AV 24th May 2025

UK and EU strike landmark post Brexit deal P20

Amit Shah launches new OCI portal in Delhi P25

India shines at Cannes 2025 P31

Rethinking diversity and inclusion in today’s Britain

Just a month ago, the abolition of the UK’s non-domiciled tax regime made headlines as it was reported that billionaire steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, a long-time UK resident of nearly 30 years, was preparing to leave the country While Mittal may be one of the most high-profile names to exit, he is far from alone

The UK is experiencing an unprecedented exodus of its wealthiest residents In 2024, approximately 10,800 millionaires left the country marking a staggering 157% increase from the previous year. This dramatic shift is largely attributed to sweeping tax reforms, including the abolition of the non-dom regime and proposed hikes in capital gains and inheritance taxes These changes have driven many high-net-worth individuals to relocate to more tax-friendly jurisdictions such as Switzerland, Italy, and the UAE

Reflecting this trend, the 2025 Sunday Times Rich List reported a sharp drop in the number of UK-based billionaires, down to 156, the steepest decline in the list’s 37-year history (Full story on page 18)

Swathi Anil

India is launching a diplomatic offensive against Pakistan by sending all-party delegations to different parts of the world to explain Operation Sindoor and expose Islamabad's continued support to terrorists and their cross-border activities The Indian delegation will visit 32 nations and explain India's stand against terrorism The government has decided to form 7 all-party delegation of MPs, where each team will have 8 members They will be visiting world capitals starting from May 22 to June 5 to expose Pakistan s continued stand in promoting terrorism. The delegations will incorporate Pak-sponsored terrorism, the Pahalgam terrorist

consequences as well

Members from BJP, Congress, TMC,

would be part of delegations which are meant to

The

in 10 days

Full story on page 16-17

Anusha Singh

(seated),

Lakshmi Mittal

M

‘Reckoning

needed’ over grooming gang cover-ups

S

of reckoning " for t

A lthoug h Prof Alexis Jay’s 2 0 2 2 i nq u

ry e xp o s ed w idespread abuse, no ne of i ts 2 0 r

w e re a ct

o n b efo re L abour to ok off ice in Ju ly 20 24

Baroness Louise Casey was commissioned to conduct a rapid review into the cultural and societal drivers

b e h i n d t h e a b u s e , w i t h f i n d i n g s e x p e c t e d t h i s month While some victims a n d p o l i t i c a l o p p o n

h a v e c a l l e d fo r a n e w inquir y, the government is prioritising the implementation of the 2022 recommendations Conser vative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage

s u p p o r t a n 1 8 -m o n t h national inquir y with powers to compel witnesses

The proposed inquir y, b a c ke d b y s o m e L a b o u r MPs, would name institu-

t i o n s o r i n d i v i d u a l s

i n v o l v e d i n c o v e r i n g u p

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

Ho m e S e c r e t a r y Yv e t t e

C o o p e r, p r e s s e d b y t h e

BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg on delays and the rejection of a national inquir y, said a decision would depend on the upcoming f indings of the Casey report

Sp e a k i n g t o T h e Spectator, Justice Secretar y S h a b a n a M a h m o o d s a i d many victims still don’t feel j u s t i c e h a s b e e n s e r v e d , despite perpetrators being j a i l

dressed

“Accountability is happ e n i n g t h r o u g h t h e courts,” she said , “but it doesn’t feel like true justice fo r v i c t i m s ” M a h m o o d added that a key issue is “ w h y s o m a n y p e o p l e looked the other way, ” calling for a “moment of reck-

oning” to confront institutional inaction

Prof Jay’s inquir y found tens of thousands of children were failed by institutions like police and children’s ser vices Mahmood said these failures caused “visceral pain” and broke public trust, calling for a “ m o m e n t o f r e c ko n i n g ”

Baroness Casey’s upcoming audit will examine grooming gang patterns and the failure to record ethnicity While the government supports local inquiries, it has ruled out a new national i n q u i r y, fo c u s i n g i n s t e a d on implementing Jay’s 2022 recommendations

scandal, has died aged 60 His ground-breaking 2011 investigation exposed the

teenage girls by gangs of men, mainly of Pakistani

prompted a major inquir y, which later revealed that around 1,400 children were

Rotherham between 1997 and 2013

MPs approve opt-out for health staff in assisted dying bill

Ps h a ve a p pr ov e d a ke y

cha nge to the A ssisted Dying

Bi ll , e n s u r in g n o o n e i s force d to ta ke pa rt in the pr oce ss a gainst t heir wishes

The Assisted Dying Bill, which would allow terminally ill adults in England and

Wa l e s w i t h l e s s t h a n s i x months to live to seek help to end their lives, passed its f irst reading in November and has since faced intense scrutiny and amendments

M Ps d e b a t e d f u r t h e r changes, including banning doctors from initiating the conversation, but ran out of time to vote A key debate and vote are set for 13 June

T h e g o v e r n m e n t remains neutral, with MPs given a free vote An amend-

m e n t b y L a b o u r M P K i m Leadbeater expands opt-out

p r o t e c t i o n s t o a l l s t a f f , including carers and phar-

m a c i s t s W h i le L e a d b e a t e r argued the bill offers dignity in dying, critics warned of risks to vulnerable people

C o n s e r v a t

Paul called for better end-ofl i fe

Anneliese Dodds and Dame Meg Hillier raised concerns about pressure and coercion

B u t C o n s e r v a t i v e M P D r Ne i l S h a s t r i-Hu r s t s a i d trained professionals could handle such complex discussions

The debate also raised c o n c e r n s a b o

h e r i n d

l s w i t h

n

e x i a m i g h t q u a l i f y fo r a s s i s t e d dying Kim Leadbeater dismissed this risk as minimal, n o t i n g t h a t p a t i e n t s w i t h severe anorexia would likely lack capacity and may not sur vive the lengthy process Labour MP Naz Shah prop o s e d a n a m e n d m e n t t o

Home Guard inspired by WWII citizens’ militia

A new ho me gu ard w ill be set up to protect pow er plants and airports fro m terrorist and state threats, under th e gov ernm ent’s strategic defence review The force will be m odelled on the citizens’ militia formed in 1940 to defend Britain against Nazi inv asion during WWII

The force would consist of several thousand volunteers tasked with protecting key sites like nuclear power plants, telecom hubs, and coastal landing points for internet cables They could also guard other critical locations, such as power stations at major airports, with the recent Heathrow f ire highlighting the need for increased security

This home guard plan is central to the review, which emphasises homeland security, national resilience, and the growing threat f ro m Ru s s i a , I r a n , a n d No r t h Ko re a T h e report is expected to be published within weeks

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, head of the RAF, is the frontrunner to become Britain’s next armed forces chief, competing with Generals James Hockenhull, Roly Walker, and Dame Sharon Nesmith Defence Secretar y John Healey plans to raise the army ’ s size to 76,000, reversing cuts from 72,500

The militar y aims to acquire 12 SSN-Aukus nuclear hunter submarines to replace the aging Astute fleet, under the UK-US-Australia p a c t A n a t i o n a l s e c u

y s t r a t e g y l

d b y Jonathan Powell and John Bew will follow the defence review ahead of a key NATO summit in June, where President Trump is expected to demand higher defence spending A defence capability paper will be published this autumn after Rachel Reeves’s spending review

exclude those who stop eating or drinking voluntarily from eligibility

Scott ish Parliame nt t o conside r bill

The Scottish Parliament has voted 70 to 56 to consider a bill allowing assisted dying for terminally ill peop l e , fo l l

f cross-party scrutiny

Liam McArthur, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP, said many terminally ill people f a c e “ h o r r e n d

u s c h o i c e s and bad deaths,” including unregulated suicides or prolonged suffering, due to lack of access to assisted dying

In the speech, he warned that blocking the bill now would deny them choice and stop Holyrood from passing

w He noted that

dying is legal, with the Isle

Rising fees deter new private school families

Private school pupil numbers hav e d rop ped by ov er 1 3, 000 in the past year, th e larg est decline s inc e 20 1 2, acc ord in g to th e Ind e pen de nt Scho ols Cou ncil (ISC)

The fall, from 551,578 to 538,215 pupils, is largely blamed on the VAT introduced on fees in Januar y ISC members represent around 80% of privately educated students

The f igures challenge the government’s estimate that only 3,000 pupils would leave private schools in 2024-25 due to the VAT, rising to 14,000 by next summer The ISC’s upcoming census will also reveal that average private day-school fees have jumped 22% over £4,000 in the past year, reaching £22,000, while many boarding schools now charge more than £60,000 annually

Aatif Hassan, founder of Dukes Education, said the VAT’s impact on the education sector is just beginning to show and will become clearer by the next academic year, affecting both independent and state schools He noted that rising fees mainly deter families deciding whether to send children to private school, especially at key entr y points, while existing families are reluctant to move due to disruption

Hassan added that larger premium schools r e m a i n s t a b l e , b u t s m a l l e r i n d e p e n d e n t schools, especially those supporting neurodiverse pupils, face huge pressure He warned that increasing the number of pupils in the state sector amid underfunded special needs ser vices is counterproductive

I N B R I E F LONDON TOPS SOCIAL MOBILITY RANKING S IN ENGLAND

All of the top 20 constituencies for social mobility in England are in London, highlighting a sharp regional divide in children s life chances, according to a new report by the Sutton Trust The Sutton Trust ’s “opportunity index,” based on six indicators including GCSE results, university completion and future earnings, reveals deep regional divides in social mobility London dominates the top 50 constituencies, with East Ham ranked highest Birmingham Perry Barr is the best performer outside the capital, in 23rd place In East Ham, disadvantaged pupils are 30 percentage points more likely to pass key GCSEs and three times more likely to earn a degree than those in Newcastle Central and West the lowestranked area Three of the bottom 10 constituencies are in north- east England The report also shows just 6% of lowincome children in the north- east move away as adults, compared to 13% in London and the east Chief executive Nick Harrison called the findings a startling picture of inequality

PRODUCTIVITY

DROP COULD COST 92 ,000

PUBLIC JOB S

Chancellor Rachel Reeves may need to spend over £5bn and hire 92 ,000 extra public sector workers by 2030 if falling productivity trends continue, according to the Centre for Economic s and Business Research Using ONS data, the consultancy warned that declining output per worker down 0 3% in 2024 and 0 2% in 2023 could require more staff just to maintain current service levels with productivity still below pre -pandemic levels If the decline in productivity continues the Treasury may need to hire 92 000 more public sector workers at a cost of £5 1bn by 2030, according to Cebr Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces pressure to curb spending ahead of the autumn budget, with a 11 June review to set threeyear priorities Options include capping staff, cutting services, or boosting productivity Health Secretary Wes Streeting has urged the NHS to improve efficiency, while unions push for inflationmatching pay rises Cebr warns UK productivity remains weak and lags behind global peers

DRIVERS

FACE CAR CONFISCATION FOR ‘HARMLESS’ BLUE BADGE MISUSE

Drivers face fines and vehicle towing for breaking Blue Badge rules amid a 1,000% rise in related crimes Between 2014 and 2023, Blue Badge thefts in London surged by 400% Many offenders dismiss it as harmless “borrowing Granny’s badge” for a quick errand Alison Tooze, Chief Engagement and Policy Officer at the BPA , said the rise in Blue Badge misuse and fraud is shocking and cannot be ignored She emphasised that badge holders depend on accessible parking for independence and misuse denies them this right while costing taxpayers millions "This must stop " she said Croydon Mayor Jason Perry called misuse of Blue Badges unfair to those who rely on them and said residents are concerned He warned that offenders in Croydon risk having their vehicles towed and facing court Reports of Blue Badge abuse have risen from hundreds in 2016 to over 3, 500 in 2023

Shabana Mahmood

Kim Leadbeater

Thought for the week

“To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains ” Nelson Mandela

Political Sketchbook

Alpesh Pa

“Blood and Water Cannot Flow Together” - A Personal Reflection on Thirty Years of Truth

Th ere are some p hrases in histo ry that are not ju st lines they are lodestars Wh en th e P rim e M inister of Ind ia solem nly declared that “blo od and water cannot flow togeth er, ” it was no t rhetoric It was a d octrine A warning A declaratio n o f p rinciple born from d ecades of betrayal and bleed ing borders

For me, this isn t theoretical It’s personal Exactly thirty years ago, as a young intern working for a U S Congressman in Washington D C , I was asked to collect signatures from members of Congress Republican and Democrat alike on a letter urging the White House to designate Pakistan a terrorist state

Even then, in 1995, the evidence was already overwhelming The brutalities in Kashmir, the harbouring of terrorist groups, and the military’s double games were well known in the corridors of Capitol Hill What surprised me w a s n ’ t t h e c o n t e n t o f t h e l e t t e r i t w a s h o w m a n y Senators and Congressmen quietly agreed Off the record, they all knew On the record, they were cautious The White House and State Department under President Clinton refused the Congressional lobbying That caution cost thousands more lives

And yet, here we are Thirty years on The faces have changed in Washington and Islamabad, but the game remains the same Pakistan still plays the victim while nurturing the venomous infrastructure of terror The strategy is as old as it is cynical: export jihad while demanding global sympathy And once again, India is left to bury its dead

That is why the words of Prime Minister Modi strike with such moral clarity India’s restraint should never be mistaken for weakness Our rivers may be sacred, but they cannot be vessels of poison The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in good faith, now flows uneasily in the shadow of innocent blood

As President of the India League, I add my voice and that of our entire community to this line in the sand The world must finally understand that security and stability in South Asia will never be possible as long as statesponsored terrorism is tolerated under the diplomatic fig leaf of sovereignty

The international community cannot continue its policy of strategic ambiguity It is a failure of both intellect and ethics to pretend Pakistan is a passive actor when its intelligence services incubate terror with the consistency of a state-run business China provided satellite imagery to Pakistan Did the West move as quickly for India?

India has built global partnerships in science, trade, defence, and diplomacy It has invested in peace But peace is not pacifism The world must now stand with those who bleed not with those who bankroll the butchers

In 1995, I knocked on doors to sound the alarm for my Congressman In 2025, the alarm is deafening This time, let’s not wait another thirty years

Asian Voice is published by

Asian Business Publications Ltd

CB Pa tel : Publisher and Editor

R up anja na D utta : Managing Editor

Harrow Business Centre,

429-433 Pinner Road, North Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 4HN

Tel: 020 7749 4080 • Fax: 020 7749 4081

Email: aveditorial@abplgroup com

Website: www abplgroup com

INDIA OFFICE

Bure au Chi ef: Nilesh Parmar

(BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt Ltd

207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp Jain Derasar, Nr Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad-380 015

Tel: +91 79 4601 2649

Email: gs ahd@abplgroup com

Has Labour Party failed our multicultural Britain?

The Sunday Times Rich List 2025 featuring 350 entries is out and as expected, the number of UK billionaires has fallen to 156 from 165 in 2024; the steepest drop in the list’s history, according to The Times

Now in its 37th year, The Sunday Times Rich List reflects broader shifts in the global and domestic economy The combined wealth of the top 350 has dropped by 3% to £772 8 billion, marking the third consecutive year of decline and many are blaming the Labour government’s tax rises High-income individuals are leaving the country, planning to settle in places like Dubai where they can save their taxes instead of twice over

And while this issue is also about the morality of those who don’t want to pay taxes, the Labour government has to do something to attract the wealthy If those with money leave because they do not want to pay taxes, the middle class takes the brunt of it as the country already grapples with the cost-ofliving crisis Chancellor Rachel Reeves has scrapped the nondomicile status; she plans to raise capital gains and inheritance taxes next year which will just inspire further exodus

On the other hand, the recent immigration white paper by the government, has left the country shocked, as the Labour Party openly competes with Reform In the past, we have seen different governments bring in different immigration policies and they have all failed at one stage or the other but Labour’s policy, in a way, has failed at the very first step

It has failed to acknowledge and respect the contributions of the immigrants and the value they bring to Britain It has failed to highlight that, while they are often paid low wages, it is the immigrants who have kept sectors like the care homes and NHS running Making the entry and subsequent life of immigrants in the country difficult is unfair but what is unacceptable is the language and calling them “strangers” Is this how the leadership of a “multicultural” Britain should propa-

gate the varied identities of the country?

All of this sends a message to the immigrants and the community that gave PM Starmer a landslide victory to improve their future, almost a year ago

Tensions have also emerged within the Labour Party as senior figures have publicly questioned PM Keir Starmer's recent comments on immigration London Mayor Sadiq Khan has distanced himself from the Labour leader after Starmer’s gaffe that drew comparisons from some MPs to Enoch Powell’s infamous “Rivers of Blood” speech

He remarked that Starmer’s language was not something Khan would have chosen for himself “Those aren’t words that I would use, ” he said Powell, a Conservative cabinet minister had declared in his 1968 speech that native Britons had “found themselves made strangers in their own country” due to immigration

Olivia Blake, Labour MP for Sheffield Hallam, warned that such rhetoric “risks legitimising the same far-Right violence we saw in last year ’ s summer riots” Zarah Sultana, a former Labour MP now sitting as an independent after defying the party whip on the two-child benefit cap, also expressed her outrage, expressing that the speech “fuelled decades of racism and division” and “adds to anti-migrant rhetoric”

The recent UK-EU deal will now allow mobility of youth between the two It is a prominent part of the deal, allowing EU migrants part rights that are denied to those of non EU origin, making the intention behind the white paper even more questionable

PM Starmer needs to understand that it is the South Asian, East Asian, African - mainly the immigrants of colour who fill in the gaps that British or EU nationals don’t This was the case even before Brexit Balanced, wise and non discriminatory policies are needed in the safe running of a country

India's unified stand on terrorism

In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, India has demonstrated a rare and commendable unity across political lines

Sindoor, marked a significant escalation in India's counterterrorism strategy What followed was equally noteworthy: an all-party diplomatic outreach, signalling to the world that India stands united against terrorism

The Indian government organised seven multi-party delegations, comprising 59 leaders from various political parties, including the Congress, BJP, AAP, and others These delegations were dispatched to 32 countries and the European Union to present a cohesive narrative of India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism Notable political leaders and veteran diplomats are spearheading these missions, engaging foreign governments, think tanks, and media to generate global momentum against terrorism

Between May 20 and 23, all delegations will be comprehensively briefed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, a move that reflects a well-coordinated and unified national effort on counterterror diplomacy

The broad spectrum of participants from JD(U), Shiv Sena, DMK, NCP, Congress, BJP, to independents underscores the seriousness of the initiative and the national consensus backing it

The UK delegation includes a diverse mix of experienced voices from across the political aisle and diplomatic corps It is set to visit the UK, France, Germany, the EU, Italy, and Denmark This team includes BJP MPs Ravi Shankar Prasad and Daggubati Purandeswari, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress MP Amar Singh, BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya, nominated MP Ghulam Ali Khatana, and former Union Minister MJ Akbar Joining

them is Ambassador Pankaj Saran, lending seasoned diplomatic depth to the mission

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor leads one of seven delegations to several countries to showcase India's zero-tolerance stance against terrorism The delegation will visit Guyana, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, and the United States Tharoor’s delegation is scheduled to depart on May 24, after the foreign secretary briefs them on Operation Sindoor The delegation's visit to the US is planned after the Memorial Day weekend, ensuring optimal engagement with Congress

All parties joining hands underscore a collective commitment to national security, transcending party affiliations It sends a clear message that terrorism is not a political issue but a national concern Such unity is crucial in the global fight against terrorism, as it strengthens India's position on the international stage

However, this unified front also highlights India's capability and resolve in managing its internal affairs The recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan, brokered by US President Donald Trump, was met with scepticism in New Delhi Indian officials, including Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, have reiterated that Kashmir is a bilateral issue and that India does not require external mediation This stance reaffirms India's sovereignty and its capacity to address regional challenges independently

India's response to the Pahalgam attack and the subsequent diplomatic outreach exemplify a unified and strategic approach to combating terrorism By presenting a united front, India not only strengthens its internal cohesion but also sends a powerful message to the world about its commitment to peace and security

Cultural dilemmas grow around Assisted Dying Bill debate

Assisted dying has become a significant and divisive topic in the House of Commons, drawing different views from MPs across the political spectrum The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales with six months or less to live to seek assistance in ending their lives, continues to be a focal point of parliamentary debate

While the bill passed its second reading in November by 330 to 275 votes, recent discussions on 16 May were limited, with MPs only able to vote on two amendments, one of which permits medical professionals to opt out of participating in assisted deaths

The limited time for debate has raised concerns about whether the bill is receiving adequate scrutiny Further discussion and voting are now scheduled for 13 June Over the past six months, the bill has undergone detailed examination by a parliamentary committee, resulting in more than 500 proposed amendments Notably, one change replaces the requirement for High Court approval with an oversight panel made up of a legal expert, psychiatrist, and social worker

abuse As the UK continues to debate the Assisted Dying Bill, it can learn from these international frameworks to develop a carefully balanced approach, one that respects individual autonomy while safeguarding the most vulnerable avoiding any indirect coercion especially in the South Asian communities

Assisted dying could actually have unintended and deeply disruptive consequences for South Asian communities, where cultural values often emphasise selflessness and avoid burdening others Elderly individuals or those with long-term illnesses may feel an internalised pressure to choose death, not out of personal desire, but to spare their families perceived hardship This risks reframing death as a “responsible” or even honourable choice, particularly for the most vulnerable

© As an Bus ness Pub cations

Many countries, including the United States, Canada, Belgium, and the Netherlands, have already legalised and regulated assisted dying, offering valuable models for the UK to consider These nations have established robust safeguards, clear eligibility criteria, and professional oversight to ensure the process is ethical, compassionate, and protected against

There has been growing confusion and concern surrounding the scope and implications of assisted dying legislation One of the key questions remain unanswered: will individuals with severe mental illness or chronic conditions like anorexia be eligible? If so, where do we draw the line between physical and psychological suffering? If doctors are given the authority to make these decisions, how will consistency, accountability, and fairness be ensured? Any decision on such a profound issue must include input from community organisations, faith leaders, and cultural voices who can help interpret its meaning Where science may not provide clarity, faith often does

Councillor Anjana Patel sworn in as Harrow’s 73rd Mayor

C o u nc il lo r A n ja na P at el

m ad e h i s to ry as s h e w a s

sw orn in as Harrow’ s 73 rd

M ayor, becoming th e UK’ s f i rs t B ri ti s h T an za ni an -

Indian to take on the role

Her consort is Mr Rupesh

P atel, and Mr Tilak Parekh, a scholar of Hind u theo log y, w ill serve as her chaplain

Her chosen theme for the year is “Kindness, Caring and Respect ”

C l l r P a t e l h a s c h o s e n two charities for her mayoral year: VIA, which supports those affected by drug

a

o offer vital emotional support during crises

Born in Dar-es-Salaam, C o u n c i l l o r A n j

moved to the UK in 1975 and settled in Harrow in 2000

Elected as a councillor for West Harrow in 2002, she has represented Belmont for the past 15 years She has h e l d k

C

S c h o o l s & C h i

e n ’ s Development (2006–2010), and more recently, Cabinet Member for Environment &

C

Deputy Mayor

diversity, she led Equalities

and ethnic minorities into politics

She has served on boards

Society UK She also served as a school governor for 16 years

Harrow is home to over 260,000 residents and more t

d

An active advocate for

Gujarati being the second most spoken language after English, reflecting its rich

and deeply woven diversity

M ayor's role and resp onsibilities

London Borough of Harrow is the First Citizen and holds a politically neutral, apolitical role Representing the council at civic and ceremo-

presence adds significance

attending various functions across Harrow, chairing full council meetings to ensure

groups, schools, and visitors to the Mayor’s Parlour The Mayor also receives guests from local organisations as well as foreign visitors, such

Harrow’s twin town, Douai, France

Mandy Brar to lead RBWM’s Mayor

C ouncillor M andy Brar, form erly Dep uty M ayor, w ill

serv e as M ayor fo r 20 25/26, s u c ce ed i n g C ou n c il lo r S i m o n B o nd C ou n c il lo r

S i a n M a rti n w as ele c ted Deputy M ayor

B r a r , f i r s t e l e c t e d t o Cookham Parish Council in 1992, is now in her third term as Borough Councillor for Bisham and Cookham She moved to the UK as a

c h i l d , g r e w u p i n Cippenham, Slough, and ran a successful retail store in Maidenhead for 34 years

Now retired, Councillor Brar remains active in local

g r o u p s l i k e W i l d M a i d e n h e a d , C o o k h a m

Dean Horticultural Society, a n d t h e R o y a l B r i t i s h

Legion C o u n c i

i n , elected to Belmont ward in 2023, has a background in arts and graphic design and r u n s a

husband, Tim She actively supports charities and continues this work as Deputy Mayor Brar, born in Malaysia and raised in Slough, retired

Mayor She has served on Cookham Parish Council for 33 years and is now in her third term as borough coun-

Councillor Mandy Brar

Cookham Married to Harry Brar, they have two

granddaughter, Zenzele

Kerala nurse invited to Buckingham Palace for NHS contributions

P rabin Baby, a 4 5-year-o ld nurse from K erala wo rking in Hertford shire, was invited to King Charles III’s g ard e n p arty at B u cki ng h am P alace in recog nition of h er c ontri butions to the NHS and suppo rt fo r internationally trained nurses

H e r e f f o r t s h a v e b e e n especially impactful in helping fellow Malayali profess i o n a l s i

UK healthcare system

O

Baby moved to the UK in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic Despite her clinical and teaching experience

i

adapting to the NHS was

hurdles “I felt uneasy despite my q

d “Many international nurses face professional and cultural barriers, and I wanted to help ” Starting as a registered nurse at Lister Hospital in S t

moved into educational and corporate roles within East

Lakshmi Mittal acquires luxury home in Dubai

bo ught a mansion in Dubai’s Emirates Hills often called th e “Beverly Hills of Dubai,” Bloom berg reported T h e B a r o

home, listed for around £150 million in 2023, sold earlier this year for about half that price, according to sources The residence is lavishly adorned with gold leaf, the

Bloomberg reported the sale

New Wellingborough Mayor Raj Mishra pledges collaborative leadership

Raj Mishra, 37, was elected

Wellingborough earlier

Mayor

Hailing from the farm-

M

a p u

,

a r P r a d e s h , M i s h r a i s committed to making a posi t i v e i m p a c t i n h i s E a s t Midlands community

He said, “I’m honoured t o s e r v e a s M a y o r o f

key supporter of Malayali

Buckingham Palace event, Prabin said she felt proud and humbled as an Indian nurse “I used to stand outside the palace and wonder

Meeting the royals and oth-

She credited her fami-

and sister as her biggest support system Prabin also noted the UK offers strong career growth for nurses “If y

there’s great scope to spe-

with

recognition than in many other countries ”

W e l l i n g b o r o u g h a n d a m committed to working with a l l r e s i d e n t s t o c r e a t e a vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous community W i t h y e a r s o f l o c a l i n s i g h t a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l experience, I aim to support initiatives that bring positive c h a n g e M y a p p r o a c h i s b a s e d o n l i s t e n i n g , b e i n g a p p r o a c h a b l e , a n d a c t i n g with integrity Together, we can build a stronger, more connected Wellingborough ” F o r h i s 2 0 2 5 - 2 6 t e r m , Mishra has chosen to support Veterans Community N e t w o r k a n d L o u i s a

u

G r e g o r y ’ s H o s p i c e Campaign, focusing on raising awareness and funds for these causes

“My leadership is based on active listening and collaboration Every resident’s voice matters, and I’m comm

town’s governance reflects o u r c o m m u n i t y ’ s d i v e r s e needs Through open dialogue and strong relationships, we can tackle challenges and drive lasting positive change,” he says

L to R: CB Patel, Cllr Anjana Patel and Kanti Nagda MBE

Prabin Baby

Lakshmi Mittal

Cllr Raj Mishra

Nurse strikes loom over doctors’ pay boost

D o ct o r s a r e e x p e ct e d t o r ecei ve a h ig her pay ri se tha n n urses , as NHS lead-

e rs war n they may ne ed to

c

o cover ab ove- inf lation s taff s alary in crea ses

Ministers hope to avoid further strikes by offering resident doctors (formerly junior doctors) a strong pay deal, along with promised improvements to training and working conditions

Talks are ongoing with the Treasury to fund the

r i s e , b u t t h e B r i t i s h Medical Association insists a minimum 5% increase is needed to begin restoring pay to 2008 levels

A higher pay rise for

d o c t o r s r i s k s a n g e r i n g other NHS staff, with nurs-

e s w a r n i n g t h e y w o n ’ t accept further pay inequal-

ity The Royal College of

N u r s i n g h a s t h r

d strikes, calling any move to cut nurses' pay to fund doc-

tors’ rises a “red line ” Chief executive Nicola R

, which led to a 22% raise, compared to 5 5% for nurses The Treasury has budgeted a 2 8% public sector pay rise, but NHS leaders w

£250 million funding gap rising to over £1 billion if

NHS Confederation chief

Matthew Taylor said any r

create unsustainable pressure

Facing a £6 billion overspend, hospitals are already cutting services, including frontline roles and virtual

Wes Streeting is negotiat-

ahead of June’s spending

NHS plan expected soon

receive more than the 3% offered to most staff, plus training and work condi-

However, the BMA’s resid

insists on restoring pay to 2008 levels by 2027, which could require 10%+ annual rises Streeting hinted a 5–8% increase may be acceptable and urged doctors to delay strike action

Prisoners could be freed after serving just a third

The pr is on pop ul ation in England and Wa l e s c on t in ue s to rise, with jails expect-

e d t o r e a c h " z e ro c a pa c i t y " b y Novem ber

T o e a s e o v e rc r o w d i n g , t h e g o ve r n m e n t h a s t e mporarily reduced the

t i m e s o m e i n m a t e s s e r v e f r o m 5 0 % t o 4 0 % o f t h e i r s e ntence Over 4,000 prisoners with sentences over five years have already been released under this scheme

tackle prison overcrowding by incentivising work, education, and rehabilitation

Under proposed prison reforms, some inmates could be released after serving just a third of their sentence if they show good behaviour and engage in rehabilitation programmes Each prisoner w o u l d r e c e i v e a m i n i m u m

a n d m a x i m u m s e n t e n c e based on the severity of their

c r i m e , r e p l a c i n g a u t o m a t i c early release The reforms, led by former justice secre-

t a r y D a v i d G a u k e , a i m t o

Under the new “ progression model,” most prisoners will serve at least 33% of their s e n t e n c e i n p r i s o n , t h e n move to house arrest using advanced tagging, followed by release on licence Good behaviour can lead to early r e l e a s e , w h

may mean serving the full term During house arrest, the middle stage of the sentence, offenders will be closely monitored before transitioning to community super-

Shabana Mahmood is expected to endorse the reforms

Domestic abusers and sexual offenders recalled to prison for

conditions will be released again after 28 days to ease overcrowding

Thousands of offenders will face new limits on how long they can be returned to jail Mahmood said the move was necessary as male prisons risk running out of space

could cause

“total breakdown of law and order

o

“unacceptable” and a danger to public safety

Nine nations considered for UK failed asylum return hubs

Br itain is set t o be gin formal ta lks with up to n ine countr ie s t o de port failed asylum seek er s afte r A lbania re jected a similar de al

During a visit to Albania, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK plans to send those who have exhausted all appeals to “return hubs” abroad

M i n i s t e r s h a d h o p e d A l b a n i a , a l r e a d y h o

e arrangement to the UK

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama rejected the UK's p

“loyal to the marriage with Italy” and less committed to B r i

a i n I n r e s p o n s e , U K m i n i s t e r s h a v e i d e n t i f i e d nine alternative cou ntri es, i n c l u d i n g S e r b i a , N o r t h Macedonia, and Bosnia and H e r z e g

hosts

U n d e r L a b o u r ’ s p l a n , Britain would fund the relocation of failed asylum seekers to “return hubs” abroad as part of efforts to curb illegal immigration

Albanian PM Edi Rama

r e j e c t e d h o s t i n g r e t u r n hubs, calling his country’s

Post Office

data leak compensation up to £5,000 for Horizon victims

Th e Po st Office will co mpensate hundred s of former operators after accidentally leaking th eir names and addresses in June 20 24

Payouts will be capped at £5,000, though higher claims can still be made This follows a similar data breach last year involving 555 Horizon scandal victims

The Post Office confirmed victims will r e c e i v e £ 5 , 0 0 0 o r £ 3 , 5 0 0 d e p e n d i n g o n whether their current address was published It stated, “We have contacted all affected individuals directly or through their solicitors Anyone impacted by last year ’ s breach who hasn’t received payment details can reach out to us or their legal representatives ” Law firm Freeths reported that 348 of its 420 clients affected by the breach have already been paid, with most receiving sign i f i c

W

Richmond-Coggan, a Freeths lawyer, said, “ W h i l e p r o g r

s h a s b e e n m a d e , m u c h remains to be done to address the severe impact of this breach ” Chris Head, a former post office operator, told the BBC he welcomed the Post Office’s admission of the data breach but said it took “far too long to right this wrong ” He added that the pain and stress from this new breach deeply affected him and his family, adding to a traumatic decade caused by the Horizon scandal

The breach was first revealed last June, with the Post Office apologising and cooperating with the Information Commissioner’s Office Then-CEO Nick Read called the leak a “truly terrible error ”

NHS maternity care delays linked to hundreds of baby deaths

Delays in imp rov ing NHS m aternity care have cost the liv es of hund reds o f babies each year, new analysis shows

A joint report by baby charities Tommy’s and Sands reveals that at least 2,500 baby deaths could have been prevented since 2018 if hospitals had met targets to reduce stillbirths, neonatal, and maternal deaths

The government is falling behind on its 2015 pledge to halve these rates in England

I N B R I E F UNIVERSITIES STRUGGLE WITH

RISING ANTISEMITISM

A rise in antisemitic disinformation in universities both online and in classrooms is fuelling hostility towards Jews, according to a Henry Jackson Society report The study found anti-Jewish narratives “flourishing unchecked ” with many students unable to distinguish fact from propaganda After the Hamas attack on October 7 2023 over 70% of students surveyed said disinformation influenced their peers views on the Gaza conflict While social media was the main source, more than 20% reported antisemitic claims in lectures and classes Recently, members of the House of Lords highlighted teachers and lecturers as a key part of the problem in schools and universities At a debate on campus antisemitism Lord Leigh of Hurley accused National Education Union members of removing Israeli-made food from supermarkets and sharing videos of it Baroness Deech said the root cause is religious teachings portraying Jews as inferior and criticised Holocaust education for ignoring current antisemitism focused on Israel

UK FREEZES TRADE TALKS WITH ISRAEL OVER GAZA

The UK government has suspended new free trade talks with Israel over its military actions in Gaza where recent bombardments and a new ground offensive have killed hundreds of Palestinians and worsened starvation Foreign Secretary David Lammy told Parliament the UK is also imposing further sanctions on illegal Israeli settler outposts in the West Bank, and has summoned Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely to the Foreign Office The UK s suspension of new trade talks with Israel follows the EU’s decision to review its trade deal, amid growing international condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the suffering of children in Gaza “utterly intolerable” and renewed his call for a ceasefire Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced fresh sanctions on three individuals two settler outposts and two organisations involved in violence against Palestinians Lammy said the UK’s existing trade agreement with Israel remains in place but new negotiations are off the table while Israel pursues egregious policies ” He added that Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely will be summoned and told the 11-week aid blockade on Gaza is cruel and indefensible

LABOUR TARGETS FUNDING AT REFORM STRONGHOLDS

topic wasn’t discussed during talks with Starmer T h e g o v e r n

the hubs

cost-

year Starmer faces pressure after Reform UK’s local election gains and scrapped the R

mick

failed asylum claimants from safe countries are deliberately stalling removals by losing documents or using delays

Dr Robert Wilson, head of Sands and Tommy’s joint policy unit, said hundreds of baby deaths each year could have been prevented if the government met its 2025 target to halve stillbirths and neonatal deaths

He called the 2,500 avoidable deaths since 2018 “the equivalent of around 100 primary school classrooms” and criticised ministers for insufficient action on maternity and neonatal care

Set in 2015, the government’s maternity safety targets aimed to halve stillbirth and neonatal death rates by 2025 While progress has been made, the NHS is likely to miss these goals

Stillbirths fell from 5 1 per 1,000 births in 2010 to 3 9 in 2023 above the 2 6 target resulting in around 565 more stillbirths last y

dropped

Labour plans to invest hundreds of millions in community projects in Reform-voting areas to counter Nigel Farage s party No 10 and the Ministry of Housing have proposed a renewed “plan for neighbourhoods” to regenerate council estates and tower blocks Labour MPs warn of potential “electoral wipeouts” in deprived areas The plan draws on recommendations from the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (Icon), chaired by former Labour minister Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top The commission reportedly supported by Downing Street identified over 600 English areas furthest from meeting the government s five missions” for better lives In recent local elections Reform UK won 85% of councils in these neighbourhoods, up from Labour s previous 60% Residents here face higher economic inactivity and poorer income, employment, education, and health The government s fund part of the upcoming June spending review, will target small areas sometimes just a few streets with local committees deciding on projects like playground repairs or hiring wardens to reduce antisocial behaviour

Wes Streeting

UK appoints first refugee as High Commissioner

Hossein-Bor, th e U K’s first refug ee hig h comm issio ner,

w as ap p o in ted to F i ji F leeing Iran in 198 7 without English, the 44 -year-old sees

t h e ro le as a c h an ce to streng th en the U K’s historic ties with Fiji amid climate ch alleng es

A father of two, he told the Guardian before meeting King Charles that he’s grateful to Britain for welcoming him as a first-generation immigrant and wants to challenge negative stereotypes about refugees

“ I w o

seen as taking without giv-

i n g b a c k , b

B

s given me opportunities, and my career is my way of giving back I hope to inspire

o

, despite its flaws, the UK has one of the best stories on

race and migration globally ” Born into a prominent Balochi family near the Iran-

der, Hossein-Bor’s mother fled to the UK as a refugee after the Iranian revolution At six, he crossed the harsh Pakistan border via a risky smuggling route to reunite w

Southampton

,

Arabic, and Farsi, his outlook was shaped by family stories of Persia’s dynasties and British colonial history

He sees his role as a successor to Sir Robert Sandeman, a colonial official who once

tribes a symbol of change and progress

Secretary David Lammy and former PM Rishi Sunak for paving the way for his journey A F o r

O f f i c e spokesperson said, “We are proud to have a diplomatic service where people from all backgrounds can rise on

embodies this We congratulate him on his appointment ”

Lisa Nandy’s department faces possible closure

T h e D ep ar tm e nt

C u lture, M ed ia and S p ort

m ay b e sc ra p p ed a s K ei r S tarm er pushes an efficiency d riv e in the civil serv ice

C u ltu r e S ec ret ary L is a Nand y ’ s future is uncertain, w ith insiders sugg esting the d e pa rtm ent’ s p ol ic y br ief s cou ld be absorbed by oth er m inistries

The likely closure of the

s t a n d a l o n e G o v e r n m e n t department for arts and cul-

t u r e , e s t a b l i s h e d o v e r 3 0 years ago, could trigger sig-

n i f i c a n t j o b c u t s I n s i d e r s

t o l d T h e T e l e g r a p h t h i s move aligns with Sir Keir Starmer’s push to streamline the civil service One source said, "To deliver the Plan for Change, we must w o r k d i f f e r e n t l y a n d b e

about creating a lean, agile state not about individuals or reshuffles "

Established under John Major’s government in 1992 a s t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f N a t i

department has undergone

Tony Blair renamed it the D

became the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in 2017 before reverting to DCMS in 2023

March 13 speech, though no announcement was made

Lisa Nandy

interested in the move, but no final decision has been taken

Prime Minister called the civil service overstretched,

deliver the security people need today "

Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav

Modi refused bail in UK

A U K court has denied bail to fugitive Indian d iamo nd

b u s in es s m an N ir av M o d i, w h o s o ug h t releas e w h i le a w ai ti n

to India

Modi, 55, has been in UK custody since March 2019 after fleeing India in 2018, before details emerged of his a

Bank

He denies any wrongdoing and cited threats to his life, pledging not to flee if r e l e a s e d U K c

a p p r o v e d h i

and his appeals, including a plea to the Supreme Court, were rejected in 2022

At the High Court, Nirav M o d

extradition couldn’t proceed due to undisclosed legal rea-

authorities, Nicholas Hearn opposed bail, arguing Modi posed a flight risk and cited

his past bid for Vanuatu citizenship

Slough councillor stands firm after threatening incident

A Slou gh councillor says she “ wo n’t be cowed by fear and i nt im id ati o n ” a fte r f ac i ng aggressiv e behav iour from a colleag ue

An investigation found Cllr Puja Bedi was left in “horrendous fear” after fell

C

towards her

Speaking at a full council meeting, Cllr Puja Bedi thanked colleagues and the

Ahmed was formally cens u r e d f o r a g g

s i v e behaviour towards her

She said she chose to speak out not just because of the incident, but in solidarit y w i t h w o m e n a n d g i r l s who face abuse and intimidation

“I will not be cowed by f

said, also revealing she was diagnosed with bowel can-

c e r l a s t y e a r b u t i s n o w “beyond grateful” to be cancer-free

H e r c o m m e n t s c a m e d u r i n g a d i s c u s s i o n o n a new ‘members’ pledge’ prom o t i n

and safe spaces Lib Dem Cllr Sabia Akram, who proposed the pledge, said it was

inspired by her own experiences of sexism and discrimination in the council L

Instone backed the members’ pledge but said parties should withdraw the whip from councillors who fail to

denies, as well as India’s

return of Sheikha Latifa to Dubai

Modi’s lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, claimed India’s

wouldn’t be safe even in Vanuatu He alleged India could send a hit squad, kidnap him, or pressure local authorities to deport him

J u d g e M i c h a e l Fordham rejected the bail plea, citing strong grounds to believe Modi would flee if released Modi is wanted in India for a major fraud at Punjab National Bank and alleged money laundering His uncle, Mehul Choksi also accused was arrested

Both deny wrongdoing

UK in domestic abuse

‘epidemic’ as 1 in 4 affected

Th e UK is facing a domestic ab u s e “ ep i d e m i c, ” exp e rts warn, as new fig ures rev eal o ne i n fo u r ad u l ts i n E ng lan d and W ale s h av e been v ictim s

survey shows nearly one in three women and one in five men have experienced abuse since age 16 The data, based on updated questions in the Crime Survey, now includes areas like coercive control, h e a l t h - r e l a t e d a b u s e , a n d forced marriage, reflecting

changes in the law Refuge, the UK’s leading domestic abuse charity, has called the latest figures an “epidemic” and warned they are likely just the “tip of the iceberg ” C E O G e m m a Sherrington said the findings are unsurprising amid r i s i n g v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t w o m e n a n d g i r l s a n d stressed that underreporting remains a major issue W h i l e R e f u g e w e l c o m e d improved data collection, it urged the Government to

act urgently to meet its goal of halving such violence in the next decade The new O N S d a t a a l s o h i g h l i g h t s economic abuse, including forced debt and job prevention

The ONS estimates that b y M a r c h 2 0 2 4 , 2 6 1 % o f adults around 12 6 million p e o p l e h a d e x p e r i e n c e d domestic abuse since age 16, up from one in five under p r e v i o u s m e t h o d s T h i s i

d

s 3 0 3

f w o m e n (7 4 million) and 21 7% of men (5 1 million)

Hossein-Bor

Puja Bedi

Gujarat Samachar

The successful com pletio n and ce leb ra ti o n o f G u j ara t Samachar to ok p lace on 10 M ay

2 0 2 5 at t h e Na v na t C en tr e in

H aye s , b ri ng i ng to g e th e r th e

British Asian com munity to ho nou r and c elebrate th e ded icated

s erv i ce s o f A si a n Bu s i nes s Publications Ltd

C o m p e r e s N a m i t a S h a h a n d

M a m t a T o l i a w a r m l y w e l c o m e d

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

Executive Director of The Bhavan, Dr M N Nandakumara OBE commenced the event with a soulful Vedic prayer This was followed by the auspicious ‘Deep Pragatya’ ceremony, marking the formal inau-

g u r a t i o n o f t h e e v e n i n g A m o m e n t o f s i l e n c e w a s a l s o observed in honour of the victims of the Pahalgam attack A tribute was also paid to Rajiv Ruparelia, a prominent Ugandan businessman and philanthropist, and the son of Dr Sudhir and Jyotsna Ruparelia Enriching evening of culture Publisher and Editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, CB

P a t e l , w a s j o i n e d b y e s t e e m e d guests including L ord Dolar Pop at, Lo rd Krish Raval, Girish Sang er, Prad ip and Veena Dhamecha, Vraj an d J yo s tn a P a nk h ani a , K av i ta Khanna (wife of late actor Vino d

A s p e c i a l g

Bollywood, Kavita Kh anna, delivered an emotional speech about her late husband, renowned actor Vinod Khanna She then sang the p o p u l a r

Gujarat di’, which was met with

showcase continued with a captivating Bharatanatyam dance performance, presented by Bhavans dancers A nv ita Dixit and Shivaani Av ad hani

R

Honey Kalari a followed with an energetic Bollywood Garba number ‘Dholida’ She was joined by her

dance championships and represent the acclaimed Honey Dance Academy

The HBS Girls group presented a B

, and the Mahav ir found ation ladies group electrified the atmosphere by presenting a Garba on stage Warm words from sp eakers

Key speakers were invited to share a few words about Gujarat Samachar and its contribution to the community in the UK over the last 5 decades

Kanti Nagda M BE and CEO of Sang at A dv ice Centre, highlighted

Kh anna) , Su bh ash Th akrar OBE, Kanti Nagda MBE, Neelam Vadera, J as h w a nt D o sh i , an d M P Bo b B lac km an A l m o s t 5 0 0 g u e s t s attended the celebration in apprec i a t i o n o f G u j a r a t S a m a c h

services and cultural connections,

decades

Among the highlights from the evening, was the graceful ‘Deep Dance’ presented by Navnat ladies K al p ana Do s h i and Da xa Pa tel Bharati Shethia presented a soulful and heartfelt bhajan

is a statesman without a seat, a diplomat without a title, a friend and a fighter in equal measure, who lives in people’s hearts He also condemned the horrific act of Pakistan attack and said, “Britain is standing shoulder to shoulder with India ” MP Bob Blackm an took a note of this milestone of ABPL Group He also appreciated India’s diplom a t i c e f

across the border and loudly shouted ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’, ‘Jai Gujarat’ and ‘Jai C B ’ Girish Jog ind er Sang er marked the anniversary by noting that "the brand is even older than I am " R

experience with the newspaper, he recalled, "My late father Joginder

have been preserved in his

how Gujarat Samachar provides a sense of belonging to the community He also noted the contribution of the Karma Yoga Foundation - a charitable trust created by CB Patel and family, bringing social reform in the current time

Lord Krish Raval met with a huge round of applause as he began by saying: “ You hav e Daal-BhaatSh aak-Rotli and you h av e Gujarat Samachar ” He continued further praising CB’s efforts and admitted that he has changed the landscape of the community

H e a d d e d , ‘ F o r o v e r f i v e decades, the paper has shared the stories of not just the struggle but of aspirations, not merely of migration but for all generations CB’s n

m

o u r m i

w s p a p

o r , our map, reflecting who we were and guiding where we might go He has challenged our shortcomings and given enduring platforms for triumphs

“Gujarat Samachar is not just a newspaper, but it is the manifesto f o r t h e v i b r a n t c o m m u n i t y a n d reflects that our people matter and the Gujaratis wherever they may be have both the heritage to honour and a future to shape ”

Lord Raval also added that CB

Lord Dolar Popat Kanti Nagda MBE

Vraj Pankhania MP Bob Blackman

Lord Krish Raval

Kavita Khanna Subhash Thakrar OBE

L-R: CB Patel, Kantaben and Manubhai Ramji Prabhakant Patel welcomed during the event

L-R Hitesh Mehta and Kishore Shah Directors of Citibond with Pooja Raval

L-R: Deepak Patel, Shashi Vekaria, CB Patel and Girish Sanger

L-R: Lord Krish Raval, CB Patel, Aunt and Uncle of Lord Raval, Pradip Dhamecha and Veena Dhamecha

CB Patel, Publisher/Editor of Gujarat Samachar and Asian, with past and current team members

C B , a c k n o w l e d g i n g

w h e h a s empowered the younger generation to thrive and praised his hard work in breathing life into ABPL

L o r d P o p a t c o n g r a t u l a t e d ABPL on the completion of 53 years and how it has shaped the narratives of the generations He said it was a privilege for him to be present during the celebration, “I have been present here for 23 years and

year in bringing the British Indian c o m m u

importantly, promoting Indian val-

ues in the United Kingdom

er Hamlets, London, took the stage and invited the audience to stand in honour of CB Patel, celebrating his extraordinary journey at the age of 89

T

Chairman of Moor Park Ltd and Trustee of the Jasper Foundation, congratulated CB for creating such

He went on to mention contributors and philanthropists who worked for the Gujarati community, especially those who came from U g a n d

a s P ra d ee p Dh amecha OBE, the businessman and philanthropist who has contributed largely to the society, Late

Nagrecha, the family that has dom-

charities and other social activities, Ramesha Kansagra who hosted

contributions, by saying, “CB has given us news, culture, and community He is a leader in various campaigns that continue to benefit both our community and wider society ”

He urged everyone to read CB's column, A s I See It, praising it for its original insights and thoughtprovoking ideas Thakrar also commended the invaluable work of CB Patel and the ABPL Group, describing it as the most respected media house in the UK today

Taking a moment to recognise

expressed heartfelt appreciation to m

that this celebration should not

Gujarat Samachar, but about honouring all those who have collectively contributed to British society

He echoed the sentiments of Lord Raval and Lord Popat, by saying, “We are well fitted into British society,” and paid tribute to those who made lasting impacts especially the Gujarati community from Uganda and the pioneers of the 1970s

E d i t o r o f G u j a r a t S a m a c h a r ,

Jyotsna Shah, paid a heartfelt tribute and shared the details about t h

S m ru t i Gr ant h - A T im ele s s T reas u re

just a publication but a celebration of legacy, a record of resilience, and a tribute to the spirit of a community that has thrived across continents This commemorative edition will feature inspiring migration stories of distinguished businessmen, philanthropists, politic i a n s , a

Desai, Paresh Raja, Rishi P atel, Vaju P ankh ania and family, Yogesh and Hitesh M ehta, Mumtaz Patel, Vijay a nd Bh

L ord Karan Bilimo ria, Nitin Patel, K etan Kotecha, Priti Patel, Bharat S hah , Koolesh Sh ah, Sanger fam ily and recognised all those people who have contributed to the community

Souv enir u nv eils stories of legacy

To commemorate the remark-

archival photographs and heartfelt r e f l e c t i o n s f r o m o u r c o l l e c t i v e journey

The grand launch of the same is set for July 2025, and this is how Gujarat Samachar and ABPL’s legacy will continue to grow, inspiring the next generation to take pride in their identity while making a global impact

V ote of thanks from C B Patel

Towards the conclusion of the event, Namita Shah introduced CB Patel with his well-known quote: “You can aim and fail, that is fine, but d on ’ t aim lo w ”

Taking to the stage, CB reflected warmly, by saying, “I thank the spiritual supreme for blessing me with such a wonderful evening and an opportunity to host so many people under one roof Gujarati is my language, my culture, and my oxygen India is the land of my birth, and Britain is my second home I have travelled to many countries and met countless people, but I feel incredibly fortunate to have received so much love and respect from all of you over the years Words fall short to express this feeling ” He spoke about his unwavering commitment to giving back to society and acknowledged the many individuals who played a role in helping him realise his vision of

heights

CB warmly thanked everyone present for being part of the iconic moment He invited both current and former staff members present on stage, introducing them to the audience and acknowledging their

journey of Gujarat Samachar and the ABPL Group

A heartfelt vote of thanks was

ashwant Doshi, for the beautiful

arrangements Special appreciation also went to Hasm ita Doshi, Hall Secretary; Natu M eh ta, President of Navnat Vadil Mandal; Bacchu M eh ta; Varsh a Vora, Vice President

, President of Navnat Bhagini; and all committee members of Navnat Their dedication and support were instrumental in managing various aspects of the event

We are deeply grateful to all our supporters, well-wishers, and loyal readers who attended the celebration Many dignitaries and supporters who couldn’t be present in person also sent their warm wishes ABPL sincerely thanks everyone who contributed their time, effort, and spirit to help make this celebration a memorable and resounding success

Photo courtesy: Raj D Bakrania, PrM ed iapix

Mamta Tolia Namita Shah

Girish Joginder Sanger Jashwant Doshi CB Patel

Kokila Patel felicitating Hasmita Doshi Dr M N Nandakumara OBE

L-R: Cllr Hitesh Karia, CB Patel, Mansoor Popat, Mayor of Harrow Cllr Anjana Patel, Harshad Kothari

L-R: Anvita Dixit and Shivaani Avadhani from Bhavans L-R: Kalpna Doshi & Daxa Patel

L-R: Vihana Rachhoya, Subhi Naik & Aanya Ojha

Mirava Vekaria

Garba from the ladies group of Mahavir Foundation

Aryana Raval welcoming Cllr Parveen Rani

L-R: Devi Parekh felicitated by Jyotsna shah, standing along Niraj Sutaria, Nemu Chanderia, Natubhai Mehta, Kishor Shah & Kavita Khanna

Dear Readers,

We would like to clarify that Gujarat Samachar newsweekly published from the UK, and Gujarat Samachar, the daily newspaper published from various locations in Gujarat including Ahmedabad, a r e t w o d i s t i n c t p u b l

ownership and identities.

T

published by the ABPL Group and is registered in accordance with UK regulations. In contrast, the daily Gujarat Samachar in India is published under the banner of Lok Prakashan Ltd and is registered under Indian law.

This clarification is being issued to prevent any confusion that may arise due to the similarity in their names.

– CB Patel, Publisher/Editor

New India, new rules

“India today is not the India of the past” (Asian Voice 17 – 23 May 2025) gives a clear message to the world not to take India for a ride If any country supports terrorism directly or indirectly, India is capable of taking appropriate action Countries like Turkey know that they need India more to have trade and economic relations

If a country supports anybody who is trying to harm the national interests of India, appropriate actions will be taken by the government as well as by the citizens of India Some countries depend on tourists’ income as well as the export of their produce to India It is difficult to ignore the growing market of India

Modern India believes in support and mutual respect, but is not solely dependent on Western powers Indian politicians and army do not consult or need permission when and where to strike; they have done so with precision and shown the world about technological superiority

Geographically, the size of India, as well as due to various seasons, growing variety of food and fruits, is not a problem, plus very good road and rail connectivity is readily available for the quick movement of perishable goods People should not be crazy about foreign brands, this is not to say to compromise on quality, but to prefer domestic products, which will indirectly support sustainability as well, due to lower transportation and reduced carbon footprint

Hitesh

H in gu

Indians keep a close eye on Non-Dom Tax changes in the UK

I am a regular reader of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar and would like you to compliment on your extensive coverage on Non-Dom The Non-Dom (non-domiciled) tax status has become a major talking point in the UK Under new rules, billionaires and wealthy individuals who earn money abroad must now pay UK tax on that income This change means UK residents can no longer avoid taxes on their overseas earnings

The phasing out of Non-Dom status has raised concerns among the wealthy and international companies, as they now face higher tax bills Even if they say their main home is in the UK, they won’t receive any tax breaks The Labour government’s move to close these tax loopholes could also unintentionally affect many Indians working in UK-based firms

The Adam Smith Institute has warned that ending Non-Dom status could cost the UK up to £111 billion by 2035 and result in around 44,000 job losses by 2030 Even if only 7,094 Non-Doms leave the UK, it could still lead to a loss of £32 4 billion – a worrying scenario

Mohan P

atel

UK’s new rules threaten essential industries

Britain s new immigration plans put up fresh barriers for foreign workers seeking jobs in the UK Stricter immigration rules will make it much harder for skilled workers, like those from India, to find jobs in key sectors such as healthcare and construction Raising the skill and salary requirements ignores the fact that many essential jobs, like care work, rely on overseas workers British workers alone can’t fill the gaps in these sectors The UK is already facing a manpower crisis and this may add fuel to the fire

With fewer skilled workers and rising costs for employers, things could get worse Businesses will struggle, and even universities may feel the pressure, as fewer international students may choose for the UK, who often look for income opportunities along with studies

Reena Maru

Out About & Upcoming show

Don’t miss this weekend’s episode of Out and About, featuring highlights from the 53rd Anniversary celebration of Gujarat Samachar, held at the Navnat Centre, Hayes, on 10th May. A strong turnout marked the celebration, with notable leaders and dignitaries joining the event. Tune in to Zee TV on Sunday, 25 May 2025 at 6:00 PM.

Sky 707 Virgin 809

Woman jailed for £184k company fraud

lifestyle by d efraud ing her emp loyer out of m ore than £ 184 ,00 0 has been jailed fo r five years and 10 months

London, was convicted at Basildon Crown Court after being found guilty of fraud by false representation Over a four-year period, she used her position at a Brentwood-based company to siphon off funds for high-end shopping sprees and luxury holidays

The court heard that Mirmohammadi, who joined the firm’s finance team as a manager in 2018, abused her access to a company credit card and created fake invoices to divert money into her own accounts The stolen funds were spent on purchases at Harrods, Selfridges, and Mercedes-Benz, as well as trips to Mexico, Turkey and Dubai

The fraud came to light in April 2022, when the company uncovered financial discrepancies during unrelated checks and alerted Essex Police Mirmohammadi was arrested on 22 May 2022 at Gatwick Airport upon her return from Dubai During police interviews, she declined to answer any questions

According to Essex Police, the total stolen amounted to £184,675 89 comprising £126,381 19 in credit card charges and £63,294 70 through fraudulent invoices Expenditure included payments to Apple, Amazon, eBay, Uber, Zara, Thames Water, and Harley Street Dental

A police spokesperson said efforts are underway to recover criminal assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act A confiscation hearing is scheduled for November at Basildon Crown Court

Convicted child abusers receive longer sentences

Se ntence Scheme

Ibrar Hussain, 47, and brothers Imtiaz Ahmed, 64, and Fayaz Ahmed, 45, appeared before the Court of Appeal after Lucy Rigby challenged the original sentences The victim

Yorkshire was groomed with money, drugs, and alcohol in exchange for sex over several years

Court documents reveal that many assaults took place above the Ahmed family’s grocery shop At the time of the offences, Hussain was 18, Fayaz Ahmed was 17, and Imtiaz Ahmed was in his thirties

In a statement read at the hearing, the survivor described enduring flashbacks and chronic mistrust even of those meant to protect her nearly three decades after the abuse

Solicitor General Lucy Rigby said, “These defendants preyed upon a vulnerable teenager in the most shocking and hideous way I referred their sentences because they fell short of justice, and I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to impose substantial increases ”

All three were convicted in January According to their revised sentences are as follows, Ibrar Hussain’s sentence increased from 6½ years to 10 years; Imtiaz Ahmed’s from 9 years to 11 years and Fayaz Ahmed’s from 7½ years to 10 years

A formal hearing to determine the confiscation of their criminal assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act will be scheduled in due course

From India to Bharat ?

I ha ve written man y time s over t he pa st t wo decades that it is my be lief that In dia is stil l a n en sl aved nation En sl aved in its mindset, en sl aved in its judicial sy ste m, e nsl aved in itsenergy r esources, enslave d in its de fen ce, en sl aved in it s globa l mar ketpl ace , ensla ved in its diplomacy , ensl aved in appeasing the pets of its past imperial master s Even after a decade of PM Modi, India has still not taken that last step to true independence in its fullest sense Has the time finally arrived when India will move forward and take on its true nature, that of being Bharat?

When Pakistani sponsored terrorists attacked the innocent people of India on the 22ndof April in Pahalgam, it might have set in motion a course correction within India that has been well overdue for decades

India’s response was Operation Sindoor And whilst the nation and many around the world thought this was going to be an all-out war, it has in fact been controlled aggression to suit the strategic objectives of India

India took the opportunity to:

1 Hit inside Pakistan at will

2 Cross into Pakistan and take out targeted terror camps

3 Take out key terrorist leaders

4 Take out several Pakistani army bases

5 Hit at the very doors of their nuclear facilities

6 Show case India’s defensive set up

7 Show case indigenous missile systems

The sudden cessation of the war has confused many and Pakistan took the opportunity to brag about its invincibility Yes, there are people around the world who can still be fooled by the lies of Pakistan India on the other hand provided verifiable evidence of what it had done in just a matter of a few days This was largely to send a signal to other governments There was an even bigger signal, the cessation happened because America begged India Yes you read that correctly

This is when President Trump made his big error You see when Trump makes things up inside America, who cares? When Trump makes things up with Ukraine, the EU, Russia, Iran and so on, who cares? Trump is well known for his rhetoric, his over-the-topoutbursts, his self-assured declarations of being a global leader and his own egotistical v a n i t y T h i s i s T r u m p , y o u c a n ’ t c h

Everything he does, everything he says, you have to take with a big pinch of salt The good thing is that he sure does keep everyone in the west very busy chasing their tails And he is a good distraction for India to have on tap Unlike Biden and the conniving Democrats, Trump is an out-ofcontrol bull you can hear and see a mile away All you have to do is play him

This is when India has to become Bharat Bharat does not need to heed the ways of an American president Bharat can diplomatically put him in his place, but more importantly, Bharat should also put him in his placebyditchingnormal diplomacy The way to manage a bully is to whack on him nose every now and then They appreciate it Bharat has done the diplomacy bit Very soon they’ll be sending out delegations to key nations globally to brief them on the state of play Which is fine, but that only works if those briefing are underpinned with an iron fist And sometimes you have to break a few heads to send a clear signal This is not a time for Bharat to be shy – since to do that is to resort to being the old India A nation still trapped by its own demons of an enslaved past

The world is going through a transition Bharat needs to be united internally and strong externally It needs to hit any anti-national agenda with an iron fist It has started to root out Turkish companies from having access to Bharat Why a nation would allow any foreign entity any access to any part of Bharat that is sensitive is beyond my understanding Have we not learnt how the west, and even those in the east, leverage their hand because they control critical infrastructure?

For India to become a true Bharat, it needs to find its Sanathani soul It needs to root out all external elements that control directly, or indirectly, any aspect of Bharati infrastructure It needs to root out any NGO (did you know there are some 3 3 million NGO’s) that has any connection with any foreign entity that conspires to undermine Bharat It’s time to cut out the cancer and engulf the whole nation with chemotherapy and radiotherapyto kill off any last remnants of the invader’s narrative and influence

For India, Trump from his white house is just white noise Welcome his rubbish and use it to your advantage He has shown that he is no one ’ s friend He does not care for norms He has in effect 3 years during which his family and his buddies will make billions That’s the end game Bharat’s end game is bigger and for the longer term, but it needs to dismantle Pakistan as soon as possible so it can focus on making Bharat great again

Can India become Bharat? Yes it can, but only if it finds its self-confidence and strength from its heritage to stand up to bullies in all their forms

Kapil Dudakia

Anita Mirmohammadi

L-R Ibrar Hussain Fayaz Ahmed Imtiaz Ahmed

U

Spirituality for the Cerebral Mind

Rohit Vadhwana

Whenwe describe som eone as cerebral, we typ ically m ean they are mo re inclined toward intellect than em otion Such individ uals are not easily influenced; they ev aluate ev erything throug h the lens of log ic and system atic reasoning

When it comes to spirituality, cerebral individuals often find it difficult to follow someone purely on the basis of faith They seek rationale, evidence, and coherence, rather than accepting beliefs blindly

For such seekers, spirituality often finds expression through Gyanyog the path of knowledge This approach relies on inquiry and critical thinking rather than devotion or blind submission to a deity or spiritual teacher It challenges established beliefs and traditions, probing their foundations instead of accepting them merely because they’ve existed for generations

While faith is traditionally seen as central to a religious journey, intellectual understanding plays a vital role in the spiritual quest, regardless of one's temperament In fact, the use of reason is not opposed to spiritual wisdom; rather, it complements and deepens it How one defines the purpose of life largely determines which path of wisdom they are drawn to

If you find fulfilment in prayer, devotion, and surrender, then Bhaktimarg the path of devotion may resonate with you But if rituals, worship, and emotional surrender don't appeal to your nature, Gyanmarg the path of knowledge might offer a more meaningful route

India is home to a rich tapestry of spiritual philosophies, each tailored to different temperaments and ways of thinking The six classical Darshans Nyaya (logic and reasoning), Vaisheshika (atomism and metaphysics), Sankhya (enumeration and dualism), Yoga (discipline and practice), Mimamsa (ritual interpretation), and Vedanta (ultimate knowledge and non-dualism) offer diverse approaches to understanding the self and the cosmos Each system provides a unique path suited to different seekers The key is to explore and discover the approach that aligns with your nature, so you too can walk your own authentic path toward spiritual richness and inner fulfilment

(Expressed opinions are personal)

SANDEA celebrates success with a swing

SANDEA L td hosted a dynamic day o f g olf, networking, and fundraising for Great Ormond Str eet H os p ita l at th e picturesque Pinner Hill

Go lf C lu b o n

Wednesd ay, 30 April

Attended by suppliers, colleagues, and industry

Anthony Group the event combined sport, great food,

charity auction

S

Ltd, said, “The event was about celebrating partner-

wonderful to see everyone connect whether through business or a friendly round

cause

Professional golfer Jack Kelly guided beginners in a relaxed chip-and-putt session, while seasoned players

game before gathering for

refreshments

sponsor Jack Kelly on his

ney, and his support on the

said, “It’s great to see new-

enjoying it The event was a

Uganda Airlines expands with London route

Ugandan

launch, five years after the

bold step in its global expans i o n U g a n d a

s H i g h Commissioner to the UK, H E Nimisha J Madhvani, hailed the direct Entebbe–

New era for CF India

Sir Oliver Dowden and Koolesh Shah take the helm

network, and share the spirit of the sport plus we had perfect weather ” Guests enjoyed a relaxed day at Pinner Hill Golf Club,

trusted FMCG partners So far, £X has been raised for G

Hospital

thanks to all who participated in the day of connection and giving back The team

future and is proud to have been honoured with Sugro

Charity Champion Award, sponsored by KP Snacks SANDEA Wholesale Ltd is a trusted wholesaler for

(FMCG), over the counter products (OTT), cosmetics and toiletries SANDEA is committed to driving innovation, with a commitment to sustainability and digital transformation

the

Conservative MP, and business leader and philanthropist Koolesh Shah Both bring a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to CF India’s mission, and will build on the strong foundation laid by their predecessors

Ravindra Nathwani receives civic award

L-R: Olive Lumonya the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Deputy Director General; Priscilla Serukka, the Uganda Airlines Board Chairperson; Francis Mwebesa, Uganda Trade Minister, HE Nimisha Madhvani, the High Commissioner of Uganda to the UK; Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, Uganda Transport Minister Jenifer Bamuturaki, CEO of the Uganda Airlines; HE Lisa Chesney MBE, the British High Commissioner to Uganda; Bageya Waiswa, the Permanent, Secretary of the Works Ministry of Uganda and Ramathan Gqoobi Permanent Secretary Uganda Ministry of Finance celebrate the arrival of Uganda Airlines first direct flight to London at Gatwick Airport

London route as a strategic milestone set to boost trade and open new avenues for Ugandan exports

and well-wishers

Welcoming

new Co-Chairs of Conservative Friends of India (CF India): The Rt Hon Sir Oliver Dowden MP, former Deputy Prime Minister and senior

L to R: Koolesh Shah, Reena Ranger OBE, Ameet Jogia MBE and The Rt Hon Sir Oliver Dowden MP

Vinodrai Bachubhai Nagrecha

Ravindra Nathwani was honoured with the Lord Mayor of Exeter’s Commendation Award at the historic Guildhall by Cllr Kevin Mitchell, Lord Mayor of Exeter The award recognises his exceptional service and longstanding commitment to the community

Ravindra Nathwani with Cllr Kevin Mitchell

Community members at the event

W E A V I N G

C L I M A T E

J U S T I C E

by: Shefali Saxena

Th e Unreasonable T ransformers of South India is a stirring chronicle o f craft, courage, and climate ju stice Through 6,500 kilometres of journeys, P ushpanath K rishnam urthy amp lifies the v oices of India’s forgotten artisans, d efiant, d ignified, and d etermined , who resist extinction and reclaim beauty, surv ival, and justice in a w orld chasing speed Here’s his exclusiv e interv iew w ith A sian V oice

In your book, you walk through “silence and flood, through red earth and rising heat ” What did the act of walking or physically placing yourself in these landscapes teach you about resistance, and how did it shape your storytelling?

In my journey through silence and flood, across red earth under rising heat, walking became more than movement it became resistance incarnate Each step immersed me deeper into landscapes scarred by climate impacts, where communities, like Shorbanu of Bangladesh, wait for justice amidst relentless adversity since 2009 Yet, in their resilience, I found a beacon of hope amidst vulnerability, a spark that fuelled my commitment to storytelling

These narratives, not of despair but of determination, illuminated paths where resistance transcends mere protest Entrepreneurs crafting sustainable, ethical business models emerged as pioneers reclaiming local craft and handloom traditions Their enterprise not only sustains but thrives, challenging the very notion of resistance from defiance to creation This transformation, from adversity to opportunity, taught me that resistance isn t just about opposing; it's about envisioning and embodying new possibilities

You speak of an “Ahimsa economy”, a slow, ethical, and beauty-infused alternative to the violent haste of today’s markets

Could you expand on what this means in practice and how the changemakers you met embody this ethos?

The “Ahimsa economy ” is not a mere concept; it is a way of life, a quiet but resolute resistance to the violence of haste, greed, and unchecked consumption It draws from the wisdom of Dr J C Kumarappa, who spoke of an "Economy of Permanence" one rooted in self-sufficiency, dignity of labour, and harmony with nature

In my journey, I saw this vision alive once more These changemakers, craftspeople, farmers, and weavers build local, self-sustaining economies that

"The "Ahimsa economy" is not a mere concept; it is a way of life, a quiet but resolute resistance to the violence of haste, greed, and unchecked consumption."

remain deeply anchored in the soil of their communities, even as they engage the wider world Their work is neither extractive nor exploitative In some cases, such as vegan silk or the efforts of hibiscus Heroes, it offers a truly non-violent alternative to production and trade, embodying the ethics of Ahimsa literally Not all efforts may perfectly reflect this ideal, but the spirit is unmistakable: to produce with care, consume with consciousness, and live with restraint This is Ahimsa in action, gentle in method, strong in conviction, and timeless in relevance

At its heart, your book feels like a quiet rebellion, a call to see dignity not in disruption, but in creation. What do you hope readers take away from this journey, especially those who feel powerless in the face of climate collapse and cultural erasure? My hope operates at multiple levels At its core is a celebration of the quiet, ongoing reimagination of the economy, what I refer to as the "wellbeing economy " This is not a

Suffolk hosts new exhibition by award-winning Singh Twins

Reno wned tw in artists, The Sing h Twins, have launch ed a new exhibition at Snap e M altings in Suffo lk, p art of the v en

a rts pro gramm e Open until 20 July, the free show features 11 prints and two new lightbox pieces, combining Indian miniature art with digital techniques to reflect on politics, identity, and culture

theoretical ideal; it is already happening, often silently, on the margins led by artisans, weavers, craftspeople, and small producers who are building sustainable, ethical, and inclusive models of economic life

In the Indian context, where the dominant model of growth has, for valid historical reasons, focused on large-scale industrialisation and material extraction, we must now confront its limits Environmental degradation, social inequities, and unsustainable production patterns are symptoms of a system in need of course correction Many of these unsustainable practices can, and must, be rethought

This book is a call to policymakers and practitioners: it is time to recognise and invest in the craft, handloom, and handicraft sectors not as relics of the past, but as powerful engines for future growth Far from being a sunset industry, this sector holds the potential for a trilliondollar economy, one that delivers on employment, sustainability, equity, and cultural preservation Indeed, I have mentioned that at many levels the states and the National government have started to see the power of this economy, as many see the future of fashion is in Handcraft

To readers and consumers: begin by asking simple but transformative questions: who made this, under what conditions, and how are they rewarded?

To policymakers: explore how frameworks and incentives can support this sector and unlock its potential

To entrepreneurs and business leaders: seek cooperation and collaboration, not just for profit, but to build a broader wellbeing economy, one that aligns with the principles of an Ahimsa economy, rooted in non-exploitation and mutual benefit

The promise here is not speculative Organisations such as 200 Million Artisans have documented the scale and capacity of this sector, and every year their Kula Conclave (most recently in Goa, 2024) brings together stakeholders across the value chain, mobilising investment, fostering innovation, and enabling cross-pollination of ideas

The opportunity is real The transformation is possible The time is now

“We want people to walk away understanding that we ’ re all connected,” said Amrit Singh, reflecting on the message behind The Singh Twins’ latest exhibition at Snape Maltings, drawn from their

series

Awarded MBEs for their contribution to British art, the Liverpoolbased, British-born identical twins blend their Indian heritage with W

complex themes such as empire, identity, and cultural legacy

“Our work invites audiences to reflect on colonial history and the urgent need to address its ongoing impact,” said Rabindra Singh “We e

empire continue to shape presentday issues, whether in racial atti-

ownership

opened on 10 May, has been curated by Suffolk-based art expert Devi Singh, a long-time admirer of The Singh Twins

“Their work tells layered stor

each time you look,” she said “The detail is absolutely exquisite ”

Khushwant Singh Literary Festival set for London comeback

Ind ia’s m uch-lo ved literary ev ent, th e ‘ K h u s h w a nt S i ng h L it era ry Festival’ , returns to London for its sev enth edition, a celebratio n of th e p ro li f i c, p ro v o c at iv e, and d ee p ly h u m ani s t w r it er w h os e legacy continues to insp ire This year ’ s theme, “Humanity Across Borders,” resonates strongly in a world grappling with division and conflict The day-long festival will reflect many of Khushwant Singh’s enduring passions from the preservation of heritage and e c o l o g y t o s t r e n g t h e n i n g c r o s sb o r d e r t i e s , e s p e c i a l l y b e t w e e n India and Pakistan

Audiences can look forward to p o e t

c

S

h A s i a , insightful discussions on conflict and peacebuilding, and flavours from the region presented by some o f y o u r f a v o u r i t e f o o d w r i t e r s Highlights include a conversation with the founder of the Stop the W a r C o a l i t i o n , w h o w i l l s h a r e first-hand accounts from global war zones, and the launch of a new South Asian poetry archive celebrating voices of resilience and expression

The festival will take place on 31 May, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm a t

Theatre, SOAS, London

Art auction to raise funds for Nepalese children

A Ro y al L e am i ng to n S p a -b as ed charity, New Futures Nepal, wh ich has supported disad vantag ed child re n an d yo u n g ad u l ts in th e Him alayan region for 20 years, is launch ing an art au ction to raise vital fu nd s F o u n d e r A n d r e w S m a l l w a s i n s p i r e d t o s e t u p New Futures Nepal after encountering a centre for orphaned a n d d i s a b l e d c h i ldren while trekking in Kathmandu

“Nepal changed my life forever,” he said, adding that the charity aims to help young people secure jobs and homes He praised the generosity of Midlands artists donating work for the fundraiser, noting, “With the right support, many of our youngsters go on to give back to their communities Every contribution truly makes a difference ” The auction features dozens of artworks and closes on the day of the fundraising dinner F

known for his work celebrating the Midlands’ motor industry heritage, is also participating

British Motor Heritage

The Singh Twins

Khushwant Singh

British Asians rethinking marriage and divorce

Anusha Singh Divo rce is on th e rise among British Asian coup les, with many d iscov ering th at their m arriage is far from a 'happily ever after'

Whether arranged or based on love, marital breakdown is becoming increasingly common across South Asian communities, signalling a shift in long-standing cultural attitudes Once considered taboo, divorce is gradually being seen as a valid personal choice though stigma and legal hurdles remain significant, particularly for women

While divorce is still less common among British South Asians compared to other ethnic groups, recent figures highlight a steady increase

Approximately 10% of British Pakistani Muslims and Indian Sikhs are now separated or divorced Around 8% of Bangladeshi Muslims, 7% of Indian Muslims, and 6% of Indian Hindus have also experienced marital separation

In contrast, 20% of White British adults and 27% of Black Caribbeans have gone through divorce or separation These statistics, reported by the International Sociological Association’s Global Dialogue, suggest that although cultural values continue to influence family life, younger generations are becoming more willing to challenge traditional expectations

Traditionally marked by strong family values and low divorce rates, British South Asian families are beginning to reflect broader societal changes Experts suggest this rise in divorce is not merely the result of assimilation into Western norms but is also driven by evolving gender roles, increased autonomy, and a desire for personal happiness over community pressure

Sh am e, Isolation and M ental Health Strugg les

Despite the increase, divorce remains a deeply sensitive subject within many South Asian communities, often tied to notions of family honour and social status However, according to Shazia Datoobhoy, an integrative therapist who specialises in trauma and works with clients from a variety of cultural backgrounds, the landscape is slowly changing, even if the road remains difficult

“Things have definitely changed no doubt about it,” says Datoobhoy “I now have quite a few Asian

clients, Pakistani and Indian women in particular, who are beginning to realise they don’t have to tolerate abusive treatment More and more are going through the divorce process ”

Traditionally marked by strong family values and low divorce rates, British South Asian families are beginning to reflect broader societal changes Experts suggest this rise in divorce is not merely the result of assimilation into Western norms but is also driven by evolving gender roles, increased autonomy, and a desire for personal happiness over community pressure

A major driver of this shift is the rise in financial independence among South Asian women

“They’re educated, they’re professionals, and they’re no longer economically dependent on their husbands,” says Datoobhoy “That gives them the power to say, ‘I don’t have to live like this ’

However, this growing awareness hasn’t entirely dismantled deep-rooted community pressures The fear of judgment, of “what will people say?”, remains a powerful force “There’s pressure to maintain the appearance of a happy family,” Datoobhoy explains “Even when there’s clear emotional or physical harm, many women still feel pushed to ‘make it work ’

Additionally, men, she argues, are not immune to the pressures either Many have been raised in households where emotional expression is stifled “From a young age, they’re told not to cry, not to talk about feelings That repression affects their adult relationships,” she says “Though I am starting to see more Asian men come to therapy, they rarely talk about it The

stigma around seeking help still runs deep ” Legal challeng es for wom en

Women face unique legal and religious barriers when seeking divorce, particularly in cases where South Asian marriages are not formally registered under UK civil law

Without civil recognition, women are left vulnerable lacking access to legal protections around finances, housing, or child custody

According to Ayesha Vardag, Fo under and President of Vardags, this legal blind spot often leads to a clash between cultural expectations and the realities of British law “There is a real expectation mismatch for South Asian families divorcing in England and Wales,” she says “The families often expect there will be an informal, familydriven determination based just on meeting what they feel are the wife’s needs But if she finds out what her legal rights are, she’s likely to walk off with 50% of everything the couple built up during the marriage ”

For many women, particularly in wealthier households, understanding these rights can be transformative shifting the decision to leave from one of fear and financial insecurity to one of confidence and fairness “For wives in wealthy couples, it can be the difference between feeling trapped in a marriage or walking away with financial independence,” Vardag explains “For husbands, they’re facing potentially a 50% tax on their entire net worth ”

While stigmas still linger, there is growing recognition that divorce is no longer a moral failing but a reality of modern life For Britain’s South Asian communities, especially younger generations, the conversation around divorce is evolving Support networks, legal awareness, and more open dialogue are key to helping individuals move forward without fear of judgement

The gold question in British Asian divorces

Shefali Saxena

With rising div orce rates in th e British Asian co mmunity, qu estio ns arou nd g o ld j ew

increasing ly comm on

Parekh, Associate Solicitor in the Family Law team at S

clients on how such assets are treated in UK courts, from financial disclosure to disputes over ownership or demands for return by inlaws Here’s her exclusive interview with Asian Voice

Howdo UK courts typically treat gold jewellery, especially culturally significant gifts, in financial settlements during a divorce?

The Courts in England

,

wellery or other significantly valued items as part of the e n t i r e m a t r i m o n i a l p o t

Once a gift has been given, it is deemed as belonging to a n d i n p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e receiver But depending on the value of the gift, it is an asset available to the parties to use in the future to meet their needs

There has been a recent case where the Court ruled t h a t w h e r e t h e r e w a s n o clear intention on the part of the person providing the item as to whether or not it was a gift, then it could be c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e i t e m belonged to the family prov i d i n g i t H o w e v e r , s u c h outcomes are rare The key is being able to show the clear intention behind the giving of a gift, and usually this is where most parties struggle

The giving of gold when couples are marrying is a happy occasion, the intention behind it is to pass family heirlooms down through generations, help the couple with financial investments for their futures and simply because the families want to give gifts of gold to their d a u g h t e r s - i n - l a w o r s o n si n - l a w t o c e l e b r a t e t h e happy occasion There are usually no strings attached, a n d i n t e n t i o n i s t h e l a s t thing any family would consider

Whathappens if one spouse denies the existence or possession of gold jewellery during divorce proceedings? Are there legal remedies for this situation?

The issue in relation to its existence is the easier h u r d l e t o o v e r c o m e i n today’s age of advances in t e c h n o l o g y ,

i d

I t would be difficult for either party to deny the very existence of the gold jewellery

T h e s i t u a t i o n w e a r e seeing more and more of is

cases where there is a “he has it, she has it” dialogue

One side will argue that the gold and jewellery are in the p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e o t h e r party, and vice versa In situations like these, the outcome will depend on the evidence, but the starting point is that the recipient will be treated as having the jewellery for financial settlement, with the onus upon them to prove they do not have the jewellery

Th e leg al rem edi es w here the parties are in court proceedings are:

1 If one party can convince the Judge that his or her j e w e l l e r y h a s b e e n r e t a i n e d b y t h e o t h e r party, the Court can order t h e j e w e l l e r y t o b e returned

2 Alternatively, a lump sum payment can be ordered to be made by the party who has the jewellery

3 Usually, the gold jewellery is viewed alongside other assets of the marriage and not in isolation Its value is likely to be factored into

can be offset against other assets

Incases where the exspouse's family gifted gold jewellery, can they legally demand its return after a divorce?

The short answer to this is no for ex-spouses The advice on a divorce is for parties to settle their financ i a l c l a i m s a g a i n s t e a c h other, preferably before the divorce is finalised and the parties are legally divorced This protects both parties against future claims being m a d e b y t h e o t h e r p a r t y Financial claims, if agreed, are settled in what is called a Consent Order This document is drafted by solicitors and includes all the terms of the agreement between the parties If it is a clean break, it is in full and final settlement of all future claims exspouses can make against the other Divorce itself, unless there is also a final f i n a n c i a l o r d e r , d o e s n o t prevent claims being made

against the other after the Consent Order is sealed by t h e C o u r t , t h

from making a claim This w o

m through the Civil Courts In situations where this might arise, party X would ideally w a n t a n

n d e m n i t y f r o m party Y that if Y’s family made a claim against X for the jewellery, X would be indemnified to the extent of the claim by Y

Are there any steps you recommend British Asian families take either before or during marriage to protect or document gold jewellery in case of a future dispute?

The best advice would be: 1 Ke ep r ece ipts: evidence of purchased gold and jewellery is really important, so keep your receipts 2 Ph ot o s: A l o n g w i t h t h e receipts, it is a good idea to keep photographs of individual items with a short d e s c r i p t i o n T h i s w a y , when you are listing the jewellery in your financial d i s c l o s u r e , y o u c a n b e m o r e

i c t h a n

“gold necklace” The more detail, the better Does it h a v e p r e c i o u s s t o n e s ? What are the carats? What is the length of a chain? On what date was a cert a i n p i e c e o f j e w e l l e r y given? In the Asian cult u r e , j e w e l l e r y i s g i v e n f r o m t h e e n g a g e m e n t right through to the wedding day and sometimes even purchased for daughters-in-law or sons-in-law o n f e s t i v e d a y s s u c h a s Diwali or Eid

3 Pr e o r Po st - N up t ia l Ag r e e m e n t s: c o n s i d e r entering into a pre-nuptial agreement or a post-nuptial agreement which also deals with the issue of the gold and jewellery specifically and how this is to be divided on divorce and settles issues in relation to the ownership of the jewellery

4 Ea rly ex pe rt advice : It is essential to get legal advice early It is not unusual for j e w e l

down through generations and therefore has signifi-

for

reached, an application for

likely need to be made to the Court At this point, legal costs escalate quickly, so a cost-benefit analysis is important early on

The Consent Order will need to be sent to the Court in order for the Court to approve it and seal it, this then makes the agreements c o n t a i n e d i n t h e O r d e r legally binding on both part i e s H o w e v e r , w h i l s t e xspouses are prevented from m a k

Shazia Datoobhoy

Sonal Parekh

Ayesha Vardag

IJA event probes future of India-Pakistan relations

T h e In d i an J o u rn ali s ts ’ Association (IJA) hosted a tho ught-provoking discus-

si o n t it le d ‘ In d i a an d Pakistan 20 25: Co ntours of Conflict’ on 1 5 May at th e

T aj L o n d o n T h e e v en t exam ined the cu rrent state of India-P akistan relatio ns an d co n si d e red p o s s i bl e trajectories for the future

D

Kapila OBE, historian and p

C

and Dr Ayesha Siddiqa, mil-

S

C o l l e g e L

n d o n o f f e r e

d e e p i n s i g h t s i n t o t h e ongoing tensions and the i n t r i c a t e f o r c e s s h a p i n g bilateral dynamics The discussion was moderated by

I J A P r e s i d e n t , N a b a n i t a

Sircar

Com paring Kash mir to P alestine undermines Indian history

D u r i n g t h e Q & A , D r Siddiqa highlighted a shift in tactics and technology in recent India-Pakistan tensions “The J-10Cs, once a handful, now form a full squadron The damage to t h e I n d i a n A i r F o r c e reflected not just tech, but a tactical change,” she said

R e f e r e n c i n g t h e 2 0 1 9

i n c i d e n t i n v o l v i n g W i n g Commander Abhinandan, she noted, “Back then, anything crossing the border

w a s s h o t d o w n l i k e Abhinandan’s aircraft This time, Pakistan changed its rules, targeting anything in the air, influenced by the U k r a i n e - R u s s i a c o n f l i c t ”

She added, “India’s Russian S-400s hit multiple targets, w h i l e P a k i s t a n ’ s C h i n e s e HQ-19 systems underperformed ”

She also referenced a ‘ R e u t e r s ’ r e p o r t t h a t P a k i s t a n i m a d r a s a s w e r e emptied on May 1, hinting a t f o r e k n o w l e d g e o f a n Indian attack “There was n o e l e m e n t o f s u r p r i s e Pakistani officials had publ i c l y s t a t e d t h e y w e r e expecting an attack within 36 to 48 hours,” she said, c o n c l u d i n g t h a t “ p e r f o rmance and perception may have shaped the outcome more than strategy or technology ”

Responding to whether global conflicts like Israel-

P a l e s t i n e o r R u s s i a -

U k r a i n e h a d p r e s s u r e d

I n d i a t o r e s p o n d m o r e a g g r e s s i v e l y , P r o f e s s o r Kapila said, “There’s a fant a s y t h a t I n d i a s h o u l d behave like Israel, but India is not Israel It’s a much bigger country, with a very different origin rooted in decolonisation ” She stressed that such comparisons are misleadi n g : “ T h e s e a r e n o t t h e same partitions The left also makes the mistake of e q u a t i n g P a l e s t i n e w i t h

Kashmir; both are misrepresentations of history ” K a p i l a u r g e d a m o r e t h o u g h t f u l a p p r o a c h : “India should live its bigness, not play its smallness These fantasies might gene r a t e e n e r g y , b u t t h e y ’ r e not productive Distance is the only way forward with Pakistan ”

Responding to whether a recent Pakistani leader’s remark that the country had done the “dirty work” for the US and UK, was a cry for help or an act of hand-wringing, Dr Siddiqa said, “It wasn’t a cry for help, it was deflection It was about avoiding responsibility for harbouring milit a n t g r o u p s b y b l a m i n g t h e i r e x i s t e n c e o n t h e United States ”

On what could be the Pakistan military’s Achilles’ h e e l o r d e t e r r e n t , s h e remarked, “That’s the mill i o n - d o l l a r q u e s t i o n T h e only force that can hold the military back is a strong political system and civil society ” S h e a d d e d , “ I n t e r e s t i n g l y , m a n y i n Indian policymaking circles believed the military would be weakened with Imran Khan’s rise and his ongoing tussle with the army They thought this internal conflict would push the military back But that was a f u n d a m e n t a l m i s r e a d i n g The Pakistan Army is not going anywhere And this is w h e r e i t ’ s i m p o r t a n t t o d e e p l y u n d e r s t a n d y o u r neighbour, especially one c o n s i d e r e d a l i f e l o n g enemy What many failed to realise is that this wishf u l t h i n k i n g d i d n ’ t a l i g n w i t h t h e r e a l i t y o n t h e g r o u n d T h e o n l y r e a l check on the military is a robust civilian system And sadly, I fear that the current spiral of violence has only pushed civil society further back ” West fails India on terror supp ort

During the event, the moderator asked whether this round of conflict was d i f f e r e n t a n d i f P a k i s t a n had been “let off the hook ” R e s p o n d i n g t o t h i s , Professor Kapila said, “I do think this is qualitatively different both in terms of the immediate context and how it’s redefining world affairs In 2025, we ’ re looking at a fragmenting, but still unipolar world led by

A m e r i c a C h i n a , t h o u g h assumed to be more powerful, is in my view less so more of a regional power,

Britain reaffirms support for anti-terror efforts in South Asia

MP Bob Blackma n has conde mne d the te rror ist att ack i

Kashmir , which claime

as argued by Shivshankar Menon in India in a World Adrift ”

She highlighted China's l i m i t e d i n f l u e n c e i n t h e current conflict and said, “China has been very much in the mix, but the ceasefire came from the Americans not the Chinese which is t e l l i n g T h e P a k i s t a n – U S relationship is still one of need, despite China’s close ties to Pakistan This conflict has exposed the limits of Chinese power ” On India’s position, she noted, “India has never had a rising expansionist power like China as a neighbour It’s now in a very different g e o p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n Foreign policy has shifted from strategic autonomy to multilateralism evident in trade talks with the UK, the US, and India’s role in the Q u a d T h i s s h i f t m e a n t India de-hyphenated from P a k i s t a n u n t i l n o w T h e neighbourhood is asserting itself again ”

“Whatever we may call ‘the West,’ which sees India a s a c o u n t e r b a l a n c e t o China, has not met Indian expectations on the issue of terror These will be diffic u l t n e g o t i a t i o n s m o v

forward China cannot be abstracted out of this; its role has been tested, and it has shown its limits rather t

added

"Whatever we may call ‘the West,’ which sees India as a counterbalan ce to China, has not met Indian expectations on the issue of terror."

underscored how lingering h

shapes India-Pakistan tensions, stressed the need for sustained, genuine peacebuilding, and examined the P

sized sway over Islamabad’s

crises and urging today’s policymakers to act with g

foresight to head off the next escalation

pied Ka shmir (PoK) (C ross

on

Speaking in the House of

Pahalgam terror attack and highlighted India’s response through Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terrorist

h e F

r e i g n S e c r

y t o a c t a g a i n s t t e r r o r c a m p s i n Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and shared his speech on social media platform X Responding to MP Bob Blackman, Foreign Secretary

D a v i d L a m m y c o n d e m n e d the Pahalgam terror attack as "appalling" and reaffirmed t h e U K ’ s c o m m i t m e n t t o c o m b

H

stated, “The horrific attack, w

t , w a s appalling We strongly condemn it and will continue w

Pakistan, to address terrorist threats ” Lammy emphasised the need to support both nations in their efforts to ensure lasting peace in the region

S h a d o w F o r e i g n

Secretary Priti Patel reiterate d h e r c o n c e r n s i n t h e House of Commons about the continued presence of

P

d

government on the UK’s role in addressing the threat

She said: “While we welcome the easing of tensions between India and Pakistan o v e r t h e w e e k e n d , o u r thoughts remain with the victims of this horrific terrorist attack The persistent p r e s e n c e o f t

concern us all

from the

dismantle these networks? And what role will the UK play in supporting efforts to eliminate terrorist threats in Pakistan, which is essential for long-term stability and regional security?”

tackling terrorism remains a top priority and the UK is

the need for stronger communication between India and Pakistan not just militarily but politically highlighting that such dialogue is currently lacking Lammy added that the UK is actively engaging with allies like the US, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to support peacebuilding and regional stability

India House hosts session on ‘Operation Sindoor’

The High C om mis sion of In dia hos ted a s pecial event at I ndia House in London to engage with the I ndian dias pora, followi ng the succ e s s f u l c o n c l us i on of O perati on Sindoor, an of fici al statemen t said

The event provided a v a l u a b l e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r Indian students and residents in the UK to engage d i r e c t l y w i t h H i g h C o m m i s s i o n e r V i k r a m

D o r a i s w a m i a n d s e n i o r officials from the mission

Attendees raised questions, shared concerns, and disc u s s e d t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e s , particularly in relation to

r e c e n t d e v e l o p m e n t s a n d

I n d i a ’ s c o u n t e r - t e r r o r i s m

Operation Sindoor

In response, the High

C o m m i s s i o n e r a d d r e s s e d

t h e q u e r i e s o p e n l y a n d reassured the community of the Indian government’s

u n w a v e r i n g c o m m i t m e n t to the safety, wellbeing, and i n t e r e s t s o f a l l I n d i a n

n a t i o n a l s l i v i n g o v e r s e a s , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e o f f i c i a l statement

A major focus was the

U K - I n d i a F r e e T r a d e

A g r e e m e n t ( F T A ) w h i c h

w a s f i n a l i s e d T h e H i g h

Commissioner highlighted

t h e F T A ’ s p o t e n t i a l t o

d e e p e n e c o n o m i c t i e s , enhance trade and investm e n t , a n d g e n e r a t e n e w employment opportunities He stressed how the agreement will benefit India by expanding market access, boosting exports, and fostering innovation and collaboration across sectors T h e i n

r a c t i o n r e i nforced the importance of c o n t i n u e d d i a l o g u e between India and its globa l d i a s p o r a , u n d e r s c o r i n g t h e H i g h C o m m i s s i o n ’ s commitment to supporting I n d i a n c i t i z e n s o v e r s e a s and strengthening India’s international partnerships

India’s Aaranyak recognised at royal conservation event

T h e i r M a j e st i e s T he Ki n g a nd Quee n, Joint Pre side nt s of Elephan t Family , host ed t he st ar -st ud de d ‘W on de r s of the Wild: An Eve ning of Ar t and Con se rv ation ’ a t the R oy al Bota nic Ga rde ns, Kew, Lon don

Sponsored by Chopard, the event was attended by H R H P r i n c e s s B e a t r i c e o f York, Annabel Elliot, Lady Marina Windsor, footballer R o n a l d o N a z a r i o , a c t o r s A m y J a c k s o n a n d E d Westwick, and singer Sophie E l l i s - B e x t o r D u r i n g t h e e v e n i n g , T h e i r M a j e s t i e s presented special awards to Aaranyak, the charity’s partn e r i n I n d i a , a n d a r t i s t Rebecca Campbell, marking h e r t e n t h y e a r a

sador

‘Wonders of the Wild’ was the grand finale of the

charity’s Big Egg Hunt, held in partnership with Clarence Court The campaign showc a s

sculptures by top fashion, art, and design names, disp

Battersea Power Station, and the Royal

Hall

Majesties met participating artists, including Instagram sensation Sophie Tea, Simon

Emery, Patricia Mitchell, Jag S i h

Shantanu & Nikhil Elephant Family, founded by Mark Shand in 2002, is dedicated to protecting the endangered Asian elephant T h e c h a r i t y i s k n o w n f o r harnessing the power of art to inspire wildlife conservat i o n I

l a b o

s w i t h local partners across Asia to promote coexistence, ensuring people and animals can share their habitats safely Elephant Family

L to R: Ayesha Siddiqa, Nabanita Sircar and Shruti Kapila

Bob Blackman

David Lammy

C A R E S E C T O R S O U N D S A L A R M O V E R V I S A C U T S

Visa restrictions on overseas care workers threaten to worsen staffing shortages in the UK care sector, with experts warning of economic impact, cultural disconnect, and declining quality of person-centred care

L as t w e ek , w h en K ei r

S tar m er a nno u n ce d th e

Im mig ration White paper, one of the m ajor co ncerns

th at w as h igh ligh ted was that the care sector wou ld face grav e problems d ue to the scrapping o f care wo rker visas

Yvette Cooper said it is

" t i m e t o e n d t h a t c a r e worker recruitment from

a b r o a d " a n d r u l e s w i l l change this year - instead

r e q u i r i n g f i r m s t o h i r e British nationals or extend visas of overseas workers already in the country in a bid to cut net migration, and says measures will cut up to 50,000 lower-skilled and care workers coming to the UK over the next year

A c c o r d i n g t o Be rni e

S u res p ar an, E x ec u ti v e

C h ai rm an a t W e C a re

Gro u p & S u m m i t C a re Group, the sector can support training, but the real issue doesn’t lie there “We don’t need the government to train people for us We need them to give us the

r i g h t f u n d i n g T h e o n l y

e f f e c t i v e w a y t o a d d r e s s this shortage is by offering wages that are competitive

a n d e q u i v a l e n t t o w h a t someone doing a similar

j o b i n t h e N H S w o u l d receive ” At the risk of repeating a point already made, want-

i n g e m p l o y e r s t o f o c u s their time and resources on upskilling British nationals

i s a r e a s o n a b l e a m b i t i o n but not a practical one until the government is ready to invest in the sector

The truth is that it is m i g r a n t s w h o h a v e l o n g formed the backbone of the NHS and the social care sector and that is for a reas o n T h e j o b t h a t t h e s e “lower-skilled” workers do cannot be taken over by the Britons If they could, they would already have

A c c o r d i n g t o B e r n i e , “ c a r e w o r k e r s h a v e b e e n w r o n g l y c l a s s i f i e d a s “unskilled ” That’s incredi-

b l y d i s a p p o i n t i n g N o t everyone can do this job It requires patience, compassion, and a high level of skill Carers are special and they deserve to be treated as such ”

Care secto r on what these chang es m ean

The UK care sector has around 131,000 vacancies, down from 183,000, thanks l a r g e l y t o i n t e r n a t i o n a l recruitment, Bernie points out But that lifeline is being cut off in two ways First, in March of last year, t h e g o v e r n m e n t s t o p p e d a l l o w i n g d e p e n d e n t s t o accompany care workers

That caused a sharp decline in applications, which in turn automatically brought i m m i g r a t i o n n u m b e r s down

“There’s really no reason to make further restrictions now, the system has already self-corrected The numbers have dropped so low that it’s no longer a major issue The governm e n t ’ s b i g g e r c o n c e r n appears to be people crossi n g t h e C h a n n e l f r o m France but those numbers are also counted under immigration, which skews the debate”, he said

H e f u r t h e r a d d s , “ L o o k i n g a h e a d , w e w i l l have 64,000 new residents e n t e r i n g c a r e e a c h y e a r

The real question is: where will we find the people to care for them? That’s the crisis we should be talking about

“Yes, there are people in the UK who could work but aren't currently doing

s o , a n d t h e g o v e r n m e n t h a s n ’ t d o n e e n o u g h t o address that But cutting off access to international care workers who contribute billions to the UK economy through the care sector is short-sighted

F e w e r w o r k e r s m e a n s f e w e r r e s i d e n t s c a n b e cared for, and if we can’t

m e e t t h a t d e m a n d , t h e

e c o n o m y w i l l i n e v i t a b l y suffer ”

Amri t Dhaliwal, Chief

E x e c ut i v e O f f i c e r at W a lf i n c h, a d om i c i li ar y c are age nc y also shared, “ C a r e i s n ’ t j u s t a b o u t numbers, it’s about people We need a proper plan

t o g r o w t h e c a r e w o r kforce by over half a million by 2040 Without it, we ’ re not just risking staff shorta g e s w e ’ r e r i s k i n g another NHS gridlock like 2021 This isn’t a time for quick fixes It’s a moment to think long-term, invest

in training, and build a workforce that reflects the communities it serves ”

S h a r i n g m o r e a b o u t h o w W

l f i n c h w i l l b e affected by the proposed m e a s u r e , Sh i l pi V e rm a, the M anaging Di rector at t h e a g

overseas recruitment, par-

According to her, “This is not only due to staffing needs but also because

service users are of South Asian origin These clients often require support in

such as Gujarati, Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi, or Bengali, to ensure clear communication, comfort, and trust ” S

e r a d d e d , “Any change in immigration policy that restricts the recruitment of over-

s e a s c a r e w o r k e r s c o u l d potentially have an impact on care within our communities This is particularly true for residents living with dementia, who typically respond better to

c a r e r s w h o u n d e r s t a n d their cultural background and speak their language

“Without the ability to recruit from South Asia, we would face increased c h a l

w i l l become more difficult to deliver care that is truly p e r s o n - c e n t r e d a n

turally appropriate ” While Shilpi believes

plan to encourage British nationals to enter the care sector has potential it will

progression opportunities, to be a practical and sustainable long-term solution

Is 'Going Dutch' the solution to the UK's inactivity crisis?

Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL, Chairman

of RandalSun

Capital Ltd

Economic in activit

y is a ma jor obsta cle t o t he UK's pr oduct ivity a nd compet itive ness

As a business owner and employer with over 30 years of experience, I have seen firsthand how this challenge has intensified as the economically inactive population approaches 10 million nationally - almost 1 million more than prepandemic

This includes nearly 3 million on long-term sick leave, an all-time high since records began in 1993, representing over a fifth of all 16-64 year olds

The good news is that within these high numbers are hundreds of thousands who want to work and could do so with proper support

But for any government these numbers are alarming, as economic inactivity acts as a drag on productivity and growth, as well as creates an unsustainable benefits burden for the entire nation, with the combined cost of workingage incapacity and disability benefits estimated by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to hit £76 billion by the end of the parliament

Recent national Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) reports highlight this significant increase in inactivity and suggest a 'Going Dutch' decentralised approach that has seen the Netherlands reduce economic inactivity at three times the UK rate

Government schemes here have shown mixed success thus far, often targeting only the most accessible cases rather than tackling the more challenging but potentially more rewarding situations I have repeatedly heard about thriving companies struggling to fill skilled positions while growing numbers of working-age adults remain disconnected from employment

The CSJ highlights the enormous financial burden: £28 billion annually in additional welfare payments, plus lost productivity and tax revenue Equally concerning is the erosion of workplace skills among the long-term economically inactive, creating a downward spiral that worsens over time

organisations who understand their communities best While in Norway, they have for generations developed what a job coach might look like to something they call a social worker but who focuses on the need of the person not the services of the state And in Denmark, they have experimented with giving local areas full

and workplace adjustments can enable many individuals with health challenges to contribute productively

What is needed is a fundamental shift in how we view the relationship between health and work

The current system too often presents a binary choice of either ‘fully fit for work’ or ‘entirely incapable’ – when in reality most people lie somewhere inbetween

The skills gap in the UK is not just about worker numbers, it is about equipping people with capabilities, which our evolving economy demands

includes cultural competence and language support, so British carers can meet the specific needs of service users from differ-

The 'Going Dutch' approach would provide holistic, person-focused support - something difficult to deliver from Whitehall It would devolve employment support and adult learning budgets to better respond to local needs, requiring central government to embrace the risks of devolution and engage with grassroots

The most crucial insight is recognising that health and employment are deeply interconnected.

autonomy in service design and delivery

The good news is that these approaches would not require substantial new funding As an advocate for local knowledge and networks, I have long supported greater devolution of skills and employment policies to regional authorities Local authorities and councils understand our local labour markets in ways Westminster cannot They know which sectors are growing, which communities face particular challenges, and which interventions work in a local, grassroots context

The CSJ's recommendation to devolve responsibility for employment support and adult education makes perfect sense from a business perspective It would enable agile, responsive approaches that our dynamic regional economy demands, replacing one-size-fits-all national programmes with tailored interventions

Perhaps the most crucial insight is recognising that health and employment are deeply interconnected The growing number of people classified as long-term sick represents a failure to create appropriate pathways back to employment that accommodate health conditions In my businesses over the years, we have found that flexible arrangements, graduated return-to-work programmes

In my experience, the most effective training programmes are those developed in partnership between employers and education providers When businesses can directly shape curriculum content, specify skills needed and offer workplace experience, the results are transformative

Economic inactivity is not just about monetary costs either, it is about community wellbeing and social cohesion

Employment provides not just income but purpose, structure and social connection Companies are not just economic entities; they are social institutions that can directly strengthen their communities

For business leaders, I call for greater engagement with local authorities and skills providers to help develop employment pathways for the economically inactive

Rather than lamenting skills shortages, we should be actively participating in creating the workforce we need

For policymakers, I would urge bold implementation of the CSJ's recommendations, particularly devolving employment and skills responsibilities to regional authorities

And for our communities, I ask for renewed recognition of work's value, not just as a source of income and prosperity, but as a foundation for individual dignity and collective prosperity

The untapped potential represented by economic inactivity in the UK is not just a problem to solve, it is our greatest opportunity for future growth By combining business innovation, policy reform and community engagement, we can create pathways back to employment that benefit us all

So let’s try 'Going Dutch', or 'Norwegian', or 'Danish' as possible solutions to addressing our nation's most pressing inactivity challenges

Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL

Anusha Singh

Amrit Dhaliwal

Shilpi Verma

Bernie Suresparan

OnFriday, 16 May, Asian Voice, in collaboration with the Royal Air Force, hosted the fourth edition of the Be The Change panel discussion on Diversity and Inclusion at the Terrace Pavillion in the House of Commons.

In her welcome address, Rupanjana Dutta, Managing Editor of Asian Voice, highlighted the discrimination and marginalisation faced by the British Asian communityparticularly the first generation - and celebrated their progress in political representation, social influence, and contributions to business, academia, the professions, and the arts

The event’s host, Navendu Mishra, Labour MP for Stockport, applauded CB Patel, Chairman and Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, for his tireless advocacy on behalf of the diaspora Acknowledging that discrimination and abuse were still widespread as recently as a decade ago, he remarked, “We have made a lot of progress ” However, he also cautioned that “ progress is fragile,” emphasising the need for continued efforts to safeguard and promote diversity and inclusion

Group Captain Gareth Taylor, Officer Commanding, Recruit & Select at the RAF, emphasised the need for diversity not only at the representative level but also in leadership He remarked, “It’s wonderful that we're having this conversation at the Houses of Parliamentat the heart of our country and our government

“The Royal Air Force continues to recognise the importance of inclusivity and diversity This year, we ’ ve

Panel d iscussio n: Nav

igating

div ersity with identity and purpose

Moderator Jasvir Singh CBE, a leading community activist and co-founder of South Asian Heritage Month was the moderator for the panel which consisted of Vinita Marwaha Madill, space engineer, advocate for women in STEM and Founder of the awardwinning global platform, Rocket Women; Faheem Khan, the founder of Future Leaders UK, a social mobility

Rocket Women Faheem described diversity as “standing out, not fitting in,” and urged people to take pride in every part of their identity For Priyaneet, it was about acceptance and showing up as your whole self, noting that “it also involves a lot of self-care and considerable work ”

The panel also reflected on some of their personal challenges Priyaneet shared how her disability led to assumptions that she would never amount to anything,

and how the invisibility of her condition often caused others to question its legitimacy She emphasized that these perceptions impact many lives

Discussing the current challenges to diversity and inclusion, Faheem commended the Labour government for their commitment to diversity but also iterated that we cannot take the progress for granted “Let us not become complacent”, he said He also highlighted that while it is

seen a 12% increase in ethnic minority recruitment, thanks to the outstanding efforts of our personnel engaging with communities and showcasing the quality of our work Inclusivity enhances our operational effectiveness - it allows us to think differently, approach problems in new ways, and stay ahead through the strength of diverse perspectives ”

and social change organisation; and Priyaneet Kainth, a global diversity, equity and inclusion leader who lives with an invisible incurable disability

The panel shared their personal perspectives on diversity and inclusion For Vinita, it meant having relatable role models who looked like her - something she actively fosters through

Panellists (seated), CB Patel, Chairman, Asian Business

Panellists (L-R) Vinita Marwaha Madill, Priyaneet Kainth, Faheem Khan and Moderator Jasvir Singh CBE

Host Navendu Mishra MP during his speech

Group Captain Gareth Taylor, Officer Commanding, Recruit & Select at the RAF

CB Patel, Chairm Publisher/Editor A Gujarat Samachar givin

diversity and oday’s Britain

good to mark the progress in statistics and numbers, it should also be about positive experience

Faheem emphasized that there’s still work to be done, particularly in supporting social mobility for those from marginalised backgrounds He asked, “If we're not valuing talent, hard work, and commitment when helping young people progress, then what are we valuing?”

Vinita suggested that

better social mobility can be promoted through networking groups and scholarships, which open up more opportunities Priyaneet, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of encouraging skill-based learning

A udience interaction: Th e m any faces of change

Interacting with the audience, the panel examined how real change can be created, sustained, and supported by both

individuals and institutions Faheem opened by asserting that while meritocracy remains essential, the principle must be applied in a context that accounts for unequal starting points It’s not about handing out jobs based on background, he said, but about ensuring everyone has a fair shot to begin with The playing field is far from level when access to quality education, mentoring, and opportunity is often dictated by socioeconomic status or ethnicity

the honesty There’s merit, he said, in being open about redressing imbalance, especially when followed by supportive structures Vineeta added that positive action must be understood not as a handout, but as an enabler

In discussing how to keep going in the face of increasing resistance to DEI efforts, Priyaneet encouraged people to focus on their own sphere of influence Change doesn’t always have to be seismic “If you help one person, ” she said, “that’s still progress ”

As the discussion turned to what individuals can do, the panellists offered simple but powerful suggestions, all underlining the value of genuine alliances, shared experiences and support that is active, informed, and consistent, and not just symbolic

When asked what one action could make a difference, Priyaneet suggested creating more entry-level roles and apprenticeships where formal degrees aren't the sole measure of merit Faheem advocated for reinstating youth provision fundingsuch as school meals, youth clubs, and mentoring - which can positively shape lives from an early age Vinita emphasized the need to introduce STEM education earlier, especially for girls, to prevent potential from being cut off too soon

Chairman ABPL, CB Patel concluded the discussion, noting that it had been one of the finest panels on diversity and inclusion: thoughtful, open, and willing to agree as well as disagree He thanked Navendu Mishra and the RAF personnel for their partnership and efforts He said Britain has always

Jasvir shared a personal reflection on how positive discrimination had helped him in the past He recalled a time when a senior executive, in a room full of potential candidates, said he wanted to appoint gay a man of colour as it ticked two boxes and was transparent about that decision While such statements can be controversial, he appreciated

been self-corrective as a country, so most worries around its politics are unnecessary He added, “The diversity efforts are ongoing, but Rome was not built in a day, and it is not yet finished The work goes on ” The panel discussion was followed by networking, drinks and canapés

Photo courtesy: Vineet Joh ri

Publications Limited (ABPL) and members of the RAF

Panellists with Group Captain Gareth Taylor, CB Patel and Navendu Mishra MP

Members of the Royal Air Force

A round of applause for Warrant Officer Balbir Flora MBE (center standing) as he retires from the RAF

man, ABPL and Asian Voice and ng the vote of thanks

Rupanjana Dutta, Managing Editor, Asian Voice during the welcome address

The Hinduja family, led by Gopichand Hinduja, Chairman of the 110-year-old multinational conglomerate, the Hinduja Group, has once again claimed the top spot on The Sunday Times Rich List

o

D

wealth over the past year, the family's fortune is estimated at £35 3 billion This marks the fourth consecutive year the UK-based family has topped the definitive

a

wealthiest individuals and

United Kingdom The 2025 edition features 350 entries Now in its 37th year, The Sunday Times Rich List reflects broader shifts in the global and domestic economy The combined wealth of the top 350 has dropped

b

marking the third consecutive year of decline Most notably, the number of UK billionaires has fallen to 156

steepest drop in the list’s history, according to The T

South Asians featured has also dipped slightly, from 30 last year to 27 this year

Following the Hindujas, David and Simon Reuben are at the second position on the list while Lakshmi M

include Anil Agarwal, Shri Prakash Lohia, Mohsin and Zuber Issa, and Navin and V

n g others

In line with a pattern observed in recent editions, several familiar names on the Rich List have suffered

notable financial setbacks However, not all fortunes have waned King Charles's personal wealth increased by £30 million over the past year, reaching £640 million He now shares the 238th spot on the list with former prime minister Rishi Sunak

Murty

Robert Watts, com piler of The S und ay T imes Rich

evolving composition of the

Sunday Times Rich List is

count is down and the combined wealth of those who

40 richest people under 40 in the UK

This year s 40 Under

40 list sees a surge of new tech titans, with artificial intelligence developers, coders, and data entrepreneurs now making up nearly half of the featured individuals

The list celebrates a mix of British talent across entertainment, sport, and business encompassing

both inherited fortunes and self-made ventures

While four of the top ten individuals inherited the bulk of their wealth, 35 out of the 40 are classified as “self-made ” The list also reflects growing international diversity: nine of the 40 hold nationalities other than British, including two Danes, two Poles, a

New Zealander and a Bulgarian South Asian representation has also increased, with five individuals named this year up from three in 2024 Education paths vary widely among the entrants at least 15 did not attend university, while four studied at Oxford and another four at Cambridge

4. Herman Narula (£780 million)

Described by Tatler as “the top in tech ” Delhi-born Herman Narula 37 is a Cambridge graduate and a prominent voice on how technology and the metaverse are transforming society He has publicly criticised the U S for what he calls AI imperialism ” Narula founded virtual worlds developer Improbable while still a student Since becoming profitable in 2023 the company has soared in value Narula owns just under 30% of the firm, which he co-founded with Peter Lipka (No 30 on the list)

16. Ayman Rahman and Fateha Begum (£307 million)

Despite profits falling by more than 30% at Dare-the energy trading company he controls-Rahman, 34, continues to oversee its operations alongside his wife and co-founder, Fateha Begum 37 Raised in Devon and now based in London, the couple has built one of the most lucrative energy startups in the UK

17. Amar Shah (£264 million)

ACambridge-educated former Goldman Sachs banker, Shah, 37, co-founded the driverless car startup Wayve in 2017 with Alex Kendall (No 11) He has since shifted focus to a new venture: Charm Therapeutics, a tech-driven pharmaceuticals company harnessing AI in drug discovery

30. Ben Maruthappu (£123 million)

Aformer NHS doctor, Maruthappu launched the home care firm Cera after struggling to find adequate support for his injured mother, Leena The company now plays a key role in helping the NHS reduce operational costs and improve patient outcomes

turies-old family firms are also warning of serious consequences to a range of tax c h a n

October’s budget ” Watts highlighted the diversity and resilience of wealth creation in the UK, saying, “Our research continues to find a wide variety of self-made entrepreneurs building fortunes not just from artificial intelligence, video games and new tech-

32. Vishal Karia (£119 million)

Karia 35 was expelled from school and later diagnosed with ADHD but turned adversity into ambition In 2016 he founded Anity Fragrance a Buckinghamshire-based scent wholesaler that now boasts a turnover of over £120 million

feature in our research is falling We are also finding fewer of the world’s superrich are choosing to live in the UK ”

impact of political and economic developments, particularly recent changes to the tax regime “This year we were also struck by the

Rachel Reeves’s Treasury We expected the abolition of non-dom status would anger affluent people from overseas But homegrown young tech entrepreneurs

Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty

Gopi Hinduja Lakshmi Mittal

Continued from page 01

According to Prof Abhinay M uth oo, a Research L ead & F ellow at the Natio nal Institute of Econo mic and S ocial Research ( NIESR), this recent exodus appears to be a short-term reaction to specific, well-signalled tax reforms “These measures were expected and, in many cases, long overdue They aim to modernise the system, close loopholes, and restore fairness,” he said

While Prof Muthoo pointed out that there is a broader concern about whether these changes, alongside factors like postBrexit uncertainty, regulatory friction, and global tax competition, could gradually erode the UK’s appeal to international wealth and investment, he noted that there is little sign so far of a fundamental shift

“Long-term competitiveness will depend not just on tax policy, but on the UK’s ability to deliver skilled talent, robust

Rich exodus rattles UK economy

infrastructure, and policy stability,” he pointed out

“There may be shortterm losses in capital or philanthropy, but with the right long-term strategyclear fiscal rules, support for productive investment, and targeted infrastructure spending - the UK can remain a highly attractive economy while advancing a fairer and more resilient model of growth”, Prof Muthoo added K ey drivers behind the exodus

As the UK grapples with how to retain its wealthiest residents, it is important to understand the underlying factors that are leading to this phenomena and if experts are to be believed, it’s more than just the tax reforms

According to Hugh L ind , an eco nom ist at th e C entre for Economics and Business Research, taxation plays a significant role in influencing where wealthy individuals choose to reside but it is far from the only factor Economic

The wealthiest have upped their

charity game

The wealthiest individuals

i n the UK donated nearly

£ 5 00 m i ll i on m or e t o

c harity over the pas t year,

a c c or d i n g t o th e la t es t Sunday Times Giving List

P u b l i s h e d

Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), the list tracks the

m e s Rich List and the 40 richest under 40

This year, the top 100

n o

c

n t

c

y e i t h e r p e r s o n a l l y o r through their foundations and businesses up from £3 2 billion last year For the first time, hedge fund

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

Suneil Setiya is a prominent London-based financier and philanthropist, best known as the cofounder and co-CEO of Quadrature Capital LLP, a leading quantitative trading firm established in 2010 Alongside his business partner Greg Skinner Setiya has grown Quadrature into a major player in the hedge fund industry specialising in market-neutral algorithmic strategies The firm reported a pre-tax profit of £560 million for the year ending January 2022, underscoring its financial success In addition to his business achievements, Setiya is deeply involved in philanthropy He co-founded the Quadrature Climate Foundation (QCF) in 2019, a

stability, social infrastructure, and cultural appeal are also key considerations

“Our research shows that the UK would start experiencing a net fiscal loss from these reforms if just 25% of affected nondom taxpayers leave the country,” Lind explains “Based on Oxford Economics’ surveys and the Office for Budget Responsibility’s own assumptions, this scenario is well within the bounds of possibility ”

remain invested in UK assets and businesses ”

Hugh also highlighted the growing popularity of the UAE He said, “The UAE has been a primary destination for HNWIs in recent years Zero taxes on income and wealth, combined with political stability and improving public services present a strong offering to HNWIs ”

L ondon’s loses big due to exodus

Lakshmi Mittal, and German crypto investor Christian Angermayer S ignal of a mo re fundamental shift in th e U K's economic appeal?

Prof Muthoo also highlights that the broader macroeconomic effect of the wealth exodus is likely more modest than headlines suggest “The UK remains a global hub for business, finance, and innovation, and most jobs are driven by the wider business ecosystem, not just the ultra-wealthy”, he said

He further added,

“Many of the tax reforms were long overdue The non-dom regime, in particular, had become symbolic of unfairness in the system Its removal helps rebuild trust and signals that all forms of

Frequent tax changes undermine confidence, so the government should commit to multi-year tax frameworks A modern industrial strategy - backed by smart fiscal incentives for R&D, skills, and green tech - will support longterm growth Reforming outdated taxes like council tax and business rates is also overdue In short: fairer, simpler, and more strategic taxation, paired with targeted investment, is the path to a stronger, more inclusive economy ” As the government seeks to balance fiscal responsibility with economic growth, the challenge remains: how to retain and attract wealth creators without compromising on tax fairness

the top spot, with industry leaders donating a combined £5 3 million weekly to charitable causes Suneil Setiya and Greg S k i n n e r ,

each worth an estimated £ 9 8 0 m

rankings with

combined

£270 million over the past 12 months

According to the most recent accounts filed with the Charity Commission and the Scottish Charity Regulator, 10 of the top 1

than £100 million in the past year, while 64 gave

%

wealth

UK-registered charity focused on addressing climate change QCF has committed over $1 billion to global initiatives aimed at mitigating climate impacts and supporting vulnerable communities Notably, Setiya contributed a $40 million donation to solar geoengineering research, highlighting his commitment to innovative climate solutions

According to him, while the number of taxpayers directly impacted by the non-dom changes may appear small just 37,800 claimed non-dom status in the 2022 tax year, and only 2,400 paid the remittance basis charge and these individuals are the ones who typically represent the top tier of wealth and economic contribution The inclusion of foreign assets under UK inheritance tax further amplifies the impact on this group

Other compounding factors also make the UK less attractive for high-networth individuals Slow economic growth, declining public services, especially within healthcare, and the proposed VAT on private school fees are all seen as deterrents

“There’s also the matter of network effects,” Lind adds “Wealthy individuals tend to group together in countries and cities where other wealthy individuals reside, hence there is a risk that the outflow accelerates over time ” Brexit has further complicated matters, introducing frictions with Europe that may prompt internationally connected individuals to move to the continent

Prof Muthoo, on the issue, added that Labour ending long-standing privileges for internationally mobile wealth is a major factor At the same time, rising business costs, post-Brexit regulatory shifts, and growing global competition - from places like the UAE and Singapore - are making other locations more attractive

However, he does point out that, “it is important to separate tax-driven relocation from full economic disengagement Many of those leaving

London’s exodus of millionaires over the past decade may be as damaging as the United Kingdom losing nearly 1 5 million taxpayers, according to analysis for The Standard

Since 2014, the capital has lost 30,000 millionaires to foreign countries, with more than 11,000 leaving in the last 12 months alone This means that, on average, eight millionaires have left the city every day over the past ten years, according to a study conducted for advisory firm Henley & Partners by New World Wealth Research by the Adam Smith Institute estimates that each millionaire who left London in the last decade would have paid at least £393,957 in income tax per year The free-market think tank claims that the tax contribution of one millionaire is equivalent to that of 49 average taxpayers leaving the UK

As a result, the Exchequer may be facing a revenue shortfall equivalent to losing 1 47 million average taxpayers This figure is roughly larger than the combined populations of Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Belfast

Currently, London has around 215,000 millionaires but has lost 12 percent of its wealthiest residents since 2014 In absolute numbers, no other city has lost more millionaires than London, with approximately 30,000 departing over the past decade

From the 1950s to the early 2000s, Britain especially London was one of the world’s top destinations for migrating millionaires It has long attracted wealthy families from mainland Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East Notable high-networth individuals who have left London recently include Egypt’s richest man Nassef Sawiris, steel tycoon

wealth - especially inherited or offshore - should be taxed equitably That’s vital for long-term social cohesion and economic legitimacy

“There may be shortterm losses in capital or philanthropy, but with the right long-term strategyclear fiscal rules, support for productive investment, and targeted infrastructure spending - the UK can remain a highly attractive economy while advancing a fairer and more resilient model of growth

”

Discussing the longterm fiscal strategies that the government should consider to balance equitable taxation with the need to maintain a robust economic base, Prof Muthoo points out that the balance needs to be made in fairness with competitiveness - restoring trust in the tax system while attracting investment, talent, and innovation

He said, “Fairness and efficiency must go hand in hand Reforms like ending the non-dom regime and tightening inheritance tax were necessary, but the system now needs to be simpler, more predictable, and more transparent to reduce avoidance and boost compliance Taxing wealth and unearned income more consistently - for example, aligning capital gains rates more closely with income tax while protecting genuine business reinvestment - can broaden the base without harming growth

“Stability is essential

Another m iss for the governm ent with th e “strangers” remark

While the UK is already struggling to retain its wealthy, Keir Starmer has made another blunder by giving immigrants the tag of “strangers” as he introduced the Immigration White Paper

Maybe looking at the Rich List, the prime minister will realise that it is the immigrants who he wants to drive away that are leading the list The Hinduja and Ruben family are able to contribute to the country today only because they were welcomed in the country with open-arms and their endeavours were supported

With only approximately 7 5% of the United Kingdom's population identifing as being of South Asian heritage, there are 27 of them on the list and contribute significantly to the economy British Indians are among the most affluent ethnic groups in the UK and have the highest median total household net wealth, estimated at £347,400, surpassing that of White British households at £324,100

Keir Starmer’s remarks, intentional or not, are so ridiculous that Nigel Farage, the man with the most antiimmigrant rhetoric, has been criticising him

Additionally, Sadiq Khan, from Starmer’s own party, distanced himself from Sir Keir’s comments, saying they were “not words I would use ” Former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf has also condemned Starmer’s recent immigration remarks, calling them a "dog whistle"

The government faces pressure to control both legal and illegal immigration amid rising support for Reform UK Yousaf warned the UK risks “handing the keys of No 10 to Nigel Farage ”

Suneil Setiya

Abhinay Muthoo

Hugh Lind

Rachel Reeves

Dear Financial Voice Reader,

Alpesh Patel

In ve s tor s, T ak e C on tr ol: Why B e s t- Sel li n g Fun ds M ay Actually Hurt Your Wealth

At first glance, AJ Bell’s best-selling funds seem appealing After all, seeing double-digit returns over three or five years can initially feel reassuring But dig deeper, and the cracks become glaringly apparent The sobering truth is that these popular funds may not only be delivering mediocre returns but could actually be hampering your wealth

Consider, for instance, the AJ Bell Balanced fund, with a modest 5-year performance of just 33 58% Over five years, this barely keeps pace with long-term average market returns, especially once inflation is accounted for Even the "Adventurous" fund, boasting a seemingly attractive 58 81% over five years, pales significantly when you realize that global equity indexes have often exceeded this comfortably, sometimes by wide margins

Take Fidelity Index World, which tops this list with a five-year return of 78 71% a strong headline number But even this performance isn't outstanding when set against benchmarks like the S&P 500, which delivered returns exceeding 90% over similar periods Moreover, these returns are not extraordinary when you account for fees, even if those fees appear low

Speaking of fees, the ongoing charges of between 0 12% to 0 45% might seem negligible at face value However, in a world where passive ETFs often charge as little as 0 05%, even small differences compound substantially over time, potentially costing investors thousands in lost returns

M o

"Balanced" funds delivered even weaker results, with threeyear returns of just 13 89% and 11 18% respectively Such tepid performances barely beat cash savings after factoring inflation and clearly demonstrate a worrying lack of ambition

T h e p o p u

investors' tendency to delegate their financial futures, placing blind trust in brand reputation or simplified products marketed for convenience While simplicity has its place, investing should never be passive to the point of complacency Why does all this matter? Because your pension, your financial freedom, and your future depend on active engagement, strategic asset allocation, and informed decisionmaking Tools such as Monte Carlo simulations and portfolio optimization techniques, focused on maximising riskadjusted returns (e g , the Sortino Ratio), are what truly differentiate stellar wealth growth from sluggish mediocrity

For comparison, consider bespoke portfolios or specialized ETFs often outperforming these "best-selling" funds by harnessing proven analytical strategies and rigorous quantitative frameworks Indeed, taking personal control over your investments, or employing advisory services that genuinely customize and actively manage your portfolio, can lead to significantly better financial outcomes

Ultimately, investors must demand more from their funds Popularity shouldn't mask performance shortcomings It's time to be less passive, challenge conventional wisdom, and take greater control because your financial future deserves better than "best-selling" mediocrity

UK Regulators initiate Inquiry into Aviva-Direct Line Deal

A viva , one of th e lar gest in sure rs in t he U K is said to be comin g un der in vestig ation comm enced by CMA r ega rding its m u lt i- bi llio n - po un d a c qui sit io n fr o m o p p on e n t f ir m Dire ct Line La st ye ar ’ s agr eed d eal of £3 7bn, ma y r esult in t he merg in g of both pa rt ie s ’ ope ra tions, which may le ad t o t he cre ation of the lar gest car in sur an ce compa ny in t he UK

As a part of the phase 1 i n v e s t i g a t i o n b y t h e

C o m p e t i t i o n a n d M a r k e t s Authority which started on W e d n e s d a y a s a c o u r s e o f action, they will evaluate the deal’s possible impact on competition in the sector for 40 days On July 10 it will be decided to give the merger a thumbs-up or start a further

i n - d e p t h i n v e s t i g a t i o n a s phase 2 A m a n d a B l a n c , A v i v a ’ s Chief Executive expanded its business horizon in the UK, I r e l a n d a n d C a n a d a , w h i l s t l i q u

abroad

UK and EU strike landmark post-Brexit deal

T

Europ ean Union hav e signed a sweeping new d eal aim ed at resetting their p o

defence co operation in what leaders described as a “historic

oment ”

Monday at a high-level summit in London, follows months of intense negotiations and is the most significant step toward rebuilding trust and cooperation between the two sides since the UK formally left the EU in 2020

Calling the deal “ a new chapter,”

Minister Keir Starmer, “We’re turning a page We’re opening a new chapter in our unique relationship ” Starmer, in turn, declared: “Britain is back on the world stage ” The new pact covers a broad range of issues from easing border red t a

defence and youth mobility cooperation Yet, it has not been without political fallout at home Starmer is already facing criticism from populist right-wing figures who argue the deal compromises UK sovereignty

Sm oothing the trad e w aters

A major component of the agreement is aimed at easing friction in trade between the UK and the EU, especially for British exporters Under the new terms, routine checks on animal and plant products entering the EU will be eliminated, and businesses will face significantly fewer regulatory hurdles

prices and improve choice for UK consumers, all while maintaining the government’s core Brexit commitments namely staying out of the EU’s single market and customs union

“We’re moving toward a common sanitary and phytosanitary area, ” von der Leyen said, highlighting the benefits for farmers, fishers, and food producers on both sides of the Channel

The EU remains Britain’s largest trading partner, accounting for 41% of U

imports Conversely, the UK is the EU’s second-largest market for goods exports, according to Eurostat Fishing, energy and econom ic coo peration

The two sides have also reached a new fisheries agreement, extending EU boats’ access to British waters for 1 2 m o r e y e a r s b e y o n d t h e c u r r e n t arrangement, which expires in 2026

In energy, the EU has agreed to open its electricity market to the UK, a move both sides see as a step toward greater energy security and reduced prices amid global instability

The deal comes at a time when global trade has been rocked by new US tariffs under President Donald Trump In a joint statement, the UK and EU reaffirmed their commitment to “free, sustainable, fair and open trade ” W i t h

Ukraine and uncertain US defence commitments under Trump, the UK

and EU also agreed to launch a formal defence partnership This will allow

defence contracts and participate in joint procurement schemes

“This will increase our readiness a

Leyen said

Mobility and Erasmus return

The agreement includes a proposed youth mobility scheme, allowing people under 30 to live and work across the Channel with greater ease Starmer stressed this is not a return to the full freedom of movement the UK

European officials see the deal as a practical step toward mutual benefit

B

regain access to the Erasmus exchange programme, a long-cherished benefit for those studying abroad in Europe

“This will allow the next generation to once again live and study in each other’s countries This will build friendships that will last a lifetime,” von der Leyen said

Perhaps the most tangible change for everyday travellers: Britons will n

European airports, joining EU passport holders in fast-track lanes a convenience lost after Brexit

Both companies are considered to be big shots of the insurance industry in the UK

w i t h h i g h - p r o f i l e c l i e n t s A d a m W i n s l o w , a p p o i n t e d chief executive of Direct Line just over a year ago, previously headed Aviva’s UK and Ireland g e n e r a l i n s u r a n c e d i v i

informed investors last year they aimed to reduce the combined workforce by 5–7% over t h r e e y e a r s e q u a t i n g t o between 1,600 and 2,300 roles o u t o f a t o t a l o f 3 3 , 1 0 0 However, they noted that the f i n a l n u m

could be lower due to unfilled p

turnover

B e f o r e p

c e e d i n g

t h i s d e a l , D i r e c t L i n e w a s already on its way for renovation by cutting off about 550 employees as a part of cost r e d u c t i o n T h e c o m p a n i e s stated that “the core companies” would remain stagnant like Churchill after merging as well

Reeve s to impose

of new ta x hikes on high ear ners and busine sses, in a confident ia l me mo see n b y The Te legra ph The document, circulat-

to £4 billion annually setting the stage

Labour’s top team over how to balance the books The

stating the pensions lifetime

bank corporation

tance tax relief for AIM-listed shares R

freezing the additional rate income tax threshold and introducing tighter rules on property companies to curb

ple" echoing a key Labour manifesto pledge from the 2024 general election

The proposals, submit-

challenge Reeves’ strategy of relying on spending cuts not tax rises to plug holes in the public finances At the

to 30 per cent, and ending inheri-

c e According to the document, the policies would be "popular, prudent, and would not raise taxes on working peo-

ruling out further tax hikes a

that included a £25 billion rise in National Insurance contributions from employers A l

Treasury disputed the existence of the memo, government sources have stressed that internal Cabinet discussions are routine, and that suggestions do not necessar-

y decisions Still, the memo offers the clearest evidence yet of diverging economic philosophies at the top of government Treasury insiders reportedly pushed back against the proposals, with one source emphasising that w h

input, the Chancellor alone decides fiscal policy Rayner

One in ten people in Britain has zero saving syndrome

Ac co r di n g t o F i n a n cia l Conduct Authority reports, one amongst t en individuals in Britain see ms to hav e no cash sa vings to draw during time s of crisis, pointing out the un sta ble e conomic footing of mill ions

A u t h o r i t y m e n t i o n e d that there are about another 21% of people have less than 1,000 pounds in the form of savings, within which 3% of property owners in the last 2 years for repayment man-

agement had received support from credit or mortgage lenders

T h e M o n e t a r y P o l i c y Committee of the Bank of England has been divided into three parts in its determination regarding interest rates for May, where out of t e n s e v e n m e m b e r s s u pp o r t e d c u

reduction of cost of borrowing and by which ensuring e

fifths of adults have unsecured debts, with a median amount of 2,500 pounds

These reports revealed grave issues for policymakers and the Banks in Britain l e a d i n g t o a s h a k e n U K community by the fear of i

Prime Minister Keir Starmer greets Ursula von der Leyen President of the European Commission and António Costa, President of the European Council at the UK-EU Summit at Lancaster House

Angela Reyner Rachel Reeves

Apple to review India iPhone expansion plan for US supply

W i t h th e U S a nd Ch i n a agreeing to a tari ff truce,

A p p l e i s r ev i ew i ng i t s aggressive p lans to sc ale up i n India Wh ile th e “ regu lar expansion and China+1 p ro -

d u c ti o n di v er si f i c at i o n

p lans will c ontinue as envi s-

a ge d” , so u rc e s s a i d t h e

i P h o n e st ra te gy b e in g drawn up exclusively for th e U S ma rk et wi l l be “ t emp orarily put under review ”

“We await clarity on the g e o p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n a n d the tariffs Things have been moving at a fast pace, and there have been many sud-

d e n c h a n g e s t o t h e U S

g o v t ’ s s t a n c e o n t a r i f f s , including with regards to China where duty has been reduced drastically over the past few days We will take a breather before embarking

facility in Houston to produce servers The company said that it will add an additional 20,000 hires in the US by 2029

Rattled by Trump’s tar-

C

5 US firms show interest in buying stake in GAIL's LNG projects

F i v e U S co m p a ni es h av e submitted bids in state-run GAIL’ s tender fo r acquiring up to 26% stake in LNG (liquefied natural g as) p roject alongsid e a lo ng term supply contract for a million to nne of gas annually, a mo ve that will help India reduce trad e surplu s w ith Wash ing ton

supplies to the US,” reports said

T h e m o v

a s Trump, during his visit to Doha said that he has asked T i m C

mainstay for iPhone supplies to the US “For the June quarter, we do expect the majority of iPhones sold in the US will have India as

“We are currently evaluating five bids,” company ’ s

Singhal said, but declined to

nod to export gas to

FTA countries

GAIL chairman Sandeep Gupta said the company is looking to tie up with more

Trump’s

iPhones from India when it comes to meeting the needs of the US market

Apple’s assurance to the US govt that it will invest $500 billion in America over the next four years, including

o n a n y m e g a p r o d u c t i o n e x p a n s i o n p l a n s i n I n d i a

Cook had said in response to a question at the company ’ s quarterly earnings call on May 2

Meanwhile, Apple said that its investment plans in India through manufacturing partners Foxconn and

intact

India's goods exports show fastest growth in six months

Ind ia’s g ood s exports rose 9 1%, the fastest pace in six m onths, to $38 5 billio n in A pril, wh ile the trade deficit w idened to $26 4 billion, the h ighest since last Nov

Latest data released by the commerce department pegged imports at $64 9 billion in April, which was 19% higher than the correspondi n g p e r i o d l a s t y e a r “ W e have opened this year with a

b a n g I h o p e I n d

l l m a i n t a i n t h i s e x p o r t momentum and it should be a good year despite global

u n c

said A part of the increase in exports may have been driven by front-loading of shipments to the US ahead of the deadline for reciprocal t

i f f s t h a t k

d i n o n April 9, only to be paused for 90 days

S h i p m e n t s t o t h e U S went up 27% to $8 4 billion, the data showed O

which is through air cargo, shot up nearly 40% to $3 7 billion Engineering goods, the largest item in India’s export basket, rose over 11%

second biggest group) were 4 7% higher at $7 4 billion

u p imports

“The merchandise trade deficit in April 2025 exceeded our expectations despite a healthy growth in exports, partly on account of a front loading of crude oil imports amid softer prices, as well as a sharp increase in electronics,” said Aditi Nayar, chief economist at ratings agency ICRA

include two developers of projects in Louisiana, one of which has recently secured the Trump administration’s

though it has two longterm contracts for a total of 5 8

because of price advantage

“We expect Henry Hub

Starlink set to clear final hurdle for satcom services

Elon Musk’s S tarli nk looks set to clear th e fi na l re gulator y hurd le for begi nning sa tcom se rv i ce s i n Indi a IN-SP ACe, th e noda l ag ency und er the dep artme nt of spa ce (DoS), is li ke ly to gr ant appr oval to t he compa ny fo r la unchi ng commer ci al sate llite bro adband serv ices

T h e i n t e r - m i n i s t e r i a l s t a n d i n g c o m m i t t e e o f INSPACe (Indian National

S p a c e P r o m o t i o n a n d

A u t h o r i s a t i o n C e n t r e ) , which includes members from the DoS, I&B, DoT, M H A , M E A , a n d c o mmerce and industry ministries, will be taking up S t a r l i n k ’ s a g e n d a i n i t s next meeting

“Broadly, the approval for satellite will be given to Starlink as the ministries

o

affairs - which are the key decision-makers on matters of security and geopol i t i c a l s i t u a t

already approved the com-

(DoT),” a top source said The DoT issued a letter of intent (LoI) to Starlink

India's retail inflation eases to lowest since July 2019 SC rejects pleas by Airtel, Voda for waiver of AGR dues

R etail inflati on i n India eas ed to a 69m on th low in Apri l due to sustain ed moderati on i n food prices , triggering hopes that the Res erve Bank of In dia (R BI) w ill pers ist wi th its i nterest rate-c uttin g cycle for n ow

Data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed retail inflation, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI), slowed to 3 2% in April - lowest since July 2019 - from 3 3% in March Rural inflation was at 2 9%, while urban inflation was higher at 3 4% This is the third month in a row that the retail inflation rate has been below the central bank’s target of 4%

Food inflation was at 1 8% in April, lower than the 2 7% in March The food inflation in April was the lowest since Oct 2021 The decline in overall inflation and food inflation in April was largely led by a

dip in the inflation of vegetables, pulses and products, fruits, meat and fish, and cereals and products Vegetable inflation contracted nearly 11% in April, while pulses and products were down 5 2% Two pressure points remained, with fruits and oil & fats inflation rates in double digits during April

Experts expect the RBI to cut rates in June when it meets to review monetary policy, given the headroom provided by the sharp moderation in price pressures “We anticipate the CPI inflation to average 3 5% in FY26, with the prints for Q2 and Q3 sharply trailing the MPC’s projections for these quarters, allowing for an additional 75 basis points of rate cuts in this calendar year, ” said Aditi Nayar, chief economist at ratings agency ICRA

rupee ’ s depreciation in the second half of FY25 While these earnings were booked in FY25, the dividend will be paid out in the current fiscal The RBI typically transfers the dividend in the last week of May

The Jalan Committee’s 2019 report recommended including revaluation balances in the RBI’s risk buffers but limiting their use to cover market risks, recognising their inherent volatility It also proposed that the surplus distribution policy should factor in both total economic capital and realised equity to ensure a balance between overall capital and the

In a setback to A irtel and V o d a fo n e I d ea , S u p re m e

C ourt dismissed th eir p lea for waiver of interest and penalty relating to ad justed gross rev enue (AGR) du es, w hi ch are to th e tu ne o f £ 8bn T he o rder w ill also imp act Tata Teleserv ices

The otstanding AGR following the original SC ruling in 2019 to recover dues from the industry stands at a little under £10 5bn Only Reliance Jio came out near-

licence “DoT’s LoI means that any concerns around security and other strategic matters have already been addressed by the company and vetted by key agencies

safe as it ventured into telecom in 2016 and had a small exposure to past dues and adjustments

Though the companies sought an adjournment, a b

J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan turned down their plea and

said

court also asked how multin

d filed petitions under Article 3

“Really disturbed (by these petitions) It is not expected of a multinational company W e w i l l d i s m i s s i t , ” t h e bench told senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Vodafone Idea

T h e b e n c h , h o w e v e r , made it clear it would not c o m e i n t h e w a y i f t h e Centre decides to provide any bailout package to the affected companies

SBI cuts FD rates again, biz loans may get cheaper

The St ate Ban k of India ha s cut fix ed deposit r at es by 20 basis point s a cr oss all te nor s for bot h the ge ne ral public a n d se n io r c i t iz e n s fr o m Ma y 16 The move follows a 25 bps r epo ra te cut by R BI in A pril a nd come s a hea d of a n ot h e r e x p e c t e d cu t i n June RBI also infused ne arly £50bn of liquidit y in to the s y s t e m , lo w e r i n g fu n d i n g costs HDFC Ba nk alr ea dy r e d uc e d r a t e s , a n d S BI ’ s move is e xpe ct ed to prompt mor e le nde rs to follow

T h i s i s t h e s e c o n d

deposit rate revision by SBI d u r i n g t h e c u r r e n t f i s c a l

The country’s largest bank cut its deposit (fixed deposit) rates first on April 15 by up to 25 basis points

For the general public, SBI’s FD rates now range from 3 3% for 7-45 days (earlier 3 5%) to 6 3% for 5 -10 years (earlier 6 5%) Senior c i t i z e n

s i m i l a

y dropped, with the highest now at 7 3% for 5 -10 years, including the SBI We-care premium (earlier 7 5%) The Amrit Vrishti (444-

d a y ) s c h e m e r a t e w a s c u t from 7 05% to 6 85% Super senior citizens continue to get 10 bps over the senior rate Revised rates exclude p r o d u c t s l i k e r e c u r r i n g deposits, MODS, and Green Rupee Term Deposits S B I ’ s h o m e l o a n r a t

IMF imposes 11 new bailout conditions on Pakistan

IS L A M A BA D: The International M onetary F und has impo sed 11 new conditio ns on Pakistan for t h e re lea se o f th e nex t f un d tranche as part of its bailou t p rog ramm e This increased th e num ber of conditio ns to 50

In a staff-level report, IMF w a r n

d

“ r i s i n

n s i o n s between India and Pakistan, if sustained or deteriorate further, could heighten risks to the fiscal, external and reform goals of the

United Nations financial agency

financial assistance programme

bailout package

governance action plan based on t

the country’s defence budget for the next fiscal year to be $8 5 billion, the newspaper reported I s l a m

indicated 18% higher allocation f o r d e f e n c e a f t

escalated earlier this month

in

brief

TWO INDIAN STUDENTS KILLED IN US CAR ACCIDENT

The conditions imposed by t h e I M F

b a d

having to secure parliamentary approval for a new $62 2 billion

increase in the debt servicing surcharge on electricity bills and lifting restrictions on the import of used cars that are older than three years, the report stated

The IMF imposed the new conditions in relation to lending

securing parliamentary approval of the 2025’26 Budget “ was in

agreement to meet programme targets by the end of June”, the report said Another condition

O n M a y 9 , I n d i a r a i s e d concerns about the efficacy of IMF’s programmes for Pakistan “given its poor track record, and also on the possibility of misuse o f d e b t f i n a n c i n g f u n d s f o r s t a t e - s p o n s o r e d c r o s s - b o

Hasina’s party barred from contesting elections

D HA KA : In a significant political

d e v e l o p me n t , B a n g l a d e sh ’ s

E l e ct io n C o mm is si on h a s suspen ded t he re gistr ation of the Awami League, t he pol it ical pa rty

l e d b y o ust e d fo r m e r P r im e Minister Sheikh Ha sina This wil l d r a m a t ic

shift as this decision in effect wil l

b a r t he p a rt y fr o m up com in g n ational el ection s The move follows a series of e s c a l a t i n g t e n s i o n s a n d nationwide protests, which led t h e i n t e r i m g o v e r n m e n theaded by Muhammad Yunusto take stringent action against members of Awami League as these protests were said to be

c o m i n g u n d e r t h e a n t iterrorism Act Citing serious national security concerns, the government invoked provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act to ban all activities of the Awami

L e a g u e a n d i t s a f

organizations

the party’s top leadership, as well as accusations related to t

Hindu woman named Balochistan's first woman assistant commissioner

QU ET T A : Kashish C haud hary, a resident of Baloch istan, has been making waves on th e internet after becom ing the first female to be appo inted as th e Assistant C omm issioner

She is just 25 and lives in Noshki, a remote town in Chagai district, one of the least developed regions in Balochistan She was appointed to the post after clearing the B a l o c h i s t a n P u b l i c S e r v i c e C o m m i s s i o n (BPSC) examination Her success is being celebrated on social media with users saying that it is an inspiration for many young women and minority communities

Kashish met Balochistan chief minister Sarfaraz Bugti in Quetta along with her father Girdhari Lal According to reports, the 25-year-old told the chief minister that she will work for the empowerment of women and minorities

Ahmed, the Secretary of the E l e c t i o n C o m m i s s i o n s t a t e d

“With the home ministry’s ban on all activities of the Awami

m m i s s i o n h a s d e c i d e d t o s u s p e n d t h e p a r t y ’ s r e g i s t r a t i o n ” W i t h t h e suspension, the political party w

political demography will no longer be eligible to participate in the election process unless the ban gets lifted

Punjabi origin businessman shot dead in Canada's Mississauga

M I S S I S S A U GA : A 5 0 - ye ar- o l d P u nj ab i origin businessm an was sh ot d ead outside his office in M ississauga, Canada, officials sai d Ac cord ing to so urc es, Harji t Si ng h Dhadd a w as shot d ead near the intersection o f T elf o rd W ay a nd D err y Ro a d T h e incident has sent shockwaves th roug h the local co mmunity, marking the sixth m urd er in the city since the beginning of the year

Two Indian students - Manav Patel (20) and Saurav Prabhakar (23) - were killed in an accident in Pennsylvania after their car crashed into a tree and struck a bridge officials said Another passenger of the vehicle was injured in the accident and rushed to a hospital, they said The Indian Consulate said that they were in touch with the families and has assured them of all possible assistance According to the Lancaster County coroner’s office and Pennsylvania state police, Prabhakar was driving the vehicle Police say both men died at the scene from multiple traumatic injuries

INDIAN ORIGIN

STUDENT FROM US DIES IN BAHAMAS

An Indian origin college student from the US died in the Bahamas after accidentally falling from a hotel balcony just days before he was set to graduate Gaurav Jaisingh was a student at Bentley University, Waltham Massachusetts and was in the Bahamas for an annual senior class trip when he died in the accident Jaisingh was set to graduate later this week Bentley University said in a post on X that “it’s been a difficult few days and our community is feeling the emotional toll of the tragic loss of Gaurav Jaisingh, 25 We plan to honour Gaurav at the undergraduate commencement ceremony,” scheduled for May 17

PATEL COUPLE DONATE $3MN TO HOSPITAL

Vik and Sneha Patel, founders of Purple Square Management Co , have donated $3 million to support the creation of a Healing Garden at St Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa The outdoor space will be part of the hospital’s upcoming pediatric facility The Healing Garden is intended to offer a peaceful environment for young patients and their families providing a place for respite during medical treatment and hospital visits The new facility aims to expand BayCare’s pediatric services in West Central Florida

TANISHQ OPENS SHOWROOM IN SANTA CLARA

"Discipline, hard work, and the desire to c o n t r i b u t e t o s o c i e t y h a v e d r i v e n m e throughout this journey," she added

H e r e c s t a t i c f a t h e r c a l l e d t h e achievement a "matter of great pride" adding that Kashish had always dreamed of studying and doing something for women Speaking to Samaa News, Kashish said it took three years of hard work and discipline to achieve this success She used to study for eight hours a day

Nawaz Sharif 'designed' military operation against India, claims Pak leader

IS LA M ABA D: The militar y opera tion aga inst In dia wa s " designe d" un der the supe rvision of t he rulin g Pa kista n M uslim Le ague -N awaz ( P M L - N ) ch i e f N a w a z S h a r i f, cla im e d a pr ovincial minister

Nawaz, the former three-time premier and elder brother of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, had congratulated Pakistan's civil and m i l i t a r y l e a d e r s h i p s o o n a f t e r t h e t w o countries reached an understanding to end the conflict

"The whole operation against India was designed under the supervision of former prime minister and PML-N chief Nawaz

S h a r i f , " P a k i s t a n ' s P u n j a b p r o v i n c e

Information Minister Azma Bukhari claimed

She said Nawaz is not a leader of "a, b, c, d type", rather his work speaks for himself "It was Nawaz Sharif who made Pakistan a nuclear power and now designed the whole

o

claimed

If the claim by Bukhari is true, then it is reflective of Nawaz's influence over the civil as well as military leadership of the country

Interestingly, Nawaz attended a highlevel meeting at the PM House convened to assess the Indo-Pak tensions on May 8 The meeting was called a day after India hit nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack

S

t portfolio, he attended the meeting in the capacity of the head of the ruling party g o v e r n m e n t , t h e E x p r e s s T r i b u n e h a d reported In the meeting, the elder Sharif pitched for utilising all available diplomatic resources to restore peace with India, the report said "I am not in favour of taking an aggressive position (against India),” Nawaz was quoted as saying

The Peel Regional Police have yet to officially confirm the victim s identity

A c c o r d i n g t o e y e w i t n e s s a c c o u n t s ,

Dhadda was near his car when unidentified assailants, believed to have been lying in wait, approached and fired 15-16 rounds b e f o r e f l e e i n g t h e s c e n e P e o p l e i n t h e parking lot ran for cover during the gunfire

An eyewitness said the gunmen exited a parked car, fired several shots at close range, and fled in the same vehicle

A nearby law firm employee reported that a stray bullet entered their office and hit an empty chair - just moments after he had stood up, narrowly avoiding injury Dhadda w a s r u s h e d t o t h e h o s p i t a l i n c

injuries

Police spokesperson Michael Stafford confirmed that the case has been handed over to investigators and that nearby CCTV footage is being reviewed in an effort to identify the suspects

Dhadda, originally from Bajpur district in Uttarakhand, had migrated to Canada nearly 30 years ago He went on to become a p r o m i n e n t b u s i n e s s m a n i n t h e t r u c k i n g services industry

Close associates revealed that Dhadda had recently received threats from Indian phone numbers The threats had deeply u n s e

reportedly issued prior warnings concerning his safety

Tanishq the jewelry brand operated by Titan Company under the Tata Group has opened its first West Coast showroom - a move that has been over a decade in the making With its entry into Silicon Valley the brand is planting more than just a retail flag it s making a quiet statement about identity aspiration and home At the heart of the launch are two brothers Tarush and Tushit Agarwal For them, this is not just a business transaction; it s personal The Agarwals are the operational face of this new location While Tata brings the brand, the vision and the product, it’s the Agarwals who have committed to translating that into a meaningful local presence

BRITISH CLIMBER BREAKS OWN RECORD

British climber Kenton Cool successfully climbed Mount Everest for the 19th time on Sunday, extending his own record for the most summits of the world’s highest mountain by a non-Nepali More than 50 climbers have reached the summit since the spring climbing season began this month Mountain guide Cool, 51, first climbed Everest in 2004 and has since had an expedition almost every year taking clients up the world’s highest peak His 15th summit in 2021 tied him with American Dave Hahn for the most summits by a nonNepali climber and his summit the following year gave him a solo title Cool was once told he would not walk unaided again after a rock climbing accident in 1996 that broke both his heel bones

Sheikh Hasina

Kashish Chaudhary

4 KILLED IN BALOCHISTAN BLAST

A bomb exploded near a market in Pakistan’s Balochistan province killing four people and injuring 20 others The blast occurred near Jabbar Market in Killa Abdullah district on Sunday Several shops collapsed and fires erupted in multiple establishments following the explosion Killa Abdullah deputy commissioner Riaz Khan said four people were killed and 20 others injured in the explosion Following the explosion, a brief exchange of gunfire erupted between unidentified assailants and FC personnel Law enforcement officials sealed off the area and launched a search and clearance operation No group has claimed responsibility for attack yet

BIDEN DIAGNOSED WITH PROSTATE CANCER

Former US resident Joe Biden was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, according to a statement from his personal office and it has spread to his bones Biden 82, and his family “are reviewing treatment options with his physicians ” the statement said The news comes days after a spokesperson for Biden said the former president was recently evaluated for a “small nodule” discovered on his prostate “Prostate cancer is very common,” said Dr Jamin Brahmbhatt, a urologist and robotic surgeon with Orlando Health and an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine

IMPEACHMENT MOVE AGAINST TRUMP

A Democratic lawmaker is launching a renegade effort to impeach President Donald Trump, pushing past party members with an attempt to force a procedural vote in the US House that is expected to fail Rep Shri Thanedar of Michigan announced his intention to charge ahead saying that as an immigrant he wants to do all he can to protect America’s constitution and its institutions His resolution contains seven articles of impeachment against the Republican president Donald J Trump has been committing crimes since day one, Thanedar said earlier from the House floor

US JUDGE INDICTED FOR ‘SHIELDING MIGRANT’

A federal grand jury indicted a Wisconsin judge on charges she helped a man illegally evade US immigration authorities looking to arrest him as he appeared before her in a local domestic abuse case Milwaukee county circuit judge Hannah Dugan s arrest and ensuing indictment has escalated a clash between the Trump administration and local authorities over the Republican president’s sweeping immigration crackdown Dugan faces up to six years in prison if convicted on both counts

CHINA, COLOMBIA SIGN BRI COOPERATION PACT

China and Colombia have signed a joint cooperation plan on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) state media said after their leaders met in Beijing Burgeoning commerce in recent years has helped grow Beijing’s influence in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region of strategic significance for the US Colombia s foreign minister Laura Sarabia said the decision to join China s flagship overseas development project was the South American country’s “boldest step in decades ”

CHINA, US SLASH TARIFFS IN TRADE WAR

The United States and China slashed sweeping tariffs on each others' goods for 90 days, marking a temporary de-escalation in a brutal trade war that roiled global markets and international supply chains Washington and Beijing agreed to drastically lower sky-high tariffs in a deal that emerged from pivotal talks at the weekend in Geneva US President Donald Trump said Washington now had the blueprint for a very very strong trade deal with China that would see Beijing s economy open up to US businesses

Assailant who stabbed Salman Rushdie jailed for 25 years

NEW YORK : Hadi Matar, th

Rushdie in a brutal 2022 attack, was sentenced to 25 years in prison by a co urt in Chautau qua Co unty T he sentencing comes nearly three months after th e 27-year-old New Jersey resident was convicted of second-degree attemp ted mu rder

Rushdie, 77, gave harrowing testimony during the February trial, recalling the moment he feared for his life after being stabbed 15 times during a public

lecture in western New York “I became aware of a great quantity of blood I was lying in My sense of time was quite cloudy, I was in pain from my eye and

hand, and it occurred to me quite clearly I

Indian-born BritishAmerican author said

stand

Rushdie permanently blinded in his right eye and inflicted seri-

intestines, and left hand The court heard that Matar was inspired by a 2006 speech from Hezbollah leader Hassan

Nasrallah, who reaffirmed support for a longstanding fatwa

Khomeini in 1989 in response to

Verses' Though Matar had only read “ a couple pages ” of the book, he told investigators he viewed Rushdie as a threat to Islam Rushdie, who spent years

and

Meditations After an Attempted Murder '

Indian scholar recounts torture in US detention

VIR G IN IA: B adar Khan Suri, a visiting scholar , was detained for near ly two mont hs over al lege d terr or ism links A judge ordere d hi s r e l e a se , c it i n g Fi r st Amendment violat ions His case highl ight s concerns ab out immigrat ion and free spee ch under the Trump administr ation He was arrested by federal a g e n t s o

Arlington, Virginia, on March 17, 2 0 2 5 H e w a s h e

Prairieland Detention Center in Texas for nearly two months T

e U S D

o f Homeland Security accused him of having "close connections to a k n o w n o

t " and spreading Hamas propaganda on campus

Suri described his experience

u e , " saying he was chained everywhere - wrist, ankles, and body He also mentioned that during the first s e v e n t o e i g h t d a y s , h e d i d n ' t know where he was being taken and even missed his shadow S u r i c l a i m e d t h e f a c i

c a n d t

e d t o raise concerns with the ombudsm a n , b u t n e v e r r e c e i v e d a response During his detention Suri was tensed about his family back home I had only worried that, oh, my kids are suffering because of me My eldest son is only nine, and my twins are only five "

Virginia, ordered Suri's immediate release, stating that his detention was in violation of the First Amendment - the right to free speech The judge authorised his r

s petition to challenge his detention According to court documents, Suri was sent to Texas after being detained in Virginia overnight, and then transferred to Louisiana because of lack of space in Virginia

Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary in the Department of Homeland Security had said that Suri was spreading Hamas propaganda on campus and also had "close connections to a known or suspected terrorist "

In his petition, Suri's lawyer said that he was "being punished because of the Palestinian heritage of his wife, and because the government suspects that he and his wife oppose US foreign policy

"Majoritarianism and Minority Rights in South Asia" and also had a PhD in conflict studies f r o m I n d

Ahamed Yousef, was a former deputy foreign minister in the Hamas government in Gaza The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) supported Suri's case, emphasising that ideas are not illegal and that the government's actions could chill free speech

'Raj' Singh couple donate $3.5mn to University of Maine

ORONO: Rajendra “Raj” S ingh and Neera Singh, alu mni o f th e

Un i ve rs i ty o f M a in e

pledged $3 5 millio

to help stu

dents and strength en the u ni

versity’ s role in innovation Th e gift was anno unced by Jeff Mills, p

Un

Fou ndati on

Of the total pledge, $2 2 million will go toward creating the Rajendra Singh and Neera Singh Family Scholarship This scholarship will support students in

Preference will be given to stu-

dents from Maine high schools w h o s h

w s t r o n g a c a d e m i c achievement and financial need These recipients will be known as Singh Scholars The remaining $1 3 million will fund the Rajendra Singh and Neera Singh Family Chair i

endowment will support a faculty member who helps shape the university’s curriculum in both traditional and emerging fields, while guiding students in t

world solutions

Neera Singh said University of Maine gave them scholar-

Trump honors Usha Vance,

Tulsi Gabbard in AAPI proclamation

WA SHINGTON: P resid ent Do nald Tru mp recog nized th e c o ntr ib u ti o ns o f A s ia n A m e ri ca ns a nd P ac i fi c Island ers du ring A sian A merican and P acific Islander (AA PI) Heritage Month on May 16, issuing a form al pro clamation that h ighlighted th e personal sto ries o f key public figu res, includ ing Second Lad y Usha Chilukuri and Director of National Intelligence T ulsi Gabbard

Praising their dedication and service, Trump noted, “In the 1980s, Lakshmi and Radhakrishna Chilukuri immigrated from India to the United States and dedicated their lives to higher education They built a life in America and raised a family Their daughter, Usha, now serves as the Second Lady of the United States ”

He also singled out Tulsi Gabbard, calling her “ a native of American Samoa” who “has dedicated her career to protecting our Republic, serving in the military and now as the Director of National Intelligence ”

The proclamation emphasized the significant role of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in shaping the nation, stating, “Throughout our history, the United States has been strengthened by the contributions of citizens from every background, united in the shared pursuit of the American Dream ”

ships that helped them come to t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , a n d t h a t Maine has a very special place in their hearts The Singh Chair is being established in honor of John “Vet” Vetelino, a longtime Maine professor who played a key role in bringing graduate s t u d e n t s f r o m t h e I n d i a n Institute of Technology Kanpur, including Raj, to the university Raj Singh earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from IIT Kanpur, then completed a master’s at Maine in 1977 He later earned a Ph D

University Neera Singh, who also graduated from IIT Kanpur, began her master’s studies at Maine before completing her d e g r e e a t K a n s a s S t a t e University, where Raj began his academic career

Together, the Singhs devel-

interference, which was crucial for early cellular phone systems They turned their research into a business, launching Lunayach Communications Consultants,

Ventures, a private investment firm based in Miami

Indian origin techie among 3 killed in US climbing accident

NE W Y OR K : Indi an ori gi n techie Vi shnu Irig ire ddy wa s among the th ree p eople ki lled i n a trag ic cli mbi ng a cci dent i n Wa sh ington sta te's Nort h Casca de s Ra ng e of western Nort h Ameri ca Vishnu, 48, a resident of Seattle, w

d Anton Tselykh, 38, when the accident occurred, NBC News reported

The group noticed a storm coming and started to retreat when at some point during their descent, the team's anchor point failed and sent the group plunging 200 feet down, Climbing website reported

T s e l y k h , t h e s o l e s u r v i v i n g climber, miraculously survived the dangerous fall and drove 64 km to inform the authorities about the a c c i d e n t t h a t k i l l e d h i s t h r e e friends V i s h n u ' s f r i e n d s a n d f a m i l

climber “who found joy and purpose in nature Originally from India and a proud member of Seattle s vibrant t e c h a n d c u l t u r a l c o m m u n i t y , Vishnu built a life that reflected his values -integrity, compassion, and a relentless pursuit of growth,” a note b y f a m i l y a n d f r i e n d s o n remembr com website said

According to a notice for his cremation ceremony, his friends and family would be making donations t o t w o n o n - p r o f i t s t o h o n o u r Vishnu, who they said had “developed an intense passion for mountaineering and climbing throughout his life ” They also made an appeal to others to donate to those charitable organisations

V i s h n u w a s w o r k i n g a s V i c e President of Engineering at Fluke Corporation, a test equipment manufacturing company in the Greater Seattle Area

17 of jeweller’s family killed in Hyderabad fire

HY D E RA BA D : A centuryo ld three-storey Hyd erabad building close to th e iconic

C h arm inar caug h t fire on S und ay, killing 17 members acro ss three g enerations of a j ew el ler’ s fam i ly th at h ad assem bled in th eir ancestral h ome for w hat w as to be a weekend g et-tog ether

P a t r i a r c h P r a h l a d M o d i , w h o s e roots in Gulzar Houz go back to the Nizam era, and eight children were among the victims, ranging from 2 to 73 years old They died either from burn injuries or asphyxiation, officials said

F o u r f a m i l y m e m b e r s , t w o o f whom were not at home, and some of their workers survived the 6 am blaze, suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit Fire engines needed more than two hours to douse the flames, by which time much of the residential-cum-commercial building had been gutted

Fire brigade officials identified the main electrical panel on the ground f

stores owned by the family as the source of the fire One of the the

business since 1906 “Sparks caused by the short circuit in the main electrical line spread through the wooden panel and triggered a blast in the compressor unit of one of the ACs, resulting in the blaze growing,” director general of fire services Y Nagi Reddy said “Since the building has only one entrance and exit, and the staircase is very narrow, the residents couldn’t escape Smoke from the fire further made it difficult for them to n

building ”

Nagi Reddy said 11 fire engines, a firefighting robot, 17 officers and 70 personnel were deployed to rescue survivors and douse the flames He contested allegations by relatives of the dead about a delayed firefighting response “We received a call at 6 16am and immediately rushed our teams to the fire scene, ” the DG said

Golden Temple was

Pak’s primary target, says Army

Temple Thus, not allowing even a scratch to come on our holy Golden Temple,” Maj Gen Kartik

retaliatio n to O peration Sindoo

aimed at terrorist s ites within its territory, bu t India’s air- def enc e p re p a r ed ne s s an d

h e a d gr anth i’s dec isio n t o all o w th e m i l it ar y t o d ep l o y air def en c e guns within the s hrine ens ured t h es e “ n ef ar io u s de s igns ” w er e th warted, the Indian Army said “On May 8, in the hours of darkness, Pakistan carried out a m a s s i v e a i r a s s a u l t w i t h u n m a n n e d a e r i a l w e a p o n s , primarily drones and long range missiles We were fully prepared since we had anticipated this, and our alert Army and air defence gunners shot down all drones and missiles targeted at the Golden

C S e s h a d r i , G O C o f t h e 1 5 Infantry Division, said Lt Gen Sumer Ivan D’Cunha, t h e A r m y ’ s i n - c h a r g e o f a i r defence, said that this was made p o s s i b l e b e c a u s e t h e G o l d e n t e m p l e a u t h o r i t i e s a g r e e d t o c o o p e r a t e i n w h a t e v e r w a y needed to safeguard the shrine from potential drone and missile attacks by Pakistan “It was very nice that the head granthi of the G o l d e n T e m p l e a l l o w e d u s t o deploy our guns It is possibly for the first time in many years that

t h e y s w i t c h e d o f f t h e G o l d e n Temple lights so that we could see the drones coming,” Lt Gen D’Cunha was quoted as saying

Heavy

rain batters

Bengaluru; 3 dead, IT hubs cut off

attered by 130mm

Beng aluru is scrambli ng to count its losses Three dead , 500 homes f looded , 20 -plus lakes ready to overflow, dozens of streets reduced to waterways, flood ed un derpasses and flyovers closed to traffi c, vehicular movement sufferi ng miles-long disruption for hours an d public bus serv ices sputterin g to a halt in several areas of the ci ty

Heavy rain - triggered by convergence of two low-

thunderstorms - pounded south, north and eastern parts of the city IMD has forecast heavy rainfall in Bengaluru for the next five days

As distraught citizens picked up the pieces to start a fresh week, Greater Bengaluru Municipal Corporation chief commissioner Maheshwar Rao termed it the secondhighest rainfall in a decade and said, “Sometimes, things get out of hand - we are working on it ” Shashikala D, 32, working as a sweeper in a private company in Whitefield, died after the compound wall of the building that housed their office collapsed

In another incident, a 63-year-old man and a 12-yearold boy were electrocuted when they tried to pump out rainwater from the portico in their south Bengaluru h

including Koramangala, BTM Layout, HSR Layout, and Marathahalli, came to a standstill due to flooding on the streets

Haryana prof sent to 14-day judicial custody over post on Op Sindoor

pro fesso r, who was arrested for a so cial media po st about O peration Sindo or, wh ich critic s say is f ar from o bjec tio nable, w as sent to 14-day ju dicial c usto dy by a loc al co urt in Haryana

"The police sought an extension of his remand by seven days During the arguments, we opposed the extension of the police remand The court has sent him to judicial custody till May 27," Kapil Balyan, one of the lawyers representing Mahmudabad, said Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear Mahmudabad's petition challenging his arrest Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mahmudabad, told the court, "He has been arrested for a patriotic statement Please list it " The court will likely hear the matter on Wednesday

The two FIRs against the Ashoka professor were lodged at the Rai Police Station in Sonipat - one based on a complaint from the chairperson of Haryana State Commission for Women, Renu Bhatia, and the other on the complaint of a village sarpanch

The arrest has drawn criticism from opposition leaders Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has also condemned the arrest, saying, "The arrest shows how fearful the BJP is of any opinion disliked by them " Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav compared the swift action against Mahmudabad with the sluggish response to Vijay Shah's comment against Colonel Sophiya Qureshi

Fight legally, Mamata's message to sacked teachers

K O L K A T A : We s t B e ng a l c hi e f m inis ter M amata B anerjee urged the p r ot e s t i ng t e a c he r s a n d no nt eaching staf f to fight l ega lly, instead o f h it t i ng t h e s t r e

governme nt

“ T h e t e a c h e r s s h o u l d h a v e trusted the state government I am not against movements But every movement has a boundary line,” the c h i e f m i n i s t e r t

d m e d i a p e r s

n s b e f o r e e m b a r k i n g f o r h e r t r i p t o North Bengal “Fight legally We are a l s o f i g h t i n g l e g a l l y w i t h a l l t h e means available to us ” T h e M a m a t a g o v e r n m e n t received a double body blow in a span of a year as the Calcutta high

c o u r t l a s t y e a r a n d t h e S u p r e m e Court in April this year scrapped the j o b s o f 2 5 , 7 5 3 t e a c h i n g a n d n o nteaching staff selected in the 2016 state level selection test The court’s verdict gave a seal to the allegations of cash-for-jobs indicting Trinamool ministers, party MLAs and officials in

the state education board and the s c h o o l s e r v i c e c o m m i s s i o n , a n d described the selection process as “ v i t i a t e d ” b y “ m a n i p u l

n d fraud on a large scale, coupled with the intention to cover up ” which had “tainted the selection process beyond repair ” The state government and the school service commission have f i l e d s e p a r a t e r e v

against the verdict “We have filed

o accept whatever the court decides,” the chief minister said A section of the sacked teaching and non-teaching staff have been on

Bikash Bhawan for nearly a week now They refuse to sit for another r o u n d

Supreme Court The SC had last m o n t h

advertisements for recruitments to the post by May 31 and complete the selection process by December 31

Murshidabad violence: HC-appointed panel flays police inaction

K OL K A TA : A repo rt by a comm ittee set up by the Calcutta High C ourt for id entification and rehabilitation of victims of an ti - Wa qf p r o tes ts - re lat ed v i o l enc e i n W es t B eng al' s Mu rshid abad d istrict said th at the local police w ere "inactive and absent" during the incidents at Dhulian on A pril 11

It also mentioned that a local councillor directed the attacks at Dhulian town in Murshidabad

The report, submitted to the high court by the threemember committee, stated that a garments mall in Dhulian was also looted Noting that the "main attack" occurred on the afternoon of April 11, the report said "Local police were completely inactive and absent " The panel, comprising Joginder Singh, Registrar, (Law), National Human Rights C o m m i s s i o n ( N H R C ) , S a t y a A r n a b G h o s a l , m e m b e r secretary, West Bengal Legal Services Authority (WBLSA) and Saugata Chakraborty, Registrar, WBJS, submitted the report to the high court last week after visiting the affected areas and speaking to the victims as directed by the division bench hearing the matter

The high court had on April 17 ordered the formation of the committee for the identification and rehabilitation of people displaced by the violence during the protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act in Murshidabad district

The division bench, comprising justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury, noted that the committee had stated in its report that "appointing qualified valuation experts is the only possible remedy to the state's failure to protect a section of its citizens

NORTH-EAST Centre approves another battalion of Tripura state rifles

The Central Government has given its nod to raise another battalion of Tripura State Rifles (TSR), said Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha The decision was approved after the chief minister placed a proposal for another TSR battalion before union home minister Amit Shah during a recent meeting in New D

Central Government would disburse a onetime financial assistance of £5mn to raise a TSR battalion An amount of up to £3mn w

infrastructure (excluding land cost), with

Currently, there are 14 battalions of TSR,

majority of which are India Reserve (IR) battalions that can be deployed to any state under orders from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) As per the latest inputs, two TSR battalions have already been posted under the authority of Delhi Police since 2019 and in the South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) of Chhattisgarh since 2022 One more TSR battalion is engaged in providing dedicated security to Oil and Natural Gas

Tripura In addition, they provide security during elections in different states as part of the central armed police forces (CAPF)

MORE THAN 350 INSURGENTS NABBED IN MANIPUR

Security forces in Manipur have arrested more than 350 insurgents during intensified crackdown on extortion rackets that have taken an unusual turn, with groups mainly from the Valley now demanding money to resolve matrimonial disputes along with traditional targets like property and “cuts” in govt tenders officials said The insurgents were picked from mid-Feb this year after the imposition of President’s rule in the state A clear instruction has been issued by the governor s administration to the general public to report any extortion attempts to police or face legal consequences for aiding insurgents The officials said investigations against the more than 350 people arrested in the crackdown indicate that insurgent groups, feeling the pressure from security forces post-President's rule, are becoming more desperate for funds and more brazen in their methods The majority of insurgents have been nabbed from Imphal East, followed by Imphal West in the valley

KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK RECORDS

ALL-TIME TOURIST FLOW

Assam's Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve has recorded an all-time high tourist footfall this year emerging as the third most visited national park in India The park witnessed a significant rise in foreign tourists with a 25 per cent increase compared to the previous year According to officials the park recorded 4,43,636 visitors between October 1, 2024, and May 18, 2025, indicating an overall increase of over 35 per cent since last year The number of foreigners (18,463) was especially notable, hinting at the World Heritage site s position as a top-choice destination for tourists and wildlife enthusiasts Spread over 1,300 sq km, in 4 districts of Assam, Kaziranga national park is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes The park boasts several wetlands and comprises two Important bird areas Home to a remarkable population of the "Big Five," it comprises 2 613 one-horned Rhinoceroses, as of the 2022 census; 104 Bengal Tigers in 2022; over 1,228 Asian elephants projected for 2024; 2 565 Wild Water Buffalos in 2022; and 1 129 Eastern Swamp Deer also recorded in 2022 Dr Sonali Ghosh Field director of the park said that this year Kaziranga witnessed over 443 000 visitors

Amit Shah launches new OCI portal in Delhi 15

Un ion H ome Minister Amit Shah ha s launched t he new

O v e r s e a s C it i ze n o f I n di a (OCI) por tal in New D elhi

The union home secreta ry,

t h e d ir e ct or o f t h e

Int ell ige nce Burea u (IB), and other senior official s of the M i n is t r y of H o me A f fa i r s (MHA) wer e present on the occa sion

A m i t S h a h s a

Modi, India is continuously

s

class immigration facilities to its OCI cardholders He said that a revamped OCI portal with an updated user interface has been launched to simplify the registration process for overseas citizens Shah also emphasized that many Indian-origin citizens reside in various parts of the world, and we must ensure they face no inconvenience when visiting or staying in India

The new portal will provide enhanced functionality, a d v a n c e d s e c u r i t y , a n d a

address existing limitations a

ence

The n ew OCI port al in troduces se ver al use r-fr iend ly fea ture s, in cluding: User sign-up and segregation of registration menu; A u

p

f i l e details in registration forms; Dashboard displaying comp l e t e

n d p

councillors quit AAP in Delhi, to set up own party

Ind raprasth a Vikas Party

user-friendly experience for the existing over

whose parent or grandpar-

million

users The new OCI portal is available at the existing URL: https:// ociservices gov in

2005 The scheme provides

Persons of Indian Origin as Overseas Citizens of India, provided they were citizens

January 1950, or were eligible to become citizens on that date However, individuals who are or had been or

Bangladesh are not eligible

Services portal was developed in 2013 and is currently

Indian missions abroad as

Offices (FRROs), processing approximately 2,000 applications per day Given the

advancements over the past

received from OCI cardholders, a revamped OCI portal

i a l l y f i l l e d a p p l i c a t i o n s ; I n t e g r a t e d online payment gateway for those who filed in FRROs; Seamless navigation across a p p l i c a t i o n s t e p s ; Categorization of requisite documents to upload based on application type; Editing option to the applicant at any stage before submission; Integrated FAQ in the portal; Reminder to the applicant to verify information b e f o r e f i n a l s u b m i s s i o n ; Display of eligibility criteria

a n d r e q u i s i t e d o c u m e n t s based on selected applicat i o n t y p e ; I n - b u i l t i m a g e cropping tool for uploading applicant photos and signatures

30% adults have hypertension in Mumbai

W ith ar oun d 30% of a dult

M u m ba i k a r s a f fe c t e d by hy per ten sion , the BMC will soon la unch a ‘salt and sugar a war ene ss ’ in itiat iv e t o pr o-

m ot e food la bel liter acy and r e d u ce p r o ce s s e d f o od in tak e

H y p e r t e n s i o n , o r h i g h blood pressure, affects vario u s o r g a n s , r e s u l t i n g i n heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, vision loss and cognitive decline It is one of the

l e a d i n g c a u s e s o f d e a t h worldwide

“High blood pressure is a ‘ s i l e n t k i l l e r ’ a s i t s l o w l y damages the body, but it can be controlled with proper

t r e a t m e n t a n d l i f e s t y l e

M ah ar as h tra d ep u ty c h ie f

m in i st er A j it P aw a r h a s ruled out the possibility of a reu nio n o f th e riv al N CP f act io ns A t a m eeti ng o f NCP legislators, A jit m ad e it clear that there w as no subs tanc e to rep o rts abou t a reu nion

changes,” said BMC executive health officer Dr Daksha S h a h a h e a d o f W o r l d H y p e r t e n s i o n D a y T h e theme this year is ‘Measure b l o o d p r e s s u r e a c c u r a t e l y , control it and live a long life’

A c c o r d i n g t o a s u r v e y conducted by the BMC five years ago, around 30% of a d u l t s h a v e h y p e r t e n s i o n , but most are unaware of it

T h e n , i n 2 0 2 3 , t h e B M C started a door-to-door survey to check blood pressure and start early treatment for t h e v i c t i m s A c i v i c p r e s s release said the blood press u r e o f 2 5 , 0 0 , 0 0 0 a d u l t s o v e r 3 0 y e a r s o f a g e w a s checked through this cam-

State NCP president and MP Sunil Tatkare said there is no question of reunion of the two factions as there is no such proposal “NCP legislators met in the presence of Ajit Pawar At no stage was there any kind of discussion on the merger of two factions,” Tatkare said A n o t h e r s e n i o r p o l i t ician of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP said, “No leader of our p a r t y i s i n c o n t a c t e i t h e r

paign, and 140,000 were found to have elevated readings

O v e r 4 9 , 0 0 , 0 0 0 Mumbaikars tested their BP at NCD corners set up at 25 civic hospitals since 2022 At p r e s e n t , 1 1 6 , 0 0 0 p a t i e n t s r e c e i v e t r e a t m

BMC clinics and hospitals

M

s t

t h e p a

t s , though, are either undergoing treatment in the private sector or yet to start on it

“According to the World Health Organisation, consuming more than 5gm of salt per day is dangerous to h e a l t h , b u t M u m

r s c o n s u m e 9 g m o f s a l t p e r day,” said the BMC press

with Sharad Pawar or any office-bearer of NCP (SP) ” Sharad Pawar had last week said that a section of his party was in favour of joining hands with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, triggering speculation of the two sides coming together As far as the decision on the reunion w a s c o n c e r n e d , P a w a r Senior had said he was not “actively involved in taking such decisions ” Pawar had then said his daughter Supriya Sule, who is also NCP (SP)’s working president, would have to sit

release

One of the main concerns worldwide regarding h y p e r t e n s i o n i s i t s r i s i n g p r e v a l e n c e a m o n g y o u n g people The American Heart A s s o c i a t i o n r e p o r t s t h a t hypertension affects one in eight adults between 20 and 40 years, and this figure is e x p e c t e d t o r i s e d u e t o lifestyle factors and revised diagnostic criteria

D r C h h y a V a j a f r o m Apollo Spectra said, “Stress, smoking, and alcohol cons u m p t i o n a r e i n c r e a s i n g l y contributing to high blood p r e s s u r e i n y o u n g a d u l t s , who account for nearly 20% of all cases ”

and discuss the matter with her cousin, Ajit Pawar “If t h e r e u n i o n h a p p e n s , i t should not surprise others,” Sharad Pawar had said Recently, in the span of less than a month, Sharad P a w a r a n d A j i t P a w a

attended three-four events together M

NCP (SP) politician said that h i g h

o r g a n i z a t

o n a l changes are on the cards in t h e i r p a r t y , a n d S h a r a d Pawar may replace most of the heads of the frontal cell organizations

CPM veteran admits to tampering postal ballots in 1989 LS poll

E lection Commission offic ials have rec orded a statem ent f rom former Kerala

m i n i s t er G S ud ha k ar a n a fte r the e merg enc e of a video where he claimed that he had tampered with the postal b allots in the 19 89 Alappuzha Lok Sabha polls

In the clip, he claimed, “ we will unseal them, verify, and correct them Even if a case is filed against me for saying this, I don’t mind,”

Sudhakaran was claimed to have stated at an NGO conference last week He also stated that during the 1989 elections, when CPM’s KV D

party’s district committee office Although no allegations were raised at that

Election officer stated that

will be taken seriously

several electoral rules

Alappuzha district collector was asked to file an

Police asked the DG of the prosecution to file an FIR pointing out the difficulties in collecting election docu-

Among those who left were MCD senior councillor and former Leader of the House Mukesh Goel, who is a councillor from Adarsh Nagar Other departing councillors included Hemchand Goyal from Molarband, Runakshi Sharma from Baljeet Nagar, Dinesh Bhardwaj from Bankner, Himani Jain from Vasant Vihar, Usha Sharma from Sadar Bazar, Sahib Kumar from Vikas Puri, Rakhi Yadav from Hastsal, Ashok Pandey from Vikas Nagar, Rajesh Kumar from Hari Nagar, Suman Anil Rana from Rohini B, Devendra Kumar from Mayur Vihar Phase II, Manisha from Rani Kheda, Leena Kumar from Malviya Nagar, and Kamal Bhardwaj from Hauz Khas

The MCD act is silent on anti-defection laws After these exits, AAP has 98 members, BJP holds 117 members, and Congress maintains eight members In the 250-seat MCD, 12 are lying vacant as the councillors won MLA or MP elections

A statement issued by the councillors said, “Following their victory in the 2022 municipal elections and securing a majority, AAP's senior leadership demonstrated poor governance capabilities The disconnect between AAP's top brass and councillors ultimately led to the party losing its majority status and being relegated to the opposition The party's inability to deliver on its pre-election commitments has prompted our decision to step down from AAP membership ”

The ward committee elections in 12 zones are scheduled to happen anytime soon Earlier, the dates were postponed due to India’s tension with Pakistan The new dates are yet to be finalised The election for three standing committee members - one from the house and two from ward committees (South and City Sadar Paharganj zone) - is also pending

Addressing the media at Constitution Club, Goel, who contested the Delhi assembly elections from Adarsh Nagar on an AAP ticket earlier this year but lost, confirmed the split and said the new party would work for the betterment of the people of Delhi

31 Maoists killed in 21-day operation in Chhattisgarh

A 21 -day anti-Mao ist operati o n o n C h h att is g a rhTelang ana bord er cu lm inated o n M ay 1 1, w ith the death o f 31 ultras, including sco res of senior leaders

H a i l i n g ‘ O p e r a t i o n Blackforest’ conducted by Chhattisgarh Police’s STF, district reserve guard and CRPF as “the biggest ever operation against Naxalism,” home minister Amit Shah in a post on X said the Tricolour now flies proudly “ on the hill where red terror once reigned ”

Karreguttalu Hills was the headquarters of the most lethal of CPI (Maoist) wings, the PLGA Battalion No 1, and housed its arms manufacturing units in the natural cave formations

“I am extremely happy that there was not a single casualty among the security forces,” Shah said as he congratulated CRPF, STF and DRG soldiers for facing the Naxalites “with exemplary courage even in adverse weather and treacherous terrain ”

ED arrests UCO Bank retired CMD in loan fraud case

T h e E n f o r ce me n t D i r e ct o r a t e a rr e s te d S u b o d h Go e l, r etired cha irman and MD of UCO Ban k, from hi s r esi dence f or alle gedly taki ng brib es to s anction loan s of more tha n £ 620 mn Goel, who ha d bee n appoi nted to the post un der th e UPA govt, was produced bef or e a s peci al court i n K olk ata, w hich remande d hi m to ED cus tod y

“Investigation revealed that during the tenure of Goel as CMD, large credit facilities were sanctioned to Concast Steel & Power Ltd, which were subsequently diverted and siphoned off by the borrower In turn, Goel received substantial illegal gratifications from CSPL,” ED claimed

over to the district collector S u d h a k a r a n , l a t e r denied the allegations and stated that it was not possible to alter postal ballots in any elections He also put forward concerns regarding confidentiality in the case o

The ED has already attached properties worth £5 10mn of CSPL linked to its promoter, Sanjay Surekha He was arrested on Dec 18 last year and continues to be in judicial custody ED filed a chargesheet in the case on Feb 15

The agency claimed illegal gratification was layered and channelled through various entities to give it a “facade” of legitimacy “Goel received cash, properties, luxury goods, hotel booking etc routed through a web of shell companies, dummy persons and through family members to conceal the criminal origin of the money Several properties acquired through shell companies have been identified,” ED claimed

Ajit Pawar

India bans import of Bangladeshi goods through land ports

B angl adesh will no l onger b e a llowed to use Indian l and ports to export ready-m ade

g

r m e n t s t o In di a A n

of Foreign Trade is sued in this

specified commodities from Bangladesh will be prevented from entering India through t

Mizoram

“Bangladesh has recently imposed port restrictions on the import of Indian yarn via land ports, allowing our yarn exports only via sea ports It

e c i d e d t o reciprocate this measure by imposing port restrictions on imports from Bangladesh of ready-made garments of all

c a t e g o r i e s a c r o s s a l l l a n d ports - LCS (Land Customs Stations) and ICP (Integrated Check Posts),” said a senior o f f i c

w

noticed aggressive inspection o

Bangladeshi side From now, ready-made garments from Bangladesh will be allowed to enter India only through the sea ports of K

(Mumbai) where the cargo shipments will be subjected to “mandated inspections”, the official said

On April 13, Bangladesh stopped Indian yarn exports

Bangladesh has also stopped

Bengal

across all LCSs and ICPs in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram on specified Bangladesh exports to India, targeting those commodities

Indian estimates, at least 93% of Bangladesh’s ready-made

pass through the land ports

The restrictions imposed on specified items on all LCS and ICP in the northeast will help the local manufacturing sector in the region

US imposes ban on Indian travel agencies over illegal immigration

T he U S autho rities imp osed a v isa ban on errant Indian t rav el ag en c ie s and th ei r o wners who facilitate illegal im mig ration to the country

U S S ta te D ep a rtm ent ’ s s ta tem e nt s ai d i t’ s t aki ng

s te p s to i m p o s e v is a r es tri c ti o ns o n o w ner s,

e xe cu t iv es a nd s eni o r o fficials of travel ag encies, b as ed and op era ti ng i n

I n d i a, f o r k no w i ng ly f ac i li ta ti ng i l leg al im mig ration to the U S “ M i s s i o n I n d i a ’ s

c o n s u l a r a f f a i r s a n d diplomatic security service work every day across our embassies and consulates to

actively identify and target those engaged in facilitating

i l l e g a l i m m i g r a t i o n a n d

h u m a n s m u g g l i n g a n d trafficking operations We will continue to take steps to impose visa restrictions against owners, executives and senior officials of travel

a g e n c i e s t o c u t o f f a l i e n smuggling networks,” said

t h e d e p a r t m e n t I t a d d e d that US immigration policy

a i m s t o i n f o r m f o r e i g n nationals about dangers of illegal immigration and to h o l d a c c o u n t a b l e individuals who violate US laws

F o l l o w i n g P r e s i d e n t

Donald Trump’s crackdown

o n i l l e g a l i m m i g r a t i o n , between Jan and early April

t h i s y e a r , 6 8 2 I n d i a n nationals had been deported to India The vast majority

o f t h e s e d e p

country illegally, but were

a p p r e h e n d e d a t t h e U S border itself

Centre told Parliament last month that it has been working with US authorities t o p r o m o

a l l o w f o r s t r e

m

i n i n g avenues for legal mobility of students and professionals

India rejects another Chinese bid to rename places in Arunachal

India has rejected anoth er “ p rep o sterou s ” attem p t by C hina to rename 27 places

i n A r u nac h al P r ad e sh , saying the state is and will alw ays remai n an integral p art of India This is the fifth t i m e th at C h i na h a s r en am ed v i l lag es i n

A runach al to reinfo rc e its claim ov er the Indian state it calls ‘Zang nan ’ “ C o n s i s t e n t w i t h o u r p r i n c i p l e d p o s i t i o n , w e categorically reject such vain and preposterous attempts

t o r e n a m e p l a c e s i n t h e I n d i a n s t a t e C r e a t i v e

naming will not alter the u n d e n i a b l e r e a l i t y t h a t

Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part

o f I n d i a , ” s a i d M E A

s p o k e s p e r s o n R a n d h i r Jaiswal

China has in the past

r e n a m e d p l a c e s i n

Arunachal Pradesh on four occasions - 2017, 2021, 2023 and 2024 - each of which w a s p r e c e d e d b y a diplomatic spat with India For example, the first such exercise in 2017 followed the D a l a i L a m a ’ s v i s i t t o t h e s t a t e I n 2

meeting that India hosted in the state

s

O n t h i s o c c a s i o n , i t followed last week’s military

India revokes security nod to Turkish handler at 9 airports

clearanc e to T urki sh gro und service provider Celebi and its asso ciated co mp anies,

a mo ve that will impact th e s e cu ri ty - s en s i ti ve gr o u n d h andling services p ro vided

b y t h e c o m p a ny at n i n e airports, bo th p assenger and cargo terminals “ B u r

clearance of Celebi and its a

o c i a t e d c o m p a n i e s o n grounds related to national security Nothing is above the security of our nation

a n d o u r f e l l o w c i t i z e n s National interest and public safety are paramount and n o n

being made to ensure that e

continue to contribute and ensure seamless handling of passengers and cargo at all

R

Mohan Naidu said Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd (CASIPL) and two other Celebi companies i n I n

handling in Delhi, Mumbai, B

Beijing is known to practise

claims

ministry later doubled down s a y i n g , “ T h e Z a n g n a n r e g i o n b e

The Chinese govt’s recent

names of some of the places in Zangnan is fully within China’s sovereignty

Tawang in Arunachal but effectively the entire state saying it’s a part of south T

govt-in-exile says Arunachal Pradesh is a part of India, C

Buddhism monastery being

Dalai Lama being born there to back its claim

A f te r i ts k am i ka ze d ro n e Nagastra 1 w reaked h av oc d uring Op eratio n S ind oor, Nag pur ’ s Solar Defence and A e ro s p ac e L t d ( S D A L ) successfully condu cted trials o f i ts an ti - d ro n e s ys te m , “ B h arg a v as tr a ” , a t t h e S ea w ar d F i r in g Ran g e i n

Od is h a ’ s Go p a lp u r i n th e presence of the A rm y ’ s air d e fe nc e br as s T h e i nd ig e no u s ly b u il t “Bh arg av astra” can fi re 64 m i cro r oc ket s i n a s ing l e s al v o , b ri ng i n g d o w n a swarm of d rones and jam U AVs

W h e n i t i s e v e n t u a l l y deployed, a dual-layer drone defence system will be in

p l a c e , t h e f i r s t l a y e r

c o m p r i s i n g u n g u i d e d

m i c r o - r o c k e t s w i t h h i g h

l e t h a l i t y f o l l o w e d , i n t h e s e c o n d l a y e r , b y m i c r omissiles for precision hits

The system’s rockets have higher lethality with a kill

r a d i u s o f 2 0 m T h e

“ B h a r g a v a s t r a ” t r i a l s witnessed rockets fired in

both single and salvo mode

A l l r o c k e t s p e r f o r m e d a s e x p e c t e d a n d a c h i e v e d required launch parameters

This proves Bhargavastra’s

c a p a b i l i t y i n m i t i g a t i n g largescale drone attacks

The air defence system is being dubbed as a unified s o l u t i o n t o c o u n t e r U A V

t h r e a t s , c o n s i d e r i n g i t s a d v a n c e d c a p a c i t i e s t o detect and eliminate drones from a distance of 2 5km

The antidrone shield can be d e p l o y e d a c r o s s d i v e r s e terrains and at altitudes up to 5,000m above sea level It can detect minute threats 6-

10 km away I t s s o f t - k i l l f e a t u r e s i n c l u d e j a m

modular, the sensors can be configured in line with user requirements, enabling it to work in layered and tiered c o v

targets

YouTuber among 12 arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan

At lea st 12 pe ople , includin g a YouTuber , ha ve bee n n abbed on t he char ges of spyin g for Pakista n in t he past two we ek s fr om Pun ja b, Har ya n a a nd Ut ta r P ra de sh wit h inv estiga tions point in g out t hat t hey were a llege dly part of a Pa kista n-lin ked e spion age n etwor k ope rat ing in nort h In dia, police said

While six of them have been held from Punjab, four were nabbed from neighbouring Haryana

A m o n g t h o s e a r r e s t e d , t w o w o m e n , including a YouTuber from Haryana, were a l l e g e d l y i n t o u c h

Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish posted at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi On May 13, India expelled the Pakistani official for allegedly indulging in espionage

In addition to the arrests made from Punjab and Haryana, an alleged agent of Pakistan's intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was arrested from Uttar Pradesh's Rampur by the state's Special Task Force

Details of the arrested accused are: Jyoti Malhotra (Hisar, Haryana) - A travel vlogger with a YouTube channel called Travel with J O P o l i

information with Pakistan and had visited the country twice She was reportedly in contact with an official of the Pakistan High

(Kaithal, Haryana) - The 25-year-old college student from Khalsa College, Patiala, was arrested in Kaithal, Haryana He allegedly

weapons During questioning, police found he had visited Pakistan and shared photos of an Army cantonment

Nauman Ilahi (Uttar Pradesh, arrested

information to

Pakistani spy and received money through his brother-in-law Armaan (

information related to Army, other military activities with Pakistan through an employee posted at High Commission of Pakistan in Delhi Mohammad Tarif (Nuh)- Nuh Police, in a joint operation with a central agency, arrested the local quack for allegedly spying for Pakistan Shahzad (Rampur, UP) - A businessman arrested by the Special Task Force He had

accused of smuggling goods Falaksher Masih and Suraj Masih (Ajnala, Amritsar) - Arrested for their alleged role in leaking sensitive

to ISI

SC slams MP minister in Col Qureshi

row, forms SIT to probe the case

C ritising Ma dhya Prad esh

m i n i st e r V i ja y S h a h ’ s “fa ca de of an apology for t he c r a s s co m m e n t s ”

a im e d a t C o l S o fi y a

Q ureshi, who br iefed the m e d ia o n O p e r a t i on S indoor , Supr eme Court

t urn ed t he hea t on him by con st ituting an S IT of senior IPS officers, sought a pr obe st atus repor t by May 28, but st aye d his a rre st The minister’s “if anyone is hurt” conditional apology

r i l e d a b e n c h o f J u s t i c e s

Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, which referred to the video of his speech and said, “You were about to use some abusive language but could not as the words failed you We know how to deal with people like you You cannot

s a y a n y t h i n g a n d w h e n called out, attempt to wriggle out by tendering a facade of an apology which is akin to shedding crocodile tears ”

T h e b e n c h a s k e d t h e

M a d h y a P r a d e s h D G P t o constitute the SIT It said members of the team should be senior IPS officers of MP cadre from outside the state, and one of them should be a woman “We would like to keep a close watch on the probe, though we will not be monitoring it The SIT will submit a report to us by May

28,” it said The court said one IPS officer would be of I G P r a n k w h i l e t h e o t h e r two would be of SP rank SC ordered that the FIR registered on the suo motu directions of HC be entrusted to the SIT “The petitioner (minister) is directed to join the investigation and f u l l y c o o p e

Subject to that, as of now, his arrest will be stayed We are not inclined to monitor the investigation However, in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, the SIT is directed to submit a status report of investigations in a sealed cover by M a y 2 8 , t

hearing

HC slams wea k FIR

expressed strong displeasure over the FIR registered by police against Shah, calling it ‘ g

state, HC said it will now m

I

India gives special entry to 160 Afghan trucks with dry fruits

reverse export from India to Afghanistan

The Taliban, who had

J u s t d ay s a fte r P ak is ta n' s ar m ed f o rc es ,

u nd er the command of army chief General

A sim M unir, were dealt a humiliating blow by Ind ia, the warmongering Hafiz-e-Quran h as been p rom oted to a Field Marshal

Based on the fabricated narrative that Pakistan, with Munir's "high strategy and courageous leadership defeated India in its Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos Munir s promotion is a testament to the illusion Pakistan's federal Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, approved the promotion of Munir from General to Field

Continued from page 1

M e m b e r s f r o m B J P , Congress, TMC, DMK, NCP (SP), JD(U), BJD, Shiv Sena (UBT), CPM and some other parties would be part of delegations which are meant to

t y The visits are scheduled to be over in 10 days

Even though Congress seemed unhappy with those w h o h a v e b e e n s e l e c t e d from their party including

M P S h a s h i T h a r o o r a s a head of the delegate group which is likely to visit the US, the Government is providing full-fledged support for the mission

A d iplomatic push

This initiative by India can rather be seen as a calculated move against Pakistan

B y c o m m e n c i n g

s i t around the world, India is strategically trying to isolate Pakistan on an international level The mission is to convey to world leaders how India has been a victim of

Anuradha Shukla pointed out that the FIR doesn’t mention even

word

suspect “This FIR has been

space open so that if it is challenged, the same may be quashed because it is deficient in material particulars of the actions which consti-

taken suo motu cognisance of media reports on Shah’s

Col Qureshi and ordered the

R against the minister under BNS sections 152 (act endan-

and integrity of India), 196 (1) (b) (promoting enmity),

about certain groups)

The judges noted that the last paragraph of HC’s order has been reproduced in the FIR but it “does not have a whisper of the earlier part of the order, which lays down in detail, the actions of the suspect and how they constitute an offence under each of the sections mentioned therein ”

Pak army chief Munir promoted to Field Marshal

Marshal "for ensuring the security of the country and defeating the enemy based on the high strategy and courageous leadership of the Battle of Truth, Operation Bunyanum-Marsoos"

"Promoting Munir to Field Marshal just proves how helpless and useless Pakistan’s government and civil administration are He s doubling down on his narrative of victory and by elevating his position, tightening his grip and control on Pakistan Musharraf 2 0 l o a d

(Retired)

Ta liba n deve lop rap id ly ev en in t he absen ce of a forma l r ecognition for the reg ime in Kabul Accordin g t o sources, Pa kistan held up cle ara nce for a while on the Wa gah side for the moveme nt of the t rucks before allowing some of them t o un loa d at At ta ri

I n d i a h a d d e c i d e d t o shut the Attari-Wagah border on April 23, following the P a h a l g a m t e r r o r i s t a t t a c k that took place a day earlier

P a k i s t a n h a s i n t h e p a s t a l l o w e d o n e - w a y t

t a n a n d India through that border, facilitating export of Afghan goods to India but not any

Expanding trade ties was one of the issues that extern

minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in what was the first political engagement between India and the Taliban on May 15 Despite the hurdles created by transit issues in Pakistan, I

market for Afghan products in South Asia and annual trade stands at approximately $

billion

allow India to send goods to

land border was in late 2021, after India proposed sending 50,000 tonnes of wheat as aid to the drought affected country

, pushed Pakistan to not hold up clearance for the supply

upcoming visit to Iran and China, a fact India attaches a lot of significance to Both leaders had agreed

Jaishankar thanked Muttaqi

expressed for India after the Pahalgam attack and for not

authorities to

discord

Taliban, including through the claim that India fired missiles at Afghanistan A source said this was significant “posturing” given the

Sindoor

Isro's 101st mission fails as PSLV develops snags

Isr o ’ s wor khor se rocket PSLV mal function ed mid-flight and failed to inject a sat ell ite into orbit during an ear ly morning launch mission l ast week The mission, designa ted PSLV-C6 1, was Isro’s 101st la unch and aimed to pl ace t he EOS-09 ear th observat ion sat ell it e into a sunsynchronous pol ar orbit

The setback marks the third unsuccessful PSLV mission in 32 years, excluding a partial failure in 1997 PSLV-C61 lifted off at 5 59am f r o m t h e f i r s t l a u n c h p a d a t t h

Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota Around six minutes into the flight, the rocket veered off its intended trajectory

Isro chairman V Narayanan later confirmed that the rocket’s performance was normal up to the second stage “The vehicle’s third stage uses a solid motor system There was a fall in the chamber pressure in the solid motor and the mission could not be accomplished We are studying the entire performance, ” Narayanan said

The mission was intended to place the 1,696kg EOS-09 radar imaging satellite into a 529-km orbit The satellite carried a synthetic aperture radar payload to enable remote sensing through cloud cover and at night, with

moisture monitoring, disaster response, and surveillance Known for its versatility, the

deployed by ISRO for launching three types of payloads - Earth Observation, Geo-stationary and Navigation

With the latest mission being unaccomplished, it is only the third time the 44 metre tall rocket has failed to deliver, the previous

August 2017 The first development flight, PSLV-D1, was unsuccessful as it failed to put the remote sensing satellite (IRS-1E) into orbit

Again in August 2017, PSLV C39 carrying the eighth satellite of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) suffered a technical glitch and did not meet the mission objective

The four stage PSLV rocket, measuring 44 5 metre tall and 2 8 metre in diameter, can carry payloads of up to 1,750 kg to Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit of 600 km altitude According to ISRO, PSLV earned its title ‘workhorse of ISRO’ for its consistency in placing various satellites in Low Earth Orbits (LEO)

India launches diplomatic offensive against Pak

Narendra Modi underlined that there will be no tolerance for terrorism masked

and there will be no differentiation between terrorist groups, their leaders or even

kinds of militant groups as they are all putting forward the same message of terrorism

La mmy ’ s visit to Pak

To welcome the cease-

Secretary David Lammy vis-

ited Islamabad on May 16

While welcoming the ceasefire, he asked Pakistani officials to adhere to the ceasef

d them to maintain peace and r

was the first foreign secretary to visit Pakistan, where he made clear that further conflict is in nobody’s interest Lammy not only appreciated both countries’ cease

affected British Indian and British Pak diasporas The

Foreign Secretary highlighted the immeasurable contribution people of Pakistani descent have made to British l i f e a n d h e a c k n o w l e d g e d how distressing the past few weeks have been for people in both countries and those with Pakistani and Indian heritage in the UK He said, “ B e c a u s e o f t h e d e e p a n d historic links between our populations and our governments we are determined to play our part to counter terrorism and ensure this fragi l e c e a s e f i r e b e c o m e s a durable peace ” In addition he also mentioned how this seems like a “positive step” between the two nuclear powered neighbours leading towards building a sense o f r e g i o n a l p e a c e a s b o t h

c o u n t r i e s h a v e d e c i d e d t o t a k e c o n f i d e n c e - b u i l d i n g measures (CBM) St ick ing point for C ongr ess Congress party was not happy with the selection of those who have been chosen from their party including Amar Singh, Shashi Tharoor

a n d M a n i s h T e w a r i T h e govt has dismissed Congress’

c h a r g e t h a t i t a s k e d t h e opposition party to nominate four MPs for all-party d e l e g a t i o n s g o i n g a b r o a d , only to reject three of them, which fueled the Congress party as they seem worried

a b o u t t h e r e a s o n b e h i n d c h o o s i n g T h a r o o r a n d Tewari can be for demoting Congress The government

r e s p o n d e d t o C o n g r e s s ’ s allegation saying “Members of delegations are supposed to pursue national interest and do not work as representatives of political parties

T h e y a r e g o i n g t h e r e a s Indians ”

The delegations include one led by Shiv Sena MP

S h r i k a n t E k n a t h S h i n d e , which is scheduled to visit t h e U A E , L i b e r i a , t h e

stops promoting cross-border terrorism irrevocably On US president Donald Trump's offer on mediation on the J&K issue, Jaishankar s

dealings with Pakistan will remain strictly bilateral with a focus on cross-border ter-

treaty, he said it was was very clear that the treaty is held in abeyance and will continue to be held in abeyance until

Pakistan is credibly and

D e m o c r a t i c R e p u b l i c o f Congo, and Sierra Leone and will be the first among the delegate groups to be out for g l o b a l o u t r e a c h f o l l o w i n g others on upcoming dates, f o c u s i n g o n a p o s i t i v e impact as result In dus t re aty on hold : EAM I n d i a ' s e x t e r n a l a f f a i r s minister S Jaishankar reitera t e d t h a t t h e o n l y i s s u e w h i c h r e m a i n s t o b e d i scussed on Kashmir is return of part of J&K that is under t h e i l l e g a l o c

Sofiya Qureshi & Vijay Shah

Aamir Khan, Rajkumar

Hirani team up for Dadasaheb Phalke biopic

Hirani for a biopic on Dadasaheb Phalke, the Father of Indian Cinema

This marks their third collaboration after ‘ 3 Idiots’ and ‘PK’ Filming for the yet-untitled project begins in October, with Khan set to start preparations after the release of his upcoming film ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, known as Dadasaheb Phalke, was a pioneer of Indian cinema who directed ‘Raja Harishchandra’ (1913), India’s first feature film His other notable works include ‘Lanka Dahan’, ‘Shri Krishna Janma’, and ‘Kaliya Mardan’ In 1969, India established the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in Indian cinema, given annually at the National Film Awards for lifetime achievement

Set against the backdrop of the independence struggle, the film follows an artist’s extraordinary journey in creating the world’s largest indigenous film industry Hirani, longtime collaborator Abhijat Joshi, and writers Hindukush and Avishkar Bharadwaj have spent four years developing the script Phalke’s grandson, Chandrashekhar Srikrishna Pusalkar, has supported the project, sharing key anecdotes from his life VFX studios in Los Angeles have already produced AI designs reflecting the film’s era and setting

Nimrat Kaur on how The Lunchbox’ quieted marriage questions

Nimrat Kaur is happy being single but has often faced questions about marriage since her late twenties. She said, “Every girl deals with it,” and only after her 2013 film

‘The Lunchbox’ did the remarks stop.

She credited the film’s success, especially with Irrfan’s involvement, for finally earning her recognition “It took the film to show what I’m capable of and gain their appreciation,” she explained Still, Nimrat expressed understanding, saying, “They’re conditioned, so you can’t hold it against them ”

She challenges the idea that marriage is the only way for women to feel ‘settled ’

When she moved to Mumbai before 2005, people expected her to return home and follow a traditional path Whenever her career faltered or she wasn’t meeting others’ expectations, she was urged to marry and ‘settle down,’ as if she was incomplete without it

Nimrat prefers waiting for a meaningful marriage rather than rushing into a superficial one She believes many such marriages bring more instability than a woman choosing to remain single She feels these women should be left alone, noting that often those who struggle to make bold choices themselves impose their conditioning on others' challenging traditions

Nimrat recalls that her early years in the industry were challenging and uncertain

For six to seven years, she mainly worked in ad films, living paycheck to paycheck without any guarantee of when the next payment would arrive During this period, those around her often doubted her dedication, treating her career as little more than a hobby Many assumed her time in Mumbai was temporary that she was simply enjoying herself before eventually returning home to follow the traditional path expected of her

Karan Johar defends star kids, slams intellectual

Paresh Rawal exits

‘Hera Pheri 3’; fans say ‘no babu bhaiya’

2022 with all three actors on board

Filmmaker

I n

Karan Johar has defended his continued support for star kids, saying he’ll keep casting them if he believes in their talent.

“cinema intellectuals” for dismissing his production house, Dharma Productions, a

‘Nadaaniyan’ has become trendy “People love bashing nepo kids I’m like, ‘ move on, ’” he said ‘Nadaaniyan’ marked the debut of Saif Ali Khan’s son, Ibrahim Ali Khan, alongside Khushi Kapoor The film faced criticism for

newcomers drawing online backlash Karan Johar, often targeted for promoting star k

exclusively with them “I’ll continue to launch new talent as long as I believe in them,” he said, adding, “If I’m the face of Bollywood hate, then thank you for the elevation but I don’t think I deserve it ”

This year, Johar’s Dharma Productions

h

Chapter 2 ’ , featuring Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan, and Ananya Panday Up next is ‘Dhadak 2 ’ , starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri

Karan’s last directorial, ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’ (2023), starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, was a box office hit, grossing ₹355 crore worldwide

However, recent reports reveal Paresh Rawal has confirmed his exit from the film, causing a stir among fans When asked by Bollywood Hungama, Rawal said, “Yes, it’s a fact ” Alongside legal, scheduling, and casting issues, his departure is the biggest challenge the film faces Rawal’s iconic role as Babu Rao was key, connecting Shyam (Shetty) and the cunning Raju (Kumar) and was beloved by fans

Bollywood Hungama reported that Paresh Rawal stepped down from Hera Pheri 3 due to creative differences with the makers Akshay Kumar had also quit earlier over similar issues but later returned after reaching an understanding with the producers Director Anees Bazmee revealed he declined to direct the film because the producer didn’t have a solid story or script

Despite Babu Rao’s popularity, Rawal has expressed concerns about being typecast in the role In a past interview, he told Lallantop that the character felt like a trap, sharing how he asked directors Vishal Bhardwaj and R Balki to help him break free from the image, saying the role “suffocates” him

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan is reuniting with director Rajkumar

The

Hera Pheri series, a beloved Indian comedy starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal, was set for a third installment announced in

Kunal Kohli shares three stars rejected ‘Hum Tum’ before Saif Ali Khan

Filmmaker Kunal Kohli’s ‘Hum Tum’

marked a significant turning point in Saif Ali Khan’s career, transforming his image as a leading man in Bollywood

Interestingly, before Saif was cast, the role was offered to three other prominent actors Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan, and Vivek Oberoi all of whom declined. In an interview with Radio Nasha, the director shared the reasons behind their refusals and explained how Saif ultimately secured the part.

Kunal Kohli shared w h y H r

and he said, ‘I love the script it’s beautiful

b u t I d o n ’ t t h i n k I ’ m i n t h e r i g h t mindset to take this on right now Can you wait a year or two? Some of my upcoming films might not do well, and I want to have a hit behind me before I

c o m m i t ’ H e w a s h o n e s t a n d n o t

m a k i n g e x c u s e s ; h e s i m p l y l a c k e d confidence at that moment ”

Kunal then recounted how Saif Ali Khan came to be cast after both Aamir Khan and Vivek Oberoi declined “At the time, Aamir was going through a p a i n f u l b r e a k u p a n d d i v o r c e w i t h

Reena, so he said he wasn’t in the right frame of mind to even hear the script

W e t h e n a p p r o a c h e d V i v e k , w h o initially agreed but later backed out

a n d a s k e d f o r s c r i p t c h a n g e s W e decided to move forward without him That’s when Aditya Chopra suggested, ‘ W h y d o n ’ t y o u c o n s i d e r S a i f ? ’ I p i c t u r e d S a i f i n e v e r y s c e n e a n d immediately knew he was the perfect f i t A n d t h a t ’ s h o w i t a l l c a m e together ”

The romantic comedy ‘Hum Tum’, written and directed by Kunal Kohli, stars Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji It f o l l o w s t h e e v o l v i n g l o v e s t o r y o f Karan, a cartoonist, and Rhea, who meet on a flight and, despite a rocky start, are repeatedly brought together

b y f a t e , l e a d i n g t o a h e a r t w a r m i n g romance

Jacqueline Fernandez reflects on parents’ role in her career

In April, Jacqueline Fernandez mourned the loss of her mother and fondly recalled a proud career milestone her Hollywood debut alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme She reflected on how deeply her parents supported her through every success and challenge

Jacqueline shared a special memory of her entire family traveling to Italy during the filming of ‘Kill ‘Em All 2 ’ She expressed her excitement at working with her idol, Van Damme, whose movies her father even collected on laser disc Being on set together felt like a dream, and they helped each other with their lines

Jacqueline shared, “My parents came down and said, ‘We love our daughter She made us proud ’ Moments like these make all the struggles and challenges worth it ”

Speaking about her challenges and controversies, she highlighted the emotional impact on her family as well “What we go through as actors, our parents feel it too It takes a lot for them to keep supporting u

dreaming ”

The actress felt grateful for the last few months with her mother but wished she could have done more Coming to terms with the loss has been a long process Jacqueline believes her mother, her biggest supporter, would want her to keep moving forward Growing up in a simple household, acting once seemed unrealistic Though she dreamed of it since childhood, she only shared her ambition with her family at 18 or 19 and was relieved they embraced it without hesitation

Vijay Varma

on running away from home:

‘Secretly raised money from

friends’

Bollywood

actor Vijay Varma, known for his distinctive, performancedriven roles, recently opened up about his journey to stardom and following his passion despite challenges

In a chat with director Farah Khan on her YouTube channel, he shared

d

touched on his brief stint in Telugu cinema When asked why he hadn’t done more South Indian films, Vijay smiled and said, “I did a Telugu film after many years, ” adding he speaks “ a little bit” of Telugu

When asked if he came to Mumbai f r o m H y d e r a b a d o n h i s o w n , V i j a y revealed that he actually ran away from home but with a plan “Unlike most who run away first and figure things out later, I had it all mapped out I

money from friends quietly, and once I

shared

Vijay admitted his father was strict but said the family is now proud of his film career He also mentioned that his mother is soon moving to Mumbai to stay with him

On the professional front, Vijay is e a g e r l y a w a i

upcoming series, ‘Matka King’

h i

TV Listing

17:30Rasoi Show

MON 26 MAY - FRI 30 MAY 2025

09:00 Deshi Beats

16:30 Laxmi Sadaiv Mangalam

17:30 Rasoi Show

18:30 Rashi Rikshawali

19:00 Shyam Dhoon Lagi Re

19:30 Loveyatri

20:00 Rashi Rikshawali

20:30 Moti Baa Ni Nani Vahu

21:00 United States Of Gujarat

21:30 Mayashakti

22:30 Rangai Jaane Rangma

23:00 Rashi Rikshawali

SATURDAY 31 MAY 2025

09:00 Deshi Beats

16:30 Laxmi Sadaiv Mangalam

MON 26 MAY - FRI 30 MAY 2025

17:00 Anmol Bandhan

17:30 Shrukra Mangal

18:00 BALIKA VADHU SEASON 1

19:30 RAMACHARI

20:00 Anmol Bandhan

20:30 Udaariyan

21:00 Choti Sardarni

22:00 Anmol Bandhan

22:30 Shrukra Mangal

23:00 Ramachari

SATURDAY 31 MAY 2025

17:00 Anmol Bandhan

18:30 Rashi Rikshawali

19:00 Shyam Dhoon Lagi Re

19:30 Loveyatri

20:00 Rashi Rikshawali

20:30 Moti Baa Ni Nani Vahu

21:00 United States Of Gujarat

21:30 Mayashakti

22:30 Rangai Jaane Rangma

23:00 Rashi Rikshawali

SUNDAY 01 APR 2025

09:00 Deshi Beats

11:00 Rashi Rikshawali

11:30 Kutumb

14:30 Mayashakti

15:30 Loveyatri

16:30 Lakshya

17:30 Best of Rasoi Show

18:30 Shyam Dhoon Lagi Re

19:30 Loveyatri

20:30 Lakshya

21:30 Mayashakti

22:30 United States Of Gujarat

17:30 Shrukra Mangal

18:00 BALIKA VADHU SEASON 1

19:30 RAMACHARI

20:00 Anmol Bandhan

20:30 Udaariyan

21:00 Choti Sardarni

22:00 Anmol Bandhan

22:30 Shrukra Mangal

23:00 Ramachari

SUNDAY 01 APR 2025

17:00 Anmol Bandhan

17:30 Shrukra Mangal

18:00 BALIKA VADHU SEASON 1

19:30 RAMACHARI

20:00 Anmol Bandhan

20:30 Udaariyan

21:00 Choti Sardarni

22:00 Anmol Bandhan

22:30 Shrukra Mangal

23:00 Ramachari

s

Vijay Deverakonda calls Anirudh a musical genius

Vijay

Deverakonda is gearing up for his upcoming spy thriller

‘Kingdom’, directed by Gowtham Tinnanuri with music by Anirudh Ravichander. The ‘Arjun Reddy’ star recently shared that working with Anirudh has been a long-time dream, as he’s admired the composer’s work since before his acting career began Vijay Deverakonda recently shared how he fell in love with Anirudh Ravichander’s music after watching films like ‘VIP’ and ‘ 3 ’ , calling him a genius whose songs he often imagined performing to, even before becoming an actor “I always dreamed of having his music in my films, but it never worked out until now, ” he said Vijay also recalled a memorable moment listening to Anirudh’s hits during a 40-minute MRI scan, calling it a surprisingly peaceful and joyful experience Vijay Deverakonda playfully remarked that if he were a king, he would “kidnap” Anirudh Ravichander and other favourite artists so they could compose music exclusively for his films “If I were a king, I’d kidnap him and other artists I love they’d make music only for me, ” he joked

The first track from ‘Kingdom’, itled ‘Hridayam Lopala’, a romantic number composed by Anirudh, has already received a warm response rom fans The upcoming spy thriller explores the refugee crisis in the aftermath of the post-Independence Sinhala-Tamil conflict It stars Bhagyashree Borse as the female lead, with Satyadev in a key role

Initially slated for release on May 30, 2025, ‘Kingdom’ has now been postponed to July 4, 2025 The delay is attributed to ongoing IndiaPakistan tensions and unexpected national developments that have disrupted promotional plans

Actor Soori reflects on humble beginnings as daily wage worker

Tamil actor Soori faced many challenges before his lead debut in Vetrimaaran’s 2023 film ‘Viduthalai Part 1’ Since 1998, he has mostly played supporting or uncredited roles

At a recent eve

‘ M a a m a n ’ , S revealed that in 19 he worked as a dail

w a g e l a b o r e r i n Tiruppur, earning just 20 a day He

and sent the rest home to support his family, showing

o v e r c a m e t o

e a c where he is today

He recalled, “In I worked in Tirupp a group of friend just 20 a day By the end of the week, we made 140 I kept 70 for myself and sent the other 70 home There was a nearby bakery where a coconut bun cost just 1 25 Often, if I had tea and a bun, that would use up all my money, so many times I settled for just tea ” Soori also spoke fondly of the hotel own-

ers who showed him kindness during that time He said those days in Tiruppur taught him some of the toughest life lessons, and today the applause and love he el like a true reward

merous films such

Dhandayuthapani’,

Kajal Aggarwal to play Mandodari opposite Yash in ‘Ramayana’

Nitesh Tiwari’s much-anticipated

‘Ramayan’ adaptation is shaping up to be a star-studded affair. Ranbir Kapoor will portray Lord Ram, with Sai Pallavi as Sita

Reports now suggest that Kajal Aggarwal has joined the cast as Mandodari, opposite Yash, who plays Ravana She has reportedly begun shooting for her role

“The role of Mandodari in ‘Ramayan’ is vital, so it was essential to cast a well-established actress who could capture the depth and complexity of Ravana’s wife opposite Yash,” a source told

A production insider added, “The team wanted someone with a strong pan-Indian presence While several actresses were consider Aggarwal’s popularity i the North and South m her the perfect fit ”

Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’ features a star-studded cast, with Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana The film also includes Sunny Deol, Ravi Dubey, and Lara Dutta in key roles Planned as a two-part epic, the first instalmen is slated for release on Diwali 2026, followed b second part in 2027

and ‘Sangili Bungili

widespread acclaim He reprised the role in ‘Viduthalai

unavoidable

Ravi Mohan opens up on marriage controversy

exploiting his past Ravi Mohan confirmed his family and close friends are aware of his divorce and urged respect for everyone ’ s privag h i s e x - w i f e ’ s i n g t o p u b l i c ation, he denied i c a t e d c l a i m s out his role as a a

lived in

for

” he said, reaffirming his faith in the legal process and warning against those

s stood for truth ” H e a l s o expressed pain over being cut o f f f r o m h i s children, learning about their c a r a c c i d e n t o n l y a m o n t h ater “No father s e r v e s t h i s , ” h e , adding that he his children will understand his the truth On the work front, Ravi is busy with several projects, including ‘Karathey Babu’, where he plays an MLA, the muchanticipated ‘Thani Oruvan 2 ’ , and upcoming films ‘Genie’ and ‘SK25’

H O N O U R I N G R A Y , C E L E B R A T I N G W O M E N I N F I L M I N D I A S H I N E S A T C A N N E S 2025

While India did not secure a spot in the main competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, its presence was still strongly felt across the Croisette in multiple meaningful ways

A year after Payal Kapadia made history with All We Imagine As Light, winning the coveted Palme d’Or, India’s participation in 2025 shifted toward other significant categories and contributions

From exciting new screenings to student film recognition, red carpet appearances, and major trailer launches at the Bharat Pavilion, India remained an integral part of the festival’s prestigious lineup The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival ran from May 13 to May 24

Payal Kapadia named to C annes Main C ompetition J ury

Renowned filmmaker Payal Kapadia, who captured global attention last year with her Palme d’Or-winning film, returned to Cannes this time as a member of the main competition jury Kapadia joins a prestigious panel alongside Halle Berry, Leila Slimani, Alba Rohrwacher, Jeremy Strong, Dieudo Hamadi, Carlos Reygadas, and Hong Sangsoo The jury is chaired by French actress Juliette Binoche Her appointment underscores a significant milestone for Indian representation at the pinnacle of international cinema

Remembering Ray

Legendary actors Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal graced the Cannes Film Festival 2025 with their presence for the special screening of Satyajit Ray’s classic 1970 film Aranyer Din Ratri The Bengali-language masterpiece, restored by acclaimed American filmmaker Wes Anderson, was presented in a stunning 4K version under the festival’s prestigious Cannes Classics section

Both Tagore and Garewal made a memorable appearance at the gala, showcasing their timeless elegance while celebrating this cinematic treasure

Homebou nd p remiere

Janhvi Kapoor joined director Karan Johar and actor Ishaan Khatter at the Cannes Film Festival ahead of the premiere of their film Homebound Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, Homebound is featured in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section at Cannes The film tells the poignant story of two childhood friends growing up in a North Indian village to be premiered on May 21

Guneet Monga Kapo or Launches 'Wom en in Film India'

In a major industry milestone, Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor unveiled Women in Film India (WIF India), a dedicated initiative to promote gender equity, international collaboration, and

access for women cinema Announc the initiative laun the Cannes Produ Fellowship, suppo women producers Shome, Rucha Pat Dimpy Agarwal, to networks and co-p opportunities

Cannes Fashion At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Indian women made a remarkable impac

’ s commitment to -conscious style he festival

ctress Urvashi made headlines rst Indian actress annes 2025 red onning a blue gown with a skirt and sheer e, boldly owning e spotlight despite minor wardrobe mishap

Indian art patron and star Netflix’s reality

the global stage, showcasing a blend of cultural heritage, craftsmanship, and contemporary style on the red carpet

Fashion influencer Masoom Minawala captivated attendees with a sculptural ivory silk jumpsuit and dramatic cape by Kolkata’s Reik Studio, featuring over 600 hours of hand embroidery, pearls, and enamel roses - a tribute to Indian artisanal excellence

Nancy Tyagi, known for her sustainable fashion ethos, debuted a self-stitched pink ruffled gown crafted from 1,000 meters of fabric, underscoring

series ‘Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives’, Shalini Passi made a stunning debut at the Cannes Film Festival She graced the red carpet in a customdesigned mermaid-style gown by Manish Malhotra, featuring striking artwork by renowned artist Paresh Maity seamlessly blending fashion with fine art Mouni Roy, actress and entrepreneur, represented Indian cinema elegantly in an off-shoulder midnight blue and black gown by Caroline Couture, adding glamour to India’s cinematic presence at Cannes Former Miss Universe India and doctor Nikita Kushwaha made a dazzling debut in a shimmering silver ball gown by Joli Poli, adding grace and charm to the festival’s glamorous lineup

At Cannes 2025, Lapata actress Nitanshi Goel also paid a heartfelt tribute to women in cinema, celebrating their resilience and creativity in a traditionally male-dominated industry

What truly set this look apart was her custom-designed hair accessory by Be Abhika, featuring cascading pearl strands adorned with miniature photo frames of iconic actresses such as Madhubala, Rekha, Sridevi, Hema Malini, Waheeda Rehman, and Nutan This unique tribute resonated deeply with fans and attendees, highlighting Goel's respect for the rich legacy of Indian cinema

questions OTT pay gap despite Maharani’s success Huma Qureshi

mark in the digital space with her acclaimed performance as Rani Bharti in the hit OTT

‘Maharani’ The role brought her widespread praise and popularity Reflecting on the OTT boom, she shared how it has opened new doors for actors like her - while also highlighting the ongoing issue of pay disparity in the industry.

Huma Qureshi called ‘Maharani’ “possibly the most watched and most loved show,” but highlighted the persistent pay gap in the industry “Do I get paid as much as my male counterparts on OTT shows? Far from it,” she said, pointing out the irony of being the lead yet earning less than male actors in similar roles “I keep hearing about male actors getting 45 crores, and I’m like, why?”

When asked about the reason behind such disparity, she said, “There is no reason given It’s just how things are ” Still, Huma remains hopeful, noting that ongoing dialogue is key to change “I

demanding relevant stories ” She praised the OTT space for offering new opportunities to actors like Jaideep Ahlawat, Shefali Shah, and herself, but warned it’s becoming too formulaic Reinvention, she said, is essential to keep storytelling meaningful

Debanjali Kamstra debuts at Cannes with film and production launch

UAE-based entrepreneur, environmentalist, and Mrs Earth Debanjali Kamstra made her Cannes debut this May, appearing on the red carpet at the ‘Eagles of the Republic’ screening on May 19 She also celebrated the premiere of her acting debut, ‘30 Days of Autumn’, held at the Palais des Festivals on May 18 in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The film, directed by Sudipto Roy and adapted from Rabindranath Tagore's ‘The Postmaster’, marks Debanjali’s transition into acting following a successful career in business, sustainability, and international pageantry

Adding to the Cannes celebrations, Debanjali Kamstra announced the launch of Veloche Productions, a new film company co-founded with Indian film veteran Sandhya Ramachandran The company aims to support emerging South Asian filmmakers and bridge the gap between talent and industry access

As part of its launch, Veloche opened a production fund for script submissions from July 1 to September 30, 2025, with one selected script receiving full production support The winner will be announced in October Veloche’s debut project, an Englishlanguage horror film based on Indian folklore, will be directed by BFI graduate Salil Jason Fernandez and creative producer Aliya Curmally, with production starting in early 2026

Speaking about her Cannes debut, Debanjali Kamstra said, “There’s incredible filmmaking talent in the Indian subcontinent, as seen from the global recognition many films have received recently Yet much of this talent remains untapped due to limited access to funding and industry connections My own journey has opened many doors, and with Veloche Productions, I hope to help others tell their stories on screen Cannes, where my first film as an actor is being screened, is the perfect place to launch this vision ”

Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal at Cannes Red Carpet

Nitanshi Goel paying tribute to Indian actresses at Cannes through her braid

Guneet Monga Kapoor (second left) unveiled Women in Film India (WIF India) at Cannes

Shalini Passi

Qureshi has made a strong

series

IPL: Openers seal GT’s playoff berth

There have been very few i mposing opening pairs this IPL like Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan As they walked pas t the 200-run target set by D elhi Capitals with an over to s pare at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Sunday evening, they s ec ured G ujarat Titans’ s pot i n the playoffs Thi s is Capitals’ fourth loss at thei r home ground

It was flawless batting throughout If t h e l e f t - h a n d e d S u d h

t h e responsibility of getting the team off to a flyer in the powerplay, Gill took over the role in the second half of the innings With G i l l s c o r i n g u n b e a t e n 9 3 o f f 5 3 a n d Sudharsan returning unbeaten 108 off 61, the young duo planned out the chase to a nicety, something KL Rahul seemed to fall short in doing despite his unbeaten 112 off 65 balls while opening the innings in the first half of the match Sudharsan’s effortless punch over the head of Kuldeep Yadav to bring up his century off 56 balls was a stamp of authority Unlike the Capitals innings in the powerplay where they scored 45/1, Gill a n d S u d h a r s a n e n s u r e d t h e y n e v e r f e l l behind the run-rate at any stage SRH knock LSG out

A b h i s h e k S h a r m a ( 5 9 ) a n d H e i n r i c h

Klaasen (47) powered Sunrisers Hyderabad t o a s i x - w i c k e t t r i u m p h o v e r L u c k n o w Super Giants in their IPL clash on Monday Chasing 206, Sharma gave SRH the perfect start with his 20-ball 59 with six sixes and five fours set them on the path to win Ishan Kishan also flourished in his 28-ball 35 while Kamindu Mendis made 32 before retiring hurt SRH scored 206/4 in 18 2 overs as last year ’ s finalists recorded only their fourth win Earlier, Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram struck high quality fifties before Sunrisers Hyderabad stemmed the flow of runs to limit hosts Lucknow Super Giants

to 205/7 in the Indian Premier League on Monday Marsh (65 off 39) and Markram (61 o

)

h e powerplay, taking LSG to 69 for no loss

Openers seal GT’s playoff berth

There have been very few imposing opening pairs this IPL like Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan As they walked past the 200-run target set by Delhi Capitals with an over to spare at the Ferozeshah Kotla on S u n d a y e v e n i n g , t h e y s e c u

Titans’ spot in the playoffs This is Capitals’ fourth loss at their home ground It was flawless batting throughout If the lefthanded Sudharsan took the responsibility of getting the team off to a flyer in the powerplay, Gill took over the role in the second half of the innings With Gill scoring unbeaten 93 off 53 and Sudharsan returning unbeaten 108 off 61, the young duo planned out the chase to a nicety, something KL Rahul seemed to fall short in doing despite his unbeaten 112 off 65 balls while opening the innings in the first half of the match Sudharsan’s effortless punch over the head of Kuldeep Yadav to bring up his century off 56 balls was a stamp of authority Unlike the Capitals innings in the powerplay where t h e y s c o r e d 4 5 / 1 , G i l

ensured they never fell behind the run-rate at any stage

Punjab on brink of playoffs

At what should have been their fortress in this IPL season, the Sawai Mansingh

partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi set the tone for the

impressive 53 off 31 balls towards the end, the

P u n j a b K i n g s ( P B K S ) s e c u r i n g a 1 0 - r u n

victory, strengthening their playoff chances Left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar emerged as

t h e g a m e - b r e a k e

S u r y a v a n s h i r e a c h i n g 5 0 i n 3 o v e r s , particularly targeting Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen for 39 runs in the initial two

Nehal Wadhera’s

crucial partnerships with captain Shreyas Iyer and Shashank Singh

in brief

KANITKAR TO COACH INDIA 'A' IN ENGLAND

The BCCI has appointed former India allrounder Hrishikesh Kanitkar as the head coach of the India ‘A’ team for their upcoming tour of England Rajib Dutta has been named bowling coach while Joydeep Bhattacharya is the fielding coach The Abhimanyu Easwaran led India A’ side is scheduled to play two matches against the England Lions (May 30 -June 2 in Canterbury and June 6-9 in Northampton) and one against the senior India squad (June 13-16) This ‘shadow tour’ holds importance as part of the team’s preparations for the five-match Test series against England beginning on June 20 in Leeds

INDIA SET TO HOST WORLD AMATEUR SNOOKER MEET

India is preparing to host the World Amateur Snooker Championships in 2026 as part of the centenary celebrations of the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) Recently a meeting took place involving the federation s secretary general Sunil Bajaj, Delhi Billiards and Snooker Association s (DBSA) secretary Ravi K Tandon, and DBSA s joint secretary Manmeet Bhatia to discuss the organisation of the tournament Tandon said that Delhi has hosted 19 world-class billiards and snooker events in the past, such as the World Amateur Billiards Championships in 1985, and noted DBSA’s extensive experience in managing major tournaments of this scale

INDIA WOMEN CLOSE IN ON ENG IN ODI RANKINGS

Racism on the rise in British football, says antidiscrimination charity

Sa m Okafor, CEO of Kick It Out, a nd a former foot ball er, said that r e p o r t s o f r a c is m a n d d i sc r im in a t i o n i n t h e B r it i sh ga me had increased in t he last few sea sons, driven by a rise in h a t e fu l so ci a l m e d ia p os t s dire cte d towards pla yers, coache s a nd referees

“ I t h a s n ’ t b e e n e r a d i c a t e d from the game We’ve heard it throughout the season, ” he said

I n a n i n t e r v i e w , h e s a i d t h a t while the charity has seen racism a n d d i s c r i m i n a t i o n " s h i f t

significantly" to the online space, t

exists in stadiums

“I've spoken to one or two players who have had it in [the] terraces this season, and I know the negative impact it has on them and on their ability to enjoy the game

Reacting, Stephanie Peacock, Minister for Sport, said there was “absolutely no place for racism in society or sport” and that the government supports the work Kick it Out, national governing

discrimination

"Clearly, there is more to do,

creating an environment where everyone feels safe to be involved in sport,” she said Okafor said Kick It Out has collaborated with

regulator, to tackle abuse within football

“This season, more than ever, you can see the impact it’s having on players, coaches and on those

Neeraj Chopra joins territorial army, conferred honorary rank

N ee r aj C h o p r a h a s b e en c o n f

d h onorary rank of Lieutenant C olo nel in th e Indian Territo rial Army Th e ap po intment, ac cording to The Gaz ette o f India came into ef fect on April 16

B e f o r e N e e r a j , f o r m e r I n d i a n cricket team captains MS Dhoni and Kapil Dev were also conferred honorary ranks in the Territorial Army The 2008

B e j i n g O l y m p i c s g o l d m e d a l l i s t Abhinav Bindra was also conferred an honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army in 2011 Sachin Tendulkar was honored with the rank of Group Captain in the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2010

Neeraj was earlier enrolled as a Junior Commissioned Officer in Naib Subedar rank in the Indian Army on August 26, 2016 He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2018 and the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021 for his meritorious s e r v i c e H e w a s

promoted to the rank of Subedar in the same year Neeraj Chopra will compete in the 71st ORLEN Janusz Kusociński Memorial event in Chorzów, Poland, on May 23 following the postponement of next week's NC Classic in Bengaluru Brea ches 90m mar k, wins silver in Doha Neeraj Chopra finally breached the elusive 90m mark with a 90 23m throw b u t f i n i s h e d s e c o n d b e h i n d J u l i a n Weber of Germany in a dramatic men's javelin contest at the Doha leg of the prestigious Diamond League Meeting series Weber turned the tables and took the top spot with his final throw, m e a s u r i n g 9 1 0 6 m T h e 2 7 - y e a r - o l d double Olympic medallist Indian sent his spear 90 23m in his third attempt to join a list of javelin throwers, led by his current coach Jan Zelezny of Czechia, who had recorded 90m-plus efforts He became the third Asian and 25th overall to achieve the feat

participating within the game ” Khadija Shaw, a Manchester City women ’ s player, in February pulled out of the League Cup semi-final against Arsenal after suffering racist and sexist abuse Okafor said more than 50 per c

report had experienced sexism or misogyny in the game He added that 85 per cent of those women who experienced abuse had not

authorities

Athletes from Gujarat win 13 medals at Khelo India Youth Games

At hlet es fr om Gujar at won 13 med als a t the se ven th Khelo India Youth G ame s held in Bihar re cent ly An official stat eme nt sa id tha t 10 7 athlet es from the sta te pa rt icipat ed

Athletes from the state won two gold, two silver, and three bronze medals in judo; one silver medal in yoga; one silver and two bronze medals in fencing; one bronze medal in swimming; one bronze medal in volleyball; and one bronze medal in wrestling, totalling 13 medals

An official statement said that under-18 athletes from Gujarat participated in a wide range of disciplines at the event organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Athletes from Gujarat participated in individual and team events in volleyball, judo, archery, swimming, gymnastics, weightlifting, wrestling, mallakhamb, tennis, athletics, thang-ta, yoga, gatka, kalaripayattu, fencing, cycling, and s h o o t i n g T h

infrastructure is being built to promote a sports culture Before 2002, Gujarat’s sports budget was only £250,000, which increased to over £48 79mn in 2024 Sports Policy 2 0 2 2 - 2 0 2 7 h a s b e e n

developing a sports ecosystem in the state

Buoyed by their victory in the tri-nation series, India gained eight rating points to narrow the gap with second-placed England in the latest ICC Women’s ODI team rankings India now stand at 121 rating points, just six behind England, who hold 127 Despite the shuffle below, seven-time world champions Australia remain firmly at the top with 167 points, though their lead has slightly reduced - from 44 to 40 points New Zealand (96) South Africa (90) and Sri Lanka (82) round out an unchanged top six, with the Proteas remaining in fifth placed despite dropping nine rating points in the update The update provides a 50 per cent weightage for matches between May 2022 and April 2024 and 100 per cent for matches thereafter

DC SIGN MUSTAFIZUR AS JAKE-FRASER REPLACEMENT

Delhi Capitals signed Bangladesh left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman as replacement for Australian batter Jake-Fraser McGurk, who will not rejoin the team for the remainder of the IPL after returning home Fraser-McGurk’s release won’t hurt DC as he was dropped after the first six games in which he tallied only 55 runs Also, if Mitchell Starc doesn’t come, then Mustafizur’s left arm seam bowling would come in handy ENGLAND APPOINT SOUTHEE AS SKILLS

Former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee was appointed as England’s Specialist Skills Consultant till the conclusion of the five-match Test series against India India will start their tour of England with the first Test at Leeds on June 20