AV 02nd March 2024

Britain’s oldest possible Indian woman celebrates 109th birthday

SEE PAGE - 09

“The world is not always designed with accessibility in mind”

SEE PAGE - 14

Maryam Nawaz becomes first woman CM of Pakistan's Punjab

Mother-daughter bond: Celebrating the power of shared language on Mother's Day

Searching for peace this Ramadan

The holy month of Ramadan is upon us, and it’s that time of year when we all can take a step back, reflect on the past, and work towards improving our actions in the present for a harmonious future.

Continued on page 02

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS HELPLESS IN BRITAIN

As hundreds of children with special education needs face year-long waits for support, experts in the community urge monitoring of the impact of structural inequalities before authorities in Britain.

Shefali Saxena

In England, hundreds of children with special educational needs have faced year-long waits for support as local authorities struggle to meet demands. Freedom of information requests reveal cases where children waited over two years for an education, health, and care plan (EHCP).

Data published in The Guardian suggests that over 20,000 cases exceeded the 20week limit, with about 3,000 waiting for a year or more.

PM Modi offers prayer at submerged city of Dwarka, inaugurates Sudarshan Setu

Continued on page 02

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his two-day visit to Gujarat inaugurated a slew of projects in Dwarka and Rajkot districts. He held a grand roadshow from Jamnagar airport, where he was greeted by people amid chants of 'Modi, Modi' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'.

Continued on page 25

PM Modi inaugurates Sudarshan Setu in Gujarat

Councils attribute the delays to a surge in EHCP requests coupled with inadequate funding to address the increasing needs Since 2019, EHCP issuances have risen by 72%, while central government funding for special education needs and disabilities (SEND) increased by only 42%

In a study published in the Archives of Childhood in 2021, an assessment of over 53,000 children in the UK who reached a good level of development showed just under 10% were identif ied to have special educational needs However, nearly half of children from a cohort of over 20,000 children who did not reach a good level of development were found to have SEN, and White British children had higher odds of being identif ied early compared to their BAME peers This study demonstrated that structural inequalities may exist in SEN identif ication from BAME backgrounds

New research from Oxford University reveals disparities in Special Educational Needs (SEN) identif ication among ethnic minority children compared to White British peers According to the report, Asian pupils (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Other Asian) are only half as likely to be diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) as their White British counterparts Conversely, Black Caribbean and Mixed White & Black Caribbean pupils are twice as likely to be identif ied with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs

Conducted by Professor Steve Strand, the study analysed SEN identif ication in 5-16-year-olds across England, marking the f irst detailed examination of its kind in the UK With ethnic minorities comprising onethird (30%) of the student population, the issue is pressing The report underscores potential

barriers like limited awareness, language barriers, and cultural differences influencing diagnosis and support access Additionally, f indings from the NAS s Diverse Perspectives report, involving 130 parents and carers, shed light on the challenges faced by children with autism from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, emphasising the urgent need for inclusive policies in schools

Dr Jyoti Srini vasan, a senior Paediatrician from Milton Keynes, reiterated that while many affluent parents from South Asian backgrounds can access special needs assessment privately and thus help their children receive the SEN expertise that they need, this is not available for many from less affluent backgrounds Most children with special needs are dependent on the schools to complete the screening tools and make the appropriate referrals, which then puts them on the waiting list until a formal diagnosis can be made

Children of parents who have limited command of English, are from lower socio-economic backgrounds, have lower parental educational achievement, are less able to engage with their child's development, are unable to identify when children fall back developmentally and often are unable to advocate for their child to receive appropriate attention, so necessar y steps are not taken for their diagnosis and allocation of funding to receive the expert attention they need

Sreep riya Bh owmik, a SEN teach er previously from London with many years of experience, described how affluent families who could afford the £4000 tests required in the private sector conf irm the diagnosis and then have the agency to f ight the Councils or educational authorities were able to secure necessar y resources to help their children progress By contrast, she talked of many families who have children suffering years of neglect and developmental delay due to waiting lists and limited access to resources

Another aspect of her work demonstrated the postcode lotter y between different councils and educational authorities, such as Maidenhead and Berkshire being showcase regions while Southwark in London receives additional funding for regeneration

Other areas, such as Suffolk, have much lower diagnostic rates and longer waiting lists Some parents of migrant professionals from South Asia often have to go back to their home countries for their children to be diagnosed and come with full SEN recommendations to access the resources needed

P ro fesso r Indranil Ch akravorty o f th e BAPIO Institute fo r Health Research acknowledged that not only is there a need for a huge increase in SEN funding, but also for monitoring of the impact of structural inequalities before Britain can achieve a sense of equality and justice for its children irrespective of their background Councils like Derbyshire are investing additional funds to improve EHCP processing, but the strain on resources remains a challenge Even after EHCPs are issued, parents face daunting appeals and tribunals to secure support, often leading to prolonged battles for suitable placements

One case in York involved twins offered only one place in a special school, echoing similar struggles seen by families with multiples In Guildford, twin brothers faced disparities in education despite one having special needs Surrey Council, heavily

affected by EHCP backlogs, has faced criticism for delays Despite efforts to reduce wait times, challenges persist due to staff ing issues and inadequate resources The government emphasises its commitment to improving support, citing increased funding and expanded special school placements However, families continue to endure the emotional toll of prolonged waits and administrative hurdles in accessing vital support ser vices

In addition to the challenges faced by families waiting for EHCPs, the issue extends to the ongoing struggles even after plans are secured Parents often f ind themselves navigating a labyrinth of bureaucracy, appeals, and inadequate provisions, compounding the stress and uncertainty

Moreover, the plight of families in Surrey reflects a broader nationwide concern regarding EHCP delays and the strained SEND system While efforts are being made to address the backlog and improve ser vices, the reality on the ground often falls short of expectations, leaving families caught in a cycle of bureaucratic red tape and inadequate resources

As policymakers and authorities grapple with these challenges, there is a pressing need for systemic reforms that prioritise the well-being and educational rights of children with special needs Adequate funding, streamlined processes, and a holistic approach to

support ser vices are essential to ensuring that ever y child receives the education and care they deser ve

Ultimately, the true measure of a society's progress and compassion lies in how it supports its most vulnerable members

The stories of families waiting for EHCPs ser ve as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by children with special needs and the urgent need for meaningful action to address systemic shortcomings and uphold their rights

Continued from page 1

Ramadan is

11,

to

on

the

i g h t i n g o f t h e m o o n i n

and it will end on April 9, 2024 Eid al-Fitr is expected to occur on April 10, 2024, or April 11, 2024, d e p e n d i n g o n t h e m o o n sightings British Muslims go to the m o s q u e fo r i f t a r (e v e n i n g meal that breaks the fast) and taraweeh (special night prayer), and visit friends and family Ramadan is celebrated in the UK with grandeur and special lights, not just in London’s West End or the UK capital at large, which is b e t t e r t h a n m o s t m a j o r European cities The signif ic a n c e o f l i g h t i n g u p P i c c a d i l l y Ci r c u s d u r i n g R a m a d a n fo r Mu s l i m s i n Br i t a i n a n d a r o u n d t h e world cannot be overstated C o m m u n i t y i f t a r s a c r o s s places of worship and faith m a r k t h e h o l y m o n t h o f Ramadan

countr y reached 4,103, more t h a n t w i c e t h e f i g u r e i n 2022, amid a surge of threats, h a t e s p e e c h , v i o l e n c e a n d d a m a g e t o Je w i s h i n s t i t utions and property, the CST said

Te l l M A M A , a l e a d i n g hate crime monitoring agency, documented over 2,000 anti-Muslim cases in the four m o n t h s a f t e r H a m a s 's October 7 attacks, the highest number since its founding in 2011 Of these cases, 901 were offline and 1,109 were online, with over 65%

targeting women

A s i a n Vo i c e c o l u m n i s t

Kapil Dudakia writes, “The far right doesn’t distinguish between one type of ‘Asian’ or another type of ‘Asian’ To them, we all look the same

The Islamists seem to attack anyone who does not agree with them or their per verse i d e o l o g y T h e Po l i c e c a n’t s t o p t a k i n g t h e k n e e , i t s e e m s t h e y a r e s p i n e l e s s a g a i n s t s u c h e x t r e m i s t s

Me a n w h i l e , U S P r e s i d e n t Jo e Bi d e n s a i d Monday he hopes a ceasef ire in Gaza could start, adding that Israel was ready to halt o p e r a t i o n s d u r i n g t h e Muslim month of Ramadan

Asked during an election campaign trip to New York w h e n s u c h a n a g r e e m e n t might start, Biden replied: "I hope by the end of the weekend " My n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y advisor tells me that we're close, we're close, we're not done yet My hope is by next Monday we'll have a ceasef ire," Biden told reporters

" R a m a d a n's c o m i n g u p and there's been an agreement by the Israelis that they would not engage in activities during Ramadan as well, in order to give us time to get all the hostages out," Biden said

B u t t h e g l o b a l s o c i opolitical situation is currently war-ridden, both literally and f iguratively In the past, w e h a v e s e e n g r o u p s l i ke Ex t e n s i o n R e b e l l i o n ( E R ) , Black Lives Matter (BLM), LGBTIQA+, Climate change, Just Stop Oil, CND, EDL, I s l a m i s t s , K h a l i s t a n i s a n d countless others come out on our streets under any pretence and hold the nation to r a n s o m To d a y, t h e r e ’ s a steep rise in antisemitism, Islamophobia, Hinduphobia and absolute unrest within faiths to keep peace in the society

T h e n u m b e r o f a n t isemitic incidents across the

Maybe the day is not too far before we see our troops on our streets to provide a visible assurance for our protection This is Great Britain 2024!” (See P10)

It i s h i g h t i m e , t h i s n a t i o n m u s t p r i o r i t i s e resolving internal conflicts to address pressing concerns, including the cost of living c r i s i s , a n d s t e e r c l e a r o f unnecessar y turmoil caused by political polarisation (See P3 for more)

Ramadan is not just a time for fasting and prayer b u t a l s o fo r p r o m o t i n g peace, kindness, and understanding among individuals a n d c o m m u n i t i e s Br i t a i n needs this more than ever

This year, in our special coverage for Ramadan, Asian Voice speaks to the Sweaty Betty Foundation which has launched the Sports Hijab line to promote inclusivity in physical activity, addressing b a r r i e r s f a c e d b y Mu s l i m girls Meanwhile, Dr Irfan Khawaja pioneers Ramadan's guidance for inclusive PE in schools, advocating practical a d a p t a t i o n s a n d e f fe c t i v e c o m m u n i c a t i o n A d d i t ionally, Bradford prepares for a city-wide clean-up ahead o f R a m a d a n D i n a's Ramadan planner, a digital s e n s a t i o n , o f fe r s p r a c t i c a l guidance and self-improvement tools H&K Cycle Club f u n d r a i s e s fo r C o n g e n i t a l Heart Defects in Africa

To read our special coverage on Ramadan 2024, turn to P16-17

Dr Indranil Chakravorty MBE

E d o r a c e d A e n a V e a s e y / S h u t e s t o c k o m

Thought for the week

Freedom vs withering responsibility?

The UK's ruling Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, faced yet another blow with double by-election defeats as the opposition Labour Party maintains momentum Labour's Gen Kitchen celebrated the victory, signalling a desire for change from Northamptonshire to Downing Street Labour Leader Keir Starmer emphasised the nation's call for change amidst ongoing electoral shifts Angela Rayner, Labour’s Shadow Deputy PM and deputy leader of the party visited India - in a second consecutive Labour Party delegation within a span of a month

The electoral chaos was fuelled by a new fire last week when the House of Commons descended into chaos as the government and the Scottish National Party (SNP) condemned Speaker Lindsay Hoyle for his handling of a key vote on support for a ceasefire in Gaza

Last Wednesday, members of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the ruling Conservative Party staged a walkout from the chamber, seemingly in protest against the Speaker's decisions who set a precedent by permitting a vote This vote aided the opposition Labour Party, which is poised to potentially win the upcoming national election, in sidestepping a significant internal rebellion among its legislators regarding its stance on Israel’s war on Gaza Labour and the Conservatives then proposed amendments, seeking an “immediate humanitarian pause ” – and not a ceasefire – and said that “Israel cannot be expected to cease fighting if Hamas continues with violence”

In a contentious move, Hoyle allowed both amendments, sparking jeers Amidst the chaos, Labour's amendment was verbally approved Keir Starmer and the Labour Party adeptly managed the situation, yet left Parliament compromised What commenced as a vital debate on civilian life evolved into a procedural nightmare

Amid escalating safety concerns for politicians, three unnamed female MPs from both the Conservative and Labour parties received taxpayer-funded bodyguards and cars MPs, reportedly "petrified" due to increasing abuse, face mounting challenges In light of this, late MP Jo Cox’s, husband Brandon

emphasised the importance of cautious campaigning Cox was an advocate for Syrian civil war issues and was tragically murdered in 2016 for voicing her opinion

Under pressure, Rishi Sunak dismissed Lee Anderson, facing allegations of Islamophobia Media focus on Sadiq Khan led to accusations of racism, prompting Anderson's loss of party support Anderson's remarks questioning the definition of "Islamist" raised further debates Meanwhile, criticism towards Starmer from the Left for perceived Zionism compounds challenges

The Labour Party's inconsistency raises doubts about its suitability for governance amidst threats to life While Sunak's leadership faces scrutiny, the Tory party's track record suggests growing hesitance towards their capability Though Sunak so far remains the right man for the job, he is unfortunately paying for 14 years of the small mistakes made by the government and his former PMs!

The Sunday Times wrote about potential contenders to replace Sunak in the November general elections The list included names such as Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman, Penny Mordaunt, Robert Jenrick, and Grant Shapps - who are all rumoured to be considering leadership bids

However, the Parliament fiasco is evidential that foreign subjects should not overshadow critical domestic issues In 2015, then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn by an Early Day Motion (EDM) called for the reinstatement of a ban on India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK, for his alleged role in the 2002 communal violence Concerns were raised over the ban's economic and diplomatic implications Clearly, motions like this don’t reflect the wills of citizens but benefit the MPs who earn brownie points from their vote banks by divide-and-rule policies Yet such motions continue to find a place in UK’s parliament

It is high time, this nation must prioritise resolving internal conflicts to address pressing concerns, including the cost of living crisis, and steer clear of unnecessary turmoil caused by political polarisation

Seeking peace amidst conflict

Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year, has evolved into the largest land war in Europe since World War II Initially expected to be a swift military operation, the conflict has escalated tensions between Russia and the West, particularly NATO The 2022 NATO Madrid summit labelled Russia as "a direct threat to Euro-Atlantic security," leading to the dissolution of the NATO-Russia Council In response, the West has adopted a two-pronged strategy, providing economic and military aid to Ukraine while imposing sanctions to weaken Russia's economy and military capabilities

Russia, with a population three times that of Ukraine, faces challenges including to the outflow of people and technological shortages While the economy rebounded from a 2022 slump, growth relies heavily on state-funded arms production, masking issues hindering living standards improvement Countries like Britain support Ukraine with £250 million for artillery shell production, though concerns arise over the effectiveness of sanctions alone The US and UK launched strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, exacerbating regional tensions Iran, home to the largest Shia population, grapples with internal challenges, prompting Middle Eastern nations to emphasise regional security The political landscape is complex, reflecting intricate dynamics

While Britain and the US often align on many issues, it's crucial for Britain to utilise its influence with the US to promote a strategy of coexistence with Russia Within the span

of just one month, America pledged $50 million in funding for providing arms to Ukraine However, this conflict has resulted in numerous casualties, predominantly among Europeans and individuals coerced into fighting alongside Russian forces At least a dozen Indians have been duped by agents into fighting for Russian forces in the country's war with Ukraine with reports saying one of them was killed in a missile strike

T h e C r i m e a n W a r , s p a n n i

f r o m O c t o b e r 1 8 5 3 t o February 1856, witnessed the Russian Empire facing off against an alliance comprising the Ottoman Empire, France, the UK, and Sardinia-Piedmont Ultimately, the UK emerged victorious, with support from its ally America This conflict significantly altered the geopolitical map, resulting in the formation of several new nations However, despite the establishment of the League of Nations in 1919, its impact proved limited, and within a few years, the world plunged into the devastating turmoil of World War II, leaving a lasting negative impact Conflict rarely yields solutions, emphasising the necessity for always leaving space for negotiations During his six-year tenure as Russian leader, Mikhail Gorbachev spearheaded numerous arms control negotiations, resulting in treaties that enhanced transparency and confidence between the U S S R a n d t h e U S I n d i a

A

a i r s M i n i s t e r S Jaishankar has also stressed the importance of negotiations, expressing India's willingness to act as a mediator

Rural India rising

According to the latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022-23 released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the disparity in average monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) between rural and urban households in India has reduced to 71 2 per cent in 2022-23 from 83 9 per cent in 2011-12

The survey indicates that rural consumption in India's spending has grown by 164 per cent, more than urban spending, which has grown by 146 per cent over the 11-year period This is a reflection of the improved economic conditions and s t a n d a r d s o f l i v i n g , e n h a n c e d a c c e s s t o r e s o u r c e s a n d increased purchasing power contributing to the overall development and economic growth of rural India

This has been made possible due to the various schemes and opportunities that have been introduced to aid the rural population over the years When it comes to basic needs, infrastructure and opportunities, both the current and the previous governments have implemented several schemes and projects like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G), for the development of rural India

MGNREGA stands as one of the largest work guarantee programmes globally, aiming to ensure 100 days of employment per financial year for adult members of any rural household willing to undertake unskilled manual work PMAY-G, on the other hand, seeks to offer a pucca house, with basic amenities to homeless households, targeting the housing inadequa-

cies in India s rural regions Other major schemes include Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, Mission Antyodaya, National Social Assistance Programme, Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, Aajeevika - National Rural Livelihoods Mission, etc

While no one can deny the strides India has taken towards rural development, a lot still remains to be done For instance, the progress in the villages across India is not proportionate and the infrastructural and financial aid needs to be focused accordingly While you’ll find villages in Gujarat and the south of India to have access to all basic amenities like doctors, medicals, proper roads, food, electricity, water, etc , most villages in the north of India lack the bare minimum In these villages, access to electricity is limited, roads are riddled with potholes, and residents must often travel to the nearest city to fulfil even their most basic needs such as food, groceries, and access to medical care By focusing on the further development of rural India, migration to urban cities for better life prospects will no longer be a helpless necessity for the youth This will also help the villages overcome conservative and orthodox ways

With the current government poised to secure its third consecutive term in power after a decade, now is an opportune moment to revamp India s rural policies to address ongoing challenges With accomplishments in international relations, economic strategies, and infrastructure, the Modi a

focused rural development initiatives

“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation ” Herman Melville

Political Sketchbook

Alpesh Patel

Britain and Our Uncomfortable Truths

The British rightly feel pride about Britain I, as a Brit, am proud to be British

In the annals of history, certain events stand as stark reminders of the devastating impacts of policy, war, and colonial ambition The Bengal Famine of 1943 is one such episode, where at least three million Indian individuals, then under British rule, perished in one of the most grievous civilian losses on the Allied side during the Second World War

Yet, astonishingly, this monumental tragedy lacks a global memorial, a plaque, or even a significant mention in the collective memory of the world How can three million souls vanish from our collective conscience? This question forms the crux of a new BBC Radio 4 documentary that seeks to unearth and give voice to the silenced memories of those who lived through the calamity

As a financial expert, political commentator, and someone deeply invested in the fabric of UK-India relations, I find the obscurity surrounding the Bengal Famine not just an oversight but a profound failure of our collective memory This neglect speaks volumes about the selective nature of historical narratives and the deepseated legacies of colonialism that continue to shape our understanding of the past

The Bengal Famine, precipitated by wartime policies and exacerbated by colonial neglect, is a stark illustration of how the machinery of empire was often wielded at the expense of its most vulnerable subjects The decision to divert resources, the refusal to alleviate the suffering through timely intervention, and the subsequent denial of responsibility are all indicative of a colonial mindset that viewed Indian lives as expendable As we strive to forge a future built on mutual respect and understanding between the UK and India, confronting these uncomfortable truths is not just an academic exercise but a moral imperative

Kavita Puri’s BBC Radio 4 coverage on this on BBC Sounds is essential listening

The absence of a memorial for the victims of the Bengal Famine is a glaring omission in our public spaces and historical consciousness Memorials serve as physical and symbolic acknowledgments of suffering and loss; they are essential for the process of collective remembrance and healing The fact that such a memorial does not exist for the Bengal Famine victims raises critical questions about whose histories we choose to remember and honour It is high time we addressed this gap, not only to honour the memory of those who perished but also to educate future generations about the complexities of our shared history

The BBC Radio 4 documentary represents a significant step towards filling the silence that has enveloped the Bengal Famine By bringing to light the personal stories of survivors and witnesses, it does invaluable work in humanising the staggering statistics Media and storytelling have the power to challenge dominant narratives, offering a platform for those voices that have been historically marginalised or silenced As we navigate the digital age, the preservation and accessibility of these testimonies become ever more critical, ensuring that such tragedies are not relegated to footnotes in history books

As thought leaders, educators, and citizens, we have an ethical obligation to engage with our shared history in a manner that is respectful, nuanced, and inclusive This involves not only remembering the tragedies of the past but also understanding their implications for our present and future The Bengal Famine is not merely a historical event; it is a lesson in the consequences of colonial policies, the resilience of the human spirit, and the importance of empathy and accountability

UK writer detained, deported from Bengaluru

Ni tash a Kau l, a U K -based p rofesso r of Ind ian o rig in at t h e U n i v er si ty o f Westm inster, di sclo sed on S und ay th at sh e was refused entry into Ind ia and su bsequently sent back to L ond on f ro m Ben g al u ru a ir p o rt, p urpo rted ly u nd er instructions from Delhi K a u l h a d r e p o r t e d l y b e e n i n v i t e d b y t h e K a r n a t a k a g o v e r n m e n t t o participate as a speaker at t h e ' C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d National Unity Convention -2024 held on February 24 and 25 Kaul asserted that her denial of entry stemmed from her outspoken views on democratic and constitu-

t i o n a l p r i n c i p l e s , w i t h immigration officials at the airport alluding to her past criticism of the RSS

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Kaul lamented the lack of explan a t i o n f r o m i m m i g r a t i o n authorities, aside from cit-

Despite having official documentation arranged by the Karnataka government, she received no prior notification from Delhi regarding the denial of entry

Bangalore airport, followed by an extensive period of confinement in a holding cell, where she had restricted movement and limited access to basic amenities

A f t e r

rowing 24 hours in detention, Kaul was subsequently escorted back to London on a flight the following day

Lisa Nandy refrains from advising Rochdale voters

A leading L abour MP o n the fro nt benc h h as info rmed th e res id ents o f Ro ch d ale that she canno t offer guidance on who m to support in the upcoming by-election

The contest, scheduled for Thursday, will proceed without an official Labour c a n d i d a t e f o l l o w i n g t h e party's withdrawal of support for Azhar Ali earlier this month This decision followed revelations that Mr Ali had made controversial r e m a r k s s u g g e s t i n g t h a t

Israel deliberately allowed Hamas to commit atrocities against its citizens to justify an attack on Gaza

Lisa Nandy, the Shadow M i n i s t e r f o r I n t e r n a t i o n a l Development, expressed the extraordinary and unprecedented predicament facing the party, stating she could not recommend any specific c a n d i d a t e t o v o t e r s i n Rochdale W h e n a s k e d b y B B C s L a u r a K u e n s s b e r g w h o m she would advise residents

The

Labour

Party aims to deepen UK-India cooperation, says shadow deputy PM Angela Rayner

Sh ad ow Deputy PM A ng ela R ayn er rec en tly m e t S J ai s h an kar , M i ni s ter o f External Affairs of Ind ia

Reflecting on India's traj e c t o r y t o w a r d b e c o m i n g t h e w o r l d ' s t h i r d - l a r g e s t economy, Rayner acknowledged the progress, attributing it partly to India s polic i e s r e c o g n i s i n g w o m e n s r o l e s S h e e x p r e s s e d t h e desire for both nations to build on their shared history and advance the trade agreement

In a past interview with P T I d u r i n g t h e R a i s i n a Dialogue in Delhi, Rayner highlighted her 2007 visit to I n d i a , w i t n e s s i n g t h e nation's transformation and economic ascent

Rayner said, "I first visited (India) in 2007 and to see the transformation that has happened and to see India on course to be the third l a r g e s t e c o n o m y , i t j u s t shows how amazing India has done and the progress that has been made

Part of that is about the p o l i c i e s t h a t t h e g o v e r nment has introduced around r e c o g n i s i n g w o m e n ' s r o l e a n d n o t j u s t i n t e r m s o f women's role in society but h o w c r u c i a l i t i s f o r t h e e c o n o m y I f y o u w a n t t o grow in the economy, then having women in empower-

ment is crucial to that, she said A d d r e s s i n g P r i m e M i n i s t e r N a r e n d r a M o d i ' s focus on women-led development, Rayner stressed the i m p o r t a n c e o f s o c i e t a l encouragement and legislat i v e s u p p o r t f o r w o m e n ' s i n c l u s i o n i n a l l s p h e r e s , e m p h a s i s i n g t h e n e e d f o r enforcement Rayner advocated for women's representation in senior leadership and business roles, praising India's strides in this direction R e g a r d i n g t h e L a b o u r Party's stance on UK-India ties, Rayner emphasised a desire to bolster cooperation for mutual prosperity,

acknowledging the signific a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n o f t h e Indian diaspora to the UK's economy and culture R a y n e r u n d e r s c o r e d L a b o u r ' s e v o l u t i o n u n d e r K e i r S t a r m e r ' s l e a d e r s h i p , expressing optimism for the p a r t y ' s p r o s p e c t s i n t h e u p c o m i n g U K e l e c t i o n s , e x p e c t e d t o o c c u r b y January 28, 2025

Addressing India's role i n g l o b a l s t a b i l i t y a m i d s t c o n f l i c t s , R a y n e r e m p h asised the collective responsibility to pursue peace and reconciliation She said the U K ' s c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h partners like India to ensure global security and opportunities for all

"I'm not a Malala, I'm free in India," Kashmiri journalist asserts in UK Parliament

T h e J am m u a nd K as h m i r Study C entre UK (JKSC ), a th i n k t ank d e d i ca ted to research on the Jamm u and K as h m i r reg i o n , re ce ntl y organised an event in th e H o u se s o f P a rli a m en t i n L o n d o n to c o m m e m o rat e " S a nka lp Di v a s, " o r Resolution Day

During the event, Yana M i r , a s o c i a l a c t i v i s t a n d journalist from Jammu and K a s h m i r , w a s h o n o u r e d w i t h t h e D i v e r s i t y Ambassador award In her s p e e c h , w h i c h h a s s i n c e gone viral, Mir countered " p r o p a g a n d a " a g a i n s t J a m m u a n d K a s h m i r a n d distanced herself from comp a r i s o n s t o M a l a l a

Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize winner from Pakistan

Addressing attendees at the event, Mir emphasised h e r c o m m i t m e n t t o h e r homeland, stating, "I'm not a Malala Yousafzai because I ' m s a f e a n d f r e e i n m y homeland Kashmir, which is part of India I will never run a w a y f r o m m y h o m e l a n d

a n d s e e k r e f u g e i n y o u r country (UK) I can never be a Malala Yousafzai " Mir criticised Yousafzai for allegedly defaming India b y l a b e l l i n g K a s h m i r a s " o p p r e s s e d " a n d u r g e d against the polarisation of Indians based on religion She concluded her speech with a plea for peace, urging others to refrain from targeting the Kashmiri community

During the event, Mir w a s p r e s e n t e d w i t h t h e D i v e r s i t y A m b a s s a d o r Award by UK MP Theresa Villiers, in the presence of Bob Blackman and Virendra Sharma, both Members of Parliament

Suella Braverman: Britain now under Islamist control

to vote for, Nandy responded, "Well, I wouldn’t advise them to vote for any of the candidates I’m afraid we ’ re i n t h e e x t r a o r d i n a r y a n d unprecedented position of having to withdraw our candidate in the by-election, so there is no Labour candidate to vote for "

N a n d y h a d a p p e a r e d alongside Mr Ali at a cons t i t u e n c y e v e n t b e f o r e Labour suspended him following further controversial remarks about Israel

Suella Brav erman has asserted that Britain is now under the control of Islamists, follow ing the acknowled gement by the C omm ons Sp eaker that he had erred in disreg arding proto co l reg arding security threats to M Ps

In an article penned for The Telegraph, Mrs Braverman, a former home secretary, expressed

concern that Britain was "sleep-walking into a ghettoised society" posing a threat to freedom of expression Her remarks come in the wake of Sir Lindsay Hoyle's controversial decision to permit a vote on a Labour amendment during a Gaza ceasefire vote, prompting accusations of capitulation

to extremists and igniting a heated backlash Sir Lindsay defended his action by stating that he departed from tradition to enable MPs to vote on a wide array of amendments, citing threats received by politicians over their stances on Israel and Gaza Acknowledging his misstep on Thursday, Sir Lindsay conceded that he had made an "incorrect decision" in his bid to safeguard MPs, as he faced a battle to retain his position

UK Shadow Deputy PM Angela Rayner and India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar

Nitasha Kaul

Yana Mir with Bob Blackman MP and Virendra Sharma MP

Suella Braverman

Bas Javid tasked with immigration law enforcement

With thirty years of service in the po lice force, Bas Javid h as embarked on a new, d emanding r o le a s D ir ec to r Ge ner al o f I m m ig rat io n E nf o rc em ent at the Ho me Office

In his new capacity, Javid oversees a department with a budget exceeding £779 million and a staff of over 6,200, tasked with combatting illegal immig r a t i o n b y t a r g e t i n g c r i m i n a l n e t w o r k s f a c i l i t a t i n g i t a n d a p p r e h e n d i n g u n d o c u m e n t e d m i g r a n t s R e f l e c t i n g o n h i s career transition, Javid remarks, "I felt it was time to venture into a new arena while leveraging my existing skills and expertise "

Undeterred by the heighte n e d s c r u t i n y a n d p r e s s u r e accompanying his role, Javid is resolute in his commitment to t r a n s f o r m i n g I m m i g r a t i o n E n f o r c e m e n t H e e m p h a s i s e s t h e g o v e r n m e n t ' s s t a n c e o n addressing illegal immigration, particularly through new legis-

lation aimed at closing loopholes and ensuring that those unlawfully present in the UK, especially those with criminal convictions, are not permitted to remain

Despite being in the role for o n l y t w o m o n t h s , J a v i d h a s already grappled with the complex issue of illegal immigration, knowing that his department's effectiveness could have significant implications, not just for individuals but also for political fortunes in the next general election

Compensation payouts for Post Office victims to be expedited

In respo nse to th e P ost Office s c an d al , th e g o v e rnm e nt h as u nv eiled new initiatives aimed at exped iting com pensation for affected indiv iduals

A n i n t e r i m p a y m e n t o f

£450,000 will now be accessible to sub-postmasters who have h a d t h e i r c o n v i c t i o n s o v e rturned, a significant increase f r o m t h e p r e v i o u s l e v e l o f

£163,000 Post Office Minister Kevin Hollinrake hailed these steps as unprecedented yet nece s s a r y , e m p h a s i s i n g t h e i r importance in rectifying past injustices

Additionally, legislation to formally clear wrongly convicted sub-postmasters is slated for introduction next month, further underscoring the government's commitment to righting w r o n g s M r H o l l i n r a k e informed MPs that hundreds of i n d i v i d u a l s i m p l i c a t e d i n t h e s c a n d a l w o u l d b e n e f i t f r o m e n h a n c e d i n t e r i m c o m p e n s ation payments upon the subm i s s i o n o f c o m p r e h e n s i v e c l a i m s T h e s e p a y m e n t s , e a rm a r k e d f o r m e m b e r s o f t h e O v e r t u r n e d C o n v i c t i o n s

Kevin Hollinrake

Scheme, will serve as interim relief while final settlements are processed F u r t h e r m o r e , t h o s e involved in the Group Litigation Order (GLO) Scheme will now have the option to receive 80% of their offer upfront if they opt to continue pursuing a more f a v o u r a b l e r e s o l u t i o n C h r i s Hodges, chair of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board, w e l c o m e d t h e g o v e r n m e n t ' s a n n o u n c e m e n t , a n t i c i p a t i n g t h a t t h e m e a s u r e s w o u l d s t r e a m l i n e t h e c o m p e n s a t i o n process and alleviate burdens for many affected individuals

Junior doctors on another strike

Ju nior d octors in England co mm enc ed a f i v e- d a y s tr ik e o n F e br ua ry 2 4 , ex ten d i ng th e ir o ng oing dispute with th e go ve rnm ent ov e r p ay w i th li ttle sig n of resolution

Junior doctors, those below specialist or consultant level, began assembling at picket lines from 0700 GMT, initiating a walkout scheduled to continue until the end of Wednesday (28) T h i s a c t i o n f o l l o w s n e a r l y a dozen strikes over the past year, including the longest walkout, lasting six days, in the sevend e c a d e h i s t o r y o f B r i t a i n ' s National Health Service (NHS)

Rahul Gandhi to deliver lectures at Cambridge University

T he Ind ian National C ongress h a s ann o u nc ed t h at Rah u l

G an d h i w i ll b e v i si ti n g

C am bridg e U niv ersity to deliv er lectures for tw o d ays and attend i m p o r tan t m eet in g s i n Ne w

Delh i

"February 26th to March 1st will be break days to enable Rahul Gandhi to fulfil his longstanding commitment to deliver two special lectures at his alma m a t e r C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y

( U K ) o n F e b r u a r y 2 7 t h a n d

February 28th and also to enable him to attend other important meetings in New Delhi," stated C o n g r e s s g e n e r a l s e c r e t a r y ( c o m m u n i c a t i o n ) J a i r a m

Ramesh in a post on X (formerly Twitter)

While in the UK, speculation suggests that the Congress leader might attend the India U K A c h i e v e r s H o n o u r s o n February 28, an initiative by the National Indian Students and

Rahul Gandhi

Alumni Union UK (NISAU) in p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h t h e B r i t i s h Council in India and the UK G o v e r n m e n t D e p a r t m e n t f o r Business and Trade

There is also a possibility that Gandhi will interact with the diaspora in an event organi s e d b y t h e I n d i a n O v e r s e a s Congress, UK However, Asian V o i c e ' s a t t e m p t s t o c o n f i r m details from the outfit yielded n o c o n c r e t e i t i n e r a r y b y t h e time of press

Shamima Begum's bid to regain British citizenship denied

S ham ima Begum 's bid to reg ain B ri ti s h ci ti z en sh i p h as b een r ej ec te d b y C o u rt o f A p p eal ju dges, w ho ruled that the government was j ustified in blocking her return to the U K to safeg uard national security

T h e f o r m e r E a s t L o n d o n schoolgirl left the UK for ISIScontrolled Syria in 2015 at the age of 15, leading to the revocat i o n o f h e r c i t i z e n s h i p f o u r years later when she was found i n a S y r i a n r e f u g e e c a m p Begum, who married a jihadi fighter and had three children with him during her time with the terrorist group, claims she was a victim of trafficking and exploited as a teenager when she left the UK

L a s t y e a r , t h e S p e c i a l

I m m i g r a t i o n A p p e a l s Commission (SIAC) denied her appeal to regain British citizenship, a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal judges

L a d y C h i e f J u s t i c e L a d y

Carr, delivering the ruling, stated that while it might be argued that the decision in Ms Begum's case was harsh or that she was the author of her own misfortune, the court's role was solely to assess whether the deprivation decision was lawful, which it determined it was

The Court of Appeal also n o t e d t h a t t h e n - H o m e Secretary Sajid Javid was aware o f t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f M s B e g u m ' s d e p a r t u r e t o S y r i a when he revoked her citizenship and took into account the possibility that she had been a victim of trafficking

MP Anderson suspended over alleged 'Islamophobic' remarks

T h e To r i e s ha v e s us pe n d e d their former deputy chairm an Lee Anderson from the parliam entary party after he refused to apologis e for his c laim that London's Labour m ayor, Sadi q K h a n , w a s c on t r ol l e d b y

I slamis ts

The nation has witnessed walkouts across various sectors over the last two years, prompted by decades-high inflation in 2023 and a cost-of-living crisis that led staff to demand pay rises to cope with rising prices The British Medical Association (BMA) has been advocating for a 35 per cent "pay restoration" for j u n i o r d o c t o r s a s i t s s t a r t i n g point but has expressed willingness to engage in negotiations

The government, responsible for health policy in England, contends that these demands a r e u n a f f o r d a b l e g i v e n t h e stretched public finances

Pressure had mounted on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Tories to take action following A n d e r s o n ' s c o n t r o v e r s i a l remarks on Friday, which have b e e n w i d e l y d e n o u n c e d a s racist and Islamophobic This move comes amidst a surge in incidents of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism across the UK amid heightened polarisation since the outbreak of the war in Gaza last October

"After his refusal to apologise for comments made yesterday, the chief whip has suspended the Conservative whip from Lee Anderson MP," said a

in brief CHURCH OF ENGLAND CONSIDERS ASYLUM SEEKER POLICY

The Church of England (CoE) is contemplating updating its guidance to clergy concerning the support and ministry provided to asylum seekers, amidst concerns that religious conversions may be exploited by individuals seeking to remain in Britain The Church's involvement in the asylum system has come under scrutiny following reports that religious leaders had assisted an Afghan man, initially denied asylum, in remaining in Britain after he converted to Christianity Mark Sheard of the Archbishops Council addressed the issue during a session of the General Synod, the CoE s governing body, acknowledging the recent public scrutiny of the guidance on supporting asylum seekers Before the Ezedi incident, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby had publicly criticised government proposals to relocate asylum seekers who arrive in Britain without permission to Rwanda

DETECTIVE FIRED FOR RACISM NOW BACK ON DUTY

A Metropolitan police detective who was initially dismissed for racism has been reinstated and enrolled in a leadership course, according to information obtained by the Guardian DS Neil Buckmaster was terminated from his position in 2021 following a disciplinary panel's determination of gross misconduct The panel found him culpable of using racist language, which he directed towards avatars while participating in an online football game After a public complaint, an investigation was initiated, resulting in Buckmaster's dismissal and placement on a list preventing him from reemployment within the policing sector as announced by Scotland Yard In response to inquiries regarding Buckmaster s reinstatement the Metropolitan Police indicated that while he had indeed been dismissed an appeal tribunal overturned the previous finding of guilt Furthermore, the Met stated that although a new misconduct hearing date had been scheduled, their directorate of professional standards reviewed the case and determined not to pursue further action

BRITISH FAMILIES STRUGGLE AS ENERGY FIRMS PROFIT

s p o k e s p e r s o n f o r T o r y l a wmaker Simon Hart, who holds the chief whip position responsible for internal Tory Party discipline

During an appearance on the right-wing GB News chann e l , A n d e r s o n a l l e g e d t h a t " I s l a m i s t s " h a d " g a i n e d c o ntrol" of Khan, who became the f i r s t M u s l i m m a y o r o f a W e s t e r n c a p i t a

Anderson further stated, "He's actually given our capital city away to his mates, referring to Khan

Anderson, now set to sit as an independent lawmaker in parliament, acknowledged on S a t u r d a y e v e n i n g t h a t h e recognised his comments had placed Hart and Sunak in a " d i f f i c u l t p o s i t i o n " b u t refrained from issuing an apology

Last year energy companies worldwide amassed eye-watering profits exceeding £1 billion per week even as millions of hard-pressed Britons grappled with heating their homes and managing their bills amid an ongoing cost of living crisis, according to findings by The Independent Leading gas suppliers in the UK, including Shell, Equinor, ExxonMobil, and BP, collectively generated £65 billion in net profits in 2023 This substantial figure has sparked criticism from campaigners who accuse these multinational corporations of exacerbating the energy bills crisis Amidst rising costs, many families have faced significant financial strain, with an estimated 13 per cent of households in England experiencing fuel poverty last year an increase from 10 3 per cent in 2018 when escalating energy prices first began to impact incomes Although regulator Ofgem has reduced the energy price cap to £1 690 starting in April this rate remains significantly higher than the pre-crisis level of £1 138 that customers were paying before the onset of the energy crisis in autumn 2021

Shamima Begum

Talking Therapies - Using Your Voice for Good

Harmeet grew up in a vibrant multicultural corner of East London, with her parents, sister and grandparents. And from an early age, she was always encouraged to use her voice to help others.

“This ranged from translating information from English to Punjabi for older relatives, to supporting my mother to bring up my younger sister, to giving advice to my school mates, I loved this responsibility as I adored my family and friends and would do anything I could to make their lives easier ” Said Harmeet, 41 from Berkshire. However, as time went on and Harmeet needed support herself, she found it difficult to ask for help.

“In my early twenties, I began to lose several family members. I then suffered a miscarriage and found myself struggling with a feeling of crushing numbness. What I now know was Post Natal Depression This was probably the darkest period of my life.

“I felt too ashamed to tell anyone that I couldn’t cope I was seen as the strong one, the person everyone depended upon. I was scared they wouldn’t understand – or worse still, might gossip about me to members of the community. So, for the first time in my life, I decided to keep quiet, and hoped whatever I was feeling would go away in time.”

Anew NHS England poll found over 3 in 5 (64%) South Asians had felt concerned about their mental health in the last year*. In fact, over 2 in 5 (42%) of those asked had experienced depression, and just under 3 in 10 (29%) had experienced generalised anxiety disorder

“It is a huge taboo to discuss mental illness in the South Asian community,” adds Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, and NHS accredited Talking Therapies clinician Ummar Sadique "Many people wrongly believe they are being punished for their bad deeds, or that it’s a result of bad parenting, with others dismissing it as a trivial condition that

shouldn't be taken seriously. Language is another barrier as some mental health terms don't even exist in many of our languages

“I’d urge anyone in our community struggling with feelings of depression, or anxiety, to use NHS Talking Therapies,” continues Ummar. “The free, effective, and confidential treatments are delivered by trained clinicians like me, and if your first language isn’t English, it can be delivered through multilingual therapists or through confidential interpreters in a variety of different languages including Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, and Urdu ”

Following her struggles with depression and anxiety, Harmeet referred herself to NHS Talking Therapies and was given cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) She has since gone back to the service, regularly using the methods she has learned to help manage day-to-day challenges

Harmeet says: “Talking Therapies helped pull

me out of the dark hole I found myself in Through receiving help from an independent and totally nonjudgmental person, I was able to share what felt heavy and release the weight I had been carrying and now my mental health is better than ever before If you ever feel like you are struggling, please use your voice, for the good of your mental health and seek support ”

NHS Talking Therapies can help provide support and treatment for common mental health conditions, such as:

• feeling anxious

• feeling low and hopeless

• having panic attacks

• finding it hard to cope with work, life, or relationships

• struggling with flashbacks or nightmares about upsetting events from your past

• feeling stressed

• worrying a lot

• obsessive thoughts or behaviours

• fear of social situations

• being afraid of things, such as spiders, flying or heights (phobias)

The treatments can be accessed online, on the phone, or in person and you don’t need to have a diagnosed mental health problem to be eligible to seek help.

Your GP can refer you for NHS Talking Therapies, or you can refer yourself online at nhs.uk/talk.

Ummar Sadique

Meet the next generation of British Hindu leaders

20 you ng p eople from all

o ver the UK gath ered at t h e O xf o r d Un i ve rs i ty campu s last weekend as p ar t o f V ar c h a sv a, th e UK ’ s first national yo uth l e ade rs h ip p r o gr am me f o r y o u n g B ri t i s h H indus

O r g a n i s e d b y Y o g F o u n d a t i o n , a n a w a r dwinning charity based in South East London, in c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e world renowned leadership training experts at F a i t h i n L e a d e r s h i p , Varchasva fosters a holistic approach to leadership development, with an emphasis on leadership of the self Held over three resid e n t i a l m o d u l e s , t h e p r ogramme encourages a new generation of faith leaders to recognise the best in themselves and in one another to inspire, empower and bring forth Dharma and values-led

c h a n g e T h r o u g h a p r ogramme of talks, workshops and reflective learning, the Y o u n g H i n d u L e a d e r s a r e l e a r n i n g t o a p p l y t h i s t o every aspect of their being, including education, career, socially and spiritually

This is the third year of the programme So f a r a l m o s t 6 0 y o u n g people have successfully c o m p l e t e d i t a n d a r e leading change in their c o m m u n i t i e s t h r o u g h dharmic action

M a d h u j a , a Y o u n g H i n d u L e a d e r w h o recently completed the p r o g r a m m e s a i d , “ T h e programme showed us the potential we always h a d , t h e c o u r a g e w e a l w a y s h a d , a n d h a s inspired us to do anyt h i n g w e w a n t t o a c h i e v e a l o n g s i d e o u r faith ”

T h e Y o u n g H i n d u L e a d e r s a r e a l s o s u pp o r t i n g Y o g Foundation’s current capital c a m p a i g n , T h e L o t u s Project, to build a Cultural C e n t r e a n d M a n d i r i n Bromley Find more on Yog F o u n d a t i o n a t www yog foundation

T h e B h a v a n op e n e d i t s d oors la st w ee ke nd to 18 g roups of y outh arti sts f rom a ll ove r En gland to perf or m on thei r sta ge Parvati Nair and Anvi P r a b h u t o o k c h

a r g e o f o r g a n i s i n g a n d p r o g r a mming the event, right from i n c e p t i o n t o c u r a t i o n t o sequencing of the pieces on both days, having started planning almost 3 months ago The name ‘Yatra’ was also carefully chosen to sign i f y t h e j o u r n e y o f t h e young artists as well as to signify The Bhavan’s journey with them B o t h d a y s s a w t h e emerging talents performing Indian classical dance a n d m u s i c ( C a r n a t i c a n d H i n d u s t a n i ) – v o c a l a n d i n s t r u m e n t s , a s w e l l a s fusion with western instru-

m e n t s T h e r e w e r e a l s o stunning choreographies in B h a r a t a n a t y a m , K a t h a k , Odissi, as well folk-classical fusions Some of the choreographies were by teachers while others were by the y o u n g a r t i s t s t h e m s e l v e s , who came together to crea t i v e l y c r e a t e , c o l l a b o r a t e and put forward a piece for the event 'Yatra' was attended by members of The Bhavan’s E x e c u t i v e c o m m i t t e e i n c l u d i n g V i n o d T h a k r a r and Ruby Bunker with a special thanks to Bhavan's E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r D r Nandakumara and technicians Mr Shankar and his fantastic team for all their support Catering was prov i d e d b y N i l e s h a n d h i s team, and the Goenka sist e r s p r o v i d e d m o u t h -

watering snacks for everyone before and after the events

C o m m e n t i n g o n t h e i n i t i a t i v e s , P a r v a t i s a i d , “The first step of this journey (Yatra) has begun We did not want to define the destination point for this as we wanted to keep it open ended, and to see how it c a n g r o w i n t h e c o m i n g years For this chapter the d e s t i n a t i o n w a s t h a t o f coming together, and of joy a n d a c e l e b r a t i o n o f t h e youth’s talent ”

CBI launches two ambitious committees on UK's economic competitiveness ahead of General Elections

S h i f ti ng t h e U K ec o no m y back onto a growth trajectory is the only way to sustainably d eliver brilliant pu blic s erv i ce s and re lau n ch th e U K’s global stand ing Research shows that over half of global manufacturers are citing negativity towards t h e U K e c o n o m y a s a n investment destination, with 33% citing UK-specific elements as driving investment loss or divestment in recent years This trend can reverse within the next parliamentary term To do so, both g o v e r n m e n t a n d b u s i n e s s need to face into our probl e m s , w i t h p r i v a t e c a p i t a l crowded in to tackle them and not frozen out

That means big choice and bold moves on increasi n g b u s i n e s s i n v e s t m e n t , future-proofing our labour market, recommitting to our c l i m a t e a m b i t i o n s a n d improving our global reputation for infrastructure delive r y T h e G e n e r a l E l e c t i o n provides the UK a moment, in which it should commit once more to reform, investment and international competitiveness Our peers and partners around the world will be watching

Two, new CBI committees are aimed at helping do just that – focused exclusively on pitching our growth plan and ensuring the UK business environment is the best in which to run and scale a business for the next

Maha Sh ivratri occurs annually d uring late w inter on the C haturd ash i Tith i of Krish na P a ks h a i n th e m on th o f Ph algun, as p er the Hind u lunar calendar

It is celebrated with great fervour as devotees observe f a s t s a n d w o r s h i p L o r d S h i v a , a l s o k n o w n a s M a h a d e v V a r i o u s s t o r i e s r e l a t e d t o L o r d S h i v a a r e p o p u l a r a c r o s s d i f f e r e n t regions of India, Nepal, and the West Indies The literal translation of Maha Shivratri is 'the great night of Shiva ' According to legend, on the n i g h t o f S h i v R a t r i , L o r d Shiva, the Destroyer within

h o t o C o u r e s y L n k e d n

decade Fixing the foundations at home and strengthening the UK’s pitch to the world can rapidly shift UK growth and productivity

U K C o m m i t t e e C oChair, Carl Sizer, UK Head of Regions & Platforms, PwC said, “The next government will need to hit the ground running to relaunch the UK as the home for businesses w h o w a n t t o i n v e s t a n d grow With the cost of doing business at an all-time high, and a challenging economic o u t l o o k , m a k i n g t h e r i g h t p o l i c y c h o i c e s a r o u n d i n f r a s t r u c t u r e , r e g i o n a l

growth and investment has never been more important

“It’s critical that business works together ahead of an election to show what any approach to driving economic growth will need to tackle, and these fora will be able to do just that ”

G l o b a l C o m m i t t e e C oChairs, Oriel Petry, Senior Vice President, Airbus and Pinder Sahota, UK General Manager, Novo Nordisk said, “The UK’s pitch to the world has rarely been more import a n t W i t h g l o b a l s u p p l y chains under pressure, and the competition for international investment particularly high, a visible partnership between business and government, focused on growth, is key

“With a General Election approaching, these forums provide both industry and policymakers an opportunity to stress-test some of the diff i c u l t c h o i c e s w e n e e d t o make, for the UK to regain global competitiveness and return to growth ”

The committees will:

s a n d draw upon their expert i s e p r e - e l e c t i o n a n d post-election

I d e n t i f y p r i o r i t i e s f o r

the Trimurti, performs his heavenly dance known as the 'tandav '

This year, Maha Shivratri will be celebrated on March 8, 2024 According to Drik p a n c h a n g , M a h a S h i v r a t r i w i l l b e c e l e b r a t e d o n

m e n t a n d i n d u s t r y t o lead on delivering, which collectively increase the UK’s competitiveness Extend a clear offer to both the current and new governments on crafting t h e b e s t p o s s i b l e U K pitch to the world

Chaturdashi Tithi beginning on the night of March 8 and will end on the evening of March 9

According to one mythological tale, Shiv Ratri is celebrated as the day when Lord S h i v a m a r r i e d G o d d e s s

Parvati Many people enact the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati on this auspicious day In the UK, Shri Vallabh Nidhi UK has o r g a n i s e d M a h a S h i v a r a t r i e v e n t a t W e m b l e y a n d

Leyton on March 8th 2024

The Rudri Puja is scheduled to take place between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm, as per the venue's schedule

t o m a k e t h i s Yatra bigger

and better

Saibaba Temple in Leicester relocates to a new venue

re at n ews for a ll Sa ibaba d e v o t e e s T h e S a i ba b a

Te

Britain’s oldest possible Indian woman celebrates 109th birthday

A s the clo ck continues its relentless m arch forward , the inevitability of ageing is a universal truth that touches th e lives o f countless indiv iduals While many m ay h ope to live long and healthy lives, only a rare few w ill ever reach the remarkable milestone o f the ir 1 0 0 th bi rthd a y, let alo ne exceed it How ev er, am id st th e ebb and flow of time, there are those w ho se liv es d efy expectations and stand as a testament to th e resilience o f the h uman spirit

I n a w o r l d w h e r e l o n g e v i t y i s often celebrated but seldom attained, o n e i n d i v i d u a l h a s c a p t u r e d t h e attention and admiration of many by surpassing the century mark and continuing to t h r i v e w e l l b e y o n d i t D ah i be n J iv raj K aram sh i S hah celebrated her 109th birthday on 19 February 2024, becoming Britain’s oldest possible Indian woman living - not only defying the limitations of age but also embodying the essence of vitality and grace

Dahiben, affectionately known as Baa, grandsons Tushar and Ketan J Shah, fondly shared their cheri s h e d m e m o r i e s w i t h t h i s n e w s w e e k l y T h e y t o l d A s i a n

Voice, "Dahiben (Baa) has looked after so many of us when we were children, including all her other grandchildren (from other sons and daughters) who came to stay with us She has always been there with kind words and never raised her voice, no matter how mischievous we were as children "

Fertility rate hits record low amid economic crisis

T he fertility rate in E ngland and Wales has h it a historic low, marking a no table decline i n th e nu mber of ch ildren bo rn to British women, reaching levels not seen since at least 1939 amid wh at experts describe as a " slow-bu rn" eco nomic crisi s

In recognition of her extraordinary milestone, she was honoured with a special birthday card and greeting from none other than King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, a t e s t a m e n t t o t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f h e r achievement and the impact of her legacy In a w o r l d o f t e n c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y f l e e t i n g moments and transient achievements, her longevity stands as a beacon of hope and a r e m i n d e r o f t h e e n d u r i n g p o w e r o f t h e human spirit to transcend the constraints of time Journey to 109 and family lov e

At a tender age, Dahiben assumed the mantle of managing the household and caring for her siblings in Navagaam (Gujarat, India) Despite her youth, she shouldered these responsibilities with determination

and resolve At just 13 years old, she entered into marriage w i t h J i v r a j K a r a m s h i S h a h (Chela) and embarked on a n e w c h a p t e r o f h e r l i f e i n Nairobi, Kenya Though saddened by the separation from her family in India, Dahiben quickly adapted to her new s u r r o u n d i n g s i n K e n y a Through sheer hard work and perseverance, she successfully r a i s e d t h r e e s o n s J a y a n t i b h a i , R a s i k b h a i , a n d the late Dineshbhai and two d a u g h t e r s R a m a b e n a n d

Jayaben In the late 1960s, as opportunities for migration to t h e U K e m e r g e d f o r K e n y a n c i t i z e n s , Dahiben's family contemplated this prospect and ultimately made the courageous decision to relocate

Following the footsteps of their children who had already settled in the UK, Dahiben and her husband made the journey to the UK in 1973, marking a new chapter in their lives

Reflecting on their beloved grandmother

Speaking about her adaptation to life in the UK, the grandsons added, "Despite her lack o f f o r m a l e d u c a t i o n , s h e adapted remarkably well to life in the UK Always busy, she took care of the household as both my parents were w o r k i n g S h e e n g a g e d i n a c t i v i t i e s l i k e s e w i n g , k n i tting, and tending to the garden, growing fruits and vegetables Despite being unable to read or write, she taught herself to use public transport to visit relatives whenever she could " D i s c u s s i n g h e r r e c e n t h e a l t h d e c l i n e , t h e y s a d l y noted, "Baa was never one to sit idle and often visited relatives with my parents, who had retired However, during the Covid pandemic when socialisation was restricted, we noticed a change in her Just over a year ago, she became bedbound due to age catching up with her Sadly, she doesn't communicate much these days Despite this, she is still at home, being cared for by her family "

According to recent data released by the Office for National Statistics, the fertility rate measuring the average number of children per woman of childbearing age plummeted to 1 49 in 2022, representing the lowest figure in 83 years This decline has ignited a growing political discourse surrounding the factors influencing women's decisions to have fewer children

Christiaan Monden, a professor specializing in sociology and demography at the University of Oxford, highlighted the gradual nature of this trend, expressing concerns about the long-term implications He emphasized the potential challenges posed by an ageing population if the declining b i r t h r a t e p e r s i s t s P o l i t i c i a n s a n d economists are grappling with the ramifications of a shrinking workforce and the prospect of stagnant or declining living standards

With fewer children being born and the population ageing, policymakers may be compelled to explore solutions such as raising the retirement age or adopting more liberal immigration policies to mitigate economic strains

Dahiben Jivraj Karamshi Shah (now and before)

A birthday greeting card from King Charles III and Queen

Out About & Upcoming show

Get ready for one more exciting weekend with Zee TV's prominent community show, "Out & About"!

The spotlight will be on Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar's grand New Year reception, expressing gratitude for the community's enduring five-decade support. The event was organised at the Sangat Centre, Harrow on 29th January, 2024

Thats not all, have a sneak peek into the Vision Board workshop hosted by Philanthropist Avnish and Anita Goyal

Sunday 03rd March at 6 00pm only on Zee TV

SKY 709 VIRGIN 809

On budget - A distress call from South Tamil Nadu

It is unfortunate that no financial measures have been announced in the Budget to mitigate the untold grievances of farmers hit by the recent floods in the southern part of Tamil Nadu True, the flood havoc has caused huge financial damage to people from all walks of life in Tiruchendur, S r i v a i k u n d a m , T u t i c o r i n , T i r u n e l v e l i , T e n k a s i , a n d

Kanyakumari

In particular, farmers from Tuticorin and Tirunelveli districts have been the worst affected Hailing from a family reliant on farming, I have been listening to the grievances of farmers, who have almost been left out in the lurch

The fact of the matter is that my native areas such as Korkai, Tiruchendur, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, and Kanyakumari have been major hubs of agricultural products like paddy, banana, coconut, betel, and all types of vegetables Of course, farm products from here are usually shipped to various parts of the nation and the world

So these local farmers' role in feeding Indians in several ways is noteworthy

Despite her recent visit to these flood-affected areas, Nirmala Sitharaman has done nothing concrete in the Budget for the farmers in need Also, it is time to have a strong financial plan to tackle climate change-related issues

Therefore, I request the Honourable Union Finance Minister to kindly look into this matter and do the needful to assist those affected farmers with their farming activities and livestock upbringing - the sooner, the better P S enthil Saravana Durai

Has India restarted the moon race?

There was a time when both super-powers, namely the USA and Russia (Soviet Union) were racing each other to conquer the moon, to be the first nation to land an astronaut on the Moon, claiming the sole right to colonise the moon, as it was the height of the rivalry between them for world domination Soviet Union’s Lunar 9 successfully touched down on the moon's surface in 1966, but the US was the first nation to actually land astronauts on the moon's surface, with Apollo 11 Moon landing in July 1969

It was a huge feat of human endurance, engineering, determination and science to achieve this unbelievable feat no one even dreamed of only a century ago! In total US had five successful landings putting 12 astronauts on the moon's surface

But this space race and exploration of the Moon suddenly stopped, no one knew exactly why Was it just a policy change or the enormous cost involved one may only speculate! Make no mistake; if the US had continued the exploration, we could have a Moon colony by now, instead US wasted more than 50 years for no apparent reason

Entrance of China and in particular India, only the fourth nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon has reignited the space race, as Indian PM Modi made it clear that India would like to establish a manned Moon colony by the year 2050

If India and the USA cooperate, it could be achieved much sooner It may happen if China, a super-power of the future steams ahead with a desire to colonise the Moon Chinese politicians are some of the most intelligent and determined politicians who can plan far ahead and always have their sights on gaining supremacy over the rest of the world

One main reason to establish a Moon colony is that exploration of outer space, to land human astronauts on Mars and beyond could be much more cost-effective, as the Moon’s much lower gravity consumes little fuel in take-off, thus leaving the bulk to explore the Universe!

Bhupendra M Gandhi

Asian Voice’s gardening special

As a gardening enthusiast, I was thrilled to read your recent gardening special feature which was filled with insightful tips, inspiring stories and practical advice on nurturing green spaces

Gardening isn't just a hobby; it's a way of life for many of us Your special feature not only celebrated this shared passion but also served as a valuable resource for both beginner and experienced gardeners My favourite section was the article by Manoj Malde and the piece focused on garden enhancement I have many different types of plants, mostly flowers Seeing them bloom in my garden brings me great happiness because it adds so much colour and vibrancy

Really, it's heartening to see such a well-crafted and informative piece dedicated to a subject so close to my heart

I eagerly await future editions that continue to cultivate this connection to nature

Rav i Kumar

The joys of gardening

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your insightful article on the therapeutic benefits of gardening I was aware of the positive effects of gardening on mental health but was surprised to learn that it also contributes to radiant skin In today's fast-paced world, where stress and anxiety are prevalent, it's refreshing to see how something as simple as gardening can provide such holistic wellness

Dr Dinesh Bhugra's observations regarding the correlation between green spaces and mental health deeply resonate, and Dr Natasha Verma's suggested precautionary measures while gardening is incredibly valuable

I love spending weekends in my garden and am also fond of learning more organic methods in gardening I suggest that you should have also considered including articles on the best ways to utilise waste materials for decorating gardening spaces

Nishtha Shah

Understanding business

I came across the announcement for the Asian Business Live 'Fireside Chat' programme and was filled with excitement about attending it Unfortunately, circumstances prevented me from being able to participate in the event

Y o g e s h M e h t a , C h a i r m a n o f P i c k f o r d s M o v e Management Limited, who was the first guest speaker of this event, holds a prominent position within the Asian community Such programmes play a crucial role in the development of the British Asian community They serve as invaluable resources for both established businesses and emerging entrepreneurs, offering guidance on navigating the challenges and competitions prevalent today

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar for spearheading this wonderful initiative

I eagerly anticipate attending the second edition of this Fireside Chat series

Well done, keep it up!

Karis hma Na rang

National Science Day

Science Day is a significant event that is celebrated globally to mark the anniversary of the discovery of the Raman Effect by the Indian physicist, Sir C V Raman, on February 28, 1928 The day aims to create awareness about the importance of science and its contributions to society

The theme of Science Day varies each year, but the focus is always on promoting scientific knowledge and encouraging young people to pursue careers in science Science Day celebrations often involve various events, such as science exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and competitions

The theme for National Science Day 2024 is “Science for a Sustainable Future” This theme underscores the critical role science and technology play in tackling global challenges and creating a more sustainable future for all Jub el D'C ruz

Elderly couple preventing train accident

The story of an elderly couple running on the railway track to alert the loco pilot-where a truck had fallen on the railway track to prevent a train accident In Tamil Nadu shows age is no barrier PM Modi should definitely recognise their efforts and courage, which is the best example of prevention is best safety

TS Karthik

Kapil Dudakia

K A P I L’ S

K H I C H A D I

London Has Fallen

Wed nesda y 21st Fe br uary 2024, t he day Lon don fell to the ex tre mist s in our societ y It was me an t t o be just a nothe r day in parliame nt for M Ps to gat her, t o discuss parliame nta ry motions, a nd t hen vote on the m Some thing t hey do eve ry day Howe ver , on this da y no on e could hav e fore se en the madn ess tha t would be unlea sed t o send shock wave s right across the n ation

The matter was for MPs to agree, or not, with the SNP (Scottish National Party) opposition motion that in effect sought an immediate ceasefire by Israel, adding within the motion some very unsavoury elements that most sane people would never agree to It’s the Government’s job to put forward an amendment to counter anything they feel is unacceptable and this they did as per the modus operandi for parliament The Labour Party, against all parliamentary norms, decided to jump into this mix with their own amendment However, for some mad reason that is beyond the wit of men, the speaker of the house Lindsay Hoyleinstead of rejecting it, said that he would allow this third motion to stand by breaking parliamentary procedure There have been many accusations against the speaker, the main one being that this was done to let Keir Starmer and the Labour Party off the hook since significant numbers of Labour MPs were on the verge rejecting Keir Starmer’s position and would vote for the SNP motion The speaker by breaking parliamentary procedures allowed Labour to offer a third way A way for most Labour MPs not to vote for the SNP motion and remain united behind Keir The speaker in essence instead of being independent, became judge, jury and executioner Instead of being the independent arbiter, he became the sole governor of the UK

All hell broke loose The Government rightly withdrew from this false unprecedented madness created by the speaker The result, the day reserved for the SNP and their motion was ignored because the Labour amendment was carried

The speaker was summoned to Parliament to explain himself He said he was fearful for the safety of MPs and their families Astonishing given that the speaker of the British Parliament was now declaring that the madness of extremists (that includes not just Islamists, but also other groups that had joined in) in our nation had reached such heights that the safety of our politicians, and that of our sovereign parliament, could no longer be assured

By definition,LONDON HAD FALLEN to the lunatics

This was acceptance at the highest level that our police are now so incompetent, that even the speaker had no confidence in their ability to protect politicians and their families

A damning indictment on where we are as a nation

How did we ge t to t his unt en able position?

The answer is quite simple This nation allowed extremists in our society to do whatever they wanted to do We have seen groups like Extension Rebellion (ER), Black Lives Matter (BLM), LGBTIQA+, Climate change, Just Stop Oil, CND, EDL, Islamists, Khalistanis and countless others come out on our streets under any pretence and hold the nation to ransom We have seen the abhorrent hate marches on our streets proclaiming ‘from the River to the Sea’ openly A direct threat to our Jewish community who now live daily under the real threat for their lives We have seen the madness of Islamists who have marched towards the Indian High Commission championing the illegality of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir Add to this the Khalistanis who have exhibited their own brand of extremism on our streets We thought the days of the IRA wreaking havoc on our streets was over How wrong were we that todaythey have been replaced by these modern-day extremists

People have said to me, what will it take for the nation to wake up? They point out the horrors of : Grooming gangs, Trojan horse scandal, British Muslims joining ISIS, London terror attacks, Batley Grammar School, Speaker's Corner controlled by Islamist thugs, David Amess murder, Post Oct 7 weekly hate marches, more than 700% rise in anti-Semitism, Police ready to take the knee, Parliament terrorisedinto breaking its own procedures, and the list goes on, and on

My fear, and this is a real fear, if this nation allows Islamists and others of similar ilk to run riot on our streets, then the day will come soon when the far-right (that has hitherto been contained) will have the excuse to take to the streets with their own brand of madness On one side we will have the far-right, and on the other the Islamists and their supporters– and I fear most of us law abiding citizens will be caught up in the middle The far right doesn’t distinguish between one type of ‘Asian’ or another type of ‘Asian’ To them we all look the same The Islamists seem to attack anyone who does not agree with themor their perverse ideology The Police can’t stop taking the knee, it seems they are spineless against such extremists Maybe the day is not too far before we see our troops on our streets to provide a visible assurance for our protection This is Great Britain 2024!

London has fallenbecause Keir Starmer and the Labour Party succumbed to the extremists Do you really think this party is fit to govern this nation?

“Engaging with different communities is a priority for me”

Anusha Singh Pinder Chauhan is the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Bedford and Kempston With her background as an HR Business Partner, she is currently working as a client relationship manager for a global early years organisation and is a mother of two

Pinder was elected as the first Indian woman to serve on the county council i n t h e h i s t o r y o f Northamptonshire, in 2017 and additionally serves on s e v e r a l b o a r d s , i n c l u d i n g the regional flooding and coastal committee, a homelessness charity and a ment a l h e a l t h a n d y o u t hfocused organisation I n a n i n t e r v i e w w i t h Asian Voice, she discusses her candidacy and plans for her constituency

What specific initiatives or policies do you plan to implement to achieve if you are elected?

Bedford holds a unique position as an area situated outside of London but with close proximity to it, strateg i c a l l y l o c a t e d b e t w e e n O x f o r d a n d C a m b r i d g e Despite its potential, it has n o t r e c e i v e d a s m u c h investment as it deserves S i g n i f i c a n t i n f r a s t r u c t u r e projects are underway, such a s t h e E a s t - W e s t R a i l , which will connect Bedford t o O x f o r d , C a m b r i d g e , G o o g l e , a n d M i c r o s o f t ; a h u g e i n v e s t m e n t f r o m U n i v e r s a l S t u d i o s m i g h t also be based here My primary focus is on enhancing t h e B e d f o r d c o m m u n i t y , particularly addressing the neglect faced by the local high street over the past 14 years under the administration of Labour and the Lib D e m s T h e r e h a s b e e n a lack of imagination, investment, and future planning I b e l i e v e i n s u p p o r t i n g e n t r e p r e n e u r s a n d b u s in e s s e s , i m p r o v i n g i n f r a structure and leveraging the l a r g e - s c a l e p r o j e c t s a n d opportunities available to create jobs, attract investment, and foster growth in the area Bedford is known for its diverse community, with various cultural and ethnic groups and exploring this diversity and engaging with different communities is a priority for me How do you plan to address housing and support-related issues, if elected?

H o m e l e s s n e s s h a s a p r o f o u n d l y s i g n i f i c a n t impact on my life During my teenage years, my family faced a severe setback when the recession hit We went from a position of relative comfort to facing signific a n t f i n a n c i a l d i f f i c u l t i e s overnight and my parents

worked tirelessly to rebuild their lives This was a particularly traumatic moment for me as a teenager and has profoundly shaped my outlook on life When I engage w i t h c o n s t i t u e n t s , t h e y recognise that I'm not just t a l k i n g a b o u t i s s u e s I ' v e lived through them myself

This shared experience fost e r s a d e e p e r c o n n e c t i o n and understanding When i t c o m e s t o a d d r e s s i n g housing challenges While t h e C o n s e r v a t i v e g o v e r nment has made significant strides in building 2 5 mill i o n h o m e s , t h e r e ' s s t i l l m u c h m o r e t o b e d o n e Repurposing derelict buildings, especially in town centres, presents a viable solution to housing shortages

By converting these unused spaces into affordable housing, we can help first-time buyers get onto the property ladder and tackle homel e s s n e s s I n d i v i d u a l s a n d f a m i l i e s f a c i n g h o m e l e s sness can rebuild their lives a n d a c c e s s t h e r e s o u r c e s they need to thrive with the right support and opportunities

What distinguishes you from other candidates running for the same position?

I b e l i e v e t h a t h a v i n g e d u c a t i o n a l e x p e r i e n c e i s essential if one is going to d e a l w i t h m a t t e r s t h a t i m p a c t m i l l i o n s o f l i v e s l o c a l l y a n d g l o b a l l y I t ' s i m p o r t a n t t o b e a b l e t o articulate oneself effectively, especially in a leadership r o l e I n m y o b s e r v a t i o n , clear gaps in understanding and communication skills are apparent when it comes t o t h e o p p o n e n t Additionally, he has had the opportunity to serve in various capacities over the past 14 years, yet there is a lack of substantial achievements to show for it Moreover, taking credit for initiatives that were not delivered only undermines trust and credi b i l i t y a n d t h e m e s s a g e r e g a r d i n g g o v e r n m e n t a c h i e v e m e n t s i s o f t e n obscured by Labour's politic a l r h e t o r i c T h e c u r r e n t MP needs to be transparent regarding projects like the d i a g n o s t i c c e n t r e s i n

Bedford The government h a s a l l o c a t e d s i g n i f i c a n t funding, amounting to £2 3 billion for 160 diagnostic centres nationwide, and it's crucial to clarify that this investment stems from government initiatives

Do you believe the recent by-election defeats indicate a loss of voter confidence in the Conservatives?

In my year-long experience of knocking on doors, people are not flocking to Labour due to their perceived lack of a coherent p l a n T h e r e ' s a d e s i r e

among constituents to see concrete policy ideas from Labour and a clear vision for change, rather than a m e r e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f Conservative policies In m y c o n s t i t u e n c y o f Bedford, there's already a p r e v a i l i n g s e n t i m e n t t h a t L a b o u r i s n o t e f f e c t i v e l y addressing local concerns Despite the slim majority of only 145 votes, constituents are beginning to question whether Labour truly repr e s e n t s t h e i r i n t e r e s t s Therefore, my focus is on engaging with more people, listening to their views, and understanding their priorities to ensure effective representation and community collaboration

One also has to conside r t h a t w h e n t h e C o n s e r v a t i v e g o v e r n m e n t took office, they inherited a c o u n t r y i n d i s a r r a y f r o m the previous Labour admini s t r a t i o n A d d i t i o n a l l y , they've faced unprecedente d c h a l l e n g e s s u c h a s Brexit, Covid-19, and global e v e n t s l i k e t h e w a r i n Ukraine These factors have p l a c e d i m m e n s e p r e s s u r e on the government, making it difficult to navigate effectively

There's been news suggesting that Conservatives need stronger leadership and better relationships to secure victory What's your take on this narrative?

R i s h i S u n a k ' s w o r k ethic and commitment to s t r o n g v a l u e s a r e c o mm e n d a b l e H e h a s i n t r oduced initiatives that have set him apart as a leader, he i s t h e f a c e o f " G l o b a l Britain " Despite concerns over polling, stability and unity within the party are paramount Previous leade r s h i p c h a n g e s h a v e n o t y i e l d e d t h e d e s i r e d o u tcomes, and that highlights the need for continuity and c o h e s i o n H i s t e n u r e a s Prime Minister has seen a f o c u s o n e d u c a t i o n a n d healthcare and his genuine demeanour and inclusion of his family in his political j o u r n e y r e s o n a t e w i t h

many On the other hand, while Keir Starmer is being c r i t i c i s e d f o r p e r c e i v e d i n c o n s i s t e n c y , t h e

Conservative Party offers a clear path forward under Sunak's leadership Stability in leadership translates to s t a b i l i t y f o r t h e c o u n t r y , and Sunak embodies this quality

Britway Airport Transfer Ltd soars to new heights in travel excellence

B ri tw ay A ir p o rt T ra ns fe r, th e b rainc h ild o f Ro hi th a an d A m i nt h a Malmalabadu ge, announced i ts rec ent triu m ph as th e p ro u d rec i p i en t o f a Business E xcellence A ward fro m Big Bu siness Ev ents

This accolade recognises t h e o u t s t a n d i n g c o n t r i b ut i o n s o f B r i t w a y A i r p o r t Transfer to the transportation and travel sector, solidifying its position as a leader in the industry

Britway Airport Transfer expanded its services with the introduction of tours in September 2023 The com-

pany now offers coach hires, b u i l d i n g s t r o n g r e l a t i o nships with travel agencies European coach tours have seen impressive uptake, part i c u l a r l y i n G e r m a n y , S w i t z e r l a n d , a n d A u s t r i a , and even a significant influx of bookings from the USA Notably, in just one month,

the company accomm o d a t e d s i x t o u r s with an average of 56 passengers per coach F a t h e r - a n d - s o n b u s i n e s s p a r t n e r s , Rohitha and Amintha M a l m a l a b a d u g e , e x p r e s s t h e i r c o mm i t m e n t t o p r o v i d i n g a h i g h - q u a l i t y s e r v i c e t h a t meets the unique needs of their clients The business aims to offer more flexibility in tour options, pricing, and s e r v i c e s , i n t r o d u c i n g n e w vehicles, including executive options and smaller minibus tours

Asian firm fined for breaching minimum wage

A s i a n e n t r e p r e n e u r

Ranjit Boparan's 2 Sisters F o o d G r o u p L i m i t e d h a s been listed among 500 UK companies found to have failed to pay their employees the minimum wage T h e D e p a r t m e n t o f Business and Trade revealed on Tuesday (20) that 524 employers, including some w e l l - k n o w n h i g h s t r e e t names, have been instructed to reimburse workers a total of nearly £16 million, along with facing additional financial penalties, follow-

ing breaches that affected over 172,000 workers T h e s e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s were conducted by HMRC between 2015 and 2023 2 Sisters Food Group Limited

i n W a k e f i e l d w a s a m o n g those listed, failing to pay

£130,887 72 to 395 workers

Ranjit Boparan, commonly k n o w n a s t h e " c h i c k e n king" for his poultry supply to major British supermarkets, established and operates 2 Sisters Food Group w i t h h i s w i f e , B a l j i n d e r

Kaur

Notable customers of 2 Sisters Food Group include A l d i , A s d a , C o - o p , K F C , L i d l , M a r k s & S p e n c e r , M o r r i s o n s , S a i n s b u r y s , Tesco, and Waitrose

Pinder Chauhan

Ranjit Boparan

A N E S S E N C E O F T H E B E A U T Y O F L O K S A N G E E T

Anusha Singh

The Sout hbank

Ce ntre’s ne w e vent se ries, ‘South Asian Sound s ’ ce lebrates the div erse musi ca l trad itions of th e I ndi an, P aki stani, Ba ngla deshi, and Afgha n dia spora

The series also highlights the work of innovative UK-based artists and collectives exploring a fusion of cultures and genres, ranging from bhangra to jazz, Qawwali to club music Scheduled from Thursday, March 7, to Sunday, March 10, 2024, ‘South Asian Sounds’ aligns with the Southbank Centre's ongoing commitment to showcasing and supporting the vibrant creative communities across London and the wider UK

A part of this series is Lok Singer, Padma Shri Malini Awasthi Known widely for her contribution to Bhojpuri music, she sings in Bhojpuri, Awadhi and Hindi, also presenting Thumri and Kajri The Government of India awarded her the civilian honour of the Padma Shri in 2016 Malini, along with Anwar Khan Manganiar will be presenting a showcase on Indian Folk songs on March 10

In an interview with Asian voice, she discusses her musical journey and the upcoming showcase

Can you tell us about your introduction to music and its impact on your music career?

My upbringing revolved around music, encompassing listening, singing, dancing, and emoting While my parents weren't singers themselves, my father possessed a keen appreciation for good music, particularly Indian classical music In those days, the emphasis was on the purity of music, with artists like Pandit DV Paluskar, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Lata Mangeshkar, Bismillah Khan, and my guru, Girija Devi, dominating the scene Despite not knowing much about them initially, I absorbed their music as a young child My grandmother would sing bhajans, and my aunts excelled in ‘gharelu sangeet ’

However, traditional festive music like ‘Bulaua’ and ‘Ratjaga’ weren't considered significant in

those days and growing up, I realised the depth of life, stories, and literature embedded in these songs, extending far beyond mere entertainment

Throughout my musical journey, I've endeavoured to change this perspective My journey from classical training to embracing Indian folk music was driven by a belief in its ability to capture the true essence of our society, traditions, and ecology

Do you think that folk songs from North India are not taken seriously because of the way commercial music represents the region?

To be frank, I believe the key to gaining respect from others is to first take yourself seriously It's about your demeanour, gestures, speech, and lifestyle and this applies universally, not just to any specific culture Bhojpuri, being a popular dialect, is cherished for its sweetness, melody, and rhythm Beyond being a language, Bhojpuri represents a resilient culture that refuses to fade away Personally, I've received love and respect from Bhojpuri speakers and the diaspora

Now, addressing the entertainment aspect, certain songs have gained popularity due to their commercial appeal, often exploiting emotional voids in migrant workers' lives There have been singers who have not been conscious about the responsibility of representing a culture, with platforms like YouTube, there's greater freedom to create diverse content Artists must recognise the responsibility they carry, preserving the legacy of Bhojpuri culture while embracing modern influences Ultimately, it's up to us to reshape perceptions and celebrate our heritage

What is a memorable highlight from your career?

I received an unexpected invitation from the US, to perform in Los Angeles I was initially shocked by the offer, as I never imagined myself performing in such a renowned city It was then explained to me that there was a small Bhojpuri-speaking community in LA who felt misrepresented by the abundance of

sensationalised Bhojpuri content online They wanted to introduce me to showcase a different side of Bhojpuri culture Performing in LA and receiving such invitations reaffirmed the value of authenticity in my journey For a long time, I struggled against stereotypes that undermined the class and dignity of Bhojpuri music It was a constant battle to convince audiences that I could offer both entertainment and grace Despite facing scepticism, I remained true to myself, refusing to compromise on my principles and over time, this insistence on authenticity has paid off People who appreciate good music and respect cultural integrity have stood by me, propelling me forward in my career

What can the audience expect from your performance at the Southbank Centre?

I believe they need to experience it firsthand I intend to provide them with a truly unforgettable experience, one that will leave them on the edge of their seats It's a journey I want to take them back to their roots, to the heart of the village and the aroma of homecooked meals These stories of India and the tales of the Ganga, Yamuna and Sarayu will stir up deep emotions London is also very special to me, where I participated in Saregama in 1998 It was then that I realised the vibrant energy of London's audience This is also not the first time I’m performing at the Southbank Centre I have previously performed there for Muzaffar Ali's Jahan-e-Khusrau and as I prepare to visit in March, my favourite time of year, I eagerly anticipate the Holi festivities and the warmth of the audience's response As an artist, I feel a responsibility to keep people connected to their roots, especially in a world where many are disconnected from their cultural heritage and I intend to do just that

Freddie Mercury's Kensington home up for sale at £30m

Fred die M ercury's resid ence i n K e ns i ng t o n, w h e re h e resided until his passing in 1991 , has been listed on the m ar ket fo r th e f ir st ti m e s i nc e t h e ic o ni c s i ng e r acquired it in the Eighties

K n o w n a s G a r d e n Lodge, the property is being offered for offers exceeding £30 million through estate agents Knight Frank Only s e r i o u s b u y e r s w h o c a n demonstrate the necessary funds will be granted access to view the premises

T h e l e a d s i n g e r o f Queen purchased the home over 40 years ago in 1980, making an impromptu decision after his initial viewing

He collaborated closely with i n t e r i o r a r c h i t e c t a n d designer Robin Moore Ede t o r e n o v a t e t h e r e s i d e n c e a c c o r d i n g t o h i s l a v i s h tastes Since Mercury's passing

f r o m A I D S - r e l a t e d bronchial pneumonia at the a g e o f 4 5 , t h e h o u s e h a s r e m a i n e d u n c h a n g e d H e b e q u e a t h e d t h e p r o p e r t y and all its contents to his d e a r f r i e n d M a r y A u s t i n , w h o r e s i d e d t h e r e a n d m a i n t a i n e d h i s c o l l e c t i o n for three decades x Built in 1907 in the NeoGeorgian style by architect Ernest Marshall for artists C e c i l R a a n d C o n s t a n c e H a l f o r d s , G a r d e n L o d g e b o a s t s a r i c h h i s t o r y

Previous owners include the late Peter Wilson, a former i n t e l l i g e n c e o f f i c e r a n d chairman of Sotheby's auction house

Tara Theatre announces ‘Silence UK Tour 2024’

T a ra T he a tr e is bri ngi ng back i ts acclai med pro ducti on of "Si lence," set to tour th e UK in 2024

C r i t i c a l l y h a i l e d a s "Shattering and necessary" by The Stage and labelled essential viewing by the E v e n i n g S t a n d a r d , "Silence" promises to deliver a poignant and impactful theatrical experience

The play delves into the 1 9 4 7 p a r t i t i o n o f t h e I n d i a n s u b c o n t i n e n t , a w a t e r s h e d m o m e n t marked by mass displacem e n t a n d v i o l e n c e t h a t c o n t i n u e s t o r e v e r b e r a t e through modern Britain Despite the presence of

witnesses to this tumultuous period, the stories of t h a t t i m e o f t e n r e m a i n o b s c u r e d b y s i l e n c e "SILENCE" endeavours to illuminate this shared history, drawing inspiration

from the poignant personal testimonies of individuals who lived through the f i n a l d a y s o f t h e B r i t i s h

Raj The tour will run from April 6 to May 4

Coventry University graduate aims to help music venues keep revellers safe

Major ve nues in cl uding NEC Group Arena s hav e signe d up to a sche me co-founde d by a Covent ry Univer sity gr aduat e designed to reduce inciden ts of sexual hara ssment an d hel p k eep revel ler s safe Safer Dance, co-founded by Coventry University graduate Jack Young and friend S a m H e n n e r l y , w a s launched in 2019 and pro-

vides venues with a range of r e s o u r c e s d e s i g n e d t o improve the safety of cust o m e r s , c o n t r a c t o r s a n d e m p l o y e e s S u c h m a t e r i a l , including staff training, educational resources and guida n c e , a l l o w s v e n u e s t o engage with Safer Dance’s c o n t i n u o u s i m p r o v e m e n t roadmap and help change a t t i t u d e s a n d b e h a v i o u r s

c o n c e r n i n g s e x u a l h a r a s sment

Safer Dance is already working with major venues i n c l u d i n g N E C G r o u p Arenas, Fabric London and I n v i s i b l e W i n d F a c t o r y Liverpool, while also engagi n g w i t h u n i v e r s i t i e s a n d other organisations

e a t e n s t o pull them apart, both individuals yearn to bridge the gap and reconcile "Halfway" is poised to

make its international premiere at the prestigious BFI F L A R E L o n d o n F i l m Festival in the UK, where it

is the sole Indian short f i l m f e a t u r e d i n t h e C o n n e c t / D i s c o n n e c t s e c t i o n o f t h e S h o r t

Film Programme F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e B r i t i s h C o u n c i l h a s recognised "Halfway" as one of the Top 5 Short Films from the festival A s p a r t o f t h e i r F i v e F i l m s 4 F r e e d o m program, celebrating its 1 0 t h a n n i v e r s a r y t h i s year, the British Council will distribute the film in over 200 countries, translated into 20+ languages This global init i a t i v e h i g h l i g h t s d i v e r s e voices and narratives from the LGBTQ+ community

MALINI AWASTHI

City Sikhs unveil 10th annual British Sikh Report: Insights into community, election intentions, and representation

C it y S i kh s u nv ei le d th e te nth annu al Bri tis h S ikh R ep o r t ( BS R ) , a u n i qu e s tr ate g i c d o c u m en t Draw ing from a survey of 1 , 500 S ikh s natio nw id e, it o ffers quantitativ e insights into th e British Sikh comm unity

The report delves into v o t i n g i n t e n t i o n s f o r t h e upcoming General Election, key concerns, and attitudes t o w a r d t h e P o l i c e Moreover, it highlights areas r e q u i r i n g e n h a n c e d S i k h r e p r e s e n t a t i o n i n m a i nstream society Anticipated to aid political engagement with Sikhs, the BSR 2023 promises a deeper under-

standing of Sikh issues within British society

Jasvir Singh CBE, chair of the British Sikh Report, said “This tenth edition of the British Sikh Report prov i d e s u s w i t h f a s c i n a t i n g data about the Sikh community Despite the continuing impact of the costs of living crisis, British Sikhs are still s h o w i n g t h e i r g e n e r o s i t y with 2 in 3 donating each m o n t h t o c h a r i t y O u r r e s e a r c h a l s o s h o w s t h a t Sikhs are over twice as likely t o v o t e L a b o u r t h a n C o n s e r v a t i v e a t t h e n e x t general election ” J a g d e v S i n g h V i r d e e MBE, the acclaimed statisti-

cian and editor of the report, s a i d : “ W e a r e e x t r e m e l y grateful to the Office for N a t i o n a l S t a t i s t i c s f o r putting together an article t h a t s u m m a r i s e s s t a t i s t i c s about Sikhs from the 2021 C e n s u s o f P o p u l a t i o n o f England and Wales Another article by Professor Jagbir Jhutti-Johal summarises the huge range of issues that BSR has covered in the past 10 years, stimulating discussion and debate about topics that are often taboo and not talked about”

The British Sikh Report 2023 was launched at the Houses of Parliament on the 16th of January 2024

Fashion reception at No 10

Indian Fashion takes centre stage

Silver Linings: Embracing Your Greys with the Magic of Nature

The whispers of time and experience finds its way to showcase n a t u r a l l y H o w e v e r i t i s understandable for many to slow down this change in life But instead of applying chemicals on our hair, let’s explore natural ingredient led hair dye alternatives With the world moving towards natural alternatives, the choice towards softer ingredients is finally expanding

Along with being succ e s s f u l c o l o u r p i g m e n t s , these ingredients are also beneficial for vibrant and healthy hair

Mistletoe, known for its c a l m i n g e f f e c t , s u b s i d e s scalp irritation, creating the p e r f e c t e n v i r o n m e n t f o r n o u r i s h i n g h a i r F e n n e l ' s v i t a m i n - r i c h c o m p o s i t i o n s t r e n g t h e n s t h e h a i r r e d u c i n g b r e a k a g e a n d p r o m o t i n g h a i r h e a l t h Y a r r o w , w i t h i t s a c i d i c nature, assists in controlling excess hair oil, ensuring a clean and healthy

s c a l p B a l m m i n t a n d chamomile join forces to provide a refreshing and soothing experience, making the hair care routine a s e n s o r y d e l i g h t M e a n w h i l e , H o p s , w i t h their antioxidant proper-

MYTH 1: GREYS ARE COARSE AND UNMANAGEABLE

The reality is that with hair care, such as deep c o n d i t i o n i n g a n d u s i n g g e n t l e c l e a n s e r s , G r e y hair is just as smooth and manageable MYTH 2: GREY HAIR CAN’T BE COLOURED

H a i r c o l o u r s l i k e Bigen, infused with the i n g r e d i e n t s m e n t i o n e d above, can colour your grey hair just as effortlessly and get them looki n g l i k e y o u r a c q u i r e d hair colour To discover more about Bigen and explore their range visit t h e i r e - s h o p a thttps://bigenshop.co.uk/. Additionally, incorporati n g a b a l a n c e d d i e t e n r i c h e d w i t h v i t a m i n s a n d m i n e r a l s p l a y s a vital role in maintaining hair health and colour Foods rich in Omega-3

t i e s , p r o t e c t s y o u f r o m hair loss Together, these n a t u r a l i n g r e d i e n t s a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r h e a l t h y and nourished hair Now, let’s bust some of the myths that could cloud the world of grey

fatty acids, antioxidants, and biotin contribute to the overall well-being of y o u r h a i r , e n s u r i n g i t r e m a i n s v i b r a n t a n d strong

MYTH 3: ONLY STRONG CHEMICALS CAN

COLOUR THE GREYS

Due to the lack of natural ingredient led products in the market, many h a v e t u r n e d t o w a r d s c h e m i c a l l e d p r o d u c t s

However, with products l i k e B i g e n ’ s S p e e d y

Conditioning Colour that use the essence of natural ingredients to not only colour but also nourish your hair; it is safe to say that natural led ingredients do the very job without damaging your hair

So, the next time your greys call out for some maintenance - know that there are gentler and natural friendly options waiting for you to be tried

Akshata Murty and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lucy Frazer, hosted a London Fashion Week reception in 10 Downing Street

Individuals from the fashion industry and supporters of the British Fashion Council convened at 10 Downing Street to commemorate the 40th anniversary of London Fashion Week The Prime Minister, accompanied by his wife Akshata Murty, briefly joined the gathering as well

Among the attendees were businesswoman Natasha Poonawalla and Boris Johnson's younger brother, Lord Johnson of Marylebone

The High Commission of India along with LS Trends and INIFD displayed designs including creations made from sustainable fabrics A mix of Indian & western motifs and silhouettes delighted the audience of designers, and fashion influencers at the show!

“The world is not always designed with accessibility in mind”

Anusha Singh

Yasm in Sh eikh was a successful law yer before she acquired a disability due to an incom plete spinal cord injury Now, she is a disability consultant and the founder of a specialist training consultancy, Diverse M atters, training org anisations and people to approach diversity and disability with confidence and streng th

Here, she sheds light on her personal experiences, diversity inclusion and stereotypes

How did you manage the significant changes that you had to face and work towards maintaining your independence and autonomy?

Reflecting on the past 16 years, during my time in the hospital, a goalplanning system was implemented where I met with various professionals every two weeks to set achievable goals for my rehabilitation One of my initial goals for myself, although mundane to others, was to go to the cinema to watch "Sex and the City " However, even this seemingly simple task posed significant challenges when navigating the world in a wheelchair Every stage, from getting dressed to booking accessible transportation and ensuring the cinema had suitable facilities, required careful consideration and planning This experience taught me that the world is not always designed with accessibility in mind, and navigating it can be a daunting task I learned to break down larger goals into manageable stages, starting with small achievements and gradually progressing to more significant milestones, each stage building upon the last

What was the transition from personal injury lawyer to disability consultant like?

Initially, transitioning from a secure legal career, which I had invested six years into, was daunting I was in a very secure position, these people knew me and my story, and that felt very comforting Despite the stability and familiarity, there was a sense of paternalism and I reached a point where I felt increasingly uncomfortable because I sensed an opportunity to make a meaningful difference elsewhere Introspecting about my purpose and the

impact I wanted to make, I realised that I yearned for more than just a safe career - I wanted to effect positive change As I delved deeper into this realisation, I discovered a gap in conversations around diversity and inclusion, particularly concerning disability Drawing on my lived experience and legal background, I began speaking at events and conducting workshops, gradually recognising the untapped potential in this space This journey led me to establish my own consultancy, where I could leverage my expertise to advocate for disability inclusion and enact tangible change

Do you ever feel like people make your entire life about your disability?

When you have a very visible disability, people interacting with you are often uncomfortable and the primary conversation is related to the chair It’s not about ignoring the fact that I'm in a wheelchair

Sometimes it's highly relevant, especially in terms of accessibility and inclusivity However, often people will engage with you in a very insensitive way The first question is always, “What happened to you?” when it’s not even relevant to the conversation It s not my responsibility to tell to someone I don't know and it’s exhausting having to manage these situations

Some people will say silly things like, “Have you got a licence for that?” or “Don't drink and drive ” While they think that they are being original with these lines, we've heard them a million times What people need to do is just say “Hello” and let the conversation flow because there is a massive part of my life beyond me using a wheelchair

What are some common misconceptions or challenges you've encountered regarding disability inclusion?

Firstly, people think of the term disability in a very narrow way, but it's beyond sticks and wheelchairs One in four of us will live with a disability at some point in our lives, it is a part of the human experience and this limited understanding of what disability actually means needs to be updated Many associate disability solely with visible conditions, such as wheelchair use, but the reality is that over 90% of disabilities are nonvisible, including chronic

fatigue, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and mental health conditions These individuals may not identify as disabled, yet they MAY BE protected under the UK Equality Act and entitled to workplace accommodations Secondly, there's a misconception that disability equates to inability In truth, many disabled individuals possess valuable skills and exhibit resilience, innovation, and problemsolving abilities, given that the world is not ideally designed for them With reasonable adjustments for disability, you are simply levelling the playing field and providing opportunities for all

What are some of the key initiatives that organisations can implement to better support individuals with disabilities?

In terms of disability inclusion, organisations should prioritise normalising conversations around access needs and adjustments One effective approach, based on research, is to pose the question to everyone during recruitment, interviews, appraisals, team meetings, and events: What access needs and adjustments do you require to attend this event or perform your job?" This approach ensures that the conversation isn't solely focused on disabled individuals, eliminating any stigma or special status It includes considerations for caregivers and those with flexible work arrangements, thereby normalising the discussion of access and adjustments for all By proactively addressing these needs, organisations can embed inclusivity into their operations and alleviate the burden on disabled individuals to constantly inquire about accessibility

Do you believe women with disabilities face more challenges than men?

The pressure individuals face due to societal expectations varies depending on the cultural

Top UK safety app leads to domestic violence arrest

Ho

context In certain societies, men are perceived as the breadwinners, and if their disability hinders their ability to work, they may face significant challenges and pressure Similarly, I can personally relate to societal pressures In some communities, women's worth is tied to their appearance, marital prospects, and caregiving abilities Having a disability, especially one that affects mobility or traditional gender roles, can lead to internalised feelings of inadequacy or not fitting societal norms Society’s perception of a disability can sometimes affect the way you see yourself and you might feel that other people may not find you attractive It's really hard when you encounter negative messages constantly and it becomes very hard to think of counter messages that enable you to think of yourself positively

What advice would you give to individuals who may be facing similar challenges or unexpected life changes?

Going through the bereavement process after a life-altering event is a natural and healthy part of coping It s essential to acknowledge and allow oneself to grieve for the loss of the old way of life and the things that may no longer be possible This grieving process can include feelings of denial, disbelief, and anger, which should be acknowledged and expressed rather than suppressed Permitting oneself to grieve and seeking support from others who understand can be immensely beneficial Finding a supportive community of individuals who share similar experiences, such as other wheelchair users, can provide valuable understanding and perspective Additionally, it's important to ask oneself difficult questions and explore new perspectives, instead of fixating on the negatives Questions such as, “What insights do I have because of my experiences?”, will lead to better answers

' s panic button, activated by t h e v i c t i m d u r i n g t h e a s s a u l t , i n i t i a t e d a s w i f t r e s p o n s e , a l e r t i n g E m e r g e n c y C o n t a c t s a n d transmitting live footage to S o u t h e r n M o n i t o r i n g S e r v i c e s , n o t i f i e d H u m b e r s i d e P o l i c e , a n d facilitated the rapid rescue

of the victim and the subsequent arrest of her attacker

Jonathan Evison, Police and Crime Commissioner, emphasised the importance o f c o m b a t i n g V i o l e n c e Against Women and Girls, p r a i s i n g t h e p a r t n e r s h i p with HollieGuard as a cruc i a l i n t e r v e n t i o n i n s a f eguarding vulnerable individuals The court learned that the victim had been assaulted after attempting to end the relationship the previous evening Her attacker, w i t h 1 7 p r e v i o u s c o n v i ctions, including 10 for violence, failed to disclose his new relationship to his probation officer before committing the assault

MPs urged to support young women in STEM

MPs were u rged to pro vide gr e at e r s u p p o r t f o r y o u n g women p ursu ing careers in s c ie nc e , t e c h no l o gy , e ng ine e ri ng , an d m a t h em a t ic s (ST E M) , a s h i gh l i gh t e d b y te s t im o nie s f r o m E m m a M o rg a n, 1 8, an d V i c to ri a Searle, 24, wh o s hared their exp eriences in fiel ds related to the defence secto r T h e M e m b e r s o f P a r l i a m e n t a r e c u r r e n t l y s c r u t i n i s i n g t h e s k i l l s pipeline and the prospective job growth within the indust r y A d d r e s s i n g t h e W e l s h A f f a i r s C o m m i t t e e i n W e s t m i n s t e r , M s M o r g a n , currently enrolled in a BTEC level 3 computing and cybersecurity course at Cardiff and

V a l e C o l l e g e , s t r e s s e d t h e need for perseverance in navi g a t i n g i n d u s t r i e s w h e r e women are underrepresented Ms Morgan emphasised the importance of encouraging women to explore career paths not typically associated w i t h t h e i r g e n d e r , s t a t i n g , "Any industry can be suited to a woman just as well as a man "

Responding to a query from Newport West Labour M P R u t h J o n e s a b o u t h e r e x p e r i e n c e s i n a p r e d o m inantly male-dominated field, M s M o r g a n a c k n o w l e d g e d the challenges of being one of the few females in her class, highlighting the gender disparity in STEM education

UN expert calls on UK Government to end violence against women

A U N expert h as called u pon the UK Gov ernment to take immediate action to erad icate all forms of v io lence ag a in s t w o m e n a nd g i rls , bra nd i n g i t a " n ati o n al threat Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur on viol e n c e a g a i n s t w o m e n a n d girls, highlighted the pervasive influence of entrenched p a t r i a r c h y a n d e s c a l a t i n g misogyny in both physical and online realms, depriving countless women and girls in the UK of their right to s a f e t y a n d f r e e d o m f r o m violence She underscored alarming statistics, noting that a woman is murdered by a man every three days in t h e U K , a n d o n e i n f o u r w o m e n w i l l e n c o u n t e r d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e i n h e r lifetime

W h i l e a c k n o w l e d g i n g the robust legal framework in the UK promoting gender e q u a l i t y , A l s a l e m e m p h asised the need for concrete action to translate political r e c o g n i t i o n i n t o t a n g i b l e results She recommended consolidating all legislative and programmatic efforts, e n h a n c i n g g o v e r n m e n t a l responsibility for discrimination and violence against women and girls, bolstering c o o r d i n a t i o n a m o n g g o v -

ernmental bodies and civil society, and allocating adequate resources to enforce advanced legislation effectively D e s p i t e c o m m e n d a b l e efforts, Alsalem highlighted persistent challenges, such as inadequate disaggregated d a t a a n d t h e r e l i a n c e o n gender-neutral approaches, h i n d e r i n g e f f e c t i v e m o n it o r i n g a n d p r o g r e s s S h e expressed concern for grassr o o t s o r g a n i s a t i o n s a n d frontline service providers struggling to support vuln e r a b l e w o m e n a n d g i r l s , urging authorities to ensure p r e d i c t a b l e a n d s u f f i c i e n t funding to sustain life-saving services A l s a l e m ' s c o m p r e h e nsive report will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2025

Yasmin Sheikh

Reem Alsalem

in brief

SAJID JAVID KNIGHTED

Former Chancellor Sajid Javid was knighted by the Prince of Wales in recognition of his contributions to politics and public service on Wednesday, the 21st of February Describing the knighthood as a "tremendous honour," Javid expressed gratitude for the recognition of his achievements as revealed in the New Year s Honours List announced last December Throughout his career, Javid served under three different prime ministers in various Cabinet roles, including culture secretary, business secretary, housing secretary, and health secretary He notably held the position of Chancellor under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson Having announced his decision to step down as an MP at the next general election Javid's political journey began when he became the MP for Bromsgrove in May 2010 consistently increasing his share of the vote in subsequent elections

RESTAURANT OWNER DENIES ATTEMPTED DRINK SPIKING

A proprietor of two Michelin-starred restaurants has refuted allegations of attempting to drug a woman's drink at an upscale club in Mayfair, London Vikas Nath aged 61 and residing in Kensington, faces charges of allegedly trying to administer a substance with the intent to render a woman unconscious or incapacitated for facilitating sexual activity Additionally Nath is accused of possessing the Class B drug gammabutyrolactone (GBL), commonly known as a "date rape" substance Judge Philip Bartle KC of Southwark Crown Court scheduled the trial to commence on February 2, 2026, with an estimated duration of one week As part of his bail conditions Nath must reside and sleep at his Knightsbridge residence every night and adhere to an electronically monitored curfew from 11 pm to 7 am He is also prohibited from visiting licensed establishments serving alcohol Moreover Nath must surrender his UK and US passports along with his Indian identification documents, and is barred from contacting the alleged victim

BIRMINGHAMMAHARASHTRA AI COLLABORATION

The University of Birmingham, in collaboration with the government of Maharashtra, is establishing a specialised Research and Innovation Hub aimed at addressing challenges in key priority areas of the state including agriculture and healthcare, utilising artificial intelligence (AI) Through a recent agreement signed in Mumbai, and in partnership with strategy firm EY this initiative will involve the participation of state public universities such as Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari North Maharashtra University in Jalgaon COEP Technological University and Savitribai Phule Pune University in Pune particularly in the initial phase of the project

INDIAN AMERICAN HONOURED BY BRITAIN’S ROYAL SOCIETY

Indian American business executive Smriti Kirubanandan has recently been honoured with the prestigious title of Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) in Britain in acknowledgement of her remarkable contributions to leadership and social impact in the United States Established in 1754, the RSA is a distinguished arts academy that will commemorate its 270th anniversary this year The RSA Fellowship is bestowed upon individuals recognized by the organization's adjudicators for their exceptional achievements in social progress and development Kirubanandan now joins the esteemed ranks of notable RSA fellows including luminaries such as Adam Smith Charles Dickens Benjamin Franklin Stephen Hawking Marie Curie and Karl Marx

Shivangi

Ladha: On Echoes

Sunetra Senior

Shivangi is a rising visual artist, founder of India Printmaking House, and curator of the new Echoes exhibition being held at the Nehru Centre in Mayfair on the 4th March in honour of International Women’s Day. For the first time, a collection of thought-provoking diasporic female-centric art will be displayed at the institution, exploring the “intimate connection between women, identity, memory, migration and displacement,” to depict the experience of global SouthAsian femininity in its complex entirety This is emphasised through the multidimensional mediums where the works shown range from sculpture and natural materials to paper, drawing and painting.

Shivangi, whose work will be one of the six diverse award-winning artists to be featured, shared with us: “Specifically, we wanted to showcase the art of women who had roots in India but also travelled a lot We wanted to depict the profound idea of the negotiation of memories of home, forming of a contemporary sense of belonging and the unique selfhood which results My work, for example, is a large-scale screen print delving into migration where a migrant worker, Birma, is shown caught pondering the meaning of life in a foreign land I use a lot of female figures in my work and animals as a metaphor to engage with the idea of memory e g during study, I found this dead bird and was inspired to create a large drawing of these sparrows – I grew up with them and always used to see these birds around me. When I came here, there was a real sense of loss which is communicated in the amplification.” ***

worlds” In the work ‘Fading Memories’ she is constantly playing with past and present u s i n g l a y e r e d d r a w i n g t e c h n i q u e s I t enables truthful following of feelings which are sometimes clear or sometimes blurred Anushiya, who is a multidisciplinary artist, d e p i c t s h e r j o u r n e y f r o m S r i L a n k a t o Northern Ireland where “the work is a part of a series of installations, created by dry point printmaking on Japanese paper, that

shows the narrative of life”, and Rewati’s ceramic sculptures “embody the dichotomy of diaspora At once solid and fluid, clay is pulled upwards as if out of the earth, torn and recast, given new life and new form, just as shifts in human geography have recast notions of belonging based on place,

The intuitive relationship between individual women and external place is then central to the project Bina, another prestigious artist, who is exhibiting at Echoes presents prints which are “ a series of experimental monotypes inspired by the Valentia Island Slate Quarry during her winter residency in Ireland ” She is a multi-disciplinary artist whose work is site based and she often uses natural earth pigments collected from the location to help tell her story, by making her own paint and printmaking inks to echo and colours of the place Artist, Meghana G moved to the UK two years back She has been fascinated by the idea of a r c h i t e c t u r a l e l e m e n t s a n d h o u s e h o l d objects holding their own memories:” In my view certain spaces from our homes exist not only external to our being, but also as a part of our identity They come to us again and again in memories and dreams”

Artist, Richa, produces a pastel and ink work on tracing and stone paper which reconciles “the differences between where she grew up and the London life which have been significant One can walk through this work experiencing light and shade enjoying t h e r

history and identity ” The series is also a personal reflection The sculptures evoke the symbolic topography of India’s desert border with Pakistan, across which Rewati’s family travelled after Partition Anushiya’s works are a part of multidimensional installations influenced by identity, nature, culture and conflict

Additionally, Anna Moszynska has been invited as Chief Guest She is a Londonbased lecturer and writer, specialising in

“Specifically, we wanted to showcase the art of women who had roots in India but also travelled a lot. We wanted to depict the profound idea of the negotiation of memories of home, forming of a contemporary sense of belonging and unique selfhood"

c o n t e m p o r a r y a r t A n n a has reviewed over 30 exhibitions for BBC Radio, and written numerous essays and catalogues on female artists Her books include Abstract Art and Sculpture Now published by Thames & H u d s o n a n d A n t o n y Gormley Drawing for the B r i t i s h M u s e u m H e r e , S h i v a n g i c o m m e n t e d o n her personal experience of shifting female identity in n o m a d i c m o d e r n t i m e s w h i c h b e a u t i f u l l y s u mmarises the sentiment of t h e d y n a m i c c o l l e c t i v e force behind the Echoes exhibit: “Ultimately, I do

wish to provide a different perspective on identity beyond the physical structures of the body – beyond race, gender and caste which are superficial markers of the self and so become barriers I want to look more inwards where there is an inherent oneness Although the artists in the show are all very different, for example, there is an interesting recurring of themes through certain lines and repetition itself Another work I did, dubbed Self-portrait, further looked microscopically inside the body in a way that fascinatingly reflects the arrangements of the universe and images of space I used a lot of female forms moving from the darkness into the light which become increasingly abstract ”

Indeed, the underlying universality of human existence seems to reflect the wider rhythm of expansive life Shivangi stated: “ our identities are fluid and not stagnant or constant as implied by traditional definition I hope to introduce this new freeing perspective through the emotive art that will be displayed ” Finally, Echoes invites people to peer into deep reflections of nuanced worldly travel captured through the cross-cultural lens of feminine introspection Not only does the exhibition collapse the boundaries of time and space but moreover challenges mental assumptions about reductive South-Asian womanhood to feelingly open the mind The curator concluded: “the works carry a signature boldness and delicacy and are internally a u t h e n t i c ” S h i v a n g i ’ s p l a t f o r m , I n d i a P r i n t m a k i n g H o u s e , i s a n o t - f o r - p r o f i t which supports South-Asian female artists by offering residencies and opportunity, including prizes that encourage otherwise underrepresented talent, such as the Young Printmaker Award Shivangi herself recently received the Global Talent Award from the Arts Council England For more information, please visit:

W: https://indiaprintmakerhouse com/

SHIVANGI LADHA

Dina Aziz's Ramadan planner: A guide for spiritual growth in the holy month

Subhasini Naicker

During Ramadan, Muslims worldwide engage in fasting, prayer, reflection, and spiritual growth to commemorate the revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad This sacred month, the ninth in the Islamic lunar calendar, holds immense significance for believers. Beyond abstaining from food, drink, and physical needs from dawn until sunset, Ramadan fosters a deeper connection with one's faith, community, and inner self T o e n h a n c e t h e Ramadan experience, many Muslims turn to resources like the Ramadan planner Authored by Dina Aziz, this journal-style planner provides practical guidance for organising time, setting spiritual goals, and maximising the benefits of Ramadan With its viral popularity, the Ramadan planner has become an i n d i s p e n s a b l e t o o l f o r Muslims of all ages, helpi n g t h e m n a v i g a t e t h e challenges and opportun i t i e s o f t h i s s a c r e d m o n t h I n a n i n t e r v i e w w i t h A s i a n V o i c e , D i n a talks about inspiration of m a k i n g p l a n n e r , m e n t a l h e a l t h a n d s p i r i t u a l growth, and her connection with faith Inspiration behind the Ramadan Planner

Dina said, “The inspiration for the planner came during my final year of university when a close friend, who was new to the country and practising Ramadan for the second time, was s t r u g g l i n g w i t h t h e r e l igious observance Wanting to help, I initially created a couple of Dua sheets for her As time went on, the idea evolved into a booklet, which I shared with her via WhatsApp She loved it and shared it with her friends and family Eventually, the planner circulated back to me through various channels, and I was surprised to find people recommending it without knowing I had created it Encouraged by friends and family, I decide d t o s h a r e i t o n s o c i a l m e d i a p l a t f o r m s l i k e T w i t t e r a n d I n s t a g r a m , where it gained significant attention, reaching millions o f v i e w s a n d b r e a k i n g download records It was a fast-tracked journey from a simple idea to widespread recognition ” Speaking about another

b i g g e s t i n s p i r a t i o n a b o u t t h e p l a n n e r , D i n a s a i d , “ D u r i n g m y c h i l d h o o d , I came across a book that, w h i l e n o t f o c u s e d o n Ramadan, offered a thorough introduction to Islam, including key practices like prayer Its ability to simplify c o m p l e x c o n c e p t s l e f t a lasting impression on me D r a w i n g o n t h i s e x p e r ience, I aimed to create a user-friendly and inclusive

p l a n n e r b y a d o p t i n g a straightforward approach ”

Navigating Ramadan with a unique approach

T a l k i n g a b o u t t h e R a m a d a n p l a n n e r , D i n a said, “The planner's unique structure fosters a reflective j o u r n e y , w i t h p r o m p t s every three days covering m e n t a l h e a l t h , s p i r i t u a l growth, and personal develo p m e n t I t g o e s b e y o n d m e r e a c t i v i t y t r a c k i n g , prompting users to conside r t h e w h y b e h i n d t h e i r actions and their impact For example, instead of a t y p i c a l Q u r a n t r a c k e r , i t o f f e r s t h r e e p h a s e s w i t h questions, checklists, and q u i z z e s t o e n g a g e d e e p l y with readings Daily reflect i o n s f o c u s o n g r o w t h areas, while tailored quotes and reminders offer inspir a t i o n A n e c d o t a l s t o r i e s e v e r y t h r e e d a y s p r o v i d e p r a c t i c a l i n s i g h t s , w i t h checkpoints every ten days f o r p r o g r e s s a s s e s s m e n t and goal-setting Inclusivity is prioritised, with dedicated support for those unable to fast The initial pages

introduce essential Islamic p r a c t i c e s i n a v i s u a l l y engaging manner, catering to newcomers and children

The planner also addresses e m o t i o n a l w e l l - b e i n g , i n f l u e n c e d b y a m o o d tracker app, integrating features for self-reflection and emotional check-ins

“ A n o t h e r i m p o r t a n t a s p e c t a d d r e s s e d i n t h e planner is the support provided for individuals who are unable to fast This sect i o n c a t e r s t o t h o s e exempted from fasting due to reasons such as old age, sickness, health conditions, or women who are mens t r u a t i n g o r p r e g n a n t Several pages are dedicated t o t h i s t o p i c , e n s u r i n g inclusivity and accessibility for all individuals particip a t i n g i n t h e m o n t h , regardless of their circumstances,”she added Fostering spiritual growth S p e a k i n g a b o u t t h e s t r o n g c o n n e c t i o n w i t h faith, Dina said, “My parents played a significant role in shaping my connect i o n t o f a i t h , a s t h e y e n r o l l e d m e i n I s l a m i c school and provided guidance through teachers and m e n t o r s H o w e v e r , t h e a s p e c t t h a t s t o o d o u t most to me was the sense of community, particularl y i n t h e a r e a w h e r e I grew up in East London Surrounded by people of my race and faith, I felt i n s p i r e d t o d e e p e n m y religious practice and identity, including my decision to wear the hijab, which w a s e n t i r e l y m y o w n c h o i c e T h e i n f l u e n c e o f f r i e n d s , f a m i l y , a n d t h e broader community during my formative years up to a g e 1 8 h a s l e f t a l a s t i n g impact on my character and beliefs ”

Talking about the planner, she said, “Writing the planner significantly deepened my connection with religion and enhanced my u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f v a r i o u s aspects, particularly different types of prayers This j o u r n e y s t r e n g t h e n e d m y bond with God and set me on a transformative path in l i f e I w a s c o m p e l l e d t o i n c l u d e l i f e l e s s o n s a n d insights applicable beyond the confines of Ramadan, reflecting experiences and w i s d o m r e l e v a n t t o a broader journey These elem e n t s r e s o n a t e d d e e p l y with me during the writing process, underscoring their significance and relevance i n s h a p i n g t h e p l a n n e r ' s content ”

Eid in the Square 2024

Th e M ayor of L ond on ’ s free, ann ua l f esti v al retu rns to the capital’s iconic Trafalgar Square for the 19th year to c el ebr ate th e e nd o f Ram ad an, the holy m onth o f fasting D e v e l o p e d i n p a r t n e rs h i p w i t h t h e E i d Community Advisory Group and London-based arts, culture and grass roots Muslim o r g a n i s a t i o n s , t h e f e s t i v a l s u p p o r t s t h e M a y o r ’ s #LondonForEveryone campaign, bringing communit i e s , f r i e n d s a n d f a m i l i e s together to enjoy the celebrations

T h e M a i n S t a g e w i l l host an exciting line up of p e r f o r m a n c e s a n d w e a r e v e r y p l e a s e d t o w e l c o m e back the Inspiring Muslim Awards for a second year to celebrate unsung heroes of London's Muslim community nominated by you T h e S q u a r e w i

Promoting Inclusivity

Sweaty Betty Foundation takes strides with new sports hijab line

T h e S w e aty B ett y Foundation is preparing to launch a new Sp orts Hijab, specially redesigned to cater to tho se seeking to m aintain mo desty w hile engaging in ph ysical activity

Following conversations with teenage girls nationw i d e , i n c l u d i n g a g r o u p from Leeds Girl Can, the Foundation uncovered that the hijab can pose a barrier t o g i r l s ' p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n sports Some schools even consider it "unsafe" to wear during PE lessons, mandating its removal Research by S p o r t E n g l a n d i n 2 0 1 9 r e v e a l e d t h a t M u s l i m women are more likely to be inactive compared to others, while a 2023 report by the

M u s l i m a h S p o r t s Association found that 97% of British Muslim women s u r v e y e d a i m t o i n c r e a s e sports participation, yet 37% are currently inactive

Teaming up with sports activist Lipa Nessa, a former semi-professional footballer turned grassroots coach and National Youth Board member, Sweaty Betty has developed a new Sports Hijab, w i t h p r o c e e d s b e n e f i t i n g

T h e S w e a t y B e t t y Foundation

The innovative design of the Sports Hijab combines fashion and function, featuring hidden banding to ensure stability duri n g a c t i v e m o v e m e n t a n d o f f e r i n g v a r i o u s f a s t e n i n g options to match individual style preferences

All profits from the sales of the Sports Hijab, along with those from an exclusive l o n g - s l e e v e B r e a t h e E a s y Top, will be donated to the S w e a t y B e t t y F o u n d a t i o n A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e F o u n d a t i o n w i l l a n n u a l l y d i s t r i b u t e a d e s i g n a t e d n u m b e r o f h i j a b s t o g i r l s across the UK, empowering a n d e n c o u r a g i n g t h e m t o embrace physical activity

Bedford hosts city-wide clean-up in honour of Ramadan

Resid ents across Bradford are gearing up for a special city-wid e clean-up initiativ e to mark the arrival of Ram ad an this spring

Organised by Bradford 4 Better, the pre-Ramadan litter-picking event is scheduled to take place from 11 AM to 1 PM on March 3, 2024

A spokesperson for Bradford 4 Better expressed enthusiasm, stating, "This presents a fantastic opportunity for us to unite, get our hands dirty, and showcase our dedication to our community Recognising the significance of Ramadan and the principle of cleanliness in Islam, let's prepare our city for this auspicious occasion By joining forces in this endeavour, we not only contribute to a

cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing Bradford but also nurture a sense of solidarity and pride within ourselves "

While specific meeting locations are yet to be finalised, updates will be communicated via social media channels and the organisation's website

Rest assured, we will ensure that meeting points are conveniently located and easily accessible across the city," reassured the spokesperson

All residents, both longstanding community members and newcomers alike, are warmly encouraged to participate

Dina Aziz

H&K Cycle Club: Merging spirituality, charity, and cycling for a transformative journey

Subhasini Naicker

During Ramadan, Muslims worldwide are encouraged to strengthen their faith by deepening their connection with God through acts of worship, self-reflection, and kindness towards others. This sacred period serves as a time for individuals to purify their hearts, bolster their spirituality, and foster empathy and compassion for those in need In line with the spirit of Ramadan, numerous organisations and community groups, such as the H&K Cycle Club, embrace the values of charity and service, using their platform to make a positive impact on society

Over the past decade, H&K Cycle Club has experienced remarkable growth from its modest origins Initially founded by a group of dedicated individuals passionate

logistics and administrative requirements of organising such a significant cycling event, we found that collaborating with Muntada Aid brought invaluable support and expertise to the table While our club focuses on the cycling aspect and event management, Muntada Aid ensures seamless coordination of logistics, including hotel arrangements, support vehicles, and on-ground

about community health, fitness, and charitable causes, the club has thrived under their leadership What began with just 10 enthusiasts has now blossomed into a community of over 100 devoted cyclists The cycling club from East London has recently went to the third expedition of Hijra ride, a challenging 550-kilometre journey ride from Mecca to Medina to raise vital funds and awareness for children suffering from Congenital Heart Defects in Africa In an exclusive interview, Head of H&K Cycle Club, Shamsul Abdin spoke about the Hijra ride and club journey Hijra R ide: A journ ey of spiri tuality and challenges

Speaking about Hijra ride and collaboration with Muntada Aid, Shamsul said, “Since the inaugural Hijra Ride in 2022, H&K Cycle Club has forged a meaningful partnership with Muntada Aid, a charity organisation with whom we share a longstanding and harmonious relationship Recognising the intricate

assistance during the ride in Saudi Arabia This year, the success of our Hijra Ride has broken records, with over £184,000 raised, surpassing even our own club's previous fundraising milestones ”

Talking about the spirituality and challenges of the ride, he said, “Absolutely, the essence of the Hijra Ride encapsulates a journey like no other As someone intimately involved in its organisation, I've just returned from overseeing its execution for the third consecutive year Despite the familiarity that comes with repetition, the experience remains as profound and impactful as it did during my inaugural participation three years ago The uniqueness of the Hijra Ride lies in its fusion of physical exertion with spiritual fulfilment ”

“Having spent a decade traversing Europe, cycling through 48 cities across 18 countries from London to Istanbul, our club sought a new challenge one that would transcend the realm of sport and delve into the realm of spirituality The

well-being of the community, he said, “Reflecting on our journey as a club over the past decade fills me with immense humility and pride What began as a vision shared by a few brothers has blossomed into a vibrant and impactful organisation, serving our community and beyond As the current head of the club, alongside dedicated members like Soifur Rahman and

Hijra Ride achieves just that by intertwining the physicality of cycling with the spiritual journey of pilgrimage Upon arriving in Mecca, participants perform the sacred rites of Umrah, grounding themselves in a profound spiritual experience Subsequently, mounting their bicycles, they embark on a transformative 550kilometre journey from Mecca to Medina a route echoing the historic migration of Prophet Muhammad over 1400 years ago, ” he added

Speaking about the significance of this journey, he said, “It symbolises a pivotal moment in Islamic history, where the Prophet, faced with persecution in his homeland of Mecca, sought refuge in Medina

By retracing his footsteps on two wheels, participants not only endure the physical challenges of cycling but also forge a deep spiritual connection with the Prophet's journey

The arduous conditions battling heat, headwinds, and exhaustion mirror the trials faced by the Prophet and his companions during their migration For example, a remarkable participant in our recent Hijra Ride, a 62year-old who tackled a gruelling 550-kilometre journey through challenging conditions His achievement, against the odds and in the face of doubt, epitomises the transformative power of our events ”

A decade of community im pact and philan thropy Speaking about the

A story of self-discovery and forgiveness through Islam

4 2 -y ear - o ld S h ah i d I qb al K h an' s O li v i er -n o m i nat ed play ‘ 1 0 Nig hts!’ is about a you ng Muslim man's spiritual journey of self-discovery after he d ecides to parti ci p a te i n It ik āf - th e Islamic practice of staying in a mosque and fasting for the last ten nig hts of Ram ad an

This moving and funny p r o d u c t i o n t e l l s Y a s s e r ’ s n o t - s o - u n u s u a l s t o r y i n a v e r y c o l l o q u i a l y e t l u c i d English, with a mix of Urdu and Arabic references

The protagonist Yasser, who was a young Muslim m a n , e n j o y e d h i s t i k t o k , company of friends, shopp i n g , c l u b b i n g a n d o c c asional substance abuse that led to an unfortunate accident Eventually, he landed in the mosque and fasting t h e l a s t t e n n i g h t s o f Ramadan on behalf of his friend Aftab, on a journey of self-reflection, as he discovered his faith (and its people) in a brand-new light

Azan as Yasser

them beat

Mashrur Miah, we've witnessed the remarkable evolution of H&K Cycle Club

“In 10 years, through our collective efforts and unwavering dedication, we have raised an astounding £1 6 million for various charitable causes a testament to the power of community and grassroots initiatives The impact of our club on the community has been nothing short of profound Over the past decade, we've witnessed a significant shift in the perception of cycling within the Asian community When we first embarked on this journey, cycling was largely viewed as a pastime reserved for white, middle-class men However, through our efforts and the visibility we've achieved, we've shattered that stereotype,” he added

Speaking about breaking the barriers, he said, “Our active presence on social media platforms like Instagram, where we recently surpassed 1000 followers, has played a pivotal role in showcasing the diversity and inclusivity of our club By sharing our experiences and highlighting the participation of individuals from diverse age groups and backgrounds, we've inspired countless others to take up cycling Seeing people who look like them engaging in the sport has served as a powerful source of inspiration for many, breaking down barriers and dispelling misconceptions about who can participate in cycling ”

When we focus on the practices of Ramadan, it is o f t e n j u s t a r e c a p o f t h e existing norms and princip l e s H e r e y o u n g Y a s s e r ’ s discovery walks us through the many facets of Islam, helping him find his identity and the courage to accept and forgive himself

The play is a true reflection of many issues, revolving around social and mental health that affect young Muslim men Living sandw i c h e d b e t w e e n t w o c u ltures in Britain, they often s t r u g g l e w i t h i d e n t i t y , which leads to their many social struggles While there is a pressure to integrate w i t h o t h e r n o n - e t h n i c y o u n g s t e r s t h e y g r o w u p with, charmed and thrilled by the nation’s popular culture, it is the tug-of-war of cultural differences within t h e m , t h a t o f t e n l e a v e s

At that point, however, u n d e r e s t i m a t e d a n d o l df a s h i o n e d i t m a y s o u n d , one ’ s faith sometimes holds the key to the most difficult existential questions, liberating the mind from shackles of expectations, guilt and peer pressure, helping them to cope and challenge the need for use of substance to get by 26-year-old actor Azan Ahmed as Yasser, and acting as his friends, parents, community members etc- have singlehandedly delivered a v e r y p o w e r f u l ( m u l t i - r o l e ) p l a y , w i t h t h e a b i l i t y t o make the audience laugh at his goofiness, at the same time make them sympathise with his inner conflicts Azan, a screen and thea t r e a c t o r f r o m L o n d o n ’ s Kilburn area, is best known f o r t h e r o l e o f s e r g e a n t

Eddie Suleman in ITV’s Van der Valk He also appeared i n T h e F a t h e r a n d t h e A s s a s s i n a t t h e N a t i o n a l

Theatre and The Tempest at Shakespeare’s Globe in 2023 His powerful and convincing acting throughout the 90-minute play is gripping, as he moves in and out of many characters he plays, d e l i v e r i n g d i f f i c u l t m o n ologues with simplicity and ease Shahid's talent and resolution to freely talk about t h e c u l t u r a l s t r u g g l e s o f Britain’s Muslim community through his play is truly c o m m e n d a b l e A m u s t watch

Ramadan guidance for inclusive PE in schools

Dr Irfan Khawaja, a Senior L ec tu re r i n P h ys i c al Ed u ca tio n at Bi rm ing h am City U niv ersity (BC U), has d ev elo ped g rou nd break ing Ramadan guid ance aimed at fo stering a more inclusiv e sc h o o l env ir o nm e nt f o r Muslim students and staff p art ic i p at in g i n p h ys i c al ed u c at io n ( P E ) ac ti v i ti e s during the Holy Mo nth of Islam

T h i s p i o n e e r i n g g u i dance, believed to be the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, provides practical advice to schools on supporting fasting Muslim stud e n t s a n d s t a f f , e n a b l i n g them to continue engaging in physical activities both within the curriculum and in extracurricular settings

D r K h a w a j a e x p r e s s e d his personal wish for such g u i d a n c e t o h a v e e x i s t e d

Dr Irfan Khawaja

during his own time as a student and later as a PE t e a c h e r , e m p h a s i s i n g t h e importance of understanding and respecting diverse c u l t u r e s a n d r e l i g i o n s i n t o d a y ' s i n t e r c o n n e c t e d world He hopes this guidance will complement existing efforts in schools to create truly inclusive environments

Hijrah Ride medal to the British Consulate General Cecille El Beleidi

From the left to right: Mashrur Miah, Shamsul Abdin, Mohamed Hajat and Soifur Rahman

Participants from H&K Cycle Club on their third expedition of Hijra ride

Dear Financial Voice Reader,

Alpesh Patel

I did something I shouldn’t have on Friday night Now I am down a rabbit hole of worry Worry for other people You see, I looked up on Google workplace pensions OMG!

The recent flurry of reports and investigations into the pensions sector has unveiled a mix of systemic risks, mismanagement issues, and the potential for reform Here are ten pivotal lessons and pieces of advice gleaned from a broad spectrum of sources:

The Urgent Need for Pension Reform: The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has issued a stark warning about the subs t a n t i a l r i s k s f a c i n g f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s o f p e n s i o n e r s , underscoring the need for comprehensive pension reform to safeguard the financial security of retirees This calls for a critical review of existing pension schemes and the development of more sustainable models for the future

Market Volatility and Pension Security: Recent fluctuations in bonds(!) not stocks (which have soared, except the moribund FTSE), have led to significant losses for pension holders, as reported by The Guardian This highlights the necessity for individuals to understand it’s not stocks that can wipe out their ‘safe, close to retirement, bond rich pensions’ but managers

Demanding Accountability from Pension Providers: Reports of unsatisfactory treatment of pension savers by providers such as Mercer UK, as documented by Money Marketing, emphasize the importance of demanding better service and transparency from pension firms Savers should not hesitate to seek redress and accountability for mismanagement or poor communication

T h e R e a l i t i e s o f C o m p a n y P e n s i o n F l u c t u a t i o n s : Investigations into company pension schemes have revealed substantial decreases in value, which should serve as a cautionary tale for individuals to closely monitor their pension performance and understand the factors that could influence their retirement funds

The Threat of Pensions Misery for Older Workers: With the prospect of new pensions misery looming for over a million older workers, as reported by This is Money, there is a clear need for proactive financial planning and exploration of alternative retirement savings avenues

The Potential of Growth Schemes: The government has an initiative to involve pension funds in a £75bn growth scheme in unlisted securities to enhancing pension fund performance However, individuals must critically assess these schemes to ensure they align with personal risk tolerances and long-term financial goals

Strategies for Maximizing Pension Value: Practical advice on giving your pension a significant boost underscores the importance of leveraging government incentives and making informed investment choices to enhance retirement savings significantly You know you can invest in US stocks like Microsoft don’t you?

The Impact of High Fees on Pension Wealth: The issue of disproportionately high fees, particularly for new clients of certain financial services, highlights the critical need for pension savers to be vigilant about fee structures and their impact on long-term savings The Role of Advocacy in Pension Management: The emergence of pension vigilantes challenging firms over unfair practices underlines the significance of transparency and accountability in the pensions industry Savers should be prepared to advocate for their rights and demand fair treatment from their providers

The Importance of Educating Yourself on Pension Options: With a myriad of pension providers and schemes available, it is crucial for individuals to educate themselves on the advantages and disadvantages of different options Making informed decisions is key to securing a stable and prosperous retirement

In synthesizing these lessons, it becomes evident that navigating the pensions landscape requires a proactive, informed approach This collective effort towards reform, transparency, and accountability will be crucial in building a more resilient pensions infrastructure

For now, save more, spend less, live frugaly and find w a y s t o i m p r o v e r e t u r n s I h a v e f r e e e d u c a t i o n a t www investing-champions com

Lloyds sets aside £450 mn for car finance loan fines and payouts

Ll oyds, a ma jor b anking institution, has a llocate d £45 0 mil lion t o a ddress the poten tial ex pe nse s associated with an investigat ion in to ca r fin ance deal s by the UK's fin ancia l re gul ator Last month, t he Finan cial Conduct Aut horit y (FCA) initiate d a n inq uiry int o whether individuals we re ov erpaying for cars This investigation focuses on brokers who arranged car financing and earned commission based on the interest rates set for customers Lloyds disclosed this provision alongside announcing a significant increase in annual profits The bank said pre-tax profits jumped to £7 5 bn last year, which was higher than expected and up 57% from the year before Last month, the FCA declared its intent to investigate potential compensation owed to individuals who suspect they were overcharged for car loans Lloyds is perceived to be the most vulnerable among major banks to such claims, given its ownership of one of the UK's leading motor finance providers, Black Horse

UK posts record fiscal surplus in pre-budget boost for Hunt

In January, Britain ac hieved its l argest budget surpl us on rec ord, prov iding a sign ific a nt u pl i f t f or C ha n c e l l o r Jere my Hunt jus t two weeks ahead of potentially t he f inal fisc al stat ement bef ore a general elec tion

According to the Office f o r N a t i o n a l S t a t i s t i c s , t a x revenue surpassed spending by £16 7 billion, more than d o u b l i n g t h e s u r p l u s f r o m the previous year This surp l u s r e d u c e d t h e b u d g e t deficit for the first 10 months of the fiscal year to £96 6 billion, which is £9 2 billion less than the Office for Budget

Responsibility had forecasted The possibility of tax cuts looms for Chancellor Hunt in the March 6 budget, as pressure mounts from grass-

Delaying rate cuts carries real costs: BoE policy maker

Bank of England p olicymaker S w ati Dh i ng ra e m ph asised the tang ible econom ic d raw bac k s o f p o s tp o n i ng in ter es t rat e red u c ti o n s until there is add itional evidence ind icating a d ecrease in u nd erlying inflation pressu res " W a i t i n g f o r l a g g i n g indicators of domestic relat i v e p r i c e g r o w t h t o f a l l s h a r p l y b e f o r e r e d u c i n g rates comes with a cost of foregone improvements in living standards and a risk of lowering supply capacity for the future," she said at an e v e n t h o s t e d b y M N I Connect

D h i n g r a v o t e d t h i s month to cut interest rates from their 16-year high of 5 25%, the first member of the BoE's Monetary Policy Committee to do so since early in the Covid -19 pandemic

Most of the MPC voted

to keep rates on hold - and t w o v o t e d f o r a f u r t h e r increase - because they were u n s u r e t h a t w a g e g r o w t h and services prices would slow enough for inflation to return sustainably to its 2% target T h e B a n k o f E n g l a n d projected this month that a d e c l i n e i n e n e r g y p r i c e s would drive inflation to 2% in the second quarter of this year However, most members of the Monetary Policy C o m m i t t e e a n t i c i p a t e a return towards 3% by the end of the year as the impact o f l o w e r e n e r g y p r i c e s diminishes

Dhingra expressed the v i e w t h a t c u r r e n t w a g e growth rates exceeding 6% might not be significantly d i s t a n t f r o m l e v e l s c o nducive to 2% inflation, considering that wage growth s t o o d a t 4 - 5 % b e f o r e t h e global financial crisis

roots Conservatives to bolster their electoral prospects ahead of an anticipated general election later this year

D e s p i t e t r a i l i n g L a b o u r i n opinion polls by roughly 20 p e r c e n t a g e p o i n t s , t h e Tories, in power since 2010, face constraints due to selfimposed fiscal rules mandating a reduction in the debt burden over five years

H u n t ' s f i s c a l l e e w a y remains limited to around £13 billion, as indicated by the O f f i c e f o r B u d g e t

Responsibility (OBR) Efforts to accommodate major givea w a y s m a y n e c e s s i t a t e

adjustments to existing public spending plans

C h i e f S e c r e t a r y t o t h e Treasury Laura Trott played down the prospect of a taxcutting bonanza: “We provided hundreds of billions to pay wages, support business and protect lives during Covid, and to pay half of people’s e n e r g y b i l l s a f t e r P u t i n ’ s invasion of Ukraine,” she said in a statement “But we can’t leave future generations to pick up the tab, which is why we have taken tough decisions to help reduce borrowi n g v e r s u s w h a t t h e O B R expected in March ”

UK middle earners 'struggle' to make ends meet

A re ce nt re port i ndi ca tes t ha t w h i l e l o w - i n co me earn ers a re n ota bly worse off compared to thos e in the middle, many hous eh ol d s w i t h m e d i a n i n c om e s s t i l l e n c o un te r econ omi c challen ges T h e r e p o r t h i g h l i g h t s that UK citizens earning the average or near-average wage are experiencing diff i c u l t i e s i n m e e t i n g e x p e n s e s s u c h a s r e n t , food, and other essentials amid the ongoing cost of l i v i n g c r i s i s a f f e c t i n g Europe

A c c o r d i n g t o a s t u d y r e l e a s e d b y F i n a n c i a l Fairness Trust, individuals positioned near the middle of the UK's income spect r u m ( w h i c h s p a n s f r o m £ 2 9 , 0 0 0 t o 6 5 , 0 0 0 , o r € 3 4 , 0 0 0 t o € 7 6 , 0 0 0 , d e p e n d i n g o n h o u s e h o l d type) are encountering various financial strains

This is "contributing to a widespread sense of eco-

n o m i c m a l a i s e t h a t g o e s well beyond the privations felt by the worst off"

Specifically, around one i n f i v e c l o s e - t o - m i d d l ei n c o m e e a r n e r s s a y t h a t they're struggling to afford food and other essentials, while others are "running down savings or running up debt" to cover day-today expenses, according to the report entitled "Caught in the Middle"

According to the report, individuals in the middleincome bracket may confront a dilemma between securing their future and maintaining sufficient disposable income for a satisfactory standard of living at present

For instance, the trust highlighted that a couple with two children requires £2,750 per month after tax and benefits to meet the m i n i m u m i n c o m e s t a ndard (MIS) determined by Loughborough University

HSBC's pre-tax profits soar fuelled by high interest rates

HSBC,

c e s M e a n w h i l e , c o m p e t i t o r

NatWest disclosed its highest annual profit since the

2007 financial crisis just last week

However, HSBC's profits fell short of expectations due t o a s l o w d o w n i n C h i n a ' s e c o n o m y A d d i t i o n a l l y , i t s earnings were impacted by a significant $3 billion charge related to its stake in China's B a n k o f C o m m u n i c a t i o n s With the bulk of its profits generated in Asia, particularly in China and Hong Kong, HSBC remains closely tied to

developments in the region HSBC's pre-tax profit for 2022 was $17 1 bn and anal y s t s w e r e e x p e c t i n g i t t o jump to $34 1 bn last year But its chief executive, Noel Quinn, said in a statement: "Our record profit performance in 2023 enabled us to r e w a r d o u r s h a r e h o l d e r s w i t h o u r h i g h e s t f u l l - y e a r dividend since 2008 "

"They've had quite a sizable increase in what we call

net interest margin which is the difference between the amount they charge borrowers and the amount they pay to depositors," banking analyst Frances Coppola said

"That's really been the p r i n c i p a l d r i v e r o f t h e i n c r e a s e b o t h i n r e v e n u e s and profits," she added "But we have to note that the high interest rate envir o n m e n t i s c o m i n g t o a n end "

King Charles banknotes to enter circulation on June 5

The Bank of Engla nd will debut banknote s fea turi ng King Charl es' po rtrai t on June 5, mar ki ng th e fi rst time hi s i mage will app ear on all d enominati ons (£5, £10, £20, a nd £50 ) T hese not es will ret ai n existi ng desig ns wi th the sole a dditi o n be i ng K i ng Ch a r le s' portra it P o l y m e r n o t e s w i t h

Queen Elizabeth II's portrait will remain legal tender alongside the new King

C h a r l e s I I I n o t e s T h e issuance of the new banknotes will be limited to replacing worn-out notes a n d m e e t i n g i n c r e a s e d demand

In line with guidance from the Royal Household, the Bank of England will p r i n t n e w K i n g C h a r l e s banknotes only to replace worn-out ones and meet i n c r e a s e d d e m a n d T h i s approach aims to minimise environmental and finan-

c i a l i m p a c t , e n s u r i n g a gradual introduction of the new notes into circulation T h e s e n o t e s w i l l p r o m i n e n t l y f e

the

the

although certain restrictions will apply The Bank said further details about this will be provided closer to the

India's GDP growth may moderate to 6.5% in FY25: Morgan Stanley

M o r ga n S t a n l e y R e se a r c h a n t i ci p a t e s In d ia ' s G D P gr owth to ea se to 6 5% for F Y2 5 f r om t h e p r o je c t e d 6 9% for FY24 ICR A projects a sequen tial mode ration in y ear-on-year GDP growt h to 6 % in Q3 FY24 from 7 6%, p r i ma r i l y d r i v e n b y t he a g r i cu l t u r e a n d i n du st r y sectors A d i t i N a y a r , c h i e f economist, head-research & o u t r e a c h , I C R A L t d , s a i d , “Lower volume growth for the industrial sector, flagging m o m e n t u m i n c e r t a i n i n d i c a t o r s o f i n v e s t m e n t a c t i v i t y , a s l o w d o w n i n government expenditure and a n u n e v e n m o n s o o n a r e e x p e c t e d t o d a m p e n t h e GDP growth to 6 per cent in Q3 FY24 from 7 6 per cent in

CAs

Q2 FY24 ” M S R e s e a r c h ’ s r e p o r t s a i d i t m a i n t a i n e d a constructive outlook on the I n d i a n e c o n o m y , w h i l e h i g h l i g h t i n g t h a t r i s k s

emanate from global factors and elections in May 2024 “ D o m e s t i c d e m a n d improved in January, while m a c r o s t a b i l i t y r e m a i n s c o m f o r t a b l e , r e f l e c t i n g s t r e n g t h i n t h e fundamentals We maintain our constructive outlook on

t h e e c o n o m y , ” M o r g a n Stanley Research said in i t s r e p o r t t i t l e d I n d i a E c o n o m i c s – M a c r o

I n d i c a t o r s C h a r t b o o k : S t r e n g t h i n G r o w t h , S t a b i l i t y i n M a c r oFundamentals

M o r g a n S t a n l e y R e s e a r c h f o r e c a s t s h e a l t h y GDP growth for the third q u a r t e r o f F Y 2 4 , e n d i n g D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 3 , a t 6 5 % , albeit slower than the 7 7% recorded in the first half of the current financial year

The research division of the i n v e s t m e n t b a n k a l s o s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e c u r r e n t account deficit is expected to stay favorable, supported by robust services exports and declining global commodity prices, particularly in oil

from UK, Canada may be allowed to practise in India

T h e C h a rt e r e d

A ccountants of I ndia (I CAI)

h a s p r op o s e d to t h e governme nt that CAs from the U K and Can ada ma y p r a c t i c e i n I n d i a o n a r e c i p r oc a l b a s i s I C A I P r es i d e n t R a n j e et Ku m a r A g a rw a l e m p ha s i s e d th a t I ndian CAs would als o have the opportunity to practic e i n the UK an d Canada If i mplemented, i t wi ll ma rk the first ti me overseas CAs c an practic e in India

A s p a r t o f I n d i a ' s o n g o i n g n e g o t i a t i o n s f o r F r e e T r a d e A g r e e m e n t s ( F T A s ) w i t h t h e U K a n d

Canada, the proposal has been put forward Agarwal mentioned that a similar a r r a n g e m e n t i s b e i n g e x p l o r e d w i t h A u s t r a l i a U p o n i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f the reciprocal system, CAs from foreign countries will need to register with the ICAI, which will regulate them “ I t w i l l b e o n a reciprocal basis and not on a standalone basis If they agree, it will be a win-win for both countries We are very much hopeful in the U K , t h e r e i s a n a g e i n g population and most of the

work has shifted from the U K t o I n d i a , ” A g a r w a l , w h o t o o k o v e r a s t h e President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) on February 12, said

To a query about what could be the impact of CAs f r o m f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s practising in India, he said, I n d i a i s a d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r y a n d t h e y a r e d e v e l o p e d c o u n t r i e s , referring to the UK, Canada and Australia “It will be in

r e m i t t a n c e f o r o v e r s e a s education at $890 million I n A u g u s t 2 0 2 3 , I n d i a n s s p e n t o v e r $ 2 b i l l i o n o n overseas travel, marking the h i g h e s t s p e n d i n g o v e r s e a s during that period

The highest contribution to the increase in remittances in Dec came from foreign

s t

t r a v e l , w h e r

Disney, Reliance sign pact

to merge media operations in India

Walt Disney and Reliance

I nd u s tr ie s h av e s ig ned a bind ing agreement to merg e th eir med i a o perati o ns i n

I nd i a , a re p o rt s ai d T h e re p o rt s ai d M u kes h

A m ban i -l ed R eli a nc e

I nd u s tr ie s is ex p ec te d to o w n a 61 % s ta ke i n t h e

m e rg e d en ti ty as Di s ne y re as s es se s i ts s tra teg y i n I nd i a am i d i nte ns e com petition

T h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f D i s n e y a n d R e l i a n c e declined to comment on the r e p o r t s o f t h e b i n d i n g merger agreement

T h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f shares among the partners c o u l d u n d e r g o a l t e r a t i o n s based on the inclusion of D i s n e y ' s a d d i t i o n a l l o c a l a s s e t s a t t h e t i m e o f

f i n a l i z i n g t h e d e a l , t h e r e p o r t s a i d R e l i a n c e I n d u s t r i e s i s a l s o m u l l i n g over the acquisition of Tata Play Ltd , a broadcast service provider, in which Disney holds a minority stake A t p r e s e n t , T a t a S o n s h o l d s t h e o w n e r s h i p interest, constituting 50 2% of the stakes in Tata Play while the rest of the shares a r e h e l d b y D i s n e y a n d T e m a s e k , a n i n v e s t m e n t firm based in Singapore After the completion of t h e m e r g e r , D i s n e y a n d

Reliance would create a p o w e r f u l a n d influential media giant i n o n e o f t h e g l o b e ' s r a p i d l y g r o w i n g entertainment markets A s p e r t h e r e p o r t s , R e l i a n c e i s i n v e s t i n g $ 1 5 billion for its 61% stake

The merger comes after s o m e c r i t i c a l y e a r s f o r Disney as the fortunes of the U S e n t e r t a i n m e n t g i a n t t u r n e d a f t e r R e l i a n c e b e c a m e i t s d i r e c t c o m p e t i t o r i n t h e O T T space The two giants fought hard for the sports right but in 2022, Mukesh Ambani's unit successfully outpaced D i s n e y i n s e c u r i n g s t r e a m i n g r i g h t s f o r t h e Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament

E mbattled digital payments firm Paytm said that Vij ay Shekhar Sharma would step d ow n a s no n - ex e c ut i ve c h ai r m a n an d b oa r d m e m be r of i t s p a ym e n ts b a n k' s un i t i n a ma j o r overhaul following a central bank clampdown T h e R e s e r v e B a n k o f I n d i a ( R B I ) h a d a s k e d

Paytm Payments Bank to wind down operations by March 15 due to persistent n o n - c o m p l i a n c e s a n d c o n t i n u e d m a t e r i a l s u p e r v i s o r y c o n c e r n s , triggering a meltdown in Paytm's stock

The action against the p a y m e n t s b a n k u n i t f o l l o w e d " s e r i o u s s u p e r v i s o r y c o n c e r n s " , i n c l u d i n g i n a d e q u a t e c u s t o m e r i d e n t i t y a n d a l a c k o f a r m s - l e n g t h d i s t a n c e w i t h P a y t m , s o u r c e s p r e v i o u s l y t o l d Reuters S r i n i v a s a n S r i d h a r , former chairman of stateo w n e d C e n t r a l B a n k o f I n d i a , f o r m e r B a n k o f

Baroda Executive Director Ashok Kumar Garg and two r e t i r e d I n d i a n A d m i n i s t r a t i v e S e r v i c e officers will join the board,

Paytm said in an exchange filing on Monday T h e n e w b o a r d members' expertise will be " p i v o t a l i n g u i d i n g u s t o w a r d e n h a n c i n g o u r governance structures and o p e r a t i o n a l s t a n d a r d s " ,

Paytm Payments Bank CEO Surinder Chawla said P a y t m s u p p o r t s i t s b a n k i n g u n i t ' s m o v e o f opting for a board with only independent and executive directors by removing its n o m i n e e , i t s a i d , a d d i n g Sharma was also stepping d o w n f r o m t h e b o a r d t o "enable the transition"

n r e m i t t a n c e s because Canada has doubled t h e G e n e r a l I n v e s t m e n t C e r t i f i c a t e r e q u i r e m e n t t o C A D 2 0 , 6 3 5 f r o m C A D 10,000, and many travellers rushed to book investments before Jan 2024, ” he added

In November, the total r e m i t t a n c e s a b r o a d decreased to $1,878 million, marking a decline of $298 million from the previous month, reaching the lowest level since February 2022's $ 1 , 8 2 3 m i l l i o n U n d e r t h e L R S s c h e m e , I n d i a n s c a n send up to $250,000 abroad annually

India is one of the toughest markets: Uber CEO

out there If we can succeed here, we c a n s u c c e e d a n y w h e r e , ”

Khosrowshahi said Uber is also planning to expand to

low cost service segments of two and three-wheelers in India The company will be getting into bus services in some of the geographies “It is also an extraordinary o p p o r t u n i t y f o r u s t o expand our services to a wider population We don’t just want to be an uppermiddle-class product We w a n t t o b e a v a i l a b l e t o everybody ” K h o s r o w s h a h i s a i d c o m p a n i e s a n d g o v t s around the world can learn f r o m t h e s c a l e a n d

ambition of India’s digital p u b l i c i n f r a s t r u c t u r e H e added that as a technology company, Uber views opensource tech stacks with a l o t o f i n t e r e s t a n d r e c o g n i s e s t h e o p p o r t u n i t i e s t h e y b r i n g for everyone K h o s r o w s h a h i highlighted Uber's evolving a p p r o a c h p o s t - p a n d e m i c , emphasizing a heightened f o c u s o n e n h a n c i n g t h e e x p e r i e n c e f o r b o t h c u s t o m e r s

s b e t w e e n A d a n i G r o u p c h a i r m a n G a u t a m

Adani and Uber CEO Dara K h o s r o w s h a h i d u r i n g t h e i r Feb 24 meeting T h e A h m e d a b a d - b a s e d

infrastructure major plans to g e t i n t o e l e c t r i c p a s s e n g e r vehicles and a collaboration with Uber helps to fasten its play It already has a presence i n e l e c t r i c c o m m e r c i a l

vehicles like buses, coaches and trucks Though it is not into vehicle manufacturing, i t h a s h u g e i n - h o u s e requirements in its ports and a i r p o r t s b u s i n e s s e s E s s e n t i a l l y , A d a n i w i l l b u y c a r s , b r a n d t h e m a n d a d d them to Uber's network It recently submitted bids for t e n d e r s f l o a t e d b y t h e government for 3,600 electric buses

Uber intends to replace its existing fleet with electric vehicles across the globe, as it looks to transform itself into a z e r o - e m i s s i o n m o b i l i t y platform before 2040 T h e A d a n i - U b e r partnership has the potential t o b o o s t t h e a d o p t i o n o f e l e c t r i c f o u r w h e e l e r s i n I n d i a s i n c e m a n u f a c t u r e r s h a v e b e e n s e e k i n g commercial applications on a m a s s i v e s c a l e t o b e c o m e financially viable, and could become one of the largest e l e c t r i c v e h i c l e f l e e t partnerships in the world for the US ride hailing platform T h e a d o p t i o n o f e l e c t r i c vehicles on a large scale could also give a big push to the gig e c o n o m y i n I n d i a U b e r , which entered India in 2013, has completed over 3 billion trips since then and is now a v a i l a b l e a c r o s s 1 2 5 c i t i e s

According to the company, it h a s h e l p e d o v e r 8 0 0 , 0 0 0 Indians earn an income by getting into the driver’s seat The Uber tie-up will also fit well with Adani Group’s renewable energy push that is s e t t i n g u p a n e t w o r k o f charging stations across India and will complete the loop by powering the electric vehicle fleet with green energy

Maryam Nawaz becomes first woman CM of Pakistan's Punjab

LA HO R E: S enior PML-N lead er M ary am N awa z, the daught er of t hre e-time former pr ime m in ist e r N a waz S ha rif, on Mon da y t oo k oa t h a s t he fi r s t -e v e r w o m a n c h ie f m i n i st e r o f P a k ist a n ’ s mo st po pulo us a n d p o li t i ca lly c r u ci a l P u n j a b p r o v i n c e , a d e v e lo p m e n t d escribe d by he r pa rty as a “gia nt lea p ” for t he countr y M a r y a m , t h e 5 0 - y e a r - o l d s e n i o r v i c e p r e s i d e n t o f t h e

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, took oath as the Punjab chief minister at a ceremony at the Governor House in the presence of her father Nawaz Sharif and uncle Shehbaz Sharif S h e e a r l i e r w o n t h e c h i e f m i n i s t e r i a l e l e c t i o n s a m i d s t a walkout by lawmakers of former p r i m e m i n i s t e r I m r a n K h a n ’ s

p a r t y - b a c k e d S u n n i I t t e h a d Council (SIC)

In her maiden speech at the p r o v i n c i a l l e g i s l a t u r e e a r l i e r , M a r y a m t h a n k e d G o d , h e r f a t h e r , N a w a z S h a r i f , u n c l e Shehbaz Sharif and the lawmakers who voted for her Maryam said that she was happy to sit in the seat where her

Exodus of doctors, health workers in Lanka sparks crisis

C OL OM BO: A n exodus o f d octors and health wo rkers in Sri L anka has ig nited a crisis, leaving vulnerable p atients in d ire straits Once renowned as a to p h e al th c are p r o v i d er i n th e reg ion, Sri L anka's m ed ical system is now ailing due to the d ep arture o f hundreds o f med ical p rofessionals

With patients left waiting and suffering, experts are urging the government to take action to stem the loss of vital talent

According to exclusive data p r o v i d e d b y t h e G o v e r n m e n t M e d i c a l O f f i c e r s ’ A s s o c i a t i o n trade union to Context, over the past two years, more than 1,700 medical officers, encompassing d o c t o r s a n d o t h e r h e a l t h c a r e p r o f e s s i o n a l s , h a v e d e p a r t e d from Sri Lanka

This compares to the departure of around 200 doctors and other health workers in 2021 The latest exodus has dealt a heavy blow to the island nation s much-praised universal health

system on which most of its 22 million people depend

“It is very sad to see the lack of doctors The little support we h a d i s s l i p p i n g a w a y , ” s a i d Srimal Nalaka, 47, who had been waiting for six hours for his monthly diabetes checkup at a state-run hospital south of the commercial capital Colombo

“The economic crisis has hit us all, but for those of us with health issues the impact is even more severe, ” said Nalaka, who has a diabetic ulcer on his right leg A h e a l t h m i n i s t r y r e p o r t , exclusively shared with Context, has revealed that between June 2022 and July 2023, 4,284 doctors obtained "Good Standing" c e r t i f i c a t e s f r o m t h e M e d i c a l Council These certificates are crucial for verifying an individual's professional status to foreign regulators This significant number suggests that many doctors are contemplating leaving Sri Lanka as well

Indian consulate raises Kandula case with US authorities

SE A T T LE : India’s consu late in Seattle has raised with auth orities the case of Ind ian student Jaahnav i Kandula after th e prosecution attorney said an ov erspeed ing Seattle p olice officer who struck and killed h er while responding to a drug ov erdose call w ill not face any crim inal charg es citing lack of “sufficient” ev idence

Kandula, 23, from Andhra Pradesh, was struck by a police vehicle driven by officer Kevin Dave when she was crossing a street in Seattle on Jan 23 last year He was driving at a speed over 119 km/ hr on the way to a report of a drug overdose call Kandula was thrown 100 feet when she was struck by the speeding police patrol vehicle

The King County Prosecutor’s Office said they would not move forward with criminal charges against Dave due to a lack of evidence to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt India’s consulate in Seattle also said it was monitoring the progress in the case and will extend all possible support in ensuring justice for Kandula and her family

A nother Indian stud ent d ied

Akul Dhawan, the 18-year-old first-year student at the University of Illinois in Urbana, died due to hypothermia, Champaign County Coroner’s Office said after a toxicology report that added, “acute alcohol intoxication and prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures, significantly contributed to his death ”

Dhawan had been out drinking with his friends at a club close to the campus that day and according to CCTV, he and his friends had visited the Canopy Club that day but were denied entry at around 11 30 pm when they tried to re-enter the club The Kansas City quoted investigators as saying that Dhawan tried to enter the club “multiple times, but was repeatedly denied by staff,” and that he turned down two rideshare vehicles that were called for him

father used to sit “My father t r a i n e d m e h o w t o r u n t h e office,” Maryam, considered the political heir of Nawaz Sharif, said Pak g ovt likely by Mar ch 2 With a power-sharing deal already inked, Pakistan Muslim L e a g u e - N a w a z a n d P a k i s t a n Peoples Party are moving ahead with plans to form a coalition govt by March 2 and hold the p r e s i d e n t i a l e l e c t i o n b e f o r e March 9, according to a media report PML-N and PPP agreed to form a new govt after the Feb 8 p o l l s r e s u l t e d i n a h u n g Parliament

Former PM Shehbaz Sharif, 72, is set to return to the top post after his elder brother Nawaz decided to nominate the PML-N president for premiership Both

p a r t i e s w

w e r s e a t

a n candidates backed by jailed former PM Imran Khan

Q u o t i n g s o u r c e s , N e w s International reported that serious consideration is being given to the proposal to hold the presidential election before March 9 as the newly elected assemblies across the country will take oath by Feb 29 and a new govt will be in place by March 2 PML-N, PPP, and their allied parties want the presidential election to be held by March 8 before the completion of the current tenure of the Senate and for the Senate elections to be held after the president is elected PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, 68, will likely return to the presidency as per the party’s deal with PML-N

Washington senate passes resolution honoring Sikh Americans

OL YM P I A ( Wash i ng ton) : T he Washington State Senate p assed a resolutio n honoring the contribu tions of Sikh A mericans to th e culture and history of the state and the cou ntry The measure was sponsored b y S e n M a n k a D h i n g r a ( DR e d m o n d ) , t h e f i r s t S i k h American elected to a state legi s l a t u r e i n A m e r i c a n h i s t o r y , who spoke about how Sikh values have inspired her and many others to public service

“Every year, this resolution is a joyful opportunity for the Sikh community of Washington to gather in Olympia, and for this body to remember the cont r i b u t i o n s o f s o m a n y S i k h Americans to our state,” said

Dhingra

“We are a community that is deeply rooted in the ideas of truth and service to community And that we do is done with humility This is a religion that w a s t a l k i n g a b o u t e q u a l i t y among humans back in the 15th c e n t u r y , e s p e c i a l l y g e n d e r equality ”

The Senate also recognized members of the Sikh community in attendance, including Hira S i n g h , S u n n y S i n g h , P u n e e t K a u r , a n d s t a f f o f t h e S i k h Coalition and the Washington Sikh Community T h e s e s s i o n w a s o p e n e d w i t h a p r a y e r b y S i k h y o u t h leader Sharn Kaur of the Khalsa Gurmat Center

South Africa to hold crucial national election on May 29

years

Multiple polls indicate that the party, formerly esteemed worldwide and formerly led by Nelson Mandela, is projected

fall below the 50% mark in the vote for the first time since it secured South Africa's inaugural all-race election victory in 1994, marking the dawn of a

democracy following the demise of white minority rule

If it loses its majority, the ANC would need to enter into a coalition to remain in government and keep Ramaphosa - a political protege of Mandela - as president for a second and

has never had a coalition

national level because of the ANC’s dominance

in brief

INDIAN JOURNO DIES IN NYC BUILDING FIRE

A 27-year-old Indian national, Fazil Khan, who worked as a journalist, was killed in a devastating fire caused by a lithium-ion battery in an apartment building in Manhattan The fire broke out in a six-storey residential building in Harlem that left about 17 other people injured The New York City fire department said that its marshals have determined that the fire was caused by a lithium-ion battery Khan was a data reporter at New York-based media company The Hechinger Report and according to his profile on X, he was an alumnus of Columbia Journalism School The Consulate General of India in New York expressed condolences on Khan s death and said it is extending all possible assistance to repatriate his mortal remains to his family in India

RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI AMONG POWERFUL CHICAGOANS

The 'Chicago Magazine has named Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi as one of the 50 most influential individuals in Chicago, ranking him at 24th on the "heavy hitters" list This makes Krishnamoorthi the highest-ranked person of South Asian descent on the list Born in New Delhi to parents from Tamil Nadu, Krishnamoorthi was raised in Illinois Krishnamoorthi, 50, having been elected to Congress in 2016, is serving his fourth term as a representative for Illinois 8th District which consists of Chicago's west and northwest suburbs and the city s 41st ward

INDIAN ORIGIN MAN GETS LIFE TERM FOR KILLING WIFE

A 40-year-old Indian-origin man was awarded life in jail in British Columbia, Canada for stabbing his wife to death Navinder Gill killed his wife

Harpreet Kaur Gill in December 2022 They had three children together, all under 10 British Columbia's homicide investigation team has announced that Navinder would not be eligible for parole for 10 years The attack took place at their residence in Surrey on December 7, 2022

Harpreet, 40, sustained multiple stab wounds and died in a hospital despite life-saving efforts of first responders Navinder was arrested on December 15 He was charged with second-degree murder on December 16, 2022 He pleaded guilty to his wife's murder on June 22, 2023

TEXAS COLLEGE REINSTATES INDIAN PROFESSOR

Dr Johnson Varkey is getting his job back at St Philip s College which had fired him a year ago for saying in class that sex is determined by X and Y chromosomes consistent with human biology First Liberty Institute a law firm that “defends religious liberty” said as an adjunct professor, Varkey taught Human Anatomy and Physiology at St Philip’s College to more than 1,500 students for 22 years where he taught the same principles

On November 28, 2022, four of his students walked out of his class for saying it just as he had been for several years Varkey s termination letter, however, had accused the professor of making anti-LGBTQ+ comments, participating in “misogynistic banter” and engaging in other inappropriate classroom behavior

25 KILLED IN AFGHAN LANDSLIDE CAUSED BY SNOWFALL

A landslide caused by heavy snowfall has killed 25 people and injured eight others in the eastern Afghan province of Nuristan, a disaster management ministry spokesman said Earth snow and rubble swept through the village of Nakre in the Tatin valley of Nuristan "As a result of the landslide, some 25 people have been killed and eight injured," spokesman Janan Sayeq said in a video clip Nuristan province, which borders Pakistan, is mostly covered by mountainous forests

Maryam Nawaz

TALIBAN PUBLICLY EXECUTE 2 FOR MURDER

Taliban authorities publicly executed two men convicted of murder in a football stadium in eastern Afghanistan Both men were executed by multiple gunshots to the back in Ghazni city after Supreme Court official Atiqullah Darwish read aloud a death warrant signed by Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada "These two people were convicted of the crime of murder after two years of trial in the courts of the country, the order has been signed," Darwish said Families of the men's victims were present and asked if they wanted to grant the condemned a last-minute reprieve but they declined in both cases

IRAN SENT HUNDREDS OF BALLISTIC MISSILES TO RUSSIA

Iran has provided Russia with a large number of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles sources said deepening the military cooperation between the two US sanctioned countries Iran s provision of around 400 missiles includes many from the Fateh-110 family of short-range ballistic weapons, such as the Zolfaghar, sources said This roadmobile missile is capable of striking targets at a distance of between 300 and 700 km, experts say The shipments began in early January, one of the Iranian sources said Iran’s Shahed drones have become a staple of Russia’s assaults on Ukraine

HARVARD’S INTERIM PREZ CONDEMNS ANTISEMITIC TOON

Harvard University’s interim president, Alan Garber condemned an antisemitic cartoon that circulated on social media over the weekend taking a swift stance after the school was criticised for not doing enough to protect Jewish students The cartoon depicted what appeared to be an Arab man and a Black man with nooses around their necks, held by a hand emblazoned with a Star of David Garber said It was posted online by groups purporting to speak on behalf of Harvard affiliates The university will review the situation to better understand who was responsible for posting the cartoon and to determine what further steps are warranted, he said

LIFE TERM FOR MAN WHO INTENTIONALLY KILL MUSLIM FAMILY

A man found guilty of using his pickup truck to kill four members of a Muslim family was sentenced to life in prison as a Canadian judge ruled that the actions of the admitted white nationalist amounted to terrorism Nathaniel Veltman has also been sentenced to a concurrent life sentence for the attempted murder of a boy who survived the 2021 attack Veltman 23 was found guilty in November of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder for hitting the Afzaal family with his truck while they were out for a walk

GERMANY VOTES TO LEGALISE CANNABIS POSSESSION

Germany joined the small group of countries and jurisdictions that have legalised cannabis when the Bundestag passed a law allowing individuals and voluntary associations to grow and hold limited quantities of the drug The law passed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition legalises cultivating up to three plants for

consumption and owning up to 25

California governor

names 3 Indian origins to state offices

rni a Go v e rn or Gav in New so m ap p o i nt ed N ag i n d er Dh i l lo n from Sacramento to serv e as the De p u ty D ir ec to r o f P ro g r am Supp ort within th e Div ision of Rehabilitativ e Program s at the C al i fo rn i a D ep a rtm ent o f Corrections and Reh abilitation

Dhillon, who previously held the role of Associate Director since 2019, brings a Bachelor of S c i e n c e d e g r e e i n P s y c h o l o g y f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a N o t a b l y , t h i s appointment does not necessi-

tate Senate confirmation, and the compensation for the role is set at $166,008 Dhillon is affiliated with the Democratic Party

On February 16, Governor G a v i n a p p o i n t e d H e m a n t

Dhingra of Clovis to serve on the M e d i c a l B o a r d o f C a l i f o r n i a Dhingra brings extensive experience to the role, having served as Chief of Medical Staff at Saint Agnes Medical Center of Fresno since 2023, where he also held t h e p o s i t i o n o f F o u n d i n g P r o g r a m D i r e c t o r o f I n t e r n a l Medicine Additionally, he has

b e e n P r e s i d e n t o f t h e

Nephrology Group since 2014 D h i n g r a i s a f f i l i a t e d w i t h esteemed professional organisat i o n s i n c l u d i n g t h e A m e r i c a n Society of Nephrology and the California Medical Association

He holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and comp l e t e d h i s F e l l o w s h i p i n

N e p h r o l o g y a t T e x a s T e c h

U n i v e r s i t y N o t a b l y , t h i s a p p o i n t m e n t r e q u i r e s S e n a t e confirmation, with compensation set at $100 per diem

Dubai introduces 5-year multipleentry visa for Indians

D U B A I : Du b ai h as in troduced a five-year mu ltipleentry v i sa to bo o st trav el betw een Ind ia and the Gu lf na ti o n, a cc o rd i n g to th e Du b ai D ep art m ent o f E co n o m y an d T o u ri s m (DET) I n 2 0 2 3 , D u b a i w e lc o m e d 2 4 6 m i l l i o n o v e r n i g h t v i s i t o r s f r o m India, which is a 25 per cent increase from the pre-pandemic era This made the c o u n t r y t h e n u m b e r o n e s o u r c e m a r k e t , t h e l a t e s t data from DET said

In the year-ago period, the city hosted 1 84 million tourists from India, while in 2019, it welcomed 1 97 million visitors, it added

The data suggested that with an exceptional 34 per c e n t y e a r - o n - y e a r g r o w t h , India continued to be the number one source market with the highest number of international visitors from a single country

“ D u b a i i n t r o d u c e d a five-year multiple-entry visa t o f u r t h e r b o l s t e r t r a v e l between India and Dubai, to foster sustained economic collaborations and encoura g e t o u r i s m a n d b u s i n e s s ties,” the DET said This step ensures that the visa, issued within 2-5 working days upon receiving and accepting the service request, allows its holder to stay in the country for 90 days, extendable once for a similar period, with a total stay not exceeding 180 days in one year

Through this initiative,

tourists can leverage multiple entries and exits, providi n g o p e r a t i o n a l f l e x i b i l i t y for business engagements, leisure travel, and seamless connectivity, DET added “ A s a k e y m a r k e t f o r Dubai, India will continue to play an integral role in enabling us to achieve the goals of the D33 Agenda, furt h e r r e i n f o r c i n g D u b a i ’ s position as a hub for busin e s s , i n v e s t m e n t a n d tourism,” Bader Ali Habib, Regional Head of Proximity M a r k e t s a t D u b a i D e p a r t m e n t o f E c o n o m y and Tourism, said

Indian American engineer honoured with Texas top academic award

T EX A S : Ash ok Veeraraghavan, an Indianorig in com puter engineer and professor, has been award ed th e Ed ith and Peter O'Donnell Award in eng ineering , one of the highest academic ho nours in the US state of Texas Veeraragh av an is an IIT-Madras alumnus His revolutio nary imaging technology seeks to m ake the inv isible v isible

T h e T e x a s A c a d e m y o f M e d i c i n e , E n g i n e e r i n g , S c i e n c e a n d T e c h n o l o g y (TAMEST), which presents this award to risi n g r e s e a r c h e r s

a

,

a i d Veeraraghavan was chosen for his revolutionary imaging technology that seeks to make the invisible visible

T

t a

researchers in Texas engaged in pathbreaking work in medicine, engineering, biological sciences, physical sciences and technology innovation

According to TAMEST, Veeraraghavan and his team, with support from researchers at the University of Maryland, developed a new technology called NeuWS, which is an acronym for “neural wavefront shaping”

Veeraraghavan and his team at Rice work on creating imaging systems that use n o v e l m u l t i - d i m e n s i o n a l i m a g e s e n s o r s along with machine learning algorithms to undo the effects of light-scattering and seet h r o u g h s c a t t e r i n g m e d i a s u c h a s f o g , smoke, rain and human tissue," the Academy said in an official statement

His profile on Rice University s website

states that he is currently a professor at the E l e c

i n g Department

He received his BTech in electrical engineering from IIT Madras in 2002, and his master's and PhD from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2004 and 2008, respectively

Gavin also appointed Nisha Devi Rodrigo of San Francisco to the Commission on the Status of W o m e n a n d G i r l s R o d r i g o , founder of Kala Wellness, also serves as an Eastern Medicine P r a c t i t i o n e r w i t h t h e U n i t e d Nations since 2018

W i t h p a s t e x p e r i e n c e i n c o m m u n i c a t i o n s f o r M P G r a h a m A l l e n i n t h e U K Parliament and as a Hansard Scholar at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2000, Rodrigo brings a diverse background to her new role

Haley refuses to quit despite loss to Trump in her home state

COLU MBI A: Donald T rump easily defeate d N i kk i H a le y i n S o u t h Ca ro l i na ’ s Repu blican contest on Satu rday, extending h is winning streak as he march es toward a th ird co nsecu tive p residential nomination and a rematch with Demo cratic P resident J oe Biden

The former president had been widely favoured to win the Southern state, despite his litany of criminal charges and Haley’s status as a native of South Carolina who won two terms as governor T h e b i g w i n b o l s t e r e d c a l l s f r o m Trump’s allies that Haley, his last remaining challenger, should drop out of the race But H a l e y , w h o o u t p e r f o r m e d e x p e c t a t i o n s , defiantly insisted she would fight on at least through “Super Tuesday” on March 5, when Republicans in 15 states and one US territory will cast ballots “I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I will continue to run for office,” she said “I am a woman of my word ”

Trump won with 59 8% support against 39 5% for Haley with 99% of the expected vote tallied, according to Edison Research In recent days Haley had sharpened attacks on Trump, questioning his mental acuity and warning voters he would lose the election to Biden But there is scant evidence that a majority of Republican voters is interested in any standard bearer except Trump Trump has dominated all five Republican primary contests thus far - in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, the US Virgin Islands and now Haley’s home state Trump gave his victory speech in Columbia, the state capital, minutes after the polls closed and didn’t mention Haley, claiming his party’s mantle as he looked ahead to Nov polls “I have never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now, ” he said

Chanel CEO Leena Nair on Time’s ‘Women Of The Year’ list

N EW Y OR K: TIM E has named Chanel CE O Leena Nair to its lis t of ‘ Women of the Y ear ’ The li st recogniz es 12 women who are “ extraordinary leaders working toward a more equal world ”

The 2024 Women of the Year issue features a worldwide cover highlighting actor, writer and director Greta Gerwig, accompanied by an in-depth interview

On Nair, the magazine wrote, “For all the talk of promoting and valuing women in businesses, there’s been depressingly little progress in boardrooms and C-suites in the past few years One notable exception is Leena Nair, who became global CEO of Chanel in January 2022 An outsider to the fashion world, Nair is hoping to pioneer a different kind of leadership - one that celebrates compassion, empathy and kind-

ness ”

Nair, who grew up in rural India, now lives in London “I have always believed in the collective voice, in diverse perspectives; if I sit in a meeting, I want to listen to every voice around the table, not just the dominant ones, ” she told the magazine

“Nair, 54, has proved throughout her career that she can succeed while still doing good for employees - and the world,” Time wrote detailing her achievements She spent 30 years at consumer packagedgoods giant Unilever, nearly six of them as the head of human resources, where she increased the share of female managers from 38% to 50% and helped the company become known for its socially conscious initiatives More than 60% of management positions at Chanel are held by women

In 11 years, rural consumption spend rises more sharply than urban

The diff er ence in averag e mont hly p er cap it a co nsum ption exp endit ure ( MP C E) bet ween ru r al and u r ban h ou seho lds has narro wed t o 71 2 per cent in 2022-23 compared with 83 9 p er cent in 2011-12, according t o the l a t es t Ho u se h o l d Co n s u m p t i o n E xp endit ure Sur vey (HCE S) 2022-23 r eleased by the M inist ry of Statist ics a n d P r og r a m me I mp l e me n ta ti on (M oSP I)

This suggests rural consumption spending has risen more than urban consumption spending during the 11 year period The survey report does reveal that rural average monthly consumption spending per person increased to Rs 3,773 per month in 2022-23 from Rs 1,430 per person in 2011-12, a jump of 164 per cent This i s h i g h e r t h a n t h e 1 4 6 p e r c e n t increase in urban average monthly c o n s u m p t i o n e x p e n d i t u r e p e r

During its investigatio n into alleged corrup tion related to the award ing o f civil work c o nt rac ts f o r th e £ 22 0 m illion Kiru Hydro Electric P ower Proj ect in th e UT, the C ent ral B ur ea u o f I n v es ti g a ti o n ( C BI ) condu cted searches at over 3 5 locations

compared with Rs 2,630 per person in 2011-12

W h i l e t h e H o u s e h o l d

Consumption Expenditure surveys are held in a gap of five years, the government had not released the survey results of its 75th round for July 2017-June 2018 stating there was a significant variation in the levels in consumption pattern as well as in the direction of change The survey that was leaked had shown a decline in consumption expenditure

The HCES fact sheet said that the bottom 5 per cent of rural population has an average MPCE of Rs 1,373, while it is Rs 2,001 for the bottom 5 per cent of urban population The top 5 per cent of the rural and urban population has an average MPCE of Rs 10,501 and Rs 20,824, respectively In other words, while the MPCE of

top 5 per cent of rural population is 7 65 times more than its bottom 5 per cent, the MPCE of top 5 per cent of urban population has an MPCE of over 10 times its bottom 5 per cent

I n 2 0 2 2 - 2 3 , t h e s h a r e o f expenditure on food in rural India was 46 per cent (Rs 1,750), and in urban India was 39 per cent (Rs 2,530)

In 2011-12, it was 52 90 per cent in rural India and 42 62 per cent in urban India This has implications for consumer price index based inflation

Consumption expenditure on nonfood items in both rural india (54 per cent) and urban India (61 per cent) was mainly driven by a rise in share o f s p e n d i n g o n c o n v e y a n c e , consumer services, durable goods in 2022-23 as against 2011-12 The share of expenditure on cereals, pulses and v e g e t a b l e s m o d e r a t e d d u r i n g t h e same period

CBI searches premises of former J&K governor SP Malik

T h e s e s e a r c h e s i n c l u d e d p r e m i s e s associated with former J&K governor Satya Pal Malik The CBI claims to h a v e u n c o v e r e d evidence of substantial c a s h r e s e r v e s , f i x e d d e p o s i t s , a n d p r o p e r t y i n v e s t m e n t s i n v a r i o u s cities This probe is linked t o t h e p r o j e c t b e i n g executed by Chenab Valley Power Projects Pvt Ltd

The locations searched e n c o m p a s s e d M a l i k ' s a n c e s t r a l r e s i d e n c e i n Baghpat, located in western

Uttar Pradesh According to CBI sources, the evidence c o l l e c t e d d u r i n g t h e s e a r c h e s i n c l u d e d b o t h d i g i t a l a n d d o c u m e n t a r y material The case stemmed from Malik's revelation of being offered a £20 million b r i b e i n e x c h a n g e f o r a p p r o v i n g t w o f i l e s associated with the project

Malik, who had earlier alleged that Pulwama terror attack in 2019 could have b e e n a v e r t e d h a d g o v t heeded his advice to move troops deployed in Valley by air, said he was ill and was

h o s p i t a l i s e d f o r 3 - 4 d a y s “ I n s t e a d o f i n v e s t i g a t i n g p e o p l e i n v o l v e d i n c o r r u p t i o n I h a d c o m p l a i n e d a g a i n s t , C B I raided my residence They will not get anything except 4 - 5 k u r t a s a n d p y j a m a s Despite this, my house is b e i n g r a i d e d b y t h e d i c t a t o r b y m i s u s i n g g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s M y driver and my assistant are a l s o b e i n g r a i d e d a n d h a r a s s e d u n n e c e s s a r i l y I am a farmer’s son, I will not be afraid of these raids I am with the farmers,” he said

Leuva Patidar Society launches Shakti Vandana campaign to combat Cervical cancer

T h e L e uv a P a t i d a r So c i e t y h a s i n i ti a t e d t he S h a k ti Va n d a n a c a m pa i g n , ai m e d at s a f e g ua r d i n g u n m a r r i e d da u g ht e r s w i t hi n th e c om munity f rom cervic al canc er T h r o u g h g e n e r o u s d o n a t i o n s from society members, vaccination camps were organised at a cost of more than Rs 25,00,000 Girls aged 9 to 14 years received two doses of the cervical cancer vaccine, while those aged 15 to 29 years received three d o s e s T h e c a m p a i g n r e c e i v e d substantial support from donors in America and Ahmedabad, enabling its successful implementation T h e i n a u g u r a l p h a s e o f t h e

campaign took place at Patidar Hostel in Gandhinagar on the evenings of February 23 and 24 The event was graced by donors, esteemed guests including the District Health Officer, and gynaecologists from the society A

total of 280 girls received vaccinations on the first day, followed by 325 girls o n t h e s e c o n d d a y , m a r k i n g a promising start to the initiative Specia l provis ion in the Union Budget

Expressing concern over the rising cases of cervical cancer, the central government made a special provision in this year's budget to provide the v a c c i n e t o g i r l s a g e d 9 t o 1 4 nationwide Despite this initiative, the Patidar community of Patan has chosen to proactively vaccinate girls with the assistance of donors, aiming to extend support to underprivileged sections of society

Nine more arrested in Navapura rioting incident

t e m m e d f r o m a c o m m u n a l l y p r o v o c a t i v e s o c i a l m e d i a p o s t b y a n i n d i v i d u a l n a m e d S a h i d Patel, resulting in clashes and stone pelting between m o b s r e p r e s e n t i n g t w o different communities on

Thursday night

Cabinet clears BrahMos and 3 other defence deals worth £3.5 billion

The Cabinet C ommittee on S ecurity (CC S) has approved fo ur sig nificant defence d eals totaling approximately £3 5 billio n to enhance the combat capabilities of th e armed fo rc es T h is i nc lu d es th e larg est -ev er c o ntra ct fo r t h e Brah Mos supersonic cruise missiles

According to sources cited by media, the CCS has cleared a contract worth almost £1 95 billion for over 220 extendedrange BrahMos missiles, equipped with a strike range of 450 km, to be deployed on frontline warships of the Navy The c o n t r a c t i s e x p e c t e d t o b e s i g n e d i n e a r l y M a r c h Additionally, another deal given the green light is the procurement of new advanced engines for existing MiG-29 fighters, to be manufactured by HAL in collaboration with Russia, at a cost of £530 million

The remaining two projects entail the procurement of high-powered radars and new versions of L-70 air defence guns, both to be manufactured by L&T with the integration of foreign technology, each costing almost £500 million, as per sources The BrahMos missiles, jointly manufactured with Russia in India, fly at nearly three times the speed of sound at Mach 2 8 They have emerged as the primary nonnuclear precision-strike weapon for the armed forces, with contracts worth over £3 8 billion already signed “ T h e n e w £ 1 9 5 b i l l i o n c o n t r a c t , w h i c h i s t h e f i r s t consolidated order for extended-range BrahMos missiles, will add to this Till now, upgrades of existing 290-km range missiles were being done when the warships came in for maintenance,” a source said

Cong, AAP seal deal for Gujarat, Delhi, Haryana, Goa seats

Con gress and AAP a nnoun ced a 3-4 split in favour of Del hi CM Ar vin d Ke jr iwal ’ s pa rty in the n ational capital for Lok Sabha elections, l ifting the suspe nse on sea t-sharing bet we en the two long-time mut ua lly a ntagonistic constituent s of the IND IA bl oc

Leaders of both parties came together in a show of strength to announce their decision to contest jointly as part o f t h e a l l i a n c e i n D e l h i , G u j a r a t , H a r y a n a , G o a a n d Chandigarh However, in Punjab, they will stick to their stance of contesting independently on all 13 seats

As part of the deal in which Congress got the Delhi seats of its choice, AAP will contest in Bharuch and Bhavnagar in G u j a r a t a n d K u r u k s h e t r a i n H a r y a n a C o n g r e s s w i l l b e contesting the remaining 24 and 9 in Gujarat and Haryana, respectively AAP MLAs from Gujarat, Chaitar Vasava and U m e s h b h a i M a k w a n a w i l l c o n t e s t f r o m B h a r u c h a n d Bhavnagar, respectively

Gujarat and Haryana have been traditionally bipolar between Congress and BJP and ceding seats to AAP is a major concession from Congress, whose local outfits are unlikely to be happy with the accommodation of Kejriwal Cong, SP strike dea l for 80 UP seats

Earlier, SP and Congress sealed a seat-sharing deal in UP with an MP sweetener to erase the aftertaste of their assembly poll spat Congress settled for 17 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats on A k h i l e s h Y a d a v ’ s t u r f a n d s p a r e d M P ’ s K h a j u r a h o constituency for SP in a poll quid pro quo that both sides declared was a sign of INDIA getting its act together

SP, which had kicked off the poll season by releasing its first list of 16 candidates on Jan 31, withdrew from Varanasi, a seat Congress had been eyeing Apart from Rae Ba-reli, Amethi and Varanasi, Congress will contest Kanpur, Fatehpur Sikri, Bansgaon, Saharanpur, Prayagraj, Maharajganj, Amroha, Jhansi, Bulandshahr, Ghaziabad, Mathura, Sitapur, Barabanki and Deoria Cong, Sena UBT likel y to conte st 20 seat s each

MPCC president Nana Patole said the MVA had almost finalised the seat sharing formula for the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state “Despite defection by certain leaders, Maha Vikas Aghadi is united and intact The outcome of the elections will be surprising, as we expect to win at least 38 seats,” Patole said An NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) politician said the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) would contest 20 seats each and the NCP six, leaving two seats for the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi led by Prakash Ambedkar

Satya Pal Malik

Women of BAPS Mandir in Abu Dhabi celebrate ‘Day of Inspiration’

T he ‘Festival o f Harm ony ’ marking the h is t o r ic i na u g u ra t io n o f th e BA P S Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi came to a c onclu sion o n 21 February with the ‘Day o f I nspiratio n ’ , a day dedicated to c elebrating families and ins pirational individu als who have co ntributed to soc iety O rganised by the wo men ’ s w ing o f the BAPS M andir, mo re th an 2,000 wom en attend this spec ial assembly Th e event s po tligh ted th e p ivotal rol e of wo men in th e up lif t of soc iety and their invaluable c ontribu tio ns to h umanity

A video titled ‘Faces of Inspiration’ highlighted the remarkable stories of individuals who have served the BAPS Mandir under extraordinary circumstances

The event was graced by guests, including Sadhvi Saraswati Bhagwati, a renowned spiritual leader, author, and m o t i v a t i o n a l s p e a k e r b a s e d i n Rishikesh, India Sadhvi Saraswati is the author of the #1 bestselling memoir, Hollywood to the Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation During the event, she eloquently spoke about t h e r o l e o f m a n d i r s a n d h o w t h e y inspire faith and peace A m o n g t h e o t h e r d i s t i n g u i s h e d guests were Vandana Sudhir, the wife of the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, who has over 30 years of experience in the f i e l d o f e d u c a t i o n A d d i t i o n a l l y , Poonam Bhojani, the founding CEO of Innoventures Education and an MBA g r a d u a t e f r o m t h e p r e s t i g i o u s I I M Bangalore, also graced the occasion with her presence

The event was a splendid display of celebration and community spirit, with attendees representing various promin e n t c o m m u n i t i e s w i t h i n t h e U A E V i s i t o r s h a i l e d f r o m d i v e r s e g r o u p s , such as the Jain Samaj; Art of Living; Ame Gujarati In UAE; Indian Women in Dubai; Rising Stars Group; Maharashtra Mandal Abu Dhabi; South Indian community, Indian Ladies Association, Abu Dhabi; and many more The gathering e p i t o m i s e d u n i t y a n d i n c l u s i v i t y , demonstrating the vibrant range of cultures and backgrounds present in the UAE Sadhvi Bhagwati conveyed her joy upon visiting the Mandir, highlighting i t s s i g n i f i c a n c e i n f o s t e r i n g u n i t y among communities She expressed, “This Mandir is a testament to ‘Bhakti ki shakti’ (the strength of devotion) It serves as a symbol of global harmony, akin to the confluence of the Ganga, Y a m u n a , a n d S a r a s w a t i r i v e r s i n Prayagraj The whole [of this Mandir] is greater than the sum of its parts, and it can be seen in everyone coming together for this Mandir ” V a n d a n a S u d h i r s a i d , “ T h i s

Mandir has connected different cultures and religions making this world a better place What can be a better place than here to inspire unity and love in society!”

Poonam Bhojani stated a personal teaching in her address “My father used to teach me to work without expecting any results This is the first time I have seen it in action here at the BAPS Mandir, where every individual has served without any expectation This is true service with compassion ”

T h e a s s e m b l y c o n c l u d e d w i t h r e c o r d e d v i d e o b l e s s i n g s f r o m H i s Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, in which he conveyed the message of love and the power that lies within one and all He said, “Dearest friends, you are not ordinary You are great souls because you have obtained God You have an infinite power within you, so take great pride in this ”

Before departing, the attendees enjoyed a walk around the perimeter of the Mandir complex, marvelling at the intricate carvings and the inspirational stories of ancient civilizations from around the world

Global elites to attend Anant Ambani's pre-wedding bash in Jamnagar

F orget D avos, the glo bal elite is flocki ng to J amnagar from March 1 -3 for the pre-wedding festivities o f Anant Ambani and Radh ika Merch ant In t ru e A mb a ni fa s h i o n , t h e e ve nt p r om is es gra ndeu r an d me tic u lo u s attention to detail

A s t a r - s t u d d e d g u e s t l i s t f r o m business, tech, entertainment, politics, and sports awaits power-packed p e r f o r m a n c e s B a r b a d i a n s e n s a t i o n Rihanna will showcase her hits alongs i d e s o u l f u l m e l o d i e s f r o m A r i j i t S i n g h , P u n j a b i s u p e r s t a r D i l j i t Dosanjh, and the musical duo AjayAtul As if that weren't enough, the legendary illusionist David Blaine will mesmerise guests with his magic This e x t r a v a g a n t c e l e b r a t i o n n o t o n l y showcases India s soft power but also highlights the Ambanis' global connections and influence I n v i t e e s i n c l u d e M i c r o s o f t c ofounder and philanthropist Bill Gates, M e t a C E O M a r k Z u c k e r b e r g , Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Walt D i s n e y C E O B o b I g e r , B l a c k R o c k c h a i r m a n L a r r y F i n k , B l a c k s t o n e f o u n d e r S t e p h e n S c h w a r z m a n , M e x i c a n b u s i n e s s m a g n a t e C a r l o s Slim, Saudi Aramco chairperson Yasir

Al Rumayyan, Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick, Berkshire Hathaway vice chairman Ajit Jain, Ivanka Trump and entrepreneur Yuri Milner

The list also includes Adobe CEO S h a n t a n u N a r a y e n , t h e k i n g a n d q u e e n o f B h u t

Jassim Al Thani, and WEF chairperson

Klaus Schwab

Indian business honchos will be out in full force too, with

names

Birla and family, Gautam Adani and family, the Godrej family, Nandan Nilekani, Sanjiv Goenka,etc

Sporting homegrown heroes and entertainment royalty will grace the event

RIL launches animal w elfare initiative ‘Vantara’

Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation announced in Jamnagar the launch of Vantara (Star of the Forest) programme, an umbrella initiative to focus on rescue, treatment, care and rehabilitation of injured, abused and threatened animals, both in India and abroad

Spread over 3,000 acres within

the Green Belt of Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery Complex, Vantara aims to be one of the leading contributors to conservation efforts globally The initiative has been conceptualised and

Foundation

Farmers defer Delhi march till Feb 29; clash with cops in Hisar

A gitating farmers paused until Feb 29 th eir m arc h tow ard s D elhi am id a p olice crackd own on a farm congreg ation in Haryana’s Hisar last week that culminated in a cannonad e of tear gas, w ater, stones and sticks, leaving 15 cop s and an unspecified num ber of p rotesters wounded

The trigger for the farmer-police clash at Kheri Chopta, one of several such instances since the agitation over MSP for farm produce started, was the detention of 19 of those at vanguard of the tractor march

Retaliation was swift, leading to an h o u r - l o n g c o n f r o n t a t i o n i n w h i c h Narnaund DSP Raj Singh Lalka was among those injured Two police vehicles and a fire engine were damaged in the rioting T h e c l a s h c o i n c i d e d w i t h t h e Punjab administration failing to break t h e d e a d l o c k o v e r c o n d u c t i n g a n autopsy on the body of Shubhkaran Singh, the young farmer who died at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border two days ago T h e b e r e a v e d f a m i l y a n d f a r m

organisations are demanding that an FIR for murder be registered against the Haryana cops involved in the firing and state home minister Anil Vij They have rejected Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's announcement of £100,000 as compensation and a government job for his sister S h u b h k a r a n ' s f a t h e r , C h a r a n j i t Singh, said in Patiala that he wanted justice, starting with an FIR mentioning "murder", before anything else Farm leaders said Shubhkaran was shot in the head

Grand opening of Abu Dhabi’s new BAPS Hindu Mandir is a miracle

Nitin Mehta

The BAP S Hindu M andir in Abu Dhabi is a historical testimo ny to the tolerance of the Sheikh and his people We are witnessing a v ersio n o f Islam in th e Emirates which is progressive and all embracing

N o t m a n y p e o p l e k n o w t h a t

Bhagvan Swaminarayan was born in Uttar Pradesh and began the Swaminarayan spiritual mission in Gujarat Known as Shajanand Swami he established the Swaminarayan movement in 1801 The BAPS was formed by Shahstriji Maharaj to propagate the teachings of Shajanand Swami in its pure form The movement started in very humble circumstances and often the initiated monks did not have anything to eat Even in those circumstances Shastriji Maharaj emphasised the importance of Mandirs for the welfare of the people Following his instructions the Gurus who followed him have constructed hundreds of beautiful Mandirs all over the world Akshardham in Delhi inspired by Guru Yogiji Maharaj and grand temples in the US and UK are some of the examples Swaminarayan mission is based on the idea of Ekantit Dharma It comprises of Dharma, Gyan (knowledge of self-realisation), Vairagya (detachment from worldly desires) and Bhakti (devotion to God) There are over a thousand Sadhus or Monks who have taken initiation and dedicated their lives to preaching of Hindu Dharma They have a strict code of conduct and do not even look at a woman not because of any disrespect for them but to strictly observe their moral code

The Abu Dhabi Mandir miracle has the hallmarks of the revered late Guru Pramukh Swami who prayed for a Mandir to be built in Abu Dhabi way back on 5 April 1997 No one in their wildest dreams thought that it would be possible But here we are under the guidance of present Guru Mahant Swami the younger generation of Sadhus under Brahmvihari Swami have built a magnificent Mandir in the desert Perfection and dedication in whatever they do is the Mantra of BAPS Sadhus and devotees Late Pramukh Swami showed by personal example the importance of these attributes For the Abu Dhabi Mandir over 200 volunteers from Africa, the Gulf, UK and USA dedicated more than 690,000 hours to the construction of the Mandir The Mandir can host 10,000 people, it has 400 pillars and there were 5000 carvers putting together the master pieces that adorn the Mandir BAPS does much more than build temples It runs schools, hospitals and are the first to reach any disaster areas During the catastrophic earthquakes in Gujarat in 2001, BAPS served 40,000 meals every day, constructed completely new villages and built 2292 earthquakes resistance homes And they took special care of 100 Muslim families More recently PM Modi requested BAPS to help the students stuck in Ukraine In no time the devotees from Europe went to the south-eastern Polish city of Rzeszow and served 1000 meals not only to the students but all refugees from different nationalities They also gave medical help Pramukh Swami said that in the joy of others lies our joy BAPS movement is truly a benchmark to follow Future generations will credit BAPS for the global revival of Sanatan Dharma followed by the Hare Krishna movement which has almost finished building a Mandir in Mayapur, Bengal, India

PM Modi reveals names of 4 astronauts for Gaganyaan mission

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced th e names of the four astronauts that will fly to low -E arth orbit as p art o f th e I nd ia n S pa ce Res earc h Org anis atio n ’ s (I S RO) Gaganyaan, which will be the first crewed Ind ian space mission The P M m ad e the announcem ent while v isiting the Vikram Sarabh ai Space C entre in Thiruvananthapuram , Kerala

h

a n N a i r , A n g a d Prathap, Ajit Krishnan and Shubanshu Shukla have been selected to be the astronauts on India’s first crewed mission to space They are all either wing commanders or group captains in the Indian Air Force (IAF) and have extensive experience working as test pilots, which means they are already trained to be prepared to respond quickly in situations where something goes wrong

The four astronauts have been undergoing training at the space agency ’ s astronaut training facility in Bengaluru The selection of the astronauts happened at IAF’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine Only three of them will eventually go to space as part of the Gaganyaan mission CE20 engine p asses final qu alification tests

ISRO has reached a significant milestone in ensuring the safety and reliability of its CE20 cryogenic engine This engine is a vital component powering the cryogenic stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle, which is designated for human-rated missions, including ISRO's Gaganyaan program aimed at sending Indian astronauts into space

The seventh and final vacuum ignition test, part of a series, took place at the High Altitude Test Facility situated at ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant

Karnataka to set up ministry for people of the state living abroad

(N on-Re side nt Indian ) Kan na digas, a s p r om i se d i n t h e C on gr e ss 's 2 0 23 a sse mbly polls man ifest o

Welcoming NRIs who had come to the Vidhana Soudha to witness the proceedings of the assembly on the invitation of Speaker UT Khader, the minister made the announcement T h e e x p a t I n d i a n s w e r e f r o m Canada, the United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia, Singapore and West Asian countries

"In Kerala, there is a separate NRI Ministry at the state level, as many people from Kerala go abroad, they earn there and send money back And also to address several of their issues like in the case of deaths abroad -- to bring the b o d i e s b a c k S o w e s a i d i n o u r m a n i f e s t o t h a t , l i k e i n K e r a l a , i n Karnataka too we will create a ministry (for NRIs)," Parameshwara said

He said, "I would like to say that in the coming days, our government will

do it (create an NRI Ministry) The state government will provide all necessary help to them (NRIs) in accordance with law They have shared some issues, they w i l l b e s e r i o u s l y c o n s i d e r e d a n d f u l f i l l e d " P a r a m e s h w a r a h e a d e d t h e Congress Manifesto Committee for the 2023 assembly polls

Speaking about the increasing trend among NRIs to return to India and c o n t r i b u t e t o w a r d s t h e c o u n t r y s development, the minister said they are willing to invest here, and also provide CSR funds from their businesses

He said that in 2008 the Karnataka government had set up an NRI Forum to address their issues and concerns, and that the current government has appointed Dr Arathi Krishna as Deputy Chairman of the forum

Karnataka govt's temple tax bill defeated

in brief

HC JUNKS DMK MINISTER'S ACQUITTAL, ORDERS RETRIAL

Less than a year after DMK minister I

Periyasamy was acquitted in a 12-year-old case involving allegedly illegal land allotment, Madras HC set aside the special court s verdict, terming it “tainted by procedural impropriety” Justice N Anand Venkatesh ordered the court to recommence the trial and schedule proceedings “day to day”, aiming to wrap up the case on or before July 31 The judge, who initiated suo motu revision proceedings, said the March 27, 2023, ruling of the special Chennai court handling cases against MLAs and MPs “suffers from manifest perversity and gross illegality”

between ₹10,00,000

The Bill mandates the state to collect 10% tax from temples generating revenue exceeding £100,000 and 5%

Religious Endowment Amendment bill inside the assembly, the opposition expressed great displeasure

a

a k a Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that he will present the bill again later

a t a k a

Legislative Council Pranesh had objected to this He cited that once a bill has been discussed, it cannot be postponed Following this, the house was adjourned for 10 minutes to discuss and decide W h e n t h e v o t i n g p r o c e d u r e s t a r t e d f o r t h e

Religious Endowment Bill, though a large number of BJP and opposition members participated, only five members of the ruling party were present

Haryana INLD president, bodyguard shot dead

RO H TA K: Nafe Singh Rathee, the H aryana president of Indian N ational Lok Dal ( INLD), was s h ot d ea d i n J h aj j ar ’ s B ahadurgarh on Sunday T h e t w o - t i m e M L A f r o m

Bahadurgarh from 1996-2005 w a s t r a v e l l i n g w i t h t h r e e members of his security staff in h i s S U V w h e n u n i d e n t i f i e d

assailants fired indiscriminately at his vehicle at Barahi Gate road Sitting in the front seat, h e r e c e i v e d m u l t i p l e b u l l e t w o u n d s I N L D s p o k e s p e r s o n R a k e s h S i h a g c o n f i r m e d t h e

WEST BENGAL

death of Rathee and a security p e r s o n a t a h o s p i t a l i n

Bahadurgarh

D o c t o r s s a i d R a t h e e received bullets in neck, waist and thigh A video of the killing a n d t h e b u l l e t r i d d e n S U V s t a r t e d d o i n g t h e r o u n d s o f social media even as Jhajjar SP A r p i t J a i n , w h o r e a c h e d t h e crime site, said that teams of CIA and STF were deployed to crack the case and the accused would be arrested soon E m p t y b u l l e t s h e l l s a n d other evidence were collected from the spot The police have s t a r t e d s c a n n i n g C C T V cameras installed on the route

Governor seeks immediate arrest of main accused in Sandeshkhali violence

KO LK A T A : In the backd rop o f the C alcutta High Co urt d irecting th e police to arrest T r i nam oo l C o n g re ss l ea d er S hajahan Sheikh , West Bengal G o v erno r C V A nan d a B os e asked the state gov ernm ent to file a report within 72 h ours if t h ey f ai l to nab th e m an acc used o f sexual atroc ities a nd la nd g rab i n S andeshkh ali, an official said

The Governor also asked the state to investigate the alleged incident of a child b e i n g t h r o w n a w a y b y m i s c r e a n t s i n Sandeshkhali and submit a report to his office "In the light of the decision of the Calcutta High Court, the prime accused in t h e S a n d e s h k h a l i i n c i d e n t s , S h a j a h a n S h i e k h , m a y b e a r r e s t e d i m m e d i a t e l y , failing which reasons for the same may be reported within 72 hours," Bose wrote to the state government

"The veracity of a reported incident of a child being thrown by miscreants may be looked into and if found to be correct, strict action may be taken and report submitted, Bose s letter read

The high court during the day directed that Sheikh, the Enforcement Directorate, the CBI, the superintendent of police, and the state's home secretary representing the West Bengal government be impleaded as parties in the suo motu matter initiated on

and the land grab of tribal people

authorities," the court directed Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas d i s t r i c t h a s b e e n witnessing protests for the past few weeks over allegations of land grab and sexual atrocities on women by Sheikh and his supporters

Several persons including Shibapada H a z r a a n d U t t a m S a r d a r , a l l e g e d associates of Sheikh, were arrested Wo men protestors ransack T rinam ool leader's h ouse

I n a f r e s h r o u n d o f v i o l e n c e o n

Monday, a group of women protesters r a n s a c k e d t h e h o u s e o f T r i n a m o

l C o n g r e s s l e a d e r S a n k a r S a r d a r T h e w o m e n , p r o t e s t i n g w i t h b r o o m s a n d sticks, targeted the TMC leader’s house Heavy security forces have been moved in to manage the situation The Police have registered an FIR against Sheikh Siraj, the brother of Shajahan Sheikh The case was registered against Siraj after locals filed a land grab complaint against him at the Sandeshkhali police station

The motive remains unclear so far while sources hinted at t h e h a n d o f g a n g s t e r L a w e r e n c e B i s h n o i a n d h i s close associate Kala Jathedi in the murder

After Jagdish Numberdar, t h e s o n o f f o r m e r m i n i s t e r

M a n g e r a m R a t h i , a l l e g e d l y committed suicide on Jan 11, 2023, Rathee and his nephew Sonu were accused of harassing h i m I n A u g l a s t y e a r , t h e Punjab and Haryana high court sent a notice to Rathee in the suicide case

Mamata, Maan slam BJP leader Suvendu over ‘Khalistani’ jibe

“What was the officer’s

He was doing his duty Time and again, they have made fun of me with different names I don’t give much importance to them But these people are a blot on Bengal They are bringing shame to our state,” Mamata said at an event in Kolkata

Her statement coincided with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and SAD’s Harsimrat Badal joining the chorus of protest over the alleged slur targeting IPS officer Jaspreet Singh Sikh organisations in Kolkata took to the streets, demanding an apology from BJP and Adhikari

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said that BJP’s “poison of hatred has blinded them” TMC posted on

that it was “highly condemnable for a BJP leader to call a Sikh IPS officer of Bengal a traitor”

He said the “legitimacy of the administration of criminal justice will be eroded and public confidence shaken if MLAs and ministers facing corruption cases can shortcircuit criminal trials by adopting the modus operandi that has been carried out in this case

SC TELLS TAMIL NADU GOVT TO WORK WITH ED

Supreme Court said state govt officials should cooperate with Enforcement Directorate ED) in its probe in money laundering cases and questioned the Madras high court order staying ED s summonses to five district collectors of Tamil Nadu in illegal sand mining cases The observation could potentially have implications for cases in opposition-ruled states which are being probed by the agency The district collectors were summoned by the central agency on Nov 17 but Tamil Nadu govt along with the aggrieved bureaucrats approached Madras HC and filed writ petitions alleging violation of their fundamental rights by ED Allowing their plea, HC had stayed the summons ED moved SC to challenge the HC order

FARMERS TAKE OUT TRACTOR MARCH AGAINST WTO, SEEK MSP

The solidarity among farmers for the ongoing agitation resonated beyond Punjab as Uttar Pradesh and Haryana farmers joined the tractor march on the call of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) The protesting farmers also burnt effigies of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) which they said, was preventing the Indian Government from procuring farm produce on MSP beyond a certain limit This is for the first time that the SKM, an umbrella body of around 40 farmer organisations, has lent support to Punjab farmers, who have been protesting under the banner of SKM (NonPolitical) since February 13 The SKM had given a call for the nationwide tractor march from 12 pm to 4 pm in around 400 districts of the country under which farmers were instructed to park their tractors along the highways to express solidarity with farmers protesting in Punjab and Haryana

OFFICIAL SUSPENDED OVER LIONESS SITA ROW

Tripura govt suspended the state’s principal chief conservator of forests Prabin Lal Agrawal amid a controversy surrounding the naming of a zoo lion and lioness as Akbar and Sita The suspension followed a complaint from VHP to Calcutta HC, alleging the names hurt religious sentiments The lion and lioness were relocated to North Bengal Wild Animals Park in Siliguri from Tripura’s Sepahijala zoo on Feb 12 in an animal exchange programme Agrawal was serving as Tripura’s chief wildlife warden He recorded the names of the lion couple as Akbar and Sita in the dispatch register while sending them to Siliguri This sparked public outrage, leading to a PIL filed by VHP s Bengal unit in Jalpaiguri circuit bench of Calcutta HC on Feb 21 The bench ordered changing the names of the lion pair However the Bengal forest department clarified that the names were given by Tripura, and any modification was the responsibility of Tripura zoo authorities

Nafe Singh Rathee

G Parameshwara

CV Ananda

CM Mamata Banerjee & Suvendu Adhikari

Siddaramaiah

PM Modi offers prayer at submerged city of Dwarka, inaugurates Sudarshan Setu

Continued from page 1 H e s p e n t t h e n i g h t a t t h e Jamnagar circuit house The following day, he went scuba diving off the Panchkui beach coast in D e v b h u m i D w a r k a d i s t r i c t a n d offered prayers at the ancient submerged city of Dwarka, expressing it as a "divine experience " Clad in a w h i t e d i v i n g h e l m e t a n d o c h r e robes, Modi sat cross-legged on the seabed, offering prayers and waving peacock feathers before Lord Krishna “ M o r e t h a n c o u r a g e , i t w a s faith,” he said after coming out of t h e w a t e r s S c u b a d i v i n g t a k e s p l a c e n e a r B e y t D w a r k a i s l a n d , where visitors can remain in the underwater remains excavated by archaeologists Sharing his experience while addressing a gathering later in the day, Modi said: “When I heard about the undersea ancient city of Dwarka for the first time from archaeologists, I had decided that I will visit the place once Today my wish has been fulfilled I am over-

whelmed You can imagine how the feeling would be when what y o u h a v e d r e a m t f o r d e c a d e s comes true ”

“The vision of Dwarka in the sea has further strengthened my resolve of a developed India,” he said

P M M o d i a l s o v i s i t e d t h e Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) in Surat, where he dedicated two Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) to the nation T h e s e p r o j e c t s , b u i l t b y t h e N u c l e a r P o w e r C o r p o r a t i o n o f

India Ltd (NPCIL) at a cost of more than £2 25 billion, boast a combined capacity of 1400 megawatts, making them the largest indigenous PHWRs, according to an official release Additionally, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Valinath Mahadev Temple in Mehsana

Inaugurates AIIMS Rajko t

“Abki Bar 400 Par’ - said Modi addressing a public rally in Rajkot and sought people’s blessings for the third term of NDA The PM said that Modi’s guarantee began where hopes ended for others and

PM Modi launches Bharat Tex to showcase India’s textile heritage

P rim e Minis ter N arendra Modi inau gu rated Bh arat Tex 2024, one of th e largest- ever gl obal t e x ti l e e ve n ts h el d i n I n di a, a t B h a ra t M andapam in Delhi The event marks a s ignificant milesto ne in pro moting I ndia's rich textile h eritage and fos tering coll abo ratio n w ithin th e indus try

A t t h e i n a u g u r a t i o n , U n i o n M i n i s t e r P i y u s h G o y a l h i g h l i g h t e d t h e r e m a r k a b l e growth of Bharat Mandapam since its inauguration just seven months ago He emphasized t h e n e e d t o e x p a n d t h e i n f r a s t r u c t u r e t o accommodate the increasing demand, suggesting the initiation of Phase 2 at both Bharat Mandapam and YashoBhoomi

Speaking at the inauguration Modi said "Today, India is one of the largest producers of cotton, jute and silk in the world Millions of

farmers are engaged in this work Today the government is supporting millions of cotton farmers, purchasing millions of quintals of cotton from them The Kasturi Cotton launched by the government is going to be a big step towards creating India's own identity " Bharat Tex 2024 serves as a platform to showcase the iconic handloom and handicraft traditions of various states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and M a d h y a P r a d e s h U t t a r P r a d e s h a n d M a h a r a s h t r a h a v e b e e n d e s i g n a t e d a s t h e

'Partner States' for the event, underscoring their significant contributions to India's textile sector Additionally, Gujarat, Telangana, a n d M a d h y a P r a d e s h h a v e j o i n e d a s

'Supporting Partner States,' further enriching the diversity of textile offerings at the event

Rajya Sabha poll marred by cross-voting

P olling fo r 15 Rajya Sabha seats, across th e S tates of Uttar Pradesh, Him achal Pradesh and Karnataka on F ebruary 27, was m arred by reports of cross-voting, proving to be e s p ec ia ll y cr uc i al i n C o n g res s - ru le d Him achal P radesh

C o n g r e s s b a g g e d t h r e e s e a t s i n Karnataka as BJP took the remaining one s e a t f r o m t h e S t a t e A j a y M a k e n , G C Chandrasekhar and Syed Naseer Hussain, all f r o m t h e C o n g r e s s , a n d N a r a y a n s a K

Bhandage of the BJP got elected to the Upper House in the polls in which elected MLAs were the voters Five candidates, including D Kupendra Reddy of the JD (S) who lost the election, were in the fray for the four seats

In Himachal Pradesh the BJP won the

State’s lone Rajya Sabha seat with its candid a t e H a r s h M a h a j a n d e f e a t i n g C o n g r e s s stalwart Abhishek Manu Singhvi and apparently setting the stage for a no-trust motion in the Assembly The voting was a tie with both the Congress and the BJP candidates getting 34 votes, indicating that at least six Congress MLAs voted against the party The result was then declared on the basis of a draw of lots, officials said

In Uttar Pradesh, the first preference votes showed the BJP had won eight seats out of 10, one more than it was expected to w i n M e a n w h i l e , S a m a j w a

Manoj Kumar Pandey resigned from the post of party chief as party chief Akhilesh Yadav warned of action against cross-voting MLAs

Air India's new safety video celebrates Indian dance

Air India, India’s l eading gl oba l ai r l in e , un v e il e d ‘ Sa f e t y M ud ra s ’ , t h e a i r l in e ’ s n e w i n f l ig h t s a f e t y vi de o t ha t s e am l e s s l y b l e nd s s a f e t y ins truc tions with the kaleidos c op e v is ion a r y t r io o f P r a s oo n J os h i of M c Ca n n W or l d gr o up, S ha n k a r M a ha de v a n a nd B haratb ala The video is me tic ul ously c rafted t o engage pas sengers and showcas e the saf ety inf orm ation

features of Indian classical dance as a form of expression, used in the new inflight safety video for demonstration

Air India’s new inflight safety video integ r a t e s s a f e t y i n s t r u c t i o n f o r m sB h a r a t n a t y a m , B i h u , K a t h a k , K a t h a k a l i , Mohiniyattam, Odissi, Ghoomar, and Giddha - from around the country Each featured dance form presents a specific safe culturally immersive manner Mudra, a Hindi word that translates to '(hand) gestures,' is one of the most striking

Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India, said: “As a flagbearer of the country and a longstanding patron of Indian art and culture, Air India is delighted to present a work while showcasing India’s rich cultural diversity to travellers around the world Our guests will find this inflight safety video to be more immersive and informative, and a warm music composed by Grammy Award-winning music composer and singer Shankar Mahadevan, the video invites passengers to experience a harmonious fusion of months, involved creators travelling and capturing the essence of India visually through mesmerizing locations across the length and breadth of the country

promised to complete his guarantees in the emerging health sector H e a l s o i n a u g u r a t e d A l l I n d i a I n s t i t u t e o f M e d i c a l S c i e n c e s (AIIMS) centre in Rajkot He became nostalgic when he remembered the starting of his e l e c t o r a l j o u r n e y f r o m R a j k o t

“Yesterday (Feb 24) was the special day of my life Rajkot has played a major role in the initiation of my electoral journey Way back, 22years ago Rajkot had first time blessed me and elected me as it’s MLA On Feb 25, I took oath for

the first time as an MLA of Rajkot in Gujarat assembly At that time you (the people of Rajkot) made me debtor of your love and trust,” he said “Today, after 22 years I can tell proudly to each member of Rajkot that I tried everything to live up to your trust ”

India’s lo ngest stayed Cable Bridge

P M M o d i i n a u g u r a t e d

‘Sudarshan Setu’, India's longest 2 32km long cable-stayed bridge on the Arabian Sea connecting Beyt Dwarka island to mainland Okha i n D e v b h u m i D w a r k a d i s t r i c t Modi praised the 'Sudarshan Setu' as an engineering marvel It spans 2 32 km with 900 meters of double-span cable-stayed portion and a 2 45 km approach road, costing £98 million The four-lane, 27 2meter-wide bridge has 2 5-meterw i d e f o o t p a t h s o n b o t h s i d e s

Engravings of Bhagavad Gita verse s a n d L o r d K r i s h n a a d o r n i t s s i d e s F o r m e r l y k n o w n a s t h e

'Signature Bridge,' it's now named 'Sudarshan Setu

Russian army discharges several Indian 'helpers'; Surat man killed in action

Several Indians, who w orked as s u p p o rt s ta ff to th e R u ss i an arm y, w ere 'discharg ed ' follo wing Ind ia's demand , the M inistry of External Affairs (M EA) said It said India remains comm itted, as a matter of 'top p riority', to ac ti v ely p u rs u i ng w it h th e Russian authorities all the relev ant cases of Indian nationals for an early d isch arge fro m the Russian army

A c c o r d i n g t o m e d i a r e p o r t s , s e v e r a l I n d i a n s h a v e b e e n w o r k i n g a s s e c u r i t y helpers in the Russian military, and they were forced to even fight with Russian soldiers in certain areas along Russia's border with Ukraine

We have seen some inaccurate reports in the media regarding Indians with the Russian army seeking help for discharge,' the MEA said in a statement 'Each and every such case brought to the attention of the Indian embassy in Moscow has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities and those brought to the attention of the ministry have been taken up with the Russian embassy in New Delhi,' it said

The MEA added, 'Several Indians have already been disc h a r g e d a s a r e s u l t ' Meanwhile, a 23-year-old man f r o m S u r a t w o r k i n g a s a 'helper' for the Russian Army was killed in a Ukrainian missile strike in a war zone, as per the claim made by his relatives

Relatives of the deceased, Hemil Mangukiya, urged the Central government to help them get back his mortal remains Hemil had made a Whatsapp call to his family members in Surat on February 20, and on the next day, he was killed near the Ukraine border in a missile strike by Ukraine, claimed his uncle Suresh Mangukiya

In a related development, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association said it w r o t e t o E x t e r n a l A f f a i r s M i n i s t e r S Jaishankar and Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, seeking their intervention for repatriation of two youths 'trapped' in Russia It said one youth is trapped along the RussiaUkraine border and another reportedly missing within Russia

Karamsad railway station to undergo £713,000 revamp

In st alla tion of Sard ar Pate l sta tue Karamsad is set to u n d e r g o a s i g n i f i c a n t transformation, featuring a sprawling campus, m o d e r n e n t r a n c e , u p g r a d e d s e a t i n g a r r a

Anand's

ment and ensuring comfortable train journeys

In the initial phase of t h e s c h e m e , t h e P r i m e

Minister laid the foundation stone for seven Mandal stations on August 6, 2023, initiating rapid progress In the second phase, scheduled for February 26, 2024, the Prime M i n i s t e r w i l l v i r t u a l l y l a y the foundation stone for the r e d e v e l o p m e n t o f e i g h t a d d i t i o n a l s t a t i o n s i n t h e M a n d a l , i n c l u d i n g K i m , K o s a m b a , S a y a n , U t a r a n , A n k l e s h w a r , G o d h r a , Karamsad, and Kheda railw a y s t a t i o n s i n Mehmedabad

g e m e n t s , c l e a n drinking water facilities, a d v a n c e d t i c k e t i n g c o u n t e r s , a m p l e v e h i c l e parking, and sturdy platform structures In addition, the installation of a massive iron statue of Sardar Patel, along with a 100-metre-long, 6m e t r e - h i g h w a l l t o w a r d s GIDC, has been completed Furthermore, facilities such as accessible platforms and modern toilets for the disabled are being constructed The railway system is currently operational, marking a milestone in the town's development

Hemil Ashvinbhai Mangukiya

PM offers prayers at Dwarkadhish temple in Gujarat PM takes a holy dip into the sea at Dwarka, in Gujarat

M O T H E R - D A U G H T E R B O N D

Celebrating the power of shared language on Mother's day

Mother's Day is a celebration of t h e p r o f o u n d b o n d b e t w e e n mothers and their children, a day dedicated to honouring the love, sacrifices, and unwavering support that mothers provide. Among the myriad of r e l a t i o n s h i p s i n a m o t h e r ' s l i f e , t h e connection between a mother and her daughter holds a unique and cherished place. It is a bond woven with threads of u n d e r s t a n d i n g , e m p a t h y , a n d s h a r e d experiences a relationship that evolves o v e r t i m e y e t r e m a i n s r o o t e d i n unconditional love Central to this bond is the mother's l a n g u a g e t h e l a n g u a g e o f t r a d i t i o n , culture, and heritage Across generations, mothers have passed down their native tongue to their daughters, imparting not only linguistic skills but also a deeper connection to their roots This shared language serves as a bridge that connects past, present, and future, allowing mothers and daughters to communicate not just in words but also in the nuances of shared experiences, values, and emotions

T a l k i n g a b o u t s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e f a m i l i a l b o n d s t h r o u g h o n e ’ s m o t h e r l a n g u a g e , M a no s h i B aru a , a r e t i r e d journalist from BBC said, “Ensuring my d a u g h t e r r e m a i n e d c o n n e c t e d t o h e r Bengali roots was a priority for me as she g r e w u p i n a n E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g environment While she naturally picked up English from school and her peers, I was adamant about instilling a strong grasp of Bengali in her ”

“From a young age, I spoke to her e x c l u s i v e l y i n B e n g a l i a t h o m e , e m p h a s i s i n g t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f understanding our language and culture I highlighted that her ability to converse with her grandmother, who only spoke Bengali, would deepen their bond and enrich her life Witnessing her bond with her grandmother flourish reinforced the

value of bilingualism in her upbringing As she grew older, her proficiency in Bengali not only strengthened her connection to her roots but also proved invaluable during h e r t r a v e l s t o I n d i a S h e e x p r e s s e d gratitude for her ability to communicate with ease in West Bengal, where Bengali is w i d e l y s p o k e n , c o n t r a s t i n g w i t h t h e

challenges she faced in North India due to h e r l a c k o f p r o f i c i e n c y i n H i n d i H e r e x p e r i e n c e u n d e r s c o r e d t h e p r a c t i c a l importance of bilingualism beyond familial ties, enabling her to navigate everyday i n t e r a c t i o n s a n d e x p e r i e n c e s w i t h confidence and ease, “she added

Speaking about traditions that she and her daughter developed over the years, she s a i d , “ M y d a u g h t e r h a s a r e m a r k a b l e talent for baking, and she often surprises me with her delicious cakes While she enjoys treating me with her creations, she's also eager to learn the art of cooking Indian dishes, a skill she's picked up from me It's heartwarming to see her interest in learning my recipes, even insisting that I write them down for her to follow Our bond has grown stronger over the years, e s p e c i a l l y s i n c e s h e b e c a m e a m o t h e r

Heartfelt mother's day gift ideas to make her day special

Mother's Day is a special occasion to honour and celebrate the incredible women in our lives who have played t h e r o l e o f m o t h e r s , w h e t h e r b i o l o g i c a l , adoptive, or maternal figures It's a time to e x p r e s s g r a t i t u d e a n d l o v e f o r t h e i r u n w a v e r i n g s u p p o r t , s a c r i f i c e s , a n d

unconditional love If you're looking for the perfect gift to show your appreciation this Mother's Day, consider these thoughtful and heartfelt ideas: 1 P e rs o nal i se d j ew el le ry: C o n s i d e r gifting your mother a piece of jewellery personalised with her initials, birthstone, or a meaningful inscription Whether it's a n e c k l a c e , b r a c e l e t , o r r i n g , p e r s o n a l i s e d jewellery adds a sentimental touch that she'll cherish forever

2 S pa da y e xpe rien ce : Treat your mother to a day of relaxation and pampering with a spa day experience Whether it's a massage, facial, or manicure/pedicure session, a spa day allows her to unwind and rejuvenate, making her feel special and appreciated

3 Homema de gift bask et: Get creative and put together a homemade gift basket filled with your mother's favourite goodies a n d t r e a t s I n c l u d e i t e m s l i k e g o u r m e t chocolates, scented candles, bath salts, and a handwritten note expressing your love and gratitude

4 P hot o a lbu m or fr am e: Compile a collection of cherished memories by creating a custom photo album or framing a selection of special photographs Choose pictures that

capture moments shared with your mother and arrange them in a beautifully designed a l b u m o r f r a m e t o c r e a t e a m e a n i n g f u l

keepsake

5 C o o k i ng o r b ak in g c las s : I f y o u r mother enjoys spending time in the kitchen, consider enrolling her in a cooking or baking class Whether it's learning new recipes, c u l i n a r y t e c h n i q u e s , o r c u i s i n e s t y l e s , a cooking class provides a fun and educational experience that she'll appreciate

6 H an d w ri tt en l et ter o r p o em : Sometimes, the simplest gifts are the most m e a n i n g f u l T a k e t h e t i m e t o w r i t e a heartfelt letter or poem expressing your love, gratitude, and appreciation for your mother Y o u r w o r d s w i l l u n d o u b t e d l y t o u c h h e r heart and become a cherished keepsake

7 Customised items: This Mother's Day, consider gifting personalised items like pens and journals tailored to her busy lifestyle Encouraging writing by hand and journaling can offer precious moments of self-care, enhancing her well-being and fostering a sense of balance in her daily routine

herself My daughter is keen to teach her little one Bengali so she insists that I talk to her in Bengali ”

“My daughter is very passionate about d a n c e , a s k i l l s h e ' s h o n e d s i n c e h e r c h i l d h o o d H e r d e d i c a t i o n t o Bharatanatyam led her to achieve her diploma and perform her Arangetram As a member of The Tagoreans, the oldest Bengali cultural organisation in the UK, my daughter often performs at our annual programs While she grasps the grammar of dance, she turns to me for insights into the deeper meanings of Tagore songs, w h i c h s h e i n c o r p o r a t e s i n t o h e r choreography Together, we delve into Tagore's rich literary tradition, translating lyrics and unravelling each word's essence t o e n r i c h h e r p e r f o r m a n c e s T h i s collaborative effort strengthens our bond as mother and daughter,” she added

Speaking about the piece of advice for other mothers to deepen their bond with t h e i r d a u g h t e r s , s h e s a i d , “ F o r e v e r y mother, their child is invaluable While e a c h p a r e n t h a s t h e i r o w n w a y o f nurturing, fostering an understanding of tradition and culture forms a strong bond between mother and daughter Providing insight into heritage adds depth to their r e l a t i o n s h i p , f o s t e r i n g m u t u a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d a p p r e c i a t i o n T h i s shared understanding enriches their lives, creating a legacy of love and cultural heritage across generations ” “ Amar E kushey”: B angladeshi di as pora c elebrates mother’ s language

On the occasion of the International Mother Language Day 2024 and Bangla Language Martyrs’ Day “Amar Ekushey”

o r g a n i s e d M u l t i l i n g u a l E d u c a t i o n , t h e Foundation of learning by Bangladesh High Commission London in partnership with the UK National Commission for UNESCO Deputy High Commissioner Sujit Ghosh was among the distinguished attendees

Tracing the evolution of Mother's Day

Mother's Day i n th e UK traces its ro ots back to th e 16th-century cu stom of 'Motheri ng Su nd ay', observed on th e fou rth Su nd ay of Lent, whi ch occurs three weeks before Eas ter T h e c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e c h u r c h calendar often leads to confusion regarding its date each year Originally, the tradition involved visiting one's 'mother church' the church of baptism, parish church, or nearest cathedral a practice known as 'going amothering' This day, later referred to as Mothering Sunday, granted people a day off to return to their birth parish, with children and other family members joining in Over time, the emphasis shifted from visiting the mother church to honouring one's own mother, as this occasion provided a rare opportunity for family reunions

the journey to the church, people w

Despite falling within Lent, the day relaxed the austerity typically observed during the s

to edible gifts like Simnel cake, 'mothering buns', or fig pie

Manoshi Barua (right) with her daughter and granddaughter

Unlocking Your Potential: Ways to Feel Stronger and Grow

Psychologist Mamta Saha

Have you ever felt like you have more to offer than you're showing? You're not alone! Many of my clients come to me with similar feelings We all have hidden talents and dreams waiting to be discovered However, sometimes, self-doubt and fear hold us back For Instance, a client I worked with struggled to pursue their passion for writing due to self-doubt So, how can we break free and reach our full potential? Let's explore some simple ways together.

Start by Knowing Yourself Better: Picture this as a cosy adventure where you get to explore your interests, values, and strengths Take a moment to reflect on your past wins and the things that light up your soul What are your wildest dreams, and how do they align with the legacy you want to leave behind Take time to figure out what makes you happy and what you're good at hey, don't forget to cheer yourself on! This client began journaling daily to reflect on their interests and strengths Through this practice, they gained clarity on their passion for writing and started to believe in their ability to pursue it Believe in your abilities to tackle any challenge that comes your way With a sprinkle of affirmations and some empowering visions, you'll be amazed at how much you can achieve!

Focus on encouraging a Growth Mindset: Think of this as your secret recipe for overcoming obstacles Instead of seeing challenges as roadblocks, see them as opportunities to grow Embracing this mindset, my client enrolled in writing workshops and joined a local writing group Each challenge they encountered became an opportunity to learn and improve their craft According to research conducted by Carol Dweck (2006) a leading psychologist, adopting a "growth mindset" where you view challenges as opportunities for learning and development can significantly enhance your resilience and ability to overcome obstacles It s true! By embracing the idea that you can learn and grow from any situation, you'll find yourself bouncing back stronger than ever

Now, let's Set Clear Goals: Imagine crafting your own roadmap to success Your goals should be like guiding stars, inspiring you to keep moving forward Make them exciting yet achievable, and don t forget to check in with yourself regularly With newfound confidence, my client set clear goals for their writing, such as submitting articles to publications and completing a novel draft By breaking down their goals into manageable tasks, they stayed focused and motivated on their writing journey Life is all about adapting, so don't be afraid to tweak your goals along the way With each step you take, you're one step closer to turning your dreams into reality

Unlocking your potential is like embarking on a journey filled with self-discovery, growth, and endless possibilities By embracing these strategies and committing to your personal development, you're not just reaching for the stars – you're becoming the star of your own show! Remember, the power to unlock your potential lies within you – its time to let it shine

If you, your family,community, or business need support inworking through this then reach out and explore some workshops and coaching I’d also love to know how you get on, email me: mamta@mamtasaha com Follow me on Linked in: Mamta Saha and IG: Saha Mamta D o w n l o a d m y f r e e e - b o o k : w w w m a m t a s a h a c o m Sending you all the love that you truly deserve

Saffron: Spice with health benefits

Saffron, originating from Asia, is renowned for its medicinal properties Packed with antioxidants like crocin and crocetin, it offers numerous health benefits, including alleviating PMS symptoms, aiding weight management, managing seizures, treating ED, potentially aiding in Alzheimer's therapy, and addressing depression.

Just a short walk daily could reduce depression

Exercise c an help manag e weig ht, reduce the risk o f d i se as e, st ren g th e n b o ne s and m u s cl es , a nd ev e n im p ro v e b rai n h e al th Evidence is growing that it can also allev iate the sympto m s o f d ep r es si o n , t h e lea d i ng c au s e o f m e nta l health-related disease

However, advice varies about how much exercise is n e e d e d f o r a b e n e f i c i a l effect Now, a 10-year study in Ireland has found that even small amounts of exercise, such as a 20-minute walk most days, can help reduce the risk of depression in older adults

Depression - a chronic

feeling of emptiness, sadness, or inability to feel pleasure - is one of the most common mental health cond i t i o n s A c c o r d i n g t o t h e World Health Organization (WHO), it affects around 5% of adults worldwide

In the United States, in 2020, 21 million adults had at least one major depressive

e p i s o d e , w i t h h i g h e r rates in women than m e n I n t h e U n i t e d Kingdom, government statistics show that one i n s i x p e o p l e e x p e r ienced depressive symptoms in 2021–2022

T r e a t m e n t s f o r depression depend on the type of depression a person is experiencing but may i n c l u d e a n t i d e p r e s s a n t s , psychotherapy, such as cogn i t i v e b e h a v i o r a l t h e r a p y (CBT), or a combination of t h e r a p y a n d m e d i c a t i o n They are effective for many people, but depression can r e t u r n o n c e t r e a t m e n t i s stopped

How to manage your respiratory health with these simple exercises

As the frosty gri p of winter loosen s its ho l d a n d t he d a wn o f s p r i n g approaches, i t become s im pera ti ve to pri oriti se our res piratory well-be ing The shif t from winter to s pri ng poses uni que c ha llen ges, espec ially for indivi dua ls pron e to respiratory ailme nts

Whether contending with stubborn colds or grappling with seasonal allergies, it's vital to implement key tactics to safeguard your respiratory health during this transition period

Stay hydrated: Adequate hydration helps keep mucus membranes moist, easing congestion and reducing the risk of respiratory infections

Practi cing good han d hy gi ene: As winter fades, respiratory infections caused by viruses and bacteria may remain prevalent Consistent handwashing with soap and water, or utilizing alcohol-based hand sanitizers, remains crucial in curbing the transmission of germs and minimizing the likelihood of respiratory illnesses

M aintain in door ai r quality: Keep i n d o o r s p a c e s w e l l - v e n t i l a t e d b y opening windows when weather per-

m i t s C o n s i d e r u s i n g a i r p u r i f i e r s with HEPA filters to remove airborne particles, allergens, and pollutants that can aggravate respiratory symptoms

Moni tor pollen levels : As spring emerges, trees, grasses, and flowers b e g i n t o r e l e a s e p o l l e n , p o s i n g a potential trigger for allergy symptoms including sneezing, congestion, and itchy eyes

Exercis e regularly: Activities like walking, jogging, or cycling can help strengthen respiratory muscles and improve lung function Just be mindful of air quality and pollen levels, especially if you have respiratory sensitivities

Tips for managing thyroid-related fertility challenges

The thy roid g lan d, a sma ll butte rflyshape d e ndocrine or gan loca ted in the ne ck , re gula te s y our met abolic rat e It secre tes hormon es, pr im arily t hyroxin e (T 4 ) a n d t r i io d ot hy r o n i n e ( T3 ) Hy pothy roidism occur s whe n the thyroid is unde ra ctiv e, w hile hyp er thyroidism occur s whe n it is ov era ct ive

Untreated hypothyroidism can disrupt menstrual cycles, ovulation, and the uterine lining's quality, potentially i m p a c t i n g w o m e n ' s f e r t i l i t y Conversely, hyperthyroidism can also influence women's reproductive health by inducing irregular menstrual cycles, anovulation, and raising the risk of miscarriage

So how ca n someone sufferin g fr om eit her d isord er cope with t hyr oidr elate d fe rtility cha lleng es?

Regular thyroid testing: Thyroid function may change over time, and regular testing can assist your endocrinologist in providing better treatment through appropriate inervention

Stress management: Chronic stress can impact thyroid function and fertility Integrate stress-relieving activities like meditation, yoga, or mindfulness practices into your daily routine to help mitigate these effects

Reg ular e xer cise : Regular moderate e x e r c i s e c

tools like ovulation predictor kits to optimise the timing for conception

Educate y our self: Gain insight into the connection between your thyroid health and fertility Address all your queries and concerns with your specialists

There is increasing evidence that lifestyle changes can reduce depressive symptoms A 2014 analysis of 21 s t u d i e s f o u n d t h a t a d i e t h i g h i n f r u i t , v e g e t a b l e s , fish, and whole grains may be associated with a reduced depression risk And a 2022 s t u d y f o u n d t h a t e x e r c i s e alleviated depressive symptoms However, few studies have looked at how much exercise is needed to have a positive impact on depression Now, a 10-year study has found that even small a m o u n t s o f e x e r c i s e c a n r e d u c e d e p r e s s i o n a m o n g older adults - people aged 50 years and older

Some simple habits to regulate your cortisol levels

Corti sol, a s tres s hormone, i s pi votal i n the b ody 's re s pon s e to st res s , contri buti ng s ig ni fican tly to i ts regulation Mai ntai nin g an opti ma l le vel of corti sol is cruci al for the body 's proper function ing

By cultivating small habits that regulate your circadian rhythm, you can enhance your capacity to adapt to s t r e s s e f f e c t i v e l y T h i s i n c l u d e s improving sleep quality, promoting mind-body health, and optimising the release of both cortisol and melatonin

Some s imple mornin g hab its to re duce stres s: Nutri ent- dens e din ner: Choose a well-balanced dinner to maintain stable blood sugar levels and prevent blood sugar spikes that can dysregulated cortisol levels and disrupt sleep A v o i d h e a v y m e a l s b e f o r e b e d Prioritise certain nutrients that can support sleep, such as magnesium, o m e g a - 3 f a t t y a c i d s a n d c o m p l e x carbs

Ph o n e / E m a i l b ou n d a r i e s : Participating in stimulating activities like checking emails or browsing social media can trigger the brain and elevate cortisol levels

Gr a t i t u d e j o u r n a l i n g : B y c o nsciously acknowledging and appreciating the positive aspects of our lives, we stimulate the release of feel-good neurotransmitters, reduce cortisol levels, and improve overall well-being

Legs- up-the -wa ll pose: Try spending a few minutes in the legs-up-thewall pose before bed This gentle yoga position activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress and improving sleep Lie on your back with legs extended up against a wall for five minutes, focusing on deep breathing

School uniform policies linked to students getting less exercise

Recen t r esear ch fr om the U niver sit y of Cambridge sug gests tha t school unifor m policies mig ht h in der y out h pa rticipa tion in phy sica l a ctivity , pa rticula rly amon g prima ry school-a ged girls Conducte d usin g dat a fr om over a million five-t o-1 7-y ear -olds globa lly, the st udy rev ea led th at in count ries where the ma jority of schools en for ce unifor m re gula tions, fe wer youn g in dividua ls m e e t t he W o r l d He a l t h Org anizat ion 's re comme nde d 60 minutes of da ily physica l act iv ity N o t a b l y , r e g a r d l e s s o f u n i f o r m policies, girls generally engage in less p h y s i c a l a c t i v i t y c o m p a r e d t o b o y s across most nations However, the gap in activity levels between girls and boys

appears to be more pronounced among primary school students in countries where uniforms are mandatory in most schools

The study was led by Dr Mairead Ryan, a researcher at the Faculty of E d u c a t i o n a n d M R C E p i d e m i o l o g y Unit, University of Cambridge "Schools often prefer to use uniforms for various reasons," Ryan said "We are not trying to suggest a blanket ban on them but to present new evid e n c e t o s u p p o r t d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g School communities could consider the design and whether specific characteristics of a uniform might either encourage or restrict any opportunities for physical activity across the day ”

Deepika and Ranveer expecting their first child?

Rumour mill in Bollywood has it that

actors Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh are expecting their first child

According to a source, Deepika is in her second trimester. Speculations pointed out her Sabyasachi-created BAFTA outfit - a shimmery saree covering her midriff.

Ranveer and Deepika tied the knot on November 14, 2018, at Italy's Lake Como after dating for six years They first met on the sets of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's romantic film ‘Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela ’ They later also starred in ‘Bajirao Mastani’ and ‘ P a d m a a v a t ’ L a s t y e a r i n N o v e m b e r , Ranveer and Deepika celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary in Belgium I n J a n u a r y t h i s y e a r , s p e a k i n g w i t h Vogue Singapore, Deepika was asked if becoming a mother “is something she looks f o r w a r d t o ” D e e p i k a s a i d , “ A b s o l u t e l y R a n v e e r a n d I l o v e c h i l d r e n W e l o o k forward to the day when we will start our own family ”

Talking about her parents, she had said, “When I meet the people I have grown up with - my aunts, uncles, family friends -

they always mention how I haven’t changed one bit

That says a lot about our upbringing In this industry, it’s easy to get carried away by fame and money But no one treats me like a celebrity at home I am a daughter and a sister first I don’t want that to change My family keeps me grounded and Ranveer and I hope to inculcate the same values in our children ”

Deepika was recently seen in the aerial a c t i o n t h r i l l e r f i l m ‘ F i g h t e r ’ o p p o s i t e H r i t h i k R o s h a n H e l m e d b y S i d d h a r t h Anand, the film starred Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover and Akshay Oberoi in pivotal roles She will be next seen in the sci-fi a c t i o n t h r i l l e r f i l m ‘ K a l k i 2 8 9 8 A D ’ alongside Prabhas Helmed by Nag Ashwin, the film also stars Amitabh Bachchan and will hit the theatres on May 9, 2024

Ranveer will be seen reprising his role of Simmba in Rohit Shetty's cop drama ‘Singham Again ’ It also stars Deepika, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Arjun Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Ranveer will a l s o h e a d l i n e F a r h a n A k h t a r ' s ‘ D o n 3 , ’ which will arrive in 2025

Kunal Khemmu talks about the portrayal of alpha males in films

Actor Kunal Khemmu is unsure if viewers should take the portrayal of alpha male heroes in films like ‘Kabir Singh’ and ‘Animal’ seriously In a new interview on Raj Shaman’s YouTube channel, he said that in reality, if one practices such “selective alpha” traits, they will get beaten up and end up in jail

Speaking about the portrayal of alpha male heroes, Kunal said, “Isko sahi-galat bol ke fayda nahi hai, kyuki aap ek human tendency aur trait ki baat kar rahe ho Aap samajdar ho, aap kar lo try Aapko aisa banda chahiye? Jab teen din aapko thappad padenge, chauthe din aap bologe ki main police ko phone kar dungi Usko bhi samajh aa jayega aapko bhi samajh ajayga (There's no point in terming it as right or wrong You are sensible, try it out You want such a guy? When he will slap you for three days, you will file a plaint rth f you what's urther he e eone was hing deep ddy nga's imal’ ause t is what cinema does, it

makes one feel strong emotions “Become the alpha in the true sense It is very easy to sit here today and say ‘I want to be a selective alpha ’ Do the entire thing Or if you want to be selective, live the life See where it goes You will either go to jail, either get beaten up Acchi picturein dekh ke, ‘Munnabhai 2 ’ dekh ke Gandhigiri bhi sikh lo (Watch a good picture like Munnabhai 2 and learn some nonviolence)!” he added

Sandeep Reddy Vanga's ‘Animal’ has been called out by many for toxic masculinity, violence and misogyny Apart from Ranbir, the film starred Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol in pivotal roles

Desi beat returns for a fifth season, bringing flavours from South Asian homes on Colors TV

Get ready to embark on a delicious journey

as COLORS TV’s beloved food show, Desi Beat, returns for its highly anticipated fifth season Premiering on February 25th, Sunday at 8:30 PM, Shana Paratha Presents Desi Beat Season 5, promises to tantalize taste buds and warm hearts with its vibrant exploration of South Asian cuisine from desi homes in the UK

D e s i B e a t h a s g a r n e r e d i m m e n s e p o p u l a r i t y o v e r i t s p r e v i o u s s e a s o n s , c a p t i v a t i n g a u d i e n c e s w i t h i t s mouthwatering recipes, insightful cultural anecdotes, and entertaining presentation The show has successfully navigated the diverse culinary landscape of South Asian f o o d i n t h e U K , s h o w c a s i n g r e g i o n a l specialties and hidden gems

This new season will be launched across a l l i n t e r n a t i o n a l f e e d s o f C O L O R S i n Europe, US, Canada, APAC, MENA and South Africa; and will be hosted by the evercharming Tommy Sandhu, a renowned UKb a s e d p e r s o n a l i t y c e l e b r a t e d w i t h i n t h e South Asian community Desi Beat promises to be bigger and better than ever before W i t h T o m m y S a n d h u ’ s i n f e c t i o u s e n t h u s i a s m a n d e n g a g i n g s t o r y t e l l i n g , viewers will be transported to bustling home kitchens and will witness the magic unfold as Tommy interacts with home cooks, local chefs and culinary experts, learning the s e c r e t s a n d l e g a c y b e h i n d t h e i r f a m i l y ’ s signature dishes passed on from generations and delving into the rich cultural tapestry that flavours Indian cuisine

M r G o v i n d S h a h i , E x e c u t i v e V i c e P r e s i d e n t , a n d H e a d o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l Business, IndiaCast Media, expressed his e x c i t e m e n t f o r t h e n e w s e a s o n , s t a t i n g , "Desi Beat is a celebration of India's culinary heritage and the diverse communities that keep it alive We are thrilled to bring back the show for a fifth season, by visiting the homes of our viewers where they will cook and present dishes using recipes kept alive in t h e i r f a m i l i e s f o r g e n e r a t i o n s , t h r o u g h Tommy's unique lens This season promises to be a visual and sensory treat, packed with mouthwatering recipes and heartwarming stories that will leave you wanting more "

Actors

Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani are officially married. They took to Instagram to share their official wedding pictures. Rakul wore a pink peach lehenga with enormous diamonds for the wedding. Jackky wore a cream-golden sherwani with a massive necklace.

“Mine now and forever 21-022 0 2 4 # a b d o n o b h a g n a - n i , ” t h e y captioned the post The couple got good wishes from actors, including S a m a n t h a R u t h P r a b h u a n d Jacqueline Fernandez After dating for some time, Rakul and Jackky married in twin ceremonies at the ITC Grand South Goa Hotel Only close family and friends were invited to the ceremonies, including Akshay

India’s Ghazal icon, Pankaj Udas passes away at 72

Pankaj Udhas, India's ghazal icon, has passed away at the age of 72, his family has confirmed He was not keeping well for a long time The news has come as a shock to many Singer Sonu Nigam was among the first ones to react to his death

Taking to his Instagram account, Sonu wrote, “One of the most important part of my childhood is lost today Shri Pankaj Udhas ji, I will miss you forever My heart cries knowing that you are no more Thank you for being there Om Shanti ”

Born on May 17, 1951, in Jetpur, Gujarat, Pankaj Udhas began his career with the release of his ghazal album titled "Aahat" in 1980 Rapidly, he became a prominent figure in the realm of ghazal music in India His contribution to Bollywood included the rendition of the unforgettable track "Chitthi Aayee Hai" for Sanjay Dutt's film "Naam," evoking profound emotions and touching the hearts of many

Over the years, Pankaj released numerous albums and performed at numerous live concerts, further elevating his popularity In recognition of his contributions, Pankaj Udhas was bestowed with India's fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri

Rakul Preet, Jackky share stunning first official pictures from sunset wedding

Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Shilpa Shetty, Raj

Khurrana and others

two reportedly had an Anand Karaj

d i n g festivities kickstarted on February 19

On the work front, Rakul will be seen in ‘Indian 2 ’ alongside Kamal Haasan The film also stars Bobby Simhaa and Priya Bhavani Shankar in key roles The first part was released in 1996 and starred Kamal Haasan in the role of an aged freedom fighter who decides to wage a war against corruption J a c k k y , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i s

h

x t production, ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan ’ Helmed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the film stars Akshay, Tiger, Sonakshi Sinha, and Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead roles and is all set to hit theatres on the occasion of Eid 2024

On October 5, 1990, in London, Ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas visited the ABPL Group office for an exclusive interview with the then Gujarat Samachar's Managing Editor Kokila Patel

Navya Naveli doesn't want to give any advice to cousin Aaradhya

Navya Naveli Nanda, the granddaughter of actor Amitabh Bachchan, has responded when asked what 'advice' she would want to give her cousin Aaradhya Bachchan Speaking with News18 Showsha, Navya said that Aaradhya Bachchan is 'far wiser than I was when I was 12'

Navya Nanda said, “I don’t know if I would give her advice I feel she’s far wiser t h a n I w a s w h e n I w a s 1 2 S h e ’ s v e r y intelligent and I think more aware of things than I was maybe at her age So it’s actually great to see that entire generation grow up being so much more aware of the world, so much more aware of society and things around them so, I don’t know what advice I would give her

Navya further said, “I think I just admire her that such a young age, she is so aware of things and she’s very wise Just happy to have a younger sister in the house to share things with but I don’t think I can give her advice, she is very assured, confident, and pretty aware of what’s going on so I think that’s a very commendable thing " A a r a d h y a i s t h e d a u g h t e r o f a c t o rc o u p l e A i s h w a r y a R a i a n d A b h i s h e k Bachchan Aishwarya and Abhishek tied the k n o t i n A p r i l 2 0 0 7 T h e y w e l c o m e d Aaradhya in 2011

L a s t y e a r i n N o v e m b e r a s A a r a d h y a turned 12, they shared posts on Instagram wishing her on the special day Posting an old picture of him and Aaradhya, Abhishek B a c h c h a n c a p t i o n e d t h e p o s t , “ H a p p y b i r t h d a y m y l i t t l e p r i n c e s s ! I l o v e y o u mostest (sic) "

Kareena hails role of Deepika, Vidya Balan and Kangana for changing women's position

Kareena Kapoor Khan believes that her contemporaries and leading ladies like Deepika Padukone, Kangana Ranaut and Vidya Balan have significantly improved the position of women in the film industry: not just in terms of roles but also in pay Speaking at a recent ABP conclave, Kareena discussed how these ‘strong women ’ , including herself, have taken a stand and are helping change the narrative for other women as well Opening up about the difference in the treatment of female actors now compared to years ago, the 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham' actor shared, “I think it has changed because a lot of strong women have done a lot of strong parts in films They have done films that have been loved by the audiences So, whether it’s leading actresses like Kangana Ranaut, Vidya Balan, Deepika Padukone or myself we ’ ve always tri to stand f roles that have risen above jus being there in the film So, all of us have

Naseeruddin Shah gets angry as fans try to click selfies with him

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah got angry after people seemingly tried to click selfies with him at the Delhi airport In a video posted on Instagram, Naseeruddin was seen scolding some people while walking away

changed a lot of dynamics on many levels, like demanding a certain role, a certain fee, or position ” Kareena was earlier trolled for increasing her fees to £1 2 million for the role of Sita in a reimagining of Ramayana “I make it quite clear what I want, and I think that respect should be given It’s not about being demanding; it’s about being respectful towards women And I think things are kind of changing,” Kareena said in an interview around the same time Kareena, 43, has never shied away from embracing her age and is comfortable in her own skin On the topic of age, Kareena believes it’s just a number She expressed her gratitude to the audience for liking her work “Today the audience has become accepting Age is just a number; it’s as old as you look You have to u have to d I don’t ever be a old again; happy At so much yper and xious, nd I’m much calmer now, and I’m in a happy place in my 40s ”

Whether an actor is married or not is immaterial: Kiara Advani

Actress

Kiara Advani recently spoke about actors who choose to marry early. She said at the ABP Conclave that the audience today has evolved, so whether an actor is married or not is “immaterial.” At the summit, she spoke in length about the topic and said, “(People used to say) Why is she (a female actor) getting married? She’s just reaching that phase and all of that But kudos to the audience because I think they have evolved We keep saying to the directors, producers, or actors, or female actors who’ve taken on that, but kudos to the audience because they see you as a character ” She added that she’s good at balancing the personal and the professional “So whether I’m married, whether I’m a mother, w h e t h e r I ’ m s o m e o n e ’ s d a u g h t e r , w h a t e v e r t h a t i s , t h a t ’ s immaterial in that moment And I think I can say that, postmarriage, I’ve signed two of my biggest films And I think, of course, we have so many actresses I think all the top actresses who are married So that speaks volumes in itself and that's a positive change I believe I am good at balancing my personal and professional lives So if I want to do something, I will go for it, and then, because I manage everything else, I never thought about my career unless I knew I would do what I said," she added

On the work front, Kiara is shooting for Shankar's ‘Game Changer’ with Ram Charan She was recently announced as the female lead opposite Ranveer Singh in ‘Don 3 ’

F o r t h e t r a v e l , N a s e e r u d d i n w o r e a brown shirt, denims and wrapped a sweater around his neck He also wore brown shoes, a cap and had a mask on his face Though not clearly audible, Naseeruddin told the people, "Mood kharab kardiya aap logo ne Samajhte nahi hain aap log ek dafa baat ki jaaye (You have spoiled my mood You don't understand when told once) ” T h e p e o p l e b e h i n d t h e c a m e r a , seemingly fans and paparazzi, were heard assuring him that it wouldn't be repeated in the future Naseeruddin, however, was still visibly upset as he walked in a huff as he exited the Delhi airport He was also seen carrying a book

SJ Suryah’s first look from ‘Raayan’ released

Actor

Dhanush announced on X that SJ Suryah has been brought in for his second directorial film ‘Raayan ’ He shared Suryah’s look in monochrome with the actor holding a glass in his hand and looking pensive He wrote, “#Raayan Had great fun directing you @iam SJSuryah sir (hug emoji) (sic)” Suryah also shared Dhanush’s post, replying, “Sirrrrrr it’s a bliss acting in Ur direction @dhanushkraja sirrrrrr thx for the opportunity and this tweet of Urs too & friends, as I mentioned earlier RAAYAN is Raw & Rustic yet emotional in international standard summer treat thx a lot @sunpicturesand team (heart eyes emoji) (sic)”

There were rumours recently that Dhanush’s brother Selvaraghavan had penned the script for the movie However, he clarified on X that he was only acting in the film He wrote, “Friends , heard reports that I have written the script for D 50 Raayan I clarify that I have nothing to do with ‘ Raayan‘s script or scripting process It’s purely @dhanushkraja’s dream script and now he has made it in to his own film I am merely an actor in this project (sic)” He added, “Like all of you I cannot wait to watch #Raayan in theatres Proud of my brother @dhanushkraja and his hard work and dedication (sic)”

Dhanush shared the first look poster of his 50th film on February 19 It featured him, Sundeep Kishan and Kalidas Jayaram standing in front of a food truck with bloodied aprons on with sharp tools in their hands The announcement post on Sun Pictures' official X handle read, "#D50 is #Raayan Written & Directed by @dhanushkraja Music by @arrahman Releasing in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi ” The film also features Aparna Balamurali

Actor

Janhvi Kapoor opens up on speaking Telugu in ‘Devara’

Janhvi Kapoor is all set to debut in south cinema with Koratala Siva’s ‘Devara: Part 1,’ starring Jr NTR and Saif Ali Khan in the lead roles In the film, she plays a village belle called Thangam In a recent interview, Janhvi talked about how she’s finding it difficult to learn her lines for the film.

During the interview, Janhvi mentioned that she received her ‘Devara’ lines and wants to learn them However, she seemed nervous because she doesn’t know the language She said, “I never learned Telugu and it is something I am ashamed of I can understand it phonetically, but I can’t speak it Yes, it is one of my biggest regrets This part of me had been dormant for a while But the ‘Devara’ team is very patient and helpful They are working with such stalwarts and I am so grateful they are just a call away to help me with my lines ”

Meanwhile, Janhvi’s father, producer Boney Kapoor recently confirmed that the actress has films lined up with Ram Charan and Suriya Neither confirming nor denying the news, she said, “My father has gone and made some announcement, and I don’t know what he has said It’s too early to talk about the other films My father has definitely not spoken to me or my producers I wish I belonged to a universe where you just shoot films, you didn’t have to announce, clarify or deny them ”

On with work front, apart from her Telugu projects with Jr NTR and Ram Charan and a Hindi film with Suriya, Janhvi will be seen in ‘Mr and Mrs Mahi,’ ‘Ulajh’ and ‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari ’

Nikhil Siddhartha, Dr Pallavi Varma welcome baby boy

ActorNikhil Siddhartha and his wife Dr Pallavi Varma, welcomed their first child, a baby boy, in a private hospital in Hyderabad. According to his team, the mother and child are doing well.

Nikhil’s team also shared a picture of the actor kissing his baby on the forehead as he sits near Pallavi The couple’s close friends and family visited the hospital and congratulated the couple on the occasion Nikhil is yet to share the news on his Instagram and X

Fans are thrilled to hear the news One fan shared a picture of Nikhil with the baby, writing, "Our Unique Star @actor Nikhil and his wife #Pallavi are now blessed with a baby boy Warmest congratulations to the glowing couple on this delightful addition to their family #NikPal (sic)”

Another wrote, “@actor Nikhil

Congratulations, bro, on the arrival of your baby boy!

Wishing you and your family a lifetime of joy, love, and cherished moments with your precious little one So happy for you! Hare Krishna (sic)”

Nikhil and Pallavi got married in a low-key wedding in Hyderabad in 2020 Due to the pandemic, they had a limited guest list, and the event that was supposed to happen in April took place in May The couple dated for over two years before getting engaged Nikhil was last seen in the 2023 film ‘Spy’ which received lukewarm reviews from fans and critics He will soon be seen in a period drama, ‘Swayambu,’ directed by Bharat Krishnamachari and co-starring Samyuktha Menon Nikhil and Anupama Parameswaran will also shoot for a film called ‘The India House,’ directed by Ram Vamsi Krishna The actor has also said yes to a film directed by Vi Anand

Actress Trisha took to X to share pictures of a defamation notice she sent to AIADMK member A V Raju last week The statement refers to him talking to the press recently and claiming that what he said about Trisha was taken out of context.

In the legal notice, Trisha’s lawyers asked him to compensate her, though the actor blurred out the amount.

Raju has also been asked not to issue any more defamatory statements about Trisha and to take steps to remove all the articles published on various publications and social media, apart from tendering an unconditional apology to her 24 hours after he receives the notice

The notice also claimed that failure to do that would result in her proceeding with criminal and civil action agains Raju It also stated tha he would be liable for all costs after that Given that the notice was sent to him, it

remains to be seen if aju will speak to the press again AV Raju, recently expelled from AIADMK, alleged that Trisha was brought to a resort on the sistence of an MLA for a particular amount of money Responding to his allegations on X, Trisha had written, “It's disgusting to repeatedly see low lives and despicable human beings who will stoop down to any level to gain attention Rest assured, necessary and severe action will be taken Anything that needs to be said and done henceforth will be from my legal department ”

On the work front, Trisha will return to Telugu cinema after years with Chiranjeevi costarrer ‘Vishwambhara,’ directed by Vassishta of ‘Bimbisara’ fame She will soon be seen in Mani Ratnam’s ‘Thug Life’ with Kamal Haasan, apart m Vidaa Muyarchi with jith Kumar She is also hooting for films called ‘Ram’ and ‘Identity’ in Malayalam

Sonam Kapoor is among UK's best dressed

Sonam Kapoor is a global fashion and luxury icon, often referred by the West as the cultural ambassador of India to the world. She has singlehandedly brought fashion into focus in India and her towering impact and equity with all major global fashion and luxury brands has been acknowledged by international media over and over again!

Recently, UK’s prestigious media house The Standard, hailed Sonam as one of UK’s Top 40 Best Dressed people! She was in the illustrious company of some of the most iconic names in UK fashion who have had a major global impact through their sartorial vision

Apart from Sonam, Harry Styles, K a t e M i d d l e t o n , R o s a m u n d P i k e ,

K a t e M o s s , S i e n n a M i l l e r , B i a n c a Jagger, Alexa Chung, Stormzy, Naomi C a m p b e l , E d w a r d E n n i n f u l , S t e l l a McCartney, Phoebe Philo, Akshata Murty (businessperson and wife of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak), among others graced the top 40 list!

In Sonam’s citation The Standard wrote, “The Bollywood sensation is a Notting Hill girl and international fixture of the couture circuit – not to mention one of Dior and Valentino’s top clients ”

Yami Gautam's 'Article 370' banned in Gulf countries

Yami Gautam's latest film, 'Article 370', has hit a roadblock as it faces a ban in Gulf countries Despite performing well in both domestic and international markets and receiving praise from audiences and critics alike, this setback will affect the film's business in the international market However, no official explanation for this step was provided by the certification board.

The ban in Gulf countries raises eyebrows, especially considering the vibrant tourism industry and the popularity of Indian cinema in the region This ban echoes a similar fate experienced by Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone's 'Fighter',

which was also banned in all Gulf nations except the UAE In 'Article 370', Yami portrays

John Cena posts Shah Rukh’s picture on Instagram Wrestler

and actor John Cena is, without any doubt, a big fan of Bollywood’s Shah Rukh Khan, as he proved once again last week Cena posted a photo of the actor in his signature pose, ditching the caption While Indian fans were thrilled, it also led to several cracking jokes.

sharing his love for Shah Rukh Khan Recently, a video of John Cena singing Shah Rukh Khan s song ‘Bholi Si Surat’ from his 1997 film ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ went viral It was shared by wrestler Gurv Sihra from their gym session

O v e r t h e y e a r s , J o h n C e n a dedicated several posts to Shah Rukh Khan In 2017, John shared

Reacting to his post, a user w

, “Rare picture of SRK with John Cena ” “Rare picture of John Cena g i v i n g a h u g t o S R K , ” a d d e d another one Someone else said, “Two legends in one frame ”

This is not Cena's first time

an article about Shah Rukh on X (formerly Twitter) Shah replied, “Thanks for taking the time to ‘See’ it Wish I can ‘See u ’ someday Love & health to u my man ” Shah Rukh is yet to respond to John Cena's new posts

Zooni Haksar, an intelligence officer, in a narrative set against the backdrop of the valley,

revolving around the revocation of Article 370 and the special status of Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently referenced the film during an address in Jammu, expressing anticipation for its release, highlighting its potential to provide accurate information on the subject In response, Yami expressed gratitude on Instagram, expressing hope to meet and exceed expectations in portraying this remarkable story

Directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, the film also features Priyamani, Arun Govil, and Kiran Karmarkar

‘Jawan’ director Atlee confirms Hollywood project

Filmmaker

Atlee, who had previously hinted at his Hollywood aspirations, has confirmed that the dream is indeed in motion He said in an interview, “Yes, it’s happening It took me eight years to reach Bollywood maybe in the next three years, you will see something there with a great announcement.”

Atlee reiterated his commitment to delivering maximum entertainment He said, “I have been genuine to my promise U have kept my responsibility the same In future, if I ever make a Hollywood film, I will do the same ” While details about his upcoming Hollywood projects remain under wraps, Atlee promises an exciting announcement within the next three years

Manoj Bajpayee honoured in Berlin for 30 years in cinema

Indian cinema icon Manoj Bajpayee received a tribute from the Tagore Centre at the Indian Embassy in Berlin for enthralling the audience with his 30-year-long illustrious career Organised and hosted by Ms Trisha Sakhlecha, Director of the Tagore Centre, it coincided with the actor’s presence in the country for the premiere of his latest film, ‘The Fable,’ in the competitive Encounters section at the ongoing 74th Berlin Film Festival.

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Ambassador of India to GermanyH E P a r v a t h a n e n i H a r i s h Accepting the honour, Bajpayee said, “This journey of 30 years has b e e n n o t h i n g s h o r t o f extraordinary It's a reflection of the love and support I've received from my audience and the film f r a t e r n i t y B e i n g r e c o g n i z e d i n Berlin, alongside the premiere of The Fable, fills me with gratitude ”

On the work front, Atlee is currently awaiting his upcoming

production, ‘Baby John’ starring Varun Dhawan The first-look poster of the film, which will be released in theatres on May 31, was shared earlier this month Produced by Jio Studios and Cine1Studios, it also stars Keerthy Suresh and Wamiqa Gabbi The film features Jackie Shroff and Rajpal Yadav in supporting roles It is a Hindi remake of Vijay Sethupathi’s film 'Theri '

He added, “I want to extend m y h e a r t f e l t t h a n k s t o T r i s h a S a k h l e c h a , t h e D i r e c t o r o f t h e Tagore Centre, Berlin, and H E Parvathaneni Harish, Ambassador o f I n d i a t o G e r m a n y , f o r t h i s honor My gratitude also goes out to all the attendees who made the e v e n t t r u l y m e m o r a b l e T h i s m o m e n t i s n o t j u s t m i n e b u t belongs to every individual who has been a part of this incredible journey ”

During the session, Sakhlecha gave a brief on Bajpayee’s journey from his early life in a small village in Bihar, his persistent struggle of over 15 years without a significant break, to his rise as a celebrated actor in Indian cinema

On the work front, Bajpayee has ‘The Fable,’ directed by Raam Reddy Apart from Manoj, it also stars Deepak Dobriyal, Priyanka Bose, and Tillotama Shome The m o v i e d e b u t e d a t t h e B e r l i n I n t e r n a t i o n a l F i l m F e s t i v a

a k i n g i t only the second Indian film in three decades to compete at the Berlinale The 'Fable' has already impressed critics and audiences alike globally

India beat England by five wickets, win test series

I ndi a batters Shubman Gill and D hruv Jurel put together a 72 -run partnership as I ndia beat England b y five wickets in the fourth Test m a t c h i n R a n c hi an d t ook an unassailable 3-1 lead in the fivematch series

Chasing a target of 192 runs in the fourth innings on Monday, India were reduced to 120-5, but G i l l ( 5 2 ) a n d J u r e l ( 3 9 ) c a l m l y guided their side home with their unbeaten partnership on the fifth day of the Test Young England spinner Shoaib Bashir took three wickets as the visitors kept India’s batters in check until Gill and Jurel steadied the chase India’s skipper Rohit Sharma said his team’s young players had filled the shoes of missing veterans t o s h i n e i n c r i c k e t ’ s t o u g h e s t

format Player of the match Jurel, 23, who made his debut in the previous win in Rajkot, turned the match on its head with his 90 after he lifted India from 177-7 in their first innings to 307 on day three

“Test cricket throws different k i n d s o f c h a l l e n g e s , d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f p r e s s u r e s , ” R o h i t t o l d reporters “But the way they have d e a l t w i t h t h e p r e s s u r e s throughout the series has been

Delhi Capitals' bowlers pin UP to the mat

Batters often steal th e sh ow with th eir p row ess and shap e team s ’ fortunes in th e sh orter format But at the M Ch innaswamy Stad ium in Beng aluru , it was Delhi C apitals’ bow lers wh o were in the limelight M ed i u m - p ac er M ar iz an ne K ap p ( 3 /5 ) and s lo w -l ef t ar m Rad h a Yadav (4/20) played p ivotal roles in their nine-wicket victo ry over U P Warriorz in the Wom en ’ s P remier L eague on M onday

Asked to bat first, Warriorz were restricted to 119/9 in 20 overs With Meg Lanning (51) and Shafali Verma (64 n o) around, the target d i d n o t p o s e a n y p r o b l e m f o r Delhi, who cruised home in the 15th over Delhi dominated the game from the outset, with Kapp, who finished her quota in the first seven overs, setting the tone Her e c o n o m i c a l f i g u r e s ( 4 - 1 - 5 - 3 ) h i g h l i g h t e d h e r d o m i n a t i o n Bowling a tight line and length, she did not allow her opponents any easy freebies or second chances Kerr g uides MI to fiv e-wicket win

Amelia Kerr came up with a

Neeraj

splendid all-round effort to assist Mumbai Indians seal a five-wicket w i n o v e r G u j a r a t T i t a n s o n Sunday Kerr first made a strong i m p r e s s i o n w i t h h e r l e g - s p i n , grabbing four for 17 that helped d e f e n d i n g c h a m p i o n s M u m b a i limit Gujarat Giants to an underpar 126 for nine The New Zealand player followed that effort with a 31 off 25 balls as Mumbai overhauled the target in 18 1 overs after getting reduced to 21 for two in the fourth o v e r K e r r r e c e i v e d e x c e l l e n t s u p p o r t f r o m s k i p p e r Harmanpreet Kaur (46 not out) as t h e p a i r m a d e 6 6 r u n s f o r t h e f o u r t h w i c k e t a s M I r e g i s t e r e d their second successive win in the

Chopra is TOISA's sportsperson of the year

U ttar P rad esh , wh ich h as underg one a m ajo r transformation in the field of sports field in the last 10 years, w as conferred with Tim es o f India Sp orts Aw ard ( TOIS A) 2023 ‘C hange

I n d i a ’ s t o p s p o r t s p e r s o n s w e r e p r e s e n t a t t h e c e r e m o n y I n w h a t b r o u g h t m o r e g l o r y to UP, TOISA award f o r ‘ B r e a k t

Neeraj Chopra

Mohammed S h a

tournament Earlier in the WPL opener, MI beat Delhi Capitals by four wickets Asha helps RCB prev ail over UP Warriorz R o y a l C h a l l e n g e r s Bangalore were eager to start t h e s e c o n d e d i t i o n o f t h e Women’s Premier League on a p o s i t i v e n o t e T h e i r desperation stemmed from their underwhelming inaugural season, w h e r e t h e y l o s t t h e i r f i r s t f i v e matches On Saturday, playing in front of their fans, RCB delivered an all-round show to secure a tworun win over the UP Warriorz

Asked to bat first, RCB posted a healthy 157/6 in 20 overs, thanks to h a l f - c e n t u r i e s f r o m S a b b h i n e n i M e g h a n a ( 5 3 ) a n d R i c h a G h o s h (62) The Warriorz were in the game until Grace Harris (38) and Shweta Sehrawat (31) were at the crease, but leg-spinner Sobhana Asha (5-22) turned the game in R C B ’ s f a v o u r w i t h s o m e t i g h t b o w l i n g A s h a b e c a m e t h e f i r s t bowler to take a fiver in WPL

T he 2024 Si x Natio ns thi rd rou nd concluded, leaving Ireland as the sole unbeaten team I r e l a n d ' s q u e s t t o d e f e n d t h e i r Grand Slam title received a boost with a c o n v i n c i n g w i n o v e r W a l e s i n Dublin E n g l a n d s u f f e r e d d e f e a t t o Scotland at

Murrayfield

superb ” Usual frontline players such as Virat Kohli and injured KL R a h u l w e r e a b s e n t f r o m t h e lineup

“These guys who have come in have done the job perfectly,” Rohit added Fast bowler Akash Deep, 27, made an instant impact on his debut, rattling England with his three wickets on day one of the Ranchi Test, after pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was rested

“Lots of these guys are quite y o u n g , ” R o h i t s a i d “ Y o u ’ l l s e e these guys playing in the coming five to 10 years regularly in this f o r m a t ” M i d d l e - o r d e r b a t t e r Sarfaraz Khan, 26, also impressed on debut in Rajkot when he scored 62 and 68 not out in India’s 434run hammering of England England captain Ben Stokes

o f f e r e d s i m i l a r p r a i s e f o r h i s young players, after bringing in spinners Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir Bashir, a 20-year-old lanky o f f - s p i n n e r w h o m i s s e d t h e opener due to a visa issue, and who took his first five-wicket haul in just his second match, has 12 wickets

T h e 2 4 - y e a r - o l d H a r t l e y , a left-arm spinner, leads the series bowling with 20 wickets ahead of Bumrah with 17 Stokes said there had been “ a lot of question marks around the two selections”, but s a i d t h e c h o i c e s h a d b e e n v i n d i c a t e d “ T h e y ’ l l b e a b l e t o leave at the end of this tour with their heads held very high”, he said The fifth and final Test will begin in Dharamshala on March 7

CSK to take on RCB in IPL opener on March 22

Defend ing ch am pi ons

C he nnai S u pe r Ki ng s w i ll ta ke o n Ro y al Ch alleng ers Bangalore in the 20 24 IPL seasonopener in Ch ennai on M ar ch 2 2 , th e BC C I s ai d w h i le u nv ei li ng th e s c h ed u l e f o r th e fi r st 1 7 d a ys of th e popu lar T20 leag ue The roster for the r e m a i n i n g m a t c h e s w i l l b e announced once the dates for the u p c o m i n g g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n s a r e announced early next month

During the period from March 22 to April 7, a total of 21 matches will be played across 10 cities, with each team playing a minimum of three matches and a maximum of five As in the past, the BCCI will work closely with government and s e c u r i t y a g e n c i e s , f o l l o w i n g a l l necessary protocols and advisories

"

r e l a t e d t o t h e u p c o m i n g L o k Sabha Elections in India, the apex cricket body said in a statement “Once the dates for the 18th L o k S a b h a e l e c t i o n s a r e announced, the Board will review and address any issues pertaining to the schedule of the first two weeks “Subsequently, the BCCI will work in tandem with local authorities to finalise the schedule for the remainder of the season, taking into account the polling dates,” the BCCI said

According to the Rugby Football Union website, the Calcutta Cup was crafted in Kolkata, India, by Indian Silversmiths Its design pays homage to the history between Britain and India

C

u

Deshpande

Italy narrowly missed a shock win against France, hitting the post with the final kick, resulting in a contentious draw in Lille

Scotland, England holds a significant lead in overall wins England has claimed the Calcutta Cup 71 times compared to Scotland's 43 victories, with 16 draws

Shami ruled out of IPL, to undergo surgery

Seni or pacer Moh amm ed S hami has been ruled out of next m onth’s Indian Premier Leagu e ow ing to a left ankle injury, for which he will und ergo a surgery in th e UK, a BC CI source said

The 33-year-old, who is not part of the ongoing Test series against England, last played for India in the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November

“Shami was in London in last week of January to take special

ankle injections and he was told that after three weeks, he can start l i g h t r u n n i n g a n d t a k e i t f r o m thereon “ B u t t h e i n j e c t i o n h a s n ’ t worked and now the only option left is surgery He will shortly leave for UK for surgery IPL seems out of question,” a senior BCCI source said

Shami, who was one of the architects of India’s stupendous W o r l d C u p c a m p a i g n w i t h 2 4

wickets, played through pain as he had problems with his landing but didn’t let it affect his performance S h a m i , w h o w a s r e c e n t l y conferred with the Arjuna Award, has 229 Test, 195 ODI and 24 T20 wickets in his decade-long career T h e d e v e l o p m e n t r a i s e s a question mark about the injury r e h a b i l i t a t i o n m a n a g e m e n t p r o g r a m m e p l a n n e d b y t h e National Cricket Academy (NCA) for Shami