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TRUMP TO KEEP OFF KASHMIR US President agrees to PM Modi's stand on resolving issues with Pak

31 AUG - 6 SEPT 2019 - VOL 48 ISSUE 18

inside: Shortlists announced for the 19th Asian Achievers Awards SEE PAGE 6-7

STORY ON PAGE-26

Freeview English teaching TV channel to help migrants SEE PAGE 11

Chidambaram to remain in CBI custody till 30 Aug SEE PAGE 25

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WITH KEITH VAZ, MP

Cllr Walaa Idris

Councillor Idris was born in Tubingen Germany where her parents were studying for their PhDs. Her mother specialised in Economics while her father was working in Zoology. She completed secondary school in Khartoum, Sudan, before attending Indiana University in the United States (Bloomington, Indiana) where she read Psychology, Sociology and Economics. After attaining her BA, she and her mother founded the first agricultural social enterprise in Africa.

In 1991, with a toddler and six months pregnant, Councillor Idris moved to the UK and made London their home. Raising her daughters as a single parent was not always easy, but it played a huge part in the person she is today.

In her quest to give back to her adopted home, for years she flirted with the idea of becoming a Member of Parliament, but after working with a number of MPs, She realised she can achieve more as a local Councillor. In 2018, she was elected councillor for the Brompton and Hans Town Ward of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

1

which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in?

I am very fortunate, my home is also my absolute favourite place in the world. I first

visited London in my early teens and instantly fell in love. The trees, the parks, garden squares… seeing green everywhere took my breath away. I adore this city and its gentle, unassuming vibrancy.

2

what are your proudest achievements?

My two daughters. Admittedly, there has been times when I wasn’t sure if I could make it as a parent. But raising my girls has taught me a lot about life and myself. I found confidence, strength and learnt resilience from raising them. I truly believe I am a better person because I’m a mother.

3

what inspires you?

Achievements, success and independence.

4

what has been biggest obstacle in your career?

Myself, I sometimes get in my own way.

Although I am quite ambitious and confident, I sometimes doubt myself. I am learning not to and getting better at getting out of my own way.

5

who has been biggest influence on your career to date?

My parents, they instilled in me self-believe and a can-do attitude. They believed in me, encouraged and supported me in every turn, even when they didn’t 100% agree with my choices. Plus, they were always there when things didn’t work out and I needed a shoulder to cry on.

6

what is the best aspect about your current role?

Helping people and making a difference. I know it sounds cliché, but actually the job of Councillor is to help residents and the community, and I very much enjoy doing it.

7

and the worst?

When I can’t help because the situation is either out of my control or unresolvable.

8

what are your long term goals?

Helping people is my passion and motivation. Giving them a voice and making a difference to their lives is what drives and thrills me. My goal is to help as many people as I can, and improve as many lives as possible.

9

if you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?

Championing awareness of loneliness and isolation: a growing phenomenal affecting people of all ages and from all backgrounds.

My goal is to foster awareness of loneliness and isolation in schools, hospitals, afterschool projects, the work place and all communities, by simply weaving that awareness into all aspects of daily lives.

10

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

The late Princess Diana, because I feel her story was unfinished and there is a lot left to tell and I would very much love to hear it. Plus, I know she was fun, and I have a feeling hanging out with her would be a blast.

British Hindus raise the issue of violence on Indians in London The All Parliamentary Party Group for British Hindus have written to Home Secretary Priti Patel regarding the violent clashes that erupted as an estimated 5000 protestors began demonstrations outside the Indian High Commission in London on India's independence day. Protestors, many waving Pakistani and Azad Kashmir flag descended outside India House. The antiIndia protest, organised by Pakistani groups, in Khalistani and Kashmiri separatist outfits, were separated from the pro-India demonstrators outside India House by metal barriers.

Pakistani origin protestors from various UK towns with substantial Pakistani diaspora population like Luton, Bradford, Birmingham etc were brought in chartered buses to head towards High Commission in London.

One of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's closest friends, Zulfi Bukhari allegedly also specially travelled to London to join the protests and instigate the crowd of protestors.

APPG writes to Home Secretary

The APPG sent a letter to Ms Patel saying, “This peaceful celebration was marred by

organised separatist groups based in the UK. I am aware that many national Indian and Hindu organisations have already written to you, however, we would also like to make it clear and seek reassurances what you are currently doing with regards to protecting British Hindus and non-resident Indians in our country and whether any charges have been brought against the perpetrators pursuant to the Public Disorder Act 1986 and the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (or other legislation as appropriate that makes certain acts potentially punishable as incitement to hatred?)

“These separatist groups planned to deliberately harass, victimise and threaten peaceful people. This was completely unwarranted, notwithstanding the fact that the very alleged sentiments being condemned by the protestors against India, were being protested with violent and threatening speech and behaviour against the local British community.”

It further added, “The community is still waiting for the damaging “caste” legislation to be repealed.

Instances of hate crime against Hindus has increased over the years and anti-

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Hindu/Indian sentiment is clearly on the rise. In recent months, the ill-thought out definition of Islamophobia is being taken on board by various Councils, including political parties. This all points towards the fact that a peaceful community is being discriminated against and persecuted and the authorities are allowing this behaviour to continue without reassurances.

“As the Hindu Forum of Britain has requested a meeting with you via its recent open letter, this ought to be welcomed and taken seriously with a meeting being organised as soon as possible...”

They also reminded the Home Secretary of the temples and

organisations that were attacked in the UK after Babri Masjid demolition in India in December 1992.

Letter to Naz Shah MP The British Hindus Voice, wrote to MP Naz Shah, Shadow Minister of State for Women and Equalities saying, “It would be helpful to know since you are the Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, what your response would be on the following serious violations (in Kashmir) and if and when you have raised your concerns relating to Women and Equalities with the British PM or another Minister of Her Majesty’s Government (HMG): “1. Kashmiri women get-

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ting married to ‘outsiders’ lost their right to inherit properties.

“2. Kashmiri Panditsalmost 500,000 –who had lived in the valley for thousands of years thrown out from their homeland and the State of Kashmir did not shed any tears on them or gave them encouragement to return promising safety “Fact was, messages were being blared out of Mosque loudspeakers asking Kashmiri Pandits to leave and adding that they should leave behind their wives and daughters...

“It is inaccurate to assert that Article 370 has been abrogated since it remains intact. Only Article 35A, which was inserted, within the ambit of Article 370, in 1954 by a Presidential order that created exceptions and suspended some of the fundamental rights for citizens enshrined in the Indian Constitution in J&K...

“Human Rights issues are universal and should be condemned whether they are perpetrated by Muslims on other Muslims, or Muslims on minorities or on Muslims by other faiths.

Unless one is prepared to condemn it irrespective of who is committing it, a faith tinted self-promoting partisan approach, especially by a Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities will not hold any traction with the majority of the population...”

BBC against Hindus?

Hasmukh Shah Velji, a community leader addressed the BBC saying, 'does BBC con-

sider Hindus as less equals?'

He wrote, “Once again the BBC has failed Hindus miserably over the issue of Kashmir and the revocation of Article 370 which when removed will provide equality of all faiths, races, creed and more important for women. But the BBC has chosen to present only the jihadist and extremist Pakistani view which has suppressed minorities and women since its birth 72 years ago.

“Pakistan is the epicentre of terrorism. Pakistan sponsored terrorists, jihadists and extremists have, since 1989, persecuted over 500,000 Kashmiri Hindus out of their ancestral home of 5,000 years and usurped their land, properties, places of worship and businesses. They did not stop at that.

“Their religious leaders, the mullahs, blared over the loudspeakers from the turrets of every mosques in Srinagar, in 1990, that Kashmiri Hindus should leave everything behind, including their women and girls whom they will take into their care in their harems. All this while there was deafening silence from the BBC, the UNO and all the western governments.

None of them spoke a word about the Kashmiri Hindu human right violations, or their pain, or their loss of their ancestral home or how their menfolk were massacred, dismembered, how their women & girls were raped and killed. Not a peep from the BBC...”

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31 Aug - 6 Sept 2019

Measures to revive economic growth Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam made a exceptionally lucid and detailed public presentation – the first of three, the next two to follow in the coming weeks – of the government’s time-bound economic and administrative measures to counter India’s growth slowdown and turn things round. The Finance Ministry would clear all pending GST refunds within 30 days.

Steps were announced to get the automotive industry up and running. Many of its problems had arisen from ambiguities and misunderstanding of items in the government’s regulatory framework. These had been removed following close consultations with the captains of industry. The tranche of promised reforms came under the following heads, Tax Relief: Surcharge on foreign and domestic portfolio investors to be abolished; Simplified KYC for FPIs which, since July, had withdrawn around $3.4 billion from the stock market; Separate cell to deal with startup tax issues; Government to release Rs 70,000 crore for the recapitalisation of PSU banks; banks to launch repo rate and external benchmark-linked loan products that will lead to reduced monthly installation payments; the capital infusion is expected to generate additional lending and liquidity in the financial system to the tune of Rs 5 lakh

crore; to reduce harassment and bring greater efficiency, public sector banks will ensure mandated return of loan documents within 15 days of loan closure. Measures to increase lending, better transmission of rates, increased transparency; Improve fund flow, reduce stress in small businesses, improve, rationalise multiple definitions to smoothen decision making; Violation of CSR to be a civil, not a criminal offence, Review of Companies Act to remove the threat of prosecution; The points made above, for reasons of space, are necessarily a broad summary of Finance Minister of Sithraman’s presentation at a media conference in New Delhi. A business newspaper’s front-page headline – ‘FM administers the first booster shock’, encapsulated stock market sentiment and sentiment across the broad spectrum of industry and commerce. It signalled intent to put things right with detailed exposure of what went wrong in the first place, the devil lying in the detail. The initial response in business circles has been one of optimism, even if cautiously expressed, since results on the ground over the next weeks, months and perhaps years will determine success or failure. The seeming end to the seeming spectacle of drift has been welcomed with visible relief.

India, UK platform must fit for purpose The conversation between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Boris Johnson was complemented by meeting at the G7 meeting in France. Mr Johnson, his gaze on a post-Brexit world, was keen that India and Britain remain close partners. Mr Modi, ever the consummate politician, congratulated Mr Johnson on becoming UK Prime Minister, and for thrilling English victory in the third Test against Australia.

That said, it was important the Indo- British relationship is taken to the next level from its firm historical and cultural platform, Mr Johnson assured Mr Modi of Britain’s position that Kashmir was a bilateral issue for India and Pakistan to resolve. He apologised for the hooligan attack on the premises of the Indian High Commission in London by Pakistani and Khalistani demonstrators, promising better police protection in future. Similar behaviour marred Mr Modi’s last visit to London. On both occasions the Indian flag was burnt and Indian reporters, among them young women, set upon by these cowardly thugs.

There appears to be marked tendency among sections of the British political class that India is a made-to-

measure punching bag. The Lancet’s reference to Kashmir in its recent editorial is a case in point. In a publication devoted exclusively to medicine, the reference of Kashmir transcends logic and morality, particularly as the war in Yemen is funded largely by British and American arms sales. Famine and disease, the worst in living memory, are their direct consequence.

The Indian diaspora in the UK, law abiding and revelling in the country’s level playing field, have been remarkably successful in almost every field of human endeavour. The numbers of Indian students travelling to the UK have jumped an exponential 42 per cent. This should be cause for rejoicing, not embarrassment that other immigrant communities lag far behind, and hence require continuous mollification in exchange for gratitude. The UK, London in particular, have been subjected to five major terrorist attacks in recent years. In none of these was there any detection of an Indian hand.

India as a soft state had frequently invited pity and ridicule, or at best a patronising nod. Aid Indian Consortiums are the past. India as hard state is the reality today. The sooner understood the better.

India, Bhutan bonds strengthened It is India’s misfortune to have Pakistan as a neighbour, it is a blessing that, hundreds of miles eastwards she has Bhutan next door. The Manchu rulers in Beijing, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, eyed Tibet as China’s ‘palm,’ with ‘the five fingers’ of Ladakh, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and the swath of territory known today as Arunachal Pradesh.

Following the India-China conflict of 1962, New Delhi wisely abrogated the British legacy of Bhutan as a protectorate, recognizing it as fully sovereign, and endorsing its membership of the United Nations in 1970.

Based this sound foundation was put to the test in the summer of 2017 in India’s face-off with China at Doklan, situated at the tri-junction of Tibet-Bhutan-Sikkim, underscored Indian resolve to stand up to Chinese menaces. It was a measured reminder to Beijing that India this time was not the militarily unprepared nation of 1962, that war now carried grave political risks for China, not least in Tibet, where its presence is loathed by the native Tibetan population. The eventual peaceful outcome carried a message grasped by the the Association of South East Asian Nations, ASEAN, facing continuing pressure from Beijng in the South China Sea. Against this canvas Prime Minister Narendra Modi fulfilled his promise to make an official visit to Bhutan on returning to power.

Mr Modi, an outstanding communicator, did not disappoint. Addressing students of the Royal University of Bhutan at the capital , Thimpu, with Bhutan’s Prime

Minister, Lotay Tshering at his side, he said in eloquent English: ‘I want to tell you all – there is no better time to be young than now. The world today offers more opportunities than ever before. You have the power and potential to do extraordinary things...find your real calling and pursue it with full passion.’ He continued: ‘As Bhutan soars high in its endeavours, your 1.3 billion Indian friends will not just look on and cheer with pride and happiness.

They will partner you, share with you, and learn from you.’

He went on to say the full gamut of cooperation between India and Bhutan, from power generation, education, space, digital payments, disaster management and much else were the new vistas of engagement. Referring to India’s space programme including the Chandrayaan-2 Moon mission, Mr Modi went on: ‘It is a matter of great happiness that young Bhutanese scientists will travel to India to work on designing and launching Bhutan’s own small satellite. I hope someday soon, many of you will be scientists, engineers and innovators.’ Mr Modi spoke of India-Bhutan cooperation in hydel-power as exemplary, ‘But the real source of power and energy of this relationship are our people,’ he said. At his departure, Mr Modi, much moved by the warmth of his reception, said, ‘Thank you Bhutan. It was a memorable visit. The affection I have received from the people of this wonderful nation can never be forgotten.

There were many programmes I had the honour of taking part in. The outcomes of this visit will enhance bilateral ties.’ They must, and surely will.

Compassion is the basis of all morality

- Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)

Alpesh Patel

The hate you give – British politicians must be stopped from using religion to incite sectarian hatred and violence 'The irresponsibility in this day and age, to exploit religious differences where none exist is both negligent and dangerous’ famously wrote the husband of a British Human Rights Barrister a couple of years ago.

To British politicians, how can you use your megaphone to create religious differences at a time when the responsible thing is not to stir such hatred?

I speak of course of the recent speeches and tweets from Naz Shah MP, and Lord Nazir Ahmed, which were as outrageous as the ones of the Prime Minister of Pakistan using words like ‘Nazi’, ‘racist’, ‘fascist’ to describe Indians and Hindus. Incitement to hate and incitement to violence are crimes of course, rightly the boundary to the right to free speech.

It is a crass attempt by these politicians to radicalise young people in Britain. And, right on cue, arrests are made for violence outside the Indian High Commission by those riled up and incited. It is why our British schools have posters explaining fundamental British values. These are: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith.

In virtually all major secular liberal democracies religion and state are divided – either constitutionally or factually. This is because adding religion to politics in a heterogeneous society inevitably leads to violence and the West has learnt this from centuries of sectarian violence themselves, whether Protestant/Catholic or Christian/Muslim or Anti-Semitic. Now a new breed of British politician seeks to bring it back.

Ironically, the person they are targeting the PM of India, simultaneously was sending out a unifying message through his Middle East trip. There are politicians who seek by their actions and words to unify, and those who flourish through division.

Journalists who continue to use the term ‘Hindu Nationalist’ right wing Government of India do so as they know the Nazi undertones. Images of the Indian PM in the Middle East bear hugging leaders of the staunchest of Islamic nations and being given their highest honours directly embarrasses shallow and lazy journalism.

The BBC has noted false stories are fuelling incitement to violence. The BBC has noted ‘fake’ claims of ‘genocide’ in Kashmir, being spread by ‘projihadist’ accounts. "False and misleading stories about Kashmir have been going viral on the internet in other parts of India and in Pakistan, in response to the Indian government's moves to revoke Kashmir's special status on 5 August,” said the report on BBC Monitoring. The terms ‘genocide’ is then used by the Pakistan PM in his tweets and British politicians such as Naz Shah MP and Lord Ahmed the disgraced British Pakistani Peer on trial for paedophilia claims from his time in Rochdale.

British politicians spreading jihad, hate, should be expelled from their party and our Parliament.

Complaints procedures facilitate this. The excuse ‘nothing will happen if we complain’ and ‘someone influential should do it’ are two of the weakest I have heard from those targeted by this hatred. Evil flourishes, when good people stay silent. Readers of this campaigning paper have the duty to stand.

It is the responsibility of all of us to stand up to this hatred and raise the issue. You can email standardscommissioner@parliament.uk with your complaint wherever you see a Parliamentarian inciting hatred.

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

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Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury holds a grand parade through streets of London The Queen’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, Simon Ovens DL FCM, Labour MP for Brent North, Barry Gardiner, and Leader of Brent Council Mohammed Butt joined global spiritual leader Acharya Swamishree Maharaj to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Maninagar Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury in North West London, UK – widely regarded as the world’s first eco temple for its green credentials.

Acharya Swamishree Maharaj, leader of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan on a chariot in the procession

Queen’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, Simon Ovens DL FCM and Acharya Swamishree Maharaj (centre) presenting a cheque for St Luke's Hospice, along with Cllr Krupesh Hirani (extreme left), Cllr Muhammed Butt (second from left), Cllr Ajay Maru (extreme right) and other guests

Bagpipers leading the procession

Celebrations kicked off on Saturday 24 August great colour, music and fervour, as a magnificent Grand Parade made its way through the streets of Kingsbury. The Parade started at St Lukes Hospice in nearby Kenton, which is one of several charity partners that the Mandir supports. To date, the Mandir has raised a staggering £60,000 for the hospice, included £10,000 raised this year for which a cheque was presented to the Hospice by Acharya Swamishree Maharaj.

Tens of thousands of onlookers, mostly families with young children, lined the three mile to see the

9ft high Gandhi statue to be unveiled in Manchester on 25 November Manchester City Council has granted planning approval for a gift to Manchester of the global ambassador of non-violence and peace, Mahatma Gandhi.

A bronze statue of the iconic spiritual leader is set to be unveiled outside Manchester Cathedral in the 150thanniversary of his birth, and will be unveiled on 25 November 2019.

The Mahatma Gandhi Statue Project is an initiative of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD), a worldwide spiritual movement headquartered in India. Shrimad Rajchandra was Mahatma Gandhi’s spiritual mentor and Gandhi attributes the foundation of his values of non-violence and selfimprovement to him.

The charitable organisation has carefully planned the commissioning and installation of the statue, considering the location and scale in the context of the space and ensuring there will be necessary pedestrian and disabled access.

The statue project costs are sponsored by the

Kamani Family in memory of their grandfather Bhanji Khanji Kamani (1888-1979).

The project is supported

by Manchester Cathedral, Manchester City Council and the High Commission of India. Letters of support have been received by local business owners and representatives from both religious and non-religious organisations across Manchester and beyond.

As part of Gandhi’s 150th year birth anniversary celebrations, a public event on November 25th this year has been organised to unveil the 9ft high, 800kg statue crafted by renowned Indian artist Ram V Sutar, in the city’s Medieval Quarter.

Invited guests include senior

figures from the Indian government and representatives of High Commission of India, UK. During a 1931 visit to the UK, Gandhi visited the textile mills in Lancashire, travelling from London to Blackburn via Manchester, to meet with mill workers and explain the Indian perspective on the boycott of British goods that was damaging their industry. During this visit, Gandhi attracted large crowds of admirers and received a warm welcome.

Manthan Taswala, Head of Public Relations, SRMD UK, told Asian Voice, “We are delighted to have received planning approval from Manchester City Council. Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings remain as potent today as when he first said, ‘be the change that you want to see in the world.’”

“Following the 2017 Arena attack, Manchester’s unique civic pride displayed the values of non-violence and compassion. We are inspired by the people of Manchester for their strength, decency and community in the face of this unparalleled tragedy.

“The statue of Gandhi will celebrate the universal power of his message. A statue in Manchester will ensure that the heart of our politics and democracy can all be blessed with his ethos.”

National planning and development consultancy Turley provided expert planning, design and heritage services for the Mahatma Gandhi statue.

Director and Lead for Corporate Social Responsibility at Turley, Bob May said, “It’s great to see planning approval granted for the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Manchester. We thoroughly enjoy working on projects such as this which reflect Turley’s values and commitment to good growth, enabling us to contribute to the communities we are part of and make a positive difference in the places that we help shape.

“We are proud to be involved in this historic project so soon after securing permission for the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in St Peter’s Square, and look forward to seeing the finished statue in place later this year.”

Parade, which saw dancers, floats, musicians and more, all led by the Mandir’s prestigious Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band.

Acharya Swamishree Maharaj presided on a resplendent chariot throughout the parade.

The Mandir, opened in 2014 and lauded by many – including London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan – for its green credentials, has over the past five years become a pillar in the local community by offering many charitable, sporting, educational and arts activities and showcases. Moreover, it has stood as a beacon of sustainable living and environmental protection, inspiring the com-

munity to live greener – a message that is perhaps even more relevant today, given the current climate crisis.

Acharya Swamishree Maharaj, leader of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan – a worldwide organisation dedicated to the progression of spiritual, social and cultural value – is in the UK to continue to spread his message of peace, unity and tolerance.

Kingsbury Mandir in northwest London is one of many centres around the world overseen by Acharya Swamishree Maharaj, established to provide societal amenities.

Home Office passport and visa chief to resign

The director general of HM Passport Office (HMPO) and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), will be replaced in March and then take on a number of advisory roles and non-executive directorships.

Mark Thomson was appointed as the head of the passport office in 2015 and was at the centre of the Windrush scandal. He was made head of UKVI the following year.

Thomson’s sections of the Home Office have been under pressure since they were criticised by a home affairs select committee report last year. UKVI in

particular was criticised for demanding a standard of proof from applicants which could not be met.

It has also recently emerged that Home Office profits on UK visas had surged by millions of pounds a week since visa operations were outsourced.

An investigation by Finance Uncovered and the Independent revealed that the UK government made £1.6bn from visa applicants in the five years since it outsourced the bulk of its overseas visa services to the Dubai-based firm VFS – a ninefold increase on the five years before.

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Indian-origin student goes missing in the UK

Maharashtra fights closure of Ambedkar museum in London

A 23 year old Indian-origin student in the UK studying at the Queen Mary College in London has gone missing.

Ujwal Sriharsha, who came to London last year to pursue MS on machine learning and artificial intelligence, last spoke to his mother on August 21, his father Uday Pratap, president of BJP's Khammam district unit, Andhra Pradesh, told PTI. There was no response when the family members called him the next day.

"He used to call every day," he said.

The father was informed by the London police on Friday last about his son going missing.

Ujwal Sriharsha's bag was reportedly to have been found on a beach. He was a meritorious student who pursued engineering in Hyderabad. He had his schooling from the Rishi Valley School at Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh.

Ujwal aspired to become a scientist and recently went to Japan for

The London house where Dr B R Ambedkar lived as a student in the 1920s, is on the brink of closure after a row with Camden Council.

The four-storey complex spread over 2,050 square feet in the upmarket Chalk Farm was purchased by Maharashtra government in September 2015 for 3.1 million pounds and converted into a memorial dedicated to one of India's founding fathers at a cost of around £2 million.

Ujwal Sriharsh

a project work, Mr Pratap added.

NISAU, an Indian student body in the UK put out a notice on social media saying, “We have received extremely worrying news that an Indian student studying at Queen Mary university in London is missing. 2 days ago he was seen by someone near Chapel Street, Slough area.

Please help us find him, if anyone has seen him anywhere please let the police know.

“Name: Ujwal Sriharsha Sanne.

“Praying he is found safe and sound soon.”

Camden Council, the local authority for the London Borough of Camden in London, said that the apartment complex should be turned into a residential complex following complaints from the local neighbourhood that the visitors to the museum were making noise and disturbing them.

However, the Maharashtra government has hired law firm Singhania & Co to appeal against the plea on September 24.

Camden Council denied the retrospective application to convert the house into a museum in October 2018 on the grounds it would be "detrimental" to the amount

of residential floor space provided in the borough. A council spokesperson said that there are two main reasons given by its officer for refusing permission to use the property as a museum: “While the provision of a museum would accord with its planning policy, there would be a loss of residential floor space.”

“In terms of balancing the loss of residential floor

space against the cultural benefits, there is nothing to suggest that an alternative site could not be found (Dr Ambedkar lived there for a comparatively short time).”

The decision states that the property “does not have permission to be used as a museum and must be returned to residential use”.

Managed through the Indian high commission, it features a recreation of

Ambedkar's bedroom, a photo exhibition showcasing his life and achievements, a library with a collection of Ambedkar’s writings and a life-sized statue.

The building adorns a blue coloured plaque that signifies the historical importance as the residence of Ambedkar between 1921 and 1922 when he was studying at the London School of Economics.

Nirav Modi’s Stabbing victim lovingly described as extradition hearing 'backbone of family' may take place in May 2020 for 5 days

Nirav Modi appeared for his remand hearing via video link from the Wandsworth prison in front of judge Tan Ikram at the Westminster Magistrates Court Thursday 22 August morning at 10:15am. Modi who was wearing grey track suit with black design, looked well, though appeared somber.

Crown Prosecution Service was represented by Miss Bezzant and the defence was represented by Jessica Jones.

The court was told that the two parties of lawyers have decided on a mutually convenient date in May 2020 for the formal extradition hearing and it will be in the week beginning 11th

May for 5 days. However there has been no confirmation so far from the court regarding these dates and judge Ikram asked the court clerk to get the confirmation at the earliest. The defence is hopeful that a confirmation regarding these dates will be received by 19 September 2019, when the next remand hearing would be for Modi. He will again appear via videolink from the prison at 10am.

The parties have also mutually agreed and requested the court for a Case Management hearing date in February 2020.

Otherwise in the judge’s own words, no progress has been made with the case so far.

37 year old dad Hashim Khan's death caused by a serious incident in Sparkhill on Friday night has caused severe heartbreak among family members and friends. Khan who was brutally stabbed to death, which left four other people injured, was described by relatives as the 'backbone of the family'.

Khan was reportedly discovered with serious injuries at Wilton Road, just after 10.40pm on Friday 23 August. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a statement released through West Midlands Police on Sunday, his family said, “Hashim was a wonderful loving husband, father, brother and friend.

"He touched the lives of many who knew him. He was the backbone in our family “We are out of our minds with grief, we are shattered, broken and can barely speak to anyone. We thank everyone for their kind words and condolences.

“At this moment in time we would like as a family to be left alone to come to terms with our loss and grieve in peace.”

A 35-year-old man was also found in the property with stab wounds. He

remains in a serious condition in hospital. Another 32year-old man was detained on suspicion of murder. He is currently being treated in hospital for hand injuries he was found with upon his arrest. He will be questioned

in due course.

Detectives continue to investigate and anyone with information can contact West Midlands Police via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk, call 101 any time, or Crimestoppers on

Hashim Khan

0800 555 111. Please quote log number 2972 of 23/8/19.

Tender for Providing Garden Maintenance services for GOI Property The High Commission of India invites sealed

tenders from professional companies/firms for

providing their services for maintenance of gardens for a GOI property in London. The last date for the submission of bids is 17th September, 2019.

For details, please visit website www.hcilondon.gov.in

6 AAA 2019

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AHMEDABAD BASED NGO BECOMES CHANGEMAKER IN SWEEPER’S LIVES IN INDIA Cleanliness is one of the most important practice for a clean and healthy environment. It may be related to public hygiene or personal hygiene. It is essential for everyone to learn about cleanliness, hygiene, sanitation and the various diseases that are caused due to poor maintenance of hygienic conditions.

Awareness of the Cleanliness and Personal Hygiene is the need of the hour in India where the diseases like Dengue fever, swine flu, malaria, chicken fox and jaundice are fast spreading.

Schools have a central place in the health of a community. Inappropriate hygiene in schools can cause many diseases. If there are no school sanitation and hygiene facilities, or if they aren't maintained and used adequately, schools become places where diseases are likely to be transmitted. Sweepers play an important role in cleaning up litter and preventing pollutants from entering our environment. Especially in schools where children are most vulnerable, sweepers play an even more crucial role.

However, working as a sweeper with low wages, limited resources and a lack of motivation requires a lot of patience.

YUVA Unstoppable launched its “School Transformation Program” in the year 2013, while building the WASH facilities in the very first school – it was than the NGO realised the importance of ‘maintenance’ It is very important that whatever new things are being created are to be maintained for sustenance than only it can be of use.

Sweepers plays vital role in maintenance of WASH facilities, but back than it was sad scenario to witness that this important job and the sweepers were paid only 50 Pounds a year. The person who picks and collects the garbage in order to provide a healthy surrounding in everyone’s eyes should be playing a larger role in society.

It was than YUVA Unstoppable took responsibility to express gratitude and pay 500 Pounds a year to a sweeper in respective schools. Later within two years, Government of the state shook hands with Yuva and appreciated the role played by the organization for appreciating the janitors for playing their role and took responsibility to pay 600 Pounds a year for every sweeper in govt. schools of Gujarat, India On 2nd October 2015 the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi had announced “Swacchh Bharat Abhiyan” under which in order to pay tribute Yuva unstoppable created Gandhi Army along with 6000 Yuvaites(volunteers and sweepers) and created portrait of Gandhi ji wherein they pledged to keep their surroundings clean and spread awareness to people around them.

In the same event the sweepers working for Yuva were appreciated for their contribution towards society.

Yuva also gives a platform to their sweepers wherein they can meet and greet the celebrities whom they watch on the T.V sets daily. They get an chance to learn life lessons from them. The celebrities as well benefits from such sessions as they get chance to interact with common man at grass root level and see their life problems personally.

Yuva also conducts motivational sessions for all sweepers periodically. Token of appreciation is given to all sweepers and their family. Yuva feels “Sweepers are the True Hero’s” of our society.

Yuva Unstoppable has benefited over 5,00,000 underprivileged children across 40 cities of India. Yuva has been working with 100 top corporate (Coke, 3M, IBM, Google, Adani, Unicef, United Way, and others) and have transformed 1000 government schools (better toilets, improved drinking water, scholarships, digital literacy, value based training's, etc.). KPMG audits finances & Deloitte audits processes. Vision is to impact 10,000 schools & 10,000 Scholarships in the next 5 years.

Sponsored Charity of Asian Achievers Awards 2019

To know more about Yuva Unstoppable please visit www.yuvaunstoppable.org.

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Shortlists announced for the 19th Asian Achievers Awards Rupanjana Dutta The bell has rung and preparations for the 19th Asian Achievers Awards are at their peak. Friday 6th September will witness a true celebration of 'inclusivity' across Britain's communities at the 19th annual Asian Achievers Awards in Grosvenor House, London, hosted by Britain’s oldest Asian diaspora publications Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar.

The gala will be attended by more than 800 guests including business tycoons, entrepreneurs, industrialists, senior professionals, celebrities, members of parliament and the uniformed services.

Each year we select and celebrate one important theme, and this year it is 'Inclusivity'. It is about time that we involved people from all walks of life and gave them the recognition they deserve. According to ancient Hindu scriptures the world is one family 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' in Sanskrit. Therefore we would like to celebrate each and every one of you. We have also received nominations for several categories from stellar individuals belonging to various Pride groups.

An integral part of British life, the Asian community plays an important role in shaping the country’s prosperity. Known as the People’s Choice Awards, the Asian Achievers Awards celebrates the outstanding work of South Asian individuals from across a spectrum

of backgrounds and professions.

The short-listed candidates symbolise the true spirit of today's multicultural, diverse and inclusive Britain, representing various South Asian communities especially Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, to name a few. A full list of the shortlisted candidates is published here.

CB Patel, Chairman of the Asian Achievers Awards said, “This year the theme of

the Awards, which is inclusivity, will recognise the contributions of UK's British Asian Pride community and celebrate the rich cultural diversity of modern Britain. The awards are judged by an independent panel of judges and nominated by readers of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar. The judging panel faces the daunting task of selecting nominees and winners, each of who make a signifiant contribu-

tion to their chosen field.”

Since its launch, the Asian Achievers Awards has helped raise millions of pounds for various charities.

This year our chosen charity partner is Yuva Unstoppable, a premier youth movement in India consisting of volunteers. It works towards educating underprivileged children.

The organisation is spread across 30 cities and consists of nearly 100,000 volunteers.

PHOTOS FROM THE LAST YEAR’S GALA

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Shortlists announced for the 19th Asian Achievers Awards Professional of the Year

Achievement in Community service

Neelam Farzana MBE

Onkardeep Bhatia

Naeem Rabbani Qureshi

Mandy Sanghera

● Neelam Farzana MBE, registered and accredited Counsellor ● Onkardeep Bhatia, founding member of City Sikhs Network ● Mandy Sanghera, international human rights activist and motivational Tedx

speaker ● Naeem Rabbani Qureshi, Trustee of Ashiana Community Project

Achievement in Media Arts & Culture

Asad Dhunna

Prof Dinesh Bhugra CBE

Krishna Omkar

Prof Charanjit Bountra

● Asad Dhunna, Director of Communications for Pride in London and Founder of The Unmistakables ● Professor Dinesh Bhugra CBE, Professor Dinesh Bhugra is an Emeritus Professor of Mental Health and Cultural Diversity at King’s College, London ● Krishna Omkar, a corporate lawyer in the London office of King & Spalding and LGBTQ activist ● Prof Charanjit Bountra, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Professor of Translational Medicine at the University of Oxford

Woman of the Year

Mukul Devichand

Asifa Lahore

Raheem Mir

Faisal Islam

● Mukul Devichand, Executive Editor of Voice + AI at the BBC ● Asifa Lahore, Britain’s first Muslim drag performer ● Raheem Mir, a Kathak dancer challenging the concept of gender roles within

Kathak ● Faisal Islam, Economics Editor of BBC News

Anjali Ramachandran

Ishani Patel

Asma Khan

Neeta Patel

● Anjali Ramachandran, Director, Storythings ● Ishani Patel, Co-Founder Lantum ● Neeta Patel, Chief Executive, New Entrepreneurs Foundation ● Asma Khan, first British Chef to star in Netflix's award-winning series Chef’s Table

Sports personality of the Year

Entrepreneur of the Year

Adil Rashid

Yan Dhanda

Kabir Ali

Harjeet Singh Bhania

● Adil Rashid, a leg spinner was a part of the England squad in the Cricket World

Cup held this year in England ● Yan Dhanda, English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Swansea City. ● Kabir Ali, a former English cricketer. ● Harjeet Singh Bhania OBE, GB Men’s wheelchair basketball Head Coach

Herman Narula

Kush Kanodia

Bankim Chandra

Amit Gudka

● Kush Kanodia, AbilityNet Trustee and one of the top 10 most influential BAME leaders in the UK tech sector ● Herman Narula, co-founder and CEO of Improbable Worlds Limited ● Amit Gudka, Co Founder at Bulb Energy ● Bankim Chandra, CEO and passionate driving force behind Dotsquares since its inception back in 2002

Uniformed, Civil and Public Services

Business Person of the Year

Cllr Ranjit Lal Dheer

Hafsa Qureshi

Dr Rohit Shankar

Dr Rangan Chatterjee

● Ranjit Lal Dheer OBE, Councillor, Dormers Wells, Cabinet member for Community Safety and Services and Deputy Leader of the Council ● Hafsa Qureshi, recruitment support for Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service in Birmingham ● Dr Rohit Shankar MBE, FRCPsych is a Consultant Developmental Neuropsychiatrist and clinical director for the adult Intellectual Disability Neuropsychiatry services for Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. ● Dr Rangan Chatterjee, is a British physician, author, television presenter and podcaster.

Sponsors

Neeraj Kanwar

Rooney Anand

Vipul Vadera

Waheed Alli

● Neeraj Kanwar, Neeraj Kanwar is the Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Apollo Tyres ● Rooney Anand, Chairman of Casual Dining Group, former CEO of Greene King ● Vipul Vadera, CEO of Per-Scent ● Lord Waheed Alli, Fashion entrepreneur, former media tycoon, gay rights activist and Peer

PR Partner

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Organised by

Sponsored Charity Design Partner

Event Management

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As I See It CB Patel

Modi Trump Meet: Modi Triumphs Dear Readers,

and it doesn't have to knock. It is in good terms with all the member countries, that include, UK, US, Japan, France, Italy, The last couple of days have been excitCanada, and Germany. ing for international politics. The G7 Modi has created the perfect formula Summit has come to an end with US on how to enhance and increase the influPresident Donald Trump hitting the headence of India. The world's dealing of the Kashmir dispute despite Pakistan walking up to every nation that merely glances its way asking for their mediation dealing with India, is enough proof for just how strong Modi's foreign policies are.

Modi and Amit Shah's removal of Article 370 is not only one of the best domestic moves made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with President Donald Trump the Indian government, but also completely justified. Pakistan lines, as usual. The Prez is known for makPrime Minister Imran Khan has called the ing brash statements. What he is not move a "historic blunder". He, along with known for, is backing off from his words. his ministers have been calling bull with The Trump, all us has grown to know, is the present scenario in the Valley; crying the man who will stand firm on each and every word that comes out of his mouth, hue over India's "atrocities" over Kashmiris. Let me make it clear, India has regardless whether it makes sense or not. not inflicted any harm on Kashmiri locals.

Just last week, the US leader made an offer The Indian government only took the preto work as a mediator to settle the ongoing cautions necessary to avoid any catastrosensitive Kashmir issue between India and phy in the region.

Pakistan. This isn't the first time, the Pakistan, on the other hand, has been Orange Man has spoken on the issue. India placed on the blacklist by FATF Asia Pacific has already categorically denied any claims Group which last week placed Pakistan in made by him stating Indian Prime Minister an 'Enhanced Expedited Follow-Up List' Narendra Modi asked for his help in solvand found that the country was non-coming the Kashmir dispute. pliant on 32 of the 40 compliance parameters related to terror financing and money laundering.

Modi, meanwhile, was on a two-day tour in the Middle East. In Bahrain, he launched the $4.2 million redevelopment project of the 200-year-old Lord Sri Krishna temple in Manama. (In Abu Dhabi, we have the BAPS Temple sprawled across 27.7 acres, on land gifted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Force.) Even Pakistan, which has knocked down Hindu shrines over the years, reopened a 1000 year old temple in Sialkot after 72 years. I personally know Pakistanis French President Emmanuel Macron with based in the UK, who have permitted our Narendra Modi community to open Hindu centres and temples on their lands.

While the offer and any statement made was respectfully declined by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who met American counterpart Mike Pompeo last week, it was Trump's skidding U-turn at the joint press conference along with Modi, that caught my attention. Seated next to the Indian leader, when asked about his views on the Kashmir issue, Trump said Modi seemed to have it under control. He backed off from making any outrageous comments, and we all know just how difficult that must have been for him.

US-India relations are getting stronger by the day. I believe the current rapport that we see between both the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan with Narendra Modi nations, didn't stand true until 2008.

While some may believe Modi is disBack in 2010, when Barack Obama was tributing Hindu propaganda, in my view, president, he had once said, "When the Indian Prime Minister speaks, the world he is distributing Indian culture. He is listens." This rings true in the case of Modi merely putting India in the front row.

India's transformation over the years is not as well. NaMo has managed to establish only confined to politics. The country's personal relations with foreign leaders and social and economic position today is nations. He has effectively changed the worth commending. As for Pakistan, I mere definition of diplomacy with his idea believe the state of the people in the counof personalised relationships. try speaks louder than anything else.

Modi was recently seen at the G7 India's neighbour has in its ignorance, Summit, despite India not being a part of infested itself with terrorism, failed to the group. He had cut his Middle East trip short and arrived in France on a personal transform in time and if you ask me, it's invitation of French President Emmanuel people are actually the ones who need to be Macron. India is at the doorstep of the G7, saved.

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Stories for South Asian Supergirls Addressing gender prejudice, imbalance and taboo in the South Asian culture A book featuring stories of 50 South Asian women from countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka aims to break stereotypes around women in Asian culture.

The book authored by Raj Kaur Khaira features the famous British Muslim spy Noor Inayat Khan, fearless activist Jayaben Desai, award-winning comedian Mindy Kaling and Facebook’s first female engineer Ruchi Sanghvi. A lawyer and a business operations specialist, Raj is also the Founder of the Pink Ladoo Project.

“I put together this collection for the young South Asian women so that they are aware that we descend from a legion of strong and powerful women and much more than how the mainstream media usually represents and portrays us,” says Raj. In her attempt of breaking taboos and starting conversations around women empowerment, Stories for South Asian Supergirls has collated contributions of remarkable women including household names and relatively unknown figures.

It includes business leaders, authors, actors and TV personalities, and seeks to redress the imbalance for young girls of colour by empowering them to break the existing glass ceilings and to inspire others in the process. The book also charts the journey of Cornelia Sorabji, the first woman to study law at Oxford University and the

girls in South Asian families, in communities across the UK, Canada, the US and Australia. Today, it has become one of the most prominent feminist movements for South Asian women globally, and propelled Raj to becoming an influential leader.

Addressing contemporary issues around consumption of birth control pills, and live-in relationships to name a few, Raj believes that the concept of living in an “honour-based” society can lead to several other problems.

Her Pink Ladoo Project is a Raj Kaur Khaira pro bono campaign which first female to practise law in celebrates the birth of a girl India and Britain. Talking child in South Asian families about the lack of representaby distributing pink ladoos tion of women in law she as compared to the golden says, sweets distributed during “We live in white imperithe birth of a male child. alist, capitalist, hetero-patri“There are perhaps, no archy and the establishment stories of female infanticide is run by white men. The in the UK but that does not mean we h a v e achieved g e n d e r equality to its fullest.

Even the English culture is sexist to a certain degree and South Asian The 19th-century warrior queen Rani of Jhansi, families have illustrated by Anu Chouhan not comcurrent system and structure pletely managed to elimipreserve their dominance in nate sexism in our culture.” law. Therefore, why would 100% of author's prothey change the status quo?” ceeds from sales of this book The author's passion and will be donated to three commitment towards gencharities supporting women der issues has resulted in the and children – The Flying foundation of the the Pink Seagull Project, Child Ladoo Project in 2015. This Poverty Action Group UK initiative encourages the and The Canadian Women's equal treatment of new born Foundation.

UK citizens in EU worried about end of free movement UK nationals living in EU countries have echoed concerns around the Government's proposal to end freedom of movement immediately if there is a no-deal Brexit.

According to a blog post by the Home Office, the Foreign Office was working with countries across Europe to ensure UK nationals residing there would be informed about any changes they would need to make ahead of Brexit.

About 1.3m UK-born people are residents in the EU27, while the UK hosts about 3.2m EU27 nationals.

The European Commission, in its contingency plan for no-deal Brexit, urges the EU27 to "take a generous approach

to the rights of UK citizens in the EU, provided that this approach is reciprocated by the UK.

UK advert for postBrexit EU citizen scheme ruled misleading In the meantime a radio ad that said EU citizens living in Britain only needed a passport or ID card to apply online for settled status after Brexit was misleading, according to a ruling by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

The Home Office (interior ministry) responded to the complaint by saying that the ad was part of a wider campaign to promote awareness of the scheme, and it was not possible to

include all aspects of the application process in a short ad.

It said 73% of applicants did not have to submit any documents as evidence of their residence because in most cases evidence of residence was automatically generated using the applicant’s National Insurance number.

The Home Office launched a marketing campaign to encourage EU citizens to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme in March.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “We completely disagree with ASA’s decision because the campaign was factual and complied with all necessary clearance processes for radio advertising.

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Manchester Pride Parade celebrates love

Teen pop singer Ariana Grande made an emotional return to Manchester to headline this year’s Pride celebrations. Manchester Pride marked Grande’s first time performing in the city since her One Love benefit concert in 2017, which raised millions for the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing. Other artists headlining the project included Years&Years, Banananrama, Cheryl,

Emeli Sande, Faithless and Pixie Lott.

This year's theme was Deep Space Pride: A Future World of Equality, with intergalactic drag queens, shiny spaceships and astronauts aplenty. The futuristic theme invited people to imagine what the future could look like for the LGBT+ community, while commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, a watershed moment

#BritainWeExist! Queer South Asians reclaiming debate about LGBTQ+ education Creative collective Aesthesia is presenting #BritainWeExist– a series of events leading to a national public art installation around the UK to make visible LGBTQ British South Asians. The festival begins on 30 August at London’s Saatchi Gallery, and will run until 2 September. It includes talks, films, conversations, and play readings, exploring identities around being British, British South Asian, Queer British South Asian,

in the gay liberation movement.

However, the parade this year also saw anti-trans protestors lead it after they hijacked the front of the march, leaving some trans women fearing for their safety. Since, no criminal offences were committed so no arrests were made.

Pride Parade in Cardiff

On 24th August, Saturday, around 15,000 people took part in the march for this year’s Pride Cymru, marking the event’s 20th anniversary and making it “the biggest parade yet”.

Organisers expected to host approximately 50,000 people over the bank holiday weekend at Wales’ biggest celebration of equality and diversity and one of the largest Pride events in the UK. The Big Weekend began on Friday with a performance from Donna Marie as Lady Gaga on the main stage and tributes acts to Bruno Mars, Pink and Dolly Parton. Pride Cymru is a volunteer-led charity challenging discrimination. The event aims to raise awareness of equality and diversity and support the LGBT+ community. This year’s campaign is titled “still proud” to highlight the ongoing fight against hatred and discrimination.

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and Queer British South Asian of faith. #BritainWeExist is launched in response to the #NoOutsiders protests that have been taking place around Birmingham schools in recent months.

“The protesters claim to support the LGBTQ+ community, yet at the same time they do not accept Queer Muslims.

“Privately, most other South Asian communities in the UK react in the same way – it’s ‘okay for others,

but not for our own’. There is a shift in attitudes, but not fast enough,” explains curator Ash Kotak. #BritainWeExist also coincides with the first-year anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in India, with the striking down of parts of Section 377 of the colonial-era Indian Penal Code. It will also investigate the long history of the struggle for visibility

by Queer British-Asian people. The launch is presented

by Club Kali.

Leicester woman appointed Vice President at Coca-Cola India and South-west Asia An Indian origin woman born and raised in Leicester has been appointed as Coke's Vice President for Merger and Acquisition (M&A) and new ventures in India and South-West Asia.

Sarvita Sethi, a chartered accountant was previously the region's vice-president for finance at the organisation. Prior to her role with the American beverage giant, Sethi worked for the supermarket giant Sainsbury’s, Viacom, and

Sarvita Sethi

Yum! Restaurants International in the UK ad started her career as an audit manager for PwC in London in 1996. Coca-Cola India and South-West Asia includes Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Nepal, and Bhutan, besides India, and supplies its drinks through a network of more than 2.6 million stores. It provides direct employment to 25,000 people and indirect employment to more than 150,000 people.

10 READERS VOICE

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Importance of transparent dialogue for UK-India ties I have been following this Kashmir issue and the reaction of the 2 diaspora communities- Indiand and Pakistanis in the UK. What was the most surprising is the conversation between UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where the offices issued separate statements with different versions of the conversation.

Downing Street in a statement said: “The two leaders agreed on the importance of the UK-India partnership and the need to build on it further, particularly through trade and economic ties and through the living bridge that links our countries. Prime Minister Modi said there are immense possibilities for the UK and India which would increase prosperity in both countries.

“The Prime Minister and Prime Minister Modi discussed the current situation in Kashmir. The Prime Minister made clear that the UK views the issue of Kashmir is one for India and Pakistan to resolve bilaterally. He underlined the importance of resolving issues through dialogue.”

It did not mention a word about Mr Johnson's regret about the violence outside India House.

Whereas the Prime Minister's Office in India wrote: “Prime Minister Modi pointed out that terrorism had plagued all parts of the world, including India and Europe. He stressed the importance of effective steps to ward off the threats posed by radicalisation, violence and intolerance, particularly in the context of the expanding footprint of terrorist organisations such as ISIS. “Prime Minister Modi also drew attention to the challenges posed by vested interests pursuing their motivated agenda, including by violent means. In this context he referred to the violence and vandalism perpetrated by a large mob against the High Commission of India in London on the last Independence Day of India. Prime Minister Johnson regretted the incident and assured that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure safety and security of the High Commission, its personnel and visitors.”

No 10 should realise while UK wants to strengthen its relationship with India, it is about time to remain transparent and highlight the real gist of the conversation. The diaspora is the 'living bridge' and an integral part of the UK-India ties.

Aninash Patel Camden

A British Subject I had the privilege to read Lord Dolar Popat’s new book, titled 'A British Subject: How to Make It as Immigrant' in the Best Country in the world – one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, perhaps because it is a tale I and many others can easily relate to.

What makes it so interesting is that it is written with passion and honesty, describing family life, his personal shortfalls early in life and the events, ups and downs we all go through in life, as it happened, without holding anything back or trying to spice it up or omit setbacks, as is the case in many such autobiographies I have read in the past.

The interesting and intriguing Foreword by David Cameron who has known Dolar Popat well before he became Lord; has used his personal and inside knowledge to capture the essence of the book and sets the ball rolling for readers. David Cameron describes Dolar as modest, humble and easily approachable person. This is also my observation, my personal experience, the essence of the Mr Cameron’s Foreword!

What drew my attention the most was the fact that in 2005, there were just 2 Conservative MPs from ethnic minorities and only 11% British Indians voted Conservative. That figure rocketed to 17 Conservative MPs and 49% British Indians voted Conservative in 2015!

A lot of credit goes to Lord Popat who established “Conservative Friends of India”, along with like-minded supporters, worked tirelessly for the party who sent him to House of Lords, an honour beyond imagination!

Dolar set the foundations for British Indians to engage with the Conservative Party. His legacy lives on today with Priti Patel as Home Secretary, Alok Sharma as International Development Secretary and Rishi Sunak as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. This would have been unheard of just 10 years ago. Dolar continues to empower and engage the new generation of British Indians to engage and come forward in politics and civic duty.

Given today’s political climate, this book is relevant than ever before and I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Britain’s changing political and social landscape.

Bhupendra M. Gandhi Via Email

Disadvantages of No Deal Brexit PM Boris Johnson trip to Germany and France did not rattle EU, he came back empty handed. He was told by Angela Merkel of Germany to come up with a proposal in 30 days’ time on the withdrawal agreement without changing the core issues which included the Irish border question.

Similarly President Emmanuel Macron of France did not agree to make any changes on the core issues.

Boris Johnson should first of all withdraw the red lines the former PM Theresa May had included in the withdrawal agreement to get the ball rolling.

It appears Boris Johnson with the support of his friend President Donald Trump has already made up his mind for a no deal Brexit though outwardly he is saying wants to make a deal.

The disadvantages of no deal Brexit will be numerous, such as: ● There will be significant consequences for the digital economy. ● UK telecommunication are currently part of Telecommunications Regulators EU. This split will increase the prices for the consumers. It will also affect broadband networks. Roaming charges will be reintroduced. ● UK will have to comply with GDPR after Brexit.

According to former Chancellor of Exchequer Phillip Hammond quitting EU without a trade agreement in place could cost the country £90bn.

Trade logistics will suffer as UK would revert to WTO rules, which means UK exports to the Eurozone would face the same custom checks and tariffs as other nonmember states.

The ending of Brexit would likely lead to shortages and price increases for a number of goods and also cause significant delays on both sides. This will also jeopardise the Good Friday Agreement and cause difficulties at the Irish border.

OBR warns this will push up public sector borrowing by £30bn. This will take the country into recession with asset prices and pound falliang sharply.

Therefore, if these problems cannot be addressed or solved, it time for wise counsel to prevail to avoid the no deal Brexit.

Baldev Sharma Rayners Lane, Harrow

Colonialism mind-set is alive and well The recent episode of “Greenland for Sale” deserves analysis of the European (old and new) mind-set. President Trump views Greenland as a large real-estate full of resources and hence made an unsolicited offer to buy it from Denmark. Greenland is a semi-autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark. Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen in turn described the offer as “absurd”.

As expected, Trump in a fit of anger cancelled his scheduled state visit to Denmark on 2 September which was arranged after an invitation by the Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. Denmark is a close ally of the USA and also a NATO partner. President Trump discerns nothing wrong in his offer in the 21st century as his predecessors had done similar things in the past (like Thomas Jefferson’s purchase of Louisiana in 1803 from France and Woodrow Wilson bought the Danish West Indies now called Virgin Islands in 1917).

Greenland is populated by Inuit for millennia.

Presently they account for 88 to 90 percent of the population with the remainder being recent colonizers. Have the buyer and unwilling seller, in the current era of 21st century, thought of the opinion and welfare of the majority (native) population? Where is their self-proclaimed modern value system gone? It seems their colonialism mind-set is alive and well. Strangely, main stream media is agonizingly silent on this point.

Narsibhai Patel New Malden

Arun Jaitley passes away India's former Union Minister Arun Jaitley's demise is a shock to the nation of India. Arun Jaitley was a genius as a lawyer as well as a financial advisor. 2019 is a sad year for us as we have lost great leaders like Manohar Parrikar, Sheila Dikshit, Sushma Swaraj, and now Arun Jaitley. May his soul rest in peace.

Jubel D'Cruz, Via Email

Welcoming young readers to write in our Diwali issue Dear Readers, Diwali this year is on Sunday 27th October.

The New Year is knocking at the door waiting to bring in colours and light to our lives with fervour of joy and ever lasting happiness. Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar will once again be publishing the ‘Diwali Special’ Magazine for our fabulous and supportive readers like yourself. This year we are once again inviting our young readers to send in their articles for the English section.

1. If you are between 5-25 years of age, write an article in English on either of the following topics in no more than 350 words, along with a suitable photo: ● how do you celebrate your Diwali every year OR ● Your most memorable Diwali with friends and family OR ● how do you celebrate Diwali in your school'.

2. If you are 2-25 years of age, you can also draw/paint a picture of what Diwali means to you or your memorable Diwali, with a suitable photo caption, your full name, age; scan and send the picture to the the below address, by the mentioned deadline.

3. If you are within 9-25 years of age, you can also write a short story within 350 words or a poem within 150 words for our Diwali special.

4. If you are a part of an organisation, which has a youth wing or support youth activities, please tell us how your young members or youth wing celebrates Diwali in 300 words with 2 pictures (in no less than 300dpi).

Send your articles/stories/poem with your photo and/or painting/picture to aveditorial@abplgroup.com.

Last date of entry: 30th September 2019.

- Asian Voice

Everything is a chore As old age creeps on us, we find that everything, even our day to day routine, becomes a chore, a tedious task. We do not want to or are unable to do things which previously was a piece of cake for us. The brain is ticking but the hand is unable to turn that screwdriver.

In some cases, it is the general weakness and in some it is the wastage of muscles. We then look to our children for assistance. Even though the driving license is intact, we do not want to drive the car and prefer to travel by bus or a cab. Then the scourge of dementia sets in and everything is downhill from then on. We gradually tend to forget things.

One may get away with ones physical problems by modern methods but the deterioration of the grey cells in the brain cannot be halted. Nothing can be done to reverse the process as the damaged cells cannot be replaced. Imagine your plight when you go out of the house and forget where to return to your home? Or keep forgetting where you have placed your keys or wallet or do not remember whether you have turned the television off before retiring to bed at night.

When dementia and Alzhaimer diseases get a grip on us and even though our limbs are in working order, our brains are unable to keep pace with today’s fast moving life and modern technology.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

MAKE YOURSELF HEARD Write to our ‘Reader’s Voice’ section about what you think regarding the various ongoing issues all around the world.

Please send your letters to aveditorial@abplgroup.com Make sure they are NOT more than 250 words.

Any letter longer than the limit may not be published.

Note that all your letters are subject to being edited by our team for valid reasons.

- Asian Voice

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31 Aug - 6 Sept 2019

Enid Blyton's 'racist and homophobic' attacks stops author's commemoration Proposals to commemorate Enid Blyton with a 50p coin were blocked owing to the author's “racist, sexit and homophobic” views.

According to the Mail Online, members of The Royal Mint Advisory Committee have revealed that the The Famous Five author was not very wellregarded. The coin would have been released in December 2016 to commemorate 50 years of her death anniversary. But, the organisation said that they were concerned “over the

backlash that may result from this”.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Mint said, “The point of the advisory committee is to ensure that themes commemorated on UK coins are varied, inclusive and represent the most significant events in our history.”

Richard Madeley, the presenter of Good Morning Britain was earlier criticised for branding the author as 'homophobhic', 'racist' and 'anti-feminist' following the Royal Mint Advisory Committee's decision.

Indian student visa applications up by 42% Official Government figures indicate that student visa applications from India rose by 42 per cent to 21,000, in the year to June. The number of people who come to work in the UK declined to the lowest level since 2013.

About 218,000 migrants arrived to study and 214,000 to work during the first half of 2019.

Sue Edwards, a spokeswoman for Destination for Education, a campaign group helping universities to recruit foreign students, said to The Times: “The figures show the importance of the government taking a positive approach towards international students. International student levels are at their highest since 2011.

Edwards called on the government authorities to introduce a post-study work visa for up to 12 months to make the UK more attractive to students from various parts of the country.

Meanwhile, overall net migration to Britain, the difference between those arriving and those leaving the country, was estimated at 226,000 in the last financial year, down 15,000.

Net migration from the European Union (EU) was at 59,000, less than a third of the peak before the EU referendum, and the number from the rest of the world was 219,000.

"The continued rise in these figures is fantastic news for the UK-India relationship. It also shows that the UK continues to be a welcoming place for Indians to work, study and vacation.

It looks like the number of Indian fans who travelled to the UK for the Cricket World Cup in England and Wales was even greater than we imagined and I hope to see even more visitors from India in the future,” said British High Commissioner to India, Sir Dominic Asquith.

Freeview English teaching TV channel to help migrants An independent think tank focussing on migration and integration issues, has called the UK government to set up a new free-to-air television channel.

According to the report published by British Future this channel will aim to improve English language skills for the migrants in the community.

“Refugees in the UK are desperate to learn English.

They know that learning the language is the key to finding work, studying, getting to know their neighbours and contributing to their new community,” said Paul Hook, Head of Campaigns at Refugee Action.

Non-native English speakers learn the language at different time spans and depending on multiple factors, such as their learning abilities, the age at which they migrated or their exposure to the language before and after moving to the UK. The availability and cost of English language training (ESOL) is one of these factors. However, funding for English lessons for refugees and other migrants have been slashed by over 60% within the last decade.

60% funding cuts for ESOL courses “Too often refugees have to wait months and sometimes years before they can even start English lessons. We are calling on the Government to invest in ESOL so that all refugees in Britain have prompt access to a minimum 8 hours a week of good quality English languages classes; and through that,

Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future

start to rebuild their lives,” continued Paul.

Latest figures suggest that there are approximately 800,000 people who are not able to converse in English.

According to the census data more than 6 in 10 people from an Indian or Pakistani background spoke English as their main language, and a further 3 in 10 didn't speak English as their main language but spoke it very well.

Among the South Asian groups that fell below this threshold, less than half (47.9 per cent) of people from a Bangladeshi background spoke English as their main language, 13.2 per cent spoke English but not well, and 3 per cent didn't speak English at all.

Earlier in his address prime minister Boris Johnson had said that he had wanted everyone in the UK to be able to speak in English. British Future in its report Speaking up: The case for universal fluency in English suggests that “the government should make an additional 150 million pounds per year available for

ESOL over the next four years, allocating this extra funding in the one-year spending round and over the 2021-2024 spending period.”

“Speaking English is a foundation key to integration. Sajid Javid told British Future in June, shortly before becoming Chancellor, that he wants to 'put rockets' under this programme - and now has the chance to make sure that happens.

“English teaching does need more funding and more money should be spent in the right way to maximise its impact. The strategy proposed by British Future makes the case for combining different approaches to meet different needs,” said Sunder Katwala, director of British Future.

Proposed scrapping of three-year UK resident requirement Additionally, the report highlights that the Government should scrap

the requirement for students to have been resident in the UK for three years to qualify for free or co-funded courses. It states that ESOL should be free for asylumseekers and all adults living in households in receipt of means-tested benefits. Over the years charities such as Refugee Council and Refugee action have also highlighted that the lack of ESOL classes lead to isolation, inability to secure a job and depression among migrants. A survey of ESOL providers also showed that prospective learners faced an average wait of six months or more to get a spot on a course.

“There is unmet demand for formal teaching - and a need for more formal classes. But many people work long hours and find it difficult to attend daytime college classes. So there is also a need for regular but short (one-hour) classes, before and after work, provided in or near workplaces or in schools.

“A new strategy should encourage innovation too, including setting up the Learning English freeview channel and supporting conversation clubs.

A Learning English freeview TV channel is a cost-effective way to offer flexible learning, that can support and complement formal classes,” Sunder concluded.

Immigrants can watch reruns of Only Fools and Horses, Fawlty Towers and Midsomer Murders on TV channel broadcast to help them integrate into British culture as part of the proposed strategy.

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12 MEDIA WATCH

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31 Aug - 6 Sept 2019

SCRUTATOR’S The silver lining to the week was undoubtedly Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hugely successful visit to Bhutan and the new vistas opened up for relations between the two countries (See Comment Page 3).

Be that as it may, Kashmir remains the subject that looms largest in Indian concerns, and this is set to continue during the forthcoming weeks and months. For now, Kashmir appears to be returning to normal in carefully choreographed steps, progress and regression part of the dance.

Reforms’ announcement to boost foreign investment The stimulus package announced

by Finanace Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was welcomed in Washington by Nita Desai Biswal, President, US India Business Council, who said: ‘We commend Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the Government of India’s on this comprehensive set of proposed reforms, which will provide the needed stimulus for the Indian economic expansion.’ These would attract greater foreign investment in India, she opined (Statesman, August 25).

CII’s positive response Vikram Kirloskar, President, Confederation of Indian Industry, issued a statement welcoming the government’s stimulus package which revitalise the economy and spur growth (Statesman, August 26) See page 3.

Congress mired in its Augean Stable It took all the fabulous strength of the mythical Greek hero Hercules a nearby river into the Augean Stables to cleanse it of its mephitic

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bhutanese Prime Minister of Bhutan Lotay Tshering

move into the moon’s orbit – which it duly did as per instructions. The minutes of acute anxiety had been surmounted without a hitch. A delighted ISRO Chairman, K.Sivam, addressing the media, said: ‘With today’s launch [August 20] we have got closer to the moon. The next lunar orbit manoeuvre of Chandrayaan-2 is expected on ...

August 28, August 30 and September 1.’ Following these manoeuvres, the Vikram Lander is designed to separate the Orbiter and start the descent to the Moon’s South Pole.

Significance of Chandryaan-2 Chandrayaan -2 is an indigenous venture with considerable private sector participation. Its design and the entire range of supportive technologies are Indian, its 14 scientific payloads, including laser induced breakdown spectroscopes and monitors which will help scientists and engineers on the ground to better understand the Moon’s composition and functions, all in all a milestone in the India’s emergence as a credible, elite space power (Business Line, Hindu, August 21).

Walmart, Tata talks on retail sector

Shortly before Mukesh Ambani announced Reliance Industries’ US President Donald Trump has investor interest in turned his attention to the Indiaexpanding its retail Pakistan imbroglio, telephoning business and, and hence his ‘good friends, Imran Khan and was looking for a joint Narendra Modi’ to cool off in venture with a global tensions on Kashmir. But there partner, India’s largest could be catch, as former Afghan conglomerate, the Tata Shashi Tharoor P. Chidambaram President Hamid Karzai has Group, and the world’s largest retailer Walmart warned. According to him, the US have set the stage for a joint filth. With veteran Congress has its eye on a deal with Pakistan venture, Both parties seek to leader, P.Chidambaram, once over the Taliban in Afghanistan, enlarge their footprint in India, Home and Finance Minister at the the quid quo pro being brokering currently the world’s sixth-largest Centre, arrested by economy. Consumer retail is one the Central Bureau of the growth engines of the Tata of Investigation Group, which has been (CBI) at his New consolidating its hold in this Delhi house and sector, including packaged food driven to CBI Egregious folly and beverages in a single headquarters for comprehensive unit. Something further The Imran Khan’s vituperative Tata brings to the table. Walmart, interrogation on broadsides likening India to Nazi which entered India with a tieup money laundering Germany, have been met with a with Bharat Enterprises, is looking and relates issues. better targeted salvo on for a partner – in this case, Tata – He was denied bail Pakistan-occupied Kashmir from which would enable it to catch up by the Delhi High defence minister Singh. Future with Amazon’s extensive India Court, but the historians, some even Pakistani, President Trump, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai operations. It’s open season for Supreme Court might marvel at the scale of fruitful business partnerships reversed the decision. The arrest imbecility displayed by Pakistani an Indo-Pakistan settlement on (Times of India, August 21). of Ratul Puri, nephew of Madhya leaderships from the very day of Kashmir as per Imran Khan’s Pradesh Congress Chief Minister the country’s creation in August desire. (Times of India, August 21, Amazon’s sumptuous Kamal Nath, by the Enforcement 1947. The decision to arm and Hindu, August 22).

Hyderabad campus Directorate for alleged bank fraud; dispatch an invading tribal horde with high-flyer and man-aboutinto the Kashmir valley in October Bangladesh with India Amazon opened its Hyderabad town Shashi Tharoor in court 1947 in expectation that ‘craven’ campus on three million square over Article 370 facing charges of complicity Hindu’ India of its mythical feet of property in the plush pertaining to the death of his wife national narrative would quail at financial district of Hyderabad, Sunanda Pushkar, discovered with Bangladesh has expressed full the spectacle of the vaunted the largest such site outside the severe multiple bodily injuries. support to India over the martial race in ecstasy, raping, United States. The US-based e(Times of India, August 21). abrogation of Article 370 on looting, burning and killing commerce company sees India as Kashmir. The statement from unbelievers was egregious folly. growth area undeterred by talk of Chandrayaan-2 leaves Dhaka was as follows: ‘Bangladesh Inebriated boasts of levelling the an economic slowdown. It is India Earth orbit maintains that the abrogation of score led to a further Pakistani for the long haul and its market Article 370 by the Government of fiasco in the summer of 1965, impact has been considerable by It is no small blessing to escape India is an internal issue of India’, followed by the disastrous any standard (Hindu, August 22). the orbit of politics for something explaining that regional peace and Pakistani rout of December 1971, more uplifting.

Chandrayaan-2 stability and development should and bloody repulse at Kargil nearly US high-tech R&D passed it first major test when the priority for countries. three decades later. Imran Khan centre in Bangaluru scientists and engineers at ISRO Meanwhile Nepal stated Article could well lose the plot, and [Indian Space Research & 370 would have no effect on conceivably much more, as did the Eagle View Technologies, USOrganization] began the Pakistani Duce Zulfiquar Ali bilateral relations with India based technology provider of data challenging half-hour task of Bhutto before him in 1979.

(Times of India, August 22). analytics is to invest Rs 350 crore signalling the satellite rocket to

Schools were open, but attendance was low; telephone land lines functioned, mobile lines and the internet did not, having been closed. There were random stone-pelting incidents; traffic was increasingly visible but the Kashmir’s principal leaders were still under detention; and the security presence across the valley was intense, given the prevailing political uncertainties. This was much in line with the officially expected script: the pace of restoration would be slow to start with, gradually picking up speed as things hopefully improved.(TV channels, print media, August 19, 20).

Trump’s as mediator

in Bangaluru and hire 500 product innovators. Rishi Daga, CEO, Eagle View, said: ‘Our aspiration is to source and recruit top talent up to 500 people by next year-end including product innovators who will work with our engineers to create global products.’ (Business Line, August 20).

Jaishankar Moscow bound Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar is set to visit Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the entire gamut of bilateral relations in preparation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to Vladivostok in early September (46) for the Economic Forum, where he is to be the Chief Guest. Prime Minister and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold the annual Indo-Russian Summit on the sidelines of the Forum. That Mr Jaishankar’s visit to the Russian capital was preceded last week by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who held discussions on the region and beyond with his Russian counterpart Nicolai Patrushev, is a measure the weight and significance of the relationship for both countries (TTTimes of India, August 21, Statesman, August 24).

Russia completed supplies of the main equipment of Unit 3 of the Kundankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu (Hindu, August 20).

Arun Jaitley: Passing of a giant Arun Jaitley, who died of a prolonged illness in New Delhi, aged 66, was cut down in his prime as Finance Minister (and concurrent Defence Minister for a time), magnanimous politician, parliamentary speaker of repute, unencumbered by malice in argument, a legal luminary.

Consummate raconteur, gregarious, elegant and perceptive, with a mind broad, a spirit inclusive, and a piercing intellect to boot, permitted the enabler Arun Jaitley to measure and weigh events and personalities in their proper contemporaneous setting, seeing history as it was, and not how it was supposed to be.

Mr Jaitley was an amazing solvent of political enmities and hence able to surmount political gridlock. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s alter ego – he had stood by him and Amit Shah in their darkest hours - his counsel was invariably sought in untying many a Gordian knot.

Dogged by persistent ill-health in his last years, Mr Jaitley declined the inevitable, fervent invitation to rejoin the Cabinet in Mr Modi’s second term in June, pleading that his weakened condition would prevent him from fulfilling his ministerial duties to the expected standard. As it happened, he was tragically correct. Mr Jaitley leaves a void difficult, if not impossible, to fill. Like no other Indian politician of his generation, Arun Jaitley was a man for all seasons, simply unique.

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31 Aug - 6 Sept 2019

Upset Hindus urge London fashion Tamil Nadu Chief Minister brand to withdraw ‘Om Ganesha to visit the UK and US Print Leggings’ and apologise Upset Hindus are urging London based online ladies fashion store AMiCAFOX for immediate withdrawal of fashion leggings carrying images of Hindu deity Lord Ganesha and sacred syllable Om; calling it highly inappropriate.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement said that Lord Ganesha was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to adorn one’s legs.

Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts or symbols for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees’ sentiments.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, also urged AMiCAFOX and its CEO to also offer a formal apology, besides withdrawing ‘Om Ganesha Print Leggings’ from their own website and other resellers’ websites.

“Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled,” Rajan Zed said.

Zed added that such trivialisation of Hindu deities and revered symbols was disturbing to the Hindus world over. Hindus were for free artistic expression and speech as much as anybody else if not more.

But faith was something

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami will visit the UK and US on a 13-day mission from August 28 to attract more direct foreign investments (FDI) to the state. He will be the first Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to visit the West in 40 years.

Hoping to build on the brand strength of the second 'Global Investors Meet (GIM)' held in Chennai in January, Palanaiswami, has chalked out an intensive tour of these two important trade partners of India. The first GIM was held when 'Amma' was Chief Minister in 2016.

Palaniswami, who will be accompanied by Dr C Vijaya Baskar, Tamil Nadu minister for Health and Family Welfare, Industries Minister M. C. Sampath, Dairy Development Minister Rajendthra Bhalaji and Revenue Minister R.B. Udhayakumar, along with top officials of various related departments, is scheduled to reach London via

sacred and attempts at trivialising it hurt the followers.

In Hinduism, Lord Ganesha is worshipped as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and is invoked before the beginning of any major undertaking. “Om” is the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work.

Emily Jane Betteridge, who is also a model, started clothing brand AMiCAFOX (which undertakes worldwide shipping) with friend Bianca Navara in 2014.

AMiCAFOX on their website states that its ‘Om Ganesha Print Leggings’, priced at £30, were “inspired by the Hindu God Ganesha” and “are ideal wear for a night out, casual drinks or music festival”.

Dubai on 28th August.

Sources have revealed that on August 29, the Chief Minister will interact with investors in healthcare industry attracting people for medical tourism to Tamil Nadu. He is also meant to sign an MoU with the Tropical School of Medicine. He will then address a selective audience at the King’s College Gainsford Lecture Theatre.

The organisers in the UK are looking forward to meeting the CM and welcoming him with pomp and gaiety at the Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 on 28 August.

On August 30, Palaniswami will meet with investors in the energy sector in Glasgow. He then flies to the US where the Chief Minister's first engagement will be at Buffalo on September 1, to seek views on development of the dairy industry and animal husbandry.

On September 3,

Edappadi K. Palaniswami

Palaniswami will meet with potential investors in New York and also meet Tamil NRI investors. There will be an interaction with a select group of investors in San Francisco on September 4, where he will also meet potential entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu settled there. On September 5, he will go to Telsa and go around the industries there.

After a stop over at Los Angeles on September 7, the Chief Minister will return to Chennai on September 9.

Touring Parsees meet England for the '1886 Trophy' Zoroastrian festival of 'Khordad Sal' celebrated prior to the match

Celebrating the tour of England by an intrepid team of Parsees in 1886 these two teams have met regularly in Mumbai to compete for the ‘1886 Trophy’.

The ‘1886 Trophy’ was the idea of Matt Greenwell, former Captain in the British Army, who was living in Mumbai at the time.

Having read the relatively unknown story of the first Indian cricket team to visit UK in 1886 comprising of all Parsees, Matt proposed the annual fixture to the Parsee Gymkhana in Mumbai, which was met with enthusiasm by the committee and the fixture is played annually ever since.

The Charles Alcock XI are named after the then Surrey County Cricket Club Secretary who organised the original tour of the Parsee pioneers to the UK in 1886.

Alcock was instrumental in establishing a number of sporting traditions including Football’s FA Cup and the Ashes.

This year’s match was the first time since the Parsee’s second tour of 1888 that an all Parsee XI has toured England from India.

photo courtesy: Raj D Bakrania, PrMediapix

Friday 23rd August 2019 was a beautiful English sunny day for the historic cricket match to be played at the Kia Oval between the Parsee Gymkhana of Mumbai and Surrey County Cricket Club’s Charles Alcock XI.

Malcolm M Deboo greets and meets Bollywood actor Boman Irani

The two teams were lucky enough to be hosted for a delightful pre-match dinner by President Malcolm M Deboo and members of The Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE) in Harrow, the oldest Indian faith based voluntary organisation in the UK established in 1861

by Mancherji H Cama and Dadabhai Naoroji.

The pre-match dinner on Thursday 22nd August

celebrating the Zoroastrian festival of 'Khordad Sal', prophet Zarathushtra's birth anniversary, was attended by over 300 Zoroastrians and from inter faith, including The Worshipful The Mayor of Harrow Cllr Nitin Parekh, former Mayor Cllr Rekha Shah, Navin Shah AM for Brent & Harrow, noted Asian Journalist C B Patel, Sonoo Malkani and others of Harrow Inter Faith, members of Her Majesty's

Win 2 !ckets to see Navin Kundra Live in Concert!

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Armed Forces, Ron M Kalifa OBE of the ECB and the celebrated and well known A Listed Zoroastrian Bollywood star Boman Irani.

The touring Parsees played warm up fixtures at Chiswick CC on Monday

19th, which they lost and Lurgashall in Sussex on Wednesday 21st, which they won, before the big clash at the Kia Oval on Friday 23rd for the 1886 Trophy. Setting a target of 203 for 2 wickets in the T20 format it was clear the tourers had prepared well for English conditions. Despite the best efforts of the home side’s batsmen, who managed to score only 135 for 7 wickets, the Parsees were victorious on the day by 68 runs, laying down the gauntlet for next year’s 1886 Trophy fixture in Mumbai which will see the Charles Alcock XI visit Mumbai.

The players and organisers are hugely grateful to sponsors SPF Private Finance and the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe.

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14 COMMUNITY

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LIVING BRIDGE East Bengal Centenary celebration Rohit Vadhwana

Representing India Recently two rallies arrived from India to UK, travelling through a number of countries. One was a motorcar rally and another was a bike rally, both from Gujarat.

The car rally was organised by Ahmedabad's Heart Foundation and Research Institute Chairman Dr Nitin Suman Shah with intention to spread message of peace and brotherhood. It was also to support children of Pulwama attack martyrs in February 2019. The rally included 10 cars in which 30 persons drove over a distance of 17,000 km across 15 countries in the span of 45 days.

Another rally included three women bikers under the leadership of Biker Queens’s founder Dr Sarika Mehta. It covered over 25,000 km through 25 countries in the time period of 90 days. Its broad message was women empowerment, specifically focusing on Women’s Pride and Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.

These are but two examples of a number of such rallies taking place nowadays, be it on bike, car, bicycle or in any other format. Each of such rally aim to spread some message or promote a cause. As the rally begin from India and pass through various countries before reaching to London, participants undergo learning and transformation. Invariably when they pass through different terrain and geography, culture and history, reaching to the UK would feel like arriving at a home away from home. A warm reception by Indian community organisations, and for some of them also at the High Commission of India, feeling of coming home must be stronger.

While it is extremely difficult to perform such long rallies, they provides an opportunity to build bridges between the two countries. And any failure in doing so, is a wasted chance. While going back home, such rallies must result into betterment of the cause. Participants should make it sure that purpose of the rally is duly fulfilled and they have done their best for promoting India and its image throughout the route. Because, with them travels the impression of rich Indian culture – as Living Bridge.

(Expressed opinion is personal)

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Indian girl swims across English Channel in record time

– 100 years, 100 cities, 100 flags

August has been a special month for London based organisation Bengal Heritage Foundation who along with fan club East Bengal the Real Power (EBRP) organised the “100 years, 100 cities,100 flags” – a tribute to East Bengal Club on their 100 years completion.

This was announced at the Nehru Centre, London, of the India High Commission, UK on 10thMay 2019. To celebrate the club’s centenary, fans from all over the world hoisted the club flag across 50 cities in India and 50 cities outside India at midday local time on 3rd August. Not only that, it was a proud moment for Bengal Heritage Foundation when on Independence Day, Quess East Bengal FC shared on social media, the Centenary Flag hoisting photo by BHF in front of the Tower Bridge in London.

The flag hoisting ceremony kicked off from Shahid Minar, Dhaka on 3rd August at 12pm local time followed by Dhakeswari Temple, then moved on to India and covered 50 locations across India at 12pm local time. Then the flag hoisting moved to Middle East, Muscat, Oman, Bahrain followed by Africa, Zambia then further into Europe and covered multiple countries in Europe at their local time 12PM. After Europe, the flag hoisting shifts to England where Bengal Heritage Foundation team along with other football lovers from the UK will be present to hoist the flag in front of the Tower Bridge. Ex- East Bengal football player Chima Okorie was present

London celebration to mark the centenary with the group in London.

Flag hoisting then continued in Dublin, Douglas, Brazil, USA and Canada – all 12pm local time. The flag hoisting ceremony then crosses the international dateline and continues in Japan, New Zealand, Australia then crosses South east Asia and finally the ceremony closes in Kolkata on 4th Aug at 12pm completing a full circle. The initiative will denote how huge and deep rooted the global fanbase is and how capitalising on this untapped fanbase can be of a huge benefit.

The undying love for the “Red and Gold” was so strong that fans were ready to overcome any hurdles – be it the heavy incessant rain in Mumbai, where fans were seen holding big umbrellas, wearing raincoats over the EB jerseys yet having EB flag held high or at Hong Kong , where there was a general disturbance yet Sahin Mondal and few others were seen to hoist the flag at a desolate part of the marina.

On another part of the world, in Bangkok which was facing a curfew,

Udayaditya Shome went to the Bangkok Police stadium to hoist the flag.

Incidentally, they were known as Bec Tero Sassana whom East Bengal had beaten in the final of Asean Cup. Saugata Ghosh from Dhaka, had to seek police permission to hoist the EB flag at Shahid Minar.

Chiradeep Ghosh and others in Bahrain chose Al Bajma beach on a hot sunny day. Kuala Lampur based Subhashish Roy Choudhury gathered with a big team in front of the famous Petronas Twin Tower to hoist the flag. Same was the enthusiasm of Sanjib Chakraborty, who in spite of being the only EB supporter in Lusaka, still had the same zeal and passion towards his favourite club.

New Jersey had the largest number of fan turnout, as almost 60 EB fans were present at a local clubhouse of Kallol (a nonprofit organisation in USA) andwere seen dancing to the beat of dhaak and enjoying Hilsa and Rosogolla.

Nalinava Sengupta from Oslo, Norway was present with few other fans at the Town Hall to proudly hold

the East Bengal flag at 12PM local time.

Anirban Mukhopadhyay (President of London Sharad Utsav and Trustee of BHF) along with other UK based East Bengal fans gathered in front of the Tower Bridge to hold the Red-Golden flag. Like Chima in England, there were other former EB players who were present at various locations during the flag hoisting – Mike Okoro and Majek Bolaji were present in New Jersey, Philippe De Ridder (former EB Coach) was present in Belgium, Douglas De Silva in Brazil and Sula Musa in Ghana.

This magnificent initiative led by Anirban Mukhopadhyay kicked off planning from early this year and in a short spanfans of the Red-and -Gold brigade from all over the worldjoined hands to make this happen – notable were London based BHF member and ardent EB fan Bhaskar Bhattacharya , Tanmoy Ghosh and Raj Adhikary from Japan and Suparno Chakraborty from EBRP who contributed majorly in co-ordinating and making this plan a huge success.

Biking Queens arrive in the UK Gaurvi with parents Shubh and Abhishek

Gaurvi Singhvi, a 16 yearold swimmer from India has successfully swam the English Channel, solo, on 23 August in a record time of 13 hours and 28 minutes.

A Serpentine Swimming Club member, Singhvi, who will celebrate her birthday in February 2020, is now the youngest member of the club to have swam solo across the English Channel.

To cheer and support Singhvi was accompanied by mum Shubh and dad Abishek Singhvi. Her coach Mahesh Paliwel was also on

board.

In 2017, 14 year old Singhvi from Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, swam the distance of approximately 48 kilometres of Arabian Sea from Khar Danda to Gateway of India in Mumbai in 9 hours 22 minutes. She is the youngest swimmer in the state to do so.

Singhvi is now the 29th swimmer, under 17 year to have swam the English Channel solo and is the eighth Indian swimmer to have crossed the Channel.

Three women bikers under the leadership of Dr Sarika Mehta, the founder of a female biking club, Biking Queens, has reached the UK, their final destination, after travelling over 25,000 km through 23 countries and 3 continents, to spread the message of strength and women empowerment and support the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign.

Originally from Surat, Gujarat, India, they are the first ever women’s group to travel to the UK on motorbikes. They started their expedition from Varanasi in India in the presence of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on June 5.

The Biking Queens trio met the Indian diaspora, biking fraternity and Indian embassies of the countries that they visited.

Sarita, Jinal and Rutali- the Biking Queens

Dr Mehta is a clinical psychologist, a certified mountaineer with several degrees and certifications and a mother of twoDhanshree and Janam (also young mountaineers). She along with the other two riders Jinal Shah and Rutali Patel would be felicitated at the Indian Gymkhana club

by Sardar Patel Memorial Society on Wednesday 28 August. Jinal is a homemaker while Rutali is a student.

Dr Mehta who undertook this adventure to break the myth that women are weak, unsafe and fainthearted, before leaving India told the Times of India, “The route we have chosen

had never been attempted by any Indian on bike in the past. Our bikes will start from the base of Mount Everest in Himalaya and will go up to its base camp area and and then cross Kyrgyzstan and desert of Uzbekistan. Besides the countries of Asia and Europe, we are also going to visit Morocco in Africa.”

The expedition covered terrains of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Morocco and the United Kingdom. They were due to spend 15 August, India’s Independence Day in Barcelona, Spain.

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TLIGHT

Ashish Patel

Aspiring Youth

UK

15

31 Aug - 6 Sept 2019

RATIONING IN A NO-DEAL BREXIT?

Sunetra Senior

Major food retailers are considering introducing rationing to prevent firms which have not made their no-deal Brexit plan from using food retailers as wholesalers.

It will not envisage that the limits would affect normal retail customers. Supermarkets already use rationing of sorts to limit the amount of items on special promotions people can buy. No-deal Brexit rationing would work in a similar way with the limits advertised on the shelf labels and enforced at the checkout.

Another boss, former Sainsbury's chief executive Justin King, agreed that some bigger retailers would effectively become wholesalers as it has happened before.

"One potential problem is that businesses who are struggling with their supply chains effectively use ours," he said.

"We would need to limit the amount restaurants or convenience stores, for example, that are short of stock could buy," said the executive, who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity.

A

CAR-FREE DAY TO COST £1MN TO TAXPAYERS

Ashish Patel

shish is a central committee member of the Kera Kundanpur Youth Wing (UK): a highly successful youth club, which has recently evolved into an official charity due to the organisation’s exceptional work. “We have gone from strength to strength, and just continued to grow,” the young leader told us. First established in 1994, the charity, which is based in Stanmore at The Aspire Centre in the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, has “enjoyed an incredible influx of community members as the years have gone by.”

mote integration: we want our message festive period. “Having young people to be that everyone is capable and able work together in an interesting, unusuto live a fuller life. There is much more al way inspires their friends to want to to becoming an adult than getting a job join and become involved too: the aim and just paying the bills.” And so, havhas been to increase the size of our ing grown from a small community in group where everyone is enjoying what the nineties into the collective cornerthey do.” Members are encouraged to stone it has come to be today, the Kera view charitable work as an organic part Kundanpur Youth Wing refreshingly of life, and “not a chore.” This has culemphasises the virtues of connection minated in the Kera Kundanpur Youth Wing’s partnership with bigger chariand altruism for a brighter of the socities to raise money through bigger proety, and not simply a usual focus on jects. “We are professional fundraisers self- aggrandising and hubris. True Engaging British-Asian youngsters with a lot of experience by now, and it’s poise is, after all, the ability to accept with diverse skillets and dreams, the been great to have the platform that others while valuing the self. thriving club offers a wide range of becoming a registered charity has given sports, from badminton and football to us. We can do great work, and allow Tell us more about the venue at swimming and cricket to help create our youth to develop themselves and which the youth club charity meets? well-rounded individuals, who also have the opportunity to more deeply It is at the Aspire centre which is uphold the value of community. “We realise their potential too.” one of the few centres to incorporate a The charity has swimming pool, gymnasium and sports achieved an incredible trek hall. We are very well-equipped, to the Everest base camp, accommodating for our disabled memraising £26,000, with 24 bers too as mentioned. youthful trekkers for big charities such as St. As well as proLuke’s Hospice, viding a better and an educacharitable plat"We collated tional chilform for the over 200,000 dren’s charity youth club, educational books to in Nepal as how else has well as rais- send to India and Kenya being an offiing the funds cial charity for underprivileged to help mainhelped boost tain the growyour work? children in those ing Kera We can have countries" Kundanpur a true trademark, Youth Wing itself. establishing ourselves “The youngsters learn so socially. It also helps our many relational skills, visibility so that other charities can approach us to work together too, including team-building, which in turn builds credibility. self-esteem and time management.”

Wonderfully, Ashish has benefitted from Have you completed any other the youth club himself, havbig projects recently? ing attended when he was growing up.

Yes, we did an international book develop both valuable interpersonal “The club helped me become very collection drive with charities includskills and offer talented youth the open-minded, and to not take my life ing MZ foundation, Hope for Smile opportunity to achieve educational for granted. As well as building confiand Shishukunh (UK). We collated over merits to enhance their CVs.” An outdence, you witness different peo200,000 educational books to send to standing Kera Kundanpur ple, overcoming challenges India and Kenya for underprivileged alumnus has been Akshay "Having in different ways.” Now, children in those countries. It was drivHirani who went on to being able to take the en by the youth’s voluntary work, delivyoung people play Middlesex Kera Kundanpur youth ering, packing and collecting the books County Cricket. work together in an abroad has, no doubt, to send out. interesting, unusual only broadened the *** empathetic horizon.

Finally, what are your plans for way inspires their Indeed, Ashish is the future with Kera Kundanpur The charity is dedifriends to want to currently a rising Youth Wing (UK)? cated to bringing medical professional Focussing on expanding the chari“young stars of the join and become who works as cardiac table endeavours, and our youth drive. community in the UK involved too" physiologist. “It’s great to We are still a small fish in a big pond, together.” Their typical give back to the place that and hope to take on bigger projects and social activities have has influenced my career and only to grow now that we are a unique included organising charitable grown me over the years. It has made charity. work such as midnight walks for St me into the stronger person that I am.”

Luke’s Hospice, where Kera The aid organization openly welcomes W: http://www.kerakundanpur.co.uk/ Kundanpur members have been mara wide range of members from the Facebook: shals, tea parties for Macmillan Cancer Indian community, catering for dishttps://www.facebook.com/groups/151 Support, and pragmatic help during the abled candidates too. “We strongly pro624371661527/

On 22nd September, London will host the largest ever carfree day in a bid to tackle climate change as announced by mayor Sadiq Khan. The event will draw awareness to the dangers of toxic air and encourage city dwellers to explore the capital without the use of a vehicle.

But, the plan will cost £1million - paid for out of the Greater London Authority’s group budget. This includes £400,000 on shutting the roads, managing traffic, site management and security. A further £600,000 will be used on health and safety, marketing, and managing the event.

So far, 18 boroughs across Greater London have also confirmed they will close more than 200 streets to traffic, transforming them into “Play Streets” for community events.

Boroughs including Ealing, Brent, Greenwich, and Tower Hamlets have announced plans to organise their own activities, while others have pledged to support residents who would like to hold a Play Street on the day.

Meanwhile, the Tory Party called the Labour politician’s plan an overpriced PR stunt.

Keith Prince, the Conservatives’ transport spokesperson, said, “Londoners will rightly be angry to learn that they are having to pay £1 million just to be banned from driving in their own city. This is nothing less than a slap in the face and heinous waste of money.”

PATEL ALLEGED FOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND BREACH OF MINISTERIAL CODE Priti Patel has been accused of breaching ministerial code for second time. The home secretary, is urged to withdraw from cabinet discussions about a £6bn defence contract, after it had emerged that the US company, Viasat that paid her £1,000 an hour to advise it, plans to bid for the work.

Christine Jardine, the Liberal Democrats’ home affairs spokesperson, said the fact that Patel had worked for Viasat in the period running up to her appointment as home secretary created the risk of a conflict of interest now that she was in government.

The Californian company has declared it wants to bid on the contract to supply next-generation military satellite communication systems, called Skynet 6. The bidding process run by the Ministry of Defence is expected to start next year.

Patel originally declared on 3 June, when she was a backbencher, that she worked as a “strategic adviser” to Viasat from 1 May to 31 July, earning £5,000 a month for “an expected commitment” of about five hours a month.

Home Office sources said that Patel had been “through a full process” of examination by the advisory committee on business appointments (Acoba). Acoba monitors private sector employment by ministers and ex-ministers, and “no issues were raised”.

RECORD DRUG-RELATED DEATHS IN HARROW AND BRENT Latest government statistics highlight that approximately 90 people in Harrow and Brent have died from drug related issues between 2016-18.

The latest figures showed 52 people in the region died from drug poisoning, while 37 died due to drug misuse. More than 2,000 people in London suffered drug-related deaths during this timeframe, but the statistics were comparatively low in these north-west boroughs. Harrow had the lowest number of drug poisoning deaths with 17 people only.

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18 FINANCE - UK

AsianVoiceNews

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www.asian-voice.com

31 Aug - 6 Sept 2019

Consultant Editor Financial Voice Alpesh Patel Dear Financial Voice Reader, Make Me Rich…save the Planet too if you Bl*&dy Must Do you want to do something fulfilling and fun? That’s probably the meaning of life isn’t it? How about saving the earth? Too busy? Too difficult. I can hardly appeal to your self-interest when I say ‘save the planet’ – it just doesn’t get enough people excited – sadly. And virtue signaling is so passé.

Okay, so let me use my own expertise to appeal to your self-interest. Money and investments. Responsible investing, say in the new batch of alternative to meat companies, could see you making money, and promote the environment and save some animal lives too.

I know, I know, you want to go out, kill a cow and eat it. Oh so posh and sophisticated you are...but wait my little McDonot...at least consider the shares then in this little company: Beyond Meat. I say little, they're huge and so is their share price.

I rub my hands with glee as I spot another teenage vegan. Go on, do it for my pension...I mean the planet. No virtue signaling here. Just pure greed.

Just in case you’re morally misguided and care more about your health than wealth, then you’ll love this data from the company: “A peer-reviewed Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) conducted by the University of Michigan compared the environmental impact of The Beyond Burger to a ¼ lb. U.S. beef burger. The study concluded that The Burger uses significantly less water, less land, generates fewer Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGE), and requires less energy than a beef burger.”

Some research on the Beyond Meat website will get the eco-warrior do-gooders and environment botherers excited. Of course greedy fat capitalists like me are unmoved. But if it helps make us rich, then feel free to yak on about it.

For instance, 16% increased cancer risk and 21% increased heart disease risk, 45% global surface area for livestock systems, and 66 billion land animals slaughtered every year for food.

That last one – the equivalent of the entire population of the United Kingdom, man, woman and child is slaughtered each year for food. Just waiting for Imran Khan to Tweet, ‘Genocide, Racist, Nazis’.

I declare, as one should, a financial interest. If you buy their shares I probably won’t get any richer because you’re not gonna move the needle. So if you could recruit someone with proper money to do it, you know, some rich uncle, or aunt, then that might move the needle.

Uber contradicts own research with London congestion ad claim An Uber advertising campaign in London has claimed that its car-pooling service reduces traffic. The claims come in stark contradictions of the findings of the US cab service company's own research. A large billboard poster displayed in London this month said, "Uber Pool reduces traffic by moving more people in fewer cars."

It contradicts evidence from a study sponsored by Uber and fellow ride-hailing app company Lyft that showed both were together responsible for as much as 13 per cent of miles travelled by vehicles in the centre of San Francisco, one of six US cities studied. The report made by transportation consultancy Fehr & Peers was based on data from Uber and Lyft.

Chris Pangilinan, Uber's head of global policy for public transportation, acknowledged in a blog post that evidence showed his company and Lyft were likely to be contributing to an increase in congestion. The effect of ride-hailing apps on congestion is contested. They could reduce traffic by encouraging people leave their cars at home, or they could increase the number of vehicles on the road if people switch from public transport.

Just last year, the company won a temporary legal reprieve on a ban by saying it had changed its policies on driver background checks and crime reporting. Last month, Uber said it had 100 million monthly active users in 65 countries, and that its car-pooling service, which allows multiple separate users to share the same vehicle, had saved 1.7m driving miles in the UK capital this year.

London is one of Uber's top five cities globally, with 3.6 million passengers regularly using its service provided by about 45,000 drivers. The company has been unable to provide the methodology for the claim made in the London ad, or to provide evidence of any assessment that took into account the overall effect of the pooling service on traffic.

When asked about the poster, an Uber spokeswoman said, "We often run marketing campaigns all over the world to showcase the many features and products available through the Uber app, whether that's our safety tool kit or Uber Pool.

Timetable for US-UK trade deal is 'tight': Boris Johnson British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has played down prospects of striking a trade agreement with US President Donald Trump within 12 months. He said the timetable was "tight" and would require flexibility from the US. Trump had talked up the prospects for a US-UK trade agreement when the two men met face to face at Biarritz on Sunday, for the first time since Johnson took the office.

Trump had said they would sign a "very big trade deal, bigger than we've ever had", once the UK is freed from the "anchor" of the European Union around its "ankle".

Meanwhile, Johnson said the US would like to do a deal within a year, but while he would "love" to achieve that, "to do it all within a year is going to be tight". He confirmed he had reiterated his opposition to the NHS being opened up to US firms as part of any trade deal, and to the UK lowering animal welfare standards to US levels to get a deal.

Boris Johnson with Donald Trump

He said, "Not only have I made clear of that, the president has made that very, very clear. There is complete unanimity on that point."

Johnson also suggested there would be "tough talks ahead". On his way to the G7 Summit, Johnson pointed to the complexity of a potential deal when he gave a shopping list of products, from cauliflowers to shower trays to insurance, on which he said the UK would be pressing for the US to lower trade barriers. Trump and the PM spoke to reporters

ahead of a working breakfast, accompanied by advisers and officials.

Trump described Johnson as "the right man" to deliver Brexit.

When asked what his advice was for Brexit, Trump said, "He needs no advice. He is the right man for the job." Johnson said Trump was "on message there." After the meeting, both governments released a joint statement, saying they would launch a "special relationship economic working group" (SREWG) to "develop market-oriented

principles for economic growth and increase bilateral cooperation on issues related to the modern 21st century economy."

Before the meeting, Johnson had said he would raise with Trump the issue of the increasingly bitter trade spat between the US and China, and press him to throw open the US market to British goods after Brexit.

When Trump was asked by reporters if allies were pressuring him to give up his trade war with China, he said, "Not at all".

He said his predecessors had allowed Beijing to "get away with taking hundreds of billions of dollars out every year, putting it into China."

Johnson, meanwhile, told reporters en route to Biarittz that he was "very, very concerned" about the tit for tat conflict between the US and China.

Both countries have imposed tariffs on a swathe of each other's imports, as the White House accuses Beijing of unfair competition and China hits back.

Underground line to heat up London homes Sweltering temperatures on the tube's Northern line will soon help keep homes in Islington, north London cosy through the colder months, under a scheme to harness the heat from the underground. By the end of the year, the project will pipe heat from the underground into hundreds of home and businesses that are part of a heating scheme in the borough. The project is one of a growing number of schemes across the UK designed to warm homes using "waste heat" from factories, power plants, rivers and disused mine shafts.

Hunt for alternative sources of renewable heat has gained pace after the government's pledge to ban gas-fired boilers from newbuild homes from 2025. The Islington heat network already keeps about 700 homes warm by channeling heat created in the Bunhill

Energy Centre, which generates electricity, into local council housing, schools, and a leisure centre.

Next phase of the project, which is due to be completed in the coming months, will extend the network to a further 450 homes. The tube project could pave the way for district heating schemes across the capital to warm homes with cheap, low carbon heat from underground lines. The Greater London Authority (GLA) estimates there is enough heat waster in London to meet 38 per cent of the city's heating demands.

Tim Rotheray, director of the Association for Decentralised Energy, said district heating schemes were mushrooming across the UK as a low-cost tool in tackling the climate crisis.

He said, "Almost half the energy used in the UK is for

heat, and a third of UK emissions are from heating.

With the government declaring that we must be carbon-neutral within 30 years we need to find a way to take the carbon out of our heating system.

The opportunity that has become clear to the decentralised energy community is the idea of capturing waste heat and putting it to use locally."

Waste heat is producer in urban and industrial settings, wherever there are cooling systems, thermal power plants or heavy industry. The key to harnessing heat is to use it locally. Stoke city council estimates the scheme, which will be operational by the winter of 2020, could cut its carbon emissions by an estimated 12,000 tonnes a year.

Engineers at Ramboll, Edinburgh have developed a plan to create a heat

network that uses the water pooled in a vast disused mine as a giant underground thermal battery.

Paul Steen, who has proposed the project, believes the mine water offers "massive potential" to help the city meet its sustainability goals by connecting it to a renewable heating and cooling distribution system.

The flooded mine system lies up to 500 metres (1,640ft) below ground, and measures 8km (5 miles) in length by 6km wide.

Engineers in Glasgow have even found heat potential in the River Cycle. The city’s £250m Queen’s Quay regeneration project will host a project that uses heat pumps to extract heat from the river water before piping it into a 2.5 km-long network that includes 1,400 homes, businesses and public buildings.

Germany teeters at verge of recession German economy is on the brink of recession after business confidence plunged to its lowest level in seven years. Munich-based research group, IFO Institute said, "Worry lines among German business leaders are getting deeper and deeper." Its monthly confidence index fell to just 94.3 points in August, down from 95.8 in July, the weakest reading since

November 2012.

In the latest sign that Europe's largest economy is struggling, the survey of nearly 10,000 German companies found that managers were gloomier about the current economic situation, and more pessimistic about the outlook over the next six months. Head of IFO, Prof Clemens Fuest forecasted that Germany's GDP would

shrink this quarter, having already contracted by 0.1 per cent in the previous three months. That would put the economy into a recession for the first time since 2013.

He said, "Everything we see at the moment means there are ever more indications of recession in Germany, meaning two quarters of negative growth."

Germany's industrial sector has been

badly hurt by the US-China trade war, with exports falling in the last quarter.

Manufacturing output has contracted, as factories have been hit by falling orders.

The slowdown has now spread to Germany's service sector. Companies in the sector have reported a deterioration in business conditions, making them more sceptical about growth prospects.

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REAL ESTATE VOICE

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31 Aug - 6 Sept 2019

PAINTING THE PICTURE My office arranged for me to see a property in Belgravia. The property is owned by an eccentric elderly lady. It was full of antiques, pictures and trophies.

We put in an offer for £500K, all with her continued occupation at a rate of £1K per week.

This would give our client a yield of 10% per annum.

The flat is in one of the primest locations in London, and the world.

The cost for the lease extension has been quoted at £700K and the end price for this flat with an extended lease is estimated at around £1.6M. Therefore, there is expected to be about £400K of gain.

It has plenty of natural light and outdoor space, it is actually duplex, with two bedrooms. With all the paraphernalia you could be forgiven for missing this.

Suresh Vagjiani Sow & Reap London Property Investment

The property has a short lease of 31 years. We are able to arrange finance for properties with leases of even 40 years, unfortunately this one falls short of the criterion.

The agent told me discreetly that the lady had not worked a day in her life and had wealth given to her. The lease simply shrunk, to a point where it has become unfinancible, and therefore a large chunk of the market is excluded.

She had carers floating around her continuously, ensuring she was as comfortable as possible.

The property was originally on the market at £950K, it had been reduced by £150K. It was obvious from observing the situation this lady ideally did not want to leave this space. It was tailor made for her according to her whims.

Therefore, an offer for the flat which included her continued tenancy as part of it would be viewed highly favourably. Perhaps this point would tilt the deal in our favour, more than the amount offered.

The way to structure this deal is to complete on it at the same time the lease extension has been granted. This will reduce your input into the deal.

However, this is an uncertain market and therefore the resale price cannot be relied upon.

This is a good environment to extend the lease, as the current situation can be used to ensure a very low cost of extension.

The offer had been considered with enough seriousness for me to be called to another meeting. This time it was a full board meeting, we had three additional people in attendance.

This time the lady was sitting upright and gave me snippets of her background, which helped paint the picture more fully. She had been brought up in Africa and had a shop there along with her late husband. They also hunted, which was evidenced by some of the heads hanging from the wall.

In this situation, how she was going to spend the £500K needed to be looked at very carefully.

With carers fees this amount could evaporate; she could live for another decade, in which case

she would be unable to pay her rent.

This is not a situation we would want to be in, therefore, we need to ensure a guarantor has been put on the agreement to ensure continuity of rent.

The other option is to use some of the funds to purchase an annuity. This is linked to life expectancy. In exchange for a single lump sum one gets in return a stream of monthly payments for the duration of one’s life.

The age and medical condition would be the predominating factors in calculating the price of the annuity.

Given the circumstances this should not cost too much. This purchase would help significantly with continuity of rent and healthcare. This is something I could suggest as part of the deal, should the guarantor option not be available.

This is a very interesting deal, one where the potential investor could pick up a diamond, for a very reasonable price and yield.

AGONY AGENT IS HERE TO HELP! Q: How do I legally dispose of items left by my tenants?

A: At the end of many tenancies, items of furniture or personal belongings are left behind, but despite their abandonment, these items still legally belong to the tenant. So how should you go about removing them? Items left by your tenant still belong to them, regardless of whether a possession order was obtained by you, or the tenant surrendered the tenancy. This is a recurring dilemma for landlords, who are conscious that the removal of belongings left by a tenant is unlawful. If possible, photographs of the property and its contents should be taken and an estimate of the value of the goods left

behind should also be recorded.

A decision should be taken based on what is left behind. If the goods are disposed of by the landlord and subsequently turn out to be of value, the landlord may be subject to a claim for damages by the tenant. The landlord becomes an 'involuntary bailee', having acquired goods left at the property which belong to another. Landlords are required to take care of the tenant's goods and make reasonable arrangements to trace the tenant so that their goods can be returned to them. Under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977, Landlords are permitted to dispose of goods left behind as long as the correct procedures are followed.

BUY TO LET OPPORTUNITY London, SE2 Purchase Price: £230,000

Notice should be served in accordance with Schedule 1 of the Act, requiring the tenant (or the true owner of the goods) to come and collect them. The notice should be sent to the tenant if the address is known, and in any event attached to the property so that it can be clearly seen.

The notice will need to include the following information: where the goods are being kept; where sale of the items will take place; if items are sold, sale and storage costs will be deducted from the proceeds of sale; and list the goods that will remain. Reasonable time to collect is all down to you, however we believe two weeks or more is sufficient. If all reasonable steps have been taken to

contact your former tenant and the notice has expired, you can dispose of the goods.

If the goods are sold, any proceeds of sale that remain - after deducting storage costs and debt owed to the landlord - must be returned to the former tenant. If the steps mentioned above are not taken, landlords may find themselves open to the former tenant bringing legal action against them (a civil action for damages for selling or using another person's property). This can be very costly and time consuming so it is important to ensure that the steps above are taken and evidence of doing so is carefully recorded.

For any further information or advice please contact us.

● Large two bedroom ground floor flat with long lease and low service charges

● ● ● ● ●

Close to a Crossrail station Journey time to Canary Wharf and Bond Street will be 11 mins and 25 mins Yield of 5.2% per annum £80K cash required to close this deal, subject to mortgage criteria Sustained long term growth due to Crossrail backed up by our in house 18 page report on this location

Call us now for more information!

Sow & Reap Properties Ltd

Specialists in Central London Property Sourcing

0207 993 0103

info@sowandreap.co.uk www.sowandreap.co.uk 27 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 8HU SowandReapProperties

Sowandreapuk

Turning land into cash Get in touch about our land opportunities

20 FINANCE - INDIA

AsianVoiceNews

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31 Aug - 6 Sept 2019

Sitharaman announces steps to revive growth

In a bid to counter the growing negativity about Indian economy and revive growth, finance minister Niramala Sitharaman announced a slew of measures, including scrapping surcharge on foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and domestic market players and steps to improve the flow of loans and overall cash in the Niramala Sitharaman system, while promising comfort as FPIs had withdrawn easier rules and lower close to $3.4 billion since July. compliance burden on “Tax rates for FPIs will come companies. down 4% to 7% and remove the The minister also offered to anomaly created by Budget review the income tax surcharge 2019,” said Rajesh Gandhi, a on those with taxable income of partner at Deloitte India, a over £200,000 by 2022 and consulting firm. unveiled steps to boost demand Momentum of reforms to for the automobiles sector, continue, says FM which has seen sales slump at There were several measures to the fastest pace in 18 years, ease the flow of funds to the leaving companies with economy, including an upfront unprecedented inventory and release of £7 billion to public forced job cuts. sector banks through The announcement on recapitalisation bonds. This removal of surcharge is expected money is aimed at improving to provide the market some their lending capacity by an

additional £50 billion. The minister announced that banks have agreed to lower interest rates to pass on the benefits of RBI’s rate reduction besides linking interest on home, auto and other retail loans to the central bank’s key policy rate. Several measures to support ailing non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) and provide a fresh £3 billion refinance window for housing finance companies were also announced.

While funds have been available with banks, they have been reluctant to lend, citing fear of prosecution in case the debt turns sticky. To address this concern and get honest bankers to clear loan proposals, the government announced a new mechanism under which lenders will set up internal advisory committees to decide on cases. The government, however, refrained from tax cuts, with Sitharaman saying that reduction in GST rates was under the domain of the GST

Council. The Centre has limited fiscal space for a stimulus that was being pushed by the corporate sector.

The announcements, which came within 50 days of Sitharaman’s maiden Budget, were aimed at soothing frayed nerves in India Inc, which has been demanding tax concessions, citing weak demand apart from complaining about higher compliance burden and “tax terrorism”.

“These steps have been taken based on the demand from industry. Demand has come from sectors and we hope, the industry hopes that these measures will improve the situation. This is a responsive government. It is responding to the demands of industry... The momentum of reforms will continue,” the minister said.

Amid criticism over the government’s economic management, Sitharaman’s 32slide presentation set the tone by reiterating that India was growing faster than all other large economies, including China.

Officials told to build trust with taxpayers India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman urged tax officials to build trust with taxpayers and called for a makeover of the department by cutting down on litigation and using technology for faceless interaction. “I will give you awards and clap for you, when you will achieve the target. I will also clap for you when there will not be any case of harassment of tax payers,” she said at an interaction with tax officials and traders in Prime minister’s Narendra Modi’s constituency.

“Restraint should be the

catchword. Go after those who are at fault, but don’t overstretch,” she said. She also stressed on resolution of tax issues rather than litigation, which kills both time and money.

The tax department has lined up a series of changes in the way it communicates with taxpayers as it presents a friendlier face against the backdrop of mounting criticism of it acting in an arbitrary manner.

“By Vijaydashmi (October 8), the department should make a

ED searches Naresh Goyal’s premises The Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched over a dozen premises linked to the defunct Jet Airways and its erstwhile promoters Naresh Goyal and Hasmukh Gardi in Naresh Goyal Mumbai and in Delhi in a case of foreign exchange violation.

Gardi and Goyal were the Indian directors of Tailwinds Ltd, a company incorporated in Isle of Man, through which Goyal controlled Jet Airways. In 2013, Goyal transferred the shares of the airline from Tailwinds to himself.

The grounded airline has defaulted on loans of over £800 million and lenders led by State Bank of India have launched bankruptcy proceedings against it in the National Company Law Tribunal. The agency suspects the duo diverted a major portion of the bank loan abroad by inflating payments abroad and through fictitious transactions. It is exploring the possibility of registering a separate money laundering case against the company and its promoters.

100% switch to ‘faceless system’ developed by the ministry,” Sitharaman said and also launched an app called ‘GST Sampark.’ The FM said India is one of the world’s fastest growing economies with robust finances, but the country needs to track signs of global recession and its impact on India. “It’s a matter of debate whether slowdown has been triggered by global or internal factors,” she said. She was replying to a query during an interaction with traders and taxmen in Varanasi.

On the slump in the auto

industry, the finance minister said, “Allegations about the government discouraging fueloperated vehicles to promote electric cars is false. Giving a boost to electric vehicles doesn’t mean the government is neglecting the automobile sector.” She said the government was focusing on two important sectors, the small and medium scale industry and agriculture, which are the backbone of the economy. “At the same time, we are trying to tackle problems faced by the banking and nonbanking sectors,” she said.

Air India seeks £250 mn emergency funding Debt-ridden Air India has sought immediate emergency funding of about £250 million from the government as debt. This fiscal the divestment-bound airline, which has accumulated debt-cum-liabilities of almost £6 billion, has not got any equity support from the Centre and is now finding it hard to meet working expenses.

“Last October, the government had approved giving AI sovereign guarantee to enable it to raise £760 million. We raised about £500 million as debt. Now guarantee of £246.4 million is remaining and we have been requesting the government to give us those funds as debt,” said an official.

The airline said in a statement: “In the absence of equity support Air India cannot handle the huge debt service liabilities.

However, our financial performance this fiscal is very good and we are moving towards a healthy operating profit. The airline, despite its legacy issues, is performing very well.”

“We have got one relief this fiscal which is £2.9 billion of our loan is being taken off our books and is being serviced by the government,” said the official. AI had last

in brief JLR EXPECTS 20% DROP IN SALES THIS YEAR

Luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has said that it expects to sell 20% fewer cars this year in an equally shrinking luxury auto segment. However, the company said it will hold on to its category market share of 15%.

JLR had sold about 4,000 vehicles in the previous year in a 27,000-car luxury market.

“Everyone has been hit, and so have we been impacted. But we are holding our ground (in market share),” said JLR India managing director and president Rohit Suri. Speaking at the expansion of one JLR’s dealerships in Pune, Suri said that the main reason for the recent downturn is the unavailability of bank financing and that is impacting the entire value chain.

DOT WANTS TO PUT AIRTELTATA TELE MERGER ON HOLD

The Department of Telecom (DoT) has asked the Registrar of Companies (RoC) to “withhold any further action” with regard to the merger between Bharti Airtel and Tata Tele as the department has “not given written approval yet” to the transaction, a move that may delay passage of the high-profile deal. The ministry will challenge the deal in the Supreme Court on various grounds, including the process through which the companies went ahead and announced the merger based only on an order of the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), sources said. The ministry said the merger “is in contravention” to certain conditions mentioned in the merger clause, especially that stipulates its final nod.

WALMART REVIVES TALKS WITH TATAS TO BOOST ITS RETAIL PLAY

After Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani announced plans to induct a global partner to boost his retail business, Tata Group and Walmart are speeding up their talks to revive their retail business. Walmart executives held meetings with Tata brass to stitch an alliance, which could include a joint venture between the Arkansas-headquartered company and Tata Sons. Both want to accelerate their omni-channel or multichannel retailing play in the world’s sixth largest economy even as rivals Reliance and Amazon are said to be in talks for a similar partnership.

Consumer retail is one of the growth engines of the Tata Group and the conglomerate has been consolidating its presence on this front (it has merged Tata Chemicals’ packaged food business with its beverage unit). The alliance with Walmart will be with Tata Sons, said people in the know. Walmart, which entered India through a wholesale joint venture with Bharti Enterprises in 2007 and subsequently bought out its Indian partner in 2013, made its big move last year by acquiring a 77% stake in India’s largest online retailer Flipkart.

MOODY’S LOWERS INDIA’S GDP FORECAST

month delayed paying flying allowance of pilots for June - which comprise over 85% of their total pay - and the same was paid at the end of July. Now again the flying allowance of July is being awaited by pilots. “The uncertainty is growing by the day for us.

Festival season is upon us and we will request the airline and the government to run the airline properly till they are the owners of AI. Once and it is sold off, then the new owner will be responsible. But for now the current owner has to take the onus of paying people on time,” said a senior pilot.

The government is working out the modalities of the second attempt that will soon be made to sell off AI after the first round last year came a cropper.

Rating agency Moody’s has lowered India’s growth forecast for 2019 and 2020 by 60 basis points to 6.2% and 6.7% respectively.

The agency had earlier forecast 2019 growth at 6.8% and 2020 at 7.3%. India is among the 16 economies in Asia-Pacific whose GDP growth forecast has been revised downward

by Moody’s. Singapore and Hong Kong have seen the biggest lowering of growth forecast.

Following the revision, Vietnam, with an expected growth of 6.7%, will be the fastest growing economy this year. India will be sharing the second place with China, which is also expected to grow at 6.2% this year. The lowering of the growth forecasts was part of a periodic review of economies in the Asian region. Moody’s has said that while the RBI has been the most active among central banks in cutting interest rates in support of growth, lingering financial sector issues have blunt the effectiveness of monetary stimulus.

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AsianVoiceNewsweekly

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31 Aug - 6 Sept 2019

in brief

INDIAN STUDENT DROWNS IN US LAKE

A 27-year-old Indian student Sumedh Mannar drowned after jumping off from a recreation spot into the Crater Lake in the US state of Oregon, authorities said. Mannar who belonged to Andhra Pradesh was doing MS in rotobics from Oregon State University.

Mannar, dove off the “Jumping Rock” and did not resurface, Marsha McCabe, a spokeswoman for Crater Lake National Park, said. McCabe said the cliff Mannar had jumped from was about 25 feet high. The cliff was not a prohibited area for jumping, she said, adding that officials have not yet determined exactly why he drowned. In the summers, the surface of the lake warms up to about 15 degrees Celsius, but the average temperature of the lake is around 3 degrees.

Swimming is only allowed in the area around Cleetwood Cove and along the shore of Wizard Island. Immediately after Mannar disappeared, people on scene threw a life ring into the water, and Crater Lake hospitality staff took a small boat out to the area to help search, she said. His body was found on a rock ledge on the next day.

MAN SAYS INDIAN EATERY DIDN’T SERVE HIM ‘AS HE’S DESI’

An Indian restaurant in Dublin has been ordered to pay €3,000 after officials ruled its owner refused a man service because he was Indian. Mayank Bhatnagar won a discrimination case heard before the Workplace Relations Commission. Bhatnagar told the WRC he had gone to Ravi’s Kitchen in July last year to have lunch. He claimed he asked the restaurant’s owner how long he would have to wait. He alleged Ravi Shukla, the owner, then asked him if he was Indian.

He replied that he was. He claimed Shukla said he did not serve Indians and asked him to leave. He also claimed that Shukla began shouting about how he his family had suffered before the group left. “I am satisfied that he has established that Bhatnagar was treated less favourably than a person who was not Indian,” Judge Marie Flynn said.

HAFIZ SAEED CHALLENGES HIS ARREST

Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, a UN designated Pakistani terrorist whom the US has placed a $10 million bounty on, challenged his arrest in the terror financing cases in the Lahore high court. In a fresh petition, Saeed and 67 other members of the banned Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD) and its charity wing Falah-i-Insaniat (FIF), challeneged the FIRs of terror financing against them in the LHC through their counsels. The petitioners have made the interior ministry, the Punjab home department and the Counter Terrorism Department of Punjab police respondents in the case. The court will fix hearing of this case later. The petitioners said Saeed and the others are not members of Lashkar-e-Taiba and that they don’t have any nexus with it.

NO PARDON FOR QANDEEL BALOCH KILLERS: COURT

A Pakistan court rejected a request made by the parents of social media star Qandeel Baloch to pardon her brothers, who are accused of killing her. Fouzia Azeem, better known as Baloch, was strangled to death at her home on July 15, 2016, by her brother Waseem Azeem. Waseem later confessed to have killed his 26-year-old sister because she brought “disrepute” to the “family’s honour” with her “risque videos and statements on social media”. Her brother Aslam Shaheen was also an accused in the case. Qandeel’s parents, who are complainant in this case, submitted an affidavit, stating that they have forgiven her alleged murderers and asked the court to acquit them. Multan sessions court judge, meanwhile, dismissed the parent’s plea, observing that the “court no longer accepts pardon or reconciliation in honour killing case.

Pak put on 'enhanced blacklist' by terror watchdog FATF's sub-group ISLAMABAD: The Asia-Pacific division of global financial watchdog, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), has put Pakistan in the Enhanced Expedited Follow Up List (Blacklist) for its failure to meet its standards, officials said.

The Asia Pacific Group (APG) of FATF has also found that Pakistan was non-compliant on 32 out of 40 terror financing and money laundering compliance parameters. The FATF APG meeting was held in Canberra, Australia, and the discussions lasted more than seven hours over two days.

On 11 effective parameters of terror-funding and moneylaundering, Pakistan was adjudged as low on 10. Despite its efforts, Pakistan's 10-member delegation led by its central bank chief could not convince the 41member plenary to upgrade it on any parameter. Islamabad now is in dire need to focus on avoiding the blacklist in October, when the 15-month timeline ends on the FATF's 27-point action plan, another official said.

Pakistan has been under the

Imran Khan

FATF radar for its complicity towards terror groups LeT, JeM and others. Since June 2018, Pakistan has been on the "grey list" of countries whose domestic laws are considered weak to tackle the challenges of money laundering and terrorism financing. The watchdog had issued a staunch warning to Pakistan to curb terror financing

by October or face consequences.

It had said that the country could be blacklisted unless it fulfills an "action plan" against UNdesignated terrorists operating

on its soil by October, highly placed sources in the Indian diplomatic team had said.

India has, in the past, urged the FATF to put Pakistan on a blacklist of countries that fail to meet international standards in stopping terror funding following the listing of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the United Nations.

During the FATF meeting, several countries, including India, voiced concern on the country’s failure to do enough to contain terror

funding and having failed to take concrete action against Hafiz Saeed, Maulana Masood Azhar and other UN-designated terrorists, pointing out that its anti-terror law still remains out of sync with standards set by the international body.

Several FATF members have also raised the issue of no cases being registered against Hafiz Saeed and Azhar Masood.

Although Pakistan contends that it has done enough by seizing over 700 properties belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamaat-udDaawa, Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation and the Jaish-eMohammed, India and other FATF members have pointed out that seizures do not necessarily indicate compliance.

Pakistan’s continuance in the ‘Grey List’ means its downgrading by the IMF, the World Bank, the ADB, the EU and also a reduction in risk rating

by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch. This will add to the financial problems of Pakistan, which is seeking aid from all possible international avenues.

Despite ban, JeM reappears on social media ISLAMABAD: Jaish-eMohammed has re-emerged on social media platforms by issuing its first public message since Islamabad banned the group in April, amid international pressure. "There are people who are silent, but doing a great deal," reads the Urdu-language message, written over an image of Jaish terrorists in combat uniform, and attributed to the organisation's chief, Masood Azhar Alvi. The message comes even as the United States government official lauded Pakistan in an interview for the steps the country had "taken against Jaish and Lashkar-eTaiba".

Indian intelligence officials said the re-emergence of the Jaish in the public sphere implied that restraints imposed on it by Pakistan's military were being eased, in response to the unfolding crisis in Jammu and Kashmir. Last week, jihadist social media feeds in Pakistan had also circulated a message

attributed to Masood Azhar.

"Kashmiris need to get out on to the streets," it read. "Then the enemy will beg for peace and negotiation."

The Jaish's message appeared targeted towards Islamists in Kashmir, among whom the Inter-Services Intelligence-backed group has long been seeking to expand its reach. However, the message did not bear the insignia of the

Jaish or its official publication al-Qalam. Faced with the sanctions from the multinational Financial Action Task Force, Islamabad says it has brought seminaries linked to jihadist groups under government administration and is prosecuting key leaders for financing terrorism.

But Lahore-based sources said that weapon-wielding Lashkar-e-Taiba personnel were

still visible around the organisation's headquarters at Lahore's Chowburji. Public entry to the Jaish's seminaries in Bahawalpur, the sources said, also remained blocked by guards belonging to the organisation.

Last month, a United Nations watchdog raised fears that cadres of these jihadist groups were also training with the Taliban in Afghanistan, who it said "cooperate and retain strong links with al Qaeda, the Haqqani Network and the Lashkar-e-Taiba".

Prominent Pakistani clerics have called for jihad against India at rallies over the last week. Mufti Abdul Qavi, a member of the ruling Tehreeke-Insaaf Party, who gained notoriety when he was filmed attempting to seduce slain social-media star Qandeel Baloch said last week that it was "moral and shari'a-based obligation on Muslims living in India that they support the oppressed Kashmiri Muslims in their jihad".

Ready to open Kartarpur Corridor, says Pakistan ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said that despite tensions with India, it stands ready to open the Kartarpur Corridor and welcome the Sikh pilgrims to take part in celebrations in connection with the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. Pak foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said this while speaking to a delegation of civil society and parliamentarians of Afghanistan, which is currently visiting Pakistan for the ‘Track-II dialogue, Beyond Boundaries.’

Tension between India and Pakistan has escalated after New Delhi revoked Article 370 of the

Constitution which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories on August 5.

“Despite tensions with India, we have decided go ahead with Kartarpur Corridor and we stand ready to welcome the Sikh pilgrims for the 550th anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak,” Qureshi told the delegation.

Connecting Karturpur with Gurdaspur The Kartarpur corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district and facilitate visa-free

movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims, who will have to just obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib, which was established in 1522 by Guru Nanak Dev. Pakistan is building the corridor from the Indian border to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib while the other part from Dera Baba Nanak up to the border will be constructed by India.

Qureshi also told the delegation that current tension with India will not affect Pakistan’s relationship with Afghanistan.

Border (with Afghanistan) will not be closed nor trade will stop. “Despite

tensions with India, Pakistan is totally focused on the situation and its role in Afghanistan. It (Kashmir situation) can be a huge distraction but we are very clear what we need to do in Afghanistan”, he added while responding to a question if escalation of tension with India can distract Pakistan.

Qureshi told the delegation that he had invited the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and China for a trilateral meeting.

The foreign ministers will come to Pakistan in the first week of September for the talks, he added.

22 WORLD

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31 Aug - 6 Sept 2019

Lanka ends emergency rule

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has officially ended four months of emergency rule imposed after the Easter Sunday suicide attacks that killed more than 260 people, left the government in disarray and raised fears of renewed ethnic tensions in the island-nation.

President Maithripala Sirisena allowed the emergency rule, which was put in place shortly after the April 21 bombings, to lapse by not signing a decree that would extend it for another month.

He had previously extended the order on the 22nd of every month following the massacres when suicide bombers attacked three churches and three hotels around Colombo and the eastern town of Batticaloa on Easter Sunday.

The emergency laws gave the military and police sweeping powers to arrest and detain suspects without court orders.

Critics charge it has been used to unfairly target Muslim citizens.

Hundreds have been arrested since April as the government used the emergency order, as

well as curfews and social media blackouts, to tighten security across the country and hunt members of two local Muslim groups it said were responsible for the attacks.

Those groups had claimed allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS), although a Sri Lankan investigator said that the groups were inspired, but not directly linked, to ISIL. Sri Lankan authorities say all those directly responsible for the suicide bombings have either been killed or arrested.

A return to normal?

The end of emergency rule signifies a perceived calm returning to the country, which relies heavily on its $4.4bn tourism industry that has suffered since April. Several foreigners were killed in the bombings, which also wounded at least 500 people. Tourist arrivals had slumped by 70 per cent in May and 57 per cent in June, compared with the previous year. Earlier in the week, John Amaratunga, the tourism minister, had asked the

Maithripala Sirisena

president to relax the emergency law in hopes of signalling to foreign holidaymakers that the situation in the country was back to normal.

The government and the country's security apparatus remain in disarray since April, with accusations that officials did not act upon near-specific intelligence from foreign agencies before.

A parliamentary committee is investigating who was responsible for not taking the timely action. In July, authorities arrested Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara and former Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Hemasiri Fernando

over allegations they failed to prevent the attacks.

Opponents have accused Sirisena of failing to act on precise Indian intelligence that attackers were about to hit Christian churches and other targets in Sri Lanka.

Many arrested Military and police have been accused of targeting the country's Muslim minority, activists and politicians under the emergency order, provoking further fear after the bombings threatened to inflame tensions between the majority Buddhist and minority Muslim populations. Muslims make up nearly 10 per cent of Sri Lanka's population of 22 million.

In June, a police spokesman said that 2,289 people including 1,820 Muslims - had been arrested in "connection to the Easter Bombings and related incidents". That month, the EU said it was "deeply concerned by the political and religious pressure being directed at Muslims which is undermining peace and reconciliation in the country".

Lanka urged to tackle 'hate propaganda' against Muslims COLOMBO: A United Nations human rights expert has called on Sri Lanka to take urgent action on "hate propaganda targeting Muslim communities" following a spate of deadly attacks on churches and hotels on Easter Sunday. Ahmed Shaheed, the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, issued the call at the end of a 12-day mission to the Buddhist-majority country in the Indian Ocean.

He said there was a "serious deficit of trust among ethno religious communities" in the wake of the bomb attacks in April. More than 250 people were killed in the bombings, the deadliest since the end of a 26year-civil war against Tamil separatist fighters in 2009.

"While the government promptly brought the situation more or less under control after the bomb blasts, many religious

communities remain very concerned about their security because of incitement to hatred and violence by some religious extremists," Shaheed said in a statement.

Hate speech There was also a spike in reports of hate speech, with a senior Buddhist monk saying in June Muslims should be stoned in one case. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana made the comment after repeating unsubstantiated claims that a Muslim doctor had sterilised thousands of Buddhist women.

"The government must take action against the hate propaganda targeting Muslim communities that is being spread through unregulated media and is instigating ethnoreligious tension for political gain," said Shaheed. Failure to do so "will allow extremism to escalate and pose serious

challenges to peace-building," he added.

Sporadic incidents Sri Lanka's population of about 22 million is a patchwork of ethnicities and religions.

Sinhalese speaking Buddhists make up more than 70 per cent, while Tamils account for 15 per cent. Muslims are the secondlargest minority, comprising about 10 per cent of the population.

There has been an increase in attacks against the community since the civil war's end, including major bouts of violence in 2013 and 2018.

Buddhist groups - some led by monks - were blamed for the unrest. But many in the government saw the unrest as "sporadic small incidents", he said, warning they must not be treated as such.

"The underlying unease and hostility existed long before the

Ahmed Shaheed

Easter attacks and subsequent violence," he said.

He highlighted a range of factors for the "simmering" tensions. including the politicisation of religion, segregated education based on ethno-religious identity, as well as impunity for previous religiously motivated attacks.

Failure to hold perpetrators to account for previous violence has "strengthened the antiMuslim groups", he said, adding: "It is time for Sri Lanka to vigorously adopt measures to protect the rights of all people and to hold perpetrators accountable, regardless of their ethno-religious background."

Rohingya Muslims refuse to go back to Myanmar COX’S BAZAR (BANGLADESH): An attempt to repatriate thousands of Rohingya Muslims living in camps in Bangladesh was stalled after nearly 300 refugee families refused to go back to Myanmar, almost a year after a similar effort failed amid protests. As a first step, Myanmar had cleared the return of 3,450 people, of more than 730,000 who fled a military crackdown in Rakhine state in 2017, and now shelter in the sprawling camps.

Although Myanmar authorities say they are ready to receive any who return, refugees have refused to go back for fear of further violence. “I was so sad, so worried about going back to Myanmar,” said 32-year-old

Sayedul Haque, who discovered his name on the list for repatriation but refused to go.

Since the plan was announced, United Nations staff and Bangladesh officials have been interviewing those cleared for return, selected from more than 22,000 names sent by Bangladesh to Myanmar, to determine if they want to go.

None of the 295 families consulted have agreed to go back, said a Bangladesh relief official, Mohammad Abul Kalam, although buses and trucks have been arranged to carry them across the border.

“This is a continuous process,” Kalam, who is Bangladesh’s refugee relief and repatriation commissioner, said.

“We are interviewing other families who were cleared by the Myanmar government and if anyone expresses willingness to go back we’ll return them. All arrangements and logistical facilities are put in place.”

In a statement, the UN refugee agency, which also said nobody had agreed to go back, said its staff would continue to assist interviewing the rest of those cleared for return. Min Thein, the director of Myanmar’s social welfare ministry, said that officials had been sent to greet any arrivals at reception centers on the border.

Families in hiding Previous attempts to persuade Rohingya to return to Rakhine have also failed due to

opposition from the refugees.

An effort in November sowed fear and confusion in the camps, and finally failed after refugee protests. This time also refugees who were cleared for repatriation refused to go for interviews. Some fled the camp for fear that they would be forced to return to Myanmar.

Many refugees say they want to return home, but under specific conditions, including guarantees of citizenship and security and improvements in the lives of Rohingya still in Myanmar. Tens of thousands of Rohingya remain in Rakhine state, confined to camps and villages, mostly denied citizenship and subject to tight restrictions on movement.

in brief 19 KILLED IN MYANMAR FIGHTING

More than 2,000 people have been forced to flee from their homes, and 19 have been killed, since fighting broke out between government troops and ethnic minority insurgents in northern Myanmar last week, government officials said.

The escalation in hostilities in Myanmar’s fractured north is another setback for civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s bid to bring peace amid a stuttering transition from full military rule.

The people displaced in the latest fighting are sheltering in monasteries around Lashio town in the north of Shan State, and are depending on aid groups and the government for their supplies, aid workers said. "We are providing basic rescue materials as well as cash to displaced people in the camps, the injured people and also to family members of those who got killed," Soe Naing, director of the Department of Disaster Management in Shan State, said.

SAUDI ARABIA EASES TRAVEL CURBS ON WOMEN

Saudi Arabia began implementing a landmark reform allowing women over the age of 21 to receive passports and travel abroad without permission from a male "guardian", authorities said. The reform, announced earlier this month, weakens the restrictive guardianship system that has long been a symbol of repression against women. "The passport department has started receiving applications for women aged 21 and above to issue or renew passports and to travel outside the kingdom without permission," the department said. Women in the kingdom have long required permission from their male "guardians" !" husband, father and other male relatives !" for these tasks, a restriction that drew international censure.

GERMAN PARK SHUTS SWASTIKA-SHAPED RIDE

An amusement park in Germany shut down a new attraction this week after complaints that it resembled a pair of giant, spinning swastikas that lifted riders into the sky over the Black Forest town of Löffingen. The ride, called Eagle’s Flight, included a set of four eagle-shaped cars, each connected at a right angle to a central axis, giving it a swastika-like appearance that was only amplified when it rose from the ground and twirled in the air. Rudiger Braun, the owner of the park, said that he had not noticed the ride’s resemblance to symbol of Nazi Germany. Braun said he apologised “to all persons who feel disturbed and insulted by our design” and said that the ride would be redesigned to have three cars on each arm instead of four.

COUPLE FACE JAIL FOR TAKING SAND FROM ITALIAN BEACH

A couple on holiday in Sardinia face up to six years in jail after they stole some sand as a souvenir. The Italian island’s white-sand beaches are highly protected, with harsh penalties for those who try to remove any sand - from one to six years in jail for theft with the aggravating circumstance of having stolen an asset of public utility. The French couple were caught with 14 plastic bottles full of sand, weighing 40kg, in the boot of their car. They claim to have not known the practice was forbidden and had no idea they were committing an offence when they removed the sand. Sardinian environmental scientist Pierluigi Cocco said that Sardinia’s beaches are under threat from both erosion and tourists removing the sand.

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in brief DE NIRO’S CO SUES EX-STAFFER FOR WATCHING NETFLIX ON JOB

Robert De Niro’s Canal Productions filed a $6 million lawsuit against former employee Chase Robinson, accusing her of embezzling money and binge watching Netflix while on the job. The complaint alleged that over a four-day period in January she watched 55 episodes of “Friends” and that over a fourday period in March she watched 20 episodes of ‘Arrested Development” and 10 episodes of “Schitt's Creek”. The suit also alleged that she charged the company huge hotel and restaurant bills.

‘SACRED GAMES’ FAUX PAS GIVES DESI SLEEPLESS NIGHTS An Indian man in Sharjah is having sleepless nights as his phone keeps ringing with unwanted calls from around the world after his mobile number was flashed during the second season of the series “Sacred Games” on Netflix. Kunhabdulla CM had his phone number flashed as fictional gangster Sulaiman Isa’s number. Netflix told Gulf News, saying they had removed the number. “We apologise for any inconvenience caused,” the firm said.

MAN SURVIVES A WEEK IN JUNGLE ON BERRIES AND BUGS

A Utah man said he ate berries and bugs to survive for nearly a week while lost in wilderness along the Idaho-Montana border.

Kaden Laga, 25, is about to become a father and told himself he had to survive and make it home to his pregnant wife. The man was on a horseback in Bitterroot-Selway Wilderness when one of the horses went lame. He said he started to hike back but took a wrong turn and got lost without cellphone service.

N KOREA TESTS NEW MULTIPLE ROCKET LAUNCHER

North Korea said leader Kim Jong-un supervised the test-firing of a “newly developed super-large multiple rocket launcher”, another demonstration of its expanding weapons arsenal apparently aimed at increasing its leverage ahead of a possible resumption of nuclear talks with the US. The North’s Korean Central News Agency said weapons test was successful and cited Kim as saying the rocket launcher is “indeed a great weapon.” Kim underscored the need to “continue to step up the development of Korean-style strategic and tactical weapons for resolutely frustrating the ever-mounting military threats and pressure offensive of the hostile forces,” according to the KCNA.

BOY, 8, GOES ON JOYRIDE WITH MOM’S CAR IN GERMANY

Police say an 8-year-old boy took his mom’s car and went for a nighttime joyride on a highway in Germany. Police said the boy’s mother called them after she noticed that both her son and her VW Golf had disappeared. Police eventually found the boy at a highway service area where he’d parked the car, turned on the hazard lights and put up the warning triangle. According to police, the boy said he started feeling “uncomfortable”' once he hit 140 kph on the highway.

FLYER FORGETS SNAKE AT AIRPORT SECURITY CHECKPOINT

A girl discovered something slithery at a New Jersey airport security checkpoint: a 15-inch long snake. Transportation Security Administration officials at Newark Liberty International Airport said it appeared the black snake with a yellow ring around its neck was forgotten by a flyer. Officials said the snake was harmless.

HK police draw guns on pro-democracy protesters HONG KONG: Hong Kong police fired gunshot and deployed water cannons for the first time as the civil unrest in the Chinese city entered its 11th week. The pro-democracy protesters hurled gasoline bombs, sticks and rods at police in riot gear in the latest summer-long protests that have shaken the city’s government and residents.

The day's main showdown took place on a major highway in Tsuen Wan district following a protest march that ended in a park. While a crowd rallied in the park, a group of hard-line protesters took over a main street, strewing bamboo poles on the pavement and lining up traffic barriers and cones to obstruct police. Police brought out water cannon trucks, though they did not use them directly on protesters. Police told local media that the gunshot was fired as a warning to protesters, and that several officers had been taken to hospital as a result of the clashes. Police also fired rubber bullets and tear gas, and used two water cannon vehicles to

clear barricades.

After hoisting warning flags, police used tear gas to try to disperse the crowd, to which the protesters responded by throwing bricks and gasoline bombs. Small fires and scattered paving bricks on the street between the two sides, rising clouds of tear gas and green and blue laser lights pointed by the protesters at police created a surreal scene. The protesters eventually decided to abandon their position.

Some protesters said they are resorting to violence because the government has not

responded to their peaceful demonstrations. “The escalation you’re seeing now is just a product of our government’s indifference toward the people of Hong Kong,” said Rory Wong, who was at the clash after the march. Officers pulled their guns after protesters chased them down a street with sticks and rods, calling them “gangsters”.

Earlier last week protests in the Chinese-ruled city showed no signs of let-up as Hong Kong braced for multiple antigovernment demonstrations and a "stress test" of the airport.

Tens of thousands of protesters marched in the rain, many filled a park, chanting, “Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong”.

The Airport Authority published a half-page notice in newspapers urging young people to “love Hong Kong” and said it opposed acts that blocked the airport, adding that it would keep working to maintain smooth operations. Hong Kong’s high court extended an order restricting protests at the airport. Some activists had apologised for last week’s airport turmoil.

Pro-democracy residents have been rebelling since early this summer over what they see as Communist China’s increasing control over the Special Administrative Region, which is technically part of China but was promised more democratic rights than the Communist mainland when England ceded control in 1997.

They are demanding the resignation of Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, democratic elections and an independent investigation into police abuse.

Canadian opposition asks police to investigate PM Trudeau OTTAWA: Federal opposition leader Andrew Scheer has been calling for a more serious punishment for the Justin Trudeau after ethics commissioner’s stinging conclusions about PM's handling of the SNC-Lavalin affair, including suggesting to be aligned with a criminal offence. Scheer renewed call for a probe into possible obstruction of justice, detailed in a letter to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), comes only two months before national elections.

It follows independent parliamentary ethics commissioner Mario Dion's rebuke of Trudeau over the breach - which the prime minister rejected - and the recent disclosure that federal

Justin Trudeau

police had earlier this year taken an interest in the case involving engineering giant SNC-Lavalin.

"Today, in light of both the ethics commissioner's finding and the revelations about the RCMP's previous involvement, I have formally requested the RCMP take another look," Scheer told a news conference.

He first asked for an RCMP probe in February. "I believe (there) are significant grounds for an investigation into whether or not Justin Trudeau violated section 139 of the Criminal Code, obstructing justice," he said. "We know that Justin Trudeau has broken the law. We need to know if he has committed a crime."

Montreal-based SNCLavalin, one of the world's major engineering firms, was charged in 2015 with paying bribes to secure contracts in Libya. Attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould refused to ask prosecutors to settle the case, and a judge ruled in May that there was sufficient evidence to proceed to a trial. But after resigning, she testified to lawmakers that she had

experienced "consistent and sustained" political pressure to interfere in the case, including "veiled threats."

In a report last week, Dion concluded that Trudeau and his inner circle tried to "circumvent, undermine and ultimately attempt to discredit" the decision not to offer SNCLavalin an out-of court settlement that would have resulted in a fine and agreeing to compliance measures.

Trudeau has acknowledged mistakes but has refused to apologize, citing the company's claims that a conviction at trial would deprive the company of lucrative government contracts resulting in up to 9,000 jobs lost. "I can't apologise for standing up for Canadian jobs," he said.

New Zealand speaker soothes baby as debate rages WELLINGTON: New Zealand assembly speaker Trevor Mallard has been called a baby whisperer as he was gently rocking, bottle feeding and burping a colleague's infant. He soothed baby Tutanekai for about 15 minutes as a lawmaker ranted about gas prices during a fiery general debate after spotting lawmaker Tamati Coffey with his 6-week-old son.

Coffey said he'd just gotten back to work after he and husband Tim Smith had their baby via a surrogate mother last month. He said he doesn't usually plan to bring his son to parliament but thought it would be good to let his colleagues meet and cuddle the boy and get

it before," he said. "It's also highlighted a case in Kenya."

In that case from earlier this month, Zuleikha Hassan and her 5-month-old baby were ejected from the floor of the Kenyan National Assembly.

Hassan said she had to bring the baby to parliament because she New Zealand House Speaker Trevor Mallard bottle- wasn't able to make feeds lawmaker Tamati Coffey's baby other arrangements, but temporary speaker some selfies with him. He said Christopher Omulele said "As he's been getting plenty of much as she might want to take messages after the images of care of her child, this is not the Mallard spread far and wide. place for it." That's not how "People talk about things going Mallard sees it, even if the role viral, but I've never experienced

does get a little messy sometimes. He said that when he was burping Tutanekai, a little milk came up, which later required him to clean his official robes. Mallard said that he's been trying to make parliament a more family-friendly place by adding baby chairs, family rooms and, soon, a slide. He's also increased the flexibility around family leave for lawmakers. Mallard, who has six grandchildren, said he's worked hard to help out his colleagues.

And he's been in plenty of demand: There are currently seven lawmakers with babies and he figures there have been a dozen since he began his role nearly two years ago.

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SOUTH INDIA

In a first, Karnataka to have three deputy CMs BENGALURU: A month after B S Yediyurappa took over as Chief Minister of Karnataka, portfolios were finally allocated to the 17 ministers sworn in earlier and three deputy chief ministers named to work alongside him. This comes a week after expansion of the ministry with the induction of 17 ministers. The deputy chief minister are: five time MLA from Mudhol Govind Karjol (68), two-time MLA from Malleswaram Dr C N Ashwath Narayan (51) and three-time MLA from Athani Lakshman Savadi (59) who lost the election in 2018. They belong to Dalit, Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities, respectively.

While Karjol is perceived to be close to the Chief Minister, the other two are known to have played a key role in the party’s efforts to topple the Congress-

Govind Karjol, Ashwath Narayan and Laxman Savadi

JD(S) coalition government.

While Yediyurappa is reportedly not happy with the decision to appoint three deputy chief ministers, several senior leaders are said to be upset with the choice of Ashwath Narayan, seen as a relatively junior member, and Savadi, who lost the 2018 elections. However, the party

high command has left them with little options but to tow the line, sources said.

The BJP, in its earlier tenure, had appointed R Ashoka and K S Eshwarappa as deputy CMs under Jagadish Shettar in 2012.

All three leaders are now part of the cabinet. They have been allotted major portfolios of revenue, rural development and

panchayat raj and large and medium scale industries, respectively.

Umesh Katti upset "I think Chief Minister Yediyurappa is also not happy with the decision of the party high command," former minister Umesh Katti said in Belagavi. He was reacting on the appointment of three Deputy CMs. Katti is said to be upset at being left out of the cabinet. “I believe the CM is unhappy. As for me, I am just an MLA. What can I say about the high command decision? I will wait and watch. I will react later," he said.

"It is true that I was upset as I was not included in the cabinet. But my party leaders asked me to wait for a few days.

I will wait for the party’s reaction in the second round of cabinet expansions," he said.

PUNJAB

Punjab to canalise rivers with the support of World Bank, ADB CHANDIGARH: Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced that the Punjab government has decided to canalise all rivers in the state with the technical support of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

After an aerial survey to assess the damage caused by floods in Sultanpur Lodhi (Kapurthala) and Jalandhar areas, the chief minister announced a project to realign river streams and courses, besides strengthening and widening of river embankments for a permanent solution to the problem of floods.

He also promised due compensation to the affected farmers in Sarupwal of Sultanpur Lodhi, as soon as the water receded. A special ‘girdwari’ (loss assessment) of

Amarinder Singh

crops will be carried out once the water recedes. The state government will stop all development works to fund the flood relief operations and compensation if the Centre does not release them adequate grants, Amarinder said.

He also announced dedicated relief teams in the affected areas. Each team will comprise officials from the health, civil supplies and animal

husbandry departments and ensure regular and timely supply of food, medicines and fodder.

In response to a question, he said nothing would be allowed to hamper the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev and his government is preparing to celebrate the historic occasion in a befitting manner Seeks relief package from Centre In the wake of flood situation in the state, Capt Amarinder wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking £100 mn special relief package to compensate the losses. The Chief Minister has also urged the Prime Minister to instruct the concerned authorities to waive off crop loans of banks or financial institutions availed by the

affected farmers in the affected villages during the current cropping season.

The flooding in river Sutlej due to the discharge of water from Bhakra Dam led to a breach in the embankment, affecting 62 villages, the heaviest since 1958, had caused extensive damage to the standing crops and inundation of residential areas in the villages.

Realising the gravity of the situation, the state government had declared it a natural calamity in the affected areas, said the Chief Minister, adding that though necessary assistance was given by the Army authorities, the floods in river Sutlej had severely damaged standing crops, houses and other rural and urban infrastructure at many places.

WEST BENGAL

Tea politics brewing up in West Bengal KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee brewed tea at a village stall during her official visit to state's coastal town Digha. In a video, that instantly sparked buzz on social media, Banerjee was seen making tea for her colleagues and interacting with the locals.

While inspecting the area to ensure better facilities for tourists, Banerjee suddenly stopped her convoy in front of a tea shack. Before anyone could guess, 'Didi' simply walked into the shack and asked the owner if she could make tea for the customers. The chief minister, who is known for her fiery speeches, is heard asking people not to burn their hands while enjoying their tea.

The tea stall owner was taken aback by her gesture and greeted Banerjee with folded

Mamata Banerjee making tea at a village stall

hands and helped her brew tea.

She served tea to her party leaders Suvendu Adhikary, Shishir Adhikary, Subrata Mukherjee and other officials.

In the meantime, a large number of local people gathered in the area to have a glimpse of the chief minister. She distributed cupcakes, chocolates among the children.

"Sometimes the little joys in life can make us happy. Making and

sharing some nice tea (cha/chai) is one of them. Today, in Duttapur, Digha," she tweeted.

Earlier in the year 2014, she was seen playing badminton in Bolpur during an administrative meeting.

As Mamata is facing a strong anti-incumbency wave in Bengal which brought her tally from 34 to 22 seats in the recently held Lok Sabha polls, team 'PK' (Prashant Kishor) is silently working on a 'complete image makeover' of TMC chief.

Party leaders felt that this could be her initiative towards an image makeover after poll strategist Prashant Kishor advised her to keep things 'measured'.

BJP hosts 'Dada ke Bolun' Tea Party Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to launch 'dada ke

bolun' (tell dada) involving state's chief Dilip Ghosh to counter Trinamool Congress' 'didi ke bolo' (dial didi - Mamata Banerjee) programme.

According to the BJP strategists, the party's local leadership will organise tea parties at various locations of the state where Ghosh would reach out to the people and listen to their grievances and advice.

The state BJP has already come out with a video on the programme which reveals the poster of Ghosh sipping tea. In 'didi ke bolo' people have been given a helpline number which is mostly received by Trinamool volunteers and one has to go through various levels to speak to Banerjee over phone. In contrast, Ghosh would be physically present at various localities.

in brief HC GRANTS THREE WEEKS' EXTRA LEAVE TO NALINI

The Madras High Court has extended by three weeks a month-long ordinary leave granted to Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict S Nalini, 52, for making arrangements for the marriage of her daughter, residing in UK along with the S Nalini latter’s paternal uncle in London. The judges granted the relief after accepting the submissions made by her counsel that the life convict could not arrange for her daughter’s marriage within a month’s period, which was due to expire on August 25, and therefore had pleaded for an extension. It was on July 5 this year, that the same the division bench had granted her parole for a month, though she had actually urged the court to let her be out of the prison for a period of six months. The convict had argued her plea in person.

HIGH ALERT IN TN, KERALA OVER LET TERRORISTS

Police in Tamil Nadu are on high alert following intelligence reports that six Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists have infiltrated into the state.

One of the six is believed to be a Pakistani national, the others are believed to be from Sri Lanka. Police are also on alert in neighbouring Kerala, with districts adjoining Tamil Nadu ordered to carry out extra inspections. “We have received this information and have alerted our force. We want the public to inform the police if they see any suspicious person or any suspicious activity," a top Tamil Nadu police officer said.

Security in Chennai and Coimbatore has been strengthened, with hotels, airports, railway stations, theatres, malls and places of worship under close watch. At least 2,000 police personnel have been deployed around Coimbatore, where a red alert has been sounded.

According to reports, the terrorists are believed to be hiding in the city.

PUNJAB GOVT TO INVITE RELIGIOUS HEADS

Punjab government will extend their invitations to religious heads of different faiths, including Pope Francis, Dalai Lama, Puri Shankaracharya on the occasion of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev at Dera Baba Nanak in November. The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of representatives of Sant Samaj with Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, MLA from Dera Baba Nanak. The religious heads would be invited to the four-day function from November 8 to 11 at Dera Baba Nanak, while the Sultanpur Lodhi one will be organised on November 12. The government has also invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for flagging off a Jatha to Pakistan on November 8 and President Ram Nath Kovind for the November 12 function. Randhawa said that Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will write a formal letter to the religious heads to invite them for the function.

4 KILLED IN WEST BENGAL STAMPEDE

At least four people were killed and several others were injured in the stampede-like situation during Janmashtami celebrations near Kachua Loknath temple in West Bengal. CM Mamata Banerjee announced a compensation of Rs 5,00,000 to family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to people with minor injuries. "There was a large crowd at Kachua Loknath temple this year. It started raining heavily in the wee hours and people tried to take shelter at makeshift bamboo stalls on the approach road to the temple. The bamboo structures collapsed after heavy rain,” the chief minister said. Millions of people gather at Kochua Loknath temple every year on this day to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lokenath Brahmachari.

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Govt to get £17.6 bn bonanza from RBI

The Reserve Bank of India board, headed by governor Shaktikanta Das, which met in Mumbai, approved a transfer of £17.60 billion to the government. This includes £12.34 billion of surplus or dividend for the year 2018-19 and £5.26 billion of excess provisions a one-time transfer which is a first for the RBI. The transfer of the excess capital has been a bone of contention between RBI and the government since the time Raghuram Rajan was the governor.

Differences had come to a head during former governor Urjit Patel’s tenure, with external board members and the former economic affairs secretary pushing for a transfer, which led to Patel’s resignation last December.

It was after Das took over in December 2018 that the Jalan panel was constituted.

The transfer is based on a formula recommended by the Bimal Jalan committee’s revised Economic Capital Framework that was adopted by the board. Amid the battle for funds, the panel had been set up to work out the optimum capital level with RBI. The RBI was originally expected to transfer around £6.6 billion to the Centre, including £800 million of “surplus reserves.” This was far lower than the £9 billion that had been budgeted for

• Dr. Radhakrishnan defined secularism as equal respect to all religion • Gandhiji realized late the need for separation of religion from politics

I

RBI governor Shaktikanta Das

during the current fiscal year. However, the eventual transfer amounts to over £17.6 billion.

The surplus of £12.3 billion is the largest ever for the RBI. The highest that RBI has transferred so far was £6.58 billion in 2014-15.

The RBI has stopped ploughing back surplus into reserves and has been remitting 99% of its gains to the government since 201314.

The record earning of £12.3 billion in 2018-19 followed huge dollar intervention by RBI in the first half of 2018-19. RBI also made money by lending money to banks and buying back interest-bearing bonds through open market operations.

These operations, done to stabilise financial markets, ended up in RBI’s coffers.

While the transfer is at the higher end of the

spectrum based on Jalan’s recommendation, it is way below the £30 billion expected by some in the government.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch in an earlier report had pegged RBI’s surplus reserves at $43bn or £30 billion.

The government is, however, seeing it as a victory of sorts as it has managed to extract surplus funds that were lying idle with RBI. The Jalan panel identified RBI’s capital in two parts - realised equity (actual profits) and revaluation balances (where the value of reserves had gone up). The panel had recommended that RBI retain realised equity at between 5.5% and 6.5% of total assets, as against 6.8% at present. The board, however, chose to retain equity at a lower level of 5.5% and transferred £5,26 billion of surplus.

Chidambaram to remain in CBI custody till 30 Aug A special court on Monday extended till 30 August the CBI’s custody of former finance minister P. Chidambaram in the INX Media case, even as the Supreme Court extended interim protection from arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The Supreme Court, however, dismissed a separate anticipatory bail plea by him, saying it has become “infructuous" as he had already been arrested by the CBI. Chidambaram’s plea challenging the remand order of the CBI court was not listed and, hence, could not be argued. The division bench of the apex court, headed by Justice R. Bhanumati and comprising Justice A.S. Bopanna, directed Chidambaram to file a rejoinder to the brief reply affidavit filed by ED. The bench dismissed the plea in the CBI case challenging the 20 August order passed by Delhi high court rejecting the anticipatory bail petition of Chidambaram. It observed that a regular bail petition before the trial court should

Great Indian Philosopher for Secular Education

not be influenced by Delhi high court’s observations.

Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Chidambaram, argued that he should not have been arrested as the bail application was pending before the Supreme Court.

Sibal argued that due legal procedures have not been followed in his arrest and the fundamental rights under Article 21 granting freedom of life and liberty have been severely violated.

“If something is found after probing documents, it should be put before the accused so that he can give an explanation. Here, it’s a one-way street where documents are produced in court but not before the accused," he argued. “He’s being asked questions like ‘do you have a Twitter account...’ this is the quality of investigation during custodial interrogation."

During the anticipatory bail plea in the ED case, Sibal submitted the allegations against Chidamabaram and argued that there are lacunas in the legal procedures. “P.

P Chidambaram

Chidambaram is being made vicariously liable. The ED’s case seems to be that since he’s Karti’s father, he must be involved....there is no chargesheet filed naming him so prima facie no offence has been committed," Sibal argued.

Chidambaram was produced before special CBI judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar at the Rouse Avenue Court complex on Monday. While solicitor general Tushar Mehta sought a five-day extension of the custody, the court extended the former Union minister’s CBI custody till 30 August. “…I am of the view that further police custody remained of the accused Chidambaram is justified and accordingly the accused is remanded to further police custody till 30.08.2019," the order read. Chidambaram was sent to CBI custody last Thursday.

t was almost like a miracle that one who was born in a poor family and “auctioned his university medals and in addition borrowed more money. Unable in the following years even to pay the interest on these debts… found himself dragged to court in 1913 in a civil suit” rose to be not only a world renowned Philosopher and Professor at Oxford but was even invited to be the President of India! India is proud of Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishna (5 September 1888- 18 April 1975) whose birthday is being celebrated as the Teachers’ Day. His worthy son and a celebrated historian S. Gopal presents his father in his biography saying: “Poverty did not preclude his working out for himself a dress which suited his figure and his personality- a long silk coat buttoned up at the neck and reaching down to his knees, a white dhoti with a black border, black slippers and a turban of white muslin. This was his attire in India for rest of his life, whatever his position; and sartorial elegance became a part of his personality.”

Born at Tirutani, a very small temple town to the north-west of Madras city (now called Chennai), Radhakrishnan’s parents knew no English and had no clear idea of his performance at school. Their self-made son was destined to be not only bright at studies but was to be a Professor at University of Calcutta as well as Oxford, the Vice Chancellor of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), an Indian Ambassador to Moscow and the Vice President of India. Thanks to his closeness to PM Jawaharlal Nehru, he was invited to be the President of India and President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan with PM Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi he was almost unanimously elected with support of all the political parties in May practiced religion in politics through 1962. prayers. He followed the principle of equal A world renowned authority on Indian respect to all religions. At the fag end of his culture and Hindu philosophy life Gandhi wanted non-interference of Radhakrishnan, always favoured secular State in the religious matters. He also education. Despite being an ardent believer emphasized the separation of religion so of Hinduism, he was that it can be practiced only at Next Column: outspoken in his criticism of personal level. But that was too caste and superstitions that Sardar Patel initiates late.

Operation Polo blinded Hinduism. Steering While maintaining his clear of abstractions, dignity as the President of India, Radhakrishnan’s views found acceptance Radhakrishnan did contribute a favouarable amongst scientists and men who had political atmosphere for Indira Gandhi by nothing to do with religion. As someone roping in the Congress President K. Kamraj who did not bear a divisive agenda in mind, in her support when PM Lal Bahadur Radhakrishnan was critical, but not Shastri died in Tashkent in January 1966. dismissive of any religion. Time and again, Though President Radhakrishnan and PM he had tried to explain religion using Indira Gandhi shared cordial relations and philosophy. In 1938, he had made concerted she extended all courtesies by regular efforts to establish a department of Islamic meetings with him at the Rashtrapati studies at a university that was being chiefly Bhawan, somehow the new avatar of Goongi funded by Hindu patrons.

Gudia (dumb doll) was more assertive who In his book, “Recovery of Faith”, he did not prefer a tutor-President for the explains secularism in India as follows: second term. Despite Kamraj proposing “When India is said to be a secular state, it Dr.Radhakrishnan’s name, she preferred Dr. does not mean that we reject the reality of Zakir Hussain. Dr.Radhakrishnan returned an unseen spirit or the relevance of religion to Madras in May 1967. He was lonely in to life, or that we exalt irreligion. It does not mind and spirit as he himself earlier defined mean that secularism itself becomes a it: “to be lonely is to be depressed, to be positive religion or that the state assumes frustrated, to have nothing which can divine prerogatives…. We hold that not one occupy our mind or our attention.” When he religion should be given preferential status.” died in 1975, thousands of common people He defined secularism as equal respect to all to the well-to-do, politicians and diplomats religions and never should be considered as came but two persons were conspicuous by irreligious. Political parties in power follow their absence, the PM Indira this definition and take advantage of the Gandhi and President Fakhruddin situation to their advantage. Mahatma Ali Ahmed had Dr. Hari Desai Gandhi realized in the last days of his life not shown the (The writer is a Sociothe need for separation of religion from grace to political Historian. politics, especially the state. Gandhiji always attend!

E-mail: haridesai@gmail.com)

Pak mulling closure of airspace to India Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is considering a complete closure of air space to India, a federal Minister said amid growing tensions between the two countries following New Delhi’s decision to end Kashmir’s special status. “PM is considering a complete closure of Air Space to India, a complete ban on use of Pakistan Land routes for Indian trade to Afghanistan was also suggested in cabinet meeting, legal formalities for these decisions are under consideration... #Modi has started we will finish!” Minister for Science and Technology

Fawad Chaudhry tweeted on Tuesday.

Chaudhry later said that Prime Minister Khan agreed to the suggestion, which was taken up at the Cabinet meeting. “The Prime Minister has asked the Civil Aviation Authority and the Foreign Office to sort out legal issues regarding this. He said that some legal complications led to the reopening of the airspace earlier,” Chaudhry said.

Chaudhry added that Pakistan cannot remain elusive to what is going on in Kashmir. “This is yet another step to show solidarity with the people of Kashmir.”

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Trump to keep off Kashmir

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the other leaders at the G7 Summit, in Biarritz, France

US President Doland Trump, during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of G-7 Summit, agreed that Kashmir is a "bilateral issue," but said that he was there should they need him. Addressing the media after his meeting with Modi, Trump said: “We spoke last night about Kashmir, Prime Minister really feels he has it under control. They speak with Pakistan and I’m sure that they will be able to do something that will be very good.”

PM Modi categorically rejected any scope for third party mediation between India and Pakistan on Kashmir, saying "we don't want to trouble any third country." He reiterated that all the issues between India and Pakistan are bilateral in nature. “There are many bilateral issues between India and Pakistan, and we don’t want to trouble any third country. We can discuss and resolve these issues bilaterally," Modi said when asked if Trump’s mediation offer was on the table.

This was the first official meeting between both the leaders after the revocation of Article 370 in J&K, a move that

has been vehemently criticised by Pakistan.

"India and Pakistan were together before 1947 and I'm confident that we can discuss our problems and solve them together," PM Modi said, adding the two nations should come together to fight poverty and for the well being of the people. "When I called Prime Minister Khan after the elections, I told him that Pakistan has to fight against poverty, India has to also fight against it.

Pakistan has to fight against illiteracy and disease, and India has to also fight against them...I told him we should work together for the welfare of our people," Modi said.

On his part, Trump said “I have very good relationship with both the gentlemen (Modi and Khan) and I’m here. I think they can do it (resolve the issue) themselves," he added. This was the second meeting between PM Modi and President Trump this year. Earlier, the two leaders had met on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan. Trump, in the recent past, had offered mediation between India and Pakistan on Kashmir. He said “will do the best I can to mediate or do something” to defuse the crisis between India and

Pakistan.

Modi attended the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France, after concluding his threenation tour to France, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Although India is not a member of the G7 group, PM Modi was invited as a “special guest” by French President Emmanuel Macron. The countries that are part of the G7 include the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States.

Modi meets world leaders The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said that the invitation was a "reflection of the personal chemistry" between the two leaders and also "recognition of India as a major economic power". PM Modi arrived Biarritz on Sunday where the G7 Summit is taking place. PM Modi attended two sessions at the G7 Summit. The morning session on Biodiversity, Climate and Oceans and the afternoon session on Digital Transformation. He also held a number of bilateral meetings with other leaders on the sidelines of the summit. Modi held "fruitful discussions" with United Nations Secretary

General Antonio Guterres on a wide range of issues and discussed ways to strengthen efforts to mitigate the climate change.

"Excellent meeting with the Secretary General of UN, Mr Antonio Guterres. We had extensive deliberations on key issues, most notably ways to strengthen the efforts to mitigate climate change," Modi said in a tweet. Their meeting came against the backdrop of a rare closed-door consultations on Kashmir by the United Nations Security Council after the Indian government revoked the special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the state into two Union Territories.

The PM attended a gala dinner where he was greeted by French President Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron. At the dinner Modi also met other world leaders like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe among others. Modi addressed the G7 Summit on a session on 'Biodiversity, Oceans, Climate'. He spoke about how India is battling the menace of single-use plastic as well as how his government is taking steps to deal with the water crisis.

Hundreds bid emotional farewell to Arun Jaitley Former Finance Minister and BJP titan Arun Jaitley was cremated with full state honours in the presence of relatives, top leaders from across the political spectrum and scores of his admirers and party workers. Skies opened up as Jaitley's son Rohan lit the pyre amid chanting of vedic hymns.

Hundreds of mourners converged at the cremation ground along the banks of the Yamuna river to bid final farewell to the 66-year-old BJP stalwart who passed away on 24 August at the AIIMS. Senior leaders laid wreaths on the mortal remains and a gun salute was given before the last rites.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, BJP veteran LK Advani, party president and Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, party's working president J P Nadda, Union ministers Nirmala

Sitharaman, Smriti Irani and Anurag Thakur, BJP MPs including Vijay Goel and Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Kapil Sibal, NCP leader Praful Patel were among those present.

Chief ministers of Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat,

Karnataka, Bihar and Uttarakhand, Arvind Kejriwal, Devendra Fadnavis, Vijay Rupani, B S Yediyurappa, Nitish Kumar and Trivendra Singh Rawat respectively, were also there.

Among those who paid their respects were Supreme Court judges Rohington Nariman and Sanjay Kishen

Kaul. The late Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s daughter Namita Bhattacharya and her husband Ranjan were also there. The large number of lawyers who attended the cremation included Jaitley’s old associates like Raian Karanjawala. There were a large number of television and print journalists who

had known Jaitley over the years.

Speaking in Bahrain, PM Narendra Modi paid an emotional tribute to Jaitley, saying he had lost a dear friend and colleague and recalled that they had mapped their political journey together, sharing ideas and visions and overcoming challenges.

He said his responsibilities prevented him from being in India even though he had lost someone he knew from his days in Delhi as a political worker.

Jaitley, a lawyer by profession, had been an important part of Modi's Cabinet in the first term of BJP government. He held the finance and defence portfolios, and often acted as the chief troubleshooter of the government. As Union finance minister, he had spearheaded the NDA government's policy to implement the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Jaitley’s body was brought to the BJP headquarters located on

Deen D a y a l Upadhyaya Marg from his Kailash Colony residence.

BJP workers queued up since morning. A steady stream of mourners - from partymen to common people including schoolchildren - paid their last respects to the leader.

Jaitley is the second senior leader of the BJP to pass away this month, with former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj breathing her last on 6 August after prolonged illness.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar had also passed away in the last one year, impacting the senior leadership of the party.

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Listening to calm, soothing music can benefit heart health Researchers in India decided to explore how playing different types of music before one go to bed can affect one’s anxiety levels and overall well being. The study, which is being presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Munich, concluded that a person’s anxiety level is likely to drop when they listen to calm, soothing music prior to going to sleep, as opposed to upbeat music or none at all.

The 149 participants of the study, all of which were in good health and had an average age of 26 years old, took part in three sleep sessions on three different nights. During the first session, calm music (akin to the type one would hear during a yoga class) was played before they went to sleep. This was following by pop music with a regular beat on the second night and no music on the third.

The team of researchers measured the heart rates of the participants for five minutes before the music or period of silence began, for 10 minutes during the music or period of silence and for five minutes afterwards.

How does sleep affect mental well being?

They found that the participants' heart rate variability increased during the yoga music, went down during the pop music and stayed the same when there was no music played.

Furthermore, the scientists used the Goldberg Anxiety Scale to measure the anxiety levels of the participants before and after each sleep session.

They noted that the anxiety levels of the participants decreased drastically following the yoga music, increased a lot after listening to pop music and also rose after the period of silence. While the study only used a small cohort of

participants, study author Dr Naresh Sen believes it demonstrates the positive effect of listening to yoga music before bed can have on heart health.

“We use music therapy in our hospital and in this study we showed that yoga music has a beneficial impact on heart rate variability before sleeping,” Dr Sen, a consultant cardiologist in Jaipur, India, explained. “Science may have not always agreed, but Indians have long believed in the power of various therapies other than medicines as a mode of treatment for ailments.

“This is a small study, and more research is needed on the cardiovascular effects of music interventions offered by a trained music therapist. “But listening to soothing music before bedtime is a cheap and easy-to-implement therapy that cannot cause harm.” According to Dr Sen, playing yoga music at bedtime slows the body’s heart rate so that it goes from being in “fight or flight” mode to being in “rest and digest” mode instead.

Use honey to treat cough instead of antibiotics Health experts say that using honey and over-the-counter medicines to treat a cough is better than opting for antibiotics.

When you feel yourself coming down with a cough, you may assume that the best course of action would be to pick up a prescription for an antibiotic.

However, new health guidelines state that doing so may not be as effective as you think.

Cough syrups 'may do more harm than good In new draft guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Public Health England (PHE), experts stress the fact that coughs can be easily treated in just a few weeks without the need for antibiotics prescribed by a GP. “If someone has a runny nose, sore throat and cough we would expect the cough to settle over two to three weeks and antibiotics are not needed,” says Dr Tessa Lewis, GP and chair of the NICE antimicrobial prescribing guideline group.

“People can check their symptoms on NHS choices or NHS Direct Wales or ask their pharmacist for advice.” Dr Lewis states that if cough symptoms continue to worsen and the person

suffering from the cough begins to feel out of breath or extremely unwell, then it would be sensible to contact their GP for advice. Furthermore, if an individual has developed an acute cough or has a pre-existing condition such as lung disease or cystic fibrosis, then it would be wise to speak to a doctor sooner rather than later.

Certain honeys and medicines that are available to purchase without a prescription can help relieve a cough due to the presence of several specific remedial ingredients. According to the NICE draft guidance, honey and cough medicines containing pelargonium, guaifenesin and dextromethorphan have been proven to help cough symptoms settle.

Dr Susan Hopkins, healthcare-

associated infection and antimicrobial resistance deputy director at PHE, warned against excessive use of antibiotics, as this can lead to health issues in future.

“Antibiotic resistance is a huge problem and we need to take action now to reduce antibiotic use,” she says. “Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them puts you and your family at risk of developing infections which in turn cannot be easily treated.”

Dr Hopkins is also urging GPs to refrain from prescribing antibiotics when they may not be needed.

Last year, Professor Dame Sally Davies, chief medical officer for England, issued a call to global leaders asking them to address the important topic of antibiotic resistance, warning that it could lead to “the end of modern medicine.” “We really are facing, if we don’t take action now, a dreadful postantibiotic apocalypse,” she said. Dr Oliver Bevington, a senior registrar in paediatrics at Southampton Children’s Hospital, has recommended that parents treat their children’s coughs and colds with honey and lemon as opposed to over-the-counter cough medicines, as they may unintentionally give their children an “overdose”.

Cancer-causing ingredients in beauty products We apply beauty products onto our skin in an effort to look better and smell fresher. But what exactly is the true cost of our vanity? Chances are, once your products go down the drain you don’t stop and think about what could be in them. Or maybe you did when microbeads – the small pieces of plastic in facial scrubs and makeup – made headlines last year.

Now, a new ingredient is coming under fire; 1,4-dioxane.

Found in everything from body washes to hand soaps and lotions, the Environmental Protection Agency claims it is a likely carcinogen. But despite that, it’s still found in a shocking 46 per cent of products and brands aren’t even required to list it on the label. What’s more, it has an EWG

(Environmental Working Group) score of 8, 10 being the most toxic. A byproduct of other chemicals used in beauty products 1,4-dioxne can often escape your attention on the list of ingredients. Consumers can try to avoid 1,4-dioxane by avoiding the following ingredients: PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene etc.

As such, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York is calling for the ingredient, which he claims causes eye, nose and throat irritation, to be removed from all personal care products in the US. Luckily, Schumer insists that 1,4-dioxane is relatively easy for brands to eradicate noting that “vacuum stripping” is a cost-effective way to remove it from personal care formulations.

in brief OMEGA-3 FATTY ACID MEDICATIONS CAN BOOST CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH A study has claimed that juices are indeed good for children and will improve their overall diet quality, contrary popular beliefs that juices are not good for the health of kids. Drinking 100% fruit juice has many positive attributes that improve overall diet quality,” stated Dr Murray, paediatric nutritionist president of the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Paediatrics.

“When juice is eliminated from a child’s diet, it can have unintended negative nutritional consequences, especially for low-income populations. Juice has recently been cast in a negative light without scientific evidence to support these claims. This report encourages parents and other consumers to look at a child’s total diet before judging foods or beverages 'good' or 'bad.' Foods should be judged not on individual attributes such as fat or sugar but on their contributions to the diet as a whole,” said Dr Murray.

National surveys show many Americans have poor quality diets. The report noted that while juices do lack fibre, they retain the majority of the same health-promoting nutrients, bioactive and photochemical found in the whole fruit. Fruit juice drinkers also have better quality diets; less added sugar and saturated fat and greater amounts of vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and fibre than non-juice drinkers.

“Over the past three decades, fruit juice consumption has fallen substantially yet the gap has not been filled by the consumption of whole fruit. A combination of whole fruit and juice is the best way for children and adults to meet their daily-recommended fruit servings and improve their overall diet,” said Dr Murray.

“Young children are typically the biggest juice drinkers. They are also the only age group in the United States consuming enough servings of fruit.”

JUICE HELPS IMPROVE CHILDREN’S DIET QUALITY: STUDY A study has claimed that juices are indeed good for children and will improve their overall diet quality, contrary popular beliefs that juices are not good for the health of kids. Drinking 100% fruit juice has many positive attributes that improve overall diet quality,” stated Dr Murray, paediatric nutritionist president of the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Paediatrics.

“When juice is eliminated from a child’s diet, it can have unintended negative nutritional consequences, especially for low-income populations. Juice has recently been cast in a negative light without scientific evidence to support these claims. This report encourages parents and other consumers to look at a child’s total diet before judging foods or beverages 'good' or 'bad.' Foods should be judged not on individual attributes such as fat or sugar but on their contributions to the diet as a whole,” said Dr Murray.

National surveys show many Americans have poor quality diets. The report noted that while juices do lack fibre, they retain the majority of the same health-promoting nutrients, bioactive and photochemical found in the whole fruit. Fruit juice drinkers also have better quality diets; less added sugar and saturated fat and greater amounts of vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and fibre than non-juice drinkers.

“Over the past three decades, fruit juice consumption has fallen substantially yet the gap has not been filled by the consumption of whole fruit. A combination of whole fruit and juice is the best way for children and adults to meet their daily-recommended fruit servings and improve their overall diet,” said Dr Murray.

“Young children are typically the biggest juice drinkers. They are also the only age group in the United States consuming enough servings of fruit.”

To Our Readers

We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement any advice. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

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Kareena is my friend and my father's wife: Sara Sara Ali Khan has made her mark in Bollywood in no time after back to back box office hits. The film 'Simmba' has shone light on her as someone who can easily do lively, fun roles. In a candid chat, the 24-year-old actress opened about her equation with her father's wife, Kareena, and her half-brother Taimur. "I do think that Kareena is my friend, but more than that, she is my father's wife. I respect her, and realise that she makes my father happy. We belong to the same profession, and have a similar world, thus, our conversations include that as well."

Sara also spoke about how Taimur, Saif and Kareena's son, and who can lighten up everybody's mood by just being around. She shared, "I am happy to see my father enjoy fatherhood with Taimur because, while he has been a great father to me and Ibrahim, he is at the age and stage in his life where he gets to enjoy fatherhood the way it should be enjoyed. I see the happiness and contentment Taimur brings to his life; I love that. Taimur has helped our family bond like never before."

Sara who made her debut in Bollywood along with Janhvi Kapoor and Ananya Panday, says that she's secure in her place and so are the other actresses. "Whether it's me and Janhvi (Kapoor) or me and Ananya (Panday), we do have more in common with each other than we do with other people. We are young debutantes trying to make it big in a world we have only dreamt about. I am happy, confident, and content with the place I have, and I am sure they are too. I don't think we need to treat each other as rivals, but as friends that we already are. Competition in any field keeps you on your toes; it's a healthy vibe where we can all coexist."

Sara has bagged some interesting projects, including the remake of the iconic 'Coolie No 1' where she will reprise the role played by Karisma Kapoor along side Varun Dhawan. The 'Kedarnath' actress will also share the screen with Kartik Aryan in a sequel of her father and Deepika Padukone's 2009 film, 'Love Aaj Kal.'

You can't stop them, Malaika on public scrutiny Malaika Arora has kept herself busy all these years with special appearances in films with songs like 'Chhaiya Chhaiya', 'Anarkali Disco Chali', and 'Munni Badnaam Hui'.

However, she has never featured in proper roles in the last 19 years. When asked why she never bothered to act in a proper role, she said, "I

have never really been (interested), it's never been my thing. I have not been drawn towards it, and have always kind of flirted with the whole concept of being in the business, but not actually getting into a fullfledged relationship with it.

It's pretty much how I have looked at it."

Malaika opened up about her relationships. She

has often been at the end of countless speculations and rumours, ever since reports of her relationship with Arjun Kapoor did the rounds.

When asked if the scrutiny on her personal life gets to her, Malaika said, "I think there will always be scrutiny about anything and

everything that everybody does. Any celebrity will have the situation. Guess if you are in the business, you have got to get used to it, the whole prospect."

She added, "You can't stop people, these are their personal opinions." The 45 year old also commented on

the frequent fad of gym and airport looks.

"It's overrated, because at the end of the day, I don't know what is the big brouhaha.

The paparazzi, I think are just doing their job. It's a culture that caught on recently, and they are doing a great job."

Hrithik: My failures have made me who I am today In a recent interview, Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan said in his career, he has encountered success and failures and believes the latter have taught him important lessons. Hrithik said, "Today, when I look back, it feels like I have come a long way. There have been successes and there have been failures but most important are the lessons I learnt from my failures. My failures have made me who I am today and now my choices come from a place of having learnt from those failures."

Hrithik has time and again tried to prove his versatility as an artiste and, according to him, it as failure that helped him reach where he stands today. Speaking on his film choices, the 45 year old said he looks for "entertaining scripts" when signing projects,

irrespective of genre. He said, "Honestly, I did not come on board for 'Super 30' because of the social message. I did it because it's a great script. My father always says that if you want to give a message to the society, you make a documentary, don't make films. If you make a film, it has to be entertaining. I am not going to do a film only because it is a biopic on a great man. I am going to do a film if it's an entertaining script, that's it!

Those are the kind of stories I am looking forward to."

His most recent, 'Super 30' has raked in over £14.6 million in India. The actor, however, maintains he does not give much heed to box office numbers. "Box office numbers do hold some level of importance as it is a direct indication of people watching your film, but I don't choose my scripts keeping in mind whether or not it will cross

£10 million or not. It is important that the film connects with the masses and entertains them. Crossing the £10 million mark is only the cherry on top of the cake."

"I have always tried experimenting with characters I play. Whether it is Rohit in 'Koi Mil Gaya', Rohan in 'Kaabil', Ethan in 'Guzaarish' or Anand Kumar in 'Super 30', I have been drawn to different characters. I feel more encouraged and empowered as an actor now. I am thoroughly enjoying the process. I have to work hard to achieve what I want to, even today. There is a constant effort from my side to become better at what I do and to deliver what is expected out of me."

On the work front, Hrithik will be seen next in a high-octane action avatar in 'War', which is scheduled to release in October.

Nick Jonas finds an ‘accurate’ similarity between him and Govinda Singer Nick Jonas' love for Bollywood is no secret anymore.

His wife and actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas has often talked about B-Town music being his new "hype music". All of us have also witnessed the American singer groove on a Govinda song in one of Priyanka's Instagram stories.

However, Jonas' recent post reflects to show that the singer just might be a little too much informed on Bollywood.

In his latest Instagram story, Nick seems to be inspired by dancing star Govinda's dressing sense. The singer, who is on the 'Happiness Begins' tour with brothers, Kevin and Joe, shared a collage of his and Govinda's photo.

He draws similarities between his look from the 'Only Human' music video with that of Govinda from his 1995 film 'Coolie No 1'.

Earlier in April, Priyanka had shared a hilarious mash-up of Jonas

Brothers' song 'Cool' and Govinda's hit number 'Meri Pant Bhi Sexy, Meri Shirt Bhi Sexy'. She had shared the video with the caption, 'Meri Pant Bhi Sexy feat Nick Jonas'. On the work front, the singer had a hit concert at the Webster Hall in New York with his brothers. There, the trio enthralled the audience with their performance on their hit songs including 'Burnin' Up', 'That's Just the Way We Roll', and 'Only Human'.

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31 Aug - 6 Sept 2019

UN denies Pak demand to drop Priyanka as peace ambassador UNICEF goodwill ambassador Priyanka Chopra has been under intense criticism for her 'Jai Hind' tweet after India's retaliatory attack on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. While Pakistan has been asking to drop her as peace ambassador, a UN spokesperson said she retains the right to speak in her personal capacity on issues concerning her.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres, said when UNICEF goodwill ambassadors "speak in their personal capacity, they retain the right to speak about issues that interest or concern them." He added, "their personal views or actions do not necessarily reflect those of UNICEF. When they speak on behalf of the UNICEF, we expect them to adhere to UNICEF's evidence-based impartial positions."

Elaborating on their role, he said, "The UNICEF goodwill ambassadors are prominent individuals

who have agreed to generously volunteer their time and their public profile to promote children's rights." Priyanka faced a wave of criticism and flak since the tweet. Online petitions were called asking for her ouster from the ambassadorship and Pakistan intensified criticism of her after India rescinded the special status of Kashmir. Pakistan Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari wrote to UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore demanding Priyanka's removal as a goodwill ambassador accusing her of "jingoism and support" for the Indian armed forces.

She alleged that Priyanka showed "support for war, including a nuclear war," even though the actress had nowhere mentioned anything beyond the tweet. A Pakistani woman had recently heckled Priyanka at an event in Los Angeles earlier this month.

Janhvi trolled for holding book upside down at book launch Actress Janhvi Kapoor invited trolls recently for holding a book upside down at a book launch event in Delhi.

Janvi was in the national capital for the launch of the Hindi edition of author Harinder Sikka's book 'Calling Sehmat'. As soon as the photographs from the event made way to the internet, the actor became a target of massive trolling. The trolls even termed as 'nadan ladki' (silly girl).

One user commented, "Is she holding the book upside down." Another wrote, "Holding the book upside down at launch.

That's beauty with no brains people." A fan also wrote, "She's holding the book upside down... Does she even know the title of the book." The 'Dhadak' actress was seen in a white saree at the event. She shared pictures of her look on Instagram as well.

On the work front, Janhvi will be next seen in 'Kargil Girl', 'RoohiAfza', and Karan Johar's multi-starrer 'Takht'. She has also been roped in for Netflix's upcoming titled 'Ghost Stories', an anthology of four short films directed by Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, Karan Johar, and Dibakar Banerjee.

The fire he ignited in us continues to blaze, Pooja Bhatt on father Shahid on wife, work and brother Ishaan

After wrapping up the Mysoreschedule of 'Sadak 2' this week, actor Pooja Bhatt has penned an Instagram post, praising her father and director Mahesh Bhatt for igniting a "fire" in her team. She wrote, “Wrap/Unwrap.. and with that we ended a truly magnificent schedule for Sadak 2 in Mysore! Can’t wait to be back on set!

Each day pushed our limits, each day revealed something more to each of us. And long after the last trunk was packed and the last tempo sent on its way home, the fire Mahesh Bhatt has

ignited in all of us continues to blaze with fervour, passion and a desire to do even more".

The filmmaker is returning to his seat behind the camera after almost two decades with 'Sadak 2', a sequel of his 1991 hit 'Sadak'. The original was a romantic thriller featuring Pooja Bhatt and Sanjay Dutt and one of the highest-grossing Hindi movies of that year. The sequel stars Alia Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapur, Pooja Bhatt, and Sanjay Dutt. It is scheduled to release on July 10 next year.

Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor, who is currently basking in the success of 'Kabir Singh', hasn't officially announced his next project but was reportedly approached for Raj Kumar Gupta's next. He has also reportedly been approached for Ram Madhvani's next along with his brother Ishaan Khatter.

When asked in a recent interview if his wife Mira has ever expressed interest to act and if movies excite her, Shahid said she has "never really expressed any such inclination."

He said, "She supports me for what I do, and I will continue to support her for whatever she wants to do. She is creative and has great sense of clothes and is very good with food, too. She is well spoken and well read. She is also quite good with make-up. I appreciate all those things about her. She has a sense of design when it comes to houses and furniture, Having said that, she is pretty comfortable in front of the camera, too."

While the actor is currently looking at multiple offers, when asked if he would be open to working with brother Ishaan, Shahid said, "If we like a script, I would be happy to work with him." Talking about working with family, he said it's certainly not easy.

"It's tough enough playing a character, and if you are working with your younger brother, you feel responsible and don't want that stress of trying to crack a film. It is actually tougher, but like I said, if something interesting comes along, then we will do it." Kapoor said he is happy with the way Ishaan's career is shaping up.

"Whenever he wants any advice, I am always there, but I don't enforce myself on him. He has to make his own decisions. I always knew that he will be a really good dancer, because I remember when I was shooting for 'Shaandaar' he insisted on coming to the sets. He was 18 then. All of us had gone out partying, and suddenly this guy comes and takes over the dance floor. And I was like 'Ishaan thoda chill maar', but he was like 'look at my moves'. So, I knew this one will be a dancer," Shahid said.

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Abhay Deol to play villain in Tamil film 'Hero' Bollywood actor Abhay Deol, who has mostly done positive roles in his career, is all set to play a baddie in upcoming Tamil movie 'Hero'. The actor, who announced the news on his Instagram page, said playing villain was a natural progression.

"On the set of a movie called 'The

Hero' where I play 'the villain!' Was a natural progression I guess, I've played the anti-hero through most of my career. Oh and this one's in Tamil??!

New language, new territory.

Grateful".

Produced by KJR Studios, the film is being directed by PS Mithran. In an

earlier interview, the director talked about the antagonist in the film. "In this film, he is someone unpredictable and unassuming. His reactions would be just a smile, but there's more terror lying beneath it. When I was r u n n i n g

Ram Charan hopes to make comeback to Bollywood with Rajamouli’s 'RRR' Addressing the media recently, actor Ram Charan has claimed that he hasn't shied away from Bollywood and will make a strong comeback with SS Rajamouli's 'RRR'. Ram Charan had made his Bollywood debut with 2013 film 'Zanjeer', which failed to perform well at the box office. Opening up about his Bollywood dreams, Ram Charan said, "I am not shying away from Bollywood. I'm waiting for the right time to make a comeback. I strongly believe SS Rajamouli's 'RRR' is a perfect film to return to Hindi industry. It'll happen next year when we complete the project."

He added that he's confident about 'Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy' doing well in Bollywood. He said, "it took 25 years for my father to return to Hindi and I am confident that 'Sye Raa' will make an impact here too."

Directed by Surender Reddy, 'Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy' is the story of Kurnool-based freedom fighter, Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy. The movie also features Amitabh Bachchan, Nayanthara, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sudeep, Vijay Sethupathi and Jagapathi Babu.

Vijay Deverakonda’s next with Puri Jagannadh titled 'Fighter' Actor Vijay Deverakonda's next project with director Puri Jagannadh has finally taken a name. Sources close to the filmmaker have tipped that the movie has been christened 'Fighter'. There have been no official announcements yet from the makers, but it has been learnt that Jagannadh has already registered the title 'Fighter'. Touted to be centered on a martial artist with a stutter, the script was originally pitched to Jr NTR a few years ago. However, the project never took off for unknown reasons.

Expected to go on the floors towards the end of this year, the film will be jointly produced by Puri and his partner Charmee Kaur. Sources have confirmed that Mani Sharma has been roped in to compose music. Vijay will complete two pending projects, a yet untitled film with director Kranthi

Madhav and 'Hero', before he joins the project.

Vijay's last release was 'Dear Comrade', in which he played a student leader who falls in love with a statelevel cricket player.

The movie, despite releasing amid major hype in four languages, was a box-office dud.

Prabhas opens up on possibility of 'Baahubali 3'

Actor Prabhas, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming 'Saaho', has talked about the possibility of filmmaker SS Rajamouli making a third part in hit franchise 'Baahubali'. He rose to national fame with the blockbuster two-part magnum opus. In a recent interview, Prabhas said, "If SS Rajamouli wants to do part 3 he should get excited. He

only gave me 6 scripts, so he would have done some 10-14.

We almost finished 60 per cent there. I know he had the script in mind for five years. But I don't know if 'Baahubali 3' will happen or not."

He also talked about the experience of working on 'Baahubali' films, where he worked exclusively on the movie for four years. "I was very comfortable giving 4 years of 'Baahubali'. Toward the end I felt I want to do something else also. Sometimes I forget I was part of the project, it was that surreal." He added, "Amarendra Baahubali and Mahendra Baahubali will never get out of my system."

Talking about preparations for the movie, Prabhas said, "For 'Baahubali', we took to old-school methods, targeting one body part, like chest, arms or legs every day. Weights would be heavy to enable us to create that bulk. There was a point when he was lifting us much as body builders do."

Meanwhile, his upcoming 'Saaho' is slated to hit theatres on August 30. Directed by Sujeeth, the film is multilingual and will release in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. It also stars Shraddha Kapoor, Arun Vijay, Jackie Shroff, and Mandira Bedi in pivotal roles.

through my imaginations, it was Abhay Deol, who looked perfect for the role. To my surprise, Abhay was quite impressed with the tale and his role too."

TV Listing

* Schedule is subject to change

SATURDAY AUG 31, 2019 01:12 FILM: SAAYA 05:00 FILM: WAKE UP INDIA 07:21 FILM: PHOOL AUR KAANTE 10:27 FILM: HUFF! IT'S TOO MUCH 12:34 FILM: BAADSHAH 16:12 FILM: VIVAH 19:40 FILM: RUSTOM 22:43 FILM: MASTI SUNDAY SEP 1, 2019 01:50 FILM: GANGSTER 05:00 FILM: LOGIN 07:04 FILM: RAM BALRAM 10:28 FILM: CHALO ISHQ LADAAYE 13:32 FILM: BHAIAJI SUPERHIT 16:17 FILM: RUSTOM 19:20 FILM: NO ENTRY 22:49 FILM: ALONE MONDAY SEP 2, 2019 01:09 FILM: TUMSA NAHIN DEKHA 05:00 FILM: AAJ KA RAAVAN 07:25 FILM: AAJ KA MAHATMA 10:17 FILM: JUAARI 13:22 FILM: JAANAM 16:09 FILM: 16 DECEMBER 19:20 FILM: RAMA RAMA KYA HAI DRAMA 22:03 FILM: FAREB

* Schedule is subject to change

SATURDAY 31ST AUGUST TIME TV PROGRAM NAMES 17:30 ZINDAGI KE CROSSROADS 18:30 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW 20:00 SUPERSTAR SINGER 21:30 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW SUNDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER TIME TV PROGRAM NAMES 17:30 ZINDAGI KE CROSSROADS 18:30 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW 20:00 SUPERSTAR SINGER 21:30 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW

TUESDAY SEP 3, 2019 00:27 FILM: CHOR BAZAARI-EK ATRANGI PREM KAHANI 05:00 FILM: VIKALP 07:34 FILM: AULAD 10:49 FILM: KRANTIVEER 13:54 FILM: NAARAAZ 16:22 FILM: NO ENTRY 19:51 FILM: ALONE 22:26 FILM: GUNAAH WEDNESDAY SEP 4, 2019 00:48 FILM: HAI APNA DIL TOH AWARA 05:00 FILM: MUNNA MAANGE MEMSAAB 07:29 FILM: HAIR IS FALLING 09:17 FILM: DARAAR 12:49 FILM: NASEEB 16:41 FILM: GURUDEV 19:57 FILM: WOH LAMHE 22:37 FILM: INTEHA THURSDAY SEP 5, 2019 01:29 FILM: FOUR PILLARS OF BASEMENT 05:00 FILM: TITOO MBA 07:05 FILM: PYAR KI KAHANI 10:13 FILM: SHIKAAR 12:55 FILM: SAMAY - WHEN TIME STRIKES 15:46 FILM: MAIN KHILADI TU ANARI 19:23 FILM: AUNTY 420 22:15 FILM: FOX FRIDAY SEP 6, 2019 00:37 FILM: YEH HAI MUMBAI MERI JAAN 05:00 FILM: 18.11...A CODE OF SECRECY 07:28 FILM: BAAT BANN GAYI 09:48 FILM: NASEEB 13:40 FILM: ANDHA KANOON 16:56 FILM: YEH ZINDAGI KA SAFAR 19:58 FILM: VEER MON 2ND SEPTEMBER - FRI 6TH SEPTEMBER TIME TV PROGRAM NAMES 17:30 CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA 18:00 BEYHADH 18:30 VIGHNAHARTA GANESHA 19:00 MERE SAI 19:30 TARA FROM SATARA 20:00 ISHAARON ISHAARON MEIN 20:30 PATIALA BABES 21:00 KAUN BANEGA CROREPATI 22:30 TARA FROM SATARA 23:00 CRIME PATROL SONY MAX 2 PRIME TIME 19:00 MONDAY KUDRAT 19:00 TUESDAY AADMI KHILONA HAI 19:00 WEDNESDAY YEH VAADA RAHA 19:00 THURSDAY AAMDANI ATTHANNI KHARCHA RUPAIYA 19:00 FRIDAY GEET (1970) 18:30: FEMINA MISS INDIA 2019 20:30: MOHE RANNG DO LAAL 21:00: BALIKA VADHU - LAMHE PYAAR KE 22:00: RED ALERT SAT 24TH AUG 2019 18:00: RADHA PREM KI DEEWANI

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 19TH - FRI 23RD AUG 2019 13:00: SWARAGINI 15:30: INDIA UNLIMITED 16:00: THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 2 16:30: RASOI SHOW 17:30: CHHUTA CHHEDA 18:00: RADHA PREM KI DEEWANI

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 19TH - FRI 23RD AUG 2019 19:00: MERE HUMRAHI 19:30: CHOTI SARRDAARNI 20:00: SHAKTI ASTITVA KE EHSAAS KI 20:30: RAM SIYA KE LUV KUSH 21:00: GATHBANDHAN 21:30: BEPANAH PYAARR 22:00: BAHU BEGUM 22:30: VISH

18:30: RISING STAR (SEASON 3) 20:30: INDIA'S GOT TALENT (SEASON 8) 21:30: JAGTE RAHO SUN 25TH AUG 2019 18:00: RADHA PREM KI DEEWANI 18:30: RISING STAR (SEASON 3) 20:30: INDIA'S GOT TALENT (SEASON 8) 21:30: JAGTE RAHO

SAT 24TH AUG 2019 19:30: DESI BEAT RESET 20:00: BFFS WITH VOGUE (SEASON 2) 21:00: DANCE DEEWANE SEASON 2 22:30: KAWACH MAHASHIVRATRI SUN 25TH AUG 2019 19:30: DESI BEAT 20:00: BFFS WITH VOGUE (SEASON 2) 21:00: DANCE DEEWANE - SEASON 2 22:30: KAWACH MAHASHIVRATRI

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31

31 Aug - 6 Sept 2019

Mahant Swami in Dar es Salaam

Mahant Swami was welcomed by Harikrishna Maharaj, devotees and other saints of Dar es Salaam temple on August 20.

Everyone from children to elderly performed 2,238 'Tap Vrat' on his arrival. Indian High Commissioner to Tanzania, Rajiv Kohli along with other eminent personalities were present in his welcome ceremony. On 21st, 'Dwidshabdi Din' was celebrated while on 22nd, 'Samp Din' was celebrated wherein the virtue of unity was presented through dance and dialogue.

Mahant Swami said that Pujya Pramukh Swami listed four qualities of unity, 'forgive, endure, sacrifice and cooperate'. He also performed ground breaking ceremony of the new assembly hall near the temple. 'Upasana Din' was celebrated on 23rd. A gala celebration of Janmashtami was organised on 24th. This was the first ever religious event in Dar es Salaam, which was attended by more than 3,300 devotees and priests. Dar es Salaam temple celebrated its 42nd Patotsav under the auspices of Mahant Swami on 25th August.

Coming Events 24th Patotsav of London Mandir and launch of LM25, London Mandir’s 25th anniversary celebrations in the presence of Sadguru Pujya Doctor Swami and Sadguru Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami. Date: 31 August, Saturday Patotsav Abhishek Vidhi: 7:45 am to 10:00 am Launch Sabha: 5:45 pm to 8:00pm, Venue: Sahjanand Hall ● Mahalaya - Annual Bengal Music Celebration Date: September 7, Saturday, Time: 6:00 pm, Musical Drama – 'Saraswati – Forgotten Daughter of Tansen', Date: September 8, Sunday, Time: 6:00 pm, Venue: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan 3A, Castlestown Road, West Kensington, London W14 9HE Contact: 020 7381 3086 ● VHP Ilford Hindu Center organises Sri Ganesh Visarjan at Ramsgate Sandy Beach, Date: 8 September, Sunday The coach will depart from the VHP Ilford Temple at 10 am Contact. Vijay Khetarpal 07425 181 695

●

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Ganpati visarjan at Oxford This year, the Ganesh Puja celebrations begins at 6pm on Saturday 7th September at the school in Arnold’s Way, Botley with ‘PranPratishtha’, which is the process of bringing in life in the idol by enchanting mantras.

The festival is marked with the installation of a eco-friendly Ganesh idol.

While worshippers pray and chant Vedic hymns and Hindu texts, such as the Ganapati Upanishad.

Offerings are then distributed, including Indian food delicacies and sweets such as modak.

Procession is scheduled for 4.30pm Sunday. Festival ends with immersion of the god into water.

The event is free, but registration is required.

There will also be a cultural programme, for all to enjoy and see the amazing traditional Indian dances and classical singing by professionals as well as upcoming

artists and children. It will also have workshops for children to learn to make Ganesh from clay and classes (Balgokulam) to learn about culture.

FREE pure vegetarian Indian traditional meals will be served.

Ganesh is the lord of intelligence and prosperity and Ganesh Utsav is traditionally a ten-day celebration, which typically falls in August or September and is widely celebrated across India and many other parts of the world.

This festival celebrates the elephant-headed god Ganesh’s birthday, who is God of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.

The ‘Visarjan’ (Immersion) procession, with music and chanting will be from the Matthew Arnold School to the River Thames. This is to submerge the idol of Ganesh in the river, as per tradition.

Parting Words

- Poem by Rabindranath Tagore When I go from hence let this be my parting word, that what I have seen is unsurpassable.

I have tasted of the hidden honey of this lotus that expands on the ocean of light, and thus am I blessed ---let this be my parting word.

In this playhouse of infinite forms I have had my play and here have I caught sight of him that is formless.

My whole body and my limbs have thrilled with his touch who is beyond touch; and if the end comes here, let it come ---let this be my parting word.

London Mela returns to Southall The 17th edition of the London Mela returns to Southall Park for a weekend of South Asian music, dance, food and culture.

The Mela is best known for its adventurous, genrecrossing collaborations and performances from an incredible mix of household names and contemporary artists.

Canadian-pop-reggaer&b-fusion artist Raghav will headline the festival, performing his top tracks from his three studio albums including his smash hit Angel Eyes, whilst one of the biggest UK Asian artists Arjun will headline the festival on Sunday. Joining them is Punjab singer Tasha Tah and Sonna Rele, who sang the title track from the 2017 hit Disney film Cinderella.

Mela is also showcasing some of the best upcoming

artists including BBC Future Sounds 2019 Amanjot Sangha, singer/ songwriter Manuka and Esha Maria who is swiftly becoming one of the most exciting young stars. Also included is leading UK-based international Qawwali and Bollywood group Chand Ali Khan Qawwal & Party, the young group whose leader was born in Pakistan and trained under the recognised Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Memorial Academy.

“London Mela is a wonderful showcase of South Asian culture, with its wide range of music, dance, food and games. It’s a real celebration of the community’s impact on our city, a key date in the capital’s calendar and another great example of how London is open to all,” said the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

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What’s on ● Buckingham Palace: Book your visit to Buckingham Palace for a glimpse inside one of the few working royal palaces remaining in the world today. During the summer, you can tour the 19 spectacular State Rooms. These magnificent rooms are decorated with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Dyck. Outside of the summer opening, you can still see the iconic exterior of the palace and watch the famous Changing the Guard. A Royal Day Out ticket is also available and gives admission to The State Rooms, The Royal Mews and The Queen’s Gallery: Opening Times: 20 July - 31 August 2019. Open daily 09:3019:30 (last admission 17:15) 1-29 September 2019. Open daily 09:30-18:30 (last admission 16:15) Prices: Adult £45.00 Over 60/Student (with valid ID): £40.00. Under 17: £24.50 Family: £114.50 Multimedia tours are included in the admission price.

Address: Buckingham Palace, Westminster, London SW1A 1AA. Public Transport: Tube/Rail: Victoria Tube: Victoria, Green Park, St James’s Park or Hyde Park Corner ● The Slide at the ArcelorMittal Orbit Whizz down the UK’s tallest public artwork with a 40-second ride on the tallest and longest tunnel slide in the world. Twist

and turn your way down the sculpture at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour (24 kilometres per hour) as you glimpse London’s skyscape passing by through sections of light.

Anish Kapoor, creator of the ArcelorMittal Orbit, has worked in collaboration with artist Carsten Höller to create the 76-metrehigh (250 foot) and 178-metre-long (584 foot) tunnel slide that intertwines with his Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park sculpture.

The Slide is made up of 12 twists and turns, including a tight corkscrew named the bettfeder, and ends in a thrilling 50 metre (164 foot) straight run to the ground.

Prices: Child ticket (8-15 years old) : From £10.50 per ticket Family ticket (two adults and two children): From £52.00 per ticket Concession ticket: From £13.50 per ticket Slide ticket: From £16.50 per ticket Venue: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 2AD Public transport: Stratford, Stratford International ● Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre Be wowed by the Royal Shakespeare Company's multi-award winning production of Matilda The Musical at London's Cambridge Theatre.Adapted from Roald Dahl’s beloved book by Dennis Kelly with music from award-winning musician and comedian Tim Minchin, the London show thrills both children and adults alike with the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.

Prices: Adult ticket: £24.60 to £153.75 per ticket Venue: Earlham Street, London, WC2H 9HU

● A Royal Childhood and Victoria: Woman and Crown at Kensington Palace Mark the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth by visiting Victoria: A Royal Childhood and Victoria: Woman and Crown at Kensington Palace.

Step back in time as you explore the rooms where Victoria spent her formative yearsunder the watchful gaze of her mother, the Duchess of Kent. Delve into a scrapbook of mementos created by Victoria's German governess, Baroness Lehzen, to glimpse at the royal upbringing of a girl destined to be queen.

Then make your way to the Pigott Gallery, where the second part of the exhibition looks at the private woman behind the public monarch, as well as her later life and legacy.

Learn about Victoria's family life, friendships and interests, including her fascination for India, as you discover extracts from her diaries inscribed in Urdu and pieces from her private wardrobe, which go on display for the first time. Look out for a cotton petticoat dated to around the time of her marriage and a striking pair of silver boots.

Prices: Child ticket: From £11.50 per ticket Concession ticket: From £18.30 per ticket Adult ticket: From £23.50 per ticket Opening Times:The exhibition runs until December 31 Venue: Kensington Palace State Apartments Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX Public transport Tube: Queensway/High St Kensington/Gloucester Road

32

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Sindhu makes India proud; wins gold at BWF World Championships

PV Sindhu has become the first Indian shuttler to win a gold at BWF World Championships. She is also the joint-most successful women's singles shuttler at the world meet, having won 5 medals in just 6 appearances. Sindhu became only the 4th singles player ever to have a full set of world championship medals. On Sunday in Basel, Sindhu, it seems, wanted to put an end to all the debate surrounding her inability to win the yellow metal, debate around her temperament in big matches.

The Olympic silver medallist became the world champion and in style!

The 5th seed Sindhu took on

3rd seed and former champion Nozomi Okuhara in a repeat of the 2017 World Championships final in Basel. Two years ago, the two shuttlers battled for 110 minutes, the longest final in the history of the tournament. Sindhu had given it her all. She had never been pushed around like how she was by the pint-sized Japanese shuttler. Despite leaving every bit of energy she had in her on the court, Sindhu finished the second best and finished

with a silver.

Two years later, Sindhu never gave an opportunity to Okuhara to do anything close to what she did in 2017. The final was over in just 32 minutes. Sindhu won it 21-7, 21-7 in just 38 minutes to become the first Indian to win a gold at the BWF World Championships.

Celebrated commentator Gillian Clarke quipped: "I can’t remember such a one sided final." It was indeed one-way traffic. The lack of drift at the St Jakobshalle in Basel worked wonders in Sindhu's favour.

Her attacking game flourished.

In the past, Sindhu had been tentative at the start in major finals. On Sunday, she was not.

Sindhu was at her best against Okuhara, who had no answers to the Indian shuttlers aggressive approach. Sindhu was not giving it any air even in defence. She was using all four corners of the court and put pressure on Okuhara at the back-court - something that Ratchanok Inatanon did well in the women's singles semi-final. Sindhu was more clinical.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sindhu after she became the first Indian to win a gold medal at the BWF World Championships.

Ben Stokes leads England to victory Indian wins a set against Federer

Ben Stokes' astonishing 135 not out gave England one of their greatest victories to keep the Ashes series against Australia alive. Just as he dragged England through the super over against New Zealand in the World Cup, Stokes played one of the most incredible Test innings by an Englishman to level the series at 1-1.

In the chase of an England record 359 at Headingley, the home side still needed 73 when Stokes was joined by last man Jack Leach. Like he did in his innings six weeks ago to the day at Lord's, Stokes launched a stunning solo assault.

He planted off-spinner Nathan Lyon for three sixes and followed that up by hitting Josh Hazlewood for four, six and six in three consecutive balls, during which point he passed 100.

With 17 needed to win, Stokes was dropped by a diving Marcus Harris. From the next over, with only two needed, Leach should have been run out, only for Lyon to fumble the ball and, from the very next delivery, Stokes could have been lbw,

England Hero Ben Stokes

but Australia were out of reviews.

In the next over, Leach scrambled a single off Pat Cummins and, with one to win, Stokes hammered through the covers and sank to his knees in exhausted celebration. It means the series is level with two matches to play, with the fourth Test at Old Trafford beginning on 4 September.

The World Cup final was one of the most incredible games of cricket ever played, and for the scale of its drama, tension and heart-stopping finish to be matched in the same summer is barely believable.At the centre of both was Stokes, who added to his growing legend by single-handedly

maintaining England's hopes of regaining the urn.

Not only that, but he added yet another classic memory to a ground steeped in Ashes history by matching the exploits of Sir Ian Botham in 1981.

An expectant Headingley was full before play began and, even though at one stage England lost five wickets for 41 runs, as long as there was Stokes, there was hope. The noise gradually cranked up with every run added in the lastwicket partnership, the Western Terrace growing in celebration with each ball that Stokes dispatched into the crowd. As the winning runs were scored, the noise released matched the magnitude of the achievement.

India record 318-run win over Windies Jasprit Bumrah took five wickets for seven runs as India bowled out West Indies for 100 to clinch a record 318run win and help Virat Kohli equal a captaincy mark. The 318-run victory in the seriesopener was India's biggest-ever away win by runs in test cricket.

It was Kohli's 27th win from 47 tests as India captain, equaling MS Dhoni's record for wins at the helm of the national team. Dhoni led India to 27 wins in 60 tests as captain. "It's a blessing that I am in a position to contribute to my team in more than one way," Kohli said.

"I am taking the decisions but it is up to the individuals to do the execution." West Indies fell far short of the highly improbable winning target of 419 but managed a mini-recovery in

its second innings after slumping to 15-5. Paceman Bumrah bowled eight overs, including four maidens, to do most of the damage for India, hitting the stumps to claim four of his wickets.

Earlier, India resumed Day 4 on 185-3 with Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane already having secured half-centuries. India declared its second innings at 343-7 with Rahane out for 102, his 10th test century. Kohli failed to add to his overnight 51. "We wanted to just bat, bat and bat," Rahane, voted player of the match, said of his partnership with Kohli.

Hanuma Vihari scored 93 before he was caught behind off Jason Holder, ending a 135run partnership with Rahane for the fifth wicket. Roston Chase took 4-132.

It was a dream come true for the 22-year-old Indian player Sumit Nagal as he won the first set against tennis maestro Roger Federer in the US Open.

Just last week, the 190th ranked Indian had pulled off a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 win over Brazil’s Joao Menezes in the final qualifying round to set up a first round bout against the 20 time Grand Slam winner. Sumit became only the fifth Indian player to feature in a Grand Slam singles main draw in this decade.

Sumit stunned the Arthur Ashe Stadium by picking up a 6-4 win in the first set against the Swede.

The five-time champion, though, pulled things back and went on to win the next two sets. Sumit gave a tough fight in the fourth set, as he managed to take the score to 40-0 when

Sumit Nagal becomes first Indian to win a set against Roger Federer

Federer was serving for the match. But eventually, the Indian had to bow out to the great, and mark an exit from the tournament.

Despite the defeat, Sumit’s family members are happy with their son’s performance.

Sumit’s father, Suresh, expressed delight over his son’s fighting spirit in the showdown. “Winning the first set against such a great player, Federer, the God of tennis... it was completely

unexpected,” he said.

“We will welcome Sumit back like a winner. He played so well at a Grand Slam event. The entire nation was watching him.

Everyone came up to me to congratulate me on his performance,” Suresh said.

Suresh added that the spirited show from Sumit will inspire youngsters to pursue the sport. “There is a desire to win, and that is what will inspire everyone,” he said.

Indian-origin footballer Yan Dhanda wants to make his mark Swansea City footballer Yan Dhanda is proud of his Indian roots and is much excited to become one of the first players of Indian ethnicity to thrive in English football. "I'm super proud to be where I'm from and where my family originate from and I think I'd be stupid not to be. I'd never hide the fact that I'm Indian or [not celebrate the Yan Dhanda fact] that there are not other Indian players out there, because I am proud of who I am. I just love playing football and feel my background helps me."

Dhanda currently plays for Swansea City as an attacking midfielder and is looking forward to inspire the next generation of British Asian footballers. “I think, if they look up to me, I [have to] see myself as a role model for them, and I think it's down to me to give them good advice and do as much as I can to help them." Dhanda's desire to inspire saw the 20-year-old feature in the Football Association's revamped Bringing Opportunities to Communities campaign,

designed to help increase Asian representation across the English game.

However, his journey towards a career in professional football has not been a roller coaster ride, with Dhanda forced to develop a thick skin in the face of adversity and outright racism as an up-and-coming young footballer. "I've had a bit of racism growing when I was playing youth football," he said.

"I've had people say the P-word, or like corner shop this or corner shop that because people stereotype Asians to have those sort of jobs. It has been a problem for me growing up, but it hasn't really affected me. My dad told me since I was young that if you get racism whether it's in football, or school, or wherever, just let it make you work harder. I've said it before - it doesn't really affect me, it just drives me on even more. I've been strong enough to see past it and not let it or let anyone get to me."