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8 - 14 SEPTEMBER 2018 - VOL 47 ISSUE 19

inside: India committed to work with BIMSTEC states: Modi SEE PAGE 26

'HOLY WINDERMERE' DIVIDES HINDUS Rupanjana Dutta Hindus in the UK are divided over the call by US statesman and President of Universal Society of Hinduism, Rajan Zed urging for a special area at Windermere Lake for scattering ashes.

Religious tradition dictates, that the ashes of Hindus who die overseas should be scattered at holy sites such as Varanasi, Haridwar or in any other places on the banks of holy river Ganges, in India.

Zed wrote to the Secretary of State for Environment Michael Gove, Lake District National Park Authority Chairman Mike McKinley and Lake District National Park Chief Executive Richard Leafe requesting to develop a dedicated area for scattering cremated remains over Windermere Lake in view of substantial numbers of Hindu population in the UK. He has called for a 'special gazebo

building and altar-style platform to be built on its banks.'

Zed added, if the officials needed any help in the religious expertise during the designing and development process, he or other Hindu scholars would be glad to assist. Besides Hindus, it would also benefit all others interested in scattering the cremated remains on the body of water.

A dedicated cremated remains scattering area is reportedly near completion in Sarnia in Southwestern Ontario (Canada) over the St. Clair River.

Windermere Lake, a landscape of exceptional beauty, in the Lake District National Park in northwest England, is ten and a half miles long and 219 feet deep. Major English Romantic poet William Wordsworth’s “Daffodils” poem is said to be the quintessential Lake District poem. There are 15 National Parks in the UK. Trupti Patel, the President of the Hindu Forum said, “I have investigated

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this matter with various community organisations and temples across the Northwest and none of them are aware of this request to scatter ashes into the Lake Windemere. In the UK we already have designated sites to scatter ashes and do not understand why someone from the USA should claim to speak on behalf of the Hindus of the UK? “The HFB is an umbrella body who liaise with the Government on behalf of the Hindu community, we have regional vice presidents to keep in touch with the local organisations and try and understand the need of the community.”

However, the Lake is already a place of significance for the Swaminarayan Gadi sect. One of their Gurus, Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa passed away after a boat ride in Lake Windermere in 1979. He travelled on Miss Cumbria and sat down for a congregation on the side of the lake.

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8 - 14 September 2018

Drunken plane passenger's catalogue of bad behaviour after 'falling off the wagon' A drunken aeroplane passenger screamed “we are all going to die” as a holiday flight from Tenerife circled over East Midlands Airport.

The behaviour of Kiran Jagdev, who had drunk up to eight beers and six wines, led to another passenger having a seizure on the Jet2 flight.

That came after Jagdev continually kicked the seat in which the woman's 15year-old autistic daughter was sitting.

Prosecutor Zoe Lee told Leicester Magistrates' Court how the 41-year-old former personal assistant, who had gone on holiday alone, behaved erratically on the four-hour LS634 flight. Mrs Lee said that Jagdev started shouting when the plane was unable to go into land first time and had to circle round.

During the four-hour flight, Jagdev was kicking the seat in front of her.

Mrs Lee said that Jagdev had had between six and eight beers before she boarded the plane. She drank four to six glasses of wine on the fight.

“The cabin crew could see she was intoxicated and

Kiran Jagdev outside Leicester Magistrates' Court

refused to serve her any more alcohol," Mrs Lee said.

"She was then seen to be drinking alcohol she had brought onto the plane herself.”

At one point, an offduty police officer on the plane offered to sit next to her for the rest of the flight to try to placate her.

Mrs Lee said: “To start with it sort of worked. Then she became flirtatious and he refused her advances.

“Then she became abusive and became much louder.”

When the plane landed at East Midlands Airport police boarded the flight

and arrested Jagdev.

In interview with police she said she had been in party mode and blamed the cabin crew for serving her alcohol.

Jagdev, of Caledine Road, New Parks, Leicester, pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft on January 28.

The prosecutor told the court how Jagdev had been convicted in a Spanish court of a violent offence and had received a suspended sentence while on holiday.

That conviction came just five days before the flight to East Midlands Airport.

Mrs Lee said that Jagdev had previous convictions for alcohol-related offences and threatening behaviour.

Ahmed Khan, defending, said his client had an alcohol problem.

He added that she had turned to alcohol when she lost an unborn child and split from her husband in 2015.

Jagdev was given unconditional bail. She is due to be sentenced at Leicester Crown Court next month.

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Breast cancer survivor urges women to stop ignoring mammogram appointments Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, yet it's still something that people think would never affect them or their loved ones. That's exactly what 58year-old Bindu Dulabh thought when she ignored a mammogram invitation.

Six months on from receiving the letter, Bindu looks back on her diagnosis and how she fought the illness. She now wants more women, especially ethnic minorities, to stop turning a blind eye to their mammogram invitation like she did.

"If I hadn't of re-made my appointment, I would not be cancer free today. It's five minutes of discomfort, but if it saves your life like it did mine it's definitely worth it.," Bindu said.

Bindu is a mother of two, a loving grandma to a two-year-old granddaughter and a co-founder of a local football club. She is also a cancer survivor. She said: "I missed my original appointment. The letter came and I was just so busy I ignored it and threw it away. We were planning a trip to South Korea to celebrate my husband's 60th birthday and to visit my youngest son and his family. So I just didn't have time for the mammogram." But when Bindu told her husband, Pradip, that she had missed the appointment, they decided together that she should find the time to make a new one. "I made the appointment and then about three weeks later, after more mammograms I was told I had cancer. My whole world fell apart. I thought I was going to die."

Bindu and husband Pradip

The family trip was cancelled and Bindu had to focus on fighting the illness.

Fortunately the cancer was caught early and was not aggressive. The tumour was about 1mm big and was treatable.

Bindu added: "I had a lumpectomy at Leicester Royal Infirmary to remove the tumour. Fortunately the cancer didn't spread to any other part of my body so I didn't have to undergo chemotherapy."As a precaution, Bindu received three weeks of daily radiotherapy at Glenfield Hospital to make sure there were no cancerous cells left in her breast. She continued: "I have been given the all clear for now, but there's always that niggling feeling at the back of my mind that it could come back."

Bindu's oncologists warned Bindu that her diagnosis would have been a lot worse if she waited another three years for a mammogram. Now that Bindu is recovering from her treatment, she is re-arranging

her family trip to South Korea and looking forward to carrying on making the most of her live.

Bindu's run-in with breast cancer has given her a new perception of the illness.

From the moment she was diagnosed, Bindu was determined to be open about cancer and it's this openness that urged a relative of hers to finally accept her mammogram invitation.

Bindu's relative who lives in London, caught her cancer in the early stages, had a lumpectomy and is about to start radiotherapy.

Bindu and husband Pradip set up Leicester Bharat FC 23 years ago, where they are still very much involved in the running of the club as well as the adjoined Bharat Lounge.

Bindu has taken it upon herself to raise awareness and funds to help more people like herself receive an early diagnosis. On Saturday, October 6 she is hosting a charity event, including live music, at the Bharat Lounge to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Now that Bindu is safely on the other side of the disease her focus is on warning people how important it is to attend your mammogram appointment and to show people that cancer doesn't have to be taboo. Asked what she would say to women with an appointment looming, she Bindu replied: "Please, please, please have your mammogram scan done. It could save your life, like it did mine."

Slough Mayor pitches in to help homeless with Langar Aid Aid as one of his charities Langar Aid, part of the for the year, so we're very Slough-based Khalsa Aid pleased to have him here, charity, holds a regular doing his bit. homeless feed every Cllr Sohal said: "I Tuesday on the High Street. chose Khalsa Aid as I Khalsa Aid is one of Mayor have known Ravi Singh, Paul Sohal's chosen charities the founder of Khalsa for the year. Dozens of Aid, since 1999, when we homeless or poverty-strickwere both on the manen people queued up for the agement committee of free meals, which included the Sri Guru Singh Sabha chips donated by local fish Mayor Paul Sohal handing out free Gurdwara, on Sheehy and chip shops, fresh fruit, meals to the homeless Way. It was then that he ice cream, cereal bars, juice, Burnham Fish and Chips first started talking about biscuits, and bottled water. and JKS Fish and Chips. The doing something long-lastVolunteer Indy Narwal, Mayor has chosen Khalsa ing, that would show 28, of St Andrew’s the world how Sikhs Way, Slough, said: believe in one race.

"We currently get up to 50 people here each He started Khalsa Aid week – we've had and I have been folhighs of around 65, lowing it ever since. but it is currently 45 to They do fantastic 50 each week, and ten work. When the or so down in flooding in India hapWindsor. We try and pened, Khalsa Aid get as many restauwere one of the first rants involved as we organisations out can. Today, our chips Langar Aid handing out meals to the homeless as there, helping people were donated by part of their regular Tuesday event day and night."

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8 - 14 September 2018

Obey or suffer the consequences: US to India In an extraordinary address at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Randall G. Schriver, US Assistant Secretary of State in the Trump Administration had a hard message for India: dilute the relationship with Russia or face the likely consequences of economic sanctions. There was no beating about the bush, no diplomatic obfuscation. Become a banana republic like many of the Central American states, or else opt for voluntary neutering on the Japanese model.

Japan has yet to sign a formal peace treaty with Russia decades after the World II ended.

National sovereignty apparently is now an outmoded concept unfit for purpose in America’s historic Manifest Destiny. The choice before India is stark before the 2+2 dialogue between the Ministers of External Affairs and Defence, Sushma Swaraj and Nirmala Sitharaman meet will with their respective US counterparts, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defence, General James Mattis in New Delhi.

Mr Schriver said the US appreciated India’s past relations with Russia – that was done and dusted – there was no future in such ties, he affirmed. The projected New World Order, as defined by the United States, is, and would be, characterized by arbitrary tariffs and sanctions and ultimatums. The hallowed traditions of internal diplomacy as proclaimed by the Peace of Westphalia (1648), the Congress of Vienna (1815) and the Versailles Treaty ((1918) were clearly null and void. One should add that the Vienna and Versailles documents were seriously flawed; nevertheless they uphold the conventions of civilized dialogue and compromise, when and where possible.

In spirit, at least, the projected Trump order has a disturbing affinity with the principles and practices of Hitler’s Third Reich. The Modi government has much serious thinking ahead. Whither India?.Is she to be a US poodle or a sovereign state underwritten by strategic autonomy in its diplomatic and military choices?

Perhaps a brief perusal of Henry Kissinger may help.

A former US National Security Advisor and Secretary of State in the Nixon and Ford administrations, when Indo-US relations reached plumbed the depths. In the peace and quiet of retirement, meditating on the storm-tossed past with India, he penned Global Order: Reflections on the Character of Nations and the Course of History, where, apropos of India, he wrote: ‘As Prime Minister of a newly independent state, Jawaharlal Nehru argued that the basis of India’s foreign policy would be India’s national interest, not international amity per se or the cultivation compatible domestic systems.’

Dr Kissinger quotes Nehru as saying shortly after

Independence: ‘Whatever policy you may lay down, the art of conducting the foreign affairs of a country lies in finding out what is most advantageous to the country.

We may talk about international goodwill and mean what we say. But in the ultimate analysis, a government functions for the good of the country it governs and no government dare do anything which in the short or long run is manifestly to the disadvantage to the country.’

Henry Kissinger comments: ‘Kautilya (and Machiavelli) could not have said it better….The essence of this strategy was that it allowed India to draw up support from both sides in the Cold War camps – securing the military aid and diplomatic cooperation of the Soviet bloc, even while courting American development assistance and the moral support of the US intellectual establishment. However irritating to Cold War America, it was a wise course for an emerging nation. With a then nascent military establishment and underdeveloped economy, India would have been a a respected but secondary ally. As a free agent, it could exercise a much wider reaching influence.’

Dr Kissinger anticipated no U-turn in Indian foreign policy from that of the Nehru legacy. He concludes: ‘India will be the fulcrum of twenty-first century order: an indispensable element, based on its geography, resources, and tradition of sophisticated leadership, in the strategic and ideological evolution of the region and the concepts of order at whose intersection it stands.’

It is fitting to end this piece with India’s Russian relationship and the massive Russian Military exercise – the largest since the end of the Cold War. In the first case, India participated in an extensive security exercise on Russian soil with host Russia, China, Kazakhstan and Pakistan, the first time India and Pakistan have joined in such an endeavour. The Indian Army contingent was led by Lt General Satheesh Dua. Its spokesman was warm in his appreciation of the event and of the combat capabilities on display of the game’s senior participants.

In mid-September, Russia will hold a military exercise Vostok 2018, extending from the Ural Mountains in central Russia to Russia’s Pacific coast in the farthest East, with China and Mongolia as partners.

The Russian force will include 300,000 troops, 36,000 tanks and armoires personnel carriers, 1000 aircraft plus its Northern and Pacific fleets. China is to contribute 3,200 troops and 30 war planes. The Mongolian presence will be smaller.

US Defence Secretary General James Mattis explained that his country’s priority was to bring Russia and China to heel; international terrorism having been put on the backburner. Confrontation, with all its potential perils, is the name of the game.

India-BIMSTEC target international terrorism India is to give the regional grouping comprising Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal (BIMSTEC) its utmost attention, as a security priority in combating international terrorism.

With the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) moribund, thanks to Pakistan’s obstructive policies concerning India, this larger grouping has rules of engagement based on the converging national interests of all its partners.

Pakistan’s India-baiting UN representative at the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi sang from the old, discredited India-baiting hymn-sheet. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong pitch, for active cooperation on international terrorism and drug trafficking at the BIMSTEC Summit in

Kathmandu. He said: ‘I believe that there is a big opportunity for connectivity – trade connectivity, digital connectivity, economic connectivity, and people-topeople connectivity,’ Continuing the theme, he explained that, ‘the Bay of Bengal holds special significance for the security and development of all of us. There is no country in the region which has not suffered from terrorism and transnational crimes, such as drug trafficking linked to a network of terrorism.’

The Nepali Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, as host spoke of the need to deepen regional economic integration and collaboration. On the sidelines of the Summit, Prime Ministers Modi and Sharma Oli signed a MoU on the building of a railway from Rexaul in India to the Nepalese capital Kathmandu.

Life of mercy and compassion Oxford educated and member of the Royal College of Surgeons (Ireland), Jack Preger, a Briton now 88, came to Calcutta (as it was then known) way back in 1979 and set up a clinic in 1980 in Sovabazar, in the north of the teeming metropolis, to treat the poor of the nearby slums, and make available medicines they could ill afford. Mr Preger had spent time as a young man studying the fraught situation in the Third World and what he, as an individual could do to help fight poverty and social distress. Those were especially harrowing times, when Calcutta hovered on the brink of an urban apocalypse.

The city’s revival over the past couple of decades -

now proceeding apace – may have consigned the experience to the buried past. The truly great and good who stretched out a helping hand will not be, nor should they be, forgotten. The local Telegraph newspaper has instituted a School Awards for Excellence. Children from Calcutta Rescue, the school set up by Jack Preger, visited their benefactor in his one-room apartment on his birthday. The school won a Telegraph Excellence Award.

Mr Preger said: ‘It is a matter of great pride to be inducted into The Telegraph Education Foundation Hall of Fame 2018 but it’s not for me alone, but the people who have worked together.’ He is the salt of the earth.

A memorandum is written not to inform the reader but to protect the writer -Dean Acheson (1893-1971)

Seema Malhotra MP Member of Select Committee for Exiting the European Union and former Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Gap between Tory party, EU and UK may be hard to bridge

This week Parliament resumes for two weeks before conference recess and already it is as if we haven’t been away. On Monday the Select Committee for Exiting the EU on which I sit visited Brussels for a full and frank evidence session with the EU’s chief negotiator – Michel Barnier and on Tuesday heard evidence from the DExEU Permanent Secretary on the Government’s preparedness for Brexit. And what we heard should worry us – with growing signs that the chasms between both sides of the Tory Party and between the EU and the UK may be hard to bridge between now and March.

The big story is the “Chequers” proposal and the white paper which is now the basis for negotiation with the EU. Former Cabinet members Boris Johnson and David Davis have said it is dead. Most of the Tory MPs agree. The ongoing misjudgements and lack of openness and clarity could mean we are heading for what most people don’t want – no deal.

Michel Barnier on our visit to Brussels clearly stated the reasons for rejection of May’s two key Chequers proposals – the Common Rule Book for goods – rightly criticised for artificially separating goods and services in the economy, and secondly the Facilitated Customs Arrangement (FCA). The FCA aims to deliver “frictionless trade” in goods between the UK and the EU after Brexit. Experts at the UK Trade Policy Observatory have outlined why this is such a core issue. Trade that is ‘as frictionless as possible’ with the EU is “has been characterised by much of business as essential.” They say “It also matters in the short term, however, because it is the UK government’s offer to the EU on how to ensure that there is no border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Without a solution to this latter problem there will be no Withdrawal Agreement and no transition.”

The challenge raised with us in the EU is that the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic will no longer just be that between two parts of Ireland, but will become the main land border between the UK and the EU. Without a clear sustainable agreement, Brexit is set to undermine an open border between the UK and the EU. May’s FCA aims to reconstruct it by ensuring that any good entering the EU via the UK is treated identically to any good entering the EU directly – replicating the conditions of the current customs union for UK Continued on page 8

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Three men charged with murder in Leicester explosion Three men accused over an explosion which killed five people in Leicester have been charged with murder.

A Polish supermarket and the flat above it were destroyed in the blast on Hinckley Road on 25 February.

Shop owner Aram Kurd, 34, Hawkar Hassan, 32, and Arkan Ali, 37, were originally charged with arson and manslaughter.

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE AFTER MAN HIT BY CAR

Store owner Aram Kurd is among the three men now charged with murder

Mary Ragoobar lived in a flat above the shop with her sons Sean and Shane

The trio appeared at Leicester Crown Court where they were each also charged with five counts of murder.

Aram Kurd, 33, of Hillary Place, Leicester, Hawkar Hassan, 32, of no fixed address and Arkan Ali, 37, of Drake Close, Oldham, who are also charged with arson with intent to endanger life and

The shop and flat above were both destroyed in the blast

manslaughter, are next due in court in October for a pre-trial hearing.

The five people who died were 22-year-old shop worker Viktorija Ijevleva, Mary Ragoobar, 46, and her sons Shane Ragoobeer, 18, and Sean Ragoobeer, 17 and Shane's girlfriend Leah Beth Reek, 18.

M54 victim 'called 999' before being reported missing A man whose body was found by the M54 motorway called emergency services just days before he was reported missing, an inquest heard. Surjit Takhar, 37, was reported missing from his home in Oldbury, West Midlands, on 8 October 2008.

On 1 October that year, Mr Takhar made the 999 call following a visit by someone to his home, West Midlands Police said. His body was found dumped beside the M54 near Shifnal in August 2015. Senior

Surjit Takhar

coroner for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Council, John Ellery, gave an open conclusion at a

hearing on Monday.

Det Insp Jim Munro confirmed that Mr Takhar called 999 on 1 October.

Lavina Sohl, the ex-wife of Mr Takhar, who had three children, said following the hearing: "I just need to know what has happened.

"Every minute of the day it's like I'm living two lives.

"My head cannot get around how did he just go missing, how was he put there. Everyone knew him, he just wouldn't vanish.

"I still need answers. Please, please I'm begging, if anyone knows anything, please come forward.

"It has destroyed our children", Ms Sohl added.

Previously, Mr Takhar's former wife said she suspected he had known his killer.

Mr Takhar's funeral was held two weeks ago. Three people were arrested and interviewed in December last year. All those arrested have been released without charge.

Restaurant manager murder accused sacked by his 'victim' One of the men accused of murdering a restaurant manager almost 25 years ago was sacked by him. A court heard chef Jaspal Singh was fired six months before Ansar Shah was killed outside the Armaan Restaurant in Ayr, South Ayrshire.

Owner Shahid Hassan, 59, told the High Court in Glasgow Mr Shah dismissed Mr Singh in April 1993. Jaspal Singh, 54, Jagtar Singh, 51, and Balwant Singh, 58, all deny murdering Mr Shah, 38, on 4 October, 1993. All three are accused of repeatedly stabbing him and kicking him on the body.

in brief

Mr Hassan, 59, told prosecutor Richard Goddard that he owned the Armaan restaurant, on Seafield Road, in 1993. He confirmed he employed Mr Shan as a manager and Jaspal Singh, whose nickname was Pally, as a chef.

Asked if Jaspal Singh was sacked, Mr Hussain replied: "Yes, Mr Shah the manager sacked him because he wasn't doing his job properly. He did it while I was away on holiday in April 1993."

Mr Hussain, who works as a chef and taxi driver, told the court he received a phone call on

Ansar Shah was stabbed to death in an Ayr car park in 1993

4 October, 1993 telling him there had been an incident and the manager was dead.

Jaspal Singh and Jagtar Singh, from Slough, Berkshire, and Balwant Singh, from

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ALICE IN WONDERLAND TERROR PLOTTER Safaa Boular planned to carry out terrorist acts with her Coventry-born IS fighter husband while they wore matching his-and-hers suicide Safaa Boular vests. The teenager who became the youngest woman convicted of plotting a terror attack on British soil - was jailed for life, with a minimum of 13 years, after being found guilty of two counts of preparing terrorist acts at a trial.

MAN JAILED OVER CAR CRASH After hitting a pensioner with his car in Foleshill Road, Parminder Bagri then drove and left him for dead before lying to police about the Parminder Bagri crash. Bagri's Volkswagen Golf collided with 83-year-old Brian Durham - who was pronounced dead at the scene - as he was walking home with a friend after an evening playing dominoes just days before Christmas.

Detectives saw through Bagri's lies and he was jailed for four years for causing death by dangerous driving. He also admitted charges of perverting the course of justice and possession of a Class B drug.

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A man has been charged with attempted murder after a 26-year-old man was struck by a car in Birmingham. The victim remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital after he was hit on Hillaries Road in Erdington on 17 August. Ibrar Ali, from The Broadway in Perry Barr, appeared before Birmingham magistrates on Saturday. The 19-year-old was remanded in custody to appear at the city's crown court on 28 September.

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Dalmellington, Ayrshire, all deny murder. Jagtar Singh also denies attempting to defeat the ends of justice by changing his clothing and fleeing to England.

The trial continues.

MAN CHARGED WITH DOUBLE MURDER A 21-year-old man has appeared in court charged with murdering his ex-partner and her mother at home.

Janbaz Tarin, is accused of killing Raneem Oudeh, 22, and 49-yearold Khaola Saleem.

Both died of stab wounds outside moth- Janbaz Tarin er-of-six Ms Saleem's house in the early hours of Bank Holiday Monday.

Tarin, who was married to Ms Oudeh under Islamic law, appeared at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Saturday. He was remanded in custody to appear at the city's crown court on Raneem and Khaola Tuesday.

A motorway toll barrier didn't stand a chance when a stolen car ploughed through it at 80mph. At the wheel was Mandeep Barhey who took the car up to speeds of 155mph during a chase with police Mandeep Barhey on the M6 Toll. He was later arrested after crashing the car and is now behind bars for 10 months after admitting dangerous driving, using a vehicle without insurance, causing damage to property other than a vehicle worth less than ÂŁ5,000 and aggravated vehicle.

APPEAL AS DUBAI TEENAGER GOES MISSING IN CITY CENTRE WHILST ON HOLIDAY Police are appealing for information after a teenage tourist went missing in Birmingham city centre. Ibrahim Zaveri, from Dubai, was last seen by his family Ibrahim Zaveri walking out of the Library of Birmingham alone and turning right towards the Repertory Theatre and ICC, around 4.40pm on Saturday (September 1).

The 17-year-old, who was here on a two week holiday, has not been in contact since and police are becoming increasingly concerned for his safety.

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Ruchi Ghanashyam named as the new High Commissioner of India to UK Ruchi Ghanashyam has been named as the next High Commissioner of India to UK. The Ministry for External Affairs said she succeeds Y K Sinha, who had assumed the charge as the Indian High Commissioner in the UK in 2016. Ghanashyam will be the second woman to hold the key post since independence in 1947.

Senior diplomat, Ghanashyam joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1982 after obtaining a Master in Psychology from Bhopal University. She is married to A R Ghanashyam, who also joined the Indian Foreign Service the same year. She has two grown up sons.

After successful completion of her assignment as High Commissioner of India to South Africa with concurrent accreditation to the Kingdom of Lesotho (October 2014 – April 2017), she assumed the charge of the post of Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs on April 17, 2017.

During her diplomatic career, she served as Joint Secretary and Additional

Secretary (West) Ruchi Ghanashyam meets Korea's 1st Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lim Sung-nam, in New Delhi on June 6, 2018

Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi heading the Europe West Division.

She earlier served as High Commissioner of India in Ghana (March 2008 - October 2011), during which she was also concurrently accredited to Burkina Faso, Togo and Sierra Leone. Earlier she served as Minister in the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York from

May 2004 to March 2008.

She served as Director (Pakistan) at Headquarters in Delhi from August 2000 to March 2004 having earlier served as Counsellor (Political, Press & Info) in High Commission of India, Islamabad. She also served in the Embassy of India in Brussels, Belgium, Kathmandu, Nepal and Damascus, Syria where she learnt Arabic, and as Under Secretary in New Delhi looking after Audio-Visual

Publicity for the Ministry of External Affairs.

Her appointment has come at a crucial time when the UK is in the process of coming out of the EU. The only woman High Commissioner so far was Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, who was in the post during 1954-1961. She was India’s third envoy after VK Krishna Menon and BG Kher, who steered IndiaUK relations soon after independence.

Rahul Gandhi's UK visit stirs up fundraising controversy Rahul Gandhi's visit to the UK has stirred up controversy among the Congress party members. It has been alleged that during his visit, Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) seemed to have attempted to replicate the US norm of fundraisers for supporting campaigns, by collecting £900 per head for the leftover seats at an event that was organised by IOC for Gandhi to interact with Indian journalists from a 'particular association'.

Many party members are reportedly miffed with IOC for the nature of the event, the DNA reported.

The report further said, that, leaders were uncomfortable that an event attended by Gandhi needed to be financed in such a way, where the 'organisers started selling a spot at the table to arrange for funds for the event.'

However, sources reveal the afternoon lunch which was actually organised by the Indian Journalists' Association (IJA) alone and not IOC had about a dozen guests from the Congress delegation and about 100 people attending it, including MPs, Peers, organisation leaders, journalists from BBC, Sky TV, major Indian medias, ethnic newspapers including Asian Voice and

Gujarat Samachar, as well as entrepreneurs such as Kartar Lalvani.

According to the sources, the event which was funded 'only' by the Indian Journalists' Association had raised money through sponsorships and individual ticket sales of £30 for each member journalists, £50 for each non-member journalists and £100 per person, for any other non-journalist guests.

Speaking to Asian Voice, when asked about the above allegation, Ashis Ray, the current President of the Indian Journalists' Association, who 'singlehandedly' organised this lunch event at the Taj hotel on 25 August said, “(This is) Absolutely rubbish. I have brought the ridiculous story to the attention of Subhash Chandra, who is the owner of DNA, requesting him to withdraw the story.”

Kamal Dhaliwal the IOC President was not available to comment.

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More than £400,000 awarded to organisations increasing diversity in politics £406,667 has been awarded to seventeen large projects to increase diversity in politics, the Minister for Women has announced. A number of these projects have Asian connection especially Ashiana Community Project, It's Your Life, First Step North East and Xenia.

The new support, from a £1.5 million government fund, will back local projects supporting women and young people, especially disabled people, LGBT people and those from black and minority ethnic groups, to get involved in democracy and politics.

The organisations will set up a range of programmes directly benefitting at least 2347 people – including making documentaries celebrating women’s involvement in social groups, participating in a mock House of Commons debate, and building a website encouraging people with learning disabilities to vote.

Minister for Women, Victoria Atkins, said, “The brave women who fought for the equal rights of women and men to vote must be honoured. Today we have the highest number of women in history sitting in the House of Commons.

However, at only 32% women MPs we have a long way to go before we see true equality.

“By funding these innovative projects we will inspire women and young people across the country to become active participants in our democracy. We want

to see a new generation of women raise their voices, get stuck in and see how they can make a difference in their local communities and across the country.

“This year, we are not just celebrating the achievements of the women who came before us – we are helping women here and now to take action to benefit the women of the next hundred years.”

The grant scheme is part of a £5 million centenary fund to open politics to the public – celebrating the centenary, educating young people about its significance, and encouraging more women to get involved and have an equal voice in the decisions that affect them.

The rest of the funding is being spent on the first ever statue of a woman in Parliament Square – Millicent Fawcett, local events and activities in the Centenary Cities (seven cities and towns in England with a strong suffrage history), a suite of education programmes and resources that engage young people with democracy, initiatives to encourage more people to participate in politics such as an Ask Her to Stand event for potential women politicians, National events celebrating the centenary including the suffrage Processions this June in the four capital cities of the UK and the closing ceremony of the Great Exhibition of the North – the North Star The Women’s Votes Centenary Grant Scheme’s

Victoria Atkins MP

objectives are to fund projects that celebrate the centenary, encourage young people to engage with democracy and increase the number of women participating in politics. It has a total pot of £1.5 million and is administered by Ecorys UK in two funding streams for large and small projects.The final round of the Grant Scheme will run Tuesday 4 September to Tuesday 16 October and is for small events to celebrate the centenary, particularly the anniversaries of the Act allowing women to stand for Parliament (on 21 November) and the General Election of 1918 (on 14 December). The Scheme is particularly keen to encourage applications from eastern regions in England including the South East, East Midlands, East of England and North East as they are currently underrep-

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resented.

The eight large projects already funded by the Grant Scheme earlier this year include:The Step up to Democracy project led by Saathi House who received around £68,972 earlier this year to offer training and political leadership programme for Bangladeshi and Pakistani women who want to become local leaders in three locations, Birmingham, Bradford and Keighley. The participants are currently halfway through the programme and, as part of their leadership training, will go on to mentor other women in their communities.

The Essex Diversity Project which is using their £60,025 grant to run events across Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk from August to December 2018 celebrating the life of prominent suffragette Sophia Duleep Singh. The events include academic talks, creative writing workshops, a touring exhibition, a new theatre piece, and a women’s history conference. Around 10 have taken place already with a further dozen events planned.

This year's BAME winners include names such as: l Ashiana Community Project (£20,000) a charity based in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, that aims to improve the social, physical and economic wellbeing of local people. The project will provide research, archiving and film making workshops for 30 young women from BME backgrounds who are disengaged from politics and civic engagements. They will learn about the women’s suffrage movement and create short documentaries celebrating BME women in social movements. The films will be shown at community venues and through social media. l It's Your Life (£16,800) a registered charity based in Tower Hamlets providing mentoring programmes.

The project will increase BME women’s knowledge of UK democracy and it importance, covering how young people can register to vote, how the government and local democracy works, and the history of voting rights in the UK. The project will visit sites linked to the Suffrage movement as part of this. Participants will be awarded a certificate in ‘ U n d e r s t a n d i n g Government and Local Democracy’ at a celebration event and produce a

tapestry depicting the women’s suffrage journey. l First Step North East (£15,240) a registered charity based in Newcastle-uponTyne that delivers learning opportunities to BME women. The structured and accredited training programme of activities will build participants’ skills and knowledge, encouraging them to participate more fully in civic life and local decision making. It will examine the suffrage movement, gender parity and the barriers to engagement with themed workshops on ‘local women for local politics’ led by inspirational local women, and a Citizens Jury panel with invited speakers.

The course will be documented on social media and finish with a celebration event. l Xenia (£2,864) a voluntary community group that helps women, many of whom are BME and/or speak English as a second language, to improve language skills and participate in activities. A series of workshops focus on women role models and political leaders, the centenary of women's voting rights, learning and practicing the structure of how to debate, campaigning and volunteering, and practical guidance on how to respond to an open consultation exercise.

'HOLY WINDERMERE' DIVIDES HINDUS Continued from page 1

That same evening he died in Bolton. It has been sacred place for that Swaminarayan sect and deciples go back there to visit as a holy shrine. A plaque has also been installed in the Miss Cumbria boat as well as on a tree, where Swamiji assembled for the last time.

Dr Mahesh Varsani, Trustee of the Three Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury, told Asian Voice, “Lake Windermere has been a holy place for us for years now, ever since Swamibapa's visit in 1979. For last 2-3 years our disciples have also scattered the ashes of their loved ones in the Lake. In 2015 when my father pased away, I scattered his ashes there. It has a sacred significance for us.”

Cremation and scattering of ashes are particularly important in Hindusism as followers believie that the ceremony is tied to reincarnation. The ashes of around

Dr Mahesh Varsani

100,000 people are thrown in traditional sites in India every year.

The 2011 Census revealed there are 817,000 Hindus living in the UK, more than half of them living in and around London.

But the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) has raised concerns about the number of ashes scatterings of all religions in the park. Rob Dyer, access officer for the BMC said, ashes were affecting some of the eco syastems by increasing nutrient content of the soil on some fell tops.

Mark Eccles, the LDNP head of park management

Trupti Patel

said, there was “usually nothing to stop you from having a ceremony” in national parks but anyone scattering ashes should ask the permission of the landowner, The Daily Telegraph reported.

He added, that it was “fine to use water with some caveats,” according to the BBC. “For inlad rivers or lakes, contact the local Environment Agency to check there is no nearby water supply and try to avoid where people might be swimming, fishing or boating while you're doing the ceremony.”

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Data deficit hampering progression MPs question of ethnic minority and disabled financial aid to India staff in the workplace Ethnic minority and disabled people’s careers are at risk by a failure of employers to collect meaningful data on representation in the workforce, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has warned.

The national equality body has called for mandatory reporting on staff recruitment, retention and promotion by ethnicity and disability, as it publishes worrying research which shows that most employers fail to collect this data or do so inconsistently. It says that this means they are unable to remove the barriers to the progression and representation of disabled and ethnic minority staff in the workplace.

The research found that whilst a clear majority (77%) of employers say that ensuring workforce diversity is a priority for their organisation, less than half (44%) record or collect data on whether employees are disabled or not and only onethird (36%) record or collect data on employee ethnicity. Even fewer (23%) collect data on staff pay and progression that can be broken down by ethnicity and disabled and non-disabled staff. Only 3% of organisations actually analyse this data to explore differences in pay and progression between different ethnicities and disabled and nondisabled staff.

Just over half of employers say that they face barriers to collecting this data, including that it is too intrusive and onerous. The research also found that employers tend to use binary categories such as White/BAME and Disabled/non-disabled when reporting, which disguises vast differences between pay gaps for different ethnic minority groups or for people with different impairments. For example, Bangladeshi men born in the UK experience a 26% pay gap compared with White British men.

To overcome this data deficit, the EHRC aims to work with the Government and the Office for National Statistics and other organisations working in this area to support employers by providing practical guidance on how to sensitively and consistently collect, report on and use employee data on ethnicity and disability. The EHRC also says that it should be a legal requirement by April 2020 that employers with over 250 employees monitor and report on ethnicity and disability in recruitment, retention and progression and publish a narrative and action plan alongside their data explaining why pay gaps are present and what they will do to close it.

Caroline Waters, Deputy Chair of the Equality and Human Rights

Caroline Waters

Commission, said: “We’ve seen how mandatory reporting has led to employers redoubling efforts to address their gender pay gaps. We need the same level of scrutiny and focused action on opportunities for disabled and ethnic minority staff in the workplace. By not identifying and taking action to tackle unfairness in recruitment, retention and progression, employers are putting the careers of their ethnic minority and disabled staff at a disadvantage.

“Collecting meaningful data will give employers the insight they need to tackle the underlying causes of inequality and ensure that disabled people and those from ethnic minorities enjoy a working environment that allows them to reach their full potential. Our research has shown that first we need to support employers to collect and analyse data on staff ethnicity and disability and reassure employees about how their information will be used.”

marked for India was Some of Britain's intended for its space proConservative Party MP gramme. on Monday questioned A spokesperson reportthe UK government's edly said, "DFID ended trafinancial assistance programme for India- that ditional aid to India in includes £53mn for 2015. The UK now provides 2018-19 and a £7mn the country with worlddecrease in 2019-20 to leading expertise and pri£46mn. vate investment which MP David Davies A few weeks back the boost prosperity, create jobs Department for International and open up markets, while generDevelopment (DfID) in the UK ating a return for the UK at the released its India profile for comsame time. ing years in July and MP David "This is firmly in our interests.

Davies said that India 'did not Not a penny of British taxpayers' want or need' UK aid and in effect aid money has gone on India's space programme.

Britain is 'Sponsoring an Indian In its "India Profile" assessmoon launch'. India has 'splurged' ment, DfID notes that it works in £95.4 million on lunar probe Chandrayaan-2, which is expected partnership with the UK's Foreign to launch later this year. and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Tory MP Phillip Davies told the Department for International 'Daily Express', "Here we are Trade and the UK Treasury to spending money in a country that deliver joint economic develophas not only got its own space proment priorities in India, focusing gramme but is developing its own on areas which will "generate the overseas aid programme. To be most jobs and lift people out of honest, the government needs poverty". looking at if it thinks that is an The PTI reported that describing India as an important economappropriate way of spending taxic partner for the UK, DfID points payers' money," out that India is constrained in "It needs to get out of reaching its full global economic Whitehall and appreciate the public is not just sick and tired of this and political potential by signifibut angry too. It is completely cant internal challenges, including unjustifiable and truly idiotic," some 230 million people living in Davies added. poverty; skills shortages; However, DfID stressed that unplanned urbanisation and a none of the financial assistance huge infrastructure deficit.

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HFE: Making the Hindu community more visible and relevant in Europe The Hindu Forum of Europe (HFE) is the umbrella organisation for Hindu Communities throughout Europe, which has a Hindu population of more than two million. The HFE showcase Hinduism's contribution to Europe in the form of commerce, ethics and spirituality, diversified physical and mental health practices, cultural customs, literature and colourful festival with dance, music and art.

The first elected president of HFE was Sudharshan Bhatia. Currently Dr. Lakshmi Vyas is the President of HFE from 2016.

The objectives of HFE are a) To make Hinduism relevant and visible in Europe b) Get recognition for Hinduism as a religion. c) Provide support to the European Government and citizen in building communities that are cohesive and integrated. d) Spread the Hindu ethos of mutual respect, value, belief, interfaith, friendship and peaceful co-existence. e) Encourage youngsters in the European Politics.

HFE provides support and assistance to many Member organisation from

Europe. The priorities are a) To get Government recognition for Hinduism as a Religion in Europe. B) Create awareness on the positive contributions of Hindu Communities in Europe c) Help Hindu minorities that are being persecuted and/or discriminated around the world by creating awareness in Europe especially at the EU institutions. d)Combat, discrimination, hate crimes and speech and Monitor textbooks in Europe on how they portray Hinduism Today, HFE is has strong relationships and dialogues with human rights advocacy bodies like COMECE, KEK, ENORB, RFP, ECLR and Metropolitan Police, UK. HFE Liaises with EU Parliament and EU Commission. HFE participates and represents at High Level Religious Leader’s meetings and conducts Dialogues with Vatican City on Conversions and racism. Celebration of Diwali, Dussera and Holi as public festival is norm in many countries of Europe.

HFE is instrumental in making the Hindu community more visible and relevant in Europe.

Gap between Tory party, EU and UK may be hard to bridge Continued from page 3

exports to the EU while allowing the UK to negotiate different tariffs with third countries. The EU has rejected this on the basis of integrity of the EU’s single market which the UK has helped over so many years to create, giving controls at the border to a third country, costs and bureaucracy in tracing the origin of goods, standards of goods and rules for what can enter the EU. Whilst we battle on the basics of trade policy, breaking systems that have worked for our prosperity for decades, we see another worrying geo political trend as nations loosen their ties.Simon Coveney, the Republic of Ireland’s Foreign Minister recently gave a very important speech in Germany. It clearly indicated how Ireland is moving to develop new close partnerships and allies of other powerful countries in Europe, put the interests of the EU block first and how Britain is becoming a less significant and powerful player both in regional and in global affairs. In addition, as the EU moves forward on other critical strategic security, social and economic challenges, the issue of Brexit is becoming less and less

important to the majority of EU nations.

I have never experienced a time when from a position of great strength and respect in the world, we are now entering a period of unprecedented political, economic and legal uncertainty without a clear vision of what we are as a country and what we stand for.

Its no surprise that time and again constituents are asking me what is going on - are we leaving the EU? Will there be a second referendum? What does “backstop” – the EU’s key condition on the Irish border – actually mean? Will there be a general election? The real answer is that nobody knows.

This autumn is set to be a roller coaster ride in Parliament as battle lines are drawn within the Tory party as divisions widen and within the country. I hope for our country’s sake that there is a proper pause for thought, and that before we hurtle towards the precipice of no deal, that we take a proper stock of what we are doing, how much it’s going to cost us with public services already being cut back to the bone, and how the interests of British businesses and families get put ahead of the interests of the Tory party.

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British Asians making difference to others' lives

Feeling connected, doing good, a sense of purpose and fulfilment are all values many of us strive for in this day and age of rushed and busy lives. A group of vibrant Asian youth have come together to achieve just that. They have raised much needed funds for deserving charities which have connections with their heritage and ancestral history. Many of these youths are born and brought up in the UK. Their parents are mostly the generation that came to the UK from East Africa as refugees following the Idi Amin regime. Their grandparents have their roots in Western India, Gujarat.

Connecting with their heritage gives the youth an added advantage of making sense of their unusual international background.

In 2015, a group of London based cyclist decided to do their first bike challenge. An epic journey across the Sahara Desert covering over 600kms.

What they experienced provided eye opening moments from being chased by wild dogs to staying in conditions with no hot water, sub-zero freezing conditions without any creature comforts we most use to. The adventure was so harsh it was as times doomed to fail and the words “give up” was on the

tip of the tongue for most riders. However through sheer grit, determination and pride crossing the finishing line was crossed providing exhilaration and sense of accomplishment by all.

Although none of the riders wanted to see a bike for the unforeseen future, a few weeks later it was decided we need to build on this and continue this momentum of doing good for ourselves in body, mind and spirit but also raise money for worthy Charities. The next bike ride was to take place in Gujarat India 2017; the ride was covering 350kms from Bhuj to Ahmedabad with 54 riders of all different abilities undertaking this challenge. The ride raised a phenomenal £160,000 for two Mumbai based charities doing fantastic work helping females rooted in poverty and prostitution trained up with life skills to become self-dependant. They have also provided education for their children to enable them to aspire to a brighter future.

Following on from the Gujarat Charity Bike Ride in 2017, those who were unable to take part were keen that we organise another ride in India in 2018, when one of the organising riders was asked shall we do it? The

reply back was are you MAD? The response was yes we are MAD, let’s Make A Difference Today.

MAD was formed and a bike ride covering 400km from Junagadh to Bhuj was organised in April 2018.

With 25 riders participating suuported their chosen charity doing amazing work in Junagadh. Inner Joy Foundation is helping blind children with education, care and shelter and also taking care of the elderly, who are most often neglected in society. The epic journey created lasting memories, with new friends created along the way. The bike ride raised a fantastic £60,000 for Inner Joy Foundation with the charity running on zero administration costs all monies went directly to help people who need it most.

The challenges continue in 2018 with a second event organised by pedalling 4 change with a 500km bike ride planned for 24 August 2018. They rode from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi to the beautiful beaches of Mombasa over a three-day period. To top it off they raised £110,000 more for their chosen charity, Raha International which is a UK registered charity and funds underprivileged children’s education in Kenya.

Hero Asian doctor saves deliveroo cyclist's life A hero Asian doctor has saved the life of a deliveroo driver after finding him trapped under a van with back wheel crushing his neck and within seconds of death.

Indian-origin Dr Vinay Pandya was around the corner who was having a coffee when he heard a hair raising scream. When Dr Pandya rushed to the spot, he saw a man trapped under a van, with passer-bys trying to help him. And Mr Pandya, who worked for years as a top anesthetist at Southmead, the BRI and Weston General Hospital, said he was ‘lucky to be alive’ after the crash in the centre of Bristol on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Pandya’s told Bristol Live he had to shout and swear at the passers-by who came to help - as there was no time to lose.

“I ran around the van and all I could see was a head sticking out from underneath,” he told the Bristol Live.

“The van was completely covering him, and his body

was diagonally underneath with the back wheel next to his head. He neck was right in front of the back wheel.

“I told the crowd to let me through as I am a doctor, and got to him. I checked for a pulse and he did have one, but he was unconscious and not breathing with eyes half open and rolled back.

“I instantly realised that the tyre was squeezing down on his neck, that this was what was crushing his neck and stopping him from breathing. I knew that the wheel had to come off his neck right away,” he added.

Dr Pandya reportedly added, “A well-meaning crowd member shouted that we shouldn’t do anything until an ambulance arrived.

“I shouted ‘I’m a doctor and I’m telling you to f***ing move the van back!’

Another man in the crowd got everyone organised really quickly, and I think someone must’ve gone in and released the handbrake.

“It was no mean feat, because they pushed it gently uphill just seven or eight inches, and it was enough to get the wheel away from his neck,” he said.

“I didn’t know too much about how many people did that, or how, because I was down there with him, holding his head, but it worked.

“As soon as the pressure on his neck was eased, he began to breathe and I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Then he regained consciousness. He was able to tell me his name, and he had lots of injuries to his head and face.

“Then the paramedics arrived and I was able to hand over to them. He was still stuck fast - I think the saddle of his bike was wedged under him and the van was completely on top of him,” he added.

The man had a substantial damage to his face, but now has been told would be ok.

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Charity of the year 2018

Training the Immune System to Tackle Thyroid Cancer

by Emma Colliver, Former Head of Fundraising at Oracle Cancer Trust One in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our lifetimes.

Head and neck cancer is now the most common cancer in India. A cancer affecting the senses more than any other, even those head and neck cancer patients who survive their cancer can be left with lifelong side-effects, no longer able to eat, taste or speak normally.

Head and neck cancer is a particularly urgent cause in Asia and it is for this reason that the Asian Business Publications group is pleased to be able to support Oracle Cancer Trust this year.

Oracle Cancer Trust is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to funding head and neck cancer research. (www.oraclecancertrust.org) Just one example of work being funded by Oracle is the pioneering thyroid cancer research being undertaken by Dr Malin Pedersen at London’s Institute of Cancer Research Under the guidance of Dr Pedersen, her team is testing new drugs which can awaken the patient’s immune system to fight thyroid cancer.

Like all other cancers, thyroid cancer is a disease that affects the genetic code of cells.

These genetic changes can allow tumours to grow more efficiently, spread and become resistant to treatment.

In their project, Dr Pedersen and her team are testing new drug combinations for patients with treatment-resistant thyroid cancer who do not respond to conventional therapies.

One of the new approaches being tested will involve using drugs that can awaken the patient’s own immune system to the presence of the tumour. These so-called immunotherapies are showing huge promise across a wide variety of tumour types.

Oracle Honorary Trustee Professor Kevin Harrington recently led the UK arm of an international clinical trial showing the effectiveness of an immunotherapy called nivolumab in improving survival for patients with other advanced head and neck cancers.

Find out more about Oracle’s groundbreaking research at www.oraclecancertrust.org/research info@oraclecancertrust.org - www.oraclecancertrust.org 020 7922 7924

Leading cardiologist slams professor who claimed coconut oil is poison whose primary duty is to my A Harvard professor who patients and scientific claimed coconut oil is poiintegrity I was disturbed by son has today been slammed recent claims by a Harvard as talking 'unscientific nonProfessor that “coconut oil sense' by a furious cardiolois pure poison. gist. “Having spent many Professor Karin Michels, years researching and pubwho also heads the tumour lishing on the impact on diet research center at the University of Freiburg in and health I can tell you that Germany, made the controthis claim is categorically versial statement last false and coconut oil can be month. She described the oil very much part of a healthy as 'one of the worst foods diet. you can eat' - and said Coconut Oil even lard is healthier, despite being abundant in saturated fat. But Dr Aseem Malhotra, an avid supporter of saturated fats and founder of the campaign group Action on Sugar, said her comments were bringing the prestigious Harvard University into 'disrepute'.

In a scathing video “Only earlier this year a recorded for MailOnline, randomised study carried the NHS cardiologist, who out by Cambridge used to work at Frimley Park University researchers comHospital in Surrey, called on pared the effects on cholesterol profile of consuming her to apologise for her 50g a day of butter, olive oil 'entirely false' claim and to and coconut oil. Not only retract it. Speaking excludid coconut oil have no sively to Asian Voice, Dr effect on so called bad Malhotra said: “As a qualicholesterol (LDL) but it fied doctor for more than 17 years and as a cardiologist raised good cholesterol

Leading cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra

(HDL) in comparison to olive oil over 4 weeks. “And in terms of long term effect of saturated fat ( coconut oil is highest in saturated fat) the totality of up to date evidence reveals there is no long term adverse effect on development of heart disease or increased risk of death. “Last year myself and two eminent cardiologists published an editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine making it very clear that “saturated fat does not clog the arteries�. “So if you want to really look after your heart our message was one of following simple lifestyle changes; following a diet that is low in sugar and ultra-processed foods, walking 30 minutes and day, meditation and getting a good sleep.

Author wants more Asians to speak about domestic abuse and LGBT issues Author Saurav Dutt's passion to help others has taken him from the law text book to writing his own novel which shines a spotlight on a subject often stigmatised in his own community domestic abuse.

The 36-year-old moved from Calcutta when he was just six months old. While his career path entered the legal world, it also opened doors into the taboo of domestic abuse and discrimination against LGBT communities in south east Asian communties.

Three years after his novel, The Butterfly Room which encompasses interviews with survivors, the writer is now being recognised for his work which explores healing, forgiveness and happiness.

After interviewing up to 200 women who endured years of torment, manipulation and abuse - physical and psychological, Mr Dutt encapsulated their experiences into his first book The Butterfly Room.

The novel which follows a family in Britain explores

Mr Dutt speaking to Baroness Shami Chakrabarti at The Women's Interfaith Network (WIN)

LGBT rights, the stigmatisation of domestic abuse and how attitudes filter down into modern society.

However it is his most recent novel, There Is A Light That Never Goes Out which has sparked a second wave of recognition.

The book was published earlier this year and brings to life the real experiences of three women who have survived domestic abuse.

The campaigner also regularly donates proceeds of his book sales to charities supporting the issues he explores.

Refuge, Southall Black Sisters, Women’s Aid, Stonewall UK, and Amnesty International are among the charities which benefited from book sales of The Butterfly Room.

Mr Dutt is one of the 32 finalists in this year's Asian Awards set to take place on September 14 in London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

The Ealing author and lawyer said he is "honoured" to be along the star-studded line up and has previously been shortlisted by Guardian Books and LA Times.

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Antisemitism in the Labour Party The resignation of Frank Fields MP from the Labour Party’s whip is shocking to say the least. A long serving and a staunch Labour MP is sending a chilling message that there is a great deal of antisemitism within the Labour Party, more than many of us can realise. He would not have taken this drastic step lightly against a Party which he promoted all his life. His decision is prompted by the ineffective leadership of Mr Jeremy Corbyn MP, who has failed to stamp out antisemitism and racism from the Party. The irony is that the Labour Party leader himself is accused of leading the antisemitism campaign within the Party.

Those who have not realised the gravity of antisemitism should understand that they could be the next target as racism grows like cancer. It can engulf people of any colour, religion or race if not swiftly eradicated.

We should never forget the rise of Hitler in Germany and how millions of innocent Jews were murdered in cold blood in the name of a pure race. Had Hitler not been defeated, I dare say his ethnic cleansing would have spread to other races one by one. The consequence of Hitler’s legacy is still being felt today by millions of innocent human beings who suffered and lost their loved ones through his philosophy of hatred.

I would like to urge everyone to stand up and condemn racism of any kind for the sake of Britain’s future. It is the diversity in Britain which has made Britain great.

Diversity must be accepted, respected and above all, should be celebrated. I shudder to think what will be the standing of Britain in the world if we allow ourselves to become a land of intolerance and hatred for one another.

Dr Rami Ranger CBE Co-Chairman The Conservative Friends of India

Pros and Cons of Energy Drinks PM Theresa May’s bold move to ban all energy drinks (EDS) to children is a welcome step to reduce the epidemic of obesity among children, we top the obesity chart in EU. Energy drinks with high level of sugar; in fact it has three times more sugar and caffeine than soft drinks like cola. It is also linked with tooth decay and bad behaviours, especially in schools, as a tiny number of children drink it even before breakfast.

The “Consultation Paper” will gauge and seek public opinion regarding at what age the ban should apply, at 16 or 18. Although most supermarkets voluntarily ban sell of such drinks to children, most popular being Red Bull and Monster Energy, small shops, newsagents and such outlets have no calm in selling energy drinks to minors, as they are not breaking any laws. Moreover it is a struggle for corner shops to survive, mainly due to supermarkets entering their domain with small outlets, as well as most petrol stations selling fast moving daily use items, in direct competition with corner shops.

Such drinks are also widely available from vending machines where any one can buy EDS without supervision, so often such vending machines located in gymnasiums. The ban will include such vending machines as well. Moreover so often these drinks are cheaper than most soft drinks and they are habit forming, addictive. The insatiable demand of EDS topped £2 billion in 2016. So there would be stiff opposition from the industry, as many believe we are going over the top, becoming an unhealthy “Nany State”.

If EDS are consumed by adults within limit, it does have many benefits, especially when recovering from debilitating illnesses. Lucozade, then known as Glucozade, was launched way back in 1927 to help sick people recuperate and is still as popular as ever, especially among sports personalities.

It is encouraging to note that our politicians who were once indifferent to such health issues, are now having courage of their convictions and able and willing to act, as they know that the scourge of obesity among children will endanger the health of entire nation, with under-funded NHS becoming a scapegoat!

Kumudini Valambia By email

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Seasonal clock changes The seasonal clock changes is a relic of a previous era. It has no place in the technological advances 21st century. It causes confusion twice a year and has passed its ‘sell by date’. The reasons for this time change are now obsolete. With the progress of technology, the energy-saving ritual has become irrelevant. The agricultural community also says clock changes are disruptive to farm animals. This ritual needs to be changed now.

Provided by AFP The main idea behind clock changing was to harmonise the hours of activity with those of daylight to limit the use of artificial lighting The twice-yearly changing of the clocks for winter and summer has been a ritual in Europe since 1916, originally conceived as an energy-saving measure. But over the years many countries have abandoned the switch and now the European Union says it will recommend abolishing it altogether in a forthcoming proposal to the European Parliament.

US statesman Benjamin Franklin is credited today with coming up with the idea for clock changes in 1784, in a satirical essay published in the Journal de Paris in which he called on France to bring the start of the day back by an hour to cut back on using candles. The establishment of the twice-yearly change -- one hour forward in the summer, one hour back in winter -- was adopted in 1916 by the German and AustroHungarian empires, to save on electricity during World War I. The same year the British empire and France also introduced the clock changes. But the clocks stay the same all year round in Africa, apart from in Morocco, and in many countries in Asia.

British government should take the lead in bringing about this much needed change in UK. Baldev Sharma Rayners lane, Harrow.

Overseas Aid: moving in the right direction The media, especially print media, led by Daily Mail and Daily Express, have carried out long and dedicated campaign against huge overseas aid budget approaching £14 billion that the government find it difficult to spend wisely, some aid even going to super rich China who has its own multi billion aid budget and Argentina with whom we have strained relations over Falkland Islands.

At last the campaign, fully supported by majority of the public has persuaded PM to change course, swap “Aid for Trade” that will help Britain, especially our manufacturing industry that is in perpetual decline, if the aid is spent wisely with the full cooperation of British firms.

PM wants to use aid to tackle corruption, participate in modernising infrastructure, help agriculture sector to make country self-sufficient in food and help British firms to set up, participate in local industries, as well as give boost to British exports in a free and fair trade that has been neglected, in perpetual decline for the last few decades, the vacuum being filled by cheap, subsidized goods from China whose export to African continent has increased tenfold in recent times.

In a speech in Cape Town, PM hinted that she is unashamed about the need to ensure our aid programme works for Britain that it meets global challenges and in line with other countries support our own national interest first and foremost with the hope that this policy will unleash the enterprising spirit that this country was blessed with not long ago.

Let us hope that our aid will create jobs in Africa, improve their economy and prosperity that will tackle education, health, unemployment and migration. Although we boast that our economy is the fifth largest economy in the world, India will soon overtake Britain, pushing us in sixth place. However living standard is the right barometer and we do not make the top ten, perhaps not even top twenty, nations like Norway, Switzerland, Scandinavia and many more enjoy better living standard than us. Unless we stop our hotchpotch policy of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries and shed our holier than thou attitude, our imaginary role of being policemen of the world, adopt glasnost, our fortunes will not change.

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email

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Home Secretary’s plan to protect children online This week the Home Secretary laid down a much-needed challenge to big tech companies at the NSPCC’s HQ in London.

Sajid Javid demanded change to protect children from online groomers and urged the industry to tackle the vile trade in indecent images.

And not before time. NSPCC research shows that the equivalent of one child in every primary school classroom surveyed has been sent a naked or semi-naked image from an adult; and one in 50 had sent a nude or semi-nude image to an adult. That is appalling, and something no child should have to experience. In the last year alone, police in England and Wales recorded more than 3,000 offences of sending a sexual message to a child, including 144 in London.

But this isn’t inevitable. Those images and messages are sent through social networks and texting apps, which recklessly expose children to content and behaviours completely inappropriate for their age. Technology has developed at such a pace that government, legislation and society have failed to keep up. And one result of that is that social networks have become a gateway to child abuse.

Conversation and encouragement is not enough. The Government must now force social networks to tackle the problem blighting their sites and that means changing the law.

The NSPCC’s Wild West Web campaign is calling on Mr Javid and Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright to create an independent regulator, with the power to investigate and to fine social networks which fall short. Sites must be required to take proactive steps to detect grooming, so that abuse can be disrupted before it escalates.

In the coming months Government will publish its White Paper setting out proposals for what social network regulation could look like. The NSPCC will be doing all we can to make sure these laws are fit for purpose, and we’re asking parents, grandparents, millennials, students – everyone – to sign our Wild West Web petition to tell Mr Wright and Mr Javid how important this issue is.

Social networks must be properly regulated for the sake of children today and for generations to come.

To sign the #WildWestWeb petition visit www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/campaigns/wild-west-web Des Mannion NSPCC Regional Head of Service London and the South East

UK

LABOUR VOTES TO ADOPT FULL INTERNATIONAL DEFINITION OF ANTI-SEMITISM Labour’s ruling body has voted to adopt the full international definition of antiSemitism following months of criticism.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition was incorporated into Labour’s code of conduct in July but not all its examples were included.

Shadow chancellor John Shadow chancellor John McDonnell became the most McDonnell became the most senior Labour figure to call senior Labour figure to call for for the party to fully adopt the IHRA definition of antithe party to fully adopt the Semitism IHRA definition of antiSemitism.

Mr McDonnell had said he hoped the party’s National Executive Committee would adopt all the examples acknowledged by the party.

The change comes following a row over activist Peter Willsman’s re-election to the NEC, after he called some members of the Jewish community ‘Trump fanatics’ and accused them of making up allegations of anti-Semitism. His comments saw him disowned by the pro-Jeremy Corbyn campaign group Momentum. But on Monday, he was elected to serve another two-year term on the NEC. Mr McDonnell acknowledged the party should have moved more quickly to resolve the row which dominated headlines over the summer.

Critics of the IHRA approach have claimed it could restrict their ability to criticise the Israeli government’s actions against Palestinians and protests are expected outside Labour’s London HQ urging the NEC to reject the examples.

Speaking to BBC Radio Kent, Mr McDonnell said he wanted an acceptance of the IHRA definition and examples’ but also ‘freedom of speech so people are free to criticise Israel and its policies, free to advocate the rights of the Palestinians, but at the same time make sure it’s done in language that’s acceptable’. He acknowledged the row had ‘dragged on and I think we should have addressed it much sooner’.

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EDUCATION

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

11

8 - 14 September 2018

Universities UK call for post-study work visa to be reintroduced Universities UK has called for a new visa to allow international students to gain work experience in the UK for up to two years after graduation. It comes as university leaders gather for the start of Universities UK’s annual conference, taking place this year in Sheffield (4-5 September).

Universities UK is the collective voice of 136 universities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Its mission is to create the conditions for UK universities to be the best in the world; maximising their positive impact locally, nationally and globally.

Universities UK acts on behalf of universities, represented by their heads of institution.

In 2012, the UK government scrapped the poststudy work visa which had allowed international (nonEU) students to stay in the UK and work for up to two years after graduation. This tightening of the eligibility rules for post-study work opportunities in the UK may have had a significant impact on prospective applicants from certain countries, including India.

The new visa would allow a wider range of employers – in all parts of the UK – to benefit from access to talented graduates from around the world, including small and medium employers who do not have Tier 2 sponsorship licences, usually due to the high costs and bureaucracy involved.

It would also make the UK a more attractive destination for international students and graduates, enabling it to compete with other popular destinations such as the United States, Australia and Canada, who have more welcoming stu-

dent visa policies.

Since 2011, countries such as Australia, Canada, and the US have seen high growth in international demand for study, while the total number of enrolled international students in the UK has stayed flat, leading to lost market share.

The US and Canada offer international graduates the opportunity to stay and work for up to three years after graduation, and

of Liverpool, said, “The ability to work in a skilled job for a limited period after graduation is, for many prospective international students, an important part of the overall package when deciding where to study. We are proposing a new graduate visa that would make the UK more attractive to students and would allow a wider range of employers, in all parts of the UK, to benefit from access to talented

Australia for up to four years. New Zealand has recently announced reforms to its student visa policies and will now allow all international graduates to stay and work for up to three years, without the need for employer sponsorship.

The call comes as a new poll from ComRes that reveals increased support for international students and graduates in the UK. Nearly three quarters (72%) of British adults polled think that international students should be able to stay in the UK post-graduation for one year or more to gain work experience.

Professor Dame Janet Beer, President of Universities UK and ViceChancellor of the University

graduates from around the world.

“This improved poststudy visa would put us on a par with what is offered by countries such as the US, Canada and Australia. It would send a more welcoming message to international students and signal that the UK is open to talented individuals from around the world. As Brexit discussions continue, the UK needs an ambitious immigration policy that helps boost our regional and global competitiveness.”

Stephen Isherwood, Chief Executive at the Institute of Student Employers, said, "Allowing talented international students to work for a period post-study in the UK will

help employers, large and small, to fill skills gaps. As well as enabling growth, our universities will become more internationally competitive and it will mean that UK students can develop a global mindset too."

Under this proposed visa, all higher education institutions registered as Tier 4 sponsors would be able to sponsor their graduates to search for and gain work experience in the UK for up to two years on a more flexible basis than currently permitted by the Tier 2 visa, without restrictions on job level or salary, and without an employer sponsorship requirement.

Universities would have the flexibility to manage the licence for the new visa system separately from their Tier 4 licence.

Currently, students must find a job with a salary of at least £20,800 at an employer with a Tier 2 sponsor licence within four months of completing their course, or find sponsorship as an entrepreneur. PhD students are separately able to stay for up to 12 months following completion of their degree. This new, proposed visa would give international graduates a longer period to search for a Tier 2 eligible role.

Australia, Canada and New Zealand all offer international graduates the opportunity to stay and work for at least a year following graduation. The US and Canada offers up to three years and Australia up to four years, depending on the subject and qualification studied and length of original degree; New Zealand has recently announced changes which will allow graduates to stay for up to three years.

In all four countries, this

includes periods of job searching and there are no restrictions on the types of employers graduates can work for.

In 2011, under the previous Tier 1 Post Study Work visa, the numbers of students transferring into work visas was 46,875. Following the 2012 changes, that that

fell in 2013 to just 6,238. UK would expect similar proportions of students to want to stay and transfer into this visa were they to have the opportunity to do so. In 2010-11 there were 134,520 non-EU students who qualified, so around 35% of them chose to use Tier 1 or Tier 2 to transfer into work.

Regent College students secure impressive grades in GCSE

Dana

Kejvin

The students of Regent Independent College have secured impressive grades in the latest GCSE exam.

While 79% have have received between A*-C, 26% have received between A-A*.

Regent Independent College, located in Harrow, is part of Regent Group, an educational group based in North-West London. The College was founded in 2000. It currently comprises both an independent coeducational secondary school and sixth form, taking students from GCSE through to A-Level.

Success stories include that of Kejvin, who joined the Regent Independent College having moved

Abduallahi

from a school in Albania.

Despite having only several months to prepare for the GCSE exams, in which he took the core subjects, he was thrilled to receive results of 556889.

On the other hand there is Dana, who joined the College to boost her grades in Science and Maths. Supported by the college's experienced team of teachers and taking full advantage of the small group sizes, she has successfully completed the course with scores of 6667.

Abduallahi, who joined the College from Hewens College and has spent two years at the College, was thrilled to receive results of B677788.

Lint Group Director inspires Newham students with his success story Rizz Patel, the Managing Director of Lint Group shared his success story at the Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre for the fourth consecutive year.

Over the past 25 years, while registering continued growth, the business has forged long-lasting partnerships with local communities and authorities in many London boroughs. Pioneers in property lettings and management, the group has offices in the heart of East London.

The transition for students from GCSE to A-level is often the most daunting and challenging step in their careers. Choosing the correct subjects and helping pupils with the best opportunities to enter their chosen careers or higher education can often be a sobering

Rizz Patel, the Managing Director of Lint Group addressing the students at Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre

reality.

Whether applying to University or starting an apprenticeship, Patel drawing upon his wealth of experience as an entrepreneur, highlighted the importance of setting personal targets and always aiming high. He said, “If I could give you one thing today, it’s the gift of desire and to want”.

Patel also impressed upon the students the importance of being able to visualise a goal and making it a reality. Referencing his own career and personal work ethos, he provided advice about what students should do to be the best version of themselves. He advised them on how to be disciplined, develop a strate-

gy to plan and achieve their goals, go out into the world without fear, build confidence in their own abilities and acquire the job they want through determination. He reminded pupils to use pressure to their benefit and get help if they need to.

Newham Collegiate Sixth Form teacher Sumena Begum who found Patel’s talk exceptionally motivating said, “Setting targets is something kids don't think they need to do, but they do.”

Patel's story is one of immense hard work and determination. At the age of 17, he along with his friend and Co-Managing Director Sam Chand, founded Lint Group and set off on the exciting road to entrepreneurship. He was able to help the business

grow through setting goals and adds, “Goals keep me motivated and I still do it to stay focused.” Initially it was a business that dealt with acquiring properties from private landlords, sourcing private tenants, rent and property management.

Lint Group rapidly grew, connecting with Boroughs across London to provide a solution to rising homelessness in the Capital. Patel and Chand began letting their properties acquired from private landlords to local authorities as temporary accommodation to those most in need. This initiative continued throughout their 25 years of business and is one of the core values driving Lint Group.

Patel has since helped tackle many social issues;

from Lint Group’s homelessness housing scheme, to donations to charitable organisations and delivering talks in the local community. He has used his platform and perseverance to create social change; in particular he has spearheaded the development and begun the construction of a mosque in Gambia, which when completed will serve the local community.

He expressed the feeling of being able to provide villages with clean water as fantastic and said, “I have a desire to help and I’m thankful that I have the financial freedom to do so.”

He added, "This teaches pupils that motivation to succeed can come from the want to help others, as everyone has the quality of wanting to be helpful."

12 MEDIA WATCH

AsianVoiceNews

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8 - 14 September 2018

SCRUTATOR’S Congress President Rahul Gandhi has been spreading his wings in B ritain and Germany, addressing Indian students and the diaspora in general in London and Berlin. He also spoke at the Institute of Strategic Studies in the British capital on his vision of what Indian foreign policy should be. If the purpose of this excursion was to present himself as the next Indian prime minister in waiting, the end scarcely justified the means. He is as unlikely to occupy this seat as unicorns are to fly.

Canadian investors upbeat on India The Canadian Pensions Plan Investment Board, which manages one of the largest pension fund globally, India is emerging as an important destination. ‘The growth that India has seen, it is the engine for growth of global economy, and that’s why we are here,’ said Suyi Kim, Senior Managing Director & Head of Asia Pacific of the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (Mint August 28).

Kerala grateful for Services relief effort

Congress president Rahul Gandhi at an interactive session at the London School of Economics

His description of the RSS as a copy of the Muslim Brotherhood was silly and childish. Again, the Congress leadership may not have participated in the infamous antiSikh riots of 1984 in Delhi, but four local Congressmen most certainly did. Mr Gandhi remains the Mickey Mouse of Indian politics.

the Goods and Services Tax (GST) ‘I am reasonably confident that we may exceed the 7.5 per cent growth as projected earlier,’ said Economic Affairs Secretary in the Finance Ministry Subhash Chandra Garg. Manufacturing was in robust growth and investments were picking up.

Fast-growing economy

Breaking the mould Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke the mould by attacking the Congress Party, past and present, at gatherings of the mainly Gujarati diaspora in the United States and elsewhere, thereby setting a distasteful precedent, which Rahul Gandhi has chosen to emulate to his apparent disadvantage.

First quarter growth beats expectations Beating all bets, India’s first quarter economic growth AprilJune) registered an impressive 8.2

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

per cent growth, the best performance in two years and a clear sign that the hiccups in the aftermath of demonetization and

India, without doubt, is now the world’s fastest growing large economy, exceeding China’s 6.7 growth, although India’s base benchmark is considerably lower.

Good monsoon A good monsoon and increased government spending have given households more money to buy consumer durables, which in turn helped the manufacturing sector post 13.5 per cent growth in contrast to the 1.8 per cent growth for the same period last year. The farm sector has recorded 5.3 per cent growth to compare with last year’s 3 per cent growth.

Summing up, Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said that the overall 8.2 per cent growth indicates that several structural reforms, such as the GST, have started yielding dividends. Growth in the manufacturing sector indicated broad-based recovery of demand, he said.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tweeted: ‘Reforms and fiscal prudence are serving us as well.

India is witnessing an expansion of the neo middle class.’ (Business Line, Mint, Times of India, Indian Express September 1).

Buffett’s move to Paytem Warren Buffett is one of the principal movers and shakers in his native America. A megastar in

segment had overcome demonetization and GST uncertainties, and retail stock levels had bounced back standing 10 per cent higher than the predemonetization period. ‘Retail offtake continued to be buoyant with double digit growth on the back of tail winds viz GST rate cuts, strengthening macroeconomics and robust monsoon projections,’ said Sameer Shukla, Executive Director, Nielsen India (Hindu August 29).

the country’s business firmament, his company Berkshire Hathaway is set to take a 3.4 per cent stake in One9 Communications Ltd, the parent of Paytem. This is the billionaire’s first stake in an Indian company, possibly the beginning of something more ambitious in keeping with the size of Buffet’s emterprises.. Buffet’s reflects confidence in India’s economic prospects (Mint August 28).

The Kerala State government held a large farewell meeting to honour the men and and women of the armed forces for the tremendous relief and rescue operations during the recent monsoon floods that devastated the region, the worst natural disaster for a century. Kerala’s poor dam management bears some responsibility for the flooding.

(Indian Express (August 27).

Sushma Swaraj in Vietnam camp India’s External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, inaugurated the ‘Jaipur Foot’ camp in Hanoi, where she met 300 Vietnamese beneficiaries of the free Indiamade prosthetic limb. The Minister was in Vietnam on the first leg of a two-nation tour that includes Cambodia. India has a deepening strategic relationship with Vietnam and Cambodia – both key members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Hindu 28) Vietnam and Cambodia were devastated by US bombing and chemical defoliation in the 1960s and early 70s. Millions died and thousands suffered serious injuries. The obituary notices in the Indian press, including that of the Hindu newspaper, of US Senator John McCane were fulsome in their praise his wartime ‘heroism’ in Vietnam as a fighter pilot and prisoner of war.

What about the lives of the Vietnamese and Cambodian people, who perished in the USengineered conflict, many of whom were killed or were permanently deformed by the covert US use of chemical defoliants, such as Agent Orange,?

Reddy new DRDO chief Dr G. Satheesh Reddy has been appointed the new chief of India’s Defence Research & Development Organization, in succession to Dr S. Christopher, who recently retired following an extension. At 55, Dr Reddy is the youngest DRDO chief, with formidable

Food grain output to hit record high

Dr Satheesh Reddy

record as a rocket scientist and engineer. He became Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, aged 49, and held a number of critally important posts at an earlier age.

DRDO successes DRDO is at the crossroads, having created the Agni series of missiles, from short, medium intercontinental range, it has been a force behind the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Tejas warplane. However, there are fresh challenges. At present, DRDO has a core workforce of 7600 scientists working in 50 labs across the country. Inducting fresh talent and creating more advanced state-of-the-art systems for the three services will require vision, ingenuity and administrative skills. Cometh the hour, cometh the man (Hindu August 27).

Manned space flight readied The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has announced its plan to send three astronauts into space in around the first half of 2022. They will spend 5-7 days space before reentry to earth, said ISRO chairman K.Sivan. Most of the required technologies for the venture were already in place, he said (Indian Express, Hindu, et al August 29).

Bangladeshis in spate of armed robberies A spate of armed robberies around Kolkata infrastructure projects has involved gangs of Bangladeshi nations, said the police following the arrests of eight men and their interrogation. The projects were the New Town Metro station site, the New Garia Airport terminal, and the East-West Metro at Phoolbagan (Times of India August 28).

Indian food firms outdo peers According to a study by Nielsen, a global information, data and measurement company, as many as nine out of ten fastest moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies with a turnover of more than Rs 1000 crore are of Indian origin. The Nielsen report, just published, covers the AprilJune quarter. The report did not include the names of the companies. The study showed that

Riding high on a good monsoon, the output of most food crops is projected to rise to record levels during the current financial year ending March 31, 2019, at 5.3 per cent over the 3.5 per cent of the previous year. Rice production is expected to reach a peak of 112.91 metric tons, while wheat will hover around 100 million metric tons. The combined food grain production including pulses et is expected to 285 million metric tons (Business Line August 29).

India in fast lane of digital highways The National Highways Authority of India had rolled out the FASTag programme in 2013 across its toll plazas. What was once a closed loop has been made inter-operable across the country with different Banks and Toll Plazas with National Electronic Toll Collection. From a modest start of one lakh (100,000) issuance in December 2016, the programme has grown to an overall tag issuance 2.6 million tags and a daily average of transactional volume at 600,000. Long queues and unnecessary travel delays are thus avoided (Hindu August 27).

Andhra Pradesh strikes gold Andhra Pradesh has struck gold in the Chitoor district. The State government discovered gold in Chigargunta and Bisanatham gold block in the Chitoor district, which is likely to yield Rs 947 crore of the precious metal (Hindu August 25).

Stalin new DMK leader M.K.Stalin has been elected leader of the Tamil Nadu Dravia Munetra Kazagham (DMK) following the death of his father K. Karunanidhi, who held the position for 50 years. Stalin told the party faithful to work for the removal of the Modi government (Hindu August 29).

Kolkata Metro takes leap forward Delays and cost over-runs in infrastructure projects are what the Indian public have become accustomed, so news that the first part of a major East-West extension of the Kolkata’s Metro is set for completion around five months before the scheduled date is indeed a welcome surprise. Two critical technologies for driverless trains, one Japanese, the other German, are to be installed in a week, facilitating trial runs that should be completed in December (Times of India August 30).

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AsianVoiceNews

UK

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13

8 - 14 September 2018

Toddler in need of kidney transplant

The Ethnic Diversity of UK Boards The US stock market is at near all time highs.

Google is headed by an Indian. Microsoft is headed by an Indian. Adobe is headed by an Indian. Cognizant is headed by an Indian.

Pepsi is headed by an Indian. It’s not the Indians, it’s the diversity I reckon that leads to performance. Don’t believe me – the diverse England cricket team beat the homogenous Indian one.

But seriously, reading again the report on Ethnic Diversity of UK Board got me thinking. A friend of mine both used to write for a national newspaper. She for the Times and I for the Financial Times. She and I were both appointed by the Prime Minister to the UK India Roundtable. She was recently appointed to the board of a FTSE 100 company. She is is not an ethnic minority. But that is not necessarily relevant. But is it?

Let’s find out. I am conducting an experiment. I am writing to the chair of every FTSE 100 company. Let’s see how many reply. Just reply. Even if to say there is no vacancy on their board.

I am conducting this experiment because reading the above report these parts are incredibly important: (by the way the report is by the Equality and Human Rights Commission is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006. It operates independently to encourage equality and diversity, eliminate unlawful discrimination, and protect and promote human rights. It encourages compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998 and is accredited by the UN as an ‘A status’ National Human Rights Institution.

“A survey of 130 ethnic minority nonexecutive, executive and senior directors suggests that most believed that discrimination had meant they had had to work harder

to reach board level or the most senior positions. Nearly two-thirds believed that the unconscious bias of CEOs and boards is hindering ethnic minorities from progressing to board level and that ethnic minorities are not in the ‘old boys networks’ of leadership teams and executive search firms.”

The report also explains, “Our inquiry found that three-quarters of companies had board diversity policies. However, around two-thirds of these had not set objectives or targets to increase the number of women on their board. For senior management/executive levels, less than half of companies had a diversity policy and less than two-fifths had set gender targets.”

“Our inquiry findings indicated that nearly all FTSE 350 companies (91%) used executive search firms for executive and non-executive appointments. Executive search firms use a variety of recruitment channels, including networks, contacts and recommendations, but rarely advertise for candidates. Our research showed that just 2% of companies publicised non-executive director appointments on their external corporate websites, in newspapers or using social media and only 1% did this for executive director roles. Executive search firms did not believe that publicly advertising roles added to the value or quality of the search process and were concerned that it might attract unsuitable candidates.”

Clearly by not advertising, say in papers such as this, they are propagating the problem. I want UK companies to be as successful as American ones. It seems a like of diversity is clearly an issue. If they won’t advertise in papers such as this – let me go knocking on their doors! I’ll keep you posted.

Rachel Johnson defends call for full ban on the burka Rachel Johnson has defended her call for a full ban on the burka in Britain as she explained why she 'has a problem' with Muslim woman wearing a full veil.

The sister of former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson argued there was 'no feminist argument' for wearing the garment during an appearance on Good Rachel Johnson faced opposition Morning Britain.

The columnist said the from fellow guest Sahar Al-Faifa right ban on the burka, folUK should follow countries lowing comments by her such as France in an out-

brother in which he said Muslim women wearing the garment looked like 'letter boxes' and 'bank robbers'.

She argued that it was not freedom of choice for many Muslim women who were forced to wear the veil by male relatives or through fear of attacks in the street.

Ms Johnson faced opposition to her views from host Piers Morgan and fellow guest Sahar Al-Faifa, from the Muslim Council of Britain, who wore a niqab.

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20 month old Anaya Kandola from Newcastle was born 5 weeks premature and diagnosed with ARPKD (Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease ).

Her only and best chance of survival is a kidney transplant.

ARPKD caused Anaya to be born with an abnormal liver and two enlarged polycystic kidneys which led to her lungs being underdeveloped and her left side of her

heart to be muscular known as HCM due to high blood pressure.

Doctors have now started talking about ‘working up’ to transplant for Anaya which takes 4 to 6 months so we’re hoping by her 2nd birthday she will get a kidney transplant.

Unfortunately, her parents are no longer a kidney donor match due to the number of blood transfusions she has needed and

antibodies created.

Waiting to get the call for a kidney match can take years and sadly, we may never receive that call to hospital for her transplant and she will die due to a shortage of Asian people willing to donate their organs.

Although kidney donation can come from any race, however for successful transplant Blood and tissue type need to match.

Bhagavad Gita Walk: A community initiative to benefit future generations

The vibrant community of ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor are undergoing another exciting project. A "Gita Walk" will take place on Sunday 16th September 2018, starting from the Krishna Avanti.

School in Edgware and end at Bhaktivedanta Manor where participants will have kirtan, prashadam and family fun!

The sponsored charity walk will take Bhaktivedanta Manor another step closer to fulfilling its dream. The Shree Krishna Haveli buildings

will provide facilities to bring communities together for cultural activities, education and spiritual rejuvenation for present and future generations.

Each participant in the Gita Walk will represent a verse from the sacred text Bhagavad Gita As it Is, and in this way make a contribution to this unique project.

The Shree Krishna Haveli is the culmination of decades of struggle and sacrifice made by the community to secure their right to worship Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda.

The aim of the organisers is to give all participants the opportunity to support the project by raising as many funds as they can, whilst also getting fit and having a devotional experience. They are hoping to raise £500,000 from this particular project.

Everyone is invited to support the Gita Walk and invest in the cultural and spiritual upliftment of society. Come walk Krishna’s talk; raise some funds to support this unique project!

For more information see www.krishnatemple.com.

14 COMMUNITY

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JOURNALIST, MARKETING PERSONNEL WANTED Ever since its inception, Asian Voice has been on a mission to serve the community; Stand tall as the community's voice, and seek the truth, always seek the truth. With a 46 year old history, our paper has witnessed several significant incidents across the world, all of which have in one way or another, shaped the current global juxtaposition. A common name in Asian household in UK and Europe, we are forever indebted to our diverse subscription base of 25,000.

Despite the field of journalism going through a monumental change of generation, and print media facing justified insecurities, it is the strength and the support of readers, that has helped us map the long journey. Which is why, the current tense phase of mass communication and journalism has only boosted our resolve to deliver and expand. With the pressure of pushing print media into obscurity, we have only learned to push back, and have put our entire energy into releasing special issues, magazines, and leaflets on topics that would keep our readers interested.

Asian Voice serves an important purpose of maintaining relations between India and the UK, and the diaspora. Which is why, we take utmost care in making sure we rightfully represent both sides. With a

panache for fairness, our company has moved forward for the last four and a half decades, undeterred.

With a strong going, we are also open for career opportunities to all those interested.

With colleagues in the company working for as many as 30, 35 years, a result of not only the financial aspect of life, but a genuine interest in serving the community, our newsweeklies have built a strong bond with the Asian diaspora. If you too show a similar empathy towards the society, and wish to give back to the community, and pursue mainstream journalism, apply today. People with work experience in the field are appreciated, however, vacancies are also open for candidates with no experience. Our dedicated teams in media and marketing are fully equipped to train freshers.

We are looking for committed journalists and reporters, and sales and marketing personnel, with an excellent grasp on the English language, a keen eye for possible stories, presence of mind, and uncompromising editing skills. We urge all educated and capable individuals who have worked hard to be able to dip their toes in the magnificent field of the press, to send in their CV and a Covering Letter to our Customer Service Manager Ragini Nayak, at ragini.nayak@abplgroup.com.

Art Elements group hosts exhibition at Bhavans International painting exhibition by the Art Elements group, curated

by Dr. Supriya Dudhal, was inaugurated on Saturday, 25th August at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan. One of the key highlight was celebration of 70th birthday of NHS with the cake cutting by Dr. Subodh Kamble, renowned robotics surgeon.

Exhibition was inaugurated by Chairperson Bharulata Patel-Kamble, first woman in the world to drive solo through 32 countries in only 57 days, recipient of national honour by the Hon. President of India; Chief Guest John Carrigan, renowned British actor and martial artist, recipient of multiple

Lighting of Diya

Madani, honoured by Queen Elizebeth.

Dr. Supriya Dudhal, who has been in Limca Book of Records and India Book of Records, had successful solo exhibition

can get wider recognition at international level. In all 18 Artist participated across world out of which 9 artists from London, 8 artists from different parts of India and 1 artist from

Bristol to commemorate Indian reformer Raja Ram Mohun Roy, the man often referred to as the 'Father of Modern India' is buried in Bristol- his final resting place - an ornate grade 2 listed tomb at Arnos Vale Cemetery in the city, has recently been restored to its former glory.

His commemoration services will held this year there on Sunday, the 30th of September 2018 at 12 pm.

Roy is remembered in India particularly for founding the Brahmo-Samaj, the Hindu reform movement, and for his work in fighting for women’s rights, including an end to

Guests at the exhibition

sati, the practice of widowburning. In 1830 Roy travelled to the UK as an ambassador of the Mughal Empire to ensure that Lord

William Bentinck’s Bengal Sati Regulation, 1829 banning the practice of Sati was not overturned.

He died at Bristol in 1833.

Journalist Required Let your words be your voice

Asian Voice, UK’s Leading English Asian newsweekly is looking for enthusias!c and commi"ed journalists. ABPL Group, publishers of Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar is serving the Asian Community residing in UK over 46 years. We seek talents who can provide high end and readers relevant contents for our newsweeklies and special magazines.

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fighting spirit awards; Special Guest Ramesh Srivastava Ex-Mayor for Rubgy; Satya Minhas, Chairman for Metropolitan Police Hindu Association; Varsha Mistry, Metropolitan Police Forensic department and Ranjula

in the end of May 2018 at The Nehru Centre, London, and then solo exhibition in June 2018 in France. She then decided to do a group show for artists across different cultures and different countries, to give them opportunity and platform to showcase talents so they

Malaysia.

Exhibition was open to all people for exploring art and interacting with artists for all 3 days. It also included workshops and poster competitions and winners were awarded by great painter Sunita Khedekar, a senior artist from London, UK.

Festival of Natural Fibres Textiles can sadly be a force for destruction, as we are witnessing today. Statistics, presented by Ellen MacArthur Foundation, show that if the present trend continues, the textile industry will add 22 million tons of microfibres to the ocean, will have a 26% share of the carbon budget and consume 300 million tons of oil by 2050. If we act now – this can change – textile can become a force for good. Nature has the answers – we just need to listen to them.

An amazing array of fibres and dyes – and ways of using them for fabric in less harmful ways. Good for the environment, great for the global community of artisans and friendly for your skin. The Festival of Natural Fibres is encouraging a gentle call to action: inform yourself, socialise, organise, collaborate and experience.

Learn about natural fibres, fabrics and ethical living, network, experience a new craft and discover traditional processes.

The Festival of Natural Fibres takes place at Craft Central, a stunning venue for events and craft studios on the Isle of Dogs, London.

The festival is being organised by the Khadi Initiative and facilitated by Freeweaver SAORI Studio.

An exhibition will be on display between 5th and 9th of September, 2018. It features a photo essay depicting the history, philosophy and benefits of khadi, India’s heritage fabric - the hand spun and hand woven fabric used effectively by Gandhi for resistance to colonial economic power. The exhibition gives a glimpse of how khadi and handwoven are made and highlights of Gandhi’s visit to England in 1931 to show solidarity with the textile workers of Lancashire.

The main event is on the 8th September and will feature ethical stalls, talks and panel discussions with industry professionals and craft demos and workshops.

The talks and panel discussions will also be led

by industry professionals.

Speakers include Christa Suter, the CEO of bioRe Foundation, set up by Remei AG, a sustainable fashion company based in Switzerland as a part of its quest for a sustainable supply chain.

The foundation supports organic cotton farmers in India and Tanzania.

Kapil Shah of Jatan Trust and Shailini Seth Amin, of Moral Fibre Fabrics will be attending the event. Kapil Shah has been a crusader for organic farming and promoter of ‘science with ecological and social concerns’ for over 30 years and plays an important policy making role for developing viable alternatives to the use of GM seeds. Shailini has made significant contributions towards developing viable models for low carbon, low water use technologies for textile production. Her company supplies khadi to 22 countries globally. Her clients include, an Oscar winning costume designer, Jacqueline Durran.

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LENDER FUNDING CIRCLE PLANS £2BN FLOTATION

Chaand Nagpaul Chairman of British Medical Association Talks on Healthcare, Brexit and the Unique Contribution of GPs Sunetra Senior

L to R: Founders Samir Desai, James Meekings and Andrew Mullinger

Three university friends are in line for a combined windfall of £70m after revealing plans for a £2bn float of Funding Circle, the British peer-to-peer lending business they founded eight years ago.

Funding Circle, which allows small firms to tap into a pool of money provided by thousands of investors, aims to raise £300m in a stock market float valuing the company at up to £1.95bn.

They have already secured backing from Heartland, the investment vehicle of the Danish multibillionaire Anders Holch Povlsen, who is the largest shareholder in the online retailer Asos. Povlsen, also one of the UK’s largest landowners thanks to successive purchases of sprawling Scottish estates, has pledged to take a 10% stake.

The chief executive, Samir Desai, said he and his two cofounders, who met at Oxford University, were inspired by tough lending conditions amid the credit crunch. “In 2008 we were seeing small businesses struggling to get access to finance,” said Desai, whose 7.6% stake is worth up to £125m.

“It’s a small part of what banks do, but actually quite a big thing for society. We wanted to bring together disaffected parties and get a better deal for all.”

The company offers loans of up to £1m to firms that want to raise capital quickly or have been turned down by a bank. Its model, which relies on sophisticated data analytics, has resulted in the issuance of £5bn of loans since 2010 by matching 50,000 businesses directly with 80,000 investors.

UK MALE SUICIDE RATE HITS RECORD LOW The UK’s male suicide rate is at its lowest level on record, official figures show. A total of 5,821 suicides were registered last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, down from 5,965 in 2016. Of those, 4,382 were male suicides, at a rate of 15.5 deaths per 100,000 men – the lowest since data was first recorded in 1981.

The charity Samaritans said efforts to reduce stigma around men’s mental health may have contributed to the decline, but warned that males are still three times more likely to die from suicide than females.

Across the UK, the suicide rate in 2017 was 10.1 deaths per 100,000 people, one of the lowest observed on record, the ONS said. Some 1,439 female suicides were recorded and made up around 25% of the total in the UK, compared to 75% who were male.

Ruth Sutherland, Samaritans’ chief executive, said: ‘It’s encouraging to see the reduction in male suicide. We believe that the focus of suicide prevention in recent years to tackle the higher rates in men has contributed to this. ‘ Added to this, reducing stigma around men’s mental health and encouraging men to open up and ask for help when they are struggling has been beneficial.

But one death by suicide is still one too many. ‘Suicide is complex and it’s a problem of inequality. ‘It affects the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society, male and female, disproportionately. So, this is an urgent public health issue, not simply a health or mental health one.’

The highest UK suicide rate is among men aged 45 to 49 years old, at 24.8 deaths per 100,000 last year. The highest rate in women was among those aged 50 to 54 years old, at 6.8 deaths per 100,000. Scotland had the highest suicide rate recorded in Great Britain, with 13.9 deaths per 100,000 people, while England had the lowest at 9.2 per 100,000.

The figures cover all deaths from intentional self-harm for people over the age of 10 and deaths where the intent was undetermined for those aged over 15 years old.

r Chaand Nagpaul (CBE), is the first non-white Chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA). He is also a prominent GP, specialising in Family Medicine, and known nationally. He has spoken extensively on the NHS and represented doctors across various high-profile media and with frequent television appearances and lobbied government policy to ensure the highest healthcare standards.

Appointed to the most prestigious of representative healthcare posts in 2017 – speaking on behalf of 160,000 doctors across Britain, from junior positions to GPs, hospital doctors, academics and those in highly qualified senior roles– Chaand has already created a noteworthy impact. Earlier this year, his campaigning resulted in the lifting of then Home Secretary Amber Rudd’s immigration cap on overseas doctors from outside of the EU. “This was absurd,” he commented, “not least because at a time when the NHS is struggling with severe doctor shortages it is illogical to prevent overseas doctors who had been offered jobs, “proving themselves best for the position”, from working in the UK. The government must make it easier for overseas doctors to work in the UK, not simply because the NHS needs them but also to attract high calibre doctors for training and research. If these skilled individuals perceive feeling unwelcome, they will likely choose to work in other parts of the world, including America, Australasia, and Canada. I want the BMA to influence the government to strengthen the NHS’s global reputation to attract the best doctors. The BMA is working to ensure overseas doctors coming to the UK receive a wide-ranging package of support, supporting them through processes such as induction, the logistics of finance and registering, and getting settled into employment. We are also looking to introduce mentoring programmes.”

D

of thousands more doctors and hospital beds compared to the NHS. Every doctor wants to go into work believing they can do their best, but the system is being stretched. For example, GPs are being forced into 10 min appointments for each patient with 9 in 10 GPs feeling they don’t have the time to care.”

Chaand went on to emphasise that the impending Brexit will severely aggravate matters: “It is highly likely to worsen our current medical workforce pressures, with the probability of current EU doctors leaving the UK, and fewer European doctors filling their posts. This will add pressure to all current NHS staff.” When asked about the emerging hypocrisy of a government that claims that the NHS is failing while touting privatisation as an alternative, Chaand stated: “This is politically disingenuous, and dissolving the NHS would be a disaster. The Commonwealth Fund named the NHS the most cost-effective and fairest health service globally because money is not wasted on administration nor diverted into private prof-

its, and crucially it provides free care at the point of access, regardless of ability to pay.” The proposed introduction of privatisation could also undermine trust between patient and doctor: “the patient would not know whether actions were based on financial motives - trust is fundamental to the doctorpatient relationship and a central value of the NHS.” Chaand also talked of the “blame A culture in the NHS larger rather than a learning *** culture” when it proportion of Chaand demonstrates comes to improving Asian doctors are his core humanitarian quality and safety. not awarded hospital “Doctors and NHS value for the NHS to deliver safe healthconsultant positions. staff are often tarcare. Indeed, the role geted for making I plan to target this of the BMA is not just mistakes rather than to represent doctors, also focussing on the effectively in the but “to allow them to do system that is adding coming year. their jobs properly to unfair pressures from maximise care for patients being understaffed and and the public’s health”. We underfunded.

This was must speak out if that vital service is brought into sharp focus in the charge being undermined.” Here, Chaand of manslaughter against Dr Hadiza states another one of his accomplishBawa-Garba, who worked on a day ments: the successful challenge to when her hospital was severely shortMay’s austerity measures. “I was staffed and with IT failures. Excessive relieved to hear that the PM plans to target driven and financial performance end cuts to funding, promising a future management are also counterproduc3.4% annual increase. However, this is tive when it comes to caring for the still less than the 4% quoted by indepopulation and fostering a thriving pendent think tanks” as the bare miniworkforce.” Chaand has received mum required for the NHS. “The truth numerous national awards for his senis that doctors are struggling to provide sitive and expert approach. In 2013 he the level of care that the population was voted as the most powerful GP in needs. Hospital beds, staff and medical the UK by Pulse Magazine, he is named equipment and facilities are being gutin the Sunday Times top 500 list of ted by austerity. Other nations such as most influential people in the UK, and Germany and France spend £20-30 bilin 2015 he received the Queens honour lion more than the UK – and have tens of CBE for his services to primary care.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul

You are one of the biggest spokespeople for reforming the NHS. What more are you planning to do regarding the tackling of unhealthy culture?

A priority is addressing racial inequality. We’ve come a long way, obviously by example of my own position, but BME doctors are still significantly underrepresented. The problems we’ve uncovered start in medical school. It’s the phenomenon of differential attainment. UK medical students and junior doctors who are Asian are achieving lower exam pass rates than their white counterparts though this is not linked to ability.

We know that Asians are culturally hard-working, highly capable and industrious. Rather, as backed by a study from Dr Catherine Wolf at UCL, lack of attainment amongst BME doctors is due to bias in the environment, however unconscious. This continues in the acquirement of senior posts and interferes with career progression. A larger proportion of Asian doctors are not awarded hospital consultant positions. I plan to target this effectively in the coming year.

What drew you to medicine and social healthcare?

I was always drawn to the sciences; I wanted to apply that academic knowledge to help alleviate the pain and suffering of people. Initially, I wanted to become a hospital doctor - a physician – but what really changed my stance was when as part of my training as a medical student I spent time in an inner-city London GP practice. I was in awe of the spectrum of medical conditions a GP l could diagnose and treat- from newborn babies or children with asthma to older patients with heart failure to those who had a mental health condition. There is a special trust between patient and doctor – with people divulging secrets they wouldn’t even tell their loved ones. As a GP myself in the same practice for 29 years, I have had the pleasure of continuity of care: seeing whole families over decades and watching babies grow into adults who then have children themselves. You are not just treating a patient, but a whole person, their family and a local community.

W: https://www.bma.org.uk/ BMA - Home www.bma.org.uk The home page for the british medical association, the trade union and professional association for doctors and medical students in the UK.

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Thousands gather in Watford for 'biggest Janmashtami festival outside of India’

People dressed as Krishna, Radha and cows pose at Bhaktivedanta Manor, near Watford, to launch the Ahimsa Dairy Foundation, which sells milk from cows that will be allowed to live out their natural lives once their milking days are over

tival gatherings outside of Speaking to the Watford Thousands of brightly dressed India. Late Beatle, George Observer, Srutidharma Das, families descended on Harrison donated the estate Temple President of Watford on Sunday for the which holds the event to The Bhaktivedanta Manor said: huge Hindu festival, Hare Krishna Movement.

'The manor was gifted to us by Janmashtami. The annual celGeorge Harrison in ebration marks the birth of Krishna, the 1973 and it carries on eighth avatar of Vishnu, his legacy of sharing and brings Hindus ancient wisdom and from around the world cultural richness of the together. east. The festival mesMusic and prayer sage is simple and uniwere central to the versal, through love we event held at connect, we belong and Bhaktivedanta Manor we transcend. The fesHare Krishna Temple tival promotes the importance of love and in Patchetts Green on community in what is the outskirts of Bushey.

With tens of thousands A man dressed as the Hindu god Lord Krishna, poses today a very diverse society and is only made attending every year, it is during the Janmashtami Festival at Bhaktivedanta possible with the help of believed the be the one Manor as thousands joined together for one of the 1,500 volunteers.' of the largest Hindu fes- most important events in the Hindu calendar

Devotees doing darshan of the murtis

Women dressed in bright colours as they enjoyed festivities in Watford over the weekend

Visitors feed the cows

Musicians also played for the large crowds. Highlights of this year's festival, included family events such as the New Gokul Farm, a walk through the recreation of a Vrindavan forest, a place where Krishna played as a young boy

ASIAN ACHIEVERS

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The people’s choice awards Nitin Ganatra

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Central London 14th Sept. 2018 VENUE

He Came, Spoke, and Exposed Himself RG (Rahul Gandhi), president of Indian National Congress recently visited Germany and London for four days. He addressed several gatherings, all carefully handpicked to sing songs in his praise to his small sprinkling of listeners.

As was expected from the young Gandhi, right from the minute he said in first word in his visit to London, he began attacking the Indian government, and Rahul Gandhi sometimes even Prime Minister Narendra Modi Indians, or the Indian were leaders of the Congress personally. It should be diaspora abroad. During the party. However no, he pointed out that there were US election of 2016, as well instead went on blaming no facts to substantiate his in UK in 2015, such RSS at every count, even allegations or more campaign consultants comparing it with the importantly, he had no encouraged a technique of Muslim Brotherhood. How alternative policies to those low can you stoop?

“Attack is the best defence”. he criticised with such relish.

The foul-mouthed Donald Congress party aspires to President of a party that Trump triumphed and here, do better in the election next could at some stage in the Mrs May lost her majority in year. Nothing wrong with it. future be the ruling party of the Parliament.

But they should have an India, Rahul completely The main butt of RG's appropriate strategy and fact disregarded his position as attacks was the alleged of the matter is, Rahul the Opposition leader. The corruption in the Rafael Gandhi has none. His expert convention of a leader of a deal. The whole issue is very advisors should have also major political organisation complicated and only time realised that if Congress dictates, that when they will prove that it is very party openly wishes to address gatherings abroad, counter-productive or consolidate their traditional the refrain from criticising, stupid to compare carrots votebank, it will obviously or say OPENLY criticising with cucumbers. (Why and inevitably bring the vast the ruling party. It is always remind Bofors scam and Hindu majority in India to preferred to use a very Congress?)

Gandhi some conclusion. He was measured tone in doing perhaps told to keep on BUSYBODY so. While one may point slinging mud, hoping out that the BJP that some will stick.

(Against Hate & Hypocrisy) Well, leadership has also made it is not as simple that error to a certain as that. People who sling extent, it definitely does not repeatedly talked about mud at others, seldom give RG license to keep on realise that they unavoidably Dalits, tribals, minorities senselessly attacking his splash some at themselves (Muslims, Christians) and opponents willy nilly on too. other deprived classes. This every issue at home.

There are two other unsubstantiated attacks at The simple principle is, important questions. every meeting would even if you criticise your Perhaps RG or his advisors naturally be least effective opponents, the best way is to should consider very over time. concede what is fair, carefully. One, why British Sikhs too are a big and reasonable or not throw media, especially some well visible minority in India. In allegations that are known as critic of PM Modi one of the gatherings, when completely without any or the BJP completely asked about the Congress foundation. Such a give and refrained from reporting on role in the butchery of 3000 take would have made the or more Sikhs in Delhi on Rahul's speeches or visit? communication more October 31, the day former Second, Why Rahul Gandhi meaningful and prime minister Indira was not able to meet any advantageous to the leader Gandhi was assassinated by important MPs let alone of a party with a long and ministers or party leaders of her two Sikh bodyguards. honourable history like the government party here?

Rahul perhaps could have Indian National Congress.

It is my opinion, that they said that it was a very tragic Perhaps his strategy is based might have felt RG's future development, and he regrets on some campaign in politics is very bleak. They the death of so many people, consultants from Australia, may have also been advised and the Congress party itself US, and somewhere abroad,

by India-based British was not the main culprit. He who have failed to diplomats, or journalists not could have conceded that understand the psyche of the to give too much importance yes, the main four accused

to him. If these bigshots truly felt that RG is a man with mettle, they would have flocked in voluntarily, without any persuasion, to meet and exchange ideas with him.

I was most concerned about the Conservative Friends of India, which is an organisation supported by the governing party, had organised a meeting for Rahul. Invitations were issued and somehow it was hijacked to another venue in the Parliament at the eleventh hour. Two MPs from the Labour Party were in attendance, with no participation from Conservative Party. The real strange part was while Rahul Gandhi was about to go to the meeting in the grand committee room, he was persuaded by a Labour MP, a member of Shadow Cabinet and Anand Sharma, to walk 10 minutes away to another venue to meet with some members of the Shadow Cabinet. Why delay a properly arranged meeting by over an hour? The planning of RG's trip uncannily resembled his political strategy. There was confusion at every level.

My attention had also been drawn to a report by Ashish Ray, president of the Indian Journalists Association, Europe; Published in the National Herald, a Congress partyowned daily in India, on August 31. Obviously, it was very positive report that gave absurdly glowing tribute to the activities of RG. It also highlighted a public meeting in Ruislip, which was, to say the least, a tamasha with several accredited British journalists claiming that it was completely a shamble.

In that report, Asian Voice found a proud mention without it's name, with the author only describing it as “the voice of Modi.”

It is rather regrettable that a reporter of the caliber of Ashish Ray had failed to see a fair and ethical reporting of RG's visit before and after his addresses.

Asian Achievers Awards combines cachet and charity under one glamorous roof As countdown to the 18th Asian Achievers Awards begins, ABPL Group can barely contain its excitement to bring to you the best of British Asian achievers yet.

The prestigious AAA event will celebrate the multifaceted contributions by individuals who have not only created a niche in their field, but also brought the Asian diaspora into the limelight. Organised by Asian diaspora publications Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, the ceremony will hosted at the Grosvenor House, London.

Similar to each year, AAA has in this edition too chosen a Charity Partner, for which it will help raise funds. Ever since the beginning, the event has helped several charities raise millions of pounds. This year's chosen charity organisation is Oracle Cancer Trust, UK's leading charity solely dedicated to funding research into head and neck cancer. The organisation has made significant breakthroughs with the ICR in discovering smarter and kinder treatments for patients. It funds early-stage studies that show great promise of being translated into full clinical trials. Oracle funds a series of studied including a thyroid cancer research group, immuno and virus therapies, imaging, combination drug therapies, and developing treatment algorithms for the new MR Linac imaging machine based at The Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton.

On being chosen as Charity of the Year, Oracle said, “We are honoured to be chosen as Charity of the Year for the 18th Asian Achievers Awards. Oracle Cancer Trust is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to researching newer and kinder treatments for head and neck cancer and in the last ten years have

invested over £5m in funding pioneering research programmes. Head and neck cancer is the most common form of cancer in India and the sixth most common in the world current treatments can have lifelong and damaging side-effects.

With the support of the Asian Achievers Awards we want to raise awareness about the devastating effects of the disease and help make this vital and much-needed research possible.

Our ambition, with your help, is to fund an additional £200,000 of scientific research in 2018.”

ABPL Group is grateful for a significant team of sponsors who are determined just as we are, to make the event one to remember.

Major sponsors include organisations like EY, Axiom Stone, Starling Bank, DDO Solicitors, Sow & Reap, SBI UK, Edwardian Hotels, Regent Group, and others.

Asian Achievers Awards also finds pride to find Colors TV as its Media Partner.

Different categories of awards include the Uniformed and Civil Services, Entrepreneur of the Year, Woman of the Year, Professional of the Year, Media Arts & Culture, Business Person of the Year, Sports Personality of the Year, and Community Services. Each year, we invite not only our subscribers and readers, but also the wider community to nominate achievers for various categories of the award. Four shortlisted candidates have been announced in each category, and the winners shall be announced on the DDay. Nominee submissions have been decided by an independent panel of judges comprising of industry experts, professionals, journalists, academics, and members of Parliament.

Join us at the 18th Asian Achievers Awards

Call and book your place NOW! 020 7749 4085 PR Partner

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Thousands gather in Watford for 'biggest Janmashtami festival outside of India’

People dressed as Krishna, Radha and cows pose at Bhaktivedanta Manor, near Watford, to launch the Ahimsa Dairy Foundation, which sells milk from cows that will be allowed to live out their natural lives once their milking days are over

tival gatherings outside of Speaking to the Watford Thousands of brightly dressed India. Late Beatle, George Observer, Srutidharma Das, families descended on Harrison donated the estate Temple President of Watford on Sunday for the which holds the event to The Bhaktivedanta Manor said: huge Hindu festival, Hare Krishna Movement.

'The manor was gifted to us by Janmashtami. The annual celGeorge Harrison in ebration marks the birth of Krishna, the 1973 and it carries on eighth avatar of Vishnu, his legacy of sharing and brings Hindus ancient wisdom and from around the world cultural richness of the together. east. The festival mesMusic and prayer sage is simple and uniwere central to the versal, through love we event held at connect, we belong and Bhaktivedanta Manor we transcend. The fesHare Krishna Temple tival promotes the importance of love and in Patchetts Green on community in what is the outskirts of Bushey.

With tens of thousands A man dressed as the Hindu god Lord Krishna, poses today a very diverse society and is only made attending every year, it is during the Janmashtami Festival at Bhaktivedanta possible with the help of believed the be the one Manor as thousands joined together for one of the 1,500 volunteers.' of the largest Hindu fes- most important events in the Hindu calendar

Devotees doing darshan of the murtis

Women dressed in bright colours as they enjoyed festivities in Watford over the weekend

Visitors feed the cows

Musicians also played for the large crowds. Highlights of this year's festival, included family events such as the New Gokul Farm, a walk through the recreation of a Vrindavan forest, a place where Krishna played as a young boy

ASIAN ACHIEVERS

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The people’s choice awards Nitin Ganatra

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Central London 14th Sept. 2018 VENUE

He Came, Spoke, and Exposed Himself RG (Rahul Gandhi), president of Indian National Congress recently visited Germany and London for four days. He addressed several gatherings, all carefully handpicked to sing songs in his praise to his small sprinkling of listeners.

As was expected from the young Gandhi, right from the minute he said in first word in his visit to London, he began attacking the Indian government, and Rahul Gandhi sometimes even Prime Minister Narendra Modi Indians, or the Indian were leaders of the Congress personally. It should be diaspora abroad. During the party. However no, he pointed out that there were US election of 2016, as well instead went on blaming no facts to substantiate his in UK in 2015, such RSS at every count, even allegations or more campaign consultants comparing it with the importantly, he had no encouraged a technique of Muslim Brotherhood. How alternative policies to those low can you stoop?

“Attack is the best defence”. he criticised with such relish.

The foul-mouthed Donald Congress party aspires to President of a party that Trump triumphed and here, do better in the election next could at some stage in the Mrs May lost her majority in year. Nothing wrong with it. future be the ruling party of the Parliament.

But they should have an India, Rahul completely The main butt of RG's appropriate strategy and fact disregarded his position as attacks was the alleged of the matter is, Rahul the Opposition leader. The corruption in the Rafael Gandhi has none. His expert convention of a leader of a deal. The whole issue is very advisors should have also major political organisation complicated and only time realised that if Congress dictates, that when they will prove that it is very party openly wishes to address gatherings abroad, counter-productive or consolidate their traditional the refrain from criticising, stupid to compare carrots votebank, it will obviously or say OPENLY criticising with cucumbers. (Why and inevitably bring the vast the ruling party. It is always remind Bofors scam and Hindu majority in India to preferred to use a very Congress?)

Gandhi some conclusion. He was measured tone in doing perhaps told to keep on BUSYBODY so. While one may point slinging mud, hoping out that the BJP that some will stick.

(Against Hate & Hypocrisy) Well, leadership has also made it is not as simple that error to a certain as that. People who sling extent, it definitely does not repeatedly talked about mud at others, seldom give RG license to keep on realise that they unavoidably Dalits, tribals, minorities senselessly attacking his splash some at themselves (Muslims, Christians) and opponents willy nilly on too. other deprived classes. This every issue at home.

There are two other unsubstantiated attacks at The simple principle is, important questions. every meeting would even if you criticise your Perhaps RG or his advisors naturally be least effective opponents, the best way is to should consider very over time. concede what is fair, carefully. One, why British Sikhs too are a big and reasonable or not throw media, especially some well visible minority in India. In allegations that are known as critic of PM Modi one of the gatherings, when completely without any or the BJP completely asked about the Congress foundation. Such a give and refrained from reporting on role in the butchery of 3000 take would have made the or more Sikhs in Delhi on Rahul's speeches or visit? communication more October 31, the day former Second, Why Rahul Gandhi meaningful and prime minister Indira was not able to meet any advantageous to the leader Gandhi was assassinated by important MPs let alone of a party with a long and ministers or party leaders of her two Sikh bodyguards. honourable history like the government party here?

Rahul perhaps could have Indian National Congress.

It is my opinion, that they said that it was a very tragic Perhaps his strategy is based might have felt RG's future development, and he regrets on some campaign in politics is very bleak. They the death of so many people, consultants from Australia, may have also been advised and the Congress party itself US, and somewhere abroad,

by India-based British was not the main culprit. He who have failed to diplomats, or journalists not could have conceded that understand the psyche of the to give too much importance yes, the main four accused

to him. If these bigshots truly felt that RG is a man with mettle, they would have flocked in voluntarily, without any persuasion, to meet and exchange ideas with him.

I was most concerned about the Conservative Friends of India, which is an organisation supported by the governing party, had organised a meeting for Rahul. Invitations were issued and somehow it was hijacked to another venue in the Parliament at the eleventh hour. Two MPs from the Labour Party were in attendance, with no participation from Conservative Party. The real strange part was while Rahul Gandhi was about to go to the meeting in the grand committee room, he was persuaded by a Labour MP, a member of Shadow Cabinet and Anand Sharma, to walk 10 minutes away to another venue to meet with some members of the Shadow Cabinet. Why delay a properly arranged meeting by over an hour? The planning of RG's trip uncannily resembled his political strategy. There was confusion at every level.

My attention had also been drawn to a report by Ashish Ray, president of the Indian Journalists Association, Europe; Published in the National Herald, a Congress partyowned daily in India, on August 31. Obviously, it was very positive report that gave absurdly glowing tribute to the activities of RG. It also highlighted a public meeting in Ruislip, which was, to say the least, a tamasha with several accredited British journalists claiming that it was completely a shamble.

In that report, Asian Voice found a proud mention without it's name, with the author only describing it as “the voice of Modi.”

It is rather regrettable that a reporter of the caliber of Ashish Ray had failed to see a fair and ethical reporting of RG's visit before and after his addresses.

Asian Achievers Awards combines cachet and charity under one glamorous roof As countdown to the 18th Asian Achievers Awards begins, ABPL Group can barely contain its excitement to bring to you the best of British Asian achievers yet.

The prestigious AAA event will celebrate the multifaceted contributions by individuals who have not only created a niche in their field, but also brought the Asian diaspora into the limelight. Organised by Asian diaspora publications Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, the ceremony will hosted at the Grosvenor House, London.

Similar to each year, AAA has in this edition too chosen a Charity Partner, for which it will help raise funds. Ever since the beginning, the event has helped several charities raise millions of pounds. This year's chosen charity organisation is Oracle Cancer Trust, UK's leading charity solely dedicated to funding research into head and neck cancer. The organisation has made significant breakthroughs with the ICR in discovering smarter and kinder treatments for patients. It funds early-stage studies that show great promise of being translated into full clinical trials. Oracle funds a series of studied including a thyroid cancer research group, immuno and virus therapies, imaging, combination drug therapies, and developing treatment algorithms for the new MR Linac imaging machine based at The Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton.

On being chosen as Charity of the Year, Oracle said, “We are honoured to be chosen as Charity of the Year for the 18th Asian Achievers Awards. Oracle Cancer Trust is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to researching newer and kinder treatments for head and neck cancer and in the last ten years have

invested over £5m in funding pioneering research programmes. Head and neck cancer is the most common form of cancer in India and the sixth most common in the world current treatments can have lifelong and damaging side-effects.

With the support of the Asian Achievers Awards we want to raise awareness about the devastating effects of the disease and help make this vital and much-needed research possible.

Our ambition, with your help, is to fund an additional £200,000 of scientific research in 2018.”

ABPL Group is grateful for a significant team of sponsors who are determined just as we are, to make the event one to remember.

Major sponsors include organisations like EY, Axiom Stone, Starling Bank, DDO Solicitors, Sow & Reap, SBI UK, Edwardian Hotels, Regent Group, and others.

Asian Achievers Awards also finds pride to find Colors TV as its Media Partner.

Different categories of awards include the Uniformed and Civil Services, Entrepreneur of the Year, Woman of the Year, Professional of the Year, Media Arts & Culture, Business Person of the Year, Sports Personality of the Year, and Community Services. Each year, we invite not only our subscribers and readers, but also the wider community to nominate achievers for various categories of the award. Four shortlisted candidates have been announced in each category, and the winners shall be announced on the DDay. Nominee submissions have been decided by an independent panel of judges comprising of industry experts, professionals, journalists, academics, and members of Parliament.

Join us at the 18th Asian Achievers Awards

Call and book your place NOW! 020 7749 4085 PR Partner

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18 FINANCE - UK

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8 - 14 September 2018

Consultant Editor Financial Voice Alpesh Patel Dear Financial Voice Reader, I love looking for stocks I never considered before and companies I rarely examine to see how well they are doing.

Take Hikma, up over 130% in 6 months or Ocado – doubled in the same timeframe. For most people the problem is one of not knowing where to start.

You should look at a UK regulated broker by the FCA if you are a beginner. Ones such as Hargreaves Lansdown are very easy to use. (I have no relationship with them). They explain things well. There are others such as Barclays Stockbrokers.

You should not look at spreadbetting if a novice. You should look at investing in a stock to hold for a long time.

Today I bought more Apple stock. It’s not too late if a product is great – as the world’s richest investor, Warren Buffett said, Apple’s phone are selling at a cheap price because look at the utility people get from them. It’s that simple clear insight that is all you need sometimes. Not some clever secret.

I also love Amazon. For a similar reason – everything is being sold on it. When people ask ‘is it too expensive’, I say I am not worried when you think how much and how many are still not on it yet.

Back to UK stocks you can on such websites look at the price chart over a number of years and look at the trend.

Does it keep rising? That does not mean it will always be the case. But at least look at the share price.

I don’t buy a long term investment based on single deals.

I want a company which just looks like always getting things right. Having that magic sauce to give people what they want.

As I write, Amazon’s value is over a trillion dollars. I first discovered Amazon in 1995 when it first launched. It became a public company a couple of years later.

I am not saying every company will be an Amazon, but that’s the goal and the quality. I don’t want to hold a stock where I am thinking ‘will they work it out?’

Have you used a company or service where you thought ‘wow’? Is that something which you could buy into? Maybe it was Cineworld (its up 30% in the past 6 months). Of course it is harder when it’s a company whose background you do not know about or its not something you yourself use – such as Premier Oil (up 50% in 6 months).

So what about those? I am not a fan of reading investment magazines. I am a fan of price trends over the long term and an attitude which says, the company has to prove to me why it is the best place for my money.

And if in doubt, diversify. By the way over the past five years, Apple and Microsoft have exactly the same return – 240% return.

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

Coca-Cola buys UK coffee brand Costa

In a major move, Coca Cola is all set to enter the coffee and retail outlets industry with a £3.9 billion purchase of UK chain Costa. The biggest acquisition in the last eight years of the soda pioneer will put it directly in the middle of the competitive market. After Whitbread Plc announced its plans to spin off the business in April, Coca Cola went right in to claim on a business with 3,800 stores in 32 countries and a foothold in China.

Whitbread CEO Alison Brittaion highlighted the soft-drink company's desire to close the deal, and said the two sides signed just minutes before the announcement after Coke first approached the other party in June. “It's been a very fast transaction,” she said.

Whitbread itself has cheered on the deal, as shares soared the most in almost two decades, even as Coke shares were muted. Coca Cola CEO James Quincey said the Costa transaction is a “serious and significant investment” in hot beverages.

The Future of Banking: Branchless As banks close their high street doors, opportunities for digital banking are opening up and providing fast, free and convenient service. Almost 800 bank branches closed last year, according to Reuters.

For customers this can be frustrating, especially if they need to visit a branch to access a certain service and have to travel miles to get there. The closures also mean longer queues at open branches leading to further delays.

A new wave of digital banks are seeking to address the pain points of traditional banking by enabling customers to do all their everyday banking without ever needing to visit a branch. Starling Bank, a UK mobileonly bank, offers personal, joint and business current accounts, all covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Whether it’s personal or business banking, everything can be done from the Starling banking app.

Starling customers can manage all their payments, including setting up payees and organising standing orders all from the app. Further features to ease money management include realtime notifications for money coming in

and going out, a breakdown of spending into categories such as groceries or travel, and the ability to lock the Mastercard debit card from the app if lost or stolen.

Starling is one of a generation of customer-centric Fintech - or financial technology - companies, covering everything from banking to mortgages and insurance to investments, that are disrupting the financial services industry. By giving people more control and better insights, they aim to remove some of the stress and anxiety often associated with money.

When it comes to digital banking, customer behaviour is already changing. Between 2012 and 2017, UK Finance reported a 26% drop in bank branch visits while use of banking apps has increased 356%. The increased popularity of banking apps can partly be accounted for by their improved capability. Initially apps simply allowed customers to check their balance and see their most recent transactions but the functionality has improved over time, as seen with the launch of the Starling banking app in May 2017. Across the UK, just over half of all banking app users use the app to pay bills, two thirds to transfer money to friends and over a quarter to set up standing orders.

Starling is providing the digital tools to make money management quick and straightforward. Mobile-only personal and business current accounts can be applied for in five minutes. Visit www.starlingbank.com.

UK house prices record biggest monthly fall in six years According to Nationwide, house prices in UK saw its biggest monthly fall for six years, lopping more than £2,200 off the typical price tag. The average property value fell by 0.5% or £73 a day – in August, the biggest month-onmonth decline since July 2012. In July, house prices increased by 0.7% month on month. The fall takes the annual rate of house price growth down to 2%, though this is still above the 1% increase that Nationwide is pencilling in for 2018 overall. The average house price is now £214,745.

The decline is likely to have been driven by falling prices in London, which is in the grip of a slowdown. Earlier this month, Office for National Statistics data showed prices in the capital were falling at their fastest annual rate since the depths of the financial crisis.

Nationwide’s chief economist, Robert Gardner, said that despite its slower pace, annual house price growth

remained within a fairly narrow range of about 2% to 3% over the past 12 months. This suggested there was little change in the balance between demand and supply in the market, he said.

“Looking further ahead, much will depend on how broader economic conditions evolve, especially in the labour market, but also with respect to interest rates,” Gardner said. He added

that subdued economic activity and pressure on household budgets were likely to continue to exert “a modest drag” on house price growth and market activity this year, though borrowing costs were likely to remain low.

Howard Archer, the chief economic adviser at EY Item Club, said the decline showed that increases in the months to August were “a false dawn for house prices”. “We suspect that any meaningful housing market upturn will remain elusive over the coming months,” he said. “The fundamentals for house buyers are likely to remain challenging, and they will not be helped by the Bank of England hiking interest rates.” Some estate agents said that while London prices might be in the doldrums, the outlook in parts of the north of England was more positive.

Anil Agarwal wins support for Vedanta Resources buyout Industry players have speculated Vedanta Resources’ Chairman Anil too that Agarwal, who holds almost Agarwal will take the London-listed 20 per cent of Anglo American, wants miner private on Oct. 1, his family trust said, a step seen by some in the industry as a prelude to a potentially broader deal with bigger miner Anglo American.

The Volcan Investments trust, which held about two thirds of Vedanta’s London-listed arm before it announced a roughly $1 billion buyout offer in July, said holders of 26 per cent of shares had agreed to sell.

Volcan now holds or has received acceptances for 92.31 per cent of Vedanta's shares, it said, adding the offer would remain open for acceptances Anil Agarwal from shareholders until some form of tie-up with the global further notice. Agarwal has said he miner, and they see the move on wanted to buy out the London listing, Vedanta Resources as a step to which is dwarfed by Vedanta’s Indian creating a more sellable group. Indian operation, to simplify the company’s newspaper reported in early July that structure. Analysts and fund Agarwal was seeking to merge managers have said the move could Vedanta with Anglo’s South African also reduce the scrutiny the company unit and Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan, has received as a result of leaks and formerly head of Johannesberg-listed fatalities.

AngloGold Ashanti has just taken over as CEO of Vedanta Resources.

Agarwal, who is Anglo American’s biggest shareholder through his family trust, has played down speculation he is seeking a tie-up with Anglo. However, he has indicated that he wants to grow Vedanta into a major diversified player. Volcan had been expected to face some shareholder resistance to the buyout.

Vedanta’s international operations are copper mines in Zambia and Vedanta Zinc, with operations in South Africa and Namibia. A tie-up with Anglo American would give the Indian firm access to diamonds, copper, platinum, coal, iron ore, nickel and manganese markets. The appointment of Venkat, who worked with AngloGold for 18 years and led it for five, follows a bounce in metals prices that has prompted Vedanta to expand zinc and aluminium output, bolstering a recovery from the commodities price slump that ended in 2016.

REAL ESTATE VOICE

INHERITING EXPERIENCE

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Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap London Property Investment

AsianVoiceNews

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8 - 14 September 2018

The property industry in the UK has no barriers to entry, and therefore, you can be an agent simply by owning a mobile phone.

And many do. This is in contrast to the US, where the buyer and the seller both have brokers; and the industry is highly regulated.

The commissions payable are typically 3% on either side, both from the buyer and seller.

we have. He wanted a commission of £200K. I mentioned to him that the top agents in central London don’t charge this amount, and asked him what the reasoning was for this level of fee? Apart from him claiming he has a buyer, he didn’t have a reason to give me.

Here, the most you typically pay is 2.5% if you’re a seller. Having an agent for a buyer is lesser known in the UK. Usually, they charge according to the rarity of the deal, the discount, and their ability to secure it.

Often, they do not even have the knowledge or expertise to execute a transaction. In many cases, it is not as simple as agreeing the deal. There will be issues which come out of the woodwork, whilst the deal is being transacted, which will need to be resolved.

Because there are no barriers to entry, sometimes you end up having the most ludicrous conversation with agents. There are those who try to load up the commission, with no underlying reason. They try to justify it by saying, for example, that there are many in the chain to get the deal done. One agent told me he has ten mouths to feed in the office!

These are the kind of justification given for the enhanced commission request.

Recently, I had one agent who claimed he had a buyer for a deal

It takes experience, which is born of having successes, and a few failures, to be able to identify deals, and know which ones are to be avoided.

By appointing someone to act for you in regards to purchasing a property, you inherit their experience, knowledge and flaws.

From identifying what is a deal today, in comparison to market values; and which areas are going

AGONY AGENT IS HERE TO HELP! Q: A member of my family wants to rent my BTL. Should I still use an agent?

A: When you rent your buy to let property to family members you will find yourself in an odd situation. On one hand, you have a well known tenant lined up.

On the other hand, you also have a customer that might take advantage of you. to grow strongly in the years to come; to being able to see through deals with issues.

It’s rare you get deals handed to you on a plate. Focusing on these, may well eclipse buying a deal just because it’s discounted on day one; especially if it’s a buy and hold deal. You may get a discount.

But if it doesn’t grow much over the next five years, you may have been better off buying something at market rate, in an area which is set to rise strongly.

CLEAN LIVING, CLEAN THINKING It is a miracle to behold. I look at the world and think that it is only exactly as it is because of trillions upon trillions of microdecisions made by billions upon billions of people over millennia. Every decision that has been made emanated from a thought. And where did those thoughts come from?

Consciousness. And as I look at the world, I see success and failure from the global level down to each and every person.

All results come from some kind of action, and actions come from thoughts. Thoughts, in turn, come from consciousness. And it is the clarity and cleanliness of our thoughts which, in part, governs our individual destiny.

Think of it like playing golf. Any expert golfer will tell you that most of the work of the golfer is done before s/he stands at the tee off; and that the pre-swing

BUY TO LET OPPORTUNITY

19

preparation is also crucial. The moment the club is raised behind the golfer, the fate of the ball is more or less set.

My experience is that the same goes for business. If my life practices are in order, then my consciousness is clean and wellordered, thus inspiring good thinking; and the actions and results follow suit.

Lady Luck, Serendipity and so forth, all play their role in determining the outcome.

Therefore, the upside of maintaining an excellent state of consciousness is that not only does it enable me to achieve more, but it also means that when life does not go according to my plans, I am better placed to deal with such uncertainty.

We all know that Providence,

Renting to people you know, can sometimes get a little awkward.

For example, a family member might expect to move in with no deposit. However, if you allow this, this will be your first wrong move! Yet, if you ask for it, and they translate this into you not trusting them, things can get hairy.

If your family member / friend is a bit short on the rent, but has just purchased a new TV, how will you raise this issue? Or, if circumstances change, and they can’t pay any of the rent, how will you face the issue of evicting them?

I would suggest, that it is best to use an agent, as this keeps your family / friends at arm’s length.

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8 - 14 September 2018

99.3% of demonetised notes returned to banks: RBI The Reserve Bank of India had indicated that around 99.3 per cent of banned Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes have returned to the banking system, showing that only a small percentage of currency was left out of the system after the Narendra Modi-led government's unprecedented note ban aimed at curbing black money and corruption. In its annual report for 2017-18, the RBI said that the exercise of counting the currency that was returned in the limited period window provided by the government to exchange or deposit the demonetised currency, is finally over.

Of the £154.1 billion worth Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes in circulation on November 8, 2016, notes worth £153.1 billion have been returned; just £1.07 billion of the junked currency did not return to the banking system. Following the note ban, old junked notes, called specified bank notes (SBNs), were allowed to be deposited in banks with unusual deposits coming under scrutiny.

The report said, “The humongous task of

processing and verification of specified bank notes was successfully achieved.”

The received SBNs were verified, counted, and processed in a sophisticated high speed currency verification and processing system (CVPS) for accuracy and genuineness and then shredded. RBI said the processing of SBNs has since been completed. “The total SBNs returned from circulation is Rs 15,310.73 billion.” The government replaced old Rs 500 notes with

new ones, but no replacement for Rs 1000 notes have been made.

Post-demonetisation, the RBI spent £796.5 million in 2016-17 on printing new Rs 500 and Rs 2000 and other denomination notes, more than double the £342.1 million spent in the previous year. The annual report said that in 2017-18 (July 2017 to June 2018), it spent another £491.2 million on printing of currency. “Counterfeit notes detected in SBNs decreased by 59.7 and 59.6 per cent in the denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1000, respectively.”

“Compared to the previous year, there was an increase of 35 per cent in counterfeit notes detected in the denomination of Rs 100, while there was a noticeable increase of 154.3 per cent in counterfeit notes detected in the denomination of Rs 50,” RBI said adding that counterfeit notes detected in the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes during 2017-18 were 9,892 and 17,929 as against 199 and 638, respectively, during the previous year.

16 Nirav Modi-linked firms file for liquidation in last 3 months Around 16 companies in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), allegedly connected to fugitive diamond jeweller Nirav Modi, have filed for winding up of business in the last three months. Sources said the firms were the top buyers and suppliers of Nirav Modi Group of companies and were allegedly controlled by Modi through “dummy directors”.

Documents reveal two such firms in Hong Kong- Auragem Company Ltd and Sino Traders, that filed for a shut down on May 25 and July 4, respectively, had received £592.1 million of the fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) issued by state-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB). Other firms allegedly floated by Modi in Hong Kong, that are winding up include Brilliant Diamonds Ltd (June 4), Eternal Diamonds Corporation Ltd (June 6), Fancy Creations Company Ltd (May 25), and Sunshine Gems Ltd (June 7).

All the firms have been wound up under the “creditors' voluntary winding up” process initiated by the company directors.

Also, at least 10 “dummy” companies in the UAE allegedly formed by Modi to rotate the LoU funds “in the guise of export-import

Nirav Modi

transactions” have also filed for liquidation.

Several of these firms such as Unique Diamond and Jewellery FZC, Universal Fine Jewelry FZE, Vista Jewelry FZE, Diagems FZC, Pacific Diamond FZE, Tri Color Gems FZE and Hamilton Precious Traders Limited FZCO have received about £700 million through PNB LoUs between 2011 and 2017.

Indian investigative agencies allege that the six Hong Kong-based firms that filed for liquidation have allegedly diverted at least £84 million of LoU funds to Modi's firms Firestar Diamond Inc and A Jaffe Inc in the US, and £27.1 million to Belgium-based Firestar Diamond BVBA. The former two companies filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States on February 26, while the latter declared Bankrupt by an Antwerp court on March 19. On August 25, an investigation report submitted by John J Carney, an examiner appointed by a US bankruptcy court hearing the plea of Firestar Diamond and A Jaffe, said that the two firms were “directly involved” in transactions related to the alleged £1.35 billion PNB fraud for which Modi has been charged in India.

Having left India in the first week of January, weeks before the major banking scam surfaced, Modi is wanted by multiple investigating agencies in India. The Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice against Modi in July, and earlier this month, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sent a request for extradition of Modi from the UK.

Antigua agrees to cooperate with India in Mehul Choksi case The Antigua and Barbuda government said that it would fully cooperate regarding the arrest of fugitive diamantaire and Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam accused Mehul Choksi, but added that it would not succumb to pressure from the Indian government in the matter. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said that authorities would arrest Choksi only in conformity with the laws and regulations of the country.

“This idea that they can force us to take any decision and go against the laws and constitution of our country and one in which they are trying to force the executive to meddle in the domain of the judiciary that is something that will not be tolerated,” Browne asserted that the Antigua and Barbuda government has already “signaled its full cooperation” in the matter and that “the authorities remain fully committed to assisting wherever possible.”

He continued, “(This issue) is a matter for

Mehul Choksi

courts and I believe the Honourable Attorney General made it abundantly clear that the matter is now in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecution. We are a country of laws and we have to respect the constitutional rights of our citizens.”

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had written a letter to the Antigua and

Barbuda government, through the Ministry of External Affairs, asking them to arrest Choksi. Antiguan authorities had assured cooperation with India for the extradition on August 9. India has been trying hard to bring back Choksi from Antigua and Barbuda under the provision of a law of the island nation that provides for extradition of a fugitive to a designated Commonwealth country.

Meanwhile, the Interpol has raised queries on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) request to get a Red Notice (RN) issued against him. It had similarly asked CBI to respond to Choksi's claims of poor jail conditions in India and anomalies in the agency's case against him. Sources said the Interpol has raised objections to the case against Choksi being mixed up with that of Nirav Modi. It has sought clarifications on the money laundering case against Choksi, who along with his nephew Nirav Modi, is a key accused in a £1.35 billion PNB loan fraud case.

in brief ICICI SECURITIES REAPPOINTS CHANDA KOCHHAR ICICI Bank voted in favour of approving MD and CEO Chanda Kochhar as a Director on the board of ICICI Securities despite proxy advisory firms advising shareholders to reject the proposal. The bank holds 79.22 per cent stake in ICICI Securities. Kochhar is on leave after the bank decided to probe allegations of conflict of interest and quid pro quo in some of the loans extended by ICICI Bank.

She is the Chairperson of ICICI Securities.

US proxy firm Glass Lewis said: “We note that there are significant legal and regulatory issues involving the company’s non-executive chair, nominee Chanda Deepak Kochhar. We believe shareholders should be very concerned about the matters facing Kochhar, which includes her being forced to take a leave of absence from the ICICI Bank Board, pending the outcome of the investigation…” Institutional Investor Advisory Services (IiAS) had also asked shareholders to oppose the proposed reappointment of Kochhar.

NCLT CLEARS IDEA, VODAFONE MERGER With the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) giving its approval to the merger of Vodafone and Idea Cellular, the decks have been cleared for the two to now function as a single entity. An announcement of the date from which the new entity, to be called Vodafone Idea Limited, will start functioning will be made soon. The final approval from the NCLT came after the two cleared their dues with the department of telecommunications (DoT) last month. After the DoT approval the two were required to report to the NCLT that all processes were complete, thus seeking the tribunal’s final nod for the merger. Though the merged entity would be the country’s largest telecom operator with total revenues of over £8 billion, 400 million customers, 35 per cent subscriber market share and 41 per cent revenue market share, the going will not be very smooth as it will be burdened with a combined debt of around £10.7 billion.

INDIA SEEKS RATING UPGRADE BY S&P India made a strong pitch According to Nationwide, house prices in UK saw its biggest monthly fall for six years, lopping more than £2,200 off the typical price tagto Standard & Poor’s (S&P) for a rating upgrade, citing improving economic growth prospects, fiscal discipline, stabilisation of the GST regime and broader macroeconomic stability despite elevated oil prices and a depreciating rupee. S&P has kept India’s sovereign rating unchanged at the lowest investment grade of “BBB-” since January 2007, citing its sizable fiscal deficit, low per capita income and high government debt levels. It has maintained the stable outlook for the country. In their meeting with S&P executives, senior finance ministry officials are learnt to have assuaged any concerns about the impact of elevated oil prices and the weakening rupee on the economy. The officials told S&P executives that the Centre would stick to the path of fiscal consolidation. They also conveyed that the high debt-to-GDP ratio is a long-term consideration and should not be an immediate concern for rating upgrade.

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in brief

Wherever on this earth Indians live, Mother India is always in their heart

WOMAN JOURNALIST HACKED TO DEATH IN BANGLADESH A woman TV journalist in Bangladesh has been hacked to death by some unidentified assailants at her home, media reports said.

Subarna Nodi, 32, was a correspondent of private news channel Ananda TV and also worked for the Daily Jagroto Bangla newspaper. She lived in Pabna district, some 150 km from Dhaka. Suborna, who is survived by a nine-year-old daughter, was awaiting divorce from her husband, the report said. Around 10 to 12 assailants came riding motorcycles and rang the doorbell. When she opened the door, they attacked her with sharp weapons and fled.

Some locals rushed her to the hospital where she was declared brought dead.

Police have launched a hunt to nab the culprits.

Suresh and Bhavna Patel

CHINA PULLS OUT OF $1.2-BILLION NEPAL PROJECT China’s Three Gorges International has decided to pull out from the $1.2 West Seti Hydro project in Nepal, six years after it signed the MoU to build it. A high-level team of the CTGI, a subsidiary of the China Three Gorges, conveyed to the Nepal government that the project is not costeffective. The 750-MW project, the first reservoir project in Nepal, was to be completed by next year as per the CTGI’s earliest commitment, but its pull-out without even beginning construction may have an adverse impact on China’s credibility. According to sources, Nepal had offered to lower the capacity to 600 MW from 750 MW at the same cost and extend the power purchase agreement to 12 years from 10 years. But China insisted the resettlement and rehabilitation of the displaced people and the transmission cost would be too high.

Singapore, Malaysia fight over street food honour

Recently from Canada we came to England to attend wedding of my nephew’s daughter Ria Patel and after wedding me and my wife Bhavna took 14 nights of Celebrity’s Scandinavian and Russia cruise from Southampton. While on cruise we had a great time and on second day we met a group of 16 Gujarati people of Wembley, England and slowly got acquainted with them. One thing I admired about this group is that, they have been friends since last 50 years and they all go on different trips to gather and keep their friendship alive by give and take concept. They requested Chef Ramesh Channa Swamy of Oceanview cafe of cruise to cook Khichdi and him and his staff very willingly served three time tasty mouth watering Khichdi and included us from Canada in their group. Also once Chef Ramesh set up special Dosa Corner and served variety of hot Masala Dosa with tasty Sambhar and chutney to enjoy.

There were about 260 Indian crew members working on cruise amongst 1,000 staff and they held in their residence India’s Independence Day party. On Aug 15 our cruise was at Germany’s harbour and we Indians (Gujaraties from Wembley and Canada) celebrated India’s Independence Day by singing National anthem of India by holding India’s flag and some of the ladies wearing beautiful saries which was admired by fellow passengers for our love and respect towards our mother land. Chef Ramesh and his assistant made a big beautiful Taj Mahal cake which was displayed on Ocenview cafe on Aug 15 and all viewers were continuously taking pictures and admiring his artistic work and this cake got best cake award amongst all Celebrity cruises around the world.

On Aug 15 we went for sight seeing excursion of Rostock city and after finishing sight seeing our tour guide took us at big pedestrian market place to explore during lunch time and there I met three Indian students wearing India’s flag sticker on their shirt and they all are from Gujarat studying engineering at Rostock University and when I talked to them in Gujarati, the happy expression on their faces I saw cannot be expressed in words and they felt that they met someone dear to them.

On our way back to Toronto from

Singapore's bid to get UN recognition for its street food has sparked a cross-border culinary clash, with angry chefs in neighbouring Malaysia pouring cold water on the idea. The city-state is home to many open-air food courts where vendors, known as "hawkers", serve dishes such as chicken and rice, noodles and meat skewers at relatively cheap 07767 414 693 G Worldwide Repatriation Service prices. Some hawkers have even been awarded Michelin G Scattering Ashes stars by the culinary bible, G Horse Drawn Funerals which has had a Singapore G Weekend Funerals edition since 2016. Prime G Use of Large Private Shiva Chapel for Viewing & Ritual Service Minister Lee Hsien Loong Ritual Items Provided announced last week that G Full Washing and Dressing facilities Singapore will nominate its G Choice of Coffins hawker culture to G Priest Arrangements UNESCO's list of intangible G Funeral arrangements at Home or Funeral Home cultural heritage. But the move sparked anger in DIGNITY FUNERAL PLAN at TODAY PRICES Malaysia, whose citizens have long claimed their own street food - which shares many similarities with Singapore's - is far superior to anything in their tiny 198 EALING ROAD, WEMBLEY, neighbour.

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Suresh, Bhavna Patel and others holding India’s flag

London in our Air Canada’s flight there were some 30 to 40 students from India coming to Canada to attend college and University as next semester is starting in September 2018. I talked to some and most of them are perusing studies in IT, engineering, business management, Aero space, science and accounting. In Canada occasionally I meet students from India at gas station, parking lot, restaurant, convenience store working part time besides their studies to recover boarding, lodging, school fees and other expanses some times in harsh Canadian winter of snowy and bitterly cold weather. The same

thing we as a student did some 45 to 50 years ago in USA and many in other part of the world.

They all are heroes and not that Hardik Patel who didn’t earn a single penny in his life, never paid a single penny as a taxes and upon his instigation destroyed, damaged government properties in reservation protest and wasted hard earned tax payers monies. He is a total loser and zero and taboos to Gujarat. Last but not least on the upcoming holiest Hindu festival of Janmastmi - birth anniversary of Lord Krishna - we extend our warmest and holiest wishes to all.

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Indian American entrepreneur taken into custody for violating probation CALIFORNIA: Indian American entrepreneur Gurbaksh Chahal was taken into custody to serve a one-year sentence for violating probation on domestic charges.

For the first time during lengthy court proceedings over four years, Chahal spoke directly to the court. He asked San Francisco Superior Court Judge Tracie Brown to consider alternatives to remanding him into custody; Brown had issued Chahal’s sentence two years ago.

“I’ve done everything in my power to give back to society,”

Gurbaksh Chahal

said Chahal, copiously weeping

as he read out his statement. He spoke about his foundation, which, he said, had helped hundreds of people, including women and victims of domestic violence. “I desperately need my freedom,” he said, noting how deeply his incarceration would affect his family and his business ventures. “Please reconsider,” he pleaded with Brown.

Chahal’s attorney Robert Shapiro asked Brown to remand Chahal into house arrest. Brown said: “It is ironic that you’re asking me to sentence him to the

place where the crimes were committed.” Shapiro said Chahal could be sentenced to his parents’ home, where he would be fully supervised.

Brown immediately remanded Chahal into custody, noting that she had considered the entrepreneur’s charitable initiatives when she issued her sentence two years ago. She noted that Chahal had not apologized to his two victims, one of whom he severely beat 133 times in his San Francisco penthouse in 2013.

Chinese people given the right to larger families, but few interested BEIJING: China has started laying the grounds for ending its decades-long family planning policy by dropping all provisions pertaining to family planning in its new draft civil code. The code is being considered for review at the fifth meeting of the 13th National People’s Congress Standing Committee. The draft proposes a cool-off period for couples who are planning to divorce. The provision is being incorporated to ensure that couples think over their decision to separate in a “calm and reasonable manner” before ending their relationship.

A new comprehensive civil code is likely to be promulgated in 2020. But there is belief that provisions pertaining to family planning and divorce could get implemented by the end of the year. China is staring at a looming ageing crisis, with a massively declining birth rate threatening to derail its growth.

There were 217 million Chinese

over the age of 60, accounting for 17.3 per cent of the population. In comparison, India has 103 million citizens over the age of 60, who make up only 8.6 per cent of the population. Beijing fears that by 2050, old people could make up 35 per cent of its society.

But Beijing’s efforts to combat the ageing population have hit an unexpected snag:

many parents are no longer interested in having more babies.

Couples have increasingly delayed having even one child as they devote more time to other goals, such as building their careers. The skyrocketing cost of raising children in booming China has also given many prospective parents pause.

“Lots of people want to have

a second child, but the biggest problem is the financial burden,” said a mother in the northeastern city of Dalian, who wants a second and even third child but remains hesitant to bear the financial and career costs.

There is “heavy propaganda aimed at urban educated Han women” urging them to “marry early and have children early,” said Leta Hong Fincher, author of “Betraying Big Brother: The Feminist Awakening in China,” referring to the majority Han community.

Surveys have shown many onechild families harbour little desire for more children.

China also faces the problem of couples refraining from getting married. Government data shows there were 3.01 million marriages in the first quarter of 2018, which is 5.7 per cent dip year-on-year. Five years ago, the number was 4.2 million, and has now dropped by 30 per cent.

Indian American wins Arizona’s 6th CD Democratic primary CALIFORNIA: More than a handful of Indian American political hopefuls took part in primary elections in Arizona and Florida Aug. 28, with just a few, including business executive Anita Malik, participating in contested races. Malik, a Democrat seeking the party’s nomination in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, was in a three-candidate race with Heather Ross and Garrick McFadden with the winner to challenge Republican incumbent David Schweikert in the general.

The race was so tight between Malik and Ross that it took several days before the Indian American ultimately emerged as the victor. According to the Arizona Registrar, Malik received 22,111 votes for 42.1 per cent while Ross earned 19,873 votes for 37.8 per cent. For several days, the two candidates were a mere 1 per cent apart before the final votes were tallied and Malik was declared the winner Aug. 31.

“I’m proud that my campaign reflected a broad, grassroots

Anita Malik

coalition of Arizonans who came together to support our vision of creating jobs and ensuring the ability of families to work, live and thrive in the 6th Congressional District,” Malik said in a statement. “I am so grateful for the army of volunteers and supporters who powered our campaign. We face so many challenges in our state and in our country, and I intend to be part of the solution and a public servant the people of Arizona can trust,” she added. The firstgeneration Indian American said she knows what it is like to

struggle, to be different and to be judged because of her skin color.

She credits her parents for understanding the American dream but now, with the influx in hate crimes, she said she is “saddened about where we are” as a nation.

In Arizona’s 24th Legislative District, Amish Shah was gunning for the Democratic Party’s nomination to take on Republican David Alger for the right to be the state representative. With more than 95 per cent of the votes tallied, Shah had 29 per cent of the vote, eight points more than Jennifer Longdon, to earn a spot in the general election. In Florida’s 21st Legislative District, Amol Jethwani was seeking the Democratic nomination for the state representative seat. Campaigning against Jason Haeseler, the Indian American came up short with just 42 per cent of the vote, 16 points behind Haeseler’s 58 per cent. Haeseler will now challenge Republican incumbent Chuck Clemons for the seat in November.

Aakash Patel, a Republican candidate in Florida’s Hillsborough County Commission race, was vying for the party nomination against Todd Marks. Patel received 28,383 votes for 32.4 per cent, and was a distant runner-up to Marks, who tallied 59,336 votes for 67.6 per cent. Marks joins Democrat Kimberly Overman and Green Party’s Kim O’Connor in the general election. Hiral Tipirneni and Sanjay Patel both ran for the Democratic nomination in their respective US House races in Arizona and Florida, with both advancing in uncontested elections.

Tipirneni, who fell short to Republican Debbie Lesko in a special election for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District seat earlier in the year, will have a rematch with the Republican incumbent in November. Patel is set to challenge Republican incumbent Bill Posey after both advanced in uncontested races in Florida’s 8th Congressional District.

in brief INDIA, CHINA WORKING ON HOTLINE FOR THEIR DEFENCE MINISTRIES India and China are holding talks to set up a hotline between their defence ministries and update a 12-year-old defence agreement as part of the confidencebuilding measures, a top Chinese defence ministry official said. During Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi last week, the two sides held in-depth discussions on how to further implement the important consensus reached between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, defence ministry spokesman Colonel Wu Qian said. Modi and Xi, during their informal summit in Wuhan in April, reached a consensus on managing various aspects of India-China relations, including the two militaries, especially in the backdrop of the Doklam standoff. The hotline between the two militaries was regarded as a major confidence building measure, as it would enable both the headquarters to intensify communication to avert tensions between border patrols and to avoid standoffs such as Doklam.

WOMAN TRICKED INTO MARRYING A STRANGER DURING JOB INTERVIEW A 21-year-old Hong Kong woman has been duped into marrying a stranger from mainland China during a job interview. The victim, who remains anonymous, told journalists she applied for makeup artist apprenticeship in May, but was later persuaded to apply for wedding planning job instead for a higher salary. As part of her application, she was required to sign a marriage certificate and act out the role of a bride in a supposedly fake ceremony with a man from mainland China, she said. When she realised the marriage was real, she approached the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU), who said they believed she was one of many victims of the scam.

ANNE & FRANK BAKERY FORCED TO CHANGE NAME AFTER OUTCRY A bakery in Amsterdam named after Anne Frank has been forced to change its name as a result of public outcry. The owner of the Anne & Frank bakery was castigated for the “tasteless” choice of name on Twitter. The owner of the bakery, who identified himself only as Roberto, told Dutch media “it seemed like a nice name”.

He said Anne Frank, who died of typhus in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945, is “a heroine for many people and for me too”. He said: “Because my business is close to the Anne Frank Huis (House), it seemed like a nice name. She’s obviously world famous.” The Anne Frank House was where Anne and her family hid from the Nazis during the Second World War. Roberto told local media he had not decided on a new name for his bakery.

SNAKE BITES DOG: S KOREA COPS TO HONOUR DEAD CANINE A long-serving South Korean police dog killed in the line of duty - by a snake - will be honoured with a rare ceremony next month in a country where a million of his fellow canines are estimated to be eaten every year. Larry, a seven-year-old German shepherd, was searching for a missing person when the reptile bit him on his left hind leg in July. He is the first police dog to die “in the line of duty” anywhere in the country, the Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency said. Larry helped officers with 39 felony cases and took part in searches for over 170 missing people since first being deployed in 2012.

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in brief PAK SUPPORTS IRAN STAND ON N-DEAL Pakistan said that it supported Iran’s stance regarding its nuclear agreement with major world powers after the US withdrew from the deal. Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also told his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in Islamabad that he hoped other signatories would continue to stick to its terms. Zarif's visit to Pakistan comes as both Tehran and Islamabad are struggling with fraught relationships with Washington, which withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and re-imposed sanctions on Iran. “As regards JCPOA, while supporting Iran’s principled stance, Qureshi expressed the hope that remaining parties to the agreement would uphold their commitments in letter and spirit,” the Pakistan foreign office said. The two leaders also discussed regional issues, including the situation in Afghanistan. Both countries underlined the need to promote bilateral relations in all areas of cooperation.

FORMER AUSSIE PM RESIGNS FROM PARLIAMENT, GOVT LOSES MAJORITY Australia's former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull resigned from parliament, a source familiar with the matter said, stripping the government of its one-seat parliamentary majority. Turnbull last week said he would resign from parliament after he was ousted from office in a bitter partyroom contest which ushered in the country's sixth leader in the last decade.

"The speaker of the house of parliament received a resignation letter from Malcolm Turnbull," said a source familiar with the matter. The source declined to give more details. Until a by-election can be contested, Australia's new Prime Minister Scott Morrison is left relying on the support of independent lawmakers to pass legislation, inhibiting the government's agenda just eight months out from an election. Besides no longer having a majority in the lower house of parliament, the government does not control the upper house Senate. According to the latest opinion polls Australia's ruling LiberalNational coalition will struggle to be reelected in a poll due by May 2019.

NORWAY’S MINISTER STEPS DOWN FOR WIFE’S CAREER Norway’s transport minister said he was stepping down to allow his wife to further her medical career, in a move welcomed as a win for gender equality. “It’s been fantastic to be a minister and, in fact, I could have continued all my life,” said Ketil Solvik-Olsen, a member of the right-wing Progress party who served in the post since 2013. “But I’ve come to a crossroads in my life where it’s my wife’s turn to pursue her dream. It’s a deal we’ve had in place for a number of years,” he said, adding that he intends to return to frontline politics at some stage. His wife, Tone Solvik-Olsen, has accepted a posting in a children’s hospital in the United States for a year, he added. Social media users in Norway reacted positively to Solvik-Olsen’s decision, calling the move “respectable” and “a great example.”

PAKISTAN-BANGLADESH

Imran ropes in foreign experts to rebuild Pak's debt-ridden economy ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has roped in some renowned foreign economists in the newlyconstituted economic advisory panel to provide the best possible professional advice to his cash-strapped government on prudent economic policies.

The immediate challenge for the Khan-led government is to arrange finances to fill about a $ 10 billion gap that is arising due to higher outflows than estimated inflows. Pakistan's current account deficit stands at $18 billion, while its foreign currency reserves are just over $ 10 billion, enough to cover two months of imports, according to figures released before the cricketer-turned-politician was sworn-in as prime minister.

One of the first tests facing Khan's government is whether to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund or to turn to China with a plea for more economic aid. Unlike past practices, the new 18-member Economic Advisory Council (EAC) will be headed by the

Imran Khan

prime minister himself to ensure that the best possible professional advice is available to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insafled government to inform, optimise and synergise the formulation and implementation of its economic and financial policies.

Imran to head Economic Advisory Council In the past, EACs were headed by finance ministers with no definite agenda for regular meetings. It was observed that EAC met even once in four months and its

advice was not considered seriously. Consequently, EACs have become mere debating forums, the report said.

According to the terms of reference, the ministry of finance will be the nodal government agency for the EAC, which will function in an entirely non-partisan manner and is expected to strengthen existing state institutions in a collaborative and concerted manner.

The ultimate goal of the EAC is to promote analytically sound and evidence-based reforms and initiatives for the progress and development of Pakistan. Out of the EAC's 18 members, seven belong to government and 11 are from the private sector. From the private sector, three leading international academics made EAC members are Atif R Mian of Princeton University (Department of Member Economics and Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy), Asim ljaz Khawaja, SumitomoFASID Professor of Member

International Finance and Development at the Harvard Kennedy School, and lmran Rasul, Professor of Economics, Department of Member Economics, University College, London. The council is expected to play a pivotal role in strengthening the government's capacity to design and introduce sound and effective policies for rapid and continued social and economic advancement, human resource development, improvement of business processes, and strengthening of data services. The council will also facilitate capacity building of the government in conducting policy analysis and will assist the government in reaching out to the international network of recognised economists to invite them to contribute to Pakistan's development. Prime Minister Khan has asked the committee to give its recommendations in two weeks for possible steps to be taken for expedient return of unlawfully acquired assets from abroad.

PTI’s Arif Alvi elected 13th President of Pakistan ISLAMABAD: Dr Arif Alvi of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been elected as 13th President of Pakistan, according to unofficial results. The PTI with the support of its allied parties has fielded Karachibased Arif Alvi, whereas Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians’ presidential candidate is Aitzaz Ahsan. JUIFazl’s Maulana Fazlur Rehman is in the poll arena on the behalf of Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz and some other opposition groups.

It is believed had the opposition parties been able to field a joint candidate, they would have made a match against PTI’s candidate.

However, the PPP, PML-N and other parties failed to sink their differences and this will be to the advantage of Alvi, who is to replace PML-N’s Mamnoon Hussain, whose five-year term

ends on September 9. Unlike the PTI and PPPP, which actively moved around to garner

Arif Alvi

support for their respective candidates, the PML-N and other opposition parties were not seen much enthusiastic to campaign for their candidate.

Out of total of 158 votes, Aitzaz Ahsan bagged 100 votes while PTI candidate Arif Alvi secured 56. Two votes were rejected. As per formula, Aitzaz Ahsan got 39

and Arif Alvi 22.

Balochistan Assembly: Arif Alvi wins. Alvi has won from Balochistan securing 45 votes.

Opposition candidate Fazl-ulRehman received 15 while PPP's Aitzaz Ahsan bagged zero votes.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Arif Alvi wins. Arif Alvi is leading with 78 votes in KP Assembly, Fazl received 26 while Aitzaz got 5 votes. As per formula, Alvi secured 41 votes and Fazl 13 votes.

'Professional and honest' Minister for Information and Fawad Chaudhry said Alvi is a thorough professional and honest person and his commitment with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and party’s vision is beyond any doubt.

'Historic election' Aitzaz Ahsan termed today's election as historic in Pakistani political history. He was of the view that the election of

president is a matter of contentment.

'Not sent for hibernation' PTI's candidate Arif Alvi was seemed confident of his victory in today's election.

Talking to media upon his arrival at the Parliament House, Alvi said this is a start of making of 'Naya Pakistan' and my party has not selected me for the office to go in hibernation after being elected. Alvi said that he would focus equally on all federating units for launching development projects and priorities for provision of basic amenities to masses. “PTI strongly believes in strengthening democracy,” he added.

He said water crisis is looming large and it would be the priority of the government to conserve water and evolve strategies for meeting the future water needs.

Myanmar army fakes photos in book on Rohingya YANGON: A black and while photo printed in a new book on the Rohingya crisis authored by Myanmar’s army, shows a man standing over two bodies, wielding a farming tool. “Bengalis killed local ethnics brutally,” reads the caption. The photo appears in a section of the book covering ethnic riots in Myanmar in the 1940s. The text says the image shows Buddhists murdered by Rohingya - members of a Muslim minority the book refers to as “Bengalis” to imply they are illegal immigrants. But an examination of the photo shows it was actually taken during Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war, when thousands of Bangladeshis were killed

by Pakistani troops.

The 117-page “Myanmar Politics and the Tatmadaw: Part I” relates the army’s narrative of August last year, when some 700,000 Rohingya fled Rakhine to Bangladesh. In the book, the military denies

The migration of Rwandan refugees in 1996 (L) and the image from the army's book

abuse claims, blaming the violence on “Bengali terrorists.” Another faded black-and white image shows a crowd of men who appear to be on a long march with their backs bent over. The photo is apparently intended to depict Rohingya arriving in Myanmar during the colonial era, which

Bodies of Bengalis following their massacre in Dhaka in 1971 (L) and the image in the book

ended in 1948. It is in fact a distorted version of a colour image taken in 1996 of refugees fleeing the genocide in Rwanda.

The photographer, Martha Rial, won the Pulitzer Prize. Both the government the military could not be reached for comment on the authenticity of the images.

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SOUTH INDIA

7 new cabinet ministers to join Karnataka govt BENGALURU: The threemonth-old Congress-JDS coalition government would be expanded in the third week of September with the induction of seven ministers. Head of a coordination committee of both the parties, Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy stated this to reporters after a committee meeting. He said, “We have taken a decision to expand the cabinet in the third week of September. Six people from our (Congress) side and one from JD(S) will be included in the cabinet.”

He said simultaneously, chairpersons to various boards and corporations would be appointed in the third week of

H. D. Kumaraswamy

September. He said, “The first preference will be given to the MLAs and then the party supporters will be given a chance. We cannot fulfill the aspirations of many MLAs who want to become ministers.

Hence, we are making them chairpersons of boards and corporations.” He said decisions have to be taken on 30 posts, 20 of which would be given to Congress leaders and the rest to JD(S).

Congress leader Siddaramaiah said that the coordination committee is yet to take a decision on the appointment of three nominated MLCs and filling vacancies opened due to resignation of V Somanna, Dr G Parameshwara and KS Eshwarappa. Apart from them, three people have to be nominated to the legislative council by the governor on the advice to the government. When

asked about the JD(S) demand to include their state president Adagur H Vishwanath to the committee, Siddaramaiah said the matter was not discussed.

Regarding relief works in flood-hit areas in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said the government has decided to take them up on a war footing. He called reports about a growing discord between the Congress and JD(S) as “baseless, unfounded, and speculative stories”. He said, “This government will survive for five years. This government is totally stable and we will deliver as per the common minimum programme agreed upon by both parties.”

PUNJAB-HARYANA

Confusion over appointment of new Punjab DGP CHANDIGARH: The state government move to amend the Punjab Police Act has only added to an existing confusion over the issue of appointment of the next Director General of Police (DGP) with only one month left in the retirement of incumbent Suresh Arora. The government, before carrying out the amendments, had claimed that the move is aimed at bringing the present police Act in line with the recent Supreme Court judgment.

A July 3 order of the Supreme Court directed states to send their proposals to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at least three months in advance, when they anticipate a vacancy in the post of DGP. The UPSC shall then prepare a panel of three officers, out of which the state shall choose one for the DGP's post. However, in an

Punjab DGP Suresh Arora

amendment made in the assembly recently, the government has made provisions that the state government shall select the DGP from a panel of at least three eligible officers suggested by a committee, which will be headed by the chief secretary.

The amendment read, “The DGP shall be selected on their

service record and range of experience, having a reasonable period of remainder service left which shall in no case be less than 12 months as on the date of appointment.” They have also made a provision of the setting up of a “State Security Commission' headed by the chief minister. The commission will have a role in removal of the

DGP before completing two years. The Punjab government had announced that it has decided to seek review of the SC judgment claiming it would lead to political interference by the Centre in state matters.

“Punjab has not amended its Act as per earlier judgment by the SC in 2008, which included formation of a security commission. As the state has brought its own act in tandem with the earlier judgments of the SC, now it can file a review challenging the UPSC's role as a threat to the federal structure as its ground,” an officer said.

A 1984-batch IPS officer, Arora would retire on September 30. A 1985-batch IPS officers Mohd Mustafa and Hardeep Singh Dhilon and 1986batch officer Dinkar Arora are considered main contenders for the post.

WEST BENGAL

Violence continues in Bengal over panchayat board KOLKATA: Violence continues unabated a day after four people were killed amid the formation of panchayat board across West Bengal. Massive clashes were reported in Howrah and North Dinajpur district of West Bengal. Areas like Itahar and Daspara also remained on the boil with three party cadres - TMC, Congress and BJP clashing with each other. Party cadres hurled crude bombs, pelted stones at each other as authorities rushed to the spot to control the situation. They were, however, attacked by the agitated crowd.

The crowd hurled stones at the police injuring several cops. Cadres even torched a police vehicle in Itahar, and in retaliation, the police had to resort to tear gas shelling and lathicharge. North Dinajpur's Itahar has a total of 25 seats, out of which BJP bagged 13 and TMC managed to secure 12. In Daspur gram panchayat, all 13 seats were won by the TMC. Meanwhile, clashes broke out again in Howrah's Uluberia area over the formation of the panchayat board. BJP cadres clashed with the TMC and the situation remained tense for the second consecutive day in Uluberia. Out of the total 18 seats in the village gram panchayat, BJP secured 10, TMC secured 7 and one independent

ALAGIRI READY TO WORK UNDER STALIN Former union minister and eldest son of the late M Karunanidhi, MK Alagiri, has said that he is ready to work under the leadership of his younger brother MK Stalin, if re-admitted into the DMK. Once the party's south zone organiser with base in Madurai, Alagiri was expelled from the DMK in 2014 for anti-party activities, and has always remained at loggerheads with Stalin. After holding discussions with his loyalists, he said he was ready to rejoin the DMK to save the party, but they were not ready to admit him. While he seems to have softened his stand against his younger brother, he said the party general council alone was not the party per se. He said 1,500 members of the general council do not form the entire party. “The real party cadres are with me. The numbers will go up after the rally.”

TELUGU ACTOR KILLED IN ROAD ACCIDENT Telugu actor and former Rajya Sabha member Nandamuri Harikrishna was killed in a road accident near Telangana's Nalgonda district. Fourth son of former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and founder of the Telugu Desam Party, NT Rama Rao, Harikrishna suffered a severe head injury after he was thrown out of his car after it rammed into a divider, toppled, and collided with an oncoming SUV. He was declared “brought dead” by doctors at a hospital where he was taken after the accident. His body was later taken by the Nandamuri family in a convoy from the hospital. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has instructed officials to conduct Harikrishna's last rites with official honours.

WOMAN CAB DRIVER ARRESTED FOR KIDNAPPING A woman cab driver has been arrested by Jalandhar police for carjacking and kidnapping a man with the help of two accomplices. Navdeep Kaur is known for being the first woman cabbie in Chandigarh. She is accused of committing several crimes, including drug smuggling.

Her husband Gurwinder Singh is already serving a jail term for being involved in six bank robberies. Kaur had been running a gang, including Anil Kumar Sona and Gurpreet Singh. She had allegedly kidnapped Inderjit Singh, a clerk from Chandigarh on gunpoint on August 18.

They stole his car and forced him to withdraw Rs 40,000 from his ATM. Authorities recovered the car with 350 grams of drugs, a revolver and a pistol.

COURT SUMMONS AMIT SHAH

Violance during Panchayat Election in West Bengal

candidate won, who later joined the TMC. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has claimed that outsiders from Jharkhand were creating unrest in the panchayat.

She said, “BJP is helping outsiders from Jharkhand to enter into Bengal and create an environment of unrest. BJP believes in the idea of political murders. They killed a veteran TMC leader in Jhargram. We are not

going to take this lightly.” BJP state president Dilip Ghosh hit back at Mamata alleging that his party cadres were being attacked by TMC in most of the districts.

“The panchayat board formation is not taking place in a fair manner. We will not allow the formation of the boards till we are given an assurance that the process will take place in a fair manner,” Ghosh said.

A metropolitan magistrate court in Kolkata summoned Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah in connection with a defamation case filed against him by Trinamool Congress. Trinamool Youth Congress chief Abhishek Banerjee had filed a defamation suit last week, alleging that the BJP president has made slanderous statements against him at a public rally on August 11 in Kolkata. In the legal notice sent to Shah, Banerjee has sought an apology for allegedly making defamatory statements against him, warning that if the BJP chief did not apologise, he will file a criminal defamation case against him. His lawyer Sanjay Basu has claimed that “false statements” against his client has caused grave loss and prejudice to his client's reputation.

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INDIA

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8 - 14 September 2018

Mumbai jail to get EU-style cells Rocket woman of India: Balancing for fugitive millionaires Seemingly sensitive to Vijay Mallya's allegations of “pathetic” prisons in India, prison authorities in Mumbai are setting up a brand new block of cells in Arthur Road jail to meet international norms on prisoner rights. An official said an old ground-plus-one structure within the 93-year old jail in the heart of Mumbai will be demolished to make way for the block with about a dozen cells and toilets spread over the ground and first floors. An official said they expect the building to be ready in six months and house fugitive millionaires who could be brought back to face trials in frauds.

They said, “The cells will meet European and UK prison standards and all human rights criteria. The public works department has started work and received quotations for demolition of the building. As of now, we have limited cells that meet global standards. So we are going to build more modern cells for extradited smugglers, fraudsters and accused hiding abroad.” The new building is being planned as a final solution to

BP Dakshayani: An Indian woman who cooked food, sent spacecraft to Mars Orbit

An outside view of Arthur Road jail in Mumbai.

a trend among fugitive businessmen to cite “poor jail conditions” as an excuse to oppose extradition to India. The officer added, “There will only be a specific number of prisoners in these cells.

They will be clean, have hygienic toilets, enough sun and light and space to move around.”

Like most other Indian jails, Arthur Road is definitely overcrowded with only few facilities for prisoners' well-being.

Only built for around 800 prisoners, it houses around 2,800 at any given time. The CBI and ED has a lot on their hands, with Mallya, and diamantaires Nirav Modi and uncle Mehul Choksi to bring back from other countries. Since fight for these fugitives will play out in foreign courts, global human rights standards include rules that apply to imprisonment, rights of detainees, condition of jails, etc, all that will have to be met.

India pins hope on new Pak government Countering Pakistan's latest attempt to raise the infamous Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council, India has said that it hopes the new government of Prime Minister Imran Khan would work constructively to build the region and free it from terrorism.

India's Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin said, “Pacific Narendra Modi and Imran Khan settlement (of disputes) and invoked the 1948 Council resrequires pacific intent in thinking olution setting up the UN and pacific content in action.” He Commission for India and also emphasised, “Regurgitating Pakistan (UNCIP) for investigating failed approach which has long and mediating the Kashmir disbeen rejected is neither reflective pute. She suggested that the of pacific intent nor a display of Council could refer disputes to the pacific content,” after Pakistan's International Court of Justice (ICJ) Permanent Representative for an advisory opinion under the Maleeha Lodhi suggested the UN Charter. She also offered her Council should resuscitate initiaown interpretation of the Charter's tives on Kashmir from 70 years provisions for the Council's interago. vention in threats to peace and Akbaruddin said, “We hope claimed that it could even unilaterthat the new government of ally enforce an advisory opinion Pakistan will, rather than indulge from the ICJ over-riding the prinin polemics, work constructively to ciple that parties to the dispute build a safe, secure, and developed have to agree to the court's jurisSouth Asian region free of terror diction. The session on mediation and violence.” Lodhi referred to and settlement of disputes was decades-old failed Council efforts presided over by Tariq Mahmood

Ahmad, British Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN. Akbaruddin questioned if the UN and the Council were even capable of mediating disputes, asserting that they were hobbled structurally and would not come to the mediation process “unencumbered”. The Council's permanent members had veto powers and without their full cooperation mediators cannot act effectively, he said. Akbaruddin added that the “tortuous decisionmaking process, imbued with political trade-offs saps the UN of necessary dynamism and flexibility in pursuing mediation” and makes responses to changing circumstances in the mediating process difficult. He therefore said, “upgrading, expansion, or revamping of (the UN) Secretariat rules and regulations” would not work and it would “be more realistic to look at functional solutions rather than structural ones.” He added, “Rather than try and throw in the UN lap intractable issues, perhaps, a more pragmatic approach is required.”

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She looked after her large family, including her husband, parentsin-law, five brothers-in-law, and later, her two children. “I used to get up around 5 am because I had to cook for seven, eight people and it was not easy. Also, our food habits are such that we need chapatis which take time to make. So I would cook for the whole family and then come to office.”

In the evenings, she would get back home and start cooking. She admits it was tough. Many of her relatives soon assumed she would quit her job. “But, I am not a person who gives up easily. Also, my father used to say that we should try until the end. Even when it comes to technical things, if I don't understand something, I read it many times until I do.” She said there were days when she would go to bed at 1 am or 2 am, and get up again at 4 am to work.

What drove her was her work and solving problems. It also helped that she actually loves cooking. “I keep doing some small small modifications and try making new things. I say cooking is similar to coding- just as one small change in the code will result in a different number, similarly a small change in ingredients will result in a different taste,” she said.

Kashmir gets 1st Muslim woman pilot Thirty-year-old Iram Habib has become the first Kashmiri Muslim woman to become a pilot. She will join GoAir next month. Iram succeeds Tanvi Raina, a Kashmiri Pandit, who joined Air India as the Valley’s first woman pilot in 2016. In April last year, 21-year-old Ayesha Aziz, also from Kashmir, became India’s youngest student pilot.

Iram’s road to becoming a pilot was never easy, especially since it passed through the conservative Kashmiri Muslim society. Her father is a supplier of surgical equipment to government hospitals in Kashmir. In her pursuit, Iram even gave up her dream of achieving a doctorate in forestry to give wings to her childhood ambition. After taking her bachelor’s degree in forestry from Dehradun and post-graduation from Sher-eKashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in Srinagar, she joined a flight school in the US and completed her training in 2016.

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Former head of flight dynamics and space navigation for the Indian space agency, BP Dakshayani, like any other Indian woman, has many defined roles.

Four years ago, a picture of a group of women clad in saris celebrating an Indian spacecraft successfully entering Mars orbit, went viral and the world finally became acquainted to the role played by the feminine gender in the country's space programme.

Among them was BP Dakshayani. She had led the team that kept an eye on the satellite, making sure it goes exactly where they want it to go. An already tough job, she found additional hurdles in her career, set in the form of responsibilities expected by women in India. As a child growing up in the 1960s, in a town in Karnataka, Dakshayani pursued a Master's degree at a time when educating girls was not a priority.

Having joined ISRO in 1984, she was put to work on orbital dynamics, and is today a specialist in the area.

While many applaud the group of saree-clad women celebrating their success, not many can see how they got to that stage.

Having been married off to an orthopaedic surgeon, Dakshayani suddenly had a household to run.

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8 - 14 September 2018

India committed to work with BIMSTEC states: Modi Addressing the inaugural session of the fourth BIMSTEC summit held in Bhutan last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong pitch for enhanced regional connectivity. He said India is committed to work with the BIMSTEC member states in the critical sector and to combat terrorism and drug trafficking menace. “I believe that there is a big opportunity for connectivitytrade connectivity, economic connectivity, transport connectivity, digital connectivity, and people-to-people connectivity.”

“India is committed to work with the BIMSTEC member states to enhance regional connectivity,” he said. Modi said this region had become a meeting point for India's Neighbourhood First and Act East policies. “The Bay of Bengal holds special significance for the security and development of all of us. There is no country in the region which has not suffered from terrorism and trans-national crimes such as drug trafficking linked to networks of terrorism.”

Inaugurated by Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, the summit was held by a regional grouping comprising India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. “This is not a law and order problem of one country. We must unite to tackle these problems,” Modi said.

He called for “cooperation and coordination” among BIMSTEC member states situated between the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal, that face frequent natural disasters such as flood, cyclone and earthquake. “As no single country can move

along for attaining peace, prosperity, and development, we need to collaborate and cooperate with each other in this interconnected world.”

Modi also offered to host a conference in the areas of agricultural research and various other initiatives, including for start-ups, for the common benefit of the member states.

“We need to work together in the areas of trade, economic, transport, digital and people-to-people connectivity for our common benefit.

We not only have diplomatic relations with all BIMSTEC countries, but are strongly connected by civilisation, history, art, language, cuisine, and shared culture.” The PM announced the setting up of a Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies at the Nalanda University.

Modi invited all BIMSTEC leaders to attend the International Buddhist Conclave in August 2020 as guests of honour. The event will be hosted by India that year. The BIMSTEC summit was attended by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Thailand Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha, Myanmar President Win Myint and Chief Advisor to the Government of Bhutan Gyalpo Tshering Wangchuk.

Nepal PM Oli addressed the summit saying BIMSTEC is not a substitute to the SAARC and the two organisations can compliment each other. He underlined the need for implementing the BIMSTEC poverty plan as well as Millennium Development Goals for the common benefit

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BIMSTEC leaders at the Leaders’ Retreat, in Kathmandu, in Nepal

of the member states.

Modi held bilateral talks with leaders in Bhutan PM Modi held bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, including discussions with his Thai counterpart and the President of Myanmar. He tweeted, “Mr Prayut Chan-o-cha and I had a great meeting. Our talks focused on boosting cooperation between India and Thailand for the mutual benefit of our citizens.” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said both the leaders exchanged views on further cementing the bilateral relationship.

Myanmar President Myint and Modi discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Both leaders had productive discussions on accelerating cooperation between India and Myanmar, the Prime

Minister's Office said. Kumar said the discussion between the leaders focused on development of cooperation, energy, and other areas of bilateral cooperation. Modi also met Wangchuk, chief adviser of the interim government of Bhutan.

What is BIMSTEC? BIMSTEC is an economic grouping of member-countries in the South East Asia region. This action taken for regional economic cooperation was carried out in 1997 through the Bangkok declaration.

BIMSTEC was created with the aim of increasing socio-economic cooperation in the areas of technology, transport and communications, energy, tourism, agriculture, fisheries and human resources development. In addition to this, BIMSTEC also worked to strengthen cooperation in areas of trade and investment.

India's GDP growth accelerates to 8.2% in Q1 Nehal Chudasama crowned Miss Diva Universe India 2018 India's economic growth soared to an over two-year high in April-June quarter, powered by solid expansion in manufacturing, agriculture and consumer spending. Data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showed the economy grew 8.2 per cent in April-June, the first quarter of the country's fiscal year that starts in April, higher than previous quarter's 7.7 per cent and 5.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2017-18.

The manufacturing sector rose an annual 13.5 per cent compared to a decline of 1.8 per cent in the year ago quarter, while the crucial farm sector rose 5.3 per cent, up from 3 per cent growth in first quarter of 2017-18.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, “India's GDP for the first quarter this year growing at 8.2 per in otherwise an environment of global turmoil represents the potential of New India. Reforms and fiscal prudence are serving us well. India is witnessing an expansion of the neo middle class.”

Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister (EACPM) attribut-

ed this positive trend to continued impetus on structural reforms and effective implementation of ongoing policy initiatives. The robust GDP number has also helped India gallop ahead of China and retain the tag of the fastest growing major economy in the world. The Finance Ministry said despite some headwinds like higher crude oil prices, uncertainties on trade front due to protectionist tendencies in some countries, the Indian economy has performed well.

DK Joshi, chief economist at ratings agency Crisil said, “An encouraging development is the slow but steady rise in private consumption spending growth. From 5.7 per cent in Q4FY18, it rose to 8.6 per cent in Q1FY19- the highest in six quarters. For private investments to pick up, as strong and sustained revival in household spending is critical. Sustaining GDP growth at over eight per cent over the next few years would require significant traction in private investments and relentless implementation of reforms to raise productivity.”

One killed in Kolkata bridge collapse Aditi Hundia, Nehal Chudasama, Roshni Sheoran

The prestigious beauty pageant of this year, Yamaha Fascino Miss Diva 2018 was concluded by crowning Nehal Chudasama as Miss Diva Universe India 2018. She will gear up to represent India at the biggest beauty pageant in the world, in Bangkok in December. A Gujarati based in Mumbai, Nehal feels that the crown is a big responsibility and has assured that she will bring the Miss Universe crown to India.

She believes that she has a lot to do for her country and since childhood, she has waited for this moment. Nehal said that after Lara Dutta, the Miss Universe crown has not come to India and she has assured to do her best of preparations to get the crown home this time. She further said that she will not be demotivated by the negative comments. Ladies from over 90 countries will

participate in the Miss Universe pageant.

The newly-crowned Miss India said in her statement that to keep herself motivated throughout her preparation time, she usually listened to Jhanvi Kapoor's popular track 'Zingat'. She also believes that listening to peppy numbers keeps you motivated. The star-studded grand finale hosted an esteemed panel of judges including Actress Lara Dutta, Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, Fashion designers Falguni and Shane Peacock, Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Shilpa Shetty and Neha Dhupia.

Jaipur girl Aditi Hundia was crowned Yamaha Fascino Miss Diva Universe Supranational 2018, and the second Runnerup was crowned to Roshni Sheoran from Lucknow.

At least one person was killed and several people were feared trapped as a large chunk of the Majerhat Bridge - a railway overbridge - on the Diamond Harbour Road in Kolkata collapsed on Tuesday evening. The bridge, located in south-west Kolkata, is one of the major arterial roads that connects the neighbourhood of Behala to the rest of the city and has heavy movement of traffic round the clock.

This is the second major incident of bridge collapse in the city in the past two years: in March 2016, a portion of the underconstruction Vivekananda flyover in central Kolkata had come crashing, killing 27 people.

Shacks below Tuesday’s accident took place at 4.30 p.m. when a segment of the bridge that measured about 250 ft collapsed, bringing down one minibus, five cars, and three motorbikes.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata

Banerjee confirmed one death, but the casualties are likely to increase as labourers working in an adjacent Metro Rail site had built shacks under the bridge.

Till late evening, rescue workers were trying to crawl through the narrow gaps in the debris to rescue those trapped underneath. The Majerhat Bridge was built about five decades ago over the Sealdah-Budge Budge suburban railway line. Railway services were also disrupted due to the accident.

Probe ordered The Chief Minister, who is on an administrative visit to Darjeeling, said that a highpowered committee headed by the state Chief Secretary would probe the collapse.

West Bengal Governor K.N. Tripathi, who visited the accident site, said the maintenance of the bridge rested jointly with the State PWD and Railways and that the “matter needs to be inquired into.”

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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‘Striking’ results show Matcha Green Tea kills cancer cells It’s long been hailed as having beneficial health properties, such as aiding weight loss. But matcha green tea could be used to treat cancer - not just shed the pounds from your stomach, according to new research.

Laboratory trials have revealed the bitter tasting tea can keep cancer cells dormant, by knocking out their energy supply, stopping them from 'refuelling'.

University of Salford researchers have branded their results ‘striking’, as scientists continue to hunt down cures for cancer.

They assessed the effects of a matcha extract on breast cancer stem cells – which can transform into any tumour cell, divide and renew themselves.

The team delved into its

effects by using metabolic phenotyping, a scientific process that examines how compounds directly impact cells.

Through that, they found matcha tea extract suppresses the metabolism of mitochondria, considered the powerhouse of each cell.

Professor Michael Lisanti, who led the study, revealed the extract had shifted the cancer cells towards a ‘quiescent metabolic state’.

He added: ‘In other words, it [matcha] is preventing the cells from “refuelling” and therefore they [cancer cells] become inactive and die.’

The results were published in the scientific jour-

nal Aging. The researchers analysed how matcha strikes the cancer cells in hope of shining further light of its potential cancer-fighting properties. They uncovered

evidence it ‘strongly affected’ the mTOR signalling pathway, known to play a critical role in the metabolism of cancer cells.

The matcha extract also weakened components of a ribosome – which synthesise most of the proteins required by cells for their survival. Matcha could, in the future, be used in the same way as rapamycin – a drug that switches off the mTOR pathway, the researchers hope. Professor Lisanti added: ‘Matcha green tea is a natural product used as a dietary supplement with great potential

Popular children's toys 'squishies' contain cancer-causing chemicals The popular children's toys 'squishies' may contain cancer-causing chemicals, a new report suggests.

The foam toys, which are similar to stress balls and tend to be shaped like food or animals, have been found to contain cancer-causing substances, as well as chemicals that can lead to liver damage, breathing problems, infertility and eye irritation.

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency tested 12 squishies and found that all contained chemicals that could cause both long and short-term health problems.

Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, the Danish minister for environment and health, said: 'When all twelve toys contain high amounts of harmful substances, alarm bells begin to go off. This indicates that there may be an overall problem with all squishies'.

The results were shared with other EU countries,

however, the Toy Industries Europe (TIE) called the study 'flimsy', claiming testing just 12 squishies is insufficient to justify fears.

A spokesperson from TIE said: 'Parents in the UK can rest assured that toys bought from reputable sources are safe for children to play with.'

Scientists from the Danish agency analysed the chemicals given off by squishies if a child lay down to sleep while hugging the toy one hour after it was

removed from its packaging.

Results revealed such a child would be exposed to 'unacceptably high levels' of the chemical N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), which is readily absorbed through the skin and has been linked to liver toxicity, as well as constipation and vomiting.

In all 12 of the squishies analysed, the chemicals triethylenediamine, which has been linked to eye irritation and breathing difficulties, and cyclohexanone, which can cause drowsiness, were

both dangerously high.

Three days after the toys, which are usually imported from Japan, were removed from their packaging, DMF and triethylenediamine levels remained 'unacceptably high'.

Results, published on the agency's website, further suggest squishies contain various fragrances, which have previously been described as 'gender benders' due to them encouraging male-breast growth.

Speaking of the results, Mr Ellemann-Jensen added: 'I think all distributors and importers should take their responsibility seriously and remove all squishies from their shelves.

'They should not be returned to shelves until it can be documented that they do not emit chemicals that may be harmful to children.'

Earlier this year a British girl 'suffered chemical burns' after a squishies burst in her hand.

New survey reveals new giveaway signs of a midlife crisis includes turning vegan Buying a sports car may no longer be the tell-tale sign of a midlife crisis. Instead, turning vegan, signing up for a 'Tough Mudder' or training to run a marathon are the new giveaway signs, a poll suggests.

A survey of 3,000 adults, commissioned by Bupa Health Clinics, found turning 40 or 50 pushes many of us into crisis. This prompts many to make GP appointments and changes in diet, with more than half cutting

down on alcohol or giving up completely.

For men, becoming a vegan (24 per cent) and signing up to a competitive event (31 per cent) are key signs of a midlife turning point. And six per cent confess they are keen to get fitter because 'I have a younger partner'. Nearly half (47 per cent) of Brits feel considerably older and began worrying about their health after turning 30, 40 or 50, the poll also found.

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But women tend to feel the impact sooner than men. Women typically take stock of their health when they reach 30, while men are more likely to make health and lifestyle resolutions at 40. Half of women signed up to a gym or hired a personal trainer in the aftermath of a landmark birthday and 67 per cent adopted a new 'healthy eating plan'.

Cliches of the midlife crisis abound in popular culture, but scientific studies on the subject are divided.

A report published last year claimed to offer definitive proof of the effect in action, demonstrating a significant drop in happiness

between the ages of 30 and 50.

Despite the findings, some experts remain convinced that there is no link between hitting a certain age and plummeting levels of life happiness.

The report, based on data of more than a million people and published last August, was led by researchers at the University of Warwick and Dartmouth College.

The new survey comes after a leading psychologist warned last December the male midlife crisis is often made fun of it but it can in fact be a distressing experience.

for a range of treatments.

‘The effects on human breast cancer cells were very striking; the active ingredients in matcha having a surgical effect in knocking out certain signalling pathways.

‘Our results are consistent with the idea that matcha may have significant therapeutic potential, mediating the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells.’

Professor Lisanti and colleagues have previously found that bergamot, the ingredient in Earl Grey tea, kills cancer stem cells.

Matcha is a type of green tea in a powdered form. It originates from Japan, where it’s best known for its use in tea ceremonies.

Martin Ledwick, Cancer Research UK’s head information nurse, said: 'There is no strong evidence that green tea can help treat cancer in patients.

'Although this early study shows that matcha green tea can kill breast cancer cells grown in the lab, this is very different to drinking the tea.

'Other early stage research suggests that extracts from green tea could stop cancer cells from growing.

'But at the moment the evidence is not strong enough to know this for sure and we need verification from human studies to prove this.'

28 BOLLYWOOD

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8 - 14 September 2018

Netflix has the funniest response to Zomato's Radhika Apte tweet Following our fave Radhika Apte's multiple projects on Netflix, and the addition of her recentmost 'Ghoul' to the list, she has become the Internet's currentmost favourite meme.

With trolls and memes flying left and right, even Netflix India pitched in on the fun with an 'Omnipresent' video that said, “Whatever the role, Radhika Apt hai”. Just when we thought their creative team couldn't get any better, they came up with an epic reply to online food ordering platform Zomato India.

Aishwarya prefers hubby's film than Bhansali’s next?

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan are all set to reunite on camera after eight years, with Anurag Kashyap's 'Gulab Jamun'. It is reported that Ash refused Sanjay Leela Bhansali's to pick the one with her husband in it as dates of both the projects were coinciding. A source said, “Aishwarya had to choose between working with Bhansali and sharing screen space with her husband, as the dates for both films were clashing. And she chose the film with her husband.”

They said that Bhansali and Ash were in “developed stages of discussion” over a project when Kashyap offered 'Gulab Jamun' to her and Abhishek. “The choice was very clear.

Aishwarya had to choose between working with Bhansali again and sharing screen space with her husband in Anurag Kashyap's film, as the dates for both films clashed. Aishwarya chose to do the film with her husband. They haven't worked together for eight years but more importantly, both Abhishek and she have fabulous roles in 'Gulab Jamun'. They play characters they've never played before.”

Both the actors were last seen together in Mani Ratnam's 2010 film 'Raavan'.

Trying to cash in on the current Apte trend, Zomato tweeted a picture with a list of dishes that ended with 'Paneer'. They captioned the picture, “And you thought only Radhika is versatile”. Quick on their feet, Netflix India picked up one letter each from the different dishes listed, pointing out that RA-D-H-I-K-A was present in that picture too. They even struck out Zomato's contender Paneer, and wrote 'Omnipresent' instead.

Netflix India captioned the picture, “Well, she is everywhere.”

Apte has been getting a lot of movies and shows in the past two years. She has already featured in one movie, two web series, and one Netflix original film- Lust Stories.

Shahid to play boxer Dingko Singh in upcoming

After a hard-hitting movie on the Kuwait evacuation, filmmaker Raja Krishna Menon brings yet another movie, this time inspired by the life of real life boxer Ngangomg Dingko Singh, aka Dingko Singh. He has reportedly also cast Shahid Kapoor as lead.

A former Indian Navy officer, Dingko Singh is the first and only Asian gold medal winner boxer from India in the Bantamweight category. He was awarded with the highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri in the year 2013. Recently, Kapoor spoke about how he was impressed with the story of Dingko Singh, whom he

A considerably private person, Varun Dhawan and fashion designer girlfriend Natasha Dalal have remained tight-lipped about their relationship status. Often spotted together for years, Dhawan has kept a stubborn silence on his relation with Dalal. However, in a recent interview, the actor finally broke silence and has admitted that they are indeed in a relationship. When said that of late he seems to be getting more comfortable about being seen in public with Natasha that before, Dhawan said, “I didn't care about all this even before.

If you dig up some files from three years back, you'll see us together at several places.

I've always been comfortable about it. The idea was to make the other person comfortable. Not everyone is born in the industry. So not everyone’s excited to be part of the glamour world.”

considers as one of the forgotten heroes of the country. He said Singh is one of the superstars that the world isn't much aware of. Kapoor elaborated Dingko's story, and revealed that the boxer had undergone 13 rounds of chemotherapy when he was suffering from cancer. He also reminisced about how Singh believes that his biggest win was fighting cancer and not winning a gold medal at the young age of 19.

Kapoor has reportedly already begun prep for the film, and will be juggling between promotions of 'Batti Gul Meter Chalu', shoot of 'Arjun Reddy', and the Singh biopic.

Varun Dhawan finally admits to dating Natasha Dalal Regarding her influence on his life, he said, “Actually, I decided to do films like 'Badlapur' or 'October' because of her. It's because of her and some of our friends that I do slightly different films. They like such kind of cinema. What's special about our relationship is that I have someone, who isn't with me just because I'm an actor. It's amazing to have someone like that in our life. We bond over each other and that's the main thing. We've known each other for too long, so the connection is deep. It's like family. It's always been so.” Dhawan added that his first love is films. “After that come Natasha, my family and my friends. I just don't make relationships to let go of them.”

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8 - 14 September 2018

Amitabh to make Tamil film debut Bollywood's reigning king Amitabh Bachchan is all set to make his debut in the Tamil film industry, with bilingual film 'Uyarndha Manidhan', also starring SJ Suryah. The film was announced at an event in Chennai last week. Suryah shared a small video of Superstar Rajinikanth unveiling the title poster of the film that will be helmed by Tha

Tamilvaanan.

He tweeted, “Feeling blessed my hindi debut is with the ever green Indian superstar @SrBachchan … thx to God and UYARNDHA MANIDHAN (tamil/hindi) bilingual …. thx to our super star @rajinikanth blessing us with this welcoming video …”. The video also featured a congratulatory message from Rajinikanth saying, “My friend Amitabh Bachchan acting in a Tamil film is a matter of pride for the entire film industry. And I'm also happy for SJ Suryah who will enter the Hindi film industry with this film. I wish them all the best.”

The movie will be shot in Hindi and Tamil, marking Bachchan's Tamil debut and Suryah's debut in Bollywood.

Rahman teams with Bishop Briggs for his next Music maestro AR Rahman has collaborated with International musician and singer, Bishop Briggs for his upcoming film 'Love Sonia', directed by Tabrez Noorani.

Noorani's directorial debut, the human trafficking drama will see debutant Mrunal Thakur play the main lead, and other notable actors like Freida Pinto, Manoj Bajpayee, Richa Chaddha, Rajkummar Rao, Sai Tamhankar, and others.

Rahman released a statement saying, “Projects like these happen with a lot of good intention to propel positive changes in the society. It was a pleasure to work once again with Tabrez Noorani, this time as the director; Academy-nominated producer David Womark and the talented artist Bishop Briggs. I wish this project the very best!”

Briggs meanwhile said, “I feel so honoured to be part of what Tabrez has fearlessly brought to the light. Rahman is a complete icon and to have collaborated with someone who truly inspires me was an incredible experience I'll never forget. Tabrez and Rahman are legends and to have been able to work with them on something so special, that I know will make an imprint on the world, is something I am extremely grateful for.”

* Schedule is subject to change

MONDAY 10th - FRIDAY 14th September

TIME

16:00: 17:00: 17:30: 18:00: 18:30: 19:00: 19:30: 20:00: 20:30: 21:00: 21:30: 22:30:

TIME

18:30: 19:00: 19:30: 21:00: 22:00:

TIME

17:30: 18:30: 19:00: 19:30: 21:00: 22:00:

TV PROGRAM NAMES

RASOI SHOW THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 2 INTERNETWALA LOVE RADHA PREM KI DEEWANI UTTARAN DIL KI PUKAR AMRUTA GHADGE & FAMILY ISHQ MEIN MARJAWAN INTERNETWALA LOVE BALIKA VADHU - LAMHE PYAAR KE SHAITAAN - A CRIMINAL MIND ZINDAGI KI HAQEEQAT SE AAMNA SAAMNA

SATURDAY 15th September TV PROGRAM NAMES

UTTARAN DIL KI PUKAR INTERNETWALA LOVE - CATCH UP EPISODES ZINDAGI KI HAQEEQAT SE AAMNA SAAMNA SHAITAAN - A CRIMINAL MIND

SUNDAY 16th September

TV PROGRAM NAMES

WEEKEND KA MAHAEPISODE BALIKA VADHU - LAMHE PYAAR KE UTTARAN DIL KI PUKAR AMRUTA GHADGE & FAMILY - CATCH UP EPISODES ZINDAGI KI HAQEEQAT SE AAMNA SAAMNA SHAITAAN - A CRIMINAL MIND

MONDAY 10th - FRIDAY 14th September 19:00: SAVITRI DEVI COLLEGE & HOSPITAL 19:30: UDANN 20:00: SHAKTI ASTITVA KE EHSAaAS KI

With 'Love Sonia' trailer receiving major attention from industry legends, Sai Tamhankar, who plays a prostitute named Anjali in the film is more than happy with the reactions. She says, “It feels really nice when something you are a part of gets appreciated right at the start. It is a happy phase for all of us. A lot of time has passed since we shot for the film, and it has been quite a journey for all of us. I hope the film reaches out to as many as people as possible. It is very important that people get to know this story.”

She said that her character in the film is something she has never attempted or done before. “I am hungry for intriguing roles.

The audience can never figure out Anjali's character. You don't get to know whether she is a nice person or a mean person.” Sai said that as an actor, it was fun playing the character- a girl with no inhibitions and who doesn't care how she is dressed or looks. She said, “I like to play such characters where it is all about the craft and not about appearance. Having said that, mentally it was disturbing to play this character. It is really overwhelming to see the levels to which a human being can stoop down to.”

Wednesday September 12, 2018 00:37 Film : Dunno Y Na Jaane Kyun...

05:00 Film : The Perfect Girl 07:00 Film : Mrityudand 10:15 Film : Udaan 13:00 Film : Jahan Tum Le Chalo 15:53 Film : Hai Apna Dil Toh Awara * Schedule is subject to change 18:33 Film : Star Stop * Schedule is subject to change 19:05 Film : Inteha Sunday September 09, 2018 SATURDAY 8th - SUNDAY 9th September 22:20 Film : Yeh Hai Judgement Hanged Till Death 00:52 Film : Woh Lamhe Thursday September 13, 2018 TIME TV PROGRAM NAMES 05:00 Film : The Silent Heroes 01:02 Film : Loha 16:30 CID 07:15 Film : Jungle 05:00 Film : Huff! It's Too Much 10:20 Film : Andha Kanoon 17:30 Dus Ka Dum 07:00 Film : Aulad 13:42 Film : Raja Hindustani 10:16 Film : Dhadkan 18:30 Indian Idol 17:17 Film : It's Entertainment 13:46 Film : Anjaane - The Unknown 20:03 Film : Housefull 16:00 Film : Ek Se Bure Do 20:00 Indian Idol Monday September 10, 2018 19:00 Film : 1920 London 23:13 Film : Madhoshi 21:30 Dus Ka Dum 21:18 Film : Santa Banta Pvt Ltd 01:26 Film : Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar Friday September 14, 2018 22:30 Crime Patrol 05:00 Film : Bas Ek Tamanna 23:44 Film : Jungle 07:03 Film : Katilon Ke Kaatil 05:00 Film : I Don't Luv U 10:18 Film : Nazar MONDAY 10th - FRIDAY 14th September 07:15 Film : Pyar Ke Kabil 12:44 Film : Wah Taj 10:22 Film : Keemat TIME TV PROGRAM NAMES 15:00 Film : Holiday 13:48 Film : Aakhree Raasta 18:15 Film : Star Stop 17:05 Film : 36 China Town 18:30 Vighnaharta Ganesh 19:00 Film : Mela 20:00 Film : Don 2 22:30 Film : Kalyug 19:00 Mere Sai 22:59 Film : 1920 London Tuesday September 11, 2018 Saturday September 15, 2018 19:30 Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai 00:36 Film : Jurm 01:08 Film : Kaun?

05:00 Film : Future Toh Bright Hai Ji 05:00 Film : The Silent Heroes 20:00 Porus 07:11 Film : Tum Hasin Main Jawan 07:15 Film : 16 December 10:10 Film : Naraaz 20:30 Main Maayke Chali Jaaungi 10:20 Film : Luv Shuv Pyaar Vyar 12:40 Film : It's Entertainment 12:48 Film : Four Pillars Of Basement 21:00 Kaun Banega Crorepati 15:26 Film : Housefull 15:03 Film : Gangster 18:30 Film : Star Stop 17:25 Film : Santa Banta Pvt Ltd 22:30 Dil Hi Toh Hai 19:03 Film : Ghatak 19:48 Film : Main Tera Hero 23:00 Crime Patrol 22:20 Film : Gangster 22:22 Film : Hey Bro SUNDAY 16th September SATURDAY 15th September

TIME

* Schedule is subject to change

Sai “hungry” for intriguing roles

20:30: 21:00: 21:30: 22:00: 22:30:

TU AASHIQUI ROOP BEPANNAAH SILSILA KAUN HAI?(Friday only)

TV PROGRAM NAMES

17:30: ARIJIT SINGH INDIA TOUR 19:30: DESI BEAT 3.0

20:00: NAAGIN - SEASON 3

21:00: DANCE DEEWANE FINALE

TIME

TV PROGRAM NAMES

16:00: IIFA WARDS 2018

20:00: NAAGIN - SEASON 3

21:00: BIGG BOSS - PREMIERE

30 UK

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More than 2,000,000 who voted Parents Biggest Back to School for Brexit now want to stay in EU Worries Revealed Research suggests 2.6 million people who voted for Brexit in 2016 now want to stay in the European Union.

Those calling for a second referendum on leaving the EU say enough people have switched from supporting Leave to supporting Remain that it would overturn the 2016 result. The findings came from two polls of more than 15,000 people taken before and after Theresa May revealed her controversial Chequers plan for Brexit.

Best for Britain and Hope not Hate commissioned analysis of the two YouGov polls and found that one million Remain voters now back Brexit.

Best For Britain wants to put an end to Brexit altogether

That means an overall switch of 1.6 million people who first voted Leave but now want to stay in the EU. Labour MP David Lammy, a prominent supporter of Best for Britain, said: ‘After two years of stalling negotiations, job

Coming Events

l 'Meditation for World Peace' on September 16, 6.15 pm to 7.45 pm, at Global Cooperation House, 65-69 Pound Lane, London NW10 2HH. l Launch of best-selling author Shiv Khera's new book 'You Can Achieve More' on September 10, 6.00 pm to 8.30 pm, at Nehru Centre, 8 South Audley Street, W1K 1HF. l Brahma Kumaris present 'Expanding Possibilities', a talk

by Geoff Marlow on September 13, 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm, at Global Co-operation House, 65-69 Pound Lane, London NW10 2 HH. l 'Non-violence in Today's World', Janmashtami celebration

by Brahma Kumaris, on September 6, 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm, at Global Co-operation House, London NW10 2HH. l Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra's Satsang to be held on September 8, Saturday, 6.30 pm onwards, at Brent Indian Association Building, 116 Ealing Road, Wembley, HA0 4TH.

Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha's head Param Pujya Mahant Swami is currently in Ahmedabad. He reached the city on September 2, from Vadodara, when he met a large group of eagerly waiting saints at the Shahibaug temple. Youngsters and children performed various dances in the event to welcome him. On September 3, Janmashtami was celebrated in the presence of Mahant Swami. In his address to all haribhakts and his devoted followers, Swami said that God come down amongst men to shower endearment on their followers. Lord Krishna came down to Earth and through his character, gave his fellow villagers a divine chance to be around him. Swami will continue his vicharan in Ahmedabad till September 23.

Sneh Joshi

losses and skills shortages in the NHS, millions more voters have seen through the lies of Brexit. ‘With the Tory government in the pocket of its hard right fringes, it’s up to Labour to give these voters a voice.

‘Labour members, Labour voters and many Labour MPs remain strongly pro-European. ‘Our leadership needs to wake up and smell the coffee, by supporting a people’s vote on the final deal.’

The pro-Remain group has launched a £200,000 publicity campaign calling for an ’emergency stop button’ to halt Brexit.

If they haven't already, children across the country will shortly be returning to the classroom after the summer break.

There will no doubt be some nerves as new research by leading tuition provider Explore Learning found that (87%) of parents feel their children lack confidence in the classroom.

While (81%) of parents think it was easier to be a child when they were young, with no pressure from social media and less tests.

Getting used to new friends and teachers could be another challenge as more than a third of parents also shared (36%) that their children lack confidence in new situations and when meeting new people.

The jump in work level, early mornings and upcoming exams were also playing on parents minds.

The biggest back to school worries cited by parents were: - Making new friends (55%) - The increased difficulty

of work (55%) - Lack of confidence (52%) - Making progress (51%) - Forgetting some of what they have learnt last year (51%) - Exams (51%) - Early mornings/getting into a routine again (50%) - Homework (49%) - Getting on with their new teacher (48%) - Falling behind over the summer (47%) In a survey of 1,000 parents of children aged five to 14, mums and dads reported concerns about their children getting back into the

Grenfell firefighter saved colleague's life as falling debris almost killed them A firefighter has recalled how he saved his own life and that of a colleague by diving out of the way of a charred window frame which plunged from Grenfell Tower .

Watch manager Alan Moore said windows were "popping constantly", causing shattered glass to rain down from the burning high-rise block, a shard of which burnt his neck.

One of his roles on June 14 last year was safety officer, guiding crews and residents in and out of the

tower safely.

Intermittent black smoke made it difficult to see falling debris, while police officers lent their riot shields to help protect people from being hit.

Mr Moore recalled a near-miss as he attempted to help a senior officer, either a borough commander or deputy assistant commissioner (DAC), reach the main entrance of the tower a few hours into the fire.

Mr Moore, who has more than 30 years' experi-

major changes in your relationships, as a result of your own radical personal transformation.

Your ideas about love and partnership are changing daily. As with most things, your health waxes and wanes. You might even find the energy to keep up with your projected gym schedule. No matter how hard you are working, try to make time for relaxation.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 You know you have no choice

but to streamline and reassess your priorities before haphazardly saying yes to everything that smells like a potential opportunity. Try to create a balance between expansion and conservation. Jupiter in your opposite sign makes you feel invincible, but the way to utilise this transit is to sift through all the opportunities that come your way.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 There seems to be some pres-

sure on financial affairs and maybe a problem to contend with in regard to a joint venture.

If you feel that something has been hanging in the balance, whatever happens you will get a clearer picture of the situation eventually. Allow matters to ride as impatience will not give you the whole picture.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 It’s all about communications, as they take centre stage this week. Regarding love there will be a struggle between devotion and freedom. You need to feel completely consumed by the passion of your lover, and yet you need personal space to explore your own thing.

This is a good time to appreciate what you have already created in your life. Of course, there are still challenging issues on both a personal and practical level. To get here you may have overcome obstacles by making important decision and choices that set the direction of your life.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

At work sometimes a little upheaval and chaos is exactly what you need to set things right again. There’s no need to be complacent: the time is now. Unpredictable energies continue to influence your health sector, bringing erratic highs and lows. The key for you as always is to remain calm and collected.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 From a financial point of view take stock of where you’re at this moment. Opportunities abound, professionally and socially, so make the right choices. There may be something to sort out with a partner, particularly of a financial nature. Please make sure that it won’t be all work and no play.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

You could work with someone on a project that calls for clear communication and a high degree of cooperation. You may also find yourself thinking deeply about what it is you really want to do, and who you really want to be with. The decisions you make now will be important for the path you take.

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ence with the London Fire Brigade, later regrouped with his crew a short distance from the tower.

The UK’s leading Vedic writer and TV personality

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 You have been going through

swing of things but they had good faith in their school knowledge and in teachers.

Despite (51%) worrying about exams, more than eight in ten believed their children receive enough exam support (82%).

The same number (82%) also believed they understand what is expected of their child in the academic year and (80%) knew what their children would be working on.

A further (78%) were also happy with the level of feedback they receive from school.

Karma Yoga House 12 Hoxton Market (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080 Fax: 020 7749 4081 www.abplgroup.com

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SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

You may find yourself hard at work behind the scenes, although that may not be apparent to others. You may find yourself caught up in a whirlwind of activity, with opportunities to advance on both the inner and outer level. There’s a sparkle to your social life and much enjoyment from being in touch with other people.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

Work is going to play a great part for some of you, who are widening their horizons. An important time to build too, as Saturn can be very severe and cold especially regarding relationships. Regardless of the limits, you have the capacity to turn the course of your life in a more fulfilling direction.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 You’re likely to find yourself weighing practical considerations with long–term goals.

Certainly you’re entering a very important period of your life where, by working hard and being focused, you can go a long way towards realising your ideals. Currently your ruler Saturn is helping you to define who you really are.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

There are subtle transformations taking shape in you life and a feeling of helpful influences in the background. There is much to suggest that you are in tune with your inner self and in touch with those hidden forces which often seem to take a guiding hand in one's life. Focus on essentials and establish a solid foundation, so that you feel secure.

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8 - 14 September 2018

Former India captain Ajit Wadekar is no more Former India cricket captain Ajit Wadekar, who led the country to its first win in England in 1971, passed away in Mumbai recently at the age of 77 after prolonged illness. Wadekar made his debut in 1966 against the West Indies and went on to represent India in 37 Tests and two one-day internationals. He was one of the few cricketers to represent India as a Test player, captain, coach and also went on to become the chairman of selectors.

Wadekar was honoured with Arjuna award and the Padma Shri. Born in

Bombay, Wadekar's father wanted him to study mathematics so that he could become an engineer, but Wadekar preferred to play cricket.

As an aggressive lefthand batsman, Wadekar went on to score 2,113 runs at an average of 31.07 in Tests.

However, after making his first-class debut in the 1958-59 season (for erstwhile Bombay), he had to wait for almost eight years to receive his first international cap. His only Test century. a matchwinning 143, came against New Zealand in Wellington

in 1968.

Wadekar’s last Test was against England in 1974. As India suffered a 0-3 loss during the 1974 series, he stepped down from

captaincy and subsequently retired from Test cricket.

Wadekar made his ODI debut later that year but only played a couple of matches after which he

hung his boots from international cricket. Apart from being a brilliant no 3 batsmen, the southpaw was an equally capable fielder in the slip cordon. Incidentally, Wadekar was also legendary Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar’s first Ranji and Test captain.

After retiring from cricket, Wadekar also worked as coach/manager of the Indian cricket team during the 1990s alongside Mohammad Azharuddin.

Under his tutelage, India became a force to be reckoned with in home conditions.

For his

invaluable contribution to Indian cricket, Wadekar was also awarded the CK Nayudu Lifetime achievement award. He was cremated with full state honours. Many cricketers, as well as cricket fans in large numbers attended his funeral. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several former India cricketers expressed condolences over the demise of Wadekar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a condolence message said: Ajit Wadekar will be remembered for his rich contribution to Indian cricket.

Wheelchair Basketball Tournament to raise funds for disabled women Path to Success, a leading disability charity, will conduct Wheelchair Basketball Tournament on 25th September to raise money to support disabled women in sport. The tournament will take place at Copper Box Arena in the Olympic Park and the funds raised will support women who aspire to represent Great Britain in 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Corporate teams are being invited to

donate and take part in the tournament. Teams will be coached and joined on court

by Paralympians Louise Sugden and Ann Wild OBE, while Channel 4 presenter Jordan Jarrett-Bryan will also coach and compere the event. Path to Tokyo 2020 will offer financial support to 12 women in four disability sports: ParaBadminton, Para Powerlifting, Wheelchair Tennis and Wheelchair

Ramprakash on shortlist to be Middlesex coach England's batting coach Mark Ramprakash has emerged as a leading candidate for the head coach job at Middlesex.

Ramprakash, who started his career with the club and had a brief spell as batting coach before taking

Mark Ramprakash

the England job in late 2014, is understood to be on a shortlist of four or five names. Richard Johnson, the Middlesex bowling coach, and former New Zealand player James Franklin were also on the shortlist for the job. Former England coach Andy Flower has shown interest initially, but withdrawn from the race after a meeting with the club officials. Flower is currently acting as director of England cricket in place of Andrew Strauss who is absent on compassionate grounds. Richard Scott, the former Middlesex head coach, was sacked in July. Johnson was put in charge of the team for the rest of the season.

Middlesex finished bottom of the South Group in the Vitality Blast, in which they were coached

by Daniel Vettori, were sixth in the South Group in the Royal London Cup but have kept their slim promotion hopes alive in the County Championship by winning their last two games; the most recent, against Northants, despite being obliged to follow-on.

Basketball.

Since the disability sport is not being funded in the UK, the funds

raised will come in handy for deserving candidates.

Due to lack of support,

participation of disabled women in sport has fallen by 10% since the London 2012 Paralympics. Path to Success’s tournament is an opportunity for able-bodied people to take part alongside Paralympians and to learn more about the hard-working disabled athletes.

Anita Choudhrie, Founder of Path to Success, said: ‘I am deeply inspired by the skill, determination

and positive attitude of all of the Path to Success athlete. Our mission is to secure the legacy of disability sport in the UK and to inspire a new generation of British female Paralympic stars. I’m really excited to welcome both able-bodied and disabled people alike to the latest edition of our charity tournament, and I’m confident the day will be a great success once again.’

Nothing to boast about India's performance in Asian games India brought home a total of 69 medals - 15 gold, 24 silver and 30 bronze - from the Asian Games 2018 in Indonesia to surpass the medal count from 2010 Games in Guangzhou, China.

This is also India's best ever overall medal tally, equaling country's joint-best effort at the Asian Games since the inaugural edition in 1951. The total of 24 silver medals is also the highest ever in Asiad history for India.

But India's performance was below par compared with the performance of China, Japan, S Korea, Indonesia etc. With its vast population, India's performance is pathetic. In China sports is a state-funded activity and sportsmen have nothing to worry about as the country will take care of all your needs. In South Korea, Japan and other countries, corporate houses and coming up to support sports in a big way. In India, except in some states like Haryana, other states or corporate houses are lagging behind in supporting budding sportsmen. You need state or corporate support to achieve your potential. The treatment the yesteryear sportsmen in their old age is also a dampener for the budding stars. The officials running the sports organisations are more interested keeping their positions than in the welfare of the youngsters under your care. If India wanted to perform better in sporting events, the states and corporate houses have to come forward to support the deserving young sportsmen.

Here is how India fared in key sporting events: Athletics - Medals: 17 (7 gold, 10 silver and 2 medals) - Athletics saw most medals with seven gold medals coming from track and field. The results turned out to be better than how India fared at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games where they picked 13 medals in total. Neeraj Chopra and Swapna Barman won gold medals in the javelin throw and heptathlon respectively. India continued their dominance in women's team relay, bagging gold. Jinson Johnson's gold was first 1500m medal in 20 years, while Manjit Singh's 800m gold was possible after 32 years and Arpinder Singh's triple jump gold came after 48 years.

Archery - Medals: 2 (2 silver medals) - India's compound archery team missed out on gold by

a whisker. The India Men's team comprising of Rajat Chauhan, Aman Saini and Abhishek Verma, failed to grab the yellow metal after a rare stroke of bad luck.

Badminton - Medals: 2 (1 silver and 1 bronze medals) - With PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal bagging a medal each in the individual event. It is for the first time in Asiad history that female shuttlers won medals in the individual event at the Asian games for India.

Boxing - Medals: 2 (1 gold, and 1 bronze medals) - The expectations were high from the Indian boxers as they claimed nine medals at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast earlier this year. But they could only win two medals, with Amit Panghal bagging gold on the final day.

Shooting Rahi Sarnobat Medals: 10 (2 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals) Indian shooters delivered the goods at the Asian Games with a total of 10 medals.

Teenagers Saurabh Chaudhary and Shardul Vihan made headlines after excellent performances. Rahi Sarnobat secured the second gold medal for India in the women's 25m pistol event. Sanjeev Rajput won a silver in 50m rifle 3 positions men, while Heena Sidhu secured bronze in 10m air pistol event.

Hockey - Medals: 2 (1 silver and 1 bronze medals) - Both, the men's and the women's team could have wrapped the gold medal at the Asian Games. Men's team was considered strong favourites to win gold, but failed to deliver at the crunch as they lost against Malaysia. They finally won the bronze by beating Pakistan. The women's team lost to Japan to claim silver.

Kabaddi - Medals: 2 (1 silver and 1 bronze medals) - India failed to win gold in a sport they have dominated since it was introduced for the first time in the tournament in 1990. For the first time, India men's team had not won the gold medal in Kabaddi at the Asian Games. To add to the disappointment, India women's team also failed to grab the gold after losing 27-24

against Iran.

Rowing - Medals: 3 (1 gold, and 2 bronze medals) - The rowers fought back on the final day to secure a gold and two bronze medals after Dattu Bhokanal, who was expected to win a medal in men's singles sculls had a horrible final, in which he finished in the last position.

Squash - Medals: 5 (1 silver and 4 bronze medals) - In the women's team event, Joshna Chinappa, Dipika Pallikal, Sunanya Kuruvilla and Tanvi Khanna won the silver medal. Saurav Ghoshal came home with a bronze in the men's singles department. In the men's team event, Saurav Ghosal, Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu, Ramit Tandon and Mahesh Mangaonkar clinched bronze. Joshna and Dipika won bronze in the women's singles section.

Table tennis - Medals: 2 (2 bronze medals) India secured two medals with Sharath Kamal, G Sathiyan along with Manav Vikash, Anthony Arputharaj and Harmeet Desai winning the bronze medal in men’s Team event. Kamal combined with Manika Batra to win the bronze in mixed doubles.

Tennis - Medals: 3 (1 gold, 2 bronze medals) - Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan won the men's doubles gold, while Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Ankita Raina won bronze medal in the men's and women's singles event.

Wrestling - Medals: 3 (2 gold, and 1 bronze medals) - Bajrang Punia won gold in 65 kg freestyle and Vinesh Phogat clinched gold in the women's freestyle 50kg category. Phogat outplayed Japan's Yuki Irie to take a 6-2 win and become the first Indian female wrestler to win an Asiad gold. Divya Kakran also won the bronze medal in freestyle 68 kg wrestling for India.

Bridge - Medals: 3 (1 gold, and 2 bronze medals) - Pranab Bardhan and Shibhnath Sarkar took India's gold medal count to 15.

Equestrian - Medals: 2 (2 silver medals) Fouaad Mirza ended India's 36 years of wait to win an individual medal in the equestrian event since 1982. He won the silver medal in individual jumping with a score of 26.40. The Indian team comprising of Rakesh Kumar, Ashish Malik, and Jitender Singh, apart from Mirza, also claimed the silver with a score of 121.30 in the team event.

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www.asian-voice.com

8 - 14 September 2018

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Alastair Cook to retire after after Oval test Alastair Cook, England’s record Test run scorer, will play his 161st and final Test match at the Oval this week after announcing his retirement. During the fourth Test Cook had told those closest to him about his decision to retire, before announcing it to the whole squad. His decision is another big step towards Joe Root stamping his own mark on the England team with Cook’s retirement now leaving James Anderson and Stuart Broad as the last remaining members of the team that reached No 1 in the Test rankings in 2011.

From the moment Cook walked to the team room as a young player in Nagpur in 2006, it was clear to everyone that he was a special person. At that time none of them realised how good a player he was, but he

fitted in straightaway and had the air of an international cricketer. He had scored a number of runs from schoolboy through to county level and had made a double hundred against Australia for Essex which showed his confidence. He was a natural player and was not overawed.

The fact that he had opened the batting for for 12 years and handled the captaincy for four of those shows his immense mental strength. He is one of the strongest sportsmen England have ever produced. He did not suffer any serious injury during his career shows his fitness.

Cook will be given a grand send off this week, and as one of cricket’s strongest minds he should be able to handle the inevitable swirl of emotions as he leaves a

game that has been his life.

He admitted in a statement that he has become worn down by the pressures of Test cricket after a summer in which he

has averaged just 18 and made only one score above 50. Cook’s love of the game remains strong however, for he confirmed he will play one more season for Essex in

2019, repaying the debt he owes to the club that gave him his chance in cricket.

“After much thought and deliberation over the last few months I have decided to announce my retirement from international cricket at the end of this Test series against India,” he said.

“Although it is a sad day, I can do so with a big smile on my face knowing I have given everything and there is nothing left in the tank. I have achieved more than I could have ever imagined and feel very privileged to have played for such a long time alongside some of the greats of the English game.

The thought of not sharing the dressing room, again, with some of my teammates was the hardest part of my decision, but I know the timing is right.

“I have loved cricket my whole life from playing in the garden as a child and will never underestimate how special it is to pull on an England shirt. So I know it is the right time to give the next generation of young cricketers their turn to entertain us and feel the immense pride that comes with representing your country.”

Cook thanked the England supporters and Graham Gooch, the man he replaced as England’s leading all time run scorer.

Cook has scored 12,254 runs for England and hit 32 Test centuries, his last being 244 in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. He has made 158 consecutive Test match appearances, a world record, and captained the side for four years winning two Ashes series at home.

ICC Test Rankings: Kohli remains No 1 batsman

Kohli & company's dismal show disappoints Indians

India captain Virat Kohli remains the number 1 batsman in the latest ICC test rankings which were released after the conclusion of the fourth Test between England and India.

A number of shifts, in the ranking order, were witnessed as England youngster, Sam Curran, jumped up the rankings along with Moeen Ali and Jos Buttler.

England bowlers England bowlers have performed emphatically well this time. Moeen Ali, the Player of the Match in the fourth Test, has leapfrogged to 33rd spot in ICC Test Bowlers rankings. Sam Curran also rose up the rankings to reach 55th spot. Further, he has been ranked as the 43rd best batsman. James Anderson continues his run as the undisputed number one Test bowler.

Virat Kohli has been brilliant in this series, even though he failed to upset matters and clinch the series for India. Kohli has managed to amass 544 runs in the first four Tests. Cheteshwar Pujara, after his ton at Southampton, reached the 6th place with England's Joe Root taking up the 5th spot.

Kohli's 937 points tally is the best ever in his career. Indian bowlers have also risen up the ranks as well. India's Mohammad Shami has returned to the top 20 after picking up six wickets in the fourth Test at Southampton. Bumrah's total points tally of 487 is the best in his career. He is on the 37th spot among Test cricket bowlers. Ravindra Jadeja continues to be on the 3rd spot among Test bowlers with Ravichandran Ashwin being ranked 8th.

The list of top 10 Test batsmen and bowlers Batting: Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, Kane Williamson, David Warner, Joe Root,

The dismal performance by Kohli and his company in the fourth test at Southampton has disheartened the Indian cricket fans.

Despite India’s commendable performance in the third Test at Trent Bridge, the fourth Test at Southampton once again saw the visitors not capitalising on opportunities.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s 132 in the first innings had raised hopes with India taking a slight lead of 27 runs after England were bowled out for 246. But given a target of 245 in the second innings, the Indian batting simply couldn’t step up and fell short by 60 runs.

The climate and the conditions of pitch

Cheteshwar Pujara, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram.

Bowling: James Anderson, Kagiso Rabada, Ravindra Jadeja, Vernon Philander, Pat Cummins, Trent Boult, Rangana Herath, Ravichandran Ashwin, Neil Wagner and Josh Hazlewood.

rest of the batting order’s lacklustre approach to playing the swinging ball- again Kohli was the only exception here- exposed the lack of preparation. That said, the Indian bowlers did impress with the likes of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah using the English conditions well. But what was missing was overall team performance with all departments clicking over several Tests.

Having already gone down 3-1 in the five match series, the England tour will go down as another missed opportunity for India to improve its overseas record. As Kohli said, England were braver in tough situations

England name squad for fifth Test England selectors have named a 13-man squad for the fifth Specsavers Test match against India at Kia Oval starting on Friday September 7. Ollie Pope will play for Surrey in the first two days of their Specsavers County Championship Division One match against Essex at Chelmsford and will join the rest of the Test squad on Thursday morning.

England Test squad Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain, Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jimmy Anderson (Lancashire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Alastair Cook (Essex), Sam Curran (Surrey), Keaton Jennings (Lancashire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire) in England will always favour the local teams, while his teammates need to learn the art of but a little more patience and application on crossing the finishing line. Even if Indians the part of Indian batsmen would have were able to tame the weather and win the changed the outcome. While England spinfifth test, it is not going to change the outner Moeen Ali picked up four crucial wickets, come of the series. Kohli said that this team including that of captain Virat Kohli, India's cannot be satisfied with just competing overpremier spinner R Ashwin could not get seas and it has to learn the art of crossing the much purchase from the track. It calls for line and win tests in adverse conditions. close scrutiny of the technique employed by When we come so close, there is an art of Ashwin. crossing the line as well, which we will have Ultimately, India haven’t been consistent to learn. We have the ability, which is why we throughout the series. It was only skipper are getting close to a result. But when the Kohli who could be relied upon to put up a pressure situation comes, how we react to it, fight in tough situations. While the woes of is something we have to work on a bit, Kohli India’s opening batting pair continue, the said.