AV 16th August 2025

NHS unveils new way to manage medicine P7

Helping the next generation onto the property ladder P11

Blending Krishna’s wisdom with modern psychology P15

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE

New US visa rules may delay Indian tech workers P20

15-year-old American Indian prodigy earns dual degrees P21

10-year-old becomes youngest female to beat chess Grandmaster Peter Wells P32

N E W D A W N F O R I N D I A ' S G L O B A L A L L I A N C E S ?

The new tariffs by the US on countries including India, part of President Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda, are triggering backlash, retaliation, and a possible reshaping of global alliances.

Countries are coming together amid rising global tensions as the United States has enacted a wide-ranging series of new tariffs, with rates between 10 per cent and 50 per cent, targeting imports from around 70 countries

President Donald Trump has now imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods as a “penalty” for continuing to import Russian crude oil, pledging similar measures against other nations that support Russian President Vladimir Putin s war on Ukraine This follows his earlier threat of 100% tariffs unless a peace deal is reached by August 9 With this new levy, total US duties on Indian imports rise to 50%, 20 points higher than China s rate and 31 points above Pakistan s, with the tariff set to take effect in 21 days

This escalating trade dispute, fuelled by Trump’s tariffs and India’s continued reliance on Russian oil, has abruptly ended a recent thaw in US–India relations In response, New Delhi is seeking new economic and diplomatic partnerships, including with historic rivals such as China, with the upcoming visit of PM Modi to China signalling a shift that could reshape global trade, geopolitics, and South Asia’s role in an emerging multipolar world order India's response on tariff

In the face of US tariffs and pressure, India is taking a defiant stance, transforming the trade dispute into an issue of national pride and self-reliance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly urged for economic self-reliance at a time of global uncertainty In a speech celebrating the centenary of agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan, Modi asserted, “For us, the interests of our farmers are top priority India will never compromise on the interests of its farmers, dairy farmers and fishermen I know I will personally have to pay a heavy price but I am prepared for it ” This statement underscored India's commitment to its farmers and evoked the memory of the green Revolution, which helped India achieve food independence

Representations vs Opportunities

Subhasini Naicker

As the South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) draws to a close, not only

marked as a celebration of success

community The month honours the journeys of our communities, celebrates resilience, and recognises the countless ways South Asians have shaped life in the UK,

Mod s impact in film and theatre, to political milestones such as Rishi Sunak becoming the UK’s first British Asian Prime Minister.

Yet, alongside these triumphs, the month also sparks vital conversations about the challenges that remain

Clive’s statue outside the Foreign Office has reignited

racism, and feeling like outsiders in their own country

Economic pressures add another layer of difficulty Rising taxes and perceived hostility from policymakers are driving more Asian entrepreneurs abroad, fuelling concerns of a “brain drain” and slowing job creation, a trend hitting ethnic minorities hardest City Hall research shared with Asian Voice shows that Bangladeshi and Pakistani women, communities who together represent about 4% of the UK population, face some of the highest unemployment rates, despite educational gains in their communities

While South Asian Heritage Month shines a spotlight on our achievements, the real challenge is to carry its

barriers and build a fairer future for all

For example with rising costs and taxes on the rich levied by the Labour Party, trends show UK employment

Swathi Anil

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing press conference with US President Donald Trump in Washington, February 13 2024

Homelessness Minister Rushanara Ali quits after tenant eviction row

Rushanara Ali h as resigned

a s h o m ele s sn es s m i ni st er after reports she ev icted four t en ants f ro m h er eas t L ond on tow nho use before relisting it for £70 0 m ore a m onth

In a letter to the Prime Minister, she said she had “followed all legal require-

m e n t s ” b u t w a s s t e p p i n g down to avoid distracting f r o m t h e g o v e r n m e n t

work

Ke i r St a

d

Rushanara Ali for her “diligent work” at the Ministr y of Housing, praising her role in repealing the Vagrancy

A c t He r r e s i g n a t i o n fo llowed reports she told tenants she was selling her Bow

p r o p e r t y, t h e n r e l i s t e d i t weeks later for £700 more a month, legal at the time but

c r i t i c i s e d a s “ s t a g g e r i n g

h y p o c r i s y ” g i v e n L a b o u r ’ s r e c e n t t e n a n t p r o t e c t i o n

bill

A former tenant called Rushanara Ali’s resignation

“ m o r a l ly ” n e c e s s a r y, wh i le critics from multiple parties condemned her actions The

Liberal Democrats labelled them “staggeringly irrespon-

s

Renters Union urged her to quit as MP, citing a conflict of interest for landlord MPs

G e n e r a t i o n Re n t s a i d h e r departure was a “wake-up

h

harm when landlords evict tenants to raise rents Ali h a d r e n

room Bow townhouse for £3,300 a month, with tenants all young professionals in their 30s

Apart from Rushanara, f i v e o t h e r m i n i s t e r s a

Labour whip Vicky Foxcroft quit, saying she could not back the government’s wel-

Starmer’s decision to nearly halve the international aid

Gwynne was sacked and suspended after offensive mes-

Diane Abbott Anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq

Bangladeshi Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina were damag-

Transport secretar y Louise

Haigh also left after admitting to a past fraud offence

phone theft report, prompting No 10 to demand her resignation for a potential

code

UK expands ‘deport now, appeal later’ list, adds India

Indian citizen s in UK pr isons with active asyl um appea ls can now be deport ed b efore

t h e i r c l a i ms a r e d e ci de d , unde r chang es t o the gove rnmen t’s ‘deport now, appeal l ate r ’ policy A se cond me asure will a llow the removal o f ma n y for e ig n n a ti on a l s

i m me d i a t e l y a ft e r con v i ct ion, rat he r tha n ser ving 30% of t heir sent ence in t he UK

The UK Home Off ice has

e x p a n d e d i t s ‘d e p o r t n o w, a p p e a l l a t e r ’ s c h e m e f r o m eight to 23 countries, allowing foreign nationals whose h u m a n r i g h t s c l a i m s a r e denied to be removed while appealing via video link from

their home countries Newly added nations include India, Australia, Canada, Bulgaria, A n g o l a , B o t s w a n a , Br u n e i , Gu y a n a , I n d o n e s i a , Ke ny a , L a t v i a , L e b a n o n , M a l ay s i a , Uganda, and Zambia As of June 30, 2024, there were 273 Indian prisoners in England a n d Wa l e s , w i t h fo r e i g n nationals making up 12% of the UK prison population

P r i m e M i n i s t e r Ke i r

St a r m e r ’ s L a b o u r g o v e r nm e n t h a s i n t r o d u c e d tougher laws on both legal and illegal migration, amid pressure from the far-right R e fo r m U K Pa r t y, w h i c h m a d e m a j o r g a i n s i n t h e M a y 1 l o c a l e

Lammy said the government i s e x p a n d i n g t h e ‘d e

t now, appeal later’ policy to return more foreign criminals swiftly, allowing them to appeal from their home c

n

t h e Ju s t i c e M i n i s t r y a n n o u n c e d t h a t , from September, many fore i g n o f fe n d e r s c a n b e deported immediately after conviction, instead of ser ving 30% of their sentence in the UK Those convicted of terrorism, murder, or ser ving life terms will be excluded

Singh Kohli faces six sex offence charges

Comed ia n and forme r Big

B r o t h e r c o nt e st a n t H arde ep Singh Kohl i, 56, is o n tri al accu se d of si x se x-

r e l a t e d o f f e nc e s a g a i ns t

t h re e w o me n b e t w e e n 20 07 a nd 2016

One alleged incident, heard at Glasgow Sheriff Court, involved him grabbing a woman ’ s buttocks and hugging her at BBC

S c o t l a n d ’ s Pa c i f i c Q u a y headquarters Kohli, from Kelvinside in Glasgow, is also accused

o f m a k i n g s e x

l c o mm e n t s a n d f a c e s o t h e r assault charges The form e r B B C O n e S h o w reporter and Channel 5 ’ s The Wright Stuff panellist is alleged to have indecently assaulted a woman at

Thieves snatch £ 500k of gold in London raid

Th e Metrop olitan Police say £500 ,00 0 worth of d istinctive go ld jew ellery was stolen from a h

Bic

images o f the items in the

public can help identify

Det Con Jamie White said the theft’s monetar y value was “ enormous ” but the sentimental worth was “priceless,” as some pieces were cherished family heirlooms Police are seeking three men who broke in through a bathroom window while the owners were home, entering at 17:40 GMT and leaving 45 m i n u t e s l a t e r w i t h n e c k l a c e s , e a r r i n g s , bracelets, and other jeweller y Det Con White said many stolen pieces had been passed down through generations and were unique, raising hopes that releasing photos might help jog someone ’ s memor y Police said no arrests have yet been made

Pakistan Cricket Board suspends Haider Ali amid UK rape probe

Pakistan cricketer Haid er A li, 24, has been provisionally suspend ed after being arrested by Greater Manchester Police ov er an alleged rape d uring the Pakistan A team’s UK tour He was d etained o n Aug ust 3 in Canterbury follo

G

Hotel by stroking her back and touching her hair

He is further accused of

stand trial in November It

lunged at her, and tried to

defence of consent lodged He also faces a breach of the peace charge from the

allegation claims he sexu-

woman at Glasgow’s for-

hugging, and kissing her

lawyer Urfan Dar said they were ready for a

f ive-day trial, while prosecutor Sean Docherty plans to call seven

Pakistani origin abou t an incid ent on Ju ly 23 in Manchester H a i d e r A l i , 2 4 , f r o m A

, r o s e t o prominence in domestic cricket with f ifties on his T20I debut, a double centur y in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, and standout performances in the Pakistan Super League His c

Manchester Police conf irmed his arrest over an alleged rape reported on August 4, 2025 He has been bailed pending investigation, with his passport seized, and the victim is receiving police support

Sources told that Haider was “in tears” during his arrest and has denied the allegation in the preliminar y inquir y The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended Haider Ali with immediate effect, stating it will allow the UK legal process to run its course “The PCB fully respects legal procedures and recognises the importance of allowing the investigation to proceed,” it said in a statement, adding that it will decide on further action under its Code of Conduct once the case is concluded and all facts are known

I N B R I E F

ONE IN FIVE DOCTORS MAY QUIT, PUTTING NHS AT RISK

The Government s pledge to cut hospital waiting lists is at risk unless more is done to keep doctors in the NHS, the General Medical Council (GMC ) has warned Nearly one in five doctors are considering leaving the profession in the UK, while one in eight plan to work abroad, mainly due to better treatment and higher pay overseas Overall, 43% have looked into careers abroad The GMC warns that 15% of doctors have already taken concrete steps to leave UK practice such as applying for overseas roles posing a threat to the Government ’s target for 92% of patients to receive routine hospital treatment within 18 weeks by 2029 Its report also flags career progression concerns, with one in three doctors saying they cannot advance as they wish, a factor linked to higher burnout and lower job satisfaction Workload, competition for posts, and lack of senior support are key barriers, with those feeling stalled far more likely to consider leaving

RISE IN LONG-TERM SCHOOL AB SENCES

Government figures show that the number of children in England missing at least half their classes rose to nearly 150,000 in autumn 2024, the highest autumn term rate since records began in 2016/17 Department for Education data reveals that 2 04% of pupils were “severely absent ” (missing 50% or more of school sessions), up from 1 97% the previous year, with 147,605 pupils affected compared to 142 ,487 in autumn 2023 In autumn 2019, before the pandemic, 0 86% of pupils (60 244) were severely absent By autumn 2024/25 17 79% of pupils in England about 1 28 million were “persistently absent ” down from 19 44% the year before but still above the prepandemic 13 14% The DfE said the drop in persistent absence should help curb severe absence, which is already rising at a slower pace than in the previous two years

IMMIGRATION RAIDS ARREST HUNDREDS, INCLUDING INDIANS

UK authorities have arrested hundreds of people, including several Indian nationals, during a week-long crackdown targeting illegal workers operating as two -wheeler delivery riders The Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement teams conducted Operation Equalise between July 20 and 27, focusing on hotspots for illegal employment across the country During the operation 1 780 individuals were stopped and 280 migrants and asylum seekers were arrested for working without valid documentation In one raid in Hillingdon west London seven Indian nationals were detained with five arrested for illegal work Dame Angela Eagle UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum warned that illegal working threatens border security, triggering a nationwide crackdown Asylum support for 53 individuals is under review, risking suspension or withdrawal The Home Office also targets those exploiting the food delivery sector Fifty- one businesses, including car washes and restaurants, received penalty notices for employing illegal workers Immigration Enforcement will receive a £5 million boost from a £100 million border security fund to increase raids, revisit hotspots, and enhance intelligence

Rushanara Ali

Hardeep

Haider Ali

Standing tall against Trump’s tariff war

India’s leadership has stood firm in the face of escalating pressure from the United States under President Donald Trump On 6 August 2025, President Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, citing India’s continued imports of Russian oil This brings the total rate to 50 per cent India responded swiftly, calling the move “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable” and emphasising that its energy choices are “based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1 4 billion people ”

The Ministry of External Affairs has defended India’s position, arguing that when traditional Western energy supplies were diverted, it was the stability of global markets that drove India to import Russian crude India’s refusal to bow under pressure has been echoed by Russia’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who stated that “sovereign countries have the right to choose their own trading partners” and called the US threats “illegitimate ”

This is not a fight that India is waging alone The BRICS bloc, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has issued a collective statement rejecting the idea of weaponising trade tariffs for political ends In a sign of deepening strategic ties, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing to visit China end of this month, while Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, though unable to attend India’s 15 August celebrations, is expected to visit Delhi before the end of the year The message is clear: a multilateral front is forming against unilateral economic coercion

Pakistan’s decision to align with Washington in this dispute has raised eyebrows in the region, further highlighting the shifting alliances and fault lines emerging from this conflict

Economically, former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has condemned the tariffs as a coercive tactic, likening them to “negotiating with a gun to your head ” He warned against abruptly ending Russian oil imports, given India’s dependence o n d i

Moody’s has projected a potential 0 3 percentage point slowdown in GDP growth, and key export sectors such as apparel, jewellery, carpets, shrimp and pharmaceuticals may face sharp drops in the US market, markets themselves have reacted with limited worry, perhaps recognising that the tariffs could be more about leverage than long-term trade restrictions

Prime Minister Modi has remained composed, promising not to compromise on the welfare of farmers, fishermen and the dairy sector “ even if it comes at a cost ” India’s strategy combines three pillars: securing its energy needs, diversifying export markets to limit vulnerability, and sustaining active diplomatic engagement with multiple partners

India has weathered far greater challenges since independence without surrendering its strategic autonomy Today, as the world’s largest democracy and a rising economic power, it is making clear that its foreign policy will be guided by national interest, not external diktats This is not just stubbornness It is the measured stance of a confident and sovereign nation prepared to navigate turbulence without losing its course

India at 79: Defence rises with Make in India

On 15 August 2025, India will mark its 79th Independence Day From the trials of 1947 to its present standing as a global power, the journey has been one of resilience, ambition and transformation Once a poor and newly independent nation, India is now the world’s largest democracy and the fourthlargest economy, with a GDP of approximately $4 19 trillion Its rise has been fuelled by achievements in agriculture, science, industry and diplomacy, but the defence sector stands out as a symbol of its modern strength

At the time of independence, India’s defence manufacturing was minimal and almost entirely dependent on imports Today, this has changed dramatically In 2024–25, domestic defence production reached an all-time high of over ₹1 75 lakh crore, with the government setting an ambitious target to double this by 2030 This record output reflects not only growing military capability but also a clear economic and strategic vision

The “Make in India” initiative, launched in 2014, has played a decisive role in this transformation The policy seeks to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce import dependency, particularly in sectors critical to sovereignty The defence industry has become a focal point, with public and private enterprises working together to design and produce advanced equipment The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, is now in service with the Indian Air Force and Navy, demonstrating India’s ability to produce sophisticated fighter jets Indigenous missile systems, artillery, armoured vehicles and naval vessels are also reshaping the defence landscape, reducing import depen-

dency from nearly 70 per cent in 2014 to about 40 per cent today

The benefits of this shift extend far beyond defence preparedness Manufacturing growth in the sector has created millions of jobs, encouraged innovation and supported allied industries such as metallurgy, electronics and information technology India’s defence exports are projected to reach $5 billion by 2030, enhancing its role as a reliable supplier in the global security market

These defence achievements form part of a larger story India’s Green Revolution turned it from a food-deficient nation into a net exporter of grain Its space programme has reached Mars and the Moon Economic reforms since 1991 have propelled rapid growth in information technology, pharmaceuticals and engineering Education has expanded to produce a highly skilled workforce that contributes both domestically and internationally India’s diplomatic reach now spans the G7, G20, BRICS and the Quad, reflecting its growing influence in shaping global policy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the defence sector’s progress as evidence of India’s “strategic autonomy and technological leadership ” This Independence Day, the message is one of confidence: India is not only safeguarding its security but also contributing to global stability

The rise of the defence sector under Make in India is more than an industrial success It is a declaration that India’s future will be built on self-reliance, innovation and the determination to stand as a strong, sovereign power in an unpredictable world

Your worth is more than just grades

This Thursday marks A-level results day followed by GCSEs next week, a time filled with excitement, anticipation and, for some, anxiety For many British Asian families, it carries an extra weight of expectation, often shaped by a culture that values academic success as a stepping stone to security and prestige While exam results are undoubtedly important for university admissions and career options, they are not the sole measure of who you are or what you can achieve

The UK’s education system has seen considerable changes in recent years, from reforms to grading structures to shifts in subject relevance Prime Minister Rishi Sunak himself has noted that certain degrees have limited prospects in today’s job market This makes it more important than ever for students to think not only about their results, but also about choosing courses that combine personal interest with future opportunity

Some of the most inspiring career journeys belong to those who took unexpected turns after results day Some students did not get the grades they had hoped for, yet discovered new passions through foundation courses, apprenticeships or by studying at universities they had not originally considered Others began in one field and later retrained entirely, finding fulfilment and success in areas they had never imagined at eighteen These stories remind us that the ability to adapt, stay curious and seize opportunities often matters far more than following a straight academic path from school to a prestigious university

It is also worth remembering that thriving at university

depends on more than just getting through the admissions process The right environment, support systems and cultural fit can make a big difference to a student’s well-being and long-term success A course at a university that understands and nurtures your strengths can sometimes be far more rewarding than struggling to conform to the expectations of a more elite but less inclusive institution

For parents in the British Asian community, this is a

achievement should be celebrated, but it should not overshadow a young person ’ s mental health or self-worth Harsh comparisons or disproportionate criticism can have long-

Instead, encouragement, guidance and the space to make informed choices can help students grow into confident, motivated adults

This year, thousands of students will find that their results open exactly the doors they hoped for Others may face disappointment But in both cases, the next step will depend far more on the effort, resilience and enthusiasm they bring to the opportunities ahead than on the number printed on their results slip Whether you are heading to your firstchoice university, reconsidering your plans or exploring alternative routes, your future remains open and full of potential Grades can shape a path, but they do not define a person In the long run, it is your character, perseverance and ability to adapt that will determine where you go And those qualities cannot be measured on results day

Thought for the week

"It is never too late to be what you might have been." – George Eliot

Tariffs on India for buying Russian oi l are wrong-headed bec ause they miss Russia’s revenues, raise price and volatility risks , contradi ct the G7 price-c ap ’ s logic, and underc ut a cruc ial U S –I ndi a partnershi p in the IndoPacific

It swings at India but barely grazes Moscow.

The new U S order adds a 25% duty on Indian goods due to India “directly or indirectly” importing Russian oil, but that tax doesn’t constrain Russian oil flows or revenues If India cuts back, China and others can absorb the barrels, leaving the Kremlin’s earnings largely intact It contradicts Washington’s own price-cap design.

OFAC guidance (US Government’s Sanctions Body) explicitly allows services for shipments of Russian crude bought at or below the cap and destined for countries that haven’t banned such imports Treasury’s rationale was to keep oil on the market at discounted prices while squeezing Russia’s take Penalizing India for behavior the price-cap framework anticipated undermines that logic

It raises global price and volatility risks with little upside

Markets initially reacted to the tariff headline before broader Russia news pulled prices lower on the day, illustrating a key point: policy shocks inject volatility without reliably reducing Russian supply Volatility itself raises financing and inventory costs for consumers and refiners

It punishes an energy-import-dependent partner. India imports roughly 88% of its crude needs and has been sourcing about one-third from Russia since 202425 The IEA also projects India’s import needs to keep rising through 2030 Hitting India with tariffs for managing energy security pressures the world’s second-largest net crude importer while doing little to dent Russian revenues

It undercuts U S strategy in the Indo-Pacific

The U S –India relationship is a pillar of balancing China Escalatory tariffs over oil sourcing strain that partnership just as deeper security and tech cooperation is needed Strategy 101: don’t weaken a key coalition member over a measure unlikely to move the target

But what of the counter: “Only sharper pressure on India will starve Putin’s war machine ”

If the goal is revenue denial, there are cleaner tools that hit the mechanics of Russia’s oil trade directly: lower the cap, go after the shadow fleet, and tighten sanctions on evasion That’s exactly the path the EU chose in July, including banning refined products made from Russian crude in third countries after a transition period and cutting the cap to $47 60 Those steps hit Russian revenues without taxing U S consumers or alienating partners

All this tells us the reality is that Trump is annoyed that PM Modi did not bend the knee, did not do what Munir of Pakistan did, and genuflect and self-flagellate in front of the Emperor PM Modi decided to uphold the pride and dignity of what it means to be Indian By Indian I mean heritage not just mere nationality

When he says he will protect the farmers, you will also know who cares for farmers if those who claimed they did in previous protests against PM Modi write to their local politicians against Trump for attacking Indian farmers, or as expected stay quiet – because all along the farmers are not who they cared for

Daughter says police inaction ‘cost father’s life’

T he d au ghter of an 80-year-

o l d m a n w h o d i ed a ft er

b ei ng ra ci all y ab u sed and attacked while walking his d og has accused police of failing to act on a similar assault in th e sam e p ark just w eeks earlier

p

B

p

d with a shoe and subjected to racial slurs during the attack

i n F r a n

Leicester, on 1 September 2024 He died the following day

I n J u n e , a 1 5 - y e a r - o l d

b o y w a s

m

ntenced to seven years ’ detention A 13-year-old girl, who filmed parts of the assault

w h i l e l a u g h i n g , w a s a l s o convicted

M r K o h l i ’ s d a u g h t e r , Susan, said a police report

r e v e a l e d o f f i c e r s a l r e a d y knew the identities of two teenagers involved in an earlier racist attack in the same park on 17 August, when an

Asian man was abused and struck with a large rock She claims Leicestershire Police “sat” on the information and made no arrests until after her father’s death “If they had acted sooner, word would have spread on the estate and maybe my father would still be here,” she told the BBC, urging the I n d e p e n d e n t O f f i c e f o r Police Conduct (IOPC) to review the force’s handling of the case

The BBC was also told Mr Kohli had been abused

Police records show at least eight similar incidents were reported between June and August last year L

investigation found “ no misconduct or missed opportunities” that could have prevented Mr Kohli’s death, but

learning” around recording

behaviour

C

Jonathan Starbuck said the

monitor Franklin Park and work with the community

ment, youth work and extra patrols

The IOPC confirmed it agreed with the force’s findings, adding that accurate tagging of incidents was key

anti-social behaviour

Husband accused of trying to kill wife, doused her with hot oil

A m an tried to murder his w if e by d o u s in g h e r f ac e w ith hot oil w hile they were coo king an om elette together, a court has heard

P r o s e c u t o r s s a y R a j u

M o l l a h , 4 9 , a l s o p r e s s e d

scalding cooker hob racks

a g a i n s t M o s a m m e d Mumtaz’s chest and face, knocked out a tooth, and stamped on her during the “extremely violent” attack at their home in Heather Road, Small Heath, on 12 January this year

The couple, married for more than 20 years, had allegedly been arguing over the sale of a property in the l e a d - u p t o t h e a s s a u l t M o l l a h h a s a d m i t t e d i n

denies attempted murder

O p e n i n g t h e t r i a l a t

Birmingham Crown Court, prosecutor Frida Hussain KC said, “He caused hot oil to be thrown on to her face and body, leaving serious b u r n i n j u r i e s H e s t r u c k h e r r e p e a t e d l y w i t

object and stamped on her while she was on the floor

In that moment, we say he intended to kill her ”

A 999 call was made at

Mumtaz lying in a pool of hot oil and blood, screaming in pain She had burns t

wounds to her head, cheek, and nose, and was missing a tooth

Mrs Mumtaz told emergency crews, “My husband tried to kill me He’s a bad man, he threw oil over me ”

The court heard Mollah later claimed the oil spilled accidentally after his wife tried to hit him, and that he p u n c h e d a n

account, on the other hand, d

Mollah wanted to divorce her amid the property dispute

The trial continues

Northern women hit hardest by pandemic recession, study finds

W o m en i n th e no rt h o f

E n g la nd h a v e b o rne th e brunt o f th e econom ic fallo u t fro m th e p a nd e m i c, accord ing to new research by IPPR North

T h e t h i n k t a n k f o u n d that almost half of working w o m e n i n t h e r e g i o n a r e employed in sectors most damaged by Covid-19, such

a s r e t a i l a n d h o s p i t a l i t y compared with just a quar-

t e r o f m e n N o r t h e r n women also make up the

m a j o r i t y o f k e y w o r k e r s , leaving them more exposed to infection and mortality risks; men account for only 6% of health and social care staff in the region

R e s e a r c h e r A m r e e n

Q u r e s h i s a i d i n e q u a l i t i e s “ d o n ’ t e x i s t i n s i l o s ” a n d often intersect, with northern women facing regional,

economic, racial and gender-based disparities simultaneously She noted that even before Covid, women i n d e p r i v e d c o m m u n i t i e s had seen life expectancy fall after a decade of austerity

“There is no excuse for o v e r l o o k i n g t h e i m p a c t widening inequalities have on women in the north,” she s a i d , u r g i n g m i n i s t e r s t o deliver “deeds, not words” to ensure the country “builds back fairer for women ”

O n e i n 1 0 n o r t h e r n women in work were furl o u g h e d i n t h e p a s t y e a r , mirroring the national picture In December 2020, 1 9 m i l l i o n p e o p l e w e r e f u rl o u g h e d a c r o s s t h e U K ; 382,000 of them northern women

T h e r e p o r t c a l l e d f o r improved pay, working con-

Mayor warns of rising division and anti-Muslim hate

W es t M i d l and s m a yo r Ri ch a rd Parker has warned of deepening div ision, growing antiM u slim s entim ent and a “h ard ening ” o f p u b li c d e ba te since riots scarred to w n s and ci t ie s across th e country a year ag o

I N B R I E F LIFE EXPECTANCY PLUMMETS IN NORTHERN ENGLAND

ditions and better data col-

showing women were over-

i d , insecure sectors, including care, leisure and the arts, even before the pandemic, and more likely to have lost jobs or depleted savings during the crisis

Speaking at a “ one year on ” event hosted b y t h e B i r m i n g h a m

b a s e d B r i t i s h M

m

Network, Mr Parker said rhetoric once condemned now “slips into everyday politics,” with an alarming shift in what is deemed acceptable to say

“The populist right haven’t just got louder – they’ve been given more space to shout,” he told the audience at Digbeth’s new arts quarter venue in Allison Street “In too many places, fear is being left to fester and ferment while racism goes unchallenged As mayor, I won’t accept that for this region ”

He said many Muslims he had spoken to in the West Midlands this year “feel less safe, less welcome and less heard than they did even a year ago ” The riots last summer followed the brutal killings of three young girls at a dance class in Southport, Merseyside False rumours that the killer was a Muslim migrant spread rapidly online, fuelling race hate

Far-right groups circulated a “hit list” of targets, including mosques and hotels housi n g a s y l u m s e e k e r s S i t e s i n S o l i h u l l a n d Tamworth were among those attacked

The event heard that in the year since, tensions have persisted, with prejudice and hostility continuing to simmer

Ministers accused of ‘overlooking’ northern universities

Ministers have been accu sed of u nd ermining innov ation in the north of E ng land after none of the universities betw een Birmingh am and Glasgow were selected to receiv e a sh are of a £54 m g overnment fund to attract ov erseas researchers

Twelve institutions were awarded funding f r o m t h e g l o b a l t a l e n t s c h e m e , i n c l u d i n g Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, and three other southern universities Each will receive up to £10m to recruit leading international academics; support Labour said would “put rocket boosters” under its innovation plans

But MPs and researchers have criticised t h e a b s e n c e o f a n y n o r t h e r n r e c i p i e n t s , despite the government’s pledge to “level up ” the economy Chi Onwurah, Labour chair of the Commons science, innovation and technology committee, said she was demanding an explanation from science minister Patrick Vallance She said the selection process “does n o t s t a n d u p t o s c i e n t i f i c s c r u t i n y ” a n d “ appears at odds” with the government’s mission to boost opportunities nationwide

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership said the criteria used by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which administered the fund, were “arbitrary” and disadvantaged large northern universities FOI data showed seven, i n c l u d i n g M a n c h e s t e r , L e e d s , Y o r k , a n d Durham, met the key spending threshold on international research but were penalised for falling short of a quota on overseas staff Manchester, for example, missed the 35% target by just 0 3%

A government spokesperson defended the allocations, saying institutions were chosen “based on measurable criteria” and that record R&D investment, including regional partnerships, would ensure opportunities “in every part of the country ”

Life expectancy in several northern cities has fallen sharply over the past decade, with the decline starting years before Covid, according to Imperial College London research published in The Lancet Public Health The study, funded by the Wellcome Trust, identified some of England’s lowest life expectancies in parts of Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester Liverpool, and Blackpool In 2019, women in one Camden neighbourhood could expect to live to 95 4 years about 20 years longer than in the poorest area of Leeds For men the gap was even starker: 27 years with some in Kensington and Chelsea living to 95 compared with just 68 in one Blackpool community Analysing deaths between 2002 and 2019 across 791 communities, researchers found life expectancy rose until 2010 but then began to decline Between 2014 and 2019, it fell in nearly 20% of communities for women and 11% for men The decline was linked to poverty, insecure jobs and cuts to welfare and healthcare

HISTORIC SITES WIN REPAIR GRANTS

Several “neglected” historic buildings in the West Midlands have been awarded major grants for repairs through the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund The Grade II-listed Burslem Indoor Market in Stoke-on-Trent will receive £1m from Historic England while Birmingham s Golden Lion in Cannon Hill Park has been granted £344,265 Bromwich Manor House, a rare Grade Ilisted site in Sandwell, will get £200,000, and Stoke-on-Trent s Grade II-listed Bethesda Methodist Chapel will receive £521 737 They are among 37 sites across England sharing £15m in funding from Historic England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport aimed at saving endangered heritage Louise Brennan of Historic England said the extra funding would help revive historic sites “at the heart of local communities,” creating spaces for arts, education and enterprise, boosting local economies and providing opportunities in disadvantaged areas She added “We’re thrilled to support projects that harness the power of heritage to make a real difference where it’s needed most ”

MIDLANDS SPOTS AMONG UK’S BEST PLACES TO LIVE

Eight locations in the Midlands have been ranked among the UK s best places to live in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live list for 2025 Topping the regional list is Ilmington in Warwickshire, also placed fifth nationally Nestled on the edge of the Cotswolds and close to Stratford-uponAvon, Ilmington is praised as “pretty as a picture” and a “blissful example of village life ” Birmingham s Harborne also made the cut, alongside Shrewsbury in Shropshire, Eccleshall in Staffordshire, and Wirksworth in Derbyshire Other Midlands picks include Chipping Camden in Gloucestershire Market Harborough in Leicestershire and Oakham in Rutland

Bhim Kohli

Richard Parker

Amreen Qureshi

Burslem Indoor Market

Shortlist announced for the 23rd Asian Achievers Awards

T he s hortlist for the 23rd

A si an Achi evers Aw ards , the UK ’ s mos t promine nt

a nd lon g-s tan ding celeb ration of Briti sh Asi an s ucces s across multiple s ectors, has be en reveale d

This year ’ s ceremony will be held on Friday 19 September 2025 at the prestigious London Hilton on Park Lane, bringing together nearly 600 guests, including celebrities, business leaders, and global stars In recent years, the combined net worth of attendees has exceeded £25 billion

More than 500 nominations were received across all categories, with judges narrowing them down over the past month to a final shortlist Award categories include: Arts and Culture, Business Person of the Year, Community Service, Entrepreneur of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Media, Professional of the Year, Sports Personality of the Year, and Woman of the Year

The judging panel represents a wide crosssection of society, including leaders from public service, business, entrepreneurship, and media: Dr Poonam Gupta OBE (CEO, PG Paper), Alison Eddy (former

Regional Managing Partner, Irwin Mitchell LLP), Sunil Mohindra (President, TiE North), Mina Tailor (Senior Manager, HSBC), Remona Aly (journalist), and Cary Sawhney MBE (film festival director and programmer)

This year ’ s shortlist showcases exceptional talent from across the UK’s South Asian community, including names like: Neerja Birla, billionaire founder and chairperson, Aditya Birla Education Trust; Frank Khalid OBE, owner, West London Film

Studios, Elbrook Cash and Carry, and Chak89; Indhu Rubasingham MBE, artistic director, National Theatre; Sunny Gill Singh, first British South Asian referee in the Premier League and Amrit Dhaliwal, CEO, Wallfinch Franchising

Commenting on this year ’ s programme, Pratik Dattani, Managing Director of EPG, said, “While Britain faces global economic and political headwinds from multiple sides, South Asians have again showed their resilience and ability to

single malt Indri, and media partners Asian Voice, Gujarat Samachar, and LycaRadio, with catering by Madhus

The evening will be hosted by actor Nitin Ganatra OBE and Sky News presenter Anila Dhami, with presenter and choreographer Nileeka Bose on the red carpet

Arts and Culture:

- Bhavi n Bhat t -

Entertainment will include performances from IndianCanadian singer Raghav, stand-up comedian Eshaan Akbar, and a special table performance

The charity auction for Parkinson’s UK will be led by Thomas Forrester from BBC’s Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip

The full shortlist is:

contribute to building the nation They have created jobs, innovated, broken down barriers and enriched the cultural fabric of our country

Congratulations to all the shortlist and best of luck for the Awards ”

Organised by advisory firm EPG, the Asian Achievers Awards is supported by State Bank of India (UK), charity partner Parkinson’s UK, low- and no-alcohol drinks pioneer Khoki United, think tank Bridge India, Fortnum & Mason, Entrepreneur India, award-winning

Hot el tyc o o n S u r in d er A ro r a h a s

unv eiled a Heathrow expansion proposal to rival th e airport’s own £49 billion p lan A s o ne o f th e larg est lan do w ners around Heath row , Arora believ es he can deliv er the pro ject for about half the cost, around £25 billio n Su bm itted to the government und er the nam e Heathrow West, th e scheme’ s key feature is a sh orter 2, 800metre th ird ru nway, replacing the airport’ s p ro p o s ed 3 , 50 0 -m etr e v er si o n A ro ra ’ s group says this wou ld avo id the costly and disruptiv e diversio n of the M25 m otorway, reduce risks and prevent sp iralling exp enses D e v e l o p e d w i t h i n f r a s t r u c t u r e g i a n t

Bechtel, the plan aims to have the runway operational by 2035, with a new terminal opening in two phases, the first in 2036 and the second in 2040 It has a cost estimate of under £25 billion, not including the redevelopment of the airport's existing central area

Whether it is Heathrow or Gatwick, these airports are not only vital for travel, tourism and trade, they are also major generators of employment Heathrow alone is estimated to provide around 60,000 jobs, ranging from unskilled to highly skilled r o l e s T h e p r o p o s e d r u n w a y e x t e n s i o n , which could add hundreds of flights each day, will further boost demand for staff across airport operations, hospitality and a wide range of supporting services

The Arora Group was founded in 1999 by Surinder Arora and his wife Sunita, and it includes businesses in hotels, property and construction Surinder came to England from Punjab in 1972 at the age of 13, unable to read and write in English, as lessons in English at his school had barely started before he left In London, he was reunited with his mother, whose resilience and sacrifice shaped his life After the partition of India, she had run a small shop in Punjab and trained as a midwife, which helped her get a visa to work in England By the time Surinder arrived, she had left midwifery and was working in a factory during the day, cleaning banks and offices at night and cooking for students on weekends Despite her long hours, she kept the home running smoothly and taught her children discipline, humility and the value of hard work

Adapting to a new country was chall e n g i n g f o r S u r i n d e r a n d h e s t r u g g l e d through his GCSE At 18, he joined British Airways as a clerk, later becoming a financial adviser with Abbey Life His boyhood dream of joining the police gave way to flying after a family friend paid for his first lesson at the London School of Flying Hooked instantly, but faced with lessons costing £21 an hour, he took on two jobs, at BA during the day for £34 a week and as a wine waiter in the evenings, to fund his training In 1978, he proudly earned his private pilot’s licence In the mid-80s, Surinder ventured into property, buying and renovating semiderelict houses near Heathrow to rent as guest houses By the mid-90s, spotting a gap for a purpose-built hotel for BA crew, he pitched the idea to the airline and his bank, b o t h o f w h o m i n i t i a l l y r e j e c t e d h i m

Through persistence and persuasion, he won them over, completing the project

a

Looking back, Surinder credits every success to the example set by his mother

Today, Surinder Arora is the largest private landowner in the Heathrow area, with several hotels to his name He also owns some of the UK’s top-class hotels and resort

c e n t r e s , p a

H E R I T A G E M E E T S A M B I T I O N

Indian pioneers who shaped Britain’s businesses and cultures

group owns near Luton was the residence for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his July visit to the UK He met the diaspora outside this hotel, a historical 15th century country house and estate, with acres of rolling lands I have had the privilege of observing Surinder’s journey from very modest beginnings Nearly 40 years ago, when the foundation was being laid for

the Crawley Sanatan Mandir, I was involved in launching the fundraising effort, joined by friends from London, Preston and elsewhere My modest contribution was £1,000 Surinder, whom I barely knew then and who had just bought a hotel near Gatwick Airport, generously donated £5,000, a gesture I have never forgotten I believe that was the largest single donation to a Sanatan faith cause in that entire area and it meant f

Surinder Arora’s modesty, his ever-present smile and the generous spirit he shares with his wife, Sunita Over the years, I have come to know him well, along with his children and in-laws

Just last year, I met him again during a community event at the May Fair Hotel As always, he greeted everyone with humility, warmth and confidence Yet behind that modest exterior lies a man of tremendous

among the most influential figures in the aviation and hospitality sectors, with a vision for a new airport development on par with world-class hubs like Singapore’s Changi Airport

strengths is bringing together talented, dedicated and ambitious people

know-how in place and no shortage of funds, I believe his Heathrow West plan stands a real chance of success, especially when compared to other UK projects like HS2, which have faced long delays and huge cost overruns Knowing Surinder personally, his nature, dedication and even his spiritual strength, I can say with confidence that if anyone can, it’s Surinder

years running a well-regarded medical practice in Kenya When he moved to England in 1964, he could not secure a position matching his expertise, so he opened a general store and took pride in working behind the till Manu Shah later moved from Bradford to Crawley for work Crawley has its own unique history, just as Southall is called ‘Little India’ and Leicester as ‘mini Gujarat’, Crawley could be known for having the largest number of families from the ‘Nayee’ community The process of migration is, in itself, a subject worth studying When I came to the UK in 1966, more p

places like Forest Gate in East London Oshwals moved to Harrow and Barnet, Lohanas to Harrow and after the Uganda expulsion, many Lohanas made Leicester

camps Crawley grew mainly because of jobs At one time, there were perhaps a few hundred Nayee families there, including Limbachiyas, Parekhs and others I still remember that in 1967, when I went to meet Manubhai Shah, I was also invited for a cup of tea at the home of

Shantibhai was very active in community organisations and during our conversation, the idea of establishing a Sanatan Mandir in Crawley was already taking shape Over time, and with generous contributions from the Dhamecha family and support from Bhupendra Kansagra, that dream became a r e a l i t y T o d a y , t h e A p p l e T r e e C e n t r e ,

Sanatan Mandir stands as a beautiful symbol of faith and unity Although Crawley is south of London, it has become a vibrant centre for our culture, traditions and community spirit, attracting devotees and visitors from far beyond the town

Dishoom – the Thakrar fam ily’s journey of heritag e, h eart and hosp itality

One more news is in the limelight that the founders of Dishoom have sold part of their stakes in the restaurant chain to an investment firm backed by LVMH, in a deal valuing the business at about £300 million Cousins Shamil and Kavi Thakrar started the restaurant Dishoom in Covent Garden in 2010 Two of our editors from Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar were invited on the opening day, which was a momen-

met Manilal Suchak, who was a leading figure there at the time

Equally vivid are my memories of the late Adarniya Narsidas Thakrar, founder of United Riceland, the company behind Tilda and his gracious wife, Adarniya Hiraben We first met in Leicester perhaps around 1979, before they moved to London In those early years, Tilda was just a small rice business The brand name itself is formed from the names of family members I fondly recall the warm hospitality of Narsibhai and Hiraben at their home in Barnet

In 1984, during my seven-week visit to India as a guest of the Indian Government, I stayed at the Ashoka Hotel in Delhi During that time, I travelled to Karnal, Haryana where I spent a few days with Rashmibhai and his family and had the opportunity to visit his rice mill Even back then, I could clearly see the family’s ambition, determination and vision for prosperity beginning to take shape

When I was growing up in Bhadran, Gujarat, a village of about 12,000 people, there were only three to five Lohana families They were shopkeepers, mostly runn i n g p r o v i s i

respected in the community In fact, the main tower in Bhadran, known as Lalu Tower, was built with the generous contribution of Lalu Sheth, also a Lohana B

libraries from as early as 1910, a men

library, a women ’ s library, and a children’s library The men ’ s library was called the Khakhar Library I remember my mother, Kamalaba, often saying in her own simple way, “Lohanas are brave and courageous, Shatriya by heritage ” All the Lohanas in our area were known as Thakrars and many w

loyal supporters

It is heartening to see the next generations carry forward the same seeds of ambition, skill and strong family values into ventures like Dishoom The Thakrar family is not only successful in business but also deeply rooted in relationships and heritage I

Leicester, his wife was a barrister and he happens to be a distant relative of mine O

Vishnubhai’s daughter, further strengthening these personal and family ties

My connection with Crawley goes back almost to the time I arrived in the UK I

l e a r n e d t h a t m y c o l l e g

n d f r o m Vadodara, Manubhai K Shah, was living and working there Back in Vadodara, after qualifying in textile engineering at the Kala Bhavan, Faculty of Technology, he had gone to Bradford for further specialisation But as is often the case, qualifications and career paths depend on many factors, and in those days, many skilled Indians and Asians ended up working in completely different fields I recall one example of a Dr Patel, a Gujarati from Mombasa, who had spent 20

tous occasion Today, the company operates ten restaurants and four cafés under the P e r m i t R o o m b r a n d , e m p l o y i n g a r o u n d

2,000 people Shamil is the son of the late Rashmi Thakrar, the man behind the Tilda Rice empire

I remember the early days when the Covent Garden site was a Slug & Lettuce, Rashmi Thakrar personally invited me to v i s i t H i s b r o t h e r - i n - l a w w a s S h a i l e s h

Manilal Suchak, whose elder brother Bipin Manilal Suchak was a well-known solicitor I knew Bipinbhai through his family, but my connection to the family goes back even further In 1963, during a visit to Zanzibar, I

Yogesh Mehta, Surinder

only prospered

and traditions,

temptations

Today we often speak about multinationals, but 50–60 years ago Indian

In India, there were

Tata, Godrej and Mafatlal G

largely within the country In East Africa, figures like Nanji Kalidas Mehta, Muljibhai Madhvani, the Vaderas, Karimjee Jeevanjee and others were prominent

Now, however, Indian entrepreneurship has spread across diverse fields, industry, trade, finance, banking, professional services such as medicine and accountancy It is a sign of the times that they have expanded globally

Looking at the achievements of the Thakrar brothers, Surinder Arora and many others, I feel that while much has been accomplished, the best is still yet to come

CB Patel

Kavi and Shamil Thakrar

Surinder Arora and his wife Sunita Arora

NHS unveils new way to manage medicine

Minister Stephen Kinnock on the NHS App’s new prescription tracker and how it is just the start of a digital leap forward

Anusha Singh

Imagi ne c hecking o n your p rescription th e same way yo u track a parcel from your f avou ri te o nlin e s tore, n o waiting o n ho ld, no u nnecessary tri ps to th e p harmacy, and no wo ndering if it’s ready That’s exactly wh at

t h e NH S A p p ’ s n ew

“ Amazon-style” p rescription tracker h as made po ssible

fo r nearly 400,000 peop le in j ust ten weeks

Since its launch in May, the feature has been used an

i m p r e s s i v e 7 1 5 , 0 0 0 t i m e s across more than 1,600 high

s t r e e t c h e m i s t s , i n c l u d i n g every Boots in England For patients, it means instant updates on their medication

a n d f o r p h a r m a c i s t s , i t

m e a n s f e w e r p h o n e c a l l s and more time to focus on care

W i t h o v e r 3 7 m i l l i o n registered users and a surge

i n o n l i n e p r e s c r i p t i o n orders, the NHS App is fast becoming an essential tool for healthcare management But this is just the beginning

In an exclusive conver-

s a t i o n w i t h A s i a V o i c e , Minister of State for Care

Stephen Kinnock discusses more details about the initiative and reveals how this digital healthcare initiative will expand further, Can you tell us a bit about your role in the development and rollout of the prescription tracker?

We want patients to have easier and more convenient access to NHS services

l i k e m e d i c i n e s , t e s t s a n d

t r e a t m e n t s , a n d t h i s i s a great example of how we ’ re using technology to deliver i n n o v a t i o n s a c r o s s t h e health service The 10 Year Health Plan sets out a vision for the NHS App to become

a w o r l d - l e a d i n g t o o l f o r p a t i e n t a c c e s s , e m p o w e rment and care planning As the Minister for Care in the Department for Health and Social Care, one of my top priorities is pharmacy, and the app helps to free up both patients' and pharmacists' time It's part of our Plan f o r C h a n g e t o m o d e r n i s e the NHS and create a health service fit for the future

Could you walk us through the development process of the prescription tracking feature in the NHS App? What kind of user research or insights shaped the design?

The development was d r i v e n b y a c l e a r p a t i e n t need Almost half of all calls to community pharmacies were from patients simply asking if their prescription w a s r e a d y T h i s c r e a t e s u n n e c e s s a r y p r e s s u r e o n pharmacy staff and inconvenience for patients, making wasted trips or phone calls to their local chemist In a

track their Amazon parcels

through their phone, there is no reason why the NHS cannot offer the same So we have worked closely with patients, pharmacists, and our digital teams to deliver an app feature that is simple, effective and easy to use, delivering changes that benefit everyone

Has there been any impact on prescription collection times or missed medications since launch?

Nearly 400,000 people h a v e u

715,000 times in ten weeks

We also know that Ryan's Pharmacy in Yorkshire has seen an 80% reduction in p

menting the tracker This f r

p p

o spend more time providing clinical advice to patients rather than answering status queries While we're still

data on collection times and m

l y indicators suggest patients are more engaged with their p r e s c

i p t i o n m a n a g e m e n t when they have real-time visibility

Are there plans to bring more pharmacies on board to offer delivery services to doorsteps, and how is the NHS working to make this option more widely available to patients across England cohesively through this app?

We are determined to give patients access to the l a t e s t t e c h n o l o g y t o improve access to healthcare services The tracker will expand to nearly 5,000 more pharmacies within 12 m o n t h s , c o v e r i n g 6 0 % o f pharmacies in England This is all part of our plan to pull the NHS into the 21st century and shift services from analogue to digital

How does this innovation fit into the NHS's broader digital transformation strategy and how is NHS Digital ensuring that this tool is accessible to people who are not techsavvy or who face digital exclusion?

Our 10 Year Health Plan is going to transform the NHS App, so managing your healthcare becomes just as easy as online banking or shopping But, in the same way that the banks put on t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m m e s t o h

p p e o p l e t o u s e t h e i r o n l i n e s e r v i c e s , w e m u s t make sure everyone is comfortable using the NHS App The NHS App development teams are required to do regular user research and testing with people of all a g e s , a b i l i t i e s a n d b a c kgrounds to make sure that we are inclusive as possible with each new feature We are also working with part-

ners such as in the voluntary sector and public libraries to m a k e s u r e t h

y o n e who wants to learn to use the app, can

W e ’ v e a l s o p a r t n e r e d

with 1,400 libraries, 2,000 NHS App Ambassadors, and free mobile data for excluded patients If you don’t have a phone, the majority of services are also on the NHS website, and you can still opt in for SMS texts or l e t t e r s t o k e e p y o u informed

Arethere plans to expand this feature to include more detailed prescription histories, appointments, medication reminders, or AIdriven insights for easier patient access?

The roadmap is ambit i o u s W i t h o u r 1 0 Y e a r

Health Plan, we ’ re improving the booking system to end the '8am scramble' for G P

health advice available 24/7, i n c l u

options for mental health and other services We're also working towards a single patient record owned by

across care teams

Asand when new facilities and services are introduced in the future, how soon can users expect them to be available through the NHS App?

Our approach is itera-

Minister Stephen Kinnock

The

The Bhavan London celebrates 78 years of India’s independence

Thu rsday, 7 Aug ust, with a grand ev ening of insp iring speeches and v ibrant cultu ral performances

The event opened with a prayer by Executive Director

Dr M N Nandakumara MBE,

Thakrar, Senior Trustee of Bhavan UK, who chaired the celebration

C l l r S h a r o n H o l d e r ,

Mayor of Hammersmith &

spread its message and good work

P

, Vice Chair of the Chellaram

long support for the arts, its

ship with The Bhavan, and his family’s migration from Hyderabad Sindh (now in Pakistan) to India linking Independence Day to heritage, entrepreneurship, and giving back

Keynote speaker Deepak

C h o u d h a r y , M i n i s t e r (Coordination) at the High Commission of India, highlighted The Bhavan’s deep

Tell the Person Who Made the Mistake

Rohit Vadhwana

T oo often, we speak about someone ’ s mistake to everyone else except the person w ho m ad e it Th is happens in offices, families, and among friend s, and it is a sure recipe for d am ag ing trust and relationship s

Everyone makes mistakes at some point in life But if we discover that others are discussing our errors behind our backs, our natural reaction is: Why didn’t you tell me directly? No one likes their weaknesses or faults to become topics of gossip

In a workplace, for example, imagine an employee missing a critical project deadline Instead of speaking directly to the person, the manager vents frustrations to other team members This not only demoralises the employee when they eventually hear about it, but also fuels office politics A better approach is to sit down with the concerned person, explain the impact of the delay, and work together on avoiding a repeat This direct, solutionfocused method preserves dignity and fosters accountability

Of course, some people do not take criticism well

F u l h a m , p r a i s e d T h e Bhavan’s 50-year legacy as a centre of pride and culture for both the local and wider I

D

personal journey with The B

D

its role in helping the Indian diaspora stay connected to its roots She expressed hope that The Bhavan would one day expand to other parts of L

dence movement, and the strong cultural, economic, and diplomatic ties between the UK and India

The evening ended with a vote of thanks by Kaushik

N a t h w a n i , f o l l o w e d b y patriotic performances from B h a v a n s t u d e

National Anthem

Hundreds enjoy festivities at Janmashtami event

Jyotsna Shah

On Sunday, 10 August 2025,

t h e N av na t V an i k Association ho sted a grand

J a nm as h ta mi M el a a t t h e

s p a c i o u s N a vn at gr o u n ds

F r o m m o rn i ng u n ti l l at e evening, hundreds o f visitors

o f a ll ages reve led i n th e vibrant festivities

T h e A s i a n V o i c e a n d

G u j a r a t S a m a c h a r s t a l l among another 50 or more, enjoyed a demand for the weeklies

A l i v e l y c u l t u r a l

p r o g r a m m e a d d e d t o t h e

c h a r m o f t h e d a y T h e

highlight was a captivating play on Mahabharata

t h e r e n o w n e d c h o r e o g r a p h e r K a l p a n a B h a t t A

c o m m u n i t y , a n d w e r e applauded for their brilliant performances

As the celebrations drew to a close, devotees gathered to mark the birth of their b

h n a , joyfully taking part in the symbolic ritual of rocking h i s c r a d l e M e l o d i o u s

bhajans and the rhythmic beats of Raas Garba filled t h e a i r , w i t h p a r t i c i p a n t s and visitors joining in with great enthusiasm

The mela ran smoothly thanks to the hard work of coordinators Ramesh Shah, the Bhagini Samaj members

dedication, friendly service and teamwork reflected the association’s strong base of

generous support

Flag hoisting ceremony at Navnat Centre

T h e H i gh C o mm i ss i o n o f India will celebrate th e 79th

In di a n I nd ep e

comes the Indian diaspora, NRIs, and friends of India

T

with a flag hoisting ceremony at 11:00 AM, followed by the singing of the National

will feature a range of cultural programs and free food stalls offering a diverse selection of Indian cuisine from different regions across the country

A d d i t i o n a l l y , a f l a g hoisting ceremony will be h e l d a t I n d i a H o u s e i n London on August 15 On the evening of August 14, the High Commission will host a special Partition exhibition, commemorating a significant chapter in India’s history

uncomfortable scene, choosing instead to discuss the matter with others But for the good of the organisation, the issue must be addressed directly whether through a calm discussion, a formal reprimand, or an official memo The key is to keep the conversation between the parties involved

The same principle applies in families and friendships

Back-channel complaints can create rifts that last for years If a family member forgets an important responsibility, it is better to talk privately with them rather than criticising them to others If others must be informed, do so carefully, with a clear agreement to keep the matter private

By addressing the concerned person directly, whether a colleague, a family member, or a friend, we create a culture of trust, respect, and openness If the first attempt fails, there may be a need to escalate through formal channels or involve others, but the first step should always be a personal, honest conversation

Therefore, at the first stage at least, we should tell the person who made the mistake (Expressed opinions are personal)

Elderly

siblings reunite for Raksha Bandhan

This Raksha Bandh an bro ught a heartw arming m oment to Harrow wh en 99-year-old Sushila Th akorbhai Desai, originally fro m Nadi ad by m arriag e, v is ited h er 92- year-o ld you ng er broth er, Natver Bhailalbhai Patel, whose nativ e place is K ham bh olaj, to celebrate the festival

and

Desai Piyushkumar

Sushilaben, who now resides in a London care home, was accompanied by her son, Raju Desai, on the special trip to Harrow Weald, where Natver lives with his son, Piyushkumar Patel, and daughter-in-law, Kirti Patel

The reunion of the centenarian sister and her nonagenarian brother was filled with affection, blessings, and cherished m e m o

between siblings

R to L: Cllr Sharon Holder Cllr Anjana Patel Vinod Thakrar Deepak Choudhary, Prakash Bhoopatkar and Kaushik Nathwani

Students performing at the event

Raju

Patel Kirti Patel

Sushila Desai tying rakhi on her brother, Natver Patel

Deepak Choudhary

At the Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar stall (from left): Chandrakant Mehta, Darshan Patel, Tanisha Gujarathi, Asha Patel, Usha Patel (Mayoress), CB Patel, Cllr Anjana Patel - Mayor of Harrow, Jyotsna Shah, Mina Sanghani and Pooja Raval

H E Vikram Doraiswami hoisting Indian flag at India House, 15 August 2024

On stage are the actors of the Mahabharat play, with the dignitaries of Navnat standing below

Where Property Demand Is Heading Now

I n p ro p er ty in v es t in g , d em ograph ics and lifestyle

m il es to ne s m at ter

U nd erstand ing and target-

i n g th e m e ff ec ti v el

m ean th e d if f ere nc e between a th riv ing investm ent, an d one tha t falls flat Refurbish ing a property to be prim ed for retirees m ay not make much sense in an area th at’s prov ing p o p u lar w i th yo u ng p arents

Looking ahead, paying attention to these points

m a y e n d u p b

n g e v

more crucial for investors, given the (literal) direction

o

Homebuyers are now relocating over 50 miles for bett

A

n g away from the city was the primary driver for 23% of respondents, while another 23% said they were upsizing to accommodate a growing family

On the latter, upsizers made up 37% of recent market activity, and first-time buyers accounted for 22% of transactions It’s evident that many buyers and families want to move on, or otherwise start their lives

This should be welcomed by property investors and wider society at large

A recurring story we see in the news is our ongoing fertility crisis People just aren’t having enough children and that poses economic, political, and societal challenges

Thankfully, optimistic signs that we ’ re finding (or are at least attempting to find) solutions for this issue

a r e e m e r g i n g T h e O N S revealed there were 594,677 live births in 2024, up 0 6% from 2023 A small increase, but an important one This was the first rise recorded

since 2021

M o r e o v e r , w i t h t h e government creating more n u r s e r y s p a

s England and pushing for more births, perhaps this growth will continue The question remains, if families are growing and parents end up looking for better places to raise their children, where could they end up?

Well, there are a few hotspots that could be particularly suited for young families There are countless “best places to live” lists across the web, but a few towns and regions are sing l e d o u t a c r o s s m a n y o

friendliness

G

s t h a t scored highly for natural beauty, wellbeing, heritage, jobs, value for money, and arguably most importantly

f o r t h i s p i e c e – s c h o o l s Taking the very top spot

w a s R e d b o u r n i n

H e r t f o r d s h i r e , w h i c h ranked highly for schools, heritage, and natural beauty Epsom, St Albans, and Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan were also noted for having v e r y g o o d s c h o o l i n g options

A n o t h e r l i s t f r o m Platform Home Ownership

h i g h l i g h t e d S u t t o n

Coldfield for having over 100 primary and secondary schools in and around the local area, 92% of which being either ‘Good’ or highe r b y O f s t e d S u t t o n Coldfield is also the area with the lowest crime rate in the West Midlands, making it “extremely popular”

settle down Other family

Gloucester

With people willing to criss-cross across the country to find the best options for their circumstances, it widens the net for property

societal shifts can impact

That’s why we have teams based throughout England and Wales to support property investors in identifying and targeting markets or sectors poised for increased demand

Loughborough Hindu temple reopens after renovation

A Hin du te mple in Loughborough, t he BAPS Sh ri Swamin ara ya n Ma ndir on Moira Str ee t, is re opene d afte r a 10 -we ek volun tee r-le d r e n o v a t i o n F un d e d by d o n a t i o n s a n d fund raising, t he rev amp has ma de the t emple bright er a nd mor e inspiring for wor shippe rs

Lead volunteer Vinay Sutaria said, "The temple is like a second home for many, so it’s wonderful to see so many volunteers come together for this project " He added, "We’ve now created classrooms where children and youth can engage in various activities The temple is not just a sanctuary for the elderly but a vibrant community space where all generations can come together " "Here, they can participate in classes to learn cultural traditions, music, dance, and Hindu values This renovation is more than just a facelift, it’s incredible to transform an entire temple in just 10 weeks "

Mr Sutaria said the reopening will be

streets on Saturday morning A private con-

n Sunday morning, followed by the temple’s official reopening that afternoon The temple’s opening was celebrated with a grand

space for worship and community harmony

On Day 2 of the Loughborough Mandir Mahotsav, a vibrant shobha yatra saw people of all ages join a grand procession Day 3 featured the murti pratishtha vidhi, attended by swamis and hundreds of devotees, with many more coming for darshan throughout the day The three-day festivities concluded with an evening arti and sabha in the presence of the swamis

UK court dismisses UK Indian Muslim Council’s Leicester violence report

Vinod Popat

A UK High Court judg e has dism issed the cred ibility of a repo rt prod uced by the UK

describing its central survey as “ not

the UK-IMC’s publication If the core survey at the heart o f t h e r e p o r t c a n n o t b e trusted due to its lack of scientific rigor, what value do the report’s broader conclusions hold?

Furthermore, if the data

w

s p

om o t e d b y U K - I M C a s a n “independent” investigation into the violence that erupte d i n L e i c e s t e r b e t w e e n Hindu and Muslim youth, relied heavily on survey data

t h a t t h e c o u r t u l t i m a t e l y found to be methodologically unsound In doing so, the Court effectively rendered the report void of evidentiary value

A Blow to the rep ort’s credibility

The ruling raises serious concerns about the impartiality and motives behind

g a t h e r i n g w a s f l a w e d , i t must be asked w h e t h e r t h e r e p

attempt to distort the narrat

L

lence, perhaps

the court, to have failed in these basic standards In a time when community trust a n d c o h e s i o n a r e u n d e r strain, spreading misleading or poorly evidenced conclus i o n s o n l y d e e p e n s d i v isions

The path forw ard T h e j u d g m e n t b y M r Justice Johnson serves as a reminder that facts matter, especially when addressing c o m m u n a l t e n s i o n s Advocacy groups, regardless of their affiliations, must be

the very communities who w

information they produce Misrepresentation, whether deliberate or through negli-

i c

timised during the unrest U nd ermining truth in sensitiv e comm unity matters

L

v i o l e n c e was a deeply sensitive and t r o u b l i n g e v e n t t h a t demanded a careful, factbased response from all sections of society The need for impartiality and academic rigor in such investigat i o n s i s p a r a m o u n t , e s p ec i a l l y w h e n t h e f i n d i n g s influence public perception and policy discussions

I n s t e a d , t h e U K - I M C report appears, in the eyes of

unchecked

In light of this legal dismissal, it is incumbent upon the UK-IMC to clarify its methodology, acknowledge

engage in transparent dia-

case should prompt a reevaluation of how so-called

and presented to the public Only through truth and accountability can we build the foundation for peace, justice, and mutual respect in our communities

Paresh Raja, CEO Market Financial Solutions

Swamis at the Loughborough Mandir Mahotsav

Devotees joining the vibrant shobha yatra

India, USA, and conflict

There is a trade war going on between the USA and India and the rest of the world at the present time

India is developing fast under the leadership of the present prime minister Narendra Modi All countries are eager to do business with India but still directly or indirectly USA, China and Russia have got big influence on business and other external affairs of India and other countries Now President Trump is trying to be the peacemaker in the world ! Two big wars are going on in the world at present time and no one wants a third major war between nuclear powered India and Pakistan

The relation between India and Pakistan has never been too good since Pakistan was created after independence from Britain After world war 2, The world did not want another major war anywhere in the world

The first prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru followed that path and became a SHANTI DOOT He took action accordingly with the neighbouring countries whenever there was a conflict with them In the past Lal Bahadur Shastri, Atal BIhari Vajpayee and other prime ministers tried to negotiate and prevail peace in the Indian subcontinent

In 1971, the then prime minister Indira Gandhi bravely took tough action against Pakistan despite threat by the USA and created Bangladesh The big credit also goes to the former chief of army staff Manekshaw and the mighty Indian army In the 1970s ,the USA and CIA were playing a big part in controlling and interfering in the external and internal affairs of the countries in the world

India was coming up slowly in the world but it was a completely different era compared to the present time It was not that easy for India to stand against the USA in those years as the USA did not want a big democratic country like India leaning towards communism

It does not look like that Kashmir issue is ever going to be solved permanently The ugly and rude war of words will go on between countries and political parties in India The relationship between normal people of both countries will continue to suffer in different fields

In countries like the UK and UAE where in our everyday way of life, people of different countries and religions walk together, work together and live together The sour relation between the two countries should not affect and reflect our lives in the UK and other countries

Narend ra Patel

The UN is dead. Why haven’t we buried it yet?

The United Nations was born from the ashes of Second World War promising peace, justice and unity But today it has become a museum of those noble intentions A swollen machine kept alive by habit, not results From WHO to WTO, UNSC, UNESCO, UNICEF to UNDP, and others shuffle papers, organise summits, and pump out slogans while the world burns The UN has not stopped war, it has not protected the vulnerable, and it no longer leads It watches, it pleads, and it fails

The Security Council is the perfect example Its job is to stop conflict and protect lives Instead it has become a stage for delay and veto Syria bombed its own people Myanmar crushed democracy Palestine bleeds while the Council argues Ukraine was invaded by a permanent member and the Council collapsed into silence Russia blocked every attempt to act The message is clear The strong can break the rules, and the UN will do nothing The Security Council has not kept peace It has surrendered to power

The UN’s field agencies are no better In Gaza, the UN ran one of the largest operations in the world Yet Hamas stockpiled thousands of rockets and built hundreds of miles of terror tunnels right under their noses If the UN did not know, it was blind If it did and said nothing, it was complicit In Sudan, millions are starving while ethnic cleansing unfolds The UN response is to ask for access and issue press releases It does not prevent disaster It follows it, slowly and loudly

The World Trade Organization, once the defender of open trade, now sits quiet while the system collapses When Donald Trump slammed a fifty percent tariff on Indian exports and ripped up decades of agreements, the WTO blinked No protest, no action Its courts barely function Its authority is ignored Other UN bodies are just as hollow UNDP, UNESCO, and others spend more on branding and bureaucracy than solving poverty or education They talk of change but live in comfort

We must stop pretending The UN has failed It wastes time, money and the last drops of moral credibility The idea of global cooperation still matters, but not like this Not through this dead structure built for a different world We need something new Something built to act, not stall Built for people, not power Not Western Not weak Fast, fearless, and truly global The UN is dead Let us bury it with honesty and build what the 21st century world actually needs

Happy Janmastmi

Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of God Vishnu, is worshipped as the supreme God in Hinduism Born in northern India around 3,228 BCE, Lord Krishna’s life marks the passing of the Dvapara Yuga and the beginning of the Kali Yuga, which is considered the current age Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is a historical figure who appeared on earth approximately 5,000 years ago He lived for 125 years and behaved like a human being, yet His activities were unparalleled For those who doubt Lord Krishna’s existence, I would like to share excerpts from a Toronto Star article published on March 7, 2004, in the religion section by Tom Harpur, a theologian focusing on cosmic spirituality

The article, titled “World’s major religions are like

author Aldous Huxley and highlights Krishna and the Bhagavad Gita Krishna, often called the Hindu Christ, is a major speaker in the scripture Interestingly, the Greek word Christopher (which appears 40 times in the Greek version of the Old Testament dating back to circa 280 BCE) and the name Krishna both derive from Sanskrit roots, with Krishna meaning “to anoint ”

What Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita anticipates many of Jesus’ teachings by centuries, even millennia For example:

• Krishna says, “Within this body, life immortal that shall not perish: I am the Truth and the Joy forever ” Jesus states in John, “I am the way, the truth, and the life ”

• Krishna: “I am the Atman (soul) that dwells in the heart of every creature; I am the beginning, the life-span, and the end of all I am the alphabet, I am A I am time without end ” Jesus calls Himself the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end

• Krishna tells Arjuna: “Of this be certain: the man that loves me shall not perish ” Jesus says, “If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love ”

• Krishna refers to Himself as “the Lord, who is the light-giver, the highest of the high ” Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world ”

• Krishna: “I am the Word that is God the light of the fire, life of all lives ”

John’s Gospel says Jesus is the Logos or Word, the true light by which all was created

• Krishna: “The world fails to recognize me as I really am I stand apart from them all, supreme and deathless ” Jesus says, “The world cannot hate you, but me it hateth ”

The article concludes that we urgently need this kind of context in today’s media coverage of religion God bless all stay safe and healthy

Su resh a nd Bhav na Pa tel

India defies threats

The tarif f w ar betwe en In dia an d the US is i nten si fied be caus e of irres pons ible an d i ntimid atin g sta teme nts by the pre sid ent of the US Threate nin g In dia wi th highe r tari ffs will not gi ve much advan tage to the US India has 3Ms - Market, Manufacturing facilities and Manpower India is not a small country which is heavily dependent on the US export only The country has a solid domestic consumer base of 1 4 billion citizens Narendra Modi is highly likely to inform the citizens on the 15th August to be resilient and go for domestic products instead of going for branded products to prevent the profit from going out of India

The prime minister of India has cemented relationships with many small as well as medium-sized but strategically important countries to mitigate the impact There may be some negative impact in the short run, but there will be long-term advantages

India is in such a position where it cannot be taken for a ride Trade and tariff discussions and negotiations are fine, but no country can act like a dictator and threaten India

Hi tesh Hin gu

BRICS unity could signal the end of American economic dominance

The united stance of China, India, and Brazil against renewed U S tariffs under Donald Trump is more than a trade dispute it’s a warning shot to Washington For decades, the US has dictated the rules of global commerce Now, the world’s fastest-growing economies are beginning to write their own

Within BRICS, talk is shifting from defensive measures to building a new trade architecture expanding South–South cooperation, boosting intra-bloc commerce, and developing payment systems that bypass the US dollar If this gains traction, it could weaken America’s ability to wield economic power unilaterally

Of course, challenges remain China and India must bridge their political rifts, Brazil must balance Western ties, and BRICS as a whole must turn rhetoric into action But the intent is clear: the monopoly of US influence is no longer accepted as inevitable

This isn’t the sudden fall of an empire, but the gradual rise of a multipolar world where no single nation can dominate global trade The US will still matter just not on its own terms

‘Micchami

Dukkadam’

A golden opportunity to seek and grant forgiveness to all living beings. T h e d

h festival is a time to sincerely ask f forgiveness from anyone whos h e a r

y through our thoughts, words, o actions over the past year

On this occasion, any individ or organisation has a unique chan c

n v e y t h e m e s s a g e o f ‘ M i c c h Dukkadam’ to our readers by pla an advertisement in our weeklies

We always present reports o organisations with photographs, taking every opportunity to serve the community We hope you too will not miss this opportunity

For more details, contact: Jyotsna Shah Email: jyotsna.shah@abplgroup.com Mob: 07875 229 223

Maya Deepak enchants UK with timeless tunes

community organisations, as well as prestigious venues such

House of Lords, presenting the richness of Indian music

Having performed in a series of programmes both in India and abroad, it is no exaggeration to say that the goddess of knowledge, Saraswati, resides in her voice Whether it is folk songs, ras garba or film music, her renditions leave a lasting impression on the hearts and minds of listeners

For more information about M ayaben’ s stay in Britain, contact: 00 44 74 59 91 0 462

If your children, relatives, or family friends have achieved good grades in their A-Levels, or GCSEs, we’d love to celebrate their success stor y with you!

The grace of saree

The saree, a timeless symbol of grace, envelops women in elegance, showcasing their beauty and strength Each drape tells a story, celebrating our rich heritage Let us cherish and promote this exquisite attire, reminding the world that in a saree, every woman radiates divinity and confidence

“Embrace Tradition, Wear Beauty ”

TS Karthik

Please email us their photo, name, grades, and a 50 word congratulator y message at subhasini.naicker@abplgroup.com to publish in Asian Voice for free Deadline: 24 August 2025

Vinod Pop at

Helping the next generation onto the property ladder

In South Asian communities, helping children buy a home is an act of love, duty, and cultural continuity, with property long seen as a symbol of belonging, stability, and lasting family legacy

Subhasini Naicker

M any first-time buyers rely h eavily on th eir parents for su pp ort in step ping onto the prop erty ladd er R

(80%) recent first-time buy-

money, while more than nine in 10 (96%) received some form of financial help

(68%) benefited from family contributions, and nearly

helped by friends

T h e s u r v e y , c o m m i ssioned by TSB and involving more than 1,000 firsttime buyers over the past year, highlights the crucial role of family networks in m a k i n g h o m e o w n e r s h i p possible

This is particularly true in South Asian communities, where it is common for parents to assist their

c h i l d r e n i n p u r c h a s i n g a home, seeing it as a longterm investment in their f a m i l y ’ s s t a b i l i t y a n d future

A s i a n V o i c e s p o k e t o

s e v e r a l e x p e r t s o n h o w families support first-time buyers and young adults, a n d t h e g r o w i n g r o l e o f intergenerational property transfers in securing homeownership

P ooling reso urces for housing dream s Viral Patel, Founder of C ustod ia, said it is common

f o r U K A s i a n p a r e n t s t o help with deposits, especially for first-time buyers

i n h i g h - c o s t a r e a s l i k e London, reflecting cultural

v a l u e s o f f a m i l y s u p p o r t and securing the next generation’s future “For buyers, it eases the challenge of saving while renting; for parents, it can be a smart

e s t a t e - p l a n n i n g m o v e , a s gifts may be exempt from inheritance tax if the giver

s u r v i v e s s e v e n y e a r s , ” h e said Structured well, this s u p p o r t h e l p s c h i l d r e n onto the property ladder while reducing the taxable value of an estate

On the topic of housing support within the British Asian community, K iran D P atel, Di recto r of A lbury A ssociates, noted that helping children onto the property ladder is “ more than a financial gesture, it’s an act of love, duty, and cultural

continuity,” with property often serving as “ an anchor of family life” and a legacy passed down through gene r a t i o n s H e e m p h a s i s e d that such support, whether through gifts, transfers, or c o - o w n e r s h i p , i s d e e p l y rooted in values of filial piety and collective success, but also comes with the need to balance expectations and independence

E c h o i ng t h i s, C ll r S m ru ti P at el, C a bi ne t mem ber: T ransfo rmatio n, Ep p in g F o r es t D i s tri c t C o un ci l, s a i d t h e B r i t i s h

a

w a y

c

l e d a t s u pporting its families,” from c h i l d c a r e t o f u n d i n g d e p o s i t s f o r f i r s t h o m e s However, she warned that r i s i n g t a x e s , s t a g n a n t w a g e s , g l o b a l e c o n

m i c p r e s s u r e s , a n d A I - d r i v e n recruitment challenges are making it harder for young people to secure jobs and buy homes, leading many parents to house adult children for longer

A nis h P atel, Financi al A d v i s o r a t Wh i t e L o tu s Wealth, said the ‘Bank of

Mum and Dad’ is among the UK’s top ten lenders, with around 46% of firsttime buyers receiving family help “Nationally, contrib u t i o n s a v e r a g e o v e r £30,000, but in the British Asian community they are often higher, reflecting trad i t i o n s o f p o o l i n g r e s o u r c e s , c o l l e c t i v e responsibility, and viewing property as a cornerstone

o f f i n a n c i a l s e c u r i t y , ” h e said “ W i t h a v e r a g e h o u s e prices above £280,000 and deposits around £60,000, this help can mean the diff e r e n c e b e t w e e n b u y i n g

now or renting for years

Many families also transfer property during their life-

t i m e s , p l a n n i n g a r o u n d inheritance tax to preserve wealth This intergenerat i o n a l a p p r o a c h e n a b l e s homeownership, strengthe n

d upholds long-held values of securing property early,” he added

O n t h e t r a d

i o n o f supporting first-time buye r s , S a le em R

Senior Partner at S edd ons

GS

Park inson’s is a n incurable neur ological condit ion tha t affe cts pe ople of an y age and backgr ound It is on the r ise , with global diagn ose s pr edicte d to double to 25 million by 2050

Parkinson’s has over 40 symptoms which can affect everyone differently That’s why research participation is vital It’s especially important to hear from people of South Asian heritage, whose experiences are vital in understanding Parkinson’s

cultural

British Asian community, such help is “both

response to today’s housing

loans, or early inheritance, he noted, citing a recent case where three siblings helped their niece buy her

transferring part of a jointly owned investment prop-

near work while the family retained a stake “Passing property in this way keeps wealth within the family, meeting immediate needs

w h i l e b u i l d i n g l o n g - t e r m security,” he added Ni na

K C

Kuhan Pushparatnam is from London and was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s when he was just 38 He knew nobody else with the condition and it was hard to accept “It was difficult to get my head around So I didn’t really talk to people and was quite secretive about it,” he says Fast forward twelve years and things are very different Kuhan left his tech job in the City and cohosts 2 Parkies in a Pod, a podcast with his friend Dave Clark, a former Sky Sports presenter Together they tackle countless Parkinson’s topics and taboos with a positive energy and have amassed an army of fans He also created a self-care phone app, Parkinson’s ON, to help people stay on top of their symptoms

“It’s strange, isn’t it?” Kuhan reflects “I went from telling nobody to telling everybody But as my condition has progressed, so has my outlook on life ”

Recent studies have shown that they are more likely to develop severe movement symptoms, and thinking and memory problems

While it might sound daunting, getting involved in studies can help people feel more in control of their condition, and that they're making a positive impact on the community Kuhan realised that research was where he could make a difference

Taking part in Parkinson’s studies has been rewarding, bringing him into closer contact with medical professionals who are passionate about learning and finding a cure

u nt ry He ad o f Ind iaspo ra Org, agreed that rising prices

almost half of young buyers now receive family help,

strongly encouraged, and support often extends to student loans, private educ

expenses, ” she said, noting that with £5 5 trillion set to pass between generations

and property transfers will remain central to securing

“When I was diagnosed, all I wanted was a practical way to help myself and to hear from other people going through something similar,” Kuhan says “Perhaps I should have been doing this earlier But a Parkinson’s journey is like a grieving process and you have to reach a point of acceptance to see things more clearly ”

“Now I get to meet other people with Parkinson’s, neurologists and researchers,” says Kuhan “I’ve had some real eureka moments when I’ve learned about something that I’ve experienced ” Kuhan is also a founding member of the Parkinson’s UK Race Equality in Research steering group, which kickstarted in 2021 to ensure that the voices of people from Asian, Black, Arab and mixed heritage backgrounds are included at every stage of the conversation This includes encouraging people to join the Parkinson’s UK Research Support Network, an online community where people can hear about and take part in the latest research He hopes more people from the South Asian community will join him in the search for better Parkinson’s treatments It all starts with better connections

v To find out more about taking part in Parkinson’s research, go to parkinsons org uk/rsn

v You can find 2 Parkies in a Pod on major podcast platforms

v Parkinson’s ON is available to download via the App Store and Google Play

“For that ‘silent majority’ we need to do more,” Kuhan says “Rather than hope they reach out, we need to reach them It’s in their interests, and ultimately, with the objective of growing and re-balancing the research population, it’s in all our interests ”

Viral video sparks debate over paan spitting in London

A video showing red paan and tobacco stains on the streets of London has gone viral, with footage reveali ng splatters on dustbins, pave-

Residents say the stains

The video’s circulation on social media has

Kuhan Pushparatnam

Viral Patel

Kiran D Patel

Cllr Smruti Patel

Anish Patel

Saleem R Sheikh

Nina Amin

S O N E R I S M R U T I G R A N T H - A T I M E L E S S T R E A S U R E

The Soneri Smruti Granth is more than just a book, it is a living record of our community’s history Its carefully compiled Index honours remarkable people, landmark events and milestones that have shaped our shared journey. Each name and chapter reflects decades of dedication and the enduring bonds that unite us The publication of this Index in this edition is both a tribute and an invitation, a tribute to those who have walked before us and an invitation to all to cherish and preserve this heritage.

w A family’s tale of strength and triumph- Dhamecha Group

w Market Financial Solutions Where innovation meets financial strength

w A Life Woven Through Cultures, Courage, and Ideas- Lord Bhikhu Parekh

w From the UK to the World - Rishi Patel

w The inspiring journey of Lord Dolar Popat

w A Legacy of Innovation, Impact, and Inspiration -Koolesh Shah

w Top of the World -Subhash V Thakrar OBE

w Sucess is the impact you have on others - Remembering Joginder Sanger

w Following Friends into Pharmacy: The Evolution of Sigma - Dr Bharat Shah CBE

w The man who rose beyond empire - Manubhai Madhvani

w From Struggles to Global Impact- Vijay and Bhikhu Patel

w Vision, Heritage and Community: The Pankhania Family Story

w A Journey Etched in Grit: The Tale of - Lord Navnit Dholakia

w Shahnaz Husain UK Connect

w The impact of Nagrechas Journey rooted in faith, fulfilled through giving

w A Statesman of the People - Virendra Sharma

w A Legacy of Duty, Devotion and Discipline- Dhirubhai Sangani & Family

w Redefining care through culture, compassion, and community- Aum Care Group

w The Quiet Flame: The Remarkable Journey of Induben Mehta

w A story of endurance, diplomacy and heritage - Nimisha Madhvani

w The Quiet Force Who Reshaped British Asian Enterprise- Babubhai Patel

w A Life Less Ordinary- Nitesh Gor

w A life intertwined My 50-year journey with CB Patel and his legacy

w The Remarkable Journey of Kaushik Desai

w A Quiet Flame - Jayshree Rajkotia

w Reviving Gujarati Heritage in the UK - by Pritee Varsani & Mira Salat

w From Gujarati GCSE to Global Storytelling - Dhiren Katwa

w The values guiding Harrow’s Madam Mayor - Cllr Anjana Patel

w From Disciple to Teacher Meet Daaji, Global Guide of Heartfulness

w A bridge between worlds: The inspiring legacy of Lord Rami Ranger

w The Inspiring Journey of Vimla & Harish Patel of Cardiff, Wales

w Devotional Musical Service by the Raithatha Brothers

w A Journey of Faith, Devotion and Community – BAPS, Neasden

w The Brahma Kumaris in the UK

w The Journey of Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury

w Aylesbury Hindu Temple A dream taking shape in the heart of the community

w Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Willesden honours Gujarat Samachar’s 53-year journey

w A Spiritual Legacy Rooted in Devotion and Determination - Bhaktivedanta Manor

w Serving communities through compassion - Anoopam Mission

w VYO UK: Illuminating the Path of Grace

w Sanatan Dharma Mandir, Cardiff: A Legacy of Resilence, Faith and Community

w HINDUISM A diaspora seeking spiritual wellbeing and community harmony

w The Journey of the India League

w The Bhavan and its positive impact on Indian art and culture in the UK

w Journey of the Oshwal Community and 20 Glorious Years of the Temple

w Sangat Centre the Community Hub

w Carrying the Legacy Forward: Sharad Parikh and the Gita Foundation

w Building a Stronger Community NCGOUK

w Gujarat Hindu Society: A Legacy of Unity, Culture, and Service

w 50 Years of Service- The Legacy of the Lions Club of Enfield

w Om Shakti Centre: Cherishing Life at Every Age

w The Journey of SHISHUKUNJ

w Hindu Forum of Britain: Finding a Voice in a New Home

w The Legacy of Shree Prajapati Association (SPA) UK

w Gujarat Cultural Society Brighton

w Navnat’s legacy of community, culture and service

w CB : A thinking Patel - Sheela Bhatt

w The Two Faces of a Newspaper: Truth and Service - Kanti Nagda MBE

w Celebrating Gujarat Samachar: A Steadfast Beacon for Society - Nilesh Parmar

w Our strength is in our existence - Rupanjana Dutta

w Inspirational Journey of Gujarat Samachar

w The Shocking Detention of CB Patel: A Fight for Justice, Dignity and Free Speech

w A story of finding identity and pursuing dreams - Pooja Raval

READERS VOIC E

w Readers: The Lifeblood of Our Legacy

w Community Development through Sri Nama Hatta Nottingham

w A Lifeline to Emergency Medicine - Dr Gautam Bodiwala - CBE, DL, JP

w From Malawi to London - A Life of Vikesh Vanzara Dedicated to Service

w Panna Raja - A woman of vision, voice and values

w Sanatan Dharma blends science, spirit and soul - Kunjal Buch

w Commitment to Healing and Heritage: Dr Sureshbhai and Late Dr Miraben Parikh

w A Legacy of Service, Sacrifice, and Community Spirit- Raman Barber

w A life that bridged two worlds - Sir Jayvantsinh Gohel

w Unwavering Devotion to the Gujarati Community - Kanu R Patel

w Appreciating The Pigeon (Kapota), God’s Wonderful Creation - Tarla Modha

w Living the Gita, Healing the World - Dr Heenakumari Ghanshyambhai Patel

As I See It - J ourney Throug h the Archives

w Akshar Gyan: How media, defiance and service shaped my life and work

w India House and the legacy of diplomacy

w A journey of legacy, heritage and progress

w Gujarat, Modi and The Economist

w Indian Republic Day, the India League and IJA legacy

w From Seymour Place to Wembley Stadium Faith and Football

w A journey of dedication and delivery

w Exploring the common threads of Indian and Jewish History

w From Gujarat to the global stage

Secure your copy of the Soneri Smruti Granth today!

For more details, see page 15

“Being brown is not easy in this industry”

NHS drama ‘This Is Going

Prestigious UK scholarships for Karnataka women

In a land mark step for hi gher ed u c a ti o n an d w om e

have been award ed

Comparing her career

t o W o o d a l l ’ s , s h e n o t e s ,

Ambika Mod on fighting for space and wanting to make it easier for the next girl Ambika Mod grew up in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, the daughter of Indian immigrants Her mother moved to the UK as a child, while her father arrived in his twenties. She attended Dame Alice Owen’s School before earning a degree in English Studies from St Mary’s College, Durham Mod always knew she wanted to act Growing up

o n a s t e a d y d i e t o f Bollywood films, she still r e c a l l s t h e s c a r c i t y o f brown faces on British tele-

v i s i o n b e y o n d ‘ G o o d n e s s Gracious Me’ and Apu from ‘ T h e S i m p s

like I didn’t know South

A s i a n e n t e r t a i n e r s c o u l d exist,” she says “It’s like there wasn’t space for us in the West ” With no family connections in the industry, acting

f e l t l i k e a “ p i p e d r e a m ” until she discovered comedy at Durham University

S t u d y i n g E n g l i s h , s h e

b e c a m e p r e s i d e n t o f t h e Durham Revue, the same

c o m e d y t r o u p e t h a t launched Nish Kumar and E d G a m b l e “ I d i d t h e

E d i n b u r g h F r i n g e e v e r y year between 19 and 23, ”

s h e r e c a l l s I n a n o t h e r timeline, she laughs, she’d be writing her first BBC sitcom “That’s what I was planning! I thought comedy would be my way in I

n e v e r i m a g i n e d a c t i n g would happen the way it has ” Her break came with t h e c r i t i c a l l y a c c l a i m e d

t o H u r t ’ , i n w h i c h s h e played Shruti, a junior doctor buckling under relentless pressure Since then, M o d h a s s t a r r e d i n T h e Stolen Girl and is set to appear in Romain Gavras’s ensemble adventure comedy Sacrifice, alongside Anya T a y l o r - J o y , C h r i s E v a n s , Salma Hayek and Vincent Cassel

H e r O n e D a y c o - s t a r Leo Woodall, meanwhile, has been cast in high-profile projects including an Anthony Bourdain biopic

T h i s d i s p a r i t y s p a r k e d online debate and Mod didn’t shy away from weighing in “It’s the truth,” she told The Sunday Times recently “It’s nothing I haven’t said to Leo’s face It’s not personal it’s the industry and the way society works ” S h e p o i n t s o u t t h a t while she’s not only offered stereotypical parts, such as “the rookie cop investigating the story of two intere s t i n g w h i t e l e a d s ” , t h e y s t i l l c o m e h e r w a y “ I f you ’ re brown, if you ’ re a woman, if you don’t have connections, you do have to work 10 times harder to get half as far,” she says

“We wouldn’t go for the same roles, and we ’ re very different people, but there’s a privilege there that I don’t have access to Being brown is not easy in this industry; y o u d o n ’ t g e t t h e s a m e opportunities or ascension I’ve been the lead in two s u c c e s s f u l , c r i t i c a l l y acclaimed TV shows and I s t i l l f e e l I h a v e t o k e e p proving myself A lot of my white peers don’t have to t

time, I know how lucky I am So few people who look like me get to be here My hope is that my being here makes it easier for a girl 10 or 20 years younger than me ”

career, Mod worked as a personal assistant at Condé Nast by day and pursued

Theatrix Performing Arts in St Albans, based at the

Andrew Shires and contin-

with London’s improvised comedy theatre, The Free Association

play Every Brilliant Thing

a t S o h o P l a c

o u t a daughter trying to lift her mother out of deep depression It’s another chance for her to expand the boundaries of what British audiences see, and who they see, on stage and screen

Firstborn daughters ‘cost mothers more’

Hav ing a fi rst ch ild o ften

m ean s fi nanc ial s acri fic es, but recent research reveals British mothers pay a signifi cantly h ig h er p rice wh en their firstbo rn is a daugh ter

I t i s w e l l - k n o w n t h a t women ’ s earnings tend to d r o p a f t e r c h i l d b i r t h , b u t the new study shows the “child penalty” is on average steeper for mothers of girls

“Mothers’ monthly earnings over the five years after birth were, on average, £450 lower if they had a daughter compared to a son, ” said Sonia B h a l o t r a , P r o f e s s o r o f Economics at the University

o f W a r w i c k T h e f i g u r e exceeds the child benefit for first children, which is about £110 per month

The arrival of a girl was also linked to mothers doing m o r e h o u s e w o r k , w h i l e fathers reported greater satisfaction with their relationships The study analysed data from over a decade of

t h e U K L o n g i t u d i n a l

Household Survey, tracking around 100,000 individuals

It found that mothers of

lly funded s ch o l a rs h i p s to p u rs u e one-year master’s degrees in th e United Kingd

through a new Memorandum

the Government of Karnataka

Programme, supported by the

The selected scholars for the 2025–26 cohort are: Nihaarika

Joseph and Swetha Nagapathi Hegde

Starting this September, these women will begin their studies at leading UK universities The partnership, for-

malised in December 2024, guarantees five scholarships

totalling 15 scholars, allowing graduates from any discipline to study in the UK Priority is given to graduates from government colleges, especially those from tier-2 and tier-3

inclusion and representation across Karnataka

Pregnant women bypass GP for midwife

E xp ec ta nt m o th ers a cr os s

Eng land can no w bo ok their first NHS mid wife ap pointment faster by skipping the GP and self-referring online

Through a simple form on NH S u k, m u m s -t o -b e c an choose th eir lo cal maternity service and access vital early p re g na nc y c ar e w i t h o u t delay T h e s e f i r s t a p p o i n t -

ments are key for personalised support, early screening, and identifying highrisk pregnancies While GPs r e m a i n a n o p t i o n , m o s t women can now go straight to a midwife, with the new s e r v i c e a i m i n g t o b o o s t t i m e l y c a r e a f t e r d a t a s h o w e d

within the first 10 weeks in

2023/24

6 0 , 0 0 0 women have used the tool, with over three-quarters of N H S t r u s t s o n b o a r d T h e NHS estimates it could save 180,000 GP calls annually, h e l p i n g e x p e c t a n t m u m s start their pregnancy journ e y s

r a n d w i t h t h e right support in place

daughters saw incomes fall by 26% in five years, compared to just 3% for mothers of sons Employment rates dropped 20% for mothers of girls, versus 6% for mothers of boys

H o u s e h o l d c h o r e s i n c r e a s e d b

daughter’s birth, compared to 27% after a son

w

r e a l s o m o r

s Mothers

i k e l y t o identify as the primary careg i v e r f o r d

than sons (57%) Mothers’ attitudes also shifted, with a

unchanged

Mothers of girls experienced a greater decline in mental health, while fathers of daughters reported higher relationship satisfaction, possibly linked to women shouldering more domestic duties The study could not determine exact causes, but s u g g e s t s m o t h e r s m a y choose to spend more time nurturing daughters, or that f a t h e r s m a y s h a r e h o u s e

hold work more after having

sons

While these behavioural

daughters by having more

highlight a systematic difference in household environments that could shape children’s views on gender roles Bhalotra emphasised that “child penalty” refers to a

p and carries no moral judgment

“These findings suggest girls grow up in households w

c s than boys, potentially influencing their perceptions of men ’ s and women ’ s roles,” the researchers concluded

Ambika Mod

First batch of scholars under the Chevening-Karnataka scholarships

Prof Sonia Bhalotra

K A P I L’S K H I C H A D I

Trumping Trump - the Indian Way

Tariff Trum p is increasingly losing his m ind Let’s us be clear, he d oes have a point abou t tariffs and how there is a mism atch between America and some nations And th ere is no reason why a nation w ould not wish to play aro und with tariffs to see if it can extract a bit m ore fo r every Do llar of trad e

However, using tariffs with intelligence, or to use tariffs as a tool to dominate and control other nations are two very different objectives The former most nations would entertain in a conducive discussion; the latter would be rejected by some nations who see themselves strong enough to hit back He tried these strong-arm tactics with China and ended up with quite a bloody nose He did the same to the EU who immediately went on their knees, as usual He is now trying it with India, unsuccessfully, and just cannot understand the Indian mindset PM Modi, a Gujju, is not someone you should mess about with By his very nature, his silence and thoughtfulness are his strength He will strike, and you will not see it coming

Trump is of course terrified of BRICS For context, have a look at the following table showing the GDP of the top 10 nations (taken from the CIA factbook!)

Rank Country Date of Information China

1 China

2 United States

5 Japan

6 Germany

7 Brazil

8 Indonesia

9 France

$33,598,000,000,000 2024 est.

$25,676,000,000,000

$14,244,000,000,000

$14,244,000,000,000

$6,089,000,000,000 2024 est

$5,247,000,000,000 2024 est

$4,165,000,000,000

$4,102,000,000,000

$3,732,000,000,000

$3,636,000,000,000

BRICS is an intergovernmental organization comprising five countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates have joined this group recently)

Based on the same data the total GDP of these five original BRICS nations is more than $58 Trillion America under Trump has managed to make an enemy of all these nations to some degree It’s clear that the penny has dropped and America now realises that it’s only a matter of time before it’s power and control is reduced markedly The emergence of nations such as China and India alone is a major threat China is already bigger and more powerful than America If you consider the totality of the BRICS nations, is it any wonder the mighty USA and it’s mighty Dollar are shaking with fear Trump and America have two choices; it either uses what remains of its global power and reach to undermine BRICS or it befriends the BRICS nations The imperial war mongering gene inherent in white Americans and many western Europeans tends to surface as they exhibit their age-old tendency to divide and rule Whilst this worked in the days when they took advantage of peace loving and benevolent nations, in the 21st Century these very same nations have learnt that the only way to treat these white supremacists is to kick them hard They are empowering themselves sufficiently so that even America would think twice about any military intervention

I was therefore not surprised when PM Modi put out the following post which must have annoyed Trump no end:

T h i s w a s I n d i a t e l l i n g Trump, you can do what you like with your tariff wars, but India will continue to protect i t s n a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t N o sooner had PM Modi sent that message out and we learnt that he was also going to meet up with President Xi Jinping

Over the past month or so Trump has followed his powerplay of shouting and screaming dictates Most nations as we have seen have yielded To his surprise, and uncontrollable frustrations, India with PM Modi have basically ignored his infantile rants I wrote several months ago that the way to deal with Trump is to use his madness against him and against your enemies His over inflated ego is so massive that he is unable to see beyond his nose So treat him like a pet rottweiler Let him go around the world causing as much havoc as he wants When that rottweiler dares to raise its head against India, kick it hard That’s how you control such lunatics Trump is good for India as long as it plays its cards correctly and remains under his skin as an irritant They will have Trump exactly where they want him

We have seen the love-in Trump has recently embarked on with Pakistan We all know a terrorist nation like Pakistan, with its track record of duplicity and flagrant undermining of international law, it’s only a matter of time before this snake bites its master

PM Modi knows and understands Trump is only there for a few more years In that time, some of his domestic madness will yield good results (illegal immigration, courts, universities, media etc), but on the global stage making enemies of friendly nations will exact karmic revenge

He bragged about stopping the Russia and Ukraine war in one day That’s not going too well for him now President Putin has played him like a fiddle

He declared he’ll bring peace between Palestinians and Israel Well, it seems Israel, against the wishes of most western nations, has declared that this time it will finish Hamas off as much as it can The whole of Gaza is rubble

He even tried to take credit for the recent skirmish between India and Pakistan Lying and bragging as an international strategy is not going to work for too long In his anger he has started to empower Pakistan by lavishing the spoils of the Whitehouse to visiting Pakistani politicians This week Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir declared from American soil a warning of a "nuclear war" Think about it, America is feeding a terrorist nuclear state which is now threatening nuclear war that could destroy most of the world

One thing is for sure; India will never allow any nation to threaten it with nuclear warfare It’s ready to press the button if required

If Armageddon visits this world, you can be sure the survivors will mostly be Indians and the Chinese

JD Vance meets Robert Jenrick during Cotswolds visit

U S Vice-P resid ent JD Vance

m e t C o n s erv a ti v e sh a d o w

j u s ti ce s ec re tar y R o ber t

Jenrick at his holiday hom e in the Cotswolds

He is not scheduled to m e e t C o n s e r v a t i v e l e a d e r

K e m i B a d e n o c h , a s t h e i r

aides couldn’t align schedules Badenoch met Vance

l a s t y e a r , w h i l e h e r r i v a l

Jenrick is meeting him for the first time Jenrick and Vance share similar views on i m m i g r a t i o n a n d f r e e speech

Since arriving last week, Vance met David Lammy at Chevening House in Kent to d i s c u s s G a z a a n d o t h e r

issues Vance’s visit includes official meetings and cultural tours, prompting heavy security and road closures in Dean, Oxfordshire He was also seen near former PM David Cameron’s home

M e a n w h i l e , l o c a l s i n

Dean are shocked by the i n t e n s e s e c u r i t y , w i t h roadblocks and ‘Men in Black’ agents causing disruption

A nti-Vance v an circles C otsw old s An anti-JD Vance van f e a t u r

d image of the US vice president has been seen driving through Charlbury, a village in the Cotswolds where Vance and his family are reportedly holidaying

F o o t a g e s h

political campaign group

August 12 shows the van displaying a bald caricature of

meme The group claimed the image previously led to a tourist being banned from the US after Customs and B

C

P ) found it on their phone, an allegation the

Peer falsely accused police of Islamophobia

A peer involved in c ontroversy over the Manchester

A i rp or t a tt a c k h as b e en found to have mis tak en ly ac cused the wrong police forc e of Is lamophobia Baroness Shaista Gohir shared a video from 2019

t h a t a p p e a r e d t o s h o w Humberside Police detaining a British Muslim man

T h e f o o t a g e s h o w e d s i x

o f f i c e r s i n v o l v e d i n t h e arrest, with one seemingly striking the man repeatedly on the head

Lady Gohir, chief executive of the Muslim Women’s Network UK, labelled the f o r c e a s “ r a c i s t ” a n d “Islamophobic,” condemning the video as evidence of “disgraceful” and “ unneces-

s a r y e x c e s s i v e v i o l e n c e ”

However, it later emerged

t h a t t h e p o l i c e i n v o l v e d

w e r e a c t u a l l y f r o m W e s t Midlands Police, who were subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing

She is one of five mem-

b e r s o f t h e g o v e r n m e n ta p p o i n t e d w o r k i n g g r o u p

t a s k e d w i t h d e f i n i n g I s l a m o p h o b i a T h e g r o u p h a s f a c e d c r i t i c i s m a m i d fears the proposed definit i o n c o u l d s u p p r e s s f r e e speech

T h i s f o l l o w s f u r t h e r criticism of Lady Gohir for h e r r e s p o n s e t o t h e

M a n c h e s t e r A i r p o r t i n c id e n t l a s t s u m m e r Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, was convicted of assaulting two officers during the

e v e n t S h o r t l y a f t e r t h e footage of the arrest went viral, Lady Gohir compared it to the 2020 murder of G e o r g e F l o y d a n d c o nd e m n e d G r e a t e r Manchester Police’s actions a s “ p o l i c e b r

clarified she did not defend his conduct Robert Jenrick, the Tory s h a

without knowing full details and describing the process as “ a shambles ” Lady Gohir responded by accusing critics of running “ smear campaigns and misinformation” aimed at obstructing the group ’ s crucial work on defining antiM u

r e d a n d Islamophobia

A doctor’s journey to renewed health

y et doctors could n o t i d e n t i f y

h e ca u s e Dia gnos ed w ith py rexi a of unk nown origin , Dr Patel rea lise d her b ody ha d be en b roken by y ears of burnout an d chroni c s tress

Determined to recover for her three young children and reclaim her wellbeing, she applied her medical knowledge to overhaul her lifestyle By prioritising s l e e p h y g i e n e , n u t r i t i o n , regular exercise, and rest, habits she had long advised patients but neglected herself, she began to heal

Dr Alka Patel

She now follows pers o n a l i s e d r o u t i n e s informed by health data, such as continuous glucose m o n i t o r i n g a n d g e n e t i c testing, which helped her optimise diet and exercise plans Dr Patel developed simple, effective “biohacks”

like morning sunlight e x p o s u r e , h y d r a t i o n breaks, stretching, and breath control to manage stress and support l o n g e v i t y S h e a l s

retreats to reset mind and body

Despite initial skepticism from colleagues, she left general practice i n 2 0 1 9 t

c u s o n l o n

e v i t y m e d i c i n e Today, at 53, her biological age measures just 20, a testament to her dedication and the power of targeted lifestyle change She looks younger and f e e l s m o r e e n e r g e t i c a n d focused than ever, inspiring others to take control of t h e i r h e a l t h a n d a d d decades of quality life

Baroness Shaista Gohir

Kapil Dudakia

Blending Krishna’s wisdom with modern psychology

Dr Priya Virmani's curated Janmashtami performances that use ancient Krishna stories to offer practical wisdom to navigate contemporary life’s challenges with clarity and grace

F or many, J anmash tami is a d ay of devotion, music, d ance, and colourful rituals m arking the birth of Lo rd K rishna But for Dr P riya V irmani, TEDx speaker, author, wellness co nsultant, p hilanthropist, and edu cato r; it is also an o pportunity to breathe fresh life into age-old stories, making them p owerful, practical g uides for the challenges of our time

This year, in collaboration with Namaste Village, Dr Virmani is touring across England with a performance series that blends ancient Hindu wisdom with modern psychology The aim? To make the meaning of our most loved festivals relevant to contemporary life and to present Krishna not as a distant deity, but as a relatable, multidimensional mentor A ncient wisdo m as a navigatio n system

“The Hindu God who preserves, Lord Vishnu, has many Avataars,” Dr Virmani explains “Krishna by far is the most relatable, multidimensional and pragmatic Avataar ” For her, the Sanskrit word ‘Avataar’ is not the Hollywood sci-fi interpretation, but the cosmic principle of the infinite taking a human form

Her idea for the performance grew out of earlier stage shows in which she explored how timeless

wisdom can be applied to everyday dilemmas

“Ancient wisdom is a most powerful navigation tool for everyday life, a GPRS like no other!” she says In her view, the life of Krishna and the epic of the Mahabharata address every conceivable human challenge: from childhood trauma and identity struggles to lifestyle choices and the science of breathing

She begins with Krishna’s birth, a tale of divine intervention in the dead of night, freeing his parents from imprisonment under the tyrannical Kansa “At the story level, it feels supernatural,” she says “But at the meaning level, it’s our superpower: the moment consciousness awakens When light floods the darkness of ego and negativity, the shackles of fear fall away ”

Another striking example is Krishna’s defeat of the venomous serpent

Kalia, whose poison was destroying the Yamuna Rather than annihilating Kalia, Krishna negotiates a peaceful resolution For Dr Virmani, this is a masterclass in handling dangerous or hostile stakeholders with integrity, ensuring everyone wins without sacrificing one ’ s principles

Then there is the charming yet profound moment when Yashoda scolds the young Krishna for eating mud, only to glimpse the entire cosmos inside his mouth “It’s a reminder of the infinite cosmic energy that dwells within each of us, ” she says “When we tap into that energy, especially in complex or manipulative situations, it gives us clarity And clarity is spirituality in action ”

These narratives, she stresses, are more than moral tales, they are tools to shift us from the

exhausting grind of the rat race to the sustaining rhythm of grace Reim ag ining festivals for younger generations While the performances draw in audiences of all ages, Dr Virmani sees a particular value for younger generations “When we truly understand the science and meaning behind our festivals, their significance grows exponentially,” she says She works extensively with children, adolescents, and adults in London, where the pace and pressures of urban life can feel overwhelming

She points out that the rise in ADHD and autism diagnoses underscores the need for holistic frameworks of understanding and self-regulation “Our festivals can be more than occasions for joy They can be living lessons in who we are, how we relate to the world, and how to find balance ”

Even the timing of a festival holds meaning

Krishna Janmashtami falls on the eighth day after the Raksha Bandhan full moon, as the moon wanes “This timing symbolises the arrival of a new era of

consciousness, light emerging as the old cycle fades,” she explains Such seasonal and cosmic connections, she believes, can deepen cultural pride and personal grounding From stag e to inner stage

What makes Dr Virmani’s approach stand out is her ability to connect the outer celebration of a festival with the inner work of personal growth The flute-playing Krishna of tradition becomes, in her telling, a metaphor for attunement, being hollow enough for divine music to flow through The battlefield strategist of the Mahabharata becomes a life coach for clarity, courage, and integrity in our own moral dilemmas

Through storytelling, theatre, and dialogue, her performances invite audiences not only to hear about Krishna but to “download” his wisdom into their own daily decision-making For Dr Virmani, Krishna is not a figure frozen in myth, but a dynamic presence whose relevance grows as modern life becomes more complex “I have never found a situation or problem unaddressed by the life of Krishna,” she reflects “His stories, when understood deeply, are a living toolkit for navigating life with clarity and grace ”

Dr Priya Virmani

Raising Awareness

Thalassaemia in South Asian communities

Reena had nev er h eard o f T halassaemia u ntil h er son Jo van was d iag nosed at 18 m onths

“From birth, he struggled to drink milk and was u n d e r w e i g h t , ” s h e s a y s

“Every cold would turn into a fever, and we often had to t a k e h i m t o h o s p i t a l f o r antibiotics ”

Thalassaemia is a group of inherited blood disorders where the body produces little or no haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen This can cause anaemia, leading to fatigue, poor growth, and in severe cases, a lifelong need for blood transfusions every 2-4 weeks

R e e n a , w h o

c h i l d w h o n e e d s r e g u l a r blood transfusions is incredibly hard It took me time to come to terms with it emotionally, and the frequent hospital visits take a mental toll on Jovan and the whole family ” For Jovan, transfusions are a two-day process: blood

t e s t s o n S u n d a y a n d t h e

t r a n s f u s i o n o n M o n d a y

Reena explains, “On transfusion days, we ’ re usually at the hospital from 8:30 am

u n t i l a r o u n d 3 p m

Balancing this with full-time work has been a real challenge for my husband and me ” Thalassaemia affects all b a c k g r o u n d s b u t i s m o r e

c o m m o n i n S o u t h A s i a n , S o u t h e a s t A s i a n , Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern communities In the UK, about 2,300 people have

a n i , Indian, and Bangladeshi

Inherited through genes, around 200,000 people in E n g l a n d c a r r y t h e Thalassaemia gene Carriers usually have no symptoms but can pass the gene to t h e i r c h i l d r e n D r R o s s b y

Awadzi explains that if both p a r e n t s c a r r y t h e g e n e , there’s a 25% chance their child will have Thalassaemia and a 50% chance they’ll be a carrier

Naseema from Preston, like many, had never heard of Thalassaemia until she and her husband were found to be carriers during pregnancy She says, “Our families had only vague memories of the condition, which was often forgotten or overlooked over time ” How can I find o ut if I’m a Thalassaemia carrier?

You can contact your GP or local Sickle Cell and T h a l a s s a e m i a C e n t r e t o

r e q u e s t a s p e c i f i c Thalassaemia blood test, as

it isn’t detected in routine blood work Reena encourages family members to get tested after her son ’ s diagnosis, stressing the importance of early awareness to protect future generations Naseema shares how con-

their carrier status, highlighting the value of open

nant women and newborns

carrier status before having

guidance and choices such as IVF to prevent passing on the gene As Reena says, “ H a v

n d e r than reacting later Genetic counselling dispels myths, provides real options, and reminds us that knowledge empowers rather than pun-

Deputy Mayor joins South Asian Heritage event at Pitzhanger

Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard

ishes ” Encouraging family members to get tested or seek counselling can make a significant difference to their health and wellbeing Why is blood don ati on cruc i a l f o r Th a l a s s a e m i a patients ?

B l o o d d o n a t i o n s a r e vital for people who need

r e g u l a r t r a n s f u s i o n s a n d usually take just 5–10 minu t e s , w i t h o n e d o n a t i o n able to save up to three lives Donating blood is safe and supported by major UK

r e l i g i o n s N a s e e m a ’ s s o n

h a s r e c e i v e d 1 3 8 t r a n s f usions in nine years, and she says, “If I could thank every donor personally, I would Their blood has kept my son alive ” There are several ways

t o h e l p G i v i n g b l o o d i s especially important since o n l y 3 % o f d o n o r s c o m e

o m S o u t h A s i a n b a c kgrounds, yet Thalassaemia

p a t i e n t s n e e d c l o s e l y m a t c h e d b l o o d G e t t i n g tested for the Thalassaemia

t r a i t t h r o u g h a s i m p l e blood test is also crucial, contact your GP or local

S i c k l e C e l l a n d

T h a l a s s a e m i a C e n t r e f o r free NHS testing Finally, spreading awareness about Thalassaemia, the importance of blood donation in all communities, and available screening for pregnant women and newborns can make a real difference

Ketan Dattani

in South Asian Culture

When people in the U K talk about su stainability, they often think of reusable coffee cu ps or electric cars, thing s th at feel new and trendy But for us South A sians, living sustainably is not som ething recent It is a w ay of life that our p arents and grandparents practiced for generations

Think about your childhood home Was there a cupboard full of reused ice cream tubs? Old saris turned into cushion covers? Spices bought in bulk and kept in recycled jars? That was not just about saving money; it was sustainability in action

In South Asia, wasting nothing runs deep Clothes were repaired, kitchen scraps turned into compost, and packaging was always saved just in case Our ancestors were not trying to be environmental heroes They simply valued every resource they had

This respect extended to the way food was grown and shared Seasonal, local produce was normal, not because it was fashionable but because it made sense Farmers rotated crops, collected rainwater, and used natural ways to keep pests away These traditions nourished communities and kept the land healthy for the future

Our spiritual beliefs also remind us to care for the Earth Hinduism honours the Earth as Prithvi Mata or Mother Earth Sikhism teaches seva, meaning selfless service, which often includes caring for the environment Buddhism encourages kindness to all living things, and Islam reminds us we are khalifa or stewards of the planet

Many festivals in South Asia celebrate nature Pongal honours the sun and Mother Nature Vaisakhi marks the harvest, and Eid teaches lessons about sharing and avoiding waste Lately, communities have been bringing back ecofriendly celebrations, swapping plastics for natural decorations, and using locally sourced materials

Of course, times have changed Cities have grown, life has sped up, and convenience often means single-use plastics and throwaway culture For South Asian families in the UK, balancing tradition with modern life can be tough Fixing clothes or shopping without plastic is not always easy when you are busy with work and family

Sustainability is not about going backwards It is about bringing the wisdom of our past into how we live now The resourcefulness our grandparents showed can guide us as we face climate change

This South Asian Heritage Month, let us celebrate a culture that has quietly lived sustainably for centuries By blending our traditions with today’s innovation, we can create an environmental movement that honours our roots and protects our future

Labour peer targets colonial-era monument, seeks removal

T

‘Roots to Routes,’ featured activities celebrating food, identity, dance, and art D

r n a r d

j o i n e d D r L u k e H e s l o p , Professor James Staples, and a c c l a i m e d B r i t i s h - B e n g a l i chef Sohini Banerjee for a

l i v e r e c o r d i n g o f T h e

M i g r a t i o n M e n u p o d c a s t , discussing South Asian food, memory, and migration

She remarked, “In a city where over 300 languages are spoken and diverse cultures can sometimes cause fear, food and restaurants

h a v e t h e p o w e r t o u n i t e people and spread positivity ” D r W e e k e s - B e r n a r d

s h a

audience her first memory of going out at age 16 a

Dr Debbie

s

Costigan (front row far right) MP for Ealing Southall joined a colourful crowd at Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery

family visit to a South Asian restaurant in Brent, where she grew up as a secondg e n e r a t i o n C a r i b b e

L

means, they mostly ate at home, but she recalled, “I remember the white tablecloths and cutlery, and since then, going out for a curry has always felt like a special,

A senior Labour p eer has urged the rem oval of the Robert Clive statue o utside the Foreig n Office, arg uing i ts d e p i ct io n o f “ s ubservient Indians” is histo rically inaccurate and h arms Britain’s relationsh ip with India

S p e a k i n g a t t h e

E d i n b u r g h I n t e r n a t i o n a l

B o o k F

T w e e d s c u l

“

shocking piece of art” that p o r t r a y s “ h a p p y s m i l i n g people really delighted to s e e h i m , ” d e s p i t e C l i v e ’ s controversial legacy as the architect of British rule in India

August, the 2B Or Not 2B Collective hosted

Clive, known as “Clive o f I n d i a , ” l e d E a s t I n d i a Company forces to victory at the 1757 Battle of Plassey and has been linked to the B e n g a l f a m i n e , w h i c h k i l l e d m i l l i o n s H i s t o r i a n

W i l l i a m

exhibition Additional activities included

live Bhangra

from Hayes and Southall

Thursday Lates are support-

D a l r y m p l e h a s labelled him an “unstable sociopath ” D e b b o n a i r e s t r e s s e d I n d i a ’ s p r e - c o l o n i a l e c on o m i c a n d t e c h n o l o g i c a l strength, adding: “What is pictured on that statue is tiny little Indians incidental to their own story, and a g r e a t b i g C l i v e I t ’ s n o t h e l

Sustainability

Weekes-Bernard (second from right), London

Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice and Deirdre

Yusuf and Naseema

Jovan and Reena

Representations vs Opportunities

from page 01

This trend is worsening job hiring prospects for Britons, more so for ethnic minorities, who already face significant barriers in recruitment

‘Brain drain’ of Asian entrepreneurs and barriers fo r Pakistani and Bang ladeshi wom en

Sp eaking to A sian Voice, J a id eep P r ab h u, P r o fe ss o r a nd M ark et in g

bj

g rou p at Cambrid ge Jud ge Business S chool said, “When

UK employers slow recruitm e n t i n

pressures, already underrepr e s e n t

likely to feel a sharp impact

These communities, already

, may find it even harder to s e c u r e o p p o r t u n i t i e s

Having worked closely with Indian enterprises, I’ve seen the power of frugal innova-

t i o n , c r e a t i n g m o r e w i t h less, to generate opportunity even under constraints The UK should look to commu-

n i t y - d r i v e n , r e s o u r c e f u l strategies embraced in India to counteract the effects of c u t b a c k s , e n s u r i n g t h a t diverse talent doesn’t slip through the cracks ”

“Significant tax burdens and an adversarial climate can prompt talented Asian entrepreneurs and directors to relocate, risking a ‘brain drain ’ The knock-on effect of this is likely to be severe

f o r m a r g i n a l i s e d g r o u p s , who lose potential mentors, representation, and investm e n t i n t h e i r l o c a l n e tw o r k s I n d i a ’ s e x p e r i e n c e has shown that frugal innovators thrive best in ecosystems that welcome enterprise For the UK, a competitive, supportive tax regime

i s e s s e n t i a l , n o t j u s t f o

u c c e s s , but for fostering opportuni-

t y a n d a m b i t i o n i n e v e r y community ”

At a same time, a new

S cotland, and Wales

report by London’s City Hall

N e t w o r k ( W I N ) a n d t h e N a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e o f

E c o n o m i c a n d S o c i a l

R e s e a r c h ( N I E S R ) u r g e s u r g e n t a c t i o n t o s u p p o r t Bangladeshi and Pakistani w

workforce

I n 2 0 2 2 , n e a r l y h a l f (48 1%) were economically i n a c t i v e , w i t h u n

l o yment more than three times higher than men in their communities (16 9% vs 5 5%)

The gender pay gap is stark, 60% for Pakistani women a n d 5 0 % f o r B a n g l a d e s h i women, the highest of any

e t h n i c g r o u p M a n y f a c e

b a r r i e r s s u c h a s u n r e c o gnised qualifications, limited d i g i t a l s k i l l s , v i s a r e s t r i ctions, and even pressure to c h a n g e t h e i r n a m e s f o r interviews The report calls for inclusive outreach, flexible working, recognition of overseas qualifications, and c l e a r p a t h w a y s f o r c a r e e r progression

S u nd er K a tw al a, Director of race and id entity t h in kt ank B ri ti s h Fu t u re

said, “There is an ever more complex pattern of opportunity and disadvantage in an increasingly diverse British society The experience of Pakistani and Bangladeshi women illustrates this, with significant advances in edu-

c a t i o n a l o u t c o m e s Bangladeshi pupils outperform the white British in

G C S E r e s u l t s Y o u n g women from both groups now have higher education participation rates than the national average too It is not certain if that educational progress will narrow gaps in employment rates, in income inequality, child a n d f a

a n d wealth gaps at the rate it should That this educational progress coincided with a period of low growth since

groups The most impactful

would be to lift the two-

would dramatically reduce

minority groups

need a more granular understanding of how hurdles and barriers may now differ – by generation, by geography, or by recent migration history compared to the UK-born –in order to shape effective

Understanding the contribution of personal choice,

decisions about family size

l d help give women the support that they need in making their own choices More transparent, real-time monitoring of where and why ethnic penalties persist in recruitment and retention, compared to peers with sim-

added

De

Justice, Dr Debbie We eke sB

one of the most diverse cities in the world but shockingly too many Londoners experience huge barriers when trying to find secure, well-paid

j o b s T h i s r e s e a r c h h i g hlights the obstacles facing

B

women, and outlines how p

and a lack of support severel y l i

succeed We all have a role to play if we are to reduce this

remove everyday barriers

Month

Confronting domestic abuse in South Asian communities

Whi le South A sian

He ritage M on th (SAHM) celeb rates c ulture an d identi ty, it must also prom pt hon est convers ations about hidden iss ue s, like domesti c ab us e In many South As ian comm un ities , fami ly hon our a nd sti gma silen ce vi ctim s, mak ing speaki ng out feel li ke shame ins tead of a pa th to he aling

Jasminder* (name changed), a British Sikh woman in her 40s, was raised outside of London in a ‘ seen but not heard’ environment and endured years of abuse in her marriage, hidden behind closed doors and masked by community respectability Her story is not an isolated one By acknowledging these painful realities during SAHM, we can begin to challenge the silence and build a culture where survivors are supported, not shamed

Speaking to Asian Voice, Jasminder* said, “I was born into a typical Indian household with two brothers and a sister, but the boys were definitely favoured Our physical needs were met, there was food and clothing, but emotionally, we were neglected My parents were strict, and I felt I had to comply It left me with low selfworth I didn’t think I was capable of much and I learned to make myself small, to not stand out ”

Reflecting on how childhood shaped her adult life, Jasminder* said, “I grew up in a home where I wasn’t seen or heard It turned me into a people pleaser, always trying to earn love I was academic and driven, but burnt out When my parents said only the boys could go to

university, I worked three jobs to pay my own way studying became my escape ” She added, “I eventually entered a relationship that mirrored my upbringing, emotionally distant, yet familiar Though it was a love marriage, his family quickly took control I was pressured to give up a job in London, forced to move in with them, treated like a servant, and isolated from my family They criticised my dowry, took my husband’s savings, and made even studying for law exams difficult Everything was designed to keep me powerless ” Jasminder* stressed the importance of sharing stories within the South Asian community “We’re taught to keep everything inside the home, to never speak out, but that silence isn’t healthy,” she said “If I had heard other women talk about their bad marriages or divorces, maybe I wouldn’t have stayed for over 15 years Maybe my children and I could’ve been free sooner ” She believes children need to be taught self-respect and self-love, not just obedience “We teach them to respect elders, but not themselves No

one taught me that growing up, so I entered marriage thinking I had to serve and stay silent Domestic abuse is so common because of how differently boys and girls are raised Mothers need to let their sons grow up and be independent, and daughters should always know her parents' door is always open ” Heri tage and hard truths

Speaking about South Asian Heritage Month, Jasminder* said, “It’s the right time to be open about experiences like mine Domestic abuse is still common in our culture, especially because of how many of us were raised, to stay silent and keep up appearances If more people shared their stories, others might recognise unhealthy patterns in their own relationships and feel less alone ” She added, “If we don’t confront these issues, we risk losing the culture anyway, because young girls won’t want to carry it forward if it’s tied to control and unhappiness Religion teaches equality, but culture often enforces outdated expectations It’s time to be honest and make that distinction ”

Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse

Helpline – which offers a live translation service for all languages – is available on 0808 2000 247 for free, confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

and

systemic issues

One project, Decline to Renewal, will look at how

renewal policies can be more inclusive This work is led by Professor Keon West from the Runnymede Trust

Another project, Voices

Katwala from British Future

Meer at the University of Glasgow leads this research F

will

Fife This project is led by D r S a r a h K y a m b i f r o m Migration Policy Scotland The project leaders all highlight the importance of u s i n g e v i d e n c e i n t h e i r r e s e a r c h P r o f e s s o r W e s t says we need to go beyond t h e i d e a o f “ l e f t - b e h i n d ” communities to show the d i f f e r e n t e x p e r i e n c e s o f e t h n i c m i n o r i t y g r o u p s a f f e c t e d b y i n d u s t r i a l decline Sunder Katwala, on the other hand, believes this r e s e a r c h c a n h e l p m a k e

public conversations about r a c e m o r e f a c t - b a s e d , especially before the next general election P r o f e s s o r M e e r p o i n t s out the value of looking at race equality across the UK’s devolved nations, while Dr Kyambi stresses the need for p r a c t i c a l s o l u t i o n s t o support Scotland’s growing diversity L i z G i l f i l l

Diversity UK, said, “These projects are the first in a

portfolio

and

Jaideep Prabhu

Sunder Katwala

Dear Financial Voice Reader,

Alpesh Patel

Why Summer Is the Best Time to Sort Your Pension

There’s something about the British summer that makes us complacent The days are longer, the mood is lighter, and the political drama is as hot as the weather forecast But for pension savers, this seasonal lull is exactly why now is the perfect time to get your retirement plan in order

Markets and Moods Align

Historically, summer has been a period of calmer markets Since 1990, the FTSE 100 ’ s average daily volatility between June and August has been around 12% lower than i n t h e w i n t e r m o n t h s , a c c o r d i n g t o L o n d o n S t o c k Exchange data Fewer major corporate announcements and the absence of central bank shocks mean you can review your portfolio without the emotional whiplash of October crashes or March rate hikes

If you wait until the “busy season ” post-budget announcements in autumn, or the January ISA rush you’ll be competing with everyone else scrambling for financial advice In summer, you have time to sort out some ‘admin ’

The Compounding Advantage

Every month you delay fixing an underperforming pension is money left on the table Imagine you improve your portfolio’s return by just 2% annually by making changes now On a £250,000 pension pot, that’s an extra £170,000 over 20 years more than the average UK house deposit As Einstein (and every decent wealth manager) will tell you, compounding works best the earlier you start

And yet, according to ONS data, more than 40% of UK adults between 45 and 54 have never reviewed their pension performance Many assume it’s “good enough” simply because their provider sends them a glossy annual statement Summer is Distraction-Free (Mostly)

Come September, the cost-of-living headlines will be back, the Bank of England will start making noise about interest rates, and geopolitical tensions will reappear on your newsfeed The summer months give you a window to calmly review:

• Fees: Many pensions have high charges hidden in the small print

• Performance: Are you actually beating inflation?

• Risk profile: Is your portfolio balanced for your retirement age, or stuck in a “set and forget” mode from 15 years ago?

Even small improvements now can shave years off your retirement age or give you more spending power when you get there

Why I Built a Pension-Boosting Programme

When I created the my Campaign for a Million, I noticed most people joined for one reason: frustration They’d realised their pension was growing at a snail’s pace

T h e s u m m e r w a s o f t e n w h e n t h e y f i n a l l y h a d t h e headspace to do something about it and to discover that with the right strategies, even conservative investors could materially improve their returns without taking reckless bets Better yet the resources are free on the Campaign website

If you want to enjoy your next summer holiday without the nagging fear of running out of money in retirement, this is the time to act Not next year, not after the next election, not when the markets “settle down” (they never do)

The sun is out, the diary is clearer, and your future self will thank you

B ri ta i n ’ s l abo u r m a rke t s h o w e d fu r th er si g n s o f strain in July, w ith payroll num bers falling for the sixth consecutive m onth and jo b v acancies h itting th eir lowest lev el in ov er three years, accord ing to official data

Figures from the Office f o r N a t i o n a l S t a t i s t i c s (ONS) revealed a provisional drop of 8,000 employees on

c o m p a n y p a y r o l l s f r o m June, the smallest decline

s i n c e F e b r u a r y , w h e n t h e

d o w n w a r d t r e n d b e g a n J u n e ’ s f a l l w a s r e v i s e d t o 2 6 , 0 0 0 f r o m a n i n i t i a l l y reported 41,000

V a c a n c i e s d r o p p e d b y 44,000 in the three months to July to 718,000, the low-

e s t s i n c e A p r i l 2 0 2 1

Employers have warned that higher business taxes, intro-

Re

HMRC files winding-up petition against Liberty Steel

(HM RC) filed a winding-up pet ition, t he

metal

empire Court records show the

appears linked

unpaid

operations at the Hartlepool p

8 people, remain unaffected

“Liberty Pipes Hartlepool has no outstanding payments

d u e t o H M R C , ” a spokesperson said “We are in touch with HMRC to have

only pursued as a last resort “to protect taxpayers’ money ” once all other options have been exhausted

The petition underscores mounting financial pressures

Gupta’s global GFG Alliance spanning metals and energy operations from Australia to Romania and the UK

Several of Liberty Steel’s

hearing later this month will determine whether Speciality

Smith & Nephew launches $500m buyback

share buyback af ter deliver-

equipment maker reported a 7 8% revenue rise to $1 55 billion for the quarter, lifting its share price by 177p, or 15 3%, to £13

climbed 4 7% to $2 96 billion, with pre-tax profit surging 4

Deepak Nath credited opera-

tional improvements under h

plan, launched when he took the helm in April 2022, for “ s u s t a i n e d h i g h e r r e v e n

growth, increased profitability and better cash generation ” T h e o r t h o p a e d i c s d i v ision, previously hit by weak Chinese demand for hip and knee implants, saw a 5 8% rise in sales to $615 million in the six months to June 28, aided b y “ w e a k e n i n g h e a d w i n d s ” from China Sports medicine revenues rose 6 8% to $479

Gold prises poised for eightfold rise

Go ld cou ld be on the verge of a

analys ts sugges ting it might rep licate th e ep ic 2000–2011 ral ly that sent prices so aring eightfo ld D

tions in demand, gold prices have held steady over the past three months, consolidating in a narrow range as open i

w 450,000 contracts, historically an oversold level Some market watchers believe this p

m before a breakout Anita Wright, Chartered Financial Planner at Ribble

W

d the metal’s resilience points

t

duced by Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, are pressuring hiring decisions, pay settlements, and prices

P r i v a t e - s e c t o r w a g e growth eased slightly to 4 8% in the three months to June, while overall average weekly earnings excluding bonuses held at 5 0%, still well above t h e B a n k o f E n g l a n d ’ s 3 % threshold for meeting its 2% inflation target

T h e B o E l a s t w e e k trimmed interest rates to 4% from 4 25% after a close 5–4 vote, citing concerns over both inflation and slowing h i r i n g U n e m p l o y m e n t remained at 4 7%, the highe s t s i n c e m i d - 2 0 2 1 , w h i l e

economic inactivity fell to its lowest since the pandemic began at 21% Sterling rose slightly on the news

i o n phase rather than the end of the cycle “When the S&P 500

f e l l e a r l i e r t

rebounded, gold simply held its ground, a sign of underlying strength,” she noted She b

i n f l a t i o n , could be the real driver this time

K u n d a n B h a d u r i , E n t r e p r e n e u r a t T h e Kushman Group, sees gold as “ a n e x c e l l e n t b u y ” f o r t h e year ahead, citing institutional inflows of 397 tonnes into gold ETFs in the first half of 2025, the strongest since the 2020 pandemic He points to potential Fed rate cuts, ongoing central bank buying, and geopolitical tensions as reas o n s $ 4 , 0 0 0 g o l d m a y b e more a matter of “arithmetic” than speculation However, not everyone is convinced Scott Gallacher, Director at Rowley Turton, c a u t i o n e d t h a t w h i l e g o l d m a y r a l l y , i t p r o d u c e s n o income and shouldn’t dominate portfolios “Any move

t o w a r d s $ 4 , 0 0 0 s h o u l d b e v i e w e d a s s p e c u l a t i o n , n o t investment,” he warned

jumped 11 4% to $459 million

UK government clashes with Chinese owners of British Steel

Busine ss Secre tar y Jonat han

R e y n ol d s i s pr e p a r i n g fo r dir e ct ta lk s wit h C hi ne seowned British St ee l after a d isp ut e o v e r d e ma n d s f or h un d r e d s o f m i lli o n s o f pounds in t axpa ye r funding st alle d t he se arch for a ne w buy er

T h e g o v e r n m e n t t o o k control of the Scunthorpe steelworks in April to safeguard operations and jobs, b u t s t o p p e d s h o r t o f f u l l n a t i o n a l i s a t i o n J i n g y e , w h i c h r e m a i n s t h e l e g a l owner, has reportedly valued the loss-making company in the “hundreds of millions,” despite ministers believing it is effectively worth nothing

N e g o t i a t i o n s b e t w e e n o f f i c i a l s a n d J i n g y e h a v e failed to bridge the gap, with the company having rejected a £500m government offer e a r l i e r

nalling it wanted closer to £1bn Jingye has claimed the plant was losing £700,000 a day before announcing plans to close it in March Since April, the governm e n t h a s u

payout demand Reynolds is expected to

Jaguar Land Rover sees profits plunge

Jag uar Land Rov er ’ s profits alm o s

lv e d i n

la st quarter after US tariffs and falling sales weigh ed heav ily o

perform ance The Tata-owned group r e p o r t e d a 4 9 %

o p i n underlying pre-tax profits to £351m for the three months to 30 June, blaming US trade duties and currency headwinds Revenues fell 9 2% year-on-year to £6 6bn, with the company citing a near £700m hit from the temporary halt to exports followi n g D o n a l d T r u m p ’ s announcement of steep tariffs earlier this year A new UK-US trade deal, c u t t i n g c a r e x p o r t t a r i f f s from 27 5% to 10%, has since eased pressure JLR said the agreement, along with a July US-EU deal reducing tariffs on its EU-made vehicles to 1 5 % , w o u l d “ s i g n i f i c a n t l y reduce” the financial impact going forward O

results as a product of

chall e n g i n g

conditions,” while confirmi n g

this financial year in newgeneration models, includi n g e l e c t r i c R a n g e R o v e r s and Jaguars Mardell will be succeeded in November by Tata Motors CFO PB Balaji Sales volumes fell 15%, partly due to the phasing out of older Jaguar models The G

month that JLR has delayed its electric vehicle launches u n t i l 2 0 2

e testing and await stronger demand The company also launched a voluntary redundancy programme targeting up to 500 UK managers Donald Trump, who has l a b e l l e d t h e c o m p a n y “woke” over its advertising, renewed his criticism this week, claiming JLR was “in absolute turmoil ”

Sanjeev Gupta

Deepak Nath

RBI holds rates steady, cuts inflation forecast Gautam

Adani quits executive role in APSEZ

Malhotra explained that the decision was based on a need to wait for the full effects of previous rate cuts to transmit through the economy While t

growth, it acknowledged that

g l o b a l c h a l l e n g e s a n d

e l e v a t e d p u b l i c d e b t l e v e l s continue to pose risks

The RBI has revised its inflation projection for FY26 downwards to 3 1%, a notable

r e d u c

estimate of 3 7% This more benign outlook is attributed to a combination of healthy

K h a r i f s o w i n g a n d c o m

However, the forecast for real G

services sector

The repo rate will stay at

deposit facility rate and the

has

by

Malhotra stated that the full impact of these measures is

lending rates already being

sectors

Gujarat start-ups secure £40mn in funding surge

Gu j ar at- b as ed s tart - u p s hav e secured approxim ately

£ 4 0 m n i n v en tu re a nd

strateg ic fund ing o ver th e last fou r m onths, signalling a meaningful rev ival in the

st ate 's i nv es tm e nt

lan d s c ap e T h e fu n d i ng , which reflects a cautious but constructive inv estor mo od, is b ei ng d i rec te d to w ard s ventu res th at d em onstrate strong capital efficiency and sectoral focus

L e a d i n g t h e c h a r g e i s direct-to-consumer beauty

b r a n d R E N É E C o s m e t i c s , which raised $30 million in a Series C round This capital

i n j e c t

b r

portfolio expansion, offline growth through standalone

market penetration in the US, Australia, and the GCC region

T h e f

n g momentum spans a diverse range of industries Biotech

bolster R&D for applications in defence and other sectors M i h i r

, C E O o f GVFL, a local fund, noted

Lok Sabha approved the Income B ill 2 025a k e y r e fo r m a i m e d a t r e va m p i n g t he decades old inc om

tax law for individuals a

E a r l i e r , F M N i r m a l a S i t h a r a m a n introduced the revised and updated version of the IT bill in Parliament, incorporating recommendations of the Select committee o f P a r l i a m e n t O n A u g 8 , F M h a d w i t h d r a w n t h e e a r l i e r b i l l , w h i c h w a s introduced in the house on Feb 13 The Select committee of the Lok Sabha headed by BJP’s Baijayant Panda had examined the IT Bill 2025 and adopted the report on the draft legislation last month

The parliamentary panel had suggested 2

the strong sectoral depth i

technology and agritech He e m p h a s i s e d t h a t i n v e s t o r s are drawn to technology-led disruption and a maturing

e c o s y s t e m H o w e v e r , t h e revival is not universal, with o n e e x p e r t n o t i n g t h a t funding remains dry for very

e a r l y - s t a g e s t a r t - u p s , a s investors prioritise ventures

w i t h p r o v e n p r o d u c tmarket fit and a clear path to scalability Other notable investments have gone into s p

s o l u t i o n s , confirming the breadth of investor interest

modernising the country’s tax laws

“Almost all of the recommendations of the Select Committee have been accepted by govt In addition, suggestions have been received from stakeholders about changes t h a t

meaning more accurately,” according to the statement of Objects and Reasons of the Income Tax (No 2) Bill

(

D S ) correction statements, the time period for filing statements has been reduced to two years from six years in the Income-tax Act, 1961 IT department sources said this is

deductees significantly

Indian Continent Investment sells 1% stake in Airtel

Indian Co ntinent Investm ent, a promo ter entity of Bh arti Airtel, has sold abo ut 1% sh areho ld ing in the telecom com pany fo r £ 1 1 2 bn th roug h a market transaction on A ugust 8

The company said the transaction drew strong demand from marquee domestic and international long-only investors, including both new and existing shareholders of Bharti Airtel The placement was predominantly allocated to such investors Indian Continent Investment stated that the sale proceeds will be used to strengthen

prudent leverage profile

The floor price of the deal was set at ₹1,862 per share, as per sources At the end of the June quarter, promoter Bharti Telecom held 40 47% stake in the company Promoter groups Indian Continent Investment and Pastel held 2 47% and 8 32% stake in Bharti Airtel Ltd , respectively Bharti Airtel reported a consolidated net profit of £594 8mn in the June quarter, which was below estimates of £618 8mn On a sequential basis, its net profit declined 46% f r o m £ 1 1 b n T h e t e l e c o m m a j o r ' s consolidated revenue stood at £4 94bn in the June quarter This was 3 3% more than the previous quarter's £4 78bn

I nf ra st ru ct u re m ag nat e Gautam A dani has stepped d o w n fr o m h i s exe cu t iv e position at Adani Ports and S p e ci al E c o no m ic Zo n e (A PSEZ), the group ’ s m ost v aluable company He has no w m o v ed t o a no nex ec u ti v e ch a i rm an ro l e, with his son Karan Ad ani, 3 8, alread y ov erseeing th e port o perations

At 63, Gautam Adani has transitioned to become the non-executive chairman of s e v e n g r o u p c o m p a n i e s , including Ambuja Cements, A d a n i G r e e n E n e r g y , a n d Adani Power He now holds t h e p o s i t i o n o f e x e c u t i v e c h a i r m a n f

incubator for new ventures

such as airports and data centres T

prompted by

provision in I

(Section 203, sub-section 3), w

ED questions Anil Ambani’s

t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , a n d f i n a n c i a l s e c t o r s W h i l e Jhunjhunwala reportedly left the group some years ago, Seth continues to work for A m b a n i T h e E D d i d n o t disclose the specific nature of the questions put to them

R el i an c e G ro u p T h e ques tio ning to ok p lace a day a f t er Am b a ni h i m s el f w a s gril led fo r o ver eight ho urs A s s e n i o r e x e c u t i v e s , both Jhunjhunwala and Seth w e r e k e y d e c i s i o n - m a k e r s w i t h i n t h e c o n g l o m e r a t e , which once held a significant p r e s e n c e a c r o s s I n d i a ' s p o w e r , i n f r a s t r u c t u r e ,

n v e s t m

H e h a s reportedly requested a week t o f u r n i s h t h e r e q u i r e d information and documents and may be called for further questioning The ED's probe also extends to the bribing of bank officials, including the promoter of Yes Bank Ltd, as part of the broader inquiry

T h e E D ' s p r o b e s t e m s from FIRs filed by the CBI and the economic offences wing of the Delhi Police The a l l e g a t i o n s c e n t r e o n t h e fraudulent siphoning off of b a n k f u n d s a n d a c a s e i n v o l v i n g a f o r g e d b a n k g u a r a n t e e T h e investigation, which is based o n i n t e l l i g e n c e f r o m m u l t i p l e f i n a n c i a l institutions, is said to have u n c o v e r e d a w e l l - p l a n n e d s c h e m e t o d i v e r t p u b l i c money D u r i n g h i s o w n interrogation, Anil Ambani was asked to provide details o f f o r e i g n a s s e t

SBI reports strong profit growth despite margin squeeze

T h e S ta te B ank o f In d i a (SBI) reported a 9 71% yearo n- y ear i nc re as e i n consolid ated net p rofit for th e fi rst q uarter o f F Y 26, re ac h i ng £ 2 1 2 bn T h is g r o w th w as p ri m ari l y fuelled by a significant surg e i n no n -i n ter es t in co m e, p art ic u larl y f ro m tr eas u ry and foreign exchange g ains T he stand alo ne net prof it rose to £1 91bn fro m £1 70bn a year earlier

While advances grew by a healthy 11 6%, the bank's

c o r e n e t i n t e r e s t i n c o m e

experienced a slight dip of 0 13% to £4 10bn This was a t t r i b u t e d t o a 3 3 - b p s c o n t r a c t i o n i n t h e n e t i n t e r e s t m a r g i n ( N I M ) , which fell to 3 02% due to r e c e n t r a t e c u t s b y t h e Reserve Bank of India and a delay in repricing deposits

S B I C h a i r m a n C S S e t t y a n t i c i p a t e s a U - s h a p e d trajectory for NIMs, with a r e c o v e r y e x p

latter half of the financial year

i n c o m e and a 144% rise in profits f r o m t h e s a l e o f investments The bank has maintained its loan growth guidance for FY26 at 12% and deposit growth at 10%, w i t h r e t a i l a n d o v

Govt approves 4 new semiconductor projects

The government of India has approved four a dd it i on a l s e m i c on d uc t o r m a n uf a

or Miss ion (ISM ) Two of the se f actories wil l be built in Odisha, whil e Andhra Prades h and Punjab will get one each W i t h t h e s e a p p r o v a l s , a t o t a l o f 1 0 semiconductor projects worth around £160 trillion are now set to be developed across six states These projects aim to boost domestic c h i

create thousands of jobs The newly approved p

Package (ASIP) Technologies Together, they will involve an investment of about £460mn and create direct employment for 2,034 skilled professionals, along with many indirect jobs SiCSem, in collaboration with Clas-SiC

Wafer Fab Ltd, UK, will set up the country’s first commercial compound semiconductor fab in Bhubaneswar’s Info Valley 3D Glass Solutions Inc will set

packaging and embedded glass substrates The products will be used in defence,

APACT Co Ltd, South Korea, will build a plant with an annual output of 96 million units for applications in mobile phones, settop boxes, and automobiles

CDIL will expand its Mohali facility to produce high-power semiconductor devices like MOSFETs, IGBTs, Schottky diodes, and transistors The expansion will have a capacity of 158 38 million units annually, supporting EVs, renewable energy, industrial systems, and telecom infrastructure

Gautam Adani

Sanjay Malhotra

Amnesty slams Pak’s bias against minorities

I SLA M A BA

by

ex pose d Pakis tan's deep-rooted

c a s te a n d re li gi on - b as ed di sc rimi nation agains t s anitation

w o r k e rs , re

des igned to e xploit some of the c

them basi c lab our ri ghts and human dignity

Titled "Cut Us Open and See That We Bleed Like Them", the Amnesty report documents how sanitation workers, pred

Hindus from so-called "lower castes," are confined to hazardous, low-paid work through d

dangerous conditions, and systemic neglect The report, compiled with the Pakistani rights group Center for Law & Justice, draws on testimonies from over 2

Bahawalpur, Karachi, Umerkot, Islamabad and Peshawar

According to Amnesty, 55% of respondents said their caste or religion dictated hiring decis

Bahawalpur recalled applying for an electrician's post, only to be offered sanitation work once

work they offer is sanitation," he said

Amnesty found that nearly half of the workers surveyed had

such as "chuhra" and "bhangi," and many reported being segregated in public spaces, including being denied shared uten-

Crackdown on protesters as Pakistan marks Imran's arrest anniversary

L A H OR E : P akistani p oli ce h av e arrested m ore than 200 supp orters o f form er P rim e M inister Imran K han, as they gathered fo r rallies across the country to mark the second anniv ersary of his initial arrest The crackd own, w hich took place, saw officers u se batons and tear g as to disperse demonstrators in major cities including L aho re and th e sou thern provincial capital of Karach i

Among those detained was Rehana Dar, a 73-year-old politician from Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, who was filmed being forcefully put into a police truck in Lahore PTI spokesman Zulfiqar Bukhari confirmed that the party had planned peaceful demonstrations to protest Khan's ongoing incarceration, which supporters widely believe to be politically motivated

In response to the planned rallies, the g o v e r n m e n t

P r i m e M i n i s t e r S h e h b a z Sharif imposed a strict ban on public gatherings in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the city where Khan is currently imprisoned Many o f t h e a r r e s

d e i n Rawalpindi for violating this ban, while the grounds for the numerous detentions in

Lahore remained unclear

The police action came on a day of heightened political tension, just hours after Pakistan’s election oversight body disqualified opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan and several other PTI lawmakers This disqualification was a result of their convictions for their alleged roles in the riots that followed Imran Khan’s initial arrest in May 2023 Khan was removed from power in April 2022 through a no-confidence vote, and his party maintains that the subsequent legal challenges and convictions are part of a political vendetta

Indian workers hailed as heroes for Singapore rescue

SIN GA PO R E: Seve n Indian migr ant work ers ha ve b een publicly honoure d b y Singa pore 's Ministry of Manpowe r (MOM) for their heroic actions in r escuin g a driver whose car had pl un ged into a sink hol e The dramat ic incid en t fol l owe d a lon g t he T an jon g Kat on g R oa d South t horoughfar e, where the worke rs ’ q uick t hink in g an d b raver y wer e cred it ed with saving the dr ive r from a poten tiall y t ragic situation

T h e s e v e n m e n i n c l u d i n g P i t c h a i Udaiyappan Subbiah, Velmurugan, Saravanan, Veerasekar, Ajithkumar, Chandrisekaran and Rajendran worked together to pull the trapped driver from her car after it fell into the sinkhole Their selfless act was officially recognised when they were each presented with a MOM Ace coin by Minister of State for Manpower, Dinesh Vasu Dash Dash met with the workers at their dor-

in brief

TWO INDIANS DROWN IN COLORADO RIVER

assigned the "dirtiest" tasks

Only 44% of sanitation workers had permanent contracts, while 45% had none at all, allowing municipal authorities to deny benefits and evade labour law obligations In Umerkot, one worker told Amnesty he had spent 18 years on daily wages without regularisation

Bangladesh to hold national election in Feb

D HAK A : Bang lad esh’s Election Commission ha s a nnoun ce d tha t t he countr y will hold it s

Two men of Telugu origin both 32 drowned in the Colorado River while on a group outing, according to US authorities The victims were identified as Anoop Gankidi and Venkata Mukkaala Gankidi was a computer engineer in the Phoenix, Arizona area, and Venkata Mukkaala was from Milpitas, California The incident occurred after a group of five people anchored their rented boat near Topock Gorge and entered the water to cool off According to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, three people began to struggle in the water While one managed to return to a shallow area, Gankidi and Mukkaala did not resurface

SHOTS

FIRED AT KAPIL

SHARMA’S RESTAURANT AGAIN

mitory after their shift, and in a video posted on Facebook, he praised their swift response He noted that their actions were a very good example of how our migrant workers help society in general The minister added that their collective effort to support the lady in need "made a big difference to a situation that would have otherwise been very, very different," highlighting the critical nature of their intervention

In his post, the Minister expressed his deep gratitude for the migrant workers' contributions, acknowledging not only their role in Singapore’s economic progress but also their many selfless acts that contribute to making the city-state a gracious society This honour serves as a powerful testament to the workers courage and community spirit, celebrating their vital role beyond their daily labour

India urges Canada to act against opening of 'Khalistan embassy'

T O R O N T O : I n d o- C a n a di a n re l a t i on s , already fragile and cautiously recovering af te r rec ent diplom ati c showdowns, face a f re sh cri sis The recent openi ng of the soc a ll e d “ Em b a s s y of t he R e pu b l i c o f K ha li s ta n ” i n Sur re y, B r i ti s h C olu mb i a , u n d ou b t e dl y u n d er m i n e s I n di a ’ s s overei gnty and even threatens to unravel hard- fought diplomatic progress, reign iting ten sions b etw een the two nati ons B ut the vi tal q ues tion at this j un cture i s: Can I ndia an d Can ada afford to let thes e fri nge facti ons advanc e their divi sive agen da, i mperi ling not j us t international diploma cy but als o s owing dis cord within the In di an diaspora? The stakes are too high f or complac ency

Located at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara

- once led by Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist by India, whose murder ignited severe diplomatic tensions - the Khalistan Embassy is a bold statement from radical Sikh separatist groups, particularly Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), headed by another d e s i

g h

Pannun While neither the federal nor the British Columbia governments have so far responded to this development, the Indian High Commission in Ottawa had earlier this week issued a statement strongly condemning the move The statement viewed the development as a direct affront to India’s sovereignty and called on Canada to act against anti-India elements, emphasising that such activities threaten bilateral ties and regional stability

o n in Februa ry, following the ouste r of t he Sheik h Hasina gover nme nt last y ea r C hie f Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin confirmed t hat prepa rat ions ar e on tr ack t o en sur e a t ra n spar e nt an d fe sti ve ele ction

with all

be finalised by Sept ember

The announcement was preceded by an a d d

n m e n t c h

f Muhammad Yunus, who marked the first anniversary of the student-led uprising that toppled the previous administration In his televised speech, Yunus declared he would formally ask the election commission to schedule the vote for February, prior to the start of the holy month of Ramadan He unveiled a roadmap for democratic renewal, including the July Declaration, which aims to give constitutional recognition to the 2024 uprising Despite the celebratory mood surr o u n d i n g t h e u p r i s i n g ' s a n n i v e r s a r y , t h e interim government faces growing pressure to restore order amid political wrangling A central point of contention remains the status of the now-banned Awami League, the former ruling party While its top leadership faces prosecution, critics argue that an election without their participation could be seen as lacking legitimacy, given the party’s significant support base Nevertheless, major opposition groups, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, have welcomed the decision for a February vote, with Yunus vowing to ensure an internationally acceptable election that will establish a foundation for a more democratic future

New US visa rules

may delay Indian tech workers

W AS HI NG TO N DC : US visa rule chang es re quir e India ns, in cl uding t ech worker s, t o at tend in-pe rson inte rviews at home

Experts warn this may delay their work return and risk jobs

F r o m S e p t e m b e r 2 , t h e U S e n d s t h e

Interview Waiver (“Dropbox”) program for most non-immigrant visas

Applicants for H-1B, L1, and F1 visas will n o w n e e d i n - p e r s o n i n t e r v i e w s a t U S embassies or consulates instead of submitting documents at designated centers

Experts warn the new rules could lead to longer wait times, higher travel costs, and risk of losing work authorisation if workers can’t return to the US on time

Indians, who hold the majority of H-1B visas, are expected to be the most affected In 2022, they received 77% of 320,000 approved H-1B visas, and in 2023, 72 3% of 386,000 visas issued

Under the updated policy, only a limited group remain eligible for interview waivers This includes holders of certain diplomatic and official visas (A-1, A-2, C-3, G-1 to G-4, NATO-1 to NATO-6, TECRO E-1) and those renewing full-validity B-1, B-2, B1/B2 visas, or Border Crossing Cards for Mexican nationals US authorities advise applicants to check embassy and consulate websites for the latest on appointment availability, eligibility, and operations

Comedian Kapil Sharma’s restaurant -Kap s Cafe- in Canada came under attack yet again as unidentified gunmen fired shots at the restaurant in Surrey This was the second shooting at Kap s Cafe within a month Around 9-10 shots were fired at the restaurant, of which at least six hit its walls and windows Nobody was injured A social media post surfaced after the shooting in which Goldy Dhillon, an aide of Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar, claimed responsibility for the attack Earlier on July 9, shots were fired at Kapil’s cafe Germany-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Harjeet Singh Laddi had claimed responsibility for the attack

KIDNAPPING CHARGES DROPPED

Charges of attempted kidnapping and assault have been dropped against Mahendra Patel, a 57-year-old man from Georgia, following a comprehensive review of the case by prosecutors The decision brings to an end a high-profile case that saw Patel jailed for six weeks after an incident at a Walmart store in March The case had attracted significant public attention and sparked allegations of racial bias The accusations stemmed from claims made by Caroline Miller the mother of a two-year-old boy who told a local news channel that she had to wrestle her son away from Patel during a tug of war

BORDER PATROL ARRESTS 2 INDIANS IN US

Border Patrol agents in Houlton arrested two Indian nationals for illegally crossing the border on foot near Bridgewater The individuals face prosecution and will be placed in removal proceedings an event considered unique as only 15 Indian nationals have been apprehended in the sector over the previous three fiscal years Acting Chief Patrol Agent Craig Shepley of the Houlton Sector emphasized the consequences of illegal entry “If you cross our borders illegally you will be apprehended, prosecuted and deported back to your country of origin,” Shepley stated

MOBILE INTERNET SUSPENDED IN BALOCHISTAN

Pakistan authorities said they have suspended mobile data services in Balochistan province until Aug 31 due to unspecified security reasons An official said that mobile data services were suspended on the request of the Balochistan govt A notification from the Balochistan home department on Aug 6 ordered the immediate suspension of data services until August 31 in view of the law and order situation in the province Balochistan govt spokesman confirmed the notification Pakistan celebrates its independence on Aug 14 and officials fear that terrorists may attempt to sabotage festivities

in brief

UN’S AFGHAN FEMALE STAFF GET THREATS

The Taliban are investigating explicit death threats against dozens of Afghan women working for the UN according to a report In its latest update on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, the UN mission to the country said that dozens of female national staff were subjected to explicit death threats in May The threats come against a backdrop of restrictions placed on women since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 The UN report said the threats came from unidentified individuals related to their work with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, “requiring the UN to implement measures to protect their safety” It said the Taliban told the UN mission that their personnel were not behind the threats

PAK SECURITY FORCES KILL 47 TERRORISTS

At least 47 terrorists have been killed by security forces in Balochistan province near the Afghanistan border in the last two days, Pakistan military’s media wing said Security forces said that they conducted a sanitisation operation and killed 33 terrorists in Sambaza in Zhob district on Aug 7-8 Another 14 terrorists were neutralised in an operation in the surrounding areas of Sambaza along the Afghanistan border on Aug 8-9 sources said Weapons ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the slain terrorists it added Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in terrorist attacks, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces

SOUTH KOREA SEEKS DETENTION WARRANT FOR EX-FIRST LADY

South Korean investigators requested a warrant to arrest former first lady Kim Keon Hee on corruption charges, raising the possibility she could join ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol in detention as an investigation against them gathers pace The couple are being probed by two separate special prosecutors appointed after the former leader was ousted over his brief declaration of martial law that triggered six months of political crisis and social upheaval Kim appeared for questioning at the office of the special prosecutor on charges that include stock fraud bribery and illegal influence peddling She apologised for causing concern but did not answer questions from reporters about the allegations

5 US SOLDIERS SHOT AT, SUSPECT IN CUSTODY

Five US soldiers were shot at the Fort Stewart base in the state of Georgia and the suspected shooter is in custody army officials said The soldiers were treated on site and then transported to hospital for further treatment, Fort Stewart said in a Facebook post There is no active threat to the community, the post said Police responded to reports of a possible shooting in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area at 10 56am ET The suspect was arrested, Fort Stewart said

IRAN EXECUTES

NUCLEAR SCIENTIST

Iran executed one of its nuclear scientists over allegations that he was a spy for Israel and had facilitated Israel s assassination of another nuclear scientist during the two countries’ war in June, according to the judiciary’s news outlet, Mizan The judiciary said the scientist, Roozbeh Vadi, had worked at one of the country’s most sensitive and important nuclear sites and had access to the type of classified information sought by Iran’s enemies Vadi was executed by hanging after he was found guilty of espionage and providing information to Israel the judiciary said

Online hate toward South Asians spikes after Mamdani’s victory

NEW YOR K: Anti S outh A sian hate i n onli ne s paces su rged fo

Democrati c mayoral primary in June, new data from S top AAPI H at e

nd

ar c h gr o up Mo onsh ot

2023, with 44,535 slurs recorded in June alone Moonshot, which monitors threats of violence and racial slurs in spaces linked to Targeted Violence, said such spikes often signal potential rises in offline hate

Stop AAPI Hate data also point to other political and geopolitical triggers, including debates over H-1B visas and renewed India–Pakistan tensions In 2024, 80% of approved

H-1B visas went to applicants from South Asian countries, 71% from India

Researchers said the spike i

h Mamdani’s campaign and mirr

for vice president and Donald

about a “Muslim takeover” of US politics, questioned his Americanness, and called for violence

S

groups have reported a parallel rise in offline harassment, warning that online rhetoric is spilling over into public life, Stop AAPI Hate said

Elderly Sikh man critical after apparent hate crime attack in US

Sikh m an was brutally attacked ou tside a convenience store near t h e S i kh Gu rd

L ankershim Bou levard and th

L os A ng eles police are investigating the apparent hate crime

Harpal Singh, a retired college mathematics professor originally from India and a US citizen, remains in critical condition at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center following the assault on August 4

Family members said he has undergone at least three surgeries to treat severe head and facial injuries, including brain bleeding and eye surgery He remains unconscious and sedated in the ICU

According to police, the attack occurred when Singh was struck violently with a golf club by a man riding a bicycle A witness reported seeing the assault, but no clear sus-

Investigators have not confirmed if any secu-

scene has been recovered Singh was known as a quiet, devoted member of the local Sikh

Lankershim Gurdwara, where he was known for his unstinting seva -serving langar meals and doing paath (reading the scriptures) A family source said he was so quiet it was hard to imagine anyone knowingly wanting to hurt him He was single, never married, and often seen grocery shopping or feeding birds at the park near the temple His extended family of nephews, nieces, and siblings while deeply concerned by the attack, are focused on the recovery of Harpal Singh, a family member said Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Sikh Coalition said, “This has deeply shaken our community ” It described the attack as an apparent hate-motivated incident and urged anyone with information to come forward

Modis’ $1.5mn donation launches chair for Jain studies at UCLA

L OS ANGELES: Jasvant and M eera M odi

e m p h asi s ed t he i m p o rtanc e of f os ter in g p eaceful d ialogue in today’s po larised so ciety w hile making th eir $1 5 m illion pledge to the U niv ersity of California, Los A ng eles

“The principles of Jainism offer a unique lens through which to view such pressing challenges and opportunities,” Jasvant Modi said “By raising awareness of these and related traditions in an academic setting, we can help the next generation to shape a better world At UCLA, a university at the pinnacle of academic achievement, establishing this chair will enhance such work in a significant way ” Their generous commitment, combined with an additional $500,000 from other members of the Jain community, supports

Abhinandan Endowed Chair for Jain Studies a

endowed professorship in this field at UCLA

This chair will fund the research, teaching, and public service of a distinguished faculty member affiliated with the interdepartmental program in the study of religion within UCLA’s Division of Humanities

This effort builds on earlier initiatives, including a three-year lectureship launched in 2020 with support from the Modis and other donors While the chair holder has not yet been announced, the endowment will initially support a lecturer specializing in

development, UCLA said

Reshma Kewalramani joins Fortune magazine’s elite power list

e M umbai-born CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuti cals, h a s bee n n

Powerf ul People i n Busi ness by Fortune magazi ne Ranked at 62, thi s marks Kewalramani’s d ebut on the prestig ious list, which celebrates i ndi vi duals who are fundamentally shapin g the f uture of g lobal commerce

Kewalramani's ascent is particularly significant as she is the first woman to lead a m a j o r b i o t e c h n o l o g y f i r m i n t h e U n i t e d

States A qualified physician by profession, she took the helm at Vertex in April 2020, having previously served as the company ’ s Chief Medical Officer since 2017 Fortune

Sikhs being disproportionately targeted, reveals FBI report

magazine highlighted her unique perspective, noting her ability to bring a licensed doctor’s experience to her leadership role Under her stewardship, the company ’ s valuation has soared past $110 billion, and it has achieved several critical medical miles t o n e s M o s t r e c e n t l y , V e r t e x s e c u r e d approval from the FDA for Journavx, a pioneering opioid-free pain treatment, the first of its kind in more than two decades The company is also widely recognised for its g r o u n d - b r e a k i n g w o r k i n t r e a t i n g c y s t i c fibrosis and its advancements in gene-editing therapies for serious blood disorders such as sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia

W ashingto n: Acco rding to FBI' s l ates t annual h ate crime statistics rep ort f or 2 024, th e Sikh c ommu nity remains the th ird mos t-targeted r e

nd b ia

incidents acros s the United States Th e rep ort l ogged 153 anti-Sikh victim isations, a slight decrease fro m the previous year that mirrors a bro ader natio nal reduction in repo rted hate c rimes

D

acknowledges that the data is fundamentally i n

enforcement agencies across the country still report zero hate crimes, a shortfall attributed to a combination of victims' reluctance to come forward, a failure to properly investigate incidents, and inaccurate recording practices

In response to the findings, Mannirmal Kaur, Senior Federal Policy Manager for the S i

disproportionate threat the community faces “Sikhs remain under threat from violent hate d i s p

population,” she stated Kaur stressed that improving reporting is the crucial "first and most basic step" needed to grasp the full extent of the problem

To tackle this persistent issue of underreporting, the Sikh Coalition continues to champion the Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act This bipartisan bill aims to make h

mandating improved reporting from local law

15-year-old American Indian prodigy earns dual degrees

education on hate crimes for both officers and the general public CA LIF OR NI A: Jap Preet Singh Gil l, a 15 -y earol d of Punjabi origin, is making he adlines a fte r sim ult a ne ously compl et in g b oth his high school a nd ba chel or 's degr ees in Fresno, C

e ducational journe y by ne arly e ig ht y ears, posit ioning him for a r emarka ble future The son of Abohar-born sportsperson Kitty Gill, Jap Preet has now enrolled in a university to pursue a law degree His ambitious goal is to become a fully qualified lawyer by the age of 18, a feat that would potentially m a k e

Abohar credit this extraordinary accomplishment to his unwavering dedication, exceptional intelligence, and relentless hard work Jap Preet’s father, Kitty Gill, a celebrated athlete himself, is no stranger to success A recipient of the prestigious Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award in cycling, he once represented India at the Asian Games and also qualified for the Olympics Now residing in Fresno, he and his wife are known for their strong com-

helping others Proud of his son ’ s achievements, Kitty Gill shared that Jap Preet has always been academically gifted and profoundly curious His thinking is far ahead of his age," his father said "He dreams of bringing positive and meaningful change to the American justice system and wants to work for the uplift of the underprivileged " The prodigy's academic prowess and humanitarian aspirations have made him a source of immense pride for the Punjabi community both in the US and abroad

Zohran Mamdani

Jap Preet Singh Gill

India condemns Pakistan army chief's nuclear threats

T h e M E A s p o k e s p e r s o n , Randhir Jaiswal, expressed r e g r e t t h a t s u c h a

nd nuclear sab re-rattling r

groups

made in Florida, included

, where he reportedly stated that if Pakistan were to go down, it would take half

t h e w o r l d d o w n w i t h i t

statement was made from the soil of a friendly third

India’s firm position that it w o u l d n o t g i

Delhi sources added that

well-held doubts about the i n t e g

command and control in a state where the military’s authority undermines the civilian government

threatened to target India's economic assets for the first

Reliance Industries refinery in Jamnagar, Gujarat In a

referenced a social media post with a Quranic verse

chairman Mukesh Ambani, a move interpreted as an

complex, processing 12 per cent of India's total crude,

and preparing for all threats to its sensitive installations

Air India halts direct Delhi to Washington service

A i r I n di a ha s a n n oun c ed the s us pe nsion of i ts direct n on -stop flights from Delhi to Washi ngton , with the c hange takin g effect from S e pt e m b er 1 T h

li n e h a s c i t e d "o p er a t i on al f

whi ch will leave travellers

f r o m t he U S c a p i t al

wi thout a direct Ai r India

c on nection to I ndia

The primary reason for the service suspension is a planned shortage of aircraft due to the commencement

o f a n e x t e n s i v

overhaul of 26 of its Boeing

7 8 7 - 8

which will render multiple planes unavailable until at least the end of 2026 This s i g n i f i c a n t u n d e r

n g , part of the airline’s broader transformation under Tata ownership, is designed to modernise its legacy fleet and enhance the passenger experience

This operational strain is further compounded by the continuous closure of P a k i s t a n i a i r s p a c e s

2019 This geopolitical issue forces Air India’s long-haul f

o n g e r , more fuel-intensive route, adding to the operational

complexities of the DelhiWashington service F o r c u s t o m

s w i t h existing bookings after the September 1 deadline, the airline has confirmed they will be contacted directly

While the direct service is s u s p e n d e d , t r a v e l l e r s c a n still fly with Air India to W a s h i n g t o n v i a o n

s t o p flights from four other US g a t e w a y s , N e w Y o r k , Newark, Chicago, and San F r a n c i s c o , t h r o u g h i t s interline partners

IAF chief reveals Pakistan’s heavy losses in Operation Sindoor

In dia’s Air Force C hie f, Air C hief Ma rshal A P Singh, ha s r e v e a l e d t ha t t he I n d i a n m ilita ry shot down a t le ast five Pakista ni fighte r jet s a nd o n e l a r g e sp e c i a l m is s io n a ir c r a f t d u r i n g O p e

t io n Sin door in Ma y Speak ing at a m e m o r i a l l e ct

B e n g a l ur u, A C M Si n g h d e sc r i be d t he 8 8 – 90 - h ou r ca mpaign as one of the most d ecisiv e uses of air power in In dian histor y, which forced Pa kista n to see k a cea se fir e

The IAF chief confirmed that India’s Russian-origin S-400 'Triumf' air defence system was a game changer, responsible for five of the confirmed fighter kills He also announced that the S400 took out a large aircraft

e i t h e r a n e l e c t r o n i c intelligence (ELINT) or an airborne early-warning and control (AEW&C) plane at a

surface-to-air kill by India T

IAF pushes for more Rafale

T he Indi an Ai r For ce (IAF) i s strongly

a d v o ca t i ng f o r a g o v e r n m e nt - t o -

g o v e r nm e n t d e a l wi t h F r a nc e t o a cqui re more Ra fa le fi ght er jets, a s pa rt of its long-sta nd ing project to p r o c u r e 11 4 m u l t i -r ol e f i g h

a ircra ft (MRFA) Th is stra tegi c pu sh i s a imed a t urge ntly add ressing the sig ni fi ca nt de pleti on in t he number of i ts fi ghte r squa drons

The IAF's strength is currently at 31 squadrons, but this number is set to drop to a historic low of 29 with the upcoming retirement of its aging

A l m o s t a w ee k af ter a dev astating flash flood tore th r o u g h D h ara li v il la g e, officials h av e confirmed for the first time that 43 people rem ain missing This g rim upd ate co mes as search and relief operations are sev erely hampered by a forecast of heav y to v ery h eavy rainfall, wh ich th reatens to trigger f res h l an d sl i d es a nd flo oding in the Uttarkashi district until A ugust 15

V i n a y S h a n k a r P a n d e y stated that the priority is to locate those trapped under t h e r u b b l e T h e m i s s i n g i n d i v i d u a l s i n c l u d e n i n e

A r m y p e r

l , e i g h t Dharali locals, and 29 Nepali workers, though contact has been re-established with five of them Two bodies have been recovered so far T h e s c a l e o f t h e destruction is described as

unprecedented The debris at the epicentre is reportedly over 50 feet high, enough to bury a three-storey building, and officials believe it could take several months to clear The rescue efforts, involving a

personnel from the NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, and the Army, a

challenges Fractured roads, w

Election Commission delists 334 political parties

In a significant move a imed at cl eaning up the political l a n d sca pe , In d ia 's El ec ti on C om m is si on ( EC ) h a s d e l i st e d 3 3 4 r e gi st e r e d u n r e co gn i se d p ol i t i ca l p a r t ie s ( R UP P s) T he del isting, an nounced, was a r e s ul t o f t h e se pa r t i e s v i ol a t i n g e st a b l is he d g ui d e l i n e s fo r r e g i st r a t i on a n d fa i l i n g t o fu l fi l t h e ir statutory obl igations

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

a c t i o n , w h i c h t h e E C h a s

d e s c r i b e d a s p a r t o f a

c o m p r e h e n s i v e a n d

addressed political criticism,

government had imposed no

the armed forces He clarified that the military was given

execute the strikes and that the armed forces themselves

were deliberately calibrated

t

leadership The chief added t h a t

gathering photographic and v i d e o e v

conscious effort to take care

o

, referring to the doubts that followed the 2019 air strikes

c o n t i n u o u s s t r a t e g y , h a s reduced the total number of RUPPs from 2,854 to 2,520 The decision carries serious

f i n a n c i a l a n d o p e r a t i o n a l c o n s e q u e n c e s f o r t h e affected parties, as they will no longer be able to avail

t h e m s e l v e s o f c r u c i a l i n c o m e - t a x c o n c e s s i o n s under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the Income Tax Act, 1961 They

a l s o l o s e t h e b e n e f i t s associated with the Election

S y m b o l s ( R e s e r v a t i o n a n d Allotment) Order, 1968

A k e y g u i d e l i n e f o r a p a r t y t o m a i n t a i n i t s registered status is that it m u s t c o n t e s t e l e c t i o n s continuously for six years

T h e E C i n i t i a t e d a v e r i f i c a t i o n d r i v e i n J u n e , instructing state and union

territory CEOs to check the c o m p l i a n c e o f 3 4 5 R U P P s Based on these reports, 334 w e r e f o u n d t o b e n o ncompliant, leading to their d e l i s t i n g T h e r e m a i n i n g p a r t i e s a r e c u r r

i o n Commission has provided an avenue for recourse, stating that any party aggrieved by t h e d e c i s i o n h a s a 3 0 - d a y window from the date of the order to appeal This cleanup drive is part of the EC’s ongoing efforts to ensure the integrity of India's political system by removing defunct o r n o n - c o m p l i a n t p a r t i e s from its official register

I nd i a ’ s a nn u al d ef enc e production has soared to an unpreced ented reco rd of over £ 15bn in the 202425 financial year, Defence M i ni s te r Raj n ath S i ng h announced This land mark ach iev em ent, he stated, is a c le ar i nd ic a to r o f th e na ti o n ’ s st ren g th e ni ng defence industrial base and a te st am e nt to it s c o m m i tm e nt to se lfreliance

The figures represent a

jets to address Squadron depletion

MiG-21 fleet This is far below the a u t h o r i s

counter the combined threat from China and Pakistan, a challenge that w a s h i g h l i g h t e d d u r i n g r e c e n t military hostilities with Pakistan

The need for additional Rafales w a s r e i n f o r c e d d u r i n g O p e r a t i o n Sindoor, where the 4 5-generation jets were used extensively for longrange strikes The IAF s argument for a direct deal with France is twofold: i t w

procurement process than a lengthy g l o

significant economic and logistical advantages

The existing infrastructure for the 36 Rafales already in service at the Ambala and Hasimara air bases has the capacity to house additional squadrons Furthermore, acquiring m o r e R a f a l e s w o u l d e n s u r e a commonality of platforms with the Indian Navy, which is also procuring 26 Rafale-Marine jets for its aircraft carrier

s i g n i f i c a n t 1 8 p e r c e n t g r o w t h c o m p a r e d t o t h e previous fiscal year ’ s output of £12bn More remarkably, t h i s m i l e s t o n e m a r k s a s t a g g e r i n g 9 0 p e r c e n t increase in production since the 2019-20 financial year, demonstrating a sustained a n d a c c e l e r a t e d u p w a r d t r a j e c t o r y T h e m i n i s t e r credited the success to the c o l l e c t i v e e f f o r t s o f a l l stakeholders, including the D e p a r t m e n t o f D e f e n c e P r o d u c t i o n , p u b l i c s e c t o r m a n u f a c t u r e r s , a n d t h e p r i v a t e i n d u s t r y D e f e n c e exports have also reached a new peak, hitting £2 36bn in t h e s a m e p e r i o d , f u r t h e r cementing India’s growing r o l e a s a g l o b a l d e f e n c e supplier

While public sector u n d e r t a k i n g s ( P S U s ) and other state-owned m a n u f a c t u r e r s s t i l l d o m i n a t e , a c c o u n t i n g for 77 per cent of the t o t a l p

A P Singh

comin g mont hs ISRO chairma n V N a r a y a n a n c onfi r m e d t h e p l a n s, s t a t i n g that the sa tellit e, ex pecte d to arr ive in In dia in Septe mbe r, will be launche d aboard the LV M - 3 -M 5 , t h e a g e n cy ’ s he a v i e st r o c k e t , fr om t h e Srihar ik ota spa ce port

T h e B l o c k - 2 B l u e B i r d satellite is a next-generation spacecraft designed by AST & S c i e n c e , f e a t u r i n g advanced technology for its Space Mobile constellation Its primary mission is to prov i d

need for specialised user terminals The satellite's stando

communications array, measuring up to 64 38 square metres (2,400 sq-ft), which enables it to establish direct

quencies through partner-

service providers This innovative technology is capable of achieving data transmission speeds of up to 12Mbps, facilitating voice, data, and

video communication for end users

This upcoming launch

burgeoning collaboration

United States in the space sector The NISAR mission, a costly earth observation satellite launched on July 30, was the latest testament to this partnership With this new commercial venture, India continues to solidify its position as a key player in the global space

launch capabilities for international partners The ISRO

India's rapid strides in space technology, which are now

tional projects

Opposition MPs march to EC office in 'vote theft' protest

App roximately 30 0 opposition M Ps from the INDIA bloc staged a protest march to the Election C omm issio n (EC) office, culm inating in a cam paig n th at h as brough t Parliam ent's monsoon session to a h alt L ed by promine nt l ea d ers i nc lu d in g Rahul Gand hi, M allikarju n Kharg e, and Akhilesh Yad av , th e M P s w er e p ro te st in g ag ainst voter list m anipulati o n an d th e S p e ci a l

Intensive Rev ision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bih ar The march, which began at the Parliament complex, was halted by police a short d i s t a n c e f r o m t h e E C ' s headquarters The Election

C o m m i s s i o n h a d o n l y

g r a n t e d p e r m i s s i o n f o r a delegation of 30 MPs, a condition the opposition rejected, insisting on the full contingent The protesting MPs were subsequently detained

a n d t a k e n t o P a r l i a m e n t Street police station before b

t w o hours The opposition condemned the police action as a murder of democracy

Speaking at the protest, Rahul Gandhi accused the E C o f b e i n g s c a r e d a n d attempting to hide data, a r e f e r e n c e t o h i s r e c e n t claims about fake voters in a Karnataka assembly seat He framed the march not as a political fight but as a battle for the soul of the country and the fundamental principle of ‘ one man, one vote’ Other leaders, like Akhilesh

about alleged voter deletion in a recent by-election in Uttar Pradesh

T h e j o i n t p r o t e s t w a s catalysed by Gandhi's recent expose and marks a significant escalation of the opposition’s push for a clean voters' list The ongoing dispute has already paralysed parliamentary proceedings, w i t h t h e o p p o s i t i o n demanding a formal discussion on the issue, which the g o v e r n m e n t h a s s o f a r refused

CBI alleges active role of Nirav Modi's brother-in-law in PNB fraud

T h e C ent ral B u rea u o f

I n v es ti g a ti o n ( C B I ) h as i ntensified its case in the m assiv e ov er £1 3bn Punjab National Bank ( PNB) lo an fraud , alleging th at M aiank M eh ta, th e broth er-in- law

o f f u g i ti v e d i a m ant ai re Nirav M odi, played a direct and active role in th e con-

s p i rac y T h e Ho ng K on gbased British national has been accused of being a key beneficiary of the defraud ed funds, w ith the C BI m aking these claims in a new sup-

p l em e nt ary c h arg e s h eet f iled ag ains t h im an d hi s w ife, Pu rv i M odi

According to the investigating agency, a substantial p

The chargesheet details that

an amount of $30 million from fraudulent Letters of U n d e r t a k i n g

w a s allegedly used by Nirav and Purvi through their company, Radha Shree Jewellers, with Mehta's direct assistance A further $31 million in proceeds was transferred into Purvi's account

The CBI's investigation has also unearthed a transa

India’s homegrown defence showcased in Operation Sindoor: PM Modi

P r im e M in is t er N a r en dr a Mo di has praised O peration Si nd o o

P

demonstrated a new face o f I ndia to the wo rld During his first vis it to Bengal uru since t h e o p er a ti o n , th e P r im e Minister asserted th at I ndia’s m il ita ry s u cc es s f u ll y f o rc ed P akistan to its knees

defence manuf acturing Modi's comments came

a

( I A F ) c h i e f h a d p r e v i o u s l y detailed how the 88-90-hour

c a m p a i g n h a d c r i p p l e d

P a k i s t a n ' s s y s t e m s , prompting them to seek a c e a s e f i r e T h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r ' s r e

external party, including the United States, intervened to halt the military action

Crediting the success to

technology and the strength of Make-in-India in defence, Modi specifically highlighted

Bengaluru and its youth A previous report had detailed

made systems, including Sky Striker suicide drones from the private sector and Akash

forces utilised a combination of domestic and international space defence assets, such

satellites paired with imagery

waminarayan Jay S hai Patel

transferred $8 9 million to Mehta via shell companies

This suggests a long-stand-

chargesheet further reveals how some of the funds from

Diamonds - were routed to a UAE-based shell company,

which was also controlled by Nirav Between March and

LoUs was remitted into this

scale and sophistication of the fraud

It i ith f d sadness CB P aben Hasmukhbh

ber 077, 1935 - A , August 05 t l d f il

5, 2025

th f l passing

It is with profound sadness CB Patel and family announces the peaceful away of Shantaben Hasmukhbhai Patel on the morning of Tuesday, 5 August 2025, an auspicious Ekadashi day, a time symbolising spiritual purity and liberation. She was a beloved motherr, grandmother and great-grandmother , whose life was a blessing, and whose memory will remain a treasure

Born in India, Shantaben was cherished as the first daughter by her father and paternal uncles. After her marriage, she moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she became a pillar of strength for her family and extended relatives. Over the years, she lived courageously on three continents, India, the United tates, and T S a anzania, raising four children with resilience and love

Shantaben was a woman of deep faith and service, dedicating her life to spiritual practice and helping others. In her early years in America, before there were temples, she opened her home every Sunday for satsang, hosting around 30 Swaminarayan Brahmins, all while raising her children and working full time

She was known for her compassion, patience and kindness, always putting others needs before her own. With her warm smile and tireless energy, Shantaben lived a simple, disciplined life, starting each day with meditation, yoga and prayerr, and observing many fasts with devotion. ,

Her strength and love guided her children through their studies, careers, and challenges. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, service, and spiritual dedication.

She is lovingly remembered by her children Hemant, Vijay, Neil and Smita, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and many friends. her Her light will forever shine in the hearts of all who knew r. May . her soul rest in peace under the loving protection of Lord Krishna and Lord Swaminarayan.

OM Shanti..Shanti…Shanti

Wife of Late Hasmukhbhai Patel

arun Mehta, Priya Mehta & Andrew V atel & T Smita P Tarun Vaskasko

mant & Becki Patel, Jason, Stefanie & Jailyn Patel, Daniel ew & Cali Patel, Stephen Patel and Nathanael & Emily Pa

Vijay & V Varshali P arshali Patel, Akshal, Jalpa, Kishan & Kaylon Pa

Amit Patel

atel, T Neil & Jagu P Tejas P ejas Patel

Jay Shree Krishna

Maiank Mehta

NORTH-EAST

Karnataka minister resigns a day after his remarks on 'vote chori'

B E N G A L U R U : I n a su r p ri si n g d ev elopm ent, K arnataka cooperation m inister K N Rajanna submitted his r es i g na ti o n t o c h i ef m i ni s te r S idd aramaiah on M onday T houg h the exact reason for his resignation is y et to be as ce rtai ne d , i t i s be in g sp eculated that Rajanna was sacked following his remarks reg arding the alleged “ v ote chori” issue

Rajanna told reporters that the voter irregularities, which allegedly t o o k p l a c e i n t h e M a h a d e v

c y , happened during the tenure of the Congress government in Karnataka

He said that when the voter list was being prepared, Congress leaders

s

d instead of raising objections at the draft stage “These irregularities did take place It is a shame that we did not monitor it,” he said

i

Gandhi, staged a massive protest in Bengaluru over voter irregularities,

K N Rajanna

leadership

Following Rajanna’s remarks, a section of Congress workers had also

leadership demanding action against the minister This is said to have prompted the party high command to seek the resignation of one of the senior ministers in Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet

Giani Harpreet Singh elected president of SAD breakaway faction

AM RIT SAR: Form er Akal Takht ac ting

b re aka wa y f ac tion of the Shir om a ni Akal i Dal (SAD) in a meeting of the del egate ses sion hel d in Amr its ar on M onday Apart f rom this , Satwant K aur has been ele cted as chairpers on of the 'Panthic' council of the f action

T h e A k a

committee held the delegate session of the breakaway group of the SAD at Gurdwara Burj Akali Phoola Singh in Amritsar During the delegate session, the name of Giani Harpreet Singh was proposed for the post of president, while Satwant Kaur was proposed for the post of chairperson of the Panthic

c

f o r m e r j a t h e d a r o f t h e T a k h t S r i Damdama Sahib, was part of the Sikh clergy that had pronounced tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct) for SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal and other Akali leaders on December 2, 2024

(SGPC) had dismissed the services of Giani Harpreet Singh as the jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Satwant Kaur is the daughter of the former president of the All India Sikh Students Federation, Amrik Singh, who was a close associate of Jarnail Singh B

Operation Bluestar in 1984

T

committee, which was given a mandate to supervise the reorganisation of the Shiromani Akali Dal in December last year, comprised MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali, Iqbal Singh Jhunda, Santa Singh

U

Singh Wadala and Satwant Kaur

On December 2 last year, the Akal Takht, in its edict, formed a sevenmember panel to start a membership drive and hold elections for the post of SAD president and office bearers within six months

Calcutta HC has highest backlog of cases pending

New Delhi: Calcutta hig h court ( HC ) has top ped th e list of HC s h av ing hu g e backlog s o f cas es p ending fo r d isposal fo r over fiv e d ecades The HC has 2,18 5 such cases yet to be disposed of, which is 94% of the total 2, 329 cases p ending for over 50 years acro ss a ll H C s A n d s i nc e l as t yea r, C alcutta HC has ad ded 1 40 more to its docket According to the p end ency stati sti cs released by U ni on law m i nistry, th ere are 22,8 29 cases p ending fo r 40-50 years at 25 HCs across country, another 63, 23 9 fo r 30 -40 years, o ver 3 40, 000 for 20 -30 years and 1 1,50, 000 fo r 10 -20 years

T h e o l d e s t c a s e i n a h i g h court is pending for 74 years, s i n c e 1 9 5 1 O n l y e i g h t H C s besides Calcutta have pendency of cases for over five decades -56 in Madras HC, 46 in Patna HC, 17

i n A l l a h a b a d H C , n i n e i n Telangana HC, eight in Orissa HC, four in Madhya Pradesh HC,

Stalin unveils two-language education policy in the state

C HE NN A I : Tam il Nadu govt’s State Education Policy ( SEP) for s ch ool educ at ion , unve il ed la st w eek , has repose d f aith in the pre sent s yste m, i nc lud ing twolanguage formula, no-detention polic y up to Clas s VII I, a nd b oa rd e x am

nl y fo r Cl as s X a nd XI I I t h as abolis hed board examin ations for Clas s XI

The National Education Policy (NEP) recommends a three-language formula, common exams for Classes III, V, and VIII, and a new school education system of 5+3+3+4

challenges for school students It also recommended

technology skills for school students

“We will follow a two-language policy with Tamil and English,” Chief minister MK Stalin said after releasing the SEP, adding that physical education will be added to the curriculum “Education for all, quality education for all is the policy of our Dravidian model govt This policy will help our students to compete globally,” Stalin said Abolishing the board exams for Class XI state board students, introduced in 2018, the SEP said: “Class XI should be treated as a preparatory and transition year focusing on subject enrichment, skill development, and academic readiness through continuous, competency based internal assessments This approach will help reduce exam-related stress ”

Punjab govt withdraws land pooling policy

Assam CM defends eviction drives

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma rejected allegations that the state’s ongoing

have encroached on forest and other reserved lands Sarma said the eviction drives are being carried out on forest land, village grazing

reserves (PGR) illegally occupied by the ‘MiyaMuslim’ community The term ‘Miya’ has historically been used as a pejorative for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, who are often perceived as Bangladeshi immigrants by

minority-dominated areas It is for ‘MiyaMuslims’ who have encroached on forest or reserved land Our people do not encroach on such land If Bodo or Mising communities are found there, they might be eligible for ‘patta’ Non-tribals, however, cannot get ‘patta’ in forest land,” Sarma asserted Claiming that ‘Miya-Muslims’ already occupy vast tracts of r

have not settled, the chief minister said, “Half of Assam’s land is there for them at the chars From there, they want to move to Sivasagar, Jorhat, and Golaghat How can that happen? Where will Assamese people stay?”

MASS PROTESTS IN ARUNACHAL OVER HYDRO PROJECT

and two each in Bombay and Punjab & Haryana HCs In comparison, the district judiciary has done better with only 1,113 cases pending for five decades, of which 39% are only f r o m B e n g a l T h e d a t a w a s released by law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in response to a q u e s t i o n i n R a j y a S a b h a T h e total pendency of cases which are m o r e t h a n 1 0 y e a r s o l d i s a t 15,77,191 In response to another question on pendency of cases, Meghwal said several factors lead t o l o n g p e n d e n c y , i n c l u d i n g “complexity of the facts involved, nature of evidence, cooperation o f s t a k e h o l d e r s , v i z b a r , investigation agencies, witnesses a n d l i t i g a n t s , b e s i d e s t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y o f p h y s i c a l infrastructure, supporting court staff and proper application of rules and procedures to monitor, t r a c k a n d b u n c h h e a r i n g o f cases ”

C HA N DI GA RH : The A am A ad m i P a rty (AA P) gov ernm ent in Punjab has w ithd rawn it s m u ch - p u b li c is ed and m u ch -o p p o s ed lan d p o o l in g p o l i cy 2025 und er wh ich it prop osed to acquire a massiv e 65,53 3 acres of land , pred ominantly agricultural, across th e state The withdrawal came just days after the high court ordered an interim stay on it On Monday, a two-line note was shared by the principal secretary, housing, Vikas Garg, that said: “Government hereby withdraws the land pooling policy dated May 14, 2025 and its subsequent amendments Consequently, all action like LOIs (letters of intent) issued, registration done or any other taken there under shall be reversed henceforth ”

Bhagwant Mann and other top AAP leaders, was already facing political opposition and widespread protests by farmer unions who saw it as potentially damaging to t

opposition party Congress, as well as the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP, launched a series of protests

Police to probe injury of RG Kar victim's mother

KO L KA T A: Police a re probin g how the mothe r of

ape d and murde red RG Ka

sa id The father of the murdered

government pressure had led a hospital to decline to admit his wife, who had complained of a swelling on her forehead

should not have happened But why

happened and how

r e i s a n a l l e g a t i o n t h a t t h e i n j u r y happened due to the police All these angles are being probed If we get a specific complaint, we will investigate the matter And e v e n i n t h

started an investigation ”

S o m e o f t h e p r o t e s t e r s , intending to march to Nabanna on the first anniversary of the crime, had got into a scuffle w i t h t h e p o l i c e o n C h o w r i n g h e e R o a d a f t e r t h e p r o c e s s i

its route The police eventually carried out a baton charge T h e m o t h e r o f t h e murdered doctor has accused t h e p o l i c e o f a s s a u l t i n g h e r Senior officers present at the s p o t h a v e d e n i e d t h i s H e r husband alleged that Manipal H o s p i t a l E M B y p a s s h a d r e f r

wife because of “ pressure from the government” His wife left the hospital on Sunday after being treated in t h e e m e r g e n c y w a r d “ T h e doctors clearly told us they were under pressure from the top not to admit her When the doctors first examined her, they advised admission,” the father said

Tensions over the Dibang multipurpose hydro project in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Dibang Valley have reached a flashpoint, with local organisations warning of legal action and largescale protests over alleged neglect of downstream communities The locals have accused accused the government of failing to implement critical downstream protection measures, despite a sanctioned budget of £15 4mn The committee has set an August 24 deadline for work to begin cautioning that any further delay will trigger a “massive democratic movement” across the region In a parallel move the Uttama Bor Abor Sanrakshana Sanrachana (UBSS) one of Arunachal s few public charitable trusts is preparing to challenge in court what it calls the unfair exclusion of downstream residents from the official list of project-affected communities UBSS has also urged the influential Adi Baane Kebang (ABK) to honour its pledge made at the Parbuk Kebang to spearhead united democratic action The trust has warned that failure to do so will prompt it to campaign for ABK’s derecognition in the Dibang belt Both organisations have written to the Deputy Commissioner, the ABK, and the head of the project office, expressing public frustration and demanding urgent intervention

MANIPUR GROUPS CALL FOR SHUTDOWN ON I- DAY

Six proscribed underground outfits in Manipur have announced a boycott of India s Independence Day celebrations on August 15 and have called for a total shutdown across the state The groups united under the Coordination Committee (CorCom), have urged the public to refrain from attending the celebrations and instead observe the day as a “black day by hoisting black flags The CorCom consists of six banned groups: Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) its Progressive faction (PREPAK-Pro) Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), and the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) A statement from the CorCom’s Publicity Committee attributed the unrest and violence in Manipur to India s alleged regressive policies, claiming these issues stem from the government s actions in the region While the total shutdown is in effect, the statement emphasized that emergency services, including medical care, media water and electricity supply, fire services and religious ceremonies, will be allowed to continue Two other insurgent groups, the Socialist Revolutionary Party (SOREPA) and the National Revolutionary Front of Manipur (NRFM) have also announced their support for the boycott and called for a 12-hour statewide bandh on the same day

Bhagwant Mann

P

Modi and Zelenskyy discuss Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin summit

Z elenskyy held a ph one call, discu ssing a peaceful res ol

The conversation comes at a crucial time, with India f

imports While Modi reaffirmed India’s steadfast and

p e a c e f u l s e t t l e m e n t a n d pledged to make every possible contribution, Zelenskyy

President stressed the need

exports, particularly oil, to reduce Moscow's ability to finance the ongoing war Zelenskyy, who is seeki n g t o

support and prevent any ter-

Russian bombing of a bus station in Zaporizhzhia He

occurring amid a diplomatic window for peace, demon-

killings

described as lengthy by both sides, also saw the leaders

plan a personal meeting in September on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly in New York While India has not condemned Russia’s invasion, it has consistently advocated for dialogue and diplomacy, with Modi stating that a peaceful solution requires the participation of all stakeholders The conversation reinforces India's delicate balancing act as it seeks to navigate its relationships w i t h K y i v , M o s c o w , a n d Washington

Putin to visit India amid US pressure on Russian oil buyers

India and Russia are reportedly close to finalising the d ate for P resident V ladimir

P utin’s v isit to Ind ia for the

a nn u al b i la ter al s

T h e an no u nc em

w as m ad e b y I nd i a ’ s Na ti o nal

S ecurity Ad visor (NSA), Ajit Dov al, d uring his recent trip to M osco w, w here he met

w ith his counterpart, Serg ey

S h o i g u Do v al d es c ri be d

s u m m i t -l ev e l m e et in g s as

w atershed p oints that give

d ir ec ti o n to th e re la ti o nsh ip

T h i s w o u l d m a r k

President Putin's first visit to India since Russia's inva-

s

Doval's comments created a buzz, official sources later

c

date or time had been con-

d Russian media claims of a visit in August Nonetheless, both leaders are expected to meet on the side-lines of the u p c o m i n g S

n this month

The visit is set against a

backdrop of a trade dispute

United States, exacerbated

b

Trump’s efforts to pressure India to reduce its energy and defence imports from Russia India is hopeful that

between Trump and Putin

could lead to a ceasefire in U

l d , i n turn, alleviate some of the tensions in its relationship with the US

During his meeting with Doval, Sergey Shoigu reiterated Moscow's commitment to strengthening its special privileged strategic partnership with India He stated t h a t t h e t w o n a t i o n s a r e dedicated to forming a more just and sustainable world o r d e r a n d t o c o m b a t i n g modern challenges together, e m p h a s i s i n g t h e s t r o n g , time-tested ties of friendship between them Doval, in return, expressed hope that the summit would produce a tangible and substantial outcome for the benefit of both nations

Supreme Court upholds inquiry against Justice Varma

T he Sup rem e Co urt h as dis -

m i s s e d a p e t it io n b y Allah abad High C ourt Justice Y ashw ant V arm a, chall enging a h ig h - l e ve l i nq u ir y t h a t f ound him l inked to a signific ant pile o f cas h disco vered at h is of ficial residence T he ruli ng ef f ec t iv e l y l e a ve s t h e judge s future in the h ands o f P arliam ent

A b e n c h o f J u s t i c e s

D i p a n k a r D a t t a a n d A G Masih unequivocally rejected every argument made in the j u d g e ’ s d e f e n c e T h e c o u r t concluded that the in-house

inquiry process was conducted in scrupulous adherence to the established procedure

a n d t h a t t h e t h e n C h i e f Justice of India (CJI) had no

option but to recommend his r e m o v a l a f t e r f i n d i n g h i m

guilty The judgment firmly stated that the CJI, as the leader of the judiciary, has a moral, ethical, and legal duty

t o k e e p t h e j u s t i c e s y s t e m pure, clean, and unpolluted The bench dismissed Justice Varma’s argument that the matter should have been left t o P a r

unreasonable for the CJI to wait for parliamentary action given the gravity of the incid

judgment, Justice Datta questioned the judge's conduct, s

o t inspire much confidence The court pointed out that Justice Varma failed to raise objections to the inquiry process at t h e a p p r o p r i a t e t i m e T h e ruling stressed that no judge, regardless of their position, is above the law and that maintaining the judiciary's institutional integrity is paramount This decision clears the way f o r P a r l i a m e n t t o c o n s i d e r the recommendation for the judge’s removal

Delhi’s new ministerial HQ to be secured by smart cards

I n di a 's ne w l y i na u gu ra t e d K ar t

B hawan, t he firs t c om pl eted secr etariat b uilding under t he Central V is ta redevelopment pl an, which will be secured by a s tate-of-the -art ac ces s control sys tem

The new m inist erial hea dq uarters will s ee s mart c ard readers depl oyed at e ve ry e ntry point, from the main door s and e levators to individual of fices of minist ers and s enior bureauc rats

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who inaugurated the building, was accompan i e d b y H o u s

Minister Manohar Lal The move marks a significant shift in how government

corridors are secured, moving away from the limited security measures of older buildings like North Block and Shastri Bhawan The advanced security infras-

surveillance, is designed to ensure both "free and smooth movements for both officials and visitors" while enhancing overall safety Kartavya Bhawan 3, as the building is designated, will house several key ministries, including Home Affairs, External Affairs, and Petroleum and Natural Gas

already relocated, with others expected

US lawyer meets families of victims of AI171 flight

Mike An dre ws, a US-ba sed av iation lawy er from t he Be asle y Allen La w Firm, has me t t he families of victims of t he ill-fat ed AI171 flig ht, which cra she d in A hmeda ba d Repr esen ting ove r 70 families, A ndr ews e mphasise d that his pr im ary goa l is to se cur e flig ht da ta, includin g from t he cock pit a nd bla ck box , to provid e closure a nd en sur e account ability

Andrews, who has a history of representing crash victims' families, described the investigation as being in its initial stages He is particularly focused on understanding the role of the Boeing 787's complex electronic systems in the crash

The lawyer highlighted the potential for computer failure and is investigating whether moisture or water could have caused a short circuit, possibly leading to an engine shutdown - a theory that has gained traction in media reports

The firm’s strategy is to first formally request the data from Air India before pursuing legal avenues if necessary

During his visit, Andrews also met with Vishwaskumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the crash, at his residence in Diu He described the encounter with Ramesh and his family as a moving experience, acknowledging their grief and hardworking nature

Andrews noted that while some families have received compensation, many others, particularly those from rural areas, have not He highlighted the case of a bedridden elderly woman in Diu who relied on her son ’ s income for medical care, underscoring the urgent need for justice The legal team is currently gathering all necessary data before finalising the details of a lawsuit, with Andrews asserting that no amount can possibly be sufficient for the loss suffered by the families

Hindus seek apology from Nestlé for non-disclosure of beef in its products

Hindu s are seeking an official apology from th e Swiss fo od cong lom erate Nestlé for no n-disclosure o f beef in its v arious fo od pro ducts made in Australia; and their imm ed iate recall Hindu statesman Rajan Zed said that it was shocking for Hindus to learn that some popular Nestlé products like Australia manufactured Allen’s Lollies, which Australian Hindus had been consuming for years, contained beef; while beef was not explicitly mentioned under the ingredients listed on the packages/boxes Zed said that many Nestlé products sold in Australia contained gelatine, but the source of gelatine was not mentioned under the “ingredients” on packages When Zed contacted the company, Nestlé Australia responded: “Allen’s lollies use beef gelatine as ingredient ”

Consumption of beef is highly conflicting to Hindu beliefs Cow is sacred and has long been venerated in Hinduism; Zed points out

It was a very serious issue for the devotees and would severely hurt their feelings if they come to know that they were unknowingly eating beef-laced Nestlé products, Zed noted Besides apologizing; Zed urged Nestlé to recall all packages containing gelatine and replace these with packages which markedly declared source of gelatine under the ingredients label

Elon Musk’s X challenges India over new censorship rules

Elon M us k’s social m edia pl atform X is taking a firm s tance aga ins t India’s online cens ors hip, f il ing a lawsuit that c hallenges the const itutional ity of new government rul es The legal ac tion, lodged in the Karnat aka High Court, is a dir ect conf rontation wit h s weeping regul ations introduc ed by Prime Minis ter Nare ndra Modi’s adm inis tration in 2 02 3 These rul es have significantl y expanded the number of of ficials who can dem and the rem oval of online content, from gover nment minis tries down to local pol ic e departm ents

Kartavya Bhawan 1 and 2, are set to be completed in September, with all 10 proposed buildings scheduled for completion by 2027

The new security system will not only regulate access but also provide a comprehensive log of entry and exit movements, a level of oversight previo u

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs emphasised that the security features are elaborate because this is one of the most important and most sensitive parts of the government apparatus

At the heart of the dispute is a government-run portal c a l

requests X has refused to participate, branding the platform a censorship portal that enables the arbitrary silencing of critical voices In its legal filings, the company's legal team argues that the expanded powers could be misused to stifle dissent, satire, and criticism of public officials under the guise of maintaining public order X contends that the laws undermine India’s constitutional protections for free speech, setting a dangerous precedent for democratic societies around the globe

However, the Indian government has mounted a strong defence, accusing X of being a conduit for spreading hate and division Officials claim that the platform’s refusal to fully comply with takedown orders reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of India’s social and cultural context

Narendra Modi and Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Vladimir Putin and Ajit Doval

Yashwant Varma

Continued from page 1

A new dawn for India's global alliances?

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also took a veiled swipe at the US, saying that no power in the world can stop India from becoming a big power and that the country

w

additional tariffs

India swiftly condemned the US action as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable ” A government

s

factors to ensure energy security for 1 4 billion people and called

W

tariffs on India for actions many other countries also take in their national interest

A U S t

scheduled to visit India on August 25, just days before the additional 25% tariff is set to take effect The outcome of these talks remains uncertain, as Trump has stated there will be no trade talks until the tariff issue is resolved India has, however, not closed the door on a possible rapprochement

A shift in alliances: The unexpected union

Rising tensions between the U S a n d I n d i a o v e r t r

c l o s e r t o o t h e r g l o b a l p o w e r s , including traditional rivals The US’s punitive tariffs and tough

r h e t o r i c h

c o i n c i d e d

h a notable shift in American foreign policy, as Washington rebuilds ties w i t h P a k i s t a n , I n d i a ’

private lunch at the White House

b e t w e e n P r e s i d e n t T r u m p a n d P a k i s t a n ’ s a r m y c h i e f , F i e l d

Marshal Asim Munir, alongside

T r u m p ’ s p r a i s e f o r a n e w U SPakistan trade deal, have fuelled concerns that India and the US are on a collision course

T h i s d i p l o m a t i c p i v o t h a s e n c o u r a g e d I n d i a t o d e e p e n relationships elsewhere National

S e c u

Minister S Jaishankar expected to

M

M i n i s t e r M o d i h a s e n g a g e d i n d i s

Silva, exploring closer economic integration amid the backdrop of U S

D el hi N CR ’ s C ul tu ra l M inister, Kapil Mishra, said i t is a matter of pri de for I

A c h ar y a Lo

w ho received the ‘International

N ob el laureates the Da lai Lama and Malala Yous afz ai at the ‘ International March f or Nuc lear D is

nt a nd a Peac eful World’

b

C o u n c i

o f J u r i s t s o n 9

A u g u s t a t H y d e P a r k , recognises their significant efforts in promoting peace

a

conflict

F o

Privileged Strategic Partnership” with Russian President Vladimir

envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow just days before a deadline for Russia to agree to peace or face new sanctions

lenient on China while alienating India, a key ally On X, she said, “India should not be buying oil from Russia But China, a major buyer of Russian and Iranian oil,

Don’t give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India

Putin, who is expected to visit India later this year

The Russia-India-China (RIC) grouping, originally established by R u s s i a n p o l i t i c i a n Y e v g e n y

Primakov as a counterbalance to W e s t e r n a

countries cover 19% of the world’s landmass and represent over 33% of global GDP, making them

Russia’s foreign minister recently hinted at reactivating the dormant group, whose last meeting was in

stand-off

Adding to the strain, Trump has threatened an additional 10%

, accusing them of aligning with “ a n t i

tariff threat follows ongoing US efforts to broker a ceasefire in the

after Trump praised his ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a CNBC interview, saying, “We have

before year-end, adding, “I think we’ll make a good deal ” This trade dispute isn’t India’s first challenge with the US under Trump Despite early signs of a s

First’ policies brought tensions, i n c l u d i n g c

India’s trade deficit and threats to t

iPhones in India Now, tariffs are hitting Indian textile and garment makers hard, putting them at a d i s a d v a n t a g e a g a i n s t r i v a l s l i k e Bangladesh and Vietnam European retaliation: A unified front?

T h e t r a d e c o n f l i c t i s n o

responding with their own strong words and retaliatory measures

The European Commission has received broad support from its member states to implement a round of tariffs on US goods, with some estimates suggesting that up t o € 9 3 b i l l i o n i n A m e r i c a n products could be affected The proposed tariffs could reach as high as 30% on a wide range of goods, from agricultural products like soybeans to industrial goods such as aircraft Some European countries, such as Germany, have e x p r e s s e d c o n c e r n o v e r t h e p o t e n t i a l d a m a g e t o t h e i r a u t o m o t i v e a n d m a n u f a c t u r i n g i n d u s t r i e s M e a n w h i l e , t h e

E u r o p e a n U n i o n i s c u r r e n t l y holding off on implementing a set of countermeasures on US steel and aluminum imports to allow for more time to negotiate a trade agreement with the US Modi’s China visit aim to reset ties

As US relations with Pakistan

d e e p e n a n d t a r i f f s t h r e a t e n t o i m p a c t I n d i a ’ s e c o n o m y , P r i m e

M i n i s t e r N a r e n d r a M o d i i s p r e p a r i n g f o r h i s f i r s t v i s i t t o China in over seven years Modi will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, which begins o n A u g u s t 3 1 , h i g h l i g h t i n g a diplomatic thaw between the two

A s i a n p o w e r s T h i s v i s i t m a r k s Modi’s first to China since June

2 0 1 8 , f o l l o w i n g a p e r i o d o f strained ties after a military clash

a l o n g t h e d i s p u t e d H i m a l a y a n border in 2020 Earlier this year, Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the

B R I C S s u m m i t i n R u s s i a , initiating talks that eased tensions and opened the door for renewed business cooperation and travel between the countries

S p ea ki ng to A s i an V o i c e, Srikanth Kondapalli, P rofesso r of C h i n es e S tu d i es a t Ja w ah a rla l Nehru U niv ersity, explained the complexity behind Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming visit to China for the SCO summit He noted the trip was planned nearly a year ago

backing India’s BRICS leadership, unrelated to recent tensions or Trump’s tariffs Kondapalli noted, “This is a multilateral visit, not a bilateral one on border disputes,” and said a brief meeting with President Xi

earth metals affecting companies like Foxconn On border tensions since the 2020 Galwan clash, he described the situation as “half peace, ” with troop disengagement but no full de-escalation, meaning forces remain close enough for escalation He added, “Until China

normalisation is unlikely ”

On China’s support regarding tariffs, Kondapalli said, “China is not backing India on this issue Tariffs are a bilateral matter, so any comments from China, even criticism of Trump, are mostly

scale up our and the country’s productivity," he stated "When it comes to t o u r i s m , p e o p l e f r o m a l l over the world should come to India; when it comes to b r a n d s , t h e w o r l d ’ s a t t e n t i o n s h o u l d b e o n I n d i a n b r a n d s ; w h e n i t c o m e s t o e d u c a t i o n , students from all over the w o r l d s h o u l d c o m e t o India " M o d i a l s o u s e d t h e o c c a s i o n t o h i g h l i g h t h i s g

years, describing the model as transparent and citizenc

Prime Minister Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping at BRICS 2024 Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with PM Modi during their meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence near Moscow Russia July 8, 2024

Srikanth Kondapalli

Kapil Mishra with Pujya Jain Acharya Lokeshji

Friendship, the secret to sharp memory in old age

Reaching your eighties often com es with a touch of forg etfulness but a rare group of “ sup er-ag ers ” d efy time, p erforming as well on memo ry t es ts as p e o p le 3 0 y ear s yo ung er A large stu dy h as now u ncov ered their sh ared secret, and it’ s not diet, exercise, or sleep

Researchers tracked 290 super-agers, people aged 80+ who could recall nine or more words from a list of 15 after a half-hour delay, a score typical of someone in their fifties or sixties Some led textbook healthy lives Others smoked, drank, avoided exercise, endured stress, and slept poorly Yet all shared one lifestyle trait: rich, positive social connections

Published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, the study found that super-agers consistently rated their friendships higher than peers, scored strongly for extroversion, and were highly sociable Brain analysis revealed unusually high numbers of Von Economo neurons cells linked to social interaction and a thicker anterior cingulate cortex, the region tied to empathy, emotional regulation, and motivation These brain structures were better preserved than in typical ageing, with some areas even thicker than in middle-aged adults Some super-agers showed minimal signs of Alzheimer’s-related protein build-up; others had them but displayed no memory decline, suggesting both resistance to brain damage and resilience to its effects

While lifestyle staples like diet, exercise, and mental stimulation remain vital, the research adds a new twist: social vitality may be just as important So, eat your greens, go for a walk and take a friend with you

Low lithium levels may trigger Alzheimer’s

l e m s a n d a d v a n c e d

A l z h e i m e r ’ s U s i n g advanced mass spectrome-

t r y t o d e t e c t 3 0 m e t a l s , lithium was the only one

c a d e - lo n g Ha r v a r d

Me dical School study tha t ma y pav e the way for n ew

t rea tme nts

The research, published in Nature, suggests lithium plays a vital role in protecting all major brain cell types from age- and disease-related damage Scientists found that lithium levels begin to drop in the early stages of

A l z h e i m e r ’ s , p o t e n t i a l l y d r i v i n g m e m o r y l o s s a n d cognitive decline

T h e t e a m a n a l y s e d brain tissue and blood samples from people across a s p e c t r u m o f c o g n i t i v e health, from normal function to early memory prob-

appeared

e n g i n e e r e d t o d e v e l o p Alzheimer’s-like symptoms were treated with lithium orotate The treatment not only halted brain damage but also reversed it, restoring memory function, even i n o l d e r m i c e w i t h advanced disease

T h i s f i n d i n g o f f e r s a fresh angle on one of the most challenging neurodeg e n e r a t i v e d i s e a s e s a n d raises hopes for therapies

t h a t r e p l e n i s h l i t h i u m i n the brain

Daylight’s hidden sleep trick

Blue light is often blamed on phones and laptops, but it’s also naturally present in sunlight During the day, exposure to blue light helps regulate your circadian rhythm, keeping you alert and boosting mood It plays a role in memory, hormone regulation, and overall mental sharpness. However, too much artificial blue light at night, from scrolling or late-night work, can confuse your body’s “biological clock,” reducing melatonin production and disrupting sleep, which over time may impact mood, focus, and long-term health.

Changing leaves, changing routines

Simple lifestyle tweaks, from nutrition and exercise to mental wellness, can help you stay energised and healthy as the days grow cooler and shorter.

The shift from sum mer ’ s bright, carefree d ays to autum n ’ s crisp, golden afternoons is o ne of nature’s m ost beau tiful transitions But for many of us, it can also be a tricky adjustment We swap sandals fo r scarv es, lig ht salad s for h earty soups, and sunny evening walks for co sy nigh ts indoors While this seasonal chang e can be com fo rting , it also bring s a shift in daylig ht, tem perature, and routine that may affect our energy, mood , and health

Our bodies and minds respond to the changing seasons in subtle but significant ways Shorter days mean less natural light, which can impact our sleep cycles and mood Cooler weather may tempt us to move less and indulge more And as we spend more time indoors, our immune systems can be put to the test Without a little planning, it’s easy to slip into sluggish habits that leave us feeling tired, unmotivated, or under the weather

That’s why this transition period is the perfect time to refresh our healthy habits Here are some simple yet powerful habits to help you step into autumn feeling energised, resilient, and ready to embrace everything the season has to offer

Adjust your d iet fo r seasonal nutrition: Summer often means lighter meals, fresh salads, and plenty of fruit

As autumn sets in, it’s important to incorporate seasonal produce rich in vitamins and fibre Foods like pumpkins, squash, sweet potatoes, apples, and pears not only taste great but also boost your immune system and can help prepare your body for cooler weather

Keep moving, eve n as da ys ge t short er: Long summer evenings make it easy to stay active, but darker mornings and evenings in autumn can reduce motivation

Schedule your workouts during daylight hours when possible and aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week to maintain cardiovascular health and lift your mood

Support you r mental h ealth: The reduction in daylight hours can trigger seasonal mood changes for some people Make time for outdoor activities to soak up natural light, especially in the mornings Practising mindfulness, journaling, or even short breathing exercises can help manage stress and keep you mentally balanced

Strengthen you r im mune system : Autumn often signals the start of cold and flu season Prioritise good sleep, aim for seven to nine hours a night, and consider vitamin

D supplements if your exposure to sunlight decreases

Drinking enough water, even when it’s cooler, remains essential as well

Prepare your home en vironment: A cosy, organised home can make the seasonal change more enjoyable

This could mean adding warmer bedding, ensuring good lighting in key areas, and checking that heating systems are working before temperatures drop significantly

Transitioning from summer to autumn doesn’t have to feel like a sudden jolt By making small but intentional adjustments to your diet, physical activity, mental health habits, and home environment, you can embrace the season change while protecting your overall well-being

After all, autumn offers its own rewards: crisp air, vibrant colours, and the chance to slow down and savour the comfort of a new rhythm

Ancient “shankh” practice shows promise for sleep apnea

Blowing into a c onch s hel l, a centurie s-ol d yogic prac tice, may do more than produce a resonant, cerem onial s ound

New research suggests it could also help treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a serious sleep disorder linked to loud snoring, poor sleep, and increased risks of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure OSA occurs when

sleep, interrupting breathing and reducing oxygen levels in the blood While continuous

patients find them uncomfortable and difficult to use consistently

from the Eternal Heart Care

Institute in Jaipur, India, led a trial to investigate whether shankh blowing, a traditional breathing exercise involving forceful exhalation through a c

alternative

“In my practice, several p a t i e n t s r e p o r t e d f e e l i n g more rested after regularly practising shankh blowing,”

S h a r m a s a i d “ I t s u n i q u e breathing technique creates strong vibrations and airflow r e s i s t a n c e , w h i c h l i k e l y strengthens the throat and soft palate muscles that tend to collapse during sleep in people with OSA ” The study, published in ERJ Open Research, involved 30 participants aged 19 to 65 w i t h m o d e r a t e O S A H a l f

practised shankh blowing for at least 15 minutes a day, five days a week, for six months, w

deep breathing exercises

, t h e conch-blowing group reported a 34% reduction in daytime sleepiness, better sleep quality, and fewer breathing p

apnoeas per hour on average, along with higher overnight oxygen levels The control g

improvement Sharma noted that the shankh’s spiral design could contribute to specific acous-

muscles While the study was small, he and his team plan a larger, multi-hospital trial to confirm the findings and test long-term benefits

Home-cooked meals can double weight loss

that people shed twice as much weight

from the provided meals, all of which

Guide recommendations Both diets led to weight loss, but those

cravings despite the greater weight loss Researchers believe the texture and calorie density o

easier to overeat than homemade alternatives, even if

appear similar on paper

and UPF eaters had lower heart rates, these differences were not

Hrithik, Kiara struggled to match steps in ‘War 2’ song

Hrithik Roshan, promoting ‘War 2’ in Sri Lanka, reflected on his career and working with Kiara Advani He revealed turning down ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ and ‘3 Idiots’, saying, “Aamir was the right choice for both; it was destiny.” He also admitted to forgetting dialogues and dance steps offcamera, calling it “unbelievable ”

Talking about dance, Hrithik Roshan recalled filming the ‘War 2 ’ song “Aavan Jaavan,” where he and Kiara Advani surprisingly struggled with an easy step “We had to mirror each other’s moves, and somehow that made it

Vivek Agnihotri Slams Bollywood’s neglect of

writers

Filmmaker

Vivek Agnihotri, known for his bold views and hard-hitting films, has once again sparked debate by criticising the lack of new talent, star-kid obsession, and flawed economics in the Indian film industry

In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Vivek Agnihotri blamed the lack of new talent in Bollywood on barriers for outsiders “If Shah Rukh Khan couldn’t speak English or come from an elite background today, how would he enter the industry?” he said He criticized the focus on social media followers, which favors star kids over talented newcomers from smaller towns

Vivek also condemned the overexposure of star kids on social media, saying it strips away the audience’s imagination of their characters He highlighted the decline in film quality due to writers being undervalued “Writers have no worth anymore Stars and studios have formed a nexus Studios chase numbers, prioritizing stars over writers Writers get 10, stars get 10,000, ” he explained

Vivek Agnihotri is expanding his politically charged projects with ‘The Bengal Files’ Following the success of ‘The Kashmir Files’, he now explores West Bengal’s history of political violence and unrest Featuring Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, and Darshan Kumar, the film is set to ignite debate like its predecessor

complicated,” he said He compared it to his iconic ‘Lakshya’ track “Main Aisa Kyu Hoon,” which looked tough but was made easy by choreographer Prabhudheva, who had him practice daily for a month until “that masterpiece was born ”

Hrithik also shared his excitement and nerves about making his directorial debut with ‘Krrish 4 ’ “I’m scared but very excited I need all your love and encouragement for this new chapter,” he said

Directed by Ayan Mukerji, ‘War 2 ’ also stars Jr NTR as the antagonist and is set to release on August 14

Sooraj Barjatya on 90s filmmakers: “We were born lucky”

In 1990s the Bollywood were shaped by three directors, Sooraj Barjatya, Aditya Chopra, and Karan Johar, with hits like ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’, ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, and ‘Hum Saath-Saath Hain’ They also drove major productions under Rajshri Productions, Yash Raj Films, and Dharma Productions

Barjatya said, “The three of us are quite similar in many ways They may be younger, but we ’ re from the same generation ”

Speaking about their love for larger-than-life cinema, Sooraj Barjatya said, “We were born with golden spoons, never saw hardships, and grew up in comfort Naturally, we showed a fairytale world on screen, and the ’ 90s audience wanted that Adi, Karan, and I wanted to show dreams, not reality ”

On why he avoided themes like infidelity or action, he admitted, “Maybe because I’m more conservative My strength lies in family-oriented films ” Barjatya, 61, debuted in 1989 with ‘Maine Pyaar Kiya’, while Aditya Chopra, 54, and Karan Johar, 53, debuted with ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ (1995) and ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ (1998)

Mrunal Thakur credits childhood ‘manifestation’ for dream roles

One of Bollywood’s most promising talents, Mrunal Thakur has won hearts with her versatility and charm, transitioning seamlessly from TV to films Behind her success is a childhood habit she credits for helping her land roles alongside her dream co-stars

On ‘Instant Bollywood’’s podcast, Mrunal Thakur shared a childhood habit she credits for shaping her career She and her sister would slip cut-outs of their favourite actors; Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor, and John Abraham, into their school textbooks, hiding them from their father under sheets of paper

What started as playful manifestation turned prophetic: years later, she worked with Hrithik in ‘Super 30 ’ , John in ‘Batla House’, and Shahid in ‘Jersey’ For Mrunal, those cut-outs were more than decoration they were a daily reminder of her goals She believes visualisation can spark ambition, but says success also demands determination, relentless effort, and the will to keep going despite challenges

Mrunal Thakur revealed that her views on relationships have evolved over time While she once imagined marrying young, she now believes major life events should unfold naturally, without pressure At present, she is focused on her career and personal growth, trusting that the right time for such milestones will come on its own

On the work front, her latest film ‘Son of Sardaar 2 ’ with Ajay Devgn is performing steadily at the box office She will next be seen in ‘Dacoit’ opposite Adivi Sesh, slated for release on 25 December

Ashish Vidyarthi

seeks lead roles in films

Ashish

Vidyarthi is not only one of today’s most acclaimed actors but also a vlogger, motivational speaker, and traveller However, fans have noticed he appears less frequently in films lately In his latest vlog on his YouTube channel, the veteran actor explained that he is seeking ‘central roles’, which is why he has been more selective about his projects.

In his new vlog, Ashish Vidyarthi spoke candidly to the camera: “Let’s be honest many of you are right I haven’t appeared in as many films lately as I used to Some of you want to know why, so I’ll say it myself: I consider myself a great actor, someone who has delivered remarkable performances throughout my career But now, I’m looking for roles I haven’t yet been offered, powerful central characters ”

He added, “I often tell directors, producers, and casting agents, ‘Just because I haven’t had these roles before doesn’t mean you can’t offer them to me now ’ I’m grateful to have worked in 300 films across 11 languages over 30 years But now, I want to focus on meaningful central roles Sometimes, we withdraw and sit alone at home, but I refuse to feel depressed or hold onto bitterness I’m choosing to move forward positively ”

During this waiting period, Ashish has explored other interests like motivational speaking, writing a comedy sketch called ‘Sit Down Ashish,’ vlogging, and travelling A National Film Award winner, Ashish has appeared in numerous films over the years, including ‘Drohkaal’, ‘ 1942: A Love Story’, ‘Oh Darling Yeh Hai India’, ‘Baazi’, ‘Mrityudaata’, ‘Ziddi’, ‘Major Saab’, ‘Soldier’, ‘Haseena Maan Jaayegi’, ‘Arjun Pandit’, and ‘Vaastav’

Radhika Apte speaks out on pregnancy mistreatment

Bollywood

actor Radhika Apte, who became a mother in December 2024, recently spoke about the biases against motherhood in the Indian entertainment industry during a live session with Neha Dhupia

She revealed that when she informed directors and producers about her pregnancy, one Indian producer reacted coldly Radhika shared, “He wasn’t happy, insisted I wear tight clothes despite my discomfort, and didn’t allow me to see a doctor when I was in pain during my first trimester Instead of support, I faced insensitivity, which was very disheartening ”

Radhika also shared a positive experience on an international project, saying the Hollywood filmmaker she worked with was supportive and understanding of her pregnancy He joked that it was okay if she looked different by the end of the shoot because she was pregnant, which meant a lot to her

She emphasised that she didn’t expect special treatment-just empathy, kindness, and basic humanity after sharing such personal news

Radhika has been married to British violinist and composer Benedict Taylor since 2012 The couple welcomed their daughter in December 2024, after Radhika famously showcased her baby bump at the BFI London Film Festival in October

Javed Akhtar’s early film aspirations were halted by Guru Dutt’s death

Widely regarded as one of India’s greatest filmmakers, Guru Dutt’s influence on Hindi cinema remains strong six decades after his death. Marking the centenary of his birth in 2025, several of his iconic films will be re-released Many filmmakers, critics, and technicians gathered to celebrate his legacy and share intriguing trivia about his life

As part of Guru Dutt’s centenary celebrations, some of his most iconic

released in theatres this weekend

The festivities began with a premiere of his 1957 classic ‘Pyaasa’ in Mumbai

Entertainment Group, the National

Archive of India (NFAI), the event featured a panel discussion on Dutt’s cinema Filmmakers Hansal Mehta, R Balki, and Sudhir Mishra were joined by lyricist Javed Akhtar and film critic Bhawanaa Sommaya

Recalling his admiration for Dutt, Javed Akhtar shared that as a college student, he had hoped to become the filmmaker’s assistant “I planned to join Mr Guru Dutt after graduation for a couple of years before becoming a director myself When you ’ re 18, things seem simpler Sadly, I arrived in Bombay on October 4, 1964, and he passed away just six days later, so I never got the chance to meet him,” he said

Reflecting on Guru Dutt’s legacy,

Bimal Roy, but Guru Dutt was the first to truly speak through visuals

O

g performances and create the right ambience, but Guru Dutt taught us

imagery ”

TV Listing

SATURDAY 23 AUG 2025

09:00 Deshi Beats

17:30 Rasoi Show

18:30 Rangai Jaane Rangma

19:00 Shyam Dhoon Lagi Re

19:30 Radha Krishna

20:00 Kanku

20:30 Moti Baa Ni Nani Vahu

MON 18 AUG - FRI 22 AUG 2025

09:00 Deshi Beats

17:30 Rasoi Show

18:30 Rangai Jaane Rangma

19:00 Shyam Dhoon Lagi Re

19:30 Radha Krishna

20:00 Kanku

20:30 Moti Baa Ni Nani Vahu

21:00 United States Of Gujarat

21:30 KAHI DE NE PREM CHHE ! –PREM NU PRATIK

22:30 Radha Krishna

MON 18 AUG - FRI 22 AUF 2025

17:00 Shani-Karmfal Daata

17:30 Sau Dahda Sasuna

18:00 Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka Season-1

18:30 BALIKA VADHU SEASON 1

19:30 RAMACHARI

20:00 Anmol Bandhan

20:30 Madhubala

21:00 Comedy Nights with Kapil

22:30 Choti Sardarni 23:00 Udaariyan

SATURDAY 23 AUG 2025

17:00 Shani-Karmfal Daata 17:30 Sau Dahda Sasuna

21:00 United States Of Gujarat

21:30 KAHI DE NE PREM CHHE ! –PREM NU PRATIK

22:30 Radha Krishna

SUNDAY 24 AUG 2025

09:00 Deshi Beats

11:00 Kanku

11:30 Ganga Sati

14:30 Kanku

17:30 Shyam Dhoon Lagi Re

19:30 Radha Krishna

22:00 Moti Baa Ni Nani Vahu

18:00 Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka Season-1

18:30 BALIKA VADHU SEASON 1

19:30 RAMACHARI

20:00 Dance Deewane Superhits

20:30 Madhubala

21:00 Comedy Nights with Kapil

22:30 Choti Sardarni

23:00 Udaariyan

SUNDAY 24 AUG 2025

17:00 Shani-Karmfal Daata

17:30 Sau Dahda Sasuna

18:00 Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka Season-1

18:30 BALIKA VADHU SEASON 1

19:30 RAMACHARI

20:00 Dance Deewane Superhits

20:30 Madhubala

21:00 Comedy Nights with Kapil

22:30 Choti Sardarni

23:00 Udaariyan

Tamannaah Bhatia on ‘Baahubali’ objectification: “Shame controls you”

Known for her role as Avantika in SS Rajamouli’s blockbuster ‘Baahubali’ series, Tamannaah Bhatia faced criticism for her romantic scenes with Prabhas in ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’ (2015), which were seen as objectifying due to camera angles and the male hero’s advances

Ten years later, Tamannaah has a d d r e s s e d t

, “ T h o s e w h o c a n ’ t c o n t r o l y o u u s e shame and guilt to gain control ” She emphasised that sex on screen should not be stigmatised, as it is fundamental to our existence

T h e a c t o r a d d e d , “ W e ’ r e s o repressed that even the purest things a r e s e e n t h r o u g h a s h a m e f u l l e n s , making us hide and avoid open conversations about them People make you feel wrong, but it’s a basic part of life ” She praised Rajamouli’s vision for her character and the scene, explaining, “Avantika is a divine, wounded feminine being who’s beautiful but g u a r d e d d u e t o p a s t h a r d s h i p s A young man tries to woo her, showing her her own beauty ”

T a m a n n a a h s a i d , “ A f i l m m a k e r aims to show something beautiful, but viewers may see differently It wasn’t ‘the rape of Avantika’, it was her finding herself through Shiva’s wooing

” S h e a l s o r e c a l l e d t h e p h y s i c a l demands of the role: “I had little training time and was last to join One day, they asked me to do sword fighting, but I’d never held a sword Prabhas taught me the moves, and I practiced late into the night ”

T a m a n n a a h a d d r e s s e d t h e ‘ B a a h u b a l i ’ m y s t e r y , w h y K a t a p p a killed Baahubali, saying she was initially clueless as she hadn’t filmed the sequel “People asked, but I didn’t reveal anything,” she said She wasn’t o r i g i n a l l y i n t h e s e c o n d f i l m b u t returned due to the first’s success

Shruti Haasan says Dhanush, Aishwarya helped her through career doubts

Shruti Haasan was grappling with a series of flops like ‘Luck’ (Hindi) and ‘Anaganaga O Dheerudu’ (Telugu) when she landed the role of Janani in Aishwarya Rajinikanth’s 2012 romantic tragedy ‘3’, opposite Dhanush Reflecting on that period, Shruti Haasan recalled how ‘ 3 ’ became a turning point in her career, thanks to the support she received from Dhanush and director Aishwarya Rajinikanth “There was a lot of faith in me from the team,” she said “Dhanush was a really supportive co-star, especially at that time in my life I had a lot of doubts, and both he and Aishwarya were very encouraging ” She added that playing such a pivotal role under pressure helped her grow, both personally and professionally

Shruti has often expressed her fondness for the film In a recent interview with Prema, she said, “I wish ‘ 3 ’ was a bigger commercial success If it released now, it would’ve been a rage much more than just the ‘Kolaveri’ song ” The film, which follows a man with bipolar disorder and the mystery surrounding his suicide, has since gained cult status

Shruti Haasan will next be seen in Lokesh K a n

, Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, and Aamir

Khan The film hits theatres on 14 August Meanwhile, Dhanush is writing, directing, producing, and starring in ‘Idly Kadai’ alongside Nithya Menen, and will also appear in Aanand L Rai’s ‘Tere Ishk Mein’ with Kriti Sanon

Narain Karthikeyan, Ajith Kumar team up for Asian Le Mans series

Trisha praises ‘Tourist Family’, calls Simran her all-time favourite

Released last May, ‘Tourist Family’, starring Sasikumar and Simran, marked the debut of director Abhishan Jeevinth and became a major hit. Also featuring Yogi Babu, Mithun Jaishankar, Kamlesh, M. S. Bhaskar, Ramesh Thilak, and Bhagavathy Perumal, with music by Sean Roldan, the film blended comedy and emotion to portray the struggles of a Tamil family from Sri Lanka seeking refuge in Tamil Nadu. The film earned praise from Minister Ma Subramanian, Naam Tamilar Party coordinator Seeman, Rajinikanth, S S Rajamouli, Suriya, Sivakarthikeyan, and many others Recently, actor Nani personally met Abhishan to congratulate him Grossing over 75 crore, ‘Tourist Family’ proved to be both a critical and commercial success

Actress Trisha is the latest star to join the chorus of praise for ‘Tourist Family’, sharing a heartfelt message on her Instagram story “I watched the film late What a film, what a performance! Sasikumar sir, you are a living example that good things happen to those with good hearts, both on and off screen My favourite actress, Simran, you have been my inspiration since the day I met you, ” she wrote Trisha also lauded the supporting cast, including M S Bhaskar, Kumaravel, Bhagavathy Perumal (Bucks), and Kamalesh Jagan, and reserved special praise for debut director Abhishan Jeevinth for crafting such a realistic and moving film She said the story touched her deeply Months after its theatrical release, *Tourist Family* continues to receive critical acclaim, standing out as one of 2024 ’ s notable hits, and is now streaming on a popular digital platform in multiple languages

India’s first F1 driver, Narain Karthikeyan, will join actor-racer Ajith Kumar’s team for the upcoming Asian Le Mans Series, inspired by the iconic 24-hour endurance race in Le Mans, France Welcoming Narain Karthikeyan to his team, ‘Vidaamuyarchi’ star Ajith Kumar, who has taken a break from acting to focus on endurance racing, said, “It’s truly a privilege to have Narain join us Racing alongside him is an honour, and his presence makes this Asian Le Mans Series very special for all of us ”

Equally excited, Narain shared, “I’ve known Ajith for many years, and it’s great to see him now racing professionally I’m thrilled to partner with him in the Asian Le Mans Series and look forward to an incredible journey ahead ”

The 48-year-old ace driver made history two decades ago as the first Indian to race in Formula One, debuting at the 2005 Australian GP and competing in the sport’s pinnacle events in 2005, 2006, 2011, and 2012

Neeraj Pandey on Naseeruddin

Shah’s ‘A Wednesday’

concerns:

‘Never told me; loved the script’

Neeraj Pandey’s ‘A Wednesday’ (2008), starring Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah, recently came under discussion after Shah claimed he was uncomfortable with all the terrorists in the film having Muslim names In an interview with *Screen*, Pandey responded, saying the veteran actor never raised the issue during filming.

The filmmaker added he hasn’t seen Shah’s interview and suggested the actor might have been promoting something Pandey recalled Shah telling him he “would not change a word” of the script because he liked it, adding that they even collaborated again later memories he says he still cherishes

When the interviewer asked Pandey if he would work with Naseeruddin Shah in the future or have any plans, the filmmaker replied, "Yeah, we will Why do you even ask that? Why wouldn’t we again?"

Naseeruddin Shah revealed he once questioned director Neeraj Pandey about a “hidden message ” in ‘A Wednesday’, noting that “all four terrorists were Muslims ” He suggested including diversity, like a Tamilian, but Pandey maintained there was “nothing political” in it

Written and directed by Pandey, the film also starring Jimmy Shergill, Aamir Bashir, Deepal Shaw, Anupam Kher, and Shah was both a commercial and critical success upon its September 5, 2008 release

Priyanka Chopra on Nick Jonas’ performance:

“This song takes me out”

Priyanka Chopra, one of the world’s most popular actresses, has charmed millions with her Bollywood hits and continues to shine in Hollywood. Balancing her hectic shooting schedules with cherished family moments, she often treats fans to glimpses of her life on social media.

Currently in Hyderabad filming her upcoming p

heartwarming moments with daughter Malti Marie On Thursday, she posted a touching tribute to

emotional

The Jonas Brothers recently posted a reel on Instagram featuring Nick Jonas performing ‘Loved You Better’, a rendition that struck an emotional chord with Priyanka Chopra Sharing the clip on her Instagram stories, she wrote, “This song takes me out (broken heart emoji) ” Fans were quick to echo her

reactions

Before arriving in India, Priyanka enjoyed a magical evening in New York City with Nick and their daughter, Malti Marie, watching the Broadway musical ‘Aladdin’ Posting photos from the night, she wrote, “It was so magical to see the Broadway production of @aladdin with our little family Also, seeing the two incredibly talented leads @adivroy and @sonyabalsara, who are Indian, made my little heart flutter! You were all mesmerizing! Thank you for the magic as always, @disney ” Priyanka and Nick married in 2018 in a grand celebration blending Christian and Hindu traditions, a n d

surrogacy in January 2022 She is now filming her next big project, ‘SSMB29’, co-starring Mahesh Babu and directed by SS Rajamouli

Yorkshire teen Iyla McKaig joins Freida Pinto in Netflix’s ‘Unaccustomed Earth’

Eighteen-year-old

Iyla Sundarsingh McKaig from Cleckheaton has secured a breakthrough role in the upcoming Netflix series ‘Unaccustomed Earth’. The eightpart drama, inspired by Jhumpa Lahiri’s award-winning short story collection, will see Iyla portray the character “Hema ” Produced by Netflix and Warner Bros Television, ‘Unaccustomed Earth’ features Freida Pinto as Parul Chaudhury, Indraneil Sengupta (‘The Fame Game’, ‘Kahaani’) as Jai, and Adi Roy (‘Broadway’s Aladdin’) as Kaushik Created by Madhuri Shekar (‘3 Body Problem’) and directed by Ritesh Batra (‘The Lunchbox’), the drama explores a scandalous love affair within a close-knit Indian American community in Cambridge, Massachusetts, touching on themes of desire, identity, and belonging Iyla, of mixed Indian-British heritage, has been acting since age four, training at Articulate Drama School and earning credits in ‘Toxic Town’ (Netflix), ‘Emmerdale’, and CBBC’s ‘Jamie Johnson’, where she was a series regular at 15 Recently finishing her final exams, she is now pursuing acting full-time Stacey Burrows, founder of Articulate Agency, called her “ one to watch” as she heads to New York for filming Iyla said, “Yorkshire actors have so much to offer global productions,” citing Dominic West, Jodie Whittaker, and Sean Bean ‘Unaccustomed Earth’ will stream on Netflix, with a release date to be announced

The shoot for ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ is in full swing in England, with Tom Holland and Zendaya enjoying their time off in local parks, cafés, and neighbourhood spots.

Cross, Holland was filming an emotional scene at Aunt May’s grave while Zendaya, not filming that day, visited him on set The couple later

eatery Caraway Café, which

a moment our team will always cherish ” Earlier in their UK stay, Tom Holland and Zendaya were spotted walking their

Daphne, at Richmond

Zendaya’s ‘Euphoria’ set ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ is currently filming in

New York City The couple’s

10-year-old becomes youngest female to beat chess Grandmaster Peter Wells

Sivanandan

event, finishing in equal 26th p

recognised as “remarkable” for a 10-year-old

She has been stirring up a commotion in the chess world for more than a year, having already won more than three

junior world titles Bodhana has n

Women’s International Master which is one of the rungs of the l a d d e r

Wells may have begun

Ahmedabad to host U-17 Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers in Nov

Ahm ed abad has been selected as one of the sev en cities to h ost th e A F C ( A si an F o o tb al l Confed eration) U-1 7 Asian C up

S au d i A r abi a 2 0 2 6 Q u ali f i ers from Nov 22 to 30 , at T he A rena, th e All India F ootball Federatio n (AIFF ) in a statement

T h e 3 8 c o u n t r i e s participating in the qualifiers will be drawn into seven groups (three groups of six teams and four groups of five teams each) The group winners will qualify for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026, joining nine participating AFC teams in the F I F A U - 1 7 W o r l d C u p Q a t a r 2025, who have already directly qualified for the tournament

On India getting the hosting

r i g h t s , A I F F p r e s i d e n t K a l y a n Chaubey said, “It is a matter of great pride for India to be one of the hosts, and I am particularly pleased to see Ahmedabad take

centre stage This is an excellent chance for our boys to perform on home soil, and for the city to showcase its capability to host e l i t e i n t e r n a t i o n a l competitions ” He added, “I sincerely hope that our boys qualify for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup, which serves as the gateway to the FIFA U-17 World Cup, and take another

development pathway ” Minister of sports and youth

H

“This is a proud moment for Indian football and Gujarat It’s an opportunity for the state to s h o w c a s e i t s l o v e f o r t h e beautiful game, its world class

h

H

t i n g a prestigious event such as this will position Ahmedabad on the Asian football map ”

,

magician!” He added: "She likes to play simple positional moves,

player and she tends to outplay

Carlsen or the great Jose Raul Capablanca about her play I would imagine Magnus Carlsen is probably one of her chess heroes " M

players from around the UK attended the event to compete for the title of British Chess Champion

Bodhana was not the only child prodigy to compete in the c

Banerjee, 11, finished on 6/9, beating two grandmasters and sealing his first International Master title

Asian Cup: After 20 years, India U20 women qualify

Ind i a re g is tered a 1 - 0 w in ag ainst Myanmar to script a ret u rn to t h e A F C U 2 0 Wom en ’ s Asian Cup for the first time since 200 6 Going into the decisive clash against the hosts at the T h u w u n n a S t a d i u m i n Yangon, both teams were on four points, but India’s superior goal difference meant they only needed a draw to advance to the finals The all-important goal for India was scored in the 27th minute when a surging Neha sent a cross into the six-yard box Myanmar goalkeeper Thu Zar Aung got her hand to the ball, but her push landed nicely for Pooja, with the midfielder knocking it home from inside the box

a l l g u n s b l a z i n g , a n d I n d i a

INDIA TO INCLUDE ‘DROPPED SPORTS’ IN 2030 CWG BID

Field hockey badminton table tennis shooting wrestling women’s cricket squash and archery will return to the Commonwealth Games programme if India s bid to host the multi-sport event in 2030 in Gujarat is successful a top Indian Olympic Association (IOA) official said The organisers of the Glasgow 2026 CWG have excluded all these sports disciplines from their programme, dealing a major blow to India s medal prospects at the Games The official informed that indigenous and traditional sports such as yogasana, kho kho and kabaddi will also make their debut at the 2030 Games, with the India edition expected to feature 18–20 events This was discussed during the Commonwealth Sport director (games) Darren Hall and his team’s three-day visit to Ahmedabad recently, where the delegation held meetings with the Gujarat govt and IOA officials to assess the state’s preparedness for the Games its legacy plan infrastructure development costeffectiveness and regional appeal From the Indian side Gujarat sports minister Harsh Sanghavi IOA’s CEO Raghuram Iyer and executive committee member Lieutenant General Harpal Singh led the talks The official said that India has entered into a consultative process with the Games global governing body The bid has been finalised We have got the govt s go-ahead The India edition will feature 18-20 sports, including the ones axed by the Glasgow organisers

SIRAJ ATTAINS

CAREER-BEST POSITION IN ICC RANKINGS

T h e s e c o n d h a l f w a s a different affair Buoyed by the home support, Myanmar came

Boxer Lovlina alleges ‘humiliating behaviour’ by BFI official

Tok yo O ly mpics bronze me dallist Lovlin a Borgoha in has accuse d Boxin g Fe der at ion of I n d i a ’ s e x e cu t i v e d i r e c t o r a n d i n t e r i m commit tee member C ol Ar un Malik (R etd) of “ d i sr e sp e c t f ul a n d g e n d e r - d i sc r i mi n a t o r y beha viour ” The In dian Oly mpic Associa tion ha s st art ed a pr obe in to the se alleg ation s I n h e r c o m p l a i n t , t h e r e i g n i n g m i d d l e w e i g h t w o r l d c h a m p i o n a n d a recipient of Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award, a c c u s e d M a l i k o f “ d e m e a n i n g ” h e r achievements and “humiliating” her during a Target Olympic Podium Scheme meeting held via Zoom on July 8 She described the experience as one that “left me deeply hurt, disheartened, and questioned the respect and dignity we, as women athletes, truly receive ” Malik denied all allegations and stated that the federation remained committed to s u p p o r t i n g i t s a t h l e t e s w h i l e u p h o l

allegations

In a statement, Malik said, “Lovlina is the pride of the nation, and we at BFI

especially her Olympic bronze I respectfully and categorically deny the allegations The call in question was thoroughly professional in its entirety It was attended by officials

y recorded by the host The same recording is

Matters raised by Lovlina were duly noted and addressed in line with BFI’s established

athletes

Lovlina sent her complaint to sports

Ranjan Rao, TOPS division, IOA and BFI

In response, IOA has formed a three-

directives The committee includes TOPS CEO Nachhatar Singh Johal, table tennis legend and IOA’s athletes commission vicechairperson Sharath Kamal and a female advocate Tasked with submitting a report within two weeks, the committee has yet to release its findings despite nearly a month p

executive director of the TEAMS division, is investigating the matter independently

goalkeeper Monalisha Devi had to make a smart 48th-minute save to keep Su Su Khin out Despite pressure from the hosts, India clung on to their lead, and secured qualification for the first time since 2006 The win saw India top Group D with seven points The qualification for Thailand 2026 comes after the senior team made it to the A F C W o m e n ’ s A s i a n C u p i n Australia The All India Football Federation announced a cash i n c e n t i v e o f $ 2 5 , 0 0 0 f o r t h e

Under-20 women ’ s team as a reward for their qualification

CSK set to part ways with some old stars

Th e MS Dhoni-led C hennai Super Kings ( C S K ) a

20 2 5 E v en though a new core o f younger players like A y u sh M h

De w al d Brevis filled some of the h oles in the top order, CSK are set to p art w ays with some of their older stars so that there’s m oney in th e auction to g o for som e match -winners

While R Ashwin, the premier India offspinner who was bought for £975,000 seems to be on his way out, there is also a question mark over future of players like Devon C

(£400,000), Rahul Tripathi (£340,000), Sam C

(£220,000), Nathan Ellis (£200,000), Deepak Hooda (£175,000), Jamie Overton (£150,000) and Vijay Shankar (£120,000) That could open up a purse of £3 44mn and with some a d

n

auctions with something in the vicinity £4mn

The team, struggling with a lack of firepower in the top and middle order, will look to strengthen three areas - a hitter at the top, a middle order Indian enforcer and a quality all-rounder

Mohammed Siraj has attained a career-best 15th position in the latest ICC Test rankings Siraj jumped 12 spots following his nine wicket haul at the Oval Siraj’s best ICC ranking so far had been a 16th position that he reached in Jan last year Jasprit Bumrah who played three Tests to manage his workload continues to lead the charts with 889 points Prasidh Krishna also attained a career-best 59th position Prasidh and Siraj became only the second India pair to take four or more wickets each in both innings of a Test a feat earlier accomplished by spinners Bishan Bedi and Erapalli Prasanna against Australia in Delhi in 1969 India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal returned to the top-5 in the Test batting rankings following his second century in the series at the Oval Jaiswal rose three spots and is on 792 points, while the only other India batter in the top-10 is Rishabh Pant, who has slipped one spot to eighth

ANNU RANI WINS JAVELIN GOLD IN POLAND

Asian Games champion and national record holder Annu Rani took a big step towards qualifying for the World Athletics Athletics Championships in Tokyo after winning the women’s javelin throw at the International Wieslaw Maniak Memorial, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event, in Poland The 32-year-old came up with her best throw of 62 59m on her second attempt to take the gold at the Wieslaw Maniak Municipal Athletic Stadium in Szczecin Poland Eda Tugsuz of Turkey came second with a best heave of 58 36m, followed by Lianna Davidson of Australia (58 24m) For Rani, a two-time Olympian, it was her season s best performance, bettering her previous best of 58 82m set in March by a mile The big throw was close to her

Bodhana Sivanandan