AV 29th January 2022

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India's 73rd Republic Day Special

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Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

8 Commemorating the survivors and victims of the Holocaust

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New campaign targeting South Asian adults reveals six major health benefits of losing weight

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VOL 50 - ISSUE 38

13 How playground games can boost gender equality

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Gujarati family freezes to death on the US-Canada border

Padma honours for Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, Swami Sachchidanand

Women from BAME communities are among the victims of sexual assault and harassment in the British healthcare system, Asian Voice has learned. We speak to Asian doctors and NHS trainee Dr Simon Fleming about sexual assault in and outside surgeries.

L-R: Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, Swami Sachhidanand

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Google's Sundar Pichai are among the 17 Padma Bhushan awardees this year.

Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in India after Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan.

Continued on page 26

PM Modi unveils hologram of Netaji at India Gate

L-R: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's hologram, PM Narendra Modi

Shefali Saxena From misplaced compliments to awful usage of words in banter in locker rooms, women become victims of countless such instances where it is difficult for them to articulate their discomfort, sometimes due to a power struggle, many times due to orthodox and stigmatised homes (especially in the South Asian community) where no one would believe them, and most of the times because people think they ‘didn’t mean to harm’.

Continued on page 6

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday unveiled a hologram of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate, putting the legendary hero of the freedom struggle on the same pedestal as Gandhi, Nehru, Patel and Ambedkar.

Continued on page 26

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AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

29 Jan - 4 Feb 2022

with Keith Vaz

Albino family in Coventry enters Guinness World Records

ANGELA MULDER Diamond Specialist Angela Mulder was born in Driehuis, the Netherlands. After graduating she moved to Rotterdam to study Law at Erasmus University. She then moved to Amsterdam for her first job at Coster Diamonds, where she picked up valuable knowledge in the Diamond Industry.

In 2006 Angela started her own company in Diamond Setting. As most of her customers were based in the UK, Angela moved to the UK in 2012, expanding her business in diamond settings, loose diamonds, jewellery and high-end watches.

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

Feeling “at home” for me is not connected with a place or country but is based on where the people are who are close to my heart, which currently is Delft in the Netherlands and London, UK. 2) What are your proudest achievements?

My proudest achievement is in a business on a trade level mainly dominated by men having found my place being a woman.

3) What inspires you?

What is always inspirational to me is people achieving their ambitions while coming from an underprivileged background.

4) What has been biggest obstacle in your career?

The obstacle in my career has been jealousy encountered by competitors in the business who don’t carry the same values in life.

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

My father, putting me on the path of the diamond trade and gave me a free outlook on life.

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

Freedom and contact with a very diverse group of people.

7) And the worst?

Risk comes along in dealing with highvalue items.

8) What are your long term goals?

Making my new business venture a success is developing an ultra-luxury range of dog accessories diamond-encrusted.

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

Being from the Netherlands where there is no private education, and any education is open to anyone in society I would like to think the division of private and public schools sets of a class division early in life which I see as unwanted.

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

Leonardo da Vinci….as a uomo universale, Painter, sculptor, architect, designer, theorist, engineer and scientist he is great inspiration, his achievements in so many different fields are truly exceptional.

Several Tory MPs to switch to Labour After the dramatic defection of Bury South MP Christian Wakeford, other Tory MPs are now thinking of switching to Labour. According to senior Labour figures, the discussion is on with “several others” from the

Conservative benches who might follow the “Red Wall” MP in crossing the Chamber.

Labour sources said that MPs are unhappy with the direction of the Conservative Party under a

beleaguered Boris Johnson.

At the same time, they did not disclose the number of possible defectors. One Shadow Cabinet figure told i: “We’re talking to people.

There is a lot of unhappiness.”

The Apprentice contestant Shama Amin quits The Apprentice contestant Shama Amin, who has rheumatoid arthritis, has quit the popular BBC show citing health reasons. The mother-of-five and the Bradford nursery owner said she wanted to "be a living example" for Asian women.

She added that the competition, where the winner takes home a £250,000 investment from Lord Alan Sugar, was "physically demanding".

On the show on Thursday, the mother-of-five

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will say: "Because of medical reasons, due to this process being so physically demanding, despite all the efforts the whole team has made to support me, I have had to make a difficult decision to leave the process. I would just like to thank you so much for this opportunity."

Nearly 4.6 million people watched the first episode making it the show's most popular launch since 2017

Naseem Akhtar and her five brothers and sisters who faced abuse and discrimination throughout their lives for albinism have made their way into Guinness World Records for being a family with albinism. Last year, they were recognised as the most siblings with albinism.

Naseem, 42, who put the family forward for the record said, “I always believed something good

would happen. Maybe being Guinness World Records title holders is that good thing." She said that she was passionate about raising awareness with regard to

albinism and wanted to help people to deal with the same. The sibling, youngest Mohammed Rafi, 27, said that they have turned it into a positive and it will help to boost their confidence.

Albinism affects the production of melanin and has different coloured eyes due to a lack of pigment in the iris.

Priti Patel warns about national security alerts The Home Secretary said that there will be more national security alerts similar to an alert that was allegedly issued by MI5 about Christine Ching Kui Lee being a Chinese agent.

Priti Patel said that the UK needs stronger laws to protect against foreign agents.

MI5 revealed how Christine Ching Kui Lee donated more than £500,000 to senior Labour

MP Barry Gardiner over a period of six years, which was used to cover staffing costs in his office.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party said centrally it had received some £5,000.

Ms Patel said the Chinese Communist Party was targeting British parliamentarians calling it as “deeply concerning” She added: “We are working to look at what measures we can take to

strengthen our laws, our legislations, to effectively lead to the type of prosecutions that we currently cannot deliver.”

MI5 had sent the Security Service Interference Alert (SSIA) to MPs and peers stating that Lee “acted covertly” in coordination with the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Couple builds four-seater-plane by watching YouTube videos A family of four didn’t let the pandemic dampen their spirits instead they utilised their time to build a fourseater plane just by watching YouTube videos. Ashok Aliseril, 38, who is a trained pilot and an engineer from England's Essex, took help from his family and spent nearly two years building the plane.

The couple who saved money on school breakfast

clubs, commuting and socialising used it to fund the project. It is reported that the entire project cost is £155,000 (Rs 1.57 crore).

Both Ashok and his wife Abhilasha wanted to buy an aircraft that was capable of accommodating both them and their two young daughters.

The couple is now planning to travel to fly to the Isle of Wight for the sum-

mer holidays, while Ashok is hoping that he could fly the plane to Manchester United matches.

More than 900 Covid deaths recorded in England and Wales The Office for National Statistics figures suggests that there were 922 Covid deaths registered in England and Wales in the week to 7 January. Compared to the previous week, this is con-

sidered a rise of 58 per cent.

However, the ONS believes that the increase is artificially high because the figures in the previous week’s release were affected by the Christmas and Boxing Day

bank holidays.

Since the new year, people being treated for Covid in UK hospitals have risen by 63 per cent, according to the latest available government data.

Royal Gurkha Rifles receives SLIM Trophy for 2021

Boris Johnson’s baby daughter contracts Covid Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s baby daughter Romy was badly ill from Covid which forced him to isolate during No. 10 party crisis.

The PM’s daughter was just five weeks old when she was tested for the virus, says reports. Last Thursday, he vanished from the public eye after his daughter fell ill.

As per the Daily Mail reports, she is believed to be "on the mend".

Captain Deepakkumar Gurung from The First Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles has been awarded the SLIM Trophy for 2021. It is awarded annually to the most outstanding Royal Gurkha Rifles Late Entry Gurkha Captain in a given year.

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Minority unity to fight bigots?

Former Lib Dem Mayoral candidate Siobhan Benita has 'India connections'. In a tweet she wrote, “Seriously though- and I mean seriously. Why on earth would Putin care one jot what Johnson thinks - the whole world is laughing at us, and our government are partying clowns.”

Britain has always been a yardstick of democracy for the world, and today Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s parties aren’t the only issues that need investigating by Met Police. While people are already debating if a British Hindu politician could be the next Prime Minister, the question is whether we are even ready to be inclusive, let alone be accepting towards major existing cultural differences.

Nusrat Ghani’s case is a classic example. A woman of ethnic background and of Muslim faith. She was sacked, as transport minister, allegedly not because of ‘underperformance’ but, because of her racial background- most importantly the faith she belonged to.

She told The Sunday Times her experience was "like being punched in the stomach. I felt humiliated and powerless".

Nusrat’s allegations reopens the claims that Tory party is Islamophobic. From Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling burkha cladded women looking like letter boxes, the Guardian reported how in March 2019, they revealed that 15 Conservative councillors who were suspended over posting Islamophobic or racist content online had their membership quietly reinstated. Apparently, some had allegedly described Saudis as “sand peasants” or shared material comparing Asian people to dogs.

In April 2019, the Guardian had further reported on how two Conservative local election candidates and a woman honoured with an MBE were allegedly among 40 new self-professed Tory members who shared or endorsed racist and inflammatory Facebook posts, including Islamophobic material.

In the same month, it emerged that Nusrat had been bombarded with emails from a Conservative activist prais-

ing Enoch Powell’s ‘rivers of blood’ speech.

In September 2020, a poll reportedly commissioned by the anti-racism organisation Hope Not Hate had found that almost half of Conservative party members allegedly believed Islam “a threat to the British way of life.”

In response to Nusrat's allegations, the Muslim Council of Britain reportedly said it was “now time” for the EHRC to investigate the party, to determine if any breaches of the law have taken place.

The problem here is not just the hatred towards one faith. Labour party has come under severe scrutiny for its anti-Semitic stance and its anti-India stance. Perfection is an illusion in a racist world. But the glaring issue here is the refusal to learn from old mistakes. And that is alarming.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, a prominent figure and member of the Tory party had raised this, ten years ago.

Nothing has absolutely changed despite having a Muslim Cabinet Minister. The other serious challenge remains the elaborate complaint procedure. For immigrants, community stigma is often a roadblock, and the beaten path of justice means letting go of a chunk of your prime time, career, money and stability- something that has already been hard for any generation of immigrants to accomplish.

The communities that are possibly rejoicing that they aren’t the victims of this hatred, proudly displaying their ‘score-cards’ on social media, it’s only a matter of time. For most haters or bigots, your individual identity makes no difference. All they need is you to be different from them.

While we spew so much hatred towards our own, anything foreign is always as exotic as it's terrifying.

Halima Begum writes in The Times, “the assault on belongings always carries scars. As a series of new bills edge closer to becoming law, ethnic minority communities across the UK face the most significant and sustained threat to their civil rights in recent memory.” Truer words have never been spoken. These are very dark times indeed and it demands all the minority communities to commit to stand in unity, as a weapon against supremacists.

Women aren’t the reason!

A woman is always at fault, even when she isn’t!

Taslima Nasrin, a famous Bangladeshi-Swedish author, has taken the internet by storm, after criticising celebrities using surrogates to have ‘readymade babies’. This comes right after Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas announced their baby girl’s birth, 12 weeks premature.

In another news, actor Anushka Sharma has been criticised for ‘affecting’ Virat Kohli’s cricketing carrier. It is worth noting Anushka’s production house Clean Slate Filmz Pvt has signed a deal with Amazon and Netflix – two major OTT platforms, to push out films and web series worth $54 million. She is much more than just Virat’s ‘distracting’ wife.

A decade ago, a book published in America, called The Twisted Sisterhood said 90% of women surveyed have felt mean and negative 'undercurrents' from other women.

While it sounds cliché, Taslima, despite her next tweet to defend herself, makes this belief stronger.

Bollywood actors Shilpa Shetty, Preity Zinta, Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan have all had babies via surrogate – but that didn’t stop online trolls from attacking Priyanka Chopra. Though Priyanka announced she did not have fertility issues, trolls’ reaction was rather bewildering. It is not anyone other than partners’ business to decide if and how they would have a child. And why is it presumed it was Priyanka with fertility issues?

However, there are silver linings. For example, speaking

about shooting during the Hollywood film Ocean’s 8, actor Ann Hathaway spoke how the main cast that was all women, was so encouraging as well as extremely supportive of her as a new mother. They not only thought the extra weight Hathaway had put on made her look attractive, but it was a hoot to shoot where women were the real heroes. It also took major faith in 8 female superstars to sign up for a film, which was a superhit franchise run by top male actors before.

Let’s look at what the world is facing, in terms of fertility- both and women. The depopulation time bomb shows, China's birth rate fell below 10 per 1,000 people (to 8.52) for the first time since records began in 1978, according to the statistical yearbook released by the National Bureau of Statistics in November.

As per the National Family, Health Survey released earlier in 2021, India’s fertility rate has fallen from 2.2 in 2015-16 to 2.0 in 2019-21.

In the UK, there were 613,936 live births in England and Wales in 2020, a notable decrease of 4.1% from 2019. The total fertility rate (TFR) reached a record low in 2020, decreasing to 1.58 children per woman.

The reasons are many. Climate change, socio-economic drawbacks, unemployment as well as Covid-19.

It is rather myopic and misogynistic to blame women for every failure mankind has ever faced!

A gift to the diaspora worldwide It is the time for jubilation. As the country celebrates Republic Day on its 75th year of independence, UK-India relationships are developing fast, with strong FTA in both nations' pockets. As Padma Bhushan is bestowed upon Indians and NRIs like Satya Nadela and Sundar Pichai, diaspora is rejoicing another great event, that changed India’s face of history.

Celebrating freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose’s 125th birthday on 23 January, PM Narendra Modi announced a statue of Netaji in a prominent public place in New Delhi, replacing the statue of George V. In Britain, this perhaps would have been criticised as an effort to tamper with history, but with de-colonisation and nationalism on the rise, PM Modi’s move has been applauded by many, including in the diasporic Bengali community.

Heritage Bengal Global, a community organisation run by Indian Bengalis in the UK have rejoiced this development, sharing social media messages by Anuj Dhar, a famous journalist and author.

To those who still find this inauguration of hologram and the statue by India’s Prime Minister just as a political move, is rather short-sighted. The Bengali community, irrespective of their choice in leadership, ousted Congress from Bengal years ago, urging PM Modi to open the classified files to tell. The world if Netaji was killed in the plane crash. Famous Bengali

journalist late Barun Sengupta wrote a book called “Netajir Antardhan Rahashya” (The mystery of Netaji’s disappearance) talking about how documents provided to Khosla commission were inadequate, how their decision was baseless.

To those who have forever believed Netaji was a maverick, forget that India needed all- Gandhi, Bose, Ambedkar, Patel and even Nehru.

When freedom fighters sat on the fence, defending Britain’s rule of law and Magna Carta, it was Bose who told his Jewish friends, "It is dreadful, but it must be done. India must gain her independence, cost what it may." India’s soldiers that were puppets in the hands of the British, poor, illiterate and desperate, suddenly had their own army, leader and a goal to see India as an independent nation, not just a shadow of the ‘King and Country’.

M N Roy, Subhas Bose they were the fire in India’s bellythe challenge that Britain could not ignore or crush. As India, celebrates its 75th anniversary, this is the right time to recall every freedom fighter’s contribution to help the nation attain freedom from colonial rule.

Chandra Bose, a BJP leader and kin of freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose, wrote a letter to PM Modi asking him to have Netaji’s image on Indian currency notes. PM Modi should not just stop at this statue. The Living Bridge is waiting to see his next gift to the diaspora worldwide.

Thought for the week Life loses half its interest if there is no struggle — if there are no risks to be taken. - Subhas Chandra Bose

Political Sketchbook Alpesh Patel

India League welcomes closer UK-India relations The India League was founded around a century ago to initially promote the independence of India. You can find our website here: https://www.theindialeague.org/ . You may think it ironic that an organisation founded to distance the relationship between India and the UK, now of course seeks closer relations.

Of course a moment’s thought reveals that both countries seek it and the peoples of both countries seek closer relations.

India taught Britain the importance of being a liberal democracy through the Independence movement. The India League made the moral case for democracy, liberalism, separation of ‘church from state’ and it made the moral case against imperialism, colonisation, unfettered capitalism and exploitation, and discrimination.

Those values remain Indian ideals, enshrined in India’s constitution. Britain does not have yet have a formal written constitution. They are the ideals the India League and I as President promote. Those disagreeing with them in Britain and India were in the minority; in Britain those disagreeing were outvoted and in India those disagreeing left India where they could to make their own country. Many would have preferred they stayed within one nation and the case to convince them of the merits of being a secular rather than theocratic nation have had longer to be made.

What Next For UK India Relations?

The UK Trade Secretary has returned to India to kick off a free trade agreement. Following recent joint military exercises between the countries, what does 2022 hold for this special relationship?

January 13th saw the beginning of free trade agreement discussions between the UK and India. The goal is to secure an agreement worth billions of dollars by the end of the year.

However, Piyush Goyal, the Indian trade minister, and AnneMarie Trevelyan, the UK's international trade secretary, have suggested both countries could form a limited agreement over the next few months.

India is already an essential partner for the UK. The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) offers an opportunity to deepen this relationship. The UK estimates that a successful deal could double exports and increase trade by £28bn by 2035.

An FTA could bring many advantages. The much-hopedfor US trade deal still looks remote, and Brexit has contributed to skills and labour shortages across Britain. UK ministers hope an FTA with India can help solve these issues.

Currently, 20% of UK health workers are born in India.

That number is 13% for IT workers. However, visa issues and costs are frequently cited as barriers to economic migration.

With inflows from EU countries down, Indian citizens could play a huge role in filling these gaps.

India has a population of 1.4bn people. Additionally, it has one of the largest and fastest-growing economies. This growth includes an expanding middle class, making India an intriguing market for foreign businesses.

However, securing an FTA with New Delhi won't necessarily be straightforward. The country's protectionist economy hasn't always been receptive to these kinds of deals. However, there are signs that this approach is softening. The UK government is targeting two significant trade areas: green energies and increased exports. Reducing tariffs on exports to India could increase imports by £6.8 billion. Currently, UK exports like cars and whiskey have duties of over 125% and 150%, respectively. Any agreement would seek to reduce these duties to encourage trade between the two countries.

Summary With elections on the horizon in both countries, the UK and India hope that FTA discussions will be swift and productive. For Britain, India will provide an excellent partner postBrexit. With a vast economy and a burgeoning middle class, the UK’s service economy stands to benefit significantly from a closer relationship.

For India, an agreement should create opportunities for its citizens to live and work in Britain. Negotiations could include cutting the costs and restrictions that Indian citizens currently face. We at India League welcome every attempt by both nations to bring each other closer together.

Asian Voice is published by

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Student designs app to make food shopping easier for people with dietary requirements A Coventry University student has designed an app that aims to make it easier for people with specific dietary requirements to know what food they can eat.

Third-year student Jake Sarkar used the skills he learned in his computer science course to design an app called Avoid with his friend Khaled Saker. The app allows people to check if the food they want to buy from a shop fits their dietary needs but it is not designed as a primary safety measure for people with serious allergies.

All the user needs to do is download the app, input their dietary requirements or ingredients they want to avoid and then use the app to scan the barcodes of products when shopping. If the barcode is stored on the

Open Food Facts database and contains any unwanted ingredients, the app will alert the user to ‘avoid’.

The app has just launched on the Google Play Store and even has the option to check if your dog can eat your leftovers.

Jake said: “The idea of the app is that anyone with dietary requirements or anyone who is excluding certain ingredients can find things that they can eat easily. I have friends that need to avoid certain foods and it can take them a long time to go through ingredients on the back of packets, so I made this app to help them save time.

“My Computer Science course has developed my understanding of object-oriented programming, and Application

Doctor MPs say PM’s defence is “an insult” MPs working in the medical profession believe that Boris Johnson’s defence of events held in Downing Street amidst lockdown is “an absolute joke” and “an insult” to the sacrifices made by NHS staff.

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Labour’s shadow mental health minister and an A&E doctor at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, told The House “It's an absolute joke.

It's an insult. It's like a slap in the face to everybody who has put their lives at risk –

some of whom lost their lives – and risked harming their loved ones.”

Last week, Boris Johnson said he didn’t know a gathering of 40 staff in the Downing Street Garden would be against the rules as he believed it was a ‘work event”

Magistrates to get sentencing powers The government is planning to bestow magistrates a power that will enable them to award greater sentencing powers, in order to clear court backlogs. This move will allow magistrates to hear cases that are often held in the Crown Court and to jail offenders for a year However, criminal lawyers have warned that the plan may backfire as defendants would still have

the right to go before a jury.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said that he hopes the move will reduce the pressure on Crown Courts and will lead to quicker justice for victims.

Magistrates who are volunteers with no legal experience necessary, if allowed will be able to sentence more serious cases, such as fraud, theft and assault.

Student gambling addicts spending £30 a week Thousands of student gambling addicts are spending £30 a week on betting, racking up debts and missing out on university life to fund their habit, research has found. In a survey of 2,000 students, it was found out that 80 per cent gambled, with 35 per cent admitting of using their student loans, bank overdrafts, borrowing from friends or taking out payday loans for their addiction

habit.

The report, by the YGAM youth gambling charity and Gamstop, indi-

cates that hundreds of thousands are suffering financial or social harm due to gambling.

Jake Sarkar

Programming Interfaces (APIs).

Object-oriented programming is core to app development and the understanding of APIs helped me connect my app to the Open Food Facts database (through their API).

“The app is in its early stages but we have had a good reaction and I see this as the start of a career in app development.”

Faye Mitchell, Acting Head of the School of Computing, Electronics and Mathematics, is delighted by Jake’s entrepreneurial spirit. She said: “In the School of Computing, Electronics and Mathematics we encourage our students to tackle real issues and problems as part of their learning. We believe that by encouraging students to have an entrepreneurial mindset and a desire to contribute to society, they can gain valuable learning and experience. It also helps motivate students and gives them something concrete they can show to future employers.

That is why we always strive to work with industry to produce an assessment that is challenging, realistic and rewarding for our students.”

Hotel block-booked for Channel migrants is empty After taxpayers forked out £1.5million to rent a hotel for Channel migrants, it was found empty.

The Home Office had block-booked the 162room Holiday Inn Express for five months, starting in November.

However, councillors in Oxford did not want it to be used as an asylum centre. A source said: “It’s staggering.

Since the Government booking, it’s been closed to the public with a skeleton staff.” A Home Office source said it hopes to strike a negotiation at a lower rate for the hotel, attached to Oxford United’s Kassam football stadium. There are more than 18,000 migrants that are living in hotels throughout the country.

Covid fraudsters stole more than £4 billion HMRC figures that were released last week revealed that more than £4 billion of public cash was stolen from Covid support schemes. Labour termed the revelations 'outrageous'. It is being said that the treasury is giving up on £5.8 billion that was stolen from pandemic relief schemes such as furlough and self-employment support.

A task force that was teamed up to

recover the cash, recovered £500 million last year and is now expecting to recover an additional £1 billion from scammers.

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves told the Mirror: "These confessions are outrageous. While prices soar, billions in hard-earned taxpayer cash have been frittered away by fraud and the Chancellor is happy to shrug his shoulders and lose it forever.

Strut Safe helpline helps women in distress Sarah Everard murder case once again brought women’s safety to the forefront and the need for help for women who walk home at night all alone.

To help women in distress, Alice Jackson and her friend Rachel Chung launched a telephone helpline called Strut Safe in April 2021. Ms Alice and her friend got an idea after they attended a vigil for Sarah Everard. Every weekend since then, Strut Safe has been taking calls.

"We were devastated and angry, so we bought a cheap burner phone, asked people to volunteer to answer it, and posted the number in community groups,” said Alice.

The volunteers who work for Strut Safe and answer calls are each interviewed, trained and background-checked. Initially, people got to know about the helpline

in brief HIRING MANAGERS IN NHS FUTILE, SAYS STUDY The London School of Economics study finds that NHS managers are failing to improve hospital performance. In the health service, there are around 35,000 managers whose value has been a topic of debate. As per the findings, on average the hospital trusts spent nearly £10 million a year on managers. The London School of Economics study looked at 129 major hospitals in England between 2012 and 2019 to draw the findings. Dr Miqdad Asaria, an assistant professor at the LSE, said: “Increasing the numbers of managers does not appear to improve hospital performance.”

DOMINIC RAAB MIGHT LOSE HIS SEAT FOR SUPPORTING PM Dominic Raab is at risk of losing his seat for supporting Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the midst of the parytgate scandal. The Liberal Democrats are not only targeting Mr Raab, but other senior Conservatives as well for extending their support to PM, despite the latter admitting of attending the party, which he believed was a work event. The Lib Dems’ ad campaign targets Mr Rabb which might help them in winning over the deputy Prime Minister's marginal Esher and Walton seat in the next election.

GUANTÁNAMO DETAINEE PLANS LEGAL ACTION AGAINST PRITI PATEL A former Guantánamo detainee Moazzam Begg is planning to take legal action against Priti Patel to try to restore his British passport, which was stripped from him eight years ago after two trips to Syria. Mr Begg’s application for a new passport was rejected in September 2021, even after a terror prosecution relating to his time in Syria collapsed in 2014 and police claimed that he is innocent. Begg who works with the Cage advocacy group that helps people who are caught up in the “war of terror” said that he was left with no choice but to apply for a judicial review.

Brothers offering ‘jabs for kebabs’ to encourage vaccination Rav and Raj Chopra are pharmacists cum restauranteurs who run an Indian eatery in Gravesend, Kent. They were inspired by their father's battle with Covid-19 which was tough and a long-drawn one.

As an incentive to get jabbed, the brothers are providing kebabs at their restaurant into an inoculation centre.

through word of mouth then it made its way to social media.

Alice says she understands they can’t solve the issues but they will be available for people who need them and hopefully that will bring change.

Strut Safe gets donations and operates on a shoestring.

Speaking to The Guardian, Raj talked about his father, Jagtar Chopra, who contracted the deadly virus. "From a personal point of view, it was very debilitating to see Dad like that, and it got everyone's emotions in play. To see it hit home so close to our hearts, it was a tough pillpardon the pun- to take,” he said.

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Commemorating the survivors and victims of the Holocaust O

n 24 January, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Chair of the London Assembly, Andrew Boff AM, joined the Jewish community leaders, Holocaust and genocide survivors at the Imperial War Museum (IWM) London, for a service to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day (27 January 2022).

This year’s service, in collaboration with the Holocaust Educational Trust and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, commemorated the survivors and victims of the Holocaust as well as those affected by other genocides.

The theme of this year’s event is ‘One Day’ – a concept deliberately left open to interpretation.

One way of exploring the themes could be putting aside ‘One Day’ to come together to remember, to learn about, and reflect on the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and the genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur, in the hope that there may be ‘One Day’ in the future with no genocide.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The Imperial War Museum London is a fitting location for this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day service, and I am

pleased to join together with community leaders and survivors to mark the occasion. The Holocaust and the Second World War were some of the most devastating events in human history, and their impact cannot be understated. Both events will soon pass out of living memory, so it is more important than ever for us to commemorate the survivors and victims of both the Holocaust and subsequent genocides; to learn their stories, preserve their histories, and ensure that tragedy and violence on this scale is never to be repeated.”

The ceremony included speeches by the Mayor and Chair of the London Assembly, the El Male Rachamim memorial prayer read by Rabbi Epstein and Rebbetzin Ilana Epstein of the Western Marble Arch Synagogue.

It also featured personal testimonies from Holocaust survivor Steven Frank BEM, Rwandan genocide survivor Eric Murangwa Eugene MBE, as well as reflections from Holocaust Educational Trust Ambassadors.

In London, Lambeth’s 2022 Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration took place online on Sunday, 23 January at 3.00 pm,

with speakers Cllr Claire Holland, Leader of Lambeth Council and Cllr Annie Gallop, Mayor of Lambeth joining presenters, readers and singers.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is marking Holocaust Memorial Day with a free online talk from survivor Ernest Simon.

Ernest – who lives in London and is 91 years old – arrived in England in 1939 after escaping Vienna on the Kindertransport train. The talk takes place via Zoom from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm on Thursday 27 January.

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Asghar Khan opened this year’s civic remembrance event, while Leeds Heritage Theatres’ Leeds Actors in Training (LAIT) created a performance for the event inspired by Emmanuel Ringleblum and the Oneg Shabbat Archive. The event concluded with a reading of the seven statements of commitments with candles lit by representatives of the different groups persecuted, including Holocaust survivors, people with additional needs, the LGBT+ community and Remembering Srebrenica.

Jonathan Metliss, Chairman of Action Against Discrimination, member of the Defence Committee of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Chairman, Axiom DWFM Solicitors told Asian Voice, “Notwithstanding the memories, the continuing education on the subject, and the numerous memorials throughout the country (there is one in Worthing near where I live in Sussex) racism and anti-Semitism sadly remain strong and alive. We see it in

vant as ever. With the passing of the generation of survivors, we need to hear from them how one of the great civilisations of Europe could sink to such evil and depravity. By dehumanising Jews, as well as other groups like gypsies and gays, the Nazis legitimised their slaughter on an industrial scale. My wife had famJonathan Metliss

sport, especially in football where, for example, Tottenham supporters continue to chant ‘Yid’ and ‘Yid Army’ provoking anti-Semitic responses from other supporter groups, in particular, from Chelsea and West Ham where hissing noises replicating the Nazi gas chambers are often made.

“The sport of cricket has also seen its fair share of racism, especially with the recent revelations by the former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq and evidence of antiSemitic comments by another Yorkshire cricketer.

“Synagogues throughout the United Kingdom are subject to additional security and protection, especially following the recent anti-Semitic attack on the synagogue in Colleyville Texas.

“So what have we learnt from the Holocaust? ‘Never again’, is the expression used by Israel and the Jewish Community.

Holocaust Memorial Day is a stark reminder of the depths to which society can lower itself. We must live with hope and optimism and continue to fight and battle strenuously against racism, wherever it exists.”

Zaki Cooper the Co-Chair of the British Indian Jewish Association said, “Holocaust Memorial Day remains as rele-

Zaki Cooper

ily who were killed in the Holocaust. Thankfully my ancestors, Jewish on both sides, were in England and India at the time, so escaped the horrors. The Holocaust ended over 75 years ago, but its lessons remain crucial and necessary. We must remind ourselves of the danger of picking on minorities, on people who are a bit different from us. We should reflect on how hate speech causes such damage and can lead to persecution and violence. We must recommit to the importance of speaking out against injustice and doing what we can to help those in need.”

The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) and the Embassy of Israel in the UK jointly commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day. The virtual ceremony took place on Tuesday 25 January.

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WOMEN DOCTORS SHOUT #METOO Continued from page 1 The Royal College of Surgeons of England wanted to celebrate 30 years of women in surgery organisation that they began by having a special edition of the Royal College of Surgeons of England bulletin, which is an inhouse journal. They invited a guest editor, Rebecca Grossman, to curate that article.

She reached out to Dr Simon Fleming, who is a trainee orthopaedic surgeon who has been involved in culture change work in healthcare since 2016. Grossman invited Fleming to write an article about sexual assault, sexual harassment, and rape in surgery, and she did that for a variety of reasons.

Sexual assault - an open secret Speaking EXCLUSIVELY to Asian Voice,

Dr Simon Fleming

Dr Simon Fleming accepted that he acknowledges his privilege of being a White man. He said, “I'm a straight, white, private school-educated male. So, I get listened to in that way that many other voices do not. Part of the role of an ally or an advocate is to use their privilege to amplify voices that are otherwise an excuse that applies - not heard.”

Dr Fleming decided that he wouldn’t write this article without a woman coauthor.

“I reached out to maybe 20 or 30 women who shared experiences of assault and rape with me. When I asked, ‘would you be willing to co-author a piece with me?’

“They all said, no. They were either scared of recrimination, revenge, or consequences. Some said that they didn't want to revisit what happened to them. Some said, ‘Oh, I reported it, and nothing happened. So, I don't want to.” he told Asian Voice.

When Fleming offered anonymous authorship, a woman told him, “But I'm still scared.”

Then he reached out to Dr Becky Fisher, who is the co-author and the supervisor of the paper titled ‘Sexual assault in surgery: a painful truth’.

“I said to Becky if she would be willing to help? Because I know that she has experienced harassment but has never been assaulted. She is impressively courageous,” he told us, and the rest is history.

Recently, the article has regained momentum because Philippa Jackson, a surgeon shared her story of sexual assault amid preparation for surgery while tying her gown. More women picked up Fleming and Fisher’s article and shared far more graphical experiences anonymously.

Fleming said, “These behaviours are sort of an open secret. Everyone knows they happen. And they have been not just normalised but nearly expected. I should add that it's not just surgery that contains these behaviours, it is simply surgery that is currently choosing to address them. They are wrapped up in a culture of the hierarchy of patriarchy, of power of infantilisation. It's important to note that healthcare is not broken, it was built this way. The hierarchy that exists, the patriarchy and hierarchy, the kind of oppressive systems that exist in healthcare globally, are because healthcare was built by straight white men who were old, to potentially support the careers and lives of younger white men that they liked.

“Now we're working on changing that, and that work towards a more diverse, inclusive workforce is ongoing. The foundations

are one of the powers of silence. When my predecessors were trying to break glass ceilings, and women were trying to break into healthcare, they needed to fit in a certain way. Jokes were laughed at that probably shouldn't have been and behaviours were normalised, which probably shouldn't have been.

“It's not a woman's responsibility to change these people's behaviours. It is not acceptable that your baseline is ‘I'm not a rapist’. You know, organisations and individuals should be actively anti-racist, antiassault, anti-harassment, anti-racism, antisexism. It's not enough to say, I'm not sexist.”

He mentioned that people of colour “certainly shared” their accounts of surviving sexual assault and that these behaviours do not happen in isolation. “Women of colour experience this more and often there is a certain amount of racism and discrimination wrapped up in the narrative of harassment, assault and rape. Therefore, we need to change the culture from the ground up,” he added.

Dr Fleming says that there needs to be a system in place around accountability. Many times, he said that his subjects made very few mentions of involving the police or going to Human Resources. He also adds that crime discrimination is a crime as well.

According to the co-author, there is a fundamental lack of understanding of the actual nature of harassment and assault.

Most culprits can’t differentiate between that. In a rare exception, many years ago, a British Asian doctor of Indian-origin had committed suicide after being wrongly accused of sexually assaulting a colleague. It was too late to save him when the investigation results of the inquiry found that he was innocent after all.

“The NHS has a monopoly employing doctors, nurses and physiotherapists and all the rest pretty much the NHS is the only shop in town. So, fears of courage, changing things are real. And that's kind of where we are we are trying to start those conversations; we're trying to move towards a safer culture. Because there is no place for these behaviours in healthcare whatsoever,” Dr Fleming said.

The co-author also told the newsweekly that training has taken a huge hit in the pandemic. He said, “It has made that power dynamic, even steeper because trainees are desperate to progress to get ahead to get the signatures they need. It is potentially a toxic, dynamic if the person of the fun end of the power dynamic decides to abuse it.”

Asian Voice reached out to Dr Becky Fisher but did not hear from her by the time we went to print on Tuesday. The British Medical Association (BMA) wrote back to us saying, they were “not sure” if they could help with this. A spokesperson from BMA added that if it’s something they might have some detail on in future though, they’ll be

Dr Jyothi Srinivas

sure to let Asian Voice know.

However, we did manage to speak to several Asian doctors, who confirmed that this culture, unfortunately, exists in the NHS. International medical graduates are constantly under stress Speaking to Asian Voice about sexual assault in the medical profession, Dr Jyothi Srinivas, a Consultant Paediatrician and Chair of the BAPIO Women's Forum said,

“Women make up 77% of the NHS workforce. The proportion of women and men as doctors is approximately equal however this varies in different specialities. It is well known that men occupy most senior positions in clinical and managerial areas.

“Recently we have seen many women speak up about their experiences of sexual abuse at work. This includes women from different backgrounds including BAME. We should remember that IMGs (International medical graduates) are constantly under stress about their visas and need a good reference that they seldom feel they are able to speak up against racism or abuse at work.

Add to this the lack of support network with no family or friends in the country, they feel vulnerable in raising any issues.

“The GMC (General Medical Council) data shows that BAME doctors are disproportionately referred for concerns. A few BAME male doctors underwent detailed investigation by GMC although there was very little evidence against them to proceed.

“What can we do? - This is like the 'MeToo' movement. We need to make a safe environment for women in NHS to share their stories without judgement. Many of these abuses are small acts in everyday working life (patting on the back/bottom, standing too close, texting out of hours for no reason, making inappropriate jokes, commenting on dress/hair etc). We cannot pretend to understand the huge mental and psychological implications these everyday actions have on women. We need more women in fields this abuse is rampant eg. surgery so that there are strong senior role models.

“Giving women space to talk about their experiences, taking allegations seriously supporting women who decide to complain and ensuring adequate punishment to those convicted of sexual abuse at work helps to address this issue.”

Women doctors from BAME feel disadvantaged Dr Aaliya Goyal, GP and Primary Care Clinical Lead told us, “Dr Fleming and Dr Fisher’s report highlights the experiences of many female surgeons who have been victims of sexual harassment in the work-

Dr Aaliya Goyal

place, particularly in training posts. The power that trainers hold, and the fear that they can use this power to halt career progression, prevents women from speaking

² One in five doctors has been sexually harassed or witnessed it at work, with offences including explicit text messages or emails or being groped, propositioned or repeatedly asked to go on a date, a survey has found. ² The perpetrators are mostly patients but sometimes they are fellow medics or nurses, according to a survey of 1,378 hospital doctors and GPs across the UK. ² A fifth (21%) of those surveyed had experienced or seen sexual harassment in the past three years and 24% had witnessed such behaviour. ² Overall, 17% had suffered sexual harassment by a patient and 3% by someone else in their workplace. ² The most common forms of

out. Women doctors from our communities often already feel disadvantaged due to systemic barriers, impacting career progression and exacerbating the gender and ethnicity pay gap, so it can be even more challenging to report harassment.

“Some of us have grown up seeing how sexual harassment has been normalised in public spaces in our countries of origin and had a tacit understanding that certain environments “aren’t safe” for us to be in alone, so there may be generationally embedded layers of cultural shaming, victim-blaming and silencing which affect our ability to speak out on sexual harassment in the workplace. I am glad we are having uncomfortable conversations. I agree with the authors’ call to action of a clear and unambiguous zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment, with those perpetuating it being held accountable for their behaviour.

This must be underpinned by strong leadership from the top to make the workplace safer for us all.

“It’s really difficult to find somebody to speak out about sexual harassment

Dr Partha Kar OBE

they have experienced. Even at the end of the report in the “authorship” section, they mention that no victim was willing to co-author.”

Professor Partha Kar OBE FRCP, Consultant Endocrinologist Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, National Specialty Advisor, Diabetes, NHS England GIRFT, and Director- Equality, Medics, NHSE told Asian Voice, “It’s great that this is being talked about more openly. I have heard from colleagues of such behaviour from fellow male colleagues and part of the role of the system is to talk about it, as well as ensure that those who do - can do so without fear of retribution.

“Are we there yet? No. Is there evidence that individuals are challenging the status quo? Yes, for sure and I would encourage more people to do so - thus clear support from the NHS and royal colleges are much needed “It’s something the NHS has been asked to look at by the Secretary of State for health- and hopefully will be tackled with all the seriousness it deserves. In my personal local role, I would be more than happy to support any trainees or colleagues who face such issues.”

harassment by patients involved acting in an overtly sexual manner (53%), asking the doctor out on a date (29%), and trying to touch, grope or rub against them (24%). ² In one in eight incidents, the patient asked the medic to meet for a sexual encounter. A small number (6%) involved the doctor receiving a sexual email or letter, or a provocative photograph, from the patient. ² When the perpetrators were fellow health professionals, the most common incidents involved someone deliberately infringing on their body space (46%), unwanted groping, hugging or physical contact (44%), comments about someone’s body (34%), and being repeatedly asked for a date (32%).

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in brief NHS DOCTOR DELIVERS PREMATURE BABY ON A FLIGHT NHS doctor Inshad Ibrahim, who works in Wrexham Maelor Hospital’s emergency department, helped in delivering a baby on a plane to India. Mum-to-be Maria Philip who was seven months pregnant went into labour not long after take-off. Dr Ibrahim was on a flight to Kochi with his wife and two young children when stewards called for a doctor. Dr Ibrahim said: ‘Other medical staff on the plane also volunteered to help. The baby was very small but wasn’t making a sound, so I tapped his back and after about 15 to 20 seconds he opened his eyes and cried. That was a very long 15 to 20 seconds.’ The baby named Shawn Michael weighed just 2.4lb was in need of neonatal care. On doctor’s instruction, they did an emergency landing in Frankfurt and the mother, her husband and baby were rushed to the hospital.

‘I BECAME ORPHAN IN MY 40S’ During the pandemic, 139,000 deaths were reported in the UK, many people lost their loved ones and dear ones, including their surviving parents. Dipti Solanki,44, a grief recovery coach and mother of two from London lost her mother when she was 13 owing to medical negligence and her father in January last year due to Covid at the age of 73. After her father’s death, she said she felt anchorless.

Linda Magistris, Chief Executive of the Good Grief Trust, said, “It’s almost like if you lose your parents in midlife it is expected and you don’t deserve to be sad and you just have to get on with it. You might have cared for them and have now lost your routine and purpose.

Your grief needs to be talked about and acknowledged.’

LONG COVID TREATMENT TO COST NHS '£230M' To treat Long Covid patients, the NHS might have to shell out £230 million. Nearly, 1.3 million Brits have reported Long Covid symptoms that include exhaustion, breathlessness and 'brain fog'. According to an independent analysis, as many as 381,000 full-time equivalent workers may have been off with Long Covid. Garry Loftus, 52, a hospital porter in Stoke-on-Trent, contracted Covid in December 2020 and has not been able to return to work. He said: “I’ve been suffering from fatigue, brain fog and breathlessness ever since. I tried to go back to work for two days, but I was struggling so much I got sent home and I haven’t been back since. I used to run and swim for miles – at one point in my illness, I couldn’t walk upstairs.”

STAFF SHORTAGES HIT NHS In some parts of the NHS, staff shortages are acute as tens of thousands of unvaccinated staff might be shown the door. The report by the Paediatric Intensive Care Audit Network said that only one of Britain’s 30 paediatric intensive care units has enough staff to perform at the expected level. It was revealed that around 70,000 unvaccinated health workers could be sacked, the government is considering pausing its plans for all staff in patient-facing roles to be double jabbed from 1 April. However, on Sunday, a government source revealed that there was “no change in position” and “no plans to change to the implementation dates” for the policy. Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday Morning programme, Mr Raab said: “Nine out of 10 NHS staff have now come forward and had their vaccine. That is critically important. I do think that we continue to call for those (who are unvaccinated) to come forward to be boosted or vaccinated before the deadline but I think ultimately, we have to make sure that we don’t have people putting patients at risk if they are not vaccinated. The deadline is there to protect the most vulnerable in our hospitals.”

NHS staff doesn’t have access to period products NHS staff must have access to period products said, the British Medical Association. Dr Rosie Baruah, a consultant in critical care and anaesthesia in Edinburgh, has backed the BMA’s call for the availability of period products in all NHS staff toilets. She said these products must be viewed as a basic necessity and not a luxury.

The BMA believes that these products could play a

Dr Rosie Baruah

huge role in the wellbeing and comfort of their staff.

Dr Baruah said, "While you might have access to toilet facilities if there are no period

products there you can end up stuffing your underwear with toilet paper. I have had colleagues who have to cut up a patient's incontinence pads to place in their own underwear until they can access period products."

The union expressed their disappointment, saying that health boards lacked a policy that will make period products available and accessible. They

made their statement considering the responses received to Freedom of Information requests that was submitted by Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon.

Though the FOI responses showed there had been improvements, five of Scotland's 14 health boards stated that free period products were not provided to staff, including NHS Lothian.

Conservative MP claims she was sacked for her “Muslimness” A recent incident has reopened controversy for the Conservative Party which has been accused of being Islamophobic for years. In the year 2018, PM Boris Johnson was accused of Islamophobia after allegedly saying Muslim women wearing burkas "look like letter boxes".

49-year-old Conservative MP for Wealden in East Sussex, Nusrat Ghani was sacked as the transport minister in Feb 2020. A source told her that her "Muslimness was raised as an issue" at a meeting in Downing Street. She told The Sunday Times her experience was "like being punched in the stomach. I felt humiliated and powerless".

Ghani said she was also told that her "Muslim woman minister status was making colleagues feel uncomfortable" and that there were concerns "that I wasn't loyal to the party as I didn't do enough to defend the party against Islamophobia allegations".

Ms Ghani said that the experience made her consider quitting as an MP, adding, "I will not pretend that this hasn't shaken my faith in the party."

On Monday, Johnson launched a Cabinet Office inquiry into these allegations, after Ghani accused the Prime Minister of showing unwillingness to “get involved.” A spokesperson of Downing Street said Johnson “has asked officials to establish the facts about what happened…As he said at the time, the prime minister takes these claims very seriously”.

Welcoming this, Ghani said, “As I said to the Prime Minister last night all I want is for this to be taken seriously and for him to investigate. I welcome his decision to do that now.

The terms of reference of the inquiry must include all that was said in Downing Street and by the Whip.”

The “source” has now come out to identify himself. Chief Whip Mark Spencer said in a statement: "To ensure other whips are not drawn into this matter, I am identifying myself as the person Nusrat Ghani MP has made claims about this evening. These accusations are completely false and I consider them to be defamatory. I have never used those words attributed to me. It is disappointing that when this issue was raised before Ms Ghani declined to refer the matter to the Conservative Party for a formal investigation.I provided evidence to the Singh Investigation into Islamophobia which concluded that there was no credible basis for the claims to be included in the report."

Muslim Women’s Network Co-Chair, Dr Iram Sattar MBE, said, “Rather than viewing Nusrat Ghani as enriching British politics, it appears that some MPs have considered her as an outsider because of her identity. It is shocking that her ‘Muslimness’ was apparently regarded as problematic. When Muslim women join political parties, they should not have to abandon their Muslim identity. If this is what is being said about Ms Ghani, who does not wear a headscarf, it suggests that hijab-wearing female members of the party are even more likely to face discrimination.”

Anneliese Dodds, Labour's Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary and Party Chair, commenting on Nusrat Ghani's claim that she was sacked for her Muslim faith, said, “These are extremely serious allegations for the Conservative Party. Boris Johnson and

Nusrat Ghani

Oliver Dowden must launch an urgent investigation into what happened and sanction anyone who targeted Islamophobic comments at a female Muslim MP.More than six months since the Singh investigation into alleged discrimination in the Conservative Party, and with the party apparently still unwilling to even use the term ‘Islamophobia’, it seems the Tories still have a lot of work to do to root out this insidious hatred from the top to the bottom of their party.”

Dr Nikita Ved, Co-Founder, 1928 Institute said, “We welcome the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Nusrat Ghani's firing and are pleased to see the PM taking steps to tackle any form of discrimination. Our

research found that this is unfortunately not an isolated incident, with 80% of British Indians facing discrimination due to their identity. Many explained this discrimination occurs in the workplace and perpetuates the unequal access to resources faced by ethnic minorities. We look forward to seeing the outcome of this investigation and hope it contributes to the critical issue of addressing discrimination in the workplace.”

Azhar Qayum, CEO of Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND), said, “While technical recommendations regarding complaints procedures are welcome, the limited scope and diluted language of the Singh Report betrays its lack of moral integrity and purposeful refusal to hold the Conservative Party to account. The report fails to address the pervasive climate of Islamophobia across the party which produces complaints in the first place, instead of dismissing such issues as merely giving the ‘impression’ of Islamophobia – a conclusion that is little more than gaslighting. MEND has thus had no choice but to insist that the EHRC launch its own investigation.”

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Millennium Point Trust launches 2022 scholarship search

How playground games can boost gender equality Shefali Saxena Sana Mahmud

Women rank below men in all sustainable development indicators, according to the UN. Around 300,000 women die annually in the world from pregnancy and childbirth-related causes.1In sub-Saharan Africa, hundreds of thousands of girls may not go back to school due to teenage pregnancies that began during Covid-19 lockdowns.2 Some 200 million girls and women globally have undergone FGM, seriously harming their physical and mental health. Millions more are victims of domestic violence and have few career prospects.

But international charity Right to Play harnesses the power of play and other activities to teach boys and girls, in some of the most difficult and dangerous countries on earth, about the importance of gender equality. To help a new generation grow up knowing that it can’t let the oppression of women continue.

The World Health Organisation has identified Right to Play’s methods as particularly effective at preventing genderbased violence. We spoke to Sana Mahmud, Project Manager, Pakistan about it.

Q - What is the motive and vision of Right To Play?

Right To Play works to protect, educate & empower children to rise above adversity by harnessing the power of play.

We work in 14 countries in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Every year we reach 2.3 million children with life-changing programmes that help children to stay in school and graduate, resist exploitation and overcome prejudice, keep themselves safe from disease, and heal from the harsh realities of war and abuse. We aim to reach 100 million children by 2030; we want a world where children claim their rights and futures.

Q - How can Right To Play act as an anchor for the postpandemic crunch in jobs and unemployment to help people in learning skills and moving forward?

Right To Play is empowering children to claim their right to an education. We recognise it is fundamental for them to be equipped with knowledge and skills that will allow them to grow into healthy and accomplished adults. The United Nations have calculated that 17 trillion dollars will be lost in lifetime earnings due to the school disruptions seen in the last two years. Children who are out of school for long periods are less likely to return to school, and some might enter the workforce prematurely as the economic condition of their families worsen. In addition, children in developing nations experience more difficulties accessing remote learning. As a result of lower education levels, they risk being pushed to hazardous low paying jobs. Thus, our priority is to help children safely return to the classroom. Then, our focus is on supporting them through learning recovery programmes.

We have been delivering remote learning programmes through the internet, tv, and radio for the past two years.

Additionally, we have trained coaches visiting children at risk of abuse, childhood marriage and forced labour.

Q - What approach does Right To Play take in tackling prejudice, disease, and war trauma?

Each year, we support 200,000 refugee and displaced children in more than 92 refugee camps, shelters, and settlements in Thailand, Palestine, and worldwide. We fight to change their stories from ones of grief and loss to ones of hope. We fight to give them back their education, creating fun, playful, and welcoming classrooms. We fight to help them overcome trauma by teaching them how to cope with difficult emotions and helping their friends do the same. And we fight to give them back their dreams by creating spaces where they can be children again. We fight so their stories can be ones of not just surviving but succeeding.

We have been working with the Karen refugee population in Thailand. We started running youth groups to provide children & youth with safe spaces to build community with their peers and learn skills like conflict resolution and teamwork.

Then is a teenager living alone in one of the camps since his family stayed in Myanmar. He was struggling to cope with his situation and his mental health suffered.

Fortunately, he joined a Right To Play programme that trained him to become a youth leader. Then he found a sense of purpose in helping others deal with adversity. Through play & creative dynamics, he has learned to cope with difficult circumstances and found a mission to push forward for.

Q - How can playground games boost gender equality?

Games can promote gender equality by creating spaces where boys and girls are treated equally. Children can often understand abstract concepts better when presented through

creative play. For example, we encourage girls to take leadership roles during team dynamics, boosting their confidence and showcasing to boys how they are all equal. We change the rules to traditional games making girls the only ones allowed to score. At the end of every play session, we draw on reflections and provide space for girls to talk and share.

Often their communities don't provide women with spaces to express their thoughts; therefore, it is essential to empower them to lead today and in the future.

Q - What kind of prejudices does the BAME community have when it comes to girls and playground games?

There is a tendency to value girls for what they can do as wives rather than on their own. As a result, they are often under pressure to care for the home and siblings. Family manners take a front seat, while education and playing fall into the background.

Moreover, harmful traditional practices like childhood marriage impede girls from living childhood to the fullest.

Married girls are more likely to retrieve to the home and stop engaging with their peers as they are pressured to grow into adults prematurely.

The situation worsens when other axes of discrimination overlap; refugee girls are more likely to be married off to provide them with financial stability and are more likely to become victims of sexual abuse while living in refugee camps.

The Queen recognises Singaporean charity cofounder with Commonwealth Points of Light award Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as Head of the Commonwealth, on 21 January, recognised Amanda Chong, representing Singapore, as the 212th Commonwealth Point of Light in honour of her exceptional voluntary service improving literacy rates.

Amanda, aged 32, is a lawyer, poet and cofounder of ‘ReadAble’, a non-profit organisation that runs weekly literacy and numeracy classes for children and teenagers from low-income families, and for migrant women in the Chinatown area. The charity serves over 100 students each week and has built a community library holding more than 1,000 books for citizens to access, tackling poverty and illiteracy one word at a time.

As part of the legacy of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London 2018, Her Majesty The Queen - as Head of the Commonwealth - is thanking inspirational volunteers across the 54 Commonwealth nations for the difference they are making in their communities and beyond, by recognising one volunteer from each Commonwealth country every week. By sharing these stories of service, the Commonwealth Points of Light awards celebrate inspirational acts of volunteering across the Commonwealth and help inspire others to make

Amanda Chong

their own contribution to tackling some of the greatest social challenges of our time.

Amanda said, “ReadAble’s work has always been a team effort, as we believe that the most effective interventions are delivered through strong teacher-student relationships. The wonderful volunteers in the ReadAble community bring the best of themselves, week after week, to do the crucial work of teaching, mentoring and believing in students. Our volunteers’ partner families to invest in the best outcomes for their children. This award belongs to all of them.

“Volunteering for almost ten years has helped me to understand the lived experiences of children facing social inequality and myriad structural factors stacked against their success. The greatest reward for this work is watching the teenage students whom we taught to read as preschoolers, begin to tell their own stories and advocate for themselves.”

The search is on for one lucky West Midlander to have their STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) degree tuition fees fully paid, with the launch of the Millennium Point Charitable Trust Scholarship competition 2022, in partnership with Birmingham City University (BCU).

Following the closing date for online applications March 11th, 2022, a handful of applicants will be invited to a final assessment day in May 2022 before a winner is announced.

This life-changing opportunity, now in its eighth year, offers one lucky undergraduate complete funding for their degree, from a choice of over 20 courses at the Faculty of Computing, Engineering, and the Built Environment at Birmingham City University (BCU).

The latest winner will mark over £100,000 in scholarships the Millennium Point Trust has funded at Birmingham City University. The scholarship is open to school leavers and professionals alike who

are looking to start a STEM-related career.

Last year’s scholarship winner, Asima Adnan, a mum of five from Dudley, is now studying for a BSc in Planning at BCU. She said: “I felt extremely lucky winning the scholarship; it has given me some financial peace of mind so that I can concentrate on achieving even better academically. It is a life-changing opportunity that is available to anyone, so go for it!”

2017 winner Sagal Qodah added, “Through the scholarship and support from Millennium Point, I’ve been able to increase my network, have been given access to industry events, and I’ve also been provided with help and guidance when needed.”

The scholarship is the flagship initiative from the Millennium Point Charitable Trust and is funded by the charity in partnership with the university. In 2021, the charitable trust invested more than £1 million in STEMrelated organisations, projects, and initiatives, based in the West Midlands.

Only two UK Covid briefings were led by a female MP The 2022 Sex and Power Index, compiled by the Fawcett Society, a charity campaigning for women’s rights, has shown that equality is still “decades off”, as men continue to dominate the top ranks of law, politics and business. Only two of the government briefings held at the height of the coronavirus pandemic were led by a female politician, and in both cases, it was the home secretary, Priti Patel.

Jemima Olchawski, CEO of the Fawcett Society, said: “The pandemic has laid bare deep-rooted inequalities across the UK. Yet it is women who have borne the brunt and often largely invisible from the debate and excluded from decisionmaking.”

The report states that of the 56 daily press conferences, when the government makes significant announcements about coronavirus, 43% featured an all-male lineup with no female politician or expert present, the index showed. Only a third (92 of the 274) of members on Covid-19 advisory boards are women.

In journalism, the proportion of women editing national newspapers has doubled from last year to 42%.

“Research by Kings College also found female voices to be missing from public debate. Its analysis showed that women made up only a fifth of the top 20 most frequently mentioned British politicians in media coverage of the pandemic. While the gender split in parliament has barely progressed – the proportion of female MPs inched from 32% in 2017 to 34% at the 2019 election – outside Westminster, there have been “seismic shifts” towards equality. In Scottish parliament, women now make up just under half of MSPs under the leader, Nicola Sturgeon,” Guardian reported.

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in brief MAYOR SAYS LONDON STANDS READY TO HELP MORE AFGHAN REFUGEES To date, more than 3,000 evacuees have been temporarily accommodated in bridging hotels in London, and London local authorities have already pledged to resettle more than 200 families in long-term accommodation. Sadiq Khan has already taken a number of steps to help support Afghan refugees rebuild their lives as they resettle in the capital. This includes Mayor’s Right to Buy-back fund, which provides boroughs with the funds to purchase homes from the open market to provide suitable accommodation quickly. The borough of Islington has brought 80 homes back into council ownership, with 20 family-sized homes earmarked for Afghan families. The London Refugee Response Fund has raised more than £50,000 and will be used to ease the immediate short-term pressures on Afghan-led refugee community organisations. City Hall has also published guidance for Adult Education providers to support Afghan refugees and their immediate family members to access skills and employment training, including English language (ESOL) provision, as soon as they are able. The Mayor is also taking action to champion the Community Sponsorship Scheme, which provides a way for Londoners to be directly involved in refugee resettlement.

MET POLICE CONFIRM TO INVESTIGATE DOWNING STREET ‘PARTYGATE’ Met Police confirm that they will investigate alleged Covid-19 rule-breaking at Downing Street, in response to a question from Unmesh Desai AM. In response to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Dame Cressida Dick’s, announcement at the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee today that the force will investigate several alleged breaches of Covid19 regulations at Downing Street and in Whitehall departments, in answer to a question from Labour’s London Assembly Policing and Crime Spokesperson, Unmesh Desai AM, Mr Desai said: “Whilst the Commissioner has said that the Met will not be providing a running commentary on the investigations, it is important that they maintain the right level of transparency throughout the process and I will be closely monitoring this from City Hall”.

CIVIL SERVICE SCHEME SHOWS DISPARITY AGAINST BLACK APPLICANTS Black Britons who are willing to join the UK government’s civil service fast stream have a low success rate compared to their white counterparts who are three times more likely to win a place. According to the figures, chances of success differed for separate ethnic backgrounds. Where people from black African or Caribbean backgrounds had a success rate of one in 137, white applicants had a success rate of one in 44 to join the scheme.

UK CITIES TO IMPOSE LEVY ON CARS To cut the number of polluting vehicles in response to the climate emergency, councils across the UK are using radical strategies, one being levying tax on parking. Leicester city council hopes tax on workplace parking will improve air quality, fund public transport and incentivise walking and cycling. Leicester is set to become the second city as it is planning on proposals that include charging companies £550 a year per space that has more than 10 parking spaces. This will be implemented from next year. However, it will be up to employers who will decide to absorb the cost or pass it on to their staff.

Shine a light on widows’ plight in Afghanistan, Lord Loomba urges Government ‘As we learn more about the appalling treatsuccor to those who need it most.” ment of women and girls in Paying tribute to Lord Loomba's Afghanistan at the hands of the work on widows, Foreign Office Taliban, we should pay special Minister of State Lord Ahmad attention to those who are agreed that ‘there are vulnermost disadvantaged and able communities: women, least visible’, Lord Loomba girls, and particularly widsaid in a special debate in ows’. The Government, he the House of Lords about said, is working with agenthe International cies on the ground and Relations and Defence will continue providing committee’s report on the support through multilatUK and Afghanistan. eral efforts as well as supporting UK and other NGOs In 2016, the Loomba Lord Raj Loomba directly, and he undertook to Foundation’s World Widows CBE keep the House of Lords updated on Report revealed that Afghanistan this issue. had the highest proportion of marital-age The Loomba Foundation was established widows in the world and the mortality rate in 1997. In 2005 Lord Loomba proposed of mothers in childbirth was also in the highInternational Widows Day as a global day of est range. These factors have been signifiaction to eradicate injustice and discriminacantly exacerbated in the conflict since, and tion against widows. In December 2010, ‘the tragedy for widow’, said Lord Loomba,’is after a five-year campaign, the proposal was that they are marginalised by society even as adopted unanimously by the United Nations they face gender discrimination from the General Assembly and since then Taliban. They have nowhere to turn as the International Widows Day has focused economic and social situation in worldwide attention on the cause each year Afghanistan deteriorates.’ on 23 June.

Lord Loomba echoed the sentiments of Lord Loomba is Vice-Chair of the Allother Peers about discrimination against Party Parliamentary Group on the United women and girls whose hopes of empowerNations Global Goals for Sustainable ment and a better future nurtured in the last Development and Vice-President of two decades have been cruelly dashed, and Barnardo’s. noted that this is an issue the Government To find out more about the work of The cares about and wants to prioritise.

Loomba Foundation, visit ‘For my part I make a special plea for www.theloombafoundation.org those who are doubly disadvantaged as wid@TheLoombaFndtn ows,” said he said, urging the Government to facebook.com/loombafoundation “make every effort to shine a light and bring

Lavina fronts campaign to get people moving 10,000 steps a day A personal trainer and wellness coach from Hertfordshire is to be the face of a charity campaign that will see participants aim to walk 10,000 Steps a Day in February.

Lavina Mehta MBE, of Watford, will be providing handy tips and targeted workouts to help supporters of the Brain Tumour Research challenge reach their daily step count and share motivational videos to ensure they keep on track.

The British Asian mum-of-three, who was awarded an MBE for her services to health and fitness during the Covid-19 pandemic, has a personal connection to the charity following the death of her beloved father-in-law Mahendra Mehta in February 2014, just six months after he was diagnosed with a grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma.

Mahendra, known affectionately as ‘Papa’, was fit and active leading up to his shock diagnosis, which came following a visit to a physio after he experienced a sudden loss of balance getting out of the car one day.

His tumour was spread over such a large area that it was inoperable but he underwent

Lavina Mehta MBE with father-in-law Mahendra Mehta

gruelling radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment. Ultimately his condition deteriorated and he lost the ability to speak and walk before lapsing into a coma the day after his 68th birthday – which falls during the month of February – passing away six days later.

Lavina, who will be doing a special ‘live indoor step workout’ to mark Mahendra’s 76th birthday on 16 February, said: “I often say that I married my husband partly because of his dad who was literally a father figure to me. He was instrumental in helping me raise my three boys and by my side as a friend and father, and now guiding me as my guardian angel.”

UK open for travel with all restrictions removed for eligible vaccinated arrivals From 4 am on 11 February all testing requirements will be removed for eligible fully vaccinated arrivals, with only a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) now required. Arrivals who are not recognised as fully vaccinated will only need to take a predeparture test and a PCR test on or before day 2 after they arrive in the UK. Children aged 12-15 in England will be able to prove their vaccination status or proof of prior infection via a digital NHS Covid Pass from 3 February for outbound travel. Travel changes come in ahead of the February half term, and follow the success of the booster programme.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said, “We have entered a new chapter in our fight against Covid-19 and we’re taking a balanced approach as we learn to live with the virus. Thanks to the success of the vaccination programme, now is the right time to take this additional step towards opening up international travel once again.

Extending the NHS Covid Pass to children aged 12-15 in England will also make the outward journey easier for families and I am delighted we have taken this step in time for the February half term.”

Matthew Fell, Cbi Chief Policy Director, said, “This is a welcome step forward for the international travel sector as it looks ahead with hopeful eyes for a return to normal in 2022. Scrapping testing for vaccinated travellers entering the UK will provide a muchneeded lift in passenger confidence and allow customers to book with renewed certainty. The Government must now clearly set out how it will help the sector live with future variants and maintain passenger confidence, avoiding the oscillation we have seen between freedom and restriction since the outset of the pandemic. This should include the timescales for any shift to incorporate third jabs/booster shots into the definition of fully vaccinated. Demand will also not return overnight and Government and industry must work together to draw up a long-term plan for future stability within a sector of vital importance to regional connectivity and Global Britain.”

Post Office warns people over text messages The Post Office is warning people to stay vigilant and not to believe in fake text messages that can steal personal data.

The easy way to identify a scam is to remember that the Post Office never sends out texts or emails regarding a parcel.

Consumer group has asked people to keep an eye on scam texts that look extremely convincing. Victims receive a message that their package has failed to deliver and then they receive a link, asking them to click to book or reschedule a delivery. These links can put victims at risk of identity fraud.

Sardar Patel Memorial Society UK celebrates Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 125th birth anniversary On the 125th birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose, the Sardar Patel Memorial Society UK remembered his spiritual outlook, intellectual brilliance, and indomitable courage to liberate his motherland.

Sardar Patel Memorial Society UK had an event For Netaji on 22nd January 2022. 23rd January 2022 marks his 125th Birth anniversary.

This event was graced by Netaji’s Daughter Prof. Anita Bose Pfaff, his nephew Surya Bose, and Grand Niece Ms Renuka Malakar.

Anitaji shared the real history and shared many incidences on Netaji further confirmed

that he died in an Air Crash in Taiwan.

The society also appealed that people must order the Book The Man India Missed The Most authored by Dr Bhuvan Lall, his wellresearched account in the life of a true Patriot.

Dr Bhavan Lall spoke with passion about Netaji.

Eminent speakers and attendees included Lord Rami Ranger Chairman of SPMSUK, Mr CB Patel Patron and Trustee SPMSUK, Mr Jitubhai Patel Trustee, Sumant Rai Desai Trustee Deepak Patel Treasurer, and Ms Krishna Pujara.

A Bengali Song dedicated to Netaji was sung by Shirshendu Mukerjee.

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Need for better ventilation in schools

What you sow, so you reap!

It has been concerning to see that London has recently had some of the highest numbers of children off school due to Covid-19 infections.

The Government has failed to act decisively to protect pupils and teachers in the classroom during this pandemic.

This is not only causing significant disruption to children’s learning, but leading to schools and other education settings becoming major sources of transmission of the virus in multi-generational households and in the wider community.

We must also consider the significant impact this all having on the psychological wellbeing of school-age children, with mental health services unable to keep up with the spike in demand. One of the main ways that we can reduce the risk in schools is by ensuring there is adequate ventilation. This is why it has been disappointing that the Government has so far only pledged 7,000 air purifiers for nurseries, schools and colleges across the country. This is clearly nowhere near enough.

There are also reports of some schools and parents fundraising to buy ventilation systems in the absence of Government support.

Another issue is that where schools and educational institutions are being provided with air purifiers, some still aren’t being given the guidance or financial support from the Government to install them.

For the sake of the health of our children and teachers and minimising the impact of the pandemic on our education system in the long-run, we need a much bolder plan for improving ventilation in our classrooms beyond encouraging staff to keep the windows open.

Dr Onkar Sahota AM London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon

As I mentioned in my last letter that it is of utmost importance, not only to read but to digest the contents of the letter you are commenting on, a prerequisite necessity. There is not a single word in my last letter that anyone could find objectionable, let alone rude or offensive. I take pride in my latitudinarian and multifarious views that reflect in my writings.

Perhaps Rashmi may be a newcomer to “Readers’ Voice” where I have contributed since 1993; without interlude, first dealing with friendly Deputy Editor Priya Gautama. My total contribution exceeds over 3K that includes short stories, poems, travel briefs, interviews with MPs and Lords. My proudest achievement was when my covering of then Gujarat CM Shree Narendra Modi’s visit to London, published front-page news, both in AV/GS. Since then I have written three books, novels, exceeding one million words. This could not have been possible without the support and encouragement of Shree C.B. Patel and the dedicated staff of AV/GS to whom I am indebted. I constantly get invitations to appear on Radio talks, to discuss and comment on my novels, from US and Canada.

My motto is not to comment on another letter writer’s contribution, as it takes valuable space but contributes nothing new, so my sincere apology to readers, as well as CB, Rupanjana and everyone at AV/GS without their support I could not have climbed the ladder where I am today!

Our heartfelt thanks to CB for awarding us a “Certificate of Appreciation” that takes pride of place in our lounge!

Dedication, determination and devotion lead to deserved appreciation! In short what you sow, so you reap.

Bhupendra M. Gandhi

BBC licence fee, political football Now and then BBC becomes a political football, an easy way to divert attention from burning issues of the day. It is partying at No 10 Downing Street, bullying of MPs and now alleged Islamophobia that has put PM Boris Johnson in a hot soup! So what better than misleading British people with the temptation of abolishing the £159 licence fee, as well as involving in Ukraine Russia dispute more deeply than surrounding NATO countries like super-rich Germany, Poland and Baltic nations, some bordering Russia.

People should think twice before rejoicing at saving a tiny amount of licence fee, meretriciously attractive with no real gain! People should stop and think about what they are paying to Sky, Virgin and BT for their services. It is hardly less than £100 per month, although it may include landline telephone and broadband in most cases. But to include sports and new films, it could easily top £159 per month we pay as an annual fee to BBC! Moreover, the government should spell out the pros and cons, of how BBC will fund itself if the fee is abolished. It could be by monthly subscription or advertising or both that would cost much more than what we pay in licence fee, a magnum setback for TV addicts! However, there is a limit to what advertising revenue can achieve, as there is stiff competition, as so many TV channels are funded in this way. This may harm ITV and Channel Four, as well as many Sky channels who may be tempted to introduce a monthly subscription fee that will let in a camel while trying to expel a goat!

I wonder what other readers think!

Kumudini Valambia

UK school scraps discriminatory and archaic hair policies Bhupendrabhai M Gandhi

Kumudiniben Valambia

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar organised a virtual letter writers’ seminar on 26 March 2021 to felicitate the renowned and regular letter writersthanking them for their contribution.

Bhupendrabhai M Gandhi and wife Kumudiniben Valambia were felicitates for their invaluable contribution as letter writers. Recently, on behalf of ABPL Group, Pooja Raval visited their house at Kingsbury and delivered their Certificate of Appreciation.

We express our heartfelt gratitude to Bhupendrabhai, Kumudiniben and many others for being the strong foundation behind the growth and success of our publications.

Bhupendrabhai M Gandhi was born and brought-up in Dar-Es-Salaam. He was interested in writing from childhood. He has so far published 3 books, two novels and one collection of his poems. His Kumudiniben Valambia, was a nurse working in the frontline with NHS. Her interest in writing was nurtured by Bhupendrabhai.

Her main interest was in writing about health related issues and the your voice section in Asian Voice gave her the right platform.

All-boy’s school Verulam School in St Albans have scrapped discriminatory and archaic hair and dress codes to encourage students to express themselves and their culture. Julie Richardson, headteacher said big afros, long hair, cornrows and man buns are all acceptable at her school and students no longer have to wear a blazer and tie.

Before Ms Richardson took over as a headteacher, students were sent home if their hair was deemed to “extreme in style, colour or length”. When she took the charge, she removed all references to hair from the uni-

form policy.

“This is not the type of school I would like to attend, work in or lead which is why we have removed all references to hair in our uniform policy. We want our boys to embrace how their hair grows. That means afros, long hair, man buns, cornrows, bleached, dyed, whatever way our boys choose to express themselves is OK by us,” she said. Students too have welcomed the changes.

Student Wasif Rashid, 15 said: “Being able to wear one in the sixth form is something that makes me feel I can be myself and that my faith is being respected.”

Retail sales slump by 3.7% The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported a 3.7 per cent month-on-month decline in sales volumes, the worst for the festive period on records going back to 1996. It is also believed that fall in demand for petrol and diesel as more people are working from home under Plan B rules contributed to the slump. Along with this, the Omicron variant too kept the shoppers away affecting retail sales.

Heather Bovill, ONS deputy director for surveys and economic indicators, said: "After strong pre-Christmas trading in November, retail sales fell across the board in December, with feedback from retailers suggesting Omicron impacted on footfall."

Kapil Dudakia

Kapil’s KHICHADI

We The People of India The Constitution of India was adopted on 26th November 1949 and came into effect on 26th January 1950.

It is of course with great pride that the whole of India celebrates this important day as a massive step forward to freedom from the tyranny and enslavement by the British (and hundreds of years by the Islamic invaders).

Lest you have not read the constitution (that will be 99% of us I guess) the first lines state: WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic, and political.

LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship.

EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.

Did you know that on 18th December 1976, during the Emergency in India, the Indira Gandhi government pushed through several changes in the Forty-second Amendment of the constitution? The amendment inserted the words "socialist" and "secular" between the words "Sovereign" and "democratic".

One can understand why India had to be sovereign, but to insert ‘socialist’, regardless of their intentions at the time, shows that there was an undercurrent of a narrative by those in power to align the nation to a particular mindset and ideology.

One can understand why ‘secular’ was inserted, but again, we must not only question but also understand why those in power felt that ‘secular’ was needed in the constitution of a nation that has historically been of Dharmic traditions for thousands of years. It gives us an insight not only into the mindset of those who championed these words, but also the hand of the ‘silent’ external power that still wanted to control the Indian narrative.

The Constitution declares loudly, ‘Justice’ for all.

Yet in the decades that followed Indian Governments (Congress Party led by the Gandhi’s) created legislation that gave some states more power and greater exemptions from the laws that applied to the whole nation.

Case in question, Kashmir where articles such as 370 were created to appease to the anti-nationals and to the Pakistani extremists across the border. For the first time since India secured its Independence, we now have a government and a Prime Minister who is working to establish a Uniform Civil Code. Think about it, 72 years have passed, and India is finally getting round to giving ‘Justice for all’ an opportunity to come alive.

The term ‘Equality’ is also used, yet let us all acknowledge, India is a mess when it comes to it.

Under the guise of ‘equality’ India has created hundreds, if not thousands, of special categories to give some communities, some groups, some faith, special exemptions and the reward of access to money, power and privilege. India has blindly followed the Caste classification first introduced by the British (yes you read that correctly, caste is NOT Indian in origin). It has allowed some faiths grotesque exemptions to appease to their extremism. It has looted Trillions of Rupees from Hindu Mandirs whilst giving total freedom to other faiths. How can you even begin to discuss equality when there exists this wholesale violation of the constitution by the state itself?

I am sure Prime Minister Modi is more than aware of all of the above, and more besides. Let the torch that Swami Vivekanandaji lit of, ‘Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached’, be the mantra that our Prime Minister chants and champions every day. Jai Hind.

We are grateful to all letter writers for more and more versatile letters well within word limit.

Please keep contributing as always. If you are new, then write to Shefali at shefali.saxena@abplgroup.com

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Celebrating India’s Republic Day

Ruchi Ghanashyam Mrs. Ruchi Ghanashyam is the former High Commissioner of India to the UK. With a career in Indian Foreign Service for over 38 years, she has been posted in many countries including South Africa, Ghana, before arriving in the UK. She was only the second woman High Commissioner to the UK since India’s independence and during her tenure, she witnessed a number of significant developments in the UK-India relations.

cabinet, and was conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, posthumously in 1990. It was this draft constitution that came into force on Republic Day. Dr Rajendra Prasad then started his first term as first President of India.

This year the Republic Day is special for more than one reason. It comes in the midst of the celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, celebrating and commemorating 75 years of a progressive nation and the glorious history of India’s people, culture and achievements. The official journey of "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav" commenced on 12th March 2021 that started a 75-week countdown to the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence and will end post a year on 15th August 2023.

There is another factor that makes the Republic Day celebrations this year especially joyful. The celebrations this year began on the 23rd of January to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who was born on 23 January 1897 in a prosperous and large Bengali fam-

@RuchiGhanashyam Thursday, 26th January marks the 73rd Republic Day of India. On this day, India celebrates the coming into effect of the Constitution of India on 26, January 1950. It was on this day in 1950 that India became a republic: the Constitution of free India replaced the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of the country.

This marked the transition of India from an autonomous Commonwealth realm as the Indian Dominion, to a fully sovereign Republic in the Commonwealth of Nations with the President of India as the head of the Indian Union. Though the Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, it came into effect on 26 January 1950, to mark the date in 1930 that the Declaration of Indian Independence (Purna Swaraj) was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress.

Sometimes people unfamiliar with India confuse Republic Day Dr BR Ambedkar with India’s Independence Day. India gained its independence from British rule on 15 August 1947 following a hard-fought independence movement. Thousands and millions of Indians made enormous sacrifices to achieve India’s independence. But newly independent India did not have a

Lakshmi Sahgal Swaminathan

Constitution. India continued to be governed by the modified version of the colonial Government of India Act 1935.

Following independence, it was decided on 29 August 1947, to appoint a Drafting Committee to draft India’s Constitution.

The Chairman of this Committee was Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar, a brilliant jurist, economist and social reformer, he earned doctorates in economics from both Columbia University and the London School of Economics, served as Minister for Law and Justice in Jawaharlal Nehru’s first

UK reports new Covid sub-variant ‘BA.2’ BA.2, a sub-variant of the Covid-19 Omicron strain has been formally designated as a “variant under investigation” by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). According to the agency, Currently, the case numbers are low with just

53 sequences that have been identified in the UK

by January 10. Further analysis on the strain is underway, the agency said.

“It is the nature of viruses to evolve and mutate, so it’s to be expected that we will continue to

see new variants emerge,” said Dr Meera Chand, incident director at the UKHSA. Last week, the UKHSA said, a total of 2,093 sequences of BA.2 had been recorded on an online database across 22 countries.

Royal Mail receives 1m complaints The postal service Royal Mail last year witnessed an almost 50 per cent increase in complaints compared with the previous 12 months. It received more than a million complaints from householders last year.

The Royal Mail quality service reports analysis was drawn after investi-

gating 1,135,441 consumer complaints in the year to 28 March 2021.

Last week, The Observer revealed that more than 120 postal districts experienced delays over the Christmas and new year periods.

Meanwhile, the regulator Ofcom has said that it is closely monitoring the

situation and will take action if necessary.

Matthew Upton, director of policy at Citizens Advice, said: “Royal Mail must do more to reduce these delays and, if these issues become a long-term trend, the regulator Ofcom must be ready to take action.”

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

ily in Cuttack, in today's state of Odisha in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated a holographic grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at the India Gate to mark this anniversary. A permanent granite statue will replace the holographic statue later.

23rd January is celebrated in India as Parakram Diwas (the Day of Valour).

Subhas Bose was sent to England after college to take the Indian Civil Service examination.

He resigned from the Indian Civil Service on 22 April 1921 to participate in the freedom struggle. As per a letter circulating on social media, he wrote to Edwin Samuel Montagu, the then Secretary of State for India, that he desired to have his name removed from the list of probationers in the Indian Civil Services. Instead, he returned to India in 1921 and joined the freedom movement led

by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress, Bose became Congress president in 1938. After reelection in 1939, he developed differences with Mahatma Gandhi and eventually was dissociated from the party.

Netaji followed a different path to achieve India’s independence. On October 21, 1943, he proclaimed the establishment of a provisional independent Indian government, having already formed the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) or INA. He famously said, “Tum Mujhe Khoon Do, Main Tumhe Azadi Doonga” (Give me blood and I will give you freedom!). The INA had a separate women's unit, the Rani of Jhansi Regiment (named after Rani Lakshmi Bai) headed by Capt.

Lakshmi Swaminathan, is a first of its kind in Asia.

The journey of independent India has been a remarkable achievement. India is a shining example of a country governed by the same Constitution for over 70 years, a flourishing and successful democracy, a thriving economy and a scientific and technical powerhouse. Much of the credit for this success goes to the founding fathers, their struggle, wisdom and sacrifices. All Indians who live and breathe in a free India remain eternally grateful.

Unsatisfied students should apply for refunds Universities Minister Michelle Donelan believes that students should ask for refunds if they don’t like the course. She said that students are consumers who deserve an appeal right.

Ms Donelan said, "They are consumers, at the end of the day. They’re paying a substantial amount of money that’s an investment in their own lives. They deserve that appeal right.”

Ms Donelan told The Daily Telegraph that during the pandemic, there had been “tens of thousands” of refunds issued to students by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator.

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SCRUTATOR’S India successfully test-fires new BrahMos missile India successfully test-fired a new version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile off the coast of Odisha in Balasore, defence sources said. The new missile was equipped with new technological developments which were successfully proven. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) teams and industry over the successful test-fire of the new missile. Earlier on January 11, India had successfully test-fired BrahMos Supersonic Cruise missile from the Indian Navy's INS Visakhapatnam warship. The missile is a joint venture between India and Russia. BrahMos is the main weapon system of the Indian Navy warships and have been deployed on almost all of its surface platforms. An underwater version is also being developed which will not only be used by the submarines of India but will also be offered for export to friendly foreign nations. (Agency) Mexican envoy travels in a rickshaw

collapsed. While other passengers panicked, Yogita told them that she will take the steering wheel as she knew how to drive a car. For Yogita, maneouvering the bus gears was not an easy task, but she managed to drive the bus to safety.

(Agency)

and cordoned off the house. The intruders, who were hiding on the roof, were asked to surrender. However, they shot at police, who returned fire, injuring one of the intruders. (Agency) Assam doctor did it 24 years ago

Covid vaccine for lions

Melba Pria, the Mexican envoy to India, has opted an auto rickshaw as her official vehicle. Pria rides in a chauffeur driven rickshaw decorated by a Mexican street artist. The rickshaw holds the flag of Mexico with pride and a diplomatic number plate. At first rickshaw had to be legalised for personal use. Pria went ahead and did all the formalities that were needed to get the three-wheeler as her office vehicle. The CNG powered threewheeler easily evades the Odd-Even formula and the heavy traffic on the streets of Delhi. Pria feels that using a rickshaw as her daily mode of transport helps do her part in acting against air pollution. While officials worry about her safety, she flings it off by saying if millions of people travel in a rickshaw everyday, then why should she be any different.

Initially, Pria’s driver was a bit sceptical about riding a rickshaw, but an initial practice gave him the confidence to ride his boss everywhere she had to reach. Her rickshaw was denied entry to several places, but the brave ambassador never budged and didn’t give up. (Agency) Woman passenger saves lives of 20-seater mini bus Yogita Satav, a 42year-old housewife from Wagholi area of Pune, not only saved the lives of a 20-seater mini-bus but also took the bus driver, who suddenly fell unconscious, to the hospital. Rising to the challenge, Yogita, a mother of two children, drove the bus for nearly 25 km over potholed roads. The passengers reached home safely while the driver got timely medical treatment, which saved his life. The incident took place when the 20 passengers from Wagholi had gone for a picnic to Morachi Chincholi. After spending the day at the picnic spot, the group started their return journey. After covering some distance, the bus driver suddenly complained of uneasiness. “He said he was feeling dizzy and couldn’t see anything… he was speaking incoherently.

He was driving the bus in an erratic manner… everyone in the bus started screaming… I was seated just behind the driver. I went up to him and asked what was wrong. He barely managed to tell me that he was feeling unwell,” said Yogita.

Amid their conversation, the driver

With coronavirus claiming the lives of two lions in a Chennai zoo, the Centre has decided to give the vaccine developed by ICAR- National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) a shot. And, Sakkarbaug in Junagadh is one of the six zoos in India where clinical trials will be conducted on lions and leopards to test its efficacy in keeping animals safe. Sakkarbaug zoo houses more than 70 lions and 50 leopards. The trial, however, will be conducted only on 15 animals. The vaccine will be administered in two doses with a gap of 28 days between the two. The animals will be observed for antibodies for nearly two months after the second dose.

Confirming the news, Abhishek Kumar, deputy conservator of forests, who is also the director of Sakkarbaug zoo, said: “We received communication from the ministry of environment, forest and climate change that the zoo will be a centre for clinical trials on lions and leopards. (The Times of India) Man sitting in US prevents burglary at his Kanpur house Technology saved a house from being burgled when a resident of UP’s Kanpur, who was in New Jersey, US, informed the local police in UP after watching live CCTV footage of burglars breaking into his residence in Shyamnagar area of Kanpur. Responding to the call, police rushed to the house and found the burglars still inside. The intruders opened fire and one of them was injured in retaliatory police fire and apprehended.

Others escaped. Around midnight, Vijay Awasthi, a software engineer based in New Jersey, got an alert on his phone from CCTV cameras and sensors he had installed at his ancestral house in Kanpur.

When he checked the footage, Vijay was shocked to find intruders inside his house.

“Vijay used the mic option to warn intruders. But his warning had no impact on them. Instead, they broke the CCTV camera,” police said. Vijay then immediately called up his neighbour, who informed the police control room and a police patrol reached the site within five minutes. Soon, police personnel arrived

As the news of doctors transplanting a genetically modified pig’s heart into a patient in a Maryland hospital in the US emerged, Assam’s Dr Dhani Ram Baruah said that what America has managed in 2022 he had done back in 1997. Dr Baruah, now 72, was embroiled in a controversy when, in 1997, he managed to transplant a pig’s heart and lungs on a 32-year-old man.

Following the surgery at Baruah’s clinic in Sonapur, on Guwahati outskirts, the 32year-old survived for seven days, before dying of multiple infections. The transplantation led to a huge controversy and the then Assam government instituted an inquiry and ordered the arrest of Baruah and a Hong Kong surgeon Dr Jonathan Ho Kei-Shing, who had assisted him in the surgery. Baruah and Ho KeiShing were both imprisoned for 40 days.

Speaking on Baruah’s behalf from Dr Dhani Ram Baruah Heart Institute & Research Centre at Sonapur, Dalimi Baruah, who claimed to be his long-time research associate, said that he was not greatly moved by the development in Maryland. “It is not a new thing for Sir (Baruah), as this is something he already did in 1997; so what is the big deal now,” asked Dalimi. (Agency)

Its tail looks like a ‘jata’ (heap of matted hair) and its tongue is also longer than normal calves,” Chandel was quoted as saying. Since the calf’s birth, people have been visiting Chandel’s house with coconuts and flower offerings. However, veterinary experts believe that such instances should not be seen as miracles and instead be treated as medical anomalies. They added the calf’s health can soon deteriorate, as is the case with most animals who are born with such deformations. Dr Tarun Ramteke of the Livestock Department said, “It is because of hormonal disorder. In such cases, the animal does not survive for a long time.

Some live for two years, or six months while some last only for 10-15 days.”

(Agency) ‘Flying’ deer leaves internet stunned The joy of watching animals in a jungle is insurmountable and wildlife lovers have always been in awe of the power and alacrity they possess. And now a jaw-dropping video shared by Twitter handle has been doing the rounds of social media leaving people mesmerised at a deer. The deer is seen leaping as high as the height of a man as it attempts to “cross the road”. It can be seen emerging near a water body and making a jump across the mud pathway at lightning speed. As it jumps to that great height, it seems like the animal is moving through the air. Then it safely lands on the opposite side and manages to hastily escape into the wilderness. As the camera pans, a man also seen in the video is also stunned by the deer’s act. Netizens were left stunned after watching the video.

(Agency) Organiser of bovine wedding arrested

People flock to worship calf born with 3 eyes

People have been flocking to the house of Hemant Chandel of Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh after a jersey cow belonging to him gave birth to a calf with three eyes and four nostrils.

The unusual features of the newborn calf has prompted people to consider it as an incarnation of Lord Shiva, who is said to have “trinetra” or three eyes. “The calf has an additional eye in the middle of her forehead and also four holes in the nostril.

Jayanti Malan, a resident of Mota Varachha area of Surat, was arrested for organising the marriage function of calves in violation of Covid-19 restrictions.

Thousands of people had gathered at the function held on January 14. The accused was booked under various sections of Indian Penal Code.

Based on a preliminary inquiry, four cops who were on duty in the area were transferred. The organisers had circulated invitation cards days before the function and a huge mandap was set up at the venue where thousands joined in the rituals and had food. The organisers were booked for organising the function in violation of Covid-19 restrictions while there was a major spike in Covid-19 cases in Surat. (The Times of India)

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29 Jan - 4 Feb 2022

New campaign targeting South Asian adults reveals six major health benefits of losing weight This January, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a new Better Health campaign revealing six major health benefits of losing excess weight to encourage South Asian adults to live a healthier lifestyle.

It is estimated that over 56%1 of South Asian adults in the UK are overweight or living with obesity, putting them at greater risk of developing serious diseases linked with carrying excess body weight such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and up to 12 types of cancer. Losing just 5% of body weight can seriously reduce the chance of heart disease and could make all the difference in preventing treatable heart conditions2.

The 6 benefits that could have a lasting impact on a person’s health by being a healthier weight, include: 1. Reduced risk of common can-

cers (including cancers of the colon, oesophagus, kidney and breast) 2. Reduced risk of high blood pressure 3. Reduced risk of heart disease 4. Reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes 5. Less strain from chronic back and joint pain 6. Reduced risk of being hospitalised or becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 GP and TV Doctor Dr Hillary Jones said: “These six benefits highlight the impact of carrying excess weight, and the range of benefits that can be achieved by reducing your weight. Small changes every day can help you lose weight and feel healthier.

“With Better Health, there are a variety of free NHS endorsed apps, resources and online tools to help people introduce simple changes that will help them eat

Azmina Govindji better and get active this new year, including the NHS Weight Loss Plan, Couch to 5K and Active 10 apps."

Award-winning Dietitian Azmina Govindji said: “If you’re overweight, making small, simple changes to your routine can help cut your risk of becoming seriously ill from conditions, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes,

From 100 Kgs to 6-pack abs Shefali Saxena Ravi Davda was overweight growing up and tried many different things in order to lose weight.

When he was 25, he went through a major transformation. Although he fell in love with the gym, he also regularly used the Couch25k app to help with his journey. He then became a Personal Trainer and regularly recommended this to his clients as well as the NHS 12 week fitness plan to his more vulnerable clients.

Ravi Davda is the CEO of Rockstar Marketing, a digital marketing agency product of his transformation that eventually a fullfledged business to further help people who want to spread awareness and train people to become fit. In an exclusive interview with Asina Voice, Ravi spoke about his journey.

He was born in Birmingham, UK. Both of his parents are of Indian origin. “I started along the traditional route - going to school, sixth form, university, and then working for 5 years in retail banking. I soon realised that this wasn't for me, and in 2016, I gave it up and became a personal trainer. I did this for a couple of years, then started digital marketing freelancing for a gym owner. Since then, I've set up my own marketing agency, Rockstar Marketing,” Ravi told Asian Voice.

Sharing the story of his transformation, he said, “Growing up, I was very overweight. At my highest, I was over 100kg and I'm only 170cm tall. I would often get called names and bullied at school and even at university. In my second year of university, I decided to do something about this and started exercising. Initially, I just wanted to lose a bit of weight, but I fell in love with health and fitness.

Eventually, as I got more and more into it, my goal was to look lean and get a 6 pack.”

Describing his biggest learning while training why Asians need to tackle obesity and what leads to obesity in the first place, Ravi said, “For most Asians, it's the lack of

Ravi Davda exercise and eating too much. My biggest learning when losing weight was that everything is fine in moderation, and it's useful to do some exercise every week. This helps with both physical and mental health. There are many myths when it comes to health and fitness, but essentially, losing weight is all about consuming fewer calories than you burn. That's all.”

When asked how he came up with the idea of helping trainers digitally market themselves better, Ravi told us, “It's generally not trainers we work with. It's more gyms, studios, and other businesses within the fitness industry.

We've also had clients from outside the fitness industry too, including recruitment, tuition centres, HR consultancies, and many more. But as my passion and background are in the fitness industry, this is what I love to do.”

He also elaborated on the trends he has observed in health and fitness while helping clients.

Ravi said, “There have been many trends over the last few years, both for fitness and nutrition. HIIT training has become a massive thing. So have fitness watches and trackers. It goes further than this too, for example, mental health has become a massive trend too.

Personally, these are great and can help, but of course, there's nothing that beats hard work.”

Talking about how important it is for Asians to be serious about

fitness and his observation during the pandemic, the digital marketeer said, “It's been a lot harder to exercise during the pandemic, obviously. Gyms have closed down. But there are still things you can do. For me, I've been doing some workouts at home, running, and more. I've also been doing more yoga. I think it's so important for Asians to be serious about fitness. It helps with mental health. You always feel better after exercising.”

But what is the future of business owners in the health and fitness industry? According to Ravi, “The future for business owners is that more and more will start seeing exercise as part of their day and actually something that helps their business, rather than something that takes time out of their day. It helps with decision making, reducing fatigue, being more present at work and home, and many more. It's not separate from your business, it's a part of it.

Integrating the two is important.”

which are more prevalent in South Asian communities.

“It also reduces your chances of being hospitalised if you develop COVID-19. The resources from the Better Health campaign provide the support you need to take small steps towards a healthier lifestyle in the new year - whether it’s losing weight, getting more active, or making better food choices.”

Better Health is working in partnership with 16 weight management and physical activity partners who are providing both free and discounted offers. The website also highlights the free local weight management services provided by Local Authorities.

Public Health Minister Maggie Throup said: “The new Better Health campaign focuses on improving adults' health and helping them get to a healthier weight.

“January is a great time of the year for making resolutions and I hope that people can use this as a kick start moment to be more active and eat healthier - especially when losing body weight can have such a positive impact on our health, including reducing the chance of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19.”

The six benefits’ list has been created based on evidence cited in the Government’s Obesity Strategy: “Tackling Obesity: Empowering adults and children to live healthier lives”, alongside NHS and additional sources2, to provide the public with motivating reasons to eat better and get active in 2022.

Better Health has lots of free tips and tools to help people get started if they want to lose weight, eat better or get active.

Search ‘Better Health’ to start leading a healthier lifestyle today.

People with high levels of Tcells from common colds are less likely to catch Covid A new peer-reviewed study has revealed that those with high levels of T cells from common colds are less likely to catch Covid.

Researchers have said the findings could help provide the blueprint for the production of new vaccines which give longerlasting immunity and would protect against current and future coronavirus variants such as Omicron and Delta.

Professor Ajit Lalvani, senior author of the study and Director of the NIHR Respiratory Infections Health Protection Research Unit at Imperial, said: "Our study provides the clearest evidence to date that T cells induced by common cold coronaviruses play a protective role against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

"These T cells provide protection by attacking proteins within the virus, rather than the spike

Professor Ajit Lalvani

protein on its surface.

"New vaccines that include these conserved, internal proteins would therefore induce broadly protective T cell responses that should protect against current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants."

Sangeet Foundation to celebrate International Happiness Day 2022 Mental health charity Sangeet ing the impact of music, especially Finalist) hosted by Bollywood star Foundation (registered in the UK on special needs people and a perBali Brahmbhatt (of Amma Dekh with Charity Commission as formance by Samadipta Tera Munda Bigra Jae fame).

Sangeet Global Ltd) will be having Mukherjee (SaReGaMaPa WB its first physical programme after 100 odd online programmes during the lockdown.

The Indian High Commission and Padmashree Aparna Sen India League in the UK organise a and Pandit Bickram Ghosh ceremony to pay tributes to are their patrons. Sangeet Mahatma Gandhi on his death Foundation is planning to anniversary on 30 January every year. celebrate International This year, brief ceremonies to pay Happiness Day 2022 along floral tributes are being organised on with Holi on 19th March in Sunday, 30 January 2022 to comHarrow and 20th March in memorate the death anniversary of Leicester in partnership with Mahatma Gandhi: De Montfort University.

Floral tributes will be offered by According to the chair and the High Commissioner and a few co-founder, Jayanta Ray pro- officers of the High Commission gramme includes a panel dis- along with the Mayor of Camden at cussion on mental health Tavistock Square Garden at 11.00 am.

Parliament Square Garden at 11.30 (hosted by Radhika Iyer, am.

Floral tributes will be paid by NDTV UK), a performance by the High Commissioner and a few There will be no public gathering a music school demonstrat- officers of the High Commission at this time.

Remembering Gandhi

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FACES OF INDIA

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head of India’s 73rd Republic Day, Asian Voice brings you the faces of India’s legacy in the UK-India partnership.

With messages for our readers from the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Priti Patel and other MPs. Our special coverage includes an exclusive interview with the Indian High Commissioner in the UK, a special column on India’s heritage, the story of India’s pilot Laxmi Joshi who flew to Wuhan in the Vande Bharat Mission, community volunteers, experts, businessmen from the FinTech industry in the UK and more.

29 Jan - 4 Feb 2022

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‘High Commission of India in London is your second home’ In an exclusive interview with Asian Voice, HE High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom, Ms Gaitri Issar Kumar speaks about the UK-India partnership and the glory of India.

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ow instrumental is the UKIndia FTA going to be in strengthening the partnership between the two countries?

Hon’ble Prime Ministers of India and the UK are committed to strengthening the trade partnership between our two countries. They launched the Enhanced Trade Partnership in May 2021 during the India-UK Virtual Summit – which paved the way for the Free Trade Agreement negotiations which have started on January 17, 2022 – launched in New Delhi by Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Secretary of State for International Trade and her counterpart Hon’ble Minister for Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal. The first step taken by both governments before proceeding to actual negotiations was to carry out widespread public consultations. The response of stakeholders revealed a high level of interest and very useful inputs have been received on both sides. As we are aware, the Indian diaspora is a key contributor to the strong trade and investment linkages that make India one of the largest investors in the UK, a significant employment generator and a key trade partner. Our Prime Ministers have set a target of doubling bilateral trade by 2030.

Removing trade barripriority destinations ers reducing tariffs, for our outreach boosting trade inflows include Leeds, have been lynchpins of Manchester, Sheffield, our relationship and Yorkshire, West FTA will take us further Midlands - and we on this trajectory. plan to build on previhat avenues does ous visits made to it open for the other regions. Our High Commission of Access India India in the UK to Programme facilitates explore further within UK's SMEs in estabthe UK to help both the HC Gaitri Issar Kumar lishing their operanations in smoother tions in India. transactions and trade? ow would you describe the evolution of India’s relationship As can be expected, our Free with its colonial past and a postTrade deal will seek to reduce tariffs modern approach to walking handand remove barriers on key items of in-hand with Britain, especially to imports/exports to make the moveproduce vaccines? ment of goods and services between our two countries more rewarding The UK’s desire for a free trade for both sides. High Commission has agreement with India after Brexit is been proactively engaging with busireciprocated by India as we see the nesses all over the UK to facilitate tremendous potential. In a globthem. I have engaged with business, alised world, India and the UK have industry and universities in Cardiff, realised the potential of our many Belfast, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, complementary strengths. Our Southampton and many other Prime Ministers have described us regions either in-person or virtually. as ‘natural partners’. An example is We look forward to further expanda collaboration on vaccines between ing our reaches to different parts of Oxford AstraZeneca and Serum the UK and promoting bilateral Institute of India, due to which a trade and investment by hand-holdtimely supply of life-saving ing businesses. This will keep our medicines to more than 150 counEconomic Wing busy – this year our tries. India supplied 115.4 million

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ambitions, people and economies together to prosper for the next 75 years and beyond.

- Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Celebrate the birth of the world’s largest democracy

It gives us great pleasure in extending our warmest congratulations to all Asian Voice readers on the occasion of India’s Republic Day. This is a timely opportunity to celebrate the birth of the world’s largest democracy. As Co-Chairs of Conservative Friends of India, we hope we can continue to play a key role in strengthening bilateral relations between the UK and India.

Despite the pandemic, we have exciting times ahead, particularly with the recent launch of negotiations on an ambitious Free Trade Agreement in New Delhi last week.

The 1.7 million-strong British Indian diaspora is key in nurturing this special

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Inspiring to see the rich diversity and ambition in our community

75 years and beyond The UK and India are tied by deep bonds that span through the generations and across some of the greatest modern-day challenges we have faced.

That is why I want to send my best wishes on behalf of the United Kingdom to the people of India, and to all the British Indians in the UK, on India’s Republic Day. As two diverse democracies, I am proud of our strong friendship, demonstrated by the launch of free trade negotiations this month and our partnership manufacturing the OxfordAstra Zeneca vaccine. I look forward to fortifying those bonds as we bring our

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doses to 79 countries under our Vaccine Maitri (Friendship) initiative. our message for our readers on India’s Republic Day. I would like to wish all your readers a very happy Republic Day. India has proven itself as a successful example of unity in diversity. We are stronger and more prosperous as a nation than when we started our journey 75 years ago.

I would also like to thank our diaspora in UK for their tremendous support in this journey and I look forward to receiving their cooperation in future as well. The High Commission has planned a series of events under the banner of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, celebrating 75 years of Indian independence. I request your readers and the Indian diaspora to take an active part in the events planned by the High Commission. These events not only provide opportunities to know India but also to win exciting prizes.

At last, I would like to assure all your readers and specifically those who are part of the Indian diaspora that the High Commission of India in London is your second home and we would be happy to serve them in the best of our capacity.

relationship and we hope that we can continue to play a crucial role in serving the diaspora. Post-Brexit and post Covid-19, we hope that we can work together in enhancing our economic recovery and maintaining our place in the changing world stage.

We hope and pray that the bond between our two great countries continues to grow in strength and prosperity.

Councillor Ameet Jogia and Councillor Reena Ranger OBE, Co-Chairs, Conservative Friends of India and Nayaz Qazi, Director of Conservative Friends of India

On this auspicious occasion where we honour the anniversary of the Constitution of India coming into effect, I would like to send my best wishes to all members of the Indian diaspora community living in the UK and celebrating this momentous date.

The signing of the Constitution on 26th January 1950 marked a very significant moment in both India and indeed the world’s history, sowing the seeds for what has developed into the largest democracy in the world. The UK and India enjoy a longstanding friendship that is anchored in our shared history, democratic values and common interests. It is a relationship that continues to grow from strength to strength, supported by the talented, vibrant and successful Indian diaspora community in the United Kingdom. The diaspora community here in the UK con-

tinue to make Indian culture a key part of our national identity and a cornerstone of British life. It is inspiring to see the rich diversity and ambition in our community flourishing across the country and in particular the response from the Indian community to the unprecedented challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic over the last two years. Republic Day is a hugely important occasion where we can all reflect on our hard work, success and achievements so far, as well as looking to a bright and prosperous future. It is a day to celebrate our vibrant culture, heritage and aspirations, and unite as one global Indian community.

- Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, Home Secretary

Hope this partnership will continue moving forward “Wishing all Asian Voice readers, everyone celebrating in India and Indians abroad a happy Republic Day, as they will all no doubt be using the day to connect with their national heritage.

Hope you all have a happy and healthy day. I know over the past two years, the pandemic has had a devastating impact in India, but I know the strong connection between the UK and India has helped both nations push through, sharing vaccines and lifesaving equipment. I hope this partnership will continue moving forward to

support the health and prosperity of both nations.”

-Tanmanjeet Singh "Tan" Dhesi, Member of Parliament for Slough and Shadow Minister for the Railways

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The League of Extraordinary Indians: The First Colonel

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That being the village of Mohna in Gurgaon district, present-day Haryana. This article further mentions how he protected the lives of thirty-two Europeans comprising of many women and children by providing them shelter in spite of receiving repeated threats. He also provided food and clothes and arranged for their safe passage to Agra. As an outcome of this endeavour, he was soon awarded the entire village of Mohna as a hereditary 'Jagir' and presented with a valuable sword.

The Pecking Order Abhiroop Sengupta He soon reached the rank of an Abhiroop Sengupta is a Kolkata based Honorary Captain and was awarded entrepreneur, fencer, amateur historian the first class of the Indian Order of and writer. Also a devoted Freemason and Merit in 1861 and further went on to Rotarian, he spends most of his free time serve in Sikkim, Sambalpur, Khasi researching about varied subjects, espe- and Jaintia hills. Around this time, cially those which he feels did not get their we also see him making a transition deserved due in the course of history. into many administrative roles alongside his military duties. He Self-made individuals have always served as the Commandant of the earned their share of respect in the Cooch Behar forces and also served in course of history and this life sketch the capacity of an Assistant deals with the life of someone similar.

Commissioner of the Western Dooars.

In nineteenth-century India when the He further went on to serve as the very history of the sub-continent was Assistant to the Commissioner of evolving because of the numerous wars Cooch Behar and also to the Chief and treaties taking place all around, Political Officer for Bhutan. Another there lived an army officer who went major appointment was being appointon to play a crucial role for the very ed to the judicial position of Honorary Magistrate for the same region. His service in the Anglo-Bhutan War of 1864-1865 was greatly praised and he eventually went on to lease thousands of acres of land in the Dooars region.

Milestones In the Lushai expedition of 18711872, we find an obviously aged Hedayat Ali as Captain, commanding the Coolie Corps. Around this time he was also serving as an aide-de-camp to the Commander in Chief of India. In those days it was not unusual for officers and soldiers to continue serving in their advanced age. Hedayat Ali was promoted to the rank of a Major sometime soon after, as, during the visit of the Prince of Wales to India in 1875Lieutenant Colonel Khan Bahadur Sheikh Hedayat Ali, Sirdar Bahadur, CIE, OBI, IOM 1876, there is a mention of him, as Major being appointed as an Extra forces which held an upper hand across aide-de-camp to the Prince. Hedayat these vast lands. His name was Ali was promoted to the honorary rank Lieutenant Colonel Khan Bahadur of a Lieutenant Colonel sometime Sheikh Hedayat Ali, Sirdar Bahadur, around 1880, thus becoming the first CIE, OBI, IOM. He was the first Indian Indian career officer in the British career army officer who reached the Indian army to reach that rank. "The rank of a Lieutenant Colonel in the Dictionary of Indian Biography" by British Indian army.

C.E. Buckland mentions his other honOrigin ours which included being appointed a The very origin of his life is a little Companion of the Indian Empire, uncertain. An article on his life pubbeing conferred the title of Khan lished in "The Illustrated London Bahadur and being awarded the Order News" dated September 4th, 1858 quotof British India(First Class) which fured one Major General Carmichael, ther allowed him to use the title of according to whom Hedayat Ali held Sirdar Bahadur. The immensely capathe rank of a Duffadar or Cavalry ble officer breathed his last at Dinapur, Sergeant in the 4th Regiment Irregular present-day Bihar on the 3rd of July Horse sometime around 1824.

1882 after a pretty long and adventurAssuming that Hedayat Ali started his ous life. Among his family and heirs, he career as a Sowar or Cavalry Trooper in had a son named Saikh Sakawat Ali his late teens, we can assume that he who had died sometime before 1903. was at least around thirty years old in Large tracts of his estates in Northern 1824, which puts his date of birth Bengal were resumed by the around 1794. The article among other Government by 1901 and with time he things further mentions that he was was forgotten in many corridors where the son of a popular Risaldar or Cavalry he was once seriously respected. But Captain who had died around 1832 in his legacy remained. The Dooars Sagar, present-day Madhya Pradesh region where Lieutenant Colonel Khan and that Hedayat Ali was appointed as Bahadur Hedayat Ali, Sirdar Bahadur the Native Adjutant to the Corps in once served in the military, adminis1839. Hedayat Ali was himself serving trative and judicial capacities is today as a Risaldar in the army in 1857 when known as the Alipurduar district. The the uprising took place. An article pubprefix of 'Ali' was added to the district lished in "The Friend of India" of May name as a tribute to the surname of the 6th, 1858 mentions his place of origin. legendary officer.

29 Jan - 4 Feb 2022

SPECIAL

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Meet Captain Laxmi Joshi, the Indian pilot from Vande Bharat Mission Shefali Saxena

unprecedented challenges since the pandemic began. From facing job uncertainties to working under extreme stress to ensure that safety remains a no.1 priority at a high contact place like an airport. As working from home is not possible in this field, So many of the pilots, crew and airport staff gave their lives while being on duty.

- Give one piece of advice to parents of daughters who would want to pursue a career like yours.

“I

am the first one to become a Pilot from my family,” Captain Laxmi Joshi, who flew India’s Vande Bharat Mission flight to China, told Asian Voice.

Captain Laxmi Joshi hails from a family of five. Her father, Shailesh Joshi is a civil engineer and her mother Nayan Joshi is a homemaker. Laxmi also has a younger sister, Sejal and a younger brother, Deepak. In an exclusive chat with the newsweekly, the pilot shared

Q

Paris, USA and other counties during the Pandemic. We rescued stranded passengers under Vande Bharat Mission and also brought emergency medical supplies when there was an extreme shortage in the country. This whole experience made me appreciate our armed defence forces, medical personnel even more as they face challenges like these on a daily basis. The first wave in India was not as bad as in other countries but the situation in India was really bad when the second wave of Delta variant Captain Laxmi Joshi wearing a PPE kit in hit us. It took a joint concerted effort by everyone to overcome the cockpit that. her experience of flying the - What do we as normal Vande Bharat Mission flights citizens know about the around the world during the efforts that people in the aviapandemic, risking her life, but tion industry put during Covidbravely doing her duty.

19, which we may not know oth“I am born and raised in erwise?

Mumbai, India. After finishing high school I joined Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Matunga as a science student and after finishing 12th (A levels) I went to New Zealand to do my pilot training. I got my commercial pilot licence in 2012 and joined the National carrier of India Air India in 2016 on the Airbus A320 fleet later on in 2018 I was upgraded to the B777 fleet which is Captain Laxmi Joshi flying back with relief my current fleet,” she material added.

- How supportive Everybody in all the departhas your family been in ments of an airport has faced your career and your decision to be a part of the Vande Bharat Mission?

My family has been always my backbone and have been very supportive throughout. My dad is my hero and since childhood, he’s supported and moti“I'm full of huge admiravated me in everything. tion for how far India has I have done many rescue come in the over seven flights and we still are doing it decades since indepenas a part of the Vande Bharat dence. So it's an incredible mission. At first, my parents story of progress in a huge were a little worried since it was democracy. the peak time when Covid had I sense there is still so just hit the country and we had so much more that can be to fly to China to bring vaccinadone to build those built tions, masks, hazmat suits and on the natural bridges other medical supplies for our between the West country but it was my duty call Midlands and India, and I feel proud to be the part of whether it be in trade the mission. I did many rescue business, whether it be in the flights to bring back Indians academic sector, whether it stranded in USA, Paris, Canada be in the tourist sector, but in and many more countries. All the cultural sector, and this experience will be part of my memory. indeed, even in sport, dare I - Please tell us more about say?

I hope the your rescue flights.

Commonwealth Games will, I operated to Shanghai,

Q

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Capt Laxmi Joshi with her father Shailesh Joshi

This is my message to everyone- “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”

So all the lovely girls and boys out there no matter how many hurdles you have to face in life to achieve your goals never give up on your dreams as in the end all the effort and your hard work will be worth it and I give all the credit to My biggest inspiration in my life my dad who has taught me, you can achieve whatever you wish in your life with your positive approach, determination & hard work!

- How do you manage your mental health and physical health amid such exhausting schedules and uncertain times?

I do yoga, meditation and I work out 3-4 times a week. I try to eat clean and healthy as much as possible and I always make sure I get a good sleep.

Because body and mind that is rested well can perform the best is what I believe in.

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Incredible story of progress

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in a sense, be the moment where people just reflect on that because we will be in the world spotlight this summer.”

- West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street

16 SPECIAL

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Sisters of the Moon ‘We don't disappear as we get older’ Shefali Saxena WaterAid and award-winning Indian transmedia artist and activist Poulomi Basu have launched a dynamic new dystopian photo series, Sisters of the Moon, to show how a lack of clean water and toilets limits the power and potential of women and girls.

Poulomi Basu is an Indian transmedia artist, photographer and activist whose work advocating for the rights of women has received wide attention. Born and raised in India, Poulomi spent her formative years in Kolkata, taking early inspiration from the city’s cinematic history.

In 2020 she was awarded the prestigious Hood Medal by the Royal Photographic Society for her transmedia work, Blood

WALKING INTO DARKNESS: This disturbing image is of a woman in a bridal veil without access to a toilet, walking into darkness across a challenging landscape. Credit: WaterAid/Poulomi Basu

Speaks, which put menstrual rights on the international agenda and resulted in a major policy change. She was shortlisted for the prestigious Deutsche Börse Prize in 2021 and has won multiple awards.

Poulomi has worked with WaterAid since 2014 on projects exploring the impact a lack of clean water and toilets has on girls.

She has covered issues such as violence against women, period taboos and sanitation work. Poulomi collaborated with the charity on its To Be A Girl campaign which raised £2 million to build toilets and provide 130,000 girls with re-useable sanitary kits.

In 2020, she was one of 10 visual artists commissioned by WaterAid to create work celebrating the 10th anniversary of water and sanitation being declared a human right by the UN. The ecofeminist work, commissioned by the international charity WaterAid,

girls have an equal chance to learn in dignity and safety. The UK Government will match public donations made by 15 February 2022 up to £2 million, helping bring these vital facilities to an additional 28,000 people and 30 schools in the Bardiya district of Nepal.

The 14 striking images include a bed submerged in water, inspired by women Poulomi met in Bangladesh who are living

Football, racism and national identity ENG-ER-LAND, is a play by South Asian Playwright Hannah Kumari. Hannah is a mega football fan and the writer of this exhilarating, timely and vital story exploring the connection between football, racism and national identity.

Next February, an exhilarating and vital new play exploring the connection between football and national identity written and performed by Hannah Kumari, directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair MBE, will tour the country to over 15 venues from 16 February to 2 April 2022.

Hannah is of Scottish (Father) and Indian (Mother) origin and speaks fluent Spanish.

Originally from Rugby, Warwickshire, she studied BA Hons.

Theatre at Bretton Hall in Leeds and learnt to speak Spanish whilst living and working in Valencia with a touring theatre company. Hannah now divides her time between Spain and the UK. We spoke to her about football, racism and national identity.

on the frontline of climate change and whose homes were lost and many flooded as a result of rising sea levels. Floating by the bed are water containers, highlighting how the climate crisis is a water crisis, with flooding contaminating water supplies and droughts drying them up.

Poulomi said, “Being a woman in a very exclusively male society, like India, I've always sort of looked for stories, where women are changing their roles in their own society when pushed to extreme situations, how they address those situations and break stereotypes, and I look for those underreported stories of women that not only highlight their struggles but also their resilience and their triumphs.”

One of the photos was inspired by a girl she met in the Himalayas while working in Nepal. She was barefoot, balancing three pots on her head and not going to school because she had to collect water so her brothers could go to school. Another photo was inspired by a blind woman Basu met in India with no access toilets, who had been gang-raped, and they'd use toilets, across the railway tracks in the darkness, besides wet and gone poor in a small slum.

Another artwork was inspired by a story of a girl who felt ashamed to leave the school chair where she was sitting because she didn't have enough sanitary pads, and she was still leaking and was terrified of staining and that there would be blood all over on the chair on the floor. “So that inspired the picture of me standing almost like a superhero drenched in blood and books,” Basu told us.

Basu’s idea was to make these women look powerful and magical, rather than victims of shame.

She also thinks that the problem with visual imagery is that if you constantly show poverty, it becomes poverty, tourism, and that is Slumdog Millionaire, you know, but the series here is not about poverty, tourism is showing women, it's showing women within a powerful way with an agency, but it's also highlighting the problems, in a way that is far more complex and nuanced than a simple picture of a girl standing near a broken pipe with water coming out know.

When asked about her opinion on what she’s observed over two decades of her work when it comes to changing status of women, Poulomi said, “I think it's very difficult because India is a deeply patriarchal and misogynistic society, and I think we're regressing given the current political scenario, we are in very dystopian times.

“I blame the patriarchy, which is a system that is not about men, you know, and even women are a part of it, where women cause as much harm to other women, the same way men help in gender equality movements. I feel until misogyny becomes a hate crime in India, this is going to go on, otherwise, it's very hard to see real changes.

“Don't be afraid not to be afraid to break ceilings. My advice is to raise your voices, because being silent has never helped anyone, and make art that crushes and breaks through those ceilings.”

twined with xenophobic views which sometimes present themselves at football games, often when alcohol is in the mix. I find it sad that the St George’s flag is a symbol of fear for many people of colour in this country. During the Euros last summer (2021) my own sense of patriotism and feeling like I finally had a right to fly the St George’s flag were heightened briefly by Gareth Southgate’s young England team, only to be subdued once more by scenes I saw of fan behaviour on the day of the final itself. s a playwright, how would you describe the current scenario in football, especially in the light of recent racist abuse that players of colour have faced?

I am a positive person but there’s no escaping that the landscape can feel a little bleak as if it’s two steps forward and one step back. That’s not just racism but all forms of discrimination. We have seen an increase in homophobic chants on

recent matchdays, as well as more racist incidents and booing of the taking of the knee. I think a lot of fantastic people are working hard to effect change, which gives me hope. Anwar Uddin, ex-pro footballer and campaign manager of The FSA’s Fans for Diversity campaign is someone who really inspires me and works tirelessly to make football more inclusive. hat would it take for more representation of Asians and other ethnic minorities to be a part of football?

Despite the ongoing challenges, I do think we saw a lot of progression in 2021.

Dev Trehan is someone I follow on Twitter, a journalist and producer, who is doing amazing things to raise the profile of South Asians in football and is the creator of South Asians in The Game. We had Zidane Iqbal making his debut for Man United in the Champions League and there are the three female football fans The Three Hijabis, lobbying to make going to football matches a safer experience for everyone. I hope ENG-ER-LAND will contribute to this landscape, vocalising experiences that others may identify with. I feel hopeful for the future, for representation of Asians and other Black and Global Majority communities both on and off the pitch.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND LOSS: This artwork addresses how the homes of women and girls are impacted by the multiple battles of the climate crisis, rising sea levels and the imminent threat of cyclones. Credit: WaterAid and Poulomi Basu

explores women’s energy and strength and the importance of water and sanitation in helping them fulfil their potential as a force for change. Sisters of the Moon is inspired by the women and girls Poulomi has met through more than a decade of her previous work, including collaborative assignments with WaterAid, as well as her own experience of being raised in a patriarchal home in Kolkata where both her mother and grandmother were child brides.

The series explores issues that affect women and girls all over the world such as gender-related violence, menstrual taboos, and climate change, so rather than focus on a specific country, Poulomi chose to create a fictional dystopian world in the beautiful and barren landscape of Iceland. She placed herself in the photographs as a way of connecting her own struggles with those of women and girls from across the global south, using her body as a canvas to confront the politics of race, representation and environmental justice.

Speaking exclusively to Asian Voice, she said, “It's not easy for me to put my body on the front line of this campaign as a woman who's nearing her 40s because not some young pretty girl who like putting myself out there. I'm doing it in my middle age, so it's also about countering my own inhibitions, shames and vulnerabilities and not being scared to put it out there. We don't disappear as we get older.”

Sisters of the Moon is being released to support WaterAid’s Thirst for Knowledge appeal, which will bring clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene to homes and schools around the world, helping ensure

Hannah Kumari

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hat is the connection between football, racism and national identity?

Football was traditionally a sport watched by white, working-class men. As the UK has become more multicultural, women’s football has developed, and amid the changing political backdrop, I think some people have the misguided opinion that football is one of the few remaining places that ‘belong’ to them and represents what has been ‘lost’ about white English male identity. Obviously when the National team is playing, in any sport, that is going to encourage patriotism from fans of that country. Unfortunately, in England patriotism seems to have become inter-

Poulomi Basu, Credit: Maria Lax

THE BURDEN OF CARRYING WATER: This artwork shows the woman as a great cosmic mother with lack of access to clean water as the greatest burden that women and girls in the global south face.

Credit: WaterAid/Poulomi Basu

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29 Jan - 4 Feb 2022

SPECIAL

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FinTech and FTA: Mistakes and learnings With the recent Free Trade Agreement between India and UK, the two countries have a great chance at relooking at their economic policies, benefiting from this alliance and learning from their past mistakes. Asian Voice spoke to two British Indian businessmen in the FinTech world about the way forward and the past learnings.

Swastik Nigam, Founder & CEO, Winvesta. Winvesta is a fintech company building global financial solutions for individuals and businesses. Swastik studied in India and moved to the UK after completing his MBA at IIM-Ahmedabad. He started Winvesta, a cross-border neobank and investment platform to build a first of a kind set of products for India and the UK. Speaking to Asian Voice, Nigam shared an important observation regarding the UKIndia FTA. He said, “We are far from closure on the FTA. It is too early to mention if any

country has got a raw deal over the other. It is in both countries’ interest to treat this with priority and speed. An FTA will work when both countries give and take.

“The early harvest agreement that they’ve spoken of will be a key document to view. The UK needs to fill a labour shortage across sectors and India can help fill it.

Through services exported straight from India, or through migration. India can enjoy the expertise from the UK and upskill multiple sectors - especially service sectors.”

Saving in the pandemic Giving advice for an average individual in the post-pandemic world regarding savings and investments, Swastik Nigam told us, “The rules of savings stay unchanged. Start early. Start small. Be consistent. But while the pandemic may have brought hardships on many, it has also been a time to identify what matters. Many are starting up, many are recognising that they can work from

India is back to its pre-Covid growth

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iddhartha Bandyopadhyay is a globally, and that impinges on what were Professor of Economics at the once sacrosanct institutions as we saw with University of Birmingham, the UK the last election in the USA. In the UK, where he is also Director of the crossBrexit has polarised the UK population disciplinary Centre for Crime, Justice and though there is some hope that some of the Policing. He specialises in political economy scars from Brexit may be healing. India as a and public policy with methodological multi-lingual and multi-cultural society expertise in quantitative modelling. has thrived in its diversity in spite of forces that have sometimes He is an economist caused separatist by training, who was movements. Its current born in Kolkata with an sharp political polarisation undergraduate degree mirrors what is happening at Presidency College globally. But there is more (now a University) and unanimity on the need for a post-graduate degree public investment in at the Delhi School of infrastructure, reducing Economics before inequalities and revamping completing a PhD at education though serious Pennsylvania State differences remain on the University. His work in best way to do so. political economy has Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay - Do you think, India made him conscious of as an economy and a the political forces and democracy has taken advantage of its constraints that drive policy and to consider constitution to do right by the citizens in that explicitly in any policy framework. the past 72 years?

In an interview with Asian Voice, he spoke about the economic aftermath of Democracy and the constitutional Covid, the measures and policies. safeguards it usually comes with remains a - How have the UK and Indian work in progress across the world. India is a economies performed according to vibrant democracy, but it is not immune to your expert opinion amid the pandemic? the authoritarian creep that is affecting the The UK and India have, with the rest of world. As a relatively young democracy, it is the world taking a huge economic hitpotentially more fragile and needs more directly because of the loss in productivity work on strengthening independent due to ill health (and death) or caring duties institutions-be it the media, or the because of the pandemic as well as judiciary. But ultimately to realise the full (necessary) public health measures to set of rights guaranteed in the constitution, contain the disease. But there are we need a more politically engaged encouraging early signs that India is back to citizenry to hold politicians to account. its pre-Covid growth, though such aggerate And for more public-spirited people to data does not tell us how those with low enter politics.

- How would you describe the income or who have lost jobs are faring. evolution and your understanding of Similarly, the UK economy is bouncing the paradigm shift in the global economy? back, though slightly slowed by Omicron.

What can India learn from the west and Inequality remains a major concern.

- In the light of the UK-India FTA, do vice versa? you think both nations will be able to I think the main paradigm shift has benefit equally? been an understanding that the global economy has impacted people differently The basis of free trade agreements is for and too little has been done to help people both nations to benefit, the precise and sectors left behind by globalisation. distribution may not be equal and depends That has led to a backlash against on the quality and demand for different globalisation and in this rise of nationalism, products (including services). The we see a real danger of undoing the genuine agreement is in too nascent a state to benefits that come from an open world. We estimate the relative gains but India has need to, in particular address inequality boosted its trade and investment through and how to equip people with the skills FTAs with other countries and this will give needed in a fast-changing world. A it a competitive edge compared to other globalised world allows India and the West exporters to the UK and lead to better to learn from each other. In particular, diffusion of innovation from both countries.

India’s strong informal system of support Similarly, this will have enormous potential through family networks has much to benefits for the UK through the lifting of commend and one sees some of this (many) trade barriers.

- What is your opinion on policy beliefs intergenerational support system rein a polarised world in 2022 when emerging in the West. In turn, India can countries have their own socio-economic learn from the West in its civic-mindedness issues to deal with? and respect for the rule of law and contractual obligations.

Polarisation has not really gone down

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anywhere. They’ve had more time to manage their money as well.”

Dissecting the mistakes and learnings from the economic aftermath of the pandemic, the IIM graduate said, “I think the UK responded very quickly and deterministically. It has rebounded Swastik Nigam Ashesh Jani quickly. The furlough scheme it launched was unparalleled for a technology, and access to capital whereas nation of its size in terms of the speed it India needs clean energy, healthcare, launched it with. This was more specific education, infrastructure, technology, than many other countries. While the UK fintech, food safety, etc. In turn, it offers 250 did well to respond economically, it has, million middle-class consumers to monetise unfortunately, had a fair degree of such investments. Indian apparel, textiles, controversy in terms of how its leadership leather, and processed agri-products find a responded. large market in the UK,” he told Asian Voice.

“For India, it didn’t have the resources or Who takes the cake? use tools that western nations have When asked which country is taking the previously used for preservation. There were lion's share of benefits from the FTA, Jani few measures for job preservation, limited said, “These negotiations are between tax rebates. But India has emerged well from equals. India’s growth is not a matter of “if” the disastrous first wave. A rapid vaccine but “when”. The Indian economy will create rollout and the continued high vaccination demand for infrastructure, consumer rates are no small feat to have achieved for a goods/services, tourism, and overseas country its size. However, the true education. Pressures faced by the NHS and inspirations are those that have changed sails the transport industry during the pandemic through these trying times - the success that make great case studies for fast-tracking an India’s early-stage firms have enjoyed is FTA with India to tap its skilled labour exceptional.” force.”

Ashesh Jani, Co-Founder & CEO, Ribbon Rishi Sunak has done a remarkable job Plc, is a former Retail and Digital Banking Speaking of the UK’s economic recovery head of a large Indian bank. Born, raised and and the trust that one can place in educated in Mumbai, Jani has lived and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Ashesh told us, “The worked in the UK, Canada. Ashesh is economic recovery rates will be clearer as the working on launching a digital neo-bank in impact of relaxation in restrictions is the UK, Ribbon PLC. Ribbon is part of a UKmeasured. The British economy may remain India corridor focused financial services under pressure in 2022 given the energy group with industry experts and leaders as inflation. Rishi Sunak has done a remarkable co-founders and the board. job over these past two years. He is astute, FTA is a win-win deal for UK and India seems ambitious and has displayed a According to Jani, the FTA is focused on statesmanlike approach. Also a clear creating a win-win deal for both economies. favourite amongst his party for a higher role.

“The UK has advanced research, I wish him the best!”

18 SPECIAL

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India emerges as a global actor during the pandemic crisis Amb. Ashok Sajjanhar The world had been witnessing a rapid flux in geo-politics and international relations over the past few years. These trends became much more pronounced in 2020 with the advent of the corona virus. At the beginning of 2021 the world was looking at the coming year with some hope and optimism. However, last year witnessed the eruption of the most devastating Delta variant in March, 2021. Today the world is staring at the havoc being perpetrated by the new Omicron variant.

Under these demanding circumstances, India has taken several bold steps to emerge as a global leader in many significant areas. Not only has it been able to effectively handle the numerous challenges domestically but it has also resolutely moved to extend a helping hand to many foreign partners to ameliorate their suffering. This is in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertion at his first Address to the UN General Assembly Session in September 2014, soon after assuming power, that India’s foreign policy is governed by India’s age-old maxim of ‘’Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’’ (The World is One Family).

Vaccine Maitri Initiative One year ago, on 16th January, 2022, India set out on the formidable journey of vaccinating its huge 1.38 billionstrong population against Covid-19. Over this period, more than 90% of the Indian eligible population has received the first dose and above 65% have received both the doses.

Additionally, precautionary doses, commonly known as booster shots, are now being given to frontline workers and vulnerable individuals above the age of 60 years. Youth between the ages of 15-18 years started receiving their first dose from 3rd January, 2022. Vaccination of children between 12-14 years is expected to start soon.

Following the vision of ‘'One Earth, One Health’' propounded by PM Modi, India started sharing its vaccines with the outside world within 4 days of the commencement of its own vaccination drive. In accordance with the ‘’Neighbourhood First’’ Policy enunciated by PM Modi at the beginning of his first term, Bhutan and Maldives became the first countries to receive 150,000 and 100,000 vaccines respectively on 20th January, 2021. Bangladesh and Nepal came next on 21st January, 2021. Myanmar, Seychelles, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan followed soon thereafter. Although India has not recognized the Taliban dispensation in Kabul since it took over power by force on 15th August, 2021, as has no other country in the world, it has not hesitated to provide, essential medicines including additional one million doses of Covid-19 vaccines and about 4 tons of life-saving drugs and equipment as humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. All these items were supplied to the Indira Gandhi Hospital in Kabul by air via Dubai and Iran as Pakistan did not allow use of its territory for overland transit to Afghanistan, which would have been the shortest and quickest route.

Supplies of vaccines were welcomed with deep gratitude by the recipient countries. Bhutan's PM applauded “the gesture that signifies compassion and generosity of PM Modi, and people of India for wellbeing of humanity."

He added: “It is of unimaginable value when precious com-

modities are shared even before meeting your own needs."

Bangladesh Health Minister said that India had stood by Bangladesh during the Liberation War of 1971 as well as the pandemic. Nepalese PM thanked PM Modi and the Indian government for the “generous grant..at this critical time when India is rolling out vaccination for its own people.”

Brazilian President thanked PM Modi with a picture of Lord Hanuman bringing the holy “Sanjeevani”. Prime Minister of Dominica said after receiving the COVID19 vaccines: “I must confess that I did not imagine that the prayers of my country would be answered so swiftly."

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres termed India’s vaccine production capacity as the “best asset”, the world has to fight the pandemic. US State Department; PM of Mauritius; DG, WHO; Bill Gates and several others spoke appreciatively of the selfless manner in which India helped several developing countries with the vaccines.

India had to temporarily curtail these supplies when the second wave of the virus struck India in April, 2021 but they were resumed as soon as the situation and supplies normalized.

This initiative significantly enhanced the influence and image of the country. The fact that India has been able to develop, manufacture and use several vaccines domestically has significantly enhanced India’s status as a rising scientific and technological power.

India’s Presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC) India assumed the two-year non-permanent membership of the UNSC on 1st January, 2021. It took over as President of UNSC for August, 2021. This provided India with an invaluable opportunity to enhance its credibility as a responsible stake-holder and a rightful claimant to the permanent membership of UNSC. India identified maritime security, peace-keeping and counter-terrorism as key issues for special debates during its presidency. Discussions on Maritime Security in different UN fora had been scheduled earlier but could not be conducted due to the high sensitivity of the issue. PM Modi decided to chair the Session on 9th August, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to conduct a UNSC meeting. Russian President Putin attended the deliberations. The last time Putin attended such a discussion was in 2005! The month of August also witnessed the forcible assumption of power in Kabul by the Taliban. This put a huge onus on the Indian Presidency. India proved equal to the challenge. It presided over several discussions on the evolving situation and crafted Resolution 2593 which has come to represent the consensus view of the global community on actions that Taliban must take in the governance of Afghanistan.

The competent and deft manner in which India built consensus even amongst opposing parties during its Presidency significantly added to its prestige and influence.

Climate Change India took several initiatives during this period to ensure that its growth in the coming years would be green, clean, sustainable and reliable. At the COP 26 Summit in Glasgow in Oct/Nov, 2021, India committed to the target of net zero by 2070. India, with 17% of the world's population

Resilience and determination Jatin Patel is a second-generation British man with an Indian heritage. His ancestral family hails from Gujarat and settled in the East Midlands of England. Speaking to Asian Voice, Patel said, “I grew up with a complete combination and amalgamation of cultures, the East and the West-leading to my unique perspectives, understandings and expression with lived experiences of the diversities of the various communities.” He pursued a career in the arts and his education includes a BA Hons Degree and a 1st class masters in Fashion.

Patel has 20 plus years of experience in the fashion industry, including showcasing RTW collections at the Royal Academy for London Fashion Week and Pret a Porter Paris and more recently at Fashion Scout at LFW. Patel is a Creative Director and fashion designer of Kalikas Armour, a slow fashion brand and creative consultancy offering

direct to client bespoke made to measure commissions for special occasions Jatin Patel with collaborations and unique projects with international charities and social organisations utilising creativity, culture and artistic expression to open dialogue for impactful change.

Helping the booster drive During the first lockdown, Jatin Patel had to pivot and change in the pandemic and is currently helping the vaccine booster drive through the creative and cultural sectors. Patel became part of a small cohort of creatives who came together virtually to create a 10-year cultural strategy and construct the new Creative Medway ( Kent, England) cultural compact agency and he was elected as Spaces and Places champion.

He also joined Medway's Bid to become UK City of Culture 2025 and become a Trustee and Co-Chair of the Board. He believes that

contributes merely 5% to the global greenhouse gas emissions. As a result of efforts over past years, 40% of India’s energy generation is being contributed by non-fossil fuel sources. This emphasizes India’s commitment to sustainable development as it achieved the target under the Paris Accord, 9 years before the due date of 2030. India is the only G20 member which is meeting its commitments under the Paris Agreement. This has enabled it to emerge as a world leader in this critical area where earlier it used to be on the defensive.

“Vande Bharat’’ Mission India launched the most ambitious evacuation plan undertaken thus far in May 2020 under the “Vande Bharat’’ Mission to transport back Indian nationals stranded in different countries due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This was necessitated on account of lock downs and cessation of international flights by India and other countries due to the rapid spread of corona virus. So far about 50,000 flights have been operated which repatriated 6.7 million people to India and foreigners to their home countries abroad. In addition, the initiative “Samudra Setu’’ by Indian navy was launched to bring back around four thousand Indians from the Gulf and neighbouring countries. Such a mammoth operation conducted in a remarkably seamless way significantly enhanced the image of India.

India registered significant progress in several other domains, both domestic and external, during the pandemic period. More than 10 thousand start-ups were registered in the last 6 months. India is promoting Ease of Doing Business, minimizing government interference. Last year alone, more than 25 thousand compliances were implemented. The number of startups which was a few hundred some years ago has crossed 60,000 today. It also has more than 80 unicorns, the third largest in the world, of which more than 40 were formed in 2021. During the Corona period, when the world was focusing on interventions like Quantitative Easing Program, India paved the way for reforms. The biggest projects to modernize digital and physical infrastructure got unprecedented momentum during the corona period. The US$10 billion incentive plan to roll out the fab, chip and display industry is a testament to India’s commitment to making the global supply chain seamless. India is marching forward with the spirit of Make in India, Make for the world. India today presents limitless opportunities in the fields of aerospace, telecom, insurance, defence and semiconductors.

In addition to the above, several other major initiatives were taken by India during this arduous period through launch of the Western Quad comprising of India, Israel, UAE and USA; strengthening of India’s ties with its neighbours, USA, Russia and other strategic partners; reinforcing the Quad partnership; hosting the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue and theThird India-Central Asia Dialogue which brought India center-stageto developments in Afghanistan, and many more. All these have enhanced India’s global influence and power and imbued it with hope, confidence and determination to promote peace, security and prosperity in the region and the world.

(The views expressed in the article are personal to the author.)

the power of transformation through creativity and culture, outreach into the community, focusing on diversity and inclusion are a real step, a real change.

Patel believes that utilising fashion as a force for good in partnership with charities and social organisations to open dialogue instigates impactful change for people our climate and Earth.

Creating sustainable fashion Addressing the paradigm shifts in fashion post the pandemic, Patel said, “With shows and events, all cancelled but as expected ingenious ways to showcase and sell-emerged from big brands to small independents. The move to digital and online challenged new ways to express and connect with the well-informed audience.

Personally, sustainability, ethics, responsibility and accountability are the major shifts in the industry highlighted for a fairer system, more inclusive and diverse and positive

impact on the earth and our environments. My own slow fashion brand in investigating and implementing sustainable materials and processes.”

Importance of Asian culture and heritage Patel explained, “The richness of the diverse history of a place and people, the epic mythology of legends and stories of traditions and customs and rituals of culture with the strong foundations of community, a real sense of “family” relationships and bonds of belonging and togetherness cultivated through faith, belief and vibrant celebrations of festivals and occasions. The resilience and determination for continuous betterment. Ultimately it’s the concept of learning and bettering oneself constantly, For me it’s the beauty and tensions of having various cultures come together to create something truly unique.”

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FINANCE & REAL ESTATE

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29 Jan - 4 Feb 2022

Air India to return to Tatas soon Air India is all set to return to founder Tata Group either this week or next. The handover could happen this week or next week if the airline’s closing balance sheet as of January 20, 2022, supposed to be given to the Tatas, is accepted by them and they then make the upfront payment of £270 million.

The date was conveyed to AI employees by the airline’s finance director Vinod Hejmadi.

“The disinvestment of AI is now decided to be on January 27, 2022. The closing balance sheet (has to be) reviewed by

Tatas and any changes can be effected…. The next three days will be hectic for our department and I request all of you to give your best in these last three -four days before we get divested. We may have to work late in the night to complete the task given to us,” Hejmadi, a board member and a key architect of this divestment, said in a mail to finance department staffers on Monday as they will be required to work in this week of holidays.

The Tatas have so far not commented on takeover preparations or plans for the

Suresh Vagjiani, Sow & Reap Properties Ltd

airline founded by JRD Tata 69 years ago. Unless there is a difference of opinion between the outgoing and incoming owners on the balance sheet that may require recalibrating the

same, the Tatas will pay £270 million upfront and take over the airline. Apart from the upfront payment, the deal requires the new owner to take over AI’s debt of £1.53 billion.

Adani group planning to Walmart invites new enter automobile sector? Indian sellers to serve US customers

After planning a foray into the steel industry, Gautam Adani, India’s second-richest person and head of the Adani Group, appears to be looking to enter the automobile sector.

Group entity S B Adani Trust received Gautam Adani trademark approval to vehicle-charging ecosystem, use the name ‘Adani’ for decided to offer land to vehicles operating on land private entities to install and in water. The move is charging stations on a part of the ports-to-power revenue-sharing basis. The conglomerate’s broader play infrastructure conglomerate in green projects. also plans to establish an The plan is to enter the R&D centre in its special electric mobility space, said economic zone (SEZ) in sources. It will look at Mundra, Gujarat, for its electric commercial vehicles proposed play in electric - coaches, buses and trucks mobility. The move pits the to begin with. It will initially Ahmedabad-based use them for its in-house conglomerate against the requirements in airports, Tata Group and Reliance ports and for other logistics Industries, which too have purposes. Recently, the ambitious plans in lowgovernment, in a bid to carbon projects. power up the electric

Property Surgery

Walmart has started inviting applications from select sellers in India to join Walmart Marketplace, a curated sellers community that serves over 120 million US shoppers every month.

India is already one of Walmart’s top sourcing markets, and the company has set an ambitious goal of exporting $10 billion from the country each year by 2027, as per a Walmart communique.

Walmart was seeking new sellers from India as part of a global drive to attract international sellers and expand its marketplace’s product assortment, it said.

Chosen Indian sellers would be able to take advantage of Walmart Fulfillment Services, which

would give them access to Walmart’s warehousing and delivery infrastructure in the US, along with platform tools that help them streamline their operations and manage promotions and feedback, said the company in a statement.

“Building on our long history of partnership with Indian exporters, Walmart is now offering Indian businesses the opportunity to further their export dreams. They will be able to leverage our global supply chain infrastructure and receive support to help them reach millions of daily customers in the US,” said Michelle Mi, Walmart Vice President, Emerging Markets and Business Development – Global Sourcing.

We are currently involved in helping to fund a deal for a purchase of a property. The property will be bought as a residential home, however, the potential exists to convert the property into two separate plots and build another dwelling next to the existing one.

This opportunity arises time to time; some see the potential, for others it does not register. Many years ago we came across a site in Ealing, where the developer had done an office to residential conversion. The development was nearing completion and the properties were to be sold using the government Help to Buy Scheme. The symptom of this label is typically they are overpriced with jacked up ground rents and service charges and sold to desperate first-time buyers who cannot cobble together a deposit. That’s my perception anyway.

On this site, the flats were being sold with the benefit of a car parking space. We had consulted our planner and he assured us there was A no requirement to provide parking, and B it was possible to hive off the car park completely, and build a whole new development on the site.

This was missed by the developer, it happens.

On the purchase we are consulting on currently, some issues came up during the conveyancing. It seems an extension had been built by the previous owner illegally.

This should have been picked up by the previous conveyancer but was not.

Therefore, for the current seller to sell this it would now need to be disclosed, otherwise he could find himself in a lot of hot water, if it was to come out some time later.

Our current client is still looking to purchase the site, with perhaps a little more gusto, as now he has seen the issues; this means the pool of buyers will shrink, and the price will need to decrease to take into account the remedial costs. Originally, the plan was to purchase this site with a residential mortgage, however this would not be possible now with the issue that has surfaced. It will need to be a bridge, until this has been sorted in one of two ways, either a demolition, or a regularisation.

The cost of the bridge, the uncertainty, hassle factor, will all need to be quantified and need to come off the purchase price. The current seller is planning to bring a case to his previous lawyer; the discount sought will no doubt be added to his claim.

The above example shows the dangers of using tick box conveyor belt conveyancing firms. Generally speaking, most transactions will not have issues to pick up, therefore one may get lucky. However, it is simply not worth the risk, and the amount spent in doing this process properly is akin to paying an insurance premium; you want the comfort of having it in place, so you never have any issues.

IPO listings in India see £20 bn erosion The selloff in the market in the past few weeks has wiped out over £20 billion from recently listed stocks that include leading ones like One97 Communications (Paytm), FSN E-Commerce Ventures (Nykaa), Zomato, PB Fintech (PolicyBazaar) and CarTrade. However, Nazara Technologies, a gaming company that is backed by billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, has remained mostly insulated from the recent rout in tech-enabled, consumerfacing companies.

Since listing a little over

two months ago, Paytm, the digital money transfer pioneer in India, has lost nearly half its value to a current market capitalisation of £5.94 billion. Worse, from its IPO price of Rs 2,150, at the current market price of Rs 917 on the BSE, it has lost over 57% of its value.

Similarly, Zomato lost 20%

and closed at the lower circuit, while Nykaa, after dipping to its life-low of Rs 1,693 during the day, closed at Rs 1,735. These two stocks are still trading at a premium to their respective IPO prices, while Paytm, CarTrade and PolicyBazaar are in the red.

Six tech-enabled, new age companies that listed in 2021 have together lost about £12 billion in market cap since listing. Nazara Tech, on the other hand, is still in the greenwith its market cap up nearly £300 million since debut.

The selloff in the Indian market in these stocks is partially due to the recent tech rout in the US markets, traders said. In the US, the Nasdaq Composite index is down a little over 18% and could technically enter bear territory if it falls 20% or more from its recent peak in mid-November.

There, experienced fund managers are moving from stocks of companies that offer high growth opportunities to those of established businesses, called value stocks. A similar trend is observed in India too, analysts said.

FabIndia plans £400 mn IPO; promoters to gift shares to artisans, farmers Lifestyle retail brand FabIndia plans to raise up to £400 million through an initial public offer (IPO) and the company's promoters also plan to gift more than 700,000 shares to artisans and farmers.

Swiggy becomes the 5th Indian startup to turn Decacorn Food delivery giant Swiggy is the fifth startup in India to become a decacorn after it raised $700 million in a round led by Atlanta-based investment company – Invesco. A decacorn is a startup with a valuation of over $10 billion.

The current round, which has valued Swiggy at around $10. 7 billion, witnessed participation from a slew of new investors, including Baron Capital Group, Sumeru Venture, IIFL AMC Late Stage Tech Fund, Kotak and Axis Growth Avenues.

Other decacorns from India are Byju’s (current valuation is $21 billion), Flipkart ($11 billion in 2014-15), Oyo ($10 billion in 2019) and Paytm ($16 billion in 2019). The development

comes close on the heels of the Bengaluruheadquartered startup committing close to $700 million to its quick-commerce grocery business (Instamart), which has seen increased traction due to the pandemic-led shift in consumer habits. It may soon overtake its food delivery service, said people familiar with the company’s operations. “The gross merchandise value (GMV) our food delivery business achieved in 40 months, took Instamart just 17 months, demonstrating the platform benefits of Swiggy. We will double down on this to build more categories in line with our mission of offering unparalleled convenience to Indian consumers,” said Sriharsha Majety, co-founder

and CEO at Swiggy. With India’s quickcommerce market set to grow to $5 billion by 2025 from $0. 3 billion currently, according to data from Redseer, the potential has lured a host of companies, including new kid on the block - Zepto, Zomato-backed Blinkit (formerly Grofers), Reliance-backed Dunzo and veterans such as Tata-backed Big Basket, which plans to open 800 brick-and-mortar stores.

This fund-raise will enable Swiggy to accelerate growth on its core platform and grow Instamart, which is set to reach an annualised GMV run rate of $1 billion in the next three quarters, according to the company.

The company last week filed the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with markets watchdog Sebi for the offer that will include fresh issue of shares worth up to £50 million.

Besides, there will be an Offer For Sale (OFS) of up to 2,50,50,543 shares.

Market sources said the IPO is expected to be worth around £400 million. In order to "reward and express gratitude to certain artisans and farmers engaged with the company or its subsidiaries", FabIndia's two promoters Bimla Nanda Bissell and Madhukar Khera - intend to transfer 4,00,000 shares and 3,75,080 shares, respectively, to them, subsequent to the filing of the DRHP.

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Pak YouTuber jailed for justifying Lankan man’s lynching LAHORE: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has sentenced a 27-yearold man to one year of imprisonment and imposed a fine for justifying the lynching of a Sri Lankan citizen in a video, which went viral on his YouTube channel. On December 3 last year, a mob of over 800 men attacked a garment factory in Sialkot district and lynched its general manager Priyantha Kumara, 47, and burned his body over allegations of blasphemy.

According to police, Muhammad Adnan of Sialkot had uploaded a video on his YouTube channel on the lynching incident in which he justified Kumara’s killing and burning of his body. “Adnan

had advocated the killing of those committing blasphemy. On his YouTube channel, he made arguments in favour of the killing of Kumara. As the video went viral on social media, police lodged an FIR against him and presented a

chargesheet against him in Gujranwala anti-terrorism court (ATC),” said assistant sub inspector Mubarak Ali, who is also a complainant of the case.

Pronouncing the verdict, ATC judge Natasha Naeem sentenced Adnan to one year jail term, besides imposing a fine of PKR 10,000 on him. The prosecution presented the video of Adnan in the court which he did not deny, Ali said. Some 85 main suspects in the lynching case are detained on physical remand. They will be presented before the ATC on January 31.

2 killed in Lahore blast where Indian commodities are sold LAHORE: A powerful blast ripped through a crowded market in Pakistan’s Lahore, killing at least two persons and wounding 28 others, police said. According to police, the blast took place near the Paan Mandi in the famous Anarkali market, where Indian commodities are sold. Lahore commissioner Muhammad Usman told reporters that two people were killed and 28 others injured in the blast claimed by a Baloch insurgent group. “It was a high explosive device targeting a crowded place to ensure maximum casualties,” he said.

The explosive device went off near the Paan Mandi when the market was crowded. Scores of people were wounded and videos on social media show that a few of them were lying in a pool of blood with severed limbs, police said. A good number of motorcycles and vendors’ stalls were also damaged in the blast that shat-

tered windows of nearby shops and buildings.

The Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA), one of several ethnic insurgent groups active in the mineral-rich southwestern Balochistan province claimed responsibility for the blast.

“We accept the responsibility for targeting the bank in Anarkali Bazaar Lahore. This attack targeted bank employees. A detailed statement will

be issued later,” BNA spokesman Mureed Baloch said in a tweet.

The BNA had earlier warned that it will target Balochistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan.

Baloch insurgent groups have previously carried out several attacks targeting ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in the region.

PM Imran Khan condemned the blast and instructed authorities to provide the best medical facilities to the injured.

He also sought a report from the Punjab government over the incident. Inspector general of police (Punjab) said all resources will be used to nab those behind this blast.

“We are ascertaining the nature of the blast,” deputy inspector general police said. “The crater at the blast site indicated the possibility of a time device,” he said.

Ayesha Malik sworn in as first woman judge of Pak SC ISLAMABAD: Ayesha Malik was sworn in as the first female supreme court judge of Pakistan on Monday, a landmark occasion in a nation where activists say the law is often wielded against women. Malik, 55, was administered the oath by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed at the the top court’s ceremonial hall in the capital Islamabad, where she now sits on the bench alongside 16 male colleagues.

Information minister Fawad Chaudhry congratulated Malik on her “landmark elevation”. “A powerful picture symbolises women empower-

ment in Pakistan,” he tweeted, adding that he hopes she will be an asset to the country’s “judicial hierarchy”. “I congratulate Justice Ayesha Malik for

becoming the first female judge of the Supreme Court,” PM Imran Khan said in a tweet.

Her appointment was unusually contentious. Eyebrows were raised when Malik was picked despite being fourth on the seniority list of judges of the Lahore high court. Last year, Malik, who was educated at Harvard University, outlawed a deeply invasive and medically discredited examination used to determine a woman’s level of sexual experience. She has been credited with rolling back patriarchal legal mores in her jurisdiction.

Pak court sentences 4 to death for blast outside Hafiz Saeed's house LAHORE: A powerful blast ripped through a crowded market in Pakistan’s Lahore, killing at least two persons and wounding 28 others, police said. According to police, the blast took place near the Paan Mandi in the famous Anarkali market, where Indian commodities are sold. Lahore commissioner Muhammad Usman told reporters that two people were killed and 28 others injured in the blast claimed by a Baloch insurgent group.

“It was a high explosive device targeting a crowded place to ensure maximum casualties,” he said.

The explosive device went off near the Paan Mandi when the market was crowded. Scores of people were

wounded and videos on social media show that a few of them were lying in a pool of blood with severed limbs, police said. A good number of motorcycles and vendors’ stalls were also damaged in the blast that shattered windows of nearby shops and buildings. The Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA), one of several ethnic insurgent groups active in the mineral-rich southwestern Balochistan province claimed responsibility for the blast. “We accept the responsibility for targeting the bank in Anarkali Bazaar Lahore. This attack targeted bank employees. A detailed statement will be issued later,” BNA spokesman Mureed Baloch said in a tweet. The BNA had earlier warned that it will target

Balochistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan. Baloch insurgent groups have previously carried out several attacks targeting China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in the region. PM Imran Khan condemned the blast and instructed authorities to provide the best medical facilities to the injured.

He also sought a report from the Punjab government over the incident.

Inspector general of police (Punjab) said all resources will be used to nab those behind this blast. “We are ascertaining the nature of the blast,” deputy inspector general police said. “The crater at the blast site indicated the possibility of a time device,” he said.

0 Dear Financial Voice Reader,

Alpesh Patel Is the US Stock Market Going to Crash? I know readers of this paper want to know this as they write to me weekly.

It’s a question people have been asking since the last crash in 2007/8. If you predict it often enough, one year you’ll be right.

After a dip caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, the US stock market rallied back and closed out the year at an all-time high. This has continued throughout 2021. But despite the vaccine rollout, unemployment and economic disruption still remain high, which begs the question: what exactly is going on?

Does the Buffet Indicator Suggest a Stock Market Crash?

The “Buffet Indicator” has long been known in Wall Street circles as a stock market valuation metric worth paying attention to. It’s a straightforward ratio that takes the total market capitalisation of U.S. stocks and divides this by the nation’s GDP. In early February 2021, this hit 195%, which may cause alarm among US investors.

It should be remembered that the Buffet Indicator is a heuristic, and as such, it isn’t a certainty that it can foretell a crash as it did in 2008. Because it compares the current value of stocks to the previous quarter's gross domestic product, it fails to account for the portion of the Dow Jones value involved in business overseas. However, when added to other sets of observations, it’s an indication that US stocks are at least overvalued.

Is the US Stock Market in a Bubble?

Concerns that the US stock market is in a bubble have been floated for some time. However, there is very little consensus on this. One thing is for sure: in 2020 the US economy suffered one of the most significant shocks in its history, which resulted in an unprecedented stimulus package to stave off economic collapse.

The Case For A Bubble There are a few arguments put forward to suggest a stock market bubble. Since the financial crisis, the market has had a bull run for about a decade. This, coupled with very optimistic predictions from US investors, has led people to believe the bubble must burst at some stage. But, the most convincing case is found in the analysis of the cyclically adjusted PE ratio.

The PE ratio is the investment price divided by its profits or earnings. Because each year brings about its own ups and downs, the Shiller PE ratio — also known as the CAPE index — takes a long view and calculates the rate by earnings over the last decade, adjusted for inflation. The current Shiller PE rating suggests the US stock market has been this overvalued twice before: the 1929 stock market crash and the 90s Dot Com bubble.

While long term market pessimist David Tice has identified the Job Biden administration as a factor in what he fears will be a 2-year bear market that will wipe 30% off the index. Tice believes that further stimulus packages, a rise in the minimum wage and a host of “anti-capitalist” policies by the Biden administration will hurt the market.

The Case Against A Bubble While there are elements of the market that have the hallmarks of a bubble, not everyone believes there is anything to worry about yet. Sharmin Mossavar-Rahmani, Goldman Sachs Wealth Management CIO, suggests that there is no bubble and equities aren’t as overvalued as people claim. Instead, she suggests a period of low and stable inflation leads to higher market values. Additionally, she quotes a metric her Investment Strategy Group uses called the “explosive price behaviour” that needs to exceed 90% before signifying a bubble. It currently stands at around 26%.

Which Parts of the Stock Market are Overvalued?

However, even inside Goldman Sachs, there are warnings that all might not be well in the market. Goldman’s U.S. equity chief David Kostin believes there are parts of the market that are overvalued.

Kostin singled out 39 stocks that he felt were due for a market correction, and the bulk of them are in tech. Tech recovered far quicker than other stocks during 2020, and with investors ploughing into the sector, he feels that reality will set-in when these companies underperform on their potential.

Will the Market Crash?

That’s the big question. No one can say for sure, but anyone with a memory of the dotcom bubble from 2000 will undoubtedly be feeling a sense of deja vu. Back then, little-understood tech stocks' prices were soaring as investors sought the next big thing.

For now the move is down. But few would be foolish to time the market and put their savings into cash. They would delay purchases, ditch poor quality companies, hold good ones. There is no guarantee the market will not fall, but we know holding quality companies and not trying to time moves is the best strategy.

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in brief 57-YEAR-OLD SURVIVES TSUNAMI AFTER 27-HOUR SWIM A 57-year-old Tongan man who said he swam around 27 hours after getting swept out to sea during last week's devastating tsunami has been hailed a ‘real life Aquaman’. The volcano eruption killed at least three people, sent tsunami waves rolling across the archipelago. Lisala Folau, who lived on the small, isolated island of Atata which has a population of about 60 people, was swept out to sea when the waves hit land. Folau said he is disabled and cannot walk properly. Folau said he kept floating, and slowly managed to swim 7. 5 km to the main island of Tongatapu, reaching the shore 27 hours later. The story of Folau's heroics went viral. The “Real life Aquaman,” said one post on Facebook, referring to the comic character.

19-YEAR-OLD CREATES NEW GLOBAL RECORD A British-Belgian teenager became the youngest woman to fly solo around the globe and the first person to do so in a microlight plane after a five-month, fivecontinent odyssey in her Shark ultralight.

Nineteen-year-old Zara Rutherford landed back at Kortrijk-Wevelgem Airport in Belgium after flying 51,000 km over 52 nations since her August 18 departure.

Cheers and applause went up as her plane came to a halt on the tarmac. “It’s just really crazy, I haven’t quite processed it,” she said.

After the penultimate leg to a German village, she said it was an exploit she would never repeat. “There’s been amazing moments, but then there’s been moments where I had fear for my life,” she added. She took the record from Afghan-born American Shaesta Wais, who in 2017 became the youngest woman to fly solo at 30. The male record holder, American Mason Andrews, was 18 when he did it in 2018.

MIAMI-LONDON FLIGHT TURNS BACK OVER MASK ROW An American Airlines plane travelling from Miami to London has had to turn back because a passenger refused to wear a face mask, the airline has said. The flight with 129 passengers on board returned to Miami where police were waiting. They escorted a woman in her 40s off the plane, reports say.

She has been placed on a list of people barred from flying with American Airlines, pending further investigation, the airline said. The flight turned around about an hour into its journey, according to reports. The woman was sitting in first class, another passenger said. Passengers on the flight to London's Heathrow Airport were re-booked on to another flight.

COVID REACHES RESEARCH BASE IN ANTARCTICA For the first time since the start of the pandemic the coronavirus has reached an Argentine research base in Antarctica, causing the evacuation of nine unvaccinated staff who tested positive for Covid-19, an official said. Twenty-four of the 43 scientists and military personnel resident at Argentina's La Esperanza base have been infected. Nine of the 24, who have no symptoms, were evacuated to Buenos Aires by helicopter as a precaution. They had been in Antarctica before the start of Argentina's vaccination campaign in 2021, and were due to travel to the capital to be jabbed. They had decided to wait to get their shots in Argentina, fearing to deal with possible sideeffects in the extreme environment that is Antarctica. Previously, the icy continent's first cases were reported at a Chilean base in December 2020.

India offers $500 mn line of credit to Lanka NEW DELHI: Looking to further step up “critical support” for Sri Lanka, which is battling an acute shortage of foreign exchange, India has offered a new line of credit (LoC) of $500 million to the island neighbour for purchase of petroleum products. Foreign minister S Jaishankar made the offer in a letter to his counterpart GL Peiris, said the Indian high commission in Colombo in a statement.

India had recently also extended foreign exchange sup-

port of over $900 million to Sri Lanka for import of essential items like food and medicines.

Early operationalisation of the LoC, said the Indian government, will help realise one of the four pillars of economic cooperation identified during the visit of Lankan finance minister Basil Rajapaksa to India in December 2021. These four pillars include a food and health security package, energy security package, offer of a ‘currency swap’ to help Sri Lanka address the current balance of payment issues and

facilitating Indian investments in different sectors in Sri Lanka that would contribute to growth and expand employment.

In a virtual meeting with Jaishankar recently, Basil had welcomed Indian investments

in Sri Lanka in a number of important spheres including ports, infrastructure, energy, renewable energy, and assured that conducive environment will be provided for such investments.

Influential Buddhist monk dies at 95 HANOI: One of the world’s most influential Buddhist monks, Thich Nhat Hanh, who spoke seven languages, lectured at Princeton and Columbia universities in the United States in the early 1960s, died at the age of 95. He returned to Vietnam in 1963 to join a growing Buddhist opposition to the USVietnam War, demonstrated by self-immolation protests by several monks.

The poet and peace activist spent nearly 40 years in exile after calling for an end to the Vietnam War, but he became hugely influential within Buddhism and was seen as second only to the Dalai Lama.

Hanh died in Vietnam at the age of 95, his Zen teaching

organisation said in a statement. The master of meditation “passed away peacefully” at the Tu Hieu Temple in Hue – where his spiritual journey began and Vietnam’s Buddhist heartland – the Plum Village of Engaged Community Buddhism said.

Towards the height of the Vietnam War in the 1960s, he met US civil rights leader Martin Luther King, whom he persuaded to speak out against the conflict. While in the US to meet the King, the Vietnamese government banned Hanh from returning home. King called Hanh “an apostle of peace and non-violence” and nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Hanh had a stroke in 2014

and his health began to decline.

He was allowed to return to Vietnam in 2018 and lived his final days at the Tu Hieu temple, where he was closely moni-

tored by plainclothes police.

Hundreds flocked to the pagoda to join the monk on his outings around the temple’s lush gardens.

13 killed deadly Ghana explosion Iran, China and Russia ACCRA: At least 13 people have been killed in a huge explosion near a mining town in south-western Ghana, officials say. A truck carrying explosives to a gold mine crashed on motorcycle near the town of Bogoso, according to police.

According to reports, rescue workers were still searching through the rubble for victims. Many houses have been completely flattened, leaving at least 380 people without shelter. "It's almost like a ghost town," Sedzi Sadzi Amedonu, a senior official from the country's disaster management agency, said.

The impact of the explosion has left a crater on the major highway, forcing the police to divert traffic. Local police commander William Jabialu said the number of confirmed deaths had been revised down to 13 from a previous toll of 17. He said another 45 were being treated in local hospitals.

The truck was carrying explosives to the Chirano gold mine when it was hit

hold naval drills in Indian Ocean

by a motorcycle, police say. This reportedly caused a fire, leading to the explosion. The driver of the truck managed to escape the blast with minor injuries. He warned residents to flee, which helped save many lives. Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo said the military had joined emergency efforts to help "contain the situation", and "rapid relief" was being sent to residents. People have been told to move out of the area and police called on nearby towns to "open up their classrooms, churches etc to accommodate surviving victims".

US blocks flights by Chinese airlines in escalating dispute WASHINGTON: The United States has moved to block 44 flights to the US by Chinese airlines in retaliation for China forcing the cancellation of flights by US airlines. The Transportation Department’s order affecting four Chinese airlines is the latest development in a long-running dispute over Covid-19 restrictions.

China previously barred some inbound flights by Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines after passengers on earlier flights tested positive for the virus.

The US maintains that China’s actions violated a treaty over access to each country by the other country’s airlines.

The Transportation Department said that China’s move to block 44 flights by US carriers was “adverse to the public interest and warrant proportionate remedial action by the department”. The department said that China’s regulations are unfair because passengers who test negative for the virus before their flight but positive up to seven days later can result in future flights being cancelled.

The dispute over flights goes back to 2020 and the early days of the pandemic. In 2020, the Trump administration backed down from a threat to block four Chinese airlines after China agreed to let United and Delta operate a limited number of flights.

TEHRAN: Iran, China and Russia held their third joint naval drills in the northern Indian Ocean last week. Navies from Iran's armed forces and Revolutionary Guards are taking part in the "2022 Marine Security Belt" exercise over an area of 17,000 square km, Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajoldini, spokesman for the drills, said The drills included various tactical exercises such as rescuing a burning vessel, releasing a hijacked vessel, and shooting at air targets at night.

He said the exercises began on Friday morning. The three countries started joint naval drills in 2019 in the Indian Ocean and the Sea of Oman area, Tajoldini said.

"The purpose of this drill is to strengthen security and its foundations in the region, and to expand multilateral cooperation between the three countries to jointly support world peace, maritime security and create a maritime community with a common future," Tajoldini said.

Since coming to office last June, Iran's hardline President Ebrahim Raisi has pursued a "look east" policy to deepen ties with China and Russia. Tehran joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in September, a central Asian security body led by Beijing and Moscow. Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian visited China last week and Iran's president met his Russian counterpart in Moscow last week.

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Gujarati family freezes to death on the US-Canada border WASHINGTON: Four members of a Gujarati family from Kalol were found frozen to death on the US-Canadian border last week, drawing attention to the harshness of American winter and to illegal Indian immigration from the northern border at a time US focus centers largely on its southern border with Mexico.

The family consists of Jagdish Patel, 35; his wife, Vaishali, 33; and their children Vihanga,12, and Dharmik, 3. They were residents of Nava Dingucha village in Kalol taluka of Gandhinagar. They were reportedly separated from a larger group of Indians who made it across the border to the US in -35 degrees celsius temperature. Their bodies were found just 30 feet from the US border on the Canadian side.

The Gujarat Police officers said that the security agencies of Canada, US and the Indian

police will focus on the larger racket of illegal immigration.

The officers said that the Gujarat CID has been assigned the task of unearthing the network of human traffickers targeting Gandhinagar and parts of central and north Gujarat. The family had left for Canada about 10 days ago.

“Earlier, the traffickers used to provide entry to illegal immigrants from the southern border of the US with Mexico or from Havana in Cuba,” said a police officer. “But the US authorities have tightened controls on the southern border. So the preferred route for traffickers these days is through Canada. ” Trudeau promises action Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed action on human trafficking. India’s consulate in Toronto has sent a team of officials to Winnipeg in Manitoba to coordinate with local officials and law

worked with a FedEx distribution center manager from Delaware named Joseph Kukta to steal packages before they made it to customers.

Those thefts included shipments of Nike sneakers and devices from Apple, Epson, Kenwood, and Magellan, among other merchandise. Chawla allegedly paid Kukta $1.5 million, according to court documents.

The Chawla saga came to light when US District Judge Catherine C Blake sentenced

PAK TO COMPENSATE 36 CHINESE VICTIMS The Pakistan government will compensate the 36 Chinese nationals working on a major hydropower project who either died or were injured in a terrorist attack in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province last year, a move aimed at placating its all-weather ally, a media report said. On July13 last year, 10 Chinese nationals, mostly engineers, were killed and 26 others were seriously injured after a suicide attack on a bus that was ferrying them to the work site of the Dasu Hydropower Project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

enforcement. Canadian police have also briefed Indian officials in Ottawa. Seven other Indian nationals, linked to the tragic quartet found dead on the Canadian side of the border, were apprehended in the United States.

3 more missing The investigation into the death has revealed more appalling details. The local agent responsible for their

dubious migration had sent around 10 families to the US through the Canadian border in the past 3 years. And, of these, three families are feared to have gone missing. Since their journey westward, they never got in touch with people back home. The local agent, whose name has not yet been disclosed by the police, sent the Patels to Canada in the first week of January.

Indian American jailed for selling stolen Apple products COLORADO: An Indian American, Saurabh Chawla, who bought stolen Apple products from school employees in the US and sold them on eBay and Amazon, has been sentenced to 66 months in prison. Colorado resident Chawla, 36, bought stolen electronics and other goods and resold them on ecommerce platforms. He also bought stolen iPads from New Mexico school districts.

According to the US Attorney's Office, Chawla

in brief

Kristy Stock, 46, of Waterflow, New Mexico, to 18 months in prison for federal charges of interstate transportation of stolen goods and tax fraud.

Stock admitted that from 2013 to 2018, she stole more than 3,000 iPods purchased by the school district and sold them on eBay to Chawla and others for her personal benefit.

"From October 2015 to 2018, Stock and Chawla dealt directly with each other, in emails, texts, and phone calls. Stock admitted

Indian origin head of White House military office quits WASHINGTON: Maju and it’s because the work Varghese, the Indian-origin is important, and we director of the White House throw ourselves into military office (WHMO), has this. . . Right now, it’s quit his post, citing personal best for me and my reasons. In a series of tweets, family that I kind of just Varghese said leading the try to strike a little bit WHMO was the honour of a more of a balance,” lifetime.

An Obama Varghese, said. He, administration alum, however, did not detail Maju Varghese Varghese joined the Biden his next endeavours. As White House after leading the head of the military office, Varghese president’s inauguration efforts and used to coordinate with the military serving as a senior adviser for Biden’s branches responsible for supporting presidential campaign. The White presidential operations at the White House declined to say whether a House. A lawyer by training, Varghese replacement has been selected. was born in the US to parents who “This is a demanding place to work immigrated from Kerala.

Kamala will be running mate in 2024, says Biden Washington: President Joe Biden affirmed that he will run for a second White House term, with vice president Kamala Harris as running mate, setting at rest for now raging speculation in the media and political circles of changes at the top, including among some Democrats.

Asked whether he was satisfied with Harris’ work leading the voting rights effort and whether he will commit to putting her on the ticket once again, Biden said, “Yes and yes”. Asked to elaborate, he said, “There’s no need to,” before adding, “She’s going to be my running mate, number one. And number two, I did put her in charge. I think she’s doing a good job. ” The endorsement of Harris, and his own assertion on the eve of his first year in office anniversary that he has “over performed”, cooled for now chatter in the political circuit about Harris’ and his own political future amid dismal approval rating. Speculation has extended to talk of drafting Hillary Clinton to run again in 2024 to unify a deeply divided country facing an upsurge of nativism. Biden’s remarks came at a marathon two-hour news conference just hours before Senate Republicans blocked a bill aimed at expanding voting rights that is seen as a challenge to white primacy. Getting the bill to the Senate floor would have needed 60 votes to overturn a filibuster, an archaic convention that allows a minority of 40+ senators to block any legislation. Democrats failed to keep even their own flock of 50 together, losing the vote 4852 after two of their own senators went against the party line.

that she received more than $800,000 in illegal proceeds from selling stolen iPods worth more than $1 million. After Chawla's relative received the stolen goods from Stock, Chawla listed them for sale online through eBay at a substantial markup.

From May 2014 through August 2019, Bender and Chawla conspired so Chawla could use Bender's eBay and PayPal accounts to sell stolen goods and merchandise.

India seeks enhanced security for its missions in Canada TORONTO: A year after India’s consulate in Vancouver was blockaded by protesters and proKhalistan speeches delivered at the site, New Delhi has formally asked Canada for “ample deployment” of security at its missions in the country so there is no repeat of such disruption. The Indian request was conveyed via a note verbale, an official diplomatic communique, issued by India’s High Commission to Ottawa to Canada’s foreign ministry, Global Affairs Canada.

A senior Indian official said that they have communicated “precise and specific information” relating to threats to the missions in Canada. “We have already conveyed more blatant threats we’ve received to our Canadian colleagues and asked them to ensure nothing untoward happens,” the official said.

There is concern this year as elections in Punjab are due, and there have been open statements about disturbing Republic Day functions in Vancouver from the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), while other hardline groups have planned a car rally to the consulate in Toronto and a demonstration in front of the High Commission in Ottawa.

The official said assurances had been received that Canadian law enforcement charged with diplomatic security will “enhance patrolling, deploy static and plainclothes personnel”. SFJ’s general counsel Gurpatwant Pannun has said that activists supporting its Khalistan Referendum have been assigned to “Raise Khalistan - Block Tiranga” on January 26 at India’s missions, including that in Vancouver, which has been tasked to Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In November last year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against Nijjar before a special court in New Delhi, under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, related to planning terror acts in India.

AUSTRIA MAKES COVID VACCINE COMPULSORY Austria's parliament last week made Covid vaccine compulsory for all adults aged 18 and over, becoming the first country in Europe to do so. Those who fail to comply will now face potential fines of up to €3,600. Officials said the mandate was necessary due to the low vaccination rates in the country. Exempted from the mandate are pregnant women, individuals who for medical reasons cannot be vaccinated, and people who have recovered from a coronavirus infection in the past six months. Officials say the mandate is necessary because vaccination rates remain too low.

US SINGER MEAT LOAF DIES AT 74 The US singer Meat Loaf died last week at the age of 74, a statement on his official Facebook page said. He was best known for his album "Bat Out of Hell," which was one of the top-selling albums of all time. "Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side," a message on Meat Loaf's Facebook page read.

"Daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends have been with him throughout the last 24 hours," it added. The statement did not reveal the cause of the singer's death.

Born Marvin Lee Aday in Dallas, Texas on September 27, 1947, he used his inheritance following his mother's death to move to Los Angeles, where he formed the band Meat Loaf Soul.

TALIBAN ATTACK PAK PM IMRAN, CALL HIM 'ISI PUPPET' Kabul: It’s been five months since the Taliban took over the reins in Afghanistan, but the National Resistance Force (NRF) is still fighting them, committed to oust the extremists from power. The NRF has issued a video message, which has appeared on social media, in which they are seen urging people of Afghanistan not to be silent. In a separate audio message, NRF leader Ahmad Massoud clarified that their struggle is not for a specific ethnic group, or geography, but for complete independence of Afghanistan. Some photos being circulated on social media show that NRF fighters now have the anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) to destroy the Taliban vehicles. Reports say that the missiles are guided with advanced targeting systems which pursue the target until the impact. A Taliban spokesperson, meanwhile, rubbished allegations of female activist Tamana Paryani, who said that Taliban fighters entered her home in Kabul and arrested her. The spokesperson Suhail Shaheen said that the activist made the video to find asylum abroad. “There was no incident like this,” he said. An eyewitness had claimed that 10 armed men, claiming to be from the Taliban intelligence department, stormed Paryani’s apartment, smashing the door in and arresting the activist and her three sisters. She was among about 25 women who took part in an anti-Taliban protest against the compulsory Islamic headscarf, or hijab, for women.

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in brief 3 SAILORS KILLED IN EXPLOSION Three Indian Navy sailors were killed and 11 sustained burn injuries in an explosion on board INS Ranvir at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. The explosion occurred in an internal compartment of the destroyer, which was at anchorage at Mumbai on a cross-coast deployment from the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam. The injured have been shifted to INHS Asvini hospital at Colaba. Though an inquiry has been ordered into the mishap, sources said the blast was probably due to leakage of gas in the air-conditioning compartment of the 4,000-tonne warship. “The sailors who died were sitting in their cabin adjoining the AC compartment when the blast occurred,” a source said.

MULAYAM'S DAUGHTER-IN-LAW JOINS BJP Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav’s younger daughter-in-law Aparna Bisht Yadav joined BJP, becoming the third member of the extended clan to walk the saffron path and creating an opportunity for her new party to highlight a possible poll-eve schism in UP’s political dynasty.

Aparna, who joined BJP at the party headquarters in New Delhi, cited “national interest” as her priority and praised PM Narendra Modi for setting the agenda with schemes targeting cleanliness, women’s empowerment and employment. Although there was no announcement about her getting an election ticket, sources said Aparna was likely to be fielded in the Bakhshi Ka Talab seat as the one she had been vying for.

3 BENGALURU AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS OFFROSTERED The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has off-rostered three air traffic controllers (ATCO) at Bengaluru airport who handled the two IndiGo flights which miraculously avoided a collision after being cleared to take off simultaneously in the same direction on January 7, 2022. The regulator has completed its preliminary inquiry and sources say “strict enforcement action” is likely soon. This could include licence suspension of the ATCOs found responsible for the lapse for some time.

Under the process of law to be followed, a show-cause notice will be issued accordingly to those found responsible by the probe for the lapse. In fact, say sources, there could be action by multiple agencies against the indicted.

NO CURB ON USE OF PM’S NAME, FLAG IMAGE OR EMBLEM The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO told the Bombay high court that there was no restriction on the use of the PM’s name and photograph as well as the image of the national flag and emblem for the PM CARES Fund. In an affidavit submitted before a division bench, PMO undersecretary Pradeep Srivastava said the PM’s photograph, name and national emblem were also used in the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

The affidavit was filed in response to a petition by Congress worker Vikrant Chavan seeking deletion of the PM’s name and photograph as well as images of the national flag and emblem from the official website of the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund.

PM Modi tops list of most popular world leaders once again Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again topped the global rating survey released by Morning Consult Political Intelligence as the most popular world leader, with an approval rating of 71 per cent.

Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, ranked lowest on the list with an approval rating of 26 per cent. Morning Consult wrote on its website: “The latest approval ratings are based on data collected from January 13-19, 2022. Approval ratings are based on a seven-day moving average of adult residents in each country, with sample sizes varying by country.”

that ranks 13 most popular world leaders, United States President Joe Biden ranked number six with a 43 per cent approval rating with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau. They were by followed Narendra Modi Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison with a ratMexican President Andrés ing of 41 per cent.

Manuel López Obrador came At present, Morning second with a 66 per cent Consult Political Intelligence is approval rating, followed by tracking the approval ratings of Italian Prime Minister Mario the leaders of India, the United Draghi, who had an approval Kingdom, the United States, rating of 60 per cent. On the list

Amar Jawan Jyoti merged with National War Memorial flame The flame of the Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate was merged with the eternal flame at the National War Memorial, in a move that the central government called “historic” for India. In a short ceremony, a part of the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame was taken and merged with the flame at the NWM, which is 400 meters away on the other side of India Gate.

The ceremony was presided over by the Integrated Defence Staff chief Air Marshal Balabadhra Radha Krishna, who carried out the significant move of merging the two flames.

According to the government, the flame at Amar Jawan Jyoti in the India Gate memorial paid tributes to the martyrs of 1971 and other wars, however, none of the names who made that supreme sacrifice for the country were present there.

The National War Memorial, which was built in the India Gate complex by the Narendra Modi government and was inaugurated in 2019,

has the names of all the Indian defence personnel who have lost their lives in different operations from the 1947-48 war with Pakistan to the Galwan valley clash with Chinese troops. The names of troops who lost lives in the counterterrorist operations are also included on the walls of the memorial.

The India Gate memorial, on the other hand, was built by the British government in memory of the British Indian Army soldiers who lost their lives between 1914-1921. The Amar Jawan Jyoti there was only included in the 1970s after the massive victory of India over Pakistan in which 93,000 troops of the enemy country surrendered.

Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, South Korea, Japan, and Italy.

The sample size of the survey ranges between 3,000-5,000 for all nations except in the United States, where the average sample size is 45,000, approximately. In India, the sample was representative of the literate population.

Notably, in November 2021 too, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had topped the list of most popular world leaders. In May 2020, PM Modi had topped the list with the highest approval rating of 84 per cent, which had dipped to 63 per cent in May 2021.

EC extends ban on election rallies, roadshows till Jan 31 The Election Commission has extended the ban on physical rallies and roadshows in poll-bound states till January 31 but allowed public meetings by parties and candidates in open spaces, subject to a cap of 500 people, for the campaign of first phase starting January 28 and second phase beginning February1.

While physical rallies, padyatras, roadshows and car or bike rallies will not be allowed in constituencies going to the polls between Phases 3 and Phase 7, in-person public meetings with maximum 500 people or up to 50% of the ground capacity or existing SDMA limit.

Roadshows and padyatras will remain barred till January 31even in constituencies going to polls in the first two phases.

EC sources said the Covid situation is expected to turn around and vaccination coverage likely to reach satisfactory levels by January 31, when the poll panel will review campaign curbs next.

If this happens, physical meetings with a similar cap may

eventually be allowed across all phases.

The EC, which took stock of the Covid situation in the five poll-bound states in virtual meetings with the Union health secretary and state chief secretaries and chief electoral officers, also allowed video vans for publicity in open spaces with maximum 500 viewers or up to 50% capacity or SDMA limit, whichever is less, provided these do not cause public inconvenience or hinder smooth flow of traffic. As per guidelines for video/digital van meetings issued by the EC, they may be operated only between 8 am and 8 pm with the stoppage time at any viewing point not exceeding 30 minutes.

BJP to contest UP polls with Apna Dal, Nishad Party The BJP has finalised its candidate list for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly election and said it will contest the polls in alliance with the Apna Dal and Nishad Party. The announcement was made by its national president JP Nadda, following the conclusion of a BJP central election committee (CEC) meeting. Nadda said detailed discussions regarding seat-sharing for the upcoming polls were held with the two parties during the past few days.

Last week, the BJP had released its first list of 107 candidates for the first and second phase of the upcoming assembly polls.

Besides, it said Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath will contest from Gorakhpur. Elections for the 403 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

Apna Dal names Muslim candidate BJP ally Apna Dal (S) named Congress veteran Noor Bano’s UK-educated grandson Haider Ali Khan as its candidate for the Suar assembly seat in UP, making him the first Muslim to be fielded by any constituent of the saffron camp in the state since 2014.

Congress had declared 36 year-old Haider as its candidate for the seat on January 13, only for him to spurn the offer and cross over to Anupriya Patel-led Apna Dal (S). He is likely to be up against jailed Rampur MP Azam Khan’s son Abdullah Azam, who is tipped to get the Samajwadi Party ticket.

BSP list has 23 Muslims The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) announced 51 candidates for the second phase of UP elections – 23 of them Muslims.

With this, the party has fielded 39 Muslim candidates, out of 109 it has fielded for the first two phases. Political observers feel that this is an attempt by the BSP to make the field competitive in the region, which has a strong presence of the minority community.

The list also has 13 OBCs, 10 Dalits and five from upper castes.

Akhilesh to contest from Karhal Former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav will contest his first-ever assembly electionfrom Karhal seat in Mainpuri district. The decision was taken after discussions with Samajwadi Party leaders.

The SP chief ’s decision to take the plunge comes close on the heels of BJP nom-

inating CM Yogi Adityanath to contest his first assembly elections from Gorakhpur (Urban) seat and fielding deputy CM Keshav Prasad Mauryafrom Sirathu. Political observers feel the move is a bid to blunt any attack from BJP over Akhilesh not contesting elections.

BJP to contest 65 Punjab seats, allies Capt 37, Dhindsa 15 BJP has worked out a seat-sharing deal with its Punjab allies, keeping the lion’s share of the seats for itself. It will contest from 65 constituencies, while its allies - former CM Captain Amarinder Singh’s Punjab Lok Congress and S S Dhindsa’s faction of Akali Dal, SAD (Sanyukt), will contest from 37 and 15 respectively, BJP chief said.

It is the first time in over two decades BJP is playing the role of senior partner in an alliance in Punjab. It had earlier played second fiddle to the Akalis, leading to considerable heartburn among its cadres who used to argue subservience to Badals fettered the growth of the saffron outfit in the state.

Nadda announced the seat-sharing agreement at a press conference at the BJP headquarters in the presence of allies Amarinder and Dhindsa.

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SOUTH INDIA

Karnataka's daily Covid tally crosses 50,000 BENGALURU: The daily new coronavirus cases crossed the 50,000 mark in Karnataka as the state is hit by the third Covid wave, the state health department data shows. The new Covid cases rose by 50,210 in the past 24 hours. Of the total new coronavirus cases, over half - 26,299 - have been reported in Bengaluru only, Karnataka chief minister said.

He said the state's Covid positivity rate stands at 22.77 per cent, while active Covid patients' tally rose to 3,57,796. The daily new cases on Sunday saw a significant rise as compared to Saturday when Karnataka reported 48,049 new Covid cases. The case positivity rate stood at 19.23 per cent on Saturday. A total of 165 new cases of Omicron were also confirmed in Bengaluru, taking the overall

tally in the state to 931, he said.

45,000 new cases in Kerala Kerala continued to record a daily tally of over 45,000 cases for the second day in a row taking the total number of affected people in the state to 56,20,151. In a bulletin the health department said 45,449 new positive cases were detected. On Saturday, the state had recorded 45,136 new cases while on Thursday, Kerala had registered

46,387 cases, the highest single-day spike since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020.

"Currently, only 3.5 per cent of the active Covid patients are admitted to hospitals," the department said.

Kerala registered 77 fatalities, taking the deaths to 51,816.

Among the latest fatalities, 38 were recorded over the last few days while 39 were designated as Covid deaths after receiving appeals based on the new guidelines of the Centre and the directions of the Supreme Court.

Cases drop in TN Despite testing 2,000 more samples, the number of new Covid-19 cases reported from

Tamil Nadu saw a fall, albeit marginal, compared with earlier figures. On Sunday, the state screened 157,000 samples, of which 30,580 tested positive; on Saturday the number stood at 30,744. The death count, however, increased from 33 to 40 during the same time period.

Health minister Ma Subramanian said that most of the victims were unvaccinated and that, unlike the second wave, the case fatality ratio is low.

In Chennai, the spread is declining. The district, which was reporting around 9,000 fresh cases last week, reported only 6,383 on Sunday. Test Positivity Rate (TPR) of the district has now dropped to 23.6% and Chennai has moved to the twelfth position in the district-wise TPR chart.

PUNJAB

ED recovers £1 mn from Punjab Phone poll ‘elects’ Mann as CM’s nephew, partner CM face of AAP CHANDIGARH: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) last week concluded its raids on Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s nephew Bhupinder Singh and nine others, including six mining contractors, in the illegal sand mining case with the seizure of £1 million.

The ED raided 10 locations in poll-bound Punjab, including those linked to the CM’s nephew, in connection with probes into illegal sand mining in the state. The ED officials, accompanied by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, conducted searches at locations in Chandigarh, Rupnagar, Ludhiana, Pathankot and Mohali. An apartment belonging to Bhupinder was raided in Mohali.

The ED is probing the source of unaccounted cash recovered from Bhupinder and his friend Sandeep.

The agency’s probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is based on a 2018 case registered by Punjab Police for illegal sand mining in the border state. The central agency had lodged an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report), an FIR, at its zonal office in Jalandhar in November last year after taking over the probe.

ED officials said Kudrat Deep Singh, one of the main accused, had set up a firm, Provider Consultancy Services Private Limited. The three directors of the firm are Kudrat Deep, Sandeep and Bhupinder. The ED has been probing money-laundering charges against them as it suspects the proceeds of crime from the illegal sand mining has been further transferred. Following the probe against Kudrat Deep, the ED investigated the role of six contractors for illegal sand mining. Besides, it searched the premises of miner Sunil Joshi in Pathankot, Jagbir Inder Singh in Rupnagar and Randeep Singh in Fatehgarh Sahib, while the properties of Sandeep and Bhupinder were searched in Ludhiana, too. According to the FIR, there are 26 accused, including Kudrat Deep. Most of them are truck drivers.

Arvind Kejriwal & Bhagwat Singh Mann

CHANDIGARH: AAP last week declared Sangrur MP and former stand-up comic Bhagwant Mann as its candidate for Punjab CM, based on 93% of 21,00,000 responses received in a reality showlike telephone poll in which Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu curiously ended up with the second highest votes.

"For many months now, people would ask me, 'Who is the groom?' I would tell them that we will give you a face you will be proud of. Bhagwant Mann is officially AAP’s CM face for the elections. We had decided to ask 30 million Punjabis about their choice," AAP chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said in Mohali before walking towards Mann to hug him.

He said some people voted for him, too, but that wouldn't count as he was never in the race. "Navjot Sidhu got the second slot (with 3. 6 per cent votes). " Kejriwal claimed all surveys suggested AAP would form the next government in Punjab and Mann was the right person to lead it. "I have a double responsibility now – the party’s faith in me and that of the people who voted for me (in the feedback poll). When I was a comedian, people would smile at the sight of me. Today, the scenario has reversed, and people begin to cry at public meetings while narrating their state of affairs. I tell them that I can only be a tool to improve their lot," Mann said.

WEST BENGAL

SEC defers polls to 4 municipal corporations in Bengal KOLKATA: The West Bengal State Election Commission last week postponed polls to four municipal corporations by three weeks to February 12 in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases.

According to a notification issued by the SEC, elections to Siliguri, Chandannagar, Bidhannagar and Asansol municipal corporations will now be held on February 12 instead of January 22. Polling will be held from 7 am to 5 pm, it said.

Earlier in the day, the state government sent a letter to the SEC, giving its consent to reschedule the election dates,

owing to the present pandemic situation, an SEC official said.

Asked when the counting is likely to be held, he said that

although nothing has been fixed yet, the SEC might schedule it on February 15.

"No date for counting of

votes has been fixed yet. But it may be held on February 15. We will come out with a notification on this soon," he said.

The Calcutta High Court had also asked the commission to explore the possibility of postponing the civic polls by four to six weeks in view of the surge in cases. The SEC official said that the decision to postpone the polling dates was taken to show respect to the Calcutta High Court. He said that there will be no changes in the campaigning schedule and political parties and leaders should strictly follow the Covid safety protocols.

in brief ANDHRA TO GET 7 NEW AIRPORTS Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy asked the Infrastructure and Investments (I and I) Department to plan and build at least seven new airports in the State under the 'One District - One Airport' concept. The chief minister asked the officials to build the new airports in identical fashion with a capacity to handle even Boeing-type aircraft. Andhra Pradesh now has 13 districts with functional airports in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Rajamahendravaram, Kurnool and Kadapa.

The government initiated the process to create at least 12 new districts but the CMO note did not say if the proposed new districts, too, would have an airport each.

The Chief Minister wanted the officials to take up the expansion of the existing airports by drawing up an action plan within a time frame.

ROW OVER WEARING HIJAB IN KARNATAKA The nearly three-week-long stand-off between a government college in Karnataka's Udupi district and a handful of Muslim students who want to wear a hijab during classes escalated after they protested at the college gates with placards. The students said stopping them from wearing a hijab their seniors were allowed - violates their fundamental right, and that they feel uncomfortable without one when sitting before male lecturers. The fresh protests come a day after college authorities and district officials gave the students an ultimatum - fall in line with the dress code and receive an education, or wear one and go home. State's education minister BC Nagesh said that the practice amounted to "indiscipline" and that schools and colleges were "not a place to practice dharma".

PAK TO HAND OVER 20 INDIAN FISHERMEN Twenty Indian fishermen arrested by Pakistan for allegedly entering into the country's territorial waters are set to be handed over to India through the Wagah border crossing, according to a senior jail official. The fishermen, kept in Karachi's Landhi Jail, were released on Sunday on humanitarian grounds. Deputy Superintendent of Police Azeem Thebo said that with the release of these 20 Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture, there are now 568 Indian fishermen left in the jail. The released fishermen, arrested for illegally entering into the Pakistani waters and fishing without permission, were escorted to Lahore by road by the Edhi Foundation. A spokesperson of the Edhi Foundation said that the charity would bear their travelling cost to Lahore, where they would be handed over to India's Border Security Force.

DIDI OPPOSES CHANGES TO IAS RULES West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has written to PM Narendra Modi opposing the proposed amendments to Rule 6 of IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954, which would allow the Centre to post any IAS officer working in the state for central deputation. The proposed amendment asks the states to nominate a pre-decided number of IAS officers for central deputation reserve and allows the Centre to post these officers, even overriding state objections. Mamata wrote: “By insisting on officers to be made available for deputation through the proposed amendment, not only will the administration of states be affected but also it would become impossible to assess and plan the administration of a state by engaging such officers who form part of the Central Deputation Reserve, fraught with the uncertainty of their sudden deputation by the Centre. ”

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The expectations of NRIs on Indian budget The non-resident Indians (NRIs) are looking forward optimistically towards Indian budget which will be presented on 1st February. NRIs stuck in India since months due to the pandemic seek relaxation on investment rules. They seek reduction in hefty taxes levied on income from investment in assets, mutual fund, stock market etc. They demand that certain tax deductions should be given to NRIs in line with the other citizens of the country.

With only few days left for the presentation of the budget, citizens residing in the country and NRIs residing in other countries have several expectation from the budget of Nirmala Sitharaman. While common citizens are looking forward to reduction in inflation, the middle class is wishing a reduction on income tax rate. On the other hand, NRIs settled abroad are seeking more leeway in investment rules in India.

Similar to other countries worldwide, India is also facing an economic crisis due to the coronavirus. The budget of the Modi government for the year 2022-23 will not be so simple as it is fighting against a number of problems like the mega vaccination scheme, loss of business due lockdown, recession in the economy, unemployment, inflation. Therefore, all eyes are on the forthcoming budget at home and abroad.

What NRI community is looking forward to: 1 TDS deducted by the government on income in India 2 Eliminate the unnecessarily hassles in getting refund of high TDS 3 Eliminate tax inconsistencies during the sale of leased property 4 Tax relief for NRIs trapped in India for months due to pandemic 5 Review the tax policy to encourage NRIs to invest in the Indian stock market 6 Reasonable increase in limit of

remittance from India from the current 1 million dollar 7 TDS on Debt Scheme for NRIs should be reduced from 30% to 15% 8 Indexation benefits are offered on investments in mutual funds 9 There should be no tax on exchange in a uniform ULIP scheme 10 Pan and Aadhaar linking policy for NRIs should be made clearer 11 Tax holiday be given on the return of NRIs to regularize their foreign affairs 12 NRIs trapped in India due to the pandemic should be given exemption in the rules of residential status 13 Review the residential status of NRIs with respect to income 14 NRIs allowed to invest in Senior Citizen Savings Scheme, PPF 15 NRIs be able to avail a deduction of Rs 150,000 under section 80C and Rs 50,000 under section 80CCD (B) similar to any tax payer in India.

NRIs want to invest in senior citizen savings scheme, open their PPF

account, able to buy NSC and deposit money in Post Office.

NRIs are also seeking the same tax deduction benefits similar to the citizens living in the country.

Families and relatives of NRIs living abroad reside in India.

However, NRIs are not given certain tax deduction benefits. Expenses incurred by NRIs for treatment of persons with disabilities living in India, expenses incurred on treatment of family members suffering from certain diseases are not covered by the tax deduction benefits under Section 80DD, Section 80DDB. NRIs take care of their dependents in the country even while living abroad so they too should be given the benefit of tax deduction just like the citizens liv-

ing in the country.

TDS surcharge on money paid to NRIs through mutual funds to be 10 per cent. The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) has demanded in its report that a uniform surcharge of 10 per cent on TDS should be levied on the amount paid to NRIs by mutual funds in the next budget. At present, NRIs are charged a surcharge of 10 to 37 per cent on mutual fund income.

India to send 50,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan via Pak India and Pakistan have finally arrived at an agreement to transport 50,000 MT of Indian wheat to Afghanistan through the land route that passes through the Attari-Wagah border. The gigantic exercise involving thousands of trucks is expected to roll out early February.

India and Pakistan had been engaged in finalising

the modalities for transporting wheat to drought-stricken Afghanistan for almost two months. The government is learnt to have conveyed to Pakistan that it will be ready to despatch the first consignment by the second week of next month. India recently sent its third batch of assistance to Kabul, mostly life-saving medicines, by air. Its offer of delivering

Missing world war II aircraft found in Himalayas A missing World War II plane has been identified in India’s remote Himalayas nearly 80 years after it crashed with no survivors, following a treacherous search that led to the death of three guides. The C-46 transport aircraft was carrying 13 people from Kunming in southern China when it disappeared in stormy weather over a mountainous stretch of Arunachal Pradesh state in the first week of 1945.

“This aircraft simply disappeared,” said Clayton Kuhles, a US adventurer who led the mission after a request from the son of one of those on board the doomed flight. The expedition took months and saw Kuhles and a team of guides from the local Lisu ethnic group ford chest-deep rivers and camp in freezing temperatures at high altitudes.

Three guides died of hypothermia at an initial stage of the project while camped out during a September snowstorm. But the team finally stumbled upon the plane on a snow-clad mountain top last month, where they were able to identify the wreckage by the tail number. There were no human remains in what was left of the craft. Kuhles was tasked with conducting the search by Bill Scherer, whose officer father was on board when the plane crashed.

Religious leader sent into custody over remarks on Gandhiji A court in Maharashtra remanded controversial Hindu religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj in 14-day judicial custody in a case of alleged derogatory remarks he had made against Mahatma Gandhi.

A team from the Naupada police station in Thane city had arrested him from Chhattisgarh capital Raipur, where he was lodged in jail in a similar case. He was brought in Thane on a transit remand and was presented in a court.

Thane's judicial magistrate first classS V Metil Patil sent him to judicial custody. Heavy police deployment was made at the court.

The Naupada police have arrested Kalicharan Maharaj after a case was registered against him based on a complaint lodged by NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Jitendra Awhad in connection with his remarks. Apart from Chhattisgarh, he has been facing multiple cases in parts of Maharashtra for the comments he had made against Mahatma Gandhi during an event held in the Chhattisgarh capital city on December 26 last year.

wheat to Afghanistan through the border with Pakistan though, despite unceasing hostility in ties with Islamabad, is still the most significant initiative in its outreach to the Taliban who returned in August last year to take control of the strategically important country.

Pakistan has rarely, if ever, allowed transit facilities

for Indian aid to Afghanistan in the past several decades and in 2002 had rejected the same proposal by India when Afghanistan was faced with a similar humanitarian crisis.

The Taliban have not just welcomed India’s proposal to ship wheat to Afghanistan via Pakistan at this “critical time” but had also sought an early approval from Pakistan PM Imran Khan.

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Nestle forced to withdraw KitKat Weekly Covid cases fall in 7 states/UTs, deaths on the rise bars with Hindu deities on wrappers Covid-19 cases in the third wave of the pandemic have started to fall in seven states and Union territories, while several others were witnessing a slowdown in the surge, weekly numbers reveal.

However, deaths from the virus rose in all major states of the country in the week ending Sunday (January 1723), as compared to the preceding seven days.

The sharpest falls in cases were recorded in Delhi and Bengal. The national capital reported 81,741, down 96% from the previous week’s tally of 1,60,240.

Bengal logged a sharper drop, with numbers down 111% in the week.

Jharkhand reported an 83% dip in cases in the week, Bihar 71%, Goa 8.5% and Chandigarh 14%. Chhattisgarh reported a nominal dip of 1%.

The surge was clearly slowing down in several other states. Maharashtra saw cases rise by just 2.6% during the week while Odisha saw a surge of 11% and Punjab 14% all reporting a lower growth rate than the preceding week. On the other hand, the surge in cases accelerated in Kerala, which logged a 65% increase in numbers, Andhra

Pradesh (67%), J&K (61%), Assam (57%), Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat (both 53%) and Telangana (41%).

Maharashtra recorded the highest number of deaths during the week at 307, followed by Kerala (279), Delhi (257), Bengal (250), Tamil Nadu (229) and Punjab (195). Overall, India registered a 91% rise in fatalities, with 2,672 deaths during the week.On Monday, India reported 253,000 fresh cases (with data from one state awaited), down from 307,000 on the day before. Cases dip every Monday due to lower testing and other disruptions over the weekend. Deaths remained high at 442, the second highest daily toll during the third wave after 461 fatalities were recorded on Saturday.

Ahmedabad's daily tally goes down by half in 3 days Ahmedabad on Monday recorded 4,361 new Covid cases, the lowest in the past seven days, and half from 8,627 on January 21.

Ahmedabad is not alone. All major cities have been recording steady drop in Covid cases for the past two days after peak of the cases last week. Pointing at test positivity rate on Monday, experts said that Ahmedabad carried out 15,234 tests to find 4,441 cases in the district - a TPR of 29%. While it was surely less than 37% recorded on January 21, the number of tests plummeted by 36%, indicate numbers.

“The queues at antigen testing domes have not decreased, and OPDs at general practitioners is also full. But now citizens have understood that the official records may result in actions like micro containment and

restriction of movement so they may not be reporting infections to the authorities,” observed a city-based critical care specialist.

“Also, due to the mild nature of the disease, there are fewer chances that the person, who is not recorded on the AMC books, may turn severe. . ” But officials said the trend may turn detrimental if the persons who are selftesting, self-medicating and self-isolating are not being honest. “There is no way apart from symptoms like dry cough and mild fever to ascertain whether a person is a carrier.

This may result in higher spread in the community. Thus, some districts with lower population have actually started getting records of those who are getting cough and cold medicines over the counters,” said another expert.

PM Modi unveils hologram of Netaji at India Gate Continued from page 1 He said that the hologram of Netaji will soon be replaced by a one cast in stone and said that installation of the “giant statue” close to the National War Museum at India Gate and in the close vicinity of Parliament and seat of the central government marks a “homage to the hero of freedom by the grateful nation and will keep reminding our instititutions and coming generations the lesson of national duty”.

PM Modi called Netaji “a great son of Mother India (who) by installing the first ‘independent’ government on Indian soil gave country the confidence that the goal of independence was achievable”, and said that the recognition that he deserved was denied to

him.

Referring to measures such as the hoisting of the flag of Indian National Army (raised by Netaji from among Indian PoWs to fight the British), participation of the INA contingent in the 2018 Republic Day parade, declassification of files related to him and measures to commemorate the INA inside the Red Fort, the PM said, “It is unfortunate that after independence, along with the culture and traditions of the country, the contributions of many great personalities were also sought to be erased.

The freedom struggle involved ‘tapasya’ of lakhs of countrymen, but attempt were made to diminish their contributions. But today the country is boldly correcting those mistakes.”

In his speech, Modi emphaised development of the five pilgrimage sites associated with Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar; raising of the Statue of Unity in honour of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as well as the recent decision to celebrate the birth anniversary of tribal hero Birsa Munda as “Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas”.

On giving due respect to Bose, the PM said one island in the Andamans has been named after Netaji and a memorial has also been dedicated in his name there. Modi recalled how Netaji had said that “there is no power in the world that can shake India” and how he had told the British that he would not take independence “as alms” but would wrest it, and said that country needed to follow the “can do, will do” spirit that Bose personified.

A furious backlash in India has forced Nestle to discontinue a range of KitKat bars covered by wrappers with images of Hindu gods on them. The range has sparked worries that the chocolate bars adorned with the images of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Mata Subhadra would inevitably be thrown away in bins and on the streets, the report said.

It is only recently that the KitKat wrapper with a picture of Lord Jagannath came into the spotlight, sparking reactions on social media.

"Kindly remove the pictures...they might even get stepped on unintentionally," one Twitter user posted.

Another Twitter user commented that it is an honour to have "Odisha culture and Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra on KitKat, but throwing the wrappers in dustbin or stepping on them accidentally would be an insult to the deities."

The bars were introduced to "celebrate the culture", according to Nestle. The company has since issued an apology, and withdrawn the bar range. A Nestle spokesperson said: "We do understand the

sensitivity of the matter and regret if we have inadvertently hurt anyone's sentiment. We had already withdrawn these packs from the market last year. We thank you for your understanding and support.

"We wanted to encourage people to know about the art and its artisans. We do understand the sensitivity of the matter and regret if we have inadvertently hurt people's sentiments." The KitKats bars that proved offensive to the Hindu population were originally circulated in Odisha.

Community transmission of Omicron on, says Insacog Omicron is now at the ‘community transmission’ stage in India with hospitalisation and ICU admissions rising, though most cases of the new Covid-19 infections have been mild or asymptomatic, according to genomics consortium Insacog.

“Omicron has become dominant in multiple metros where new cases have been rising exponentially,” Insacog (Indian SARS-COV2 Genomics Sequencing Consortium), jointly initiated by the Union health ministry and the department of biotechnology along with with CSIR and ICMR, noted in its weekly bulletin dated January 10 and released this Sunday. “The threat level remains unchanged,” it added. The health ministry has not used the term ‘community transmission’ to describe the spread of Covid-19 infections in India since 2020. During the second wave powered by the Delta variant, the Centre had maintained the situation of Covid-19 spread was not same all over the country as there had been local outbreaks in clusters with different patterns in different areas.

Padma honours for Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, Swami Sachidanand Continued from page 1 The Padma honours are given for exceptional service in different fields - art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service.

Indian-American business executives - Nadella, 54, and Pichai, 49 - have been honoured for their Bipin Rawat Gulam Nabi Azad contribution in the "trade and industry" category.

General Bipin Rawat, India's first Chief of Defence Staff who died last month in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu along with his wife and 12 others, has been awarded Padma Vibhushan. Gulam Nabi Azad and Swami Sachidanand were conferred with Padma Bhushan in public affairs Cyrus S. Poonawalla Neeraj Chopra and in literature and education respectively. Vaccine makers Serum A total of 128 personalities are on this Institute of India's Cyrus Poonawalla and year's list of Padma honours. These Bharat Biotech duo - Krishna Ella and awards are conferred by the President of Suchitra Ella - have been honoured with India at ceremonial functions which are Padma Bhushan. The vaccines developed held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually by the two firms - Covishield and Covaxin around March/ April every year. This year - gave a much-needed boost to the the President has approved conferment of country in the fight against the pandemic.

128 Padma Awards including 2 duo case One hundred and seven personalities (in a duo case, the award is counted as are on the list of Padma Shri awardees, one) as per list below. The list comprises 4 including singer Sonu Nigam and Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan and Olympian gold-medallist Neeraj Chopra.

107 Padma Shri Awards. Thirty four of the Padma Sri is the fourth-highest civilian awardees are women and the list also award. The government revealed the includes 10 persons from the category of name of the awardees a day before the Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI and 13 Republic Day celebrations in line with the Posthumous award. annual traditions.

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Kick these unhealthy habits to beat acidity Winters are notorious for worsening acidity and bloating issues. Staying indoors with little physical activity and a larger intake of calories can play quite the number on your gut. There are several steps one can take to avoid acidity and the discomfort that comes along with acidity. There are certain foods that should be avoided, and eating smaller meals compared to a huge one.

There are certain lifestyle modifications like taking enough rest, drinking lots of water, having a sound sleep, practicing yoga, pranayama, meditation and exercising regularly that can help your stomach issues.

Following are some steps to prevent acidity: 1) Avoid excessive spicy, sour, salty, fermented, fried and fast food. 2) Do not overeat. 3) Do not remain hungry for long hours. 4) Avoid foods containing

excessive amounts of garlic, salt, oil, chillies, etc. 5) Avoid lying down immediately after food and in the supine position. 6) Avoid smoking, alcohol, tea, coffee and aspirin-type drugs. 7) Avoid stress.

Home Remedies for Acidity: Chewing half tsp of fennel seeds after meals. 2) Drink coconut water first thing in the morning. 3) Soak raisins overnight and drink water the next morning on an empty stomach. 4) Have lukewarm milk at bedtime with 1 tsp of cow’s ghee. 5) Drink rosewater and mint water. They are cooling and aids digestion.

6) Take 15-20 ml amla juice twice a day. 7) Have 20 ml of aloe vera juice in the morning and evening on empty stomach. 8) Fruits like sweet pomegranates, bananas, apples, plums, raisins and apricots are effective in preventing acidity.

Blood sugar imbalance: Protein is an important nutrient. It takes longer to digest, slowing down the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream.

Brittle nails: If you are low on protein, it will reflect on your skin, hair, and nails, which are primarily made of protein.

Slow healing from injuries: Protein helps in the repair of skin and other body tissues. It may be time to up your protein intake if your wounds don’t heal quickly.

Feeling tired: A lack of protein in your body can make you lose muscle mass, which in turn can make you feel tired and worn out.

Adequate amounts of protein needed to stay healthy Protein plays a key role in the creation and maintenance of every cell in our bodies. It also fuels our cells and powers our bodies. It is made up of amino acids because they are attached in long chains. It is also considered a “macronutrient”, meaning that you need relatively large amounts of it to stay healthy.

Studies have proven that adequate amounts of

protein is required to balance blood sugar, estrogen hormones, and a healthy thyroid. Protein from quality sources can keep the body resilient and help it heal well too. In this article, we discuss subtle ways your body may be saying you are getting enough protein.

Always hungry: Protein helps you keep full for longer. If you are skipping it, you may feel unsatiated all the time.

Calcium vital for the heart too: Study In a study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, researchers from Osaka University showed that a previously unknown mutation can lead to a condition called dilated cardiomyopathy, which is one of the main causes of heart failure.

Heart failure refers to an incurable condition where the heart is no longer able to meet the body’s demands in terms of blood supply. It is one of the most common causes of death and affects almost 40 million people worldwide, representing a huge public health problem.

One of the leading factors leading to heart failure is a disease called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). It is characterised by dilation of the heart’s chambers and a pumping disfunction.

Previous research has shown that DCM is often inherited and has a genetic

basis.

The research team identified a gene called BAG5 as a novel causative gene for DCM. First, they studied patients from different families, highlighting a correlation between loss of function mutations in the BAG5 gene and DCM. They found that the mutation has a complete penetrance, meaning that 100 per cent of the individuals presenting it will develop the dis-

ease.

They then found in a mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy that mice without BAG5 exhibited the same symptoms of human DCM, such as dilatation of the heart's chambers and irregular heart rhythm. This indicated that mutations that erase the function of BAG5 can cause cardiomyopathy.

“Here we showed that loss of BAG5 perturbs calci-

um handling in mouse cardiomyocytes,” said Dr. Hideyuki Hakui, lead author of the study. BAG5 is important for calcium handling in the heart muscle cells, and calcium is essential for a regular rhythm and overall health of the cardiac muscle, explaining why a loss of BAG5 leads to cardiomyopathy.

Senior author of the study Dr. Yoshihiro Asian said, “After demonstrating that BAG5 mutations led to loss of functional BAG5 protein. We also showed that the administration of an AAV9-BAG5 vector in a murine model could restore cardiac function. This finding suggests that gene therapy with adeno-associated viruses (AAV) should be further investigated as a possible treatment alternative to heart transplantation for patients who are BAG5 deficient.”

Rohit Vadhwana

HEALTH & VITALITY Tablets

The first signs of selfcriticism

We come across many people who are always critical of themselves. We frequently hear: 'I wish I could do better', 'I am not good at this' and many other such statements. These are the first signs of self-criticism. No problem in being or trying to be a perfectionist and introspect on your own strengths and weaknesses from time to time, but being negative or having self-doubts are most of the time non-productive. That not only prevents you from taking any initiative but also stops you from giving what you have already done.

Imagine an author who constantly doubts his skills and never publishes his writing. How can he ever be appreciated by anyone? Imagine a painter who never finishes a painting for an exhibition. How can the world be able to see the creative imagination s/he would have. There are many people who have talent, and they are aware of it, but because of selfdoubts, they are never able to produce a result.

Can every runner be Usain Bolt? No. So does it mean no other runner will participate? There cannot be all talents similar to those who have risen to the top in their field, but it should not prevent the emerging and aspiring genius from trying. Be ready for criticism and comments when you produce something. Without any feedback, no one can ever improve. Submit your work to your known people for their suggestions at the first stage. Once you receive their ideas and if you feel relevant, implement them, otherwise leave them. Secondly, go to another set of people who can give you a more honest opinion because of their expertise in a particular field. Their assessment is more important and you need to listen to them more seriously. But once you have crossed such barriers, start putting up your work to the world. Let people read your poetry, your blogs, your short stories, novels or anything that you write – if you are a writer. Let people savour and comment on the dishes you invent – if you are a chef. Let the audience listen to your singing if you sing.

Be always ready for a mixed review of whatever you do.

There will be one section of the society that will like your work, another will be neutral about it, while there will also be a section that will be critical about the outcome and won’t like it. It's natural. Everyone has a different liking and taste.

But this should not prevent you from producing your artwork, doing your creative things and getting them out to the public. Remember, your habit of self-criticism may occasionally be useful in improving the quality of output, but most of the time it prevents you from delivering something which is good. Therefore, don’t be shy in doing what you love to do and showing it to people.

(Expressed opinions are personal)

Ayurvedic tips to keep skin dryness at bay The winter season can be harsh on your skin and hair. The cold winter air can steal moisture from your skin and leave it feeling dry, red and itchy. In this article, we discuss certain Ayurvedic tips to keep your skin supple.

Abhyanga: Regular oil massage during winter not only nourishes your skin but also delays ageing, relieves fatigue and pacifies aches and pain, which is dominant in winter.

Atapa-Sevana: Expose yourself to the winter sun, especially after an oil massage as it helps with proper absorption of the oil in your skin and also helps in the synthesis of Vitamin D. Vyayama: Exercising during winter helps you stay warm and energetic throughout the day. It stimulates your body fire which keeps your skin warm and digestive capacity optimum helping you digest all the healthy fats you eat during winter that keeps your skin soft and moisturised.

Nasya: It means putting medicated oil in your nostrils. It helps with headaches, migraines, sinus congestion, allergies, nose bleeds, dry nasal passages, grey hair, hair fall, insomnia, and more.

Pad-Abhyana: Massage your feet with ghee, or sesame/mustard oil protects your soles from cracks, soothes your mind and body and improves your blood circulation.

To Our Readers

We are publishing these reports in good faith. Before you try any of these remedies, please consult the doctor. We are not responsible for any adverse effects.- Editor

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Reviving arts sector is “mission-critical”, says West Midlands Mayor Shefali Saxena

A

ccording to a study conducted by the University of Sheffield, in a larger picture, it was found that the pandemic had the greatest effect on the mental health of freelancers, with 76.5% reporting a worsening in their mental well being.

Event crew, lighting and sound engineers reported a greater worsening of mental health than respondents in other roles, with 53.8% saying that their mental health was "much worse" compared to 25.5% on average.

Cinema, performing arts, museums and historical sites were worst-hit, while others, including computer games, software, book publishing, TV broadcasting and libraries, were less badly affected.

During an exclusive interview with Asian Voice, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street commented on whether freelancers and the arts sector are a priority amid more concerning issues that prevail due to the ongoing pandemic.

The WestMidlands Mayor said, “I look at it as absolute mission-critical in two ways. I actually slightly disagree with you that it's not the priority because all the what was going on before Christmas here was very

before the Omicron cases. What I really mean by that is - people wanted to come and have those experiences.

It's almost like an antidote to the pressures, the restrictions that people have been under. I think it's a hugely important sector for people expressing themselves, having that community activity. And the other reason it's important economically is the creative sector is growing very fast.

“So what we are looking to do directly, is to stimulate that through an organisation.

We've set up an organisation called Craig Central, that works with producers. For example, it's actually building a new hub for content production for independent film producers, because we see it as a really important piece. And very shortly we'll be doing an announcement with the BBC about what they will be investing here specifically.

The other parts of the creative sector are what was going on in Coventry, as they've been the UK City of Culture, where we've been the single biggest funder for the City of Culture.

And I think that's a really clear piece of evidence that we understand the importance of that economically and socially.”

Global Indian podcast launches new series on the history of Indianness Global Indian Series, a leading content platform sharing stories and insights into the lives of people of Indian origin has launched a new series as part of their Global Indian Podcast. The new series, discussing the often-forgotten history of Indianness, promises to be a series like no other, with new episodes releasing weekly.

Despite having a population of 1.3 billion and over 40 million people of Indian origin across the globe, the history of ethnic minorities and diaspora communities are often neglected in mainstream media. This new series will plunge deep into these stories and shed light on the migration of communities and how it reshapes our ideas of national borders and identity. It is also the first time in history where global names are coming together on an extraordinarily

immersive series.

The immersive Global Indian platform has continually asked readers the fundamental questions that make up our perception of identity, unpicking uncomfortable questions that challenge perceptions of religious history, perceived sense of national identity through skin colour and other physical attributes. At a time when identity and borders have become more fractured than ever, Global Indian Series will unpick the meaning of belonging.

Podcast episodes are hosted by Rajan Nazran, Chief Explorer of Global Indian Series who has spent the past 15 years travelling across over 58 countries to build a living encyclopaedia of the human experience.

Plant-based pop: Pizza Express launches veganonly playlist for Veganuary Veganuary is a big month for PizzaExpress Aldwych. and hot on the heels of the launch of Alongside the playlist, its vegan version of garlic butter, PizzaExpress has announced it has today announced that the next artist to star in the every pizzeria in the UK will January edition of Behind play vegan-only music for the Base, an interview the rest of the month. series from PizzaExpress and The curated ‘Plantmusic therapy charity Pop’ playlist based Nordoff Robbins. The features only vegan series sees the UK’s artists, including Billie music talent talk about Eilish, Ariana Grande, the power music has had Anderson Paak, Ellie on their lives whilst Goulding and Moby, and is a recreating their favourite vibey mix of soul, funk, R&B, pizza from the menu. pop and jazz – a nod to the rich Asha Gold January’s vegan-focused musical heritage of PizzaExpress. episode of Behind the Base went live on No songs containing any references to Monday 24 January and focuses on vegan animal products are included in the artist and rising star, Asha Gold, who has playlist, which means no “Milkshake” from been featured on the likes of BBC Radio 1, Kelis, no “Honey Sweet” from Blossoms BBC 1Xtra, BBC Asian Network and KISS and absolutely no “Meatloaf”.

FM. The 19-year-old from West London is The playlist will play proudly in over known for blending silky pop melodies 360 restaurants from today, including in with contemporary R&B production. the vegan-only PizzaExpress pizzeria in

Guinness World Record achieved for largest bubble wrap painting in London Youngsters from Britain & India have achieved a Guinness World Record by creating the world’s largest bubble wrap painting in London. The painting measures 16.01 m² (172.33 ft²).

The motive behind this achievement and artwork is to widen aspirations and inspire the next generation to continue pursuing their passions like the notable personalities and to help the families in India facing difficulties as a result of Covid-19, as well as those orphaned due to the deadly virus, through registered Indian charities and the team wish to donate to the

The revival of Mangalsutra The term Mangalsutra is a combination of two words mangal and sutra. The word mangal means auspicious and Sutra means thread – together mangalsutra means an auspicious thread uniting the souls. Usually, at a Hindu wedding, the groom ties the auspicious thread around the bride’s neck on the day of their holy nuptial as the significance that their relationship would be as auspicious as the thread. A typical mangalsutra has two strings of black beads and a pendant.

Through ancient beliefs, it symbolises that they will be mates for life until death separates them. It is also believed that the wife wears a mangalsutra to shield her husband from bad luck or danger. While we all know in 2022 that only vaccines and a healthy lifestyle can save us, the good old mangalsutra is making a fashionable come back.

While the idea of this sacred thread around a married woman’s neck is not appreciated by feminists and quite rightly so, because there is apparently no such counterpart of the thread for a man to reciprocate the same sentiment for his wife.

Many modern Indian women in fact don’t

wear a mangalsutra anymore.

However, recently, with the weddings of celebrities like Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif, all brides wore a Sabyasachi mangalsutra around their necks at their respective wedding ceremonies, which became a popculture must-have item for potential brides.

In addition to that, recently, Priyanka Chopra Jonas collaborated with the luxury brand Bulgari to promote their mangalsutra design. “I remember when I wore [my mangalsutra] for the first time… because we have grown with the idea of what it means.

It was just a very special moment for me,” the new mother and actor Priyanka who is a brand ambassador for Bulgari, said during a conversation with creative director Lucia Silvestri. “At the same time, as a modern woman, I also understand the repercussions of what it means. Do I like the idea of wearing a mangalsutra or is it too patriarchal?” Chopra questioned. “Maintain tradition but know who you are and what you stand for,” Chopra added. “And the next generation of girls might do differently.”

PM Cares Funds in India.

Nachiket Joshi, Youth Leader & Social Worker, inspired and generated the idea behind the artwork and is organising the event for this noble cause.

The artists’ team from Creative Art Campus is led by Jignesh Patel, Akshay Pandya & Yash Patel. Khushboo Shah is leading the other volunteer team and managing coordination.

The team worked with 45 volunteers in London to complete the painting which they inaugurated in June this year. It took the team 4 months to complete the gigantic artwork.

“We are overwhelmed to have achieved the world record. The artwork features Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, he is a global leader and has shown himself as a saviour to the world particularly in this pandemic situation by helping almost 100 countries with vaccines. He is the most popular leader across the globe. He has been successfully running the world’s largest and fastest vaccination campaign in India and has achieved 150 crore plus milestones. This is our way of showing him respect for what he has done for the world. The other notable personalities in the artwork are Ratan Tata, Bill Gates and JK Rowling, they came

forward when needed and helped the world during the pandemic situation.

Ratan Tata donated almost $220 million to the Covid crisis in India. Bill Gates foundation donated more than $1 Million and committed an amount of $4 Million for R&D in India during Covid. JK Rowling donated almost £1 million through various Indian charities to help Covid struck families in India. We have chosen these heroes to inspire the younger generation so they can become like them. We are glad to have created history and achieve the world record. We plan to meet these notable personalities featured in our artwork personally and gift this painting to our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi”, said Nachiket Joshi.

It took Jignesh Patel 300 bubbles per hour. There were around 200,000 bubbles to fill so teamwork played a crucial role.

Similarly, Jignesh Patel was a part of a 15 member group that cycled a total of 123 kilometres from London to Brighton and raised funds for charity in May this year. The group bought oxygen concentrators and donated them across India. He has earlier successfully broken 4 world records performing different forms of painting.

The team injected bubbles across the bubble wrap using 200 shades of liquid wall paint, with syringes. Each bubble is numbered which corresponds to a particular shade of paint. Approximately 200,000 bubbles have been filled in total. The work was completed in separate pieces which have been assembled together and will be displayed as a large 15 square metre painting.

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Deepika, Hrithik to share screenspace A

ctress Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan are all set to share screen space for the first time in their careers in Siddharth Anand’s upcoming spy thriller ‘Fighter’. In a recent interview, the actress was recently asked about her thoughts on collaborating with the ‘War’ actor, and joked, “I mean, have you seen us?”

Deepika said, “Yeah, I have always wanted to work with him. I feel like it’s the…

You know, sometimes it’s not about working with someone. I feel like there are so many things. It has to be the right script, it has to be the right director, the right time in your life. So many things that decide (whether to do a movie or not). So yeah, I guess it’s the right time for us to come together.”

Kartik Aaryan posts shirtless picture, sends temperature soaring

K

artik Aaryan’s recent Instagram post raised the temperatures, and what’s more, he responded to his swooning fans.

Taking to Instagram over the weekend, Kartik shared a shirtless selfie sporting an almost clean-shaven look. He captioned the post, “If I am a smoothie, what flavour?”

Thousands of responses to the question came pouring in, and Kartik replied to several of them.

Sonakshi reacts as fan asks when will she get married

Actor Gulshan Devaiah wrote, “Banana strawberry with almond milk and wild mango honey.” Kartik replied, “We need more chefs like yourself.” A fan commented, “Strawberry blueberry with chocolate types.” Kartik replied, “Thodi chia seeds bhi daal dein (Add a few chia seeds too).” Another person wrote, “Flavourless will also work if the smoothie is you.” The actor responded by saying, “If it’s me, it will never be flavourless.”

"Bro, why did you shave off your beard?" asked a fan, to which Kartik replied: "The end of our friendship." A fan also wrote, “Chikni smoothie (A ‘clean’ smoothie), referring to his look”, to which Kartik said, "Not chikoo?" One more fan commented, "Sexy flavour maybe." Kartik replied, "Most definitely. Ain't no time for maybe." Another fan added, "Clean shave, damn hot." Kartik said, "I second that.”

On the work front, Kartik has multiple movies in the pipeline, including ‘Shehzada’ directed by Rohit Dhawan. It is touted to b an action-packed family musical film and also stars Kriti Sanon. He also has 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’ along with Kiara Advani and Tabu, lined up.

Both the actors have previously individually collaborated with Siddharth Anand. Deepika has worked with him in ‘Bachna Ae Haseeno’, and Hrithik has worked with him in two movies, ‘Bang Bang’ and ‘War’.

Meanwhile, ‘Fighter’ will be shot using the latest technology and filming techniques according to its makers. It is slated to hit the theatres in 2022 and will be bankrolled by Viacom18 Studios, Mamta Anand, Ramon Chill and Anku Panda.

On the work front, Deepika has a slew of movies in the pipeline, including ‘Gehraiyaan’, ‘Pathan’, an upcoming with Nag Ashwin and a Hindi adaptation of ‘The Intern’.

Salman files defamation suit against neighbour M

egastar Salman Khan has filed a defamation case against his neighbour and the situation is getting more serious by the day. During the latest hearing, the actor through his lawyer accused the neighbour of unnecessarily dragging his religious identity into the dispute.

Salman has filed a civil suit alleging Ketan Kakkad, who owns a plot of land near the actor’s Panvel farmhouse, defamed him in a YouTube interview.

Khan’s lawyer Pradeep Gandhi read out substantial portions of Akkad’s posts and interviews in front of the court. He said Kakkad had accused the actor of being a “front for the D Gang, commenting on his religious identity and implying that he was connected to the ruling party at the central and state level, levelling allegations of child trafficking, further alleging that bodies of film stars are buried in his farmhouse.”

Through his lawyer, Salman said, “Without proper proof, all these allegations are a figment of the defendant’s imagination. In a property dispute, why are you tarnishing my personal reputation? Why are you bringing in religion? My mother is a Hindu, my father is a Muslim and my brothers have married Hindus. We celebrate all festivals.”

He further said, “You are an educated person... not a Gunda-chhap to make such allegations. The easiest thing nowadays is to gather some

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people, get on social media and vent out all your anger.”

Salman has also made YouTube, social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Google, parties to the suit, demanding that they be directed to block and remove the 'defamatory content' from their websites.

He wants a permanent order restraining Ketan from posting or publishing defamatory content about him or his farmhouse.

ctor Sonakshi Sinha has responded to a fan on Instagram who asked her about her wedding as 'everyone is getting married'. Taking to Instagram Stories, Sonakshi conducted an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session and spoke on a host of topics.

Sonakshi, shared a glimpse of herself and asked her fans, "Literally been on this couch all weekend and re-watched the Marvel movies in chronological order. What did you get up to this weekend?" When a fan asked her what she was doing, Sonakshi shared a clip of her television set and wrote, "Currently on movie #5.

Next up-Thor!"

Replying to her story, one fan asked: "Ma'am everyone is getting married, when will you get married?" Sharing a Boomerang clip in which she smiled and frowned, Sonakshi replied, "Everyone is also getting Covid-19? Should I get that too?"

A person answered her question, "Recovering from Covid-19." Sonakshi replied, "If it makes you feel any better some people (me) quarantine for fun. Jokes apart...lots of love to all those recovering."

She later explained, "Ok friends. Question was what did you get up to this weekend. Someone answered recovering from Covid. I don't have Covid. I am not recovering. I just like being at home. Which is like quarantining for fun. Samjhe (Understood)?"

Sonakshi often shares posts on Instagram giving her fans a glimpses of her life.

Recently, she shared a picture of herself as she enjoyed her time in a swimming pool. Wearing blue-coloured swimwear, Sonakshi had shared the post with a mermaid emoji.

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Priyanka, Nick welcome their first child via surrogacy Fans slam broadcaster for revealing face of Anushka-Virat’s daughter

Kangana reasons why South superstars are a 'rage'

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ctress Kangana Ranaut shared her own opinion in a string of reasons as to why the content and superstars of the South film industry “are such a rage” these days. Sharing a news article on Instagram while making her point and also added Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s song ‘Oo Antava’ from recent hit ‘Pushpa: The Rise’.

She wrote, “Some of the reasons why South content and superstars are such a rage…1) They are deeply rooted in Indian culture, 2) They love their families and relationships are conventional not westernised, 3) Their professionalism and passion is unparalleled.” She also added, “They should not allow Bollywood to corrupt them.”

Southern movies have made their way into the mainstream with their multi-lingual releases catering to larger audiences. Allu Arjun’s ‘Pushpa: The Rise’, which was released last month, grossed a total of £17.3 million worldwide in three days since its release. Originally shot in Telugu, it was later dubbed and released in Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, and Tamil.

Kangana herself has featured in and as ‘Thalaivii’, in which she portrayed the role of late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa. On the work front, she will be next seen in her upcoming movie ‘Tejas’. She also has ‘Dhaakad’, ‘Manikarnika Returns: The Legend of Didda’, ‘Emergency’, and ‘The Incarnation: Sita’. She is also producing ‘Tiku Weds Sheru’ under her production house, Manikarnika Films.

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he Indian cricket team played South Africa at Cape Town on Sunday, and present on the stands was cricketer Virat Kohli’s wife Anushka Sharma and their daughter Vamika. While the mother-daughter duo cheered on Virat, the official broadcaster of the match panned to the stands revealing the toddler’s face. Both the parents have been very protective of Vamika’s privacy and have constantly requested the paparazzi to not publish her pictures.

The live telecast of Sunday’s game showed Anushka in the stands with a clear view of Vamika in her arms. The camera not only focused on them but also lingered for a few extra seconds before the feed cut back to the ground.

Fans of the couple have not taken too lightly the situation, and have called it a breach of privacy.

A tweet said, “The broadcaster should have respected their privacy”, while another said, “It was so wrong of SuperSport to show Vamika’s face especially when Virat and Anushka had specifically asked not to do so.”

Meanwhile, another person tweeted, “Well, honestly it was a terrible thing for them to do, by not respecting the privacy they needed!”

All virtual criticism aside, the clip has already gone viral on the internet and anyone with a decent data package has already seen the little one’s face as clear as day.

Virat and Anushka have never revealed Vamika’s face since her birth a little over a year ago. Even paparazzi have always adhered to their requests to not click her photos.

ctor Priyanka Chopra and singer husband Nick Jonas have welcomed their first child together via surrogacy, reportedly a daughter. The couple announced the arrival in a statement posted to their Instagram accounts. Although, they have not revealed the child’s name or gender.

However, if media reports are to be believed, Priyank's cousin Meera Chopra has confirmed the pair is now parents to a girl.

The news comes as a surprise as a couple had not given any prior hints.

They were, however, always open about wanting kids. Priyanka, who tied the knot with Jonas in 2018, has insisted that starting a family with her other half will happen when the time is right, but when they do become parents, she plans to “slow down”. She had also recently said that she is “craving my family life.”

The announcement has also shed some light on a joke cracked by the ‘Citadel’ actress last year on the ‘Jonas Brothers Family Roast’. She had said, “If you don’t know, we are the only couple who doesn’t have kids yet.

Which is why I’m excited to make this announcement. Sorry babe. Nick and I are expecting… to get drunk tonight and to sleep in tomorrow!” She paused in her joke while a visibly nervous Nick looked on, to which she had said, “Your face was really funny when I said that.”

The announcement does not come without its controversies.

Several Indian social media users have slammed the new parents for taking the “easier route”. Activist Taslima Nasreen took to Twitter to slam the actress. She wrote, “How do those mothers feel when they get their readymade babies through surrogacy?

Do they have the same feelings for the babies like the mothers who give birth to the babies?”

Malaika opens up about being criticised for her outfits

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fter recent controversies over her choice of clothes, Malaika Arora has finally opened up about being criticised for her outfits, saying that women are always judged for their hemlines and necklines. Speaking in an interview, she said she is not “silly and stupid” and knows what looks good on her and added that if she is comfortable with whatever she is wearing, others will have to “fall in line”.

Malaika said she was questioned about her clothing “all the time”. She said, “A woman is always judged by the length of her skirt or the plunge of her neckline… I cannot live my life according to what people have to say about my hemline or my neckline. Dressing is a very personal choice. You may think a certain way but it may not be for me. I cannot dictate it to anybody and everybody. My personal choices should be my personal choices and vice-versa so I cannot sit in judgment and say, ‘Oh, why are you dressing a certain way?’”

Malaika added, “If I feel comfortable…and at the end of the day, I am not silly and stupid. I know what looks good on me, I know what doesn’t. If tomorrow, I feel it’s a tad bit too much, I am not going to. But again, that is my choice, nobody has the right to tell me that. If I am comfortable with my skin, with my body, with my age, then so be it.

You have to fall in line, it’s as simple as that.”

The reality show judge recently made the headlines for going bra-less while on a morning walk with her dog. Photos of the celebrity made their way to the internet where trolls slandered and objectified her.

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Samantha goes skiing in Switzerland A

ctress Samantha Ruth Prabhu has taken off to yet another vacation, this time in the beautiful Swiss Alps. Sam shared a fresh picture from her skiing outing on Instagram.

The picture shows her in a yellow jacket and helmet posing on a snow-covered mountain.

She captioned it, “Day 4 is when the magic happens. #skiingainteasybutitsureisfun.”

The particular post received a whopping 1.2 million likes within a few hours. Singer Chinmayi Sripada commentated on the post, “The hyper achiever you are - you go participate in some competition and come with a gold medal.” A fan called the actor “Phenomenal”, while others showered love

on her.

Samantha has been travelling to various locations in India and abroad for the last few months since her split with actor Naga Chaitanya.

She recently completed the Char Dham Yatra, and also made a trip to Dubai.

On the work front, Sam is all set to be seen in her first international film ‘Arrangements of Love’ to be directed by Philip John of ‘Downton Abbey’ fame. She will be seen playing a bisexual Tamil woman running her own detective agency.

Actress Meera Jasmine makes a comeback

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eera Jasmine is one of the evergreen heroines of Malayalam and Tamil cinema, who has given many a memorable performances. Her strong charcters in Tamil are 'Run' and 'Ayudha Ezhuthu' opposite Madhavan, 'Sandakozhi' opposite Vishal, 'Kasthoorman' and other films.

As a commercial heroine she has starred opposite Vijay in 'Pudhiya Geethai', Dhanush in 'Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram' and Ajith in 'Anjaneya'. Her filmography includes close 50 hits in Malayalam, Telugu and Kannnada cinema as well.

Meera got married to Anil John Titus in 2014 and had settled in Dubai for the past eight years. Now after a long gap the talented actress is back to tinsel town and has completed a new movie in Malayalam. Meera has also made her debut on social media by starting an Instagram account and posted new photos. Fans have been stunned by her beauty and fit body commenting that she can give new heroines a run for their money.

Meera wrote "Let’s always nourish beginnings. For sometimes, it is not all about being somewhere, but about the seeds of that change. Delighted to be taking this step that will bring us all closer to each other, one memory at a time.

Sending heaps of love and light to all."

TV Listing

Dhanush's father denies separation of his son and his wife J

ust days after actor Dhanush and wife Aishwaryaa announced their separation after 18 years of marriage, his father Kasthuri Raja has denied that the two are headed for a divorce. Aishwaryaa, who is the elder daughter of superstar Rajinikanth, has two sons with Dhanush, 15-year-old Yatra and 11-year-old Linga.

Speaking to a local newspaper, Kasthuri said that a disagreement has taken place between Dhanush and Aishwaryaa and that they are not divorced. He said, “Dhanush and Aishwaryaa are not divorced. It’s just a fight between them due to differences of opinion. So it was a routine family fight. Presently both are out

of town and staying in Hyderabad. I talked to them via phone and advised them too.”

The pair had shared a joint statement on their respective social media accounts, on January 17. Dhanush wrote, “Eighteen years of togetherness as friends, couple, as parents and well-wishers to each other. The journey has been of growth, understanding, adjusting, and adapting.

Today we stand at a place where our paths separate. Aishwaryaa and I have decided to part ways as a couple and take time to understand us as individuals for the better. Please do respect our decision and give us the needed privacy to deal with this. Om Namashivaaya!

Spread love, D.”

Two Indian films make it to Oscars 2022 long list T

wo Indian films have officially made it to the long list of movies eligible for the Oscars 2022. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences released the list of 276 films eligible for the awards this year, and Tamil drama ‘Jai Bhim’ and Malayalam action-adventure film ‘Marakkar’ are the only two Indian features films on it.

According to reports, voting for all the movies eligible for the 94th Academy Awards will begin on January 27th and end later that week.

The final nominations across categories will be announced on February 8. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles on March 27.

The production team of superstar Suriya’s ‘Jai

Bhim’ celebrated the inclusion with a tweet that said, “Into the #Oscars race! #JaiBhim makes it into the 276 films shortlisted by @TheAcademy for the 94th Academy Award nominations.” The movie is a legal drama based on a true incident from 1993 involving a case fought by Justice K Chandru.

Meanwhile, Mohanlal’s ‘Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham’ is a period war film based on the exploits of the fourth Kunjali Marakkar, who was the admiral of the fleet of Zamorin in the 16th century. The movie has already won three National Awards, including the Best Feature Film at the 67th National Awards last year.

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 31 JAN - FRI 4 FEB 2022 6.00 Dikri To Parki Thapan Kahevay 15.00 RASOI SHOW 18.00 SUDI VACHCHE SOPARI 18.30 SURI 19.00 BHAKT GORA KUMBHAR 19.30 MARU MAN MOHI GAYU 20.00 RASHI RIKSHAWALI 20.30 MOTI BAA NI NANI VAHU 21.00 SORATHNI MRS SINGHAM 21.30 GEETA

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MON 31 JAN - FRI 4 FEB 2022 9.00 BIGG BOSS15-WEEKEND KA VAAR 11.00 KARADI TALES 16.00 DIL SE DIL TAK 16.30 RASOI SHOW DESI FLAVOURS 17.30 CHHUTA CHHEDA 18.00 SASURAL SIMAR KA 18.30 TU AASHIQUI 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 19.30 HUKUM MERE AAKA 20.00 BALIKA VADHU 2 20.30 Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki 21.00 THAPKI PYAR KI 2 21.30 SASURAL SIMAR KA 2

SATURDAY 29 JAN 2022 6.00 Paiso Maro Parmeshwar 15.00 RASOI SHOW 18.00 SUDI VACHCHE SOPARI 18.30 SURI 19.00 BHAKT GORA KUMBHAR 19.30 MARU MAN MOHI GAYU 20.00 RASHI RIKSHAWALI 20.30 MOTI BAA NI NANI VAHU 21.00 SORATHNI MRS SINGHAM 21.30 GEETA SUNDAY 30 JAN 2022 12.00 Mango Sayba Janamo Janam No Sath 15.00 Back Bencher 18.00 MARU MAN MOHI GAYU ® 19.00 SHU CHALE CHE 19.30 GEETA 20.30 SORATHNI MRS SINGHAM 22.00.00 SHU CHALE CHE SATURDAY 29 JAN 2022 11.00 KARADI TALES 15.00 SHU CHALE CHE 16.30 RASOI SHOW-DESI FLAVOURS 17.30 CHHUTA CHHEDA 18.00 SASURAL SIMAR KA 18.30 TU AASHIQUI 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 19.30 HUKUM MERE AAKA 20.00 COMEDY NIGHTS WITH KAPIL 21.00 THAPKI PYAR KI 2 21.30 SASURAL SIMAR KA 2 SUNDAY 30 JAN 2022 11.00 KARADI TALES 16.30 RASOI SHOW - DESI FLAVOURS 17.30 DESI BEAT 3 18.00 BFFs with Vogue - Season 2 19.00 KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA 20.00 COMEDY NIGHTS WITH KAPIL 21.00 THAPKI PYAR KI 2 21.30 SASURAL SIMAR KA 2

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Next edition of IPL to start on March 27

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), beginning on March 27, will be held in India or South Africa. The final call hasn’t been taken yet, but UAE and Sri Lanka can be safely

ruled out. BCCI officials, the chairman of the IPL Governing Council and the interim CEO of the board, who also heads all IPL affairs, met the 10 IPL franchise owners last week.

On the issue of the destination, while BCCI wants the IPL in India, franchise owners agreed that it should be held at a place where it will remain incident-free and if it has to be moved overseas, a majority favoured South Africa.

One of the suggestions at the meeting was that if the tournament is held in India, a temporary – and unofficial – proposal suggests it can be conducted between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, where three stadiums are available along with as many practice grounds.

In the meeting, four franchises suggested it should either be played in India or be moved to South Africa; two franchises left it for BCCI to take the call; one franchise maintained that if it is not possible to host it in India, it should move to UAE; One

franchise believes UAE should be the only destination; two franchises have decided to go with the majority.

None of the stakeholders have suggested Sri Lanka as an option. The BCCI considered a ll options and conveyed that another meeting will be called for in a week’s time, ahead of the mega-auction, to arrive at a final decision. The Indian cricket board is also of the view that the IPL must not go back to the UAE. They have presented a couple of reasons for the same.

All these suggestions from the stakeholders – and the BCCI’s own view that only if left with no choice will the tournament move overseas – has made South Africa firm favourites to host the league should Covid precautions restrict India from hosting it.

Smriti Mandhana named ICC women’s Cricketer of the Year India’s swashbuckling opener Smriti Mandhana was on Monday named the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year for her incredible run of form across all formats in 2021.

Mandhana was short-listed for the top award - the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy - along with Tammy Beaumont of England, Lizelle Lee of South Africa and Gaby Lewis of Ireland, the ICC said in a statement.

In the limited-overs series against South Africa where India won just two of the eight

matches at home, Mandhana played a major role in both of the wins. She made 80 not out as India chased down 158 in the second ODI that helped them level the series and scored 48 not out in the win in the final T20I. The 25-year-old played a sublime innings of 78 in the first innings of the one-off Test against England that ended in a draw. She played an important knock of 49 in India’s only win in the ODI series. Her 15-ball 29 and 50 in the T20I series went in vain though as India fell short in both the matches and lost the

series 2-1.

The Southpaw was in good touch in the series against Australia, starting with the ODI series where she scored 86 in the second ODI. She compiled a brilliant century in the only Test (the first of her career), and was awarded the Player of the Match. She scored her second T20I 50 of the year in the final T20I, though India fell short and lost the series 2-0. Mandhana made India’s first-ever pink-ball Test even more memorable by smashing her maiden century in the longest format.

India slipped to their first-ever ODI series whitewash in South Africa after the hosts sealed a thrilling win in the final ODI of the three-match series at Newlands, Cape Town on Sunday. A 4-run win in the third and final ODI at Newlands, which came after two resounding victories in the opening two clashes, saw hosts South Africa complete a historic 3-0 clean sweep over India in the 50-over format.

KL Rahul became only the 4th India captain after Kapil Dev, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli to be on the receiving end of a whitewash in an ODI series that had 3 or more matches. Deepak Chahar, who also took two wickets with his pace bowling to bowl out South Africa for 287, was involved in a 55-run eighth-wicket stand but it

EX-SKIPPER OF ZIMBABWE 'TOOK MONEY’ FROM INDIAN FIXER Former Zimbabwe cricket captain Brendan Taylor (35) admitted that he took money from match-fixers who tried to blackmail him into manipulating international games with a secret video of him using cocaine on a visit to India in 2019. The ICC is about to impose a “multi-year ban” on him for not reporting the incident back then, he added. Even though he took $15,000 from the fixers, Taylor said he never fixed or manipulated games. He retired from international cricket late last year. His admission comes a year after former Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak was banned from cricket for eight years for breaching cricket’s anti-corruption code. In a confession on social media, Taylor claimed that he was invited by the businessman to India to discuss “sponsorships” and potential launch of a T20 event in Zimbabwe besides an offer of $15,000 in October, 2019. He did not name the businessman in question. The 35-year-old, who played 205 ODIs, 34 Tests and 45 T20s before retiring last year, now expects the ICC to ban him for not reporting the incident back then.

The game’s governing body is yet to comment on the matter. “The timing was such that we hadn’t been paid for 6 months by Zimbabwe cricket and it was questionable whether Zimbabwe would be able to continue playing in the international arena,” he said while trying to give his reasons for accepting the offer. The Harare-born cricket said he was blackmailed “post dinner and drinks”. Taylor said he was also given a part payment to spot fix matches.

SANIA TO RETIRE AFTER 2022 SEASON Smriti Mandhana

Rohit, Pant, Ashwin in India suffer 1st-ever ODI series whitewash in SA ICC’s Test team of year The flamboyant Rohit Sharma featured as opener, Rishabh Pant as wicketkeeper and R Ashwin as the lone specialist spinner in the ICC men’s Rohit Sharma, Rishabh & R Ashwin ‘Test Team of the Year’ but no Indian player was included in the global body’s ODI XI for 2021.

After going unrepresented in the ICC men’s T20 Team of the Year due to a disastrous World Cup campaign in the UAE, it was no surprise to see the Indians miss out in the apex body’s ODI side as well after playing just six matches.

India, however, have three representatives in the year’s best team for the game’s longest format, with New Zealand talisman Kane Williamson as its skipper. Besides the absence of India players, the ODI team also doesn’t have anyone from Australia, English, New Zealand or West Indies. The team, which has Pakistan’s Babar Azam as its captain, has two of his teammates, including Fakhar Zaman.

Smriti in women’s side Star India opener Smriti Mandhana was named in the ICC T20 women’s Team of the Year for her superlative show in the format in 2021. The stylish Southpaw, who is the Indian team’s vice-captain in the format, was the country’s highest scorer in the format in 2021 with 255 runs at an average of 31. 87. The 25-year-old scored two fifties in the nine matches she played and got her team off to rapid starts regularly, as evident up by her strike-rate of 131. 44.

While Mandhana was the only Indian, several members of the English side feature in the team with Nat Scriver being named captain. The experienced England all-rounder produced many impactful performances throughout the year. Batting in the middle-order, Sciver scored a total of 153 runs, including one fifty, and she also picked up10 wickets at an excellent average of 20. 20.Accompanying Mandhana at the top is England’s Tammy Beaumont.

in brief

went in vain.

Earlier in the day, India got off to a poor start as they lost captain KL Rahul early as Lungi Ngidi struck for the hosts in the fifth over. Veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan then hit his 35th ODI fifty and joined hands with ex-captain Virat Kohli as the duo added 98 runs for the second wicket to steady India in the chase. India went down by seven wickets in the second ODI while in the first outings South Africa won 31 runs.

Ahmedabad set to host Windies ODIs Ahmedabad and Kolkata will host the upcoming three ODIs and as many T20 Internationals, respectively, against the West Indies, the BCCI said, curtailing the number of venues to reduce travelling in view of the Covid19 pandemic. As per the original schedule, the visiting West Indies were slated to play three ODIs in Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Kolkata and three T20Is in Cuttack, Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram, beginning However, the current situation in the country has forced the BCCI to cut down the number of venues from six to two. “The three ODIs will now be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad and three T20Is will be held at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The decision to limit the series to two venues instead of six as originally announced has been done to mitigate bio-security risks by cutting down on travel and movement of the teams, match officials, broadcasters, and other stakeholders,” the BCCI said in a statement.

The revised venues:1st, 2nd and 3rd ODIs in Ahmedabad on February 6, 9 and 11.

1st, 2nd and 3rd T20Is in Kolkata on February 16, 18 and 20.

The 2022 tennis season is likely to be Sania Mirza’s last. The 35-year-old comeback mom pegged her decision on injuries, a missing spark and her three-year old son Izhaan, who is of school-going age. The former world No. 1 dropped the bombshell rather casually during a post-match press-conference at the Australian Open. “I’m pretty sure that this is my last season, if I do finish it,” she added as an afterthought. “I’m not going to be back in Australia to play the Australian Open again. ” “I have had some great memories, great results in singles, doubles and mixed-doubles here. I have been able to do that over 20 years of my career (from 2001). It has been a great journey for me,” she said. “I’m literally taking it one tournament at a time, going week to week with my body, the virus, the travel. There is so much uncertainty.” Sania, winner of six Grand Slam titles, doubles and mixed, and ranked No. 1 for 91 weeks, said the plan was to play until the US Open in August.

“I want to finish the season, I’m ranked 60-70 in the world and I played only nine tournaments last year. I have the level to play, it’s not about level. I still feel I can go deep into tournaments,” she said, “But my body, I have a meniscus issue going on. I woke up with a wrist pain a couple days ago. At 35 I’m waking up with issues which I don’t know where they are coming from. My recovery is taking longer. ”

RACHANA IS REFEREE LIAISON OFFICER FOR ASIAN WOMEN’S CUP Rachana Kamani, 22, of Ahmedabad District Football Association (ADFA), has been appointed as referee liaison officer for Asian Women’s Cup 2022 to be held in Maharashtra from January 20 to February 6. “I am honoured to be among the three referee liaisoning officers for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022. We will be closely working with top Asian referees,” said Kamani.