AV 5th January 2019

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE

R

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

5 - 11 JANUARY 2019 - VOL 47 ISSUE 34

NO MEANS NO

Ireland criminalises psychological and emotional abuse in intimate relationships

inside: Govt not considering ordinance on Ram temple: Narendra Modi SEE PAGE 26

Priyanka Mehta The Domestic Violence Act 2018 went into effect in Ireland on Tuesday, 2 January and provides new protections for victims of "coercive control," a type of emotional and psychological abuse aimed at stripping a person of their selfworth and agency.

Rhubarb was eight months pregnant when she first came to the UK under spousal visa from Pakistan back in 2009.

Two weeks into the UK and the girlfriends, alcohol, and drugs came out of the closet. Rhubarb now lives in the UK with her 9-year-old daughter under article 289A which allows her the right to remain in the country for an indefinite period as a victim of domestic violence.

In the wake of the forced marriage fiasco, a decade later, organisations are still calling on the government to protect migrant women experiencing domestic abuse. Why? How is the government's hostile environment policy being used by abusers?

Family members grieve Iceland holiday accident that killed three SEE PAGE 5

Queen's New Year's Honour gift to the Asian Diaspora in the UK SEE PAGE 16-17

Continued on page 14

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WITH KEITH VAZ, MP

Vimal Choksi

Vimal Choksi was born in South Gujarat, India in a family associated with Jewellery business for generations. He was brought up in a disciplined family with strong values and belief systems.

Education is a paramount character of family values, which is demonstrated throughout his family where most family members hold at least two or three degrees. He studied in the field of Information technology achieving a Masters qualification before pursuing a second Master’s degree in the field of International Business Administration at Bournemouth University.

Initially, Vimal worked on developing various web based software systems using latest software technologies. Later, he made Greater Manchester as his main hub following his education in Bournemouth. He started his new career in Adult social care at the local authority. Currently, he is involved in managing contracts and commissioning activities of multi million pound services for the local residents. Alongside, he has played an active role in various community organisations across Oldham and Ashton in various capacities. He is an active member of the Labour party and also the first Indian origin elected councillor for Tameside Council and first Asian origin Councillor for Ashton under Lyne.

1

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

I consider Ashton under Lyne and Oldham as close to my heart. Both places have given me immense life experiences and skills

which have helped me to grow emotionally, intellectually and achieve lot of milestones in life. I felt supported by the community in any work that I put in.

2

What are your proudest achievements?

Being elected as a Councillor has been the proudest achievement for me. This makes it even more special being the first ever Indian origin to be elected in this role at Tameside.

I feel proud to represent a community who has contributed immensely to this country and made UK as their home. I want to inspire future generations to take an active part in the political process which has largely been ignored.

3

What inspires you?

My biggest inspiration of life is an opportunity to learn something new which has been my main driving force. I always believe that there is room in life to learn and explore something new. This thought has been embedded throughout my life. There is not a day where I do not learn something new which is very exciting.

4

What has been biggest obstacle in your career?

I strongly believe that life is not worth living without challenges and overcoming those challenges to achieve success is extremely fulfilling. Initially, I came across many challenges being new to the country such as not knowing the system, not having enough knowledge of local culture and way of life. I believe that these challenges which hindered my progress have been significantly overcome to be where I am today.

5

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

My biggest influence in life has been my father who has thought me lot of life lessons and just observing him helped me to achieve whatever I am today. I remembered all words of wisdom he shared with me being polite, looking after deprived and under privileged and even understanding of politics which has been a complete gift from him. He believes that a true leader is who keeps people united for the greater good, which has been engraved in my heart.

6

What is the best aspect about your current role?

I am in a position to devolve, influence, help or improve the quality of life of many residents. What may appear very little to us, may be of greater value to others in their lives, so any help given to the people in need is greatly appreciated. I do not take my responsibilities for granted and extend sup-

port to people without any prejudice. I enjoy helping and supporting residents in every step of the way.

7

And the worst?

So far the worst aspect of my current role is yet to come. It is a challenging role finding balance between doing equal justice to my role in the public, to employment activities and importantly to my family. It demands greater time management and high quality organisational skills. This role requires sacrifice of your personal time and sometimes missing important moments with your family and kids. Hence, support from the family is extremely vital to undertake various public responsibilities.

8

What are your long term goals?

I would want to see greater participation of women of Indian origin in the public life, as I feel that their contribution is yet to be recognised. I wish to encourage future generations to play an active and important role to shape the country's future. I wish to be a voice for the community for equal rights and pave the path for them to achieve their right place.

9

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

I would support national education service, preserve universal health and social care system at any cost. Every policy to keep people at the lower end of the social pyramids at heart. I will ensure that every head gets shelter and every mouth gets food. I understand the importance of creating jobs and growing economy to achieve balanced growth for all. Austerity should not be the choice.

10

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

It’s a very difficult choice to make.

However, I would prefer to spend time with the late Sardar Patel - the Iron man of India who united India following its independence. His passion and vision to unite India under difficult circumstances was like Iron.

Politics needs a great vision, wisdom and an iron will to create a great nation. I would want to learn politics of nationalism and working for the greater good from him.

Recently, his statue was erected in India which is the largest statue in the world and a great tribute to him.

Teenager found stabbed to death in home on Christmas Day A teenager stabbed to death in her flat on Christmas Day has been named as Parwin Quriashi.

The 19-year-old victim was found by police and paramedics shortly before 1.30pm in the home she and her partner were understood to have moved into just two weeks ago. She was reportedly discovered after neighbours spotted a sixyear-old child ‘crying and distressed’ in the car park of the building.

Mohammad Qoraishi, 27, appeared in court charged with the murder of Ms Quriashi. Police said Ms Quriashi suffered ‘significant injuries’ and confirmed she had died at the scene on Tuesday.

Qoraishi was arrested on suspicion of murder, and after he was charged, appeared by video link before Medway Magistrates’ Court. Wearing a grey jumper, a bearded Qoraishi

did not enter a plea and spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth. Emergency services were called at 1.18pm on Christmas Day to a property in London Road, Kent Police previously said.

South East Coast Ambulance Service also attended the scene and confirmed the teenager was dead. Police had previously confirmed that the suspect and victim were known to each other. Qoraishi, of Maidstone, was remanded in custody to appear at

Maidstone Crown Court on December 31.

Mrs Quriashi's former neighbour from when she lived in a flat in Castle Road, Allington, said: "She was a lovely girl, lovely looking too. She would speak to you every time she saw us. When they first came over here she and her brother were learning to read with easy learning books. They were on the stairs and took it in turns to read. You could not have had a nicer person. She was very intelligent. I don't want to believe this."

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UK

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5 - 11 January 2019

The future of the UK hangs in balance The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has found himself at the centre of a growing controversy after the London Eye was lit up to look like an EU flag at one stage during the New Year extravaganza. Shortly after the bells rang out for the arrival of 2019, Mr Khan tweeted: "Sending a message across the globe: London's diversity will always be our strength. Our one million EU citizens are Londoners, they make a huge contribution, and no matter the outcome of Brexit - they will always be welcome.

Happy New Year, London."

Our country is at a very important cross-road. As the 90-day period has kicked in, the country still remains in the dark about the Parliament’s decision on the upcoming Brexit. Even some senior members of the government are voicing conflicting opinions about the various options. If members of the Cabinet and Parliament are so unsure about the future development, the anxieties and apprehensions of the people at large cannot be over emphasised. Whereas the politicians secure their future with the golden handshake and the guaranteed pension, it is the population of the country who will pay the price of ill-conceived or emotional decisions of those who are supposed to safeguard the well being of the people of the UK. A national government especially in a developed democratic Britain have two principle responsibilities. After securing border it is the well being of the citizenry. Ultimately economy is the foundation for any civilisation.In the media, the greatest con-

cern is from the entrepreneurs, businesses and those big wigs in the financial establishments about the dangers lurking for any Brexit - hard, soft or hochpoch. It beggars belief that for dogmatic reasons or because of being harassed by a small minority of the Little Englanders, correct decision cannot be taken by adhering to their responsibilities.

6 months ago in his personalised column our Editor raised alarm about the consequences resulting from an unfair and misleading referendum, aided and abated by a weak government, that was continuously worried about its survival and eventually has been cornered to accept any fait accompli (See AV- 'As I See It' column on 7 & 14 July 2018).

We need a logical and pragmatic path for prosperity and peace. Sadly, emotions and false pride appear to be the main motivating force. In a mature democracy people's verdict is paramount no doubt. Can we really claim that referendum of 23 June 2016 was free of fear and focussed on fair and reasonable issues?

Sooner than later this government may not even survive.

There is unfortunately not a viable alterantive available for the country at the moment. For a moment lets leave the hard or soft Brexit aside. The British historically have never feared to retreat when the odds are insurmountable against them.

A step back is not a defeat, but common sense. Why to risk everything for false pride and unrealistic hopes?

Modi likely to retain power in 2019 election Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party recently suffered a dramatic setback in its crucial Hindi-speaking northern strongholds, when the opposition Congress won power in three-BJP ruled states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The loss suggest that PM Modi is struggling to fulfill the high expectations he has raised in voters in 2014.

But the Prime Minister remains personally popular and is a charismatic and determined campaigner. He is likely to pull out all the stops - including a wave of populist spending - to secure his victory.

As per a survey conducted some months back, the NDA will get around 276 seats, while the UPA, led by the Congress will see its share rising to 112 seats, the other parties may get 155 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Though the BJP is winning, it is set to lose its single-handed majority and is set to be dependent on the allies to form the government, the survey predicts. In 2014, BJP led-NDA had won 336 seats with BJP bagging 282 seats alone. A number of allies have either left the saffron party or are evidently miffed with its alleged domineering attitude in the government.

While PM Modi still holds fort as far as his competitors are concerned, the survey hints at a dip in Modi’s popularity over the last one year. As per the survey, PM Modi remains the top choice for around 63 per cent people surveyed, while Congress

president Rahul Gandhi is liked by 34 per cent. In Uttar Pradesh, which is the most populous state in the country that sends 80 members to the Parliament, the BJP may win around 70 seats.

However, the tally may see a significant dip in case BSP decides to join the Mahagathbandhan.

The survey cites unemployment, GST, low income level, rising atrocities against the dalits and minorities as some of the factors that pulled down NDA's popularity. “About threefourths of Muslims, three-fifths of Christians and well over half the Sikhs indicated that they do not wish to see the Modi government coming back to power next year,” it said. Out of 151 seats in North India, NDA is likely to win 90 seats, UPA 25 and others 36. Out of 132 seats in South India, NDA may win 18-22 seats, UPA 67-75 seats and others 38-44 seats. Modi’s popularity dropped to 34 per cent, while Rahul Gandhi’s popularity increased from 16 per cent in 2014 to 24 per cent in 2018.

If BSP and SP join hands in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP will have to face a major setback. The survey says that the SP-BSP combine will get 42 per cent vote share in the state. However, in Gujarat, Modi's home state, NDA will have a clear lead with the saffron party likely to get 54 per cent votes. In Maharashtra, the survey predicts 48 per cent votes for NDA, 40 per cent for UPA and 21 per cent for others. NDA's vote share will further drop if Sena decides to contest alone.

UK, India ties moving forward smoothly The year 2018 was an important one for India-UK ties, with Britain playing host to the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) in April and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the summit. Modi's visit to UK included bilateral talks with his British counterpart Theresa May. Modi was given special treatment on the sidelines of the summit, including an audience with Queen Elizabeth. It is also an year in which India scored a major diplomatic victory when a British court ordered the extradition of liquor baron Vijay Mallya who was wanted back in India for alleged bank fraud.

The visit marked the signing of the UK-India Tech Partnership, which played out through the course of the year to culminate in the first India-UK Future Tech Festival in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru in December. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said the year 2018 saw the UK “prioritise” this partnership, as a mark of strength of two countries which share a relationship of “unique depth.” “This is a unique opportunity for us to connect our tech strength, ecosystems and growth, and will see real development in the coming year,” an FCO spokesperson said. “We will continue to work closely together to ensure our relationship goes from strength in 2019 and beyond,” the spokesperson said.

There is no doubt that the UK's tumultuous exit negotiations with the EU monopolised most of the country's focus, but India's stand on Brexit remained consistent as Ruchi Ghanashyam took over from Y K Sinha as the Indian high Commissioner to the UK. “The India-UK partnership is very old; it has stood the test of time and whatever happens to this Brexit process, whichever way it turns out, I absolutely have no doubt in my mind that India and UK will remain important partners,” Ghanashyam declared in her first address in London in November. She arrived just as May's troubles over Brexit intensified, leading to a no-confidence vote in her leadership over the Withdrawal Agreement struck with the EU. With March 29, 2019, earmarked as the formal Brexit Day, the UK remains on a countdown to strike a deal that ensures an order-

ly exit from the European economic bloc.

Some prominent Indian-origin MPs from her Conservative Party have joined the Brexit rebellion with Shailesh Vara stepping down as Northern Ireland minister over a controversial Irish “backstop,” which critics feel would keep the UK tied to EU rules even after Brexit. While May became accustomed to dealing with high-profile ministerial resignations over Brexit, 2018 will stand out as the year that she seemed to keep bouncing back, even surviving an attempted coup.

In a major boost to India's efforts to bring back Mallya, Westminster Magistrates' court ordered his extradition. He is wanted in India for alleged bank fraud and money laundering to an estimated £900 million. The number of Indian tourists continued to rise, with the latest UK Office of National Statistics figures noting that Indians marked the largest visitor visa increase of all countries, at 41,224, to hit a total of 4,68,923 over the past year. Skilled Indian professionals and students also registered a hike in the number of UK visa issued, a trend likely to continue as the UK is set for a revamp of its immigration policy to end free movement of people from within the EU following Brexit.

Immigration issues dominated the headlines, with the Home Office embroiled in the Windrush scandal involving Commonwealth citizens being denied settlement rights in the country due to the lack of documentation because they arrived in the UK before rules changed in 1971. While the majority of those affected were from Caribbean countries, Indians were also among them. As many as 102 Indians were identified by a new task force set up to deal with the crisis by UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid – who became the seniormost British Pakistani in government when he replaced Amber Rudd, who was forced to resign over the case. Javid will remain in focus as India's high-profile extradition request for Mallya sits on his desk for a sign-off following Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot ordering his extradition on December 10.

Dream as though you'll live for ever; live as though you'll die today.

-James Dean (1931-1955)

Alpesh Patel

The Politics of the New Year This New Year, a satellite became the furthest man made machine to pass so close, so far out in space, to a celestial body.

A few years ago when an Indian spacecraft reached Mars, we too were reminded we are both an incredible and insignificant species. Hinduism is unusual among faiths to consider the Cosmos so much in its most revered writings.

As we make our New Year Resolutions to make our lives renewed and purposeful, I am reminded of the words of cosmologist Carl Sagan, “Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another. The size and age of the Cosmos are beyond ordinary human understanding. Lost somewhere between immensity and eternity is our tiny planetary home. In a cosmic perspective, most human concerns seem insignificant, even petty. And yet our species is young and curious and brave and shows much promise. In the last few millennia we have made the most astonishing and unexpected discoveries about the Cosmos and our place within it, explorations that are exhilarating to consider. They remind us that humans have evolved to wonder, that understanding is a joy, that knowledge is prerequisite to survival. I believe our future depends on how well we know this Cosmos in which we float like a mote of dust in the morning sky.”

Within our speck of dust in the vastness of our galaxy, you and I in our lifetimes will live 700,000 hours. That is all. What then in our great insignificance can we do of meaning?

A philosopher once said, I don’t know why we are on this planet, but I’m pretty sure it is not just to have fun.

Speaking of Carl Sagan, he also pointed out, ‘“The Hindu religion is the only one of the world’s great faiths dedicated to the idea that the Cosmos itself undergoes an immense, indeed an infinite, number of deaths and rebirths. It is the only religion in which the time scales correspond to those of modern scientific cosmology. Its cycles run from our ordinary day and night to a day and night of Brahma, 8.64 billion years long.

Longer than the age of the Earth or the Sun and about half the time since the Big Bang.”

We shall use our religions for good – to leave the Cosmos better than we found it – for our faith also teaches us, we are all inter-connected; if one is slave or slain, we are all slave and slain. Or as the Jews put it, ‘if you save one life, you save the whole of mankind’.

Editor: CB Patel Asian Voice is published by Asian Business Publications Ltd Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080 • Fax: 020 7749 4081 Email: aveditorial@abplgroup.com Website: www.abplgroup.com INDIA OFFICE Bureau Chief: Nilesh Parmar (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad-380 015.

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Police crime commissioner’s son jailed for smashing parents’ £400 TV in a drunken rage The son of one of Britain's police and crime commissioners has been jailed after his father decided he had no choice but to press charges after he destroyed his TV during a drunken rampage.

Sherinder Dhindsa picked up a £400 LED smart TV in the bedroom of his parents' house in Allestree, Derby, and threw the gadget at a radiator, smashing it to pieces. His father Hardyal Dhindsa, who became the PCC for Derbyshire in 2016, said he and his wife had no choice but to pursue a prosecution as it was the latest in a string of alcoholfuelled incidents involving their son.

Weeks before, the 31-yearold had been charged for refusing to take a police breathalyser test following a car accident.

That incident in September saw him handed a suspended jail sentence and a 40-month driving ban. After Sherinder was jailed for 19 weeks following the second incident, Mr Dhindsa used the case to highlight the need for more resources to help fight the scourge of addiction on society.

On November 30, he turned violent so his parents went into

their bedroom, Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court heard. But he came inside and put his fist through the wallmounted TV before throwing it at a radiator.

The court heard how Sherinder Dhindsa had become 'addicted' to alcohol after splitting from his partner and taking over a pub. Mr and Mrs Dhindsa were so 'frightened' they called the police and had their son arrested. They also applied for a restraining order as they have 'simply had enough', according to Mr Fielding.

Mr Dhindsa provided a statement to the court that explained their decision to press charges.

Magistrates imposed a twoyear restraining order on Sherinder Dhindsa that prohibits him from going to his parents' house. He was jailed for eight weeks. In addition, magistrates activated an 11-week suspended sentence handed to him during his previous court appearance. It meant Sherinder Dhindsa received a 19-week prison sentence in total.

Defence solicitor Pardeep Kalyan appealed for Sherinder

Sherinder Dhindsa (left) picked up the TV in his father Hardyal Dhindsa's house, leading to him being convicted of criminal damage.

Dhindsa to be spared jail.

Presiding magistrate Keith Robinson explained to Sherinder why he was being sent to prison.

'This incident was carried out only ten days after a suspended sentence was given to you. You would have been fully aware of what would happen if you failed to stay out of trouble.

Therefore, we are going to activate the suspended sentence and add a further eight weeks [for the criminal damage]. That amounts to 19 weeks. You will serve half of the time in custody and the rest on licence.'

Following the hearing, Mr Dhindsa said of his son's sentencing: 'This is a personal matter for my son who will of course take responsibility for, and accept the consequences of, his actions. Those consequences are, rightly, a matter for the criminal justice system. That is as it should be and I hope that you understand that I do not wish to say anything further about this incident.’

Mr Dhindsa said society needed to do more to help rehabilitate people addicted to alcohol and drugs.

Coventry woman killed in crash Search for missing man Tributes have been paid to a 'loved and well-known' woman after she was killed in a collision on Foleshill Road earlier this month.

The family of 64-year-old Prakash Kaur said she will be a huge loss to the community and her family.

Prakash died after she was struck by a blue Subaru car near to the community centre on Foleshill Road just after 4pm on Friday December 14.

She suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

The family of the 'loved and

well-known' mother , sister, daughter and friend have also released a picture and tributes.

Ms Kaur's family said: "She was loved and well-known to the local community.

"She gave her time in abundance to help others, she will be a huge loss to the community and her family."

They continue to ask for their privacy to be respected at this time.

A 49-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and released under investigation as enquiries continue.

A widespread appeal has been issued - in a bid to trace a man last seen more than 50 miles away from home.

Harjit Singh Sangha, aged 22, was reported missing by his family on December 22. He was last seen in the Perry Barr area of Birmingham.

Harjit has never been missing before and, according to his family, it’s extremely unusual for him to not be in contact.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "[Harjit] was last seen in the Perry Barr area of Birmingham yesterday afternoon and has since failed to

return home. "[He] is described as Asian, around 6ft and of slim build.

"He currently has a shaved head and is clean shaven.

"He was last seen wearing a black padded leather jacket, a red and blue shirt, jeans, a red and black beanie hat and black Nike trainers.

"Officers and his family are anxious for his safe return and would like to appeal to anyone who may have seen Harjit or know where he is, to please get in touch on 101 and ask for the Central Locate Team."

Three men guilty of murdering five people in Leicester fire Three men who blew up a shop in a £300,000 insurance scam have been found guilty of murdering five people. A mother and her two sons were among those killed in the "bomb-like" blast which destroyed the supermarket in Hinckley Road, Leicester, in February.

Aram Kurd, Hawkar Hassan and Arkan Ali caused the explosion when they set alight "many, many litres of petrol" in the basement of the Polish store.

They had denied five counts of murder and conspiracy to commit fraud.

Mary Ragoobar, 46, and sons Shane Ragoobeer, 18, and Sean, 17, lived above the shop and were at home at the time of the "devastating" explosion on 25 February. Shane's girlfriend Leah Beth Reek, 18, and shop worker Viktorija Ijevleva, 22, were also killed.

During the trial, jurors heard how Scotty Ragoobeer, who was 15 at the time, survived because he was dug out of the rubble by police and members of the public just before the blast site was

Hawkar Hassan

Arkan Ali

engulfed by flames.

Prosecutor David Herbert QC told jurors the defendants deliberately caused the explosion, intending "to profit from loss of stock, contents and future loss of business from the shop."

A five-week trial heard the defendants left Ms Ijevleva to die because she was aware of an insurance policy taken out less than three weeks earlier.

Mr Herbert said the trio "thought she knew too much and decided to leave her to die in

Aram Kurd

the explosion that they created".

Jurors, who took just over 11 hours to find the trio guilty on all counts, were shown CCTV footage of people escaping from a nearby takeaway moments after the explosion.

In the video, released by police after the trial, rubble can be seen flying into the road as cars pass by. Further footage recovered from a neighbouring business's camera showed Ali in shot three days before the blast moments before the camera angle was changed.

Images taken from the same CCTV unit a day before the fire showed a gloved hand moving the camera again - at a time when all three defendants were nearby. Kurd was also recorded on a security camera as he escaped from the scene at the rear of the shop.

In a statement read outside the court after the verdicts, Jose Ragoobeer said he and his family's lives would "never be the same".

He described his wife of 22 years as "our rock", adding: "Not a day goes by when we don't think about Mary, Shane and Sean."

Molly Reek said of her sister Leah: "She was an amazing, inspirational young lady who was just starting out in her life adventure. Leah made a lasting impression on everyone who was lucky enough to know her."

Ali, 38, Hassan, 33, and Kurd, 34, will be sentenced on 18 January. They were also convicted of conspiring with Ms Ijevleva to dishonestly pursue an insurance claim in respect of the fire.

in brief

TERROR POLICE SEARCH SUSPECT'S HOME AFTER MANCHESTER STABBING Police are searching the home of a terror suspect accused of carrying out a "frenzied" New Year's Eve stabbing which left three people hurt. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the 25-year-old is being held on suspicion of attempted murder after a couple were left with serious injuries, while a police officer was also stabbed as he tried to stop the suspect.

Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson, of Greater Manchester Police, said the suspect lived in the Cheetham Hill area of the city and counter-terrorism officers were at his address. He said a couple aged in their 50s suffered multiple stab wounds in the "random" attack. The suspect was heard to shout "Allah" and "Long live the Caliphate" during the incident at the station, which is next toManchester Arena where suicide bomber Salman Abedi killed 22 people on May 22 2017.

FRAUDSTER KEPT 'LITTLE BLACK BOOKS' FULL OF CUSTOMERS' CARD DETAILS TO PAY FOR BUSINESS SUPPLIES

A fraudster who kept “little black books” full of customers’ bank card details so he could steal their money to support his failing kitchen supply business has been jailed. Gurchuran Singh Sehmi, 24, pleaded guilty to defrauding individuals and traders of about £105,000 between 2013 and 2015.

The young businessman ran Kitchen Warehouse, which later changed its name to UK Kitchens and Bedrooms Ltd, from Frog Island, Leicester. He took over the business when he was 18, when his father who previously ran it “disappeared” due to “serious alcohol problems”, Leicester Crown Court heard. o keep the business afloat, Sehmi, who also went by the name Bobby Singh, would take card payments from customers and save their details to pay for supplies from traders.

FAMILY TERRIFIED DURING SHOP RAID

A Leicestershire family say they were terrified after robbers broke into their village shop while they hid in their flat upstairs. Bipin Chande said thieves took thousands of pounds worth of stock during the raid on his Crossroads Store in Queniborough in the early hours of Saturday 29th December 2018.

WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN SHINFIELD DIED FROM STAB WOUNDS

A woman died from stab wounds to her neck and chest, a post-mortem examination has found. Angela Mittal, 41, was found dead at a property in Parker Close, Shinfield, Berkshire, at about 05:40 GMT on 26 December, Thames Valley Police said.

Laurens Brand, 47, of Parker Close, Shinfield, has been charged with one count of murder and appeared before Reading Magistrates' Court earlier. Mr Brand's case will be heard at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday. Ms Mittal's family have described her as a "kind and generous person who truly lived life to the fullest".

Paying tribute, her family said: "Angela lit up the room with a big smile on her face always putting the needs of others before her. "She is survived by her loving parents, her sisters, her brothers-in-law, and her beloved son."

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5 - 11 January 2019

Family members grieve Iceland holiday accident that killed three A dream Christmas holiday for the Laturia family came to an abrupt end when wives of two brothers and a baby died in a car crash in Iceland. Their relatives and friends spoke of their deep sadness over the incident.

39 year old Shreeraj Laturia with wife Rajshree, 9-year-old daughter Shreerupa, 10-month-old daughter Shreeprabha, brother Supreme Laturia, 37, his wife Khushboo and their 7-year-old son Noble were travelling in a 4x4 when their Toyota Land Cruiser crashed through a railing on a single-lane bridge in southern Iceland before sunrise on Thursday 27th December, and fell eight metres on to a sandy riverbank.

The crash took place on a ring road between the town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Skaftafell, part of Vatnajökull national park at around 9:30am. Police have launched an investigation.

The bridge was built in 1973 and is one of the longest in the country. Police have previously said the road was not thought to be icy but humidity could have made the surface slippery for the SUV, which was driving eastbound over the bridge in Nupsvotn, just south of the Vatnajokull glacier Rajshree and Khushboo, both in their 30s passed away along with Shreeprabha and rest remain in intensive care at a hospital in Iceland.

The two families, who are of British Indian origin, lived together in a house in the Canary Wharf area in London overlooking the river Thames. As we went to press, an official at the Indian embassy in Iceland said he was unable to confirm their names officially, but that he understood they were the identities of the deceased.

Armstrong Changsan, the Indian ambassador in Reykjavik, visited the survivors in hospital on Thursday and was helping another brother Sarvesh and their parents in

Shreeprabha

Shreeraj Laturia with wife Rajshree

The accident took place on a 200-300 metre bridge over the area of Nupsvotn on Iceland's ring road

Khushboo Laturia

Maharashtra to expedite their visa to reach Iceland over the weekend.

Their family reportedly said in a statement: “The fatal car crash near Skaftafell in Iceland on the morning of December 27, 2018 has come as a horrifying shock for the entire family and friends.

“The Indian, British and Icelandic authorities have been extremely cooperative and extended appropriate support. Our family is deeply saddened so we request you to kindly respect our privacy and give us the space to grieve in peace at this difficult time.

“Special thanks to the local authorities for airlifting and ensuring timely medical facilities were provided. Thank you for your prayers and understanding on this matter.”

Shreeraj and Rajshree Laturia, who both worked in finance, were included on a list of Asian power couples

in 2015. Rajshree worked at Barclays Capital for three years until 2009 as an assistant vice-president before joining Morgan Stanley, according to a citation on the Asian Power Couples website, which has since been removed.

Shreeraj is said reported to have had a “successful track record in trading and financing structured credit product portfolios”.

According to his LinkedIn page, he spent eight years at UBS Investment Bank as a portfolio manager and trader from 2006 until 2014. He joined RBC Capital Markets as a trader in 2015.

The pair are believed to be members of the Rajasthan Association UK. Neighbours and friends in the street where the two Laturia families lived in east London, told that they were shocked by the news and described them as “lovely people”.

Local police reportedly said on Friday: “The individuals involved in a traffic accident at Núpsvötn are all British citizens. The individuals were two brothers travelling around Iceland with their families. The deceased were two women born in 1979 and 1980 and an infant born in 2018.

“The cause of the accident is unknown and under investigation by the police and the investigative committee for transport accidents. It is clear that the car was driven past the cameras

TV doctor reveals ways to reduce stress TV doctor Dr Rangan Chatterjee, 42, has revealed five simple steps everyone can take to reduce stress in their daily lives. Dr Chatterjee, the star of BBC 1’s documentary shows, Doctor in the House, was interviewed by Rani Singh (AV P9, 20 Jan 2018) where he spoke about his carefully thought out approach focuses on four pillars; movement, food, sleep and relaxation for his former book 4 Pillar Plan.

Dr Chatterjee still sees

tackled the issue patients reguof stress triggers larly in and their effects.

Cheshire, In an excerpt where he lives, and believes adapted for the t r e a t i n g Daily Telegraph, patients is his Dr Chatterjee first priority, explained that but he appreciwhile we are ates that unable to remove through televistressful situasion, he reaches Dr Rangan Chatterjee tions completely bigger numbers from our lives, we than he could ever hope to can take steps to reduce do practising on his own. their likelihood – like Dr Chatterjee in his new scheduling and reframing book The Stress Solution our day.

at Hvolsvöllur early that same morning.

“The car was driven to the east, along the Sudurlandsvegur road, and seems to have turned on the bridge with the result that it went on top of the railing of the bridge, to the right, following it for a short distance and then turned over off the rail and the bridge.

There, the car fell down on the ground beneath the bridge.”

There has apparently been some concern in Iceland about whether its

roads, which can be hard to navigate for newcomers, are suitable for so many tourists.

One in four of the island's single-lane bridges are more than 60 years old, according to a report published in August by the Federation of Icelandic Industries. There have been at least eight other fatalities in that area of Iceland during 2018 alone.

Sky news said the report, which is based on government research, said: "Many single bridges do not meet today's standards in bearing capacity and traffic safety.

"Furthermore, global

warming and weather conditions have contributed to increased interruptions to bridges and the transfer of material, among other things.

"There has been very little renewal in recent years, and many large projects await solutions related to the protection of older bridges, maintenance of tunnels and restorations."

Iceland has been a popular destination in winter for Indians across the globe, especially those wanting to see the northern lights. Ever since films like ‘Dilwale’ and ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’ were shot, it gained further popularity among visitors.

Seeking Professionals for Voluntary Board Member Roles Enfield Asian Welfare Association, www.eawa.org.uk, is a registered charity working with Elderly people in Enfield and Surrounding Boroughs. We need potential Board Members, with a variety of skills some of which are listed below: ■ ■ ■ ■

Fundraising, Marketing/Social media, Legal Charity Consultancy Expert

■ ■ ■ ■

Dietitian Care home management Dementia Nurse/Specialist Geriatric care

If you have the relevant ability and experience, then why not apply?

We have Board Meetings once a month, from 7.30pm to 9pm/9.30pm in Enfield Town, Enfield, London EN2. Plus, an Annual Away Day and Annual General Meeting

Other opportunities: Are you a Photographer/Video Maker/Graphic Designer, Event Manager Or are you a retired professional? Can you help EAWA by volunteering with us?

Please send your CV to info@eawa.org.uk and call Chetna Shah CEO on 0208 443 1197 to discuss, from 7th January 2019 onwards EAWA is a Registered Charity No: 1109149 Company Limited by Guarantee No: 5397785

Address Office 1, 52 Alexandra Road, Ponders End, Enfield, EN3 7EH See our website www.eawa.org.uk for our charity information

Certificate Number 7957 ISO 9001

6 COMMUNITY

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96 year 'young' with a razor sharp memory Subhash V Thakrar Gopalbhai Popat at the ripe age of 96 years is going strong with remarkable memory of his time in Uganda (Kamuli), India (Hyderabad) and finally 45 years in the UK (London) devoted exclusively to philanthropy and community service.

Hasu Manek and I recently paid a visit to this inspiring community veteran and unsung hero whose silent contribution to our society is noteworthy. Given a chance, such elderly people are eager to share their life experiences. They have remarkable wisdom and happy to speak with absolute frankness as they have stopped caring about what people will think or say. We can also learn from them.

Gopalbhai remains in a combative mood with vivid memories of his adventures achievements in and Uganda. He arrived in Uganda at very young age and soon settled in the job of a cotton buyer with the Madhvani Group where his sincerity and hard work quickly earned him the respect of the late Jayantbhai Madhvani, a stalwart of the Madhvani Group and a remarkable industrialist. Gopalbhai was candid in his remarks about the unscrupulous methods of the Asians, which took undue advantage of the innocence of the Africans then and which in today’s world would be branded as nothing but theft.

Gopalbhai started his own trading business in Kamuli during his early 20s.

He had developed a special rapport with Jayantbhai Madhvani. He remembered an incident about supporting the main political parties of Uganda, UPC and DP. As Jayantbhai was openly supporting UPC, he could not be seen to lend support to DP, the opposition. He therefore asked Gopalbhai to support DP and promised to reimburse him for any expenses. Gopalbhai successfully carried out this

Gopalbhai with Subhash Thakrar

assignment but despite Jayantbhai’s insistence to reimburse him, he covered all costs himself. This was to prove a major turning point in his ensuing relationship with Jayantbhai. This soon lead to Gopalbhai being granted a number of Madhvani agencies, ranging from sugar to flour to commodities. Business for Gopalbhai mushroomed so much so that recalls with a sparkle in his eye that he had no time to even count the money that was flowing in at the time. He said many a times, he and his wife, Lilavantiben would fall asleep whilst counting the money! He also recalled a particular incident where one of his business contacts wanted a loan of 1.5 lac shillings (a big sum in those days). He said to the associate that he is happy to lend and that too without interest but with one condition and that was for the person to come to his home and count the money by himself as he had no time to count.

Gopabhai was making tons of money!

He started to provide credit to other traders. One of them ran away from the country leaving a large sum unpaid. This was to prove to be the onset of the challenges for Gopalbhai. He is now quite philosophical about those times and puts it down to life’s good and

Gopalbhai with Hasu Manek

bad times that most of us experience .

Difficulties that followed were tough enough to lead him to contemplate giving up his life. He happened to see a Bollywood movie at his lowest point which he recalled had an actress called Mala Sinha. He saw her suffer with her uncles after losing her parents. This gave him the resolve to work hard and recover for the sake of his children. Clearly, God had other plans in store for him. He had to finally leave Uganda for India where he settled in Hyderabad as he had relatives there. As it frequently happens, even the relatives lost interest in him when they realised that Gopalbhai had returned from Africa penniless.

Despite some success in business in Hyderabad, he packed up from there in 1972 and came to London, which was to be his home and a base for the philanthrophic and social work.

Gopalbhai nurtured a close relationship with Swami Keshwanand, Bhaishri Rameshbhai Oza and Muniji. He became instrumental in organizing Bhagwat Kathas. He has raised over £7m for charitable purposes with his peak as the Trustee of Asian Foundation for Help. This is more than what many wealthy individuals ever give

back to society!

Gopalbhai still keeps a watchful eye over charity initiatives in UK with a focus on needs in India be it poor widows or children needing education or arranging much needed medical equipment. We debated with Gopalbhai if India now needs any support from us given that wealth has mushroomed there when there should be local philanthropists.

He could not hide his cynicism about the underlying motives of the religious leaders visiting the UK. He has a word of caution that these people are not God but only knowledgeable humans who are good at what they do. They should be viewed as such.

His advice to the younger generation is that life has got its ups and downs so just face them.

One must give back to society socially or with charity.

Also, he says reading selfdevelopment books including the Bhagwad Gita changed his thought process and that this is as applicable today as it was then.

(Subhash Thakrar is the founder Charity Clarity, former Chairman London Chamber of Commerce and Non Executive Director with various companies and charities)

Editor of the British Sikh Report receives MBE from Prince Charles The Editor of the British Sikh Report, Jagdev Singh Virdee, has received an MBE from Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, for “Services to Statistics and to the Sikh community”, in recognition of his contribution to the field of official statistics and his voluntary work in various fields working with British Sikhs. The investiture ceremony took place in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace on Thursday 20th December 2018.

Jagdev is the most senior statistician from the global Sikh community dealing with official statistics. Following the ceremony, Jagdev said: “The day was a memorable and humbling one, meeting other recipients who have excelled in serving the public in various fields and made amazing achieveJagdev Singh Virdee receiving an MBE from Prince Charles ments. During the

ceremony, it was good to have a chance to talk about the BSR with Prince Charles, who asked “How are things looking?” (for Sikhs, from the perspective of the report). I mentioned that the report covers a range of topics every year, focussing on Mental Health this year, and shows Sikhs being a well-settled community in the UK but there is always more to be done...”

To All members of the British Darji Community in UK

We have been given an opportunity by Asian Voice to publicise in a special supplement the remarkable progress the Darji community has made, since their parents travelled from all over India to Africa and onwards, making UK their ultimate home. The first generation of Darjis continued with the tradition of working in the field of tailoring and as the 2nd and 3rd generation children grew up and educated in this country they have excelled in fields of Business & Commerce and in professional field IT, doctors, engineers, Pharmacists solicitors designers and some have played key roles in local authorities, Armed Forces and in the Civil Service.

This publication is to highlight the achievements of the community both of young and old who are making a valuable contribution in the wider society and regarding Britain as their home.

I feel privileged that I, Ishwer Tailor, has been asked to coordinate and edit the special supplement and tasked to approach the community and collate information of interest that can be published in the Asian Voice very soon.

If you have a business or are involved any particular field of interest and have made regional or national contribution we would like to hear from you. The deadline for short articles must be received by 4th January 2019.

Please note publication of articles is at the discretion of the editor and editorial committee.

Please forward your articles to Ishtailor@hotmail.com or for further information contact me on 07801 849 402

Breweries scrap packaging after Hindu protest A brewery has agreed to stop using the sacred Hindu 'Om' symbol on its bottle after criticism from a Hindu community. The Awardwinning microbrewery Cheshire Brewhouse based in Congleton, used the symbol on its award-winning Govinda range of India pale ale.

India Pils beer of Tempest Brewing

Govinda range of India pale ale

Om is the most sacred syllable, symbol, or mantra in Hinduism that signifies the essence of the ultimate reality, consciousness or Atman. The Om sound is the primordial sound, and is called the Shabda-Brahman (Brahman as sound). It is a syllable that is chanted either independently or before a mantra. It is also found in Kainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.

Head brewer and owner Shane Swindells has agreed not to use the symbol any more after a complaint from the Universal Society of Hinduism, based in Nevada.

On the other hand, a Scottish brewery, Tempest Brewing Co. that upset Hindus with the use of its imagery of the deity Ganesha has apologised for the packaging after it was deemed 'highly inappropriate'. In Hinduism, Lord Ganesha is worshipped as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and is invoked before the beginning of any

major undertaking.

Their website description stated “Channel your inner Ganesha and overcome all obstacles with our hoppy pilsner. Clean, cold and crisp fermentation meets juicy dry hops and refreshing bitterness. With a crisp, fruity hop flavour and great drinkability, you’ll be at peace in no time.

Namaste!”

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement, said that inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts or symbols for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that Lord Ganesha was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be used in selling beer for mercantile greed.

Moreover, linking Lord Ganesha with an alcoholic beverage was very disrespectful. He asked these companies to send their executives for training before deciding on packaging or labels.

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5 - 11 January 2019

Serving the homeless in Ilford and Stratford In the week leading up to Christmas, Lint Group joined forces with Nishkam SWAT and their homeless projects in the local areas of Ilford and Stratford.

Recent statistics from housing charity, Shelter, reveals Newham as having the highest rate of homelessness in England. Data collected from the Ministry of H o u s i n g , Communities and local government have estimated around 14,611 people are in temporary housing or sleeping rough in Newham alone.

Lint Group Managing Director, Rizz Patel explained: “After establishing Lint Group in Ilford and Stratford for over 25 years, we feel it is important to support those in need in our local community.�

Both evenings saw queues building as they served over 100 people across the two nights. A combination of hot food, non-perishable food and a rucksack filled with winter

GOLDEN JUBILEE

KENYA EXODUS AND SETTLEMENT IN BRITAIN Dear Readers

essentials were distributed.

A lettings agency and property development company with offices based in Ilford and Stratford, Lint Group has supported several charitable causes.

Nishkam Sikh Welfare & Awareness Team (SWAT) is a charitable organisation whose primary function is to transform financially disadvantaged communities by focusing on projects which make a difference to people's lives. The feeds run on Wednesdays outside Metro Bank, 114 High Road, Ilford and on Thursdays at Stratford Shopping Centre, 55 Broadway, London.

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar have, besides providing news, views and features, persistently motivated and encouraged British Asians, promoting them and pushing them to the forefront of recognition. As the biggest Asian newsweeklies in Britain, we have made it our goal to lift our community with every opportunity we get. In Asian Voice issue of December 15, we published column on Kenyan Asians, titled, 'The Golden Jubilee Of Mass Exodus Of Kenyan Asians And Settlement In The UK'. The mass exodus of Kenyan Asians was seen accelerated in February and March of 1968. Following Kenya's independence in 1963, Kenyan Asians holding British citizenship were pushed towards migration, many of whom sought to arrive in the UK. Cut to 50 years later, the Kenyan Asian community is one of the most affluent communities in Britain. They are well-respected, recognised and are an integral part of the British society. As a way to celebrate the golden jubilee of the exodus of Kenyan Asians, we have decided to publish a special magazine in their honour. The magazine to be published in March 2019, will feature relevant information about their migration from undivided India to East Africa, particularly to Kenya. It will also record their contributions to the Kenyan economy and society.

We would like to invite you to submit any relevant information or stories; personal and/or their friends' and family's experience in the UK, latest by January 20. If you have a success story of people in public and political life, and know entrepreneurs and professionals, please send in their narratives. Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar's sole aim is to encourage, so fresh suggestions on topics and articles are also welcome.

We also seek your participation and support through sponsorship, advertisement and advertorials in this special publication. Those interested, please write to me or any of my colleague.

CB Patel: cb.patel@abplgroup.com Kokilaben Patel: kokila.patel@abplgroup.com or call (07875 229 177) Jyotsna Shah: jyotsna.shah@abplgroup.com or call (07875 229 223) Kishor Parmar: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com or call (07875 229 088) Surendra Patel: surendra.patel@abplgroup.com or call (07875 229 220) L George: george@abplgroup.com or call (020 7749 4013) Cecil Soans: cecil.soans@abplgroup.com or call (020 7749 4089) Shrijit Rajan: shrijit.rajan@abplgroup.com or call (+91-9879882312)(India Office) Yours Sincerely,

CB Patel Publisher/Editor Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar

8 UK

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Are you Tax Rail Fare hikes to 3.1% whereas TfL Return ready? fares are frozen

The new year is always a joyous time for people however for some people the euphoria does not take too long to vanish. Did you wake up on January the 1st and think I need to get my personal tax return sorted, before the 31st January online filing deadline.

Luckily for the majority of Liberty Williams clients this was not the case, as with our online questionnaire our clients fill it out and attach the information James Backhouse which is then processed, and The Tax Return filed.

The deadline of 31st January 2019 is for all income earned between April 2017-2018 if you self-employed, Sole Trader a director of limited company and all nonPAYE earnings.

The fines for late filing and or payment go as follows: Missed filing deadline: 31 Jan 2017 £100 Unfiled after 3 months: deadline 30 April 2017 £10 per day for 90 days Unfiled after 6 months: deadline 31 July 2017 £300* reduced to £10 Unfiled after 12 months: deadline 31 Jan 2018 £300* reduced to £nil

If you know you are going to have a high tax bill and are apprehensive about cashflow do not worry HMRC are accommodating to Payment plans providing the filing and an initial payment is made before the deadline.

Do not fear if you read this and don’t want to be fined, Liberty Williams will ensure that all the information needed will be collected and then the Tax Return can be processed. The process can be very quick, call the Liberty Williams offices and ask to speak about the Tax Return article you read in the paper. An account manager will be assigned who will talk you through what information is needed and declared on a Tax Return, IE there is no need for ISA’s to be sent. Once the phone call and the assessment of income or portfolio has been your account manager will either post the Tax Return questionnaire or instruct you to fill out the online link on the website.

All the information is then sent back to a specified email or posted to one of our offices were It can be processed and assessed before being sent to Review.

Once Reviewed and confirmed by our expert accountants the Tax Return is sent to be confirmed and upon confirmation it is filed.

Once filed hard and soft signed copies will be stored for both Liberty Williams and the client along with FBI filing receipts as proof of filing for your own records. If needed a payment reminder for “payment on account” will be sent before the deadline at the end of July. Payment on account is paying half of next years tax on the one return meaning you can never be in arrears with HMRC. If you have read this article and would like help in processing and filing your Tax Return please call Liberty Williams as we know how stressful it is having to try to cope with the burden of Self-Assessment and the stress it can cause.

Offices in Harrow, Birmingham & Cambridge For more information please call 020 3763 8500.

262 High Road, Harrow Weald, HA3 7BB

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has accused trade unions of driving the 3.1% increase in rail fares.

Mr Grayling told the BBC that the unions had demanded "higher pay rises than anyone else" and threatened strikes if they did not get them.

Rail fares have increased by an average of almost 3% in Scotland and 3.1% in England and Wales.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called the increase a "disgrace" and said it "drives people away from public transport".

Mr Grayling told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The reality is the

fare increases are higher than they should be because the unions demand - with threats of national rail strikes if they don't get them - higher pay rises than anybody else."

Mick Cash, general secretary of RMT, accused Mr Grayling of trying to blame rail workers for problems "caused by privatisation of the railways".

He announced that a new railcard extending child fares to 16 and 17-year-olds in full-time education or training will be available by September.

Whereas the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, as part of his four-year TfL fares

freeze has confirmed that Transport for London fares (TfL) will not rise at all next year.

This will help Londoners and visitors by ensuring travelling by bus or tram ticket in London next year costs not a penny more than it did in 2016. Pay as you go journeys on the Tube, DLR, Emirates Air Line and rail services where TfL fares apply are all also frozen, as well as the cost of hiring a Santander Cycles bike.

By 2020, Sadiq’s TfL fares freeze will have saved the average London household around £200. This is in addition to the Mayor’s

Sadiq Khan

‘Hopper’ bus fare that has now saved money on over 240 million bus journeys since it launched in September 2016.

Sadiq Khan took to twitter and tweeted in response to this increase- "I've frozen all fares under my control for three years running. The Government and private rail companies should do the same."

Britain may not be able to turn back Channel asylum seekers Amid claims that the dangerous sea crossings will multiply unless migrants are returned, the ex-senior Home Office official, David Wood, said leaving the EU would end current agreements designed to deter such attempts.

At the BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, the for-

mer deputy chief executive of the Border Agency and ex-director general of immigration enforcement at the Home Office, said that Britain may lose protections currently given under the Dublin Agreement, which says asylum seekers should claim refuge in the first

safe country they arrive in.

“Once we are out of the EU we are not, I suspect, part of Dublin. Currently if people come here and claim asylum and it is found they claimed asylum in another EU country they can be returned to that EU country. If we are out of the Dublin

Agreement we would be out of that.”

Home Secretary Sajid Javid this week announced two Border Force cutters will be redeployed from the Med to patrol the Channel after approximately close to 220 migrants have tried to enter the UK.

Redbridge Mayor's float wins third prize at London's New Year's Day parade The Mayor of Redbridge and a team of performers paraded through the streets of London alongside thousands of celebrator to “welcome the world” on New Year’s Day, winning the third prize of £8,000. The money won be donated to children’s disability charity ELHAP, based in Woodford Green.

Mayor Debbie KaurThiara and her multi-cultural troupe at London New Year’s Day parade competition for floats and performers, decorated with photos

of well-known celebrities who have lived or worked in Redbridge - from Winston

UK-Pak sign Prison transfer agreement British High Commissioner Thomas Drew and Pakistan Interior Secretary Azam Suleman Khan in Islamabad signed the UKPakistan Prisoner Transfer Agreement which allows foreign inmates in both countries to serve their sentences closer to home.

The agreement will allow them to prepare for their re-integration into their home community when they are eventually released from prison, according to a statement by the British High Commission in Islamabad. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Drew said the agreement will strengthen UK-Pakistan ties and how it is a “testament to the strength of our two countries’ relationship,” he said.

The agreement was approved in principle during British Home Secretary Sajid Javid’s visit to Pakistan in September.

Churchill to Sylvia Pankhurst.

Cllr Kaur-Thiara told

the Ilford Recorder, “I am grateful to the talented team of adults and young people who put the float together and who danced and showed great athleticism throughout the parade.

“As our float came into view, the steel band set the crowds dancing, swaying and singing - they were a great tonic on a cold day.

Performers included the Black Ice Group from Woodford and Sakthi Fine Arts and the Nostalgia Steel Band.

Javid" "Most paedophiles in the UK of Pakistani descent" Most paedophiles in the UK are of Pakistani descent and ignoring their ethnicity will only encourage extremists Sajid Javid said to the BBC Radio 4.

“When it comes to gang based child exploitation it is self-evident to anyone who cares to look that if you look at all the recent high-profile cases there is a high proportion of men that have Pakistani origin,” he said.

The home secretary has ordered research into the characteristics and contexts of abusing children, arguing that ignoring issues such as ethnicity is likely to fuel the farright activists. Earlier this year Javid faced criticism for a tweet referring

Sajid Javid

to “sick Asian Paedophiles”.

"If I had ignored it, or been seen to ignore it, that is exactly what I think extremists would like to see in this country. It would give them oxygen and I refuse to do that" said Javid.

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Nepalese community urge Asians to support their first temple in Rushmoor Rupanjana Dutta The Nepalese community, settled in the Rushmoor area, are urging for monetary support from the Asian community for their first Hindu temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.

In 2004 former PM Tony Blair announced that those Nepalese soldierswho served in Her Majesty's Gurkha regiment could apply to settle in the UK, after they have retired from the army.Many Gurkhas, who had already gone hometo Nepal, travNepalese taking part on Victoria Day procession in Aldershot Town elled back to the UK for the purpose, but without famiwhich is often appreciated.”

Buddhist Centre was establies and dependants.

As first generations of lished by Nepali Buddhists Soon they realised Nepalis settled in this counwith the help from all the aboutthepractical difficultry, raising fundsto acquire a Buddhists in the UK, which ties of living all by themtemple spotwas tough. So is billed as UK's first selves, especially at old age, committee engaged with Buddhist community centre. away from family, and camRushmoor Borough Council The centre was formally paigned to bring them over and Aldershot MP looking opened on the highstreet by to the UK from Nepal. After for a suitable site or premisthe 14th Dalai Lama in June much hiccups and series of es for the cultural centre.

2015. protests against the governRushmoor council identified Establishing a Hindu ment, in 2008 they finally a place, an unused Jubilee temple won the rights to settle with Club in Hawley Lane, dependant families. Actress Farnborough for theirneed.

Major (Retired) Surya Joana Lumley, whose father But when they tried to Upadhya, Chairman, served in the Gurkha regisecure a permanent spot for Nepalese Hindu Forum UK ment, supported this camand Founder Trustee and the temple, they failed. paign.

London Representative of “Various consultations When they arrived back took place”, said a frustrated Shiva Mandir Aldershot, in the UK, they settled Mr Upadhya. “Regrettably speaking to Asian Voice told around Rushmoor because we were unsuccessful in our how they came about estabof the Gurkha connecbid to provide a Shiva tion with Aldershot Cultural and garrison during their Community Centre at service. The regiment In order to raise funds, they have Jubilee Social Club. was always based nearWhile we accept the also invited Shri Pandit Deen

by Church Crookham decision of the coununtil they moved to Bandhu Pokhrel, an influential cil to award the spiritual speaker from Nepal who Folkestone in 1999.

Centre to Rushmoor Healthy Living but Nepalese and Gurkhas will recite the Bhagwat Mahapuraan centre in Odd were concerned to in Rushmoor Fellows Hall, Queens Road, note the reasons why The 2011 Census Aldershot, GU11 3JU on 4, 5 and 6 we were unsuccessful. showed that 6,131 peo“Our bid was January 2019 from 1000 hrs to ple living in Rushmoor based on the business (6.5%) are of Nepalese 1300 hrs and then from 1400 hrs plan submitted to the to 1700 hrs followed by kirtans origin, including council in 2008. No Gurkhas, making the from 1800 hrs. On 5 January from such concerns were area the largest home 2pm Panditji will conduct the disexpressed by any one for the community. co urse in Hindi. at any of the meetings Today's Aldershot, we attended. We were an otherwise dying town, is a under the impression that lishing a temple project, completely different picture. after a report has been proplanning for their own propIn the ten years since the duced meetings will be held erty in Aldershot. He told right to settle were given, with the shortlisted groups us,“The Shiva Cultural and the Gurkhas and the to clarify any concern the Community Centre Project Nepalese community have council may have, it appears was set up on 25th February injected life into the city that decisions weremade 2008 following the mandate with their hard work and without this meeting taking from the public to build a business acumen especially place. Had we known these mandir in Rushmoor to youngsters under the age of reasons earlier when we first serve the Hindu 30 years joined their parents submitted our proposals, we Community. A committee when they moved the UK, was formed, charity status would not have wasted over have now all grown up to was subsequently applied for four years of our time in become successful pursing this proposal and the project and granted. entrepreneurs and profestaken up other offers to Once established, the centre sionals. meet our aim to provide a offered Hindus a place to When the community centre for the Hindus comworship and seek spiritual first started settling in the munities to meet with the guidance while also building area, issues were different. local community and intelinks with the wider comFrom basic problems such as grate with them. Morale of munity. The committee also warm homes to house helps our Hindu community took hoped that this place will for elderly families to jobs, a dip however the commitnot only provide a meeting now they have built a strong tee continue to maintain place for social, educational community around the area. cultural traditions and and cultural activities, but From independent shops, to organised events and pujas also a place for spiritual hotels and banquets, the during all major Hindu festiawareness. It will also be a Gurkhas are quite indepenvals on hired and goodwill place to give warm welcome dent and flourishing in the to newcomers to this area, premises.” area now. The Aldershot

Aldershot MP Leo Docherty (Also a Former Army Officer) visited the Mandir during TIKA on tenth day of Durga Puja

The committee decided that a freehold property will have to be bought and developed to achieve their objectives. To show commitments all Trustees and committee members were asked to make pledges over £1000.

In the meantime, mandir committee had to act swiftly to win support of the hearts and minds of the Hindus, so they hired the top floor of the Empire building, formerly a church now converted into a banqueting hall and converted the top floor into a mandir with the help of Dr Rami Ranger CBE, the

director of Sun Mark Ltd, who donated £5000 to establish the mandir.

This mandir has now been running for the past three years and they monthly rent of and maintenance cost of £1000. “We now conduct most of the Hindu traditions and pujas in this mandir and to do this we bring in a Nepali pandit ji from either Reading or London on a need basis,” added Mr Upadhya.

Shiva Cultural and Community Centre committee has now finally secured a building for the

mandir and community centre in Odd Fellows Hall, Queens Road in Aldershot. A deposit has been paid and full amount is due by end of January 2019. The target for fund collection is £350,000 which include renovation cost to make it fit for themandir.

Urging the Asian community to donate, Mr Upadhya said,“At present we have surpassed £135,000 in cash through donations with £90,000 unpaid pledges from our community, but we still need your help in fulfilling this dream.

“This mandir project now has fully support from Rushmoor Borough Council, and Aldershot member of Parliament. As an inclusive organisation we will accommodate anyone of Hindu faith by providing cultural/worshiping space for family or collective worshipping. All the committee members have personally given a magnificent donation and is also leading the fundraising campaign. This is going to be the first Hindu temple for the Nepalese who have settled in Rushmoor.”

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5 - 11 January 2019

Mr Modi’s plan to create jobs hindered Soon after coming into power, Mr Modi wanted to create all types of jobs-skilled and unskilled to form an industrial corridor of most modern and organised 100 cities all around within India for strong and rapid economic and industrial development; and, as such, he had travelled to all the developed countries of the world, and convinced their governments and companies to invest in India; and as they were prepared to do so, Mr Rahul started creating hindrance to the plan, spreading falsehood among farmers that their land would be acquired cheaply; and advising them on National TV not to sell their land for the project; and to wait until they see their prices rise to criers of rupees in future. The entire nation is witness to it.

So,it is now quite evident that Mr Rahul is totally responsible for unemployment for which he unnecessarily blamed Mr Modi, to win state elections and to come into power to become Prime minister of India in 2019 by hooks or crooks, as if it is his ancestral right. He has stopped the progress of India for the selfish motive of his own and others associated with him.

Due to demonetisation the economy is in surplus for the last three years since independence; and goods and services tax is essential for affairs of the state,which is spent for people's advantages. And, as such, people must be prepared to pay taxes to pass on to the government.

Mr Modi has declared that he will not use nation's wealth selfishly for his profit, nor allow others to do so.

He is trying unfailingly to negotiate with foreign governments and banks to bring back money drained by fraudsters,so that Indian families' life can be improved and benefitted. The envisaged benefits seems truly equated ring in terms of 15 lakh rupees per family, as declared during '14 elections by Swami Ramdev.

Mr Modi has always been true to his words.

RN Patel By email

The Brexit conundrum It is depressing to see the Brexit momentum is dominating over other important issues facing the nation. There are divisions in Tory and Labour party, division in people, division in the business community, divisions in families, division between the northern and southern regions of UK, division in old and young generations. It has become a curse instead of a blessing for the country.

The members of the parliament, government, cabinet, opposition parties, DUP, brexiteers, remainers, all of them are living in their own bubbles and not budging out of them.

DUP are holding the government to ransom on the issue of the Irish border. This is no way of solving the problem. If the leaders and representatives of the British people are unable to sort this mess, than they have no right to hold the positions they are holding but make way for new people to replace them. They are playing with fire which will destroy the 40 years good relations we had with Europe.

As far as Brexit is concerned there are no winners nor UK or the European Union both are losers. Brexiteers are talking as if new trade agreements with other countries are ready to be picked off the shelf, it takes 5 to 7 years finalise trade agreements. It is no easy going matter, as they make out to be. The leavers are aware of this situation but are hiding it from the people. That is a slippery slope leading to a black hole.

The primary issue of the economy, jobs, security, unity of the country, good relations with neighbouring countries, smooth trading relations with EU are put into jeopardy.

They are using the fig leaf of sovereignty, control of borders, immigration and EU laws relating to UK, as if they apply only to UK and not to the other 27 EU countries. If the other 27 countries accept and abide by the EU constitution and enjoy the benefits of the union, so why is UK an exception?

The main reason is the anti-German mind-set of the older generation and misguided ideology which has brought about the Brexit disaster but Brexteers and their supporters are cleverly covering it by raising the issue of sovereignty and related matters.

There is no way this huge divide in the nation can be bridged easily. If politicians, ministers, parliament and the cabinet are unable to sort out Brexit issue after 2 years of fruitless and wasteful negotiations, which is a great shame.

Therefore, under the current dire circumstances the only sensible alternative left is to go for the peoples vote to nail the problem for good, as the leadership of the government, political parties and Brexiteers have miserably failed to do so.

Baldev Sharma Rayners Lane, Harrow

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

Please keep contributing as always.

If you are new, then write to Rupanjana at rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com - AV

Modi vs Rahul The overwhelming result of assembly election of 5 states declared on 09.12.2018 in favour of congress has come as a big shock to BJP and its followers. Since the congress's humiliating defeat in the last general election, Rahul Ghandhi has worked himself up to appear confident, mature, dignified and sharper. He is putting his message across effectively and reaching to the hearts and minds of voters.

However, Modi's first term in the office is undeniably superb. Taking notice of some of Modiji's bold steps in strengthening India is commendable. To mention a few are his initiatives to make in India and creating the right environment for investments, demonetisation, digitalisation, and GST. Moreover, there has been no scandal at all during his time in the office. On all account, Modiji seems to be the right person to get the second term to complete his unfinished business vital for the wellbeing of the country.

The people of India have to understand that since the independence the country has been plagued with many evils that are paralysing the desired social justice, progress and growth. Modiji is the only person that can rid of these evils.

Condemning Rahul and his family on baseless matters, disgraceful personal attacks and questioning his authenticity of religion and heritage are counterproductive. With the right strategy in the campaign, Modiji is the most deserving person to win the next election. The voters must put India first before their personal interests.

Niranjan Vasant By email

British way of life I am a former Gurkha and a senior citizen who has been traveling to central London for the past twelve years to work to pay my bills, because of disparity in pay and pension compared to my British counterparts. I am still trying to cope with the British way of life and the hypocrite UK employment system.

People have to work 60-70 hours, because of the 0 hours and pay as you go contract, sleepless nights, less holidays and less pay and higher tax etc. And because of the higher and fire and the indiscriminating employer policy the employees are put into more pressure at work and suffer from the anxiety and cost millions of pounds for the mental related illness treatment every year. I also suffer the anxiety at work and my GP gave me two weeks rest but my management company deducted two weeks pay without my consent. "Superior Vs Inferior" attitude still exists at the work place and other areas in the UK? The British government used the Gurkhas as an diplomacy currency in the international markets and collected a huge revenue from Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and now from the oil reach state of Brunei as well as from the rich nations from across the globe. In the name of the Gurkha welfare Appeal (GWA) fund, showing the hardship pictures to the world. I hope the 2019 will bring to the end of the 203 years of racial discrimination and the Human rights violence by the UK government against the Gurkha soldiers and their families from Nepal and others.

Yam Gurung (rtd) By email

Death and Devastation Early estimates indicate that over 373 people died in a massive earthquake and Tsunami which hit Indonesia on 24 December and the death toll is expected to rise. The businesses on beach side and plantations which support the city have suffered the most extensive damage. There is no electricity or water.

Tens of hundreds of people who were on a beach festival have been badly affected. This disaster is in addition to the 500 people who were killed by similar disaster in Lombock earlier. We are only talking about the disasters which happened in Indonesia. But other parts of the world too have not escaped these natural calamities.

The havoc caused by the heavy rains in the wake of, and in accompaniment of, the two hurricanes a couple of months ago had brought America, the world’s most powerful nation, to its knees.

The incredible sight of America’s cities submerged in deep waters makes you wonder how helpless man is against the wrath of nature. But it has to be said, the culprit is man himself. These tsunamis, mudslides and floods are Mother Nature’s cry for help in retaliation to the flogging we humans subject her to.

It is time for governments to do more to protect the environment. So what could be done to prevent such disasters from happening again? This could be achieved by reducing the global warming and conserving an ecological balance by avoiding the depletion of natural resources – by creating sustainability.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford What do you think?

We want to know your views on any issue. Write to: Asian Voice, 12 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW or e-mail: aveditorial@abplgroup.com

Muddle thinking on plastic pollution As we all know, our MPs are kind, caring and dedicated politicians, always able, willing and ready to help their constituents beyond call of duty. But when it comes to governing this country, they are naive, lack foresight and as a result laws they pass are ill-thought of, half-hearted, out-dated and as a result they fail to tackle problems as intended, so often doing more harm than good.

One shining example is their fiddle-faddle approach to plastic pollution by the introduction of 5p eco-tax on “Single-use Plastic Bags” with exemption for small retailers, in the vain hope that it will encourage sale of sturdy, long lasting “Bags for Life” that could be used time and again.

Although 5p charge reduced usage of such flimsy bags by 80%, the overall effect is negligible, as the sturdy reusable bags sold for 10p, consumes some ten times more plastic than single use bags, which are thrown away by shoppers after just one use, thus creating far more plastic waste than intended.

Now the government plans to double 5p charge for Single Use plastic bags, as well as remove exemption from corner shops that dispatched 3:6 billion last year, thus there was hardly any savings overall on plastic waste. So government now intends to double the charge to 10p, as outlined in a consultation paper launched by the government, in the vain hope of curbing eco-damaging plastic waste.

Most experts commenting in media, fears it may not wash with the public, this half-hearted, ill-thought legislation, as 10p is a drop in the ocean when customers are willing to pay £5 for a pint of lager, £50 for family meal-out and their supermarket grocery bills routinely exceed £40.

The answer, according to experts, is that such minor tempering at the edge, handmaiden approach will not serve the purpose it is intended for. It should be 50p for single use plastic bags and at least £2 for bags for life or ban it all together, in favour of sturdy but compostable paper bags, as is the norm in USA. But the question is, do government have courage, determination and foresight to act wisely for the good of the nation, upsetting super-market bosses who may be contributing handsomely to their election coffers!

Kumudini Valambia By email

Care home crisis News-papers are full of horror stories about lack of investment in social care, resulting in mass desertion of valuable staffs who are quitting industry in droves, as working conditions are Victorian, pay minimum that would barely cover basic cost of living, especially in London where accommodation costs a small fortune.

No wonder these hard-working people live in overcrowded condition, sharing three bedroom house between two to three families, as rent for such houses in London is in the region of £2000 per month, plus utility charges, no single family living on their own could afford! Many such care workers have two to three jobs, working all godsend hours, just to stay afloat!

Yet care-homes are closing down in droves. There is waiting list of six months for some-one to move in carehome, except at upper-end where it costs up to £1500 a week, hardly anyone can afford it. Yet such care homes, which would put 5* hotels to shame are doing well with no shortage of clients who are obliged to pay with help from family members, in view of unavailability at other end where weekly charges vary from £700 upward.

Blocking unskilled immigration from EU after Brexit, along with cuts in government funding and ever-rising old age population will create unprecedented crisis in care industry, putting lives at risk, as fewer care workers are looking after ever increasing elderly people, resulting in lowering care standard, neglect, bullying and indifference.

It is time for government to take charge, create “Care Charter” to run alongside with NHS, introduce special “Care Tax” where our contribution should go directly to NHS “Care Budget” rather than in bottomless pit where it could be wasted on ever increasing Overseas Aid, defence and such pet projects to inflate political ego of the government; appoint “Minister For Elderly”, support voluntary groups, as well as unpaid carers that saves government a small fortune.

It is time to bring “Care Industry” into 21st Century and give our elderly respect and care they need and indeed deserve.

The main question is whether our politicians of all political persuasion, living in their “Ivory Tower” with drawbridge raised, come out from their comfort zone and help these unfortunate people, rough-sleepers, some 600 dying in 2017 with average age of 44!

Do politicians have courage to transfer just £200 million from Overseas Aid budget to help our own down-trodden citizens! What has happened to the milk of kindness running through our veins!

Have we got politicians of the calibre of 1945 Labour government of Clement Atlee, Ernest Bevin and fiery patriotic Welshman Aneurin Bevan who gave us NHS! I sincerely hope so!

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email

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5 - 11 January 2019

8 year old Arav amongst Britain’s smartest US boy meets scientist An eight year old boy is one of the smartest people in Britain having entered Mensa with an IQ of 152 at the age of four.

Arav Ajaykumar Maliyakkal, from Leicester, whose parents Varsha and Ajaykumar, moved to the UK from Mumbai in 2009 when Ajaykumar got a job in NHS as a consultant-radiologist, just got a gold award and the top marks in his school for the Primary Mathematics Challenge, a logical reasoning test organised by the Mathematical Association.

From a very young age, Arav Ajaykumar had an affin-

everywhere when he was young. Even when he was very little he had this amazing ability to think logically. He used to play this game where he had to identify the exact position of a fraction on a line and he would do it immediately. His mind seems to work like a computer, and I really don't know how he can do that."

Arav's IQ puts him in the top 0.03 percent of people in the UK, and is almost on par with Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking. The UK Primary Maths Challenge is typically taken by pupils aged

Arav pictured with mum Varsha, dad Ajaykumar and sibling

ity for numbers. By the age of two he could count to a thousand and by the age of four he had been accepted into MENSA, the 'High IQ Society', with an IQ of 152.

Now, at the age of eight, he has won Gold and the title of 'Best in School' at Stoneygate School in the UK Primary Maths Challenge.

Speaking to a local newspaper Varsha said: "He would always look at numbers

between 9 and 12 and despite being at least a year younger than other students in the test, he excelled.

Varsha continued: "It is really nice that he got best in school and I am very happy that he is so gifted in mathematics. He has a long way to go though and I will be really impressed when he is an adult and he achieves something really big.

"I was proud that he got

Martyn Poliakoff in Nottingham

Arav Ajaykumar with his certificates from school (Pic: Leicester Mercury)

the best in school and gold on Maths Challenge, particularly at such a young age. The school and the teachers have been very supportive and understand that he is gifted and have tried to help him develop even more."

Varsha is unsure where Arav's exceptional skills have come from.

"I am not a maths person at all. I like logic puzzles, but nothing really maths based at all. I don't know where he got those skills from really. My dad, Arav's grandfather, was always good at maths but Arav is different. A lot of time he does things and we are completely baffled," she said.

Arav cannot seem to get enough of his favourite subject, as he often comes home from school and spends his free time reading books about maths.

Arav said: "I have loved maths since I was about two years old, I was always looking for numbers when I was out. I always study on my

own at home and practice. I like to read different books and find out how to solve different sums. Maths is my favourite subject because there is always one right answer, and I prefer that."

The 8-year old only plans on continuing his success at school and at home. He has even started challenging his teachers to see if they could beat him at his favourite subject.

Stoneygate School head John Dobson commented: "We are all very proud of Arav's achievements- he has a very sharp, mathematical brain. Encouraged by the rest of his form, Arav recently challenged me to an on line times table test. I lost much to the delight of his friends.

We will at Stoneygate continue to support Arav in this field of study. We don't believe in limiting a child due to his or her age, but want to further extend his mathematical skills and knowledge."

Rogue landlords ordered to re-pay illegal income or face prison A court has ordered a husband and wife landlord team to pay back £322,282 in illegal income, following a prosecution by Brent Council.

The confiscation order was made at Harrow Crown Court on 12 December under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Mohammad Ishaq, 68, and Shamim Akhtar, 66, both of Clifford Way, Neasden, had pleaded guilty to the planning offences at Willesden Magistrates Court in May. The case was then referred to Harrow Crown Court for confiscation and sentencing.

Extensive inquiries by Brent's financial investigators revealed the extent of the illegal income. On top of the confiscation order, they were each fined £10,000 for their failure to comply with planning enforcement notices on properties they own in Willesden and Harlesden. They were also ordered to pay the Council's costs.

The terrace houses, at Glynfield Road and Belton Road, had been converted into a total of 18 tiny flats without planning permission. They subsequently lost appeals against Brent's enforcement notices, which

ordered them to undo the works.

Despite written warnings from the Council, they ignored the problem and failed to comply with the notices for several years.

In passing the sentence, Judge Dean said: "The London borough of Brent is very assiduous about prosecuting these cases". She also added that the breaches had caused harm to both the surrounding community and to the occupants of the properties. "I hope we can draw a line under this," she told the defendants. "As you'll continue to be landlords, I hope you now

understand the importance of providing good quality properties."

The result comes just a few weeks after a record £1.4 million confiscation order was made against a different landlord in the same court, also for planning offences.

Cllr Tom Miller, Brent Council's Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: "These individuals showed a blatant disregard for planning rules by renting out shoddy accommodation and have now paid the price.

Once again, Brent has shown that ignoring enforcement notices simply doesn't pay."

Dodgy lettings agent convicted of fraud after a major investigation by Redbridge Council A crooked lettings agent who illegally pocketed tenants’ deposits to pay for his gambling addiction and lavish lifestyle has been convicted of fraud following a major investigation by Redbridge Council.

Usman Khalil of Ilford was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, suspended for two years at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 14 December 2018 after exploiting potential tenants, leaving at least seven victims £20,000 out of pocket.

His Honour Judge WestKnights QC told Khalil:

“You had no basis to take holding deposits as you were not the sole agent. The reality was that you were gambling away your clients’ money.

“Vulnerable people, people of low income, desperate for a home were using you as an agent of last resort.

They gave you all their money and more.”

The investigation was triggered after a demonstration in 2015 by victims outside Khalil’s now defunct Ilford business, Home Hunter Properties Ltd, was brought to the council’s

attention.

The conviction follows a long and complex investigation by Trading Standards, supported by the council’s in-house legal team and Action Fraud.

They found that Khalil accepted holding deposits and advance rent for properties but then refunded with a cheque which bounced despite having sufficient cash in other accounts.

As part of the scam, Khalil advertised a string of properties that already had people living in them.

One couple, who lost

thousands of pounds, were unable to pay for a deposit or rent for alternative accommodation after being conned by Khalil.

Khalil pleaded not guilty at a trial in August 2018, which was halted because he was taken ill. He changed his plea to guilty prior to the scheduled re-trial.

The conman lettings agent was ordered to pay back £12,350 and was disqualified from being a company director for seven years. He must also seek help for his alcohol and gambling addictions.

Sir Martyn Poliakoff showed Ajay Sawant how to make a glowstick and create reactions using dry ice

An eight-year-old boy from California took a 12-hour detour to meet his science hero. Ajay Sawant met YouTube star Sir Martyn Poliakoff in Nottingham before heading with his family on holiday to Mumbai in India.

Prof Poliakoff, based at the University of Nottingham, showed the science superfan how to make a glowstick and create reactions using dry ice.

Ajay's mother Anjli said it was "a dream come true" for her son.

Prof Poliakoff, who has spent nearly 40 years in Nottingham and was knighted in 2014 for services to chemistry, has garnered millions of views on YouTube with his videos on elements and the periodic table.

The Periodic Table of Videos first appeared on the site in 2008 and has more than 1.1 million subscribers.

Ms Sawant said her son's fascination with the series meant that meeting his hero came top of his Christmas wishlist. She said: "Ajay can't stop talking chemistry to anyone who will listen and surprises them with how much he has learned from the videos. We are so grateful and excited we could make this Christmas wish come true for him."

Prof Poliakoff - whose brother is celebrated playwright and director Stephen Poliakoff - said it was "wonderful" to meet Ajay, who he described as "clearly a scientist in the making".

"Chemistry is by its very nature both fascinating and exciting and knowing that the videos which we are making are helping to inspire people across the world to find out more about this amazing subject gives us a real buzz and makes it all worthwhile," he said.

The Universal Credit system leaves too many UK claimants with children facing a stark choice between turning down jobs or getting into debt, MPs warn.

The Work and Pensions Select Committee says the way parents have to pay for childcare up front, then claim it back afterwards is a "barrier to work".

Committee chairman Frank Field said it was "irresponsible" to put this burden on "struggling, striving parents".

The government said childcare support is more generous under the new system. But the committee's report on the childcare aspect of Universal Credit is further criticism of the already much-criticised benefit.

The welfare payment, which collapsed six benefits into one monthly payment, is being phased in across the UK. The report said: "Parents and carers' decisions about whether and how much to work are

closely tied to being able to access affordable, good quality childcare.

"The Department for Work and Pensions aspires for 200,000 more people to work under Universal Credit than under the system it replaces, and for people already in work to contribute over 100 million additional hours every year.

"Its success or failure in achieving these aims depends largely on working parents. That means that making childcare payments work is critical to the success of Universal Credit."

But it claims the design of Universal Credit childcare support directly conflicts with the aim of making it easier for claimants to work, or to work more hours.

The system of reimbursement was adopted to cut down on fraud and error, and the government says switching to a system of direct payments to childcare providers would require changes to the benefits payment system.

Universal Credit's 'stark choice'

12 MEDIA WATCH

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

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5 - 11 January 2019

SCRUTATOR’S In an unusual way to resolve the stray cattle menace in Aligarh, which witnessed series of protests by farmers in the past week, district police officers have decided to adopt one bovine each, mainly unproductive cows and calves, in order to motivate public to follow suit. The proposal to “voluntarily” adopt a bovine was mooted at the meeting of district police officials by Aligarh senior superintendent of police AK Sahni. Fortyone police personnel offered to adopt one stray bovine each.

willing to have more than two children. Speaking after the release of a white paper on 'Human Resources and Social Development', Naidu noted in the last 10 years, Andhra Pradesh saw a dip of 1.6% in the population.

This trend is troubling and not healthy for the state, economically, Naidu said.

Apparently, Naidu doesn't want AP to lose out on certain population-based dividends which will be extended by XV Finance Commission. "The decline in population growth will hamper economic development. Hence, we will come up with a policy to promote population growth by offering various incentives to young couples," he added.

Maneka vows help to triple talaq victim Women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi has assured all assistance to a woman who was reportedly given triple talaq over WhatsApp by her husband, the first case of instant triple talaq to come to light after

Aligarh cops to adopt cows

“Every adverse law and order situation is to be faced by us, so we should be the ones taking the initiative in resolving the problems that ail the society,” SSP AK Sahni said, adding that this arrangement will continue till all the cow shelters, which are being constructed by the government, become operational.

Superintendent of police Ashutosh Dwivedi said the initiative should also motivate people not to abandon their unproductive animals as they end up destroying standing crops in the fields besides becoming a nuisance in the streets. Protests against the stray cattle menace have been happening in Aligarh for the past week. Last week, students and teachers of around a dozen government schools in Aligarh were forced to stay out of their classrooms after local residents in Iglas area herded stray cows and bulls inside the school compounds.

media advisor Sanjaya Baru, showing the UPA in poor light, BJP’s social media handles were quick to share the trailer of the film scheduled for a New Year release. BJP said it was a “riveting tale of how a family held the country to ransom for 10 long years.” “Was Dr Singh just a regent who was holding on to the PM’s chair till the time heir was ready?”

BJP asked. With well-known actor and BJP sympathiser Anupam Kher in the lead role, Congress leaders said the movie was a bid to distract attention from the failures of the Modi government.

Reacting to the controversy, Kher said, “The more they protest, more publicity they will give to the film.”

Andhra CM urges people to have more kids

Film on ex-PM Manmohan raises storm Days before its release, ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ - a biopic based on former PM Manmohan Singh’s 10-year tenure in office - has kicked up a huge row with Congress denouncing it as a propaganda effort and BJP saying the main opposition was being duplicitous in running down the film. With the movie, based on a book by Singh’s former

Anupam Kher

Maneka Gandhi

the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill was passed by Lok Sabha last week.

Citing a media report which said a Bengaluru woman has allegedly been given triple talaq after 15 years of marriage by her husband through WhatsApp text and audio, Maneka Gandhi said her ministry has taken up the case on priority and assured all assistance to the woman. “My ministry has taken up case of Triple Talaq on absolute priority. The first instance post the passing of the bill, criminalising the act of instant divorce in the Muslim community will be dealt with and we shall ensure that justice is done,” she said in a tweet.

Sajjan Kumar surrenders, sent to jail

Chandrababu Naidu

To reap the benefits of a few population-related schemes, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu has asked people of the state to have more kids.

Naidu also phased out a rule that prohibited those having more than two kids from contesting local bodies' elections.

This apart, Naidu is also reportedly mulling incentives for couples

Former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, who was awarded life sentence by Delhi High Court in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, surrendered before Karkardooma

Sajjan Kumar

court. According to reports, he has been sent to Mandoli jail. Lawyer of Sajjan Kumar said, "Court has sent him to Mandoli Jail. Court has also ordered that a separate van would be provided for his movement due to security reasons." The Delhi High Court Bench bench had on December 17 convicted and sentenced the 73year-old former Congress leader to imprisonment for the remainder of his life in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case and had asked him to surrender by December 31 and not to leave Delhi. Kumar has also approached the Supreme Court challenging his conviction and life imprisonment. The former Congress MP also appeared before the Patiala House Court for hearing in the second case related to the riots. The case was registered against him by the CBI on the recommendation of Nanavati Commission.

Film director Mrinal Sen dead Mrinal Sen, who along with Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak formed the very disparate troika of film directors who brought global critical acclaim to Indian and Bengali films, passed away at his Bhowanipore home on Sunday. He was 95. His health started deteriorating after he complained of high fever. He began sinking from Sunday morning. Sen, the director of pathbreaking films such as ‘Padatik’ (The Guerrilla Fighter), ‘Akash Kusum’ (Up in the Clouds), ‘Kolkata 71’ and ‘Bhuvan Shome’, is survived by Chicago-based son Kunal and daughter-in-law Nisha. Tributes

government servant.” Though the number of eligible single male parents is likely to be limited, the move signals a shift from considering women as the principal care-givers for children. The government, through a law passed

by Parliament in March 2017, had increased maternity leave for workers in the organised sector to 26 weeks.

Cyclone-hit TN family sells boy for Rs 10,000 Daily wage labourers in Thanjavur district who lost their hut and all their possessions when Cyclone Gaja struck Tamil Nadu on November 16 sold their 12-year-old son into bonded labour for Rs 10,000. Childline officials rescued the boy from a farm at Panangudi in Nagapattinam district on December 22, about 15 days after he started work as a cattle herder. The boy’s parents told officials they had sent their son to work on the farm of B Chandru, 48, of Panangudi after they were offered Rs 10,000.

They said they had no option as they had lost their house in the cyclone. The rescued boy was later sent to a children’s protection home in Thanjavur. Nagore police have registered a case against Chandru under the Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act. The boy’s father said he was forced to send away his son as they did not have money to rebuild their hut.

Flyer strips on flight to India Around 150 passengers on board an Air India flight from Dubai to Lucknow were in for a rude shock when a 35-year-old male passenger stripped mid-air and started walking down the aisle. Surendra,

Mrinal Sen

poured in from luminaries across the country as the film fraternity came together to mourn the passing away of New Wave cinema and who brought jump cuts, extremely fluid camera style and jerky editing techniques to Bengali and Indian films.

Child care leave for single, male govt staffers Male personnel in the central government who are single parents to dependant children can now avail of child care leave (CCL) of a total 730 days during their entire period of service, a provision that till now only applied to women employees. Women government servants were entitled to CCL in three spells in a year that could be availed for up to two children. A ‘single’ male government employee has been defined as “an unmarried or widower or divorcee

35, was on board Air India express that was scheduled to arrive in Lucknow on Saturday. Air India officials said Surendra got up from his seat, stood in the aisle and stripped, leaving the passengers in a state of shock. The aircraft crew had to hold him down and wrap him in a blanket. Though the reason behind his action was not known, Air India officials said the passenger was under “mental trauma” following alleged harassment by his Dubai-based employer. After the aircraft landed in Lucknow, Surendra, a resident of Unnao, was handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force. A senior CISF official said that Surendra’s employer, a Pakistani, often harassed him and denied him his due leave. “Surendra thought that the flight would land in Pakistan and therefore he stripped in protest,” said the official, adding that he was later let off.

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Convicted Tunbridge Wells fraudster ordered to pay back thousands to victim A convicted Tunbridge Wells fraudster who duped a woman he met on a dating website into giving him tens of thousands of pounds has been ordered to pay her compensation.

Jaswant Gohil, 58, formerly of Victoria Road, has three months to pay or faces an additional prison sentence, on top of the three years he is currently serving.

He was convicted of fraud following a trial at Maidstone Crown Court and was sentenced on June 7. Following the sentence, Kent Police made an application to the court for a confiscation order under The Proceeds of Crime Act. At a hearing on December 10, it was determined Gohil had benefited from his criminal conduct by £34,038. His current available assets were valued at £9,043 and he will have to pay this amount in compen-

sation to the victim.

Detective Inspector Annie Clayton, of the Serious Economic Crime Unit said: "If Gohil fails to comply with the order, he will not only have to serve an additional prison sentence, but following this will still have to pay back the money. The Proceeds of Crime Act remains one of our biggest weapons against those who fund a lifestyle from crime. It enables police to claw back any ill-gotten gains from offenders, by allowing us to seize cash, cars and even lavish homes which may have been funded by crime.

"Powers derived from the Act can often mean that a criminal continues to pay for his or her crimes long after they have even been released from prison, depending on how much money has been derived unlawfully."

Gohil was arrested in June 2016 after deceiving his victim into making a number of loans to him, to invest in companies which did not even exist.

The victim even secured the loan against her home in Southampton to invest in a business venture with the man she thought she was in a relationship with, despite him living with another woman.

During his hearing, Judge Martin Huseyin said: "You treated the victim appallingly, gained her trust, abused it and acted like a leech. You exhausted her credit and then dropped her and moved on."

Psychiatrist 'sent patients to firms he part-owned' A psychiatrist recommended nine patients be cared for by agencies he had a stake in, a tribunal found.

Dr Mohammad Makhdum, who worked in Essex and Suffolk, admitted sending patients to two firms in which he had financial interests as part of a scheme he devised for community care.

It happened between 2010 and 2011, according to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal report. He has voluntarily surrendered his

medical licence.

Dr Makhdum worked for the Suffolk NHS Mental Health Partnership Trust, Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT) and South East Essex Primary Care Trust at the time when he sent mental health patients to Focus Care Agency and Vital Healthcare Services.

He contributed to the purchase of several properties for the agencies in Ipswich and owned a 50% stake in Blackstone

Healthcare, which held a majority stake in both Vital and Focus, at the time of the referrals, according to the report.

Dr Makhdum failed to declare these interests to his employers, the tribunal found.

After the discovery of his interests he was dismissed by the NSFT in 2012. He made an application to voluntarily give up his licence to practice medicine which was accepted by the tribunal on 16 November.

Review into persecuted Christians' plight Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has ordered a review into the plight of persecuted Christians around the world and how much help they get from the UK. The review, led by the Bishop of Truro, will look at government efforts to help some of the 215 million Christians who faced discrimination and violence

MP 'to stay in Parliament' An MP who lied about a speeding offence has said she plans to stay on in Parliament, despite facing a possible jail term. Fiona Onasanya said constituents should "rest assured" she will remain their MP. The Peterborough MP, 35, was convicted of perverting the course of justice at the Old Bailey earlier this month.

She has been expelled by Labour, but will only lose her seat in the Commons if she is jailed for more than a year.

last year, according to the Foreign Office.

Officials say violence against Christians is rising dramatically, with an average of 250 killed every month.

The Foreign Office said the review would "consider some tough questions and offer ambitious policy recommendations".

The intervention comes after an outcry over the treatment of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who faced death threats after being acquitted of blasphemy in Pakistan.

Ms Bibi spent eight years on death row until her conviction was reversed by Pakistan's Supreme Court earlier this year.

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Indian man stripped of UK citizenship over rape conviction An Indian man who was convicted of 23 counts of sexual abuse of a male child within his family has been stripped of his British citizenship and faces deportation to India.

The man, who can only be identified as RSD for legal reasons, came to the UK from India in 1997 and was granted British citizenship in 2004. In 2011, he was found guilty of grooming and raping a 7-year-old child.

According to a ‘Sunday Telegraph’ report, a UK court sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment and placed him on the sexual offenders’ register for life after finding him to have groomed and raped the boy

between 2003 and 2010.

In what is believed to be the first case of its kind, the UK Home Secretary removed his citizenship on the grounds that when he applied to be a UK citizen he lied about the fact he was sexually abusing a child. The man won an appeal against that decision but a senior judge has ruled in favour of the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, upholding the decision to strip RSD of his passport this month, which means he now faces being deported to India.

An Upper Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber judge said in a judgement published recently: “It is my conclusion that the appellant

obtained naturalisation in 2004 by deliberately concealing material facts.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Any British Citizen may be deprived of his or her citizenship if the Secretary of State is satisfied that it would be conducive to the public good. It is a power used for extreme and exceptional cases. Deprivation on conducive grounds can be used where individuals pose a threat to national security, or have been involved in war crimes, serious and organised crime, and unacceptable behaviours such as extremism or glorification of terrorism, unless to deprive would render them stateless.”

Councils 'failing' to prosecute blue badge abusers A disability charity says it is "disgraceful" councils are failing to take action against people misusing blue-badge parking permits. Analysis by the Press Association found 94 out of 152 (62%) local authorities in England did not pursue anyone for abusing the scheme in 2017-18.

Phil Talbot, from charity Scope, said thefts of disabled

permits were rising.

The Local Government Association said councils had to take "tough decisions" on enforcement with limited resources. The analysis of the Department of Transport data showed the number of blue badges reported stolen totalled 4,246. It found 31 councils did not catch anyone despite

claiming to have a policy for prosecuting offenders. Local authorities in Nottingham, Middlesbrough, Shropshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, Bournemouth and Reading were among those to record zero prosecutions. About 2.4 million disabled people in England have blue badges, which are issued by councils.

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"I didn't realise I was mentally tortured" “My mother-in-law told me that this is how everybody stays here and I knew nothing about my rights then neither did I realise then that I was mentally tortured” Rhubarb shudders remembering the time when after giving birth to their daughter he didn't even come to visit them in the hospital.

During the last month of her pregnancy, Rhubarb was pushed down the bed, mentally tortured into doing domestic chores and had not spoken to her parents ever since arriving in the UK. “The phone calls were so expensive in those days that it was not feasible to speak every day but the times when my parents used to call, my mother-inlaw used to speak to them and dismiss it and there were times when she used to take away the phone cables with her when I was alone at home” Rhubarb reveals how she was practically jailed into her house and never had any money or means to escape the enslaved marriage or seek outside help.

Until 2010 when her husband tricked her into going back to Pakistan. She wasn't aware of her rights or the spousal visa conditions which stated that she could not stay out of the country for more than six months.

However, with the help of Apna Haq, Rhubarb managed to come back to the UK with her British-born daughter and with the NGO's legal support not only acquired the right to stay in the UK under 289A but also divorced from her husband.

Nearly 170 women stayed in an abusive relationship But ever since the introduction of the hostile environ-

ment policy, which monitors immigration control research has shown that it has resulted in police officers acting as immigration officers and sharing sensitive information of victims of crime with the Home Office.

Professor Cathy McIlwaine and Dr. Yara Evans undertook a study at King's College London which has gathered evidence of the difficulties and barriers migrant women who are victims of domestic violence, face when they seek justice and support. The study found migrant women came

to the UK via perfectly legal means, but because their immigration status depends on their partner, this can be used as a tool of coercion by perpetrators of abuse.

Another survey by Imkaan, an organisation dedicated to addressing violence against black and minority ethnic (BAME) women, analysed how the immigration status of migrant women is used as a means of control. According to this study, 40% of 183 women stayed in an abusive relationship for more than five years out of fear of deportation, and 92% of these women reported threats of deportation from the perpetrator.

30% refusal rate for applications under 289A Speaking on the condition of

NO MEANS NO anonymity, a volunteer working for the cause of domestic violence at one of the national charities in the UK, said how they have dealt with women of South Asian origins who escaped forced marriages and instead have been trafficked to the UK. “Manmeet* ran away from her family and came to the UK with her boyfriend who had arranged for her visas. Later he sexually abused her and had planned

to sell her off to an older man!” the volunteer revealed.

Manmeet had escaped once again and was approached the police who referred her to the charity which provided her accommodation at a refuge. Aside from mental and emotional support, the charity supported her legal application and made her trust that the Home Office would take her story into consideration.

However, upon making an application for her stay, the Home Office revealed how there was already a Visa application that was made on behalf of her by Manmeet's boyfriend. Her story was not accepted and she was later detained by the Home Office who said they would deport her to India where they would put

her in touch with some NGO with which she can stay. The volunteer lost contact with Manmeet following her detention and to date, she doesn't know about her well-being.

“I remember when we had found her, she was so embarrassed and frightened she wouldn't even be able to look at me in the eye...eventually after counselling she had trusted me.

And I remember telling her that these [Home Office] are the people who will help you out...and till date, there is this guilt within me that she was in a way betrayed?” the volunteer confided.

According to a freedom of information (FoI) requested by the Guardian showed how the refusal rate for applications under the domestic violence rule rose from 12% in 2012 to 30% in 2016. The figures show that 1,325 people were refused out of a total of 5,820 applications made between 2012 and 2016.

While the refusal rate may seem insensitive to many, Home Office seem to have their own reasons.

Out of the many, the dominant reason seems to be the “allegations of the misuse of the law” as one of the sources who wished to stay anonymous revealed.

There are often case studies where the police release these husbands/wives accused of abusing their wives on the grounds of lack of physical evidence and explain how it is difficult to make arrests based on just here-say.

“One can never be judgmental about the incidents that one has had to face.

But there are times when some women allegedly fol-

lowed textbook methods to falsely claim that they are domestic violence victims to obtain the right to indefinite leave in the UK” the source disclosed.

However, there is no way of differentiating whether it is a genuine case or not. But whatever, be the case, the job of these charities, NGOs and legal aid providers is to take into consideration the experiences of these victims and help them in the best way that they can and leave the decision to the Home Office.

Life is what you make of it Andrea Aviet is a campaigner against domestic abuse who was recently honoured with the BEM at the Queen's New Year's Honour list. As a victim of domestic violence herself, she has narrated her own struggles of starvation, rape and being trapped into an abusive marriage in her book White Sorrow which was self-funded and self-published.

“If I can do something then so can you and you don't need to be frightened about anything and anyone,” she said talking about how she has two children, from her abusive husband, who fuel her passion in her fight against this practice because she wouldn't want them to go through the same.

Andrea has helped raise funds through food banks and contributions from the sales of her books. She is intent on working with a charity to support many like her and her one message to all victims out there“Life is what you make it.”

But domestic violence encompasses horrific crimes of domestic servitude, marital rape, forced marriage, and even honour-based violence.

Muslim Women's Network UK helpline saved 1700 women Faeeza Vaid, from Birmingham, who received this helped set up the Muslim Women's Network UK (MWN) helpline four years ago. It has helped more than 1,700 women escape such problems and the charity's helpline supported almost 800 women in 2017, the majority of whom called about domestic abuse.

"The top issues Muslim women face are the same for other women," she said.

"Muslim women may face additional barriers and are less likely to report things shame and honour is a big factor," said Faeeza in her interview to the BBC. The director of the charity has recently appointed an MBE in the Queen's New Year Honours.

Domestic violence can be a daunting experience for anyone. But conditions for migrant women like Rhubarb seem to be all the more difficult. Although, she has attained the right to live in the UK now and she volunteers for Apna Haq but the difficulty remains in having enough financial access to take care of her 9year-old daughter who is unaware about her mother's broken marriage. Rhubarb who is unable to work permanent hours for the lack of knowing anyone who she can leave her daughter with lives in constant fear about social workers taking her child away if she doesn't have enough money to sustain. Other migrant victims who are seeking refugee with these charities seem to have hurdles of their own which unfortunately article 289A does not help with, especially with how the government has cut down on the funding to these NGO's making it difficult for them to have permanent aidworkers who support victims of domestic violence.

Forced Marriages

protection should not have a price-tag A Times Investigation has found how young women who are sent abroad by their families for forced marriages are charged by the Foreign Office for the cost of rescuing them. The department helped to repatriate 27 victims of forced marriage in 2017 and 55 in 2016, according to the figures released under the Freedom of Information Act. British victims who call for help are told that they have to find hundreds of pounds for their flight home, basic food and accommodation.

Anyone over 18 who cannot pay the amount are

made to sign emergency loan agreements with the Foreign Office before boarding their flight home and have their passports confiscated until repayment. If they fail to clear their debt within six months, officials add 10 per cent to their bill.

Four young British women who were found imprisoned at a “correctional school” in Somalia were charged £740 each.

They were sent by their families to the religious institution, where they were chained to walls, whipped with hosepipes and told that they would be forced to get married.

The victims spoke to the Times that the government loans had left them destitute, with some having to claim benefits or use university loans to fund repayments. Two are living in refuges and two have become drug addicts since returning to Britain.

Theresa May has described forced marriage as a “tragedy for each and every victim” and said that the government was working to “secure a better future for the thousands of women and girls at risk”.

A spokesman said: “Given these are from public funds, we have an

obligation to recover the money. The [government’s] forced marriage unit provides funding for safe houses and non-governmental organisations to ensure victims of forced marriage can get to a place of safety as soon as possible. We do not charge British nationals for this service and work with organisations to support them on return.”

“Protection should not have a price tag. Charging vulnerable women escaping forced marriage abroad is morally wrong and inhumane. Those who find themselves in such dangerous and life threat-

ening situations should not be punished when seeking protection from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.”

said Professor Aisha K. Gill. CBE, Professor of Criminology at the University of Roehampton.

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A

s the new year rings in, reputed corporate lawyer, foreign policy and business consultant, Goel, spoke to us about his high-profile position, the socio-economic landscape, and moreover, the progressive professional ideals that have propelled his great success. At a relatively young age, Vijay has already advised the former Deputy Prime Minister, Liberal Democrat, Nick Clegg on Emerging Markets and the government of Andhra Pradesh on the Amravati Smart City Project.

He has also been the Chairman of the London Chamber of Commerce Asian Business Association and ASSOCHAM UK, one of the largest Chambers of Commerce in India.

“Clegg had a fondness for India, and actually took the biggest business delegation to India – a team of 150 people – for which I was one of a few mission leaders,” Goel elaborated on the post. “2015 was his first governmental foray to the country, and it was an honour. Clegg was a passionate man, sometimes working 15-hour days. We travelled through metropolitan centres such as Delhi, Vijay Goel and Rajesh Agrawal Bangalore and Mumbai, and met with Prime Minister Modi.

Thus, rather than the stereotypical The idea was to create the best business image of short-term profits, bolshy connections between the UK and India business and a compulsive string of with a compassionate approach. titles, Goel’s diverse work underFor example, fighting the scores what is truly, and timemisconception that lessly, important: integratIndian students would ed ethical values and the You apply the only get limited long-term vision that basic principles visas.” constitute a strong of life and you excel vocational self. “There Here, Goel made sure to is no industry secret at what you do – emphasise the to my commercial patterns become importance of accomplishments,” “authentic networkGoel lightly concludclearer and you ing and connecting ed. “You apply the basic find yourself people and the dots.” principles of life and you Indeed, the grounded excel at what you do – patarrived. expert has founded the terns become clearer and you Indo-EU business forum find yourself arrived.” And in eleven years ago: “always valuing a Goel’s case, surrounded by priceless channel between India and the rest of support too. An extension of his love Europe as well as the relationship with for people and socially democratic the UK." He added: "it is, of course, practice, the forthright advisor, who especially important that we develop served on the committee for erecting a global ties now.” Goel is currently statue of Gandhi outside British advising the Government of Malta, Parliament, also stands as an ambasplanning a trip with the Maltese Prime sador for Barnardo's: the UK's largest Minister to India’s commercial hub of and oldest national children's charity.

Gujarat in January, “having introduced the governing body to the best of the Out of your many impressive best.” posts, what have been some highlight moments? *** Becoming Chairman of Clegg was However, despite possessthe London Chamber of ing powerful allies across Commerce Asian Business a passionate the world and being surAssociation, which was the man who rounded by its many biggest Chamber in the UK first-rate talents, Goel’s at the time. I was able to worked long strength lies in the special gather important high comhours. soft skills of “humility and missioners, including from honesty which naturally result Nepal and Bangladesh, and crein great loyalty and a wide base of ated a great impact. Businesses could genuine friendships.” Championing then network powerfully. I bought the

5 - 11 January 2019

CAMPAIGN FOR ROUGH SLEEPERS RAISES £150,000

A Partnership of Qualities

this respectful, traditional manner alongside the more contemporary work virtues of gumption and go-getting is at once a good message for the aspiring youth Goel has also been known to inspire. As well as allowing personal evolution and growth, an affable attitude results in the sort of corporate bridges that allow deep and infrastructural reward together with fiscal health. “In terms of my corporate legal work, I have been involved in international landmark projects such as a multi-billion-dollar transaction with Reliance Industries Inc.” A mammoth South Asian group that practices good CSR, Goel facilitates such business life to boost real estate and public foundations throughout the Indian nation.

15

UK

Vijay Goel Sunetra Senior

UK

TLIGHT

Vijay Goel best speakers on board, including some celebrities, which allowed for good business.

You are your own professional triumvirate. What skills chiefly overlap?

The positions organically inform each other as they are in similar areas: for example, being in business helps to represent that community for shaping foreign policy.

What is one requirement of being a corporate lawyer that people wouldn’t usually consider?

You have respect, trust and an entrepreneurial approach. I have an advantage as I possess an MBA as well as a law degree.

What is a favourite part of your multifaceted profession?

Networking well which applies to all aspects and connecting people.

You do philanthropic work too. What are some other projects?

I’m a committee member of another charity: the largest in India to provide education. I am also a trustee of the Singhania foundation.

Some assume developing countries, though financially growing, may still be socially or politically stunted. Do you have comment?

Actually, India is leading particularly in tech, and telecoms and entrepreneurially. Indians are one of the biggest industrial employers in the UK, for example the well-known TATA. I’m sure over time such assumption will fade.

Multiculturally, do you think the UK can still hold a bright torch despite current events?

Yes, but we have to do more. We have to bring more experienced and reliable people to start effective equality programs: for example, ones that unite members of different communities, and ensure fair representation on the big business boards. Both for women who can sit in more executive and non-executive positions and in terms of multi-ethnic representation.

Finally, what is your advice to others who wish to do a lot with their talent but might feel there isn’t enough time or space?

Timewise, you have to find a way to manage, but don’t underestimate charitable and pro bono endeavours. If you simply focus on money, you might not make the maximum impact. It’s important to use time to foster goodwill and not just focus on repute and more wealth.

W: http://www.vijaygoel.co.uk/

A campaign to help get rough sleepers off the streets which was launched by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has raised more than £150,000 in its first month.

The mayor installed 35 contactless donation points across the capital with the money going to 22 charities tackling homelessness. The donation points have already been used more than six thousand times and 24 more have been installed.

Mr Khan said: “While many of us have enjoyed this festive period with our families, it is a national disgrace that so many people have spent it cold, frightened and hungry, without a place to call home.”

City Hall are doing all they can to increase services with the money they have got from the Government. Earlier this month emergency shelters for rough sleepers were opened across the capital.

Boroughs also signed up the ‘In For Good’ principle – a promise that when a rough sleeper goes to an emergency shelter, they will be accommodated there until a support plan is put in place to help them off the streets for good.

Greg Beales, campaign director at Shelter, said: “It’s fantastic to see the generosity of Londoners supporting people sleeping rough over the winter period.”

16 NEW YEAR’S HONOUR LIST 5 - 11 January 2019

Order of the British Empire Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) Gurinder Singh Josan for his political service.

Dr. Sridevi Kalidindi (Vegasana): Consultant Psychiatrist in Rehabilitation and Recovery, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Rehabilitation Psychiatry (Beckenham, Kent).

Nitin Sawhney: Musician and composer. For his services to Music.

Mustafa Suleyman for his services to the UK Technology Industry.

Order of the British Empire Officers of the Order of the British Empire

in London.

Aamer Naeem: Chief Executive Officer, Penny Appeal. For services to Muslim Community Development.

Dr. Vijaykumar Chhotabhai Kalidas Patel: Chief Executive Officer. Waymade Pharmaceuticals. For services to business and philanthropy (Ingatestone, Essex).

Dr. Malik Jonathan Ramadhan: Consultant and Divisional Director in Emergency Care Barts Health NHS Trust. For services to healthcare (London).

Sukhjeev Sandhu: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Audeliss and INvolve. For services to diversity in business.

Shahed Saleem Tariq: Deputy Director of Children and Families, Leeds City Council.

For services to children's Services in Leeds (Leeds, West Yorkshire).

Professor Doctor Daljit Singh Virk: senior Research Fellow, Bangor University, Wales.

For services to Tackling Poverty Abroad and Education in Derby (Littleover, Derbyshire).

Ruby Khalid Bhatti for services to Young People and Housing (London)

Order of the British Empire Members of the Order of the British Empire

Farooq Ur Rehman Chaudhry: Producer. For his services to Dance and Dance Production (Hardwick, Cambridgeshire).

Jamshaid Ahmad: Immigration Officer, London and South, Home Office. For services to Law and Order (Middlesex).

Dr. Jagbir Jhutti Johal: Senior Lecturer in Sikh Studies, University of Birmingham. For services to Higher Education, Faith Communities and the Voluntary Sector.

Fateha Ahmed: For services to Diverse communities in Wales (Cardiff).

Dr. Vinod Kapashi for services to Jainism.

Abyd Karmali: Managing Director of Climate Finance, Bank of America Merrill Lynch. For services to International Climate Change and Sustainable Finance (London).

Umer Khan: Superintendent, Greater Manchester Police. For services to Policing and Community Cohesion (Greater Manchester).

Nasar Mahmood: Chairman, British Muslim Heritage Centre. For services to Community Relations in Manchester (Altrincham, Cheshire).

Imam Mohamed Hassan Yousef Mahmoud: Imam, London. For services to the community

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NEW YEAR’S HONOUR LIST

17

QUEEN'S NEW YEAR'S HONOUR GIFT TO THE ASIAN DIASPORA IN THE UK T

Jayne Anne Gadhia: Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Money. For services to Financial Services and Women in the Financial Industry.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

5 - 11 January 2019

he Asian community in the UK welcomed 2019 by celebrating the New Year's Honour list where approximately 60 Asians were recognised for their outstanding achievements out of a total of roughly 1200 candidates. 12% of the total candidates are from the BAME (Black Asian Minority and Ethnic) background which rose from the 10% representation in the most recent Queen's Birthday Honour's list.

All candidates were selected for the different categories of BEM, MBE and OBE where 70% of the recipients awarded are the people who have provided voluntary or paid services to enrich the communities. Out of the 20 Knights and 9 Dames, Jayne-Anne Gadhia CBE is the only woman with an Asian representation that received this honour. The chief executive officer of Virgin Money, Jayne-Anne comes from humble origins of a working-class family and later got married to an accountant, Ashok Gadhia, who gave up his career to look after their daughter.

Entrepreneur D0r Vijay Patel, musician Nitin Sawhney who recently composed music for Netflix's Mowgli and Gurinder Singh Josan for his political service are few among the following who have made their mark this year.

Order of the British Empire Dames Commander of the order of the British Empire (DBE)

AsianVoiceNews

Riaz Aldina: Head of Financial Institutions Business Risk, Lloyds Banking Group. For services to Small Business Banking (Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire).

Saeed Atcha for services to Young People and the community in Greater Manchester (Bolton, Greater Manchester).

Rajinder Singh Bajwe for services to the Hospitality Industry and charity in Glasgow.

Sujata Banerjee for service to dance (London).

services to Education in Bangladesh (Birmingham, West Midlands).

Dr. Saroj Duggal: For services to Asian and Ethnic Minority Women (Tipton, West Midlands).

Mehmooda Duke DL: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Moosa-Duke Solicitors. For services to the Legal Profession and the Promotion of Female Entrepreneurship (Leicestershire).

Rosie Kaur Ginday: Founder and Director, Miss Macaroon Community Interest Company. For services to the community in Birmingham (Birmingham, West Midlands) Richard Leon Gill: Lately Police Officer, British Transport Police. For services to Policing (Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire).

Inclusion Manager, Immigration Enforcement, Home Office. For services to the Promotion of Inclusion in the Home Office and the community in Sandwell (west Midlands).

Farshid Raoufi: Station Commander, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Equality and Inclusion (Peterborough, Cambridgeshire).

Mamun-Ur-Rashid for services to business and the community in Govan, Glasgow.

Kuljit Kaur Sagoo: Chair, Home Office Gender Equality Network. For services to Diversity and Inclusion in the Home Office.

Wahida Shafi: For services to women, young people, interfaith and community relations (Bradford, West Yorkshire).

Gopal Krishna Gupta: Founder and Solicitor, Gupta and Partners, and Founder, Gupta Group. For services to British Business and Philanthropy (Moor Park, Hertfordshire).

Yusuf Mehmood Tai: Co-founder, Public Service Youth Foundation and Co-founder, Manchester with the Homeless. For services to Young People in Manchester (Bolton, Greater Manchester).

Zuffar Iqbal Haq for public and political service (Oadby, Leicestershire).

Balraj Tandon for services to business and the community in South London.

Monojaha Polly Islam for services to charity and the UK Bangladeshi community (Bedfordshire).

Chandra Mohan Trikha: Lately Director of Distribution Performance, SSE. For services to the Energy Industry (Bracknell, Berkshire).

Nisha Sujata Katona: Founder and Director, Mowgli Street Food Group Ltd. For services to the Food Industry.

Faeeza Vaid: Executive Director Muslim Women's Network UK. For services to wpmen's rights (Birmingha, West Midlands).

Mandeep Kaur: Sikh Chaplain to the Armed Forces. For voluntary services to Armed Forces Personnel and the Sikh community across the globe (Birmingham, West Midlands).

Jashu Vekaria: Deputy Headteacher, Uxendon Manor Primary School. For services to Primary Education (London).

Mohammed Muaaz Khan: founder, Eid Unwrapped and Convenor, Public Service Youth Foundation. For service to Young People (Manchester, Greater Manchester).

Surinderpal Singh LIT (Tony Lit) for services to the British-Asian community (Richmond, Surrey).

Helal Mahmood for services to Community Cohesion in Oldham (Oldham, Greater Manchester).

Tariq Mahmood Dar for services to charity and the community in Brent, London.

Rifhat Malik for services to Muslim Women and to charity (Leeds, West Yorkshire).

Bhagvati Parmar: Migration Planning Co-ordinator, HM Revenue and Customs. For Charitable services (Bolton, Greater Manchester).

Ishver Patel for services to charity in the UK and abroad (Wellingborough, Northamptonshire).

Pinakin Ishvarlal Patel: Prevent Co-ordinator and Chair, London Prevent Network. For services to Community Cohesion and Preventing Radicalisation (Wisbech, Cambridgeshire).

Paramdeep Singh Bhatia (Param Singh) for voluntary service to Minority Communities (Truro, Cornwall).

Pratap Pawar: Dancer and Choreographer. For services to Dance, Culture and community Cohesion (Osterley, Middlesex).

Abul Kalam Azad Choudhury: Founder, Azad Choudhury Academy and Welfare Trust. For

Mohammed Ridwan Ahmed Rafique: Diversity and

Jagdev Singh Mavi for services to the Sikh community in Walsall., West Midlands.

Lalit Mohan Nagpaul JP for services to Older People and the Asian community in North London.

Shabnam Sabir for services to Homeless and Young People in Oxford (Oxfordshire).

Jashu Vekaria Jashu Vekaria, deputy head teacher of Orpington Manor Primary School has been awarded an MBE for her commitment to the community and education.

She teaches Gujarati on weekends through plays and songs to ensure the culture and the language aren’t lost.

Speaking to Asian Voice, she said, “I am really surprised and humbled to have been awarded this honour.”

Nitin Sawhney Nitin Sawhney is one the most distinctive and versatile musical voices around today, achieving an international reputation across every possible creative medium.

In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award, and is firmly established as a world-class producer, songwriter, DJ, multiinstrumentalist, orchestral composer and cultural pioneer.

Sawhney has become a modern-day ‘Renaissance man' in the worlds of music, film, videogames, dance and theatre. In 2018 Sawhney completed the entire composition of Warner Bros / Netflix epic film ‘Mowgli’ which will have its world premiere at the end of 2018.

Speaking to Asian Voice, about his future work, in an exclusive interview (AV P9, 15 Dec 2018), he said, “I am creating a new national anthem for Sky Arts with the National Youth Orchestra and a big choir. It will be performed at the Barbican. It is satirical; based around Brexit. I have been going to Manchester, Glasgow, up and down the country, asking people about their feelings.”

Param Singh

Rosie Ginday

Dr Vijay Patel

The founder of City Sikhs and its Deputy Chair, Param Singh, has been awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen for services to minority communities in the UK. Over the last 17 years he has worked diligently to develop meaningful interfaith relations between Sikhs and non-Sikhs in modern Britain as well as supporting various minorities including members of the LGBTQ community.

In 2010 he founded City Sikhs with a group of friends as a nationwide network of progressive Sikhs. It now has 7,000 members and it provides a voice to British Sikhs wanting to create positive change in society.

His voluntary work has included working with a wide range of organisations including charities, corporates, faith and interfaith groups, and government departments. One of the projects he has most recently been involved in is helping to improve access for BAME men and women within the corporate world. On hearing the news, Param said, “I feel incredibly honoured by this recognition from the Queen. My family has been a great support to me ever since I began volunteering in my student days, and I've been influenced by trailblazers within my own family, including my grandfather Professor Sunder Singh Bhatia who was one of the first minority ethnic people to graduate from the University of Sheffield almost 90 years ago and who went on to become an education pioneer in India. I want to dedicate my honour to my grandfather and others who were proud of their identity and willing to stand up for what they believed, regardless of what others thought of them.”

Rosie Ginday, founder of Miss Macaroon, the catering and retail group behind a range of different macaroon treats, has been awarded MBE. She was one of the 1200 people to be invited at the Harry and Meghan Markle Royal wedding at the Windsor castle on May 19th.

The 34 year old has received her honour for services to the community as her company offers training and employment opportunities to unemployed young people.

She created Miss Macaroon in 2011 from a desire to combine her passion for social enterprise and premium quality baking. She trained as a high-end pastry chef at University College Birmingham and moved on to working in Michelin starred kitchens across Britain before turning into an award-winning businesswoman. Her business model is based on creating hand-crafted and gluten-free macaroons, as well as bespoke logo-printed macaroons for other businesses and designer brands for branding and event purposes. She also owns Birmingham's first macaroon and prosecco bar, which opened in the city in October 2016.

Miss Macaroon trains, mentors and employs young people with mental health issues who are at risk of homelessness as well as single parents. All profits from the business are reinvested into providing training and jobs for longterm unemployed young people. The programme helps them gain work skills, build their confidence and to enter the competitive catering industry.

Dr Vijay Patel is the chairman and chief executive of Waymade Pharmaceuticals. He began his career setting up his own high-street pharmacy, Chemy’s, in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex which grew into a chain of over 20 branches. He sold the retail business to Boots and built a successful wholesale and distribution business through Waymade.

Patel was brought up in one room in Kenya, with his brother Bhikhu, by their mother Shantaben, who worked hard to earn a living as a schoolteacher. They lost their father when Vijay was 6. At the age of 16 he arrived in Britain with just £5 in his pocket. To finish sixth form and university, he worked many menial jobs including as a dishwasher, waiter, grill chef, labourer and barman.

After graduating from the College of Pharmacy in Leicester, he tried to arrange for a loan to open a chemist’s shop, but nobody was ready to give him money. Eventually an uncle stepped in and offered to be a guarantor on a loan for £6,000. Patel opened his first pharmacy in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, in 1975 and the rest has been history.

Patel is guided in business by his mother’s strict principles of 'charity, honesty and integrity'. They have a number of philanthropic interests and they also run a medical camp in India, offering a variety of surgical procedures and assisting in setting-up of the much-needed water wells.

Speaking to Asian Voice after receiving his OBE, Patel said, “I am deeply humbled and thrilled with the unexpected accolade. The honour sites that it is in recognition of community service and philanthropy. I thank our-mother Shantaba for teaching us to give to the less fortunate at a very young age. I have always enjoyed the support of my wife, family and friends for all the charity work and share this recognition with all who have helped.”

Gurinder Singh Josan 46 year old Gurinder Singh Josan from Smethwick, received a CBE for his services to politics.

A former Sandwell councillor, he held a seat from 2002 to 2010, and has also stood twice this year for a position on Labour’s National Executive Committee.

Speaking on getting his award, he reportedly said: “I was very surprised to receive this award but very honoured.”

The University of London graduate, who runs a plumbers merchants in Smethwick, has a background of entrepreneurship, public service and political activism - and wants to bring all of his skills and experience to the Office of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.

Gurinder, a former trustee of the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Smethwick and a trustee of the HOPE Not Hate charitable trust, is currently a member of Sandwell Police Independent Advisory Group and advises on policing policy and procedure.

He was also a member of the National Prevent Challenge Panel and has engaged with the national task group to tackle child sexual exploitation.

Gurinder sits on the Sikh Council UK national executive and is also a governor at three successful schools and Chair of Directors at a multi-academy trust.

Inspector Mustafa Mohammed Inspector Mustafa Mohammed, has been who is president of the National Association of Muslim Police.

When he joined the force in 1988, he was one of a small number of Muslim officers but 20 years later he went on to form the WMP Muslim Association, of which he is the current chair.

He has helped examine the issue of Islamophobic hate crime, build the force’s relationship with the Muslim community, while encouraging members to join the force.

Described by colleagues as a passionate and determined role model, he also acts as a critical friend, picking up the force on poor practice and shaping policy.

The 56-year-old said: “My reaction was one of total disbelief. I had to show the letter to my wife to make sure I was reading it correctly.”

Dr Vinod Kapashi Dr Vinod Kapashi, who has been awarded an OBE, is a Civil Engineer and moved to the UK in 1968 and worked for various construction companies in the beginning.

During his stay in the UK he took active interest in many literary activities and Jainism related works. He wrote two novels, a booklet of Haiku and many articles for magazines in India and the UK. His novels were widely acclaimed by the critics in India. He also wrote several plays, many of which were staged in London. He started devoting more time for promoting Jainism and wrote 20 books and articles on Jainism.

Kapashi became a founder trustee of a Jain Charity called Mahavir Foundation and served as president of this Trust for 20 years. Mahavir Foundation has provided a temple for the people residing in North-West London area. This temple is very popular and serves as a hub for many religious activities. During the course of his activities Kapashi have met Royals and many dignitaries including the pope in Vatican. He has attended Parliament of the Worlds Religions and presented his research papers there.

After the Gujarat earthquake in 2001, he organised a fund raising drive, visited the affected areas and chose a village to be rebuilt. Kapashi also works for the betterment of lonely and retired people through an organisation called Navjivan Vadil Kendra. This charity has received Queens award for voluntary services. He is greatly supported by his wife Sudha and daughters.

Suki Sandhu Suki Sandhu, Founder and CEO of Audeliss and INvolve, has received an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list for services to diversity in business. He has worked tirelessly to include the creation of the annual role model lists which showcase high profile LGBT+, ethnic minority and female executives who are making a difference in business.

He has also set up his own fund ‘The Suki Sandhu LGBTQI Asia Fund’, managed by GiveOut, to help fund the struggle for LBGTQI rights across Asia.

Suki Sandhu said, “I am both immensely honoured and humbled to be receiving an OBE...I would like to thank everyone who is helping us on this journey and those who have made a stand and shown everyone what is possible to achieve while staying true to your authentic self. I have so much love for all of you, and so much faith that we will continue to break down barriers for minority groups in every corner of the world.”

Nisha Katona A former barrister, Nisha Katona from Wirral, Merseyside, founded the Mowgli Street Food chain in 2014 and has been honoured for services to the food industry, promoting recipes that have been used by her mother, aunts and grandmother for years. Nisha worked as a full time barrister for 20 years before giving up the security of the Bar to dedicate herself to her restaurants, her food writing and her curry evangelism.

Her passion for Indian food led her to become founder, CEO and executive chef of Mowgli Street Food restaurants in the UK, and author of three cook books. Her parents immigrated to England from the city of Kolkata, in eastern India. She said many in her family were initially unconvinced by her decision to establish a small restaurant in her home city of Liverpool. But on receiving the OBE the 47year-old reportedly said: "I never, ever, cry at anything but I was overwhelmed.

“I just wanted to bring my ancestral dishes to the wider community. This is the most incredible endorsement,” she said.

Mandeep Kaur Flight Lieutenant Mandeep Kaur, the first Sikh Chaplian in the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, has received a MBE for services as an armed forces personnel. Mrs Kaur, 39, has been the sole Sikh chaplain to the armed services since 2005 and offers moral, spiritual and pastoral support to all Sikh personnel.

She also advises on faith matters to the chain of command, providing education on diversity and in building bridges between the military and Sikh communities.

She has a degree in Agricultural Engineering, having completed both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in India. She came to England to do her Ph.D. in the same field.

She grew up in the Punjab region of India and was chosen to be a Chaplain whilst studying in the UK for her doctorate in engineering. She has been working on this role since 2005.

16 NEW YEAR’S HONOUR LIST 5 - 11 January 2019

Order of the British Empire Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) Gurinder Singh Josan for his political service.

Dr. Sridevi Kalidindi (Vegasana): Consultant Psychiatrist in Rehabilitation and Recovery, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Rehabilitation Psychiatry (Beckenham, Kent).

Nitin Sawhney: Musician and composer. For his services to Music.

Mustafa Suleyman for his services to the UK Technology Industry.

Order of the British Empire Officers of the Order of the British Empire

in London.

Aamer Naeem: Chief Executive Officer, Penny Appeal. For services to Muslim Community Development.

Dr. Vijaykumar Chhotabhai Kalidas Patel: Chief Executive Officer. Waymade Pharmaceuticals. For services to business and philanthropy (Ingatestone, Essex).

Dr. Malik Jonathan Ramadhan: Consultant and Divisional Director in Emergency Care Barts Health NHS Trust. For services to healthcare (London).

Sukhjeev Sandhu: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Audeliss and INvolve. For services to diversity in business.

Shahed Saleem Tariq: Deputy Director of Children and Families, Leeds City Council.

For services to children's Services in Leeds (Leeds, West Yorkshire).

Professor Doctor Daljit Singh Virk: senior Research Fellow, Bangor University, Wales.

For services to Tackling Poverty Abroad and Education in Derby (Littleover, Derbyshire).

Ruby Khalid Bhatti for services to Young People and Housing (London)

Order of the British Empire Members of the Order of the British Empire

Farooq Ur Rehman Chaudhry: Producer. For his services to Dance and Dance Production (Hardwick, Cambridgeshire).

Jamshaid Ahmad: Immigration Officer, London and South, Home Office. For services to Law and Order (Middlesex).

Dr. Jagbir Jhutti Johal: Senior Lecturer in Sikh Studies, University of Birmingham. For services to Higher Education, Faith Communities and the Voluntary Sector.

Fateha Ahmed: For services to Diverse communities in Wales (Cardiff).

Dr. Vinod Kapashi for services to Jainism.

Abyd Karmali: Managing Director of Climate Finance, Bank of America Merrill Lynch. For services to International Climate Change and Sustainable Finance (London).

Umer Khan: Superintendent, Greater Manchester Police. For services to Policing and Community Cohesion (Greater Manchester).

Nasar Mahmood: Chairman, British Muslim Heritage Centre. For services to Community Relations in Manchester (Altrincham, Cheshire).

Imam Mohamed Hassan Yousef Mahmoud: Imam, London. For services to the community

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AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

NEW YEAR’S HONOUR LIST

17

QUEEN'S NEW YEAR'S HONOUR GIFT TO THE ASIAN DIASPORA IN THE UK T

Jayne Anne Gadhia: Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Money. For services to Financial Services and Women in the Financial Industry.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

5 - 11 January 2019

he Asian community in the UK welcomed 2019 by celebrating the New Year's Honour list where approximately 60 Asians were recognised for their outstanding achievements out of a total of roughly 1200 candidates. 12% of the total candidates are from the BAME (Black Asian Minority and Ethnic) background which rose from the 10% representation in the most recent Queen's Birthday Honour's list.

All candidates were selected for the different categories of BEM, MBE and OBE where 70% of the recipients awarded are the people who have provided voluntary or paid services to enrich the communities. Out of the 20 Knights and 9 Dames, Jayne-Anne Gadhia CBE is the only woman with an Asian representation that received this honour. The chief executive officer of Virgin Money, Jayne-Anne comes from humble origins of a working-class family and later got married to an accountant, Ashok Gadhia, who gave up his career to look after their daughter.

Entrepreneur D0r Vijay Patel, musician Nitin Sawhney who recently composed music for Netflix's Mowgli and Gurinder Singh Josan for his political service are few among the following who have made their mark this year.

Order of the British Empire Dames Commander of the order of the British Empire (DBE)

AsianVoiceNews

Riaz Aldina: Head of Financial Institutions Business Risk, Lloyds Banking Group. For services to Small Business Banking (Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire).

Saeed Atcha for services to Young People and the community in Greater Manchester (Bolton, Greater Manchester).

Rajinder Singh Bajwe for services to the Hospitality Industry and charity in Glasgow.

Sujata Banerjee for service to dance (London).

services to Education in Bangladesh (Birmingham, West Midlands).

Dr. Saroj Duggal: For services to Asian and Ethnic Minority Women (Tipton, West Midlands).

Mehmooda Duke DL: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Moosa-Duke Solicitors. For services to the Legal Profession and the Promotion of Female Entrepreneurship (Leicestershire).

Rosie Kaur Ginday: Founder and Director, Miss Macaroon Community Interest Company. For services to the community in Birmingham (Birmingham, West Midlands) Richard Leon Gill: Lately Police Officer, British Transport Police. For services to Policing (Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire).

Inclusion Manager, Immigration Enforcement, Home Office. For services to the Promotion of Inclusion in the Home Office and the community in Sandwell (west Midlands).

Farshid Raoufi: Station Commander, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Equality and Inclusion (Peterborough, Cambridgeshire).

Mamun-Ur-Rashid for services to business and the community in Govan, Glasgow.

Kuljit Kaur Sagoo: Chair, Home Office Gender Equality Network. For services to Diversity and Inclusion in the Home Office.

Wahida Shafi: For services to women, young people, interfaith and community relations (Bradford, West Yorkshire).

Gopal Krishna Gupta: Founder and Solicitor, Gupta and Partners, and Founder, Gupta Group. For services to British Business and Philanthropy (Moor Park, Hertfordshire).

Yusuf Mehmood Tai: Co-founder, Public Service Youth Foundation and Co-founder, Manchester with the Homeless. For services to Young People in Manchester (Bolton, Greater Manchester).

Zuffar Iqbal Haq for public and political service (Oadby, Leicestershire).

Balraj Tandon for services to business and the community in South London.

Monojaha Polly Islam for services to charity and the UK Bangladeshi community (Bedfordshire).

Chandra Mohan Trikha: Lately Director of Distribution Performance, SSE. For services to the Energy Industry (Bracknell, Berkshire).

Nisha Sujata Katona: Founder and Director, Mowgli Street Food Group Ltd. For services to the Food Industry.

Faeeza Vaid: Executive Director Muslim Women's Network UK. For services to wpmen's rights (Birmingha, West Midlands).

Mandeep Kaur: Sikh Chaplain to the Armed Forces. For voluntary services to Armed Forces Personnel and the Sikh community across the globe (Birmingham, West Midlands).

Jashu Vekaria: Deputy Headteacher, Uxendon Manor Primary School. For services to Primary Education (London).

Mohammed Muaaz Khan: founder, Eid Unwrapped and Convenor, Public Service Youth Foundation. For service to Young People (Manchester, Greater Manchester).

Surinderpal Singh LIT (Tony Lit) for services to the British-Asian community (Richmond, Surrey).

Helal Mahmood for services to Community Cohesion in Oldham (Oldham, Greater Manchester).

Tariq Mahmood Dar for services to charity and the community in Brent, London.

Rifhat Malik for services to Muslim Women and to charity (Leeds, West Yorkshire).

Bhagvati Parmar: Migration Planning Co-ordinator, HM Revenue and Customs. For Charitable services (Bolton, Greater Manchester).

Ishver Patel for services to charity in the UK and abroad (Wellingborough, Northamptonshire).

Pinakin Ishvarlal Patel: Prevent Co-ordinator and Chair, London Prevent Network. For services to Community Cohesion and Preventing Radicalisation (Wisbech, Cambridgeshire).

Paramdeep Singh Bhatia (Param Singh) for voluntary service to Minority Communities (Truro, Cornwall).

Pratap Pawar: Dancer and Choreographer. For services to Dance, Culture and community Cohesion (Osterley, Middlesex).

Abul Kalam Azad Choudhury: Founder, Azad Choudhury Academy and Welfare Trust. For

Mohammed Ridwan Ahmed Rafique: Diversity and

Jagdev Singh Mavi for services to the Sikh community in Walsall., West Midlands.

Lalit Mohan Nagpaul JP for services to Older People and the Asian community in North London.

Shabnam Sabir for services to Homeless and Young People in Oxford (Oxfordshire).

Jashu Vekaria Jashu Vekaria, deputy head teacher of Orpington Manor Primary School has been awarded an MBE for her commitment to the community and education.

She teaches Gujarati on weekends through plays and songs to ensure the culture and the language aren’t lost.

Speaking to Asian Voice, she said, “I am really surprised and humbled to have been awarded this honour.”

Nitin Sawhney Nitin Sawhney is one the most distinctive and versatile musical voices around today, achieving an international reputation across every possible creative medium.

In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award, and is firmly established as a world-class producer, songwriter, DJ, multiinstrumentalist, orchestral composer and cultural pioneer.

Sawhney has become a modern-day ‘Renaissance man' in the worlds of music, film, videogames, dance and theatre. In 2018 Sawhney completed the entire composition of Warner Bros / Netflix epic film ‘Mowgli’ which will have its world premiere at the end of 2018.

Speaking to Asian Voice, about his future work, in an exclusive interview (AV P9, 15 Dec 2018), he said, “I am creating a new national anthem for Sky Arts with the National Youth Orchestra and a big choir. It will be performed at the Barbican. It is satirical; based around Brexit. I have been going to Manchester, Glasgow, up and down the country, asking people about their feelings.”

Param Singh

Rosie Ginday

Dr Vijay Patel

The founder of City Sikhs and its Deputy Chair, Param Singh, has been awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen for services to minority communities in the UK. Over the last 17 years he has worked diligently to develop meaningful interfaith relations between Sikhs and non-Sikhs in modern Britain as well as supporting various minorities including members of the LGBTQ community.

In 2010 he founded City Sikhs with a group of friends as a nationwide network of progressive Sikhs. It now has 7,000 members and it provides a voice to British Sikhs wanting to create positive change in society.

His voluntary work has included working with a wide range of organisations including charities, corporates, faith and interfaith groups, and government departments. One of the projects he has most recently been involved in is helping to improve access for BAME men and women within the corporate world. On hearing the news, Param said, “I feel incredibly honoured by this recognition from the Queen. My family has been a great support to me ever since I began volunteering in my student days, and I've been influenced by trailblazers within my own family, including my grandfather Professor Sunder Singh Bhatia who was one of the first minority ethnic people to graduate from the University of Sheffield almost 90 years ago and who went on to become an education pioneer in India. I want to dedicate my honour to my grandfather and others who were proud of their identity and willing to stand up for what they believed, regardless of what others thought of them.”

Rosie Ginday, founder of Miss Macaroon, the catering and retail group behind a range of different macaroon treats, has been awarded MBE. She was one of the 1200 people to be invited at the Harry and Meghan Markle Royal wedding at the Windsor castle on May 19th.

The 34 year old has received her honour for services to the community as her company offers training and employment opportunities to unemployed young people.

She created Miss Macaroon in 2011 from a desire to combine her passion for social enterprise and premium quality baking. She trained as a high-end pastry chef at University College Birmingham and moved on to working in Michelin starred kitchens across Britain before turning into an award-winning businesswoman. Her business model is based on creating hand-crafted and gluten-free macaroons, as well as bespoke logo-printed macaroons for other businesses and designer brands for branding and event purposes. She also owns Birmingham's first macaroon and prosecco bar, which opened in the city in October 2016.

Miss Macaroon trains, mentors and employs young people with mental health issues who are at risk of homelessness as well as single parents. All profits from the business are reinvested into providing training and jobs for longterm unemployed young people. The programme helps them gain work skills, build their confidence and to enter the competitive catering industry.

Dr Vijay Patel is the chairman and chief executive of Waymade Pharmaceuticals. He began his career setting up his own high-street pharmacy, Chemy’s, in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex which grew into a chain of over 20 branches. He sold the retail business to Boots and built a successful wholesale and distribution business through Waymade.

Patel was brought up in one room in Kenya, with his brother Bhikhu, by their mother Shantaben, who worked hard to earn a living as a schoolteacher. They lost their father when Vijay was 6. At the age of 16 he arrived in Britain with just £5 in his pocket. To finish sixth form and university, he worked many menial jobs including as a dishwasher, waiter, grill chef, labourer and barman.

After graduating from the College of Pharmacy in Leicester, he tried to arrange for a loan to open a chemist’s shop, but nobody was ready to give him money. Eventually an uncle stepped in and offered to be a guarantor on a loan for £6,000. Patel opened his first pharmacy in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, in 1975 and the rest has been history.

Patel is guided in business by his mother’s strict principles of 'charity, honesty and integrity'. They have a number of philanthropic interests and they also run a medical camp in India, offering a variety of surgical procedures and assisting in setting-up of the much-needed water wells.

Speaking to Asian Voice after receiving his OBE, Patel said, “I am deeply humbled and thrilled with the unexpected accolade. The honour sites that it is in recognition of community service and philanthropy. I thank our-mother Shantaba for teaching us to give to the less fortunate at a very young age. I have always enjoyed the support of my wife, family and friends for all the charity work and share this recognition with all who have helped.”

Gurinder Singh Josan 46 year old Gurinder Singh Josan from Smethwick, received a CBE for his services to politics.

A former Sandwell councillor, he held a seat from 2002 to 2010, and has also stood twice this year for a position on Labour’s National Executive Committee.

Speaking on getting his award, he reportedly said: “I was very surprised to receive this award but very honoured.”

The University of London graduate, who runs a plumbers merchants in Smethwick, has a background of entrepreneurship, public service and political activism - and wants to bring all of his skills and experience to the Office of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.

Gurinder, a former trustee of the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Smethwick and a trustee of the HOPE Not Hate charitable trust, is currently a member of Sandwell Police Independent Advisory Group and advises on policing policy and procedure.

He was also a member of the National Prevent Challenge Panel and has engaged with the national task group to tackle child sexual exploitation.

Gurinder sits on the Sikh Council UK national executive and is also a governor at three successful schools and Chair of Directors at a multi-academy trust.

Inspector Mustafa Mohammed Inspector Mustafa Mohammed, has been who is president of the National Association of Muslim Police.

When he joined the force in 1988, he was one of a small number of Muslim officers but 20 years later he went on to form the WMP Muslim Association, of which he is the current chair.

He has helped examine the issue of Islamophobic hate crime, build the force’s relationship with the Muslim community, while encouraging members to join the force.

Described by colleagues as a passionate and determined role model, he also acts as a critical friend, picking up the force on poor practice and shaping policy.

The 56-year-old said: “My reaction was one of total disbelief. I had to show the letter to my wife to make sure I was reading it correctly.”

Dr Vinod Kapashi Dr Vinod Kapashi, who has been awarded an OBE, is a Civil Engineer and moved to the UK in 1968 and worked for various construction companies in the beginning.

During his stay in the UK he took active interest in many literary activities and Jainism related works. He wrote two novels, a booklet of Haiku and many articles for magazines in India and the UK. His novels were widely acclaimed by the critics in India. He also wrote several plays, many of which were staged in London. He started devoting more time for promoting Jainism and wrote 20 books and articles on Jainism.

Kapashi became a founder trustee of a Jain Charity called Mahavir Foundation and served as president of this Trust for 20 years. Mahavir Foundation has provided a temple for the people residing in North-West London area. This temple is very popular and serves as a hub for many religious activities. During the course of his activities Kapashi have met Royals and many dignitaries including the pope in Vatican. He has attended Parliament of the Worlds Religions and presented his research papers there.

After the Gujarat earthquake in 2001, he organised a fund raising drive, visited the affected areas and chose a village to be rebuilt. Kapashi also works for the betterment of lonely and retired people through an organisation called Navjivan Vadil Kendra. This charity has received Queens award for voluntary services. He is greatly supported by his wife Sudha and daughters.

Suki Sandhu Suki Sandhu, Founder and CEO of Audeliss and INvolve, has received an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list for services to diversity in business. He has worked tirelessly to include the creation of the annual role model lists which showcase high profile LGBT+, ethnic minority and female executives who are making a difference in business.

He has also set up his own fund ‘The Suki Sandhu LGBTQI Asia Fund’, managed by GiveOut, to help fund the struggle for LBGTQI rights across Asia.

Suki Sandhu said, “I am both immensely honoured and humbled to be receiving an OBE...I would like to thank everyone who is helping us on this journey and those who have made a stand and shown everyone what is possible to achieve while staying true to your authentic self. I have so much love for all of you, and so much faith that we will continue to break down barriers for minority groups in every corner of the world.”

Nisha Katona A former barrister, Nisha Katona from Wirral, Merseyside, founded the Mowgli Street Food chain in 2014 and has been honoured for services to the food industry, promoting recipes that have been used by her mother, aunts and grandmother for years. Nisha worked as a full time barrister for 20 years before giving up the security of the Bar to dedicate herself to her restaurants, her food writing and her curry evangelism.

Her passion for Indian food led her to become founder, CEO and executive chef of Mowgli Street Food restaurants in the UK, and author of three cook books. Her parents immigrated to England from the city of Kolkata, in eastern India. She said many in her family were initially unconvinced by her decision to establish a small restaurant in her home city of Liverpool. But on receiving the OBE the 47year-old reportedly said: "I never, ever, cry at anything but I was overwhelmed.

“I just wanted to bring my ancestral dishes to the wider community. This is the most incredible endorsement,” she said.

Mandeep Kaur Flight Lieutenant Mandeep Kaur, the first Sikh Chaplian in the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, has received a MBE for services as an armed forces personnel. Mrs Kaur, 39, has been the sole Sikh chaplain to the armed services since 2005 and offers moral, spiritual and pastoral support to all Sikh personnel.

She also advises on faith matters to the chain of command, providing education on diversity and in building bridges between the military and Sikh communities.

She has a degree in Agricultural Engineering, having completed both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in India. She came to England to do her Ph.D. in the same field.

She grew up in the Punjab region of India and was chosen to be a Chaplain whilst studying in the UK for her doctorate in engineering. She has been working on this role since 2005.

18 FINANCE - UK

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Consultant Editor Financial Voice Alpesh Patel Dear Financial Voice Reader, New Year’s Resolutions for Making More Money!

Losing an extra 10kg and making an 10k in the year are the resolutions of many people – modest, straightforward. The thing with making money, unlike losing weight is, if you can make 10k, you can make 100k when it comes to trading and investing at least.

Here are some top resolutions: One have a plan – the plan needs to be detailed. It needs to state how much capital do you have, how much is the most you will risk on any one trade, how will you spread the risk capital across investments, and how much do you plan to make on each investment?

Once you have some basic figures, and an idea of how often you expect to lose and win, you will have a financial plan.

Next you need a trading strategy. How will you pick winners? How will you pick losers?

After this you must know when you will take a loss.

This is the biggest mistake people make. They don’t plan for their losses. They pray them or wish them away.

That will not do. You must absolutely know when you will exit. It is this, your losses that will make you rich. It is the protection from big losses.

And the basic thing to understand about losses in business, trading, life, investments is to know when something is a bad debt, with no strategy left for you to extract money, or more accurately, you’re better off putting the capital that is left into the strategy that works, and when the loss will recover such that you would buy at that price now if you did not already own the asset (ie forget the bias of owning the asset at a loss).

And that leads to understanding psychology. People don’t realise they behave very differently to owning an asset which shows a loss to one which they would buy right now at the same price. People prefer to hold on, than take the loss. They call it a ‘paper loss’. That’s not helped when transaction costs are high and the opportunity to re-acquire low.

You will soon realise trading and investing online is about a mindset – about a way of thinking.

Trading and investing then gets closer to being a process whereby you can say how much you are making per 10 trades on average, how much you are losing (capped), how you maximise profits from those trades that are doing well (by putting more money).

If I had to pick the most important parts of success, I would say they are trading psychology so you don’t get sabotaged and also protecting losses.

I’ve created a free online course for all my Asian Voice readers, which won an Award from London Investor Show in 2018, for most informative financial website. You can start your New Year’s Resolution there: www.trading-champions.com And I resolve to give you award winning financial content in my Asian Voice column throughout the year.

Alpesh Patel Her Majesty’s Government’s Dealmaker For a free online trading course visit www.alpeshpatel.com

UK factory output jumps as stockpiling increases Britain’s manufacturers ramped up their stockpiling efforts last month in preparation for a potential no-deal Brexit in less than 90 days’ time, with factory output rising to the highest level in six months. According to the latest snapshot survey from IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, growing concerns about Brexit disruption from border hold-ups after 29 March led more businesses to build up stocks in December.

Factories stockpiled raw materials used in production processes, as well as finished goods, at one of the fastest rates on record, according to the gauge of activity that is closely watched by the Bank of England and the Treasury for early warning signs from the British economy.

The IHS Markit/Cips manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose to 54.2 in December from 53.6 in November, beating all forecasts, on a scale where a reading above 50 indicates economic growth. In a sign of mounting stress for the British economy as the impasse in Westminster over Brexit continues, the stockpiling of finished goods increased at the second-fastest rate since 1992.

Business leaders urge MPs to back Theresa May's Brexit deal Entrepreneurs have asked politicians to put aside career ambitions and support Theresa May's Brexit agreement to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU with no deal. With the political turmoil intensifying in Westminster, several high-profile figures in the corporate world have urged MPs to back the draft agreement. Warren East, chief executive of Rolls Royce said, “We are slightly running out of time and I would, as a business leader, like to see politicians on both sides of the fence get on and negotiate a practical deal that works for business. We're essentially (still) having a discussion we could have had the morning after the referendum.”

He said any Brexit agreement would be better than no deal at all. UK chief executive of Siemens, Jürgen Maier mirrored the feelings and said, “My gut feeling is we need to get behind it and we need to make this deal work.”

Iceland Foods' managing director Richard Walker said there was “no other option” but for MPs to agree on the draft deal. He said, “Parliamentarians have got to put aside ideologies, and definitely career ambitions, and think very carefully about delivering on the deal we have. Every deal requires concessions on both sides. We voted to leave and this proposal regains as much control as we can expect whilst still keeping us open for business with our biggest trading partner. Moreover, it

Theresa May

delivers a clear path ahead that business so desperately needs.”

However, the Institute of Directors (IOD) said more detail was needed for firms to assess how they will be impacted. IOD director Stephen Martin urged ministers to think “long and hard” about how they react to the firststage agreement. He said, “Leaving the EU without a deal is a very bad outcome for businesses, workers and consumers, and this is simply an inherent risk that comes with voting down any withdrawal deal.” He said the IOD was “heartened” to see that provision had been made to extend the transition

period. Meanwhile Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium said the political uncertainty would harm UK consumers.

She said, “Until a withdrawal agreement is approved by both parliament and EU member states, we have continuing uncertainty and the risk remains of consumers facing higher prices and reduced availability of products in March 2019.” Andrew Gray, head of Brexit at PwC said firms needed to be ready for all eventualities. “We still urge business to continue preparing for both a deal and no deal scenario until the deal is ratified.”

UK services sector shrinking for first time in 8 years A new research concludes that the UK's services sector has contracted for the first time in eight years, painting a “particularly gloomy outlook” for the country. An index of services output slumped to 94.7 in July from 96.9 the previous month, with anything below 95 indicating the sector is contracting.

This is the first time services, including retail, banks, hotels, and media companies, among others, have registered a decline since February 2010, said professional services firm BDO, which commissioned the research. It found that manufacturing, which makes up around one-tenth of the economy, continued to fare better than services in July, recording 100.1 on the index, though this was down slightly from 100.8 in June.

The data, compiled by the Centre for Economic and Business Research,

aggregated the results of a number of closely-watched business surveys. It suggests that UK business output is at its lowest point in six years and is edging towards the point of contraction.

Output in services and manufacturing combined fell to 95.34 in July from 97.29 in June and from 100.96 12 months ago. The findings come after the Bank of England chose to raise interest rates this week by a quarter of a point to 0.75 per cent and Brexit negotiations show no signs of moving closer to a resolution.

International Trade Secretary, Liam Fox said the UK was now odd-on to crash out of the EU without a trade deal in March. He said the likelihood of a hard Brexit in which the UK is forced to deal with the EU and other nations under World Trade Organisation terms was now “60-40”.

Bank of England governor Mark Carney said the risk of no deal was now “uncomfortably high”. Peter Hemington, a BDO partner said the prospect of no deal was dragging productivity by discouraging firms to invest in the UK. He said, “The Bank of England's decision to raise interest rates was designed to reduce inflation but has been carried out during a period of immense fragility for British business.

I would urge the Monetary Policy Committee to act with caution when it comes to the possibility of any further rate rises. The government must also recognise the pressing need to protect Britain’s 26 million services sector workers as Brexit negotiations take place, particularly considering the UK has the highest share of services exports of any leading economy.”

Britain's public finances worse than Gambia, Uganda: IMF study A new study concludes that Britain's underlying public finances are among the worst in the world, standing behind the Gambia, Uganda, and Kenya.

Economists at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revealed that £1 trillion had been wiped off UK public sector net wealth since the 2008 financial crisis, largely due to bank bailouts and increasing pension liabilities. The institution looked at the assets and liabilities of 31 countries and found the UK was in a worse position than every other country apart from Portugal.

The IMF's approach takes into account the benefit of assets such as publicly owned corporations and natural resources, rather than looking at

each country's debt and the deficit. The figures more closely resemble a company's balance sheet. The IMF said the cost of bailing out banks had been a significant factor dragging the UK down the rankings. The UK also has one of the largest pension liabilities of any nation in the study but is towards the bottom of the pile when it comes to public assets.

Using the public sector balance sheet method, countries such as Gambia, Uganda and Kenya rank above the UK because, while they have smaller assets and liabilities than Britain, they have a higher net wealth relative to GDP. The report takes particular aim at the privatisation of public assets,

the benefits of which it says are often merely an “illusion”. The UK has undergone one of the most drastic privatisations of any economy since the early 1980s.

Economists said the tendency of governments to focus on debt “misses large swaths of government activity and can fall victim to illusory fiscal practices.” The report said, “For instance, privatisations increase revenue and lower deficits but also reduce the government's asset holdings.

Similarly, cutting back maintenance expenditure reduces the deficit and lowers debt, but also reduces the value of infrastructure assets, which could cost more in the long term.”

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5 - 11 January 2019

ACCUMULATE, DON’T SPECULATE which doesn’t look likely to improve in the short term at least.

Should we sit on the fence? Or is this the time to dive in and exploit the situation?

We are now in 2019, and there is no further certainty in regard to Brexit.

This has led to uncertainty in regard to the UK property market. This is typified by a recent large deal which fell out of bed, leading to a massive 1/3 drop in share price in just one day.

The problem with headlines is that everyone likes a simple one. It means you have to think and discriminate less.

A £2.9bn buyout of the shopping centre landlord Intu collapsed after concerns regarding Brexit spooked a consortium of buyers.

Suresh Vagjiani Sow & Reap London Property Investment

It’s clear how the masses are responding, they are sitting on the fence; a wait and see approach.

Do you make money by following the masses? The answer is a clear no.

The announcement that talks had ended prompted Intu Properties’ shares to shed more than a third of their value, plunging 36% by lunchtime trading to 124p — their biggest one-day fall since listing 26 years ago.

With future potential drops the larger you buy the more the risk of a drop. This, however, does not mean the top end of the market has dropped off a cliff’s edge, this is not what agents are reporting. Rather, buyers are using this back drop to be more choosier in regards to what they purchase. The best properties are selling in excess of their guide prices.

The Bank of England has warned that if the UK leaves the EU without a deal in place, prices of commercial property assets such as shopping centres, offices and hotels could fall by as much as 48%, a greater drop than during the financial crisis. A less severe “disruptive” Brexit scenario would still result in a 27% fall, the central bank said, adding to a series of warnings about the potential economic impact of the UK’s departure.

There are segments within the market, in terms of prices, yields and geography. The whole market cannot be painted with one brush.

Now is precisely the time to enter the market, when there is great uncertainty. Not stupidly, but with

So, how should an investor respond to such a nervous market, and one

great discrimination.

We have identified areas in London where the yields are circa 4.5% to 5%.

In one location we are targeting we expect the potential for future growth will be steady, strong and sustained for the next five years at least, similar to what Walthamstow started to experience in 2007. However, the growth factors in this location are even stronger in terms of connectivity, and the property prices are at entry level, within the realm of affordability for first time buyers looking for shelter.

This growth potential is compounded by the comfort of a strong yield.

The other focus in 2019 should be yields. Investment where the rental yields can be enhanced, such as HMO properties. Ones which will provide income on a monthly basis, whatever the weather. Yields of even 8-10% are possible on the funds invested. These kind of yields immunise you from the performance of the underlying asset – not that this should be ignored.

Both the above scenarios are not pie in the sky, they are achievable. We are doing deals on the ground, along the tracks of what has been described in this article. How will you respond to the market in 2019? Will you sit on the fence? Or will you exploit this unique situation?

WHEN DID YOU STOP DREAMING? When we observe children we see how they play, how they don’t dwell on stuff and that they are not so worried about tomorrow.

Slowly, we all learn about responsibility and thinking about the consequences of our actions.

We learn about how to take care of ourselves. Then we learn how to take care of others.

During this process, we become preoccupied by the need to survive. If we are fortunate enough to enjoy

success beyond survival, we become preoccupied by cultivating reputation, power and wealth.

We stop dreaming. We stop playing.

Whatever playing we do is more about escaping pressures than dreaming.

Dreaming is intrinsic to being human. Humans are wired with hope. Hope inspires dreams. And dreams fuel hope. Both create purpose,

IS INVESTING IN PROPERTY YOUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTION?

London, SE28 Purchase Price: £200,000

● ● ● ● ● ●

and purpose is the elixir that brings us happiness.

Our ability to dream is symptomatic of humans’ ability not to be governed and constrained by current circumstances.

The United States of America has grown from zero to a £$20 trillion economy over 400 hundred years from this cycle of hopes and dreams, for the freedom to do business and worship unfettered by a malevolent monarch.

For some it has been so long since we dreamed that we have forgotten how it feels and why it is so powerful.

To explore this idea, we need to break up our routines and read, talk and do new things.

Every one of us deserves to dream.

Every one us is a dreamer.

It is from dreams that reality is chiselled.

Abraham Goldberg

AGONY AGENT IS HERE TO HELP! Q: My tenant has left, but she has not paid the gas and electricity bills. What should I do?

A: Contact the utility companies and explain the situation to them. It is more than likely that they will require information from you e.g. tenancy dates, tenant’s full name, contact information, forwarding address and perhaps even the tenancy agreement.

If you do not have a forwarding address for the tenant, then explain this to the company and offer them their past address or that of any guarantors.

I am not saying all utility companies will work in the same way, but they will all have similar policies and procedures regarding such scenarios.

My top tip would be to never throw a tenancy agreement away, as you never know when an old bill will need paying!

Whenever you have a new tenant move in make it YOUR responsibility to register everything under their name, and don’t leave this to them. Do not let the bills stay in your name. You may wonder why it matters, as long as the bills are being paid, but this scenario provides one good example as to why it is necessary to register the utilities under the tenant’s name.

If you have any property management questions, or if you need any assistance, please do get in touch.

Richard Bond

Two bedroom, top floor flat Long lease Low service charges Ready to rent condition Close to a Crossrail station Rental income expected is approx £900 per month, generating a yield of 5.4% per annum

● Approx £73K cash required, subject to mortgage terms ● Superb capital and rental growth expectations due to Crossrail Call us now for more information!

Specialists in Central London Property Sourcing

0207 993 0103 info@sowandreap.co.uk www.sowandreap.co.uk 27 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 8HU SowandReapProperties

Sowandreapuk

Turning land into cash Get in touch about our land opportunities

20 FINANCE - UK

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India ahead of China on FDI front in 2018 India has surpassed the Dragon in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2018 for the first time in the last 20 years. India's annual FDI was higher than that of China's with 253 inbound deals amounting to $39.515 billion. Data produced by global financial markets platform, Dealogic, China attracted FDI to the tune of $33.02 billion in 397 inbound deals in the same period.

India had attracted FDI worth $18.57 billion in 205 inbound deals in 2017, while China's FDI amounted to $32.49 billion in 383 inbound deals.

Rucha Ranadive of CARE Ratings said, “The stable microeconomic environment and slowdown in the Chinese economy has helped India attract more FDI. In addition, the government of India has taken various initiatives. It has

opened up various sectors for FDI investment and has promoted Single window clearance.”

She added, “There have been signs of slowdown in the Chinese economy since the

eruption of tariff war with the US. This has resulted in outflow of foreign funds, especially foreign portfolio investments, from the emerging market economies including India.”

The opening up of single brand retail, construction and power exchanges for foreign investment and allowing 100 per cent FDI in insurance broking is under consideration are few steps taken by the government that may have helped, Rucha said. Meanwhile, Union Minister Suresh Prabhu recently said India aims to receive $100 billion in foreign direct investments in the next two years and special industrial clusters are being created for countries like Japan, South Korea, China and Russia where their companies can invest and operate.

Govt has prepared revival plan for Air India: Sinha The Indian government has prepared a revival plan for Air India that provides for a comprehensive financial package, differentiated strategies for each of the airline's core businesses and robust organisational reforms. Civil Aviation Minister Jayant Sinha said various initiatives to turnaround the national carrier, which is staying afloat on a bailout package extended by the previous government, including monetisation of real estate assets are progressing. Addressing the Lok Sabha, he said the government has prepared a revival plan for Air India which focuses on building a competitive and profitable airline group.

The plan include a comprehensive financial package, including transfer of noncore debt and assets to a special purpose vehicle (SPV), implementation of a robust organisational and governance reforms by the board and differentiated business strategies for each of the core businesses of

INDIAN-AMERICAN NAMED FEDEX CEO, PRESIDENT

Indian-American Rajesh Subramaniam has taken up the role of president and CEO of the US multinational courier delivery giant FedEx Express. Currently the executive vice president, chief marketing and communications officer of FedEx Corporation, he assumed his new role on January 1, 2019. He replaces David L Cunningham at the Tennesseeheadquartered company. An IIT-Bombay graduate from Thiruvananthapuram, Subramaniam has been with FedEx for more than 27 years. He has held various executive positions in the company, and had begun his career in Memphis, before moving to Hong Kong where he oversaw marketing and customer service for the Asia Pacific region. David J Bronczek, president and COO, FedEx Corporation, said, “Raj's global vision and broad experience make him uniquely qualified to lead our largest operating company. We look forward to the continued growth of FedEx Express within our global portfolio as Raj takes on this critical role.”

SC BINS PLEA FOR SIT PROBE INTO PNB SCAM

The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a PIL for a court-monitored special investigation team (SIT) probe into the Punjab National Bank scam for £1.40 billion in which absconding diamond merchant Nirav Modi is the prime accused.

A bench of Justices SK Kaul and Deepak Gupta dismissed the petition filed by advocate Vineet Dhanda. In its order, the bench said, “We are not inclined to entertain this petition filed under Section 32 of the Constitution of India. The writ petition is... dismissed.” The petitioner had unsuccessfully argued that the SC should intervene to ensure a free and fair probe in the case.

GOVT READIES BIG FARM RELIEF PLAN

Air India are part of the plan. Sinha said, “Higher levels of operational efficiency by strengthening management and implementing best business processes,” are among the major elements of the plan. The Union Minister also said that Air India has planned to monetise its unutilised and

surplus immovable real estate assets over the next few years. “Till date, Air India has realised an amount of £41 million through sale of its non-core assets in various cities in India and abroad. Air India has also realised a rental income of £31.4 million approximately.”

India, UAE to trade in their currencies The United Arab Emirates and India have inked a currency swap agreement, in a landmark move that allows rupee and dirham for businesses instead of dollar. With nearly $50 billion bilateral trade, the two countries are one of the largest trade partners and have made robust investments bilaterally. The agreement was inked during India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's two-day visit. The minister chaired the 12th session of the UAE-India Joint Commission Meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held at the ministry's headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

Both leaders agreed to boost cooperation in trade, security and defence. They also decided to strengthen their resolve to combat extremism and terrorism in all its forms, regardless of the perpetrators and their intent. Sheikh Abdullah said the UAE has always shared strong historical ties with India and the bilateral ties are based on mutual respect and trust, which are aimed at enhancing mutual benefit of the people.

Swaraj congratulated the leadership, government, and the people of the UAE on the occasion of the celebration of the National Day.

in brief

The Indian government is working on a plan to provide relief to farmers and is weighing options on a direct benefit transfer scheme for the distressed sector modelled on the Telangana system. Several rounds of discussions have been held and the view emerging within the government favours a limited direct benefit transfer scheme to help small and marginal farmers meet expenses for seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and labour. Sources said the cost of such a scheme would work out to about £12.50 billion and could be jointly borne by the Centre and states. The urgency to provide relief to the agriculture sector comes against the backdrop of BJP’s losses in three key state elections where farm distress emerged as a major issue.

INDIGO AIRLINE UNDER FIRE

Sushma Swaraj with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan

The ministers also oversaw memorandums of understandings signed for development of cooperation in Africa between both the ministries and the currency swap agreement inked between the Central Bank on UAE and the Reserve Bank in India. Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of UAE Mohammed Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, and Navdeep Singh Suri, UAE Ambassador to India, signed the agreement.

Also, Mohamed Sharaf, Assistant Minister for Economic and Commercial

Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and TS Tirumurti, Secretary for Economic Affairs at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, led the Senior Officials Meeting that saw a series of discussions held under eight subcommittees. Topics of discussion included bilateral matters, consular field, space, education, agriculture, and livestock and development cooperation, civil aviation, and economic and trade, investments, banking and finance cooperation.

India's private airline Indigo is the "worst performing" carrier for consumers, while national carrier Air India has the best luggage policy, said parliamentary panel on civil aviation chairman Derek O' Brien.

O'Brien, who heads the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Tourism, Culture, Road, Shipping and Aviation, said the panel had taken strong note that during festive season some airlines were charging 8-10 times more than the normal fares. He said,"Our committee is very clear that the worst performing airline for consumers is Indigo. All 30 members agreed on this.

Every single member (of the panel) is disgusted with the way some private airlines are operating but more so with Indigo, it is discourteous. The airline is very rigid, Indigo even charges for one-two kg overweight, this has not been taken very well and the committee is looking into the matter seriously," he said.

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in brief SURVEY FINDS FB LEAST TRUSTED TECH COMPANY

In a reflection of what a series of data leaks and scandals has done to damage the reputation of Facebook, a new survey has found that the world’s largest social network leads the list of companies that people trust the least. According to a survey of 1,000 people conducted earlier this month by research company Toluna, 40% of respondents said they trusted Facebook the least with their personal information, PCMag.com reported. Facebook is followed by Twitter and Amazon which tied for the second position with lack of trust from 8% of the respondents for each of the companies. They are followed by Uber and Google. While 7% of the respondents said they did not trust Uber with their personal data, 6% said the same of Google. Microsoft and Apple fared comparatively well.

MICHELLE BEATS HILLARY AS MOST ADMIRED WOMAN

Former first lady Hillary Clinton’s 17-year run as the woman Americans admire most is over.

Another former first lady, Michelle Obama, has deposed Clinton as America’s most admired woman, according to a Gallup poll. Expresident Barack Obama was named the man Americans admire most for the 11th year in a row, Gallup said. President Trump finished second in the poll for the fourth year in a row.

Gallup has conducted the annual poll every year since 1946 with the exception of 1976.

About 15% of the 1,025 Americans polled said the woman they admire most is Michelle Obama. TV host Oprah Winfrey was second with 5% followed by Hillary Clinton and first lady Melania Trump with 4%.

AUSTRALIA SWELTERS IN RECORD HEATWAVE

Australia went through one of its hottest Decembers ever, the national weather bureau said, prompting fire bans, health warnings and big crowds trying to cool off at beaches. As the country's hottest town, Marble Bar in the remote northwest, endured its warmest day ever, forecasters said the heat would spread southeast where the big cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide would endure monthly average temperatures up to 16 degrees Celsius higher than usual. The capital, Canberra, registered its hottest December day on record - 39C (102F) last week. The unusually high temperatures add to a sense of exhaustion for a farm economy already reeling from a year of drought.

ANGELINA JOLIE MAY PLUNGE INTO POLITICS

Angelina Jolie has not ruled out a move into politics - and has joked she might be tough enough to take the rough and tumble that comes with it. She told BBC radio she “can take a lot on the chin” - a possible reference to her divorce from Brad Pitt. When asked if she is moving in the direction of politics, she said, “I honestly will do whatever I think can really make change”.

WOMAN JAILED FOR ‘SEXUALLY HARASSING’ MONKEY

An Egyptian court has sentenced a 25-yearold woman to three years in prison for “sexually harassing” a monkey, state daily AlAhram reported. A court charged Basma Ahmed with “inciting debauchery” and “committing an obscene act in public”, a source told the daily. She was arrested in October after a video of the incident went viral, Al-Ahram said. The video shows Ahmed touching the genitals of a monkey at a pet shop and making sexual innuendos as people around her chuckle.

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PAKISTAN-BANGLADESH

Landslide victory for Hasina as her party wins 288 of 300 seats DHAKA: Bangladesh’s ruling alliance won virtually every parliamentary seat in the country’s general election, according to official results, giving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a third straight term despite allegations of intimidation and the opposition disputing the outcome. The coalition led by Hasina’s Awami League party won 288 out of 300 seats or 96% in Sunday's polls. The opposition alliance led by prominent lawyer Kamal Hossain won only seven seats. The opposition rejected the outcome, with Hossain calling the election “farcical” and demanding a new election be held under the authority of a “nonpartisan government.”

But chief election commissioner K M Nurul Huda ruled out any fresh vote, saying there were no reports of largescale irregularities.

Hasina’s main rival for decades has been former PM Khaleda Zia, the leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, whom a court deemed ineligible to run for office because she is in prison for alleged corruption. In Khaleda’s absence, opposition parties formed a coalition led by Hossain, an 82-year-old former member of Hasina’s Awami League. Hasina met political leaders

Sheikh Hasina

and senior military and civil officials at her office. It said Indian Prime Minister Naredra Modi telephoned her and promised to continue to support Bangladesh under her leadership.

Hasina said the victory was ``nothing for her personal gain, rather it is a great responsibility toward the country and people.'' The opposition says Hasina's leadership has become increasingly authoritarian. More than a dozen people

were killed in election-related violence, and the election campaign was dogged by allegations of the arrest and jailing of thousands of Hasina's opponents.

Hossain said that about 100 candidates from the alliance had withdrawn from their races during the day. He said the alliance would meet to decide its next step. The secretary general of Zia's party, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, won a seat in a twist victory. Alamgir is a fierce critic of Hasina and spearheaded the formation of the opposition alliance with Hossain at the helm. Alamgir said he was rejecting any outcome, but it was unknown after his win was declared what he would do now. In the run-up to the election, activists from both the ruling party and the opposition complained of attacks on supporters and candidates.

While rights groups have sounded alarms about an erosion of Bangladesh's democracy, Hasina has promoted a different narrative, highlighting an ambitious economic agenda that has propelled Bangladesh past larger neighbors like Pakistan and India by some development measures.

Gobal body tightens noose on Pak over terror funding NEW DELHI: The global watchdog on terrorism financing, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), is expanding its monitoring jurisdiction from terror groups to states who support terrorism, a development that will increase scrutiny of Pakistan that has already attracted the body’s criticism. A public statement by the FATF after its recent October plenary said for the first time that it would monitor states that fund terrorism, a move with implications for Pakistan that was put on the organisation’s “Grey List” in June for failing to act credibly against terror financing.

In October, a public statement by FATF observed, “the funding of terrorism or the resourcing of a terrorist entity by any state remains incompatible with the FATF standards. The FATF will remain diligent in identifying new risks associated with the financing of ISIL, Al Qaeda and their affiliates and will continue to take robust measures to ensure that these terrorist

financing risks are mitigated.”

In 2018 too, FATF broadened its monitoring of terror financing with regard to Islamic State (ISIL) to include Al Qaeda and its affiliates, which would include terror groups that expressly target India such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed as they are listed under the UN Security Council’s resolution 1267. In October, Pakistan submitted a 27-point action plan to

be implemented in 15 months. After Pakistan was placed on the Grey List, Pakistan made a high-level commitment to work with FATF “to address its strategic counter-terrorist financing-related deficiencies.” Though Pakistan technically has over a year, any progress it makes or not will be discussed in the Asia-Pacific group meetings in January and the plenary in February.

Pakistan got a reprieve when China blocked UNSC sanctions on the JEM chief Maulana Masood Azhar from 2016. Azhar was part of the terrorist-for-hostage swap that ended the Kandahar hijacking in 1999.

That is a sore point between India and China and has also led Pakistani authorities to relax curbs on terror leaders like LeT’s Hafiz Saeed who continue to operate freely. As the US plans its exit from Afghanistan, Pakistan can expect, according to diplomatic sources, to come under pressure regarding its support to Taliban and other terror groups in Afghanistan like the Haqqani Network.

Pak procuring 'most advanced’ warships from China BEIJING: In what is likely to spark concern in the Indian Ocean region, China is reportedly building four "most advanced" naval warships for its "all-weather ally" Pakistan. The construction of first of the four warships has already been initiated, confirmed the Chinese state media. The weapon will emerge as a major boost for Pakistan's Navy arsenal, as it is equipped to handle anti-ship, antisubmarine and air-defence operations, reports said quoting officials of Beijing's public ordnance firm - China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).

The CSSC did not specify the ship’s type but said it is being constructed at its HudongZhonghua shipyard in Shanghai. The ship’s class is Type 054AP, which means it is based on the Type 054A of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, the report quoted the Pakistani Navy as saying. The Pakistani Navy previously said four such ships had been ordered, according to the report. Once

constructed, the warship “will be one of the largest and technologically advanced platforms of the Pakistani Navy and strengthen the country’s capability to respond to future challenges, maintain peace and stability and the balance of power in the Indian Ocean region,” the report said. It will also support the Pakistani Navy’s initiative of securing sea lanes for international shipping by patrolling distant waters, the daily quoted the CSSC as saying.

The mention of the Indian Ocean is regarded as significant as China, which has already taken over Pakistan’s strategic Gwadar port under the multi-billion ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), looks to assist the Pakistani navy to restore the balance of power in India’s backyard. China has acquired the logistical military base in Djibouti and taken over the Hambantota port of Sri Lanka under a 99-year debt swap deal.

China recently denied a report that it

finalised a plan to build advanced fighter aircraft under the CPEC in Pakistan, adding a military dimension to it. India protested to China over the CPEC as it is being laid through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan became the first country to hook on to China’s BeiDou Satellite Navigation System, a rival to the US Global Positioning System (GPS) which went global recently. The system was expected to be used for military applications.

The report said Type 054A is the best frigate in service with the PLA Navy. Military sources said the ship has a fully loaded displacement of about 4,000 metric tonnes and is equipped with advanced radars and missiles. About 30 Type 054As are in service with the PLA Navy. An insider in China’s shipbuilding sector with knowledge of the Type 054AP programme said that the ship is the largest and most powerful combat vessel China has ever exported.

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AFRICA-SRI LANKA

Kenya leaders rev up plan to choose Uhuru's successor NAIROBI: As politicians eyeing the presidency in 2022 continue touring various parts of the country to cement their prospects, at least seven Kenya politicians are jostling for the running mate position.

The move, however, has left the region exposed for lack of an automatic successor unlike it has been the case in previous leadership successions.

Of concern is the fact that President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is the region’s political kingpin and de-facto leader, is constitutionally expected to vacate the State House at the end of 2022. The position currently held by the President in the Agikuyu community has also attracted great attention, as there is fear of a vacuum upon his exit.

So far, among the more than 100 elected leaders in the region, only Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has declared he would gun for the Presidency. Kuria has in the recent past reduced his participation in Deputy President William Ruto's political camp forums - popularly known as Tangatanga.

To position himself as the next possible de-facto leader in the central region, Kuria

Uhuru Kenyatta

has been attending major music concerts organised by both gospel and secular artists in the region to support their talents, he has become the patron of Mt Kenya Football Club and is said to have established his own vernacular television station, apparently to advance his agenda.

Commonly referred as Jamba ya Ruriri (Community hero), the slim towering former accountant who rose to fame due to negative ethnic remarks, is also fighting for reforms in coffee sub-sector. Coffee farming is one of the main economic activities in Mt Kenya.

On the other hand, among those said to be eyeing running mates position, mostly to deputise Ruto, is Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria. He is serving his second and last term in office. The two have severally hosted each other in Nairobi and Murang'a.

Since his re-election as the Deputy President, Ruto has visited the Mt Kenya region for more than 40 times, besides holding boardroom meetings with the regional leaders at his Karen office and in hotels Others touted to be jostling for the seat are Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru and Cabinet secretaries Mwangi Kiunjuri (Agriculture) and Peter Munya (Trade).

Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo and former assistant Minister Peter Kenneth, though they have kept a low political profile after losing in last year's General Election, are also among those positioning themselves to be the community’s leaders.

However, as President Kenyatta’s succession hots up, Governor Wa Iria appears to be already preparing his political path.

Jacob Zuma to release new struggle songs album Pretoria: Former South African president Jacob Zuma has struck a recording deal and will release a full-length album of liberation struggle songs in April. Zuma, who was forced to step down in February 2018 over multiple graft scandals, was in the habit of singing and dancing at rallies during his tenure. The City of eThekwini, the capital of his home province KwaZulu-Natal, announced that it would fund the recording.

Head of recreation and culture Thembinkosi Ngcobo said the idea was conceptualised three years ago in Durban.

"We were looking at artistes and trying to revive these types of songs. It was very difficult. We tried to find any archived material that had video clips or any voice clips. But we could not find anything in the museums," Ngcobo said.

It was then that they recognised that Zuma had been singing many of these

Jacob Zuma

unrecorded songs, he added. The project will be part of the eThekwini’s integrated development plan to stimulate economic growth through music, sports or cultural activities. Ngcobo said the former president will record live, either on April 10 or 11, during the Articulate Africa project, which celebrates the expression of culture and ideas.

"He has the talent and understands the history and emotion behind the music. He was singing the songs in the 80s and 90s and even before. Most of the young people in the ANC [ruling African National Congress] do not even know then," he said. Zuma, who joined popular social media platforms Twitter, Facebook and Instagram last month, is yet to speak about the deal.

In December, the ex-president who is thought to have little personal wealth, was ordered to foot his own legal bill and to pay back State funds used to defend him as he fights graft charges. He could be liable for a R32 million ($2.3 million) legal bill. He is being charged with 16 counts of fraud, racketeering and money laundering. The charges were first brought against him in 2005 but dropped by prosecutors in 2009 shortly before he became president, before being reinstated in 2016.

Politics of defiance won't be tolerated in 2019: Yoweri Museveni KAMPALA: Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said that politicians must be clear on where they stand. He used Luganda and Runyankore words to contextualise acceptable and unacceptable politics, during his New Year’s message. "Our languages are more precise when it comes to describing actions (verbs). In Luganda, for instance, there are the following words: Okuvuganya [contest], okulwaana [fighting], okulemesa [sabotage], okutabula [disorganize], okuseketerera, okusanyaawo [obliterate] or okutemula [kill]," Museveni said.

Okuvuganya is what he called a peaceful way of putting forward alternative ideas about running society. "If A has built 100 schools in the area, B can, without telling lies, truthfully say that, with better discipline and more frugality, he could have built 150," he argued.

Museveni argued that the politics of fighting (okulwaana), defiance (okulemesa) or disorganization (okutabula), is not good for the country. Okulemesa a singular verb for tubalemese which has been a vocal antigovernment catchphrase of Forum for

Yoweri Museveni

Democratic Change (FDC) since 2016 contested presidential election.

Tubalemese was equally evoked during the 2017 age limit constitution amendment that led to deletion of the 75 year age cap for presidential candidates.

Fingers were pointed at Museveni who will turn 75 years in 2019 as the sole beneficiary of the amendment. When he

referred to politics of okulwaana and okutabula, Museveni could have been indirectly talking about firebrand youthful People Power politicians led by Kyadondo East legislator, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.

Bobi Wine and his colleagues clashed with security forces in August on the last day of campaign for Arua Municipality byelection. A number of MPs were arrested and tortured for allegedly stoning Museveni's car. The incident which attracted international denunciation will leave an indelible mark on Uganda's political scene for years.

Museveni said there are double-faced opposition politicians with a leg in constitutional politics and another in unconstitutional politics which will not be allowed. No politicians, Museveni warned, should expect to be allowed go around promoting acts of political indiscipline. But 2019 is expected to be a year of intensified politicking ahead of 2021 general elections.

Opposition politician Kizza Besigye has already declared 2019 'a year of action'

PEDIATRICIAN KILLED WHILE SAVING SON FROM FALLING TREE

A woman from Texas was killed while shielding her son from a tree knocked down by high winds in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee last week, according to her family. Pediatrician Laila Jiwani, 42, was hiking with her husband and three children on Porter Creek Trail when the tree fell, park spokesman Mike Litterst said. Litterst said one of her children was also injured. The spokesman said the 6year-old was airlifted to a hospital with nonlife threatening injuries. Jiwani’s husband Taufiq wrote that their son suffered a broken leg and superficial head injuries during a “simple/safe” hike, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel. Jiwani said doctors told him his wife took most of the impact and saved her son.

INDIAN-AMERICAN WINS CORNELL UNIVERSITY HACKATHON

An Indian-American teenager has won the inaugural "Digital Transformation Hackathon" at Cornell University for designing a device to detect the actual pain level of a patient during a diagnosis. The device designed by 17-year-old Mahum Siddiqi and her team uses neurological activity occurring in one's brain to help doctors more efficiently determine someone's pain levels. "It's incredibly upsetting and problematic how hypothetical the concept of pain diagnostics is. Doctors have no way of knowing how little or how much pain someone is truly experiencing when they go in to be diagnosed," Siddiqi said in a statement. A Class 12 student at Vestal High School in New York, Siddiqi was the only non-graduate student competing at the hackathon held earlier in December. She and her team won the first prize at the competition, and are now working with representatives from companies such as Microsoft to produce a prototype of their pain-detecting device, the statement added.

3 TEENAGE INDIAN SIBLINGS KILLED IN US HOUSE FIRE

Three teenaged Indian siblings were among four people killed in a fire during Christmas celebrations at a house in the US state of Tennessee, according to media reports. The fire killed a woman and the three Indian teens from Telangana who were staying with her family for Christmas. The parents of the siblings have been identified as one Srinivas Naik and Sujatha and are residents of Nalgonda district of Telangana.

According to a report, Srinivas, who worked as a pastor in the US, returned last year.

The children, however, stayed back to complete their studies. The siblings were holidaying at the Coudriet home on December 23 when the fire started. The Coudriet family was hosting the three teenagers, who were attending the French Camp Academy in Mississippi. When the school closed for winter break, the students could not return to India, so the Coudriets invited them to stay in their home.

INDIAN COMMITS SUICIDE IN UAE

A 35-year-old Indian man was found hanging at his accommodation in Ras Al Khaimah city in the UAE and a suicide note found from his phone said he took the drastic step due to several health issues, authorities said. The deceased, Rinoj Raveendran, hailed from Kerala and had been working in Al Ghail industrial area as an accountant. "The deceased, who has a son studying in Kerala, left a note on his mobile phone saying no one (should) be held responsible for his death and that he was taking the extreme step due to health issues. I don't understand why people fail to seek help instead of ending their lives and leaving their family devastated," said social worker Sreedharan.

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5 - 11 January 2019

in brief SUICIDE ATTACK KILLS 43 IN KABUL

The death toll from an attack in the Afghan capital has climbed to 43, the health ministry said, as police and rescue workers combed through the smoldering public welfare building where the gunmen held out for eight hours against security forces. The attack began when the suicide bomber blew up his explosives-laden car in front of a government building in an eastern neighbourhood of Kabul. Some of the attackers rampaged through the building of the ministry for martyrs and disabled persons taking workers hostage, and others fought a prolonged gun battle with local security forces.

SEVEN PAK PILOTS SACKED

Pakistan’s national carrier has terminated the contracts of over 50 employees, including seven pilots, after they were found guilty of holding fake degrees. The directives were issued in view of the proceedings of Pakistan’s Supreme Court against pilots and cabin crews with fake degrees and certificates. “Action has been taken against the PIA employees after the respective educational institutions found their degrees bogus/fake,” a statement issued by the Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesperson Mashood Tajwar said that a probe has been initiated into the cases of all staffers who were hired holding sham degrees.

LANKA TAKES ACTION AGAINST CHINA COS

Sri Lanka has initiated action against Chinese projects that are flouting local language laws in the country. Several Chinese project sites in the South-Asian island nation were found to be using Mandarin and English language for the sign boards and ignoring the official languages — Sinhala and Tamil. Minister of national integration official languages, social progress and Hindu religious affairs, Mano Ganesan, tweeted that action has been initiated against such sites. “We can’t tolerate violations of local language laws at Chinese sites in Sri Lanka. We wish to provide assistance, if any required and plan to engage with all including the Chinese embassy.” Mano initiated action after receiving complaints.

EGYPTIAN POLICE KILL 40 ‘TERRORISTS’

Egyptian police killed 40 “terrorists” in raids, a day after a roadside bomb near the Giza pyramids killed three Vietnamese tourists and an Egyptian guide, the interior ministry said. Two raids in the Giza governorate killed 30 “terrorists”, while the remaining 10 were killed in the restive North Sinai, the ministry said in a statement. The authorities acted after receiving information that the suspects were preparing a series of attacks against state and tourist institutions and churches, it said. “Information was received by the national security that a group of terrorists were planning to carry out a series of aggressive attacks targeting state institutions, particularly economic ones, as well as tourism, armed forces, police and Christian places of worship.”

TAIWAN PRESIDENT REJECTS CHINA'S CALLS

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen said the island would not accept a "one country, two systems" political arrangement with China, while stressing all cross-strait negotiations needed to be on a government-togovernment basis. Tsai spoke after Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a speech earlier that nobody can change the fact that Taiwan is part of China, and that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should seek "reunification". Tsai also urged China to understand Taiwanese people's thinking and needs. In a new year's speech earlier this week, Tsai said China must use peaceful means to resolve its differences with Taiwan and respect its democratic values.

50% rise in Canadian citizenship for Indians NEW DELHI: Indians residing in Canada are taking their immigration journey a step forward, with several thousands opting for Canadian citizenship, after having lived in the country for the specified duration as permanent residents. According to Canadian authorities, during the 10-month period ending October 2018, nearly 15,000-odd Indians obtained citizenship. If compared with 2017, it’s a steep rise of 50%. As country of birth, India figured in the second highest number of applications from those claiming Canadian citizenship. Philippines topped this list by a slender lead: 15,600-odd Filipinos became citizens of Canada during this ten-month period, but this was a marginal increase of 11% compared to the traffic from Philippines for the entire 12 months of 2017.

In all, according to statistics, 1,39,000 permanent residents became Canadian citizens in the 10 months ended October 30; of this, the share of Indians was nearly 11%.

These are preliminary figures and final statistics are estimated to be much higher.

Surge follows two-year decline But it is still unlikely to cross the record high of 2015 when the highest number of Indians – 28,000-odd - opted for Canadian citizenship, following which there was a year-on-year decline, with interest picking

up again sharply in 2018. “Since Oct 2017, it has become easier to qualify to apply for Canadian citizenship. In particular, the time period for which a permanent resident must be physically present in Canada before applying for citizenship has reduced. As compared to a 4-year residency requirement out of 6 years, now a permanent resident needs to be physically present in Canada for 3 out of five years,” explains Ontario-based Talha Mohani, immigration law specialist and managing director at Migration Bureau Corp.

Unlike a permanent residency (which is

akin to a green card in the US), a citizenship grants more benefits, such as greater mobility, eligibility to work in the government sector, and obtaining the right to vote. David Nachman, managing attorney at NPZ Law Group, points out an important facet of mobility, “A Canadian passport (citizenship) also facilitates individuals to apply for a Trade National (TN) visa to enter and work in the US.” While this is similar to the H-1B work visa it is not subject to the annual cap and is easier to obtain.

Incidentally, India has emerged as the top source country for permanent residents.

During 2017, 51,000-odd Indians were admitted as permanent residents. These statistics were tabled in the annual report (2018) on immigration submitted to the Canadian Parliament. According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the federal department which facilitates arrival of immigrants to Canada, an estimated 1,53,000 people would have obtained Canadian citizenship by October 2018 - being a year from the date the new relaxed norms for citizenship came into effect. This estimate is an increase of 40% compared to the 1,08,000 people who obtained citizenship in the same period the year before, adds the IRCC in an official release.

Illegal migrant held for killing Indian-origin cop in California New York: A man was arrested for allegedly killing an Indian-origin police officer in California's Newman County, when he was planning to flee to his native Mexico, police said. The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Gustavo Perez Arriaga and living illegally, was arrested from a home in the Kern County, Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson was quoted as saying.

Corporal Ronil Singh, 33, pulled over the suspect last week and a few moments later he called out "shot fired" over the radio. Other officers who reached the spot found Singh shot and took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Singh was a native of Fiji and joined the

Gustavo Perez Arriaga

force in July 2011. Newman Police Chief Randy Richardson said that this has never happened in the history of the 12-member department.

Arriaga came to the US illegally and was believed to have been fleeing to Mexico, he

said, adding the suspect was arrested twice previously for driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs and has known gang affiliation. Arriaga's brother, Adrian Virgen, 25, and coworker, Erik Razo Quiroz, 32, were arrested for felony. Christianson said they were trying to protect Arriaga, who was trying to go to Mexico.

Christianson said Virgen and Quiroz were also in the US illegally. Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said two men and a woman were also arrested from the home where Arriaga was found.

Youngblood said he could not confirm whether the three were in the country illegally.

Leaked video shows Musharraf seeking US support to regain power WASHINGTON: In an embarrassment to Pervez Musharraf, the former Pakistani dictator, in a leaked video, was purportedly seen seeking covert US support to regain power and telling American lawmakers that he was “ashamed” of the ISI being negligent about the al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden’s whereabouts.

The undated video clips, which have been posted by dissident Pakistani columnist Gul Bukhari, also shows the self-exiled former president as saying that he thinks that the negligence of the ISI was “pardonable” as the CIA was also involved in same level of negligence on 9/11.

The former army chief has been living in Dubai since March 2016 after he left for medical treatment and has not returned since, citing security and health reasons. He is facing the treason case for suspending the Constitution in 2007, a punishable offence for which he was indicted in 2014. “All I am saying is, I have certain credentials from the past. I need to come (to power) again and I need to be supported. Not overtly, but in a covert manner. So that we win again,”

Musharraf is seen as telling US lawmakers in one of the leaked video of the meeting.

When posed with tough questions, he rued that US lawmakers “are too involved in minor tactics.” He also claimed that Pakistan used the money, given by the US for fight against terrorist, to bring down the poverty from 34 per cent to 17 per cent. To which, those present in the meeting, were quick to point out that none of the US Congress members voted for $20 billion aid to Pakistan in the last 10 years because of poverty.

Money was given to Pakistan to defeat al Qaeda and the Taliban, the lawmakers said, to which the former Pakistan president sought the US to help him get back to power. In the first video clip, he is seen walking in the corridors of the US House of Representatives.

The video clips seems to be from 2012, after he was ousted from power. In the third segment of the clip, Musharraf is seen in conversation with a lobbyist and Chairman of the powerful American Jewish Congress Jack Rosen during an informal get-together.

One of those present in that meeting was Congressman Gary Ackerman.

He argues that there was no complicity in Pakistan not being able to find out Osama bin-Laden. “There are aspersions against Pakistan of hiding Osama bin Laden,” Musharraf says in his meeting with US Congressmen. “First of all, is the US against Pakistan, or annoyed with the Army and ISI, because they believe there was complicity?

My view is that there was no complicity and I would like to say a few words on that,” he told the lawmakers.

“There was negligence. Certainly. And we are all ashamed. Even, I, though I am not in the government now, I am ashamed that there was this level of negligence by the ISI that we did not know.

I think negligence is pardonable,” he said, adding that the CIA was also involved in same level of negligence on 9/11.

Referring to the 18 people being trained in the US, Musharraf alleged that CIA being such a big organisation was sleeping. “ISI was also sleeping. Let’s leave it at that,” he said.

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SOUTH INDIA

35,00,000 women rally for gender equality in Kerala THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: backdrop of frenzied protests witnessed in In a first, over 35,00,000 the hill shrine of Lord women stood shoulder-toAyyappa at Sabarimala shoulder across the national after the CPI(M)-led highways in Kerala, creating a LDF government 620-km-long human wall from decided to implement the northern end of Kasaragod the Supreme Court to the southern tip here on verdict, allowing all Tuesday as part of a statewomen to pray at the sponsored initiative to uphold Ayyappa shrine. gender equality. The event Representatives of comes days after thousands of Universal Record devotees lit Ayyappa Jyothis Forum (URF) which (lighting of sacred lamps) and records amazing feats lined up from Hosangadi in across the globe Kasaragod to Kanyakumari, declared the human vowing to protect the age-old wall as the “longest customs and traditions of women’s wall in the Sabarimala. with On Tuesday, women from Over 35,00,000 women came together to form a unique “women’s wall” spread across 620 km from world” participation of over various walks of life - writers, 4pm to 4.15 pm in Kerala.

35,00,000 women. athletes, actors, politicians and event commenced at 4 pm. Expressing However, CPI (M) state secretary Kodiyeri techies, government officials and solidarity, thousands of men also lined up Balakrishnan claimed 55,00,000 women homemakers - stood across highways parallel forming a second human wall. lined up for the ‘wall’. crisscrossing through the 14 districts as the The Women’s wall was conceived in the

PUNJAB

KLF banned for alleged terrorist activities NEW DELHI: The Indian government has banned Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) for its involvement in several killings, bombings and other terror activities during its violent campaign for “secession of Punjab.”

The decision to ban the outfit under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) comes in the backdrop of agencies unearthing several KLF modules in recent months, leading to apprehensions that it is attempting to revive militancy in the state.

An order from the Home Ministry said the Khalistan Liberation Force and all its manifestations have been declared outlawed under the UAPA, adding it will be the 40th organisation to be proscribed under this law.

Officials also said during the height of militancy in Punjab in 1980s and 1990s, the group was involved in a series of unlawful

activities. The ban on KLF has been imposed as it is involved in “killing of innocent people and police officers, several bombings on civilian targets in India, collection of funds for terror activities through extortion, kidnappings, bank robberies and assassination attempts of important government functionaries.”

The Ministry maintained that fivemember KLF module was busted by the Punjab Police, which resulted in working out the two cases relating to planting of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Nabha, Punjab. Another KLF module was busted in Gurudaspur district and four terrorists were arrested with illegal arms and ammunition. The order said they were planning to target Pathankot based leaders of a particular political party. A different KLF

module was busted by Amritsar Police and three KLF terrorists were arrested, who were planning to target prominent members of a particular community, so as to disrupt communal harmony in Punjab.

The KLF came into existence in 1986 with the objective of establishing an independent Khalistan by secession of Punjab from India “through violent means”, the order said. It added, “The KLF has committed acts of terrorism and promoting acts of terrorism and has been engaged in radicalisation and recruitment of youth for terrorists activities in India.” The Home Ministry said the Jalandhar Police also busted a KLF and Khalistan Zindabad Force module of four members and arrested the chief of KLF along with illegal arms and ammunition in 2014. It said the outfit is getting financial and logistic support from their handlers based abroad and believes that the KLF is involved in terrorism as it has committed and participated in various acts of terrorism in the country.

WEST BENGAL

BJP’s rising vote share causing concern for TMC KOLKATA: Much to Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's chagrin, the BJP has fielded a total 34,507 nominations, which is 12,406 more than CPM, which has filed 22,102 nominations.

Narendra Modi's party not only pushed the CPM to the third position in Lok Sabha by-polls, but also registered a sharp increase in its vote share. In the Uluberia by-poll, which was held at the end of January, BJP received 2,93,018 votes, around 1,60,000 more than what it had received in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

It received 23.29 per cent votes, a 12 per cent increase from 2014. State BJP General Secretary Sayantan Basu said, “From three per cent vote share in 2013 to 23 per cent vote share in 2018, no other party has recorded such a huge success in the recent political history of the state. If it was not for the ruling party violence over the nomination process, we would have fielded more candidates this time.”

The state BJP has filed 766 nominations

Mamata Banerjee

in 825 zila parishad seats, while CPM and Congress have filed 563 and 377 nominations respectively. TMC has filed around 1,066 nominations for the same.

In 9,217 panchayat samiti seats, BJP has filed 5,952 nominations while CPM and Congress have filed 4,236 and 1,646 nominations respectively, and TMC has filed 12,343. In 48,650 gram panchayat seats, BJP has filed 27,789 nominations while CPM

and Congress have filed 17,303 and 7,239 nominations respectively, and TMC filed 59,475.

BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha said, “In several areas, TMC cadre attacked our candidates and drove them away from BDO and SDO offices. Still it is clear from the nomination report that BJP is the only opposition party, which is fighting tooth and nail to give TMC a run for their money.”

Political analyst Biswanath Chakraborty said, “ Supporters of CPM and Congress have moved to the BJP in the last few years.

BJP’s vote share has increased rapidly in previous by-polls, which is indicative enough that the party has managed to strengthen its organisational base in the state.

It is also apparent from the recent incidents of violence that BJP workers were at the receiving end of ruling party terror in most cases. This trend will continue in the state and in the next elections, the political contest will be between TMC and BJP.”

in brief TN OFFICIALS ACCUSED OF CONSPIRACY IN JAYA'S TREATMENT

A counsel for a Commission of Inquiry probing the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa has alleged in a petition that Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan colluded and conspired with Apollo Hospital and “inappropriate treatment” was provided to her. They also alleged that the then chief secretary P Rama Mohana Rao, at the time of Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation in 2016, had “purposely given false evidence.” The allegations have been refuted by both. The standing counsel for the Justice A Arumughaswamy commission, Mohammed Jafarullah Khan, has sought to implead Radhakrishnan and Rao as respondents.

The counsel's petition alleges that the health secretary made contradictory statements before the panel and the official was also against taking Jayalalithaa abroad for treatment.

RAJINI TO LAUNCH TELEVISION CHANNEL SOON

Superstar Rajinikanth is all set to launch a television channel. Convenor of his party Makkal Mandram, VM Sudhakaran has initiated the process of registering the trademarks for the same. Sudhakaran has requested registering of trademarks in the name of 'Superstar TV', 'Rajini TV', and 'Thalaivar TV', all attributing to Rajini.

Sudhakaran had submitted an application for the trademark to the Commerce Ministry on November 9. The actor-turnedpolitician had announced his entry into politics in December last year.

CONG SWEEPS PANCHAYAT POLLS IN PUNJAB

The ruling Congress swept the panchayat polls, which were held on Sunday in over 13,276 villages in Punjab, while opposition party Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) alleged that elections were rigged. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), also alleged that booth capturing did happen at some places.

Voting was held on Sunday that saw a heavy turnout of 80%. Bathinda and Fazilka recorded 86% polling, Mohali 84%, Pathankot 82%, Patiala and Sangrur 81%, Moga 78%, Fatehgarh Sahib 77% and Muktsar 77%. Soon after the voting concluded, the counting of votes was taken up and the results were declared. Minor clashes and incidents of firing and booth capturing were also reported at over a dozen places. Tension prevailed in some villages in Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur and other districts. Incidents of firing between warring groups were also reported from some places.

16 INJURED IN KOLKATA METRO FIRE

At least 16 people were injured after an airconditioned rake of metro train in Kolkata caught fire. Panic spread as passengers saw thick smoke coming out of the second compartment of a Dumdum-bound metro rake between Maidan and Rabindra Sadan metro stations. Senior officials of Kolkata Metro, city police and personnel of West Bengal fire service and the disaster management team rushed to the spot and carried out immediate evacuation of the stranded passengers. A senior officer said, “According to our reports, 15 passengers sustained minor injuries while one person got a fracture in his leg. Everyone has been successfully evacuated from the rake.”

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HERITAGE HISTORY

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5 - 11 January 2019

PM Modi under pressure but sure to bounce back

• The bagpiper all set to take oath again in 2019 even with 180 seats • Names being floated are of Gadkari (BJP) and Pawar (Opposition)

T

rue. There is no Modi wave for the Parliamentary election to be held in April-May 2019.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is claimed to be the largest political party in the world, has started losing major states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhatisgarh and Punjab to Congress and is unable to gain any among the southern Indian states despite being in power at the Centre since last more than four years.

Out of 31 Legislative Assemblies in India, the BJP has majority in just 10 and total number of the Chief Ministers including some borrowed from either Congress, AGP or other regional parties is 12 out of 31.

The NDA-led Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was on the peak of popularity riding on the Modi wave to grab power from a decade long UPA-led Dr. Manmohan Singh government in May 2014. Naturally, the popularity graph has gone down due to the unfulfilled promises made by him during the Parliamentary election campaign. Even some of the major coalition partners have parted company with BJP. On the other side the opposition parties are all set for Congress-led Mahagathbandhan and/or TRS - led Federal Front to keep Modi and his BJP out of power.

Despite all this the bagpiper is all set to take oath as PM again in May 2019 even with 180 seats, 100 less than the last election!

PM Modi has fired first salvo on the new year day itself by giving a 95 minute long interview to Smita Prakash, the Editor of ANI, covering almost all the issues which are to crop up in the next election.He makes entire media discussing and debating his interview for days to come. Modi is a master strategist who sets agenda even for the main opposition parties including the 134 year old Congress headed by the Cambridge-trained Rahul Gandhi.

Even the founder of Modi’s mother organization, RSS, Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and the founder of the Jan Sangh, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee were products of the same Congress of Dadabhai Naoroji, Lokmanya Tilak, Madan Mohan Malaviya, Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, Sardar Patel and Maulana Azad.

While enrolling the stalwarts of Congress in his party, the Chanakya turned Chandragupta Modi talks about Congress-Mukta Bharat! Everything is fair in his political game so long as it can fetch power at the Centre or in various states. He is master of all seasons. Modi could enroll even the Presidents of various State Congress Committee including Rita Bahuguna Joshi (UP) and Kunvarji Bavaliya (Gujarat) making them ministers and could continue with his slogan of Congress-Mukt Bharat.

Modi has an army of Bhaktas and he himself is God for them

since they are convince that he, and only he, can bring them victory. They would follow his dictates without questioning.

Modi does not like anybody questioning his authority ever since he was a Pracharak with RSS or the Organising Secretary with Gujarat BJP. Even the civil servants, IAS as well as IPS, are inclined to follow what he desires.

He acts as Big Brother. This has invited trouble after four years of his premiership with his Cabinet colleagues and coalition partners.

Barring Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister and the blue-eyed boy of RSS who hails from Nagpur, hardly anybody dares to cross swords with him. Shiv Sena, an old coalition partner since last so many decades has being playing major opposition role challenging PM Modi using Rahul Gandhi’s language “Chowkidar Chor Hai” while being in the government in Maharashtra and at Centre too.

Some of the coalition partners have preferred to desert him including TDP of N. Chandrababu Naidu and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party of Upendra Kushwaha.

Others like Shiv Sena, Apana Dal and Shiromani Akali Dal express displeasure while being in the coalition and threatening to desert or contesting the election independently. Lok Janshakti Party Supremo Ram Vilas Paswan, having record of being in any ministry whether one is headed by Congress or BJP, JD or JD (S), has

Prime Minister Narendra Modi answering questions during an interview with Smita Prakash

bargained seats in NDA coalition in Bihar but none can predict when this weather politician will change his mind.

No doubt, PM Modi is under pressure from his own party, his mother organization and his coalition partners. But he has the capability of turning the table.

Modi is quite capable of showing new dreams to his voters especially the younger lot and making then forget what the manifesto 2014 contained. Emotional issues like Ram Mandir and Shabarimala and ever handy Pakistan would be raised. Modi continues to be Vikas Purush but his lieutenants would take up the responsibility of other religious and emotional issues in the election. He can dynamite the opposition unity by attracting some or using the Tota, the Chief Justice of India R. M. Lodha coined

Next Column:

The bond between Sultans and Rajas the word for CBI, and other agencies to make some come round. He has not only BJP cadres at his command, even the Sangh Parivar front organizations are at his disposal. Now since most of the Sangh Parivar organizations including Vishwa Hindu Parishad,

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waived by the NDA government and its preaching on farmers debts. Not much time is left for PM Modi to reverse downward trend in the popularity graph, but even the opposition parties do swear that Modi may do something and mesmerize the voters to elect his party to rule again till 2024. The opposition parties await some kind of miracle to take place to keep Modi away from the South Block. Who can be his replacement they never confidently say but not at least Rahulbaba, who himself denies his name being floated. We are confident that there is no alternative to Narendra Modi at least for 2019 but two names are being mentioned little seriously.

They are of Sharad Pawar and Nitin Gadkari. None was too sure when Morarji Desai, H. D. Deve Gowda, I.K.Gujaral or Dr. Manmohan Singh became the PM of India. Deve Gowda himself admitted recently that he was an “Accidental Prime Minister” but not at least Dr. Manmohan Singh who rule over the great country for a decade!

Dr. Hari Desai (The writer is a Socio-political Historian.

E-mail: haridesai@gmail.com)

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Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, ABVP etc. are headed by his confidents, they would dance to his tune.

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5 - 11 January 2019

Govt not considering ordinance on Ram temple: Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hinted that the government is not considering an early ordinance to facilitate construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He said the judicial process should take its own course even as he blamed previous Congress governments for stalling a resolution. In an exclusive interview to a media source, he said, “In court, Congress lawyers, who are obstacles, should stop. Let the judicial process take its own course. Don't weigh it in political terms. Let the judicial process be over. After the judicial process is over, whatever our responsibility as the government, we are ready to make all efforts.”

When asked whether an ordinance was not possible as in the case of making triple talaq punishable, he said, “Triple talaq ordinance was brought after the SC verdict and in light of the SC verdict. We have said in our BJP manifesto that a solution would be found... Nobody can deny that those sitting in government in the last 70 years have tried their best to stall a solution.” Modi addressed several issues in the interview; also speaking up on former RBI governor Urjit Patel's resignation for the first time. He said Patel quit due to personal reasons and had told him about it months ago. He also rejected the Opposition's charge that Patel was forced to resign due to differences with the Centre on several issues, including the

Prime Minister Narendra Modi answering questions during an interview with Smita Prakash

transfer of RBI's surplus reserves.

The PM spoke on the Sohrabuddin case, slamming Congress and citing that the court's order for a CBI inquiry into the case was a bid to falsely implicate political leaders. He rebutted the charge that his government was misusing probe agencies for political gain. “Read the judgment. See how institutions are misused,” he said. Speaking

about the coming Lok Sabha elections, he said it was between the “janata (people)” and the opposition alliance (Mahagathbandhan).

“Their single-point agenda is Modi. Do this to Modi, that to Modi... Take any 10 pages of a newspaper, 10 leaders of (this) alliance in different voices abuse Modi.”

“I leave it to the people to decide whether they are satisfied or not with my work” and

emphasised his “outsider” credentials in Lutyens' Delhi. “I could neither make the Lutyens' world a part of me... I am a representative of the non-elite world... There is honesty in my work, I work for the people.”

NaMo also lashed out at the Gandhis, stating the Congress as a party promoted casteism, dynastic politics and nepotism.

When asked about high-profile accused walking scot-free despite his promise of a crackdown on corruption, Modi said, “They are on bail... it is a fact that those considered the first family, who ran the country for four generations, are out on bail, that too for financial irregularities... A set of people, who are at their service, are trying to suppress such information and push other narratives.”

Modi sought to beat back opposition attacks that the country was slipping and the government had underperformed. He pointed to gains like electrification of villages, launch of Ayushman Bharat, a UN award for climate change redressal and gains in the field of sports and Isro’s feat in placing 100 satellites in orbit.

On criticism that demonetisation was a shock to the system, Modi said it was first necessary to consider whether the measure was needed. He said the rate of growth of cash as a ratio of GDP has slowed and there is awareness against black money and the need for transparency.

AgustaWestland middleman names Sonia Gandhi, ED tells court The Enforce Directorate (ED) has claimed that alleged middleman of the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, Christian Michel named a certain “Mrs Gandhi” during his interrogation. The counsel representing the probe agency made the revelation before the Patiala House Court over the weekend, while seeking an eight day custody of Michel. The court extended his custody for another week. An ED lawyer told the court that the extradited businessman was in touch with one Mrs Gandhi and “the son of the Italian lady” and how he is going to become “the next prime minister of the country”. The reference may

Christian Michel

be at Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi. However, no clarifications

have been made on the individuals Michel mentioned while in Ed custody.

The counsel also claimed that Michel has told the agency how HAL was removed from deal to be replaced by Tata. ED also asked that Michel's lawyer should not be allowed to meet him, claiming that he was being “tutored from outside”.

They told the court that Michel handed over a piece of paper to his lawyer Aljo K Joseph during the meeting, which when checked, had questions about Gandhi asked during the interrogation.

Michel is a British national and an established arms dealer who allegedly helped

Former Mumbai sheriff Nana Chudasama dies at 85 after brief illness Former Mumbai sheriff and noted jurist Nana Chudasama died on December 23, following a brief illness at the age of 85.

Born in Saurashtra, Gujarat, he was prominently known for his social work. A family member said, “He was unwell for last some days. He passed away at his home in Colaba.” Nana carried out social services through his NGOs like I Love Mumbai, the National Kidney Foundation, and the Forum Against Drugs and Aids. He was known for his succinct messages and comments on important issues of the day displayed through banners put up above a popular pizza joint in south Mumbai.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Governor C Vidyasagar Rao condoled Chudasama's death and lauded him for his socio-cultural initiatives in

Nana Chudasama

Mumbai. Fadnavis said, “Chudasama was truly connected to citizens with several NGOs and has always supported the

activities. His two liner message board at the Marine Drive was a reflection of his personality.” While Rao said, “The contribution of Nana Chudasama to Mumbai's socio-economic and cultural life was of a high order. He was among the foremost champions of a clean and green Mumbai.” He said Nana was a conscience keeper of the financial capital. “Through his initiative I Love Mumbai, he organised plant shows and promoted tree plantation.

Through his popular banners on the Marine Drive, he commented upon the paradoxes of public life and polity in a humourous way.”

He was awarded with a Padma Shri as recognition of his work in the social sector.

His daughter Shaina NC is a BJP spokesperson.

Italian defence company Finmeccanica's AgustaWestland to bag the February 2010 deal for 12 AW101 choppers.

The ED's chargesheet filed against Michel in June 2016, accusing him of receiving 30 million euros or about £22.5 million from the helicopter manufacturer for bribing Indian bureaucrats, politicians and Indian Air Force officials. Michel's diaries, seized by the Italian police and later handed over to the CBI, reveal he might have paid 6 million euros to Indian Air Force (IAF) officers, 8.4 million to bureaucrats in addition to 15-16 million to an unidentified political family.

3 Indians to be sent to space in £1 bn plan Giving a boost to India’s maiden human space flight programme, the Cabinet has approved £1 billion for the Gaganyaan project, whose 2022 deadline was fixed by PM Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech on August 15, 2018. “We will send a three-member crew to space for seven days. It will be in collaboration with industry, academia, scientific agencies, labs and stakeholders along with Isro. We’ll try to launch the first test-flight demonstration within 40 months after the budget approval,” law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said. The manned mission will help India become the fourth nation after Russia, US and China to send humans to space. Isro chairman K Sivan said, “Isro has taken up the challenge and we will meet the PM’s 2022 deadline. We have been (informally) working on the project for the past four months.’’

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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5 - 11 January 2019

Cardiologist slams 'incorrect' advice from the World Health Organization Dr Aseem Malhotra has called on WHO to review and update its guidance The World Health Organization has faced fierce backlash after telling people to replace butter and lard with 'healthier' oils in the New Year.

A leading cardiologist said he was 'shocked and disturbed' by the advice, which the UN agency listed as a tip to prolong people's lives. Butter has been demonised for decades over its saturated fat content – but an array of evidence is beginning to prove it can be healthy.

Dr Aseem Malhotra, an NHS consultant cardiologist, has now called on the WHO to review and update its guidance 'as a matter of urgency'.

Talking to MailOnline he said: 'I'm frankly both shocked and disturbed that

Dr Aseem Malhotra

the WHO are giving incorrect and non-evidence based advice on fat. In my view, asking people to replace butter or lard with industrial seed oils such as corn, sunflower, soybean or safflower will continue to cause harm to public health. These oils, being particularly high in omega 6 fatty acids, are proinflammatory and can be toxic when heated for com-

mon frying purposes.'

Dr Malhotra pointed to studies which have linked heating up vegetable oils to a group of chemicals associated with cancer, heart disease and dementia.

Research in 2015 found heating the oils produces levels of aldehydes far higher than the WHO's own recommended safe levels. But the organisation now suggests using these oils instead of butter or animal fat, which tests have shown produce fewer chemicals but are linked to heart disease.

Dr Malhotra added: 'Conversely, natural fats found in nutritious foods such as butter, full-fat yoghurt and cheese can be very much part of a healthy diet.

Dr Malhotra instead

urged the WHO to focus on encouraging people to avoid consuming too much food that is ultra-processed.

The WHO published its 'Five tips for a healthy diet this New Year' last week. It is currently the first story featured on its homepage.

The article also tells people to eat a variety of food and cut back on salt, limit sugar intake and avoid drinking too much alcohol.

Under its tip on swapping out certain fats, it said: 'We all need some fat in our diet, but eating too much – especially the wrong kinds – increases risks of obesity, heart disease and stroke.

'Replace butter, lard and ghee with healthier oils such as soybean, canola (rapeseed), corn, safflower and sunflower.'

Why losing a loved one really can break your heart

'Broken heart syndrome' is thought to affect 6,000 British people a year Scientists have discovered why losing a loved one really may break your heart.

Researchers found extreme emotional stress triggers a 'storm' of the immune system which overwhelms the heart.

'Broken heart syndrome' - a condition thought to affect 6,000 people in Britain each year - occurs when acute distress causes the heart muscles to temporarily shut down.

Most of these cases are caused by sudden emotional

shocks, often involving a bereavement or the breakdown of a relationship.

Officially known as Takotsubo syndrome, symptoms include shortness of breath and chest pain - and as such it is often mistaken for a heart attack. However, unlike a heart attack, patients do not suffer from a blockage of the arteries that supply the heart with blood.

Instead, there is temporary weakening of the heart muscles and the left ventricle - the main pumping

chamber - balloons in shape meaning it cannot properly push blood around the body.

When scientists in Japan first discovered the problem 30 years ago they thought the ventricle formed a similar shape to an octopus pot or 'takotsubo' in Japanese with a narrow neck and a round bottom.

But until now experts have been unsure what exactly caused this to happen.

The new research, by experts at the universities of

Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh, reveals that the heart is attacked by the body's own immune system.

The study, published in the Circulation medical journal, also showed that signs of the attack were still present five months later, which explains why some people remain unwell for a long time.

The team believes their discovery may eventually pave the way for antiinflammatory treatments to help treat the problem.

Raw spinach in a smoothie is healthier as cooking destroys its antioxidants Chopping up spinach and putting it in a smoothie is the healthiest way to eat it, research suggests.

Cooking the leafy vegetable breaks down its antioxidants, while mixing it raw with yoghurt or milk helps to release the powerful nutrient lutein. Boiling or frying spinach are surefire ways of destroying lutein, a study found.

Lutein helps lower the risk of heart attacks and prevents eye damage, previous research suggests.

Reseachers from Linköping University in Sweden tested different ways of cooking supermarket-bought baby spinach to see how its nutritional content changed.

They measured the lutein levels regularly and concluded the leaves are best chopped up and consumed raw alongside dairy.

'Best is not to heat the spinach at all,' PhD researcher and study author Rosanna Chung said.

'And even better is to make a smoothie and add fat from dairy products, such as cream, milk or yoghurt.'

She explained: 'When the spinach is chopped into small pieces, more lutein is released from the leaves and the fat increases the solubility of the lutein in the fluid The more lutein dissolved into a smoothie, the more it can be absorbed by the body, the scientists suggested.

Whereas cooking spinach for a long time at a high heat – such as in a lasagne or frying it – is the most damaging way to prepare the green vegetable.

A meal cooked at a lower heat, like a stew, retains more of the vitamin, with

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

heating spinach in a microwave also potentially being a healthier option, the study suggests.

Study author Professor Lena Jonasson, from the department of medical and health sciences, said: 'What is unique about this study is that we have used preparation methods that are often used when cooking food at home.

'And we have compared several temperatures and heating times.

'We have also investigated methods of preparation in which the spinach is eaten cold, such as in salads and smoothies.'

The research was published in the journal Food Chemistry.

Lutein has been shown to help reduce chronic swelling in the blood vessels of people with coronary artery disease, which can lower their risk of a heart attack.

It is also referred to as the 'eye vitamin' because lutein it is thought to protect against damage from sunlight.

Many also take lutein supplements in a bid to reduce their risk of heart disease, colon or breast cancers, and type 2 diabetes, according to WebMD. .'

in brief FDA WARNS PARENTS AWAY FROM BITING BEADS AFTER AN INFANT WAS STRANGLED

Stay away from necklaces and bracelets used to relieve teething pain in infants, the US health regulator warned parents and caregivers on Thursday, after reports of a death and several serious injuries. Known as 'teething jewelry', these products come in various shapes and are used by parents and caregivers to relieve infants' teething pain and other ailments.

They are also often used by children with special needs such as autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for sensory stimulation.The FDA said it received a report of an 18-month-old, who was strangled to death by his teething necklace during a nap. Some parents have chosen to give their children a bead necklace to chew on, which may seem convenient since it is always on their bodies. Parents that want to keep things 'natural' sometimes give their infants amber necklaces, as the resin form them is advertised to have soothing anti-inflammatory properties. But if you're considering doing the same - don't, the FDA urges. The agency also received reports of injuries including that of a seven-month-old child who choked on the beads of a wooden teething bracelet and was taken to the hospital.

HEALTHY SCHOOL DINNERS AND NUTRITION CLASSES FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS REDUCE OBESITY OVER TEENAGE YEARS

Ensuring healthy school dinners and lessons for children and parents about nutrition reduces obesity, a five-year study found. Policies including swapping fizzy drinks for water, sending children home with nutritional newsletters and not rewarding them with treats led to good eating habits. In schools which used a nutritional programme pupils were less likely to see increases in body mass index (BMI). With obesity a rising health threat in Western countries, the researchers said such interventions could lower young people's weights and avoid disease later in life. As many as one in two US teenagers and one in three UK teenagers are overweight or obese.

The study enrolled 600 pupils across 12 schools in New Haven, Connecticut, with children an average age of 11 years old at the beginning. The schools were divided into four groups of interventions: nutrition only, physical activity only, nutrition and physical activity (dual), or delayed. In delayed interventions no health-focused messages related to obesity prevention were used. The interventions tried included encouraging healthy food choices in cafeterias, providing alternatives to unhealthy food during celebrations, and tastetesting new foods. Physical activity interventions included promoting walking or cycling to school, integrating physical activity into classroom lessons and fitness challenges.

Exercise policies alone had little or no impact on BMI, the research, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found.

PSYCHOLOGIST EXPLAINS WHY TEXTING YOUR FRIENDS IS WORSE FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH THAN BEING ALONE

Earlier this year, Apple and Google announced features in their forthcoming mobile operating systems designed to 'reduce interruptions and manage screen time.' Android and iOS users alike will soon be able to guard their sleep against digital temptations, easily activate 'Do Not Disturb' mode when needed, and get prompted to stop when they have used their favorite apps beyond a personally chosen time limit. As a psychological scientist who has been studying the effects of mobile technology on well-being for the past five years, I can only welcome these new tools. Indeed, a great deal of research has documented how smartphones might be harming people's sleep quality or distracting them from nondigital activities.

28 BOLLYWOOD

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5 - 11 January 2019

Salman and SRK watch Harshvardhan Kapoor 'Karan Arjun' together wants Suhana to be the Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan spent the Sunday afternoon revisiting memories as they watched their 1995 blockbuster 'Karan Arjun' together. Salman shared a video from one of his catching up sessions with Shah on his social media, and captioned it “Karan + Arjun... fond memories”. The video begins with the film's popular song 'Yeh Bandhan Toh' playing, and then the camera switches to show the audience that includes Salman and Shah, who had famously co-starred in titular roles in the action thriller.

The two stars who have come a long way from a very public spat years ago, were recently also spotted in another viral video, in which they can b e

seen singing the song 'Pyaar Hamein Kis Mod Pe Le Aaya' from 1982 film 'Satte Pe Satta'. SRK also had joined his “Bhaijaan” on stage for an episode of Sallu's 'Bigg Boss 12' to promote his film 'Zero'.

He shared a picture from the episode on his Twitter and captioned the pic, “Bhai ne phir Jiyra Chakna Choor kar diya. Thank you Bigg Boss and Salman Khan for a great evening starting with Zero love you all.”

Salman a l s o featured in a cameo in the movie.

Leela to his Ram

'Mirzya' actor and the third prodigy of ace actor Anil Kapoor, Harshvardhan Kapoor who featured with his siblings Sonam and Rhea on a fresh episode of 'Koffee with Karan' recently, was at his candid best. The 'Bhavesh Joshi Superhero' actor made his debut at the raved Karan Johar chat show, and made some serious revelations that offered a much-needed insight into his life.

Winning hearts with his back-to-back upfront responses, in a rapid-fire section, when asked who he would want to see as Leela if the 2013 blockbuster 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela' was ever remade, he said Suhana Khan, without any hesitation, and said he wanted Ananya Pandey to play

Deepika reveals she was engaged Khushi Kapoor to Ranveer four years ago to make

Bollywood debut in 2019

Having walked into a beautiful life with husband and fellow actor Ranveer Singh, Deepika is happier than ever and can't stop gushing about her gorgeous husband. After tying the knot in November, the actress has been on cloud 9, and recently revealed an interesting detail. In an interview with Filmfare, the 'Piku' star said she got engaged to Ranveer four years ago.

The couple had begun dating back in 2012 while filming their first movie together.

However, they did not confirm their relationship until October this year. They released a wedding announcement on their social media pages and on the same day, she appeared on an episode of 'Koffee with Karan' and confirmed they have been dating

for six years. She said, “When I look back, six months into it I was pretty much emotionally invested in us. After that, it was when do we get married? I was never unsure about him. Of course, in a six-year-long relationship, you go through your ups and downs but we never broke up.”

The actress has also confirmed that she has a superhero movie in the pipeline. She said, “Yes, I'm working on it. I hope it happens. There's no script as yet. It's something my friend and I are developing. I was in the plane with a friend from the industry and talking about the movies we'd like to make. We realised that this superhero film is something we'd like to make. It's a seed we're nurturing.”

Daughter of late actor Sridevi Kapoor and producer Boney Kapoor, Khushi is set to follow her sister Janhvi's footsteps and make her acting debut this year. Filmmaker and the “King of Nepotism”, Karan Johar has confirmed that Khushi and Javed Jaffrey's son Mizaan will make their debuts in 2019.

He said, “Mizaan is going to be amazing. He is a potential big star and great dancer. And Khushi perhaps, she is gorgeous and lovely.” While the young Kapoor has never appeared on the big screen, her sartorial fashion choices and cheerful personality has already won over the internet and fashion connoisseurs.

Her elder sister Janhvi dipped toes in the industry with 'Dhadak' this year, alongside her now rumoured boyfriend Ishaan Khatter.

After garnering rave reviews for her performance, she bagged her second film and this time, it'll be a KJo directorial. In upcoming 'Takht', the film will star Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Anil Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, and Bhumi Pednekar in key roles.

Simrn to his Raj in a 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' remake. He won the famous “gift hamper” from the show, as he called Priyanka Chopra the hottest actress and when asked what he wants from Ranbir Kapoor, he said, “Alia Bhatt”.

The actor is set to be seen in 'Bindra', a biopic on retired professional shooter Abhinav Bindra.

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5 - 11 January 2019

Mahesh Babu’s bank accounts seized over tax dues

Vijay Sethupathi signs first Malayalam film Vijay Sethupathi is all set to make his Malayalam film debut with Sajan Kalathil's 'Marconi Mathai'.

Reports suggest the actor will play the character named Mathai, who is good at problem solving and only spreads positivity. The movie will also feature Jayaram, who will play an ex-military man who falls in love with Anna, a sweeper at the bank where he works. The film is touted to be a wholehearted family drama and will be produced by Satyam Audios.

'Macroni Mathai' will be shot in Goa, Changanassery, Ernakulam, and

The Goods and Services Tax department said it has attached the bank accounts of Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu to recover service tax dues from him. A press release issued by the Hyderabad GST Commissionerate said Babu has not paid the Service Tax during 2007-08 for the taxable services he rendered as brand ambassador, appearance money and advertising for promotion of products among others. It said, “The total tax due from him was Rs 1.85 million.

Today, the GST department has attached his bank accounts in Axis Bank and ICICI Bank for an amount of Rs 7.35 million, which includes tax, interest, and penalty.”

A senior official of the GST department said the actor failed to get any reprieve from any appellate authority on the issue. “We have attached the bank accounts and started recovering. We have recovered Rs 4.2 million from Axis Bank. Balance, ICICI bank has to pay by tomorrow.” Sources said action will have to be otherwise taken against ICICI. Under Section 74 of the Finance Act 1994, the bank is responsible for payment.

* Schedule is subject to change

MONDAY 7th - FRIDAY 11th Jan 2019

TIME 16:00: 17:00: 17:30: 18:00: 18:30: 19:00: 19:30: 20:00: 20:30: 21:00: 21:30: 22:30: 23:00:

TV PROGRAM NAMES RASOI SHOW THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 2 THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN RADHA PREM KI DEEWANI UTTARAN DIL KI PUKAR INTERNETWALA LOVE ISHQ MEIN MARJAWAN JAHAANARA BALIKA VADHU - LAMHE PYAAR KE RED ALERT TANTRA JAHAANARA

SATURDAY 12th January 2019 TV PROGRAM NAMES

TIME 18:00: 18:30: 19:00: 19:30: 20:00: 21:30: 22:30:

RADHA PREM KI DEEWANI UTTARAN DIL KI PUKAR THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 2 DANCE DEEWANE ZINDAGI KI HAQEEQAT SE AAMNA SAAMNA TANTRA

SUNDAY 13th January 2019 TV PROGRAM NAMES

TIME 17:30: 18:00: 18:30: 19:00: 19:30: 20:00: 21:30: 22:30:

ISHQ MEIN MARJAWAN - WEEKEND KA MAHA EPISODE RADHA PREM KI DEEWANI UTTARAN DIL KI PUKAR THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 2 DANCE DEEWANE ZINDAGI KI HAQEEQAT SE AAMNA SAAMNA TANTRA

Chennai and shooting will start on January 11. Also in the movie are Malayalam actors Nedumudi Venu, Aju Varghese, Hareesh Kanaran, Srinda, Sidharth Siva, Gregory and Mamukkoya. Vijay is currently on a high of an extremely successful year. He was part of huge projects and delivered one of the biggest hits this year with '96'. 'Seethakaathi' featuring him hit the screens last week to positive reception, and he currently awaits the release of Rajinikanth-starrer 'Petta' on Pongal next year.

Dileep plays ‘local superhero’ in ‘Parakkum Pappan’ Malayalam film star Dileep has announced his next film titled 'Parakkum Pappan'. He shared the film poster designed like a graphic novel, in which a capedonning person flies towards the sun as villagers look in awe.

Directed by Viyaan Vishnu and Dileep's Graand Prodution is coproducing the film with Carnival Motion Pictures.

The actor will join the sets after completing two ongoing projects.

Dileep seems to be unfazed by recent criminal charges he faces in connection with last year's attack on a

female actor. He has been accused of masterminding the kidnap and sexual assault of the victim to settle his personal scores. He was even in prison for 85 days and is currently out on bail. He resumed shooting for pending films soon after his release. Dileep is currently shooting for 'Kodathi Samaksham Balan Vakkeel', in which he plays a lawyer.

The movie also stars Saiju Kurup, Mamta Mohandas, and Priya Anand among others. The actor is also shooting for '3D movie 'Professor Dinkan', marking the directorial debut of cinematographer Ramachandra Babu.

Friday January 04, 2019 01:20 Film : Dunno Y Na Jaane Kyun...

06:00 Film : Huff! It's Too Much 08:00 Film : Jaane Jigar 11:00 Film : Samay-when the time strikes 13:50 Film : Satya * Schedule is subject to change 17:16 Film : Baazigar Tuesday January 01, 2019 * Schedule is subject to change 02:00 Film : Rama Rama Kya Hai Drama 20:45 Film : Shakti - The Power Saturday January 05, 2019 SATURDAY 5th January 2019 06:00 Film : Bezubaan Ishq 00:18 Film : Ghayal Once Again TIME TV PROGRAM NAMES 08:33 Film : Kya Kool Hai Hum 3 02:36 Film : Good Buddy Gadbadi 17:00 Keys to Kismat 11:13 Film : Baadshah 06:00 Film : Bezubaan Ishq 17:30 Crime Patrol 14:45 Film : No Entry 08:36 Film : DHADKAN 18:30 The Kapil Sharma Show 11:55 Film : Gurudev 18:10 Film : All The Best 20:00 Super Dancer Chapter 3 15:13 Film : Nill Battey Sannata 21:02 Film : Jab We Met 21:30 The Kapil Sharma Show 17:25 Film : Awarapan Wednesday January 02, 2019 23:00 Crime Patrol 20:01 Film : Desi Boyz 00:12 Film : Dil Chahta Hai 22:32 Film : Koyelaanchal SUNDAY 6th January 2019 03:20 Film : Anjaane - The Unknown Sunday January 06, 2019 06:00 Film : I Don't Love You TIME TV PROGRAM NAMES 01:30 Film : Saaya 08:20 Film : Khel 06:00 Film : Future Toh Bright Hai Ji 16:30 Meet the Drapers 08:15 Film : Mr. Natwarlal 11:50 Film : Machine 17:30 Crime Patrol 11:30 Film : Ghayal Once Again 14:45 Film : Jab We Met 18:30 The Kapil Sharma Show 14:18 Film : Baazigar 20:00 Super Dancer Chapter 3 17:50 Film : Welcome Back 17:46 Film : Shakti - The Power 21:30 The Kapil Sharma Show 20:53 Film : Housefull 21:20 Film : Masti 23:00 Crime Patrol 23:56 Film : No Entry Monday January 07, 2019 MONDAY 7th Januay - Friday 11th January Thursday January 03, 2019 00:50 Film : Desi Boyz 02:55 Film : Dus Tola TIME TV PROGRAM NAMES 02:52 Film : Jaanam 06:00 Film : Good Buddy Gadbadi 06:00 Film : The Perfect Girl 18:30 Vighnaharta Ganesh 08:00 Film : Ek Aur Mahasangharsh 08:28 Film : Ek aur Yudh 19:00 Mere Sai 10:52 Film : Yeh Hai Judgement Hanged Till Death 11:00 Film : Shiva Shakti 19:30 Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai 13:45 Film : Mrityudand 14:00 Film : All The Best 20:00 Chandragupta Maurya 17:00 Film : Gunaah 20:30 Main Maayke Chali Jaaungi 16:55 Film : Dil Chahta Hai 19:30 Film : Star Stop 21:00 Patiala Babes 20:45 Film : Nill Battey Sannata 20:00 Film : Aatma - Feel It Around You 21:30 Ladies Special 23:00 Film : Future Toh Bright Hai Ji 22:00 Film : Hai Apna Dil Toh Awara 22:00 Crime Patrol SUNDAY 13th January 2019 SATURDAY 12th January 2019

TIME 18:00: 19:30: 20:00: 21:00:

* Schedule is subject to change

MONDAY 7th 2018 - FRIDAY 11th January 2019 19:30:

UDANN

21:30:

ROOP

20:00:

SHAKTI ASTITVA KE EHSAAS KI

22:00:

SILSILA

20:30:

KESARI NANDAN

22:30:

VISH YA AMRIT SITAARA

22:30: 23:30:

TV PROGRAM NAMES KHATRON KE KHILADI (SEASON 9) DESI BEAT 3.0 NAAGIN - SEASON 3 KHATRON KE KHILADI (SEASON 9) KESARI NANDAN UDANN

TIME

TV PROGRAM NAMES

18:00: KHATRON KE KHILADI (SEASON 9) 19:30: INSIDE ACCESS WITH MISSMALINI (SEASON 2) 20:00: NAAGIN - SEASON 3 21:00: KHATRON KE KHILADI (SEASON 9) 22:30: KESARI NANDAN

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Mahant Swami conducts vicharan in Mumbai

Head of Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), PujyaMahant Swami reached Mumbai to begin his Vicharan. He was previously in Sarangpur. Swamishri was received by a rousing reception. In the duration of his stay, he conducted daily puja, held assembly every day, which was attended by hundreds of devotees, and blessed them. He wrote a message for every day of Dhanurmas. Different skits, programmes, and dances were performed in his presence. On December 31, a special assembly was held for Bal Karyakars in which, young volunteers performed a skit, presented activities, and Swamishri sanctified a letter. He also light the inaugural lamp for the Akhil Bharatiya Yuva Adhiveshan 2019. On January 1, Swamishri performed his daily puja, while sadhus sang kirtans.

Coming Events ● Donate4Dharavi: Over 50 people will gather together to run or walk up to a half marathon on January 6, starting in West Harrow and finishing at Ruislip LIdo. The charity run is conducted by Wendy Peterson, who on a visit to Mumbai, personally saw the harsh conditions of education in the city's Dharavi slums, and has now taken it onto herself to collect as much funds as possible for the cause. Those interested in making donations, please contact Wendy on 07976 439586.

Sneh Joshi ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 2019 is a year when you expand

your horizons, broaden your experiences and have faith in the universe. Be bold enough to create your own opportunities, taking calculated risks, and displaying confidence. You’re challenged to simplify and streamline, but also to take charge, particularly with your career and responsibilities. A lot of discipline and hard work is required. There will be more stability in your love and romance sector as the months go by.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 You are attracted to the deeper

elements of relationships and social interactions now. Mysteries fascinate you and you question other people’s motives for their actions. It's also a strong cycle for discovering your own hidden talents. However, beware of conflicts over ownership and other legal issues. For many of you, a relationship may have become more business-like, and less dynamic.

Single Taureans find themselves more attracted to those who can provide a stable and secure lifestyle for them.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 Expansive Jupiter brings its optimistic influence to your partnership sectors. 2019 is the year when you have a greater need than usual to be in a relationship. The emphasis is on "us" rather than "me". Social interactions of a personal nature are highlighted. This is likely to be an extremely busy time for most of you. Use tact and diplomacy in your dealing, otherwise you are likely to come across as over confident and egotistical.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

The focus in 2019 is in your solar sixth house of health and also day to day work. Hence, you should enhance your skills, get organized and take up a health regime for your well-being.

The transit of Jupiter highlights the need for efficiency and as such you should bring in the new and get rid of the old ideas that do not work. Relationships are not easy. Those with solid foundations should be able to work through difficult times.

UPS security guards who stole £200,000 of iPhones then bragged on social media are jailed for more than 11 years

Mohammed Miah

Jaleel Khan

Mohammed Aamar

A gang of crooked security guards who stole an £200,000 worth of iPhones were caught when they bragged about their crimes on social media.

Mohammed Miah, 43, Jaleel Khan, 30, Soyfur Rahman, 38 and Mohammed Aamar, 28, have been jailed for more than 11 years after stealing the gad-

gets from a UPS distribution centre where they worked.

Employed as security guards at the warehouse in Birch Coppice Business Park, Dordon, Warkwickshire, they used their positions to steal hundreds of expensive phones.

Warwick Crown Court heard that police found an 'Aladdin's cave' of hundreds of stolen items which they hid in their homes, vans and storage units.

The brazen group drove out the warehouse with boxes of phones before boasting about how easy it was on social media.

All three men had been

Takeaway worker ‘threatens to attack man with stick’ A takeaway employee was filmed ‘trying to attack a man with a wooden stick’.

The two first appear to be on good terms as they shake hands at the start of the clip.

However, the takeaway employee takes a hold of the stick and threatens Sohail, 20, from outer London.

The incident took place on the night of December 15, at Munchies on Ripple Road, Barking, East London

and is believed the pair were involved in a social media spat.

The clip begins with Sohail walking along the street and approaching the takeaway.

Sohail posted the video live to Facebook, where it has since attracted more than 11,000 views.

The Met Police said they did not have a record of the incident.

Disclaimer

Asian Business Publications Ltd (ABPL) is not in any way responsible for the goods and services rendered by its advertisers. The ABPL management accepts all advertisements in good faith and it is entirely up to readers to verify advertisers’ products and services, should they feel the need to do so.

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2019 New Year Predictions After a period of ups and downs in your relationships, a blast of personal energy comes your way. Romance and pleasure are highlighted.

This is a very progressive year, when you are inspired emotionally.

The flowing, expressive, and spontaneous energy surrounding you attracts like-minded people. Be sure to take time to enjoy yourself, preferably around others! At work sometimes a little upheaval and chaos is exactly what you need to set things right again.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

Don't be afraid to act forcefully if your instinct tells you it's time for change. This Year the focus is your house of family and home. Besides spending more time tending to domestic affairs, the focus can be on cultivating and nourishing your inner foundations, so to speak. Make time for your children and help them with their studies and bond with them generally. Be prepared for changes at work.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

Soyfur Rahman

selling the stolen phones and other items on eBay in order to make a profit form their ill-gotten goods, a court heard.

Miah, Khan and Rahman admitted theft at Warwick Crown Court on Friday while Aamar pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property.

Miah, of Birmingham, and Khan, of Walsall, were each jailed for four-and-ahalf years.

Rahman, of Birmingham, was jailed for 21 months, while Aamar, also from the city, was jailed for 13 months.

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020 8518 5500

2019 is a very favourable year for you personally and financially. Your ruling planet Jupiter is transiting your first house and this positively affects your standing in society. This heralds an amazing time for you, because Jupiter is a planet of plenty. You are in the position to make an impression on others, and to assert your personal influence. Increased energy and a renewed feeling of confidence is with you now, so take advantage and achieve your goals.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 Your ruling planet Saturn, is transiting your sign for the whole of 2019. Hard work and a disciplined approach keeps your head in the right place. You will continue to be in a restless mood for some time to come. This makes you impatient with restrictions and even more determined to cut your own path. Do not get over-anxious if everything seems to be in slow motion - it is time to pull a few strings. Some of you will seek a spiritual path to relax.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

You have everything to gain by following creative inclinations. If you have new ideas, now is the time to put them into practice. Whatever your present interests, you are likely to find that new doors open and the way ahead offers increased scope for expressing your real self. A great time to meet and interact with people. 2019 is also the year when you will put down roots. Some of you will seek new surroundings to create personal space.

2019 is a very good year for friendships and partnerships. You will be in constant demand and will be in a position to network with new-found friends who will promote your cause. There’s a sparkle to your social life and you will have fun communicating with others. You may find yourself hard at work behind the scenes, although that may not be apparent to others. You may find yourself caught up in a whirlwind of activity, with opportunities to advance on both the inner and outer level.

2019 is the year when Jupiter, the planet of expansion will grace your solar 2nd house. Your energy and attention will be very much devoted to financial matters. The tide of fortune continues to run strongly in your favour for some time to come. You will be working harder than usual, intent on getting things done. Close personal relationships may come under some stress and strain.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 2019 is a favourable year for your career as it seems to take a new positive direction now.

Opportunities for promotion and financial gain present themselves throughout this period. Self improvement and discipline with health and diet have just become easier. You have changed your habits and made it a new way of life now. Inner growth continues for some time to come. You will have a smaller group of very good friends that you can trust.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

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in brief SPECTATORS EVICTED FROM MCG OVER RACIST TAUNTS

Spectators in the MCG's famous Bay 13 were ejected and others warned after racially motivated taunting of Indian players and spectators raised multiple complaints over the first three days of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Chants of "show us your visa" were a regular feature of the first two days, leading to a formal warning from Cricket Australia to spectators in the public area that if the chanting did not stop then the entire bay would be ejected from the ground.

Monitoring of the crowd on day three led to several fans being evicted.

A CA spokesperson said: "Cricket Australia takes a zero tolerance stance against any form of abuse or racial vilification at any of our matches, whether it be towards fans, players, or staff. Fans are able to report this to stadium staff or security. Victoria Police and MCG stadium security monitored the behaviour of the crowd in a section of the stadium and evicted several fans for inappropriate behaviour. They will continue to monitor the area for remaining days of the Test."

NEW ZEALAND RECORD SERIES WIN OVER LANKA

New Zealand required only 14 deliveries to wipe out Sri Lanka’s tail and claim a 423-run victory in the second Test at Christchurch, by extension winning the series, and moving up the No. 3 in the Test rankings.

Angelo Mathews, who retired hurt with hamstring trouble at tea on day four, did not come out to bat, which meant that only three dismissals stood between New Zealand and the series win. This was a record fourth consecutive series win for New Zealand, with the team having beaten West Indies and England at home in the last summer, and having defeated Pakistan in the UAE earlier this month.

Trent Boult claimed two of those dismissals, bowling Suranga Lakmal with the third ball of the day, before trapping Dushmantha Chameera in front of the stumps with the first ball of his next over. Boult finished with match figures of 9 for 107, having taken 6 for 30 in the first innings.

SA CRUSH PAKISTAN INSIDE THREE DAYS

Hashim Amla struck an unbeaten half-century as South Africa brushed aside some early alarms to record a six wicket victory over Pakistan on day three of the first Test at Centurion Park last week. Chasing a modest 149 to win in testing batting conditions, Amla took his side home shortly before tea on 63 not out to rediscover his form with a second half-century in his last 14 innings.

He put on 119 for the second wicket with the gritty opener Dean Elgar (50) to lay the platform for the win, though both survived early scares as Pakistan’s seamers created immense pressure on a wicket that showed both sideways movement and variable bounce. “It was a good test match and a good one to win in terms of the series,” South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said at the postmatch presentation. “We needed a bit of luck on a wicket like this one. It was challenging, the first two hours was proper test cricket.

“I’m really chuffed for Hashim, he looked like he was moving nicely and that is always a good sign.”

Starting their second innings chase under gloomy skies after overnight rain, South Africa opener Aiden Markram was trapped leg before wicket by Hasan Ali (1-39) for a duck before the home side had a run on the board.

Brief scores: South Africa 223 (Bavuma 53, Amir 4-62, Afridi 4-64) and 151 for 4 (Amla 63*, Elgar 50) beat Pakistan 181 (Babar 71, Olivier 6-37) and 190 (Masood 65, Imam 57, Olivier 5-59) by six wickets.

India beat Australia by 137 runs, take 2-1 lead India beat Australia by 137 runs in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG on Sunday, even as inclement weather delayed India’s victory.

But when play finally started, Indian bowlers needed less than five overs to wrap up the Australian innings. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon managed to add just three runs to their overnight tally of 258 for 8 before Jasprit Bumrah induced a nick from the former that Cheteshwar Pujara held low down at first slip. Lyon then tried to pull a short ball from Ishant Sharma and got a top edge for Rishabh Pant to accept and bring the curtain down on a fascinating Test that India won by 137 runs.

Bumrah, who finished with career-best match figures of 9 for 86, was adjudged Man of the Match. The victory is significant for many reasons. First and foremost, it was India’s 150th in Test matches, and third at the MCG. It handed India a 2-1 lead going into the Sydney Test which they only need to draw in order to register their maiden series win in Australia. The result also ensured that India would keep the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, irrespective of what happens in the final Test at the SCG. India skipper Virat Kohli, though, made it clear that his team will go all out for victory in Sydney where the pitch traditionally helps the spinners. India, who have thrice shared series honours in Australia - in 1980-81 (1-1), 1985-86 (0-0) and 2003-04 (1-1) - will be looking to press home the advantage they hold and make it a memorable new year in Sydney. “We always knew that we could do this. Although we are very happy, we are not shocked or surprised about what has happened.”

Asked whether he had been a bit nervous about the inclement weather, Kohli said: “Not really. Some people in the (team) management group were having a look at that (forecast). We knew we had enough time,” the Indian skipper said.

Virat gives bowlers special praise Kohli hailed his team’s victory as a “collective effort” and applauded his bowling

Jubilant Indian Team

unit for delivering the goods, match after match. Kohli lauded his bowlers for taking total ownership of their skill and responsibility for the team and disclosed that he hardly speaks at the bowlers’ meeting. “I mostly listen to them as it’s important to understand what they are thinking. At the end of the day, they are the ones running in with the ball, so they need to be confident with their fields, pitching (areas), pace off the pitch, delivering dot balls and picking wickets. The results are there for everyone to see,” said Kohli, referring rich harvest reaped

by Indian bowlers, especially the pacers this year. In a first of sorts, Indian bowlers - led by the pace troika of Jasprit Bumrah (48 wickets), Mohammad Shami (47) and Ishant Sharma (41) - succeeded in bowling out rival teams twice in 12 of the 14 Tests they played in 2018. With Umesh Yadav (22), Hardik Pandya (13) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (10) also chipping in at crucial times, the Indian pacers aggregated 181 wickets - a huge effort

that was acknowledged by the skipper.

Kohli revealed that the key to his bowlers’ success is working in tandem and not trying to outdo one another. “If Bumrah is taking wickets, others are containing runs, or if someone is picking wickets, Bumrah does the containing job. It’s same for Jadeja and Ashwin. When it comes together nicely, it gets you the desired results,” he added.

Bumrah best Kohli hailed Jasprit Bumrah’s meteoric rise in international cricket since making his Test debut against South Africa in Cape Town in January this year. “He has only been playing for 12 months. He is obviously the best bowler in the world, in my opinion, and also a match-winner, without doubt,” Kohli said after the pacer was named Man of the Match for his overall figures of 9 for 86 in the Boxing Day Test. Bumrah has emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the series with 20 scalps in three Tests. The right-arm pacer’s career tally stands at 48 in nine Tests.

Kohli, Kagiso Rabada end 2018 in top spots It turned out to be a glorious 2018 for India captain Virat Kohli and South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada as both maintained their respective pole positions in the yearend ICC Test Player Rankings.

Kohli dropped three points despite a first innings score of 82 in the third Test against Australia in Melbourne, but still enjoys a 34point lead over nearest rival Kane Williamson of New Zealand.

Kohli, who attained a career-high 937 points during the year, which is the highest ever by an India batsman, scored 1,322 runs in all. He overtook Steven Smith in August and has now held the top position for 135 days.

Rabada, who split the top ranking with England’s seasoned fast bowler James Anderson during the year, is just six points ahead of his adversary. Rabada, who became the youngest to take top position among bowlers during the year and held the spot for 178 days during the year, grabbed six wickets in the opening match at Centurion that South Africa won by six wickets to finish with 52 wickets in 10 Tests in 2018.

Kohli’s compatriot Cheteshwar Pujara has also maintained his fourth position after a first-innings century in Melbourne, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has gained 10 slots to reach a career-best 38th position.

Debutant opener Mayank Agarwal has also entered the batsmen’s list at an impressive 67th place after scores of 76 and 42 helped his side win by 137 runs for a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.

Kagiso Rabada

Virat Kohli

Jasprit Bumrah has moved from 28th to 12th after his match haul of nine for 86, the best-ever by an India seam bowler in Australia. He is now the highest-ranked India fast bowler in the format with Mohammed Shami is next in 23rd position.

For Australia, Pat Cummins has been the pick, gaining five slots to reach a career-best third position after finishing with nine wickets in the match. He has also gained 13 slots to reach 91st place among batsmen with some useful runs down the order.

Travis Head (up seven places to 56th) has also benefitted in the latest rankings update.

New Zealand fast bowlers have a lot to cheer about following their record 423-run win over Sri Lanka in Christchurch. Trent Boult’s

nine wickets in the match have helped him gain seven slots to reach the seventh position while Tim Southee (up two places to ninth) and Neil Wagner (up one place to 15th) have also moved up.

Century-makers at Christchurch, Henry Nicholls (up two places to seventh) and Tom Latham (up eight places to 14th), and Jeet Raval (up two places to 35th) have also gained in the latest rankings update.

For South Africa, former captain Hashim Amla (up three places to 11th place) and Temba Bavuma (up four places to 31st) have gained among batsmen while fast bowler Duanne Olivier has gained 17 places to reach 36th position after his player of the match effort of 11 wickets.

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AsianVoiceNews AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Gujarat has turned out to be India's great cricket nursery country.”

Royal patronage The support extended to the game by the erstwhile royal families in the state has played a big role in the promotion of cricket in the state. Baroda's royal family played a big role in promoting cricket. Vadodara's DK Gaekwad, who captained Team India in 1959, said, cricketers who came from outside were given good jobs and players like CS Nayudu and Vijay Hazare, Chandu Borde and Hemu Adhikari were an inspiration. In fact, royal patronage also played a big role in the development of cricket in Saurashtra.

According to Anshuman Gaekwad, “The

Ravindra Jadeja

Jasprit Bumrah

Whether it’s Team India, domestic cricket or even women’s cricket, Gujarat cricketers are making their presence felt everywhere. At present, players like Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are indispensable members of Indian team. In fact, Jasprit and Hardik have become so important to Team India’s plans in recent times. Apart from them, cricketers like Akshar Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Priyank Panchal, Krunal Pandya and Deepak Hooda, to name a few, have continued to impress the selectors. Add to it the recent impressive performances from even the under-19 cricketers and women cricketers from the state, and you have a cricket nursery that is well-equipped to serve Indian cricket well for years. As Anshuman Gaekwad puts it, “With the kind of talent that Gujarat has, the state can have an IPL team of its own. Others will find it really tough to beat us!”

Patronage continues even today Gujarat has continued to welcome cricketers from other states with open arms, and the likes of Zaheer Khan, Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, RP Singh, Ajitesh Argal and Radha Yadav (women’s cricket) have shared a mutually beneficial association with the different domestic teams in the state. Ambati Rayudu, who played for Team Baroda recently, said, “It was a huge honour for me to represent Baroda because it has always been one of the top sides in the

Cheteshwar Pujara

royal patronage for cricket in Gujarat helped in forming a cricket culture, and we continue to reap the benefits even today. Some of India’s best cricketers have played for our teams in domestic cricket which is very encouraging.” Some other names who benefited by playing here include Mohinder Amarnath, Gogumal Kishenchand and Jayasinghrao Ghorpade.

Saurashtra boys on a high In recent times, cricketers from Saurashtra are making waves at the highest level. While Cheteshwar Pujara has been hailed by Virat Kohli as India’s best test batsman, Ravindra Jadeja is ranked number two in the ICC’s list of all rounders in test cricket. Pacer Jaydev Unadkat caused a

bidding war among franchisees at the IPL 2018 auctions. Talking about it, Bhavnagar boy Harvik Desai, a key member of the World Cup winning under-19 Indian side this year, said, “Saurashtra has excellent infrastructure and facilities for budding cricketers and that is the reason why the region is producing so many quality cricketers consistently. Besides, we have some great role models to look up to.”

Veterans from the state are confident that our cricketers will continue to do well.

Former Indian wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia shares, “We will continue to produce quality cricketers. In Vadodara, the practice sessions continue throughout the year, which is a big help. Also, playing on turf wickets helps in preparing better. Youngsters in Gujarat are also inspired when they see so many former cricketers who have played for India.”

Ahmedabad players Even players from Ahmedabad are making their presence felt. Jasprit Bumrah has emerged as a superstar in all formats (he is the number one bowler in ICC’s ODI rankings), and Gujarat skipper Parthiv Patel and all-rounder Akshar Patel continue to be consistent, doing well for Team India in the limited opportunities that they have got.

Also, Priyank Panchal has been doing well consistently in domestic cricket and for India A. The Pandya brothers, along with Deepak

Hooda have continued Vadodara’s rich cricketing legacy.

Gen next is ready Apart from Harvik, cricketers from the under-19 teams and other age-group teams are also doing well, including Vadodara’s Ninad Rathva and Baroda under-19 captain Mohit Mongia. Ninad, who even scored a century on his Ranji Trophy debut, shares, “Vadodara, which has such a great cricketing legacy, is the place to be for any budding cricketer. I owe a special thanks to Kiran More sir, who has always supported and motivated me.” Players who have been in World Cup winning sides include Yusuf Pathan and Munaf Patel (2011 WC), and Irfan Pathan (2007 T20 World Championships).

Hardik Pandya

Women power Women cricketers from the state, and especially those from Baroda are doing Gujarat proud too.

While Radha Yadav (Baroda skipper) has already played for Team India, Tarannum Pathan has played for India A. Besides, cricketers like Yastika Bhatia, Jaya Mohite, Hrutvisha Patel and Renuka Chaudhari have impressed selectors with their performances.

Vinit Wadkar, former coach of the Baroda women’s team, says, “The girls have been really impressive and the likes of Yastika and Hrutvisha have the potential to make it to the Indian team in about a couple of years”.

ICC names Harmanpreet Kaur as captain of T20I side The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday announced the women’s ODI and T20I teams of the year with India’s Harmanpreet Kaur appointed as captain of the 20-over side. New Zealand’s Suzie Bates was named as captain of the 50-over side.

The selection was made by members of media and broadcasters taking into consideration players’ performance in the 2018 calendar year. Kaur has been rewarded for spearheading her side to the semi-final of the ICC Women’s World T20 2018 in West Indies in November. In that tournament, Kaur Harmanpreet Kaur scored 183 runs at a strike-rate of 160.5, while in the 25 matches in the calendar seventh in the ICC Women’s Players year, she accumulated 663 runs at a strikeRankings for ODI Batters. rate of 126.2. Kaur is ranked third in the ICC Kaur was delighted to be appointed T20 Women’s Player Rankings for T20I Batters. captain when she said: “To be honest, it was Bates’ appointment as the ODI captain is really surprising for me. The last two years a recognition of her contribution in inspiring we did not get enough T20I matches to play her side to the second position in the ICC and it was really tough for me to build that Women’s Championship after three rounds. confidence in the team and show that selfIn the seven ODIs this calendar year, Bates belief that we can do well in T20Is. Credit has scored 438 runs with two centuries and a goes to all team members, the way they half-century. Bates is presently ranked

worked hard and show that self-belief.

“This award means a lot to me to build my confidence, BCCI is showing confidence on me – that I can do well in the format and I am looking forward to doing well in the future,” she added.

Reacting to the news, Bates said: “Thank you very much to everyone who voted for the ICC team of the year. To be named captain is just an absolute honour. Obviously, I have been playing for a long time and stepped down from captaincy, but to be named the captain of a World XI is pretty special and something I will always remember.

“It would be nice one day if we got together to play as a group and to captain some of the superstars, but once again such a huge honour and congratulations to all the

award winners for this year,” Bates added.

The 11-member women’s ODI side comprises players from seven countries, including two each from England (Tammy Beaumont and Sophie Ecclestone), India (Smriti Mandhana and Poonam Yadav), New Zealand (Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine) and South Africa (Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp), and one player each from Australia (Alyssa Healy), Pakistan (Sana Mir) and Deandra Dottin (the Windies).

The T20I side boasts players from five countries, including four players from the ICC Women’s World T20 2018 champions Australia (Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner and Megan Schutt), three players from semi-finalists India (Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Poonam Yadav), two players from New Zealand (Suzie Bates and Leigh Kasperek) and one player each from Bangladesh (Rumana Ahmed) and England (Natalie Sciver).

Smriti Mandhana and Poonam Yadav are the two India girls who feature in both the ODI and T20I squads. Other players to find places in both the squads are Australia’s Healy and Bates of New Zealand.