Issue 2018

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July 2018

2 July 2018 

UNITED KINGDOM 

www.theasianindependent.co.uk 

Modi’s calculated risk to use 

Kashmir for election purposes 

The BJP today pulled out of 

the Jammu and Kashmir government 

headed by People’s 

Democratic Party leader Ms 

Mehbooba Mufti. Speaking to 

the media in Delhi, the party in 

charge of J & K Mr Ram 

Madhav said that this alliance 

had become untenable as the situation 

in the valley was worsening 

every day. According to 

Madhav that ceasefire was a 

goodwill gesture which was not 

reciprocated so they pulled the 

rug and now the state would be 

under the direct control of the 

Center through the governor of 

the state. It is clear that the BJP 

does not want to own the horrendous 

failure in Jammu and kashmir 

and perhaps withdrew keeping 

in mind the ‘national’ sentiments 

which would be much 

regressive than ever as we know 

the ‘chavanni chhap’ leaders will 

spit fire in the public and convert 

the entire issue into Hindus and 

Muslims or India and Pakistan as 

if the Hindus have given them 

sole permit to speak on their 

behalf. In fact, I agree with the 

Kerala author who suggested 

that Hindus must now speak up 

and disown the Hindutva outfit 

in absolute term. 

BJP leaders have used 

Kashmir’s Pandit issue to 

polarise the masses and it was 

difficult for them to use the same 

rhetoric if they were in the 

power with PDP. Fact is that 

Kashmir is not merely a law and 

order issue which this government 

wanted to convey to all. It 

is an international issue despite 

all the denials by the government 

of India and its thoroughly discredited 

mediamen. A few of 

those who questioned the state 

and the militants actually 

became victims of violence. 

Team AI : 

Devinder Chander 

Editor-in-chief 

Fred Shakir 

Marketing & Creative Manager 

Columnists 

V.B. Rawat 

Farzana Suri 

Arun Kumar 

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Now, when an issue is national 

and need attention of all of us to 

resolve, the Hindutva lumpens 

actually made it a Hindu Muslim 

issue raising the bogey of the 

treatment to Kashmiri Pandits. If 

the discrimination and violence 

in Kashmir has to be recounted 

and revisited then where would 

you begin your story? Obviously 

not from 1990 when the situation 

became alarmingly out of control 

of the Indian state. Fact is 

that today, the situation is worst 

than 1990. At least that time, the 

national media reported but 

today the brahmanical media 

hide facts and speak like Amit 

Shah’s spokesperson. 

The situation in Kashmir is 

deeply disturbing and perhaps 

needed a balm but this government 

was determined to use the 

Kashmiri dissent into a false 

nationalistic narratives to win 

the elections. The armed forces 

have been pushed into an entirely 

hostile atmosphere where they 

are made to believe as if the 

local population has become 

Pakistani. Without understanding 

the history of Kashmir, you 

can not really resolve the crisis 

but unfortunately Assam, 

Kashmir, Nagaland are the 

regions which the ruling party 

want to use in the rest of the 

country. For a common Sanghi 

or even non Sanghi Indian, 

Kashmiris are anti Indians and 

therefore army need to crush 

them. It is because most of these 

lynch mob kind of nationalists 

have not ever felt the understanding 

of a minority psyche. 

The whole understanding of the 

Kashmir, Assam, Nagaland from 

the glasses of upper caste north 

Indian mindset is only proving to 

be disastrous. Modi’s advisers 

don’t look beyond the immediate 

gains in the elections and hence 

the violence in kashmir or the 

resentment against the Indian 

army would be used as a tool to 

whip up passions of we versus 

them. BJP’s ministers are determined 

to convert every issue into 

a Hindu Muslim crisis but we 

hope that people of India are 

realising the entire game plan of 

the Sangh Parivar and their 

crony corporate. 

Have we not seen how the 

BJP and its leaders justify the 

human sheild used by Major 

Gogoi and now the said Major is 

under the investigation for 

another violation. The party 

shamelessly supported those 

who have been campaigning 

against the Bakarwal community 

girl brutally raped and murdered 

by the priest of a temple along 

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat 

social and human rights activist 

with other accomplice. Rather 

than openly condemning the 

heneous crime against humanity, 

the party tried to play the communal 

game and blaming the 

seculars and liberals for accusing 

the ‘Hindus’. Even the lawywers 

in the Kathua court tried to subvert 

the case which was finally 

transferred outside the state. 

The Central government has 

completely failed in Kashmir. 

The sentiment in the valley has 

turned against India and army is 

finding it tough to handle the situation. 

The tragedy is that the 

follies of the political leadership 

in Delhi is being shouldered by 

the armed forces who are doing 

their work in deeply difficult circumstances. 

So many of our soldiers 

have been killed in this 

warfare which the government 

still not ready to accede that it is 

a political issue and need a political 

solution. 

Veteran editor Shujaat 

Bukhari’s murder was the last in 

the coffin and the central government 

wanted to put the blame 

entirely on Mehbooba Mufti 

whose father made the life time 

mistake by allying with totally 

communal fringe which has no 

botheration 

of 

Kashmiri 

people 

b u t 

which only wanted to dominate 

the geographical area and not the 

people. That is what Sangh 

Parivar think of every part of 

India. They only love land which 

eventually they are handing over 

to the corporate even when people 

are being killed when they 

protest. In Kashmir if they 

protest for their autonomy, they 

are terrorists elsewhere they are 

Maoists and naxalites. 

Interestingly those Sanghis who 

are openly threatening and 

killing people are nationalists 

and have full political support. 

We know that after this break 

up the government will use the 

Governor's rule 

recommended in J&K 

Srinagar/New Delhi : Jammu and 

Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra on Tuesday 

evening suggested to the Union Home 

Ministry that Governor's Rule should be 

imposed for six months in the state after the 

PDP-BJP coalition collapsed, official sources 

said. Officials in the national capital said that 

Home Ministry has received the recommendation 

which will be sent to President Ram 

Nath Kovind for his assent. The Jammu and 

Kashmir Constitution provides for 

Governor's Rule unlike other states which see President's Rule. 

same macho language and BJP 

political leaders will prepare the 

background of how the party did 

not ‘succumb’ to ‘terrorists’ and 

‘muslims’ who are anti Indians. 

Well, we hope this falsification 

of history will be rejected by the 

people of India but even if this is 

accepted, it is not going to 

resolve the issue in Kashmir. 

You can not resolve the Jammu 

Kashmir issue or bring peace 

there by holding referendum in 

rest of the country or at the crony 

corporate funded corrupt communal 

TV studios. You can not 

decide the future of Kashmir by 

making it an issue during the 

election to polarise votes in rest 

of the country. If you want to 

resolve the issue, just go there, 

speak to people, show your 

intents and remain honest. 

However, this is not visible and 

therefore situation is becoming 

grimmer. As there is no government 

even for the name sake, the 

direct rule of Delhi will be 

observed carefully internationally. 

For the first time in the history, 

Kashmir issue has come at 

the UN and a report castigate 

India for the human rights violation. 

Now just outrightly rejecting 

it would not be suffice. Show 

some work at the ground and 

speak to the people. Once your 

deshbhakts have discredited all 

the political parties in the valley, 

all the people who were really 

interested to speak, things are 

difficult. I have said many times 

that those Kashmiris who are 

speaking of sanity and peace 

face threats both from the Indian 

state as well as the militants outfits. 

Their lives are in danger and 

the state has unable to protect 

them. It is time for the government 

to seriously look into the 

affair by engaging all the stakeholders 

including political parties, 

civil society organisations 

and others. Also at the national 

level, it should not merely the 

government but all the parties 

opposition who must be taken 

into confidence to build up a 

consensus on Jammu and 

Kashmir. A military solution to 

the issue will never be possible 

and ultimately we will have to 

bring all the forces to the negotiation 

table. Using Kashmir for 

the electoral purpose will 

boomerang and further isolate 

India at the International forums. 

Vidya Bhushan Rawat is a 

social and human rights 

activist. He blogs at 

www.manukhsi.blogspot.com 

twitter @freetohumanity 

Email: vbrawat@gmail.com 

WORLD LEADING MICROBEADS BAN COMES INTO FORCE 

Ban on the sale of products containing 

microbeads comes into effect. A ban on 

the sale of products containing 

microbeads has come into force today as 

part of the Government’s world-leading 

efforts to prevent these harmful pieces of 

plastic entering the marine environment. 

From today, retailers across England and 

Scotland will no longer be able to sell 

rinse-off cosmetics and personal care 

products that contain microbeads – the 

tiny pieces of plastic often added to products 

such as face scrubs, soaps, toothpaste 

and shower gels. 

Just one shower alone is thought to 

send 100,000 microbeads down the drain 

and into the ocean, causing serious harm 

to marine life. The Government’s ban – 

praised by campaigners as one of the 

toughest in the world – will now prevent 

billions of microbeads ending up in the 

ocean every year. Environment Secretary, 

Michael Gove, said: Microbeads might be 

tiny, but they are lethal to sea creatures 

and entirely unnecessary. We have led the 

way in banning these toxic pieces of 

plastic, but this is by no means the end 

in our fight. We will now press ahead 

with our proposals for a deposit return 

scheme and ban other damaging plastic 

such as straws”. Today’s announcement 

follows January’s ban on the 

manufacture of products containing 

microbeads. It sits alongside the 

Government’s 5p plastic bag charge – 

which has taken nine billion bags out 

of circulation – and recent proposals for a 

deposit return scheme for plastic bottles 

and a ban on the sale of plastic straws, 

stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds. 

It also forms part of the 25 Year 

Environment Plan commitment to eliminate 

avoidable plastic waste and sits 

alongside the Treasury’s call for evidence 

on how changes to the tax system could 

be used to reduce single use plastics. With 

the microbeads ban now in place, the 

Government is exploring how other 

microplastic sources enter our marine 

environment. Last month £200,000 was 

pledged by the Government for scientists 

at the University of Plymouth to explore 

how tiny plastic particles from tyres, synthetic 

materials like polyester, and fishing 

gear – such as nets, ropes and lines – enter 

our waterways and oceans. 

The Government also launched the 

Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance 

earlier this year to help eliminate single 

use plastic and address marine plastic 

pollution across the Commonwealth. 

* The Asian Independent and people associated with it are not responsible for any claims made by the advertisers and do not endorse in any products or services advertised. Please visit www.theasianindependent.com/tc for more information.


By – Farzana Suri, 

Victory Coach 

mail@farzanasuri.com 

www.farzanasuri.com 

“No!” she screeched. “You 

need to cut the sandwiches 

diagonally not horizontally.” 

She continued. 

The man, “How does it matter?” 

The woman looked at him 

and spoke between clenched 

teeth, “It does, to me.” He 

rolled his eyes and sighed. She 

went taut, ready to retort then 

sat down and went into some 

strange ritual of breathing. He 

looked at her, acquiescent as 

she blew her last breath and 

then, miraculously smiled at 

him. “It’s okay, I’m fine. Cut it 

whichever way you want, it 

doesn’t matter.” 

The subject of eloquence 

was – sandwiches. The woman 

wanted them cut her way – the 

perfect way. 

You may have experienced a 

situation similar to this, at some 

point. This need – to do it 

‘right’. So, what is right? Is the 

output more important than the 

process? Diagonal or horizontal? 

Would the sandwich taste 

different? 

Striving for excellence is 

great. The pursuit leads to the 

discovery of capabilities that 

may surprise you. However, 

when the craving for excellence 

deprives you of the ability 

to appreciate your own 

labour and accomplishments, 

the scales are tilting, precariously. 

Making you fall prey 

into the clutches of the ‘P’ word 

– Perfection. The definition of 

Perfectionism is, ‘straining 

compulsively and unceasingly 

towards unobtainable goals and 

measuring their self-worth by 

productivity and accomplishment’. 

“Being harsh on yourself”, 

says my Aunt D “is what perfection 

is all about.” Perfection 

is the unreal halo of expectation 

you place upon your head. And, 

which in a flash, can transform 

into that tightening noose 

around you. Perfection is a 

double-edged sword. Which 

side of that sword are you 

sharpening? If it’s getting in 

your way of your life then it’s 

becoming a malady. 

How do you know whether 

you are suffering from the 

Perfection Malady? 

Ruthless focus on detail – 

when the need to nit-pick and 

worry about each painstaking 

detail is high and causing discomfort 

to you and those 

around you i.e the comma or 

the tilt of the photo frame. 

The need to ‘be better’ – 

when you are wracked with the 

need to be flawless or feel ‘I’m 

not enough’. 

Fear of rejection – when 

the pressure to please people in 

early childhood has cemented 

itself in other areas of your life. 

The constant need to keep 

pushing the bar higher for 

approval. 

Avoidance – when you are 

caught between, ‘if I don’t win 


The Perfection Malady 

then I don’t want to do it’ and 

tend to skirt issues because you 

would like to do it your way. 

The guilt of being or doing 

‘less’ is tantamount to failure to 

you. The innate urgency to ‘fix’ 

things You feel only ‘you can 

do it best’. Your impatience 

gets you taking on the work 

done by others. Leaving you 

with constant anxiety, frustration 

or and worry about how 

things ought to be or get done. 

If more than 3 of the above 

points resonated with you, then 

read on. Remember, seeking 

excellence is important for success 

however obsessing about 

it, gets you infected with the 

Perfection Malady. 

I have been a seeker of perfection 

throughout most of my 

life. Making life harder for 

myself in the pursuit of the high 

standards I uphold. Each time, 

the Perfection Malady stalked 

me; I invited stress into my 

world. My success seemed like 

a long path wrought with the 

pain I afflicted on myself due to 

my self-judgments. I found 

myself caught in the web of my 

UK govt defends decision to refuse right to live, 

work in Britain for Indian professionals 

London : The UK government 

has defended its controversial 

decision to deny residency 

rights to hundreds of highly 

skilled professionals, including 

Indians, who made legally 

acceptable amendments to their 

tax records, claiming the applicants 

caught up in the visa row 

are guilty of misconduct. 

Following a long-drawn campaign 

by the Highly Skilled 

Migrants Group, the UK Home 

Office had opened a review into 

Tier 1 (General) visa cases 

involving teachers, doctors, 

lawyers and engineers from 

countries like India, Pakistan 

and Bangladesh being refused 

indefinite leave to remain (ILR) 

under a national security clause 

At the conclusion of the first 

phase of the review, UK minister 

for immigration Caroline Nokes 

reported in a letter to the House 

of Commons' influential Home 

Affairs Select Committee 

(HASC) that her department's 

decision to refuse applications 

under Paragraph 322(5) of the 

UK's immigration rules due to a 

discrepancy in reported earnings 

had been "correct". The letter, 

however, also acknowledged 

that the review had thrown up 

38 cases of Home Office 

refusals being overturned and 

allowed on appeal "Although 

the earnings issues were considered 

on appeal, the majority 

were overturned solely on 

human rights grounds rather 

than because of decision-making 

errors relating to earnings," 

Nokes said. The Highly Skilled 

Migrants Group expressed 

shock at the minister's attempt 

to downplay this figure, where 

applicants won their appeals in 

at least 38 instances - a figure 

expected to go up once the 

review into the remaining 1,671 

cases is completed in the next 

few weeks "It just proves our 

point about Paragraph 322(5) 

being used disproportionately," 

said Aditi Bhardwaj, coordinator 

of the group, which has been 

lobbying ministers through 

major protests outside the UK 

Parliament since early this year. 

"The very fact that these 

appeals are being allowed on 

human rights grounds should 

hopefully prevent the future 

disproportionate use of this 

clause and prevent applicants 

having to challenge Home 

Office decisions in court," 

Bhardwaj said. 

"It does show they (Home 

Office) were making mistakes. 

This should tell them that at the 

very least not to refuse people 

where there are serious human 

rights grounds, such as family 

ties in the UK and young children 

involved," Bhardwaj said. 

Nokes confirms in her letter to 

HASC that the outstanding Tier 1 

(General) visa decisions remain 

on hold pending the outcome of 

the review, holding out hope for 

the protesters that Paragraph 

322(5) may be used in a "fairer" 

manner in future Home Office 

decisions for these applicants. 

obsession to find fault in everything 

and everyone, until one 

day I realised how it affected 

my health and my relationships. 

Was it worth it? No, not at 

all. I learnt to cope with this 

monster called perfectionism, a 

long time ago and I’m still coping. 

I daresay, I haven’t got 

over it, but yes, I’m aware 

when it snakes its head up to 

take over control and I know, 

it’s time to quash it. I’m sharing 

what I’ve learnt in the hope that 

you find something useful to 

live a life of ease. 

Here are a few ways to 

handle perfectionism: 

Awareness – this is the first 

step. Have you set standards for 

yourself? Are they unrealistic? 

Is your confident dependent on 

your success? To find a solution 

you need to know that 

there IS a problem to be 

resolved. 

Perspective – Take a reality 

check. Look at the bigger picture. 

Will the need for perfection 

have an impact on the outcome? 

You’ll know how to 

answer this. 

Fair Assessment – If you’re 

obsessing over, ‘it is not up to 

the mark’ then perhaps you 

need to step back and ask yourself 

what is the need of the hour 

and, then what is your benchmark? 

Acknowledge your 

effort. You did your best. 

Progress is key – At times, 

you may give in to the need to 

do it ‘right’ than give it on time. 

What good is a perfect proposal 

compared to submitting it 

past the deadline? Being on 

time pips perfection, anytime. 

Failure is okay – Don’t beat 

yourself over your mistakes. It 

is okay to fail. Success is all 

about failing. It is the ladder to 

growth. Learn from it and be 

kind, to yourself and others. 

Flexibility – There is always 

another way to do it. There is 

July 2018 

3 

always help to get it done. Try 

doing things, differently. Let go 

of the need to be rigid. 

Acceptance – People are 

doing the best they can. Don’t 

dump your high standards on 

them and expect them to perform 

like you. 

Learn from nature – Is 

there anything perfect? The 

trees are misaligned, the river is 

not constant and take a look at 

your body, even that is a tad 

asymmetrical. 

Choose joy – Choose to 

enjoy the journey. You’ll find 

yourself in a better space. 

Focus on what you have 

accomplished than what you 

haven’t done or done ‘correctly’. 

Choose gratitude over anxiety, 

guilt and depression. 

These emotions are a waste of 

your precious time on earth. 

One of the things, I do often 

is ask myself this question: 

Is what I’m doing taking 

me ahead or pulling me 

back? 

This is my cue to shift my 

gear from the perfection of 

unrealistic expectations to 

achieving real results. That’s it. 

Perfection is about control over 

things beyond you. Surrender 

and self-forgive so you can 

wrest control of your life and 

enjoy the journey instead of 

being fixated on the destination. 

It’s time to bring the 

magic into your life, right now! 

None of us are perfect, and that 

is perfectly fine.




British Sikhs remember the sacrifices made by Sikh and 

Indian Servicemen at Chattri Memorial Event in Brighton 

Sikhs from across the UK attended an annual 

remembrance event at the Chattri Memorial in 

Brighton on Sunday 10th June 2018 to remember 

the sacrifice made by soldiers who came from 

India and Punjab to fight in the First World War. 

The service at the Chattri, on the Downs above 

Brighton, included a prayer and the laying of 

wreaths to commemorate the sacrifice made by the 

servicemen. 

Among those who attended the annual memorial 

service at the Chattri were the Lord Lieutenant 

of East Sussex Peter Field, High Sheriff Major- 

General John Moore-Bick, Indian High 

Commissioner YK Sinha, the Marquess of 

Abergavenny Christopher Nevill, the mayor of 

Brighton and Hove Councillor Dee Simson, council 

leader Councillor Daniel Yates, council chief 

executive Geoff Raw, Chief Constable Giles York, 

Crawley Mayor Councillor Carlos Castro, Slough 

MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi as well as veterans, 

representatives of the Armed Forces and relatives 

of the fallen. 

A delegation of representatives from the Sikh 

Community & Youth Service UK based in 

Handsworth, Birmingham including D S Dhesy 

(Chairman), R S Virdi and R S Randhawa also 

attended the service. Gurdwaras from Barking, 

London : A late masterpiece by British 

painter Lucian Freud "Portrait on a White 

Cover" was sold for around Rs 205 crore (almost 

$30 million) in the Contemporary Evening Sale 

by art auctioneer Sotheby's London on Tuesday. 

The painting is reclining nude of Sophie 

Lawrence, who worked for Tate publishing and 

was spotted by Freud whilst preparing for his 

Tate retrospective in 2002. This is her only 

Seven Kings, Hounslow and many other 

Gurdwaras also took their congregation in coaches 

to pay homage to the servicemen and also provided 

refreshments at the memorial event. 

UK MP Dhesi meets Air 

India Operations Director for 

Heathrow-Amritsar flights 

At the recently held celebration 

of the 70th Anniversary of 

Air India’s first flight between 

London and Bombay (Mumbai), 

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP for 

Slough met various key members 

of Air India’s senior management, 

including their international 

Director for Operations 

Captain Arvind Kathpalia, who 

had flown into London especially 

from Delhi for this celebration. 

Tan Dhesi spoke of the 

long-pending demand of the 

Punjabi diaspora for direct 

flights between London 

Heathrow and Amritsar, and the 

progress he has made in this 

regard. Mr Dhesi said “Captain 

Kathpalia confirmed to me that 

he had received all the required 

information, about the demanded 

Heathrow to Amritsar route, 

from his UK team in particular 

the new UK & Europe Regional 

Manager Debashis Golder. He 

known portrait, and was created towards the culmination 

of Freud's career. He was 80 years old 

when he commenced the work, as per Sotheby's, 

and he had already achieved almost all that one 

could as an artist. The painting was created in 

2002-03. It has become the most valuable work 

by the artist ever to be sold in London, superseding 

the sale of another of his portraits -- 

"Pregnant Girl" of his expectant lover 

assured me that he, in consultation 

with others in New 

Delhi, would soon be making 

the final decision on connecting 

the two major tourist 

hubs.” The Member of 

Parliament for Slough had 

earlier hosted the UK 

Parliamentary launch of the 

campaign for direct flights 

between London and 

Amritsar, and gained the support 

of other 

Parliamentarians in Britain 

and India. Statistics show that 

in 2016, even with no direct 

connectivity, approximately 

188,869 passengers (517 per 

day) travelled between 

Amritsar Airport and UK as transit 

passengers via other Indian 

and foreign airports. 

Within picture are, from left 

to right: Anil Mathen (Air India 

Manager for Heathrow Airport), 

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (MP for 

Slough), Captain Arvind 

Kathpalia (Air India Director for 

Operations, based in Delhi) and 

Debashis Golder (Regional 

Manager UK & Europe, Air 

India). 

Various British Sikhs serving in the armed 

forces were represented, along with the Royal 

British Legion, other veteran organisations and 

local cadet units. The main spokesperson and event 

Bernardine Coverley. This was the auction debut 

of "Portrait on a White Cover". Freud is known 

to paint only those close to him. However, 

Lawrence was not "one of the artist's lovers, 

children, or celebrity friends". "All portraits are 

difficult for me. But a nude presents different 

challenges. When someone is naked, there is in 

effect nothing to be hidden. You are stripped of 

your costume, as it were. Not everyone wants to 

organiser was Mr D S Dhesy who is the Chair of 

the Chattri Memorial Group and has been working 

tirelessly to organise the annual memorial events at 

the Brighton Chattri over the past 17 years. This 

year was the 68th annual memorial event which 

was started by the Royal British Legion in 1951. 

Dhesy Sabh said, “it is good to see so many 

Sikh Gurdwara’s have taken on the responsibility 

to arrange transport for their worshippers to travel 

and pay their respects to the brave Sikh servicemen 

who fought alongside British troops and laid down 

their lives fighting for Europe’s Freedom.” 

After the Brighton Chattri memorial the delegation 

of Sikhs from the Sikh Community & Youth 

Service UK visited the Runnymede Airforce 

Memorial in Surrey which commemorates the airmen 

and women who were lost in the Second 

World War during operations from bases in the 

United Kingdom and North and Western Europe 

who have no known Grave. 

Jagjit Singh – Airforce Flying Officer and 

Rajender Singh Sandhu – Pilot Officer are two 

Sikhs whose names are prominently displayed at 

the Runnymede Airforce Memorial. 

The delegation of Sikhs from the Sikh 

Community & Youth Service UK also visited the 

Guru Maneyo Granth Gurdwara in Slough. 

LUCIAN FREUD'S NUDE PAINTING SOLD FOR $30 MN 

be that honest about themselves. That means I 

feel an obligation to be equally honest in how I 

represent their honesty. It's a matter of responsibility," 

Freud was quoted as saying in Phoebe 

Hoban's book, "Lucian Freud: Eyes Wide 

Open". The British portraitist died in 2011. 

The Contemporary Evening Sale saw a number 

of artworks being sold at record prices, with 

Freud's painting leading the auction.




5 

INDIA PAVILLION IN SUBCON 

CONCLUDED IN BIRMINGHAM 

Birmingham (S.W. Bureau) : The 

42nd edition of the United Kingdom's 

premier subcontract manufacturing supply 

chain show SUBCORN which was 

inaugurated on 5th June 2018 in the 

world famous National Exhibition 

Centre NEC in the city of Birmingham 

concluded on 7th June with great success. 

Thousands of entrepreneurs specializing 

in engineering manufacturing 

from all over England, Europe and India 

along with local traders participated in 

this three day event. An elite team of 47 

Indian entrepreneurs participated under 

the banner of EEPC India. Dr. Aman 

Puri, Consul General of India, 

Birmingham visited the exhibition and 

met all the entrepreneurs on their stalls. 

EEPC India is the premier trade and 

investment promotion organization in 

India. It was sponsored by the Ministry 

of Commerce and Industry, 

Government of India and caters to the 

Indian engineering sector. Set up in 

1955, EEPC India now has a membership 

base of over 13,000 predominantly 

drawing from MSME segment which 

has over 60% representation. 

This three day India Pavilion in 

SUBCON event witnessed a great success 

under the able guidance and supervision 

of one of the most talented officers 

of EEPC India, Mr. Nishikant 

Jumde, Sr. Joint Director who is actively 

associated with different promotional 

activities undertaken by EEPC India. 

The Samaj Weekly Bureau visited 

various stalls and asked about their experiences. 

Some of them are Mr. P. Sekar 

from Sphoorti Machine Tools Pvt. Ltd. 

Bangalore, Mr. Ravinder Birdi 

Chairman, SC Entrepreneur Chamber of 

Punjab,(Shanti India), Mr. Varinder 

Kumar Heer, Vice President, SC 

Entrepreneur Chamber of Punjab, (Titan 

Tools Industries Jalandhar), Mr. Vishak 

Mani from Premac Tools Pvt. Ltd. 

Bangalore, Mr.Hurshkumar Donde, from 

Aktin Engineering Solutions Pvt. Ltd. 

Croyden, Mr. Manjeet Singh Ozla, from 

Ozla Plastocraft Pvt. Ltd. Delhi, Mr. 

Vishal Goela from Goela Engineers 

(Overseas) New Delhi, Mr. D.R. 

Sudheendra from Distinct Productivity 

Solutions, Bangalore, Mr. V. 

Neelakandan from Carborundum 

Universal Lt. Chennai, Mr. Suresh 

Shastry from Smith & Founders (India) 

Ltd. Bengaluru, Mr. Jagadeesh B. Patil, 

from EIGEN, Bangalore, Mr. Rahul 

from Nova Technocast Pvt. Ltd. Rajkot, 

The West Midlands community 

will witness another trade fair, as the 

OVERSEAS ENTERPRISE UK LTD 

is going to organize a business exhibition 

under the banner INDO- 

BRITISH BUSINESS EXPO 2018 . It 

will be held at The New Bingley Hall, 

1 Hockley Circus, Hockley, 

Birmingham B18 5BE on 28 to 30th 

September 2018. Entrepreneurs from 

all the SAARC countries from various 

sectors like leather, hand tools, office 

and stationary, ladies garments, 

house hold items and many more are 

invited to this historical event. Local 

traders and business entrepreneurs 

will also be joining this event. 

General public entry will be free. 

The Growth Net : A New Global Outlook : 

Broadening Business Prospects 

The 6th Growth Net Summit 

organized by Ananta Centre, 

Confederation of Indian Industry 

(CII) and Smadja Switzerland organized 

the summit to discuss and deliberate 

on the growth of 

global business in partnership 

with the Ministry 

of Finance. Minsters like 

Piyush Goyal, 

Dharmendra Pradhan, 

Suresh Prabhu, Hardeep Singh Puri 

from the Government of India delivered 

a keynote address. Mr. Amitabh 

Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog, Government 

of India also delivered a keynote 

address. Entrepreneurs, business 

tycoons, and academicians from 

India, China, UK, 

Rahul Bali 

Senior Correspondent, 

the Asian Independent, UK 

USA, Singapore, 

Japan, and South Korea participated 

in this summit and discussed 

prospects and challenges in the global 

business scenario. 

The summit is considered a timely 

action by the intellectuals and 

think-tank organizations since the 

technology is changing fast. In order 

to spur innovation and productivity 

the like-minded countries from the 

global and think tank need to think 

collectively. Collective efforts would 

assist in gaining and maintaining 

sustainable development goals for 

the well-being and happiness of the 

citizens of the globe.


ASIA 


PAKISTAN'S EC 

allows Abbasi to 

contest elections 

Islamabad : Pakistan's Election spokesperson Altaf Ahmed told Efe news. 

Commission said on Thursday that former 

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi can 

participate in the July 25 general elections 

from another constituency, a day after an 

electoral tribunal had disqualified his candidature 

Ahmed said that the verdict would have no 

bearing on another seat, in Islamabad, where 

Abbasi has filed nominations for the elections. 

Abbasi has appealed against his disqualification 

in a higher court. Abbasi's 

from his 

predecessor, for- 

home seat. On 

Wednesday, an 

appellate election 

mer Prime Minister 

Nawaz Sharif, was 

disqualified in July 

tribunal had 

2017 for not 

disqualified 

Abbasi from the 

declaring a salary 

which he no longer 

Murree constituency 

received from a 

for 

company run by 

allegedly hiding 

his son, which the 

facts and not 

Supreme Court 

providing the 

accurate value of 

his assets in the 

nomination papers, declaring him ineligible 

to be elected as a member of the Parliament 

according to Article 62 of the Constitution. 

"The appeal was only about his Murree constituency 

so it's applicable only on that constituency. 

He can run from Islamabad," ECP 

considered a violation 

of Article 62. 

The court also 

ruled on April 13 that disqualifications under 

Article 62 were permanent. 

Sharif, three of his children and his sonin-law 

are facing investigations related to 

ownership of a property in an exclusive zone 

in London and various companies. 

Non-subsided LPG in Delhi hiked by 

over Rs 55 per CYLINDER from July 

New Delhi, The price of non-subsidised LPG cooking gas will 

be hiked by Rs 55.50 per cylinder in New Delhi, and that of the 

subsidised one by a marginal Rs 2.71, effective July 1. According 

to Indian Oil Corporation, the increase is mainly on account of 

GST on revised price of domestic non-subsidised LPG. 

“There is a marginal increase of Rs 2.71 per cylinder (from Rs 

493.55 in June 2018 to Rs 496.26 in July 2018) in the effective 

price of subsidised LPG cylinder in Delhi for domestic customers 

for the month of July 2018,” IndianOil said in a statement on 

Saturday. “The increase is mainly on account of GST on revised 

price of domestic non-subsidised LPG.” 

As per the statement, the price of non-subsidised LPG at Delhi 

which consumers buy buys after exhausting their yearly quota of 

12 will increase by Rs 55.50 per cylinder in July 2018 due to 

increase in international price of LPG by $57 per MT. “The balance 

Rs 52.79 (Rs 55.50 minus Rs 2.71) is being compensated to the 

customer by increase in subsidy transfer to their bank account,” the 

statement said. Accordingly, the subsidy transfer in customer’s 

bank account has been increased to Rs 257.74 per cylinder in July 

2018 as against Rs 204.95 per cylinder in June 2018. Oil companies 

revise the rates of LPG on the 1st of every month based on 

average crude price and foreign exchange rate. Prices vary at locations 

according to local taxes as petroleum products are not included 

under the pan-India GST. 

Pakistan's main 

opposition party unveils 

political manifesto 

Islamabad : The Pakistan Peoples Party 

(PPP), the country's main opposition party, 

has unveiled its political manifesto for the 

next general elections, promising to make 

nation free of hunger, rebuild its economy 

and foster harmony. A gathering of the party's 

leaders was held on Thursday here, during 

which the manifesto was unveiled which is 

titled as "bread, clothing and house, education, 

health and jobs for everyone", reports 

Xinhua news agency. PPP chairman Bilawal 

Bhutto Zardari said the country's economic 

situation is unstable, intolerable and unsustainable 

and the next government should 

make policies aiming at serving the people of 

the country. The PPP vowed to free the people 

of Pakistan from hunger, thirst and helplessness 

and opportunities for all children 

and youth so that they may excel, become 

active citizens of the country and confident 

members of the global community. The 

party's manifesto said that if came to power, 

the PPP will deepen democracy by fostering 

harmony among people, state and among the 

institutions of the state, adding that it will 

also make the government accountable and 

answerable to the people by strengthening 

the parliament and other institutional frameworks. 

PPP ruled Pakistan four times, under 

the leadership of Bilawal Bhutto's maternal 

grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and mother 

Benazir Bhutto, both of who were assassinated 

by their opponents. This was the party's 

10th manifesto in the last five decades.


World Bank predicts 

4.3% growth for Sri 

Lanka's economy 

Colombo : Sri Lanka's economy is 

expected to grow 4.3 per cent in the 

medium term, but it will only be possible 

if the government remains committed 

to its reform 

agenda, the World 

Bank said in a report 

released on Friday. 

"The economy is 

expected to rebound 

from a low base and 

grow around 4.3 per 

cent in the medium term, driven by private 

consumption and investment," 

Xinhua news agency quoted the report 

as saying. World Bank's Senior 

Economist Ralph Van Doorn said the 

challenging political environment has 

already slowed the reform agenda and 

remains the key risk to a favourable 

medium-term outlook. "Sri Lanka's 

march towards upper middle-income 

status and more and better jobs hinges 

on the economy's competitiveness and 

its ability to pursue a private investment-tradable 

sector-led growth model," 

Ralph said. He however praised the 

government for introducing several key 

reforms, including the new Inland 

Revenue Act (IRA), transparent fuel 

pricing formula, drafting of a new 

Public Finance Act and implementation 

of a single window for investors. 

6,877 Amarnath 

pilgrims leave for 

Kashmir Valley 

Jammu : A batch of 6,877 Amarnath pilgrims left 

Jammu on Sunday for the cave shrine in Kashmir Valley as 

the weather started improving in the state. 

"The first group of 2,790 pilgrims bound for the Baltal 

base camp left at 3.10 a.m. in an escorted convoy of 99 

vehicles," police said. "The remaining group of 4,087 yatris 

bound for the Pahalgam base camp left at 3.50 a.m. in 

another escorted convoy of 130 vehicles." 

Due to incessant rains, the annual pilgrimage remained 

suspended during the last two days. 

Pakistan team to attend 

SAARC meet in India 

Islamabad : A business delegation from Pakistan will 

leave for India on June 30 to participate in the South Asian 

Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) 

Development Fund Partnership Conclave, it was 

announced on Thursday. The three-day conclave will commence 

from July 1 and is aimed at strategic growth in the 

South Asia region through project collaboration and regional 

integration, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported. 

The delegation will be led by Vice President of SAARC 

Chamber's Pakistan chapter Iftikhar Ali Malik. 

Vijay Mallya 

summoned under 

new fugitive law 

Mumbai : A special PMLA court 

on Saturday summoned beleaguered 

liquor baron Vijay 

Mallya to appear 

before it on August 

27 on the 

Enforcement 

Directorate’s plea 

seeking action 

against him under 

the fugitive economic offenders 

ordinance in the over Rs 9,000-crore 

bank fraud case. 

Special judge MS Azmi, dealing 

with the Prevention of Money 

Laundering Act (PMLA) cases, 

issued the notice to Mallya after taking 

cognisance of the second ED 

chargesheet filed against him 

recently and a subsequent application 

by it on June 22 seeking a fugitive 

economic offender tag. This is 

the first time that action has been 

initiated under the ordinance recently 

promulgated by the Modi government 

to deal with fugitive bank loan 

defaulters. The agency has also 

sought immediate confiscation of 

assets worth around Rs 12,500 crore 

of Mallya and other fugitive economic 

offenders, they said. 

If Mallya does not appear before 

the court, he risks being declared a 

fugitive economic offender, besides 

properties linked to him being confiscated. 

The court had earlier 

issued non-bailable warrants against 

the beleaguered businessman in the 

two cases filed by the ED. 

Mallya, his now defunct venture 

Kingfisher Airlines Limited and 

others availed loans from various 

banks during the tenure of the UPA- 

I government and the outstanding 

amount, including interest, against 

him is Rs 9,990.07 crore at present, 

the officials said 

ASIA 

‘No point’ meeting Nitish 

Kumar, HARDIK PATEL 

visits Tejashwi Yadav 

Patidar leader Hardik Patel on Saturday met RJD leader and Leader 

of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav to firm up 

what appears to be an anti-BJP front ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. 

Patna : Stating that there was “no point” 

in meeting Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) 

national president Nitish Kumar, as he has 

“changed his path” by forming an alliance 

with the BJP, 

Patidar leader 

Hardik Patel on 

Saturday met 

RJD leader and 

Leader of 

Opposition in 

Bihar Assembly 

Tejashwi Prasad 

Yadav to firm up 

what appears to 

be an anti-BJP 

front ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Stating 

that they discussed issues concerning Bihar 

and national politics, Tejashwi later told the 

media, “We, the young leaders, are against 

right-wing dictatorship and will work 

together for benefit of the youth and farmers.” 

Addressing a ‘Patel awareness meeting’ 

earlier, the Patidar leader from Gujarat, 

tried to get people from Kurmi, Dhanuk and 

Kushwaha castes to unite and form an 

unbreakable alliance. Nitish comes from 

Kurmi caste, and 

people from 

these communities 

are seen as 

his main support 

base. Hardik 

claimed that 

there were 

attempts to stop 

people from 

attending the 

public meeting. 

Referring to Nitish without naming him, he 

said, “Our message should go across to people 

who come from among them (these 

communities) but are not with them.” He 

said he would have loved to meet Lalu 

Prasad but for the fact that the RJD chief is 

in Mumbai for treatment. 

7 


India shrugs off US 

sanctions on Russia 

New Delhi : To prevent an 

adverse impact on India’s military 

readiness, the security 

establishment is clear that the 

US-imposed sanctions on 

Russia and the resultant threat 

of sanctions on India have to be 

ignored. India’s military relations 

with Russia have to continue 

as usual. Military readiness 

literally depends on these 

relations, said sources. The IAF 

fighter jets Sukhoi-30 MKI, 

Army’s T-90 tanks, BrahMos 

missiles and large parts of 

ammunition comes from 

Russia or are licence-produced 

here. Also hinges upon Russia 

is the supply of spares for the 

Mi-17 helicopters, the MiG 29 

fighter jets used by the IAF and 

the Navy, the transport fleet of 

the IAF and the armoured combat 

vehicles. The newly minted 

joint production of the Kamov 

helicopter will ensure that helicopters 

will be produced in 

India. India operates one 

nuclear submarine, INS 

Chakra, on lease from Russia 

and another sub is being negotiated. 

Moscow has helped 

New Delhi build its indigenous 

nuclear submarine, INS 

Arihant. Discussion on impact 

of US sanctions has emerged in 

New Delhi after the US Senate 

last week passed the 

Countering America’s 

Adversaries Through Sanctions 

Act (CAATSA) without the 

provision of waiver sought by 

President Donald Trump’s 

Administration. India had also 

used diplomatic channels seeking 

the waiver. The CAATSA 

requires to impose curbs on 

nations that have ‘significant’ 

defence relations with Russia. 

Among the 39 entities listed by 

the US is the Rosoboronexport, 

the Russian state-controlled 

intermediary for export and 

import of arms. 

In the US, its legislators will 

now have to reconcile the Bills 

passed by two Chambers of its 

Congress. The US legislature 

consists of the Senate and the 

House of Representatives. Both 

have passed different versions 

of CAATSA. CAATSA passed 

by the Senate has no waiver, 

while the one passed by the 

House contains a six-month 

delay provision.


ASIA 


Income tax return : Deadline to link Aadhaar 

card with PAN extended till March 31, 2019 

The linking of Aadhaar card with the PAN card has been made mandatory for filing Income Tax returns. Accordingly, 

those who choose not to link their PAN with the Aadhaar, it would not be possible to file their ITR. 

New Delhi : The Central 

Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), 

in an announcement on 

Saturday, has further extended 

the deadline to link Aadhaar 

card with PAN card. The new 

deadline is now March 31, 

2019. Earlier, CBDT had fixed 

June 30, 2018, as the last date 

for Aadhaar-PAN linking. 

This is the fifth instance 

when the government has 

extended the deadline for taxpayers 

to link their Permanent 

Account Number (PAN) to their 

Aadhaar. As per updated data till 

March, more than 16.65 crore 

PANs, out of the total about 33 

crores, have been reported to be 

linked with Aadhaar. 

The earlier deadlines for linking 

the Aadhaar and PAN were 

July 31, August 31 and 

December 31, last year, whereas 

March 31 and June 30 this year. 

The linking of Aadhaar card 

with the PAN card has been 

made mandatory for filing 

Income Tax returns. 

Accordingly, the individuals 

who do not link their PAN and 

Aadhaar cards would not be 

able to file ITR. In the notification 

released today, the government 

has stated that the maximum 

late fee for not filing 

income tax returns is Rs 10,000 

per person effective April 1, 

2018. The income tax department 

may also send tax-offenders 

a notice under section 142(1) 

for filing ITR. The income tax 

limit is Rs 300,000 for senior 

citizens (more than 60 years old, 

but less than 80 years old) and 

Rs 500,000 for super-senior citizens 

(more than 80 years old). 

One can file his/her return 

involuntarily even if your 

income is less than the maximum 

exemption limit. 

To make things convenient 

for tax-payers, the tax department 

has explained the different 

categories of ITR forms, such as 

for self-employed professionals, 

businesses, salaried employees, 

freelance workers, etc. 

Documents 

needed to file ITR 

For filing income tax 

returns (both offline or 

online), you need to keep 

available a checklist of 

several details including 

bank account details, PAN 

number, salary pay slips, 

rent receipts for claiming 

HRA (House Rent 

Allowance) and address of 

the house property. 

Jharkhand HC 

extends Lalu Prasad’s 

provisional bail 

Ranchi : The Jharkhand High Court on 

Friday extended, by six more weeks, the provisional 

bail of 

RJD supremo Lalu 

Prasad, who has 

been convicted in 

four fodder scam 

cases since 2013 

and is serving a 14 

year sentence in 

the latest case. 

Justice Apresh Kumar extended his bail till 

August 14. On May 11, Lalu Prasad was 

granted six weeks provisional bail for treatment 

of his health condition in Mumbai, and 

the relief was subsequently extended till July 

3. Lodged in the Birsa Munda Jail since 

December 23, 2017 after conviction by a 

Central Bureau of Investigation court here in a 

fodder scam case relating to fraudulent withdrawals 

from the Dumka treasury, the former 

Bihar Chief Minister was admitted to RIMS 

here on March 17 following complaints of 

uneasiness. He was also sent to the All India 

Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi for 

treatment and returned here on May 1 after 

being discharged. 

Beef up probe arm, raise conviction 

rate : Rajnath to Delhi Police 

New Delhi : Union Home Minister Rajnath 

Singh on Friday told Delhi Police to beef up its 

investigation and increase conviction rate in 

crimes committed in the city. 

Chairing a review meeting of the 

Delhi Police here, Singh also asked 

them to bring about a perceptional 

change and increase visibility on the 

ground, with senior officers leading 

the patrol in sensitive areas. The 

Home Ministry has already sanctioned 

4,227 posts (Sub-Inspector/ Assistant 

Sub-Inspector 1,409; Head Constable 

1,409; and Constable 1,409) for separation 

of crime investigation and law 

and order functions. Emphasising the 

need to bring about a perceptional 

change in the functions and responsibilities 

of police personnel among the citizens of 

the city, the Home Minister asked the police to 

have a hassle-free and citizen-friendly interface 

with the public. He, however, told the police to 

adopt a “zero tolerance” attitude for traffic violations 

and called for deployment of more women 

in PCR vans. Delhi Police Commissioner 

Australia passes foreign 

INTERFERENCE LAWS 

Canberra : Australia's parliament on Thursday 

passed a package of new laws aimed at preventing foreign 

interference in the country. Prime Minister Malcolm 

Turnbull announced the crackdown last December, 

reports the BBC. Although he denied it was aimed specifically 

at China, the move has added to diplomatic tensions 

with Beijing in recent months. The government has 

described the wide-ranging laws, approved in the Senate, 

as the most significant counter-espionage reforms in 

Australia since the 1970s. The approval comes after 

months of review by a parliamentary national security 

committee. The laws criminalise covert, deceptive or 

threatening actions that are intended to interfere with 

democratic processes or provide intelligence to overseas 

governments. They are designed to include actions that 

may have fallen short of previous definitions of espionage. 

The government also plans to ban foreign political 

donations through a separate bill later this year. 

Amulya Patnaik said the process to create a cadre 

of investigative officers is underway. He also said 

that 33 per cent women are being inducted in all 

ongoing recruitments while their representation 

in the force is already much higher than the sanctioned 

strength. 

Singh said senior officers should lead 

patrolling parties, especially in sensitive areas of 

the city, and the force needs to employ latest 

technology in achieving policing objectives. 

He appreciated that in an online survey, more 

FISHERMEN 

harass tiger in 

Sunderbans river 

Kolkata : The forest 

department on Saturday said 

it would take action against 

those involved in a video, 

which went viral, showing a 

tiger being tormented by fishermen 

in a Sunderbans river. 

A group of fishermen were 

seen harassing a tiger from a 

trawler using bamboo poles 

when the animal was swimming 

across the river towards 

Kendo island. The video 

showed the tiger finally wriggling 

out. Action will be 

taken under Wildlife 

Protection Act, a forest 

department official said. 

Ahmedabad : Congress 

President Rahul Gandhi will kickstart 

the early campaign in 

Gujarat for the 2019 

Lok Sabha elections 

with his visits on July 

11 and July 15. 

Rahul Gandhi had 

extensively toured the 

state during the 2017 

Assembly elections 

and was credited for 

his party’s improved 

performance with a 

tally of 77 seats, up 

from 54 in 2012, in the 182-seat 

house. Beginning Gujarat campaign 

of 2017, he was seen to 

have adopted a more aggressive 

style of hitting out at ruling 

than 75 per cent of 944 distress callers in Delhi 

have given positive feedback about the force. 

Lauding the relentless efforts of the Delhi 

Police to improve law and order in the national 

capital, Singh expressed satisfaction 

that heinous crimes in the capital 

have dropped from 10,266 

cases in 2014 to 6,527 last year. 

Rajnath Singh said a scientific 

assessment and evaluation of the 

CCTV camera requirements for 

the city should be carried out. The 

Delhi Police has undertaken installation 

of CCTVs at 10 police stations 

on a pilot basis which will 

subsequently be implemented in 

the remaining 184 police stations. 

Also, the Delhi Police plans to 

install 10,000 CCTV cameras at public places for 

women’s safety of which nearly 4,000 are in 

place. Besides, more than two lakh such cameras 

have been installed by the public under the 

“Nigehban” scheme. Union Home Secretary 

Rajiv Gauba and senior officers of Delhi Police 

and Home Ministry were present at the meeting. 

Rahul Gandhi to begin early Gujarat 

campaign for 2019 polls 

Bharatiya Janata Party and its 

leadership. 

Rahul Gandhi will visit the 

crucial Saurashtra 

region’s Junagadh, 

Rajkot and Bhavnagar 

districts. It was in this 

region that the 

Congress made a major 

comeback after two 

long decades and won a 

majority of the seats. 

Party sources said he 

would also have long 

meetings and discussion 

with the state leaders. 

Gandhi is expected to make at 

least three to four such visits till 

December to re-establish his connect 

with the people here.

www.theasianindependent.co.uk ASIA July 2018 9 

KARNATAKA TO CHALLENGE CAUVERY 

WATER AUTHORITY IN SUPREME COURT 

The developments come a week after Karnataka reluctantly nominated two bureaucrats to the management authority, after the Centre issued a notification. 

Bengaluru : An all-party meet called 

by Karnataka chief minister HD 

Kumaraswamy on Saturday decided to 

authorise the state’s legal team to file an 

appeal in the Supreme Court against the 

Centre’s recent notification of the 

Cauvery management authority. 

Additionally, members of Parliament 

from the state have agreed to take up the 

issue in the House. The developments 

come a week after Karnataka reluctantly 

nominated two bureaucrats to the 

management authority, after the Centre 

issued a notification. The notification is 

part of the Cauvery water sharing 

scheme that the Supreme Court had 

asked the Centre to announce in its verdict 

on the matter earlier this year. 

Addressing the press after the meeting, 

irrigation minister DK Shivakumar 

said two committees had been set up by 

the Centre, the management authority 

and regulation committee. This was 

despite the state asking the Centre to not 

Sri Lanka says 

shortage of passports 

to end soon 

Colombo : Sri Lanka's Department 

of Emigration and Immigration on 

Friday said the shortage of new passports, 

which has presently put thousands 

on the waiting list, will end 

within two months. 

Nihal Ranasinghe, the Controller 

General of Emigration and 

Immigration, said that following a proposal 

by Minister of Internal Affairs 

and Wayamba Development, S.B. 

Navinna, the cabinet of ministers had 

granted approval to order one million 

passports, reports Xinhua news 

agency. The order for the new passports 

was placed on Thursday. Sri 

Lanka faced a shortage of new passports 

due to plans to upgrade to an e- 

passport which would include an electronic 

chip that includes bio data of the 

owner. However the e-passport proposal 

ran into a legal battle due to a 

non-transparent procurement process 

which has temporarily halted the 

process, making authorities to continue 

issuing the normal passport book. 

Sri Lanka offers two varieties of 

passports, one that includes travel to 

all countries, while other limits travel 

to Middle Eastern countries only. 

Bhubaneswar : 

The Odisha government 

has planned to 

organise roadshows in 

Italy, Germany and 

Saudi Arabia to attract 

investments ahead of 

the Make in Odisha 

Conclave, a minister 

said on Saturday. A 13-member team is scheduled to 

visit different countries to meet and woo investors 

for the Make in Odisha Conclave, which is to be 

held in Bhubaneswar from November 11 to 

November 15. Industries Minister Ananta Das said 

in the first phase, the team will visit three countries, 

Italy, Germany and Saudi Arabia. 

The tour is scheduled from July 1 to July 10, he 

added. The team will be led by Odisha Industries 

Minister Ananta Das and department secretary 

Sanjeev Chopra. The team would showcase its 

be in a hurry to form the authority. 

“We have appointed two officers to 

the authority and they will go to the 

meeting on July 2 to present our views 

and raise the issues of farmers of 

Karnataka,” Shivakumar said. The irrigation 

minister said MPs from the state 

Odisha plans roadshows 

abroad to 

attract investments 

investment potential 

and the slew of measures 

taken for ease of 

doing business to the 

foreign companies 

during the tour. In the 

second phase, the team 

will be visiting China, 

South Korea and Japan 

during the first or second week of August, informed 

the Minister. Notably, the state government has partnered 

with the Federation of Indian Chambers of 

Commerce and Industry (FICCI) for the second 

Make in Odisha conclave after the Confederation of 

Indian Industry's (CII) withdrawal from the conclave. 

At the inaugural edition of Make in Odisha in 

December 2016, Odisha drew investment intents 

valued at Rs 2.03 trillion at the event. Sixty per cent 

of those investments are now in various stages of 

approval or implementation, said the minister. 

had agreed to raise the issue in 

Parliament. “Although it is mandatory 

for the central government to place the 

scheme for discussion in Parliament, we 

have decided not to wait till then,” the 

Congress leader said. 

“We have also decided to appeal the 

Social media has democratised 

discourse, but must be used 

responsibly, says PM?Modi 

The Dalai Lama also said India is the only country in the world 

that can bring together modern knowledge, technology and 

ancient knowledge of understanding the mind. 

New Delhi : Prime Minister 

Narendra Modi on Saturday greeted the 

people on the occasion of World Social 

Media Day, saying the new 

medium has played a key 

role in democratising discourse, 

and helped people 

express their views and 

showcase their creativity. 

“Greetings on Social Media 

Day! The world of social 

media has played a key role 

in democratising our discourse 

and giving a platform 

to millions of people around 

the world to express their 

views and showcase their 

creativity. “I would particularly like to 

congratulate my young friends for their 

innovative usage of social media. Their 

frank method of conveying opinions is 

extremely endearing. I urge youngsters 

to continue expressing and discussing 

freely,” Modi said in several tweets. 

Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman 

Singh also tweeted about the day, urging 

everyone to use this 

powerful tool wisely. 

“Social media has 

emerged as the Numero 

Uno media of contemporary 

times. It has great 

power to amplify the 

voice of the common 

man. On World Social 

Media Day, I urge everyone 

to use this powerful 

tool wisely and responsibly 

in order to create a 

positive impact in society,” 

Singh said. June 30 is observed as 

Social Media Day after a multi-platform 

media and entertainment company 

– Mashable – started it as a way to 

recognise and celebrate social media’s 

impact on global communication. 

matter in the Supreme Court and our 

legal team comprising Mohan Katarki, 

Fali Nariman and our advocate general 

will guide us through it,” Shivakumar 

added. 

At present, with copious rains, water 

levels in the four dams on the Cauvery 

Pakistan's main 

opposition party unveils 

political manifesto 

Islamabad : The Pakistan 

Peoples Party (PPP), the country's 

main opposition party, has 

unveiled its political manifesto 

for the next general elections, 

promising to make nation free 

of hunger, rebuild its economy 

and foster harmony. 

A gathering of the party's 

leaders was held on Thursday 

here, during which the manifesto 

was unveiled which is 

titled as "bread, clothing and 

house, education, health and 

jobs for everyone", reports 

Xinhua news agency. PPP 

chairman Bilawal Bhutto 

Zardari said the country's economic 

situation is unstable, 

intolerable and unsustainable 

and the next government 

should make policies aiming at 

serving the people of the country. 

The PPP vowed to free the 

people of Pakistan from 

hunger, thirst and helplessness 

and opportunities for all children 

and youth so that they 

may excel, become active citizens 

of the country and confident 

members of the global 

community. 

in Karnataka are much higher than the 

corresponding levels last year. While 

the Kabini dam has almost reached full 

capacity, the Krishnaraja Sagar, Harangi 

and Hemavathi have reached levels 

much higher than the previous years. 

The all-party meeting was attended 

by many MPs and MLAs, including 

state Bharatiya Janata Party chief BS 

Yeddyurappa.But former chief minister 

and chairman of the Congress-JD(S) 

government’s coordination committee 

Siddaramaiah gave the meet a miss, 

even though his son and first-time MLA 

Yathindra was present, leading to a 

fresh round of speculation that all was 

not well in the coalition government. 

Shivakumar said the former chief 

minister, who is also the leader of the 

Congress Legislature Party, had communicated 

his inability to attend the 

meet to the leaders on Friday. “He had 

told us he had prior commitments and, 

hence, could not make it,” he said. 

Pakistan court allows 

ex-PM to contest 

from home seat 

Islamabad : A court in Pakistan on Friday 

allowed former Prime 

Minister Shahid Khaqan 

Abbasi to contest the 

upcoming elections from 

his home constituency, 

overturning an election 

tribunal's decision to disqualify 

him. 

Abbasi welcomed the 

decision of the Lahore 

High Court, headed by 

judge Mazahir Ali Naqwi. "As you know, that 

decision was flawed. I filed an appeal with the 

Lahore High Court against that decision and 

today the Lahore High Court overturned it. Now 

I can run from Murree, which is my home constituency 

as well," Efe quoted Abbasi as saying. 

Court spokesperson Arif Dar confirmed that the 

bench had overturned the disqualification order 

after the defense argued that the tribunal had 

exceeded its powers, as it did not have the 

authority to disqualify a candidate. 

On Wednesday an appellate election tribunal 

had disqualified Abbasi from the Murree constituency 

for allegedly hiding facts and not providing 

the accurate value of his assets in the 

nomination papers, deeming it a violation of 

article 62 of the constitution. 

Addison Aaron 

A First Class Full Service 

International Law Firm 

Committed To Winning Matters. 

Tel : 0121 213 4812 

law@addisonaaron.com 

w w w . a d d i s o n a a r o n . c o m


Accountants 

City Accountants 

29 Foremans Road, Sparkhill, 

B’ham B11 3AA 

Tel. 0121 777 8000 

www.city-accountants.co.uk 

43B Formans Rd, B’ham, B11 

3AA | Tel: 0121 777 8000 

Barber Shop 

JC Hairstyles 

78 Gipsy Ln, Leicester LE4 

6RE 

Tel: 0116 266 9188 

271 Tat Bank Rd, Oldbury, 

Birmingham, B68 8NP 

Tel : 0121 544 0068 

Ladypool Rd, Birmingham, 

B128JY 

Bars & Pubs 

5 Market Pl, Tipton, DY4 7EJ 

Tel : 0121 557 6506 

Bank 

118 Soho Rd, B21 9DP 

Tel : 0121 515 0400 

182 Soho Rd, Birmingham, 

B21 9LP, Tel : 0121 507 9940 

173-175 Soho Rd, B’ham, B21 

9SU | Tel : 0121 523 5973 

290 Soho Rd, Birmingham, 

B21 9LZ | Tel : 0121 554 9082 

Builders 

S &P Builders 

Sukhi Mob. : 07737 060 121 

Pamma Mob.: 07450 762 550 

Bearwood Maintenance 

Mob. 07811 392 786 

Raj & Raj Building Work 

B’ham | Mob. 07404 042 783 

Birmingham Building 

Construction 

Osman Abyan 

Managing Director 

Mob; 07429 398 280 

birminghambuildingconstruction@hotmail.com 

Carpentry 

Flora Carpentry 

Sunny Mob. 07403 586 305 

Mail: gurdipflora@hotmail.com 

Carpets 

UK Carpets 

1188-1190 Warwick Rd, Acocks 

Green, B’ham B27 6BT 

Tel. 0121 707 6424 

www.uk-carpets.com 

Corner Shop 

165 -167 Stratford Rd, B’ham, 

B111RB | Tel : 0121 772 1322 

523 Foleshill Rd, Coventry, 

CV6 5AU | Tel : 024 7666 5277 

Wallsal Rd, Wednesbury, 

WS10 9SJ 

44a Pinson Rd, Willhall, 

WV132PR | Tel : 01902 606302 

42 Church St, Bilston, 

Wolverhampton, 

WV14 0AH 

Aaron’s Catering Services 

Brewery Street, off High Street 

Smethwick B67 7RA 

Tel : 0121 555 8400 

Mob : 07805 337 232 

Mail: info@aaronsfoods.co.uk 

Web: www. aaronsfood.com 

Indian Sweets 

& Catering 

We Cater For All Occasions; 

Weddings, Birthdays, 

Engagements Parties or any 

other Social Functions. 

Big Discounts on 

Bulk Orders 

Quality Service and 

Years of Experience 

71 Great Bridge, 

Tipton, DY4 7HF 

Tel. 0121 238 2648 

Mob: 07413 426 930 

Mail: vivek_18hp@yahoo.com 

Café & Restaurants 

84 Oxhill Rd, Birmingham, 

B21 9RH | Tel : 0121 554 5517 

225 Holyhead Rd, Birmingham 

B21 0AP | Tel : 0121 515 4110 

20 High St, Smethwick, B’ham, 

B66 1DX | Tel : 0121 558 8488 

86 High St, Smethwick, B’ham, 

B66 1AQ | Tel : 0121 558 8372 

Tollgate Shopping Precinct, 

Smethwick, Birmingham, B67 

7RA | Tel : 0121 565 2122 

Tollgate Shopping Centre, 

Brewery St, Smethwick, B’ham, 

B67 7RA | Tel : 0121 555 8400 

285-287 High St, Smethwick, 

Birmingham, B66 3NJ 

Tel : 0121 565 2187 

166 High St, 

Harborne,Birmingham, 

B179PN 

314, High St, 

Harborne, Birmingham, 

B179PU 

10, Rood End Road, 

Oldbury, Birmingham, 

B688SH 

125 High St, West Bromwich, 

Birmingham, B70 6NY 

Tel : 0121 525 9458 

142 High St, West 

Bromwich, Birmingham, 

B706NY 

40 Old Walsall Rd, B’ham, 

B42 1NP 

205 Dyas Ave, Birmingham, 

B42 1HN 

572 Kingstanding Rd, B’ham, 

B44 9SD | Tel : 0121 373 3549 

563 Coventry Rd, Small Heath, 

Birmingham, B10 0LP 

Tel : Tel: 0121 572 6397 

703 - 705 Stratford Road, 

Sparkhill, B’ham, B11 4DN 

Tel: 0121 778 5100 

71 Great Bridge, Tipton, DY4 

7HF | 0121 238 2648 

48A Lower High St, 

Wednesbury, WS10 7AL, 

Tel : 0121 505 1211 

200 Dudley Rd, Wolverhampton, 

WV2 3DT | Tel : 01902 450939 

Barcroft Rd, Wolverhampton, 

WV2 3HF | Tel : 01902 451113 

Cash & Carry / 

Supermarkets / 

Corner Shops 

Radias Superstore 

121-127 Melton Rd, City 

Centre, Leicester LE4 6QS Tel: 

0116 266 9409 

A1 Cash and Carry 

112 Green Lane Road, 

Leicester, LE5 3TJ 

Tel: 0116 212 2129 

Shah's Pan House 

523 Foleshill Rd, Coventry, 

CV6 5AU 

Tel: 02476 665 2777 

Catering 

Sukhdev's Catering 

Unit 4, 5/7 South Road, 

Hockley, Birmingham B18 5LT 

Tel: 0121 314 1247 

Mail: sukhdev@sukhdevfoods.com 

www.sukdhevcaterings.co.uk 

Double Glazing 

Star Windows (GB) Ltd. 

16 Rolfe St, Smethwick, 


Tel. 0121 555 8333 

Electronics 

86 Great Hampton St, B’ham, 

B186EW 

Fence 

T & D Fencing 

Unit 405, Smethwick Enterprise 

Centre, St, Smethwick, B66 2AR 

Tel. 0121-565 4533 

www.TandDfencing.co.uk 

Hardware Store 

Queens Park Stores 

Diy • Furniture • Beds • Bathrooms 

224/230 Court Oak Road, 

Harborne, Birmingham B32 2EG 

Tel: 0121 – 4282164 

www.queensparkstores.co.uk 

27A W Bromwich St, Walsall, 

WS1 4BP :| Tel : 01922 642329 

CLASSIFIED 

Health Care 

Premium Community Care 

86 Digbeth, B’ham B5 6DY 

Tel. 0121 643 9808 

Insurance 

Crownsway Insurance 

Brokers Ltd. 

183 Holyhead Road, 

Handsworth, Birmingham 

Tel. 0121 554 3566/9788 

www.crownsway.co.uk 

Insurance Broker 

46 Summer Rd, Birmingham, 

B236UR 

DJS House, 183 Holyhead 

Road, Birmingham, B21 0BD 

Tel : 0121 554 3566 

Lettings & Sales 

Ignite Properties 

44A High Street, Leamington 

Spa, CV31 1 LW 

Tel.: 01926 930 251 

www.ignite-properties.co.uk 

Angel Estates Ltd 

251-253 Rookery Rd, 

Birmingham B21 9PU 

Phone: 0121 448 0717 

M & R Lettings & Sales 

Wolverhampton 

Tel. 01902 833 844 

Sodhi & Co. 

123 Evington Road, Leicester 

Tel. 0116 255 3455 

www.sodiandco.com 

Library 

Birmingham Rd, Birmingham 

B43 6NW 

193 High St, Harborne, B’ham, 

B179QG 

Kingstanding Road, B’ham, 

B44 9ST | Tel : 0121 464 5193 

Meat Shop 

Soand Meat Shop 

122 Green Lane Road, Leicester 

Tel. 0116 276 0658 

326 Ladypool Rd, Birmingha, 

B128JY 

Punjab Meat Center 

16 Tollgate Shopping Precinct, 

Smethwick, B’ham B67 7RA 

Tel. 0121 448 7279 

169 Rookery Rd, Birmingham, 

B21 9QZ, Tel : 0121 554 1988 

Tollgate Shopping Precinct, 

Smethwick , B’ham, B67 7RA 

Tel : 0121 558 4441 


Birmingham, B70 6NY 

Tel : 0121 553 3555 

37 High St, West Bromwich , 

Birmingham, B70 6PB 

Tel : 0121 553 5231 

600 -602 Coventry Rd, Small 

Heath, Birmingham, B10 0US 

Tel : 0121 773 0234 

542 -544, Coventry Rd, Small 

Heath, Birmingham, B10 0UN 

Tel: 0121 771 0292 

711/713 Stratford Road, 

Sparkhill, Birmingham, B11 

4DN | Tel: 0121 778 5553 

Soand Meat Shop 

122 Green Lane Road, Leicester 

Tel. 0116 276 0658 

Punjab Meat Center 

16 Tollgate Shopping Precinct, 


Tel. 0121 448 7279 

Stand Meat Shop 

122 Green Lane Road, 

Leicester, LE5 3TJ Tel: 0116 

276 0658 

New Asia Meat Centre 

119 Caludon Rd, Coventry CV2 

4LR Tel: 024 7644 7900 

Gill Meat & Grocery 

Unit 12, Tollgate Shopping Centre, 


Tel : 0121 558 4441 

383 Mosley Rd, B’ham, 

B129DD 

Tat Bank Rd, Oldbury, B’ham 

B68 8NR 

212 Golden Hillock Rd, B’ham, 

B112PN 

Birmingham, 

B10 0QP 

Mortgage 

Zakir Mortgage 

128 A, Stoney Lane, B’ham 

Tel. 0121 449 7091 

Mob. 07890 615 016 

Motoring 

BR Car Care 

383-387 Moseley Rd, B’ham 

B12 9DD 

Tel. 0121 440 0779 

Mosque 

Off License 

Super Wines and Spirits 

91-793 Stratford Rd, 

Birmingham B11 4DG 

Tel: 0121 778 5016 


10 

4-6 Beauchamp Ave, B’ham, 

B201DR 

255 Lodge Rd, B’ham, 

B18 5SJ 

91-793 Stratford Rd, B’ham, 

B11 4DG | Tel: 0121 778 5016 

138 Clay Ln, Coventry, 

CV2 4LT 

Brax News, 156-160 W 

Bromwich St, Walsall, 

WS1 4DE 

Darlaston, Wednesbury, 

WS10 7TQ 

Party Hall 

Supreme Banqueting and 

Conference 

10, Roebuck Lane, West 

Bromwich, B70 6QP. 

Tel: 0121 553 3921 

Radio 

715-C Parkfield Road 

Wolverhampton, WV4 6EE 

Tel. 1902 681 655 

TM 

Sky Digital Channel 0205 

24 hour Entertainment 

On Sky, On-Line, On Mobiles 

Studio : 01902 457875 

Reception : 01902 450533 

Safety Lockers 

MINT Safety Deposit Centres 

MacDonald Road, Leicester, 

LE4 5HD | Tel. 0345 222 3456 

School of Motoring 

Bains School of Motoring 

Mobile: 07973 281968 

Tel: 0121 523 2848 

Security Services 

Your Security Services Ltd. 

86 Digbeth, B’ham B5 6DY 

Tel. 0121 448 0750 

www.ysrl.co.uk 

Singers, Stage and 

TV artists 

Babbu Chander 

Wolverhampton 

Mob. 07492 129 321, 07429 119 530 

Sukhdev Jassi 

Bedford | Mob. 07901 796 669 

Pamma Lasadia 

Wolverhampton 

07448 886 166


Solicitors Chaudhary’s Cash & Carry 

Stratford Rd, Birmingham, B11 

4BP | Tel: 0121 778 3800 

Dadiyal Supermarket 

118-120 Alum Rock Rd, B’ham, 

B8 1NH 

Desi Bazaar 

560 Coventry Rd, Small 

Heath, Birmingham, B18 0UN 

Tel: 0121 773 9909 

Braitch Solicitors 

28 Chapel Ash,Wolverhampton 

Mob. 07773 374 848 

Tel. 01902 711 200 

Indian Advocate & Top 

Immigration Services 

Wolverhampton 

Tel.01902 457711 

Mob. 078 2828 3992 

Midland Immigration 

Services Ltd. 

255 Melton Road, Leicester 

Tel. 0800 0304 998 

VKM 

48, Queen St, Wolverhampton 

WV1 2BJ 

Tel: 01902 311 1155 

Super Market 

Sabar General Stores 

113, Holyhead Road, 

Handsworth B21 0HH 

Tel : 0121 551 6423 

Wayco Supermarket 

72A Soho Road, Handsworth, 

BIRMINGHAM, B21 9BH 

Tel : 0121 551 8711 

Soho News 

129 Soho Rd, BIRMINGHAM, 

B21 9ST 

Al Halal Supermarket 

7 - 13 Alum Rock Rd, B’ham, 

B8 1LL | Tel: 0121 327 0074 


360 Coventry Rd, Birmingham, 

B10 0XE | Tel: 0121 753 4391 



B11 4DG | Tel: 0121 777 1510 

Aujla Supermarket 


B‘ham, B706PB 

Buy and Save 

Rood End Rd, Oldbury, B’ham, 

B688SH 

Desi Mass Bazar 

Ladypool Road, Birmingham, 

B128TT 

East & West Supermarket 


B11 4DN | Tel: 0121 7773904 

East & West Super market 

132 - 136 Ladypool Rd, B’ham, 

B128JA 

Food World 

121 Villa Rd, Birmingham, 

B19 1NH | Tel: 0121 554 6532 

Food World Super market 

728 Stratford Rd, Birmingham 

B11 4BP | Tel: 0121 777 8636 

Gill Super market 

330A Soho Rd, Birmingham, 

B21 9NA | Tel : 0121 523 5272 

Grocery Store 

New Street, Smethwick, B’ham, 

B66 4PH | 

Hill Top Super market 

125 Hill Top, West Bromwich, 

Birmingham, B70 0RU 

Tel : 0121 505 3529 

Khan Super Market 

618 - 620 Coventry Rd, Small 

Heath, Birmingham, B10 0UT 

Tel : Tel: 0121773 6843 

Lifestyle Express Apna 

Food & Wine 

Albret Rd, 

B’ham, B21 9QX 

Lodge Supermarket 

70 Lodge Rd, West Bromwich, 

Birmingham, B70 8PA 

Tel : 0121 553 4004 

Londis Supermarket 

23 Acfold Rd, Birmingham, 

B20 1HD 

Malhi's Supermarket 

Bacchus Rd, Birmingham, B18 

4RE 

Money Saver Food Store 

Ladypool Rd, 

B’ham, B128TT 

Pak Super Market 

121-125 Lozells Rd, B’ham, 

B19 2TR | Tel : 0121 554 2711 

PAK Supermarket 

Unit 1 Cape Hill Retail Centre, 

Cape Hill, B’ham, B66 4PH 

Tel : 0121 558 6786 

Pak Super Market 

42 Alum Rock Rd, B’ham, B8 

1JA | Tel: 0121 328 7868 

Punjab Food Store 


B’ham, B706NZ 

If You See This... 

List Your Business Here 

Call : 07878 456 484 

Punjab Supermarket 

Birmingham : 

B11 4DX 

R S Superstore 

58 Nineveh Rd, Birmingham, 

B21 0TE | Tel : 0121 554 1687 

S & B General Store 

3 College Rd, B’ham B20 2HU 

Tel : 0121 523 4371 

Sabar General Store 

113 Holyhead Rd, Birmingham 

B21 0HH | Tel : 

Sonali Supermarket 

537, Coventry Rd, Small 

Heath, Birmingham, B10 0LL 

Tel: 0121 773 8236 

Toor Supermarket 

93 Rookery Rd, B’ham, B21 

9QX | Tel : 0121 554 0796 

Vegmart 

147-149 Soho Rd, B’ham, B21 

9ST | Tel : 

Villa Supermarket 

117 Villa Rd, B’ham, B19 

1NH | Tel : 0121 554 2374 

Wayco Supermarket Ltd 

72A Soho Rd, B’ham, B21 

9BH | Tel : 0121 551 8711 

Heer Super Store 

19-21 Clay Ln, Coventry, CV2 

4LJ | Tel : 024 7645 6903 

Warley Supermarket 

75 Bridge St, Wednesbury, 

WS10 0AH | 0121 505 5898 

Banga Stores 

59A Lea Rd, Wolverhampton, 

WV3 0LW | 01902 338835 

Samra Supermarket 

418 Dudley Rd, Wolverhampton 

WV2 3BP | 01902 458814 

Sandhus Supermarket 

15 Bargate Dr, Wolverhampton, 

WV6 0QW | Tel: 01902 311556 

Take Away & Cafe 

Chick King 

225 Holyhead Rd, B’ham 

B21 0AP | Tel. 0121 515 4110 

Jalandar Sweet Shop 

86, High St, Smethwick, 


Apna Punjab Sweet Centre 

65A, Purely Road, Leicester 

LE4 6PB 

Tel: 0116 266 6567 

Taxi & Coach Hire 

Brit Coaches 

93 Dudley Rd, Halesowen 

B63 3NS 

Tel. 0121 769 2707 

www.britcoaches.co.uk 

Warley Cars 

Tel. 0121 555 7654 

Taxi & Bus Hire 

86, Digbeth Rd, Birmingham, B5 

6DY | Tel : Tel: 0121 643 1000 

209, Bordsley Green, B’ham, B95SP 

Tent Hire 

Amrit Tent Hire 

Mob; 07815 134 618 

amrittenthire@yahoo.co.uk 

Walsall DIY 

West Bromwich St. 

Walsall 01922 642 329 

CLASSIFIED 

Travel Agency 

101 Soho Rd, Birmingham, B21 

9SP | 

Travel Agencies 

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232 Soho Rd, B’ham B21 9LR 

Tel. 0121 523 3050 

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114 Soho Rd, B’ham B21 9DP 

Tel. 0121 554 4013 

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BUSINESS 


Now, withdraw 75% PF 

after 30 days of job loss 

The new provision gives members an option to keep their account 

with the EPFO, which he can use after regaining job 

New Delhi : Retirement fund body 

EPFO on Tuesday decided to give its 

members an option to withdraw 75 per cent 

of their funds after one month of unemployment 

and keep their provident fund 

(PF) account with the body. 

The members would also have an option 

to withdraw the remaining 25 per cent of 

their funds and go for the final settlement 

of account after the completion of two 

months of unemployment under the new 

provision in the Employee Provident Fund 

Scheme 1952. "We have decided to amend 

the scheme to allow members to take 

advance from its account on one month of 

unemployment. He can withdraw 75 per 

cent of its funds as advance from its 

account after one month of job loss and 

keep its account with the EPFO," Labour 

Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar, who is 

PM Modi meets business 

leaders : 'Industry should 

invest more across sectors' 

Mumbai : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 

Tuesday urged industry 

leaders to come forward 

and make higher 

investments across core 

sectors, especially in 

agriculture. He held a 

roundtable interaction 

with 41 business leaders 

at Raj Bhawan in 

Mumbai. During the 

interaction, Modi spoke 

about the role of startups 

and entrepreneurship. 

According to an 

official note, Modi 

said, "A positive mindset 

and a 'can-do' spirit 

is now pervading the 

country. Therefore, corporate 

sector should 

invest in a big way, 

especially in agriculture 

sector." 

Among those invited 

for the meeting included, 

Reliance Industries 

According to an official 

note, Modi said, 

"A positive mindset 

and a 'can-do' spirit is 

now pervading the 

country. Therefore, 

corporate sector 

should invest in a big 

way, especially in 

agriculture sector." 

chairman & managing director Mukesh Ambani, 

Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam 

Birla, Mahindra Group executive chairman Anand 

Mahindra, Bharat Forge chairman & managing director 

Baba Kalyani, Godrej Group chairman Adi 

Godrej, Kotak Mahindra Bank managing director & 

chief executive officer Uday Kotak, HDFC chairman, 

Deepak Parekh and State Bank of India Chairman 

Rajnish Kumar. 

The Union government's policy reforms and initiatives 

during the last four years were deliberated along 

with industry's role in economic growth and social 

development. According to officials, "Industrialists 

responded positively to the PM's suggestions for 

proactive role in taking up the challenge of growth 

and partnering in the policy drive of the centre-state 

for overall inclusive development of New India." 

During the interaction, Modi highlighted the need to 

boost domestic manufacturing in areas such as medical 

devices, electronics and defence equipment. 

Earlier, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal apprised of 

the major decisions taken by the government. 

also the Chairman of EPFO's Central 

Board of Trustees (CBT) , told reporters 

after the trustees' meet here. At present, in 

case of unemployment, a subscriber can 

withdraw his or her funds after two months 

of unemployment and settle the account in 

one go. The minister was of the view that 

this new provision would give an option to 

members to keep their account with the 

EPFO, which he can use after regaining 

employment. However, it was proposed 

that the members would be allowed to take 

60 per cent of funds as advance on unemployment 

for not less than 30 days. But, the 

CBT raised the limit to 75 per cent in the 

meeting held on Tuesday. 

The minister further said, "We approved 

almost the entire agenda listed for the 

meeting of the CBT today. We have also 

given an extension of one year to 

exchange-traded funds manufacturers SBI 

and UTI Mutual funds till July 1, 2019. We 

have also extended the term of fund managers 

till December 31, 2018." 

Vijay Mallya seeks to sell assets worth 

Rs 13,900 crore to settle dues 

Bloomberg : Fugitive Indian businessman 

make every effort, in good faith to settle with 

Vijay Mallya has sought court approvals to sell 

the public sector banks," Mallya, who now 

some frozen assets worth about 13,900 crores, 

lives in the UK, said in the statement. "If politically 

motivated extraneous factors interfere, 

making a fresh attempt to settle bank dues 

owed by his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines 

there is nothing that I can do." 

Ltd. Mallya and his United Breweries Holdings 

Mallya, 62, is fighting numerous lawsuits in 

Ltd filed an application before a court in 

the UK and India over fraud and money-laundering 

allegations after Indian lenders, under 

Karnataka on June 22, seeking permission to 

repay creditors from the proceeds of the sale, 

pressure from regulators to recover money 

according to a statement on Tuesday. 

from defaulters, have gone after the flamboyant 

former billionaire for unpaid debt of about 

Accruing interest accounts for most of the 

dues because of restrictions imposed on disposals, 

according to the statement."I respect- 

grounded in 2012. Indian authorities have also 

$1.4 billion owed by his carrier that was 

fully say that I have made and continue to 

sought his extradition. 

Dubai-Mumbai busiest international 

route with 2.5 mn passenger flow 

New Delhi- The Dubai- 

Mumbai air sector witnessed the 

highest flow of passengers at 

about 2.5 million during the 

2017-18 financial year, primarily 

led by migrant 

workers, according 

to data released by 

the ministry of 

Civil Aviation. The 

route took the pole 

position in a list of 

top 10 international 

destinations that 

are connected to 

Indian cities by 

both Indian and foreign air carriers. 

The data showed that United 

Arab Emirates -- with Dubai as 

one of the key cities -- constituted 

almost half of the total international 

seats from India during 

the 2017-18 fiscal, "primarily led 

by migrant workers and business 

market in the Middle East". The 

Dubai-Mumbai sector was followed 

by the Dubai-Delhi sector 

with about two million passenger 

movement. The Dubai-Kochi 

sector came next with just over 

one million passenger flow, the 

data showed. The growing appeal 

of Bangkok as a travellers' paradise 

was reflected in the data 

compiled by the ministry, as the 

Delhi-Bangkok route came at the 

fourth place with about one million 

passengers travelling 

between these two cities during 

the financial year. The Dubai- 

Hyderabad route came in at the 

HCL acquires 

German IT firm H&D 

fifth place and it was followed 

the London-Delhi route. 

According to the data, the 

London-Mumbai route took the 

seventh spot, followed by Dubai- 

C h e n n a i , 

Singapore-Chennai 

and Colombo- 

Chennai, respectively. 

In the 

domestic sector, 

Mumbai-Delhi 

route, considered 

one of the busiest 

airline corridors in 

Asia Pacific region, 

topped the chart with seven million 

air passengers travelling in 

this sector during the last financial 

year.Bengaluru-Delhi sector 

followed next with just over four 

million passengers and 

Bengaluru-Mumbai sector came 

in at the third place with close to 

four million passenger movements, 

the data showed. 

New Delhi : HCL 

Technologies Wednesday said 

it has signed an agreement to 

acquire Germany-based IT and 

engineering services provider, 

H&D International Group, to 

help expand its 

presence in the 

European 

nation. The 

company however 

did not disclose 

the acquisition 

price. 

"This landmark 

deal sees HCL attain significant 

in-country front office and 

delivery capabilities and will 

further enhance the company's 

domain expertise in the global 

automotive sector," HCL said 

in a statement. 

H&D is one of the largest IT 

service providers in the 

German automotive industry 

and operates in over 20 locations 

globally including 

Germany, the US, the Czech 

Republic and Poland. It specialises 

in IT infrastructure, 

application services particularly 

in R&D IT and has extensive 

expertise in SAP, computeraided 

technologies (CAx), 

engineering services and customer-specif- 

ic product 

development. 

H&D's existing 

delivery 

centre in 

Gifhorn, 

Germany, 

will become 

part of HCL's global delivery 

footprint and will focus on IT 

and engineering services both 

in Germany and globally. 

"Germany is a critical market 

for HCL as we continue to 

expand our business in Europe. 

We feel the German market is 

at an inflection point and it is 

the right time for HCL to 

expand and make significant 

investments here," said Ashish 

Gupta, Corporate Vice 

President at HCL Technologies. 

Rupee at 19-month 

low, down 30 paise 

against US dollar 

Mumbai : The rupee plunged by 30 

paise to hit a 19-month low of 68.54 

against the US dollar in early trade on 

Wednesday, on strong month-end dollar 

demand 

from importers 

and banks amid 

sustained foreign 

capital 

outflows. This 

is the rupee's lowest level against the 

greenback since November 29, 2016. 

The dollar's strength against some 

currencies overseas weighed on the 

local unit but a higher opening of the 

domestic equity markets capped the 

losses, traders said. Foreign portfolio 

investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 

538.40 crore yesterday, as per provisional 

data issued by the stock 

exchanges. On Tuesday, the rupee lost 

11 paise to end at 68.24 against the 

US currency. Meanwhile, the benchmark 

BSE Sensex rose by 53.85 

points, or 0.15%, to 35,543.89 in 

opening trade.


HEALTH 


13 

Water : Drinking how much 

is enough on a daily basis? 

Much like the human body, water is an essential component of all foods and about 20% of our 

daily fluid requirement comes from food. Butter and oils are the only foods with no water. 

Delhi : The newest trend sweeping 

sunny California is people drinking 

untreated 'raw' water from unfiltered 

sources packed with natural ions, minerals, 

chemicals and organic matter. The 

fad will, sooner than later, wreck their 

health. Along with ions and minerals, 

untreated water comes laced with bacteria, 

viruses, parasites, pesticides and 

heavy metals that cause nasty diarrhoea, 

dysentery, hepatitis A, cholera, typhoid 

and toxicities, among other diseases. 

Just as contaminated water sickens and 

kills, safe water saves lives. Safe and 

easily available water for drinking, 

domestic use and food production lowers 

disease to boost economic growth 

and lower poverty, according to the 

World Health Organization. Water is 

needed to carry nutrients to cells, moisten 

tissue, cushion joints, regulate body 

temperature and flush out toxins. 

Staying hydrated protects against colorectal 

and bladder cancers, high blood 

pressure, heart disease, urinary tract 

infections and kidney stones. 

Most people drink water when 

they're thirsty, but in warm and humid 

weather, thirst is often not the best indicator 

of dehydration. So how much 

water should we drink every day? 

Water accounts for 55%-60% of the 

body's weight, depending on gender. 

Much like the human body, water is an 

essential component of all foods and 

about 20% of our daily fluid requirement 

comes from food. Butter and oils 

are the only foods with no water. The 

water content is more than 90% in foods 

like milk and yoghurt, and in some 

fruits and green vegetables, such as 

watermelon, cucumber, cabbage, lettuce 

and spinach. Fruits like apples, grapes, 

oranges, pears and pineapple are 80% to 

90% water, while beans and legumes 

have a water content ranging from 60% 

to 70%. Even dried fruits, seeds and 

nuts are 1% to 9% water. A normal 

healthy person needs about eight glasses 

(two litres) of water a day, which 

should go up in hot, sweaty weather and 

during vigorous activities, according to 

the Indian Council of Medical 

Research's Dietary Guidelines for 

Indians. The tea, coffee, milk, yoghurt 

and whole foods you have will also help 

meet your hydration target, but water 

should be the fluid of choice. 

For people in the UK, the National 

Health Service recommends 1.2 litres 

(six to eight glasses) of fluid every day 

to prevent dehydration, while the US 

National Academies of Sciences, 

Engineering, and Medicine recommends 

3.7 litres (15.5 glasses) of fluids 

for men and 2.7 litres (11.5 glasses) for 

women. Don't substitute water with 

juices, even if they're fresh and 

unsweetened, because they pack a lot of 

sugar and calories in each glass. While 

fresh fruit juices do have vitamins, minerals 

and other nutrients, they also have 

very high amounts of fruit sugars, which 

the World Health Organisation puts in 

the same category as harmful free sugars, 

the intake of which should not 

exceed 25 gm a day. A glass of fresh 

orange juice, for example, has 0.4 gm of 

fibre and 24 gm of sugar, compared to 

1.5 gm of fibre and 10 gm of sugar in 

one whole orange. The sugar in a glass 

of fresh, unsweetened orange juice (24 

gm) is almost the same as in a glass of 

the colas (26 gm). Coconut water contains 

potassium, which helps fight dehydration 

by increasing the body's capacity 

to absorb and retain water and is particularly 

useful to hydrate people who 

are ill or very active. But since a 250 ml 

glass has 50 calories, using it as a substitute 

for zero-calorie water leads to 

weight gain. Dry and scaly skin, frequent 

muscle cramps and constipation 

are signs that you're dehydrated, so 

watch out for signs now that the hot, wet 

weather will make seat a part of life in 

most part of the country. 

Most teenagers are 

unaware of food safety 

standards, says study 

Washington : According to a 

study, a majority of teenagers have 

a low level of awareness about safe 

food handling. The University of 

Waterloo study measured 32 different 

food-handling behaviours 

among Ontario high school students 

in grades 10 to 12. It found that 

fewer than 50% of the recommended 

practices were followed by students, 

including basic hand hygiene 

and procedures to prevent crosscontamination. 

"High school students represent 

the next generation of food handlers, 

but they are not well studied," 

said Ken Diplock, who led the 

research while at Waterloo. "They 

are just starting to prepare food on 

their own and for others, and they're 

also beginning to work in the food 

industry. "It's important to get to 

students before they develop bad 

habits." The researchers observed 

the students in high school food and 

nutrition classes three times, once 

before the students took an Ontario 

standard food-handling training 

program, then two weeks and three 

months later. 

The program helped them 

improve their skills significantly, 

but many students continued to 

engage in risky behaviours known 

to lead to food-borne diseases. The 

most significant improvement after 

the training course occurred on 

thermometer use, which is the only 

way to determine doneness - how 

thoroughly cooked a cut of meat is. 

Student use went from 5% at the 

first observation to 36 and 33%?in 

two weeks and three months respectively. 

"Even though training programs 

have important benefits, 

there are obviously still gaps 

between knowledge and how food 

handlers behave," said Diplock. 

"Food safety education improves 

knowledge and behaviour, but 

unless the values are reinforced in 

other areas such as home life and 

society, the behaviours will not 

always stick." In this study, the 

behaviours remained consistent 

between the second and third observations, 

likely because the students 

were handling food regularly in the 

presence of teachers, who reinforced 

what they had learned, said 

co-author Shannon Majowicz. 

"We put a lot of emphasis on 

general food safety education as a 

way to protect people from getting 

sick; it could also make a difference 

if we educate students about safe 

food handling in high school before 

they're young adults living and 

cooking on their own and for others," 

Majowicz said. 

Britain mulls new measures 

to tackle childhood obesity 

Britain is planning to take various preventive measures in an attempt to help 

reduce childhood obesity. They plan to make changes in TV and online advertising 

along with the banning of caffeine laden drinks for younger children. 

London : Britain is to mull banning 

the sale of high-energy caffeine-laden 

drinks to young children after a study 

found a quarter of 6 to 9 year olds consumed 

them. At the same time, Health 

Secretary Jeremy Hunt also plans to 

tackle pester-power by preventing stores 

from displaying unhealthy foods at 

checkouts or including them in buy oneget-one-free 

deals, officials said on 

Sunday, Xinhua reported. The new 

measures are aimed at helping halve 

childhood obesity by 2030. The 

Department of Health and Social Care is 

also going to consult on introducing 

clear, consistent calorie labelling on 

menus in restaurants, cafes and takeaways, 

so parents can make an informed 

choice about what their families are eating. 

The government has called on 

industry to recognise the harm that 

adverts for foods high in fat, sugar and 

salt can cause. It will consult on introducing 

new TV and online advertising 

restrictions to prevent children from 

being targeted by unhealthy products, 

and to incentivise companies to reduce 

the sugar and calories in the products 

they sell. 

New measures could include extending 

the current advertising watershed 

and considering limiting the number of 

unhealthy food adverts shown during 

children's programs. The second chapter 

of a national obesity plan will promote a 

new national ambition for every primary 

school to adopt a daily "active mile" initiative. 

Hunt said: "The cost of obesity, 

both on individual lives and our NHS, is 

too great to ignore. Today we are taking 

steps to ensure that by 2030, children 

from all backgrounds have the help they 

need for a healthier, more active 

start in life." 

Public Health Minister Steve 

Brine said: "One in three children 

are now overweight or 

obese by the time they 

leave primary school. 

Dangerous overconsumption, 

combined with 

reduced activity, is 

having a catastrophic effect on 

our children's health, limiting 

their potential and putting 

them at risk of a shorter 

life." "We all have a responsibility 

to act before we lose a generation of 

young people to this entirely avoidable 

epidemic. We can't afford to waste time, 

which is why we're committing to halve 

obesity in the next 12 years with bold 

new action."


HEALTH 


New interaction therapy shows 

promise for depression in kids 

New York : If your child is depressed, then a 

therapy-based treatment for disruptive behavioural 

disorders can be used as an effective treatment 

option, a new study suggests. The researchers studied 

229 parent-child pairs after adapting a treatment 

known as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy 

(PCIT) that was developed in the 1970s which 

added a series of sessions focussing on emotions to 

correct disruptive behaviour in pre-schoolers, 

Xinhua news agency reported on Friday. In standard 

PCIT treatment, parents are taught techniques 

for successfully interacting with their children. The 

researchers adapted this standard intervention by 

adding a new emotional development (ED) module 

to the treatment to target the therapy for childhood 

depression. 

The researchers found that children in the PCIT- 

ED treatment group had improved functioning and 

had fewer comorbid disorders. They were rated as 

having greater emotional regulation skills and 

greater "guilt reparation" compared with children 

in the waitlist group. 

"The study provides very promising evidence 

that an early and brief psychotherapeutic intervention 

that focuses on the parent-child relationship 

and on enhancing emotion development may be a 

New Delhi : Cleaning 

the kitchen is always one 

of the most tiring chores 

especially when you 

know it is going to get 

dirty in no time. While 

people 

have their 

own set of 

life hacks to 

powerful and low-risk approach to the treatment of 

depression," said lead author Joan Luby from the 

Washington University School of Medicine. For 

the study, children aged 3-6 years who met the criteria 

for early childhood depression and their parents 

were randomly assigned to PCIT-ED treatment 

or a waitlist group. Children in the PCIT-ED 

group completed standard PCIT modules for a 

Your cleaning tea towel 

might cause food 

poisoning; find out how 

help them 

clean their surroundings, 

this 

revelation might shake 

your beliefs. A group of 

scientists from the 

University of Mauritius 

examined 100 towels that 

had been used for a month. 

Through the research, they 

found that tea towels can cause food poisoning. 

They found E.coli was more likely 

to be found on towels used for multiple 

cleaning activities such as wiping utensils 

and cleaning surfaces, as well as drying 

The multiple uses 

increase its chances of getting 

contaminated with 

potential pathogens that 

can spread bacteria and 

lead to food poisoning. The 

study recommended washing 

or changing the tea 

towel, dishcloths, sponges 

and oven gloves on regular 

basis and letting them dry 

under the sun before reuse. 

hands. The multiple uses increase its 

chances of getting contaminated with 

potential pathogens that can spread bacteria 

and lead to food poisoning. The study recommended 

washing or changing the tea 

towel, dishcloths, sponges and oven gloves 

on regular basis and letting 

them dry under the sun 

before reuse. According to 

BBC reports, the sample 

towels collected had 49% 

bacterial growth, which 

increased in number with 

extended family, the presence 

of children and increasing 

family size. Of the 49 

samples which were positive 

for bacterial growth, 36.7% 

grew coliform bacteria, a 

group which includes E. 

coli. Of the rest, 36.7% were Enterococcus 

spp and 14.3% Staphylococcus aureus. 

Coliform bacteria and Staphylococcus were 

found at a "significantly higher prevalence" 

on towels from meat-eating households. 

A new study suggests depression in 

children can be effectively treated 

with therapy for disruptive behavioural 

disorders. Intervention that 

focuses on the development of the 

parent-child relation can be a powerful 

tool for treating depression. 

maximum of 12 treatment sessions, followed by an 

emotional development module lasting eight sessions. 

Children in the waitlist group were monitored 

but received no active intervention though 

after completion of the study, they were offered 

PCIT-ED treatment. 

The researchers assessed before and after treatment 

or the waiting period, children's psychiatric 

symptoms, their emotional self-regulation abilities, 

their level of impairment and functioning, and their 

tendency to experience guilt. Parents were 

assessed for depression severity, coping styles, and 

strategies they used in response to their child's negative 

emotions, and for stress within the parentchild 

relationship. 

Drink coffee for better 

and efficient team work 

New York : Finding it hard to make your team 

together? A cup 

of coffee may 

work as magic 

and help people 

remain more 

alert as well as 

work together 

as a team, say 

researchers including one of an Indian-origin. 

According to the research, people who drank coffee 

beforehand gave more positive reviews for their 

group's performance on a task and their own contribution. 

Coffee seems to work its magic in teams by 

making people more alert, said Amit Singh, from 

The Ohio State University. "Not surprisingly, people 

who drank caffeinated coffee tended to be more 

alert. We found that increased alertness was what led 

to the positive results for team performance," Singh 

said. The results were based on twin studies, published 

in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, 

involving over 100 students. The first study 

involved undergraduate students who took part in a 

coffee tasting task. While half of them were asked to 

drink a cup of coffee and rate its flavour at the 

beginning, the other half did this at the end of the 

experiment. Those who drank coffee before the discussion 

rated themselves and their fellow team 

members more positively than those who drank coffee 

after the discussion, Singh said. 

Can sleeping more affect your HEART? 

According to a new study not just sleeping 

less but also sleeping more than 10 hours on a 

daily basis affects health. An excess amount of 

sleep increases the risk for heart diseases and is 

also associated with metabolic syndrome. 

Seoul : If you thought that only less hours 

of sleep would affect your health, then you are 

wrong. Sleeping more than 10 hours per day is 

also associated with metabolic syndrome, raising 

the risk for heart diseases, according to a 

new study. Those who slept for over 10 hours 

daily were at risk of elevated waist circumference, 

high triglyceride levels - a type of fat, low 

levels of "good" cholesterol, hypertension as 

well as high fasting blood sugar - referred to as 

metabolic syndrome and associated with 

increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. 

While sleeping more raised triglycerides 

levels in both men and women, in women it led 

to higher waist circumference, blood sugar as 

well as lower levels of "good" cholesterol. 

Conversely, getting less than six hours of sleep 

was associated with higher risk of metabolic 

syndrome in men and higher waist circumference 

among both men and women, researchers 

said. "This is the largest study examining a 

dose-response association between sleep duration 

and metabolic syndrome and its components 

separately for men and women," said lead 

author Claire E. Kim from Seoul National 

University College of Medicine in South 

Korea. The study, published in the journal 

BMC Public Health, included data from 

1,33,608 participants aged between 40-69 

years. The results showed that the prevalence of 

metabolic syndrome was just over 29 per cent 

in men and 24.5 per cent in women. "We 

observed a potential gender difference between 

sleep duration and metabolic syndrome, with 

an association between metabolic syndrome 

and long sleep in women and metabolic syndrome 

and short sleep in men," said Kim.


Screening of swollen aorta 

can be harmful for older men 

According to a recent study, the 

screening of a ballooning and weakened 

area in the aorta in the abdomen 

can harm older men. Researchers at 

the University of Gothenburg questioned 

the screening for aortic 

aneurysms in the abdomen of older 

men. Aortic aneurysms are an 

enlargement of the aorta to greater 

than the normal size. It usually has no 

symptoms except 

when ruptured 

(internal bleeding). 

The condition 

mainly 

affects older men 

and is strongly 

linked to smoking. 

The purpose of 

the screening was 

to find the 

aneurysms before 

symptoms and 

thereby enable 

preventive surgery. 

On the downside, screening 

finds aortic aneurysms that never 

would have ruptured or caused symptoms 

even if they remained undetected. 

This means that screening leads 

some men to undergo a surgery that 

will not benefit them but that poses a 

risk of serious complications and 

even death. In addition, the diagnosis 

can lead to anxiety, described by 

patients as "living with a ticking time 

bomb in the stomach." "You run the 

risk of both over-diagnosing and 

over-treating a disease that does not 

at all represent the same problem 

BEER was brewed in Sweden 

since the Iron Age : Study 

anymore, which is a very positive 

development," says Minna 

Johansson, the lead author of the article. 

The researchers also studied the 

incidence and mortality from abdominal 

aortic aneurysms. The decreasing 

mortality of the disease for reasons 

other than screening has led to growing 

problems with over-diagnosing 

and over-treatment. Therefore, the 

balance between 

the benefits and 

harms has 

changed for the 

worse, the study 

shows. The way to 

reduce the risk is 

to focus more on 

reducing smoking 

in the population 

in general, which 

would also lead to 

many other 

important health 

benefits. The findings 

are published 

in the Journal of The Lancet. 

Co-author Jorg Schnauß said, 

"What we found also has implications 

for the way studies in cancer research 

are carried out. Many studies are performed 

with cancer cell lines rather 

than primary cells. When comparing 

the mechanical properties of both, our 

results showed that longtime culturing 

leads to softening of cells. "This 

softening in the culturing process 

could potentially affect the significance 

of test results. Because of that, 

we suggest that future research uses 

primary cells to ensure accuracy." 

LONDON : Malt was produced 

for beer brewing as early 

as the Iron Age in Sweden, say 

scientists who have found possible 

evidence indicating a 

large-scale production of beer, 

possibly for feasting and trade 

in the region. Archaeologists 

have found carbonised germinated 

grains in Uppakra in 

southern Sweden. "We 

found carbonised malt in an 

area with low-temperature 

ovens located in a separate 

part of the settlement. The 

findings are from the 400- 

600s, making them one of 

the earliest evidence of beer 

brewing in Sweden," said 

Mikael Larsson, from Lund 

University in Sweden. 

Archaeologists have long 

known that beer was an important 

product in ancient societies 

in many parts of the world. 

Through legal documents and 

images, it has been found, for 

example, that beer was produced 

in Mesopotamia as early 

as 4000 BCE. However, as 

written sources in the Nordic 

region are absent prior to the 

Middle Ages (before ca 1200 

CE), knowledge of earlier beer 

production is dependent on 

botanical evidence. "We often 

find cereal grains on archaeological 

sites, but very rarely 

from contexts that testify as to 

how they were processed. 

These germinated grains found 

around a low-temperature oven 

indicate that they were used to 

become malt for brewing beer," 

said Larsson. Beer is made in 

two stages. The first is the malting 

process, followed by the 

actual brewing. The process of 

malting starts by wetting the 

grain with water, allowing the 

grain to germinate. During germination, 

enzymatic activities 

starts to convert both proteins 

and starches of the grain into 

fermentable sugars. Once 

enough sugar is formed, the 

germinated grain is dried in an 

oven with hot air, arresting the 

germination process. This is 

what happened in the oven in 

Uppakra. "Because the investigated 

oven and carbonised 

grain was situated in an area on 

the site with several similar 

ovens, but absent of remains to 

indicate a living quarter, it is 

likely that large-scale production 

of malt was allocated to a 

specific area on the settlement, 

intended for feasting and/or 

trading," said 

Larsson. Early 

traces of malt in 

connection with 

beer brewing have 

only been discovered 

in two other 

places in the 

Nordic region. One 

is in Denmark from 

100 CE and one is 

in Eketorp on 

Oland from around 

500 CE. "From other archaeological 

sites in the Nordic 

region, traces of the bog-myrtle 

plant have been found, which 

indicates beer brewing. Back 

then, bog-myrtle was used to 

preserve and flavour beer. It 

wasn't until later during the 

Middle Ages that hops took 

over as beer flavouring," said 

Larsson. Two-litre soil samples 

were taken from various 

archaeological contexts - in 

houses, in pits, around hearths 

and ovens. 

HEALTH 

New York : Researchers have found 

a link between an allergen found in red 

meat and the build-up of fats that 

block the heart arteries, 

increasing the risk of heart 

attacks and stroke. Health 

experts have long established 

saturated fats found in red 

meat as one major cause of 

heart disease. However, the 

new study, published in the 

journal Arteriosclerosis, 

Thrombosis and Vascular 

Biology, showed that tick bites 

could trigger the allergic reaction 

to red meat and spread the 

sensitivity to the allergen among people. 

Patients sensitive to allergen had 

30 per cent more plaque in heart arteries 

than those without the sensitivity. 

Further, the plaques had a higher percentage 

with features characteristic of 

unstable plaques that are more likely 

to cause heart attacks. "This novel 

finding raises the intriguing possibility 

that asymptomatic allergy to red meat 

may be an under-recognised factor in 

heart disease," said lead author Coleen 

McNamara, from the University of 

Virginia in the US. For the study, the 

team looked at 118 patients and identified 

the allergen as alpha-Gal, a type 

of complex sugar. People with the 

symptomatic form of the allergy can 

develop hives, stomach upset, have 


15 

DECODED : How 

eating RED MEAT 

affects your heart 

It has long been established that saturated fats found in red meat is one major 

cause of heart arteries block. Tick bites could trigger the allergic reaction to 

red meat and spread the sensitivity to the allergen among people. 

trouble breathing or exhibit other 

symptoms three to eight hours after 

consuming meat from mammals 

though poultry and fish do not 

trigger a reaction. There are 

others who can be sensitive to 

alpha-gal but not develop 

symptoms. The study suggests 

that doctors could develop a 

blood test to benefit people sensitive 

to the allergen. 

"This work raises the possibility 

that in the future a blood 

test could help predict individuals, 

even those without symptoms 

of red meat allergy, who 

might benefit from avoiding red meat. 

However, at the moment, red meat 

avoidance is only indicated for those 

with allergic symptoms," said Jeff 

Wilson from the varsity. The 

researchers say that their findings are 

preliminary but further research is 

warranted.


OPINION 


Gauri Lankesh murder 

case Strange reticence 

to name puppeteers 

THE Karnataka Police has finally claimed to have 

cracked the Gauri Lankesh murder case. Like all police 

briefings in the first flush of rounding 

up of suspects, all assertions 

need to be taken with a pinch of 

salt. A frail, fiery activist-journalist, 

Gauri had unapologetically 

inserted herself in the maelstrom of 

local politics. Her forte was her 

anti-establishment stance with an 

unalloyed tinge of secularism 

which also became the reason for 

her death. But what we have from 

the police so far is a two-tone, confusing account of 

investigations. The Karnataka Police is lucid on the six 

suspects; their earlier contribution to raising the 

Hindutva pitch in ways unconstitutional is supposed to 

consecrate its version about their involvement in the 

extant murder. But elusiveness takes over in painting 

the larger picture of conspiracy. The police have let it 

be known that most of those allegedly complicit in 

Gauri’s killing belonged to a 60-member faceless, 

nameless organisation spread over five states. The 

police’s reticence or the inability to present a sharper 

contour about this apparently sinister body, spread over 

five states and specialising in the assassinations of ideological 

thorns in the Hindutva flesh, is confounding. 

This is especially so when the police are portraying the 

suspected killer as contrite and regretful. The 

Karnataka Police, more than trying to corner glory for, 

admittedly some police footwork, needs to reflect over 

the need to soft-pedal the busting of a sustained and 

murderous approach at political muzzling. 

The police lost precious time in unravelling the murder 

of Gauri’s ideological fellow traveller MM 

Kalburgi three years back. Since then, the intimidation 

of dissenters to Hindutva’s one-size-fits-all press-ganging 

gained critical mass, leading to yet another killing. 

Gauri had no illusions about Karnataka’s secular formation; 

then CM Siddaramaiah’s recant on his atheism 

came months before Kalburgi’s murder by when these 

forces had acquired an air of impunity and assurance 

with the formation of a new Union Government from 

within their flock. It is never too tough to arraign the 

gunslinger, as in the case of both Gauri Lankesh and 

Shujaat Bukhari. It is the network of masterminds and 

puppeteers that needs to be unravelled. 

WHY INDIA MUST SAFEGUARD THE RIGHTS OF INTERNAL MIGRANTS 

It’s not just refugees who often face the wrath of a host State; even internal migrants, especially the poor, face similar 

roadblocks in their own countries even though they are legitimate citizens. The negative feeling about migrants reflects 

in India’s policies too: Our social and political rights are based on the assumption that people are sedentary. 

United States President 

Donald Trump doesn’t mince 

words. Last week, even as videos 

of refugee children being held at 

a Texas facility did the rounds, 

Trump said: “The United States 

will not be a migrant camp… 

And it will not be a refugee-holding 

facility — it won’t be.” 

Although two days later, he 

signed an executive order to end 

the separation of the refugee 

families, Trump’s original views 

on migrants may not have 

changed much. His statement 

was similar to what India’s additional 

solicitor general, Tushar 

Mehta, told the Supreme Court, 

which was hearing a case on the 

Rohingya refugees, in January: 

“We do not want India to become 

the refugee capital of the world.” 

It’s not just refugees who 

often face the wrath of a host 

State; even internal migrants, 

especially the poor, face similar 

roadblocks in their own countries 

even though they are legitimate 

citizens. For example, China’s 

hukou system limits where a person 

is allowed to live. If one is 

born in a rural hukou, it can be 

challenging to move to an urban 

one. South Africa’s apartheid 

state was as much about racial 

segregation as it was about controlling, 

regulating and restricting 

black labourers from settling in 

white townships. India may not 

have a hukou or an apartheid system, 

but here, too, migrants don’t 

have it easy. For example, a former 

Delhi chief minister once 

blamed migrants for putting enormous 

pressure on the infrastructure 

of the city. The Shiv Sena’s 

Bal Thackeray once said one 

Bihari brought with him a hundred 

headaches. These unwarranted 

comments probably mirror 

a popular belief that migrants create 

problems and are a burden on 

a host state. But in reality, labour 

mobility is not just good for those 

on the move but it also has a positive 

effect on the economy 

because they are engaged in the 

construction industry, domestic 

E-MANDIS CAN WORK BUT 

MANY PITFALLS REMAIN 

The e-mandis proposed by the Centre are likely to be opposed by the state governments 

that guard their agricultural policy zealously 

Fifteen years ago I travelled the length and 

breadth of Karnataka trying to find out what 

ailed agriculture in one of India’s most progressive 

states, and why farmers were committing 

suicide. In the agricultural university 

at Dharwad, the academic staff told me the 

basic problem was that researchers had concentrated 

on production and ignored postproduction. 

A plant physiologist said: “We 

forgot the market. Now the stark reality is 

staring us in the face. Farmers come to us and 

say ‘we did everything you told us to produce 

crops — now tell us where to sell them’. This 

bitter lesson has just been learnt.” 

But the lesson does not appear to have 

been learnt — farmer suicides, crops being 

dumped, bills for sugarcane unpaid, the evidence 

of the anger of sugarcane growers 

voiced in the Kairana by-election, and last 

week’s farmer strike all speak of agriculture 

still in distress. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister, 

Yogi Adityanath, has tried to remedy 

that impression by publishing full page newspaper 

advertisements carrying his and the 

prime minister’s pictures with a headline 

reading, ‘Happy and Prosperous Farmers: 

Face of the New UP. We Keep Marching 

Ahead.’ But some farmers might ask, “Who 

is he fooling?” It is widely agreed that one of 

the crucial causes of farmers’ distress are the 

Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees, 

established by governments to ensure that 

farmers were not exploited by intermediaries 

when marketing their produce. 

The mandis by these committees have 

achieved the opposite — they have become 

infested by middlemen, colluding to fix auctions, 

charging double commissions from 

work, textiles, brick-kilns, mines 

and quarries, agriculture, food 

processing and the hotel and 

restaurant business. Let’s not forget 

that the backbone of the 

Green Revolution in Punjab was 

actually migrant labour. 

The negative feeling about 

migrants reflects in India’s policies 

too: Our social and political 

rights are based on the assumption 

that people are sedentary. For 

example, people’s ration cards are 

invalid in their destinations of 

work. So a migrant family will 

lose out on their rations in their 

new homes, and will have to 

both farmers and purchasers, saving tax by 

refusing to give the farmers the receipts they 

need to get bank loans, and benefitting from 

the restrictions placed on farmers’ ability to 

sell their produce elsewhere. Last year the 

central government, realising the mandi problem, 

passed a new, less restrictive, marketing 

act, which it hopes will serve as a model for 

state governments to follow. 

For the last two years the central government 

has also been encouraging the establishing 

of e-mandis, which enables farmers 

to trade online. Now the Cabinet has 

approved the setting up of the National 

Agriculture Market, a national e-mandi.Emandis 

do facilitate payments and receipts. 

They can establish efficient prices and 

should eliminate middle-men who collude to 

fix prices. But opposition from middle-men 

could slow the development of e-marketing. 

The links the middle-men have with the 

political parties are one of the reasons there 

depend either on their employer or 

labour contractor for food provisions 

or purchase food in the open 

market. This significantly increases 

their cost of living and reduces 

the additional earnings they might 

hope to remit to their families. A 

migrant’s family may also lose out 

on schooling and health doles. The 

only social support migrant families 

possess is the compensation 

offered by the state in the case of 

death at work. “This is because 

migrant workers are mostly in 

informal employment and dotted 

across several sectors and industries, 

they have little organised 

space to voice their grievances or 

articulate complaints,” says 

Indrajit Roy, lecturer, Global 

Development Politics, Department 

of Politics, University of York. His 

research project, titled 

‘Fragmented Transitions’ situates 

migrants’ experiences and practices 

within the wider processes of 

modernity, development and 

democracy. The project design is 

multi-sited. Despite these obstacles, 

statistics show that India is 

on the move. The last round of 

Economic Survey pointed to a 

spike in internal migration: 

between 2011 and 2016, close to 

nine million people migrated 

between states annually, up from 

about 3.3 million according to 

successive censuses. India is projected 

to add 404 million people 

to its urban population between 

2014 and 2050. Some states have 

already taken cognisance of this 

movement: Kerala is the only 

state in India which a scheme 

which treats migrant welfare as 

the “duty of the state”. It offers 

has been so little progress on reforming agricultural 

marketing. 

The national e-market is also likely to face 

resistance from state governments that guard 

their control over agricultural policy zealously. 

They are likely to see a national market as 

yet another incursion by the central government 

into an area which by rights belongs to 

them. This is an argument for the BJP government 

moving rapidly while it controls so 

many state governments. 

But even if e-mandis spread rapidly, will 

they help the small and marginal farmers who 

are so often left behind? They already count 

for very little. When governments forgive 

loans many of them do not benefit because 

they are in the hands of money-lenders, not 

banks. The marginal and small farmers are 

worst hit by lack of storage, they can’t afford 

to mechanise, and receive little or no help in 

adapting to new technologies. Who is going 

to help them to trade on e-mandis? 

financial support for the medical 

treatment of migrants, grants for 

their children’s education in the 

state and also provides retirement 

benefits to those who have 

completed five years under the 

scheme. The scheme also has 

provisions for compensation to 

the enrolled workers in the event 

of injury or disability, compensation 

to survivors upon the death 

of a worker, and allowances for 

repatriation of the body. The 

other developed southern state, 

Karnataka, ensures that all 

migrant pregnant women, lactating 

mothers and young children 

get nutrition benefits under the 

Mathru Poorna scheme. 

The central government must 

now take note of mobility and 

make social and political rights 

portable, which means people 

should not lose the rights they 

have in their localities of origin 

when they move; and share in 

the same bundle of rights as held 

by others in their destination 

areas.


ENTERTAINMENT 


17 

'Sanju': A heart-warming 

tale, brilliantly portrayed 

Actor Sanjay Dutt's life may have been an open 

book, yet Director Raj Kumar Hirani's "Sanju" gives 

you a peek into Sanjay Dutt's life with an honesty 

that instantly touches your heart. Sans any gimmicks, 

Hindi film tropes and unnecessary drama, 

Hirani lays bare the actor's life, recounting each 

milestone of his turbulent and tumultuous life. The 

length of the film here - 161 minutes, is not a deterrent, 

as Hirani manages to keep you hooked, 

divulging details about Sanjay Dutt's life, which one 

may have known, but are brought to life through the 

sincere and effortless portrayal by Ranbir Kapoor, 

who essays the character of Sanju with panache. 

Whether it is his craving for drugs, breaking down 

upon learning about his mother's illness or being 

denied giving a speech owing to his "terrorist' connections, 

there is complete sincerity in his emotions 

which strike a chord with the audience. 

It is no denying that Raj Kumar Hirani is an 

auteur with a flair for storytelling, He effectively 

manages to keep the audience engrossed with the 

simple narrative, which is a journey of emotional 

upheavals, shocking revelations and tender 

moments. The dialogues by Hirani himself and 

Abhijat Joshi are straightforward, colloquial, yet 

laced with humour. The songs too mesh perfectly 

with the narrative and nothing seems out of place. 

Ranbir Kapoor shines all the way as Sanju and not 

only does his physical demeanour resemble that of 

Sanjay Dutt's, but he slips into his psyche too and 

becomes an extension of Dutt, making you see 

Dutt's life on screen. Matching him in histrionics is 

Vicky Kaushal, an equally talented actor, who is 

effortlessly convincing as Sanjay's friend Kamlesh 

Kanaiyalal Kapasi aka Kamli. 

He is endearing, as he steals your heart with his 

simplicity and unabashed affection for Sanju. Their 

on-screen bond is palpable. Manisha Koirala as 

Nargis Dutt is genuine, while Dia Mirza as Sanjay 

Dutt's Wife Manyata, is restrained and charming. 

Anushka Sharma as the renowned author Winnie 

Diaz fails to leave an impact, but Paresh Rawal as 

Sunil Dutt renders a heartfelt performance except 

for his diction that gives him away. Sonam Kapoor, 

as his love interest Ruby is effective and Boman 

Irani, as the quintessential Parsi father, is a delight 

to watch. In cameo roles, Jim Sarb as Zubin Mistry, 

the drug peddler whom Sanjay Dutt refers to as 

"God" and Anjan Shrivastav in a one scene role as 

a prominent political figure, are brilliant. On the 

technical front the film is mounted with ace production 

values. The production designs, the camerawork, 

editing and sound, are expectedly top notch. 

The script steers clear from Sanjay Dutt's personal 

life and romantic liaisons, but does in no way 

appear lopsided, as those do not seem intrinsic to 

the film's focus. Overall, 'Sanju' with a special 

emphasis on the father-son relationship, as well as 

his bond with his friend Kamli, is a heart-warming 

tale, honestly told. 

Cops get access 

to Rihanna's 

alleged stalker 

The man accused of breaking into singer 

Rihanna's house has a few new followers on 

social media as police has finally got hold of him. 

According to new legal document, a warrant 

was issued for cops to gain access to Eduardo 

Leon's social media accounts as part of his felony 

stalking case, reports tmz.com. Leon broke into 

Rihanna's house, here last month and spent an 

entire night hanging out, waiting for her to come 

home. He told cops his plan was to have sex with 

her, but not use force to make it happen. 

He was arrested instead. Leon was also arrested 

a few days earlier for allegedly breaking into 

Rihanna's previous home, believing she still lived 

there. Police believe gaining access to his social 

media will prove he was fixated on Rihanna and 

made repeated efforts to locate her. 

FOR KID'S 

SAFETY 

Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha has joined 

forces with Unesco to promote a safe and secure 

cyber environment for youngsters to ensure they 

are not targeted for bullying, abuse, exploitation 

and more through the internet. 

A post on the official Twitter handle of the UN 

Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's 

New Delhi cluster office read on Thursday: 

"Sonakshi Sinha joins Unesco to promote safe and 

secure online environment for children and help 

empower our future digital citizens." Sonakshi 

retweeted it, and shared a video captioned: "I 

stand for protection of children." In the video, she 

says: "Internet use in India is exploding and 

mobile access has really changed the game. But 

what does that mean for a country with the 

world's largest child's population?" 

How Shraddha's 

dream came true 

Actor Shraddha Kapoor, who will "I've finished shooting for Stree. 

share screen space with I am almost done shooting for Batti Gul Meter 

Rajkummar Rao for the first time 

in Stree, cannot stop gushing 

about her co-star and calls the 

experience "a dream come true". 

"It's the first time that I am 

doing a horror comedy. It was a lot 

of fun and Rajkummar Rao is such 

a fantastic actor. 

To work with him was a dream 

come true. I got so much to learn 

from him," says Shraddha. 

Asked about the progress of the 

Saina Nehwal biopic that she is 

a part of, Shraddha informs, 

Chalu and am also shooting for Saaho. Those are the 

films are on floors right now. The Saina Nehwal 

biopic will happen later this year." Set to make her 

Telugu film debut in the Prabhas-starrer Saaho, the 

actor says her coactor is a "gentleman" with inspirational 

energy levels. 

"He (Prabhas) is such a gentleman, and an amazing 

human being. I think it translates in his energy 

on set and is so inspiring for everybody," adds the 

actor, who has done films such as Aashiqui 2 (2013) 

and Ek Villain (2014). Saaho also stars Neil Nitin 

Mukesh, Jackie Shroff, and Mandira Bedi, and is 

being shot simultaneously in Hindi, Tamil, and 

Telugu. 

PRIYANKA'S 

INSTA STORY 

CALLS NICK 

HER 

'FAVOURITE' 

Actor Priyanka 

Chopra and her rumoured 

boyfriend, singer Nick 

Jonas, are enjoying a 

vacation in Goa. An 

Instagram story that she 

posted yesterday afternoon 

has added fuel to 

the rumours. In the photo, 

Nick and her brother 

Siddharth Chopra face 

the sea, their back to the 

camera, and the caption 

reads: 'My favourite 

men'. The two have also 

been spotted wearing 

similar golden bands, 

leading to speculation 

that they might be 

engaged already.


ENTERTAINMENT 


Rebel Wilson roped in for 

comic book adaptation 

WHEN ILEANA 

‘ALIENATED’ PEOPLE 

Actor Ileana D’Cruz my life. But I like it that way [only] because I 

likes that the world can get hate the negativity that comes with it.” But, the 

only ‘a little bit into her life’, as actor adds that her experience in the industry 

this way she can avoid the negativity has helped her understand how to let the negativity 

go. 

that comes along 

She was all of 18 when her acting 

career took off, leading her to little over 12 years for me in the industry now. 

“I’ve learned to live with it, as it has been a 

stardom. But in the glamour But it [trolling] is really not fair for so many 

industry, with fame comes other people... the families involved,” says the 

some negativity. And sometimes, 

it is hard to take For her, a relationship is about restraint and 

31-year-old actor with Goan roots. 

everything in your stride. respect. “There’s respect there,” she says, 

Actor Ileana D’Cruz shares adding, “I had a different perception of what a 

how she overcame depression 

and it was her husband, ed and fairy tale about it in my head, but it’s so 

relationship or love is like. I was all giddy-head- 

Andrew Kneebone, in fact, who encouraged different. There’s a lot of restraint that you’ve 

Ileana to see a therapist when she started to got to have, compromising in certain situations 

fall into depression. 

— and you’ve got to have a lot of respect.” 

“Things had got so bad that I was pushing 

people away. I didn’t realise how much cedes trust and love. “I feel we have sort of 

Respect, in her checklist for a relationship, pre- 

I was alienating people. I would constantly 

refuse to go out when friends would tionship with her husband. 

evolved into that,” says Ileana about her rela- 

call. At one point, I didn’t realise I was 

at home for a week... After that, I got 

an ultimatum from him,” says 

Ileana. 

Busy as she is, Ileana doesn’t 

let the fame get to her head, as 

she prioritises her family over 

work. The actor talks about 

maintaining a slow pace in her 

career, conquering depression, 

her marriage and the pregnancy 

rumours that keep doing 

the rounds. “I’m not pregnant. 

In fact, I would have 

been super happy if I was. 

It’s something I have always 

wanted. But there’s still time. 

I still don’t want to become 

pregnant yet,” says Ileana. 

About the hullabaloo around her 

marriage, she adds, “It’s not 

important for me [to tell the world 

if I’m married or not]. I do tell the 

world about my equation in a way, 

and let the world [get] a little bit into 

Rebel Wilson is all set to star in the adaptation 

of the comic book, Crowded. The Pitch 

Perfect star will also develop the project and 

produce it under her banner. Crowded, written 

by Christopher Sebela and drawn by Ro Stein 

and Ted Brandt, is set in the near future, where 

the world's economy is all jobsharing and apps. 

The story is set in motion when a woman 

named Charlie, leading a quiet, normal life, 

finds her world turned upside down when she 

suddenly becomes the target of a multimilliondollar 

bounty. Desperate, the woman hires the 

only person she is able to afford: Vita, the lowest-rated 

bodyguard on the app. The two have 

to work together to take down the aspirational 

assassins and find out who wants Charlie dead 

before the campaign's 30-day period concludes. 

Last September, the 38-yearold won a 

defamation suit against a media company over 

articles claiming she lied about her age and 

background to further her career. The verdict 

was appealed and Wilson was ordered to return 

$3.1 million of the $3.3 million originally 

awarded to the Pitch Perfect star. Workwise, 

she is she currently shooting for Jojo Rabbit. 

Theatre, film and television actor 

Rakesh Bedi represents that era of 

Bollywood when platinum jubilee 

meant the 100 crore club, reality 

shows didn't exist on TV, and web 

series were unthinkable. A good 

comedy film meant the simple 

Chashme Buddoor, a film that made 

him a household name as did the TV 

show Shrimaan Srimati. 

Among several things that a film 

career taught him, it was few precious 

life's lessons. "Failure is difficult 

to digest but success is even 

more difficult to digest," he opens 

during a Ru-Ba Ru session in 

Chandigarh, courtesy Chandigarh 

Sangeet Natak Akademi and North 

Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala. A day 

before his play Last Over, an urban 

Hindi comedy play is to be staged, 

he talks about his long innings with 

Bollywood and its people. 

"I once got an opportunity to 

work with Raj Kapoor and he taught 

me that a film career is like being in 

a life-long relationship with your 

Rekha made sure 

people saw Amitabh 

Bachchan in her 

performance at IIFA 

Rekha, performing after 20 years at IIFA, 

danced not only to her lines from the song 

Salaam-e-Ishq in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, but 

performed the parts by Amitabh Bachchan too. 

After a gap of nearly 20 years, veteran actor 

Rekha took to stage to perform at the IIFA awards 

in Bangkok last weekend. Needless to say, she 

stunned the audience with her moves and graceful 

dancing. However, there was one little twist she 

gave to her performance which took all by surprise. 

She performed to a medley of songs, some 

from her films while others fro classics such a 

Mughal-e-Azam. However, a moment came when 

she was dancing to the hit song from Muqaddar 

Ka Sikandar, Salaam-e-Ishq, she enacted the parts 

which featured Amitabh Bachchan. That way she 

ensured the audience got to see both the stars 

onstage. Not only that, before the start of her performance, 

she had informed the organisers that 

she would like to request all the stars present to 

come up onstage and perform with her at the end 

of her 17-minute performance. The stars, including 

Varun Dhawan, Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun 

Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Bobby Deol, Kartik Aaryan, 

Dia Mirza and Shraddha Kapoor, were more than 

willing to oblige. The 17-minute show was easily 

one of the best-remembered pieces from the 

awards function. 

IIFAAwards was a three-day gala affair, which 

saw a bevy of stars descend on the Thai capital 

over June 22-24 weekend. 

WHEN EACH SHOT COUNTS 

Rakesh Bedi, who brings his play Last Over 

to Chandigarh, talks about life & career 

girl friend, you never know in which 

mood your girlfriend is that day. 

Whatever her mood is, you can't just 

quit because then others will step 

in." Highs and lows on celluloid 

galore, it is during times like these 

that one's creative pursuits and artistic 

interests help. 

"It is during difficult times that 

poetry helps. A couplet surely has 

the power to lift you from debris like 

a crane," he shares in chaste Punjabi, 

to an audience all cracked up with 

his humour in pathos. Currently it is 

his theatrical pursuits and his TV 

stints that keep him more than occupied. 

Written by Abhishek Pattnaik 

and directed by Suketu Shah and the 

Hindi play, Last Over, also stars 

Ananth Mahadevan, Gunjan 

Malhotra, Abhishek Pattnaik and 

Zachary Coffin.


TECH 


19 

FireEye denies breaking into 

Chinese military hackers 

New York : Global cybersecurity 

firm FireEye has refuted 

claims that its US-based subsidiary 

Mandiant broke into the 

laptops of Chinese military 

hackers. In his new book titled 

"The Perfect Weapon: War, 

Sabotage, and Fear in the Cyber 

Age", the New York Times 

reporter and author David E 

Sanger has chronicled numerous 

examples of the impact of 

cyber activities on geopolitical 

conditions, including the infamous 

Chinese hacking group APT1. The 

scale and scope of the Chinese Army's economic 

and industrial espionage targeting 

organisations for commercial gain including 

PT1 was uncovered by Mandiant after a 

multi-year investigation. 

"In our APT1 report, we provided attribution 

for cyber espionage conducted by the 

Chinese PLA Unit 61398. As part of the 

APT1 report's initial release, we coordinated 

with Sanger, giving him access to the methods 

we used to gather evidence of the attribution 

of APT1 to PLA unit 61398," FireEye 

said in a blog post late Monday. "Sanger's 

description of how Mandiant obtained some 

of the evidence underlying APT1 has resulted 

in a serious mischaracterization of our 

investigative efforts, the cyber security firm 

said. "Specifically, Sanger suggests our 

investigators reached back through the network 

to activate the cameras on the hackers' 

own laptops. We did not do this, nor have we 

ever done this. "To state this unequivocally, 

Mandiant did not employ ahack back' techniques 

as part of our investigation of APT1, 

does not 'hack back' in our incident 

response practice, and does 

not endorse the practice of a 

hacking back," FireEye added. 

Mandiant's APT1 work is seen 

as a turning point among private 

cybersecurity reports. "The 

company attributed over a hundred 

hacking attacks to a specific 

Chinese military unit, and 

publicly called that unit out for 

its operations," Motherboard 

reported. The company said it 

does not fight hackers by hacking 

but by diligently and legally pursuing 

attribution with rigour and discipline. "APT1 

was the result of Mandiant doing our part to 

expose risks and share information to help 

organisations better protect themselves, and 

we will continue to do our part - without 

hacking back," FireEye said. 

Google Chrome will automatically download articles 

California : If you don't have seamless internet connectivity, 

Google Chrome will ensure you still get your daily dose 

of news. Google Chrome on Android will automatically 

download articles when you're connected to Wi-Fi so that you 

can read the content offline, Cnet reported. The catch here is 

that the feature downloads articles based on the most popular 

content in your location, or your browsing history for stories 

which may interest you. The feature will be rolling out to over 

100 countries including India, Nigeria and Brazil. 

Robot bloodhound tracks 

odours on ground 

Tokyo : Scientists have 

developed a robot that can rapidly 

detect odors from sources on 

the ground, such as footprints - 

and could even read a message 

written on the ground using 

odours as a barcode. Over the 

past two decades, researchers 

have tried to develop robots that 

rival the olfactory system of 

bloodhounds, which are famous 

for their ability to track scents 

over great distances. However, 

most robots can only detect airborne 

odours, or they are 

painstakingly slow at performing 

analyses. Researchers from 

Kyushu University in Japan 

wanted to develop a robot with a 

high-speed gas sensor that could 

rapidly track invisible odour 

sources on the ground. They 

based their odour sensor on a 

technique called localized surface 

plasmon resonance (LSPR) that 

measured changes in light 

absorption by gold nanoparticles 

upon exposure to a gas. 

As the robot travelled across a 

surface, a tube placed close to the 

ground suctioned odours into the 

LSPR sensor. The researchers 

showed that the sensor could 

accurately detect the location of 

ethanol odour sources placed at 

different positions along the 

robot's path, at a travel speed of 

10 centimeters/second (about 4 

inches/second). In addition, the 

robot could read the word 

"odour" in binary barcode 

deposited on the ground as a 

series of ethanol marks at different 

positions. The robot has great 

potential in a multi-robot communication 

system or as a security 

robot working in an office, 

researchers said.


TECH 


London : Scientists have developed 

a low-cost sensor made from semiconducting 

plastic that can be used to 

diagnose or monitor a wide range of 

health conditions, such as surgical 

complications or neurodegenerative 

diseases. The sensor can measure the 

amount of critical metabolites, such as 

lactate or glucose that are present in 

sweat, tears, saliva or blood, and, when 

incorporated into a diagnostic device, 

could allow health conditions to be 

monitored quickly, cheaply and accurately. 

The device, described in the 

journal Science Advances, has a far 

simpler design than existing sensors, 

and opens up a wide range of new possibilities 

for health monitoring down to 

the cellular level. Semiconducting 

plastics are being developed for use in 

solar cells and flexible electronics, but 

have not yet seen widespread use in 

biological applications. "In our work, 

we've overcome many of the limitations 

of conventional electrochemical 

biosensors that incorporate enzymes as 

the sensing material," said Anna-Maria 

Pappa, a postdoctoral researcher at 

University of Cambridge in the UK. 

"In conventional biosensors, the 

communication between the sensor's 

electrode and the sensing material is 

not very efficient, so it's been necessary 

to add molecular wires to facilitate and 

'boost' the signal," said Pappa. To build 

their sensor, researchers including 

those from King Abdullah University 

of Science and Technology (KAUST) 

in Saudi Arabia, used a newly-synthesised 

polymer that acts as a molecular 

Low-cost plastic sensors 

can diagnose diseases 

wire, directly accepting the electrons 

produced during electrochemical reactions. 

When the material comes into 

contact with a liquid such as sweat, 

tears or blood, it absorbs ions and 

swells, becoming merged with the liquid. 

This leads to significantly higher 

sensitivity compared to traditional sensors 

made of metal electrodes. 

Additionally, when the sensors are 

incorporated into more complex circuits, 

such as transistors, the signal can 

be amplified and respond to tiny fluctuations 

in metabolite concentration, 

despite the tiny size of the devices. 

Initial tests of the sensors were used to 

measure levels of lactate, which is useful 

in fitness applications or to monitor 

patients following surgery. However, 

according to the researchers, the sensor 

can be easily modified to detect other 

metabolites, such as glucose or cholesterol 

by incorporating the appropriate 

enzyme, and the concentration range 

that the sensor can detect can be adjusted 

by changing the device's geometry. 

"This is the first time that it's been possible 

to use an electron accepting polymer 

that can be tailored to improve 

communication with the enzymes, 

which allows for the direct detection of 

a metabolite: this hasn't been straightforward 

until now," said Pappa. 

"It opens up new directions in 

biosensing, where materials can be 

designed to interact with a specific 

metabolite, resulting in far more sensitive 

and selective sensors," she said. 

Since the sensor does not consist of 

metals such as gold or platinum, it can 

be manufactured at a lower cost and 

can be easily incorporated in flexible 

and stretchable substrates, enabling 

their implementation in wearable or 

implantable sensing applications. "An 

implantable device could allow us to 

monitor the metabolic activity of the 

brain in real time under stress conditions, 

such as during or immediately 

before a seizure and could be used to 

predict seizures or to assess treatment," 

said Pappa. 

Apple launches FREE 

Schoolwork app for teachers 

New Delhi : Apple has 

announced its Schoolwork app 

for iPad, which helps teachers 

create assignments for students, 

collaborate one-on-one 

with them, and view their 

progress. Teachers 

can also send 

announcements as 

well as a variety of 

content to their students 

on the app, 

which include, 

PDFs, web links, 

specific in-app 

activities, and more. 

Schoolwork app can 

be used by students to organise 

their work and keep track of 

assignment deadlines and 

completion. Apple's 

Schoolwork app will directly 

work with popular education 

apps like Explain Everything, 

Tynker, Kahoot! and 

GeoGebra. The app can also 

be used by teachers to assign a 

specific activity to students or 

guide them to a challenge or 

lesson. Apple's Schoolwork 

app can be used by teachers to 

get greater insights into the 

Apple's 

Schoolwork app 

will directly work 

with popular education 

apps like 

Explain 

Everything, 

Tynker, Kahoot! 

and GeoGebra. 

progress of their classroom 

and tailor their method of 

teaching for each student. The 

app lets teachers check on the 

progress of their class as a 

whole, as well as every individual 

student. 

Apple has also 

built-in some safety 

and privacy features 

into the app, 

letting schools control 

the accounts 

created by their students. 

The features 

also give teachers 

control of when and 

how a student's progress is 

shared with them. Schoolwork 

is designed to work alongside 

Classroom app by Apple, 

which is available for iPad and 

Mac. Classroom on iPad is a 

versatile app that gives teachers 

control of the technology 

used in the classroom. It gives 

the teacher access to students' 

devices in the classroom, 

allowing them to view a student's 

screen, share assignments, 

assign shared iPads and 

reset passwords. 

Space tourists may 

not be prepared for 

trip beyond Earth 

London : People who sign up with space 

tourism companies for a trip beyond the Earth 

may be unprepared for the rigours of spaceflight, 

according to a NASA astronaut. To date, only the 

Russian Space Agency, Roscosmos, has taken 

tourists into space, between 2001 and 2009, at a 

cost between $20 and 40 million. However, aerospace 

companies like Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic 

and SpaceX are hoping to launch commercial 

flights within the next decade. Hundreds of people 

including the Hollywood actors like Angelina 

Jolie, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, have 

already bought tickets. 

NASA astronaut Anna Fisher, who became the 

first mother in space, has warned many are unprepared 

for the rigours of spaceflight and the toll it 

will take on their bodies. 

Fisher said she was sick for the first two days 

of her mission on the Discovery space shuttle in 

1984, expressing concern that people paying hundreds 

of thousands of pounds did not fully appreciate 

what might happen. "It's not like riding a 

commercial aircraft, not at all, and I can see all 

these problems with people up there and throwing 

up and messing up somebody's flight that they 

paid USD 250,000 for," Fisher was quoted as saying 

by 'The Telegraph'. 

The Apollo 8 crew were the first astronauts to 

report space sickness in 1968, and by Apollo 9 the 

crews were feeling so bad that their spacewalk 

had to be rescheduled. NASA's training aircraft 

where astronauts can experience weightlessness is 

colloquially known as the 'vomit comet' because 

it makes people feel so ill. 

TWITTER rolls out 

new policies to curb 

abuse, TROLLING 

SAN FRANCISCO : To address 

abuse and trolls on its platform, 

Twitter has introduced new policies on 

hateful conduct and violent extremism, 

including a plan to bring in new 

technology and staff to fight spam and 

abuse. The micro-blogging platform 

said that in May, its systems identified 

and challenged more than 9.9 million 

potentially "spammy" or automated 

accounts per week-up from 6.4 million 

in December and 3.2 million in 

September 2017. "To make it harder to 

register spam accounts, we're going to 

require new accounts to confirm either 

an email address or phone 

number when they sign up 

to Twitter. "This is an 

important change to 

defend against people who 

try to take advantage of our 

openness," Twitter said in a 

blog post late on 

Tuesday. 

"Due to technology and process 

improvements during the past year, we 

are now removing 214 per cent more 

accounts for violating our spam policies 

on a year-on-year basis," it added. 

Twitter saw a drop in the average 

number of spam reports-from an average 

of approximately 25,000 per day 

in March, to approximately 17,000 per 

day in May. "We've also seen a 10 per 

cent drop in spam reports from search 

as a result of our recent changes. 

These decreases in reports received 

means people are encountering less 

spam in their timeline, search, and 

across the Twitter product," the company 

said. 

Twitter currently has 330 million 

user accounts. "We're also moving 

rapidly to curb spam and abuse originating 

via Twitter's APIs. In Q1 2018, 

we suspended more than 142,000 

applications in violation of our rulescollectively 

responsible for more than 

130 million low-quality, spammy 

tweets," the blog post said. To reduce 

the visibility of suspicious accounts in 

Tweet and account metrics, the company 

said it has started updating 

account metrics in nearreal 

time. "For example, 

the number of followers 

an account has, or the number 

of likes or Retweets a 

Tweet receives, will be correctly 

updated when we take 

action on accounts," it added. 

Twitter is also conducting an 

audit to secure a number of legacy systems 

used to create accounts. "The 

new protections we've developed as a 

result of this audit have already helped 

us prevent more than 50,000 spammy 

signups per day," the company said. 

Twitter is also automating some 

processes where it sees suspicious 

account activity, like exceptionally 

high-volume tweeting with the same 

hashtag, or using the same @handle 

without a reply from the account a 

user has mentioned. Twitter said it will 

continue to invest in leveraging 

Machine Learning (ML) technology 

and partnerships with third parties.


WORLD 


21 

5 killed in US newspaper shooting, 

suspect charged with first-degree murder 

Washington : Five people were 

killed and two others injured when a 

man armed with a shotgun and smoke 

grenades shot through a glass door 

into the newsroom of a newspaper in 

the US state of Maryland in a targeted 

shooting, police said. Jarrod Warren 

Ramos, the 38-year-old suspect was 

taken into custody after the attack at 

the Capital Gazette newspaper's office 

in Annapolis on Thursday and was 

charged with five counts of firstdegree 

murder, according to court 

records. The attack has been deemed 

as the deadliest day for journalism in 

America in several years. Ramos is 

scheduled to have a bail hearing on 

Friday. He had a long history of conflict 

with the daily, the US media 

reported. Ramos lost a defamation 

case against the paper in 2015 over a 

2011 column he contended defamed 

him. The column provided an account 

of Ramos's guilty plea to criminal 

harassment of a woman over social 

media. Police, who arrived at the 

scene within a minute of the reported 

gunfire, apprehended the gunman who 

was hiding under a desk in the newsroom, 

according to the top official in 

Anne Arundel County, where the 

attack occurred. The five who were 

killed were Capital Gazette employees: 

Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, 

John McNamara, 56, a staff writer; 

Rebecca Smith, 34, a sales assistant 

Inter-Korean ties crucial 

for nuclear diplomacy, 

SAYS SOUTH KOREA 

Seoul : South Korea's point 

man for inter-Korean affairs on 

Friday said Seoul will try to 

facilitate civilian-level 

exchanges with North Korea in 

coming months to strengthen 

the conciliation process 

between the rivals. 

Unification Minister Cho 

Myoung-gyon said 

strengthened relations 

between the Koreas will 

increase the chances of 

successful nuclear diplomacy 

between 

Washington and 

Pyongyang. "(Our) government 

will closely 

communicate and cooperate 

with North Korea 

and the United States, all 

our neighboring countries, 

and the entire international 

community so that the agreements 

between North Korea 

and the United States could be 

quickly and completely carried 

out," Cho said at a Seoul forum 

co-hosted by his ministry and 

South Korea's Yonhap news 

agency. "While the denuclearization 

negotiations go on, 

we may try to facilitate the 

negotiations with efforts from 

the inter-Korean level if such 

an approach is needed." 

Cho said Seoul will put in 

efforts to facilitate inter-Korean 

exchanges at the civilian and 

local government levels so that 

"people from all areas and levels 

of society" could engage in 

the conciliation process. He 

said Seoul will also try to promote 

exchanges between South 

Korean news organizations and 

North Korea's state media. Cho 

downplayed concerns that 

improved relations will be 

accompanied by the easing of 

sanctions and pressure on 

North Korea, saying that the 

progress in inter-Korean projects 

will depend on whether 

appropriate "conditions are created." 

South Korean President 

Moon Jae-in has said progress 

in inter-Korean relations will 

be crucial because the North 

won't give up its nuclear program 

unless it feels its security 

is assured. Moon met with 

and Wendi Winters, 65, who worked 

in special publications. 

Fischman and Hiaasen were editors, 

McNamara was a reporter, Smith 

was a sales assistant and Winters 

worked for special publications, 

North Korean leader Kim Jong 

Un in April and May and their 

summits have opened various 

channels of peace talks, including 

ongoing military talks for 

reducing border tensions, Red 

Cross talks that set 

up temporary 

reunions between 

war-separated relatives, 

and sports 

talks that led to an 

agreement to field 

combined teams at 

the Asian Games in 

August. Kim met 

with President 

Donald Trump earlier 

this month in 

Singapore where 

they issued an aspirational 

goal for a 

denuclearized Korean 

Peninsula without describing 

when and how it would occur. 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike 

Pompeo is expected to travel to 

North Korea soon for followup 

talks. 

Cho said upcoming between 

Pompeo and senior North 

Korean officials will provide an 

opportunity to shape detailed 

plans for the "complete denuclearization 

of the Korean 

Peninsula and security guarantee 

for North Korea," which would 

help the wartime foes kick off a 

genuine peace process. 

China expected 

to become largest 

5G market by 

2025: Report 

Shanghai : China is 

expected to become the 

world's largest 5G market by 

2025, accounting for 430 million 

5G connections, or onethird 

of the global total, 

according to a report released 

on Friday According to the 

joint report by the Global 

System for Mobile 

Communication Association 

(GSMA) and Global TD-LTE 

Initiative (GTI), all three 

Chinese mobile operators are 

currently conducting live 5G 

trials as part of a multi-year 

plan that includes research 

and development and a network 

deployment strategy 

with a view to a large scale 

commercial launch by 2020, 

reports Xinhua news agency. 

The report was released on 

the sidelines of the ongoing 

Mobile World Congress 

Shanghai. It emphasized that 

China's pre-commercial and 

commercial launch footprints 

will also be among the largest 

in the world in terms of base 

stations. China's leading role 

in 5G is backed by a proactive 

government intent on delivering 

rapid structural change, 

said Mats Granryd, director 

general of GSMA. "Chinese 

mobile operators should be 

encouraged to deliver what 

they do best in providing 

secure, reliable, and intelligent 

connectivity to businesses 

and enterprises across the 

country," Granryd added. 

according to the newspaper's website. 

Four of the victims died on the spot 

while the fifth was pronounced dead at 

the University of Maryland Medical 

Centre. The shooting began at about 3 

p.m. in the office building as Ramos 

Tripoli : Around 100 people 

are thought to have drowned 

from a migrant boat off Libya's 

western coast, a coastguard 

official said on Friday. The 

coastguard picked up 14 survivors 

from the 

boat just east of 

the capital, 

Tripoli, the official 

said. 

Separately, the 

coastguard said it 

had intercepted 

200 migrants 

from two other 

migrant boats 

east of Tripoli. 

Libya is one of 

the main departure points for 

migrants trying to cross to 

Europe by sea, usually in flimsy 

inflatable boats provided by 

smugglers that often get punctured 

or break down. Some 

make it to international waters 

where they hope to be picked 

entered the building with a shotgun 

and looked for his victims, the police 

said. After his arrest, Ramos refused to 

cooperate with the authorities or provide 

his name. He was identified using 

facial recognition technology, a law 

enforcement official told the New 

York Times. The newspaper, which 

was reeling from the attack, defiantly 

tweeted late on Thursday: "Yes, we're 

putting out a damn paper tomorrow." 

It tweeted the front page of its Friday 

edition as well as obituaries for their 

colleagues. The opinion page was left 

mostly blank with a brief message: 

"Today, we are speechless. This page 

is intentionally left blank today to 

commemorate victims of shooting at 

our office." It listed the five people's 

names. The Capital Gazette, which has 

an editorial staff of 31 people, had a 

daily circulation of about 29,000 and a 

Sunday circulation of 34,000 as of 

2014. Commonly referred to as the 

Capital, the paper was founded in 

1884 as the Evening Gazette. 

The paper promotes itself as one of 

the oldest publishers in the country, 

with roots dating to the Maryland 

Gazette in 1727. 

Libyan coastguard says 

100 migrants may have 

drowned near Tripoli 

Libya is one of the 

main departure points 

for migrants trying to 

cross to Europe by 

sea, usually in flimsy 

inflatable boats provided 

by smugglers 

that often get punctured 

or break down. 

up by international vessels, but 

increasing numbers are intercepted 

by Libya's EU-backed 

coastguard and returned to 

Libya. Departures surged in 

2014 when conflict in Libya 

worsened and 

more than 

650,000 migrants 

have crossed the 

c e n t r a l 

Mediterranean 

since then. But 

the traffic has 

slowed since last 

July, when smuggling 

networks 

on Libya's 

Mediterranean 

coast were partially disrupted 

under heavy Italian pressure. 

This year just over 11,400 

arrivals from Libya have been 

registered by Italy's interior 

ministry, more than 80 percent 

fewer than during the same 

period in 2016 and 2017.


WORLD 


Brazil, US to 

discuss separated 

migrant children 

Rio De Janeiro : Brazilian President 

Michel Temer will 

discuss the situation 

of Brazilian children 

separated from their 

migrant parents in 

the US, when 

American Vice 

President Mike 

Pence arrives on a 

two-day visit on 

Tuesday, media said. 

According to government 

news agency 

Agencia Brasil it will receive "special 

and concrete treatment" at the first highlevel 

meeting between Brazil and the US 

since Temer took office in mid-2016, following 

his predecessor, Dilma Rousseff's 

removal. The situation of over 40 

Brazilian children who have been separated 

from their parents and are being 

kept in shelters will be discussed at the 

meeting, Undersecretary for Multilateral 

Political Matters for Europe and North 

America Fernando Simas Magalhaes 

said. Magalhaes said that Temer will 

express his worries about their treatment, 

adding that "our concern with the dignity 

of these families and children" would be 

made clear, Xinhua news agency reported. 

The US has received severe criticism 

over the child separation policy. Images 

of the cage-like shelters, with children 

having only tinfoil blankets to keep 

warm caused international uproar. 

The worldwide criticism eventually 

led US President Donald Trump to sign a 

decree halting the separations. However, 

family reunifications have been slow. 

There are still thousands of children separated 

from their parents, including several 

Brazilian citizens. According to 

Magalhaes, Brazilian diplomatic staff in 

the US have reported difficulties in locating 

these children. 

First Trump-Putin summit 

has Cold War backdrop, 

US ALLIES NERVOUS 

Moscow/washington : US 

President Donald Trump and Russian 

President Vladimir Putin will meet 

for their first summit on July 16 in 

Helsinki, a venue famed for its Cold 

War diplomacy. The Kremlin and the 

White House simultaneously 

announced the place and date a day 

after reaching agreement for the two 

leaders to meet following a visit to 

Moscow by U.S. national security 

adviser John Bolton. 

Trump will meet Putin after 

attending a July 11-12 summit of 

NATO leaders and a visit to Britain. 

The date will give Putin a chance to 

attend the July 15 closing ceremony 

of the soccer World Cup hosted by 

Russia. The two leaders have met 

twice before on the sidelines of international 

gatherings and spoken at 

least eight times by phone. They have 

also made positive comments about 

each other now and then with Putin 

lauding Trump's handling of the U.S. 

economy. The summit could irritate 

U.S. allies, such as Britain, who want 

to isolate Putin, or countries such as 

Ukraine who are nervous about what 

they see as Trump's overly friendly 

attitude towards the Russian leader. It 

is also likely to go down badly 

among critics who question Trump's 

commitment to the NATO alliance 

CHINA DEFENDS PAKISTAN 

AFTER IT WAS PUT 

ON FATF 'GREY LIST' 

and who have been concerned about 

his frictions with longtime allies such 

as Canada and Germany over trade 

policy. "The president is pursuing 

this meeting in the interest of national 

security and to determine whether 

Russia is willing to make progress in 

our relationship," White House 

spokeswoman Lindsay Walters told 

reporters aboard Air Force One, 

adding that Trump hoped it would 

"help reduce tension." 

Relations between Washington 

and Moscow became the most 

strained since the end of the Cold 

War during the administration of 

President Barack Obama who 

imposed sanctions for Russia's 

annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. 

U.S. intelligence agencies accused 

Russia of interfering in the 2016 U.S. 

election, an allegation Moscow has 

repeatedly denied. The summit is 

also boost for Finland, whose capital 

hosted major Cold War summits 

between leaders such as Leonid 

Brezhnev and Gerald Ford in 1975, 

and Mikhail Gorbachev and George 

H.W. Bush in 1990, as well as a 

meeting between Boris Yeltsin and 

Bill Clinton in 1997. Moscow hopes 

the Helsinki summit will restart a 

dialogue between Washington and 

Moscow, said Vassily Nebenzia, the 

Russian ambassador to the United 

Nations. "We need each other, not 

because we want to love each other. 

We don't want and we don't need to 

The summit could irritate 

US allies, such as Britain, 

who want to isolate Putin, 

or countries such as 

Ukraine who are nervous 

about what they see as 

Trump's overly friendly 

attitude towards Putin. 

be loved. We simply need to hold 

normal, pragmatic relations with a 

major country upon which - like what 

lies upon us - a lot in the world 

depends," Nebenzia told a news conference 

at the United Nations. 

Nebenzia said he expects the summit 

to primarily focus on U.S.-Russia 

relations, but that "we will not be 

able to avoid" the civil war in Syria, 

the 2015 international accord on 

Iran's nuclear program, which Trump 

has repudiated, and the Ukraine crisis. 

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of 

Trump's Republican Party, "What 

people are worried about is the president 

going into this meeting (with 

Putin) with a weaker hand if he is 

seen as blowing up alliances and not 

having a very good trip to London," 

said Fried, now at the Washingtonbased 

Atlantic Council. 

Beijing : China on Friday 

said that Pakistan must not be 

vilified and pressured on the 

front of terror, after a global 

watchdog put the country on 

"grey list" of countries that 

finance terrorism. China calls 

Pakistan its "best friend" and 

resolutely backs the country 

whenever it is slammed for 

funding and sheltering terrorists. 

The Chinese Foreign 

Ministry said it won't comment 

on the Financial Action Task 

Force's (FATF) decision to put 

Pakistan on the "grey list" and 

counselled the world to see the 

efforts made by Islamabad in 

an "objective" way. "We will 

not make comment on the decision 

of the task force. Pakistan 

has made enormous efforts for 

counterterrorism and made 

great sacrifice. The international 

community should view this 

in an objective, just way and 

should give more support and 

recognition to Pakistan," ministry's 

spokesperson Lu Kang 

said. "Pakistan efforts in the 

counter terrorism have not only 

won recognition from China 

but also from many countries 

around the world. In recent 

years, it has taken positive 

measures to enhance financial 

regulations to combat terrorism 

financing and made very 

important progress," Lu said. 

"We hope all the relevant parties 

can view the efforts made 

by Pakistan on counter-terrorism 

in an objective way instead 

of accusing and pressuring it. 

China and Pakistan are all 

weather, strategic partners. 

China is willing to enhance 

counter terrorism cooperation 

with Pakistan." 

The FATF on Thursday put 

Islamabad on "grey list" for 

failing to rein in terrorists and 

funding to outfits like Lashkare-Taiba, 

Jamaat-ud-Dawa and 

Jaish-e-Mohammed. Parisbased 

FATF is an inter-governmental 

body established in 

1989 to combat money laundering, 

terrorist financing and 

other related threats to the 

integrity of the international 

financial system. Chinese 

defence against its "all-weather" 

ally is not new. Beijing has 

invested over $50 billion in 

infrastructure projects in 

Pakistan, which are part of its 

ambitious Belt and Road programme.


Japan industrial output 

falls slightly, labour 

market tightens in May 

Tokyo : Japan's industrial output fell less 

than expected in May and the jobless rate hit its 

lowest in more than 25 years, adding to hopes 

the economy would return to growth in the second 

quarter. Industrial output fell 0.2 percent in 

May from the previous month, official data 

showed on Friday, less than the median forecast 

Manufacturers 

surveyed by the 

Ministry of 

Economy, Trade 

and Industry 

expected output 

to rise 0.4 percent 

in June and rise 

0.8 percent in 

July. The jobless 

rate fell in May to 

2.2 percent, lowest 

in 25 years. 

for a 1.1 percent decline 

and following a 0.5 percent 

increase in April. 

Manufacturers surveyed 

by the Ministry of 

Economy, Trade and 

Industry expected output 

to rise 0.4 percent in June 

and rise 0.8 percent in 

July. The jobless rate fell 

in May to 2.2 percent, the 

lowest in 25 years and 

seven months as companies 

grapple with labour 

shortages. Japan's economy 

is expected to 

rebound in the second quarter from a contraction 

in the first quarter that ended the longest 

growth streak since the 1980s bubble economy. 

Economists expect output to continue to rise 

gradually as overseas economies gather 

strength, but trade friction with the United 

States poses risks to the outlook for Japanese 

growth. Output fell in May due to a 6.9 percent 

decline in production of vehicles and a 1.9 

decline in output of steel, the data showed. 

Labour market data showed the jobs-to-applicants 

ratio, a measure of demand for workers, 

rose to 1.60 from 1.59 in April to the highest 

since January 1974. 

Rome : Italy’s populist 

Premier Giuseppe Conte will 

visit the US next month where 

he is scheduled to meet US 

President Donald Trump in the 

White House on July 30, his 

office announced on Thursday. 

“The visit will offer an opportunity 

to reaffirm the solidity and 

centrality of the ties of friendship 

and alliance between Italy 

and the US – on a bilateral and 

multilateral level,” said the 

statement announcing Conte’s 

visit. “The two countries will 

deepen their cooperation, which 

is essential for international 

security and stability in the 

principal conflict zones including 

the Mediterranean, Iraq and 

Afghanistan,” it said. 

“Italy and the US will also 

intensify their cooperation to 

promote mutual economic 

growth,” added the statement, 

which also alluded to the “deep 

historical and cultural ties” 

underlying bilateral relations. 

Conte and Trump will hold a 

private talks at the White 

House, which will be followed 

by a meeting attended by the 

WORLD 

Britain’s population 

passes 66 million mark 

London : Britain’s population 

inflow of immigrants to the UK was 

has officially passed the 66 million 

mark, the Office for National 

Statistics (ONS) said on Thursday. 

In the year ending June, 2017, an 

extra 392,000 people were added to 

the total population of England, 

Scotland, Wales and Northern 

Ireland, reaching 66,040,229. But 

ONS said the 0.6 per cent growth 

over the year was the lowest since 

mid-2004, Xinhua news agency 

reported. 

The year ending June 2016 saw 

the population rise by 538,000 

which was the highest population 

growth since 1948. ONS said 41 per 

cent of the population growth 

occurred from natural change 

(births minus deaths) and 59 per 

cent through net international 

migration. The reduction in the 

number of immigrants was the 

largest single driver of the lower 

level of population growth in the 

year to mid-2017, the report said. 

Immigration in the year to mid-2017 

was 572,000, but in the same year 

342,00 people left the country, 

28,000 more than the previous year, 

representing a nine per cent increase 

in the number of emigrating. ONS 

said the EU Brexit referendum was 

likely to be one of the key drivers 

for the figures. ONS said the largest 

from Romania (50,000) followed by 

China, India, France and Poland. 

The new statistics showed that 12 

million UK residents were aged 65 

and over in mid-2017, or 18.2 per 

cent of the population, with the 

large 1947-born cohort now being 

aged 70. A decrease in net international 

migration in mid-2017 has 

affected the rate of population 

growth in some places more than 

others, with England’s growth rate 

decreasing more than the other 

regions of the UK to 0.64 per cent 

and London’s rate nearly halving to 

0.63 per cent. 

According to Statistician Neil 

Park, head of Population Estimates 

Unit at ONS, this is the lowest annual 

population growth since 2004 due 

to a fall in net migration, fewer 

births and more deaths than previously 

seen. 

Myanmar military top brass must face justice: Rights body 

London : A human rights body on Wednesday called 

for Myanmar military and security forces officials to 

face justice for their alleged crimes against humanity 

and ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya population. 

The Amnesty International said there is "a mountain 

of evidence" demonstrating that the campaign was 

"orchestrated" by the military against the Rohingya population, 

Efe news reported. Amnesty demanded that top 

Myanmar military officials be prosecuted by the 

International Criminal Court. "Those with blood on their 

hands -- right up the chain of command to Senior General 

Min Aung Hlaing -- must be held to account for their 

role," Amnesty's Senior Crisis Advisor Matthew Wells 

Italian PM to meet Trump 

at the White House 

Italian and US delegations, said 

the statement from Conte’s 

office. At the contentious G7 

summit earlier this month in 

Canada, Conte was the only 

leader to back Trump’s suggestion 

that Russia should be 

allowed to rejoin the exclusive 

club of the world’s most industrialised 

nations. Russia was 

ousted from the G7 in 2014 

after its invasion of Crimea. 

Trump has described Conte 

as “great” and “very strong on 

immigration, like I am.” 

Conte, whose government 

was sworn in on June 1, had 

since then visited Germany for 

talks with Chancellor Angela 

Merkel on migration and met 

France’s President Emanuel 

Macron at the Elysee Palace, 

where migration was the focus 

of their discussions. 

Father of Jackson 5, Joe Jackson, dies aged 89 

New York : Joe Jackson, father of music legends Michael 

and Janet Jackson, passed away on Wednesday after he had been 

in hospital for terminal pancreatic cancer. He was 89. 

According to a report in the BBC, that quoted a person close 

to the family confirming Joe Jackson’s death, he died two days 

after the death anniversary Michael Jackson. 

Taj Jackson, Joe’s grandson, also confirmed his death in a 

tweet. Joe Jackson is survived by Katherine, 88, and nine of his 

11 children. “Five sons – Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and 

Michael – became the Jackson 5, joined at times by younger 

brother Randy, who also pursued a solo career. 

said in a statement. The military operations, supported 

by the Border Guard Police, began at the end of August 

2017 after a group of Rohingya insurgents launched an 

attack on about 30 security posts. The crackdown forced 

more than 700,000 people of the Muslim-majority ethnic 

group that had resided in western Myanmar for centuries 

to flee to Bangladesh. In the report "Myanmar:'We Will 

Destroy Everything': Military Responsibility for Crimes 

Against Humanity in Rakhine State" published on 

Wednesday, Amnesty provided new details arrests, 

enforced disappearances, torture and "systematic attack" 

on the Rohingya population. It named individuals for 

their roles in the "ethnic cleansing campaign". 


23 

Asia's first patent 

arbitration centre 

to open in Tokyo 

Tokyo : Asia's first arbitration 

centre specialised in intellectual 

property is slated to open 

in Tokyo in September to 

resolve the growing number of 

disputes in the region, an official 

said on Friday. The International 

Arbitration Centre in Tokyo 

(IACT) is set to have around a 

dozen arbitrators from around 

the world, who would try to 

resolve disputes within a period 

of one year, Katsuya Tamai, a 

project member and University 

of Tokyo professor specialising 

in intellectual property law, told 

Efe news. 

Technological progress and 

diversification of applications 

have resulted in more patent 

infringement disputes worldwide, 

raising the number of 

cases not settled through dialogue, 

according to the latest 

report released by Japan's Patent 

Office. The body also noticed 

that a growing number of disputes 

and legal complexities 

make the resolution process 

time-consuming, so it recommends 

more centres and arbitrators 

to handle such cases. The 

patent infringement dispute 

between Samsung Electronics 

and Apple, in which Apple sued 

Samsung for allegedly copying 

the design of its mobile phones, 

and which was finally resolved 

on Thursday after seven years of 

litigation and compensation 

amounting to millions of dollars, 

is the most recent example of 

such a dispute. The IACT is due 

to handle disputes between non- 

Japanese companies also, if both 

parties agree.


WORLD 


GST helpline 

number for 

consumers 

soon: Goyal 

New Delhi : Union 

Minister Piyush Goyal on 

Saturday said that a telephone 

helpline number will be started 

soon, where consumers 

can report against those 

traders who evade tax by not 

issuing purchase bill. 

According to the Finance 

Ministry's tweets, the Union 

Minister for Railways, Coal, 

Finance and Corporate Affairs 

also appealed to consumers to 

demand for bills, whenever 

they buy any goods or services 

which would help in reducing 

the rates under the GST. 

India welcomes grey-listing 

of Pakistan by FATF 

New Delhi, June 30 (IANS) ing terror 

ry session in Exchange Commission of 

India on Saturday welcomed financing and 

Paris after Pakistan issued the Anti Money 

Pakistan being put on the "grey anti-money 

Islamabad submitted 

Laundering and Countering 

list" by the Financial Action Task laundering, 

a detailed Financing of Terrorism 

Force (FATF), an inter-governmental 

especially in 

26-point action Regulations on June 20. 

body which combats 

money laundering and terror 

respect of UN 

designated and 

plan to the body 

to choke funding 

Islamabad has been scrambling 

in recent months to avoid 

financing among other things, for internationally 

of militant being added to the list of countries 

failing to curb terror financing on proscribed terror 

groups, includ- 

deemed non-compliant with 

its soil. "India welcomes the 

entities and 

ing Mumbai anti-money laundering and ter- 

decision of the Financial Action individuals," 

attack mastermind 

rorist financing regulations by 

Task Force to place Pakistan in Kumar said. 

Hafiz FATF, a measure that officials in 

its Compliance Document (Grey "The freedom 

Saeed-led JuD Pakistan fear could hurt its economy, 

list) for ICRG (International and impunity 

and its affiliates. 

which is already under 

Cooperation Review Group) with which the 

The decision strain. In his statement on 

monitoring," External Affairs 

Ministry spokesperson Raveesh 

designated terrorists 

like Hafiz Saeed and entities 

to put Pakistan in 

the "grey list" was taken in 

Saturday, Kumar said that India 

hopes that "the FATF action plan 

Kumar said in response to 

like Jamaat-ud-Dawa, February but then the country shall be complied with in a time 

queries. 

Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e- was given relief till June to combat 

bound manner and credible 

"Pakistan has given a high 

level political commitment to 

address the global concerns 

Mohammed continue to operate 

in Pakistan is not in keeping with 

such commitments." 

the issue. Pakistan was also 

included in the list from 2012 to 

2015. Islamabad claims that in 

measures would be taken by 

Pakistan to address global concerns 

related to terrorism emanating 

regarding its implementation of The FATF announcement compliance with FATF's recommendations, 

from any territory under 

the FATF standards for counter- 

came on Wednesday at its plena- 

the Securities and its control". 

Sri Lanka 

moves 

naval unit 

to Chineserun 

port 

Colombo : Sri 

Lanka would move 

its southern naval 

command to a port 

leased to a state-run 

Chinese firm but 

China would not use 

it for military purposes, 

the Prime 

Minister's Office 

said on Saturday. 

Colombo's 

announcement will 

likely raise fresh 

concerns in New 

Delhi over China's 

military potentially 

getting a foothold in 

the Indian Ocean 

through the deep-sea 

port of Hambantota, 

which straddles a 

major east-west shipping 

route. 

Saudi king agrees to ramp 

up oil production : Trump 

Washington : US President 

Donald Trump on Saturday 

said that Saudi Arabia’s King 

Salman had agreed to his 

request to ramp up oil production, 

a week after the 

Organization of the Petroleum 

Exporting Countries (OPEC) 

already announced an output 

rise. “Just spoke to King 

Salman of Saudi Arabia and 

explained to him that, because 

of the turmoil & dysfunction in 

Iran and Venezuela, I am asking 

that Saudi Arabia increase 

oil production, maybe up to 

2,000,000 barrels, to make up 

the difference,” Trump 

announced in an early morning 

tweet. “Prices too high! He has 

agreed!” 

Saudi authorities had no 

immediate comment. 

Trump has repeatedly lashed 

out at OPEC on Twitter in 

recent months, piling pressure 

on Riyadh, a major ally, to 

boost output as he hopes for 

lower pump prices before midterm 

congressional elections in 

November. 

His latest comments come a 

week after ministers from 

OPEC — of which Saudi 

Arabia is the major member — 

had already agreed to raise output 

from July. Non-OPEC 

member Russia on June 23 also 

backed the effort, capping a 

week of tense diplomacy for 

the grouping that averted a 

damaging rift between archfoes 

Iran and Saudi Arabia. 

The ministers announced 

they would ramp up oil production 

by around one million barrels 

a day from July. “I think it 

will contribute significantly to 

meet the extra demand that we 

see coming in the second half,” 

Saudi Energy Minister Khalid 

al-Faleh told reporters at the 

time. 

The talks had centered on 

whether to amend an 18- 

month-old supply-cut deal 

between OPEC members and 

allied countries, including 

Russia, that has cleared a global 

oil glut and lifted crude 

prices. Saudi Arabia, backed by 

non-member Russia, had 

argued strongly in favour of 

increasing production as grumbles 

in major consumer countries 

such as the US, India and 

China have grown about high 

prices. Iran opposed any 

changes to the original production-cut 

deal at a time when its 

oil industry is facing curbs over 

Trump’s move to quit the 

nuclear deal with Tehran. In the 

end, both sides were able to 

save face. 

Will help allies ‘cut imports’ from Iran 

- The Trump administration is pushing countries to cut all 

imports of Iranian oil from November when the US re-impos 

es sanctions against Tehran after Trump withdrew from a 2015 

nuclear deal 

- US officials are pressing allies in Europe, Asia and the Middle 

East to adhere to the sanctions, which are aimed at pressuring 

Iran to negotiate a follow-up agreement to halt its nuclear pro 

gramme 

- State Department officials said the US is prepared to work 

with countries on a case-by-case basis to help them reduce 

imports of Iranian oil 

NSA deleting 685 

million call records 

Washington : The National Security Agency is deleting more 

than 685 million call records the US government 

obtained from telecommunications 

companies since 2015. After former 

NSA contractor Edward Snowden leaked 

documents revealing extensive government 

surveillance, Congress passed a law 

in 2015 that ended the NSA's bulk collection 

of call records. The law said future data would be retained 

by telecommunications companies, but the intelligence agency 

could request information. Now the NSA is deleting all the 

information it collected, which a former top national security 

official says points to a failure of the programme. 

Flynas launches Riyadh-Hyderabad flight 

Hyderabad : Flynas, a leading airline from Saudi Arabia, 

on Friday commenced its operations in India with the launch 

of its Riyadh-Hyderabad flight. The maiden flight landed at 

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) here to a warm 

welcome. Hyderabad is the first city chosen by Flynas to start 

operations in India with two weekly flights between 

Hyderabad and Riyadh. GMR Hyderabad International 

Airport Ltd. announced addition of yet another international 

airline to its portfolio. RGIA is now connected with Riyadh by 

two airlines providing convenient travel options to the travellers 

from the region, said a statement from the Hyderabad 

airport operator. Flynas offers an extensive network from its 

hub in Riyadh to Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. It 

offers flights to 17 destinations within Saudi Arabia and 53 

international destinations with a fleet of 30 aircraft. 

Pakistan, US to work towards peace in Afghanistan 

Islamabad: Pakistan and the US have 

agreed to remain engaged for peace in 

Afghanistan, a media report said on 

Wednesday. The agreement came during 

a meeting between US Deputy 

Assistant Secretary at the State 

Department's Bureau of South and 

Central Asian Affairs Ambassador 

Alice Wells and Army Chief Gen 

Qamar Bajwa here on Tuesday, reports 

Dawn news. "Both reaffirmed the 

commitment towards the common 

goal of peace and stability in the 

region and discussed measures 

towards that end. Both also agreed on 

continued engagement at multiple levels," 

the Inter-Services Public 

Relations said in a statement. Wells 

was on a three-day visit to Pakistan to 

again seek Pakistani authorities' help 

for the Afghan peace process. She met 

Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar, 

Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, 

Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar 

Bajwa and Chief of the General Staff 

Lt Gen Bilal Akbar. During her visit to 

Kabul, which preceded the Islamabad 

trip, Wells said the Taliban's refusal to 

join the political process was "unacceptable". 

According to the US Embassay in 

Pakistan, Wells' discussion was consistent 

with President Donald Trump 

administration's South Asia and 

Afghanistan strategy, reports Dawn. 

The strategy announced last year signalled 

that Washington might take 

coercive steps to push Pakistan to 

crack down against the Taliban and 

Haqqani network.

Issue 2018

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