AV 12th April 2025 by Asian Business Publications Ltd

NO RECOGNITION, NO SUPPORT

Anusha Singh Life hasn’t been the same for Minreet Kaur since her mother’s myeloma (blood cancer) diagnosis in September 2023 The changes began during the five-month p

responsibility for her parents and the household After the diagnosis, she made the difficult decision to step away from her

career as a journalist, shifting to freelance work in order to focus on caregiving and managing daily

The UK economy, still reeling from

pandemic, now faces yet another blow that could deepen the crisis

Continued on page 11

Subhasini

Minreet Kaur (right), with mum Pritpal Kaur (centre) and father Rajinder Singh (left)

Full story on page 13 India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visits

Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Minister slams MPs backing Kashmir airport while opposing Heathrow

A London MP fa cing criticism for supporting a campa ign t o b uil d an airport in

P a k i s t a n - a d m i n i s t e r e d Kashmir, despit e previously opposing He athrow expa nsion , has defended her posit ion

Twenty cross-party MPs signed a letter to Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, urging him to fund the construction of an airport in Mirpur The

c a m p a i g n , i n i t i a t e d b y

L a b o u r M P Mo h a m m a d Yasin of Bedford, argues that British Kashmiris are discouraged from visiting the region due to the 80-mile journey from Islamabad

The MPs described the proposal as a “ ver y important matter to the Kashmiri d i a s p o r

Ho w e v e r, t h e move has drawn criticism because nearly half the sign

He a t h r o w ’ s t h i r d r u n w a y expansion in west London

A m o n g t h e m w e r e L o n d o n M Ps D r R o s e n a

A l l i n -K h a n a n d St e l l a

Creasy Creasy took to social media to address the back-

l a s h , c a l l i n g t h e c r i t i c i s m d i v i s i v e a n

“The letter is to the Pakistan PM to ask them to make good on a pledge to build an a i

British citizens with ties to t

Walthamstow MP

I N B R I E F GRADUATE VISAS IN CROSSHAIRS AMID CRACKDOWN

Lord Qurban Hussain, Afzal Khan, Abtisam Mohamed,

AI giants reject government’s copyright reform plans

Te c h gi a n t s O pe n A I a n d

G o og l e h a v e p u sh e d b a c k a gainst the UK governmen t’s

p r e fe r re d s ol u t io n t o t h e ongoing dispute ove r AI a nd copyright

Ministers had proposed amending copyright law to allow AI f irms to train their models on publicly available content for commercial purposes without rights hold-

e r s ’ c o n s e n t u n l e s s t h e y choose to opt out

In responses to the government’s science, innovation and technology com-

m i t t e e , b o t h c o m p a n i e s rejected the opt-out model OpenAI called instead for a

b r o a d e r c o p y r i g h t e xe m pt i o n , a r g u i n g t h a t s i m i l a r policies in other regions, like

t h e E U, f a c e “ s i g n i f i c a n t implementation challenges ”

The company warned that s t r i c t e r t r a n s p a r e n c y r u l e s

c o u l d l e a d d e v e l o p e r s t o deprioritise the UK market

It urged the government to adopt an innovation-friendly

approach that would position the UK as “the AI capital of Europe ” Google, meanwhile, said rights holders already have tools to block web crawlers and shouldn’t automatically receive compensation if their content is used for training It defended training on the open web as essential and warned that excessive transparency requirements could hurt AI development and the UK’s global competitiveness

The government’s proposals had previously drawn strong backlash, with nearly a l l m a j o r U K n e w s p a p e r s joining a campaign against them Ministers now plan to publish reviews of technical solutions and bolster transp a r e n c y t o a d d r e s s t h e s e c o n c e r n s Me a n w h i l e , a Publishers Association poll shows cross-party support in Parliament for greater transparency from AI f irms and compensation for creatives whose work is used

Yasmin Qureshi, Naz Shah, Baggy Shanker, and Zarah Sultana

Security Minister Dan Jar vis offered a measured r e s p o n

l l i n g T

s Radio, “MPs should focus on their constituencies, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have opinions on international issues ”

One of the signatories, Birmingham MP Tahir Ali, faced criticism after advocating for the Mirpur airport despite his city currently dealing with a bin strike crisis

Mirpur that remains unfulf illed,” Ali said “Many of my constituents face diff iculties traveling long distances to reach the nearest airport in Pakistan I’ll continue to press for this commitment to be honoured ” B

saying: “You’re an MP for Bi

Your city is piled high with r

Labour council Focus on the UK ”

L abour MPs deported from Israel

La bour MPs Yuan Yang and Ab ti

from UK Forei gn Sec retar y David Lam my, who called th

” and “deeply concerni ng

Yang, MP for Earley and Wo

Luton Airport on Saturday as part of a parliamentar y delegation However, upon arrival, they were turned away at the border, with Israeli authorities accusing t h e m o f i n t e n d i n g t o “spread anti-Israel hatred ” Lammy condemned the decision saying, “It is unacc e p t a b l e , c o u n t e r p r o d u ctive, and deeply concerning

that two British MPs on an o f f i c i a l v

y I’ v

a i s e d this directly with the Israeli government, and we ’ re supporting both MPs ” The Foreign Secretar y reaff irmed the UK’s priority of securing a ceasef ire

and negotiations to end the

decision to deny entr y to the MPs prompting accusations of hypocrisy following her remarks

In a statement, Israel’s e m b a s s y i n L o n d o n c l a i m e d t h e M Ps’ v i s i t a i m e d t o “ p r o v o ke” a n d “spread falsehoods,” justifying the refusal as a standard security measure

CHANGE OF NAME

I PATEL REENABEN VIRALKUMAR RESIDENT OF FLAT 2 180 HIGH STREET, ONGAR, ESSEX, CM5 9JJ, UNITED KINGDOM, DECLARES THAT I HAVE CHANGED MY NAME FROM PATEL REENABEN VIRALKUMAR TO PATEL REENA, AND NOW I AM KNOWN AS PATEL REENA.

Place-address (India) 8/16-D

A fresh Government push to cut migration has triggered internal tensions over plans to tighten the graduate visa route The Home Office is preparing reforms that would make it harder for international graduates to stay in the UK without securing high-skilled jobs following net migration figures reaching 728 000 in the year to June The move aims to bring numbers down to pre -pandemic levels of 200,000 –300,000, but education officials warn it could severely impact universities that depend on international student fees Currently graduates can remain in the UK for up to two years without employment Under new proposals they may be required to earn between £36 000 and £40 000 to qualify for a work visa though the final threshold remains undecided Ministers are targeting sectors with low long-term salary growth and intend to limit graduate stays without clear career paths The graduate route accounted for around 150,000 migrants last year roughly 10% of the total net migration figure

PEERS URGE NEW LAW TO PROTECT WHISTLEBLOWERS

Peers have urged the Government to legally require large employers to investigate whistleblower claims following scandals such as the Post Office crisis and Carillion s collapse Campaigners argue that gaps in current legislation have allowed serious issues to go unchecked Labour s Lord Wills, a former justice minister, has tabled an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill, based on proposals from whistleblowing charity Protect If adopted, it would place a legal duty on employers with a turnover of over £10 million to investigate whistleblowing concerns The amendment has cross-party support from Baroness Nicky Morgan (Conservative), Baroness Kramer (Liberal Democrat), and Baroness Jones (Green) The proposal gained early support in the House of Commons, with Labour MP Alex Sobel and Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael backing the change Campaigners believe the Lords’ legal expertise boosts its chances of success

PUPILS TO LEARN ABOUT ONLINE SCAMS, SPENDING

Pupils in England will soon receive lessons on recognising the risks of in- game purchases and critically evaluating influencers’ claims, as part of a new initiative to boost financial literacy The 80 -lesson programme, developed by the Oak National Academy, targets children aged 5 to 16 and aims to help them make informed decisions in an increasingly digital world The move follows growing concerns over children unintentionally spending large sums online particularly on games featuring “loot boxes” and paid extras Many parents have been caught off guard by unexpected charges highlighting the need for better awareness Primary pupils will learn basic money skills including where money comes from, how to manage it, and the difference between needs and wants Secondary school students will tackle more advanced topic s such as inflation, cryptocurrency, investing, and analysing financial information The programme responds to long-standing calls from parents and experts for stronger financial education to prepare young people for real-world challenges

Trump backs Starmer’s Chagos Islands deal

A deal to transfer sovereignty o f the Ch ag os Islands to Mauritius is now in its f inal stages, Dow ning Street has co nf i rm ed , fo llow i ng su pp o rt fro m fo rm er U S President Do nald Trum p T h e a g r e e m e n t w o u l d see the UK relinquish control of the British Indian O c e a n Te r r i t o r y w h i l e securing a long-term lease to retain access to the vital Diego Garcia militar y base, w h i c h i s j o i n t l y o p e r a t e d with the US Talks are ongoi n g b e t w e e n t h e

Mauritian governments to settle the treaty's terms

f inalisation of the

recognised the strength of the agreement during the P r i m e M i n i s

Washington, and now it is for the UK and Mauritius to c

Although an initial deal was a n

progress stalled due to politi c a l c h a n g e

n M a u r i t i u s a n d Tr u m

’ s r e t u r n t o power Legal rulings have backed Mauritius’s claim to the islands Reports suggest the UK may pay up to £90 m

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan Mohammad Yasin

Zarah Sultana

Yuan Yang

Abtisam Mohamed

MIDLANDS/NORTH

£10m boost for West Midlands innovation programme

T h e W e s t M id l a n d s

I n n o v a t io n A c ce le r a t or is r eceivin g a £1 0 million fundin g boost to support mor e local busin esses, re se arche rs, a nd e nt repr ene urs in tur nin g cut ting-e dge ide as in to comme rcial succe sse s The additional funding

i s p a r t o f a £ 3 0 m i l l i o n national investment secured

b y W e s t M i d l a n d s M a y o r R i c h a r d P

n l y three in the UK to benefit

M i d l a n d s C

i n e d Authority, the programme has already backed over 700 businesses, helping secure

hundreds of local jobs

One of the businesses supported by the initiative is that of Anil Patel and Dipa Patel from Enable Design

w h o h a v e d e s i g n e d a n adjustable wheelchair seating system that adapts to growth and posture changes over time The new funding

w i l l e n h a n c e s u p p o r t t h r o u g h e x p e r t g u i d a n c e and grants, particularly targ e t i n g h i g h - p o t e n t i a l s e ctors such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, diag-

nostics, and green technologies

Birmingham waste crisis deepens

Birm ing ham , the UK’s second -larg est city, is grappling w ith a growing waste crisis, with around 19,0 00 tons of uncollected rubbish p iling up across th e city

Residents are voicing outrage, calling the city a “paradise for rats,” as refuse builds up in public areas The crisis began in December after Birmingham City Council laid off 150 workers and proposed wage cuts and a ban on

warned of strike action

The strike began on March 11, with collection trucks blocked from leaving depots Unite blamed the council for prolonging the issue, saying, “The council could easily resolve this but is determined to enforce wage cuts ”

I N B R I E F TRAM SERVICES RESUME AFTER DAMAGE

Innovation and Technology

It champions a locally led

proud

Mayor Parker said, “The West Midlands has

James Watt’s steam engine to the UK’s first petrol car and now we're leading innovation in 5G, medical techn

This new investment supp o r t s m y G r

Everyone plan, which focuses on talent, research, and real-world solutions to build a stronger, fairer economy

delivered by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and I

City Region as pilot areas

This new funding builds on £100 million already invested into the initiative

500,000 waste cases weekly this has now dropped below 360,000 The rubbish is growing by nearly 1,000 tons daily, exacerbating the public health risk Norman Yousaf, director of Monster Clearance, said, “We now regularly see rats during collections our workers wear protective gear to avoid bites ” Pest control professionals warn that the warm weather and abundant food make rats bolder and poison ineffective

C o m p l a i n t s a r e f l o o d i n g s o c i a l m e d i a , with reports of rats gnawing car wiring and even biting residents Tensions are heightened as the city, which declared bankruptcy in 2023, has raised council taxes by 17 5%

and development, unlocking new opportunities for innovation-driven growth

Tributes paid to 'kind and dearly loved' woman

Heartfelt tribu tes h av e been p a i d to a m u ch - l o v ed

d au ghter, sister, and friend

w ho was described as some-

o ne w ho "broug ht warmth to everyone around her

W e s t M i d l a n d s P o l i c e have named the victim as 46-year-old Paramjit Kaur,

w h o t r a g i c a

y d i e d a t a property on Swan Crescent in Oldbury on the morning of Monday, March 31

T h e f o r c e c o n f i r m e d that 50-year-old Harminder

M a t t u h a s b e e n c h a r g e d with her murder

I n a s t a t e m e n t , P a r a m j i t ' s g r i e v i n g f a m i l y

were deeply saddened by the

Paramjit Kaur

woman with serious injuries

Crescent at around 8 20am on Monday Sadly, she was confirmed dead at the scene

Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this devastating time “ H a r m i n d e r M a t t u h a s been charged with murder and has been remanded in

Leicester man jailed for rape and filming attack in park

A man w ho rap ed a woman in a L eicester park and film ed th e as sault before sh aring th e footag e has been jailed Gagandeep Gulati, 20 , approached his victim, a young wo man, in Jubilee Square last September He persuaded her to g o w ith him to nearby C astle Gard ens, wh ere he raped and sexually assaulted her Leicestershire Police said Gulati recorded the attack on his phone and later sent clips of it to others Detectives spent a week reviewing CCTV to trace the woman ’ s movements and eventually identified footage of Gulati His identity remained unknown until Detective Constable Matt Smith visited his accommodation Recognising him from the footage, Smith arrested Gulati on the spot

Tram services on the West Midlands Metro network have resumed after earlier disruption caused by damage to overhead lines near the depot The incident had halted all services between Wolverhampton Station and West Bromwich Central, with operators initially warning of no trams until further notice Power has since been restored, and trams are now running across the full route from Wolverhampton to Edgbaston Village However, delays are expected as services return to normal In a statement on X, West Midlands Metro thanked passengers for their “patience and understanding ” POLICE APPEAL

FOR HELP TRACING WOMAN

West Midlands Police have issued a public appeal to help trace a woman wanted in connection with an assault in Birmingham Officers are looking to locate 30-year-old Henna Zaman who is wanted on suspicion of common assault The force has shared an image of Zaman as part of their efforts to track her down In a statement shared on social media, Birmingham Police said, "The 30-year-old is wanted on suspicion of common assault in #Birmingham If you see her or have any information about her whereabouts please call 101 or contact us via Live Chat on our website quoting reference 20/165126/25 " Police are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward to assist with the ongoing investigation

FORMER LORD MAYOR STRIPPED OF TITLE

s o f Paramjit Kaur (Soni)’s passing A kind, hardworking, and dearly loved daughter, s

c u s t o d y t o a

Wolverhampton Magistrates' C

d , s h e brought warmth to everyone around her Her loss leaves us in profound sorrow, but her memory will forever live in our hearts ”

April 2 ”

Officers will be conducting additional patrols in the area in the coming days to offer reassurance and support to the local community

Gulati was charged with rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, and distributing an intimate film During his police interview, he falsely claimed that he was the victim and that the woman had assaulted him

The case was handled by Leicestershire Police's Signal team, which specialises in serio u s s e x u a l o f f e n c e s F o l l o w i n g a t r i a l a t Leicester Crown Court, Gulati previously of Peacock Lane, Leicester was convicted on all charges and sentenced to six years in prison He was also placed on the sex offender register for life

Labour councillor pressured to support Muslim colleague

A Birm ing ham L abour councillor h as been reprimand ed for trying to pressure a fem ale colleag ue i nto b acki ng W asee m Za ffar ’ s b id to bec om e th

c ity’ s firs t M uslim lead er

S a q i b K h a n

u n d t o have breached the council’s Code of Conduct by failing to treat Shabina Bano with respect An independent investigation found Khan made repeated attempts to

i n f l u e n c e B a n o ’ s v o t e d u r i n g Labour’s leadership contest in 2022 Bano, who now sits with the Liberal Democrats, claimed she faced bullying and pressure from a group of male colleagues

framed her support for Zaffar as

formed part of a pattern of disres p e c t f u l

W h

l e acknowledging that lobbying is common in politics, the committee stated that Khan’s actions crossed the line into coercion Khan denied all wrongdoing and claimed his remarks were misinterpreted or said in jest However, the committee found Bano’s testimony more credible Complaints against other counc i l l o r s , i n c l u d i n

f f a r , w

e dropped, though a case against Mohammed Idrees is still pending B

attempts to influence Bano and

“her duty as a Muslim ” Bano said the lobbying began while she was still a candidate and intensified after her election She was allegedly promised political rewards and warned of consequences if she didn’t vote in favour of Zaffar She ultimately did not vote for him, and he narrowly lost The council’s standards committee concluded Khan’s com-

Labour colleagues had quietly expressed sympathy but had also urged her to move on

Former Labour Lord Mayor of Birmingham Muhammed Afzal has been stripped of his honorary title of alderman of the city after being found to have lied in an election court The 79-year-old who once represented Aston was accused of handing out packs of dates to voters and then denying it under oath following his defeat in the May 2022 local elections The council was petitioned to revoke his honorary title and associated privileges, such as free city centre parking and the right to use the title on official materials However, it took nearly two years for action to be taken, as the council first needed to amend its rules On Tuesday, April 8, the title and privileges were officially withdrawn Afzal, who also chairs Birmingham Central Mosque, had resisted the decision, arguing that he was being discriminated against based on his age and race but the council ultimately proceeded

Mayor Richard Parker with Anil Patel and Dipa Patel

Saqib Khan

Shabina Bano

Henna Zaman

Cllr Muhammad Afzal

PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH

BREAST SCREENING SAVES LIVES BREAST SCREENING SAVES LIVES

Getting your breast screening sorted can also bring relief or peace of mind. The NHS is encouraging women to attend their breast screening appointment when invited.

NHS breast screening can detect cancer long before you can even feel it, increasing the chances of early treatment and better outcomes. More likely, it simply puts your mind at rest. So, when you’re invited for a mammogram, be sure to save the date, because it could save your life.

Search ‘NHS breast screening’ to find out more.

‘Screening saves lives’

What is breast screening?

Breast screening uses X-rays called mammograms, to detect early signs of cancer— often before symptoms appear. The procedure is carried out by highly trained female health specialists called mammographers, ensuring a professional experience.

The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age, making regular screening essential for early detection. Breast screening can identify cancers that may be too small to feel or see, significantly improving treatment outcomes. In the UK, it saves approximately 1,300 lives each year. Early detection of cancer greatly increases the chances of successful treatment—when diagnosed at the earliest stage, 98% of women survive for five years or more.

Anyone registered as female with a GP will be invited for NHS breast screening every three years between age 50 and your 71st birthday. Your first invitation will arrive in the post between 50 and 53, followed by regular invitations until you turn 71. To receive an invitation, you must be registered with a GP. If you haven’t been invited by the time you are 53 and believe you should have been, or if you missed your appointment, you could contact your local NHS breast screening service to book one at any time.

What happens at mammogram appointments?

Before starting, the female mammographer will confirm your details, ask about any breast concerns, and explain the screening process. You can discuss any worries, and she will ensure your comfort.

For the mammogram, you’ll need to undress to the waist, so wearing a skirt or trousers may be more convenient. The screening involves four X-rays—two per breast—and takes just a few minutes, though the entire appointment lasts about 30 minutes. Some women find it uncomfortable, but this usually passes quickly.

Results are sent by post within two weeks. Even if no signs of cancer are found, continue checking your breasts regularly and contact your GP if you notice any changes.

Breast screening can detect cancer early, when treatment is most effective. Even if your breast screening shows no sign of breast cancer, it’s important to check your breasts between mammograms and contact your GP practice if you notice any changes.

‘We must break the silence’

Nine years ago, then 52-year-old Balwinder Nanray, from Essex attended an NHS breast screening.

“I felt perfectly healthy—no symptoms, no lumps, nothing unusual. With no family history of cancer, I had no reason to worry. I was at the peak of my career, constantly travelling, and the fittest among my siblings. Cancer had never touched my immediate family, making what came next even more unexpected.”

Balwinder, 61, said, “After my scan, I was recalled and they needed to do an ultrasound scan, and a needle biopsy. A trainee consultant mentioned a possible lumpectomy, but when the breast surgeon reviewed my case, he said I would need a mastectomy. Just three weeks later, I had surgery, and within a month, I started eight months of chemotherapy.

“The NHS medical team was incredible, providing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and the best treatment available. Thanks to their care, my screenings remain clear, and I’m now on long-term medication to prevent recurrence.”

Balwinder emphasised the need

to break cultural stigmas around discussing health, especially breast cancer. She said, “In South Asian communities, talking about health is intimidating, but we need to normalise these conversations— not just in clinics but in everyday life. Over coffee with friends, we should feel comfortable discussing it. We should have these conversations now and to help future generations, because cancer incidence is expected to grow. We need more encouragement for women to attend screenings and

understand their bodies.”

Stressing the importance of awareness, Balwinder added, “Women often sense when something is wrong, but I had no warning signs. I was healthy, active, and rarely unwell. Like many, I ignored minor symptoms, assuming they would pass. Fear of pain and diagnosis hold people back. But screenings don’t always bring bad news, and early detection improves treatment outcomes.

“That’s why we must break the silence— because awareness saves lives.”

Balwinder Nanray

South London drug kingpin jailed

A m an from South L ond on w h o o rc h e st rat ed th e im port and distributio n of m ore than £ 4 m illion worth o f cocaine and hero in has been jailed for 18 years

Heemal Vaid, 49, from Cheam, used the encrypted

large-scale drug trafficking

EncroChat’s encryption in

s response through Operation Venetic

alias 'Starkcake', Vaid was linked to thousands of messages that revealed his cen-

cocaine from Brazil in just one month, with a street value of £3 6 million He also s

Netherlands and arranged for 20kg of heroin and addi-

tributed in the UK

s o exposed Vaid’s role as a professional money launderer, m

millions in criminal profits

His identity was confirmed through a combination of

l records, and message content

One message referenced

which matched

real trans-

records Other clues included location data and timestamped purchases, such as

claiming to be in the country Vaid was arrested at his

pleaded guilty to 12 offences related to drugs and criminal finances, as well as

blackmail, linked to threats made to a debtor

Half a million young people have never had a job

Mo re t ha n 5 00, 00 0 youn g

peopl e in the UK who are not in ed uc at ion , em pl oy m e nt , or t r a in i ng ( N ee t s ) ha v e ne ver held a job, new analys is reveals T h e n u m b e r o f N e e t s aged 16 to 24 has surged to 9 8 7 , 0 0 0 , w i t h m o s t n o t actively seeking work The Learning and Work Institute found that 58% of Neets have no job history, and only a minority are actively looking for employment The majority 59% say they are unavailable for work, with 27% citing long-term illness

as the reason Inactivity and sickness are most common among those in their early twenties

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the figures a “moral issue,” warning of a “wasted generation ” Nearly half of those out of work or study have remained so for over a year Starmer said he was “genuinely shocked” and cited the data as justification for welfare reforms, including plans to prevent under22s from claiming incapacity benefits Work and Pensions

developing a “youth guarantee” for 18 to 21-year-olds, ensuring every young person is offered a job or training Local authorities and mayors w o u l d b e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r implementation, and benefit sanctions may apply for nonparticipation

Stephen Evans, head of t h e L e a r n i n g a n d W o r k Institute, described the findings as “ very stark and very worrying ” The Department for Work and Pensions said m

n e d that no young person gets left behind ”

Welfare reforms to exclude 400,000 from work

La bour ’ s we lfa re r eforms are

e x pe c t e d t o r e su l t in 400,000 more people be in g cla ssed as unfit for work by 2030, accor din g to the gove r n m e n t ’ s im pa ct a s se s smen t The changes, aimed at supporting people with longterm health conditions back

i n t o e m p l o y m e n t , r e v e r s e C o n s e r v a t i v e p l a n s t h a t would have required more

p e o p l e w i t h m o b i l i t y a n d mental health issues to prepare for work As a result, the number receiving the highest level of incapacity benefit is now projected to rise from

2 6 million to 3 million T

R e s p

b i l i t y ( O B R ) h a s estimated the reforms will lead to 16,000 fewer people in work, prompting criticism f r o

S t r i d e c a l l e d t h e p o l i c y “incompetent,” saying it will increase dependency on benefits rather than reduce it

W o r k a n d P e n s i o n s S e c r e t a r y L i z K e n d a l l h a s d e f e n d e

which include cutting the top incapacity benefit rate

argued the previous system

created “ perverse financial incentives” that discouraged

work

Kendall also reversed a Tory plan to tighten Work

C a p a b i l i t y A s s e s s m e n t s , w h i c h h a d b e e n r u l e d unlawful by the High Court f o r f a i l i n g t

cost-cutting purpose

A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said, “Our £1 bill i o n e m p l o y m e

package is designed to help

into work, not leave them behind ”

Cardinal urges Catholics to oppose Assisted Dying Bill

C a rd in a l Vi n c en t N i ch ol s h a s c a ll e d o n E n gl a n d’ s

C a t hol i c s t o l ob b y t he i r M P s an d opp os e th e Terminally I ll Adults (E nd of Life) Bill, describing the p r opo s ed l aw a s “ de e pl y flawed” and warning of its damaging consequences

The bill returns to the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s o n April 25, but Nichols the Archbishop of Westminster

a n d p r e s i d e n t o f t h e

C a t h o l i c B i s h o p s ’ Conference of England and Wales says it has not b e e n a d e q u a t e l y d e b a

scrutiny

In a pastoral letter to be read out in parishes across his archdiocese this weeke n d , N i c h o l s a c c u s e s Parliament of failing in its duty to properly assess such serious legislation, stating: “ W e m u s t p r e v e n t l a w s being imposed on our society without full examination especially those that touch on life and death ” He urged Catholics to write to their MPs again, e v

y done so, and challenge both the principle and the pro-

Labour's VAT policy on trial in high court

Th e g overnment has told the Hig h C ourt that add ing VA T to private scho ol fees is ab o u t c re ati ng a fairer tax system

l Reeves, HMRC, and the Department for Education, barristers a

ensures private school par-

supports improvements for the 94% of pupils in state schools

Three separate groups

(SEND), and low-fee faith

judicial review, claiming the

rights and is discriminatory

The VAT measure, a key part of Labour’s 2024 election manifesto, came into force on 1 January across the UK

Sir James Eadie KC, First Treasury Counsel, told the court there was “ no obligation on the government to subsidise private education ” He said the policy’s primary goal is to raise funds for p u b l i c s e r v i c e s , “ i n c l u d i n g the state education system ”

He added that while the g o v e r n m e n t c o n s i d e r e d

e x e m p t i o n s f o r S E N D p u p i l s , f a i t h s c h o o l s , a n d international schools, they were found to be “unworka b l e a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e l y

onerous ” A proposed delay to September 2025 was also rejected for reducing revenue

O n l y p u p i l s w i t h a n Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) that specifically names their school will be exempt from the new VAT charges

S i r J a m e s a r g u e d t h a t parents are free to choose private or home education if they opt out of the “universally accessible, state-funded” system The idea that higher costs infringe common law rights is “plainly not right,” he said

T h e g o v e r n m e n t h a s urged the court to dismiss all three claims from families who argue their children’s needs “cannot be adequately met in the state sector ” Jeremy Hyam KC, representing two SEND children in private schools, told the court the VAT change could force around 6,500 SEND pupils without EHCPs out of private education “It is not fair to remove vulnera-

ble children from

needs are met to one

, without weighty justification,” he said Bruno Quintava

the policy as an “ill thought-out proposal” introduced in haste

though

not obliged to do so The three-day hearing has concluded, with a judg-

month

paign group Education Not

“Yesterday marked the end of the High Court hearings,

came together to show their support for children in independent schools, as barris-

harms this policy is causing We are grateful for the barristers’ hard work on behalf

This policy is harming children’s education and well-

#FindaBetterWay We look

and hope that justice will prevail

cess behind the bill He also criticised Parliament’s priorities, noting more time had been spent debating fox hunting than assisted suicide

changes Similar letters will be issued by bishops across England and Wales, warning of the risk of creating a “national death service” and raising concerns over the financial strain such a law could place on the NHS

Heemal Vaid

A remarkable journey of seva, shiksha, and sadhana

Gujarat, a project personally

Thinking Ahead: Avoiding Those Quick, Unplanned Reactions

Jain school

organisations and devoted supporters of Veerayatan to commemorate its inspiring 50-year legacy of compassion, education, and spiritu-

nun, distinguished scholar, and eloquent speaker fluent i n m u l t i p l e l a n g u a g e s ,

S a d h v i j i c a p t i v a t e d t h e audience with her presence and message

O n e o f t h e e v e n i n g ’ s

h i g h l i g h t s w a s T h e W i l d Mind, a thought-provoking

SCVP students aged 7 to 13

Their poise and insight left the audience deeply moved Sadhvi Shri Shilapiji, the first Jain Sadhvi to earn a postgraduate degree over-

( M P h

delivered a compelling talk

on Veerayatan’s humanitar-

Param Pujya Acharya Shri

care, education, and disaster

nearly two decades, transforming rural lives through education

Rooted in the timeless

Mahavir, Veerayatan stands on three pillars: Seva (selfless service), Shiksha (inclu-

Sadhana (spiritual growth) Its mission is to uplift lives

and purpose transcending all boundaries

The evening concluded

, expressing how the school has shaped their spiritual a

Gratitude was also extended

and online classes, embodying the true spirit of service and inclusivity

UK pledges equal partnership with Uganda

F CD O Mi ni ster fo r A fri ca,

L o rd C o ll ins o f H ig h bu ry, concluded a tw o-day visit to U gand a on Ap ril 4 , aimed at s tr en g th en i ng U K - U g a nd a

t ie s T h e v i s i t f oc u s ed o n t rad e, g ree n d ev e lo p m e nt, h ealth research, and peop leto-people connectio ns

A key highlight of Lord Collins’ visit was launching

t h e U K - U g a n d a G r o w t h Dialogue, a quarterly plat-

form with Uganda’s Ministry of Finance to fast-track commercial deals, boost the busin

n d attract investment

“This is more than talk –it’s action,” said Lord Collins “We’re removing trade barriers, encouraging innovation, a n d b u i l d i n g e q u a l , l o n gterm partnerships ”

Zembo’s electric motorcycles are helping boda boda riders save around $500 annually while cutting air pollution-

the move as a major boost for trade, tourism, and people-to-people ties

Lord Collins also visited the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), which has partnered with the UK for over 35 years in tackling dise

s l i k e H I V / A I D S a n d Ebola With over £25 million in ongoing UK support, including from the Medical Research Council and UK

supporting Uganda’s transition to clean transport and creating green jobs

decade At a special recep-

Uganda Airlines welcomed

universities, UVRI plays a key role in strengthening

lance and research

i p s h o w s t h e UK’s commitment to working as equal partners with Uganda We’re here to supp o r t s u s t a i n a b l e d e v e l o pment and shared growth,” Lord Collins said

Rohit Vadhwana

L i fe th row s cu rv eballs W e all f ace unexpected situations, and sometim es, ou r first response is a quick, unplanned reaction – a knee-jerk reaction Th is h app ens when we're caugh t off g uard, w hen w e hav en't tho ught about what migh t hap pen We have two cho ices: we can try to prepare for the future, or we can j ust react to whatev er comes o ur way

When we can't see the future coming, we're forced to react without any planning These reactions are often rushed and not well thought out We're basically relying on luck, not good planning Think about a small business that suddenly loses a big customer If they haven't planned for this, they might panic and make bad decisions, like firing people or closing down parts of the business

Being prepared for the future means imagining what might happen

We need to look at what's happening today and think about what it might lead to For example, if we see that more and more people are using their phones to pay for things, we can guess that businesses will need to accept mobile payments Or, if we see that climate change is causing more extreme weather, we know we need to prepare for that

We can't predict the future perfectly, but we can be more aware of what's going on We can read the news, listen to debates, and talk to people who are following trends This helps us see patterns and get a sense of what might happen For example, if you notice that artificial intelligence is becoming more common in your job field, you know that you might need to learn new skills

When we see changes coming, we need to be able to change too This means learning new skills, changing how we work, and being open to new ideas For example, if your job changes because of new technology, you might need to learn how to use new software or work with a new team Or, if society changes, like how people are more accepting of different lifestyles, you might need to change your thinking and be more open-minded

Learning to adapt is like learning a new dance You might feel awkward at first, but with practice, you'll get better at it It's about being flexible and willing to try new things By being prepared for the future, we can avoid just reacting to things We can be people who plan and adapt, instead of people who just make knee-jerk reactions This helps us handle the future better It's like having a map for a journey If you have a map, you're less likely to get lost If you're prepared for the future, you're less likely to get caught off guard Being prepared gives you more control and helps you face the future with confidence

(Expressed opinions are personal)

Ja inism, Sikhism,

Supported by dedicated volunteers, the project overcame several challenges to establish the Dharmic Prayer R

H o s p i t a l B i r m i n g h a m

INSIGHT UK, praising the volunteers’ efforts in making the event a success W

Prayer Room highlighted the strength of

power of community and the need for spiritual care We’re especially grateful to Queen

Volunteers visited mandirs across Birmingham to collect ‘ g a n g a j a l t h e e r t h ’ i n a ‘ k a l a s h ’ , u s e d d u r i n g t h e purification ceremony The inauguration included rituals such as ‘deepa prajwalana’, ‘ prana prathistapana’, ‘aarti’, ‘ p u s h p a a r c h a n a ’ , a n d ‘prasadam’ distribution “The H i n d u c o m m u n i t y i s i m m e n s e l y p r o u d , ”

Sadhvis and community members present at the event

H E Nimisha Madhvani, Lord Collins of Highbury and President of Uganda Yoweri K Museveni (centre right) with other dignitaries at the State House

H E Nimisha Madhvani at the Uganda Airlines event

Lord Dolar Popat, Ugandan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom H E Nimisha Madhvani with FCDO Minister for Africa, Lord Collins of Highbury (second left)

Varsha Bavishi

Bavishi and Honourable

Blackman (right) with other dignitaries

Lessons

from the Myanmar earthquake

It is unfortunate to note that the powerful earthquakes that hit Myanmar, Thailand and China have killed thousands of people apart from leaving behind a trail of destruction out there First off, immediate help should be extended to the affected areas Plus, global forums like the UN should send officials to the earthquake-hit areas to take stock of the situation

To begin with, Thailand and Myanmar have long been among the most beautiful Asian countries in the world Thanks to amazing seas, natural resources and panoramic vistas, they have always been a tourist attraction As a school student, I got to learn a lot about Myanmar and Thailand in geography during my school days in the 1990s in Korkai, Tiruchendur, Tuticorin, Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu

At the same time, it is really a setback to understand that there have been no advancements or breakthroughs in forecasting natural disasters like earthquakes despite so many such natural calamities and in spite of massive damage caused by them The East or the West, countries have been grappling with numerous natural catastrophes right up till date In this context, the West and Asian countries must come forward to make the most of technology to tackle natural disasters head-to-head

Above all else, countries and governments could do better to encourage all kinds of green activities from expanding green areas to planting trees to facilitating rigorous agricultural activities like growing food crops so as to be able to save Mother Earth, humanity, the ecology and abundant natural resources from the clutches of natural catastrophes

P Sent hil Sar ava na Dura i Trump’s 26% tariff tsunami: Will India fight back or fold?

Trump just turned up the heat on India, slapping a massive 26% tariff on its exports to the U S , effective April 9, 2025 This is part of his fiery "Liberation Day" trade war, which imposes blanket tariffs on imports and even steeper ones on countries with “unfair” trade practices His message? If you tax us, we’ll tax you harder

India had hoped for a last-minute reprieve, especially after PM Modi’s recent U S visit Instead, Trump doubled down, calling out India’s 100% tariffs on U S cars and agricultural goods The impact? A potential $7 billion blow to Indian exporters, hitting automobiles, metals, jewellery, and food products the hardest The Indian government is scrambling, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in urgent talks with the U S

Meanwhile, Indian markets are in panic mode, bracing for disruption With the 9th April deadline looming, the big question is: Will India cave and slash tariffs, or will it stand its ground and risk a full-blown trade war? One thing’s for sure Trump’s “America First” policy just got a whole lot tougher for India

Dr Narsibh ai Maganlal Patel

Remembering Lord Mahavira and the eternal values of Jainism

Lord Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana, was the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism a revered spiritual teacher who emphasized non-violence and a principled way of living He is honoured as one of the central figures and spiritual f o u n d e r s o f t h e J a i n r e l i g i o n I n J a i n p h i l o s o p h y , Tirthankaras are enlightened beings who pave the path for others to attain liberation (moksha)

Lord Mahavira was born in 599 BC in Kundalpur, a village in the Vaishali district of Bihar, India, into a royal family At the age of 30, he renounced his worldly life and became a monk, dedicating himself to intense meditation and ascetic practices in search of spiritual truth His teachings are centred around the core principles of Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing) and Aparigraha (non-attachment)

Through deep discipline and unwavering commitment, Lord Mahavira attained Kevala Jnana, a state of omniscience or supreme knowledge He ultimately attained Nirvana (liberation) in 527 BC at Pawapuri, Bihar Lord Mahavira’s teachings have had a profound impact on Indian thought, culture, and spiritual life Today, Jainism is practiced by millions across India, Nepal, and various parts of the world

Reflecting on my own life growing up in Karamsad, Gujarat the same hometown as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India and the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of independent India I feel a deep sense of gratitude During my school and college years, I had many close friends from the Jain community I fondly remember accompanying them to their temples (Derasars), and they too would visit Hindu temples with us We also shared warm friendships with peers of Christian and Muslim faiths The timeless values taught by Lord Mahavira hold deep relevance even today If we can apply his principles of compassion, truth, and self-restraint in our daily lives, we can build a world that is happier, more peaceful, and more harmonious Suresh an d B ha vna Patel

Kapil Dudakia

K A P I L’S K H I C H A D I

Institutionalised Anti-Hindu Hatred?

I have just returned from my holiday in Portugal to find that the world as I knew it has changed dramatically There is so much going on that attracts my interest but for this week I will focus on one issue, namely what many Hindus believe is the rampant rise of institutionalised anti-Hindu hatred I have raised this issue in the past, but since the election of the new Labour government it seems the anti-Hindu forces have been granted a green light to attack our community

Last week the Daily Mail ran an article written by Abul Taher (theirsecurity correspondent)with the leading headline: ‘British Hindu extremists are forming alliances with far-right groups over their common hatred of Muslims’ The article for all intents and purposes was an unwarranted attack on Hindus There was no measure of balance, or presenting the other side, or presenting real grassroots facts The article stated: ‘The secret report, compiled by the N

extremism - which is known as Hindutva - may worsen community relationships between Hindus and other faith groups like Muslims and Sikhs The study is written by the National Community Tension Team’

A sensational declaration My immediate reaction was,

(NPCC)’? ‘National Community Tension Team’?

So it seems there is a clandestine team made up of Police Chiefs who have prepared a ‘secret’ report written by the National Community Tension Team, and that this report has been seen by the Daily Mail, and I assume by the author also

This raises some fundamental questions:

a Is there such a report? If so, who instigated it, when and why?

b What was the makeup of the team that wrote the report?

c What were the terms of reference for the said report and who set them?

d What was the evidence base on which the report relies upon?

e D i d t h e y c o n s u l t a n y H i n d u o r g a n i s a t i o n o r individual/s? If so, which one/s?

f Was the Secretary of State aware that such a report had been instigated?

g When was the SoS aware of the contents of the report?

h How did the Daily Mail get access to the report if it is meant to be ‘secret’?

i Was the report leaked? If so, by whom? Or was it strategically made available to the Daily Mail? If so, by whom?

Of course these are just the headline questions that come to mind A thorough investigation should explore the connections between the police chiefs, the Daily Mail, local and national politicians, and the Islamists who they appear to be protecting I spoke to Smt Trupti Patel, President of the Hindu Forum of Britain who said, ‘We are very disappointed with the Daily Mail with its one-sided article that seems to be designed to assassinate the good name of the Hindu com-

Upcoming events

S S

•

w i l l celebrate its 2nd Hanuman Janmotsav on Saturday, 12 April 2025, from 2:00 PM at Avanti House Secondary School, Stanmore The event features Sundarkand Paath, Hanuman Chalisa, and free Prasad

• The British Indian Jewish Association (BIJA) is hosting a virtual heritage tour of the historic Knesset Eliyahoo Synagogue in Mumbai, led by Ralphy Jhirad The event will take place online on Sunday, 27 April 2025, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Registered participants will receive the Zoom link two days before the event

• The Brahma Kumaris UK is organising a two-day Hindi event titled “Importance of Bhagwat and Gita in the Present Time” on Saturday, 12 April, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM Sister BK Shivamani will share insights into the timeless wisdom of the Bhagwat and Gita, offering guidance on attaining inner peace, clarity, and right action amidst the challenges of modern life

• The Navnat Vanik Association is organising Mahavir Janma Kalyanak on Sunday, 20 April 2025, from 10:15 AM to 1:15 PM at the Navnat Centre, H a y e s T h

programme including a Shobha Yatra, Snatra Pooja, Stavan, the 14 Swapna depicted through a colourful dance performance, and more

munity on untested and fake anti-Hindu narrative’ Adding, ‘This matter requires a full investigation to ascertain why the most law-abiding community is being targeted with such vile anti-Hindu hatred’

V i n o d P o p a t (

Organisations Groups) in his letter to the Daily Mail said, ‘We call upon Daily Mail to retract these unsubstantiated remarks by publishing a corrigendum’, adding, ‘The inflammatory and misleading nature of this report deeply concerns us, as it not only misrepresents the Hindu community but also exacerbates social divisions’

INSIGHT(Social movement of British Hindus&Indians) posted, ‘A ‘secret’ NPCC report apparently obtained by the Daily Mail, branding “Hindutva” as a looming threat in the UK is a sloppy, biased mess that should embarrass any serious analyst It smears an entire community under the guise of “intelligence ” The evidence? Zero!’ INSIGHT have launched a survey of British Hindus to ascertain the mood of the community on anti-Hindu hatred You can take part here: https://insightuk org/anti-hindu-hate-survey

The uproar from the Hindu community is justified We live in this moment when the Government will not allow a statutory inquiry into Pakistani grooming gangs At a moment in time when the Home Secretary wants to bring in two-tier sentencing guidelines so white criminals get longer sentences and non-white criminals are given some latitude to get a lesser sentence The Labour Party, and by association the Government, has adopted the universally condemned definition of Islamophobia Tens of Millions of pounds have been set aside to support the Muslim community, whilst many other faith communities receive next to nothing The priority for this Labour Government is now clearer than it has ever been It’s to protect the extremists, the rapist, the corrupt politicians and the compromised institutions It seems they have learnt nothing from the mess they made with the rampant antisemitism that was exposed within the Labour party It seems now it’s the turn of the Hindus

I wrote to the RT Hon Chris PhillipsMP (Shadow Home Secretary) and have asked him to chase this serious issue at ministerial level and to demand an investigation into all aspects of the report and it’s leaking I also informed Bob Blackman MP, and I am glad to report that he has already raised this issue in Parliament Bob is also the Chair of the APPG for British Hindus and as such it is imperative that this matter is taken up with the full force of the parliamentary system

It has become apparent to me that many of our leading institutions are now practicing targeted racism against certain communities, e g Hindus, Jews They seem to be ignoring their own data of those who commit the most crimes On that verifiable evidence Hindus and Jews are significantly underrepresented in our jails However, Muslims with some 16000 in our jails are seriously overrepresented The c

Chiefsand those at the Daily Mail must be bordering on utter stupidity if they think attacking Hindus without any evidence shows them in good light

Ed Sheeran rocks London with rooftop bus gig for ‘Azizam’ Singer Ed Sheeran surprised Londoners with a rooftop performance of his new single ‘Azizam’ on a moving pink bus Dressed in a pink sweatshirt and black pants, he played guitar alongside an orchestra featuring dhols, drums, and trombones, turning the streets into a lively dance floor

Bhaktivedanta Manor celebrated the vibrant festival of ‘Ramanavami’ on Sunday, 6 April 2025, with great devotion and enthusiasm A full report capturing the highlights of the event will be featured in next week’s edition

S m a l l a n d m e d i u m - s i z e d enterprises (SMEs), many of which rely on exports to the US, are particularly vulnera-

b l e S o m e a r e a l

d y preparing to halt shipments due to the added costs

Trump confirms a proposed

imports According to a new report from the Institute for P u b l i c P o

c h (IPPR), such a move would severely impact the UK’s car m

communities

China has warned it will retaliate if President Donald Trump enforces a proposed 5 0 % t a r i f f o n C h i n

i t s interests The move heightens tensions in an already f r a g i l e g l o b a l t r a d e l a n d -

scape

T h e r i p p l e e f f e c t s a r e being felt worldwide In the U K , p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s a r e ramping up efforts to protect national interests and shield key industries from the fallout of escalating US tariffs With stock markets tumbling and investor confi-

d e n c e f a l t e r i n g , e c o n o m i c e x p e r t s a r e w a r n i n g o f a potential recession on the horizon

A s a t r a d e - d e p e n d e n t nation, the UK faces a delic a t e b a l a n c i n g a c t m a i nt a i n i n g s t r a t e g i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e U S w h i l e a l s o

s t r e n g t h e n i n g t i e s w i t h other global partners to mitigate the impact of mount-

i n g t r a d e t e n s i o n s Navigating this turbulence will require diplomatic agilit y a n d s t r o n g e c o n o m i c planning to safeguard longterm stability

Lead ers hits back at Trump tariffs, eyes national interest first

S e v e r a l l e a d e r s h a v e voiced strong opposition to the new US tariffs, warning of their impact on British i n d u s t r i e s T h e y h a v e pledged to respond firmly

b u t p r a g m a t i c a l l y p r i o r itising national interest, protecting jobs, and ensuring c o n t i n u e d e c o n o m i c resilience amid rising global trade tensions

P r i m e M i n i s t e r K e i r Starmer used Jaguar Land

R o v e r ’ s ( J L R ) o w n e d b y I n d i a n c o m p a n y - T a t a Motors UK headquarters in Solihull as the stage for a

m a j o r e c o n o m i c s p e e c h , addressing growing uncer-

t a i n t y f o l l o w i n g U S

President Donald Trump’s new global trade tariffs

Calling JLR a symbol of “British brilliance,” Starmer praised the UK’s manufac-

t u r i n g w o r k f o r c e a n d p l e d g e d f u l l g o v e r n m

s u p p o r t d u

i n g t u r b u l e n t

times He acknowledged the serious threat posed by the US-imposed 25% tariff on car exports: “Nobody is pre-

Trade war threatens UK growth

tending that tariffs are good news 25% on automotive exports is a huge challenge to our future ”

However, he framed the crisis as part of a broader t r a n s f o r m a t i o n : “ I t ’ s a c h a n g i n g a n d c o m p l e t e l y new world – an era where old assumptions no longer apply ”

Starmer promised a radical overhaul of government to support British industry, i n c l u d i n g f a s t e r h o u s i n g , infrastructure and industrial growth On global trade, he s a i d , “ W e w i l l a c c e l e r a t e trade deals across the globe, but when it comes to the US – I will only strike a deal if it is in the national interest ”

Rejecting the idea that British industry is in decline, he said, “Anyone who says

Britain doesn’t make anyt h i n g a n y m o r e – I i n v i t e them to come here They won’t say that again ”

The Prime Minister also unveiled sweeping changes to support the UK’s shift to e l e c t r i c v e h i c l e s ( E V s ) , i n c l u d i n g a 2 0 % c u t t o industry fines, a delay to the hybrid ban until 2035, and a £ 2 3 b i l l i o n i n v e s t m e n t i n the car industry “This is the m o m e n t w e b a c k B r i t i s h business and charge up the e l e c t r i c r e v o l u t i o n , ” h e declared He also promised to boost the life sciences sec-

t o r , s l a s h i n g c l i n i c a l t r i a l setup times and pledging up to £600 million for a new H e a l t h D a t a R e s e a r c h Service

A statement from HM T r e a s u r y n o t e d t h a t Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves warned the United States’ recent decision to impose tariffs could h a v e s i g n i f i c a n t i m p l i c ations for the global economy “ T h e s e i m p l i c a t i o n s have already been reflected in the reaction we ’ ve seen in g l o b a l m a r k e t s , ” s h e s a i d “ T h e f i n a n c i a l a u t h o r i t i e s are closely monitoring the s i t u a t i o n ” R e e v e s c o nfirmed that she had spoken to the Governor of the Bank of England, who reassured her that markets are functioning well and that the U K ’ s b a n k i n g s y s t e m remains resilient

Acknowledging the concerns of families and busin e s s e s , R e e v e s s a i d , “ W e h a v e y o u r b a c k s ” S h e e m p h

G o v e r n m e n t w o u l d n o t stand by amid global uncertainty but would “act deci-

sively, in our national interest, to protect working people ” On the risk of escalating tensions, she stated, “A trade war is in nobody’s interest That’s why we must remain pragmatic, cool-headed, and pursue the best deal with the United States ” O n A p r i l

Secretary Jonathan Reynolds a

the United States' decision to impose a 10% reciprocal tariff on UK exports and a 25% global tariff on cars In h

released an indicative list of

could be targeted in a potential UK response He also clarified that items of wider

medical supplies and mili-

would be excluded from any future tariff measures, prov

degree of certainty amid rising trade tensions “ N o c o u n

U K received the lowest reciproc

, ” Reynolds said “While this v i n d i c a t e s t h e p r a g m a t i c approach this Government has taken, we know the job is far from done ” Reynolds acknowledged the disappointment over the tariffs and the global impact they will have, but reiterated the Government’s commitm

national interest “We are w

a t e these turbulent times and support all UK industries,” he said

T a l k s w

h e U S remain ongoing to secure

ment “There are clear synergies between our markets, and a deal is not just possible

i t ’ s f a v o u r a b l e t o b o t h countries,” Reynolds stated “Industry leaders across key sectors welcome our coolh e a d e d a n d c o n s t r u c t i v e approach ”

Cautioning against reactionary measures, Reynolds a d d e d

t h comes in making the right choices at the right time Escalating a trade war would serve no one ”

To ensure the UK is prepared, Reynolds announced a formal request for input from British businesses on possible retaliatory tariffs

“This will give businesses a chance to shape any potent i a l U K r e s p o n s e , ” h e explained, noting the consultation will run until May

1 “If a deal is reached, this process will be paused, and any measures lifted ”

“U K is a trade-dependent economy, securing deals w ith the U S is vital”

P ran es h Nar ay ana n, Research Fellow at Institute for Public P olicy Research (IPPR), explained the wider implications of the US tari f f s a n d s

essentially a tax on imports The US has now imposed

higher tariffs on goods from nearly every country The r a t e s a r e b a s e d o n t r a d e i

a l a n c e s s o t h e m o r e the US imports from a count r y r e l a t i v e t o w h a t i t exports, the higher the tariff The UK has received one of the lowest new tariff rates announced on April 2, but t h a t ’ s o n t o p o f e x i s t i n g ones, particularly targeting cars, steel, and aluminium " He continued, "The general tariff is 10%, but for cars it's now 35% That’s signific a n t f o r t h e U K , w h i c h mainly exports cars, pharmaceuticals, machinery, and military equipment to the U S P h a r m a c e u t i c a l s a r e exempt, but the car industry w i l l b e h a r d e s t h i t E v e n though the UK received a r e l a t i v e l y b e t t e r r a t e , t h e a u t o m o t i v e s e c t o r f a c e s major challenges "

An IPPR study estimates that around 25,000 UK jobs could be at risk from the proposed US tariffs on car imports Speaking about the s c a l e o f t h e t h r e a t , Narayanan noted, "The US is t h e s e c o n d - l a r g e s t e x p o r t market for UK-made cars

Over a third (35 per cent) of cars manufactured in the UK in 2024 went to the US Now that those vehicles are 35% m o r e e x p e n s i v e i n t h e American market, it will be h a r d e r f o r c o m p a n i e s l i k e Jaguar Land Rover and Mini ( o w n e d b y B M W ) t o s t a y c o m p e t i t i v e T h e s e f i r m s employ thousands in the UK, so the ripple effects could be serious "

Narayanan also warned of indirect consequences via Europe He said, “Since the E U i s o u r b i g g e s t t r a d i n g partner, if its exports to the US decline due to tariffs, it c o u l d a f f e c t t h e i r i n c o m e a n d r e d u c e d e m a n d f o r British goods This is one of the biggest shifts in global trade policy in a generationit will have wide-reaching consequences

O n p o l i c y , h e s t r e s s e d the need for strategic economic resilience Narayanan

s a i d , " T h e U K i s a t r a d e -

d e p e n d e n t e c o n o m y , s o s e c u r i n g t r a d e d e a l s - e s p ecially with the US is vital

B u t j u s t a s i m p o r t a n t i s strengthening the domestic economy That means more public investment, a robust industrial strategy, and targ e t e d s u p p o r t f o r s e c t o r s with growth potential " "We need to use tools

l i k e t h e N a t i o n a l W e a l t h

F u n d a n d

e c o n o m y w e w a n t I n f r a s t r u c t u r e i n v e s t m e n tespecially in transport and clean energy-is overdue and e s s e n t i a l f o r s u p p o r t i n g manufacturing And finally, innovation funding must be t a r g e t e d t o w a r d

c sectors to boost long-term competitiveness," he added C h a ir o f th e I nt ern at io n al C h am be r o f C omm erce (IC C) U K, L ord Karan Bilimo ria said, “The United States accounts for o n l y 1 3 % o f g l o b a l t r a d e Surely, we should be working with the other 87% of countries around the world to make sure we continue with the rules-based multilateral trading system This is the time when the UK needs to take leadership As Chair of the International C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e (ICC) UK, the largest busin e s s o r g a n i s a t i o n i n

h e world with 45 million members in 170 countries, we are saying that this is the time when we must promote and modernise trade and plan for growth to unlock £25 billion in trade for the UK We must digitise trade, where the UK can take the lead, and where transaction times can be reduced from three months to one hour, and with 80% reduction in trade transaction costs This is the time for the UK to actually take the lead, but not pick a fight with the US When it comes to services, our position with the United States i s i n

export $126 billion worth of

import, which is around $57 billion That gives us a significant trade surplus in this sector And what’s crucial here is that these new tariffs d o n ’ t a p

which means our most comp e t i

tries that primarily export goods, we

service exports -a space where we continue to lead

and

companies facing steep US tariffs might redirect their exports to markets like the UK, where tariffs are lower This could result in a surge of cheaper goods entering the UK She explained that tariffs of this scale are likely

prices in order to maintain demand

Industry leaders warn of economic shockwaves from Trump’s tariffs

In comm ents shared with Newspage, UK ind ustry lead ers hav e voiced serious concerns about the imp act on supply chains, interest rates, and consum er confid ence- and are urging the Bank of Eng land to respo nd sw iftly

1 ) Bob Singh, Founder at Chess Mortgages commented: "Trump's terrible and terrifying tit-for-tat tariffs have made markets tremble and tumble since Liberation Day causing trade tensions The effects of the tariffs will cause a shortage in supply of vital goods and lead to inflationary pressures worldwide The question for the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee is not whether to cut but by how much? Whilst the markets have penciled in a 25bps cut, 50bps could be a smart move to preempt any slowdown in the economy Any inflationary pressures likely to be caused by rising energy prices is likely to be offset by lower cost of fuel Lenders are already offering sub-4% pricing as swap rates head south, giving homebuyers a welcome Easter boost "

2) Rakesh Dua, CEO at DUA Accountancy & Business Consultancy commented: "Businesses and consumers desperately need a rate cut given the uncertainty and lack of growth, let alone the devastation of a trade war

So my view is the Bank of England simply cannot ignore this because a downward spiral caused by a lack of confidence will be much more brutal than inflationary risk The tide is turning and the Bank of England needs to wake up before it turns into a tsunami where even late rate cuts cannot filter through for months and years to deal with the carnage caused from a challenging set of economic data and forecasts NI increases coupled with employer confidence being so low will likely mean wage increases will come down, as will new vacancies

3 ) Riz Malik, Independent Financial Adviser at R3 Wealth commented: "Things could deteriorate quickly if the sell off continues and global retaliation ramps up Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs were designed to make a statement but may have underestimated the global fallout If other nations hit back harder, the US risks isolating itself economically with serious consequences for markets worldwide "

Dr Swati Dhingra

Pranesh Narayanan

Lord Karan Bilimoria

NO RECOGNITION, NO SUPPORT

This is the story of many carers in the community, where caring for a parent isn’t seen as a job but as an act of love While most will say they wouldn’t have it any other way, they also won’t deny that

t h e y a r e s t r u g g l i n g Ram zi

S u l ei m an , P o li c y and P u bl ic

A ffairs Manager at Carers Tru st, also finds this to be true as he stated that carers from ethnic minority backgrounds, including from

A s i a n b a c k g r o u n d s ,

m o r e d i s a d v a n t a g e d t h a n t h e i r white counterparts

H e s a i d , “ E n e r g y b i l l s h a v e been soaring, food prices are rising and the cost-of-living is only going up If you ’ re a carer, it’s hard to cut back on those expenses –you need to keep the house warm, you might have to make sure lifesaving equipment is running or special food is bought for the person you look after

“ T h e s e p r e s s u r e s a r e m a d e worse because a lot of carers find it difficult to balance caring and employment Around two-thirds have had to cut back on their working hours or give up work completely because of the pressure their caring role brings That leads to huge financial strain and carers are more likely to live in poverty than the wider population ” R a m z i p o i n t e d o u t t h a t

C a r e r ’ s A l l o w a n c e i s t h e m a i n benefit carers can claim but it has hugely complicated rules and, at just £83 30 per week, is the lowest benefit of its kind “Even those carers who meet its complex eligibility criteria tell us that it doesn’t

much work you can do before losing eligibility The current system

d o e s n ’ t t r u l y a c k n o w l e d g e t h e work that unpaid carers do-especially within South Asian communities ”

While the allowance being a m e r e t o k e n i s a p r o b l e m b i g enough in itself, it doesn’t help t h a t M i n r e e t i s c o n s t a n t l y exhausted She is very close to her parents and caring for them is an act of love for her but she feels drained most of the time, trying to juggle it all on her own

She further added, “I’m the only one managing everything: running the household, looking after two elderly parents, handling errands, appointments, and all the responsibilities both inside and outside the home There's barely any time left to focus on my own things

“ A s f o r m a n a g i n g f r e e l a n c e work, honestly, I don’t really manage it I just go with the flow

m e e t t h e i r n e e d s T h e Government has just raised the e a r n i n g s l i m i t f o r C a r e r ’ s Allowance - you can now claim if you earn less than £196 a weekbut the system is still woefully inadequate and needs a complete overhaul”, he said

“I barely get any time to myself”

Minreet has recently started claiming Carer’s Allowance, but it’s only around £81 a week, which i s b a r e l y a n y t h i n g , “ E s p e c i a l l y when my weekly shopping alone comes to about £150, with the cost

o f e v e r y t h i n g g o i n g u p , t h a t allowance doesn’t actually help much at all It feels more like a token gesture than meaningful support

“ C a r e r ’ s A l l o w a n c e m i g h t

work as a small top-up if you ’ re able to work alongside caring, but even then, you ’ re limited in how

duty A lot of people assume that because we ’ re Asian, we’ll just take o n t h e c a r i n g r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s without question”, she said It doesn’t help her situation

t h a t h e r s i b l i n g d o e s n ’ t r e a l l y share the responsibilities with her

said, “Daughters like me, especially those who are single, carry so much, yet we ’ re rarely seen or heard We’re part of a forgotten

with little to no recognition or support

“There needs to be more support in place for people like us We should have the same opportunities as others who don’t carry

falls on us on top of the care we already provide

“Unpaid carers are often invisible Our years of service go unacknowledged But we do so much We work incredibly hard often doing the kind of emotional and physical labour that no one else

sense of love to care for someone every single day ”

“Would I get resp ite care easily?”

break? I just need to check on Mum ”

While her mother does not like Rajul fussing over her at all, it does affect her deeply “If someone calls me when I’m expecting a doctor’s call, I don’t want to talk I’m like, “Go away, don’t disturb me ” I become tense and hyperfocused

“Being an IT consultant, I also travel a lot, which makes it even more challenging I need to work, of course, but it adds another layer of stress and worry All of this does take a mental toll I think that’s only human If it didn’t affect me, something wouldn’t be right ”

Rajul has a very unique perspective of the need for additional help for carers According to her, “if the roles were reversed if this were about a child, particularly a d i s a b l e d c h i l d t h e y w o u l d receive a significant amount of respite care But in my case, even though I work and I'm actively involved in local politics here in Leicester, and people know me well, would I get respite care that easily? No, I wouldn’t

“ W o u l d t h e g o v e r n m e n t acknowledge me for the care I p r o v i d e ? H o n e s t l y , n o , t h e y wouldn’t In fact, from their perspective, it’s more convenient and cost-effective for me to look after my mum at home, rather than placing her in a care home After all, a care home would cost them far more than the minimal support I receive to care for her myself ”

Yo u hav e rights, know them

A c c o r d i n g t o E m i l y

H o l z h a u s e n C B E , D i r e c t o r o f Policy and Public Affairs at Carers UK, Carers are legally entitled to a range of different support and it pays to ensure that you know your rights

Hindu group bids for Wexham Court Parish Hall in direct sale plea

A Hindu org anisation i s urg ing Sloug h Boroug h C ouncil to sell Wexh am C ourt Parish Hall d irectly, witho ut opening the sale to oth er bid ders

buildings that could be sold, following a request from Wexham Court Parish Council, which currently leases the property

The Hindu organisation Jeeyar Educational Trust UK (JETUK) has launched a petition urging Slough Borough Council to sell Wexham Court Parish Hall directly to them, to “ serve the Hindu community” and “enrich the cultural fabric of Slough ” T

Slough’s growing Hindu population and calls for a “preferential sale,” arguing a larger, dedicated

educational, and charitable services

T h e p e t i t i o n , l a u n c h e d o n March 14 and running until June 13, has over 1,770 signatures It urges Slough Borough Council to sell Wexham Court Parish Hall directly to JETUK, bypassing a bidding process

Citing JETUK’s non-profit status and community services, the petition requests a direct commercial discussion based on the council’s and market valuation

Dozens of Reform UK candidates are ex-Tories

to Labou

When I take on assignments, I often end up having to ask for

d e a d l i n e e x t e n s i o n s b e c a u s e u n e x p e c t e d t h i n g s c o m e u p I haven’t figured out a reliable system or balance yet

“I haven’t been able to return to full-time work The responsibilities are heavy, and I’m doing it all on my own I don’t have a partn e r o r c h i l d r e n , s o m e t h i n g I would love to have, but I barely get any time to myself ” M i n r e e t a l s o a d d r e s s e d t h e tight-lipped approach around the struggles of carers in the South Asian community “In our culture, w e r a r e l y s p e a k o p e n l y a b o u t being carers I feel like I’m one of the few people from my community who has come forward to talk about what it's really like, particularly as an Asian woman There's this expectation that we just get on with it, that it’s simply our

Raj ul Tejura compares unpaid carers to unsung heroes, those quietly doing the work out of love and duty, without any recognition She also feels that this is something that comes to us naturally when we step up to care for our loved ones, it feels like the logical thing to do “You are not looking for recognition and that’s the beauty of it”, she said

She looks after her 84-year old young-at-heart mother and if you speak to her, she will tell you that she is the lucky one who gets to live in her mother’s care and how it’s a blessing But this full-time IT

c o n s u l t a n t c a n n o t d e n y t h a t things can get hectic for her even with additional help, especially when her mum falls sick

“I start to feel like I’m drowning, It s like there s this sudden role reversal and I become the parent all of a sudden And that’s when it really starts

“When I’m working, I have cameras in the house just so I can check in on her see if she’s okay, whether she’s had a fall If I see her heading into the bathroom while I’m on a Teams call, I’ll say, “Guys, can we take a 10-minute

S h e s a i d , “ C a r e r s o f t e n s a y that they've missed out on vital financial or practical support that could have made things easier Carers are entitled to an assessment of their needs and the local council will look at the emotional a n d p r a c t i c a l s u p p o r t n e e d e d People might also be entitled to a discount on their council tax, and there are other entitlements, too

“Unpaid carers in the UK provide care worth a staggering £184 billion a year, yet still too often do n o t r e c e i v e t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o r support they need The reality for m a n y i s e x t r e m e l y t o u g h Knowing your rights as a carer is important to help you feel confident asking for what you need, and in circumstances where your rights are not being met ” R a m z i S u l e i m a n a t C a r e r s Trust also added that Carers also need to be supported to find and stay in employment "Most fundamentally, there are six million carers in the UK and they’re filling the gaps created by the social care crisis Without the Government finally producing and delivering on a long-term plan for social care, carers will continue to be left to struggle, often with only their local carer organisations for support , he said

Tory candidates for the Runcorn a

Greater Lincolnshire mayoral race, where former MP Andrea Jenkyns is standing

All but one of Reform’s MPs, including leader Nigel Farage, are ex-Conservatives Labour has accused Reform of

with politicians trying

losses A Reform UK spokesperson said the defectors make up “less than 4%” of their 1,630 candidates, and questioned Labour’s stance given its own acceptance of former Tory MPs Christian Wakeford and Natalie Elphicke Labour’s analysis found over 60 of Reform’s local election cand

councillors, activists or candidates Sarah Pochin, Reform’s candidate for the Runcorn and Helsby byelection, is a former Tory councillor who once praised Michael G

now-deleted posts Of the 23 councils up for election in May, 19 are Conservativerun Mayoral contests will also be

Lincolnshire

Emily Holzhausen CBE

Ramzi Suleiman

Rajul and her mum, Sushilaben P Tejura

Continued from page 1

India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visits the UK for bilateral meetings

“I n a rapi dly evolvin g, multipolar world, coun tri es are inc reasingly

l e an i n g on b i l a te r a l a r ra n g emen ts due to the growing i neffec ti veness of m ultilateral in sti-

t ut i o n s ” , I n d i a ’ s F i n a n c e

M i n i s te r N i r m a l a S i t h ar a m a n

sai d in London where she has a rr i ve d f or th e 13 th I nd i a - UK

Ec on o m i c a n d Fi n a n c i al Dialogue (EFD) with her B ritish counterpart, Chance llor Rac hel

Reeves

The Indian Union Minister

f o r F i n a n c e a n d C o r p o r a t e

Affairs said this as she delivered the inaugural address during a

f i r e s i d e c h

h e ‘ O p p o

t i e s a n

l e n g e s for India’s quest to become a developed economy by 2047 ’ , at India House, London

The chat was moderated by Lord Nicholas Stern, Professor of Economics and Government and Chair of the Grantham Research Institute, LSE and BJP leader NK

S i n g h w a s a

w global uncertainties are pushing nations to forge direct partnerships “ G l o

noted, arguing that navigating

UK’s first as mother gives birth after womb transplant

Surgeo ns are celebrating a landmark achievement as a woman h as beco me the first in the UK to give bi r th fo ll o wi n g a w o mb t ra nsplant, a moment h ai led as “asto nishing” in the field of reproductive medicine

Prior to her fireside chat at India House, she held meetings with Vindi Banga, Chairman of

(UKGI), and Shriti Vadera, Chair

Secretary and former Chair of the UK India Business Council

During her interaction with Ms

explore investment

ongoing for quite some time, even with previous UK governments,” she clarified Still, with the new Labour government in t h e U K s h o w i n g i n t e r e s t , s h e

more practical than relying on m u l t i l a

emerging landscape, ideological affiliations and traditional blocs are becoming less relevant, with economic and strategic interests driving bilateral deals forward

Her comments came amid questions about the impact of

r e c e n t U S t a r i f f h i k e s , announced by President Donald Trump on April 2, on India-UK trade talks The US has imposed new tariffs of 10% on UK exports and 26% on Indian goods

However, Sitharaman denied that these tariffs were accelerat-

i n g t h e t r a d e n e g o t i a t i o n s between India and the UK “This is not something we are rushing into because of developments in the US These talks have been

expressed optimism that a deal could be finalised “ sooner rather than later ”

Alongside her dialogue with Chancellor Reeves, Sitharaman is also engaging with the City of London and its Lord Mayor She is promoting GIFT City, India’s f l a g s h i p f i n a n c i a l h u b i n Ahmedabad, as a key destination for global financial services

The bilateral dialogue also i

investment treaty, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and deeper cooperation in the education sector Sitharaman revealed that India and the UK are exploring opportunities for B

campuses in India, while also increasing the number of Indian students in the UK

Commissioner of India to the UK on April

also interact with Prime Minister Keir Stamer as the latter plans

along with UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds, she will cohost the Roundtable in partnership with the City of London, with top CEOs and senior management of prominent pension funds and asset managers in the UK as participants

Prior to her meeting with Sitharaman, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said, “The Business Secretary and I are

Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman,

Dialogue as we seek to secure

new trade deal

“We will be covering the topics of growth and global issues,

potential across various sectors

, investment and trade opportunities, as part of the Government’s Plan for Change ”

ceive

Currently, around ten more women are undergoing approval for womb transplants, which cost

Transplant UK Hundreds more

Grace Davidson, 36, who was diagnosed as a teenager with a rare condition that meant she was born without a uterus, described the birth of her daughter as “the greatest gift we could ever have asked for ” She and her husband, Angus, 3 7 , n a m e d

been performed in the UK using organs from deceased donors, and d o c t o r

recipients will also be able to con-

have expressed interest in the programme The charity has permission to carry out ten transplants from deceased donors and five from living donors and hopes for eventual NHS funding

The birth of Amy Isabel follows more than two decades of research led by Professor Richard S m i t h , c l i n i c a l l e a d a t W o m b Transplant UK He was present in the operating theatre alongside Quiroga when the 2 04kg (4 5lb) baby was delivered

Former Indian Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi visits London

Ind ian politician and statesman, is cu

United Kingd om Mr Trivedi has held several key positions in the Indian governm

Minister of Railways and Union

Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare He has served as a Member of Parliament in both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha,

across multiple terms Mr Trivedi has also made significant contributions as the founding convenor of the Forum of Parliamentarians for a Leprosy-Free India Beyond his political accomplishments, he is also a trained pilot We at Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar are pleased to welcome Mr Trivedi to the UK and look forw a r d t o m e a n i n g f u l e x c h a n g e s during his visit

Stronger housing duty urged for abuse victims

V ic ti m s o f d o m es ti c ab u se ar e often unable to leave d angerous si tu ati o

a Liberal Dem ocrat MP has warned Z o e F r a n k l

, M P f o r Guildford, highlighted that councils are not currently required to provide like-for-like housing, creating significant barriers for those f

n g t h e n i n g o f t h e s t a t u t o r y duty on local authorities to ensure victims are offered safe, stable, and affordable accommodation F r a n k l i n ' s c o m m e n t s c a m e a f t e r L a b o u r M P L e e B a r r o n shared the case of a constituent who, facing domestic abuse, was forced to choose between a safe home and keeping custody of her children Barron questioned what t h e g o v e r n m e n t w a s d o i n

ensure councils properly prioritise domestic abuse victims in housing allocations I

e s Minister Rushanara Ali acknowledged the housing challenges but emphasised that the government is w o r k i n

to £160 million Ali also noted that the government is addressing

Grace and Angus Davidson (front) with the hospital team at the birth of baby Amy Isabel

HE Vikram Doraiswami receives Nirmala Sitharaman at the airport

Indian Finance Minister with Shriti Vadera (left)

Smt Sitharaman with Dame Patricia Hewitt (right)

Nirmala Sitharaman with Vindi Banga (left)

Rushanara Ali

Boys need male role models in school, says Education Secretary

Ed ucation S ecretary Brid get

P h il li p s o n h as i s su e d a strong call for mo re m en to enter the teachi ng profession, warning that a lack of p ositiv e male role m odels is

c o nt ri bu t in g to w h a t sh e

d es cr i bed a s a “ d e fi ni n g issue o f our time” – the wellbeing and d ev elopm ent of boys in m odern Britain

Speaking at the inaugur a l F e s t i v a l o f C h i l d h o o d , organised by the Children’s Commissioner for England, Phillipson pointed to rising

c o n c e r n s a r o u n d “ t o x i c online influences” and the urgent need for boys to be guided by male figures in their formative years Her comments come as the critic a l l y a c c

i e s A d o l e s c e n c e h a s sparked widespread debate on the vulnerability of boys

t o o n l i n e m i s o g y n y a n d harmful digital content

“It’s clear the behaviour of boys, their influences, and the young men they become is a defining issue of our time,” Phillipson told attendees “We need to raise a generation of boys with the s t r e n g t h t o r e j e c t t h a t h a t r e d – w i t h c u r i o s i t y ,

c o m p a s s i o n , k i n d n e s s ,

r e s i l i e n c e , h o p e a n d respect ”

Highlighting the gender

i m b a l a n c e i n t e a c h i n g , Phillipson noted that only one in four teachers in UK schools are men, dropping

to just one in seven in nursery and primary education, and a mere one in 33 in early years roles While teacher numbers have increased by 28,000 since 2010, only 533 of those have been men, a statistic she called “extraordinary ”

T h e L a b o u r e d u c a t i o n secretary stressed that while schools are a critical part of the solution, families also have a central role to play “ S c h o o ls ca n ’t s o lv e t h es e problems alone, and responsibility starts at home with parents,” she said “But our boys also need strong, posit i v e m a l e r o l e

school ”

Phillipson joins a line of

r , academic research has been mixed on the impact of male teachers on boys' academic

performance or behaviour,

strating clear benefits solely based on teacher gender

for England, also addressed

from society and are turning to the internet for answers

“ C h i l d

tened to They want to be heard,” she said “But some of the foundations of childhood are cracking A different version of childhood is playing out – one that we are struggling to be honest about ”

De Souza called for a national reckoning with the realities of modern child-

h o o d , i n c l u d i n g d i g i t a l exposure and the growing influence of artificial intell i g e n c e S h e a n n o u n c e d plans to launch an investigation into mobile phone

usage in schools, trust in l

c e m e n t a m o n g children, and the psychological effects of deepfake technology

“If we want children to experience the vivid techni-

colour of life – the joy of childhood, the innocence of youth – we have to prove w

ChatGPT,” she added T

underscore a growing cons

temic action is needed to support boys, restore

Speaking to Asian Voice,

founder of the digital learn-

“About 75% of

Fraudster dad made up kidnap, cancer for cash

kidnapped, having cancer, and even claimed his mother had died to get money from her Judge Heidi Kubik KC

o k advantage of her naivety,”

began asking for money starting with small sums for car costs and claiming he ran a boxing gym

Patel’s lies escalated as he drained his girlfriend’s savings, pressured her to take out loans, and borrow from family He made up stories of kidnappings, fake funerals, and even claimed he had cancer

When she had nothing left, he threatened to leave or harm himself, yet never repaid her Her father and b r o t h e r e v e n

claims to extract money, including funeral costs for h i s m o

“couldn’t refuse” as there was “always an emergency, ” and was left “totally devastated” by the betrayal

h e r w h o i s s t i l l

alive The victim, who met Patel at work in January 2 0 2 2 , s a i d s h e f e l t s h e

P r o s e c u t o r E l i z a b e t h

Power said Patel initially o f f e r e d t h e v i c t i m e m otional support, then quickly

, d e m a n d i

£69,368 back His lawyer said the fraud was fuelled by a gambling addiction, which spiralled out of control

Young Londoners flee city as housing costs soar

Young Londoners are quitting the capital as soaring rents and sky-hig h house prices push them out, the G15 g roup of m ajo r housi ng as so c i at io n s h as warned They’ve urged Labour t o b o o s t h o u s e b u i l d i n g funds, saying young people have little choice but to leave London rents rose 9 9% i n t h e y e a

F e b r u a

, averaging £2,235 a month the fastest rise in the UK,

according to the ONS Despite sluggish house price growth (2 3% annually), average London homes s

£ 5 2 9 , 3 6 9 , f a r above the national average, says Nationwide F i o n a F l

S m i t h , chair of the G15 and CEO of L&Q, warned that young Londoners want to stay but

shortages,” she said “We need more than funding we need structural change so housing associations can build again ” The G15 warns young Londoners are being priced out, with some low earners spending up to 77% of their wages on housing Poverty a f f

2 2 m i l l i o n Londoners rising to 29% for 20–24-year-olds while 4 8 million private renters across England are now in poverty

Celebrating the spirit of Gujarat and Maharashtra

May 1 marks the foundation day of both Gujarat and Maharashtra To celebrate this special occasion, a dedicated episode of ‘S O N E R I S A N G A T’ has been organised, honouring the rich cultural heritage and vibrant traditions of both states.

We warmly invite readers of Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice to nominate members of the Gujarati community who have lived in the UK for over 50 years and have made remarkable contributions to society Please share their name, photograph and a brief summary of their service to the community Email us at : support@abplgroup com

In this special episode, we will honour the remarkable individuals who have dedicated themselves to community service Those who continue to serve will be recognised for their ongoing efforts, while heartfelt tributes will be paid to those who are no longer with us

Join us in celebrating the spirit of selfless service and acknowledging the invaluable contributions of our community members during this memorable *Soneri Sangat* Zoom programme on Thursday, 1st May

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson

Kavitha Ravindran Rachel de Souza

Prime Minister hosts Eid reception in Downing Street

Keir Starmer praised British Muslims for their contributions across society, condemned rising Islamophobia, called for peace in Gaza, and emphasised that Downing Street is a home for all communities O

Starmer hosted a reception in D owning Street to mark

Having hosted an Iftar event in Downing Street

few weeks ago, the Prime Minister said that

Downing Street was

championed the contribution the Muslim community makes across society and the economy, “We do need to say a big thank you to our Muslim communi-

t i e s f o r y

e n t walks of life, different sectors

“That contribution is

is really important – and non-Muslims alike

“ P e o p l e l i k e m e f e e l really welcome, and I think that’s an incredible thing about, not just what you do, but the way that you do it

“And we ’ ve seen this from Windsor to Belfast, from Cardiff to Glasgow, and of course in mosques up and down the country, w h i c h h a

there, whether that’s the N H S , w h e t h e r i t ’ s b u s iness, education, and civil society in particular – who support every day in our c o m m u n i t i e s - a n d o f course to charities – who are incredibly generous in giving to others

” He also congratulated

t h e c o m m u n i t y f o r i t s work to spread the spirit of R a m a d a n a n d w e l c o m e d people from all faiths and b a c k g r o u n d s t o s i m i l a r events up and down the country stating, “And it’s b e e n a r e a l p r i v i l e g e t o have that sense of contribution over Ramadan, and w i t h t h e f a n t a s t i c , w e lcoming Iftars we ’ ve seen, open to Muslims – and this

h a v e observed Ramadan here, it has been incredibly diffic u l t w a t c h i n g o t h e r s observing Ramadan in pain and suffering around the rest of the world - particularly in Gaza He said, "We need that ceasefire deal –u p h e l d i n f u l l A n d i n January, we provided an

n humanitarian aid to surge support, which desperately needs to get into Gaza – at volume and at pace " He added that alongside international events, it is appalling that 2024 was the worst year on record

r a n t i - M u s l i m h a t e crime, and added, “I’ve said i t b e f o r e , a n d I ’ l l s a y i t again: there is no place for A n t i -

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: there is no place for AntiMuslim hatred in Britain – no place."

f r e e m

n g hand, and spread the spirit of Ramadan, by bringing people together ” At the same time, he

to combat it too “ W e ’ v e a n n o u n c e d

£29 4 million through the P r o t e c t i v e S e c u r i t y f o r Mosques scheme, and a scheme for Muslim faith schools And that is good –but it’s also really bad It’s really bad that we are having to put money towards the protective security for mosques

“ I a m g l a d w e a r e doing – it is the right thing to do, and we are working on it – but I do think it’s a reminder that we need to look forward to the day where we are putting our money into other things with you, rather than prot e c t i v e s e c u r i t y a r o u n d mosques or around faith schools ”

H e c o n c l u d e d b y

championing the response to the unrest we saw in

S o u t h p o r t , w h e r e c o mmunities came together to help their local Mosque He said that was the best of our society, which we see time and time again He said that as Prime Minister, he is determined that not only is the contribution made by Muslims

g i v e n t r u e r e c o g n i t i o n , but that we celebrate it at every opportunity Labour leaders such as S h a b a n a M a h m o o d , L o n d o n M a y o r S a d i q Khan and Hajira Piranie

a t t e n d e d t h e r e c e p t i o n Piranie later shared a mess

M i n i s t e r f o r acknowledging the contrib u t i o n s o f t h e M u s l i m community She wrote, “ A s a y o u n g M u s l i m Indian girl who grew up w a t c h i n g h e r p a r e n t s work tirelessly to build a life in this country, I never imagined being invited as a g u e s t t o t h e P r i m e

Minister’s home to celebrate Eid

“It’s a special moment that means so much to my family, and for so many

o t h e r s w h o m a d e t h i s

c o u n t r y h o m e I t ’ s a reminder that our voices, our traditions, & our celebrations belong here too Keir Starmer said tonight that this is not just his home- this is our home ”

‘Eid Milan’ at India House

M em b er s o f th e V V U K , BVA L U K, and BVU K came to gether for a sp ecial Eid

M ilan f unc tio n h os ted by Hi s E xc el le nc y V i kr am

Do r ai sw am i , th e Hi g h

Co mm issioner of Ind ia to the U K at India House in London

The event was marked by a spirit of unity, festivity, and cross-cultural and multifaith engagements

The gathering celebrate d t h e c u l m i n a t i o n o f R a m a d a n a n d t h e j o y o u s occasion of Eid, serving as a vibrant reflection of India's diverse traditions and the

s t r o n g c u l t u r a l b o n d s shared between India and the UK

H E V i k r a m

Doraiswami and his excellent team warmly welcomed all guests, emphasising the i m p o r t a n c e o f i n c l u s i v i t y , connectivity, heritage, and the deep-rooted contributions of the Indian diaspora to British society V e t e r a

edged for their dedicated service and continued role in building bridges between

communities and upholding Indian values

The function featured traditional Indian hospitality with an array of festive delicacies, cultural perform a n c e s , a n d m e a n i n g f u l conversations among community leaders, diplomats, and veterans alike

Cllr Imam Haque from East Ham was one of the attendees He said that he took the opportunity to discuss the significant contributions of Indian Bengalis to the UK, exploring their rich cultural heritage and h i s t o r i c

Heathrow resumes operations after major power outage

London’s Heathro w A irpo rt resumed full operations on Saturday follow ing a major power ou tage caused by a fire at an electrical substation, which disrupted services and g rou nd ed flights across Eu rope ’ s busiest airport

Air India confirmed the resumption of normal opera

Flight AI161, which had been

depart for its intended destination at 2:05 PM

and delays Tens of thous

left stranded, scrambling for a l t e r n a t i v e f l i g h t s a n d accommodations as airlines worked to restore schedules

B y S a t u r d a y m o r n i n g , most flights were operating as planned, though residual d e l a y s a n d c a n c e l l a t i o n s p e r s i s

Audience enjoying the musical performance

HE Vikram Doraiswami addressing the gathering

Prime Minister Keir Starmer with wife Victoria Starmer and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood

PM Starmer addressing the attendees

Shabana Mahmood

Sir Keir Starmer greeting Royal Air Force s Squadron Leader, Amir Khan among other guests

Sadiq Khan addressing the attendees

Festivities unite diaspora in joyful celebrations

I n d i an fe st iv al s su c h a s

V aisakhi (Punjab), Puthandu ( Tam il Nad u), Vishu ( Kerala) and P oi la Bo ish akh ( West

B en g al ) o f ten f al l o n th e sam e day or aro und m idA pril, as they are all linked to th e so lar calend ar and m ark the beginning o f the traditional New Year in diff er ent r eg i o ns o f In d i a T houg h each is rooted in its u n i qu e c u lt u ral c on te xt, t h ey c o m m o nly ce le bra te renewal, harvest, and h ope for pro sperity

In the UK, the Indian d i a s p o r a h o n o u r s t h e s e occasions with great enthus i a s m a n d p r i d e Community halls, temples, and cultural centres come alive with music, dance, rituals, and traditional food, as families and friends gather

t o r e c o n n e c t w i t h t h e i r roots

Several UK-based organ-

i s a t i o n s a r e c e l e b r a t i n g

Puthandu with vibrant cultural programmes this year

Slough Tamil Sangam will m a r k t h e o c c a s i o n o n 2 7 April 2025 with a complimentary lunch, the live stage

d r a m a ‘ P a n c h a l i

S a b h a t h a m ’ , c e l e b r i t y s p e e c h e s , a n d a h u m o u rf i l l e d ‘ P a t t i m a n d r a m ’

(debate) MKMM’s celebration takes place on 26 April at Denbigh School in Milton Keynes, featuring renowned speakers like Mr Sugi Sivam, Mr Mohana Sundaram, and

D r P a r v e e n S u l t a n a C T K

w i l l h o s t i t s 1 0 t h a n n u a l

Puthandu event on the same day with the distinguished “ K a l a i m a m a n i ” D r G

G n a n a s a m b a n d a n M e r s e y

Muthamil Sangam will celebrate on 4 May at Cardinal Heenan School with a cultural programme, also featuring Dr Parveen Sultana Rugby Tamil Sangam’s festivities are scheduled for 17 M a y a t t h e I n d i a n Community Centre, Edward R o a d , w i t h T a m i l p e r f o rmances, lunch, and snacks

P o i l a B o i s h a k h , t h e Bengali New Year, will be celebrated with great enthusiasm by various organisations across the UK Milton Keynes Ananda Club is hosting a vibrant event on 26 April 2025 from 4 pm to 10 pm, featuring Kolkata street food, theme photo booths, a cultural extravaganza, and dinner On the same day, Bangiya Sanskritik Parishad

( B S P G

“Nabokiron 25 ” at Clarkston Hall, Glasgow, showcasing t

street food courts, and dinner Stalls selling traditional s n a c k s , e t h n i c w e a r , a n d jewellery will also be set up to enhance the festive exper

Narayan Puja will be held on Sunday, 20 April at the LKB

Wealdstone, Harrow, starting at 12 noon, with Prasad distributed after the puja B

main course and much more at their BKC Marble, Arch

6pm

the Eel Association will host a vibrant event on 12 April from 12 noon to 6 pm at the Ford Sports & Social Club in Newbury Park The celebration will showcase the rich culture of the Sikh community with an exciting line-up of entertainment, including music, dance, and live perf

mark the occasion of Vishu,

Croydon will be serving traditional Sadhya meals from 11 to 14 April, between 12 pm and 10:30 pm, offering din-

s t e o f Kerala’s festive flavours

Time for reflection, renewal, and hope

Uma Kumaran, Member of Parliament for Stratford and Bow, shares a message for the community

A s c o m m u ni ti es ac ro s s S tratfo rd and Bo w, L ond on and around the UK prepare to celebrate springtime fest i v al s s u ch a s E a st er, P uthandu, Poh ela Boishakh, A lu th Aw u rud d a, Vai sakh i and oth ers, I’d like to extend m y w a rm e st w i s h es to everyone marking th ese joyo us o ccasions

These festivals repre-

s e n t b o t h r e l i g i o n , t r a d itions, and our heritage – and we are proud to mark them here in the United Kingdom

They are a time for reflection, renewal, and hope It’s a chance for families and friends to come together, for

communities to honour tradition, and to look ahead with optimism and unity

T h e s e c e l e b r a t i o n s enrich the cultural fabric of our country and serve as a reminder of the shared values that bind us - resilience, generosity, and the importance of community and tradition

To all those celebrating: f r o m m y f a m i l y t o y o u r s wishing you a joyful year ahead, filled with joy, peace and prosperity

Asian Voice extends warm wishes to all its readers celebrating Vaisakhi, Poila Boishakh, Vishu, Bihu, and Puthandu. Whether you're celebrating the birth of the Khalsa, the harvest, or the beginning of a new calendar year, we wish you peace, unity, and happiness in the days ahead.

A Vishu feast of memories, flavours, and belonging

Anusha Singh

In celebration of Vishu, the M a la yal i N ew Y ear t h at m a rks re ne w al, a bu nd a nc e, an d h op e, A ru n George, A ssociate Director at C BRE, is bringing a taste o f K er ala to L on d o n thro ugh an intim ate supper club with Th e M allu Stud

I n c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h Asian Voice, he shares his Vishu memories, food stories and the supper club

What d oes Vish u mean to you p erso nally, and h ow d id you celebrate it g rowing up ? A re th ere particular m emo ri es of V ish u from yo ur ch ild h oo d th at yo u find yourself rev isiting this time o f the year?

Vishu, for me, is a time of reflection, renewal, and celebration Growing up in K u w a i t a s a M a l a y a l e e expat, Vishu was one of the f e w o c c a s i o n s t h a t t r u l y b r o u g h t t h e e s s e n c e o f Kerala into our home It always marked the start of the new year and was a time to reset and gather w i t h f a m i l y W e d i d n ’ t have many of the rich trad i t i o n s , o r m y p a r e n t s skipped over a few of the traditions as we were away from Kerala but still had a day to remember and to feast Like a lot of South Asian festivals, food took c e n t r e s t a g e , i t w a s t h e medium with which they said they love you, Keralayou are being missed and w e a r e p r o u d o f b e i n g Malayalee

The Vishu feast in its true form is quite a sight, full of the vibrant flavours of Kerala, and heck of an i n d u l g e n t u n d e r t a k i n g

Most years we have a light touch version of this meal

S t i l l l i v i n g a w a y a n d

h a v i n g n e v e r l i v e d i n Kerala, Vishu has become e v e n m o r e m e a n i n g f u l , reminding me of my roots, t h e t r a d i t i o n s , a n d t h e warmth of family It’s a day that keeps me connected to my heritage, and I continue to celebrate it, even if in a different way, through

of Indian jazz music in the background, and a sense of b e i n g w e l c o m e d i n t o a classy wine bar for a special celebration It's a celebration of culture, food, connection paired with amazi n g s k i n c o n t a c t A m b e r wine

Ho w d i d yo u g o ab o u t cu rating the menu for th e ev ening ? A re there any traditio nal d ishes you're esp ecially excited to serve?

Curating the menu has been through reflecting on m y o w n m e m o r i e s o f Vishu and the dishes that have always made the day feel special - from the comforting classics to the lesse r - k n o w n g e m s t h a t deserve a moment in the spotlight The 7 courses I intend to serve take huge inspiration from the tradit

t h e f o o d I s h a r e i n m y

popup restaurant and with friends

C an you tell us about the inspiration behind ho sting the Vishu supp er club this y ea r? W h at c an g u es ts e xp e ct fr o m th e exp e rie nc e b o th i n t erm s o f food and atm osphere?

The inspiration behind hosting the Vishu supper

c l u b s t e m s f r o m a d e e p l o v e f o r K e r a l a ' s v i b r a n t traditions and a desire to share the spirit of Vishu

w i t h a w i d e r a u d i e n c e

V i s h u i s a l l a b o u t n e w

b e g i n n i n g s , a b u n d a n c e , and togetherness and food plays such a central role in that celebration We wanted to create a space where people could come togeth-

e r t o e x p e r i e n c e t h e essence of a South Indian festival meal in a warm, communal setting

Guests can expect an immersive culinary experience which is both nostalg i c a n d e l e v a t e d T h e m e n u d r a w s i n s p i r a t i o n from the traditional Vishu Sadya - a lavish vegetarian f e a s t s e r v e d o n b a n a n a leaves, while also weaving in a few creative twists and m y f a m i l y ' s t o u c h e s Expect bold flavours, fresh seasonal ingredients, and t h o u g h t f u l s t o r y t e l l i n g behind each dish

“There’s something beautiful about people connecting over a good meal, discover new flavours, or feel a sense of belonging in a room filled with strangers”

As for the vibe, we ’ re aiming for something intim a t e , p e r s o n a l , j o y f u l

cozy lighting,

spices in the air, snippets

n g my rebel take on food with addition of meat and bring in my creative interpretations of the cuisine and reflective of my style of cooking

One dish I’m especially excited to serve is mambazha pulissery which is a s w e e t a n d t a n g y m a

curry that’s a true seasonal favourite It’s rich, nostalgic, and captures the tropical soul of Kerala I’m also looking forward to sharing beetroot pachadi-a hearty, coconut & beetroot-based mixed vegetable dish that’s all about balance and simplicity as well as homemade rice payasam with r u m s o a k e d r a i s i n s T h e goal was to create a menu that feels generous, celebratory, and rooted in tradition, while still allowing space for a few surprises along the way What does it m ean to you to be able to share Vishu with a wider co mmunity th ro u g h th e m ed i u m o f fo od?

Food is a medium of expression for me, I tell stories through the dishes I cook and serve which are steeped in tradition, history, of joys, heartache and of my family Sharing Vishu through food is incredibly special to me-its peek into my culture, memories, and sense of home Being able to recreate and share that feeling with a wider community feels both grounding and liberating I’m not just serving a meal; I’m inviting people into a celebration that has shaped me It’s a chance to

with others who may be experiencing Vishu for the first time

held with care and intention, is

Uma Kumaran

Arun George

Keeping Kirtan relevant for today’s youth

Taren Kaur

Subhasini Naicker

Taren Kaur is a singersongwriter and composer with a lifelong passion for music Inspired by her father’s Kirtan and her mother’s Sitar lessons, she began playing guitar at age seven and went on to study music formally

W h i l e c o m p o s i n g f o r TV and film, Taren discovered a deep spiritual con-

n e c t i o n t h r o u g h s i n g i n g

S h a b a d o n g u i t a r T h i s experience led her to focus on Kirtan and spiritually inspired music as a way to

c o n n e c t w i t h t h e D i v i n e and share peace, love, and joy with others

I n a n i n t e r v i e w w i t h

Asian Voice, Taren spoke about the connection with

K i r t a n , s p i r i t u a l m e s s a g e through music and much more

Do you feel a deeper connection with your faith when you’re singing Kirtan? How does it influence your daily life?

Singing Kirtan deepens my connection with Sikhi and with Guru Ji every sing l e d a y T h e m o r e I immerse myself in Gurbani,

t h e m o r e I l e a r n E a c h

S h a b a d c a r r i e s s o m u c h wisdom and guidance, and when I reflect on the meanings while singing, it really opens my heart in such a powerful way

K i r t a n i s a c o n s t a n t presence in my daily life

From the moment I wake up, I find myself singing or humming Shabads, working on new compositions

a n d p r o j e c t s t h r o u g h o u t

t h e d a y , o r l i s t e n i n g t o m u s i c o r K i r t a n t h a t inspires me It helps brings a sense of peace and clarity, and I feel it keeps me more

a l i g n e d w i t h G u r u J i ’ s t e a c h i n g s o n t h i s r o l l e rcoaster of life

I think the practice of singing Kirtan encourages me to be more mindful in how I live, speak, and serve

It reminds me to focus on the bigger picture, and to strive to live with love and humility It’s a gift that I am incredibly grateful for that c o n s t a n t l y u p l i f t s a n d guides me

Do you find that music has helped you build bridges across different communities and cultures? Music is universal - it t r a n s c e n d s b a r r i e

feel, and relate I’ve been so touched to see people from d

tracks, and share how the music impacted them, even

Kirtan - it’s a Divine vibra-

a t c o n n e c t s a n d speaks directly to the soul

I feel grateful to be able

t o s h a r e t h e m e s s a g e o f O n e n e s s t h r o u g h K i r t a n

Gurbani teaches us that we are all connected, and that t h e D i v i n e L i g h t e x i s t s within every being - and I really try to reflect that in the music I create Whether I’m performing live or sharing content online, it’s so inspiring and heartwarming to see how people from all over the world and different walks of life engage with it

I’ve also been blessed to work with people from diff e r e n t b a c k g r o u n d s a n d collaborate across genres

It’s lovely to see how music

c a n b r i n g c o m m u n i t i e s

t o g e t h e r G u r b a n i a n d Kirtan are inclusive - not exclusive And I hope my w o r k h e l p s m o r e p e o p l e feel connected and uplifted, no matter their background

Vaisakhi marks the birth of the Khalsa How do you reflect this message of spiritual strength and unity through your music?

I always try to carry the t e a c h i n g s o f t h e G u r u ’ s t h r o u g h m y m u s i c I ’ v e always felt that Kirtan is for

and the world I grew up in I want it to feel authentic to me, while also being accessible to a wide audience

T h a t f u s i o n h a s h e l p e d

b r i d g e g e n e r a t i o n s a n d communities, and I’ve been blessed to see it become a d

Guru’s message

I a l s o w r i t e E n g l i s h spiritual songs inspired by Gurbani and the teachings of the Guru’s, and create animated videos for children, helping them connect w

young age Through all of

o share love, light, and unityqualities that I feel reflect the spirit of the Khalsa If even one person feels more connected to God through the music or work I do, then I feel I’ve done my job How do you envision the role of devotional music evolving in today’s world, especially for younger generations?

I b e l i e v e d e v o t i o n a l

role in today’s world, especially as more people seek peace, healing, and deeper c o n n e c t i

K i r t a n , mantra, and spiritual music create space to slow down

stress and anxiety

tions, it’s vital to make this

through traditional instruments, fusion styles, or digital platforms, the essence

British Punjabis celebrate Vaisakhi with pride

T he Pun j a b i c om m

the coun try’s economy, culture, and public life From s u

and professionals to c ommunity leaders and artists, Punj abi s have be come an integral part of British society

The community’s roots in the UK run deep One of the earliest notable figures w

Singh, the last ruler of the S

exiled to Britain in 1853 His daughter, Princess Sophia

D u l e e p S i n g h , b e c a m e a trailblazer in British histor y , a l e a d i n g s u f f r a g e t t e who campaigned fearlessly for women ’ s rights Today, a statue of the Maharajah stands at Butten Island in Thetford, Norfolk, close to the Elveden Estate where he lived, unveiled by the P r i n c e o f W a l e s i n 1 9 9 9

While his arrival marked an early connection, the first Sikh Gurdwara in the UK

w a s e s t a b l i s h e d l a t e r , i n 1911, in Putney, London, a humble beginning that laid the foundation for a thriving Sikh spiritual and cultural presence

For this vibrant community, Vaisakhi is more

than just a harvest festival, it is a powerful celebration

o f i d e n t i t y , f a i t h , a n d

resilience Marking the form a t i o n o f t h

1699 by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Vaisakhi holds deep spir-

courage, unity, and service

Over the decades, Vaisakhi has become a key moment in the UK’s multicultural c a l e n d

T h e f i r s t m

j o r public celebration was held in Southall in the 1970s, and since then, Nagar Kirtans colourful Sikh processions accompanied by devotional m

cherished annual traditions across the country These e

together in a shared spirit o

remembrance

Reflecting on the meaning of the festival, Company

said, “Vaisakhi

everyone, and I hope the music I create can help people from all walks of life feel peace, connection, and a s e n s e o f b e l o n g i n g

Whether someone understands the words or not, the v i b r a t i o n a n d e n e r g y o f Gurbani can still be deeply healing

My music blends traditional Kirtan with modern a n d w e s t e r n i n f l u e n c e s , reflecting both my heritage

the same

That’s why I also create music for children, using animated songs and videos to make learning meaningful and fun Planting those seeds early can help build a lifelong bond with devotional music and with God I’m hopeful about the next g e n

tradition forward in their own unique way

This Vaisakhi, may we wear our values like the Five Ksbold, visible, and unwavering- and walk the Guru’s path of truth ‘Khalsa mero roop hai khaas, Khalsa mai hoon karo nivaas ’”

Manjit Singh Shalapuri

Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh

Patel

Like Warren Buffett I like market fa lls It m eans I c an buy good stoc ks more cheaply for future returns lik e i n 2023

In the wake of President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff announcements, global markets have experienced significant volatility The S&P 500 has plummeted approximately 12% since April 2, 2025, edging close to bear market territory This turbulence has prompted many investors to reassess their portfolios, with some opting to hold substantial cash positions while retaining select equities for long-term growth Financial Sector Resilience

Among the retained holdings, Goldman Sachs (GS) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) stand out as prudent choices Despite the market downturn, these banking giants have demonstrated resilience Goldman Sachs is currently trading at 1 4 times its book value, suggesting it remains undervalued JPMorgan Chase, under the steadfast leadership of CEO Jamie Dimon, continues to exhibit robust financial health, positioning it as a defensive asset in uncertain times I am holding these for at least 5 years Others I have sold to buy back later cheaper In a few months probably

Tech Titans: Awaiting the Right Moment

The decision to delay reinvestment in tech behem

Platforms (META) appears judicious These companies, collectively known as the "Magnificent Seven," have faced substantial losses amid the current market condit i o n s A p p l e , f o r i n s

, h a s e x p

n c e d a 1 9 % decline over the past three days, exacerbated by its reliance on China-based production So my decision to sell out is timely Similarly, Amazon and Alphabet have seen their stock prices fall by 9% and 4%, respectively Given the potential for further declines, exercising patience before re-entering these positions could prove advantageous

Insurance Brokers: Evaluating Opportunities

In the insurance brokerage sector, Brown & Brown (BRO) and Arthur J Gallagher & Co (AJG) present intriguing opportunities Arthur J Gallagher's recent acquisition of Woodruff Sawyer for $1 2 billion is poised to enhance its market presence and service offerings Market Outlook and Strategic Considerations

The broader economic landscape is fraught with uncertainty Goldman Sachs has raised the probability of a U S recession to 45% within the next 12 months, citing tightening financial conditions and heightened policy uncertainty J P Morgan echoes this sentiment, estimating a 60% chance of a global recession by year's end In light of these projections, maintaining a substantial cash position provides flexibility to capitalize on future investment opportunities as they arise

In conclusion, the current market environment necessitates a cautious and strategic approach Holding cash reserves, retaining resilient financial stocks like Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, and postponing reinvestment in volatile tech stocks until more favorable conditions emerge, aligns with a prudent investment strategy Vigilant monitoring of market developments and economic indicators will be crucial in navigating the path ahead When the time is right I will also am sure have nVidia again and Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Visa, Costco, Lam Research Will I make a killing? I expect so But getting in now would see potentially 40% losses No thanks

Overseas interest in UK property falls

T h e n u m b e r o f o v e r s e a s buyers registering to purchase property in the UK has fallen to a record low, a c c

o m Hamptons International In the first quarter of 2025, just 1 per cent of applicants were based abroad t h e l o w e s t

c e records began in 2008, and down from 1 2 per cent in 2 0 2 4 T h e d e c

i s attributed to rising costs for i n t e r n a t i o n a l i n

South Asians shine in the Sunday Times Young Power List 2025

The Su nday Tim es Y o un g P ow er List celebr ating exceptional you ng indiv iduals in th e UK wh o are making a real diff er ence acro ss industries, f rom tech and spo rt t o f ood and fashion, h as been r ev ealed

This year ’ s list highlights not just talent, but also tenacity and innova-

Beveridge, said tax changes, Brexit, and limited capital

property less attractive to foreign buyers, particularly

and Chelsea, and the City of London

prominently among the 30 rising s

power here isn’t just wealth or social media clout; it’s about influence, originality, and lasting impact

C h o s e n

whether on a global platform or behind the scenes

Here’s a look at the South Asian young power-

Sunday Times’ political, business, arts, and lifestyle teams, the individuals on the list are all aged 30 or under, based in the UK, and pushing

Henna Zinzuwadia, 27 - Sommelier and Culinary Innovator

Leicester-born Henna Zinzuwadia has redefined the role of a sommelier by pairing wines with cuisines often overlooked by the fine dining world Asian, African, Caribbean, and South American Her work has spotlighted global ingredients and challenged traditional perceptions of wine pairing

Her accolades speak volumes: GQ Sommelier of the Year 2022, People’s Choice Person of the Year by Be Inclusive Hospitality, and spots on both CODE’s 30 Under 30 and Perazim’s Top 25 Creatives in the UK Internationally, she’s even served as sommelier for the American Chamber of Commerce in Kenya

Zinzuwadia’s path to wine wasn’t conventional While studying economics at the University of Manchester, a fall from a six-metre slide at a trampoline park forced her to pause and reconsider her future That detour led her to Bedales wine bar in East London, where despite knowing little about wine she was captivated by the ritual and culture around it Bedales gave her a chance, and within a year she was hosting tastings She later earned certifications from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust and rose to general manager Her career has since taken her to Akoko, a West African fine dining spot, and Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai, an Indian restaurant in Fitzrovia Now freelance, she collaborates with MJ Wine Cellars and hosts her own tastings, bringing wine culture to new audiences

Simmy Dhillon, 27 - Co-founder of Simmer Eats

Simmy Dhillon co-founded Simmer Eats, a health-conscious meal delivery company that has become one of the UK’s fastest-growing businesses It all started modestly Dhillon, who grew up in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, cooked healthy meals at home and began selling extra portions to fellow students while studying economics at the University of Bristol

As demand grew, he took a year off to focus on the business, all while interning at Google and an investment bank, and even travelling before launching Simmer Eats in 2017

The company now offers more than 60 reheatable meals, with around 25 available weekly at an average price of £6 90 With national delivery, a team of 15, and £36 1 million in revenue for the year to January, Simmer Eats ranks 11th on the Sunday Times 100 list of the UK’s fastest-growing firms

A bo li sh i ng th e U K ’ s no n-

d o m i ci l ed ( no n- d o m ) ta x status could cost the economy up to £ 111 billion in lost gro wth by 2035 and result in ten s of t h o u sa nd s o f j o b

lo s se s, t h e A d a m S m i th Institute (A SI) has w arned

T h e t h i n k t a n k e s t imates that if just over half of the UK’s 21,100 remittance-

b a s e d n o n - d o m s w e r e t o leave, the country could lose 44,000 jobs by 2030 Even under a more moderate sce-

launched a new call for evidence to support its Plan for Change, inviting businesses, trade unions, civil society, and individuals with lived

future equality policy

regardless of people’s background This 12-week con-

strengthen the right to

n a r i o , b a s e d o n O x f o r d E c o n o m i c s ’ p r o j e c t i o n o f 7 , 0 9 4 d e p a r t u r e s , t h e U K could still face a £32 4 billion hit and more than 28,000 job losses

The ASI attributes these losses to falling investment, r e d u c e d c o n s u m e r s p e n ding, and lower tax revenue all linked to an anticipated exodus of wealthy individuals It argues that non-doms may leave the UK due to rising taxes on high-net-worth

abled people It will contribute to the development of the draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, due later this session, and follows the r

t y a n d disability pay gap reporting, which closes on 10 June Minister for Equalities, Seema Malhotra MP said, “Our goal is to understand how we can better remove barriers to opportunity and b o o s t h o u s e h o l d i n c o m e s across the country so people c a n a c h i e v e a c c o r d i n g t o their talents, irrespective of their backgrounds

Murvah Iqbal, 29 - Founder of Hived

In 2021, Murvah Iqbal launched Hived, a parcel delivery service powered entire-

known for poor customer satisfaction

Evri and Yodel scored just 32% and 38% r

Hived has offered a breath of fresh air

Today, its 250-vehicle fleet delivers for m

Nespresso across London

The startup has raised £30 million in investment and completed more than five million deliveries It’s now eyeing expansion in Birmingham and Manchester her hometown “Manchester is my hometown, so I’m excited about that,” Iqbal says Iqbal’s entrepreneurial instincts go way back As a teenager, she helped brand her uncle’s diner chain, Archie’s, and played football for Manchester City Women’s youth teams But it was a visit to Silicon Valley, where she toured Google and Tesla, that sparked her ambition to build something meaningful and scalable

individuals, political hostility toward wealth creators, and a weakening economic outlook M a x w

w , t

S I ’ s d i r e c t

o f p u b l i c affairs, warned the government is “risking a serious hole in the UK’s finances”

a n d c a l l e d f o r a n u r g e n t rethink He proposed adopting an Italian-style flat tax of £150,000 on foreign income to retain and attract nond o m s w h i

n g t

x revenue T h e T r e a s u

j e c t e d the ASI’s projections, stating, “The figures are incorrect and not recognised ” It cited the Office for Budget R e s p o n s i b i l i t y ’ s a n a l y s i s , which predicts the changes will raise £33 8 billion over five years The government says the reforms will ensure fairness, modernise the system, and attract global talent and investment

The government is seeking views on a wide range of topics, such as the extent of pay discrimination based on race and disability, and how to make equal pay protec-

also considering measures to stop outsourcing being used to avoid paying equal wages, and the creation of a dedicated Equal Pay Regulatory and Enforcement Unit with union involvement O

Henna Zinzuwadia

Murvah Iqbal

Simmy Dhillon

Seema Malhotra

Abu Dhabi BAPS mandir celebrates Ram Navmi and Swaminarayan Jayanti

AB U DH AB I: The BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi hos ted an ins piring cel ebration on Sunday, marking the birth annivers aries of Bhagwan Shri Ram and Shri Swa m i n ar a y a n Te n s of t hous a nd s

he mandir t his weekend to take part in the c elebrations A

vibrant series of devotional and cultural events Youth performers from the community presented d

dances that depicted the inspiring life and values of Bhagwan Shri Ram

residing in the UAE participated in this special occasion The day’s

events included: Devotional Ram bhajans and the celebration of Shri Ram Janmotsav; Shri Ram Janmotsav Aarti; Cultural presentations on the Mandir’s Ganga Ghat, which is uniquely designed to reflect the spiritual confluence

Saraswati rivers; Special assembly

Janmotsav In addition, the birth

Swaminarayan was commemo-

Janmotsav Aarti These festivities in Abu Dhabi were part of a glob-

Mandirs in India and around the world, honoring Ram Janmotsav and Swaminarayan Jayanti with d

reflection

Carney joins Ram Navam i cel ebrat ions in Toronto C

Mark Carney joined members of

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto to mark the first day

social media following his visit: “Joined Hindu community memb

Mandir yesterday for the first day o

Thank you for sharing your traditions and culture with me Happy Ram Navami!”

70 pro-Awami League lawyers jailed to face assault charges

DHA K A : A court in Dh aka sent to p rison 70 lawyers kno wn for t h ei r s up p or t fo r th e A w am i

L eague party to face charg es of “ assau lt” and “attempt to m ur-

d er ” of fellow adv ocates d uring las t year ’ s m ass up ris ing th at t o p p le d th en P M S h e i kh Hasina’s gov t

Court officials said Dhaka’s

m e t r o p o l i t a n s e s s i o n s j u d g e M o h a m m a d Z a k i r H o s s a i n

ordered the lawyers to be sent to prison after they appeared on

the dock with bail pleas The court, however, granted bail to nine female lawyers and Dhaka B a r ’ s f o r m e r p r e s i d e n t A b u Sayeed Sagor

Earlier, the lawyers secured anticipatory bail from the high court for eight weeks and surrendered before the lower court after the period was exhausted Immediately after the order, t h e l a w y e r s w e r e e s c o r t e d t o prison vans for Dhaka Central Jail

Cases were filed against 144 lawyers who were charged with assault and attempt to murder during last year ’ s protests and retaliatory attacks that left 1,400 people dead

Security tightened for Hindu festival

T h e B a n g l a d e s h a r m y o n

Sunday said troops enforced a security vigil across the country as thousands of Hindus celebrated “Maha Ashtami”, “Basanti Puja” and took holy dip “The

Hindu festivals are being celebrated with the participation of tens of thousands of followers of ‘Sanatan’ (Hindu) faith in different regions of the country amid utmost peace, ” the army said in a s t a t e m e n t I t s a i d t r o o p s a r e actively performing their duties to ensure security at pandals, ghats, and religious places, It said the military held meetings with Hindu community leaders a n d p u j a o r g a n i s e r s , a s s u r i n g them of security for the festival

Dhaka slams NYT report that claims rise in Islamist extremism

DH A K A : Ba ngl a d es h h a s d i smi ssed as “mi sleadi ng ” an NYT report, which cl ai med that whil e th e country works to rebui ld its d em o c ra c y an d s h ap e a n ew f uture for its 17 5 mi llio n people, a “ s tr ea k o f I s l am i s t ex tr em i s m ” th at had been hi dd en beneath its s ecu lar surface i s now emergi ng

C h i e f a d v i s e r M u h a m m a d Yunus’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam said the article, titled ‘As

n g

Opening’ paints a one-sided view o f t h e c o u n t r y A l a m , i n a Facebook post, said this portrayal not only over simplifies the political and social dynamics of the c o u n t r y b u t a l s o r i

n f a i r l y smearing an entire nation “It is c r u c

over the last year and the com-

Myanmar military declares temporary truce; quake toll crosses 3,000

BA NGK OK : Myanmar’s ruling junta declared a temporary ceasefire in the country’s civil war to facilitate relief efforts after a 7 7 magnitude earthquake that h as killed more than 3, 000 peo ple

The announcement was reported on state television, which said the truce would run until April 22 It followed unilateral temporary truce announced by armed resistance groups The groups must refrain from attacking the state or else the military will take “ necessary ” measures, the army said Earlier, rescuers pulled two men alive from the ruins of a hotel in Myanmar’s capital and a third from a guesthouse in another city, five days after the quake The quake also rocked Thailand, where one body was removed from the rubble, raising the toll in Bangkok to 22

Sewa International seeks urgent help

Sewa International USA has issued an urgent appeal for support

The natural disaster has left thousands of families without shelter, food, and access to medical care, with homes destroyed and entire neighborhoods struggling to survive

Sewa International, said in a press release it has mobilized its teams on the ground, working around the clock to deliver emergency aid and long-term assistance The organization has already distributed 2,000 face masks and white cloth to assist in immediate relief, but the need for essential supplies continues to grow

The organization is now urgently requesting donations of critical items such as safety gear for legs and arms, N95 masks, safety goggles, white cloth to wrap bodies, and clothing for women relief workers These materials are vital for both frontline workers and the communities affected by the disaster, it said

In addition to material support, Sewa International is calling on the global community to contribute financially Donations will be used to provide food, clean water, medical supplies, and emergency shelter to those most in need

than relying on selective, incendiary examples that paint an inaccurate picture,” he said In the political vacuum that has emerged after the overthrow of “authoritarian leader (Sheikh Hasina)”, religious fundamentalists in one town declared young women could no longer play soccer, says the report In another, they forced police to free a man

who had harassed a woman for not covering her hair in public, the NYT article said “More brazen calls followed Demonstrators at a rally in Dhaka, the capital, warned that if the govt did not give the death penalty to anyone who disrespected Islam, they would carry out executions with their own hands Days later, an outlawed group held a large march demanding an Islamic caliphate ”

Trump administration using new tactics to expel international students, say colleges

WAS H IN GT O N: A crackdown o n foreign students is alarming c olleges , who s ay th e T ru mp administration is using new tactics and vagu e ju sti fi cations to p ush so me stu dents o ut o f the co untry College officials worry the new approach will keep foreigners from wanting to stu dy in the US

Students stripped of their entry visas are receiving orders

Homeland Security to leave the country immediately - a break from past practice that often

complete their studies

activism or criminal infractions

Others have been left wondering how they ran afoul of the government

President Edward Inch told the

c a m p u s t h a t v i s a s h a d b e e n revoked for five international students for unclear reasons

in brief

CATHOLIC PRIEST FROM ANDHRA SHOT DEAD IN US

A Catholic priest from Andhra Pradesh was shot and killed by a man who approached him at his parish rectory in Kansas church officials said An Oklahoma man is being held on suspicion of the killing Officers found Arul Carasala, who hailed from Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh, with gunshot wounds outside the rectory of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church The priest, 57, was rushed to a hospital, where he died “I am heartbroken to share the tragic news of the death of Fr Arul Carasala who was fatally shot earlier today ” said Archbishop Joseph Naumann “This senseless act of violence has left us grieving the loss of a beloved priest leader and friend ” Carasala had been the pastor at the church since 2011 He was ordained priest in Kadapa diocese on March 4 1994

INDIAN STABBED TO DEATH IN CANADA

An Indian national has been stabbed to death in Canada s Rockland area near Ottawa the Indian Embassy in Canada said One suspect has been taken into custody It did not identify the victim While details of the incident are awaited the Embassy informed that they are providing all possible assistance to the victim s family According to CTV News, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said a shooting incident happened near Lalonde Street in Rockland The site is roughly 40 km east of downtown Ottawa Police have not yet said what charges the person in custody faces, the report said

INDIAN AMERICAN JUDGE HELD FOR ‘EMBEZZLING’ FUND

Fort Bend county judge K P George, a prominent Indian-American elected official, was arrested on two felony counts of money laundering over allegations of wire fraud and falsification of a campaign finance report George a Democrat who has served as county judge since 2018 and re-elected in 2022 was booked into the county jail and released after posting $20 000 for bail The charges carry a maximum prison term of 10 years He has denied any wrongdoing and said the indictments are politically driven According to court records, George is accused of laundering between $30,000 and $1,50,000

BANGLADESH GRANTS LICENCE FOR MUSK'S STARLINK

H e s a i d s c h o o l o f f i c i a l s learned about the revocations when they ran a status check in a database of international students after the detention of a T u r k i s h s t u d e n t a t t h e

U n i v e r s i t y o f M i n n e s o t a i n M i n n e a p o l i s T h e S t a t e Department said the detention was related to a drunken driving conviction

“These are troubling times, and this situation is unlike any we have navigated before,” Inch wrote in a letter to campus

P r e s i d e n t D o n a l d T r u m p campaigned on a promise to d e p o r t f o r e i g n s t u d e n t s i n v o l v e d i n p r o - P a l e s t i n i a n p r o t e s t s , a n d f e d e r a l a g e n t s started by detaining Columbia g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t M a h m o u d Khalil, a green-card-holder and P a l e s t i n i a n a c t i v i s t w h o w a s p r o m i n e n t i n p r o t e s t s a t Columbia last year Secretary of S t a t e M a r c o R u b i o s a i d l a s t week students are being targeted for involvement in protests

a l o n g w i t h o t h e r s t i e d t o “potential criminal activity ”

Bangladesh said it had granted a licence to tech billionaire Elon Musk s Starlink satellite internet service, as punishing US tariffs raise fears for its key garment sector The Starlink service will be unveiled at a govt-backed investment summit that opens in Dhaka “We granted them approval,” Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud, chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, said He added it was granted on March 28, days before US President Trump unveiled his wide-ranging tariff programme that sent global markets into a tailspin The new tariff on Bangladesh goods was set at 37%, hiking duties from the previous 16% on cotton

S KOREA COURT OUSTS YOON AS PRESIDENT

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted by the constitutional court, ushering in an election after it upheld parliament’s impeachment over his imposition of martial law that sparked the nation’s worst political crisis in decades The unanimous ruling caps months of political turmoil The decision now sets in motion a race to elect the next president within 60 days as required by the constitution PM Han Duck-soo will stay on as acting president until a new president is sworn in Lee Jae-myung the populist leader of the liberal Democratic Party who had lost to Yoon by a razor-thin margin in 2022, is a clear frontrunner but faces legal challenges of his own under multiple trials for corruption

PM Modi takes a swipe at DMK over language row

P r i m e M i ni s ter N are nd r a M o d i

t o o k a s w ip e a t T am i l N ad u ’ s g o v er ni ng DM K o v e r t h e

c o nt en ti o u s lan g u ag e i s s u e, questioning wh y politicians from th e s tate sig n o ffi ci al letters i n English “Tamil is a language of p rid e I am surp rised no one sig ns their name in Tamil,” h e said , u rging them to d o so

D M K

insufficient central funds, Modi countered that BJP-led Centre had allocated three times more money to Tamil Nadu than the previous

U P A a

c h DMK was a coalition partner “Yet, s o m

reason They keep crying about issues,” he said

Modi made the remarks while inaugurating the Pamban vertical lift railway bridge and a series of

£800mn across Tamil Nadu He stressed his govt’s commitment to Tamil Nadu’s development, citing a sharp increase in railway budget allocations for the state - from £

£600mn this year He also flagged off a new train service between Rameswaram and Tambaram in Chennai The comments on language

language policy under NEP 2020,

impose Hindi on the

perceived as favouring Hindi over regional languages

language of pride I urge everyone to at least sign their names in

born in Gujarat Today, after 100 years, the new Pamban bridge has b

born in Gujarat,” he said Sources said the construction o

Strait utilised 2,000 tonnes of steel and involved 200 workers During the construction of the old bridge materials were lost due to a severe

cholera impacted the labour force

medical education in the Tamil language

PM mentions Gujarat link

PM Modi while inaugurating the new Pamban bridge, spoke about the Gujarat link to the old

Pamban bridge was built by a man

4 Gujarati origin candidates contesting parliamentary poll in Canada

F o ur G uj a r a t i o r ig i n c a n di d a

a r e contesting parl ia me ntar y election in Can ada for the fir st time Whil e Punjabi pol itica l pr ese nce re ma ins dominan t, a ne w la yer of

r e p r e se n t at i on is b e in g b u il t b y G uj a ra t i candidat es who have spent decades l aying the g r o un d w or k i n b u si n e ss a n d so ci a l l e a d e r sh ip Ja y e s h B r a h m b ha t t f r om B rampton Chinguacousy is a civ il e ngineert u r n ed -r e a l e st a t e d ev e l o pe r B r a hm b ha t t a rrived in Can ada from Gujar at in 2001 Now, he is contesting on a People’s Par ty t icket , he is running for parl iament in a count ry he has cal led home for just over two de cade s

The other one, Sunjiv Raval, is standing from Calgary Midnapore on a Liberal ticket

He was born in Tanzania and has lived in C a l g a r y f o r o v e r 2 0 y e a r s D o n P a t e l , a successful realtor from Anand, was briefly the Conservative Party’s pick for Etobicoke

N o r t h b e f o r e b e i n g d r o p p e d e a r l i e r t h i s week, along with three other candidates But

A s h o k P a t e l a n d M i n e s h P a t e l a r e b o t h contesting as independents from Edmonton Sherwood and Calgary Skyview, respectively None of them are political insiders What binds them is a shared generational arc: immigrants who first built businesses, then communities, and now seek to shape policy

Hemant Shah, director of international trade at the Ottawa-based Overseas Friends of India Canada (OFIC), has seen this shift coming A long-time Winnipeg resident and respected community voice, Shah places the moment in perspective “Canada is home to more than 100,000 Gujaratis,” he says “The community is present in almost all major cities, but more so in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver Many came to the country as immigrants whereas many more arrived as students and settled here I have been in Canada for over four decades now, and in this election, we are perhaps witnessing the highest number of candidates of Gujarati origin Irrespective of their win, it i s a s i g n i f i c a n t s t e p i n e n

n g representation of the community, which is the second largest after Punjabis ” Political pundits have drawn parallels with the US, where Indian Americans of Gujarati origin such as Raj Shah (White House spokesperson in Trump’s first term) and Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel - the FBI directorhave moved from advisory roles to executive power Canada, long dominated by PunjabiCanadian figures in its diaspora politics, now appears poised to follow a broader, more plural arc

Don’t push us to the wall, J&K ruling

J & K ’ s g o v e rn i n g N a ti o n a l

C o nf e r e n ce ( NC) a n d a l ly Congress pa ssed a resoluti on s l a m m i n g l i e u te n a n tg o v e rn or ( LG ) M a no j Si n ha o v e r a l le g e d u s urp a ti on o f p o w e rs th ro ug h tra n s f e r o f o f fi c e rs a nd w a rn e d t he

C e n tr e - a pp o i n te d a uth or i ty “ not to push them to the wa ll”

The ultimatum went out from a meeting in Srinagar called by CM Omar Abdullah and attended by MLAs of NC,

C o n g r e s s a n d t w o i n d e p e n d e n t s s u p p o r t i n g s t a t e g o v t A s e p a r a t e resolution was passed at the meeting condemning Waqf Act

A l t h o u g h N C a n d i t s allies didn’t name Sinha, he offered a rare response on t h e c l a i m s “ W i t h a l l responsibility, I’m saying I

h a v e n ’ t d o n e a n y t h i n g beyond J&K Reorganisation Act passed by Parliament on

Aug 5, 2019 I know my limits and I won’t overstep them,” he said during an event in Jammu

The bone of contention e m e r g e d o n A p r i l 1 w h e n Sinha ordered transfers of 48 J a m m u K a s h m i r A d m i n i s t r a t i v e S e r v i c e officers while CM and other NC members were away for Eid holidays

At the meeting, NC and its allies made it clear they would not brook any further “interference” and declared t h a t s i m i l a r m o v e s i n t h e future would be taken to “the floor of the assembly”

N C l e g i s l a t o r a n d s p o k e s p e r s o n T a n v i r S a d i q asserted that Omar-led govt had been coordinating with L G “ T h i s c o o r d i n a t i o n should not be mistaken for weakness We are here with our final appeal - don’t push us to the wall People of J&K

gave a mandate through an election (result) in Oct 2024 and that must be respected Anyone who fails to do so is insulting the people of J&K

a n d t h e i r m a n d a t e , ” S a d i q s a i d C o n g r e s s l e g i s

S a d i q ’ s a s s e r t i o n s a n d declared his party stood with NC and Omar on the issue

Rameswaram for decades until a parallel road bridge was built in 1988

Stalin skips PM’s event Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin did not attend PM Modi's function in the state, citing prior engagements in the Nilgiris Modi should allay the fears of people of Tamil Nadu

delimitation exercise, Stalin said Modi should also ensure that

bridge was taken by the British in N o v 1 9 0 8 T h

w a s completed in Dec 1913 and was inaugurated on Feb 25, 1914, by Lord John Sinclair, the first Baron Pentland, who was the governor of Madras from 1912 to 1919

The bridge had provision to allow ships to pass beneath it The Pamban rail bridge was the sole

21 killed in blast at firecracker godown in Deesa

th em from Madh ya Pradesh, l

m ass ive exp lo s io n t rigger ed t h e c o l la p s e o f a n ill eg al ly

o perating firec rac ker godow n in an indu strial area of Deesa to wn in Banaskantha dis trict las t week

P o l i c e s a i d a l l v i c t i m s were buried under the debris and had no time to escape d u e t o t h e s u d d e n a n d intense nature of the blast Most of them also sustained b u r n s a s t h e e x p l o s i o n triggered a fire fuelled by the f i r e c r a c k e r s T h e v i c t i m s i n c l u d e d a t l e a s t f o u r

children The explosion was so powerful that body parts of s o m e v i c t i m s w e r e f o u n d scattered in a farm 200-300 metres away from the site, s a i d B a n a s k a n t h a c o l l e c t o r

Mihir Patel He added that the families of the deceased labourers were also living on t h e s a m e p r e m i s e s T h e

victims from MP came just two days ago to work in the godown Superintendent of police

Akshayraj Makwana said the warehouse was operated by Khoobchand Thakkar and his son Deepak, both residents of

D e e s a “ T h e l o c a l c r i m e

b r a n c h h a s a r r e s t e d

K h o o b c h a n d a n d h i s s o n

D e e p a k W e w i l l i n v o k e

s t r i n g e n t c h a r g e s a g a i n s t them for endangering lives

We will ensure a watertight

c h a r g e s h e e t t o s e c u r e m a x i m u m p u n i s h m e n t f o r them,” Makwana said

i n

p e c t e d t h e p r e m i s e s o n March 12 but did not find any explosives at the time “After t

S t a t e g o v t s p o k e s m a n a n d h e a l t h m i n i s t e r Rushikesh Patel said that a t e a m f r o m t h e S P ’ s o f f i c

SC clears 10 bills withheld by TN governor

T h e S u p r em e C o u r t o n T u es da y c r i ti c i s ed T am i l Nadu go verno r RN Ravi fo r sitti ng over 10 bi lls passed by the legis lative Assembly, and too k the rare step of clearing the bills Th e co urt u

r e g u l a

years On Tuesday, the twojudge bench of Justice JB

P a r d i w a l a a n d J u s t i c e R

1 4 2 o f t h e

p o we rs u nder Arti cle 1 42, which allows it to deliver " complete justice" A r t i c l

C o n s t i t u t i o n g i v e s t h e

S u p r e m e C o u r t e x t r a o r d i n a r y p o w e r s I t w

M a h a d e v a n h e l d t h e withholding of the bills as "illegal" and "liable to be set aside" The bench criticised the "pocket veto" used by Governor Ravi to delay the

India plans to set up base for nuclear submarines in Andhra

India pl ans to comm iss ion its st rategic new naval bas e f or nucle ar s ub marines and ot her wars hips in c oa stal Andhr a Prades h next year, with an eye firm ly on China’s eve r-expanding naval f oray s into the Indian Ocean Region, even as it progres sively upgrade s the already sprawling Ka rwar bas e in coastal K arnataka on the west ern s eaboard

The strategic base located near the small coastal village of Rambilli, just about 50-km south from the Eastern Naval Command

eastern seaboard, has underground pens and

submarines

quietly slip into the Bay of Bengal without detection from spy satellites and quickly head towards the critical Malacca Strait and beyond on deterrent patrols

“The first phase of the Rambilli base under Project Varsha is almost complete A f t e r c o m m i s

i n g i n 2

, i t c a n b e expanded and upgraded in phases, much like what is under way at the Karwar base under Project Seabird,” a source said It has taken well over a decade for the construction of the nuclear submarine base to reach this stage after overcoming major technological, environmental and other challenges

Shah calls Maoists as brothers, urges them to join mainstream

H o m e m i ni st e r A m it

Shah referr ed to Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar

a s “brothe rs ” and urged t hen to surre nder their

w e a p on s a n d j oi n t he

m a i n st r e a m , a s su r in g

t h e m p r ot e c t io n a n d i n t e g r a t i on i n t o t he

c oun t ry ’ s d ev e l op me nt

“I’ve come to request a ll

Na xal it e br ot hers: lay down

a rms, join the mainstrea m You ar e our own No one

r e joi ce s a t t he d e at h o f a

Na xal it e, ” he said Shah stressed the need for peace in Bastar to facili-

t a t e d e v e l o p m e n t “ W h a t could not happen in past 50 years, PM Modi wants to give everything in five years This can only happen when there is peace, ” he said at the clos-

i n g c e r e m o n y o f B a s t a r

P a n d u m f e s t i v a l i n

D a n t e w a d a - o n c e a

stronghold of Maoist insurgency but now an area where

security forces are gaining an upper hand In past three months, 521 M a o i s t s h a v e l a i d d o w n arms, while 881 surrenders were recorded in 2024, Shah said H

“Every village should have a small clinic, every tehsil a small hospital The district c

ment facilities for every dise

should receive 60kg of rice

have a ration card, an Aadhaar card, and a

the event that saw

tribal people

vowed that Bastar would be free from “red terror” by next

Chhattisgarh’s new surrender and rehabilitation policy, which grants £100,000 to villages that declare themselves “Naxal-free” He urged local communities to hold village m

Maoists to surrender, saying: “Security forces will continue to take the fight to those who choose the path of violence, but those who surrender will be welcomed with dignity ”

Union minister launches India's first climate change station in J&K

Singh launche d India’s first h i gh

t it u d e cl

r ese ar ch st at ion in Ja mmu a

district a nd said that In dia is n ow at the fore front of clim a t e f or e c a st i n g a n d r esearch in the Himala yas

G i v i n g c r e d i t t o P M

Modi for India”s leadership in climate change initiatives, Singh said this marks a significant milestone in India’s global leadership in climate science “Today, India opens a gateway into climate fore-

c a s t a n d r e s e a r c h

n t h e Himalayas,” Singh said while

i n a u g u r a t i n g t h e f i r s t

H i m a l a y a n h i g h - a l t i t u d e

a t m o s p h e r i c a n d c l i m a t e research center in the higher h i l l r e a c h e s o f N a t h a t o p , near here Singh was accom-

p a n i e d b y J a m m u a n d

Kashmir Minister of Science

a n d T e c h n o l o g y S a t i s h

Sharma “This move marks a s i g n i f i c a n t m i l e s t o n e i n India’s global leadership in c l i m a t e s c i e n c e , ” S h a r m a said, adding that Jammu and K a s h m i r i s l e a d i n g I n d i a ’ s global initiative in climate study and research in the Himalayas

T h e s t a t e - o f - t h e - a r t facility, situated at one of the h i g h e s t a l t i t u d e s i n t h e region, is expected to serve as a crucial gateway for cutting-edge climate research in the northwestern Himalayas Singh also flagged off the I n d o - S w i s s j o i n t r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t “ I c e - C r u n c h ( I c e n u c l e a t i n g p a r t i c l e s a n d

c l o u d c o n d e n s a t i o n n u c l e i properties in the northwest-

ern Himalayas)” - a collaborative study between Indian s c i e n t i s t s a n d r e s e a r c

s f r o m E T H Z

i c h , S w i t z e r l a n d , a i m e d a t exploring the properties of ice nucleating particles and cloud condensation nuclei in the region

“This is not just a scientific milestone, it is a historic moment With the establishment of this station, we are opening up a new gateway i n t o c l i m a t e r e s e a r c h a n d s t u d i e s i n t h e H i m a l a y a s , with India leading the way, ” S i n g h s a i

Jammu and Kashmir for this facility was deliberate, lever-

a g i n g i t s h i g h - a

t i t u d e advantage for more accurate

a t m o s p h e r i c a n d c l i m a t e measurements

Muslim bodies, DMK move

SC against Waqf act

T w o d ays af ter Waq f ( Amendment) Act came into

f o rc e, i ts c o ns ti tu ti o n al v ali d i t y w as c h all en g ed

b efo re Su p rem e C o urt by

D M K , M au la na A rs h ad M ad ani of Jamiat Ulam a-eHind, the A ll Ind ia M uslim

P e rs o na l L aw B o ar d , a nd

S am astha Kerala Jam iathul

U lema The petitions object p rimarily to the elimination o f the ‘ waqf by user ’ p rov ision and alleg ed “ ou ster of M uslim s ” from waqf m anagement

Senior advocates Kapil

S i b a l a n d A M S i n g h v i , appearing for Madani and t h e K e r a l a I s l a m i c b o d y , requested a bench led by CJI

S a n j i v K h a n n a f o r u r g e n t h e a r i n g o n t h e p e t i t i o n s But the CJI refused to deviate from the ‘ no mentioning for urgent listing’ principle

b u t s a i d t h e s e p e t i t i o n s would be listed as soon as possible

Laying out its challenge to changes carried out to the 2013 Waqf Act in detail, the Kerala outfit of clerics said the amendments “display a p a t e n t d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a g a i n s t M u s l i m s , b a s e d purely on religion, ousting them from carrying out any meaningful administration of an entity that is a creation of their very religion ” I n c l u s i o n o f n o nM u s l i m s i n t h e C e n t r a l Waqf Council and the Board of Auqaf exhibited a “deep lack of trust on the part of l e g i s l a t o r s ” i n a l l - M u s l i m council and board to carry out the duties and functions of the two bodies, it said DMK MP A Raja, who w a s p a r t o f t h e J o i n t P a r l i a m e n t a r y C o m m i t t e e on the waqf bill, in his petition said the changes violated the fundamental rights of M u s l i m c o m m u n i t y M a d a n i ’ s p e t i t i o n , f i l e d

Jaishankar and US Secretary Rubio hold talks on bilateral trade deal

India's external affairs minister S Jaish ankar and U S S ec r eta ry o f S t ate M a rc o Rubio o n Mo nd ay agreed on the need for early conclusion o f th e proposed Ind iaU S bilateral trade deal

The issue figured prominently during a phone conv

Jaishankar and Rubio that

announced reciprocal tariffs for around 50 countries, including India I

announced the tariffs on April 2 In a post on X on the phone conversation, Jaishankar said it was agreed on the importance of the early conclusion of the bilateral trade agreement between India and the US Jaishankar also said that he and Rubio exchanged perspectives on the Indo-Pacific, the Indian subcontinent, Europe, Middle East and the Caribbean

"Good to speak with @SecRubio today Exchanged perspectives on the Indo-Pacific, the Indian subcontinent, Europe, Middle East/West Asia and the Caribbean," he said

t h r o u g h F u z a i l

ment of implementation of t h e c h a n g e s b r o u g h t i n t o the Waqf Act saying these amendments were destructive of the centuries-old tradition of waqf administration as it omitted ‘waqf by user ’ from the definition of waqf He said the provision requiring submission of evidence in support of a particular asset being a waqf property would render centuriesold mosques vulnerable to govt takeover of the land

Earlier, the Rajya Sabha p a s s e d t h e W a q f (Amendment) Bill with 128 v o t e s i n f a v o u r a n d 9 5 against after a marathon 15h o u r d e b a t e T h e l e n g t h y debate, marked by acrimon i o u s e x c h a n g e s , e n d e d with the opposition seeking a division and the bill sailing through with NDA’s ‘ secular’ allies firmly in its corner

"Agreed on the importance of the early conclusion of

Jaishankar added Following talks between

first tranche of the bilateral trade agreement by

Representative Brendan Lynch visited India and held talks with his

Nikhil Gupta to face trial in Nov for Pannun murder plot

I nd i a n n ati o na l N ik h i l

G up ta, i nd ic te d by U S autho rities for p lotti ng to k il l S i k h s ep ar ati s t Gurp atwant Singh P annun, will g o o n trial o n No v 3 and not in June or Ju ly as was earlier propo sed A US district judge of t h e S o u t h e r n D i s t r i c t o f New York finalised the date for the trial, which will last only for a week, after both p r o s e c u t i o n a n d d e f e n c e sought postponement of the trial to allow them to file pretrial motions to resolve legal issues that may have a bearing on the trial

In a Feb 28 order, the court had asked both parties to suggest a trial date in June or July While the parties also said in their latest sub-

mission that they anticipate d t h e t r i a l t o l a s t f o

k s , t h e c o u r t a l l o w e d o n l y a week to wrap up the trial Gupta, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges against h i m , h a s b e e n h e l d i n a detention centre since the Czech Republic, where he was first detained, extradited him to the US on June 14 last year Gupta stands accused of h i r i n g a h i t m a n f o r

official identified

unravelled as the hit man turned out to be a federal u

7 killed as man posing as British heart surgeon

performs surgeries

Aut horities in Ma dhya Pr ade sh’s Damoh dist rict ar e in vestig atin g a ca se of med ica l fra ud a ft er a man posing as a Brit ish hea rt sur geon a llege dly perform ed surge ries at a priv ate mission ar y hospita l, r esult ing in the dea th of a t le ast seve n people within a mont h Allegations were made by Damoh Child W e l f a r e C o m m i t t e e p r e s i d e n t D e e p a k Tiwari who claimed that a person called N John Kem took up the job in the Christian missionary hospital, impersonating a famous British doctor by the same name, claiming to be a cardiologist He then performed heart s u r g e r i e s o n p a t i e n t s T h e p a t i e n

w h o underwent surgery died later on, officials said National Human Rights Commission member Priyank Kanoongo alleged said an investigation would be conducted into this incident Taking to his X account, Kanoongo wrote: “A case has come to light involving the untimely deaths of seven people during heart surgeries performed by a fake doctor at a missionary hospital under the guise of treating heart disease According to the complaint, the missionary hospital is covered u n d e r t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r ’ s A y u s h m

Bharat scheme, and government funds have also been misused”

Pannun’s assassination

According to the depart-

hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and, if convicted, faces a maximum

Supreme Court judges to make their assets, liabilities public

Sup r em e C ou rt j ud ge s l e d b y CJ I S an j iv Khanna have unanim ousl y dec ided to make public their ass ets and liabilities as a dor mant is sue about wealt h of constitutional c ourt judge s was revived after the all eged dis covery of a huge am ount of cas h at high cour t judge Justice Yas hwant Varm a ’ s of ficial residence on Marc h 14

CJI Khanna mooted the proposal before the collegium comprising himself and Justices B R Gavai, Surya Kant, A S Oka and Vikram Nath and later, the issue was put forth before a full court meeting All judges agreed to the proposal to make public their assets and liabilities by posting it on the apex court’s website The SC in a press release said 30 of the 33 SC judges, including the CJI, have declared their assets Two newly appointed judgesJustices K Vinod Chandran and Joymalya Bagchi - are yet to declare their assets and liabilities to the CJI The SC has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges but one post is vacant

“The assets and liabilities statements of j u d g e s , w h i c h

e m a n d a

i l y d e c

e d before the CJI by every judge of the SC and, thereafter, kept in sealed cover, is likely to be uploaded on the SC website by the end of this month,” an SC source said

Home Minister Amit Shah at a cultural event in Dantewada

S Jaishankar and Marco Rubio

Gurpatwant Singh

Pannun

Protect minorities, PM Modi tells Muhammad Yunus

said India’s relationship is with the country and not with any political party or organisation India, Thailand sign 5 MoUs India and Thailand upgraded

committ ed a gain st them

In their first bilateral meeting since the formation of the interim govt in Dhaka in Aug 2024, Modi sought positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh based on pragmatism, and urged Yunus to avoid rhetoric that could vitiate t h e a t m o s p h

meeting took place on the sidelines o

r a

c h n i c a l a n d Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) summit in Bangkok Yunus came to the meeting armed with his own l i s t o f i s s u e s D h a k a c o n s i d e r s important, including the extradit i o n o f S h

r killings and pending Teesta watersharing agreement

Modi touched upon the issue of elections in Bangladesh as he reiterated India's support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh “The PM underlined that India believed in a p e o p l e - c e n t r i c

p p

o a c h t o t h e relationship and highlighted the c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e t w o countries over a long period that has delivered tangible benefits to people in both countries,” said for-

e i g n s e c r e t a r y V i k r a m M i s r

security agencies, as PM Modi held bilateral talks with his counterpart P

a M o d i backed “Asean unity” and “Asean centrality”, saying that in the IndoPacific region, both countries advoc

comprehensive strategic partner of India, and in this region, as neigh-

have shared interests in regional peace, stability, and prosperity we believe in development and not expansionism,” said Modi, alluding to the threat that several Asean States feel from increasing Chinese

assertiveness in South China Sea India and Thailand signed five MoUs, including one between min-

Thailand foreign ministry Modi said the countries emphasised on

northeastern states Modi thanked Thailand for the cooperation in facilitating the return of Indian victims of cybercrime Modi said that Thailand held a special place in India’s Act East Policy and its Indo-

ments signed to foster cooperation in the areas of MSME, handloom and handicrafts

Myanmar urged to restore democratic process

In a meeting with Myanmar

Aung Hlaing, PM Modi underlined the importance of early restoration

Myanmar, including through credi-

ble and inclusive elections He said India would support all efforts, as it has in the past, to foster trust and

Myanmar-led transition towards

future

Modi offered condolences at

Dubai Crown Prince meets PM Modi and

Rajnath,

discusses trade and defence

T he v isiting Crown Prince o f Du bai, Sh eikh Hamdan bin Mohamm ed bin Rashid

A l M ak to u m , m e t P ri m e M inister Narendra Mod i as w ell a s D ef en ce M i ni st er Rajnath Sing h and discussed trade ties and stepping up d efence m anufacturing collaboration

The Crown Prince, who

i s a l s o t h e U A E

y Prime Minister and Minister

o f D e f e n c e , m e t E x t e r n a l Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as well

Modi posted on X after

t h e m e e t i n g : “ D u b a i h a s played a key role in advanci n g t h e I n d i a - U A E

C o m p r e h e n s i v e S t r a t e g i c P a r t n e r s h i p T h i s s p e c i a l

v i s i t r e a f f i r m s o u r d e e prooted friendship and paves the way for even stronger collaboration in the future ”

Recalling his visit to the UAE last year during which he participated in the World

G o v e r n m e n t S u m m i t i n Dubai as Guest of Honour,

t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r s a i d

Sheikh Hamdan’s visit “signified generational continuity in the strong and historic ties between India and the

U A E , e m p h a s i s i n g t h e enduring partnership built o n m u t u a l t r u s t a n d a shared vision for the future”

“They discussed ways to f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n t h e India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, especially in the areas of trade, investments, defence, energy, technology, education, sports and people-to-people ties,” a PMO statement said PM Modi expressed his gratitude to the leadership of the UAE for ensuring the welfare of around 4 3 mill i o n I n d i a n s l i v i n g i n t h e UAE, the statement said According to a Defence Ministry statement, Rajnath a n d S h e i k h H a m d a n “expressed happiness on the current defence cooperation

the loss of life and the damage caused by the recent earthquake in Myanmar and the leaders discussed I

humanitarian aid, disaster relief, a

Myanmar Unlike the West, India has continued to engage with the military in Myanmar because of the n e e d f o r c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e

Asean country to check the activities of insurgent groups active in the border areas

Won’t let our land be used against India: Lanka

Amid growing Chinese footprint in the Indian Ocean, India s i g n e d i t s f i r s t e v e r M o U f o r d e f e n c e c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h S r i Lanka that will help both sides formalise and enhance cooperation between their armed forces The agreement was one of the highlights of PM Modi’s visit to strategically-located neighbour that also saw a major boost for energy ties in the form of a grid inter-connectivity pact that will allow Sri Lanka to e x p o r t e l e c t r i c i t y a n d a n o t h e r

MoU for developing Trincomalee as an energy hub

T h e b i l a t e r a l m e e t w a s f o llowed by signing of 7 MoUs and agreements The heads acknowle d g e d t h a t s e c u r i t y i n t e r e s t s o f India and Sri Lanka are interlinked a n d P r e s i d e n t A n u r a K u m a r a

Dissanayake reassured India that he won’t allow Lankan land or the

oceans around it to be used in any way inimical to India ’ s security interests or regional stability Modi also announced a debt restructuring agreement that, he said, will provide immediate assistance and relief to the people of Sri Lanka, along with reduced interest rates on loans On the sensitive issue of fishermen, the two decided to handle it with a humane approach with Modi emphasising on immediate release of fishermen and their b o a t s O n t h e T a m i l i s s u e , Dissanayake briefed Modi about his “inclusive” approach and the Indian PM expressed hope that the Sri Lankan govt would meet the aspirations of the Tamil people and fulfil its commitment towards f

conducting provincial council elections

PM Modi honoured

through institutional mech-

exchange of training programmes

acknowledged that defence

progress made in other areas such as trade and business

exchanges as one of the key areas of defence cooperation,” it said

According to the statement, the two leaders said

between the defence industries should be an integral part of the bilateral coopera-

opportunities for enhancing their partnership in defence manufacturing

T h e U ni t ed S ta te s h as impo sed 104 per cent tari ffs on China, effective Ap ril 9, the White H ouse has conf i rm ed T h e d ev el o p m en t f o l lo w s a wa rn i n g a n d a one-day deadli ne issued by P resident Donald Trump to China demanding the ro llback o f its 34 p er cent duty o n US impo rts A 20 p er cent levy impo sed in March and a 34 p er cent increase last week have brou gh t total tariffs on Chinese imp orts to 104 per cent

E a r l i e r t h i s w e e k ,

T r u m p h a d s t a t e d t h a t

China would face an additional 50 per cent tariff on t o p o f a n a l r e a d y announced 34 per cent levy unless it reversed its reciprocal tariffs on US imports within one day The White

H o u s e ’ s c o n f i r m a t i o n

marks the implementation of these combined tariffs

In response to the initial 34 per cent US tariff, China

a n n o u n c e d a 3 4 p e r c e n t

r e c i p r o c a l t a r i f f o n U S

g o o d s , e f f e c t i v e A p r i l 1 0

China’s Commerce Ministry stated it would take coun-

oured PM Modi with the Mitra Vibhushana award “This honour, which was introduced in 2008, is conferred upon heads of states and govt for their friendship, and PM Modi highly deserves this honour; that is what we firmly believe,” Dissanayake said Earlier in the day, Modi was accorded a historic

Independence Square - the first time that Sri Lanka has honoured a visiting leader in this manner

104% tariffs imposed on China, confirms White House

t e r m e a s u r e

its lowest level since January Chinese government bonds have seen a sharp rally On April 2, Trump also announced 26 per cent tariffs on imports from India, labelling them "reciprocal" tariffs as part of a broader trade policy shift

PM Modi in a group photograph with Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and other dignitaries

Muhammad Yunus & PM Narendra Modi

PM Narendra Modi attends the 6th BIMSTEC Summit at Bangkok

PM Narendra Modi meets the Senior General of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Mr Min Aung Hlaing

PM Narendra Modi presented with the Holy Scriptures: “World Ti-pitaka: Sajjhaya Phonetic Edition” by the Prime Minister of Thailand, Ms Paetongtarn Shinawatra

PM Narendra Modi being conferred with the Sri Lanka’s prestigious “Mithra Vibhushana medal by the Sri Lankan President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Fun-filled ideas for kids this Easter holiday in the UK

As spring blossoms across the UK and schools break up for the Easter holidays, it’s the perfect time for families to enjoy quality time together Whether you're looking to keep your children entertained indoors or outdoors, there are plenty of exciting activities and events to explore during the Easter break From egg hunts to creative workshops, here’s a roundup of ideas to make the most of the Easter holidays with your little ones:

1. Join an Easter egg hunt

No Easter is complete without the thrill of an egg hunt! The National Trust and English Heritage sites across the UK are hosting Easter trails, where children can explore beautiful gardens and historic estates while collecting clues and chocolate rewards Look out for

House, or Waddesdon Manor

2. Get creative with Easter crafts

Set up a craft station at home and let kids design Easter cards, decorate eggs, or make

b u n n y m a

community centres also offer themed craft workshops over the break It's a great way to

Easter treats Some chocolatiers and venues

children during Easter week

5. Enjoy the great outdoors

With longer daylight hours, it's the ideal time to head to local parks or countryside trails Pack a picnic, take scooters or bikes, and make the most of the sunshine Woodland walks and nature scavenger hunts are also great for keeping kids engaged

6 Catch a family show or movie

Theatres across the UK come alive with f a

holidays, while cinemas offer plenty of festive

unleash creativity while learning about the holiday's symbols and traditions

3 Visit a farm

Spring is lambing season, making it a great time to visit a local farm Children can feed animals, pet baby goats and chicks, and even see lambs being born Farms like Willows

(Buckinghamshire) offer hands-on fun for the whole family

4 Chocolate making workshops

I f y o u r k i d s a r e c h o c o h o l i c s , b o o k a chocolate-making workshop where they can learn how to mould and decorate their own

An independent boo ksh op i n Wo rcester has launched

t h e c it y ’ s fi r st c h i ld re n ’ s literature festival, with all events o ffered on a " pay-as-

y o u - f e el b as i s S cr

va l from Su nday to Friday 18 Ap ril B o o k s h o p o w n e r a n d former Worcestershire poet

l a u r e a t e L e e n a B a t c h e l o r said the pricing model aims

t o m a k e t h e f e s t i v a l accessible for all families

“ I t ’ s

buying a book and books can feel like a luxury,” said Script Haven owner Leena B a t c h e l o r A

s t i v a l , families can pay what they wish - or nothing at all - for e v e n t s i n c l u d

unique movie experience from 17 to 19 April Audiences can

cars, with a special line-up of

Bhaijaan, Amar Akbar Anthony, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and Jab We Met (all with English

Robot (2pm, Friday 18 April) and 90s action hit Speed (7pm, Friday 18 April)

7 Explore a castle or museum

Many heritage sites and museums have i n t e r a c t i v

activities specially designed for children The Tower of London, Warwick Castle, and the N a t u r a l H i s t o r y M u s e

m a r e a l w a y s favourites with kids

8. Try baking together

Get into the kitchen and try baking Easter favourites like hot cross buns, bunny-shaped biscuits, or a traditional Simnel cake Kids love mixing, decorating, and (of course) eating the results!

creative writing workshops A c

Toddler accidentally eats grandfather's ashes

A mother in the UK was stunned to discover that her toddler had eaten the ashes of her late father after they were kept in an urn in their living room Natasha Emeny had left her toddler alone in the room to put away clothes, and when she returned, she was mortified to find her one-year-old son Koah covered in her late father s cremated ashes In a video filmed by the shocked mother, the child can be seen with ashes all over him as a hysterical Emeny kept repeating that he "ate her dad " She claimed that the urn was out of her son's reach as it was placed on a top shelf, but the child was somehow able to access it and decided to snack on his grandfather's ashes

Sanitation worker gets £3 4mn I-T notice

A sanitation worker in Agra drawing a monthly salary of Rs 15,000 received a £3 4mn income tax notice The letter, issued on March 22, reads: “As per the records, the assessee, Karan Kumar, has not filed his ITR for AY 2019-20 As per the record/system the assessee has an income of Rs 33,85,85,368 for 2019-20 ” The 34year-old Karan said he received the I-T notice on March 29 Initially, he did not understand the content of the notice He got the jolt of his life after he came to know what was written in the notice after he consulted some people “I am a sanitation worker at the SBI branch in Khair area of the city I joined this job on a contractual basis in 2021 Today, I lodged a complaint at Chandaus police station,” said Karan Karan claimed his PAN card is being misused by someone He said that in 2019, he was employed at a private company and during this time, the management asked for some documents, including his PAN

Water bottle thrown from train kills boy

A 14-year-old boy, Badal Santosh Singh, was killed after being hit by a bottle of water thrown from a moving train, near the railway tracks in Shapar Veraval on the outskirts of Rajkot Police are yet to file an FIR in this case According to police, Badal and a friend were playing beside the Shapar Veraval railway tracks A plastic bottle, full of water, thrown from a passing train, struck Badal in the chest, causing him to lose consciousness immediately Paramedics soon arrived but pronounced him dead at the spot The police have ordered a forensic postmortem to ascertain the exact cause of death Investigators said Badal lived with his family in the Shantidham area of Shapar Veraval The family is from Madhya Pradesh He was his parents’ only son Bengal man turns bed into car

No other place is a better repository of human creativity than the Internet And when it comes to “desi jugaad,” or innovative creations, not many do it better than Indians The latest is a West Bengal man's creation - a "bed car" A video of Nawab Sheikh behind the wheel cruising on the roads of Murshidabad to the amusement of motorcycle riders is going viral on Instagram The clip shows a bed transformed into a mobile vehicle, with four wheels and brakes It is powered by a motor and regulated by a steering system Besides having a mattress, colourful bedsheet, and pillows, the bed has a peculiar addition: side mirrors attached to either side of the footboard Social media users flocked to the comments section and reacted to this unique creation One user wrote, “India is not for beginners ” A second user quipped, “69 missed calls from rolls Royce,” followed by a laughing emoticon “This can only be seen in India,” a third remarked

Pak man's tip changed Indian student's life

A simple act of generosity from a Pakistani immigrant in Canada changed the life of an Indian student, touching millions online Hamza Aziz, a nurse and influencer, recently shared the inspiring story of Navneet, an Uber Eats delivery driver from Punjab Unlike others, Navneet was the only driver willing to return to the restaurant to correct an incorrect order- a small but meaningful act that earned him a CAD 100 ( Rs 6,000) tip from Hamza Curious about his journey, Hamza asked Navneet what drives him The young student spoke about his hardships - years spent away from family and his relentless pursuit of a dream: opening his barbershop in Canada The video quickly went viral, garnering over 4 million views But more than just inspiring people, it brought real change to Navneet's life An entrepreneur who saw the clip offered to sponsor his barber school education On top of that, a GoFundMe campaign was launched, helping him purchase professional haircutting tools

Man does 10,001 pull-ups in 24 hours to reclaim world

record

An American man reclaimed the Guinness World Record for the most pull-ups in 24 hours after previously holding the record for less than one day Truett Hanes previously attempted the record about two years ago and successfully beat it with 8,100 pull-ups in the allotted time period, but his number was beaten less than a day later by Australian man Gary Lloyd, who did 8,600 additional pull-ups in 24 hours Hanes has now recaptured the title with 10,001 pull-ups in 24 hours "What I learned about myself is: I won't give up I wasn't blessed with unique ability or super strength and things have never really come easily to me, but I have been gifted the ability to not give up on my goals," he said "Even if it takes years, I'll see it through until it's completed," he told Guinness World Records

2.5mn lottery ticket left in pocket of jacket donated to charity

A Pennsylvania woman is desperately searching for a jacket she donated to charity after realizing she left a $2 5 million lottery ticket in the pocket Mildred Simoneriluto, 76, said she purchased a ticket for a Pennsylvania Cash 5 drawing at the Shop 'n Save store in Murrysville in May 2024, and two weeks later she was surprised to learn she had matched all five numbers: 14-22-33-35-38 Simoneriluto attempted to locate the ticket, but soon came to a startling realization: she had left it in the pocket of a jacket she donated to Vietnam Veterans of America "I was stupefied; there are no words for it, there's no expression How can I get it back," Simoneriluto told WTAE-TV She attempted to track down the jacket, but soon learned the charity sends its donations out across the country - and even overseas - and had no way to track the item The Pennsylvania Lottery told Simoneriluto there was no way to claim the prize without the physical ticket in hand The ticket expires May 8 "What else can I do?" Simoneriluto said Cry out loud and hope that something will happen positive on my end?

Take charge of your health and your time with NHS services

Dr Ebad Chowdhury, GP

Spring has arrived and we all want to get out there doing the things we love When life gets busy, we might feel we have less time to look after ourselves

In fact, a recent NHS survey found that 6 in 10 (60%) South Asians said their busy lifestyle makes it challenging to manage their health and stay healthy More than a third (36%) also said that not having enough time to make an appointment would stop them from seeking urgent medical help or advice for a health concern

The NHS’s latest campaign helps explain its various services and what each offers There’s also a new film that shows how and when you can use NHS111, your local pharmacy, and the NHS App

While I’m always happy to see my patients if they’re worried about something, I also want to make sure they’re spending their precious time wisely and using the service that is best for their particular health need

For example, if you think you need urgent medical help but it’s not a life-threatening situation, NHS 111 will assess and direct you to the right place for you – it might be that you get a call back from a GP or a nurse, or they may refer you to an urgent treatment centre

Last year, Anurag had a stomach ache that started one morning and was still there by the evening It wasn’t getting better, and he began to worry that he wouldn’t be able to get any advice until the next day

“Luckily, I was speaking to a friend who mentioned that NHS 111 is available 24/7 I called 111 from my mobile and was taken through a set of questions to find out more about what the problem could be They helped reassure me about what to do and by the morning I felt much better ”

Community pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals, who can provide treatment or some prescription medicine for seven common conditions, without you seeing a GP – for earache (for those aged 1 to 17 years); impetigo; infected insect bites; shingles; sinusitis; a sore throat; and urinary tract infection for women aged 16 to 64 They can also provide oral contraceptives

The thing to remember is that if you have a medical concern, the NHS is here for you

For more information on the services your community pharmacist can offer, visit www n hs uk/think phar macyfirst To access NHS 111 you can call, go online or use the NHS App Find out more at www n hs uk/111

Download the NHS App at www nh s uk/nhsapp

Lonely Gen Z fuel UK gym boom

A record num ber of Britons are h itting th e g ym , d riv en by Gen Z’s preference fo r socialising while staying fit over d rinking in pubs, according to a new report by U KActiv e Gym membership in the UK has surged to 11 5 million, an increase of 1 6 million since 2022, with one in six adults now signed up The boom is particularly pronounced among Gen Z (born 1997–2012), often regarded as the healthiest generation

The report highlights a broader societal trend toward prioritising health, with younger generations viewing gym memberships as essential Despite this shift, older adults remain less inclined to join gyms, often believing they don’t need to

The UK health and fitness market has grown to £5 7bn, with 5,607 clubs hosting 616 million visits Motivations for joining include improving fitness (83%), mental well-being (76%), confidence (75%), and sleep (68%)

You can overhydrate

Overhydration, or drinking too much water, can dilute the sodium in your blood, leading to a condition called hyponatremia. This imbalance affects nerve and muscle function and can cause symptoms like nausea, confusion, and in severe cases, seizures or coma It’s important to hydrate mindfully, especially during intense physical activity

Beware! Overuse of vitamin supplements can harm your health

Every day, advertisements bombard us with questions like, "Are you getting enough vitamins and minerals from your diet?" The same ads then claim that no matter how careful you are, your diet is always lacking, and you must take their vitamin supplements to stay healthy.

Over time, this messaging has created a belief that once you turn 40, you must take multivitamins, or that gym-goers must take pro-

even think that combining slimming shakes with vitamins is a risk-free way to lose weight This mindset has made vitamin supplement companies incredibly wealthy

However, the reality is that artificial vitamin supplements can sometimes do

without knowing the risks,

plements are Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Calcium, and

Iron Taking these in excess can lead to serious health

harmful ”

Let’s break down what happens when these vitamins and minerals exceed the body’s needs:

blood cells If you don’t get

Fortunately, it is naturally

s t o r e d i n t h e b o d y f r o m birth and is easily available in dairy products like milk, cheese, and paneer Despite this, many people take B12

t a b l e t s u n n e c e s s a r i l y

Excess B12 can cause diarrhoea, skin rashes, mouth

u l c e r s , d i z z i n e s s , h e a d a c h e s , b l o o d c l o t s ,

b l o a t i n g , a n d e v e n l u n g swelling

Vitamin D: Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, keeping bones strong The best s o u r c e ? S u n l i g h t B u t instead of spending time outdoors, many people rely o n s u p p l e m e n t s , s o m e -

t i m e s w i t h o u t n e e d i n g them Too much Vitamin D

babies if taken in excess during pregnancy

Iron: Iron carries oxyg

found in green leafy vegetables, dry fruits (dates, figs), whole grains, and fruits like pomegranates and apples A lack of iron causes weakness and fatigue, but excess iron is just as dangerous It can damage the intestines, c

o p blood pressure, speed up heart rate, lead to breathing p

skin greyish In young children, too much iron can be fatal C

essential for strong bones, muscles, and the nervous system It is naturally present in milk, yogurt, green v

fish, and seeds While a calc

a k e n s bones, excess calcium can block iron and zinc absorption, increase the risk of

problems

If you eat a balanced diet, you rarely need extra vitamins Unnecessary supplementation can lead to serious health risks Always consult a doctor before taki n g s u p p l

y o u r body might already be gett i n g e v e r y t

from food!

UKHSA calls for evidence to address rising TB cases

launch ed a call fo r evid ence to inform th e d ev elopm ent of England’ s next fiv e-year Tubercu losis ( TB) Natio nal Action Plan (2026–203 1) This initiative comes in

rise in TB cases, with recent data indicating an upward

progress toward WHO elim-

, England saw an 11% increase i n T B

s t

i g h e s t annual rise since enhanced surveillance began in 2000

P r o v i s i

a l trends, where TB incidence

h a s s u r g e d f o l l o w i n g t h e pandemic

Despite being classified as a low-incidence country, England’s growing TB rates mean it is now approaching the WHO threshold of 10 cases per 100,000 people

strategies to reverse the current trajectory D

ventable and curable, yet it remains a significant public health concern in England

This call for evidence will help us develop an action p

most effective interventions and addresses the needs of those most affected

U K H S A i s s e e k i n g i n p u t from academics, healthcare p r o f e s s i o n a l s ,

l society representatives, and individuals with lived experience of TB Their insights w

T h e n e w N a t i o n a l A c t i o n Plan aims to strengthen TB prevention, detection, and control by focusing on highr i s k p o p u l a t i o n s , e f f e c t i v e i n t e r v e n t i o n s , a n d h e a l t h i n e q u a l i t i e s T o e n s u

The survey for submitt

April 2025 and closes on 2

Antibiotic use in newborns may weaken vaccine response

New b o rn s tr eat ed w i th ant ib i o ti cs

weaker

mm une respo nses to v accines later in infancy, likely due to d isruptions in their gut m icrobiome, a new study sugg ests

y , published in Nature, tracked 1

e c e i v e d

t i c s within the first few weeks of life had significantly lower antibody levels against multiple vaccines at seven and 15 months Among the particip a n t s , 1 1 1 n e w

either directly (32 babies) or i n d i

c t l y t h r o u g h

h e i r mothers during labour (49 babies) or the first six weeks

postpartum (30 babies) Researchers assessed the i n f a n t s ’ g u t m i c r o b i o m e s around their six-week vaccin a t i o n p e r i o d a n d f o u n d that babies directly treated with antibiotics at birth had r e d u c e d l e v e l s o f Bifidobacterium, a benefic i a l g u t b a c t e r i a T h i s decline was linked to weaker immune responses to several components of the pneu-

m o c o c c a l v a c c i n e a n d

H a e m o p h i l u s i n f l u e n z a e type b vaccine at both seven and 15 months

P r o f e s s o r D a v i d L y n n , co-lead of the study from the South Australian Health a n d M e d i c a l R e s e a r c h

I n s t i t u t e , e x p l a i n e d t h a t Bifidobacterium plays a cru-

cial role in early immun i t y “ T h e s e b a c t e r i a a r e w e l l a d a p t e d t o breaking down human

m i l k o l i

found in breast milk which helps establish a healthy microbiome in breastfed infants,” he said The presence of Bifidobacterium appears to prime the immune system, enhancing vaccine responses F

given a probiotic containing the bacteria

Interestingly, the study

germ-free mice reinforced these findings, showing that antibody responses to the p

depended on the presence of B

improved when mice were

mothers received antibiotics during labour did not show

exposure in newborns has

more lasting impact on the gut microbiome

Tigmanshu Dhulia struggles to write complex roles after Irrfan Khan’s death

Tigmanshu Dhulia, who directed Irrfan Khan in acclaimed films like ‘Paan Singh Tomar’, ‘Haasil’, ‘Charas’, and ‘Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns’, revealed that the actor’s passing has deeply affected his creative process

When asked if Irrfan Khan’s passing affected his writing, Tigmanshu Dhulia responded, “Very much,” explaining that he could once write intricate scenes with confidence, knowing Irrfan would bring them to life “It’s not writer’s block You know you can write a scene, but the actors won’t be able to do it,” he added Dhulia, who shared a deep bond with Irrfan Khan since their National School of Drama days, admitted the actor’s death left a lasting void in his creative life “He was my friend,” he said, reflecting on the personal loss

He described the film industry as an “insecure” space, where trust is rare “You need good friends here Everyone feels weak at some point, but if you open up to the wrong person, they might take advantage of it,” he explained “Even your wife may not fully understand I don’t have anyone I can open up to right now it's a problem ”

Dhulia stressed the importance of real friendship in navigating career and life decisions, noting how filmmakers often include a friend for the hero in scripts, yet lack one in reality

On the work front, Dhulia is celebrated for ‘Paan Singh Tomar’, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in 2012, and ‘Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster’

M A N O J K U M A R

Bollywood legend passes away at 87

actor and film director Manoj Kumar passed away at the age of 87 on Friday morning at Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital

Medical reports state the cause of death was cardiogenic shock following

Kapda Aur Makaan’, striking a chord

nationalism and unity Celebrated for both acting and directing, he received several accolades, including a National Film Award and seven Filmfare Awards

a severe heart attack He had also been battling decompensated liver cirrhosis in recent months, which had impacted his health

M a n o j K u m a r w a s a d m i t t e d t o

Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on February 21, 2025, after his health deteriorated Fondly known as 'Bharat Kumar' for his patriotic films, he was born Harikrishan Goswami on July 24, 1937, in Amritsar, Punjab

He rose to fame with iconic roles in films like ‘Shaheed’, ‘Upkar’, and ‘Roti

In recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1992 and the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015

Well-known celebrities such as Anu Malik, Zayed Khan, Amitabh Bachchan with his son Abhishekh Bachchan, Raza

M u r a d , P r e m

Shubash Chandra, Sudhanshu Pandey,

Akshay Kumar confirms ‘Kesari 3’ based on Hari Singh Nalwa

Akshay Kumar has confirmed ‘Kesari 3’ is in the works Speaking at the trailer launch of ‘Kesari Chapter 2’ in Delhi, he revealed the next film will focus on Hari Singh Nalwa, the first commander-in-chief of the Sikh Khalsa Fauj. “We were discussing it this morning,” Akshay said. “We want to tell Nalwa’s story and showcase Punjab’s spirit to the world ”

Hari Singh

N l a was a ndary

commander in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army He d as Governor of Kashmir, Hazara, and Peshawar, was known for his decisive victories against Afghan Nalwa played a key role in defending Punjab from n invasions through the Khyber Pass and was mental in major battles across Kasur, Sialkot, Attock, n, Kashmir, Peshawar, and Jamrud

At the trailer launch, Akshay Kumar also addressed e use of the F word in ‘Kesari 2 ’ , saying, “Yes, I used t But I’m surprised that people noticed that, yet didn’t react to the line ‘ you are still a slave ’ Isn’t that a far bigger insult? There’s no greater abuse than calling someone a slave I would’ve appreciated if people focused on that instead of the ‘F you ’ In such a situation, even if they had fired a bullet, it would’ve felt less hurtful ”

The original ‘Kesari’ (2019) depicted the Battle of Saragarhi, where 21 Sikh soldiers of the British Indian Army fought valiantly against 10,000 Afghan ribesmen ‘Kesari 2 ’ shifts focus to the aftermath of he Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the courtroom attle led by lawyer C Sankaran Nair Alongside kshay, the film stars R Madhavan and Ananya Panday key roles Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, the film is release on April 18

Karan Johar asked Raveena Tandon before using her name in hit song

In

2016, Karan Johar produced ‘Kapoor & Sons’ starring Alia

Malhotra, Fawad Khan, Ratna Pathak Shah, and Rishi Kapoor. The film was a major hit, and its soundtrack, especially the party anthem ‘Kar Gayi Chull’, became a fan favourite and remains a staple at celebrations even today

The song, written and sung by Badshah along with Fazilpuria, Sukriti Kakar, and Neha Kakkar, featured a catchy line referencing veteran star Raveena Tandon: “Kya naache tu Dilli, hile hai London, matak matak jaise Raveena Tandon ” Nearly a decade later, Raveena revealed that Karan Johar had personally approached her for permission to use her name, concerned it might upset her husband, Anil Thadani

During a recent appearance on Sony TV’s ‘Indian Idol’, Raveena Tandon recalled, “I remember Karan called me and said, ‘I want your permission to use your name in a song ’ I found it really sweet and immediately said, ‘Of course, go ahead!’ But he was still hesitant and asked, ‘What about Anil Thadani? He won’t beat me up, right? Please get his permission too ’ Then Karan shared the two lines with us, and we thought it was extremely cute I told him, regardless of Anil’s answer, it’s a yes from me ” She added that both she and her husband were already big fans of Badshah’s music and raps

Bhatt, Sidharth

Zeenat Aman recalls shooting with Amitabh Bachchan post’Coolie’ accident

Veteran actress Zeenat Aman recently took fans down memory lane with a candid recollection of filming the iconic song Samundar Mein Naha Ke with Amitabh Bachchan. She shared behind-the-scenes details, including wearing a “titillating” white outfit while Big B “pranced” around her The shoot was especially memorable as it marked Bachchan’s first after recovering from his near-fatal Coolie accident in 1982

Zeenat Aman, in her signature candid style, shared a nostalgic post prompted by the summer heat “the weather,” she joked, “though Mr Bachchan and I romancing to those salty lyrics were pretty sizzling too ” She recalled shooting ‘Samundar Mein Naha Ke’ for Ramesh Behl’s ‘Pukar’ in a quiet, idyllic Goa of the early ’80s “It was an easy-breezy shoot for me no lip-syncing or choreography,” she wrote The brief was simple: “look pretty,” she added, describing her white outfit and Bachchan “prancing like an ardent bird-of-paradise ”

Zeenat Aman revealed that despite her confident appearance in ‘Samundar Mein Naha Ke’, she couldn’t swim-making the beach shoot quite the challenge “I had to swallow nerves (and seawater) while writhing in the surf,” she wrote, adding with humour that she still pulled off a convincing ‘jal pari’ (mermaid)

She encouraged fans to share the post with anyone in need of a beachside escape this summer Zeenat also shared a touching trivia: it was Amitabh Bachchan’s first shoot after his near-fatal ‘Coolie’ accident in 1982, making the set’s atmosphere especially joyful She'll be seen in ‘The Royals’ and ‘Bun Tikki’

Javed Akhtar

on

Zoya’s marriage:

“She’s happy, that’s enough”

Lyricist-screenwriter

Javed Akhtar recently shared that when his children, Zoya and Farhan, turned 19 and 17, he told them that finding a life partner was entirely their responsibility He said he’d support their education or any other

marriage as a parental duty Javed recalled telling them, “If you don’t know who to marry, you shouldn’t be getting married ” He added that Farhan took his words to heart so much that he only informed Javed

introduced Adhuna, his first wife, just two days before the ceremony

choosing a life partner should be an individual’s decision-even if it turns out to be a mistake He told his children they were free to marry anyone, regardless of caste, creed, or ethnicity, as long as it was their own choice Farhan took that advice seriously, informing Javed just a month before his wedding to Adhuna Bhabani in 2000, around the time he was starting his directorial debut ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ Javed met Adhuna only two days before the wedding but said, “What difference does it make? It’s his life ”

decision not to marry, saying, “She told me she won’t marry unless someone changes her mind and she hasn’t found that person yet But she’s happy, doing great work, and has a lovely life ”

Sikander Kher reflects on life

With two dads

Sikander

Kher, son of Kirron Kher, opened up about growing up with two fathers his biological father Gautam Berry and his “father for life,” Anupam Kher

Recently, Sikander shared that while neither was deeply present in his life, Anupam, who married Kirron in 1985, has always been his constant Recalling those early years, he noted that Anupam was then a rising actor and often busy with work Their love language, he said, is “giving each other space ” Sikander Kher reflected on his relationship with his two fathers, sharing that both were often absent due to their careers “I had two, but not much in my life because they were busy,” he said After his parents’ divorce, he lived with his mother and Anupam Kher, whom he calls his “father for life ” At the time, Anupam was building his career and often away “Fathers and sons are hectic Simple,” Sikander added

He credited Anupam with teaching him key life lessons, especially about failure: “Don’t be afraid of failure you have nothing to lose ” One phrase that stayed with him was, *“Bheega hua aadmi barish se nahi darta ”

Asked about their bond, Sikander said their “love language” is giving each other space: “It’s just, ‘Kher saab, how’s it going?’ ‘Nothing ’ ‘Okay, bye ’ That’s it And that works for us ”

He was last seen in the action-packed ‘Monkey Man’, directed by Dev Patel, and in ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ on Prime Video

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Prajakta Koli turns author, wants Henry Cavill in film version

Prajakta Koli, known for her relatable YouTube sketches and acting roles, recently made her literary debut with the romance novel Too Good To Be True, now also released as an audiobook.

She opened up about her writing journey and narrating her own story for Audible Prajakta shared that the idea came during the pandemic: “I’d always loved writing, especially romance During the lockdown, I started developing longform content ideas This one began as an eight-part series I had the characters and arc in mind but wasn’t sure how to execute it as a book ”

Despite initial uncertainty, Prajakta said the writing process came naturally “The story was close to my heart, so I skipped the writers’ room and began writing excerpts My team said, ‘This sounds like chapters’ and that’s how it took shape.”

Prajakta Koli’s debut novel follows Aman and Avni characters she says are fictional, though she sees glimpses of herself in Avni A fan of audiobooks, Prajakta always envisioned hers in that format and made small tweaks while recording to make it sound natural

“It was fun reading words I’d lived with for months,” she shared Her family’s reactions were mixed “Mumma loved it, Baba’s still reading, and my husband is waiting for the audiobook!”

What meant the most were readers saying it helped them out of a reading slump or was their first book As for a film adaptation? “I’m definitely Avni For Aman, maybe Henry Cavill if he’s free!”

Dia Mirza defends star kids amid ‘Nadaaniyan’ criticism

Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor faced criticism for their performances in the Karan Johar-backed romantic comedy ‘Nadaaniyan’. Responding to the social media backlash, Dia Mirza who played Ibrahim's mother in the film-defended the young actors and condemned the growing ‘eat the privileged’ culture online

Dia Mirza defended Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor against the backlash over ‘Nadaaniyan’, urging people to avoid personal attacks that affect mental health She said, “Everyone is free to have an opinion, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of someone ’ s well-being,” adding that the “eat the privileged” culture is unfair as everyone has their own struggles

Earlier, co-star Jugal Hansraj also called the online trolling “silly and petty ” At the trailer launch of ‘Akaal’, producer Karan Johar echoed similar sentiments, quoting, “Kuch toh log kahenge chhodo bekar ki baaton mein kahin beet na jaye raina ”

‘Nadaaniyan’ marked the Bollywood debut of Ibrahim Ali Khan and was Khushi Kapoor’s third outing after ‘The Archies’ and ‘Loveyapa’ Both faced criticism for their performances and dialogue delivery The Netflix film, directed by Shauna Gautam, follows a privileged Delhi schoolgirl who hires a fake boyfriend to get back at her family and peers

While Khushi hasn’t revealed her next project, Ibrahim will appear next in ‘Sarzameen’, directed by Kayoze Irani and co-starring Kajol, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Mihir Ahuja The release date is yet to be announced

Terence Lewis praises Katrina’s incredible dance transformation

Katrina

Ali Fazal on Val Kilmer’s praise:

“My first big compliment”

Actor

Val

is mourning

who passed away at the age of 65 on April 1

Ali Fazal took to social media to pay tribute to *Top Gun* star Val Kilmer, sharing a heartfelt memory along with a photo of the late actor Recalling a special moment, Ali wrote that Kilmer was the first major Hollywood star to compliment his work in *Victoria & Abdul*, where he portrayed a real-life character

Kaif is now celebrated as one of Bollywood’s top dancers, with chartbusters like ‘Chikni Chameli’, ‘Sheila Ki Jawani’, and ‘Afghan Jalebi’ to her name. But she wasn’t always this way. In a recent interview, choreographer Terence Lewis revealed that when Katrina debuted in 2003, she lacked rhythm but he praised her remarkable transformation over the years.

Choreographer Terence Lewis recalled Katrina Kaif’s early struggles with dance when she first came to his studio after ‘Boom’ had released “She was doing a diamond jewellery show and was very new to India unsure and struggling with the steps Rhythm wasn’t there,” he said

However, years later, when Terence saw her in ‘Zara Zara Touch Me’ from ‘Race’ (2008), he was stunned “I called Bosco (Martis) and asked, ‘Is this the same girl?’ She wasn’t trained, didn’t have that dancer’s figure back then But the way she transformed her body, her dancing it’s commendable She’s one of the most hardworking actors I’ve seen ”

When asked about the best dancers in Bollywood, Terence Lewis named several stars but singled out Deepi Bachc elegan

“RIP Mr Val Kilmer I write this note because you were the first big-ticket compliment I ever got from an actor of your calibre for my attempt to portray a real person in ‘Victoria & Abdul’,” Ali shared

The actor continued, “Hell, I dare say, I know I’ve got miles to go But this from someone whose performance changed the way I saw acting, at a time when I was soaking in the Brandos and Pacinos of the world meant everything You made a better Jim Morrison than Morrison that day for me Live on, 'cause this doesn’t end we ’ re privileged to work in mediums that linger longer than the time we ’ re given ” Ali starred opposite Judi Dench in ‘Victoria & Abdul’, the 2017 film directed by British filmmaker Stephen Frears and adapted from Shrabani Basu’s book of the same name He played Abdul Karim, a young clerk from Agra who became a close confidant to Queen Victoria during the final years of her reign Val Kilmer, celebrated for roles in ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Batman Forever’, died of pneumonia on April 1 in Los Angeles at the age of 65

Ali Fazal

the loss of Hollywood icon

Kilmer,