AV 6th December 2025

Tulip Siddiq condemns Bangladesh corruption verdict

Police Federation chief ’s bonuses push pay to ‘staggering’ £1.4m

politically motiva ted “ka nga

r oo court ” A judge in Dhaka ruled t

influence” she allegedly held as a British politician over her aunt, former prime min-

court claimed Siddiq coerced Hasina into allocating illeg a

estate to Siddiq’s mother and siblings

Siddiq’s mother, Sheikh

Re

nyear sentence in the same trial, held entirely in absen-

tia The verdict follows last week’s decision to sentence Hasina to death for crimes against humanity linked to h

protests Siddiq called the proceedings “flawed and farcical from beginning to end”, adding “The outcome of this k a n g a ro o c o u r t i s a s p redictable as it is unjustif ied ” A cross-party group of senior British legal f igures, including former justice sec-

Grieve, Cherie Blair KC and P

KC

raised concerns about the

, describing the legal case as “artif icial and contrived”

Speaking to Sky News, Siddiq said she attempted to

Muhammad Yunus, during his UK visit in June, but “he didn’t engage with requests” She added, “My message to the Bangladeshi authorities and to Professor Yunus is that he should be ashamed of himself ”

The UK has no extradition treaty with Bangladesh, m

expected to ser ve the sentence

Corbyn and Sultana removed as Your Party leaders

Jeremy C orbyn and Zarah Sultana will no longer lead

You r Party after mem bers v oted to ado pt a non-MP, collectiv e leadership model for its f irst two years

T h e v o t e , h e l d a t t h e party’s inaugural conference in Liverpool, saw the collective option narrowly win by 51 6% to 48 4%, rejecting a traditional single-leader sys-

t e m t h a t w o

C o r b y n a n d Su l t a n a i n direct competition

Su l t a n a w e l c o m e d t h e outcome, saying it showed the party would be “led by its members, not MPs” Both she and Corbyn were origi-

nally listed as off icers when the party was incorporated earlier this year, but internal tensions have grown since its launch The conference

cotted the f irst day, accusing f igures within the organisation of fostering a “toxic cult u r e ” a n d c o n d u c t i n g a “witch hunt”

Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn

The dispute came just hours after Corbyn insisted the party remained united Attempts to ease tensions b e t w e e n t h e t w o h a v e reportedly been ongoing for months, amid Sultana's earlier complaints of facing a “ s e x

internal disputes

D e s p i t e t h e t u r m o i l , polling suggests Your Party c o u l d p o s e a n

l e c t

l threat to Labour, with one sur vey placing both on 15% support

‘Day-one’ worker protections dropped amid L abour backlash

Sir Keir Starmer is facing a g row ing revolt from L abour M Ps after the go vernment

a ba nd o n ed i ts m an ifes to p ledge to give workers the ri g ht to clai m u nfai r d is -

m is s al fro m “d ay o ne ” o f employment, a flagship polic y ch am p io ned by A ng ela Rayner

Ministers have scrapped plans to remove the two-

ye a r q u a l i f y i n g p e r io d fo r unfair dismissal in order to secure passage of the gov-

bill through the House of L

will need six months’ ser vice

The shift has been met with

c kbenchers and Unite, which accused Starmer of hollowi n g o

Rights Bill

T

the compromise was necessar y after peers from multiple parties blocked day-one

T h e h e ad o f t h e Po li c e Federation of England and Wales h as receiv ed 1 00 percent bonuses for two cons ec u

remuneration

as revealed

£342,000 a year after the f igure was disclosed through

request The federation has now conf irmed that he also received a full-salar y “retention payment” in both 2024 and 2025, plus a 5 percent pension contribution worth

£17,000, bringing his annual package to £701,100 Shadow home secretar y Chris Philp called the pay “ a staggeringly large amount of money ” and urged members to question its value The T

Krishna’s remuneration far exceeds that of any other trade union or staff associat i o n l e a d e r T h e s c a l e o f

Krishna’s pay had not been publicly known because the federation failed to publish its 2023 and 2024 accounts, which the Home Off ice has ordered it to release

Krishna helped save tens of millions by reducing potential liabilities from two historic group action claims, relating to pension changes and a cyber hack, from an

£40 million However, critics dispute the federation’s framing

Jury trials to be limited to the most serious crimes

Ju ry tri als fo r o ffenc es i n England and Wales th at are likely to result in sentences of und er three years are to be scrapped under new g overnment plans to ease the growing court backlo g Justice secretar y David L a m m y s a i d t h e r e fo r m

courts” to accelerate justice and reduce delays that have pushed some trials as far back as 2030 Serious crimes such as murder, rape and robber y will continue to be heard by juries, but magistrates and judge-only Crown Court hearings will take on a far greater share of cases

The changes follow reco m m e n d a t i o n s b y r e t i r e d

Court of Appeal judge Sir Brian Leveson, who warned last year that “fundamental” reforms were needed to prevent the justice system from “total collapse” Lammy said the new process would deal w i t h c a s e s a r o u n d 2 0 % faster, noting that Crown Court backlogs could reach 100,000 by 2028 Delays have contributed to six in ten rape victims withdrawing from prosecut i o n s D e fe n d a n t s w i l l n o longer be able to elect for a jur y trial in cases suitable for m a g i s t r a t e s o

u d g e - o n l y hearings, and complex fraud trials will also lose automatic jur y rights

Critics, including many b

rights The TUC urged the Lords to now support the

said the bill had been left

shell of its former self

, with no bans on f ire-and-rehire or zero-hours contracts

Under the revised plan, day-one rights to sick pay

Work Agency will be established next year But workers will not gain unfair dismissal protection until six months into a role, a signif icant but reduced improvement on the current twoyear threshold

A M alays ian billionaire has des cri be d bei ng “ rus hed” b y L on do n r ob b e rs on Lime bi kes who tore a luxury watc h from his wri st Vinod Sekhar, 57, was attacked by two men as he stepped out of his car near h i s d a u g h t e r ’ s h o m e i n

B a t t e r s e a o n S e p t e m b e r 27 The thieves targeted his Richard Mille watch, worth around £100,000, leaving him bruised and bloodied after striking him in the chest and thighs

A t K i n g s t o n c r o w n court, 34-year-old Djamel

Vinod Sekhar

B e n a d d a a d m i t t e d t h e robber y, as well as a separate wallet theft and handling stolen watches and

backlog and risks undermining public conf idence, part i c u l a r l y a m o n g e t h n i c m i n o r i t y d e fe n d

believe juries offer fairer trials David Lammy

Billionaire robbed of £100k watch

c a s h He d i s p u t e s t h e value of the watch and will be sentenced later, with a p o s s i b l e d e l a y i n t o t h e new year Sekhar thanked Met off icers who arrived “ w i t h i n m i n u t e s ” , o n e w a r n i n g h i m h e w a s “lucky” not to have been stabbed The case comes amid rising concern about luxur y watch thefts in London: more than 5,180 watches worth over £3,000 were s t o l e n b e t w e e n Ja n u a r y 2022 and July 2025, with only 59 recovered, just one in 88

Tulip Siddiq

Mukund Krishna

Giving with one hand, taking away with the other?

The long-awaited Autumn Budget has been released On initial review, Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ 2025 plan aims to strike a balance between supporting social initiatives and maintaining fiscal discipline However, by freezing income tax and National Insurance thresholds until 2031, families will ultimately face greater tax responsibilities Much of this added financial pressure comes from indirect changes, which target middle-class workers, investors, property owners, and drivers Meanwhile, support for those on lower incomes is centred on measures to alleviate the impact of rising living costs

Overall, the Autumn Budget (see p17 for full report) is a blend of positives and negatives truly a case of ‘giving with one hand and taking away with the other ’ Notably, the removal of the two-child benefit cap is expected to help cut child poverty substantially, providing significant relief to large families The increase in the minimum wage also aims to protect low-income households and purchasing power of pensioners during the cost-of-living crisis Adjustments to energy policy are projected to lower bills beginning in 2026 These moves, along with other announcements, indicate a shift towards more progressive social policies in future government plans

However, such welfare programmes require funding, and the Chancellor has stated that an extra £26 billion will be raised from taxpayers before the parliamentary term concludes With frozen tax thresholds and a higher minimum wage, more salaried individuals will gradually move into higher tax brackets, seeing only modest growth in real earnings but paying increasingly more in taxes Reeves has additionally

raised taxes on dividends, savings interest, luxury properties via a mansion tax, and even introduced a mileage levy for electric vehicles Put simply, taxpayers are facing new challenges from several fronts, with the middle class bearing most of the load

This increased tax burden is a considerable risk, especially as it affects businesses a factor crucial to the country's economic future The measures in Reeves’ Budget make clear there’s little emphasis on fostering strong economic growth, and business reactions were prompt following its announcement Companies and industries are under more strain, confidence among business leaders is waning, and prospects for job creation and investment have diminished Many in the business community argue that the Budget falls short in advancing meaningful growth

The Conservatives accused Rachel Reeves of pessimism as a pretext to raise taxes, with leader Kemi Badenoch alleging Reeves lied to the public The prime minister however denied any deception, citing lower economic productivity forecasts and a £16 billion shortfall Sir Keir Starmer defended the Budget for its anti-poverty and cost-of-living initiatives Meanwhile, OBR chairman Richard Hughes resigned after the early release of sensitive budget analysis, taking responsibility for what he called a technical but serious error

The Autumn Budget appears designed to preserve a delicate equilibrium Though welfare improvements are notable, the Chancellor’s approach to stimulating economic expansion remains limited

Renewed tensions over Arunachal Pradesh between India and China

After a period of relative calm, China has reignited tensions by restating its claim over Arunachal Pradesh The situation intensified when Pema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian citizen living in the UK, originally from the region, encountered difficulties at Shanghai airport while travelling to Japan Ms Thongdok said she was detained by immigration officials because her passport lists her birthplace as the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh The officials said the the passport is invalid, calling Arunachal a part of China, therefore prompting strong responses from both India and China China’s expansionist tendencies are well documented, with ongoing border disputes involving nearly all its neighbours, including India

D

continues to claim parts of Ladakh It refers to Arunachal

development; in 2005, China began issuing stapled visas to residents of Arunachal Pradesh instead of stamping one

The border dispute dates to the 1914 Simla Convention, when the McMahon Line was drawn between British India and Tibet, though China did not sign or recognise it China argues that Tibet lacked authority to set borders and references older maps showing the disputed land as Chinese territory Since 1947, India has accepted the McMahon Line as its border, while China insists on renegotiation Initially, China claimed only part of Arunachal Pradesh, but now asserts claims over the entire state

Initially, China’s claim was limited to the Tawang region, but it has since expanded to encompass the entire state For India, Arunachal Pradesh is of significant strategic and military

importance The current dispute is just one episode in a much broader relationship As both nations discuss improving ties, it is crucial that such issues do not escalate

According to an Al-Jazeera report, Arunachal Pradesh, India’s least populated state, has historically been at the centre of tensions between New Delhi and Beijing In October 1962, present-day Arunachal Pradesh became one of two major theatres during the Indo-China War, when Chinese forces launched attacks on Indian positions on both sides of the Namka Chu River Although Indian troops withdrew from Tawang, the People’s Liberation Army subsequently returned control of the territory to India after the conflict concluded Another confrontation occurred in October 1975 at the Tulung La pass, linking Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh, with each nation accusing the other of initiating hostilities This incident resulted in the deaths of four Indian soldiers and marked the last fatal border clash between the two countries until the 2020 crisis in Ladakh, where at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese personnel lost their lives in hand-tohand combat Following the Galwan Valley clash, Indian and Chinese forces remained in a standoff in Ladakh for an extended period There was a brief thaw in relations when President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Beijing, but this warmth faded once the approach softened

China’s renewed claim over Arunachal Pradesh highlights its expansionist outlook Its unfriendly stance towards India is well known, and the growing alignment between Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China presents a serious challenge for India’s northeastern region In this context, India must remain vigilant and cautious against any aggressive moves from China

The gift of the Magi

Christmas spirit is evident throughout the UK, with illuminated streets, busy shops, and festive activities The 79th Trafalgar Square Christmas tree, a 20-metre (65-foot) Norwegian spruce, has arrived in London from Oslo, continuing the tradition of Norway gifting a tree to the UK each year since 1947 in gratitude for support during World War II The lights will be installed and officially switched on this Thursday Asian Voice also recently published a festive special to mark the season (AV 29 November – 5 December, Pages 14–17)

T h e r e a r e v a r i o u s w a y

Christmas Some enjoy festive markets, seasonal treats, and local activities Others travel to neighbouring countries or towns to experience different atmospheres or visit India to reconnect with family and friends However, many individuals remain at home, bracing the cold and festivities in social isolation during the holiday season Loneliness and social isolation persist throughout the year, but these issues are often intensified during winter and Christmas Reduced services, shorter days, cold weather, and health challenges make it harder to maintain social connections

Although Christmas is typically associated with joy and togetherness, Age UK research indicates that many older people feel differently: half (6 3 million) no longer find joy in Christmas, a third (4 million) do not put up a Christmas tree, one in five (2 6 million) miss hearing laughter, and 1 million experience heightened isolation at this time

On Christmas Day, the situation remains challenging for older adults: 1 5 million will eat dinner alone, 760,000 will not get dressed, and 670,000 will not see or speak to anyone Age UK’s research highlights that older people are often overlooked

during the festive season, partly due to assumptions by younger generations that they prefer solitude or are too fragile to participate While some may appreciate a quieter holiday, for many, Christmas is a crucial time to feel included and valued Additionally, many adults aged 18–64 report that being around older people prompts reflection on their own ageing The season can be particularly difficult for older individuals, with 11 million viewing Christmas as a reminder of memories and 5 9 million struggling due to the loss of loved ones

Our community consistently steps up to support wider society Take for example, Shashi and Pallu Patel, parents of Deepen and Meeten Patel, who have run Deep and Meet News in Twickenham as newsagents for 40 years Each Christmas Day, they open their shop to welcome anyone in the area who might be spending the holiday alone Their service was recognised with a Points of Light Award from former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Christmas Day, where the Patels host carol singing, offer food, and provide chances for socialising Notably, when some locals couldn't attend in person because of health concerns one year, the family launched a Facebook Live game show so everyone could join in Affectionately called ‘The Good Karma Shop’, the business also leads various community projects and charity fundraisers all year round

Christmas is not solely a time for celebration; it also

through acts of kindness and charity (seva) The season encourages positive attitudes and behaviours, including cheerfulness, helping others, and thoughtful reflection on its significance

Thought for the week

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world"

- Nelson Mand ela

Political Sketchbook

Alpesh Patel

Do wealthier countries host more immigrants, or does immigration itself contribute to national wealth?

Migration patterns appear, at first glanc e, t o tell a s im pl e st ory The world’s wealt hiest countries t end t o hos t the larges t m igra nt popul ations The United States has m ore than 5 2 m illion migrants Luxe mbourg, Qa tar, the UAE and Kuwa it host migrant s har es ex ceeding 50 or even 70 per c ent of their total populations Meanwhile, poorer c ountries tend to host f ar fe wer The intuit ive c onc lus ion is that wealthier count ries attract m igrants because they a re wealthy

But causation is rarely one-directional The deeper question is whether rich countries host more migrants, or whether the presence of migrants is one of the reasons they are rich A careful reading of the data suggests the relationship is mutually reinforcing Wealth attracts migrants, but migration also helps generate wealth What looks like a simple pull factor is in fact a feedback loop

There is no denying that income differentials drive much global movement People move in search of higher wages, better services and stability The positive correlation between national income and migrant share is clear A nurse from the Philippines or an engineer from India can earn five to ten times more in Europe, the Gulf or North America than at home Wealthy economies also have more diverse labour markets with shortages at both the high-skill and low-skill ends Network effects compound the attraction Once migration flows form, they become self-sustaining

Yet the opposite causal direction matters just as much Migrants are not simply pulled by prosperity; they often produce it

High-skilled migrants disproportionately drive innovat

America’s “unicorn” start-ups have immigrant founders London’s fintech and biotech sectors are powered by global talent Migrants are also younger than native populations, which helps stabilise ageing societies They contribute more in taxes than they withdraw in services, especially in educa-

expand output by filling gaps in sectors such as logistics, construction and caregiving Without immigration, many wealthy countries would not sustain their current growth trajectories

The exceptions prove the rule Japan and China are rich but have strikingly low migrant shares The reason is not economic but political: restrictive migration policies and cultural barriers Their economic dynamism is now constrained by demographic collapse, a reminder that wealth alone does not guarantee future success if labour supply shrinks Conversely, Gulf states like Qatar and the UAE are not wealthy despite high migration, but wealthy because of it Their development model is built on large-scale migrant labour Meanwhile, Jordan and Lebanon sit far above the trend line for an entirely different reason: conflict spillovers, not prosperity

So the relationship is neither linear nor automatic Wealth pulls migrants, and migrants push wealth But policy, geography and culture shape the strength of both effects

A country that is rich but closes its doors will see growth falter A country that opens its doors without creating opportunity will see social strain The real question is not which causes which, but whether nations understand that migration and prosperity are co-dependent The countries that harness this relationship will lead the next century Those that misunderstand it will fall behind

Winners to be announced soon!

We extend our warmest thanks to all our readers for their wonderful support and enthusiasm The essay competition is now officially closed, and we are unable to accept any further entries

Our judges panel is carefully going through each submission and preparing the shortlist. The winners will be announced in due course As this thoughtful review takes time, we truly appreciate your patience and understanding In the meantime, keep reading Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar for further updates.

British Sikh community watches as court hears 'racially aggravated rape'

T wo rap es targeting young Sikh w omen in the West Midland s h av e sparked fear with in the British Sikh com munity, which h as deep roots in the region

West Midlands Police have charged Birmingham man John Ashby, 32, with the rape of a Punjab-born woman in her 20s on the evening of October 25 in Walsall Officers were alerted after the woman reported being distressed in the street

R e c e n t l y , J o h n A s h b y appeared via video link from H M P B i r m i n g h a m a t Birmingham Crown Court, facing charges including rape, sexual assault, intentional strangulation, robbery, and religiously or racially aggravated assault causing actual bodily harm

T

public interest, reflected in a gallery filled with members of

Ashby, dressed in a grey tracksuit, spoke only to confirm his name and gave no early indica-

approved a defence request to delay formal arraignment to a later date

The case was adjourned to 2 February 2026 for a case man-

with a provisional trial set for 20 April 2026, expected to last five days The judge said the defendant’s next appearance, in person or via video link, will be confirmed closer to the date

The Crown Prosecution Service stressed the case is active, the defendant has the right to a fair

Leicester man pleads guilty in massage-parlour exploitation case

A Leicester m an has admitted to conspiring to financially exploit

sex w orkers operating in massage parlours Kho nd akar Hasan

p l ea d ed g u il ty a

o t h ers f o ll o w i ng co o r d i nat ed w arrants carried ou t at seven

v enu e s a cr o ss Wi l ts h ir e,

G lo u c es te rs h ir e, S u f fo l k, C am bridg eshire and Reading

The investigation, led by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, resulted in seven women being offered safeguarding support Hasan, 39, of Morton Walk in Leicester, was charged alongside Liu Xu Hopkins, 55, and Benjamin Hopkins, 56, both of High Street, Staple Hill, South

G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e , f o l l o w i n g arrests last month The trio were initially charged with conspiracy to commit human trafficking, control of prostitution for gain, a n d t h e t r a n s f e r o f c r i m i n a l property All three later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to control prostitution for gain at Bristol Crown Court They have been

remanded in custody and are due to be sentenced at a later date D C I A d a m S m i t h f r o m

SWROCU said the case began after Wiltshire Police acted on c o m m

n Chippenham, where two businesses were later ordered by the court to close He emphasised the value of local intelligence, stating that people who “spoke up rather than turn a blind eye ” helped spark the investigation, which has now led to three convictions The three individuals have been remanded in custody and await sentencing

Two jailed over Wolverhampton machete attack

T w o m en h a v e b ee n j a il ed af ter a m ac h et e

a tta ck i n

W o lv e rh am p to n T h e a ss au l t to o k p la ce o n B ar cr of t Ro ad

February, when the pair v iolently targ eted ano ther man in broad daylight, leaving him w ith serious injuries

At Wolverhampton Crown

C o u r t o n 2 1 N

year-old Faisal Hussain from

G o l d h i l l R o a d , B i r m i n g h a m , was jailed for six years He had p r e v i o u s l y p l e a d e d g u i l t y t o conspiracy to commit GBH and possession of a bladed article

J a s s d

S

2

,

I n g e s t r e R o a d , Wolverhampton, was jailed for four years after being found guilty of GBH by a jury

Following the attack, offi-

trial, and warned against prejudicial reporting or online commentary

L ocals demand actio n after wom an attack in Oldbury

Following an attack on a young Sikh woman in Oldbury, the Indian Workers Association (Great Britain) has urged West Midlands Police to speed up the investigation and provide clearer updates, as community concern continues to rise

On September 9, 2025, a British Sikh woman in her 20s was attacked in grassland off Tame Road, dragged into open space, subjected to racist abuse, and suffered facial injuries She was treated in hospital, and the case is being treated as a racially aggravated rape

CCTV, gathered evidence, and c

enquiries A 31- and 49-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman were arrested and remain on bail as forensic analysis contin-

meeting expressed frustration over limited updates and the

minority families

General Secretary, said: “This brutal, racially motivated attack

urgency, transparency, and cultural sensitivity to ensure justice ”

Street attack tragedy leaves family devastated, justice sought

city street

paid tribute to their deeply car-

Barbourne Road, Worcester, at abou t 4 1 5am o n

uesd ay, 2 5 Nov em ber

He was taken to hospital but died later that day Five men arrested on suspicion of murder were released on police bail last week as enquiries continue Vijay Kumar Sheoran, from

i Dadri district, Haryana, moved to the UK for higher studies He resigned earlier this year f

o m

h e C

t r a l B o a r d o f Excise and Customs to focus on

enrolled at the University of the West of England, where he was pursuing his degree Mr Kumar’s family paid tribute to their loved one, honour-

ing a life lived with “ purpose, passion and heart”

In a joint statement, they remembered Vijay’s “ energy, joy and laughter,” and his unbreakable spirit even through hardship “His tragic departure has left us devastated and created a void that can never be filled We will miss him deeply and carry his memory forward in our stories and the love we share,” the family said

Young humanitarian inspires through kindness

Se bbi e Ha ll , f r o m L i ch fi e l d , Staffordshire , ha s be en awa rde d a W orld Huma nit ar ian Aw ar d for his da ily acts of k indn ess an d fu n d r a i s in g fo r co m m un it y ca use s Born with a ra re chromosome an omaly a ffect in g his

IN B R I E F BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT SECURITY BREACH NEARLY SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS

Birmingham Live reported that a security at Birmingham Airport was nearly derailed after a contractor admitted forging staff training records to cover critical lapses Shoaib Iqbal 40, an instructor employed by Mitie, failed to deliver mandatory refresher training for dozens of airfield security staff, then falsified 85 training certificates for 38 employees Birmingham Crown Court heard the breach could have caused “catastrophic consequences,” potentially shutting down airport security Prosecutor Alison Slater said aviation training is strictly regulated requiring renewal every 13 months Iqbal resigned in February 2023 after a whistleblowing alert in December 2022 triggered a Civil Aviation Authority audit that exposed incomplete and forged training records Two colleagues from Mitie confirmed the certificates were not in their handwriting and said they did not recall attending the training

SHOPS FACE CLOSURE OVER ILLEGAL WORKERS

The Home Office has called for two Birmingham shops in Stockland Green, Erdington, to be shut after illegal workers were found In January, West Midlands Police and the Home Office raided Price Busters/Lifestyle Express at 300a Short Heath Road Officers found a Sri Lankan national, whose asylum claim had been refused working unpaid for three to four weeks selling alcohol and a lottery ticket without checks Director Rathakrishnan Gopalakrishnan admitted he had not verified documents denied formal employment and offered only food and drink The Home Office said illegal work at Price Busters and Premier stores stemmed from negligence or wilful blindness and issued £40,000 civil penalties for each, both remaining unpaid At Premier, officers found an Indian national working illegally for £4–£5 an hour cash without checks, selling alcohol and age-restricted products alone

cers from West Midlands Police conducted widespread CCTV inquiries, identifying key suspects and arresting both Singh and Faisal Hussain a month later

Detective Constable Leah

Povey described the incident as “ a horrific attack in broad daylight,” stressing there was “ no justification for such extreme violence,” adding the sentences r e f l e c t e d

caused to the community

Representatives of Sebbie Hall Kindness Foundation

mobi li ty , com mu ni cat io n, a n d le arn ing, Se bbie has spen t the past five y ear s m akin g a re mar kable impact despite the se cha lle nge s The 22-year-old received his award after being chosen to represent the UK at the One World One Culture Festival in southern India, calling kindness his “ s u p e

, Ashley Hall, said the organisers

s o u g h t s o m e o n e w h o t r a n sforms lives through compassion, q u a l i t i e s t h e y s a w i n S e b b i e “Despite his rare condition and inability to read or write, his message of kindness has reached far He believes everyone can make a difference if they take the first step,” she added T

s F o u

d

K

i o n , h e h a s raised over £100,000 for grassroots and national causes His efforts include donating 5,000+ meals to food banks, providing l a p t o p s t o c h i l d r e n w i t h o u t online access, and giving communication devices to disabled youth

POLICE STEP UP HOLIDAY DRINK AND DRUG-DRIVE ENFORCEMENT

Police have launched a month-long festive campaign to tackle drink and drug-driving West Mercia Police said the initiative, called Operation Christmas Presence, complements their year-round efforts, noting that 186 people were arrested during December last year Supt Stuart Bill called it “extremely frustrating” that some drivers still drink and drive, noting there is “no excuse” with so many non-alcoholic options The force warned that any amount of alcohol can impair driving, with no safe way to measure limits The force said that “enforcement of drink and drug-driving laws runs year-round across Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Worcestershire,” but added that highlighting the issue during the festive season reflects a shared commitment with Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion to reduce road harm Motorists caught over the limit face up to six months in prison an unlimited fine and at least a one-year driving ban or three years for a second offence in ten years Campion said, Through highvisibility patrols and robust enforcement, West Mercia Police will ensure those putting lives at risk are brought to justice

Khondakar Hasan

Vijay Kumar Sheoran

Jassdeep Singh (left) and Faisal Hussain (right)

I

n a wo rld where po wer is o ften advertised rather than earned, Varun Chandra stands apart

While some Westminster figures dominate headlines; others operate in the shadows, steering decisions with quiet precision and Chandra belongs firmly to the latter Once labelled a

V A R U N C H A N D R A

The man behind the curtain at No 10

“business whisperer” for his ability to translate corporate unease into political clarity, he has become one of the most discreet yet influential architects of the Starmer era

Serving as Special Adviser on Business & Investment to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he is

His f ingerprints are alr eady on several major developments : w the 2025 UK–US trade deal, negotiated alongside senior American officials, w a £1 billion investment secured from the United Arab Emirates, w key regulatory reforms, including guidance to Chancellor Rachel Reeves on reshaping the Competition and Markets Authority, w and crucial behind-the-scenes work stabilising investor confidence after fiscal tightening measures.

entrusted with nothing less than reshaping Britain’s economic direction And yet his rise, from far outside the usual elite circles, was anything but predictable

A jo urney forged in grit

Born in 1984 to Indian immigrant parents in the windswept coastal town of South Shields, Chandra’s journey is a modern British-Indian epic His father, originally from Bihar, India, who worked his way up to become a doctor, and his mother, who ran a small food business, built a life rooted in hard work and sacrifice In this modest household, education wasn’t just valued, it was the ticket to a different future And young Varun absorbed that message deeply From the prestigious

Royal Grammar School in Newcastle to Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE), Chandra’s ascent was steady and relentless His brilliance, sharpened by a distinctly Indian emphasis on academic excellence, propelled him first into the world of global finance

The making of a glo bal strategist

His early career saw him at Lehman Brothers during the high-octane precrash years, before he moved into Tony Blair’s post-premiership advisory business; a role that exposed him to heads of state, multinational giants, and global crises This international immersion laid the foundation for what would become his signature skill: navigating the space where power, diplomacy, and markets collide

Then came Hakluyt, the discreet corporate intelligence firm founded by former MI6 officers Chandra joined in 2014 and shattered tradition by becoming, in 2019, its first Managing Partner without an intelligence or government background Under his watch, Hakluyt expanded into a global strategic powerhouse, advising nearly 40% of the world’s most valuable companies and launching a

$50 million tech investment fund His network spanning CEOs, investors, political leaders, and thinkers became legendary So did his compensation: in 2023 alone, he earned £2 1 million

A dramati c pivo t to Do wning Street

And then, in a move that stunned Westminster and the City alike, Chandra walked away to join Prime Minister Keir Starmer as Special Adviser on Business & Investment in July 2024 It was a dramatic pivot, from the shadows of elite advisory work to the frontlines of government policymaking

Inside No 10, Chandra quickly became the government’s “business whisperer,” the trusted intermediary who could soothe nervous markets, charm global investors, and decode corporate concerns for ministers His Indian upbringing, steeped in humility, diplomacy, and the ability to build bridges across worlds, proved invaluable

His effectiveness, and his ability to speak the languages of both government and global business, have made him a frontrunner to replace Peter Mandelson as the UK’s next envoy to the United States

A l ife ro ot ed in cult ur e, ser vice, and philanthr opy Beyond Downing Street, Chandra’s commitments reveal a man deeply rooted in cultural and philanthropic work He is a trustee of the Young Vic, the British Asian Trust, Sesame Workshop, the MCC Foundation, and the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, and is involved with multiple innovation and arts organisations Still, Chandra’s rise has not been without controversy His financial ties to Hakluyt, though declared and managed, have drawn scrutiny Critics question whether someone with such deep corporate roots can ever truly step into the realm of public service without conflict But supporters argue that his very hybridity, part strategist, part diplomat, part corporate consigliere, is what Britain needs in an economy desperate for investment and global relevance

At its heart, Varun Chandra’s story is one of possibility A son of Indian immigrants who climbed from small-town life to Oxford, from global finance to the uppermost rung of government, he embodies a cross-cultural success story that resonates with Britain’s South Asian communities

F I R S T - E V E R S H I V A M A H A P U R A N A R E C I T A L A T T H E U K P A R L I A M E N T

Dh ruv C hhatralia BEM created history on 18 November

20 2 5 w i th th e f ir s t- ev e r

recital of the ‘Shiv a M ah a

P u ran a ’ at t h e U K Parliament

T h e l a n d m a r k e v e n i n g was hosted by P ad ma Sh ri Bob Blackman M P inside a packed House of Commons chamber

The event featured two hours of talks exploring the symbolism of Maa Parvati and Mahadev Shiva, mark-

i n g a d e c

B

Hindu scriptural discourse at the UK Parliament, led by Dhruv

T h e e v e n i n g c o m -

menced with resonant Vedic mantras, invoking the blessings of Shiva and Parvati

T h e g a t h e r i n g b r o u g h t together community leaders from eight different faiths, dignitaries, media representatives, and delegates from 30+ national Indian organi-

Daksha Yagna as a lesson in o v e r c o m i n g a n g e r f o r

greater longevity and success, he then prescribed a nine step process of remedies to help one overcome their anger according to the Hindu scriptures He delivered a powerful talk on the spiritual symbolism of the Daksha Yagna from the Shiva Mahapurana D h r u v e x p l a i n e d t h a t

Daksha represents ego-driven action (‘sakamya karma’), performed for self, not the Divine Sati, his daughter, symbolises the limited intellect that comprehends the world but cannot realise the S e l

, mirroring how ego seeks to dominate the intellect On the spiritual path, the intellect eventually turns away from ego and seeks Shiva the Absolute, creating inner friction

s a t i o n s O v e r 1 0 0 g u e s

a

more than 900 people on the waiting list, reflecting the remarkable enthusiasm surrounding this milestone occasion

A nush a Sareen delivered a n i n s p i r i n g d

e r e d through the Rudram, symbolising the Vedic Yajna She d e s c r i b e d S h i v a a s Mahakala, the supreme ruler

o f t i m e a n d e t e r n a l c o n -

s c i o u s n e s s , a n d e x p l a i n e d that MahaShivratri connects us to our timeless essence

S a r e e n n o t e d t h a t Y o g a r e f l e c t s t h e i n n e r j o u r n e y from the fleeting Jiva to the eternal Shiva, the presence beyond all existence Devotion, discernment, and the path beyo nd ego Dhruv Chh atralia BEM

r e c i t e d t h e S h i v a M a h a Purana, sharing the deeper meaning of its stories He explained that Yagna stems from “Yaj”, meaning ‘devapuja’ (worship of the Divine to imbibe noble qualities), ‘ s a n g a t i k a r a n a m ’ ( b r i n g i n g together people of shared

p u r p o s e ) , a n d ‘ d a n a m ’ (donation that amplifies a Yagna’s fruits) Dhruv highl i g h t e d t h e p h i l o s o p h y o f

“not mine”, central to Yagna

H e t h e n n a r r a t e d t h e

the relative intellect must allow itself to be burned up by the fire of knowledge, the fire of samadhi, so that it becomes transformed It is no longer the daughter of a vain personality like Daksha, no longer the daughter of the ego It has been transf

, t h e daughter of the Himalayas Dhruv Chhatralia BEM s a i d t h a t t h e H i m a l a y a s s y m

mental evolution, an utterly

union with the Divine, guided by unwavering love This

samadhi, and vichara (spiri-

s symbolic, unending fasting, a devotee’s austerity is timeless, sustained by the pull of Divine love, without impatience, nourished instead by growing joy each day

Dhruv Chhatralia BEM said that when intellect confronts ego, it is guided by Shiva’s attendants, the powers of dispassion and discernment With their help, t h e i l l u s i o n s t h a t f o r m Daksha’s Yagna hall begin to break and ego-driven values c

e

b o d i e s ‘

v a i r a g y

, s u p r e m e n o n - a t t a c h m e n t , c o m p l e t i n g t h e i n n e r destruction of ego and leadi n g c o n s c i o u s n e s s t o t h e highest ‘samadhi’ The story

o f S h i v a r e v i v i n g D a k s h a with a goat’s head symbolise s t h e b l e a t i n g , h u m b l e d ego Ego’s constant assertions are an affront to Shiva, w h o u l t i m a t e l y s t r i k e s i t d o w n w i t h H i s t r i d e n t W h e n e g o s u r r e n d e r s i n humility, it transforms, and Shiva, pleased by this surrender, blesses it with grace Dhruv told the audience that at the time of her death, Sati prayed that in her next e m b o d i m e n t s h e w o u l d h a v e e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g l o v e t o w a r d s S h i v a ’ s f e e t

Because of that last wish, s h e w a s r e b o r n a s t h e daughter of King Himavant, the spirit presiding over the Himalayan mountains, and s h e w a s c a l l e d U m a o r Parvati In the process of a t t a i n i n g S e

attachment) rises, material

, e v e

u

y t h i n g becomes insignificant, until e v e n t h e m i n d ( c h i t t a ) i s transcended In the highest s a m a d h i , t h e Y o g i b r e a k s identification with thought itself, flowering into parav a i r a g y a , s u p r e m e n o nattachment, in which even a leaf or blade of grass, and finally the universe itself, is renounced U nion, liberation, and the teach ing s o f Sh iva Dhruv Chhatralia BEM said that the seven sages or Sapta Rishis who come to t

senses, mind, and intellect, principles every seeker must transcend to enter mystic unity Their questions highl i g h t t h e d i v i d e b e t w e e n worldly reasoning and intui t i v e w i s d o m H e t h e n recalled Kama’s attempt to awaken Shiva from ‘samadhi’, noting that Shiva unites with Uma only after Kama is burned, signifying that this is a state beyond passion E n l i g h t e n m e n t , h

inner momentum that frees the mind from worldly pull and dissolves desire at its root

Dhruv Chhatralia BEM offered a joyous narration of Parvati and Shiva’s wedding, explaining that the ceremony reflects the inner celebrat i o n b o r n w h e n i n t e l l e c t t u r n s i n t u i t i v e a n d t h e ‘Jivatma’ realises its oneness with the ‘Paramatma’ The t r a n s f o r m e d c i t y w h e r e Uma awaited Shiva symbolises the ‘chitta’ in its purest f o r m , s o r a d i a n t t h a t i t s splendor surpasses even the m a j e s t y o f B r a h m a ’ s c r eation He noted that this sacred marriage represents ‘ Y o g a ’ i t s e l f , t h e u l t i m a t e union of Shiva and Shakti, the ascent of ‘kundalini’ to unite with the Divine, and t h e m e r g i n g o f ‘ P r a k r i t i ’ w i t h ‘ P u r u s h a ’ I t i s t h e soul’s greatest festival, for in t h i s u n i o n , t h e s e e k e r i s freed from worldly bondage and awakened into liberation Dhruv Chhatralia BEM e x p l a i n e d t h a t a f t e r t h e divine marriage, Shiva and

U m a a b i d e i n ‘ K a i l a s h a ’ , w h e r e s p i r i t u a l b l i s s r i s e s endlessly Their union gives b i r t h t o ‘ K a r t i k e y a ’ , t h e Divine army ’ s fearless genera l , w h o s e v i c t o r y o v e r ‘Taraka’ marks the permanent end of ignorance and the restoration of peace He

e m p h a s i s e d t h a t s u p r e m e r e a l i s a t i o n d e m a n d s o n epointed devotion, nothing worthy is attained with scattered focus Like Princess Uma surrendering worldly comforts to reach Shiva, a seeker must direct all inner energy toward the Divine Maa Parvati, he said, embodies fearlessness and freedom f r o m w o r l d l y p u l l , a n d therefore forever resides in Mahadev’s heart

R id dh i V y as s p o k e o n the ancient healing lineage of Shiva Ayurveda, rooted in S h i v a ’ s H i m a l a y a n r e a l m a n d c l a s s i c a l Y o g a t r a d itions She noted that the R i g v e d

Dhruv Chhatralia BEM e x p r e

i t u d

o Padma Shri Bob Blackman MP for hosting the landmark Purana recital at the

Indian culture’s

and cross-cultural harmony, underscoring the value of spiritual teachings in build-

D

oured him with the book Astrology of the Seers by P a d

Frawley, and Bob Blackman highlighted how shared wis-

standing across communities

Speakers and attendees

Blackman MP and the parliamentarians present,

Veena Uttam, Pearl Gupta, and Roshni Jogia for leading

the

oned by Dhruv and supported by Bob Blackman With

London, the initiative now unites a global community of 340,000+ followers across 161 countries

a t e s R u d r a , Shiva’s oldest Vedic name, as the supreme healer, and explained Rudra’s links to Agni, Indra and Soma as pillars of health and restoration

Next Week: A heartfelt tribute by Lord Karan Bilimoria

In the upcoming edition of Asian Voice, we are honoured to feature a deeply personal and uplifting article by Lord Karan Bilimoria, in which he reflects on the remarkable influence of his mother and the values that have guided his life

In this touching piece, he shares vivid memories of his childhood across India, the lessons he absorbed from his distinguished parents, and the profound role of family, heritage and identity in his journey from Hyderabad to the House of Lords

A truly unmissable feature, coming next week in Asian Voice

Dhruv Chhatralia BEM (centre) with dignitaries at the event

Padma Shri Bob Blackman MP (standing) addressing the House of Commons

T

I S K C O N R E C L A I M S H I S T O R I C

L O N D O N T E M P L E A T 7 B U R Y P L A C E

h e In te rna ti o nal S o ci e ty f o r

K ris hn a C ons cio u sness (I SK C ON)

L ond on h as successfully acquired 7

B ury P lac e, th e s ite of it s f irs t

L ond on temp le, o riginally opened in 1 969, at auction for £1 6 millio n ( around Rs 1 9 crore)

The five-storey, 221 sq m (2,379 sq ft) freehold building is currently

o c c u p i e d b y a d e n t a l p r a c t i c e , offices, and a therapist The purc h a s e w a s f u n d e d t h r o u g h ISKCON’s own resources and contributions from supporters

As part of its ongoing expansion, ISKCON London had been actively searching for properties When 7 Bury Place went to auction, devotees eagerly bid for it, drawn by its spiritual and historical significance

T h i s l o c a t i o n h o l d s s p e c i a l i m p o r t a n c e a s t h e v e r y f i r s t ISKCON temple in the UK, establ i s h

, A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in 1968, asked three American couples to set up a base in England

C B Patel, Publish er/Ed itor of A sian Voice and Gu jarat Samachar, h a d t w o b r i e f y e t i m p a c t f u l encounters with Srila Prabhupada at the ISKCON Temple on Bury Place in Central London Though

t h e e x c h a n g e s w e r e s h o r t , Prabhupada’s dedication, building a t r a n s f o r m a t i v e m o v e m e n t despite health challenges, inspired him deeply Following their conversations, Patel read ‘Bhagavad Gita As It Is', a personal copy gifted by Prabhupada himself The reading shaped his belief that every role in life is an act of service M aking of London’s First Hare Krishna T em ple

A C Bh a kt iv ed a nta S w am i P rabh upada, founder of ISKCON, established the first Radha-Krishna Temple in New York in 1966, followed by one in San Francisco By 1968, as the movement grew, he asked three married couples from San Francisco to set up a base in E n g l a n d S h y a m s u n d

d

‘Hare Krishna Mantra’ reached number 12 on

d became an international hit The devotees performed on ‘Top of the Pops’ and held concerts across London, Oxford, a

e

, w i t h Mukunda recalling, “We went from street people t o c e

Overnight ”

The single brought

new ISKCON members, and fulfilled a 16th-cent

o n b y Chaitanya Mahaprabhu of the holy names being heard worldwide

great value, prepared and offered with love

Malati to Prabhupada’s teachings, while Gurudas brought experience as a civil rights activist and social worker

After arriving in Britain, the three couples lived separately in London and struggled financially, performing kirtans, attending public events, distributing leaflets on Oxford Street, and recruiting new members They eventually settled in a Covent Garden warehouse, s

Malati recalled: “[We had] hardly any possessions, no money, no protection All we had was love for Srila Prabhupada ”

T o r e a c h a w i d e r a u d i e n c e , Shyamsundar suggested approaching the Beatles In October 1968, he

a n d M u k u n d a v i s i t e d A p p l e

Records, where Peter Asher passed their request to George Harrison, w h o , f a m i l i a r w i t h k i r t a n s a n

Consciousness’ album, finally met Shyamsundar in December: “Hare Krishna Where have you been? I’ve been waiting [years] to meet you ” Harrison soon visited the devo-

recalled that “the centre of activity was shifting from San Francisco to London,” noting that Prabhupada, then 72, was drawn to the UK due to his upbringing as “ an Indian in the British Empire ” S h y a m s u n d a r , a f o r m e r Fulbright Scholar and professional skier, traveled with his wife Malati Dasi and their baby daughter The o

Mukunda and Janaki had i

t e e s a t t h e i r w a r e h o u s

, t e l l i n g them, “I’m inspired here,” at a time he felt isolated within the Beatles

I n J a n

Shyamsundar to the other band members during the ‘Let It Be’ project, and the devotees became regular visitors to his Surrey home and Apple offices

In July 1969, George Harrison invited the devotees to Abbey Road to record the Maha Mantra, prod u c i n g

n t h e track Released by Apple Records as Radha-Krishna Temple (London),

London only after his

Mukunda secured a seven-storey

Bloomsbury, with George Harrison co-signing the lease and helping fund it The devotees faced opposition from neighbours and the local community, and it was Harrison’s

secure the site

While renovations were underway, John Lennon offered tempo-

Tittenhurst Park estate near Ascot, where the devotees stayed in the servants’ quarters and assisted with the property’s refurbishment

I

How devotion reached m ainstream Britain

9 , Prabhupada visited the UK base, reuniting with his disciples and

Yoko Ono for a philosophical dis-

now 25-strong group moved into t

Krishna Temple at Bury Place, conveniently close to Oxford Street, the devotees’ main public interaction area

In 1970, George Harrison collaborated with ISKCON devotees

t o p r o d u c e T h

h

K r i s h n a Temple album, bringing devotional themes into mainstream music His solo work, including the iconic “My Sweet Lord,” carried spiritual

references to Krishna, weaving the Hare Krishna maha-mantra into its chorus That same year, Harrison f u n d e d t h e p r i n t i n g o f S r i l a P r a b h u p a d a ’ s l a n d m a r k b o o k , Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead By 1972, the London temple at Bury Place became too small to a c c o m m o d a t e I S K C O N ’ s r a p i d g l o b a l g r o w t h I n 1 9 7 3 , o n Harrison’s request, British devotee Dhananjaya Dasa scouted properties near London, leading Harrison to purchase a historic manor house on 17 acres in Hertfordshire The s i t e w a s l a t e r n a m e d Bhaktivedanta Manor In 1979, as part of its expanding cultural footprint, the temple opened Govinda’s R e s t a u r a n t i n S o h o o n e o f London’s earliest affordable, plantbased eateries, at a time when vegetarian dining was still uncommon The aim was simple: to serve w h o l e s o m e v e

1994, sparking one of the largest

Britain’s Hindu community Legal appeals were long and costly, but the movement stayed committed to peaceful protest, outreach, and community unity At the heart of the campaign, Gujarat Samachar and A sian Voice amplified the message through front-page coverage, community awareness drives, and sustained editorial support, helping rally supporters across faiths and beliefs Their backing not only mobilised the Hindu diaspora but also strengthened public understanding, proving that collective

protect a sacred space for future generations

S peaking to A sian Voice, ISK CON London Temp le Presid ent, Dayal Mora Das said, “The reacquisition of 7 Bury

homecoming for our entire community

This building is not just bricks and mor-

ISKCON first took root in the United Kingdom, setting in motion a spiritual movement that has since touched millions To once again hold the keys to this extraordinary place is deeply humbling and profoundly inspiring

A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya moved to 7 Bury Place after residing at John Lennon’s estate at Tittenhurst for two months Being driven in Lennon’s white Rolls Royce, he carried all the regal and aristocratic presence of a monarch, tempered with the natural humility and service attitude of a soul surrendered to the will of God For a gentleman who grew up in colonial India, coming to the seat of that old empire and delivering a priceless jewel was a special moment that will be spoken of for centuries to come It was the spiritual wisdom of ancient India: knowledge of the self, of one ’ s eternal relationship with God, and the means to remember and revitalise that lost connection

It was at Bury Place, the ‘Radha Krishna Temple’, that George Harrison personally met with Srila Prabhupada and agreed to sponsor the printing of the world famous ‘Krishna’ book It was here that George got the request from Srila Prabhupada to make music about Krishna so the mass of people could get to hear about Him

The temple relocated from Bury Place to its current location in Soho Street in 1978, but the devotees of Krishna would regularly walk by the old temple building, remembering and relishing the countless beautiful pastimes that took place there when Srila Prabhupada was present on this earth

Now reclaimed again, we are looking forward to a bright future and sharing this historical site and its associated memories with generations of people from all over the world We want to restore the site to appear as it was in 1969, so visitors can step back in time and feel the presence, and remember the remarkable achievements of Srila Prabhupada which took place here ”

Photo courtesy: ISKCON LONDON

Devotees of ISKCON, including A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (centre), stand near London’s Houses of Parliament

George Harrison (right) joins ISKCON devotees in bhajan embracing devotional music and spiritual fellowship

Three American couples who helped build an early ISKCON base in England

7 Bury Place, London today (left) and Srila Prabhupada with disciples at ISKCON’s first UK temple in 1969 (right)

Dayal Mora Das

6 - 12 December 20 25

A S I S E E I T

Th e wo rd “ co mmunity” may be

s h o rt , bu t i t h o l d s w i th i n th e

weigh t o f our valu es, heritage, history, arts and trad itions But how d oes a comm unity actually form?

A t its core, it is simp ly a group of p e o p le c o nne c ted b y a sh a red id entity or comm on purpose In the earliest times, as hum ans liv ed in cav es and sh elters and their families grew, the drive to surv ive a nd th r iv e bec a m e st ro ng er

P e o p le w i th s i m i lar m i nd s e ts beg an form ing sm all g roup s Ov er time, these g rou ps grew, ev olv ed and grad ually spread, laying found ation of commu nity as we know it

The human thirst for progress has carried us from our earliest b e g i n n i n g s t o t h e m o o n a n d across the seven seas Let’s rewind to the 1950s In Aden, Yemen, a K a t h i a w a d i m a n w o r k i n g a t a p e t r o l s t a t i o n w o u l d s p e n d h i s days staring across the road at a vast, bustling oil refinery Perhaps a thought flickered through his mind: “If only I could own a refinery like that” What a striking contrast, serving petrol on one side w h i l e d r e a m i n g o f o w n i n g a n entire refinery on the other! It almost seems like a daydream

Yet, his fierce ambition for p r o g r e s s k e p t t h a t v i s i o n a l i v e Over time, that Kathiawadi man, D h i r u b h a i A m b a n i , r o s e t o become the face of modern India’s business and industry Dhirubhai’s g u i d i n g p r i n c i p l e w a s s i m p l e : Growth is life And in truth, knowingly or unknowingly, humanity has always followed this very principle at some stage in life

Whether it was a gathering of five, fifty or even five hundred people, it was only natural for conversations about joys, sorrows and daily happenings to take place

Some of you surely remember the village square, the heart of the community What went on there? It was a meeting place for everyone: children, adults and elders alike Children would play and run about, while the elders sat togeth-

e r , s h a r i n g s t o r i e s a n d e x p e r i -

e n c e s A w i d e r a n g e o f i s s u e s w o u l d b e d i s c u s s e d w h e t h e r undertaking village development initiatives, resolving disputes over f i e l d b o u n d a r i e s , o r a d d r e s s i n g other community concerns Every matter was carefully considered, and with the guiding principle of “for the welfare of all, for the happiness of all,” people would work together to find fair and agreeable

The Bhavan: A home for Indian values and arts in the UK

s o l u t i o

T h e v i l l a g

r e s brought everyone together Today, in cities, organisations play this role Whether for social, religious, or service purposes, these groups connect people with similar values and interests The farther we live from our homeland, more important these organisations become to our sustenance

Take Britain as an example Around 60–70 years ago, as more I n d

social, religious, and service-ori-

emerge By 1980, over 500 organis

Commission for Racial Equality, a

exist But ho w many tru ly serve the pu blic? Some exist only on paper, some have good intentions but fail in practice, some have big names but little impact and some have no real leadership Only a few are genuinely active and vibrant, and among these rare, dynamic organisations, our Bharatiya Vid ya Bhavan stands out

This organisation, which preserves and promotes Indian culture, art, values, traditions and h e r i t a g e , t r u l y r e p r e s e n t s Indianness Among the organisations for Indians in Britain, it may be the only one that puts aside all differences of religion and ideology At its heart, Bharatiya Vid ya Bh avan is all abo ut Ind ianness , nothing else

Kulapati Kanhaiyalal M aneklal M unsh i,a distinguished jurist and statesman, founded this institution A prominent Congress leader, he played a key role in India’s freedom struggle and took great risks to help integrate Hyderabad into India Munshiji was also a cele b r a t e d G u j a r a t i w r i t e r A t t h e mention of his name, historical novels like ‘Jay Som nath ’ , ‘Patan ni P rabh uta’, ‘Gujarat no Nath’ and ‘ Rajad hiraj’ immediately come to m i n d T h r o u g h t h e s e w o r k s , Munshiji guided and inspired society in the early twentieth century, o f f e r i n g i d e a s a n

v e r y statesman, K M Munshi, founded t h e B h a r a t i y a V i d y

with the support of Gandhiji Munshiji’s m ain objectiv e A

T

Bhavan is to preserve and promote I n d i a n v a l u e s H e h o p e d t

everyone, from members to stud

embrace these values At a time when technology is taking over the world, he stressed the importance of safeguarding values rooted in our Vedic culture: faith in t h e S u p r e m e , t r u t h , d e d i c a t i o n and self-discipline that purify the body, mind and actions He writes that the foundation

London and the bond formed with it back then remains strong even after several decades

A leading Indian cultu ral organisation in the U K In London, the initial respons i b i l i t y f o

Krish namurthyji A new country, a new organisation, yet this small seed gradually grew into a huge tree As The Bhavan’s activities expanded, the need for a larger space became clear Eventually, a new Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan was established in a church next to W e s t K

of our religion is Satyam–Shivam–Sundaram (truth, love and beauty) From our ancestors to great figu r e s l i k e S h r i Ram akr is h n a Param ah am sa, S wami Dayanand S ara sw ati , S w am i V i v e kan an d , Gand hiji and S ri A urobind o, all h a v e f o l l o w e d t h e s e v a l u e s throughout their lives Because these values are part of our nature, we are respected worldwide Every member of The Bhavan family, big or small, should work to preserve and promote these values in both

personal and collective life

The seed Munshiji planted in Mumbai with such a noble purpose has grown into a banyan tree, now with 11 9 centres across 20 Ind ian states Not just in India, The Bhavan is spreading Indian art and culture overseas as well The first international centre was o p e n e d i n L o n d o n , a n d T h e Bhavan also promotes Indian culture in the U SA, Kuw ait, Doh a and Qatar Munshiji’s vision was brought to life by The Bhavan’s leading figu r e s , J a ys u kh l al Ha th i , Ram akr i sh n an, L eel av a ti Kanhaiyalal M unshi and their colleagues They recognised that as t h e I n d i a n p o p u l a t i o n a b r o a d grew and settlements became permanent, there was a special need for the Bhavan’s work there

C ultural Am bassad ors of Ind ia

A r o u n d 1 9 6 8 , L e e l a v

i j i , Hathiji and Ramakrishnanji came to London with some initial plans They already had a few contacts here, and I was fortunate to meet them They outlined the framework for Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in London In 1972, The Bhavan w a s o f f i c i a l l y e s t a b l i s h e d n e a r Tottenham Court Road, Central

cance for Indians: Gandhiji lived in this area while studying as a barrister in London and would occasionally join the prayers held there

F r o m t h e t i m e t h e s e e d o f Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan was planted in London until today, I have witnessed its evolution From my personal experience, I can say that among Indian organisations active in Britain, Bharatiya Vid ya Bhavan stands out It has a unique identity, is truly vibrant, and is the one that could be called a top cultural organisation in the UK

While other notable organisat i o n s h a v e d o n e c o m m e n d a b l e work over the past 50–60 years, T h e B h a v a n ’ s c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o Indians, especially the diaspora, in

l i t e r a t u r e , a r t s a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y music, are unmatched Its Diwali celebration on 22 November was widely appreciated, and you may have read the detailed report in the 29 November edition of Asian Voice

The secret o f T he Bhavan’ s und isputed success

W e k n o w B h a r a t i y a V i d y a B h a v a n i s d o i n g o u t s t a n d i n g work, but what is the key to its success? Its strong structure An organisation’s success depends on how it is organised, its framework, p r i n c i p l e s , h o w o f f i c i a l s a n d office-bearers are chosen, and how they work together as a team

Simply having wealthy people involved cannot make an organisation successful Munshiji unders t o o d t h i s , w h i c h i s w h y h e designed The Bhavan’s structure with such foresight After all, he was a jurist

A n y o r g a n i s a t i o n ’ s w r i t t e n

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan – London Office Bearers

v Subhanu Saxena – Chairman

v Shantoo Ruparell, MBE – Joint Chairman

v Dr Surekha Mehta – Vice Chairman

v Jayshree Rajkotia – Vice Chairman

v Kaushik Nathwani – Hon Treasurer

Executive Committee Members:

Varinder Singh, Shashi Vekaria, Rubi Bunkar, Candida Connolly, Meghna Singh, Rama Gheerawo, Raj Patel, Vinod Thakkar, Dr M N Nandakumara MBE

and how they work

carries out their duties responsi-

completed work and plan, while ongoing monitoring ensures tasks run smoothly The accounts are fully transparent, with no financial irregularities An institution that manages these basic but crucial matters is sure to progress steadily

Today, at the London centre of The Bhavan, 8 00 to 900 children a

dance and arts Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan has earned the trust and support of the local government, the Arts Council, the Indian High Commission, the Government of India and our community in the UK, a remarkable achievement The most important point is that the London centre was the first overseas centre of Bharatiya V

vibrant I have been closely associated with the London centre from the start Through Asian Voice, Gujarat Samachar, and personally, we have consistently supported and assisted The Bhavan to the best of our ability It is our duty

Dear readers, I am writing in

other organisations could learn from it Simply starting an organisation or putting up a nameplate does not help the community; you must work, day and night with the organisation’s objectives in mind

There are hundreds of organisa-

community, but how many are as v

a Bhavan? Think about it, you will see the difference Whether social, religious or service-oriented, if an organisation does not work for its members, address their problems, or fulfil its founding purpose, it is ineffective and idle My words may seem harsh, but this is the reality

Dhol

, once wrote in New Life (

Samachar that, some organisation leaders are content just having their

brigade" Many boast, “I am the president of this, the chairman of that ” and feel self-satisfied They hold meetings and pass resolutions, thinking work is done But what truly matters is what you do for the members of your organisation I would say the same: an organisation should have a single purpose, to serve the welfare and happiness of the community and humanity

CB Patel

Dhirubhai Ambani

Dr M N Nandakumara MBE Executive Director

Leelavati Munshi and Dr Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshiji

Subhanu Saxena - Chairman

Dr Surekha Mehta – Vice Chairman

T

NHS launches Healthy Choices Quiz

‘Health y C hoices Quiz’ to help with feeling healthier and happier Th e Qu iz is free, it’ s easy and it’s quick to d o

Nina Wadia is well-known for her TV comedy and soap roles, and features in a new short film about the Healthy Choices Quiz Nina says: “I really enjoyed taking the Quiz; it was fun and interesting to do, and it gave me the chance to reflect on my health and lifestyle more than I normally do I was pleased that my score told me I’m mostly making sensible choices, but there w

intending to follow those ”

Health Minister Ashley Dalton said:

“Taking this quick and easy quiz could be the first step for people to live healthier and happier lives “We’re doing our part to cut smoking, obesity and provide better mental health support - this quiz gives people the chance to help themselves by taking advantage of expert NHS advice at the touch of a screen

“This simple, free and easily available quiz will bring expert NHS advice to your fingertips as part of our 10 Year Health Plan to move from treating sickness to preventing it ”

Based on your answers, the Healthy Choices Quiz gives a score out of 10 and advice about each area of your lifestyle,

together with tools to help you The suggestions include online information and free NHS resources that you can use to take the next step in the areas where you feel you could use some support This could be apps like Drink Free Days and Couch to 5k, or the mental health ‘Mind Plan’ quiz and email programme

GP Dr Abdul Hafeez MBE recommends that everyone give the Quiz a try:

“The Healthy Choices Quiz is quick and simple to do – it takes just 5 minutes of your time and it’s personalised, so the results are based on your answers to questions about things like food choices, exercise, sleep, drinking, smoking and vaping At the end you’ll get a score with suggestions and tips for any areas you might want to improve on; all based on trusted NHS tools, like apps and websites ”

Search ‘Health y C hoices Quiz’ to g et you r score and a plan that‘ s righ t for you Or click here to access the quiz now: http s://www nhs uk/better-health/healthy-cho icesquiz/?WT m c ID=HCQ PR&wt tsrc=PR

A brain tumour survivor’s mission to bring hope to others

Subhasini Naicker

A m i sh a T h o b h an i, a th r ee -t im e b ra in tumo ur su rv ivor and dedicated ad vocate, h as transformed her personal battles into a p owerful mission to sup port others nav igating the same d ifficult journey Her work with the Hillingd on Brain Tumou r and Injury Grou p, wh ere she v olunteers, fu nd rai ses, and uplifts patients, recently earned h er a Gold Aw ard in the Pro moting Health and W el lb ei ng c at eg o r y at th e Hi ll i ng d o n C omm unity A ward s

Through her advocacy, creative workshops, and tireless awareness campaigns, Amisha has become a vital voice for a condition that remains widely misunderstood, frequently misdiagnosed, and severely underfunded

Reflecting on her battle with multiple brain tumours, Amisha Thobhani told Asian Voice, “Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer for people under 40 " After surgeries in 2005 and 2010, she added, “I realised how little support existed for patients once they left the hospital The emotional and mental trauma is often invisible, and it’s hard to share with family because you don’t want to burden them ”

“The turning point for me came when I met a young mother whose two-year-old son, Max Earley, was misdiagnosed for a month and tragically passed away She had to watch her only child endure unnecessary painful procedures that could have been avoided Earlier diagnosis would have saved his life Stories like Max’s, along with the lack of awareness and support, pushed me to begin advocating, raising awareness, and helping others facing similar battles,” she added

“ Only 1% of cancer research funding go es to brain tum ours ”

Speaking about the increasing impact of brain tumours on younger adults, she added, “Brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer, yet there is still no known cause or cure Around 35 people are diagnosed every day, and 13,000 each y

and

tumours since 2002 ”

“Misdiagnosis remains a major problem, so it’s vital to be your own advocate Learn the symptoms, seek a second opinion if needed, get an MRI of the brain, and get your eyes checked, my optician ultimately diagnosed my tumour after years of symptoms And if you are diagnosed, please join a support group or charity so you don’t have to face the journey alone ”

On her biggest lesson and source of strength, Amisha said, “My greatest lesson has been learning to be kind to myself Brain tumours are an invisible illness, no one sees the internal struggle ” She added, “I’ve had to stop feeling guilty about giving up full-time work or resting when fatigue overwhelms me I’m learning to love myself again ”

“My strongest support has been my husband Anish and our twins, who have lived this journey with me for 20 years My parents and sisters have been my backbone, along with extended family and friends Becky and the charity have been life-changing, she’s an inspiration and an angel, devoting herself to others even after losing her husband And my hero will always be my dad, Dr Amrat Gokani He came with me to almost every appointment and lifted my spirits until his last days I hope I continue to make him proud ”

Hammersmith & Fulham extends parking grace period for The Bhavan

institu tions dedicated to Indian classical

which it believes will adversely affect cultural and community activities

Hammersmith & Fulham Council has now provided an update, extending a temporary grace period for the enforcement of the new parking controls until Monday, 8 December 2025 During this period, no enforcement will take place after 5:00 pm on weekdays

December, and there will be no enforcement at all over the weekend of 6–7 December

The Bhavan has stated it will continue to provide regular updates as further information becomes available The institution has also reiterated its call for the council to

'Human

reconsider aspects of the restrictions, particularly the extended evening and weekend enforcement hours and the imposition of a one-hour limit Asian Voice stands firmly with the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in its appeal to Hammersmith and Fulham Council to reconsider the proposed CPZ D parking restrictions, which threaten this vital cultural institution We urge our readers and the wider community to support The Bhavan in preserving its legacy of arts, education, and inclusivity You can voice your support by emailing the Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham, Cllr Sharon Holder, at Sharon Holder@lbhf gov uk

Cost of Terrorism' exhibition highlights global need for peace and solidarity

Rupanjana Dutta

A special exh ibition, organised by the Hig h C ommission of India in Lo nd on, comm em orated the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks of 200 8 alo ng with other incidents that cost irreparable losses of life

Titled ‘The Human Cost of Terrorism’, the display at the National Liberal Club featured impactful imagery and digital installations highlighting major attacks in India, such as the 26/11 Mumbai attack, Pahalgam strikes, as well as other incidents in the UK and globally

The event emphasised the message that “ t e r r o r i s m a n y w h e r e i s t e r r o r i s m e v e r ywhere,” underscoring the need for a unified international response In his address, His E x c e l l e n c y V i k r a m D o r a i s w a m i , H i g h Commissioner of India to the UK, reflected on the shared human impact of terrorism and called for collective action by open, democratic societies He said, “We mark 26/11 as a day to remember the human cost of terrorism, bearing in mind the events of November 2008, when the city of Mumbai came under attack

“It is a human story It is a story that is not an Indian story alone It is something we s h a r e w i t h o u r f r i e n d s i n t h e U n i t e d Kingdom Acts of terror have happened here, equally brutal, equally sudden, and with equal impact upon ordinary life

“And I think it's important that we remember that the only way in which all

civilised societies can deal with these crimes is to be able to act collectively,” he said H E V i k r a m D o r a i s w a m i e m p h a s i s e d that open democracies such as India and the UK possess the resilience and determination necessary to effectively address terrorism

“We are open societies, we are democracies, and we will find a way of dealing with these matters in the best way that is necessary to take action and to stop these monsters,” he added

Tugendhat recounted his visit to Mumbai after the attacks, noting the importance of global solidarity and shared lessons in confronting terrorism

The exhibition also highlighted India’s contributions to international counter-terrorism efforts, including support for the United Nations’ programme on countering the financing of terrorism

Amisha Thobhani

Nina Wadia

His Excellency Vikram Doraiswami High Commissioner of India to the UK addressing the guests

Former UK Security Minister Tom Tugendhat MBE speaking at the event

HE Vikram Doraiswami, former UK Security Minister Tom Tugendhat Saloni Sahai First Secretary Public Diplomacy HCI London and other guests at the exhibition

The significance of Gita Jayanti

“ G i t a ” m o s t c o m m o n l y refers to the Bhagavad Gita,

a s a c r e d H i n d u s c r i p t u r e

k n o w n a s t h e “ S o n g o f God”, is a philosophical text

t h a t i s p a r t o f t h e e p i c Mahabharata and consists of 700 verses in 18 chapters

G i t a J a y a n t i m e s s a g e s f o c u s o n t h e w i s d o m o f

Bhagavad Gita , emphasizing peace, spiritual growth, and righteous living Wishes often include messages of hope, courage, and devotion, inspired by teachings of Lord Krishna May the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita inspire you to live a balanced life Let the divine wisdom of Gita guide your mind and soul

Gita Jayanti is significant as it marks the day the Bhagavad Gita was revealed by Lord Krishna to Arjun on the battlefield of Kurukshetra The festival commemorates the timeless spiritual guidance and wisdom found in the Bhagavad Gita, which includes teachings of dharma (righteousness), karma (selfless action), and liberation (moksha) It is a day to honour these teachings and seek spiritual enlightenment, often involving fasting, prayer, and recitation of the holy text People gather for satsangs (spiritual discourses) where scholars explain the scripture verses and teachings Many engage in group recitation of Bhagavad Gita to contemplate its verses and integrate its wisdom into their lives

The age of the Bhagavad Gita is uncertain, but traditional views place its composition between the 5th to 4th century BCE and 1st to 2nd century CE However , within the tradition of Mahabharata , Gita is believed to have been spoken by the deity Krishna to the warrior Arjuna over 5,000 years ago during the Kurukshetra war

During our trip to India 14 years ago we were fortunate and lucky to have a holy visit to Kurukshetra city in the North Indian state of Haryana It’s known as the setting of Hindu poem the “Mahabharata” Also we were blessed to visit Krishna Museum, the most memorable visit to cherish forever in our lives

We wish all the readers of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar and very committed staff Devine and a spiritual Gita Jayanti to bring happiness, peace of mind , serenity, solace and good health

Suresh and Bha vna Patel

Lok Bhavan, Raj Bhavan

Renaming Raj Bhavan to Lok Bhavan is a powerful step towards true democracy “Raj” echoes colonial monarchy; “Lok” proclaims people’s sovereignty This change will remind every Governor that the mansion belongs to the people, not the ruler Let our institutions reflect jan shakti, not raj shahi

TS Karthik

Amol Rajan apologises over ‘benefit scroungers’ remark

A BB C presenter ha s is sued an on-ai r apology af te r a c om ment duri ng a Radi o 4 i n te r v i e w s p a rk e d a n g e r am on g listeners

Journalist Amol Rajan clarified remarks he made while speaking to former L a b o u r m i n i s t e r L o r d David Blunkett about the budget and the decision to scrap the two-child benefit cap

During the discussion, Rajan said, “According to the Child Poverty Action Group, there are over four million children in poverty, and more than 70% are in working families It’s not a question of scroungers on welfare, it’s actually working families ” The phrasing prompted complaints from listeners who felt he was branding benefit claimants as “ scroungers ” M i n u t e s l a t e r , R a j a n addressed the issue, stressing he did not personally hold that view “I just want to clarify something,” he

Let’s plant more trees together

I recently read Ketan Dattani’s article, “Rooted in Culture and Nature: The Significance of Trees for South Asians” i n t h e 2 2 N

thoroughly enjoyed it

I have always loved nature and my own garden is full of trees and plants that bring me immense joy I often find myself giving one of my trees a gentle hug, it creates a lovely sense of connection with nature, and I genuinely recommend it I am now encouraging my grandchildren to do the same, hoping they grow up with that same bond

Recently, I attended Pujya Morari Bapu’s katha in Mumbai, held in support of the Sadhbhavna Trust Their initiative of planting trees across India for donors is truly inspiring, they have already planted an impressive 1 5 million trees

It may be worth exploring whether Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice could collaborate with Ketan to develop a community tree-planting programme in our local neighbourhoods With support from local authorities

meaningful and long-lasting initiative

Subhash V Thakrar O BE FC A FRSA

For readers like us, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar feels just right

CB Patelji, Writing isn’t something that comes easily to me, but I couldn’t hold back my feelings I have been a reader of your renowned weeklies for many years Every week, me and my wife eagerly wait for the latest issues of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar As soon as they arrive, we read them with great interest and we also keep them safely stored Even when our neighbours ask to borrow the papers, we insist they return them after reading so we can keep our collection complete

Recently, while my wife and I were talking, we recalled how warmly you would converse whenever we met you My wife, Laxmi, has also asked me to convey Jai Shri Krishna to you

Samachar have undergone a complete transformation

coloured like a rainbow, but a hundred-coloured, truly vibrant Along with national and international news, the thought-provoking and insightful articles you publish are deeply appreciated We very much enjoyed this new style of content Your recent tribute article on the Hinduja f

women-centric articles, health-related pieces and the wide variety offered across different columns all deserve real appreciation

You truly deserve heartfelt thanks for offering such rich and diverse reading material

P rabhudas So lanki, Leicester

told audiences “I used the w

, I absolutely wasn’t describing people on welfare as scroungers I was making the point that families in poverty cannot be characterised that way because o v e r 7 0 % o f c h i l d r e n i n poverty are in households where people work ” He added, “Sorry if that was unclear I would never d e s c r i b e p e o p l e w h o r e c e i v e s o c i a l s e c u r i t y o r b e n e f i t s a s s c r o u n g e r s , that’s not language I use ”

than dou bled in the past financial year, new fig

The money in marriage

Ma rria ge is ofte n fra me d around romanc e, c om mitment and legal s ecurity but it also deli vers a suite of f i n a n c i a l b e n

t cohabiting couples sim ply cannot ac cess

From inheritance prot e c t i o

t a x - e

i c i e n t investing, tying the knot can save spouses thousands of pounds over a lifetime, says Alice Haine of Evelyn

P a r t n e r s B y c o m b i n i n g a l l o w a n c e s a n d t r a n s f e rring assets freely, couples c a n d r a m a t i c a l l y r e d u c e their overall tax exposure

I nhe rita nc e tax is the b i g g e s t a d v a n t a g e

Anything spouses leave to each other, from cash to property, is exempt They

c a n a l s o i n h e r i t u n u s e d

allowances With a potent i a l £ 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 i n d i v i d u a l t h r e s h o l d , a s u r v i v i n g spouse could pass on up to £ 1 m i l l i o n t a x - f r e e

Unmarried partners get no such protection

M a r r i e d c o u p l e s a l s o gain access to an extra Isa

a ll o w an c e k n o w n a s t h e A d d i t i o n a l P e r m i t t e d

S u b s c r i p t i o n ( A P S ) T h i s lets a widow or widower

i n h e r i t t h e i r p a r t n e r ’ s entire Isa pot, on top of t h e i r o w n £ 2 0 , 0 0 0 allowance, without losing its tax-free status

T h e ma r r i a g e

allow ance is another overlooked perk A non-earning o r l o w e r - e a r n i n g s p o u s e can transfer £1,260 of their personal allowance, reducing their partner’s tax bill by up to £252 a year

When it comes to capital gain s tax , married coup l e s c a n m o v e a s s e t s between themselves without triggering tax, allowing t h

gains are realised in the

name The

year, marking the highest level in five years The data

with 2023–24 showing the sharpest increase

Policing statistics recorded 183 Met officer dismissals in

Only a small proportion of those who challenged dism

w i t h most cases ending in withd

u r i n g t h e Met The rise comes amid m o u n t i n g s c r u t i n y o f t h e force’s culture following the C a s e y r e v i e w a n d o t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n s i n t o r a c i s m and misconduct

British comedian to stand trial

Scottish com ed ian Hard eep Sing h Kohli has appeared in co u rt c h arg ed w i th rap e , along w ith a further alleg ati o n u n d er th e D o m es ti c Abuse (S co tland) A ct T h e 5 6 - y e a r - o l d m a d e no plea to either charge duri n g a p r i v a t e h e a r i n g a t Glasgow Sheriff Court He was committed for further

e x a m i n a t i o n a n d r e l e a s e d on bail by Sheriff Bernard Ablett The date of his next court appearance has yet to be set Kohli, from Kelvinside i n G l a s g o w , i s a f o r m e r reporter for BBC’s The One Show and a former panellist on Channel 5 ’ s The Wright Stuff

With ho us ebuild i ng at its lo west level in nine years, nim byism entrenched, and the g overnment far from its tar g et o f 1 5 m i l li o n new hom es by the end of th e p arli am ent, H is to ric E ng land believ es p art of th e solution li es n o t i n n ew p lan ni ng reform s but in old buildings

The heritage body’s new co-chief executives, Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, are championing the conversion of vacant or underu s e d p r e - 1 9 1 9 p r o p e r t i e s into modern homes, a shift t h e y s a y c o u l d u n l o c k a s many as 670,000 dwellings

“Heritage connects us to our past and strengthens communities,” Squire said “But it’s also vital to addressing t o d a y ’ s c h a l l e n g e s , f r o m growth to housing ” R e t r o f i t t i n g h i s t o r i c b u i l d i n g s h a s l o n g b

to the

taxpayer via HMRC’s

consent order is essential to ensure assets are properly separated Still, for many couples, the tax benefits alone make saying “I do” a surprisingly savvy financial decision

rooms above shops, derelict structures and empty indus-

Squire said

Amol Rajan

Brent council spends £30,000 yearly on paan stains

B r e n t C o u n ci l fo r k s o ut

m ore tha n £30 ,000 a ye ar t o t ackle a pe rsist ent proble m: clea ning shops, pa vem ent s, a nd building s stain ed by a

d a r k- re d subst an ce k n own

a s pa an, popular within the S out h Ea st Asia n communi-

t y T h e p r a c t i c e i s widespread in parts of Brent, p a r t i c u l a r l y a r o u n d Wembley, where a blood-red mixture of saliva and tobacco litters the streets, leaving its mark on telephone boxes, pavements, and even flower beds

The council has vowed to adopt a “zero-tolerance approach” to paan spitting, warning that it causes “serious health and environmen-

t

w a y N o w , s u d d e n l y , j u s t before an election, they want credit for ‘cracking down’?

“ even high-powered cleaning jets” fail to erase every mark As part of its crack-

d o w n , B r e n t C o u n c i l h a s erected banners in three of the borough’s paan hotspots and will deploy enforcement officers, with offenders facing fines of up to £100 C a b i n e t M e m b e r f o r

P u b l i c R e a l m a n d

E n f o r c e m e n t , C l l r K r u p a Sheth, said, “I am delighted that we continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to those who ruin our streets, that includes those that spit

o u t p a a n a n d s t a i n s t r e e t furniture Don’t mess with Brent, because we will catch you and fine you ” H o w e v e r , t h e B r e n t Liberal Democrats slammed the move as “far too little, far too late,” claiming they have l o n g p u s h e d f o r a c t i o n Leader Cllr Paul Lorber told t h e L o c a l D e m o c r a c y R e p o r t i n g S e r v i c e ( L D R S ) , “ P e o p l e i n W e m b l e y , Alperton, and Sudbury have been dealing with disgusting chewing tobacco spitting on our streets for years, while the council looked the other

“ W e d e m a n d e d m o r e e n f o r c e m e n t i n h o t s p o t areas where spitting often

o c c u r s , a n d h a v e e v e n pushed for a ban on chewing t o b a c c o b e c a u s e o f t h e health dangers and the mess it leaves everywhere If the L a b o u r c o u n c i l h a d t a k e n r e a l a c t i o n s o o n e r , o u

d

w o u

a s stained and filthy as they are today This is another classic B r e n t L a b o u r a n n o u n c ement: flashy headline, with n o r e a l f o l l o w - t h r o u g h

Brent deserves proper action a l l y e a r r o u n d , n o t l a s tminute election gimmicks ”

Health experts warn of the serious risks associated w i t h c h e w i n g t o b a c c o

According to the NHS, it can s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n c r e a s e t h e r i s k o f m o u t h a n d oesophageal cancer Studies also indicate that betel nut alone, even without tobacco, is carcinogenic, posing dangers comparable to cigarette smoking

Brent’s Clinical Lead for Primary & Community Care, Dr Shazia Siddiqi, explained, “We see patients with oral health issues linked to paan

use Additives like betel nut and tobacco, when eaten frequently in paan, pose serious health risks Regular use of betel nut has been linked to oral and oesophageal cancers, while tobacco is highly a d d i c t i v e B o t h c a n c a u s e r e c u r

n t m o u t h u l c e r s , bleeding gums, weaken the i m m u n e s y s t e m , a n d increase the risk of infections like tuberculosis ”

To complement enforcement, Brent is offering dedicated workshops and oneto-one support to help residents quit The borough’s ‘Stop Smoking Service’ runs s p e c i a l i s t s i x - w e e

grammes tailored for groups often missed by mainstream

s

who chew tobacco, smoke

require mental health support

Wellbeing, Cllr Neil Nerva, said, “We’re committed to protecting residents’ health

a n d k e e p i n

s t r e e t s clean Paan spitting is not just unpleasant, it’s harmful, c o s t l y , a n d u n a c c e p t a b l e

You are playing with your

h e a l t h a n d m

i n g w i t h your streets ”

Avanti Schools Trust leads Harrow school rankings

Harrow The trust said the

emphasis on academic achievement and

Famida Rawoot, Trust Education Lead, added: “Education must nour-

We’re immensely proud of

Hasubhai Nagrecha donates

£10 million for grand old-age home

T o pr ovide a lifel ong a nd f ree she lter to the d estit ute, ch ild less, and a iling mot her s, t he wo rld’s la rge st old -a ge ho me, ‘Vinu bh ai Bachu bh ai

blessings to Hasubhai Nagrecha from the Vyaspeeth, saying: “Inspite of living abroad, Hasubhai of the Nagrecha family has carried out an

extraordinary and noble deed by donating £10 million in the name of his late elder brother, Vinubhai This is truly admirable The same deep

Na gre ch a Bh av an ’ , is being built

Alongside this noble mission, a pledge has also been taken to plant and nurture 1 51 billion trees across India In support of these causes, Pujya Morari Bapu’s Ram Katha was held in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, from 22 to 30 November

During the conclusion of the Ram Katha, Pujya Morari Bapu offered his

bond of brotherhood that once united Ram and Lakshman can be seen between Vinubhai and Hasubhai In today’s times, such generosity is rare ” The grand old-age home project coming up on the Rajkot–Jamnagar highway under the Sadbhavana Trust will be named ‘Vinubhai Bachubhai Nagrecha Bhavan’

Quarter of police forces still lack sexual-offence investigation policies

A new inquiry into po lici ng standard s reveals that a quarter o f police forces hav e still not adopted basic po licies for investigating sexual offences, four years after the murder of S ar ah Ev era rd exp o s ed s ystem ic failures in w omen ’ s safety

Sarah Everard

The review, led by Dame Elish Angiolini, w

abducted and murdered in 2021 by serving officer Wayne Couzens Angiolini criticised a “paralysis” stalling reforms, despite evid

t women remain widespread

The latest inquiry shows that key recommendations from the first report including banning recruitment of officers cautioned or c o n v

unimplemented Everard’s mother, Susan, said she is still “tormented” by the horror her daughter endured

D a m e E l i s h A n g i o l i n i ’ s n

w i n q u i r y

found that authorities still lack data on the true scale of stranger attacks on women in public spaces, and promised reforms after S

remain largely unmet T

Chiefs’ Council confirmed that 26% of police forces had not introduced basic policies for investigating sexual offences s u c

t frameworks included Greater Manchester, L

h e Metropolitan Police, which has since adopted the required policy Angiolini called prevention work “fragmented” and “underfunded,” warning that normalised misogyny and harmful online content may enable street violence She

Soteria and nightlife safety initiative Project Vigilant but stressed that violence against women still lacks funding and urgency compared with counter-terrorism The report makes 13 new recommendations for sustained reform, better offender tracking and long-term funding to rebuild trust and safety for women

Takeaway in West London fined for infestation

schools in H

mance indicators and ranks 211th out of 6,579 schools in England for Attainment 8, placing it within the top 3%

of

raising standards locally and nationally ”

The rankings align with the trust’s mission to deliver h

tion grounded in excellence, character growth, and wellbeing

Owner Harpeet Singh agreed to close the

allowed to reopen after two follow-ups, with formal notices to complete food hygiene training, implement allergen procedures, and ensure proper HACCP compliance

A December visit revealed continued non-compliance, with HACCP documentation still missing by February While cleanliness had improved, Punjabi Chula received a hygiene rating of three (‘generally satisfactor y ’ ) O w

H a r p

S i n g h , o f F e l t h a m , admitted to seven breaches of the Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations 2013, citing inexperience and lack of training He was fined £5,000, ordered to pay a £2,000 victim surcharge and £5,000 in council costs for failing to control the cockroach and fly infestation, with no separate penalty for the other offences

At the conclusion of the Ram Katha, Pujya Morari Bapu offered blessings to Hasubhai Nagrecha and Umiben

At the conclusion of the Ram Katha, Umiben Radia, Shashibhai Radia and their son Prishal Radia were performing the Aarti

Visa reforms strain Britain’s health and education sectors

UK universities also recorded an 11% drop in Indian student enrolments following tighter visa regulations

According to the Office for National Statistics, net migration plunged to 204,000 in the year to

from the post-pandemic peak of

900,000, a reduction of 400,000,

country, 43,000 more than the

included approximately 70,000 EU nationals and 109,000 British

i t i z e n s , c o n t i n u i n g l o n g - t e r m patterns seen after Brexit

Foreign doctors are also leaving the UK in growing numbers, warning that stricter visa rules are leaving them unable to secure w o r k d e s p i t e c o m p l e t i n g t h e i r training

At the same time, long-term immigration by asylum seekers rose to 96,000, making up 11% of all arrivals, double the 2019 share Home Office data shows 36,273 asylum seekers were housed in hotels at the end of September 2025, up 13% since June, prompting plans to relocate 900 men to barracks in Scotland and southern England

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

51,000, with 46,000, nearly nine in ten, crossing by small boat, led

b y n a t i o n a l s f r o m E r i t r e a ,

A f g h a n i s t a n , I r a n , S u d a n a n d

Somalia

Amid these shifts, healthcare leaders warn the system cannot

a f f o

T h e R o y a l C o l l e g e o f G e n e r a l Practitioners has urged reforms

t o h e l p i n t e r n a t i o n a l m e d i c a l

g r a d u a t e s s e c u r e r o l e s i n t h e NHS Restrictions push skilled doctors out

Many international medical graduates (IMGs) finish UK GP specialty training only to face regulatory hurdles, as they must find

a p r a c t i c e w i t h a s p o n s o r s h i p licence to remain in the NHS

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has urged

H o m e S e c r e t a r y S h a b a n a Mahmood to allow overseas GPs to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) immediately after completing their three-year GP training, rather than waiting for the current five-year minimum

Surveys show 61% of GPs and GP registrars may leave the UK if j o b b a r r i e r s p e r s i s t , w h i l e 7 1 % report difficulty finding a sponsoring practice Currently, only 29% of GP surgeries offer visa

s p o n s o r s h i p P a t i e n t d e m a n d , however, has surged, there are just 462 more GPs than in 2019 despite 3 7 million additional registered patients, and training a GP takes at least 10 years, leaving a critical workforce gap

I n d i a n n a t i o n a l s f o r m t h e largest group of overseas clinicians in the NHS workforce, with over 60,000 employed as of June 2023, including more than 10,000 doctors and nearly 32,000 nurses

Right now, many skilled professionals from other ethnic backgrounds are being forced out, and if Indian clinicians face a similar path, the imbalance could wors-

en With one-third of UK-trained medical graduates already leaving the country, restrictive immigration and sponsorship hurdles risk pushing out the very doctors the system urgently needs, making the situation dire

However, asylum seekers now account for nearly half of net m i g r a t i o n t o t h e U K D e s p i t e Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to end the use of hotels for housing, the number of asylum

s e e k e r s i n t e m p o r a r y h o t e l

accommodation has continued to rise Office for National Statistics data show that while all other m

e s have declined, arrivals of asylum seekers have increased

L o n g - t e r m i m m i g r a t i o n o f asylum seekers reached 96,000 in the year to June 2025, double the share in 2019, and the number housed in hotels rose to 36,273 by September 2025 More than half of asylum arrivals entered the UK i l l e g a l l y , i n c l u d i n g 4 5 , 0 0 0 o n small boats and 12,000 in lorries, while many others claimed asylum after arriving on visas

This raises a pressing question: how can the UK’s healthcare and public services cope when the system is losing skilled profess i o n a l s , w h i l e s i m u l t a n e o u s l y absorbing a growing number of asylum seekers? Is it fair or sustainable to push out the very doctors needed to support a system under increasing strain?

Indian students fu el largest non-E U departures Indian nationals recorded the highest departures from the UK in the year ending June 2025, with 74,000 leaving in total, including 45,000 on study visas, 22,000 on work visas, and 7,000 on other visa routes

C h i n e s e n a t i o n a l s f o l l o w e d with 42,000 exits The Office for N a t i o n a l S t a t i s t i c s c o n f i r m e d that Indian nationals were the largest non-EU group emigrating, a trend largely driven by former international students

D e s p i t e h i g h o u t f l o w s , Indians also remained the biggest a r r i v a l s A r o u n d 9 0 , 0 0 0 s t u d y visas and 46,000 work visas were granted to Indian citizens It has been noted that Indian, Pakistani, Chinese and Nigerian nationals continue to rank among the top five non-EU groups entering the UK, with emigration growth primarily linked to those who origin a l l y a r r i v e d o n s t u d y - r e l a t e d visas

P o l i c y u n c e r t a i n t y h a s a l s o grown for prospective students, amid a government review of the Graduate Route post-study work visa While no final law has been passed, ministers have signalled possible tighter limits on duration and eligibility from 2025–26

S p e a k

, Professor Jeevan R S harma, C hair

of So uth Asia and International Dev elopm ent at th e U niv ersity of Edinburg h said, “I think Indian students are leaving the UK in larger numbers than previously

critically the public discourse in the UK has become more antiimmigrants Most students work as part time low paid workers in restaurants, delivery platforms,

supermarkets so those businesses will feel shortage of workers ”

“Most Indian students would

money to come to the UK as fees and living expenses are quite high plus NHS surcharge, visa fee plus

Most take educational loans and expect to earn a bit of money to

becoming increasingly difficult The route to permanent settlement or even to a work visa is

most plus the anti immigration discourse just makes them feel

future for them,” he added

S und er Katwala, Director of i nd e p end ent th i nk tan

B

ti s h Future, said, "After record-high immigration to the UK following the Covid pandemic, net migration has sharply fallen in 2024 and 2025, though the UK still saw 205,000 more arrivals than departures "Indian students now make u

n g , largely because they were also the biggest group arriving three years earlier Around four in ten have stayed on after finishing their studies; the rest never intended to remain Over this period, one in four international students coming to the UK has been from India

"

the pace of growth, seeing some of this motivated more by work rights than study opportunities It has kept the post-study work visa but cut its length from two years to 18 months and removed the option to bring dependants A new £925 annual levy on international students is also on the way, effectively an 8% surcharge on the c

around 4–5% on average-priced degrees This will make the lowest-cost courses harder to sustain

will hinge on unpredictable global shifts, including how attractive competitor destinations become, i n c l u d i n g D o n a l d

' s America After an unprecedented surge and correction, UK policy and student flows may now settle into a steadier pattern, at least until 2029 "

Choose OCI for easier travel to India

If you trav el often to Ind ia, or h av e roots in Ind ia, you can consider applying for an Overseas C itizenship o f India (OC I) card instead of repeated ly using an e-Visa India

An OCI card is not citizenship but a ‘lifelong entry and residency authorisation’ for people of Indian origin and eligible foreign spouses It offers multiple entries, long stays, and residency benefits without the need to reapply before every trip

While an e-Visa India is temporary and must be renewed, OCI provides convenience, lower long-term cost and travel stability, making it the smarter choice for frequent travellers and diaspora families

To apply for an OCI card, first complete the online application on the official OCI services website, print the form, and then submit it with supporting documents to the designated VFS Global center via mail or appointment Ensure all required documents are uploaded online and gather the correct documents as per the checklist on the VFS Global website

S tep 1: Com plete the online application

Go to the official OCI online services website See: https://ociservices gov in/online OCI/ Select the correct application type and your relevant jurisdiction (e g , the correct Consulate or High Commission)

Fill out the form, which includes parts A and B, with accurate personal, passport, and family details

Upload the required photograph and signature according to the specifications (e g , 51mm x 51mm)

Submit the online form and

save the application reference number

Print the submitted application form You will need this for submission

S tep 2: Gather sup porting d ocuments

Visit the relevant VFS Global website for the specific country you are applying from, and find the document checklist for your OCI application type

See: https://www vfsglobal com/en/i ndividuals/index html

Gather all the necessary supporting documents, such as a copy of your current foreign passport, proof of address, and any other documents listed in the checklist

S tep 3: Submit yo ur application

Book an appointment: at the VFS Global center in your jurisdiction, if required

Pay the fees: online through the VFS Global portal

Submit: the printed application form, all supporting documents (originals and photocopies as per the checklist), and any other required items (like prepaid selfaddressed envelopes) to the VFS Global center

After submission, you can track the status of your application online

UPCOMING EVENT

The High Commission of India is organising a Consular Camp in Langley, Slough, on Saturday, 13th December 2025, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at The Langley Academy, Langley Road, Langley SL3 7EF

The camp will offer a range of consular services including passport and passport-related services OCI visa and other services such as birth registration attestation and power of attorney For application-related information applicants are advised to visit the HCI London website No appointment is required to attend the camp

Ports to conduct mouth and coat searches on migrants

Police will be able to require illeg al m

allo w mouth searches at po rts to check for mobile phones or S IM cards, th e gov ernm ent announced

The Home Office said the new

migrants across the Channel, who often use phones and social media to recruit people for small-boat c r o s s

d record levels this year

The Labour government has tightened its immigration policies, particularly targeting illegal entry, as part of efforts to counter the risi n g i n f l u e n c e o f t h e p o p u l i s t

a s shaped the national immigration debate The law is set to receive Royal Assent within days, allowing port officers to search migrants’ coats, gloves, and even mouths for phones or SIM cards before arrest, the Home Office said Immigration has overtaken the economy as voters’ top concern, b u t c r i t i c s w a r n t h e m e a s u r e s s c a p e g o a t m i g r a n t s a n d f u e l racism “Searching the clothing, and even mouths, of traumatised people after a Channel crossing is a dystopian act of brutality,” said Sile R e y n o l d s o

Torture

Continued from page 1

Jeevan Sharma

Sunder Katwala

The great career reboot

The end of ‘safe careers’ as we know them, with degrees losing value and skills taking the lead

Anusha Singh

In an e conom y evol ving at breaknec k s peed, the shelf -

lif e of a c ar eer ha s ne ver

b ee n m o r e f r a gi l e Wha t

onc e f elt s table and f utureproof is now at risk of being swept away by an unrel enting wave of automation and artificial int elligence

T h e W o r l d E c o n o m i c

F o r u m ’ s F u t u r e o f J o b s

Report 2023 delivers a stark warning: half of the global

w o r k f o r c e w i l l n e e d reskilling by 2027, with routine jobs projected to shrink by as much as 30% in the next decade

Even education is not spared Degrees that once guaranteed security: general business, basic engineering, humanities, are rapidly losing their market value As i n d u s t r i e s r a c e t o m o dernise, many academic pathways simply cannot keep up

A c areer landsc ape rewritten

N a di m Ch oud hu ry ,

D ir e c t or of E m pl o y ab i l it y a nd Ca r e e r s a t Lo nd on Co l l e ge of C on t e m po r ar y

Ar t s c o a c h e s s t u d e n t s t o h e l p t h e m g r a d u a t e w i t h clarity and confidence about their direction Describing t

n dscape, he said, “Young peop

m i d - c a r e e r p r o f e s s i o n a l s o f t e n n e e d t o r e i n v e n t t h e m s e l v e s w h i l e j u g g l i n g r e a l - l i f e c o m m i t m e n t s people who can read context, adapt their voice and

c o n n e c t w i t h o t h e r s w i l l thrive ”

About careers that are becoming more relevant and those at risk, he shares that roles that blend creativity

and technology are becoming increasingly important including user experience, ethical AI, digital content and entrepreneurship Roles based purely on routine data processing are at greater risk of automation

A LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report reveals 64% of professionals believe their current skills will be outdated within five years, while the CIPD notes that one in six UK workers has already faced redundancy, often due to technological disruption

“ H o w e v e r , e m o t i o n a l i n t e l l i g e n c e r e m a i n s t h e strongest career safeguard I often say to students: your ability to understand people will outlast any piece of software The subtle things matter: how you listen, how you present and how you build trust in different contexts”, Nadim said

W h a t

their course or career path, y

A

Nadim, it is all about understanding how you like to work and what brings out your best self “The mistake

i s t h i n k i n g t h a t a d e g r e e alone builds a career, ” he said

Ea rly educ ation matters An important question

i s h o w e a r l y s h o u l d t h e c a r e e r o r i e n t a t i o n s t a r t ?

According to Si mon Arnell, Principal at Avanti H ouse

Sec ond ary Sc hool, career exploration should begin as early as possible

Giving an example of Avanti House, he stresses tailoring careers education to each stage He said, “For y o u n g e r s t u d e n t s , i t ’ s about building self-awaren e s s , u n d e r s t a n d i n g

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

broad sense of the world of w o r k F r o m Y e a r 1 0 onwards, the focus naturally shifts to specific pathways, entry requirements a n d i n

about post-16 and post-18 options " So, at what level should

s

employable skills and how c

said, "We believe students should absolutely pursue

sions, but they should do s

information Part of our responsibility as educators is to help students under-

them

What do employers reall y want?

Nadim puts it simply: technical skills may get you

human connection is what builds a career In an era ruled by digital systems and AI, he says the real differentiators are almost old-fashioned; the ability to read a room, shift your tone, sense the mood, and understand context

“Employers increasingly tell me they’re searching for emotional intelligence, presence, and confidence,” he explains “These qualities stand out more now than ever ”

He believes vocational routes, apprenticeships and m i c r o

c

d e n

v e never been more relevant , not just for employability, but for building confidence

a n d i d e n t i t y “ E m p l

y e r s aren’t impressed by a list of modules anymore, ” Nadim says “They want proof of

c a p a b i l i t y V o c a t i o n a l

learning gives students real examples to use in interviews And micro-credentials work best when they strengthen your direction, not scatter it ”

H i s a d v i c e f o r e v e r y graduate? “Learn Power BI

The ability to turn complex data into clear decisions is one of the most in-demand skills in the market ”

Lancaster India campus plan criticised amid UK cuts

L ancaster U niv ersity’s d ecision to o pen a new cam pus in India while sim ultaneously considering up to 40 0 jo b cu ts in th e UK h as been brand ed “ perverse ” by the University and Colleg e U nion (UC U)

Staff at the main Lancaster campus have staged “work-to-rule” action this autumn in protest against potential compulsory redundancies While university leaders have now paused any forced job losses until at least July 2026, the dispute has intensified with the announcement of the India campus

The university argues it must identify significant savings at home while expanding

Lancaster now operates five international campuses, including in India, Indonesia and Germany, through partnerships with organ-

The finger-counting fix for Britain’s maths crisis

A c hild quietly c ounting on their f inger s m ay s eem like a sign of weakness , a ha bit teac hers try to phase out early But a new Swis s study s uggest s this s imple gesture could hol d the key to revers ing the UK ’ s deepening numerac y c ris is

Researchers found that children aged four to six-and-a-half who used their fingers to solve sums developed stronger addition skills b y a g e s e v e n t h

Published in Developmental Psychology, the study concludes that finger-counting is not a crutch but a vital “stepping stone” that helps the brain build a visual and intuitive understanding of numbers Rather than discouraging it, experts say finger-counting lays the foundation for higher mathematical thinking

The findings arrive at a time when the UK’s struggles with numeracy are becoming increasingly stark A 2023 OECD survey found that 21% of adults in England operate at or below the lowest level of numeracy, meaning millions struggle with everyday tasks such as calculating percentages or interpreting basic data National Numeracy charity research paints an even bleaker picture: around half of UK adults lack the maths skills expected for daily life and work

Overall, the Learning and Work Institute estimates that nine million adults, nearly one

in five of working age, lack essential numeracy or literacy skills The impact stretches far beyond classrooms Poor numeracy affects budgeting, payslip calculations, understanding interest rates, navigating bills, and even long-term financial stability In a data-driven economy, this deficiency becomes a barrier to employment, confidence and progression

“Numeracy is one of the most transferable and essential skills across any career path,” says Simon Arnell, Principal at Avanti House Secondary School “From STEM to creative industries, numerical confidence is vital, especially as data and AI reshape the workplace ” He stresses on the importance of students learning about budgeting, savings, salaries and financial planning, dedicated to practical money skills

Schools urged to test four-day week

isations such as Australia-based Navitas

However, UCU representatives say the strategy lacks transparency and risks undermining Lancaster’s academic strength Dr Sunil Banga, president of the Lancaster UCU branch, said the union has repeatedly questioned how the India campus was approved while local staff faced redundancy “The university has not told us how much has already been spent, what the total investment will be, or how the deal was reached,” he said

He added that while the union supports

approach “will only make money for the pri-

Lancaster” Preserving academic expertise at the home campus, he said, must be the university’s priority

Cam paigners are urging the government to trial f our-day working weeks in s chools acr os s England and Wal es, arguing it would signif icantly improve teacher wellb eing, r etention and rec ruitm ent

The 4 Day Week Foundation has written to education secretary Bridget Phillipson, calling for greater freedom for schools to pilot shorter weeks Without meaningful change, it says, the government will struggle to meet its manifesto pledge of recruiting 6,500 new teachers

The call follows proposals in Scotland for a “flexible” four-day teaching week, giving t

preparation and marking In contrast, current guidance in England insists all state-funded schools must remain open to pupils five full

,

days a week While ministers have supported flexible working in principle, they have resisted formal adoption of a four-day week for teachers

The foundation’s letter cites a growing body of evidence showing shorter working weeks reduce burnout, improve productivity and enhance work–life balance, benefits that could help a profession facing mounting pressures Teacher vacancies in England reached record levels this year, with behaviour issues and growing class sizes adding to workloads

Nearly as many teachers left the profession last year as joined it Campaigners say controlled four-day week trials could relieve pressure and provide valuable data, noting several schools already experimenting with shorter timetables

Nadim Choudhury

Simon Arnell

Anewpolitical star has emerged from this week’s Budget drama and it isn’t the Chancellor

Nusrat Ghani, the recently elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, has captured public attention with her razor-sharp interventions, steely authority and unexpectedly colourful checkered tie

Ghani, known to many in Westminster simply as Nus, chaired the Budget with a confidence that stunned even seasoned observers Before the Chancellor could utter a word, she opened proceedings with a rebuke over the string of Budget leaks, calling them “disappointing” and beneath the standards expected of Parliament

“Like many, I expected better,” she said Her quick put-downs and refusal to indulge rowdy MPs quickly made her the moment’s breakout figure “I don’t need any help,” she snapped at one heckler And when Conservative MP Dr Luke Evans pushed his luck, she cut him off with: “Order-

Nusrat Ghani

The no-nonsense Deputy Speaker winning over Westminster

far too much noise I expected so much better from you You’re meant to be a leader in your community ”

Clips of her interventions spread quickly online, earning her praise across the political spectrum

Ghani, 53, is no newcomer to Parliament

The Conservative MP for Wealden since 2015, she has carved out a reputation for diligence, independence

and an uncompromising stance Her ministerial career has spanned the Foreign Office, Cabinet Office, the Transport Department and the Department for Business and Trade In 2018, she made history as the first female Muslim minister to speak from the Dispatch Box

In July 2024, Ghani took up her most significant role yet: Chairman of Ways and

Means and Deputy Speaker, making her the first ethnic minority MP ever to preside in the Commons Chair Her responsibilities range from chairing Committees of the Whole House to managing Westminster Hall sittings and overseeing Private Bills, tasks she has approached with the same trademark clarity and discipline seen on Budget day

Born in Pakistanadministered Kashmir and raised in Birmingham, Ghani’s rise is the story of grit meeting opportunity Educated at Bordesley Green Girls’ School, she went on to study government and politics at Birmingham City University, followed by a master’s in international relations at the University of Leeds

This week, though, it wasn’t her résumé that turned heads, it was her presence With one Budget sitting, Nusrat Ghani didn’t just keep the Commons in line; she announced herself as one of Westminster’s most compelling new power players

Winners of the ‘Unlock Her Future Prize 2025 – South Asia Edition’ announced

T he Bicester Collectio n has announced the winners o f

t h e U n lo c k He r F u tu re ™

P r i ze 20 25 – S ou t h A s i a Ed ition, the flag ship initiative of its ph ilanthropic p rog ram m e, 'D o Go o d ' T h is g lo bal start-up com petition

s u p p o rt s w o m en s o c ia l entrepreneurs in ad vancing innovativ e solutions for positive social and env ironmental im pact, aligned with th e U nited Natio ns Sustainable Develo pment Go als

T h e P r i z e i s o p e n t o women of all ages, with ventures at the idea or earlygrowth stage (up to three years), and aims to address t h e l a c k o f r e c o g n

o n , resources, and support often faced by women worldwide

For the 2025 South Asia Edition, the judging panel judges Desirée Bollier, Chair and Global Chief Merchant, The Bicester Collection, Dr R u b a n a H u q , V i c e Chancellor, Asian University f

& Media Personality, Rishini W

Sun (Daily Mirror) and Head o

India, selected six outstanding innovators: Amritha Krishnamoorthy ( I n d i

Centre: Advancing education and therapy for children with

disabilities

Cognitii: Expanding access to quality education for chil-

through AI and human educators

Transforming surplus pro-

women farmers, and promote sustainability

N i d a Y o u s a f S h e i k h ( P a k i s t a n ) , H 2 O

T e c h n o l o g i e s : A d d r e s s i n g water scarcity by converting air humidity into safe drinking water

OnMy voice as a homemaker matters, and why I am re-writing the rules

Mohua Chinappa

16th August 2023, the Supreme Court of India declared that the term housewife would be abolished from local parlance. Women who run households would no longer be addressed by a label that boxed them into a stereotype. T

finally acknowledged a largely invisible, unpaid workforce The change in nomenclature is welcome, but it does not promise any substantial shift in labour status or financial freedom Yet, for the first time, housewives were recognised as a neglected group in DEI conversations At the very least, it felt like a more respectful designation

Across India, the total number of homemakers stands at 160 million - a staggering figure, though slowly declining as younger women awaken to the indignity of being financially dependent and having no say in family decisions For decades, the word housewife has carried a menial undertone In the popular film Dil Dhadakne Do, a group of women mockingly uses the term to imply unintelligence, as if a housewife’s abilities are limited to baking bread and staying out of intellectual conversations The image of the homemaker remains stuck: a dutiful woman chopping vegetables on the kitchen slab, finding fulfilment in unclogging a sink brimming with dishes

A homemaker is often noticed only during mealtimes, when she perfects a recipe, saves money during a financial crisis, cares for the elderly, raises children, and guards the family’s secrets Perfection is expected of her Sacrifice is her identity Silent conformity is her virtue But a slow shift is underway The younger generation sees the label housewife as almost a slur They refuse to become versions of their mothers and grandmothers - women who tied their identity to the shape of a roti or their husband’s promotion These daughters want a different destiny They seek independence: their own bank accounts, their own careers, and the freedom to rise on their own merit

My own metamorphosis began when my son left for higher studies I woke up to his empty room, the desk cleared of books, a lone school diary signed by me, and an open cupboard that created a vacuum in my heart The years had slipped by As I entered perimenopause, with its hot flushes and simmering resentment, I realised how redundant I felt in my own home Friends told me to rest That angered me I wasn’t ready to retire from life

r

N i s h a t A n j u m P a l k a (Bangladesh), Mommykidz: Providing a safe, affordable community for women and p a r e n t s t o a c c e s s h e a l t h i n f o r m a t i o n , c a r e , a n d essential products Yangchen D o l k a r D o r j i ( B h u t a n ) , L E A D + : S u p p o

n - l e

a s s

m a r g i n a l i s e d b u s i n e s s e s with funding, mentorship, and market access Each winner will receive up to $100,000 in funding, m e n t o r i n g a n d l e a d e r s h i p t r a i n i n g , a c c e s s t

Bicester Collection’s global

and academic support from O

Business School

Women over 50 find friendship outweighs romance

F em al e f ri e nd s h i p , n o t romance, is the key so urce

o f jo y for many women over 50 in th e UK, according to n ew re searc h th at u ndersc ores th e profou nd value of long-term bo nds

A n a t i o n w i d e s u r v e y

c o m m i s s i o n e d b y W o o g a

f o u n d t h a t m o r e t h a n a quarter of women aged 50 to 90 (26%) say their closest f e m a l e f r i e n d s h i p s m a k e them happier than romantic relationships Nearly a quarter (23%) would also turn to a friend first for emotional support, ahead of a partner

15% admit to having more

romances

OnePoll in October 2025, paints a picture of friendships that span decades On a v e

g e , c l o s e

n d s h i p s have lasted an extraordinary 37 years, and almost one in three women over 70 have friendships stretching back more than 60 years Most r

are essential to wellbeing in later life

But these relationships

ences, 13% due to relationship changes, and smaller n u m

money Emotional tensions simmer beneath the surface too: 14% secretly resent a friend, 16% feel jealous of a friend’s other relationships, and loneliness affects 71% of women, including 10% who

feel lonely often Thirteen per cent say they have no c

, a n d nearly a third lack a “best friend” Forming new conn

c u l t , with 34% finding it challenging

Digital communication is playing a growing role in maintaining these ties, with many relying on messaging, c

l l s a n d s o c

l m e d i a Notably, 30% of women fear losing friendships later in life, more than double the number who fear being single

After a year of indecision, I walked into a café, far from the pressure cooker’s whistle and the sink stacked with dishes I sat among a group of 30-somethings who barely noticed me My knowledge of which masala perfects ginger chai didn’t impress anyone Seventeen years of my life felt erased My experience as a homemaker held no value in a world ruled by algorithms, AI, and everything Meta

So, I decided to write After all, I had written school notes and vegetable lists without a single typo For the first time, I didn’t need to perform for anyone I only had to prove myself to me But first, I had to learn computer literacy, something I had ignored for 17 years while being a good wife, present mother, and dutiful daughter My past successes no longer mattered in this digital world

Learning digital tools was challenging, but gradually empowering My depression began to lift as I started podcasting I realised I had been gaslit into believing that the home would collapse without me The challenges became my path to resilience, and with every recording, I felt myself step further into an identity of my own, one that countless homemakers across the country still dream of claiming

Mohua Chinappa is a poet, an author and runs two podcasts, The Mohua Show and The Literature Lounge

HIV warning for older women

Wom en in their 50s and 60 s h av e been urg ed to practice safe sex following a rise in HIV cases among heterosexu als Campaigners warn that some older wom en m ay be at greater risk as condom u se declines

Blue Sky Trust, a sexual health charity in north-east England and Cumbria, reports increasing numbers of older women seeking support A House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee report described the rise in heterosexual women contracting HIV as “alarming,” noting a 26% increase in new diagnoses in 2024 compared with 2019

The committee recommended expanding opt-out testing at women ’ s health hubs and locally-led awareness campaigns, targeting groups including Black African and Asian communities Modern treatments allow people with HIV to live healthy lives, while suppressing the virus and preventing transmission, a principle known as U=U (undetectable = untransmissible) Campaigners are also using social media to counter misinformation and promote safe practices among at-risk older women

L-R: Nida Yousaf Amritha Krishnamoorthy Sophiya Tamang Jhillika Trisal Nishat Palka and Yangchen Dorji

Nusrat Ghani during the Budget presentation

Sadiq Khan retirement income may grow under new LGPS plans

U nd er Labo ur p lans recognising his “ vital p ublic serv ice, ” Sir Sadiq K han is set to receive a g enerous pension

T h e p r o p o s a l s , announced by Communities

S e c r e t a r y S t e v e R e e d i n September, are now open for consultation Sir Sadiq, in his third term as Mayor, is currently on a less generous scheme, with City Hall contributing £20,400 and him £19,400 in 2025/26 on his £170,282 salary One year of

t h e current system yields about

ment, compared with £3,475 under the proposed LGPS expansion

Widely seen as a “goldplated” pension, the LGPS guarantees an inflation-pro-

Councillors and mayors previously had access, but it was

Labour now plans to restore it as part of broader local government reforms

Mr Reed said he was

out-

scrapped councillors’ access to the pension scheme and announced its reversal The

L

Association welcomed the move, noting that fair remu-

sions, is crucial to enable people from all walks of life to serve Reinstating LGPS

a

added, recognises councillors’ dedication and community service

Streeting vows quick action on black men's prostate risk

H ea lt h S e cr eta ry We s S treeting is under p ressu re to bypass NHS adv isers and introd uce a prostate cancer s c re eni ng p ro g r am to red uce fatalities

T h e U K ' s N a t i o n a l

Screening Committee (NSC) is expected to announce its decision this afternoon after reviewing the costs and bene f i t s o f r o u t i n e c h e c k s

However, the committee is widely anticipated to reject screening for men over 50 due to concerns over the u n r e l i a b i l i t y o f t h e P S A blood test currently used

Officials are expected to r e c o m m e n d t a r g e t e d screening for high-risk men, focusing on those who are

B l a c k , h a v e B R C A m u t ations, or have a family histo-

ry of cancer, with a small p r o g

mutation carriers being the

step

This cautious approach

c o m e s d e s p i t e m o u n t i n

backed by high-profile figures like Sir Chris Hoy and Lord Cameron, as well as o

Rishi Sunak, who demand u

Horizon IT probe expands to potential manslaughter

Police inv estiga ting the Post O ffice Hor izon IT sca nda l a re n ow exp lorin g cor pora te ma nsla ughte r charg es T h e N a t i o n a l P o l i c e

Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) told victims the probe also covers perjury and perverting the c o u r s e o f j u s t i c e Investigators are focused on e i g h t s u s p e c t s , w i t h f i v e interviewed under caution, and have identified 53 pers o n s o f i n t e r e s t , m a n y o f whom may later be formally named as suspects D a v i d E n r i g h t , l a w y e r for many former sub-postmasters, told BBC Breakfast that corporate manslaughter would be “ very difficult to prove, ” needing a clear link b

ment actions and a death Former sub-postmaster

charges

Janet Skinner, wrongly jailed in 2007, said after a briefing: “It's still just words we still have to wait for action ” The Horizon IT system, i n u

y recorded branch shortfalls, causing over 900 prosecut i o n s

imprisonment or death, the UK’s largest miscarriage of justice Operation Olympos, launched in 2020 with 100

come forward, as the agree-

probe

ter

Resident doctors plan 14th walkout starting December 17

T h e B ri ti sh M e d i ca l A s s o ci a ti o n ( B M A ) announced a fiv e-d ay strike by resident (junio r) doctors i n E ng l and , s c h ed u l ed to beg in on 17 Decem ber This i s th e 1 4 th w alko ut s inc e March 2023 in the ongoing pay d ispute

O ff i ce f or Bu d g et Resp onsi bility (OBR) ch ief

R i ch a rd H u g h e s h a s r es i g ne d a ft er a d am ni ng investig ation fou nd that the u nprecedented Bu dget leak w as th e w atch do g ’ s wo rst failure in its 15-year h istory, a nd o ne th at h ad al so o ccurred earlier d uring the c h a nc ell o r ’ s sp r in g st atem ent

T h e r e p o r t c o n c l u d e d that the OBR’s leadership must take “immediate steps to change completely” how

i t h a n d l e s a n d p u b l i s h e s s e n s i t i v e e c o n o m i c f o r e -

c a s t s , a f t e r c

n

i a l a n a l y s i s w a s m i s t a k e n l y u p l o a d e d t o i t s w e b s i t e nearly an hour before the Budget was delivered

edged the "imperative to

, where mass screening could cut the 12,000 annual fatalities by 13% Charities urge Streeting to act on the public's clear demand, citing a poll showing 90% support for prostate

Investigators said “ultimate responsibility” for the chain of errors lay with the w a t c h d o g ’ s l e a d e r s h i p , i n t e n s i f y i n g p r e s s u r e o n Hughes But they also criticised the Treasury and the Cabinet Office for ignoring long-standing warnings that the OBR was “significantly

c a n c e r s c r e e n i n g t o s a v e l i v e s S t r e e t i n

d f o r action because Black men are twice as likely to die from the disease Wes Streeting

OBR chief quits over Budget leak failure

u n d e r p o w e r

d ” , a r g u i n g that they should have either r e f o r m e d t

p u b l i c a t i o n p r o c e s s o r b o o s t e d t h e watchdog’s resources

H u g h e s , w h o h a s chaired the OBR since 2020 and was reappointed for a

s e c o n d f i v e

t e r m i n July, said he was stepping down to help the organisation “quickly move on from this regrettable incident” In his resignation letter to the chancellor and the chair of t h e C

c c e p t e d “full responsibility” for the f a i l u r e s d e t a i l e d i n t h e

report Detailed analysis of Autumn Budget 2025 on page 16-17

20mph speeding fines rise by two-thirds in UK

Nearly half a millio n d riv ers w ere fined for sp eeding on

2 0 m p h ro ad s i n 20 2

planned L

with 20mph limits

Since 2023, all 22 Welsh

t 20mph limit on restricted roads, covering over 90% of u r b a n s t r

c

m p a r e d with under 10% in the West Midlands

Across the UK, 120 local authorities have 20mph limits, with 69 covering over half of urban roads

T h e s t r i k e , i n v o l v i n g doctors who make up nearly half the medical workforce, will disrupt both emergency and routine services, leading N H S l e a d e r s t o w a r n o f major disruption during the critical winter period

N H S P r o v i d e r s c h i e f e x e c u t i v e D a n i e l E l k e l e s c a l l e d t h e B M A ' s f i v e - d a y Christmas strike an "inflamm a t o r y a c t , " s t r e s s i n g t h e need for maximum patient discharge during the holidays and calling the timing "totally unfair" to patients and staff The BMA rejected t h e g o v e r n m e n t s o f f e r , w h i c h i n c l

e s , insisting that pay must be addressed, as it remains a f i f t h l o w e r t h a n i n 2 0 0 8

January, necessitating a new ballot unless a credible government plan is offered

Critics warn Coskun case could introduce blasphemy precedent

T h e C ro w n P ro s ec u ti o n Serv ice (C PS) is appealing a High C ourt ruling that overtu r ned th e c o nv ic ti o n o f T u rk i sh as yl u m se eke r H am i t C o s ku n L as t October, Coskun had been c o nv i c ted o f a re li g i o u sl y ag g ra v at ed p u bl i c o rd e r o f fe nc e af ter b u rn in g a Quran outsid e the Turkish em ba ss y an d sh ou t i ng “Islam is religion of terrori s m ” T h e ac t p ro m p t ed Mo ussa Kadri to attack him with a knife; Kadri received a su sp ended sentence Hamit Coskun’s convic-

t i o n s p a r k e d c r i t i c i s m

because the UK has no blasp h e m y l a w , a n d c a u s i n g alarm or distress to religious f o l l o w e r s i s n o t a c r i m e Critics said the prosecution effectively blamed Coskun f o r p r o v o k i n g h i s o w n attack, and the CPS is now seeking to reinstate the conv i c t i o n P r o s e c u t o r s described his Quran burning as “ an act of desecration,” but critics argue the CPS is giving Islam special legal protection, turning victims into alleged offenders Burning religious books is hostile but not free speech, and charging Coskun with “causing harassment, alarm or distress” to Islam failed, as public order laws cannot protect religions This pattern has a troubling history: in 2023, boys who damaged a Q u r a n a t a W a k e f i e l d school faced death threats, yet police recorded it as a “non-crime hate incident” a n d s u s p e n d e d t h e b o y s Treating victims as offenders fuels public outrage over “two-tier justice ” The government plans t o o u t l a w “ I s l a m o p h o b i a , ” reportedly targeting Islam alone as “anti-Muslim prejudice ”

Charity warns children losing pocket money to abusive partner

Nearly 4 million children in the UK are affected by economic abuse at ho me, w ith som e rep orting stolen p ocket or birth day m oney, new find ing s reveal Research by the charity Surviving Economic Abuse (

Sadiq Khan

Richard Hughes

A BUDGET OF SQUEEZES, SURPR

Where is growth in the Budget?

Subhash V Thakrar OBE, FCA, FRSA, Former Chairman of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Rach el Reeves and th e g overnment have missed a real o pportunity to p ut our country on a g rowth trajectory in this Budg et Growth in the economy can only come when the private sector starts growing and

e m p l o y i n g p e o p l e

A

v

t

n

y , g r o w t h c a n come from large investments into the economy by the gove r n m e n t U n f o r t u n a t e l y , there was nothing substantial in the Budget to push forward any of these ideas

into jobs is that they cease to r e l y o n w e l f a r e a n d s t a r t a d d i n g

Moreover, these people will come out of a depressive condition into a much more posi t i v e o u t l o o k S u c h p e o p l e would also cease to be a burden on the NHS

return to society I do not see

i n g productivity, which should be at the forefront of government policy Increased productivity leads to growth Government policy must be to boost growth by incentivising those not in jobs to work hard and get employed, and those already working to benefit more by working even harder This is so fundamental, as what good is it to have a raised minimum wage when you do not have a job? This

more losers because it does not promote growth Let us hope that there will be more

As autumn’s chill settles over London the government unveiled its economic road map for the year ahead the Autumn Budget 2025 Presented on 26 November by Rachel Reeves, this Budget comes at a challenging moment: the economy is stagnating, inflation and living costs remain high, and households and businesses alike are feeling the squeeze

In her speech the Chancellor framed the Budget as “a plan for fair taxes strong public services and a stable economy ” But behind that pledge lie frozen personal tax thresholds, pension scheme reforms, and a raft of new levies on property, savings and vehicles The government seeks to raise an estimated £26 billion in extra revenue

The Budget seeks to walk a difficult tightrope balancing fiscal consolidation and long term economic stability with social support and fairness The real test however will be in how these measures play out for ordinary people businesses and Britain’s fragile economic recovery

T o d a y , t h e r e a r e 1 8 m people in the 16+ age group who are looking for a job, and 9m people in the age group 16–64 who are economically inactive This means there are nearly 11m economically inactive, i e , not adding any value to our economy This compares to 29m who are econ o m i c

R a c h e l R e e v e s h a d promised not to raise taxes for working people Yet by freezing the allowances and the lower-rate bands, she has effectively increased personal taxes on these people; she has done this through the back door so that people do not notice

h o s e

e c o n o m i c a l l y i n a c t i v e a r e drawing on our welfare system and adding to our welf a r e b u d g e t ! T h i s B u d g e t could have incentivised businesses to employ more workers, which was one of my subm i s s i o n s v i a t h e L o n d o n C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e t o No 10

Instead, the Budget has raised the cost of employing

b y r a i s i n g t h e m i n i m u m wage, and coupled with the huge increase in employers’ NIC in the last Budget, it has c r e a t e d a n e n v i r o n m e n t where businesses do not want to increase staff It would be f a r b e t t e r i f t h e c o s t o f

e m p l o y i n g s t a f f w a s m a d e affordable so that businesses start employing I remember in my younger days, I would not care about the level of wages but much more about getting a job, as within a few months I knew that I would

s h o w d e d i c a t i o n a n d h a r d work to be able to claim an increase in wages

A m a j o r a d v a n t a g e o f shifting non-working people

The focus of the Budget has been to increase the welfare budget substantially A large part will go to child benefits for families that have more than two children The government argues that over 6 0 % o f t h e s e f a m i l i e s a r

children will be brought out of poverty However, we seem to be missing the fact that around 40% of families will receive these extra benefits, and that will ensure that the p a r e n t

look for a job My worry is that even within the group that is working, some will be incentivised not to bother to work as their home income

w i l l n o w i n c r e a s e A

going to see unemployment rise?

I believe one should be ready to pay their fair share of taxes to help fund essential government spending for the

from the NHS to schools, etc However, I do not see anyt

UK to increase jobs I would rather not live on just hope!

The planned mansion tax on all residential properties over £2m is again not well thought through Already, the Valuation Office Agency has a huge backlog with valuations

Many are predicting a large increase in valuation appeals

play on valuations We know that valuations are an art and not a science, and there is always a range I am really concerned that many owners are retired and their income levels are not rising A tax applied on a fixed and largely illiquid property will add a terrible burden on many in return for what will be a very small sum raised This group will further pay an extra 2% tax on dividend and interest incomes, which they rely on So, they are faced with a double whammy!

By such policies, we are

higher taxpayers out of the country and covering welfare

arrivals Not such a brilliant equation!

In conclusion, I do not mind paying more tax for my country if it leads to more p

people to work, and leads to better returns from government spending

The great budget panic that wasn’t

Rachel Reeves has faced accusations of misleading the p ublic over th e state of the UK ’ s finances to justify £ 26 billion in tax rises in her Au tum n Budg et Warnings had suggested the chancellor confronted a £20 billion shortfall, and in a striking speech on 4 November, she indicated higher taxes were likely, blaming factors such as Donald Trump’s tariff war and an expected downgrade from the Budget watchdog for the “hard choices ” she would have to make However, it has since emerged that Reeves’s remarks came days after the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) had informed her that the economic outlook had improved substantially, leaving her with a £4 2 billion surplus rather than a deficit

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called for Reeves to be sacked, accusing her of “lying to the public to justify record tax hikes” and “bribing Labour MPs to save her own skin ” Downing Street, however, denied any misleading conduct

Paul Johnson, former head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said Reeves’s 4 November press conference “probably was misleading,” noting her statements seemed intended to reinforce independent forecasts, such as those from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, that predicted a multi-billion-pound fiscal black hole Johnson added that the speech “confirmed a narrative of a fiscal gap needing significant tax rises when no such hole existed ”

The controversy follows a new OBR letter to the Commons Treasury Committee, revealing the watchdog informed Reeves on 17 September that the funding gap was just £2 5 billion and by October, it had disappeared entirely

Britain’s

Reeves gets a mild thumbs-u

economy is set to gro w slightly faster than previo usly expected next year, the OEC D sa Reeves’ recent budg et for supp orting co nsum er sp ending, even as global uncertainty continues t

The Paris-based organisation now forecasts UK growth of 1 2% in 2026, up from its earlier estim rise 1 3% in 2027 In its latest global outlook, the OECD warned that fiscal consolidation must be “ ca ed,” balancing tax rises and spending cuts amid significant risks to both growth and inflation

Reeves welcomed the brighter forecasts of stronger growth and easing inflation, insisting her bud rowing while easing living costs for households and lowering costs for businesses

The OECD expects the UK’s deficit to remain high but gradually shrink, from 5 9% of GDP in 2 enues climb to around 40% of economic output

The buttering of the banks

While the Bu dget m ay hav e d elivered pain for millions, but one g roup emerg ed distinctly cushi sp eculation that a toug h new bank tax was imm inent, Reeves ch ose not to impo se a single ad It was a striking climbdown, especially given that Treasury officials had privately warned banks

The relief was immediate UK bank shares rose between 2 3% and 3 8% on early reports they’d be payers were hit with £26 billion in rises, most of it from freezing income-tax thresholds That fiscal more people into higher tax brackets, raising £8 billion from households while banks, whose profits 2024, escape unscathed

Campaigners argue this is a political choice, not economic necessity But one thing is clear, in banks were not just protected, they were pampered

Why Britain’s middle class feels sq

Kaushik Desai, Chown Dewhurst LLP, London

Rac hel Reeves has pulled a staggeri ng £66bn from the UK economy: £40bn in the October 2024 Budget, largely from bus inesses, and another £26bn in the November 2025 Budget, hitting workers, the wealthy and businesses to fund higher welfare spending and build her emergency buffer

The overall tax burden now stands at a record 38% of GDP, a level so high that, as The Times recently noted, is making the UK lazy This has been the highest revenue raising budget since records began with the last such tax increase being during the Denis Healey’s Labour budget in 1970 ’ s who said, “I will tax the rich until the pips squeak”

The rich are leaving as they have homes in various jurisdictions and are mobile; an example of which is Laxmi Mittal who has left and was even mentioned in Kemi Badenoch’s response to Rachel Reeves' budget Now Labour can obviously

not tax the rich as they are leaving, so they are taxing the middle classes

The middle class feel increasingly squeezed by a series of adverse measures: VAT on private fees, inheritance tax on pension pots, a 2% increase in tax on dividends from April 2026 (additional rate unchanged), a 2% rise in tax on interest and rental income from April 2027, National Insurance on salary sacrifice contributions over £2,000 from April 2029, and a mansion tax on properties worth £2m or more from

April 2028, the list goes on Additionally, the freezing of income tax and National Insurance thresholds until 2031 will bring more people into the tax net and push many taxpayers into higher tax brackets

This has left many despondent and considering leaving the UK, but where can they go? Once they sell their UK homes to settle elsewhere, returning to the UK becomes nearly impossible, as purchasing another house involves prohibitive legal fees and Stamp Duty Land Tax The middle class, therefore, find themselves with nowhere to go, effectively suffocating under Labour policies

To sweeten the pill, Labour has removed the two-child cap, which offers little benefit to middle-class families sending their children to private schools, as affording two, let alone three, remains a challenge Universal Credit is set to rise by 6 2%, with some other benefits increasing by 3 8% Energy bills will see a £150 reduction, and the State

RISES AND FAVOURS

id

dget

025 to 5 1% in 2027, as total rev-

The Budget’s fine print

and SMEs, many of wh om are seeking clarity on measures th

their financial future

pension sacrifice rules to the long-discussed mansion tax and the weakening value of the pound, the implications

announcements To unpack

with Kiran Patel, Director at Khi Partners Here’s what he had to say

When the tax-threshold freeze is lifted, what will that mean in practical terms? Will high earners face extra tax on income from the freeze years?

T h e f r e e z e p u l l s m o r e people into paying tax, and p u s h e s m a n y i n t o h i

a

ueezed

Pension will rise by 4 8% SMEs are equally affected The employers’ NI threshold was reduced to £5,000 in the last budget, and the minimum wage will increase to £12 71 from April 2026 This is expected to hit the hospitality sector hard, potentially causing more restaurant closures or higher prices for dining out, an added strain on households Raising funds will also become more difficult for SMEs, as incentives have been reduced The Venture Capital Trust income tax relief has been cut from 30% to 20%, which could lead to a funding drought Overall, the two budgets are hard-hitting for both businesses and individuals They risk slowing growth, reducing tax revenues, and failing to meet the objectives they were intended to achieve

Kaushik Desai is a Principal in Chown Dewhurst LLP a firm of Tax Advisors in London 07540691538

cial extra bill on income you earned during the freeze –you ’ ve already paid the tax on that A higher threshold in future simply slows or reverses the drift into higher bands High earners will keep paying

dragged further up as quickly once thresholds start to move again

Many economists say tax freezes are effectively tax rises How might these stealth taxes shape the UK economy?

Because more people pay tax, and more of their income falls into higher bands, the government quietly collects

economists call

stealth” rise The OBR expects mil-

income tax or move into

higher rate as a result

Over time, this squeezes take-home pay for working households and small busi-

m with less to spend or invest It helps the Treasury close the deficit, but if taken too far it can also dampen consumer spending, reduce incentives to work extra hours or take risks, and weigh on long-term growth

bands, as wages rise but the thresholds don’t move That e

until the freeze ends When thresholds eventually start to rise again, there is no backdated tax and no spe-

Why has the government targeted pension salary sacrifice, and how significant is this change, especially for small businesses?

The official argument is

much and gives the biggest benefit to the highest earners

The cost of NI relief on salary sacrifice has roughly tripled over the past decade and was on course to rise further, so the Chancellor has chosen to cap it rather than scrap it entirely

, this is a big change for people

advantage above £2,000 disappears For small businesses with tight margins, especially

Filling the fiscal hole that wasn’t there

Alpesh Paleja, Deputy Chief Economist, Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

Th e run-up to Novemb er ’ s B udget was met wit h a high degree of ant ic ipation There was w idespread speculation t hat t he Chancell or w ould have anot her big fiscal hole to fill, thanks t o higher debt-servicing costs, a t epid grow th backdrop, an d t he governmen t’s U-turn on proposed welfare reform

sacrificed pensions contributions above £2000, and a host of other measures This more than offset an £11bn increase in government spending – which mostly reflected a removal of the two-child benefit cap, and the previous U-turn on welfare reform

“Because more people pay tax, and more of their income falls into higher bands, the government quietly collects more money without ever increasing the official tax rates Over time, this squeezes takehome pay for working households and small business owners, leaving them with less to spend or invest It helps the Treasury close the deficit...”

In response, the government looked poised to raise income tax, which would have broken a manifesto commitment to not raise taxes on “working people” But this was subsequently backtracked, causing confusion over what exactly a new bout of fiscal consolidation would look like; and, in particular, whether a “smorgasbord” approach to tax rises would lead to more distortions on activity The frenzied speculation made for a rocky time for both financial markets and businesses, the latter pausing on major spending commitments

Come Budget day, it turned out that the fiscal hole was non-existent Even before policy announcements were accounted for, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) judged that the Chancellor would meet her stability rule (i e to balance the current budget by 2029/30) by a margin of around £4bn This was mostly driven by changes to the OBR’s forecast: while the outlook for productivity was downgraded, this was offset by stronger expectations for wage growth and inflation As a result, the size of the nominal economy (the measure that matters for the public finances) wasn’t too different to the OBR’s previous forecast

When factoring in Budget announcements, the Chancellor managed to meet her main fiscal rule by a margin of £22bn But make no mistake, this was very much a tax-raising Budget: the increased “headroom” was largely achieved by £26bn worth of tax rises Key measures included extending the freeze in income tax and NICs thresholds for a further three years, charging NICs on salary-

Crucially, higher spending is coming well before higher taxes, with the latter largely backloaded towards the end of this decade While this may raise questions over their feasibility, financial markets’ reaction to the Budget itself was largely positive: a larger fiscal buffer against economic shocks restored the overall credibility of the public finances

On the one hand, the Budget was not as bad as feared; but on the other, expectations were already pretty low The economic impact of the Budget itself is minimal: it doesn’t shift the dial on a tepid growth outlook

The Chancellor failed to fully grasp the opportunities for muchneeded tax reforms, and to push forward measures to boost the economy ’ s supply capacity Indeed, it is telling that the OBR did not judge any of the measures to be enough to adjust their forecast to potential output

The Budget also adopted the smorgasbord approach to taxes that was feared A key point to note is the further burden on labour costs arising from NICs on salary sacrifice pension contributions, and a 4% uplift to the National Living Wage Higher employment costs have been a drag on business activity over the last year, and there is a risk that these measures only add to cost burdens

Businesses will now want to see the government doublingdown on leveraging the experience and expertise of enterprise to unlock economic growth This starts by applying the effective model of compromise and partnership achieved on the Employment Rights Bill, where the government has agreed to a six-month qualifying period for unfair dismissal This demonstrates the benefits of collaborating directly with business to remove barriers to growth

Kiran Patel

Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel

I know a lot of you We work, we save, we plan for the future

S o: Wh y P eo ple With £200 k– £1m in Pens ions S ti ll Feel They Wi ll N ever Have Enough to Retire?

On paper, anyone with a pension pot between £200,000 and £1 million should feel secure I created a series of free apps inspired by my column in this paper for you to check

y o u r p e n s i o n s p

www campaignforamillion com

They sit above the UK median, have saved consistently, and still have years left to invest Yet this group is among the most anxious in Britain They repeatedly say, “I’ll never have enough,” even when they have done almost everything right

This anxiety is not irrational It reflects the structural flaws of the modern pension system and the psychological burden placed on individuals who were never trained to handle long-term financial uncertainty

The first problem is that the pension system has changed in a way most people have not fully understood A generation ago, workers retired with defined-benefit pensions that guaranteed income for life Today, almost everyone is in a

income, only a pot exposed to markets The individual now carries the investment risk, the longevity risk, and the responsibility for ensuring the pot lasts 30 years or more A £ 5 0 0 k o r

recessions, inflation shocks, and an ageing population

The second problem is poor or flat investment growth

Many mid-wealth savers have suffered a decade of weak returns They look at pension statements and see little movement Several factors explain this: conservative default investment funds that shift into bonds far too early, fee drag that quietly halves long-term gains, and UK-heavy portfolios t h a t h a v

numbers feel small when they are not growing

Third, people are living longer A retirement that lasts 25 t o 3 5 y

generations needed A £300k pot might look impressive, but spread over three decades it equates to only a modest annual income Longevity turns a six-figure pot into something that feels dangerously thin

Fourth, most UK savers lack the financial literacy to interpret their pensions accurately Fewer than half can calculate compound interest Many believe volatility equals d a n g e r , e v

accepting short-term market swings Most do not know how much income a pot can safely generate or how much growth they need to bridge the gap When you do not understand what “enough” looks like, “not enough” becomes the default feeling

Finally, rising living costs have dramatically inflated what people believe retirement should fund Homeownership is more expensive, adult children are financially dependent for longer, and expectations for travel, lifestyle and healthcare have increased Aspirations have risen faster than assets, and the result is insecurity

I n s h o r t , p e o p l e w i t h

anxious because they have inherited responsibility without guidance, risk without training, and longer lives without clarity about how to support them Their worry is a rational response to a system that gives numbers but not meaning

If Britain wants to ease this anxiety, it must improve investment outcomes, communicate pension risks honestly, and teach financial literacy long before retirement becomes urgent Until then, even those with the “right” numbers will feel they have the wrong future

World’s largest car-sharing provider to shut down UK operations

Z ipc ar , t h e w or l d ’ s l a r ge s t c ar - s ha r i ng pr o vi d er , h as a nnounced it will shut down its UK operations , withdrawing its ent ire shared fl eet f rom London by the end of the year

The company, owned by US rental giant Avis Budget, will stop accepting new bookings after 31 December while it enters a formal consultation process over potential redundancies Zipcar UK employed 71 staff last year, according to its most recent filings The move is a significant setback for sustainable transport advocates and for car-sharing clubs that relied on Zipcar’s platform to operate shared vehicles

The decision follows a challenging period for the car-sharing sector Earlier this year, The Guardian revealed that Avis Budget had reduced Zipcar’s valuation amid falling revenues and rising operating costs in key markets

Zipcar’s withdrawal also coincides with major changes to London’s congestion charge, which from January will apply to electric vehicles, including those used by car-club members Zipcar would have faced up to £18 per day for any vehicle entering the zone, adding as much as £1m annually to car-club operating costs, most of which would have hit Zipcar

The company was believed to operate nearly 3,000 vehicles in the UK, over half of the nation’s shared-vehicle fleet The UK exit comes after Zipcar reported an £11 7m loss in 2024

UK and US seal landmark zero-tariff pharma pact

The UK and U S g over nme nts hav

ta riffs on UK-made phar maceu-

Stat es, while commit ting Brit

U S Economic Prosperity Deal, the UK has become the first country in the world to secure a zero-per-cent tariff on pharmaceutical exports to the US, a move UK Science Minister Professor Patrick Vallance described as a “landmark deal” The agreement safeguards

reinforces Britain’s position as

global

terms for UK medical technology are also included, ensuring no new tariffs on med-tech exports and unlocking f

growth

A

from the US Trade Representative, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Health and Human Services, the US has agreed not to impose tariffs on UK-origin pharmaceuticals or target UK drug-pricing practices for a period of three years

In return, the UK has committed to paying 25% more in the net price of

reforms to the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access

critics say has slowed access to innovative treatments Under the revised terms, the UK will ensure that higher launch prices for new drugs are not undermined by demands for wider c

portfolios

Excellence (NICE) to approve treatments previously judged too costly, potentially expanding access to cutting-edge medicines for patients

The announcement comes after the European Union agreed in July 2025 to impose a 15% tariff on US pharmaceuticals as part of its own trade negotiations

UK businesses hit by surge in ‘friendly fraud’

Businesses across the UK are reporting a sh arp rise in “friendly frau d”, a form of

chargeback, the customer receives a refund while the merchant not only loses the sale, but is also hit with additional fees Financial technology firm

Worldpay estimates that credit card fraud, including friendly fraud, cost UK businesses £551 3 million in 2023

A spokesperson for UK Finance said chargebacks remain an essential consumer protection mechanism, but a c k n

there are cases where consumers make false claims ” However, the problem extends far beyond Britain A 2025 LexisNexis Risk Solutions Cybercrime Report found that so-called friendly or “first-party”

fraud rose globally from 15% in 2023 to 36% in 2024, making it the most comm o n f r a u d c a t e g o r y w o r l d w i d e

Analysts warn the trend is likely to worsen through 2026, driven in part by t o u g h e r e c o n o

sumers to act dishonestly

What can businesses do?

• M a i n t a i n d e t a i l e d t r a n s a c t i o n and customer records to support disputes

• Use delivery services with proof of delivery

• Invest in fraud-prevention tools and follow industry best practices

• O f f e r c l e a r , c u s t o m e r - f r i e n d l y return policies

• Prioritise strong customer service

• M a k e r e f u n d p r o c e s s e s s i m p l e and transparent to reduce the risk o f d i s p u t e s e s c a l

Canary Wharf’s revival gains pace as footfall surges past 75 million

The east London estate is experiencing its strongest resurgence in over a decade, with visitor numbers expected to cross 75 million this year, surpassing all previous records Once hit by the depar-

Canary Wharf Group (CWG) is now benefiting from a wave of new arrivals

JP Morgan has unveiled plans for a 3 million

tower in Canary Wharf that will become its new UK headquarters, accommodating more than half of its 23,000 UK employees Additionally, digital bank Revolut has chosen the Wharf as its global headquarters, joined by the

CWG chief executive Shobi Khan credits the turnaround to a strategic shift away from being a pure financial district Over the past five years, the estate has undergone a major reinvention: more than 40 new restaurants, high-street and luxury retailers, competitive socialising venues, and a growing cultural calendar

Residential development has been another pillar of change From virtually no homes five years ago, Canary Wharf now hosts over 3,000 apartments, with 7,000 residents expected by 2027 Green

improved connectivity via the Elizabeth Line have added to its appeal C

Wharf’s stations have already surpassed pre-pandemic levels, a sharp contrast to

Companies seeking modern space at more affordable rents are increasingly looking eastwards

Canary Wharf’s renewed vibrancy signals a broader shift in London’s com-

mixed-use development, lifestyle integration, and the rise of new business clusters beyond traditional centres

Prime Minister Keir Starmer with US President Donald Trump

Apple hires Amar

Subramanya to lead AI future

In a su dden and d ramatic

m o v e e ch o i n g th e h i g hs takes battle for artificial intellig ence sup remacy, the tech wo rld’s most cov eted talent circuit h as deliv ered

a d e ci s i v e w i n to A p p le C upertino, long p erceiv ed as trailing its rivals in the g enerative A I arm s race, has a p p o i nte d th e I nd i a n-

o r ig in v e ter an, A m ar

S u b ra m any a, as i ts ne w Vice President of AI This recruitm ent is more than a sim ple executive change; it is a declaration o f intent to

r eg a in th e te ch n o lo g i c al initiativ e

S u b r a m a n y a , a h i g h l y

respected researcher with

o v e r t w o d

c a d e s o f experience, arrives at Apple following a meteoric and competitive journey across

S i l i c o n V a l l e y ' s m o s t f o r m i d a b

University, who went on to

e a r n a P h D f r o m t h e

University of Washington, his career is a masterclass in blending academic rigour

w i t h c o n s u m

d u c t deployment He spent 16

formative years at Google, where he served as the head

ground-breaking Gemini AI

machine learning research, and, crucially, AI safety and evaluation

Rasik Kantaria becomes Kenya’s first billionaire

Rasik Kantaria, the fo under a nd

Capital Holdings and a cofou nder of Mauritiu s-based FMB Cap ital Holdings PLC, h as become the first Kenyan businessman wi th a fo rtune above $1 billio n His rise was p ossible as his stake in FMB Capital Ho ldings regi stered a

milestone after 3 decades In

championed

central

cutting-edge research into consumer-facing products is vital He is expected to spearhead the delivery of ‘Apple Intelligence’ features

His five-month tenure at Microsoft was cut short

the fold,

global competition for top AI leadership Subramanya n

currently underperforming Siri, ensuring the company can finally translate its vast

signals the start of a serious push to close the gap on Google and OpenAI

Japanese giants investing more in India's property market

J ap an e s e r ea l e s ta t e

d e ve l op er s a r e w ad i n g

f u rt he r i n t o t he tr i c k y I ndi an market and more of thei r peers are expected

t o ge t th ei r f e et w et , drawn by ri sing rents in a rapidly growing economy

a s w e ll a s lo w

c on s tr uc t i on c o s ts Fi r s t c as e i n poi n t i s M i ts u i F ud os a n , J a pa n 's b i g ge s t property developer, which f orayed into I ndi a in 2 020, p a rt n er i n g w i th l oc a l developer RMZ Real Estate to build an offic e complex i n Bengaluru

M i t s u i F u d o s a n c o u l d embark on fresh investment of 30-35 billion yen ($190$ 2 2 5 m i l l i o n ) o r m o r e i n projects with either RMZ or

o t h e r d e v e l o p e r s L a s t month, members of Mitsui

F u d o s a n ' s m a n a g e m e n t team were in Mumbai and i n N e w D e l h i l o o k i n g a t o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r f u r t h e r investment opportunities

S u m i t o m o R e a l t y a n d Development, Japan's No 3 developer which describes M u m

Tokyo, has committed $6 5 billion across five projects in the city, including two

sites added this year It

around Navi Mumbai city

investment, said a source

investment firm Blackstone, opens new tab, for example,

billion in Indian assets are

construction delays that

Visakhapatnam emerging as India's silicon city

Visakhapatn am is rapidly emer ging a s I n dia ’ s d e fin it iv e gl o b a l t e ch no l og y hub, with a trio of major glob

sta ggering $11 bil lion inv est me nt The partnership, formalised with a n M o U s i g n e d w i t h t h e A n d h r a P r a d

B o a r d ( A P E D B ) , a i m s t o d e v e l o p a monumental 1-gigawatt (GW) data

financial landscape radiating confidence

growth in the second quarter of th e 2025-26 fiscal year, an

Driv en by a robust expansio

of 9

p er cent in th e m anufacturing sector and an inflation rate that tum bled to a record low of just 0 25 per cent in October, the nation's financial landscape is rad iating confidence

Even in the face of global uncertainty, the BSE Sensex 30 and Nifty 50 indices have delivered healthy year-to-date returns of +9 6 per cent and +10 8 per cent respectively, with the Sensex 30 standing at 85,707 The RBI has responded to the benign inflation environment by lowering interest rates by a t o t a l o f 1 0 0 b a s i s p o i n t s t h i s y e a r T h e fundamental question for global investors is no longer if India is growing, but how the country will sustain its trajectory towards developed-economy status

A foundation of sweeping domestic reform T h e b a c k b o n e o f t h i s e c o n o m i c buoyancy is an aggressive domestic reform

a g e n d a T h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s m o v e t o consolidate 29 existing labour laws into four c o m p r e h e n s i v e c o d e s m a r k s t h e m o s t significant reform of the Indian workforce s i n c e I n d e p e n d e n c e T h i s l e g i s l a t i v e overhaul is designed to formalise the vast informal sector and modernise industrial relations, granting social security to gig and p l a t f o r m w o r k e r s f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e F u r t h e r m o r e , a k e y p r o v i s i o n r a i s e s t h e threshold for firms requiring government approval for lay-offs to those employing up to 299 people, providing greater flexibility for industry

T h e c o u n t r y i s c u r r e n t l y n a v i g a t i n g complex trade talks with the United States, which imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on select Indian imports in late August While t r a d e o f f i c i a l s r e m a i n o p t i m i s t i c a b o u t securing a deal before the year ’ s end, the

c tightrope India must

manufacturing base

Betting on the AI and silicon future B e y o n d p o

c y , a significant surge in capital expenditure and technological investment is fuelling the next w a v e

in Q2 FY26 Corporate capital expenditure is also picking up, growing by 11 per cent in the 2024-25 fiscal year, while net Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows more than doubled to USD 10 billion in the first five months of the current financial year T

high-tech sectors The Artificial Intelligence (AI) market, projected to be worth $17 billion by 2027, is a primary focus, exemplified by the 'AI Futures Fund' launched by Google and Accel, which aims to back at least 10 early-stage AI start-ups Google has also committed its largest single investment in the country, $15 billion over five years to establish a major AI data centre in Andhra Pradesh

Simultaneously, the government’s India Semiconductor Mission is gaining pace, with an approved investment of approximately U

includes

£450mn allocation to modernise

(SCL) in Mohali These aggressive capital and technology investments underscore a d

manufacturing high-value, Swadeshi chips, positioning India as a vital player in the global electronics supply chain W

"comfortably" achieve 7 per cent growth or higher for the full year, India’s dual strategy of sweeping domestic reform and aggressive

GST collection growth moderates in Nov

The good s and services tax (GST) collectio n g r ow th m o d e rat ed i n N o v , fo l lo w i n g a massive o verhaul o f the structu re, including rate red uction on 3 75 items, althoug h gov t as s ert ed th at i t h ad h e lp e d bo o s t consumption and the m op-up trends w ere in line with its estim ate

During Nov, based on transactions in Oct, collections (excluding cess) went up 0 7% to £17bn, as revenue from domestic sources fell 2 3% to £12 43bn In contrast, collections from imports were 10% higher at just under £4 6bn

On a net basis, collections swelled 1 3% to £15 2bn as refunds were 10% lower, with govt officials maintaining that refunds were not held back

“The intent of rate rationalisation was to put more money into the hands of the people The challenge was to ensure that it i

optimism The response that the economy has given in terms of higher taxable supply value, which is a sign of consumption, gives us confidence that the GST reform can be sustained in the short term to give a much b i g g e r m u l t i p l i e r e f f e c t i n t h e m e d i u m term,” an official said W h i l e a n n o u n c i n g t h e r a t e rationalisation exercise, which kicked in from Sept 22, govt had indicated that there may be a “fiscal impact” in the short run, but higher consumption will make up for it over the next few months

Amar Subramanya

Rasik Kantaria

Fire claims 146 lives in Hong Kong

H O N G K O N G : A pr of o un d

in brief

c

tragedy has struck Hong Kong, where a devastating fire in the densely populated Tai Po district has claimed at leas t 146 li ves, making it the ci

li

decades

s dead-

Rescue teams are continuing the grim task of recovering bodies from the charred ruins of the Wang Fuk Court estate, a complex of 32-storey towers that were engulfed after the b

spread with terrifying speed, has led to criminal suspicions Police have arrested three offi-

Prestige Construction on suspicion of manslaughter

The investigation suggests

involved the use of flammable foam boards blocking windows

materials, which allowed the

across towers in minutes The tragedy has been particularly

cramped quarters The inferno has also reignited an urgent debate over Hong Kong’s centuries-old reliance on bamboo

accelerating the spread

expected to hasten the city's move toward metal scaffolding,

ancient construction practices In response, Hong Kong leader

HK$300 million (US$39 million) relief fund to support the affected families and survivors

Over 600 killed as tropical storm batters Southeast Asia

T he dea th toll moun ted to over 6 00 from floods an d land slid es c a u s e d

Southe ast Asi a, off icials s aid as re lief ef forts for tens of thous an ds of d ispla ced people conti nued over the wee ken d

I n d o n e s i a , M a l a y

a n d Thailand faced large-scale devastation after a rare tropical storm formed in the Malacca Strait fuelling heavy rains and wind gusts for a week There were 435 dead in Indonesia, 170 in Thailand, and three deaths reported in Malaysia

Rescue and relief officials in the Southeast Asian countries were still trying to get access to many flood-hit areas even as flood waters receded and tens of thousands of peo-

ple were evacuated across the three countries Over 4 million people have been affected –nearly 3 million in southern

western Indonesia, according to official statistics Ind on es ia

The death toll surged in Indonesia to 435 on Sunday, up from 303 on Saturday, as officials compiled reports of casu-

Dhaka court sentences

Hasina and her niece, a UK lawmaker, in graft case

D H AK A : Banglades h’ s fo rmer p rime minister Sheikh H asina, h er sister S heikh Rehana and H asina’s ni ece and Bri tish MP

T ulip Siddiq were sentenced to d i ff e re nt t er ms o f im p r i so nment fo r ‘ irregu lariti es ’ in alloc a ti o n o f p l o t s u nd er th e P urbach al New T own project

Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka

S p e c i a l J u d g e C o u r t - 4 p r on o u n c e d t h e v e r d i c t H a s i n a , already sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, was h a n d e d f i v e y e a r s ’ i m p r i s o nment, while Rehana got seven years and Tulip Siddiq two years of jail The court found Siddiq, the Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate, guilty of misusing her “special influence” as a

B r i t i s h p o l i t i c i a n t o c o e r c e H a s i n a i n t o g i v i n g v a l u a b l e pieces of land to her mother and siblings

Bangladesh does not have an extradition treaty with the United Kingdom (UK), and it is unlikely Siddiq will serve the sentence The Labour party said it was not recognising the corr u p t i o n j u d g m e n t a g a i n s t Siddiq because she was denied the opportunity to a fair legal process in the case

S i d d i q h a d d e n i e d t h e charges, claiming that much of

the evidence being presented by prosecutors was forged She had b e e n p u t o n t r i a l a s a Bangladeshi citizen, with a passport and tax ID, even though she said she had not held a B a n g l a d e s h i p a s s p o r t s i n c e childhood and had never paid taxes there

S i d d i q s a i d , “ T h i s w h o l e process has been flawed and farcical from the beginning to the end The outcome of this kangaroo court is as predictable as it is unjustified I hope this socalled ‘verdict’ will be treated with the contempt it deserves My focus has always been my constituents in Hampstead and Highgate, and I refuse to be dist r a c t e d b y p o l i t i c s o f Bangladesh,” she was quoted as saying

alties and damage pouring in from the western island of Sumatra, where three provinces had been devast a t e d b y l a n d s l

d floods after the rains

M

t off due to blocked roads, while damage to telecommunications infrastructure has hampered communication Relief and rescue teams used helicopters to deliver aid to people in areas that could not be reached by road There have been reports of people looting supply lines as they grow desperate for relief in other areas, officials said Tha ilan d an d Malay sia

southern Thailand at 170, an i n

highest number of fatalities at 131

Hat Yai, the largest city in Songkhla, received 335 mm (13 inches) of rain last Friday, its highest single-day tally in 300 y

h b o u r i n g Malaysia, there are still about 1 8 , 7 0 0 p e o p l e i n e v a c u a t i o n centres, according to the country’s national disaster management agency

Parts of the country were b a t t e r e d l a s t w e e k b y h e a v y rain and wind Malaysia’s foreign ministry said it had evacua t e d o v e r 6 , 2 0 0 M a l a y s i a n nationals stranded in Thailand

DOHA OPENS MUSEUM DEDICATED TO MF HUSAIN

Doha opened the world's first museum dedicated to the legendary India-born Maqbool Fida Husain Conceived largely along the lines of his own painting of a cobalt-coloured volumetric spatial configuration, Delhi-based architect Martand Khosla was able to capture the essence of colour in concrete creating an eternal edifice to a Great Modernist Master of Progressive Art Group that took root in independent India in 1947 along with FN Souza SH Raza KH Ara HA Gade and SK Bakr The museum in Doha s Education City features some of his most ambitious works created in the years of self-imposed exile in Qatar

5 OF INDIAN-ORIGIN FAMILY KILLED IN CANADA FIRE

A pall of gloom has descended on Guram village in Ludhiana district after five members of a local family died in a devastating fire at their residence in Brampton, Canada Among the deceased was the unborn child of Arashveer Kaur who survived by jumping from the roof but suffered severe injuries that resulted in a miscarriage Happy Shankar a close relative of the family managed to escape the blaze His mother-in-law, an unmarried sister-in-law, a niece and his wife s cousin all perished in the fire His wife, Arashveer Kaur sustained injuries after leaping from the rooftop in a desperate attempt to save her life

PAK NAVY TESTS ANTISHIP BALLISTIC MISSILE

The Pakistani Navy has successfully test-fired an indigenously developed ship launched anti-ship ballistic missile According to reports, the test was conducted “from a locally produced naval platform, enhancing the country s defence capabilities ” The missile is capable of striking both sea and land targets with high accuracy the report said adding that it is equipped with advanced guidance technology and enhanced manoeuvrability features A navy spokesman said the successful test reflects the country’s growing technological expertise and reinforces the Navy s commitment to safeguarding national interests

AI HELPS PAK WOMAN TO REUNITE WITH FAMILY

Members of Lohana Mahajan held a meeting at Ole Ken hotel in Nakuru, Kenya, where they played bingo, organised raffle and raised money to support young girls with sanitary pads and panties

PM Modi offers support

to Khaleda Zia who is 'extremely unwell'

“extremely unwell” and she h as been placed on ventilation, with both lo cal and internatio nal medical specialists overseeing her treatment, her party leaders said Zia, the 80-year-old Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson, was admitted to a private hospital on Nov 23 when she developed a chest infection that affected both her heart and lungs Four days later, the three-time prime minister was shifted to the coronary care unit after her health worsened

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday voiced deep concern over her health and offered all possible support “Deeply concerned to learn about the health of Begum Khaleda Zia, who has contributed to Bangladesh's public life for many years, ” Modi said in a post on X “Our sincere prayers and best wishes for her speedy recovery, ” the prime minister said “India stands ready to extend all possible support, in whatever way we can, ” he added Zia, the wife of slain Bangladesh president Ziaur Rahman, has been suffering from multiple other health complications, including liver and kidney issues, diabetes, arthritis, and eye-related illnesses

Facial recognition software and some latest AI technology have helped a young Pakistani woman to reunite with her family after 17 years Kiran had lost her way and forgot her house address when she had stepped out to buy ice cream in her neighborhood in Islamabad in 2008 A kind woman took me to the Edhi Centre in Islamabad Earlier this year the Foundation contacted Nabeel Ahmed, a cybersecurity specialist Nabeel located a police report of a missing girl and using the latest AI technology managed to track down the girl’s family Soon after, Abdul Majeed, a tailor, reached Karachi to take his daughter home

10KG GOLD SEIZED FROM HASINA’S BANK LOCKERS

Anti-corruption authorities in Bangladesh have seized about 10 kg of gold worth about $1 3 million from bank lockers belonging to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, sources said Officials from the Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) said the discovery was made after opening lockers that had been seized in Sept “Following a court order we opened the lockers and found about 9 7 kg of gold belonging to Hasina ” a CIC official said The haul included gold coins bars and jewellery Investigators said Hasina had failed to deposit some of the gifts she received while in office at the state treasury known as Toshakhana , as required by law

Sheikh Hasina

in brief UAE STOPS ISSUING VISAS TO

PAKISTANIS

Dubai: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has stopped issuing visas to most Pakistani citizens due to concerns about individuals travelling to the Gulf country and getting involved in criminal activities, according to Karachi-based daily Dawn The revelation came during a meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights where officials warned that the situation could worsen if a formal ban were imposed The move follows a series of highprofile incidents involving Pakistani nationals in the UAE including cases of begging rings street crimes murders drug rackets and overstaying The UAE s decision affects all categories of visas, including tourist, visit, and work permits for Pakistani citizens Existing visas remain valid until expiry but no fresh applications are being processed at UAE embassies or through authorised visa centres The move will affect the already dented image of the Pakistani passport, which is ranked fourth worst in the world for the third consecutive year Emirati authorities have time and again warned that organised groups from various countries exploit visit visas to engage in unlawful behaviour, with Pakistani citizens forming a significant portion of recent arrests in such cases Official data show that more than 8 00 000 Pakistanis apply for visas to Gulf and Middle Eastern countries each year seeking employment and better economic opportunities Many also use these destinations to eventually reach Western and European nations However authorities in the region have raised concerns over illegal activities involving some Pakistani nationals In recent years, Saudi Arabia has arrested over 4 000 Pakistani beggars, particularly in Mecca and Madina, where they were caught soliciting during Umrah and Haj pilgrimages Additionally, several Pakistanis have been detained for drug smuggling and other criminal offences, prompting stricter visa scrutiny Reports suggest that in December last year, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and several other Gulf countries announced that police verification would now be required for Pakistani travellers The UAE is currently only granting visas to holders of blue and diplomatic passports

PUBLISHERS TAKE CRIMINAL ACTION AGAINST META'S SCAM ADS

A seismic showdown is underway as Swedish publishers have filed a criminal complaint against tech titan Meta and its Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg The dramatic legal action is the culmination of mounting indignation over Meta s careless refusal to combat the rampant flood of fraudulent advertising on its platform The publishers group Utgivarna, has reached breaking point over the billions in revenue Meta reaps from misleading campaigns that steal media identities to con vulnerable people Vice chair Thomas Mattsson fiercely rejected Meta's defence of being a neutral highway, arguing its unchecked sponsored post model effectively makes it complicit in smuggling "drug crimes" into the country for criminals to profit While current UK, EU, and US law grants the tech giant a largely free pass' from responsibility for the content it publishes, the complaint serves as a potent moral challenge to a hugely profitable business model built on the exploitation of its users

DHAKA-KARACHI DIRECT FLIGHTS SOON

Direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh will begin from next month a significant leap in strengthening connectivity between the two countries

Dhaka’s top diplomat said There has been no direct flight between Pakistan and Bangladesh for the last several years Mahan Air will start three weekly flights between Dhaka and Karachi from next month, Bangladesh s high commissioner in Islamabad, Iqbal Hussain Khan, said

A

Punjabi and Sikh drivers' American dreams under federal scrutiny

the foun dation

of the

ation

s upply chain At the heart of thi

tumultuous moment are the country's v

caugh

community

in the crossf ire of

in ten se gover nmental pre ssure follow ing a s eries of fatal accide nts

The scrutiny has intensified with a mass review of the

Shockingly, nearly 44 per cent of the United States' 16,000 listed training programmes are failing to meet essential government standards Transport

revoke certifications for thou-

allegedly offer rapid, substan-

dard training in a few days instead of the proper month-

try bodies have welcomed the effort to weed out questionable operators who fleece students and put poorly prepared drivers behind the wheel of heavy goods vehicles

However, the crackdown has also taken an unwelcome turn towards the immigrant c

estimated 20 per cent of the national trucking workforce, many immigrant-owned firms

qualified drivers with immaculate records are being unfairly treated as suspects They suggest that these sweeping, feard

xenophobia and harassment, rather than genuinely improving road safety As states are put under pressure to tighten their licensing processes, the

safety threatens to destabilise

shadow of mistrust over thousands of hardworking immigrant lorry drivers

Musk has an Indian link through partner Shivon Zilis

revealed that his partner Shivon Zi li s is half Indian and that one of their sons carries a name inspired by one of India’s greatest scienti fic icons

Speaking on Zerodha founder Nikhil Kamath’s “WTF is?” podcast, Musk veered into unexpected personal territory “I’m not

adding an even more striking detail Strider Sekhar Sirius is one of their twin sons who has been given the middle name Sekhar, as M

Chandrasekhar

Two

Together, Zilis and Musk have four children: the twins Strider and Azure, daughter Arcadia, and son Seldon Lycurgus

Gujaratis accused of siphoning off $653,000 from an old woman in US

K EN O SH A : T w o Gu j a r a t i s

from the Chi cago s uburbs were allege d to have play ed a centra l role in s iphon ing off more than

$6 53,000 i n gold from a n e lderl y w o ma n i n W i s co n s i n

Authoriti es say the pair were havi ng lin ks to in ternati onally coord in ated netw ork s tretchin g ba ck to In dia

Charges were filed against Jagdish Kumar Nandani and Chintan Thakkar, both originally from Gujarat, accusing t h e m o f m

$100,000

According to investigators, the scheme unfolded after the victim received a series of calls from a man impersonating a federal agent He allegedly conv i n c

accounts were hacked and tied to criminal activity, urging her to convert her life savings into gold for “safekeeping ” Believing she was cooperati n g w i t h a u t h o r i t i e s , t h e woman handed over $332,750 in gold on March 1 and another $139,500 on March 15 at her Kenosha home She later sold her house out of fear it had also been compromised, turned the proceeds into gold, and surrendered that as well Her total loss crossed $653,000 Police in Addison, Illinois, a r r e s t e d N a n d a n i i n M a r c h Officers said he admitted picking up gold in Kenosha and identified Thakkar as his partner Police say both were in communication with contacts in India including one person known only as Rahul

Musk went further, sketching out Zilis’s early life in a way that startled listeners When Kamath asked where she grew up, Musk revealed that Zilis was adopted as a baby in Canada “I think her father was like an exchange student at the university or something like that,” he said, noting that he wasn’t certain on every detail but confirming she was given up for adoption before being raised in Canada

Zilis is a longtime Musk lieutenant who joined Neuralink in 2017 and now serves as Director of Operations and Special Projects She is a Yale graduate in economics and philosophy

The betrayal of Buddha's unwavering tenet of ahimsa

T he g lo bal im ag e of Bud dhism is one of s e ren e c o nt em p l at i on , o f m ar o o nrobed monks offering quiet wisd om and the u nwavering tenet of a h i m s a, or n o nh a rm i n g Y et , in p ockets of So uth and S outh -East A sia, this philosop hy of inner peace h as been d ram ati c all y h i j ac ke d , tr ansforming the saffron robe into a symbol o f sectarian fury From the tranquil stup as of S ri L anka t o th e h i s to r ic te m p le s o f M yan m ar , a d is tu r bi ng ne w strain of Bud dhi st extrem ism h a s ta ke n ro o t, w ea p o ni s in g faith in the relentless pursuit of nationalist d ominance

v a n

v o u r o f raw, earthly politic a l p o w e r I n S r i Lanka, the actions o f g r

p s s u c h a s the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), led by controv

clerics have incited violent moral panics against the c

framing them as an existential threat to the national-Buddhist i d e n

T h i s s e i s m i c s h i f t , m o s t pronounced within the conserv a t i v e T h e r a v a d a t r a d i t i o n s , sees firebrand monks abandoning the spiritual quest for nir-

Trump bars South Africa from 2026 G20 summit

WE ST P AL BE ACH: In a dramatic act of diplo matic reprisal, US P resident Donald Trump annou nced th at h e is barring Sou th Africa from th e Group of 20 (G20) su mmit, wh ich he will h ost in Miami, Florida, next year T he US P re s i den t al so de cl a re d th at h i s adm i

stop all p ayments and su

dies to the country

The move stems from South Africa's alleged treatment of a US government representative at this year's summit, which South Africa hosted last weekend Trump had already chosen to boycott the 2025 summit, claiming his decision was a response to the violent persecution of white Afrikaners in South Africa

The Republican President, posting on Truth Social, cited South Africa's refusal to hand over its G20 hosting responsibilities to a senior US Embassy representative at the summit s conclusion Trump stated that the country had “demonstrated to the world they are not a country worthy of membership anywhere

Ramaphosa's office pushed back, calling the US decision to appoint a local embassy official for the handover an "insult," and noted the ceremony happened at the Foreign Ministry because the US was not present at the summit The South African statement called Trump's post "regrettable" and accused him of applying punitive measures based on "misinformation and distortions "

including the anti-Muslim rioting in Aluthgama in 2014 and Digana in 2018, illustrate the terrifying impact of this statesanctioned religious privilege,

monks like Ashin Wirathu have used their platforms to incite

population The rise of these figures highlights how historical forces -including the racial hierarchies established during

combined to grant the clergy an outsized political influence It shows how nationalism readily

patriarchal structures, creating

silencing others

Donald Trump

Ahmedabad wins right to host 2030 centenary CWG

A momen t of immen se na tional

p

d

r t i n g world thi s week a s Ind ia se cured the rights to host the presti gious

of

ce

C ommonwe alth Games i n 2030

In a dramatic confirmation that repositioned the country on t

Games’ global governing body formally named Ahmedabad as

t h e h o s

announcement, made during the

competitive process and signals

ambitious sporting agenda

The decision followed a tense

Ahmedabad ultimately prevailing

which missed out for the second

multinational event Set to take place, preferably in October, the 2030 Games will mark only the second time in two decades that India welcomes the multisport

After MHA order, 5 states, 1 UT change name of governor/LG’s house

At least five states a nd a U nion te rri tory ha ve changed the name of their governor/lieutena nt gover nor ’ s house fr om ‘Ra j Bhawan/Raj Niwa s ’ to ‘Lok Bhawan/Lok N iwas’ following a directive fr om the Mi nistry of Home Affair s ( MHA) to shed the ear lier nome nclatur e associa ted with the colonial er a In a letter addressed to the principal secretaries or secretaries to state governors a n

governors held last year “to rename ‘Raj Bhavans’ as ‘Lok Bhavans’ as the word ‘Raj Bhavan’ smacks of colonialism ”

“Accordingly, it is requested that the offices of Governor and office of Lt Governor may be named as ‘Lok Bhavan’ and ‘Lok Niwas’, respectively, for all official purposes, ” said the MHA directive

Taking the cue from the MHA letter, states/UTs have started shedding the word

governor/lieutenant governor ’ s residence-

d u , Kerala, Assam and Tripura have effected the change and renamed their ‘Raj Bhavan’ as ‘Lok Bhavan ’ Ladakh’s Raj Niwas, the official residence and office of LG Kavinder Gupta, has been renamed as ‘Lok Niwas’ T

working on shedding the vestiges of India’s colonial past; it had earlier renamed the Rajpath as Kartavya Path and has been using ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India’ in many official communications Govt websites now first show content in Hindi, though there is an option to view it in English The band at the Beating Retreat ceremony now no longer plays English hymns like ‘Abide with me ’

Choksi’s bid to halt FEO Act action fails

A special c ourt rejec ted a pl ea b y absc onding busines sm an M e hul Ch ok s i t o h a l t t h e

p r oc e e d in g s un d er t h e

Fugitive Ec onomic Of fenders (FEO) Ac t agains t him s inc e he is under arrest in Belgium

T h e E n f o r c e m e n t Directorate had opposed the plea and submitted that the process to extradite him was u n d e r w a y I t w a s a l s o submitted that since Choksi did not want to return to the country, he was contesting the proceedings Choksi is accused in the over £1 3bn Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case

Opposing Choksi’s plea in Sep, additional solicitor g e n e r a l A n i l S i n g h , w h o appeared with special public prosecutor for the ED, Kavita

Patil, submitted, “On the one h

extradited to India,’ and on the other hand he’s saying,

l process for extradition is still going on He will be handed

t i e s s u b j e c t t o t h e judicial proceedings which are yet to conclude So, today to say that my application becomes infructuous is not correct ”

in i n

es af te r U S Pr e sid e n t Dona ld Trump sla pped 50% t ar iffs o n Ind ian good s in lat e Aug T h e d e f e n c e m i n i s t r y s a i

s i g n e d L e t

s o f O f f e r a n d A c c e p t a n c e ( L O A s ) w i t h t h e U S f o r sustainment support of the M H 6 0 R h e l i c o p t e r f l e e t Manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, it is an a l l - w e a t h e r h e l i c o p t e r designed to support multiple

missions with state of the art

a v i o n i c s a n d s e n s o r s T h e LOAs were inked under the f o r e i g n m i l i t a r y s a l e s programme of the US

I n d i a h a d s i g n e d a n agreement with the US for p r o c u r e m e n t o f 2 4 - M H 60Rs in Feb 2020 The MH 60R Seahawk is a maritime v a r i a n t o f t h e B l a c k h a w k helicopter

T h e s u s t a i n m e n t support is a comprehensive p a c k a g e t h a t i n c l u d e s p r o v i s i o n i n g o f s p a r e s , support equipment, product

s u p p o r t , t r a i n i n g a n d technical support, and repair

a n d r e p l e n i s h m e n t o f c o m p o n e n t s , a c c o r d i n g t o the defence ministry

I t a l s o p r o v i d e s f o r setting up of intermediate level component repairs and p e r i o d i c m a i n t e n a n c e inspection facilities in India f o r t h e c h o

through MSMEs and other Indian firms,” it said in a statement

event, following the 2010 Games hosted in New Delhi Following a thorough review of the sport programme, it was confirmed the centenary Games will feature between 15 and 17 disciplines Core sports such as a

tennis, bowls, weightlifting, and netball, along with their parasport equivalents, are locked in The final line-up is set to be announced next year, with sports i

T20 cricket, and hockey all under consideration for inclusion Indian Olympic Association ( I O A

expressed deep honour following the announcement, stating that

the 2030 Games would not only commemorate

hundred years

movement but would also lay the

and

spirit of friendship and

This

ambitions, as the

is also actively vying to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036, with the International Olympic Committee set to make that decision in 2027

Fresh FIR against Rahul, Sonia in National Herald case

T h e e c on o m i c o f f enc es w ing (EOW) of th e Delhi police has registered a fresh F I R ag ai ns t C o n g re ss lead ers S oni a Gand hi and Rahu l Gand h i, alo ng with s i x o th er a ss o c i ate s an d

b u si ne s s e nti ti es , i n a n al le g ed c as e o f c ri m i na l conspiracy to “fraud ulently” acquire A ssociated Journals Ltd, then a Co ng ress h eld entity with p roperties worth £ 2 0 0 m n T h e ac qu i s i ti o n w as m ad e thro ug h You ng Indian in which the Gandhis held 76% shareholding

T h e D e l h i p o l i c e F I R , dated Oct 3, is based on a c o m p l a i n t f i l e d b y t h e Headquarters Investigative

U n i t o f E n f o r c e m e n t Directorate (ED), which has shared detailed findings of i t s i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o

N a t i o n a l H e r a l d m o n e y laundering case from 20082024 National Herald was the newspaper published by AJL Sharing of information under Sec 66(2) of PMLA allows ED to ask another

e n f o r c e m e n t a g e n c y t o

r e g i s t e r a n d p r o b e a

s c h e d u l e d o f f e n c e , w h i c h can then become a predicate offence necessary for ED to c a r r y o u t i t s o w n investigation under PMLA

T h e o n g o i n g m o n e y laundering probe by ED is based on a private complaint

f r o m f o r m e r B J P M P Subramanian Swamy and its cognisance by metropolitan magistrate’s court in Patiala

House in June 2014 In this case, the central agency filed a p r o s e c u t i o n c o m p l a i n t ( c h a r g e s h e e t ) u n d e r t h e anti-money laundering act

a g a i n s t t h e G a n d h i s a n d

o t h e r a c c u s e d o n A p r i l 9

b e f o r e a s p e c i a l M P / M L A court here at Rouse Avenue

T h e c o u r t h a s n o t t a k e n cognisance yet of the matter

C o n g r e s s h a s c o n s i s t e n t l y d i s p u t e d t h e charges and has accused ED of carrying out a political w i t c h h u n t a t g o v t ’ s instance Besides Sonia and R a h u l G a n d h i , t h e F I R

r e g i s t e r e d b y D e l h i P o l i c e

h a s n a m e d t h r e e o t h e r s , i n c l u d i n g c h i e f o f I n d i a n

O v e r s e a s C o n g r e s s S a m Pitroda It also names three entities, AJL, Young Indian and the Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd, allegedly a Kolkata-

b a s e d s h e l l c o m p a n y t h a t provided £100,000 to Young India from which Gandhis paid Congress Rs 50,00,000 to allegedly acquire AJL

Sources said police are l i k e l y t o s u m m o n s h

by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi

Sources said that Young

During the

period, AJL, by then already under the control of Gandhis, received

alleged that all these were bogus entries and contrary

India to launch £728mn rare earth manufacturing drive

In a bo ld and ag gressive m ove to safeguard its high-tech fu ture, the Indian g ovt has sanctio ned ap proximately £ 728mn scheme to establish a dom estic rare earth p ermanent m ag net ( REP M ) i nd ustry T his land mark decision arriv es at a critical juncture, directly ad d re ss i ng t

earmarked for a pioneering, fully integrated REPM manufacturing programme, a first for India The plan is to develop a capacity of 6,000 metric tonnes per annum, covering every stage from converting

final production of finished magnets This initiative is a crucial step towards

With

Minister of State for Sports Harsh Sanghavi handing over India s Proposal to

Mehul Choksi

PM Modi assures India's continued support to cyclone-hit Lanka

P M Narendra Mo di spoke to S ri L ankan President A nu ra K D iss anayake, exp ress ing condo lences on the loss of lives and devastation in Sri L ank a i n th e w ak e o f C yclone Ditwah and assuring him of Ind ia’s continued sup port to th e Indian Ocean neighbour under the o ng oi n g Op e ra ti o n S a g ar Band hu, which has taken up rescue and relief m easures for distressed perso ns T h e p r i m e m

n i s t e r assured that India, in line with its Vision Mahasagar and its established position as the ‘First Responder,’ will continue to extend all necessary assistance in the coming days as Sri Lanka undertakes rehabilitation efforts, resumes public services and w o r k s t o w a r d

impacted regions, said an Indian readout In coordina-

t i o n w i t h t h e L a n k a n authorities, the Indian govt

i m m e d i a t e l y d e l i v e r e d 9 5 tons of emergency rations from two Indian Navy ships in Colombo and deployed three Indian Air Force aircraft for airlifting another 31 5 tons of relief materials Chetak helicopters from INS Vikrant and MI-17 helicopters of Indian Air Force

h a v e c o n d u c t e d e x t e n s i v e rescue operations, airlifting stranded people, including p r e g n a n t w o m e n , i

and those critically injured, said the govt

“ R e s c u e d p e r

n s i n c l u d e d n a t i o n a l s o f S r i

L a n k a , I n d i a , G e r m a n y , Slovenia, United Kingdom, S o u t h A f r i c a , P o l a n d ,

Over 150 people have been rescued and assisted in these combined operations, which a

govt

3 dead in TN, Lanka toll crosses 410

C y c l o n e D i t w a h l e f t three dead in Tamil Nadu even as the toll in stormbattered Lanka rose to more t h a n 4 1 0 w i t h t h o u s a n d s displaced from their homes

C h e n n a i w a s s p a r e d a pounding after the cyclone’s core collapsed and veered away from the shoreline TN

r e v e n u e m i n i s t e r K K S S R R a m a c h a n d r a n s a i d t h a t two people died in wall col-

l a p s e s i n T u t i c o r i n a n d

T h a n j a v u r , a n d o n e f r o m

e l e c t r o c u t i o n i n

Mayiladuthurai

T h e s t o r m ’ s s u d d e n w e a k e n i n g k e p t C h e n n a i largely untouched, reducing a feared onslaught to brief d

Ramachandran said 234 huts and houses had been damaged and 149 cattle killed in T N C r o p l o

Malhotra's Newcastle-based group has vast interests in hospitality and care, while

Nagapattinam, 15,000 acres in Tiruvarur and 8,000 acres in Thanjavur “Once water recedes, the extent of damage will be ascertained,” he said Farmers’ associations in t

Union govt to classify the

enduring massive livelihood setbacks and remain in profound mental agony,

Protection Association, calling for aerial, ground, and satellite-based surveys As Ditwah curved north-

rooms, closed beaches, and

L

India to open its nuclear power sector for private investment

In a dram atic shift fo

India's energy land scape,

as announced a m onu

tal d ecision to open the nation s nuclear secto r to private inv estment, m

sp a ce industry This liberalisation marks the end of the state’s sole mo nopo ly over nuclear power g eneration

bolster India’s energy security and technological leadership on the global stage

Speaking at the inaugur

strong role for the private sector is being established to drive innovation in crucial

reactors, advanced reactors,

development This reform is not merely about capacity; it is projected to significantly

Parliament’s winter session, where the government plans to table the Atomic Energy Bill, 2025, which specifically proposes the opening up of

Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010, are also planned to facilitate the entry of private players

achieving India's ambi-

by

Limited (NPCIL)

Degree of Doctor of

( Ho noris Causa) The honour, bestowed by India’s Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) at Odisha before a huge crowd

o f 4 0 , 0 0 0 , r e c o g

success and his significant philanthropic contributions

endeavours He has also

landmark developments in his birthplace, Ludhiana H

Businessman of the Year, M

group as a very humbling experience He dedicated t

family, mentors, and the

Ur mila ben A

Date of birth - 25/3/1936

Katargam, Surat, Gujarat

Amr atlal Desai

ai

Date of Dem Newham, L

mise - 13/11/2025

Urmilaben Amratlal Desai, wife of the late Amratlal Ghelabhai Desai, my mother and grandmother of my

daughterr, K , Kavita Priyadarshini Desai, passed away on Thursday 13/11/2025. She was 89 and earlier this life. She approached the end with remarkable courage, calm and dignity and just always thinking of her family’s wellbeing and fondly remembering her many friends and present, around the world.

anga, T

Born in India, my mother moved to T Tanga, Tanzania, after her marriage in 1957 anzania, and was her only child. Alongside looking after our extended family, she volunteered as a teacher at the s weekend school. Education mattered deeply to her Hindu Mandal’ r, especially because she hadn’t been , able to study beyond high school herselff. She also served for many years as the . Mandal ( Women’s Group), my father being Secretary of the Hindu Mandal.

My parents came to the UK in September 1976 primarily to give me the best opportunities

working in local supermarkets where she developed strong friendships which lasted

My mother loved North West London where she also enjoyed supporting my fat of the Brent Indian Association. But after forty years living there, my parents moved to East Ham in East London to be closer to me. After my father passed away in 2018, my mother became involved with the Redbridge Gujarati Welfare Association and enjoyed their trips to places like T

she moved in with me, though by then age had started to catch up with herr. . E

Shri Krishna London, UK er e was 89 and earlier this t as she had lived her life, ends and colleagues, past 7. I was born there in 1959, eered as a teacher at the because she hadn’t been e Secretary of the Mahila pportunities in life, initially ed over the years. ther in his role as Manager oved to East Ham in East became involved with the Turkey and Egypt. During Even so, she retained her

to stay connected with friends and family across the world, speaking to them at o differences, or listening to bhajans ( religious songs). She never quite got the hang of emails, which she regretted , but she embraced social media and enjoyed Facebook, always keeping an eye out for my posts. Right until the end, she remained deeply interested in politics and current affairs.

who always looked for the good in others. She never spoke ill of anyone and was always thinking of others, especially her family and close friends, before herself. She will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her. She was the backbone of our family, as my father often said. She adored her granddaughter grets in dying after the birth. Sadly, it was not to be. She succumbed to age and illness and left us

better

Though gone, she will never be forgotten.

nd left us odd hours because of time g

ored , grandmother err, grandmotherr, ,

Meenu Malhotra

NORTH-EAST

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar agree

for 'peace'

b re akfa st la id out at t he Chief Minister 's r eside nce set the tone for Karna taka's wa rring p o we

c hu r n i n si d e t h e C on g

s s Th e h ig h comma nd-n udge d mee ting came amid y et

a n o t h e r r o u nd o f sp e cu l a t io n ov e r a l eade rship tussle in the st ate

Soon after the meal, Siddaramaiah moved to shut down the political noise, insisting that "there are no differences" between the two leaders and there won't be any in the future as well "Our agenda is the 2028 elections Local body elections are important We discussed

t h e m W e a l s o d i s c u s s

Congress in the 2028 elections We discussed

t h a t w e w i l l g o t o g e t h e

T h e r e a r e n o differences between us and there will be no differences in the future, the Chief Minister said while addressing a press conference

S i d d

w o u l d f o l l o w C o n g r e s s

decision on the brewing issue "We have decided that we will follow whatever the high command says There will be no confusion

from tomorrow There is still no confusion

confusion," he said

The Chief Minister also brushed aside talk of an impending no-confidence motion challenge from the opposition BJP "The BJP

allegations They said they will bring a noconfidence motion They are only 60 and 18 We are 140 This is a futile exercise We will confront their false allegations," he said

, echoed similar sentiments, calling himself a loyal soldier of the Congress party He also said that he would go to New Delhi when summoned by the Congress high command

Two teen Haryana basketball players die as rusted poles fall on them

R O HT AK: A junior na tion all ev el b ask et

practice in Ha ryan a after the ba ske tbal l hoop’s iron pol e fell on t hem The incidents

l e d t o o ut r a g e w it h op po

s sl amming t he B JP-le d sta te g over nme nt a n d a n g uish e d fa m il y me mb e r s j oin i ng t he m in b l am ing th e e sta b l ishme n t for dila pidat ed sports in fra str ucture

According to police, Hardik Rathi, 16, who had participated in the national subjunior basketball championship, died in

R o h t a k , w h i l e h a j j a r ’ s A m a n , a y e a r younger, breathed his last one day earlier in Bahadurgarh

Hardik’s death was captured on CCTV camera The footage showed the youngster

r e a c h i n g f o r t h e h o o p A s s o o n a s h e attempts to hang from it, the pole collapses a n d c r u s h e s h i m u n d e r i t T h e r o d s

supporting the basketball

Majra village who practice

a hospital where he died, SHO Samarjeet Singh said

In a similar incident in Bahadurgarh, Aman, 15, went to a basketball court on the p

practice He was critically injured after an iron pole fell on him and died at PGIMS R o h t

)

Dinkar Yadav said Aman’s mother Kanta Devi blamed negligence of officials for death of her son “The rusted iron poles had not been changed for several years, ” she s a i d H a r y a n a s p o r t s m i n i s t e r G a u r a v

Gautam said a high-level panel has been formed to probe the matter and anyone found responsible for the incidents will face action

Expelled AIADMK leader

Sengottaiyan joins TVK

C HE NN AI: Form er Tamil Nadu minis ter K A

Assam passed an anti-polygamy bill with jail

K O L K A T A : Se n i or B J P l e ad e r

Suvendu Adhikari led a team of party leaders to the c hief elec toral offi cer

M a n oj K um ar A ga r wa l ’ s o ff i c e , apparently to put pres sure on the poll panel to take a more active role in c urb in g wha t he c all ed la rge -s c al e malpractices in the special intens ive r ev i s i on ( S I R) o f e l ec t or a l r ol ls because of the “ interference” of the ruling party and its strategist I- PAC

Arriving at the CEO’s office with m u l t i p l e c o m p l a i n t s , A d h i k a r i , t h e l e a d e r o f t h e O p p o s i t i o n

N a n d i g r a m M L A , d e m a n d e d a n i m m e d i a t e p r o b e i n t o t h e irregularities

W h i l e a c c u s i n g t h e s t a t e government, the Trinamool Congress and I-PAC of “interfering in the SIR exercise”, Adhikari also blamed the Election Commission for remaining “ b l i s

multiple complaints submitted by the BJP

The BJP leadership’s move marks a clear departure from the party’s usual stance of always defending the E C A m o n g t h e i

between November 26 and 28, which

Sengot taiy an s aid there was no dif ferenc e between DM K and AIADMK , as he joined Tamilaga Vet tri K azhaga m (TVK ) a nd cl aim ed s tate’s peopl e want a change in govt that pa rty c hief V ijay would provide af ter bec om ing the c hief minister

Sengottaiyan, who was recently expelled

people across the country are choosing new parties, citing examples of Delhi and Punjab As Vijay welcomed him with a shawl, Sengottaiyan presented the actor-politician with a book on

minister Vijay later appointed Sengottaiyan chief coordinator of TVK’s 28-member core committee and organising secretary for western districts of Erode, Coimbatore, Nilgiris and Tiruppur Addressing reporters, Sengottaiyan

without taking his name, “God will judge those who put themselves above the party ” In a statement, Vijay lauded Sengottaiyan as a senior politician who “will guide the core committee and support me in taking forward the party ”

Shootout at Ludhiana wedding, 2 dead

LU DH IA NA : Two all eged ga ngst ers invited t o a wedding at a resor t in Punjab ’ s Ludhia na cl ashe d, l e a v in g t wo g ue s t s d e a d a n d a n o t he r m a n

injured Police said over 30 rounds we re fire d b y t h e t w o fa c t io n s a t P a k ho wa l R o a d r e so r t , causin g panic among gue sts, in cl uding se veral VIPs, MLAs, and politicians who were atte nding t he we dding of local contra ctor Var in der Kapoor

V a s u C h o p r a ( 3 2 ) , a b u s i n e s s m a n a n d

neighbour of the groom, died along with Neeru Chhabran (55), the groom ’ s aunt from Jalandhar

The injured man has been identified as Jatinder Kumar Dawar, an aide of one of the main accused, and is under arrest

“ S h u b h a m ( M o t a ) a n d A n k u r , w h o a r e already rivals and have clashed in the past, had an argument which escalated under the influence of alcohol They had gone to the wedding with aides and weapons, ” Ludhiana commissioner of police Swapan Sharma said

Sources said the verbal spat started between Ankur and Shubham Mota, with Ankur allegedly firing the first shot, which Shubham narrowly dodged Shubham then returned fire B

Adhikari described as “mysterious” a n d e x e c u t e d w i t h “ u n u s u a l hurriedness ”

He demanded an immediate audit of these entries

H

malpractice in establishing parental links for voters, claiming that OTPs were forcibly taken from BLOs to ensure “dead, fake and Bangladeshi voters remain on the rolls ”

He said such irregularities were

constituencies, and insisted that the EC’s technical team be tasked with a thorough probe

Adhikari also sought the removal of two IAS officers - Ayesha Rani and B

memorandum submitted to the CEO State BJP leaders accused the ruling

claiming they were being compelled to act under Trinamool’s instructions

In the memorandum submitted to the CEO, the BJP said that between

figures rose from 55mn to 67 5mn

spike of roughly 12 5mn -which the

EC asks Bengal police to protect BLOs from party workers

NE W D E LH I : T he Election Co mmis sion wrote to West Bengal DGP and K olkata po lice commissio ner, directing th em to protect boo th level officers (BLOs) engaged in the Sp ec ial Intensi ve Revisi on ( SIR) o f electoral roll in the state “ from u nruly p olitical p arty wo rkers” wh o may be pressuring and threatening them to add or delete electors from the ro ll

The communication followed EC’s meeting with a Trinamool Congress delegation, during which CEC Gyanesh Kumar said the “ pressure ” faced by BLOs was not on account of demands of SIR-related work, but due to undue influence and threats they face at the hands of party workers, particularly from TMC, to not recommend the deletion of dead, shifted or duplicate voters from the roll

EC also asked Kolkata CP to shift the office of the state chief electoral officer (CEO) to a more secure location in view of the recent security breach, while ensuring security of the existing office

allegations” and “unfounded apprehensions” expressed by the TMC delegation, the CEC explained how the SIR process cannot be the plausible reason for pressure faced by BLOs, since they are simply required to distribute and collect the enumeration forms (Efs)

TMC alleges 40 deaths

A Trinamool Congress delegation which met the EC alleged that there have been 40 deaths, including those of BLOs in Bengal so far and accused Gyanesh Kumar and his two colleagues of “having blood on their hands ”

stride towards criminalising the practice CM Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed the bill’s

for

and vowed

governing BJP returns to office next year “Ban on polygamy is a direction towards uniform civil code,” Sarma said, pledging a UCC move in the first session of the new assembly Assam Prohibition of Polygamy

imprisonment If

person enters into

subsequent marriage while concealing the first, the punishment can extend to 10 years

Scheduled Tribes as defined under Article 342 of the Constitution The bill seeks to provide compensation to the victim women as they have to suffer immense pain and hardships due to polygamous marriage A repeat offender will be handed down double

subsequent offence A village head, quazi, parent or legal guardian who dishonestly conceals facts or intentionally participates in the conduct of a polygamous marriage may face up to two years in jail and a fine up to Rs 100,000

TRIPURA BJP LEADER ATTACKS ‘ONE NORTH EAST’ PUSH

A senior BJP figure has accused Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarman of using the newly launched One North East campaign to regain political relevance arguing that the initiative risks misleading voters at a time when Tripura is experiencing relative peace and stability Former MP Rebati Tripura told reporters that the campaign, backed by what he described as leaders from “failed regional parties reflects what he called an “existential crisis” within Pradyot’s political strategy He alleged that recent speeches at a Tipra Motha event under the One North East banner at Stable Ground featured “provocative and contradictory statements ” Rebati argued that Pradyot’s confidence to make such remarks has grown under the current political climate but warned that reviving old fault lines would be detrimental “He once championed Tipraland and Greater Tipraland Now those demands have vanished from his dictionary ” he said calling the new campaign “another distraction ” The BJP leader criticised what he views as frequent shifts in Pradyot s political positions When he was in Congress he said one thing; now he says another After a decade he will again call it a mistake, Rebati remarked

ARUNACHAL CM REPOSES FAITH IN COOPERATIVE SECTOR FOR GROWTH

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu positioned the state’s cooperative sector as a key driver for economic future, describing the justconcluded five-day capacity building-cumworkshop for cooperative rejuvenation in Tawang as a transformative milestone He said the initiative had not only strengthened the leadership capacity of cooperative functionaries across the state but also set the tone for modern, innovation-driven cooperative governance Terming the initiative a push towards restructuring and modernising the cooperative landscape Khandu in a post on X said “A milestone for the cooperative movement in Arunachal Pradesh!” The workshop organised in partnership with Tribhuvan Sahkari University Gujarat is the first such intensive training programme undertaken by the state According to the chief minister the sessions brought together experts, practitioners, and emerging cooperative leaders for in-depth modules that addressed both structural challenges and new possibilities within the sector

DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah

Modi-Putin meet on Dec 5, several MoUs lined up for signing

In a development that will be clo sely follo w e d ac ro s s w es te rn ca p i tal s, Ru s s ia n

President Vladim ir Putin w ill trav el to Ind ia on Dec 4 and 5 for the 23 rd Ind ia-Russia Annu al Sum mit P utin is exp ected to arriv e Dec 4 ev ening and head into the summ it with P M Narendra Mod i the next m orning

Several agreements and MoUs spanning a range of areas are expected to be signed during the visit that will help India reassert its strategic autonomy by underscoring the d e f e n c e a n d t r a d e p a r

Moscow However, the summit will also test India’s ability to navigate a delicate situation and balance competing interests as it works to ensure that the outcomes don’t act as a dealbreaker in its ties with the US and the EU

Putin’s visit comes at a time when the Trump administration has been ramping

up pressure on India to reduce its purchase of Russian crude oil India’s purchase of Russian crude rose from less than one per cent of total oil imports before the war in Ukraine to a peak of almost 40 per cent, making it the biggest buyer of Russian s

buyer of Russian crude after China

Half of the 50 per cent tariffs that the Trump administration imposed on India in August emanate from the country’s purchase of Russian oil (the other half comes because of their inability to conclude a bilateral trade agreement)

Tariffs were followed in October by the US’s secondary sanctions on Russia’s Lukoil and Rosneft companies, which account for over half of the country’s crude exports (although Indian companies can still buy from non-sanctioned entities)

India to seek five more S-400 missile squadrons from Russia

A n i mm in e n t h i gh -s t

s

Minister Na rendra Modi an d R ussian Pr esiden t Vla dimir Putin is poised to re sha pe India’s air defe nce ca pa bili-

t ie s, with New Del hi pre pa rin g to push for a ma ssive e xpansion of its stat e-of-thea rt missile shie ld The prima-

r y it em on the agenda for t he

D e ce m b e r 5 t h m e e t i n g i s India's ambitious req ue st for a n additional five squadrons

o f t h e S -4 0 0 T r iu m f a ir de fen ce sy ste m, al ong side a substa ntial procure ment of n ew sur face -to- air missile s for existing units

This aggressive shopping list follows the stellar performance of the already induct-

e d S - 4 0 0 s y s t e m s T h e Indian Air Force (IAF) chief recently lauded the S-400 as a "game changer" during a r e c e n t m i l i t a r y o p e r a t i o n ,

confirming it had successfully engaged and downed at least five high-tech Pakistani

"longest kill ever achieved" at a staggering distance of 314 km T h e p r o

New Delhi’s defence strategy, navigating between its long-standing arms provider, Moscow, and its increasingly

Russia has assured

Committee on Security is set to approve a massive £6 3bn upgrade for 84

new deals with the US con-

£700mn support package for American MH-60R Seahawk h e l i c

i n g India's pragmatic approach to military procurement All eyes now rest on the summit, w h

e future trajectory of India’s technological defence independence

NIA finds ₹18,00,000 at Shaheen’s Al Fatah univ hostel room

A National Inv estigation Ag ency team discov ered Rs 18, 00, 000 in cash from the ho stel room of Dr Shaheen S hah id at A l Fatah U niv ersity Th e cash - found inside an almirah in ro om nu mber 32 - h av e heightened susp icio n that the mo ney may h av e been set aside to fund the ‘wh ite-coat terror mod ule’ o perating from w ithin th e university

S h a h e e n , w h o w a s a r r e s t e d f o r h e r alleged role in the Nov 10 Delhi blast, was brought to the university campus after a round of spot identification at a shop in NIT area, from where chemicals had allegedly been bought to make explosives

The NIA team first escorted her to the administrative block, where she pointed out a locker she had used From there, the sleuths took her to her hostel room for a

detailed search, leading to the recovery of Rs 18,00,000 NIA officers counted the cash in the room itself and seized the money

Officials said they were now tracing the source of the funds and trying to determine whether they had been channelled through the module’s network Searches have also been initiated to identify anyone who may have facilitated the transfer

Following the seizure, the NIA mapped out Shaheen’s movements across the campus, taking her to the medical ward, classroom, and doctor’s cabin to reconstruct her daily routine and identify possible associates The agency, officials said, is compiling a list of students, staff, and others she may have contacted during the course of building the terror network

UK, European envoys denounce Putin

The envoys of Britain, France and Germany in India have publicly denounced Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine, putting New Delhi in an awkward position ahead of his visit

Addressing the trip in a joint op-ed for the Times of India paper, UK high commissioner Lindy Cameron, French ambassador Thierry Mathou and German ambassador Philipp Ackermann accused Russia of escalating the Ukraine war even while peace talks were underway

Announcing the visit, the India said that it will provide an opportunity for the leadership of India and Russia to review progress in bilateral relations, set the vision for strengthening the ‘special and privileged strategic partnership’ and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest

This will be Putin’s first visit to India since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in Feb 2022 Unlike the last time Putin travelled to India for the annual summit, in Dec 2021, this will be a state visit during which President Droupadi Murmu will also host a banquet in his honour Putin’s last visit, in the middle of a Covid wave, lasted only for a few hours China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia are among the countries Putin has visited since the war started

While the visit allows both sides to reinforce the importance they attach to the relationship, which is defined by longstanding trust, India will be mindful of how the outcomes, especially in defence and energy, are seen in Washington and European capitals India is looking to conclude negotiations in the next few weeks for a bilateral trade agreement with the US, which has imposed an additional 25% tariff on India for its oil purchase from Russia, and of immediate priority also is the EU-India summit that New Delhi will host in January

PM Modi is likely to visit Jordan and Oman in mid-Dec amid ongoing efforts by West Asian countries to uphold the fragile ceasefire in Gaza While this would be Modi’s second visit to Oman, which is among the countries that India is expected to soon sign a free trade agreement with, the only time he visited Jordan earlier was in 2018 when he transited through the country on his way to Ramallah, becoming the first Indian PM to visit Palestine

PM Modi had last visited Oman in 2018 India and Oman have concluded negotiations for a free trade deal but a formal signing of the deal is still awaited If Oman authorities are able to complete all domestic formalities in the next few weeks, the agreement could become the highlight of Modi’s visit

Himalayan standoff escalates: Passport to diplomatic crisis

The clash between the world 's two mos t populou s natio ns o ften mani fests in the freezi ng peaks of th e Himalayas , yet the latest flashpo int has ap peared in an unexpec ted loc ati on: a bu stling i nternatio nal airport termi nal What i ni ti ally s eemed like a mund ane bureaucrati c d elay, the questio ni ng of a single passpo rt has r ap i d l y m o rp h ed i nto a d i p l om at i c s to rm , u nd ers co ri ng t he exp lo s i ve f ragi l i ty of th e Indi a-Chi na border d isp ute Th e d etention and alleged harass ment of an Indi an ci tizen, P rema Wangjo m Thongdok, i n a Ch ines e city has brought the decades-o ld struggle fo r Arunachal Pradesh bac k into harsh gl obal focus

The controversy ignited when Thongdok, an Indian national born in Arunachal Pradesh, reportedly being held for hours by Chinese a u t h o r i t i e s i n S h a n g h a i O f f i c i a l s a l l e g e d l y refused to acknowledge the validity of her Indian travel document, declaring that her birthplace, Arunachal Pradesh, was in fact "Chinese territory " This action is no mere

L N I

error; it is a calculated diplomatic provocation that echoes China s long-standing use of stapled visas for residents of the north-eastern Indian state, a subtle, yet undeniable, attempt to undermine New Delhi's sovereignty By challenging the citizenship of a traveller from Arunachal Pradesh, Beijing signals a dangerous willingness to turn individual citizens into political pawns in a much larger geopolitical chess game The root of this persistent friction is the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de facto border that remains undemarcated and contested India views Arunachal Pradesh as an integral and inalienable part of its territory, a c

h

e

a McMahon Line China, however, disputes this historical boundary, claiming the entire region as Zangnan (Southern Tibet) This dispute has

notably the deadly face-off in the Galwan Valley in 2020, which plunged bilateral ties to their lowest point in decades

ME NG LOVI

It is with profound grief that we announce the passing of F O Y RY MO

t Nakar Hima rja ja

Date of birth - 27/09/1942

Date of Demise - 25/09/2025

s Himat Nakarja.

Himatbhai was the beloved son of the late Damodar Nakarja and Prabhaba (Captai were among the strongest pillars and long-standing supporters of the Anoopam Mission. The Nakarja family has continued to honour their parents’ footsteps, up

forward these values with quiet dignity, sincerity and deep devotion, remaining closely connected to the Anoopam Mission throug loving husband of T Taruna Nakarja, precious father to Nheha (late) and Nisha, aruna e d in) Nakarja, both of whom ission.

father-in-law of Praveen Henry, and adored grandfather of K Ameliah.

He will be fondly remembered by his family, friends Mission community.

CB Patel and the entire ABPL family extend their heartfelt condolences and pray that his soul may rest in eternal

pholding the spirit of seva, d ghout his life. He was the father of Kyan, Kayla and ds and the wider Anoopam eir heartfelt condolences ernal peace.

Modi may visit Jordan & Oman

Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin

India's battle to shed the English ghost

A cul tur al ca tacly sm, seal ed by a s ig na t ur e n ea r l y 2 0 0

continues to divide moder n India

The epic entre of this enduring

Modi unveils world's tallest Lord Ram statue in Goa

literature and s cience, with English as the

v i s i o n , d r i p p i n g with what many now regard as cultural arrogance, was brutally c

d colour, but English in taste, in

o p i n i o n s , i n m o r a l s a n d i n intellect " He dismissed the vast intellectual heritage of the East with the astonishing claim that "a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia "

T h i s p o l i c y , a p p r o v e d b y

G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l W i l l i a m

B e n t i n c k , e n t r e n c h e d a s y s t e m designed to create clerks loyal to the Crown through a ‘downward filtration’ theory, educating only the elite

T o d a y , t h e p o l i t i c a l

t e m p e r a t u r e s u r r o u n d i n g t h i s colonial legacy is soaring Prime M i n i s t e r N a r e n d r a M o d i h a s

recently called on the nation to "free ourselves from the mindset of slavery that Macaulay imposed on India " He has set a 10-year

this inherited inferiority complex

b y 2 0 3 5 , m a r k i n g t h e 2 0 0 t h anniversary of the Minute His Home Minister, Amit Shah, has gone further, expressing a hope t h a t I n d i a n s w i l l o n e d a y f e e l " a

urging a greater embrace of the country’s indigenous languages as "the ornament of our culture" Yet, the issue is complicated by a stark social reality While the political class critiques English as

embrace it as a key to future

Over 100 million people

some fluency, using

education For historically

such as the Dalits, English has served as

powerful

from the socio-economic oppression decreed by the centuries-old caste system, which had excluded them from traditional Sanskrit and Arabic

coloniser has, ironically, become a unifying and upwardly mobile force This is why any push to foist Hindi, the tongue of north

speaking south often meets with fierce resentment, as many in the south would rather communicate in English

profound duality, striving to shed a painful colonial mindset while

institutionalised to achieve global competitiveness It is a debate of

heritage versus headway

President Murmu laments India’s gender representation shortfall

A scathi ng critiqu e o f India's slow progress o n gender equality was delivered by President D rou padi Murmu , des pite th e recent p assage o f th e l an dm a rk W o me n ’ s Reservation Act Sp eaking at th e Co nstitution Day celebrations, th e President declared th at while th e new law is a h isto ric ho mage to female empo werment, the cou ntry

c o nt i nu es to fa c e a " s h a m ef u l sh ortfall in p ro vi ding adequ ate rep r es en tati o n ac ro s s th e th r ee p i ll a rs o f go v er na n ce : t h e judiciary, the legis lature, and th e executive

T h e P r e s i d e n t h i g h l i g h t e d glaring discrepancies, particularly w i t h i n t h e j u d i c i a l s y s t e m A d d r e s s i n g a n a u d i e n c e t h a t included the Chief Justice of India and the law minister, she pointed

o u t t h a t t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t c u r r e n t l y b o a

s Furthermore, data shows that only 1 3 % o f H i g h C o u r t j u d g e s a r e female, even as the figure for trial courts sits at a more respectable 35%

President Murmu stressed that rectifying this profound imbalance demands more than legislation; it requires a fundamental "change of

challenged the nation to abandon the colonial mindset and use the

Constitution's centenary, the next

liberty, and fraternity for every citizen

Speaking at a separate event in the old Parliament building, the

"bedrock of our national pride" and must be the guiding text for

India Ultimately, her message was

promise of its founding document, it must first ensure its women are

seat of power

Shah urges party workers to gear up for challenges in Bengal, Tamil Nadu

ered a

r al lyi n g cr y to p art y w o rk ers im mediately p ivoting their focus tow ard the next m aj or electoral

c h a lle ng e s i n We st B eng al an d T am il Nad u

S

merely a state triumph, but

tem ple located in Partagali, Sou th Goa

Shree Ram This is the tallest statue of Lord Ram in the world

The mutt is among India's oldest monastic institutions, known for its s p i r i t u

i a l contributions and holds a prominent place in the Saraswat community

Various programmes were organised to mark the 550 years of the mutt tradition The mutt premises in Goa were constructed at Partagal village in Canacona (South Goa district) 370 years ago

Earlier in the day, the PM held a roadshow in Karnataka's Udupi after addressing the Laksha Kantha Gita Parayana programme at the Sri Krishna Matha

During his visit to Udupi, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Suvarna Teertha Mantapa, located in front of the Krishna sanctum, and dedicated the Kanaka Kavacha (golden cover) for Kanakana Kindi, a sacred window through which the saint Kanakadasa is believed to have had the divine darshan of Lord Krishna

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

P ' s predecessor, Jan Sangh's good governance model in Udupi after reciting shlokas from the Bhagwat Gita along with 100,000 devotees at the Laksha Kantha Gita Parayana event at Sri Krishna Matha here Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister recalled the work of VS Acharya in Udupi

Vikram-I, India’s first private orbital rocket unveiled

A new ch apter h as been opened in Ind ia's space as p i ra ti o ns w i th th e v i rt u al u nv ei li ng o f V i kr am - I , th e na ti o n ’ s fi r st

c o m m er ci a l o rb it al rocket, built entirely by th e H yd e ra bad -b as ed s p ac ete c h s ta rtu p , S ky ro o t A e ro s p ac e P ri me M inis ter Narendra M od i, wh o inaug urated the co mp any's new 'Infini ty C amp us ' , declared th at the develop ment p laces India on track to become a global leader in the satellite launch ecosystem

h e unity of the five NDA partners, who fought the election "like five Pandavas " The Minister made it clear that there is no time for complacency

" W

instructed, urging party workers from across the country to prepare immediately for the upcoming poll battles in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu He stressed that the Bihar o

demonstration of the people's love and trust in Prime Minister Modi’s

issues He emphatically declared the result a victory for the "ModiN

leadership

In a crucial directive aimed at

h noted that while party members deployed from other states were v

h

campaign machinery, they must r e f r

m c o m p e

i n g f o r recognition He underlined that the right to claim credit for the victory belonged solely to the local Bihar unit, reinforcing the message of internal cohesion as the BJP turns its gaze towards conquering new territories in the South and East

T h e V i k r a m - I r o c k e t i s s p e c i f i c a l l y d e s i g n e d t o l a u n c h s a t e l l i t e s i n t o L o w E a r t h O r b i t ( L E O ) , m a r k i n g a c r i t i c a l milestone for India’s burgeoning private space sector The Prime M i n i s t e r l a u d e d t h e S k y r o o t founders as an inspiration, stating that the company ’ s new campus "is a r e f l e c t i o n o f n e w t h i n k i n g , innovation, and most importantly, youth power " T h e n e w I n f i n i t y f a c

provides the

to design, d

PM Modi visits Shree Samsthan Gokarn Partagali Jeevottam Math and unveils statue of Prabhu Shri Ram, in Goa

Droupadi Murmu

Thomas Babington Macaulay

Global titans target India's booming banking sector

A seismic shift is underw ay i n t h e w o rl d o f

f i na nc e F o r y ea rs , India's highly regulated

re ma ined a fo rm id able ch alleng e for am bitious

o v ers ea s in v es to r s, yet today the g ates have not

to a stag gering $8 billion

p er cent jum p on the prev i-

o us year's total, ush ering in w hat analysts are calling a " new c h a p ter " fo r In d i an banking

T h e e v i d e n c e o f t h i s transformative moment is not in the marginal investments, but in the strategic, big-ticket acquisitions that are fundamentally reshapi n g t h e m a r k e t D u b a i ’ s

NBD, executed the largest

c r o s s - b o r d e r d e a l o f t h e year, securing a controlling 60 per cent stake in the midsized RBL Bank for a colos-

s a l $ 3 b i l l i o n

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial

c

G r o u p h a s c e m

how global banking behem

l y claiming their slice of the subcontinent’s burgeoning financial pie

Why foreig n capital is taking the long v iew

This sudden appetite is a vote of supreme confidence in the durability of India’s

Government officials have p

tions to consolidate the sector and cultivate more "big

large sales on a case-by-case basis and is now reviewing a rule that caps a single foreign investor’s shareholding at 15 per cent

O

strategically targeting midsized lenders, viewing them

and offering greater scope for expansion F

tions in the country

financial services sector remain attractive at 17 times 12-month

than the wider Indian equity market

Companies (NBFCs), where the Reserve Bank of India has recently eased restric-

per cent stake in Sammaan Capital for $1 billion

India presents a "very, very large opportunity" stretching out for decades As one managing partner observed,

"

bank in India is taking, I'm sure, a 50-year view" The rush of foreign direct investment, which climbed over 18 per cent overall during the A

d

y ascending status as an indispensable global investment destination

Grand tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharaj

An emotional torrent of d ev oti on is set to s weep through Ah me d aba d as th o u sa n d s gather to mark a monumen tal spiritual ann iv ersary This i s not merely a bi rthday celebrati on; it is a g lobal acknowledg emen t of a li fe utterly dedi ca te d t o a lt ru i s m O n December 7, th e Ri v erfron t Ev en t C en tre wi l l ho st t he Pr amu kh Va rn i A mru t M ah o ts av , a s p ec ta cu l ar assembly honourin g the 104th birth an niv ersary of Pramukh Swami M aharaj an d celebrat-

i n g 7 5 y ear s s i n c e h e wa s appoi nted Presi den t of B APS

The location where the spiritual journey took a form a l t u r n , A m b l i V a l i P o l holds deep historical significance It was here, on 21 May

1 9 5 0 , t h a t t h e 2 8 - y e a r - o l d

S w a m i N a r a y a n s w a r u p d a s was appointed the lifelong President by Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj, transform-

i n g h i m i n t o t h e b e l o v e d

P r a m u k h S w a m i M a h a r a j

On that auspicious day, he famously pledged to faithful-

ly fulfil his duties, remaining c o m p l e t e l y l o y a l t o t h e

organisation without regard for his own comfort

The main celebration, a high-profile cultural assem-

‘Naya Bharat’ will go all out to protect its people: PM Modi

PM Narendra M odi invoked Krishna's teachi ngs in the B h ag a va d G i t a t o fr a me

I n d i a' s n at i on a l s e c ur i ty

d oc t ri n e , s a yi n g "N a ya Bharat" under ND A's governance neither bows to terror nor hesi tates to go all o ut to pr ot e c t pe op le , unlike when govts used to be "hesi tant" to respond "Previous govts simply watched with folded hands We know how to establish p e a c e , a n d a l s o h o w t o maintain it and safeguard the country," Modi said of Operation Sindoor in the wake of the terrorist attack

o n t o u r i s t s i n J & K ' s

P a h a l g a m " W e w i l l n o t remain passive "

T h e P M , w h o w a s speaking at an event organised by Sri Krishna Mutt and Paryaya Putthige Mutt in Udupi, participated in a m a s s r e c i t a t i o n o f a l l 1 8 chapters of the Gita, involving over a 100,000 devotees t

monks and scholars

Modi said the Gita was the perfect framework for l

the national security initiative, ensures that no enemy can touch us They will be destroyed if they dare "

The PM said the Gita's

"Krishna delivered this

Bhagavad Gita teaches us that to establish peace & truth, oppressors must be eliminated "

least one poor person, promotion of "swadeshi" products and technology, natural farming, healthy living with reduced oil consumption, daily yoga, conservation of manuscripts, and a commitment to visit 25 culturally significant places Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt, founded over 800 years ago by Sri Madhvacharya, is the hub of Dwaita traditions

Kanakadasa, the 15th-cen-

associated with the shrine He last visited the temple in 2

Gujarat's CM

Kishore-Kishori Bharat Yatra 2025: A pilgrimage of unity

I n a dramatic expl oratio n of f aith and h eritage, 110 adolesc ents (kish ores and k is h o r is ) f r o m a cr o s s N o rt h Am er ic a embarked on the "Bh arat Yatra 202 5," a jou rney th em ed arou nd 'Samp' (unity) Th is extens ive pilgrim age was designed not only to f oster h armony amo ng the p eers but to s trengthen th eir co nnection with the entire s atsang co mmunity

The journey was structured around the core values of Mahima (Glory), Milan (Connection), Madad (Help), and Mafi (Forgiveness) It began symbolically at the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey, before the delegates departed for the Middle East Their first major destination was the newly inaugurated BAPS

bly, will be graced by the current BAPS spiritual leader, M

alongside esteemed political

Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel

visually arresting element to

Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s divine virtues and contribu-

iconic Atal Bridge With over 40,000 devotees expected to

parking and traffic regulation have been meticulously m a n a g

For those unable to attend the exclusive, invitation-only event, the entire programme will be broadcast live from 5 30 p m (IST), allowing millions worldwide to participate in this grand tribute to a life of selfless service

Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, a striking structure often described as “ a lotus in the desert,” where they focused on principles of harmony and interfaith understanding

Upon arriving in India, the delegation

immersed themselves in the country’s rich spiritual geography In New Delhi, they visited the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, experiencing the Sahajanand Water Show and learning history through the Sanskruti Darshan boat ride The journey continued to sacred sites in North India, including the newly con-

Chhapaiya, where they walked the paths of Bhagwan Swaminarayan's childhood

After traversing the vibrant landscapes of S

Rameshwaram, the trip culminated in Gujarat Here, the delegates attended a week-long residential camp, the “Brahmvidya College,” in Sarangpur Guided by senior swamis, they deepened their spiritual understanding and s

Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the leader of the BAPS community The trip concluded in Bochasan with a special sabha (assembly) with His Holiness, leaving the delegates with guidance and memories to last a lifetime

India achieves record harvest in rice production

In dia’ s a gr icultur al sect or ha s delive re d a ma ssive high, ann ouncing a r ecord-brea king r ice out put for t he 2025-26 Kharif se ason The ha rv est, which con cluded in October, t o t a l le d a n u n p r e ce d e n t e d 1 24 5 mi ll io n t o n n e s ( M T ), s u r p a ss i n g la s t y e a r ' s p r o d u ct i o n by o v e r 1 7 M T Th i s e xtr aord inar y figure solidifies the na tion's food security st and in

advance estimates for the Kharif crops put the total estimated food grain production for the season at around 173 MT, a significant i n c r e a s e f r o m 1 6 9 M T a y e a r e a r l i e r

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attributed the excellent figures to a largely f a v o u r a b l e m o n s o o n a c r o

excessive rainfall in some areas

While rice set a new benchmark, the estimates revealed a marginal decline in the output of other key crops, including pulses, o i

previous year Specifically, pulses production is forecast slightly lower at 7 4 MT, down from 7 7 MT Conversely, maize production is expected to climb to 28 MT, up from nearly 25 MT

These advance estimates are compiled using historical yield trends and groundl

Ministry noted that the figures are subject to future revisions as actual crop cutting experiment data becomes available, but the

Narendra Modi

Kishore delegates take a group photo in front of the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham

Kishore delegates take a group photo in front of the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham

Under the guidance of Shastriji Maharaj Pramukh Swami Maharaj (left)

Pramukh Swami Maharaj

Amblivali pol

Science charts the five ages of the human brain

New research from neuroscientists at th e U niv ersity of C am bridg e sug gests the brain may follow a simpler, fiveag e tim eli ne, o ne that rev eals su rp ris ing patt erns o f d ev elopm ent, stability, and decline

The study, led by researcher Alexa Mousley, set out to create a clearer picture of how the brain’s wiring evolves across an entire lifetime “We know the brain’s wiring is crucial to our development, but we lack a big picture of how it changes across our lives and why,” she said “This study is the first to identify major phases of brain wiring across a human lifespan ”

Using MRI scans from more than 3,800 people aged from infancy to their nineties, the team identified four major turning points that divide life into five “epochs” of brain structure

T h e f i r s t m a j o r s h i f t a p p e a r s a r o u n d a g e n i n e , coinciding with rapid improvements in cognitive skills This ushers in a surprisingly extended adolescent phase lasting until about 32, when the brain reaches its peak performance A long period of stability follows, stretching f r o m t h e e a r l y t h i r t i e s t o a r o u n d 6 6 , d u r i n g

intelligence and personality measures remain broadly steady

At 66, the researchers observed the beginning of a decline in white matter By 83, brain regions become more isolated, relying heavily on local networks

What your glutes reveal about your health

Fo r y e a r s , do ct o r s h a v e ur g e d

people to kee p an eye on their waistl ines Now, scien tists say our

b a ck s id e s m i gh t a l s o of fe r

v a l u a b l e c l ue s a b o ut fu t ur e he a l th , pa r t icul a r l y t he r isk of devel oping ty pe 2 diabet es

Researchers have discovered that the shape and structure of the gluteus maximus, the large muscle forming the buttocks, can act as an early warning signal Far from being just a cushion for long meetings, it is one of the body’s hardest-working muscles, and its form shifts with age, lifestyle and disease

Using more than 61,000 3D MRI scans from the UK Biobank, a University of Westminster team led by Dr Marjola Thanaj examined how these muscle changes relate to diabetes risk They found striking differences between men and women

In men approaching type 2 diabetes, parts of the gluteus maximus became significantly thinner, in some regions shrinking by up to 25 per cent Women, however, showed the opposite pattern: their muscle appeared larger, but this “growth” was due to fat seeping into the tissue rather than h e a l t h y m u s c l e i n c r e a s e T h e f i n d i n g s r e i n f o r c e t h e importance of muscle health more broadly Strong muscles help regulate blood sugar and reduce the risk of conditions from heart disease to frailty Simple habits, walking more, taking the stairs, or adding squats to a routine, can keep the glutes strong and support long-term health

Your brain isn’t done at 25

The brain continues to mature well into a person’s thirties reshaping how we think, feel and make decisions While it was once believed that brain development ended around age 25 research now shows that key networks responsible for emotional regulation impulse control and complex reasoning keep strengthening for several more years

During this period, the brain s wiring becomes more efficient helping adults refine judgement, manage stress better and form more stable habits In many ways, our thirties remain a crucial decade for cognitive growth

S M A L L S T E P S , B I G C H A N G E

How midlife fitness transforms health

Exercise has always played an important role in maintaining health, but in one’s 40s it becomes even more essential and more personal As the body begins to change, many people shift from exercising for appearance to exercising for wellbeing, placing greater importance on strength, flexibility, balance, and recovery Movement is no longer about extremes, but about listening closely to the body’s needs, respecting its limits, and preventing injury

Low-impact and consistent routines are favoured over intensity, and rest is seen as a vital part of progress rather than a setback Asian Voice spoke to fitness enthusiasts about embracing a healthier lifestyle in their 40s, the benefits it brings, and more On fitness in midlife, author and fitness coach Lavina Mehta MBE said many South Asians in their 40s are embracing a healthier, more balanced l i f e s t y l e S

a powerful shift is happening in the South Asian community, especially for those

prioritising health and longevity

trainer at 40, just before the Covid

campaign to “Get UK Asians Fit” in response to higher rates of diabetes and heart disease Lavina added, “That’s why I started offering free home workouts to make movement truly accessible ” She

o n s through YouTube and free community workouts on Zoom alongside her 78year-old mother-in-law

Lavina also serves as an ambassador

v o c a t e

f o r realistic, low-impact movement She emphasised, “My slogan is ‘Exercise for Sanity not Vanity®’, it’s not about how we look, it’s about long-term health ” Through her bestselling book, The Feel Good Fix, and her popular micromovement idea, Exercise Snacking, she said, “I’m passionate about empowering midlife South Asians to move more, sit less, reduce stress, and lower the risks of chronic illness, to feel good physically and mentally ”

Fitness in your 40s is about healing, balance, and consistency

Reflecting on the evolution of fitness, Founder of Fitness Reborn UK, Nazia Kh atun, said, “We’ve moved away from the skinny trend to body acceptance Exercise now serves to help us heal, recover, and reconnect with ourselves and nature Newer forms like reformer

yoga suit a generation seeking balance over burnout

showing how movement rewires the

South Asians, this is transformative,

cultural healing Personally, I no longer c

s

n e s s a n d beauty, after years of recovering from an eating disorder and body dysmorphia ”

Advising those in their 40s, Nazia said, “Your 40s are a reset and require a new mindset for your body and mental health The old ways no longer work, y o u r b o d y n e e d s c o m p a s s i o n , n o t punishment Consistency comes from feeling safe in your nervous system and c o m m i t t i n g t o s m a l l d a i l y a c t i o n s : w a l k s , l i g h t r e s i s t a n c e , a n d m i n d f u l movement Focus on how you want to feel, not just how you look ” S h e a d d e d , “ I h e l p S o u t h A s i a n women rebuild their relationship with t h e i r b o d i e s t h r o u g h g r a t i t u d e a n d healing the inner child Letting go of e m o t i o n a l b a g g a g e m a k e s f i t n e s s effortless Exercise becomes an act of self-love, a habit rather than a chore, helping you return home to yourself while still challenging your limits ” Sh

overweight, pre-diabetic, and dealing w

change, but I didn’t try to do everything at once I focused on one habit at a t i m

a n d s a m o

s , eating earlier, increasing protein, and joined coach-led gym classes, which kept me accountable and made the process enjoyable ” She added, “Consistency is queen Even 10 minutes of stretching, walking, or light weights every day builds a routine Over time, exercise became as normal as brushing my teeth ” Today, S h y y

these steady, small efforts with turning h e r h

a y i n g f i t , a n d feeling stronger as she ages

Ethnic minority organ donations rise despite fewer transplants

Organ donatio n amo ng p eo ple from eth nic minority backgrou nds rose last year, yet the number o f patients from th es e c o m

in g ongoing inequaliti es in the system

Donation and Transplantation shows that in 2024/25 there were 96 deceased a n d 1

minority backgrounds, increases of 9% and 13% respectively But despite this progress, only 1,201 people from these c

down from 1,233 the previous year

The decline is largely driven by a sharp fall in transplants from white donors Around 80% of all transplants for ethnic minority patients are from white donors, yet donations in this group dropped by 10% last year

f

As of 31 March 2025, 2,526 people

were still waiting for a transplant The disparity is most pronounced in kidney care, where almost one-third of the national waiting list is made up of e t h n

kidneys must be matched by blood group and tissue type, patients are more likely to find a suitable match a n d

when the donor shares their ethnicity Currently, 61% of Asian and 46% of Black kidney recipients receive their organ from a living donor of the same ethnicity

painfully real Amrit Paul, a 24-year-old software s

kidney disease at just four, he learned during his final year university exams that he urgently needed a new organ “It was a total shock I didn’t

know how to handle it,” he says Now, Amrit spends nine hours a day on dialysis at home while waiting for the call that could change his life “Not knowing if and when it will come is the hardest part My life is on hold

tested to become potential donors, but

appealing directly to the South Asian c

donations or to sign the NHS Organ

cases, Black patients

to six months longer While family consent rates for ethnic minority donors increased slightly to 35%, they remain significantly lower than those of

Signing

Nazia Khatun

Shyy Sachdev Lavina Mehta MBE

Amrit Paul

Kiara Advani, Sidharth Malhotra reveal baby girl’s name

Bollywood

couple Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra welcomed their baby girl on July 15 at Mumbai’s Reliance Hospital, announcing her arrival on Instagram the next day.

Months later, they revealed her name as Saraayah Malhotra, with Kiara sharing, “From our prayers to our arms, our divine blessing, our princess, Saraayah Malhotra ”

The post, showing baby Saraayah’s tiny feet against a green backdrop, quickly went viral, with fans and celebrities, including Varun Dhawan and Manish Malhotra, sending congratulato messages Following their daughter’s birth on July 15, 2025, Kiara and Sidharth expressed gratitude fo love they rec and requested privacy, saying they hope to enjoy this new chapter of parenthood quietly as a family

After their announcement, the couple sent pastel pink sweets to the paparazzi, thanking them for respecting their privacy Kiara and Sidharth’s love story began on the set of ‘Shershaah’ (2021), where their onscreen chemistry blossomed into a real-life romance, leading to their intimate wedding in 2023 With baby Saraayah’s arrival, they’ve now embarked on a new chapter together

Suniel Shetty on skipping south cinema: “I don’t like that trend”

ActorSuniel Shetty recently explained why he seldom works in South Indian films Speaking at the public session Lallantop Adda 2025 in Delhi, he revealed that many filmmakers approach Bollywood stars mainly for antagonist roles, a space he is selective about Suniel said this framing of offers is a key reason he often steps away from such projects

Suniel Shetty said he frequently receives offers from South films but most position Bollywood stars in antagonist roles, a trend he dislikes Speaking at Lallantop Adda 2025, he shared, “We get offers for negative roles They want to cast Hindi heroes as powerful antagonists and that’s one thing I don’t like ”

He added that he accepted a part in Darbar alongside Rajinikanth because the role appealed to him, and also recalled doing in Jai, a project he enjoyed b

Suniel Shetty shared th Darbar with Rajinikanth w milestone, adding that he l small Tulu film, Jai, to enco support regional cinema H that strong content, not lan barriers, saying, “If your con good, it will cross all barrier

He was most recently seen i the web series ‘Hunter 2 ’ alongside Jackie Shroff

Suniel will next appear in the multi-starrer Bollywood film ‘Welcome To The Jungle’, led by Akshay Kumar, featuring Sanjay Dutt, Paresh Rawal, Arshad Warsi, Raveena Tandon and Lara Dutta

He also has the upcoming Bollywood comedy Hera Phera 3 in the pipeline, with filming set to begin early next year

says bollywood also objectifies women

Raashii Khanna, who works in both South cinema and Bollywood, addressed the issue of women’s objectification in films, noting that it’s not limited to the South.

In an interview with ‘Zoom’, she said, “It is not just a South thing; I see it in the North quite a lot It depends on the actor’s choice, some are comfortable with it, some are not I’ve done many commercial films in the South, but now I want to explore more meaningful content in Hindi I’m okay with commercial work, but everyone has their limits, and that defines them ” S

comfortable with what I’m doing If a scene crosses my boundaries or risks making me look cheap, I will say no Every actor has their own comfort zone, and I respect that ”

Raashii Khanna was most recently seen in ‘ 120 Bahadur’, a historical war film directed by R

Entertainment and Trigger Happy Studios She plays Shagun Kanwar, wife of Major Shaitan Singh (Farhan Akhtar), alongside Vivan Bhatena and Ankit Siwach The film depicts the Battle of Rezang La during the 1962 Sino-Indian War, where 120 soldiers of the Charlie Company defended against a 3,000-strong Chinese force ‘ 120 Bahadur’ received positive reviews and has earned 15 crore at the domestic box office Raashii will next appear in ‘Ustaad Bhagat Singh’ with Pawan Kalyan and Sreeleela, set for an April 2026 release, and will also star in ‘Farzi’ Season 2 with Shahid Kapoor, filming next year

Dhanush still Kundan to Varanasi: “A character that won’t let go”

Dhanush

is actively promoting his upcoming film, ‘Tere Ishk Mein’, his third collaboration with director Aanand L Rai after the successful Raanjhanaa, where he portrayed Kundan, a young man from Varanasi Ahead of the release, Dhanush recently visited the city and shared that locals still fondly recognise him as Kundan

Dhanush recently shared glimpses of his Varanasi visit on Instagram, seen strolling across the ghats, exploring its narrow lanes with director Aanand L Rai, and enjoying chai In the caption, he wrote, “A walk down memory lane (red heart emoticon) Where it all started Kundan Th echoes in the lanes o people call out to me and smile ”

He shared that re same lanes, tea shop, from Raanjhanaa wit “feels like a full circle was now time for his role as Shankar in Te Ishk Mein The film was announced by Aanand L Rai on the h anniversary aanjhanaa stars Kriti on with ic by AR hman oduced nder T eries and Colour Yellow roductions, it eleases in heatres on November 28

Chiranjeevi told me not to act like a junior artist, recalls Suhasini Maniratnam

Actor Suhasini Maniratnam recalled working with megastar Chiranjeevi at the IFFI 2025 session ‘The Luminary Icons’ with Khushboo Sundar She admitted feeling intimidated by him, but said he encouraged her to push herself, noting he had first known her as a cameraperson before she became an actress.

At IFFI 2025, Suhasini Maniratnam opened up about what once intimidated her on set, recalling a massive shoot with megastar Chiranjeevi at the iconic V i j a y a V a u h i n i S t u d i o s “ T h e y s a y silence and everyone goes silent, you don’t know what to do You become paralysed,” she said, adding that she e n t e r e d f i l m s a s a c i n e m a t o

h e r with no formal acting training, learning gradually on the job

Recounting a Telugu film role, she shared that in one scene she stood behind a chair, with no dialogue, reacting silently like a maid in the hero’s house delivering expressions without a single line

Suhasini Maniratnam recalled that Chiranjeevi once told her to act like the heroine, not a junior artist “Suddenly, he asked, ‘What are you doing?’ I said, ‘Acting ’ He said, ‘You are the heroine, not a junior artist,’” she said, noting that junior artists are usually taught only to react

She also shared a humorous anecd o t e f r o m h e r f i r s t T e l u g u f i l m t o explain the “double take ” While doing a rangoli scene, Chiranjeevi, who had known her as a camera assistant, struggled to see her as his heroine “A girl who was putting up reflectors was now his heroine, he couldn’t digest that,” she said

During rehearsal, he reminded her of her acting pedigree “He said, ‘Do it naturally I’m Kamal Haasan’s niece; I grew up with an actor in my house ’ I did the scene, and he said ‘Donga Pilla,’ meaning I’d nailed the double-take,” she concluded

Samantha marries Raj Nidimoru in an intimate temple ceremony

ActorSamantha Ruth Prabhu married filmmaker Raj Nidimoru in a private ceremony at the Isha Yoga Centre The wedding took place at the Linga Bhairavi Temple and was attended by a small group of close family and friends

Samantha wore a red saree for her special day, while Raj chose a white kurta–pyjama paired with a cream bandhgala Styled with her hair in a neat bun and adorned in gold and diamond jewellery, she looked radiant for the ceremony

The couple performed the Bhuta Shuddhi Vivaha ceremony at the abode of Linga Bhairavi Devi, a sacred ritual offered at select Linga Bhairavi abodes The ceremony focuses on cleansing the five elements within the couple and their union, invoking Linga Bhairavi Devi’s grace for harmony and spiritual alignment

Initial speculation surfaced last week, but the wedding was later confirmed by attendees The event was kept intimate, with the guest list limited to about 30 people to preserve its private and discreet setting

Samantha and Raj had been in a relationship for a few years, often sharing moments together on Instagram, which had previously sparked public curiosity about their bond

Samantha was previously married to actor Naga Chaitanya; the couple parted ways four years after their wedding Chaitanya later married Sobhita Dhulipala Raj Nidimoru was reported to have divorced Sshyamali De in 2022

Speculation about Samantha and Nidimoru close association surfaced in early 2024, following their collaborations on The Family Man 2, Citadel: Honey Bunny, and the upcoming Rakht Brahmand Nidimoru also served as creative producer on Subham, her debut production venture

Lakshmi Manchu reflects on family conflicts and the importance of unity

and brothers Manoj and Vishnu.

Vijayendra Simha's podcast that people often assumed she didn’t care, but it was a deeply painful period for her “Since I s

Hyderabad Only I know the pain I went through I didn’t want to respond because it’s a personal issue,” she said Lakshmi Manchu expressed her hope for reconciliation, saying she never expected such conflicts within her own family “I want my family together again,” she said She acknowledged that disagreements are common in Indian households but stressed the importance of how people respond “People fight and stay distant for long periods, but you should fight to bring the family together In the end, blood relations are all you have, you shouldn’t maintain distance,” she added

In September, Lakshmi Manchu was spotted interacting with fans and stopping for photos, but a troll’s comment briefly dampened her mood She called out the person in Telugu, “Naa mundu vachi matladu ra Time, sense ledu meeku, rascals,” meaning, “Come say it to my face, you rascals ” She soon returned to her warm self for genuine fans

L k h i h b i h li h f h fil

SS Rajamouli opens up on pushing his films beyond Telugu

cinema

SS

Rajamouli is hailed as one of India’s biggest filmmakers, known for record-breaking hits like ‘Baahubali’ and ‘RRR’, and his upcoming project starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj.

In a candid chat on the ‘Awards Chatter’ podcast, Rajamouli revealed that long before “Pan-India” became a buzzword, he was determined to take his films beyond the Telugu-speaking states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana R

(2009), the Ram Charan–Kajal Aggarwal blockbuster that became one of Telugu cinema’s biggest hits Believing its story, scale, and emotions could resonate across South India, he pushed to have it dubbed and released in Tamil Nadu

“I pressured my producer, I begged him, I did everything I could,” he recalled “But he refused, and we couldn’t do it ”

Despite Magadheera's Telugu success, its reach was limited, teaching Rajamouli the importance of collaborators who shared his vision for multi-language releases

He found this with ‘Eega’ (2012), a fantasy revenge drama about a man reincarnated as a fly Dubbed into Tamil (‘Naan Ee’) and Malayalam, and released in Karnataka, it marked his first step toward cross-cultural filmmaking Even with limited Hindi distribution, the film proved audiences beyond Telugu cinema were receptive to his storytelling

The real breakthrough came with ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’ (2015), whose Hindi release with Karan Johar and Anil Thadani gave it nationwide reach and made Rajamouli a pan-India icon ‘RRR’ reinforced his stature with North American success, an Oscar for ‘

Spielberg His next project, ‘Varanasi’, is reportedly in talks for a

Lakshmi Manchu opened up about the long-standing rift in the Manchu family, primarily involving her father Mohan Babu

Actor Pankaj Tripathi questions shrinking artistic freedom

Pankaj Tripathi has voiced a concern long discussed on film sets, noting that a space once known for creative freedom is now crowded with approvals and secondguessing Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, he reflected on how the OTT landscape has changed rapidly in a few years.

He revealed that his team released ‘Perfect Family’, his first major production, deliberately on YouTube to avoid prolonged approval chains tied to big OTT platforms Tripathi noted that major streaming services now come with “layers of interference,” from legal reviews to creative and production audits For the team, YouTube offered a direct path to tell their story without committees shaping decisions

Pankaj Tripathi, known for on-the-spot improvisation, admitted he rarely alters lines now The Mirzapur actor recalled being halted mid-improv because a creative head insisted the legal team approve the line first He argued that even harmless improvisation is being over-policed, saying the fear of controversy has locked many creative choices long before audiences can weigh in He recalled another telling moment when a scene required him to recite four lines from a poem The crew paused the shot awaiting clearance, only for him to confirm directly with the poet’s family that there was no copyright issue, they simply wanted a photo of him holding the poet’s book He was last seen in Metro In Dino and will next appear in Pati Patni Aur Woh Do and Gulkanda Tales

close out show after backlash, call episode a bonus clarification

Twinkle

Khanna and Kajol sparked strong reactions with their takes on marriage and relationships on their talk show, facing backlash online They have now clarified that their comments were meant to be lighthearted and admitted a disclaimer should have been added from the start In a bonus episode, filmed after streaming began, the duo addressed the criticism as the series recently concluded

In the episode, Kajol joked that a segment had “gotten us into a lot of trouble,” stressing it was meant for playful teasing, not serious opinions Twinkle Khanna agreed, admitting a disclaimer should have been added from the first episode, urging viewers not to take or follow their advice

The show faced peak backlash during the This or That segment featuring Vicky Kaushal and Kriti Sanon, when Kajol, married to Ajay Devgn, suggested marriages have an “expiry date” with a renewal option

They sparked major backlash when an episode appeared to normalise infidelity, drawing debate over physical versus emotional cheating In that conversation, Kajol and Twinkle Khanna said physical infidelity was “not a deal breaker” for them, leading to a sharp This-or-That exchange between guests Janhvi Kapoor and Karan Johar

The duo later clarified their remarks were meant to be lighthearted The bonus episode featured cricketers Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma

Actor Rajinikanth honoured at IFFI 2025 in Goa

The IFFI 2025 honoured Rajinikanth for completing 50 extraordinary years in Indian cinema at the closing ceremony of its 56th edition in Goa Accepting the honour, Rajinikanth thanked the Central Government and also conveyed his appreciation to the Goa government for their support

Reflecting on his journey, he said 50 years felt like a moment and wished to be reborn as an actor, and as himself The honour was presented by Pramod Sawant and Ranveer Singh, followed by a standing ovation from the entire auditorium

The 2025 edition also marked the centenaries of icons like Guru Dutt, Ritwik Ghatak and others, featuring screenings of restored classics from their filmographies

Ahead of the ceremony, photos of Rajinikanth with his wife Latha Rajinikanth, daughters Soundarya and Aishwarya, and grandsons went viral, drawing heartfelt fan reactions On arrival in Goa, he received a warm welcome with dhol beats, acknowledging the crowd with folded hands Held from November 20–28, IFFI 2025 brought together filmmakers and artistes worldwide, celebrating Rajinikanth’s legacy and key milestones in Indian and international cinema The festival featured 13 world premieres, five international premieres, and 44 Asian premieres, making it one of its most vibrant editions in recent years

Shefali Shah admits pre-release fear, praises audience’s intelligence

Delhi Crime Season 3 lived up to its hype as one of the year’s most anticipated shows Shefali Shah returned as the fierce and focused DCP Vartika Chaturvedi, locking horns with Huma Qureshi’s Badi Didi The season earned strong reviews at launch, and Shah has now shared a heartfelt note thanking fans for the love and support.

In an Instagram post, Instagram, Shefali confessed she was “terrified” before the new season dropped, saying she portrayed Vartika with more pain and perseverance than bravado, driven purely by a relentless pursuit to find the girls and deliver justice

She admitted she was unsure if this softer, resolute side would connect, but the positive reviews brought her to tears of relief The response that followed, she said, was overwhelming love that made audiences live every moment alongside her

She added that fans made her realise the audience often deserves more credit for its intelligence and sensitivity, expressing deep gratitude for their overwhelming love and support Produced by Golden Karavan and SK Global Entertainment, directed by Tanuj Chopra, and featuring strong performances by Sayani Gupta and others, the series was released on Netflix

Kohli, Rohit star on record-breaking night for India

Tendulkar and Dravid played as teammates

India were put to bat after losing their 19th ODI toss in a row, and Yashasvi Jaiswal (18) d

Tony de Zorzi dropped Rohit in the same over, the veteran duo made few mistakes

in brief

ARSENAL SECURES FUTURE WITH ECUADORIAN

TEEN SENSATIONS

Ranchi crowd with

wicket

136-run

It was their 20th century stand in ODI cricket, taking them equal second in the alltime list for such partnerships a l o n g s

Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly h

partnerships together, with 26 It was also the 392nd match together for Kohli and Rohit,

Th e unass uming world of competiti ve

c h e s s wa s s h ak en to i t s c o re t h i s

w e ek end as 10 - y ea r- o l d Bo d h a na

S ivanand an d eli vered a performance for th e ages Bodhana, a schoo lgi rl from H arrow, has been hailed by experts as a generati onal talent with no equivalent i n any o th er sp ort after securing the wo men's title and prize money

The Blitz Championship, a rapidfire version of the game which demands lightning-fast calculation and nerve under extreme pressure, only amplified the brilliance of her triumph She scored an astonishing 13 5 out of a possible 15 points, winning eight consecutive games This monumental win immediately propelled her into the top 50 women in the world for the blitz category, an unprecedented achievement for a player of her tender age

Her latest success adds another remarkable chapter to a rapidly expanding list of achievements that defy belief Earlier this year, at just 10 years and five months old, Bodhana became the youngest female player in history to defeat a male Grandmaster Before that, she was already the youngest person ever to earn the prestigious Woman International Master (WIM) title

Speaking after her victory, the modest prodigy, who started playing during lockdown, remains unfazed by the calibre of her opponents, stating she "only cares about the game Her ultimate ambition, she confirms, is to shatter the existing record and become the youngest Grandmaster in chess history

Great Britain's Olympic hockey hero Sherwani dies aged 63

A

n

n's g reatest h o ckey triu mphs S herwani, w ho p assed away at the age of 63 d ue to co mp lic ations from early -o nset of A lzh eimer's d isease, was the architect of Great Britain’s stunning victory at the 1988 Seou l Olymp ics

The iconic winger secured his place in history during the final against West Germany, scoring two pivotal goals in the 3-1 win His second strike inspired one of the most famous pieces of British sports commentary when BBC's Barry Davies exclaimed, "Where were the Germans? But frankly, who cares!" The moment encapsulated the drama of the match and the sheer relief of the gold medal secured for the nation

Sherwani earned 94 caps for Great Britain and England, also clinching silver medals at the 1986 World Cup and the 1987 European Championship Although celebrated globally for his Olympic heroics, his family remembered him primarily as "a devoted family man whose warmth, humour, and kindness touched everyone who knew him " His legacy remains a cherished part of Olympic folklore

The latest effort from Kohli and Rohit saw them reach 100 runs together off 85 balls and helped India set a target of 350

despite Corbin Bosch's heroic

visitors

But Rahul (60) helped Kohli steady the ship as the two added 76 runs for the fifth wicket until Kohli mis-timed an effort to hit it over extra cover, and Ryan Rickelton ran in to take the catch with a dive Kohli s player-of-the-match knock of 135 from 120 balls, which included seven sixes and 1

Ravindra Jadeja (32 off 20) the

hammer away, as India added 72 runs in the last seven overs to post 8-349

Home nations unite to bid for women's football world cup in 2035

Th e d rum s of history are beating across Britain and Northern Ireland, signaling an audacious and m onumental p ush for the futu re o f wo m en's football In a statem ent th at h as sent trem ors o f excitem ent acro ss the sporting w orld, th e four Home Nations, E ng land , Sco tland , Wales, and Northern Ireland hav e form ally submitted their j oint bid to host the FIFA Wom en's World Cu p in 203 5 Positio ned as the larg est single-sport event ever staged on UK soil, this bid rep resents the first World C up tournament to grace these shores since the m en's final in 1966, promising a transform ative d ecade for th e game

The joint proposal, operating under the rallying cry of All Together,' outlines a colossal undertaking: a 48-team, 104-match

staggering 4 5 million ticket sales, alongside a potential global television audience of 3 5 billion, confirming the sheer magnitude of the tournament The submitted bid book details an extensive network of 22 proposed stadiums across 16 cities, including iconic grounds in London and Manchester, alongside new infrastructure across Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland

organisers proudly announcing that 63 million people will live within a mere two-hour journey of a match venue This widespread dispersal of fixtures seeks to embed the World Cup’s legacy deep into communities across the entire United Kingdom Building upon the unprecedented success of the Lionesses, who have inspired a generation, the tournament aims to turbo-charge participation and commercial growth for the women ’ s game for years to come With the UK confirmed as the sole bidder for the 2035 finals, the appointment by the FIFA Congress in April 2026 is now anticipated to be a glorious formality

n universally as 'Monty' and affectio nately nicknamed "Th e Sikh of Tweak," the left-arm o rthodox bo wler be

ly recognisable on the pitch by th

patka

ev out Sikh His arrival on the Test s

dramatic, heralded by the coveted wicket of batting

maestro Sachin Tendulkar on debut

Panesar was a force of classical, penetrating spin, hailed by former England coach Duncan Fletcher as "the best finger spinner in t h e w o r l d " H e w a s instrumental in some of E n g l a n d ’ s g r e a t e s t t r i u m p h s , i n c l u d i n g t h e historic 2012 series victory on Indian soil, where his 17 wickets proved crucial Yet, his compelling story is d e f i n e d b y c o n t r a s t s : a world-class bowler often

p e r c e i v e d a s a n i n e p t

f i e l d e r a n d c l u m s y

b a t s m a n , a n d a f i g u r e

The future of Arsenal s midfield just got dramatically brighter In a statement of intent reminiscent of Europe's elite, the Gunners have swooped in to secure one of South America's most exciting young talents: Ecuadorian star twins, Edwin and Hólger Quintero Likened by some to the flair of Neymar and the control of Thiago Alcântara the 16-year-old brothers are set to leave Independiente del Valle their formative club and make the transatlantic move to North London in the summer of 2027 when they turn 18 This ambitious acquisition which reports suggest could cost in excess of £9 million combined, sees Arsenal pivot their transfer strategy to acquire highly promising foreign teenagers, mirroring the successful approach of rivals like Chelsea The youth internationals are expected to arrive in London this week to finalise the five-year contracts that will bind them to the club Their arrival highlights a new focus on long-term development, with the twins potentially linking up with compatriot Piero Hincapié Arsenal’s commitment to securing the world’s best emerging players is clear, as the club simultaneously monitors talents such as Mexico's Gilberto Mora and France’s Lacine Megnan-Pave

PERTH PITCH GIVEN HIGHEST POSSIBLE RATING

The Perth Stadium pitch that hosted the first Ashes Test was rated as “very good” by the International Cricket Council (ICC) despite the game finishing inside two days Under the governing body’s four-tier rating system “very good” is the highest possible characterising a pitch with “good carry limited seam movement and consistent bounce early in the match ” This the ICC said allowed for a balanced contest between batters and bowlers Cricket Australia s head of cricket James Allsopp said the rating justified our belief Perth Stadium produced a pitch that provided a fair balance between bat and ball

w h o s e e m o t i o n a l v u l n e r a b i l i t y a n d mental health struggles h a v e b e e n p u b l i c l y d o c u m e n t e d M o s t r e c e n t l y , t h e f o r m e r s t a r h a s b e e n p u l l e d back into the spotlight not for his bowling, but f o r h i s q u i c k - w i t t e d d

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

Bodhana Sivanandan

Edwin and Hólger Quintero

Mudhsuden Singh Panesar

Imran Sherwani