AV 17th December 2016

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Vol 45 | Issue 33

GURKHAS INJECT LIFE IN THE DYING TOWN OF ALDERSHOT

BRIT-INDIANS CALL ON NAMO TO HELP WITH CURRENCY BAN

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17th December to 23rd December 2016

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

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BA Rupanjana Dutta It’s quite a common practice among British Indians or Non Residential Indians (NRIs) to carry some amount of Indian cash with them when they leave India, mainly for the convenience of not having to exchange forex into rupee when they return the next time. With demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes which are not valid from 8 Nov 2016, questions that NRI are asking is how to exchange Rs 500 and 1000 Rs notes. According to the UK government census, British-Indians make up 2.5% of the population of England and Wales according to a 2011 UK government census. Every year at least 200,000 British Indians or NRIs visit India. Many of them are avid followers of PM Narendra Modi, supporting this initiative of demonetisation.

MPs like Keith Vaz, Gareth Thomas and Virendra Sharma, who represent constitutions dominated by Indians, are constantly receiving calls and requests from their constituents for a solution to their agony.

Rt Hon Vaz has already appealed to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government to extend the deadline to deposit Indian cash for foreign nationals by at least six months.

He wrote to Bank of England Governor Mark

Carney requesting him to allow British Indians to exchange their banknotes in the UK. The Governor in a letter to Mr Vaz said, "Whether it will be possible to deposit or exchange high-value Indian Rupee banknotes at Indian banks in the UK is a matter for the Indian government.

Nonetheless we have looked into whether there would be any regulatory obstacles, stemming from the rules set by Bank's Prudential Regulation

46 Church Road Stanmore Middx London HA7 4AH email@travelinstyle.co.uk

TM

Authority (PRA), which is responsible for the prudential supervision of banks, building societies, credit unions, insurers and major investment banks in the UK. "More specifically, the PRA understands that an approach has been made by the Non-Resident Indian community in the UK to the Indian government and Reserve Bank of India to allow high-value Rupee notes to be deposited with Indian banks in the UK for the credit of their accounts. The PRA can confirm that it does not envisage any UK prudential regulatory obstacles if the Indian authorities decided to allow Indian Rupee notes to be deposited with Indian banks in the UK. "The PRA has also spoken to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which acts as the conduct/financial crime regulator. The FCA indicated that it has no objection should any Indian

banks wish to exchange these notes or accept them as deposits, providing they have the necessary prior consent from the relevant Indian authorities. Of course, the FCA would expect that these banks apply robust anti-money laundering controls, to ensure that they are not used to facilitate financial crime."

Mr Vaz, welcoming the response said: “Mark Carney has gone the extra mile to ensure members of the Indian diaspora in the United Kingdom may be able to exchange their Indian currency in the UK, following the bold decision to demonetise certain Rupee denominations.

"He has presented a pathway for this issue to be resolved which will hugely benefit members of the Indian diaspora in the UK. "The Indian government is now free to enable currency to be exchanged in the UK, and avoid the Continued on page 7

Modi asks Gujarat to be cashless model

Modi at the inauguration of Amul Cheese Plant in Palanpur

In his first address at `Shree Kamalam' after becoming the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi

told assembled state BJP functionaries, that he

A day after catastrophic Cyclone Vardah stormed its way through parts of

Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, claiming 20 Continued on page 26

Continued on page 26

Cyclone kills 20 in Tamil Nadu, Andhra

Union minister Rijiju faces corruption probe

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, his cousin and several top officials of North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), including its Chairman and Managing Director, were named in a report by the PSU’s Chief Vigilance Officer that alleges corruption in the construction of two dams for 600 MW Kameng Hydro Electric Project, one of the biggest hydro-

Kiren Rijiju

electric projects in Arunachal Pradesh.

Continued on page 26

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ONE ONE with Keith Vaz, MP

Asian Voice 17th December 2016

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to

Professor Nadey S. Hakim

Professor Nadey S. Hakim is a British transplant surgeon and author. With over 30 years as a surgeon, Hakim has performed over 2,000 transplants. He was part of the team of surgeons that performed the world's first hand transplant in France. Hakim received his MD from Paris Descartes University in 1984. He did his surgical training at Guy's Hospital, and received his PhD in small bowel transplantation from University College London. His Gastrointestinal Fellowship was at the Mayo Clinic and his Multi-organ Transplant Fellowship was at the University of Minnesota.

Nadey was surgical director of the West London Renal and Transplant Centre at Hammersmith Hospital. There, he pioneered a kidney transplant technique using a record breaking 2.5cm cut. Additionally, he is an advisor on transplant issues to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and an examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Nadey has edited 23 surgical textbooks and served as the 35th World President of the International College of Surgeons. In January 2016, President Francois Hollande appointed Professor Hakim to the rank of Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur.

Hakim was appointed VicePresident of the International Medical Sciences Academy.

He has four children. Plays the clarinet and records his music (8 CDs). Portrait sculptor and winner of the Baron's Prize, Medical Art Society 2016. In addition, Nadey reproduced Michelangelo Buonarroti’s David which is part of the Madonna del Parto Museum collection; in 2003 made a bust of Queen Elizabeth II; in 2014 unveiled a bronze bust he sculpted of Prime Minister David Cameron at the Carlton Club in London.

1) What is your current position?

Professor of Transplantation Surgery at Imperial College London. Governor of the

American College of Surgeons and Vice President of the International Medical Sciences Academy.

2) What are your proudest achievements?

Have pioneered Pancreas Transplantation for the cure of Diabetes in the SE of England having performed the first Pancreas Transplant at St Mary’s Hospital in 1995 and having done since over 350 such transplants. I was part of the team which performed the first arm transplant in the world in 1998. I was the surgical Director of the Transplant Unit at Imperial College from 1995 to 2014. I was elected the youngest ever World President of the International College of Surgeons based in Chicago in 2004. Recently I have been elevated to the Rank of Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur by the French President. Above all having 4 fabulous successful children and a loving wife who is very forgiving.

3) What inspires you?

Seeing my father aged 93 still going to the office on a daily basis carrying his business the way he has done for the last 70 years is the most inspiring thing as it does not allow me to complain about hard work when I am 35 years younger

4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?

The envy and jealousy of colleagues who are ready to do anything to destroy my reputation. Success does not come easy. Colleagues who you train and teach for years and expect

Concrete barriers up at Birmingham’s German Market to protect against suicide bombers Concrete barriers have been erected at Birmingham’s German Market to prevent suicide bombers.

The bollards were put up this week to safeguard the thousands who flock to the seasonal city centre attraction each day. It is estimated that 5.5 million people will visit the market before it closes on December 29.

The move follows a rash of global attrocities involving car or truck bombs. Vehicles packed with explosives have been used to cause carnage.

It comes in the same week that two Birmingham men were found guilty of giving cash to Mohamed Abrini , the “man in the hat” Brussels Airport terror

attack suspect.

A member of the emergency services told the Sunday Mercury: “We were told by the police they are there to prevent terrorist attacks.”

Just last month it was revealed counter-terror police are on high alert following tip-offs that ISIS and al-Qaeda plan attacks on shopping areas.

A security source told the Daily Mirror: “Britain

is very much in the sights of the jihadists but thankfully plots and plotters have been disrupted and stopped.

“Whilst UK agencies have been extremely good at preventative intelligence operations against jihadist groups, other European equivalents have been less successful, sadly.

“This means the entire continent is vulnerable to attack, as we have seen in France, Germany and Belgium, but particularly in the run-up to Christmas.”

The threat level to Britain for international terrorism has been at “severe” since 2014, meaning that an attack is “highly likely,” although no known plot is underway.

Grandparents in Yorkshire more likely than Londoners to save for grandchildren One in five grandparents save for grandchildren, one in 12 still save regularly for their children Average saving adds up to more than £13,000 by the time the child is 18 Grandparents in the North East and Yorkshire are the most likely to save for family.

Looking after loved ones is a key concern of people over 50.

Many are keen to see their loved ones benefit from their money while they are still alive rather than wait to leave it as an inheritance.

According to research from Saga Investment Services gifting is not just for Christmas.

One in five grandparents save regularly for their grandchildren, putting away on average £62

a month, this adds up to almost £13,400 before grandchildren reach their 18th birthday.

People in the North East are the most likely to be saving regularly for their family with one in four saving regularly for their grandchildren.

This compares to London where only one in six make regular savings for their grandchildren.

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gratifying profession as thanks to the numerous procedures I have learned and practiced over the years and which have become second nature I am able to make people better quickly and not infrequently save their lives.

7) And the worst?

Long hours which do not allow enough quality time with the family.

to be grateful are the first to try to hurt you when they cannot achieve the same goals.

Beware…

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

The surgeons I have trained with in particular Mr Max Rendall FRCS who was the Clinical Superintendent at Guy’s Hospital when I was a student. It is thanks to him that I have progressed as he has believed in my surgical skills and has given me the opportunity to get the proper training.

6) What is the best aspect about your current role?

Being a surgeon is the most

8) What are your long term goals?

I do not believe in retirement. I will carry on working until my last day on this planet.

Getting recognised by my peers is the most satisfying goal.

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

I would be more approachable.

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

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni who was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art. I would spend my time learning from him sculpting techniques.

Schoolboy Nahid Islam, 15, killed as he cycled to local shop in Belsize Park A schoolboy was killed as he cycled to the shops to collect a cake for his 16th birthday party, his heartbroken family revealed Tuesday.

Nahid Islam, 15, was cycling close to a zebra crossing near his home in Belsize Park, north London, last Saturday afternoon when he was hit by an oncoming motorcycle. Paramedics battled to save him at the roadside but the Regent High School pupil was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple injuries at 2.40pm.

Devastated family members told the Standard the “loveable” teenager had been rushing to meet his mother to help bring home

the cake for a party the following afternoon. Dozens of friends and relatives gathered last night for a vigil at the junction on Malden Road and Queen’s Crescent, half a mile from the family’s home, which has been covered in a sea of floral tributes, candles and birthday balloons.

Nahid’s father, Mohammed Fokrul Islam, 50, said he “would never forget” his cricket-loving son and proudly spoke of how the teenager had already memorised the Koran. Relatives said Nahid’s mother, Sultana Begum, was in a state of shock after following a crowd of people to the junction to see her youngest son

Killed in cycle crash: Nahid Islam, 15

lying in the middle of the road.

Nahid was studying for his GCSEs at Regent High School in Camden.

The motorcyclist stopped at the scene and was not injured in the crash. There have been no arrests.

BBC’s ‘Muslims Like Us’ slammed for including ISIS supporter A BBC show dubbed by the media as “the Muslim Big Brother” is already under fire ahead of its airing on Monday night.

Muslims Like Us will feature ten Muslims with contrasting world views living in a house together as they endeavour to determine what it means to be a Muslim in modern Britain. But the inclusion of Anthony Small, a former associate of jailed hate preacher Anjem

Anthony Small

Choudary who has expressed support for Islamic State (IS) beheadings, has seen the broadcaster come under fire.

The ex-boxer, who now calls himself Abdul Haq, was cleared at the Old Bailey last year of plotting to travel to Syria to fight with IS. Haq, who won both the British and Commonwealth light middleweight championships in 2009, told the filmmakers that if his passport, which has been confiscated by the British authorities, were returned to him, he would want to go to Syria.

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Asian Voice |17th December 2016

Chinese bullying Mongolia, Tibet, India won’t work Bully on the block China is stamping on neighbouring Mongolia for daring to invite the Dalai Lama to address a religious meeting in the country’s capital Ulan Bator. Mongolia and Tibet are sister nations related by blood, culture and faith for centuries. The Dalai Lama was, and still is, the revered pontiff for both peoples. Mongolia and Tibet were once part of the Chinese Empire, and when that empire crumbled in 1912, rebellious Mongolia and Tibet came together and signed a treaty in 1913, affirming their independence as part of their alliance. Thanks to Russian support and military protection, Mongolia attained international recognition of its sovereignty in 1945 at the close of the Second World War. Such is the historical landscape that’s our starting point.

China has begun applying economic pressure – tantamount to a blockade-on Mongolia. An official Chinese statement explains why. ‘The erroneous action taken by the Mongolian side on the Dalai’s visit hurt the political foundations of China-Mongol relations …The Chinese side requires the Mongol side to genuinely respect China’s core interests and major concerns and requires effective means to remove the negative impact caused by its erroneous action…’ Adolf Hitler wouldn’t have been too displeased by the brazen arrogance of a declaration reminiscent of the one delivered by Nazi Germany to Czechoslovakia in October 1938 prior to Germany’s invasion of the country some six months later.

One may recall that it was the Dala Lama’s flight to India in April 1959 and the sanctuary given to him by the Indian government that eventually led the collapse of Sino-Indian relations in the early 1960s, culmination in a border war in late 1962. Threatening Chinese demands to India recently to ban the visit of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh, to which China has laid claim, were rejected; and the Tibetan leader went ahead with his planned journey. He is set to do again in March 2017.

Following its stand-off with China, the Mongolian Ambassador to India, Gonchig Ganbold has appealed to India for support and help. He said that with the imminent onset of winter the Mongolian people would suffer greatly.

Standing up to Chinese belligerence in the South China Sea, Vietnam has been drawing closer to India in every field, in particular defence cooperation.

There have been two-way ministerial visits that have taken the cycle of friendship to higher levels. A top level Vietnamese military delegation visited India and signed a deal under which the Indian Air Force will train Vietnamese pilots on Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft. An agreement was also signed on IndoVietnam nuclear cooperation for peaceful purposes..

However, another factor has been injected into an already charged situation. US President-elect Donald Trump fired a salvo in China’s direction, calling up the President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen; each dignitary congratulated the other - she having been elected to office earlier in the year with a thumping majority. They promised closer relations between their countries. Interestingly, Mr Trump made the telephone call without consulting the US State Department or the Pentagon or any of think tanks strewn across Washington. It was his decision alone; he ‘brings no baggage to the table,’ noted Henry Kissinger during a television interview with an American journalist.

A leading America’s foreign policy magazine, The National Interest, was quickest off the mark in interpreting the signal. The US and China established diplomatic relations under the Carter Administration (1976-80), which then severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The two Bush administrations and the Obama administration went out of their way to placate Beijing on this sensitive issue.

Keenly aware of this bestowed advantage, Beijing started calling the shots and was emboldened to flex its muscles at will.

Beijing considers Taiwan a province of China, and all nations with ties to Beijing are obliged to kowtow to this unreal and bizarre order. The people of Taiwan overwhelmingly see themselves as Taiwanese rather than as Chinese, still less an integral part of Maoist China – which is why they voted in Tsai IngWen’s Democratic party to power with a landslide majority. More than anything, Beijing fears a unilateral declaration of Taiwan’s independence, thereby igniting further ethnic unrest in Xinjiang and, maybe, Tibet. China’s superpower gloss may start losing its shine. Mr Trump has put the ball firmly in China’s court, leaving Beijing to decide whether it wished to go to war with the United States. The global order is on the cusp of seminal change.

UK must remain India’s gateway to Europe Carwyn Jones, First Minister of Wales, has issued a declaration in New Delhi that the UK must remain India’s gateway to Europe, that the UK must maintain ‘free and unfettered access’ to the European market to ensure that it continues to be a gateway for Indian businesses to the EU. Mr Jones was also critical of the UK’s immigration policy, warning that history had demonstrated the negative consequences for the economy of closing a country from the rest of the world.

‘It’s important that Wales and the UK are seen as an important gateway to the EU market for Indian businesses. The UK is just 60 million, the EU is 440 million and there are many companies that use the UK as their base for accessing the single market. If that advantage is lost, then other countries will profit from it,’ said the Welsh First Minister.

Mr Jones explained that a ‘soft Brexit’ that gave access to the European market would not impact negatively on the British steel industry, but he feared that the ‘hard Brexit’ advocated by some ministers in Whitehall might lead to tariffs rising up to 16 per cent. Much of the Tata’s UK’s steel operations are located in Wales, where Tata currently employs a workforce of 6,800,

including 4,000 at its integrated site at Port Talbot.

‘At the moment, the exchange rate is such that it is helpful for exports, but it’s a short-tem thing. The UK is too small a market to absorb any market loss as a result of the imposition of tariffs.’

A welcome postscript to this conversation was the accord reached between Tata Steel and the trade unions, which includes protection for its pension liabilities and commitment to secure jobs at Tata’s Port Talbot plant until at least 2021. The deal also contains an undertaking by Tata to invest for a further five years.

Wales’s First Minister Carwyn Jones declared: ‘This good news secures the future of steel-making at Port Talbot for at last 10 years. This agreement was achieved by a lot of hard work by everyone involved [and] brings investment not just to Port Talbot, but to steel works across the UK.’ Roy Rickhuss, General Secretary of the Community union expressed satisfaction at the outcome, as did Kaushik Chatterjee, Group Executive Director of Tata Steel and Executive Director for European business, who said that the far-reaching changes would ensure ‘sustainable’ development. All’s well that ends well.

Conquering adversity: Boy dreams big Life for a poor boy struggling to make a living on the streets of a teeming Indian metropolis is a daunting experience, more so when the city is pitiless Kolkata.

The urban disaster of 25 years ago has undergone a marked transformation, but the city is still a hard place for the poor and disadvantaged.

Sunil Mahato starts his day at St Thomas Day School , afterwards gives his mother a helping hand at her roadside stall selling handkerchiefs. He returns home well after dark studies on a bench under the light of an outdoor lamp, before turning in for a night’s sleep in the family’s single room with mother Tulsi Devi, a younger brother and uncle. Sunil lost his

father at the tender age of 11, forcing his mother to eke out a very modest living to support a struggling family.

Sunil was awarded an enabling scholarship by a Kolkata newspaper to carry on with his studies. It has fired up his ambition to enter an elite Indian Institute of Management and qualify one day as a chartered accountant and provide his mother and the rest of the family with a comfortable standard of living and guaranteed future security. Sunil’s unflinching resolve tells of his indomitable will to conquer adversity without a semblance of self pity. Such determinastion rarely fails to provide its just reward.

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What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)

Cllr Ketan Sheth Councillor for Tokyngton Wembley Brent Council’s Chair of Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

Placemaking Hello Wembley!

Wembley have been going through a complete transformation over the past few years, and the job is not complete yet!

Quintain has been working on the redevelopment of Brent’s largest regeneration area around the national stadium, called “Wembley Park”.

This 85 acre northwestLondon area is part way through its most significant transformation in nearly a century.

Wembley Park was first noted as a destination for Londoners in 1894, when Sir Edward Watkin opened it to the public as a leisure destination, just 12 minutes from Baker Street Station on the Metropolitan Line.

When Quintain bought the land in 2002, Brent Council started a long-term and productive partnership. The relationship has coincided with unprecedented financial constraints and severe cuts to public sector funding, but despite this, together with Quintain, we have evolved new ways of working to deliver against shared long-term goals. This vision is shown in the area’s robust placemaking strategy, created to lift the quality of the cultural, social and economic provision in the area.

The physical outputs of the strategy to-date include the refurbishment of the Grade II-listed Wembley Arena, now called The SSE Arena, Wembley; the opening of two residential buildings (in 2008 and 2009), which welcomed the site’s first 1,000 residents; the construction of

the 4* Hilton, London Wembley in time to host the 2012 Olympic Games; the delivery of significant new public realm including treelined boulevards, squares and a new all-weather children’s playpark (where I have had many happy times with my own two young sons!); the relocation of Brent Council’s office to Wembley Park, delivering a multi award-winning civic centre; and the opening of the LDO, bringing 50 outlet stores, 20 restaurants and the area’s first cinema in 30 years!

Also, there has been equal number of social outputs in the area, which to-date includes the creation of over 1,000 jobs at LDO, as well as bringing 3,000 professional workers to the area. We have also seen a programme of non-ticketed and local interest events, from markets to fireworks and ice skating for local people; as well as 20 regular activities for local people at The Yellow Pavilion, the site’s community space.

Today, Wembley Park has become a new destination for London with a unique combination of attractions. However, the job is not complete yet and more is to come. We have even more ambitious plans for the next phase of our partnership.

We aim to continue our placemaking work, providing an exceptional experience to the people who live, work and shop in Wembley, as well as the millions of visitors who come to be entertained here.

Editor: CB Patel

Asian Voice is published by ASIAN BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS LTD Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080 • Fax: 020 7749 4081 Email: aveditorial@abplgroup.com Website: www.abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

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Millionaire who boasted of luxury Moseley home exposed as rogue landlord A Birmingham millionaire has been exposed as a rogue landlord after forcing tenants out of his six-bedroom home which boasted a cinema and swimming pool.

Zahid Khan, 30, had previously bragged of the wealth that bagged him the luxury pad in Yardley Wood Road, Moseley, and which had allowed him to pursue his expensive hobby of training to be a pilot.

The self-proclaimed entrepreneur had also spoken in the past of being held up at gunpoint and more recently said he planned to sell his mansion because of ‘jealous haters’.

But high-life-loving Khan has now effectively been branded a rogue landlord by a

court.

It heard he had forced six tenants, all professionals, out of his Yardley Wood Road home - which was deemed unsafe and unlicensed.

Birmingham Magistrates Court last month heard how the millionaire breached regulations and made the tenants quit the property after he ‘intimidated’ them in December last year.

Together with an accomplice, he ordered them from the house and threatened to change the locks if they did not leave.

The court was also told the property breached management regulations, including having insufficient smoke alarms, a sparking electrical socket, holes in the ceilings

Zahid Khan alerted police who pounced on the blackmail gang

and a tripping hazard on the stairs.

Khan was ordered to complete 150 hours of community service and fined £2,000 with costs of £5,070 and a victim surcharge after being found guilty of causing acts likely to

interfere with his tenants’ peace and comfort under Section 1(3A) of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, failure to obtain an HMO licence and breaching HMO Management Regulations.

Birmingham terrorists using state benefits to fund atrocities abroad Terrorists in Birmingham are using state benefits to fund atrocities abroad, a government watchdog has warned.

Zakaria Boufassil, 26 and from Small Heath, was last week, found of engaging in conduct in preparation of acts of terrorism.

Kingston Crown Court heard he gave £3,000 in cash to Belgian bombing suspect Mohamed Abrini through £5,400 in overpaid housing benefits. He had handed over the cash to Abrini in Small Heath Park on July 11, 2015, months before the terror Belgian airport and Metro attacks which killed 32 people.

Mohamed Ali Ahmed, who is also from Small Heath, had previously admitted the same charge and both men

L-R: Zakaria Bouffassil, Mohamed Ali Ahmed, Mohamed Abrini

were due to be sentenced this week.

But Boufassil is not the only benefit seeking Brummie who has been linked to terrorism.

Irfan Naseer, a bomb making terrorist nicknamed

Chubb, was also claiming benefits when he was jailed for plotting a devastating attack on the UK. Naseer was born and raised in Birmingham and had gained a 2:2 degree in pharmacy from Aston

University in 2003. He was jailed for life for in 2013 for planning terrorism whilst on benefits.

Sally Jones, infamously dubbed the “white widow” and married to Birmingham born Isis hacker Junaid Hussain had spent a lifetime on benefits.

Hussain, aged 21 and from Kings Heath, was blown up in a drone attack in Syria in August 2015.

The ISIS widow was feared to have slipped back into the UK with two suspected Jihadis after a reported sighting in Birmingham in August 2015.

The mum-of-two, originally from Kent, has been named as one of the world’s most wanted terrorists by the UN.

Taxi driver who raped 18-year-old passenger A taxi driver who picked a teenage woman up from outside a pub in Birmingham and then subjected her to a sustained rape ordeal has been jailed for 10 years.

The 18-year-old victim was left profoundly traumatised by the attack and had considered committing suicide.

Insanullah Sarfaraz, 33, who had previously admitted

three charges of rape, was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Judge Mukherjee also made an indefinite sexual harm prevention order banning Sarfaraz, who is married and has four children, from working as a taxi driver in the UK. The victim had gone with a male friend to the Village Inn in Hurst Street and they decided to go home at around

£10,000 reward for Mumtaz Member's 'brutal' murder info A £10,000 reward has been offered for information about the "brutal" murder of a grandmother on the first anniversary of her death.

Mumtaz Member, 56, died from head injuries at her home in Leicester, on 12 December 2015.

Her sons - Mohammed Member and Shafiq Member - together with Shafiq's partner Fatima Patel were charged with murder but the charges were later dropped.

Police believe there are people with information who have not come forward. They have also released CCTV images of potential witnesses who were in Holmfield Avenue on the night of 11 December and early hours of 12 December.

Det Ch Insp Mick

Mumtaz Member

Graham from the East Midlands Major Crime Unit said it was "a rather brutal case" and it was important to get justice for Mrs Member.

He said: "Sadly we are 12 months down the line and we are still looking at all lines of inquiry. We are seeking support and information from the community because I think the answer is in the local community. There are people that know key information who feel they can't come forward."

In Brief

AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice |17th December 2016

5am on October 23.

When they came out there were quite a number of taxis and they saw a Toyota people carrier with a taxi symbol being driven by the defendant. They told him they needed to go to addresses in Erdington and Sarfaraz stopped on two occasions to allow the male to withdraw £15 from an ATM. On the second occasion

the defendant had turned round to face the woman, who was quite intoxicated, and told her she needed a massage and rubbed her thigh.

Sarfaraz eventually took the woman to her home where she told her parents what had happened to her.

He was later traced by police and linked to the offence through DNA evidence.

Terrorist who was branded national security risk allowed to stay A terrorist who has been living in Britain for more than 20 years must be allowed to stay permanently, a High Court judge has ruled.

The Sikh extremist, who lives in Leicester, had pursued his terrorist activities after arriving in the UK in 1995 and was viewed as a national security risk. But Mr Justice Collins said he now has a British wife and children and the time had come to let him stay.

A nine-year Home Office delay in deciding his case was "clearly inexcusable", the judge added. He also lifted a home curfew order so that the man, in his 40s, is now free to come and go as he pleases.

The man, who cannot be named, was not entitled to refugee status, because of his

terrorist activities, said the judge. But the Home Office accepted that deporting him to India would expose him to a "real risk" of torture, inhuman treatment, or even death.

Under a tough Home Office order imposed in 2014, he was banned from leaving his home address for more than three nights in a row. He was also told not to get a job, either paid or unpaid, or to embark on any course of study without the Home Secretary's consent.

But the judge said he is now "very settled" in the UK, with a British citizen wife and children.

The home curfew and restrictions on his employment were also "unreasonable" and "unnecessary", the judge concluded.

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Man charged over Umesh Parekh stabbing

A man has been charged with murder after a fatal stabbing at a Birmingham park. Umesh Parekh was stabbed in Waverhill Park in Handsworth at around 10.20am on June 19.

He died shortly after being taken to hospital by ambulance.

Police investigating the attack have since charged Ranjit Singh, from Clarence Road in Handsworth , with the murder of the 34-yearold.

Singh, 41, was arrested by police on June 21 and detained under the Mental Health Act. He appeared before Birmingham Crown Court on Monday (December 12) to face the charge before being remanded back to a secure mental health establishment under section 48 of the Mental Health Act.

Man allegedly shouts 'I want to kill a Muslim' in train station stabbing incident

A man has been arrested after a reported stabbing at a train station which reportedly saw a man shout “I want to kill a Muslim”. The Mirror Online reports a passenger was stabbed at Forest Hill in south London while he sat on the train next to his wife.

Many people ran inside shops and pubs in an attempt to hide from the knifeman, reports claim, while others said he prowled the streets for up to 15 minutes. It is then alleged the attacker ran outside the station with a knife shouting “who is a Muslim? I want to kill a Muslim”.

CCTV image of man police want to speak to after handbag snatch from car in Bolton

A thief opened a woman’s car door and snatched her handbag.

CCTV images of a man police want to speak to have been released in a bid to put a name to the face.

The woman, who was with her two young children, was targeted as she was about to reverse her car out of a space at a car park on Trinity Street in Bolton .

A man blocked her in by parking his vehicle close to her nearside. Police said he got out of his car and opened the passenger door of her car before asking: “Am I in your way?”

He then snatched her handbag and drove off at around 6.30pm on November 1.

Death-trap shisha bar boss 'caused chaos' by claiming he had ebola jailed

A fugitive who claimed he had ebola in a bid to escape justice has been jailed after handing himself in.

Wali Yaqub triggered a regional health scare after securing an ‘entirely bogus’ diagnosis of the virus and then going on the run.

Yaqub was boss of the the Oasis Lounge, a death-trap shisha bar which repeatedly flouted fire safety regulations. The 37-year-old ended up in the dock after inspectors discovered customers' lives were being put at risk at the premises in Hulme.

Dark, smoky and overcrowded, the Oasis Lounge consisted of a marquee inside a warehouse. There was no working fire alarm and while customers smoked water pipes over smouldering charcoal, barrels of diesel, bags of rubbish and cardboard boxes blocked the only way out.

Yaqub was found guilty of fire safety breaches dating back to 2013 at a trial last year, but failed to show up for his sentencing date last spring.

www.asian-voice.com Asian Voice | 17th December 2016 AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

5

Man arrested for fatal shooting of 21 year old man in Kilburn

Mos st p popul p lar agen nt to IND DIA

Victim: Yasir Beshira

A man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 21-year-old who was shot dead in Kilburn High Road.

Yasir Beshira was shot in the stomach as he walked along the street last Thursday at around 5.20pm.

Mr Beshira managed to cross the road before collapsing at the junction of Netherwood Street. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The gunman, who was alone and wearing a hooded top and jeans, fled the

Paramedics battled to save the Mr Beshira’s life

scene on foot in the direction of Palmerston Road towards the Webheath Estate.

On Saturday, a 22year-old man was arrested on suspicion of Mr Beshira’s murder. He is currently in police custody.

Detectives have also launched a hunt to find a key suspect in the case, described as a slim white male who covered half of his face with a dark hooded top.

Detective Chief

Inspector Andy Partridge said: “I believe this person was loitering in and around Palmerston Road and the Webheath Estate prior to the attack. It is my view that this suspect would have stood out hanging around at this location and certainly when he fled through the estate following the attack.”

Anyone with information should call police on 020 8358 030, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

AHMEDAB BAD BHUJ GOA DELHI MUMBAI CHENNAI

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Six held in UK anti-terror raids Six people arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences are being questioned by police in Britain after an army bomb disposal team was called in during a series of raids Monday morning.

Four men from Derby aged 22, 27, 35 and 36, a 27-year-old man from Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire and a 32year-old woman from London were all arrested on suspicion of engaging in the preparation of an act of terrorism.

Counter-terrorism officers are continuing to question those detained this morning, while properties in Derby, Burton and London have been searched. Police said the six arrests were linked to "international-related terrorism".

An army bomb squad was called to the Normanton area of Derby

Police said the six arrests were linked to 'internationalrelated terrorism'

in what police described as a "precautionary measure", however no homes have been evacuated.

A police cordon has remained in place and forensics team have been seen entering a house in Leopold Street, Derby, in a location thought to be linked to the on-going inquiry.

The investigation is being led by the North East counter terrorism unit (Nectu) supported by officers from Derbyshire,

Staffordshire and the Metropolitan Police.

In a statement, Nectu said: "All six arrests this morning were carried out under terrorism legislation, meaning officers have an initial 48 hours to charge, release or apply for a warrant of further detention. The arrests are linked to Internationalrelated terrorism."

Local officers will be patrolling the areas to speak to anyone with concerns, police said.

Departing Mitie boss gets £500,000 pay off The departing boss of struggling Mitie has been given a payoff worth more than half a million pounds.

Baroness McGregorSmith, who quit her job at the outsourcing firm in October after claiming her children complained they didn't see enough of her, will be paid her salary, pension, car allowance and other benefits until the end of October next year.

The businesswoman, who is being replaced by Phil Bentley, the former managing director of British Gas, will receive £445,355 for the remainder of her notice period – which expires in October next year as well as £76,000 in legal fees.

Her departure follows a tough time for Mitie, which issued a surprise profit

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The firm also last month revealed it was pulling out of the home healthcare business, blaming rising wage costs for a collapse in profits.

Baroness McGregorSmith, who took home

Phil Bentley

£2.5million in pay and bonuses last year, said she will spend more time at her £2.8million home in Ascot in Berkshire.

Announcing her departure back in October she said: 'Being a mum of two young people was always something I had to juggle with work. It's been really tough.'

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Asian Voice |17th December 2016

Lord Dolar Popat

of Harrow, Government Whip and Lord-in-Waiting with responsibilities for Business and Transport

The Casey Report challenges us all Last week the Government released Dame Louise Casey’s Report on integration and opportunity in Britain.

This is a long-overdue review into Britain’s social fabric that presents many difficult findings and poses questions for all of us about how we create a more united nation.

The Report was originally commissioned by then Prime Minister David Cameron and Theresa May – as Home Secretary – to review all aspect of British life.

As Dame Casey says in the introduction, “Social cohesion and equality are not things we can take for granted” and “the less integrated we are as a nation, the greater the economic and social costs we face – estimated as approximately £6 billion each year in one study.”

Most of the press coverage for the Report last week covered the challenges for Britain’s 1.2 million Muslim community. As the report points out: People of Pakistani and Bangladeshi ethnicity tend to live in more residentially segregated communities than other ethnic minority groups.

Whilst many British Muslims feel positive about Britishness, polls also highlight differences in attitudes, with some Muslims and some other minority groups express less progressive views, for example towards women’s equality, sexuality and freedom of speech.

The English language is a strong enabler of integration but Pakistani and Bangladeshi ethnic groups have the lowest levels of English language proficiency of any Black or Minority Ethnic group – and women in those communities are twice as likely as men to have poor English.

These are just a few of the undesirable statistics in the Report, and undoubtedly it raises difficult questions for Government, the wider population and the Muslim Community.

Yet it would be wrong to conclude that this Report is simply a case of ‘one community bad, all the others good’. Far from it. There are detailed sections on where other groups are struggling, including both the British Indian and British Hindu communities.

As a Hindu I am very proud of how my community has largely integrated and adopted British values as their own. The Hindu Forum’s adoption of the slogan ‘Proud to be British, Proud to be Hindu’ has helped to demonstrate our priorities.

Simple things like holding events in English, promoting both tolerance and the importance of democracy, and prioritising education for our children have allowed us to become part of the wider community.

However it would be wrong to assume that we are as integrated as we could – or should – be. From my own experiences I can highlight a number of areas where the Hindu community tends to be less ‘pro-

gressive’ than the rest of Britain; the Hindu community still needs to be more open to outsiders, more accepting of recent social developments – for example LBGT equality - and better at civic duty.

I hope we use this Report as an opportunity to think – at both a local and a national level – what more we can do to integrate. How do we encourage everyone to adopt the English language? Are our Temples, Community Centres and other institutions equal on gender?

Do we hold ourselves to the highest Governance standards with free and fair elections?

As Dame Casey says, we are a compassionate, tolerant and liberal country. Creating a just, fair society where everyone can prosper and get on is a cornerstone of Britain’s values. Resilience, integration and shared common values – such as respect for the rule of law, democracy, equality and tolerance – are inhibitors of division, hate and extremism. They make us stronger, more equal, more united and able to stand together as one nation.

We know that, with record levels of immigration in recent years, the scale of population change has been having an impact, particularly in deprived areas, at a time when Britain has been recovering from a recession and concerns about terrorism, immigration, the economy and the future of public services have been running high.

But we also know why Britain attracts so many people from abroad. It isn’t just our economic strength, or – as some would have you believe – our benefits system. It is the values that powered and united this country for centuries. We cannot afford to let them slip.

Perhaps the most brutal line in the Report is this simple statement: “As a nation we have lost sight of our expectations on integration and lacked confidence in promoting it or challenging behaviours that undermine it.”

“We know that where communities live separately, with fewer interactions between people from different backgrounds, mistrust, anxiety and prejudice grow” says the Report. It goes onto say that “too many public institutions, national and local, state and non-state, have gone so far to accommodate diversity and freedom of expression that they have ignored or even condoned regressive, divisive and harmful cultural and religious practices, for fear of being branded racist or Islamophobic.”

This Report isn’t just a challenge for Britain’s Muslim community, it’s a challenge to Government, to every minority and faith community and to the country at large. What more can we do to make our country more integrated?

We should not be afraid to discuss these matters and we should be determined to solve these problems.

Dame Casey’s report is merely one step towards a solution, now it is for us to act.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

MPs urge British police to investigate honour killings

A 57-year-old fake doctor who spent a decade pretending to have medical qualifications has again admitted trying to lie his way into NHS jobs.

Conrad de Souza of Fulham, West London, made false representations to NHS services about his qualifications, employment and previous convictions while trying to get top jobs. At Croydon Crown

feminist issue."

Kaur's family said her body was secretly cremated against their will before an autopsy could be arranged against their will before an autopsy could be conducted.

They also alleged seeing bruising on Seeta Kaur her body consistent other British women who with strangulation adding died in similar circumthat they have amassed 26 stances on visits to India witness statements corand Pakistan, including roborating allegations that Samia Shahid's case chamshe was a long-term victim pioned by Shah herself. of domestic violence.

Shah said there was Speaking at the event, increasingly "some awarePranga Patel, director of ness" of the issue of the campaign group women being killed in the Southall Black Sisters manner alleged but said there was a differresponsed by authorities ence between police remained uneven in differresponses to the deaths of ent parts of the country. non-white British nationLabour MP from als and white British Edmonton, where Kaur nationals. "It seems as if lived, Osamor said, "It is there's a more proactive the extraterritorial nature response when white of this crime that has made British nationals are it so difficult to seek justice killed abroad but no when for Seeta. Honour killings they are non-white should not be side-lined as British nationals," she an issue affecting only cersaid. tain communities. This is a Lawyer acting for Kaur's family, Shamik Dutta said, "If our police forces are serious about honour-based violence and honour-based killing Court, he admitted six they must recognise the counts of fraud by false extraterritorial nature of representations. that crime and make sure In 2011, he was conthat perpetrators do not victed for pretending to be feel they have anywhere a GP to get a senior manato hide. If they do not do gerial role. so it only encourages that The Tasmanian-born conduct and does nothing British citizen, who had to any of those who seek enrolled at the University to commit those of London medical school offences." in 1980 but never graduated, will be sentenced in January.

A 54-year-old lorry driver was putting his eye drops in when he lost control of his HGV and caused a crash that killed a father of 11 children. Rajesh Patel, of Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, became distracted while doing 56mph and hit a broken down Volvo truck carrying chopped iron and steel on the A46 Eastern by-pass on the outskirts of Coventry.

Sixty-two-year-old fellow trucker Nigel Blount, from Sunnyhill, Derby, was unable to avoid colliding into the back of Patel's Mercedes HGV on March 5 last year. Blount was

trapped for an hour before being cut free by firefighters and taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries five weeks later.

Doctors said the spinal trauma injuries he suffered in the crash were “a major contribution to his death”.

A court heard Patel told paramedics who treated him after the crash that he had been putting some eye drops in.

Patel, however, denied causing death by dangerous driving but was found guilty at Warwick Crown Court. Patel was told he is facing a long prison sentence.

A 48-year-old “stressed” science teacher tried to fiddle her GCSE pupils' results and resultantly, a whole year of schoolchildren failed their exam.

Lisa Lock submitted her pupils' results to an exam board and wrongly

said they had all passed while teaching at the A b e r t i l l e r y Comprehensive School in Gwent, South Wales. But she was caught as over 100 of her pupils had not even finished the coursework for the exams.

She was found guilty

Speaking in light of the suspicious death of Seeta Kaur, MPs Naz Shah and Kate Osamor said British authorities must begin properly investigating socalled honour killings of UK women committed abroad to avoid laaw.

"Until we send a clear message to people not just in this country but abroad that actually you cannot commit this crime and get away with it- until we have some prosecutions from the British police, I'm not convinced we're going to get there," Shah said at an event in the Parliament calling for investigation on Kaur's death. Seeta Kaur, 33, was allegedly murdered by her husband while on a trip to India last year in a "classic case of honour killing." While her family was told by him that she died of a sudden heart attack, they have compiled enough evidence to prove that she was in fact strangled for disoveying him.

Lawyers and activists drew parallels between Kaur's death and those of

Bogus doctor again admits lying to get more NHS jobs

Lorry driver caused crash while putting eyedrops in

Whole year of pupils fail as teacher fakes results

Burglar turned in by his bride-to-be

A burglar's dream marriage remains a dream. A groom-to-be who stole from a “Millionaires’ Row” to pay for his dream wedding at a stately home was turned in to the police by his fiancée after a fight.

Ben Catterill had planned a ceremony costing over £30,000 at Castle Howard, near York, to marry his girlfriend Katie Henderson. But after the couple had a quarrel, Henderson called police and told them that her would-be had been “bragging about doing burglaries on a wealthy area known as Millionaire’s Row”. Catterill was arrested, with the pair breaking up. Leeds Crown Court heard evidence had been found linking the couple to crimes in Leeds and across West Yorkshire. of unacceptable professional conduct and handed a “conditional registration order”, but was allowed to continue teaching.

UK Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

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New High Commissioner of India takes charge The new Indian High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, has taken charge of his post at India House in London.

With a career spanning over 35 years, the dilpomat holds the rank of Secretary to the Government of India and has handled several important assignments at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi and at Indian diplomatic missions in South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, South America and the Permanent Mission of India at the United Nations in New York.

Before going to Sri Lanka, he was the

HE Y K Sinha with wife Girija

Additional Secretary heading the PakistanAfghanistan-Iran division at the Ministry of External Affairs.

He was

Ambassador of India to Venezuela from January 2007 to August 2009 and Consul General of India in Dubai from August 2003

to December 2006.

Earlier, he served as Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi (UAE) from March 2002 to July 2003.

He was Ambassador of India to Venezuela from January 2007 to August 2009 and Consul General of India in Dubai from August 2003 to December 2006.

According to the official profile release by the Indian High Commissionwebsite in the UK, he has alsoserved as Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi (UAE) from March 2002 to July 2003.

BRIT-INDIANS CALL ON NAMO TO HELP WITH CURRENCY BAN Continued from page 1 deep concern currently being faced by many members of the British Indian community, who may not be able to travel to India by the deadline.

"The Governor’s efforts to remove any obstacles which may prevent this are most welcome, and I am sure the community as a whole will wish to thank him for doing so. I will be writing to Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with a copy of this letter in the hope these issues can be resolved.”

Virendra Sharma, called on the Indian government to end the uncertainty surrounding the demonetisation.

The 69-year-old Labour party MP has received several calls and letters on the issue from his constituents in the heavily Indian-origin area of Ealing, Southall, in south-west London.

Sharma said, "Still a month after the announcement of the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes millions of NRIs are living with uncertainty. The stress and strain of not knowing whether families will lose money.

"Thousands of families have a small amount of currency at home, to save exchanging money at the airport.

These are the people that are accidentally being punished. Having a few thousands rupees does not make you a money launderer, and still they are suffering.”

The India-born MP wants the Indian Government to authorise Indian banks with operations in the UK to open accounts for deposits of Indian Rupees.

"This money should then be held and made available for withdrawal only in India. This would protect the economy, but still offer freedom to many thousands of Indian citizens and NRIs not based in India," he added.

At the moment, how can NRIs exchange Rs 500 and Rs 1000?

NRIs would personally need to exchange the notes in India or authorise someone to do it for them. The foreign branches of Indian banks, both public and private sector, are not accepting cash outside the country.

If NRIs are travelling to India between 9 nov 2016 to the 30 December 2016, they can exchange or deposit it in their NRO account.

If NRIs are travelling to the country between 02 January and 31 March 2017, they can visit any of the specified offices of the RBI along with the required documentation, passport and visa details, that prove they were out of the country and exchange the notes. Although the list of RBI offices that will accept this is still unclear.

If NRIs have the banknotes in India, they may authorize in writing enabling another person in India to deposit the notes into their bank account. The authorized person has to come to the bank branch with the notes, the authority letter given by you and a valid identity proof to deposit the money on your behalf.

If NRIs have the money abroad, they can send the money across to India through someone trustworthy and authorize them to deposit it on their behalf.

What is Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar proposing?

British Indians can leave India with Rs 25,000 per person. Individually it is a small amount of money but collectively (200,000 visitors/year) it is around Rs 2500 Crore (£250mn) over a period of 5 years. We would like the Indian government to allow the Brit-Indians and NRIs to be allowed to deposit their money at Indian banks here in the UK after the necessary due diligence eg proof of their last travel to India etc. They could withdraw this amount from their NRO account, whenever they visit India.

The RBI has confirmed that anyone visiting can still leave India with Rs 25,000 but in legal tenders (the new notes).

MPs and Peers supporting Lord Jitesh Gadhia, an investment banker and businessman supporting this initiative said, "Prime Minister Modi's demonetisation initiative clearly has a noble intent so it would be a great shame if the global NRI community became innocent victims.

“I would appeal to the decency and common sense of the Modi Government to allow NRI's to deposit Rs 25,000 per person into existing or new bank accounts at overseas

branches of Indian banks. This is the official amount that NRI's are already allowed to take out of India and also take back in cash.

“The amounts involved might be small, individually, but it is the principle that counts: the drive to eradicate black money should not lead to the unintended consequence of taxing the white money of NRI's. Prime Minister Modi should act now to preserve the immense goodwill he has generated amongst the Global Indian diaspora" Lord Meghnad Desai, a leading Economist told Asian Voice, “I think that is a good idea.

But the Government of India is very wary that people are using various channels to launder their black money. It will be necessary to convince the Government of India that NRIs are not part of this scam.”

Dinesh Patnaik, Deputy High Commissioner of India to the UK told the media last month, "Our endeavour is to help everybody. We have asked New Delhi about it (any banned notes with NRIs). I have a feeling we will work out something so that people who have carried certain amount of cash in their pocket, should be able to deposit it in any Indian bank abroad.

"Basically, it means people abroad should not have more than that. Also, not everybody will have an account with an Indian bank - either they will have to open one or find an alternative. So, it is something we will have to look at very closely. There is a lot of time, until December 30," he said. "This is not an amnesty scheme or any scheme to garner black money. This is a method to achieve cashless transactions, which in itself will stop corruption, and to make sure that the money which is lying within the non-legal system, gets into the legal system.

"And, of course, the threat of fake Indian currency will be eliminated, because that threat was mostly with Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The new Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 will have greater security features and it will make it more difficult for counterfeiters to try and copy it," he added.

7

THE LOOMBA FOUNDATION WISHES SEASON’S GREETINGS, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS AND DONORS The year 2016 started and finished on a good note for the Lomba Foundation. On 22nd January 2016, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi launched our empowerment project for 5000 impoverished widows in Varanasi.

Each beneficiary is given a two month vocational training to cut patterns, stitch and finish garments. On the completion of the training they will receive a foot-operated sewing machine.

We became partners with Lions Clubs

lunches and healthcare. We are grateful to Hinduja Foundation for supporting the education of 500 students out of them.

We held two fundraising events

International Foundation, who have supported us for a 2500 sewing machines project in Vrindavan and surrounding areas.

For every one Pound given by the Loomba Foundation they have contributed three Pounds.

We educated 0ver 1600 children of poor widows in 13 states in India. Each student received a scholarship of Rs. 500.00 per month, which helped him or her to meet the cost of uniform, Books,

during 2016 – one in London and another in Delhi. Both events were successful. In London, Mr. G.P. Hinduja was our Guest of Honour, who helped us to raise funds for our work. Delhi event was a concert by the famous Punjabi singer, Shri Gurdas Maan, who entertained over 1200 people in the audience. The funds raised at the concert are being used to empower 1000 widows and women prisoners in all 19 district prisons in Haryana.

Lord Raj Loomba

www.theloombafoundation.org The Loomba Foundation Loomba House 622 Western Avenue London W3 0TF 020 8102 0351

8

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www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

Diabetes: The Major Health Problem in the South Asian Community

Dr. Vinod Patel Principal Clinical Teaching Fellow Hon Consultant in Endocrinology and Diabetes South Asians are four times more likely more likely to get diabetes than the general population.

Over the age of 40 years, 1 in 5 of South Asians have diabetes.

Diabetes affects the whole body causing heart attack, stroke, blindness and kidney disease- leading to dialysis. The best approach to diabetes is to prevent it. This can be done by you following a healthy lifestyle. This starts with knowing your risk of getting diabetes - see the Diabetes Risk score on http://riskscore.diabetes.o rg.uk. Having a family member with diabetes, being overweight and being South Asian increases your risk!

A programme to prevent diabetes is actually straight forward: This would include:

Warning on use of e-cigarettes The US’ top doctor has said e-cigarettes are dangerous and children need to stay away from them.

“These products are now the most commonly used form of tobacco among youth in the United States, surpassing conventional tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and hookahs,” wrote Dr Vivek H Murthy, the US surgeon general, in a report released on last Thursday.

In fact, use of e-cigarettes among high school

students increased by 900% from 2011 to 2015, according to the report.

The report indicates among middle and high school students, use of ecigarettes has more than tripled since 2011.

Vaping among youths between 18 and 24 more than doubled from 2013 to 2014.

“Compared with older adults, the brain of youth and young adults is more vulnerable to the negative consequences of nicotine exposure,” Murthy said.

“As surgeon general and as a new father, I am urging all parents to take a stand against e-cigarette use by our nation’s young people,” Murthy said at a news conference.

Mick Jagger becomes dad again at 73

All the Main Aspects of Diabetes Care to Prevent Complications such as Heart Attacks, Strokes, Kidney disease and Blindness

ed, regularly and your pharmacist can help you with these. The poster attached shows all the main tests that you need in diabetes care. The good news is that if you have

at least 50%.

What do you need to remember? Firstly diabetes can be prevented. If overweight- lose weight to normal weight for you. Make sure that you have enough

Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger has become father for the eighth time at the age of 73.

His girlfriend, American ballerina Melanie Hamrick, 29, gave birth to a baby boy in New York last Thursday, the singer’s publicist Bernard Doherty said.

The singer already has seven children whose ages range from 17 to 45. He has five grandchildren and became a great-grandfather in May 2014 when his

Quietest station has one passenger a month

1.

Preventing the development of a large waistline by weight control and a good level of physical activity. Physical activity includes 20 to 30 minutes of brisk walking at least 5 times a week. You should be a little hot and breathless when you go for a brisk walk.

2.

Even if you are only a little overweight then weight control can be made a lot easier by a following a sensible diet. This means cutting down on carbohydrates such as any added sugar, rotis, rice and potatoes. Reducing carbohydrates and increasing protein a little often helps with losing weight.

What can I do if have if have diabetes already?

What is the best way forward to reduce Diabetes problems such as kidney disease, heart attaches, strokes and blindness? It is important that you have all the checks for diabetes care that your doctor recommends every year. It is very important that you have your own personal goals for diabetes control, the blood pressure level and the cholesterol levels. It is also important to take your tablets, and insulin if need-

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Physical activity recommendations from the Chief Medical Officer

good overall control of your diabetes, and get regular eye and feet checks, then the chances of having any complication is reduced by Alok Sharma MP, Minister for Asia and the Pacific spoke at the UK-India Business Council event on the Future of the UK-India Relationship on Monday 12 December calling the relationship incredibly bright.

The full story will be published next week

physical activity- a gym can help but brisk walking is also of great benefit.

Discuss your risk with your doctor.

Imagine a train journey in modern day where you need not worry much about getting a seat or for that matter there is hardly any person to look at in the train.

Shippea Hill, near Ely, has been named the leastused station in Britain for a second year running.

Passenger numbers have almost halved from 22 in 2015 to just 12 in the last year.

This means the quietest train station in Britain is used by the equivalent of just one passenger per month, according to the Office of Rail and Road.

Founded in 1845, the station is on the Breckland Line and serves the hamlets of Shippea Hill and Prickwillow.

It runs between Cambridge in the west and Norwich in the east.

Reddish South station in Greater Manchester saw the second fewest passengers with only 38 people arriving or departing last year.

Waterloo maintained its longstanding status as the busiest station in Britain, being used by 99.1 million people last year.

Birmingham New Street, which was eighth with 39 million, was the only station outside London to make it to the top 10.

granddaughter Assisi, daughter of Jade Jagger, gave birth to a baby girl.

A statement said Hamrick and Sir Mick were “both delighted” at the birth. It added: “Mick

was at the hospital for the arrival.”

T h e music star started dati n g Hamrick after the suicide of L 'W re n Scott in 2014, his partner of 13 years. Sir Mick had his other children with Marsha Hunt, Bianca Jagger, Jerry Hall and Luciana Gimenez Morad.

Keep a check on your waistlines Beware all those whose waistlines are expanding.

Over nine in 10 women in their 50s and 60s are at risk of heart disease and diabetes, thanks to too much tummy fat. Eight in 10 men in the same age group also have too big a waist-circumference, a study warns.

To maintain their health in old age it is important baby-boomer Brits lose weight around their middles, says the UK’s Chief Medical

Officer. Dame Sally Davies, 67, said being above a healthy weight or obese had become “commonplace”.

Men with a waist of 40in or more are categorised as obese. For women, it is 34in. Having a big waist can mean extra fat is stored around the organs, which could end up in Type 2 diabetes.

Since 1990, Type 2 deaths in the 50 to 70 age range are up 97% in men and 57% in women.

Stepmoms find it tough to bond with stepkids The word stepmother has gained notoriety over the years as it’s linked with one of the most evil characters in fairy tales. But it seems in real life too, stepmothers are not always in the good books of their stepchildren.

According to a survey, only half of all stepmothers say they have a good relationship with the children in their new families.

It also showed that over four out of 10 couldn’t say they had a sound and strong bond with the children they are trying to bring up.

Stepfathers, on the other hand, find it easier to bond with their new families as nearly two-thirds reported good relationships with their stepchil-

dren.

According to the report by charities Relate and Relationships Scotland, 65% of stepfathers are confident of their link with their stepchildren, compared with 57% of stepmothers.

Some family researchers believe this is because stepmothers can attract greater resentment as children may blame them for the collapse of their original family, according to a report in the Daily Mail. Another reason could be that stepmothers are more likely to unsuccessfully attempt to take on more caring roles which children may resent, while stepfathers are more laidback.

UK Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

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Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

Ranjit Bolt: Big-Time Playwright and Author of A Knight with a Big Blue Balloon Ranjit Bolt is one of the English-speaking world’s most famous playwrights and his work has often been translated into other tongues. His latest oevre is called A Knight with a Big Blue Balloon and More Irreverent Wordplay and is being released now, just in time for the festive season when young and old love things that are lighthearted and a little silly.

In his funny and engaging collection, Ranjit writes a 21st century update on the limerick tradition – a first. Limericks are an irreverent play on words and rhyme and playwright George Bernard Shaw successfully worked with them too. Ranjit’s adaptations include ones of Moliere, Chekhov, Zorilla y Moral and others.

Ranjit Bolt’s first success came when Jonathan Miller directed one of his plays. Ranjit received an OBE in 2003 and has worked with many star

Ranjit Bolt

actors, including Judi Dench, Felicity Kendal, Derek Jacobi and Martin Clunes.

Bolt’s newest book is described by comedian Stephen Fry as full of “Rhythms and... delights" and is included in The Daily Telegraph’s books of the year.

Interspersed in this profile are examples of Bolt’s limericks from his newest book to give our readers a flavour of the work and to get you into a slightly zany mood.

A knight with a big blue

balloon Blew it up like you blow a bassoon And it swelled and it swelled And he yelled and he yelled As it carried him up to the moon.

A man in a restaurant in Sicily Was eating his dinner quite prissily.

This behaviour was due To the wild boar ragù Which was horribly salty and gristly.

In her penthouse, a lady performer Was rehearsing a number from ‘Norma’ When she hit the top C So indubitably That it shattered the glass in the dormer.

in Highgate London.

He read classics at Balliol, Oxford.

His hobby was to write plays in verse at night and one day he turned it into his day job.

As a young boy Ranjit was inspired to go into the arts by his famous uncle, who was a playwright and a screenwriter. He remembers: “One day mum came into our room and told us that he had a smash hit in the west end, and why didn’t we have a go at writing plays of our own. From that day I always wanted to write for a living.”

An unfortunate fellow from Salop Dined at Scott’s, where he ate a bad scallop, And for days after that, At the drop of a hat, He’d be off to the loo at a gallop.

How he became a playwright

international world of theatre and does not feel that his own Indian heritage has influenced his works at all. He’s not a one- trick pony.

A litotic fellow from Chile Used terms that were terribly silly: He called Hitler ‘too bad’, King Lear ‘frequently sad’, And the Andes ‘in places quite hilly.’

There once was a fellow named Cronin Who would never, not ever, stop moanin’.

He’d have soon ceased to moan If he’d only have known That he simply had low serotonin.

Biggest challenge

Background

Ranjit was born in Manchester to a family of English teachers. His parents met in India during the war as they were both serving in the Indian army.

The young Bolt grew up in Cambridge and now lives

Ranjit is not a professional Asian; he has won acclaim by going straight into the highly competitive

9

Bolt’s believes that the hardest task he had to do was to translate Sophocles’ Oedipus plays for the National Theatre. He admits: “As for overcoming it, I’m not sure I did.

Certainly the critics were harsh, and I think they were basically right.”

In 1992 Ranjit Bolt started to have anxiety attacks, which led to a mini breakdown. Psychotherapy helped too, but Ranjit believes it were limericks that helped most with morale. He told us, “It boosts one’s mood writing comic verse.”

Ranjit started with writing jokes wrapped in verse and wrote almost one limerick a day. This entertained his friends, aided the playwright in maintaining a humorous outlook on his condition and helped him regain his love for words.

The chief of the Wallakaleepee Had become so incredibly sleepy That the force of his snores Almost shattered his jaws And blew of the top of his teepee.

Ranjit Bolt, A Knight with a Big Blue Balloon and More Irreverent Wordplay (Gibson Square, £9.99 ISBN 9781783341382).

Trustees

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For details of how to apply visit www.stlukeshospice.org/newtrustee . If you wish to find out more please call Robin Webb on 07825 180185. To reserve your place at our Open Evening on Tuesday 10 January 2017, please call Dee Holden on 020 8382 8002.

Closing date for applications: 9am Monday 16 Jan 2017 Formal Interviews: 26 & 27 January 2017

10

READERS’ VOICE

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Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

Small Business Saturday I write to thank everyone who took part in Small Business Saturday on the 3rd December. I was incredibly proud to be able to visit 19 small businesses from across the whole constituency with local councillors and see first-hand some of the great work and services that small businesses in Feltham and Heston provide.

Small businesses make a vital contribution to our local economy and society.

Having grown up above our shop in Hounslow, I know how hard our local businessmen and women work.

Last year small business Saturday added over half a billion pounds to our economy and helped raise the profile of our local enterprises across the country. It is vital that the issues small businesses face are kept centre stage so they can be supported and grow to be even more successful in the future.

Small Business Saturday was a huge national success with the hashtag #SmallBizSatUK trending No.1 on Twitter - a sign of the amazing support that Small Business Saturday has gained this year and the impact of this campaign.

Seema Malhotra MP Member of Parliament for Feltham and Heston

Boris, Shifting Sahara Sand-dune

Once we had great respect for boisterous, charming Boris Johnson, as he twice won Mayoral election against popular, left-wing Labour candidate Ken Livingstone.

Boris and Nigel’s larger than life personalities won Brexit election against all odds.

But his meek surrender in Conservative leadership election when back-stabbed by colleague and his wavering, lukewarm support for Brexit makes us wonder whether he ever believed in Brexit or it was a mere tool in his ambition to unseat Cameron, become next PM. After his blunder commenting on Saudi Arabia when our PM was talking to Saudi king, is now considered loose cannon, perhaps his days as Foreign Secretary may be numbered.

As I have commented before, our politicians are gutless to stand-up against Brussels bureaucrats, lack self-confidence. As we have £80 billion trade deficit, we are in strong position to get good deal, but our politicians are already talking about paying billions into EU coffers to remain in “Single Market” instead of warning EU that they have much more to lose if we they fail to give us right deal. Germany and France will suffer most if Britain is denied free access.

City of London could have minor difficulties, hiccups with EU but as overseas investment is on the rise with Tata, Honda and Japanese IT firms investing billions; confidence is high, only our politicians could scruple good deal if they fail to take the bull by the horn. How nation could do with another Lady Thatcher!

Bhupendra Gandhi By email

Demonetisation - Ambitious Experiment

A bad decision is a better decision than no decision! The Modi government in India has taken a bold decision in cancelling currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000. This seems to be a major surgical strike to cure the chronic serious disease which is eating away at the wealth of the country.

During the last 69 years any government never thought of total economic and social reforms - except the Janta government when Morarji Desai, the then Prime Minister cancelled Rs 1,000 notes from the currency. This action of the Modi government has serious side effects on business community on overall economic condition and particularly on the people of poor class. This would also have bad effect on party funds of politicians. But despite these side effects it is appreciated and supported by the people of the country.

As a direct result billions of rupees are flooding out which is unaccounted, and now going to the banks - coming in normal circulation. The black money and hoarded money keeps on coming out. This would not only strengthen the economy but it would also boost up the morale of the people.

The Congress party has not yet earned the right to criticise the government because in the past they too have failed to bring out black money. They don’t have a true and bold leader and any ‘yes men’ can never become a real leader. They don’t have the vision. Demonetisation is a very ambitious experiment but unfortunately it is mismanaged. How can new currancy notes go in smugglers’ hands instead of going into the banks?

At present the idea of cashless economy comes in conflict with main objective of taking out black money. The programme should have been very well planned, with timings and with readyness to handle any unexpected situation. Performance evolution review technique should have been used for such vast and serious projects.

Ballubhai Patel Bradford

Online grooming of OAPs

We all know about grooming, sexual exploitation of children by sick Paedophiles. But hardly anyone knows about grooming of elderly for financial gain. One common problem we face is computer hacking, with our willing participation. So often lonely OAPs get telephone calls not intended for them, fiduciary caller apologising profoundly for dialling wrong number but start chatting cleverly to gain our confidence. In the end caller would say, I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. Can I call you again for a chat?

Most of us, especially those who are lonely, hardly receive calls, willingly agree. This is how online grooming of starts, with weekly phone calls. After some months we uncharacteristically start trusting such callers, giving them personal information and being layman, seek their help with computer problems, willingly give them control of our computers through “Team-Viewers” with sensitive personal information stored.

Online banking and shopping, although avoided by most OAPs, is gaining popularity, especially among elderly with limited mobility. Once fiduciary hacker gets control, they are ruthless. They would demand ransom or worse, steal from their accounts.

Most would hesitate to report it to police, live in trepidation, believing these are selfinflicted wounds.

This may sound misdemeanour to streetwise youngsters who may never have become such victims, but such tyranny is reality for some. Perhaps pragmatic youngsters, experts in IT may part with their wisdom, knowledge to help OAPs from becoming such victims.

Kumudini Valambia By email

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

The Supreme Sages

Eleven most powerful supreme court judges, ten men and one woman, all highly educated, influential, and all white people have began deliberating on whether the British government should seek parliamentary approval before triggering article 50. As we all know, Article 50 defines the right of a member state of the European Union (EU) to withdraw from the EU. The judges are supreme because they are above the government and that their ruling will be final. I can bet that they will find against the government. This is in response to one person’s claim that the parliament should vote on whether the UK can start the process of leaving the EU. The government is challenging the high court ruling that the parliament should have a say in whether we remain or leave the EU. It has been said that the PM is trying to keep a lid on how big a mess we are in and wish to push Brexit through regardless of consequences. Based on the information we have to hand and the propaganda, for us Indians, there is too much at stake here and we sincerely hope that Brexit may be shelved. Our people are engaged in jobs in the financial industry and we are given to understand that some major banks are in advanced stages of planning to move their head quarters to Paris. We want to avoid that at all costs as many of our people’s jobs will be at risk.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

India’s National Anthem

India’s National anthem was discussed at three places in Gujrat Samachar. Exemption to honor national anthem on religious basis is enshrined in earlier decisions by Supreme Court. Two states have also announced that National anthem is not compulsory for all Indians on religious grounds. Yet, recently a supreme-court bench announced playing national anthem at every film show to audience locked in. Why this dichotomy of thought at highest level? It is no wonder that fragmented India is treated as shuttlecock in international arena.

Religious arguments are put forward to oppose bona fide intentions of Indian government. Pseudo secularism weakens unity, especially when it opposes harmless exercise as singing national anthem or national song? No Christian objected when poet Ravindranath Tagor recited before visiting king, who was also Christian. No Muslim objected to song “Sarey jahanse achha, Hindustaan hamara”. Therefore current religious argument against reciting and honoring National anthem sound hollow.

If India sternly implements unity of thought, it will command and demand global respect. Nationalist slogans carry no credibility when the sub-continent is fragmented on all levels. Devotion, commitment, fidelity, patriotism are not only to be shouted from rooftops but also to be seen and practiced with pride.

Ramesh Jhalla By email

Regional geographical economic blocs

UK has decided to use its country as a single economic unit. Ten years down the line, it is likely that as a result Scotland as well as Northern Ireland may decide to leave UK and apply to join the EU. In all the six continents there been a development towards geographical cooperation in trade, in services, movement of labour and foreign direct investment.

Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) was formed in 1967. Founding members were Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei and Vietnam joined in 1984 and 1995 respectively. Cambodia was admitted in 1999.

The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) was established in 1973 and has 14 member states. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was founded in 1975 and has 16 member states.

International Francophone Organisation (La Francophonie) was created by 21 French-speaking countries. Mercosur (the Southern Common Market), based in Uruguay, signed a Treaty in 1988. It has 11 Latin American countries as members and covers 250 million population. Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) was founded in 1968 and has 10 member states. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAAARC) was established in 1985 and has 7 member states.

EU-USA, EU-China may eventually sign trade agreements: they are both in 15th and 12th round of negotiations.

UK has four, not two options: hard Brexit, soft Brexit, status quo and joining Euro currency at mutually agreed exchange rate. Highest economic growth is most likely the last option.

Nagindas Khajuria By email

Brexit and Gibraltar

Brexit has caused problems for the Government of Gibraltar, as to where it stands in respect of the arrangements already agreed before the British referendum was held on 23 June, 2016. Gibraltar is a member of the European Union (UE) by virtue of Article 227, paragraph 4 of the Treaty of Rome, which states that the provision of the Treaty “apply to the European territories for whose external relations a member state is responsible”. Gibraltar is therefore treated as part of the member state of the United Kingdom. Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo is adamant in preserving its special status in view of the Brexit.

In view of the foregoing Gibraltar is in talks with Scotland about a plan to keep parts of the UK in the EU, BBC 2 has learned. Fabian Picardo, the territory's chief minister, told the BBC he was speaking to Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, about various options. One possibility under discussion is for Gibraltar and Scotland, which both voted to remain in the EU, to maintain the UK's membership of the bloc.

Northern Ireland could also potentially be included in the discussions. A new situation is taking place which Brexit has not anticipated and this could prolong and make the negotiations difficult. Therefore it is essential that the approval of the British Parliament is obtained before any negotiations are begin.

Mr. Picardo stated the "The position of the people of Gibraltar is that we've expressed, perhaps even more clearly than the Scots, what our view is going forward, what should happen - that we should continue to have access to the single market to the European Union. My obligation is to protect and promote the interests of Gibraltar and to find such partners who may be willing to do the same thing within the United Kingdom." One can clearly see a Pandora’s box opening up as a result of Brexit, and there is every likelihood of serious problems lying ahead.

Baldev Sharma Harrow

EDUCATION

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Study: New grammar schools would benefit just six areas

There are only six areas in England where parents want new grammar schools and creating them would benefit the wider school population, a study says.

The Education Policy Institute modelled the impact of government plans to expand selective schools by looking at how 32,844 districts would be affected.

The think tank applied the government's conditions for allowing new schools.

The government called the study a crude attempt to second-guess the results of its consultation on new schools.

The researchers began by constructing a set of tests mirroring the conditions for new grammars set out in the government's White Paper, Schools that Work for Everyone.

These were that they: n should not be to the detriment of pupils who

Women's concentration 'less disrupted by music'

Women are less likely to have their concentration disrupted by listening to music, says a study examining whether music impairs or enhances the ability to focus on a task.

Rock music was found to be particularly distracting for men.

The study, from Imperial College and the Royal College of Music, played music into headphones while people tried to play the Operation board game.

The research teams have been examining how music can alter performance.

Families might have arguments about whether teenagers should be listening to music when studying.

But there are also professional settings where music is sometimes played in the background including operating theatres.

miss out n need to be in areas where there are sufficient numbers of pupils who could attend n should not undermine existing high-performing schools n are only in areas where parents want them They found that broader education levels would be harmed if new selective schools were created in areas where more than half of highly attaining pupils could access grammar school places.

They then excluded any area that did not have at least 150 pupils with high prior attainment who lived within a reasonable travelling distance.

The researchers then excluded areas which already had high-performing non-selective schools, whose fortunes could be harmed by the introduction of new grammar schools.

Asian Voice |17th December 2016

Private schools plan 10,000 free places for low-income pupils

Private schools will offer to provide up to 10,000 free places a year to low-income families in England.

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) says if the government pays £5,550 per place - the cost in the state system - the schools will cover the rest.

This is expected to cost up to £80m. Some pupils would be tested for academic ability but the scheme would not just target the brightest children.

The proposal, originally seen by the BBC and now confirmed, will be made in the ISC's response to a government consultation on the future of education.

The scheme would be open to primary and secondary school-age children. But details about which families would benefit and what form the tests would take are yet to be settled and the scheme could not take place without the government's

approval.

Currently it costs an average of £30,000 to send a pupil to board and £15,500 for a day school for a year.

The plan is designed to meet government demands that - in exchange for its tax-free, charitable status, which saves independent schools at least £150m a year - the private education sector does more for potential pupils whose families cannot afford to pay the fees.

There are roughly 600,000 pupils in each year group in England, and private schools educate only 7% of the total school population.

The ISC said its offer would provide a number of school places equivalent to building 10 state secondary schools. It says it already provides 40,000 bursaries worth £350m, but only 5,500 of these provide fully funded places.

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The Expanding World of Private Tuition It is often said that private tuition is good for students as the smaller class sizes allow students to enjoy a tailored education and facilitates a focus on areas of weakness.

The smaller class size is also beneficial to students as it allows them to gain confidence to ask questions and contribute to discussions without the threat of being ridiculed by the rest of their Selva Pankaj, CEO class. Additionally, as private Regent Group tutors are experienced individuals, they are often able to explain key concepts in a different, more abstract way that they feel the child will understand, as opposed to how concepts are taught to large groups of students in classrooms. Private tuition can also provide support for students with disabilities, where schools can often fall short in providing them with the extra help needed, allowing them to fall behind. For many parents, in families where private school fees are out of the question, private tuition offers a taste of the private education sector.

One of the main concerns regarding private tuition is the lack of equality it creates with many parents being unable to spare money for tuition sessions. According to the Sutton Trust, privately educated students are about twice as likely to receive private tuition as state-educated pupils. This shows the gap between the availability of private supplementary education between different parts of society. In response, the Sutton Trust recommends implementing a means-tested voucher scheme which would enable lower income families to purchase additional educational support. Across many countries that are heavily reliant on private tuition, there is a clear trend that private supplementary education is mostly used in urban areas, as opposed to rural. In the UK, 44% of the London pupils surveyed reported having received private or home tuition, compared with 22% of those attending schools outside the capital. This suggests either that there is less pressure on students in rural areas to go above and beyond to achieve exam success, or that there are less private tuition services available in rural areas or a combination of these factors.

Many are also critical of the private tuition sector as it is often used as a tool to push students through independent or grammar school entrance exams and therefore gives only a temporary lift to the student’s standard of education.

Based on GIA figures, the United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific (notably Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and China) are responsible for more than 90% of the global private tutoring market. The great increase in private tutoring was originally most prominent in Asia, with a startling number of students taking private tuition.

In Hong Kong, a 2011/12 survey found that 53.8% of Grade 9 students and 71.8% of Grade 12 students were receiving tutoring in addition to their schooling. The USA followed closely behind Asia with the surge in private tuition, as in 2011 the U.S. federal government invested $134 million into private enrichment programs for low-income students under the No Child Left Behind Act. Private tuition has also been on an increase in other countries such as Canada and the UK, with the UK market now worth £6.5bn. With this constant expansion it is predicted that by 2022 the global market for private tuition will be worth US$227 billion. This is in part down to supplementary tuition having become a social norm and partly as a result of the fierce competition over places at tip-top universities, seen as a straightforward route to a successful career path, which require only the very best of A-Level grades.

In line with the increasing value of the sector more and more online private tuition websites are launching; a recent example is MyTutorWeb, which raised £1m from high-profile investors after growing 400pc in 2014. The technology sector is also benefitting; a recent report by London & Partners and Edtech UK stated that the global education technology sector was worth £45bn and was poised to reach £129bn by 2021. Some say an increase in online private tuition may help to even out gaps in the quality of education children can receive, as tuition websites such as MyTutorWeb can offer the same quality of tuition all over the world, though undeniably the associated fees may continue to make such services out of reach for some parents.

www.regentgroup.org.uk www.selvapankaj.com

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MEDIA WATCH

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Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

Jayalalitha Jayaram (1948-2016), Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the foremost political figure in the Statre of her generation, was laid to rest on the Marina beach next to her mentor and inspiration M.G Ramachandran last week after a short illness.

She had been unwell recently, was in and out of hospital, when she collapsed suddenly from cardiac arrest. Despite the best medical attention and care, she never recovered and passed away.

Jayalalthaa’s funeral in Chennai

Jayalalitha was elected in four elections, the last two back-toback, as State Chief Minister. She commanded a massive following, especially among the poor and traditionally down trodden, for whom she was always, and will remain, Amma (Mother). She empowered women through myriad welfare schemes, including mass education, setting Tamil Nadu on the high road to social and economic development.

Brahmin Iyyengar family of considerable wealth, which was lost over time, forcing her mother to seek a career in films to support the family.

The young Jayalalithaa went to an excellent Covent school, where she excelled, hoping thus to build an academic life, but money was in short supply in the family coffers, Jayalalithaa’s mother persuaded her to make a life in the cinema.

She entered it as a mere 16 year-

Parliament disorder

Telegraph, Mint December 7)

The continuing mayhem in Parliament has provoked the justifiable anger of veteran BJP and former Home Minister, L.K Advani into scathing criticism of unruly behavior and the weak performance of Speaker Mahajan, who keeps adjourning proceedings without censuring the guilty MPs and have them removed as she is empowered to do as per the rules. The guilty MPs belong mostly to the Congress party and the Trinamool Congress. As a result, there have been no debates thus far, which is the business of Parliament. Brawling and disruption have become the norm since the BJP and the Communist Party of India (Marist) used to disrupt the house as a matter of routine during the period of Congress party rule. Having sown the wind the BJP is now reaping the whirlwind (Times of India, Hindu December 8)

Cash starved foreign missions protest

It’s nothing less than a disgrace that the cash starved foreign missions in New Delhi are forced to protest their present pligh, unable to draw sufficient funds from their own bank accounts for their running expenses. The files relating to this lamentable state of affairs are on the Prime Minister’s desk.

Retaliation threat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays floral tribute to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu’s industrialization under her watch has made it into India’s automotive hub – the country’s Detroit, as it is now known.

Tamil Nadu’s politics over the past decades has been deeply divisive, yet in death Jayalalitha brought about a miraculous unity. Her erstwhile opponents, the DMK leaders were fulsome in their praise of her achievements, their grief at her passing a most moving spectacle. Hopefully the healing of past wounds between the DMK and her AIDMK parties would start to heal and build bridges between the two set up.

Bringing people together on such a scale is indeed a mighty undertaking and a still mightier achievement when it reaches fulfillment.

Brilliant intellect, indomitable will

Those fortunate to have watched her extensive television interview with Simi Grewal were uplifted

by Jayalalithaa’s poise and eloquence, her way with words and, not least, her transparent honesty. She was born into a

old innocent, making 28 films with M.G Ramachandran, and matured into a star in her own right. She then entered politics following MGR’s death. It was a bruising experience, but she never wilted under the strain, her indomitable will seeing her through many vicissitudes.

Legacy

Tamil Nadu was something of a backwater when Jayalalitha took over the reins, and under her direction it has emerged as India’s top five States. The presence at her funeral of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Pranab Mukherjee and the great and good of Indian politics symbolized the stature she had come to acquire. She was quite easily the most remarkable woman in Indian politics since Indira Gandhi; and if circumstances had permitted, she could have led her country as prime minister, and a distinguished one at that. She certainly had the mettle and the brain power. Of her, we can only say a glory has passed. Whence comes another?

(Hindu, Times of India,

Frank Hans Dannenburg Castellanaos, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in the capital has complained that these these restrictions violate the Vienna Convention. A number of foreign missions have threatened to retaliate against Indian missions in their countries unless remedial measures are taken to allow function normally.(December 8)

Delay announcing Army, Air Force chiefs

There has been an unprecedented delay in announcing the next Army and Air Force chiefs.

General Dalbir Singh and Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha are due for retirement on December 31, and the traditional practice has been to name their successor a month before the date of retirement. The appointment papers are before the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

Rumour has it that India may being readied for the long awaited change to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Defence Staff system, in which Admiral Sunil Lamba is likely to occupy the chair on the basis of seniority (Hindu December 8)

RBI holds rates

The Reserve Bank of India has kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.25 per cent and projected GDP growth in the current fiscal at 7.1 per cent as opposed to the previous estimate of 7.6 per cent. The RBI also announced that from December 10 fortnight it was

withdrawing the incremental 100 per cent cash reserves ratio requirements imposed in November. Other points in the RBI statement reiterated upward pressure on inflation and the receipt by banks of Rs 11.55 trillion worth of deposits since November 8, while the RBI had circulated notes of various denominations adding up to Rs 3.81 trillion.

Demonetization

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Parallel economy in mainstream Anuradha Rao, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, State Bank of India, said the demonetization would be a ‘big positive for savings being channelized into investments, an opportunity to work towards a cashless economy with the use of digital mode of banking. The parallel economy will merge into the mainstream and this again will help in growth and build a more efficient economy. Though there may be some short-term pain, the positive impact of demonetization will have on the entire economy will be immense.’

(Hindu December 4))

TIFR’s theory of superconductivity

Vijjay Shankar Sharma

winner, Paytem

There are early losers and winners from demonetization, as will be in any major enterprise of national significance. Paytem, clearly, is an outstanding winner.

Vijay Shankar Sharma, Paytem’s founder explained the company’s success in a conversation with the Hindu newspaper (December 8).

‘Offline has been huge for us.

Almost 65 per cent of transactions We have added nearly a million QR codes at points of sales during the past month. As far as digital payments go, offline shops in India are so deprived … it is a big opportunity to expand.

New outreach

‘We are signing up new merchants aggressively. We signed up thousands of petrol pumps …I believe the push and attention that demonetization is giving to digital payments no amount of marketing and offers such discounts and card backs could have done this, ’ said Sharma.

Demonstration

The need to attract customers in rural area particularly through technology was of prime importance, so Sharma explained. ‘we have introduced a toll-free number … which users can call to transfer money.

They simply need to dial the toll-free number from a registered mobile, enter the the recipient’s mobile number, amount and their Paytem PIN… transferring money is as easy as a call.’

Scientists at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) have made a landmark discovery that poses a challenge to the conventional theory of superconductivity.

A team under Dr S.Ramaskrishnan of the Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Material Sciences has discovered bismuth semi-metal in bulk form becomes a superconductor. These results were published in the journal Science. Superconductors are materials that conduct electricity without resistance. (Hindu December 7)

Heart of Asia

The Heart of Asia conference at Amritsar was a two day affair.

The centre stage belonged to President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan and host Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both of whom laid into Pakistan’s export of jihadi terrorism into their respective countries. President Ghani mentioned Pakistan by name, Mr Modi did not, but his excoriating references to the jihadi threat were made with Pakistan in mind. India and Afghanistan were more closely aligned with more Indian military aid earmarked for Kabul.

There was the usual fevered media speculation concerning a possible Indo-Pakistan dialogue on the sidelines, but India was

Networking

‘We have also built a few product partnerships related to financial services such as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) wealth management shakes hands with Afghan President Ashraf and investment prod- Ghani (left) during the 6th Heart of Asia meeting ucts. ..We already have firm that no such conversation 60,000 partners out of which we took place, and would not take will build a business corresponplace until Pakistani-sponsored dents network …We will build the terrorism had ceased. That was business correspondents network the message conveyed to Sartaz aggressively’, he concluded. More Aziz, the Pakistani representapower to his elbow. (Hindu tive. (Hindu, Times of India, December 8) Telegraph December 5).

UK Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

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13

More of the Best and Brightest in UK- Official Last week, I met up with my old College – St Anne’s, Oxford. We at the University are working on strategies to get more students from India, especially those without privilege, but with ability and talent, to apply...pass it on please. For all the cynics who think the UK doesn’t want more Indian students – well I will be in India sending the message from Oxford University we do and I will be in Singapore with the message in March with former fellow alumnus and Chief Sec to the Treasury Sir Danny Alexander, who will be spreading the message out there.

And if you want an even more official indication that Britain wants the best and the brightest, well straight after my meeting with my old College I had an appointment at Number 10 and the same message came across ‘from the horse’s mouth’ were his words. As I said to the BBC when they tried to report otherwise -you were simply not in the room which is why you are misreporting. Let alone of course that the UK PM in India made it clear -and I was there in the room when she did.

And by the way, there are over 1,000 scholarships available for new Graduate Study at Oxford in 2017-2018!

We want the best and brightest from around the world to study here....and for very personal reasons why...

The Debt: Who gets up for school at 0350 on a Saturday – especially after a long long week of work? Me and a bunch of school kids. This morning I will visit the kitchens of Akshaya Patra in Bangalore that feed children in schools in India who cannot otherwise get the meals they need for a full stomach. Which will otherwise lead them choiceless and probably child labourers. After all, otherwise a child that cannot feed itself, must earn the money to feed itself when poverty is destitution.

I was lucky, God shone his grace upon me and I was born into a family that gave me an education – the best in the world.

But my fellow Indians are not so lucky. So I owe them a debt of honour. And this morning seeing the kitchens in full swing, I will redeem that promise made long long ago to myself aged 12 – that I shall never be less deserving in my studies than all those left behind.

Coming top of my class, top (eventually) in virtually every single exam, and winning prizes, was done because of the sacrifices of others. To repay a debt to them was done for all those left behind.

If you have a child who does not study, does not appreciate all they have.

Bring them here. Show them this or any Akshaya Patra India supported school.

It’s done, because one day, India will again not have malnourished children

Annual Christmas Celebration at Jain Centre Colindale

Jain Network hosted its annual Christmas lunch at Jain Centre Colindale last Sunday and presented over a thousand items of food to the Colindale Food Bank - all donated by volunteers and devotees who come to the Jain temple at the Centre.

The event, which has become a firm favourite amongst not just the Jain community, but also Jain Centre’s many inter-faith community friends, was attended by over 60 guests and included carol singing and a Vegetarian Christmas lunch, prepared by the Centre’s own volunteers.

Guests attending the event included: His Worshipful the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor David Longstaff, Worshipful the Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Rekha Shah, Worshipful the Mayor of Brent, Councillor Parvez Ahmed, Councillor Sachin Shah, Leader of Harrow Council, Dr Matthew Offord, MP for Hendon.

Lord Dholakia signing up to the Department of Transport’s THINK! Drink Drive camping

The campaign is to tackle driving, targeting those who do not recognise that even a small number of drinks before driving can be deadly. It urges everyone to THINK! Before driving. The importance of the campaign was highlighted during the Coca-Cola Christmas Reception which was held in conjunction with FareShare; the UK-wide food redistribution chari-

ty tackling food waste and hunger, in the House of Commons last week.

Andrew Jones MP; the Road Safety Minister said “Drivers know that drink driving is wrong. It can destroy families and ruin lives”. Other speakers included Julian Hunt, Vice President of Public Affairs at Coca-Cola European Partners; and Lindsay Boswell, CEO of FareShare.

On the occasion of the 61st Death anniversary commemoration of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a ceremony to remember Dr. Ambedkar was held at India House. A solemn ceremony was also held at Dr. Ambedkar Memorial at 10 King Henry's Road to commemorate the date.

In the evening, a ceremony to unveil Babasaheb’s portrait commissioned by the High Commission of India to be placed at Gray’s Inn in London was held at the Inn. India's Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment delivered a video message on the inspiring life of Dr. Ambedkar and his continuing relevance for all sections of Indian society.

Deputy High Commissioner Sh. Dinesh K. Patnaik delivered the first Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Lecture, titled ‘Power of Change’. This was followed by the unveiling of the Portrait of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar painted by a renowned British artist, Ms Hazel Morgan in the Large Pension Room.

Booze, Beans & Bhajis: The Story of the Corner Shop Cllr Ameet Jogia For many of Britain’s Asian communities, the corner shop holds a special place in our hearts. My parents were shopkeepers, as were many thousands of Asians parents across the country.

It’s the place where many from my general practised their mental arithmetic! It was – and is - the rock that held families together, the first route into business for many of our leading entrepreneurs and one of the most effective ways of integrating people into local communities.

Many have described the humble corner shop as a great British institution.

It is much more than just a shop, but a symbol of Britain’s entrepreneurial flare which has led us Britain to be known as a nation of shopkeepers.

On Monday the BBC will be screening a special programme that explores the significance of the corner shop in Britain, as well as its impact on immigrant communities, particularly the British Indian community who took this great institution to new heights.

The programme will explore their journey, many who have become large scale corporations.

The programme is presented by Babita Sharma, a BBC journalist and daughter of Asian shopkeepers, and looks to bring to our screens the hidden history of these local stores.

Starting with the birth of the corner shop, Babita will go through its journey to the present-day, charting their growth and shifting fortunes as they mirror

Babita Sharma meeting shopkeepers during the programme

the social changes in our nation, from global trade and class-mobility to immigration and commercial pressures.

Along the way Babita meets well-known second generation immigrants who also grew up in corner shops from actor Nitin Ganatra to comedian Sanjeev Singh Kholi.

Babita discovers great British characters who built up their corner shop businesses from scratch, such as Lord Dolar Popat and she'll use the shop as a way to explore the social story of Britain - from economic change to immigration.

Speaking ahead of the documentary, Babita said, “Finally we get to salute the trials and tribulations of this great British institution! This documentary reveals the hidden secrets of Corner shop life and pays homage to the thousands of shop keepers who have served us for generations include my Mum and

Dad''.

Laced with incredible archive and great characters, Babita Sharma will show the quirky side of The Corner Shop - and provide an insight into the world of the everyday to reveal an altogether remarkable slice of multicultural Britain.

The programme, titled ‘Booze, Beans and Bhajis’, will also look at the impact the British Indian community had on our nations shopping habits.

As Britain’s high-streets and supermarkets continue to overflow in the run up to Christmas, and in the same week that online-retailer ASOS announced an expansion of its team in the UK, this will be a timely look back at Britain’s shopping heritage.

“Booze, Beans and Bhajis: The Story of the Corner Shop” will be shown on BBC 4 on Monday 19 December on BBC 4 at 10pm. Definitely a programme to watch don't miss it!

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UK

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Kokila Patel and Mitul Paniker

TRAVEL DIARY

Celebrate this New Year's Eve abroad

REYKJAVIK

With only four hours of daylight in late December, locals in the northernmost capital of the world are ready to party

like no one else. New Year’s Eve kicks off with community bonfires around which people sing, dance, and play music. Meanwhile, fireworks light up from every corner of the city thanks to fairly relaxed government restrictions. As midnight approaches, crowds gather around local landmarks like Perlan and Landakotskirkja church for the best views of the official fireworks display and of the city, after which they head to bars and clubs. Come 5 am, you’ll see many staving off hangovers with hot dogs or a trip to the hot springs.

VIENNA

This atmospheric city is famous for its New Year’s Eve Grand Ball, hosted at Hofburg Palace, but there’s more on

offer than just throwback elegance. Vienna’s famous Christmas markets transform into New Year’s fairs, and hundreds of thousands of revelers crowd the Silvesterpfad (New Year’s Path) in the city center on New Year’s Eve. Fueled by mulled wine, the party starts at 2 pm and goes until well after midnight, with fireworks appearing over the Wiener Prater fair. On New Year’s Day, a huge crowd gathers outside the Rathaus (City Hall) to watch the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s concert on a giant screen.

MADEIRA ISLANDS

The famous fireworks display, officially recognized by the Guinness World Records, in 2006, as the largest display of

fireworks in the world.

This magnificent scenario, of rare beauty, is simply unique, with thousands of multi-coloured lamps decorating the amphitheater of Funchal, transforming it into a grandiose stage. As the clock strikes twelve, on the 31st, the sky is lit up with colour, light and hope in a new year that is just beginning.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

High London-Ahmedabad airfare refuses to dampen travellers' spirit

Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

NEW YORK

It may not be for everyone, but there’s no denying that New Year’s Eve in New York City has an atmosphere that

few other cities can rival. Most famous, of course, is the annual gathering of a million people in Times Square to see famous musicians and the ball drop, in which a 12foot-wide crystal ball weighing nearly 12,000 pounds descends atop One Times Square. For a slightly less chaotic experience, book a reservation at one of the bars or restaurants overlooking Times Square. And for something completely different, consider a nighttime boat ride on New York Harbor, which offers the best views of the midnight fireworks display on Liberty Island.

MIAMI, FLORIDA

You can expect to find celebrations of all types all over this city. You might like to head over to South Beach for a good

old-fashioned all-night dance-a-thon. A family friendly event is Miami’s answer to New York’s famous ball drop which is a 35-foot neon “Big Orange” which descends from the Inter-Continental Miami. There is a grand finale boasting a huge fireworks show at Bayfront Park and there will be family activities, musical entertainment and food available.

DUBAI

New Year’s celebrations in Dubai are always special. If you plan to be in our Emirate over the holiday period, there are plenty of ways to welcome in 2017. Here are five ideas to help your holiday planning.

During the 2014 New Year’s celebration, Dubai set the world record for the largest firework display with 479,651 shells released in a six-minute show. We always like to ring in every New Year with explosive grandeur at a number of iconic landmarks including the Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab and the Palm Jumeirah. All you need to do is grab a blanket and pick a picnic spot – and be sure to arrive early. www.visitdubai.com www.europeanbestdestinations.com www.fodors.com

Winters in Britain are known to be harsh. Cold and soggy, with the sun setting in for an early evening.

Bringing in the blues despite the festive season, many opt to visit India and delight in its welcoming weather. Wintertime sees a significant rise in the number of people packing their bags to the country, giving airlines a much needed reason to make the most of the peak time and charge skyrocketing fares.

Many of our readers have repeatedly approached us to appeal to carrier airline Air India to increase the number of direct flights from London to Ahmedabad. Which is why, we took it up to conduct surveys and derive data on the number of flights leaving London to reach not just Ahmedabad, but other major Indian cities, and their peak time and off-peak time ticket charges. After having talked with various travel agents, we made two observations. One, it is a mammoth task to book tickets from Christmas to 14 January. Two, even if one does manage to find seats, they have to pay a disgusting

the US and reach Heathrow-London, where another 100 something passengers board and later it reaches Ahmedabad. UK Gujaratis prefer going in these direct flights that are scheduled for four journeys a week. Many who do not get economy tickets, take business class tickets, choosing to fly despite the price difference. Provisions in these flights including sufficient leg room and Indian food makes it the preferred choice for people. Agents believe that if the AirIndia schedules a few extra flights during the said period, things would become easier for a lot of people. In rates given by agents for flights in January and February, Air India economy class tickets cost approximately £660, £696, £695, £750, and business class tickets cost somewhere around £2100, £2800 to £3000 and £3800. Despite such prices, it becomes difficult to find seats. Another survey revealed, that those who do not get tickets for the direct flight, opt for flights via Mumbai, Dubai, Qatar, and Abu Dabi. Jet, Etihad, Emirates, and Qatar airline flights going to Ahmedabad from London via Mumbai, Delhi, Qatar, Dubai and

Airlines Economy First Business Direct/ via peak/ non peak

Air India 30,500-1,50,000- 40,000 British Airways 39,000-24,000- 1,50,000 Jet Airways 33,800-1,50,000 Etihad Airways 37,000- 1,50,000 via 46,000 Qatar Airways 39,000 - 1,50,000 via 46,000 A difference of at least 10,000 to 15,000 is seen during peak time. amount for them. Woes of people looking for a vacation does not end here. Even if they score tickets for their prefered dates, there are no guarantees on finding tickets to come back home.

Seeing the massive difference in flight rates especially in December and January, we contacted several agents to obtain prices of airlines including Air India, Jet Airways, British Airways, Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad. All agents conveyed that they find it difficult to book tickets for Air India's LondonAhmedabad direct flight after December 20.

Uttarayan, or Kite Flying Festival is a major reason for NRIs or people of Indian origin wanting to visit India in January. If there is a gush of passengers willing to loosen their pockets, then why the sudden surge in airprices? Every airline has different rates for its economy class tickets and its business class tickets. While the cheaper class tickets are booked way in advance, business class tickets are known to be pricey. Rates clients receive depend on what seats their agents hold.

Air India's LondonAhmedabad direct flights bring 100 passengers from

Abu Dhabi, charge somewhere between £500 to £750. For information on flight rates of AhmedabadLondon flights, journalists from our Ahmedabad office, Jitendra Umatia and Achyut Sanghvi conducted a research. Charges for Ahmedabad-London flights differ based on the travel date, class and on the period. Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways charge the most when Air India and Jet Airways charge less. British Airways has allotted no direct Ahmedabad-London flight- only connecting flights owing to its tie up with Qatar Airways. An important thing to be noticed that one way tickets are always expensive, as opposed to a return ticket which makes a big difference in the fares.

There are times when a single fare for Ahmedabad to London costs Rs 70,000 while the entire round trip including the return fare costs Rs 70,000.

Tusharbhai of Ahmedabad's Shakti Travels informed that prices for Air India's Ahmedabad-London flights is the lowest, while Etihad and Qatar Airways that route the Middle East, charge more.

SP

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How can we identify high impact charities to support?

Nearly 180,000 charities exist in England and Wales today. The vast majority do incredible work in our communities, our schools, our hospices and overseas.

But they don’t all get recognised for their selfless dedication and commitment. Unfortunately, charities are often in the news for the wrong reasons.

When the governmentbacked charity Kids Company was shut down recently by the Charities Commission, questions were rightly asked of the management, but also of the auditors.

High impact charities For example, Oliver Letwin, who has overall control of the Cabinet Office, told the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into the

charity that “the evidence we were getting from the auditors was not evidence of something that was financially mismanaged in the way that it has now come to light that it was.”

The Charities Commission says defaulting on submitting accounts is also a habitual problem – 76% of defaulters have done so more than once. One in five have defaulted for five years running. This includes some of the prominent community organisations in the Asian community.

Charity Clarity is what a recent Forbes article called the “first rating tool and technology platform for charities.” Within a year of being launched, this technology start-up has nearly 400 charities listed on the website, many of which we actively help with grant applications often worth up

to £80,000 with a decision on obtaining the grant within two days.

Some of the figures from Charity Clarity’s data are interesting. Charities which get 3.5 stars out of 5 or more have nearly 40% more women in their trustees or management team than the lowest rated charities. They have an income growth of double that of charities rated between 2.5 and 3.5 stars. The highest rated charities had income growth of 64% over the last three years, compared to just 32% for the latter ones. The highest rated charities also have the greatest clarity over how trustees are appointed and empowered to do the role to the best of their ability.

So Asians that are looking to give to wonderful causes could use Charity Clarity’s database to do so. It clearly identifies the best performing charities, and highlights the ones with poor governance and financial health for example.

But there are at least 2,000 registered charities in England and Wales that say they focus their efforts on development or related work in an Asian country. For East Africa, this figure is not far behind at 1,700. In fact there are 962 charities that identify India as a target area for them, but 480 that say Uganda and 599 Kenya.

Of course, many more identify their adopted home as the focus of their efforts, with at least 14,000 charities say their focus is throughout England and Wales.

However you donate and engage in social action, choose wisely. Pick charities that dream big, are innovative and can help change the world for the better. If your chosen charity has poor governance, or issues with finances, tell us about them a t contact@charityclarity.org.

TLIGHT

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Meenal Sachdev: Fighting for Social Responsibility in the Modern World

Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

Sunetra Senior

At a time when some of us may feel disempowered by the complex issues in the world, Meenal and her team at the Shiva Foundation are bringing the power of personal action back to the fore. Co-founder and Director of the Foundation, and the first Indian female councillor of Hertsmere, Meenal has drawn from her own experience in the social impact, government and the hospitality sectors (she is also Head of Sustainability for Shiva Hotels), to fight the systemic issue of human trafficking across the UK. “Since the passing of the Modern Slavery Act last year, I believe the government is making it their priority to combat trafficking,” Meenal Sachdev told us. “There comes a point where we must ask ourselves as individuals what we can do for the cause with the immediate resources at our disposal. This need not be a grand action to start off with, but a simple response and desire to do something, with an appreciation of the skills, resources and time we already have to hand. My husband and I started Shiva Foundation in 2012 because we were absolutely horrified at the hidden issue of human exploitation happening on our own doorstep; 45.8million people are enslaved across the world. It’s actually easier to smuggle humans into the country than drugs. Once we built some knowledge about the issue, we decided to use what we knew best to kick-start the change. From training the Shiva hotels’ front of house staff in anti-trafficking, to bringing on board our suppliers, we are slowly growing the initiatives within our own hotel group and across the industry more broadly in order to achieve an identifiable national shift.” *** Last month also saw Meenal unveiling the Stop Slavery Network for the Hotel Industry at the Trust Women conference with an emphasis on information sharing and collaborative change. Meenal shared that, “You cannot be successful in combating an atrocity as wide-spread and entrenched as human trafficking if you are alienating those who could have been working alongside you.

Traffickers are gangmasters, and are unnervingly organised so we need every possible institution working together in the same organised way – police, social services, NGOs, businesses, and policy-makers.” In this way Meenal shows us systems that can seem overwhelming and stubbornly bureaucratic can actually respond to a communal call to action. “There’s only so much a legal framework can achieve,” the councillor aptly stated. “We all have a duty to be aware, and I think that is the more positive path too. We need to go outside of our comfort zones, because we will not be able to find our role in tackling this (or any other) social issue otherwise. If we want to see an eradication of human trafficking in our lifetime, and for that matter, environmental issues and so on, we need to wake up, come together and recognise our part in life as civic investors.” Indeed, Meenal shares her hope that in due course Shiva Foundation’s best practice model will be ready for adoption by any the hospitality industry. In addition to her work with hotels, Meenal is also working towards a Hertforshire wide anti-trafficking initiative.

Could you please tell us more about your Stop Slavery Network?

The network will comprise of Shiva Hotels and several other large brands, including Hilton and Bespoke Hotels.

We will be meeting quarterly to establish a platform similar to the likes of retail platform Stronger Together to facilitate the exchange of information.

We hope this network will go beyond simply putting pressure on brands but provide a support system where change is required. It will also have the added benefit of customers being able to know who supports the cause and who doesn’t.

How do you tackle the specific issue of sexual exploitation in the hotels?

The International Labour Organisation has stated that 21% of all trafficking cases involve sexual exploitation, and hotels are a hub for this. We have a two pronged approach in place for this, which includes both specially training staff in this area to teach them to recognise the signs and also making sure there is a local support network available, ensuring effective action. Police and social service contacts are put in place here.

Tell us more about the research process for this antitrafficking project? It must have been immense.

When we first started, we took it very slowly. We wanted to be precise: what would be the right intervention? Who exactly was responsible? Because human trafficking and modern slavery

are huge global issues, we had to come to it with a very open mindset. The other issue was that we were delving into a topic that had been previously underinvestigated. Even in terms of policy, it hasn’t been clear until the last few months what statutory requirements might look like for local governments and stakeholders because of the lack of data. But we worked thoroughly to build up a cross-network dialogue, had many conversations, and worked tirelessly with different bodies. The final approach included working with our hotels, rather than having a top-down approach, and looking carefully and collaboratively at the supply chains in which we operate. It’s been an interesting journey and we hope we can lead by example.

Is your final goal a globally united anti-trafficking network?

I’d say our overarching strength is the thoroughness of our approach, its integrity and our investment into partnerships. The process to us is as important as the outcome. As long as we continue to do that, we’ll go on challenging human trafficking.

What were your motivations for becoming councillor for Hertsmere?

Whilst I’d participated in social impact work in India and Africa, I knew little about the work on the ground in the UK. There was a particular incident, when I became aware that residents in my area were having to use a food bank, and didn’t have food to eat for the next few days. It was shocking. I thought I

must be able to affect change in my own area and that I had a duty to give back in some way. Especially for a country I call home - that’s educated me and done so much for me. The other motivation was my children. I wear my mum hat proudly. I wanted to be able to show my boys the value of community service: to take them canvassing and show them the importance of community work and public service so that they may make informed and careful decisions about their future careers and lives. I do believe the onus is on parents to teach their children that they can shape the world in positive and meaningful ways.

Finally, have you had a particularly memorable moment in your life?

My entire family (Both on my side and my husband’s side) is very philanthropic and their giving has always been a source of inspiration for me. My Guru, Morari Bapu has placed the ideals of Truth Love and Compassion deep within the structure of my life.

One particular experience that has gone a long way in shaping who I am today was when my father encouraged me to go on an independent trip to India for a year when I was 18. There were no mobile phones or email at the time and I will never forget just how challenging that year was and yet out of that came immense personal growth.

That year has shaped many of my decisions, including co-founding Connect India, which ran service based and leadership oriented programmes for Young British Indians. www.shivafoundation.org.uk W

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Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

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GURKHAS INJECT LIFE IN THE DYING TOWN OF ALDERSHOT Rupanjana Dutta

treated as equal to any retired British Army officer.

The Gurkhas have a long and storied history within the British Army. Originally serving in the (British) Indian Army, Gurkha regiments have remained within the British armed forces since 1815. More than

The Gurkhas made Aldershot their home since settlement rights in the UK were granted to them in 2004.

7 years back, News Editor Kamal Rao and I had visited their home, to witness how the newly arrived community was settling down. While many of the ex Gurkha regiment soldiers were grateful to be now living in the rich soils of the UK, many were old, frail, helpless and struggling without their children and family.

They were also disappointed with the lower pension amount (than their British counterparts), and the cost of living remaining high. It seemed that some of them were regretting to have moved to the UK, many perhaps contemplating to go back, but having sold everything in their homeland

I) There had been a difference in treatment of the applicants in relations to the pension to which they are entitled on leaving the British Army, as compared to non Gurkha soldiers.

II) The applicants are now in a relatively similar situation as from the date of

Gurkhas marching down The Mall commemorating 200 years of loyalty to Britain

popular among the community, originally from Tibet) and noodles.

On the street, a cafe, that was a tiny kebab shop, serving take away Nepalese and Tibetian food 7 years back, now is a full fledged restaurant, with fancy sit down chairs and tables.

Taxi companies, cash and carries, hair dressers, jewellery shops, security companies- all owned by Gurkhas have come up across the town- an example of a decade old immigrant community in Britain, changing the economy of the town, and for better.

RushmoorAmber Rudd the as the Under Secretary for Environment and based Nepalese organiClimate Change inaugurated GnErgy in Dec 2014. Also in the photo sation Sahara UK purMajor (retd) Tikendra Dewan with his team chased £10,000 of beautiful banqueting hall– shares in Aldershot Town before migrating- there was The Palace, which was forFootball Club in 2015 to furnothing left for them to merly a theatre. Originally ther strengthen the relationreturn to. One could see the named The Picture Palace ship between The Shots and tired ex-soldiers with their Theatre, it was designed by the local Nepalese communipartners, slowly walking the architect John Priestly ty. around the city centre, lost in Briggs and first opened in British Gurkha Welfare their thought, looking wor1912. Farnborough -based Society, a non-governmental ried, sadness looming on Gurkha Event Planner (GEP) organisation that represents their faces. It was not what secured a 15-year lease for the former members of the we had anticipated for this venue in 2015. It was recently Brigade, that I had visited in valiant community. bought by Aldershot developmy previous trip has also However, today's er Suneet Jain. gone through a major facelift.

Aldershot, an otherwise A young and beautiful I recall a huge room filled dying town, is a completely with newly arrived Gurkhas, looking a bit lost, sitting on their chairs, getting oriented with the culture and language here- today it is a full fledged office for the first ever Asian owned energy company GnErgy. With 29 staff, Retired Major Tikendra Dewan is the CEO and the main face for this very affordable energy company. A brain child of Dr Bisambhar Arjya, Mr Dewan provided with the Gurkha community walking around in Aldershot partnership he needed to Gurkha couple was getting launch this energy company. different picture. It is the married- laughter and hope Started on a shoe string same Gurkha community, filled the hall. The banquet budget, the company has no that has injected life into the manager was busy coordinatbank loans and runs on city with their hard work and ing with his staff, while he investments from the combusiness acumen. They may prepared for another wedmunity itself. Mr Dewan not be that affluent, but they ding reception in the thinks that builds an had found life outside being a evening. The restaurant accountability, that the big soldier, and some children above the hall, served players may lack. under 30 years of age, who authentic Nepalese food, He said, “All my staff are were allowed to join their including momos (a dish young graduates and are parents, had now grown up to become successful entrepreneurs and professionals.

80% of the community own their houses across the town, if not the UK. The total population is about 10,000.

We walked around the City centre, and there was a

from the Gurkha community.

Their fathers were in the regiment. We endeavour to create jobs for our children- giving them an opportunity they need as well as they deserve.”

Over the last 3 years, Gnergy has had 4% growth in their customers, with an overall database of 17000 members now. They do not advertise heavily, but their strength lies in the Asian community, that they serve with their utmost 'loyalty'.

“We are a feedback oriented company,” said Major Dewan. “We provide the cheapest tariff. If any customer is dissatisfied, I as the CEO deal with the complaint directly. It builds a sort of faith we want people to have in us.”

But then how does he promote this energy company? “Community is our goal and our strength. Our allegiance is with the community organisations.

Every membership they bring us, we donate them £10,” added Tikendra.

They also run a 24 hours radio station in Nepali language, that is housed in the same BGWS building. The station not only connects the

A restaurant run by the Gurkhas

200,000 Gurkha soldiers fought in the two world wars, and in the past fifty years they have served in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Borneo, Cyprus, the Falklands, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Today these soldiers form the Brigade of Gurkhas, an administrative entity ensures that Gurkha units are able to be integrat-

The Aldershot Town Football Club with Chelsea FC raised over £5000 for the benefit of Nepal earthquake victims in 2015. In picture Chelsea striker Dominic Solanke with members of the Nepalese community

ed into the British Army.

Since July 1997 the Brigade’s home base has been in the UK, due to the completion that year of the handover of

A local cash and carry shop run by Gurkhas in Aldershot

community with their roots, but also brings gossips, music and interviews of stars from the tinsel town.

The equal pension struggle

While the community continues to serve the British society with much regards, they believe they are still not

the GOTT (March 2007) into the Armed Forces Pension Scheme from which they had previously been excluded; but had not been in a relatively similar situation prior to that date.

The Gurkhas are appealing against this decision saying that whatever it was irrelevant to consider that applicants would necessarily retire from service in the

Hong Kong – its previous home base – to China.

On winning the right of settlement in the UK, the pension money has proved not to be sufficient for these soldiers, as the amount was expected to cater to a living standard in Nepal. Gurkhas took the matter to the court.

The European Court of Human Rights held that:

British Armed Forces to Nepal where the costs of living was lower. It is against the right to equal pay for equal work in British Army and should not be dependening on whether the worker wishes, needs or arranges to spend his or her pay in one way or place or another.

They are also demanding that costs are irrelevant to the assessment of the case because States being signatories to the European Convention of Human Rights should not be allowed to continue acts of discrimination on such basis.

Major Dewan said, “Reliance in this respect is placed on the approach adopted by the Court of Justice of the European Union when considering justification of indirect discrimination; and where the court has consistently held that budgetary considerations cannot justify such discriminations.”

Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

Christmas Gift ideas for all AsianVoiceNews

Gifts for her

Christmas Special Christmas Markets in the UK Bath

Cardiff

Nov 24 to Dec 11

Nov 10 to Dec 23

The Christmas market around the wonderful Roman Bath and the Abbey have around 170 stalls lining the streets.

Nearly all the items on sale are produced in the local area, or made by local suppliers, many of whom put stall for the first time this year. Ceramics and glasswear, clothes, toys and homeware are among the items on sale – as well as food and drink.

London Nov to Jan (various dates) There are several Christmas markets throughout London, from the traditional Southbank Centre Christmas Market (November 30 to January 3) with its wooden chalet stalls, to the festive extravagance of Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland (November 18 to January 2), with its giant observation wheel, ice rink and circus alongside the Christmas market.

There's a great range of artwork on sale at this traditional market in the centre of Cardiff – from collage and photographic prints to posters and cards. Other stalls sell children's toys and outfits, glassware and ceramics, knitwear, jewellery and much more. Beyond the market there's a funfair and ice rink at Winter Wonderland. Besides the above there are many other Christmas markets, that are much recommended in cities such as Belfast, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Exeter, Brighton, Winchester, Cirencester, Nottingham, Leeds, Salisbury and Canterbury.

Birmingham Nov 17 to Dec 29 F r a n k f u r t Christmas Market in Birmingham's Victoria Square is the largest German market held outside Germany and Austria. Visitors can soak up the village atmosphere while enjoying a range of German fare – from mulled wine and beers to meats and pastries. The Christmas Craft Fair next door extends onto Chamberlain Square, featuring various handmade gifts from local artists.

(Source: The Daily Telegraph)

Microwavable Slipper Boots The beautifully soft C o z y Boots™ are perfect to come home to after a long day on your feet! They are scented with lavender, making them ideal to sit back and put your feet up. Warm them in the microwave for extra cosiness.

They make a lovely gift idea for someone who loves their home comforts and can't wait to relax after a long tiring day! (www.gettingpersonal.co.uk)

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Imusic sleeping pillow

Using an old pillow is so retro now the iMusic Pillow is available. This soft pillow is not only a place to put your sleepy head but it has speakers built inside so you can relax with no headphones and listen to your music in your pillow. The speakers are inside of the pillow and make it a lot easier and more comfortable to listen to your music as you nod off. You could use it for audiobooks, learning a new language, self-help or even revision! One can also set up the pillow so that you can listen to the television without annoying anyone else in the room. Please be aware that you can't put the pillow in the washing machine, you will need to wipe clean and air dry. Not suitable for children below 5 years. (www.prezzybox.com)

Gifts for him

Immerse - Virtual Reality Headset

Immerse has created an amazing virtual reality headset and it's ready for all your gaming needs.

This amazing headset lets the gamer experience 3D movies, games and incredible virtual experiences all at the hands of their smart phones!

It's compatible with most smart phones including android and iPhone, and works by downloading the content directly to the phone using the App Store and play store, the content is inexpensive and there's even lots of free games readily available for you to try too. (www.prezzybox.com)

Personalised Canvas Holdall

One of the most frustrating airport must-dos is awaiting the arrival of your luggage at baggage claim. Every time, no matter what time you arrive, it's your bag that appears last, and even then you're not sure if it's even yours because they all look the same!

It is the perfect case for all his holiday needs. This great bag can be personalised with his initials, which will appear on the outer side.

No one can change the order in which it comes off the plane but now he'll be able to spot it with ease as the last of the bags hit the belt. (www.gettingpersonal.co.uk)

New Year's Eve

New Year Celebrations Londoners and people across the globe, gather in London to watch the fireworks on 31st December. Incredible fireworks take place along the River Thames in London. The official fireworks display is ticketed this year, but there are several bars and parties with perfect locations, prime for catching the action. You can also book yourself on a boat, that may be serving dinner or just cocktails.

You can cruise down the Thames and the boats usually moor near the London Eye for the midnight dhamaka.

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works along with champagne and a three course meal at a special price. l The Cinnamon Club at a Grade II Westminster Library, Cinnamon Club in colonial-style restaurant has 4 course meal available, on pre booking basis at a particular cost. l Calcutta Street restaurant at Fitzrovia is organising for a decadent 1920's party. There will be dinner, drinks, dancing and the dulcet tones of our live Jazz singer (Vintage Covergirl), making it a night to remember! l If you do not like to step out too far Any plans for New Year's Eve yet? Now from home and want something Indian, you do!

Sunlounge banqueting is organising a l R.S. Hispaniola on river Thames at New Year Eve dinner on 31st Dec and Victoria Embankment gives diners an dance along with 3 course set meal. It will effortlessly romantic view of the firebe hosted by Ezy DJ, with dhol players and top choreographer Jay Lions Club of Kingsbury, Kenton, Belmont Kumar. and Lioness Club of Golders Green l Lions Club of in association with Devan Charitable Trust Kingsbury, Kenton and Belmont will host a presents Musical night musical night on Music by December 26th from Jayu Rawal and Group 7pm till late at Premier accompanied by: Banqueting Hall in Wahab, Rima, & Harbir Harrow. on: 26th December 2016 l Pinal and Bharat From: 7 p.m. till late Shah of Navrang Venue: Premier Banqueting Hall, Promotions will present 1 Canning Road Harrow HA3 7TS New Year's Eve at All proceeds to Arpan Dhamecha Lohana 'Charity for abused children' Centre from 8pm on 31 For Tickets conact: Dec. Anila Gohil and Dinesh Shonchhatra- 07956 810 647 / 020 8424 8686 Group will entertain Surendra Popat - 07901 946 169 Ticket: £25 people with their music.

Vinod Pandya - 07966 387 305 include Dinner & Manu Ram - 07939 854 742 3 course vegeterian meal Soft drinks Purshottam Majithia - 07459 852 619 will be available. free parking Sandhya Gandecha - 07956 883 342

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FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

Consultant Editor Financial Voice Alpesh Patel

Why You Do Not Need to Worry About Debt (if a country) Dear Financial Voice Reader, At Christmas people worry the most about debt.

Personal debt is soul-destroying and if you have it, please get advice from all the online sources and friends and talk it over with friends who can advise.

If you’re a country, you could go to the IMF, but even the UK and US who are going to spend like crazy next year will not need to go to the IMF. Despite all their debts the credit card companies ie Chinese and Japanese, will keep lending to them. And they are giving them near interest free credit cards.

It is true if we had no debt then debt repayment interest could be spent usefully. However, the debt can be rolled over forever with a low rate of interest and the credit rating is not affecting the cost of borrowing.

Of course, it would be a lot better if we had huge growth and lots of exports. But then again it would be great if we all doubled our salaries too. It makes a lot more sense for the UK to borrow to spend on raising the skills of its people and building infrastructure and attracting the best global talent.

The problem is, with an aging population, healthcare costs go through the roof and spending on those is not economically productive -it is caring and we should and must be. So again, we need to upskill the country whilst we can borrow the money cheaply. It’s a little like borrowing to do an MBA before your parents get too old and need you even more.

The outlook for the global economy is therefore good. America will probably stay out of wars, since the President is either too scared to take on Putin or too much in love with him. Spending from Governments should mean you will feel happier. Roads, rail should all improve.

So the price? Well, there may not be. Sorry not to be glum. Personally, first thing you should do is cut debt and save. Then only should you think about investing money in the markets in 2017.

It’s going to be a bumper year – companies will probably start giving higher wages and consumers will spend – but you as a consumer should not. Spend to invest in yourself or in something that will give a return, but do not buy consumer goods. Trust me, things are good, but you will be really happy debt-free, unlike your country.

Indian govt hands out sops for going cashless A month after the Indian government's demonetisation move, it unveiled a list of incentives last week to promote cashless payments for petrol, diesel, insurance policies, toll and railway travel, etc.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced 11 measures at a time when the opposition observed a "black day" to protest hardships caused by demonetisation.

The move aims to step up the use of digital gateways, service tax charged on digital transaction charges and scrap merchant discount rates up to Rs 2,000 per transaction.

"State-run fuel companies will offer a discount of 0.75 per cent to consumers when they buy petrol and diesel using debit or credit cards and other digital methods. This means that if you spend Rs 4,000 to buy petrol and diesel in a month, you can save Rs 30 and reduce the outgo to Rs 3,970 by swiping your debit and credit cards or use any other digital payment system. The incentive scheme has the potential of shifting at least 30 per cent more customers to digital means

which will further reduce the cash requirement of nearly £20 billion per year at petrol pumps," Jaitley said at a news conference.

He said nearly 45 million customers who buy petrol or diesel at petrol pumps per day can avail the incentive. The estimate is that petrol and diesel worth £180 million is sold per day, of which, nearly 20 per cent is paid for through digital means.

This increased by 40 per cent in November, and cash transaction of £36 million a day shifted to cashless methods. To promote cashless transactions as well as inbuilt cost in a democratic set-up, the FM said the government was promoting payment by credit, debit cards and e-wallets.

"Dealing with cash has its own economic costs, which is why the government is promoting payments by credit cards, debit cards and e-wallets. Petrol and diesel will get cheaper for those who choose digital modes of transactions.

They will get a discount of 0.75 per cent on every transaction they make at various petrol pumps."

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RBI cuts India's growth estimate to 7.1% from 7.6%, holds rates AsianVoiceNews

The Reserve Bank of India has cut growth estimates for the economy to 7.1 per cent from 7.6 per cent way before the demonetisation effect plays into effect. It cited a slowdown in the second quarter but underplayed the impact of the radical currency change.

Disappointed at the central bank's decision to hold its key policy rates, stock and bond prices fell mid week.

The BSE Sensex fell 156 points, reversing a two-day trend and yield on the benchmark 10 year bond shot up by 20 basis points to 6.40 per cent. However, banks are confident that loans will get cheaper after the RBI decided to release funds locked by way of an incremental cash reserve requirement.

Before the policy, most bankers and economists were of the view that the RBI would cut rates in its bi-monthly policy review.

Urjit Patel

"The decision to keep the repo rate unchanged was a little surprising given that there has been sizeable demand destruction," said Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairman, State Bank of India. The main bank, in its defense, downplayed the impact of demand contraction following demonetisation, saying the impact on GDP growth would at worst be 15 basis points, adding that it was only a temporary phenomenon.

"The growth estimates

Demonetisation a well deliberated decision: RBI Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor R Gandhi claimed that the government's decision to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes was taken after detailed deliberations and not in haste. "The demonetisation decision was not taken in haste. Nineteen billion new notes have been given to public, more than what we have supplied to public in the last 3 years," he said while addressing a press meet following the bank's bimonthly monetary policy review.

Responding to a query on the review of the last date of demonetisation drive, Gandhi said, "About the date, it is a continuous review. The programme is as of now December 30."

He also pitched the move, asking people not to panic.

"We are trying to provide

adequate cash. We advise people to not panic or hoard cash. They should also consider adopting more digital payments as there are many available options. RBI's note printing presses are working at full capacity and as on December 5, notes worth 4 lakh crore have been supplied to the banks."

He stressed there is no shortage of cash. "So far about 12 lakh crore demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes have been deposited in the banks and new notes are continuously being supplied to ease the pressure."

Gandhi addressed a question on the bank's plans to re-introduce new Rs 1000 notes, saying, "Choice of denomination as I have mentioned is based on the requirements of the public.

are down because of the Q2 revision which is in the past. The withdrawal of specified bank notes is also factored in but that is only about 15 basis points and we regard that as a very transitory phenomenon and monetary policy should not be reacting to transitory phenomenon," it said. RBI governor Urjit Patel came on too strong in his defense of the government move. "The motivation for the decision was to deal with the problem of

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high-quality counterfeit notes and unearth black money that may be held in cash. The decision was not taken in haste but after detailed deliberations."

Speaking on inflation, Patel said, "CPI inflation, excluding food and fuel, has been resistant to downward impulses and could set a floor to headline inflation. With the OPEC's agreement to cut production, crude prices may firm up in the coming months."

Even as bond yields rose sharply following Reserve Bank of India's decision to hold rates, bankers expect interest rates to ease as banks will be flush with liquidity for some time. Helping to bring down the cost of funds for banks will be the withdrawal of the 100% incremental cash reserve ratio (CRR) requirement imposed on November 26.

ADB trims growth forecast for Asia The Asian Development Bank has trimmed its economic growth forecast this year for developing Asia to 5.6 per cent. The revision was slightly below the previous projection of 5.7 per cent due to a slight slowdown in India, one of developing Asia's biggest economies.

Forecast growth for the entire region next year remains unchanged at 5.7 per cent.

ADB said in a report that India's surprise demonetization of large banknotes will likely dampen growth this year to 7 per cent from a previous forecast of 7.4 per cent. But South Asia is the most dynamic part of the region, with growth expected at 6.6 per cent this year, down from the previous forecast of 6.9 per cent. South Asia's growth is estimated at 7.3

per cent in 2017.

The report says regional giant China is on course to grow 6.6 per cent this year and 6.4 per cent in 2017. East Asia as a whole is seen to expand by 5.8 per cent this year and 5.6 per cent in 2017 as growth stabilizes in line with earlier forecasts. The report said growth in the major Southeast Asian economies in the third quarter met projections and even surpassed them in Malaysia and the Philippines. The subregion is forecast to expand by 4.5 per cent in 2016, and picking up to 4.6 per cent in 2017.

"Asian economies continue their robust expansion in the face of global economic uncertainties," said ADB Deputy Chief Economist Juzhong Zhuang.

Gujarat targets 25,000 MoUs for VGGS 2017 With over a dozen nations willing to become 'partner countries', and a horde of global corporate countries confirming their presence, the Gujarat state government has tagged a target of signing at least 25,000 memorandums of understanding worth a whopping Rs 30 Lakh Crore in the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017.

Scheduled to take place next month, the Chief Minister's Office has directed industries and mines department to manage the signing of the MoUs with an investment commitment of Rs 30 Lakh Crore in the event. The target was set despite key offi-

cials advising the governkent against it. The then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi had decided in 2013 to not reveal the "magical figure" of MoUs, however, former CM Anandiben announced a tentative figure of Rs 25

Lakh in 2015. A key official in the industries and mines department said, "This time also many officials advised the government to focus only on number of MoUs rather than their value. Despite the fact, the department has been given a target of Rs 30 Lakh Crore for the next summit."

State Government data shows cumulative investment of Rs 84.55 lakh crore by way of 51,738 MoUs was committed over the past seven editions (from 2003 to 2015), of which a total number of 29,885 (57.76 per cent) MoUsprojects have been

commissioned while 4,189 (8.10 per cent) are under implementation.

Actual realisation of these MoUs have always remained debatable as the government only provides details of the number of projects commissioned or under implementation, and refrains from giving the figures in value terms.

A senior government official said, "Most of the MoUs commissioned or under implementation are from micro, small, and medium enterprise sector, where the investment in value terms remains low.

Very few large, mega or ultra-mega projects have been commissioned over the last decade."

REALESTATEVOICE

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KNOWLEDGE IS POWER AsianVoiceNews

Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap London Property Investment

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

We are currently working on a deal in a strong part of London, where the Crossrail is due to come in 2018. The property consists of a parcel of land with a building containing multiple studios, which are bringing in a gross income of 8% per annum.

On a purchase price of £6m, this is a whopping return on your investment given the location is a stone throw way from central London, and is in a regeneration area in its own right. If all you do is purchase and hold the investment, this would be no bad thing.

The building itself has multiple ways to add value, through a programme of development and refurbishment. The

current square footage is 12,000, and given the purchase price is £6m, this equates to £500 per sq. ft., which is cheap given the location commands rates of £850 per sq. ft. minimum.

Given this is a market where good deals are surfacing, we can afford to be picky and go only for the cream, and where there is an angle. This is one such deal.

On this piece of land, we spotted an opportunity, we knew something which both the seller and the agent missed. It is said information is power, in property this can be translated into hard money.

We knew, and had then got confirmation from our

AND A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE, NOT A PROPERTY Whether you’re a landlord of a flat or house, pets are always a huge sticking point when it comes to renting out a property.

Some landlords allow cats and birds but no dogs, while others are open to pretty much everything. If you find yourself in a situation with a renter having a destructive pet, it’s important you get a Pet Policy in place.

This is my personal list of worst pets from a landlord, tenant and agent’s point of view: #5: Reptiles Growing up, we actually

owned a snake and it was relatively easy to take care of. It made the room stink a little bit and once a week we’d drop a mouse in the cage, and that would be that. I think the only apprehension I have with reptiles is some of them are dangerous and if they somehow get out of their cages you could have a big problem on your hands. #4: Fish I think most landlords would probably be OK renting to someone with a fish tank. You might have to put a size limit on it though, as if the tank

BUY TO LET OPPORTUNITY

St. Augustines Road, London NW1 Purchase Price: £399,950

breaks you don’t want to have a massive flooding on your hands. The nice thing about fish is that they keep to themselves and they don’t make any noise like some other pets do. #3: Dogs As a renter, I would love to have a dog. It’s nice coming home to see that happy face every day, no matter what mood you’re in. That’s probably why so many people live with dogs, they make for great companionship. And while most dogs are well behaved and quiet, the

Asian Voice |17th December 2016

19

planning consultant, that this piece of land can be split, meaning part of the land can be cut off from the main property and not affect the value of the existing building. The property is on a corner plot, and the empty piece of land fronts another street.

Here we can get planning for a three-storey building, in its own right the GDV of the finished development will be in the region of £6m. This means the land with planning should be worth at least £1.5m.

In other words, the property can be cut off and resold for £1.5m once planning is in place. The planning can be applied for between the period of exchange and completion.

10% that aren’t can really ruin it for everyone.

Having lived in several different residences (houses, apartments) over the past 10 years I’ve seen all sizes and manners of dogs, and the only ones that really bothered me were the tiny dogs with high pitched barks. #2: Cats Let me say first of all, I am not a cat person. Even though they can be trained to use the bathroom in a small sandbox, I have never been a fan. But that being said, many people do love their cats and the thought of living without them is torturous. Cats are pretty quiet by pet standards so the number

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There is even a possibility of getting this resold based on a positive preapplication which negates the need for going for full planning and is a quicker way to cash in on the investment.

Here is an example of money being made based on knowledge, it’s hard to one issue that comes up with them is damage.

Felines tend to gnaw on things around the house, scratch walls and basically do all the little things to damage your property. You could offset this by requesting a larger security deposit but cats definitely add a lot of wear and tear to your property. #1: Birds You might not think that birds would top the list of worst pets, but I’ve never met a quiet bird. They are constantly gawking and screeching and they are at their worst when the owners are not home. So, bird lovers might think their pets are well behaved

find this in the property market as generally everything is known and apparent.

Due to the way this deal can be structured, here’s an opportunity to make a lot of money with relatively little. If this excites you call the office now.

when they’re around, but the second they leave, these animals tend to make the most noise.

I think the bird loving population is pretty small, so you wouldn’t be losing many potential tenants by disallowing birds but you would be keeping it nice and quiet for everyone else.

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FINANCIAL VOICE

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Mistry hostile to promoters, he must go: Ratan Tata AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

In his first communication to shareholders since the ouster of Cyrus Mistry, Ratan Tata, interim chairman of Tata Sons, said his continued presence on the boards of Tata Group companies is a "serious disruptive influence" and can make these entities "dysfunctional" due to his "open hostility" towards the main promoters, the Tata Sons. He sought the support of shareholders to remove Mistry as a director from the boards of six Tata companies at forthcoming extraordinary general meetings also seeking to dispel concerns about "uncertainty" by reiterating future strategy for the group.

Tata said Mistry was appointed director of Tata companies only as a corollary of him being the chairman of Tata Sons. Now that the company has replaced Mistry as its chairman, the "right step" for him would be to resign

from directorship of these Tata entities, he said. The 79 year old said Mistry was replaced as Tata Sons chairman after the board "lost confidence" in him and his ability to lead the group, adding that the "deliberated action" was taken "after the relationship with Mistry steadily deteriorated and several attempts to re-mediate went unheeded." He also said that Mistry was offered an opportunity to step down voluntarily, which he rejected saying it should be taken up at the board. "This was done and Mistry was formally replaced."

"The right step would have been for him to resign as a director.

Unfortunately, he has not yet done so, and his continued presence as a director is a serious disruptive influence on these company boards, which make the company dis-functional, particularly given his open

Cyrus Mistry and Ratan Tata

hostility towards the primary promoter, Tata Sons," Ratan Tata said.

The mentioned company had sought the man's ouster from the boards of TCS, Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Power, Indian Hotels and Tata Chemicals. The holding company of the group has not yet moved a proposal to remove Mistry as a director of Tata Global Beverages.

Tata's letter to shareholders read, "if the current situation has caused

you uncertainty in recent weeks, it is our firm resolve to focus on the group on growth through the induction of new leadership which is currently underway." He added, "Some of the investments have been hugely successful- TCS, Jaguar Land Rover- while some others like Tata Steel Europe have taken time to be profitable.

Our approach has been to support and fund these businesses during their development and growth phases. We exit the business

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only when we believe it is unviable."

Tata doesn't speak the truth: Mistry: Terming Ratan Tata's letter to shareholders of Tata companies a combination “misrepresentation and convenient mischaracterisation,” Mistry hit back saying the veteran industrialist is lying. In a statement, Mistry's office also denied that his sacking was preceded by various attempts to discuss with him. “Mr Ratan Tata does not speak the truth. His claim that Mr Mistry's treatment at Tata Sons board on that day was well-deliberated and was preceded by various attempts to discuss with Mistry is a lie,” the statement said. It claimed that “five minutes before the board meeting scheduled on October 24, 2016, Nitin Nohria and Tata came to Mistry's room and told him that on that very morning, the trustees had taken a decision to replace

Vijay Mallya's Twitter Tesco Bank's debit cards account 'hacked' risked cyber crime, warn rivals Rival lenders warn that Tesco Bank has left its customers exposed to cyber crime by issuing sequential debit card numbers, a practice most banks avoid because it lets hackers remain undetected. A sustained cyber attack on Tesco Bank last month forced the company to repay £2.5m of losses to 9,000 customers in a heist described as unprecedented by regulators.

Since then the Financial Conduct Authority has contacted several British lenders to check if they are also issuing sequential card numbers, according to executives at two of the banks contacted by the watchdog. Tesco Bank refused to confirm whether it had issued sequential card numbers or if it had recently changed its practices in this area. It said: “As this remains an ongoing investigation, we will not comment on specific ques-

Abhishek Sachdev

Banks have been scaling back their FX activities ever since the subprime crisis of 2008 as regulators pushed through a series of minimum capital requirements that the banks had to adhere to. This is good news for reducing systemic

tions regarding the incident. However, we will confirm that our first priority was, and remains, to ensure that our customers’ accounts are safe and secure, and that we communicate with our customers immediately and transparently.”

The financial offshoot of the UK’s largest supermarket group has not said how the money was stolen. But it has insisted that no customer data were lost and none of its systems were breached in the “highly sophisticated attack.” Cyber security experts and bank-

ing executives say that issuing sequential card numbers makes it easier for hackers to guess the expiry dates and security codes without alerting the bank that there is a risk of fraud.

“It raises a question mark — it is not good,” said one.

Most banks use software to randomly generate a primary account number for each customer. But at Tesco Bank these numbers were issued sequentially, according to executives at two rival banks and another person briefed on Tesco’s security operations. The FCA declined to comment.

The Twitter account of business tycoon Vijay Mallya was reportedly hacked by the same group that made their way into both, Rahul Gandhi's and Congress Party's accounts too. "My account has been hacked by someone called Legion who are Tweeting now in my name. Simply ignore. Will fix this," Mallya said in a tweet.

Another tweet read, "Outfit called Legion has hacked my e-mail accounts and are blackmailing me!!

What a joke." The hackers posted a series of tweets claiming they have details of Mallya's assets at several banks and passwords of various accounts. "Hello We are back with – Vijay Mallya's assets at several bank All known passwords of Mr. Mallya," the group tweeted. They urged for public support, claiming to bring more information about criminals to bring them to justice.

"Support legion. We

will bring you the info needed to bring these criminals to justice! We shall bring you more about this fraudster and conman over the course of the next few weeks," the group said in tweets.

Loans defaulter Mallya owes over £900 million to lenders like SBI, PNB, IDBI Bank, BoB, Allahabad Bank, Federal Bank, and Axis Bank, among others. He left the country on March 3 this year and is currently said to be in Britain. His passport was revoked by the Indian government.

A way to outperform the market and it doesn't initially cost anything, Unfortunately, the financial markets rarely ever give you something for nothing, so what gives? By taking these structures, the business is taking on additional risk in various forms and crucially losing the certainty that a traditional 'FX forward' hedge would normally give you.

This can create a dangerous cocktail for businesses that rely on stable FX rates that are normally acquired with the use of FX forwards.

The fallout can be cata-

strophic, as illustrated by the shock news from Sports Direct who recently reported a £15m loss due to inappropriate FX hedging which then caused the FD to resign.

Unfortunately, these types of structures are also being sold to SMEs. Typically these companies don’t have the pockets to absorb this kind of losses and as result cause financial distress or even be even terminal.

At Vedanta Hedging, we help businesses that have been sold unsuitable derivative products and since enquiries from SMEs have continued to grow, we have decided to hold our second

SME’s sold toxic FX ‘protection’

risk to the banking sector and has led to a new breed of non-banking FX broker to mop up the less profitable clients for the banks, ie.

SMEs. These brokers have very small overheads and by undercutting the banks provide a more cost-effective way to buy and sell currency.

So all good news, right?

Wrong - the competition in this sector is fierce and there is a limit to how low spreads can go. So with more established brokers seeing their revenue under pressure they needed to find ways to boost the money they make

from their clients.

Cue the ‘FX Structured Derivatives’ to the rescue.

These structures come with highly sophisticated names like 'Leveraged Windowed Forward Extra with KnockOut'. To the uninitiated, these names might well be a foreign language, but to the broker, they are highly profitable structured products that can be sold to businesses as a way to outperform the FX market at a zero initial cost.

So here you see where the conflict of interest lies, we have a product that looks like it solves everyone's problems.

Vijay Mallya

Mistry ostensibly because Tata could not get along with him.”

Tatas trying to buy 1.7% of Tata Motors shares: Days ahead of Tata Motors' shareholders meet on December 22 to decide on the removal of Cyrus Mistry from its board, foreign brokerage major Morgan Stanley has been mandated to buy up to 50 million shares of the automobile major at a 10% premium to the stock's closing price of Rs 454.4 on Monday. While the term sheet for the deal does not disclose the buyer's identity, a number of fund managers and merchant bankers said the mandate had most likely come from the Tata Group, which appears keen to shore up its holdings in the auto company and secure the vote against Mistry. The total deal, valued at about £250 million and representing 1.73% of the automaker's equity capital.

India to go for plastic currency notes

The Modi Government informed the Parliament that a decision has been made to print plastic currency notes. Minister of State for Finance, Arjun Ram Meghwal, in a written reply to a query whether RBI proposes to print plastic currency notes, said, "It has been decided to print banknotes based on plastic or polymer substrate. The process of procurement has been initiated." The main bank has been planning to launch plastic currency note after field trials, since long. In February 2014, the government had informed the Parliament that one billion plastic notes of Rs 10 denomination would be introduced in a field trial in five cities selected for their geographical and climatic diversity. Plastic notes have an average life span of about five years and are difficult to imitate, not to mention cleaner than paper ones.

FX Mis-selling breakfast seminar with one of the UK leading financial services dispute teams; Collyer Bristow.

The breakfast event is going to be held at Vedanta’s offices in Liverpool Street on the 18th January 2017 at 8am. Demand will be high and there are only limited spaces available, so if you are a business owner that has suffered a financial loss with structured FX derivatives, then contact us ASAP to reserve your place.

Tel: 020 7183 2277 www.vedantahedging.com

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Experts ask Trump to establish early contacts with India

AsianVoiceNews

WASHINGTON: A group of three distinguished experts from a top American thinktank have called on the Donald Trump administration to establish an early connection with a "rising" India.

The experts from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies – Kathleen H Hicks, DC Richard M Rossow and John Schaus wrote, "Establishing an early connection with a rising, and like-minded, India could be an early win for the Trump administration."

They stated, "It will take regular efforts from seniorlevel officials across government departments and agencies to bring India and the United States closer together.

As Secretary Carter's trip to India highlights, both countries stand to benefit greatly from deeper engagement."

The India-US defence relationship built over multiple administrations in both Washington and New Delhi has grown beautifully in the last three years, the study stated. "As President-elect Donald Trump and his national security team identify key priorities for his admin-

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Donald Trump

istration, continuing to strengthen US-India ties should be near the top of their agenda," the experts said.

They observed that the early outreach by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States signalled to both Washington and his own bureaucracy that he was serious about engagement.

"Similarly, President-elect Trump could send an important early signal of his intent to cooperate closely with India by arranging a meeting with Prime Minister Modi in the first 100 days President Trump is in office." The CSIS experts asserted there were a wide range of issues to address and that the change in personnel that comes with

a new administration, combined with typical turnover within India's government could lead both countries to "forget" the patterns of engagement and cooperation that have proved fruitful over the past two years.

Meanwhile, in a major reveal, American intelligence agencies have concluded with "high confidence" that Russia acted covertly in the latter stages of the US presidential campaign, to diminish Democratic party candidate Hillary Clinton's chances. The conclusion was based partly on another finding that the Russians hacked the Republican National Committee's computer systems in addition to their attacks on Democratic organisations.

Months before the election, documents from Democratic Party systems were leaked to the public.

Intelligence agencies have concluded that the Russians

gave the Democrats' documents to WikiLeaks. The Republican party, however has different explanations for why no documents from their networks were ever released.

Officials from the Republican committee have maintained that their networks were not compromised, asserting that only the accounts of individual Republicans were attacked.

Trump's transition office released a statement in reflection of the deep divisions that emerged between his campaign and the intelligence agencies over Russian meddling in the election. "These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

The election ended a long time ago in one of the biggest Electoral College victories in history. It's now time to move on and 'Make America Great Again'," the statement said. A senior government official who had been briefed on an FBI investigation into the matter said while attempts were made to penetrate the Republican committee's systems, they were not successful.

Fake US embassy in Ghana shut down ACCRA: Authorities busted a fake US embassy functioning in Ghana capital Accra, run by a criminal for the past decade, as informed by the US State Department. Until it was shut down, it issued illegally obtained authentic visas, and was housed in a run-down, pink two-storey building with a US flag flying outside. It even hung a portrait of President Barack Obama.

"It was not operated by the United States government, but by figures from both Ghanian and Turkish organised crime rings and a

Vohras urged to go for simple wedding festivities

In a bid to curb the excessive expenditures made in the name of wedding ceremonies, global religious leader of the Vohra community, Syedna Aali Qadr Mufaddal Maula, has called for simple weddings. He said the decision is aimed at securing the future of every family, and added everybody from the community are to put the order in immediate effect. Syedna said ceremonies that flaunt unnecessary expenses need to be stopped.

Chief of the community, Aamil Shabbir said the importance of the decree has been conveyed to Vohras all across the world. The order also includes printing of plain wedding invitations and dismiss needless costs of extravagant cards that aren't of use once the celebrations are over.

Ghanian attorney practising immigration and criminal law," the State Department said in a statement. Turkish citizens, who spoke fluent English and Dutch, posed as consular officers and staffed the operation. The fake institution issued fraudulently obtained but legitimate US visas and false identification documents, including birth certificates, at a cost of $6000 each. During raids leading to a number of arrests, officials seized authentic and counterfeit Indian, South African and Schengen Zone visas, and 150

passports from 10 different countries along with a laptop and smart phones.

"The criminals running the operation were able to pay off corrupt officials to look the other way, as well as obtain legitimate blank documents to be doctored," the statement said. It however, did not mention how the gang obtained the visas and did not say how many people were believed to have illegally entered the United States and other countries using visas issued by the crime ring.

The fake US embassy was

open three mornings a week and did not accept walk-in appointments. The criminals instead, advertised on billboards in Ghana, Togo, and Ivory Coast and brought clients from across West Africa to Accra where they rented them hotel rooms in nearby hotels. US authorities conducting a broader security operation were tipped off about it and assembled a team including the Ghana Detectives Bureau and police along with other international partners to shut the place down.

48, including cult pop singer, killed in Pakistan air crash ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan International Airlines flight crashed into the mountains of Abbottabad district, killing 48 people, including pop singer-turned Islamic preacher Junaid Jamshed.

The dead include eight women and two infants, along with five crew members and a ground engineer. The ATR-42 aircraft had taken off from Chitral in the afternoon and was due to land at Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International Airport, when it crashed in Saddha Batolni village near the Pakistan Ordinance Factory shortly after the pilot sent a distress signal.

Daniyal Gilani, PIA spokespersni said, "A distress call was sent to the control tower... then the crash was reported." He added that the plane, which was nearly 10 years old, was in good condi-

tion. An eyewitness said all bodies were burnt beyond recognition. "We've not recovered any body intact.

There are just burnt limbs and torsos all scattered around." With the area being without any road access, and cold weather adding to the woes, rescue operations and ambulances were unable to reach the site.

A rescue team member,

Kashif said authorities doused the fire by putting sand on the branches and area surrounding the crash site. "The debris could have been scattered about 100 metres out. The plane fell into a canal behind the mountains so the debris wasn't very scattered. Junaid Jamshed's visiting and ID cards were recovered by a member of the rescue team," he said.

INDIA - WORLD Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

In Brief

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102 killed in Indonesia quake

MEUREUDU: In the latest update on the 6.5 magnitude earthquake that hit Indonesia's Aceh province, the death toll has said to have touched 102. A spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said the number of deaths spread across three districts in northern Aceh, but concentrated in Pidie Jaya near the epicentre. Addressing a press conference, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said 136 people are severely injured and more than 600 have light injuries. He said the death toll "probably will increase", despite the agency only counting one person as officially missing." A joint rescue team is still continuing to search for the victims."

NY cops to act tough on hate crimes

NEW YORK: Officials of New York City have vowed to find and prosecute any and all hatecrime suspects, after a man threatened to kill a policewoman wearing a Muslim headscarf.

Police Commissioner James O'Neill said, "If anybody's thinking in New York about engaging in this type of behaviour, just rest assured that you will be identified, you will be arrested, you will be charged." Officer Aml Elsokary was walking with her son in Brooklyn when a man lunged at the boy, threatened to cut her throat and accused the two of being connected to terror outfit the Islamic State. Police noticed a spike in crimes targeting Jews, and Muslims since the election of Donald Trump.

World Bank scraps $100m loan to Pak

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has cancelled its $100 million loan to Pakistan for a natural gas efficiency project as no progress had been made to achieve the development objectives.

The project, which was to be carried out by Sui Southern Gas Company in its distribution areas in Karachi, interior Sindh, and Balochistan, looked forward to enhance the supply of natural gas by reducing physical and commercial losses of gas in the pipeline system. However, a lack of interest on the part of the company prompted the cancellation of funds. A report released by the WB said the failure of the project led to its closure, and as a result, the levels of unaccounted-for gas remained high while continuing to drain the precious natural resource.

Millions want to join Mexico girl's b'day

LA JOYA (MEXICO): The invitation to a 15 year old girl's birthday party in Mexico has gone viral with 1.2 million people ready to attend. Rubi Ibarra Garcia and her parents uploaded a video to Facebook inviting friends and family to the party only for it to be shared over 800,000 times. The video shows the girl's grandfather Crescencio Ibarra saying "everyone is welcome" and listing the bands that will play, along with a horse race. A girl's 15th birthday is seen as her coming of age in Mexico and massive celebrations are to be expected. Ibarra said he would not turn anyone away and police are set to be deployed to the town of La Joya to ensure people's safety.

Mexican airline Interjet even published a promotion offering 30 per cent discount on flights to San Luis Potosi under the slogan "Are you going to Rubi's party?"

Bus runs over Indian workers in Sharjah

DUBAI: A person was killed and nine others injured, after a bus ran over a group of workers waiting on the side of a road in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Police said the men, eight Indians and two Pakistanis, were waiting on the side of the road in Al Hamriya region for a ride to their accommodation when they were hit by the vehicle. A 34 year old was killed on the spot while the injured were rushed to Khalifa Hospital. Authorities were immediately notified after the accident and a team of patrol, traffic experts, and ambulances were rushed to the spot.

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Krishna reigns supreme in Vladivostok If you believe in what you are doing, you can overcome any obstacles. You may feel disheartened sometimes, but remember that faith will move mountains.

Undeterred by many hurdles that came in the way, the devotees of Lord Krishna in this remote city of Vladivostok in far away eastern corner of Russia established an ISKCON temple to worship their Maker.

Vladivostok is a port city not far from Russia’s borders with China and North Korea.

The region was long under Chinese rule, but Russia acquired it through the Treaty of Beijing in 1860.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as the Hare Krishna movement, is a Hindu religious organisation that focuses on practising bhakti-yoga. The movement was founded in New York

Idol of Srila Prabhupada

money. A major source was the devotee-run restaurant Ganga, which has gained the respect of the local people over the years. Baked samosas filled with cheese or fruit jams are a favourite with customers. As many as 14,000 samosas have been sold in one day.

Another bountiful contributor was Krsna Kesava Dasa, a devotee since 2000.

Devotees of ISKCON Vladivostok chant in public

City in 1966 by His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

ISKCON has set up centres across Russia, and the movement gained momentum in Vladivostok as well, with over 85 initiated devotees in the area today.

The first centre was in a rented building. As the community grew, the devotees had to relocate. They found a disused building. After all legal formalities, they moved in, refurbished the building and transformed it into an ideal centre. But the local government wanted the property back, so the devotees had to relocate again. As spiralling property prices made things difficult, they decided to build a temple. They formed a committee and started raising

He has a window-framing business and donated a major chunk of his profits for the cause. Besides, he daily supplies his staff with lunch boxes of prasadam from Ganga.

The idea of building the temple started taking shape in 2011. The head of the construction team was

Dvarakadhisa Dasa, a young Russian who soon found it an uphill task.

With not much money in hand, Russian climate only added to the woes. The land is on a steep slope overlooking the bay. The contractors said it was impossible to lay the foundation for the temple.

But Dvarakadhisa Dasa didn’t give up hope and kept trying till he was able to get the basic

building expenses significantly.

Incidentally, Vladivostok hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) summit in 2012 and that made things more difficult, as the Russian government tried to spruce up the city to make the event a grand success. A new airport, new roads and bridges, new hotels, and a new university were all under construction.

Consequently, the prices of building materials shot up and the traffic became even more intolerable.

The devotees had been holding daily programmes at Ganga, with morning and evening classes. They had rented an apartment to continue the deity worship, and they had to find their own accommodations.

The devotees chant in public places throughout the year. The chanting party is led

Abhimanyu Dasa leads the chanting

structure up. The devotees too chipped in with their mite.

They showed their technical skills by building a goods elevator running from the warehouse in the basement to the kitchen on the second floor and on to the pujari and deity rooms on the third floor. This helped in bringing down the

The new temple opened in November 2014

by Candrabhanu Dasa, who served as the temple’s head cook before becoming the current head cook for the Ganga restaurant.

Finally, the devotees got the reward of their unflinching faith. The construction of the temple was completed (at a cost of over a million dollars) and the opening took place in November 2014.

The number of devotees in this far-eastern Russian city is increasing day by day and it is to their credit that they could build the temple despite the hardships and obstacles along the way.

(Reference: btg.krishna.com/iskcon-vladivostok-where-krishna-reigns-russia%E2%80%99s-far-east)

Merkel calls for burka ban in Germany German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for a burka ban inGermany, saying the wearing of full-faced veils should be prohibited in the country “wherever it is legally possible”.

Addressing her Christians Democrat party (CDU)’s annual conference, she backed a burka ban in schools, courts and other state buildings.

In German culture, she said, it was not appropriate for women to completely cover their faces.

“The full veil must be banned, wherever legally possible. Showing your face is part of our way of life,” she said.

“Our laws take precedence over honour codes, tribal customs and sharia.”

It is widely accepted that

In Brief

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Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

a total ban would violate Germany’s Constitution.

In France the full-face veil has been banned in all public places since 2010.

Merkel was re-elected Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader last week with 89.5% of the votes cast by about 1,000 delegates as she launched her bid to win a historic fourth term as chancellor.

However, she faces a tough challenge by the right-wing anti-immigration AfD party in next year’s elections.

She has seen her

approval ratings slip since her decision to allow about a million asylum seekers into Germany during last year’s Europe-wide migrant crisis.

The fact that over 10% of the party voted against her re-election was a sign of discontent behind the united front. Two years ago, she won with 96.7%, and in 2012, with 97.9%.

The centre-right chancellor, who has been in power since 2005, pledged never to repeat her “opendoor” refugee policy of 2015.

“We have said again and again, a situation like the

late summer of 2015 cannot and will not be repeated,” she said.

She vowed that not all of the over 1m migrants who took refuge in the country last year would be allowed to stay, and that those who are will have to integrate into German society.

She promised to defend the European Union and warned that Britain would not be allowed to “cherrypick” in Brexit negotiations, and condemned the West’s failure to prevent the violence and suffering in Aleppo as a “disgrace”.

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Clooney, Amal in $300m divorce?

LOS ANGELES: Actor George Clooney and wife Amal are reportedly head towards splitsville, having living separately for quite some while.

Reports reveal the couple are working their way towards a $300 million divorce. "Amal wanted kids, he didn't. She'll get his fortune and his Lake Como Villa. While they love each other, they might be realising they want different things in life," a source said, adding their "growing divide" is allegedly due to a "long list of grievances" that have brought the relationship to a "perilous crossroads". The source also said, "When George and Amal first got together, their friends thought they were a perfect match. But now some are expecting them to announce a split. George was feeling the mounting pressure" to have children and had reluctantly agreed. "But as I understand it, he's since backed away from that decision and Amal is crushed."

Imran boycotts `Panamagate' probe panel

ISLAMABAD: A hearing into the Pnamagate case in the Supreme Court of Pakistan saw Imran Khan-led Tehreek-e-Insaaf party announcing it will boycott the probe commission to be formed. The SC adjourned the case till the first week of January as differences over formation of a probe commission dominated the proceedings. A five-judge bench is hearing the case after the PTI and four other petitioners approached the apex court alleging that ill-gotten money was used by Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's family to buy flats in London.

PTI counsel Naeem Bokhari announced the party's decision to boycott the commission to probe the scam.

Turkey vows vengeance as 2 blasts aimed at cops kill 38

ISTANBUL: An offshoot of militant Kurdistan Workers Party claimed responsibility for the twin bombings that killed 38 people, including 30 police personnel, and wounded 155 outside an Istanbul football stadium. The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks released a statement on its website saying the weekend blasts were their doing.

The attacks took place near the Vodafone Arena, home to the Besiktas soccer team, mere two hours after the match at the stadium. Speaking at the funeral of five of the police officers who lost their lives to the attack, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu had said, "Sooner or later we will have our vengeance. This blood will not be left on the ground, no matter what the price, what the cost."

Truck suicide attack kills 20 in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU: Over 20 people were killed in a suicide truck bombing in Somalian capital of Mogadishu on Sunday. A strike claimed by the Qaida-linked Shabaab group, it remains unclear how many people were in the vicinity of the blast, and the death toll is expected to rise.

Police commander Ibrahim Mohamed said, "Our tally indicates that more than 20 people, most of them civilians, were killed in the blast. The bomber targeted a civilian area. There were porters and other small traders in the area when the blast occurred."

Church roof caves in, kills 160 in Nigeria

WARRI (NIGERIA): Over 160 people died after a roof of a crowded church collapsed onto worshippers in southern Nigeria on Saturday. Youth leader Edikan Peters said many other victims were in private mortuaries scattered all over the city of Uyo. People said the Reigners Bible Church was still under construction when it was crowded with worshippers to ordain a bishop.

Metal girders crashed and the corrugated iron roof caved in. The state government is all set to launch an investigation to see whether the building standards were compromised. Such incidents occur regularly in Nigeria as endemic corruption is rampant in the region with contractors using sub-standard materials and bribing inspectors to ignore shoddy work or a lack of building permits.

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Muslim girls must swim with boys: German court The German constitutional court has ruled that Muslim girls must take part in school swimming lessons alongside boys.

The ruling comes just days after German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a partial burka ban. If girls object on religious grounds, they can wear burkinis, the court said, as burkinis meet Islamic strictures governing modesty.

Burkini is a swimming garment designed to give full-body coverage for Muslim women.

In a case brought by an 11-year-old from a Moroccan family, judges at Germany’s highest court said that schools had a duty to promote “social behaviour” and that mixed swimming lessons are “not a serious impairment of religious freedom”. The girl had refused to wear a burkini arguing that it did not conform with Islam’s ethic of decency. However, judges at the court in Karlsruhe ruled that she had failed to “give a plausible explanation of why the burkini is not sufficient to preserve Islamic rules of clothing”.

The girl cannot be named under child protection laws.

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Bapu’s Charkha among 100 ‘Most In Brief Influential Photos of All Time’ Renzi's foreign minister named

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A picture dating back to 1946 of Mahatma Gandhi with his Charkha in the foreground has made it to the 100 most influential images compiled by Time magazine. The black and white photo of a bespectacled Gandhi taken by Margaret BourkeWhite shows the leader sitting on a thin mattress on the floor, his head bent and reading the news, while his spinning wheel sits still ahead of him.

While the photo was taken for an article on India's leaders, less than two years later it was featured in a tribute published following his assassination. "It soon became an indelible

image, the slain civil-disobedience crusader with his most potent symbol, and helped solidify the perception of Gandhi outside the subcontinent as a saintly man of peace," Time said.

The collection includes 100

history-altering images, dating back from the 1820s to 2015. Among the pictures is the 2011 Situation Room photo where US President Barack Obama and his team of senior officials appear watching the secret operation to kill Osama Bin Laden, the tragic photo of three year old Aylan Kurdi lying face down on the shore near Bodrum, and the 2001 image of a man falling from the Twin Towers in a desperate attempt to save his life.

Cyrus Mistry visits Vesu Tata Group's ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry recently visited Surat earlier this month in his private plane and visited Udwada for a pooja. During his one day stint to Gujarat, he also made a point to visit Vesu, where he conducted a pooja for Lord Kaal Bhairav at the

Ashapuri Mata temple. The village locals welcomed him with a shawl. Mistry, who is writing a book in memory of his ancestors, during his research, found a diary written by his grandfather Shahji Mistry in 1880 in which he mentioned staying in Vesu and conducting regular

pooja at the Bhairavji temple.

Shahji also stated in his diary that the road that ran from Boya pond to the village was built by his family. In a bid to visit nostalgia lane, he conducted the pooja and visited the different sites his family had fond memories of.

US life expectancy dips US life expectancy fell by a little more than a month last year from 2014, to 78.8 years, according to a report from the National Center for Health Statistics. It’s the first decline in more than two decades.

The culprits for the dip, the

report says, were increases in mortality from heart disease, chronic lower respiratory diseases, unintentional injuries, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, kidney disease and suicide. Not surprisingly, that group plus cancer and the flu

make up the top 10 causes of death in the US. The last time life expectancy fell was in 1993 in the midst of the HIV/Aids epidemic.

Report author Jiaquan Xu says this time the cause is not so clear.

Italy's new PM

ROME: Paolo Gentiloni was named Italy's new Prime Minister on Sunday, following Matteo Renzi's resignation after a crushing referendum defeat. Gentiloni, 62, who served as foreign minister under Renzi, was asked by President Sergio Mattarella to form a new Centre-left government capable enough of guiding Italy to elections due in 2018. Soft-spoken as opposed to the hyper-active Renzi, the new PM is expected to bring in his own distinct change in the government. Opposition parties demanded an immediate vote, claiming the new government would be a puppet administration with the former leader pulling the strings from behind the scenes. In a brief statement after meeting the President, Gentiloni said there was an "urgent need for a fully functioning government" to address pressing issues.

Naveed Mukhtar appointed Pak spy master

ISLAMABAD: Within days of taking over as the new Army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa has reshuffled the entire military top brass, most notably bringing in Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar as the new Inter-Services Intelligence chief and Lt Gen Bilal Akbar as chief of general staff (CGS) - positions considered crucial in policy formulations. Commissioned in 1983, Lt Gen Mukhtar is from the armoured corps; before becoming Karachi's Corps commander in September 2014, he was heading ISI's counter terrorism wing in Islamabad. Sources close to military circles believe Mukhtar has first-hand knowledge of security threats and his previous posting at ISI made him an ideal choice for Sharif. At the same time, some believe that with Mukhtar's appointment, the PM would be confident of pursuing independent foreign policy initiatives.

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INDIA

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Sasikala set to lead AIADMK in place of Jaya In Brief AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

CHENNAI: In a hint that the AIADMK will continue to be led by a woman, the regional party sent out a series of official party releases tracked Sasikala's 'official' engagements, referring to her as 'Chinamma'. The releases mark the first time the party referred to her with the tag in official releases even though other statements and posts on the party's official Twitter handle refer to her as 'Thirumathi Sasikala'.

AIADMK released two photographs, featuring Sasi.

The first image shows her with staff members of the news section of pro-AIADMK channel Jaya TV, paying tributes to the

Sasikala

late leader and her Poes Garden residence, while the second shows Sasi surrounded by party office-bearers. The images were tweeted by the party on its Twitter handle with the caption "AIADMK party functionaries today urged Thirumathi Sasikala to lead the party on the path shown by Puratchi Thalaivi

Unaccounted assets worth £16.60 mn seized in raids CHENNAI: In a fresh haul made by the Income Tax department, £2.40 million cash was found in new notes, adding to the biggest seizure of cash and gold of over £14.20 million. Officials said the new seize was made by sleuths from a car in Vellore on the insistence of the accused already being interrogated in the case.

The department had seized £14.20 million undisclosed assets, including £1 million in new notes and gold bars weighing 127 kg, during searches at multiple locations in Chennai for the last two days to check evasion. "The groups has sand mining license for the entire state of Tamil Nadu. Eight premises (six residential and two offices) were covered in the search. During the search, £9.69 million cash in old high denomination notes and £963,000 in new Rs 2000

currency notes along with gold weighing 127 kg worth approximately £3.63 million were found and seized, as unaccounted assets," the Central Board of Direct Taxes, policy-making body for the IT department said in a statement.

It added that the searches are "still in progress at four out of the total 8 premises and more specific details, including modus operandi would emerge after examination of the documents and other evidence detected during the search." Officials said S Reddy, a contractor working with the state government has claimed the entire money and the gold as his own and is being questioned along with few other people. A senior department official said the seizure of gold and cash was "an unprecedented amount that the tax department has seized in recent times."

Akali's poll plank embarrasses ally BJP MOGA: Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal government showcased its power by kick-starting election campaign from Killi Chillan village in Moga district.

"Development of the state is dependent on water. We will not let river water of Punjab to be used by any other state," said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, stressing that by giving the ownership rights of the land acquired for the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal to its original owners after its de-notification, the government has put the contentious issue to rest. With hundreds of saffron flags fluttering with slogans like ‘Pani Bachao, Punjab Bachao,’ it became clear that the SAD will seek votes on the emotive issue of water sharing, much to the embarrassment of the ally the BJP, which is ruling the neighbouring state of Haryana.

Addressing the massive gathering at the rally, Badal said the people symbolised the significance of the issue.

"Punjab has no spare water to share with anyone," he asserted. Calling Congress

Parkash Singh Badal

and AAP anti-poor, the CM said he was cautioning people that if voted to power, either parties would discontinue the various pro-people schemes and subsidies currently being given to the mass. "I request you to save Punjab," he appealed. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal castigated the AAP, calling them 'topiwallahs' and Congress for allegedly defaming Punjab youth as drug addicts.

"Our youth do not get jobs when they go to other states, because Gandhi family had run a propaganda stating 70 per cent youth are drug addicts." He even challenged Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to show his accomplishments in Delhi before eyeing Punjab.

Amma." A close associate of Amma, Sasikala has been strongly endorsed by TN chief minister O Panneerselvam, state ministers and party MPs, many of whom met her at her residence last week. The CM said she would become general secretary and lead the party, in a statement. Referring to Sasikala as Chinnamma, Panneerselvam said she was involved in all the party activities and knows each and every party worker. He added she should become general secretary to ensure the organisation continues to function "in a regimented way like an army" like it did under Jaya.

Panneer also pointed that

Sasikala had been Amma's "trusted aide" and had imbibed her own thoughts and working style in her as she had been by her side for over three decades.

280 persons died of 'shock': An AIADMK released said that a total of 280 people died of 'shock' over the demise of Jayalalithaa. Such deceased persons were from different parts of the state, including Chennai, Vellore, Tiruvallore, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Krishnagiri, Erode and Tirupur districts. The party condoled their death and announced a welfare fund of Rs 3000,000 each to families of the deceased.

HC relief for Naidu in cash-for-vote case HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu sighed in relief after the Hyderabad High Court dismissed a complaint filed by YSR Congress lawmakers seeking investigation into his alleged role in the cash-for-vote case. The court allowed Naidu's plea seeking relief and dismissed the complaint filed by Ramakrishna Reddy on the ground that the latter had no locus standi to file such an application.

The lawmaker's counsel P Sudhakar Reddy said he had filed a private complaint in an ACB court making Naidu an accused in the cash-for-vote issue. The court had ordered probe by ACB over alleged involvement of Naidu who sought relief in the high court.

The CM had got a temporary relief in the HC which was challenged by a lawmaker in the Supreme Court, which referred it to the High Court.

The lawmaker's counsel said

they would pursue legal options against Naidu. The socalled cash-for-vote pertains to allegations against TDP lawmaker Revant Reddy and others that they tried to bribe a nominated lawmaker in MLC polls. Naidu had accused the TRS Government in Telangana of illegally tapping phones.

In May 2015, nominated lawmaker in Telangana Assembly Elvis Stephenson lodged a complaint alleging that he was offered £500,000

by TDP lawmaker Revanth Reddy to vote for TDP nominee in the election to the Telangana Legislative Council on June 1. On May 31, ACB arrested Revanth Reddy, Bishop Sebastian Harry and Rudra Udaya Simha when they were allegedly handing over an advance sum of Rs 5000,000 to Stephenson. A charge sheet filed by the ACB mentioned Naidu's name, but not as an accused.

Short-staffed, Khattar govt struggling to fill vacancies CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government is currently struggling to carry out the recruitment of Class-4 employees in the government departments, boards and corporations in the state.

The issue of under-staffing is so serious, out of a total of 77,370, only about 43,000odd posts are filled up. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has been keen on filling up the pending posts through the Haryana Staff Selection Commission, and is learnt to have voiced his view in meetings, including those with his cabinet colleagues.

With the number of vacancies going up, the government has done little to finalise a "workable" recruitment policy. The reason is cited as a lack of unanimity in the state government on the mode of recruitment. A senior minister had announced last week that the government would recruit 50,000 employees on contract, instead of through contracts under its outsourcing policy to accelerate the pace

of administrative work. The option of recruitment on contract under the outsourcing policy has been available for the past few years, but it is fraught with problems.

Another reason is the problem of plenty and the lack of competency.

An IAS officer said, "Wherever the departments or other government organisations advertise posts and invite applications, they get large number of applications and lack the competency to handle such selection processes."

Citing an instance, the directorate of school education had invited applications for 2,900 posts of peon, gardener, chowkidar and waterman in government schools and district offices in April 2016. Over 556,000 aspirants sent in their applications in response for contractual appointment for one year.

The department, overwhelmed with the sheer number of applicants, remained undecided on the selection procedure.

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Tamil legend Cho passes away

CHENNAI: Comedian, actor, political satirist and editor Cho Ramaswamy died a day after viewing the burial of friend J Jayalalithaa on television. A former member of the Rajya Sabha, Cho suffered a cardiac arrest and died at Apollo Hospitals. Cho founded and edited political magazine Thuglak, and earned universal respect as one who did not let personal friendship pass impartial judgement on political events. He has featured in 180 Tamil films, directed five movies, written and directed 20 plays, and authored 10 books. He was also a dialogue writer and lawyer.

Karunanidhi discharged from hospital, advised rest

CHENNAI: DMK chief M Karunanidhi was discharged from a private hospital in Chennai after a week-long treatment for nutritional and hydration support. The 93 year old former Tamil Nadu chief minister was admitted to the Kauvery Hospital earlier this month after being treated at home for a drug-induced allergy. Kauvery Hospital Executive Director Dr S Aravindan said, "After medical treatment, he was improved substantially and was discharged from the hospital today." In his statement, he said Karuna's vital signs and bio-chemical parameters have normalised now. "He has been advised rest and Kauvery Hospital will continue to assess and provide necessary medical and nursing care to facilitate his recuperation at home."

Punjab polls: Cong yet to finalise full list

NEW DELHI: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi have reportedly discussed the candidates for the upcoming Punjab elections and have finalised a few. Sonia chaired a meeting of the party's Central Election Committee, where top party leaders were present.

Another meeting of the CEC is slated later, sources said. Top leadership of the party have given its nod on single candidate seats, majority of which include sitting MLAs whose names were recommended by the Screening Committee.

13 teachers killed in Punjab road accident

CHANDIGARH: Thirteen teachers were killed in a tragic accident caused due to dense fog, on the Fazilka-Ferozepur highway. Their vehicle collided with a truck near Chandmajri village and the 15 victims included women teachers and a few new joinees. A police official said most of them were educators in government schools and were travelling to their institutions for work. The police added the truck driver and cleaner were absconding.

Lok Sabha adopts motion to suspend AAP MP Mann

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha has adopted a motion to suspend Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann from the house for the remaining period of the winter session. The move was recommended by a parliamentary committee headed by BJP MP Kirit Somaiya who was probing Mann's actions. The committee, in its report, said, "The committee, after due deliberations, recommends that Bhagwant Mann, MP, be suspended for the remaining period of the current session, i.e., the 10th session of the 16th Lok Sabha." It also said that there were repeated contradictions in his communications and therefore it felt that "tendering of his apology before the committee cannot be treated as unconditional apology." It added, "The conduct of Mann is highly objectionable and exhibits his lack of basic knowledge and etiquette and the responsibilities of the office he holds." The MP was under probe for posting a video footage of the Parliament on social media.

HERITAGE - HISTORY Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

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25

Navnirman that changed the destiny of India AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

The myth that Congress is the only ruling party at Centre was demolished

Dr Hari Desai Public memory is short.

Some people have been questioning BJP leader Narendra Modi on joining hands with die-hard opponents belonging to the Congress party and even Communists. They forget the political history of odd combinations and Ayaram Gayaram (defections) during the last seven decades of free India. Gujarat has a long history of Gandhian leaders adopting unGandhian methods to fulfill their ambitions.

In the Gujarat Assembly election of 1972, Congress won majority seats i.e. 140

out of 168. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi nominated Ghanshyam Oza as the leader of the Congress Legislative Party, to be the Chief Minister, which was resisted by Chimanbhai Patel. He claimed to have majority with him. Some of the elected MLAs and Congress leaders never wanted Patel to be the CM but he held a conclave of majority MLAs at Panchwati farmhouse near Gandhinagar. There were widespread allegations of Chimanbhai Patel being involved in corrupt practices and buying the MLAs. He could muster the support of majority and became the Chief Minister.

The students and education fraternity as such was agitated over various issues and influence of Patel on the

Morarji Desai and Jai Prakash Narayan

The Gujarat Model installs Morarji Government at the Centre in 1977

ers were arrested under draconian provisions of MISA. The people of Gujarat agitated over price rise and prevailing corruption, thanks to the mismanagement of the State Government. They were sympathetic to students' demands. The Government tried to use force, offered to win over student leaders but in vain.

Within 77 days, the statewide student agitation under the leadership of Manishi Jani brought down not only the Patel Government but even the Gujarat Legislative Assembly was dissolved.

This was a result of the agitation supported by Members of Parliament Dr Umashankar Joshi and P G Mavalankar as well as the indefinite hunger strike by Congress (Organisation) Supremo Morarji Desai. The support of Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan inspired students to agitate for Sampoorn Kranti (Complete Change). Dr Amita Shah has made an indepth and interesting study

SEEING THE FUTURE: Manishi Jani

managements of various colleges in the State. Some 33 years ago, the students initiated a Navnirman agitation to get rid of corruption in public life by removing the unprincipled leadership of Chief Minister Chimanbhai Patel of Congress headed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. On December 20, 1973, the LD Engineering College Hostels' mess bill issue became a spark for the agitation. It spread like wildfire. The police atrocities fuelled it. Student lead-

in chronological order of Navnirman agitation titled “ Youth Power in Gujarat” .

Despite open resistance from the Navnirman Committee headed by Manishi Jani and Rajya Sabha MP as well as a celebrated literary figure Dr Umashankar Joshi, the principled man Morarji put aside his principles and joined hands with Chimanbhai Patel, the same man whom he called most corrupt and unfit to rule Gujarat ! Manishi says,

Umashankar Joshi

“Jaiprakash Narayan tried to cool me down.” He reminds that though Jan Sangh and Sangh organisations opposed the Gujarat Bandh call, they were eager

Navnirman agitation against the Congress (R ), it emerged as the largest single party with 75 seats in the 182-member Assembly.

Political scientist Prof Nagindas Sanghavi states in “Gujarat: A Political Analysis ” - Janata Front tom-tommed as an embodiment of popular will, could secure only 79 seats (Congress-O : 56, Jan Sangh: 18, Socialists: 2, BKD: 2 and National Labour Party: 1) and it was promised support by 8 out of 14 Independents. It still fell 4 short of majority.

Sanjay and Indira Gandhi

Minister with muchmaligned Chimanbhai Patel' s support! Even BJP joined the Government headed by Chimanbhai Patel in 1990.

The 1967 Lok Sabha election proved to be weak-

Former PM Rajiv Gandhi with former Gujarat CM Chimanbhai Patel

to enjoy fruits of the agitation. Most of the student leaders of Navnirman agitation joined Congress and power politics, but Jani remained exception till date.

He never joined any political party. Even JP tried to convince him but he remained adamant. Precisely that must be the reason why he is well respected even today.

The Assembly election in 1975 was held with understanding between Congress (O), Socialists, Jan Sangh and BKD of Chaudhary Charan Singh on separate election symbols. Despite

Chimanbhai Patel who was kicked out from Congress (R) formed a new regional political party i.e. Kisan Mazdoor Lok Paksh (KIMLOP) and contested the election. He himself lost but his party could win 12 seats.

He offered unconditional support to Janata Morcha (People 's Front) to form the government which had not sufficient number of seats to reach majority. The God-father of Janata Front Morarji Desai was all for KIMLOP support. His loyalist Babubhai Jashbhai Patel became the Chief

Janata Party meeting in 1977 - JP and Jagjivan Ram

ening Congress Government headed by Indira Gandhi.

Some of the northern States had experimented Governments formed by the Congress defectors joining hand with Jan Sangh, Socialists and even Communists, thanks to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya and Dr Rammanohar Lohia reaching a broader consensus on anti-Congress front. Late BJP Vice President Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia was very close to Mrs Gandhi and was a Congress MP. She played a key role in forming antiCongress governments in UP, MP, Bihar and Rajasthan, though for a short period. The 1967 experience was a shock to Congress but 1977 Lok Sabha results proved that a non-Congress Government can be formed. This confidence and formula was provided by Gujarat.

Late PM Morarji Desai was known for his arrogance. Even before he was gaining momentum to be

the leader of yet to be born Janata Party, he started casting aspersions on persons like Umashankar.

Manishi has recorded such incidents in “Umashankar Joshini Vicharyatra” , the book edited by Manishi and Chandu Maheriya along with daughter of Umashankar Prof Swati Joshi. When Manishi met Umashankar in those days, he was definitely found hurt but never gave up efforts to make the candidates of antiCongress front win. Even after his resignation as PM, Morarji had made certain nasty comments about Jaiprakash Narayan, the person who along with J B Kripalani was instrumental in making him the PM. Some times honest people develop ego for being honest. National leader Sharad Pawar, who spent most of his political life with Congress, rightly stated in 1997: “ In the pre-independence era and up to about 1960, the Congress was sustained not merely because of its political management, but because large sections of Congress persons were involved in what came to be designated as constructive work.” The reasoning of elevation of BJP at the national level can be found in Pawar doctrine. The RSS and affiliated organisations have been doing what Congress used to do. Their political management clubbed with constructive work has made BJP capable enough so that Narendra Modi can be at the helm of the affairs.

Next Column: Politics of Southern India: From Periyar to Jayalalithaa (The writer is a Socio-political Historian. E-mail: haridesai@gmail.com)

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INDIA

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Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

Modi asks Gujarat to be cashless model Continued from page 1 wanted them to turn Gujarat into a model state in adopting digital financial transactions. “I wish,” said Modi, “Gujarat, which has given the country a great development model, also becomes the role model in adopting Aadhaar and mobilebased banking.”

Modi's visit ahead of state assembly elections was attended by over 1,000 BJP workers. All state BJP functionaries, including CM Vijay Rupani, deputy CM Nitin Patel, ministers, state BJP president Jitu Vaghani, all MPs and MLAs of the party in state, district BJP office bearers, as well as chairmen of different government corporation boards attended the meeting.

In his brief speech at the state BJP headquarters in Koba, Gandhinagar, Modi also congratulated BJP state party workers and office bearers for their victory in elections of local bodies at a time when the opposition was loud in criticising demonetisation.

Modi said, “Though the byelections in the local bodies was a not a key affair, but after 811 (post demonetisation) Gujarat BJP's victory in elections of local bodies has spurred national debate. We also won in elections of local bodies in Rajasthan and Maharashtra.”

He advised Gujarat

BJP to work cautiously in the upcoming state-wide panchayat elections and in 2017 assembly elections, without becoming overconfident due to the recent results.

Rationalizing demonetisation, Modi said, “Official data showed that twothird of Rs1,000 notes go out of circulation and remain stashed in lockers.

Only one-third of Rs1,000 notes were in circulation,” said Modi, adding, “Crores of rupees were parked without productive use.”

Addressing a meeting in Deesa, after inaugrurating Amul Cheese Plant, Modi said that the postdemonetisation path to normalcy will be gradual and slow even after the 50 days he sought to deal with hardships caused by scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes ends on December 30.

“I have asked for 50 days from the nation. If after December 30, I am

found wanting, am guilty of error or wrong intentions, I am ready for any punishment the country will pronounce,” Modi had said in Goa. The careful recalibration seems intended to create more wriggle room for the government and move away from the impression that all banking and financial operations will return to normalcy after the deadline to deposit old notes ends. In his speech at Deesa, Modi mentioned the entrepreneurial prowess of Banaskantha farmers and cited the instance of one Genabhai Patel, 52, the pioneer who began pomegranate agriculture in the dry lands of Banaskantha district. The district, and especially Deesa, otherwise is renowned across India for bumper production of quality potatoes.

Ironically, Genabhai said that he was making huge loses after demonetisation. “Demonetisation

Modi with his Mother (File photo)

can bring to an end to several malpractices in the agriculture sector.

Villagers are feeling hardship now but the wait will finally pay off in the long run,” said Patel.

In latest reports, the Narendra Modi government conducted sting operations in over 500 branches of banks all across the country. CDs of the operations have been sent to the Union Ministry of Finance and proper action against erring bank officials would be taken at an appropriate time.

Several illegal incidents have been cited ever since the announcement of demonetisation of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 was made. A number of bank officials have been arrested and several of them suspended and facing probe.

Reports said over 400 CDs of sting operations have reached the Ministry of Finance. They reveal how the old notes belonging to police, pimps, and influential people were exchanged with the help of bank staff. A news channel further reported that the list of banks under scanner after the sting operations include several public sector banks.

Modi meets Hiraba NaMo also met with his 94 year old mother, Hiraba after he addressed the public meeting in Deesa.

Modi had last met his mother on September 17.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Farnham pharmacist admits assisting in suicide of elderly father A pharmacist from Farnham has admitted assisting in the suicide of his elderly father at their Dockenfield home by injecting him with a lethal dose of morphine.

Bipin Desai, 58, pleaded guilty to a charge of encouraging or assisting in a suicide during a hearing at Guildford Crown Court last Thursday (December 8). He also admitted a charge of theft of morphine between May 1 and 31 May 2015 and a charge of theft of insulin between August 1 and August 28 2015.

Mr Desai was arrested two days after his 85-yearold father, Dhirajlal Desai, was found dead at their home on August 27 last year.

Paul Bogan QC, defending, put forward an application to dismiss a

Bipin Desai was arrested after a probe into the death of his 85-year-old father

charge of murdering his father. A hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London will take place during the last two weeks of March next year.

Judge Robert Fraser set a trial date of 7th June next year at Guildford Crown Court and continued Desai’s bail to appear at the Royal Courts of Justice next March.

Amir Khan’s parents deny Faryal’s charges British boxer Amir Khan’s parents have come down heavily on his wife (Faryal Makhdoom Khan) for wearing un-Islamic clothes while denying she has suffered domestic abuse as claimed by her.

Twenty-five-year-old Faryal claimed last week that for the past three years

she had been bullied “physically and mentally” by her in-laws.

Last week Faryal launched a Snapchat rant in which she accused her in-laws of trying to destroy her marriage. She claimed the “abuse” took place while she was pregnant with their daughter.

Cyclone kills 20 in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Continued from page 1 lives in the two states combined, residents limp their way back to normalcy.

Worst-hit city Chennai was a picture of utter destruction as thousands of uprooted trees lay on the roads, billboards appeared broken and, snapped telephone and power cables dangled free.

The severe cyclone which ripped through the southeast coast of India is expected to weaken into a depression, but wind speed may hover around the 70 km/hour mark, S Stella, director of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai, said. Officials said Vardah- meaning Red Rose- moved at a wind

Continued from page 1 The report made on one of the biggest hydroelectric projects in Arunachal Pradesh, by CVO Satish Verma, was sent to the CBI, CVC and the Ministry of Power in July this year. It alleges an "elaborate conspiracy" involving contractors, NEEPCO officials and the West Kameng district administration to defraud NEEPCO and the govern-

winds died down, Chennai remained stuck in a virtual blackout. It left behind an apocalyptic scene- city corporation counting 2,810 trees falling crushing cars, blocking roads, and choking traffic in the bid.

The airport remained shut, and Southern Railway called off 39 trains and rescheduled several more. Trains of the metro rail, mass rapid transit system and suburban services were affected. In several

speed of up to 140 kmph and was the most intense storm to have hit Chennai in two decades.

While Chennai airport was reopened for traffic on Tuesday, Tamil Nadu government ordered all educational institutions to remain shut for the second day in C h e n n a i , Kanchipuram, and Tiruvallur districts.

Most of the deaths caused by the natural disaster were due to wall collapses that were triggered by wind and torrential rain. Hours after the

areas, power lines were shut down to prevent accidents. The state electricity board officials were able to assess the damage after the cyclone passed, and it will take a day to restore power to all areas. By late evening, the corporation along with National Disaster Response Force, and the city police had cleared 650 uprooted trees and fallen signboards and street lamps.

Over 18,000 corporation contract workers were out in the city braving the winds, trying to clear roads. 159 tree-cutting machines and 650 motor pumps were put to use to drain out water from the streets. Though over 200

areas were water-logged, officials said water levels were over a foot in just a handful of them. To offer relief to residents, four centralised kitchens distributed 10,000 food packets.

"We stored provisions, vegetables, and were cooking throughout," said revenue official S Anbuselvan.

C Sylendra Babu, additional DGP of the coastal security group said as soon as the cyclone warning was given, three patrol boats and 180 rescue swimmers were kept on standby.

Officials said that more than 17,000 people were shifted to safer places in Tamil Nadu and Andhra as a precautionary step.

Union minister Rijiju faces corruption probe ment of funds that "may extend up to £45 million".

While the CBI has made two "surprise checks" no FIR has been registered yet. Verma, a Gujarat IPS officer was pulled by NEEPCO for "unauthorised absence" and transferred to the CRPF in Tripura soon after his report. He blames his "absence" to his investigation.

Verma's report says

there are several fake and inflated bills by contractors to allegedly siphon off money in the name of transporting rocks needed for the dam construction.

Not only was the transportation cost decided arbitrarily, many transport challans and records provided by contractor, Patel Engineering Limited, were found to be fake. Records revealed MoS Rijiju wrote a letter

to the Ministry of Power on November 4, 2015, to release funds to the contractor, and his cousin Goboi Rijiju went to meet Verma. The latter's report also has the audio CD of a purported conversation he had with Goboi, in which he is heard pushing the officer to clear the payments and offering "any help" he needs from Kiren.

The NEEPCO project which is on the verge of

completion, includes two dams over the Bichom and Tenga rivers. Work on Kameng Hydro Electric Project started in 2005 after the tender for civil work at Bichom Dam, Tenga Dam, and a powerhouse at Kimi were all bagged by Mumbai-based Patel Engineering Ltd (PEL).

When Kiren was approached asking about his involvement, he

replied, "I did write a letter to Ministry of Power to release funds to Patel Engineering (the contractor).

But it was on the basis of a petition I had received from local contractors of the area. I had no idea it involved a scam. If it is a scam, it must be probed and those responsible must be punished. I am totally against corruption."

AsianVoiceNews

FOOD

FITNESS

A

new book has claimed that people can lose weight by eating anything they want, but only during a set eight-hour period. The restriction is that the gap between two meals should be eight hours. According to the book - Freedom to eat - 'Our bodies can’t process the food we eat [after hours], and those calories were stored around our bellies and butts.'

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he book claims we can lose ten pounds in a week and up to 20lbs in six weeks, and asks that we choose any eight-hour window for eating, such as 9am to 5pm, or 11am to 7pm. It explains that our extended eating interval throws our digestive system off-kilter and messes with the many

hormones and enzymes that manage it.

Dr Satchidananda Panda, from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, says in the book: 'My hypothesis is that staying up and eating late may be the cause of diabetes. 'For the past 50 years or so we’ve been staying

HEALTH&WELLNESS

AsianVoiceNewsweekly | Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

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LIFESTYLE awake late into the night.

That’s when we see the rise of weight problems.'

To prove his theory, Dr Panda’s laboratory tested his ideas on mice. The mice were divided into two groups and put on the same high-calorie, high-fat diet: One group was given the freedom to eat anything at any time of day. The other mice could eat as much as they wanted but only within an 8-hour time frame. The study went on for 100 days, and it was only the all-day eaters that plumped up. Dr Panda explains: 'Simply limiting food intake to 8 hour gives you all the benefits - without having to worry about food intake.

The book explains: 'In the simplest terms, the 8-Hour Diet is a way of extending the period between your last snack and your “breakfast,” giving your body the chance to burn away your fat stores for the energy it needs. And burn them it does.'

Eight-hour diet coauthor David Zinczenko said, 'We're eating throughout the day, grazing all day long, and we're not giving our bodies a chance to process all of the food we're taking in and all the toxins.'

Zinczenko says that we can start the day with tea or coffee and eight minutes of exercise to 'jump start the metabolism - then eat breakfast high in nutrients.

Even though the books says you can eat what you want during the eight hours, Zinczenko says it isn't an excuse to 'overindulge,' and people should still aim for

healthy foods. While one group ate all their calories in three meals spread throughout the day, the other practised intermittent fasting, eating the same number of calories but in a restricted time frame.

Results showed that participants who ate in a smaller window of time had a 'significant modification of body composition, including reductions in fat mass.'

According to Dr Panda’s research, restricting the time period during which you eat makes your body burn more calories throughout the day - so the longer you eat, the lazier your metabolism becomes.

After lunch, which Zinczenko says could include a salad, two slices of pizza, and soup, you can have a snack of your choice.

Although dinner will be earlier than you may be used to, you are able to consume a large portion of balance of foods, such as vegetables and a rib-eye steak.

Providing it in the eighthour window, the books says you can have dessert and a glass of wine after dinner, because your body will have plenty of time to process those calories.

However, if you fit you food intake into an eight-hour window, your body burns more calories day and night, as well as preventing disease such as diabetes, heart and kidney. The researchers found that those who fasted every other day for two weeks, the insulin in their bodies grew more efficient at managing blood sugar.

Daylight helps in preventing short-sightedness N

ew studies revealed that daylight plays an important role in preventing short-sightedness. It is not known why daylight is important but some experts believe levels of the brain chemical dopamine play a role. High levels of dopamine in the eyeball have been associated with a lower risk of short-sightedness.

Earlier it was believed that short-sightedness was inherited, but scientists are discovering that other factors, such as sunlight exposure, play a role. Shortsightedness, or myopia, is an eye condition that causes a person to see things clearly close-up but struggle to see things when they are far away. In childhood it is correctable, but it is also linked to the development of severe forms of the eye disorder in adulthood, which increases the risks

To Our Readers

We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement it. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

for potentially blinding diseases such as glaucoma and retinal detachment. A Taiwanese study observed 333 students who spent their break between lessons in the playground.

These children, many of whom had formerly spent recess indoors, now spent a total of 80 minutes per day outdoors. Taiwanese scientists are suggesting enforced outdoor playtimes would help stem the growing number of children who suffer with shortsightedness. The condition has rocketed by nearly 65% since 1970 in the US. The researchers recommended that primary schools should add frequent breaks and other outdoor activities to their daily schedules to help protect children's eye development and vision. ‘Because children spend a lot of time in school, a school-based intervention [such as an outdoors break] is a direct and practical way to tackle the increasing prevalence of myopia,’ said the leader of the study. A separate study on the impact of daylight exposure on eye development analysed data

collected in a 2005 clinical trial that included 235 Danish school children with short-sightedness. Of the children who played

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outside, significantly fewer became short-sighted or shifted toward short-sightedness, compared with the control school.

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"He is a naxalite! Demonetisation prompted him to take his own life"

Laughter is the Best Medicine Visiting the aquarium during feeding time, a hypnotist said to the man feeding the fierce shark, "You know, I could hypnotise the shark." "You're crazy! He'll rip you limb to limb," the feeder said, laughing, "But, hey, if you're so brave, be my guest." The hypnotist jumped in, swam to the shark and stared it in the eye for a full minute. The animal paused, blinked, and then tore into him. The bleeding man slowly made his way out of the tank. "I thought you could hypnotise him." the feeder sneered. "I did," said the hypnotist said holding his arm. "Now he thinks he's an alligator." *** A couple are debating whether computers are male or female. "Definitely female," said the husband. "You spend half of your salary on accessories for them and even the smallest mistakes are stored in their longterm memory for use at a later date." "Nope," said the wife. "They're male. To get their attention, you have to turn them on and as soon as you commit to one, you realise you could have got a better model if you'd waited longer. *** A man is recovering from minor surgery when his nurse comes in to check on him. "How are you feeling?" she asks. "I'm okay," he says, "but I didn't like the four letter word the doctor used during the surgery."

"What did he say," she asks. "Oops." *** A human resources official was visited by a member of staff who wanted to make a formal complaint about his line manager. The boss had described him as "indecisive" which he felt was grossly unfair. As the official helped him prepare his case, he noticed the appraisal was almost a year old. "Why has it taken you so long to come and see me?" he asked. "Well," he said, "I couldn't make up my mind if it was the right thing to do or not." *** First thing every single morning, one of the secretaries in an office opened the newspaper and read everyone's horoscope aloud. "Gwen", said the boss one day, "You seem to be a normal, level-headed person. Do you really believe in astrology?" "Of course not," Gwen replied.

"You know how skeptical Capricorns are."

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28

Rambha starts legal war to retain her daughters

Asian Voice

AsianVoiceNews

17th December 2016

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Trisha finally ventures into Malayalam

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Y

esteryear actress Rambha has started legal war against Canada-based Sri Lankan Tamil husband Indran Pathmanathan in a Chennai Family court. The battle began a couple of months ago with her filing a petition saying she has been living alone in

Chennai with her two daughters in 2012, and asked the court to intervene under provisions of the Hindu Marriages act and unite her with her husband.

The court posted the case for a hearing on December 3rd which, according to sources, she

missed and her counsel filed another petition seeking legal custody for her children and declare her as the natural guardian for her two minor daughters.

The matter has been adjourned to January 21, since the actress and her daughters failed to be present for the hearing.

Thala Ajith flies from Bulgaria to pay respect to Amma

A

fter paying homage to departed TN Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, Thala Ajith has left for Bulgaria to continue shooting 'AK 57'.

On reaching Chennai, the actor was received by wife Shalini and brother-inlaw Richard, and he directly went to Anna Square where Amma was laid to rest. In a span of 16 hours, Ajith paid his last respects to Amma, then went Apollo Hospitals where veteran actor and

political critic Cho Ramaswamy took his last breath, conveyed his condolences to Cho's family and took a flight back to

'Wajah Tum Ho'

A crime thriller featuring Sana Khan, Sharman Joshi and Gurmeet Choudhary in the lead.

Bulgaria the same evening. With the film set for an April release next year, Ajith is definitely putting himself to test.

he wait is over, Trisha has finally signed a Malayalam movie that too opposite hot actor Nivin Pauly. Making her Mollywood debut, the actress will be directed by Shyamprasad in the yet to be titled film. While details on the project are yet to be out, also known is that Trisha has signed up several women-centric films.

Her projects include a Tamil remake of 'NH 10', where she reprises the role of Anushka Sharma, and will pair up with Vijay Sethupathi for a female oriented subject directed by cinematographer Premkumar.

Currently, Trisha has taken off to Kerala for an important schedule of 'Mohini', directed

by Madhesh which also features Yogi Babu, Jangiri Madhumitha, Swaminathan, Ganesh and others in the cast.

The final leg for the movie will take the crew to Bangkok.

Ilayathalapathy Vijay enters a new phase in his career

I

layathalapathy Vijay has marked his 25th year in the film industry. Introduced to the world of Tamil cinema by his father and director S A Chandrasekhar, in 'Naalaya Theerpu' in 1992, Vijay has come a long way since then. While he initially starred in his father's films the most, like 'Rasigan', 'Deva', and 'Vishnu' that brought him into the limelight, it was Vikraman's 'Poove Unakkaga' in 1996, that nailed him as a class actor.

Fazil's 'Kadhalukku Mariyathai' that followed a year later after his first super hit turned Vijay into

the major star he is today.

Delivering the maximum number of 100 Crore films, Vijay has time and again proved his mettle through his hard work,

dedication and passion.

His next release 'Bairavaa' which will be released on Pongal next year, has already done big businesses.

D

in it.

A source said there are a couple of acts involving the hero, Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, and ace actress Nayanthara. While Nayan plays an important female character in the movie, Kashyap will be seen making his Kollywood debut as the lead villain.

The schedule is logged to go on for 25 days.

Hari does an impeccable Atharvaa and Nayan to start task for S3 facing camera together

S

ources reveal director Hari has packed stunning 365 scenes in the third instalment of his Singham series, 'S3'.

While the usual film format contains around 6080 scenes, he has managed

to fit in almost double the amount making sure the audience remain tight on their seats till the end. Set to release on December 23rd, the movie features Suriya, Anushka and Shruti Haasan.

irector Ajay Gnanamuthu of 'Demonet Colony' fame has begun work on his second film titled 'Imaikka Nodigal' with actor Atharvaa in lead. It has been confirmed that the first schedule has been completed and the crew has landed in Bengaluru for the second schedule which has some crucial scenes canned

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Marriage is on cards, says Anushka

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Priyanka teases fans with sneak peek of ‘Baywatch’

nushka Sharma, who is seen to have got back together with her rumoured boyfriend Virat Kohli, said she is not thinking about getting married right now.

"Marriage is on the cards, but I don't know when will it happen. I haven't thought about it yet. I have done everything in my life very normally. And marriage is definitely there on my agendas in life. But I don't know when it will happen," the 'Sultan' actress said.

She further said times have changed and actress now get meaty roles despite starting a family.

"I feel things are changing now. Actresses are working at same pace even after getting married or having kids. This is an amazing time for women in industry. I also would like to continue things like a normal person. It is important to be that way. I didn't like when people said that actresses have shelf life."

Anushka has always refrained from talking about her relationship with Kohli. She has maintained a low profile when

Kajol moves down South for ‘VIP’ Dhanush

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he trailer of the much-awaited Priyanka Choprastarrer 'Baywatch' is out and while it is magnificent with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson making up for most part, PeeCee's blink and miss appearance has her fans disappointed.

While the 'Dil Dhadakne Do' actor looks smoking hot in the shot, the fact that she hits the screen for a little more than a second does not do justice to the immense hype she created behind getting the meaty role. Priyanka shared the trailer on Twitter with a

caption that read, "You see them as the 'Lifeguard Squad', I see them as prey!

Enjoy the sun while you can coz this beach is mine.

So step aside." Johnson was all praises for her as he wrote, "She's perfect and brings such a force. @priyankachopra #Boss."

PeeCee plays the movie's antagonist, Victoria Leeds and by the look of it, has given her a sharp and sexy edge. Along with her TV series 'Quantico', the actress will also be seen as a judge on fashion reality TV series 'Project Runway'.

it comes to her love life, and chooses not to encourage any questions from the media. However, she recently surprised her fans as she walked in to Yuvraj Singh and Hazel Keech's wedding with her boyfriend.

Not only a public appearance, the couple even danced together and a video of theirs went viral on social media. When questioned about it, she said, "I don't think much about all this because you can only do what's under your control. I believe I should just carry on with my life and lead as normally as I can. If someone does take a picture and puts it up here and there, I really can't help it."

Anushka added, "I don't dig myself out on social media. Knowing what's written about me or what one's posting on Instagram and Twitter is not on the top of my list.

I'm not curious in that sense and I feel that's how you maintain your sanity.

However, much you want to engage on social media, you have the freedom to ditch it too."

f reports are to be believed, 'Dilwale' actress Kajol has been roped in to play the female lead in Dhanush and Soundarya's 'VIP'.

The sequel to 2014 Tamil action-drama 'Vela Illa Pattathari', has a 'Pursuit of Happyness' tone to it. A source close to the team said, "The film has a 'Pursuit of Happyness' theme which will be retained in the second film as well along with Kolaveri Di composer Anirudh Ravichander's background music."

The source informed that both, Soundarya and Dhanush had an extensive discussion with Kajol.

"The entire script was

shared with her, followed by a narration. Kajol loves the story and has given her nod to the film verbally.

However, there were certain date issues but the makers are working their schedule around her and she is expected to sign later this month. They are hoping Kajol comes on board." Kajol's last stint in the Tamil film industry dates back to 1997, when she played Priya Amalarj in Rajiv Menon's 'Minsara Kanavu'.

S o u n d a r y a Raj inikanth will direct Dhanush in 'VIP 2' produced by the actor along with 'Kabali' producer Kalaipuli Thanu.

Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

Alia's biggest fear

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ctress Alia Bhatt, who has been the talk of the town lately has revealed her biggest fear. In a recent conversation with the local media, the 'Dear Zindagi' actress said the one thing she fears the most is failure. While she certainly hasn't faced it yet, where her career is concerned, she stated she is very competitive by nature.

"I have feared failure since I was in the fourth grade. I lost a race and that's the only race that I lost in school. I couldn't believe it and I kept blaming the race for feeling that way. I was so unhappy that I told myself that it was a stupid book balancing race, it wasn't even

a real race, that's why I lost. It's not that I have not seen defeat, I have, which is why I am very competitive."

Also talking about her sister Shaheen's battle with depression since the age of 13, Alia said that her sister had opened up to their family about her depression some time back and has been attending therapy sessions. She added that since Shaheen also suffers from insomnia, they have spent several sleepless nights talking. She almost apologetically stated she "can't help Shaheen get over the depression" despite their close bond and added she will always be by her side to support her unconditionally.

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Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

Three teenagers charged with murder of teenager Hussain Ahmed in Edgware Three male teenagers have been charged with the murder of another teenager last month.

The three, two aged 14 and one aged 15, were charged on Thursday with the murder of 19-year-old Hussein Ahmed.

All of them were further charged with grievous bodily harm (GBH) wounding with intent and attempted GBH wounding with intent.

They will appear in custody at Willesden Youth

Court last week Hussein died at 5.10pm on November 18 near to South Harrow Underground Station in Northolt Road, in Harrow..

A 17-year-old boy and a 23-year-old man were also arrested in connection with the investigation. They were rebailed to a date in mid-January after answering their bail.

A 16-year-old was arrested as well and remains on bail to a date in December.

Harrow volunteer thanked for work with children’s charity A volunteer who helps process thousands of letters exchanged between children from all over the world has been thanked for her hard work.

Dixita Pandya of Harrow Weald, has only recently joined the team at Plan International UK, a charity who works with children in the world’s poorest countries to help them build a better future.

International Volunteer Day was marked on December 5 this year, and Ms Pandya was thanked and praised for her dedicated work.

Ms Pandya, 35, reads and processes letters exchanged between children who are helped by the charity, from villages and

Hindu Lawyers Association celebrates Sita's Diwali The Hindu Lawyers Association broke new ground on 24 November 2016 by celebrating Sita’s Diwali, supporting the interests of women in law and society.

The issue of gender inequality in the legal profession is particularly highlighted by reviewing statistics at entry level whereby over 50% of solicitors are female with a gradual decrease of female repre-

what needs to be done for women to be promoted to senior management level.

This event was organised to open up the conversation on this matter hearing the stories of some of the leading female Hindu lawyers in the profession.

An insightful introduction was provided by Lynn Wells from Eversheds introducing initiatives which promote women within the workplace. This

sentation at each stage of promotion. It is generally considered that statistics do not show the overall picture of a situation however raise a big question as to

was followed by a presentation by the barrister Harini Iyengar who encouraged women to be themselves in the workplace, supporting the caus-

es which they believe in.

The event was concluded

by Judge Usha Karu, the only female circuit judge in the Inner London Crown Court who provided an insight into her inspirational career path.

For some women in the South Asian community, differential treatment is not limited to pursuing their career ambitions but extends to actions by their own community leading to inadequate provisions being available to suit their menstrual cycle. Pink Ladoo and Binti Period are

now combatting these issues, and seek to educate the community to change these social norms. The Hindu Lawyers Association invited both Rajvinder Khaira of Pink Ladoo and Manjit Gill of Binti Period to speak about these important causes and to promote to ‘smash shame’.

Overall, the presentations, the Binti Rose campaign, and display of artwork by the artist Kully Rehal provided an exhilarating atmosphere of equality and social justice.

Prayer meeting held for victims of the Croydon Tram accident towns in Africa, Asia and South America.

Plan International has recently launched a new programme to help vulnerable children, especially young girls, to succeed in their life and work. They are now working to ensure the government invest in more children completing their secondary school education and to help young girls in emergency situations.

Coming Events

l Talk on Indian History by Francois Gautier Time: 2.00 to 4.00 pm, Date: 18th December, Sunday. Venue: Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre, Rothley St, Leicester LE4 6LF

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 Mercury turns retrograde on

the 19th, and will remain retrograde until the 8th January 2017. This occurs in your tenth house of career and status, slowing down your progress at work. It is important for you to be steadfast and focused as misunderstandings and confusion reign. Stay as organized as possible while Mercury, the planet of communications does its best to trip you up.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 Mercury turns retrograde on

the 19th, and will remain retrograde until the 8th January 2017 in your ninth house of travel and adventure, creating havoc – make sure your travel documents are in order. Your mental focus could be anywhere other than your normal routine which could create chaos - discipline yourself.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 Mercury turns retrograde on the 19th, and will remain retrograde until the 8th January 2017 in your eighth house of joint resources, taxes, wills, legacies and alimony, creating confusion and complications for you during the next few weeks. Seek professional help and make sure you have plenty of focus when making decisions.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 Your closest relationships come under scrutiny as Mercury turns retrograde on the 19th, and will remain retrograde until the 8th January 2017.

Mercury, the planet of communications goes retrograde in your seventh house of marriage and partnerships. There can be a lot of misunderstandings and confused signals. It is a time for reassessment.

The Indian community organised a prayer meeting for the tram accident victims and their relations on Thursday 1 December. It was held at Oasis Academy, Shirley Road, Croydon.

The event was chaired

by Nitin Mehta founder of the Indian Cultural Centre.

Tony Newman leader of Croydon council spoke at the event. He expressed the deep sadness that is being felt in Croydon due to the tragedy. He said the Council is making every effort to support the relatives of the deceased and those who have suffered life changing injuries.

There will be memorials for the victims at various locations.

Mr Newman was followed by Chris Skilton,

Sneh Joshi

Tony Newman addressing the prayer meeting. Looking on Nitin Mehta, conveyor of the meeting.

Archdeacon of Croydon.

He led the Christian prayers followed by reading from the Bible.

Bob-Amara Jonathan, Pastor, Dominion House was the next speaker. He said the community shared the grief of the victims and offered prayers for all those affected.

Nabhinandan Das from the Krishna temple offered

The UK’s leading Vedic writer and TV personality

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

Mercury turns retrograde on the 19th, and will remain retrograde until the 8th January 2017, in your solar sixth house. The next few weeks may bring confusion and misunderstandings at work and troubles with your health. At work you need to pay more attention to detail before finalising important matters.

Mercury turns retrograde on the 19th, until the 8th January 2017 in your solar fifth house. Extra care should be exercised when it comes to matters surrounding romance, children, and creativity. Be as non-judgemental as possible as this is a period of review and rest.

Speculation and gambling are not advised right now.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

Mercury turns retrograde on the 19th, and will remain retrograde until the 8th January 2017 in your solar fourth house. Extra care should be exercised when it comes to family relations, real estate matters, and domestic issues.

Be diplomatic with your loved ones and try to put off major decisions regarding family matters.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

Mercury turns retrograde on the 19th, and will remain retrograde until the 8th January 2017. This transit occurs in your solar third house, extra care should be exercised when it comes to composing letters, emails, making phone calls, and with communications in general. Issues with siblings or neighbours - these should be resolved amicably.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

Hindu prayers and read from the Bhagvad Gita the Hindu holy book.

Les Kemp did a Buddhist prayer and reminded everyone of the uncertainty of life. He sad that our conduct with others should be such that one does not regret things said in anger.

Lorraine Chatfield from the Croydon Ecology

Centre said that the centre would welcome a memorial as so many of the victims were from nearby New Addington.

A Jain prayer was done

by Ketan Patira. Penny Smith from Croydon Faiths together that the care and welfare of the relatives of the deceased and those with life changing injuries is very crucial and the faiths together in Croydon will play a supporting role in the coming weeks and months.

Bharat Shah did a vote of thanks and announced that the community has raised around £1000.00 for the fund set up by the council. Oasis academy was thanked for making the hall available at a special rate.

020 8518 5500

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

Mercury turns retrograde on the 19th, until the 8th January 2017 in your solar second house. Extra care should be taken when it comes to new financial initiatives. There may be the need to resolve old, nagging issues regarding personal finances.

Take this time to re-budget and re-think how you want to spend your cash during this period.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

Mercury turns retrograde on the 19th, and will remain retrograde until the 8th January 2017 in your solar first house. Be careful when it comes to your body language as others may misinterpret whatever you say and you should be aware that you can give off mixed signals. Good time to review the manner in which you come across to others.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

Mercury turns retrograde on the 19th, and will remain retrograde until the 8th January 2017 in your solar twelfth house. Extra care should be exercised when it comes to private and personal matters. Be as non-judgemental as you can, but do keep an eye out for deceptiveness and falseness in others. Good time for yoga and meditation.

Mercury turns retrograde on the 19th, and will remain retrograde until the 8th January 2017 in your eleventh house of friends and associates. The next few weeks would serve you well if you spend more time listening than speaking. Good time to re-assess your relationships and partnerships.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

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L&T to build world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad AsianVoiceNews

The Gujarat Cricket Association came a step closer to make the Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad the biggest cricket stadium in the world in terms of seating capacity, as the contract to build the stadium was handed over to Larsen & Turbo (L&T) to begin work for the makeover. GCA vice-president Parimal Nathwani gave a letter of acceptance to L&T top officials in presence of key GCA officials.

A dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the leadership of GCA president Amit Shah, the old structure has already been razed and work will now begin to

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

build a new stadium which will house 1,10,000 people, the biggest in terms of seating capacity. With this, the new Motera Stadium will surpass the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) which can hold 100,024

people. "The ground is ready to be handed over to the construction company.

The new stadium, when completed, will be the largest cricket stadium in the world which will be made to meet all the latest

the international standards," a GCA statement said. The new stadium will have improved infrastructure for the spectators with an increase in the number of air-conditioned boxes and up-gradation of the parking facilities.

The entry, stay and exit processes will be smoothed and emphasis will be given to facilitate guided tours of the cricket museum. Other key facilities like eateries, fan-zones and wash rooms will be of absolute top notch quality. "In the next two years, the new structure will be ready," GCA secretary Rajesh Patel said.

Presently the stadium with its six pavilions has a capacity of 54,000.

Kohli retains second spot in ODI batsmen rankings India's Virat Kohli retained his second spot in the latest ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen but Australian opener David Warner was breathing down his neck with just two points behind in the chart.

Warner cut Kohli's earlier 62 point lead to just two following a stellar performance in the ChappellHadlee series against New Zealand, which concluded in Melbourne on Friday with Australia winning 3-0.

Warner finished as the leading run-getter with 299 runs in three matches to consolidate his number three ranking.

South Africa's AB de Villiers is still the number one ranked batsman with 13 points

ahead of Kohli.

The fight for the No.1 ranking will resume next month when Kohli is expected to feature in the three-match series against England (January 15-23), Warner will take the field against Pakistan in the fivematch series (January 1326). Meanwhile, New Zealand opener Martin Guptill and Australia's trio of Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazelwood have all achieved career-high rankings. Guptill has been rewarded for his 193 runs in the series with a rise of two places, which has put him in sixth position, Smith has jumped six places to 10th following series con-

tribution of 236 runs, Marsh has gained three places to rise to 22nd position, while Hazlewood has vaulted 12 places to join Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi in 11th position following six wickets in the series.

Pat Cummins, who was the leading wicket-taker with eight wickets, has returned in 47th position while other bowlers to make upward movements include James Faulkner (23rd, up by two places) and Mitchell Santner (50th, up by 16 places).

Trent Boult, who was the leading wicket-taker in the series with eight wickets, has retained his No.1 ranking. He leads South

Africa's Imran Tahir by eight points, with West Indies' Sunil Narine one more point behind in third position.

There is no change to the all-rounders' list, which is headed by Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan, who is followed by Angelo Mathews, Mohammad Nabi, James Faulkner and Mitchell Marsh.

On the ICC ODI Team Rankings, No.1 ranked Australia has moved up from 118 points to 120 points, while New Zealand has dropped behind India in fourth position. New Zealand had started the series on 112 points, but the 3-0 defeat has meant it has dropped to 109 points.

Advani wins world billiards crown again Despite being far from his best, Pankaj Advani held his nerve and played the big points well to scale another peak at the Karnataka State Billiards Association on Monday. In the IBSF World Billiards Championship points format final Advani outplayed an off-colour Peter Gilchrist of Singapore 6-3, who had beaten Gujarat's Dhvaj Haria 5-1 in the semi-finals, to annex a mind-boggling 11th World

Pankaj Advani

billiards crown and 16th overall. “This is a title that I needed badly,” said Advani, who denied the Singaporean a rare double. However, for the better part, the crowd

looked on in total disbelief when both Advani and Gilchrist played and missed shots they would have played with their eyes closed on any other day. Maybe it was the pressure of the final that got to them. Both were never on top of their games and often succumbed to the baulkline rule (having to cross between 80 and 100 points). “The tables behaved a trifle differently today, I was not getting the splits

and cushions didn't have the desired throw for Gilchrist.

That made it a little difficult,” admitted Advani.

The much-anticipated final sputtered to life, but very briefly, only in the second session with Advani holding a slender 4-2 lead.

That there were just two century breaks in the entire match, one from each player, was a poor advertisement for the sport that thrives on big breaks.

game of the home side.

Their dependable linkman and skipper Harjeet Singh also wasn't in his best

form. And that starved the Indian forwards with proper through passes. To add to the woes, they even committed elementary mistakes in trapping and ball relaying. Twice they even failed to stop the ball on their penalty corner attempts.

But, that's not to take the credit away from the South Africans. They had enough verve and speed to bother the Indians all through. Their defenders were sure-footed and their goal keeper Siyavuya Nolutshungu came up

SPORT

Umpire Paul Reiffel hurt after being hit by throw Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

Umpire Paul Reiffel who was officiating at the Mumbai test was forced to leave the field for medical attention after being hit on the back of the head by a throw from fielder Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the post lunch session of the fourth Test between India and England. The former Australia fast bowler was stationed at square leg when the ball thrown by Kumar from deep square leg hit him flush on the back of the head and he fell down on the turf. Play was halted for a while as on-field medical attention was administered before the dazed official left the ground to go into the pavilion for further rest and recuperation. Reiffel was replaced by Marias Erasmus, who was doing the third umpire's duty indoors and his duties were transferred to reserve official C Shamsuddin sitting inside. The incident happened close to the first hour of play in the second session and drinks were taken ahead of schedule to make up for the stoppage.

De Villiers steps down as SA test captain

Star batsman AB de Villiers confirmed that he has stepped down as captain of the South Africa Test team with immediate effect as he recovers from an elbow injury. De Villiers, 32, was appointed in January following Hashim Amla's resignation, and led the team in two Test matches against England before injury forced him to miss the series against New Zealand and Australia. South Africa lost one Test and won one under De Villiers. In his absence Faf du Plessis impressed with his leadership as stand-in skipper during back-to-back Test wins over Australia. "The interests of the team must always outweigh the interests of any individual, including me," said De Villiers, who backed Du Plessis. "It was a fantastic honour for me to be asked to captain the Test side but I have missed two series and I am still in doubt for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.

"Following the squad's outstanding performances in Australia, it is clearly in the greater interests of the team that Faf du Plessis should be confirmed as the permanent Test captain. "I have known Faf for almost 20 years, ever since we played in the same school side at Afrikaans Hoer Seunskool, and he will have my unequivocal support if he is asked to continue leading this exciting Proteas Test team."

India juniors survive SA scare to top Pool D

India booked their top position in Pool D in the Junior Men Hockey World Cup, but not before braving some spirited fight by the South Africans on Monday. They had to fight tooth and nail at the Major Dhyan Chand stadium in Lucknow before prevailing 2-1. After a flawless show against Canada and England, this was a wake-up call for the side, who now take on Spain in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

Playing a hard manto-man marking game, the

Springboks had enough spring in their heel to match the home side. That upset the free-flowing

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with a marvellous display to deny the Indians many a times.

Indians broke the ice in the 11th minute on a foggy evening as Armaan Qureshi weaved in from the left inside the South African circle. His first attempt was saved by Nolutshungu, but the ball rebounded to Harjeet, who slotted the ball home with a crisp shot.

The Springboks earned their equalizer off a short corner in the 28th minute. Kyle Lion-Cachet came up with a powerful

drag-flick to the right of Vikas Dahiya, giving the Indian custodian no chance. Then, after some furious exchanges, India got the winner in the 55th minute when Mandeep Singh came up with a superb reverse hit after receiving the ball from Harjeet Singh.

Stung by the reverse, the visitors threw everything into the attack. But the Indian defense braved some tense moments before the hooter sounded relief for the cheering home crowd.

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Asian Voice | 17th December 2016

India beat England by an innings, win series

England lost its last four wickets for just 13 runs in Monday's morning session to crash to an innings and 36-run defeat in the fourth test, giving India the series victory. India now lead the series 3-0 with one test to come, and has beaten England in a test series for the first time since 2008.

Resuming on day five at 182-6, England needed some brave resistance from its tail to have any hope of forcing a draw, but folded meekly and was bowled out for 195.

Ravichandran Ashwin took 6-55 - his 24th fivewicket haul in test cricket for match figures of 12-167; his 10th ten-wicket matchhaul in 43 tests. It was India's fifth successive test series win, stretching back to Sri Lanka last year, followed by home series wins against South Africa and New Zealand and away to the West Indies.

"Out of the five that we've won, this is the best by far," captain Virat Kohli said. "Because of the quality of the opposition, and the kind of cricket that we've played, we're very

proud of that. We know England are a quality test side. Even in this game after being 2-0 down, they put 400 runs in the first innings. This is not a team that will throw in the towel. They will fight, and we saw another example of it. We were tested but we came out on top. If you are a champion team, you have to play like a champion team to win series and that's what we did."

The collapse began in the third over of the morn-

ing when Ashwin trapped Jonny Bairstow (51) lbw.

The batsman called for a review but the decision was upheld. Ashwin bowled Chris Woakes (0) and Adil Rashid (2) holed out to deep cover two overs later.

Following that dismissal, heated words were exchanged between Ashwin and James Anderson (2) and umpire Marais Erasmus had to intervene.

Anderson was the last man out, caught at mid-on

as Ashwin completed the rout in just over 30 minutes of play. It was a rapid decline for England after putting on 400 in its first innings. "At 230-2 we had an opportunity to go a bit bigger than that but 400 in those conditions was good and just above par," captain Alastair Cook said.

"We missed three good chances to take wickets and they made us pay. That is credit to India. Most teams who score runs give chances at some stage and

it is about a side being good enough to take them.

Missing Kohli, missing Murali Vijay and Jayant Yadav cost us dearly."

Kohli was awarded the man of the match for his innings of 235; his 15th test hundred and third double century in 2016. The first test in Rajkot was drawn.

India won the second test in Visakhapatnam by 246 runs, and the third test in Mohali by eight wickets.

The fifth test in Chennai begins on December 16.

Earlier captain Kohli stamped his greatness at Wankhede stadium with a classy 235, while his partner Jayant Yadav, playing in just his third test became the first Indian batsman to score a test hundred coming in at the No 9 position. He then capped off a brilliant day by making a vital breakthrough for India by trapping Joe Root leg before to end a gallant counterattack by the England batsman.

It was the perfect support act that India needed to back up the heroics of their superstar skipper, as

India took a vice-like grip on the Test by stumps on Day Four. Resuming on 147, Virat Kohli rewarded the enthusiastic Sunday crowd when he slammed the first double hundred at the Wankhede since Vinod Kambli had put England to sword here with 224 in 1992-93.

It was the first time a batsman has hit three double hundreds in successive Test series. In fact, no Indian has hit so many double centuries in a single year. The 28-year-old's career-best knock (235, 340b, 25x4, 1x6) is possibly his finest at home too, besides being the highest individual score by an Indian captain. Kohli and Yadav's 241-run stand shattered not only the Indian record for the eighth wicket partnership, it broke England's spirit too. Thanks to the duo, India eventually finished at a massive 631, a total which tells you a story about how good India's batting was, and also about how poor England's spinners were on a turning wicket.

Virat Kohli takes Indian cricket to another level The fourth Test in Mumbai saw the three dimensions of Virat Kohli shine through - the batsman, the captain and the cricket statesman.

He broke England's back with a superlative 235, his third double ton since July; never let the visitors breathe easy with his proactive and clear-headed captaincy, and made a sagacious intervention to douse the fires when Ashwin got into a spat with Anderson over comments the English pacer had made about Kohli himself.

With Kohli came a new culture into Team India where skill, attitude, ambition and prudence merge to make for a potent cocktail. With coach Anil Kumble lending considerable weight as a teacher, tactician and motivator, Kohli has gone about fashioning a bunch of talented, fearless yet thoughtful cricketers who relish a challenge. It's interesting

to note that while Kohli has trimmed his own strokeplay to help him make hundreds in Tests, he hasn't ever asked the youngsters in his team do the same, allowing them to dare and dream. In the end, it was all

Virat Kohli

too easy. After sparring with England on all four days, India trampled upon them on the final stretch, taking little time to complete the last rites of the fourth Test at the Wankhede Stadium.

Resuming at 182 for six, the visitors lost their remaining four wickets TM

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New records

• It is also the biggest score by an India skipper in Tests, surpassing the 224 that MS Dhoni made in a Chennai Test against Australia in February 2013.

• The hosts' captain has now compiled a remarkable

640 runs in the series, with one Test still to come, breaking the previous record for an India batsman against England.

Rahul Dravid made 602 runs in the 2002 series between the teams.

• Kohli is the first Indian to make three double-hundreds in a calendar year and only the fifth batsman from any nation, after Don Bradman, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Brendon McCullum.

• The partnership between Kohli and Jayant was worth 241, comfortably India's best effort for the eighth wicket in Tests. The previous record belonged to Mohammad Azharuddin and Anil Kumble, who shared 161 versus South Africa in 1996.

• Jayant is the first Indian to make a Test cen-

tury from number nine.

Farokh Engineer's 90 against New Zealand had stood as the best score by an India number nine since 1965. Jayant is also the owner of the most substantial score from nine in Indian first-class cricket, having made 211 for Haryana in 2011.

Jennings was lbw for a golden duck in the first over of England's reply. The first-innings centurion is the fourth batsman – after Gundappa Viswanath, Andrew Hudson and Mohammad Wasim – to make a hundred and a duck on Test debut.

• Ravichandran Ashwin took 6-55 - his 24th five-wicket haul in test cricket - for match figures of 12-167; his 10th ten-wicket match-haul in 43 tests.

merely for 13 runs more, all in a matter of 32 minutes and 48 balls to lose the

match by an innings and 36 runs and the series 3-0.

That this thumping win

came on a ground on which India had suffered a shocking ten-wicket defeat at the

• Kohli's 235 represents his highest Test score, beating the 211 he made against New Zealand in October.

hands of the same opposition, back in 2012, made the triumph sweeter. This is only the third time in Test cricket when a team has lost a Test by an innings after putting up 400 in its first innings.

Fittingly, it was Ravichandran Ashwin who cleaned up all the four wickets that fell in the morning. The off-spinner bamboozled the batsmen with a mixture of top spinners and carrom balls. The 30-year-old finished with six for 55 for the game and 12 for 167 in the match, best bowling figures by a spinner at the Wankhede.

This is the fifth series India have won under him since beating Sri Lanka 2-1 in August last year, a run which has seen them unbeaten in 17 consecutive Tests. His double hundred here will be remembered for a long time, but Kohli still cherishes his hundred in the second innings in Adelaide more.

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