AV 4th April 2026

It

On Thursday, 7 May 2026, voters across England will take part in the most

“shadow

on page

u Widespread concerns over wrongful paan spitting penalties Page 11

u Easter Special Page 14

u Firms

Prime Minister Modi with Achariya Shri Kailasasagarsuri

Starmer considers peerage for London Mayor Sadiq Khan

Sir Sad iq Kh an is repo rted ly set to receive a peerag e and take a seat in the House of L ord s, in what is seen as a m ove by P rime Minister Keir

S ta

to

expected to be elevated after May’s local elections, which c

b y Starmer last year, Khan is already the capital’s longest-

s e r v i n g m a y o r, h a v i n g secured a third term in 2024

With the next mayoral election not due until 2028, his move to the Lords could trigger a by-election for the mayoralty

Since Labour’s landslide

Shabana Mahmood’s immigration policies

K

age, linked to wider reforms including the abolition of hereditar y peers, may fuel claims that Starmer is f illing

allies, especially as no recent Prime Minister has granted more peerages this early in off ice

already moved to remove all

Lords, though some could return as life peers Khan’s

Masseur who abused clients gets 11-year sentence

A p redatory masseu r, Muhamm ad Saqib, 4 3, h as been sentenced to 11 years in prison in his absence after sexually abusing female clients

I N B R I E F UK TRANSPLANT

SYSTEM ‘FALLING BEHIND’

considered legal action He has also criticised Treasur y plans to curb the UK’s bene-

v i c t o r y, S a d i q K h a n h a s repeatedly challenged Prime Minister Keir Starmer, often from the party’s left He has

ahead of crucial May elections and is seen as part of an effort to consolidate support within Labour It also fo

with the Lords, where key legislation has been delayed t h r o u g h

Periasamy Kumaran named as UK’s next Indian High Commissioner

Pe r ia sa m y Ku ma r a n , c u rr ent ly Se cr eta r y (East) in the M in ist r y of Ext ern al Affair s, ha s be en appoint ed a s In dia’s n ex t High Commission er t o t he Unite d Kin gdom

A 19 9 2 - b a t c h I n d i a n Foreign Ser vice off icer, he is expected to assume the role soon He will succeed HE

V i k r a m D o r a i s w a m i , w h o has been appointed India’s Ambassador to China

Periasamy Kumaran has b e e n s e r v i n g a s S e c r e t a r y (East) in the MEA since 2025

A 1992-batch IFS off icer, he began his diplomatic career in Cairo, followed by post-

ings in Tripoli and Brussels, and later ser ved as Deputy Secretar y (Europe West) in New Delhi

He went on to hold roles as Regional Passport Off icer in Bengaluru and ser ved in key diplomatic positions in Islamabad, Washington, and C

India’s Ambassador to Qatar (

Commissioner to Singapore

becoming Special Secretar y, before assuming his current role

Indian-origin man charged after car hits pedestrians in Derby

A 3 6-ye ar-old Ind ia no rig in m an ha s bee n ch arg ed af te r a car hit p ed estrians in De rby city ce ntr e Seven people suffered serious but non-lifethreatening injuries when a black Suzuki Swift hit them outside a pub on Friar Gate around 9:30pm on Saturday.

Sandhu Ponnachan,

from Alvaston, faces six counts of GBH with intent, one count of attempted GBH with intent, dangerous driving, and possession of a bladed article

Ponnachan, originally from India, has lived in Derby for several years He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Southern Derbyshire

Magistrates' Court Four of the seven injured pedestrians have since been discharged, police said Authorities have reassured residents there is no ongoing risk

Meanwhile, Derby North MP Catherine Atkinson said she was “deeply shocked,” offering support to those injured and thanking emergency ser vices

The MP for Derby South, Baggy Shanker said his thoughts were with those affected and their families, while Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward expressed concern and praised emergency ser vices, urging anyone with information to contact police Derby County Football Club also said it was “shocked and saddened” by the incident, offering support to victims and thanking emergency responders for their swift action.

Operating under the name “Sammy,” he assaulted multiple women shortly after starting work at salons in Wythenshawe and later Didsbur y Victims reported being inappropriately touched and subjected to prolonged, nonconsensual contact during massages, despite clearly stating their discomfort His behaviour escalated over time, with one victim describing being left frozen with fear

The court heard Saqib continued his abuse by inappropriately touching a victim and extending the session, before assaulting a third woman at a Didsbur y salon where he restrained her and caused signif icant pain

Despite resisting, she was held down until she managed to escape and report the incident

Saqib was later convicted of multiple sexual offences but fled before sentencing Victims described lasting trauma, including anxiety and loss of safety Jailing him for 11 years, Judge Hilar y Manley said he had misrepresented his qualif ications, became emboldened after avoiding consequences, and that earlier action could have prevented further harm

Council investigates Bath Mayor’s controversial X posts

Cou ncil ch iefs are inv estigating after a Bath and North East Somerset ( Banes) cou ncillor and the mayor of Bath, Dr Bharat Pankhania reposted antisemitic content on X claiming the burning of four Jewish charity ambulances was an “Israeli false flag operatio n ”

He has apologised “ unreser vedly” and deleted the posts

The Liberal Democrats suspended him, and Banes Council conf irmed the complaint will be investigated under its standards procedure, noting all councillors must follow a code of conduct Pankhania said the posts “have never aligned” with his values

Dr Bharat Pankhania said he was “incredibly apologetic” for not meeting his own standards, adding that he had deleted the posts and apologises unreser vedly

The Metropolitan Police conf irmed two men arrested over the Hatzola ambulance arson have been released on bail Hatzola, meaning “ save ” or “ rescue ” in Hebrew, is a Jewish-led non-prof it providing free emergency medical ser vices across north London, Manchester, Gateshead, Canvey Island, and Hertfordshire, ser ving the wider community regardless of faith

The United Kingdom was once a global leader in organ transplants but has since fallen behind, according to a report by BBC In 2024, heart transplant rates in the United Kingdom lagged behind much of Europe due to limited funding resources and outdated technology Waiting lists are at record highs while falling family consent rates despite the opt- out system have deepened concerns about a growing crisis A shortage of experienced surgeons and ongoing staffing pressures have further reduced transplant activity, even though donation rates are comparable to Europe, according to the BBC Experts say stronger infrastructure, awareness and support are urgently needed to improve outcomes

HALF A MILLION MORE FALL INTO POVERTY

The number of people living in relative poverty in the United Kingdom rose by around 500 000 in the year to March 2025, reaching 13 4 million, including four million children Pensioner poverty also increased, with figures rising from 1 49 million to 1 69 million Relative poverty is defined as living in a household with income below 60% of the national median Diana Johnson called the figures “wholly unacceptable” and said the government is taking action While poverty numbers have risen, the overall rate only increased slightly from 19% to 20% Peter Matejic noted little change in child poverty during Labour ’s first year but said removing the two - child benefit limit in April 2026 could help

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D I S C L A I M E R

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our readers, letter writers and columnists are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of our publication

Sir Sadiq Khan

Periasamy Kumaran

Muhammad Saqib

Dr Bharat Pankhania

Justice delayed is justice denied

The grooming gangs inquiry will examine whether ethnicity, culture, or religion played a role both in offending and in the institutional responses to it This statutory independent inquiry, chaired by Anne Longfield, will investigate groupbased child sexual exploitation across England and Wales It will assess how grooming gangs operated, how authorities responded, and whether failures occurred at local or national levels The inquiry will have full legal powers to compel evidence and to refer potential criminal conduct to Operation Beaconport

Local investigations will take place in areas where serious failings have already been identified, including Oldham Public hearings will be livestreamed, transcripts will be published, and findings will be released on a rolling basis The inquiry has a three-year deadline, concluding in March 2029, and a budget of £65 million

Victims have shared harrowing accounts, with some reporting abuse from as young as 12 years old While some perpetrators have been convicted of rape and trafficking offences, it is believed that “hundreds of men ” who abused these victims remain free

Concerns have also been raised in Parliament that key documents related to the inquiry may have been lost due to administrative errors within the Home Office Two members of the Home Affairs Select Committee have warned that local councils may not have received adequate guidance on preserving critical records The Home Office has stated that officials who fail to provide required documentation without reasonable cause may face imprisonment

Despite the scope of the inquiry, several unresolved

issues remain Many perpetrators remain unidentified, and there may be limited prospects for holding them to account To date, many grooming gangs have been described as “Asian,” with a significant number of offenders reported to be of Pakistani origin This terminology has been strongly

Indian, Sri Lankan, and Nepalese groups who object to the broad use of “Asian” as an identifier

There are also political sensitivities If the report is published before the 2029 general election and explicitly identifies perpetrators by ethnicity and religion, it could carry electoral consequences, particularly for the Labour Party Any government may be reluctant to bear such political costs, despite stated commitments to transparency The loss of documents further raises doubts about how open and comprehensive the process can be For many victims, there is no alternative route to justice; public accountability may be the only remaining option

Finally, questions remain about outcomes If further perpetrators are identified, what penalties will follow? Would deportation be possible in some cases? These uncertainties underscore the limits of what the inquiry can realistically achieve

While the initiative is widely welcomed and long overdue, much remains unclear There is a real risk that political considerations could undermine the pursuit of justice that has already been delayed for far too long Justice delayed is justice denied, and it is fair to question whether the government fully considered these challenges before embarking on this course of action

How appropriate are restrictions on children’s social media use?

In December 2025, the Australian Parliament introduced restrictions on social media use for children under the age of 16 Since then, similar proposals have gained momentum across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas In the United Kingdom, the government has also begun to address the issue, recently issuing guidelines aimed at reducing screen time among young people These developments reflect growing concern about the impact of social media on children’s wellbeing

There is substantial evidence to suggest that excessive social media use can be harmful to children It has reduced opportunities for outdoor play and diminished aspects of a traditional childhood centred on imagination and faceto-face interaction Numerous international studies indicate that prolonged screen time can negatively affect cognitive development, encourage dependency on constant stimulation, and contribute to unhealthy social environm

online pressure

However, concerns about children and new forms of e

Throughout history, each technological development has been met with similar anxieties In the nineteenth century, kaleidoscopes captivated children; later generations

were drawn to comic books, video games, and television cartoons In each case, adults feared negative effects on behaviour, morality, or attention, yet many of these innovations eventually became accepted parts of childhood

This historical perspective suggests that new technologies bring both risks and benefits While social media

pornography or inappropriate material this alone does not necessarily justify strict government restrictions Instead, effective protection often depends on guidance within the home Parents play a crucial role in shaping

offline activities, and modelling healthy screen use themselves Research consistently shows that when parents limit their own screen time, children are more likely to do the same

Ultimately, while concerns about children’s social media use are valid, heavy-handed legal restrictions may not be the most effective solution Family-based self-regulation, supported by education and responsible platform design, offers a more flexible and sustainable approach In an increasingly digital world, vigilant parental guidance remains one of the most effective ways to protect children from harmful influences and addictive behaviours

Why NATO members are reluctant to support Trump’s war with Iran

As tensions rise between the United States, Israel, and Iran, European governments are facing growing economic pressure and strategic uncertainty Despite these challenges, NATO member states have shown little appetite for backing Washington and Tel Aviv in a military confrontation with Iran This hesitation reflects deeper divisions within the alliance divisions that first became evident in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

US President Donald Trump, having returned to office, d i s t a n c e d h i m s e l f f r o m N A T O ’ s c o l l e c t i v e a p p r o a c h , repeatedly stating that the Ukraine conflict was “not our war ” Today, NATO appears to be mirroring that stance in relation to Iran, signalling that it does not view the conflict as falling within its responsibility

Founded in 1949, NATO’s purpose is rooted in collective defence Its central provision, Article 5, applies only when a member state is directly attacked In the case of Iran, no NATO country has been targeted, meaning there is no legal obligation for the alliance to intervene This limitation has been central to shaping NATO’s current position and explains much of Europe’s reluctance to become involved

Washington, and President Trump in particular, had expected NATO allies to align with US strategic objectives in the Middle East European leaders, however, have drawn a clear boundary They argue that a war with Iran lies outside NATO’s mandate

Is Europe, and NATO drifting away from the United States? Part of the answer lies in long-standing tensions within the alliance While NATO has long served as the

backbone of Western security, the Iran crisis highlights a shift toward prioritising national interests over automatic alignment with US policy

European economies are already under strain from an energy crisis sparked by sanctions on Russia following the war in Ukraine Entering another conflict especially one that could disrupt global energy supplies would risk compounding economic instability Although the Iran crisis has unsettled global markets, NATO governments appear more focused on protecting their domestic economies than engaging in another prolonged war

Several NATO members question whether US and Israeli military actions against Iran have a solid basis in international law Offering support for operations viewed as legally questionable could damage their international credibility

Washington: allied support can no longer be assumed What is emerging is a broader transformation in international relations The era of unquestioned transatlantic unity appears to be giving way to a more complex global order, marked by diverging priorities and expectations At the centre of this shift is a widening gap between American assumptions and European interests

Ultimately, Donald Trump’s unilateral and confrontational approach has deepened tensions between the United States and its NATO allies And for future US administrations, repairing these fractures and restoring cohesion within the alliance may prove to be a formidable challenge

Thought for the week

“The best way to predict the future is to create it ” P eter Drucke r

Political Sketchbook

Alpesh Patel

When the East Must LeadBut Chooses Not To

S wami Vivekananda stoo d before the P arliament of the Wo rld’ s Religions in Chicago in 1 893 and to ld an audience that had no t expected to be instructed that th e E as t p

No

technolo gy Not military reach S ometh ing older: the capacity to ho ld co mp lexity, to seek reso lu tio n rather th an dominance, to see th e human being before th e enemy

He would find March 2026 instructive And not entirely encouraging

The United States has conveyed its 15-point list of demands to Iran through Pakistan as intermediary  Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt have gathered in Islamabad attempting to find a path out of a war that has shaken global energy markets to their foundations  The West, having started the fire, has outsourced the fire brigade

But let us be clear about what Pakistan’s role actually is This is not altruism A country that spent decades running with the hare and hunting with the houndscollecting American aid while harbouring those America h u n t e d - d o e s n o t s u d d e n l y b e c o

peacemaker It becomes an opportunist with a telephone

Pakistan is at the table because geography and necessity put it there, not because it has earned moral authority

I have seen, from my own time working in the US Congress on precisely these questions, how Pakistan’s relationship with instability has been its most reliable foreign policy instrument The current mediation is that instrument in a different costume

The more important absence is India’s I wrote in February that India’s ambition to be the tech

significant: whoever sits in the middle writes the menu, even if they don’t own the kitchen 

India has the size, the credibility, the relationships, and the civilisational standing to be the nation that the world turns to in precisely this moment It has cultivated ties with Washington, maintained dialogue with Tehran, and positioned itself as the voice of the Global South It h

indispensable

And yet it is Islamabad, not New Delhi, hosting the foreign ministers

Vivekananda’s challenge to his own people was never merely directed at the West It was directed at those in the East who had internalised the habit of watching from the margins: who possessed the depth but lacked the resolve to deploy it Strength without confidence, he understood, is simply potential squandered

This war has produced the biggest oil shock in history  The world is not short of firepower It is short of wisdom India has the standing to offer the latter The question Vivekananda would press, were he writing this column, is not whether India is ready It is whether India is willing

Net-net: the East has what this moment needs The tragedy would be leaving it unused while an opportunist takes the credit

Alpesh B Patel OBE has advised governments and worked in the US Congress on foreign policy matters He writes at politicalanimal me

Long-serving Hounslow councillor Jagdish Sharma MBE dies at 91

L ong -serving L abour councillo r and fo rmer Hounslow

C o u nc il L e ad e r, J ag d i sh S harma MBE, passed away at 91 after a “long and brave” battle with cancer

Cllr Sharma, who represented Hounslow West, was first elected in 1974, became H

Mayor in 1979, later served as Deputy Leader, and led the Council from 2010 to 2014

B o r n a n d e d

e d i n India, he earned a Masters in E

University before moving to the UK in 1965 as a maths

headteacher in Ealing

He was awarded an MBE in 1995 for services to local g

d the freedom of the borough in 2000

Cllr Shantanu Rajawat, L e a d e r o f H o u n s l o w Council, remembered Cllr Jagdish Sharma, or “Uncle Sharma,” as “ a devoted public servant, pioneering leader, and cherished community member ”

He praised Sharma for mentoring future public servants, supporting families, and championing social jus-

tice, also paying tribute to his late wife, Urmilla “

extraordinary legacy of

Rajawat said

Sharma took to Facebook to pay tribute to Cllr Jagdish Sharma JP, MBE, who has died aged 91, calling him “ a pioneer whose life helped shape our community and public life in the UK ” Sharma wrote: “I had the

Jagdishji soon after arriving in the UK We shared a commitment to public service, equality, and justice, earning my deepest respect ” He remembered Sharma as “ a dedicated trustee of the

broke barriers as one of the first councillors of Indian

duty Beyond titles, he was a tireless advocate for community cohesion and social

wife Urmila

“His passing is a profound loss, but we honour his legacy of courage, service, and unity, and must carry it forward ”

King Charles III to make US state visit in April

King Charles III w ill m ake

States in late

and

Buckingh am P alace said

President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK last September, which featured tiaras, brass bands, and a banquet on 200-year-old sil-

faces criticism over two-day delay in meningitis alert

Th e NHS delayed raising the alarm over a meningitis case, waiting two days before notifying

Margate, but officials were

firmed diagnosis, delaying c

response efforts East Kent H

opportunity to report earli-

should

reported without delay under health regulations

enabled faster investiga-

action, though no cases have been directly linked to the first patient A largescale response was launched once more cases emerged H e a l t h S e c r e t a r y W e s S t r e e t i n g c a l l e d t h e d e l a y “not good enough,” while M P H e l e n W h a t e l y described it as “shocking ”

Experts have criticised the delay in reporting the meningitis case, warning it may have put lives at risk by slowing public alerts and treatment Of 22 suspected cases, two people h

Ram Mandir and active in

Jagdish Sharma MBE

King Charles III

MIDLANDS/NORTH

Inquest finds neglect in death of three-year-old boy

A hosp ital trust has apolog i sed to th e parents o f a three-year-old bo y who d ied after suffering sev ere bleeding w hen his artery was accid entally pierced by a trainee d octor d uring a ro utine procedure

A

Hospital, following complications after his body rejected a previous liver transplant

The NHS trust admitted it fell below expected standards and said changes have

b e e n m a d e

o i m p r o v e patient care Aarav’s mother,

A

C

d the loss as devastating, saying the family trusted the hospital and hopes no one else faces a similar tragedy

Aarav suffered a cardiac arrest caused by a build-up of blood in his chest during a biopsy, a routine proced u r e t o c o

testing A coroner ruled that neglect contributed to his d e a t h , w h i c h w a

ventable

Kishore Chopra remembered his son as a cheerful

child, saying the family had hoped the procedure would offer a new beginning, but he never came home

An inquest found serious failings in care, includ-

trainee doctor’s experience, with the family unaware of their involvement A report urged action to prevent similar incidents, and the family

claim

been avoided with proper care Solicitor Catherine Lee called for consistently high standards, while Dr Satish

accepted full responsibility,

safety in Aarav’s memory

Family of Nila Patel pay tribute after killer convicted

T he ch ild ren of Nila Patel

h av e paid an emotional tribu te to their mother after h er killer was conv icted of murd er Jaidan and Danika Patel

s a i d t h e i r l i v e s w e r e “changed forever” after the 5 6 - y e a r - o l d w a s f a t a l l y attacked in a random incident in Leicester last June

Chukwuemeka Michael

A h a n o n u , 2 4 , o f D o v e r Street, was found guilty at Leicester Crown Court The

a t t a c k h a p p e n e d o n I n f i r m a r y R o a d a f t e r h e crashed his car while under t h e i n f l u e n c e o f c a n n a b i s and fled the scene Ms Patel,

who had got off a bus and was walking home, suffered fatal head injuries and died two days later in hospital

In a tribute, her children r

m

m b e r e d t h e i r m o t h e r as a loving, selfless woman who put others first They s a i d h e r s u d d e n , v i o l e n t death “changed their lives forever” and left them strugg l i n g t o c o p e T h e y described her as a resilient single mother with so much life ahead, adding: “Mum’s life mattered ”

t h

a t t a c k e r w a s u n k n o w n t o Ms Patel and called the inci-

dent a horrific, random act of violence against a woman

w a l k i n g h o m e , e x p r e s s i n g sympathy for the grieving family

Afghan asylum seeker detained for raping minor

Ahmad Mulakhil, a 23-yea ro ld Afgha n a sy lu m se e ke r, h a s b e e n se n t e nc e d t o 16 y ears for abducting and raping a 12-y ear-old girl

The attack last summer in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, sparked local protests

A t W a r w i c k C r o w n Court, Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, w a s c o n v i c t e d o f r a p e , a b d u c t i o n , s e x u a l a

raping a child under 13 He was sentenced to 16 years (15 in prison plus 12 months on licence), with an indefinite S

H

Order and restraining order

Aggravating factors included the abduction, secluded location, and harm caused, while his age, lack of prior convictions, and guilty plea

included four years for child

abduction and two for taking an indecent video

Montgomery KC said the 12-

ongoing trauma, fearing her attacker’s return Mulakhil had targeted her on 22 July, and security footage showed

Kabir was acquitted

Fraudster detained as victims lose life savings

T wo v ictims hav e described th e d ev as tating i m pac t o f being defrau ded by a man

l ate r j ai l ed a t L e i ce st er C row n C ourt

A total of 24 people lost significant sums to 45-yearold Mital Mehta, who lured investors with promises of high returns from a

b

Manslaughter conviction after CCTV captures knife disposal

A mritpal Singh has been fo und gu ilty o f m a ns lau g h ter af te r C C T V show ed him hid ing the knife used to kill his housemate, A m it K u m a r, fo llowing a figh t last O ct ob er i n Leicester

T h e 4 4 - y e a rold was cleared of murder at Leicester Crown Court and is due to be sentenced on 15 April Police said both men, aged 32 and 44, had been drinking at their Sawley Street home before the argument Singh fled the scene after paramedics arrived, taking the knife with him CCTV showed Singh throwing the knife into a garden on Osmaston Road, retrieving it using a wheelie bin, and later discarding it in another bin He was arrested at a friend’s house the next morning Singh told officers he had stabbed Kumar accidentally while defending himself

D e t C h I n s p T i m L i n d l e y s a i d S i n g h

claimed the stabbing was accidental but had told housemates not to mention the fight, showing he knew what he had done CCTV showed him leaving with the knife, throwing it into a garden, retrieving it, and disposing of it in a wheelie bin, likely hoping it wouldn’t be found Lindley highlighted the importance of CCTV in recovering the weapon and said he was pleased Singh had been held accountable

Leicester couple reimbursed £2,500 after flight scam

A Leicester couple, Dinesh (80) and Shashikala Jansari (78), have been reimbursed £2,500 by their bank after falling v ictim to a fake fligh t scam

The couple, planning a long-awaited trip to visit relatives in Gujarat, booked online in November, thinking it was Expedia, but were redirected to a fraudulent WhatsApp account, Fly Expedia, and paid by bank transfer They discovered the scam at Heathrow w h e n t o l d t h

a k e A f t e r Santander initially refused a refund, an appeal to the Financial Ombudsman led to reimbursement, with the bank expressing sympathy for fraud victims

S h a s h

“shocked” to discover their tickets were fake at the airport, leaving her panicked and her husband stressed They returned to Leicester instead of paying £5,000 each for replacements Santander initially said the £2,500 was unlikely to be recovered, blaming the couple, but after their son appealed to the Financial Ombudsman, the bank reimbursed the full amount Shashikala called the outcome “really happy and grateful ” The Jansaris later travelled to Ahmedabad through a legitimate travel agent and hope their story warns others Santander urged customers to stay alert, noting over £74,000 in travel scams this year, while Expedia reminded travellers to book only via official sites or apps

I N B R I E F

FEARS GROW OVER MENINGITIS RISK IN LEICESTER

Concerns have been raised that Leicester could be at higher risk of a meningitis outbreak after new figures showed less than half of young people are vaccinated against one strain of the disease The issue was discussed at a city council health meeting where public health director Rob Howard said a recent meningitis B outbreak in Kent has been contained Councillors have warned that low MenACWY vaccination rates in Leicester could increase the risk of an outbreak Just 49 8% of young people were vaccinated last year, compared to the 73% national average, with public health director Rob Howard calling the figures “really concerning

CALLS FOR ACTION ON ABUSE REPORTS

Senior politicians have called for an urgent investigation into allegations of child sexual exploitation linked to high street shops in the West Midlands Concerns were raised after reports suggested children as young as 11 may have been targeted at mini-marts and vape shops, with claims of being offered drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes While police said the information had been handled appropriately, leaders described the allegations as “harrowing” and called for further scrutiny A woman also reported sexual assault and repeated harassment raising wider concerns Conservative MP Chris Philp called the situation “appalling ” while others labelled it “sickening ” as the government stressed all claims must be thoroughly investigated

BROTHERS JAILED AFTER MAN KILLED IN BUS STOP CRASH

Two brothers, including one from Greater Manchester, have been jailed after a man was killed in a crash at a bus stop Police said Rizwan Mehdi, 36,

lost control of a BMW while overtaking veering off the road and crashing into a bus stop and wall Alan Lee 57 who was waiting for a bus was struck and died in an ambulance at the scene on Easter Monday 2024 Mehdi fled without assisting paramedics, while his brother Kashif falsely reported the car stolen to mislead police Kashif, 42, was jailed for 20 months, while Rizwan received a six-year sentence and a 10year driving ban The crash happened at around 8 30pm on March 31, 2024 on Colne Road in Brierfield, with police confirming Rizwan Mehdi had been speeding beforehand In a victim statement, Mr Lee’s father recalled their final meeting and his mother’s last words: “You know I love you,” describing Alan as a well-liked man who loved the outdoors Sergeant Martin Wilcock said Mehdi had been driving recklessly before causing the fatal crash then fled as paramedics tried to save Alan while his brother later attempted to mislead police

Aarav Chopra

Nila Patel

Amritpal Singh

Dinesh and Shashikala Jansari

Mital Mehta

The Loomba Foundation launches Widows Empowerment Programme in Rajasthan at the House of Lords

The Loomba Found ation la un ched i

M arch 2026 at a we ll-att end ed lunc

C holmon deley Room at the House of Lord s

The Rajasthan programme will train 1,000 widows aged 20 to 45 and their eligible youths aged 18 to 22 as General Duties Assistants in healthcare, equipping them with p

lead directly to sustainable livelihoods

Opening the event, Lord Raj L

Chairman Trustee of The Loomba Foundation, welcomed guests and

expanding the Foundation’s work He noted that the programme represents “ an important new phase” in the Foundation’s long-standing efforts to support widows through practical empowerment and skillsbased training

The programme was formally launched by Kanta Singh, Country Representative for a i UN Women in India, who underscored the scale and urgency of the challenge With an estimated 46 million widows in India, many face economic hardship, social stigma, and exclusion from opportunity She emphasised t h a t e c o n o m i c e m p o w e r m e n t i s

critical, “When women have access to skills and livelihoods, the impact i s i m m

strengthening families and building more resilient communities ” K

Foundation, addressed guests on the wider context of widowhood globally and the need for scalable, practical solutions He highlighted

employment particularly in sectors such as healthcare offers a direct pathway out of poverty and dependence, enabling widows to support their families with dignity and stability

responds to both social need and labour demand, preparing partici-

pants for roles that support medical teams, deliver patient care, and

employment but also become role models within their communities,

career development

online All donations were matched 100% by The Loomba Foundation, doubling the impact of contributions and enabling more widows and their families to benefit from the programme

“Widowhood should not mean a lifetime of poverty and exclusion Through programmes like this, we are creating opportunity, restoring dignity, and changing the future for widows and their children ”

training and employment, building

widows and their families across India

Donations to support The Loomba Foundation ’ s Widows Empowerment Programme can be made at: www theloombafoundation org/donate

New National Pharmacy Advisory Councils announced by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

The Royal Pharmac eutical Soci ety on 27 March announc ed the newly

e s t a bl i s he d N a

o n

P ha r m ac y A dvi s ory Coun ci ls f or E ngl and , Scotland and Wales, whi ch wi ll d e ve l op p ha rm a c y p ol i c y a nd practice in their nati on as part of t h e f ut ur e R o ya l Co ll e ge of Pharmacy

They have also elected from w i t h i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e Councils a Vice President, who w

another member who sits on the Senate Pr of Mahendra Patel OBE has been elected Chair of the E n g

Council and will act as a Vice President of the College when it is established on 15 April 2026 T ase Oputu was elected as the College’s fi rst Presi den t

Prof Mahendra Patel OBE elected Chair of the English Pharmacy Advisory Council

Pregnancy support made accessible for South Asian communities

T he free JANAM ap p offers inform ati o na l v i d eo s i n se v en la ng u ag es: E ng lis h, Gu jarati , Urd u , Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, and Tamil

D e s i g n

pregnant women and professionals, the videos feature experts and patients sharing their experiences Topics include pregnancy, antenat

bereavement, mental health, and postnatal care Families can also create a pregnancy calendar and r e c e i v e r e g u l a r p u b l i c h e a l t h updates

J

families

Roddy added that the app supports women from South Asian backgrounds in accessing infor-

helping to address health inequalities and enable informed choices

Midwife Tasneema, part of the app ’ s Champion team, said she is

JKS Restaurants launches charity partnership with the British Asian Trust

The British Asian Trust and JKS Res ta u ran ts h

three-year partnership

child protection w ork The partnership w ill raise funds throug h a variety of fundraising initiatives

years, they have already helped us m

This new three-year commitment takes that impact to the next level, a n d w e a r e d e e p l y

Partnerships like this are vital in helping

create lasting change

Majesty King Charles III (then The Prince of Wales) and a group of British Asian business leaders, the British Asian Trust has reached 18 8 million people across South Asia through programmes focused

Officer for JKS Restaurants said,

important to us We have been supporting the British Asian Trust in various ways since 2017 and seeing the impact of their work has been incredibly powerful By formalising this partnership we hope to provide stable support as well as further engaging our teams and guests on a cause that will profoundly change the lives of many vulnerable children We look forward to growing this partnership and the impact it will have over the coming years

E

Trust said, “Partnering with JKS Restaurants is a huge privilege Through their support over many

conservation

S

KAWACH has already reached 1 3 million children at risk of exploitation, poverty and lack of access to education Together, the partners

impact for vulnerable children and families across India

JKS Restaurants was founded by the Sethi family in November 2008 The group encompasses 35 restaurants with 8 Michelin stars and 6 Michelin bibs Karam Sethi is responsible for food, creation of concepts and scouting new talent for the group, while Sunaina is the Chief People Officer and Jyotin is the group ’ s CEO overseeing all aspects of JKS Restaurants

Sheffield family shares heroic story of organ donor son

A Sheffield family is sharing the rem ark abl e

to r y o f th ei r so n , Eashan Madan, whose final act of kindness saved three lives and is inspiring a push fo r more fam ilies, esp ec ial ly f rom eth nic

co m m u ni ti es

standing, awareness, and accessi-

d throughout pregnancy She highlighted its easy-to-use videos on

Trust, said the JANAM app will help South Asian women in Leeds f e e

women, making it a powerful tool for the community Developed by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and the University of Leicester

Bradford volunteers aid refugees in Jordan

rg an donation

Eashan Madan, 27, who had Down’s syndrome, died last summer after surgery complications Registered as an organ donor since 2018, he donated his kidneys and liver, saving three lives, and his pancreas for research H

, “Knowing Eashan, he would do anything to help others It was his final noble act ” Eashan excelled a c

NHS and WorkFit programmes, volunteered, and was a talented musician and artist, remembered for his kindness and warmth His donation saved three lives and highlights the need for more ethnic minority donors Anthony

Transplant said

Lord Raj Loomba CBE

Managing Director of Banyan Care Group; Heeral Shah, British Asian Trust supporter and Head of UK

Structuring, Global Lending Group, Barclays; Jyotin Sethi, Chief Executive Officer of JKS Restaurants; Hitan Mehta, Chief Executive of the British Asian Trust; Sunaina Sethi People Director of JKS Restaurants; Shalni Arora OBE

of the Savannah Wisdom Foundation;

Rangoonwala CBE;

Trustee & Vice Chair and Trustee of the ZVM Rangoonwala Foundation

Eashan

Tasneema

Ram Navami and Chaitra Navratri celebrated at GHS Preston

The Gujarat Hindu Society ( GH S ) P re

N

Navratri w ith deep devotion

T h ro u g h o u

M arc h , d ai ly Mataji’s aarti took p lace each m o rn in g a nd ev e ni ng , accom panied by recitations of the C handi Path and distributi on of ho ly w ater by pujari Jignesh bh ai

Every afternoon devotees gathered for readings from the Ramcharitmanas, led by

d Garba, enriching the festival's atmosphere

s

On Ram Navami, wor-

the mandir early and continu

The Surya Jal Puja ritual was

Solanki, followed by a discourse on Lord Rama’s birth and the Snan Vidhi, carried out by Yajman Ashishbhai

Darshan Puja was performed

Urmilaben, Dhanuben, and

Taraben Nilkanthbhai and family conducted the Dwaj

A

Ram Janma Aarti was per-

Nehaben Shah

thanked all the Yajmans for their dedicated participation and efforts in making Ram Navami a grand event In the afternoon, devotees chanted

which Chaitra Navratri Aarti

Madhuben and Ishwerbhai

Desai Special thanks were extended to Niranjan Tulsi

generous Prasad donation

and seeking blessings from Shri Ram Darbar Parivar

Student at GHS Preston completes Anklets Ceremony

After nearly ten years of devoted Kuchipudi classical dance training, Riko’s journey stands as a testament to her dedication, enthusiasm,

Hindu Society for more than eighteen years, upholding a longstanding tradition in arts education

At only 15, Riko began the event with a traditional pooja

at the mandir, then delivered a poised performance hon-

family, friends, and community members Vice President

both her parents and teacher Abhinandana for their commitment to fostering cultural heritage and instilling meaningful Indian values in youth

It was especially note-

Leicester Temple celebrates its fifth anniversary with a grand event dedicated to Lord Hanuman

A s eri es o f p ray er re ci tals took place leading up to Lord H an um an ’ s b i rth d a y o n 1

A pril at the Sh ree Hanuman te m p le , n ex t t o R us h e y Field s on M elton Road

O n h i s b i r t h d a y , ‘Hanuman Jayanti’ is celeb r a t e d w i t h ‘ H a n u m a n j i

and Youths

Neasden Temple celebrates Swaminarayan Jayanti and Rama Navami with a Grand Cultural Production by Children

The div ine manifestation of Bh a g w a n S h ri Swaminarayan and Bh ag wan Shri Ram achand ra was joyously celebrated with a grand c u ltu r al p ro g ram m e p roduced and p erform ed by a cast of mo re than 150 children and yo uths on Saturd ay 28 March 2026 at BA PS Shri S w am in ara ya n M a nd i r, Londo n (pop ularly known as ‘ Neasd en Tem ple’)

T h e p e r f o

–guided by a dedicated team of 40 young volunteers –were delivered across two s i t t i n g s a t t h e M a n d

r , through a production entit l e d

compelling spiritual journey through powerful performances and storytelling

A highlight of the prog

A

B h a g w a n S h r i R a m a

b r o u g h t a b o u t p r o f o u n d transformation

This same divine power was reflected in Bhagwan Swaminarayan, who transformed countless lives – from the notorious Joban Pagi to devoted seek-

e r s – o f f e r i n g p r o t e c t i o n , purpose, and spiritual upliftment

The vibrant celebrations

w e r e b r o u g h t t o a c l i m a x w i t h a n u p l i f t i n g d a n c e depicting the joy and bliss d e r i v e d

G o d , l e a v i n g t h e a u d i e n c e spiritually uplifted

S h r e y a P a t e l , w h o attended the morning per-

formance, said, “The production was incredibly moving T h e w a y t h e s t o r y o f Bhagwan Shri Rama showed t h a t e v e n s t o n e s c a n b e t r a n

name really stayed with me –it reminds us that no matter where we are in life, real c h

s a l w

b l e The performances brought such deep spiritual messages to life in a way that was both powerful and relatable ”

Kirtan Alaiya, a lead volunteer, added, “The dedication of our volunteers and

the commitment of the cast

Their efforts brought to life

Swaminarayan – that true transformation is possible through his grace – alongside the timeless examples of Bhagwan Shri Rama It was heartwarming to see t

deeply with everyone who attended

also celebrated with various devotional festivities at the

Bhagwan Swaminarayan and B

manifested on Earth T

Shri Ramchandra Bhagwan was held at 12 noon, marking the time of his birth, followed by a discourse about his divine virtues The day culminated with an enlighte

gramme by youths, celebrati

Bhagwan Swaminarayan and h i

Pujan & Maruti Yagna’ from 8am and ‘Aankut Darshan’ from 10am to 7pm L a s t m o n t h l o c a l M P Shivani Raja and councillors joined hundreds of people for the Holi festival, which marked the arrival of spring and the end of winter Rajesh Patel, Secretary, Shree Hanuman temple said, “It’s been such a busy month at the temple with Holi and a special service to mark the birthday of Lord Rama

“It’s all part of the build-

up to Lord Hanuman’s birthday and we have put up three marquees to help accommodate everyone who wants to join us for the special ‘puja’ which is performed and to see our wonderful display of t r a d i t i o n a l I n d i a n s w e e t s , f l o w e r s

offered to the deity

also addressing

challenges and reaffirming his continued support Krishna Bhan, Chair of the Hindu Council UK and P r e s i d e n t o f t h e I n d oE u r o p e a n K a s h m i r F o r u m , followed with an introduction to the programme

“It’s always such a special occasion for the community who come to take part in p r a y e r s , b h a j a n a n d j o y f u l festivities ”

“It also marks our fifth year here and we ’ re grateful for how the community has welcomed us and joined us to embrace joy and friends h i p i n a s a f e a n d s e c u r e environment ”

R e f l e c t i o n s o n t h e essence of Ram Navami and the Ram-Rajya were shared by Anil Bhanot on the values of transparent open debate among all stakeholders for the equality policies affecting all communities and for Governments, like King Ram was, to be always accountable to the public

S u s h i l P a n d i t e m p h asised the ‘inclusion’ principle of Ram-Rajya and Gautam

S

tives

Addresses were delivered by Baroness Emma N

Ranger, and Neeraj Patil

Vinjamuri of the

Shivani Gollapalli renditioned two beautiful bhaj

version of Raghu Pati Raghav Raja Ram, with an additional line for the Hindu essence ‘Ishwar Ek Anekon Naam’ by A n i l B h a n

c h e d t h e occasion T h e p r o g r

m m e c o ncluded with a vote of thanks by Krishna Bhan, marking a m

celebration

Yajman Dulabhai, Urmilaben Solanki and other devotees

Anklets presentation by teacher Abhinandana to dancer Riko Prasad

Leicester MP Shivani Raja (right) at the temple’s Holi festival

Anil Bhanot and Bob Blackman MP

Hindi Shiksha Parishad UK honours Lord Uday Nagaraju

Celebrates an evening of heritage and leadership

C o u nc il lo r P ar v ee n R an i,

rep resenting Hindi Shiksha

P a ri s h ad U K , re c ent ly

o rganised a special cultural evening at L ond on's Nehru C entre, uniting leaders from Ind ian com munity groups, esteem ed guests, and yo ung p erfo rm ers in an ev ent celebrating Indian heritage, lan-

g u ag e , an d i d en ti ty T h e o ccasion also com memorat-

e d L o r d U d ay Na g ar aj u ’ s appo intment to the House

o f L ord s, adding h istorical sig nificance for

t h e B ri ti sh I n d i an com munity

The evening began with a heartfelt wel-

c o m e , e m p h a s i s i n g u n i t y , t r a d i t i o n , a n d p r i d e T a k i n g p l a c e during Ugadi and the s t a r t o f N a v r a t r i , i t

to one's roots while forging the future As founder of AI Policy Labs, his work at the i n t e r s e c t i o n o f a r t i f i c i a l intelligence and governance

c

globally His elevation to the H

k s a milestone for himself and the broader British Indian community

T

Mayor in the UK, Councillor Tushar Kumar, also attended, showing continued commitment to community initiatives

e m b o d i e d t h e m e s o f renewal, strength, and cultural continuity, which were evident throughout the programme

A major highlight was the participation of students

f r o m H i n d i S h i k s h a Parishad UK, whose performances brought the organis a t i o n ’ s m i s s i o n t o l i f e Young participants recited devotional pieces and deliv-

e r e d e x p r e s s i v e d a n c e s , d e m o n s t r a t i n g b o t h t h e i r talent and deep-rooted cul-

t u r a l c o n n e c t i o n s T h e s e moments underscored the i m p o r t a n c e o f n u r t u r i n g i d e n t i t y a m o n g y o u n g e r

generations in the United Kingdom

P r o m i n e n t g u e s t s shared insights during the e v e n t L o r d K r i s h R a v a l

OBE, Director of Faith in

L e a d e r s h i

leadership and community

preservation

Chief Guest Lord Uday

N a g a r a j u d e l i v e r e d a n impactful speech in Hindi, touching on values, leadership, and cultural identity

His words highlighted the need to remain connected

Additional contri-

Dharmic, award win-

Kumar BEM and Dr

London

A group dance perfor-

Jyotsna Shah

Mahavir Janma Kalyanak

A celebration of peace and compassion

M a h av i r J anm a K a lya na k, w h ic h co m m em o rates th e birth of Lord M ahavir and promo tes the v alues of nonv iolence, peace, co mpassion an d m u tu al r es p ec t, w as observed on 3 1 March 2026 Jains in the UK , Ind ia and across the wo rld marked the occasio n with d ev otio n and rev erence, reflecting on the end uring relev ance of Lord Mahavir’s teach ings

The day is traditionally observed with early morning prayers in Jain temples ( D e r a s a r ) , f o l l o w e d b y abhishek, puja and fasting M a n y d e v o t e e s o b s e r v e

Ayambil Oli, a disciplined religious practice centred on p u r i f i c a t i o n a n d s p i r i t u a l growth Communities also o r g a n i s e p r o c e s s i o n s , c u ltural programmes and chari t a b l e a c t i v i t i e s , f o s t e r i n g unity and reinforcing comm i t m e n t t o e t h i c a l l i v i n g and service to humanity

L o r d M a h a v i r ’ s t e a c hings, particularly the principles of “Live and let live” and “ A h i m s a P a r m o D h a r m a ” (non-violence as the highest virtue), continue to guide individuals towards peaceful coexistence His birth is cele b r a t e d w i t h d e v o t i o n a l c h a n t s s u c h a s “ T r i s h a l a N a n d a n V e e r k i J a i ” a n d “ B o l o M a h a v i r k i J a i , ” reflecting collective joy and reverence C ore principles of Jainism Jainism is founded on non-violence and respect for all forms of life This philoso p h y e n c o u r a g e s c o m p a ss i o n , r e s t r a i n t i n t h o u g h t

a n d a c t i o n , h u m i l i t y , a n d

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o w a r d s t h e environment Acts of charity

Embassy of India in Bolivia celebrates Holi

Em bassy of India in Bolivia

P az at Luis Lastra S tadium

Over 600 people participated in the celebration that involved colours, energetic dance, music and exciting g a m e s P

lowed the dance steps and played with colours T

Kirtans

brated Holi in Cochabamba

h o l d c e n t r a l i m p o r t a n c e , emphasising the ethical use of wealth to support those in need and uphold human dignity

The faith teaches that true happiness arises from inner awareness rather than m a t e r i a l p o s s e s s i o n s Through self-discipline and t h e r e d u c t i o n o f a n g e r , greed and ego, individuals p r o g r e s s t o w a r d s s p i r i t u a l l i b e r a t i o n ( m o k s h a ) J a i n p h i l o s o p h y a l s o p r o m o t e s harmony through the principles of Parasparopagraho

J i v a n a m ( t h e i n t e r d e p e nd e n c e o f a l l l i f e ) a n d

A n e k a n t a v a d a ( t h e a c c e ptance of multiple perspectives of truth)

Birth and life of L ord M ahavir

Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankar of Jainism, was b o r n i n 5 9 9 B C E i n Kundalgram, Bihar, to King S i d d h a r t h a n d Q u e e n

Trishala Tradition records that Queen Trishala experienced fourteen auspicious dreams, foretelling his spirit u a l g r e a t n e s s H e w a s named Vardhaman, reflecting the prosperity and harmony that prevailed during this time, and later became

known as Mahavir due to his courage and strength After the passing of his parents, and with the con-

and

dedicated his life to teaching for the welfare of all beings Lord Mahavir taught the

Brahmacharya (celiba-

attachment) His sermons,

were attended peacefully by humans, animals and birds alike

After a life devoted to spiritual enlightenment and s

i r attained moksha at the age of 72 on the day of Diwali, known as Moksha Kalyanak His life is marked by five sign i f i c a n t s p i r i t u a l m i l estones, collectively known as the five Kalyanaks: conception, birth, renunciation, enlightenment and liberation

Dignitaries mark Bangladesh’s 55th Independence anniversary at Birmingham celebration

Dhiren Katwa

A d istinguished gatheri ng of c i v i c l ea d ers , dip lom ats and co mmuni t y fi g u r es ca m e together in Birmingham this M ond ay evening to com mem orate the 55th an ni v

ang lad es h ’ s i nd e p endence and national day T h

Birmingham, Sujan Debnath, showcased the country’s cultural heritage and growing economic ambitions Guests were treated to an evening of traditional folk music and dance, alongside a promotional presentation highl i g h t i n g i n v e s t m e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n Bangladesh, followed by a four-course meal prepared by British Bangladeshi chefs T h e

f prominent figures from across the West Midlands Among those present were Simon Foster, alongside the Consuls General of India, Romania and Pakistan Birmingham’s civic leadership was represented by the Lord Mayor, Zafar Iqbal MBE

Fundraising dinner by Labour Asian Society

A fundraising dinner in supp ort o f Andrew W es ter n M P w as r ep o rt ed l y h el d i n Manchester by th e Labour A sian Society

The recent event, according to Asian Image, was attended by community memb

Powell MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party; Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester; Afzal Khan MP; and Lord Wajid

Khan A spokesperson noted that the event d

Andrew Western MP and reinforced the value of collaboration across both political and community spheres

There was a unified call to work together t

context

Lord Uday Nagaraju, Lord Krish Raval OBE, former

MP Virendra Sharma Councillor Parveen Rani Councillor Tushar Kumar

Dr M N Nandakumara Krishna Pujara Manish Tiwari Hanuman Dass, Warrant Officer Ashok Chauhan MBE and members of the Armed Forces

Councillor Tushar Kumar and Councillor Parveen Rani felicitating Lord Uday Nagaraju

Lord Krish Raval OBE addressing the audience

Rohit Vadhwana, Ambassador of India to Bolivia with wife Femida Shaikh

Holi celebration in La Paz, Bolivia

Net Zero illusions, strategic weakness

In today’s political climate net zero has too often drifted into illusion, reducing oil and gas to emissions data while i g n o r i n g t h e s t r a t e g i c r e a l i t i e s b e n e a t h O f f s h o r e hydrocarbons do far more than heat homes or power industry, they underpin the materials of modern life, from medicines and fertilisers to plastics and fibres Yet Britain speaks as though large-scale substitutes are already viable They are not This gap between ambition and capability is not just an economic concern, it is a source of growing strategic weakness

The consequences are now visible Britain struggles to field consistent naval capability for allied commitments, relying on partners in situations that would once have been routine At a moment of rising global instability weakening the economic base that funds defence is a strategic error The North Sea is not an abstraction; it is a working asset capable of strengthening public finances and sustaining military readiness Refusing to develop fields such as Rosebank does not reduce demand, it simply shifts supply abroad, often at greater cost and with less control

This choice carries a deeper contradiction Britain imports oil and gas with a higher carbon footprint while l e a v i n

environmental leadership, it is strategic self-harm Energy security is not a slogan; it is the foundation of economic stability and sovereign power Undermining it weakens industry, strains public finances and limits the state’s ability to respond in times of crisis

This is not an argument against net zero, it is an argument against illusion A credible transition requires sequencing, discipline, and realism Britain can develop its North Sea resources responsibly, channel revenues into defence, and invest in cleaner technologies That is how serious nations manage change Sacrificing energy security and fiscal strength for political signalling is not prudence,

sustainable it must stop turning away from the very resources that could fund its future

D r Nars inhbhai Maganlal Patel

March, a month dedicated to celebration, philanthropy and optimism

The month of March was notable for a wide array of religious festivals from different traditions, all reflecting the recurring themes of the triumph of good over evil, joy over sorrow, and periods devoted to festivity, charity, and prayer

• Holi: Holi, one of the major Hindu festivals, represented the victory of good over evil It is celebrated with enthusiasm, particularly in India and among Hindus globally, spanning two days The first day, Choti Holi or Holika Dahan, featured rituals symbolising the eradication of evil The second day, Dhulandi or Rangwali Holi, included celebrations involving colours, water, and flowers, where participants applied Gulal (coloured powder) and sought blessings from elders

• Ramadan: Ramadan was a sacred period for millions of Muslims worldwide, cantered on celebration, community, charity, and prayer While its observance varied across cultures, the core essence remains unchanged Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the Holy Quran described as guidance, declaration, and salvation Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, fostering self-discipline and empathy toward those in need

• Nowruz: Known as the Persian New Year, Nowruz marked the transition from Winter to Spring at the vernal equinox Rooted in Zoroastrianism, this tradition spans over 3,000 years and symbolises nature’s renewal and the triumph of good over evil Recognised by UNESCO and the United Nations, Nowruz serves as a unifying cultural event in an increasingly interconnected world

• Mother’s Day: In the United Kingdom, Mother’s Day, or Mothering Sunday, occurred on 15 March this year With Christian origins linked to Lent and observed on the fourth Sunday before Easter, it is a special occasion to honour mothers and acknowledge their dedication and sacrifices

• St Patrick’s Day: Celebrated on 17 March, St Patrick’s Day is both a religious feast and a global celebration of Irish culture, commemorating Ireland’s patron Saint and the arrival of Christianity Traditions include wearing green, parades, shamrocks, and various cultural heritage activities

As Easter approaches in April, may peace be maintained worldwide, and may ongoing conflicts come to a resolution

Sures h and Bhavna Pate l

Persistent LPG shortage and exploitation of consumers

I would like to draw th e attention of th e concerned au thorities to the ongo ing issue of LPG shortage in India, which has become a persistent problem for com mon households

Despite repeated assurances from the government and oil companies, the supply of LPG cylinders continues to be irregular and insufficient in many areas As a result, consumers are left with no option but to purchase cylinders at inflated prices from delivery agents or middlemen

It is alarming that people are being forced to pay as much as Rs 4000 (around £40) per cylinder in the black market, which is far beyond the regulated price

This situation not only puts an unfair financial burden on ordinary citizens but also encourages corruption and mal-

Ex-fraud convict’s firm won £1m contracts

A c o m p a ny r u n by L abo ur ap p oi ntee A sif

Hamid , previou sly conv icted of fraud, received nearly £ 1 m illion in go v-

e rn m ent c o ntr ac ts

d es p i te fa i li ng to p ay s ta ff th e m in im u

as rev ealed

Hamid, who served as a business lead for Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram until 2023, secured lucrative contracts through his firm, The Contact Company, including work for the Treasury and VisitBritain The findings have raised concerns over how his company passed due diligence checks

Despite earlier convictions for fraud and deception, Asif Hamid rebuilt his career as an entrepreneur, securing senior roles and public recognition, including an MBE His company received significant public funding, including a £250,000 council grant and £1 million from the Local Enterprise Partnership, despite concerns over potential conflicts of interest, which were denied Some of his firm’s projects later attracted controversy and were eventually scrapped

Concerns about Hamid’s past were reportedly overlooked, while companies linked to him later collapsed owing millions In 2024, The Contact Company was sold through a pre-pack administration, allowing it to continue operating under his leadership despite criticism over minimum wage breaches

His record has raised questions over how his firms secured public contracts, though the Cabinet Office said proper procedures were followed and local authorities denied direct involvement in his appointments

practice within the distribution system The lack of strict monitoring and accountability has allowed such exploitation to flourish unchecked

I urge the concerned authorities to take immediate and effective measures to ensure a steady and transparent supply of LPG cylinders

Strict action must be taken against those involved in black marketing, and a proper grievance redressal mechanism should be established for affected consumers

I hope this issue will receive the urgent attention it deserves and that necessary steps will be taken to bring relief to the public

Questions raised over highvolume cannabis prescriptions

Ten doctors h av e prescribed m ore th an half of all medical cannabis since its leg alisation, The Times has found

Operating from private clinics, these consultants have issued over 800,000 prescriptions since 2019, with most being dried cannabis products

The concentration of prescriptions among a small number of doctors has raised concerns about whether proper clinical oversight is being followed The Royal College of Psychiatrists warns there is limited evidence supporting cannabis for mental health conditions and cautions it may worsen issues like depression and psychosis, while guidelines require thorough assessment and monitoring

Figures suggest prescribing standards may not always be followed, with one consultant alone issuing over 10% of prescriptions, nearly 46,000 in five months, or one every two working minutes Concerns are also growing over the potency of some products, with THC levels exceeding those found in typical street cannabis

Blue Badge fraud costs £2,700

A m an has been ordered to p ay m ore than £ 2,700 after fraud ulently u sing h is late father’s Blue Badg e

Emir Patel, 33, was caught parking in a disabled bay in Reading using a badge that had been cancelled months earlier

He admitted fraud and was fined, ordered to cover legal costs, and pay an additional victim surcharge

John Ennis, the council’s lead councillor for transport, said the Blue Badge scheme is vital for those who genuinely need accessible parking, and misuse undermines it by taking spaces from eligible users He stressed that the council treats

prosecutions, and hopes the fines

Major GMC overhaul to tackle discrimination in NHS

The gov ernment is planning major refo rm

to m ake it eas

marking

cant overh aul of the General Medical Cou ncil ( GM C) in 40 years

The move follows grow-

action against doctors using d

particularly on social media

The Department of Health a

arguing the current system

bureaucratic

The proposed changes are based on a review by L o r d J o h n M

w h i c h found the existing process too slow and ineffective in h o l d

(GMC) stronger powers to challenge decisions made by

The reforms aim to help regulators act more swiftly when tribunal decisions are seen as failing to protect the

Wes Streeting said the NHS must be safe for all and that discrimination will not be tolerated Lord Mann said the current system has been too slow to tackle racism and that the changes will enable more decisive action

Officer’s tragic death sparks

Bristol Harbour safety

A

d

to Bri s to l H arb o u r h as been remembered by his fami ly as “big-hearted ” and d own to earth

P c R e h a a

, 28, went missing during a night out in November 2025 and was found in the water the following day His death has prompted calls for improved safety measures, with his family urging the council to consider installing more barriers amid concerns over multiple drownings in the harbour

Akhtar’s family said he had been planning to move in with his partner and marry in January, describing him as a kind and caring person Following his death, Bristol City Council is reviewing harbour safety, including lighting, ladders, and possible barriers, while balancing operational needs His family, who believe he fell from a jetty, have called for improved lighting, railings, and escape routes to prevent future tragedies Akhtar, who served with South Wales Police, was reported missing before his body was recovered the next day

Museum entry fees for tourists under review

Ministers are considering

museums as part of effort s to boost ar ts funding The pr oposal comes alongside opt ions s uch as a hot el levy, w hich some expert s ar gue would be a better al ternative

Free entry to national museums, introduced in 2 0 0 1 , h a

g n i f i c a n

y increased visitor numbers, and previous plans to end

opposition Public support r

tourist levy to help maintain free access

The ideas form part of t h e g

response to a review of A

increased funding, greater

cesses for artists

Margaret Hodge

Jubel D’C ruz

Lord John Mann

Pc Rehaan Akhtar

Widespread concerns over wrongful paan spitting penalties

Subhasini Naicker

T he p roblem of p aan sp itting has long been a focus for cou ncils, w ith enforce-

m ent o f f ic er s t as ked t o

c u rb th e a nti - s oc i al behav iour

H o w e v e r , c o n c e r n s have emerged over people

b e i n g w r o n g l y f i n e d f o r actions they did not com-

m i t O n e s u c h c a s e involved Kamal Shah who

e x p e r i e n c e d w h a t h e describes as aggressive and unfair treatment by private enforcement officers working for Harrow Council

S p e aki n g t o A s i an

V oice, Kam al S hah , C hair

o f No r th H arr o w

C o m m u ni ty L i br ary , recounted the incident that

h a p p e n e d i n S e p t e m b e r 2025: “I was just walking from my house to the local pharmacy when, apparently, though I didn’t know at the time, there were two e n f o r c e m e n t o f f i c e r s , employees of Kingdom, sitting in a car I walked past, and they jumped out and called me back, which I did They actually accused me of spitting, which I did not do What I believe is they target people they think are

v u l n e r a b l e , w h o a r e l e s s likely to challenge them ”

H e d e s c r i b e d t h e encounter as intimidating: “The whole encounter was very aggressive and bullying They make no attempt to provide any evidence In fact, they lied on camera, claiming they showed me proof, which is completely false I had to record the floor myself because they refused to let me record them, saying I had no right, which is an absolute lie ”

S h a h s a i d h e q u i c k l y filed a complaint: “I made a complaint straight to the managing director within half an hour of returning home because of my community contacts A normal person wouldn’t have that a c c e s s ” D e s p i t e t h i s , h e r e c e i v e d a n o t h e r p e n a l t y notice for the same alleged offense

He added, “Because of my complaint, the council cancelled both fines But this is happening on a wide

s c a l e a c r o s s H a r r o w , London, and other areas where the Kingdom operates They only get paid w h e n t h e y i s s u e n o t i c e s and collect fines, so in my opinion, this is a serious abuse of power ” “Th e system needs to be reformed”

On the wider issue of civil enforcement, Kamal said, “I think they target easy victims, people unlikely to challenge them On that day, I was limping and they assumed I’d be an easy t a r g e t I t ’ s a w i d e s p r e a d abuse of power I’ve suggested the council monitor

t h e m r e g u l a r l y , b u t t h e y only act when a complaint is made The appeals system is complicated, appeals go to the Kingdom, not the council, so people are pressured to pay In Harrow, I believe the Asian community is targeted more than others ”

O n c o u n c i l a c c o u n t -

a b i l i t y , S h a h s a i d , “ I ’ v e been urging them for over

f i v e m o n t h s t o a c t i v e l y monitor enforcement offi-

c e r s I s i t o n a Metropolitan Police panel reviewing stop-and-search footage, and the difference

i s s h o c k i n g , t h e o f f i c e r s I ’ v e s e e n f r o m t h e Kingdom are a thousand

t i m e s w o r s e T h e r e ’ s n o independent scrutiny One officer was removed from H a r r o w , b u t l i k e l y s t i l l works elsewhere

H e a d d e d , “ I f t h e s e were police officers, they’d

b e s a c k e d I s u p p o r t enforcement against antisocial behaviour, like paan spitting, but officers must act legally and fairly, not

City of London Police warn after Hajj fraud

The City of London Police is warn ing Hajj pilgr ims to stay a l

£195,752 to Hajj-rela ted fr aud in 2025

force has partnered with The Traitors finalist Faraaz Noor, who recorded a public message offering tips to help pil-

when booking their trips

In 2025, 34 reports were made to Action Fraud (now

Reports peaked in April and May, during the main book-

t a r g e t p e o p l e t o m a k e m o n e y K i n g d o m c l a i m s no targets exist, but clearly there’s pressure to perform because the company profits from fines And I have had so many people con-

t a c t m e w h

a y , y o u k n o w , t h e y s u f f e r e d t h e same abuse Every single encounter was aggressive and abusive, bullying ”

On the council’s handling of issues like spitting, littering, and street cleanli-

think the council is generally doing what needs to be done, but there’s a serious lack of scrutiny You can’t authorise officers to carry out this kind of work witho

s i g h

b

s e i t opens the door to abuse, w

i c h i s e x a c

y w h a t ’ s happening on the streets There’s a complete abuse of power, and nobody is monitoring it properly “What upset me even

m o r e w a s t h a t i n

D e c e m b e r , t h e c

u n c i l issued a PR story praising the Kingdom for doing a wonderful job, while they were fully aware of cases like mine Most people just pay the fines and move on, so these issues never get highlighted For nearly five to six months, I’ve been pushing to get change, not just for myself, but for othe r s w h o m i g h t f a c e t h e s a m e t r e a t

’ s why I went public with my story: to make the council, and especially incoming or r

needs to be reformed and r

introduced

Dr Nighat “humbled” after empty book signing

T his M orning’s Dr Nigh at A rif said she felt “ humbled ” after no one attended h er first book signing for The C omp lete Guide to Family Health in C hesham

Despite her large social media following, she admitted it gave her a “false sense of security” about turnout

She said only two books were sold, but reflected that the experience wasn’t a failure, highlighting how online

Dr Nighat Arif

Dr Nighat told her

that

event, but reassured him she

cheering up She described the experience as “perfect,” using the quiet time to chat with staff, sign books and focus on her next project She also shared a humbling moment when a cust

m

m i s t o o k h e r f o r a shop assistant, despite her face being on her book covers Reflecting on the day, she said it was grounding rather than disappointing, adding that such moments are part of the journey and not a sign of failure

involved consumer and ticket fraud, along with online shopping, advance fee, and

Family claims negligence after man’s death

February 2025, say th ey are ang ry that no inquest will be held into his death, alleg ing h e r ec ei v e d i nad equ a te medical care

His wife, Priya Rastogi, b e l i e v e s t h e r e w a s n e g l ig e n c e a n d i s c o n s i d e r i n g l e g a l a c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e N H S A u t h o r i t i e s s a i d a “comprehensive review” was carried out and shared with t h e f a m i l y , t h o u g h A v o n

C o r o n e r ’ s C o u r t d i d n o t explain its decision

Mr Rastogi had lived in South Gloucestershire with his wife and two children for over three years After his d e a t h , t h e f a m i l y , w h o s e visas were tied to his job, faced deportation and have since returned to India

His family claim he was l e f t u n m o n i t o r e d d e s p i t e signs of a serious heart condition, and say their concerns were ignored He had severe stomach pain, vomiting and heart palpitations, with paramedics recording a n a b n o r m a l E C G , b u t a hospital review found this was not properly passed on or treated as urgent A

though this was not

said lessons had been identified to improve handovers

VICTIMS AWAIT JUSTICE

The inquiry has legal powers to c o m p e l w i t n e s s e s a n d r e q u i r e o r g a n i s a t i o n s t o p r o v i d e d o c uments

Set up following a recommen-

d a t i o n f r o m B a r o n e s s L o u i s e Casey’s National Audit on Groupbased Child Sexual Exploitation, any evidence of criminal conduct by professionals will be referred to Operation Beaconport, the nation-

a l p o l i c e r e v i e w o f p r e v i o u s l y closed cases

T h e i n q u i r y w i l l i n v e s t i g a t e local areas where serious failings in

r e s p o n d i n g t o g r o o m i n g g a n g abuse have been identified, starting with Oldham

C h a i r e d b y B a r o n e s s A n n e Longfield CBE, former Children’s

C o m m i s s i o n e r f o r E n g l a n d , s h e will be joined by panellists Zoe Billingham, ex-HM Inspector of Constabulary, and Eleanor Kelly,

f o r m e r C E O o f S o u t h w a r k Council

Public hearings will be lives t r e a m e d w i t h t r a n s c r i p t s p u b -

l i s h e d a f t e r w a r d , a n d f i n d i n g s released gradually The three-year inquiry, running until March 2029 with a £65 million budget, follows an audit that found systemic fail-

u r e s a n d i n s t i t u t i o n a l i n a c t i o n enabled grooming gangs to operate for years

T h e g r o o m i n g g a n g s c a n d a l f i r s t e m e r g e d i n 2 0 0 3 i n ‘ T h e Times’ and has remained in public debate ever since It resurfaced in early 2025 after tech billionaire

E l o n M u s k c r i t i c i s e d P r i m e

M i n i s t e r K e i r S t a r m e r f o r n o t launching a national inquiry, highl i g h t i n g c a s e s w h e r e g r o u p s o f men, mostly of Pakistani descent,

a b u s e d p r e d o m i n a n t l y y o u n g w h i t e g i r l s i n t o w n s l i k e Rotherham and Rochdale

M u s k ’ s c o m m e n t s p r o m p t e d Starmer to announce the national inquiry in June 2025

Lady Longfield said, “Children across England and Wales were a n d a r e s e x u a l l y a b u s e d a n d exploited We will follow the evidence wherever it leads We will n o t f l i n c h f r o m u n c o m f o r t a b l e truths ” H o m e S e c r e t a r y S h a b a n a Mahmood added, “The independent national inquiry will uncover how these crimes were allowed to happen There will be no hiding place for the predatory monsters who committed these vile crimes ” Victims’ Commissioner Claire W a x m a n s a i d , “ T r a n s p a r e n c y , including publishing findings as the work progresses, will be vital to rebuilding trust ”

T h e i n q u i r y f a c e s p o t e n t i a l gaps from the start, including its three-year timeline, limited reliable data, and insufficient focus on victims’ ethnicity It is unclear who will ensure these issues are fully addressed MPs have also reported that key documents may have been lost due to Home Office errors,

information see page 3)

Liv es shattered as inquiry mo ves slow ly

T h e g r o o m i n g g a n g s c a n

isn't just a record of systemic failure; it is a landscape of shattered childhoods and stolen futures For many women, the trauma isn't a past event, it is a lifelong sentence

These girls were children with dreams, lured by false promises of love or snatched from the cracks of broken homes, only to have their potential extinguished by a society that looked the other way

The BBC reported on the harr

n n y (pseudonym) a survivor who was groomed at age 12 Initially won over with gifts, she was soon subjected to extreme violence, stating, " I

p cigarette burns By the time I was 13 and a half, I weighed six stone Penny was trafficked to strangers across the country, kept in a druginduced state so she "didn't know what day it was "

While some men were convicted, Penny remains sceptical of the justice system, noting that "hundreds of men" who abused her remain free She is now calling for "accountability for the failings" of

a u t h o r i t i e s w h o a l l o w e d t h i s exploitation to persist, demanding that a public inquiry expose the reality of grooming to ensure "it cannot go on "

Similarly, Fiona Goddard saw her girlhood slip away within the very walls meant to protect her While living in a Bradford children’s home in the late 2000s, 14year-old Goddard was subjected to grooming and abuse that authorities repeatedly ignored Despite h e r m o t h e r ’ s w a r n i n g s a n d Goddard being found with older m e n , p o l i c e a n d s o c i a l s e r v i c e s downgraded her frequent disapp e a r a n c e s t o " u n a u t h o r i s e d absences," avoiding a serious rescue response Though nine men

w e r e e v e n t u a l l y j a i l e d i n 2 0 1 9 , Goddard has waived her anonymity to call out the "insulting dismissal" she continues to face from W e s t Y o r k s h i r e P o l i c e a n d Bradford Council during her legal battle for accountability

One pressing issue is why the girls had to endure such suffering, simply trusting adults who were supposed to protect them tragically led them into a devastating cycle

o f a b u s e M a n y o f t h e s e t h e n young victims placed faith in institutions and caregivers, only to be let down repeatedly, highlighting t h e p r o f o u n d f a i l u r e o f t h o s e tasked with safeguarding them

Another major concern is the inquiry’s extended timeline, which is set to run until 2029 By that time, the UK is likely to be preparing for or holding a general election, creating a real risk that the

inquiry could be sidelined, delayed, or lose momentum as political priorities shift during campaigning

Similar inquiries in the past have experienced slow progress or p o s t p o n e m e n t s d u e t o e l e c t i o n cycles, raising serious questions about whether this investigation will receive the consistent attention, resources, and political will it urgently requires to deliver meaningful justice, accountability, and protection for current and future victims

C r i ti cs s la m ‘ A s i an

g room ing gang s

One key issue highlighted in reports on grooming gangs is the lack of reliable data on ethnicity, d e s c r i b e d a s “ a p p a l l i n g ” a n d a “major failing ”

In two-thirds of cases, the ethnicity of perpetrators is not recorded, making national conclusions impossible Yet when ethnicity is mentioned, the perpetrators are often broadly labelled as “Asian” rather than specifying their actual background, most of whom are Muslims/British Pakistanis I n 2 0 2 5 , I n d i a n p o l i t i c i a n Priyanka Chaturvedi criticised this t e r m i n o l o g y o n X ( f o r m e r l y Twitter), stating: “Repeat after me, they aren’t Asian grooming gangs b u t P a k i s t a n i g r o o m i n g g a n g s

Why should Asians take the fall for one absolute rogue nation?” Her post sparked debate over the misleading use of “Asian” to describe these crimes

Critics argue that using “Asian” as a blanket term obscures the perpetrators’ true ethnic and religious background and can lead to racial profiling British Indians, Sikhs, and Hindus have expressed frustration at politicians, including PM Keir Starmer, for using the term

K r i s h n a B h a n , c h a i r o f H i n d u Council UK, said: “Our Hindu and Sikh girls were also victims ” Jay Shah of Friends of India Society

I n t e r n a t i

U K

“ W h y should we be classified as part of these gangs? They should specify who they are Politicians seem to protect perpetrators rather than victims ”

Organisations like Sikh Youth UK and the Hindu Council UK have long supported victims and raised awareness, yet the vague label persists Sikh Federation UK said: “Until politicians call out the

gangs, they are accused of covering up the truth ”

But the real question is: will the specific identities of the perpe-

Resident doctors announce six-day strike

Resident doctors in England will stage a six-day strike next m onth af ter ta lk s b etw e en th e B ri ti s h M ed i cal A ss o ci ati on ( BM A ) an d the g overnment broke d own ov er pay and jo b concerns The walkout, the 15th since March 2023, will begin at 7am on 7 A p r i l

The dispute escalated after a proposed 3 5% pay rise, recommended by an independent body and accepted by the government, was rejected by the BMA as insufficient T h

has offered to cover costs like exam fees, expand training posts and allow faster pay progression from about £39,000 to £74,000, but the British Medical Association (BMA) says the package falls short and would still result in real-terms pay cuts

c

Labour government having over

tors in England, set for April 7–13

Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged the BMA to reconsider a proposed pay and workforce deal, g i v i n g i t 4 8 h o u r s t o r e

Writing in ‘The Times’, he called the union’s decision to announce strikes without putting the offer to a v o t e “ r

t h a t industrial action would affect both doctors and patients

Health Secretary Wes Streeting

A s s o c i a t i o n ’ s ( B M A ) d e m a n d s “ u n

s t i c , ” w

e t h e u n i o n argues that doctors’ pay is still around 20% lower than in 2008 after inflation, and has raised concerns over limited training opportunities Tensions continue ahead of a six-day strike by resident doc-

The proposed deal includes an above-inflation pay rise this year, taking total increases over three years to around 35%, reforms to reward experience, reimbursement of mandatory exam fees, and up to 4,500 new specialty training posts Starmer stressed that failing to put the deal to a vote risk losing these opportunities

Cardiologist urges “know your numbers” to fight heart disease

A c ar d i o lo g i s t h a s is s u ed key ad vice on heart d isease, the leading cause of d eath in the U K

Dr Roy Jogiya, consultant cardiologist and chief medical advisor at Heart Research UK, said nearly eight million people are living with cardiovascular disease, with one person dying every five minutes and around 68,000 deaths from coronary heart disease each year

In Birmingham, recorded cases appear lower than the national average, but early deaths from cardiovascular disease are higher, sugg e s t i n g g r e a t

n g r i s k linked to deprivation, health factors and unequal access to prevention

Dr Jogiya advised that the most important step in preventing heart disease is to “know your numbers,” including blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes risk and waist size from an early age

He also stressed the importance of staying active, maintain-

Do cto rs p rev io u sly barred fro m NHS w ork wh ile aw aiting asylu m decisions are celebrating after the Ho me Office lifted the restriction T h e c h a n g e f o l l o w s a H i g h Court challenge by two specialist doctors, a radiologist and a neuror

months to jobs on the immigration salary list, which until April 2024 excluded doctors Dr Aisha Awan, GP and senior

ing a healthy weight and making simple lifestyle changes, such as using less oil in cooking and treating rich foods as occasional indulgences

Highlighting that many cases are preventable, he urged regular health checks and said small, consistent steps, like good sleep and physical activity, can make a significant difference

Manchester, said: “With rising displacement from conflict, preventing doctors and health professiona

deskilling, harms NHS capacity, and affects mental health and integration ”

Becky Hart of Bhatt Murphy, representing the two doctors who challenged the policy, added: “Our clients were barred from working in their NHS specialities for over a year Expanding asylum seekers’ work rights to include skilled roles like doctors and nurses is long overdue and benefits both individuals and society ”

Baroness Anne Longfield CBE

Shabana Mahmood

Baroness Louise Casey

Dr Roy Jogiya

Bibliotherapist, c ounsellor and author of “B ibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading” Bij al Shah said, “Time limits on social media are vital for children, they help protect attention, sleep, and emotional wellbeing Excessive social media use disrupts emotional and behavioural regulation in children Setting clear boundaries, and limiting social media exposure supports balance and encourages engagement in offline activities ”

On reading as a healthier alternative to social media, Bijal said, “Books are a powerful option and, as a bibliotherapist, something I strongly advocate for their emotional and therapeutic benefits They create space for imagination and empathy Unlike fast-paced digital content, reading encourages children to slow down and strengthens key executive function skills such as focus and cognition ”

Speaking about the importance of building healthy digital habits early, she added, “It’s essential to guide children from a young age This helps them develop self-regulation, critical thinking, and an awareness of how technology affects their mood and behaviour Learning to use digital spaces intentionally, set boundaries, and engage mindfully fosters a balanced and healthy relationship with technology as they grow ”

Government tests social media bans and curfews for teens

Social media has become deeply embedded in the daily lives of the younger generation, shaping how they communicate, learn, and spend their free time

While it offers opportunities for connection and creativity, many believe it is increasingly replacing essential aspects of childhood

Time that was once spent playing outdoors, engaging in hobbies, or building face-to-face relationships is now often consumed by scrolling, posting, and seeking online validation For many parents and educators, this growing dependence raises concerns about long-term impacts on mental health and personal development

In response to these concerns, the Government will pilot social media bans, app time limits, and digital curfews in the homes of 300 teenagers in a first-

Mamta Saha, a business psychologist and div ersity and inclusion consultant, said, “Social media is increasingly being compared to a hypodermic syringe, slowly influencing young minds Children become reliant on rapid dopamine stimulation, especially as their brains, particularly the prefrontal cortex, are not fully developed until their mid-20s This makes them highly impressionable and raises serious concerns for parents and schools Limiting access is crucial, as social media offers little developmental value Instead, children need realworld, hands-on activities to build motor skills, communication, and social abilities, skills that cannot be developed online ” On introducing home social media curfews to reduce excessive screen time, she said, “I strongly

By: Subhasini Naicker

of-its-kind trial

Running alongside a digital wellbeing consultation, closing on 26 May 2026 and already drawing nearly 30,000 responses, the six-week study will examine how such restrictions impact young people’s daily lives

As part of the UK-wide trial, families will be assigned to one of four approaches: a full social media ban using parental controls, a one-hour daily limit on popular apps, a night-time curfew from 9pm to 7am, or no restrictions as a control group Parents and children will be interviewed before and after the six-week pilot to assess the impact on family life, sleep, and schoolwork, as well as any challenges such as setting controls or bypassing them The findings, alongside public consultation responses, will be reviewed by officials and

believe limiting, or even removing, social media use at home can help counter its negative effects

Children are already exposed to screens extensively through education, and we ’ re now realising that this may not have been as beneficial as once thought Home

Starmer backs ban on addictive social media features

P rime Mini ste r Keir Starmer has called for a ban on addi cti ve s oci al medi a fe atures, s ayi ng the y “ s hould n’t be permitted,” in his s tronge st s tance y et on tech re gulation

He warned the government must act on algorithms that hook children and young people, such as endless scrolling or daily “streaks ” Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson added that social media is “designed to keep you there,” and the upcoming consultation will examine ways to curb addictive features

The comments follow a US case where Meta and Google were held liable for a woman ’ s childhood social media addiction, resulting in a $6m damages award; both companies plan to appeal

In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, Starmer said social media platforms aim to

academics to inform future policies aimed at promoting healthier digital habits among children

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the government is focused on improving children’s wellbeing, adding: “These pilots will give us the evidence we need to take the next steps, informed by the experiences of families themselves ”The government will also issue new guidance on screen use for under-fives and has launched the “You Won’t Know Until You Ask” campaign, offering parents practical tools to support safer and more informed online conversations

Asian Voice spoke to several parents who believe that introducing time limits on social media could have a positive impact on children’s wellbeing and have expressed support for the government s pilot study

should offer a break from constant screen exposure There should be clear boundaries, including a strict curfew, no social media at least three hours before bedtime Devices should not be allowed in bedrooms, as this can be highly harmful It’s essential for parents to actively monitor and manage screen time at home ”

Mamta said, “I strongly believe the government’s pilot on social media bans, time limits, and home curfews could be effective in helping parents keep children safe online However, its success will largely depend on the foundations built at home If parents have fostered strong relationships based on trust, respect, and open communication, the trial is more likely to succeed Without that, it may prove much more challenging ”

A mother of tw o, Annu Sach deva said, “I believe setting time limits on social media use is essential for children, as it helps establish a healthier balance between online and offline activities while supporting their mental wellbeing, focus, and overall development Without clear boundaries, children can easily become overexposed to content that may negatively influence their mood, self-esteem, and attention span, particularly during key developmental stages Introducing home social media curfews can also play a significant role, especially in protecting sleep quality and reducing overstimulation before bedtime Creating consistent routines around device use allows children to wind down more effectively, leading to better rest and improved concentration during the day ”

“Teaching children’s healthy digital habits from a young age is equally important It equips them with the skills to navigate online environments safely and responsibly, while fostering critical thinking, resilience, and self-regulation These foundational habits can have a lasting positive impact as they grow older and become more independent users of technology While the government’s pilot is a positive and proactive step, its overall effectiveness will depend on how well it supports and empowers parents Providing practical tools, clear guidance, and accessible resources will be key to helping families implement these changes successfully at home,” she added

Labour MPs

urge

online protections for boys

Labour MPs have urged

keep children hooked, calling it unacceptable and signalling that government action is needed He said he is “open-minded” about a ban for under-16s, like in Australia, and promised significant changes following the consultation

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson noted new guidance for under-fives’ screentime and said social media is designed to capture attention, raising concerns for children’s developing brains She confirmed the government is considering banning addictive algorithms for young users and reviewing age limits and harmful, algorithm-driven content as part of the wider consultation

While the Online Safety Act

women and girls, MPs argue boys are also targeted Data shows

x t o r t i o n v i c t i m s a r e male

A l i s t a i r S t r a t h e r n , M P f o r H i t c h i n a n d c o - c h a i r o f t h e Labour group for men and boys, s a i d t h e L o u i s T h e r o u x d o c umentary Inside the Manosphere exposed how parts of the internet

exploit young men Nick Isles of the Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys added that influencers prey on young men with lies and hate, urging Ofcom to provide guidance and strengthen protections t

guarding men and boys isn’t just about equity, it’s vital for addressi

that men and boys face “disproportionate risks” from far-right radicalisation, crypto scams, and v i o

different measures than those for women and girls Strathern urged the regulator to “step up ” to close this protection gap

Bijal Shah

Annu Sachdeva

Mamta Saha

Bijal Shah Annu Sachdeva

Mamta Saha

Keir Starmer

The most Egg-straordinary Easter celebration is here!

The springtime air i s offi-

c i ally f iz zi ng wi th e xci te-

m ent as we welc om e the most egg-straordinary time of year, E aster

It is a delightful season

i s a b e a u t i f u l b l e n d o f

a n c i e n t t r a d i t i o n s , n e w beginnings, and, of course, plenty of chocolatey treats that make everyone ’ s hearts hop with joy

E a s t e r i s a s i g n i f i c

n t Christian festival that celebrates the resurrection of

J e s u s C h r

g hope and the triumph of

Sunday after the full moon

dances around our calen-

d a r s b e t w e e n M a r c h a n d April For many, it marks the end of Lent, a period of

r e f l e c t i o n , m a k i n g t h e Easter Sunday feast feel like

a giant, warm hug for the soul!

Pope Leo XIV sent a for-

mercy, and peace" to Sarah Mullally, marking her his-

h e Archbishop of Canterbury

K u

t K

c

m e s s a g e emphasised the importance o f c o n t i n u e d A n g l i c a n -

Catholic dialogue through

C and IARCCUM to address

Archbishop Sarah responded by affirming her commitment to Christian unity and announcing an upcoming visit to the Vatican in April to meet the Pope (For m

d page 16)

Brits set to eat 123 million Easter eggs

Thi s year, the UK i s s et to cons ume a whoppi ng 123 mi llion Easter egg s, research shows

A p o l l o f 2 , 0 0 0 a d u l t s found that people will eat an average of 165 eggs over their l i f e t i m e , r e c e i v i n g a r o u n d three each year, with five mill i o n e a t e n b

Sunday

eggs are over-packaged, 17% admitted they won’t recycle t h e p l a s t i c b o x e s , a n d 3 6 % throw away the foil, though 89% do recycle the cardboard packaging The study, commissioned by DS Smith, also introduced a tool to calculate

cling habits

The study found that 26% of people don’t recycle Easter e g g p a c k a g i n g b e c a u s e t h e instructions are unclear, while 36% say certain materials can’t be recycled locally Nearly 38% l o v e E a s t e r m a i n l y f o r t h e chocolate, but 26% are frustrated by the waste, and 22% c h o o s e e

y recyclable packaging

Roads set for busiest Easter weekend since 2022

T h i s E as te r w eek end i s expected to be the busiest

o n U K ro ad s si n ce 2 0 2 2, w ith nearly 21 millio n trip s p lanned despite rising fuel p rices

RAC and Inrix data predict "consistently high" traffic over the long weekend, over a million more trips than last year Experts at the AA suggest the increase is due to more people staying

in the UK rather than travelling abroad

V i s i t E n g l a n d e s t i m a t e s 12 5 million Brits will take overnight trips within the UK, compared with 7 4 million travelling overseas AA p

switched from overseas trips

, adding that journeys have

restrictions eased

s that 1 9 million more Brits are planning overnight UK trips this Easter compared with last year, though 5 1 million remain undecided, mainly due to weather and costs The RAC expects traffic to peak on Good Friday, with consistently high levels f r o m T

schools break up

The most whimsical guide to British Easter

The ar riva l of spring in the U nite d Kingdom bring s wit h it a delightful e xplosion of c olo ur , jo y , a n d t h e mo st e n ch a n t in g tr a d it io n s t ha t m a ke e v e ry on e fe e l li ke a play ful sp ring lamb!

Easter is a truly magical time when families across the country come together to celebrate new beginnings with a dash of creativity and a whole lot of chocolatey fun

Easter today delivers a s t r o n g m e s s a g e o f h o p e , renewal, and peace, reminding us that light triumphs over darkness despite global conflicts, divisions, and personal challenges

One of the most beloved

h i g h l i g h t s i s t h e G r e a t

British Easter Egg Hunt On Easter Sunday morning, the air is thick with anticipation as children wake up to discover that the elusive Easter Bunny has paid a visit

Tiny explorers grab their b r i g h t l y c o l o u r e d

e t s and head into gardens or local parks to search for hidden treasures In the UK, it is

even high up in the branches of trees The sheer delight and eureka! moments when a shimmering foil-wrapped egg is spotted amongst the g

warming Many community hunts even feature a "Golden E g g " h

tricky spot for a special prize For those who love a bit of artistic flair, egg painting is an absolute must! This whimsical tradition involves gently boiling eggs and then t

The sacred pause: Reflection, silence, and hope

Jubel D'Cruz

Earlier k nown a s “God’

Orthodox Churc hes

The day is marked by prayer, meditation, fasting, and deep mourning in c

reflect on spiritual values and lead lives of kindness and humility

Following this solemn

o b s e r v a n c e i s H o l y

S a t u r d a y , a d a y o f t e n

o v e r l o o k e d y e t r i c h i n

spiritual and human sig-

n i f i c a n c e P o s i t i o n e d between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, it repres e n t s t h e q u i e t i n t e r v a l

b e t w e e n t h e d e a t h a n d r e s u r r e c t i o n o f J e s u s

C h r i s t a t i m e d e f i n e d n o t b y a c t i o n , b u t b y silence, uncertainty, and quiet hope I

prepare for the joy of

into miniature masterpieces using vibrant dyes, glitter, and stickers In many British households, it’s a wonderful way for little ones to express t h e i r i n n e r P

the big day T

beauties are often used for

eggs down grassy hills to see who can travel the furthest without cracking From the

races to the quiet joy of decorating, these activities per-

bright essence of a British springtime celebration

New research warns of rising fraud risks for holidaymakers

As mi lli on s of people plan their Eas ter getaways and sum mer holiday s, Dr Ra sha Kas sem, a fraud expert a t Aston U nivers ity, is warni ng of i ncrea sing ris ks facin g both bus ines ses and travellers wi thi n the hospi ta li ty se ctor – and shares practi cal advi ce on how to stay safe while on holi day

In her latest publications, Outsmarting fraud in the hospitality industry and Spotlight on fraud risk in hospitality, Dr Rasha Kassem, senior academic and leader of the Fraud Research Group (FRG) at Aston University, reveals how fraud has evolved into a major threat affecting both businesses and consumers

Dr Kassem warns that fraud is not just a business problem – it is increasingly affecting travellers directly, with UK holidaymakers losing more than £11 million to travel-related fraud in a single year alone, and individual victims typically losing around £1,800, with some cases running into far higher sums

In the meantime, Dr Kassem’s research shows that fraud in hospitality is becoming more complex and technology driven Cases range from insider fraud, such as employee theft and manipulation of records, to highly sophisticated cyberfraud that compromises customer data and disrupts operations

Exam ples in clude:

- Fake or misleading online reviews influencing booking decisions

- Overcharging or adding services customers never purchased

- Credit card fraud followed by identity fraud

These schemes can result in financial loss and significant emotional distress for travellers

Dr Kassem’s research emphasises that prevention requires awareness She recommends that travellers:

Be fore booking:

- Use trusted platforms and verify hotel websites

- Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true

- Cross-check reviews across multiple sources

Duri ng b ooki ng:

- Avoid clicking on unsolicited links or emails

- Use secure payment methods (credit cards with protection)

- Check URLs carefully to avoid phishing sites

Never transfer money (eg via bank transfer or cash) to a holiday agency unless you are certain it is legitimate and verified

Duri ng the s tay:

- Protect personal information at checkin by only providing necessary details, avoiding sharing sensitive information openly, and ensuring documents are handled securely and not left unattended

- Monitor bank transactions for suspicious activity

- Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi and avoid accessing sensitive accounts (such as

banking or booking platforms), use a secure VPN if possible, and rely on mobile data for transactions involving personal or financial information

- Carefully review hotel and restaurant receipts to ensure all charges are accurate and match the goods and services received After tra velling:

- Review statements and report unauthorised charges immediately to the bank

While individual vigilance is important, Dr Kassem stresses that responsibility also lies with the industry to help safeguard against criminal activity

Her research highlights the need for:

- Stronger internal controls and fraud detection systems

- Investment in cybersecurity - Staff anti-fraud training and awareness

- Greater collaboration across the sector Dr Kassem added, “Taking a well-deserved holiday with friends or family should be something to enjoy However, hospitality fraud not only erodes consumer trust but increasingly places tourists at direct risk It is vital that people take steps to protect themselves before and during their holiday while businesses across the sector should also strengthen their fraud risk management practices to safeguard customers and protect their reputation By staying vigilant and taking a few simple precautions, holidaymakers can significantly reduce their risk and protect themselves from hospitality-related fraud ”

Dr Rasha Kassem

“UK-India

share common outlook on AI as emerging global leaders”

Rupanjana Dutta

Former UK Prime Minister

R t Hon Rishi Sunak under-

s cored the str engtheni ng partnership between India and the United Kingdom

i n Ar ti f i c i al I n te l li g en c e, desc rib ing the two c oun-

t r i es as e m er gi n g g lo ba l leaders i n the field He was

s p e ak i n g as t he C hi e f G uest at the event 'Beyond the New Delhi AI Summit: I ndi a and the UK Shaping

t h e A I A ge – I n di a –U K

U o r indeed the ad-hoc nature of the US response I think instead we both embrace a principle first, pragmatic, p

And even in this increasi

, I believe we can rally countries together towards this s e n s i b l e p r o p o r t i o n a t e approach,” said the former Prime Minister

Labour MP earns £30k from taxpayer-funded housing

Labour M P Gurind er Singh

J os a n, rep r es en ti ng

Sm e th wi c k, earn ed nea rly

£3 0 , 0 0 0 fro m a tax paye rfu nd ed housing sch em e h is party h as called a “lucrative money-spinning op portunity” a cc o rd i n g to T h e Telegraph

He co-owns a five-bedroom property housing vuln e r a b l e p e o p l e , i n c l

D i al og ue o n Ar ti f i c i a l I ntelligence', organised by

t h e I n di a n H i gh Commissi on in London in

a s soc i at ion wi th the CI I I ndi a Business Forum on Tuesday 2 4 March 2026

Mr Sunak advocated a p r a g m a t i c ,

n n o v a t

o n

first approach to AI govern a n c e , e m p h a s i s i n g t h e need for deeper cooperation on technology securi-

t y H e n o t e d t h a t b o t h nations have increasingly b e e n r e c o g n i s e d o n t h e global AI stage, citing the Stanford AI Index, which places India ahead of the UK in the global AI rank-

i n g s I n a l i g h t - h e a r t e d

a s i d e , h e r e m a r k e d t h a t while India has made rapid progress in AI, the UK continues to lead in the ICC Test cricket rankings

Highlighting the policy

a l i g n m e n t b e t w e e n t h e two countries, Mr Sunak said that India and the UK

s h a r e s i m i l a r o b j e c t i v e s a n d f a v o u r i n n o v a t i o nfriendly regulatory frame-

w o r k s H e s t r e s s e d t h a t

n e i t h e r n a t i o n s u p p o r t s rigid, top-down regulation or arbitrary data practices

H e a l s o e m p h a s i s e d t h e importance of international collaboration to ensure the safe and responsible development of emerging technologies

Referring to the establ i s h m e n t o f I n d i a ’ s A I Security Institute last year, Mr Sunak called for closer engagement with its UK counterpart Such cooperation, he said, forms a core p i l l a r o f t h e U K

m o d e l f o r 2 1 s t - c e n t u r y s e c u r i t y c o l l a b o r a t i o n a t the technological frontier

“India and UK share a common outlook Neither of us want to emulate the t

H e a d d e d , “ W e b o t h u n d e r s t a n d t h a t A I p r o g r

H i s E x c el l en c y V i k ra m

Dorais wami, echoed these s e n t i m e n t s , d e s c r i b i n g

India’s rapid ascent as a major AI player and highlighting the vast potential f o r d e e p

p e r a t i

n w i t h t h e U K H e s a i d , “Some of the work that was showcased in UK to

s

three years ago, and some of the work that was showc

India suggests to us that

week ”

Other speakers on the day included J ade Le ung, AI Advisor to the Prime

Dam e Wendy Hall, Regius

Science and Associate

of Southampton

s h o w i n g t h e w o r l d t h a t technology is safe that we will be able to fully reap the benefits that it brings I

a m v e r y p r o u d o f o u r world leading AI Security

Institute And it’s superb to see Jade Lung, the Prime Minister’s AI Advisor and t h e C h i e f T e c h n o l o g y Officer at the AI Security Institute today

“And I was very pleased last year when India set up i t s o w n A I S e c u r i t y Institute And on of the t h i n g s w e m u s t f o s t e r , g

t w e e n a

t h e s e A I s a f e t y i n s t i t u t e s I n t h e same way that our intelligence sharing has kept us safe from the shared terrorist threats that we face, joint working between our AI institutes can now protect us from the risk that comes with this new technology

“ T h e U K I n d i a

T e c h n o l o g y S e c u r i t y Initiative will help to facilit a t e t h i s I t ’ s a p o w e r f u l example of security cooperation between Britain and India in the 21st century ” I n d i a ’ s H i g h

Commissioner to the UK,

opportunity for us to be able to bring together the enormous capabilities that t h e U K h a s a l r e a d y deployed on AI And the enormous capabilities that India is bringing to display in AI, the opportunity that you see in India today is arising out of using India's m

h a t i s linguistic diversity, income d

v e r s i t y , g e o g r a p h i c a l diversity

“AI is providing solutions in terms of governance benefits, in terms of financial inclusion benefits, and in terms of benef i t s a c r o s s k e y s e c t o r s where AI needs to be able to deliver like healthcare, pharma If we are to look at AI as something that can include every citizen

o n o u r p l a n e t , t h e n I

b e l i e v e I n d i a i s a l r e a d y well positioned to make some of that difference

And if we are to be able to find ways in which we can scale that up at pace, then the UK is by far our best partner to make that ”

He concluded by saying, “And I really want us to be able to look at today's event as a scene set up for actual practical cooperation to come out by the

tured contributions from members of the CII India Business Forum and their c o u n t e r p a r t s i n t h e United Kingdom

AI Summi t in Ne w Delh i The AI Su mmi t h eld in New Del hi f rom 16 to 21

F e br u a r y 20 2 6 b u i l t o n the momentum of previo u s g l o b a l A I s u m m i t s hosted by the UK, South

K o r e a , a n d F r a n c e T h e

s u m m i t e x p a n d e d t h e

i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n v e r s a -

t i o n b e y o n d s a f e t y a n d

s e c u r i t y t o i n c l u d e a broader focus on inclus i v e , s u s t a i n a b l e , a n d r e s p o n s i b l e A I d e p l o yment

A s m a j o r i n n o v a t i o n hubs and leaders in larges c a l e

The payments were made t

allowing landlords to charge higher rents outside standard

Discussions at the summit explored how both countries could combine their s t r e n g t h s t o s h o w c a s e real-world, inclusive, and responsible AI solutions, p a r t i c u l a r l y i n g o v e rn a n c e , p u b l i c s e r v i c e delivery, and quality-oflife applications

Conservatives criticized him for profiting from taxpayerfunded exempt accommodation, which also let him a

licence

, Concept Housing managed Josan’s property, receiving £

report found many of its p r o p

s i n g took over 2024-2026, receiving £114,054, with no complaints Josan confirmed he had no direct ties to either housing association, and his rent was around 6% of the total

Gurinder Singh Josan said a managing agent handled the arrangement and he is ending the contract Elected in 2024, he owns

Visa fees set to rise from April

UK vis a fees for vis itors , residents, st udents , and workers are s et to ris e by up to £222 f

sures

These include changes to refugee status, paying up to £

l u m seekers to leave, and revoking housing rights for those working illegally

A n “ e m e r g e n c y b r a k e ” has also been placed on student visas from Afghanistan, C a m e r

m

,

Sudan due to a surge in asylum applications From April 8 , n e w v i s a c h a r g e s w i l l increase by up to 7%, affecti n g m i g r a n

sponsors, and family members Short-stay visit visas (up to six months) will increase £8 to £135, while longer-term visit visas will rise by £31–£69 depending on duration Citizenship applications w i l l g o u p t o £ 1 , 7 0 9 , a n d route to settlement visas will surpass £2,000 for the first time, with some dependent visas increasing up to £222 Work visas, including skilled w o r k e r v i s a s , w i l l r i s e b y a r o u n d £ 5 0 , w i t h s i m i l a r increases for longer stays and d e p e n d a n t s S t a n d a r d s t udent visas will increase £34 to £558, while Graduate Route visas will rise from £880 to £937 for main applicants and dependents

Family court faces rare case of twin paternity ambiguity

A woman who becam e pre gna nt afte r hav ing sex wit h iden tical twin s within four day s has be en told DN A te sting cann ot det er min e which twin is the fat her

One twin is listed on the birth certificate, while the o t h e r , w i t h t h e m o t h e r , sought parental responsibilit y b y a p p e a l i n g a f a m i l y court ruling

Sir Andrew McFarlane, with Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Stuart Smith, said DNA can confirm either twin as the father but cannot distinguish between them, giving a 50% chance the registered father is correct

Until further hearings, n e i t h e r t w i n w i l l h a v e parental responsibility, and

the identities of all parties r e m a i n p r o t e c t e d McFarlane said: “The baby s father is one of the twins, but it is not possible to say which ” He noted future science may resolve paternity, but for now, the truth is binary J u d g e R e a r d o n h a d f o u n d both twins had sex with the w o m a n w i t h i n f o u r d a y s , making either equally likely to be the father McFarlane ordered the first-registered twin’s parental responsibility to cease but refused to r u l e h i m o u t a s f a t h e r , s t r e s s i n g t h a t u n p r o v e n facts do not prove the opposite, and the ambiguity cannot continue in baby’s best interests

Former British Prime Minister Rt Hon Rishi Sunak addressing the audience

India’s High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency Vikram Doraiswami welcoming the guests

Intervention by a guest at the working lunch

Gurinder Singh Josan

Sarah Mullally installed as first female Archbishop of Canterbury

Sa ra h M ulla lly ha s been for-

m a lly i n st a ll e d a s

A r chbish op of Ca nt e r bu ry , becoming the fir st woman to lea d the C hurch of Englan d

The former nurse took her seat on the 13th-century

C

Canterbury Cathedral before

2

Keir Starmer, and religious leaders

She now serves as spirit

Anglican Communion, with around 85 million members

T h e C h u

door, wearing a cope clasp inspired by her NHS belt, and being greeted by children Prayers were read in multiple languages, and she wore a historic ring from P

Anglican-Catholic ties Held on the Feast of the

historic moment

ancient office older than the Crown

Despite earlier criticism from conservative

Falling birth rates linked to men delaying adulthood

A report from the Centr e for So cia l

, f oun d e d b

Tor y MP Sir Iai n D un can Smith, cl aims hundr eds of

missing out” on having childr

y due to y oung me n delay ing a dul thood

It projects that around three million women aged 16-45 may not have children u n d

the past, a 24-year-old man was often married, working, and a parent, whereas today men typically leave home at 25 It suggests encouraging earlier marriage and adulth o o d t o a d d r e s s t h e U K ’ s falling birth rate

600,000 more than if birth rates matched their grandp a r e n t s ’

n e r a t i o n T h

“As I begin my ministry t

A

p o f Canterbury, I say again to God: ‘Here I am ’ , ” Mullally told the congregation in her inaugural sermon

Wearing a golden mitre,

first female priests in 1994 and its first female bishop in 2015 Although she legally assumed the role in January, the installation marked the symbolic start of her ministry

Mullally prayed for peace in conflict zones and acknowledged the church’s past safeguarding failures, calling for “truth, compassion, justice and action ”

Canterbury Cathedral’s west

symbolic authority was

Over 10% of women struggle to afford period products

M o re t h an o ne in

w omen in th e UK strugg led to afford period p rod ucts in t h e p as t y ear , w

th

e reso rting to unsafe p ractices such as using tam pons for longer th an recommended, increasing th e risk of infect i on s li ke T o xi c S

S yndrome

A survey by ActionAid

U K , b a s e d o n o v e r 2 , 0 0 0 adults, found period poverty remains widespread in the UK About 11% struggled to afford products, with nearly a quarter staying home as a result Many had to priori-

(36%) or relied on tissues, cotton wool (27%), and even paper or newspaper (6%)

Ruby Raut, founder and CEO of period pants company WUKA, partnering with

A c t i o n A i d , s a i d i n ‘Independent’: “In one of the r i c h e s t c o u n t r i e s i n t h e world, people still go without basic period products Period poverty holds people back from school, sport, and everyday life, risks health, and limits potential Access to period care is not a luxury, it’s a fundamental right,

and until everyone can manage their period with dignity, there’s more work to do ” D r a w i n g o n h e r o w n e x p e r i e n c e i n N e p a l , s h e added, “At 12, getting my f i r s t p e r i o d m e a n t s h a m e and no proper facilities at s c h o o l I u s e d m a k e s h i f t cloth, worried it would fall o u t , a n d o f t e n j u s t w e n t home Period poverty isn’t j u s t a b o u t p r o d u c t s , i t ’ s about shame, lack of education, and unsafe spaces No g i r l s h o u l d f e e l t h a t w a y simply for being on her period ”

Survey shows women avoid walking after dark

A Y ouGov survey for Ac tive Travel E ngland (ATE) found t hat nine in 10 wom en in the We s t M idl ands f ee l uns af e w a l k in g a l on e a t n ig ht , s light ly above t he UK average of 88%

Nationwide, seven in 10 women have changed their route to avoid walking after d a r k , c i t i n g p o o r l i g h t i n g , badly maintained paths, and antisocial behaviour

ATE plans to publish new guidance this year to help councils design safer streets, i n c l u d i n g b e t t e r l

i m p r o v

v i s i b i l i t

, s a f e r walking routes, and expande d C C T V , s u p p o r t i n g t h e government’s goal to halve

violence against women and girls within a decade

Councils can use part of

upgrade lighting, crossings, routes, and other safety mea-

sures

Local Transport Minister

Lilian Greenwood said the

still needed, adding, “No one should worry about getting home safely after dark This

programme is turning conversations into real change with councils designing our streets ” Jess Phillips, minister for s a f e g u a r d i n g a n d M P f o r Birmingham Yardley, called the issue a “national emergency, ” welcoming efforts to make streets safer and shift responsibility from women t

n d behaviours Chris Boardman, national active travel com-

adding that streets have long b

e n d e s i

e d w i t h o u t women in mind and everyone should feel safe moving around

88% of adults concerned about violence against women

A new r ep o rt f ro m t h e Health Equality Fou nd ation sh ows Britons are more conc er ne d ab o u t v i o le nc e a g ai n st w o m en and

( VAWG) than immig ration, increasing pressure on th e g overnment to act

The report warns that decades of underinvestment have eroded women

s trust in systems meant to respond to VAWG

A report poll found 88% o f a d u l t s a r e c o n c

report cites falling marriage rates, later maternal age, and male employment and education trends as factors in declining birth rates

It has been noted that in

Founded in 2003 by Sir I a i n D u n c a n S m i t h , t h e Centre for Social Justice also h a s s u p p o r t f r o m f o r m e r Tory MP Miriam Cates, who has called for policies promoting marriage and childbearing The report also reco m m e n d s e x p l o r i n g “ p

onatal” measures, such as tax incentives and benefit conditions, to encourage families

Landmark bill to clear abortion convictions

Wom en investig ated or convicted for illeg al abortions since the V ictorian era are set to be pard oned under lan d m a rk le g i sl ati o n i n Eng land and Wales

The Crime and Policing Bill will decriminalise abortion and clear the records of those prosecuted under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act

T h o s e s e t t o b e p a rdoned include Carla Foster, jailed in 2023, while around 1 0 0 w o m e n i n v e s t i g a t e d since 2019 will have their r e c o r d s c l e a r e d B a r o n e s s Thornton said the change will remove the long-term i m p a c t o f s u c h c a s e s o n b a c k g r o u n d c h e c k s , w i t h t h e a m e n d m e n t a l r e a d y approved by the House of Lords and expected to pass in the Commons

Abortion in Britain was o r i g i n a l l y c r i m i n a l i s e d u n d e r t h e 1 8 6 1 O f f e n c e s Against the Person Act, with p e n a l t i e s o f u p t o l i f e i m p r i s o n m e n t W h i l e t h e 1967 Abortion Act allowed abortions up to 24 weeks, the new reforms will prev e n t w o m e n f r o m b e i n g prosecuted, though doctors may still face legal action

R a c h a e l C l a r k e o f t h e British Pregnancy Advisory

S e r v i c e s a i d E n g l a n d a n d

Wales have had some of the h a r s h e s t p e n a l t i e s d u e t o outdated laws, adding that criminalising women is no l o n g e r c

p

a c t i c e globally While critics argue decriminalisation could lead to more late-term abortions, evidence from other countries does not support this claim

Dr Alison Wright, president of the Royal College of O b s t e t r i c i

s , s a i d c o ncerns over the proposed law c h a n g e s a r e m i s l e a d i n g , stressing they do not allow a

n from being criminally investigated for ending a pregnancy

Data shows most abort i o

c u r b e f o r e t e n weeks, though some women have faced police investigations after late-term pregnancy loss

Cancer and pregnancy scans delayed amid sonographer crisis

decade, the issue has received less attention

founder of the Health

n e d about VAWG, just behind the NHS (91%) and cost of living (93%), and ahead of immigration (77%) and unemployment (72%) While Labour has

women avoided places or routes in the past year due to fear, compared with 26% of men

stressed rapid delivery The poll, conducted by GGF Insights (March 13–17), surveyed 4,007

Experts warn that a severe sho rtage of so nographers in E ng l an d is c a u s in g “l if ethreatening” delays f or canc er p a t ie nt

scans for pregnancy care and cancer diagnosis, highlighting the urgent impact of the staffing crisis Katie Thompson, presid

Radiographers, warned that staff

Training new sonographers takes time, and current numbers aren’t meeting demand Thompson urged the government to include workforce p

Sarah Mullally

Ruby Raut

Dr Alison Wright

E N G L A N D P R E P A R E S for crucial local elections

The contests are widely seen as an important test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government, which secured a decisive but relatively narrow victory in 2024 Since then, Labour’s polling support has fallen noticeably, raising questions about public confidence in the government’s direction

Beyond England, major elections are also taking place in Scotland, voters will elect 129 members of the Scottish Parliament using a mixed system of first past the post constituencies and proportional regional lists In Wales, a newly revised proportional system will be used to elect 96 members to an expanded Senedd

New research commissioned by the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) in partnership with Ipsos suggests that most people believe proposed electoral reforms could improve voter turnout LGIU analysis of this year ’ s contests across 136 councils indicates that these elections may be the most unpredictable in decades, with widespread changes in council control and large numbers of new councillors replacing incumbents

The polling also highlights strong public demand for greater engagement in local decision making Three in five adults (61%) want more information about how local decisions are made, while a quarter (25%) would like more direct involvement

Although 61% believe councils have the greatest impact on local quality of life, fewer than half (43%) trust them to act in the best interests of their communities

Public awareness of local government reorganisation and devolution remains limited Only 31% of respondents said they were following devolution plans closely, though more people (41%) were aware of the cancellation and reinstatement of local elections linked to the process There is no clear consensus on the best model of local government: 25% favour a single tier system, 38% prefer a two tier structure, 15% see no difference, and 23% remain unsure

Concerns among public that they want addressed through these elections include security and safety of residents and businesses including people in Wembley,

Birmingham etc

Loc al polls approach a mid housi ng cri sis and servic e s tra in

Most of the seats being contested were last fought in 2022, when Labour made substantial gains amid the fallout from the “partygate” scandal during Boris Johnson’s premiership At the time, Labour was polling at around 35%, benefitting from widespread frustration with the Conservative government

The political landscape now looks very different Since entering office, Keir Starmer’s government has faced criticism over policy reversals, internal controversies, and concerns about an increasingly heavy handed governing style Labour has also faced accusations of weak moral leadership over the war in Gaza

National polling suggests the party’s support has dropped sharply to around 17% While a poor showing in May could prompt renewed questions about Starmer’s leadership, there is little clarity over potential alternatives

Reform UK is contesting wards for the first time Although its polling has fallen to around 23% from a peak of 29% last autumn, the party led by Nigel Farage is still expected to perform strongly, particularly in rural county councils such as Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk

The Green Party is also gaining momentum Over the past six months, a number of Labour councillors have defected to the Greens, strengthening the party’s prospects Under the leadership of Zack Polanski, the Greens are approaching the elections with growing confidence

Local councils remain

responsible for delivering many essential frontline services In 2023/24, local authorities in England spent £72 1 billion on public services, with adult social care (£27 6 billion) and children’s services (£13 3 billion) accounting for the largest shares However, financial pressures continue to intensify London Councils has warned of a cumulative £4 7 billion funding gap facing boroughs between 2025/26 and 2028/29 more than double earlier projections

Years of funding cuts, rising inflation, and increasing demand have forced many councils to draw down reserves, seek emergency funding, and make difficult decisions about service provision, often alongside maximum council tax rises Local issues continue to place further strain on resources

For example, Brent Council reportedly spends around £30,000 each year cleaning paan stains, underscoring both financial and public health challenges

At the same time, councils are grappling with a severe shortage of affordable housing, unsustainable levels of homelessness now affecting around one in 50 Londoners in temporary accommodation and the wider cost of living crisis

Population growth has placed additional pressure on already stretched services, while high profile disputes such as Birmingham City Council’s unresolved bin strike risk fuelling further public dissatisfaction

As polling day approaches, voters face a clear choice: whether to reaffirm existing leadership at the local level or signal a desire for change

Your 2026 election guide

There are three ways to vote in the May 2026 elections: in person at a polling station, by post, or by proxy Polling day takes place on Thursday, 7 May, with polling stations open from 7am to 10pm.

To vote, eligible residents must be registered by Monday, 20 April. Registration only needs to be completed once unless there has been a change of name, address or nationality, and can be done online or by post

Voters who cannot attend a polling station can apply for a postal vote by Tuesday, 21 April

Alternatively, a proxy vote allows a trusted individual to vote on someone’s behalf; applications for this must be submitted by Tuesday, 28 April

In England, voters are required to show valid photo identification at polling stations Those without an accepted form of ID can apply for a free voter ID by 28 April Voters in Scotland and Wales, however, are not required to present ID when voting in person in Scottish Parliament or Senedd elections

Concerns grow over voter safety ahead of local elections

Fears over voter and candidate s afety are mounting ahead of Birmingham’ s city counc il elec ti ons, followi ng reports of intimidation, masked individuals gathering outs ide polling stati ons, death threats, slashed tyres and ongoi ng police investigati ons

Anxiety has been further heightened by a series of recent attacks on shops in Wembley, including significant damage to several Hinduowned businesses The Metropolitan Police and Brent Council are investigating the incidents, with local traders saying they feel increasingly uneasy and uncertain about whether the attacks are connected or targeted Prior to the most serious damage, police had responded to reports of criminal damage and affray involving groups of youths

on Ealing Road

Among the affected businesses are Suraj Sweet Mart, Panesar Food and Wine and the Manek Chowk restaurant Videos circulating online show masked men entering shops and vandalising their interiors One restaurant owner said the business was forced to close early because staff, particularly women, were too frightened to continue working Brent Council condemned the violence as “utterly unacceptable,” stressing that business owners and employees must be able to work without fear

Councillors from across the political spectrum have urged police, political leaders and the council to act decisively to prevent voter and candidate intimidation They point to past incidents including harassment at polling

stations, attacks on campaigners and misogynistic abuse directed at female councillors In one highprofile case during the 2024 election count, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood required a security escort With local elections approaching, these developments raise serious questions about whether authorities will introduce stronger safeguards, increased police presence and enforce robust measures to protect voters, campaigners and the democratic process Community organisations, leaders and politicians must approach these issues with care and work closely with authorities to ensure fairness, safety and equal treatment for everyone, including members of the Indian and Hindu community

ITV true crime reveals obsession behind woman’s murder

A p owerful true-crime do cumentary on ITV explores the story of Step hanie Hansen, a young wo man killed by her obsessed flatm ate

The programme recounts how 39-year-old Hansen was stabbed to death in her London home on December 30, 2022 Her housemate, Sheldon Rodrigues, initially appeared distraught, but was later revealed to have been hiding a disturbing obsession

According to ITV, Rodrigues had secretly installed cameras and recording devices in their home and sent her coercive messages His jealousy

intensified when Hansen began a new relationship, ultimately leading to her death

TitleroleTV shared a distressing 999 call in which a voice reports finding a housemate dead, while responders later described the scene as “horrific ”

Stephanie Hansen was murdered in Hayes, west London, by her flatmate Sheldon Rodrigues after she rejected his advances He had been obsessively fixated on her for years, secretly recording her movements and conversations, and attacked her after discovering she had a partner After returning from a night shift, he assaulted her in her bedroom, leaving her with nearly 60 injuries Rodrigues denied murder, claiming the surveillance was for her safety, but was convicted in January 2024 and sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 25 years

Teacher banned over flirtatious emails to student

A rep ort from Daily Mail, a science instructor who exchanged 2,00 0 flirtatiou s emails with a fifteen-yearold student, includ ing pictures from h is bed and questions about w hat "m ight happen" if they met in a sau na, has been perm anently barred from teaching

Co-director of science at Durrington High School in Worthing, West Sussex, Alex Mohammed, 35, received a warning for being overly friendly with a group of year 11 females in his classroom outside school hours

Despite warnings, he continued secretly sending thousands of inappropriate emails and images to a group of girls outside school hours, some deemed suggestive of grooming

The school reported the matter to police, who investigated but brought no charges, after which he left teaching to become a consultant

A panel later ruled he failed to raise

safeguarding concerns and communicated with one pupil in a sexually suggestive manner Mr Mohammed sent over 2,000 emails to a 15year-old pupil in just over a month, with very few deemed professional The messages included suggestive remarks, such as what might happen if they met in a sauna, and casual discussions about underage drinking Despite girls raising personal concerns, he failed to follow safeguarding procedures and instead responded in an overly familiar way

Although police took no action, a panel found his behaviour indicative of grooming and recommended a lifetime ban from teaching

Sheldon Rodrigues

Alex Mohammed

Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel OBE

T he m ost unusual thing I ever saw a fund m anag er do w as buy a po sition and sell it at a loss the sam e d ay On pu rp ose

His trainees were confused One of them asked him why He said: “Because you will all feel that loss in your stomach tonight I want you to get used to the feeling now, in a controlled environment, before real money is on the line ”

He was not teaching them investing He was teaching them that the enemy of every good long-term decision is not bad information It is an untrained nervous system

I have thought about that moment many times since Because the pattern is everywhere The founder who kills a promising product after one bad week of user data

The manager who reverses a good hiring decision because someone senior raised an eyebrow The investor who sells a sound position because the price fell and the discomfort became unbearable

In every case the analysis was fine The problem was that nobody had ever taught them to sit with the feeling

Resilience is not a personality trait

It is a skill And like every skill, it has to be practised deliberately, ideally before the stakes are high enough to matter

The best investors I have worked with over twenty years are not people who feel nothing They are people who felt it early, felt it often, and learned not to let it make their decisions

With the Middle East crisis impacting people’s investments it’s important to remember this lessen of not panicking My clients have me hand holding them so they don’t For everyone else there is the wisdom of what I observed others do

What is one situation where your instinct to relieve discomfort overrode a decision you already knew was right?

For the full framework I use to take emotion out of investment decisions systematically, it starts at the free apps I created for readers of this Asian Voice column and now available to the public: www campaignforamillion com/tools

Nirav Modi loses bid to halt extradition

F ugitiv e diamo nd merch ant

N i rav M o d i ’ s re qu e st to reo pen his extrad ition p roceed ing s w as rejected by th e Hig h C ourt of Ju stice, King’s Bench Div isio n, L ond on The Crown Prosecution

S e r v i c e , s u p p

t e d b y a C e n t r a l B u r e a u o f Investigation team includi n g i n v e s t i g a t i n g o f f i c e r s w h o t r a v e l l e d t o L o n d o n , a r g u e d t h e c a s e M o d i ’ s a p p l i c a t i o n c i t e d t h e Bhandari judgment, where a m i d d l e m a n , S a n j a y Bhandari, had been denied

e x t r a d i t

I n d i a o n humanitarian grounds due to claims of potential torture

Firms must publish ethnicity and disability pay gaps

annou nced that com panies with 250+ employees must publish th eir eth nicity and disability pay gaps

Firms will report six pay gap metrics and workforce composition data, building on the existing gender pay gap framework introduced in 2017

The move follows a public consultation where 87% supported mandatory reporting Draft clauses for the new

reporting voluntarily

“No one should be held back

added that gaps between disabled and non-disabled workers persist and that reporting will

Deloitte,

study film, explore opportunities in India, and helped grow a YouTube channel to

unexpected turn, his online content also led him to run

NeuraBrand came from seeing how audiences engage with virtual characters, realising AI avatars could shape the future of brand story-

2026, NeuraBrand has

n d s

changes,

Jackie Henry noting lasting improvements require time and ongoing effort

Sandra Kerr of Business in

part of a wider government plan, with £3 5bn in support for sick or

workers, helping up to 550,000 people return to or stay in work

clients in luxury travel and logistics Its custom avatars c o s t £ 3 , 0 0 0 - £ 1 0 , 0 0 0 , w i t h video

Rising wages and taxes hit pubs and restaurants

five hospital it y b usinesses fe ar coll apse within the ne xt year, according to a recent industry survey , as tax and employment cost rises loom

Many pubs, restaurants, and hotels face higher busin

v

,

4 4 % o f respondents are pessimistic, 17% are operating at a loss, and 2% consider their busin e s s a l r e a d y u n v i a b l e

Analysts say confidence may have worsened due to surging energy costs after recent geopolitical tensions,

food and drink inflation topping the list of worries

UKHospitality and pub trade bodies warn that rises in the national living and minimum wages will cost the

been introduced

l Bank fraud involving fake

January 2018 before the CBI

Arrested in the UK in 2019, h

approved, with courts satisfied by assurances regarding his treatment and finding no legal barriers

Nirav Modi claimed he f a c e d a r i s k o f t o r t u r e i f extradited to India, but CBI officials countered his argument The High Court ruled his petition was not exceptional and refused to reopen the case Modi is wanted in India

Millions set for £830 payout in car loan scandal

T he Financial C onduct Authority (FCA ) has outlined a comp ensation schem e for millions o f motorists m is-sold car finance d ue to hidd en comm issio n arrangements

Around 12 million drivers are expected to receive an average payout of £830, with most to be contacted by the end of 2026 The scheme covers car finance agreements from 2007 to 2024 in two phases, with firms given until mid-2026 to begin contacting affected customers Individuals do not need to file a complaint, though those who have may be paid sooner, while others can claim until 31 August 2027

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it received around 1,000 responses despite industry criticism, and estimates firms will pay £7 5bn in compensation, rising to £9 1bn including costs It found lenders failed to disclose dealer commissions, with some brokers inflating interest rates, potentially affecting around 40% of deals

and restau-

The sector said, “Rising costs threaten jobs and closures Hospitality can drive growth, but only if business expenses are cut We want to work with the government to achieve this ”

JLR pauses Range Rover production at Solihull

Ja g u ar L an d R o v er ( J L R) , owned by T ata Motors, has temporarily paused produ cti o n o f ce rta in v eh i c les , including the Rang e Rover and Rang e Rover Sport, at its Solih ull plant due to a parts supp ly issu e The company is working with the supplier to resolve the problem and minimise disruption The halt, which i n c l u d e s t h e p r

d Easter shutdown, is expect-

a n t w o weeks A JLR spokesperson

said: “We are pausing production on certain lines due to a parts supply issue and are working closely with the supplier to resolve it quickly and limit any impact on customers or operations ” The pause adds strain to JLR’s supply chain, supporti n g a r o u n d 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 U K

JLR says the current issue will not extend beyond the planned holiday Solihull,

key plant for high-end SUVs, underscores

Seema Malhotra Stephen Timms

T

B

p

g

The rise of Bangalore's new billionaires

Gopalakrishnan,

Unlike the dynastic "old money" in Mumbai or Delhi, these entrepreneurs largely

y citizens, which drives their

d e s i r e t o s o l v e c o m p l e x

u r b a n g o v e r n

d societal problems Nilekani, ranked by Hurun as India's

s e c o n d m

t g e n e r o u s individual, has notably spent y e a r s a r c h i t e c t i n g t h

system and the India Stack

improve state efficiency

on foreign funding for local charities, necessitating a rise in domestic expertise and capital Younger leaders like Nikhil and Nithin Kamath,

funding abstract initiatives

compared to the legendary Tata family of a century ago,

foundational research and civic spaces of Mumbai

retirement town into India’s most forward-looking city, its billionaires are actively

quality institutions required to guide the nation’s future trajectory

State and RBI to bolster rural credit

T he M inis ter o f State for F inance, Pankaj Chaud hary, i n fo rm ed th e L o k S a bh a t h at a se ri es o f st

seam less flow of credit to I n d i a ’ s ru

m y C entral to these efforts is the Reserv e Bank of India’s d ecision to raise the limit

f o r c ol la ter al -f re e s h o r tterm agricultural loans from ₹1 60 lakh to ₹2 00 lakh per borrow er

e n d

T h i s a d j u s t m e n t specifically addresses rising input costs and inflationary pressures facing small and m a r g i n a l f a r m e r s U n d e r c u r r e n

, commercial and cooperative banks must allocate 18 per cent of their adjusted net bank credit to agriculture, with a dedicated 10 per cent

government has introduced an incentive framework to encourage lending in credit-

refinance through NABARD-

the Short-Term Cooperative R u r a

F u n d T h

C

initiatives aim to scale up Kisan Credit Card coverage and strengthen the financial

self-help groups across the nation

RBI injects £6.77 billion into banking system

The Re serve Bank of India in je c t e d ₹ 84 ,5 8 2 c r or e of transient liquidit y into the na tional banking sys tem to en s ur e s t ab l e c r e dit f l ow during the c ritic al f inanc ial ye a r -e n d pe r io d T his substantial c apital inf us ion was executed through two separate V ariable Repo Rate au c t io ns c on

s h requirem ents acros s the s ector

Infosys to acquire Optimum Healthcare IT

specialised services with its Topaz AI and Cobalt cloud platforms, Infosys intends

Led by Chief Executive Salil

market This strateg ic mov e involves a joint venture w ith Parinee Real Estate Builders to tra ns fo r m tw o ag e i ng resid ential clusters, Anmo l an d B h art iy a B h av a n C ooperative Housing So cieties, lo cate d in the p resti g io us Khar West district T h e p r o j e c t , w h i c h marks the firm's first foray into the western suburbs, spans 1 3 acres and possesses a p r o j e c t e d r e v e n u e potential of ₹1,700 crore With 2 9 lakh square feet of saleable area dedicated to l u x u r y a p a r t m e n t s , t h e d

Bajaj Housing Finance shares near issue price

Th e shares of Bajaj Housing Finance fell by 3 per cent as th e s to c k ap p ro a ch e d i ts initial offering price of ₹ 70 p e r s h ar e f o ll o w i ng a p rolo nged m arket d ec line

operations since January 2026 By maintaining

ongoing strategy underscores the central bank's commitment to robust monetary transmission and financial stability amidst shifting global and domestic demands

During the first three-day auction, the central bank released ₹50,001 crore at a 5 34 per cent cut-off rate, followed by a second injection of ₹34,581 crore at 5 26 per cent These actions follow a broader trend of aggressive intervention,

Th is downward trend saw the firm lose 60 p er cent o f its v alu e si nce reachi ng a post-listing peak of ₹ 188 50, despite having d ebuted at a 1 1 0 p er ce nt p re m i um i n September 2024 Although it was once the most bid-for IPO in Indian h i s t o r y

T he I n di a n M i n i s tr y of F i

exceeding ₹3 lakh crore for a ₹6,560 crore issue, it was l a t e r s u r p a s s e

l y d i f f i c u l t t o a c h i e v e d u e t o d i s r u p t e d energy supplies and surging c o s t s T h e s e g e o p o l i t i c a l t e

contrasted by HSBC's low of ₹80 With five losses in the last seven sessions, the stock now trades below a l l c o

challenging month since its inception

Kumar Mangalam Birla

Pankaj Chaudhary

The hack and leak targeting Kash Patel

Iran-li nked h ackers successfully

b

acco unt o f Director Kash Patel

T h e p r o - P a

an g ro u p , H andala Hack Team, executed th is " hack-and-leak" o peration by publish ing a cache of p rivate p ho to graphs and historical docu ments on th e internet

While the bureau maintains that the compromised data is strictly historical and contains no classified government information, the psychological play

correspondence, travel receipts, and family photos belonging to

the 46-year-old director The leaked archives, largely dating between 2010 and 2019,

including an NRE bank account with HDFC and a

Baroda The hackers also highlighted his personal

images of Patel playing

numerous photos documenting a strong affinity for cigars

exposed past travel records, such

Texas judge convicted of money laundering

T h e fi rs t I nd ia n- o ri g i n

cou nty jud ge in Fort Bend, T exas, was convicted of two third -degree felony counts

o f m o ne y la u nd e ri ng K P Georg e was found guilty by a jury of transferring ov er

$4 6,0 00 in cam paig n fund s to his p erso nal accou nt for car paym ents and other pri-

v ate costs

Prosecutors successfully argued that George system-

a t i c a l l y l i e d i n

reports to facilitate this pers

transactions were legal loan

repayments Following the verdict, George was briefly taken into custody before being released on a $20,000 bond after surrendering his US passport a He now faces a potential 10-year prison sentence and m a n d a t o r y r e m o v a l f r o m office District Judge Maggie

determine his formal punishment during a sentencing p

2 0 2 6 , marking a significant fall for the prominent local official

Canada moves to ban Khalistan symbols

T h e C an ad i an H

C o m mo n

C o m ba tt i ng H a te A c t, known as Bill C-9 to criminalise the p ublic disp lay o f symbols linked to designated terro rist organisations

T h i s l e g i s l a t i v e s h i f t , approved by a 186-137 vote, targets the wilful promotion o f h a t r e d t h r o u g h f l a g s associated with groups such

Federation

Under the leadership of P

M

Carney, who assumed office in March 2025, Ottawa aims to improve strained bilateral relations with India by curbing extremist glorification While Indo-Canadian

a

y groups have welcomed the move as a long-overdue step against harassment, opposition parties and civil liberties advocates have raised significant concerns regarding potential overreach and free speech The bill now

o v e s t o t h e S e n a t e f o r final review before seeking Royal Assent

US lawmaker sparks outrage with Chhath Puja remarks

Th e R ep ubl ican Congressman B ra nd o n G i l l s p a rk ed

w i d es p r ea d o u tr ag e a f te r

d escribing the H indu festival

o f C hh ath Pu ja as a th ird

w o r l d " r el i g i o u s c er em o ny

R ep r es e nt i ng T e xa s ' 26 th

C o ngr es s i o nal D i s tr i ct , G i l l s h a r ed a r es u rf a c ed vi d eo f ro m October 2025 showi ng d evo tees i n Denton, Texas , o ffering tradi ti onal milk and water oblati ons in a local lake

intensified debates regarding a reported rise in antiIndian and anti-Hindu sen-

some local residents echoed G

cerns about potential water

out the irony of his remarks, n

as a 2012 stay in Haiti and a 2013 trip to Havana, Cuba Careerr

unearthed, including his 2014 D

tance letter and early correspond

hunting in Washington, D C

More recent data included 2022 domestic flight receipts and allegations regarding his use of a $60 million FBI jet Experts suggest the release of these intimate details, including photos with extended fam-

attempt to make high-ranking officials feel personally vulnerable

The first Indianorigin Mrs South Africa resigns

Th e first Indian-origin Mrs S outh A frica, Verush ka Singh, officially resigned from h er position citing pressing personal and fam ily reasons T he 39-year-old chemical eng ineer and clim ate ch ange consultant made histo ry wh en she w as crow ned in Nov em ber 20 25, marking a significant breakth roug h for representation in the pageant’s 24-year existence

During her four-month tenure, Singh utilised her professional expertise to advocate for environmental sustainability and rural education through her foundation, Climate Axis She specifically highlighted how climate disasters disproportionately impact women and children in underserved regions

CEO Joani Jacobs expressed full support for Singh’s decision, praising her dedication to corporate-led climate action and charitable initiatives, including a long-standing partnership with the Cancer Association of South Africa

in brief

LION KING COMPOSER SUES COMEDIAN OVER A JOKE

The Grammy-winning composer Lebohang Morake known as Lebo M filed a $27 million lawsuit against Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Mwanyenyeka in Los Angeles The legal dispute arose after Mwanyenyeka joked on the One54 Africa podcast that the iconic Zulu chant from The Lion King translates to "Look, there s a lion Oh my god " Morake argues this mistranslation trivialises a sacred "Praise Imbongi" royal poem Seeking $20 million in damages and $7 million in profits, the composer claims the viral jest devalues his 30-year legacy Mwanyenyeka has since raised over $20,000 via GoFundMe for his defence

SCIENTISTS IDENTIFY 45 ALIEN HABITABLE PLANETS

The search for extraterrestrial life has narrowed significantly following a landmark study by Cornell University astronomers Lead researcher Lisa Kaltenegger and her team filtered a census of 6 000 exoplanets to identify 45 rocky worlds with the highest potential for habitability These candidates situated within their stars Goldilocks zones possess conditions where liquid water could theoretically exist without freezing or boiling Notably the list includes the TRAPPIST-1 system 40 light-years away, and the nearby Proxima Centauri b By utilising data from the European Space Agency s Gaia mission, scientists now possess a strategic roadmap for the James Webb Space Telescope to probe for atmospheric biosignatures

KENYA FLASH FLOODS KILLS 110

The death toll from devastating flash floods in Kenya rose to 110 on 30 March 2026, following weeks of relentless rainfall Since the deluge began on 6 March, torrential storms have ravaged 30 counties with the capital, Nairobi, recording 37 fatalities National police and the Ministry of Interior confirmed that over 34,765 people from 6,953 households are now displaced as rivers like the Nyando burst their banks The floods have destroyed critical infrastructure, submerged 1,200 hectares of farmland, and disrupted air travel at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

MAN CHARGED OVER BOOT DRIVING WITH KIDS

Taking to social media, he stated he did not want such practices occurring in h i s c o m m u n i t y ' s p u b l i c waterways, a comment that critics have labelled as xenop

Indian heritage Despite the

t i c a l given his own family ties to the Indian diasporaa

T he so n of P akistan’ s fo rmer Prim e M inister, Im ran K han, appealed to th e U nited Natio ns Hum an Righ ts C ouncil in Geneva on M arch 25 to interv ene in his father's nearly 1 ,00 0d ay im priso nm ent Sp eaking during the 61 st session, Qasim Kh an described th e cricketerturned-politician's d etention in Ad iala Jail as d eliberate persecutio n

The 73-year-old 1992 World Cup winner has been incarcerated since August 2023 following multiple convictions, including a 14year sentence in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case Qasim highlighted deteriorating

maintained

firm stance on Western customs

conditions, including solitary confinement in a cell designed for death row inmates and restricted family access Crucially, he raised alarms over Khan’s health, citing a diagnosis of central retinal vein occlusion causing severe vision loss in his right eye Despite receiving medical injections in Islamabad in F e b r u a r y a n d M a r c h 2 0 2 6 , t h e f a m i l y remains distrustful of state-provided care

This international plea underscores the escalating tension between Khan’s supporters and the current military-backed establishment

The global Indian diaspora earns over $1 trillion Th e global Ind ian diaspora has established a mo num ental econom ic presence, g enerating annual earnings exceed ing $1 trillion by March 20 26 T his d em ograp hic, comprising ov er 30 million individ uals, exerts influence across the United King dom , U nited States, and A ustralia thro ugh professional excellence and entrep reneursh ip While the World Bank reports record remittances of $130 billion reaching India annually, this represents only 10-15% of total income Most earnings remain within host nations, funding local taxes and investm e n t s H i g h - i n c o m e

n advanced economies significantly outpace a

diaspora’s collective wealth above the GDP of 170 nations By leveraging high education levels and strategic migration, this community has transitioned from simple labourers to global financial titans

The Singaporean authorities charged 40-year-old Prem Anan Sugunakumar for a rash act that endangered his two young children The incident, which went viral on social media occurred on 20 October 2025 as Sugunakumar drove a yellow Porsche along Dairy Farm Lane with his children sitting atop the car boot Police investigations revealed the children were clinging to the rear wing while the luxury sports car was in motion In court the founder of Prem Roy Motoring indicated an early plea of guilt with the case adjourned until 22 April 2026 Under Singaporean law, offenders endangering children under 14 face enhanced penalties potentially including one year in prison and a S$5,000 fine

THE INDONESIAN SOCIAL MEDIA BAN BEGINS

The Indonesian government commenced the nationwide implementation of a landmark digital safety regulation on March 28, prohibiting children under 16 from holding accounts on major social media platforms Communication Minister Meutya Hafid announced that the measure targets highrisk services including TikTok YouTube and Instagram to combat cyberbullying addiction and harmful content Affecting approximately 70 million minors, the rule requires platforms to deploy robust age-verification systems While authorities acknowledge enforcement challenges they maintain the policy is essential to reclaim children s futures from algorithmic influence

Kash Patel

Verushka Singh

AFRICA

The Nakuru horticulturalists gather for organic workshop

S o c i et y ( K HS ) N aku r u

b ra nc h m em b er s f o r an edu catio nal field meeting at a

d

ni c cultiv ation During the sessi on, the h ost prov id ed a com prehensiv e d em onstration on the d omestic prod uction o f org anic fertilisers, focusing on sustainable nutrient cycling for o ptim al p lant health

This practical workshop addressed the specific needs of exotic flora, such as the dragon fruit, a climbing cactus that typically requires

f

tions

Attendees were taught precise techniques to verify fertiliser suitability, ensur-

H

nitrogen levels are appropriate for both ornamental

crops The gathering, which took place against the backdrop of the society’s 103rd year, concluded with a commemorative group photograph of the participants

the branch's ongoing com-

mitment to climate-smart gardening, providing local enthusiasts with the arti-

upcoming Nakuru National Agricultural Show in July

New US bill to protect OPT of foreign students

New Prime Minister Balen Shah resets Nepal

T

‘ Balen’ Shah, initiated a sweep-

nation's g overnance follow ing h is landslide election v ictory T he 35-year-old lead er, rep resenting the Rastriya S watantra P arty, assumed office after the " S eptem ber Revo lu tio n" to pp led the prev ious adm inistration

In his first 48 hours, Shah implemented a contentious blanket ban on student politics across all campuses to depoliticise education Simultaneously, authorities arrested former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on 28 March for his alleged role in suppressing last year's protests, which resulted in 77 deaths Shah further ordered schools to drop foreign names like Oxford and St Xavier's in favour of local titles

While maintaining a nationalist Greater Nepal stance, Shah engaged in a cautious diplomatic outreach with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reset bilateral ties

protesters and purging partisan affiliations from the civil service, Shah has established a disruptive and decisive tone for his nascent premiership

The US declares India’s essential Indo-Pacific

partner

Th e U nited States Pentagon fo rm alised its strateg ic pivo t toward s New Delhi as U nder Secretary of War for Policy Elbridg e C olby hailed India as an ind ispensable pillar of th e Indo-Pacific S peaking at the A nanta C entre, C olby asserted that India's continental scale and strategic auto nom y are v ital fo r m aintaining a favou rable balance o f power ag ainst reg ional h eg em ony

This high-level diplomatic visit aimed to solidify the Major Defence Partnership originally signed by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in October 2025 Washington’s realism-based approach now aligns with External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar’s "Bharat First" policy, reflecting a mutual commitment to results-oriented international politics By leveraging India’s formidable military and its geographical position astride the Indian Ocean, the US seeks to ensure that sovereign nations determine Asia s future This evolving alliance, shaped by shared geopolitical incentives rather than idealistic aspirations, underscores a permanent shift in global security architecture as both nations prioritise national interests through a flexible, realistic framework

Public pressure for Australia led to recognising

Bangladesh

Th e A ustralian go v ernm ent bec am e the first d ev elop ed natio n to formally recog nise Banglad esh on 31 January 1972, following a sustained nine-month hum anitarian camp aign by o rd inary citizens ag ainst the Pakistani m ilitary’ s geno cid al crackd own

This landmark diplomatic shift occurred in Canberra after students, trade unions, and church groups pressured Prime Minister William McMahon’s administration to abandon its initial silence regarding the atrocities that began in

by Jini Valiaveettil, the school offers weekly Bollywood and semi-classical classes to diverse eth-

was the "Bollyhop" style, a highenergy fusion of Bollywood and hiph o p s p e a r h e a d e d b

u c t o r Manya Aggarwal, alongside the classical expertise of Karthika Ashok

The academy has previously performed at major landmarks, including the Radha Krishna Dham Hindu

T e m p l e i n a

n a and regional Independence Day festivities Beyond entertainment, the school partners with CRY America, an NGO that has impacted over 860,000 underprivileged children in

Washington to formally cod ify the Optional Practical T raining (OPT) program me into federal law

accounts from Australia's Deputy High Commissioner, JL Allen, who described the massacre as "absolutely monstrous," the government initially prioritised trade

However, public outrage grew as activists sent 2,500 letters and held hunger strikes, leading Australia to act ahead of the United States and the United Kingdom By April 14, 1972, Australia became the first OECD member to open a diplomatic mission in Dhaka Modern developments show this legacy continues, with the Australian Senate debating the Criminal Code Amendment Bill in March 2025 to address genocide accountability Today, the Bangladeshi-Australian diaspora across New South Wales and Victoria continues to lobby for formal recognition of the 1971 events as a genocide, ensuring that the "citizen-driven" foreign policy of the seventies remains a vital part of Australia's contemporary human rights discourse Southern

Central to their selection

healthcare initiatives

This strategic move aims to retain global talent, particularly from India, by amending the Immigration and Nationality Act to guarantee employment authorisation for students after completing their degrees

Naivasha Hindu Temple on March 26 held for a special prayer ceremony marking the celebration of Ram Navami

A glimpse into the soulful prayers held by Nakuru ladies during the auspicious Chaitri Navratri celebrations on March 24

Puja procession for the celebration of Chaitri Navratri held by Nakuru ladies

Priest at the Nakuru Krishna Temple leads the Ram Navami prayers

Nepal PM Balen Shah

The expanding conflict reaches regional crisis

T he Wes t Asia conflict reach ed a critical juncture as targeted

a

Qesh m Island, threatening

i ntensi ty warfare that began on F ebruary 28, involving over 37

ed by regio nal air defences

The human cost continues to mount across borders; in Abu Dhabi, an Indian national was killed on 26 March when debris f

missile fell on Sweihan Street,

troops for a potential ground operation to seize Kharg Island

n d e d b y threatening to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

W i t h t h e 8 3

targeting US and Israeli military assets, the region remains on t h

catastrophe

T he A merican Strategy and Internal Pressures

T h e W h i t e H o u s e h a s adopted a maximalist approach, with President Trump suggesting that the United States may seize or blockade Kharg Island, Iran’s "crown jewel" that handles 90 per cent of its oil exports to take the oil and force concessions

misguided military escapade that m

forces weaker in other theatres like Asia Domestic critics argue that the war is making Trump weaker and angrier, as he lashes

out at the Federal Reserve and threatens media outlets while his

leverage and reality-bending are

conflict

At the CPAC conference in T

d opposition figure Reza Pahlavi f

e administration's base, pledging to make Iran great again and urging a policy of regime change rather than a negotiated peace deal

Th e Reg ional Response and Ind ian Neutrality

in brief

THE INDIAN FUEL SHIPMENT RESCUES COLOMBO

economic vulnerability Despite the fatalities, the vast majority o f I n

driven by lucrative job prospects a

n e t w o r k

, w

o n l y 6 7 , 0 0 0 returning home in the war ’ s first nine days

In a symbolic gesture, the I R G C i n s c r i b e d " T h a n k y o u p e o p l e o f I n d i a " o n m i s s i l e s fired at US and Israeli targets, a c k n o w l e d g i n g t h e h u m a n i t a r i a n a i d , i n c l u d i n g g o l d a n d c o p p e r d o n a t e d b y citizens in Kashmir and Ladakh Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba K h a m e n e i , a l s o i s s u e d a r a r e written message thanking Iraq and Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani for their clear stance against aggression" Meanwhile, Oman’s chief diplomat, Badr Albusaidi, has warned that America’s allies are experiencing their security p a r t n e r s h i p a s a n a c u t e v u l n e r a b i l

f r i e n

h e l p e x t r i c a t e t h e s u p e r p o w e r f r o m w h a t h e termed an unlawful war before t h e s p i r a l o f r e t a l i a t i o n permanently destroys the postc a r b o n e n e r g y t r a n s i t i o n a n d regional stability

T h e I n d i a n g o v e r n m e n t maintains a delicate neutrality a s i t s d i a s p o r a o f n e a r l y 1 0

Pakistan hosts Middle East peace talks

T h e P ak i st ani g o v ern m en t

c o nv en ed a c ri ti c al tw o - d a y d iplomatic summit in Islamabad b ri ng in g t o g eth e r f o re ig n m in i st ers f ro m S au d i A rab i a, T urkey, and E gyp t to broker a d e-escalation in the month -long West Asia conflict

Chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the high-level

m e e t i n g a i m s t o e s t a b l i s h a

f o r m a l m e d i a t i o n m e c h a n i s m between the United States and I r a n f o l l o w

e

r u

T u r k i s h F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r H a k a n F i d a n confirmed that the quartet is evaluating diplomatic pathways to secure regional stability and protect vital energy trade routes

The

Trump tells allies to get own oil

T he A merican Presid ent Donald

T r u m p i ss u ed a s ca th i ng u l ti m at u m t o i nt ern ati o n al amid a dramatic escalation in

t h e m o nth - lo n g W es t A si a

c o nf li c t W ri ti ng o n T ru th S ocial, Trum p expressed fury at p artners unw illing to sup port a m ilitary reopening of th e Iranc o nt ro ll ed S t rai t o f Ho r m u z, t el li ng na ti o ns bu rd e ne d b y surging fuel co sts to "go g et your o wn o il"

T h i s

with US petrol prices hitting

gallon, a significant jump

missile strikes against Israel and G u l f t a r g e t s f o l l

While Iran's Foreign Minister

A b b a s A r a g h c h i c l a i m e d o p e

assets, debris from intercepted

Benjamin Netanyahu

stating over half of his military o b j e c t i v e s a r e c o m p l e t e , t h e region remains volatile as Saudi Arabia intercepted eight ballistic m i s s i l e s T r u m p ’ s " A m e r i c a F i r s t " r h e t o r i c u n d e r s c o r e s a widening rift in global security as the energy crisis deepens

currently threatened by ongoing missile exchanges This summit f o l l o w s r e p o r t s t h a t R u s s i a provided satellite imagery of US b a s e s t o I r a n a n d t h e deployment of 3,500 US Marines to the Gulf W h i l e W a s h i n g t o n h a s proposed a 15-point peace plan, T e h r a n c o n t i n u e s t o d e n y f o r m a l n e g o t i a t i o n s a r e underway, making this neutral venue in Pakistan a pivotal lastditch effort to prevent a total regional collapse and ensure the safety of millions of expatriates caught in the crossfire

Indian origin man shot in Surrey

T he Canad ian auth oriti es are investigating th e targeted killing of 27-year-old Jasm an Sekh on, wh o was shot dead in Surrey, British Columbia According to th e I n teg r ate d Ho m ic i d e Investigatio n Team (IHIT), the v i c ti m w as c h as ed b y tw o assailants in a dark SUV into a townhouse com plex in S ullivan

He ig h ts b efo re bei ng g u nned

d o w n a t a p p ro xi m a tel y 9: 0 0 pm Despite emergency efforts, Sekhon, who had known links t o t h e l o c a l d r u g t r a d e , w a s pronounced dead at the scene This homicide marks the fourth shooting in the city within a 48-

h o u r w i n d o w , h i g h l i g h t i n g a violent surge in suspected gangrelated activity Shortly after the a t t a c k , p o l i c e d i s c

a frequent hallmark of organised crime hits intended to destroy forensic evidence S e r g e a n t F r e d a F o n g confirmed that investigators are c u r r e n t l y r e v i

w i n g C C T V footage to identify the suspects involved This incident further exacerbates concerns regarding public safety in the region as detectives work to determine if t h i s k i l l i n g i s l i n

o t h e broader ongoing turf wars in the Lower Mainland

Storm drench large parts of UAE

The Indian government successfully delivered a critical emergency shipment of 38 000 metric tonnes of petroleum to Colombo to alleviate severe energy shortages in Sri Lanka This strategic intervention consisting of 20 000 tonnes of diesel and 18 000 tonnes of petrol, followed urgent diplomatic appeals from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to Prime Minister Narendra Modi Global supply chains collapsed after Middle Eastern suppliers invoked force majeure due to the escalating West Asia conflict, leaving the island nation facing panic buying and empty stations New Delhi mobilised the Indian Oil Corporation to provide these rescue supplies, sufficient to fuel approximately one million vehicles This assistance underscores India's "Neighbourhood First" policy amidst regional instability and ongoing maritime disruptions

OPENAI SHUTS DOWN SORA APP

The technology giant OpenAI abruptly discontinued its AI video generation platform, Sora leading to the collapse of a landmark $1 billion partnership with Disney Despite a highprofile launch in late 2024 and reaching the top of the App Store rankings the service was shuttered due to completely unsustainable economics according to Sora chief Bill Peebles Reports indicate OpenAI suffered a $12 billion loss in the third quarter of 2025 with Sora’s daily operating costs estimated at $15 million The move marks a significant strategic pivot toward profitable enterprise tools and AGI research ahead of a potential IPO While the standalone app will fully close by April, Disney has reportedly cancelled its three-year licensing deal involving iconic characters

CANADA SUPER VISA UPDATES COMMENCED

The Canadian government officially implemented significant changes to the Parents and Grandparents Super Visa income requirements on March 31 to enhance family reunification Announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), these new regulations provide hosts, Canadian citizens or permanent residents with two flexible pathways to meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) threshold Under the revised framework, sponsors can now qualify using their income from either of the two previous taxation years, a vital change for those with fluctuating earnings Furthermore, visiting parents or grandparents can now supplement the host’s income with their own pensions or investments provided the host meets a yet-to-be-specified minimum percentage All applications currently in processing will automatically benefit from these relaxed criteria which support ten-year multi-entry stays of up to five years per visit

CANADA TOUGHENS ASYLUM AND BORDER LAWS

The Canadian government formally enacted Bill C-12 introducing stringent new measures to streamline the nation’s asylum and immigration systems Effective immediately, the legislation bars individuals from referring claims to the Immigration and Refugee Board if they apply more than one year after entry or fail to declare within 14 days of crossing the US land border irregularly These reforms aim to deter shortcut immigration while modernising digital application processes and enhancing domestic information-sharing between federal and provincial departments While the law simplifies procedures, it mandates those claimants remain physically present in Canada for a decision to be reached Vulnerable minors will receive appointed representatives, yet the overarching goal remains reducing the mounting pressure on state resources by closing long-standing legal loopholes

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

President Donald Trump

Why has the Middle East war caused greater LPG

The closure of the Strait of Horm uz d ue to the escalating conflict in West Asia has

se v er el y d i s ru p t ed I n d i a ’ s energy imports, w ith lique-

fi ed p etr ol eu m g as ( L P G)

em erging as a far mo re critical concern th an liquefied

nat u ral g as ( L N G) as o f March 2026

T h i s m a r i t i m e c h o k e -

point, which facilitates over 20 per cent of global energy transit, is currently effectively shut for non-Iranian tankers, causing a dramatic

c o l l a p

u

c h

2026 reveals that while six LPG tankers typically tra-

versed the Strait daily prior to the hostilities, this figure plummeted to just one vessel on the March 18th, 20th, and 21st

The impact is stagger-

imports for 60 per cent of its total LPG needs, with 90 per cent of those imports

g through this now-blocked

India’s total LPG supply has

domestic cylinders to double to approximately 4,600

concerns in India?

rupees L

ties and household impact

W

under pressure, LPG is at greater risk because of its unique logistical dependen-

BJP dominates Indian political donations

The ruling B haratiya Janata P art y ( BJ P) s ec ure d mor e t han te n ti me s the c omb ined donations of all other national parties during the 2 02 4 - 2 5 f i n a nc i a l y e a r, ac cording to a report by the As soci ation for Democratic R eforms (ADR) released i n N ew D elhi

h

H

n g ₹ 6 , 0 7 4 c r o r e f r o m 5 , 5 2 2 contributions, representing over 91% of the total funds

received ₹517 3 crore from 2,501 donations

This financial surge, a 1 6 1 % i n c r e a s e a c r o s s t h e political spectrum, followed t h e 2 0 2 4 S u p r e m e C

toral bonds, shifting fund-

in high-value donat i o n

Electoral Trust emerging as the top benefactor, providing ₹2,180 crore to the BJP alone

While the Aam Aadmi Party and the CPI(M) saw s i g n i f i c a n t p e r c e n t a g e g r o w t h i n f u n d i n g , t h e

B a h u j a n S a m a j P a r t y r e p o r t e d z e r o d

o n s above the ₹20,000 threshold for the nineteenth consecutive year

IIT Delhi and JNU secure global ranking

T h e Ind i an h ig h er ed uc ation sector ach iev ed a signifi c ant m il est on e as tw e lv e institutio ns secu red 27 spots in the global to p 50 of the 1 6th QS World Univ ersity R an ki ng s by S ub j ec t

P u bli sh ed i n L o nd o n, th e rep ort identifies the Indian I n st it u te o f T ec h

D el h i ( I I T -D el h i ) a s th e nati on's premier eng ineer-

i n g h u b, m ai nt ai ni ng it s l ea d ers h i p w i th a g lo b al rank of 36 in E ngineering and Techno log y Simultaneously, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi marked a notable

cies and

including 10 crores provided to low-income families

under the Pradhan Mantri U

and moved via pipelines to i n

h u b s , L P G requires a complex last-mile

and physical cylinder delivery to households

cent of India’s

kitchens, making any shortage a direct threat to food security for millions of citizens

Comparative stability of natural gas supplies

In contrast, the natural

imports roughly

of

from West Asia, the overall disruption to the national gas supply is estimated at 30 per cent, significantly lower than the 54 per cent disruption facing LPG

Qatar continue to honour

663 routes for 16 2 million p a s s e n g e r s ; h o

m o r e , t h

s c h e m e p r o m o t e s t h e "Atmanirbhar Bharat" vision b y p r o c u r i n g i n d i g e n o u s HAL Dhruv and Dornier aircraft to address fleet shorta g e s S i n c e i t s i n c e p t i o n , UDAN has operationalised

T h e U n io n C a bi ne t approved the lau nch of the Mo dified UDA N scheme in New Delhi allocating a m ass i v e £ 2 6 bi ll i o n (₹ 2 8 , 8 4 0 cro re) to transform regio nal av i ati o n o v er t h e nex t decad e C h a i r e d b y P r i m e M i n i s t e r N a r e n d r a M o d i , t h e t e n - y e a r p r o g r a m m e aims to develop 100 new a i r p o r t s b y u p g r a d i n g unserved airstrips and constructing 200 modern helip a d s t o b r i d g e l a s t - m i l e connectivity gaps in remote and hilly terrains This successor to the 2016 initiative introduces direct budgetary support to replace passenger levies, alongside £900 million (₹10,043 crore) in v i a b i l i t y g a p f u n d i n g t o ensure long-term route sustainability F u r t h

n

i n g a more resilient and affordable air travel network for Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities

Nephew of Indira Gandhi’s assassin named in major New Zealand drug case

score a strategic evolution in Indian academia, where

D

h i noted that while rankings

r e c o v e r y i n D e v e l o p m e n t Studies, rising to 26th position worldwide The latest data reveals that five of IITDelhi s specific disciplines have now broken into the world's top 50 T h e s e r e s u

Kashmir probe into Iran donations

T h e S ta te In v es ti g a ti o n A g en cy ( S I A ) launched a high -level p robe in Srinagar on 26 M arch 20 26 into the potential m isapprop riation of £1 6 million (₹1 7 91 crore) collected as humanitarian aid for Iran

F o l l o w i n g a g e n u i n e a p p e a l b y t h e Iranian Embassy on March 14, residents in t h e K a s h m i r V a l l e y d o n a t e d s i g n i f i c a n t amounts of cash, jewellery, and even livestock However, intelligence agencies now suspect a sophisticated network of middlemen and dubious organisations has hijacked the drive to fuel anti-India activities and separatist propaganda Investigators are currently tracking the financial trail to determ i n e i f t h e s e f u n d s a r e b e i n g d i v e r t e d through hawala networks or used for personal gain Authorities have warned the public against unverified door-to-door collectors, citing a lack of standardised accounting and high risks of money laundering

do not encompass all insti-

edgement of sustained academic excellence

Vice-Chancellor Santishree

N U also commended the university's performance, particularly its continued dom-

Sciences

Institutional Equities report, this massive stockpile now accounts for 65% of

recently due to record-high

Ba lte j Singh, a New Zeala nd busin essman a nd the ne phe w of one of those re sponsib le for t he a ssa ssina tion of In dia’ s for mer Prim e Min iste r In dir a G an dhi , ha s fa il ed i n his at tempt to keep his ident it y se cr et after b eing sente nce d to 22 yea rs in prison for le ading o n

phetamine tr affick ing opera tion s A New Zealand court reportedly lifted S i n g h ’

l media to publish his identity His family argued that their historical connection to the assassination exposed them to threats and hostility from Sikh and Hindu communities worldwide However, the court ruled that the public interest outweighed these concerns, stating that the risk of harm to the family was

low Singh later dropped plans to appeal the decision Authorities said Singh orchestrated an international drug-smuggling network that c

shipments originating from countries including India, Canada, and the United States Once in New Zealand, the drugs were processed into crystal meth Police seized more than 700 kilograms the largest methamphetamine haul in the country’s history

The investigation began after a contaminated drink was accidentally consumed by a young man, leading to a manslaughter conviction for one of Singh’s associates Singh w

attempting to flee to Dubai

system

gold

Prime Minister Modi visits Gujarat for major project launches

T he Prime Minister, Narendra Mo di, visited

h is h ome state o f Gu jarat to inau gu rate a series o f h igh -profile industrial and cultural p ro jects valued at o ver 20,000 cro re ru pees

D uring the day- lo ng tou r, which coincided with the festival of Mahavir Jayanti, the P rime Minister o pened th e S amrat Samprati Mus eu m at Ko ba T irth in Gandhinagar and the 3, 300-cro re ru pee Kaynes S emicon plant

i n S anand

The visit concluded in Vav-Tharad, w

spanning the power, rail, and road sectors

facility marks a significant milestone for the India Semiconductor Mission, as it becomes the nation's second operational OSAT unit The plant is set to manufacture advanced Intelligent Power Modules for global supply chains, specifically for a California-based semiconductor firm

E

museum, which preserves over three

Kailasasagarsuri for his dedication

Union Minister Piyush Goyal launches Malabar Gold & Diamonds CSR initiative

M alabar Gold & Diamonds,

r ec o g ni se d as th e w o rl d ’ s fifth -larg est retail jewellery

g ro u p an d a re sp o n si b le brand, has anno unced C SR

p r o j ec ts w o rth U S D 24 m illion for the financial year

2 0 2 6- 2 7 T h e announcem ent too k p lace at Dr Ambedkar International C ent re i n New D elh i, attend ed by Piyush Goyal, India’s U nio n M inister for C omm erce and Ind ustry

D u r i n g t h e e v e n t , t h e

U n i o n M i n i s t e r l a u n c h e d educational scholarships for

3 3 , 0 0 0 f e m a l e s t u d e n t s

t h r o u g h o u t I n d i a A m o n g those present were Malabar

G r o u p C h a i r m a n M P

A h a m m a d , M a n a g i n g

D i r e c t o r f o r I n d i a

O p e r a t i o n s O A s h e r ,

Executive Directors Nishad

A K and Abdulla Ibrahim,

Bhansali – Chairman GJEPC with dignitaries and scholarship recipients

K e r a l a H o u s e R e s i d e n t

C o m m i s s i o n e r P u n e e t Kumar, IAS, Pratham CEO

R u k m i n i B a n e r j i , a n d Thanal Chairman Dr Idris

M i n i s t e r P i y u s h G o y a l expressed that the Malabar Charitable Trust’s initiatives

a r e c l o s e l y a l i g n e d w i t h P r i m e M i n i s t e r N a r e n d r a M o d i ’ s v i s i o n o f e m p o w e r i n g w o m e n through programmes such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao He stated, “Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ commitment of USD 24 million to CSR will reinforce national progress, ” h i g h l i g h t i n g h o w I n d i a ’ s g r o w t h d e p e n d s o n e m p o w e r i n g i t s p e o p l e e s p e c i a l l y w o m e n a n d g i r l s a n d p r a i s i n g t h e c o m p a n y ’ s d e d i c a t i o n t o c r e a t i n g p o s i t i v e c h a n g e through education

H e a l s o e n c o u r a g e d students and young citizens to pursue ambitious goals, p u s h b e y o n d b o u n d a r i e s , and take advantage of the wide opportunities available in India, urging them to play an active part in building the nation’s future

vital for national advancement He

education is crucial, and the

development He reaffirmed the group ’ s commitment to

impact through substantial CSR investments

HC rejects maintenance for Parents-in-Law

The Al laha ba d H igh Cou rt ruled tha t a d aug hter -inlaw is not leg ally oblig ated to p rovide maintenance t o h er pare nts-in-la w P r e s i d i n g o v e r a criminal revision petition, Justice Madan Pal Singh

u

elderly, indigent couple The petitioners sought

The Indian government strengthens ties with Russia

The External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, reaffirmed New Delhi’ s commi tment to its partnership with Mosc ow duri ng a virtual address Speaking at the conference ti tled "India and Russ ia: Towards a New Bilateral A

current B RICS chairship will be guided by a humanity-first approach

This strategy aims to address shared global challenges through balanced and i

highlighted the significant progress made since President Vladimir Putin’s visit in December 2025, which expanded bilateral

cooperation

Central to this deepening relationship is the ambitious goal to increase annual bilateral trade from 68 7 billion dollars to 100 billion dollars by 2030 Furthermore, Russia remains India s primary partner in c

Kudankulam project, as India targets 100 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2047 With n

, t

s e d i p l o m a t i c e f f o r t s continue to reinforce a stable, multipolar order

Trainee vet dies after Hippo attack in Karnataka

T h e K ar na tak a st ate g o v ern m en t h a s

launched a high -level investigatio n after a 27-year-old trainee veterinarian was fatally mauled by a pregnant h ippopo tamus at the T ya v ar eko p p a S af ar i in S h i v am o g g a Dr Sameeksha Red dy, entered the enclosure at ap p ro xi m a tel y 1 1 : 4 5 p m to c o nd u c t a thermal h ealth check on the animal

During the procedure, she reportedly fell from a ladder and was attacked by the eightm o n t h p r e g n a n t h i p p o , s u c c u m b i n g t o severe internal injuries and cardiac arrest the following morning

Following the tragedy, Reddy’s family

a n d c o l l e a g u e s h a v e h i g h l i g h t e d s e v e r e safety lapses and a lack of basic facilities at t h e z o o W h i l e F o r e s t M i n i s t e r E s h w a r

Khandre offered 30 lakh rupees in relief, the family declined the compensation, leading the government to announce a permanent memorial in her honour

Indian cricketer

Ravichandran Ashwin Joins US league

Th e legend ary Ind ian sp innerRavich andran

A s h w i n c o nf i rm e d h is m o v e to M aj o r

L e ag u e C r i ck et b y s ig n i ng w i th t h e S an

in brief

JALANDHAR RESIDENT INSTALLED THE STATUE OF LIBERTY ON ROOF

The skyline of Jalandhar s Kishanpura area was transformed after a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) installed a replica of the Statue of Liberty on his rooftop Gurjeet Singh Matharu a construction business owner who has lived in New York for 26 years, commissioned the fourstorey high monument to maintain a tangible connection to his life abroad while visiting his ancestral home The installation, which cost approximately 3 lakh rupees and took 25 days to complete, has quickly turned the residence into a local landmark with visitors travelling from across Punjab to witness what many describe as a mini–New York experience

GUJARAT ASSEMBLY PASSED THE UCC AFTER 8HR DEBATE

The Gujarat Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill following a marathon eight-hour debate in Gandhinagar Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel introduced the legislation to standardise personal laws regarding marriage divorce and succession for all residents regardless of religion Drawing from the Uttarakhand model and recommendations by Justice Ranjana Desai s committee, the Bill passed by a majority vote despite a walkout by Congress MLAs Opposition members including Imran Khedawala, argued the mandate infringes upon Shariat Law

10,000 MAOIST SURRENDERS UNDER FEDERAL DEADLINE

The Union Home Ministry reported that over 10,000 Maoists have surrendered during the past decade following a decisive multidimensional crackdown across the "Red Corridor" By integrating aggressive security operations with massive infrastructure expansion including 12,250 kilometres of new roads, the Centre successfully weakened the insurgency ahead of its March deadline 31 In early 2026 alone 630 cadres abandoned armed rebellion, reflecting a sharp decline in extremist violence With incidents now restricted to just 22 districts, the government’s rehabilitation schemes and 361 new security camps have effectively dismantled the long-standing internal security threat

CHRISTIAN CONVERSION VERDICT ENDS CASTE PROTECTIONS

The SC declared that individuals converting to Christianity forfeit their Scheduled Caste (SC) status and legal protections under the SC/ST Act Justices Prashant Mishra and N V Anjaria upheld an Andhra Pradesh High Court decision involving a pastor, Chinthada Anand, who alleged caste-based abuse Relying on the Constitution Order 1950, the court affirmed that SC status is strictly reserved for those professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism This absolute bar means religious conversion results in an immediate loss of statutory benefits, regardless of whether a person still holds a valid caste certificate

HISTORIC SRINAGAR TEMPLE REOPENS AFTER 36 YEARS

of

acknowledged the couple's

F ra nc i sc o U ni c o rns F o ll o w i ng h i s

retirem ent from internatio nal cricketand the IP L in 2025, th e 3 9-year-old beco mes the f ir st h i g h - p ro fi l e f or m er In d i an nat io n al player to join the fled gling U S league T h i s l a n d m a r k t r a n s f e r h i g h l i g h t s t h e rapid global expansion of the T20 format ahead of cricket’s return to the2028 Los

A n g e l e s O l y m p i c s A s h w i n , w h o r a n k s second in India's Test wickethistory and helped secure the 2011 World Cup, cited the growing enthusiasm ofthe Asian

The 170-year-old Raghunath Temple in Srinagar s Habba Kadal reopened to devotees on Thursday 26 March 2026, following a 36-year closure Closed since the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Pandits the shrine’s revival coincided with Ram Navami celebrations Restored under the Smart City initiative by the J&K Tourism Department and INTACH, the temple witnessed emotional prayers and a Shobha Yatra Local Muslims joined the festivities marking a significant milestone for communal harmony and cultural restoration in Jammu and Kashmir

Piyush Goyal - India s Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, M P Ahammad – Chairman, Malabar Group Asher O - Managing Director - India Operations, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Kirit

Indian EAM S Jaishankar

Indiaspora fuels National AI ambitions

The Indian gove rnme nt is stra teg i-

ca lly leve rag in g its influe nt ia l g lobal d iaspora t o posit ion the nat ion as a p r em ie r a r t ificia l in t ellig e nce h ub for t he G lobal South as of Mar ch

G lobal AI Summit in Ben galuru on M arch 26 , Ind ia spora Chair man MR R an gaswami out line d how the "India

St ack" provide s a unique populationsca le te stbe d for cost -e ffect ive A I solutions

By building an intelligent layer atop existing systems like Aadhaar and UPI, India aims to export these digital models to emerging markets across Africa and Latin America This initiative benefits from the significant rise of Indian-origin professionals, w h o n

d investment roles at major firms including Meta and OpenAI

regarding workforce disruption and the need for urgent educational reform, the diaspora acts as a vital bridge for capital and mentorship Ultimately, this collaborative network is transforming India from a service-oriented market into a global architect of innovation for developing economies

Telangana enacts mandatory parental support law

found to be neglecting their dependent parents

A

Suppor t Bill 2026"

salary deduction of up to 15

C

Revanth Reddy championed the Bill as a necessary step to address rising abandonment, c i t i n g t h e h i g

The Smithsonian returns stolen Tamil Nadu bronzes

T he S mi t hs on i a n ’ s N a t io n

Museum of Asian Art formall y re turned three pr icel ess ancient br on zes to the Indian government in Washingt on DC This significa nt r epatriat ion fol lows y ear s of rigor ous pr ov ena nce re sea rch which confirmed that

the

enth-ce ntury Saint Sundar

re moved from temple s in Tamil Nadu

The investigation, supported by archival photographs from the French Institute of Pondicherry dating between 1956 and 1959, provided smoking gun evidence that the artefacts were stolen from their original

Veerasolapuram Deputy Chief of Mission N

Robinson signed the legal transfer, marking a major victory for India’s ongoing mission to recover its looted cultural heritage

sovereignty The other two statues, including the Somaskanda group depicting Shiva and Uma, were donated to the museum in 1987 but have now been struck from the permanent collection due to their illicit history

Commission led by a retired High Court judge will oversee appeals

The law extends protect i o n

n d ensures deducted funds are credited directly to the parents' bank accounts, reinf

l y values through modern legal accountability and providing

Vijaypat Singhania as a cautionary example Senior citizens can now petition their District Collector, who must adjudicate claims within 60 days To ensure transparen-

state's ageing population

Maharashtra Police investigate alleged human sacrifice

The Nashik police a rrested self-

st y l ed g od man an d cosm ol ogy e xper t Ashok Khara t fol lowing a ll egations of serial rape, bl ackmail , and ritualistic human sacrif ic e A Sp e ci a l In v e s t ig a t i on Tea m (SIT), led by IPS officer

Te ja swini Sat put e, was formed

a f t e r a 3 5 -y e a r -o l d wo ma n a ccused the 6 7-yea r-ol d former Mer chant Navy officer of drugging and filming he r unde r the pr etext of spiritual purifica tion r it ua ls

Forensic investigators are currently probing indications of five human sacrifices at Kharat’s Mirgaon farmhouse after discovering a pistol with missing ammunition and over 100 suspicious videos

The investigation has uncovered a staggering ₹1,500 crore empire built over a decade through extortion and the sale of Elvish Honey from Turkey, priced at ₹9 lakh per k i

occult props to manipulate highprofile clients, including prominent politicians and celebrities

While the SIT has seized two laptops and 50 property documents, the Maharashtra government has cancelled land and water resolutions linked to his trust With ten FIRs already registered, authorities are urging further victims to come forward as the state’s political circles reel from the revelations

8-Lane Narmada bridge completed in record 34 months

The National Hig hway Authority of Ind ia su ccessfu lly co m p leted th e natio n ’ s firs t ei g ht -lane cabl e-s tayed b ri d g e o v e

en g i ne eri ng m arv el , p art o f th e V ad o d a ra- M u m bai section of the Delhi-Mum bai Expressway, spans 2 22 kilom etres and was constructed at a cost exceed ing ₹ 817 cro re

Gujarat exposed as global fraud hub

Gujarat Police’s CID Crime Division dismantled a sophisticated billion-pound international scam network following a sprawling investigation

While legal ownership has been restored to India, the Chola-period Shiva Nataraja, originally acquired by the museum from a New York gallery in 2002 will remain at the

This move underscores a growing global commitment to ethical museum stewardship and the 1970 UNESCO Convention against the trafficking of cultural property, ensuring

Tamil diaspora proposes new strategic alliance

The US Tamil Di aspora formally urged the United States government to recogni se the sovereign state of Tamil Eelam as a democ ra ti c p art ne r i n the I n do- Pa c if i c T hi s diplomatic appeal follows Sri Lanka’ s recent refus al to grant U S combat aircraft ground access , a move the Diaspora claims exposes Colombo’s strategic alignment wi th nondemoc ratic powers despite its pub lic stance of neutrali ty

By citing international legal principles

and the UN's resolutions on self-determination, advocates argue that recognising a Tamil state is a geopolitical necessity to ensure regional stability They highlight that the current unitary state is a colonial relic, whereas a sovereign Eelam existed p r

Furthermore, concerns over the 100-year lease of Hambantota Port to China underscore the perceived threat to Western interests

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Late Ramanbhai Ranchodbhai Patel on 21 March 2026.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, 4th April 2026 at 2:00 pm. Open casket darshan will take place at 12:00 pm, followed by the funeral enton, Harrow HA3 0XY service at 445 Kenton Road, K Y.

The cremation will be conducted at Hendon Cemetery & Crematorium (South Chapel), Holder Hill Road, London NW7 1NB.

Built in a record 34 months, the bridge utilised 32,000 metric tons of reinforcement steel and 700 metric tons of s p e c i a l i s e d s t a y c a b

y

Designed with aerodynamic stability to withstand the seismically sensitive and tidal riverbed, the structure features foundations extending 60 metres deep to ensure r e s i l i e n c e a g a i n s t e x t r e m e c u

n t s B y p r o v i d i n g a critical link between Gujarat and Maharashtra, the bridge is expected to drastically reduce travel time and facilitate smoother logistics for industrial hubs

This milestone project highlights India’s technical capability to execute complex, large-scale infrastructure a

commitment to self-reliance through the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative

Operating from Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, the organised syndicate targeted vic-

angadia

Late Ramanbhai will be remembered as a kind-hearted and humble individual who touched the lives of many with his warmth, simplicity and generosity. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Japasvina Ramanbhai Patel, his son, Nirav Patel, and the cherished memories of his late brothers, Late Sambhubhai Ranchodbhai Patel, Late Manubhai Ranchodbhai Patel and Late Kanubhai Ranchodbhai Patel.

CB Patel and the entire ABPL family express their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. We pray that his soul rests in eternal peace and that Om Shanti..Shanti...Shanti

India s Deputy Chief of Mission in the US Namgya Khampa signs an agreement with National Museum of Asian Art Director Chase Robinson

MR Rangaswami

Ashok Kharat

BAPS consecrates new Nilkanth

Varni statue in New Delhi

T h e BA P S S w a m i nar aya n A ks h a rd h a m

temple in New Delh i hosted a land mark spiritual ev ent to consecrate a 1 08-foot-tall

murti o f Nilkanth Varni Under the div ine guid ance o f His Ho liness M ah

This monumental statue, crafted from

primarily

Swaminarayan in a meditative Tapomurti pose, standing on one leg It serves as a permanent tribute to his historic seven-

India, which the teenage yogi began at the tender age of eleven T h e

Mahotsav featured a global peace yagna on M

n installation ceremony where 300 sadhus

performed the final rites while standing on a crane at a height of 108 feet to apply a

landmark, which took nearly a year to

craftsmen, reinforces the role of BAPS as a global centre for culture, discipline, and spiritual awakening

Vice President visits new BAPS landmark in Delhi

The Vice Presid ent of India, C P Radhakrishnan, visited the BAPS

S w

New Delhi to offer prayers during

of

Jayanti

U

performing the sacred arti of the

Maharaj This monumental bronze statue, depicting Bhagwan Swaminarayan as a youthful yogi, was inaugurated earlier that morning by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj The Vice President’s visit included a private audience with Mahant Swami Maharaj, where he received a traditional garland and blessings for his continued service to the nation Shri Radhakrishnan offered heartfelt prayers at the main mandir for national peace and prosperity, highlighting the spiritual legacy of the site

Birth Anniversaries of Swaminarayan and Shri Ram celebrated across North America

T he BAP S Swaminarayan Mandirs

a cr o ss No r th A m

jo yous celebratio ns from M arch 21

t o 2 8 , 20 26

S wam inarayan and Bhagwan Ram Centred on the theme "Divine Lives, Enduring Family Values," the e

devotees in major cities including

Vedanta to split into 5 listed companies

years of

Aluminium, Talwandi Sabo

P

while the original Vedanta Limited will retain the core base metals business The restructuring follows

of the birth cradle, symbolising a communal commitment to nurturing harmonious relationships

Agarwal

Jaipur’s ‘pink elephant’ dies amid animal cruelty controversy

Th e seventy-year-old fem ale elep hant nam ed C h anch al died in Jaipur’s Hath i Gaon th i s F eb ru ar y 2 0 2 6, j u s

mo nths after being p ainted b ri

Russian photograp her Julia B

el

nt" rec en tly w en t v iral on social media Buruleva, aged 47, stated t h e a r t i s t i c c o n c e p t w a s i n s p i r e d b y R a j a s t h a n ’ s v i b r a n t h e r i t a g e , y e t t h e sight of a model perched on the neon-coloured mammal d r e w i n t e r n a t i o n a l condemnation While Ballu Khan, president of the Hathi

G a o n c o m m i t t e e , a r g u e d that organic gulal was used and washed off within thirty minutes, the timing of the animal’s death has sparked intense scrutiny regarding t h e t r e a t m e n t o f e l d e r l

tourism in India Activists

a lloca tes JPY 102 4 80 billion for the Ben galuru

Me tro Ph ase 3 and JPY 92 400 billion for Mumbai Me tro Line 11 to alle viat e urban cong estion

Additionally, JPY 62 294 billion will enhance t e r t i a r y h e a l t h c a r e a n d m e d i c a l e d u c a t i o n i n Maharashtra, while JPY 18 684 billion is dedicated to promoting sustainable horticulture for farmers in Punjab

These loan agreements, signed with the Japan I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o o p e r a t i o n A g e n c y , a i m t o stimulate regional economic growth and mitigate climate change through improved mass transit By diversifying high-value crops and strengthening medical nursing schools, the initiative bolsters India’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage

T h i s l a t e s t f i n a n c i a l c o m m i t m e n t f u r t h e r

consolidates a bilateral development partnership that has flourished since 1958, reinforcing the e n d u r i n g s t r a t e g i c a l l i a n c e b e t w e e n t h e t w o nations

Anandswarup Swami welcomes C P Radhakrishnan Vice President of India, at Swaminarayan Akshardham

Celebrations held at Los Angeles BAPS part of Ram Navami

Global peace yagna followed by the main installation ceremony where sadhus from across the world participated

BAPS Tapomurti Nilkanth Varni Pratishtha in Delhi

70-year-old Chanchal painted in pink with model on

Indian state assembly campaigns intensify

T he po litical land scape i n India reached a fev er p itch

a s th e nat io n ’ s p rem ie r sp orting ico n, L eand er Paes,

f o rm a ll y j o i ne d t h e Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to bolster their cam paig n for the up coming West Bengal

L eg i s lat iv e A ss e m bl y electio ns In a high -p rofile indu ction ceremony held in N ew D elh i , th e 1 8 -t i m e Grand Slam champion was w elc o m e d by U ni o n

M in i st er K i ren R i ji j

s strategic push to capture th e youth vo te in th e state

c

Across the country, 824

Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry are p

v e democratic exercise that will see nearly 17 4 crore voters decide the fate of regional and national alliances

I n W e s t B e n g a l , t h e

ruling Trinamool Congress, l e d b y C h i e f M i n i s t e r Mamata Banerjee, is seeking a fourth consecutive term

which released its fourth list of candidates Meanwhile, in the southern states, the

risen following the Election C

o n

m m

announcement on March 15, which brought the Model

campaign rally in Kolkata, Union Home Minister Amit

security of the whole nation, claiming that West Bengal h

Maati, Manush" slogan, the home minister asserted that

completely collapsed under

promising that a BJP victory would finally restore "Sonar Bangla" and the dignity of the Bengali people

As the counting date of May 4 approaches, parties

a

campaigners like Paes to tip the scales in what remains a h

election is a battle for the

The new IndiGo Chief Willie Walsh appointed

sever e scheduling cris is t

g r o un d e d 4, 5 00 flights in December , Wal sh will officiall y assume the role

b y August 3

The 64-year-old veteran,

Willie Walsh

General of IATA and former boss of British Airways, is tasked with restoring operational stability and navigating the airline’s ambitious

move into long-haul markets using new Airbus A350 jets IndiGo, which commands a

65 per cent domestic market share, has seen its valuation dip to £13 5 billion (₹1 52 trillion) amid rising costs caused by the ongoing West Asia conflict and airspace restrictions

Walsh’s combative leade r s h i p s t y l e a n d e x t e n s i v e experience with IAG are seen as critical assets as the carrier integrates into the global trillion-dollar aviation industry

Co-founder Rahul Bhatia will

IATA term on July 31

Indian art market reaches new heights

T h e I nd i an ar t m a rke t a ch ie v ed re co r d - br eak in g g ro w th i n e arl y 20 2 6, as d o m es ti c au c ti o n sa les surged by 20 per cent comp ared to prev ious years

T

India Reset Following Bangladesh Election

nt issu ed a form al cong ratulatory mes sag e to T ariqu e Rahm an on Febru ary 1 5, fo llow ing th e Banglad esh Nati onalist P arty’ s ( BNP) lan d s li d

to r y i n th

recent g eneral elections T h

after the "Gen Z" uprising of July 2024, which forced

Sheikh Hasina into exile in New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s outreach signals a strategic attempt to mend a bilateral relationship strained by years of mutual mistrust and the suspension of cross-border transport While New Delhi historically favoured Hasina for her security cooperation against insurgents, Rahman’s "Bangladesh first" policy seeks to balance ties between India and Pakistan, the latter of which saw a 27% trade increase with Dhaka in 2025 India now faces the diplomatic challenge of securing its 4,096km border and protecting minority groups while navig

Analysts suggest that a successful reset will depend on India’s willingness to address long-standing water and trade disputes alongside the sensitive issue of Hasina’s potential extradition

Vir Vikram Yadav becomes DGCA Chief

crore in 2025, have successfully connected regional tal-

investors from the Middle E

s t a n d S

T h i s e x t r a o r d i n a r y boom, driven by a 7 8 per cent GDP growth and an 18 per cent rise in affluent coll e c t o r s , h

Kartavya Bhawan-2 in New

De

security Signed in the

m t o

pr ot e c t t h e In di a n Ar m y from drones and c ruise m issiles

S i m u l t a n e o u s l y , a £ 4 1 million contract was awarded to Boeing India for the depot-level maintenance of

d

India into a global artistic powerhouse I n 2 0 2 5 , m i l e s t o n e s were set when M F Husain’s work fetched $13 8 million at Christie’s and Amrita SherGil’s "The Story Teller" sold f o r $ 7 5 m i l l i o n i n N e w Delhi Major events like the India Art Fair, which showcased works valued at ₹750

s t A s i a Younger, tech-savvy collectors in their 30s are now utilizing Instagram and digital platforms to discover artists

Baroda and Indore

While modern and contemporary segments thrive through galleries like traditional folk forms still struggle for institutional support

gence of new art districts in

(NIA) court in New Delhi sentenc ed Kashmiri sepa-

Andrabi to life imprison

against the In dian state

establishes domestic maintenance facilities to reduce reliance on overseas servicing These strategic acquisi-

defence and enhance mar-

Indian Ocean, reflecting a calculated balance between long-standing international partnerships and the gov-

under the "Buy Indian" initiative, ensures 100 per cent i n

reliance in critical military infrastructure Kashmiri separatist leader Aasiya Andrabi jailed

d r e b e l l i o n

appointments across various central departments, including finance, commerce, and agriculture, aimed at strengthening administrative oversight across key ministries

Addition al Session s Judge C h an de

ye

prison terms to her c lose assoc iates , Sofi Fehmid a and Nahida Nasreen, following their conviction in Jan uary

The court found the trio guilty of running the banned all-women organi s a t i o n D u k h

platforms to spread

and incite youth toward

According to the 286-page v e r d i c t , t h e c o n v i c t s engaged in a continuous c r i m i n a l c o n s p i r a c y t o orchestrate the secession o f J a m m u a n d K a s h m i r through cross-border coll u s i o n w i t h P a k i s t a nbased entities In addition to the custodial sentences, the court imposed a fine of ₹8 lakh on Andrabi and ₹7 lakh each on her associates

R e j e c t i n g p l e a s f o r l e n i e n c y b a s e d o n t h e i r educational backgrounds, the judge emphasised that such informed defiance of n a t i o n a l s o v e r e i g n t y necessitated the harshest penalty to deter similar anti-state activities

The invisible burden on Indian tech professionals

An estimated five million Information Tech nolog y professionals across India are bearing significant personal and financial costs to sustain the d igital infrastructure of global tech giants from their hom es A recent study led by Professor Vivek Soundararajan from the University of Bath reveals that remote working in

expenses from corporations to individual households In major hubs like Bengaluru and Chennai, junior workers are spending up to £400 on industrial-grade battery backups to combat routine power cuts Beyond the financial strain, employees in multigenerational homes must perform careful choreography to maintain professional environments amidst domestic chaos The research further highlights that 88 per cent of these workers face intrusive digital surveillance, with automated systems tracking every keystroke Despite these mounting pressures, the sector

Sheikh Hasina

Vir Vikram Yadav

Ultra-processed food harms human fertility success

T he consu mption of ul trap roces sed foo ds significantly reduces the

h ealthy pregnancy

bo th men and women, ac cording

seventh week of gestation

Screens trigger midnight hunger

Whispering may sound gentle, but it actually places extra strain on your vocal cords When you whisper, the cords don’t fully vibrate; instead, they are held slightly apart while air is forced through This creates friction and tension, which can irritate the throat and damage the voice over time

Prolonged whispering, especially during illness, can worsen hoarseness and delay vocal recovery

indu strial ised diets inf luence rep roductive health

The study, published in

Reproduction, revealed that men with high intakes of

defined as mass-produced foods containing additives

while these foods did not directly hinder the ability to

particularly

now constitute over half of the national diet Although t

embryonic size were small, s

restricted early growth is

Vivid dreams act as sleep guardians

or Advanc ed Studi es Lucc a has validated Si gmund Freud's

journal PLO S Bi ology, the study involved monitoring 44 healthy adults ove r four nights to determ ine why 70 pe r c e n t of pe op le of te n awake feeling unrefres he d By analysing data from

researchers discovered that

d a significantly deeper sense o f r

n c e d

n t h

s i v e , b i z a r r e , o r e m o t i o n a l l y intense dreams, even when t h e i r b r a i n a c t i v i t y

r e m a i n e d h i g h T h i s s u g g e s t s t h a t d r e a m i n g functions as a psychological b a r r i e r , i m m e r s i n g t h e sleeper in an internal world t h a t p r e v e n t s e x t e r n a l s t i m u l i o r d i s t u r b i n g thoughts from triggering a full awakening

The findings challenge

t r a d i t i o n a l v i e w s t h a t quality rest requires total u n c o n s c i o u s n e s s , p r o v i n g instead that mental activity during non-REM stages is

vital for sleep health While a b s t r a c t t h o u g h t s w e r e l i n k e d t o s h a l l o w e r r e s t , immersive dreams became r i c h e r a s t h e n i g h t progressed, enhancing the

overall feeling of deep sleep

A l t h o u g h t h e s t u d y i s observational, it opens new p e r s p e c t i v e s o n u s i n g dream vividness as a metric for mental wellbeing

Chronic anger can lead to heart disease

T he c ontinu ous experienc e of u nc hecked anger significantly elevates bloo d press ure and d im in is h es l if e ex p e c

physiological shift creates a dangerous environment for

leads to detrimental lifestyle choices, such as poor sleep a n d o v e r e a t i n g , w h i c h compound physical damage

vessels, which subsequently

S p e c i a l i s t s a d v i s e t h a t emotional regulation through d e e p b r e a t h i n g a n d professional counselling is as vital for long-term health as m a n a g i n g c h o l e s t e r o l B y addressing these psychological triggers today, individuals can effectively protect their heart functionality and extend their overall lifespan

Repeating meals aids successful weight loss

The adopti on of a repetitive dai ly men u s ignifi cantly im proves w eight l os s

Chocolate could be new weapon against cancer

T h e p o te nti a l

r c h o c o

e to c o m ba t sto mach cancer has been h igh li gh ted by researchers at the C atholic University of Maule in Ch ile this week A study revealed th at chocolate infused with polyph enol-rich g

tly in h i bi ts Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium linked to gastric cancer By repurposing bitter winemaking byp

Ranveer Singh emotional recalling his early career struggles

The Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh has moved fans to tears after a nostalgic video resurfaced online, showing the actor breaking down as his mother recalled his early professional struggles This emotional moment went viral as Singh’s latest blockbuster, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, continues its historic run, surpassing the £103 million (Rs 1,128 crore) mark at the global box office by its ninth day

During an archive appearance on Simi Garewal's talk show, Anju Bhavnani revealed that during her son's era of rejection, he would come home after failed auditions and simply say it was a bad day, shielding his parents from the harsh and personal comments he endured regarding his unconventional

looks

Despite early warnings from industry veterans that he did not resemble a typical hero, Singh persisted following his 2010 debut His father, Jagjit Singh Bhavnani, admitted he initially doubted his son's success due to the volume of rejections

However, the actor’s career-defining performance in Aditya Dhar's sequel has rewritten records, positioning him as one of the industry's most bankable leads after previous disappointments like 83

As Dhurandhar 2 continues to dominate over 18,000 shows in India alone, the viral footage serves as a poignant reminder of the immeasurable pain Singh hid while climbing the ranks to become a titan of Indian cinema

Imran Khan criticises Bollywood’s toxic trends

TheBollywood actor Imran Khan has sparked a significant debate on social media after condemning the rising lorification of toxic masculinity in mainstream Indian cinema

During a candid "Ask Me Anything" session on Reddit, the aane Tu Ya Jaane Na star interacted with thousands of fans o discuss his decade-long hiatus and his upcoming return to he screen Addressing the current trend of hyper-violent lockbusters, such as Animal and Dhurandhar: The Revenge, han stated he has "no interest in playing a hairy, angry man overed in blood," arguing that such roles are already overepresented

He expressed deep concern over narratives that coddle the iolent tantrums of emotionally immature characters, noting disturbing lack of empathy and kindness in contemporary torytelling

The 43-year-old actor, who last appeared as a lead in 015's Katti Batti, revealed that his comeback film, Adhure Hum Adhure Tum, is a conscious effort to reintroduce

sensitivity to the silver screen Directed by Danish Aslam and co-starring Bhumi Pednekar, the project is described as a "spiritual successor" to their 2010 collaboration Break Ke Baad While the film wrapped shooting in July 2025 and is currently in late post-production, its release on Netflix remains uncertain following internal executive changes at the streaming giant Khan emphasised that true strength lies in emotional vulnerability, urging the industry to distinguish between portraying toxicity and validating it Fans now await the official premiere date, hoping for a return to the grounded, good man characters that defined Khan’s earlier career

Sshura Khan shares daughter’s Eid glimpse

Sanjay Dutt unveils new political thriller

The Bollywood make-up artist Sshura Khan has offered the public a rare and intimate glimpse into her private family life by sharing the first holiday photograph of her infant daughter, Sipaara Khan, during Eid celebrations.

In a heart-warming social media update, the wife of actor Arbaaz Khan captured the spirit of the family’s festivities following a

patriarch, Salim Khan The image, which featured the young child’s feet, was captioned w

celebration of Sipaara’s first major religious festival since her birth on October 5, 2025

affairs, this recent update confirms that the Khan household has reunited in full health after Salim Khan was discharged from PD Hinduja Hospital earlier this week Sipaara is Arbaaz Khan's second child, following his son Arhaan from his previous marriage to Malaika Arora

This latest glimpse into their domestic life suggests a period of stability and joy for the c

parenthood in the heart of the Indian film

The veteran Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has officially announced his latest cinematic venture, Aakhri Sawal, a politically charged drama set to explore a century of Indian history.

Following his recent s as SP Chaudhary Asla in the blockbuster Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Dutt shared the news on via a striking social media post that immediately captured the public's imagination

Scheduled for a nationwide theatrica release on 15 May 202 film aims to address "the question India never stopped asking" by delving into the complex 100-year legacy of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) The story specifically focuses on a pivotal, yet historically obscured, episode from 1925 that reportedly altered the country’s trajectory

gritty, burnt aesthetic layered with vintage newspaper clippings and protesters holding red flags, suggesting a narrative rooted in civil unrest and deep-seated mystery Directed by a be-disclosed maker, the project asts an impressive nsemble cast including Amit Sadh, Namashi Chakraborty, and Sameera Reddy, alongside Tridha Choudhury and Neetu Chandra This announcement marks a significant ft for Dutt, moving the light-hearted g p rsona fans adored in his previous outing to a more intense, profile-heavy role that challenges traditional historical textbooks With post-production currently underway in Mumbai, the film is positioned as one of the most anticipated political releases of the summer, promising to finally provide answers to longstanding national debates

The promotional poster features a

RJ Balaji casts Suriya after Vijay declines ‘Karuppu’

The filmmaker RJ Balaji has revealed that his upcoming action drama, ‘Karuppu’, was originally written for the actor-politician Vijay before the lead role was transitioned to Suriya During an interview, Balaji explained that he initially presented the script to ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay in 2023.

While Vijay reportedly described the story as a big idea, his commitments to his new political party, Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam, and his final film Jana Nayagan prevented him from joining the project Balaji subsequently narrated the same script to Suriya, who immediately accepted the role

The film, which marks Balaji’s first large-scale commercial project, is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on 14 May 2026 ‘Karuppu’ features Suriya as Saravanan, a fierce character inspired by the deity Karuppuswamy, alongside an ensemble cast including Trisha Krishnan, Indrans, and Swasika Produced by Dream Warrior Pictures, the movie aims to recapture the mass appeal of 1990s classics like Baashha

Following the underperformance of Suriya’s previous films Kanguva and Retro, industry experts consider this a crucial comeback vehicle The production, which wrapped filming in early 2026, features a soundtrack by Sai Abhyankkar, whose second single ‘Naanga Naalu Peru’ was released on March 23

Shruti Haasan praises veteran acting icons

The accomplished Indian actor and singer Shruti Haasan has offered a rare insight into the professional ethics of South Indian cinema’s biggest titans, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth In a candid interview released, the 40-year-old performer described how both her father and her Coolie co-star maintain their legendary status by working like beasts behind the scenes

Haasan revealed that despite their global fame, the duo avoids providing career tips, instead demonstrating a quiet, disciplined commitment to their craft that eschews the tension often found on modern film sets This revelation comes as the two icons prepare for a historic on-screen reunion in a new project helmed by Nelson Dilipkumar, marking their first collaboration since 1979

Addressing her own trajectory, Haasan refused to shy away from her "nepo" roots, acknowledging that her 1992 singing debut at age five in Thevar Magan was a direct result of her father’s influence However, she balanced this by highlighting her rigorous formal training under masters like Suresh Wadkar and her studies at the Musicians Institute in California Interestingly, she noted that her father’s domestic persona is far removed from his intense screen presence, often involving the sharing of "cringe" Instagram reels and village cooking videos

As she balances her music career with high-profile acting roles, Haasan maintains that the most valuable lesson learned from the industry's veterans is the beauty of chupchaap or silent hard work, which remains the cornerstone of their enduring five-decade careers

Court protects actor Mohanlal’s personality rights

The Delhi High Court has officially granted interim protection to t Malayalam superstar Mohanlal to safeguard his personality righ unauthorised commercial exploitation Justice Jyoti Singh indicated would issue specific directives to prevent third parties from using th voice, or likeness without his explicit consent

This legal victory follows a revised application by the actor, w strengthened his case by adding new defendants and providing d of infringing digital links The court has requested further clarity cific violations to ensure the protection is robustly enforced acro platforms

This ruling places Mohanlal amongst an elite group of Indian including Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor, who have success John Doe orders to combat the misuse of their identities in the d court’s intervention is particularly timely as Mohanlal prepares fo fessional milestone with the release of the political drama Patrio 2026 This film marks a rare and highly anticipated collaboration veteran Mammootty Furthermore, the actor is currently filming to conclude his iconic franchise with Drishyam 3, scheduled for r 21

By securing these rights now, the 65-year-old actor ensures th remains protected throughout this intensive period of global the and promotional activities

Aarti Ravi questions selective public empathy

ent socialite Aarti Ravi has sparked a national conversation standards by questioning why the public reserves its r the wives of the most powerful men In a poignant Instagram d, the estranged wife of actor Ravi Mohan (formerly Jayam w direct parallels between her ongoing divorce battle and the ontroversy involving actor-turned-politician Vijay owing reports that Vijay’s wife, Sangeetha Sornalingam, 2-page divorce petition on 27 February alleging infidelity 2021, the public has largely rallied behind her However, noted that when she faced a similar situation in May 2025, her husband attended a high-profile wedding with singer shaa Francis the reaction was muted or even hostile toward

Aarti’s statement pointedly asked, "Does empathy for a fe depend on the market value of the man involved?" She ghlighted the emotional cost of watching a marriage nravel under public scrutiny, arguing that a wife's dignity hould not be dictated by her husband's social or political ature While social media speculation has frequently linked ijay to co-star Trisha Krishnan after their joint appearance t a recent reception, Sangeetha’s petition reportedly cites ears of emotional neglect and lack of financial support

With a crucial court hearing scheduled for April 20, the ase has become a lightning rod for discussions on gender as and the hero-worship culture that often shields male uperstars from accountability while their wives endure public humiliation in silence

‘

D H U R A N D H A R 2’

The Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh has made cinematic history this week as his latest blockbuster, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, shattered long-standing box office records across the United Kingdom Directed by Aditya Dhar, the highoctane spy thriller has raked in a phenomenal £2,460,523 in the British market within just seven days of its global release

This explosive performance has seen the film surpass the lifetime earnings of six previous Indian blockbusters in the UK, firmly establishing it as a cultural phenomenon amongst the South Asian diaspora and beyond According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, the film’s international success is mirrored by a massive

global gross of 250 crore from overseas territories alone, contributing to a total worldwide collection that is now fast approaching the 1,100 crore mark

The sequel’s unprecedented momentum is attributed to a strategic rollout across 18,000 screens globally, following the critical success of its 2025 predecessor Industry experts from Sacnilk note that the film’s savage humour and large-scale action sequences have resonated deeply with international audiences, particularly in London, Birmingham, and Manchester

The film continues to witness bumper theatre occupancies, with additional late-night shows being added to meet the overwhelming demand With no major Hollywood competition this fortnight, Dhurandhar 2 is projected to become the highest-grossing Hindi film ever released in the British Isles by the end of its second weekend

Noel De Souza and the Indian Hollywood trail

The centenarian journalist and actor Noel De Souza is celebrating his 100th year in Los Angeles, marking eight decades since he first arrived in the United States to challenge the ethnic boundaries of Hollywood. Born on December 27, 1925 in Secunderabad, De Souza moved to California in the 1940s to study architecture at Berkeley before pivoting to the silver screen

At a time when Indian roles were predominantly played by white actors in brownface, De Souza sustained a prolific career by diversifying his repertoire Following advice from legendary actor Anthony Quinn, he spent the 1950s and 60s successfully auditioning for Latino, Arab, and Native American roles, appearing in iconic productions such as Zorro in 1957 and Star Trek: Voyager, where his distinctive features helped him secure the role of Mahatma Gandhi

Indian films secure historic Netflix hat-trick

TheIndian film industry has achieved an unprecedented global milestone this week by securing the top three positions on Netflix’s Global Top 10 (NonEnglish) chart simultaneously

According to data released on Wednesday, 25 March 2026, the Tamil-language thriller Made In Korea claimed the coveted number one spot, followed closely by the Hindi blockbusters Border 2 and Dhurandhar in second and third place respectively

Europe, the Americas, and Southeast Asia within days of their digital premieres

Beyond the podium, the Tamil romantic drama ‘With Love’ also entered the charts at number seven, bringing the total Indian representation to four films in the global top ten This dominant performance follows the massive theatrical success of Dhurandhar, which transitioned to streaming after breaking box office records in early 2026 Industry analysts suggest this trend reflects a

This historic clean sweep marks the first time in the streaming giant's history that a single country has monopolised the top of the international rankings The surge in viewership is attributed to simultaneous multi-country releases and sophisticated dubbing technology, allowing these titles to amass millions of viewing hours across

permanent shift in global consumption habits, as Indian storytelling transcends regional boundaries to reach a diverse, multilingual audience With Border 2 continuing to trend in over 40 countries since its midMarch debut, the Indian film industry has firmly established itself as a primary driver of digital engagement on the world stage

Indian MPs seek censor clearance for Palestinian film

The

Indian Central Board of Film

Beyond acting, De Souza became India’s primary journalistic link to Hollywood, reporting for major publications like The Times of India and Cine Blitz until 2019 He conducted landmark interviews with stars ranging from a 22-year-old Leonardo DiCaprio in 1996 to modern icons like Meryl Streep In late 2025, he reached a new milestone by co-authoring the novel Dust, a project developed from a 1970s screenplay titled The Bullpen with the help of AI technology and his collaborator Patricia Danaher Published on his 100th birthday, the novel explores themes of survival and human dignity

As he enters his 101st year, De Souza remains a foundational figure for the South Asian diaspora, having witnessed Hollywood's transition from deep exoticisation to the global success of modern Indian stars like Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Certification is facing a significant political challenge over its decision to withhold approval for the Oscarnominated film The Voice of Hind Rajab. A bipartisan group of eight Members of Parliament formally petitioned the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, for his immediate intervention in the matter

The signatories, which include senior leaders such as Jairam Ramesh and John Brittas, have criticised the board for reportedly denying certification through oral communication rather than a formal written order They contend that this approach lacks transparency and violates the statutory requirements of the Cinematograph Act of 1952 The film, directed by the Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, depicts the tragic death of a sixyear-old girl in Gaza during the 2024 conflict and has received widespread international acclaim

According to the film's Indian distributor, Manoj Nandwana, the board informally cited

"geopolitical sensitivities" and the potential to damage India-Israel relations as the primary reasons for the delay

However, the parliamentarians maintain that perceived diplomatic relationships should not dictate the boundaries of artistic expression within a mature democracy Following the recent Academy Awards ceremony on March 16, where the film was a major contender, the delay is seen by critics as a move to reduce the project s cultural momentum

In response to the growing controversy, the film has now been referred to a Revising Committee for a second review

While the Ministry has yet to issue an official statement, the outcome of this review is being closely watched as a critical test for India’s commitment to constitutional guarantees of free speech in the arts

IPL ignites with record-breaking fireworks

of the IPL roared into life on March 28 with a sombre yet

e i r

m a r k i n a s t a g g e r i n g 1 2 1

overs, leaving the five-time

c h a m p i o n s s h e l l - s h o c k e d

Earlier, the Chennai innings

h a d i m p l o d e d u n d e r t h e

sheer pace of Nandre Burger

a n d J o f r a A r c h e r , w h o

restricted them to a meagre

127 all out, despite a valiant

43 from Jamie Overton

This nineteenth edition

B C C I made the executive decision to cancel the glitzy opening c e r e m

with a moment of silence to honour the victims of the 2025 Bengaluru tragedy T h e c r i c k

, h o w e v e r , has been anything but quiet; R

season with a clinical six-

wicket win over Sunrisers

broke their opening-match

Riders

March 31, the Punjab Kings are set to face a formidable

Gujarat Titans side in what

chess match Following this, Lucknow Super Giants will host the Delhi Capitals on April 1 at the Ekana Stadium

that age is just a number and that the new era of Indian cricket has officially arrived, building momentum toward the grand finale on May 31

Olympic committee bars transgender women athletes

power and endurance sports Under the leadership of I O C P r e s i d e n t K

0 - p a g e eligibility policy mandates a

o n c e - i n - a - l i f e t i m e g e n e t i c screening for the SRY gene

This decision aligns with a F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 5 e x e c u t i v e order signed by United States

P r e s i d e n t D o n a l d T r u m p , w h i c h r e s t r i

LeBron James breaks NBA appearance record

T aking th e cou rt against th e Orlando Magi c at the K ia

C en t er , th e 41 - y ea r- o ld fo rward su rp assed the longstanding bench mark of 1 ,611 games established by Ro bert P arish in 1997

This historic milestone o

Luke Kennard James,

T

leading both Kareem Abdul-

latest achievement adds to

records, including all-time

longest double-digit scoring streak of 1,297 consecutive games

India clinch 10 medals at Asia Cup

Ranking To urnam ent Stag e

1 in Bangkok, securing ten

haul, com prising two g old, four silver, and four bronze medals, surpassed th e eig ht

m e d al s ac h i ev e d a t t h e prev ious ed ition

The highlight of the day was a clean sweep in the men ’ s compound individual e v e n t , w h

Jawkar 145-144 to claim his maiden international gold V

secured the bronze after a tense 145-144 victory over T h

Rattanapongkiat Chauhan

Chikitha Taniparthi to win

mixed team event, narrowly beating Malaysia 158-156 In

year-old Tejal Salve earned individual bronze, while the w

e a m settled for silver after a close 227-229 loss to Kazakhstan

Despite the overall success, the recurve category saw no gold, with Ridhi Phor and the men ’ s team, consisting

Sukhchain Singh, and Juyel Sarkarmboth finishing with silver medals This dominant showing, p a r t

, underscores India’s growing depth and consistency on the continental stage as they p

season

Kipa Mero wins gold at National Para Athletics Championship

The p ara-athlete Kip a Mero f ro m A r u nac h a l P ra d es h clinched a go ld medal in the wo men ’ s javelin thro w F12 c ate g o ry at t h e 2 4 th Na ti o na l P ara A t h le ti cs C ham pionships C ompeting at the Kaling a Stad ium in Bhubanesw ar, Odish a, Mero shattered her own natio nal record with an exceptio nal th r o w o f 23 7 6 m et res , s u rp as s i ng h e r p rev io u s benchmark of 22 15 metres

This feat was achieved during a five-day event which saw 1,460 athletes from 28

s

further success as Techi Meta

secured a silver medal in the

March, highlighted the rising standards of para-sports in India, with Haryana topping the overall medal tally with 95 awards Mero and Meta’s achievements, supported by the Chief Minister Athletes C

Northeast India This recordb

cements Mero's status as

para-athletics

Kimi Antonelli makes history in Japanese Grand Prix

Th e Me rce d es d riv e r Kim i A n t

teammate George Russell Antonelli now leads the world championship by nine points, sitting on 72 points ahead of Russell’s 63 Piastri f

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Rishabh Yadav

Kipa Mero

Kimi Antonelli