AV 05th Sept. 2020

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE

inside: Landlords become homeless as Jenrick extends ban on evictions and notice periods SEE PAGE - 6 R

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

5 - 11 SEPTEMBER 2020 - VOL 49 ISSUE 19

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DIVIDE AND RULE

No one blames anyone for having Cancer, so why PCOS? SEE PAGE - 25

Indian troops managed to beat PLA to occupy strategic height SEE PAGE - 25

Ex-President Pranab Mukherjee laid to rest; PM, Prez pay respects SEE PAGE - 26

Priyanka Mehta and Shefali Saxena Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Alok Sharma, the business secretary called out the BBC after the organisation announced that they will not play the lyrics of ‘Rule Britannia’ at the last night of the Proms this year.

The recent controversy around Rule Britannia emerges due to its central theme that Britons “will never be slaves”.

Some academics and historians have criticised that the song can be considered as a glorification of the colonial history of Great Britain, which heavily benefited from slave trade. Between 1640 and 1807 Britain’s fleets would carry slaves from Africa to America loaded with goods. These were exchanged on West African shores for Africans enslaved by local rulers and slaves were then transported across the Atlantic and forced to work in American plantations. In light of the Black Lives Matter movement it was rumoured that the BBC may drop the plan of playing the song altogether. Ultimately, the BBC decided to only play the instrumental version of the song.

But Prime Minister Johnson expressed his disbelief stating that it was time “we stopped cringing embarrassment about our history, about our traditions, and about our culture”. In the meantime, Alok Sharma also suggested that the BBC subtitle the words, enabling a karaoke-style event for audiences at home. Recently elected Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey has stated that he would not let the Prime Minister divide the country on cultural wars. But Conservative MP for Harrow East, Bob Blackman believes “we should not erase our history”.

‘We should not erase our history’ Speaking exclusively to Asian Voice, Mr Blackman said, “I am totally opposed to the BBC’s decision to alter the traditional way in which the Last Night of the Proms is Bob Blackman closed. Rule Britannia, Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory have always been the centrepiece of the Last Night of the Proms and is an evocation of British freedoms in the face of Napoleonic tyranny.

“My constituency Harrow East is one of the most diverse constituencies in the country and I am proud to represent a high percentage of people who have left India to begin a new life in the UK. In Harrow East, the Indian community are always prominent in local events and first to offer their assistance which demonstrates the diversity in Britain. They have completely integrated themselves in British society and I have not received a single piece of correspondence in favour of this decision by the BBC. On the contrary, I have received several communications from constituents who are horrified at the decision as they believe it is an integral part of our history and society.

“I am a firm believer that we should not be erasing our history. We should be proud that Britain abolished slavery in 1807, ahead of most other countries, and our Royal Navy disrupted and ultimately halted the transAtlantic slave trade. We should not be afraid to celebrate our history at such a traditional and well-loved event.”

Continued on page 9

We should be proud of our skin colour SEE PAGE - 27

We wish all those celebrating a very Happy Onam

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AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

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5 - 11 September 2020

with Keith Vaz

Chancellor and Archbishop of Canterbury reportedly into a property row

Chris Georgiou Chris Georgiou Solicitor Advocate was born in Hammersmith, West London, to Greek Cypriot parents.

His parents worked in a dry cleaner in Portobello, while living in council accommodation in North West London. Chris worked part time at the dry cleaners. He went onto read Business and Economics at The University of Surrey, before converting his Batchelor of Science degree into a law degree at the College of Law, London.

His legal career began immediately from leaving law school, at the age of 23, and has worked continuously in law since that time, and is now 20 years qualified as a solicitor. In 2004 he became a Duty Solicitor, allowing him to represent any client, at any police station , nationwide, and in 2006, he became a Higher Court Advocate, allowing him to represent clients at any level in the criminal field. He specialises in both Criminal and Family Law. He is bilingual, English/Greek, and a father of teenage twins.

Which place, or city or country do you What is the best aspect about your most feel at home in? current role?

London is my home, and where I have lived No two days are ever the same in law. Each for 45 years, however, I am equally happy in day has its own challenges, and working Nicosia, Cyprus, where I have spent many with a great team to overcome those chalof my childhood summers. lenges for our clients is particularly rewarding.

What are your proudest achievements?

And the worst?

Succeeding in a very difficult and competitive field, having worked up from humble It is virtually impossible to completely beginnings. I remember starting primary switch off and stop working. I find myself school with a Greek accent, and English as replying to work emails on a 7-day basis, my second language. often late at night.

What inspires you?

What are your long-term goals?

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I would have to say my parents. Their work ethic is relentless, and they still operate a local shop, well beyond retirement age.

What has been biggest obstacle in your career?

Working with ever increasing Legal Aid cuts. The last decade has been very harsh in respect of cuts to funding, making it ever harder for people to access lawyers and achieve justice.

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

My grandparents who left Cyprus in the 1950s, and paved the way for the younger generation to succeed in a foreign country.

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On Wednesday 26th June, it emerged that the Chancellor and archbishop of Canterbury found themselves at odds with each other over plans of converting a former church school in the Yorkshire dales.

Rishi Sunak, MP for Rishmond, Yorks has urged church leaders to reconsider the sale of Arkengarthdale Church of England primary

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To build CG Law into top tier firm, and to then apply to sit as a Judge.

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

I would increase the Legal Aid Budget, so as to ensure that those who need representation and advice, are able to have access to quality firms.

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

A difficult question, there are so many!

Probably Albert Einstein, as there is so much to ask, and doubt there will ever be a quiet moment!

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Rishi Sunak

school, The Guardian reported. Members of the community demanded archbishop Justin Welby to intervene. The diocese of Leeds reportedly informed that such conversions involve legal complications despite a C of E commission investigating ways that the church can help tackle the housing crisis – including by building affordable housing on its surplus land.

The building’s owners, Swaledale with

Arkengarthdale parochial church council (PCC), put it up for sale with an asking price of £185,000. The school was bought in 1933 for £325. The school closed a year ago as a consequence of a declining and ageing population.

The Upper Dales Community Land Trust, a not-for-profit company that develops and manages homes displayed a proposal to convert the singlestorey building into three two-bedroom homes and one one-bedroom home.

This proposal was reportedly backed by the parish council, Richmondshire district council and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

The trust put in a bid for the property of £150,000 but found itself up against seven other interested parties that offered the asking price.

Under charities law, the PCC was obliged to accept the highest bid. Sunak in his letter to the PCC is asking it to reconsider the trust’s offer, he said, “The trust’s mission to provide afford-

able homes for rent in the Yorkshire dales is an important one for the future sustainability of these rural communities which we are all proud to serve.”

Justin Wellby

Last year, Welby set up a commission on housing, church and community to identify ways the C of E could help tackle the housing crisis. It said the church had “a significant contribution to make in this area. We have land and resources that can be used to help meet the need for more affordable housing.”

The trust is now in the process of applying for charitable status with the Charity Commission in the hope of making it eligible to buy the school at below the asking price.

HS2 transport hub in Birmingham Lockdown rules ease in Wigan and receives green light Greater Manchester as Government drives “back to work” campaign On 26th August, Wednesday the Department for Health and Social care announced that restrictions were further eased in Rossendale and other parts of Blackburn Darwen, in with Lancashire.

Tighter rules were reintroduced after a regional increase in Covid-19 cases.

The relaxation of the rules means, residents in Wigan Borough, Rossendale and some wards in Blackburn with Darwen can now: - Socialise in groups of up to two households indoors - Stay overnight at somebody else's home but must try to social distance - Book close contact services such as facials and brow or eyelash treatments - Visit bowling alleys, roller rinks, soft play

centres and casinos.

Wigan and Rossendale originally faced tighter restrictions along with the rest of Greater Manchester and East Lancashire because of the wider region's overall infection rate and concerns that the virus was being spread between households.

However, both have maintained low infection rates compared with other areas. Meanwhile Salford, Bury, Manchester, Tameside and Rochdale all remain in local lockdown.

Extra restrictions will continue to stay in place in Oldham which still has the highest infection rate in the region.

As of September 2, Trafford, Bolton and Stockport will be lifted out of restrictions which were imposed as the region’s leaders grapple to contain the Covid-19 outbreak. But

coronavirus restrictions preventing people from different households meeting in homes or gardens will stay in place in Leicester following the latest review by the Government. Gyms, swimming pools and soft play areas will also need to remain closed for the time being. Restrictions on certain beauty treatments will also continue. The easing of the lockdown measures appears as the UK government in the coming weeks will emphasise the benefits of employees returning to workplaces, as well as encouraging businesses to make their offices Covid-19 secure. These messages come after the UK reported its highest daily number of new coronavirus cases since 12 June, with 1,715 as of Monday 31st August, the highest since early June.

1,522 people receiving a laboratory-confirmed positive Covid-19 test on Thursday.

On 26th August, Wednesday a HS2 transport hub will be built in Solihull after planning bosses gave the green light to proposals. The HS2 Interchange Station will feature six tracks and 7,000 parking spaces when it is built on green belt land near the NEC. The hub is expected to cater for 10 high speed trains in an hour. It is one of the two new stations in the county that will serve the first phase of the rail line along with Birmingham's Curzon Street, which was approved back in April.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said, "HS2 has got a critical role to play in the West Midlands’ economic recovery by driving investment and helping to provide tens of thousands of jobs. Given the climate emergency the West Midlands is facing, it is also great to see how ecofriendly these plans are.

“It is brilliant news that the Interchange plans have been approved by Solihull

Council, and I look forward to working with both the Council and HS2 Ltd to make sure we maximise the potential of this site.”

Committee members also approved 7,269 longstay bays and a driverless people mover at Wednesday's meeting. But work was stopped at the giant HS2 building site a day later after environmental campaigners broke in and locked themselves to a

digger. The Curzon Street compound was breached by members of the Extinction Rebellion and HS2 Rebellion groups.

It comes amid a series of planned protests across the country - from London to Bristol to Manchester with the Birmingham demo aimed at throwing a spotlight on what activists called "HS2’s trail of destruction through our countryside".

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5 - 11 September 2020

PM Abe’s resignation a big loss at home and abroad The sudden resignation of Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has come as a shock not only to Japan, but to the economic, political and defence situation across the world. It also saddened India, which has always held a special place in Abe’s heart. He was due to hold a virtual summit with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, in early September. It would have been an opportunity for the two leaders to take stock of the state of relations in the wake of the Sino-Indian border clash, which led to the deaths of soldiers on both sides, while Japan has been on the receiving end of Chinese fishing boat incursions around the Japanese-held Senkaku Islands. Under Abe, Japan has become a major player in the Indian economy. As India’s thirdlargest investor, Tokyo has invested more than US $32 billion since 2000. India is a key market for many Japanese companies.

In response to supply-chain disruptions from the coronavirus pandemic, Japan launched a massive stimulus package for companies shifting production in China back to Japan and elsewhere. India is likely to benefit; Japan is reportedly planning a new industrial hub in the northeastern state of Assam.

Under Abe, the two countries have also moved strategically closer. One highlight of the virtual summit was to be the possible signing of the long-delayed India-Japan Acquisition and CrossServicing Agreement – a key military logistics pact. This would allow the two countries to share logistics facilities in the IndoPacific and is modelled on the India-US agreement. Japan had also been investing in infrastructure development in northeast India – a region off-limits to other countries given its strategic location.

This shows the high level of trust in Japan-India relations under Abe. There were some stumbling blocks in the relations between the two countries. Japan’s efforts to sell advanced weapons platforms to India, including the US-2i amphibious aircraft, have been stalled by pricing issues and bureaucratic delays on both sides.

Tokyo also seems unhappy with New Delhi’s refusal to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Since 2018, Japan, India and the United States have held formal trilateral discussions on the sidelines of the G20 summits. Almost 13 years after Abe made the famous “Confluence of the two seas” speech in Indian Parliament on 22 August 2007, India and Japan are still looking at ways to strengthen the Quad, or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, comprising India, US, Japan and Australia.

Although none of the four countries that are partners of Quad have openly admitted to the anti-China coalition agenda of the Quad, the posturing is clear. Abe’s description of Quad as a “democratic security diamond” in his 2012 Quad formalisation speech leaves nothing to imagination as far as the coalition against Communist China is concerned.

The Abe era also saw India and Japan team up in third countries such as Sri Lanka, where both nations are developing the East Container Terminal at Colombo Port in partnership with the port authority. India and Japan have also agreed to construct India’s first high-speed rail corridor between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, modelled on Japan’s famed Shinkansen system. Abe has been the biggest champion of Japan-India relations, in part due to his close family ties with India. It was under his maternal grandfather, former prime minister Nobusuke Kishi, that India became the first country to receive Official Development Assistance loans from Japan in 1958. In a speech before the Indian parliament in August 2007, Abe said: “The Pacific and the Indian Oceans are now bringing about a dynamic coupling as seas of freedom and of prosperity.” As the Indo-Pacific concept gains traction, credit must be given to Abe. While it will be tough for Abe’s successor to fill his shoes, it will be even harder for New Delhi to find another friend in Japan like Abe. Abe will be equally, if not more, missed on the international stage.

Sunak’s anticipated budget: Taxing the taxed The Chancellor until recently had been balancing the scales to near perfection. His furlough scheme saved close to 9.6 million people from sleeping on an empty stomach assuring that the Treasury paid for their monthly bills. Whereas, corporates were saved from permanent shutters as they scrapped the bottoms of barrels to salvage their businesses.

But the Chancellor will face heat on his popularity index as the furlough scheme winds to an end in October. Reports have indicated that Rishi Sunak is considering taxing those business magnets who are already taxed out after battling months of a stagnant property market, declining demand-supply produce, and choked supply chains.

It has emerged that Sunak is considering a proposal to increase corporation tax from 19% to 24%, which will potentially raise £12bn next year. And he is also expected to increase the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to the same proportion as the income tax, a move that could raise up to £14bn a year from the better-off.

Not to mention these measures would be introduced at a time when economists estimate that nearly half of the 9.6 million people who are currently on furlough are at risk of permanently losing their job. All these proposals are under consultation at the moment bearing in mind that the UK government has a $2tn debt.

The employees embrace themselves for mass redundancies in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the businesses especially in the property sector are going to bear the brunt of the Chancellor’s communist or socialistic ideas.

The government has already extended the ban on landlords evicting tenants in England and Wales until 20 September amidst

fears that thousands can go homeless. In most cases, until the end of March, renters will also get six months' notice if their landlord plans to evict them. But lawyers and landlords have found this an already bitter pill to swallow especially for those whose primary income is the rent they accrue from tenants.

Government figures have highlighted that nearly 600,000 tenants have stopped paying their rent or are paying at a reduced rate since the eviction ban was introduced. According to a survey of landlords nearly two in five of the 2.4 million private landlords have experienced rent arrears increasing by nearly £300 million during lockdown. Introducing the proposed schemes will only mean that home owners and those who own buy-to-let properties will be paying CGT at 40% or 45% instead of the current 28% when they sell those properties. Every year the UK already faces a problem of increasing homelessness as the winter season approaches.

Combined with the coronavirus epidemic and flu season, homelessness can spiral into a major challenge for the government especially if it introduces such heavy weight measures against the landlords. Thus, the buy-to-let market is expected to suffer heavily.But it is not just the landlords and wealthy business conglomerates. The Treasury officials are also working on plans to cut billions from pensions tax relief, which helps those paying higher rates of income tax to save for their retirement at a beneficial rate.

Sunak and Johnson are already at odds with each other on the temporary suspension of the “triple lock” on the pension scheme owing to Boris’ fears of losing out on the votes of 65-year-olds. In his bid to support the younger people, perhaps Sunak may not tip the scales in the favour of those who are already taxed out.

The skewed perception of Indians and Hinduism The Indian religion of Hinduism is the world's third-largest religion with over 1.25 billion followers. It constitutes 15–16% of the global population, known as Hindus.

The uncontrollable social media uprising around religious and cultural conflicts has radicalised netizens; to an extent that lines between legitimate facts and fabricated stories as well as hashtags by media trials and massive political propaganda have been blurred. The recent riots in Sweden that followed after the burning of the holy Quran have put Hindus under scrutiny, again. Right wingers argued in defence of Hindus that Sweden doesn’t have things such as the CAA, NRC among others, which were the primary ground for blaming Hindus for anti-Muslim riots in Bengaluru and Delhi. According to reports, a copy of the holy Quran was burnt by a far-right Danish party called Stram Kurs hours after their leader Rasmus Paludan was denied permission to hold a meeting in Malmo about “Islamization in the Nordic countries”. Reports suggested that the burning was rumoured to be part of the itinerary.

While the condemnation went on, several Hindu leaders drew parallels with how Hindu gods and goddess are mocked daily on social media but take recourse under the law of the land to complain about such things but do not resort to violence.

A leading Hindi TV news channel ran a segment titled, ‘Laboratory of riots' against Hindus. In continuation of the alleged orchestrated chaos, Bloomsbury India withdrew a book titled ‘Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story’. An online group that goes by the anime British Indians Voice tweeted in support questioning, “#BritishIndians ask this question to Bloomsbury Books on why this biased censorship approach towards certain community? Do we add you also to the list of other #AntiIndia #AntiHindu publications?? #BritishIndians are 2.5% & contribute to 6.5% of GDP in UK.”

Going by the data published in the World Population Review, the top countries with the highest Hindu population in India stands at 79.80%, the UK at 1.70% and US at 0.70%.

According to a report published online, Indian diasporaowned companies with a combined revenue of 36.84 billion pounds employ over 174,000 people and pay over 1 billion pounds in Corporation Tax, according to a first-of-its-kind research. Among some of its other highlight findings, of the 654 companies researched, around 35 per cent have one or more women directors on their board and 23 businesses generate 80 per cent of the total jobs provided by the Indian diaspora companies in the UK - a total of 140,000 jobs. The top five employers include B&M Retail Limited, with 26,496 jobs, followed by Vedanta Resources Ltd (25,083), Boparan Holdco Ltd (21,949), Hinduja Automotive (19,601) and HC-One Ltd (10,949).

The report, with the tagline 'Celebrating the energy and entrepreneurship of the Indian diaspora in the UK', finds a sector-wide sweep of diaspora-owned firms, with hospitality dominating the landscape at 19 per cent, followed by healthcare and pharmaceuticals at 15 per cent, retail and wholesale (13 per cent), real estate and construction (13 per cent) and food and beverage (9 per cent) to complete the top five. London dominates the overall spread, with 52 per cent of the diaspora-owned companies based in the UK capital.

India, along with its diaspora is more than just the Prime Minister of the country and its ruling party. The country which is a micro Commonwealth nation in itself brings a combined turnover of around 85 billion pounds, with over 1.7 billion pounds paid in taxes and close to 280,000 employees in the UK. So, to radicalise the perception of Indians in the world, based on half-baked knowledge of linguistic diversity of the country, is too early to tarnish a young nation’s image.

We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.

– Maya Angelou

Virendra Sharma MP for Ealing Southall

Child Trust Funds This month, the first people to benefit from Child Trust Funds turn 18 and can access the money put aside for them for the first time. A new generation of young people will see the difference a Labour government can make to their lives. Over the next nine years, thousands of young people across the country will be able to manage and access the money put aside for them.

For every child born after 1 September 2002, until the Conservatives closed the scheme in 2011, the Labour Government put at least £250 aside for them. The money went into an account their parents could open with a financial services provider using a voucher sent out by the government. For children whose parents didn’t use their voucher, the government set up an account for them.

Parents and others could pay more money into the account too, subject to an annual cap.

Children with disabilities were entitled to extra annual payments into their Trust Fund from the government, because Labour recognized the extra needs young adults with disabilities face.

The idea behind the policy was simple but imaginative. People with access to savings have long had the ability to put down a deposit on a flat, buy a car, start a business or whatever else they choose to do with that money. Labour wanted to extend to every young person the options that wealthier families took for granted.

From today, a generation of young people will be able to see in their pocket, and through the decisions they can make, the difference a Labour government can make.

The contrast with the government we have today is stark and painful. People turning 18 today, and their families, know the disastrous mess the Conservatives are making of their futures. Just last month we saw the fiasco over A-level results. A generation of school-leavers have been let down by a government which hasn’t been doing its homework.

What’s more, because the Conservatives stopped the scheme, many people may have forgotten that they have that money to call theirs.

Consumer group Which? estimated last year that this could apply to as many as 3 million children and young people, covering accounts containing as much as £2.5 billion. In my constituency, Ealing Southall, 11,671accounts were created, but not all by parents – 3,643 of those accounts were created by the government to make sure no-one was left behind. I don’t want any 18-year-old to miss out on their child trust fund.

HMRC have now made it easier to find your fund: visit https://www.gov.uk/child-trustfunds/ for details. But every parent, every school, and every employer can help in the months and years to come in making sure people who are turning 18 know the money is now theirs to manage and know how they can access funds with which they may have lost touch. Every trust fund, and every choice it enables or makes easier, is a reminder of the difference a Labour government can make.

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Sir Ed Davey becomes the fourth Liberal Democrats leader in five years On 27th August, Thursday, Sir Ed Davey emerged as the unrivalled leader of the Liberal Democrats defeating his counterpart Layla Moran by a wider-than-expected margin of 42,756 votes to 24,564.

Liberal Democrats has elected their fourth leader in the form of Sir Davey in the last five years. Davey had been acting leader since last December following the resignation of Jo Swinson after the party’s decimation in the 2019 General Parliamentary elections. The Lib Dems have just 11 MPs, and recent opinion polls have put them on 5-10% of the vote with Davey’s task cut out for himself in rebuilding electoral support and erasing the

existing divisions within the Party. Commenting on the Rule Britannia controversy around dividing the country along cultural lines, in his statement to The Independent he said, “They want to divide and rule. I’m not going to play their silly games. I’m going to have a laser beamlike focus on the real concerns of the British people.”

The MP for Kingston and Surbiton, was a cabinet minister in the 2010-2015 coalition government wherein Davey was energy and climate change secretary in the coalition government. He had the opportunity of travelling to India after Prime Minister Modi had just assumed office in

2014. Campaigning for decarbonising the climate with a heavy focus on solar energy, Sir Davey had then held constructive discussions with Indian PM around consumption of

renewable resources, harnessing solar energy and “Namami Gange"- India's drive to clean river Ganges.

Speaking about his learnings from PM Modi in an interview with Asian Voice last

year, Sir Davey had said, “The main learning that I had from Modi's climate change policy was his focus on consumption of solar, greener and cleaner energy.

And as a former Chief Minister of Gujarat he had attracted heavy investment into the state owing to the establishment of a more secure energy supply system.

Inspired by Prime Minister Modi's rural electrification programme and the micro-solar sights, he had himself formulated a new economic plan with the aim of “decarbonising capitalism” to “radically reduce the UK's reliance on fossil fuels”. His role will be crucial in being a watchdog

to Alok Sharma and his team as the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26) to the UNFCCC was originally scheduled to take place from 1-12th November 2021, in Glasgow, UK. But most importantly Sir Davey will be tasked to revive the Party at a time when the two-party system in the UK has once again been strengthened following the election of Sir Keir Starmer as Labour’s new leader. Sir Starmer is already ahead in the electoral race according to the recent YouGov polls which highlighted that he is a more preferred leader among Britons in comparison to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Home Secretary forced to abandon deportation of migrants On Thursday 27th August, Home Secretary was forced to abandon deportation of Channel migrants to Spain owing to legal action from human rights lawyers.

According to The Telegraph, the Home Office had been hit by so many last-minute legal claims that it had no option but to pull the flight. Priti Patel was intent on sending back 23 migrants who had reached the UK on small boats from France.

The ONS notes that in

April, May and June – when flights were dramatically reduced – 366 people were forcibly deported. A further 371 agreed to return home, and 1,819 were sent to immigration detention centres.

The Home Office was earlier also forced to remove a video from its official Twitter handle where the video showed that current regulations are "allowing activist lawyers to delay and disrupt returns”. The Home Secretary, is already facing mounting pressure in its

handling of the migrant crossings. Priti Patel has been criticised by campaigners, human rights lawyers and Labour party of lacking “compassion” in her “militarised approach” of dealing with the refugees.

Reports indicate that she is now planning to overhaul the asylum laws which she has reportedly claimed are being “exploited by leftie Labour-supporting lawyers” who were doing everything to stop the Government removing people. She is also

Staff at Department of International Development report of racist work atmosphere On 26th August, Wednesday, staff at the Department for International Development (DfID) claimed to be working in a racist work atmosphere it has emerged.

Several black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) men at the Government department claim to have experienced prejudice at work, including racist jokes and doubts about their legality as UK citizens, The Guardian reported. According to the newspaper, an exclusive report commissioned by the Whitehall highlighted that the DfID has been criticised for allegedly signing off an anti-sexual harassment campaign which illustrated BAME men restraining white women.

The report was originally published on 21 March, the international day for the elimination of racial discrimination. It connects BAME staff and focuses on BAME men because their voices had been “silent’ in previous examinations of DfID’s attitude towards race. Titled “Coloureds Need Not Apply: the experiences of black Asian and minority ethnic men in DfID”, the report apparently noted, “Whilst black male voices have largely been silent on the issue of race, that changed in August 2019 when an image was posted on the front page of Insight [DfID’s intranet] to publicise DfID’s new sexual harassment guidance, showing a black male aggressor’s hand over [the hand of] a white woman,” it claimed.

“This time, the BAME male voice spoke up and was amplified by the RN co-chairs and champions to the very top of the organisation,” the report said.

As part of the survey 20 BAME male staff were approached and asked whether

their ethnicity had affected them at work.

A majority said they had direct negative experiences, ranging from subtle behaviours such as exclusions from networks to sustained discrimination that halted their careers.

The report concludes that racism is endemic in DfID’s headquarters and a network of offices abroad. “At best it is denying equal rights to BAME staff and at worst enabling toxic and hostile environments,” it says.

“Whilst many BAME men reported a real commitment to the work of Dfid, they also reported feelings of fear, disillusionment, anger and damaging impacts on their confidence and mental health.

“Almost all respondents felt that the organisations’ work on diversity and inclusion had little or no impact and some felt it was going backwards.”

A department source claimed that since the report was published, the department had organised discussions with BAME men to determine possible changes and had created a working group to address racism and equality in the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The report emerges at a time when DfID is expected to merge with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

reportedly working on the introduction of the “fair borders bill” expected to be unveiled this year. It will likely stop people drawing out the asylum applications process by making them declare all their grounds for refugee status when they apply, rather than being able to submit new reasons later.

In the meantime, human rights experts have also accused Patel of ignoring legal guidance in her attempts of targeting child asylum seekers who cannot prove they are under 18.

According to The Observer, a letter from the Home Office has revealed that the government is putting pressure on social workers to speed up the age assessment of unaccompanied minors

and offering to bankroll councils that face legal challenges as a result.

The letter from the Home Office was sent days after Kent county council revealed that it was unable to look after any more unaccompanied child refugees arriving in Dover, because it had reached capacity. The letter reassures councils that the Home Office will help fund any legal challenge arising from children being assessed. It states, “On the question of age, we ask that all authorities with UASCs [unaccompanied asylumseeking children] they suspect are over 18 are given urgent age assessments. The Home Office can assist with the practicalities of this and offer support in relation to

any subsequent legal challenges.”

The migrants can claim breaches under the European Convention on Human Rights including their rights to a family life (on the basis that they may have claimed relatives in the UK) or that they risked persecution if they were denied asylum in the UK.

Far-right Britain First hassles asylum seekers want to close down migrant hotel On Saturday 29th August, a video was circulated on Twitter which showed a group group of far-right activists entering a hotel in Bromsgrove, near Birmingham, banging on bedroom doors and demanding to know what country the asylum seekers are from.

In the video, Britain First members say that they had entered the hotels legally and that it is housing illegal immigrants. Most of the asylum seekers are unaware of the activists and when interrogated have answered mistaking these activists to be officials. Many of the asylum seekers could be at risk if their faces are shown on camera.

Now, a man has been charged with common assault after a similar disorder broke out at two hotels in Coventry. Police were called to Coventry Hill Hotel in the Allesley

area of the city on Saturday afternoon (August 29). Two men were later arrested outside the Royal Court Hotel in Keresley, which has been at the centre of controversy in the city.

Pictures were shared by right-wing group Britain First on Facebook

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Landlords become homeless as Jenrick extends ban on evictions and notice periods Priyanka Mehta Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has recently announced that renters affected by coronavirus will continue to be protected after the Government extended the ban on evictions for another four weeks, meaning in total no legal evictions will have taken place for six months.

This decision may help support the tenants, many, who have lost their jobs or are on furlough due to coronavirus. But it has created massive sustenance problemsfor private landlords and second-home owners especially those who either primarily depend on earnings from buy-to-let rental income or those who have no other place to live.

Bharat is a private landlord who had to move out of his company provided accommodation late November last year. As a result, he was supposed to move into his own home in Chiswick which he had previously put up on rent.

Considering his financial circumstances and being out of a job, Bharat knew he was not in a position to renew the tenancy lease and therefore informed his tenants in August that when the lease ended in November, he will not be renewing it.

But Bharat was informed by his tenants, who wanted to get on to council housing, that they were advised not to vacate because in doing so they would make themselves willfully homeless and in that situation the council would not be able to help those tenants.

He said, “We got the eviction notice through a court order on the 16th of March stating that the tenants had to vacate our home by the

19th March. But our tenants said that the council had further advised them to wait for the Bailiffs. Thus, we had to go back to the court on 20th March. In the meantime, Boris Johnson announced a coronavirus lock-

“ineptitude”, Bharat says that despite having a home of his own not only is he paying to rent a home, but this whole incident has already costed him £30,00035,000 owing to the court’s shutdown and the extension on the

Residential Landlords Association, which conducted the survey, said, “Most landlords are not property tycoons with deep pockets able to subsidise rents indefinitely but are ordinary people who rely on this income to pay their living expens-

Robert Jenrick

down on 23rd March and on 26th March the courts closed down.”

Disclosing how he is now paying £2,500 per month to rent out a home in Wembley despite owning a home in Chiswick, Bharat asked,“What kind of government supports homeless people by making other people homeless or bankrupt?”

And this happened before the coronavirus lockdown had even been announced by the government. It is coming up to a year since Bharat’s case has been stuck in the court. He and his wife have been living in a limbo and are forced to rent out a home as they have no other family in London that they can move in with.

Frustrated with the government’s

ban of evictions.

Landlords return from overseas jobs, forced to rent out at Airbnb’s It is estimated that usually, the courts receive 8,000 to 10,000 eviction requests a month.

Previously a survey of landlords had reported that nearly two in five of the country’s 2.4 million private landlords have experienced rent arrears over the past year with the total owed increasing by nearly £300 million during lockdown.

There are some employees who have returned to the UK from their jobs overseas and are caught in a similar unprecedented situation. Quite a few landlords have reportedly become homeless or are living in Airbnb’s as a result of the ban on evicting tenants.

Ben Beadle, of the National

es.Ministers must use the next four weeks to come up with a credible plan that pays off rent arrears built due to the pandemic and gets the courts hearing cases again.”

Courts receive 8,000 to 10,000 eviction notices a month According to official government records, nearly 600,000 tenants have stopped paying their rent or are paying at a reduced rate since the eviction ban was introduced.The Government also intends to give tenants greater protection from eviction over the winter by requiring landlords to provide tenants with six months’ notice in all cases raising other serious issues such as those involving anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse perpetrators, until at least the end of March. The Government is expected to keep these measures under review with decisions guided by the latest public health advice.

In a statement, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick MP said, “I know this year has been challenging and all of us are still living with the effects of Covid-19. That is why today I am announcing a further 4 week ban on evictions, meaning no renters will have been evicted for six months. I am also increasing protections for renters, six-month notice periods must be given to tenants, supporting renters over winter.

“However, it is right that the most egregious cases, for example those involving anti-social behaviour or domestic abuse perpetrators, begin to be heard in court again; and so, when courts reopen, landlords will once again be able to progress these priority cases.”

When courts do resume eviction hearings, they will prioritise the most egregious cases, ensuring landlords are able to progress the most serious cases, such as those involving anti-social behaviour and other crimes, as well as where landlords have not received rent for over a year and would otherwise face unmanageable debts.

In the meantime, the housing secretary, is also standing by plans to bring an algorithm into the heart of a new planning system. He had earlier also launched a plan to build more than 300,000 homes a year, giving councils compulsory targets and creating local zones in which development is automatically approved. The plan will use an algorithm to produce targets for every area in England, based on its “relative affordability” and the extent of development locally.

New Foreign, Commonwealth & Overseas NHS doctors express frustration about delay in processing Development Office to protect of immigration applications vulnerable from Coronavirus and famine Overseas doctors recruited to the UK have expressed their frustration over weeks of delays in processing their immigrationapplications. As a result, they have been stranded, held up, or prevented from filling hundreds of critical vacancies in the NHS. According to The Financial Times some of these staff are currently in Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Kuwait, and other countries waiting mostly for“vignettes” — passport stamps that will let them travel to and work in the UK before they receive long-term residence permits.

A doctor awaiting a vignette in Saudi Arabia estimated there were 200 doctors held up by some kind ofUK visa issue in her country alone. Julia Patterson, founder of Every Doctor, a support group for medicalstaff, whose supporters brought the issue to her attention, said she estimated several hundred doctors wereaffected in multiple countries.

The delays are the latest

immigration system challenge during the coronavirus crisis for the more than24,000 doctors working in NHS hospitals who are from outside both the UK and EU. The Home Office acknowledged the importance of ensuring migrant doctors could come to the UK. But itadded that during the “unprecedented global public health emergency,” visa application centres had beenforced to take a “measured approach to reopening”. “In some circumstances, where countries imposetighter restrictions, we may have to close our visa application centres accordingly,” it said.

In the meantime, on Tuesday 1st September, the Liberal Democrats introduced a Bill calling on the Government to offer indefinite leave to remain to foreign nationals currently working in the health and social care sectors.

Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine, who is moving the

Christine Jardine

Ten Minute Rule Bill, has warned it is unacceptable that people who put their lives on the line during Covid-19 should not be welcome to stay.

The Liberal Democrats have secured cross-party support from Labour, Conservative, SNP, Green, Plaid, DUP and Alliance MPs. Ms Jardine said, “Foreign nationals in the NHS have been on the frontline in protecting us from Covid-19, putting themselves at risk and in many cases paying the ultimate price.Their skills have been vital to all of us throughout this crisis. The least we can do now is to offer them the opportunity to stay and the security of knowing what their future holds.

On 2nd September, Foreign Secretary urged countries to step up alongside the UK to fight back against coronavirus and the growing risk of famine in developing countries. The UK has announced a new £119m aid package to combat the threat of coronavirus and famine as it takes on the G7 and COP26 Presidencies.

At the inauguration of the new Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Foreign Secretary pledged to use the UK’s diplomatic levers and aid expertise to build a stronger international consensus to fight back against the devastating impacts of coronavirus, conflict and climate change. The UK will commit a new £119 million aid package to tackle the combined threat of coronavirus and famines, which is expected to help alleviate extreme hunger for over 6 million people in Yemen, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, Central African Republic, the Sahel, South Sudan and Sudan.

Alongside the aid package, Dominic Raab has appointed Nick Dyer as the UK’s first Special Envoy for Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Affairs to work in partnership with other donors, UN agencies, NGOs and foundations to help prevent catastrophic famine.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said, “Coronavirus and famine threaten millions in some of the world’s poorest countries, and give rise to direct problems that

affect the UK, including terrorism and migration flows.

“Global Britain, as a force for good in the world, is leading by example and bringing the international community together to tackle these deadly threats, because it’s the right thing to do and it protects British interests.

“We can only tackle these global challenges by combining our diplomatic strength with our world-leading aid expertise.”

As the UK takes on the presidencies of the G7 and COP26, the Foreign Secretary will urge other countries to step up and help the developing world, as it faces a series of devastating challenges. In addition, the UK will continue to use its seat on the UN Security Council to call for lifesaving humanitarian access for everyone who needs it and hold countries to account on their international legal obligations to allow aid workers to operate impartially in conflict zones.

The UK has committed to spending 0.7% of our national income on aid, and the formation of the FCDO today will make sure our diplomatic influence and development expertise are combined to the best effect on the global stage.

The ongoing Integrated Review will inform the strategic priorities of the new department, to make sure UK aid and diplomatic efforts are a force for good and support the national interest.

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NHS soup and shake weight-loss plans to tackle type 2 diabetes Thousands of people will be able to access NHS soup and shake weight-loss plans to tackle type 2 diabetes from 1 September. People from South Asian communities are known to be up to 6 times more likely to have type 2 diabetes than the general population.

The very-low-calorie diet and lifestyle plans have been shown to put Type 2 diabetes into remission for people recently diagnosed with the condition, and will now be provided to 5,000 more patients in 10 areas as the next stage in an NHS drive to increase access to the life-changing programme.

Diabetes is estimated to cost the NHS ÂŁ10 billion a year, while almost one in 20 prescriptions written by GPs is for diabetes treatment.

The year-long plans will see those who could benefit provided with ‘total diet replacement products’, such as specially formulated low calorie shakes and soups, for three months, alongside support to increase their exercise levels.

To help people maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid complications linked to obesity patients will also be offered managed plans for reintroducing ordinary, nutri-

tious food, with ongoing support from clinicians and coaches after that.

Results from one trial showed almost half of those who went on the reduced calorie diet achieved remission of their Type 2 diabetes after one year.

NHS research earlier this year revealed people with Type 2 diabetes are two times more at risk of dying from coronavirus.

A further study published last week by the University of North Carolina found that people with obesity are 113% more likely to be admitted to hospital with coronavirus and 74% more likely to need intensive care treatment.

As well as helping individuals lead happier and healthier lives, enhanced action on obesity and diabetes is also expected to save the NHS money and free up staff time.

Professor Jonathan Valabhji, NHS national clinical director for diabetes and obesity told Asian Voice, “This is the latest example of how the NHS, through our Long Term Plan, is rapidly adopting the latest evidence-based treatments to help people stay well, maintain a healthy weight and

avoid major diseases. “There has never been a more important time to lose weight and put their Type 2 diabetes into remission, so it’s good news for

thousands of people across the country that practical, measures like this are increasingly available on the NHS.�

This latest announcement builds on the NHS Long Term Plan’s success in rolling out new ways of supporting people with diabetes and shows the NHS’s ability to quickly turn the latest academic research into support for those who would benefit.

The programme is in addition to the world leading Healthier You

NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme which has had over 600,000 referrals into the scheme, and now people who are eligible can refer themselves into the programme online rather than needing a GP referral.

Bev, who was one of the first patients to benefit from the diets during trials, said, “My goal for the first eight weeks of the low calorie diet was to lose 5% of my body weight – which I achieved in six weeks – and in total I’ve lost over 10kgs, my Type 2 diabetes is now in remission and I no longer have to take any medication - I am over the moon. “Since the low-calorie diet programme, my mind set has totally changed for the better and I look at food differently now - my shopping habits are far healthier and, when I eat out, I’ll go for a healthier option. The programme has taught me moderation. “My skin is clearer, and people say that I’ve got my sparkle back – I didn’t realise that I’d lost it but now I see that I definitely had. I can honestly say that the low-calorie diet programme changed my life for the better.�

Bridget Turner, Director of Policy Campaigns and

Improvement at Diabetes UK, said, "This is an important first step to ensure that people with type 2 diabetes, can access a remission programme within the NHS and benefit from the groundbreaking findings of the Diabetes UK funded DiRECT research.

"We know that some people with type 2 diabetes want and need support from health care professionals to lose weight effectively and now as these programmes are piloted across the NHS - they will."

Sites across the country will test evidence from the original trials in a ‘real world’ implementation during a 12-month treatment course.

People living with Type 2 diabetes who have been diagnosed with the condition in the last six years will be considered for the pilots.

Individuals must also meet other eligibility criteria to be referred to the service to ensure the programme is right for them.

The interventions will provide low-calorie Total Diet Replacement products alongside virtual one-to-ones, group sessions and digital support.

Student doctors, nurses and other medical professionals could administer Covid-19 vaccine Student doctors, nurses and other medical professionals could be recruited to administer a new coronavirus vaccine. The government announced on Friday it wants to change the law to dramatically increase the size of the workforce entitled to issue injections.

The new rules and safeguards will strengthen the UK’s ability to successfully deploy a UK-wide vaccination programme, which will be crucial in saving lives and bringing the current pandemic to an end.

The government is currently backing six different vaccine candidates, and has placed orders for 340 million doses, to be used if and when a drug passes its safety and efficiency hurdles.

If a vaccine is discovered before 2021, the proposals will bolster existing powers that allow the MHRA to consider approving its use, before a full product licence is granted, provided it is proven to be safe and effective during robust and extensive clinical trials.

The measures are necessary because during the transition period, a new potential Covid-19 vaccine must be granted a licence by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The regulations will permit the MHRA to consider giving temporary authorisation allowing patients to benefit while it undergoes the full licencing process, with reinforced conditions attached to ensure safety, quality and efficacy.

This is a precautionary measure and will be used as a last resort if there is a strong public health justification for widespread use of a vaccine before it has been granted a product licence.

From 2021, MHRA will have a national licencing system in place and will be responsible for granting licenses for potential Covid-19 vaccines and treatments once they

medicines and vaccines, whilst effective.� Dr Christian Schneider, patients as quickly as possible but meet high standards of safety and maintaining the highest quality Director of National Institute for only once strict safety standards effectiveness. and safety standards.

Biological Standards and Control have been met.

The MHRA has the power to “Whilst the existing licensing (NIBSC) - part of the MHRA – said, “The proposals consulted on grant an unlicensed medicine or a system or a new UK one from next “Protecting health and saving lives today suggest ways to improve vaccine temporary authorisation year, is the preferred and expected is at the heart of all our work. access and ensure as many people where a product is proven to be route to supply any vaccine, these Throughout the pandemic, the are protected from Covid-19 and safe and effective and is in the best new measures will strengthen the MHRA has prioritised work to flu as possible without sacrificing interest of the patient on the basis regulatory regime and our ability to ensure rapid approval of robust the absolute need to ensure that of available evidence. protect public health.� clinical trials to test a range of any vaccine used is both safe and A consultation was launched on last Friday to last three weeks, which will look to amend the Human Medicine

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5 - 11 September 2020

Spy Princess honoured with a blue plaque Noor Inayat Khan becomes the first Indian-origin woman to be commemorated by English Heritage Noor Inayat Khan, a Second World War spy has become the first Indian-origin woman commemorated by English Heritage with a blue plaque, unveiled in London on Friday (28 August) morning. It marks her house at 4 Taviton Street in Bloomsbury, London which was her family home when she left for Nazi-occupied France in 1943 as an undercover radio operator. The plaque was unveiled by Noor Inayat Khan’s biographer, historian and journalist Shrabani Basu.

A descendant of Tipu Sultan of India, Noor was killed at Dachau concentration camp in 1944, having revealed nothing to her captors, not even her real name.

Noor’s plaque also symbolises the return of the Blue Plaques scheme after a brief hiatus following the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme, which is now over 150 years old, has only been paused twice before (1915-19 and 1940-47).

Shrabani said, “When Noor Inayat Khan left this house on her last mission, she would never have dreamed that one day she would become a symbol of bravery. She was an unlikely spy. As a Sufi she believed in non-violence and religious harmony. Yet when her adopted country needed her, she unhesitatingly gave her life in the fight against Fascism.

“It is fitting that Noor Inayat Khan is the first woman of Indian origin to be remembered with a Blue Plaque. As people walk by, Noor’s story will continue to inspire future generations. In today’s world, her vision of unity and freedom is more important than ever.”

Renowned for her service in the Special Operations Executive – an independent British Secret Service set up by Winston Churchill in 1940- Noor was Britain’s first Muslim war heroine in Europe and the first female radio operator sent into Nazi-occupied France. Her last word was reported as ‘Liberte’.

Noor was posthumously awarded the George Cross in 1949 and a and a French Croix de Guerre with silver star.

Anna Eavis, Curatorial Director at English Heritage, said, “We're so pleased to

be able to continue unveiling our launched in 2016.

2020 blue plaques with this virtual Later this year, the charity plans to ceremony after a very quiet few unveil plaques to Christine Granville, one months. I am particularly delighted of the most remarkable secret agents of to start with Noor Inayat Khan, the Second World War, and Barbara whose courage was unfaltering even Hepworth, one of the 20th century’s in the face of such extreme danger.” greatest artists. Nominations are the Noor Inayat Khan will join the lifeblood of the London blue plaques likes of Ada Lovelace, the pioneer of scheme and if we are to continue to see a computing, Rosalind Franklin, the significant increase in the number of blue scientist who helped discovered plaques for women, we need more female DNA, and Dame Maud McCarthy, suggestions. who was army Matron-in-Chief during the First World War. Plaques for women Only 14% of over 950 London blue plaques celebrate women.

While this is still unacceptably low, English Heritage’s ongoing ‘plaques for women’ campaign has seen a dramatic rise in the number of public nominations for 4 Taviton Street in Bloomsbury, London women since it

‘History is always written by those in Power’ Rupanjana Dutta Recent events around the world have brought into sharp focus our shared heritage and history and how they shape our present, as individuals and as a community or society. Monuments and statues whose place in the history was without a question, have now fallen under scrutiny for what they represent.

Against the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter protests and emergence of debates around legacies and heritage, it surfaced that the UK Government has rejected a review urging a greater inclusion of Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) history in the national school curriculum.

On Saturday 8 August, ahead of India’s 74th Independence Day, the Indian Journalists’ Association partnered with the Bengal Heritage Foundation’s new Think Tank series along with British Council and explored several elements around the theme of colonialism and its legacy in a discussion titled, ‘Reflections and rele-

vance of our shared history in the modern era'.

Panellists included: Shrabani Basu, author, journalist and historian, Lady Kishwar Desai, author and columnist, Zehra Zaidi, campaigner ‘We Too Built Britain’ and Jonathan Kennedy, Director Arts for British Council India.

Moderator was Malavika Banerjee, the Director of Kolkata Literary Meet.

Colonialism and legacy Zehra Zaidi, speaking at the webinar that has had 14.2K views, as we go to press, said, “A very practical and do-able suggestion would be to incorporate elements that reflect different aspects of the British Empire within the coursework.

“What the Black Lives Matter movement has highlighted is that leaders and heroes can be flawed and therefore there is an urgent need to focus on our inclusive history and unite around common themes.

She also added, “Representation of BAME culture

in the West is more than tokenism.

It is more than individual representation. They are part of vision for Global Britain.”

Shrabani Basu, author of historical accounts such as ‘Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan’ and ‘Victoria and Abdul’ said how literature helped societies.

Speaking about what inspired her to write ‘Victoria and Abdul’, she said, “I was curious how a young man northern India came to feature in a painting representing the heart of Britain’s royal court. I recognised there was so much in common when reviewing the wellpreserved journals in Pakistan and redacted accounts from the royal staff. The only way we can go forward is by celebrating our shared history and heritage, by letting people of the former colonies know that they played a role in this history and that they have an important stake in it. We need to tell these forgotten stories.” She also spoke about how food and art and literature connect communities and emphasised that colonial history has to be a part of UK’s

school curriculum Lady Kishwar Desai, spoke about her early struggles in establishing the only museum in the world dedicated to Partition of India. She said, “It is a fallacy to suggest the new generation is not interested in history. We were pleasantly surprised when 1500 people attended the launch of the museum in a hall meant only for 300. Youngsters recalled what their grandparents went through during Partition. From humble beginnings of a couple of items (purse held by my grandmother from her travels in the time of partition) it has now grown to 14 galleries and won 6 awards.”

Jonathan Kennedy speaking about how engagement is changing between Britain and India in modern times added, “We have to shift the lens in interpreting culture.”

Referring to a time when he was intensively involved in theatre productions, he mentioned the obstacles he had to overcome to represent the history of Indian sailors working for East India Company in London in an art form. “There is a need to shift the narrative,” he said. “History was always written by those in ‘power’.

As a famous African quote goes – ‘The stories of the hunt would be different if the lions were to tell them’.”

Dwarkanath Tagore and tribute The web session started by presentation BHF members paying tribute to Dwarakanath Tagore on his 174th death anniversary, celebrated on 1st August at the Kensal Green cemetery, consecutively commemorated for the 3rd year by BHF. This tribute session started with a soulful song presented by a member of BHF, followed by a talk

by Abhiroop Sengupta, third generation entrepreneur based in Kolkata, who mentioned how the story of Dwarakanath Tagore inspired him to continue expand-

ing on the business empire he inherited.

Sourav Niyogi, President of BHF and Amit Guha, Member of Management Committee – were seen speaking in front of Brown’s Hotel, where Dwarakanath Tagore breathed his last (at the time, St. George’s Hospital).

Sourav Niyogi, President of Bengal Heritage Foundation said, “BHF has played a pivotal role in renovating the monument of Dwarakanath Tagore in Kensal Green. His pioneering work as an entrepreneur – first Indian having equal partnership with British and that too in early 19th century is so relevant in the post Brexit world of Indo-British relationships. As BHF, we have focussed on the promotion of both tangible and intangible shared heritage over the years and the webinar was part of our continued effort to bring heritage into mainstream discussions.”

9-year-old Vaidehi Guha a member of BHF generation next said, "Commemorating Dwarkanath Tagore’s life is important because he is inspirational. He pushed himself to achieve great things even though he could have easily led a comfortable life collecting taxes as a zamindar."

First year college student Aditya Mukhopadhyay added, “It's also interesting to learn about how during the colonial times, a Bengali businessman tried to establish himself with those who were perceived to be superior to him. The idea of transcending the barriers of race and ethnicity to have an influence amongst the very top class and the royalty would've been unheard of for the vast majority of subjects. The manner in which Dwarkanath held influence and was invited to audiences with Queen Victoria is a great representation of his ability to seamlessly fit in to new and exciting circumstances.”

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DIVIDE AND RULE Continued from page - 1

Asian Voice had approached several other politicians including Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, and Indian-origin ministers like shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy, Trade Secretary Ranil Jaywardene and Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan besides others for their views on the subject. But they either declined to answer or did not respond to our requests for comments.

Reviews on statues with links to slavery and colonialism In the meantime, the City of London Corporation has launched a three-month consultative exercise asking people which landmarks they think are a problem and what action they would like to see taken.

The survey is being promoted by the City Corporation’s Tackling Racism Taskforce, set up in June with the aim of considering what action the organisation can take to tackle racism in all its forms. This comes as organisations across the UK review the cultural legacy of slavery and colonialism especially after some statues have been toppled by protestors across the UK. Caroline Addy, Co-Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Tackling Racism Taskforce, said, “Like many areas of the country, the City of London has a number of statues and other landmarks with links to the slave trade and historic racism. It is important that we acknowledge and address this legacy with openness and honesty, and carefully consider what should be done.

“We are committed to equality, inclusivity and diversity, and to ensuring the Square Mile remains a place where people of all ethnicities and backgrounds feel safe and welcome.”

People can take part in the consultative exercise, which runs until Tuesday, 24 November, online at cityoflondon.gov.uk/historiclandmarksconsultation or by writing to: Tackling Racism Taskforce, City of London Corporation, Guildhall, PO Box 270, London EC2P 2EJ. In June the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, had also announced a commission to review and improve diversity across London’s public realm to ensure the capital’s landmarks suitably reflect London’s achievements and diversity.

The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm will focus on increasing representation among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, women, the LGBTQ+ community and disability groups.

Educating about The Empire’s dark history like Germany While several initiatives and measures are being established to recognise the diverse communities in the UK and contribution of the migrants in building and enriching the socio-economic fabric of the country.

Lord Jitesh Gadhia The unsettling fact is that Britain’s colonial history and the exploits, plunder and loot of “The Empire” are still not taught about in primary schools.

Emphasising the significance of highlighting Britain’s dark history, Lord Jitesh Gadhia said, “This is a storm in a musical teacup. I have absolutely no objection to “Rule, Britannia!” It is absurd to say that the current generation are somehow endorsing slavery by singing the lyrics to an 18th century patriotic song associated with national celebration. We can’t cancel culture or history - but we can learn from it. We should devote more time and effort to Shrabani Basu

educating the public about Britain’s colonial past - both good and bad - and ensuring that new rising powers don’t repeat some of our past abuses with their growing global influence.

“This way we can ensure that humans anywhere “never, never, never shall be slaves”. Regarding the legacy of the British Raj, Britain should make symbolic reparations for the expropriation of Indian wealth and resources.”

Seconding Lord Gadhia is Shrabani Basu who has also been campaigning for the inclusion of colonial history in British curriculum. Shrabani, who is The Sunday Times Best-selling Author of books like Victoria and Abdul, said to Asian Voice, “Given the contribution to Britain from people from the former colonies, leaders have to be sensitive and inclusive. I have been saying for many years now that it is very important to teach colonial history, so people are aware of the dark side of colonial rule. It is only when you understand your past, that you can go forward as a society and nation. They have to teach it as it is. The best example of this is Germany. They teach the holocaust, the darkest side of their history. Britain needs to be like Germany and acknowledge the past. That is the only way to heal divisions in society.”

Colonisation in Africa should have never ended wrote Boris Johnson But while education is fundamental in raising awareness among the younger “white” British society, past political statements from Boris Johnson when he was not Prime Minister speak otherwise. Back in 2002 in his piece in Spectator, Mr Johnson has been on record to downplay Britain’s role in slavery and even said that colonisation in Africa should have never ended.

The then editor of The Spectator, Mr Johnson had written, “The continent may be a blot, but it is not Lady Kishwar Desai a blot upon our conscience. The problem is not that we were once in charge, but that we are not in charge anymore. “Consider Uganda, pearl of Africa, as an example of the British record. Are we guilty of slavery? Pshaw.”

Emergence of identity and culture politics Commenting on the emerging role and importance of symbolism and identity-driven contemporary politics, Lady Kishwar Desai said, “Boris Johnson is a Conservative politician and he is playing to his own core vote. Like any other politician, he will not take these issues seriously unless he believes it is going to impact his chances of getting re-elected or affect his party. Those of us who want him to take these issues seriously will have to lobby harder and change the minds of the non-Asian voters as well.

Politicians will not change unless they fear being replaced.

“I have often said that we need to put the facts on the table —and automatically people will want to know more. When we set up the Partition Museum in Amritsar, we were astonished how little British visitors, young or old, knew. Many young people thought India and Pakistan were always different countries. But if we feel strongly about it— then it is our duty to educate the UK. I don’t think the idea is to make anyone feel ashamed— that sentiment may come on its own— but that this history is also important to understand because all of this went into making the country more liberal, more inclusive.

“Any nation trying to understand its dark past must remember that this effort of teaching colonial history is not to visit the sins of the fathers or mothers upon the sons and daughters. No— in fact the important point of learning this history is to acknowl-

edge that we all might have been shaped by different events and have different kinds of icons too.”

Historians question if there were any atrocities by The Empire But some historians and academics also believe that “Britons should not be embarrassed about The Empire. Tirthankar Roy is a Professor in Economic History at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He said, “When the Empire emerged (middle to late 19th century), the world had monarchies and states ruled by landlords, aristocrats, and warlords. Some of these were more oppressive for ordinary people than the British Empire was to its subjects. The Empire's record on inequality was mixed. Empire made some subject societies more unequal when (as in East Africa) it allowed the white settlers to own lands that others could not own. But elsewhere it made societies less unequal.

“The Empire's record on economic development was mixed too. The cities benefited from modern institutions and infrastructure the British introduced. Businesses boomed, and they were owned both by the expatriates and the local magnates.

Bombay’s cotton textile industry is an example. Indians owned it, it gave stiff competition to Manchester textiles, and it would not have emerged if Bombay was not a part of the Empire.

But the Empire’s record on public education and public health was poor. It was poor because the state earned too little money. A lot of the Prof Tirthankar Roy money India paid to

Britain was money well spent. It was a payment for interest on public debt that funded canals and railways in India. It repatriated profits on British investment in India. Some of it went to pensions paid out to officers.

So, should the Empire feel embarrassed about the Empire. Of course not. Should it feel proud? No, for it was nothing like a modern welfare state. It had a strong military, it helped businesses grow, it did not do much for the poorest people.”

Dr Zareer Masani is an Oxford history doctorate and author of four previous historical books, including a widely acclaimed biography of the former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Dr Masani has taken a step further in questioning if there were any colonial atrocities to begin with. He said, “First, I would say that, if there were colonial atrocities, the Prime Minister certainly should have had a view on them as should any British leader, if there were any colonial atrocities. But I would question whether there were.

“Britain should be proud of having abolished slavery in the 1830s in India Dr Zareer Masani and across the empire. The British Navy helped India to get started in the late 19th century. There’s a lot to be proud of and of course the very fact that India exists as a unit is thanks to the British. We were never a country before that. I think just focusing on the atrocities of the British Raj makes no sense. But I do think that there should be more emphasis in Britain and India on teaching history. India has been independent for more than 70 years.”

10 READERS' VOICE

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KHICHADI Kapil’s

Second Wave

Professional Care Workers Week This week (1-4 September) marks Professional Care Workers Week. It feels very timely to have a week dedicated to recognising the efforts of care workers and acknowledging the extraordinary work they do.

Care and support workers have a challenging and rewarding job that is different every day and over the past months, in the face of Covid-19, they have shown how exceptional they are.

Together we clapped for our NHS, and our carers were included in that outpouring of public gratitude.

Our research shows that three quarters (74%) of adults in England believe care home staff do a brilliant job, they also overwhelmingly agree they are undervalued (81%) and should be paid better (80%).

It’s great to see society recognise them for their invaluable contribution – it’s time that Government does too, and that they are rewarded adequately.

Vic Rayner Executive Director National Care Forum

Combatting fake news Combating fake news is a major challenge of the modern age information technology era (AV 29Aug – 4 Sep 2020).

It is extremely difficult to find the difference between opinion and facts on social media platforms. With the advent of WhatsApp and other platforms, people have been spreading more fake news than real news. There is no such mechanism or the government body to regulate the flow of information.

Ironically misinformation spreads more rapidly than any good news. Any developmental activity or achievement will take more time to reach people but if there is any sensational news with minimum facts and more gossip will reach promptly to people and will become “talk of the town”. Owners / top management of social media like WhatsApp, Google and Twitter should invest more resources on reality “fact-check” so people get information or facts and not just distorted gossips.

Since social media and other electronic gadgets have become an integral part of our day to day life, judicious use of the same and minimising the spread of sensational news becomes very important. I think the government of India should also amend the appropriate laws so that anybody responsible for deliberately spreading malicious news can be punished appropriately. Sometimes spreading false information may result in social disturbance.

Hitesh Hingu London

Think about water According to a new survey, 46% of Brits believe their household uses under 20 litres of water a day, which is roughly equivalent to taking a 2-minute shower. In fact, the true figure is closer to 142 litres per person per day meaning an average family of four could use more than 500 litres each day!

This summer we saw a surge in demand for water, as more people stayed at home and enjoyed the hot weather in parts of the country. This is why Water UK and water efficiency experts Waterwise have joined forces to encourage people to think about the amount of water they are using.

This new campaign offers simple hints and tips to help people cut back, saving energy, money and protecting the environment - more information can be found online and across social media. We all have a role to play in saving water and even small changes, such as using a watering can instead of a hose or cutting the length of your shower, can make a big difference.

Christine McGourty – Chief Executive, Water UK Nicci Russell – Managing Director, Waterwise

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No, I am not talking about coronavirus’ second wave, expected to hit Britain at the beginning of winter, in November or December. Actually, I refer to PM Boris’ nomination of 36 people to House of Lords that include his brother, friends and other loyal supporters who may have donated millions to keep Conservatives in power!

At one time politicians of every political persuasion were talking about abolishing HOL or fill it with elected members for a fixed term, not give them life membership. Alias, it was a hollow talk to placket public opinion, in reality no politician would like to surrender this privilege of rewarding their friends and cronies!

HOL is a privileged club for members only where these super-rich Lords can enjoy five-star lunches, dinners and drinks, Champaign; at fraction of a price they may have to pay outside. Still, we need HOL or a similar body to keep HOC in check and indeed reward those politicians who have served this nation with courage, honesty and determination, like Ken Clarke, Frank Field and Kate Hoey, few among many who would contribute a great deal to HOL as they did to HOC. But ever-increasing membership of HOL may be detrimental to the smooth running of HOL. Perhaps government can introduce age limit of 70 who may keep their title but not allowed to attend HOL unless they may hold important posts in the government, such as Lord in Waiting, representing government overseas events and their likes. But reforming HOL is not government’s priority and never will, putting politicians’ integrity in question!

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email

Post-Independence India's loot It is awful that prior to Independence, India has been plundered and brutalized of its wealth, rich culture, and heritage by the invaders. Fortunately, India survived nearly a thousand-year of slavery and atrocities, rose back, and achieved independence from the British Empire through relentless struggle and sacrifice of the great leaders and its people, sadly losing part of the land, now known as Pakistan to Muslim on the basis of religion.

Since independence, India has been pretty stable and steadily making good progress to achieve its former glory.

However, there are people in India who do not have the best interest at their hearts for the country.

Entrepreneurs like Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, and some thirty unscrupulous individuals have swindled India in the tune of Rupees ten trillion approximately and have fled the country in Modi's Raj to avoid justice. Furthermore, it is no secret that corrupt politicians, businessmen, industrialists, and film stars have stashed away black money in the foreign banks estimated at US$ 1.5 trillion.

India has many challenges from the enemies within and neighbouring countries. India needs a strong and honest leader to tackle the enormous challenges that it faces for its safety, security, stability, and prosperity.

Unquestionably, Modiji is the right person in the office for now.

Niranjan Vasant By email

Significance of Teachers' Day In India, Teachers' Day is celebrated on September 5. The tradition started in 1962 and it was started to honour Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan whose birthday also happens to be on the same day.

Teachers' Day is dedicated to all our teachers, mentors and gurus who guide us to be learned students and better human beings. Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was a philosopher, a scholar, an exemplary teacher, and a politician who dedicated his life towards education and in shaping up the youth of the country. He was also the first VicePresident and the second President of India. His contributions in the field of education are exemplary.

He was born on September 5, 1888 in a middle-class family in Thiruttani, Tamil Nadu. He was an outstanding student and studied philosophy at Christian College, Madras. He taught at various colleges in his lifetime from the University of Mysore to the University of Calcutta.

He was also appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University, Delhi University as well as Banaras Hindu University.Dr Radhakrishnan was also awarded many awards such as the Bharat Ratna and was nominated 27 times for the Nobel Prize.It’s not just on Teachers’ Day, but always that we need to remember our dear teachers for the role they play in moulding our future.

Jubel D'Cruz, Mumbai, India

Follow me on Twitter: @kk_OEG

Skullduggery of Democrats Kapil Dudakia We have to commend the Democrats in the US for their incredible mesmerising powers. The party that promoted slavery in the past has managed to hoodwink not just the black voters, but also many people of colour (PoC) in supporting them. This wolf in sheep’s clothing has brainwashed PoC so well that today we see them fighting battles for their white masters in the Democratic Party. It seems you can legislate away slavery, but the enslaved mind always remains firmly in the grip of the masters.

Even Indians in America have fallen for this trap with many still casting their votes for the Democrats.

When PM Modi introduced the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) bills the ‘liberal’ wokes around the world had a collective paroxysm. They came together to undermine not just India, but every Indian. Funded by the extremists, riots in India were promoted through their ‘Indian’ looking mouthpieces to echo their anti-India narrative.

Fortunately for all of us, in PM Modi we have a leader who takes on these challenges and beats them at their own game. In India, Indians are waking up and realising that the imperialist powers of yesteryears, in all their guises, still harbour the thought to rule via their puppets.

We all know who they are!

This week we saw the publishing house Bloomsbury take a daft decision not to publish a book that tells the truth about the recent Delhi riots. Ironically in their ‘Mission Statement’ it states, ‘Our editorial decisions are informed by a belief in the freedom of speech’ – humbug comes to mind! The book they want to erase is titled, ‘Delhi Riots 2020’, written by Monika Arora, Sonali Chitalkar and Prerna Malhotra. The good news, it has now been published by Garuda Prakashan Pvt. Ltd and has become one of their biggest sellers ever. So much for censorship by the lily-livered left! People power cannot be subjugated indefinitely.

Going back to America, we see a move by the Democrats to make a public statement on CAA and NRC. Democrats are claiming that women, Dalits and gay and transgender people, along with Muslims, are being "imprisoned in massive detention centres” in India. With such blatant lies, major cities like San Francisco, Seattle, Albany, St. Paul, Hamtramck and Cambridge have passed resolutions condemning India and the Indian government. The exponents are Islamist extremist organisations, left wing lobby groups and various international organisations that are linked to Islamists, Marxists and socialist lobby groups. Of course in the UK we have seen the same madness with the Labour Party that went out of its way to degrade India and Indians during the last election and since. It shows utter contempt openly and we have the absurdity of the deluded Indian who still votes for them. Joe Biden the Presidential candidate for the Democrats expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in Kashmir, saying India should “take all necessary steps to restore rights for all the people of Kashmir”. In one sentence Biden expressed how the Democrats are in the hands of the Pakistani lobby.

When November comes, the question that true Indians around the world will be asking is, where do American Indians stand? Despite all the evidence will they still vote for the Democrats, the anti-India party? Or will they exhibit the power of their vote to teach the Democrats a lesson? Will our brothers and sisters across the pond be slaves of the Democrats? Or will they finally free themselves from the skullduggery of the Democrats?

Back to school The schools are now reopening. Children and parents are all excited. Yes of course there is a bit of anticipation among everyone about the classes and a new normal. But I agree with Prime Minister Boris Johnson. It is rather wise to attend schools than not. Children are not super spreaders. Many paediatricians have emphasised on that point many times. What the children learn in school environment, difficult for parents to replicate that in the house. Moreover, the government is now asking people to go back to work. So unlikely parents can stay home to look after the children. So, it is definitely a good idea to send your child back to school, but by following the required rules and regulations, outlined by the government.

Aditi Pal London We are grateful to all letter writers for more and more versatile letters well within word limit. Please keep contributing as always.

If you are new, then write to Rupanjana at rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com - AV

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12 MEDIA WATCH

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SCRUTATOR’S Hyderabad youngster breaks Shakuntala Devi’s record Neelakanta Bhanu Prakash, a 20-year-old from Hyderabad has won gold in the Mental Calculation World Championship, conducted at Mind Sports Olympiad in London recently.

Bhanu has won the title of being the ‘fastest human calculator.’ Bhanu is a graduate with a degree in Maths from St Stephens College in Delhi. The young man found an interest in Maths from a very young age and decided to hone his skills by enrolling in the SIP Abacus program.

He has won the International Abacus Champion '13 and National Abacus Champion 2011 and 2012. The Mental Calculation World Championship is an annual competition with various disciplines for mental skills and mind sports that began in the year 1997. This was the first year the competition was conducted online due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Bhanu competed alongside 30 participants from 13 countries such as the UK, Germany, UAE, France, Greece, Lebanon to reach the coveted title. He was also 65 points ahead of the Lebanese contestant who came in second. He broke the ‘Fastest Human Calculator Record’ that was previously held by the likes of Shakuntala Devi and Scott Flansburg. But Neelakanta says, “Records come and go. I do not like personal pride. I want to build a community of mathematicians, human calculators.”

Neelkanta says his work is to amplify the human brain’s efficiency using mathematics. He also has a startup, ‘Exploring Infinities’ through which he seeks to improve children’s cognitive development and popularise mental arithmetic with novel games through workshops conducted in schools. (Agency) Move to limit use of ‘milk’ in dairy items’ packaging India's food safety regulator has initiated steps to limit the use of plant-based milk such as soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk and others as a favourite alternatives for those who are lactose intolerant or for those who don’t prefer dairy products for varied reasons, but such products may no longer be available to users with the generic term ‘milk.’ The regulator has proposed that an imitation product that is designed to mimic or is offered as an alternative to milk should not use the term if the said product is derived using non-dairy sources. The move has, however, been strongly opposed by animal rights groups and campaigners. The regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) – has recently issued a draft notification in this regard, proposing change of use of current nomenclature of ‘milk’ so that it can be used only for animal derived milk and its products. The FSSAI will take its final call on the issue after September 18. Protesting against the regulator’s move, former union minister and BJP MP Maneka Gandhi raised concerns of plant-based milk users to Union health minister Harsh Vardhan and urged him to withdraw the proposed amendment in the existing 2011regulations. Calling the proposed categorisation “unreasonable”, Maneka said there were an increasing number of consumers in the country who demanded dairy alternatives for reasons of fitness, health or dairy allergies. (Agency) Hope for Manipur’s transwoman community

Beoncy Laishram, the 27-yearold resident medical officer at a private hospital in Imphal is not just Manipur’s first and only transwoman doctor, she is also Northeast’s first transgender doctor and a symbol of hope for the state’s highly visible yet marginalized Nupi Maanbi (transwoman) community. This former student of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, participates in the fight against Covid-19 and overlooks the hardships she faced in her journey from Kakwa Leiphrakpam Leikai in Imphal West to being a doctor fighting a pandemic. She once went by the name of Boboi Laishram. “I was born a boy, but by the time I was in Class IX or X, I did not identify as male. I got through MBBS at RIMS in 2011, and decided to reveal my real identity to my family in 2013. My father was so upset he tried to kill himself,” she recalls. “I went right back into the closet. Around 2016, I realized I could no longer live that life. It was then that I began openly identifying as a Nupi Maanbi,” she said. (The Times of India) Village secures patent for ginger and turmeric The farmers of Boriavi, a village in central Gujarat's Charotar, have got their traditional ginger and turmeric varieties registered in the name of the village. The traditional spices which gained popularity as immunity boosters in the Covid19 pandemic, have been registered with the support of Anand Agricultural University (AAU). “We have got the ‘Boriavi’ variety of ginger and turmeric registered from The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority, Government of India,” said Devesh Patel, 37-yearold IT graduate and an organic farmer who exports close to six tonnes of both spices to the US and Europe. “Under The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPVFRA) which introduced intellectual property protection in Indian agriculture, farmers as a community can get their important traditional crops registered. The ownership does not lie with an individual or a private firm but it is collective

ownership of the village and the farmers who grow such crops,” he said, adding that collectively the farms have also been geotagged. AAU’s in-charge vicechancellor Dr RV Vyas said that Boriavi farmers have been growing ginger and turmeric having special quality traits for generations. “The varieties of the local ginger and turmeric grown in Boriavi has special quality traits for which the land races were registered by the PPVFRA, New Delhi,” he said. Close to 400 farmers in Boriavi are engaged in ginger and turmeric farming that

it cultivated in nearly 80 hectares. (The Times of India) Woman and man shamed, paraded in UP village A woman and a differentlyabled man were assaulted, tonsured, made to wear garlands made of footwear and paraded in a village in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj district - about 122 km from state capital Lucknow allegedly by the woman's relatives. The 37-year-old woman's husband committed suicide two months ago, the police said, adding that the differently-abled man, who is 40, is her friend who used to help her. The woman's relatives did not like their friendship, the cops said. A video shows that the man and the woman with their heads tonsured being paraded through a narrow lane as a large number of men and boys walk behind them. Two accused, who are the woman's relatives, have been arrested. They and a few others allegedly shaved the heads of the man and woman, blackened their

faces, made them wear garlands made of footwear and paraded them in the village. The incident took place after they were spotted together in the village. A total of eight people have been named in a First Information Report and charged with assault, causing hurt and trespasssing.

(Agency)

sent them to the ministry for approval. (The Times of India)

Railways seek nod for goods train to Bangladesh The Ahmedabad division of the Indian Railways has sought permission from the ministry of railways for regular trains from Ahmedabad to Bangladesh. The division has sent a proposal to the ministry for approval.

Divisional railway manager Deepak Kumar Jha said that a city-based company Arvind Denim has been sending its clothes to garment manufactures in Bangladesh. He said that one train has already left from Ahmedabad and the second one will leave soon. “The company has requested for a regular train to Bangladesh. It has proposed four trains a month for the neighbouring country,” said Jha. Jha said that goods from Ahmedabad are also sent to Pakistan and Nepal. “There are restrictions on movement of trains to Bangladesh. The goods to Pakistan and Nepal are being sent through North India,” the DRM said. Jha said that the railways have formed a fivemember panel to tap business potential in areas that have not been covered so far. “We are also

‘Chartered trains’ for migrants After flying down some workers from Uttar Pradesh last week, the powerloom sector in Surat has decided to sponsor trains to bring back nearly 500,000 stranded migrants to Surat from their native in Odisha. As a first step, the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) has proposed to sponsor Shramik special trains to Odisha. Surat’s man-made fabric (MMF) hub is facing hurdles in restarting operations as workers are unable to return with passenger trains yet to be fully restored. At present, less than 15% of powerloom units are operating with 150,000 workers.

Another major reason behind urgency is that the MMF sector in other states have resumed operations up to 65% of its capacity. Dinesh Navadiya, president of SGCCI said, “We have proposed to sponsor two Shramik special trains from Puri to Surat. Each train will accommodate about 1,800 workers from Ganjam and Behrampur in Odisha. We have submitted the proposal to union MOS for shipping, Mansukh Mandaviya and state BJP president, C R Paatil for the same.” He further said that around 250 trains are needed to bring back 500,000 migrant workers from Odisha. The SGCCI and powerloom sector are ready to sponsor the trains and

looking at the possibility of transporting soft drinks. This sector is yet to be tapped,” he said. Jha said that the committee will examine the proposals and

the government has to facilitate its operations between Puri and Surat. SGCCI will manage the bookings of the workers willing to come to Surat.” (Agency)

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Alpesh Patel

Turkey to India The Financial Times Foreign Correspondent tweeted to me that the Turks changed through their judiciary the Hagyia Sofia to a Mosque. His meaning was that India and Turkey use the courts to validate political will of a leader. I pointed out the Indian Supreme Court is as respected as the British one.

I explained on the BBC why Turkey will not be admitted to the EU. And the news from Syria continues to sadden. I am reminded of a recent trip to Turkeyâ&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll show them someday soon, the evidence of truth we are all over the world and to themselves, until light to them, that the Qurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;aan is the truth. It not enough that thy Lord is witness over all things. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(Surah Fushshilat: 53).

Dear Prime Minister of Turkey, I prayed to a Hindu God today in a Mosque â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Not the new one, which was a tourist attraction before.

I prayed for the children of Syria, your neighbour, being murdered and slaughtered and exterminated and eradicated by your Assad. Prove me seditious for praying to another God on behalf of the children of your faith, because their God has deserted them. I prayed, that your God, who my faith teaches me is my God too, listens to me in your Mosque, because He does not listen to His own children in their mosques â&#x20AC;&#x201C; because surely as they are being murdered their parents pray for salvation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and none comes.

I prayed to Shiv, the destroyer, in your Mosque, that He may become death and the destroyer of worldsâ&#x20AC;Śthe world of Assad.

(Forgive my impertinence, I confess, my God also fails to listen to the cries of His children in His mandirs.)

I prayed that your blood boils with anger and the wrath of the Lord flow through your veins and you strike down with a mighty vengeance those who harm your children. And should you need friends to stand by you, you can invoke Chapter V of the Nato Treaty, which makes an attack on one Nato member on Nato soil, an attack on all Nato members. Tonight I prayed you realise that Assad has declared war on not just his weak and innocent children, but on the United States of America, the strongest military power in history and that that divine providence gives you strength to act. What relevance that I am Indian? More Muslims reside in these two secular countries, India and Turkey, than any other secular State â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so it is that India and Turkey have a responsibility to the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Muslims to show them secular liberal democracies will be their defender. It is a duty and opportunity both countries have yet to grasp. China has more Muslims than Syria, yet China fails to protect Syrian Muslim children or its own. Russia has more Muslims than Jordan and Libya combined â&#x20AC;&#x201C; yet Russia too fails to protect Syrian Muslim children.

So it is surely left to India and Turkey.

Prove me seditious for praying to another God on behalf of the children of your faith, because their God has deserted them. Prove me your bloodline from Turk to Ottomon.

Independence Day celebrations

by Indradhanush Kids Indradhanush Kids brought together children of Indian origin from across the globe on to a common platform and celebrated Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Independence Day. Indradhanush Kids is a UK based school of performing arts. The schoolspecialises in teaching Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Hindustani Vocals, and Bollywood Music and Dance to all age groups, both online and physically face-to-face. But as the name suggests, the school is more popular with parents withyoung or teenage children.

The show started with traditional flag hoisting by 5 years old Anshika Mazumdar and Jana Gana Mana singing by 4 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; old Arjun Dubey in his military costume. This was then followed by a beautiful Bollywood style dancing by 11 years old Lakshita Singhania

old wonder performed a beautiful Kathak fusion on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bharat HumkoJaan se Pyarahainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Then from Edinburgh Vania Jain, a 10 years old budding poet, recited her self-composed poetry on India. It was

the turn for Indradhanush Kids next.

They performed dance on a medley of patriotic songswith 14 years old Rishika Mazumdar, Shreya Paul, Sneha Paul and 5 years old Anshikas Mazumdar. There were many other kids who performed from USA and India besides the UK. Certificates were issued to all performers.Both presentations ended with a vote of thanks to all performers, theirparents, teachers Abrita Chatterjee and trainee teacher Rishika Mazumdar.

Local leaders urge Government to maintain lockdown restrictions in Manchester There is increasing confusion in lockdown measures being implemented in Greater Manchester as an increase in coronavirus cases in local leaders urging the government to change course. Less than 24 hours before restrictions on social visits were due to be lifted on Wednesday, two local authorities covering more than 520,000 people warned the government it was too early to ease the measures.

Council leaders in Bolton and Trafford have now written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock as Asian Voice went to print asking him to change course. The infection rate in both boroughs is several times the average for England. Hancock had earlier announced that more than 1 million people would be allowed to visit their friends and family again from Wednesday in Manchester.

Andrew Western, the Labour leader of Trafford council, wrote to Hancock complaining that his authorityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health officials had been overruled to appease Tory MPs. In his letter, he told the health secretary that Traffordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infection rate had increased 100% over the past week. He wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In short, this decision has caused chaos and confusion that not only impacts potentially on the health of my residents but of the likelihood of compliance in neighbouring boroughs

Statue of Princess Diana to be installed on her 60th birthday On 28th August, the Kensington Palace has announced that a statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, commissioned by the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex will be installed on what would have been her 60th birthday.

Commissioned by the princes in 2017 to mark the 20th anniversary of their mother's death and to "recognise her positive impact" in the British society, the statue will be placed in the garden of the London palace on 1 July 2021.

Princess Diana was killed

from North Harrow. Next, the 10 years old Ishan Jakkulwar on tabla. We were then joined by 11 years old Ditipriya Banerjee, all the way from Kolkata, India with her patriotic Nazrulgeeti. Isha Amar Yadav, the 8-year-

was killed in a car crash in Paris 23 years ago. The Princess of Wales died on 31 August 1997, when Prince William and Prince Harry were aged just 15 and 12.

Kensington Palace have said that the installation of the sculpture had been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. But it will be unveiled in the Sunken Garden next year.

While other intricate designs around the portrait are not yet disclosed, it is reported that the statue is created by artist Ian RankBroadley, whose portrait of

that now have a lower rate of infection than Trafford. The proposed arrangements now make little sense.â&#x20AC;?

Justin Madders, Labourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shadow health minister, has also asked the Health Secretary of the same. He said, in his statement to The Guardian, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If lockdown decisions are thought to be being made on a party political basis then all trust in those decisions will go. Matt Hancock

needs to publish all the scientific evidence he is basing these decisions on as a matter of urgency.â&#x20AC;?

The decision announced by Hancock means that several areas â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including Manchester, Salford, Rochdale, Bury and Tameside â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are all recording lower rates of infection than Bolton yet restrictions remain in place in those areas beyond Wednesday.

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14 WOMEN’S VOICE

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

5 - 11 September 2020

W

omen in engineering are seldom heard about within South Asian families. Women as mechanical engineers further tend to raise eyebrows among the community. But, Dr. Shini Somara is determined to break all stigma and prejudice associated with women pursuing a career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. Through her upcoming book ‘An Engineer Like Me’, Dr. Somara is encouraging kids to try their own engineering experiments such as constructing the perfect paper aeroplane or safely dropping an egg.

She is widely acclaimed for presenting TechKnow on Al Jazeera America and similar science programmes on the BBC and Discovery Channel. Now, the British mechanical engineer who also teaches Crash Course Physics on YouTube has taken a step further in her pursuit of of empowering women and children in STEM subjects.

1. What inspired you to write a book about engineering for kids considering the subject is often deemed unconventional as opposed to comics or fiction?

Engineering is all around us, yet most people don’t really know what engineering is. I grew up highly influenced by my dad, an engineer himself. Since studying mechanical engineering, I've always wanted to inspire kids into doing the same.

Engineers have massively improved the quality of our lives, yet we tend to take their work for granted. From the clean water we brush our teeth with; to the fabrics we wear and the speeds at which we can travel the world. The label 'engineer’ can be very broad. I wanted to start introducing the idea of engineering into young people’s lives, the way they are introduced to astronauts, firemen, doctors or footballers.

2. Can you give a brief about the scientific concepts and personalities that you have illustrated in the book?

The personalities in the book aim to smash through stereotypes. Through my work in television, I tend to meet people in STEM who do not fit the typical stereotypes of scientists, engineers, technologists and mathematicians. I think it is important to highlight that anyone can have a career in STEM. I have picked relatable topics and accessible themes that provoke similar questions that I had when I was little.

Complex science subjects can often feel unreachable or even intimidating, but the greatest scientists and engineers started by asking the most basic of questions. Let’s encourage our kids to do the same.

3. How would you describe your journey into engineering and science given that female engineers within the Asian community are few and far in between?

There are so many different pathways into engineering today, including apprenticeships, which were not obvious to me when I was starting out. I chose a very academic route, which wasn't easy for me, because mathematics was not my strongest subject - I was more of a creative child. Through sheer hard work and determination, the lightbulb switched on for me in maths at the age of about 15 when it stopped being scary and stressful and started to become a fun subject. Supportive and encouraging teachers at the time, made a big difference. I think it is essential for children to understand that maths is not essential for engineering, but is a very useful and brilliant life skill to have.

Q&A

Picture courtesy: Dr. Shini Somara's Youtube tutorial

Kids can grow up to be ‘An Engineer Like Me’ says Dr. Shini Somara By: Priyanka Mehta In order to succeed in something, it really helps to have, encouraging and supportive role models and mentors (of any gender and ethnicity), who believe in you. There are still too few women in STEM, but the women who do exist in these fields, continue to inspire me, because they have fought hard and worked hard against the pressures of being

in a minority.

4. Reports indicate that women especially from BAME backgrounds are not proportionally represented in the publishing world. What are your thoughts and experiences on the diversity front?

BAME women are not proportionally represented in most industries. Statistics in the engineering industry are particularly bad on this front, which is why I was inspired to create this series of children's books. I was one of 9 girls in a class of 136 mechanical engineers. Of those 136 students, I was one of a handful from BAME groups in my year group. Sadly, these ratios have not changed much in a couple of decades, since I was at university.

In the publishing world, recent movements such as 'black lives matter' have given rise to BAME voices, like never before - it is an exciting time for a series like this to be out in the world. Hopefully as a result, more female BAME voices will eventually be heard across STEM industries too.

5. Research has also substantiated that funding for female scientists is often paltry. What are your observations?

I think funding for female scientists is low, because at higher academic levels, fewer women exist. The ‘leaky pipeline’ in academia sees women drop out for a variety of reasons, including a lack of self-belief and/or support.

Funding does exist, but more women must be encouraged to stay in higher academia, whilst being able to juggle motherhood, for example. On a positive note, I do hear more stories of women speaking up for what they want and need in order to balance both motherhood and career.

6. Coming back to the book, is this a one-off or are you looking to publish a series of similar literature for children?

I am keen to see more engineering and science delivered in a more accessible and unintimidating way.

Through my work in media, I want to humanise STEM. I started with children's books, because curiosity and wonder for stem needs to be nurtured early. My next literature goal is to draw attention to and explain everyday engineering for a slightly older audience.

Developing emotional intelligence has also been a major part of my stem journey, so at some point I would like to write a handbook for teenagers, to share what I have learned, as a woman in engineering.

7. What is your message to both the parents and aspiring daughters who envision themselves breaking ground in this industry?

As a South East Asian woman, there was considerable pressure to pursue the sciences. My cultural background expected all children to become either doctors or engineers. Conversely, some Asian communities, still expect their daughters to follow more traditional female roles. I feel lucky to have had a childhood rich in cultural diversity. I had opportunities to travel and see the world which broadened my outlook on life and figure out my place in the world - all of which helped me to learn more about my own passions and purpose.

This series of books aims to allow children to further explore their innate curiosities and will make a difference to how they apply themselves to their careers.

No one blames anyone for having Cancer, so why PCOS? Shefali Saxena

Did You Know?

Women doctors and nurses in India who have been attending to Covid-19 patients and wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) kits for more than eight hours at a stretch, have to wear diapers to pass urine. When they are menstruating, they have to wear an XL size sanitary pad along with the diaper.

IPL team Rajasthan Royals was seen supporting menstruating women with the tagline ‘Let’s Talk Periods’ on the jerseys of male players. This initiative to get them talking about menstruation was sponsored by sanitary napkin brand Niine.

A gentleman who identified himself as Dalgalish Henry, recently wrote to a local newspaper that items like sanitary napkins for women “should be held as very personal and private by women” and “there can be no justification to flaunt them in males’ faces during the news. He wants sexual health education to be discreet.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affects about one in every ten women in the UK. It is a condition that affects a woman’s hormone levels. Women with PCOS produce higher-than-normal amounts of male hormones which causes irregular menstrual cycles, and in some cases leads to infertility.

Asian Voice spoke to Neelam Heera, who founded Cysters.org in 2015, which is a collective of individuals changing the narrative around Reproductive and Mental Wellbeing.

She was 18 and studying at the university when she was diagnosed with PCOS. “It took about five or six appointments to have a proper sit down with me and they did an ultrasound for PCOS. All they said to me is take the contraceptive pills, you’ll be fine,” Neelam said, But as she grew older, she got diagnosed with Endometriosis. A PCOS patient also needs to take care of heart diseases, anxiety and diabetes. “It’s not just about fertility and children,” she added.

“I decided we need a safe space for people of colour, South Asian women, Black women, all women from minority backgrounds talk about this because as soon as I would say I have PCOS to any Asian people they were suddenly like HAW! How will you get married? You can’t tell them! I was like -

why is this my fault? If I told somebody I had Cancer they wouldn’t blame me for it, so why have I been blamed for this,” she argued.

PCOS is not actually both a gynaecological and endocrinological issue. Symptoms like facial hair, weight around the stomach and dark skin patches are some common signs. “Why are we being held to this western ideology of beauty? In this condition, why are we trying to be something we are not? This is why I started Cysters,” Neelam said.

Very few women know that PCOS is also a hereditary disease. “I think people don’t understand the difference between a true period and induced period and ovulation which is interesting, because we are expected to have children and in fact we don’t understand our bodies and ovulation,” she said.

Most Asian households are used to eating the same food within the family, which consists of Rotis (which contain Gluten and can possibly aggravate PCOS). The concept of cooking separate food for different members of the family is still a bit alien in many Asian households. Neelam states that if you go to other people’s houses they don’t think not eating Rotis is normal. Food therefore, is an integral part of PCOS management and it is better to start off with early diagno-

sis than later in life.

Sharing a case study from Cysters, Neelam told us about a woman who is in her late 40s.

When she was diagnosed she was a teenager, all Neelam Heera she remembers is her mom crying that she won’t be able to have children. She is scared of entering a relationship because she’s always thought that she wasn’t good enough.

Commenting on period leave for women, she said, “Companies need to know what these conditions are. You need to be in a place where that illness should be accommodated for. That means honest conversations need to happen between companies and HR and people who manage you.”

Neelam made a firm point when she said, “If somebody is diagnosed with PCOS don’t make it your problem. You can’t put yourself in their shoes and tell them how they’re feeling. You make them feel worse when you say they're not gonna have children and they shouldn’t tell anybody.”

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5 - 11 September 2020

Blood cancer survivor miraculously finds a stem cell donor at the last minute Rik Basra, a father of two daughters was almost told to make funeral arrangements when he was fighting Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in 2009 until he found a last-minute stem cell donor in Germany.

'I have two daughters and a granddaughter and I wouldn't have known her and she wouldn't have known me if it wasn't for the donation,' he told Leicester Live.

He was diagnosed with a deadly form of blood cancer

in 2009, which relapsed in 2011. After a successful cell transplant the former Leicestershire Police employee got a new life. "I had actually finished my last round of chemotherapy and they couldn't give me anymore, because it would have killed me. But they managed to find a donor at the 11th hour from someone in Germany. I had been told to make funeral arrangements,” he said.

He was shocked when he found a last minute

donor in Germany which was no less than a miracle for him. Much like Rik, someone is diagnosed with this condition every 14 minutes and needs the same stem cell treatment that saved his life.

Finding a true match is already difficult, and Covid19 has only made it worse.

Lesser people are ready or willing to donate.

Since his treatment, he has set up the Rik Basra Leukaemia Campaign in which he seeks to help peo-

Rik Basra

ple from all different backgrounds join the register and reassures them about any worries they may have.

Price of plastic bags to double up next year From April 2021, citizens in England will probably have to pay 10p for plastic shopping bags. Small retailers those employing 250 people or fewer - will no longer be exempt, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said.

Environment Secretary

George Eustice felt that the original 5p charge was a tremendous success along with the banning on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds in England. However Greenpeace felt that the government must put in further efforts to take this forward. According to the

BBC, in 2014, 7.6 billion bags were given away to customers at England's seven largest supermarkets, the equivalent of 140 per member of the population.

Between 2017 and 2018 just over a billion bags were sold at major supermarkets across the UK.

Britons to be able to tour UK-New Delhi in a 70-day bus route over 18 countries Britons may soon be able to enjoy an epic new bus tour from UK to New Delhi while hopping through 18 countries in 70 days. It is expected to start from Adventures Overland and is slated to launch in 2021.

Passengers will be able to buy tickets for the full journey, or opt to travel for one of four legs. In fact, the bus route will be the first ever hop-on/hop-off bus service between the UK and India. It will include European hotspots like Moscow, Vilnius, Prague, Brussels and Frankfurt, to the ancient cities in Uzbekistan such as Tashkent and Samarkand.

The bus will even include a cruise on the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan, before continuing on to China to explore the Gobi Desert, hike the Great Wall,

meet Giant Pandas in Chengdu and then travel through the Silk Route and the pagodas of Myanmar.

The trip is expected to cost £15,000 for the ticket, food, visa services and overnight stays in what the company says will be four and fivestar hotels. There will be breaks every two hours, with the bus travelling 12 hours a day.

This is proposed by Adventures Overland's founders, Sanjay Madan and Tushar Agarwal, know a thing or two about epic journeys. As a team, they hold a Guinness World Record and 15 Limca Book of Records for long-distance driving expeditions.

Tushar Agarwal in his statement to The Mirror said, "Every single route in each country has been vetted to ensure that the jour-

ney is seamless. We take charge of documentation and permits to ensure that the entire focus of participants is on experiencing the journey.

"We ensure an experienced English-speaking local guide is travelling with the group at all hours to ensure personal safety, smooth communication and travel.”

In the meantime, Sanjay Madan said to The Mirror, "We share a common love for travel, and now we are thrilled to introduce the first bus service from London all the way to New Delhi with utmost comfort and luxury.

"Providing a niche and classy experience in a secure environment is our top priority. The route of this journey is tried and tested as we have already

execute three back to back road trips from India to London on the same route so participants on Bus to London can get onboard with the knowledge and confidence that they are in safe hands."

However, according to The Times this is not the first company to offer the London to Delhi route.

While speaking to the newspaper, Derek Moore, deputy director of the Association of Independent Tour Operators, there were more than a hundred such operators at one time, from coach operators to one man in a Jeep. He offered a route through Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan for a decade from 1969 until the Iranian revolution made it impassable.

Decision on GCSEs and A-levels exams to be made soon Minister of State for School Standards, Nick Gibb has said that a decision on next year’s GCSE and A-level exams in England can be expected shortly.

The decision will clarify whether or not the exams will be delayed or not. Due to the unpredictability of pandemic, it is going to be critical to devise a strategy on how next summer’s exams will take place.In June, the government announced that exams were likely to be pushed back to later in the summer than usual. Labour has called for

next summer's exams to be delayed. Schools in England are reopening in September after a long break. A survey conducted by YouGov suggested there were still fears about safety - with 17% of parents "seriously considering" not sending back their children.

Mr Gibb told the BBC, "We have to take into account the other nations in the UK which also use the GCSEs and A-levels in their term dates. You have to take into account the time for marking, making sure results are delivered on a

certain date for university admissions and so on. There are a whole range of factors that the exam boards,

BAME people are most focused, powerful and intrinsically resilient

Ofqual and the Department [for Education] are looking at, but we will form a decision very soon."

Mel Nebhrajani Since joining the Civil Service, I have had the opportunity to work on a wide range of fascinating and groundbreaking legal issues. At DHSC, for example, I led the legal work on the complex and sensitive Charlie Gard case and others involving the best interests of terminally ill children. I also advise ministers on NHS, Social Care and Mental Health reform. Most recently, I’ve been helping the government to navigate the complex legal issues generated by the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s been incredibly complex work, done at breakneck speed, but no doubt has been one of the proudest moments of my career.

Looking back, the work I’ve relished the most has been that which has changed the nation’s culture and the way we think, and made society fairer, particularly where there has been a positive diversity and inclusion aspect.

This includes kicking off the work to establish civil partnerships and enabling all-female MP shortlists to ensure better gender balance in the Commons. As one of the few directors in the Civil Service from a BAME background, I am conscious that we need to do more to drive change within the Civil Service too. I was one of the founding members of the Race to the Top network for BAME civil servants for precisely this reason – we have worked hard to support departmental boards to introduce diverse recruitment panels across government, and sponsorship and mutual mentoring schemes for junior staff, as well as supporting those below the SCS to apply for SCS posts.

As a mother of four, I have drawn upon my personal experiences to champion a new Parents’ Network in the Government Legal Department, to help parents identify transferable skills, spotlight LGBT parenting and create a buddy scheme. I also recently shared my story within the department of losing my baby late in pregnancy and I act as a buddy for miscarriage and stillbirth. While I found writing about the death of my son very difficult to do, I wanted to break the taboo that surrounds baby loss. As a result of this focus we have produced guidance in GLD to support bereaved parents, their line managers and colleagues, and we are working with networks across the Civil Service to support people through this hidden grief.

My parents originally came to the UK as immigrants, to staff up the newly created NHS; public service is in my blood. And, particularly at a time when Covid-19 has had a tremendous impact on BAME communities, I think more needs to be done to encourage those from a wider range of backgrounds to apply to the Civil Service and the public sector more broadly. More diverse workforces not only provide challenge to majority views but give us a stronger insight into the impact of proposed policies.

We all need to do our bit to support our nation to be the best it can be – as my parents did as immigrants working in the NHS, and as so many other immigrants have done.

Sometimes the rhetoric can make it feel like people of colour are victims. But my experience runs counter to that. I have line managed, mentored, and coached many people from a BAME background over the years. And I can confidently say that they are amongst the most focused, powerful and intrinsically resilient people I have worked with because of what they have often had to encounter. They are also often amongst the most engaged and committed because they are determined to make a positive difference. And that’s the reason why any smart organisation should want to tap into that group of people – because they can bring so much strength to any workplace. Because of the barriers they have overcome, they have the guts and determination to succeed and deliver, which often can make them the real heroes of any organisation.

(Mel Nebhrajani is a Legal Director of the Government Legal Department, currently leading the team that advises the Department of Health and Social Care)

16 UK

AsianVoiceNews

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5 - 11 September 2020

Schools to play a crucial role in spotting child abuse and neglect A leading children’s charity and the Labour party have warned about a “likely jump to child social services and family courts” as schools reopen in the UK in September. Action on the part of education secretary Gavin Williamson is also being demanded in the parliament.

Schools are expected to play an integral role in spotting neglect and abuse among children when the schools start. A government study of provision for children and young people during the coronavirus lockdown, between April and June, found an 18% drop in referrals to children’s social care services compared with the average over the three previous years.

In a joint letter the shadow justice secretary, David Lammy, shadow attorney general, Lord Falconer, and shadow children’s minister, Tulip Siddiq, asked ministers “urgently to outline the

government’s plan for handling the increase in family breakdown cases, which could overwhelm the family courts as children begin returning to schools”.

They added: “This occurs in the broader context of huge backlogs across the justice system, including the family courts, which have been caused by a decade of court closures and cuts, as well as being further exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis.”

Iryna Pona, the policy manager for the Children’s Society, said six months of school closures “has left many vulnerable children hidden from view”, with

the expected upsurge likely to put significant extra strain on social care services and family courts.

She said: “It is absolutely vital that these services are given the guidance and resources they need to manage the demand and ensure that vulnerable children are protected from harm.”

In his own statement Williamson said, “I do not underestimate how challenging the last few months have been but I do know how important it is for children to be back in school, not only for their education but for their development and wellbe-

ing too.

“But it is down to the sheer hard work of so many teachers and school staff that from today pupils will be able to learn in their classrooms together again.

It has not been easy for parents nor schools, but we could not have got to this point without your support and I cannot say thank you enough for this.”

A government spokesman said, “We have worked hard to keep the justice system running throughout the pandemic – cases involving the welfare of children have been prioritised, remote hearings increased and we have opened extra courts so cases can be heard as quickly as possible. We are also increasing the number of social workers placed in hundreds of schools and investing over £100m in remote education, which can help vulnerable children stay in contact with schools and social workers.”

NHS workforce crisis grows as most doctors are over the age of 55 A latest analysis by GPonline suggests that “general practice is becoming increasingly reliant on doctors aged over 55 at a time when early retirements in the profession have surged.”

The study suggests that there is an overall fall in the number of GPs in the past few years. This is after the government promised to increase the number of people in the workforce which is a major setback during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Almost 3,500 GPs took early retirement in the five years from 2014/15 to 2018/19 according to official data that show a sharp rise in doctors retiring early over the past decade.

The analysis says, “The proportion of fully-qualified full-time equivalent (FTE) GPs aged over 55 rose to 23.3% in June 2020, according to workforce data published last week

by NHS Digital. This is a sharp rise compared with the 20% figure for September 2015, when former health secretary Jeremy Hunt made his illfated pledge to add 5,000 GPs to the workforce by 2020. Among GP partners, meanwhile, the proportion of the FTE workforce aged over 55 has now risen beyond 30% for the first time, reaching 30.1% in June this year. This figure has also risen sharply in the past five years - up

from 24.4% in September 2015 - as overall numbers of partners continue to plummet. Among fullyqualified GPs in permanent roles - a figure that excludes locums and registrars - 23.6% are now over 55, compared with 20.3% in September 2015.”

The figures, from GPonline analysis of the latest GP workforce data, also reveal how the slump in the overall workforce has led to a growing reliance on older doctors in general practice. Last year, Matt Hancock had promised to increase the FTE GP workforce by 6,000 by 2024-25. But, the latest data shows a clear failure of the system. It suggests that “The fulltime equivalent (FTE) GP

workforce in England is at its lowest point since September 2015, with the number of fully-qualified GPs down by 380 over the past three months alone, official data show.”

GPOnline had reported that GP trainee recruitment is on track for a third record-breaking year in a row after the number of posts filled in the first rounds for 2020 hit an alltime high, Health Education England (HEE) figures show.

What comes as a major point of concern is the fact that the GP workforce is ageing.

The second half of the last decade saw a significant rise in GPs taking early retirement - suggesting that many of the doc-

tors in older age groups whose contribution and experience remains vital may not be prepared to remain for long.

BMA GP committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey said, 'The NHS has faced significant underfunding with doctors facing an unsustainable increase in workload in the last couple of decades, exacerbated by workplace issues including more bureaucracy and over-regulation.

This has had an enormous impact on many doctors’ well-being and, therefore, their view on the longevity of their careers. As we know, there have also been punitive pension rules that have impacted negatively on their incomes.'

Karamsad Samaj UK donates £10,000 for Covid-19 During the lockdown the committee members contacted Karamsad Samaj members to check that they are safe and well and also mentioned about the appeal that the Samaj has launched to help the NHS. With the generosity of its members and friends Karamsad Samaj UK, it raised £10,000.00 for NHS Charities Together for Covid-19. Karamsad Samaj UK as a community organisation was first established in December 1971, and ever since we have come leaps and bounds into the present. Through their activities they make donations to various charities in UK (e.g. Cancer Research, Mencap, GOSH, Sight Savers, British Heart Foundation etc.) as well as abroad.

President Mukherjee, a stalwart passes away Rohit Vadhwana Shri Pranab Mukherjee, an Indian politician who served as the 13th President of India from 2012 until 2017, passed away on 31 August 2020. He was a stalwart politician, respected across all parties.

In this context, let us understand what is the function/power of the President of India under the Indian Constitution. According to Article 53 of the Constitution, the President is vested with the executive powers of the Union. He is designated as the formal head of the Union executive.

His power/functions can be divided into the following areas: 1. Administrative powers and functions 2. Military powers and function 3. Diplomatic powers and functions 4. Legislative powers and functions 5. Power to grant pardon 6. Emergency powers and functions 7. Miscellaneous powers and functions Administrative powers and functions: It refers to the implementation of laws and the administration of various departments of the government. All decisions of the Union executives are expressed in the name of the President, because he is the head of the union executive.

He has a right to seek information about the conduct of the affairs of the Union. He has powers to appoint and remove various high officials.

Military powers and function: According to Article 53 (2) of the Constitution, the President is the supreme commander of the Armed Forces of the Union. He exercises this command according to law. He appoints chief of armed forces subject to the regulations regarding seniority and other formalities.

Under this head of power, he can declare war and peace and he can deploy armed forces. Parliament can regulate the military powers of the President by law.

Diplomatic powers and functions: It includes power to - enter into treaties with foreign countries; - represent India in foreign affairs; - determine the framework of foreign policy; - execute and conduct foreign policy and relations.

However, these powers are subject to the ratification and approval of Parliament.

Legislative powers and functions: The President is a part of Parliament. His legislative powers can briefly be summaries as under: Power to dissolve the House of the People and summon each House from time to time and prorogue the House of Parliament.

His right to address and send messages to Houses; Power to lay down some reports at the floor of Parliament; Requirement of prior consent of the President on the Bills passes by Parliament; Requirement of the assent of the President on the Bills passed by Parliament; Power to assent the bills passed by the Legislature of States; Power to issue ordinances; Power to grant pardon: The President is given, vide Article 72, the power to grant pardon, commutation, remission, respite and reprieve any sentence.

Emergency powers and functions: The President has power to proclaim national emergency under Article 356, to impose Presidential rule under Article 365 and to proclaim Financial Emergency under Article 360 of the Constitution.

Miscellaneous powers and functions: These powers of the President are also very wide.

He can make rules with respect to various matters like public accounts, service conditions of persons of the central and Parliamentary Secretariats, appointment of Governor for two or more states and so on. He is also empowered under Article 143 to refer any matter of the Supreme Court for its opinion. He is also empowered to perform various functions with respect to Union Territories, Welfare of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.

(Expressed opinions are personal)

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5 - 11 September 2020

Research reveals Covid-19 fast-tracking digital transformation A new survey of over 500 senior decision-makers within UK businesses has revealed how physical workspaces had to transform and pivot themselves to digital business models in the wake of coronavirus.

New research from Studio Graphene has found the coronavirus pandemic has had the following impact on business innovation: • 45% said their business has undergone the most radical digital

•

•

•

•

transformation in its history 50% of businesses said the pandemic has provided the incentive needed to improve their digital infrastructure 47% of businesses have successfully migrated their offering from inperson to online 39% have invested in a new area of technology they have never previously used One in five (22%) have launched a new app Ritam Gandhi, founder

and director of Studio Graphene, said, “They say necessity is the mother of invention, and the pandemic is evidence of that. While Covid-19 has put unprecedented strain on businesses, it has also been key to fast-tracking digital innovation across the private sector.

“The research shows that the crisis has prompted businesses to break down the cultural barriers which previously stood in the way of experimenting with new digital solutions. This

accelerated digital transformation offers a positive outlook for the future – armed with technology, businesses will now be much better-placed to adapt to any unforeseen challenges that may come their way.”

Studio Graphene plans, designs and builds blank canvas technology products.

Working with severalstartups alongside innovation teams in more established companies, the agency plans, designs and builds astounding tech

products for its clients.

Ritam and the team also use their experience and expertise to help leaders grow their business from ideation, to launch and beyond.

The survey found that 47% have successfully migrated their offering from in-person to online; 39% have invested in a new area of technology that they had never used before; and 22% have launched a new app.

Almost half (48%) of decision-makers said the pandemic has exposed how

Ritam Gandhi

outdated their business was in the use of technology, with 45% admitting that their risk-averse company culture has typically made it difficult to innovate and embrace new ideas.

Former journalist argues for Independent shops in people to be employed on suburban towns report positive merit instead of filling up sales throughout lockdown diversity quotas On Tuesday 1st September a seasoned journalist argued that people should be employed on their merit as opposed to merely filling up diversity quotas.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Sir Trevor McDonald said, “I understand why people do it and why people think about quotas... but there is a philosophical downside about that. It’s awful if you walk into a place and they say “Oh I know why she got that job because they are looking for women. I think that is so unfair on the people. Maybe you were the best person for that job and so I am more interested in meritocracy... where someone is employed because they can do the job.”

The 81-year-old who had been the presenter of ITV’s News at Ten since 1992-2005, also admitted in another talk show previously that he had struggled with the fame of being such a prominent

black journalist in the UK, saying he handled it with “difficulty”.

According to him, he had joined ITN and did not want to be labelled as “the black reporter” and was not going to be “relegated” to doing stories about Bradford or Brixton or the “problems of immigration” and instead wanted to work on international politics.

Sir Trevor revealed he had always found reading the news to be ‘terrifying’ and said, “I don’t think you ever lose the terror of doing it. I was overawed by the responsibility. I have a very strong almost philosophical sense of news.”

In the last few years several other journalists from BAME backgrounds have raised similar concerns about being boxed into reporting “ethnic or cultural” issues. Some of these names include The Guardian journalist Anushka Asthana and veteran BBC correspondent Anita Bhalla among others.

Sir Trevor McDonald

A few weeks ago, British Journalism Awards launched a new category aimed at recognising up and coming ethnic minority journalists, named in honour of the UK’s first black on-screen TV news reporter.Barbara Blake Hannah had given her name to this new award in the hope that it will help inspire other journalists to break through barriers in the way that she did. Now, the prize is slated to be named after her.

Dhamechas bag their first hotel, The Cosmopolitan for an undisclosed price On Monday 31st August, it emerged that The Cosmopolitan in Leeds has been sold to Thakerar and Dhamecha families for an undisclosed price.

The 89-guest bedroom hotel, one of the oldest in the city centre has been sold to the newly formed Belfont Hotels which is a joint venture owned by the Thakerar and Dhamecha families.Peel Hotels decided to sell this property to focus on its remaining hotels across the UK. This means thatBelfont Hotels

acquired its first hotel with plans to add other hotels within key cities around the UK. KevalThakerar, in a statement to Leeds Live said, "We are excited to have secured such a diverse hotel as The Cosmopolitan.

Leeds city centre generates such strong corporate and leisure demand across the year and, once our investment has been undertaken, we will have one of the best hospitality venues in the city."

His colleague,

AkshayDhamechasaid, "We look forward to working with the Thakerar Family on our first hotel acquisition and further growing the Belfont Hotel portfolio.

"The Cosmopolitan is a landmark building in the heart of the city and with further investment to the hotel, we are confident the hotel will be very popular.

We are glad to have Countrywide Hotels as our management team where their experience has proved paramount.”

The government has been pushing for employees to go back to work in its efforts to revive the ghost town city centres. The latest campaign “back to work” is slated to argue about the limitations of working from home and will also warn about the adverse effects on the worker’s mental health in a bid to boost the retail sector and “sandwich shops.”

Most businesses are gearing up to ensure that they have established a Covid-19 secure workspace in line with all Public Health England’s guidelines around social distancing and wearing masks amidst risks of a second Covid-19 wave. But some independent shops are unlikely to join the government’s push to get workers back to the office, after enjoying a boost in sales with a drop in commuting.

All Seasons DIY in Birmingham, a shop selling tools and other items used in the home and on activities such as gardening has reportedly picked up sales since lockdown was announced in early March.

Speaking to The Guardian, the owner Surinder Josan said, “We entered the lockdown quite nervous thinking we would have to coast for six months … so we stayed closed for two weeks and spent that time

clearing up and tidying up. While we were doing that our lights were on and the doors were closed and people were knocking asking to purchase stuff for repairs, and the phone was ringing.

“Then when the sun was shining, people came more. We put a notice outside saying, ‘Wait outside to be served’, and we were serving people one by one and using PPE. We tried to do the best we could.Whereas queues at big stores were horrendous and getting something online would take weeks, customers were coming back to us and we saw customers we had never seen before.”

Andrew Goodacre, chief executive of the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA), said members in suburban areas and towns had reported positive sales throughout lockdown as they benefited from businesses that would usually go to those working in the city centre.

He said, “You won’t find us on this call to get people back to the office for many reasons. I think that horse has bolted, and I understand why people are calling for it but people will come back on a more flexible approach … City centres now have to think, with fewer people commuting, what do we do to bring people back in?”

Indian restaurants extending Eat Out to Help Out scheme to September On Monday 31st August, Chancellor Rishi Sunak expressed his gratitude to all the diners who had joined the government’s initiative in reviving the restaurants through the landmark Eat Out to Help Out scheme. The scheme, part of the Chancellor’s Plan for Jobs, has boosted demand to protect jobs for hospitality with over 64 million meals claimed for so far.

Rishi Sunak said, “As the Eat Out to Help Out scheme draws to a close, I want to say thank you to the diners who have fallen back in love with their local, to the managers who have spent weeks ensuring their restaurants were safe and to the chefs, waiters and waitresses across the country who have worked tirelessly, sometimes with more customers than

they’ve ever had before – all helping to protect 1.8 million jobs in the hospitality sector.

“The scheme reminded us why we as a nation love dining out and I urge diners to maintain the momentum to help continue our economic recovery.”

Polls suggest half the population are planning to continue eating out to help out in September, as dozens of restaurant chains also pledged to launch their own versions of the scheme. Figures from YouGov show that 50% of people who used the scheme intend to dine out the same amount or more often once it comes to an end.

Data from OpenTable shows that for the fourth week of the scheme, seated diners were up 106% on

Tuesday 25 August compared to the equivalent day in 2019, and the average increase Monday Wednesday was up 95% compared to 2019 equivalent days.

There is no data quantifying the number of Indian or Asian restaurants that have participated in this scheme. But a lot of them are continuing with this scheme even as it has officially come to an end.

Some of these restaurants include Tharavadu in Leeds, Asha’s in Birmingham, Indian street food restaurant Cargo in Bristol, Hawkyns by Atul Kochhar in Buckinghamshire, Benares in Mayfair which will be extending the deal they currently offer as part of 'Eat Out To Help Out' until October 14.

18 FINANCE - UK

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Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel The market rise has been a surprise. I only put it at 40% likely back in March. But it happened. And boy am I glad I therefore allowed for the 40% and had a full portfolio (see previous articles) loaded with leveraged Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, Facebook and Apple.

Some slight dips as ever expected, but upwards seems the norm. Dow: I suspect some profit taking is due. No rocket science needed to work that out. BUT, I would not stay out of the market for my 12 month holdings because we could keep rising.

As you know I have a mission to educate people on the benefits of saving and investing. To get their money working for them instead of just them working for money. We need to know these things because we are an ageing population, because financially we are being left behind those who do know. I want Apple employees to be working for me, which is what they are doing when I won Apple shares.

Top Worst Excuses Why People Don’t Invest: But which Stocks? I don’t Know Read this column. Start with Microsoft. One Share.

About £180. Done. We will worry about other stocks later.

Baby steps.

I Don’t Know How Seriously? You can shop online, but you don’t know how you open an account with a broker, wire money, and buy a stock? That’s it, I just told you how.

I am too busy Really? Too busy to pull out your phone and click an app and then the word Apple and the amount, say £500, and send? But you’re not too busy to go on Twitter and Facebook and WhatsApp a hundred times a day?

But American Stocks? How Do I Do That?

Same way as UK ones.

But which broker?

Any UK regulated one like Barclays Stockbrokers. Come one, stop with the whining and the excuses My money is in my pension and ISA Simple. Your new broker eg Hargreaves or AJ Bell can move it to their online website Can I give it to a fund manager to do it for me?

What, are you some kind of baby? Stop it. They will pick rubbish, and then charge you a fortune. Don’t believe me – Google ‘Neil Woodford’.

Will you do it for me?

No. But my free course shows you if you really need hand holding. www.investing-champions.com

Sunak warned against hiking taxes to meet Covid crisis Following speculation that the Treasury could raise £20 billion through extra levies to deal with the fallout from Covid19 crisis, Conservative backbenchers warned Chancellor Rishi Sunak against any move to hike taxes. They fear that the move would damage economic recovery. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Barclay refused to comment on reports that pension tax relief could be cut, capital gains tax increased, and corporation tax adjusted from 19 per cent to 24 per cent.

Backbencher Marcus Fysh said that hiking taxes would be the wrong response to the current situation. He said: “The focus has to be building on the nascent recovery in the economy which is the surest way to maximise the number of jobs available and balance revenue with spending. “We must not risk it with talk of counter-productive tax rises. I am sure the Chancellor is well aware of this and hope he will consider urgent fiscal incentives to boost activity, investment and productivity.”

Public sector debt hit more than £2 trillion for the first time in history earlier this month as ministers invested billions of pounds to support the economy through the pandemic. The Office for National Statistics said official bodies borrowed £26.7 billion in July, the fourth highest amount of any month since records began in 1993. It pushed debt to around £2,004 billion for the first time ever, and means that the public sector debt is higher than gross domestic product – the value of everything produced in the UK in a year.

Fysh added: “Exceptional spending due to present circumstances can and should be financed over the long-term rather than through the usual nearer-term budget balancing processes, but the Chancellor has been right to highlight that the scope this provides for current emergency Covid spending programmes is not unlimited. We need to help the economy not strangle it. These mixed messages are in themselves damaging and must stop.”Meanwhile, Tory chairman of the Commons Education Committee, Robert Halfon, said “normal folk” and small and medium enterprises should be spared. He said: “I hope that whatever they do they don’t put taxes up which hit ordinary folk in terms of the cost of living.

I have no problem with taxes going up for big business or multi-billion pound tech companies.

Bank of England to continue with its emergency policy The Bank of England will continue with its emergency policy setting until the economy recovers from the Covid-19 slump. Governor Andrew Bailey said the Bank's decision to “act big and act fast” during the early days of the pandemic proved to be an effective response to the market panic and economic lockdown. He added that the bank's nine-strong monetary policy committee would need a “strongerthan-usual body of evidence” before it would consider removing any of the stimulus provided over the last six months.

Speaking at a virtual meet with other central bankers, Bailey said BoE would not raise interest rates or sell the assets it had purchased under its bondbuying programme, known as quantitative easing, until

Andrew Bailey

there was “significant progress” in eliminating the spare capacity left by the recession and inflation was raised sustainably back to its 2 per cent target.

He said, “This important step is intended to ensure monetary conditions do not tighten prematurely when there are some initial signs of an economic recovery.”

He said that in order to act speedily and aggressively in the future, the bank might need to create “headroom” by selling assets back to the markets, but he stressed that

it was nowhere near that point yet. The British economy contracted by 20 per cent in the second quarter of 2020, however, the gradual easing of the lockdown restrictions is anticipated to bring in a growth of about 15 per cent in the third quarter.

Bailey said Threadneedle Street had tried a range of initiatives, including buying corporate as well as government bonds and helping companies with their longterm cash flow. He said, “There are times when we need to go big and go fast.

We are not out of firepower by any means, and to be honest it looks from today's vantage point that we were too cautious about our remaining firepower pre-Covid. But hindsight is a wonderful thing when you have it.”

The crisis had provided central banks with their first big test since the financial

crisis of 2008. Bailey said, “Monetary policy has had to respond to an unprecedented shock. For many central banks, the main tool to date has been further quantitative easing, in unprecedented scale and pace of purchases.” The bank creates electronic money under the quantitative easing (QE), so it can buy bonds from the private sector. “Viewed from the depth of the Covid crisis, QE worked effectively.

Measuring this effect precisely is, of course, hard, since we cannot easily identify what the counterfactual would have been in the absence of QE. But QE clearly acted to break a dangerous risk of transmission from severe market stress to the macro-economy by avoiding a sharp tightening in financial conditions and thus an increase in effective interest rates.”

Gatwick airport reports major loss as passenger number tumble Britain's second-busiest air hub, Gatwick airport has reported a £343m pre-tax loss after traveller numbers plunged by two-thirds in the first half of this year. It had announced plans to cut 600 jobs, citing a 61 per cent dip in revenues in the first half from £372m to £144m.

Gatwick is operating flights from only one of its two terminals, as passenger numbers fell from 22 million to only 7.5 million in the first six months.

Stewart Wingate, chief executive of Gatwick airport said, “The negative impact of Covid-19 on our passenger numbers and air traffic

at the start of the year was dramatic and, although there are small signs of recovery, it is a trend we expect to continue to see. As with any responsible company we have protected our financial resilience by significantly reducing our operational costs and capital expenditure.”

The company is cutting capital expenditure by over £300m over the next two years and has cut costs by in excess of £100m. Over 70 per cent of staff remain on furlough. The update comes at a time when one of the airport's four biggest customers, Norwegian, reported a £610m first-half loss

and warned that it needed another cash injection. The third-largest lowcost airline in Europe, said passenger numbers had dropped 99 per cent in the second quarter. The airline, which already has a £340m loan guarantee from the Norwegian government, said it would not be enough to get it through the crisis.

Heathrow airport reported a £1b loss in the first half as passenger numbers fell by 96 per cent in the second quarter. The airport's chief executive John Holland-Kaye accused the

government of playing “quarantine roulette” by failing to introduce a passenger testing regime. He said the government needed to look at adopting the policies of some other European countries that have seen air travel pick up faster because they are not making snap decisions to introduce quarantines.

Covid sees surge in online UK firms offering incentives sales of secondhand goods to bring staff back to work The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has helped boost online sales of secondhand goods. Sales of used goods jumped 30 per cent on trading website eBay between March and June this year leading to an overall 10 per cent rise in the first half of 2020 compared with last year.

Secondhand or vintage fashion is touted to be the fastest growing and biggest category, with sales on eBay more than 200 times the level of that in 2018 in January to July this year.

Not only clothes, sales of secondhand chairs shot up by 41 per cent, sofas 30 per cent, and TVs 17 per cent on the website during June - July compared with February and March. ebay's Emma Grant was quoted as saying, “It seems that lockdown ultimately sped up the transition to a greater sustainability-

conscious society, as eBay witnessed more pre-loved listings and sales post-lockdown, compared to before.”

She said Gen Z shoppers were the ones pitching in on vintage brands, bringing it up more than 40 per cent.

Fashion resale site Depop also experienced record sales in the UK, US and Australia.

Oxfam said that sales at its online shop were up 111 per cent last week compared with the same week last year.

Chief operating officer at Depop, Dominic Rose said, “Over the past six months, we've all had more time at home than usual. We've really seen Gen Z in particular embrace resale as a way to use this time as creatively and productively as possible whilst earning money in the process and opening up the possibility of building a business from their bedroom on Depop.”

UK businesses are reportedly offering incentives to their staff in a bid to bring them back into the office. Experts, however, believe they could fall foul of employment law if the perks are not distributed equally. Several companies, and trade bodies have given incentives out such as free food, extra childcare and even executive parking spaces.

Goldman Sachs' London office employees have been given free takeaway breakfast and lunch. They can now also claim an extra 10 days of free childcare over the 20 days offered previously. Meanwhile, rival bank JP Morgan has built an internal smartphone app that allows senior bankers on holiday to donate their parking spots at Canary Wharf, East London, to the junior staff willing to come into the office. It has also opened up the changing rooms at its pay-to-use gym for staff who want to change after exercise. However, employment experts have warned these firms to tread lightly and not end up discriminating against staff who stayed at home. Rustom Tata, a law expert, was quoted as saying, “There is a risk in offering an incentive to someone who comes in the office and not to someone who doesn't. If an employer is offering a policy such as free meals, they may have to consider whether they offer an equivalent benefit to someone who isn't coming into the office for reasons to do with a disability.”

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5 - 11 September 2020

India's GDP shrinks by 23.9 per cent in April-June quarter India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth contracted 23.9 per cent in the April-June quarter. This also marked its entry into a recessionary phase this year, data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) showed.

Construction, manufacturing and trade, hotels and transport were the worst-hit sectors, recording contractions of 50.3 per cent, 39.3 per cent and 47.0 per cent, respectively. This reflects the unprecedented suspension of economic activity in the first quarter of this fiscal due to the pandemic and the series of lockdowns that are only now beginning to unwind.

The April-June quarterly growth, which is the lowest growth rate since India started reporting quarterly data in 1996, had only agriculture sector posting a positive growth among the eight sectors at 3.4 per cent.

The April GDP print is also worse that the 21.7 per cent contraction reported by the UK economy in the June quarter - the sharpest GDP contraction among the top 20 global economies so far.

The GDP growth in nominal terms, which takes into account inflation, also

recorded a contraction of 22.6 per cent in April-June as against a growth of 8.1 per cent last year. Growth rate of Gross Value Added (GVA), which is GDP minus net product taxes and reflects the income side of national accounts, declined 22.8 per cent in the first quarter of this financial year as against 4.8 per cent growth in the corresponding period last year.

The data is expected to be revised further as it is based on limited data sources in view of the lockdown due to Covid pandemic, NSO said. “With a view to contain spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, restrictions were imposed on the economic activities not deemed essential, as also on the movement of people from 25 March, 2020.

Though the restrictions have been gradually lifted, there has been an impact on

the economic activities as well as on the data collection mechanisms. The timelines for filing statutory returns were also extended by most regulatory bodies.

In these circumstances, the usual data sources were substituted by alternatives like GST, interactions with professional bodies etc. and which were clearly limited,” it said.

The real extent of the economic crisis is expected to be deeper given that the small-scale sector and informal sector is more affected than the organised sector, but is not reflected in the quarterly GDP numbers as factory output figures are used to extrapolate the trends in the informal sector.

Chief Economic Adviser Krishnamurthy Subramanian said the contraction in GDP is “primarily due to an exogenous shock” that has

been felt globally. He attributed it to the Covid pandemic which has resulted in global lockdowns and India was in one in the first quarter, he said.

The contraction in the second quarter is expected to be shallower than the first quarter but has also not picked up as expected with various states announcing lockdowns in July and August. Moreover, rural recovery may be threatened by a surging Covid curve there.

The looming defaults in the banking sector after the moratorium ends is adding to the banking sector woes, which could compound concerns on lending. On top of this, are worries regarding household debt, with incomes stagnating, salary cuts and job losses.

Economists said the government needs to step up with more fiscal measures due to the higher multiplier effect.

“Consumption weakness in the current cycle stems from weaker disposable incomes and uncertainty over employment prospects, rather than changes in the rate cycle.

This suggests that fiscal push will carry a larger multiplier than purely easier financial conditions.

Telecos get 10 years to clear AGR dues The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted 10-year time to telecos like Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel and Tata Teleservices for paying Adjusted Gross Revenue-related dues. It said telecos should pay 10 per cent of AGR-related dues by March 31, 2021.

The top court had on October 24, 2019, ruled that the statutory dues needed to be calculated by including non-telecom revenues in what is known as AGR of telcos. Later, it had rejected their review petitions, saying there was no "justifiable reason" to

entertain their pleas. Telcos wanted to make a staggered payment, contending that they faced financial constraints. The DoT had supported their plea and urged the court to allow staggered payment of AGR dues by telcos in the next 20 years.

The Bench, which also included Justice BR Gavai and Justice Krishna Murari, had reserved the verdict on July 20 on the aspect of granting timeline to telcos for staggered payment of AGRrelated dues.

However, the Bench had made it clear that it will not

hear "even for a second" any arguments on reassessment or re-calculation of AGR. During the hearing, it had asked telcos to furnish books of accounts for the last ten years. It had said 15-20 years sought by some telecos was not reasonable.

Last month, the DoT had said all liabilities, including AGRrelated dues, should be cleared by telecos before spectrum trading. The DoT had said it can seek to

recover dues from sellers and buyers of the spectrum, jointly or individually.

The DoT had said that no demand has been raised against Reliance Jio and Airtel for part dues of Reliance Communications (RCom) and Videocon respectively.

Loan moratorium 'extendable' up to two years: Govt to SC Centre and RBI through Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that the moratorium on repayment of loans is extendable to two years. "We are in the process of identifying the distressed sectors to vary benefits as per the impact of hit they have taken," Mehta said. The SC said that it will hear and decide tomorrow the bunch of petitions demanding waiver of interest, or waiver of interest on interest on the suspended EMIs during moratorium period.

The moratorium scheme, which was introduced by the government to provide relief to borrowers from coronavirus pandemic, ended on August 31. On August 26, the apex court had observed that the Centre was "hiding behind the RBI" and had asked it to reply within a week on the issue of interest being charged on instalments which have been deferred under the central bank's scheme during the moratorium period amid Covid -19 lockdown.

The apex court had

earlier asked the Centre and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to review the move to charge interest on EMIs during the moratorium period introduced under the scheme due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The top court had said there was "no merit in charging interest on interest" for deferred loan payment instalments during the moratorium period announced in wake of the Covid pandemic. One Agra resident Gajendra Sharma, in his plea before the SC, had sought a direction to declare

the portion of the RBI's March 27 notification "as ultra vires to the extent it charges interest on the loan amount during the moratorium period and said that it created hardship to the petitioner being borrower and creates hindrance and obstruction in ''right to life'' guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution of India".He has also sought a direction to the government and the RBI to provide relief in repayment of loan by not charging interest during the moratorium period.

A law unto themselves

Suresh Vagjiani, Sow & Reap Properties Ltd

Just before the weekend commenced, we received a response to a request for a lawful development certificate.

The request was to turn a house into a 6 bedroom HMO. This is not something which requires planning.

Indeed, we have converted many houses using the same criterion.

An HMO is classed as C4, this class was created on 6th April 2010. One is allowed to change a single dwelling into a dwelling which shares some amenities, without the need for planning. This is not based on the local council or residents’ opinions, this is a policy or allowance laid down by central government.

The only way a council can exempt themselves from this legislation is if they apply for an Article 4, which allows them to be excluded. There is nothing to apply for to use this legislation, you simply do the work, comply with all the legislation and then apply for a licence. This seems a little unintuitive, and back to front, but this is the way it works.

We have followed the same process in Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea and Brent.

However, on this occasion we had previously applied for a 9 bed HMO, which does require planning. This almost started a trade union campaign amongst the local residents, and it was batted well out of the park, despite one round of revisions according to the planning officer’s recommendations. Hence, the next step was to use Permitted Development to obtain a 6 room HMO, which as explained does not require any formal planning permissions.

Many planning consultants had advised that there was no need to even seek or request permission. However, given the history and to err on the side of prudence, I took the decision to apply for a lawful development certificate.

This was done to give certainty to the works prior to commencement, even though it was not required. Given the prior opposition I wanted to ensure there was no hidden technicality which could come out of the woodwork. Even though the council have recommended it for approval it has been called in for committee approval.

If they do not approve the certificate, we are confident it will be approved in appeal, and this will cost the council more money. Therefore, hopefully at some point someone will look at the issue rationally and make the right decision; although, I will not be holding my breath!

This is a very powerful piece of legislation if you’re an investor; it can be used to greatly enhance your rental yield. On a recent property we managed to enhance the rental from £1,800pm to £4,000pm. This is 220% higher, this means the property will produce the equivalent of a wage for you. There is plenty of lending available for HMOs, previously your options would have been limited; currently the rates are very low as well. We are in the process of refinancing a newly developed HMO for 3.19% fixed for 5 years.

It’s definitely a strategy worth considering if you own a freehold property.

FM hints at fresh stimulus once Covid cases subside The government hinted at a fresh set of measures - including a review of GST on two-wheelers - and possibly a second stimulus, once the coronavirus infection subsides, amid projections of an extended economic downturn in the wake of the pandemic.

At a meeting with industry captains, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman acknowledged the need to review the levy on two-wheelers. “She assured that this (a reduction in GST) was indeed a good suggestion as this category is neither a luxury nor a sin good and hence merits a rate revision.

Consequently, this will be taken up with the GST Council,” CII said in a statement. Similarly, responding to suggestions for steps related to sectors such as hospitality, tourism, aviation, real estate and construction, the FM recognised the stress and need for additional steps and said that she was in dialogue with industry leaders.

She also said the standard operating procedure of hotels and banquets may be reviewed to ease the pain. Retailers are also protesting against market closures in several states over the weekend, when over 40% of the sales are generated. The statement came as expenditure secretary T V Somanathan indicated that another stimulus package may be considered, although it may not happen immediately. “Right now, the evidence is that the problem is not susceptible to stimulation by fiscal or government measures. It’s not as if people are waiting for something to be done by the government and then they are ready to go out and resume normal economic activity,” he said at another event.

20

PAKISTAN & BANGLADESH

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Pak court convicts Hafiz Saeed kin, two others for financing terror ISLAMABAD: An Anti-terror court (ATC) convicted three top leaders of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) in various cases of terror financing. As per the verdict of the ATC court, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki and Hafiz Abdul Salam were found guilty of using the premises and names of different organisations to facilitate terror financing.

The court awarded imprisonment of 16 years and six months with a fine of Rs 1,50,000 to Hafiz Abdul Salam and Malik Zafar Iqbal while Abdul Rehman Makki was sentenced to 1.5 years in jail with a fine of Rs 20,000.

Malik Zafar Iqbal and Hafiz Abdul Salam have been handed out 16.5 years in jail as they are designated terrorists on the UN sanctions list while Abdul Rehman Makkiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name is not on the UN list and has been

awarded a sentence of 1.5 years.

Abdul Rehman Makki, the brother-in-law of Hafiz Saeed was arrested by the ATC and sent to jail in Lahore along with Abdul Salam, while Zafar Iqbal was sent to Sheikhupura jail.

ATC-III judge Ejaz Ahmed Buttar conducted the case proceedings filed by the Counter Terrorism Department of the Punjab province. While hearing the JuD leaders' petition challenging their conviction by the ATC, the Lahore High Court had granted bail to Abdul Rehman Makki and Abdul Salam and also a reduction in their sentence on 13 August 2020. The Lahore High Court reduced their sentence to one-year imprisonment for terror financing. The Lahore court granted bail to the JuD leaders and ordered their release.

However, the latest ATC verdict has brushed aside the

Lahore court's verdict, ordering immediate arrest of both leaders from the premises of the court and sending them straight to jail. The counter terrorism department of the Punjab province had registered at least 23 cases against the JuD leadership, including their affiliate organisations Lashkare-Taiba (LeT) and the charity umbrella organisation Falah-eInsaniyat Foundation (FIF).

The cases were registered in Lahore, Gujranwala and Multan during July 2019, alleging illegal collection of funds for terror financing through assets and properties made and held in the names of trusts and non-profit organisations. The names being used to shelter and hide terror financing funds under charity were Al-Anfaal

Hafiz Saeed

Trust, Dawat-ul-Irshad Trust, Maaz-bin-Iqbal Educational Trust, Al Hamd Trust and Al Madina Foundation Trust.

Leaders of JuD booked for terror financing include Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Abdul Rehman Makki, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Ameer Hamza, Muhammad Yahya Aziz, Muhammad Naeem Sheikh, Mohsin Bilal, Abdul Raqeeb, Dr Ahmed Daud, Dr Muhammad Ayub, Abdullah Ubaid, Muhammad Ali, Abdul Ghaffar and others.

'Five big lies of Pakistan exposed', says Indian mission at UN NEW YORK: India hit out at Pakistan over lies peddled by its mission at UN. In a strong statement, the Indian Mission said that Pakistan has put out a false statement claiming that their envoy Munir Akram spoke at the United Nations Security Council while the session was not open to non-members.

"We have seen a statement put out by the Pakistan Mission to the UN, claiming that these remarks were made by the Permanent Representative of Pakistan at the UN Security Council. We fail to comprehend where exactly did the Permanent Representative of Pakistan make his statement since the Security Council Session was not open to nonmembers of the Security Council", Indian mission at UN said in a statement.

The statement further says that the detailed statement exposed the 'five big lies' being peddled and pushed by Pakistan.

Dismissing assertions that Pakistan has been a target of cross-border terrorism for decades, the Indian Mission in its statement said: "A lie repeated a hundred times will not become truth. The biggest sponsor of cross-border terrorism against India now tries to masquerade itself as a victim of terrorism by India!"

"Pakistan is home to the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the United Nations.

Many of the sanctioned terrorists and entities continue to operate with impunity inside Pakistan. Prime Minister of Pakistan admitted at the UN General Assembly in 2019, the presence of 40,000-50,000 terrorists inside Pakistan," it added.

It further rejected the claim that Pakistan has decimated Al Qaeda from the region. "The claim that Pakistan has decimated Al Qaeda from the region.

Perhaps, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan is not aware that Osama Bin Laden

was hiding in their own country in plain sight, and it is the US forces which got him inside Pakistan. Nor have they heard their Prime Minister refer to Osama Bin Laden as a "martyr"," the statement read. Indian Mission makes the "laughable claim that India has hired terrorist as mercenaries to hit them."

"Coming from a country which is a known sponsor of cross-border terrorism, which has made the world suffer due to its actions, this claim is nothing short of being preposterous!" it said. The statement also rejected claims of Indians being in 1,267 sanctions list. "The 1,267 Sanctions list is public, and the world can see none of these individuals are in it. The 1,267 Committee works on the basis of evidence, and not random accusations thrown in to divert their time and attention," read the statement.

Further, it slammed Pakistan for making "ridiculous assertions" about internal affairs of

India.

"Pakistan makes ridiculous assertions about internal affairs of India. This is a country whose minority population has dropped drastically from 1947 to what it is today which is just about 3 per cent, which is nothing short of systemic cleansing," it said.

"This is in addition to false allegations about India's sovereign actions in the Union Territory of J&K, which are for the welfare of the people. The world has seen through their lies yet again," the statement added.

This comes after Pakistan's Permanent Representative Munir Akram put out a random statement masquerading it as if the statement was made by him to the United Nations Security Council.

But for their purpose, the statement was picked up by Pakistani media and was portraying it as Munir Akram's statement at the Security Council.

Khaleda Zia's family seeks extension on her suspended prison sentence DHAKA: The family of Bangladesh's main opposition leader Khaleda Zia has sought an extension of six more months on her suspended prison sentence for the former prime minister's treatment, according to a media report.

The government in March released the 74-year-old leader for six months on condition that she would stay at home amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country, receive treatment and not travel abroad. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that Zia was freed on humanitarian grounds after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's approval.

Khaleda Zia

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief is serving a 17year prison term in two graft cases since February 8, 2018.

Zia's family filed a plea with the government for an extension of the suspended prison sentence as the six months allotted to her in March will end on September

24, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

A M Ehsanur Rahman, one of Zia's counsels, said that an application, signed by the BNP chief's younger brother Shamim Eskander, was sent to the home ministry on August 25.

The BNP chairperson did not receive proper treatment due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, her family said. They also want another extension for her treatment, the counsel was quoted as saying in the report. Home Minister Kamal confirmed that they have received an application which was sent to the law ministry for its consideration and 'further steps will be taken after considering the legal basis of the

application, the report said.

Zia served thrice as the premier since 1991. Her party was routed in the 2018 election, bagging only six seats in 300-seat Parliament. Her conviction on 'moral turpitude' charges barred her from contesting the polls.

She was sent to jail in February 2018 by a local court on charges of embezzling foreign donations meant for an orphanage, named after her slain husband and president Ziaur Rehman, during her premiership between 2001 and 2006. She was convicted in another corruption case later the same year, though her party claims both cases are politically motivated.

in brief FACEBOOK PLANS NEWS SERVICE LAUNCH IN UK, INDIA, BRAZIL Facebook said it is speeding up plans to go international with a news tab feature that involves paying publishers for stories delivered through the leading social network. A Facebook News section that debuted late last year in the US will be expanded in the next six months or so to more countries, with top contenders said to be Brazil, Britain, France, Germany and India. "In each country, we'll pay news publishers to ensure their content is available in the new product," Facebook global news partnerships vice president Campbell Brown said in a blog post. "We will keep building new products and making global investments to help the news industry build long-lasting business models." Facebook News is off to a "strong start" in the US, driving a significant amount of online traffic to publishers, according to Brown. Based on this progress, we are accelerating our plans to expand internationally," Brown said. News agencies have struggled to make money as ad revenue and people's attention have shifted online, where stories are available free of charge in a dynamic criticized by publishers.

OVER 100 KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN FLOODING Heavy flooding in northern and eastern Afghanistan has killed more than 100 people, as the deluge ravaged large parts of Charikar city, the capital of Parwan province, officials have said. Wahida Shahkar, spokeswoman for Parwan province, said the number of casualties may rise as rescue teams work to locate people buried under destroyed houses. Containing the incident and helping the affected families was beyond the capacity of the local government, and the central government should step in quickly, Shahkar said. Many children were among the dead in Charikar, which was hit by heavy rains overnight, the Ministry of Disaster Management said in a statement. Ahmad Jan, a resident of Shahrak-Malimin village in Parwan province, said most people are still stuck under the rubble of their houses.

"More than 50 houses in his area are completely damaged. Don't know how many have died but most people are under their roofs. It was early morning, so most people were sleeping. Rescue team is helping take out dead bodies and injured," Jan said.

COUNCIL FOR PEACE DEAL WITH TALIBAN Afghanistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s president has appointed a council for national reconciliation, which will have final say on whether the government will sign a peace deal with the Taliban after what are expected to be protracted and uncertain negotiations with the insurgents. The negotiations were envisaged under a US-Taliban peace agreement signed in February as intraAfghan talks to decide the war-torn country's future. However, their start has been hampered by a series of delays that have frustrated Washington. Some had expected the negotiations to begin earlier this month. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani issued a decree establishing the 46member council, led by his former rival in last years presidential election, Abdullah Abdullah, who is now in the government.

The council is separate from a 21-member negotiating team, which Ghani appointed in March and which is expected to travel to the Gulf state of Qatar, where the Taliban maintain a political office, for intra-Afghan talks.

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in brief QATAR LIFTS RESTRICTIONS ON CHANGING JOBS New labour rules in Qatar “effectively dismantles” the country’s long-criticised “kafala” employment system, a UN labour body said. The International Labor Organization said that now migrant workers can change jobs before the end of their contracts without obtaining permission of their current employers. Qatar also adopted a minimum monthly wage of 1,000 Qatari riyals (about Rs 20,084) for workers, which will take affect some six months after the law is published in the country’s official gazette. The present system ties workers to their employers, who had say over whether they could leave their jobs or even the country. It has been criticised by rights activists for abuse of foreign workers.

CHINA FIRES MISSILES INTO SCS, SENDING US A MESSAGE China has fired a barrage of medium-range missiles across considerable distances into the South China Sea (SCS), Beijing’s latest move to demonstrate its strategic dominance and sovereignty over the disputed waters, an American defence official said. The missile launches punctuated a series of military exercises that China has conducted this month at a time of rising tensions with the US over its territorial claims in the SCS. Senior Col Wu Qian, a spokesman for the Chinese ministry of national defence, did not mention the missiles but confirmed that China had carried out long-planned drills in the region.

“The above exercises are not directed at any country,” Wu said in Beijing. The missiles included the DF-21D and DF-26B, South China Morning Post reported. The weapons can attack moving targets at sea.

US TARGETS 24 CHINESE FIRMS OVER ROLE IN SCS The Trump administration added 24 Chinese companies to a government list that bans them from purchasing certain sensitive US products, citing their role in helping the Chinese military construct artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea. The US state department also announced that it would begin imposing visa restrictions on Chinese citizens “responsible for, or complicit in, reclamation, construction, or militarisation of disputed outposts” The move is the latest in a series of actions that have soured relations between China and the US. Beijing, on the other hand, is protesting the alleged incursion of a US Air Force U-2 spy plane into a no-fly zone imposed during livefire military exercises in the country’s north.

Meanwhile, Vietnam accused China of violating its sovereignty by conducting drills in a disputed part of the SCS.

STATUE OF CANADA'S FIRST PM TOPPLED A statue of Canada's first Prime Minister Sir John Macdonald was toppled in downtown Montreal by protesters marching in support of defunding police, government officials said.

The incident occurred at the end of a peaceful march when a group of people climbed the monument and pulled down the statue, causing the head to fly off. Calls to defund the police have been growing across the US and Canada, after a spate of violent incidents involving police. The death of George Floyd, a Black man, while in the custody of Minneapolis police in May sparked global protests about racial inequality and police brutality, and renewed pledges from some to fight racism. In June, a video showing a forceful arrest of a Canadian indigenous leader by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police raised questions about the use of force by the police. The statue of Macdonald has been the site of repeated acts of graffiti in recent years, and it has often been covered in red paint. The toppling drew quick condemnation from political leaders.

Sri Lanka to adopt 'India first approach' COLOMBO: Sri Lanka will adopt an "India first approach" as its new foreign policy plank and protect New Delhi's strategic security interests, the country's Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage has said as he sought to allay concerns amid China's growing presence in the island nation.

Admiral Colombage became the first-ever foreign secretary from a military background when he was appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to head the foreign ministry on August 14. In an interview published by Daily Mirror, Colombage said Sri Lanka is to adopt an 'India first approach' as its new regional foreign policy plank.

"That means Sri Lanka will not do anything harmful to India's strategic security interests," said Colombage, who was the chief of the Sri Lanka Navy

Gotabaya Rajapaksa

between 2012-14 and later became a foreign policy analyst mostly on the Chinese initiatives in Sri Lanka and the immediate region.

Colombage said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would have an India first approach as the key to strategic security. "China is the secondlargest economy and India is considered the sixth-largest. In 2018 India was the world's fastest-growing economy. That means we are between two economic giants," he said.

"Sri Lanka cannot afford, should not afford and will not afford any particular country to use it as a staging area to do anything against another country, especially so India," he said.

Commenting on the Chinese investment in the southern port of Hambantota, Colombage says that Sri Lanka had offered India Hambantota first. "India did not undertake it for whatever reason, then it went to a Chinese company," he said.

"Now we have given 85 per cent stake of Hambantota port to China Merchant Holding Company. That should be limited to commercial activities. It is zero for military purposes," he said.

Colombage said that despite opposition from port worker trade unions, President Rajapaksa would go ahead with the memorandum of cooperation signed with India on the Colombo Port's Eastern termi-

nal.

Colombo Port is the largest and busiest port in Sri Lanka.

Located on the southwestern shores on the Kelani River, it serves as an important terminal in Asia due to its strategic location in the Indian Ocean. The previous Sirisena government had signed a "memorandum of cooperation" with India and Japan for a tripartite effort to develop the terminal which is located just next to the $500 million Chinese-run Colombo International Container Terminal.

"The president has said that he is ready to honour the agreement. As per the new guidance of the President, no national asset is given with total control to any country," he said.

Colombage said that the Rajapaksa's foreign policy shift would mean that Sri Lanka would not be anymore reliant on a West-oriented policy.

Tanzanian women urged to have more babies DAR ES SALAAM: President John Magufuli urged Tanzania’s women to “set your ovaries free” and bear more children as a way to help boost the economy into a regional powerhouse, a step critics said would instead worsen inequality and poverty. “When you have a big population you build the economy. That’s why China’s economy is so huge,” he said, citing India and Nigeria as other examples of countries that gained from a demographic dividend.

“I know that those who like to block ovaries will complain about my remarks. Set your ovaries free, let them block theirs,” he told a gathering in his

home town of Chato. Since taking office in 2015, Magufuli has launched an industrialization campaign that has helped buoy economic growth, which has averaged 6-7% annually in recent years. But he has said a higher birth rate would achieve faster progress.

Tanzania has sustained relatively high growth, averaging 6– 7 per cent a year, over the past decade. At the same time, the East African nation of 55 million people already has one of the world’s highest birth rates around 5 children per woman.

Data from the UN population fund UNFPA shows Tanzania’s population is growing by about 2.7 per cent a year while most

public hospitals and schools are overcrowded and many young people lack jobs.

UNFPA says about a third of married women in Tanzania use contraceptives, but Magufuli has criticized Western-backed family planning programs implemented by the health ministry.

Last year Magufuli said curbing the birth rate was “for those too lazy to take care of their children”, and the health ministry barred broadcasting of family planning ads by a US-funded project.

While Tanzania’s poverty rate - people living on less than $1 a day - has declined to about 26% as of 2016, the absolute number of poor citizens has not

Museveni issues fresh orders to contain Covid-19 KAMPALA: Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has ordered security organs to strictly enforce the directives on restrictions to deter coronavirus (COVID-19) spread.

As part of the presidential directive, Museveni has instructed the Police to tighten enforcement of the curfew for commuter motorcycles bodabodas, private and public transport, among others. The curfew for bodabodas begins at 6 pm whereas that for private vehicles and public transport is 9 pm. The President's message was announced by the information minister, Judith Nabakooba, during a press conference in Mityana town.

Nabakooba said the President's fresh directive follows a spike in the Covid cases and deaths. As of Saturday, Uganda had recorded 2,847 cases and 29 deaths. By July 23, the country had recorded one Covid death. "In one month, we have 29 deaths and the number continues to grow every day. This is about one person dying every day," she said.

Despite a spike in Covid cases, she said, bars are illegally operating and people are increasingly attending weddings, funerals in large numbers without face masks and social distancing. At the same event she hosted at Enro Hotel, the minister lauded Ugandans who are voluntarily helping enforce the Covid standard operating procedures (SOPs) among the citizenry.

"We have seen bodaboda leaders, taxi operators supporting the Police in enforcing

Yoweri Museveni

the guidelines. As a result, there has been an improvement with passengers embracing the guidelines," she said. Nabakooba urged other sectors such as markets, arcades and individuals to embrace the system of community policing.

Reopening schools, worship places Nabakooba said the President has also instructed the National Task Force on Covid to review the possibility of a phased reopening of schools starting with candidate classes and clinical medical students. The task force will also review the status of other sectors such as places of worship like mosques and churches, mobile markets, tourism and the airport. Other sectors to be reviewed include the entertainment industry such as bars, cinemas, nightclubs and sports events.

Security intensified Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said they have intensified enforcement following the presidential directive. He added that they will mount roadblocks for bodabodas, private and public transport, not excluding pedestrians without masks.

John Magufuli

because of the high population growth rate, according to the World Bank. Opposition leaders in Tanzania have criticized Magufuli’s stance, saying the country’s already rapid population growth is a time bomb, and disapproving remarks surfaced on social media.

Five Governors join Uhuru, Raila campaign team NAIROBI: Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga have drafted a section of governors to push for referendum campaigns. The duo believes that the only way to succeed in the push to change the constitution is to use regional blocks and respective leaders. Ahead of the launch of the BBI report in the coming weeks, the two leaders have come up with regional campaign teams, some of them headed by Governors.

In the Western Kenya block, the handshake team is banking on the efforts of Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya. The Council of Governors (CoG) has been working closely with Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa to sell the handshake to the Mulembe nation.Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru was the face of BBI in Mt Kenya. It is not clear if her recent clash with the County Assembly will necessitate a replacement. Waiguru is also on the radar of the Ethics and AntiCorruption Commission (EACC). Before the Covid -19 pandemic, the former DeBBvolution CS had been tasked to work with Agriculture CS Peter Munya to popularise the BBI in Central Kenya.

The handshake team trusts that Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho can popularise the report in the Coastal region. Joho is the de facto Coastal kingpin and likes to be called Sultan. However, he will have a hard time selling the report if the region is denied funds in the proposed revenue sharing formula.

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Indian-American voters could make huge difference in US election WASHINGTON: The IndianAmerican community could be “an absolute difference maker” in battleground states in the November 3 presidential elections, a top Democratic leader has said. As a little over 100 days are left for the elections, both the Republican and the Democratic parties are making huge efforts to reach out to the small but influential IndianAmerican community in some of the key battleground states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Thomas Perez, chair of the Democratic National Committee, said that Michigan has 125,000 Indian-American voters. “We lost Michigan by 10,700 votes in 2016,” he said, referring to the loss of Hillary Clinton, the then Democratic presidential nominee at the hands of President Donald Trump.

“In Pennsylvania, (there are) 156,000 (Indian-American voters). We (Democratic party) lost (presidential elections in) Pennsylvania by 42-43,000

Joe Biden and Donald Trump

(votes). In Wisconsin (there are) 37,000 (Indian-Americans). We lost Wisconsin by 21,000 (votes) in 2016,” said the head of the Democratic party.

“The Indian-American vote, the AAPI (Asian-American and Pacific Islanders) vote more broadly, can be an absolute difference maker (in the 2020 presidential elections),” Perez said at a virtual event ‘An Electorate Coming of Age: Indian Americans for Biden’, jointly hosted by the South Asians for Biden along with AAPI Victory Fund and Indian-American Impact Fund. “We are hustling to the finishing line… Think about

those three states alone that I mentioned.

The IndianAmerican votes alone can be the difference in moving forward,” Perez said. Shekar Narasimhan, chairman of AAPI Victory Fund, said that there are 1.3 million potential Indian-American voters in eight battle ground states of Arizona (66,000), Florida (193,000), Georgia (150,000), Michigan (125,000), North Carolina (111,000), Pennsylvania (156,000), Texas (475,000) and Wisconsin (37,000). In 2016, Narasimhan said 77 per cent of the IndianAmerican voters polled in favour of Hillary. “Today in all the polls

and surveys, their favorability for Biden over Trump is 2.3 to one, (which) is very close to what it was then (in 2016: 2.4 to one),” he said, asserting that the party can aspire to get 75-80 per cent of the Indian-American votes, if they do the work. There are 1.3 million Indian-American adult citizens, by definition, who are eligible to vote in these (eight battleground) states, he said. “ It is our goal to deliver one million to actually vote in by November 3, 2020 and vote for a Democrat candidate namely for Joe Biden,” Narasimhan said, adding that the information is based on data and latest research prepared by data guru Karthik Ramakrishnan.

“There are sectors of the Indian-American community throughout our country, throughout our battleground states. And we want to make sure we’re engaging and connecting directly with you all,” senior advisor of ‘Biden for President’ campaign Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in her address to the event attended by over 800 IndianAmericans from across the country.

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe resigns over worsening health TOKYO: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan`s longest-serving premier, said that he was resigning because of poor health, ending a stint at the helm of the world`s thirdbiggest economy during which he sought to revive growth and bolster its defences. "I cannot be the prime minister if I cannot make the best decisions for the people. I have decided to step down from my post," Abe, 65, told a news conference.

Abe has battled the disease ulcerative colitis for years and two recent hospital visits within a week had fanned questions on whether he could stay in the job until the end of his term as ruling party leader, and hence, premier, in September 2021.

The resignation will trigger a leadership race in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) - most likely in two or three weeks - and the winner must be formally elected in parliament.

The new party leader will hold the post for the rest of Abe`s term. Whoever wins the party poll is likely to keep Abe`s reflationary "Abenomics" policies as Japan struggles with the impact of the novel coronavirus but may have trouble emulating the political longevity that may be Abe`s biggest legacy.

"The broad picture remains intact. In terms of economic and fiscal policy, the focus remains very much on reflation," said Jesper Koll, senior adviser to asset manager WisdomTree Investments. "Longevity will be

Malaysia avoids making comment on Kashmir NEW DELHI: In a departure from the past, Malaysia has refrained from making any comments on Kashmir even as China and Turkey continue with their anti-India policy and remarks on the first anniversary of the removal of special status and scrapping of Article 370 from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Under the leadership of former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, Kaula Lumpur had taken an anti-India stance, making remarks on Kashmir. Malaysia under Mahathir was among the three countries - the other two being Turkey and China to raise Kashmir at UNGA meet in 2019.Under the new Malaysian government led by PM Muhyiddin Yassin, both sides have been engaging with each other.

a struggle." On Monday, Abe surpassed a record for longest consecutive tenure as premier set by his great-uncle Eisaku Sato half a century ago.

"As head of the ruling party he worked hard on Abenomics for eight years," said brokerage employee Naohito Kojima, 55.

"There were various problems but if someone else had been leader, it`s questionable whether they could have maintained a stable government as long as Abe. He did various diplomatic negotiations and I think the pros outweighed the cons."

Abe`s resignation also comes amid an uncertain geopolitical environment, including an intensifying confrontation between the United States and China and ahead of the US presidential election in November.

Falling support Abe returned as prime minister for a rare second term

in December 2012, pledging to revive growth with his "Abenomics" mix of hyper-easy monetary policy, fiscal spending and reforms. He also pledged to beef up Japan`s defences and aimed to revise the pacifist constitution. Under fire for his handling of the coronavirus and scandals among party members, Abe has recently seen his support fall to one of the lowest levels of his nearly eight years in office.

Japan has not suffered the explosive surge in virus cases seen elsewhere, but Abe had drawn fire for a clumsy early response and what critics see as a lack of leadership as infections spread. In the second quarter, Japan was hit by its biggest economic slump on record as the pandemic emptied shopping malls and crushed demand for cars and other exports, bolstering the case for bolder policy action to avert a deeper recession.

Indian-origin man takes over as leader of Opposition in Singapore SINGAPORE: Pritam Singh, Singapore's Indian-origin politician scripted history on Monday when Parliament conferred the duties and privileges to him as the citystate's first Leader of the Opposition. Singh's Workers' Party won 10 parliamentary seats out of the 93 it contested in the July 10 general election, making it the biggest opposition presence in Singapore's parliamentary history.

As the House began proceedings on Monday, one of the first orders of business was a ministerial statement by the Leader of the House Indranee Rajah on formally recognising Singh, 43, as the country's first Opposition leader. "With more opposition MPs reflecting a 'strong desire among Singaporeans for a greater diversity of views in politics' as noted by the Prime Minister (Lee Hsien Loong) in his swearing-in speech.

It is timely and appropriate that the position of the Leader of the Opposition be more formally recognised," said Indranee, who is also of Pritam Singh Indian-origin from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP).

The PAP has an absolute majority in the House with 83 elected members. The House passed a motion to double Singh's speaking time from 20 minutes - which is allotted to backbenchers - to 40 minutes, the duration allotted to office holders. Singh took the seat directly opposite Prime Minister Lee in the chamber. This is similar to the practice in other countries that formally recognise the role of the Leader of the Opposition, Indranee pointed out.

in brief CANADA EXTENDS ONLINE STUDY ELIGIBILITY Canada has announced more relaxations in the wake of international students facing difficulties to fly to the country due to Covidrelated travel bans. According to a note issued

by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), international students can study online from abroad until April 30, 2021, without it affecting their eligibility for the length of a future postgraduate work permit (PGWP), provided they are able to complete at least 50% of their course in Canada. No indication is available as yet on when Canada will open its borders to international students.

Earlier, IRCC had provided a leeway of up to December 31, 2020. The IRCC also said students who have enrolled in programmes of a duration of 8-12 months that commenced during the spring, summer or fall terms (from May to September, 2020) will be able to apply for a PGWP even if they complete their entire programme outside Canada.

TIKTOK CEO QUITS UNDER US PRESSURE TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer has left the company amid ongoing disputes with the Trump administration and sale talks. “We appreciate that the political dynamics of the last few months have significantly changed what the scope of Kevin’s role would be going forward, and fully respect his decision,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement.

“We thank him for his time at the company and wish him well.” Mayer announced his departure in an internal email. TikTok’s general manager Vanessa Pappas will take over the position in the interim, according to reports. “In recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for,” Mayer said in his letter. “Against this backdrop, and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company.”

NETANYAHU HINTS AT ‘SECRET TALKS’ WITH OTHER ARAB LEADERS Israel is in secret talks with several Arab states on establishing ties, in addition to its US-backed deal struck with the UAE, PM Netanyahu said. “There are many more unpublicised meetings with Arab and Muslim leaders to normalise relations,” he said on the eve of Israel’s first flight to UAE. This follows the announcement of a deal to normalise ties, making the UAE the first Gulf country and only the third Arab state to establish ties with Israel after Egypt and Jordan.

PHILIPPINES OFFICIAL CAUGHT HAVING SEX WITH SECRETARY A government official in the Philippines was caught having sex with his secretary during a regular virtual session, the media reported.

According to a report, the incident came to light as the official, Captain Jesus Estil of the Fatima Dos village council in the province of Cavite, appeared to be unaware that his camera was on. Footage shows that the person had sex in a far corner of the room while the meeting was on. Before engaging in the actual act, Estil approached the device in what appeared to be an attempt to turn off the camera. Unaware that the camera was on, Estil and the woman continued to engage in sexual intercourse, while other participants continued with the council meeting. Estil rejoined the call after the act. After the video became public, the pair sought forgiveness, but the country's department of interior and local government appears to have made up its mind to relieve Estil from his duty.

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NIA charges JeM chief Azhar, 18 others for Pulwama attack The National Investigation Agency (NIA), in its chargesheet in the Pulawama terror attack case, named Jaishe-Muhammed chief Masood Azhar, his brother and deputy, Rouf Asgar, their cousin Ammar Alvi - all based in Pakistan - and Rouf’s ex-bodyguard Mohd Ismail, suspected to be in India, as the prime masterminds behind the February 2019 fidayeen strike that killed 40 CRPF personnel and brought India to the brink of war with Pakistan.

Of the 19 accused in the 13,500page chargesheet that refers to the involvement of ISI and Pakistan’s other state actors, seven have been arrested, six are absconding and six have died. The deceased include Azhar’s nephew Mohammad Umar Farooq, who an NIA officer said, was tasked directly by the Jaish chief to infiltrate into Kashmir in 2018 to oversee execution of the “well-planned conspiracy”.

NIA sources said the chargesheet - backed by digital, forensic, documentary and oral evidence against the accused - contained a “vitriolic” clip of the Jaish chief condemning the killing of his nephew Usman Haider in Tral in 2018 and exhorting Kashmiri locals

Masood Azhar

to avenge it with “shahadat”, which motivated Pulwama bomber Adil Ahmad Dar to take on the suicide mission.

As per the investigating agency, the jihadi outfit had even planned a second attack on a key Indian security installation soon after the Pulwama "success". However, Azhar instructed accused Umar Farooq - IC-814 hijacker Ibrahim Athar’s son who was killed oneand-a half months after the Pulwama attack - to abort the attack in view of the international scrutiny on Jaish and Pakistan following the IAF strikes on terror facilities in Balakot. “Mufti has

asked the attack to be put on hold,” went the message passed on to Umar, with ‘Mufti’ seen as a reference to Azhar who is held responsible for many terror attacks across India.

NIA chargesheet mentions role of ISI, other Pak agencies The NIA chargesheet said Azhar, Rouf and Ammar were continuously giving directions to the Pakistani JeM terrorists Umar, Mohd Ismail, Mohd Kamran and Qari Yasir both before and after the attack.

NIA sources said the chargesheet has references to the

role of Pakistani state actors including ISI in the Pulwama attacks. “Investigation revealed a well-crafted mechanism by Pakistani establishment to push terrorists into Indian territory from launch pads located in Shakargarh (Pakistan) opposite Samba-Kathua sector in Jammu,” the agency said.

The arrested accused, as per the chargesheet filed in an NIA court in Jammu, are Shakir Bashir, Insha Jan, Waiz-ul-Islam, Peer Tariq Ahmed Shah, Mohd Abbas Rather, Bilal Ahmed Kuchey and Mohd Iqbal Rather, all from Kashmir.

Besides Azhar, Rouf and Ammar, the absconding accused include Mohd Ismail, Sameer Ahmad Dar and Ashaq Ahmed Nengroo. The accused who are now dead included suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar, Muddasir Ahmad Khan, Pakistani terrorists Umar Farooq, IED expert Mohd Kamran Ali and Qari Yasir, and owner of the car fitted with the IED Sajjad Ahmad Bhat.

Indian authorities had claimed to have found strong evidence of Jaish's involvement in the attack on CRPF troopers, leading the IAF to bomb one of the main terror

centres in Balakot. Umar Farooq, the NIA said, had trained in Afghanistan in 2016 and 2017 before infiltrating into India in 2018. Since then, he and his Pakistani compatriots, with local associates, had been working on arranging resources and logistics for the attack.

Shakir Bashir started reconnaissance of forces' movement on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in December 2018. Gelatin sticks and RDX brought in by Pakistani terrorists, aluminium powder ordered by Waiz-ul-Islam from Amazon and calcium-ammonium nitrate were used by Umar, Sameer, Adil and Shakir to make the IED by the first week of February 2019. The IED, packed into two containers weighing 160 kg and 40 kg, was fitted in a Maruti Eeco car by February 6. However, the attack was delayed due to closure of the national highway because of snowfall.

NIA sources said two local Kashmiri bombers were “prepared and trained” by Umar Farooq to carry out the fidayeen attack.

While Adil Dar was chosen and carried out the suicide mission, the other trained fidayeen was subsequently killed.

CBI grills Rhea, brother for 10 hours; Opening of Project 'Life', Rajkot's ED examines her bank locker vocational training programme CBI last week questioned actor Rhea Chakraborty for the first time in connection with the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Rhea was interrogated for around 10 hours along with her brother Showik to get a clearer picture of their personal equation with Rajput as well as their joint business ventures with the late actor.

Rajput’s friend Siddharth Pithani was questioned separately.

CBI officials allowed Rhea to go around 9.30 pm following which she approached Santacruz police station to complain about the aggressive behaviour of media persons at her residential building.

Since their arrival in Mumbai on August 20, the CBI team has been piecing together the last few hours before Rajput’s death. The agency had questioned members of his staff who were present in the flat when he allegedly ended his life.

Rhea is under the scanner in the abetment to suicide case being investigated by the agency based on allegations by Rajput’s family members. Rhea arrived at the DRDO guest house in Santa Cruz (East) along with Showik around 11am.

Showik, who is also a suspect in the case, was questioned for 15 hours too.

In an interview to a TV news channel, Rhea had

denied the allegations, stating Rajput’s sister had been staying with him in the last few days before his death and, hence, she was in a better position to explain the actor’s frame of mind. Rhea claimed she had shared all the details with investigating agencies as she herself wanted to know the truth.

The Enforcement Directorate, which is probing a related money laundering angle, examined Rhea’s bank locker in her father’s presence and found jewellery worth millions.

Officials indicated that most of it was accounted for. ED officials have called Rajput’s CA, Sandeep Shridhar, for further explanation about his expenses.

Project 'Life', Rajkot has organised a vocational training programme to empower 150 below poverty line (BPL) women/widows from Gujarat virtually.

Life Women Empowerment Centre has so far empowered over 8,000 widows/BPL women in rural Gujarat.

The inauguration will on September 5, 2020 on Zoom (09.30 UK/12.30 UAE ,14 IST). The inauguration will be at the hands of Mrs Bina & Mr Mayur Sanghvi, chair, Life Global UK, Mrs Renu Mehta, President Navnat Bhagni Samaj, Mrs Anita Kamdar, Ambassadress, Life Global UK, Ms Shandini Vora, COO, Vascraft Contractors LTD UK. The

India pulls out of military drill with Chinese, Pak troops In a major decision amid the ongoing military confrontation with China in eastern Ladakh, India has pulled out of the multi-nation exercise in Russia next month because Chinese as well as Pakistani troops are also slated to take part in the combat drills. “It has been decided that it would be incorrect for our troops to take part in an exercise where People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers will also be present, even if it is a multilateral drill,” said a senior defence officer.

“PLA soldiers, after all, crossed all red-lines by brutally attacking our soldiers in the premeditated attack in Galwan Valley on June 15 (20 Indian and an undisclosed number of Chinese soldiers were killed in the skirmish). It cannot be business as usual with the PLA,” he added.

The defence ministry, however,

attributed the pullout from the exercise to the raging Covid-19 pandemic.

“Russia and India are close and privileged strategic partners. However, in view of pandemic and consequent difficulties in exercise, including arrangements of logistics, India has decided not to send the contingent this year for the exercise. We have conveyed this to Russia,” it said.

The decision to withdraw from the ‘Kavkaz 2020’ counter-terrorism and “strategic command-post exercise”, to be held in Astrakhan region of south Russia from September 15 to 27, was taken after meetings attended by defence minister Rajnath Singh, external affairs minister S Jaishankar, chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat and Army chief General M M Naravane.

The official reasoning at that time

was that Indian soldiers would exercise not just with Chinese and Pakistani troops but about 13,000 military personnel from at least 19 countries, including Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members as well Central Asian Republics. India and Pakistan in 2017 became full members of the SCO, which was initially constituted by Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in 2001.

But with growing disquiet about India’s participation in the exercise in the backdrop of the military confrontation in eastern Ladakh, which will enter its fifth month next week, the “government sanction letter” was withheld till the final decision was taken.

“Russia has now been told of our withdrawal from the exercise. The raging Covid pandemic was also another concern,” said another officer.

function will be presided over by Mr C.B. Patel, Founder, ABPL UK, Mr Dilip Mithani, President, Navnat,UK and Bakul Mehta, Patron, Project 'Life', India, MD Muscat Pharmacy, Oman.

Chief guests: Mrs Alka & Mr Anil Doshi, UK, Donor, Project Life, Rajkot, Mr Nilesh & Mr Tushar Shah, Hon President, Oshwal Association of UK, Mr Mitesh Vekaria, MD, Vascroft Contractors Ltd, UK, Dr Natubhai Shah, Founder Chair/CEO Jain Network, UK, Mr Ketan Mehta, Trustee, Asian Foundation for Help, UK, Mrs Rekha & Mr Ashok Sodha, FCA, Ashmans, UK, Mrs Jyotsana & Mr Anil Parekh, UK, Donor, Project Life, Rajkot, Mr Ketan Bharatbhai Shah, AlMustneerr Trading Co, UAE, Mr Suryakant Shah, UK Donor, Project Life, Rajkot , Dr Abhay Chopada. CoFounder, Clinivantage, UK. Guest of Honour: Ms Parin Somani, UK, Motivational Speaker & Mulri International Award Winner, Mr Vinod Kotecha, Trustee Asian Foundation for Help, UK, Mr Ramesh Shah, Trustee, Life Global, UK, UK, Mr Bhogilal Sanghvi, Trustee Life Global UK, UK, Mr Dhirendra Sanghrajka UK, Mrs Jayshree & Vijay Rajkotia, UK, Mr Bharat Parekh, UK, Mrs Chhaya & Mr Kirit Shah, UK, Mrs Rama & Mr Jayant Shah, UK, Mr Kailashi Bobby

Bhasin, Founder, CALL A Salon, Ahmedabad.

Dr Hkomk km Tdjand At the outset we express our sincere gratitude towards your generous support extended for Women Empowerment Programme (WEP) & humanitarian activities of Project ‘Life’.

Thank you for your kind consent to Preside over the inaugural ceremony of vocational training for 150 women under Women Empowerment Program (WEP) through Digital platform on September 05, 2020 at 09:30 (UK time).

Invitation of the virtual event is attached herewith for your reference.

It is only through your kind support that we can 'Change a Life' and make a difference to the women of rural Gujarat. It’s support of you all to the Women Empowerment Programme of our partner charity Project ‘Life’, for the first time in the history of Women Empowerment vocational training for 150 women will be arranged digitally.

Schedule of Virtual event: Day & Date: Saturday, Sept 5, 2020. Time: 09:30 UK Time / 12:30 noon UAE Time Click the following ZOOM web link to Join the virtual event https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8 3410994565?pwd=ZXlRclFN RHJZRDhmUG0reFc4OTRY Zz09 ZOOM ID: 834 1099 4565 Password: LIFEGLOBAL

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SOUTH INDIA

in brief

Andhra becomes the second worst-hit state by Covid-19 AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh became the second worstaffected state due to coronavirus in India as it surpassed Tamil Nadu, recording over 4,24,000 coronavirus cases. The state reported over 10,000 Covid-19 cases for the fifth straight day on Monday, taking the total count to 4,24,767 - behind only Maharashtra.

Tamil Nadu has reported over 4,16,000 Covid-19 cases till now. A total of 36,66,422 tests have been done in Andhra Pradesh while the positivity rate stands at 11.59 per cent, third highest in the country after Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Tamil Nadu's positivity rate stands at 8.93 per cent.

Andhra Pradesh has one of the highest Covid-19 test rates in India, conducting around 68,660 tests per million. The latest bulletin of the Andhra Pradesh government said 9,067

patients got cured and discharged from hospitals across the state while 88 more died due to the pandemic. About 3,21,754 people have recovered from the disease in the state till now. The number of active cases in the state is now just short of the one lakh mark, at 99,129 on Sunday.East Godavari and SPS Nellore continued to report cases in excess of 1,000 while West Godavari, Kadapa and Chittoor added over 900 each in 24 hours.

Tamil Nadu extends lockdown Tamil Nadu has extended its coronavirus lockdown to

September 30 but has also announced major relaxations, including resuming intra-state bus services from September 1 and Chennai metro services from September 7.

Among other relaxations are the re-opening of hotels, resorts, shopping malls and places of worship from September 1, the scrapping of "total lockdown" on Sunday and allowing shops outside containment zones to stay open till 8 pm.

Industries, government offices and banks will be allowed to function with 100 per cent of staff; they had previously been limited to 50 per cent.

However, all workplaces are being advised to continue work-from-home if possible.

As many as 50 incoming

flights will be allowed to land at Chennai airport. Inter-state trains on chosen routes have been permitted. A decision on intra-state trains will be taken after September 15, the government said. The Tamil Nadu government has also revoked the e-pass system for intra-state travel, in line with "Unlock 4" guidelines released by the Centre. The central government had said people were no longer required to get permission, or register on government websites, to travel within the country.

E-passes will, however, continue to be required for people arriving in the state by air or rail, and travel to Ooty and Kodaikanal and other hill stations. All relaxations will require adherence to SOPs (standard operating procedures) to minimise contact between people and spread of the Covid virus.

PUNJAB

Punjab CM orders probe into scholarship scam CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh that he has asked the chief secretary to conduct a thorough probe into the alleged multi-million post-matric SC scholarship scam. In a statement, he said anyone found guilty of complicity in the alleged scholarship scam would not be spared.

His statement comes amid the opposition's demand for Cabinet Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot's resignation over his alleged role in the case.

"Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan will look into all aspects of the case, and anyone found involved, whatever his position within or outside the government, would be penalised and punished in accordance with the legal provisions," the CM said. "Law will take its course," he asserted.

Amarinder Singh

Amarinder said nobody could be put on the mat without a fair probe and proper inquiry, which Dharamsot also deserved.

"There is rule of law, which needs to be followed," he said, adding that he would not succumb to opposition trial in the case.

It was reported in a section of the media that a probe report into the post-matric SC scholarship scheme by the additional chief secretary discovered a £5.57 million scam.

The report also questioned the role of Social Justice Minister Dharamsot in allegedly shielding those involved in the scam.

The CM lashed out at Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa for demanding resignation of Dharamsot. He ridiculed Bajwa for "trying to rake in political moolah" over the alleged scholarship scam.

He said that had he believed in following "jungle raj", he would have sacked Bajwa back in 20022007 when the then PWD minister was under scanner in the bitumen scam and some other cases. The CM, however, said there was no question of protecting or shielding anyone, and action under the law would be taken if anyone found guilty of any involvement in the case.

He also hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party for behaving like a "rogue party by asking for

Dharamsot's resignation without a proper inquiry. "Are we living in a state of anarchy, with no rule of law?" he asked, reacting strongly to the "completely unwarranted" demand of AAP and Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) MLAs, who had created a din in the Vidhan Sabha over the issue last week.

"Do you really expect me to take action without a proper inquiry against my own minister when I have not done so even against many opposition leaders," the CM said.

Amarinder said Dharamsot has already said that he is ready to face any inquiry in the matter.

He also rejected Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s demand for a CBI investigation into scam. The Chief Minister said her demand for the CBI investigation reflected her lack of trust in the police force and the state administration.

WEST BENGAL

After 9 years, red rebels making a comeback in West Bengal KOLKATA: Red rebels are making a comeback into West Bengal districts bordering Jharkhand. The rebels were keeping low profile following the killing of Maoist top leader Mallojula Koteswar Rao alias Kishenji. Over the past month, there are reports of Maoists sneaking into West Bengal, making campaigns in areas of Jhargram and Purulia districts and going back to Jharkhand.

The latest incident took place on August 27, 2020, at Pochapani village of Jhargram district of West Bengal - a few km away from Jharkhand border - the area of operation of last Maoist squad of Bengal based out of Jharkhand led by Ashim Mondal alias Akash. On last

Thursday night, two to three unidentified persons opened fire at the residence of one Bidyut Das. In a bid to save their lives, Bidyut Das’s wife Mira Das who was on the roof of the house at the time of firing, jumped off injuring her leg.

Taking advantage of the darkness, the unidentified persons fled.

While sources in the village claim that those who opened fire had Maoist links, officials in the state police neither admitted nor refuted claims of such links. Interestingly, this came at a time when a handwritten letter by CPI (Maoists) was sent to three individuals residing in Belpahari area of Jhargram district on July 27, 2020, including Bidyut Das

according to the villagers. The three individuals who received the letter have been identified as Bidyut Das - a cooking gas dealer, Tarun Mondal - a primary school teacher and Sushil Mondal - a local grocery store owner.

The letter which was reportedly sent at the behest of CPI (Maoist) squad member Madan Mahato demanded a ransom, claim villagers. Several posters were also pasted outside their houses warning them that they must pay the amount by July 29, 2020, else face consequences. However, all three individuals refrained from paying the ransom. On the other hand, a senior official from the state police expressed his doubts over Maoist links, “We are

investigating the incident. We are trying to find out whether it is a handiwork of any local misusing the name of Maoists.”

However, this official remained tightlipped on Maoist letters received by the three individuals demanding a ransom.

Earlier on August 16, a day after Independence day, as many as 10-12 handwritten Maoist posters urging villagers to observe Independence Day as ‘Kala Divas’ surfaced at several villages of the same Jhargram district. Officers in central intelligence agencies said that activities of the armed squad led by state secretary Akash have recently increased in the villages along Bengal-Jharkhand border in the districts of Jhargram and Purulia in West Bengal.

CONG MP DIES OF COVID, PM EXPRESSES GRIEF Congress MP from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, H Vasanthakumar, died of Covid19 at a hospital, , the party said. The 70year old first time MP, and working president of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, who was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals on August 10 after he tested positive for coronavirus, succumbed to the illness, a party spokesperson said. Vasanthakumar is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter, he said. PM Modi, Tamil Nadu CM K Palaniswami, Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, who is Vasanthakumar’s niece, Congress party leaders Rahul Gandhi, P Chidambaram and DMK president M K Stalin were among those who condoled the death.

VEDANTA MOVES SC ON REOPENING OF STERLITE PLANT Mining giant Vedanta Limited has filed an appeal before the Supreme Court challenging the Madras High Court order refusing to grant permission for the reopening of Sterlite copper smelting plant in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi. The plant remained closed since April 2018 following an order by the state government after 13 people were killed last year when police opened fire during a protest against environmental pollution allegedly caused by the plant. In April last year, the Supreme Court had dismissed a petition seeking reopening of the plant for maintenance, calling it "frivolous." However, the court had granted the liberty to the group to approach the Madras High Court with its plea for reopening.

AKAL TAKHT REJECTS FRESH CLEMENCY APPEAL Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh rejected a clemency appeal by excommunicated Sucha Singh Langah, a former Akali minister, saying the Sikh community would continue to socially boycott him. The decision came after Langah's son submitted a fresh clemency appeal to the secretariat of the Akal Takht, the top temporal seat of Sikhs. Rejecting the appeal during a meeting of five Sikh head priests, Singh said, 'There is no clemency for Sucha Singh Langah and people of Sikh community would continue social boycott with him.' The Akal Takht has excommunicated Langah from the Sikh community in October 2017 after he was booked in a rape case from which he was later acquitted. Earlier this month, Langah was pardoned by the ''panj pyaras'' (five beloved ones of the Guru) at the historical Gurdwara Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in Gurdaspur.

SEIZURE OF ANTIQUES In a major breakthrough, customs officials in Kolkata made the biggest seizure of antiques in recent times. The agency seized as many as 25 antique idols valued at £3.53 million. On August 23 night, customs officials intercepted a truck at South Dinajpur district en route to Bangladesh through Kaliyaganj border. Officials found antique idols carefully concealed in paddy and hidden inside the truck. Of the total 25 seized antique idols, there were seven stone idols of Goddess Parvati, Manasha Devi, Lord Vishnu and Lord Surya, seven metallic artefacts made of bronze and octo alloy besides other 11 terracotta idols. All the seized antiques range from 9th century to 16th century AD.

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5 - 11 September 2020

The writer is a Socio-political Historian - E-mail: haridesai@gmail.com

Indian troops managed to beat Bikaner threatened PLA to occupy strategic height Dr. Hari Desai

to join Pakistan

• Lord Mountbatten was compelled to change the Radcliffe Report • Maharaja of Bikaner sounded M.A.Jinnah through Bhopal Nawab If Ferozepur Headworks and Gang Canal went to Pakistan, His Highness, in the interests of his subjects of the Gang Canal Colony would have no option left but to opt for Pakistan.”

The Viceroy Lord Mountbatten received the message from the Maharaja Sadul Singh of Bikaner and the scheduled declaration of the Radcliffe Report was delayed by two days “to favour India”. When the Award was announced on the night of 17 August 1947, the Ferozepur Headworks and the entire area on the left bank of the Sutlej river in which Gang Canal was located, were left with India. And the Bikaner Princely State became one of the first States to join Indian Union sending her Prime Minister Sardar K.M. Panikkar to the Constituent Assembly of India.

“

Christopher Beaumont, the Secretary to the Radcliffe Commission had disclosed to The Daily Telegraph (24 February 1992) that Radcliffe was persuaded to change the Award and give the two Muslim majority tehsils Ferozepur and Zira to India. Even Kanwar Sain, the Engineer in the service of the Mountbatten, got the wind of this Bikaner State describes the whole story development and made sure that the in his Reminiscences of an Engineer headworks which provided water to Sri published in 1978 by Young Asia Ganganagar would go to East Punjab Publications. A.G. Noorani, a Supreme instead of West Punjab. Thus Bikaner Court of India lawyer, quotes both acceded to India and the Maharaja did Beaumont as well as Sain quite not meet Jinnah.” extensively in “Frontline” magazine (1 Fateh-ul-Mulk writes further: “One May 2015) of the Hindu Group. of the rulers who entertained ideas of The following telegram was independence was Nawab Hamidullah immediately dispatched to His Khan of Bhopal. He dreamed of a Excellency the Viceroy of India from the federation of smaller princely states in Maharaja of Bikaner: “It is strongly Central India led by himself and the rumoured that Boundary Commission is Maharaja of Indore, something along the likely to award Ferozepur Tehsil to lines of today’s United Arab Emirates or Western Punjab. This Tehsil contains Malaysia. As he was also pro-Muslim Headworks of Bikaner Gang Canal and League and a close associate of the Quaid under existing agreement, State is Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he acted as the entitled to receive for its perennial canal go-between for Mr. Jinnah and three of specified amount of water. Fear greatly the most important Maharajas of that administration and regulation of Rajputana who were playing with the this water exclusively by western Punjab idea of acceding to Pakistan.” may gravely prejudice interest of Bikaner “The principle of geographical State as its economic life is to very large contiguity was one of the main issues extent dependent on water supply from that Vallabhbhai Patel, the Congress Gang Canal. Have every confidence that leader who had been tasked by Nehru to Your Excellency in finally arriving at deal with the states, always stressed in decision on award of Boundary regards to States joining India or Commission will be good enough to Pakistan. Due to this reason most of the safeguard interests of Bikaner State, Muslim Princely States, which lay within especially as we as one of the parties to the boundaries of modern India, could the Agreement were not consulted in not join Pakistan. Jinnah Sahib used this arrangements that are being made. very principle against him when he Request Your Excellency to very kindly reached out to three rulers in Western give an opportunity to my Prime Rajputana, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Minister and Chief Engineer, Irrigation, Bikaner. All of these States were to place facts before Your Excellency geographically contiguous with Pakistan prior to final decision being arrived at. and were in many ways linked They are reaching Delhi historically and culturally on morning of Monday, Next Column with the Indus Valley. The eleventh.” Since both The Cost of Integration Rathores of Jodhpur and Mountbatten and Sadul Bikaner and the Bhattis of and Privy Purses Singh were close friends Jaisalmer were also among and “against all odds the oldest and proudest of the States of Mountbatten organized the States’ Rajputana and they did not want to see accession to India, with full authority their ancient legacy fade away under the from the Cabinet and Sardar Patel, who Congress. Mr Jinnah was offering a way was a supportive role”, Mountbatten for them to stay politically relevant and could secure Bikaner’s accession to India. internally autonomous.” Of course, all Even Fateh-ul-Mulk Ali Nasir, the the three Princely States of Rajputana ceremonial Mehtar (ruler) of Chitral acceded to India.

State in Pakistan wrote in The Friday Even Hugh Purcell, the biographer of Times of Lahore on 14 August 2020: Maharaja of Bikaner, concurred: “Bikaner had a practical reason for “Maharaja Sadul Singh took Bikaner into joining Pakistan. The headworks for the India only after he had threatened to join canals which fed the agricultural regions Pakistan unless the Partition boundary of the State around Sri Ganganagar were through the Punjab was redrawn at the going to be awarded to Pakistan under last minute in India’s favour, for the Radcliffe Award, so fearing access to the source of the essential Gang Canal water waters from the Sutlej, the Maharaja of laying the areas of Ferozepur which Bikaner told Nawab Hamidullah Khan would have gone to Pakistan. (of Bhopal) to convey it to Jinnah that Mountbatten agreed thereby adding to Bikaner may join Pakistan to ensure their Pakistan’s sense of injustice.” water rights. The Viceroy, Lord

Despite the presence of cameras and surveillance equipment deployed by the Chinese Army near the height close to Pangong lake southern bank, the Indian troops managed to occupy it before the People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops. "The Chinese Army has deployed advanced cameras and surveillance equipment to monitor Indian activities near the dormant height but despite that, the Indian troops managed to occupy height there," sources said.

The Chinese Army has installed such equipment all along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and use them effectively to monitor Indian activities and respond quickly whenever they find Indian patrols on the areas claimed by them.

Sources said the cameras and surveillance equipment has been removed after the Indian side occupied the dormant height within its territory.

China has been claiming that the height belongs to them and wanted to capture

it to get into an advantageous position all along the southern bank of Pangong lake area and the nearby Spangur Gap, an open territory where Chinese armoured regiments were deployed.

Sources said the Indian side has prepared very well for responding to the Chinese reaction in view of the action by own troops including a Special Operations unit and Sikh Light Infantry troops there.

One of the Indian Army jawans also lost his life in an anti-personnel mine explosion while patrolling in the area. The Indian side has done heavy deployment of armoured regiments including the BMP Infantry

Combat Vehicles and different types of tanks flown in from armoured divisions from the plains.

The preparation for the action had been done by the Indian Army recently as the heavy movement of logistics and equipment was done by the force. The Indian Army has preempted the Chinese action to occupy the strategic height on the intervening night of August 29-30 and thwarted a Chinese action to do so after an intense face-off there.

The Chinese and Indian troops are engaged in a standoff for over three months after the PLA troops marched into Indian areas in Finger area and other parts of the Ladakh sector.

Female IPS officer appointed as IG of CRPF in Srinagar sector For the first time, a female IPS officer has been appointed as Inspector General (IG) of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Srinagar sector, one of the terrorist-affected areas in Jammu and Kashmir.

Charu Sinha, IPS officer of the 1996-batch Telangana cadre, will now be heading the Srinagar sector for CRPF as the Inspector General.

This is not the first time when she has been assigned such a tough task, earlier also, she had worked as IG, the Bihar sector in CRPF and has dealt with Naxals.

Under her leadership, various anti-Naxals operations were carried out.

Later, she was transferred to

IG Jammu in CRPF where she spent a long and successful tenure.

On Monday, a fresh order came appointing her as the IG Srinagar sector. Current Director-General CRPF AP Maheshwari headed the Srinagar sector as IG in 2005.

The sector, which started functioning in 2005 never had a female officer at the IG level. This sector involved in anti-terror operations and closely work with the Indian Army along with Jammu and Kashmir police. "Srinagar sector is located at Brein Nishat, Srinagar (J-K). It started functioning in 2005.

Srinagar Sector has operational jurisdiction over three districts of J-K-

Charu Sinha

Budgam, Ganderbal, and Srinagar and Union Territory of Ladakh," the CRPF said.

"It includes 2 ranges, 22 executive units, and 3 Mahila companies. Apart from it, Srinagar Sector has administrative control on Group Centre-Srinagar," the paramilitary force added.

Charu Sinha will also be heading all operations involved in this sector.

Ban on international flights extended till Sept 30 Aviation regulator DGCA has said that the suspension of scheduled international flights to and from India has been extended till September 30 as the government announces Unlock 4.0. Earlier, the overseas flights were suspended till July 31 and has been under suspension since March 23.

"The competent authority has further extended the suspension on the scheduled international commercial passenger services to/from India up to 2359 hours IST of 30th September," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement. This restriction will not apply to international allcargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA. "However, this restriction shall not apply to international allcargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA," the statement further read. This means that government will

continue operating flights under the travel bubbles that the Government has established with countries like US, Germany, Dubai, UK, Canada and France among other countries.

More of these bilateral air bubbles will be announced soon.“To allow gradual movement of passenger traffic during the Covid-19 situation, ‘transport bubble’ agreements have been signed with USA, France, and Germany.

Recently, ‘transport bubble’ agreement has also been signed with Kuwait to uplift stranded passenger both to/from India. More similar arrangements are likely to fructify and ease passenger movements from different countries,” a statement issued by DGCA earlier mentioned. India is currently operating cargo flights, domestic flights, international flights under Vande Bharat Mission and international flights under air bubble pacts to facilitate travellers' movement.

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Ex-President Pranab Mukherjee laid to rest; PM, Prez pay respects Former President and veteran Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee was laid to rest with full military honours on Tuesday with his last rites performed at the Lodhi crematorium in Delhi by his son Abhijit Mukherjee. Family members were in PPE kits in view of the Covid -19 outbreak.

Earlier during the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind, former PM Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were among the scores of leaders who paid their last respects to Mukherjee at his residence. The former president passed away on Monday at the age of 84. He had earlier tested positive for Covid -19 and had undergone an emergency life-saving surgery for a brain clot. His health continued to remain critical after the surgery and he was put on ventilatory support.

Among other leaders and officials who paid their last respects to Mukherjee at his residence, 10 Rajaji Marg, were Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

General Bipin Rawat, and the three service chiefs General MM Naravane, RKS Bhadauria and Admiral Karambir Singh.

‘Left a void’ "Pranab Mukherjee has left a void. He was generous and kind, who used to make me forget that I am talking to the president of India. It was in his nature to make everyone his own, despite political differences. He'll be remembered always," RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was quoted as saying. Home Minister Amit Shah said, "It's a sad day for all of us that Pranab Da isn't there with us anymore. Those who want to come in politics and learn how to work without any controversy, should observe his political life and follow him."

As a mark of respect, the government on Monday evening also announced that seven days’

Pranab Mukherjee

state mourning will be observed throughout India from 31 August to 6 September. During this period of state mourning, the National Flag will fly at half-mast on all buildings throughout India, where it is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment, the government announced.

Pranab Mukherjee's political career spanned five decades, during which he served as the thirteenth president of India from 2012-2017 and as the Union finance minister from 2009 to 2012. Probably no Indian politician

can match Mukherjee’s enviable record as a long-distance runner.

He had a ringside view of Indian politics for some five decades, though in his four-part memoir, he hid more secrets than he revealed of his eventful life.

He was the Congress party’s Man for All Seasons, whose services were often required for crisis management because of his intimate knowledge of both government and the party.

Mukherjee’s career started as a junior minister in the Indira Gandhi government in the 1970s

and ended when he demitted office as President of India in 2017.

In the decades in between, he held almost every important ministerial portfolio at some point.

A five-time member of Rajya Sabha and twice of Lok Sabha, Mukherjee was the unchallenged authority on parliamentary procedure and laws.

But the one post which eluded him was that of Prime Minister, a position he believed was his due.

But twice his ambitions were thwarted, just when he assumed the post was within grasp. In 1984 when Indira Gandhi was assassinated, Mukherjee felt that as the most senior minister and by far the most qualified, he was the obvious candidate to take her place. He did not comprehend that Rajiv Gandhi, then a political novice who was not even a minister, would be his party’s natural choice. In 2004, after the UPA victory when Sonia Gandhi declined to be Prime Minister, Mukherjee again assumed that he was the obvious candidate. Instead, Sonia selected Manmohan Singh, a man who had once worked under Mukherjee as RBI Governor when he was Finance Minister.

Prashant Bhushan fined Re 1, says India's Covid cases in August is highest case a moment for free speech recorded in any country The Supreme Court on Monday imposed a token fine of Re 1 on advocate Prashant Bhushan, whom it had last week held guilty of criminal contempt over two tweets. The Bench led by Justice Arun Mishra, and also comprising Justices B R Gavai and Krishna Murari, said it could have imposed a harsher punishment, but it was “showing magnanimity”.

The Bench, which had held Bhushan guilty on August 14, asked him to deposit the fine with the Supreme Court registry by September 15, “failing which he shall undergo a simple imprisonment for a period of three months and… be debarred from practising in this court for a period of three years.

“In our considered view, the act committed by the contemnor is a very serious one.

He has attempted to denigrate the reputation of the institution of administration of justice of which he himself is a part.”

Hours after he was sentenced, Bhushan said that he would pay the fine, but he reserved his right to seek a review of the judgment holding him guilty of contempt.

“I propose to submit myself to this order and will respectfully pay the fine as I would have submitted to any other lawful punishment,” he said. “What is very heartening is that this case has become a watershed moment for freedom of speech and seems to have encouraged many people to stand up and speak out against the injustices in our society,”

Bhushan said.

The judgment said that although Bhushan was given chances to “express regret”, he did not do so, and ignored the advice of Attorney General K K Venugopal to express regret and withdraw the allegation in his reply affidavit. Bhushan’s conduct, the court said, “reflects adamance and ego, which has no place to exist in the system of administration of justice and in noble profession, and no remorse is shown for the harm done to the institution to which he belongs.

“At the same time, we cannot retaliate merely because the contemnor has made a statement that he is neither invoking the magnanimity or the mercy of this court and he is ready to submit to the penalty that can be lawfully be inflicted upon him for what the court has determined to be an offence.”

If the court did not “take cognizance of such conduct it will give a wrong message to the lawyers and litigants throughout the country”, the judgment said.

“However, by showing magnanimity, instead of imposing any severe punishment, we are sentencing the contemnor with a nominal fine of Re.1/(Rupee one),” the Bench ruled. The court rejected the attempt by Bhushan “to justify” himself “on the basis of the Press Conference dated 12.01.2018 of the four senior-most Judges of this Court”. It said that “it is settled that negative equality cannot be claimed as there is no concept of negative equality”.

The judgment also disapproved of the unprecedented press conference itself, addressed by then Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan Lokur and Kurian Joseph, at which they had said there was an urgent need to preserve the judiciary if India’s democracy was to be protected, and that they had chosen to go public after having failed to convince then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra of the same.

“We hope it was the first and the last occasion that the Judges have gone to press, and God gives wisdom to protect its dignity by internal mechanism, particularly, when allegations made, if any, publicly cannot be met by sufferer Judges,” the judgment said. “It would cause suffering to them till eternity.

Truth can be the defence to the Judges also, but they are bound by their judicial norms, ethics, and code of conduct.”

India reported close to 2 million Covid-19 cases in August, the highest recorded in any country during any month since the outbreak of the pandemic. The country also saw a surge in deaths from the virus, with 28,859 fatalities reported in August, a 50% jump from the previous month’s toll. The 19,87,705 cases recorded during August in India, as per data collated from state governments, made it the worst outbreak of the virus in any country during a single month .

India’s Covid tally crosses 36,00,000 mark With 78,512 new cases of Covid19, India’s case tally has gone past the 36,00,000 mark, according to the Union health ministry on Monday. With 971 new deaths, the cumulative toll reached 65,288. The coronavirus cases in the country mounted to 36,91,166 including 7,81,975 active cases, 27,74,802 cured/discharged/migrated cases.

In Maharashtra, 11,852 new cases, 11,158 discharges and 184 Covid-19 deaths were reported on Monday. The total number of cases till date in the state is 7,92,541, There are 1,94,056 active cases in the state, while 5,73,559 Covid-19 patients were discharged after full recovery until Monday. The death toll is at 24,583, according to Maharashtra's health department.

Tamil Nadu reported 5,956 new Covid-19 cases, 6,008 discharges and 91deaths in the last 24 hours, taking total cases to 4,28,041 including 3,68,141 discharges and 7,322 deaths, according to the state's Health Department. Delhi reported 1,358 new cases,1,507 recoveries and 18 deaths. The total

number of cases now is 1,74,748 including 14,626 active cases, 1 , 5 5 , 6 7 8 recovered/discharged/migrated cases and 4,444 deaths in the national capital.

In Karnataka, 6,495 new cases, 7,238 discharged cases and 113 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, taking total cases to 3,42,423 including 2,49,467 discharges and 5,702 deaths, according to the state's Health Department. Punjab recorded 1,541 new coronavirus cases, 1,280 recoveries and 50 deaths, taking active cases to 15,512, recoveries to 37,027 and death toll to 1,453, as per Punjab's health department.

India added a record 80,092 fresh Covid cases on Sunday, becoming the first country in the world to cross the 80,000-mark in one single day since the outbreak of the pandemic, even as the week ending August 30 turned out to be the worst week of the month. The growth rate in both fresh cases and fatalities in this week not only increased after a dip, but more than doubled compared to the preceding week. The highest peak of 80,000plus cases comes on a Sunday when the number of fresh infections have been lower than other days of the week because of a lull in testing during the weekends. The highest peak of fresh cases on a Sunday was last recorded on August 9 with 63,851 fresh cases.

However, more alarming than the new peak in fresh infections is the growth rate of both fresh cases and fatalities shooting up in the last week of August after a dip which was seen in the earlier weeks of the month.

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HEALTH VOICE

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5 - 11 September 2020

Coronavirus unlikely to infect twice, say studies A reinfection case of a 33 year old man in Hong Kong has reignited the debate on whether true reinfection can occur. Scientists have confirmed the second infection was caused by a genetically distinct virus from the one that caused the first infection in March. The patient had developed cough and sputum, and was also down with sore throat, fever and headache for three days when he first tested positive for Covid-19. He however remained asymptomatic when he got reinfected in August.

Studies show that following infection with SarsCoV2, the virus that causes

Covid-19, the infected person produces neutralising antibodies rapidly, but the antibody count begins to decline in about one to two months after acute infection. However, prolonged low-grade viral shedding detectable by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests has led to people testing positive weeks after recovering.

Scientists clarified that the repeated positive tests picked up dead viruses from past infection that did not make the person ill or infected others. The genetic confirmation in Hong Kong proved a second infection can occur, however, there are no reports of people developing symptoms or falling sick the second time.

Dr Anurag Agrawal, director, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, said, “We are now beginning to see cases of reinfection, but still now we have not had a true re-infection where a person was symptomatic the first time,

and symptomatic the second time. We only have cases of symptomatic the first time, and asymptomatic the second time. True reinfection with a patient who is twice symptomatic has not yet occurred.”

The amount of live virus in the nose and throat drops significantly soon after Covid-19 symptoms develop, with the duration of infectiousness in most people not lasting more than 10 days after symptoms begin, and 20 days on average in people with severe illness or those who are severely immuno-compromised, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

UK-based Indian origin doctor's new book spells out ways to improve health A UK-based Indian origin doctor has released a new book offering a “simple, evidence-based” plan to help improve health parameters. Dr Aseem Malhotra's 'The 21-Day Immunity Plan: How to Rapidly Improve Your Metabolic Health and Resilience to Fight Infection' is touted as a tried and tested method of how in just 21 days people can prevent, improve and even potentially reverse several underlying risk factors that exacerbate how infections can affect humans and improve their

ability to recover.

The NHS trained cardiologist was quoted in a report as saying, “Poor metabolic health equals poor immune health. The good news is that within weeks of making simple changes to what we eat, how we move and reducing stress through meditation, we can rapidly improve – both making us healthier and more resilient to infection.” He said he wrote the book in just six weeks because he and his publishers wanted it out as soon as possible to help readers build resilience to infec-

tion, given the current coronavirus pandemic. He was also consulted by UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock, seeking evidence linking Covid-19 and obesity.

Malhotra said, “I informed him, as I make the case in the book, that obesity is just the tip of the diet related disease iceberg.

In other words, we're all vulnerable.” The book lays out the benefits to global health of highly effective lifestyle changes. “I follow my own advice and I prescribe this to my patients who see rapid improve-

ments in their health. My metabolic parameters are all normal despite having a strong family history of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes and a recent body composition scan revealed my metabolic age is 29 even though my actual age is 42.”

Malhotra warns that the medications that are used for type 2 diabetes and many of the other conditions have “very, very marginal effects” in terms of improving lifespan or reducing risk of death and they also come with side effects.

Study says vitamin B may help in fight against Covid Researchers have frequently theorized that vitamins C and D might ease coronavirus symptoms or prevent infection, but a new study suggests that another vitamin may also be helpful: Vitamin B. In the study, which was published this week in the journal Maturitas, scientists from the University of Oxford, United Arab Emirates University and the University of Melbourne advocated for more research into whether B can help Covid-19 patients.

The researchers didn't test the vitamin on patients but pointed out that it has a number of effects that could ameliorate Covid-19.

"Vitamin B … plays a pivotal role in cell functioning, energy metabolism and proper immune function," the authors wrote. "Vitamin B assists in proper activation of both the innate and adaptive immune responses, reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, improves respiratory function, maintains endothelial integrity, prevents hypercoagulability and can reduce the length of stay in the hospital."

Could calm inflammation and the immune system The novel coronavirus seems to cause widespread inflammation throughout the body, impairing breathing and potentially affecting the heart and brain. It's theorized this is caused by an immune system overreaction to the virus called a

"cytokine storm." Reducing that inflammation and modulating the immune system could prevent cases of Covid from becoming severe. "Vitamin B not only helps to build and maintain a healthy immune system, but it could potentially prevent or reduce Covid-19 symptoms or treat SARSCoV-2 infection," the researchers wrote. "Poor nutritional status predisposes people to infections more easily; therefore, a balanced diet is necessary for immuno-competence."

Sources of Vitamin B There are eight B vitamins, including B1 (thi-

amine), B6, B12 and folic acid. Deficiency in Vitamin B12 or B6 can cause anemia, and pregnant women are urged to take folic acid during pregnancy to prevent birth defects of the brain and spine.

According to the National Institutes of Health, B vitamins can be obtained from proteins such as fish, poultry, meat, eggs, and dairy products; leafy green vegetables, beans, and peas; and cereals and breads that have been fortified with B vitamins.

They're also widely available as over-the-counter supplements.

Covid-19 child fatalities in the UK had underlying conditions A study suggesting healthy school-age patients are at very limited risk of severe disease outcomes, reveals children who died from Covid-19 in the UK had “profound” underlying medical conditions. The report adds to previous indications that youthful patients suffer less from the disease than older people, but showed that Black or obese children are at a marginally higher risk.

Of the 651 cases reviewed, 42 per cent involved underlying health conditions, but only 18 per cent overall required intensive care. There were six deaths, all involving

serious pre-existing conditions. Calum Semple, professor of child health and outbreak medicine at the University of Liverpool, said, “It is vanishingly rare to have severe disease in children.” He said the risk remains “tiny” even for Black or obese children. He added, “If you are a Black parent in Glasgow or London, your kids should still go back to school.”The study published in the journal BMJ, reveals 52 of the children suffered a “multisystem inflammatory syndrome” that has been linked to coronavirus patients.

We should be proud of our skin colour Shefali Saxena Covid-19 has got under our skin, Dr Sreedhar Krishna both figuratively and literally. There are rising concerns and debates around skin related health issues and perception building. Asian Voice spoke to Dr Sreedhar Krishna, NHS consultant dermatologist who threw some light over these pressing issues.

While Covid-19 has forced everyone to use sanitisers and soap more frequently than before, many people have complained of rashes or peeling of skin. We asked Dr Krishna what triggers that and do we need to worry about it. He said, “Hand sanitisers and soaps are harsh on the skin. While the alcoholic component of sanitisers is excellent at sterilising the skin, they can also lead to increased drying of the skin and damage to the skin barrier. Likewise, soaps are generally alkaline - applying them to the skin raises the skin pH and can trigger skin peeling and hand eczema. My recommendation is to use soap substitutes to wash your hands - these will clean the skin without damaging the skin barrier.”

Since the BAME community is primarily identified by the color of the skin, and many people still feel insecure about it or develop complexes, Dr Krishna explained the scientific basis of having brown skin and why whitening products may or may not be good for dermatological health. He said, “The colour of our skin is determined by a number of substances with the most important of these being melanin. Our skin colour is mainly determined by genetics which affects the amount and type of melanin that an individual produces. Our skin colour has been determined by evolution - brown skin helped our ancestors survive in sunny climates and thus the dark skinned are adapted for life in sunny climates. Modern life has meant that people of all colours live all over the world and this has led to a variety of health issues. The dark skinned in the UK are generally Vitamin D deficient (which increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and depression) while fair-skinned people in Australia are at much higher risks of skin cancer. We should be proud of our skin colour as it has served our ancestors well in Asia!”

He also added that the ingredients in skin lightening products can do irreparable damage to our health.

“The commonest ingredient used in these products is hydroquinone, the long-term use of which has been associated with kidney failure and blood cancers. From a skin perspective, it can lead to a patchy skin tone as well as triggering eczema. Corticosteroids which are another key ingredient can also lead to premature skin ageing, wrinkling and skin fragility. The risks are simply not worth it!”

Many Asian households have a tendency to follow self medication and traditional methods of treating skin issues. Dr Krishna explained why it is not ok to do that. “As you say, the use of self-medication and alternative therapies is pretty widespread in Asian households. While I am trained in conventional medicine, I do not have a negative view of alternative therapy. The issue is that many products which are labelled 'natural' or 'organic' often contain other unlabelled ingredients which can be dangerous for health. This has been shown in the case of herbal remedies which were tested in an industrial laboratory and found to contain potent steroids. Self-medication in itself is not the issue - the problem is that if something doesn't resolve, you must seek medical help. Skin issues such as skin cancer cause no symptoms (i.e. no pain, no itch) and so people tend to ignore them. This can mean that they see the doctor much later than they might otherwise have done making treatment much more difficult. If you do try self-medicating or alternative therapy, please do mention it to the doctor when you see them. The treatment you have done can make rashes look different and if we don't know what has been done to the skin before we meet, it makes securing the correct diagnosis a lot more difficult!”

Women are now preferring to go for laser hair removal after being stuck at home without regular grooming sessions. Is it safe to do that? Dr Krishna said, “Yes, this would be fine. Make sure you see someone who is reputable, experienced with skin of colour and is taking the necessary precautions to keep you safe.”

To Our Readers We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement any advice. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

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Ghazals are not just about heartbreak and being drunk : Shilpa Rao Shefali Saxena In the year 2017, Talat Aziz, an immensely revered and popular Ghazal singer told a leading Indian daily that ‘Ghazal may die soon’. He told Hindustan Times, “This may be disheartening for fresh singers.. there aren't too many platforms for them within the mainstream. Albums have gone out of fashion. There isn't enough encouragement. Ghazal gayaki is not dead, though at this rate it may die soon.”

Three years later, Jashn-E-Rekhta has a community of over 100,000 followers on Twitter, close to half a million followers on Instagram and the parent page on Facebook has over 1.2 million likes. The tables have turned, or if we could say, the music is more tuned with the likes of millennials who somehow seem to love Ghazals more than ever. Asian Voice spoke to singer Shilpa Rao who is participating in this year’s edition of Jashn-E-Rekhta between September 5 - 6.

We asked her what exactly a Ghazal is.

Shilpa said, “I would just say that there’s a misconception that is attached with millenials and people of my generation that Ghazals are just about heartbreak and being drunk. I’m being very honest here. It’s not exactly that. When it comes to nature, human psychology, behaviour and life lessons, Ghazal is a mix of everything and has the added bliss of being extremely romantic and expressed beautifully. I think it’s all of that. It’s a world of its own. It's a way of life. It’s a thought process.”

With the welcome reception of new music apps like Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube music and more free apps like

Wynk (that comes free with an Airtel connection), the discovery of Ghazal has increased remarkably. The pandemic specifically has given a new ground to musicians to experiment with independent music.

We live in the era of unplugged versions, Coke Studio, and other similar formats that have their own mass fan following on the internet. Yet, there is little or no marketing around this genre of music. So how does one discover Ghazals anyway?

Shilpa explained, “There’s one side of me who’d say - listen, if you really want it, you will do anything to get it. If you want to find a girl, you’ll do anything in your power Google around and find her on the net. All I want to say is that - we are born with a lot of perks. We are born in India and Indian heritage, the clothes that you have - the embroidery, the nakkashi it’s sort of given to us because of our heritage. Every generation has a sort of a duty and responsibility. It’s all on us. So I do feel that an artist has the power and responsibility to put out great music” Shilpa shared with us that her first childhood Ghazal concert was at Jashn-eRekhta. She also puts out a lot of Ghazals through her social media today and gets comments from the youth who love her rendition. “There are a lot of portals who are home to unplugged versions and a Baithak and there are very big platforms where independent work is being recognised. We couldn’t think of all this five years ago, and there are many artists like Neha Bhasin, Shalmali Kholgade,

DEMOCKRAZY: STOMACH-ACHINGLY FUNNY BOOK LAUNCH Dr Shashi Tharoor finds author Avay Shukla’s new book "Trenchant & witty". The book titled “PolyTicks, DeMocKrazy & MumboJumbo: Babus, Mantris & Netas (Un) Making Our Nation”, was launched by Dr Tharoor on Monday, August 31 who is the Member of the Indian Parliament, and author of 19 best-selling books. The virtual launch included Prabhu Guptara, Publisher, Pippa Rann Books & Media, Sharmila Livingston, Composer, Musician, and Conducto, Chairman: Meera Khanna, Trustee, Guild of Service and Chief Guest: Dr V. Mohini Giri.

Shilpa Rao, Singer

Benny Dayal etc. Everyone is doing their ‘Pasandeeda’ (favourite) work. And it is very important that they do it because at the end of the day the artist can maneuver the crowd. I think the newer generation of artists are quite brave and putting out independent music,” she said.

Shilpa has sung two Ghazals for music director Pritam in Tigers and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Some more are in the pipeline.

Her favourite Ghazals are too many to be listed yet she said that some of her favourites are Mehdi Hassan’s Dono jahan teri mohabbat me haar ke and Dil-eNadaan by Mirza ghalib.

This year, Jashn-E-Rekhta will have a session on Ghazal Gayaki: Aathwen Sur Ki Talaash, which will be moderated by Gurmehar Kaur who will be in conversation with Shilpa Rao, Rafaqat Ali Khan & Talat Aziz.

BAME artists await the promised sum of money but it’s nowhere to be seen Suraj Shah runs the Twitter and Instagram handles under the name - @BAMEBAMEBAMEE. Shah has been helping the arts community by launching this initiative where he’s collating a database of actors looking for agents as he and his team get a lot of agents asking them to recommend/suggest people.

The handle is run in support of under-represented artists, creatives & stories within the performing arts industry, the handle clearly states that they are not agents, casting directors or experts.

Talking exclusively to Asian Voice, Shah said, “A lot of agents attend the BAME General Open Auditions. From that they see the type of talent we select to be a part of our auditions which insinuates then returning to us to ask us for more suggesting a well after the auditions throughout the year. We don’t usually have a list of actors to suggest, hence why we thought of this initiative. Having a database of actors, put into file allows us to easily suggest actors the agents may be looking for. It’s quick, easy and simple. Of course having a material allows us to see you in action in which case makes it even more easier to suggest you to agents.”

“We’ve already suggested actors that were suitable for agents within a day of opening the initiative up. - when we say suitable, we mean that whatever type of actors the agents were looking for, we had them at hand on our database to suggest,” he added.

Commenting on the biggest challenges for the BAME community in the arts sector right now, he said, “Justice being done to our unheard voices. So many productions seem to think having a couple of black actors in their projects/shows makes them diverse.

We don’t live in a black and white world.

So many other races, ethnicities, stories are to be told. We need to see a reflection of the real world in these areas not only on stage and screen but behind them too;

What's On

HAVE YOUR SAY ON CITY LANDMARKS WITH HISTORIC LINKS TO RACISM AND SLAVERY People are being asked to give their views on statues, street and building names and other landmarks in the City of London with historic links to slavery and racism in all its forms. On September 1, The City of London Corporation launched a three-month consultative exercise asking people which landmarks they think are a problem and what action they would like to see taken.

The survey is being promoted by the City Corporation’s Tackling Racism Taskforce, set up in June with the aim of considering what action the organisation can take to tackle racism in all its forms. It comes as organisations across London and the UK review the cultural legacy of slavery and colonialism in the light of the Black Lives Matter movement. During the exercise, people can give their views online and by post on landmarks and historic items such as plaques, statues and street names in the City of London and on City of London Corporation sites outside the Square Mile.

The City Corporation is seeking the views of City residents, workers, students, visitors, and the general public. It is also asking other stakeholders including City firms, cultural institutions and political bodies across the capital and nationally to take part.

Book Recommendation

POLYTICKS, DEMOCKRAZY AND MUMBO- JUMBO by Avay Shukla Suraj Shah

Directors, Producers, writers, Camera people, runners etc.”

Explaining the process that he follows right to make sure that the database reaches agents, he said, “We keep the actors on file. If an agent approaches us, we suggest actors that they are looking for. For example; if an agent is looking for East Asian actors between the ages of 20-28 that are trained in MT, we can easily look in that folder and suggest the actors we think are suitable for them. It’s not guaranteed you will gain representation or a meeting with the agents, but they will most definitely look at your submission.”

Can the government help them? He said, “In all honesty, it will only be helpful if the government released any funds. At the moment we are all waiting on this promised sum of money but it’s nowhere to be seen. If it was, then certainly it would be better than nothing.”

Published by Pippa Rann Books and Media, UK. It's a collection of satirical and irreverent pieces on the state of our politics, society, leaders and democratic systems. We have given them serious thought and it has got us nowhere- it's time now to look at their humorous and funny side. That too will get us nowhere, but it might just dispel the gloom and doom for a brief interlude!

The author retired from the Indian Administrative Service in December 2010. A keen environmentalist and trekker he has published a book on high altitude trekking in the Himachal Himalayas: THE TRAILS LESS TRAVELLED. He writes for various publications and websites on the environment, governance and social issues. He divides his time between Delhi and his cottage in a small village above Shimla. He used to play golf at one time but has now run out of balls. He has published his second book- SPECTRE OF CHOOR DHAR( a collection of short stories based on the myths and fables of Himachal)- in July 2019.

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5 - 11 September 2020

Kangana says blood tests on industry A-listers will make shocking revelations Kangana Ranaut has been making one explosive statement after another ever since she joined Twitter last week. In her recent statement, the actor has implied that several A-listers consume illegal drugs. She tweeted, “If narcotics Control Bureau enters Bullywood, many A listers will be behind bars, if blood tests are conducted many shocking revelations will happen. Hope @PMOIndia under swatchh Bharat mission cleanses the gutter called Bullywood.”

Virushka announce pregnancy with a glowing picture online

The actor has also claimed that she was still a minor when her mentor spiked her drinks and sedated her. She wrote on the micro-blogging website, “I was still a minor my mentor turned tormentor used to spike my drinks and sedate me to prevent me from going to cops, when I became successful and got entry into the most famous film parties I was exposed to the most shocking and sinister world and drugs, debauchery and mafia.”

Abhishek Bachchan shares his new look Abhishek Bachchan was tested positive for Covid -19 along with father Amitabh Bachchan, daughter and wife Aaradhya Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan respectively in July. Now he is back home after testing negative. He's now gearing up for getting back to work and he took to his Instagram account to share his new look.

The actor was last seen in the web-series, 'Breathe: Into The Shadows', where he tackled a character that suffers from split personality disorder.

Abhishek gave a lot of insights into his character and show when he interacted with media a few months back. He stated, "Someone said that Breathe would have made a very nice film.

But I don't know if people would buy into the nuances of the characters and all the plot twists and turns if we had to concise everything from 12 hours to 22.5 hours. So writing for a film and writing for a show are two completely different disciplines."

Was he able to relate to his character in

Breathe? "Absolutely," he said. Abhishek added, "I've made films where I couldn't relate to the character because I never met someone like that before. I did 'Happy New Year' a few years back and I could not relate to the character of Nandu Bhide because I never met someone like Nandu Bhide. So sometimes you relate to them, sometimes you don't, you still have to do your job."

The actor is now gearing up for 'Ludo' with Anurag Basu that will stream on Netflix,

'The Big Bull' that will arrive on Disney Plus Hotstar, and Bob Biswas, co-produced by Shah Rukh Khan and Sujoy Ghosh.

Sonu Sood offers to help students of NEET, JEE

Actor Anushka Sharma, and her cricketer husband Virat Kohli are expecting their first child. The power couple made the announcement on social media, with a picture and a caption that read, “And then, we were three! Arriving Jan 2021.” The photo features a beaming Anushka with a baby bump, as she poses alongside Virat.

Film and cricket fraternities soon showered the two with their good wishes. Anushka's post on Instagram garnered over 3 million 'likes'. Her 'Dil Dhadakne Do' co-star Priyanka Chopra was among the first ones

to congratulate the two. Anush's close friend and 'Zero' co-star Katrina Kaif dropped red heart emojis alongside a text saying 'Congratulations'.

Anushka and Virat, 31, dated for several years before marrying in Italy in 2017. In 2014, Anushka said, "We are not hiding anything. We are two normal young people in a relationship." Three years later, they jetted off to Tuscany for a family-and-friendsonly wedding, which they followed up with two wedding receptions back home - one in New Delhi and another in Mumbai.

Actor Sonu Sood, the lone messiah during Covidtimes, has offered to help students who may have to appear for the JEE and NEET exams. While student groups, and the Opposition parties demanded a deferral to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) due to the ongoing pandemic, and flood, the Indian government maintains the tests will be held as scheduled.

Sonu Sood, in a statement last week, said, “Students appearing for #NEET #JEE 2020 I am standing by you! If you are stuck anywhere, let me know your areas of travel. I will help you reach your examination centres. No one should miss their exam because of resources.” He also responded to an emotional video of a student in tears about having to appear for the tests.

Sonu wrote, “In case, #JEE_NEET happens: To all the students who will be appearing & are struck in flood hit areas of Bihar, Assam & Gujarat. Do let me know ur areas of travel. Trying to make ur travel arrangements to reach ur examination centres. No one should miss their exam bec of resources.”

30 BOLLYWOOD

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5 - 11 September 2020

Kareena offers advice to weight watchers Kareena Kapoor has shared a new Instagram post and some life advice for her fans. The actor is making a case for counting good memories rather than worrying about one’s weight. The photo, most likely a throwback, shows Kareena at a restaurant, looking through their menu. She is seen wearing a white and blue striped shirt and dark sunglasses. “Count the memories, not the calories… #FoodForThought #Deep,” she captioned her post.

Kareena’s fans left her a tonne of compliments in the comments.

“Wowwww lookinggg so pretttyyyy,” wrote one. “So beautiful

Genre: Supernatural Horror Duration: 90 minutes

Would you download an app that told you when you would die?

you are,” wrote one. Another commented that she no longer needs to worry about the calories as she is expecting her second child.

Kareena and husband Saif Ali Khan recently announced that they are expecting another baby.

“We are very pleased to announce that we are expecting an addition to our family,” an official statement from the couple read.

Expressing their gratitude to their fans and well-wishers, they said, “Thank you to all our well-wishers for all their love and support.”

They are already parents to fouryear-old son Taimur.

Quinn is a nurse who downloads an app that tells her when she will die. The problem is everyone around her seems to have years to live but her app tells her that she only has three days to live.

Bachchan returns to sets, talks about freeing body and mind in new blog post Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan who has begun filming for the new season of popular game show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati?” addressed fear at the workplace in Covid-19 times. In a new blog post written last week, Bachchan assured his “extended family” that they should put their fears at rest as proper precautions are being taken during the shoot.

He wrote, “The notice of extreme discipline in the execution of work is astonishing. As I said last night the 'fear' of the possibility pushes all into one large cubicle where the uncertainty of the outcome is unknown but when ever did life not have uncertainty. Each day it spreads its wingspan from the widest to the longest and envelops us all. At times we fly, at times we just drop without any wind in our sails and learn to survive.”

Last seen in Shoojit Sircar's 'Gulabo Sitaabo', Bachchan will soon make his comeback on the small screen with 'KBC'. He also awaits the release of 'Chehre', 'Jhund', and 'Brahmastra'

There are apps for pretty much everything these days.

If you found out there was an app that would tell you when you’re going to die would you be brave enough to download it?

Quinn is a nurse and is taking care of an injured Evan.

Evan tells Quinn that he and his girlfriend Courtney downloaded the app, Courtney died and his app says he is going to die when he goes into surgery. Quinn is intrigued by this app and so she downloads it but is horrified to find out that she only has 3 days to live.

Evan doesn’t go into surgery, but he still dies at the time the app said. Quinn is now terrified and so she cancels a meeting she has with her father and sister, Jordan.

The app comes up with a warning to say she has broken the user agreement.

After panicking, she decides to buy a new phone, but the app re-installs itself. She then meets Matt who has also downloaded the app and only has a few days to live.

Together they took the decision to try and beat it.

They manage to hack into the app but find out Jordan is on there and her death time is a couple of minutes before Quinn’s. Quinn and Matt seek help from a priest and take Jordan along with them. The priest has a theory that the curse can be broken if someone dies before their time. However, the circle is broken, Matt dies and Jordan is injured.

Lata Mangeshkar’s building gets sealed, singer and family safe Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar’s building has been sealed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as a precautionary measure amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 90-yearold singer resides in Prabhukunj building at Peddar Road in south Mumbai.

The Mangeshkar family, in a statement, said the building was sealed as it houses many senior citizens. “We have been inundated by calls all evening enquiring whether Prabhukunj is sealed. The Building Society and the BMC have sealed it from the onset of the epidemic as we have senior citizens at home and in the building and it is mandatory to take these precautions. Even our usual festive Ganesha celebrations was a simple familial one this time to co-operate and support social distancing,” the statement read.

There were reports that some residents of the building had tested positive for Covid-19 but the family asked wellwishers to not indulge in any speculations. “Please do not react to any hearsay on the health of our family members especially. We, as a building

society in unison, are taking utmost caution, care and co-operating to ensure the well being and safety of all the senior citizens, especially, and all the other residing members as well.

“By God’s grace and the wishes of so many, the family is safe,” the statement read. On Saturday, coronavirus case tally in Maharashtra rose to 7,64,281 with record 16,867 new cases.

They rush to the hospital as their death time is nearing. Will Quinn find a way to save herself and Jordan?

'Countdown' is a great film to watch if you like to be scared out of your wits. It has a few of those jumpy moments that will keep you on your toes but not too much, so you won’t be reaching for the pillow to hide behind. Elizabeth Lail is a great actress and helps make this film an easy watch.

You can get in touch with Vallisa: djvallisa@gmail.com

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Keerthy Suresh's upcoming to be released on an OTT platform Keerthy Suresh's upcoming Telugu drama 'Miss India' is all set to become the next Telugu movie to skip theatrical release and directly head for an OTT release. If reports are to be believed, streaming rights of the movie have been acquired by Netflix.

An official announcement is yet to be made.

Directed by Narendra Nath, 'Miss

Veteran actor Anant Nag not to be replaced in second part of 'KGF' Filmmaker Prashant Neel put all rumours to rest as he confirmed that actor Prakash Raj has not replaced veteran Anant Nag in the

upcoming Part 2 of the Kannada action-drama. Nag played a key role of the movie narrator in 'KGF: Chapter 1'. However, he was rumoured to have been replaced

by Raj who was seen on the film sets.

Neel, in an interview, confirmed that Raj was not replacing Anant Nag, but was playing an entirely different character. He said, “Prakash Raj is definitely not a replacement to Anant Nag. He is a new entry and this is a new char-

acter in the movie.” The film shooting resumed earlier this week in Bengaluru. The director revealed that they still have about

25 days of shooting left with some major action sequences to be shot.

There are also three days of shoot left with Sanjay Dutt. However, he is currently undergoing treatment for cancer. Last year, it was said that Dutt was the original choice for the role of Adheera.

The film performed well at the ticket windows, despite garnering mixed reviews from critics. It ended up being the highest grossing Kannada film with over £10 million earnings.

Devgn in 'Maidaan'. She was, however, dropped from the project after she lost too much weight for her character in 'Miss India'. She has three more projects in her kitty. Telugu sports romedy 'Good Luck Sakhi' with Nagesh Kukunoor, Mahesh Babu's 'Sarkaru Vaari Paata', and Rajinikanth's upcoming 'Annaatthe'.

Dhanush's 'Jagame Thanthiram' won't be released on OTT platform Filmmakers of Dhanush's upcoming 'Jagame Thanthiram' have announced the movie will only release in theatres. Producer S Sashkanth urged fans to not believe any rumours, and that the Karthik Subbaraj directorial will not be released on any OTT platforms.

He tweeted, “Jagam is still healing and not back to normal. Until then, be patient for the theatres to open and don't believe in rumours, the entire team is waiting to see Dhanush go Rakita Rakita on a big screen soon.”

It all began when Suriya's upcoming Tamil movie 'Soorarai Pottru' was confirmed to release directly on Amazon Prime on October 30. Rumours soon circulated that Dhanush's movie will be next to make a similar move.

'Jagame Thanthiram' sees

Dhanush play a gangster. Pictures o f the

actor sporting a handlebar mustache had recently gone viral on

social media. The maiden collaboration

between the actor and Subbaraj, it has been predominantly shot in London.

Aishwarya Lekshmi plays the leading lady. Meanwhile, James Cosmo of 'Game of Thrones' fame will also be seen playing a pivotal role in the movie.

TV Listing STORY

21:30 PAVITRA BHAGYAA

22:00 PINJARA KHUBSOORTI KA

SATURDAY 5 SEP

18:30 NAMASTE BREAKFAST

Udhayanidhi Stalin to star in Tamil remake of 'Article 15' Actor Udhayanidhi Stalin will star in the Tamil remake of critically acclaimed Bollywood movie 'Article 15'.

Helmed by Arunraja Kamaraj, the social drama will be bankrolled by Zee Studios and Boney Kapoor’s Bayview Projects LLP. Boney tweeted, “Happy to announce remake of Article 15 in Tamil starring @Udhaystalin to be directed

by Arunraja Kamraj . It’s a @ZeeStudios_ Studios & @BayViewProjOffl Projects Production. We continue the tradition of remaking strong content this time with @mynameisraahul of Romeo pictures.”

India' also stars Jagapathi Babu, Naveen Chandra, Rajendra Prasad, Naresh, Bhanushree Mehra, Sumanth S, Poojitha Ponnada, Kamal Kamaraju and Nadiya in crucial roles.

If the reports are true, this would be Keerthy's second movie to release on an OTT platform, after 'Penguin'.

On the work front, the actress was recently signed to star opposite Ajay

The Tamil remake of 'Article 15' marks the second directorial of lyricist-singer-actor Arunraja Kamaraj. He made his directorial debut in 2018 with sports drama 'Kanaa.'

The movie is Bollywood filmmaker Boney Kapoor’s second Tamil production after the hugely successful 'Nerkonda Paarvai,' starring Ajith in the lead role.

Anubhav Sinha directorial 'Article 15', which dealt with the issue of casteism, starred Ayushmann Khurrana, Nassar, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Isha Talwar, Sayani Gupta, Sushil Pandey, Veen Harsh and Sumbul Touqeer.

19:00 ISHQ MEIN MARJAWAN 2 * Schedule is subject to change

MON 7 AUG FRI 11 SEP 2020

14:30 KASAM

16:00 THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 19:00 ISHQ MEIN MARJAWAN 2 19:30 CHOTI SARDAARNI 20:00 SHAKTI

20:30 SHUBHARAMBH

21:00 NAATI PINKY KI LAMBI LOVE

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 7 SEP FRI 11 SEP 2020 8:00 TERE NAAL ISHQ 8:30 BHARADWAJ BAHUEIN 15:30 JAI SHRI KRISHNA 16:00 DHARAM THI GUJARATI 16:30 RASOI SHOW 17:30 CHHUTA CHHEDA 18:00 TUM KAUN PIYA 18:30 DIL KA RISHTA 19:00 MERE HUMRAHI

19:30 CHOTI SARDAARNI

20:00 NAAGIN (SEASON 5) 21:00 DESI BEAT RESET

SUNDAY 7 SEP

14:30 AGNEEPATH

18:30 DESI BEAT RESET

19:00 CHOTI SARDAARNI

20:00 NAAGIN (SEASON 5) 21:00 DESI BEAT RESET

19:30 OM NAMAH SHIVAY 20:30 BARRISTER BABU 21:00 BALIKA VADHU - LAMHE PYAAR KE SATURDAY 5 SEP 11:00 DESI BEAT SEASON 2 17:00 DHARAM THI GUJARATI 18:00 BFFS WITH VOGUE (SEASON 2) 19:00 FEET UP WITH THE STARS (SEASON 1) 19:30 OM NAMAH SHIVAY 20:30 DESI BEAT SEASON 2 21:00 BALIKA VADHU SUNDAY 6 SEP 11:00 DESI BEAT SEASON 2 17:00 DHARAM THI GUJARATI 18:00 DESI BEAT SEASON 3 19:30 OM NAMAH SHIVAY 20:30 DESI BEAT SEASON 2 21:00 BALIKA VADHU

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India grab chess Olympiad gold with Russia After a lost connection and two forfeited games, an appeal to the World Chess Federation yielded success as India and Russia were declared joint winners of Fide Online Chess Olympiad last week. The much-awaited grand finale - followed by a 64,000-plus strong audience ended on a tame note as a technical glitch forced the Fide president to pass an equitable judgment as India registered their first-ever triumph at Olympiad level. In 2014, India won the bronze in the open section, and the women’s best finish was fourth in 2012.

The finale began on a cautious note as the 2419rated Indian side held higher ranked Russia - with an average rating of 2599 - to a 33 draw, that too without the

presence of experienced V Anand. The five-time world champion returned for the crucial second round, where Anand, skipper Vidit Gujrathi and D Harika split the points with their higher-ranked Russian GMs Ian Nepomniachtchi, Dubov Daniil and Alexandra Kosteniuk, respectively.

With India’s fate hanging in the hands of World Rapid

champion K Humpy and U20 boards - where youngsters Divya Deshmukh and Nihal Sarin had the upper hand - an unprecedented event of connection error happened.

Within seconds, both Divya and Nihal were declared defeated as they “lost connection to their games and forfeited on time”. Both Divya and Nihal had no time to make their moves while

their opponents Polina Shuvalova and Andrey Esipenko had 1.22 and 1.31 minutes left on clock. Both the games were played for 25 moves.

On the third board, Humpy was two pawns down in a double-rook endgame and lost with her black pieces to Aleksandra Goryachkina in 88 moves. Thereafter, the India team lodged an official appeal on the two games they “forfeited on time.” In an official statement, the Fide president Arkady Dvorkovich said, “The Online Chess Olympiad has been impacted by a global Internet outage that severely affected several countries, including India.

The appeals committee has examined all the evidence. As Fide president, I made the decision to award gold medals to both teams.”

Ian Watmore takes charge as ECB Chair Ian Watmore has assumed the role of Chair of England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). After taking charge, he announced a series of Board updates. Ian was officially confirmed as Chair at the ECB Annual General Meeting (AGM) in June. Following a handover and on boarding process, he begins the role, succeeding Colin Graves CBE after a successful five-year tenure that saw England lift two ODI ICC Cricket World Cups, as well as securing a record £1.1 billion media rights deal.

The Board updates announced by Ian are the result of a thorough consultation between the Board and Executive Management Team. They are designed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Lord Kamlesh Patel as Senior Independent Director and

Ian Watmore

Deputy Chair. They will also further enhance the Board’s cricket, finance, governance, and strategic capacity.

The updates to the ECB Board include: Brenda Trenowden will take over as the Board’s Senior Independent Director. She will also chair the expanded Environmental, Social and Governance sub-committee.

Barry O’Brien will take over as Deputy Chair and will also act as the Alternate Director to represent the ECB on the ICC Board when required.

Alan Dickinson will chair an

enhanced Finance, Audit and Risk sub-committee of the Board. A process to recruit a new Independent Director will commence during September with new appointments being made by 1 November 2020. Derek Brewer’s term as Board Advisor on Network Stakeholders will be extended to the 2021 AGM. In addition, Sir Andrew Strauss has accepted an invitation to attend Board meetings in a non-voting capacity. He, along with former England cricketer and Board member, Lucy Pearson, deepen the provision of first-hand toplevel cricket input for the men’s and women’s games.

With the new appointment, Senior Independent Director Lord Kamlesh Patel’s five-year tenure on the Board has come to an end. During this

time, Lord Patel was involved in a number of significant changes, most notably the creation of the 2018 action plan to engage South Asian audiences, the establishment of the ECB’s Governance Committee and his key contributions to the creation of the Inspiring Generations strategy.

After taking over charge, Ian said: “I’m delighted to officially start my role as Chair today following a really informative and consultative onboarding process led by Tom Harrison and his team. I am grateful to everyone I have met at the ECB, the First Class Counties and the Recreational Game for their welcome, help and advice. It is a privilege to succeed outgoing Chair, Colin Graves, and I would like to thank him for his tremendous achievements in the role.

‘Unhappy’ Saina yet to join national camp London Olympics bronze medallist, Saina Nehwal, is unhappy with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Badminton Association of Parupalli Kashyap and Saina Nehwal India’s (BAI) decision to exclude her husband, men’s singles specialist Parupalli Kashyap’s name from the list of Tokyo Olympic probables, it has been learnt. The probables have been allowed to resume training at the Pullela Gopichand national academy in Hyderabad.

As a result, Saina has thus far not joined the camp which started on August 7, and has instead been training at a different badminton facility near the Gopichand academy along with Kashyap, the 2014 Commonwealth Games champion - and a few other national-level players. Saina, a former World No. 1, believes that Kashyap still stands an outside chance to qualify for Tokyo from the remainder of the qualification events leading up to the Games, and that a few more shuttlers should be allowed to join the camp. They can practice at different hours, as only four (P V Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, Sai Praneeth and N Sikki Reddy) out of the eight selected have reported for the camp. For the four campers, a coaching staff of 10 members has been engaged by SAI. Saina had personally requested the authorities, on behalf of her husband, to allow Kashyap to partner her at the camp purely on merit, but she didn’t get a favourable response. Kashyap too, had written an explanatory mail to SAI and BAI, arguing that he sees himself as an Olympic probable and that a good showing at the remaining qualifiers could possibly land him a Tokyo ticket. Kashyap confirmed that he has sent mails to SAI and BAI and informed that one of the reasons behind Saina not joining the camp was his non-inclusion. According to him, Saina hasn't decided about joining the camp and has sought a couple of weeks’ time from coaches to make up her mind.“Saina made a personal request through me. She wasn’t seeking any favours, but argued on valid grounds. She told the authorities that Kashyap is World No. 25 in men’s singles, is No. 3 in India and stands an outside chance to qualify for the Games.

So, he should be allowed to join the camp. She could have joined the camp in my absence and I could have gone to a different centre to train. But she was of the view, why not everyone else who stands a chance to qualify, including the two of us, train together. Her thought process was, ‘I am not asking some 100th ranked player to join the camp, but a deserving player who is still looking to qualify’. Saina hasn’t decided about joining the camp as yet,” Kashyap said.

“I don’t know how SAI and BAI decided that I am not an Olympic probable. I say this respectfully and humbly that Srikanth, or for that matter doubles specialists Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki, are themselves struggling to qualify,” he reasoned.

Oz players concerned after CSK’s Covid-19 outbreak Coronavirus hit the Indian Premier League (IPL) last week when 13 personnel, including two players, tested positive in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) camp in Dubai.

While the infected have been shifted to a different hotel and are in self-isolation, the virus outbreak has created a “bit of concern” among the Australian players who are currently on the limited-overs tour of England.

Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood, who was bought by CSK at the IPL auction in December last year, admitted about the apprehensions in the Australian squad after the positive cases in IPL. “There is a little bit of concern.

Ideally you’d have no cases. But all of them are in quarantine now and I think that finishes up in the next

few days. The good thing is that IPL is still 20 days away and we will be thinking about it closer to the tournament. For now, our focus is completely on the tour of England,” Hazlewood said during a virtual media conference.

Currently, 13 players in Australia’s squad for the England tour have IPL contracts and all of them are expected to fly out to the UAE together with the England players upon the conclusion of the ODI series on September 16. The IPL is scheduled to start on September 19. Hazlewood said that even though there isn’t much of a chatter among his Aussie teammates about the Covid situation in IPL, they will take a call on travelling to the UAE after consulting with Cricket Australia.

“We haven’t spoken too much

about it since the tournament is still a few weeks away. But I assume those things will come up if cases are still happening closer to the (start) date. We will surely touch base with Cricket Australia and have a chat before travelling to the UAE. We will take a call closer to the tournament,” the seamer asserted. The two players who have tested Covid-19 positive are Chennai Super Kings’ pacer Deepak Chahar and middle-order batsman

Ruturaj Gaikwad. To make matters worse for the side, star batsman Suresh Raina is out of the IPL. The 29-year-old Hazlewood said that off-the-field incidents won’t affect CSK’s performance much.

“We have a CSK Whatsapp group and I am quite informed about the things in the camp with all the information coming through. CSK have been one of the most consistent sides in the IPL. They have been reaching the playoffs regularly and I hope this year won’t be any different. There is a lot of strength and depth in the side.

This will be my first year with CSK and I hope to contribute to the team’s success before heading into the Australian summer,” Hazlewood said.

Chaos reigns The Covid outbreak has once

again ‘messed up’ with the schedule that the BCCI-IPL had been working on, and there’s a huge possibility now that “Mumbai Indians may not play the first match against Chennai Super Kings”. Given that players have tested positive, the franchise has to now quarantine (even practise in isolation) for 14 days, instead of six, and that could mean IPL could be left with no choice but to start with another team. “It could possibly be Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) because in the first match, you’ll need star players on the field. If MS Dhoni is missing, then it has to be Virat Kohli,” say those tracking developments. While it’s not certain yet if CSK will or will not play the opening game, the governing council has to remain prepared for a switch.