months pertains to developing delivery systems that can take the research output of the country’s laboratories to the people who need them the most. The Covid guard must not be lowered, any new strain can throw a bigger challenge. But October 21 is a reassuring marker that the political will and systemic resolve behind the vaccination drive can - and should rise to the next challenge. With more vaccines like ZyCov-D, Corbevax and Covovax in the pipeline, India must start inoculating schoolgoers. Adults receiving medical advice prescribing a third dose must be encouraged too.

Mix-and-match studies are also urgently needed because some vaccines or platforms would invariably prove superior to others in the longer run. India’s 1 billion dose achievement owes much to SII living up to its reputation as the world’s biggest contract manufacturer of vaccines and its seed funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi Vaccine Alliance alongside technology transfer from AstraZeneca-Oxford University.

More such IP transfers, global pharma collaborations and intergovernmental cooperation on raw material sourcing are needed.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. - Martin Luther King, Jr

Alpesh Patel

Operation Searchlight 2 1995 was 50 years after WW2. Imagine if Jews were being wholescale attacked in German in 1995. Well, 2021 is 50 years since Operation Searchlight in East Pakistan which is recognised for war crimes of genocide targeting Hindus. Today, it has resumed – in what is now of course called Bangladesh.

India rightly came to the rescue of the Muslim minority then. Why the silence now to save Hindus? You can watch Indira Gandhi’s fiery interview with the BBC who before India’s entry to stop the genocide tried to portray her as a war mongerer-why would she not speak to Pakistani President Yahya Khan the BBC asked?

She barely contained her anger. “What would you have me do? Stand by as women are raped and children murdered?”

“IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BENGALI HINDU GENOCIDE” HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE of Texas said in the house of representatives, this year, “I rise in sad remembrance of the 50th anniversary of the Bengali Hindu Genocide, and celebrate and honor the lives of the more than two million Bengali Hindu persons who were systematically killed by the Pakistani Army when it launched an offensive into East Pakistan, presentday Bangladesh, thus beginning the 10-month reign of terror known as ``Operation Searchlight.''

Over that time, approximately 2 to 3 million people were killed, over 200,000 women were raped in organized rape camps, and over 10 million people were displaced, most finding refuge in India. I offer my prayers and condolences to the victims and their families who still feel the very real effects of this heinous crime against humanity.”

These were war crimes and crimes against humanity.

President Khan was never tried, neither were his Generals.

Hindus need a Simon Wiesenthal – a Nazi hunter. The Centre named after him continues to hunt Nazi war criminals. The war criminals of Operation Searchlight need to be hunted down and brought to trial.

But who stands for Hindus? Come on journalists – when we told you it’s not a Hindu Nationalist Government in India, you denied it – so why the heck isn’t the Hindu Nationalist Government doing what Indira Gandhi did?

Because it isn’t Hindu Nationalist is why. Go back to journalism school and learn about bias.

They know there will only be vigils, candles, letters and petitions. For centuries they’ve tried to wipe us out, to eviscerate and eradicate us. They know who they are -the fundamentalists and extremists whose God worships death and only death – they are alive in the ISIS, in Taliban. They will not see the light; they are blinded by darkness. It is not the point that Hindu lives are more precious – they certainly are more precious than any death-worshiping extremist terrorist, it is that these are named as crimes against humanity. Humanity.

That is a legal term and on the anniversary this month of the Nuremburg Trials to try Nazi war criminals, where those legal doctrines were created, they seem to apply not to Hindus.

Today’s Prime Minister of Pakistan speaks of righteous death. That is a signal and a whistle to embolden terrorists.

He knows he has dogs on a leash for whom god is death beyond national boundaries. These terrorists hear his dog whistle when he speaks of righteous death. This Khan is also not a Statemen. These are merchants of rape, of genocide, of murder. They see only brothers and sisters in those who agree with them. All others can be raped. They are Taliban-copycats. They are baby-sitters to ISIS. It should be a crime to say “mine is the only way” because it always leads a group of idiots to kill and murder. Liberalism, pluralism, teaches us to say “go about your way, good luck”.

I do so hate theocracies – countries who have to relentlessly obsess with god in their constitutions. It’s a bloody clump of rock hurtling through space in one minute corner of one undescriptive of a billion solar systems in a forgettable galaxy among millions more in an infinite universe.

You dimwit. And you want to kill me, because as a Hindu I know that. My God (who is most definitely not yours) showed me the Universe. But you go about your way and good luck. Just stop killing mine. You are an embarrassment to all that is good and gracious in your fellow countrymen, all that is good and gracious in the real followers of peace. Maybe in their embarrassment they too remain silent about you.

Now Bangladesh is lost too, the way of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Lost in a madness of death-worshiping extremists.

The good people of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh deserve better.

4 UK

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30 Oct - 5 Nov 2021

NHS maternity services ‘derailed’ due to rising Covid cases The president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Senior Gynaecologist Dr Edward Morris has said that the NHS could soon be unable to deliver “the care it needs to” for pregnant women amid rising Covid cases in the UK. His warning comes as the NHS battles a backlog go 5.7million patients from the first and second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic.

As Rishi Sunak ruled out immediate implementation of the government’s plan B last Sunday, the latest data showed 39,962 people reported testing positive for Covid on Sunday with 328,287 testing positive in the last 7 days and 949 deaths during the

same period.

The Guardian reported that senior doctors have already cancelled operations in some parts of the country. This surge in Covid cases has “derailed” the efforts of clearing NHS backlog, especially for women who need gynaecological treatments.

Morris added: “We know during the first wave of the pandemic, maternity staff were redeployed to different areas of the hospital, and we would urge NHS trusts and boards to avoid this at all costs.”

Maternity staff could not be replaced by other staff groups “due to their specialist skillset”, he said, and protecting this workforce was “crucial to

ensure that safe maternity care can be sustained”.

NHS consultant surgeon told Politics Home that many nurses were leaving the health service or suffering with low morale, leaving some operating theatres with not enough staff to keep up with surgical lists.

"Nursing staff, exhausted and working under the strain of tens of thousands of vacancies, will be angered to hear ministers say the pressures in the NHS are sustainable.

All those working in hospitals, GP surgeries and the community know the reality," Vice-chair of the nursing union Royal College of Nurses Carol Popplestone said.

Mass protest outside Bangladesh High Commission in London On Saturday, 23 October protests and vigils were held around the world to remember those who had been killed in the recent violence against the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.

In 150 locations around the world members of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) and other Hindu groups demonstrated against the treatment of the Hindus in Bangladesh.

The purpose was to raise awareness and to demand protection and justice from the Bangladesh government for the religious minorities that are suffering atrocities and violence including attacks on temples and faith communities in the country.

ISKCON devotees from across the UK, along with eight other Hindu organisations joined forces at a huge protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in London.

Over 800 participants of all ages, prayed, sang and lay flowers for those killed during the violence which saw temples including an

ISKCON temple, homes and property damaged. At least 7

were murdered but there are thought to be more, and hundreds injured.

There were also protests in Birmingham, Edinburgh and Cardiff. All brandished placards demanded punishment for the perpetrators and greater protection for minorities including Christians and Buddhists.

In London, after a number of heartfelt speeches and thunderous singing

accompanied by chants and slogans.

Photos of those who died were remembered with flowers and candles.

As the peaceful but powerful demonstration drew to a close, there was a 2 minutes silence in honour of those who had died and who had suffered, as well as traditional Sanskrit prayers.

"It was heart-warming to see the diverse Hindu community and other faith communities join us in this protest," explained ISKCON spokesperson Sutapa das.

“The day was filled mixed emotions - a sense of sadness and pain at the atrocities that have occurred, but a sense of hope that through spiritual unity and harmony we can help to eradicate such extremism. All faiths have the right to follow their chosen religious path without fear of persecution and torture. This is a basic human right that any respectable civilisation is founded upon."

“It is important that justice is done to the thugs who did this and the Bangladeshi government becomes more protective of its minorities” added Radha Mohan das. “But the solutions are spiritual – dialogue, mutual respect between religions and peace. Now that the protests and vigils have taken place, what follows

must be diplomacy and dialogue for the benefit of the people of Bangladesh and especially those who are vulnerable.”

Radha Mohan das then posted a letter addressed to Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK, Saida Muna Tasneem, calling for a meeting between her and the leaders of the Hindu community to discuss the issue.

Read more about US protests on P20

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Sick Pay for the selfemployed after new IPSE research found there was a post-pandemic surge in demand for it among freelancers.

The research showed nearly two-thirds of selfemployed people (58%) now believe they should have access to Statutory Sick Pay – up from less than half before the pandemic. (The figure was higher at 62 per cent among sole traders).

One factor may be that after the experience of the pandemic, more than half of self-employed people (52%) do not feel supported by the government. The figure rose to 67 per cent among freelancers who work through limited companies, who were excluded from the

The clocks will be going back by 1 hour, on Sunday 31 October 2021 Don't forget to change the time on your clocks!

Dad with blood cancer appeals for urgent stem cell donor A dad from North London with blood cancer, who was diagnosed at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, is making an urgent appeal for more people to join Anthony Nolan’s stem cell register to help save his life, and others like him, who desperately need a transplant in order to survive.

Hedley Dindoyal. 50, from North London, is a photographer and father of two. His diagnosis of NonHodgkin’s Lymphoma came with the news that his only chance of a cure lies in the hands of a stranger.

However, his Mauritian heritage makes his search for a potentially lifesaving matching stem cell donor even more difficult.

In May 2020, when Hedley didn’t even have the energy to walk up the stairs, he knew he needed to visit his GP. After some blood tests, he was immediately sent to the hospital.

Hedley received a blood transfusion and quickly became dependent on them to survive, which was when he started to suspect that it might be something serious.

Further tests revealed the diagnosis he’d feared, NonHodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Speaking about his diagnosis, Hedley said: ‘It was devastating but after feeling ill for so long suddenly I had something that I thought was treatable, that I could at least do something about.’

However, Hedley’s road to recovery didn’t go as planned and on Christmas Eve last year, he developed neutropenic sepsis and became seriously ill.

The impact of Covid-19 made an already difficult time even tougher for Hedley, Lucy and their two young children aged nine and 12.

Luckily, Hedley qualified for a new treatment, but he will now need a stem

cell transplant from a stranger if he is to have a chance to live in remission.

A person’s stem cell match is likely to come from someone with the same ethnic background as them. Only 37% of transrecipients from plant minority ethnic backgrounds receive the best stem cell donor match from an unrelated donor. This is compared to 72% of patients from white Caucasian backgrounds.

Hedley explained: ‘I am a British-born Mauritian man looking for a donor knowing there is less likely to be a match for me, which is quite disheartening, to say the least. It’s so bittersweet, knowing I have the chance of going into remission, but being in a minority group makes it so difficult and, being Mauritian puts me in an even smaller minority group, so we desperately need people from Mauritian backgrounds, and other ethnic minority backgrounds, to sign up.’

Anthony Nolan particularly needs more young men to sign up as they are underrepresented on the register.

Young men currently account for only 18% of the charity’s register, but they make up an astonishing 55% of all people asked to donate.

To find about more about joining the Anthony Nolan register, or to find out more about the different ways you can support, please visit www.anthonynolan.org/help4hedley

Priti Patel gives evidence to Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).

Half of the freelancers (49%) therefore now believe they – like employees – should be entitled to pension contributions. More than two out of five (44%) also believe they should have access to maternity and paternity pay, while two out of five (40%) think they should be guaranteed a minimum wage like employees.

On Wednesday, the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee questioned the Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Priti Patel MP. The committee discussed several topics with the Home Secretary, with a focus on the new plan for immigration which proposes new ways of treating asylum seekers, and a “streamlined process” for challenging migration decisions.

Questions were asked on immigration detention and the conclusion of returns agreements.

Other topics included police investigations and misogyny, culture in the Home Office and the Afghan citizens’ resettlement scheme. The committee asked questions relating to current work on new technologies and the application of the law, and upcoming travel systems ETIAS and the EES.

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NEEDLE SPIKING, AN ‘EPIDEMIC’?

Continued from page 1 A 19-year-old university student who was recently a victim of spiking woke up in Nottinghamshire, UK. She spotted a prick mark on her legs after she woke up in the morning post partying late at night at a club. She then went to a hospital. While the girl was reportedly wearing jeans and allegedly got spiked by a needle, Prof Adam Winstock from the Global Drugs Survey told BBC, "The idea these things can be randomly given through clothes in a club is just not that likely."

Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire Police is investigating 15 reports of spiking where victims claim to have been injected with a needle. While the first case of spiking occurred around 2 October, 32 reports of people drinking spiked drinks emerged in September. Most of these victims are young women and students. Nottinghamshire police arrested two men of age 18 and 19 who have been released under investigation. However, this suspected offence did not involve a needle. Cases of needle spiking have also emerged in Hull, Sussex, Norfolk, Devon, York and Cornwall.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has asked forces across the country to update her on the status of the scale of this issue.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said, “The Mayor is clear

Sadiq Khan

that any attack on a woman is totally unacceptable – women must be safe, and feel safe, when out at any time of day or night. Sadiq would encourage anyone to report this crime to the police, who will thoroughly investigate.

“London’s clubs and venues work hard to be safe and welcoming places, and City Hall has been working alongside the capital’s night-time industries and the police, to introduce training across hundreds of venues so that staff are able to sensitively handle any reports of sexual harassment. In

addition, City Hall has secured pledges from more than 600 organisations – venues, operators, charities, councils and businesses across London – to support the Mayor’s Women’s Night Safety Charter, which aims to improve women’s safety at night by improving staff training AND encouraging the reporting of harassment.

Report and Support system for victims of spiking University of Westminster Students’ Union (UWSU) and the University of Westminster are appalled by reports that instances of spiking are happening anywhere, especially targeting students. They accepted that neither awareness nor intervention from intended victims can change the underlying issue of violent and degrading intentions from the perpetrator.

In an official statement, UWSU and the University of Westminster said, “We want to be explicitly clear that spiking is illegal, and anyone alleged to be a perpetrator will be reported to the police. If the alleged perpetrator is a student at the University of Westminster, they will additionally be: Referred to the University’s Student Disciplinary Regulations for investigation and possible disciplinary action; Subject to the above procedures and UWSU Code of Conduct, will incur a lifeban from all UWSU activities.

The university has a Report and Support system for present and past victims spiking which will guide them to access information and guidance from trained professionals who can advise on next steps and support on offer to escalate this, should they wish to, and access help and advice. In solidarity with the national Night In campaign, the University has cancelled the Dragon’s Takeover and Karaoke night which was due to be held at Hideaway on Wednesday 27 October.

The world is unsafe for women Dr Vijaya Priyadarshini told

Bhavna Ravindran Dr Vijaya Priyadarshini

Asian Voice, “Covid-19, the name that initially felt like any other seasonal flu turned into a nightmare 24 hour helpline e

020 8361 6151

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Chandu Tailor Jay Tailor Bhanubhai Patel Dee Kerai

soon enough. It all transpired in a blink of an eye, leaving us stranded, clueless, lonely and without any socialising. No socialising, no clubbing, no partying meant like a sudden jolt. But in June this year when things reopened, it felt like resurrection from the dark world.

“But was it?” she argued.

“A gap of good 16 months has had other implications which are difficult to explain. The world has only become more unsafe for women. I go out with a set of trusted people, no new gangs and random hangouts because of the fear of being around unknown people.

It’s like a principle for me that post 10 pm I would always take a cab back home and share the ride details with my family. At the end of the day, we need to adapt to the change! It’s difficult but I guess this is the new normal where we must cover our faces and take adequate precautions!” Dr Vijaya said.

Every year, thousands of international students come to the UK to study at prestigious universities.

However, with the glory of studying at a UK university, comes newfound freedom and liberty for young adults to evolve as persons.

Students are known to socialise and participate in gatherings, parties and events to network, and build an emotional and social support system for themselves while they’re in the UK. In the last 20 months, most had to remain locked inside their halls of residence or rented accommodation. While UK university accommodations do not have a curfew time for students to return (unlike Asia), it is worth listening to stories of students who either came to the UK during the pandemic to study or were already here.

Period of self-reflection Bhavna Ravindran, a Covid survivor and a student at a London

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University said, “For an extroverted person like me, this was the period of self-reflection between the four walls.” Calling herself a “social butterfly” who was losing its purpose, Bhavna added, “Fast forward to 2

years now, I am at an elevated state of happiness with a selective and smaller circle of people who I engage with personally. My social life is at its best after the emotional turmoil I had during Covid.”

Reacting to news of spiking at nightclubs, Bhavna said, “Honestly, with the rising cases of needle spiking, it sounds very unsafe for girls to move out to party. For all I know is safety is in our own hands, parties can be side-lined. I would surely prefer staying indoors with people who I know very closely or going out with them and being super watchful of the choice of restaurants. The latter surely being an option to an unavoidable circumstance only.

When it comes to house parties, I will also ensure the liquor is purchased by someone within the group and not have anyone else being a mediator as I'm guessing there'll be groups trying to sell stuff illegally for cheaper rates.”

“While I wasn't aware of this, I am now going to make my peer friends (both guys and girls) so that everyone remains informed and stays safe,” she added.

Virtual parties during lockdown Prachi Dang calls herself a typi-

Prachi Dang

cal Bollywood girl from a small town with a zeal to learn and thrive on experiences. Coming to London for a master’s was a dream come true for Dang. Within six months of her arrival in London, a national lockdown was announced.

Describing how she celebrated her birthday alone; she told the newsweekly that the NISAU team organised a video call for her birthday celebration with banners in the background.

“I learnt yoga, attended Netflix parties, knocked down many friends in Ludo and that too all sitting at home. With all the chaos, this pandemic does come with a silver lining. While I stay away from home, miles away in a foreign land, I am grateful I found my home away from home. Now I have friends with whom I attend yoga classes early morning, play PubG in

the evening, and talk for hours before I go to bed over a zoom call.

Perhaps, slowly I have adjusted to the Covid era and is resilient to challenges,” Prachi told Asian Voice.

Girls Night In A boycott of nightclubs in over 30 UK towns and cities took place in the last week of October to raise awareness for spiking, which is being touted as an ‘epidemic’ by activists. The nationwide movement, Girls Night In, began following several reports of women being injected with needles while on nights out in recent weeks. Police across the country are investigating reports of students being spiked with needles in nightclubs. Reports have been recorded in Nottinghamshire, West Yorkshire, Edinburgh, Dundee, and Glasgow.

Boycotts are organised across major cities in the UK next week, including London, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Belfast.

A Lancashire based nightclub called Sugarhouse has reportedly said, "Instead of opening (in the last week of October), we will run a training session for bar staff and security staff reinforcing the safety elements we have in place, and how to deal with any suspected cases of spiking."

Among many UK universities, the University of Liverpool Men’s FC joined the movement and said, “UoL Men’s football is supporting the Girls Night in Boycott. This involves boycotting all UK nightclubs in place to ensure the spiking outbreak is taken seriously by UK clubs. We want everybody to feel safe when they go out to clubs and other events.”

What do to in case you’re spiked?

Clinical Technology Lead at Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor, Dr Sameer Sanghvi said in an online statement: "If you've been spiked via injection, it's crucial that you seek medical advice as soon as possible. We'd recommend you attend a sexual health clinic or A&E within 24 hours of the event, so you can be fully assessed and considered for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medicine, which may help prevent you from becoming infected with HIV. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should be started within 72 hours of coming into contact with the virus for it to be effective."

Lord Popat to receive President Tsheikedi at COP26 Lord Dolar Popat, Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will be attending COP26 this year.

Africa will play a key role at COP26 – particularly DRC which aside from having the world’s second-largest forest, contains 70% of the world’s supply of cobalt. This rare earth metal is essential for the UK’s green revolution for electric cars, phones and batteries.

Speaking to Asian Voice, Lord Popat said, “Our ability to deliver on our green agenda is heavily reliant on our access to rare earth metals such as cobalt and lithium.

With China controlling 90% of the rare metal market, this leaves the UK incredibly vulnerable, especially as we

depend on rare metals for all our technological and security advances. It is essential that we consider DRC as an alternative destination for our rare metal needs.”

Lord Popat will be receiving President Tsheikedi at Glasgow Airport and his delegation of 150 people. This will be one of the largest delegations present at COP. Ahead of COP26, COP President-Designate Alok Sharma asked Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Jochen Flasbarth, Germany´s State Secretary at the Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, to work together to produce a Delivery Plan on the $100 billion commit-

ment, to demonstrate how and when developed countries will deliver on their promise.

Building on assessments of progress on the $100 billion goal to date, the Delivery Plan sets out an estimated trajectory of climate finance from 2021 through to 2025 taking into account new climate finance pledges from individual developed countries and multilateral development banks. It also sets out principles on how to

improve the delivery of climate finance.

The Plan lays out a set of guiding principles for collective actions of developed countries, including increasing financing for adaptation, addressing barriers in accessing climate finance, and improving private finance mobilisation.

Developed countries will continue to engage with developing countries and with civil society to ensure climate finance is delivered effectively, efficiently and at scale.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, "I am very worried because it might go wrong and we might not get the agreements that we need and it is touch and go," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.”

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How to stay safe this Autumn, as experts warn of doublethreat of Covid and flu As the seasons change and with children back at school, we all tend to catch more coughs and colds. But this Autumn is different – after 18 months of limited socialising and exposure to bugs, the nation’s immune system is at an all-time low.

Scientists are warning of a particu-

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Success is a duty, not destiny!

Pregnant women and children and teenagers aged 2 to 16 only need to get the flu vaccine. Eligible people should book an appointment for their flu jab at either their GP practice or their local pharmacy as soon as possible.

Expectant mothers can ask for their free flu jab at their local maternity service.

Rohit Vadhwana

larly bad flu season while Covid cases surge. However, there are things we can all do to limit the spread of both viruses, keep ourselves safe, and protect our friends and families. From letting fresh air indoors to Covid booster jabs, here are actions we can all take to reduce the risks from Covid and flu.

30 million Covid booster jabs to be offered this winter Covid is set to spike again this winter and vaccines remain our best line of defence. That’s why the NHS is inviting people over 50, clinically vulnerable people and frontline health and social care workers to top-up their immunity by getting the Covid booster jab. People aged 16 to 49 with underlying health conditions and anyone living with someone with an immune disorder should also get the booster jab.

So far, 9 out of 10 adults have had at least one Covid jab, resulting in 24 million fewer infections and over 130,000 lives saved in England alone. To be eligible for a Covid booster you need to have received your second dose at least six months ago. If you are eligible, you should receive a letter or text letting you know when it’s your turn.

Who should get a flu jab?

The NHS will offer 35 million flu vaccines this Autumn – five million more than usual. To stave off a serious wave of the flu, many people will need to get the flu jab for the first time this Autumn.

Sadly, around 11,000 people die from the flu in England in an average year. However, experts are warning that this year the number of deaths could shoot up to 60,000. Despite this, the seriousness of flu is often underestimated. According to a survey of 300 South Asians in England, 41% of respondents view it as just a bad cold and a quarter (26%) don’t even know you can die from it.

Those most at risk from Covid are also most at risk of getting seriously sick with the influenza virus. People who need both the flu and Covid boosters include over 50s, those at risk or with long-term health conditions, and health and social care workers.

Covid and flu vaccine for children and teenagers Although Covid doesn’t usually affect the very young as badly, offering children Covid jabs will reduce the number currently missing out on school after testing positive. Vaccinating children and teenagers against Covid and flu also minimises the spread of both viruses among vulnerable groups like older people and babies (in the case of the flu). Flu can also lead to serious problems in children, including bronchitis and pneumonia.

Children aged 2 to 11 and those aged 2 to 17 years with long-term health conditions will receive a nasal spray of the flu vaccine free on the NHS. The spray may contain pork products and a porkfree option is available on request.

12–17-year-olds will also be offered a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine. The UK is not alone in doing this, several countries have already immunised millions of children with the same vaccines, so there’s plenty of real-world data, as well as trial data to support their safety and effectiveness.

Children will only be vaccinated with parental consent and many Covid jabs will be administered in school as with other vaccines like tetanus.

Other preventative measures for avoiding Covid and the flu -

When someone with Covid coughs, sings or even breathes, they send out tiny particles containing the virus that hang around in the air like smoke. Studies show that allowing fresh air into a room, even for just 10 minutes at a time throughout the day disperses these particles, reducing Covid transmission rates by up to 70%

-

Wear a facemask in busy or enclosed spaces to reduce your chance of catching Covid

-

Get tested regularly and isolate at home if you test positive

Find out how to book your flu vaccine and if you’re eligible for the Covid booster at nhs.uk/wintervaccinations

Success is a relative measure. It may connote different meanings in the lives of different people. Some are successful with a house and a car, others are victorious if they earn a million while a few others may not be successful even if they earn tens of billions during their lifetime. Why? Because it is relative to the station of life from where one starts. It also means a journey that one goes through to achieve that stage in life. No need to mention that success encompasses not only monetary parameters but also other aspects of life. We have the ability to use the power of mind and body to be triumphant in any field of choice.

Everyone is given equal time. Everyone has plenty of other resources available to use. Anyone branding success as destiny is

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either running in the wrong direction or not running at all. One may not get success in business, but can certainly grow in academics or arts, or become a beloved family person or achieve a remarkable position in society. Depending on your interest and aptitude, a field for success should be selected. But once chosen, achieving success cannot be left to destiny, it has to become your mission to be successful.

Whatever success might mean to you, being there is your duty, not destiny. Even if you believe in destiny, it is your duty to fulfil the destined purpose of your existence in this world. Everyone present here has come with a purpose and required intelligence and strength are bestowed upon him/her to fulfil that purpose. No one should make excuses for any shortcomings, as there may be alternate strengths given to him/her.

John Milton wrote Paradise Lost when he lost vision. Helen Keller learnt the strength of other senses in absence of sight and hearing ability. There are plenty of such examples and plenty of fields for being successful.

There is no dearth of opportunities in any field. What is required is a strong determination, unwavering dedication and Himalayan will to succeed.

Everyone cannot and does not require to achieve the same position to become successful. It is an individual specific and subjective measure, but failing to achieve that level is certainly a lack of commitment towards own duty. Failure while doing own duty to achieve success is acceptable but an attitude of 'If destined, I will succeed' is not.

Because, success is a duty, not destiny.

(Expressed opinions are personal)

One Million steps for Diabetes UK Asha Mehta, Joint Treasurer of Navnat Vanik Bhagini Samaj walked over one million steps in 3 months during summer to support Diabetes UK. In June Asha received an email from Diabetes UK regarding the One Million Steps Challenge. She worked out that in order to complete one million steps from July to September, she would have to walk at least 12,000 steps every day, without missing a single day. “It seemed daunting but I was determined, so I took the challenge and registered with Diabetes UK. My target was to raise £1000 to support them,” she said.

At the end of 3 months, Asha Mehta exceeded both her steps and donations targets. “I've walked over 1.1 million steps, and through the generosity of my family and

Asha Mehta

friends, I've raised over £1,100 - and counting!” she told Asian Voice.

2020 worst year for Freedom of Information Investigative journalism website openDemocracy has alleged that last year was the worst year for transparency since the Freedom of Information Act came into force in 2005. The investigation highlights that the UK government’s figures show that 41% of freedom of information requests by the public to central government departments were granted in full. Government statisticians acknowledge that “this is the lowest figure since recording started in 2005”, The Guardian reported.

While the Cabinet Office has rendered this as “complete nonsense” and “a total misunderstanding”, it said that there were fewer resources available to answer freedom of information requests from the public due to the pandemic.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “This report is complete nonsense. It shows a total misunderstanding of the FoI Act and government processes while misleading readers with outdated statistics.

Hindus dismayed at closure of Swindon Hindu Temple Hindus globally are highly concerned regarding reports of overnight closure of Swindon Hindu Temple & Cultural Centre in South West England by Swindon Borough Council without consulting the community.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA), said that it was clearly a case of ill-treatment of minorities in England, where instead of providing security and helping repair the damage caused by five vandalizing incidents during the last few months at the Temple, the Council decided unilaterally to pluck a resource which met the spiritual needs of about 20,000 Hindus of the area.

Rajan Zed urged Prime Minister Boris

Johnson; and Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove to seriously and urgently look into this issue of displacement of the Swindon area Hindu community. He also urged Swindon Mayor Garry Perkins and Swindon Councilors to work with area Hindus and treat them with fairness and respect they deserved, so that they did not feel abandoned by their local leaders.

According to reports, Swindon Hindu Temple & Cultural Centre, run by Swindon Hindu Temple Trust; undertook various religious, social, community, cultural, interfaith and charitable activities. Its vision included “Establish Swindon as a Cultural destination”.

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Light Brown Soft Sugar

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While stocks last. Subject to availability. Selected stores. Excludes ROI & NI. Packaging, sizes & measurements may vary. Decorative items not included. Prices correct at time of going to print & valid for a limited period only. Belbake Light Brown Soft Sugar, 1kg, £1.38/kg. Deluxe British Cold-Pressed Rapeseed Oil, 500ml, 29.8p/100ml. Oaklands Butternut Squash, Per kg, 99p/kg. Batts Chilli Spice, 55g, 7.3p/10g. Batts Ground Turmeric, 55g, 8p/10g. Batts Ground Cumin, 45g, 12p/10g. Oaklands Brown Onions, 1kg, 62p/kg. Alesto Cashews, 200g, 79.5p/100g. Oaklands Ginger, Loose, £4.99/kg. Oaklands Coriander, 30g, £15.67/kg. Taste of Basmati Rice, 1kg, £1.29/kg. Alesto Mixed Nuts, 200g, 80p/100g.

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READERS' VOICE Politicians in peril!

The untimely death of Tory MP Sir David Amiss at the hands of terrorist, second such loss in the last five years, following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox who was shot dead by Right-Wing extremist! Besides these two murders, many more MPs were attacked, some badly injured. It is routine to receive up to fifty monthly death threats that have unnerved many MPs who are considering their future.

Most of these dedicated MPs have entered politics to serve their constituents and the world at large, not for financial gain, as MPs annual earnings are less than what premiership footballers earn in a week, yet most could hardly sign their names and waste their hard-earn money on gambolling. This shows the muddled value of appreciation, the unacceptable side of much hipped Capitalism.

Although ours is an open, mostly peaceful society, political extremism and religious fanatism are on the rise. No politician is now safe while canvassing, knocking on doorsteps or having face to face meetings in their Surgeries!

Yet, it would not be too difficult to safeguard, to manifest our indomitable politicians if appointments are pre-booked, checked applicants’ background, install airport type metal detectors and carry out body-search and perhaps the presence of security personal. No lawabiding constituent would mind such checks. It is of utmost importance to safeguard our democratic values and the unpresented freedom we enjoy under our political set-up that is unique in many ways, envied by the world!

Bhupendra M. Gandhi

Visitors are being encouraged to take the Lateral Flow Test before

coming to the event. The Times reported that a flower arrangement wall became

the backdrop for a Diwali event at Leicester where a fashion show was held.

Man sentenced to 27 years for murdering teenager

GPs in deadlocks with NHS England and Sajid Javid

Mohammed Hoque who stabbed 19-year-old Muhammad Samir Uddin at Crossharbour DLR station, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison.

At Southwark Crown Court, On October 21, Mohammed Hoque got 27 years for murder, eight years for grievous bodily harm and 12 months for possessing an offensive weapon.

He will have to serve the three jail terms concurrently.

On July 10, 2020, just before 6 pm, Hoque and his friend encountered Muhammad Samir Uddin and four of his mates when they were on their way into the DLR. In court, Hoque admitted that he didn’t know and had never spoken to Muhammad. He turned himself in two days after the attack.

On September 20, Hoque was found guilty following a 10week trial at Southwark Crown Court.

Unhappy and enraged with NHS England and Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary’s proposal, GPs are in no mood to adhere to the proposal that aims at improving patients' access to care.

On 21 October, the British Medical Association’s GP committee voted to reject the plan - and made themselves clear that members would now be balloted on industrial action.

To help in improving patient access, ministers announced a £250m fund for GP practices. According to the NHS Plan for GPs and Patients, practices were informed that they should “respect preferences” for in-person appointments and must use the money to extend opening hours or offer walk-in consultations. Along with this, surgeries were warned that they would be defamed if they failed to deliver.

Government warns English schools not to teach ‘white privilege’ as fact Prior to the publication of new guidance, the government has warned English schools not to teach ‘white privilege’ as fact, as teaching certain political issues might disrupt the law.

In June, the education

committee had published a report highlighting the educational disadvantages faced by the white-working class pupils. In response to this report, the government expressed that schools should try and avoid promoting “par-

Follow me on Twitter: @kk_OEG

Will Tories Save Leicester?

Kapil Dudakia On Sunday 24th October people in Leicester looked in awe as they saw the Conservative Party preparing to open its new office bang in the middle of ‘little India’. The intent is clear. The determination is clear. The objective to win parliamentary seats in Leicester is now more real than it has ever been for the Tory Party.

Path to freedom If everybody got themselves fully vaccinated against Covid, wore masks, washed or sanitised their hands frequently, disinfected their shopping items and avoided close contact with other people, there would be no need for the government to impose further lockdowns and we could all enjoy the freedom we crave. What is more, the economy would benefit enormously.

Rudy Otter

Diwali at Leicester Unlike previous years where Diwali was celebrated on a big stage at the centre of Belgrave Road, this year, the celebrations will take place in small focal points to manage crowds amid the ongoing pandemic.

According to Leicester Mercury, giant screens located in Belgrave Road, Wand Street and Cossington Park are showing a ‘pre-recorded cultural programme’. There are puppets that are attracting a lot of attention from children this Diwali. The absence of fireworks has left some traditional folks sad because they wished their grandchildren could watch the fireworks. Puppets of Lord Ganesha and Hanuman were seen garnering the interest of the visitors.

KHICHADI Kapil’s

Solar energy It is really interesting to note that a very innovative step is taken by India and the UK in terms of harnessing solar energy. "Modi and Johnson to launch a global solar power grid" (AV 23-29 Oct 2021) shows the commitment of both leaders to reduce carbon emissions. Green Greed Initiative – One Sun – One World – One Grid (GGI – OSOWOG), if implemented with full political will, the results will definitely help in controlling pollution to some extent.

Advanced countries should provide more resources towards Research & Development (R&D) and other countries like India having high-quality young manpower should concentrate more on the operational and logistics side of power distribution.

Convincing people to go for more plant-based food is a welcome step but will take a very long time. A better way would be to think about solar energy by making high-quality solar cells at an affordable price so poor countries can look at this option from a positive perspective.

I think this should be done with a “mission mode” if the goal is to be achieved in a stipulated time period. If the combined efforts of some of the nations can produce a vaccine for Covid19 in a very short span, there is no doubt, combined efforts can produce wonders in terms of making solar energy at competitive prices.

Hitesh Hingu London

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tisan political views” and must instead teach racial and social justice topics in a “balanced and factual manner”.

Meanwhile, Kim Johnson, the Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside and a member of the edu-

cation committee that produced the report, was unhappy with the response. According to her, educational inequality in England is widening and the response failed to bring out a serious plan to tackle the same.

Keith Vaz won the seat in 1987 for Labour by defeating Peter Bruinvels who was the last Tory to hold the seat. Keith held it till he decided not to stand for 2019 elections amidst some negative publicity about his personal life. Labour ignored local candidates and flew in a pro-Corbyn puppet called Claudia Webbe. Yes, the same Claudia who with her Labour colleagues was responsible for the anti-India Kashmir motion in 2019. She won the seat, but the Tory candidate Bhupendra Dave became the first Conservative in decades to dramatically reduce the Labour majority from 22,428 to only 6,019.

Claudia has brought nothing but shame to Leicester.

Indeed, recently she was found guilty of harassment at Westminster Magistrates' Court and is now awaiting her sentence. This seat could therefore face a by-election.

One thing is for sure, the grassroots don’t want an outside candidate, a sentiment all parties might wish to respect.

Given this background, I am not surprised the Conservative Party wants to make sure they are seen as the only viable alternative for the people of Leicester. The positioning of the new party office is very much in your face by being on Belgrave Road. It’s a direct challenge to Labour in their own backyard making it clear, Tories want to win.

Of course, having an office is helpful. But you also need to make sure you have the right candidate.

Bhupendra Dave is the only Tory candidate over the past three decades to close the gap on Labour. I am also hearing that Manoj Keshavji, a local businessman instrumental in setting up this new office might also put his name in the hat. If so, then it seems the Tories may well have two potentially good local candidates.

I am also hearing Keith wants to come back. I can’t see the Labour Party giving him the ticket, which means his only other option is to stand as an independent. To be honest, I am not sure it is in his interest to get back into politics now. If he does, which is his right, I fear it will not end well. I am also hearing that his daughter might contest instead of him. Again, I am not sure that’s a good idea, lest the baggage of the father bears heavily. Other rumours suggest that Labour may fly in candidates or that they might go for an all women shortlist. If so, which woman from Leicester will Labour select?

Whoever it is who wins, one thing is crystal clear, unless it is a Hindu then for the people of Leicester their voices will never be heard. To the people of Leicester, elect a Hindu who can sit on the back benches and is fearless in taking on the Pakistani lobby. The antiSemites and the anti-Hindu forces in Parliament must be challenged. There is no point sending someone to Parliament who does not care about Britain, or the Jewish community or the Indic community.

You didn’t listen last time and you ended up with Claudia! The ball is always in your court, and you reap what you sow, so don’t complain afterwards. Start your discussions now.

We are grateful to all letter writers for more and more versatile letters well within word limit.

Please keep contributing as always. If you are new, then write to Rupanjana at rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com

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11

It’s a friendly face thing.

Some conversations are just better when they’re done face to face.

So, whether it’s getting an account set up, a question about ,+NJ&+" ,+NJ&+" +(&+$Ǿ ,/ 4 +1&+$ 0,*" %,*" 26&+$ !3& +(&+$Ǿ ,/ 4 +1&+$ 0,*" %,*" 26&+$ !3& "Ǿ "Ǿ '201 * (" '201 * (" an appointment to come in and have a chat with one of ,2/ #/&"+!NJ6 ,2/ #/&"+!NJ6 ,NJNJ" $2"0ǽ ,NJNJ" $2"0ǽ "ȉ/" %"/" 1, %"NJ-Ǿ %,4"3"/ 4" "ȉ/" %"/" 1, %"NJ-Ǿ %,4"3"/ 4" +ǽ

Halifax is a division of Bank of Scotland plc. Registered in Scotland no. SC327000. Registered Office: The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ. Bank of Scotland plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 169628. This information is correct as of August 2021 and is relevant to Halifax products and services only.

12

MEDIA WATCH

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SCRUTATOR’S Deadly viper travels from India to UK A highly venomous snake made a long journey from India to England recently. The venomous saw-scaled viper got stowed away to foreign lands in a shipping container from India. Staff from a British animal hospital were called in to capture the snake. According to reports, the snake was found by a stonemason in a shipping container of rocks. The hospital sent its team that consisted of a reptile expert and a veterinarian. The team at once recognised that the reptile was a non-native species in England. The team understood that it was among the most venomous snakes in the world. "As it was identified as a saw-scaled viper and having had one before, we understood fully the gravity of just how dangerous these reptiles are," the hospital added. The post also gave more information about the snake species. The snake has been captured and been kept away from human contact. "It is now in a locked box in a sealed room,” the hospital said. (Agency) Twang-Kameng tunnel to be ready by next Aug

It’s an engineering marvel under way at an altitude of over 13,000-feet in icy cold weather to bolster all-weather connectivity and swifter military deployments to the critical Tawang and Kameng regions of Arunachal Pradesh along the China frontier. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is feverishly working to complete the over £70 million Sela Tunnel project, which consists of two tunnels and approach roads, before the deadline of August next year. Announced in the 2018-2019 budget, the longer of the two bi-lane tunnels is 1,555-metre, while the other is 980-metre. The longer tunnel has two tubes, the main one and an “escape” one for emergency use. “We hope to complete the project by June next year. The Sela Tunnel will then become the world’s longest bi-lane road tunnel above the height of 13,000 feet,” said project director Colonel Parikshit Mehra, an MTech from IIT Delhi who worked for five years in the construction of the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang. The existing 317-km long Balipara-Charduar-Tawang (BCT) road meanders its way through the Sela Pass at an altitude of 13,800-feet on way to Tawang. “The Sela Pass is visible to the Chinese from the Line of Actual Control. That is militarily disadvantageous for us. The new tunnel will pass under the Sela Pass,” said a senior officer of the Army’s 4 Corps.

(Agency) Food vendor touches hot tawa with bare hands

Video of a street food vendor making cheela with bare hands on a hot tawa is doing the rounds of social media.

The 22-second clip was posted on YouTube by food blogger Amar Sirohi whose channel is called @foodieincarnate. Within three days of being made available online, the video has been viewed over 15,00,000 times. To begin with, the man, who has a food stall in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad, spread the batter of the cheela on the hot tawa with his bare hands. Next, he put vegetables including chopped onions, capsicum, carrot and beetroot on the cheela as its filling and mashed the mixture. The filling was topped with loads of butter for extra taste. The vendor, thereafter, toasted the cheela on the tawa and flipped it using a ladle. He cut the cheela into four parts and served it along with several chutneys.

Cheela is basically an Indian version of a pancake As the video went viral, social media users posted their thoughts and opinions in the comments section of the post. (Agency)

Startup makes commuting safer for women There is good news for the women who think twice before commuting by public transport, a student startup has come up with a mobile application that aims to make their ride safer. The startup has been incubated by MS University’s innovation startup and entrepreneurship.

With just a simple scan, a user can get all details of their ride, like the driver and vehicle owner’s details among others. The users can even share such details with their loved ones through SafeSavaari, a mobile application.

Women travelling alone will be able to share their location live with pre-registered trusted contact and even multicast SOS distress call to trusted contacts. The feature will be initially launched for autorickshaws in Vadodara after which it will be rolled out across the state.

Before developing the mobile app, the students had done a survey on public transportation covering 400 women in Vadodara and Bharuch. “The study suggested that 70% females do not prefer travelling alone in public transports.

Around 50% prefer calling their family or friends to update them about their ride or they pretend to be on a call, just to feel safe. And 40% females would rather avoid using public transport,” said Batul Millwala, a final year student of BBA at ITM Vocational University and founder of the start-up. “Women still feel uncomfortable when it comes to traveling alone. SafeSavaari has been developed as a solution to this,” she said. (The Times of India) Stuck in marshland, elephant calf dies An elephant calf died after getting stuck in marshes in Chhattisgarh’s Surajpur district. The three-yearold calf was part of a herd of 24 elephants and was left behind, apparently because the others couldn’t do anything to save it. The forest department also tried hard to rescue it but the calf died. The herd had been moving around the regions for the past few days. Villagers have told foresters that the calf appeared weak and was struggling to keep up with the herd. The forest department found that the calf was ailing. The herd was crossing a nullah in Kudargarh forest range when the calf got stuck in a marshland, an official said. The calf tried to get out but fell back every time. Gradually, it got exhausted, sank deeper into the marshes and couldn’t even get to its feet. The other elephants tried all they could for several hours to pull it out, but failed. One by one, they moved on, leaving the calf behind. By then, villagers had informed the forest department. A team, led by ranger Narendra Gupta, rushed to the site but the calf died a short while later. The foresters had a hard time retrieving the carcass, which took hours. (Agency) Mumbai youth gets Nadiad man's hand Gujarat created a record of sorts when a pair of hands were retrieved from a braindead patient and sent to Mumbai for the transplant on a 22-year-old youth. It was the first-ever hand donation from the state.

Dr Rakesh Joshi, medical superintendent of Nadiad Civil Hospital, said that Arun Prajapati, 52, a resident of Nadiad in Kheda district, was brought to the hospital earlier this month for the treatment of brain tumour. The tumour did not heal, and

Prajapati was declared brain dead. The experts counselled his family and told them that retrieval of organs is possible.

“The ROTTO and NOTTO had earlier put on an alert for bilateral hands for a patient in Mumbai. In the past three organ donations, the profiles did not match. But this time, several parameters match, so for the first time, the hands were retrieved from a brain-dead person which will give a new lease of life to the youth,” said Dr Pranjal Modi, vicechancellor of ITS and convenor of State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO). Dr Joshi said that hand retrieval and attachment is a complex procedure that requires a team of highly skilled surgeons. “It’s surgical amputation which is done keeping all veins, tissues and muscles intact. This is then attached to another person’s arm,” he said.(The Times of India) Khakhar’s ‘Krishna Hotel’ painting at Sotheby’s A Bhupen Khakhar oil painting titled “Krishna Hotel” depicting Indians having snacks and chai on battered-looking café tables is expected to fetch million when it is auctioned at Sotheby’s in London on October 26.

The estimated price is 200,000 to 400,000 pounds. But it is expected to fetch much more during the live auction. “Krishna Hotel” dates to a watershed moment in Mumbai-born Khakhar’s artistic career - the beginning of his “trade series”, in which the workingclasses of India, which had been mostly excluded from the sophisticated realm of art, suddenly found a place for themselves in his paintings. The first trade series work by the artist to appear on the open market, “De-Luxe Tailors”, sold at Sotheby’s in 2017 for £1.1 million.

“Krishna Hotel” has been in the collection of American expat and Pune-based architect Christopher Benninger, who has designed many of South Asia’s most important buildings, for almost half a century. Benninger bought the painting soon after it was painted in 1972 at a small auction of paintings. Khakhar was not known then but was Benninger’s friend. Khakar only made it onto the international art scene in 2016. (Agency) Woman tied to tree for 7 hours, her hair chopped off A 40-year-old married woman was subjected to brutality by a man, who tied her with a tree, thrashed her and then chopped off her hair, in a village of Amreli district. The victim was kidnapped and brutalized by the accused Kishan Parmar who wanted to exact revenge after he had a quarrel with her husband. The incident came to light after the arrest of Parmar. The woman, recuperating at Amreli Civil Hospital, lodged a complaint of kidnapping, confinement, sexual assault and causing hurt. According to the police, Parmar arrived at the her house on the night and told her that her husband was taken away by the police. Parmar asked her to accompany him to the police station. But instead of the police station, Parmar took the woman to the outskirts of Chhatadiya village. Parmar then tied the woman to a tree and demanded sexual favours.

When the woman refused, Parmar broke a branch of a tree and beat her up with it. He later chopped her hair with a knife and also put cuts on her forehead. Parmar kept her confined for many hours before fleeing from the spot. He, however, he contacted the woman’s distant cousin and informed him about the woman’s location, police said. The relative rescued the woman and got her admitted to Amreli Civil Hospital. Police said that around 10 days back, the woman’s husband and Parmar had a fight over a petty issue. (The Times of India)

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One Billion and Counting

Ruchi Ghanashyam Mrs. Ruchi Ghanashyam is the former High Commissioner of India to the UK. With a career in Indian Foreign Service for over 38 years, she has been posted in many countries including South Africa, Ghana, before arriving in the UK. She was only the second woman High Commissioner to the UK since India’s independence and during her tenure, she witnessed a number of significant developments in the UK-India relations. @RuchiGhanashyam Last week, India crossed the landmark of administering one billion doses of Covid19 vaccines to eligible people in the country.

With this landmark, India’s ambitious vaccination programme to curb the Covid19 pandemic, got closer to its target of fully vaccinating all of India’s adult population. India’s vaccine manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, vial makers, transportation and refrigeration companies and many others worked hard to reach the vaccines to the remotest of destinations in India. Millions of healthcare professionals then strove to contribute to this milestone! The Prime Minister said that this achievement belongs to every citizen of India.

Since starting the ambitious vaccination program in India in January this year, Government data showed that by Thursday of last week, around 708 million people, or 75% of the eligible population had received at

least one dose of the vaccine with over 30% being fully inoculated against the disease.

Currently, only those above 18 are allowed to receive the shots.

To achieve the vast target, vaccine manufacturers in India stepped up their output in recent months.

Approval has also been given to more than one vaccine since starting the inoculation program. The Oxford University/ AstraZeneca vaccine, known in India as Covishield and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, and Russia’s Sputnik-V have been approved. In August, India's drug regulator also approved the world's first DNA vaccine against Covid-19 for emergency use: the three-dose ZyCoV-D vaccine indigenously developed, prevented symptomatic disease in 66% of those vaccinated, as shown by an interim study quoted by the vaccine maker Cadila Healthcare. The firm plans to make up to 120 million doses of India's second home-grown vaccine every year and says that the vaccine has been found to be safe and very well-tolerated in trials in the 12-18 years age group.

Almost 90 per cent of the shots administered in India have been made by SII, which has more than tripled its capacity since April.

It can now produce 220 million vaccine doses a month and has even resumed the export of vaccines.

Business tycoon’s untimely death shocks community 33-year-old property tycoon Vivek Chadha collapsed and reportedly died, hours after partying at an exclusive Mayfair nightclub during the early hours of Sunday morning.

His sudden demise unfortunately comes just eight weeks after his lavish Sikh wedding to 29-year-old model Stuttee Chaddha. The couple had got married at JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane.

Vivek Chadha’s company Nine Estates Limited reportedly made £2.5mn in revenue over the past two years and £1.3mn gross profit. The group owns a four-star London O2 Arena hotel and

Vivek Chadha (Left) at the Asian Achievers Awards 2017 as a co-presenter of the International Personality of the Year award to Farhan Akhtar

Holiday Inn franchises. It also owns a pub - the Halt & Pull in Surrey and a franchising deal was recently cemented with Pizza Hut. The company owns over 18 hotels across the UK with over 800 employees.

Vivek was a part of the

Asian Achievers Awards in the year 2017, where he presented the International Personality of the Year award to actor Farhan Akhtar.

His untimely demise has left the community in deep shock as he was loved and adored by many.

1.1 million privately rented homes fail minimum standards The government is under pressure to introduce a registration scheme to help councils scrutinise rogue landlords who have been renting thousands of dangerous homes to families.

“A white paper spelling out the government’s plans for raising standards in the private rented sector, including a potential national landlord register that would bring England into line with the rest of the UK, is expect-

ed by the winter,” The Guardian reported.

As more people continue to rent private properties, an analysis of official figures by the campaigning group Generation said that the number of families renting from private landlords has doubled since 1997 yet the sector deservedly has a poor reputation. Reports suggest that private renters are almost twice as likely as social tenants to live in non-

decent homes. As many as 1.1 million privately rented homes fail minimum standards.

A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: “We’re determined to create a fairer private rented sector and are exploring the introduction of a national landlord register as part of a commitment to drive up standards in rented accommodation.”

Vaccination is voluntary in India.

Over 70,000 state-run facilities have been giving the shots for free, but it is also possible for people to pay and get vaccinated at over 2,000 private centres. Several neighbourhoods organised vaccination camps and helped vaccinate not just people living in the neighbourhood, but often also those working in their respective neighbourhoods.

While India has set the ambitious target of fully vaccinating all the adult population by the end of the year, doubts have been raised about whether the country has the ability to meet the target within that time frame. It has been pointed

out that the number of doses given daily has not been uniform, with shots are given per day varying between the highs of 10 million doses and a low of 900,000 shots. Another concern cited by the Health Ministry is that a "sizeable number" of people in India have not taken their second dose by the due date despite adequate supplies being available.

India suffered a devastating second wave that crawled slowly at first but suddenly burst upon the country with unexpected ferocity, exposing weaknesses in the healthcare system, with a desperate shortage of oxygen. Since then, vaccination and an emphasis on Covid appropriate behaviour, coupled with good fortune, have led to a steady decline in the number of

cases and deaths, bringing them to record low levels. Almost all sectors of the economy have been opened in a gradual and staggered manner. The summer holidays after the second wave saw a mad rush for the hill stations around Delhi and Punjab, leading to fears of a big third wave. However, Covid numbers have continued to show downward trends.

The Finance Ministry's Monthly Economic Review claimed that strategic reforms and rapid vaccination drive have placed the country on the path to swift recovery by enabling the economy to "navigate the ravaging waves" of the Covid-19 pandemic. It anticipated good economic progress on the back of sustained and robust growth in agriculture, a sharp rebound in manufacturing and industry, resumption of services activity and buoyant revenues.

While the third wave of infections is expected to hit sometime this year, the consensus among many public health experts seems to indicate that the impact this time will be less severe than the previous waves.

Economic analysts are predicting that a third Covid wave in India would be unlikely to derail the recovery.

Though the current number of infections in India remain low, health officials have been urging people to get vaccinated fast. As we approach Diwali and the festive

season, with family gatherings and mass shopping, the fears of the third wave of infections is real. Our repeated message, thus, has to be Vaccination, Vaccination and Vaccination!

14 WOMEN’S VOICE

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Women and gut health Shefali Saxena Dr Varalakshmi an ayurvedic health coach and I help women who suffer from a digestive illnesses, gut issues & food cravings using my transformational health coaching. She spoke to Asian Voice about the benefits and science behind maintaining gut health among South Asian women.

What is the biggest fact about gut health that women may not know?

One of the common misconceptions about Gut health is that avoiding Gluten and Dairy is the first step. But gut health is much more than that!

More than gluten, removing processed, refined white goods like white sugar, white bread is beneficial. Eating more seasonal, diverse, and local foods is vital for our Gut. Menstruation and menopause are two important reproductive phases of a woman's life. A woman's body goes through several phases in her lifetime and the menstrual

phase and menopause are two important ones. The menstrual phase is reproductively active with the chance of conception.

Menopause on the other hand represents a nonmenstrual phase.

Both these phases require a diverse diet with vegetables(cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, etc which boost natural estrogen levels, and root vegetables like sweet potatoes are considered to help with progesterone levels. Nuts like almonds are considered good protein sources and rich in omega 3 fatty acids.

Could you name some plant-based/natural foods that help women in both menstruated and menopausal phases of life?

Estrogen is the hormone that plays an important role in the absorption and utilization of calcium from our food. During menopause when estrogen is low, it can lead to brittle bones

Dr Varalakshmi

and joint pains due to the lack of calcium. A diet rich in calcium foods like nuts, seeds, and whole grains can help with this. It is also important to incorporate healthy fats like omega 3 fats i.e. coconut oil, ghee, olive oil in your diet.

What foods must women in the menopause phase eat in order to cope with the lack of support

that a menstruating body provides?

We Asians love spices and there is rarely a dish without masala in many households. Spices are an essential part of many Asian households and often we go extra on them. Some of them like ginger and garlic paste, chilli powder, when used in excess they can irritate gastric mucosa and cause gastritis-related concerns. Ayurveda says that spices are great digestive aids and all you need is a pinch to see the difference. Turmeric, cumin, coriander, and fennel are all Ayurvedic recommended spices that you find in your kitchen.

What do Asian households get wrong about gut health?

Ayurveda considers diet/ahara as one of three pillars of health and what you eat is not just about your digestion. It affects your overall health including hormonal health. Ayurveda considers

your digestion as a centrepiece of health and having good gut health is linked to our hormonal health.

How much can food affect hormones?

Female reproductive hormones like estrogen are metabolized in the Gut; it is affected by what you and how you eat. The best way to enhance your Gut health is to eat food that is more local, freshly prepared, contains seasonal fruit and vegetables, and is less processed.

What is the future and contribution of Ayurveda going to be like in the post-pandemic world?

Now more than ever, we need holistic sciences like Ayurveda which focus on our overall wellbeing and preventive aspect of health more rather than the curative aspect of health. Ayurvedic core concepts like Daily practices and seasonal routines can enhance our immunity to fight against any illness.

Note: Please seek medical assistance and consult your local GP before making any drastic changes to your food and lifestyle.

The John Ystumllyn Rose is launched Harkness Roses has joined forces with the We Too Built Britain(WTBB) campaign to create what we believe might be the firstever rose to be launched that is named after an ethnic minority Briton.

John Ystumllyn was an 18thcentury gardener who was the first well-recorded Black person in North Wales and with his marriage to Margaret Gruffydd, part of the first interracial marriage in Wales.

WTBB wanted to breed a new rose as a symbol of friendship, love and community and to bring people together after the divisiveness of recent years. We also wanted to inspire people from all backgrounds to see gardening as a career or activity for them.

Harkness Roses has been breeding and growing over 200 varieties of exquisite British Roses for more than 140 years.

We Too Built Britain, founded

by Zehra Zaidi, has campaigned to tell the stories of under-represent-

ed people in Britain with the aim of building social connections and to show what we have in common (to then also understand and value our uniqueness and differences).

Previous campaigns include the new 50p ‘Diversity Built Britain’ Royal Mint coins and the ‘Hidden Heroes’ statues campaign. Zehra Zaidi’s Horticulture Week article

Safe Connection Dame Cressida Dick has announced that plain-clothes officers in London will video call a uniformed colleague to confirm their identity when stopping a lone woman. She said, “the onus is on Dame Cressida Dick the officer" to make lone women feel safe. This new scheme will be called ‘Safe Connection’. Dame Cressida said: "Because my plain-clothes officers will call into a control room, they will then have a video call with a sergeant in uniform who will say 'yes that's soand-so, he's PC XYZ' and so on".

She added: "The onus is on the officer to deal professionally with the person that they are speaking to. "In the very unusual circumstance in which a plainclothes officer is talking to a lone female, which is likely to be extremely unusual in London, we would expect them to go to every effort, first of all, to recognise that the woman may feel uncomfortable, to explain themselves well, to identify themselves well.

"It would normally be the case that they [officers] would be in a pair anyway."

on John Ystumllyn created a groundswell of support for a new rose.

Zehra Zaidi said: “Lockdown and the pandemic showed us the importance of community and the restorative power of nature. When we talk of ways of bringing us together as a nation and building a connected society, gardening may

London has more public sculptures of animals than women British charity Art UK has revealed in a study that London has more public sculptures of animals than it does of women or people of colour. Across London, 8% of public sculptures depict animals, while only 4% depict women. People of colour represent just 1% of the city's sculptures, with women of colour accounting for 0.2%, it found.

The figures sit in stark contrast to that of statues and sculptures dedicated to men, which account for over 20% of the city's 1,500 monuments, and over 79% of all statues dedicated to "named people," the report said.

Royalty, military figures, politicians, writers, artists, designers and actors are among the most commonly depicted male subjects, Art UK said.

The group has been collecting data on London's sculptures since 2017 as part of a major research project, which is funded in part by City Hall.

not be the first area that people think of. However, every gardener will tell you that gardening is communal, restorative, and creative.

There is something magical and grounding about planting something in the land, it connects you to the land.

Who was John Ystumllyn?

After a traumatic start in life, being taken from Africa aged 8, John Ystumllyn found love and life in Wales. John was the first wellrecorded Black person in North Wales. He was sent to live with the Wynn Family in Ystumllyn, in Gwynedd, North Wales. The women in the family taught John Welsh and English and he was baptised John Ystumllyn. He became a talented gardener, a knowledgeable plantsman and florist, a skilled craftsman, and importantly a free man. John fell in love with Margaret Gruffydd who worked as a maid for the same household.

The couple eloped and found work elsewhere but were eventually rec-

onciled with the Wynne family and were given a cottage with a significant garden called Y Nhyra Isa or Nanhyran in recognition of John Ystumllyn’s service.

Details of the rose • Colour: Golden Yellow • Flower Diameter: 12cm • Flower Type: Double • Rose Type: Hybrid Tea • Size: 80cm x 60cm • Fragrance: Good The colour is uncomplicated, a refreshing yellow which hardly fades at all. The plant is good looking, bushy with even growth that is densely covered with glossy dark green leaves.

Starting to flower, early the buds open into double old fashioned style blooms, up to 12cm wide, they sit proudly above the dark leaf. With a long flowering season, this is a valuable plant in the garden. Use in beds, borders or low hedges.

Women's participation is fundamental to sustainable peace Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon gave a statement at the United Nations Security Council open debate on women, peace and security. Lord Ahmad said, “..we are all clear that women’s participation is fundamental to sustainable peace. Indeed, the evidence in support of this fact is abundantly clear. I also therefore really welcome, and it’s always a pleasure to hear from His Excellency, the Secretary-General and I know of his personal commitment to this important agenda. Without women, there can be no lasting, sustainable peace.

“The United Kingdom has supported the UN’s Peacebuilding Fund since its inception, committing over £175 million to empower

women and indeed young people. We also support these incredible women mediator networks, and we continue to fund the women mediators across the Commonwealth this year.

But let us be clear recently, back in 2019, we amalgamated these mediator networks of women, and we must get women mediators at the front line of ensuring we resolve conflict. These women have the expertise.

They have the insight. These women have the knowledge.

Yet what we fail to do is leverage this expertise effectively for peace around the world. More must be done.

“Furthermore, the UK joins the calls in condemning the persistent attacks on women human rights defenders, a point well

reflected in the contributions of the Executive Director of UN women. We need to robustly tackle impunity and hold perpetrators to account when reprisals occur, and that work begins right now at this time right here in this room. The United Kingdom supports the work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human rights to tackle reprisals, in particular, those committed against Security Council briefers. This work includes a specific focus on the gender dimensions of intimidation and reprisals. After all, if we cannot protect the briefers who come here, the purpose of the Security Council cannot be met. We must ensure their protection is prioritised.”

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in brief in brief SEXUALLY HARASSED RESTAURANT WORKER WINS £23,408 The Watford panel ruled a fast food restaurant worker as a victim of sexual and religious harassment in North West London.

Aakifah Ali who worked at Pepe’s Piri Piri fast food restaurant in UK’s Northwood was asked by her boss Zoltan Sozke to strip off.

Zoltan also repeatedly touched Ali inappropriately. Zoltan’s father Mohammed Hussein blamed that Ali’s Wahabi Muslim religion as the cause of terrorism. The employment tribunal also heard that Zoltan had also held Ali’s arms in a tight grip which he refused to release. The ruling awarded Aakifah Ali £23,408 after her complaint of sexual and religious harassment.

DRAGONFLIES ARE THE NEW YARDSTICK OF CLIMATE CHANGE Warming temperature has allowed the flying insects to spread across the UK & Ireland at a remarkable rate. Not only that, some species are now regularly spotted as north as Scotland. This was revealed in a report based on 50 years of study of dragonflies and damselflies. The analysis by 17,000 dragonfly enthusiasts records that 19 out of 46 dragonfly and damselfly species have significantly increased their range and 8 new species have arrived from other parts of Europe to the UK. The analysis found that the rise in temperature coincides with the increased range. In the UK & Ireland, the average temperatures have risen by 1 degree Celsius in summer and 0.6 degrees in winter over the last 50 years.

THIS LEICESTER POSTCODE TOPS IN CAR THEFTS LE2 area which includes Oadby and Wigston is top of the table with 342 thefts recorded by police last year. The SL1 postcode in Slough, west of central London comes in second place and SN5, in Swindon at third place. While Fiestas are the most popular car model among car thieves; Aldershot, Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery are popular in more affluent postcodes. London remains the national hotspot for all auto crimes. The number of thefts across the UK rose rapidly in 2020, with one vehicle being stolen every seven minutes, which is almost 75,00o, which is 33% more than the previous year.

GOVERNMENT ADVISED ON POSSIBILITY OF ANOTHER LOCKDOWN

Peter Openshaw of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) has issued a warning to activate their Plan B fully for winter. The plan involves things like mandatory face masks and works from the home advisory. Peter, who works at London’s Imperial College has warned that if you delay acting, you will have to take even more stringent actions later. While WHO has warned that the vaccine alone will not be able to lift the world out of the pandemic, Chancellor Sunak has said that the country could not return to significant economic restrictions. Even PM Johnson has said that another lockdown was not planned.

London Mayor criticised for offering grants to decolonise street names Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London has offered £25,000 grants for Londoners who want to change the names of their roads.

The grant is to help change offensive street names intended to decolonise and diversify British road names which is a part of the £1million Untold Stories fund established following the Black Lives Matter demonstrations last year. Richard Tice, UK Leader of Reform has complained that Khan was launching a campaign while making life more expensive and much much harder for decent working people. He adds that he is trying to get rid of perfectly fine street names that have been there for decades. You can get new statues, but you can’t get rid of old statues.

Only 3% charged as social media racism allegations rise by 144% 1419 allegations of racism on social media were received by 10 forces including The Met, Northumbria and Leicestershire in the

last three years. After 572 and 799 reports in 2018 and 2019, there was a 144% rise in complaints in 2020, with total complaints mounting to 2765 in the three year period.

Freedom of Information Act data reveals that only two people were charged during the period by Met Police. Between the above 10 forces, they made just 41 charges, which is even less than 3%. While Labour’s Diana Abbott showed her lack of confidence in

punishing those who post racist content, the police chief says they are hampered by platforms not providing crucial details which can help to identify racists.

Woman yells racist rant at bouncer The incident is believed to have happened at Levana cocktail bar in Birmingham city centre on Thursday night. The woman outside the bar who was complaining to have been thrown out launched a racist rant at bouncers. She screamed, “You’re a f**ing p***, bruv. You’re creackheads” as she yelled at the bouncers asking why she has been ejected. When she saw that another man near the bouncer was filming, she held both her hands in an effort to cover her face. The man filming asked her to carry on, adding that her video was going viral. However, the furious lady responded saying, “I don’t care” and continued her ranting. The clip has gone viral after being posted on TikTok and Twitter.

New Covid variant under scientist’s watch During the week of 27 September, the new variation was officially designated as AY. 4.2 has accounted for 6% of all covid cases in the UK and it is on an upward trajectory.

The AY. 4.2 mutation was first detected in Britain in July and since then it has been growing slowly. It has two key mutations in the virus’s spike protein that helps it enter human cells. According to Scott Gottlieb, former head of the US Food and Drug Administration, “we need urgent research to figure out if this Delta Plus is more transmissible, has partial immune evasion” Experts suggest that AY. 4.2 maybe 10-15% more transmissible than the Delta variant, but it is still a fairly low frequency.

Banning of law to abhorrent ‘fire and rehire’ blocked by Tories Barry Gardiner, Labour MP, tried to outlaw the practice of firms sacking staff and then hiring them back on worse terms and conditions, but Tory ministers blocked attempts to force a vote on the Bill. The closure motion failed by 251 to 188 votes as hundreds of MPS attended parliament on a rare Friday. Even as PM Johnson calls ‘fire and rehire’ unacceptable as a negotiating tactic, Labour leaders branded it as immoral and a serious economic failure of the country.

They have blamed that Tories have colluded to stand on the side of bullying bosses and against the interest of workers, showing their real colours.

Winterfest will bring a sense of joy and unity to Londoners After the cancellation of 2020 due to the pandemic, Winterfest is all set to return to London through a range of newly commissioned light and art installations. The fest is set to begin on 25 November and will continue till 4 January 2022.

During this period it will be open for visitors seven days a week, 10 am to 10 pm. The event will begin with the official light switchon of London’s tallest LED tree. A new permanent outdoor gallery will also open on the iconic Olympic Way with a ‘Reunited in Light’ photography exhibition to continue till 27 February. The dynamic installations located around wide, open spaces are expected to bring cheer to all as they celebrate together.

Police shut down child abuse investigations on former MP Independent inquiry for child abuse was going on against former MP Lord Janner

who died in 2015 by Leicester police.

Criticising the sorry record of failures by Leicester County Council the police has shut down the investigations without pursuing all inquiries. Chairman of inquiry Professor Alexis Jay has noted that on multiple occasions police put too little emphasis on looking for supporting evidence and shut down investigations without pursuing all outstanding inquiries. Lord Janner’s family has always maintained his innocence. The inquiry heard accounts from 33 complainants, with allegations of abuse stretching across three decades. In 2012 a further police probe named Operation Enamel was set up to look at evidence that may not have been considered in an earlier investigation.

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COMMUNITY FELICITATES FORMER CHIEF MINISTER OF GUJARAT Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, Navnat Vanik Association and NCGO(UK) hosted a successful evening to salute Shri Vijaybhai Rupani’s contributions to politics

Vijaybhai with the performers from Navnat Vanik Association Ladies Group

L-R: Nimitbhai Mishra, Chandrakantbhai Shukla, CB Patel, Shaurya Mishra (grandson of Vijaybhai), Vijaybhai and wife Anjaliben Rupani and daughter Radhikaben Mishra

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar Publisher/Editor CB Patel welcoming Shri Vijaybhai Rupani to Navnat Hall

On 23 October 2021, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar along with Navnat Vanik Association (UK) and NCGO (National Council of Gujarati Organisations-UK) organised a felicitation ceremony for the Former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Vijay Rupani at the Navnat Centre in Hayes. Many people attended the event to meet the former Chief Minister and hear inspiring stories of Gujarat.

The programme was compered by the Managing Editor of Gujarat Samachar, Kokilaben Patel.

The event started by chanting prayers and lightening of the lamp. The prayers were sung

by Purnimaben Meshwani, Induben Shah, Hasmitaben Doshi, and Jyotsnaben Shah.

Two-minutes of silence was observed in the remembrance of those who passed away due to Covid-19 and remembering Late Mrs Veena Mithani, an active member of the society and Councillor of Harrow, and Late Mrs Rita Valambiya, daughter of renowned musician Padmashri Anandjibhai.

The ladies group of Navnat performed traditional dances and received huge applauds.

All those present were amazed at the enthusiastic performers aged between 60-70 years.

Malaben Mithani, Pallaviben Mehta, Jayshriben Shah, Arunaben Mehta, Varshaben Shah, Kalpnaben Bhatt, Kalpnaben Doshi, Jagrutiben Desai, Jyotiben Shah, Rashmiben Shah, Jayshriben Rawal, Truptiben Parekh,

Vadil Mandal, Jalsa Group, Bridge Club, Lataben Shah, Bhartiben Shah and Tarlikaben Youth-Sports Group, separately organise difShah presented a dance performance. ferent programmes every week.

Shri Vijaybhai Rupani and his wife, Under the leadership of Shakuben Sheth, Anjaliben Rupani were welcomed with a bouquet by Tarunaben Dilipbhai Mithani and Smitaben Vimalji Odedra respectively. The committee members of NCGO welcomed the couple by presenting a shawl.

President of Navnat Vanik Association, Dilip Mithani welcomed all the guests and shared a glimpse of Navnat’s journey till date. Every year they organise festivals like Ram Navmi, Janmashtami-fair, Paryushan, Navratri, Diwali, and Christmas.

Vijaybhai Rupani and Anjaliben lighting the inaugural lamp Along with its main body, the subgroups like Bhagini Samaj,

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L-R: NCGO President Vimalji Odedra addressing the audience in presence of CB Patel, Jyotsnaben Shah, Anjaliben Rupani, Vijaybhai Rupani, Dilipbhai Mithani, NCGO Secretary Jitubhai and Kokilaben Patel

Shri Vijaybhai Rupani addressing the audience

Navnat President Dilipbhai Mithani addressing the audience

Jyotsnaben Shah, Consulting Editor, Gujarat Samachar

Leader of a London based Union and old friend of Vijaybhai Rupani, Chandrankant Shukla sharing some fond memories

Compering by Kokilaben Patel, Managing Editor, Gujarat Samachar

Lord Dolar Popat addressing the audience

Guests at the event

Vijaybhai and Anjaliben Rupani on the stage

Cultural performance

the ladies of the Kitchen Committee regularly serve delicious and healthy food to nearly 350 people. During the pandemic, various entertainment programmes were organised virtually.

The organization is very active consisting 3000 family members.

President of National Council of Gujarati Organisations (NCGO), Vimalji Odedra, mentioned that there are more than 100 Gujarati organisations associated with him and thanked Publisher and Editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, CB Patel for his noteworthy contributions during the establishment of the organisation in 1985.

Consulting Editor of Gujarat Samachar, Jyotsnaben Shah, briefed about the political journey, personal life, and the achievements of Vijay Rupani. Vijaybhai's daughter, Radhikaben recalled the memory of his father’s resignation and the response by Bhartiya Janta Party’s political experts.

Shri Chandrakant Shukla who is Vijaybhai's friend and student as well as a companion at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Pracharak was present at the occasion, recalled and appreciated the service rendered by Vijaybhai.

Lord Dolar Popat spoke about the struggles, progress, and culture of Gujaratis residing in the UK as well as their love for Gujarat and his role in the House of Lords.

Shri Vijay Rupani shared the remarkable work done by him during his tenure as a Chief Minister. And described how he believed that a true social worker does not require any position to work and believe in relentless service. During the Covid-19, he worked overnight from his desk and helped people by providing various facilities.

Publisher/Editor of Asian voice and Gujarat Samachar, C B Patel concluded the ceremony by thanking the efforts of Navnat Vanik Association members and praising the wellequipped hall in London. He also appreciated the contribution of NCGO (UK). In addition to this, he was grateful to Shri Vijay Rupani and his entire family for attending the event. He thanked the Hall Secretary, Hasmitaben Doshi for arrangements, Rakeshbhai Popat for sound system, Raj Bakrania for photography, Apoorva Gondalia for videography, and the active members of the organisation for making the event a huge success.

(Photo Courtesy- Raj D Bakrania, Pr Media Pix)

CB Patel thanking audience for making it a successful event

Rupal Gandhi’s solo dance performance

L-R: Prayers by Parnimaben Meshwani, Induben Shah, Hasmitaben Doshi and Jyotsnaben Shah

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Which are the “Investing Mistakes to Avoid Before Retirement”?

Planning for a better retirement through stock investAlpesh Patel ments is a great idea. However, to do it successfully requires Dear Financial navigating a few common pitVoice Reader, falls. There are plenty of mistakes you need to avoid throughout your 30s, 40s, 50s, and even in your 60's.

This article will look at the most common investment retirement mistakes people make and show you how to avoid them.

The Government has it’s own great advice page on pensions. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/thepensions-advisory-service which will link you to the Pensions Advisory Service from the Government. #1. Home Country Bias The makeup of your portfolio is essential. But you need to weigh it towards specific types of stocks to make it payout.

The U.S. stock market has been particularly fruitful over the last few years. As I wrote in my first ever Financial Times column in 1999 – I shifted to US investments.

According to research from the investment giant Vanguard, 81% of their US investor's portfolios are made up of U.S. stocks. However, according to other research from MSCI, the stock market financial data providers, the U.S. MSCI market has beaten the ex-U.S. MSCI market by about 52% over the last few decades. So if you’re in the UK, make sure more US and if you’re in the US (a few Asian Voice readers will be) consider the rest of the world. #2. Sequence of Returns Risk Many people plan to use the money they've invested in the market as a source of income for retirement. However, far too many of these people are unaware of the sequence of returns risk.

When you retire, you stop adding money to your retirement account. Instead, you start removing it. The withdrawals matter because your money is in the market. If the market dips or there is a big correction, you're pulling cash from a shrinking pool of funds.

If this happens early in your retirement or before you retire, you're exposed to the most significant risk. The reason is that this is when your investment is at its largest.

There are ways to mitigate the sequence of returns risk.

For example, you can reduce exposure to volatility with a more conservative portfolio. Any retirement fund portfolio must be resilient and contain a mix of stocks that can fare well even when the market is unpredictable. #3. Overconfidence in the Current Market.

A little prudence goes a long way. The market has been on a bull run for over a decade. Many investors have made significant and consistent gains, even in somewhat risky stocks.

While the current picture is rosy, it can't stay that way forever. If your retirement plan is based on risky stocks continuously producing high returns, it's time to stand back and do a little introspection.

Ask yourself, what happens when there is a market dip or correction? What if your portfolio drops by about 25%?

This overconfidence can affect stock picks too. In a bull market, it's easier to pick winners. But once the markets drop or become stagnant, this process becomes far more challenging. #4. Defining an Accurate Retirement Budget Your retirement budget will influence what type of risk and returns your portfolio can generate. So make a reasonable retirement budget.

A well-thought-out retirement budget consists of two essential steps.

Step 1: Calculate your essential expenses. These fixed outgoings are things like your household bills, taxes, insurance, and food.

Additionally, budget for any medical costs you might incur.

Now, you'll have an idea of your monthly outgoings.

Step 2: Next up, consider ad-hoc expenses. These will be things like holidays, subscriptions and memberships, meals, and other entertainment. Factor in other things like treats for your grandchildren. A lot of this depends on how you plan to enjoy your retirement. If you want to be active and travel the world or go on cruises and the like, these costs can be pretty high.

Once you understand both columns of expense, you'll have a better idea of what the best investment strategy looks like. #5. Not Accounting For Taxes Lots of people believe their taxes will reduce in retirement.

Some even think they won't pay any taxes at all.

Unfortunately, this isn't true. Retirement plan withdrawals and Social Security benefits can be taxable depending on your total income. Likewise, pension payments.

To avoid a scenario where your payments are less than you budgeted for, seek the advice of an account or financial advisor.

Summary There are lots of pitfalls you can face when planning your retirement. But a diversified portfolio with an acceptable amount of risk is a good start. Setting an accurate budget and accounting for the taxes you'll need to pay will also help you avoid any nasty surprises. And keeping cash for zero volatility and risk too in the mix. It’s not easy. See my www.campaignforamillion.com for more free educational resources.

What does Autumn Budget 2021 have in store?

Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Autumn budget 2021 is full of promises and hope with a booster dose of what seems like a humble bunch of zeroes. The budget was presented on Wednesday, 27 October by the Chancellor, the budget boasts of the following highlights: £7 billion for areas outside of London to “level up” transport £5 billion for health-related research and development, including towards genome sequencing and tackling health inequalities £3 billion to drive a “skills revolution” £1.4 billion fund to funnel money into key innovative sectors and a new talent network to woo foreign talent into UK industries £850 million to “breathe life” back into cultural hotspots £700 million for a new fleet of patrol boats for Britain’s borders £700 million to improve sports and youth clubs £560 million to provide personalised maths coaching £500 million towards support for families and children, including new family hubs £435 million for crime prevention and the Crown Prosecution Service, part of which aims to improve the response to rape and sexual assault cases £5 million for cutting-edge treatments for veterans Public sector pay pause lifted More than 5 million public sector workers including nurses, teachers and members of the armed forces are set to receive pay raises in the Chancellor’s Budget and Spending Review; Skills revolution set to continue with £3 billion boost to be unveiled at budget.

Life-changing opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people to get the skills they want. Investment in 16 to 19-

year-olds doubled and the number of skills boot camps quadrupled. Prime Minister’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee this new injection of money will quadruple the number of places on skills boot camps, fund additional classroom hours for up to 100,000 16 to 19-year-olds studying T levels and create 24,000 traineeships.

The new investment includes £1.6 billion for 16-19 education to boost college funding and provide additional classroom hours for up to 100,000 young people taking T levels so more 16 to 19-year-olds get qualifications in high skilled industries that will fuel future growth.

A total of £830 million will be allocated to revitalising existing colleges in England, and further funding will secure the top of the range equipment and facilities to ensure that young people taking T Levels have the industryready skills they need.

The National Skills Fund will be boosted with a total investment of £550 million to make sure adults, at any age, can upskill to reach their potential, transforming lives. Apprenticeship funding will increase by £170 million to a record high of £2.7 billion in 2024-25 alongside new improvements to support more small businesses to hire new apprentices and to show employers seeing just how much an apprentice would benefit their business.

Money provided for up to 8,000 stateof-the-art sports pitches Chancellor is expected to confirm £700 million to improve sports and youth clubs. Up to 8,000 state-of-theart sports pitches to be built or improved across the UK to ensure every young person has a chance to take up the sport. £5 million for cutting-edge treatments for injured veterans will go under Health Innovation Fund. Over

Rishi Sunak

£700 million to secure new fleet of coastal patrol ships and protection for UK borders. £435 million will be used to tackle crime and help victims. A £1.4 billion Global Britain Investment Fund will support investment into the UK economy.

500,000 adults to ace maths with ‘Multiply’ New £560 million Multiply programme to be launched providing personalised maths coaching for up to half a million people across the UK. Wage boost for millions of low-paid workers The UK’s lowest-paid workers will receive a pay rise next year as the National Living Wage increases from £8.91 to £9.50 an hour – an extra £1000 a year for a full-time worker. From 1 April, young people and apprentices will also see their wages boosted as the National Minimum Wage for people aged 21-22 goes up to £9.18 an hour and Apprentice Rate increases to £4.81 an hour. £6 billion investment will tackle NHS waiting lists and improve digital tech. At least 100 community diagnostic centres to help clear most backlogs of people waiting for clinical tests such as MRIs, ultrasounds, and CT scans. As part of this, efficiency and security in the frontline NHS to be improved by £2.1 billion investment to modernise digital technology £2.6 billion boost will tackle education for children with special needs & disabilities A historic £2.6 billion capital investment over the next three years will create more than 30,000 new highquality special school places.

UK SMEs urged to register Issa brothers abandon unresolved banking Asda petrol stations deal complaints with BBRS A new, not-for-profit, free of charge dispute resolution service, the Business Banking Resolution Service (BBRS) is appealing directly to London-based businesses to see if their unresolved banking disputes can be tackled. It is Rajesh Agrawal, Deputy Mayor of estimated that nearly London for Business 6,00,000 UK SMEs could qualify for the BBRS' independent, free specialist dispute resolution services - including 129,000 based in London - which covers current and past complaints, dating back to 2001.

The BBRS is urging larger SMES (£1m - £10m turnover) with outstanding banking disputes to get in touch to see if they can help, at www.thebbrs.org/register or via a quick online tool. If the BBRS upholds a complaint, it can make a financial or non-financial award against a bank, up to £3,50,000 for Historical Cases and £6,00,000 for Contemporary Cases (and it can recommend more).

Rajesh Agrawal, Deputy Mayor of London for Business, said: “Businesses in the capital have had a very tough time during the pandemic. Through initiatives such as the London Business Hub, we’re doing all we can to provide free support and resources to help businesses thrive in the future. The BBRS’ independent dispute resolution service could be a vital lifeline for SMEs and avoid the costs of going to court. I encourage SMEs in this position, including those with business banking complaints going back over the years, to get in touch with the BBRS today.” The BBRS is fully independent and free to use. The process is overseen by Chief Adjudicator, Alexandra Marks CBE, a Deputy High Court Judge, and resolves disputes based on what is fair and reasonable for each case. Businesses going through the service will be assigned a highly skilled dispute resolution specialist, who will act as a single point of contact and offer practical support.

Issa brothers

The billionaire Issa brothers' EG Group has pulled out of its planned £750mn acquisition of Asda's forecourt business. The Lancashire-headquartered company, which is backed by TDR Capital, had only recently agreed a deal to sell almost 30 of its own petrol stations sites to appease concerns raised by the Competition and Markets Authority.

That announcement was made at the start of October after fears were first brought up by the watchdog in May. The group then offered to sell a number of sites to address the CMA's concerns, which was then accepted in June.

The Issa brothers, along with TDR Capital, snapped up Asda in a £6.8bn deal towards the end of 2020. An EG Group statement said:

"On February 3, 2021, EG Group announced that it had agreed to acquire certain assets of Asda.

"On June 16, 2021, both the ongoing restrictions imposed under UK competition law and the subsequent Competition and Markets Authority on the acquisition of Asda by TDR Capital and the Issa brothers were lifted.

"This allowed Asda and EG Group’s teams to start sharing commercial information relating to EG’s acquisition of the Asda Forecourt Business which had not been previously possible and has resulted in several changes to the financial evaluation of the proposed transaction. "As a result, EG and Asda have decided they will no longer proceed with the transaction, and it was terminated as of October 18, 2021.

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Sebi clears Paytm's £1.66 billion public offer Markets regulator Sebi has cleared the £1.66 billion initial public offer of One97 Communications, the parent company of Paytm.

This would make the IPO the largest ever in India. The company is understood to be targeting a listing in November.

According to the draft IPO documents filed by the company, One97 Communications plans to raise £830 million through fresh issue of equity shares and another £830 million through the offer- for-sale (OFS) route.

The £1.66 billion offer will make Paytm IPO the largest listing after public sector miner Coal India’s £1.59 billion IPO in 2010 and Reliance Power in 2008.

Zomato’s £937.5 million IPO this year was the biggest public offering in more than

a decade. The success of Zomato’s IPO has raised hopes for new age companies that are focused more on achieving scale than The bottom line. success of the IPO would depend on the support it receives from international investors given the scale of the offering. The company is looking at a valuation of $20-22 billion. If the company succeeds in getting this valuation, it will be in the same league as Tata Steel or Tata Motors with valuations of around £16

billion each. Some bankers estimate that the IPO could result in foreign inflows of over $2 billion.

One97 Communications was set up as a search service in 2001 by Vijay Shekhar Sharma. It used the Paytm brand as it moved into recharge services.The company expanded into the digital wallet space and later into QR-based payments.

During demonetisation, it rapidly scaled up its business and today has the larger share of merchant payments in terms of the number of merchants.

Singapore tribunal rejects Future’s plea to allow RIL deal In a double win for Amazon, the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) has rejected Future Retail’s (FRL’s) plea to lift the interim stay on its £2.47 billion asset sale to Reliance Retail, a person familiar with the development said.

This follows the Singapore tribunal’s ruling to make FRL a party to the dispute, arising out of the agreement between Future Coupons (FCPL), an unlisted Future Group entity, and Amazon. In addition, the US e-tailer has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, urging it to set aside a recent National Company Law Tribunal

(NCLT) order, which had allowed the Kishore Biyaniled Future Group to convene a meeting of its shareholders and creditors for consolidation of its

RIL Q2 net jumps 46% on oil, digital, retail biz

Reliance Industries (RIL) reported a 46% rise in quarterly profit, helped by higher price realisations in its oil-tochemicals (O2C), digital services (Jio) and retail businesses.

Profit grew to £1.55 billion in the Q2FY22. Revenue totalled over £17 billion, up 50%, as markets revived after the second wave of the pandemic in Q1FY22.

Operating profit edged up 30% to £3.02 billion in the July through September months, aided by strong earnings in its three main businesses. “The results demonstrate the inherent strengths of our businesses and the robust recovery of the Indian and global economies. All our businesses reflect growth over pre-Covid levels,” said chairman and MD Mukesh Ambani.

Operating profit of O2C increased 44% to £1.27 billion due to higher volumes and price realisations. Operating profit of digital services climbed 15% to £956.1 million due to higher data usage by subscribers. However, average revenue per user (ARPU) - a key metric that influences income - was slightly down to Rs 144 in Q2FY22. ARPU is the total revenue of the telecom operator divided by the number of users on its network. Launched in 2016, Jio has 430 million customers (as of September end, down from previous quarter’s 441 million) and saw data and voice traffic growth of 51% and 18%, respectively, on its network. ARPU in the year ago period was Rs 145.

entities. The meeting is scheduled to be held in the second week of November and is being seen as the first step in the proposed sale of Future Group’s retail,

warehousing and logistics assets to Reliance Industries.

Amazon, locked in a bitter legal battle with the Future Group, wants to block the deal. Amazon claimed the investment gave it an indirect stake in the flagship Future Group company, which operates supermarket chain Big Bazaar, as FCPL owned around 10% stake in FRL. The subsequent announcement of Future Group’s proposed asset sale to Reliance, however, saw the e-tailer dragging the Big Bazaar parent to SIAC in October last year, which granted Amazon an interim award over the FutureReliance deal.

IMF's chief economist Gita Gopinath to return to Harvard International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Kristalina Georgieva has announced that Gita Gopinath, the Fund’s first female chief economist and director of the research department, intends to leave in January 2022 and return to Harvard University’s economics department as planned when her public service leave ends.

Harvard University had extended Gita’s leave of absence on an exceptional basis by one year, which allowed her to serve as chief economist at the IMF for three years.

“Gita’s contribution to the Fund and our membership has been truly remarkable - quite simply, her impact on the IMF’s work has been tremendous. She made history as the first female chief economist of the Fund and we benefited immensely from her sharp intellect and deep knowledge of international finance and

macroeconomics as we navigate through the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression,” Georgieva said in a statement.

The search for a successor will begin shortly. Gita did her BA (Hons) in economics from Delhi’s Lady Shri Ram College and then MA from the Delhi School of Economics and the University of Washington.

The IMF MD said Gita also worked tirelessly with other IMF departments to connect with policymakers, academics, and other stakeholders on a new analytical approach to help countries respond to international capital flows via the Integrated Policy Framework. She also helped set up a Climate Change team inside the IMF to analyse, among other things, optimal climate mitigation policies. Gita’s research has been published in many top economics journals.

A home with a margin Suresh Vagjiani, Sow & Reap Properties Ltd

We don’t usually source properties for people to live in, as often it is more about emotion rather than the investment or the price. However, recently we managed to somehow make the two ends meet. There is a client of ours who came to this country at the age of 15, and started off work as a cleaner. He now has several retail businesses in the top hot spots of Central London, as well as property and several other businesses.

He had initially approached me for a mortgage, and then said he was looking at a repossession in a particular block. He wanted me to gather some intelligence on this block. I spoke to someone who has been in the area for a few decades, his advice was the communal parts were a dump and they always have been, in short the block is mismanaged – don’t touch it.

The client nonetheless went to visit and then concurred with our conclusion.

He wanted a place to live in which was plush, and with a discount. We managed to tick all his boxes; the property we sourced was overlooking a lovely park, and a lake, it was in a central location, and a penthouse apartment.

The property was being sold on behalf of a charity, it required a complete refurbishment, and ideally a restructuring of walls. I say ‘ideally’ as within a Mansion block with a managing agent, it is no easy task; it will take a lot of time, money and faffing about to get anything done. Therefore, it would be better to refurbish the apartment as is, to a good standard, live in it and then apply for the internals to be adjusted, so that there is no pressure.

The property has high service charges in line with the location, but we managed to source the property at a 30% discount, which is very good given the attributes of the property; and it has a long lease.

This client knows a good deal when he sees one, and so we didn’t really need to sell the deal to him, we would be preaching to the converted if we had. The property sells itself. So, the same night he agreed to get the deal done and the machinery is now in motion.

There’s at least a £300K margin in this deal, and as its one of the best placed properties in the block it should sell itself when the time comes.

It is interesting to note that although there were many bidders on this property, and some bids were higher than ours, the charity was primarily concerned about the ability of the incoming buyer to execute the sale in a timely fashion, and therefore the agents advised the charity to proceed with us as we have a track record with them having purchased through them previously close to this location.

Govt, Tatas ink share purchase pact for AI sale The government signed the share purchase agreement (SPA) with Tata Group for Air India’s divestment, sticking to the timelines that aim at transferring the airline to its new owner by the end of this fiscal. The £1.8 billion deal, which will require Tatas paying £270 million upfront and taking over a debt of £1.53 billion, will now enter its most crucial phase of meeting vital “conditions precedent” (CP). The government will retain £4.47 billion of AI’s debt in an SPV which will be paid off gradually by monetising its non-aviation assets like land and buildings.

In the CP phase, clearances will be sought from regulatory agencies, including Competition Commission of India (CCI), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), lessors, lenders and other third party vendors. “The tricky part usually is CCI but with Tata Group’s four airlines’ combined domestic or international share being nowhere near 50%, that will not be an issue in this case. Similarly, there are doubts that the substantial ownership and effect control of AI-Tata is with Indians,” say people in the know. Once CP requirements are met, the closing balance sheet on date of CP completion will be prepared. A transition management will be put in place with representatives from Bombay House. Unless there is difference of views between the outgoing and incoming owners, the Tatas will then pay £270 million consideration and take over control. The new owner currently has Vistara with Boeing 787s, B737s and A320s in its fleet and AirAsia India with A320s. AI and AI Express will soon join the group.

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Bangla protesters demand law to protect minorities DHAKA: Demanding that the Bangladesh government should enact a new law to ensure religious freedom for everyone, protesters and academicians across the country condemned the mob attacks on the Hindu community and vandalisation of temples and idols during Durga Puja festivities.

Condemning the attacks, protests were held across the country last week. The Dhaka University Teachers’ Association demanded exemplary punishment for those involved in the attacks. They also urged the government to enact a new law to ensure religious freedom for everyone. Over a hundred teachers from various departments of the university participated a human chain, voicing their demands.

Hasina orders tough action During the weekly cabinet meeting, PM Sheikh Hasina instructed home minister Asaduzzaman Khan to initiate immediate action against those who incited violence using religion. Hasina, who joined the meeting via video, also urged the people of the country not to trust anything on social media without fact-checking. She has instructed the home ministry to remain vigilant and take steps to prevent such incidents from recurring, he said. According to media reports, six Hindus were killed in separate attacks. The foreign ministry said in a statement that domestic elements that opposed Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan 50 years ago were still propagating their “toxic narratives to instigate violence, hatred and bigotry.”

Key suspect arrested A 35-year-old Bangladeshi man, the key suspect behind a slew of violence against Hindus and mob attacks on temples in the country, has been arrested by security agencies, police said.

Iqbal Hossain was arrested from Cox’s Bazar area after a massive hunt and is suspected to be the one who carried out the alleged

blasphemous act at a Durga Puja venue in Cumilla that sparked violence across the country.

Officials said after initial interrogation Hossain would be produced before a court in Cumilla. “We expect the court to order him to be remanded in our custody. Security and intelligence agencies would interrogate him,” a police officer said.

Justice for Bangladeshi Hindus: Support from Interfaith Communities CALIFORNIA: About 300 Hindus and other faith leaders gathered in Fremont, California for justice for Bangladeshi Hindus on October 23, 2021.

According to a report, 1,500 homes of Hindus have been burnt and 315 Hindu temples have been vandalized and destroyed.

That included ISKCON temples where deities were smashed and Swami Prabhupada’s murti burned.

More than 10 Hindus were murdered, and 23 Hindu women and girls were raped. In addition, hundreds of Hindu businesses and shops ransacked and burnt.

During the Durga Puja festival, the biggest religious gathering for Bengali Hindus, a video got viral showing the Koran on the lap of a Hindu deity Hanuman ji. That angered Muslims of Bangladesh and they considered it as an act of “blasphemy.” This triggered mass violence. Later, a Muslim man named Iqbal Hossain was identified by police for this mischief.

In 1947, Bangladesh Hindu population was about 24%, now it has reduced to about 8%.

Efforts leading to extinction of Hindus in Bangladesh is a concern for all Hindus around the

world. “The Hindu community is shocked and saddened by the recent series of violent attacks upon the Hindu minority in Bangladesh, including our own ISKCON temples and members,” said Anuttama Dasa, Minister of Communications for ISKCON. “We call upon the Bangladesh government to take swift action to bring an end to the violence against minorities and to take tangible steps to ensure the long-term safety and well-being of all Bangladeshi citizens.”

Protests were planned in 153 countries and in many cities in the USA. Hindus, young and old, expressed concerns at the

Fremont gathering.

Priya Kishori, a Youth Community leader said, “It is very hard to believe that something like in Bangladesh could ever happen here in the United States because we have freedom to speak. We request that every youth gets the protection that they need. We are in solidarity with Bangladeshi youths.”

Kawser Jamal, VP of local chapter of the Bangladesh Awami league said, “There is no Muslim or Hindu, we are all Bangladeshi. We want justice and rehabilitation of people who suffered. In the last 12 years, the government has done a lot and we are working with the govern-

ment to make more changes.”

Joshua Seymour, a local from Silicon Valley, came to support oppressed Bangladeshi and requested to contact local representatives about the issue. He added, “There is oppression and religious persecution going on in Bangladesh. Women being raped, children are scared and men murdered. This is not okay.” Dhaval Shah, a Jain, said what ever happened is not right and should be fixed.

Nirupama Chebiyam raised concern with conversion of Hindus. She added, “The brutality and kind of atrocities done to Hindus is beyond our belief. We Hindus believe in peace and non-violence.”

Balimardana Das, Board of Director of ISKCON Silicon Valley, said, “We want justice from the Bangladesh government to defend the judicial position of minorities in Bangladesh.”

Protestors are expecting and anticipating local governments and faith leaders in the Bay area to make official statements condemning the brutality in support of suffering Christian, Hindu, Sikh and other minorities in Bangladesh.

'Read more about UK protests on P4'.

Russia presses Taliban on inclusive govt MOSCOW: Russia increased pressure on the Taliban to create an inclusive government representing a broad spectrum of Afghan society, as it hosted their new administration at a major conference for the first time since they took power.

Pakistan, China, Iran, India and former Soviet Central Asian states joined Taliban officials at the Moscow meeting. The US stayed away, citing technical reasons.

With Afghanistan facing economic collapse and a humanitarian catastrophe, Moscow called for international aid to support Kabul, conscious that any spillover could threaten regional stability. “Nobody is interested in the complete paralysis of an entire state, which borders, among other things, the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States),” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Russia’s initia-

tive in hosting the talks is part of an effort to boost its influence in the region after the US withdrew its forces from Afghanistan and the Taliban took control of the country.

Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said he regretted the US absence from the talks, the biggest international meeting on the region since the Taliban victory in August.

Lavrov struck a conciliatory tone towards the Taliban government, which is seeking international diplomatic legitimacy that would bolster its calls to unfreeze assets held in the West and let aid flow. But Moscow has been reluctant to accord formal recognition, calling for human rights to be guaranteed and more inclusivity in the government, dominated by ethnic Pashtuns from the core leadership of the movement.

Pak FM Qureshi visits Kabul Pakistan foreign minister Shah

Mahmood Qureshi met the interim Afghan PM Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund in Kabul after the Taliban captured power there. Qureshi was accompanied by the ISI chief, Lt Gen Faiz Hameed. The visit comes after prolonged problems at the Torkham and Chaman border crossings, the main trade transit points between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which had remained shut for most of the past two weeks, causing severe problems for transporters and exporters. In addition, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had last week suspended flights to the war-ravaged country complaining of interference and harassment by Taliban officials.

Mansoor Ahmad Khan, Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, said that the talks focused on facilitating people-to-people interaction, trade, transit, and connectivity between the two countries.

in brief NEERA TANDEN NAMED WH STAFF SECRETARY Neera Tanden, whose bid to be White House budget chief was derailed by opposition, was named White House staff secretary, putting her in a key behind-the-scenes role. The appointment, which does not require Senate confirmation, was announced during a morning staff call, a White House official said.

The staff secretary job manages the paper flow, circulates documents among senior staff for comment as part of the decision-making process and is often known as the “nerve centre” of the White House. It is a job once held by current Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was staff secretary for Republican George W Bush’s White House.

Jessica Hertz has held the position in the Biden White House until now. Tanden will report to White House chief of staff Ron Klain. Tanden, previously an adviser to former US President Obama and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, had been serving as president of the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank, until she became a senior adviser to President Joe Biden in May.

SIX KILLED IN CLASH BETWEEN ROHINGYA GROUPS At least six people were killed and 10 others injured in a violent attack after two groups of Rohingya refugees clashed at a religious school in a Rohingya camp in Ukhiya area of Bangladesh's Cox Bazar, a police official said.

The attackers, carrying guns, killed three teachers, two volunteers and a student in the world's largest refugee settlement. The violence erupted when one of the groups opened fire, killing four people at the scene, Police superintendent Shihab Kaiser Khan said.

Two others succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. "A drive is underway to arrest those responsible for the incident," Khan said. One Rohingya man with weapons and ammunition had been taken into custody, he said.

TOON ROW IN PAK: 4 DIE AS RALLY TURNS VIOLENT Violent clashes erupted between Pakistan’s security forces and radical Islamists in Lahore, leaving four people dead, including two policemen, and 15 others injured, police said. The radical Islamists - Tehreek-iLabbaik Pakistan (TLP) workers - had launched a rally from Lahore to Islamabad demanding that the Pakistan government release their leader Saad Rizvi, who was arrested in April this year for demonstrations against France over caricatures of Prophet Muhammad published in a French magazine.

Security forces tried to thwart the rally-goers from proceeding towards Islamabad by firing tear gas shells at the TLP workers, following which the protests turned violent. “Over 2,500 tear gas shells were fired at the TLP workers,” a Punjab police official said. “Two policemen lost their lives in the clashes with TLP workers,” a police spokesman said.

MELBOURNE OPENS AFTER 262 DAYS Five million people in Melbourne celebrated their freedom as the world’s longest lockdown at 262 days ended last week. The curbs were lifted after the second largest city in Australia crossed 70% double vaccination rate. People hit the beaches and bars at midnight while crowds making beelines at pubs, starting their day with champagne. In one of the suburbs, Southbank, hundreds took to their balconies to chant “We are finally out”. The lockdown was the world’s longest and also among the harshest with people allowed to leave the house only for grocery, exercise, medical needs, caregiver responsibilities and vaccination.

Curfew was on after 9 pm. People were barred from venturing farther than 5km from home.

The world’s second longest lockdown is reported to be in Buenos Aires where people lived with mobility restrictions for 234 days.

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in brief MERKEL GIVEN BIG SENDOFF Angela Merkel is still Germany's Chancellor, and might be still when European Union leaders meet again, yet they gave her a big farewell party at EU summit. Even Barack Obama made a cameo video appearance.

Attending her 107th summit, Merkel was feted by friend and foe alike in an informal ceremony behind closed doors, where they called her anything from a “compromise machine” to the EU's Eiffel Tower. Merkel has been the embodiment of the drive for a stronger united Europe for years since she attended her first meeting of EU leaders 16 years ago, at a time when Jacques Chirac was still the French president and Tony Blair the British prime minister.

TRUMP ANNOUNCES OWN ONLINE PLATFORM Nine months after being expelled from social media for his role in inciting the January 6 Capitol insurrection, former President Donald Trump said he’s launching a new media company with its own social media platform. Trump says his goal in launching the Trump Media & Technology Group and its “Truth Social” app is to create a rival to the Big Tech companies that have shut him out and denied him the megaphone that was paramount to his national rise. “We live in a world where the Taliban has a huge presence on Twitter, yet your favorite American President has been silenced,” he said in a statement. “This is unacceptable”.

“I created TRUTH Social and TMTG to stand up to the tyranny of Big Tech.”

US ENVOY FOR AF STEPS DOWN The US special envoy for Afghanistan is stepping down following the chaotic American withdrawal from the country, the state department said. Zalmay Khalilzad will leave the post this week after more than three years on the job. He had been criticised for not pressing the Taliban hard enough in peace talks begun while Trump was president but secretary of state Antony Blinken thanked him for his work. “I extend my gratitude for his decades of service to the American people,” Blinken said. Khalilzad had initially planned to leave the job in May after Biden’s announcement that the US withdrawal would be completed before the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. However, he was asked to stay on and did so. Khalilzad had served as the special envoy for Afghan reconciliation under both the Trump and Biden administrations since September 2018.

SURGEONS ATTACH PIG KIDNEY TO HUMAN Surgeons in New York have successfully attached a kidney grown in a genetically altered pig to a human patient and found that the organ worked normally, a scientific breakthrough that one day may yield a vast new supply of organs for severely ill patients. Although many questions remain to be answered about the long-term consequences of the transplant, which involved a brain-dead patient followed only for 54 hours, experts in the field said the procedure represented a milestone. “We need to know more about the longevity of the organ,” said Dr. Dorry Segev, professor of transplant surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine who was not involved in the research. Nevertheless, he said: “This is a huge breakthrough. It’s a big, big deal.”

Researchers have long sought to grow organs in pigs suitable for transplantation into humans.

Zuma lays criminal charge against state prosecutor Pietermaritzburg (South Africa): South Africa's ex-president Jacob Zuma made his first public appearance since his release from prison on medical parole last month, to lay charges against a chief state prosecutor in his corruption trial. went to the Zuma Pietermaritzburg’s Loop Street Police Station in the eastern city of Pietermaritzburg, where he is on trial for corruption, to open a criminal case against advocate Billy Downer for allegedly leaking his current state of health to the media. spokesperson, Zuma's Mzwanele Manyi, said "There's

One of the supporters, Landile Vika, promised their everlasting support for the president. "We will always be with him because he has been with us. So we will not leave him during this time. We will stay with him, all the time.

Jacob Zuma Because we are the a whole thick arch lever file, of people of Zuma and we will die evidence he has brought to with him. We will go where he show that what he's talking goes." about is not something he's Last month Zuma’s advomade up. He's got evidence and cate, Dali Mpofu, Mpofu he has submitted all the eviexplained the Act prohibited dence to the police. The police Downer from providing legal will obviously investigate." documents to the media. He

said Downer risks facing a 15year sentence if found guilty of the charges.

"Zuma takes the strongest possible exception to what was done with his confidential information and the way it was treated in this court. It amounts to criminal activity," Mpofu said. In July, Zuma was found guilty of contempt of court for ignoring a separate inquiry into mass looting of public funds during his rule.

His jailing sparked violent protests and looting in his home province of KwaZuluNatal that spread to the financial hub Johannesburg in July, claiming over 350 lives.

Floods, landslides kill 104 in Nepal KATHMANDU: The death toll from flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains in Nepal climbed to 104 after 16 more fatalities were reported from various parts of the country, officials said. Forty-one people have gone missing and many have been injured in the incidents so far, according to the latest data published by the ministry's Disaster Management Division.

According to a Home Ministry statement, the highest number of fatalities, 62 were reported from Province No. 1, followed

by Sudur Paschim Province with 31 fatalities and Karnali Province with seven fatalities.

In Province 1, where the

death toll has reached 62, 20 have been injured and 13 have gone missing. Of the total 62 fatalities, 14 were reported in Ilam, 26 in Panchthar, seven in Dhankuta, eight in Sunsari, two in Udayapur, and one each in

Morang, Solukhumbu and Bhojpur.

Meanwhile, home minister Balkrishna Khand has directed the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, National Investigation Department and Nepal Army to

Sudan military takes power in coup; PM, other leaders held

promptly rescue the foreign tourists stranded in Humla district. Twelve people, including four Slovenian tourists and three guides, are stranded at Nakhla in Humla district, 700 km west of Kathmandu after heavy snowfall blocked the road at Limi area. They were on their way back to Simikot after completing their trekking expedition at Limi, Humla Chief District Officer Ganesh Acharya said.

Snowfall started in the area and the rescue work could not be carried out due to bad weather. The local administration has sought a helicopter from the home ministry to carry out the rescue operation, officials said.

Kenya lifts Covid curfew as infections ease

Uhuru Kenyatta

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan

KHARTOUM: Sudan’s military moved to seize on power on Monday, detaining the PM and other civilian political leaders in an unfolding coup that appeared to deal a sweeping blow to hopes for a democratic transition in one of Africa’s largest countries. Lt General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the military chief, announced at a news conference that he was dissolving the country’s joint civilian-military government and imposing a state of emergency.

Even so, he vowed to press ahead with elections planned for July 2023.

There had been growing signs for weeks that the military, unwilling to fully share power and intent on protecting its own interests, was plotting a takeover. AlBurhan blamed the military’s actions on squabbling between rival civilian political factions in Sudan. “What the country is going through represents a threat,” he said.

As news of a putsch spread, thousands of protesters flooded into the streets of the capital, Khartoum, and tele-

vision broadcast images of people burning tyres as plumes of smoke spiralled into the sky. But soon after that, the information ministry announced that internet connections had been cut, making it difficult to know what was actually happening inside the country. A report said that security forces have opened fire on some of the crowds, and two protesters were killed, citing the Sudan Doctors' Committee. It also said 80 people were wounded. The first sign of the coup came at dawn with the sudden disappearance of PM Abdalla Hamdok. The information ministry said that the military had detained Hamdok and his wife, and pressured him to endorse the coup.

When he refused, the ministry said, Hamdok was moved to an undisclosed location. In detaining Hamdok, the military tore up a deal it signed in 2019, following the ouster of al-Bashir, when it agreed to share power with civilians until the country’s first free election in decades could be held.

Nairobi: Kenya has lifted a nationwide curfew that has been in force since March 2020 to curb the spread of the coronavirus, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced.

The East African nation, which has a population of 54 million, has reported 2,52,199 cases of Covid-19 and 5,233 deaths but inoculation rates remain low, with only 4.6 per cent of the adult population fully vaccinated, according to the latest government figures. Kenyatta said infection rates had fallen, with less than 5 per cent of tests each day proving positive. He announced the decision to lift the dusk-to-dawn curfew to cheers and applause at an event to mark Mashujaa Day, a public holiday to honour those who contributed to the country’s independence struggle.

“It is now time to shift our focus from survival to co-existing with the disease,” he said. He said congregations attending churches and other religious institutions could rise to two-thirds of capacity, up from a third previously, although everyone should still adhere to other rules, such as wearing face masks.

“We are not yet out of the woods and we must therefore continue to observe the containment measures … to sustain the gains we are making and guarantee the full re-opening of our economy,” he said. He told officials to ensure a fill-and-finish plant for Covid vaccines started operating in Kenya by April next year.

He also unveiled measures to boost the economy, including the procurement of fertiliser for farmers by the government.

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Indian-origin techie killed in shootout between rival Mexican gangs TULUM (MEXICAO): A California-based Indian-origin woman, who travelled to Mexico to celebrate her birthday, was killed in a shootout between two drugpeddling gangs at a restaurant in Mexico’s Tulum, according to media reports. The woman Anjali Ryot lived in San Jose, California, US. She was killed along with a German tourist, Jennifer Henzold, in the crossfire, Californianewstimes. com reported.

Anjali, a travel blogger, had arrived in Tulum before her birthday on October 22. Her Instagram account describes her as a travel blogger from Himachal Pradesh, India, living in San Jose. Anjali had been working as a senior site engineer with reliability LinkedIn since July. She was previously employed by Yahoo.

Anjali and four other tourists were dining on the terrace of La Malquerida restaurant when four men armed with assault rifles opened

Anjali Ryot

fire at an adjoining table on the premises. Stray bullets hit the tourists. Anjali and Jennifer were killed, while the other three from Germany and the Netherlands were wounded.

Authorities said that the shootout was a confrontation between rival gangs of drug peddlers. Anjali and her friends were collateral victims.

The two groups operate drug sales in the area, the Quintana Roo state prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Several drug cartels operate in

the Mexican state, which is known for a lucrative retail drug market and as a hot spot for drug shipments.

Family seeks Tulum mayor's help Anjali’s family in Himachal Pradesh was shattered when they were informed about her death. Her brother Ashish urged the mayor of Tulum to speed up the procedure to bring back her body.

She had spent three-four months with her family in Solan last year when the pandemic set

in, her father KD Ryot said.

Anjali and her husband Utkarsh Shrivastava had gone to Mexico to celebrate her 30th birthday on October 22 from San Jose, her father said.

Utkarsh informed Ashish, who currently lives in Chicago, about the incident. Ashish called his father on October 21 to inform him about the tragedy.

K D Ryot, who was a director in Himachal Pradesh's animal husbandry department, and his wife Nirmala recalled that she had spent three-four months with them in Solan last year after the coronavirus outbreak. Anjali had come to Mumbai from California to do a diploma related to the film industry, he said. She visited them immediately after completing her course as a lockdown had been imposed.

She left for California after spending three to four months with the family in Solan, he added. Efforts are being made to bring her body to Solan for the last rites, he said.

Gandhiji's statue unveiled in Mississippi Delta region of US WASHINGTON: A US city in the heart of the Mississippi Delta region, whose economic fortunes have been recently revived largely by a company founded by an Indian-American, installed a bronze bust of Mahatma Gandhi.

The unveiling of the bust, which has been commissioned and supplied by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and designed by famous sculptor Ram Sutar, was carried out during a ceremony in the city of Clarksdale, Mississippi, and

Coahoma County recently.

Amid India standoff, China gets law to protect borders BEIJING: Asserting that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China are "sacred and inviolable", the country's national legislature has adopted a new law on the protection and exploitation of the land border areas, which could have a bearing on Beijing's border dispute with India.

The law, which becomes operational from January 1 next year, stipulates that “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the People's Republic of China are sacred and inviolable”, it said. The Land Borders Law will not necessarily change how border security is handled, but it reflects China's growing confidence in its capability to manage its frontiers.

The state shall take measures to safeguard territorial integrity and land boundaries and guard against and combat any act that undermines them, the report said. Chinese military and military police the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force - are responsible for guarding the border against any "invasion, encroachment, infiltration, provocation". The law stipulates that China can close its border if a war or other armed conflict nearby threatens border security.

The state shall, following the principle of equality, mutual trust and friendly consultation, handle land border-related affairs with neighbouring countries through negotiations to properly resolve disputes and longstanding border issues, it said.

“We are humbled by this most generous gift. Gandhi was among the most courageous and spiritual of men. He led his nation to freedom not with guns but with simplicity, determination, truth and non-violence. His efforts inspired the world, including the leaders of our own nation's Civil Rights Movement, such as Dr King

(Martin Luther King Jr) and the late Congressman John Lewis,” said Clarksdale Mayor Chuck Espy.

India's Consul General in Atlanta Swati Kulkarni formally presented the bust to the city, a media statement said. The ceremony took place in the week of Gandhi's birthday and during the celebratory 75th anniversary year of India's Independence.

Clarksdale and Coahoma County are located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta region, near the Mississippi River.

India, Pak among 11 nations vulnerable to climate change WASHINGTON: Amid disastrous weather events across India, including in Uttarakhand and Kerala recently, an unprecedented US intelligence assessment has identified India and Pakistan among 11 countries that are “highly vulnerable” in their ability to prepare for and respond to environmental and societal crises caused by climate change. The first-ever US National Intelligence Estimate on climate also says India and China will play critical roles in determining the trajectory of global temperature rise while glossing over the West’s contribution to the crisis, even as it warns that warming will increase geopolitical tensions and risks to US national security in the period up to 2040.

“China and India... are the first and fourth-largest emitters, respectively, and both are growing their total and per capita emissions, whereas the US and EU - as the second- and third largest - are declining,” the report says, while acknowledging both countries are incorporating more renewable and low-carbon sources into their energy mix. The report says several factors will limit their displacement of coal (seen as one of the primary culprits), including costs they have sunk in to make it relatively cheaper to use coal compared with other energy sources, and “trying to appease domestic constituencies who rely on the coal industry for jobs” - a charge that was also true of the US. In a section titled “Arguing About Who Bears Responsibility To Act”, the report bleakly

forecasts that “longstanding diplomatic divide between expected contributions from developed versus developing countries will persist”. Most developing countries almost certainly will continue to submit conditional targets, arguing that developed countries must provide substantial financial assistance.

The report identifies 11 countries, including India, Pakistan and Afghanistan as “Select Countries of Concern” while warning that they are likely to face warming temperatures, more extreme weather, and disruption to ocean patterns that will threaten their energy, food, water, and health security. More frequent and intense cyclones are likely to contaminate water sources and increase vector populations and the diseases they transmit in several of the 11 countries, it warns. The says with a reference to India and Pakistan that transboundary tensions probably will increase over shared surface and groundwater basins as increased weather variability exacerbates preexisting or triggers new water insecurity. Although the report says scientific forecasts are not precise enough to pinpoint likely flashpoints, it notes that Pakistan relies on downstream surface water from heavily glacier-fed rivers originating in India for much of its irrigation, and requires frequent data from India on river discharges in order to provide advanced warning to evacuate villages and prepare for flooding.

in brief N KOREA ‘TESTS’ SUBMARINE MISSILE North Korea on Tuesday fired at least one ballistic missile, which South Korea’s military said was likely designed to be launched from a submarine, in what is possibly the most significant demonstration of the North’s military might since US President Joe Biden took office. The launch of the missile into the sea came hours after the US reaffirmed an offer to resume talks on North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme. South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said in a statement it detected that North Korea fired one shortrange missile it believed was a submarinelaunched ballistic missile from waters near the port of Sinpo. Japan’s military said its initial analysis suggested North fired two ballistic missiles. PM Kishida ordered his government to start revising Japan’s national security strategy to adapt to North Korean threats.

G20 URGED TO HIKE CLIMATE PLEDGES Denmark, Costa Rica, the Marshall Islands and six other countries urged the world’s biggest economies to hike their climate pledges, warning that their actions would set the tone for the upcoming COP26 summit in Scotland. Extreme weather events and increasingly urgent calls from scientists to curb global warming are cranking up pressure on lawmakers who will meet in Glasgow later this month to discuss action to reduce their carbon emissions. “The window for taking decisive climate action is rapidly closing,” said the letter, which was sent to PM Mario Draghi of Italy, the current president of the G20 club of rich nations.

G20 leaders will gather in Italy on October 30-31 for a summit. Climate change will be high on the agenda.

BLAST KILLS ONE, INJURES 3 IN KAMPALA An explosion in Uganda’s capital Kampala, that killed one person and injured three others, was “a terrorist act”, according to police and President Yoweri Museveni, who promised to hunt down those responsible. A bomb packed with nails and shrapnel exploded at a popular street-side restaurant in Kawempe division in Kampala, according to police. The explosion killed a 20-year-old waitress and injured three people, two of whom were in critical condition, police said, adding all indications suggest an “act of domestic terror”. The ISIL (ISIS) armed group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted in an affiliated Telegram channel. It said some of its members detonated an explosive device in a bar where “members and spies of the Crusader Ugandan government were gathering” in Kampala.

NZ PASSES WORLD’S FIRST CLIMATE LAW New Zealand become the first country in the world to pass a law that will ensure financial organisations to disclose and act on climaterelated risks and opportunities, the government announced. The Financial Sector (Climate-related Disclosures and Other Matters) Amendment Bill has now passed its third reading. Once in effect, it is expected to make a significant contribution to New Zealand achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, reports Xinhua news agency.

“Financial services and markets play an important role in New Zealand’s transition to a clean, green and carbon-neutral future,” Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark said. Several foreign firms that meet the NZ$1 billion threshold - including Australia’s four largest banks: Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group - will also come under the legislation.

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Injustice to Jammu is over now: Amit Shah

Amit Shah

Union home minister Amit Shah said the “time of injustice to residents of Jammu is over now”, while pointing out that the region has borne the “brunt of discrimination” for years together. Addressing his maiden public rally in Jammu after the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, the home minister said the Centre wanted to wipe out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir and ensure that no civilian gets killed.

“Now, no one can commit injustice on you.

Development of Jammu and Kashmir will take place together now with the rest of India and both (the regions) will make an effort to take the nation forward,” said Shah. Without naming the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party or the Congress, Shah told residents of the Jammu region that the “discriminatory approach” towards them came to an end with the end of “dadagiri” of “three ruling dynasties”.

“Their dadagiri will no longer work in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.Asserting that a new phase of development

under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started in J&K while attempts are being made by inimical elements to create a hurdle, Shah said, “I have come here to assure you that nobody will be able to disrupt peace and development.”

Won't allow disruption of peace During the second leg of his three-day visit, Shah said, “It's the land of temples of Mata Vaishno Devi, of Prem Nath Dogra, the land of sacrifice of Syama Prasad Mukherjee. We won't allow disruption of peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Those trying to disrupt peace in Jammu and Kashmir will not be spared.

We want to create an atmosphere where no civilian and innocent gets killed.”

In a reference to the targeted killings of 11 civilians in recent weeks in Kashmir, he said some people were raising questions about the prevailing security situation. “I want to answer them with facts and figures,” he said, while pointing out that between 2004 and 2014 (when UPA was in power at Centre), 2,081 peo-

ple lost their lives to terrorism in J&K, with an average of 208 people being killed every year. In comparison, 239 people lost their lives between 2014 and September 2021. “But, we are not satisfied as we want to build a situation where nobody has to lose one’s life and terrorism comes to an end,” he said.

“I have come with an account of what we had announced and what we did after revocation of Article 370 and how many developmental and welfare schemes were introduced and implemented on ground,” he said. He referred to projects worth millions that had not been cleared “because of nonpayment of the commission” by the executing agencies to a few political leaders before PM Modi took over at the Centre.

Home minister asked officials during a security review in Srinagar about the targeted killings of minority community members and migrant labourers despite the heavy security in the arrangements Kashmir valley, official sources said. The killings have spread fear among them and have led to an exodus of migrant labour back to Bihar.

The security review meeting at Raj Bhavan lasted nearly five hours and was attended by top security officials, including the intelligence chief, BSF chief, CRPF D-G, J&K police chief. Shah also received a detailed briefing about the recent killings, radicalisation, recruitment and infiltration, and about anti-militancy operations.

3 more arrested in Lakhimpur Kheri violence case A special investigation team (SIT) last week made three more arrests in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence that took place on October 3, in which four farmers, one journalist, and three BJP workers lost their lives, while nearly a dozen were hurt.

Police said Mohit Trivedi, Dharmendra Singh and Rinku Rana have been held for their alleged involvement in the incident. Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra's son, Ashish Mishra, is one of the coaccused. All the three arrested were allegedly in the third vehicle, which was part of the convoy of three SUVs, one of which mowed the five men, and had been on the run after the incident. The SIT will seek their police remand for questioning. So far, 13 people have been arrested in the case.

Special prosecution officer S P Yadav said: “All the accused were produced before the remand magistrate and they have been sent to judicial custody till November 2. We have also sought their police custody remand and our application will be heard by the chief judicial magistrate.” The SIT has recovered CCTV footage that shows the three vehicles in the convoy leaving towards the site where over 1,000 farmers

were protesting. There are also supporting videos shot by farmers moments some of their fellow protesters were run over by the first SUV in the convoy. Farmers have provided these videos to the SIT and all of them, including the CCTV footage, have been sent for forensic tests.

Ashish Mishra has been remanded in police custody along with seven other coaccused, including Sumit Jaiswal and Ankit Das.

72 killed as heavy rains lash Uttarakhand Amidst massive rescue efforts in Uttarakhand following a bout of extreme weather earlier this week, the death count rose to 72. Rescue operations are on to find the missing members of two trekking groups in Harsil and near Lamkhaga Pass. “The bodies of seven trekkers have been recovered.

Two have been rescued and two remain missing out of a group of 11 trekkers which had gone missing in Harsil. Five more bodies of trekkers from another group of 11 trekkers which went missing near Lamkhaga Pass have also been retrieved,” Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar said.

Heavy rains battered Uttarakhand for nearly three days, leading to floods, landslides, and massive destruction of property especially in the hills of Kumaon. The rains have since subsided. The State Disaster Response Force was able to rescue 65 trekkers, including six foreigners, stranded near Bageshwar’s Pindari and Kafni glaciers. Another 23 were also rescued from Darma Valley of Pithoragarh.

“SDRF teams have rescued 42 tourists, including six foreigners, from Dwali near the Pindari glacier and 23 from the Kafni glacier,” Bageshwar DM Vineet Kumar said.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the incessant rains in Uttarakhand caused damages worth £700 million across the state.

“Kumaon division bore the brunt of the unseasonal spell of rains which damaged crops and property worth £200 million besides accounting for the highest number of deaths and large scale destruction of houses,” the Kumaon Divisional Commissioner said. CM Dhami met victims

of the calamity in Champawat. “The affected families will get all support from the government. They have lost their kin and have little children. We will ensure that they are given good care,” Dhami said.

Fresh rain and snow alert sparks fear Fresh rainfall and snow alert in issued has sparked concerns in the state which is still grappling with the damage caused by rain-triggered disasters this week. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a forecast of light rainfall and snowfall in the higher reaches of Uttarakhand. “Very light to light rain and thundershowers are likely to occur at isolated places in Uttarkashi, Dehradun, Haridwar, Chamoli, Nainital and Champawat districts,” the IMD said, adding that snowfall is likely to occur at isolated places in higher reaches of Uttarkashi and Chamoli.

The local Met department attempted to allay fears and said light rainfall is unlikely to cause damage. “There is a prediction of light rain, but no heavy showers are expected,” said an official.

A fresh spell of snow in higher reaches, however, is likely to impede rescue operations. While a search operation in Uttarkashi to trace two missing trekkers on HarsilChitkul trek was called off due to bad weather, another operation to airlift bodies of six trekkers who died en route Sunderdhunga glacier in Bageshwar district was also postponed. A search on foot, however, continued. The administration has evacuated 70 families from the area and shifted them to a school. “The remaining 50 families will also be shifted to nearby schools and a dharamshala,” said a district official.

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SOUTH INDIA

Telangana declares 'war' on drugs HYDERABAD: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has declared an "all-out war" on illegal drugs - specifically the cultivation and use of cannabis (ganja) - and ordered the state's police force to develop a comprehensive action plan to "totally eradicate ganja production".

The Chief Minister also demanded an end to gambling and illicit liquor, calling for stringent measures, including surveillance of educational institutions, to achieve these ends. He has also offered rewards, including cash, and special promotions for successful officials.

The orders were handed down at a high-level meeting of police officials and the excise department in Hyderabad. A government statement said the Chief Minister told officials they needed to act "before the situation gets out of hand and

K Chandrashekar Rao

becomes severe..."

"We achieved Telangana state after a long fight. We achieved several targets with development as the aim (and) our police are maintaining excellent law-and-order... we controlled extremism... prestige and respect of state has gone up.

It is unfortunate that availability

of banned drugs has increased," the Chief Minister said at the meeting.

"If we do not remove this malady, there is a danger the victories we have registered will go waste. Police and Excise officials should take serious note of these warning bells," he said.

"I have convened this

meeting with pain, concern.

One can see the situation based on reports that estranged youth are forming WhatsApp groups, exchanging messages, and taking drugs. Innocent youth are becoming prey to drug peddlers," the Chief Minister declared.

He warned officials that weaning addicts of drugs was a long and complicated process, and urged them to strike now and stop people from getting hooked on the dangerous substances. "Eradicate ganja mafia and don't spare the criminals, whoever they may be," he ordered. A special team to be led by a police officer of DG rank - has been formed.

Excise Commissioner Sarfraj Ahmed has been told to strengthen his squads, and the state's Intelligence Department has been told to form a team to strengthen the communication network.

PUNJAB

Amarinder set to launch party, may ally with BJP CHANDIGARH: Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh finally spelt out his next political, announcing that he would form his own political party and that he was "hopeful of a seat arrangement with BJP in the 2022 Punjab assembly polls if the farmers’ protest is resolved in the farmers’ interest."

Assembly elections are due in Punjab in early 2022.

Amarinder was quoted in a tweet by his media adviser, Raveen Thukral, as saying he was also looking at alliances "with like-minded parties such as breakaway Akali groups, particularly the Dhindsa & Brahmpura factions".

"The battle for Punjab’s future is on. Will soon

announce the launch of my own political party to serve the interests of Punjab and its people, including our farmers who’ve been fighting for their survival for over a year," he was quoted as saying in another tweet. Capt Amarinder said, “I will not rest till I can secure the future of my people and my state. Punjab needs political stability and protection from internal and external threats. I promise my people I will do what it takes to ensure its peace and security, which is at stake today," the tweets quoting Amarinder Singh said.

Trouble over Pak journalist Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Randhawa said the government would probe Amarinder's ties with a

Amarinder Singh

Pakistani defence journalist, Aroosa Alam, who had been visiting him every now and then and staying at his residence.

“Captain is now saying that there is a threat from ISI. We will look into the woman’s connection with it. Captain

kept raising the issue of drones coming from Pakistan for the last 4-5 years. He first raised this issue and later got BSF deployed in Punjab. We will ask the DGP to look into this matter,” Randhawa, who also holds the home portfolio, said.

Containment zones back in Bengal as Covid cases surge

followed by 146 in neighbouring North 24 Parganas, the bulletin said. The number of active cases went up to 7,882 from Saturday's 7,731. The percentage of positive cases is 2.32 per cent on Sunday, up from Saturday's 2.26 per cent.

Throwing caution to the

DMK, ALLIES CONTINUE WINNING STREAK The DMK has maintained its winning streak since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and has bagged nine district panchayat chairman seats, six district panchayat vice-chairman seats, 68 panchayat union chairman seats and 62 panchayat union vice chairman seats in the rural local body polls held in nine reorganized districts. Its ally Congress won two district panchayat vice chairman seats and three panchayat union vice chairman seats; the VCK won a district panchayat vice chairman seat while the MDMK won a panchayat union chairman seat. While the opposition AIADMK and its ally BJP did not win a single district panchayat chairman or vice-chairman seat, the AIADMK won a panchayat union chairman seat and a panchayat union vice chairman seat. The state election commission held indirect polls on October 22 to elect candidates for the posts of chairman and vice-chairman.

SHUTTERS OF KERALA DAMS BEING CLOSED The water level at many of the major dams in Kerala receded following a let up in the rains, and various district authorities, in consultation with the IMD and the state disaster management authority, have started closing the shutters which were opened to discharge excess water accumulated due to the downpour in recent days. Two shutters of Cheruthoni dam, part of the Idukki reservoir in Kerala were closed as the water inflow to the reservoir has reduced. Pathanamthitta district collector said shutters of Pampa dam were closed as the water level has come down to 74 per cent of the storage capacity of the reservoir.

HARISH RAWAT RELIEVED OF PUNJAB CHARGE

WEST BENGAL

Kolkata: Covid-19 cases are rising fast in West Bengal as the state continued to record an upward trend in the new coronavirus infections for the fourth consecutive day after the Durga Puja festival last week, according to the state health department bulletin.

The state reported 989 new cases on Sunday, higher than the previous day's 974 cases. On October 22, 21 and 20, the number of fresh cases was 846, 833 and 867 respectively. On Sunday, West Bengal registered 10 fresh fatalities due to coronavirus, two less than what the figure was on Saturday. The new deaths took the toll to 19,055 while the state's caseload has gone up to 15,86,455.

Kolkata recorded the highest number of positive cases in the state at 273,

in brief

wind, people in large numbers had been seen visiting big-ticket Durga Puja pandals in and around Kolkata during the festival which ended on October 15. Of the 10 fresh fatalities, two each were reported in Kolkata, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas

districts. With 828 people discharged on Sunday, the recovery rate stood at 98.30 per cent. The bulletin said 42,622 samples were tested, compared to previous day's 43,159.

Altogether 15,59,518 patients have been discharged so far, it said. A total of 1,89,28,189 samples have been tested in West Bengal till date. In view of the situation, the state administration has started reintroducing containment zones to check the spread of the virus and prevent a possible third wave.

Containment zones have already come up in Howrah and North 24 Parganas, the districts with the highest number of daily cases after Kolkata. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation is likely to decide on the matter soon.

The Congress national leadership relieved senior leader Harish Rawat as the party incharge for Punjab and gave the responsibility of the state to Rajasthan revenue minister Harish Chaudhary. As AICC observer, Chaudhary had worked closely with Rawat in trying to diffuse the recent crisis the party had faced in Punjab.

The stepping down of Rawat comes a few days after he met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and requested that he be relieved of duties in his “karambhoomi” Punjab so that he could focus on his “janambhoomi” Uttarakhand, where he was chief minister earlier. Rawat’s tenure in Punjab remained eventful and saw a rebellion against former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his ouster from the post of CM.

BABUL SUPRIYO RESIGNS AS LOK SABHA MP Former Union minister Babul Supriyo officially resigned as an MP, a month after he quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to join the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The singer-turned-politician, who handed over his resignation to Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, thanked the BJP leadership for showing confidence in him. “It has been a very fulfilling seven years that I have spent in Parliament and I shall always remain indebted to my now ex-party BJP Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji, Hon’ble Amit Shah ji and respected Shri J P Nadda ji for giving me the opportunity to serve my country,” the two-term MP from West Bengal’s Asansol said in his resignation letter. In his letter to Birla, the TMC leader sought his blessings to now embark on a “new journey”. He also lauded Speaker Birla for his “affable nature and elegant humour”.

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Don’t let guard down in festive season, warns PM Modi India's success in administering 1 billion doses of antiCovid vaccines has generated a strong sense of optimism in all sections with experts upbeat about India's economy even as it was necessary to remember that having a strong "kavach (armour)" did not mean that people should let down their guard, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

In an address to the nation, the Prime Minister said there is a feeling of "enthusiasm and joy with experts predicting a vigorous economic recovery and Indian companies receiving investments that will generate jobs. "If we see any section, whether society or economy, optimism, optimism, optimism is to be seen," he said.

He said the 1 billion vaccinations answered all doubts about India's capacity to combat the coronavirus, but emphasised the need for continued caution ahead of the festive season and said wearing masks must be second nature. "It is like we are used to wearing footwear when we step out… we should also get used to wearing masks," he said.

The call for continued Covid safe practices is sig-

Narendra Modi

nificant given upticks in infection even in countries like the UK where vaccine coverage has reached a majority of the population.

"No matter how good the cover is, no matter how modern the armour is, even if the armour is a complete guarantee of protection, weapons are not thrown while the battle is on. I request that we have to celebrate our festivals with utmost care," Modi said.

While pointing to the progress of India's vaccination programme launched on January 16 this year, Modi said "The I billion vaccinations are not just a figure, but a reflection of the strength of the country, it is the creation of a new chapter of history. This is a picture of a new India that sets difficult goals and knows how to achieve them."

The "positive" note in

the Prime Minister's address, along with the call for care and caution, seemed to mark an effort to put behind the ravages of the second wave that hit India in April-June this year, and which had seen crises in oxygen supplies and hospital beds in many cities along with a high number of fatalities.

PM Modi took a few moments to refer to criticism of his call in 2020 for people to clang metal plates, saying it had been said that how would this help fight the pandemic. “This was meant to be a sign of unity and resolve… India's vaccination programme has been based and driven by science,” he said, rebutting some experts, in India and abroad, who had argued that the pandemic cannot be countered by such demonstrative actions.

China constructs ‘dual use’ villages along LAC China has cranked up its integrated military exercises and kept reserve troop formations mobilised, while it also continues to construct “dual-use” border villages and troop habitats, Eastern Army Command chief LtGeneral Manoj Pande said.

India, in turn, is ensuring full operational preparedness to take care of any contingency along the frontier, while it also assiduously works towards mitigating the threat to the vulnerable Siliguri Corridor or the “Chicken’s Neck”, Lt-Gen Pande added.

The government is also examining whether the existing border pacts with China, including the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) inked in October 2013, should be reviewed in wake of the continuing 17-month-long military confrontation in eastern Ladakh.

Lt-Gen Pande, on his part, said Indian Army’s efforts “have been to respect the bilateral agreements and protocols” and “not show any aggression” in keeping with “our larger strategic guidance”, notwithstanding the actions or responses from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Lt-Gen Pande said, “but consequent to what happened (in eastern Ladakh) and what we need to do in

the future, this is something I reckon is being looked at the highest levels.” Many PLA reserve formations, which were mobilised last year, continue to remain in place in “depth areas” across the 1,346-km border that Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim share with the Tibet Autonomous Region in the eastern sector. “There has also been an increase in the scale and duration of PLA exercises, with a focus on integrated joint operations, this year. But these exercises are taking place in their traditional training areas in the depth,” said Lt-Gen Pande.

On the Line of Actual Control (LAC), there has been “a marginal increase” in Chinese patrols and the number of border defence troops in several areas like Asaphila due to infrastructure development. “But we have adequate force-levels in every sector. In the Eastern Command, we are ensuring that our preparedness, our

ability to react to any contingency remains very high. We are also maximising the use of technology for ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance),” he said. The Siliguri Corridor, the narrow strip of land that connects the northeast with the rest of India, however remains a major concern.

A felicitation function was organised at South Hall's Ram Mandir in honour of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijaybhai Rupani. Thirty seven members of Overseas Friends of BJP and Sangh attended the function

Covid has cut life expectancy by 2 years in India, says study Life expectancy in India has dropped by roughly two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a statistical analysis by scientists from the International Institute for Population Studies, Deonar.

“Life expectancy at birth for men and women has declined from 69.5 years and 72 years in 2019 to 67.5 years and 69.8 years respectively in 2020,” said IIPS assistant professor Surayakant Yadav whose work was published in the prestigious medical journal `BMC Public Health.’

‘Life expectancy at birth’ refers to the average number of years a newborn is expected to live if mortality patterns at the time of his/her birth remain constant in the future. The new study also looked at ‘length of life inequality’ (the variation in length of life within populations), and found the Covid toll on men in the 3569 age group was the highest. “The 35–79 age group had excess deaths caused by Covid in 2020 compared to normal years and it is this group that has contributed immensely to the drop,” said the author.

The IIPS study measured repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic on mortality patterns in the country. Across the world, Covid-19 has resulted in excess deaths in comparison to the previous years.

The IIPS study used data collated by the145-nation Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study as well as Covid-India Application Programming Interface (API) portal for the analysis.

The study found that India was right in the middle as far as the impact on mortality is concerned – as compared to India’s 2-year drop, life expectancy at birth dropped more than one year in the US, England and Wales and 2.28 years in Spain.

“The Covid impact has wiped out the progress we made in the last decade to increase the life expectancy

figure,” said Yadav. India’s life expectancy at birth now is the same as it was in 2010.

“It will take us years to catch up,” he added.

However, IIPS director Dr K S James said many epidemics have in the past had an impact on life expectancy at birth figures. “It is a dynamic figure that keeps changing every year. In Africa, life expectancy dropped drastically due to the HIV-AIDS epidemic, but recouped in a few years,” said James. An expert, who didn’t want to be named, said a drop of two years is high if one considers the central health ministry’s Covid toll figures. The Covid-19 pandemic has negative repercussions on life expectancy and inequality in age at death and has slowed the mortality transition in India.

UK working closely with India on defence, security: Truss While indicating that the UK may be planning a longer-term presence in the Indian Ocean region, visiting British foreign secretary Liz Truss said that the two countries are working together with “more military exercises and cooperation between our services”.

Indian government sources said that both sides are working towards deepening their defence and security relationLiz Truss with Dr S Jaishankar Liz Truss with Aditya Thackeray ships, particularly in the Indian Ocean region. The UK already maintains a base said. Reviewing her meetings, Truss said the focus of the in Bahrain and is keen to partner with India in the region, bilateral relationship is on trade, technology and security.

Truss said. Finishing her official meetings in Delhi, Truss India and the UK are in the process of getting an early-hartravelled to Mumbai to board the UK carrier QE2 at vest trade deal, though there are as yet no timelines for closMumbai port. According to the British high commission’s ing the negotiations. Technology, however, is the key driver official readout, Truss is expected to continue discussions of the UK-India relationship now, she emphasised. “India is on “developing innovative security and defence tech with third largest in the world in startups and the UK is third the Indian government. The foreign secretary sees developlargest in unicorns. We have a great opportunity,” she said. ing this security and defence relationship with India, the Liz met Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav world’s largest democracy, as a key part of the UK’s IndoThackeray’s son Aditya Thackeray. She also laid a wreath at Pacific tilt. She wants to strengthen such links with fast the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai in remembrance of growing economies and like-minded partners in the region those whose lives were taken in the 2008 terrorist attack. and build ‘a network of liberty’ around the globe. The forHigh Commissioner Gaitri Issar Kumar also accompaeign secretary sees India as essential in ensuring a free, nied Truss to India during this visit. open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” the release

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India scrips history; crosses 1 billion Covid shots India achieved a major milestone in its battle against Covid-19 as cumulative vaccinations in the country crossed the 1 billion mark on October 21.

After China, which has administered more than 2 billion doses, India is only the second country to have reached the landmark of 1 billion jabs. While the vaccination graphs of countries with significant populations like the US, Brazil and Indonesia have been largely flat, India’s has been rising steeply. Almost 75% of the eligible population has taken at least the first dose, with eight states and UTs achieving 100% coverage of the first dose. Four more states and UTs have more than 90% coverage of the first dose, according to government data.

After a slow start, which saw it take 85 days to administer the first 100 million doses, India almost halved the time taken to reach the next 100 million to 46 days. The

vaccination drive picked up pace thereafter, taking 28 days for the next 100 million. The shortest time taken to 100 million was just 11 days (from 700 million to 800 million). While it took India a total of 202 days to reach the 500 million mark after it began giving shots, it took just 76 days more to hit the 1,000 million landmark. A record 25 million doses were administered in a single day on

September17, 2021.

In cumulative numbers too, India ranks second to China in fully vaccinating over 280 million of its population, at least 100 million more than the US and equal to the fully immunised population of Japan, Germany, Russia, France and the UK put together.

Commemorating the achievement, banners were put up at some central government hospitals and

refreshments were distributed among the hospital staff and beneficiaries who had come for vaccination.

The Archaeological Survey of India lit up100 of its heritage monuments in colours of the tricolour to mark the milestone as a tribute to health professionals, frontline workers, scientists, vaccine manufacturers and the citizens of the country who bravely fought the pandemic.

Besides that, some mobile networks caller tunes mentioning completion of 1 billion doses was also introduced. Calling the achievement historic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed doctors, nurses and all those who had worked tirelessly to enable this moment. "India scripts history. We are witnessing the triumph of Indian science, enterprise and collective spirit of 1.3 billion Indians. Congrats India on crossing 1 billion vaccinations. Gratitude to our doctors, nurses and all those

who worked to achieve this feat. #Vaccine-Century",” the PM tweeted.

Vax for kids to be ready by FebMarch: SII “We will have enough doses available for a booster shot for the elderly and those who need it,” Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India (SII) that manufactures Covishield, said. The priority, however, should be to ensure everyone in India is fully vaccinated, he said. Poonawalla exuded confidence in meeting the Centre’s goal of immunising all adults by year-end and said Covavax, the Covid-19 vaccine for children, will be ready for a February-March, 2022 launch.

The country is in a good place with a buffer stock of three weeks, he said, adding vaccine stocks monthly have surpassed the rate of vaccination. The share of Covishield licenced by AstraZeneca to SII, stands at over 85% in India immunisation programme.

PM Modi to visit Italy, UK for G-20 Summit, COP-26 Continued From page 1 from October 30-31 at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Italy, Mario Draghi. The Summit will also be attended by Heads of State/Government of G-20 Member Countries, the European Union, and other invited countries and international organizations.

This will be the 8th G-20 Summit that the Prime Minister would be attending. The G-20 has emerged as the premier global forum for international economic cooperation. India is scheduled to host the G-20 Summit in 2023 for the first time.

The forthcoming Summit under the Italian Presidency is centred around the theme 'People, Planet, Prosperity', focussing on the areas of recovery from the pandemic and strengthening of global health governance,

Narendra Modi

economic recovery and resilience, climate change and energy transition, and sustainable development and food security.

Prime Minister will also hold several bilateral meetings, including with the Prime Minister of Italy.

Prime Minister will, thereafter,

travel to Glasgow to attend the World Leader's Summit of the 26th Conference of Parties (COP-26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the UK, Boris Johnson. COP-26 is being held from 31 October 2021 to 12

Mumbai HC adjourns hearing on Aryan Khan's bail plea Aryan Khan's jail stay was extended by another day as the hearing on his bail plea in the Bombay High Court was posted for Wednesday. In Tuesday's arguments, former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi argued that Aryan Khan was a "young man" who should be sent to rehab rather than jail. Aryan Khan, the 23-year-old son of Shah Rukh Khan, was arrested on October 3 after a drugs raid on a cruise ship party by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officers in disguise.

He has been in Mumbai's Arthur Road jail since October 8. His lawyers have repeatedly argued that no drugs were found on him. The special anti-drugs court that denied him bail last week said he knew about charas hidden in his friend Arbaaz Merchant's shoe, and this amounted to "conscious possession". A five-member team from the vigilance section of the NCB will go to Mumbai to investigate the allegations against Sameer Wankhede, the zonal officer in charge of the drugs on cruise ship case. The agency had ordered a vigilance inquiry into the bribery allegations made against the officer by a man named as a witness in the case. Wankhede is also facing a

series of allegations from Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik that range from extortion to illegal phone tapping and cornering quota meant for Scheduled Castes through forged documents.

NCB questions Ananya Pandey; visits SRK home The NCB earlier questioned actor Chunky Pandey’s actor daughter Ananya Pandey for around four hours and seized her laptop and cell phone. The questioning happened hours after Shah Rukh met his son Aryan inside the ‘mulaqat’ room of Arthur Road jail.

Shah Rukh spoke to him for 15 minutes via an intercom.

In another development, an NCB team visited SRK’s bungalow in Bandra in connection with the case.

They said they had gone to seek some documents related to the case.

NCB deputy director Ashok Mutha Jain clarified there was no raid at his bungalow.

NCB witness surfaces, denies extortion charges Prabhakar Sail, bodyguard to witness in the drug bust case KP Gosavi, was given police protection by the government a day after he filed an affidavit levelling serious allegations including a payoff to

NCB chief Sameer Wankhede. In another development, Gosavi, who had gone into hiding since NCP minister Nawab Malik said he had criminal cases registered against him, surfaced on Monday and denied all allegations, including those of extortion.

Gosavi, who rubbished Sail’s claims as “baseless,” also denied meeting Pooja Dadlani, manager of Shah Rukh, one of the claims made

by Sail. State home minister Dilip Walse Patil said, “We have gone through Sail’s affidavit. He has said he fears for his life. We have given him police protection.” Gosavi, for his part, clarified that the selfie with Aryan Khan that had gone viral after the October 2 raid was taken on the cruise terminal and not at the NCB office. He said he had received information about the drugs racket from a source and had informed the NCB. He said there was a threat to his life. Gosavi, who claims to run a private detective agency, is one of nine independent witnesses in the case. There are offences of cheating registered against him in Thane and Pune. Pune police had recently issued a lookout circular against him in connection with a 2018 cheating case.

November 2021 under the Presidency of the UK partnering with Italy.

The high-level segment of COP-26, titled the World Leaders' Summit (WLS), will be held on November 1-2. The Summit will be attended by Heads of State/Government of more than 120 countries. COP-26 was originally slated to be held in 2020, but was deferred to 2021 in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The UNFCCC embodies the global will and vision to combat climate change. The periodic Conference of Parties to this Convention have emerged as global climate summits, providing an opportunity for stocktaking and for charting the way forward.

Prime Minister last attended the COP-21 in Paris in 2015, when the Paris Agreement was

concluded, and whose implementation commences this year. At COP-26, the Parties will work to achieve the completion of Paris Agreement implementation guidelines; the mobilization of climate finance; actions to strengthen climate adaptation, technology development and transfer; and keeping in reach the Paris Agreement goals of limiting the rise in global temperatures.

Prime Minister will hold numerous bilateral meetings on the sidelines of COP-26, including with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Modi is expected to touch upon several key issues of the day such as a global approach in dealing with the developments in Afghanistan, tackling climate change and also the Covid-19 pandemic during the two-day G20 summit in Italy.

US court rejects NiMo’s plea to dismiss fraud allegations In a major blow to Nirav Modi, a bankruptcy court in the US has rejected a petition of the fugitive diamond merchant and two of his associates, seeking dismissal of fraud allegations against them by the trustee of three companies they previously owned Nirav Modi indirectly.

The allegations were made in a New York court by Richard Levin, the court appointed trustee of three US corporations - Firestar Diamond, Fantasy Inc and A Jaffe - indirectly owned by Modi previously. Levin had also sought a minimum compensation of USD15 million for the “harm” suffered by the debtors of Modi and his associates Mihir Bhansali and Ajay Gandhi. Southern District of New York Bankruptcy Court Judge Sean H Lane issued the order, in a major blow to the Indian fugitive and his accomplices. Nirav Modi, who is currently lodged in a jail in the UK, is challenging India’s attempts to extradite him to face charges of fraud and money laundering in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case. “SDNY Bankruptcy Court Judge Lane in a clear decision denied defendants Modi, Bansali and Gandhi’s motions to dismiss US Trustee Richard Levin’s amended complaint in the adversary proceeding arising out of Modi’s initial chapter 11 bankruptcy petition, alleging fraud, breach of fiduciary duties, RICO and related state law claims,” Indian American attorney Ravi Batra said. Explaining the order, Batra said Modi outdid Crazy Eddie (Eddie Antar), the founder of an American electronics retail chain, who ploughed his profits back into his own company as additional sales to falsely raise the stock price/company valuation, by setting up a scheme to defraud PNB and other banks of over USD1 billion by a “shell game,” where the ball gets bigger with each sleight of hand, and then issue Letters of Undertaking (sort of a guarantee) to PNB and get loans based upon the inflated ball’s value.According to the court order, Levin’s petition sought to recover damages for harm inflicted by Modi and his two accomplices on the debtors and their estates as a result of his six-year extensive international fraud, money laundering and embezzlement scheme.

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HEALTH

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Increased dairy intake lowers fractures in older people A new study led by an international team of scientists reveals an increased intake of foods rich in calcium and protein such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, reduces falls and fractures in older adults living in residential care. The randomized controlled trial was published in The British Medical Journal. Researchers say this approach has “widespread implications as a public health measure for fracture prevention.”

Older adults living in residential care often have low calcium and protein intake, which can lead to weak bones and an increase in the risk of falls and fractures. It is estimated that older adults in aged care are the source of about 30 per

cent of all hip fractures.

Researchers based in Australia, the Netherlands and the US set out to examine whether achieving recommended daily intakes of calcium and protein from food sources would reduce the risk of fragility fractures and falls among older

adults in residential care facilities.

The two-year trial involved 60 aged care facilities in Australia housing 7,195 residents replete in Vitamin D but with daily calcium and protein intakes below recommended levels.

Thirty intervention facili-

ties were randomized to provide residents with additional milk, yogurt, and cheese, achieving intakes of 1,142 mg calcium/day and 1.1 g protein/kg body weight/day. The remaining 30 control facilities continued with their usual menu.

Data from 27 intervention facilities and 29 control facilities were analysed and a total of 324 fractures (135 hip fractures), 4,302 falls, and 1,974 deaths occurred during the study period. The intervention was associated with risk reductions of 33 per cent for all fractures (121 v 203), 46 per cent for hip fractures (42 v 93), and 11 per cent for falls (1,879 v 2,423). There was no group difference in all-cause mortality.

Harmful food combinations to avoid Ayurveda is a natural system of medicine that originated in India.

Ayurveda literally means the science of life. To this day, there are several foods and food items that Indians refrain from intaking, or combining as they are considered to be opposite properties.

Consuming ‘Viruddha Ahaar,’ can release an energy called Vipaka, and can lead to several health problems.

Certain combinations have opposite properties, or have an unwanted effect on the body when processed in a particular form, exert undesirable effects when combined in a certain proportion, or unwanted effect if consumed at the wrong time.

There are several such food combinations that are harmful for our health.

Milk and fish: Milk and fish are

two foods that are completely incompatible to each other.

Milk is cold and fish is heating, which is why, combining the two vitiates the blood and causes obstruction of the body’s channels.

Banana and milk: The combination of bananas with any kind of dairy like milk, curds, or buttermilk, can diminish digestion and produce toxins in the body. Eating this combination can lead to cold, cough, and allergies.

Curd and cheese: Curds can cause swelling and aggravate blood, pitta, and kappa. Cheese can take a long time to digest and can cause constipation so those with weak digestion should avoid cheese and yogurt no matter what. Curds are ideal to eat in

Simple ingredients to achieve luscious, shiny hair this winter

With the onset of winter, visible changes to your hair are expected. For some, the beginning of the cold weather brings with it a bout of hair loss, frizziness, dry scalp, and much more. Not only that, poor nutrition could also lead to hair fall or thinning. Protein, Vitamin A, C, and E, folate, iron, omega 3 fatty acids are among the essential nutrients that are required for hair growth.

In this article, we share three magic ingredients that can be easily found in your kitchen, and make your hair stronger and thicker.

Amla: Rich in Vitamin C, amla or Indian gooseberry can do wonders for your hair health. It promotes the creation of collagen, a protein which helps to replace dead hair cells with new cells and make your hair thicker and longer by adding volume to it.

Flaxseed: Include these amazing fibrous seeds in your diet may just be the pick-me-up your hair needs. Two tablespoons of flaxseeds gives you 6,400 mg of Omega 3. It also helps to strengthen your hair follicle and promote faster hair growth.

Curry leaves: These strong flavoured herbs have much more to offer than just boosting your meal. It is rife with beta carotene, as well as Vitamin E, and can make your hair stronger and more lustrous.

winter, but should not be consumed at night.

Honey and ghee: Mixing equal quantities of ghee and honey can cause opposite reactions in the body, as honey has heating, drying properties, while ghee has a cooling, moisturising quality.

Do You Realise the Impact social media Has on Your Self-Esteem?

Psychologist Mamta Saha Dear Readers, Social media has helped develop connections and friendships. Social media isn’t just a pastime anymore, it’s an essential part of life. Researchers haven’t yet been able to prove a direct causative relationship between social media and mental health. However, it seems more than a fluke that rates of anxiety and depression have risen simultaneously with that of social media usage. I’m sure you’ve heard a rumor or two about the negative effects of social media, but do we know if they’re true?

Reflect on how you feel after being on social media Evidence suggests that excessive use impacts selfesteem and life satisfaction. Since we’re only getting people’s highlight reels and comparing it to ourselves, it is natural to have reactions to what we’re watching. In a recent study conducted, 57% of the people who used social media had a fear of missing out which is popularly known as FOMO. How can you feel grateful for your life, being happy with where you are now?

Another study, just released in JAMA Psychiatry, looked at social media usage in more than six thousand adults. They found that spending more than three hours per day using social media may be at increased risk for internalising problems like suffering on the inside, negative self-image, and loneliness. As people use social media sites in their everyday life, they risk overexposure to upward social comparison information that can have an increasing negative effect on their well-being.

What can you do to start monitoring your social media usage?

While social media is a great way to connect with friends and family, and even grow your business, it should be used in balance—like all good things. This is just an aspect of what is happening in today’s rapidly evolving digital world. I certainly don’t mean to portray social media as all bad. However, I want to highlight the importance of moderation and raise awareness of risks.

What is it doing to our sense of self? Are we becoming more self-obsessed? Are we becoming more insecure?

As always, I would love for you to share what you think about the way social media has influenced and impacted your life in different ways. Download my free digital download list from www.mamtasaha.com, follow me on Instagram (saha_mamta) and Facebook (Mamta Saha) for more tips. Stay in touch and I look forward to hearing from you. Stay safe, stay well.

Pharmacist's advice on dealing with dreaded ‘super cold’ A ‘super cold’ or ‘worst cold ever’, is set to sweep across the country this winter – and, for some, it already is. With GP surgeries getting busier, your local pharmacy is usually open till 7 pm or even later. Now, an expert pharmacist has given his opinion on how to cope with the ‘super cold’, and why it is so potent this year.

Symptoms of the ‘super cold’ may include high temperature, muscle pain and headaches on top of the usually runny nose, sneezing and coughing, and so it is important to know how to medicate. Thorrun Govind, community pharmacist and Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England, explains why this cold is more virulent this year. “We are mixing more than we have over the past 18 months, and there has been a reduction in people wearing masks and observing social distancing –

so it is not surprising that symptoms of this cold are more aggressive and have severe impact on the individual,” Thorrun says.

“Lockdown rules were designed to stop Covid spreading, but they also prevent spreading of other viruses among people.” With Covid-19 cases also on the rise, it is important to treat the cold like Covid, and to self-isolate and get a PCR test done if the symptoms are like those of Covid.

What can a pharmacist prescribe or offer to alleviate the symptoms?

“Ideally people need to stay at home and halt the spread germs,” Thorrun explains. “It is important to take complete rest and take paracetamol, whilst drinking fluids to stay hydrated. Be careful using cough and cold medicines if you are already taking paracetamol or ibuprofen tablets as they may contain

the same ingredients, so it can be easy to take more than the recommended dose.

“Your pharmacist may suggest that you relieve a blocked nose with decongestants, such as nasal sprays.

Remember this is not suitable for everyone, especially those with high blood pressure, so make sure you seek the opinion of your pharmacist if you are unsure. “It is also a good idea to visit your pharmacist if the symptoms go on for an unexpectedly long time, and you have tested negative for Covid-19. It may be appropriate to call your local pharmacy instead.

“To prevent spread of super cold, one should wash our hands often with warm water and soap, use tissues when you cough or sneeze and then bin the used tissues as quickly as possible,” Thorrun adds.

Common antidepressant should not be used to treat dementia patients: Study A drug used to treat agitation in dementia patients is no longer effective than a placebo, and might even increase mortality, according to a new study. The research, led by the University of Plymouth and published in The Lancet, has shown that antidepressant mirtazapine offered no improvement in agitation for people with dementia, and was possibly more likely to be associated with mortality than no intervention at all.

Antipsychotics have long proven to increase death rates in those with dementia, along with other poor outcomes, and so mirtazapine has been routinely prescribed. This study was designed to add to the evidence base around its effectiveness.

Funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the study recruited 204 people with probable or possi-

ble Alzheimer’s disease from 20 sites around the UK, allocating half to placebo. The trial was double-blind, meaning that neither the researcher nor the study participants knew what they were taking. Results showed there was no less agitation after 12 weeks in the mirtazapine group than in the control group.

There were also more deaths in the mirtazapine group by week 16 than in the control group, with analysis suggesting this was of marginal statistical significance.

To Our Readers

We are publishing these reports in good faith. Before you try any of these remedies, please consult the doctor. We are not responsible for any adverse effects.- Editor

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ART & CULTURE

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The future of book publishing is bright and strong pound online bookselling platform that buys print runs from all major book publishers and sells to consumers, businesses and schools all around the world.

In an exclusive interview with Asian Voice, he spoke about changing the way we read and his success story. lease share your success story with our readers. Starting from £3 and reaching where you are, did you ever imagine this kind of success?

You could say that I entered the world of bookselling almost by accident. I sold my used university textbooks on eBay, and, afterwards, stumbled across a bargain bookstore in Leicester that was selling brand new books (overstocks and remainders) for only £1. I ended up buying all three copies and sold them at full price online, making an impressive margin. This tiny investment led me to start Books2Door.com, which is now a multimillion-pound bookselling business, and award-winning children’s publisher, Sweet Cherry Publishing.

P

Abdul Thadha

Shefali Saxena Businessman and bookseller Abdul Thadha, owner of multi-million-pound company Books2Door and founder and managing director at the award-winning independent publisher Sweet Cherry Publishing. Sweet Cherry was founded in 2011 by Abdul.

From selling his used university textbooks to brand new books from a Leicester-based bargain store, Abdul's eBay store climbed the ranks so much so that he needed warehouse space. This blossomed into Books2Door.com, a multi-million-

I

n a digital worldview, how do you keep your business going and make sure books are read by children?

Despite the digital world we live in, printed book sales are still going strong.

Books give children a break from their screens and are a traditionally valuable tool

UK Pujo Porikroma First time ever, in the heart of London, 2 buses full of 106 people attended 6 Durga Pujo venues.

Durga Pujo for Bengalis’ calendars revolves around this one festival. Pujo means meeting up with near and dear ones, dressing up every day, gorging on tasty food, and most importantly pandal hopping. But what if you live in the UK and did not find an opportunity to travel back home to enjoy all of this?

That’s when Indian Bengalis in UK (IBUK) initiated the idea of hiring a bus for London Pujo Porikroma on Saturday 16th October 2021.

They started gathering interests and selling tickets for the Porikroma, and ended up with a huge waiting list after the bus was fully sold out, and decided to hire a second bus. A mammoth task as it was to

arrange and execute the entire tour, the admins of IBUK did not shy away from the responsibility of delivering happiness to all the 106 attendees in the two buses.

They started the day at the Hounslow Prabashi Pujo venue where all attendees assembled, offered Pushpanjali to the Goddess and then boarded their respective buses. The fun ride through the streets of

London took them to Adi Shakti where everyone was served lunch. The next part of the tour took our enthusiastic group of attendees to Adda Slough, Harrow Panchomukhee, Ealing London Sharod Utsav before concluding the

porikroma at the Swiss Cottage Library London Durgotsav where they had dinner, after which they went back to Hounslow to disperse. One of the most important questions that come to our minds while conducting a group activity during a pandemic is the health and safety of attendees and everyone else involved in the tour. The answer is yes. The group had been very careful to strictly

adhere to the Covid protocols before and during the tour. Our admins relentlessly followed up with each participant to share their LFT test reports the night before, ensuring masks were on whenever attendees were inside the bus, and of course the use of sanitisers at entry and exit points throughout the day.

Even though they conducted the porikroma in London, they had participants coming in from far and wide like Birmingham, Leeds, Coventry, Leamington Spa, Crowley, Surrey, Kent, Southampton. The energy and enthusiasm showed by our participants were unparalleled, and by the end of the day, they became like one big family. That’s the power of community, which IBUK always believes in and upholds the values through such activities.

IBUK’s Pujo celebrations are not yet over. After a very successful Pujo Porikroma, they celebrated a fun Bijoya Shammeloni on Saturday 23rd October where 160 participants gathered for an evening of fun and frolic, dinner and DJ!

for education. I was heavily inspired by my upbringing in Leicester and the community I was raised in. I didn’t have access to books growing up, and my lack of opportunity encouraged this desire to break down the socio-economic barriers that often get in the way of reading and limit children’s access to books. One of the ways we have hoped to achieve this is through my box-set business model offering children a whole library in one affordable purchase.

W

hat was the impact of the pandemic on your business?

I was incredibly fortunate that my book businesses skyrocketed during the pandemic, despite being based in Leicester where COVID rates were among the highest and lockdowns among the longest in the UK. The demand for children’s books surged as schools turned to home learning and, with bookshops closed, online shopping became the only way to access books. Sales at Books2Door and Sweet Cherry Publishing reached an all-time high, and Sweet Cherry was awarded Small Press of the Year for its 2020 efforts.

W

hat is the link between broadening business and finding opportunities?

Thinking creatively and thinking big offered new opportunities. Delegating tasks

and responsibilities give managers and directors more time to consider and develop business strategy, and it’s no coincidence that my turnover doubled at the same time my team of staff did.

W

hat is the future of book publishing according to you, post-pandemic?

The future of book publishing is bright and strong. Many people discovered a new enjoyment for reading during the pandemic, for different reasons, and that won’t leave them. For avid readers and book lovers, they discovered great value for money on popular and bestselling books online at Books2Door while bricks-and-mortar bookshops were closed, and given the economic climate we’re now in, value for money is a key driver for sales.

H

ow have you helped publishers and businesses in selling books that may not have reached their target audience on their own?

Books2Door offers publishers of all sizes a great opportunity to reach millions of readers by bundling together a bestselling series or an author’s collection. Like Sweet Cherry, Books2Door aims to make access to books easy and affordable for all kinds of readers, striving to help publishers make access to reading inclusive of the diverse world we live in.

Fourth edition of ShortsTV Best of India Short Film Festival LONDON: ShortsTV, the world’s first 24/7 channel dedicated to short films, announced the Grand Jury Prize Winner and top 5 semi-finalists of ShortsTV Best of India Short Film Festival, from over 2400+ entries received this year. The grand jury prize winner for this edition is Highway Nights, which features Director Prakash Jha as the lead in the film, directed by Shubham Singh and produced by Akhilesh Choudhary. The other selected top 4 short films across genres explore the contemporary themes in society that are delivered through stellar performances of some of Bollywood’s most popular talent including Mazel Vyas, Ahsaas Channa, Neena Kulkarni, among others.

The films will receive a theatrical release in Hollywood - Los Angeles, USA, which qualifies them for 2023 Oscar® consideration. The winning film Highway Night received a prize worth $2,500 and eligibility for a television broadcast deal on

ShortsTV. Launched in 2018, the ShortsTV Best of India Short Film Festival aims to recognize and elevate the exceptional work of some of the most creative short film-makers in India, giving them a global platform to showcase their work and opening up new opportunities, including Oscar® consideration.

Sharing his thoughts on the growing success of the Festival, Tarun Sawhney, President – Asia, ShortsTV & Festival Director said, “Short format content has seen an exponential boom in India in the recent years with some of the most distinguished stories being woven into powerful short films that deserve global recognition. With the ShortsTV Best of India Short Film Festival, we aim to recognise the innate talent of Indian filmmakers and are very proud of the steady growth in the number of entries we have received over the years since its inception in 2018. We are truly elated at bringing forward another set of beautiful short films that are a work of art.”

& Juliet at the Shaftesbury Theatre From the writer of Schitt’s Creek, the Olivier Awardwinning & Juliet is now open at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre. Romeo who?! With her bags packed and ready to escape Verona, Juliet recovers from heartbreak in the best way possible…by dancing the night away with her best friends by her side! But when the sparkle fades, the confetti falls and reality catches up, it’s clear that Juliet needs to face her past in order to find her future. Can she reclaim a story that has been written in the stars? Is there really life after Romeo… or could he be worth one more try?

Jaz of the Kray Twinz succumbs to Covid-19 Jasbir Singh Hayer (Jaz of the “Jaz was not only a respected Kray Twinz) unfortunately musician but was also involved in passed away on the afternoon lots of community Seva (selfless of October 19 after a fourservice). Our prayers are with the week-long battle with Covidfriends and family of Jaz. 19. In a tribute to Jasbir, the VaheGuru, Akaal Sahai.” Sikh Hayer family wrote, “Your Press Association tweeted. talent was just something else, “Very sad news to hear of the your brain was wired like no passing of Jaz from @kraytwinz. other. You broke boundaries Only recently I spent some time Jasbir Singh Hayer with your vision and are leaving with Jat on the @thesikhgames a legacy that will be remembered as such. and hearing the stories of how these two You gave 100% to anything you put your brothers broke boundaries was eye-opening. mind to and would never give up. You are Huge loss for the Asian diaspora,” Head of and always will be an inspiration to us and Diversity & Inclusion Programmes FA many others.”

England, Dal Sindh Darroch, tweeted.

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Jacqueline denies dating Sukesh Chandrashekhar

In a sudden turn of events, actress Jacqueline Fernandez has been dragged into conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar and wife Leena Paul’s extortion case. Sukesh’s lawyer Anant Malik has alleged that the actress was in a relationship with him.

Jacqueline, who has already been questioned twice by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), as has Nora Fatehi.

Sukesh is currently being investigated for alleged cheating and extortion to the tune of around £20 million. Malik said in court, “Nora Fatehi claims to be a victim but she was gifted a BMW car. Apart from that Jacqueline and Sukesh were dating, these are my instructions… This is straight from the horse’s mouth. They are the ultimate beneficiaries, that is why they are being called for questioning.”

However, Jacqueline’s spokesperson

denied the allegations. They said, “Jacqueline Fernandez is being called to testify as a witness by the ED. She has duly recorded her statements and in future will also be completely cooperating with the agency in the investigations. Jacqueline also categorically denies alleged slanderous statements made about the relationship with the involved couple.”

Sukesh and Leena were recently arrested by the ED while being lodged in a local jail after they were taken into custody by the Delhi Police on charges of cheating people including former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh’s wife Aditi Singh.

The ED had raided some of Sukesh’s premises in August, and seized a sea-facing bungalow in Chennai, over a dozen luxury cars, and Rs 82,50,000 cash.

Aparna Sen’s ‘The Rapist’ wins Kim Jiseok award Aparna Sen’s “The Rapist,” produced by Applause Entertainment, in association with Quest Films has won the prestigious Kim Jiseok Award at the 26th Busan International Film Festival 2021. The film had its World Premiere at BIFF 2021 in the “A Window on Asian Cinema” section and was one of seven films nominated. In a fiercely competitive year for the award, this win comes as a major triumph for the makers of the film.

“The Rapist” deals with the complex themes of crime, punishment and restorative justice through the prism of class dynamics. It chronicles the journey of three protagonists and how their lives get entwined because of one horrific incident.

The film is an unflinching, uncompromising portrait of sexual violence, its aftermath, and the sociopsychological fallout for both the survivors and perpetrators of the crime.

Marking the reunion of the prolific mother-daughter duo of Aparna Sen and

Konkona Sen Sharma, “The Rapist” also has Arjun Rampal and Tanmay Dhanania in key roles. It received rave reviews at the festival, with several critics calling it one of Sen’s finest works. The film also marks Applause Entertainment’s feature film debut, and this prestigious honor at Busan signals a fine start at the movies for the studio.

Eminent director-actor-writer Aparna Sen, elated after the win, said, “I feel deeply humbled, grateful and overwhelmed as I accept this prestigious Kim Jiseok award. I would like to thank everyone at Busan IFF, the jury, the organizers and of course, the audience for conferring this honor upon me.”

Freida reveals details of secret wedding with photographer boyfriend

‘Slumdog Millionaire’ actor Freida Pinto recently revealed secrets of her lockdown wedding with photographer fiancé Cory Tran. Speaking on ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’, she said, “I should clear the air. I wasn’t planning a big fat Indian wedding. It was just going to be something pretty and simple… But then Covid happened and it’s still happening and we just realized we were going to be planning this for the rest of our lives and probably never doing it.”

Freida said the couple went to the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and tied the knot. She said, “Honestly, I have to say if any of you have planned a wedding, you probably know this, I do not want stomach ulcers from planning my own wedding. This was perfect!

We got married and then we got to go home and take an afternoon nap.”

In the show, Freida also revealed that she was introduced to Cory by her friend and ‘The Path’ co-star Aaron Paul. She said that Aaron told her, “I want you in my life forever, Freida, so I’m going to introduce you to my friend.”

Ishaan Khatter visits Ananya Panday after NCB questioning Actor Ananya Panday appeared before the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) at its Mumbai office after being summoned by the agency in connection with the drugs case involving Aryan Khan. She was called in for questioning last week, and will be called in again this week. Actor Ishaan Khatter went to her house over the weekend to meet her.

Both the actors worked in the movie ‘Khaali Peeli’, and are rumoured to be dating, but have not commented publicly on the relationship. Ananya was the latest to join the investigation after Khan’s arrest. The NCB last week went to Ananya’s residence and Shah Rukh Khan’s residence Mannat. It is learnt that NCB officials met Ananya and asked her to join the probe.

Ananya was questioned for nearly four hours last week, and again on Friday last. The NCB has claimed to have fond chats between Aryan and Ananya related to drugs. Deputy DG (NCB) Mutha Ashok Jain said she has been summoned again and the agency has taken her mobile phone. She was reportedly asked to interpret and give context to some of her chats with Aryan.

Shah Rukh visited Arthur Road jail to visit son Aryan last week. Aryan’s bail plea was rejected by a special NDPS court in connection with the cruise ship drug case. The Bombay High Court will hear the bail plea of Aryan this week.

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Kareena opens up about teaching sons gender equality Actor Kareena Kapoor Khan has opened up about teaching her sons Taimur Ali Khan and Jehangir Ali Khan gender equality. In a recent interview, Kareena said that it is important for boys to know that a mother is equal to a father.

She added that her sons are growing up being aware that in their house it’s not “just the man who does things.”

In an interview, Kareena spoke about the importance of both her sons knowing that their parents are equal. “Well in the case of Tim and Jeh, I think the idea is that they see me go to work even now. Like when, every time I put on my shoes, Taimur asks ‘Where are you going?’ My answer is ‘I’m going to work or I’m going to shoot or I’m going for an event or I’m going for a meeting because amma has to work.’ So, abba works and so does amma. I think growing up looking at the fact that in this house, it’s not just the man who does things, we both do things equally.’”

She added, “We’re both bringing food to the table, we’re both very clear on the fact that we’re both working as a couple. We’re dependent on each other emotionally, and financially we share.

And if my boys grow up knowing that their mother has the capability and demands that kind of respect in her home and gets it. Goes out to work, works hard, comes home so that they can have a good life. I think that’s half the battle won. It’s important for the boys to know that women are equal to men. A mother is their father’s equal.”

Kareena tied the knot with actor Saif Ali Khan in October 2012, after dating for a few years. They welcomed their elder son Taimur on December 20, 2016, and Jehangir Ali Khan on February 21, 2021.

On the work front, she will be seen in ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ alongside Aamir Khan. Directed by Advait Chandan, it is the official remake of Tom Hanks’ Hollywood blockbuster ‘Forrest Gump’.

Akshay Kumar unveils new avatar for ‘OMG 2’ Actor Akshay Kumar has started shooting for the sequel of his 2012 hit ‘OMG - Oh My God!’, ‘OMG 2’. He took to his official social media platforms to share an update on the film. Sharing posters of the fir, he wrote, “Need your blessings and wishes for #OMG2, our honest and humble attempt to reflect on an important social issue. May the eternal energy of Adiyogi bless us through this journey.”

The poster features Akshay sporting long hair with blue skin. The film crew has wrapped up the Mumbai schedule, and now Akshay will be joining the team for the Ujjain schedule. The first movie was a satirical comedy-drama written and directed by Umesh Shukla. The sequel is written and directed by Amit Rai and produced by Cape of Good Films, Vipul D Shah, Rajesh Bahl, and Ashwin Varde.

The original featured Paresh Rawal, Mithun Chakraborty, and Mahesh Majrekar in pivotal roles.

Meanwhile, ‘OMG 2’ features Pankaj Tripthi and Yami Gautam alongside Akshay. On the work front, Akshay awaits the release of his cop-drama ‘Sooryavanshi’, on November 5. Along with ‘OMG 2’, Akshay is also shooting

My love story with horror films not over: Emraan Hashmi

‘Ram Setu’ and ‘Cinderella’, the official remake of the 2019 Telugu thriller ‘Rakshasudu’. He also has ‘Prithviraj’, ‘Raksha Bandhan’, ‘Bachchan Pandey’ in the pipeline.

Kangana reacts over tragic incident involving Hollywood’s Alec Baldwin Actress Kangana Ranaut has reacted to Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin accidentally killing his film’s cinematographer and injuring the director with a prop gun. Sharing a post about Alec Baldwin on her Instagram Stories and wrote, “This is so horrible! Note for all the people working in films, dealing with various stunts, weapons and explosives…. Your mistakes can cause someone their life… tragic.”

She also wrote another note on her Stories. It read, “Today two people were shot on a film set one of them died immediately… like other leading actors, I too have had many accidents while film stunts … some of them were near death experiences and mostly it was someone else’s carelessness … many stuntmen and occasionally actors die on film sets every year … This is so wrong … in Indian films action protocols prep and execution is even more primitive … Hope our film bodies look in to it and prevent such mishaps…”

On the sets of upcoming Hollywood movie ‘Rust’, an assistant director unwittingly handed Baldwin a loaded weapon and told him it was safe to use. The mistake caused the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Director Joel Souza, who was standing behind her, was wounded.

Baldwin described the killing as a “tragic accident”. He conveyed his shock and sadness over the incident.

Actor Emraan Hashmi said he will continue doing horror movies as his tryst with the genre is not over yet.

Hashmi is expecting the release of his upcoming horror movie ‘Dybbuk: The Curse is Real’. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Mauritius, the horror-thriller chronicles the horrifying incidents that take place on the cursed island.

The movie is a Hindi remake of 2017 Malayalam horror film ‘Ezra’, which featured Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead. Hashmi has a career set against a long list of horror films like the ‘Raaz’ franchise.

Speaking in an interview, he said, “My love story with horror films isn’t over yet. I thought it was over five years ago but it isn’t and this will continue. This new film is different from the films that I did before. This film takes the horror quotient higher. The narrative style is new and unique.”

Hashmi praised director Jay K for blending Jewish mythology with Indian culture. He said, “Jewish mythology and our culture is different. I wasn’t aware about it and I was intrigued to know about it.” He added that he fails to understand why mainstream Bollywood stars shy away from acting in horror films. “I have been watching horror films since childhood. I enjoy this genre. The wave of horror comedies is a sub-genre. This is the mother genre. I believe this genre is not explored much in our country.”

‘Dybbuk’ will be released on Amazon Prime Video on October 29. Hashmi said he is happy his film will be showcased to a wider audience with its launch on the streaming service. He said, “The film has been shot internationally and the aesthetics are different from other horror films.

Like, how Jay has integrated Jewish culture, beliefs and supernatural things. It is beautiful and we believe it should not just be restricted to the Indian audience.”

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Samantha completes Rishikesh trip; promises to continue fighting

My best is yet to come: Madhavan

Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu recently completed her holy pilgrimage to Uttarakhand. The actor, who announced her separation with Naga Chaitanya, Samantha shared a series of photos from her scenic locations on Instagram. She wrote that her spiritual trip came to an end and it was her dream to visit “this paradise on Earth.”

Sharing a photo with her “soul sister” Shilpa Reddy, Samantha wrote, “End of an amazing trip. #CharDhamYatra #yamanotri #gangotri #kedarnath #badrinath I have always been fascinated by the Himalayas… ever since I read the Mahabharata it has been a dream to visit this paradise on Earth, a place of great mystery… the abode of Gods.”

She added, “It has been everything I hoped it would. Serene and majestic… a complex confusion between myth and reality. Absolutely breathtaking!! The Himalayas will have a special place in my heart. And all the more special because I got to experience it with you @shilpareddy.official #soulsister.”

Samantha had shared multiple photos from her trip on her social media.

She had also posted a quote that read, “Be thankful for who you are now, keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow.”

Rana Daggubati unveils trailer of Naga Shaurya’s upcoming The trailer of Naga Shaurya and Ritu Varma-starrer ‘Varudu Kavalenu’ was unveiled by actor Rana Daggubati in Hyderabad.

Speaking at the event, Daggubati said, “Naga Shaurya is a good guy. ‘Varudu Kavalenu’ is a great title and is apt for Shaurya. Even if one doesn’t reveal the hero’s name, looking at the title, we can expect that Naga Shaurya is the hero of the film. The trailer is interesting. Theatres are back.

Movies are back. Naga Shaurya is back with ‘Varudu Kavalenu’. I wish all the best for the entire team. Today, I didn’t come here as a guest. Came for my ‘Bheemla Nayak’ producer Naga Vamsi. I came straight from the shooting location. I am sure he will taste success with ‘Varudu Kavalenu’ too.”

Naga Shaurya thanked Rana for launching the

trailer. He said, “During the success party of Chalo, director Sowjanya came to me and asked me whether I would do a film if I like her story. She told me the storyline of ‘Varudu Kavalenu’, and I was mighty impressed.

After the complete narration, I felt that the movie would be a big hit.”

“The movie is made in such a way that both family and youth audiences would enjoy it thoroughly. We are all quite confident of the film’s success. I am proud to choose the story of Varudu Kavalenu and be a part of it.

Thanks to Rana Daggubati for coming all the way and releasing our film’s trailer,” the actor added.

Bankrolled by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi of Sithara Entertainments, the film is all set for a theatrical release on October 29.

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 18 OCT FRI 22 OCT 2021 6.00 Dharti No Chhedo Ghar 13.00 Narsinh Mehta (Re-run) 14.00 RASOI SHOW 18.30 ABHILASHA - EK ASTITVANI 19.00 BHAKT GORA KUMBHAR 19.30 MARU MAN MOHI GAYU 20.00 RASHI RIKSHAWALI 20.30 MANASA 21.00 PREM NI BHAVAI

always kept me wanting more.”

He said he believes he would hardly ever reach a stage in his life where he would feel he has “made it. I have realised that I can never live like a star, I am a terrible star. I don’t wear designer clothes. I can’t afford to have people around me all the time. I also realise that your demeanour and the way you walk at the airport or in public kind of decide how many people mob you and how many leave you. I am very hungry. I don’t think I have ever reached a stage where I feel I have made it.”

On the work front, Madhavan is set to make his directorial debut ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’, which is based on the life of Nambi Narayanan, a former scientist and aerospace engineer of the Indian Space Research Organisation.

Tamil drama ‘Koozhangal’ has been selected as India’s official entry for the 94th Academy Awards. The movie follows an alcoholic abusive husband, who, after his longsuffering wife runs off, sets out with his young son to find her and bring her back. The movie stars a host of newcomers and is produced by Vignesh Shivan and Nayanthara. Shivan shared the news on his Twitter account.

He posted, “There’s a chance to hear this! And the Oscars goes to… Two steps away from a dream come true moment in our lives… #Pebbles #Nayanthara @PsVinothraj @this isysr @AmudhavanKar @Rowdy_Pictures Can’t be prouder, happier & content.”

The movie had won the top honour, the Tiger Award for best film, at the 50th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), earlier this year. It was screened at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA).

The movie is inspired by an incident from his own life.

His sister was thrown out of her drunken husband’s house, and had to walk miles for shelter.

Tamil drama ‘Koozhangal’ is India’s official entry for the Oscars TV Listing

Actor R Madhavan has been in the entertainment industry for almost three decades, acting across various languages. However, he says he is still waiting to deliver his best performance.

He started his career as a model, appearing in TV commercials, later acting in TV shows like ‘Banegi Apni Baat’.

His first major hit in movies, however, was Mani Ratnam’s Tamil romantic film ‘Alaipayuthey’, followed by films like ‘Minnale’, which was remade in Hindi hit ‘Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein’.

Despite a career rife with variety, the 51 year old star said he still craves for diverse roles.

Speaking during a virtual session on Day 3 of India Film Project, Madhavan said, “I feel very inadequate right now. I don’t think I will ever reach that stage ever. When a big star or politician or leader, who embraces and says and means that he likes my work or I meet people from different generations, maybe that time I feel I am on the right path. But I still strongly feel that my best is yet to come. I don’t know if it is a safety mechanism or that is a fact. I have never sat around…

The fact that I have also financially never super settled at any given point of a time, the hunger to create a star life has

21.30 BOLO KETLA TAKA SATURDAY 16 OCT 6.00 Raj Ratan 13.00 Narsinh Mehta (Re-run) 14.00 RASOI SHOW 18.30 ABHILASHA - EK ASTITVANI 19.00 BHAKT GORA KUMBHAR 19.30 MARU MAN MOHI GAYU 20.00 RASHI RIKSHAWALI 20.30 MANASA 21.00 PREM NI BHAVAI 21.30 BOLO KETLA TAKA SUNDAY 17 OCT 12.00 Sachu Sukh Gujrat Ma 15.00 Mijaaj 18.00 MANASA 19.00 SHU CHALE CHE 19.30 ABHILASHA - EK ASTITVANI 22.00 SHU CHALE CHE

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 18 OCT FRI 12 OCT 2021 8.30 BHARADWAJ BAHUEIN 14.00 BIGG BOSS 15-WEEKEND KA VAAR 16.30 RASOI SHOW-DESI FLAVOURS 17.30 CHHUTA CHHEDA 18.00 TUM KAUN PIYA 18.30 DIL KA RISHTA 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 19.30 EK SHRINGAAR SWABHIMAAN 20.00 BALIKA VADHU 2 20.30 BARRISTER BABU 21.00 THAPKI PYAR KI 2 21.30 SASURAL SIMAR KA 2 22.30 DIL SE DIL TAK

SATURDAY 16 OCT 14.00 BIGG BOSS 15 16.30 RASOI SHOW-DESI FLAVOURS 17.30 DESI BEAT (SEASON 3) 18.00 KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 19.30 EK SHRINGAAR SWABHIMAAN 20.00 DESI BEAT RESET 20.30 FEET UP WITH THE STARS (SEASON 2) 21.00 THAPKI PYAR KI 2 21.30 SASURAL SIMAR KA 2 SUNDAY 17 OCT 14.00 BIGG BOSS 15-WEEKEND KA VAAR 16.30 RASOI SHOW-DESI FLAVOURS 17.30 DESI BEAT (SEASON 3) 18.00 KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 19.30 EK SHRINGAAR SWABHIMAAN 20.00 DESI BEAT RESET 20.30 BFFS WITH VOGUE (S-1)

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RPSG , CVC Capitals win Lucknow, Ahmedabad IPL bids The BCCI on Monday announced that RPSG Ventures Ltd and Irelia Company Pte Ltd (CVC Capital Partners) have won the ownership rights of Lucknow and Ahmedabad teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The RPSG Ventures Ltd were awarded Lucknow as their home base with a winning bid of £709 million. CVC Capital Partners took Ahmedabad as its home base with a secondhighest bid of £562.5 million.

“The new franchises will participate in IPL from 2022 season onwards subject to the bidders completing the post-bid formalities as specified in the ITT document. The IPL 2022 season will comprise ten teams and will have 74 matches, wherein each team will play seven home and seven away matche”,” said a release by BCCI. BCCI President Sourav Ganguly expressed his happiness in welcoming two new teams to the IPL fold. “The BCCI is happy to welcome two new teams from the next season of the Indian

Premier League. I would like to congratulate RPSG Ventures Ltd & Irelia Company Pte Ltd for being the successful bidders.

The IPL will now go to two new cities in India viz in Lucknow and Ahmedabad. It is heartening to see the inclusion of two new teams at such a high valuation, and it reiterates the cricketing and financial strength of our cricket ecosystem.”

“True to IPL’s motto of ‘Where Talent Meets Opportunity’, the inclusion of two new teams will bring more domestic cricketers from our

country to the global stage. The ITT process included two interested bidders from outside of India, which strongly emphasises the global appeal of the IPL as a sports property. The IPL is proving to be a wonderful instrument in globalising the game of cricket. I am looking forward to IPL 2022.”

Overall, ten parties entered the fray with bids to own franchises in the IPL. The bidders got a chance to choose from six centres - Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Cuttack, Dharamsala, Guwahati, and Indore - to make

their home base. Other bidders for IPL teams included Adani Group, Kotak, All Cargo Logistics, Capri Global, Lancer Capital, Avram Glazer, Hindustan Media Ventures Limited, and Torrent Sports Ventures Pvt Ltd. “It is a momentous day for all of us and I formally welcome RPSG Ventures Ltd. and Irelia Company Pte Ltd. into the IPL fold. We had promised that IPL will be bigger and better from the 15th season and with Lucknow and Ahmedabad, we will take the league to different parts of India. The IPL has established gold standards for leagues across the world and remains a premium event on the sporting calendar as it has grown rapidly in a short span.

Despite numerous challenges posed by Covid-19, the 13th and 14th seasons were completed, and the bids prove that interested parties have faith in BCCI and its hosting capabilities,” said BCCI Secretary Jay Shah.

Pakistan beat India by 10 wickets Pakistan brought to an end India’s nearthree-decade domination over them in the world stage in the most convincing fashion, embarrassing their arch-rivals by 10 wickets in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup. Skipper Babar Azam stroked his way to 68 while his opening partner, Mohammad Rizwan, smashed 79 as the Indian bowlers struggled to contain the two batters.

Earlier, Virat Kohli’s half-century helped India recover from a disastrous start and post 151/7 against Pakistan in ICC T20 World Cup match on Sunday. Besides Kohli’s 49ball 57, Rishabh Pant slammed 39 in 30 deliveries.

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam won the toss and invited India to bat first but the early blows were landed by the men in green as openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul departed within three overs. Kohli and Pant then joined forces to add 53 runs in quick time before the latter was caught out by legspinner Shadab Khan (1/22 in four overs) off his own bowling in the 13th over.

Afghanistan put Scots on the rocks On a night when Afghanistan batsmen rained sixes in Sharjah, their off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman owned the stage, the match and the night. Mujeeb bamboozled the Scotland batsmen with guile and craft as he made his T20 World Cup debut unforgettable with figures of 5 for 20. The result: Scotland, chasing Afghanistan’s 190/3, were bundled out for 60 in 10.2 overs handing their opponents a massive 130-run victory. The win took Afghanistan’s winning streak at the venue to 17.

Scotland began to unravel in the fourth over when skipper Kyle Coetzer lost his stumps to a wrong ’un from Mujeeb and the next delivery was a similar one and an indecisive MacLeod, looked to play it on the leg side but took the ball on the pads to be adjudged leg before wicket. The youngster missed a hat-trick but finished the over with three wickets with Richie Berrington becoming his third wicket.

Asalanka, Rajapaksa star in Lanka win The Charith Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa shared a partnership of 86 to give Sri Lanka a five-wicket win over Bangladesh in their opening Super 12 match in the

Twenty20 World Cup in Sharjah on Sunday.

Asalanka remained unbeaten on 80 from 49 balls and Rajapaksa, celebrating his 30th birthday, hit a 31-ball 53 to help Sri Lanka chase down a 172-run target with seven balls to spare. Put in to bat, Bangladesh posted 171 for four after opening batsman Mohammad Naim anchored the innings with a 52-ball 62 and the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim smashed an unbeaten 57 off 37 balls. Sri Lanka’s bowlers had done most of the damage in the preliminary round matches and it was left to the batsmen to keep the winning run intact for the 2014 champions.

Six-wicket win for England West Indies were bowled out 55 – their lowest score in world T20 and the third lowest in T20 World Cups – against a disciplined England attack. England, who thrive on teamwork, notched up the sixwicket win in 8.2 overs, boosting their Net Run Rate in a group where it can go down to the wire. While England did what was expected of them, it was the spectacular implosion of the West Indian batting that was beyond belief. It was the lack of a Marlon Samuels or a Shivnarine Chanderpaul like figure that kept hurting them as things spiralled out of control. Everyone seemed to believe that the only way of scoring runs was to hit big sixes, but West Indies found out the hard way that it doesn’t always work like

in brief MORGAN UNCERTAIN IF HE WILL PLAY 2023 ODI WORLD CUP

Eoin Morgan

England’s white-ball captain Eoin Morgan expects to play in next year’s Twenty20 World Cup but he is not certain he will be part of the team’s title defence at the 50-overs World Cup in 2023, the 35-year-old said.

Morgan will lead England at this year’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, with the team set to take on defending champions West Indies in their tournament opener on Saturday in Dubai. The next edition of the T20 World Cup will be played in Australia next year, followed by the one-day edition of the world showpiece in India in 2023. England won the 50-overs title for the first time in 2019 when the Morgan-led team defeated New Zealand in a memorable final at Lord’s. “I certainly see myself this time next year playing, hopefully, a really strong role in another T20 World Cup,” Morgan said.

“That is the expectation I have put on myself. I am not sure about another two (tournaments).

Obviously, results determine how well you do and how often you are kept on. But certainly, my hunger and determination are as strong as ever.” Morgan has played 243 one-day and 102 T20 matches for England.

INDIA-ENGLAND FIFTH TEST MOVED TO JULY 2022 that on pitches where the ball stops just a bit.

Australia beat SA by 5 wickets Australia beat South Africa by five wickets in their opening Super 12 Group 1 match of the T20 World Cup. Australia chased down the target of 119 in 19.4 overs with Steve Smith scoring 34-ball 35. For South Africa, Anrich Nortje took two wickets while Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi got one each. Earlier, Electing to bowl, Australia restricted South Africa to a meagre 118 for nine.

Aiden Markram scored 40 for the Proteas after their top-order crumbled. Kagiso Rabada was the next best batter for them with an unbeaten 19-run knock at number eight. Fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood (2/19) and Mithcell Starc (2/31) took two wickets apiece while spinner Adam Zampa (2/21) also accounted for two batters.

The fifth and final Test between India and England, which was suspended due to a Covid-19 outbreak last month, was rescheduled to July next year, a decision that has pushed the start of a limited-overs series between the two sides by six days. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that the game has been moved to Edgbaston from Manchester and will be a part of India’s white-ball tour. The game, which was called off after Covid-19 cases erupted in the Indian contingent, will be held from July 1.

“With India leading the series 2-1, the concluding fifth match will now take place from July 1, 2022, at Edgbaston, following an agreement between the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI),” said the ECB in a statement. Slotting the Test in the available window has ensured that the limited overs series would now start six days later from the original plan.

BCCI to implement 6-team format for Under-19 Challenger Set to take guard as the coach of the Indian team, Rahul Dravid has signed off from his previous innings with a ‘masterstroke.’

With covid having halted junior cricket for the last two years, Dravid, who was till recently the head of the National Cricket Academy, had suggested to the BCCI to conduct the forthcoming Under-19 Challenger in Ahmedabad from November 2-10 as a six-team format, something that the Board agreed to. The tournament assumes significance in the light of the fact that it will be a selection tournament for the Under-19 World Cup, which will take place in the West Indies from the first week of January next year.

“It was an excellent idea from Dravid,

which the BCCI has decided to implement.

There’s been no junior cricket for the last two years, which has left many under-19 cricketers deprived of the sport. A few games in the recently held Vinoo Mankad Trophy were washed out. Six teams, consisting of 15 boys each, means that 90 boys will get a chance to make a case for

themselves for selection into the India under-19 team. It will offer the selectors a wider pool of players to choose from.

Initially, It was decided to pick 14 boys per team, but then BCCI secretary Jay Shah, in a meeting with the junior national selectors recently, proposed the number to be increased to 15, to enable more boys to get a chance,” a source in the BCCI said.

Dravid himself is likely to visit Ahmedabad to watch the tournament. The players have to report to the venue on Monday, and quarantine from October 2530. They will then train on October 31 and 1.

Three boys from Mumbai-Ayaz Khan, Angkrish Raghuwanshi and Prince Badiyani - have been picked for the U-19 Challengers.