AV 11th July 2020

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE “We are grateful that our concerns have been heard”: Samir Bhamra on the £1.57bn UK Government support package SEE PAGE - 6

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Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

11 - 17 JULY 2020 - VOL 55 ISSUE 11

LEICESTER LOCKDOWN DISAPPOINTS LOCALS Residents say language barrier is not a factor behind the coronavirus spike

Southall Travel wooing back travellers through safe, steadfast measures SEE PAGE - 15

India, China troops begin pullback from Galwan Valley SEE PAGE - 23

Era of expansionism is over: Modi's message to China SEE PAGE - 23

Govt clears purchases of 33 fighters, 550 missiles worth £3.89 bn SEE PAGE - 26 Shefali Saxena and Rupanjana Dutta

When the whole country celebrated ‘Super Saturday’ with opening of nonessential, shops, restaurants, pubs, hotels and hairdressers, as the restrictions were lifted since 23 March, Leicester has spent its first weekend in local lockdown, after it saw a rise of 944 new cases in the last two weeks. Non-essential

shops in Leicester have shut and schools have closed to most pupils as part of restrictions imposed after a rise in the Covid-19 cases.

Officials asked for more time to get the disease under control after Public Health England identified 3,216 cases since the start of the epidemic. There have been outbreaks in food production sites, clothing factories and in

large households.

Public Health England (PHE) found "no explanatory outbreaks in care homes, hospital settings, or industrial processes.”

In fact, its analysis of cases showed more "young and middle-aged people" in the city had tested positive for Covid-19 than in other parts of the Midlands.

Continued on page 16

PM Modi to address India Global Week 2020 SEE PAGE - 26

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11 - 17 July 2020

with Keith Vaz

Newham Council’s response to the report by the independent Democracy and Civic Participation Commission

Michaela Willis MBE In the late 1990’s, Michaela Willis MBE, founded and was CEO for the highly regarded National Bereavement Partnership charity.

It was set up to give support to those affected by the issues that arose from the Bristol Royal Infirmary Public Inquiry and the infamous retained organs scandal. She was Chair of the Bristol Heart Children’s Action Group and Chair of the National Committee Relating to Organ Retention. The charity served both the public and health professionals by providing a helpline surrounding sudden and traumatic death, especially with complicated circumstances. Michaela went on to be a lecturer in Death Bereavement and Human Tissue studies, obtained and MSc in Healthcare Ethics from Bristol University, undertook an audit of 36 hospitals and 5 universities and wrote the bereavement standards for the Irish Government. She was a member of the board for the Retained Organs Commission and the Human Tissue Authority and sat on the council of AvMA (Acton Against Medical Accidents). She was also on the Board of North Devon Primary Care Trust for 6 years. In 2002, Michaela was awarded and MBE for her services in this area. In April 2020, Michaela reformed National Bereavement Partnership in an emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

1

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

I was born in Derbyshire and I have deep roots there. It was where I spent much of my childhood and I have very fond memories of growing up in in such a beautiful part of the country. However, I settled in Devon, where I have been for the last 27 years and this is definitely home.

2

What are your proudest achievements?

No achievement is mine alone, they are all team efforts. That really is how I view the world. If pushed, succeeding with the team to achieve a change in the law, subsequently resulting in the Human Tissue Act 2004 was a moment I was very proud of

3

What inspires you?

People – without a doubt. They never cease to amaze me and the lengths that many people go through to help others is palpable. The kindness of our volunteers and support they have shown is wonderful.

4

What has been biggest obstacle in your career?

Death and bereavement are not the easiest subject matter for many and often because of this, it can present issues for developing conversation and often with those most in need.

5

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

My son Daniel. He died at one week old and without a doubt, that was the reason my career path changed. The power of this, without doubt influenced me to affect change and to have a continued drive to do so.

6

What is the best aspect about your current role?

It is wonderful to be able to help people that need support through listening and where needed, referring on for specialist support where needed. We support a range of people from the bereaved, be it through COVID-19 or not, to those with mental health issues and are struggling particularly at this time.

7

And the worst?

8

What are your long-term goals?

There are just not enough hours in the day! I know that is cliché, but it is true.

Now, more than ever, myself and the team are so busy. However, what that means is that there really isn’t a worst part as it means we are helping so many people.

For now, I see no further than ensuring I’m there for all those who need me.

9

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

I would remove the NHS from the political arena and put it in the hands of a toplevel professional team to look at the strategic vision for the next 20 years, not just until the next election.

10

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

Neil Alden Armstrong – I would love to ask him if it really was the greatest achievement of mankind and did, he really did land on the moon. Also, I can’t leave out Audrey Hepburn. Her famous quote; “nothing is impossible, the word itself says I’m possible” resonates with me. She was such an elegant woman inside and out. I would have love to talk to her about her life and her work with UNICEF.

In her drive to radically rebalance the power relationship between councils and citizens, with residents placed firmly at the heart of decision making, Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz welcomed the publication of an independent report. The Commission’s report includes ten core recommendations, which will now be considered in detail by the Mayor, Cabinet colleagues and the Council.

Included in them were recommendations for a twoterm limit for the directly elected mayor, and a permanent citizens’ assembly, meeting at least twice a year, to respond to and act on important, emerging local issues – the first of its kind in England.

The Mayor has reaffirmed her manifesto commitment to hold a referendum on the Council’s future model of governance and having a Directly Elected Mayor. The Council will bring forward timetabling options as well as the need to consider an alternative option to be presented to residents in that referen-

Coronavirus: Half of Brent Central workers furloughed; highest number in the UK so far The coronavirus pandemic has ended up in nearly half of all workers in Brent Central being furloughed.

That’s the highest number in the UK so far.

Out of a population of 55,000 in Brent Central, about 23,500 had to apply to the government’s furlough scheme. In Brent North 20,400 out of 76,000 workers were affected. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced last month that the scheme would be extended until October. The furlough

BritAsia Podcast announce the launch of their first series of The Raj and Pablo Show BritAsia Podcast announce the launch of their first series of The Raj and Pablo Show, helmed by the ex BBC Asian Network presenters, Raj and Pablo.

The duo is famous for interviewing A-list actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Saif and Kareena, Abhishek and Aishwarya, Priyanka Chopra and more.

Raj and Pablo have been mentioned alongside Rajeev Masand and Anupama Chopra as the world experts in the field of Bollywood.

“Raj & Pablo ...simply world class ... I never know what they will come up with – Raj overacts more than I do and Pablo he just stares,” said Shah Rukh Khan.

Deepika Padukone described them as, “Raj & Pablo are terrible – too funny and too cheeky – that’s why I love them both.”

“I just wanted to Thank You both - I’m very impressed with your knowledge of the Indian Film Industry and your demeanour and respectfulness,” said Amitabh Bachchan. Katrina Kaif: “Those two terrible bad boys– they know everything about everyone in the industry and never gossip, but that’s why I love them.”

dum.

In preparing its findings, the Commission consulted residents, councillors, and wider academics. It was supported by the Centre for Public Scrutiny, a charity with expertise on local authority governance, and The Democratic Society, a organisation non-profit working for greater participation and dialogue in democracy. Views of residents were gathered in faceto-face engagement sessions

in 23 locations, speaking to 350 people who live in or have links to the borough.

Events were held at English as a Second Language classes, a youth hub, a Community Forum meeting, and in public spaces including a Tube station and a supermarket. An online platform also allowed people to provide comments to the Commission.

Mayor Fiaz said: “We look forward to hearing residents’ and councillors’ feedback on the report as it gets digested across the borough in the coming weeks. And we too would like to have further conversations with our residents, including our young people, to understand what they think about the recommendations that have been made, as we carve a path towards bringing participatory democracy to life in Newham.”

Raj and Pablo, Presenters of The Raj and Pablo Show said: “We’re excited to join the BritAsia team, and we hope to entertain our audience by bringing Bollywood stars to you.” The Raj and Pablo Show will be available to listen to and download on https://britasia.tv/podcast/, with new episodes coming weekly. BritAsia Podcast is also available on all platforms including Apple, Spotify, Google, Acast, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, Breaker and Stitcher.

scheme was introduced at the beginning of lockdown on March 23.

It has been reported that furloughed workers across the UK will continue to receive 80% of their current salary, up to £2,500. Some more flexibility can be expected by August.

Dawn Butler, MP for Brent Central, said: “I am deeply concerned with everything associated with COVID19 as it is having a disproportionate impact on my constituents in Brent Central. many of whom are employed in vulnerable sectors such as the

arts, leisure and retail.

We’ve already seen massive job losses in the past few days alone and I fear this will continue once these changes are made.”

She added: “The government must take decisive action to protect jobs and keep unemployment down. Any rise in unemployment will also have a devastating effect on council finances. I will continue my campaigns to protect as many local businesses and jobs in Brent as possible.”

Brent recorded the highest number of deaths from the pandemic at its peak.

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11 - 17 July 2020

Will Rishi Sunak be Britain’s first Indian Prime Minister?

Rishi Sunak, the blue-eyed boy of the Boris Johnson Cabinet is doing extremely well for himself. He has the support of Dominic Cummings, and he recently declared himself as team Boris Johnson. But Mr Sunak, whose family comes from Punjab via East Africa, is tipped to be a potential Prime Minister. Stephen Bush in The Times wrote Labour MPs may have political differences with Mr Sunak but, like their Conservative opponents, they have plenty of time for him personally. Kier Starmer, the leader of Labour party himself is not given to brooding hatreds or to personal feuds.

Nonetheless, what unites Boris Johnson and Kier Starmer is that Mr Sunak perhaps represents their biggest threat to remaining or becoming Prime Minister after the next election.

Mr Sunak, who has been splashing money from the Treasury to save the country’s businesses from sinking, as Covid-19 engulfs our lives, challenges for him are manifold.

As Daniel O’Donoghue calls the Treasury a Ministry of Magic, and Mr Sunak 'the wizard', taking care of green economy, trying to save jobs, boosting new sectors in his mini budget on 8 July 2020, his main threat remains fighting unemployment.

When the furlough scheme comes to an end, crippling job losses in some sectors are inevitable. The real test for Rishi Sunak starts now. As one of his predecessors had reportedly remarked, everyone loves the Chancellor when he's spending cash, but ‘the wizard’ is looking at a £300bn deficit this year.

And this mini budget is perhaps an attempt to salvage the losses, flatten the curve, and prevent mass joblessness, that are risking millions of lives.

There are rumours in the Parliament that the Chancellor is going to write a cheque to every household- £500 for every adult and £250 to every child to spend on Britain’s devastated high street. The question remains if this £30 billion dose of shock treatment along with various bailouts can jump start the UK economy at all? The Resolution Foundation reportedly says that its idea is a more effective way to kick start a recovery than a temporary VAT cut. The sectors that could be part of the scheme include hospitality and ‘face to face’ retail.

Similar schemes have seen success in Taiwan, China and Malta. He has also announced a bailout for the arts industry that was left distraught by Covid-19.

The truth lies that Mr Sunak has been an innovative Chancellor, a true statesman. As Britain’s track record shows, an immigrant has always been called to solve its gravest problems. Look at Windrush scandal and how Sajid Javid and Priti Patel were called to address it. Whitehall anticipates, Mr Sunak will become a contender for Mr Johnson at one point.

But will Britain allow an Indian-origin to become the next Prime Minister? In a century, where Blacks and Asians are still treated differently and are needed to work extra hard or hide identity to prove their loyalty, it is ambitious to think of an Indian man with this opportunity to make history.

But then, having said all of that, 128 years ago, when the first Indian man became an MP (Dadabhai Naoroji) in the UK, nobody could have imagined, we would have three Indians in the Cabinet in 2019. Perhaps as long as Mr Cummings can play the king-maker, Mr Sunak always stands a chance to lead this nation. Fingers crossed!

PM Modi's firm message to China Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ladakh and his address to the nation go significantly beyond the guarded responses from New Delhi to China's expansionist moves along its neighbours so far. Ever since the face-off with China on the Line of Actual Control in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed, there have been military and diplomatic talks, and, at the same time, a series of steps: A ban on Chinese apps that minister Ravi Shankar Prasad described as a “digital strike”, the announcement by minister Nitin Gadkari that Chinese investment in road projects and small and medium industries was no longer welcome, and more generally, a reiteration of the emphasis on “atma-nirbharta” or self-reliance.

The PM’s speech in Ladakh casts away any doubt or ambiguity of the political response. PM Modi met troops at the 14th Corps headquarters at Nimo, a short distance from Leh, and his speech was at once a rallying cry and a call for steady resolve, invoking images of a “bansuri-dhari” and “sudarshan-dhari” Krishna, the teachings of Buddha and the poetry of Ramdhari Singh Dinkar and Thiruvalluvar, while extolling their bravery and commitment to protect the territorial integrity of the country. But this was not a speech to the soldiers alone. It was an address to the nation, and at the same time, a message to China - even though the PM did not mention China by name - and the world.

PM Modi sent out a strong and unequivocal message from Leh that India would protect the territory of Ladakh, which he described as the “mastak” or head of India. His statement that “veerta hi shanti ki poorv shart hoti hai (peace requires courage)” was a message that India’s quest for peace with China should

not be seen as weakness or political naivete by Beijing or the rest of the world. History is witness, he said, that expansionist forces were forced to turn back - underlining that an India and China at peace with each other could guarantee both the stability and economic development of the region and the world.

This speech will come to be known as the defining moment for the government in its difficult relationship with China at this juncture. From Beijing’s swift response that both sides were engaged in talks, and “no party should engage in any action that may escalate the situation at this point”, it seems that the message may have gone home. Meanwhile, in what marks as a breakthrough after several rounds of military and diplomatic talks, India and China have kicked off step-wise disengagement from the two-month long confrontation in Galwan Valley and Gogra-Hot Springs areas of eastern Ladakh, with People's Liberation Army soldiers also moving back slightly from the seemingly intractable face-off site at Pangong Tso. India is also gathering friends in world capitals with foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar calling up his counterparts in other countries while explaining our stand on the border clash. India also sought early supply of arms and ammunition to be well prepared in case there is any more flare on the border. In this context it is a significant development that PM Modi and President Vladimir Putin reiterating their resolve to strengthen Indo-Russia ties. "The India-Russia partnership can and will play an important role in the post-Covid world," Modi said.

Russia is an all-weather friend of India and the support of Putin is also very important for India. Russia can be a balancing factor in India's dependence on western powers.

Independent candidates can affect US election outcomes Over the past two months, the outbreak of coronavirus has had a devastating effect on nearly all aspects of life in the United States. And now, most Americans expect it will disrupt the presidential election in November. A national survey by Pew Research Centre has revealed that with just over six months until Election Day, two-thirds of Americans (67%) – including 80% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents and half of Republicans and Republican leaners – say it is very or somewhat likely that the coronavirus outbreak will significantly disrupt people’s ability to vote in the presidential election.

In the run-up to the Presidential election in November, Donald Trump and Joe Biden are using the Covid-19 pandemic to shape results. While the spike in coronavirus is helping the Democratic nominee in portraying Trump as a person who is concerned with only his political standing, the Republican campaigners are trying to re-shape their leader's response to the virus. The Washington Post in an article said that facing Trump's controversial statements on the virus in the past like lungs could be cleaned of the coronavirus with disinfectants, the advisors are now reportedly crafting messages on economic recovery.

But coronavirus may not be the only catalyst. The stock market in the US, believed to predict, who will be the winner of US Presidential elections? Many argue that it does pointing to the historical correlation between the incumbent party retaining the White House and the stock market’s strength in the months leading up to Election Day in November. Given President Donald Trump’s preoccupation with the stock market, he apparently agrees.

With less than four months before the November 3 US election, Kanye West tweeted that he's running for president.

Experts say he can technically join the race, but it won't be easy, and it'll cost a lot of money to win a few votes. Kanye who has been a supporter of Trump earlier, tweeted about his intention to stand in the election. It became a very popular tweet. But, despite tweeting his intention, Kanye reportedly hasn't registered his name with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for November's election. Though he can do this any time before the election, it's a necessary step. This also isn't the first time Kanye has announced his intention to run for President. In 2015, he said he'd contest the 2020 election, and didn't follow up. Last November, he said he would run in the 2024 contest. That could be the case again.

With the Black Lives Matter momentum, Kanye is perhaps an ideal candidate to fight the race-relation gridlock in the US, but how does he plan to move ahead with it? All the minor parties, have already chosen their Presidential candidates for 2020. Kanye could either run as an independent or secure the backing of a smaller political party, such as the Libertarian Party. It is believed that in the 2016 presidential election, the party won 4.5 million votes, equal to 3.6 percent of the popular vote. If Kanye runs as an independent, he's too late to make the ballot in some states. Deadlines to lodge a nomination have passed in at least six states, including the large population centres of Texas, New York and Illinois. The deadlines on another six will expire at the end of July. Independent candidates can affect election outcomes and it is important to not rule out that importance. But it is about time Kanye really makes up his mind, if he wishes to give Trump or Biden a run for their votes.

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

- Mahatma Gandhi

Alpesh Patel

Inspiring a Movement Politics is about people. Trying to inspire a movement for change for good in any organisation is therefore a political act. This has been my focus recently in two organisations of which I am a part. First, City Hindus Network, as Chairman. And Second, Department for International Trade, for whom I am a Dealmaker.

How do I, in what I do, make the biggest useful, valuable impact and contribution? At the same time I have hired people to help me.

Its clear skills needed in the Covid world are often lacking. We need people who can execute not just sit back and throw ideas. People who can deliver, come up with solutions and implement them. People who have the full stack of skills from idea to marketing delivery.

These people I have discovered are rare. It’s easier to find gold on the street than such people. So I decided we must train, enable, empower, skill them too.

With City Hindus Network we’ve had a revolution. From a dead organisation when I took over, we now have weekly events (at least two), we promote these on social media daily, and a weekly newsletter. Silence is not an option if you have belief.

We’ve launched City Hindus Voice – where we show you how to produce your own TV show, find the guest, produce the video, find the topic, be interesting, engaging. We want to empower and upskill City Hindus to use their voice. Not just bump around quietly counting their incomes. These skills have become life skills, work skills for the 21st century.

We’ve launched a City Hindus Career Clinic – with advice and Q&A webinars from people from JP Morgan, Cabinet Office, lawyers – City Professionals for City Professionals.

We’ve launched the ‘Elevator’ where in a series of interviews we showcase those in our community who have elevated themselves and others, offering inspiration to uplift.

It is not enough to do webinars and zoom calls. There is too much heat not enough light in the world. We need in all organisations, whether City Hindus – ie community organisations, or Government bodies, inspiring movements. Things which get us passionate and out of bed and raise up the bar for all. But also empower others how to do it.

This paper is but one outlet which proves that you can just be a newspaper, or you can choose to be a campaign, a movement, something for change. It doesn’t need special access or privilege. It needs execution and delivery and thought. Not just ideas but implementation.

And until it inspires you – it won’t inspire anyone else. That is how winning in team sports is done. And politics is a team sport and everything is politics.

I hope you will be a City Hindu Voice – see our site to learn how to be Michael Parkinson – you even get taught by me, a professional TV presenter – so who knows, may see you on the BBC! Editor: CB Patel Asian Voice is published by Asian Business Publications Ltd Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080 • Fax: 020 7749 4081 Email: aveditorial@abplgroup.com Website: www.abplgroup.com

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MeToo Moment in British Comedy The British comedy scene has been masking a MeToo scandal where some performers have been accused of sexual harassment and rape jokes.

According to a report published on July 3, 2020 in The Times, “dozens of women recounted experiences of degrading treatment”.

The same report stated that several women contacted the publication to “accuse Hardeep Singh Kohli, the comedian, chef and presenter of making unwanted advances towards them”.

Nicola Thorp, of Coronation Street and Doctor Who fame, alleged that Hardeep Singh Kohli made unwanted advances towards her. She tweeted: “I stand in solidarity with the women who have come forward about Hardeep Singh Kohli. I have spoken publicly about his behaviour towards me previously, but was scared to name him for fear of getting into trouble, becoming less ‘employable’ or simply not being believed. He approached me about a project too. A women’s rights documentary he wanted me to co-present.

He wanted to come to my house to develop our on-screen chemistry and pick out outfits for me from my wardrobe. He also sent me 3am texts with photos of dresses and HIGH HEELS he thought I would

look good in. He told me that he didn’t fancy me, and wasn’t looking for a date, but that he wanted to fuck me when he first met me.

When I turned down his advances, the documentary suddenly didn’t exist. I doubt it ever did. He told me he would be good for my career. He Used his position on the board of a charity and a reputable theatre to his advantage.

This was a man who had lost a job over inappropriate behaviour, approaching a known women’s rights activist, about a women’s rights documentary. Then went on to appear on celebrity BB as a Direct result of the ‘scandal’. He literally earned money because of what he did. I doubted myself. I wandered if I had encouraged it. If my worth as a presenter was gauged by how willing I was to flirt with a man who made me extremely uncomfortable. I called organisations Associated with him, not necessarily expecting them to take action, but so that they knew he had a track record if another woman came forward.

While reading the other women’s accounts it has become clear that he uses the same tactics to approach women. I am so grateful to the Women who have spoken out about him so that he is held accountable. I thank them for putting their head above the parapet. An act that is scary as hell and leaves you open to further abuse from those intent on not believing

Hardeep Singh

women. Those intent on Ceasing the cancellation of careers rather than supporting the cancellation of harassment and abuse. It should not require bravery to call out this kind of behaviour. Society must look at itself and question why bravery is currently required. To any woman who feels that they cannot come forward about harassment, please know it is not because you are not brave. But we must do More to make you feel supported and believed. I hope that the testimony of other women helps you feel empowered to speak up. #metoo #timesup.”

She also wrote a column in the Metro and said, “I have wanted to write this piece for three years.

Thanks to the women who spoke out before me, I finally can. I don’t believe in karma. If I did, it would mean that I somehow deserved what happened to me. But I do believe in women. In the power we hold when we come together in

solidarity against behaviour we refuse to accept.”

Singer-songwriter Sophie Armstrong, alleges that “to play a word association game as part of a work-related project” he turned the conversation into a sexual one pretty quickly. In one of her quotes published in The Times, she said, “I’m a married middle-aged woman with two kids and it left me feeling sick. He continually tried to contact me and asked me if I fancied him and whether I would like to f*** him.” Later, Ms Armstrong blocked him on social media.

Lulu Popplewell, 29, a comedian, also alleged that Hardeep Singh Kohli invited her to “spend the night in his bed” which would boost her career. A similar remark and offer was made to Ivy Paige, a singer and burlesque artist.

Kohli’s association with Assembly is currently under review and he hasn’t commented on the allegations against him.

However, Kohli is not the only name mentioned in the MeToo scandal.

Accused of “unacceptable behaviour” and using women for his “personal gratification”, BBC and Channel 4 comedian Tez Ilyas stepped down from and official role and admitted to the alleged accusations, but he denied any kind of sexual abuse. The comedian also took over Jeremy Corbyn’s Instagram account during the

Labour leader’s TV Debate with Boris Johnson in November 2019.

Ilyas posted a long statement on Twitter on July 3, which read as follows: “A newspaper report today highlights a MeToo situation in the comedy industry.

Sexual abuse is totally unacceptable and needs to be stamped out.

The article mentions me and my recent posts on social media. For the record - and as was made clear in the article - I have never engaged in that kind of behaviour.

In my (poorly worded) Twitter post on 26 June I apologised for my ‘unacceptable behaviour’. I have subsequently been asked what I meant by that. I was not referring to anything criminal or illegal, but rather to my behaviour at times in the past. In particular the insensitive way I sometimes treated casual relationships. I am not proud of that behaviour and I have moved away from that. I also posted on Twitter on 24 June (Dear men).

This was a self-reflection of my own past behaviour - how I was called out by a couple of female friends and how I was trying to be better and encouraging my male colleagues and followers to do the same. I was trying to be supportive of the MeToo movement, but accept that I could have expressed myself better, but I stand by the sentiment I was trying to express, which is that men need to do more to create a better society for women.”

Move over binge-watching as London Mayor, Sadiq Khan: England reopens its Cinemas Government must address the ‘hidden cost’ to the creative supply chain Cinemas in England are now open for the public again, as they join pubs, museums and hairdressers in restarting the economy after a prolonged yet much needed lockdown in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

While it is highly advisable to check the online sites before heading out to the cinemas, it’d be interesting to note how the future of films unfolds in the post Covid-19 world. With strong precautionary guidelines of social distancing as the virus continues to spike various parts of the world, film viewing will be a whole new experience. Especially when all producers have an open forum to showcase their films on OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video etc, will cinemas see the footfall they use to enjoy?

Only time will tell.

Below is a list of cinemas and the dates they are most likely to open. The dates may vary, please check the online schedules before planning a trip to the movies.

July 4: Odeon: Trafford Centre, Norwich, Milton Keynes Stadium, Bournemouth BH2, Port Solent. Odeon Luxe: Lee Valley, Warrington, Durham, Birmingham Broadway Plaza, Epsom. Showcase Cinema de Lux: Coventry, Bluewater, Reading, Newham Nottingham, Peterborough, Leeds,

Liverpool, Teesside.

July 10 : Odeons at Liverpool One, Metrocentre, Silverlink, Guildford, Chatham, Mansfield, Tunbridge Wells, Beckenham.Odeon Luxes in Liverpool Switch Island, Telford, Tamworth, Maidenhead, Derby, Hull, Bromborough and Stafford.

Around 70 more Odeon cinemas will be open by July 16.

A further eight Showcase and five Everyman cinemas, as yet unspecified July 17: Curzon Canterbury. July 24: Curzon Mayfair. July 31: Most Vue, Cineworld and Picturehouse cinemas to reopen along with more Curzons In a report published online, Vue’s CEO Tim Richards said: “We have learned how to do this from our operations in Taiwan where we never closed and have successfully operated through pandemics such as SARS in the past; and from our sites in Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Poland and Lithuania where we have recently and successfully reopened to the public.”

Cineworld plans to implement safety measures at the chain will include online booking, contactless payment, training and PPE, staggered film times, social distancing, and more.

As a part of the government’s “careful approach to easing the lockdown in phases, guided by the advice of scientific and medical experts and the fact the risk of transmission is much lower outdoors”, drive-in cinemas will follow these guidelines.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan is elated at the announcement of nearly £1.6bn to support arts through the Covid-19 pandemic. A new research estimates that the impact of Covid-19 on London’s culture and creative industries could cost the economy £16.3bn and put 151,000 jobs at risk.

Khan also suggests that the government must address the ‘hidden cost’ to the creative supply chain which is facing more than 40,000 job losses. Following the pandemic, many of London’s cultural centres and creative industries have completely closed down, with theatres, music venues

Sadiq Khan

and performance spaces shutting their doors. In the same chain of events, the staff, set designers, audio visual technicians, lighten, textile to wholesalers, everyone suffered a huge monetary loss. Today’s research estimates that the entire supply chain of the creative industries faces losing 82,400 jobs and seeing £3.3bn wiped off the value of

Historian with a history of racism dropped by publisher and universities Following David Starkey’s racist remarks on Thursday, he was dropped as an author by HarperCollins UK, who had a four-book deal with him in 2006, stating that it would not be publishing any further books by Starkey as his views expressed in an interview were “abhorrent”.

Starkey, a historian with a history of racism and sexism in his public remarks, reportedly told right-wing commentator Darren Grimes: “Slavery was not genocide, otherwise there wouldn’t be so many damn blacks in Africa or in Britain would there? You know, an

awful lot of them survived”. Canterbury Christ Church University also terminated Starkey’s role as visiting professor, citing his comments as “completely unacceptable”. On Friday, Starkey also resigned from his honorary fellowship at Fitzwilliam College at Cambridge. A statement from the college confirmed acceptance of his resignation and stated: “We do not tolerate racism”. Former chancellor Sajid Javid too described the comments as racist and “a reminder of the appalling views that still exist” in the country.

London’s economy without specific support. Sabinna Rachimova, Founder and director, SABINNA, said: “The UK has a long history of manufacturing, which contributed to Britain's economic success.

It's great to see that there are more and more independent designers and small brands who are focusing on ethical local production and manufacturing within their fashion supply chains. Unfortunately, these supply chains and partnerships are now at risk.” Tim Dellow, Co-founder, Transgressive Records, said: “This is welcome news, but it’s important support is extended to the entire music ecosystem. Live music performances are not only valuable income streams for artists, but often support a large team of freelancers, tour managers, sound engineers and transport and logistics workers. They are also a chance to build artists’ careers and market around events where there is already a large audience. The UK music industry alone generates significantly more than, for example, the UK fishing industry. It is essential that the government continues to recognise this value and supports the ‘behind the scenes’ businesses as well as the public facing ones.”

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“We are grateful that our concerns have been heard”: Samir Bhamra on the £1.57bn UK Government support package Shefali Saxena The Arts and cultural leaders across the UK have welcomed a £1.57bn UK Government support package aimed at protecting the future of Britain’s museums, galleries and theatres.

The package comes after some of the UK theatres, which are not yet able to stage live performances, have closed down, making their staff redundant.

The £1.57bn recovery package announced by the government. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the package would “help safeguard the sector for future generations, ensuring art groups and venues across the UK can stay afloat and support their staff whilst their doors remain closed and curtains remain down.”

Heritage sites, independent cinemas and music venues are also eligible for the emergency grants and loans that have been announced

by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Samir Bhamra, the Artistic Director of Phizzical, the Creative Director of the UK Asian Film Festival and the 2021 Senior Producer at Belgrade Theatre working on the 2021 UK City of Culture programme, spoke exclusively to Asian Voice about this move.

The rescue package of £1.15bn that brings much needed relief to the UK’s art and heritage sector, is an ambitious investment that

covers loans, grants, support for England’s national cultural heritage, devolved administration and more.

Bhamra said, “Theatres and the wider live performance sector have been amongst the worst hit by the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, and this pledge from Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden and Chancellor Rishi Sunak will help address the huge uncertainty we have been facing. We are grateful that our concerns have been heard and we look forward to further clarity on how the funds will be distributed over the coming weeks.”

According to Bhamra, the Arts Council has already bravely supported artists and companies with almost £65million with an incredible focus on diversity. £13.1 million of the funding has been made to Black and minority ethnic individuals and Black and minority ethnic-led organisations. “The speed at which they have adapted, processed and delivered this support has enabled many of us to reach and engage with all communities,” he said.

“As the Artistic Director of Phizzical, an Asian theatre company, we have been running a weekly Antakshari over Zoom to make sure that communities feel positive and are socially connected. We have also been running a weekly script development group sup-

whether there is any knowhow among the artists on the process of procuring help from this package.

Samir said, “Details of how the funds will be distributed will emerge in the coming weeks. At the Belgrade Theatre, we are already playing our part to ensure freelancers and artists are supported.

Samir Bhamra, Artistic Director of Phizzical Examples include, and Creative Director - UK Asian Film Festival the digital podcasts porting new, emerging and the three Co-Artistic established writers to create Directors of our 2021 proand test new work. Through gramme are making support this process, actors are able freelancers. We are also supto practice and maintain porting Arran Pallan, a their craft so that when our bright recent graduate industries resume, our skills through the Freelance remain polished,” he added.

Taskforce.”

Bhamra shared that the Bhamra has an interesttheatre has consciously ing body of work to deal made an effort to diversify with linguistic diversity its leadership artistically to within the community. make sure all communities According to him, details of are represented. Belgrade this huge relief package will Theatre won the Best support many communities Diversity Award in 2016, and e.g. Belgrade Theatre’s 2021 it’s now pushing for change Co-Artistic Director Balisha in the entire sector. “A key Karra has been doing extenpart of the programme we sive workshops with South are creating will ensure Asian women in Foleshill in Asian artists and communiCoventry. “We run converties are involved and remain sation cafes and work with part of our family,” he said. an extensive range of partAs performing artists, ners and freelancers to freelance community memmake sure the arts are accesbers, industry leaders and sible to everyone. The arts cultural institutions all are are more than the glitzy in the queue to receive some sparkling shows that the relief from this promising West End is associated with. package. We asked him Many regional theatres like

the Belgrade are also part of the Theatre of Sanctuary network. This means we work with new migrant communities who have made the UK their home.

The work freelance artists and theatres do to engage with them, help them settle into their new environments, create opportunities to showcase their arts so that we can learn about their cultures and experiences and share ours.”

However, he also added, “These communities naturally need more support during this global pandemic. They may access news in languages they are comfortable in from their country, but because each country responds differently, there is room for misinterpretation. I know this because the communities we engage with through the projects we are doing, have identified the isolation, anxiety and worry that people across four continents have.

Asians speak a myriad of languages and the government has been slow, but they are doing their best to respond to a pandemic that we are all learning about.”

What does the UK Government support package include?

• A £1.15bn support pot for cultural organisations in England, consisting of £270m in loans and £880m in grants.

• £100m of targeted support for England’s national cultural institutions and English Heritage.

• £120m of capital investment to restart construction on cultural infrastructure and for heritage construction projects in England paused because of the pandemic.

• Extra money for devolved administrations, with £97m for Scotland, £59m for Wales and £33m for Northern Ireland.

ISIS supporting London BBC Radio Asian Network woman jailed for plotting announces Ahmed to bomb St Paul’s Hussain as new Head Safiyya Amira Shaikh, 37, from Hayes, west London, has been sentenced to life in prison on Friday, July 3rd, after she admitted to planning terrorist acts and disseminating publications that encouraged people to launch terrorist attacks.

Shaikh, a Muslim convert born Michelle Ramsden, had reportedly visited St Paul’s in central London a number of times to scan the security precautions to find a place to leave a bomb. Her initial plan was to carry out an attack at Christmas but she put it back to Easter.

She was caught when two undercover officers who posed as fellow extremists and received orders from her to build bombs to be put under the cathedral's dome.

Mother to a daughter, Shaikh appeared to pay no regard to her family, Alison Morgan QC, prosecutor told the court. She reportedly ran a social media channel called GreenB1rds on the encrypted message service

BBC Radio Asian Network has announced Ahmed Hussain as the new Head of the station. This position is one of five new Head of Station roles responsible for the BBC’s pop music networks.

Safiyya Amira Shaikh

Telegram, which spread proIsis propaganda and called for attacks in the UK and overseas, specifically on churches. Delivering the sentence, the judge acknowledged that Shaikh had suffered from mental health issues, but there were a number of aggravating criminal factors that called for a heavy prison sentence.

Shaikh had reportedly been in contact with the convicted British jihadist, Anjem Choudary, and had also listened to the recorded online lectures of Anwar Al-Awlaki, the Yemeni militant who was killed by a US drone strike.

Currently, there are 543,000 weekly listeners on-air, and 1.6 million followers across social media and YouTube channels of the Asian network. Lorna Clarke (Controller of BBC Popular Music) said: “Ahmed has an experienced understanding of the culture, music and news, that is key to the station’s success, and we want to see what else is possible for the network”.

Having previously worked in production across Radio 1, 1Xtra and Asian Network, Hussain was most recently the Head of Prison Radio, where he helped transform the service. His inspirational career began in pirate and community radio stations in East London, where he championed opportunities for young, diverse talent to break into the industry.

He continues to support and mentor many of them.

When asked Samir his purview of the evolution and future of arts in the post Covid-19 world, he explained, “The pandemic has created a moment for all of us to stop, reflect, discard and re-imagine. There have been unfortunate moments where some theatres have had to close down and staff have been made redundant.

But I am an optimist and in challenges, we all look for new opportunities. The way we work has already changed. The Belgrade Theatre is conducting more research into how we widen our reach and exploring digital possibilities which will transform our business model. They cannot replace the live experience though.

Some companies are putting on Drive In shows for example, the musical Six, or the UK Asian Film Festival is presenting Drive In cinema screenings. My company Phizzical is taking time to listen more to the communities we work with and responding to their needs by creating artistic interventions that promote positive mental wellbeing and instil resilience.”

Ahmed Hussain

Speaking about his new role that begins on August 1st this year, Hussain said: “I’m really excited at this opportunity to ensure that with a clear vision – our young audiences know what to expect from us.

We have amazing people that work here and we will all work hard to ensure that Asian Network thrives in all that it does within the Pop Music portfolio.

This is the home for British Asians and beyond to come and be championed and also celebrate the culture that we are all about”.

Mosque volunteers help feed families in Lancashire during pandemic The community care team of the Tauheedul Islam mosque have visited over 15,000 homes in Blackburn with Darwen, helping them with access to food essentials during the Coronavirus crisis.

Among the households visited, many belonged to non-Muslims, with the Masjid-ETauheedul Islam (the mosque) distributing more than 70,000 food packs during the whole coronavirus pandemic. Their helpline also supports people who need help with medical supplies, shopping, and maintenance. All volunteers from the team were fasting throughout the month of Ramadan while serving the people, making the initiative all the more incredible.

A number of local voluntary and community organisations are working alongside MasjidE-Tauheedul Islam care team in Blackburn with Darwen, including Age UK BwD, Benefit Mankind, Blackburn Foodbank, Blackburn Youth Zone, BwD Healthy Living, and Care Network.

The aim of these groups is to ensure that local people with no family, friends or neighbours are well fed during the coronavirus lockdown, with the provision of emergency food deliveries within a day. “We made an announcement for volunteers on March 20 and were inundated with helpers within the first week of the lockdown”, told Mubarak Chati from Tauheedul Islam care team to Lancashire Telegraph. The food packs were paid for by £35,000 in donations raised by the mosque.

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PRODUCED IN ASSOC CIA AT TION WITH UK GOVERNMENT

VETERANS CO OMB BA ATTING TTING COR RON NAVIRUS RU

who’ve e d in the rcees have a vast v array durring their an ning they a huge part ou ur national t to tackle coronavirus. h have seen many veterans akiing a fantastic contribution durring the pandemic, through heelping out the vulnerable in th heir local communities, to ru unning mobile testing sites n nationally.

We cannot thank th hem enough ffor or their eff fforts.

- JJo ohnn ny y Merc M err,,

Veterrans ans from fr Her Ma ajes jesty’’ss Roy Royal Arm Forces like Michelle Partin ngt gton joined frontlin ntline workers to fight against Co ovi vi Rupanjana Dutta Veterans haave ve been providing vital assistance to the country’s frontline workers ever since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. From delivering essential supplies to those shielding and vulnerable, building the Nightingale Hospitals, delivering PPEs to frontline workers, and to those working in mortuaries, they havve worked side by side the frontline workers throughout the pandemic.

Many haave ve also helped to set up mobile testing sites, allowing them to run smoothly and saffel ely. Many of these transfferab erable skills b n learnt l b the th havve been ha t by veterans during their service years.

Michelle Part Partington joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) when she was 19.

After five years of training she became the first ever femal emale medic to serve on the frontline with the RAF, serving in three tours in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.

Michelle told Asian Voi oice, “People didn’t think a femal emale could be a frontline medic, which made me even more determined. Beffor ore Afghan I was scared of the dark but there, I was on foot foot patrols for for three or four four dayys at a time, sleeping out in the open, visiting compounds, doing vehicle checks, on stag at night.” g In 2011-12, Michelle served with the Medical Emergency Response Team Team (MER RT) and flew countless helicopter trips to rush critically injured soldiers and civilians to the hospital.

She suff ffer ered from PostTraumati raumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) when she got back.

Describing the tour, she

Michelle Partingtoon

said, “Halfway throu ugh the tour things went horribly h wrong.

“A As a paramedic you go off the back of the helicopter to retrieve the casualties caasualties and there were a couple of combat situations where we were on our bellies under fire. Halfway through that tour I realised I didn’t care if I survived. When I got back, I would get really angry, then be in tears, so I got sent to the doctors and I was diagnosed with PTSD. They medically discharged me in September 2015.”

When Michelle returned

home, she tri working as a c paramedic, but f that her combat experiences we in sharp contras to a civilian setting, “When you’ve seen kids with their legs blown off and you’ve got somebody in front of you who’s phone for an ambulance because they’ve dislocated finger… I told what I thought Which was no good.”

S So in t inste using the leade and communica skills she picked at RAF, she ffounded ou her own compan Mentis Training Training & Consultancy, to people whose mentaal health aff ffects ects their theeir ability to work. They provide pr one to one mediatiion for for people who want to stayy at work but are strugglling, or

Opera ra ati tion RE:A ACT CT has • Provided mortuary care ffor or over 2, 2,500 deceased patients • Installed over 1,000 hospital beds • Distributed over 5m PPE items • Supported/delivered over 1.5m mealss • Conducted over 4,000 wellbeing and saffety ety checks h k ffor or isolated/vulner l d l rable people • Supported a total of 62 hospitals • Recruited nearly 6,000 new veteran eran volunteers • Completed over 55 tasks in collaboraation with the NHS, local authorities, or other charities/organisations.

Minister for Defence People and Vet eteranss

those who are off siick but want to go back to o work.

“I’ll never be a milliionaire because I tend to give ve most courses aw way for for free,” fr said Michelle.

It was in this new, community-focused focused rrole that Michelle signed up with RE:ACT T, which is a network of veterans, who volunteer as crisis responders. Usually RE:ACT sends veterans to disaster zones. But this year unffortunatel ortunately, the disaster was everywhere.

Michelle said, “I began working as a housing support officer for for the Salvation Army and the YMCA, many of whose staff were furloughed or selfisolating. A pub in St Helens kindly put me up and when I wasn’t on my housing services shift, I was doing food deliveries for for them to

n we launched our response oviid-19 over 80 daays ys ago, we l out ffor or veterans to volunteer ACT T because we knew they d a highly-trained, agile, and d untapped resource that to serve and do whatever they ran ns like Michelle epitomise y aand selfless commitment of our volunteers and have enabled our small charity to prou udly play a major part in the UK’s eff fforts orts to d deffeat eat Covid-19.

- Richard Sharp, CEO, O, RE:A ACT CT key workers. It was har ard, but it was a nice experience.” ce.”

But having v beeen a sergeant in the RAF, Michelle was also given ven the additional role of lleading a team of veterans looking after the homeless at a hotel.

“These people who weren’t as comp mpliant.

Some had substance abuse problems, which adds dds an element of danger. So o, I was there as muscle. That’s how I joked about it with thee other veterans. There wass some navvy and some arm my, and you had the typical banter between servicepeoplle. The

YMCA in particular said that they fel felt really saffee knowing they had the support from us.”

Michelle believes that veterans are the right people to call on in a crisis because they are used to it. She added, “When we deploy, we just think, right, let’s get our heads in it.

“We’ve had the training, we’ve got the leadership, we know how to cope within ourselves and to look out for each other. other We are each other’s strength and that comradeship never leaaves ves you.”

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Research reveals BAME members feel the need to hide their identity at work Shefali Saxena A study by consultancy Utopia before coronavirus struck the globe and surveyed 2,000 UK workers. It summarised that BAME individuals felt the pressure to aspire to a reach a certain level of professionalism that favoured their white counterparts.

The Utopia research came as a result of the recent poll by YouGov of 1,200 BAME Britons found the majority (84 per cent) believed racism existed in the UK. The findings included: 49 per cent said they felt they had to mask part of their identity to fit in at the office, compared to 43 per cent of white workers who said this.

• 59 per cent of BAME women said that they felt they had to hide their true personalities at work • Two in five (41 per cent) BAME workers felt that their organisation did not offer an inclusive culture.

• The same number (41 per cent) said they felt less likely to progress professionally because of their ethnicity. This was compared to only 9 percent of white workers who felt they faced barriers because of their ethnicity.

• 38 per eat of BAME people had experienced racism in the workplace.

•

• 44 percent had experienced an impact on their career.

Over half (56 per cent) of BAME individuals in employment considered their workplaces diverse environments, but a third (34 percent) did not.

• 46 percent said they were satisfied with workplace policies on diversity and inclusion, but a quarter (37 per cent) were displeased with these.

• Three quarters (74 per cent) had been asked ‘where they were really from’ and more than half (52 per cent) said they had been on the receiving end of assumptions based on race.

• Almost a third (29 percent) said they had been stopped or questioned on the street by authorities, with 9 per cent reporting that this had happened

multiple times.

Tolu Farinto, changemaker at Utopia, said BAME workers said, “To overcome these systemic challenges [around racial inequality], businesses must create inclusive cultures that demonstrate ethnicity is not a barrier to success in the workplace. This is integral now more than ever, as employers start to consider the move back to the physical office.”

Sandra Kerr, race equality director at Business in the Community, said, “This can manifest in overt ways with stereotypical comments around appearance, but it can also show up in covert ways, with BAME employees being segregated into roles that are less front-facing. This has a direct impact on BAME employees’ progression. Managers need to be prepared to really listen. Without this,

many employees will feel voiceless and that there is no room for them at that organisation.”

Emma Mainoo, Partner and Head of Utopia’s mental health practice, said, “The Black Lives Matter movement has forced people managers and business leaders to take accountability and spearhead change. Hopefully, this will translate into the post-pandemic workplace.”

BAME, no more a defining term?

"I hate the term 'BAME', 'people of colour', all these labels. They don't define me,” said comedian Eshaan Akbar, who is half Bangladeshi and half Pakistani.

BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) community is four times more likely to die from Covid-19 as a result of their socioeconomic disadvantages, overcrowded households, and the nature of jobs. Furthermore, in the light of Black Lives Matter protests, BAME continues to be in the spotlight, but some people do not want the BAME tag attached to their identities anymore.

A 20 year old student from Lagos, Nigeria who went to study in the West Midlands, first heard the term BAME at the University of London. Tosin Attah told the BBC, “I mean, it was a white term, if we're being honest. White people made it so they don't have to say 'black', because they feel weird

UK government announces an extended post-study work visa for Indian students The UK government has announced that as a part of the new graduate route, international students who complete a PhD from Summer 2021 can stay in the UK for three years after study to live and work.

As Indian students continue to be the biggest group of international students, an extended poststudy work visa offer for PhD students, as well as a streamlined visa process by the UK government come as a huge relief to Indian students who are sensitive to the UK’s student visa policies.

“As previously announced, students who have successfully completed undergraduate and master’s degrees will be able to stay two years after study.

This will make it easier for some of the best, young international graduates to secure skilled jobs in the UK and contribute to economic growth,” said a statement released by the British government. The statement also highlighted that prospective students can make visa applications in the extended window, and study time limits at postgraduate level will be removed, allowing all students to switch to another type of visa from within the UK “Indian PhD students,

who have chosen the UK education and work experience route to develop their careers will experience three years in an international context that will benefit these professionals immensely,” said Barbara

Wickham, Director India, British Council. “This also strengthens our existing programmes such as UKIERI [UK-India Education and Research Initiative] and Newton Bhabha that aim to drive

academic links and research collaboration between our two countries,” she said.

“The post-study work visa will be of particular appeal to students from India, who are very sensitive to whether or not they have an ability to stay on in the country after they graduate to put to use the skills they have acquired in higher education and earn a bit of money to help them pay the pretty considerable fees that our universities charge them,” says former UK Universities minister Jo Johnson, who had pushed for an extended post-study visa offer in a recent report.

New lockdown rules might lead to undue pressure on NHS emergency services The BMA urged the public during the Super Saturday weekend to act responsibly amid fears that emergency departments could see a sharp rise in alcohol-related attendances as pubs and bars reopen under new lockdown rules.

Emergency departments saw a decline in the number of alcohol-related injuries during lockdown, however emergency departments are operating with significantly reduced capacity having been re-

structured to allow for social distancing in order to reduce the spread of Covid-19. Doctors feared that the new lockdown rules might lead to undue pressure on NHS emergency services.

Dr Simon Walsh, BMA emergency medicine lead said: “The Government’s decision to re-open pubs and bars on a Saturday has created a so-called ‘countdown to carnival’ and there is a real concern that emergency departments could see a surge in alcohol-relat-

ed emergency attendances on Saturday.

“A sudden rise in A&E activity coming after months of NHS resources and frontline staff being pushed to their limits, coupled with current measures around PPE and social distancing, could make it very difficult for hospitals to cope. What’s more, it is important to remember that we are not out of this pandemic yet, with thousands of new cases of Covid-19 each week,” he added.

saying black for some reason. I feel like 'BAME' is just their safe word to not come off as racist."

Nicole Miners was 24 years old when she discovered the term BAME. In a conversation with the BBC, she expressed how it is misleading people into thinking that everyone who is not white English, should fall under the category of BAME. “"The 'A' in 'BAME' means Asian, which, in itself, is a very broad term. Does it mean 'South Asian', 'East Asian', 'South East Asian', 'Indian', 'Pakistani', 'Chinese', 'Thai', 'Vietnamese'? The list goes on,” she said.

However, South London rapper Virgil Hawkins felt that BAME can be good for administrative reasons. He said, ”I completely support it, because the message they're trying to convey is, 'Listen, I'm black, I have black issues and there's not really any intersectionality, because in the past, historically, there hasn't been any.' "I think its people who are tired of fighting every fight. But then when it comes to black issues, noone's there for them." Born to Rwandan parents, 23 year old Vanessa Azabe felt that we must become the change we are dying to see. She told the BBC that the solution is to get rid of ethnicity categories altogether. "There is no need to call me 'BAME'," she said.

"Just call me 'Vanessa'."

‘The School That Tried To End Racism’ leaves viewers astonished Channel 4’s show, ‘The School That Tried To End Racism’ stunned viewers last week with its story on the National Portrait Gallery. They were exposed to slaves of the 1800s where the children were told that in 1833, the slaves were ‘bought’ out from their owners by the government as slavery was abolished. Rather than giving slaves a new life, the owners were left with a hefty payout which they were only able to pay off in full by 2015. That’s 182 years later.

A Twitter user @numera20 posted: “Watching ‘the school that tried to end racism’ brought back my own experiences of being an asian kid in a school of predominantly white background. I never talk about my experiences of racism, you become immune after a while but it hits home when young pupils experience it.” Another user, @daisyeye1 said: “I can't be the only person who thinks of the Ch4 prog.

'The School That Tried To End Racism' is the most disgusting, sickening piece of tv in recent memory. It's using children as lab rats and exploiting them for an adult virtue signalling. Shame on all involved.” An online publication reported that other students of Asian descent also spoke out about being considered ‘other’ in the debate black and white, and they felt they weren’t accurately represented in a ‘black and minority ethnic [BAME]’ category.

Coronavirus: As churches reopen, clap while you can’t sing Churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and other places of worship are now allowed to welcome back congregations as part of the government's latest easing of lockdown measures.

As per the latest guidelines from the government, communal singing is prohibited due to the potential for increased risk of coronavirus transmission from airborne droplets, as places of worship reopen.

Worshippers gathered in their smart suits and summer dresses at the first church service in three months at Cornerstone the Church, in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.

Pastor Chris Demetrious told the crowd of hundred people that, “We cannot sing. But we can stand, we can clap, and there is nothing wrong with finding other ways to express yourself.” The smell of hand sanitiser lingered on.

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Britain, a home to many refugees Covid-19: No responsible justification for publishing lies and conspiracy theories about vaccines Subhash V Thakrar

Britain has shown magnanimity and care by announcing that it is ready to allow 3million Hongkong residents to come and settle in the UK. This is a significant number when you note that Hongkong’s population is 7.5 million.This shows that deep down, majority of the British really care and Britain will fully accept its moral responsibility in the World. As a UK citizen I am proud to be British. The British values stand out in the world.

As an ex-Ugandan refugee who settled in the UK, this announcement from the Government brings vivid memories of the plight of the 60,000 Ugandan Asians who were forced to leave the country that they had regarded as their home. It did not matter that many of them were Uganda citizens. They all had to leave. There were some 28,000 who arrived in UK in autumn of 1972 as they held British passports.

Many young generations will not be aware of the trauma and trepidation faced by their parents when Idi Amin, the then President of Uganda called them ‘blood suckers of the economy ‘ and ordered them to leave the country in just 90 days.

Most Asians did not believe Amin for the first 30 days. Then the UK government got involved to persuade Amin to change his position. They failed and another 30 days passed. In reality the people had just around a month to leave all of their history and belongings behind and leave the country just with one bag and some money. There was a lot of debate about the decision to allow the Uganda Asians to settle in UK. A notable minority was against the decision but a good proportion of the UK people sympathised and and supported the new immigrants. It is now 48 years since they settled here. As Lord Popat, UK trade envoy for Uganda has mentioned, the Ugandan Asians are recognised widely as a model immigrant group in UK’s history of immigration.

The Ugandan Asians have made amazing strides in all aspects of UK economy and life. I believe the generation of young Ugandan Asians, to which I and many of my friends belong to, have outshined in a number of areas. In my opinion they have done three notable and unique things.

They genuinely looked after and cared for their parents as many of the older arrivals struggled to settle and earn a living. This showed that they took responsibility. Secondly, they worked very hard to economically progress. In my own case, I studied full time for my A levels but on Friday and Saturday evenings I worked at a nightclub in Leicester to collect and wash glasses. On Saturday morning, I worked at a menswear shop and on Sunday, I worked in a petrol station filling tanks. My sister worked at an insurance company and after work she would go to work the evening shift in a biscuit factory. My brother worked as an apprentice car mechanic in the day with all evenings and weekends at a petrol station. This was typical of many of my generation.

We were together, worked hard and saved together. We did not go the the government for any help. We just got on with it. We faced all kinds of discrimination and racism but this did not deter us. This characteristic of hard work and meeting any challenges that come gives a strong message to the debate on Black Lives Matter. It shows how one can succeed irrespective of racism and discrimination.

Just look at the economic progress of Ugandan Asians in UK despite them having lost everything and arriving penniless.

The third value created by Uganda Asians was to give the best education to their UK born children. This was not easy but required a lot of sacrifice.The proof now is that Asian children are the best achievers in education and moving on to very successful careers. The example of Ugandan Asians in UK can give confidence to the society that immigrants can contribute to the society and succeed. The Hongkong residents worried about the unfortunate Chinese aggression can succeed in the UK if they decide to come over. If 28,000 can achieve so much, why not the 3 million.

(The columnist is Founder Chairman, Charity Clarity, Former Chairman, London Chamber of Commerce and Commissioner Department of International Development).

Charity and researchers come together to produce a guide for alcohol problems in Punjabi community In a first of its kind in the UK, the new guidance is based on the evaluation of alcohol service initiative for a Punjabi community in the West Midlands.

Led by Professor Sarah Glavani from Manchester Metropolitan, the guide offers advice on how to work productively with local communities, while addressing alcohol problems within South Asian communities in general, and the Punjabi community in particular.

Professor Galvani, Professor of Social Research and Substance Use at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “Far more attention is needed to support our diverse communities and to determine the most effective ways of supporting people, and their families. As one community member told me, there is a habit of “parachuting in ‘white’ services” and expecting that to work.”

Richard McVey, Aquarius’ Head of

Service, said: “It is really important that all alcohol and drug services listen to the particular needs of our diverse communities. We must avoid a ‘one size fits all’ approach. To do this, partnership with the community from the outset is vital.”

Report co-author, Dr Surinder Guru, Senior Lecturer at the University of Birmingham, said: “Drinking within the Punjabi community is very gendered. Heavy drinking by men is common practice but women’s drinking is frowned upon. This creates tensions in families and women can suffer rejection and shame within the community and family. The original research underpinning Shanti showed that young Punjabi people notice this unequal treatment of men and women and see it as unfair. We need to give attention to women’s drinking and the impact of men’s drinking on women and children with the Punjabi community.”

In a shocking study, it has been revealed that “A surge in anti-vaxxers could torpedo Britain’s chances of stopping coronavirus”. An online poll result showed that a third of Brits could refuse a life-saving Covid19 vaccine because of conspiracy theories peddled online.

But, according to some scientists about 82 per cent of Brits will need to get immunised to stop the killer bug in its tracks. Even if scientists discover a jab, this may not be able to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Imran Ahmed, the boss of the Center for Countering Digital Hate which commissioned the study, has blasted tech giants for peddling dangerous conspiracy theories.

He was quoted saying, "Our hope for a return to normal life rests with scientists developing a successful vaccine for coronavirus.

But social media companies’ irresponsible decision to continue to publish antivaccine propaganda means a vaccine may not be effective in containing the virus.

The price for their

greed is a cost paid in lives.

There is simply no responsible justification for publishing lies and conspiracy theories about vaccines.”

A poll conducted by The YouGovon 1,663 people found that 31 per cent either “will '' refuse to get the jab, or are unsure about getting one. People who get their news from social media were a whopping 38 per cent and only 69 per cent of Brits said that they expect to get a jab.

Boffins say 82 per cent of the population would need to be vaccinated to stop the pandemic in Britain. With over 57 million followers online across

the UK and the Us, anti-vax conspiracy theorists continue to spread fake news online.

An online report cited outlandish lies, including claims Bill Gates created the coronavirus pandemic and that vaccines cause Covid-19, were found on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram, the research found.

A Government spokesman said, "Vaccine misinformation in any form is completely unacceptable and it is everyone’s responsibility to seek NHS advice, so that they have the right information to make the right choice.”

10 READERS VOICE

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A lighter look at racism in Britain An astute observer of British life once said: “If you see a white man dashing down the street he is running to catch a bus.

If it’s a black man sprinting, he must be running away from the police.”In the 1950s, a British television documentary set out to discover whether white landlords and landladies were “colour prejudiced” as we used to say in those days as a euphemism for racism.A black reporter would go to a house advertising “Room to let” and tell the owner he was looking for accommodation. “Sorry,” he would be told. “The room is taken.”

Ten minutes later a white reporter approached the same owner. "Yes, of course," was the response. "The room is yours for £XX a week."When Asian doctors first started working for Britain's National Health Service they were surprised to hear mainly elderly white patients take one look at them and demand to see a "proper doctor" -- meaning a white doctor.This attitude sparked a newspaper cartoon in which an old white woman, waiting in a crowded surgery, sees an Indian man enter and head straight for the doctor's door. She jumps up and tells the Asian in deliberately broken English: "We all wait for doctor; you wait for doctor." The man gives her a withering look and remarks in equally fractured English: "No, YOU wait for doctor. Me doctor."Asian shopkeepers in the 1950s/60s were addressed by white customers in slow and loud voices: "H-O-W M-U-C-H D-O-E-S T-H-I-S C-O-S-T?" Some shopkeepers in those days would give equally slow and loud responses before reverting to fast and fluent sentences, to be met with a surprising question: "Where did you learn to speak such good English?"Witty shopkeepers would quip: "Oh, I picked up the language on my way to Britain," and rejoice in customers' open-mouthed admiration of their amazing intellectual ability!Once, on a tube train, I got on the same time a white man.

I sat next to a white person while he sat next to a black man opposite and gave me an indignant stare. I stared back because his manner spoke volumes.

According to his racist mindset, I should have sat next to the black guy and he next to the white guy.Racism can flare up when least expected and it is always a good idea to stay alert to this possibility at all times so one can retaliate with a quick and effective retort.

No point in being dumbstruck when it happens and thinking of a brilliant riposte three days later.However I must say that racism in Britain has receded considerably since the bad old days. This is why I do not think Blacks and Asians should resort to the desperate measure of using skin-whitening substances to make themselves more acceptable to white folk. What a pathetic way to seek approval for one's existence! A Black woman once said on television: "If only I were white, all my problems would be over."Really? Don't white people have problems too?Let us take comfort in the undeniable fact that complexion is only skin-deep. It is the person inside the skin, the personality, that can exude a positive, wholesome and happy attitude to everyone they encounter.A smile is infectious. Try it.

Rudy Otter

By Email

Free ration PM Modi’s announcement extending free ration for poor till Nov end (AV 4-10 July) is really a very timely, proactive and helpful stop for the neediest people. It has a huge cost to the country but is a very welcome step to mitigate the impact Covid19.

The government has done almost everything within its power since the lockdown started to support the people who are adversely affected by the deadly decease. However good the intention is, but the resources are limited and will dry down one day.

Now it is time for the public to show respect and follow the guidelines issued by the authority from time to time. As reported this paper, negligence in personal and social behaviour has been increasing which is really alarming. Many people of India have sacrificed their livelihood, suffered hardship and maintained utmost restraints to make sure the authority gets a grip over Covid-19, but a tiny population can make more harm by blatantly not following the guidelines about social distancing.

I think, it is time for the people to follow self-discipline or authority will have to take appropriate unpleasant steps on those who violate social norms, to save innocent lives.

Hitesh Hingu London.

KHICHADI Kapil’s

Unpretentiousness of people at the top I began writing in earnest after I had hospital mishap in 1999 when 2 hours stay in “Day Ward” for minor liver biopsy turned into nightmare of 22 nights, undergoing major surgery. I never thought I would come out alive from this nightmare, due to a mistake by a junior doctor.

After the incident, I retired from my accountancy work and concentrated full time on writing, going on long holidays and helping others who may not have the skill or the knowledge when it comes fighting bureaucracy, we are all lumbered with in so called IT age!

Writing four novels, numbering one million words, as well as interviewing prominent politicians, local as well as BJP guests from India and leading members of our community, contributing profoundly to Asian Voice and having my own column in India Link, I was able to cultivate friendship with many politicians, Councillors, London Assembly Members and Members of HOC and HOL. This would not have been possible without exposure I received in AV, due to encouragement from CB Patel whom I have known since 1960s from back in Dar. CB first introduced me to late Lord Gulam Noon, who was such a humble, kind and caring person without a trace of pride. When he passed away, I felt I have lost a friend, who could not be replaced. But as we say, God works in mysterious ways. CB again came to my aid and introduced me to Lord Dolar Popat, at a reception to welcome the late Arun Jaitley. Lord Popat is as kind, caring and humble as Lord Noon was. He filled in the vacuum left by Lord Noon. Other lustre politicians I consider good friends are Navin Shah, AM, my own MP Shree Barry Gardiner, who has stood by me in my hour of need, Gareth Thomas and Steven Pound who retired at the last election, leaving many heart-broken constituents. I wonder who the next prominent personality CB will be would introduce me to!

Bhupendra M Gandhi By email

Importance of face to face teaching The recent prolonged lockdown during the corona pandemic enforced a strict closure of every educational institution. This has opened new vistas for online teaching whether it is a primary or secondary school, a college or a university. The prime objective being to rescue pupils from the loss of learning when they were not attending their schools or colleges.

This has however highlighted the significant and indispensable role of teachers in face-to-face teaching. Teachers are proficient in transforming complex subjects into easily understandable themes. They invariably use effective body language in 2-way communication between themselves & their learners. Moreover, classroom teaching contributes a lot in developing several soft skills such as teamwork and tolerance, finally leading to overall personality development.

More and more use of online teaching highlighted several technological and other broadband problems. Students find it difficult to focus on learning in their domestic environment. Parents too find it challenging to manage their children's behaviour at home. Online teaching is also found to be more stressful as compared to classroom teaching which is relaxing as it contributes to the advancement of socialising skills. Thus, online teaching has undoubtedly contributed towards some learning under the present circumstances. Yet it can only support face to face teaching but cannot replace it totally as a panacea for all evils.

Additionally, more ways have to be explored to bridge the learning gaps that have been created in the absence of face to face teaching. It is rightly said that 'Man behind the Machine is always Important'.

Dr Bharat Shah Harrow

Bereavement services I applaud the article by Subhash V Thakrar in recognition of the free and dignified bereavement services provided by volunteers from the Lohana Community North London (LCNL)- Asian Voice 26 June.

I personally experienced the value of this service from Vinubhai Kotecha, Harishbhai Kotecha and others when my mother passed away in 2010 at the age of 89. As this was the first death I had to deal with in my immediate family, it was obviously a very difficult and distressing time for me and my family but the timely and invaluable support from the volunteers of the LCNL with the general guidance, Puja Samagri and the performance of the last rites helped a great deal to take a load off our shoulders at a particularly difficult time.

For this moral and practical support, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers of LCNL and pray that such a selfless service will continue to be provided well into the future in the service of our communities. It was also great to read in Subhashbhai’s article that the younger and IT savvy members of the community are getting involved in supporting this service through digital communications.

Dinesh Rai

By Email

Follow me on Twitter: @kk_OEG

Black Jesus for Heathens?

Kapil Dudakia In what was an astonishing public statement by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury (the voice of the Queen on faith matters) told the world that it’s time for a Black Jesus. Yes, you read that correctly. The Church is in the business of making miracles and it seems their White Jesus will be miraculously turn into a Black Jesus, hallelujah indeed. Of course, the Church has forgotten that Jesus was in fact a Person of Colour (PoC) and Jewish by faith. But then the Church has never bothered with truth, it violates the commandments as and when required, as long as its power remains strong.

The anarchist Black Lives Matter movement hijacked the legitimate cause of PoC. Its primary objective comes across as a grab for power for the socialists and the Marxists. This moment of madness around the world was grabbed by the hooligans in society whose primary objective was to destabilise and loot.

What is incredibly is then to find that leading institutions have all fallen for this madness. A classic case of mass hysteria taking away the cognitive faculties of common sense and paralysing people into a submissive state to take the knee or be attacked for being a racist. You know its utter madness when they start calling PoC racists because they refuse to tow this anarchist line of enslavement.

The Archbishop I assume believes this to be a great time to strike by creating a Black Jesus. After all, do remember the early white Christians task in Africa was to bring these ‘heathens’ into civilised society, to serve as slaves to their Christian masters, and to always be fearful of a white God. They destroyed the lives of black people systematically. They took away their freedom, their culture, their language, their heritage, and their very name. Yet, even today we see the advancement of Christianity into Africa on a massive scale (also Islam) and now with a Black Jesus, the millions of heathens are ready to be civilised again.

On the global stage this is a battle between Christianity and Islam. It has been waged for centuries, and it continues today. Do not be fooled by the interfaith rhetoric here or abroad. These are two enemies that are intent in making sure their God, and only their God, triumphs. And they will use any means, as they have shown by their history to date, to get that job done.

Let me make something clear, there is a huge difference between Jesus and the Church (Christianity). The Jesus of Nazareth and Bethlehem would reject the Church. And his father, God in heaven would reject Islam. These two sibling faiths of Abraham care not for their God or for humanity, their objective was and continues to be, world domination. Black lives don’t matter, lives of people of colour don’t matter – the only thing that matters is power.

If we are serious about truth, then let’s teach the truth about these two faiths. And I do mean the whole truth. If humanity wants to move onwards from the rhetoric of equalities and human rights, will the powers to be allow for this truth to come out? By toppling a few statues, burning down neighbourhoods, attacking people and the police, and attacking civic society – what has been achieved?

Nothing. A bomb makes a big noise but, in its wake, it leaves utter indiscriminate destruction. Those with power continue their global play knowing the masses are just too silly to see the whole picture.

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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Leicester : Boohoo factory staff at risk of contracting Covid-19 According to an online report, “The campaign group Labour Behind the Label alleged last Tuesday that factories in Leicester making Boohoo garments had put staff at risk of contracting Covid-19 by pressuring them to work without proper personal protective equipment (PPE) or social distancing.”

Mahmud Kamani, who followed his father's advice of going to work and forgetting to win a lottery has turned the online fast-fashion empire into a £4.9bn entity — more than Asos, and more than twice as much as Marks & Spencer.

Boohoo.com and its eight sub-brands, that include Karen Millen and Pretty Little Thing, had a turnover of £1.2bn last year

with about 14 million customers. Many of these customers were drawn in by celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Nicole Scherzinger.

Kamani sold t-shirts and shorts worth £3. According to the Sunday Time Rich List, he stands to net a further £50 million bonus if the group’s value passes £7.6bn by 2023.

The Labour group published a report shortly after health secretary Matt

Hancock confirmed that Leicester would be put under a total lockdown.

Accounting for three quarters of the city’s textile production, it stated that it had emailed its suppliers urging them to deliver hefty orders on time by adhering to health and safety guidelines.

However, Boohoo denied the allegations. An undercover story in Sunday Times investigation found that the workers in Leicester

Relief for students: Ofqual proposes reduced curriculum and delayed exams The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) has published proposals to mitigate the impact of learning time lost during the school closure in the coronavirus pandemic.

Pupils in England who are due to sit their GCSEs next summer will now be taught a reduced curriculum, with a smaller number of subjects, and examinations will be delayed by a few weeks. This will help the students who haven’t had enough time to cover the entire curriculum during Covid-19. There’s a need for an urgent plan B as suggested by headteachers who feel that there’s a need to cope with the learning loss.

Ofqual has asked exam boards to draw up plans for GCSE exams to start after the summer half term next year – moving the exam series back from May to a starting date of 7 June 2021, running into July – in order to allow more teaching time. This could delay results. Delaying A-levels is also under consideration.

“We are also seeking views on whether such a change would be appropriate for the AS/A-level exam timetable, and the impact of any delay in issuing results,” Ofqual said.

Some highlights of the proposals include: • Plans to allow GCSE students to observe practical science work rather than undertake it themselves and the removal of the compulsory computer programming project.

• GCSE and A-level art and design students will be assessed on their portfolio alone and will not be required to complete a supervised task.

• In GCSE geography, fieldwork will not be assessed.

Ofqual’s chief regulator, Sally Collier, said: “We have considered a wide range of options before coming forward with a set of proposals for next year’s GCSE, AS and Alevel exams, which will help reduce the pressure on students and teachers, while allowing them to progress with valid qualifications which higher educational institutions and employers can trust.” Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responded: “These plans appear to amount to little more than tinkering at the edges of next year’s exams, despite the massive disruption to learning caused by the coronavirus emergency. A consultation on Ofqual’s proposals is now under way and the regulator will announce its final decision on next year’s exams in August.

Gaitri Issar Kumar takes over as the Indian High Commissioner to the UK Gaitri Issar Kumar of the 1986 batch of Indian Foreign Services is the new Indian high commissioner to the United Kingdom.

She is the third woman envoy in the key post since independence after Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and Ruchi Ghanashyam. Before taking over as the high commissioner, Kumar was the Indian ambassador to Belgium, the EU and Luxembourg. Later this year, she will present credentials to the Queen in a ceremonial event at

Gaitri Issar Kumar

Buckingham Palace. The ceremony has been postponed due to the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic and the queen has been in Windsor

Castle since March.

Industrialist Swraj Paul tweeted: “India has a great foreign service & very bright women diplomats starting from Mrs Pandit & have had the pleasure of knowing few. Said goodbye to Ruchi Ghanashyam & welcome Gaitri Kumar.

Wish you a great stay, you will enjoy this assignment”.

are making Boohoo clothes for as little as £3.5 an hour, less than half the £9.72 minimum wage.

An online store described an undercover reporter’s experience of filming himself packing clothes with Nasty Gal labels, one of Boohoo’s subbrands, at the Jaswal Fashions factory. The site was open during the local lockdown with no additional hygiene or social distancing measures in place. Nasty Gal said it had a “zero tolerance approach to incidences of modern slavery” and would investigate Jaswal Fashions, which was not a direct supplier.

Concerns over Leicester, whose factories account for about 40% of Boohoo’s production, lead to the question that has hung over the business since it floated in 2014: how can it sell items often priced at less than £10 each, take a 54% gross profit margin, and not mistreat manufacturers?

Boohoo’s shares now stand at 387.5p. It is by far the biggest company on AIM, the junior market. The test-and-repeat model continues on a grander scale, with 2,000 lines added each week.

Coronavirus: TV presenter Kate Garraway’s husband Derek is recovering now

The Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway says her husband, Derek Draper (a former political aide) is now able to open his eyes and that he can hear too. Derek was taken to hospital in March after contracting Coronavirus.

Kate told Hello Magazine, “When medical staff say: 'Good morning, Derek,' he sometimes opens his eyes. We and the doctors are doing everything we can so that he can start to recover." The children communicate with the father via FaceTime as the nurse holds the iPad. Kate feels that this is indeed a miracle that her

husband has recovered from the coronavirus after an extraordinary battle.

According to reports, Derek was placed in a coma at his own request to give rest to his legs. Doctors say that he won’t be out before September from the hospital.

She added, “"I have to get on with life whilst we are waiting for him to get better. They've told me that I need to go back to work and create a routine in our lives again. The children and Derek are all I've thought about and they're the most important people in my life, but I must create structure and normality for the children."

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SCRUTATOR’S Doctors bid adieu to stethoscopes!

Stethoscope is an integral part of a doctor.

Alas, after the strike of the Covid-19 pandemic, this centuries-old relationship between doctors and stethoscopes are coming to an end, at least for some doctors. In Ahmedabad many doctors have bid adieu to their stethoscopes to make way for social distancing which mandates six feet distance between the patient and the healer. For some it was a logical thing to do as using a stethoscope needs doctor to get up-close with patient. Some quit the hard way after falling prey to corona. A doctor says that he ditched the stethoscope only after he got critically ill with Covid. “Most of my doctor friends had stopped using stethoscope following six feet distance norm between patient and themselves but I continued as I thought I was protected wearing a PPE kit. But Covid-19 got me and got me bad,” says the doctor as he battled for life in an ICU for days in May before he recovered. “Now, I have ditched the stethoscope as I do not want to risk getting Covid again,” said the doctor. (The Times of India) Anand Mahindra thanks China for its 'provocation'

Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said that India Inc will rise to the occasion to counter "the Chinese provocation" that not many Indian goods are manufactured. "I suspect this comment might well be the most effective & motivating rallying cry that India Inc. has ever received.

Thank you for the provocation.

We will rise to the occasion," Mahindra said on Twitter.

Mahindra was referring to a tweet in the name of Hu Xijin. "Well, even if Chinese people want to boycott Indian products, they can't really find many Indian goods. Indian friends, you need to have some things that are more important than nationalism," he said in a tweet. The Modi government had last week banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, WeChat and UC Browser and Xiaomi's Mi Community over national security concerns amid strained India-China bilateral relations after the death of 20 Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley clash with Chinese PLA troops in eastern Ladakh. Indians have rushed to download social app Chingari, a desi alternative to Chinese TikTok, which is witnessing nearly 100,000 downloads and over 2 million views per hour since the government banned 59 Chinese apps. (Agency) One in five death in MP is a child under five The Register General and Census Commissioner of India in a recent report revealed that one in every five death in Madhya Pradesh is a child below the age of five years, while the mortality rate of this age group in Kerala is just 2% or one in 50 of total deaths in

Kerala. A high proportion of deaths in the 0-4 age group is not unique to MP and is the case among states with poor development indices. These include Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar in that order with about one in six deaths is in the 0-4 age group. Other than Kerala, the proportion of deaths in the 0-4 age group is low in Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra in that order. Again, these states also have relatively low under-five mortality rates. In India as a whole and in most states, the deaths in the 0-4 age group constitute a higher

proportion of total deaths in rural than in urban areas, except in a few states such as Uttarakhand and Punjab, where the proportion is higher in urban areas. (The Times of India) India gets wettest June in 12 years India gets 18 per cent abovenormal rainfall in June this year.

While all four regions have recorded surplus rains, central India as well as east and northeast have received the heaviest showers. Early figures for kharif season sowing reflects the good rainfall so far, with 315,600 hectare already under cultivation, which is 68% higher than the normal for the week, as per agriculture ministry data from June 26. While the area under rice was 570,000 hectare higher than normal, significantly higher sowing was also recorded in pulses, course cereals, oilseeds and cotton. India received 196.2 mm of rain during the month, highest since 2008, when 202mm was recorded during the month, as per India Meteorological Department records. June’s normal rainfall is

currently pegged at 166.9mm. June is the first of the four monsoon months and rainfall during this month often sets the tone for kharif sowing in the country. This year’s June rainfall was in sharp contrast to June last year, which had ended with a massive 33% rain deficit and was the driest June in the previous five years. (Agency) Indian railways run 2.8 km long train The Indian Railways recently broke another record by operating ‘SheshNaag’, a 2.8 km long train amalgamating four empty BOXN rakes, powered by four sets of

electric locomotives. It may be noted that ‘SheshNaag’ is the longest train ever to be operated by the Indian Railways. The super anaconda formation was made by joining four empty BOXN rakes and is powered by four sets of electric locomotives. It has nine engines and four guards van.

Importantly, the Indian Railways reached this feat on a day when it achieved 100 per cent punctuality for the first time ever. Prior to this India Railways has achieved 99.54 per cent punctuality of trains on June 23 with the delay of only one train making it the second-best rate. Expressing happiness on the milestone achieved by the Indian Railways, Union Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted, “Trains in the Fast Lane: Enhancing services to unprecedented levels, Indian Railways made history on 1st July 2020 by achieving 100% punctuality rate.” It is to be noted that during the ongoing lockdown, Indian Railways is running only special trains with a restricted capacity to ferry passengers stranded or those travelling out of necessity. These

are specific routes across the country devised to help movement in the current situation. (Agency) Nature tourism at Pirotan island The Gujarat Island

Development Authority has decided do develop Pirotan island in the Gulf of Kutch as a nature activities tourist centre. It will thus have coral and bird viewing spots. A presentation was also made on how to reach the island in ebb and flow. At a meeting chaired by chief minister Vijay Rupani in Gandhinagar, it was also decided to form a Beyt Dwarka Island Development Authority for development of archaeological interest, and to develop Dwarka Industrial Training Institute (ITI) as a marine skills training centre.

Looking at the great tourist potential of the group of islands, the government also approved £10.8 million for detailed planning and project reports for developing Pirotan to Beyt Dwarka. (The Times of India) Warli paintings tell Covid tales An arts teacher in a remote tribal hamlet of Tapi district of Gujarat found drawing to be a perfect medium to tell the tale of Covid-19 for generations to come. Inspired by the changes in the world after the pandemic outbreak, the 47year-old teacher Tulsi Patel, who works in a Surat school, chose his native house in Pathakwadi village as the landscape to describe the corona story and life after it using the tribal art form – Warli. Patel first applied ‘lipan’ - a mixture of dung, red soil and dried peel of food grains - on the walls for a bright red base on which he then painted the Covid tales in Warli form with natural white clay paint. The elements he included are names of doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, police, armed forces, fire fighters, teachers and security personnel, families locked in homes, empty roads and closed industrial units. Patel has depicted 108 ambulances as angels, online meetings over mobile phones, social distancing, migrant workers undertaking arduous journeys on foot carrying kids on shoulder etc.His efforts turned monumental with the painted walls attracting a huge number of visitors to his home.

(The Times of India) HC puts e-commerce firms, Centre on notice The Delhi high court has sught responses from e-

commerce firms Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal among others, as well as the Centre, on a plea seeking to make it mandatory for such companies to display the name of the

manufacturing country on products. Issuing notices to these entities, a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan sought their stand by July 22. Appearing for the Centre, standing counsel Ajay Digpaul accepted the notice on behalf of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs on the plea filed by a lawyer, who has sought implementation of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, and the rules framed under it, which mandate that country of origin has to be displayed on products being sold on e-commerce websites. The petition argued that the mandate is not being enforced with respect to ecommerce entities. (Agency) India appoints new UN envoy to counter Pak

Indra Mani Pandey, an IFS officer of 1990 batch and presently additional secretary in the MEA, will be the next ambassador/permanent representative of India to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, including WHO and UN Human Rights Council where Pakistan has sought to target India for the reorganisation of J&K. In his nearly three-decade career, Pandey has served in Indian missions in Damascus, Cairo, Islamabad, Kabul, Muscat and Geneva. A fluent Arabic speaker, he has also served as joint secretary in the Disarmament and International Security Affairs division of the MEA in Delhi. Pandey will lead India’s efforts to blunt Pakistan's campaign to vilify India for alleged human rights abuses in J&K in the wake of the reorganisation of the state into two separate Uts. (Ageny)

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Britain’s beloved curry houses may not reopen due to pandemic aftermath Charusmita Lockdown across the country due to Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on Britain’s £5 billion curry industry, which has suffered tremendously with numerous family-owned curry restaurants now fearing that they may struggle to reopen now that the restrictions have started to be lifted.

The cause of concern is real as industry groups have warned that since the lockdown has put restaurant owners under extreme pressure and at immense financial risk, curry houses may be forced to close down or operate only as takeaway services.

Owners of UK’s curry houses are trying various strategies to rise to the occasion of saving the beloved curry market – from restructuring their kitchens and menus to continuing to

Mitu Chowdhury

service customers through providers such as Deliveroo or their own websites to avoid delivery fee.

In Britain, curry houses have stood the test of time with financial crests and troughs through immigration issues, Brexit, changing culinary trends, and now trying to soften the blow of Covid-19 and social distancing. In almost every British town, one can find chicken tikka masala and chicken vindaloo, sometimes popularly referred to as the country’s national dishes.

BBC Bengali recently produced a short video on this issue and filmed it in

London’s prominent Brick Lane, a one-stop destination for curry houses in London.

Produced by Shakeel Anwar and Rebecca Henschke, and filmed and edited by Kevin Kim, this video addresses the looming fear in the hearts of loyal curry customers – that curry houses may not reopen now after lockdown.

Mitu Chowdhury, Secretary-General of Bangladesh Caterers Association, spoke to Asian Voice and shed light on the issue. BCA is lobbying with the local and central governments to protect the curry restaurants from incurring further heavy losses. So what measures have been taken by the government so far to ensure that curry restaurants do not have to shut shops permanently due to Covid-19? “The government offered local council grants and business bounceback loans and this year you

don’t have to pay the business rate [sic]”, Mitu told Asian Voice, and that this “had been a great help”.

As the £10 million fund was announced recently by the government to help small businesses in the tourist destinations of the UK, is it any of it allocated to the curry catering industry too? Mitu said: “It is too early right now, but even if it is [allocated], it can only be of small help as we need a strong regular customer base”. Mitu praised the customer community’s support throughout the lockdown.

As BCA represents over 12,000 curry restaurants in the UK, they had requested a reduction in consumption tax by the government on March 25th and are yet to receive a response. His message to Asian curry restaurants/takeaway owners in Britain at this moment is to “just ensure your staff and customers are safe” and to be up to date with latest advisories through the BCA and other sources.

Birmingham hospital nurse fostering vulnerable children since four years Raz Akhtar, a 39-year-old nurse in Birmingham Children’s Hospital, has been foster-caring for four years, giving home to about ten children included young asylum seekers separated from their parents, as reported by BirminghamLive on Saturday.

In her nursing experience, Raz realised the challenges of caring for vulnerable kids early on. She believes that her role is to prepare these children to live an independent life as so many would not be reunited with

“Tough day for the family”, Amir Khan mourns death of newborn nephew On Thursday, boxer Amir Khan paid a heartfelt tribute to his nephew following his tragic death on Twitter.

He revealed that his brother Haroon’s newborn son, Abdul Khan, had passed away on Wednesday shortly after coming into this world. Along with a photograph of his nephew’s burial, Amir shared on Twitter: “Tough day for the family.

My nephew, son of my brother Haroon khan passed away yesterday. The new born didn’t make it.

May Allah make it easy for the family, especially the mother and father, please keep us in your prayers”.

Support and condolence messages poured in on his post from fans.

their own families. These vulnerable children, having faced immense trauma in escaping war and persecution, are being helped in every possible way by Raz. Some of the children being fostered by Raz came from the Calais Jungle, the refugee camp that made headlines during the 2015 Syrian refugee crisis.

The Birmingham Children’s Trust’s statistics show that more than 250 unaccompanied asylum seeker children were in foster care in the city in the last three years, with 95 per cent aged between 11

and 18.

A mother of four herself, she seeks a quiet life outside work with her family. “These children come into your home and they have such a scared look on their face,” she t o l d BirminghamLive.

She added: “Asylum seeking children have been through a lot of trauma and the most I can do is prepare them for building a life and making a positive contribution to soci-

ety. These children need love and safety, so if you have an empty room in your house and the time to give a child a nurturing and loving home, why not?”.

Priti Patel : “I will not tolerate violence and abuse against any shop worker”

Why our brilliant minds miss out simple things Rohit Vadhwana While shuffling through pages of The Sunday Times magazine, I came across an advertisement of a book titled 'How Innovation Works'. Authored by Matt Ridley the book is designed in simple minimal style. It has a yellow cover page with white and blue fonts. The heading of advertising mentioned: Why did it take so long to add wheels to a suitcase? This is the punch line.

Exactly, why did it take so long? It’s absurdly ridiculous to not have such a simple engineering modification to our travel bags which had been painful to carry around.

While I look forward to reading the book, its punch line has stimulated some thoughts in my mind. It is worth pondering over a question: Why simple things happen at last? Or say, why our brilliant minds miss out on the simple, day to day requirements? It reminds me of an anecdote I had read somewhere. It may not be true, though.

A company got a big bronze statue of its founderchairman to install in the centre of its campus. While the truck carrying the life-size figure arrived at the gate, they realised the top of the entrance was shorter by an inch or two for the truck to enter along with statue loaded on it. Each and every senior manager suggested how to resolve the problem. Someone wanted to bring a smaller truck, and shift the heavy piece on it.

Another senior executive wanted to lift the statue by eight human labourers. But it was the truck driver who had a simple solution. He reduced pressure of the tires by half the truck lowered enough to enter the gate, without removing the statue. Senior Managers' degree and experience didn't find such a simple solution.

This is interesting. When we start looking for more intelligent solutions to problems, we miss simple ones.

In our quest to study mars and moon, we miss studying our own neighbourhood.

Once The Economist did a cover story about the invention of a flush toilet - which is termed as one of the greatest innovations of the century. What a simple but essential thing - toilet. But it’s certainly a simple innovation that could have come much before.

I am waiting for cars to run with tyres without air, so we do not face the problem of flat tyre ever again.

Some company has built prototype airless tyres, but yet to come in wide circulation. If we can build electric cars and flying jets, designing airless tyres is certainly not more difficult. A simple thing, but perhaps not given enough attention by auto companies.

Can you think of simple issues which could be resolved easily but are made complex unnecessarily?

(Expressed opinions are personal)

Five-year-old victim of South London stabbing named as Sayagi Sivanantham

To crack down on abuse and violence against shop workers, the Home Secretary, Priti Patel has published a response to call for evidence on the issue. The Home Office aims at improving support for victims and ensuring perpetrators face justice.

One of the major steps involves the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG), where a best practice guide to support staff in reporting these crimes will be compiled. The guide also covers making use of existing laws, improving data sharing between businesses and the police.

Besides this, the Crime and Policing Minister will be writing to the PCCs and

Priti Patel

Chief Constables, underlining the impetus of working closely such that the issues are tackled swiftly. It also presses on the fact that the theft of goods valued up to £200 from a shop should be prosecuted as a criminal offence.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “As the daughter

of shopkeepers, I know what a vital role they play within our communities and just how tirelessly they have worked during the coronavirus pandemic. I will not tolerate violence and abuse against any shop worker and it’s right that those who commit these crimes must be caught and punished.”

Following the stabbing of two in a south London flat, the Met police have identified one as five-year-old Sayagi Sivanantham.

On Tuesday, June 30th, a brutal knife attack in Mitcham left Sayagi and a woman, 35, critically injured, who were rushed to the hospital after the neighbours spotted them, but the little girl was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

The woman is believed, by the Met, to be known to

Sayagi and remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The Met have made no arrests yet and said they are “not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident”. A formal investigation is yet to be done by the police are “confident” that the victim is Sayagi. Neighbour Elsa Gonzales, 47, who has lived at Monarch Parade, Mitcham, for 12 years, said: “It’s really breaking my heart, the child was a smart kid, she was always smiling”.

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Southall Travel wooing back travellers through safe, steadfast measures Charusmita The travel culture across the world is changing, owing to the dangers of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The dilemma of travel for those who were planning to spend summer holidays abroad has become incredibly real.

The disrupted travel plans of millions of people have led to panic in the travel and tourism industry.

Jaymin Borkhatria, the chief commercial officer of Southall Travel, who has worked for close to three and a half decades in the travel industry, spoke to Asian Voice regarding the looming challenges and their turnaround time.

With tourism in the midst of global disruption, what is the new normal for the travel industry?

Jaymin said, “The new norm, unfortunately, has been waiting for news or refunding bookings.

“The industry has not seen such a huge disruption [before] and all airlines are facing difficulties, administration backlogs, and [are] planning services to fly again”.

Clarifying how the leisure and corporate travellers are not yet flying, he said, “We have some customers who are planning for the future. Airlines have introduced policies that allow for flexibility for those who wish to book

now.”

Industry experts are viewing the lifting of the non-essential travel ban for 90 countries as beneficial to the tourism and travel industry in the UK. Jaymin thinks this move is “hugely important” and added, “We look forward to seeing tourists return here and to travel overseas where permitted.”

The difficulty UK travellers may now face is planning according to the unique circumstances of countries they want to visit, such as those that have suspended flights from the UK or have closed their borders completely. In this scenario, what kind of travel packages are the travel companies offering? Can the travellers expect frequent changes in the offered plans? “This is evolving,” said Jaymin. “As I mentioned, some airlines have allowed flexibility for certain periods. We do not think it will be possible to change indefinitely so as always we will make sure the customers know the terms and conditions for when they are travelling.”

Keeping the customers aware of an informed and comfortable trip is the top most priority for him.

Unlike many players in the market, Southall Travel was quick and forthcoming in offering refunds to their customers. The Southall group, which deals with 1.1 million clients every year in the country, was in the

Jaymin Borkhatria

news for promptly processing refunds amounting to over £22 million to about 95 per cent of its customers.

This move was seen as a huge financial assurance to the company’s customers that it was standing by them during these difficult times. However, what are the travel companies doing to woo customers back?

Jaymin said, “Our customers are most important to us and we have done everything within our ability to refund our customers and are still in constant dialogue with airlines who are taking a longer time, in order for us to refund sooner than later. People need to know their money is safe.”

The customer community too was quick to express support. “We saw many messages of appreciation,” he added.

“They [people] had the

right to refund so we were viewed as performing the service we were contracted to do. It was just so heartbreaking to see so much work and so many dream trips undone.”

In a recent move, the UK government seems to have adopted the traffic light system. This will mean that UK nationals can travel to low-risk countries without being required to quarantine for two weeks after their return.

Jaymin believes that the removal of a blanket 14-day quarantine is a step forward. “The government’s blanket advise against all-but-essential travel overseas is planned for refinement to be allowed to travel for safe countries”.

Speaking about the hospitality facilities, he added, “Airline and hotel customer safety practices are being

‘Think Tank’ decodes the fate of ‘Pujo’ amid Covid-19 pandemic in ‘Coronasurmardini’ London based organisations Bengal Heritage Foundation and London Sharad Utsav have come together to utilise the digital platform and launched their latest innovation “Think Tank'' amid the lockdown.

The idea is to bring thinkers and audience, from all around the Globe on a single platform to talk about topics that are relevant to the time and society. There will be a series of webinars on the current global situation. It will be designed to connect people who share similar interests in art, culture and heritage. The participants will be from the UK, Ireland and India.

‘Coronasurmardini’ The first webinar is on July 11, on the ‘Impact of Covid Pandemic on Drugs Pujo globally in 2020’. The session is named ‘Coronasurmardini’ in line with ‘Mahisasurmardini’.

The single most important question that is doing the rounds in all Bengali’s mind across the globe, is, what

will happen to ‘Pujo’ this year. The webinar discussion will include what are the various options for the celebration available in different countries maintaining social distancing – how will social distancing impact the biggest social celebration that Bengalis all around the globe look forward to for the whole year? The discussion will touch upon the idea to protect livelihoods of people like the Dhakis, Light Technicians, Idol Makers, Pandal Makers who are economically dependent on a festival of this grand scale and how the global community join hands to lend a

helping hand to the section which will be economically impacted due to the pandemic.

Bidisha Datta, co-ordinator of ‘Coronasurmardini’ webinar and member of Bengal Heritage Foundation, said: “We would like to understand the impact of Covid pandemic on various important players during the Pujo - like the Kumartuli Idol Makers, Chandannagar Lighting teams, Security task force, Street Food sellers like Phuchkawala , the Dhakis, the Pandal makers and various others whose livelihood

hugely depends on the year’s biggest celebrations – how would they be impacted if Pujo happens at a very reduced scale compared to other years?”

Statues and Heritage in today’s context The second topic for Webinar lined up for 25th July - Statues and Heritage in today’s context considering the global protests on signs of slavery and their historical relevance. The focal point of discussion would primarily be based on a recent topic that has picked up on social media – What should be the fate of some of the statues globally, which has a history of racism?

Healthcare in India and UK in the Covid environment The other topic lined up is - Healthcare in India and UK in the Covid environment – This is planned for 5th September with top medical practitioners across India and the UK, laying focus both on the physical and mental health wellbeing.

updated. The customers’ desire to travel is still there.

The industry will emerge smaller but it is going to get better as time goes on”. The confirmed government recently that £10.5 million new funding will be distributed to small businesses in tourist destinations to boost the tourism economy, with grants of up to £5000 to help them adapt their businesses following the pandemic.

As an industry expert, Jaymin feels this may help some way in the short-term.

“The scale of the financial impact is far greater so the industry will have to adapt and heal again as this sticking plaster is removed”, he told Asian Voice. So how long will it be before the industry recovers from such deep losses? “It won’t fully recover for many years. We have had a period of zero revenue for so many months but many costs have remained. There have been so many cutbacks, large aircraft types have been retired permanently by many airlines and future investment will be smaller as a result of the heavy losses this year,” he explained.

Given these cutbacks, will the tourists have to compensate for the loss made by the industry due to the closure by paying higher prices? “Not directly, as prices are more a function of supply and demand. It is more the employees and the shareholders in the supply chain who will bear the

losses”, Jaymin added.

Although he does believe that travel insurance may become mandatory in the given climate, he is certain that insurance which covers for pandemics will the top priority for travellers.

With relevant measures in place, he is hopeful that Britain’s tourism industry “will bounce back and still has so much to offer as before this health scare.”

So what is his message to the Asian community members in the UK who are in two minds about taking that much-wanted holiday?

“The airlines and hotels have adapted procedures to keep risks as low as possible all risks have not been totally eliminated at all times. We would say speak to our consultants about the best options. There are some fabulous risk-free destinations that currently have so few tourists, you will be very welcome. There will be differences, buffet meals will be replaced by à la carte dining, but the holiday will be a chance to experience the world again,” he said.

According to him, some of the destinations or holidays that are expected to be popular in the coming months will be individual villas in the Maldives, Dubai resorts with personal space for travel in the future.

Seychelles and Mauritius look attractive as they are currently Covid-19 free and on the UK government’s exemption list.

Moorfields’ video appointments help thousands see specialists without leaving their home Moorfields Eye Hospital has rolled out an ambitious digital programme, designed to give patients access to the vital eye care they need without having to travel to hospital.

Since the coronavirus outbreak began, the specialist trust has held almost 10,000 appointments to support patients living with a range of eye conditions, those requiring a followup to surgery, as well as running an essential accident and emergency (A&E) service virtually.

Following a successful initial roll out just two days after increased lockdown measures were announced, Moorfields is now hosting over 600 video appointments a week to ensure patients continue to get the specialist eye care they need whilst being able to stay at home.

The video consultations run on an easy to use platform which enables patients to see clinicians using their smartphone, computer or tablet, without the need to travel to hospital. Typically, patients are able to see an A&E doctor within one minute of logging on to the platform, which is available through the Moorfields website. The platform has a virtual waiting room where a ‘virtual receptionist’ can effectively prioritise patients and signpost them to the correct service.

Almost eight in ten people are able to get the treatment they need without travelling into hospital, with almost 95% of patients giving the service they received a maximum rating of five stars. This service has enabled Moorfields to offer emergency eye care services across more areas of London than before, which has enabled staff at other trusts in London to treat patients with coronavirus.

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Continued from page - 1 Health Secretary announced lockdown Health Secretary Matt Hancock made the announce-

Matt Hancock

ment in the House of Commons on June 29, after a spike in the coronavirus cases in Leicester.

He advised Leicester people to stay at home as much as they can, while the local lockdown measures continue. A review is due by July 18. As we went to press, he further added, “We propose to make announcements on the next steps on the 18th of July.

“If further measures are needed in the meantime to tighten up, we would take them immediately.”

According to the 2011 Census, 37.13% of Leicester’s population is British Asian, with 28.03% Indians, 2.45% Pakistanis and 1.10% Bangladeshis. 6.24% of Leicester’s population is Black.

Alok Sharma reportedly explained the Government has provided support to 5,900 small

explained he felt the city's disappointment to continue social distancing as measures are eased for the rest of England on July 4.

But he didn't reveal when the city is likely to reopen as he said the lockdown will be reviewed in two weeks.

City Councillor Ratilal Govind reportedly said he thought a lack of communication with people who do not speak English as their first language could be one factor behind the increasing number of cases.

However as Asian Voice spoke to locals, they insisted that poverty and diabetes could be some serious factors behind this outbreak, more than language barriers.

Keith Vaz says not language, but diabetes may be a key cause Keith Vaz who represented Leicester East for 32 years in Parliament as Britain's longest serving Indian-origin MP told Asian Voice that he is hugely disappointed by the Government’s decision to extend the lockdown timetable for Leicester.

“Leicester has the largest per-

Keith Vaz

Alok Sharma

businesses in Leicester as the city is forced to stay in lockdown.

The Business Secretary

centage of Indian origin people of any city in the whole of Europe.

Everyone in Leicester was expecting the lockdown to be eased on Saturday 4th July, this decision has come as a complete shock to local people. The Government needs to understand that it is just not enough to extend the lockdown for 2 weeks we need to know what will happen afterwards.”

However, he does not believe that language is a problem, but thinks messages are not enough localised for the purpose.

“Although the national messages have been spot-on, there are always local variations and unfortunately this may have not happened to the extent that was required,” Mr Vaz explained. “It is clear when information provided so far is not provided in a way that some members of the community understands.”

He went on to say: "Lockdown is not sufficient if we want to eradicate coronavirus from Leicester and other cities it must be accompanied by testing as well as care. At the moment it is very difficult to get GP appointments as a result local people have not been able to be tested by their own doctors in addition there is a problem with information concerning hospital admissions.

He has suggested that three things need to happen: "First testing must be widely available, that means that G's need to start testing their own patients themselves in addition to sharing this workload. Pharmacies need to be given the resources and the Personal Protection Equipment that is required for them to test people for Covid-19.

Secondly, because of its large South Asian origin population, Leicester has one of the largest numbers of diabetes sufferers in the UK, Mr Vaz himself is a Type 2 Diabetic. His Charity Silver Star Diabetes has campaigned for wide testing of individuals to see if they have diabetes.

He said, "What we also need to do is to ramp up the testing for diabetes, it is now established that one of the underlying health conditions that causes coronavirus complications is those who have diabetes and it is essential that they are tested for diabetes and are able to manage their condition. This particular aspect has not been canvassed by the Government. Thirdly, local businesses are suffering enormously because of the 3-month lockdown, for this extra week they need to be given additional Government financial support to enable them to prepare for the future.

Unfortunately choosing only Leicester where there are other

cities that have got high cases sends out a message that we are not open for business.”

Diabetes affects around 3 million people in the UK, half a million of these are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. Diabetes currently costs the NHS around 10% of its annual budget.

BAME population has been at higher risk of coronavirus due to the presence of comorbidities like diabetes. The risk of death from Covid-19 is three and a half times higher for patients with type 1 diabetes and two times higher for those with type 2 diabetes, compared with people without the condition, an NHS research recently said.

Locals oppose the idea of language barrier Dr Gautam Bodiwala, a Leicester resident, who is not a practicing doctor, commenting on the misinterpreted online stories on language barrier acting as a factor for the spike in coronavirus cases in Leicester said, “I don’t think it’s true. It is not the question of language by which communication does not take place. The UK Government has produced leaflets in various languages. This second spike which has occurred as I understand, is in the younger generation, which is quite familiar with English language. I don’t think language is a question at all.”

Meera Majithia, Founder of Carriages Weddings and Events,

Meera Majithia

a successful Indian wedding planner from Leicester said, “Communities are raising so

much awareness, whether it is temples or community centres.

“I think it’s purely because people are just taking decisions in their hands and defying rules.

There are UK Government guidelines, though a majority of people are following them, a small minority are perhaps just disregarding the rules and going about their day as normal. In Leicester, mainly young people had high infection rates, and their English is perfectly good, so language barrier is not an excuse.”

Disappointed restaurant waiting to re-open with zero-touch menu Jagdish Ghelani, the owner of Indigo restaurant in Leicester reiterated the same point to Asian Voice. He said, “Virtually all families in the UK would have a member in the household who understands English and so don't think this is a barrier.”

But he added, “Considering the recent spike and subsequent restrictions in Leicester, there may be a second and third wave and it is very likely that normalisation will not occur until the end of the year at the earliest.

“We consulted with our team and staff on whether to keep the takeaway open, how to proceed with stock and perishables and where possible, we donated food to charity and within the community. We incurred a huge amount of paperwork, letters to inform suppliers, staff and prepare to put the team on Furlough. We consulted the experts including our HR and Accountants in understanding nuances of government documentation, all the while worrying about the well-being and safety of our family and staff.”

With the UK Government’s guidelines to maintain social distancing while the virus continues to spread across the globe, Ghelani has his plans sorted for reopening, “While being open for takeaway we have heavily invested in screens, PPE and staff training. As we consider reopening the dine-in, the team has been drawing up designs of the new norm which include zero-touch menus, regular safety drills, limited group sizes, social distancing layout and flow, and alfresco meals.”

"Not prepared for coronavirus's devastation", NHS announces ‘Your Covid Recovery’ as Leicester man shares tale of grief a part of the Covid-19 rehabilitation service Amidst a surge of Covid-19 patients in Leicester, resident Sanjiv Patel shared how he was fighting for his life with coronavirus while dealing with the recent loss of his father due to the same.

A week before the UK announced lockdown across the country, Sanjiv’s wife started showing symptoms of Covid-19. He too developed the same symptoms a few days later. “The message at the time was not to confuse the symptoms with the common flu which was still going around at the time so we thought it could be that”, he told Leicester Mercury.

His doubts were confirmed when his children too started showing Covid19 symptoms as his health deteriorated. He resorted to self-isolation as best as was possible while living in a household comprising six family members. He was

The head of NHS announced on Tuesday, that people who are suffering from long term effects of coronavirus will be able to reap the benefits of a new revolutionary ondemand recovery service.

later admitted to the hospital along with his father due to severity in both their symptoms. His father’s condition was stabilising shortly before he passed away.

Sanjiv’s father’s untimely demise due to Covid-19 is among the many in the country whose families have suffered great losses and are still recovering. A believer himself, Sanjiv is a volunteer

at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir.

Emphasising on the importance of faith and prayers in healing in difficult times like these, he said: “I have been more engaged with the temple and I thought I was engaged before. It has been so uplifting and I’ve now been able to share my experience to support others both here and abroad”.

Nurses and physiotherapists will promptly reply to patients online or over a call.

Called as the ‘Your Covid Recovery’, this service is a part of the expansion in access to Covid-19 rehabilitation treatments for the survivors of the coronavirus, but still have breathing, mental health and other problems. It follows the building of a new Seacole rehabilitation centre to help those most seriously affected by the deadly virus, with similar facilities expected to open across the country.

Sir Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive said: “Covid19 has been the biggest chal-

Accessible, on-demand, from the comfort of their own home, this will include: • Access to a local clinical team including nurses and physiotherapists who can respond either online or over the phone to any enquiries from patients; • An online peer-support community for survivors – particularly helpful for those who may be recovering at home alone; • Exercise tutorials that people can do from home to help them regain muscle strength and lung function in particular, and; • Mental health support, which may include a psychologist within the online hub or referral into NHS mental health services along with information on what to expect post-Covid. lenge in the NHS’s history, and the fact that we have come through the first peak without services being overwhelmed and being able to give expert care to everyone who needed it, is testament to all our frontline and support staff.

The first phase of the service will launch later this month, providing the latest advice on recovering from the virus, which will be available to all and continually

improved and added to. The second phase, in which people who need it will be able to access personalised support packages, is in development by experts based in Leicester and will be made available later in the summer. Following this initial assessment, those who need it will be offered a personalised package of onlinebased aftercare lasting up to 12 weeks, available later this Summer.

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£10m kick-starting tourism package “good for people to survive” but "not enough" Shefali Saxena On last Friday, the UK Government released a list of exempted countries that pose a “reduced risk” from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The UK Government has now allowed quarantine-free international travel to nearly 60 “lower risk countries", but India and the US are not on the list as the cases continue to spike in both the countries with each passing day.

The Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government Simon Clarke MP announced: communities that depend on tourism will receive a major boost from a new £10million Kickstarting Tourism Package. Speaking at the Local Government Association’s annual conference, Minister Clarke confirmed the new funding will be distributed to communities immediately to kick start tourism in time for the as part of the summer Government’s drive to boost the recovery of the economy This is the latest package of support for economic recovery following the Prime Minister’s announcement of the “New Deal” last week, which will bring forward £5bn of capital investment projects, supporting jobs and economic recovery.

The £10m Kick-starting Tourism Package, will give small businesses in tourist destinations grants of up to £5,000 to help them adapt their businesses following the coronavirus pandemic.

Businesses can use the funding to pay for specialist professional advice such as HR, legal or financial expertise, to adopt new technology and online systems or to purchase

Ashok Jogia from Shivam Tours and Travel, Leicester

new equipment. 100 percent of the money will come from the government with no obligation for businesses to contribute financially.

Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government Simon Clarke MP said, “When the Prime Minister announced the New Deal, he made it clear that the Government is determined to change the country for the better, uniting and levelling up our regions. “Kick-starting domestic tourism will be key to our economic recovery and that is why I am delighted to announce £10million in new funding for small businesses in tourist destinations, bringing jobs, investment, and financial support to the communities who need it the most.” Many areas across the country have experienced a significant fall in tourist and visitor numbers in recent months. The initiative will help ensure that tourist hot-spots are firmly open for business this summer.

Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston said, "Our tourism sector is hugely important -

Ramnik Parmar from Natraj Travel

creating jobs, supporting businesses and driving local economies in villages, towns and cities across the country. It is vital that we help the sector bounce back and give it the platform to recover when it reopens from tomorrow. This fund will help many small businesses in tourism destinations and with the infrastructure investment brought forward will provide a further boost for jobs and growth."Minister Clarke has also confirmed over £50 million European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding for shovel-ready infrastructure projects that will now be accelerated and distributed later in the summer and autumn. The funding is for projects already in development which will boost local economies and visitor numbers, create jobs and promote investment.

Tour and Travel agents think the grant is not enough Asian Voice spoke to Ashok Jogia of Shivam Tours and Travel in Leicester, where a second lockdown was imposed, while other parts of the UK started to reopen on July 4.

Jogia said, “This funding boost has

been welcomed by everybody in business in the UK. But you will think that the amount of £10 million is distributed within thousands of small businesses, so even though the help is welcome, it won’t be enough. Our overheads you have to take into consideration as well.

As a tour operator whose 100 per cent of the tours are abroad, Jogia’s business has been under lockdown since March 23 till date.

“Now our company had seven international tours which were scheduled from May 18 until November 2020,” he said. These tours included destinations like Jyotirlings, Amarnath and Chardham in India, Kailash Mansarovar in Nepal and Tibet, South Africa, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Bali, and a cruise to Panama Canal.

“The above tours were all confirmed in Feb 2020. So, you can imagine how much loss we have suffered. Originally, there was an assumption that this virus will go away like others in a few weeks, but it has proved more dangerous than all and also staying for a while. Our company has suffered a loss of over £50,000 in profit,” he added. He feels that this is now a waiting game until everybody opens their borders and starts to accept foreigners so that he can then start thinking of promoting his tours.

The BAME (British Asian and Minority Ethnic) community has been four times more vulnerable to Covid-19 more than the other population, and there have been reports and rumours of community transmission or flouting lockdown rules within Asian communities.

“As far as the above matter, this virus does not see whether you are

white, black or Asian. It has affected everybody and everywhere. I have to say it is the people's fault they have not adhered to the UK Government rules and instruction.

Specially there are groups of people who have ignored all common sense. The UK Government has tried everything to warn people of the consequences of this virus. Our ethnic minorities are so stubborn in their beliefs that they think nothing will harm them.”

When we asked him how soon he thinks tourism in the UK will be back to normal, he added, “Local tourism has started to pick up as Europe has opened the doors and quite a percentage of tourism is dependent upon the European market.

Secondly, all the international market tourism, I think it will be by September before we see some movement. It will take some time before complete normality.” He spoke about the measures post the business opens, “ As per the reopening we have been working from home and have been busy laying down some tour projects for next year, taking into mind safety precautions, which we will apply once we resume our tours. Again, I myself escort the tours which we commence, so I work with my counterparts in each country to make sure the full health safety and security will be applied.”

Ramnik Parmar from Natraj Travel in London told the newsweekly, The grant is “good for people to survive” and “it won’t help much in the tourism industry because I don’t think the tourism industry will get up to start until around early 2021.” India is still in lockdown so “travelling will be much less this year”.

Pub and restaurant owners seek Indian Journalists’ Association elects more help from Sunak its first ever women-majority team Chancellor Rishi Sunak is due to unveil his package to boost the economy. As the ailing hospitality industry expects a temporary cut in VAT to boost spending, Pub and restaurant owners in the capital eagerly await Sunak's plan of action.

Ranjit Mathrani, chairman of Masala Zone parent MW Eat, said Sunak needed to “protect jobs, by providing a route to fund a return to part-time work with full furlough for longer for hospitality firms and double the employer National Insurance Contribution threshold".

Mathrani had a number of other suggestions the government could look at to help companies, including extending the business rates holiday for firms in the hospitality sector.

Patrick Frawley, founder of East London Pub Co, said: “Sales are about 40% of what we usually do and I think we did well to achieve that.

Additional staff and securi-

Rishi Sunak

ty are required to operate within the guidelines

which won’t be sustainable even in the short term.”

The Indian Journalists’ Association has elected its first ever women-majority committee on 6 July 2020.

Rupanjana Dutta, Managing Editor of this newsweekly and Foreign Correspondent of Bartaman Patrika in India has been unanimously elected as the President, with Rithika Siddhartha of AMG Group as the General Secretary.

The team also includes Loveena Tandon of Aaj Tak,

A still from the Neasden Temple on the 72nd birthday of the NHS. Their official Twitter account posted this image and said: "To everyone at the NHS, how can we ever fully appreciate your daily heroic efforts to keep us all safe and well? Everyone at NeasdenTemple and BAPS in the UK is full of gratitude and admiration for all that you do for us. #NHSBirthday #NHS72 #ThankYouTogether #ClapForCarers"

IJA members during AGM

Ruhi Khan of Mumbai Mirror, Ragasudha Vinjamuri of Asian Lite and Suman Bhuchar of Asian Culture Vulture as committee members along with Prasun Sonwalker of Hindustan Times, Alok Agarwal (Treasurer) and Suresh Gupta of India Link.

Rupanjana is the second ever woman President this organisation has elected in its 73 years of history, the first being Aditi Khanna of PTI, elected in 2014.

This was also the first time the AGM and election were held virtually (via zoom).

Past presidents of the

IJA have included the highly regarded journalists K S Shelvankar, Sundar Kabaddi and Tarapada Basu. The IJA was set up just before Indian independence in May 1947. V K Krishna Menon, India's first High Commissioner to London, was a supporter of the organisation.

Senior BBC News journalist Naresh Kaushik was elected the IJA president in 2019.

This year for the first time IJA gave its inaugural Student Journalist of the Year award to Janani Suri and Malika Malhotra of Cardiff University.

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Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel These are the top questions I was asked this week by email on investing: Are stocks too high?

How do I buy US companies?

Surely Apple and Amazon are too expensive?

Is it true the US markets just hit an all time high?

But surely the market will crash with bad economic news?

Yes the US markets hit an all time high. I don’t care to own only UK stocks. As a Briton, I want the best of the world, wherever it may be located. And yes some quality cash rich companies are at all time highs such as Amazon.

But the problem is people do not know how to evaluate companies.

All companies should be evaluated on the following factors – and you will be shocked – price is hardly relevant: Valuation – what’s it worth based on the profits it makes and the rate of growth of its profits?

Growth – are sales and profits growing?

Dividends – how much kickback per share do I get in income?

Performance – on average, what kind of returns does it give?

Risk – how consistently does it give those returns each year in its performance?

Outperformance – does it do better than others in returns?

Cash flow – can it produce cash, after all profits can be manipulated – as we know in Covid, cash and working capital are king.

None of these factors alone is the holy grail and each factors importance varies over time. So I look at all factors and filter for stocks that meet every criteria. You can see why quickly I go down from 8,000 to just 20 stocks. It’s a bit like interviewing for candidates to fill 20 jobs. I want the best – I want Noble Prize winners. I want people I trust with my son’s inheritance.

That’s the right attitude to investing. It’s incredibly important to be educated about investing – take it from someone with degrees in a lot of subjects – investing is the most important thing to learn. You only have to look at the BAME protests to understand that those who don’t invest because they have less capital get punched twice – once because of past wrongs, and twice because of future returns skip them buy.

We have to educate all, especially those at the bottom of the ladder. Investing education is about social mobility.

I am doing free webinars on this – my next one is here: www.alpeshpatel.com/greatinvest

Big accountancy firms in UK told to split off audit arms The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) told UK’s “big four” accountancy firms to fence off their auditing operations as part of a drive to improve oversight of corporate finances in the wake of high-profile collapses such as Carillion and BHS. The FRC told KPMG, PwC, Deloitte and EY that it expects them to have separated their auditing divisions from the rest of their operations by June 2024.

The FRC issued the instruction amid a broader effort to overhaul the accounting profession that has led to three government-backed reviews but has yet to result in legislation.

The call to hive off audit work comes after one of the reviews, led by the City grandee Sir Donald Brydon, called for “urgent reform”, recommending that auditing be treated as a separate profession to accounting.

Accounting firms have found themselves the subject of intense criticism for perceived inaction in the years leading up to the financial collapses of the retailer BHS and builder and government contract Carillion. The twin financial failures have led to calls from MPs for the big four accounting firms to be broken up to reinvigorate the market and improve standards.

However, the FRC said it had discussed new principles with accounting companies and had told them to set out plans to improve their profession by October this year. They include a provision that auditors be protected from influence that could come from the rest of the firm to reduce audit quality. MPs have previously questioned whether accounting firms have an incentive not to ask difficult questions about the finances of companies that are also paying them for other services. The FRC also said that the amount of profit distributed to the partners of any one company’s audit practice should not persistently exceed the profits of the division itself. The FRC chief executive, Sir Jon Thompson, said: “Operational separation of audit practices is one element of the FRC’s strategy to improve the quality and effectiveness of corporate reporting and audit in the UK following the Kingman, CMA and Brydon reviews.

Sunak planning temporary stamp duty concession to home buyers Chancellor Rishi Sunak is planning to exempt most home buyers from paying stamp duty in a bid to kickstart Britain’s economic recovery. Sunak will reveal plans this week to lift the threshold at which people start paying stamp duty from £125,000 to as much as £500,000.

The increase in the threshold is a temporary measure intended to stimulate the housing market. He will make the announcement as part of several measures to support the economy, including a temporary VAT cut for pubs, restau-

Rishi Sunak

rants and cafés to help to protect 2.4 million jobs in the hospitality sector.

He will also reveal plans to give companies £1,000 for each apprentice they take and a multi-billion pound “green jobs” package

as part of an attempt to avoid mass unemployment. A further £100 million will be invested in traineeships for young people to help them find work. The government earlier announced a £1.87 billion package of loans and grants for the arts sector to save theatres, museums, galleries and music venues from closure. The “stamp duty holiday” are designed to help first-time buyers and would particularly benefit those in “red wall” seats that the

Tories won from Labour in the election last December.

Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that he wants to overhaul stamp duty, describing it as a “huge problem”. omebuyers pay no stamp duty on the first £125,000, 2 per cent up to £250,000 and 5 per cent on the value of the property up to £925,000. Sunak is considering increasing the threshold to £500,000 for a temporary period, which government sources said could be up to a year. On an average house purchase of £232,000 in Britain, this represents a saving of £2,140.

Nomination for The Sunday Times HSBC's top 100 private companies The Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 100 league table ranks Britain’s 100 private companies with the biggest sales. It is compiled by Fast Track and published in The Sunday Times each July.

The 19th annual Top Track 100 supplement was published on 5 July as a special Covid-19 edition, sponsored by HSBC and Linklaters. It highlighted how the UK’s biggest private companies have supported the country during the crisis, how it has impacted their industries, and how they are adapting. The closing date for nominations for the 20th anniversary league table is 28 May 2021, with publication in July 2021.

Entry criteria Sales £750m – £25bn, UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries, Sales are taken as total turnover, net of VAT, Companies are not required to be in profit, Trading weeks in the latest year have to exceed 25, Companies must have at least 100 staff (average fulltime equivalents for the year), Bookmakers, betting

and gaming companies should provide net revenue, Companies may have their ultimate holding company offshore, Sales are typically between £750m and £25bn Exclusions Companies that are equal joint ventures, or majority-owned by quoted or other companies Pure trading companies and companies with fewer than 100 staff (average fulltime equivalents for the year) Not-for-profit companies, including co-operative societies, mutual societies, provident associations, and member-owned buying groups Asian companies vying to be nominated 2 Sisters Food Group: The biggest chicken supplier to UK supermarkets has been recruiting during the lockdown to meet unprecedented demand. The West Midlands group also owns Fox’s Biscuits and Holland’s Pies, which donated snacks to NHS and frontline workers. It shut down production at its plant in Anglesey for two weeks in June after

more than 200 employees there tested positive for Covid-19. The group is led by founder Ranjit Boparan, 53, and chief executive Ronald Kers, 51.

Dhamecha : Familyowned Dhamecha has reduced opening hours at its nine cash-and-carry outlets to protect staff and allow time to restock for unprecedented demand during the pandemic.

Cousins Pradip and Manish Dhamecha, both 61, and Pradip’s brother-in-law Mukesh Vithlani, 67, lead the northwest Londonbased business, which sells groceries, tobacco, confectionery, drinks and household goods. It has expanded operations into the Midlands and also exports its range of 12,000-plus products to wholesalers across Europe, Africa and Asia.

Bestway: Britain’s largest privately owned cash andcarry group has played a crucial role in maintaining the country’s food supply chain throughout the pandemic. It normally supplies more than 70,000 indepen-

dent retailers and 40,000 caterers and pubs. Bestway also owns the Well Pharmacy chain, which has invested in PPE for its staff, remote working and online sales. Founded as a grocery store in 1963 by chairman Sir Anwar Pervez, 85, the group also owns a listed bank and a cement manufacturer in his native Pakistan, where it donated £3m to a coronavirus relief fund.

Issa brothers: Zuber Issa is a British billionaire, businessman and founder of Euro Garages, a chain of petrol filling stations that operate in the United Kingdom and Europe. Born in Blackburn, Issa's father originally came to the United Kingdom to work in the textile industry from Gujarat, India. Before founding Euro Garages, Zuber Issa and his brother, Mohsin, took out a lease on a garage, and saved up the money to buy their first petrol station. Issa founded Euro Garages with his brother, Mohsin, in 2001, with the acquisition of a single petrol station in Bury, Greater Manchester.

Insurer tells customers to ask bank to pay for cancelled trip Direct Line, one of Britain’s biggest travel insurers, is asking the customers to approach the banks for refunds for the cancelled holidays if they have paid on a credit or debit card.

The insurer is telling policyholders who could not travel because of the virus that they must first try to claim cash back from their card provider. It also asked for proof that they sought refunds from the travel provider.

In a rejection letter to one policyholder, the insurer said: “We are unable to cover this claim

as you have paid for the trip by a credit card and the credit card company should be able to reimburse you as they have a greater duty of care to recover any costs.” The Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates insurers, says Direct Line should not be making customers go to the card issuer first but was unable to say what it might do to stop this.

Holidaymakers are owed billions of pounds for unused trips, with travel providers refusing or delaying refunds or offering only credit notes. If a provider

cancels a trip and refuses a refund, those who paid by credit card can claim back the cost from their bank under the Consumer Credit Act. Those who paid by debit card can use the “charge back” scheme run

by Visa and Mastercard.

Direct Line appears to be encouraging policyholders to admit to paying with a debit or credit card by saying it will not affect the claim only to use this information for exactly that. In the online claims process, it states: “We just need to know if you paid using a credit or debit card. Giving

us this information won’t delay or affect your claim, it’s simply to help us identify if we can seek contributions from other insurers.”

Direct Line says it is within its rights to ask customers to go to their bank first because the small print of policies excludes paying out recoverable costs. It said: “We are not in contravention of any FCA guidelines. Our reason for asking customers their payment method is to assist our claims handlers so that they can identify other potential routes of recovery.”

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RBI may offer more relief to stressed sectors The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) may unveil more relief measures for some of the stressed sectors of the economy, especially in the service segment, as efforts are stepped up to help them emerge from the bruising impact of the lockdown.

Government sources said that such measures will likely be aimed mostly through the monetary policy side.

“The government has announced a massive extension of the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana till November-end. Now, RBI is likely to announce measures sectors such as for hospitality, tourism and others,” said a source,

indicating that the Centre would prefer to wait for now as far as large relief packages are concerned.

Banking sources said discussions are underway on the possible relief steps. The RBI has already unveiled a series of steps to provide comfort to the industry segments by announcing a moratorium on term loans till August-end. According to banking sources, the finance ministry has sought

information on bank loans to the textile sector and is keen on some relief. “Revival of this sector is seen as key to providing relief not just to the industries but also the 45 million people who are directly employed in the sector.”

However, the RBI has favoured a one-time nondiscretionary and nonrelief discriminatory package to stressed borrowers instead of a sector-specific scheme.

Making the package a onetime relief will ensure that there is no ever greening of loans and making it nondiscretionary and nondiscriminatory will remove subjectivity. Bankers point out that within each sector,

there are strong and weak players. State Bank of India (SBI) has said that since Covid-19 defaults cannot be proceeded against in courts, insolvency restructuring is the only way out.

Restructuring is possible even now but banks have to classify the loan as non-performing and make provisions out of their profits. One way out is to allow restructuring without classifying the loan as NPA. However, one of the key challenges in restructuring is getting all lenders to agree on one plan. While large lenders are willing to provide relief and write-off loans, some of the smaller ones are not in a position to do so.

India may register trade surplus after 18 years India may register its first monthly trade surplus in over 18 years in June as the pace of contraction of exports is estimated to have slowed down to around 12%, while imports are seen to have fallen almost 49% during the month. Initial estimates for June show a trade surplus of around $786 million, with imports pegged at $21.1 billion and exports of $21.9 billion. The last time India had a positive balance on the trade account was in January 2002 when it had a surplus of $10 million with exports of $4.3 billion.

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal had said that exports in June 2020 had touched 88% of June 2019 level due to unlocking of the economy and resumption of activity.

The latest numbers, which will be officially released on July 15, indicated that the pace of export contraction has moderated as industries opened up.

Policy makers, however, said that the overall pace will pick up as there is greater unlocking. Even now, given the fast growth in the number of Covid-19 cases, businesses are not fully open

Arcelor, Nippon JV to invest £2 bn for expansion at Hazira plant ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel joint venture - AMNS India - plans to invest £2 billion for future expansion of its integrated steel plant at Hazira near Surat.

AMNS India’s expansion and investment plan was shared by LN Mittal, chairman and CEO, ArcelorMittal in a video conference with Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, the company said in a statement.

After a long drawn battle, AMNS India acquired Essar Steel, which owned and operated the steel plant at Hazira, in December 2019 by paying £5 billion.

AMNS is already in the process of expanding the steel plant capacity from the current 7.3 MTPA to 8.6 MTPA, which involves an ongoing investment of £500 million.

Welcoming AMNS India’s decision to invest in Gujarat, Rupani said that his team would take forward the strong foundation for economic development - laid by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi - by continuing to welcome investments and creating favorable ecosystem for ensuring competitiveness of manufacturing industry including MSMEs. AMNS India is a 60:40 JV between ArcelorMittal and Japan-based Nippon Steel Corporation.

ArcelorMittal acquired debt-ridden Essar Steel India Ltd through insolvency process and subsequently renamed it as AMNS India Ltd.

and discretionary spending has remained weak due to the adverse sentiment.

Several sectors, including iron ore, which may have gone to China, food products such as rice, other cereals, fruits and vegetables and oil seeds reported healthy growth, the initial data shared by customs authorities showed.

But imports remain an

area of concern, as it is a barometer of overall economic activity. The initial numbers suggest that the sharp decline in imports was led by gold, silver and precious and semiprecious stones, which are also linked to exports. During crises, demand for jewellery drops significantly as people look to conserve cash. Similarly, the value of oil imports was down over 55% due to a fall in global crude prices.

Imports related to the textiles sector are also down sharply along with transport equipment, chemicals, iron & steel, machine tools and electronics, indicating a slump in economic activity.

Some of it may also have had to do with customs going slow on clearances at ports towards the end of the month.

Economic activity gathers pace in India The gross GST revenue collected in India in June totalled £9.09 billion which augurs well as economic activity gathers pace. But it also marked the third straight month of decline year-on-year. Data released by the government showed that the revenues for the month were 91% of the GST revenues in the same period last year.

GST revenues have been hit hard by the impact of the lockdown unveiled to ward off the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, with April and May showing a major impact. The government had also eased rules to allow firms to file returns late.

A government statement said figures of the past three months show recovery in GST revenues.

Collections for the month of April were £3.23 billion, which was 28% of the revenue collected during the same month last year, and for May it was £6.20 billion, accounting for 62% of the revenue collected during the year earlier period.

Returns for the month of April, March as well as some returns of February got filed during June 2020 and some returns of May, 2020, which would have otherwise got filed in June, will get filed during

first few days of July, the statement said.

Separate data showed contraction in manufacturing eased significantly. At 47.2 in June, the IHS Markit India Manufacturing PMI surged from 30.8 in May. Despite the rise, the latest reading pointed to a third successive monthly decline in the health of the manufacturing sector, albeit one that was far softer than registered in April and May, according to the PMI survey. It showed that firms continued to reduce staff numbers at a marked pace.

Looking forward, firms remained positive towards the 12month business, with sentiment strengthening to a four-month high.

That said, the degree of optimism remained far weaker than the historical average amid fears of a prolonged economic downturn due to the coronavirus outbreak, the survey showed.

Unravelling the thread Suresh Vagjiani, Sow & Reap Properties Ltd

Being in property is a little like being a detective. Recently, a client reported a residential house hear his home, which had squatters in and was in a state of disrepair. This is very surprising given the current situation, and that squatting in a residential property is illegal. This tells me that the property has not been lived in for a while, and nobody is keeping an eye on it.

This is a surprising phenomenon, as squatting in a residential property is a criminal offence. Not so with commercial properties, where they are free to come and go without interference from the law. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll receive plenty of phone calls, complaints from both the council and local residents; but no offers of any help, not even from law enforcement.

Typically, they come in organised gangs, who will use the site to dump rubbish on continually until you pay them off to leave. It’s almost like a modern day Mafia.

Given the above isn’t applicable to residential property it was a surprising situation.

After some sleuthing we managed to track the ‘owners’ down and made contact with them. We were the first to inform them that probate had been granted. The family were not even aware this was now over the line, and ready to be sold.

The reason why many deals are probate deals, is that often they have been neglected for decades. This could be a problem if the purchase is being funded by a mortgage, especially if on a Buy To Let basis. If the property is not rentable you cannot fund it on a Buy to Let basis. Even on a residential basis the lender may request a retention if the property is in bad condition.

The beneficiaries are also more likely to take a haircut on the price if the deal can be executed quickly. Simply put they just want the money; it’s often viewed as free money akin to winning the lottery. So, if they get 20-25% less they often aren’t that bothered.

We advised the beneficiaries to keep a closer eye on the property, as it looks like they have got visitors, the permanent kind.

Informing the family of both these points served as good ice breaker. Ideally, we will want to buy the property without it touching the open market; this will be our primary objective.

Given the market is just waking up is something which is in our favour. Appointing an agent to sell a property can take many months, and perhaps a few failed mortgages too.

We can offer a clean quick purchase, though of course less than market price.

We will keep our readers informed on how this thread unravels.

VODA IDEA’S LOSS IS INDIA’S BIGGEST Telecom operator Vodafone Idea reported a staggering £7.39 billion loss in fiscal 2019-20 - the highest ever by any Indian company - after it made provisions for statutory dues as ordered by the Supreme Court. The firm, which has been ordered to pay £5.14 billion dues after the SC ordered nontelecom revenues to be included in calculating statutory dues, said the liability has “cast significant doubt on the company’s ability to continue as a going concern.” In a regulatory filing, Vodafone Idea reported widening of March quarter net loss to Rs 11,644 crore. Its losses stood at Rs 4,882 crore in the same period a year ago and Rs 6,439 crore in the OctoberDecember quarter. The department of telecom (DoT) estimates the firm’s adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues at Rs 58,254 crore up to 2016-17, but the company put the dues at Rs 46,000 crore “after adjustment of certain computational errors and payments made in the past not considered in the DoT demand”.

SBI GEN, PREMJI FIRM MAY ACQUIRE FUTURE GENERALI Wipro founder Azim Premji’s investment firm Premji Invest and SBI General Insurance are exploring a joint bid to acquire Future Generali which is owned by Future Group and Italy's Generali Group. Both Future Group and Generali Group are keen to exit from the insurance business. Premji Invest has a 16% stake in SBI General Insurance, which was acquired last year when Insurance Australia Group (IAG) offloaded 26% holding in the insurer. Warburg Pincus picked up the remaining stake.

Merchant banker UBS has been running the process to find a buyer for Future Group’s stake, but with Generali now wanting to exit, there could be a full-blown acquisition, sources said.

Premji Invest chief investment officer and managing partner T K Kurien, Generali Group, and Future Generali declined to comment when contacted. SBI General Insurance MD Pushan Mahapatra also said he had no comments to offer.

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Afghan contractor 'handed out cash to kill US soldiers' KABUL: Afghan contractor Rahmatullah Azizi was named in a US intelligence report as one of the key middlemen who delivered cash from Russia’s GRU to the Taliban to target American troops, The New York Times reported. American and Afghan officials reported that Azizi spent several years transferring money to reward Taliban-linked fighters for targeting American troops in Afghanistan. The Times reported the existence of the intelligence last week.

Azizi fled to Russia, but investigators found about half a million dollars in cash in his home in Kabul. The Times reported that up to $100,000 was offered for the killing of a

US or coalition soldier. The exchanges were reportedly lucrative. According to the Times, one person interviewed by intelligence officials said Azizi went from “not even having a blanket” to having multiple houses and cars.

American and Afghan offi-

cials have said for years that Russia was involved in secret operations to undermine the US mission in Afghanistan and aiding the Taliban. In 2019, they concluded the country was offering bounties, which the Times reported was included in the president’s daily briefing in

February.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany has denied that the president was briefed on the intelligence, saying that it was and is contested. National security adviser Robert O’Brien said that President Trump knew nothing about the reports because the briefer “decided not to” share unverified intelligence with him. intelligence However, reports obtained by the Times and other outlets suggest US intelligence officials were increasingly certain of Russia’s involvement. Trump, who has called reports on the intelligence a "hoax," has maintained communications with Russia despite reportedly being aware of the operation.

Pak video threatens to kill Hindus if a temple is constructed in Islamabad ISLAMABAD: A shocking video from Pakistan has set social media platforms afire and the content of the video is generating intense debate on a number of issues. The video clip shows a bearded man is seen urging his son, who has been clearly coached and indoctrinated by his father, to deliver a message to the Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan.

“Khan-sahab, remember this: if a temple is constructed in Islamabad, I will kill all those Hindus, one by one. Do you understand? Allah hafiz,” the child, who must barely be 4 years old, is heard as saying. People on social media are citing hatred,

being perpetuated by Pakistani politicians and a section of the media against the minorities, especially Hindus, as the reason behind kids getting indoctrinated.

It is appalling to see tender, young minds being poisoned by elders, many commented on social media. Others believed that such indoctrination of hate can lead to more dangerous acts when these children grow up. A Pakistani court on Monday had reserved the judgment on the admissibility of petitions against the construction of a Hindu temple in Islamabad. Last week, the Capital Development Authority in Islamabad stopped the construction of the bound-

in brief CISCO SUED FOR ALLEGED DISCRIMINATION A lawsuit was filed against network gear maker Cisco Systems Inc, accusing the company of “discrimination, harassment, and retaliation” against an Indian-American employee and allowing him to be harassed by two managers on the basis of his caste.

The lawsuit was filed by California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing in a federal court in San Jose. According to its statement, “the Complainant was expected to accept a caste hierarchy within the workplace where he held the lowest status within a team of higher-caste colleagues, receiving less pay, fewer opportunities, and other inferior terms and conditions of employment because of his religion, ancestry, national origin/ethnicity, and race/color”. Though US employment law does not specifically bar caste-based discrimination, the state, in its suit, asserts that “the Hindu faith’s lingering caste system is based on protected classes such as religion”. The lawsuit has therefore been filed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which “prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin”. The lawsuit does not name the victim, but says he has been a principal engineer at Cisco’s San Jose headquarters since October 2015 and is a Dalit.

BIDEN PICKS INDIANORIGIN FOR KEY ROLE

ary wall on the plot earmarked for the temple claiming legal reasons.

Many Indian netizens also cited the video as yet another reason why the seamless imple-

mentation of the Citizenship Amendment Act , which offers Indian citizenship to the persecuted minorities in Pakistan and other countries, is the need of the hour.

Sindh govt extends custody of Daniel Pearl's killers by 90 days

Pakistan coronavirus cases reach 234,508

KARACHI: Pakistan's Sindh province government has extended for another three months the custody of British-born alQaeda leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and his three aides whose sentences in the abduction and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002 were overturned in April. The move comes days after the Supreme Court on June 29 rejected a petition filed by the Sindh government to suspend a high court verdict that overturned the conviction of the four men.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday reported 2,691 coronavirus cases, the lowest in weeks, taking the total number of infections to 234,508 in the country, the health ministry said.

According to the Ministry of National Health Services, the number of recovered persons are also steadily going up and reached 134,957.

The court, however, allowed the province to take measures to keep them in custody. Their detention expired on July 1.

Officials said that the Sindh government extended their custody for another 90 days.

Superintendent of Karachi Central Prison, Hasan Sehtoo, said that the accused would stay behind the bars until September 30.

Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story in 2002 on the alleged links between the country's powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda. On April 2, a two-judge Sindh High Court bench overturned the death sentence of 46-year-old alQaeda leader, who was convicted in the abduction and murder of Pearl in 2002. He has been in jail for the past 18 years.

The total number of deaths reached 4,839 after another 77 people died.

Another 2,306 patients were in critical condition, the ministry said. Out of the total 234,508 infections, Sindh reported 96,236 patients, Punjab 82,669, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 28,236, Islamabad 13,557, Balochistan 10,841, GilgitBaltistan 1,587 and Pakistanoccupied Kashmir 1,383 patients.

A total of 1,445,153 tests have been performed, including 24,577 in the last 24 hours. According to an

official data, last time 2,636 cases were reported on May 28. But on that day 11,931 tests were performed.

However, the latest 2,691 positive cases emerged from 24,577 tests.

Meanwhile, in a significant step towards making Pakistan self-reliant in production of medical equipment, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday inaugurated the country's first indigenous ventilators’ manufacturing facility. “It is a landmark achievement for the country and I congratulate the entire team,” Khan said after inaugurating the venti-

lators factory at the National Radio and Telecommunications Corporation (NRTC) in Haripur.

The prime minister lauded the initiative taken by the NRTC and the Ministry of Science and Technology for producing ventilators indigenously. Khan said the country had no dearth of talent to become self-reliant in new technologies and the government would extend support to all such initiatives to encourage the potential of youth, the report added. He said the government’s focus would now be on reforming the health sector.

“Our approach in response to the pandemic and adopting smart lockdown while keeping the economy afloat has been widely acknowledged and now our focus will be on comprehensive health reforms.'

Indian-American Medha Raj has been named

by Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden as his digital chief of staff, a key role in his election campaigns which are going virtual due to the pandemic. In this capacity, Raj will work across all facets of the digital department to streamline and coordinate how to maximise the impact of its digital outputs, the Biden campaign said. “Excited to share that I’ve joined Joe Biden’s campaign as the digital chief of staff. 130 days to the election and we’re not going to waste a minute!” she said on LinkedIn.

4 SCHOOL TEACHERS FIRED FOR HARASSING STUDENTS IN PAK Four faculty members of an elite school in Lahore were sacked by the management for allegedly sexually harassing female students. Students had spoken up about the inappropriate behaviour on an Instagram page. Students revealed that one of the accused, who used to teach debate and politics, got involved with girls during trips. Another accused, a chemistry teacher, used to stare at girls’ chests and try to touch them inappropriately. One of the victims said about another accused that he used to bite his lip whenever he talked to her. Another girl said her teacher forced her to take a picture with him saying that he would look at it in bed. According to students, they had lodged complaints but the school did not take action. The administration, however, said that after receiving evidence, all four involved were fired.

48 PAK DOCS QUIT OVER SAFETY ISSUES Pakistan suffered a setback in the fight against Covid-19 as 48 doctors working in the teaching hospitals of Punjab province resigned, citing non-provision of safety gear to protect them from the virus that has killed more than 4,700 people in the country.

According to a notification of the Punjab health department, 48 doctors resigned from the posts at the government teaching hospitals. Their resignations have been accepted, it said.

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11 - 17 July 2020

in brief LANDSLIDE AT MYANMAR JADE MINE KILLS 162 At least 162 people were killed on in a landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar, the worst in a series of deadly accidents at such sites in recent years that critics blame on the government’s failure to take action against unsafe conditions. The Myanmar fire service department announced about 12 hours after the morning disaster that 162 bodies were recovered from the landslide in Hpakant. “The jade miners were smothered by a wave of mud,” the fire service said. It said 54 injured people were taken to hospitals. An unknown number of people are feared missing.

ROCKET FIRED TOWARDS US EMBASSY IN IRAQ The Iraqi military said that a rocket aimed at Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, home of the US embassy, struck a residential house and injured a child. Iraqi officials said the embassy’s recently installed C-Ram air defence system may have attempted to intercept the rocket as the system was operational late on Saturday. A recent spate of rocket attacks have struck close to the US embassy and targeted American troops in Iraqi bases. The rocket was launched from the Ali Al-Saleh area of Baghdad.

PEOPLE REFUSING COVID TEST THREATENED WITH FINES Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has warned that people refusing Covid-19 tests in Victoria, where the second wave of infections has led to the return of strict restrictions, could face significant fines. Daniel Andrews, the state premier, said that more than a thousand people refused to be tested. The restrictions, which will see people ordered to stay home except for work, school, care duties or essential shopping, will affect more than 300,000 residents.

Morrison expressed his support for the Victorian government’s measures as 73 new cases were reported, the 15th consecutive day of double-digit growth in coronavirus cases in the state. “Where outbreaks do occur you need to move on them as the Victorian government is and they have our full support with that," he said. “We're doing this in an Australian way.

We're looking to do it through incentive, through the use of carrot, not stick… But occasionally the stick will have to be put about, whether it's fines or other sanctions that are in place to ensure that we keep everybody safe.”

VIETNAM, PHILIPPINES PROTEST CHINA’S MILITARY DRILLS Vietnam and the Philippines criticised China’s holding of military drills in a disputed part of the South China, warning it could create tension in the region. Philippine defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana said China’s exercises in the waters near the Paracel Islands were “highly provocative”, while Vietnam’s foreign ministry called them a violation of sovereignty that could be “detrimental” to Beijing’s ties with Asean. China scheduled five days of drills near the Paracels according to a June 27 announcement. Vietnam has overlapping claims with China over the Paracels.

ARMED MAN HELD NEAR TRUDEAU HOME Canadian police said they arrested an armed man who entered the grounds where PM Justin Trudeau and the governor general live. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police tweeted that Trudeau and Governor General Julie Payette were not present at the time of the incident in Ottawa. Police said the man was arrested without any incident and is now being interviewed. Police have not released his identity and said charges are pending.

Facebook, Google and Twitter won't give user data to Hong Kong authorities Hong Kong: Some of the world's major internet and social media platforms said they will stop processing requests for user data made by Hong Kong law enforcement authorities while they carry out an assessment of a controversial security law imposed by China on the city.

Facebook and its messaging service WhatsApp said that they would "pause" the review of information requests from the Hong Kong government "pending further assessment of the impact of the National Security Law, including formal human rights due diligence and consultations with human rights experts." Facebook (FB) said the company believes

"freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and support the right of people to express themselves without fear for their safety or other repercussions."

Twitter (TWTR) confirmed that it has also paused all requests from Hong Kong authorities for data and information while it reviews the law.

"Like many public interest organizations, civil society leaders and entities, and industry peers, we have grave concerns regarding both the developing process and the full intention of this law," the spokesperson said.

A Google spokesperson said that when the law took effect, they "paused production on any new data requests from Hong

Kong authorities, and we'll continue to review the details of the new law."

Popular video conferencing platform Zoom (ZM) followed suit, saying that it will pause processing data requests from and related to the Hong Kong government. The company said it is "actively monitoring the developments in Hong Kong SAR, including any potential guidance from the US government."

The law imposed last week

by Beijing criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign powers, a sweeping change that critics describe as an attack on freedoms of speech and the press that have long existed in Hong Kong but are prohibited on the

Chinese mainland. The vaguely defined rules broaden the power of officials to investigate, prosecute and punish both foreign nationals and citizens for anything deemed to be promoting secession or subversion of the government, like 'inciting hatred' of the central Chinese authority.

The law is a major shift for Hong Kong, which has been run under the "one country, two systems" principle since Britain formally handed authority of the territory over to China in 1997. The internet is not censored in Hong Kong and residents are able to access social media platforms such as Facebook, Whatsapp and Google (GOOGL) that are banned on the mainland.

Finland's air force removes swastika from logo HELSINKI: Finland has changed the general staff ID and logo of its Air Force Command without making an announcement of the new logo. While the new logo is a golden eagle and a circle of wings, the old logo had a swastika - a symbol deeply linked to Nazi Germany.

Finland's air force had been using the swastika since 1918.

While the air force had stopped using the swastika on its planes after World War II, the symbol featured on unit emblems, unit flags and uniforms, an air force spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that the logo of the Air Force

Command and the Air Force service were made to match in January 2017 to a golden eagle and circle of wings, removing the swastika.

The swastika entered Finland's air force through a

Swedish nobleman, Count Eric von Rosen. He had gifted a plane to the air force of Finland in 1918, with a blue swastika painted on it. Rosen used to consider the swastika a good luck charm.

Subsequent planes in the

Finnish air force continued to use the symbol, which eventually became associated with antiSemitism after Hitler adopted the swastika for the Nazi party.

Rosen didn't have any Nazi associations in 1918, but eventually formed a connection to Nazi Germany through his brotherin-law, who was a personal friend of Hitler.

The change was made in 2017 because the swastika could potentially be used against the Finnish army and affect the attitude of young people towards the military. A source said that Finland's neighbor Russia could also interpret the symbol as a sign that Finland is an enemy.

43 politicians seek to replace Museveni KAMPALA: The number of presidential aspirants for Uganda’s 2021 election continues to grow despite concerns about the Electoral Commission’s plan for virtual campaigns. The latest entrant, former army commander Maj-Gen Mugisha Muntu, got the ticket to represent a party he recently founded after leaving the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

Others are former journalistturned preacher Joseph Kabuleta, a rabid critic of President Yoweri Museveni’s government who is also challenging in court the Electoral Commission’s campaign regulations; former spy chief Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde; Charles Rwomushana, a former opera-

tive at the Internal Security Organisation turned-political commentator who has written to the commission seeking clearance and guidance on gathering the legally mandated signatures from three thirds of all the country in Covid-19 regulations.

Then there is the People Power Movement of musicianturned politician Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine who says he has been endorsed as the outfits sole candidate for its presidential ticket, while the main opposition party Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) is reportedly courting its former president and four-time contender, Dr Kizza Besigye to again lead its effort.

Besigye and Bobi Wine

Nairobi healthcare system facing strain NAIROBI: Kenya's healthcare system is at risk of getting overwhelmed by the Covid-19 pandemic as it continues to record more cases than other counties, infectious disease specialist Dr Loice Ombajo has said.

Speaking in a television interview on Tuesday, Dr Ombajo said, “If Covid-19 patients take up more than 50 per cent of the bed capacity in public and private health facilities, we can say the system is overwhelmed.” She added, “Covid-19 cannot replace all the other diseases that require care. If we allow the viral disease to fill hospital beds with patients, those with other critical conditions will also begin to die because they will not get admitted to these facilities.”

Dr Ombajo, who heads the Infectious Diseases Unit at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), spoke in the wake of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s relaxation of travel restrictions in areas considered Covid-19 hotspots. Dr Ombajo said the intensive case unit (ICU) at KNH, the country's largest referral hospital, is currently occupied, meaning no more patients can be admitted.

recently launched a new joint platform, United for Change as a pressure group to push for political reforms. Another notable aspirant is president of the Democratic Party Norbert Mao who threw his hat into the ring during a town hall meeting to discuss “delivering safe and credible elections amidst Covid-19 in

Yoweri Museveni

Uganda” held at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel. It will be his second attempt.

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11 - 17 July 2020

Kuwait's plan to cut down foreign workers alarms India KUWAIT: At least 700,000 Indians may be required to leave Kuwait after the Gulf country declared a draft law, proposing a quota for expatriates, as constitutional. The legal and legislative committee of the Kuwait's National Assembly approved the bill in order to reduce the number of foreign workers that would reportedly impact about 7 to 800,000 Indians. This development has alarmed the Indian government.

The Bill, which proposes that the number of Indians should not exceed 15 per cent of the country’s 4.8 million population, will be transferred to another committee for a comprehensive plan to be chalked out. Indians number about 1.4 million in Kuwait, forming the largest expatriate community in the country followed by Egyptians. The bill proposes similar quotas for

people belonging to other nations, too. With Kuwaitis turning into a minority in their own country, the bill is seen as a manifestation of the fact that Kuwait no longer wants to remain an expat-majority nation and is working on reducing its dependence on foreign workers.

Kuwait is also a top source of remittances for India. In 2018, India received close to $4.8 billion from Kuwait as remittances. With its own citizens turning into a minority,

Kuwait has been working to its reduce dependence on foreign workers.

The bill is seen as a manifestation of the fact that Kuwait no longer wants to an remain expat-majority nation. Covid-19 and the slump in oil prices have also been contributing factors.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Gulf News reported last week, there has been a spike in anti-expat rhetoric as lawmakers and governmental officials call for reducing the number of foreigners in Kuwait.

In the middle of this, Kuwait’s PM Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah proposed reduction in the number of expats from 70% to 30% of the total population.

Official sources said the

Indian embassy was closely following developments related to the proposed legislation.

India has so far not made any statement on the issue. India has often in the past played up the role of the Indian community in Kuwait as an important factor in bilateral ties. As the ministry of external affairs says, Indians are present in all segments of society in Kuwait and are largely considered disciplined, hardworking and law-abiding.

The Indian embassy in 2009 had set up an Indian Workers’ Welfare Centre which provides a labour complaint redressal mechanism and accommodation for domestic workers in distress, a work contract attestation system, a toll free 24x7 telephone helpline, a free legal advice clinic and also a helpdesk to guide Indian nationals on problems faced by them.

Bhagwad Saptha LONDON: These are challenging times for us with Covid-19 on the forefront of everyone’s minds, we were glad to have had the opportunity to host the Bhagwad Saptha from Sunday 28th June to Saturday 4th July 2020 in memory of my father, Khodidasbhai Dhamecha, my uncle Jayanti kaka and my niece, Visha Bharti, recited by Aacharya Shri Palkeshbhai Trivedi. The live broadcast of the Bhagwad Saptha on Aastha and Jalaram TV allowed our friends and family to learn and enjoy, and hopefully has been a welcome distraction from lockdown.

The Shrimad Bhagwad Saptha held at Jalaram Mandir, Greenford, was memorable for our family. We previously held a big Bhagwad Saptha in 2013 and thoroughly enjoyed hosting a large number of attendees daily, however this one was special as we had the opportunity to sit and listen, uninterrupted every day.

The learnings from the Bhagwad Saptha are endless, there’s always so much to learn and AacharyaShri Palkeshbhai Trivedi did a wonderful job of explaining the teachings in a simple and easy tounderstand way. The younger members of our family especially felt engaged and were keen to comedaily to listen to Aacharya Shri Palkeshbhai – this is important for me, as I strongly believe we needto ensure our culture and values are passed down to future generations.

The daily recitals of the Bhagwad Saptha commenced with Aashirvaads from leading Maharajshree’s and spiritual leaders from India. These included: (1) Param Pujya Vrajrajbawa, Baroda, (2) Param Pujya Dwarkeshbawa, Baroda, (3) Param Pujya Bapushree, Jamnagar, (4) Param Pujya Radharaman Swami, Rajkot, (5)

Param Pujya Vallabbawa, Jamnagar, (6) Param Pujya Dwarkeshbawa, Bombay, (7) Param Pujya Sahebji.

Dhamecha Family is immensely grateful to the Board of Trustees of Jalaram Mandir for allowing the family to hold the Bhagwad Saptha from the Mandir. In particular, the family is indebted to Aacharya Shri Palkeshbhai Trivedi for reciting the Bhagwad Saptha in simple, understandable Gujarati, excellent content and delivery which made the past week extremely memorable for the family.

Closing speech Isn’t it amazing, today is the final day of the saptha. What a great seven days of absolute bliss and peace, as we’ve listened to the recital of Shrimad Bhagwad Saptha by Pujya Aacharya Shri

Palkeshbhai Trivedi. The lockdown period has been a challenging time for most of us.

It’s strange how time flies, we have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the past week. But this has only been possible because of the excellent recital

by Pujya Aacharya Shri Palkeshbhai.

No matter how many times we listen to the Bhagwad Saptha there’s always so much to learn.

Palkeshbhai, your s i m p l e , understandable Guajarati, excellent content and delivery have made the past seven days so memorable for all of us, especially the youngsters. This will ensure that our culture and values can be enhanced and passed down to future generations.

Palkeshbhai, this week’s Bhagwad Saptha felt like you were Sukhderji maraj and we were listening like Parikshit raja – completely personal. I am not sure this will ever be possible in our lifetime again.

The particular highlights of the week for me were: - Seeing

different members of the family, especially the youngsters, sitting and listening to the Bhagwad Saptha daily - Taking part in Narsinh Avtar with my cousins Meena, Amit and his family Celebrating Nand Utsuv with my kaki, Prabha Kaki and her family, and my cousin Rupen and his family - My cousin Sushma, my nephew Sai, and my family taking part in the Govurdhan Puja - Celebrating

the jaan arrival in Rukmini Viva with my mother, Lalitaben, my kaka, Shanti Kaka and his family … And a special mention to my cousin Manish for wearing a jubo, a rare feat for him! - And finally the whole family taking part, and enjoying themselves, during the Raas Leela accompanied by the wonderful music performed by Robin Christian and Shri Gadhvi The daily morning pujas, with detailed explanations from Vishalbhai and Keyurbhai, followed by the recital of the Bhagwad Saptha in the afternoon, has been our routine for the past week and I have been really enjoying this lifestyle with complete peace and tranquillity.

However from Monday it’s back to our old routine. I think it will be a shock to our system.

Thank you all for joining us for a memorable week as we remember my late father, Khodidasbhai, my kaka, Jayanti kaka and my niece, Visha Bharti.

I’ll now pass over to my son, Anand, who will say a few thank you on behalf of the Dhamecha Parivar.

Jai Shree Krishna

in brief EU REOPENS ITS BORDERS TO 15 COUNTRIES The European Union has reopened its borders to visitors from 15 countries after it was closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But travellers from the United States, India, Russia and Brazil are not welcome. The regional bloc had barricaded its borders in March, in view of the coronavirus outbreak. The countries excluded from the list are the worst-affected from the pandemic.

Europe will allow visitors from Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. China has also been included in the list but on the condition of reciprocity, which means that the EU would only open if Chinese authorities also allowed in visitors from the bloc. The list would be updated every 14 days, with new countries being added or dropped off depending on whether they are keeping the pandemic under control. The EU list does not apply to travel into Britain, which left the bloc in January and is in its post-Brexit transition that ends on December 31.

AFGHAN ARMY ACCUSED OF KILLING 23 CIVILIANS MISTAKENLY The UN mission in Afghanistan said that the Afghan military had mistakenly fired mortars at a busy market in southern Helmand province that inflicted heavy civilian casualties.

According to a statement from the office of the Helmand provincial governor, Gen. Mohammad Yasin, a car bombing and mortar shells struck the market in Sangin district last week, killing 23 people, including children. Both the Taliban and the Afghan military blamed each other for the attack. A series of tweets from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said that “multiple credible sources" have asserted that the Afghan army fired the “mortars in response to Taliban fire, missing (the) intended target." The tweet made no mention of any car bomb but it indicated that there was a battle between the Taliban and Afghan forces at the time of the attack. The UN did not elaborate on how its mission reached those findings.

MUM WHO DONATED BREAST MILK INUNDATED WITH REQUESTS A mum who donated 65 litres of breast milk to help other mothers, has opened up about the unusual requests she’s received from men wanting her to nurse them. After welcoming her first child, baby Lynnlee, in February 2019, Michele Oller, 34, soon found herself with a freezer full of surplus breast milk. Wanting to put it to good use, the pharmacist from Oklahoma, in the US, found a website dedicated to selling breast milk. After sharing a post advertising the milk she had available, the new mum thought she would connect with fellow mothers, but she also received a whole host of requests from men. “One site I used was full of strange men,” she explains. “I highly doubt they wanted the milk for their babies.” “A few of them asked me for photos, which was creepy enough in itself, and said a lot about their motives. I also got a couple of requests from men asking if I would physically nurse them.”

KOALAS MAY GO EXTINCT IN OZ STATE BY 2050 Koalas in the Australian state of New South Wales could become extinct by 2050 unless the government immediately intervenes to protect them and their habitat, a parliamentary inquiry determined after a yearlong inquiry. Land clearing for agriculture, urban development, mining and forestry had been the biggest factor in the fragmentation and loss of habitat for the animals in NSW. A prolonged bushfire season that ended early this year was also devastating for the animals, destroying about a quarter of their habitat across the state, and in some parts up to 81%.

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11 - 17 July 2020

India, China troops begin pullback from Galwan Valley After several rounds of military and diplomatic talks, India and China have kicked off step-wise disengagement from the twomonth long confrontation in Galwan Valley and Gogra-Hot Springs areas of eastern Ladakh, with People’s Liberation Army soldiers also moving back slightly from the seemingly intractable face-off site at Pangong Tso. Chinese soldiers “have removed some tents and seem to be pulling back” towards ‘Finger-5’ (fingers are mountainous spurs) from ‘Finger-4’ on the north bank of Pangong lake, in accordance with Phase-I of the de-escalation plan thrashed out between the rival corps commanders on June 30, top government sources said.

This is significant as the confrontation here is seen to be particularly sticky to resolve.

The developments came after a two-hour discussion between India's national security advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese state councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi on Sunday. The sometimes tense conversation ended with the two sides agreeing to disengage. Importantly, the Chinese troops have moved back from their current positions which India has held to be violative of agreements between the two countries.

In the course of the conversation on Sunday, Doval bluntly put across New Delhi's bottomline that for the de-escalation to happen, the PLA must move back

from the area which Beijing had publicly claimed as its own in the aftermath of the violent confrontation between the two armies on June 15. India has said China violated the agreements intended to ensure peace on the borders.

This is the second time after the 73-day-long face-off at Doklam in 2017 that India had got China to relent - at least as things stand now - after negotiations in which India was represented by the NSA. Yet, the two situations are hardly comparable.

Unlike Doklam, the latest conflict saw fatalities on both sides.

This must have been particularly problematic for China, considering that it was the first time since 1979, when the Vietnamese got the better of it, that PLA had suffered casualties. Moreover, if the idea was to give India a hard rap

on the wrist, it didn't go to plan as China suffered casualties it is yet to admit in public. US sources put this at 35 dead. India lost 20 men, including commanding officer Col Santhosh Babu.

Unlike in 2017 where India tried to play down the physical skirmishes between the two sides with the government preferring to endure digs from opponents back home, the latest round saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting the bravery and courage of Indian jawans and, in the process, rubbing in the PLA losses.

The statements could not have sounded bluster to the Chinese after the defiant completion of a bridge over the Galwan river, part of the Modi government’s project to ramp up border infrastructure.

Doval, Wang finalise plan The breakthrough in India’s attempts to get Beijing to pull

Era of expansionism is over: Modi's message to China Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a clear message to China that India will not back off in the border confrontation by paying a surprise visit to troops at a forward location in Ladakh where he said the era of expansionism was over while adding that the bravery of jawans at Galwan has sent a powerful message about the country's strength. “This is the age of development.

In the centuries gone by, it was expansionism which hurt humanity the most and sought to destroy it. Those who are driven by expansionism have always posed danger to the world. History bears testimony that such forces have either been destroyed or been forced to turn back. It is due to this experience that the world is coming together against expansionist forces," Modi said.

Modi did not take names but left no doubt as to whom he was referring to by praising the Indian Army for taking on China's PLA in a bloody confrontation in Galwan Valley on June 15.

PM Modi was accompanied by chief of defence staff Gen Bipin Rawat and Army chief M M Naravane. Modi said, “The valour you and your

fellow soldiers recently showed has sent a powerful message across the world about India's strength. I pay my tributes again to the courageous jawans who attained martyrdom in Galwan Valley. The entire country has shown gratitude to the brave,” he said.

The defiant martial note ran through the PM's speech before jawans of the Army, ITBP, BSF, IAF as well as the Border Research Organisation at Nimu, some 35 km from Leh. “The enemies of India have seen the fire and fury of its forces.

We have been known to be a people who love not only the flute-playing Krishna but also the one who wields the Sudarshan Chakra,” he continued in the same vein, indicating that India's quest for peace should not be seen as a sign of weakness.

While talking to the jawans who were injured in the bloody confrontation

with the PLA, Modi stopped just short of saying that the Army had inflicted losses on the Chinese side. "Given the current international situation, the international community is discussing the feat of courage you pulled off, especially because of the sort of forces it was achieved against. They are curious to know about our young brave, their level of commitment. The training you go through is being analysed," Modi said. "Your courage encourages me to declare that India, which has never bowed to anyone, will not succumb in future and become self-reliant," he added.

Modi began his speech in Nimuby chanting ‘BharatMata Ki Jai’. While concluding, he raised the chant of ‘Vande Matram’ with jawans and officers following him. The address at 11,000 feet was a bold stroke, intended to boost the morale of the forces and signal defiance to Beijing. It was also meant to counter the opposition's charge that the government had acquiesced into China's incursions across eastern Ladakh.

back its troops in Galwan Valley came after two hours of tense negotiations between Doval and China's Wang Yi. Sources said what the MEA described as a “frank and in depth interaction” was marked by sharp exchanges before the two sides settled for an understanding which will require the PLA to reduce its presence, pull back and bring down the structures it had raised during the stand-off. Doval and Wang, who are special representatives for border talks, have known each other for some time and this helped them focus on the nub of the matter straightaway.

‘Buffer zone’ created at ‘PP-14’ in Galwan Valley region A‘buffer zone’ has already been created at ‘Patrolling Point14 (PP-14) in the Galwan Valley region, the site of bloody clashes on June 15, while similar arrangements are underway at the other ‘friction points’ of PP-15 and 17A in the general Gogra-Hot Springs area.

“The PLA has removed its tents and temporary structures at PP-14 to pull back around 300 troops and several vehicles by about 1.5 km to their side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC),” said a high-level military source.

But India is being extremely cautious this time, and will verify each step with physical monitoring on the ground as well as through drones and satellites. “A close watch has to be kept to ascertain if genuine and lasting disengagement is finally underway. China, after all, has taken to claiming the entire Galwan Valley in recent days,” said the source.

India has consistently said its troops are aware of the LAC alignment and China must restore the status quo as it existed before the build-up of tensions.

The setting up of the no military presence buffer zones at all flashpoints in the high-altitude region, depending on the terrain and mountain features in each area, will mark the completion of Phase-I of the proposed de-escalation.

There will then be a ‘stabilisation period’ of three to four weeks for each side to monitor the progress and resolve any lingering issues through more meetings to bridge the huge trust deficit between the two armies. “PLA is adhering to Phase-I so far. It will be a longdrawn process in several phases, with the Chinese presence in the Depsang Plains being taken up later,” said a senior official in the defence establishment.

“Further diplomatic and military talks will be held for the eventual de-induction of the rival military build-ups along the LAC. If everything goes well, the final de-induction should take place by September-October,” he added.

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SOUTH INDIA

in brief

TN custodial deaths: six police officers arrested CHENNAI: Six police officers, including main accused subinspector Raghu Ganesh, have been arrested for the custodial deaths of a father-son duo in Tamil Nadu. Twelve special teams formed under the Inspector General and Superintendent of Police of CBCID are investigating all angles in the case.

Search and arrest parties have fanned out to arrest the remaining accused. Finally the investigating team arrested Sathankulam police inspector Sridhar after he played hide-andseek with CB-CID sleuths for days in the sensational case of custodial torture and murder of a father-son duo in this southern district in Tamil Nadu.

The arrested police men have been booked in connection with the killings of the duo, with the section of two FIRs altered to include Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The special investigating agency has added murder charges against

Villagers in Tuticorin district protest over the two custodial deaths

SIs Raghu Ganesh and Balakrishnan, and as many constables and members of Friends of Police (volunteers) of the Sathankulam police station, said sources in the CB-CID. The arrest came shortly after Tamil Nadu Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam assured that the government would ensure the "highest punishment" to those responsible for the deaths of P Jeyaraj and his son J Bennix. The arrests led to celebrations in Thoothukudi, with locals bursting firecrackers. Jayaraj, 60, and Bennix, 31, were arrested by

the Thoothukudi police on June 19 for keeping their mobile store open after permitted hours.

Relatives claim that Jayaraj, who was in the store, was picked up by police and verbally abused and assaulted. His son, Bennix, had later gone to the police station to plead with the police to release his father.

The duo was allegedly thrashed and a case was filed against them under IPC Sections 188, 383 and 506(II). They were later taken to the Kovilpatti subjail. Both died at a hospital in Kovilpatti on June 23 hours

apart, with relatives alleging they were severely thrashed at Sathankulam police station.

The Judicial Magistrate probing the custodial killings, in his report, had said there is evidence of assault on the fatherson duo. The magistrate had said that according to eyewitnesses, both the father and the son were assaulted by police officers throughout the night of June 19, resulting in blood marks on canes and the table on which the victims were laid and beaten.

The Madras High Court said there is enough evidence of assault on the bodies of Jayaraj and Bennix, adding that prima facie evidence can lead to registration of murder case against the police officers. The incident has triggered a furore in the state, leading to the suspension of four policemen, including two sub-inspectors.

The High Court had taken up the case and ordered a video recording of the post-mortem after the relatives of the two men moved the court.

PUNJAB

19 Sikh pilgrims killed as train rams into bus in Pakistan's Sheikhupura LAHORE: At least 19 Sikh pilgrims were killed and many others critically injured in a collision between a passenger bus and train on Friday in Pakistan's Sheikhupura district, near Lahore.

As per details, the Shah Hussain Express train smashed into the bus carrying at least 25 Sikh pilgrims from Nankana Sahib to Lahore, after it came on the rail tracks and got stuck.

A Pakistan Railways' spokesperson said that the collision occurred at a railway crossing located between Farooqabad and Bahali Wala. It was reported that the Sikh devotees were travelling from Gurdwara Sacha Sauda from Peshawar, while the train was en

route to Lahore from Karachi.

Hospital authorities confirmed that there were at least 60 injured being treated, adding that most of them were in critical condition. As per eyewitnesses, the railway crossing did not have any barriers to stop the traffic and keep the train tracks clear.

"The bus was stuck on the railway track and was hit hard by the train. The train dragged the vehicle to a good distance. Then the vehicle exploded," said an eyewitness. Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) spokesperson Amir Hashmi said that most Sikhs killed in the

collision were Pakistanis. The bus was carrying mostly Sikh pilgrims to Gurdwara Sacha Sauda in Farooqabad. They had come to Nankana Sahib from Peshawar.

After staying in Nanakana Sahib, they were leaving for Peshawar.

The ETPB security had escorted them till the limits of Nankana Sahib," Hashmi said.

The rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the injured to the district headquarters' hospital, a statement by the Railways Ministry said. The railways said a divisional engineer has been suspended from service and an inquiry has been launched. Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid has ordered authorities to take immediate action against those responsible for the accident.

WEST BENGAL

Flights from Ahmedabad, 5 other cities not welcome in Kolkata KOLKATA: The civil aviation ministry has announced suspension of flights to Kolkata from six cities with a high incidence of Covid-19, including Ahmedabad, Delhi and Mumbai, with effect from Monday in accordance with a request from the Bengal government.

“No flight shall operate to Kolkata from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chennai and Ahmedabad from July 6 to 19 or till further orders. Inconvenience caused is regretted,” Kolkata airport’s Twitter handle announced. State chief secretary Rajiva Sinha had written to civil aviation secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola, seeking an embargo on flights from these cities as well as

Surat and Indore.

Technically, travellers from Delhi or Mumbai would still be able to fly to Kolkata through another city like Raipur, Bhubaneswar or Vishakhapatnam, although that would make travel even more

expensive than it is now. With six cities struck off the list, the already curtailed flight schedule to and from Kolkata has been pruned further from 65 to 40.

Arrival of international repatriation flights has already been suspended following the

state government’s request, leading to the cancellation of five flights that were scheduled between July 1 and 15. Two of these flights were from the Gulf, another two from the US and one from the UK. The civil aviation ministry may have acquiesced to these requests, but officials hope to persuade the state government into dropping the other demand of curtailing flights from other cities by limiting each airline’s operations to once a week.

Kharola urged Sinha to reconsider the request. Airlines, too, are hoping there is no further curtailment. Airline officials, however, say it will be a logistical nightmare if their operations were to be limited to once a week.

6 KILLED, 17 INJURED IN TN THERMAL PLANT BLAST A boiler exploded at NLC India's thermal plant in Tamil Nadu's Neyveli district killing six people and leaving 17 others injured last week.

The plant had been shut for safety audit, the company said. An official has been suspended and a high level inquiry has been ordered, the company, a 'navratna' public enterprise, said.

Home minister Amit Shah spoke to chief minister K Palaniswami and assured him of all possible help. The deceased were in the age group of 25-42. Palaniswami announced a solatium of Rs 300,000 to the families of each of the six workers who were killed and an assistance of Rs 100,000 and Rs 50,000 to those who suffered serious and mild injuries respectively. The mishap occurred at the fifth unit of the thermal power station-II when workers were in the process of resuming operations which includes maintenance work following a shutdown, the official said. A fire broke out in the boiler area subsequent to the explosion resulting in injuries to the maintenance team.

TN BECOMES SECOND STATE TO CROSS 100,000 COVID-19 MARK Tamil Nadu has become the second state to cross 100,000 Covid-19 cases. The state's tally stands at 1,11,151on Monday with 1,510 casualty.

Five districts including Chennai are under a strict lockdown to curb the spread of the virus.

However, the testing has gone up and as of Friday, 1.27 million people have been tested in the 91 testing facilities, which is the highest in the country. Between June 19 and June 30, 327,214 people were tested. Since June 20, over 30,000 people have been tested everyday on an average. The state had initially announced a 12 day intense lockdown in Chennai and three adjoining districts from June 19. People were allowed to commute for only medical emergencies, airports, train stations and walk for essentials like groceries. On June 23, Madurai district also came under the lockdown.

SGPC REQUESTS CENTRE TO REOPEN KARTARPUR CORRIDOR The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) urged the Central government to open the Indian side of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor after Pakistan said it is prepared to reopen the corridor for all Sikh pilgrims from June 29. "I welcome the opening of the corridor by the Pakistan government. I also request to the government of India to try to open the corridor as soon as possible while following the guidelines of the health department," Gobind Singh Longowal, president of the SGPC said. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kartarpur Corridor was shut down by the Indian government.

Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, a 4.7-km-long passage that connects Dera Baba Nanak Sahib in India's Gurdaspur and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur. It was inaugurated last year.

BENGAL BJP MP TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID West Bengal BJP MP Locket Chatterjee tested Covid-19 positive. She had tested negative in the first test done a few days ago. Chatterjee, who has been active even a week ago, was admitted to a nursing home. The BJP headquarters on Murlidhar Sen Lane, however, remains open as the preparations are afoot for the July 6 virtual rally of party president JP Nadda. Party office staff, who stay at the headquarters, will continue to remain there, sources said. “We have not closed the office, but movement is restricted and nobody is going there unless it is urgent,” said Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh.

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11 - 17 July 2020

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

Kamla Patel: A Charotar Lady on a Mission to Lahore • Unfortunately, we have almost forgotten the contribution of the Lion Lady • One feels that the book contains readymade plots for some romantic films f you read the first-hand account of Operation Recovery by Kamla Patel (1912-1992) of Sojitra in Charotar about the an operation carried out by the newly constituted governments of India and Pakistan in 1947 to recover abducted women and children and restore them to their families, it definitely makes you feel a live film being presented before you. Born in a Gandhian family and a young widow Kamlaben at no stage claims to be the heroin. She gives total credit to Mridula Sarabhai under whose direction she works at Lahore in most risky era of Partition. When Deval Shastri of Vadodara could locate book written by her, “Mool sotan Ookhadela”, from the Central Library, originally written by her in Gujarati and sent it to me the photocopy on advice of Rashesh Patel of Karamsad, it was a pleasant surprise. I could not resist reading the book sailing with her nostalgia. “Torn from the Roots: A Partition Memoir” is the translation by Uma Randeria but to read the original book makes you feel the incidents happening just before your own eyes.

I

“The most important work on hand was The first edition of her book in Gujarati was the rehabilitation of millions of Hindu and published in 1984 and since it was in demand Sikh refugees forced to flee one of the prestigious from Western Pakistan. And publishing house R. R. Sheth the most humanitarian task published the second edition requiring immediate action in 1985 in Gujarati. The was rescuing women abducted English version took more on either side of the border than two decades to see the and restoring them to their light of the day. Though we families. In a speech delivered have almost forgotten the on December 7, 1947, Gandhiji contribution of the Lion brought up the matter in his Lady of Charotar, her book in usual matter-of-fact manner English was well received and of speaking. He said it was appreciated by celebrated reported at a joint Indo-Pak writers like Khushwant Singh meeting held in Lahore that and Rumina Sethi. the number of abducted Kamlaben Patel, right-hand women was 12,000 for Muslim woman of Mridula Sarabhai women abducted on this side who oversaw Operation and over twice that number of Recovery, conveys the pathos Hindu and Sikh women and urgency of those abducted in Pakistan. His turbulent times in her candid, no-holds-barred The cover page of the first edition of figures were undoubtedly Kamla Patel’s Mool sotan Ookhadela underestimates. But how were memoir of the more than five these women to be located and taken out of years that she spent in Pakistan and on the the clutches of their abductors and given the recovery mission; of how women were freedom to choose their exchanged like oranges destinies? From the Indian and apples; of the side, Mridula Sarabhai was heartbreaking stories she chosen to lead the heard and the lives she operations. In her turn, she saved. Compassionate in chose Kamla Patel to be her its humanitarianism, this principal aide and posted book is also of rare her at Lahore.” archival value, restoring Even while going women to a central place through the chapters of in the history of India s Kamlaben’s original book in Partition.

Gujarati, one does feel that Khushwant Singh the book contains wrote: “Kamla Patel came readymade plots for some from a middle-class romantic films. Of course, family. She became a she presents the stories with disciple of Gandhi and utmost factual descriptions spent many years in without adding any mirch Sabarmati ashram where masala. The book does raise Mridula was a frequent pertinent questions leading visitor. That’s where they to painful experiences too. met. The one thing the Despite the setting up of two women shared with camps and tribunals where passion was veneration for The cover page of Torn from the Roots: A were scarcely Gandhi and what he stood Partition Memoir translated by Uma Randeria victims allowed to make decisions and take charge of for. The most important lesson they learnt their lives, Kamla Patel stands out as an from him was that once you are convinced exemplum of uprightness and justice, your cause is just, then fight for it without working more from her heart than from any fear of consequences: fear is cowardly, fear is kind of moral righteousness. Another painful sinful. Mridula was a born leader. Being the issue was the state decision eldest, her siblings looked Next Column regarding "war babies", the up to her. She grew up knowing how to organise Mridula Sarabhai earned children born outside regular and give orders. Everyone in the title ‘Anti-National’ wedlock during this period. It was callously decided that the family called her Boss. although the mothers would be rehabilitated Bossy she was—with no small talk or banter. to their respective countries, their children She cut her hair short, wore no cosmetics or would be left behind in the country they were jewellery. When she joined the freedom born. Would a Hindu man, for instance, be movement, she took to wearing Punjabi style willing to father his wife’s Muslim child? salwar-kameez. After Independence and the Many children were willingly or forcefully partition of the country, she realised there abandoned, and, of course, many unborn was more work to do and moved to Delhi. children were aborted under the pretext of a Gossip-mongers said she had developed a "medical check-up".

Nehru fixation.”

315 killed as lightning strikes Uttar Pradesh and Bihar Weather conditions that are forming certain kinds of clouds and bountiful rains in the region that are encouraging paddy farmers to be out in the field planting the crop have together resulted in a quiet tragedy in east Uttar Pradesh and Bihar that has gone almost unnoticed during the Covid-19 crisis -- death from lightning strikes.

There were 26 deaths last week in Bihar alone from such strikes (or flashes as they are called scientifically). On Friday, 15 people were killed in lightning strikes in different districts of the state. Another 21 people lost their lives and over 40 were injured due to lightning amid heavy rain and thunderstorms in seven districts of Bihar on Saturday. And at least 253 more people have lost their lives to lightning strikes and 49 have been injured in the past one and half months with 90% of the deaths recorded in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, according to data from the National Disaster Management Authority.

Most of the casualties are farmers and labourers who were doing agriculturerelated work in fields. Chief minister Nitish Kumar has expressed grief over the loss of lives. He has announced an exgratia of Rs 400,000 each to the next of the kin of the deceased. Kumar has ordered free treatment of injured persons.

A mix of meteorological and behavioural factors are leading to a very high number of deaths in Bihar and east Uttar Pradesh this year, say India Meteorological Department scientists.

Every year at least 2,000 to 3,000 deaths in India occur due to lightning strikes and torrential rains in India. But this year there is a lot of convective or thunder cloud formation in the region along with extremely heavy and widespread rains, unusual for June.

The convective clouds result in lightning of the cloud to ground type (the rarest form of lightning according to scientists, and also the one that does the most damage). “There is a lot of convective activity there because the monsoon trough was passing near the Himalayan foothills and now there is a cyclonic circulation over east UP. Cloud to ground lightning (the kind which usually causes damage) is nothing but current passing from cloud to ground. Such discharge happens when certain kinds of convective clouds form. These clouds may be forming over east UP and Bihar the most now because of surface heating and weather systems bringing intense rain there. But we have to see if people in these states are taking adequate precautions against electrocution,” said DS Pai, senior scientist, IMD Pune.

“This year the number of lightning incidents and lightning deaths is more frequent over Bihar and eastern UP because the region is seeing intense

monsoon rain quite early in the monsoon in June. In previous years this region usually didn’t receive such rains in June.

Because of good rainfall this year in June, farmers are out in the field farming. Paddy field water also attracts electricity and farmers on the field act as conductors of electricity from the thunderstorm,” explained Sunitha Devi, member of Ministry of Earth Sciences’ thunderstorm working group.

In 2018, at least 100 people died due to thunder squalls in west UP, Rajasthan and Haryana following which the ministry of earth sciences formed a working group that developed a model to assess how many lightning flashes may occur and how strong the wind is likely to be during thunderstorms. IMD’s working group can forecast approaching thunderstorms two to three days in advance but cannot pinpoint the location of lightning strikes that much ahead of time; its nowcast feature predicts the location of lightning and thunder about 3 hours in advance.

“Thunderstorms occur in different parts of the country. Marathwada for example is known to record the highest number of fatalities. Fatalities are not high in the pre monsoon months of April- May -- a major season for thunderstorm and lightning -- probably because people are not working on their fields. Lightning severity is more over Bihar and adjoining Uttar Pradesh due to the presence of humid air topped with comparatively drier air in the mid and upper levels, aiding more tall clouds. Over peninsular region and north east India, moisture depth and content being higher, clouds will start raining out, before growing tall.

The lightning severity from such clouds are less,” added Sunitha Devi. “In monsoon season hydrometeoric (water or ice particles) concentration is more so there is more charge build up. If it’s a very tall cloud then charge neutralisation happens within the cloud also called intra cloud lightning. If cloud height is tall but not extremely tall there is more charge separation and cloud to ground lightning.

According to a paper titled “The major lightning regions and associated casualties over India” published in Springer Nature in February, the maximum casualties are reported in Madhya Pradesh (313 deaths), Maharashtra (281 deaths) and Orissa (255 deaths) on an average every year.

India's Covid tally crosses 700,000 mark With another big single-day jump in coronavirus cases, India's Covid-19 tally crossed the 700,000 mark on Monday, just four days after the number of infections in the country had reached 600,000. The death toll due to the disease climbed to over 20,000, while the total number of tests for detection of Covid-19 also crossed the 10 million mark in India on Monday.

According to Union health ministry figures, a big single-day jump of 24,248 Covid-19 cases took India's tally to 6,97,413, while the death toll due to the disease climbed to 19,693 with 425 new fatalities. However, another report showed India's caseload at 7,11,878 and the death toll at 20,139. The tally has been compiled as per information

provided by respective states and Union territories. The country recorded over 20,000 cases of the infection for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.

India went past Russia on Sunday to become the third worst-hit nation. Only the US and Brazil are ahead of India in terms of total coronavirus infections.

Cases have been consistently rising in the country. It took 110 days for cases in the country to reach 100,000, while just 48 days more to go past the 700,000mark. Of the 19,693 deaths reported so far, Maharashtra accounts for 8,822 deaths, followed by Delhi (3,067), Gujarat (1,943), Tamil Nadu (1,510), Uttar Pradesh (785), West Bengal (757), Madhya Pradesh (608), Rajasthan (456) and Karnataka (372).

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Govt clears purchases of 33 fighters, 550 missiles worth £3.89 bn Following the border confrontation with China, India's defence ministry last week approved several capital procurement projects worth £3.89 billion.

They include 33 new fighter jets, 300 long-range land attack cruise missiles and 250 air-to-air missiles.

The projects will take at least two to three years, if not more, to translate into actual inductions into the armed forces but they signal the government’s renewed thrust on building military capabilities for the two active borders with China Pakistan despite and budgetary constraints.

The defence acquisitions council (DAC), chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh, approved procurement of 21 more MiG-29s and 12 Sukhoi-30 MKIs from Russia. The 21 MiG-29s, along with a further upgrade of 59 such jets already with the IAF to “ensure similar standards across the fleet”, will cost £741.8 million.

IAF can induct 250 Astra missiles to arm its Sukhoi fighters from next year The 12 additional Sukhois will be licensed produced by defence PSU

Hindustan Aeronautics, along with upgraded electronic warfare suites and additional supplies and spares for the fleet, at a cost of £1.07 billion.

Among the projects approved by the DAC, induction of the Astra beyond visual range air-toair missiles will probably be the fastest. With all its development trials over, the IAF can begin to induct the 250 Astra missiles to arm its Sukhoi fighters from next year onwards. The DRDO is also working to increase Astra’s strike range from the existing 110 km to over 160 km.

Another big takeaway

from the DAC was the approval for eventual induction of over 300 landattack cruise missiles with a strike range of over 1,000 km. But it will take two to three years for development trials of this advanced version of the Nirbhay (fearless) missile, which was first successfully tested in 2017, to be completed, sources said.

This new cruise missile, designed to fly at low altitudes to evade enemy radars and missile defence systems, will be the longest range conventional missile in the armed forces’ arsenal.

The existing precisionstrike BrahMos supersonic

cruise missiles have a range of 300 km, which is now being extended to around 500 km.

“Astra, software-defined radio, Pinaka munitions and the land-attack cruise missiles are state-of-the-art systems developed indigenously by us,” DRDO chief Dr G Satheesh Reddy said. It was reported that the procurement of 33 additional fighters - the 21 MiG-29 airframes are lying in a mothballed condition in Russia - was being finalised by the IAF. The force has so far inducted over 250 Sukhois of the 272 originally contracted from Russia for well over $12 billion, with the bulk of them rolling out of HAL facilities.

Both MiG-29s and Sukhois are currently deployed at forward airbases along the Line of Actual Control due to the ongoing military face-off with China.

The progressive induction of 36 French Rafales from next month onwards will be a tremendous operational boost for the IAF, which is grappling with just 30 squadrons (each has16 to18 jets) when at least 42 are required to handle the collusive China-Pakistan threat.

PM Modi to address India Global Week 2020 A couple of days ago the India Global Week tweeted: “Could India Global Week - India’s Global Conference get any Bigger? Well, yes! We’ll be making another huge speaker announcement in the next 72 hours!”

On Tuesday, Manoj Ladwa, Founder & CEO, India Inc Group & Chairman, India Global Week said, “I am absolutely delighted to share with you that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be making the inaugural address at India Global Week 2020. This will be his first major speech to a global audience since the Covid-19 pandemic, and I am sure will be watched by the global community eagerly. You can tune in by for the registering conference at www.indiaglobalweek.com” Prime Minister Modi tops a stellar list of speakers for a three day programme, between July 9 and 11. The list of other keynote speakers includes External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, IT &

Narendra Modi

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Skills Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey, from India.

The line-up covers a special address by HRH The Prince of Wales and several UK Cabinet Ministers, including Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Home Secretary Priti Patel, Health Secretary Matt Hancock, and International Trade Secretary Lizz Truss – all underlining the centrality of India to a post-Covid, postBrexit Britain.

Other big highlights include Kunal Nayyar, of 'The Big Bang Theory' fame, in conversation with Sadhguru, Founder, Isha Foundation; a conversation with Spiritual Leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar; and an exclusive never-seen performance by Madhu Nataraj and her team.

Modi, Putin vow to strengthen ICMR sets deadline to India's ties for post-Covid world vaccine maker Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the coronavirus crisis and resolved to strengthen the Indo-Russia ties for jointly addressing the challenges of the post-Covid world.

During a telephonic conversation, the two leaders agreed to maintain the momentum of bilateral contacts and consultations, leading to the annual bilateral summit to be held in India later this year, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

The prime minister conveyed his keenness to welcome Putin in India for the bilateral summit.

"President Putin and I agreed to maintain regular consultations in the coming months, as we prepare for a successful visit by him to India later this year," Modi later wrote on Twitter.

"The India-Russia partnership can and will play an important role in the post-Covid world," the prime minister said.

According to the PMO statement, the two leaders took note of the effective measures undertaken by their countries to address the negative consequences

Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin

of the Covid-19 pandemic and agreed on the importance of closer IndiaRussia ties for jointly addressing the challenges of the post-Covid world.

Putin thanked Modi for the phone call and reiterated his commitment to further strengthening the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries in all spheres.

During their conversation, Modi congratulated Putin on the success of the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Allied Forces in World War 2 and also for the successful completion of the vote on constitutional amendments in Russia, the statement said.

The prime minister noted the participation of an Indian contingent in the military parade held in Moscow on June 24 as a symbol of the abiding friendship between the

people of India and Russia.

"Had a telephone conversation with my friend, President Putin.

Congratulated him for the recent Victory Day celebrations in Moscow and also for the successful completion of the Russian vote on Constitutional Reforms," the prime minister wrote on Twitter.

An Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) letter which sought fasttracking of approvals relating to clinical trials and spoke of the launch of a vaccine by August 15 stirred the medical and scientific community, with questions being asked on how such deadlines could be adhered to given the complexity and time required for trials on humans.

A vaccine candidate by the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech received approval to enter initial phases of human clinical trials only earlier this week.

In a letter to Bharat Biotech and chosen hospitals for

8 Kanpur policemen killed Eight Uttar Pradesh police personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police, were shot dead by the members of a gang in Kanpur. At least seven others, including a civilian, were also injured in the incident. The police team was ambushed around 1 am on Friday when they had gone to raid a house in search of notorious gangster Vikas Dubey, after an attempt to murder case was filed against him. Dubey has over 60 cases against him, including a murder charge for the killing of Santosh Shukla, a former UP minister in the Rajnath Singh government, inside a police station in 2001.

As the police party reached the Bikru village under Kanpur Dehat's Shivli police station area to make the arrest, at least eight to 10 criminals opened indiscriminate fire from the rooftops. DSP Devendra Mishra, Shivrajpur Station Officer Mahesh Yadav, a sub-inspector and five constables were killed in the attack.

conducting research on humans, ICMR director general Balram Bhargava advised "to fast-track all approvals” Vaccine a top priority project: ICMR chief Bhargava advised speeding up process related to initiation of the clinical trial and ensure that the subject enrolment is initiated no later than July 7" in view of the public health emergency due to Covid-19 and "urgency to launch the vaccine". ICMR has partnered with Bharat Biotech to develop a vaccine called Covaxin.

Official sources said the health ministry had asked ICMR about the letter and was informed that the objective was to speed up the processes relating to vaccine development rather than set any hard deadlines.

“We need the vaccine at the

earliest and that was what ICMR wanted to convey,” a source said. ICMR officials said that no deadlines were being set.

However, the tone of the letter, suggesting that noncompliance will be treated seriously, generated concern over whether processes were being rushed. "It is envisaged to launch the vaccine for public health use latest by August 15 after completion of all clinical trials. BBIL is working expeditiously to meet the target. However, final outcome will depend on the cooperation of all clinical trial sites involved in this project,” Bhargava said in the letter dated July 2. Calling the vaccine a "top priority" project "being monitored at the topmost level”, Bhargava said "noncompliance will be viewed seriously".

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China approves use of experimental Covid vaccine for military The Xi Jinping-led Chinese government has approved the use of any experimental Covid-19 vaccine for their military, as part of a global race to stop the ongoing pandemic. Known as Ad5nCoV, the vaccine was jointly-developed by the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology and vaccine company CanSino Biologics.

In a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, CanSino announced that China's Central Military Commission had given the vaccine a “military speciallyneeded drug approval” on June 25. The special permis-

sion lasts for one year and only applies to military personnel. Beijing continues to insist that its military has remained unaffected by the pandemic, with officials claiming that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has

not recorded a single coronavirus case.

A CanSino statement states clinical trials of the new vaccine have shown a “good safety profile” with initial results indicating that Ad5-nCoV had potential to

prevent diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2. The company had announced in May that the Canadian government was allowing human trials of the Ad5-nCoV vaccine.

The first and second phases of their trials have already b e e n completed. Iain Stewart, president of the National Research Council of Canada said in a statement, “This vaccine candidate holds great promise.” There are currently at least 17 vaccines in clinical evaluation around the world according to the World Health Organisation, eight of which are being developed in China.

Top Indian cities see spike in online consultations for mental health Several people have struggled with mental health issues amid the ongoing pandemic. A mental health crisis has been widely reported around the world in a span of a few months. A recent study reveals Indians, in particular, are struggling to come to terms with multiple forms of mental health issues that have risen exponentially post the coronavirus outbreak.

The study, conducted by one of India's largest health and wellness platforms, Lybrate, states there has been over 180 per cent rise in online patient consultations around mental

health conditions on the platform.

The highest jump has been witnessed in the city of Mumbai (205 per cent), followed by Delhi (180 per

Oxford potential Covid-19 vaccine has 'right sort of immune response': Scientist A leading scientist involved in the University of Oxford's potential Covid-19 vaccine believes the team has seen the right sort of immune response in trials.

Speaking at a parliamentary hearing, professor of vaccinology at the university, Sarah Gilbert said 8,000 volunteers had been enrolled for the Phase III of its trial into the vaccine AZD1222.

Gilbert said, “We're very happy that we're seeing the right sort of immune response that will give protection, and not the wrong sort.” The project has launched Phase III of the human trials to analyse how the vaccine works in a large number of people over the age of 18, and how well it works to prevent people from becoming infected with Covid-19.

She said she hoped her vaccine would make progress earlier, but refrained from being more specific about the timeline for when it would be ready, saying it depends on the results of the trial. Chair of the UK Government Vaccine Taskforce, Kate Bingham said that excluding the Oxford vaccine program, she hoped there would be a breakthrough by early 2021. Meanwhile, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University, John Bell said that Britain should prepare for not having a Covid-19 vaccine for the winter and encourage people to get their flu vaccinations to avoid “pandemonium” in hospitals.

cent), Pune (170 per cent), Ahmedabad (155 per cent), Chennai (142 per cent), Bangalore (115 per cent), Kolkata (109 per cent) and Hyderabad (102 per cent).

Lybrate said that it came up with the insights post analysis of data gathered between March 1 and June 20, 2020.

“Mental health became a point of concern for a majority of Indians after Covid -19. We noticed on

our platform that even specialists who did not deal with the subject were being consulted about mental health issues. Given the demanding situation, we provided a basic session to doctors; psychologists on our platform trained them on how to better counsel those seeking help regarding mental health problems.

As the questions asked were mostly generic in nature, we thought it would come handy for those doctors who want to help out during the crisis,” Saurabh Arora, Founder & CEO of Lybrate said.

Their report stated that queries predominantly revolved around stress, isolation, claustrophobia, being unproductive, anger, irritation, loneliness, mood swings, and not being able to cope with family members. There was also a topic of uncertainty revolving around unemployment.

US accused of cornering Covid-19 drug remdesivir Public health experts have criticised the US for securing for itself a large supply of the only drug licensed so far to treat Covid-19. The Donald Trump administration announced last week that it had an agreement with Gilead Sciences to make the bulk of their production of remdesivir available to Americans during the next three months.

In a statement, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said, “To the extent possible, we want to ensure that any American patient who needs remdesivir can get it.” The department said it had secured 500,000 treatments of the drug through September, representing 100% of Gilead's July production

capacity and 90% of its capacity in August and September.

Until now, Gilead had donated treatment courses to the US and other countries.

Last week, it announced the price of the treatment going forward. In 127 poor or middle-income countries, Gilead is allowing generic makers to supply the drug. In a statement, the California-based company

New version of Covid spreading from Europe to the US: Study

A global study states a new form of the coronavirus has spread from Europe to the United States. The new mutation makes the virus more likely to infect people but does not seem to make them any sicker than earlier variations.

In a report, Erica Ollmann Saphire of the La Jolla Institute for Immunology and the Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium, said, “It is now the dominant form infecting people. This is now the virus.”

Published in the journal Cell, the study builds on some earlier work the team did that was released on a preprint server earlier in the year. Shared information on genetic sequences had indicated that a certain mutant version of the virus was taking over. The team has checked genetic sequences, and run experiments involving people, animals and cells in lab dishes that show the mutated version is more common, and infectious than other versions.

The researchers are now checking to see whether this affects the ability to control the virus by a vaccine.

Published in the journal Cell, the study confirms earlier work suggesting the mutation had made the new variant of virus more common. The researchers call the new mutation G614. It has completely replaced the first version to spread in Europe and the US – which was called D614.

Theoretical biologist Bette Korber of Los Alamos National Laboratory along with other researchers, wrote in their report, “Our global tracking data show that the G614 variant in Spike has spread faster than D614. We interpret this to mean that the virus is likely to be more infectious. Interestingly, we did not find evidence of G614 impact on disease severity.”

Samples taken from patients across Europe and the US were tested. Their genome sequences were compared to what's been shared publicly. The team wrote, “Through March 1, 2020, the G514 variant was rare outside of Europe, but the end of March it had increased in frequency worldwide.” They added, “The increase in G614 frequency often continues well after stay-at-home orders are in place and past the subsequent two-week incubation period.”

The new version reportedly multiplies faster in the upper respiratory tract – the nose, sinuses and throat.

However, tests on 1,000 hospitalised coronavirus patients in Britain showed those infected with the new version did not fare any worse than those who caught the original strain.

said its agreement with the US allows for unneeded supplies to be sent to other countries. It said it is “working as quickly as possible” to enable access worldwide.

But it noted that the US is seeing a significant rise in

Covid cases, while “most EU and other developed countries have reduced their levels of disease considerably.”

Remdesivir is the only drug licensed by both the US and the European Union as a treatment for those with severe illness from the coronavirus. Gilead had been developing remdesivir for years as a viral treatment aided by millions in funding from the US government.

The company's statement said that the company is exploring ways to support access to remdesivir beyond the US, and to the 127 developing countries.

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11 - 17 July 2020

Keep fit indoors with these workout ideas Recipe

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to take its toll over the world, we remain forced inside (for our own good). This can only adversely affect our physical and mental well-being in the long run. Even science claims a sedentary lifestyle for an extended period leaves a negative impact on overall health.

However, daily fitness in general reduces the risk of common lifestyle problems including obesity, PCOS, diabetes, hypertension, stress, anxiety, blood pressure, etc.

Having an exercise routine contributes to the effective working of our immune system as well. It removes the bacteria from the airways and lungs, raises body temperature and

improves the circulation of white blood cells. The body's capacity to fight infections increases with this.

There are several who are regular gym-goers, or they like to go for a walk or run in a local park.

However, the lockdown makes staying active a tad challenging. Given below are practical ways of making the most of the current

situation.

1) One can easily maintain cardiovascular health with the help of an exercise bike or a treadmill.

If these are not available options, participate in any activity that increases the heart rate.

2) Climbing up and down the stairs or brisk walking around the house are some effective ways of ensuring physical fitness. A

skipping rope will also work as an excellent tool. It helps in fighting obesity and PCOS. Resort to yoga and pilates videos to help you exercise without gym equipment.

3) Resistance exercises are super easy too. They help strengthen the muscles and develop mobility.

Confinement leads to obesity, and therefore, these exercises keep such risks at bay. These exercises are mainly performed using weights and resistance bands. Push-ups against a wall, squats, and lunges are great options too.

4) Zumba! It helps maintain the overall fitness of your body, eliminating the risk of a routine lifestyle. They are easy on joints and use resistance to work up the whole body.

Music in Britain at risk: Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones seek help from govt The ongoing Covid-19 onslaught has affected multiple lives, and the economy. Even the music industry finds itself fall victim to the pandemic. A recent report reveals 150 British musicians, including the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, have reached out to the government to intervene and help music survive in Britain. Artists have signed a letter intimating the government that if they do not receive help, UK might lose its coveted place on the world's musical stage.

The letter written to Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said, “Live music has been one of the UK’s

biggest social, cultural, and economic successes of the past decade. But, with no end to social distancing in sight or financial support from government yet agreed, the future for concerts and festivals and the hundreds of thousands of people who work in them looks bleak. Until these businesses can operate again, which is likely to be

2021 at the earliest, government support will be crucial to prevent mass insolvencies and the end of this world-leading industry.” artists also The formulated “a three-point strategy” to revive the music scene. The report states, “a clear, conditional, timeline for reopening venues without social distancing, a comprehensive business and employment support package, and VAT exemption on ticket sales.”

Singer Dua Lipa is quoted in the report as saying, “It’s incredibly important for artists like myself to speak up and support the live music industry in the UK. From

the very start, playing live concerts up and down the country has been a cornerstone for my own career. I am proud to have had the chance to play through all the levels … small clubs, then theatres and ballrooms and into arenas, and of course festivals in between each touring cycle.

But the possibility for other emerging British artists to take the same path is in danger if the industry doesn’t receive much needed government support in the interim period before all the various venues, festivals and promoters are ready and able to operate independently again.”

Household hacks Pick up these 5 books to support the everyone should know #BlackoutBestsellerList movement This week, we speak about a special household hack that all of us know about, but feel rather lazy to do. Upcycling! With a bit of creativity and innovative thinking, we can give some of our long forgotten household items a much needed second chance.

So clear that clutter in the corner of your room (you know the one) and get to work! With these green hacks, make your home more sustainable and waste-free.

1) Solo Sock: Cut the top section off, then cut two slits in the heel portion for your ears. DIY face mask!

2) Broken/old belt: Remove the buckle and cut the belt in half. Form a loop from each half and nail them into the wall. Slide a sleek board between the loops and there you go! An aesthetically pleasing rustic shelf.

3) Unused mason jars: Create homemade scented candles by filling the jar with oil, lemon, and a wick.

4) Paper towel/Toilet paper rolls: Instead of throwing them away, take the empty rolls, slice them in half, place in a potting tray and add soils and seeds.

Biodegradable planters!

5) Old pair of tights: Try the no-heat curls hack using an old pair of tights for the nicest, softest beachy waves.

The Black Lives Matter movement has never been as strong as it is at this moment. The social justice revolution has picked up many out of our comfort zones and dropped us into a space where we can reflect, donate, listen, and learn. Educating yourself on the experience of the community is one of the methods to ensure you get to the roots of the cause.

The movement has brought out Black authors and writers out in the open, giving an opportunity for more Black books to shine. We have shortlisted just five out of the massive array of books by Black writers, for you to start a wonderful journey of your own.

You can also buy these, or any fiction or nonfiction books by Black writers and support the #BlackoutBestsellerList, and #BlackPublishingPower initiative.

Diversify your reading list today!

1) Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West The story of a young woman whose mother is found murdered in their home on the South Side of Chicago. Family secrets begin to

unveil, and she is left with her violent father.

2) Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall In this book, Kendall explores how things like hunger, violence, and medical care are important feminist issues that can’t be ignored.

3) The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon A feel-good book, that's about three women who become friends when they all get catfished by the same guy.

4) The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin An inventive novel about five New Yorkers who make up the soul of the city and defend it from evil.

5) The Terrible by Yrsa DaleyWard One part memoir, other part poetry collection, this book is an emotional look at growing up one of the only Black children in a white working-class town. The author talks about discovering her sexuality, questioning her religious upbringing, struggling with addiction, and overcoming everything to find her true self.

Tiramisu with a Twist!

1/2 cup – Espresso coffee, 3 – Ladyfinger biscuits, Mascarpone cheese, 3 tsp – Cocoa powder, 60g – Icing sugar, 90g – Liquid cream, 40g – Whole milk ¼ – Vanilla pod or 10ml – Vanilla flavour iquid

•

Put the mascarpone in a bowl. * Add the icing sugar, milk, cream and vanilla. * Mix with an electric whisk until you obtain a soft cream. * Pour it in a piping bag and keep in the refrigerator.

Put a ladyfinger biscuit at the bottom of a cappuccino cup. * Add a generous teaspoon of mascarpone cream.

• •

Pour the hot coffee around the sides of the cream. * Sprinkle lightly with bitter cocoa powder

Two Ingredient Mozzarella Cheese 1 litre – Unpasteurised milk 4-5 tbsp – Vinegar Warm the milk Add vinegar, little by little, and slowly stir the milk.

The milk should start curdling.

You will see that the curdled milk will come together and be stretchy and elasticlike.

Strain the curdled milk and keep it in warm water for two mins. Keep stretching it, this will increase elasticity.

Leave the cheese ball in salted cold water for minimum 30 minutes or store it in salted water for up to two days.

Grate and enjoy it on your pizza or sandwiches.

• • • • • •

Sabudana Vada 1 cup – Sabudana, 1 cup – Water for soaking, 1/4 tsp – Salt or rock salt, 4-5 no – Green chillies, 1tsp – Cumin seeds, 2 no – Mediumsized potatoes, 1/2 cup – Roasted peanuts, 1-2tbsp – Finely chopped coriander leaves, Oil for frying First wash sabudana with clean water 2-3 times. Soak it in the water overnight. The water level should be just an inch above the sabudana. Too much water will make the sabudana soggy and too less will not help in soaking it well. Different varieties of sabudana will need a little less or more time for soaking. So soak accordingly.

Next day, check the sabudana. You will notice that the sabudana has puffed up and has become quite soft.

Take a pan. Ad the roasted and coarsely ground peanuts, salt or rock salt, coarsely crushed cumin seeds and green chillies and finely chopped coriander leaves. Mix everything well.

Lastly add the boiled, peeled and mashed or grated potatoes in parts and keep mixing into the sabudana mixture.

The sabudana mixture is ready!

Take some mixture in the hands and form a medium sized ball. Now gently press it to form a sabudana vada.

Repeat till all the vadas are formed.

While you shape the vadas, heat oil in a kadhai for frying.

Check if the oil is hot enough by dropping a small portion of the mixture into the oil. If it puffs up immediately that means the oil is hot enough.

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11 - 17 July 2020

Alia, Mahesh Bhatt accused of hurting Hindu sentiments A complaint has been filed before a court in Mumbai against Alia Bhatt and filmmakers Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt, for “hurting Hindu sentiments”. The complainant has taken exception to the use of an image of Kailash Mansarovar in the poster of their upcoming film 'Sadak 2'.

Produced by Mukesh Bhatt, the movie also marks the return of elder brother Mahesh as directer after a two decade-long hiatus. The film also stars Pooja Bhatt and Sanjay Dutt, both of whom played lead roles in the original.

Anurag Kashyap celebrates Siddharth Roy Kapur 22 years of 'Satya' acquires rights of William Dalrymple's best seller Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap celebrated 22 years of one of his iconic films 'Satya', last week. Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, the 1998 film featured Manoj Bajpayee, Urmila Matondkar, Saurabh Shukla and Shefali Shah in major roles.

Anurag tweeted, “Satya ko 22 saal ho gae, Wasseypur ko 8 saal ho gae. Kul mila kar 30 saal ho gae. Hum buddhe ho chuke hain, ab aage badhte hain, kuch aur karte hain. Cinema abhi aur bhi hai. (Satya has completed 22 years, Wasseypur completed 8 years. In total, 30 years have gone by. I have turned old. I shall now move on, do something else. There is much more to cinema).

Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan dies at 71

Indian producer Siddharth Roy Kapur has acquired the audio-visual rights of William Dalrymple's best seller, ‘The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of The East India Company', which will now be adapted and created as one of the most ambitious global series on British colonialism by Roy Kapur Films. Roy Kapur, who has produced ‘Dangal’ and most recently produced the Priyanka Chopra Jonas-starrer, 'The Sky Is Pink' and the Netflix original, 'Yeh Ballet', is now looking to collaborate with international minds and creatives for this global production.

The book traces the history of East India Company from 1599 to 1802 and the decline and fall of Mughal Empire.

It provides a remarkable account of how a provincial trading start-up became rulers of an entire subcontinent; in the process establishing

the richest and most powerful empire in the history of the world. Since its publication, the book has received rave reviews from international media and critics. Roy Kapur, former MD of The Walt Disney Company India and current President of the Producers Guild of India, will be bringing together a diverse, international team of writers to create a series of ambitious scale and quality. Roy Kapur says, “I believe that stories that are compelling, relevant and authentic have the potential to resonate with audiences across all nationalities and cultures.” The author, who is also on board as a consultant for the project says, “I don’t think I have ever written a book more obviously crying out to be adapted than The Anarchy and I can’t think of anyone in India better to adapt it than Siddharth Roy Kapur.”

Ace Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan died on Friday after suffering a cardiac arrest, at the age of 71. However, her family says there will be no prayer meet because of Covid-19, adding that they will “celebrate her life” once situation improves.

In an Instagram post, the family wrote, “Thank you for all your messages and for keeping Mummy in your prayers. Given the

current Covid-19 situation, there will be no prayer meet. Whenever the situation improves, we will meet and celebrate the life of Saroj Khan.” The entire movie industry expressed their condolences including actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Amitabh Bachchan etc.

Several of her old students and fans too paid their tribute.

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Priyanka, Nick feature in latest edition of British Vogue Actor Priyanka Chopra and husband Nick Jonas feature in the latest edition of British Vogue magazine. The editorial went to Priyanka and Nick's home for their special edition on celebrities' lives in lockdown. While only one picture of the power couple has been shared online so far, it shows them sharing a laugh at the piano.

Pri looks glam, wearing a nude coloured dress, while Nick looks dapper in his grey jacket. Talking to British Vogue about self-isolation, she said, “Although it has been really, really difficult being apart from my mom and brother, who are both in India, I'm so grateful to have spent time with my husband, family and dogs.”

“Creativity has always been an outlet for me to relieve anxiety. I’ve been writing my book, reading scripts and developing content for film and TV - and I’m trying to learn the piano,” she added. Both, Nick and Priyanka have been enjoying their time together during lockdown, but

by Vallisa Chauhan

Genre: Teen Romantic Drama Duration: 145 minutes

A fun teen film for the whole family Rohan is on a mission to become the Student of the year and in doing so he wins the heart of two different girls, will he become Student of the Year?

have been keeping busy with work.

Other than participating in multiple fundraiser events for coronavirus relief, they also have been working on

their TV shows or signing new deals.

Priyanka signed a two-year multi-million dollar first-look television deal with Amazon.

Anushka, Virant open up about their relationship Actor-producer Anushka Sharma has revealed that she hadn't spent more 21 days with her cricketer husband Virat Kohli during the first six moths of their marriage. Recalling how the two tried to steal moments over video calls, Anushka said, “People assume when I'm visiting Virat or when he is visiting me that it's a holiday, but it's really not. One person is always working. In fact, during the first six months of our marriage, we spent 21 days together. Yes, I actually calculated. So when I visit him overseas, it's to squeeze in that one meal together.

It's precious time for us.”

The pair have gotten to spend more time at home due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown. Virat too opened up about their relationship in the interview. He said, “We live each day loving one another. Our relationship has always been about love, and only love. We feel like we have known each other for ages, not just a few years.”

Shah Rukh jokes about his wife's posts about work Bollywood ace Shah Rukh Khan left a humorous comment on his wife interior designer Gauri Khan's new Instagram post.

Gauri shared a post featuring several pictures of fancy ceilings. She captioned it, “We often don't pay much attention to our ceilings, although it's the fifth wall of our rooms.”

Responding to the post, Shah wrote in the comments section, “Can you now please refurbish my Red Chillies office room with a new ceiling I have been asking you to do!!! I want something nice to look up to when we restart work.” This is not the first time the celebrity couple have engaged in a banter on social

media. Both of them had a similar interaction a couple of years ago, when Shah Rukh had asked “When are

you designing my office?” to which Gauri replied, “As soon as I have some free time.”

Rohan is a student at the Pishorilal College and he has dreams of going to St Teresa’s High School with his childhood sweetheart Mia. Finally, he is accepted on a scholarship and straight away becomes rivals with Shreya whose father has a lot of money. He becomes friends with Shreya’s brother Manav as he wins everyone over with his dance moves and sports skills.

A dance competition is taking place and Rohan is entering with Mia whilst Manav pairs up Shreya. At the end of the competition Manav and Shreya win after Mia misses a step at the end and falls, when Rohan heads over to Mia’s house to make her feel better, he finds her cheating on him with Manav and Rohan realises that actually instead of being his friend Manav has played him by making sure Rohan would lose.

Rohan hits Manav and Manav being the son of a powerful man gets Rohan expelled from the school. Rohan then returns to his old school and reconciles with his old friends.

Shreya is now impressed by Rohan and talks him into joining her in a dance competition, he finally agrees and the two become very good friends and manage to win the competition. Mia then comes back into Rohan’s life saying she made a mistake and Shreya also tells Rohan she loves him.

The big Dignity cup opening ceremony arrives and a fight breaks out between the St Teresa boys and the Pishoilal boys where one of the boys ends up in hospital.

At the hospital Shreya sees Rohan with Mia where she is holding his hand and so she leaves, Rohan follows her and she reveals she is leaving for London soon.

The competition is nearing, who will win the tournament, Manav or Rohan? And who will win Rohan’s heart, Mia or Shreya? Only time will tell.

This is a brilliant film that is great to watch with the whole family, it will keep you laughing and crying throughout as we watch how Rohan navigates himself in a world he does not fit in. Tiger Shroff will keep you on your toes with his excellent dance moves and chiselled body.

You can get in touch with Vallisa: djvallisa@gmail.com

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11 - 17 July 2020

Nithya Menen says body-shaming affects her Actor Nithya Menen addressed the issue of body-shaming affects her.

Speaking in an interview, she said people who make comments on the issue are always quick to jump to assumptions. “Of course, you get affected for sure. There's no doubt about it. But what happens is that you realise that you will never get criticised by someone who does more than you; you'll always get criticised by someone who does lesser than you,” Menen said.

She added, “Nobody asks why you're putting on weight; they just assume. There are so many questions to it. Are they going through some

health related issues? There's so much that they don't even think about.”

Menen said she never raised a hue and cry about body-shaming because she got her due, irrespective of how she looks.

“Those are small things. I don’t believe in blowing up any personal problem and protesting. You do it yourself, you overcome these things. I have never spoken or given interviews about these things. But I do something about it. The way people look at me in the industry, with or without weight, it doesn’t matter, I’m given my due. That speaks more for me,” she said.

Tamannaah Bhatia Rajinikanth expresses shock over custodial deaths speaks up on nepotism Actor Rajinikanth has expressed deep shock over the Sathankulam custodial deaths, calling for severe punishment for all connected officials. Shopkeeper Jeyaraj and son Fennix died due to alleged custodial torture in Sathankulam. They were picked up by police officers for keeping their mobile shop open during lockdown.

Issuing a strongly-worded statement, Rajini wrote, “The manner in which a few police officials behaved with the magistrate has been very shocking. All the officials connected with the incident should be severely punished. They should not be spared.” Several Tamil film celebrities took to Twitter demanding justice for the family. Filmmaker Hari, in a statement, said he regretted making five films glorifying the police force.

New poster from Dhanush’s film 'Jagame Thanthiram' released

Actress Tamannaah Bhatia has given her comment on the existence of nepotism and favouritism in showbiz. Calling herself an outsider, she said, “Coming from Mumbai, when I started doing Tamil and Telugu films, I neither knew the languages, nor did I know anyone in the industry. So I had no connection whatsoever. I worked hard and kept getting opportunities may be because people saw potential in me. Whatever success or failure I got on my way because of my efforts and destiny.”

Saying that nepotism, favouritism and politics are present in every field and not just in the film industry, she said, “such things cannot determine your success or failure.” Tamannaah said, “My family has a lot of doctors and now if I had taken interested in the profession like my brother then they would have also guided me. Tomorrow, if my child wants to become an actor, I'd do the same.

That's how it works, there's nothing wrong in that.”

She agrees that star kids do get more opportunities than an outsider. “But then, your success can't be determined by such factors. One might say I got many opportunities but why am I saying this?”

Makers of Dhanush's upcoming Tamil action-thriller has released a new poster, also announcing that the first single 'Rakita Rakita' from the movie will be released on July 28. The new poster features the mugshot of Dhanush with a stamp mark on his left eye. 'Jagame Thanthiram' marks the maiden collaboration of Dhanuah and filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj. It was predominantly shot in London apart from a few other places in the UK. The team returned to India last November after shooting in London non-stop for 64 days. The action-thriller features Aishwara Lekshmi as the leading lady. James Cosmo of 'Game of Thrones' fame plays a pivotal role in the film.

20:30: BARRISTER BABU

TV Listing

21:00: BALIKA VADHU - LAMHE

19:30: CHOTI SARDAARNI

PYAAR KE

SATURDAY 11 JULY

20:00: SHAKTI

20:30: JHANSI KI RANI

11:00: DESI BEAT SEASON 2

22:00: BIGG BOSS (SEASON 13)

18:00: BFFS WITH VOGUE (SEASON 2)

17:00: DHARAM THI GUJARATI

21:00: UTTARAN

SATURDAY 11 JULY * Schedule is subject to change

MON 13 JULY FRI 17 JULY 2020 15:30: SRIMAD BHAGWAT 16:30: SIRF 30 MINUTES

18:30:INDIA UNLIMITED 19:00:UTTARAN

20:00:NAAGIN (SEASON 4)

21:00:KHATRON KE KHILADI

SUNDAY 12 JULY

17:00: KITCHEN CHAMPION

18:30:

DESI BEAT RESET

18:30: SHAKTI

20:00:

NAAGIN (SEASON 4)

18:00: CHOTI SARDAARNI

19:00: ISHQ MEIN MARJAWAN 2

19:00:

21:00:

UTTARAN

KHATRON KE KHILADI

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 13 JULY FRI 17 JULY 2020 8:00:

8:30:

TERE NAAL ISHQ

BHARADWAJ BAHUEIN

13:00: SWARAGINI

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: OM NAMAH SHIVAY

19:00: FEET UP WITH THE STARS (SEASON 2)

19:30: OM NAMAH SHIVAY

20:30: DESI BEAT SEASON 2 21:00: BALIKA VADHU

SUNDAY 12 JULY

11:00:

DESI BEAT SEASON 2

18:00:

DESI BEAT

20:30:

DESI BEAT SEASON 2

17:00: 19:30:

DHARAM THI GUJARATI OM NAMAH SHIVAY

21:00:00 BALIKA VADHU

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Fake noise and music to greet cricketers during test matches Cricket players of both England and West Indies have in principle agreed to let music or low-level crowd noise to be played during the test matches that begins this week. Agreements will now have to be made between both teams, on items such as which noise-filling tracks to play out between overs and at other key points in the match.

West Indies' fast bowler Kemar Roach, 32, agreed with comments from England players after their intra-squad warm-up last week that it would feel strange to play in a silent ground and for cricket to return among empty surroundings. He said some noise around would be great.

'It will be strange for us playing in England where there is always a lot of crowd noise and atmosphere.'

Viewers watching the broadcast live will be able to

hear audio through stump as usual, microphones although these will be more controlled than usual.

Directors will have the editorial power to shut them down between deliveries to minimise the risk of any bad language being overheard, which would be exaggerated to the silent due surroundings.

This experiment was first tried out during the football

matches successfully. Lowlevel crowd noise will be available as an option for viewing fans, though is understood to be most constant than that of football.

Cricket players have been warned to be extremely mindful of what they say during play, given the increased likelihood of their words being picked up on the microphones.

The International Cricket Council

be among those will monitoring events and anyone who steps out of line could be fined and banned.

Officials from both sides have discreetly made players aware of the situation and told them to watch what they say.

Football crowd noise, as implemented recently with the use of EA Sports, sees the audio react to the game which is playing out - reacting to tempo and goal-scoring opportunities.

Cricket will reportedly adopt a different approach, instead using a continued audio stream which would likely be taken from old footage and edited together.

Further audio enhancement is likely to improve a fans' favourite element of the willow on leather connection as the ball is struck by the batsmen. The other Tests of the series are due to take place at Old Trafford this month.

Hamilton allowed to take a knee in support of Black Lives Matter F1’s American owners Liberty Media and the governing body, the FIA, said that Britain’s six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is free to kneel at the next instalment of the championship in Austria which began on Sunday and for the remainder of the year.

The final decision is set to rest with the drivers.

I didn't insist F1 drivers to kneel in Austria Hamilton has clarified he did not put pressure on Formula One drivers to kneel at the Austrian Grand Prix, saying everyone is entitled to opt against doing so if they wish, as that gesture alone will not change the world.

Some reports accused Hamilton of forcing his fellow drivers to take the knee, the topic had actually been raised by Grand Prix Drivers' Association directors

Romain Grosjean and Sebastian Vettel during drivers meeting. Hamilton himself only decided he would take the knee on Saturday evening, the night before the race. When asked about some drivers not kneeling, Hamilton replied: "Honestly, I don't know the reason for everyone everyone's different reasons or opinions. I am aware of some opinions from some of

the drivers, but that's more of a private thing, and I wouldn't like to share it. But I think ultimately, nobody should be forced into a scenario where they have to kneel and I really would like to correct, there is a story out there that's really incorrect. "I never requested or demanded anybody to take a knee, I never even brought it up. It was brought up by Formula One, and it was brought up by the GPDA.

When we did the drivers' briefing, Seb and Grosjean both brought it up and asked the drivers whether or not they would do it, and there were obviously several that said that they wouldn't, and I let everyone just say what they wanted to say. I opened up to them and I said, 'Look, guys, I will be doing it, but you do what you feel is right.'

I'm really, really grateful for those who did it along with me; I think it's still a really powerful message.

"Ultimately, whether or not you kneel or do not kneel, that's not going to change the world, and it's a much, much bigger issue across the world than just something as little as that. ... I think everyone had a right to their own personal choice. And for me personally, that is what I felt was right to do. But I didn't [actually] make a decision until last night."

ICC chief Manohar steps down from post Shashank Manohar, the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) since November 2015, stepped down after two two-year terms at the helm. Manohar’s decision to quit as chairman, after his second two-year term came to an end last week. The governing body’s deputy chairman and Manohar’s confidante, Imran Khwaja, “will assume the responsibilities of the chair until a successor is elected,” the ICC statement said. to

A process for the election appoint Manohar’s

Shashank Manohar

successor will be approved by the ICC board within the next few days. “We wish him and his family all the very best for the future,” ICC CEO Manu Sawhney, who was brought on board during Manohar’s

second term, said in the statement.

Manohar’s long-time adversary and former chairman of the ICC, N Srinivasan, called the former’s exit “a blessing to Indian cricket”. “Shashank knows he cannot afford to represent India and use that as a vehicle for his convenience. Knowing that there is no chance (for another term), he has run away. He has hurt Indian cricket’s finances, he has been anti-India and has reduced India's importance in world cricket. Good riddance,” Srinivasan said.

The processes for nomination and election for the next ICC chairman will begin post the approval of the ICC board. England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves is once again the front-runner for the role. The names of BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ehsan Mani had been doing the rounds even as Manohar – despite his statement two weeks ago that he would not be seeking a re-election to the chair – always remained in contention to continue.

in brief JADEJA RATED AS INDIA’S MOST VALUABLE TEST CRICKETER All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been named as India's most valuable Test player in the 21st century by the Wisden magazine.

With an MVP rating of 97.3, the 31-yearold Jadeja was also rated as the second most valuable Test Ravindra Jadeja player worldwide, behind only Sri Lanka legend Muttiah Muralitharan.

"It has been a dream to play for India and above that when you are rewarded for being the most valuable player, you feel even more blessed," Jadeja said. "Would want to thank all my fans, team-mates, coaches and support staff for their unconditional love and support."

Jadeja has played in 49 Tests since making his debut in 2012, scoring 1,869 runs with one century and 14 fifties to his name. He has picked up 213 Test wickets. Based on analytics provided by CricViz, each player in world cricket has been awarded an ‘MVP rating' using a statistical model to rank their ‘match impact' compared to their peers. "It might come as a surprise to see Jadeja...feature as India's number one. After all, he's not even always an automatic pick in their Test team.

However, when he does play he is picked as a frontline bowler and has batted as high as No.6," said CricViz's Freddie Wilde.

ARCHERS DEEPIKA KUMARI AND ATANU DAS TIE THE KNOT

Atanu Das and Deepika Kumari

Indian archers Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das tied the knot at Morabadi in Ranchi last week. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was also present at the wedding as guests were asked to come according to different time slots with two batches of 50 each. The guests were given masks and sanitizers on arrival. Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das had originally planned the wedding after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but with the Games postponed by a year, they decided to advance the wedding. Atanu and Deepika have both already booked their spot in the Tokyo Olympics. While Atanu earned a team quota along with Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav in the World Championships meet, Deepika claimed an individual spot by winning gold at the Asian Continental qualifying tournament in November last year.

RS 200,000 SALARY CAP LIFTED The Sports Ministry removed the Rs 200,000 cap on the salary given to Indian coaches for training elite athletes in a bid to encourage them to produce better results.

The move is also aimed at attracting former players to become high performance trainers. The announcement came after the ministry's decision to extend the contracts of all foreign coaches till September 30 next year. "Several Indian coaches are showing very good results and need to be rewarded for their hard work.

The government is also keen to attract the best coaching talent from across the country to train elite athletes and we do not want the cap on compensation to be a deterrent for good coaches to join," Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said. The ministry said the increased remuneration and longer contract period "is to attract ex-elite athletes into the high performance sporting ecosystem, and to use their experience and skill to train athletes bound for major international competitions, including the Olympics".