AV 7th July 2018

First & Foremost Asian Weekly in Europe

R

Vol 47 Issue 10

7th July to 13th July 2018

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side 80p

BRAVE AFGHAN SIKHS BUTCHERED w w w . d u b a i h o lida y s .c o

Swaminarayan School Trustees promise to consider extending notice period for pupils

Full story on page 9

Interpol issues Red Corner Notice to Nirav Modi

Sikhs carry a coffin of a relative killed in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, after Sunday’s suicide bombing targeting the community Mitul Paniker & Rupanjana Dutta

Sikhs and Hindus worldwide have condemned the attack on the minority communities in Afghanistan, that included the death of Avtar Singh Khalsa, who would have been the first Sikh in Afghan Parliament this October. With their lives hanging by the noose, the minorities in Afghanistan currently face an unthinkable crisis.

Full story on page 20 In the UK, Dr Rami Ranger CBE, a renowned entrepreneur and community leader in a tweet urged the Indian government to help people of Indian heritage “to come out of countries where there is religious opression.” He added, “People are being targeted because they are proud to preserve their Indian roots.”

Sikh Federation (UK) Chair, Bhai Amrik Singh, responding to the deadly terror blast targeting the leaders of the Sikh minority in Afghanistan said, “The Sikh community across the globe is devastated

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having heard the news from Jalalabad.

“Tens of thousands of Afghan Sikhs have sought sanctuary in the UK and will be deeply concerned with those left behind.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families of those killed and wounded.

“The timing of the cowardly attack on leaders of the tiny Sikh minority came as Awtar Singh Khalsa, MP elect who was running unopposed, was leading a delegation to meet President Ashraf Ghani.

Continued on page 17

Mumbai Delhi Hyderabad Chennai Ahmedabad Rajkot

£425 £435 £445 £435 £385 £500

House of Horror:

11 found hanging in Delhi In a case straight out of Ripley's, 11 members of a family were found hanging in the hallway of their house on Sunday morning, in what police believes is “mass suicide”.

The Bhatia family in north Delhi's Sant Nagar killed themselves, some probably being assisted by others, driven by bizarre religious or occult beliefs, a medical board that conducted the autopsies said. It concluded that all the deaths were caused by “ante-mortem hanging” (asphyxiation).

Continued on page 26

Goa Bangalore Bhuj Lucknow Kochi Kolkata

£445 £460 £500 £505 £460 £475

Amritsar Dhaka Singapore Bangkok

£475 £470 £445 £425

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Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

AsianVoiceNews

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Keith Vaz, MP

Emma Clayton Emma Clayton was born and grew up in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire and went on to The University of Liverpool to study History and Politics, before joining the Pharmaceutical industry in 1997. Emma has worked in healthcare communications for over 20 years and has won an array of industry awards over the years. In her career, Emma has worked on projects in diabetes that have enabled improved skills and competencies for Diabetes Specialist Nurses, provided extensive tailored education to the diabetes community, and more recently she has founded the UK Diabetes Network which provides a bridge between the diabetes health care providers and policymakers.

Her political career started when she was elected to Haywards Heath Council in 2017 with a 66% majority. Emma’s passion and tenacity for making a difference for patients with diabetes, tackling variations in access to care, and supporting the diabetes specialist workforce, now sees her lobbying and pursuing policy changes, and tackling treatment access barriers within national and local government, through the UK Diabetes Network and her own political career.

Emma has recently been appointed as Ambassador for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Diabetes and brings a wealth of experience in diabetes, local government and communications to the group.

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

I currently live in Sussex, but my home is Yorkshire which will always have my heart. Yorkshire isn’t all about flat caps and whippets, it is such a picturesque part of the country, steeped in culture and has beautiful countryside, cities and

coastlines. Some of my happiest memories were family holidays in Whitby and Scarborough.

2) What are your proudest achievements?

I have many achievements that I am proud of but I can’t separate between raising my daughter single handedly

whilst achieving success in my career, and that after only 3 months of entering politics in 2017, I was elected with a 66% majority.

3) What inspires you?

I am inspired by people that have a “can do” attitude and live life with passion and bravery.

When you see people jump over adversity with grit and determination that lights me up. I am also inspired by teamwork and working together to achieve common goals. Silo workings are just so uninspiring.

4) What has been biggest obstacle in your career?

I think that we all have some form of negative self-talk and that little voice saying “you cant do that” and at times, I have listened to that voice and not taken opportunities when they have presented. I think we should all learn at an early age how to overcome the worry of rejection or not being enough to society. We all have something special to bring to the table.

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

There have been quite a

few people that have influenced my career, but my Dad stands out as the one person that influenced my political career.

I remember him telling me at 6 years old that I would be a Prime Minister as I was always very good at holding my own with my two older brothers and always took the lead. It took me 40 years to listen though.

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

I love the fact that I get to make a difference to people’s lives and health outcomes. I have always been the person to have the voice and represent people and through the work I do in my business and in politics, I really get to deliver positive changes. I get the chance to make things better for the next generation.

7) And the worst?

I would love more hours in the day!

8) What are your long term goals?

I really want to be part of reversing the diabetes tsunami that is upon us in the United Kingdom, and ultimately I would love to become the first ever “Minister of

Accused in Vijaykumar Patel death 'was happy' after fatal attack

Vijaykumar Patel

west London, denies manslaughter.

Mr Patel was taken to St Mary's Hospital in central London after the attack on 6 January, but died in hospital the next day from an injury to the back of his head.

Louis Mably, prosecuting, told the Old Bailey that the teenager became aggressive and shouted abuse before hurling himself at Mr Patel outside the shop.

The attack was cap-

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A teenager accused of killing a shopkeeper was seen "laughing, joking and happy" moments after the

attack. The boy fatally "smashed" Vijaykumar Patel, 49, in the face outside the minimarket where he worked in Mill Hill, north London, a court heard.

The defendant, who cannot be named because of his age, and two friends had allegedly been refused cigarette papers at the shop.

The boy, from north-

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tured on CCTV which shows "the moment Mr Patel was hit", he said.

The accused, he added, "suddenly lunged at Mr Patel, flew towards him and smashed him in the upper part of his body with his right forearm".

He told the jury: "When the boy smashed into the lower part of his face it caused Mr Patel, with his hands in his pockets, to fall backwards onto the pavement and smash his head.

"It was that moment, that blow causing him to smash his head, that caused his death."

Mr Patel "had not really been involved" in the incident and "was standing with his hands in his cardigan pockets watching what was going on" when he was struck, Mr Mably added.

Another shop worker then chased the boys away with a billboard sign and a broom.

The boys were seen "laughing, joking and happy about what had taken place" as they fled the scene, Mr Mably told the jury.

The trial continues.

Diabetes”. Always think big and have a dream I say.

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

I would rebuild the whole NHS system. It takes an extremely brave person to make fundamental changes to the NHS as it is such a treasured institution that we are all so protective of, whatever changes you make will always upset someone. I see that over the years the NHS has been built with “add ons” and therefore become too complex. I would start with a blank piece of

paper and rebuild it based on what we need to achieve and deliver for our country’s needs, and then work backwards.

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

I have been fascinated with the life of the Queen. She has been monarch for over 65 years and has been part of so many historical and political events, and yet we still don’t really know her. I would make her a nice cup of English Tea and listen whilst she regaled all her stories.

40-year-old homeless man, found dead in Hounslow street

A homeless man known as Happy was found dead in a Hounslow street last week and police are calling on people to help trace his family.

Metropolitan Police in in Hounslow were called to reports of a body being found in Bulstrode Road just after 8pm on Tuesday, June 19. Officers arrived and found a man who had died at the scene.

The man was identified as Jasandeep Singh, 40, also known as Happy, who was homeless. His death is being treated as unexplained, police said on Friday (June 29). A

post-mortem has taken place but officers await the results of further tests.

Police are trying to trace his next-of-kin, but little information is known currently about his background and detectives and now appealing for the public's help.

Gang blowtorched family's house then tried to steal blood stained evidence A burglar who inflicted “immense trauma” on a family by stealing a highvalue car and then returning to the scene to try and steal blood-stained evidence has been jailed for nearly four years.

Bahader Khan, 28, pleaded guilty to being part of a group who committed the raid on a house in Halifax, on May 9. After again hearing a noise, the

family saw one of the group trying to put glass from the broken window into a recycling bag along with some blinds, which had earlier been smashed with a crowbar.

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COMMENTS

India’s strategic autonomy inviolate Strategic autonomy was the bedrock of India’s foreign policy under the country’s first and longest serving prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and the second longest serving incumbent Indira Gandhi. The principle in time came to be enshrined as the country’s paramount national interest, and hence inviolate.

There have been siren calls, from time to time, for a reorientation of Indian policy towards the United States, the language subtle and camouflaged with buzzwords agreeable to many Indian ears. One recalls President Obama’s description of Indo-US relations as the ‘defining relationship of the 21 st century.’ His deeds, typically, fell short of his honeyed words and were consigned wisely to limbo. His Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, visiting India in the aftermath of the jihadi assault on Mumbai on 26/11/2008 was quick to condemn terrorism but never came round to pointing a finger at Pakistan whence came the attack. Her successor at the State Department John Kerry as a Senator had piloted a packaged $20 billion through Congress in financial and military aid to Islamabad.

In earlier years, the US Administrations in the 1980s and early 90s had turned a blind eye to Pakistan’s covert activities to acquire nuclear weapon technology, assuring Congress that no such attempts had been detected by US intelligence agencies – a blatant falsehood as it turned out in the fullness of time. Still earlier, in 1971-72,the Nixon White House had sided with Pakistan’s military dictatorship and its mentoring collaborator, Maoist China (also patron and fund manager of Pol Pot’s genocidal regime in Cambodia).

The threats, intimidation and insults prime minister Indira Gandhi had to endure from the President and his national security advisor Henry Kissinger and their egging China to attack India, and Beijing deterred by a warning of a counter-strike by the Soviet Union, with whom India had formally signed a security treaty, if it did so. It didn’t; the occupying Pakistani army in East Pakistan, which had massacred around three million Bengalis, and had set up military camps for the mass rapes of Bengali women for the avowed purpose of

creating a new generation of Muslims free of Hindu cultural contamination, was routed by the Indian army and the local Mukti Bahini guerillas. East Pakistan metamorphosed into Bangladesh and the geopolitics of the Subcontinent now cast in stone. BJP would do well to respect Indira Gandhi’s great service to her country.

To forget or ignore history is to do so at the risk of national peril. Of course, one must move on from the past, as both India and the US have done, and may well continue to do well into the future. Such a relationship must be anchored on India’s strategic autonomy. India can be a friend but not an ally of the United States, agreeing to differ where their national interests diverged, cooperating closely with each other where they converged.

The US Congress has passed legislation threatening any with sanctions if they lined up with countries listed as adversarial foes of the United States. This is at variance of a rules-based global order, an affront to international peace and security and a gross violation of international law. Arbitrary tariffs, unilateral sanctions, tearing up of previous treaties signed in good faith by members of the international community are a sure recipe for tension and ultimately, war.

India has been told by Washington to sign up to a sanctions regime against Iran and reduced its ‘privileged strategic partnership with Russia.’ India’s Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has turned down these peremptory demands. She described India’s ties with Russia as ‘time-tested,’ and hence transcending any such pressures. Voices in India’s US lobby have suggested slyly that Iran may serve as a subject for bargain, in exchange for India’s purchase of Russia’s S400 anti-missile defence system. Why only this item and not the thousands that emanate from Russia. Base trickery rarely brings lasting rewards. The English historian Harold Nicolson, penned these enduring truths in his masterly study of The Congress of Vienna (1815): ‘…good diplomacy must be based on confidence; and that confidence can only be created by consistency and truthfulness.’

Indian Railways will soon be deploying dronesd to monitor rail tracks, a step that promises to bring India’s most extensive transport system into a 21st security framework. Under an initiative of the telecom industry and the railways, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Roorkee has developed the drones that are currently being tested on the tracks around this Uttar Pradesh town.

‘The Indian Railways is in the advanced stages of deployment of these aerial vehicles to monitor rail tracks using the technology developed by IIT-Roorkee, ‘ said Anurag Vibhuti, Deputy Director, Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCOE) India. TCOE is a public-private sector initiative in the telecom industry that works with the academic community on the development of new technologies. Under this venture, the the railways broadband services arm RailTel Corporation has partnered IIT-Roorkee to develop drones that will help automate rail track monitoring, which is a labour intensive enterprise.

The drones will operate alongside the present operating system, perhaps even replacing it, if possible, sometime in the future. The railways plan to expand drone usage into complementary functions such as

infrastructure projects as well as relief and rescue operations and crowd control.

This is in line with government objectives to apply technology including Artificial Intelligence to enhance safety and efficiency in train operations. For IITRoorkee, the next challenge in the project is utilizing Artificial Intelligence and Big Data to analyze images and information captured by drones and make the monitoring more real-time to pinpoint faulty rail tracks.

This is key to passenger safety on one of the world’s largest railway systems. It adds a significant measure for the prevention of rail accidents involving derailment of trains or their collisions resulting in avoidable deaths and injuries among the travelling public. Government data show 54 derailments in 2017-18 compared to 76 in the previous year and 141 in 2012-13. IIT-Roorkee is considering applying for a patent for the technology.

Why ever not, as it has been its principal driver. The coda messages the critical component of science and technology in India’s transformation from developing to developed nation. Politics and politicians come and go for the main part, science and technology have more enduring impact, turning past and present into the future.

IIT Roorkee drones for Indian Railways

UK welcomes Indian businessmen, students Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond stated that the challenges facing Britain in the post Brexit world will be to make the most of the opportunities in the big emerging economies of India, China. ‘When you are number one in any game, somebody will always be trying to overtake you. However, London has got where it is and stayed where it is by being innovative and agile, always scanning the horizon for the next thing that is coming whether it is green finance or masala bonds, or renminbi internationalization, making sure that we are always ahead of the game.’

Apropos of Brexit, history and geography are the key determinants in the making of policy, hence both sides, with traditional sophistication to back them will surmount the pitfalls and barriers that currently confront their governments. Furthermore, the EU has internal divisions on the vexed question of migration. Over and above that, the United States, once wedded to open markets and free trade, had now reverted to protectionist

policies with the arbitrary imposition of tariffs. He was hopeful that the world would be spared a tariff war, but ‘whatever happens, the UK will remain an outspoken proponent of open markets and free trade;’ and he hoped India, too, would think about ‘opening up its market further removing non-tariff barriers and encorage trade and stimulate competition.’

Philip Hammond dwelt on his recent experiences in Mumbai, where he witnessed the fruitful interactions of British and Indian businessmen; he alluded to his conversations with the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Tuning into other topics of interest, he said: ‘For highly skilled workers, for example, where we have tier-II visas … we have announced that we will take doctors out of that count…That frees up another 8,000 places, make it easier for people for software skills, for example, that want to go and work in the UK to do so.’ He said Indian students, like Indian businessmen, ‘are very welcome in the UK.’

Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

3

Once water has been spilled, it cannot be scooped back up - Swahili proverb

Alpesh Patel

School Reunions – Life Lessons in School of Life Our schools do not come even close to teaching overtly the skills for life needed to thrive and survive. Schools were once built to build character for nation builders. A generation of snowflakes, entitled and crackable at the slightest trouble are seen by many a modern social problem.

That’s unfair. From the greatest of all generations – that of my grandparents, those who fought for liberty in a World War to mine and those after me, there is dilution in character traits. So want to know the secret short-cut to fame and success in a 500 word article written in simple rules? Of course you do snowflake.

Read on, or jog on. I write to you from a train hurtling to Leeds and a gathering of former pupils of my school.

The most important thing I would tell my younger self, 30 years on, is a character trait which is the need of our time today; something which will see you through to success in all times. There are books on the bestseller list dealing with this – so I am not the first to have come across it. And I am still working on it myself.

The Most Important Lesson in School: Resilience and ‘Anti-Fragility’

Your professional and personal life will fall apart without this. I joined Fulneck Boys School at 13. I was two years behind the other pupils.

Resilience came from crying at midnight as I had to translate every word in my German homework, word by word. It did not come from being told I was perfect as I am, but to show courage and fight on. ‘I don’t care if you succeed or fail, I want you to show courage’ was the message from my grandmother. Damn right.

Nowadays I fear it would be ‘you’re just wonderful darling.’

And winning the German Prize three years later provided serious devotion and dedication and persistence and resilience and never giving up, even at 13 and 14 is a life lesson well worth paying the price for when I could hear the other pupils playing outside having fun. I promised you this, you will be in demand for the whole of your life if you make the choice to be resilient.

You will be wanted personally and professionally.

Resilience does not come from being pampered and told you are perfect – but instead when you hit 93%, being told by your uncle – ‘What happened the other 7%’? That builds resilience and makes you look up, when you think you are at the top. Not from being told your perfect and entitled and wonderful.

Each year our schools dilute the award of top grades, no wonder everyone feels entitled to As and A*s – they are worthless. And this past week a report revealed that 40% of University degrees are First Class. It was 10% when I was at University. Society reinforces mediocrity as excellence.

Continued on page 13

Editor: CB Patel

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Telford grooming gang leader back behind bars The ringleader of a Telford child sex abuse gang has been recalled to prison, nine months after being released, an MP said.

Telford MP Lucy Allan said Mubarek Ali was recalled for breaching his licence. He was jailed in 2012 for his role at the head of the Operation Chalice gang, and, she said, automatically released in November. Ms Allan has now called for him to serve the remainder of his licence period behind bars.

Ali, 35, who was of Regent Street, Wellington at the time of his conviction, was freed from prison in November 2017.

He was given a sentence

of 14 years' immediate custody and eight years on licence in 2012 for four charges of controlling child prostitution, two of trafficking in the UK for sexual exploitation and a charge of causing child prostitution.

Because of time served on remand, his release was automatic at the halfway point of his sentence.

Ms Allen said there are "many questions to be answered" about why Ali was let out, claiming he was not seen by a parole board before his release, and also about how the justice system treats grooming cases.

Ms Allen added: "Now he is back in jail, justice demands that he must serve the remainder of his sen-

Trial begins of men charged with murder of Leicester jeweller Ramniklal Jogiya

Operation Chalice, launched by West Mercia Police, led to the jailing in 2012 of a group of men officers believe may have targeted more than 100 girls. Mubarek Ali (top right) has since been recalled to prison for breaching his licence

tence in custody; anything less would show a casual disregard for the nature of his crimes and for the victims whose lives he changed forever."

The Ministry of Justice said it does not comment on individual cases, while the Parole Board said: "If he had been recalled, we would not be notified."

Crooked HSBC worker in jail sentence appeal after £200k fraud A former HSBC worker who led a lavish lifestyle by laundering stolen cash has failed in an Appeal Court bid to get his jail term cut.

Mansoor Sanobar, 33, from Walsall, was locked up for two years and 11 months at Birmingham Crown Court in March. He admitted transferring and converting criminal property, Lord Justice Flaux told London's Appeal Court.

Co-defendant Abdul Khan got three years two months.

Both men worked for HSBC and, between 2014 and 2016, Khan used 'various methods' to transfer £221,000 out of the bank's internal accounts.

Around £190,000 of the

money was moved electronically to Sanobar's credit cards and entered his bank account before being transferred on.

There was evidence both men had been 'living extravagant lifestyles', said the judge.

Prosecutors accepted that Sanobar did not initially know or suspect the transfers were improper. But, after he became 'suspicious', he continued to help Khan.

Police found more than £11,300 and over £2,000worth of gold bullion in a bag at Khan’s home, Birmingham Crown Court heard. And more than £14,000 had been transferred into foreign currency. It later emerged that Khan spent some of the funds

Fake cop 'conned victims out of £180k' and claimed he could sell prisoners' homes at bargain prices

A conman who posed as a police officer is thought to have raked in £180,000 by claiming he could sell jailed criminals’ homes at bargain prices.

Mohammed Raja duped victims into believing he was a West Midlands Police economic crime investigator. He said it was his job to dispose of properties seized from crooks under the Proceeds of Crime Act. And police said more than 50 people could have been conned by his elaborate scam. He used force headed notepaper and built a wardrobe of police clothes including a stab vest, utility

Mohammed Raja and the fake police uniform items

belt, lanyard, police fleece and flat cap to pull off the ruse.

But the paper came from his spell as a security guard at the force’s Lloyd House HQ in Birmingham between 2003 and 2005. He also created bogus documents to support his scam, plus doctored emails from senior officers addressed to “Sergeant Raja”.

It’s understood he collectively conned victims out of more than £180,000 – but his scam was exposed in 2016 when a man contacted West Midlands Police to report what he believed was a corrupt officer.

Abdul Khan Mansoor Sanobar

on hotel accommodation in Dubai in June 2106.

Sanobar had two previous convictions for five offences, the court heard. His lawyers argued that his jail term was too tough 'when one has regard to what this man did'.

He 'did nothing wrong at all in the course of his employment', the court was told.

Sanobar had shown remorse, was the primary carer for two elderly parents and character references described his 'exemplary conduct'.

Inquest into death of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi adjourned until October An inquest into the death of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi has been adjourned until October.

Abedi, 22, detonated a rucksack bomb in a foyer area of the venue on May 22 last year after an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 people and injuring many hundreds more.

Fiona Borrill, acting senior coroner for Manchester, presided over a hearing lasting just a matter of minutes today.

She cited the ‘live’ police investigation still under way into the terror attack as one of the reasons a full inquest hearing could not yet be held.

Only the coroner, court staff and three members of the press were present at Manchester Coroner’s Court for the pre-inquest review, which was over in five minutes.

Ms Borrill said the Chief Coroner had now decided that an experienced, retired judge should preside over

inquests for the 22 who died in the attack, as well as that of Abedi, but no-one has yet been appointed to the role.

A further delay was resolved this week, the coroner said, with a change in the law involving the Investigatory Powers Act, allowing the retired judge appointed to deal with ‘sensitive’ evidence concerning national security issues.

The judge is set to be appointed in autumn.

Ms Borrill meanwhile adjourned inquest proceedings for Abedi until October 19, when a further preinquest review would be held.

No relatives of victims were present.

The trial of four men accused of the murder/manslaughter of Leicester jeweller Ramniklal Jogia began on Monday at Birmingham Crown Court. The defendants are: Thomas Jervis (24), Callan Reeve (20), Charlie Ward, also known as Charles Mcauley, (20), and Javon Roach (30).

All four of the men have denied the charges of murder and of manslaughter in connection with the death of Mr Jogiya.

The businessman was reported missing by his family when he failed to return home having locked up his shop, Vama Collections, in Belgrave Road, Leicester, on the evening of Wednesday, January 24. His body was found the next morning in Gaulby Lane, Stoughton.

'Nasty bully' imam Abdul Rauf admits beating boys

A "bullying" imam who "assaulted many children" and left them "writhing in pain" has been jailed.

Abdul Rauf attacked two boys, aged 10 and 12, at a mosque study class in Greater Manchester in 2017, police said. Reviewing CCTV footage, officers then found the 51-year-old had beat other pupils' "ears, arms and legs".

Admitting 21 assaults, he was jailed for 17 months at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

'Racist graffiti' in Horncastle treated as hate crime

Graffiti daubed on the walls of buildings in a market town is being treated as a hate crime, Lincolnshire Police said.

The graffiti, which appeared on a number of buildings in Horncastle overnight on Wednesday, included anti-Muslim slogans and swastikas. It also included a number of phrases, including one which read "Keep Briton White" (sic).

The force has been reviewing CCTV in an effort to catch those responsible.

Officers have also increased patrols in the area and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

'Punish a Muslim Day' letter suspect appears at Old Bailey

A man will go on trial accused of sending letters calling for a day of violence against Muslims. The "Punish a Muslim Day" notes calling for a coordinated attack on Muslims were sent to addresses across the UK. David Parnham, 35, from Lincoln, has been charged with a total of 14 offences, including soliciting to murder and staging a bomb hoax. He was remanded in custody and will go on trial at the Old Bailey on 26 November. The letters were reportedly received in communities across England and Wales.

Mr Parham faces: - One charge of soliciting to murder - Two charges of sending letters promoting a "Punish a Muslim Day", encouraging the commission of offences - Five counts of sending a hoax noxious substance - Five charges under the Malicious Communications Act of sending threatening letters - One charge of staging a bomb hoax

Sex attacker who raped schoolgirl then ordered her to say 'thank you', in appeal bid

A sex attacker who raped a schoolgirl and then asked her to “say thank you” has failed in a bid to clear his name. Fesal Aidarus, 19, was handed a six-year jail term at Birmingham Crown Court after jurors convicted him of rape last November.

His victim was a 14-year-old he viciously raped after he and a friend picked her up in 2015. Dismissing the sentence challenge, the appeal judge pointed to Aidarus' lack of remorse.

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Indian-origin man's new startup aims to combat 'fake news' Rupanjana Dutta

18

Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

UK

5

NS O I T NA NOW I M NO PEN O

th

Lyric Jain, an MIT and Cambridge University student, founded Brighouse-based Logically, with the intention of “combatting fake news”. Originally from Mysore, India, Lyric moved to the Solihull, UK when he was 12.

With the increasing amount of social media influence, fake news is a very common factor. The engineering student, is trying to fight back with Logically, a machinelearning algorythm, which he has designed with aid of faculty advisers at MIT, at US. According to a report

by Businesscloud.co.uk, Logically has a board of advisers comprised of alumni from both MIT and Cambridge University and has raised £1 million in funding. It employs 38 people across the UK, India and US and is planning to almost double that in 2018.

It also has 10 full-time developers and researchers and aditionally it relies occasionally on academia and opensource work - the number of people who have helped Logically is well into the 100s.

21 year old Lyric started his first business at the age of just 16, when he reportedly designed and later developed the ABS Secure Lock, which is witnessed to be an industry benchmark for door locks.

He was motivated to build Logically after witnessing the ‘echo chamber’ effect during the Brexit debate, where many people were

Lyric Jain

only subjected to opinions that mirrored their own, through social media platforms like Twitter.

Speaking to Asian Voice exclusively, Lyric said, “We are living in an information ecosystem with opportunistic actors looking to win eyeballs and ad revenue by leveraging shocking content and confirmation bias. There are politically motivated actors and state sponsored Institutions such as IRA who are poisoning the information we consume to fulfill their objectives.

Even some of the larger publishers and broadcasters tailor their content so that it's agrees with the worldview of their audience.

“News that is fake outright and is deliberately deceptive can be detected using our systems and filtered for our users. In cases where claims authors and publishers are in a 'grey area's where no judgement can be passed, we make our users aware of all the perspectives for that claim from

across the political spectrum and highlight the trackrecords of pundits and speculators. We would like to be used as a source of almost instant verification of any questionable claims you might encounter and also as a news discovery platform that determines the credibility of articles and intelligently recommends alternative perspectives allowing you to truly understand the world and what’s happening in it.”

Logically will have a private launch on 16 July, just for partners and friends, which will be followed by a public launch in September, to coincide with the start of University season and US mid terms.

What's next in pipeline for Logically? “Gathering feedback from our users about or product and technology,” said Lyric “And finding the right B2B partners for the many applications Logically and its core technology has in verticals such as government, media, adtech and fintech.”

MP urges Prime Minister to save British citizen from police torture in India

Preet Kaur Gill MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for British Sikhs have written to the Prime Minister Theresa May's office requesting her to 'use all the diplomatic means' at her disposal to ensure that the Government of India abides by the rule of law and not subject British citizen Jagtar Singh Johal to torture, who was arrested by the Indian security forces on 4 November 2017.

Johal was visiting India for his marriage when he was arrested.

Seven months later, Johal has still been in detention. He has alleged that he has been subject to torture in the hands of Indian security forces, includding “electric shocks” and has been “threatened to be burnt”.

Mr Johal also alleged that

Is there someone you know who has broken boundaries and deserves recognition for their unique contribution to the Asian Community or the Nation ?

Nominate them for the 18th Asian Achievers Awards

The prestigious Asian Achievers Awards is hosted every year by UK’s leading news weeklies Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar to honour British Asians par excellence.

Deadline for nomination 31st July, 2018 Please tick the appropriate category Achievement in Community Service In recognition for an individuals service to community.

Woman of the Year The award will recognise and honour a woman who has made a significant mark in any chosen field.

Sports Personality of the Year Awarded for excellence in sports.

Business Person of the Year Awarded to a business person who is a success in every sense of the word and can demonstrate a genuine passion for social issues.

Lifetime Achievement Award To honour those individuals, who during their lifetime, have made immense contributions in any given field. This remarkable individual can be marked as an example for the younger generation.

Uniformed and Civil Services For outstanding achievements in uniformed and civil services or contribution to the community through any of the above services.

Entrepreneur of the Year Awarded to an entrepreneur with a proven track record of operating a successful business enterprise.

Professional of the Year Professionals in the field of medicine, law, education, banking, finance and others, who have scaled the heights of their chosen profession.

Achievement in Media, Arts and Culture Someone who has made a mark in media including print and broadcast media; cinema, art and culture.

Please fill the details below Preet Kaur Gill MP

he was forced to make recordings of statements police officers told him to say, and that he was forced to sign blank pieces of paper and other documents he was not allowed to read.

Gill who has been working closely with Jagtar's MP Martin Docherty-Hughes have communicated with the Foreign Commonwealth Office and also written to Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh.

Gill has requested for a

Jagtar Singh Johal

statement to the House by the Foreign Secretary. This letter has been co-signed by 69 other MPs including Rushanara Ali, Imran Hussain, Shabana and Khalid Mahmood, Naz Shah, faisal rashid, Virendra Sharma, Mohammed Yasin and Keith Vaz. No official charges have been brought against Johal, but the Indian police have claimed he was linked to the killing of Hindu leaders in Punjab.

I Nominee's

Full Name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I Occupation: I Nominee's I Email:

_______________________________

Contact Details Tel: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

__________________________________

Make sure that you fill in this application form and send it on or before 31st July, 2018 by post, fax or email to Mr. Rovin George, Tel: 020 7749 4013, Fax 020 7749 4081, Email: aaa@abplgroup.com.

If you are sending it by post the address is Mr. Rovin George, ABPL Group, Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW. Apply online

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Married PwC worker, 28, accused of raping girl, 18, says she ‘begged him for sex’ A married PwC worker accused of raping an 18year-old woman in an alleyway has claimed she repeatedly ‘begged him for sex’. Sanjay Naker, 28, approached the woman after she was thrown out of Number 1 club in London Bridge for being too intoxicated. Inner London crown court heard how he slung her over his shoulder and dragged her away from the busy street on March 11 last year. In a 30 minute attack he forced her to perform sex acts before raping her in the alleyway, it is claimed.

Naker was found by a passerby at 4.45am, standing over her and zipping up his trousers, as she lay unconscious, half naked, covered in urine and vomit. When he was interviewed by police last

year, he said: ‘I was quite upset about the ordeal since it happened when I was with my wife and I was like “how can I do this to her?”.’

Naker reportedly told police that he saw the 18 year old having sex with another man on a bench before he left her to go back inside. He said: ‘I asked her if she was alright and she said: “Do you want to f*** me?”

‘Then she just kept saying “f*** me”. That was the only conversation I remember having with her. ‘She honestly just seemed to be very horny at that time. I would not have had sex with her if I had known how drunk she was.’ He added: ‘I was like “what the f**k am I doing, why am I going out and kissing another woman

Sanjay Naker

when I don’t need to”.

Naker told police he told a white male to call an ambulance and gave him his number and told him to give it to the girl too.

The court heard how he and his wife have been best friends since they were 17 years old but that he had cheated on her

before.

Jurors heard how the last thing the victim remembered was standing in the smoking area with her cousin at the club and they staring at a brick wall in the alley. She learnt the next day how she had been kissing a man from the party on the sofas in the VIP area later that night, but had no recollection of it.

The jury watched CCTV, which showed she appears to be slumped over his back, not really maintaining any grip, before she fell and hit her head on the ground.

Naker, of Wood Green, north London, denies one count of attempted rape, one charge of assault by penetration, and a count of sexual assault.

The trial continues.

Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies Celebrates 20 years This Monday, the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies celebrated its 20th anniversary. Since its modest beginnings in 1997 with just 3 students, it has managed to establish itself as a leader in the field of Hindu studies, consolidating and bringing together a global web of scholarship.

The Centre’s astounding growth is possible thanks to the support of its backers and well-wishers; the 20th anniversary celebration is a chance for the OCHS community to celebrate the fruits of its hard work and consider the future. A celebration dinner was held at the Oxford Town Hall on July 2nd,

Some of the invited guests

2018 and was attended by over 250 guests, including business people, political figures, scholars, students, religious leaders, and other key members of our community.

An address was given by Prof.

Louise Richardson, ViceChancellor of the University of Oxford.

Other speakers included

Man banned from every Asda in the UK after fabric softener row

A man has been banned from every branch of Asda in the country after a row over fabric softener.

Mulkh Chumber visited his local branch of the supermarket chain after spotting an advert for his favourite brand of Comfort Creations.

But when he tried to buy 10 bottles he got into a row with the cashier and police were called. Asda has now banned him from ever stepping foot in any branch, reports StokeOnTrentLive Mulkh, 53, went to the store after spotting a national advert saying bottles of Comfort Creations had been slashed from £3 to £1. But at the till he was told the price was actually £2.

Mulkh said: “I went to the customer service desk and told one of the workers about this issue and

Prof. Francis X. Clooney, S.J, Harvard University, Prof.

Keith Ward, University of Oxford, and Mr Ajay Piramal, Indian industrialist and philanthropist.

In two decades, the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies has grown into an institution serving as base to world-class scholars. It has hosted over 2000 lec-

Grenfell firefighter says residents should have been evacuated earlier Senior fire officers responding to the Grenfell Tower blaze wanted the building to be evacuated well before the decision was finally made, the public inquiry into the disaster which claimed 72 lives has heard.

Dan Egan, a senior fire safety officer with 25

Mulkh Chumber holding up the Asda advert

was told they were £2. I showed her the advert, which stated they were £1, and she said it was subject to availability, even though the shelves were full.

“Then I was told it was selected stores only. But they could not tell me where the offer was available and I was told I would have to put them back.”

Mulkh has now shifted his shopping allegiance to Morrisons. Police are not taking any action against the customer.

tures at Oxford and engaged in international conferences and collaborative research with top universities in Asia, Europe, and North America.

The twentieth anniversary was an opportunity to step back and take stock of where the organisaation is and where it’s headed. It’s aims have always been dual: to fuel the academic study of Hinduism, and to take this scholarship from its high perch and make it responsive to the needs of everyday Hindus and the wider community.

Their publishing, conferences, and visiting student opportunities have accomplished the former, and their burgeoning online courses and outreach projects, the latter.

years’ experience, said he believed the tower should have been evacuated when he arrived just before 2am on 14 June 2017. He said station manager Pete Wolfenden and group manager Tom Goodall, senior firefighters overseeing the response, agreed.

NHS 'a political football' around UK Serious problems facing the NHS are not being tackled because politicians too often use it as a "political football," a think-tank has warned. The four nations of the UK are failing to learn from each other, with the NHS instead used "to batter each other over the head".

Helen Howson, director of the Bevan Commission, said each nation is missing opportunities to share ideas. These include tackling a surge in care demands from an

ageing population.

Ms Howson said each nation and its health service had "a bit of the answer" but there needed to be a way of sharing the best ideas and approaches.

Ms Howson said the NHS had "tended to be used as a political football and that is to nobody's advantage".

There was a row only last week when Theresa May challenged the spending per head on the health service in England and Wales.

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Plot to kill Theresa May was 'fantasy', Old Bailey hears A man accused of plotting to kill Theresa May has told the Old Bailey his alleged plans, including an attack from the edge of space, were a fantasy.

Naa'imur Zakariyah Rahman, a 20-year-old originally from Walsall, denies preparing acts of terrorism last year.

Speaking at the start of his defence, Mr Rahman said he faked support for attacks when he spoke online to a man.

That man - who Mr Rahman thought was a commander from the Islamic State (IS) group was an undercover officer.

Earlier in the trial, the jury saw a secretly recorded video of Mr Rahman meeting an undercover officer, who was posing as an IS organiser, and asking for a bomb and suicide vest so that he could fight his way into Downing Street to kill the prime minister.

On Monday, Mr Rahman told the jury his life had been turned upside down when he was arrested for sending a sexually explicit text message.

He said that, after being thrown out of home, he was desperate to leave the UK. Mr Rahman was also grieving for an uncle who had died fighting alongside IS in Syria.

Naa'imur Zakariyah Rahman

He told the court: "My uncle had said that if you join a sleeper cell, Islamic State will pay for your accommodation.

"I was desperate. When you're homeless, you're just thinking about a place to stay."

The jury heard that during the first online exchanges with the purported commander, Mr Rahman allegedly hoped to car-bomb Parliament, even though he could not drive.

He then said: "I learned in science, when I was younger, of a kafir [disbeliever] who went into space in a high altitude hot air balloon.

"If you sent hot air balloons above the altitude planes could reach, and have brothers with missiles above, God willing you can drop them."

The undercover officer replied: "That is a good idea, we never thought about that before."

The trial continues.

Third man charged with murder after Bristol flat death A third man has been charged with murder after a man died at a flat in Bristol.

Jordan Lee Parker, 23, from Bedminster, Bristol, was also charged with two counts of causing grievous bodily harm.

Yasin Salah Ahmed, 21, from Islington, London, was attacked at a property in Prewett Street, Redcliffe, on 25 June.

Korie Hassan, 25, from Croydon, and Leon Eaton,

37, from Lambeth, were charged with murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm last week.

Mr Parker is due to appear at Bristol Magistrates' Court later.

Two other men, who were taken to hospital with serious injuries, were discharged and then arrested.

They are both aged 22 and from London and have since been released under investigation.

A school where pupils allegedly chained a black student to a lamppost and whipped him in a "mock slave auction" has been rated as inadequate by Ofsted.

Police investigated a racially aggravated safeguarding incident at Beechen Cliff School in Bath in January and interviewed seven boys. Ofsted found staff failed to report the incident and their response to it was "insufficient and too slow".

The chair and deputy chair of the board of governors have resigned.

The Ofsted report follows an unannounced inspection in May which

found safeguarding at the school was "not effective".

Inspectors said the language used by leaders and governors during the inspection to describe the incident gave "serious cause for concern".

"They still do not appreciate its true gravity and little appears to have been learned from the way that this issue was handled, as the ongoing poor practice with regard to referrals demonstrates.

"The school's current plans to improve safeguarding are weak."

The school, which has over 1,300 pupils, was previously rated outstanding in 2014.

'Mock slave auction' school rated inadequate

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Dr Mahiben Maruthappu: A hope for saving NHS? Dr Mahiben Maruthappu and his family are a shining example of the contributions of the Asian community towards NHS in the last 70 years. Not just as a doctor, but also as an innovator, Dr Mahiben is changing the face of our health system, perhaps with a hope of saving its future.

Popularly known as Ben among colleagues, he is the Co-founder of the NHS Innovation Accelerator, introducing ways to counter the most challenging issues our health service currently encounters. It has so far created innovations used by more than 1200 organisations across the NHS, saving lives and millions of pounds.

He is also the Founder and CEO of technologyenabled home care provider Cera, that uses artificial intelligence to tackle growing crisis around social care and has Sir Nick Clegg as the Chairman on its advisory board. Prior to that, Dr Mahiben was the youngest senior fellow to the Chief Executive of the NHS, Simon Stevens, advising on innovation and technology and also he published an academic paper, including what the NHS can learn from the mobile game Pokemon Go. Ben, now 30, spent his childhood in the inner working of the NHS- both its triumphs and tragedies.

His parents who were doctors too, arrived in London from Sri Lanka 35 years ago. His mother Jayalini, is a practicing geriatrician, while his father, Kumaraswamy was a surgeon specialising in hip.

His sister currently works as an NHS doctor.

He was only 12, a student at Haberdasher's, a North London public school, when his father

suffered a heart attack. He watched the heroic staff trying to save his father all night, but he unfortunately passed away. His sister was at University then, and mother became a single parent over night, it was a very challenging time for the family.

Dr Mahiben in an exclusive interview with The Sunday Telegraph, said, “We were very close and it was an emotional time.

“It definitely took me a while to appreciate what had happened and also to be able to move on. My sister was at university and my mother became a single parent in a short period of time, so it was very challenging for our family.

Looking back, I think it is one of the moments in my life that encouraged me to have a greater role in health and the NHS.” He went on to study medicine at Cambridge and Oxford, also spending an interim year at Harvard as a Kennedy Scholar.

Already a growing entrepreneur who, formed the UK Medical Students’ Association, while still an undergraduate. It was his time on the campus when Facebook and Microsoft became popular, and it showed him what pro-

found and untapped potential technology could play in healthcare.

After graduating in 2013, he spent a year at Ealing Hospital as a junior doctor before moving to work for NHS England. The following year, the idea for the innovation accelerator was thought of, and by 2015 it was up and running.

His another creation is a smartphone app for managing hypertension in pregnancy by enabling expectant mothers to keep tabs on their own blood pressure producing data which is, in turn, monitored by clinicians in real time. The app has produced average cost savings of £300 per patient per week, and halved the number of hospital appointments.

Dr Mahiben still sits on the programme board of the innovation accelerator and still practises as a junior doctor in North London. However, much of his energy is now focused on his homecare provider, Cera, which was jointly founded with Marek Sacha in 2016 and is currently expanding from the south east to Nottingham, Yorkshire and Manchester and, by the end of the year, Germany.

Anil Agarwal, billionaire, executive chairman and controlling shareholder of mining company Vedanta Resources has launched a bid to take full control of the business that may result in it 'ditching' its London listing on the stock exchange.

Agarwal who transformed Vedanta from a scrap metal company that he started in 1973 to a multibillion pound business, has reportedly offered to pay shareholders £778mn for the 33.5% stake in the miner that he currently does not own.

It has been gathered that he intends to purchase the shares through Volcan Investments, a company owned by his family trust.

The 825p per share offer is a 28pc premium to the FTSE 250 company's share price before news of the deal broke, according to The Daily Telegraph. It sent Vedanta's share price up by 26pc to 818p.

Vedanta produces commoditoes lile oil, zinc, iron ore and copper on India and Africa. He has already brought together several parts of the business under one umbrella. Vedanta's board has supported the offer, which wiill now be subject to a shareholder's vote. It is also believed this has come after a widespread protest broke out in Tamil Nadu, India, after the police shot into a group of protesters.

However, The Economic Times reported on July 3rd that fishermen in Tamil Nadu, India, have claimed they have been “brainwashed” into picketing the district collector’s office in a demonstration against the copper smelter in Vedanta Sterlite factory at Thoothukudi, that led to police firing on the crowd, resulting in 13 deaths.

The Left-leaning Makkal Adhikaram (People Power), which had stood against other big-ticket project such as the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, has denied the charge of having influenced the fishermen into taking up aggressive methods of demonstrations.

Dr Mahiben Maruthappu

Anil Agarwal bids to take full control of Vedanta Resources

British Asian woman to swim across the English Channel for charity A UK-based entrepreneur Leah Chowdhry from Oxshott, will become one of the first British Asian women to swim across the English Channel, on 4 July, when she will set off from Dover on a gruelling 22-mile swim to Calais, to raise funds for a charity.

Funds raised rom the challenge, for the British Asian Trust, a charity founded by HRH The Prince of Wales, will help to protect vulnerable children from trafficking and exploitation in India and provide quality education for some of the country’s poorest children. Leah has already raised more than £35,000 for this lifechanging work.

Taking on average 13 hours in light and darkness, Leah will be battling with jelly fish, ship tankers and seasickness, but has been training hard over the last six months to support the incredible cause that she is so passionate about. With a BSc in Childhood Studies, Indianorigin Leah has always been passionate about childhood development and is the CEO of Pop up, Party & Play.

British Asian Trust’s

Leah Chowdhry

partner organisation Prerana runs three nightcare centres for children at risk, as well as shelter homes and a residential

training centre for girls rescued from the trafficking trade. This project will support India’s first online resource centre dedicated to the prevention of sexual

offences against children and provide 80 girls and young women aged 15+ with a rehabilitation care programme to build better futures.

Back in February, Leah visited both partner organisations in India to see the Trust’s work in action. She said: “When I asked some of the children what they aspired to be, they answered: ‘a footballer’ or ‘a doctor’, despite all their hardships, they remained so motivated and positive, which spurs me on even more with my training.”

“I am honoured to be one of the first ever British Asian women to take on this challenge, with only just short of 1,500 people to ever complete the swim.”

Leah will have family and friends in a support boat who will be travelling alongside her, but under Channel Swimming Association rules, she is not allowed any human contact while undertaking the challenge.

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As I See It

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Disunited UK government and the Tory MPs

Prime minister Theresa May, otherwise a sensible and sensitive human being is wearing a crown full of thorns- in the shape of Ministers and several MPs in her party.

With a very flimsy majority in the Commons, her position is unenviable.

Brexit is the biggest bugbear. On the eve of the final date of the ultimatum, she is going to assemble her Cabinet at the Chequers to agree on the terms to be offered to the EU. Shocking. This should have been done long before triggering Article 50.

British people are more level headed and pro-active. The traditional values and standards have been discarded beyond belief.

Financial Times on Tuesday has a banner headline, “May keeps Cabinet in the dark over customs plan for Brexit”.

In the darkness who will stab whom is a serious concern. How to circle the square that is the real question. Let’s keep on one side the problems related to immigration, Irish border, Scottish scenario, defence, international relations, sovereignty, British influence worldwide and other issues aside. It’s economy, stupid. So said Bill Clinton.

In 2010 the Coalition government focussed on deficit control and gradual reduction. With lot of pain some gains were achieved. But what is happening now? Helplessly the government has pledged 20bn pounds for NHS, now the chancellor is inundated with demands from his colleagues for huge and perhaps needed amounts for police, armed

CB Patel

forces and other important departments.

No one cares that there is no bottomless pit for the government and the Bank of England cannot keep on printing money without serious consequences. Not only business a man on the London omnibus, so to say, is worried about employment, inflation, interest rates on the mortgage and borrowings. Sterling is on the downward trend with foreign currrencies. How and who will raise the necessary fund? Who will bear the burden? It is one thing to promise unendingly and have a spending binge. Look before you leap is a simple caution.

Sajid Javid has entered with a lot of hopes and expectations. The immigration regime is in a total mess and the Windrush episode is a blot on the British national trait. It appears no one has owned up. There is no sense of shame.

Sajid Javid is today praised and flattered, I wonder how long is it going to last? A capable person should not be expected to do wonders and become a scapegoat. If it happens it will be a disaster for many reasons.

The cabinet colleagues of the Prime Minster are quoted sometimes obliquely, sometimes a little bit openly for scramble for powerful positions. Time for the Conservative party, especially the leader and Prime Minister to put aside personal priorities and concentrate on national interest of today tomorrow and the day after.

UK Government needs to 'let go' of visa issues to build successful UK-India relationship UK Government needs to 'let go' of immigration and visa issues to build a successful relationship with India, former British High Commissioner to India, Richard Stagg told audience at a meeting of the Indo-British All Parliamentary Group (APPG) in the House of Commons on Monday. He raised his concerns over the lack of UK's strategy on achieving closer ties with India, at the event, that was organised to mark the launch of 'The Billionaire Raj: A Journey Through India's New Gilded Age' by former Financial Mumbai Bureau Chief James Crabtree, and was chaired

by Labour MP Seema Malhotra, the Vice Chair of the Indo-British APPG. Stagg who was in charge of the British High commission in Delhi between 2007 and 11, and is now the Chairman of Rothschild India, expressed his concerns over the UK government's lack of a clear strategy on achieving Pointing to defence and security as key areas of cooperation that both countries should be doing

Seema Malhotra

more, Stagg said speaking about the issues. He also insisted that it is on 'lack of trust' between both sides that is holding the relationship back, according to a report by the PTI. These clashes over visas have reached its climax after the new student visa relaxed terms dont include India, but China.

On the other hand UK giving refuge to Mallya, Nirav Modi have also affected the relationship further. It is believed PM Narendra Modi did not sign a MoU over illegal immigrants because of the 'current tension'.

Stagg, who is involved with trade negotiations between India and the European EU over the years, warned that it was the UK which had the most difficulty on issues such as

financial services, legal services, taxation and visas that prevented an India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) being struck.

Therefore, a post-Brexit FTA between India and the UK is unlikely to prove any easier.

Malhotra, chairing the event said that while India is often referred to as one of the key countries within the post-Brexit global context, in recent months relations had hit a rough patch largely due to visa issues.

Champa Patel, Head of the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House added that there is a knowledge gap abourt what modern India is about. In many ways, the UK is living in a past that is gone, geopolitics is completely different. The UK is sleepwalking into irrelevance if it doesn't recognise that soon, the PTI reported.

Crabtree told the gathering that there is much more that we can do on the visa issue but the idea of Global Britain and Brexit seem to be in dynamic tension.

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Mayor of London marks 70th anniversary of Windrush at City Hall

The Mayor of London on 30 June marked the 70th anniversary of the Windrush migration at City Hall.

Talks, spoken-word performances and panel discussions took place throughout City Hall, with the conversations and personal testimonies in the Chamber chaired by broadcaster Brenda Emmanus. These included contributions from Afua Hirsch, Kwame KweiArmah, Sharmaine Lovegrove and Jennette Arnold and excerpt performances from Talawa Theatre.

The event was opened by the Mayor and Baroness Floella Benjamin, OBE. The top floor of City Hall, London’s Living Room, was hosted by Penguin, featuring a mix of readings and talks from Linton Kwesi Johnson, Nikesh Shukla, Colin Grant and Bernardine Evaristo.

Penguin held workshops for children and young adults to get them thinking creatively about storytelling and getting their voice heard. Outside City Hall in The Scoop there was a music stage including performances from Sister Audrey, Alicai Harley and Black Slate.

The central entrance to City Hall featured an exhibition curated by gal-dem - Windrush Women. As part of the Mayor’s yearlong #Behind EveryGreatCity campaign, this exhibition of portraits and illustrations focussed on pioneering Caribbean women. A West Indian culinary exhibition enabled guests to step inside a kitchen modelled on a West Indian home to explore the region’s heritage, culture and migration through food. The City Hall café also served a range of Caribbeaninspired fare.

Audiences listened to migration audio stories of the experience of arriving in London, giving visitors the chance to hear a range of voices, such as a Nigerian barber who

arrived eight years ago, to a Jamaican war veteran and calypso star who came to London in 1933. A conversational booth invited guests to share their own stories with Voluntary Arts and BBC Radio capturing and broadcasting stories on the day about arrival in London.

Boat-making workshopsran along with archive material and Windrush suitcases from Hackney Museum.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am proud that City Hall is hosting an event to mark the 70th anniversary of Windrush. The talks, films and exhibitions will demonstrate that in London, we don’t simply tolerate each other’s differences, we celebrate them.

“The recent Windrush scandal has shone a light on an immigration system that is simply unfit for purpose and it was appalling to learn earlier this year that members of the Windrush generation were wrongly deported. I will continue to call on the Government for answers and to right the wrongs and distress they have caused.

“It is simply not right that the Windrush generation who have contributed so much to our city, our communities and our workforce, have been treated this way. This is a direct result of the hostile environment created by this government, which must stop. I will do everything I can in my role as Mayor of London to support the Caribbean community that plays a vital part in making London the great city it is.”

Sadiq Khan tackles vile abuses during speech Sadiq Khan, who is a seeking second term as London's Mayor in 2020, was heckled with vile abuse and called a "jihadist" by far-right activists at a speech at The O2, that was open to pub-

lic. It was annual attemp for Khan to interact with Londoners and answer their pressing questions.

During the debate on last Thursday 28 June, supporters of Tommy Robinson caused chaos, shouting "Free Tommy!" at the Mayor and telling him he wasn't welcome in London.

One man shouted: "Trump is welcome here, you're not. Terrorism is not part and parcel of living in a big city!

"You're a disgrace Khan!" He then started a chant, which several people joined in with, singing Tommy Robinson's name.

Security were then forced to throw him and others out of the venue so the debate could continue.

Khan-Trump clash Donald Trump's lawyer has said that Sadiq Khan should be "ashamed of himself" for criticising the US president.

Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, advised the Mayor of London to focus on leading the capital rather than making comments about Mr Trump, The Sky News reported.

Mr Giuliani made the comments on the sidelines of a conference which called for regime change in Iran.

Mr Trump and Mr Khan have clashed repeatedly since the pair were elected around two years ago.

Their first public sabre rattling was after London bridge attack last summer.

Mr Trump tweeted at the time: "At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is 'no reason to be alarmed!'"

Mr Khan's spokesperson replied to the barb by saying the mayor "has more important things to do" than respond to an "illinformed tweet" that deliberately took his comments out of context.

Mr Trump is expected to make his visit to UK in July. It will be a low-key working trip, rather than a state visit.

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Swaminarayan School trustees promise to consider extending notice period for pupils The Swaminarayan School in Brent has decided to extend its notice period before it closes the doors to students, after considering the concerns of parents and students.

T

he school sent a letter to all parents on 25 June 2018, explaining the closure is related to lack of funding, recruitment of right staff and falling number of students. However, they have now decided to keep both schools fully open for another year, until July 2020, giving everyone in the Prep School and Senior School two full years to find suitable places for their children for the academic year beginning in September 2020. If circumstances permit, the trust is also planning to keep the Prep School running for a third year, if feasible, provided there are sufficient pupil numbers.

Jitu Patel, Chairman of Akshar Educational Trust told Asian Voice exclusively, “Over the past few years, student numbers have been falling – from a peak of 515 in 2012 to 377 expected in September 2018. This downward trend is expected to continue. We recognise that the location of the School is not ideal since the catchment area of the majority of its students is some distance away.

“Other non-fee-paying Hindu schools have opened that are more local to students. Whilst we wholeheartedly applaud their success, this has provided an attractive alternative to many of our actual and prospective students.

“The leadership of the School has engaged in strenuous efforts to continue to promote the School to prospective parents and students but, notwithstanding these efforts, the decline in pupil numbers has continued.

“In addition to the fall in student numbers, the School has faced many challenges in recruiting and retaining teachers and staff necessary to maintain high standards.”

He further went on to say, “The trustees are duty-bound to act in a prudent financial manner and, in this respect, have projected future income against expenditure.

When the financial situation is examined in detail, it is beyond doubt that a continuation of the School would lead to substantial

losses which would, in all likelihood, continue indefinitely. Such a continuation is simply not sustainable in the long term and it would be wrong to give a false hope or promise that it is feasible to continue to run the School in this manner.

“Whilst the flow of losses could have been stemmed had the School closed immediately, or over a relatively short period of time, the trustees do recognise that this would have created significant hardship and difficulties for parents and students alike. So, even though delaying the closure will add to and accelerate the losses, the trustees are committed to keeping the School open for a period of time to enable students to complete, in particular, their GCSE and A-Level courses and to enable other students to secure alternative places elsewhere.

“Whilst certain members of the community expect that BAPS should continue to inject or donate funds into the School, it should be remembered that BAPS has many demands on its own resources in respect of religious and cultural activities, and we reiterate that its principal activities and objectives are religious, whereas the objectives of the School are obviously educational.

“Despite our efforts to secure support from other potential donors, no significant contributions have ever materialised.”

Students and Parents reactions A Prep School meeting with the parents took place on Tuesday 26th June 2018 and a Senior School meeting followed on Thursday 28th June 2018. However the disgruntled parents, not accepting the closure decision, in a statement told Asian Voice, “Following the two meetings parents are still feeling somewhat left in the dark with some lack of transparency to the causes given leading to the (closure) announcement, such as 'increasing regulatory requirements, difficulties in recruitment and retention of teachers, ready availability of free

state-funded Hindu schools, and declining pupil numbers'.”

A Year 10 parent told the newsweekly, “Whilst we, the parents, can see that these issues are of concern, we also feel that these issues exist across the independent school sector, and we feel that there is ample talent and a variety of skills across the parents of the school that can be put forward to help stop the announced closure.

“The parents and students of the school have always felt as one family with the teachers and each other, and the school is renowned for its excellent results year on year.”

Vimal P. (a year 13 student), who recently completed his A Levels, spoke about how the school has given him confidence to speak about his faith and religion, and how the school differs from others schools because this school makes the best students.

The parent body strongly feels that by working together, the school can still continue, but for this to happen, the

trustees and governors need to start an open dialogue with parents, which has not been happening over the years. Parents have also said that they are more than happy to consider taking over the running of the school by appointing new teams who will give due consideration to the communities and families that are being disrupted by this announcement, but ideally prefer working with the existing trustees and governors to resolve the concerns.

The parent body has written to the two boards requesting an urgent response and update following the meetings last week, to assess what steps are then needed (if any) to take the matter forward to achieve an outcome that works for all parties concerned.

Seema Malhotra MP also shares the views of the parents and stated, "I was surprised and saddened to hear this news.

The Swaminarayan school has a strong reputation and has been highly valued by parents and the community. I hope that

through discussions between parents, teachers, Governors and Trustees that a solution can be found and the school is able to stay open and continue to flourish."

The parents have now started a campaign online which supporters can sign at https://bit.ly/2N7esUN which has attracted over 3000 signatures as we go to press.

Addressing the emotions of the parents and students, Jitu Patel added, “We do recognise that emotions have been running high as the parents have had to face this difficult situation. We sincerely regret the sadness that this has caused to pupils, parents and staff alike.

“It is disappointing to note that allegations of serious impropriety and personal benefit have been made against the trustees.

These allegations are unjustified, devoid of merit and defamatory. The trustees and governors,

like many others, have for several years provided their services, input, time and expertise without charge and without any personal benefit whatsoever.

“We sincerely hope and humbly request that the parents, teachers, students and the community at large will understand the reasons for the decisions we are taking, act at all times in a calm and moderate way, and will support us to achieve an orderly winding down.

“No one has put more into the School over the last quarter of a century than those who have selflessly stood by it through its many trials and tribulations, celebrating its successes along the way too.

No one is more saddened than those who have had to make this difficult decision. Let us remember The Swaminarayan School for the thousands of successful students it has nurtured over the years.”

Over 25 years ago, with the blessings of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the Akshar Educational Trust was established as an educational charity, separate to Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) which is a religious charity. With funding provided by BAPS, the school building was acquired in 1990.

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7th July 2018

Immortal Modi

Modi government is gradually marching towards the end of its first term. Soon political parties will be face to face with the people of India for a fresh mandate.

There are however a few achievements of Narendra Modi that cannot be negated even by his fierce opponents as these will invariably remain in history books forever.

On Modi's initiative and with UNO's approval, 21st June is now annually celebrated all over the world as International Yoga Day. This has drawn global attention to this ancient Indian art of remaining physically, mentally and emotionally healthy. Surgical strikes in Burma and Pakistan have once again established India as a commanding military power in South Asia.

After India's independence, for the first time ever, we have sound diplomatic & economic relations with Israel as the PMs of both the nations have visited each other's country. The financial and technical collaboration agreement with Japanese Premiere for the first bullet train in India is another outstanding accomplishment.

India has made unprecedented strides in space exploration and launching of satellites during this period. The 600 feet tall Sardar Patel's Statue of Unity, once completed, will also be one of its kind in the world.

Even at the State level, development of the Sabarmati river front in Ahmedabad and BRTS as a means of public transport have fantastic value addition to the masses. The outcome of ' Make in India' and 'Clean India' drives are also noticeable now. The courageous step of demonetisation however could not fetch the desired consequences due to several corrupt bank officers.

Thus undoubtedly Narendra Modi will remain immortal for his boldness as also humbleness for centuries to come.

Bharat Shah Rayners Lane

No more tissues or atishoos!

Sneezing and rubbing my itching eyes on a hot and windy day, I asked an Indian doctor visiting Britain to name his favourite hay fever cure. His response surprised me. “Don’t worry about it, and, with luck, it may stop troubling you,” he said. I took his advice, focusing my mind on other matters, and it worked for me very quickly. No more tablets or soggy handkerchiefs for the past 15 years!

However, if this idea doesn’t work for you, some people recommend splashing your face and eyes with cold water at every opportunity. Also gargling and clearing your nostrils with cold water, placing your head under a cold water tap or shower, and drinking plenty of cold water to help discharge pollen from the body.

Rudy Otter By email

Could immune treatment end cancer misery?

It is a constant battle between our immune system and the diseases, illnesses such as Cancer and Tuberculosis, a few among many life-threatening illnesses we suffer from, here as well as in developing countries, especially later on in life. They surface when our immune system weakens due to old-age, poor health and unhealthy life-style and diseases has the upper-hand over the immune system.

Recently a case of a woman suffering from advanced drug resistant, terminal breast cancer appears to be cured after her doctors used two types of immunotherapy when conventional treatment failed to make any impact on her cancer. The cancer had spread to other parts of her body, including her liver.

The technic involves removing immune cells that fight such cancers, then multiply them into billions of cells in a laboratory and inject them back into the body, using patient’s bloodstream. British experts say this is an exciting development even though it involved only one patient so far.

A wide-spread study involving hundreds of patients will have to be undertaken before it could be available to selected patients, as the prohibitive cost may make it impossible to have such a treatment on NHS, at least in the beginning until the cost comes down, as is the case with any advancement in medical treatment. It may take a decade or two but if successful, it could end the Cancer misery, a word that passes shivers in our body, a death sentence for many patients.

Kumudini Valambia By email

My cause celebre

It would be most remiss of me if I did not thank the publisher/editor of AV and GS for canvassing the dates for a much awaited get-together of letter writers.

Having already had my summer holiday in the sunny climes of Ibitha, I am available on all of the suggested dates.

I am glad that certain contributors to this column who were initially opposed to my suggestion of a get together and presentation ceremony – my cause celebre - and viewed it with contumely, have come round to my view of an award ceremony to celebrate the prolific letter writers. Others have also jumped on my band wagon hoping for a bite at the cherry.

I have also received e-mails from veteran writers like Bhupendrabhai asking me to resurrect the idea and persuade the publisher/ editor to organnise the ceremony before the summer is out.

As a number of people have intimated, most of us are getting old in the tooth and may want to put up our feet near the fire place and admire the certificate and or a trophy on the mantle piece which could bring back the fond memories of their long association with AV and GS – as subscribers and contributors.

They could reminisce about the occasion when they met their fellow letter writers and think of their own magnum opus which may come up in conversation with others.

Such ceremony could be unique of its kind, and with all the expertise of ABPL in organising award cereminies, it should not take much effort on its part to organise the event.

I was disappointed that due to unavoidable circumstances, this ceremony which was planned to take place at the House of Lords a couple of years ago, had to be cancelled.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Obesity in children in UK

It is a worrying situation that the problem of obesity among children in America has now moved to children in United Kingdom. This trend is dangerous and harmful to children and need to be addressed promptly and robustly before it is too late.

The World Health Organisation ranks childhood obesity as one of the most serious global public health challenges of the 21st century – but the UK is lagging behind with its response. On average across the UK, almost one quarter of children are overweight or obese by the time they start school.

Obese children are at greater risk of conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, and of heart disease and stroke as they get older. Obesity in childhood can contribute to behavioural and emotional difficulties like depression, and reduce educational attainment.

Obese children are more likely to need medical care and days off school as a result of illness. Excess consumption of sugar is damaging children’s teeth, with extractions the most common reason for 5-9 year-olds in England to be admitted to hospital Here are some tips to help your child get active: - Try building activity into everyday life, such as walking or cycling to school and using stairs instead of the lift and involve your children in family jobs, such as walking the dog, washing the car or some gardening.

- Encourage your child to join classes or clubs for activities they enjoy, such as dancing, swimming or football.

- Cut down on the amount of time your child spends watching television or using a computer. Try to limit this to less than two hours a day or 14 hours a week.

- Make sure your child gets enough sleep – increasing physical exercise can help with this.

Children are growing up in a society in which we have made it easiest and cheapest to buy foods high in fat, sugar and salt. Our portion sizes are out of control.

We haven’t been cooking from scratch enough.

For too long, we failed to teach children how to cook and since the National Curriculum changed to require practical cooking until Key Stage 3, there has been no evaluation of the impact of that change.

Children are exposed to advertising for junk food in all sorts of places and well as tthe pricing and placement of less healthy food in retail – and, conversely, the pricing and placement of healthier foods – make it more difficult to resist pester power and impulse purchasing.

Now is time for the government, health authorities, community and parents to tackle this child obesity menace.

Baldev Sharma By email

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Bollywood festival in Bolton

Bollywood festival in Bolton, vide Asian Voice (1-72018 page 8) caught my attention. Usual items were Indian food, music, Bharat natyam, etc. But Bollywood films “Mother India” and “Sholay” irked me a lot. These films were inappropriate to Hindu ethos of Bolton HINDU Forum. These films denoted inane violence (Sholay) and mind bending poverty (Mother India). Is that how we want the whole world to see India?

Office bearers must proudly show that India is no more a country of elephant taxi and snake charmers.

Make all guests proud to know that India is in space club, nuclear club and submarine club. Indian women walked in SPACE, which no other country has done.

India has given gift of yoga to whole world.

Indians are wrongly proud about poverty, labeled as most corrupt, saty-practicing, caste-ists, backward and abuses by anti-Hindu and anti-Indian elements.

Spreading such muck continues to harm image of India. I am sure that Bolton Hindus must have read UN reports wrongly blaming India for human right violations in Kashmir, and another report that India is most dangerous place for women.

But we Hindus do not confront negative image but encourage it by exhibiting propaganda that Bollywood uses to earn filthy lucre. In 1940 and 1950s, many Bollywood films exhibited nationalist image attracting many proud Hindus.

Today, we Hindus/Indians get pleasure from abuses hurled under artists’ license and freedom of expression.

Ideally, following films must be shown as sign of loving mother India: “Gandhi”, “Do aankhen Bara haath”, “Navarang”, “Janak janak payal baajey”, “Pehechan”(Jitendra) and many others that focus on positive image. It is duty of office bearers to be knowledgeable rather being pulled into whirlpool of selfish anti-Hindu and anti-Indian propagandists.

If one requests India’s High Commissioner, they can furnish many documentaries and short films that positivate image of India. I have done that in Kenya, so why can’t smart office bearers do it in the UK? Ramesh Jhalla By email

Anti-Russian Tantrums

I was pleased and impressed with your editorial “Red card for anti-Russian tantrums” which reflects my views so often expressed by me in my letters. Our nauseating tabloid press and ignorant, politically motivated politicians spoiled the world cup for English team, as we have one of the fewest supporters in the stadium to watch our young team doing so well on the pitch.

Many black supporters were put-off going to Russia to support our team by the media misinformation and propaganda, fearing mistreatment and discrimination, even physical assault by so called Russian hooligans.

Some three thousand fans, who ignored the dire warning and went to Russia to support our team, are having a wonderful time. Russian people have taken them to their hearts, many invited to their homes for tea and chat and no one has faced any discrimination or backlash for our government’s anti-Russian propaganda.

Russian fans even mingled with English supporters and cheered English team on the pitch. According to our fans, they have never enjoyed such a wonderful welcome and friendly atmosphere in any previous world cup they attended. Russian people have taken Putin’s message of welcoming visitors, treating them with respect, opening their hearts and homes to their hearts.

This is in sharp contrast to our black footballers assaulted in Poland and Kiev, our white supporters throwing out a black passenger on Paris Metro, yet the media have rarely warned our supporters not to visit these countries. I wonder how our MPs who advocated the boycott of Russia with unbelievable frenzy, now feels at the sight of our fans having a wonderful time, enjoying Russian hospitality and visiting historic sites in Leningrader, Moscow and Volgograd. This world cup has done wonders for Russian prestige on international stage, as some 700,000 fans who are in Russia would be “Goodwill Ambassadors” and many will return to Russia as tourists or to attend future sports event.

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email What do you think?

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

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Asian Voice |

Older children acting as homework ‘buddies’ at school

Pupils at Featherstone High in Southall have been helping primary school children with their homework as part of an initiative between local schools.

The Year 8s have given up their time to help Clifton Primary youngsters as part of the ‘1-2-1 Reading Buddy’ and ‘Homework Club’ programmes. The idea is to improve the reading skills of the younger pupils and prepare them for homework; while also boosting the confidence of the older children.

These initiatives are carried out every day after school by the 35 volunteer

students, who go across to Clifton to carry it out. The reading scheme is for students from Year 3 to Year 6 and the homework club is for years 2-6.

Teachers at the schools have said it has proven to be a very useful exercise for the Clifton pupils to work with the older students and, in return, the Featherstone High children have grown in confidence – with some now thinking they would like to teach when they are older.

Deputy head at Featherstone, Ms Winters, said: “We want to commend our dedicated Year 8s for volunteering and

giving up their time. It has been a fantastic experience for them and they have all enjoyed it and grown in their own abilities and confidence.”

Headteacher at Clifton, Ms Greenglass, added: “The Year 8s who have been coming here as homework mentors and now as reading mentors are absolutely brilliant.

We love having them.”

Sajahir, one of the Year 8 volunteers, said: “I want to help the younger children so that they do better at school and can get a good job in the future. I’d have liked to have had someone help me out when I was in Year 5.”

Another of the volunteers, Pawnpreet, said: “I enjoy doing the homework club because it’s fun and the Year 5s are kind and fun to interact with. I go in my own time after school with other students from my year group to help. It has been a great, new experience for me.”

EU students get post-Brexit fees promise EU students at universities in England will continue to be treated the same as home students in the first intake after Brexit.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds says EU students starting in autumn 2019 will pay the same tuition fees as English students and their access to support will be unchanged. This status will last for the duration of their degree courses.

Mr Hinds said he wanted to provide "clarity and certainty".

The Scottish govern-

ment has already made a similar commitment to EU students starting in Scottish universities in autumn 2019 - which will mean they will continue to pay no tuition fees.

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, said it would provide "much needed clarity for EU students and for universities".

For universities, worried about their student numbers and finances, it means there will be no "cliff edge" for recruitment from the EU immediately

after Brexit in March 2019.

It might also be seen as a conciliatory gesture, ahead of negotiations in which the UK's universities hope to maintain access to a share of 100bn euros (£89bn) of EU research funding.

The education secretary also repeated the prime minister's promise that tuition fees in England will be frozen at £9,250 while a review is being carried out. But the interest rate on fees will continue to rise in the autumn to 6.3%. There are

about 135,000 EU students in UK universities and vice-chancellors recently called for "urgent clarification" about the status of EU students who might apply for courses beginning in autumn 2019.

So far there is no longterm decision or reciprocal deal on how UK students in the EU, or EU students in the UK, will be treated post-Brexit. If EU students were to be classified as overseas students, their fees would be much higher which could deter them from studying in the UK.

The number of teachers working in state-funded schools in England has fallen to its lowest level since 2013, official statistics show. Last year, 451,900 full time equivalent teachers were working in English state schools, compared with 457,000 in 2016.

Teacher numbers have not been lower since 2013, according to figures pub-

lished on Thursday by the Department for Education.

The government said recruiting more teachers was a top priority. Until last year, teacher numbers had been rising steadily. In 2011, there were 440,000 teachers in English schools, reaching 449,000 by 2013, and 457,000 by 2016 - but last year the number fell sharply.

Dr Mary Bousted, joint

The government should drop a "misleading" statistic that suggests up to 1.9 million more pupils in England attend good or outstanding schools than in 2010, a former minister says.

The government says the increase is due to its reforms.

But former schools minister David Laws, says it "is simply impossible for this statistic to bear the weight that ministers want to place on it".

The Department for Education dismissed criticism of its use of the figure.

Research by the EPI reveals at least 40 mentions of the statistic by the government "spread across two prime ministers, four secretaries of state for education and numerous ministers".

It also appears fre-

quently in news stories.

But closer analysis identifies several factors which "undermine" the statistic's "status as a fair comparison", says the think tank, In particular, the authors say, more than a quarter of the rise in pupils attending good or outstanding schools is accounted for by an absolute increase in pupil numbers and shifts in the schools which pupils attend. This accounts for 578,000 of the increase, says the EPI. In addition, the paper says, some 579,000 pupils attend schools rated good or outstanding but which have not been inspected since at least 2010.

Among these are 309,000 pupils at schools which converted to academies and have never have been inspected in their current form.

general secretary of the largest teachers' union, the NEU, said the statistics would make "grim reading" for Education Secretary Damian Hinds. She said qualified teachers leaving the profession outnumbered new recruits. "We are losing teachers too quickly, undoubtedly because the government is burning them out with an excessive workload and they can earn more and have a better work-life balance in another profession."

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT union, said parents would be particularly concerned that the teacher shortage coincided with evidence of increasing class sizes.

Separate government figures, also published on Thursday, show the num-

ber of pupils in England's schools continues to rise, with secondary schools affected for the fourth year in a row. There are now 66,000 more children in England's schools, compared with last year.

Some of the increase is in primaries but most of it is in secondaries, where overall numbers have risen 35,400 as the baby boom of the early 2000s makes the transition.

The figures suggest the staffing crisis means teachers increasingly lack university-level qualifications in the subjects they teach, with more than a third of physics teachers and almost a quarter of chemistry teachers without a relevant higher education qualification in the subjects.

Teacher numbers at lowest since 2013, official figures show

Drop 'misleading' school statistic, government told

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11

7th July 2018

World Asteroid Day

World Asteroid Day (celebrated on June 30) is a global awareness movement where people from all walks of life and all around the world come together to learn about asteroids and what we can do to protect our planet. Although asteroids would seem like mere rocks floating in space, they are actually objects of great importance for astronomers, geologists, planetary scientists, among others.

On the evolutionary field, they are pristine objects from the dawn of the solar system, building blocks of planets, moons and comets that never came to be.

They maintain their original chemical composition that speaks to us about how our solar neighbourhood was like 4.5 billion years ago.

Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai, India

Separation of children from parents

Recently, in the USA, separation of children from parents by the Administration’s zero tolerance policy at the Mexican border is fervently discussed and a partial climb down was forced by public opinion and courts. It reminds us of some past and present similar deeds in the world. The Nazis of Germany advocated and carried out separation and killing of children of the so called “unwanted and dangerous groups” (Jews and Gypsies) as well as disabled children in conformity with their ideology. It has been estimated that 1.5 million children were killed by them.

Australian Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their families by Federal and State Government agencies under acts of their respective parliaments until the 1970s. They were trucked to mission schools where they were forced to forget their culture, language and original name. Some of them were sexually exploited and even killed. In Canada, similar practices were rampant to round up native (First Nations’) children and take them away from their parents in residential schools funded by the government. After six years of investigation, in June 2015 “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” concluded widespread physical, cultural and sexual abuse of those children and at least 3,201 of them died while attending schools.

Also, the USA had similar practice for Native American children. The children were typically immersed in European-American culture through forced changes that removed indigenous cultural signifiers at the schools. These methods included being compelled to have European-American style haircuts, being forbidden to speak their language, having their real name replaced by European name. The experience at the schools for the children was usually harsh and often deadly. Currently millions of foreign workers in petro-dollar rich countries are stuck for years without seeing their children. Their passports are taken away by the employers and not allowed home visits. Isn’t this a form of slavery? Does any human rights organization or government have the tenacity to tackle this cruelty?

Narsibhai Patel New Malden

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Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

The political silly season remains a year-long phenomenon, the idiocy ebbs and flows, the waters rarely stilled by logic, reason or coherence. The most weatherbeaten subjects dull the public mind, none more so than Indira Gandhi’s Emergency Rule proclaimed in June 1975 and lifted in late 1977. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley likened Mrs Gandhi’s measure to that of Adolf Hitler’s fiats against democracy in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. One would have thought Mr Jaitley, of all persons in the government, would have had better sense, more respect for the nation’s intelligence, than draw such a bizarre and odious parallel (Hindu June 26, TV channels).

Arun Jaitley

Hitler lives in history as the aggressor responsible for the greatest war fought on Mother Earth, for the Holocaust of the Jewish people in gas chambers, a crime like no other in recorded history.

Ms Gandhi can be faulted for imposing the Emergency but so can the sainted Jayaprakash Narayan’s prior, provocative call to the Army and Police to revolt against an elected government, not to speak of the sabotage of the rail network by George Fernandes, then a trade union activist and subsequently a minister in the BJP government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and his followers. Ms Gandhi revoked the Emergency and held an election, leaving office as soon her party was voted out of office.

She was returned to power in January 1980 with a two-thirds majority in Parliament, the Emergency plainly forgiven by the Indian people following three years of asinine Janata Party maladministration.

BJP leader in media death threat Senior BJP Choudhary Lal Singh called on the Kashmir media to mend their ways or go the way of the assassinated Kashmiri journalist Sujaat Bukhari. In a joint statement, the Indian

remained silent.

Amit Shah on song Having taken pause of Indira Gandhi, the BJP President Amit Shah, on a two-day visit to West Bengal, addresses the faithful one of Bengal’s greatest literary icons, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, the subject being his famous composition ‘Bande Mataram,’ an evocation of the Mother Goddess. According to Amit Shah, the Congress Party decision in 1937 to avoid singing its supposedly contentious verses was apparently the root cause of the Subcontinent’s subsequent Partition in August 1947 (Hindu June 28).

Cult of illiteracy With this level of cultural illiteracy, his party’s avowed goal of winning seats in the next State Assembly elections in 2019 will hover closer to zero. Shah would do well to consult Venkat Dhulapali’s magisterial work based original Urdu documentary sources, Creating a New Medina: State Power, Islam, and the Quest for Pakistan in Late Colonial North India (Cambridge University Press, 2015). Shah should read also B.R.Ambedkar on the Partition, and having done so, arrange for translations into Hindi and Gujarati of this seminal document.

Moral policing, lynching

Amit Shah

Women’s Press Corps, the Press Club of India, the Press Association issued the following statement: ‘We demand that strict action be taken against the lawmaker …for intimidation and attack on the freedom of the press.’ (Times of India June 25) Arun Jaitley, thus far, has

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Arun Jaitley would have done better to address the continuing scourge of lynching and moral policing, increasing numbers of rapes in the country, most of which keep occurring in the BJPruled States of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Haryana and Rajasthan. A global report by Thomson Reuters cites the perception of India as the most unsafe country for women, surpassing Pakistan, Afghanistan and other world trouble spots. The fact that crimes against women, especially rapes, are more widespread in the US, for example, is scant consolation for India (Times of India June 26).

Redeeming feature It isn’t all gloom and doom. A Brookings blog says that the time it takes to read its contents several Indian citizens will have been released from extreme poverty, that is, those earning $1.9 a day. To be precise, 44 Indians move out of this dire bracket every minute. The study published in ‘Future Development’ blog of Brookings says, ‘At the end of May 2018, our trajectories suggest that Nigeria had about 87 million in extreme poverty compared with India 73 million. What is more, extreme poverty in Nigeria is growing by six people every minute, while poverty in India continues to fall.’ The populations of the two countries vary, India’s at 1.2 billion, China’s at 1.3 billion to Nigeria’s around 200 million.

India is thus no longer home to the world’s largest numbers of poor, it has promise of ending extreme poverty by 2030 (Times of India June 27, Business Line June 28).

India, Seychelles build platform for future India and Seychelles have put together a joint platform for the future development of bilateral ties. Seychelles key to India’s maritime security, as the case with neighbouring Mauritius, both situated in the Indian Ocean between India and the

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

comprehensive arrangement between the two sides. All’s well that ends well (Economic Times, Mint, Hindu, June 26.27).

that the credibility and integrity of the organization not be undermined by political disputes (Economic Times June 28).

Cognizant heads for the stars

Delhi Metro reduces pollution

It has taken Cognizant Technology Solutions, the USbased IT giant with a large footprint in India, 20 years to grow from $60 million to $15 billion as a Nasdaq-listed company. It has a global workforce of 260,000, of which 75 per cent are Indian (Business Line June 27).

Addressing a gathering at the opening of a new Green Line, the third connection between the capital and Haryana, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Delhi’s expanding Metro network would soon be the world’s fifth largest after Beijing, London, Shanghai and New York.

He said the Delhi Metro had

Delhi Metro

GST spawns job growth According to the Employees Provident Fund, 4.1 million formal sector jobs were created from September 2017 to April 2018. This contradicts a widespread perception of jobdeficient performance. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) designed to create a uniform tax system across India as part of the process to develop and nationally integrated market shows every sign of becoming a force for job creation. GST also provides enforcing a minimum wage structure (Economic Times June 27).

Russia delivers M17 IV Helicopters to BSF Russian Helicopters, an PM Modi with Seychelles President arm of Rostec State Danny Faure Corporation, delivered overhauled M-17 IV east seaboard of Africa. helicopters to India’s Border Seychelles was uncomfortable Security Force (BSF) for rescue with the prospect of hosting a and transport purposes. With fully fledged Indian naval base new avionics and hydraulics, the on its territory, and hence this Russian production plant has plan was recast to accommodate been acclaimed by India’s the sensitivities of the military specialists, and further Seychelles’ people, with security deals are now under discussion. of both the parties suitably The Indian Air Force has has four addressed. squadrons of these helicopters in During a visit to India by service (Business Line 28).

Seychelles President Danny Faure, and his talks with Prime India stands by Russia Minister Narendra Modi, and at OPCW meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj,India has agreed to provide Seychelles with a line of India voted with Russia at the credit $100 million to purchase Special Session of the Chemical Indian defence hardware Weapons Conventions in the principally for coastal Hague, convened by Britain to surveillance and train Seychelles propose that the Organization pilots and other defence for the Prohibition of Chemical personnel. India also gifted Weapons (OPCW) should be Seychelles a Dornier-228 aircraft empowered, not just investigate built at the Hindustan Aircraft whether chemical weapons were Ltd facility near Bangaluru. used in an incident at the President Faure described it as English city of Salisbury. The an ‘historic day’, as both sides Indian Ambassador and pledged to work together on the Permanent Representative to Assumption Island (part of the OPCW, Venu Rajamony said it archipelago)project. Trade and was important that there should investment were packaged into a be consensus on such matters,

taken 600,000 vehicles off the roads, saving time and money and reducing pollution. The Prime Minister said his government was committed to a new and smart infrastructure, with optimum investments in waterways, airways, highways and the net (Hindu June 25).

Congress, JDU(S) locking horns in Karnataka The coalition Karnataka government led by the Janata United (Secular) party and its Congress partner are still locking horns on sharing the loaves and fishes of office, almost a month after the State Assembly polls.

The more things change, the more they remain the same, is a timeless Gallic saying (Mint June 29).

Grand Master at 12!

Chennai-based R. Praggnanandhaa, Praggu to his coach and friends, became a Grand Master after defeating Dutch Grand Master Roeland Pruijssers in the ninth and final round of the Fourth International Chess Festival in the Gredine Open at Ortsei, Italy,

R. Praggnanandhaa

on June 23, 2018. to become the youngest Indian to have done so at 12 years,10 months and 13 days, and the second youngest ever after Ukraine’s Sergey Karajakin on August 12, 2002.

(Hindu June 25).

UK

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‘Snapchat queen’ accused of planning to murder her boyfriend ‘ashamed and appalled’ by her behaviour A “Snapchat queen” Ilford woman who posted a shocking video of her boyfriend dying in a pool of blood is “ashamed and appalled” at her behaviour, a court heard. Fatima Khan, 21, is on trial accused of plotting with a love rival to murder Khalid Safi, 18, her boyfriend of two years. The Afghan asylum seeker was repeatedly stabbed in the chest by Raza Khan, 19, in North Acton, north London on the evening of December 1 2016, jurors have been told. Rather than calling for an ambulance, Ms Khan filmed Mr Safi as he laying dying in the street.

She posted it on Snapchat with a caption implying she had organised the attack as a form of retribution, the Old Bailey has heard.

In an opening speech,

Fatima Khan

Raza Khan

defence lawyer Kerim Fuad QC said Ms Khan and Mr Safi had loved each other, even though he could be “clingy”.

He said Fatima Khan had been “left to carry the can” for a suitor who saw his chance and killed Mr Safi in a fit of “macho madness”.

Mr Fuad said the evidence showed “two men fighting over a woman and a woman getting the blame and left to carry the can”. He added the defendant will say she was

“appalled” and “ashamed” of posting the video. Ms Khan denies murder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm.

Khalid Safi

Slough boss failed to pay farm workers the minimum wage

The director of a farm labour supply company has been banned from running a business after "cheating" staff out of being paid the national minimum wage.

Shakil Ahmed repeatedly failed to pay the legal limit to labourers who he recruited through his company, Euro Contracts Services Limited.

On two occasions the company was found to have paid employees below the minimum wage, a shortfall of £179,000.

Investigators said workers had been denied "what was rightly theirs".

Euro Contract Services was incorporated in 2004

by Mr Ahmed, 61, from Slough, and provided manual labourers to a farm in Hertfordshire.

The company operated similar to a recruitment

service, in which the farm paid a fee for the supply of workers before the company paid labourers and took a cut for their administrative costs.

But an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) into the company in 2009 found labourers were underpaid and lost out on about to £69,000.

In this instance, Euro Contracts Services paid the correct remuneration to labourers but deducted the cost of transporting the workers to the farm, meaning the workers' pay packets were below the minimum wage.

Mr Ahmed corrected the underpayment but, two years later, a further HMRC probe found that between August 2010 and January 2011 Euro Contracts Services paid 246 employees below the

minimum wage to the tune of more than £110,000.

His appeal against HMRC's findings was dismissed and, after Euro Contracts Services entered liquidation in 2016, the money owed to workers was not paid.

Dave Elliott, head of insolvent investigations for the insolvency service, said the case showed there was no "administrative error but a wilful act" on Mr Ahmed's behalf.

"Shakil Ahmed fully deserves his ban after cheating his workers out of what was rightfully theirs," he added.

Mr Ahmed has been disqualified for seven years from acting as a director of a company, taking part in management or being a receiver of a company's property.

School Reunions – Life Lessons in School of Life Continued from page 3 It’s time our educational establishments toughened up the snowflakes from being entitled to think nothing is ever wrong with them or their fault to looking at themselves first. But that is also the failing of my generation – we blame ourselves too much.

But that’s nothing.

The kids I would see in India working at midnight under flickering light bulbs on one meal a day – that’s resilience and thank god I did not have to compete against them. In trying to top exams my fear was never the wealthier students

who may have private tutors, it was always those from poorer backgrounds, the quiet ones.

They were the real competition – they were hungry. I feared them the most – they could take my top spot.

Respect and Discipline

Was the school fun? Did we laugh lots. Yes, but who gives a f**k – it’s produced a Prime Minister who took his country through a World War and Nobel Prize winning Chemist – oh and the man that designed the building which makes the laws of the most powerful nation on earth

Start-Up Entrepreneurs: Welcome to the UK! Asian Voice |

and who fought against the British trade in slaves.

Each time I visit my family in Leeds, they ask me, ‘Are you happy?’

They knew what builds true happiness. And it is resilience and antifragility. Little wonder the number 1 best selling book at the train station was “The Art of not Giving a F*^k”.

I’m listening to music and cannot decide between ‘Send in the Clowns’ or ‘The Way We Were’ or what I listened to most at school – ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ and ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’!

Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, has announced a new ‘start-up’ visa for entrepreneurs coming to the UK. The scheme is set to come into force in Spring 2019. To be eligible, applicants Tamana Aziz must be endorsed by a university or sponsor in the UK. This visa route has been designed following advice from the Migration Advisory Committee, the tech sector and other stakeholders.

Mr Javid said:

“The UK can be proud that we are a leading nation when it comes to tech and innovation, but we want to do more to attract businesses to the UK and our migration system plays a key part in that.

“That’s why I am pleased to announce a new visa for people wanting to start a business in the UK. This will help to ensure we continue to attract the best global talent and maintain the UK’s position as a world-leading destination for innovation and entrepreneurs.”

This will encourage talented entrepreneurs to come to the UK and will make the visa process faster and smoother for them. In addition, this is set to increase the number of exceptional talent visas available to 2000 per year. These are shared among applicants from backgrounds such as science, humanities, engineering, medicine, digital technology and the arts.

This is a positive step taken by the Home Office after figures obtained by the Campaign for Science and Engineering show that the Home Office rejected 1,226 applications for Tier-2 visas to work in the UK in IT or other

7th July 2018

tech roles between December 2017 and March 2018.

It seems the government is finally recognising the importance of ensuring the UK is open for businesses and requires talented workers to join the labour market. This great initiative by Mr Javid comes alongside his recent announcement that doctors and nurses will no longer be counted towards the cap on Tier-2 visas which limits access to only 20,700 applicants a year. These changes to the Immigration Rules were laid before Parliament and come into effect on 6 July 2018.

Mr Javid, has sought to distance the department from May’s policies implemented during her time as Home Secretary, telling parliament in his first Commons speech in the role that he disliked the term “hostile environment”, calling it a “phrase [that is] unhelpful [which] doesn’t represent our values as a country”.

The Home Office will announce further details in due course.

Author, Tamana Aziz represents individuals and businesses, assisting with immigration applications under EU law, business immigration under the Points Based System, complex appeals (including deportation and country guidance cases) in Immigration Tribunals, the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

Contact Tamana on 020 3114 1130 and tamanaa@duncanlewis.com.

Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitors Our Immigration department is ranked as a top-tier practice in Immigration: human rights, appeals and overstay matters in Legal 500 2017.

As leading immigration specialists we advise on business immigration, right to work in the UK, Tier-2 visa applications, student/graduate visas, spousal visas and visa overstays.

Seven Kings writer, 16, truimphs over mental health challenges An award-winning 16year-old Seven Kings writer is championing the power of the pen to overcome mental health struggles.

Kashif Chowdhury, of Herbert Road, was crowned champion of the Wicked Young Writer Awards 2018 in the 15 to 17 ages category by former Labour MP Ed Balls on June 21. His winning story, titled “All is Quiet on the Western Front”, aims to shine an alternative light on the life in the trenches for soliders during the First World War. “I was really anxious,” he said, reflecting on how he felt as his name was called out as the winner.

“I thought ‘don’t fall over yourself as you do

Award. Photo: Ellie Kurttz

AsianVoiceNews

13

Former Labour politician Ed Balls presents Kashif Chowdhury with the Wicked Young Writers'

normally.’”

He was picked from more than 110 finalists by a judging panel including children’s author Cressida Cowell and south London poet Caleb Femi, as well as Mr Balls. His story was influenced by the works of

English poet and soldier Wilfred Owen, who he had studied during his GCSEs, “Most people think about the fighting aspect of the war,” he said.

“But the reality behind that is that there is a lot of waiting around in the trenches. There is a mundane aspect to it.”

Describing what the award means to him, he said: “It means a lot. Over the past few years I have struggled a lot with selfesteem, confidence and obsessive compulsive disorder.

“It’s really hard when you are stuck with those thoughts to focus on your positive achievements. But now I know that some people know my work and that it is worth something.”

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COMMUNITY

Asian Voice |

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7th July 2018

Inspirational session for aspring Asian women in politics

Indian Forum on British Media held an inspirational session, in Parliament Committee room on 12th June, for aspiring women of Indian origin who are interested in political participation in UK. Prabhakar Kaza, the President, opened the session and explained that in view of the statistical fact that there are very few Indian women who are participating in UK politics, it is imperative l that Indian Women in UK choose the careers open to them in this field and do full justice to the available roles.

The session was chaired by the host Seema Malhotra, MP for Feltham and Heston, who exhorted the women to go out of their comfort zone and reach out to the society as a whole including businessmen-corporate/retail and other entrepreneurs.

They should expand their social circles attending business Breakfast meetings and form their own corporate/social networks

which will be useful for their canvassing. Baroness Shreela Flather, Member, House of Lords, narrated her experiences dating back to the mid-eighties when she joined politics when more often than not she was the only woman in a group of men or in a meeting. When she was appointed to House of Lords, she was the first ethnic minority Lady member and her dress(saree) drew enormous attention. She urged the participants to stand for their rights and fight their way in all public matters. As a woman she emphasised that they have to be far better than men in terms of competence and act confidently at each and every step,putting in more energy.

Omana Gangadharan, Civic Ambassador(2007) and Coucillor Newham,London expanded on the issues the councillors face with the administrators and in particular when you belong to minority communities.

She informed the audience that the job is very self-

rewarding as it places the person in a position where they can serve the society in a better manner. Mrs. Manju Shahul Hameed, Former Mayor & Councillor, Croydon, candidly stated that she had no political ambitions initially but was an accidental change of career from being a Charity volunteer that brought her into political limelight. Her growth in the field of politics has been rapid and becoming a people’s Mayor gave her lot of satisfaction. Unlike public perception she informed the audience that the status/perks of the job are amply compensating. The job does involve making huge personal sacrifices but permits leaving behind a decent legacy and widening the scope of services that can be rendered to the citizens.

Not all speakers were electorally successful politicians.

Nirmala Madadi, who lost narrowly in the last elections narrated how she doubled the votes her party secured, by reaching out to the con-

stituents and vowed to fight on. She exhorted more and more Indian women to participate more vigorously in local elections as voters,volunteers and councillors.While not understating the fact this additional involvement leads to stress on family time, the compensation of serving people from the political platform would be truly satisfying.

The talks were followed by a Q & A session in which the panel emphasised on the importance of securing the co-operation of the family members in these efforts. The aspirants should also gain the support of their colleagues as any victory in political campaigns is a team effort.The event was anchored by Simi Arora and ended with a vote of thanks.

The meeting concluded with a fond hope that more and more Indian women will come forward in future, more from the second generation Indians to participate in UK politics.

17 year selected as semi finalist as Asian Face of Miss England

17 year old Angel Patel is a 1st year A Level student at Prince Henry ‘s Grammar School in Otley Leeds. She has recently been selected as a semi finalist in Miss England as the Asian Face of Miss England making her the youngest British Asian to get to this stage.

When she was 2 years old she won child of the year for Pudsey before taking part in Britain’s Junior Miss at the age of 15 where she represented Leeds.

At this young age she has visited India in the past year twice where she has been to a girls orphanage in Saputara and donated personal items to the girls and also educational items. She has also visited the famous slums in Dharavi and spent the day experiencing what life is like to live in slums of India.

Getting to this stage of the semi finals of Miss England is a proud moment for her . She is very nervous as it is the first time she has been involved in something so big and well recognised.

She hopes that she can be an inspiration to other young British Asian girls and promote that beauty is not what’s on the outside but true beauty is what’s

Angel Patel

in the inside and also to eliminate the stereotypical attitude people have about beauty pageants.

She has been a great support to her mum who has been suffering with severe mental health problems.

Angel would like to say a huge thanks to her mum who has been her biggest support for getting her to this stage in the competition. She has also added I want to make my mum and dad and all my family proud of me . Winning isn’t important to me but I feel honoured to be at this stage of the competition and also because I am the youngest British Asian contestant.

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar organise Anand Mela every year to celebrate cultural contributions of the Asians. A fun fair, it has something for everyone.

This year’s coverage on the mela will air on B4U music –Sky Channel no 702 and Virgin Media 816 on Friday 6 July at 5pm and Saturday 7 July at 12:30pm.

Essex Indians celebrate Uttorsuri concert at Bhavan Essex Indians is a community group which work continuously towards community cohesion and sharing cultural diversity within community. Uttorsuri – Generation Next concert is their flagship project and each year it is celebrated at prestigious venue of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, West Kensington.

On 23rd June they staged their fifth edition of Uttorsuri concert.

Programme was divided in two parts. First half staged an outstanding performance of brother and sister duo Rishii Choudhury and Samyami Choudhury Sharma. They presented a performance called ‘Freshly Brewed’. It was a multi-sensory experience of Tabla, Dogor, Nagara by Rishii and Harmonium,

flute and vocal by Samyami.

Major attraction of the show was a unique concept shows ‘Showers of peace’, conceptualised and directed by leading classical vocalist of India, Mr Sounak Chattopadhyay. 2018 is the 100th year of the First World War. This programme was dedicated to all ithose who lost their lives at the war.

He mesmerised audience by his expertise of singing diverse genres of songs starting from Rabindra sangeet, Classical bandish, Bhajan and fusion medley with western songs like heal the world.

Songs were well chosen and performed by local community artists under his capable guidance. Arya, Anirban, Ujjwal, Shreya, members

of the Bandal Mainline band, presented chorus.

Other singers included Soma, Shryeoshi, Sayantini, Oishi, Rudrayyan, Shreosi and Teerna who participated in famous Tagore songs, Imagine by John Lennon and Heal the World by Michael Jackson.

Ms Sahana Bajpaie, a celebrity Bengali singer in UK and recent winner of

The Bengal's Pride Awards, presented two immensely beautiful songs.

Programme had an array of dance, narration, recitation and theatrical presentations. There were different genres of dance choreographed BY Pritidipa, Ahana, Anashmita and Raj Lakshmi and performed

by Gunjita , Roopkatha,

R i t i s h a , Rajlakshmi,Anashmita, Ahana, Moumita, Kavita, Moumita Pritidipa and Cid Saha. Dance presentation were a visual treat to all, western , traditional and contemporary dance forms were used.

Narrators connected the concert with beautiful thread of poetry, theatrical presentations which included Tagore’s poetry,

poetry of Wilfred own, modern Bengali poetry, real life talk of victims of terrorist attacks.

Participants were Solan, Shrey, Shreya , Rounak, Risheen, Gunjita, Tista, Pratik, Dipankar, Sanchita and Suman. Renowned elocutionist Samya Karpha and Biplab Dasgupta also participated in this project.

Grand finale was Michael Jackson’s famous number performed by more than forty artists live on stage.

Mr Suresh Kumar and his wife Mona Kumar were present as the chief guest.

The event was dedicated to fund raising for Humanity Hospital, Kolkata. Dr Arpita Ray, cultural secretary and trustee of Essex Indians, coordinated the whole event.

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Cities with the lowest crime rate revealed in a shock map

SHRIPRIYA DALMIA THIRANI Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

SP

E

Elliot Castle, Property Expert at home buying company WeBuyAnyHome said: “Buying a property is the biggest investment many of us will make, yet some are still unaware of the changes or details that can potentially decrease the value of their home.

“There are many things that factor into how much a property is worth, such as location, square footage, school district, and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms.

“While many homeowners are aware of these key points, some of the other factors that could potentially have a negative effect on the property’s value can come as a surprise.”

The UK tolerated "inexcusable" treatment of US detainees after the 9/11 attacks, MPs have found.

The Intelligence and Security Committee said British agencies continued to supply intelligence to allies despite knowing or suspecting abuse in more than 200 cases.

Committee chairman Dominic Grieve said agencies knew of inci-

dents that were "plainly unlawful".

The findings have sparked fresh calls for an independent, judge-led inquiry.

The two parliamentary reports, published following a three-year investigation, examine how far Britain's intelligence agencies were aware of the mistreatment of terrorism suspects.

UK 'knew US mistreated rendition detainees'

Fan's dream come true on first day at Wimbledon It was a dream come true for a fan at Wimbledon, who asked Roger Federer for his headband.

The Swiss superstar handed it over to Mihika Joshi after she held up a sign politely asking for it.

A f t e r Federer's Centre Court victory over Dusan Lajovic, the dedicated supporter battled her way to the front row and waved a bright yellow placard that read: 'Roger can I have your headband pleeease!!'

The Daily Mail reported that the crowd

cheered as the tennis ace took it out from his kit-

bag and gave it to the girl.

Mihika, who is of Indian-origin looked delighted with her souvenir and she skipped off grinning from ear-to-ear clutching his headband.

Her father said: “I don't think she'll sleep tonight!”

TLIGHT

EXCLUSIVE ON QUEENSLINE AND THE INVIGORATION OF MUMBAI SEAFRONT Sunetra Senior

House buyers are often keen to learn about the crime rate in an area they are looking to invest in. Low crime rates are attractive for many.

The Great British Staycation index has revealed the UK cities with the lowest crime rate. It said: “Where can you feel the safest, based upon the official crime rate statistics for the area? Here, we reveal the safest cities in the UK for you to consider for your city break.”

Many of the small towns are ones you will have heard of, but some are not. While home owners might think they are adding value to their property, they might actually be making it far less appealing.

15

arlier this year, French Polynesia agreed to allow testing for an incredible, new concept called floating cities, which The New York Times dubbed ‘start-up cities’. A little closer than distant planets, humans are still exploring the huge expanse of earth’s water for places to inhabit. Building on oceans and seas could very well create brand-new national economies. Setting sail while the waves are big then, Shripriya, 38year-old visionary businesswoman and descendent of the Dalmia clan, honours her beloved India by making sure it comes to this particular 21st Century fore. She will launch: “Mumbai’s largest gastronomic extravaganza on the sea, in October globe merging and mixing. Millions 2018. It will have the first ever super of tourists from both within and outluxury floating restaurants,” comside the country will be able to dine prised of ships, Queensline getting a stunning 360-degree view Neverland and Queensline See YAH, of the city: Mumbai’s incredible making the Indian equivalent of the seafront is a spectacular place, brimFrench Riviera on the Arabian Sea. ming with life and just teeming with “Until now, India’s connoisseurs stories and emotion. The ships will travelled as far as Monte Carlo or Portugal or the Cote d’Azur for such a treat,” Shripriya commented. “They’d watch the setting sun while savouring the best champagne money could buy as the world’s most expensive caviar melted in their mouths. But now, they don’t have to go far. A 20-minute drive from their home or office in Mumbai will take them to a deck with all this and more.

There will be a range of restaurants that boast the world’s best-known chefs, and most sumptube a one stop place for everything ous dishes. Spain, Italy, Greece and spectacularly creative – from food to Turkey all have Rivieras too. Nice, art to philosophy.” This was certainly France’s second most-visited city evident in the one-of-a-kind photoafter Paris rakes in 1.5 billion euros graphic exhibit which marked the annually from tourism just because opening of Shripriya’s timelessly of its water. This made we wonder – beautiful water structure: ‘ALTARS why does India, which has so much OF YEARNING – HOW INDIA of it covered by water, not take PRAYS’. “It reminded the world of advantage of it?” A reflection of India’s incredible secular social fabambitious, pioneering women everyric – a land of many people, many where, the two ships Shripriya has cultures, and many religions coexistselected actually once hosted strong ing peacefully as one – prayer a comfemale monarch, Queen Elizabeth 1, mon phenomenon among all of while the project has also been widethem.” Here, much like her specially ly praised by British Lords such as curated works, the entrepreneur Lord Swaraj Paul and Lord showed her underlying emoKaran Bilimoria. Keith Vaz, tional inspiration and the longest serving MP of power of human vulnerParis rakes Indian origin in the UK ability: “it is always in 1.5 billion endorsed the waterimportant for my euros annually from front wonder as endeavours to have water tourism. This being a massive resonant meaning. I commercial win for made we wonder – why actually started my India. career as a graphic does India, which has *** designer for arts and so much of it covered “Those on board will lifestyle products, at by water, not take also for the first time one point owning the advantage be able to cruise on the rights to about 50 artof this? sea, catching breath-takworks in a gallery which I ing views of Mumbai’s enviartistically interpreted in my able skyline,” Shripriya added. own way onto lifestyle goods. In The moving ships can be boarded at Jan 2018, I also commissioned a calMumbai’s most iconic spots: endar that would intuitively explore Gateway of India and Chowpatty. my love for water – the very same However, Shripriya also made sure to that gave birth to Queensline. Each emphasise that she wants to bestow month on the seasonal chart delved an experience that goes beyond aesinto an aspect of water in my life thetics and getting glamour points to water as art, water as a symbol of connecting worldy travellers and a resilience and tenacity, water as a space of modern shared culture: “I need, water and its shortage, water want the deck to become a continent and its natural drama, water as medof people from far corners of the itation, water as a symbol of serenity,

water as a place of commerce, water as a symbol of fury, water as a medium to cleanse, water as the great leveller and water as a divinity. The DNA of water is a very strong message and is at once very timely. It is the most contentious issue right now.” Indeed, with both increasing impact of climate change and “opportunities on land getting monotonous, water solutions and tourism are a fast-growing, important sector globally.” Thus, much like the Napoleonic imagination behind Paris, great passion, personal pull, business acumen and politics culminate in a 2018 historic milestone.

Of course, being a creation of today, this site of beauty lies in a warmer continent, sculpted by an unfettered woman.

As a businesswoman, who has ties with an industrialist family, how do you feel you make a statement?

Being from a business family does not always mean you have the insight to run a business. Like all traits, some children are good at it and some are not. But the staple rule is this – everyone lives and learns.

All the Dalmia clan realise that the primary responsibility on our shoulders is not to emerge successful but to be able to live our lives with the principles set out by our ancestors –honesty, humility, patience, hard work and above all perseverance. We have been taught from childhood that there are no short cuts to success.

But the sense of purpose and the drive to achieve near impossible targets has always been a hallmark.

Is jumping into the food business so boldly your ‘jewel’ in the professional crown?

It’s not so much a jewel in the sense of achievement but one as a teacher. It was a lot easier for me to stick to productions, I have worked extensively in film too, or graphic design – both of which I know well and have dabbled with earlier. But cuisine is all new and hence a real jewel in a learning regard, bringing new challenges and networking opportunities.

What’s been the most exciting part of planning this project?

Pitching to win the rights to start the first floating restaurants in Mumbai when the government announced the tender. Travelling across the world then to find the right ships was really wonderful, especially when finally locating them in Turkey.

Finally, what advice do you have for career women who want to achieve high standards?

I have 5 pieces of advice: take that first step. It might seem daunting in the beginning but everything falls in place if your heart and your willingness to succeed are in the right place; never be dejected by rejection; never compromise on selfrespect and dignity; think big; finally, yes, life is slightly tougher for us.

We have to manage home, children and work. Try and accept this and focus on what you can reach and do.

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UK

Asian Voice |

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7th July 2018

UK government defends decision to deny settlement to highly-skilled migrants Highly-Skilled Migrant group is planning a peaceful protest at the Old Palace Yard on Tuesday 10 July UK government has defended its decision to deny hundreds of non-EU professionals the right to live and work in the UK, claiming that the applicants currently 'caught up' in the visa fee are actually 'guilty of misconduct'.

The government opened a review to the Tier 1 (General) visa cases, after a long-drawn campaign by the Highly-Skilled Migrants Group, iincluding teachers, doctors, lawyers and engineers from countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have been refused an indefinite leave to remain (ILR) calling them a threat to the national security.

UK minister for immigration Caroline Nokes reportedly in a letter to the House of Commons' Home Affairs S e l e c t Committee told that her department's decision to refuse applications under Paragraph 322(5) of the UK's immigration rules due to a discrepancy in reported earnings stand justified.

These discripancies, mostly amounting £5-10 between the migrants and HM Revenue and Customs were long settled, although the Home Office has rejected these visas on the basis of the previous records.

The letter, however, also acknowledged that the review had 'thrown up' 38 cases of Home Office refusals being overturned and allowed on appeal, the PTI reported.

"Although the earnings issues were considered on appeal, the majority were overturned solely on human rights grounds rather than because of decision-making errors relating to earnings," Nokes said, according to the news report.

The Highly-Skilled Migrants Group expressed shock at the minister's alleged attempt to downplay this figure. The figure of 38 instances are believed to go up

stopped from going on school university because their parents cannot afford to pay over £1000 – more thab double the administration cost- for their status.

Immigration authorities separating children from parents

further, once the rest of the 1671 cases are reviewed in the coming few weeks.

Aditi Bhardwaj, coordinator of the group, which has the support of lobbying ministers, who have been organising many m a j o r protests outside the UK Parliament since early this year, told the PTI, “It just proves our point about Paragraph 322(5) being used disproportionately. The very fact that these appeals are being allowed on human rights grounds should hopefully prevent the future disproportionate use of this clause and prevent applicants having to challenge Home Office decisions in court.

"It does show they (Home Office) were making mistakes.

This should tell them that at the very least not to refuse people where there are serious human rights grounds, such as family ties in the UK and young children involved.”

The group is again planning a large but peaceful protest at the Old Palace Yard on Tuesday 10 July.

Nokes reportedly confirmed in her letter to Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) that the out-

standing Tier 1 (General) visa decisions remain on hold, pending the outcome of the review.

The UK Home Office said it had so far reviewed 281 of these visa applications made by post and concluded that in 249 cases applicants had amended their tax record by more than 10,000 pounds and in many of the remaining cases, the differences were "substantial".

Addressing her letter dated 21 June to HASC chair Yvette C o o p e r , Nokes said, "Applications were not refused on the grounds that the applicants made errors in their tax returns. They were refused on the grounds that applicants had, most likely, exaggerated their earnings to the Home Office to claim enough points to obtain indefinite leave to remain in the UK or, alternatively, substantially underreported their earnings to HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) to evade tax.

"In either scenario, their character and conduct is such that their applications should not be granted," she said, adding that she is confident that the "overall handling of these cases,

including the application of Paragraph 322(5), has been correct".

British MPs, peers and legal experts have extended their support to the Highly Skilled migrants, many of who have lost the right to work or NHS access, due to the current status.

Thangam Debbonaire MP said, “I can confirm that the Home Office has such a culture of disbelief, people with legal rights to be here routinely face a l m o s t impossible hurdles , lost doccuments, expense when they have to appeal (often then siuccessful) causing distress and hardship and wider than Windrush.

To fight injustices against migrants, on another account, Helen Miller tweeted a story that appeared on The Independent on Monday with headline “Children of immigrants 'treated like cash cows'”. In an exclusive story, the newspaper wrote, that the Home office has been accusef of using UK born chldren of immigrants as 'cash cows' by charging them huge sums of money to obtain citizenship. Not only that many youngsters born in Britain or who came here as babies are

According to a charity report, the UK government is separating children from parents who have been taken into immigration detention, the practice that brought worldwide criticism of the Trump administration, according to a report by The Guardian.

Possibly hundreds of children have been separated from a parent or carer in the UK every year, according to a charity that challenges immigration detention.

Bail for Immigration Detainees (Bid) has so far this year represented 155 parents have been separated from a child or children, while thy were in immigration detention. The charity usually handles about 170 cases a year.

While current Home Office guidelines state that children should not be separated from a parent and the child should be taken into care, Bid says this has happened to three families already in the last 16 months.

In two cases, fathers were taken into immigration detention after local authorities warned that the children’s mothers were unable to care for them alone, and that the children would need to spend their childhoods in care.

Both men were eventually bailed.

The newspaper further reported that Bid studied a sample of 111 parents in a study in 2013, who had been separated from 200 children over a three-year period. The average period of detention had been 270 days.

Almost 100 children were placed in foster or local authority care during their parent’s detention. In 92 cases, the parent was eventually released. In 15 cases, however, the parent was deported or removed from the UK without their child.

City of London pushes UK-India green finance and fintech cooperation

The City of London Corporation is to add two senior business figures to its influential India Advisory Council (IAC), as it works to progress UK-India cooperation in fintech and green finance.

Leo Puri, Managing Director at UTI Asset Management, and Sanjay Jain, Chief Innovation Officer at the Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, will join the City Corporation’s now 14 strong IAC, a group which has advised the organisation on its work in India since 2007.

Other members include HDFC

Chairman Deepak Parekh, whose company was the first to list a Masala bond in London, and Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries.

The news follows a visit to Mumbai last week by the Corporation’s Special Adviser for Asia Sherry Madera, who attended the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) General Meeting alongside the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Phillip Hammond.

During the meeting the AIIB committed to investing $200 million into the National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), a fund set up by India to take interest in infrastructure pro-

jects.

Earlier this year NIIF partnered with the UK government to create the Green Growth Equity Fund, which launched with an initial £240 million fund jointly funded by the UK and Indian governments. The fund aims to increase its investment to £500 million which will be raised from institutional investors as well as a “significant investment” from UK solar power company Lightsource and Private equity firm Everstone, to invest in renewable energy and clean technology in India.

India’s green finance industry is still in development, but is growing towards its potential thanks to the

efforts of organisations like the City of London Corporation. Last week the UK Government announced it will co-fund a new Green Finance Institute with the City of London Corporation to champion sustainable finance in the UK and abroad. The Institute, which will be based within the City of London Corporation, was one of the key recommendations from the Green Finance Taskforce’s report published in March.

On 17 July the City of London Corporation will hold the 2nd Green Finance Summit at its historic Guildhall. London is now the world leader for Indian Rupee-dominated Green Masala Bonds, and is home to

70% of the wider Masala Bond market.

Talking about the new IAC members, Sherry Madera, Special Adviser at the City of London Corporation said: “Leo and Sanjay are two hugely talented individuals that will bring much expertise to our already highly influential India Advisory Council.

“The World Bank estimates that India needs about $4.5 trillion in infrastructure funding by 2040, billions of which will go towards sustainable projects. The City of London Corporation’s leadership in green finance is already lending support to the country, and Leo’s introduction will only serve to further drive forward this agenda.

“Fintech is another area of UK-India cooperation the City Corporation is supporting through our tie-up with the Indian High Commission’s Access India programme. With the vast majority of transactions in India still undertaken in cash, there are tremendous opportunities for UK firms to support the drive towards demonetisation.

“With Sanjay on board, our Advisory Council not only has the brains behind the India Stack, but also one of the architects of India’s pioneering Aadhaar identity scheme.

“The future of LondonIndia ties certainly look promising.”

UK AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Asian Voice |

17

7th July 2018

Navin Kundra's debut UK concert 'Voice of Legends' takes London by storm Award winning singer, Navin Kundra, enthralled a full house of music lovers on Friday (22 June) with his spectacular debut UK Concert, “Voice Of Legends” presented by Sony TV. Held at the Beck Theatre in London, Navin’s concert sold out in less than 3 weeks with fans flying in from all over the world as well as from across the UK to attend. Navin delivered an electrifying music and dance extravaganza that featured musicians, The 515 Crew, vocalist Ambika Jois, the Shiamak London Dance Team and guest singers, Shin from DCS and Ketan Kansara.

The three hour concert is received rave reviews from fans and spectators and is being praised for it’s refreshingly diverse live entertainment concept. The show was a riveting musical homage to the legendary singers of Bollywood which left the audience delighted with hit after hit performed in Navin’s inimitable style.

“This is a real dream come true to perform my first solo concert in the UK and I’m truly overwhelmed by all the incredible positive feedback. I wanted to create a unique experience for my fans which they’ve never seen from me before and one that would make them sing, dance, laugh and even cry.

I’m so pleased that we managed to achieve that!” said Navin.

After winning the ‘Scene Of the Year’ Award earlier this month at the 2018 British Soap Awards

for his ‘Bollywood Proposal’ scene in BBC Doctors, Navin went all out to incorporate both music and dance into his performance with captivating visuals for the concert.

As well as performing Hindi cinema classics including songs by Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi and Jagjit Singh, Navin also sang his original songs, including the chart topping hit ‘Tere Liye’ and new single, ‘Ishq Humara’ with a beautifully choreographed contemporary dance by Bollywood celebrity choreographer, Shiamak Davar’s dance group.

Many fans were left disappointed that they were unable to buy tickets to the concert after they sold out within three weeks.

But Navin smiled and said that he had a plan for that - “I’m taking ‘Voice Of Legends’ on tour. The show is going to Holland next on

Continued from page 1 “The Sikh community has been decimated by decades of conflict and face widespread discrimination...

“These killings sadly demonstrate there is no secure future for Sikhs in Afghanistan that have been failed by all concerned.”

Jasvir Singh, Chair of the City Sikhs Network tweeted, “So saddened to hear about suicide bombing targetting Sikhs and Hindus. 19 killed, 17 of them from minority faiths. Only Sikh candidate in upcoming Afghan elections died in blast.

Devastating blow to the Afghan Sikh/Hindu community.”

Suicide bombing in Jalalabad A horrific suicide bombing in the eastern city of Jalalabad where President Ashraf Ghani was scheduled to meet members of the community, resulted in the death of 19 members of the community, and a threatening question looming over them. “Is it safe to live here?” Victims of the attack claimed by the Islamic State, included Avtar Singh Khalsa, the only Sikh candidate in Afghan's parliamentary elections this

Oct 7th and is confirmed for Diwali in Leicester on 9th November at the Haymarket Theatre. Be sure to get your tickets early because they sold out pretty quickly last time

and I would love for all of you who missed out to come to this show – it will be an experience you will never forget!”

Tickets for “Voice Of Legends”

BRAVE AFGHAN SIKHS BUTCHERED October. The attacker struck a market located hundreds of metres from the provincial governor's compound where Ghani was holding meetings, said governor spokesman Attaullah Khogyani.

Tejvir Singh, whose uncle was killed in the blast, said, “I am clear that we cannot live her any more. Our religious practices will not be tolerated by the Islamic terrorists. We are Afghans. The government recognises us, but terrorists target us because we are not Muslims.” The Sikh community, that already stood at 300 families in the county, has now numbers fewer than before. There are only two gurdwaras in the country, one each in Jalalabad and Kabul, a testament of just how lacking the community already is. Before a devastating civil war in the 90s, Afghanistan was home to over 250,000 Sikhs and Hindus. Today, despite official political representation and a freedom of worship, many face prejudice and harassment as well as violence from terrorist Islamist groups.

Now, following the latest attack, several Sikhs have sought shelter at the city's

Indian consulate. “We are left with two choices: To leave for India or to convert to Islam,” said Baldev Singh, a book and textile shop owner in Jalalabad. Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Vinay Kumar, who was in New Delhi yesterday to discuss the security situation, said the government was helping organise the last rites of Sikhs killed in the blast. “They can all live in India without any limitation. The final call has to be taken by them. We are here to assist them.”

The attack came a day after Ghani ordered Afghan security forces to resume offensive operations against the Taliban following the expiry of the government's 18-day ceasefire. The government's unilateral truce overlapped with the Taliban's three-day ceasefire for Eid, however, the terrorists refused to prolong it. ISIS was not part of the ceasefire. The attack also coincided US envoy Alice Wells' visit to Kabul as part of efforts to ratchet up pressure on the Taliban to engage in peace talks.

Wells said that since the Afghan gov-

in Leicester go on sale in July – follow Navin Kundra on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more updates or visit www.NavinOnline.com

ernment and United States were willing to start talking without preconditions, the onus was now on the Taliban to respond.

“Right now it's the Taliban leaders... who aren't residing in Afghanistan, who are the obstacle to a negotiated political settlement,” she said. She added, “Pakistan has an important role to play... but we have not yet seen that sustained and decisive action on the part of Islamabad.”

The Indian government has meanwhile assured help to the Afghan government after the attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “We strongly condemn the terror attacks in Afghanistan yesterday. They are an attack on Afghanistan's multicultural fabric. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover soon. India stands ready to assist the Afghanistan government in this sad hour.” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj too met with the relatives of those who died in the bombings, and said, “My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the terror attack in Jalalabad city of Afghanistan. We are with them in this hour of tragedy.”

16

UK

Asian Voice |

www.asian-voice.com

7th July 2018

UK government defends decision to deny settlement to highly-skilled migrants Highly-Skilled Migrant group is planning a peaceful protest at the Old Palace Yard on Tuesday 10 July UK government has defended its decision to deny hundreds of non-EU professionals the right to live and work in the UK, claiming that the applicants currently 'caught up' in the visa fee are actually 'guilty of misconduct'.

The government opened a review to the Tier 1 (General) visa cases, after a long-drawn campaign by the Highly-Skilled Migrants Group, iincluding teachers, doctors, lawyers and engineers from countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have been refused an indefinite leave to remain (ILR) calling them a threat to the national security.

UK minister for immigration Caroline Nokes reportedly in a letter to the House of Commons' Home Affairs S e l e c t Committee told that her department's decision to refuse applications under Paragraph 322(5) of the UK's immigration rules due to a discrepancy in reported earnings stand justified.

These discripancies, mostly amounting £5-10 between the migrants and HM Revenue and Customs were long settled, although the Home Office has rejected these visas on the basis of the previous records.

The letter, however, also acknowledged that the review had 'thrown up' 38 cases of Home Office refusals being overturned and allowed on appeal, the PTI reported.

"Although the earnings issues were considered on appeal, the majority were overturned solely on human rights grounds rather than because of decision-making errors relating to earnings," Nokes said, according to the news report.

The Highly-Skilled Migrants Group expressed shock at the minister's alleged attempt to downplay this figure. The figure of 38 instances are believed to go up

stopped from going on school university because their parents cannot afford to pay over £1000 – more thab double the administration cost- for their status.

Immigration authorities separating children from parents

further, once the rest of the 1671 cases are reviewed in the coming few weeks.

Aditi Bhardwaj, coordinator of the group, which has the support of lobbying ministers, who have been organising many m a j o r protests outside the UK Parliament since early this year, told the PTI, “It just proves our point about Paragraph 322(5) being used disproportionately. The very fact that these appeals are being allowed on human rights grounds should hopefully prevent the future disproportionate use of this clause and prevent applicants having to challenge Home Office decisions in court.

"It does show they (Home Office) were making mistakes.

This should tell them that at the very least not to refuse people where there are serious human rights grounds, such as family ties in the UK and young children involved.”

The group is again planning a large but peaceful protest at the Old Palace Yard on Tuesday 10 July.

Nokes reportedly confirmed in her letter to Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) that the out-

standing Tier 1 (General) visa decisions remain on hold, pending the outcome of the review.

The UK Home Office said it had so far reviewed 281 of these visa applications made by post and concluded that in 249 cases applicants had amended their tax record by more than 10,000 pounds and in many of the remaining cases, the differences were "substantial".

Addressing her letter dated 21 June to HASC chair Yvette C o o p e r , Nokes said, "Applications were not refused on the grounds that the applicants made errors in their tax returns. They were refused on the grounds that applicants had, most likely, exaggerated their earnings to the Home Office to claim enough points to obtain indefinite leave to remain in the UK or, alternatively, substantially underreported their earnings to HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) to evade tax.

"In either scenario, their character and conduct is such that their applications should not be granted," she said, adding that she is confident that the "overall handling of these cases,

including the application of Paragraph 322(5), has been correct".

British MPs, peers and legal experts have extended their support to the Highly Skilled migrants, many of who have lost the right to work or NHS access, due to the current status.

Thangam Debbonaire MP said, “I can confirm that the Home Office has such a culture of disbelief, people with legal rights to be here routinely face a l m o s t impossible hurdles , lost doccuments, expense when they have to appeal (often then siuccessful) causing distress and hardship and wider than Windrush.

To fight injustices against migrants, on another account, Helen Miller tweeted a story that appeared on The Independent on Monday with headline “Children of immigrants 'treated like cash cows'”. In an exclusive story, the newspaper wrote, that the Home office has been accusef of using UK born chldren of immigrants as 'cash cows' by charging them huge sums of money to obtain citizenship. Not only that many youngsters born in Britain or who came here as babies are

According to a charity report, the UK government is separating children from parents who have been taken into immigration detention, the practice that brought worldwide criticism of the Trump administration, according to a report by The Guardian.

Possibly hundreds of children have been separated from a parent or carer in the UK every year, according to a charity that challenges immigration detention.

Bail for Immigration Detainees (Bid) has so far this year represented 155 parents have been separated from a child or children, while thy were in immigration detention. The charity usually handles about 170 cases a year.

While current Home Office guidelines state that children should not be separated from a parent and the child should be taken into care, Bid says this has happened to three families already in the last 16 months.

In two cases, fathers were taken into immigration detention after local authorities warned that the children’s mothers were unable to care for them alone, and that the children would need to spend their childhoods in care.

Both men were eventually bailed.

The newspaper further reported that Bid studied a sample of 111 parents in a study in 2013, who had been separated from 200 children over a three-year period. The average period of detention had been 270 days.

Almost 100 children were placed in foster or local authority care during their parent’s detention. In 92 cases, the parent was eventually released. In 15 cases, however, the parent was deported or removed from the UK without their child.

City of London pushes UK-India green finance and fintech cooperation

The City of London Corporation is to add two senior business figures to its influential India Advisory Council (IAC), as it works to progress UK-India cooperation in fintech and green finance.

Leo Puri, Managing Director at UTI Asset Management, and Sanjay Jain, Chief Innovation Officer at the Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, will join the City Corporation’s now 14 strong IAC, a group which has advised the organisation on its work in India since 2007.

Other members include HDFC

Chairman Deepak Parekh, whose company was the first to list a Masala bond in London, and Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries.

The news follows a visit to Mumbai last week by the Corporation’s Special Adviser for Asia Sherry Madera, who attended the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) General Meeting alongside the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Phillip Hammond.

During the meeting the AIIB committed to investing $200 million into the National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), a fund set up by India to take interest in infrastructure pro-

jects.

Earlier this year NIIF partnered with the UK government to create the Green Growth Equity Fund, which launched with an initial £240 million fund jointly funded by the UK and Indian governments. The fund aims to increase its investment to £500 million which will be raised from institutional investors as well as a “significant investment” from UK solar power company Lightsource and Private equity firm Everstone, to invest in renewable energy and clean technology in India.

India’s green finance industry is still in development, but is growing towards its potential thanks to the

efforts of organisations like the City of London Corporation. Last week the UK Government announced it will co-fund a new Green Finance Institute with the City of London Corporation to champion sustainable finance in the UK and abroad. The Institute, which will be based within the City of London Corporation, was one of the key recommendations from the Green Finance Taskforce’s report published in March.

On 17 July the City of London Corporation will hold the 2nd Green Finance Summit at its historic Guildhall. London is now the world leader for Indian Rupee-dominated Green Masala Bonds, and is home to

70% of the wider Masala Bond market.

Talking about the new IAC members, Sherry Madera, Special Adviser at the City of London Corporation said: “Leo and Sanjay are two hugely talented individuals that will bring much expertise to our already highly influential India Advisory Council.

“The World Bank estimates that India needs about $4.5 trillion in infrastructure funding by 2040, billions of which will go towards sustainable projects. The City of London Corporation’s leadership in green finance is already lending support to the country, and Leo’s introduction will only serve to further drive forward this agenda.

“Fintech is another area of UK-India cooperation the City Corporation is supporting through our tie-up with the Indian High Commission’s Access India programme. With the vast majority of transactions in India still undertaken in cash, there are tremendous opportunities for UK firms to support the drive towards demonetisation.

“With Sanjay on board, our Advisory Council not only has the brains behind the India Stack, but also one of the architects of India’s pioneering Aadhaar identity scheme.

“The future of LondonIndia ties certainly look promising.”

UK AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Asian Voice |

17

7th July 2018

Navin Kundra's debut UK concert 'Voice of Legends' takes London by storm Award winning singer, Navin Kundra, enthralled a full house of music lovers on Friday (22 June) with his spectacular debut UK Concert, “Voice Of Legends” presented by Sony TV. Held at the Beck Theatre in London, Navin’s concert sold out in less than 3 weeks with fans flying in from all over the world as well as from across the UK to attend. Navin delivered an electrifying music and dance extravaganza that featured musicians, The 515 Crew, vocalist Ambika Jois, the Shiamak London Dance Team and guest singers, Shin from DCS and Ketan Kansara.

The three hour concert is received rave reviews from fans and spectators and is being praised for it’s refreshingly diverse live entertainment concept. The show was a riveting musical homage to the legendary singers of Bollywood which left the audience delighted with hit after hit performed in Navin’s inimitable style.

“This is a real dream come true to perform my first solo concert in the UK and I’m truly overwhelmed by all the incredible positive feedback. I wanted to create a unique experience for my fans which they’ve never seen from me before and one that would make them sing, dance, laugh and even cry.

I’m so pleased that we managed to achieve that!” said Navin.

After winning the ‘Scene Of the Year’ Award earlier this month at the 2018 British Soap Awards

for his ‘Bollywood Proposal’ scene in BBC Doctors, Navin went all out to incorporate both music and dance into his performance with captivating visuals for the concert.

As well as performing Hindi cinema classics including songs by Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi and Jagjit Singh, Navin also sang his original songs, including the chart topping hit ‘Tere Liye’ and new single, ‘Ishq Humara’ with a beautifully choreographed contemporary dance by Bollywood celebrity choreographer, Shiamak Davar’s dance group.

Many fans were left disappointed that they were unable to buy tickets to the concert after they sold out within three weeks.

But Navin smiled and said that he had a plan for that - “I’m taking ‘Voice Of Legends’ on tour. The show is going to Holland next on

Continued from page 1 “The Sikh community has been decimated by decades of conflict and face widespread discrimination...

“These killings sadly demonstrate there is no secure future for Sikhs in Afghanistan that have been failed by all concerned.”

Jasvir Singh, Chair of the City Sikhs Network tweeted, “So saddened to hear about suicide bombing targetting Sikhs and Hindus. 19 killed, 17 of them from minority faiths. Only Sikh candidate in upcoming Afghan elections died in blast.

Devastating blow to the Afghan Sikh/Hindu community.”

Suicide bombing in Jalalabad A horrific suicide bombing in the eastern city of Jalalabad where President Ashraf Ghani was scheduled to meet members of the community, resulted in the death of 19 members of the community, and a threatening question looming over them. “Is it safe to live here?” Victims of the attack claimed by the Islamic State, included Avtar Singh Khalsa, the only Sikh candidate in Afghan's parliamentary elections this

Oct 7th and is confirmed for Diwali in Leicester on 9th November at the Haymarket Theatre. Be sure to get your tickets early because they sold out pretty quickly last time

and I would love for all of you who missed out to come to this show – it will be an experience you will never forget!”

Tickets for “Voice Of Legends”

BRAVE AFGHAN SIKHS BUTCHERED October. The attacker struck a market located hundreds of metres from the provincial governor's compound where Ghani was holding meetings, said governor spokesman Attaullah Khogyani.

Tejvir Singh, whose uncle was killed in the blast, said, “I am clear that we cannot live her any more. Our religious practices will not be tolerated by the Islamic terrorists. We are Afghans. The government recognises us, but terrorists target us because we are not Muslims.” The Sikh community, that already stood at 300 families in the county, has now numbers fewer than before. There are only two gurdwaras in the country, one each in Jalalabad and Kabul, a testament of just how lacking the community already is. Before a devastating civil war in the 90s, Afghanistan was home to over 250,000 Sikhs and Hindus. Today, despite official political representation and a freedom of worship, many face prejudice and harassment as well as violence from terrorist Islamist groups.

Now, following the latest attack, several Sikhs have sought shelter at the city's

Indian consulate. “We are left with two choices: To leave for India or to convert to Islam,” said Baldev Singh, a book and textile shop owner in Jalalabad. Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Vinay Kumar, who was in New Delhi yesterday to discuss the security situation, said the government was helping organise the last rites of Sikhs killed in the blast. “They can all live in India without any limitation. The final call has to be taken by them. We are here to assist them.”

The attack came a day after Ghani ordered Afghan security forces to resume offensive operations against the Taliban following the expiry of the government's 18-day ceasefire. The government's unilateral truce overlapped with the Taliban's three-day ceasefire for Eid, however, the terrorists refused to prolong it. ISIS was not part of the ceasefire. The attack also coincided US envoy Alice Wells' visit to Kabul as part of efforts to ratchet up pressure on the Taliban to engage in peace talks.

Wells said that since the Afghan gov-

in Leicester go on sale in July – follow Navin Kundra on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more updates or visit www.NavinOnline.com

ernment and United States were willing to start talking without preconditions, the onus was now on the Taliban to respond.

“Right now it's the Taliban leaders... who aren't residing in Afghanistan, who are the obstacle to a negotiated political settlement,” she said. She added, “Pakistan has an important role to play... but we have not yet seen that sustained and decisive action on the part of Islamabad.”

The Indian government has meanwhile assured help to the Afghan government after the attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “We strongly condemn the terror attacks in Afghanistan yesterday. They are an attack on Afghanistan's multicultural fabric. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover soon. India stands ready to assist the Afghanistan government in this sad hour.” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj too met with the relatives of those who died in the bombings, and said, “My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the terror attack in Jalalabad city of Afghanistan. We are with them in this hour of tragedy.”

18

FINANCIAL VOICE-INDIA-UK

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

Trump Organisation’s Indian real estate partner accused of fraud India's biggest property developers Ireo, also one of US President Donald Trump's business partners in India, is at loggerheads with its investors who accuse its Managing Director of defrauding them of $1.5 billion. Two high-profile investors accuse Lalit Goyal of theft of hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of land and other assets. Axon Capital and The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)- charitable arm of the hedge fund run by Sir Christopher Hohn, met with other investors in New York this week to outline their allegations and discuss how to stop what Axon founding partner Dinakar Singh said was a “brazen fraud”.

The investors have filed a criminal complaint against Goyal and some of his associates in New Delhi, and begun arbitration proceedings against the company in Mauritius.

Lalit Goyal

Ireo is well known not only for its size, but also for being chosen by the Trump Organisation to build a Trump Tower in Gurgaon, near New Delhi.

Donald Trump Jr., the President's son had called the company “truly a fantastic group” when the plan was announced.

Singh said Goyal's alleged actions were “outrageous”, adding that the value of some of the land has more than doubled and could be retrieved for investors. “Some of the money that has gone may be hard to track down, but as raw land, it's probably

Tata and Thyssenkrupp seal merger, thousands of jobs saved In a major relief for thousands of steel workers, Tata Steel and Thyssenkrupp have confirmed the combining of their European steel operations in a 50-50 joint venture.

The merger of steel giants has been hailed by unions and politicians, who have also warned that sustained investment is needed to safeguard thousands of UK steel jobs.

Between the two groups, they employ around 48,000 workers. The merger comes as a saviour for Tata's longthreatened steel plants, including Port Talbot in South Wales, that employs 4000 people.

A Tata Steel spokesman said, “We will look to continue to improve so there's more money to invest to make the UK business sustainable for the long term.” The firms confirmed 4000 job losses through voluntary means, with 1000 falling in Tata's 8500-strong UK business.

Steelworkers union Community said the deal had the “potential to safeguard jobs and steelmaking for a generation”

but would “only succeed with the necessary strategic investments.”

Local MP Stephen Kinnock said, “sustained investment is needed over and above the committed work.”

Business Secretary Greg Clark said the government would work with the firm as it “develops its business plan”. Tata Steel UK chief, Bimlendra Jha said the firm would invest mid-tens of millions of pounds in Port Talbot. On US President Donald Trump's steel tariffs, he said he was hopeful the UK and EU would respond with “protective measures” to prevent dumping.

“Otherwise it does threaten our industry locally in Europe and the UK.” Regarding a potential no deal between the UK and EU, he said, “It will be a sorry state of affairs and we'll cross that bridge when it comes.”

worth two, three times,” Singh said. “The effort is to get it back, and the message to India and Mauritius is, if you want to have foreign investment in and through your countries, this kind of thing simply cannot happen,” he added. Axon and CIFF had previously also accused Goyal of diverting about $150 million from the company, an allegation denied by him. Both investors now say Goyal was seeking to transfer land and licenses worth $1.5 billion to companies with which he is connected. The amount has increased because they have uncovered more instances of money being misappropriated, Singh alleged. No investors have got any money back, despite both Ireo funds being past their expiration date, he said.

Around 70 Ireo investors attended the meeting in New York, most from university endowments and pension funds, while another 3040 dialled in, Singh said.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Air India to sell its Iconic Former Headquarters in Mumbai As part of efforts to raise funds for the cash-strapped national carrier, the Indian government has begun discussions for sale of Air India's iconic building in Mumbai to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), the country's biggest container port. Official sources said that the proposas has received in-principle approval from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after which, an inter-ministerial panel has been constituted to work Air India Former Headquarters Mumbai out the modalities. comprising Secretaries Air India's 23-storey from the Civil Aviation and building at Marine Drive, Shipping ministries has which was also once its been set up to decide on headquarters, is one of the the valuation of the buildmost expensive properties ing.” in the city and is most likeIt is currently being cirly to fetch huge valuations. culated that name of the Proposal to sell the buildbuilding would not be ing to state-owned JNPT changed after sale to JNPT. also comes after the govBroader contours of the ernment's efforts of Air proposed deal are still India strategic disinvestbeing worked out. A query ment failed to take off. sent to Air India Sources said Modi has spokesperson about the given his in-principle proposal did not elicit an approval for the proposed immediate response. sale of Air India's iconic Meanwhile, Air India offibuilding. One of the cials also said a section sources said, “A committee

within the airline is vehemently opposing any such move. They said the building is a “cash cow” for the airline. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said the government is giving a new thrust to strengthen Air India's management practices and operational efficiencies while the disinvestment plan would depend on various circumstances. He said, “In the next 18 months, you will see the visible change.”

The Centre has been pursuing asset monetisation plan of Air India for long, but only few properties have been sold so far. The Civil Aviation Ministry had informed the Lok Sabha that the airline mopped up Rs 543.03 Crore till then from monetisation of its assets in prime locations like Mumbai and Chennai. It included the sale of six flats at Sterling apartment, Mumbai to the State Bank of India with each of these flats fetching Rs 22 Crore, the ministry said. Air India's debt burden is estimated to be over Rs 50,000 crore.

Rupee slumps before dollar, benefits NRIs With the recent rupee slide against the dollar, Nonresident Indian (NRI) investors have the best opportunity to send more money home as foreign portfolio investors exit.

Inward remittances are set to rise, especially from the Middle East, the US, and Southeast Asian countries amid a falling rupee. CEO and Managing Direvtor at Unimoni Financial Services, Amit Saxena said, “The rupee's weakening will help increase remittance inflows to India. A significant share of inflows is expected to come from Middle East countries and United States as the Indian diaspora seeks to capture the gains from exchange rate moves.”

The rupee hit a record intraday low of 69.09 to the dollar last week, extending its losses to over 7 per cent this year as Asian's worst-performing currency. It pared some losses to close at 68.47 on Friday.

Krishnan Ramachandran, CEO, Barjeel Geojit, said, “Expatriates are set to begin their vacation in July-August coming back to India. At this point of time, they would love to have more rupee proceeds per dollar. We are already spotting a trend of increased remittances from the Indian diaspora.”

Foreign flows from NRIs could well be a cushion against drying up foreign portfolio investments.

While it may not be suffi-

cient to stabilise the rupee, it could check any sharp plunge.

Last year, India retained the top position as recipient of remittances as non-resident Indians sent $69 billion back home, as per the World Bank. Global remittances expanded 7 per cent to $613 billion last year from $573 billion in 2016.

National Securities Depository Ltd data revealed that foreign portfolio investors have sold domestic securities worth a net Rs 47,872 Crore this year, compared with a net investment of Rs 1.48 Lakh Crore between January and June last year. KM Chandrasekhar, former cabinet secretary and expart time chairman of

Federal Bank said, “If the rupee continues to fall, setting a trend, non-resident Indians will start remitting money back to India.

Indians living abroad are now on a watch on how to capture gains from the rupee's weakening.”

Reserve Bank of India data revealed that net remittances of India were at $16.4 billion between January and March as compared with $16.2 billion in the corresponding period last year. India received record remittances of about $70 billion amid a falling rupee trend in 2013. Experts said it is expected to cross the earlier mark if the rupee extends its weakening trend.

India least vulnerable to currency pressures

Moody's Investor Service has pegged India as among the countries least vulnerable to currency pressures due to a stronger dollar. The agency's reaffirmation of the health of the Indian economy comes at a time when the rupee has breached the 69 level through the dollar that has gained on the back of trade wars with China and stronger US domestic data.

As per Moody's, the strengthening dollar since mid-April prompted sharp currency depreciation

coupled with a significant decline in foreign exchange reserves in a number of emerging and frontier market countries.

It said, “To the extent that these currency fluctuations reflect capital outflows or significantly lower external inflows, they are credit negative for sovereigns with large external funding needs.”

While India has large external funding needs thanks to its high current account deficit, it is not

among the vulnerable countries unlike 2013 when it was a part of the “fragile five” weak economies.

According to RBI data, India's forex reserves stood at $410 billion as on June 15, 2018.

Moody's said, “Although India's current account deficit has widened, driven in part by the recent rise in oil prices, it remains modest relative to gross domestic product and is largely financed by equity inflows, including foreign direct investment.

India's significant buildup of foreign exchange reserves in recent years to all-time highs provides a support buffer to help mitigate external vulnerability risk.”

According to the agency, Argentina with a B2 (stable) sovereign rating, Ghana (B3 stable), Mongolia (B3 stable), Pakistan (B3 negative), Sri Lanka (B1 negative), Turkey (Ba2 RUR), Zambia (B3 stable) are among most vulnerable to a US dollar appreciation.

REAL ESTATE VOICE

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A DEAL ON A PLATE AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

It’s rare nowadays to get deals on a plate. There is too much information available about the market. It takes only a few minutes to ascertain the value of a flat in a block.

You look at what the past sales were, which is readily available.

Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap London Property Investment

One flat is pretty much like another in terms of size and build. There are differences of course in terms of views, light etc.

These start to have a sizable impact the higher up you go in price.

Of course you can argue also, when markets are moving up or down the comparables can have little validity, as they will be out of touch with the new reality. For example, if you look at a comparable which is say three months old, you’re looking at a deal which was probably agreed three months before this date, therefore, the price is about 6

months out of date.

This was a situation I faced when we purchased a house for a client in Shepherd’s Bush. The comparables did not confirm it was a deal.

However, I was told the area on ground level was going crazy, prices were moving very fast. It was the local information I relied upon rather than the number from the land registry. We promptly flipped the property and made a handsome profit for our client.

Therefore, subject to a few constraints, it’s still relativity easy to establish whether a property is a hard deal or not. By a hard deal, I mean 30-40% off and in London. Not in the middle of the country where you have flat growth for the next decade.

The point I’m trying to make is, with so much

AGONY AGENT IS HERE TO HELP! Q: My tenant is doing work without my permission, what should I do?

A: Home improvements to a rental property should be done by the landlord, so what happens when tenants do so without permission? A good Tenancy Agreement should have some wording in it that stops the tenants from making changes to the property, and if they do, they are responsible for restoring it to the original condition when moving out. For most tenants this usually means things like taking

down blinds and putting up curtains, or installing child safety gates.

Tenants have no problem with putting things back in the original state when they move, and landlords usually aren’t bothered by these types of small changes. However, sometimes tenants take things a whole lot further and start doing more home improvements to the property.

Examples: l l l l

Painting walls Replacing the carpet Changing light fittings Changing door locks

BUY TO LET OPPORTUNITY

Paddington, London W2 Purchase Price: £525,000

Specialists in Central London Property Sourcing

19

l l

Changing appliances Landscaping changes, like putting in flower beds, a fence, cutting down trees Anytime a tenant makes such a permanent change, they are breaking the AST and could even be evicted if the landlord so desires.

The very best tenants consider their rental property a true home, and go out of their way to take care of it and improve it as much as they can.

Often, there’s a healthy relationship in place and tenants can ask permission from the

abundant information it is difficult to get a deal. This is what the efficient market theory is about; in short, it says if the price of something reflects all available information, then it is fairly priced.

This of course is a theoretical model, but it has some bearing on reality. As property has become more popular in the UK relative to the rest of Europe, there is no shortage of investor demand. There are also no barriers to entry. Anyone can come and purchase a property, or act as an agent. Many do.

You can, time to time, pick up deals just by being in the right place, at the right time. We sourced a deal in Ashmill Street in Marylebone, central London, for only £663 per square foot. The property was freehold, and required no work to it, in fact it was newly refurbished. The

landlord to do the improvements, and permission will generally be given. So, what happens when tenants make more permanent home improvements to the property without checking first or getting your permission? What should you do?

There is no right answer for this question, because so much depends on what was done, the type of tenants they are, the relationship you have with them, the condition of the rental property before and after the works (has it improved?), and so on.

There are some steps that

going rate in the locality at the time was about £1,100.

But these come rarely.

And besides being at the right place at the right time, and having the cash, you have no further claim to the deal.

Where there is still profit on a deal is where there is an issue. A problem which looks very serious flushes out most of the demand.

The problem could be apparent, meaning it might not necessarily exist, but has the appearance of a problem.

What I mean by this is, for example, if something is listed as having an unknown tenancy, buyers would assume this is a protected tenancy. This means the property is potentially worth only half of its value. Or the problem might actually be real and needs to be resolved.

This is when you can

you should take in dealing with tenants that make home improvements: l Send a written notice acknowledging that permission was never given and it should have been requested. l

Let the tenants know that there should absolutely be no more unauthorised works, and that any ideas they have for making changes should be run past you first. l Outline the consequence of the action, which will vary depending on the circumstances. It could

procure a deal, and be confident not everyone is able to perform on this deal. We have such a property which has landed on our table, where one is getting the property at a straight 30% off the market value. The deal is small in size at only £450k in a central location. The issue with it is something we have been fortunate to encounter before, and is not insurmountable. The rewards for this knowledge is about £200k.

Call the office now, if you wish to know more.

range from doing nothing apart from the warning, to requesting that the property be restored to the original condition immediately or when they move out (at their expense).

Keep a copy of the letter on file and use it to support future actions regarding the works.

Just remember even if the work is not costing you anything and it is in fact making the property homelier, nothing should be done without your permission or consent.

Richard Bond Lettings Manager Sow & Reap

l Stunning bright apartment with ample living space

l Large reception room, one double bedroom, one bathroom, and a fitted kitchen

l Approximately 500 sq. ft.

l Minutes away from Hyde Park

l Expected resale value £675,000 Call us now for more information!

0207 993 0103

info@sowandreap.co.uk www.sowandreap.co.uk 27 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 8HU SowandReapProperties

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Turning land into cash Get in touch about our land opportunities

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FINANCIAL VOICE -INDIA-UK

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Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

Consultant Editor Financial Voice Alpesh Patel Dear Financial Voice Reader, I’ve got bad news. There isn’t enough money. Not enough for the NHS, not for the trains. I’ve spent eight hours in A&E this past week and 3 hours standing on a train from Leeds. Why standing? Because yet again the previous train was cancelled.

There is not enough money to make our trains and our hospitals work. There are not enough rich people to tax. There is too much waste and incompetence. Very few people are good enough to run things and pay for things.

Basically, you’re screwed financially too. As I walked around Leeds, some of the poorest parts of where I am from, there was a time you could climb up, get a job and get a mortgage and the price of your property would elevate you out of the poverty trap.

Those days have gone. Rich people don’t like it when the poor do too well too easily and come to their social clubs.

So what’s the answer? The country need to borrow more. Waiting for the Chinese to invest in the Northern Powerhouse will take way too long. The Government can borrow at ridiculously low rates. The world is still willing for now to lend to the UK. Borrow and invest in schools and infrastructure. Invest your way out Britain.

The country needs a little money compared to its economic size in order to make a large change. But spend wisely. After all they invite students to borrow cheap to pay for their education, an investment and pay it back later. The country needs to do this.

You want to know why productivity is so low? I am writing to you standing in a first class compartment and I will be standing for another two hours. Tomorrow I will be in Oxford, first I will be at a Breakfast organised by Lord Bilimoria on Brexit – these are all reminders we need to invest to keep our spot in the world.

I don’t mind if you think more tax is the answer. But you will then definitely agree with me that more spending is for sure. Borrow to spend.

And what of for the individual. Well you may need to take loans to invest in your future – maybe skills training, maybe moving to another area – if you can get the mortgage. You see it was always borrowing that led to growth. For the individual it was mortgages.

And sadly, unless we discover oil off the UK coast, or more of it, then it will be borrowing again – but always to invest.

For a free online trading course visit www.alpeshpatel.com

India’s manufacturing activity improves at strongest pace INDIA’S MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY TREND

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Interpol issues Red Corner Notice to Nirav Modi

In a fresh pot of trouble that has brewed specifically for diamantaire Nirav Modi, the Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice against the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud accused and his employee Subhash Parab. The notice was issued on request of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which is in no mood to leave the businessman go scot free.

Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi cheated the state-run bank of about Rs 13,000 Crore through fraudulent issuance of Letters of Undertaking and Foreign Letters of Credit. They are both absconding since the first week of January this year.

A Red Corner Notice is a request by a member country to locate and arrest an individual pending extradition. It is issued by the General Secretariat of the Interpol, on request of a

Nirav Modi

member country's National Central Bureau.

In this case, the Interpol has asked its 192 member countries to arrest or detain the person if spotted in their countries after which extradition or deportation proceedings can begin. Police all across the world have been alerted.

The Notice however, is not an international arrest warrant. Interpol cannot compel any member country to arrest an individual who is the subject of the Notice.

Bringing the fugitive back to India will now become easier for the CBI.

PNB finds 54 officials at fault for Modi scam Meanwhile, an internal investigation report at PNB has indicted the management, circle and zonal officers, treasury and forex departments and the international banking division along with auditors for ignoring widespread violations, unethical practices and dereliction of responsibilities that led the bank to such a “catastrophe”.

PNB's audit department had checked the SWIFT messages logs, a single activity would have nailed the whole act at the incipient stage, the report said.

The report added that the bank didn't verify the commission vouchers for opening for Foreign Letters of Credit (FLCs) and subsequently, wrong SWIFT log generation was sent by the Mumbai circle office to the zonal office and to the head office in Delhi. The investigations showed that PNB had 1804 pending cases of bill of entry (BOEs) worth Rs 1.14 Lakh Crore out of which the outstanding BOEs of Modi's Firestar Group and Choksi's Gitanjali Group were worth Rs 99,031 Crore.

The report said alarm bells should have rung in the circle and zonal offices when importexport and fixed deposit business of the branch was skyrocketing. Several senior officers from the circle office visited the branch between 2010 and 2017, but “no senior officer has made any adverse comment on SWIFT, DMS (daily monitoring system) reports, specific instances of unauthorised business, etc.”

Amit Jain is first Indian MD to head L’Oréal India

Maker of women's beauty care products under Garnier and Maybelline, L’Oréal India has roped in an Indian to head its operations, for the first time since it set up base in the country in 1991.

The current managing director of paint maker AkzoNobel's north and west Europe region, Jain will take charge as Managing Director on August 1.

Presently located in Amsterdam, he will replace Jean-Christophe Letellier, who is set to move to a larger role in the L’Oréal Groupe in Europe.

Jain began his career as a management trainee in a

Amit Jain

then Kolkata headquartered subsidiary of UK's ICI Group. An 11 years stint at Coca-Cola later saw him quickly move up the ladder to finish as a vice-president

for its north and east India region. After spending close to three years in Viacom, Jain moved back to his first company, now AkzoNobel India, as the MD in June 2009. Five years into the role, he was moved to Netherland to expand AkzoNobel's decorative coating business in countries like France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

Pierre-Yves Arzel, Vice President, South Asia Pacific Zone, L’Oréal said, “Amit's rich global experience with a deep under-

standing of India, transformational leadership skills and inclusive personality will be an important asset in further developing L’Oréal's business in India.

His mission is to build on our rich talent base and global brands, to make L’Oréal India an engine for growth in Asia.” Jain, who will also look after L’Oreal’s businesses in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, will report to Arzel. Currently the third largest player in the Rs 811 billion Indian personal care space, L’Oréal is expected to gain from Jain's expertise on distribution and brand promotion.

vided by India and other countries, it has also agreed to further expand its cooperation on India's fight against black money with a new pact for automatic information exchange.

In the last three years, the Indian government took several measures to crack down on black money. After the Enactment of Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign

Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015, under which it provided a one-time compliance window to taxpayers to make declarations of their undisclosed foreign assets, the government provided compliance window for declaration of their undisclosed income through the Income Declaration Scheme (IDS) in 2016. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) followed this in the post-demonetisation phase.

While assets worth Rs 4100 Crore were declared by over 640 persons under the Black Money Act, under IDS, disclosures worth Rs 67,300 Crore were made by over 71,000 people. Disclosures of about Rs 4900 Crore were made by about 21,000 people.

Money of Indians in Swiss banks jumps 50 per cent

Activity in India's manufacturing sector has gathered momentum, improving at the fastest pace in the year so far. A statement by IHS Markit has shown that the Nikkei India Purchasing Managers Index improved 53.1 in June from 51.2 in the previous month. A reading below 50 indicates contraction in activity, while a number above it signals expansion.

Aashana Dodhia, economist at the research firm, said, “India's manufacturing economy closed the quarter on a solid footing against a backdrop of robust demand conditions.” Output growth was seen across all segments and key international mar-

kets also reported stronger demand, IHS Markit added.

Participants in the PMI survey cited strong underlying demand conditions as the reason for the pick up in manufacturing activity. New orders from the overseas markets also showed strong growth and accelerated at the fastest pace since February.

Manufacturing firms also raised their staffing levels, with job creation at its strongest since the beginning of the year. The statement said, “Jobs growth was evident across consumption, intermediate and investment goods.”

Strengthening demand allowed businesses to pass on higher input costs.

After a steady decline for three successive years, money stored by Indians in Swiss Banks has risen 50 per cent to Rs 7000 Crore in 2017 over last year. Latest data from Zurich-based Swiss National Bank (SNB) comes months after a new framework has been put in place for automatic exchange of information between Switzerland and India to help check the black money menace. The jump in Indian deposits has been attributed to several factors, including the 39 per cent increase in foreign remittances under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme, increase in reporting after a threeyear crackdown on disclosure of black money parked abroad. 7000 Crore is just a

fraction of the Rs 44,500 Crore that was parked in Swiss banks by Indians in 2006.

The increase in 2017 came after money parked by Indians in Swiss banks sharply dropped from Rs 14,000 Crore in 2013 to Rs 4660 Crore in 2016. While Switzerland has begun sharing foreign client details on evidence of wrongdoing pro-

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USA

Trump interviews Amul Thapar for SC justice nominee

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump interviewed Judge Amul Thapar, and three other legal luminaries as potential nominees to replace Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. If nominated and confirmed by the Senate, the IndianAmerican will be the first from the community to be on the bench of the nine-member apex court. Trump said, “We'll make a decision... over the next few days and we'll be announcing it on Monday. I think the person that is chosen will be outstanding.”

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said that Trump was looking for individuals who have the right intellect,

Amul Thapar

the right temperament, and will uphold the Constitution. She added that he met each contender for 45 minutes.

Thapar is among the 25 shortlisted judges by the US President, and the country's first Article III judge of South Asian descent. “I think he's absolutely brilliant, with the right temperament,” said Senator Mitch

McConnell, the Senate Majority Leader. The US media has shown utmost support for Thapar, with Fox News saying he would be good for the apex court as well as the Republicans.

He is a “shining example of the success of the fo u r- m i l l i o n - s t r o n g Indian-American community” which now has the highest median household income in the country.

The report also said, “Although Asian voters made up only 4 per cent of the electorate in 2016, they are the fastest growing part of the electorate and a key factor in swing states such as Nevada and Virginia.” Justice Kennedy announced his retirement from the US Supreme Court last week.

Thapar began his legal career in private practice, after clerkships with Judge S. Arthur Spiegel of the District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and Judge Nathaniel R. Jones of the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

He received his BS from Boston College in 1991 and his JD from the University of California, Berkeley.

Vivek Lall named to key federal aviation advisory committee

WASHINGTON: IndianAmerican Vivek Lall is the latest to be named in a position in the American administration. The 49 year old vice president at Lockheed Martin will represent the viewpoints of defence technology organisations in the NextGen Advisory Committee of the Department of Transportation. The committee advises the government on topics including, but not limited to, NextGen investment pri-

Vivek Lall

orities, capability deployment timing, equipage

incentives, specific technologies, and deploy-

ments such as DataComm, National Airspace System performance metrics, and airspace design initiatives.

A globally renowned aerospace scientist, Lall has been appointed for a two-year term on the committee that provides guidance on wide-ranging topics affecting the US and the global aviation community. He was the top official at Boeing and General Atomics in the past and successfully led over $12 billion of USIndia trade.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal detained for anti-immigration protest

WASHINGTON: IndianAmerican Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal was among the 576 women to be detained during a protest staged in Washington against the border and immigration policy of US President Donald Trump.

The civil disobedience was in response to the Trump administration’s crackdown at the US-Mexico border, including separation of thousands of children from their parents in recent months. An immigrationrights activist and founder of OneAmerica, this is her third arrest, with the first two occurring before her 2016 election to Congress in 2016.

Speaking to the press, Jayapal said she was invited to speak at the demonstra-

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Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

Pramila Jayapal

tion called by women at the Hart Senate Office Building.

She added, “I decided that I too, would sit down with them and submit to arrest. We chanted and sang and talked about the need to reunite these families and to end the President’s zero-tolerance policy. I think that

every American, Republican and Democrat, just has to try and imagine what that looks like, to have six-month-old baby taken from your breast.” Jayapal added that she was annoyed with Trump's zero-tolerance prosecutions of people crossing the US-Mexico border. She

has also actively helped in organising 'Families Belong Together' protests in Washington DC., and other cities across the nation.

Spokeswoman for the US Capitol Police, Eva Malecki said the women were arrested and charged with unlawfully demonstrating in the Senate office atrium. Jayapal was issued a $50 fine for “crowding, obstructing or incommoding”. Following mass criticism, Trump signed an executive order to end family separations after which 538 children were reunited with their families.

However, data provided by the Department of Homeland Security reveals that 2000 minors are still separated from their beloved.

Attorney Megha Parekh is the Jacksonville Jaguars' new Chief Legal Officer FLORIDA: A National Football League's (NFL) team, the Jacksonville Jaguars has just hired an Indian-American attorney as an integral part of the group.

Owned by Pakistani-American Shahid Khan, the club had hired Megha Parekh in 2013 to serve as vice president and general counsel, later promoting her to senior vice president and chief legal officer in 2016.

Parekh will look after all the legal matters of the team, development and training, information technology and capital improvements.

Harvard University and Harvard Law School graduate, Parekh has also worked on the extension of EverBank's naming rights and selection and engagement of new food, beverage and merchandise providers of EverBank Field.

“The most interesting and challenging aspect of working with the Jaguars is that every day is wildly different. I'm responsible for legal, government relations, human resources, technology and certain aspects of stadium

Megha Parekh

development. Our inhouse legal team handles work for the football team and also for our amphitheater and events companies, a sports analytics company, and a handful of other portfolio businesses,” Parekh said.

She added, “On any given day, you might find me at City Hall working with the administration on stadium capital project planning or downtown development plans, giving a training to our people, or sneaking off to a quiet but sunny part of the stadium to read a contract.”

The Indian-American attorney said she takes an “all-hands-on-deck approach” to her job.

Seema Nanda is first IndianAmerican CEO of the DNC WASHINGTON: Decisionmaking body of the Democratic Party, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has tapped Indian-American Seema Nanda to serve as its new CEO, making her the first from the community to be named an operational head of a key American political party. Currently the executive vice president and chief operating officer at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the largest human and civil rights organisation in the US, she will begin work in her new position later this month.

“This position is the opportunity of a lifetime, for which I am incredibly honored and humbled,” Nanda said in a press release. As mid-term elections continue and the 2020 elections draw closer, hiring the management-oriented Nanda is a fresh move. DNC Chair Tom Perez said, “I'm beyond excited that Seema is bringing her talent and brilliance to the DNC. She is a seasoned manager who has a proved track record of success.” “People are hurting all across our country. I believe that Democrats are offering the positive solutions so desperately-needed right now- solutions forged by the strength of our diversity, the rigor of

Seema Nanda

our ideas and the decency of our values. I am grateful to Chairman Perez and Mary Beth for selecting me, and I look forward to joining my new DNC colleagues in the fight for our nation's values and future,” Nanda said.

Member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, Nanda has a background in labor and employment law and has worked in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. A graduate of Boston College Law School and Brown University, Nanda has served on the board of directors of several non-profit organisations. A report said Nanda has stepped in as the Democrats attempt to build on primary successes that have given women of colour a chance at making history in November.

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Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

SRI LANKA - NEPAL

Sri Lanka to shift naval base to China-controlled Hambantota port COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has announced that it is shifting a naval base to a port built and controlled

by China, in a move that will strengthen security at a harbour that foreign powers fear China could use for military purposes. The base is currently located in the tourist district of Galle, and will be moved 125 km east along Lanka's southern coast to Hambantota, near to the main shipping route between Asia and Europe. The $1.5 billion deepwater port is likely to play a major role in China's “Belt and Road” initiative and is under a 99-year lease to China Merchants Port

Holdings at a cost of $1.12 billion.

Government and diplomatic sources has said that the United States, India, and Japan have however raised concerns that China might use the port a naval base.

Both, the Lankan government and the Chinese

embassy in Colombo have denied the report, saying the agreement for the port deal included a clause that it cannot be used for military purposes. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office released a statement saying, “Sri Lanka has already informed China that

Hambantota port cannot be used for military purposes. Since the security of the port will be under the control of Sri Lanka navy, there is no need to fear.”

Navy spokesman Dinesh Bandara said a naval unit has already been established in Hambantota and construction work for the base is under way. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the Hambantota port project was to help Sri Lanka achieve its aim of becoming a logistics hub in the Indian Ocean, which was good for the country's economic development and the region as a whole.

Nepal PM said they don't play games with India, China for political gains KATHMANDU: Speaking at the Parliament, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said the Himalayan nation wants a cordial relationship with India and China and does not believe in playing “games” with its neighbours for short-term political gains.

Oli, who has only recently returned from his six-day visit to China, was briefing the House about his “positive” visit to Beijing.

He highlighted the agreements inked by both the countries during the trip.

“The agreements we've reached show our commitment towards realising our common goal of development and prosperity,” Oli said.

He said his government was keen on ensur-

KP Sharma Oli

ing Nepal's development and prosperity and the only way to do so was by maintaining a cordial relationship with India and China. “We do not play card games with (China or India) for short political gains and we stand with our neighbours in good and bad times. For this reason, our foreign and global policies are

guided with honest intentions that will not hinge country's security, sovereignty and world peace.” Oli said Nepal and China had agreed to resume Tatopani entry point by May 2019, while setting up better infrastructures at Rasuwagadi and Kerung. “The railway connectivity is an important agreement as it will help to speed up development and increase economic activities.”

Both, Nepal and China have also agreed to intensify implementation of the MoU on cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative to enhance connectivity. “The initiative encompasses vital components such as ports, roads, railways, aviation and

communications within the overarching framework of trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network,” Oli said. Both sides also agreed to take practical measures to promote cooperation in all fields mentioned in the MoU, according to the 14-point Nepal-China joint statement which was released on the conclusion of Oli's visit.

Oli had held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, following which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to build a strategic railway link connecting Tibet with Kathmandu through the arduous Himalayan terrain.

UNP calls for probe over Chinese funding of Rajapaksa in polls COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's ruling United National Party, called for setting up of a presidential commission to investigate the alleged Chinese funding of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's utilized in 2015 election campaign.

A news report has claimed that Chinese port construction directly funded Rajapaksa for his election activities. Rajpaksa was also alleged to support China's efforts to tilt influence away from India in South Asia.

The report alleged that at least $7.6 million was transferred from China Harbor's bank account in Colombo to

Mahinda Rajapaksa

affiliate of Rajapaksa.

Around $3.7 million was distributed in cheques, $678,000 were utilised in print campaign of T-shirts and other promotional material and $297,000 to bribe supporters with gifts,

including women's with saris. Another $38,000 was paid to a popular Buddhist monk who was supporting Rajapaksa, $1.7 million were delivered by volunteers to Temple Trees, his official residence.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) said that the truth of the reports should be brought to light.

They have demanded to setup a presidential commission for a complete probe in this matter. Even UNP legislator Harshana Rajakaruna also asked, “How China got Sri Lanka to cough up a port?” Rajapaksa is yet

to speak on this report. His son said in a tweet that the report had many inaccuracies. Several Rajapaksa supporters have termed the story as fake.

Meanwhile, Rajapaksa has dismissed the media report in a statement saying, “No contribution was made

by China to my 2015 presidential election campaign.

Whiel claiming that my 'affiliates' and 'campaign aides' had got the money and that volunteers' had delivered the cheques to Temple Trees, the writer has been intentionally vague about who had given this money and who had received it.”

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BANGLADESH

UN chief heard “unimaginable” stories from Rohingya

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim (L) and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres meet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

COX'S BAZAR: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who visited sprawling refugee camps in Bangladesh on Monday, said he heard “unimaginable accounts of killing and rape” from Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar in the wake of violence since last August.

In a tweet, he said the Rohingya Muslims only want “justice and a safe return home”. The Chief is visiting Bangladesh to meet refugees who have been seeking protection from the United Nations.

Around 700,000 Rohingya have crossed the border to escape violence

by Myanmar security forces, who have resorted to rape, killing, torture and burning of their homes.

Several thousands are believed to have been killed in what UN and US officials have called “ethnic cleansing”. Guterres met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim at the beginning of his threeday visit, even as he promised continued UN pressure on Myanmar and support to Dhaka. Hasina's

Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said, “He (Guterres) said the UN would keep continued pressure on Myanmar on the issue and simultaneously give Bangladesh its constant support for resolving and handling the crisis.” He added that the UN chief feared the ethnic minority Muslim Rohingyas could be exposed to radicalisation and stressed the importance of an education system for their protection from such phenomena.

Karim said, “The UN secretary general said Myanmar should as well be made to understand what their action (crackdown on Rohingyas) could yield.”

The UN, and the World Bank chiefs arrived in Dhaka while the International Red Cross (ICRC) President Peter Maurer, British Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field, and UK Special Envoy for Gender Equality, Joanna Roper are already in Bangladesh visiting crammed Rohingya camps in southeastern Cox's Bazar. Dhaka now shelters over a million Rohingyas since the influx began initially.

Bangladesh SC extends stay on bail for ex-PM Khaleda Zia DHAKA: Bangladesh Supreme Court has upheld its order staying the bail granted by the High Court to former prime minister Khaleda Zia in a 2015 murder case. In a massive blow to the imprisoned leader, the decision means that the 72 year old three-time former premier and opposition leader will have to stay in jail for yet another month, even if she secures bail in other cases.

Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Zia was jailed for five years in February in connection with the embezzlement of 21 million taka ($250,000) in foreign donations meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust.

A four-member appellate bench led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain upheld the stay

on the High Court decision granting Zia bail in the Cumilla murder case over the firebombing of a bus in February 2015. The SC also asked the High Court to hear and dispose of the case over the bail in four weeks. Eight people were killed in the bomb attack during the BNP-Jamaat alliance's protests. Two separate cases including one for murder were filed over the incident.

Following the 2015 incident, a warrant was issued for Zia's arrest after police filed the chargesheet in the two cases.

Zia's imprisonment has led to an indefinite uncertainty over the BNP's participation in the elections in December, as the party said it won't take part in the polls without her.

WORLD

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PAKISTAN

Special court to resume trial in Musharraf's treason case ISLAMABAD: A threejudge special court formed by Pakistan's Supreme Court for conducting high treason trial of former military ruler and dictator Pervez Musharraf is set to resume its hearing early next month. The 74 year old faces trial for subverting the Constitution on November 3, 2007. Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Yawar Ali, who heads the special court, will stay in Islamabad/ Rawalpindi from July 2 to 4 to hear the treason case.

A report said the case was planned to be restarted earlier but on member of the special court was

Pervez Musharraf

abroad.

Formed in November 2013 by the Supreme Court on request of the former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, had to be reconstituted as its former head and Peshawar

High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Yahya Afridi recused himself from hearing the case on March 29. Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar proposed a fresh composition of the three-judge special court

on April 7, nominating Ali as its head. Ali is set to retire on October 22 this year. The SC had recently summoned Musharraf, who has been living in the UAE for two years, regarding his disqualification. He however, did not show up, prompting the apex court to bar him from contesting in the July 25 general elections. The former president was indicted in March 2014 on treason charges for imposing emergency in the country which led to the confinement of a number of superior court judges in their houses and sacking of over 100 judges. A conviction for high-profile treason carries the death penalty or life imprisonment.

Pak committed to end regional conflict: Ali Jahangir WA S H I N G T O N : Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Ali Jahangir Siddiqui has said peace in Afghanistan is his top policy priority and that his country remains committed to ending regional conflict. In an interview, he said Pakistan is working on a second portion of a fence at its border with its warravaged neighbour Afghanistan. The fence, he said, is a clear sign of Pak's interest in ending the regional conflict and will help bot nations equally in doing so. “Until we complete this fence, it's unreasonable to say we aren't doing anything,” Siddiqui said.

US President Donald Trump has in the past accused Pakistan of harbouring “agents of chaos” and providing safe havens to militant groups waging an insurgency against the US-backed government in Kabul. US Army Lieutenant General Austin Miller, Trump's nominee to head the US-led coalition in Afghanistan, released a

Ali Jahangir

statement to a Senate panel last month saying Pakistan has made “many sacrifices” and “its security forces have fought bravely” but “we have not yet seen these counter-terrorism efforts against antiPakistan militants translate into definitive actions against Afghan Taliban or Haqqani leaders residing in Pakistan.”

Former banker and private equity executive, Siddiqui also spoke on Pakistan’s economic imbalance saying the dwindling foreign reserves and widening current

account and trade deficits require a “structural change”. He said a “major energy shortage” has hobbled Pakistan’s economy, including textiles that are its prime export, and suggested importing more US natural gas as a key to diversify his nation's energy supply while expanding trade relations.

“Pakistan is on its way to becoming one of the world's largest gas importers, and the US is well on its way to becoming the world's largest LNG exporter. There is a lot of growth in our trade rela-

tion that could occur.”

Pakistan has achieved major gains against terrorism: Lodhi Amid crashing flak on the recent attack on Afghanistan Sikhs, Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations, Dr Maleeha Lodhi said Pak has achieved major gains in countering terrorism, however, international cooperation is needed to eliminate the scourge across the world.

Speaking at the general assembly high-level conference of heads of counter-terrorism agencies, the Pakistani envoy said these gains have come at a high human and financial price but this has not diminished Pakistan's resolve to fight on.

She pointed out that the largest anti-terrorism operation was carried out

by Pakistan which has deployed over 200,000 of its forces. She however asserted, Pakistan's Counter Terrorism strategy has involved more than just military means.

Pak General Polls: 11,000 candidates for 849 seats

ISLAMABAD: After completion of the scrutiny process, the Election Commission has said that around 11,855 candidates are in the fray for 849 general seats of Pakistan's national and provincial assemblies for the July 25 elections. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued

the final list of candidates, according to which, 3459 candidates will contest on 272 general seats of the National Assembly, while 8396 will run for 577 general seats of the four provincial assemblies.

Latest figures show a significant decrease in the number of candidates

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compared to the 2013 general elections when a total of 15,629 candidates, 4671 for National Assembly and 10,958 for provincial assemblies were in the field.

The ECP said that leadership of major political parties and other political bigwigs are contesting from more than

one constituency in the upcoming elections.

Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) president Shahbaz Sharif will contest from four constituencies of three provinces, while Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal BhuttoZardari will contest on three seats.

AFRICA

Zuma son dies suddenly

Vusi Nhlakanipho Zuma and Jacob Zuma

JOHANNESBURG: Former South African president Jacob Zuma is mourning the unexpected death of his 25 year old son, Vusi Nhlakanipho Zuma, who died after a short illness.

He is believed to have been in a private hospital where he passed away on Sunday.

The Zuma family have indicated a representative will “advise on any further details” in due course.

Their spokesperson Vukile Mathabela confirmed the tragic news, adding that other details are private for now.

Vusi Nhlakanipho Zuma was the youngest of five children born to the ANC leader and Kate Mantsho‚ who committed suicide. He was born in 1993. His siblings include well-known twins Duduzane and Duduzile.

American civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson was among those who sent their condolences to the family. He tweeted, “Sending prayers for and condolences to former South African president Jacob Zuma and family on the loss of their son, Vusi Nhlakanipho Zuma.

RIP.” Very little was known about the young Zuma.

Zelda la Grange, former aide of the late president Nelson Mandela expressed devastation at the news.

She tweeted, “Oh my word.

This is terrible. Vusi was a beautiful child. We saw him grow up.” She added that he had crossed her mind just a few days earlier. La Grange said that Vusi had attended the Sacred Heart College in Johannesburg.

Zimbabwe's VP airlifted to SA for treatment

HARARE: One of the deputies of Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa is currently in South Africa for medical treatment following a bombing incident in Bulawayo magistrate court.

Speaking at a press conference at the State House in Tanzania, after holding talks with host President Dr John Magufuli, President Mnangagwa said Vice President Kembo Mohadi and Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri were taken to SA for treatment.

He said Mohadi was seriously injured and had to be airlifted to South Africa, where he is now recovering.

Muchinguri-Kashiri, Zimbabwe's Environment, Water and Climate Minister, was operated on as a shrapnel reportedly pierced through her chest.

A former Mugabe loyalist, Mnangagwa said the object had “exploded a few inches away from me, but it is not my time.” The blast came as Zimbabwe prepares to hold its first post-Mugabe presidential election on July 30, with 75 year old Mnangagwa and 40 year old Nelson Chamisa, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, as

the main contenders.

Meanwhile, two suspects who appeared before a Bulawayo magistrate court facing terrorism charges have been released as the State has failed to prove its case. Douglas Musekiwa and John Zulu, of no fixed abode, were accused of being the masterminds behind the “insurgency, banditry, sabotage or terrorism” that claimed two lives and injured 50. Both men appeared before Bulawayo resident magistrate Gladmore Mushowe late on Saturday, as the 48-hour detention period ran out.

The magistrate gave the State another 24 hours that expired on Sunday.

The police in an attempt to build a case around the two men, sought and got permission to go through their mobile phone records. The attack, which was the single biggest threat to elections due on July 30, drew massive condemnation from across the world.

Mnangagwa said he knew the people behind the attack‚ and pointed in the direction of politicians sympathetic to his predecessor‚ Robert Mugabe.

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SOUTH

WEST BENGAL

Kerala churches rocked with sex scandals THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Christians in Kerala have been shocked to their core as not one, but two sex scandals hit their holy pedestals in a span of a week. The first one involves a woman and her husband making allegations of sexual harassment against five priests of the Malankara Orthodox Church in Kerala. The victim's husband has raised severe questions against the priests of different dioceses. He said that his wife's confessional secret was used by the priests to blackmail her into giving sexual favours. However, they have not filed a police complaint in the regard.

Meanwhile, questions were raised on why the Church failed to make a police complaint in the same matter. When asked

why the institution has not approached the police despite receiving the complaint three months ago, a highly placed church official said it is the woman who should approach the police. “What is stopping the woman from going to the police? Why should we approach the police when we have taken cognizance of the complaint and formed an internal committee to inquire?

Suppose this was a case involving a minor, we would have approached the police ourselves. But in this case, the woman is an adult and she can seek the help of police if she wants to,” they said.

While the church spokesperson had earlier said that the accused priests were relieved from their duties and placed on suspension pending inquiry. A press statement

was also released, saying that an unbiased and just action has already been taken against the accused priests based on the allegations. “Church will not protect them if they are found to be guilty. We will give an opportunity for the complainants to raise their points and also to the accused priests, according to natural justice,” the release read.

The survivor's husband confronted her upon seeing a hefty hotel bill in her e-mail account in February this year. “The first bill in the statement was my wife's hotel bill where she stayed in a five star hotel. When I confronted her, she said that she was being blackmailed by one of the Orthodox priests into having a sexual relationship with him.

Many years ago, before we got married, a priest had

sexually abused her and was blackmailing her since then.” the husband said.

Nun accuses bishop of rape, 13 times In another case, Kerala police has registered a complaint against a bishop of the Syro-Malabar church following a complaint by a nun that she was sexually assaulted by him.

A mother superior of a convent, the nun in her complaint has alleged that the bishop sexually abused after summoning her on the pretext of discussing an important issue in 2014. She said that over the next two years, she was raped 13 times by the bishop. She also said that she made a complaint to the church last year and was forced to file a police complaint after it failed to take action against the accused bishop.

Congress, JD(S) display unity amidst reports of rift BENGALURU: As reports of a rift between Karnataka's ruling alliance of the Congress and HD Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal Secular (JD(S)) does the rounds, both parties met together for a crucial meeting of its Coordination Committee last week. Both parties have been battling a perception of bitterness after a battle ensued over a video that showed former chief minister Siddaramaiah expressing doubts about the

longevity of the alliance.

However, it was Siddaramaiah who chaired the crucial Coordination Committee meeting, where the Common Minimum programme was discussed and approved.

He said the coalition was strong and would last its full term. He was backed up by HD Kumaraswamy, who has now replaced him.

“There was never any problem. The trouble was just media creation,”

Kumaraswamy said. The committee retained all the flagship programmes undertaken by the government led by Siddaramaiah.

Also, senior JD(S) leader Danish Ali said the committee has accepted the loan waiver for farmers, details of which will be revealed by the chief minister in the budget. Rs 1,25,000 Crore will be allotted to irrigation projects over the next five years, for the homeless. 20 Lakh new houses will be

PUNJAB-HARYANA

HC orders direct cops to not give castes in FIRs CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh to direct their police forces to not highlight castes of the complainants or the accused in any case, apart from those filed under SC/ST Act. The move comes because it is believed that the disclosure of caste in FIRs may prejudice officials handling the case and ultimately affect investigation. The orders were passed by Justice PB Bajanthri while taking cognizance of an FIR in which the Kaithal police had prominently disclosed the castes of the accused and the complainant. In this case, the accused had approached the high court, seeking regular bail in the case.

Justice Bajanthri observed, “In the present case, it is evident that castes of the complainant and the accused have been disclosed. Disclosure of

caste is likely to prejudice officials who are handling the case and hamper the investigation. In other words, there would be a bias either in favour or against.” The order says, “Therefore, home secretaries of states of Haryana and Punjab and UT of Chandigarh are hereby directed to file an affidavit to the extent that is there any provision except in Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 to disclose the caste of the complainant or accused.”

The judge said, “If there are no provisions, necessary official memorandum or circular must be issued asking the concerned police departments not to highlight the caste of the complainant or accused while lodging of a complaint/FIR.” Both states have also been directed to file compliance report of these orders by July 13.

built. The government also plans to create one crore jobs in the same period.

Congress minister KC Venugopal said, “We discussed all issues. I had told earlier that everything would be settled smoothly.

We already decided that. It should be a smooth running g o v e r n m e n t . ” Kumaraswamy's budget presentation was a real sore point for Siddaramaiah, as indicated by the controversial video.

Centre supports Punjab to revolutionise its farms

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST) and Panjab University have come together with three premier Central agencies to develop an agricultural technology with an aim at enhancing farmers' income, promote crop diversification and protect environment from the menace of paddy straw burning. The brand new initiative will develop technologies such as value-added products from tomatoes and anthocyanin-rich wheat. It will also develop technology for enhancing shelf life of fruits and curbing stubble burning.

After laboratory success and validation, the

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technology will be used in the industry for commercial exploitation.

The strategic initiative is to support the food processing industry and promote start-ups in the agri The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) would help the state in setting up the secondary agriculture entrepreneurial network for early translation from primary to secondary agriculture. Department of Biotechnology Secretary, Dr Renu Swarup said, “For the first time with BIRAC's support, a state-specific call had come forward to support start-ups in Punjab, particularly in the secondary agriculture domain.’’

A dance school for transgenders in Kolkata

A dance school for transgenders in Kolkata

KOLKATA: In an initiative to rehabilitate and empower the transgender community, Association of Transgender/Hijra of Bengal (ATHB) has begun a dance training programme, and plans to set up a troupe once the trainees perfect their moves.

Dancer Alokananda Roy has come forward to train students at the Prakrati Dance Academy. The first class was held on June 26 in a classroom provided by Genius Kids in Garia.

Shreya Karmakar, a transwoman who has been performing in dance bars to support her family, said, “I am looking forward to perform and earn in a more respectful way once we start performing in a troupe.”

Anuradha Sarkar said, “I had to become a Launda dancer to support my fam-

ily. I faced sexual exploitation on many occasions so I hope this project will save me from a vulnerable life.” Despite being trained in Kathak and Bharatnatyam, the Rabindra Bharati University passout was not accepted in dance troupes because of her sexual identity. She has had to travel through Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha to perform at wedding ceremonies. “Some of them are really good dancers. I want to start it as a therapeutic venture. As people in this community have so much pain, I want to help them come out of their suffering. I will do my best to bring them to the mainstream.” ATHB project director Ranjita Sinha said, “We will carry on with the training for about six months before we take up productions.”

TMC hits back at BJP, says they can secure two seats in Bengal

PURULIA: Just days after BJP president Amit Shah gave a call from the Simulia groudn in Purulia to uproot Trinamool from the state, the ruling party said BJP would fall flat on its face in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool also said it wanted a Prime Minister West Bengal this time. “We will bag all 42 seats in Bengal in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. Let BJP secure the two seats in Bengal they won last time,” State Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari said.

He said misinformed people about availability of water and power connectivity, referring to Shah's allegation that women in Purulia had to walk 5 km for water. Shah had also claimed that the BJP will bag more than 22 seats from Bengal this time. Adhikari said not a single penny had been sent for centrally sponsored schemes in Bengal since 2014. State Finance Minister Amit Mitra had

earlier said that although Rs 2.85 Lakh Crore was allocated to the state by the 14th Finance Commission, the net amount received was lower.

Adhikari alleged that the Centre had cut the budget for 38 big welfare projects and terminated 28 projects in the state. The state government pumped in money to keep the projects afloat. State Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim said the people in Bengal did not want to survive on BJP's dole politics. “People here will not beg from the Centre. We will finance our development projects.

They cannot intimidate us like that,” he said.

Hakim said BJP supporters were killed after the party failed to pay Maoists. “There is no space for the rioters in the state. People have seen the development works by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and they will give a befitting reply to BJP,” he said.

HERITAGE HISTORY

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Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

Dr. Hari Desai

Sardar Patel: A visionary on Global Affairs • Vallabhbhai nursed the hope that one day Pakistan would come back • If Jawaharlal had his way, Hyderabad was to be “a second Pakistan” Though Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was barrister and the Deputy Prime Minister of India, he carried the image of a Dehati or Desi (Rural Indian) who would not have vision of international relations.

This image must have been created by his own colleagues in the freedom struggle. To some extent even Mahatma Gandhi was also responsible for creating this impression though he knew that the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru depended so much on Patel. One who follows the writings of the Sardar and his views on the international relations would come to a definite conclusion that though Nehru had a global vision who cared for the international image, whenever ignored the advice of Patel on global affairs, not only he himself but entire

Mahatma Gandhi continue to be a bond

country had to suffer.

For Sardar Patel, Nehru was always “My Leader”. Of course, both differed on many issues, but they functioned as a team in the interest of the country and ego would not come in the way to checkmate any unlike the impression being created these days. Historian P.N. Chopra notes in “Sardar Patel: Economic Policy and Foreign Affairs” :

day Pakistan will come back.” “He declared in a public meeting on 12 August 1947 that though they agreed to partition due to the then prevailing circumstances and he had no qualms about it but he strongly felt that who had seceded today would be disillusioned soon and their union with the rest of India was assured,” records P. N. Chopra.

Patel always hoped that India and Pakistan would live as friends and brothers.

But unfortunately, the Pakistan Government created trouble in Junagadh and Kashmir and had no courage to disown the elements who had replaced the rule of law by the brute force. He felt all friendship and Sardar Patel, a visionary and man of action prosperity to new State of Pakistan but at the same economic difficulties recommended the free time he was firmly of the which would be almost India to be part of the view that the reunion was insurmountable and C o m m o n w e a l t h inevitable. And to some sooner or later it would maintaining self-respect. extent, even the creator of again join India in some Both the Indian leaders the Pakistan union, differed on their M.A. Jinnah, had the perspective on China and desire to return and Tibet affairs where Patel he did call the first forewarned Nehru. Patel Indian High proved to be right. He Commissioner to wanted Pakistan to be Pakistan, Sri Prakash, developed but threatened to convey his desire to not to meddle in Indian Nehru. Unfortunately, affairs. Even on dealing Jinnah died too early with the Portuguese to on 11 September take over Goa, Nehru had 1948, otherwise the to follow Patel eleven history would have years after his death! been different. Of India took nearly more course, one has to than four decades to accept the history as establish diplomatic it took place and there relations with Israel by are no ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’.

Prime Minister P. V. Patel’s well-known Narsimha Rao. communication dated Even when PM Nehru 7 November 1950 wanted India to sever all addressed to PM the ties with the Nehru did forewarn Commonwealth, the India of the secret Sardar was keen to have a Swami Dayananda wiped off the dirt and intentions of China in strong association with grime that settled on the Hindu Dharma dealing with Tibet Commonwealth with the and looming dangers for form or the other. On 11 caution that India’s status New Delhi in the days to July 1947, he wrote to G. S. as Sovereign Republic come. When K. M. Bozman, former must not be affected. “I Munshi, a loyalist of Secretary, Ministry of feel that by recognition of Patel, does write in his Information and King as Head of book “Pilgrimage to Broadcasting, that “we Commonwealth as a Freedom” before nurse the hope that one symbol of free association “Patel had told Nehru that he had pointed out that even some of the Muslim countries had recognized Israel but “we had not, out of deference for the views of our Muslim brethren”.

Patel wanted the Indian relations be developed beyond UK and USA and he had strongly

of its members, we do not derogate from that status.

Headship of Commonwealth with this restriction does not involve any allegiance to Kingship.”

Somehow or the other, Sardar Patel thought that Pakistan would not be a viable country due to its

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Pandit Nehru, who had a dream of India

which we have to take due n o t e … C h i n e s e irredentism and Communist imperialism are different from the expansionism or imperialism of the Western Powers.”

The Sardar had raised eleven questions regarding India’s foreign policy and sought an early meeting with the PM who was also the External Affairs Minister.

Unfortunately, the meeting could never take place. Patel died on 15 December 1950. His words continue to guide even present-day rulers, if they take serious note of rather his last communication on Sino-India relations.

In 1950, Sardar Patel quotes the real message of Swami Dayanand and Mahatma Gandhi, both the great saints born in

way, Nizam’s Hyderabad would have remained unintegrated and would have become a second Pakistan in the ‘belly’ of India, an intensely hostile State separating the North from the Southalthough after the success of the police action Jawaharlal Nehru was the first to go to Hyderabad to receive an ovation as the liberator of Hyderabad !”

Munshi adds, “But for Jawaharlal Nehru’s rejection of Sardar’s advice on the Tibetan question, we would have a buffer State between India and China.”

Jinnah, the creator of “…I regret to say Pakistan, wanted to return that…The Chinese Gujarat: “Do not let Government has tried to cowardice cripple you. Do delude us by professions not run away from danger. of peaceful intentions. My The three-year-old own feeling is that at a freedom of the country crucial period they has to be fully protected. managed to instill into India today is our Ambassador a surrounded by all false sense of Next Column: sorts of dangers confidence in and it is for the their soUnderstanding people today to called desire Misconceptions remember the to settle the T i b e t a n of Indian History teachings of the two great saints and problem by face fearlessly all peaceful means…even dangers.” Patel declared: though we regard “In this Kalyug, we shall ourselves as the friends of return Ahimsa for China, the Chinese do not Ahimsa. But if anybody regard us as their friends. resorted to force us, we With the Communist shall meet it with force.” mentality of ‘whoever is He was a man in hurry as not with them being reports V. Shankar, his against them’, this is a Secretary. significant pointer, of

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1,600 Indian pilgrims stranded in Nepal after landslides Around 600 Indian nationals returning from the Kailash Mansarovar yatra are stranded at Simikot in western Nepal and another 350 in Hilsa, close to the border with Tibet, while other 500 to 700 more are stuck on the Tibetan sides due to heavy rains and subsequent landslides. At least two have died, one of possible high-altitude sickness and another of heart attack. Officials said their bodies have been airlifted.

Pranav Ganesh, first secretary at the Indian embassy in Kathmandu, who is overseeing the res-

cue operation said, “Besides two deaths on Monday and Tuesday, no

major health risk has been reported. Food is available and the Nepal government has provided paramedical facilities to the pilgrims.”

Bodies of Leela Naryanan Mandredath of Kerala, who died in Simikot of possible high altitude sickness and Satya Lakshmi Narayana Subba Rao Grandhi Veera Venkata of Andhra Pradesh, who died of a heart attack in Tibet were airlifted by helicopter to Kathmandu and Nepalgunj respectively.

Around 158 pilgrims were airlifted in nine commercial flights from Simikot

to Nepalgunj, a city near the Indian border and a three-hour drive from

Lucknow. Another 200 pilgrims were moved from Hilsa to Simikot, the headquarters of Humla district that is comparatively safer. This is the largest rescue operation mounted in Nepal since the 2015 earthquakes. The three locations where the Indians are stranded are at an altitude of about 3,000 metres and the heavy downpours in Nepal since Monday have hampered efforts to airlift them.

Officials said the situation is currently under control and they expected all stranded pilgrims to be evacuated over the next

three to four days, provided the weather conditions improve. “As soon as the

Pilgrims being provided with air-bridge service between Pithoragarh and Gunji during the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, in Pithoragarh

weather clears, we will rescue them in helicopters and bring them to Nepalgunj,” Ganesh said.

Thousands of pilgrims use the Nepalgunj-HumlaHilsa-Tibet route to travel to Kailash-Mansarovar as it is shorter and more affordable. Health checkups were done for all elderly pilgrims in Simikot and they were being provided medical help, while Nepalese police in Hilsa had been requested to provide assistance to the Indians, she said.

CM Vijay Rupani visits Indian hospice in Jerusalem The Chief Minister of Gujarat is on a 6 day Israel Tour to increase mutual cooperation between Gujarat and Israel. During his tour, he made a visit to an Indian hospice located near Al-Aqsa Mosque and sread over an area of 7000 square meters. The centre is set up on a site where Sufi saint Khwaja Fariduddin Ganjshakar, popularly known as Baba Farid, prayed and meditated in the year 1200. It has been an ideal rest place for many centuries for India pilgrims who visit to offer prayers at the Al-Aqsa

Vijay Rupani signs the visitors book at the hospice in Jerusalem

mosque.

CM Rupani also met Muhammad Munir Ansari native of Saharanpura, Uttar Pradesh who is currently the custodian of the hospice. Since 1924 the

Ansari family have been the care taker of this ancient Indian hospice. In 2011, In 2011, Ansari was conferred the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman by then President Pranab Mukherjee.

Rupani praised the place, and left behind a beautiful message in the visitors book of the hospice.

He wrote, “It is very fortunate that the Indian Hospice is being maintained so well by the Ansari family. I am thankful to them for keeping the spirit of Indian architecture, heritage and culture alive here.

Indians have always been very progressive and proactive throughout the world. I also pay my homage to Baba Farid on this special day in Jerusalem which is a very holy city for billions of people around the world.”

The Indian embassy has asked all tour operators to hold pilgrims back on the Tibetan side since medical and civic facilities in Nepal are inadequate, officials said. The operators were told to give priority to evacuating pilgrims from Hilsa, where the medical and commu-

nications infrastructure is lacking. The embassy is also looking at several alternatives for evacuating Indians from Simikot, including the use of three alternative routes though these appear to be as difficult as the SimikotNepalgunj route, officials said.

Obituary

Manubhai Rambhai Patel (Karamsad) It is with grave regret that we inform the passing away of Manubhai Rambhai Patel of Karamsad on June 30. He is survived by his wife Kanakben, daughter Varshaben, sons Kaushik and Hemant, daughterin-law Alka, and grandson Shail, Nishil and Roshan. A bhajan ceremony is held in the loving memory of Manubhai, on July 5, 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm, at Hare Krishna Hall, Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Dharma Bhakti Manor, Wood Lane, Stanmore, HA7 4LF. The funeral will be held on July 8, at St.

M a r y l e b o n e Crematorium, East End Road, Finchley, London N2 ORZ. The ceremony will commence at 12.00 pm. Those who wish to reach out to the family, may contact Hemantbhai on 07787 996751.

House of Horror: 11 found hanging in Delhi

Continued from page 1 Initial findings of the board comprising six doctors suggest that even the family matriarch, Narayani Bhatia, 77, had died of “partial hanging”. She is believed to have strangled herself using a belt and chunni, both of which were recovered from the spot, tied to the handle of an almirah.

Sources said position of her body indicate she pulled herself off the bed after tying the noose.

Strangulation by any means apart from hanging has been ruled out in all 11 cases. None of the bodies have any injuries other than ligature marks. No other fingerprints other than those of family mem-

bers have been found.

Relatives of the deceased members informed authorities that Narayani's youngest son Lalit, 45, often “saw” his dead father in dreams and “took instructions” from him. Diaries were seized from the house with notings that prove the allegations. Notes on how the suicides should be conducted were also found in the diary. Cops are also investigating whether Lalit had become delusional and drove the others to take the extreme step. Police are also looking at the possible role of a godman or occultist who may have guided the family in “achieving salvation” or “meeting” their dead patri-

arch. They will also look if the children or the women were sedated or poisoned

before the act. Their viscera have been preserved and will be sent for toxicology

tests. The Delhi Police will issue a formal statement once the final postmortem

report is given to them next week. Police commissioner Amulya Patnaik has formed a crime branch team comprising joint commissioner Alok Kumar and DCP Joy Tirkey to unravel the baffling deaths. The team is currently analysing the call details of the people the family was in touch with in the final week. Nine mobile phones and an iPad was found in a drawer in the room where the family used to sit for prayers. The phones are being scrutinised and a cybercrime team has been put on the job of scanning the internet browsing history from all the laptops and computers found in the house to see if anyone was reading occult material.

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Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

Soya bean extract hailed as alternative to hormone replacement therapy for combating hot flushes

Millions of women avoid HRT due to cancer fears

Aspirin could protect you from dementia extra-cellular senile plaques composed of toxic amyloid beta aggregates and formation of intra-cellular neuro-fibrillary tangles originated from the protein tau.'

Millions of people take a low dose of the 'wonder pill' to reduce their risk of developing dementia - as well as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

It reduces inflammation - the bodily process that triggers most major life-threatening illnesses.

The new study found evidence that it could be used to clears amyloid beta from the hippocampus - gray matter that controls memory. The exact causes of Alzheimer's, and what makes the disease progress, are unknown.

But it's widely agreed that toxic build-up of amyloid beta - especially within the hippocampus - is a leading mechanism.

Dr Pahan's study is a continuation of previous research that found a link between aspirin and reduced risk and prevalence of Alzheimer's.

Aspirin could lower the risk of Alzheimer's and even slow its progress in sufferers, a new study has found. In experiments on mice, even a low dose of the common over-thecounter pill destroyed the rogue proteins that kill neurons in the brain.

For years, scientists have been trying to work out how to activate cleaning cells in the brain to remove waste and potentially slow the disease.

Now, the team at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, have found the answer may lie in the already popular painkiller. They are hopeful the same results will be found in humans identifying a new role for one of the most widely used medications in the world.

'At present, there is no effective treatment for preventing or halting the disease,' lead author Professor Kalipada Pahan, a neurologist at Rush, said.

'The major defining neuro-pathological features are deposition of

cerous cell growth.

After taking the pill for a month, three-quarters of 2,500 women trialling Femarelle in another study said it had reduced the number of hot flushes they suffered daily.

A similar number reported relief from joint pain, muscle pain and headaches.

Gynaecologist Haitham Hamoda, of the British Menopause Society, stressed the headto-head trial was ‘small’ – involving just 89 women – and as yet there was no long-term safety data on

An extract from soya beans is being hailed as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy for combating hot flushes.

For years, women have avoided HRT due to fears about breast and womb cancer. Only about one in six British women going through the menopause currently take it.

But a non-hormonal substitute based on soya has now been launched with one head-to-head study showing it to be equally as effective as ‘standard’ HRT – without the risk of promoting can-

MONDAY 9thJuly - FRIDAY 13th July

More children are getting dry eye disease because they spend so much time staring at screens, scientists say. The condition is more common among older people but is rising in the young because they blink less when looking at screens, so their tears dry up quicker.

So scientists at Aston University in Birmingham are developing a smartphone app to help diagnose people sooner if they are suffering with dry

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SAVITRI DEVI COLLEGE & HOSPITAL UDANN SHAKTI ASTITVA KE EHSAAS KI TU AASHIQUI ROOP BEPANNAAH SILSILA DEV 2 KAUN HAI? ( friday only)

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eyes.

The syndrome occurs when tears in the eyes are not produced properly or evaporate too quickly from the surface of the eyeball. This causes irritation and discomfort in the

SATURDAY 7th July TV PROGRAM NAMES

CID The Kapil Sharma Show Zindagi Ke Crossroads Indian Idol Crime Patrol Crime Patrol

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CID The Kapil Sharma Show Indian Idol Indian Idol Crime Patrol Crime Patrol

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CID The Kapil Sharma Show Zindagi Ke Crossroads Indian Idol Crime Patrol Crime Patrol

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DESI BEAT 3.0 NAAGIN - SEASON 3 DANCE DEEWANE KAUN HAI? DESI BEAT 3.0 NAAGIN - SEASON 3

SUNDAY 15th July

20:00: NAAGIN - SEASON 3

21:00: DANCE DEEWANE 22:30: KAUN HAI?

23:30: BREAKFAST WITH CHAMPIONS

00:00: NAAGIN - SEASON 3

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RASOI SHOW STRICTLY STREET THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN RADHA PREM KI DEEWANI UTTARAN DIL KI PUKAR DESI BEAT 3

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people with the common condition, the creators say.

Not everybody's tears work properly one in five adults are thought to have dry eyes, which cannot be cured but does not usually have serious consequences Researchers say dry eye disease, which is more common in women, will affect a growing number of people because looking at screens a lot is likely to cause it.

eyes, and can lead to blurred vision or more serious problems.

The team's app is designed to help GPs and pharmacists who don't often have the correct equipment to diagnose

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Femarelle is sold as a food supplement, rather than being made available as a prescription medicine, as makers Glenmark Pharma have decided against pursuing a pharmaceutical licence. It costs £27 a month.

Wednesday July 11, 2018 00:39 Film : Bas Ek Pal 05:00 Film : Titoo MBA 07:00 Film : Dharma Karma 09:42 Film : Aakhree Raasta 13:02 Film : Hey Bro 15:30 Film : Besharam 18:24 Film : Star Stop Sunday July 08, 2018 Lifestyle 00:30 Film : Jurm 19:00 Film : Vivah 05:00 Film : Munna Maange Memsaab 22:26 Film : Familywala 07:25 Film : Mr. Natwarlal Thursday July 12, 2018 10:44 Film : Hero 01:25 Film : Hum Kaun Hai? 14:03 Film : Agent Vinod 05:00 Film : Rokkk 17:16 Film : Main Tera Hero 07:10 Film : Taaqat 19:50 Film : Grand Masti 10:28 Film : Mrityudand 13:48 Film : Ankur Arora Murder Case 21:51 Film : Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha 16:24 Film : Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. Monday July 09, 2018 19:00 Film : Gangster 00:46 Film : Showbiz 21:22 Film : Besharam 05:00 Film : The Perfect Girl Friday July 13, 2018 07:00 Film : Rang 00:15 Film : Love In Nepal 09:45 Film : Trapped 05:00 Film : Login 12:00 Film : Aakhree Raasta 07:00 Film : Teri Kasam 15:25 Film : Omkara 10:15 Film : Agnivarsha 18:17 Film : Star Stop 13:00 Film : Mr. India Lifestyle 16:41 Film : Vivah 19:00 Film : Kalyug 20:02 Film : Ghatak 21:10 Film : Pseudo Saturday July 14, 2018 Tuesday July 10, 2018 23:20 Film : Chala Mussaddi - Office Office 23:19 Film : Shaapit 01:51 Film : Mere Dost Picture Abhi Baaki Hai 05:00 Film : Good Buddy Gadbadi 05:00 Film : I Don't Luv U 07:26 Film : Krishna Arjun 07:15 Film : Chameli Ki Shaadi 10:15 Film : Krantiveer 10:00 Film : Ankur Arora Murder Case 13:20 Film : Main Tera Hero 12:43 Film : Tadipaar 16:00 Film : Grand Masti 15:40 Film : Gulaab Gang 18:05 Film : Star Stop 18:26 Film : Star Stop Lifestyle 19:00 Film : Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. Lifestyle 19:00 Film : Jazbaa 21:33 Film : Jeet - Born To Win 21:27 Film : Mausam

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Femarelle. He also noted standard HRT was derived from plants too. ‘It’s not a question of this product being “natural” and HRT being “artificial”,’ he said.

Femarelle contains an active ingredient called DT56a, which acts like the sex hormone oestrogen in some body tissues, such as areas of the brain responsible for mood and temperature regulation, but not in others, notably the breasts and womb.

Crucially, it does not appear to promote growth of ‘oestrogen receptive’ breast cancer cells.

Staring at smartphones and tablets is to blame for the rise of dry eye disease in children, say experts

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ISHQ MEIN MARJAWAN KASAM BALIKA VADHU - LAMHE PYAAR KE RADHA KI BETIYAAN RADHA PREM KI DEEWANI ISHQ MEIN MARJAWAN BIGG BOSS MARATHI

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UTTARAN DIL KI PUKAR DESI BEAT 3 RISING STAR NAAGIN 2 BIGG BOSS MARATHI - WEEKEND CHA DAAV

SUNDAY 15th July

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17:30: "WEEKEND KA MAHAEPISODE DIL KI PUKAR" 18:30: UTTARAN 19:00: DIL KI PUKAR 19:30: DESI BEAT 3 20:00: RISING STAR 22:00: NAAGIN 2 23:00: BIGG BOSS MARATHI WEEKEND CHA DAAV

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Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

Sri Reddy taunts Nani yet again

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ctress Sri Reddy, who has constantly been hogging the spotlight since her sensational protest against casting couch against certain producers, in April this year, continues with her online attack against actor Nani. Sri had gone public against the actor accusing him of sexually abusing her. She is currently sour as Nani has been roped in by makers of reality TV show 'Bigg Boss Telugu' and scuttling her chances to be a part of this year's TV reality show 'Bigg Boss Telugu'.

The first season of 'Bigg Boss 2' was hosted by Jr NTR, who could not continue with his role this year.

Producers then called in Nani to fill the place. Sri, who was not too happy about the update, went on her social media page to shower praises on Jr NTR. “To this generation, Jr NTR is a king of a tollywood and to the bigboss#lion.” The comments were aimed at teasing Nani, sources said. She had publicly urged the makers to not replace Jr NTR, earlier last month. She had written, “All are missing junior ntr in the big boss show.. nobody replace him.. people are upset wt this guy..saaho #young tiger @tiger9999.”

Nani has now threatened to initiate a lawsuit against Sri for her defamatory allegations against him.

He had tweeted his intention to drag Sri to court last month.

Venkat Prabhu ropes in Simbu for his next

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onfirming speculations that director Venkat Prabhu will direct Simbu in his next film, the director has confirmed his upcoming project.

Venkat tweeted the news. He wrote, “Yes it's official!!!!

My next is with my brother #Str produced by @sureshkamatchi #2019 #vp9 and it's a fresh script!!

Not a sequel!!! Artists, technicians, title and other details will follow!! Get ready to be rocked!!!! #superthrilled need all ur love and blessing as always!! (sic)”. This is the filmmaker's first film with Simbu as the lead.

Gaining notoriety for his irregular shooting habits, the 'Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa' hopefully has mended his ways. Simba recently completed filming for Mani Ratnam's 'Chekka Chivantha Vaanam' and also has his directorial in the pipeline. The actor also has buried his hatchet with director Gautham Vasudev Menon and the two are now collaborating for the sequel to 'Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa'. On the other hand, Venkat is awaiting the release of his next film 'Party'.

The film stars Jai, Mirchi Siva, Chandran, Regina Cassandra, Nivetha Pethuraj, Ramya Krishnan, Sathyaraj and Sanchita Shetty.

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AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Parvathy, Revathy, and Padmapriya question AMMA's stand on Dileep

n a bold move, actors Revathy, Padmapriya and Parvathy have submitted letters to the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), calling for an emergency executive meeting about the film body's decision to reinstate actor Dileep. The Malayalam film industry has begun to crack under the pressure of a case accusing the 'Meesa Madhavan' star of rape.

Members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), the actresses demanded an emergency executive meeting of the AMMA. A Facebook post on the WCC page wrote, “In solidarity with our colleagues who took a brave stand yesterday!

Always #Avalkoppam. We at WCC believe that constructive dialogue as well as action is essential for real change.

Each one of us are shocked at the decision made at the previous general body meeting of AMMA. Hence we as AMMA members have sought a meeting with the

Parvathy, Revathy and Padmapriya

new executive committee as explained in our letter.”

In the letter, which is addressed to Edavela Babu, General Secretary of AMMA, the women have questioned how the decision to take back Dileep was made without it being listed on the agenda. They also wrote that they were not in town when the meeting was held and that they

would have surely opposed the move had they been present. The letter came after core members of the WCC, actors Rima Kallingal, Remya Nambeeshan, director Geethu Mohandas, and the survivor of the incident. All four had noted their disappointment with AMMA and the conduct of its members.

Meanwhile, accused

Dileep said he was saddened by the humiliation the association was being subjected to in his name.

He claimed to have been trapped in the case in which he had no role. “I do not wish to continue as an active worker of any organisation till my innocence is proved before the film folks and people of the state,” he said.

Upset with Pawan Kalyan fans, Renu Desai quits Twitter

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nternet trolls yet again went for actress Renu Desai, exwife of actor Pawan Kalyan, after she got engaged to new man. Fans of the actor warned her against marrying for the second time, and harassed her online to the point that she quit micro-blogging website Twitter. Before deleting her account, Renu wrote, “I feel there is too much negativity on Twitter. Most of the Twitter accounts are anonymous and personally or professionally frustrated humans, who just like to write negative about film or political people. As I am starting a new phase of life, I've decided to deactivate my twitter handle and stay away from the negativity that comes with it.”

She added, “Thank you all who were genuine well wishers and were kind and gentle with me in my bad phase of life.”

While Renu is still on Instagram, the harassment has apparently moved to the photo-sharing website.

Meanwhile, Kalyan took to Twitter to wish her luck on her new phase of life, stunning everyone. “My wholehearted wishes to Ms. Renu garu for entering a new phase of happiness. I wish and pray Almighty & the Mother Nature to bestow upon her abundant health, peace and prosperity.”

Telugu actor Balakrishna receives legal notice

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on of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Bhaskara Rao, Murlidhar has slapped a legal notice against Telugu actor Balakrishna who is making a biopic on his father. He has also served legal notices to Tollywood director Jagarlamudi Radhakrishna alias Krish. Sources said the NTR biopic is N Balakrishna's ambitious project on NT Rama Rao, a thespian and politician par excellence. He had a huge fan following and had served the state as CM for three consecutive terms.

The complainant believes that the biopic includes episodes from Bhaskara Rao's life that show how he had “backstabbed” NTR with help from the Centre and formed the government in 1984 while NTR was in the US for a heart surgery. Murlidhar said he had no qualms against the making of the biopic but added that what his father did in 1984 cannot be termed as “backstabbing” . “We are only against presenting our father Bhaskara Rao in a poor light in the movie. It's not appropriate for anybody to portray a great leader in a negative shade for the sake of eulogising another leader,” he said.

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Bachchan Sr mistaken for Salman Khan in Glasgow

Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

SRK completes 25 years in B-Town

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lways graceful, Amitabh Bachchan's sense of humour is known worldwide. Just recently, the veteran actor tweeted a funny yet painful at the same time. Sharing a picture of him walking the streets of Scottish city Glasgow, Bachchan tweeted, “I walk the street of Glasgow by myself .. until a car drives by and occupant yells out .. 'hey Salman Khan how you doin' ..” The tweet had his fans in disbelief and Bollywood members in splits. Filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor wrote, “Hahaha, no way!”

For the uninitiated, Khan is the former lover of Bachchan's daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai, and the two had split on bitter terms. Identities of Bollywood stars are often mixed abroad. Just last year, Deepika Padukone was mistaken for Priyanka Chopra. However, imagine giving almost 50 years to the industry and be misidentified. Sheesh!

Sanjay Dutt opens up about mother's tragic death

n a heartfelt video shared on Twitter, Shah Rukh Khan, who completed 26 years in the industry recently, is seen talking about his journey. His wife Gauri shared the video with a caption that read, “26 years of precious memories... @iamsrk.” In the over-sixminute video, SRK speaks of several aspects of his life.

From the birth of Aryan to AbRam, from the journey of 'Deewana' to 'Zero', he reminisces about each milestone lovingly and his usual wit and charm.

Shah also remembers his late mentor and friend Yash Chora and mentioned in passing the infamous Wankhade stadium incident. Shah shared the video on his Twitter handle with a post that read, “This journey is incomplete without u all. Here's telling all of u who made this possible how happy u make me feel. It has been 26 years, and I have learnt a lot on this rollercoaster ride of love, hate, and yeah, sometimes, sadness.”

On the work front, the actor will soon be seen in Anand L Rai's movie 'Zero', where he will be seen sharing screen space with the likes of Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma. The film will hit the screens on December 21, 2018.

Swara Bhasker opens up on casting couch

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ith Rajkumar Hirani's stellar, Ranbir Kapoor-starrer 'Sanju' becoming one of the biggest releases of 2018, Bollywood now has a closer look into the controversial life of Sanjay Dutt. Keeping in tune with the raving success of the movie, a throwback video from the 90s of Dutt talking about the tragic death of his mother Nargis has risen. In the video, Dutt says, “When my mother died, I didn't cry, I had no emotions. It was after two years, I was sitting in a group and a guy started playing this tape. And, I heard my mother's voice advising me and telling me things and how much she loved me and how much she cared about me and how much she expected from me.” He adds, “I think after two years I just burst out and I cried for about four-five hours. Everything that was inside me, I took it out and once that happened I was changed man.” Nargis died of pancreatic cancer in 1981, just a few days before the release of Dutt's debut film 'Rocky'.

guest at The Indian Express' 'Express Adda', Swara Bhasker opened up about a couple of things, talking at length about her last movie 'Veere Di Wedding', casting couch in Bollywood and feminism among other things. When asked if she has ever had to deal with casting couch in her career span, Swara shared a cringeworthy anecdote about a man who claimed to be the manager of a big producer and kept asking about her residential details.

Swara said the meeting had taken a strange turn and she was trying to get out of it. As she got out of the meeting, the man tried to kiss her. Swara recalled, “When I got out this guy actually tried to kiss my ear and said 'I love you baby' and I kind of did that (shirkes away) so he got a mouthful of my hair so I was just like... so that kind of stuff happens. It's all a part of casting couch, right?” The actress also shared her thoughts about feminism.

“Feminism is about a thought that there should be equality amongst the genders. And equality not just of representation but equality of opportunity and equality of accountability, which is something that not just women but a lot of communities in India have not had, whether it is caste, whether it is women. And for me, feminism is about giving women choice. So if some women choose to be conservative or choose to deny themselves their own rights, what can I say? I think it is completely legitimate to ask those women that why do they want to tie themselves down?” she said

Deepika Padukone: I was advised to get a boob job

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ne of the most successful and popular actors in Bollywood today, Deepika has had a hell of an year with her stellar performance in 'Padmaavat' and receiving recognition in the west. In a recent interview, the actress talked about the sexual harassment she faced early in her career. A victim of depression, Dippy said, “There were lots of things I was advised. To get a boob job, do the beauty pageants. They felt it was the right way to be recognised or picked up by a Bollywood director or producer. It might be an easier way to achieve what you want to achieve. But I haven't b e e n

that person; I've always followed my gut.”

When asked about Hollywood's #MeToo movement, she said, “We're in the same position as the rest of the world, I think we're all in this together. There's so much more awareness. There are so many people who speak up and I think in the same way that we see the wheels moving in the right direction globally, I see the same thing happening in India as well.”

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UK

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Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

Treasury to cover policing cost of Trump visit to Scotland The Treasury has confirmed it will fund policing costs of up to £5m if US President Donald Trump visits Scotland.

It is believed Mr Trump will head to Scotland after meeting Prime Minister Theresa May in London next week.

Concerns were raised that any such visit could require at least 5,000 officers to police, costing Scotland's national force up to £5m.

However, Treasury Secretary Liz Truss has now confirmed that money would be made available for policing any visit.

Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf had written to UK counterparts saying it would be "completely unacceptable" for the Scottish govern-

ment to carry the costs of policing the visit.

It is thought that President Trump may visit at least one of his golf courses in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire.

Mr Trump's mother was born on the Isle of Lewis, and he made several visits to his "ancestral home" before he became president. He last visited Trump Turnberry in June 2016 - on the day after the EU referendum - on his first foreign trip as the

Coming Events

l London Seva Sangha to celebrate OM Day Global Vision for Unity and eace 2018 on July 8, 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm, at the London Buddhist Vihara, Dharampala Building, The Avenue, Chizwick, London W4 1UD. l Undivide your Attention- A lesson by Vasanti Patel on July 8, 7.00 to 8.30 pm, at Global Co-operation House, 65-69 Pound Lane, London, NW102HH. l Dharmaraj Society at London holds its annual Summer BBQ on July 15, Sunday, 2.00 pm onwards, at Kingsbury High School, Sports Ground Princes Avenue, Kingsbury, London NW9 9JR. Special World Cup screening held. Book tickets now!

Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha's head Param Pujya Mahant Swami is currently in Sarangpur. He reached Sarangpur on June 16. Mahant Swami has been holding sabha for his devotees and a large number of people have flocked in only for a glimpse of him. In his aashirvachan, he has urged his believers to maintain peace and be kind to every one.

He will continue his vicharan till July 15.

Sneh Joshi

Republican presidential candidate.

That trip was the subject of a small protest, but if he travels to Scotland much larger rallies are expected in a number of locations now that he is in office - all of which would need to be policed.

Police Scotland is working on "extensive operational planning" for a visit by the president, with interim Chief Constable Iain Livingstone warning the Scottish Police Authority that "we will have to utilise over 5,000 conventional officers, along with public order officer, specialised search and firearms resources".

Gmail messages 'read by human third parties'

Google has confirmed that private emails sent and received by Gmail users can sometimes be read by third-party app developers, not just machines. People who have connected thirdparty apps to their accounts may have unwittingly given human staff permission to read their messages.

One company told the Wall Street Journal that the practice was "common" and a "dirty secret".

Google indicated that the practice was not against its policies.

One security expert said it was "surprising" that Google allowed it.

Tory hopes of unseating Sadiq Khan suffer setback Tory hopes of unseating London mayor Sadiq Khan Tuesday suffered a setback when MP James Cleverly ruled himself out of the next race for City Hall.

Mr Cleverly, a former London Assembly member, was regarded as a possible front runner in the Conservative contest to choose a candidate for the 2020 election.

But the Braintree, Essex MP and party Vice Chair became the latest high profile figure to dash the hopes of party activists.

Mr Cleverly tweeted: 'we will have a strong candidate who will beat weak, petulant and disappointing Sadiq Khan in 2020 but it won't be me.'

Putney MP and former cabinet minister Justine Greening ruled

Mayor Sadiq Khan

James Cleverly

herself out last week.

Her decision was mirrored Monday by London MEP Syed Kamall.

The Conservatives set a deadline of midday Wednesday for aspiring candidates to apply but party bosses will be alarmed at the lack of heavyweight contenders.

London Assembly member Andrew Boff, former Kingston Council

leader Kevin Davis and proBrexit entrepreneur Richard Tice have all expressed an interest.

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However, those Head - New Projects & Business affected could be Development: Cecil Soans employed by HM Email: cecil.soans@abplgroup.com Revenue & Customs, Tel: 020 7749 4097 based in Saxon House, Mobile: 07875 229 111 Causeway Lane, in the Graphic Designers: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar city centre.

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40 Government employees poisoned by Diwali food from Leicester restaurant Dozens of Government employees suffered food poisoning after ordering Indian snacks from a Leicester restaurant to celebrate Diwali in 2017.

Officials at Leicester City Council launched an investigation after 40 staff members, out of 180 who sampled the food, fell ill.

The incident has been outlined in a report showing the work carried out by the council’s food hygiene inspectors.

The identity of the restaurant has not been revealed, nor has the council said which Government department was affected.

The council told Leicestershire Live it was unable to disclose any more details about the

Some of the food items contained high levels of the Clostridium perfringens toxin, a bacterium which is a common cause of food poisoning.

The specimen of faeces also tested positive for enterotoxin, a toxin produced by bacteria in the Clostridium family.

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ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 Jupiter has just turned direct in

your solar 8th house and this energizes your sector of transformation, sexuality, personal growth, joint resources and taxes. Intimate matters are especially important to you during this cycle. This is a time of increased accumulation of wealth and in some cases, a significant tax refund or inheritance, or other such benefits.

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Very important time ahead. Jupiter, the planet of plenty graces, entered your solar house of home and family on the 10th October and has now turned direct. This transit will bring noticeable improvements to your environment. This is a time when you put down roots and focus on cultivating and nourishing your inner foundations that support you and your growth.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

020 8518 5500

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

Jupiter turns direct in your solar 12th house. For you, it's a cycle of regeneration and spirituality. You are building a very solid support system and focusing on emotional security and stability. Periods when you completely relax and retreat. Meditation and retreats may be particularly helpful to you now, as they regenerate and invigorate your spirit.

direct in your solar 7th house. The accent’s very much on relationships. The opening up of a more diverse social life is a point in favour of romantic attachments. This transit makes you feel invincible, but the way forward is to create a balance between expansion and conservation.

Very important time ahead.

Jupiter, the planet of growth and expansion entered your solar 3rd house of communications on the 10th October and has now turned direct. This transit opens doors for you through new contacts and friendships, opportunities to learn and improve skills. During this period, communicating your ideas successfully is extremely important to you.

Jupiter, the planet of expansion turns direct.

This cycle brings opportunity and expansion into your professional life. Expanding professionally and developing your skills, will be a strong theme in the coming year. Some of you will be taking stock of your lives and working out the best direction to take. A good time to re-assess your home and work balance.

Jupiter,planet of growth and expansion has now turned direct in your solar 5th house and this points to an especially opportunistic period for romance, children and recreational pursuits. You are likely to see benefits, and experience growth, in these areas. For single Cancerians meeting a special person is highly likely.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 Jupiter turns direct in your sign and ushers in a period of expansion and new beginnings. The urge to improve and grow is strong. You project confidence, optimism, and enthusiasm, and others receive you especially well. This cycle should be a relaxed, fortunate, and hopeful time in your life.

Furthering your personal ambitions come more easily.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 Jupiter turns direct in your solar ninth house, where it will transit until November this a year. You will have energy for adventure, learning, and travel. Your desire to expand your horizons and to reach out beyond your usual circles brings opportunity and reward. Business dealings, particularly long-distance ones, are likely to be profitable now.

Jupiter, the planet of expansion TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 and good luck has just turned

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 Jupiter has now turned direct in your solar 6th house. During this cycle, you take more pride in the work you do and in your health routines. This is a good time to build your skills, to get organized. If your ambitions have been undefined, don't worry as from now on, you understand exactly what kind of impact you need to make on the world.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

Jupiter, the planet of plenty, turns direct in your solar 2nd house of abundance. During this cycle, you are likely to see and enjoy benefits to your earning power and this will boost your own sense of security and wealth. Money matters can improve greatly, but you have to avoid over-indulgence in order for Jupiter's promise to materialize.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

If your ambitions have been undefined,don't worry as from now on, you understand exactly what kind of impact you need to make on the world. Jupiter turning direct in your 11th house of gains and friendships will help you network and grow without you constantly worrying. Health-wise you will be feeling fit and relaxed.

HEARTBREAK FOR INDIA

SPORT

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Srejeesh-led side go down fighting against Australia in Hockey Champions Trophy final

World No.1 Australia pushed India to yet another heart-breaking loss in the Final of the Rabobank Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy Breda 2018 as they won the Final 3-1 in a tense shootout after Indian team held the Defending Champions to 1-1 in the regulation time. Aran Zalewski, Daniel Beale and Jeremy Edwards scored for the winning team in the shootout while Manpreet Singh tucked one past Tyler Lovell for India. In the regulation time, it was Vivek Sagar Prasad (42') who scored the equaliser for India after a 0-1 setback when Blake Govers scored off a PC in the 24th minute earlier in the match.

Although the Defending Champions made a good start to the Final match, India quickly took control with better ball possession (over 60 percent) coupled with eight circle entries, two shots on goal and two PCs in the first quarter. While India could not capitalise on the PC opportunities, they missed a golden chance to score a field goal towards the end of the first quarter when Surender Kumar made a beautiful pass to Dilpreet Singh who then crossed it over to

Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

Aaron Finch creates new world record high score in T20

Aaron Finch

the first and second quarters, they had nothing to show on the scoreboard.

Looking for that elusive equaliser, in the 38th minute India appealed for a dangerous ball inside the striking circle but their fifth PC was not only denied, they also ended up losing the video referral at a very crucial juncture of the match. But their moment of reckoning came in the 42nd minute, Vivek Sagar Prasad hammered a cross by Chinglensana Singh. The equaliser had finally come after 17 circle entries. This was India’s seventh attempt on goal. Soon after, Mandeep Singh had a fabulous shot on goal with seconds remaining for the third hooter, but Tyler

Lovell was exceptional in his save to keep India from taking a lead.

With the scores reading 1-1, one couldn’t help but wonder if the Final would end up in a shootout similar to the 2016 edition in London.

India pushed up front with forwards Lalit Upadhyay and Mandeep Singh, yet three more shots on goals went amiss.

While the team’s defence stood out, another great chance was missed with Sunil making a strong foray into the circle but Manpreet Singh on the far post could not make this one count. Seconds ticking away, neither teams could manage a lead thus resulting in yet another shootout.

Stephens stunned in opening round

Nepal Taekwondo Association pen UK Sport deal

US Open champion Sloane Stephens crashed out in the first round of Wimbledon after a straight-sets defeat to Donna Vekic. Stephens, who was also the runner-up at the French Open last month, was downed 6-1, 6-3 by the unseeded Croatian. It was a tough draw for the fourth seed as Vekic is a threat on the grass but Stephens put in an erratic display. “I am very happy to win today, it was a tough match,” Vekic said. “I am really happy. I tried to go out there and be aggressive, I was struggling with my serve, it was windy, so I am happy to get through. I played all the tournaments on grass, I really enjoy playing on it and it helped me.”

Federer crusies past Lajovic Roger Federer caused a stir when he began his quest for a ninth Wimbledon title with a new logo on his chest but everything else looked familiar as he crushed Dusan Lajovic 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 in glorious Centre Court sunshine on Monday.

The 36-year-old’s whites were missing the familiar RF emblem after the 20-times Grand Slam champion

31

Sunil but the striker pulled the ball onto his own feet, thus could not score.

Australia, on the other hand, were extremely quick on their counters and waited for their chances. Though India made their third PC, minutes into the second quarter, Australia did well to defend Harmanpreet’s flick. An infringement in Australia’s circle saw India concede the first PC of the match and the chance was brilliantly capitalised by Blake Govers as he powered it through.

Though Sreejesh got his left glove on the ball, it bounced off into the net giving Australia a critical 1-0 lead in the 24th minute. Though India had dominated major part of

Sloane Stephens

ditched long-term kit supplier Nike for Japan’s Uniqlo brand. Lajovic shook off his early nerves to at least give Federer some practice in the second and third sets but the Serbian could do no better than last year when he also suffered a straight-sets defeat by the Swiss, that time in the second round.

Federer, contesting his 20th consecutive Wimbledon, is bidding to become only the second player to win nine singles titles on the London lawns after Martina Navratilova.

“I felt very good from the start which is nice,” Federer, who has now won

24 consecutive sets at the All England Club after blazing to the title last year without dropping one, said on court. “Felt at home right away. Got the early break in each set and I was able to bring it home.” Last year’s runner-up Marin Cilic made a solid start to his campaign with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka on Monday.

The lanky 29-year-old third seed served 21 aces and made four service breaks in a match lasting one hour and 45 minutes on Court Two against a young opponent coming back from major knee surgery.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Nepal Taekwondo Association (NTA) and UK Sport at the Koteshwor Taekwondo Dojang. UK Sport, an organisation that invests money into sport in Britain, will help the NTA by upgrading the levels of Nepali coaches and providing training to Paraathletes. The aim is to help Nepal compete in Para-taekwondo at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, when the sport will make its debut.

Sports science and doping programmes will also be held in Nepal with UK Sport's cooperation as well as coaching schemes.

The deal was welcomed by NTA President Shumsher Rana, who said it “would be helpful in taking Nepali taekwondo to a different level.”

Australian captain Aaron Finch powered his way to 172, a brand new world record high score, destroying Zimbabwe by 100 runs in the Twenty20 tri-series at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday. Not only that, his opening partnership with D'Arcy Short put up 223, creating yet another world record, and Australia reached 229 for 2, the highest total ever scored against Zimbabwe in a T20I. Finch cracked his first six in the fourth over of the morning, and with his third he brought up a 22-ball half century, his fastest in T20I. Australia took 75 from the Powerplay, with Finch doing the bulk of the scoring while Short was content to turn the strike over to his big-hitting partner.

Finch had 74 runs to his name, while Short had managed just 19 from 24 balls when the team hundred came up halfway through the 10th over. The latter soon began to find the middle of his own bat and took a brace of sixes off Ryan Burl's legspin to take his strike rate to over a run a ball. Meanwhile, Finch brought up his second T20I hundred at the end of the

14th over, a century which took just 50 deliveries.

Four overs later, his 15th four raised Australia's score to 200, and moved him beyond 150 with a swipe to deep midwicket.

Finch soon surpassed his own world record high score of 156 with his ninth six. Short eventually fell swinging across the line at fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani to be caught for 46, while Finch fell in bizarre circumstances in the final over. While Muzarabani finished with two wickets to his name, left-arm spinner Tendai Chisoro was the only bowler to leave unscathed.

It seemed for a minute that Zimbabwe might make a fist of their huge chase when openers Solomon Mire and Chamu Chibhabha rushed past 40 in the fourth over, but once they were dismissed regular wickets quickly stalled the innings.

Andrew Tye took 3 for 12 as Australia inflicted one last record against the host Zimbabwe, who slumped to their largestever defeat in T20Is. Zimbabwe will take on Pakistan on Wednesday in the tri-series' next match.

Mithali Raj excited about autobiography One of the most celebrated women's cricketers in the world, Mithali Raj has numerous records to her name and a life worthy of a book. The cricketer recently announced on Twitter that her life and times will be chronicled in her autobiography that will hit stands later this year.

Publishing house Penguin India acquired the rights to publish her autobiography and scheduled to release it this year. “Yep! It's happening! Excited!” she tweeted.

The agency earlier released a statement saying, “Not only will it (autobiography) be a treat to cherish for her cricketing fans, but also be a captivating story of how an ordinary girl went on to inspire

Mithali Raj

real change and made the world sit up and take notice.”

Raj recently became the first Indian to score 2000 runs in T20Is. With 6373 runs to her name, she is the highestrun scorer in the history of women's ODIs. She's also holds the record for slamming seven consecutive fifties in the 50-over format of the game.

Sport RYAN PATEL ‘RACIALLY ABUSED’ 32

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Asian Voice | 7th July 2018

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Surrey's Ryan Patel was allegedly subjected to racial abuse during the County Championship match against Yorkshire at Scarborough. He reported that the incident happened on the first day of the match, and has complained to the England and Wales Cricket Board. Alec Stewart, Surrey director of cricket said, “We are fully aware of this unsavoury incident and have every confidence that the ECB and Yorkshire will deal with it in a appropriate manner.”

And ECB spokesperson said, “We are aware of the allegation and working with the counties to establish the facts.”

Ryan Patel Bill Mustoe, a to monitor the situation.

Yorkshire vice-president Nothing more was estabsaid, “Plain clothes spotlished and we'll see what ters were put in the area happens as a result. It was

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just disappointing. We're not sure of exactly what was said, so we'll just have to wait.” There are many at the club who believe that the incident may have been misinterpreted.

While, Surrey all-rounder Rikki Clarke wrote, “Been abused all day and even one of our players racially abused.”

Patel made his firstclass debut from Surrey last season, after coming through the county's academy. He claimed 6-5 in 3.5 over against Somerset at Guildford in a County Championship game. The alleged incident will be a low point for the ECB, which has particularly made and effort to engage the South Asian community in recent years.

Prannoy stuns Lin Dan at Indonesia Open HS Prannoy stunned the legendary Lin Dan of China a little before Indian player Saina Nehwal cruised into the second round with an easy win against local player Dinar Dyah Ayustine at the Indonesia Open badminton tournament on Tuesday. World No. 13 Prannoy took exactly one hour to prevail over the Chinese stalwart 21-15, 921, 21-14 in the first round of the men's singles in the World Tour Super 1000 event.

While Prannoy started off well against the eighth-ranked Lin Dan, winning the first game 21-15, the Chinese shuttler came back strong to level the match.

The Indian shuttler then dug deep and ended the iconic shuttler in the third game at the USD

HS Prannoy great. The way I played 1,250,000 event. Prannoy the first game was very had also got the better of good from my side, espeLin Dan at the 2015 cially the crucial juncture French Open. After the in the third game around match, Prannoy said, “I after the 11 was really cruam really happy, I had a cial to get that big win. couple of months off.

Looking forward to the Getting back to tournasecond round matches.” ment was really great.

Meanwhile, Saina, Having such a big win needed 35 minutes to against Lin Dan, that too notch up a straight set in such tough conditions, (21-12, 21-12) win over especially the drifts, is

her Indonesian opponent.

In the first game, the Olympic medallist Indian led from the start to end.

She opened up a 7-2 lead before Ayustine closed the gap at 6-7, the closest the Indonesian could go as Saina won her points in quick time. Saina zoomed to 17-9 and then grabbed the first game without any difficulty. The second game was also a cakewalk for Saina as she won nine points on the trot after both the players were tied 1-1. Ayustine recovered some lost ground but Saina ensured that the match ended in two games. In the second round, Prannoy plays Chinese Taipei's Wang Tzu Wei who defeated India's Sai Praneeth 21-10, 21-13 in another men's singles first-round match.

Murray withdraws from Wimbledon

Andy Murray

Two-time champion at The Championships, Andy Murray sensationally pulled out of Wimbledon 24 hours after confirming he was ready to play. The 31-year-old released a statement on Sunday, saying, “It’s with regret I’m withdrawing from Wimbledon. I’ve made significant progress in practice and matches over the last ten days, but after lengthy discussions with my team and with a heavy heart, we’ve decided that playing best of five set matches might be a bit too soon in the recovery process. We did everything we could to try to be ready in time. I will start practising on the hard courts from tomorrow and continuing with my rehab and recovery and I’m looking forward to the US hard court season.

Thanks for all the messages of support and I’m excited to finally be back playing after so long out.”

Troubled by a recurring hip problem, it is the third time in four Grand Slams that the British tennis ace has made a late withdrawal. Murray was due to Frenchman Benoit Paire in the first round on Tuesday, but will now not participate in the tournament. The official Wimbledon Twitter page responded to Murray’s statement by posting on social media, writing: “Really sorry to hear the news, @andy_murray.

From everyone at the All England Club, we wish you all the best with your journey back

from injury.”

Murray finally had surgery on a long-standing hip issue in January 2018, having pulled out of the Australian Open at the 11th hour. He was initially delighted with the postsurgery prognosis and had originally planned to make his comeback at a low-key event at Loughborough University in May. But his recovery progress was halted and he withdrew from the grass court warm-up event in Rosmalen, Holland last month. The Scot played one match at Queen’s and two at Eastbourne and, on the basis of that, had decided to give Wimbledon a shot, until this very late bombshell announcement.

Murray’s absence from the practice schedule at the All England Club on Sunday hinted that all might not be well but the news still comes as a surprise given his public confidence that he would play.

Asked in his pre-tournament press conference on Saturday afternoon whether he was confident he would play, Murray replied: “Yeah, unless in the next couple of days I wake up and don’t feel good. “I mean, through all of this, I have to view it very much day by day, just as a process. I’m practicing at a high level, a high intensity every day with some of the best players in the world. That’s really positive for me as part of getting better, to compete again.”

IOA to not send football teams for Asian Games The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has omitted men and women's football teams from the Asian Games contingent, insisting they won't allow any “passengers”. A senior IOA official said football teams were excluded because they “did not stand a chance to compete for medals.” The decision serves as a major setback to the All India Football

Federation (AIFF), who were hoping to use the Asian Games as one of the key tournaments in the build up to next year's Asian Cup. The AIFF is likely to raise the issue with Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. Football is the only high-profile sport to be omitted from India's entry list, which was finalised on Saturday. It is classified

as a priority sport by the sports ministry but a senior IOA official said they were simply sticking to the guidelines set by the government. A senior IOA official said, “Guidelines are in place and we are strictly following them. The football team hasn't done well internationally and had no chance of winning medals. So there was no point sending them for the Games. We

are evolving as a sporting nation. In many sports, we are competing for gold medals. In such a scenario, we shouldn't send a team merely to compete.”

As per government guidelines, which have been enforced by the IOA as well, only teams that have achieved ranking up to eighth among nations competing at the Asian Games will be considered for participation. The

men's team is ranked 97th in the world and 14th in Asia, whereas the women's team, placed 60th in the world, are 13th in the continent.

The norms have been relaxed in certain cases, but a ministry official insisted they will be strictly implemented on this occasion.

However, with the Asian Cup barely four months after the Games, it is argued that the

Asiad is a necessary exposure for the team.

An AIFF official said, “ Football is easily the most competitive sport in the world. It’s not easy to be in top eight of the continent and this decision taken by the IOA completely ignores the progress made in the recent years. We will raise the issue with the highest authorities and ensure the participation of our teams.”