Amir Khan and Nighat Arif collect Asian Achievers Awards

Amir Khan and Nighat Arif collect Asian Achievers Awards
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Amir Khan and Pratik Dattani. (Supplied)
Amir Khan and Nighat Arif collect Asian Achievers Awards
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Dr. Nighat Arif. (Supplied)
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Updated 26 September 2024
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Amir Khan and Nighat Arif collect Asian Achievers Awards

Amir Khan and Nighat Arif collect Asian Achievers Awards
  • Evening was a testament to the exceptional achievements within the British Asian community
  • Lifetime Achievement Award went to former Member of Parliament Virendra Sharma

LONDON: Former boxer Amir Khan and TV doctor Nighat Arif were amongst the winners of Asian Achievers Awards in London.

The 22nd Asian Achievers Awards brought together over 500 distinguished guests from around the world to celebrate the outstanding contributions of leading South Asians in the UK. Hosted by former Eastenders star Nitin Ganatra and ITV newsreader Anila Dhami, the evening was a testament to the exceptional achievements within the British Asian community.

Amongst the night’s winners were fusion sound duo Abi Sampa and Rushil Ranjan, Leicester City footballer Hamza Choudhury, GP specializing in women’s health Dr. Nighat Arif, the founder of the Indian street food chain Chaiiwalas, and the founder of the largest distributor of car parts in Europe Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia.

For his over 50 years in public service, the Lifetime Achievement Award went to former Member of Parliament Virendra Sharma.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “British Asians are a driving force behind much of the social, cultural and economic innovation we see in Britain today. You represent so many of the values that help our communities thrive — ambition, hard work and inclusivity, to name just a few. This is why it is wonderful so see so many British Asian change-makers being recognized tonight by the team at EPG.”

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also sent his congratulations to the winners and the EPG team.

Boxer Amir Khan was awarded a Special Award for Philanthropy and said: “It’s a privilege to be recognized for the work I’ve always felt deeply passionate about. The real champions are those working every day to improve the lives of others, and I’m proud to play my part in that. This award is recognition for all those who have supported my foundation in the last decade and the brilliant team who work tirelessly on the ground.”

Organizer of the Awards, Pratik Dattani, said: “The British Asian community adds so much to Britain today. Tonight was testament to the longevity of our Awards – after 22 years, they still matter and they still are able to unearth the most exceptional people from across the country.”

Host Ganatra said: “Every year I come to these Awards and am impressed by the standard of nominations and the quality of the shortlist. Just look back at the last two decades of winners and you’ll see the event has tracked the growth of our community for more than a generation.”

The evening saw electric performances from Brit Asian music pioneer Juggy D and Edinburgh Fringe Festival winner, stand-up comedian Ahir Shah.

The event raised a large sum of money for the charity partner The Leprosy Mission’s efforts at helping marginalized communities across South Asia prosper.

The event was supported by pioneers of financial inclusivity Andaria, Dubai-based real estate innovators Aries Global, pioneer in luxury ayurveda Forest Essentials, India’s largest bank State Bank of India, solar panel installer Solar4Good, the home of zafran tea FiLLi Cafe, AI-driven legal solutions provider LexLegis.ai, Indian single malt whisky Indri, the world’s most famous cornershop Fortnum & Mason and others, as well as media partners Asian Voice, Gujarat Samachar and LycaRadio.

Full List of Winners:

Special Award for Philanthropy: Amir Khan

Art and Culture Award: Abi Sampa and Rushil Ranjan

Business Person of the Year: Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia

Community Service Award: Iftikhar Chaudhri

Entrepreneur of the Year: Muhammad Ibrahim (Chaiiwala)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Virendra Sharma

Media Person of the Year Award: Tasnim Nasser

Professional of the Year: Dr. Kesar Singh Sadhra

Sports Personality of the Year: Hamza Choudhury

Woman of the Year: Dr. Nighat Arif

Special Award for Entrepreneurship: Irshad Akhtar

Special Award for Young Business Person of the Year: Krishan and Shyam Sedani

Special Award for International Business Person of the Year: Bipen Sharma

Special Award for Professional Impact: Navita Yadav


France’s Macron arrives in cyclone-hit Mayotte to assess devastation

France’s Macron arrives in cyclone-hit Mayotte to assess devastation
Updated 29 sec ago
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France’s Macron arrives in cyclone-hit Mayotte to assess devastation

France’s Macron arrives in cyclone-hit Mayotte to assess devastation
  • Officials have warned that the death toll from the most destructive cyclone in living memory could reach hundreds, possibly thousands
  • Besides declaring ‘exceptional natural disaster measures,’ authorities have also imposed a nightly curfew to prevent looting

MAMOUDZOU: French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday arrived in Mayotte to assess the devastation wrought by Cyclone Chido on the Indian Ocean archipelago, as rescuers raced to search for survivors and supply desperately needed aid.

His visit to the French overseas territory comes after Paris declared “exceptional natural disaster” measures for Mayotte late Wednesday night to enable faster and “more effective management of the crisis.”

Located near Madagascar off the coast of southeastern Africa, Mayotte is France’s poorest region.

Macron’s plane landed at 10:10 a.m. local time with some 20 doctors, nurses and civil security personnel on board, as well as four tons of food and sanitary supplies.

Officials have warned that the death toll from the most destructive cyclone in living memory on French territory could reach hundreds — possibly thousands — as rescuers race to clear debris and comb through flattened shantytowns to search for survivors.

“The tragedy of Mayotte is probably the worst natural disaster in the past several centuries of French history,” Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said.

Macron was expected to travel with a small delegation to minimize the use of law enforcement resources needed elsewhere on the archipelago.

After an “aerial reconnaissance of the disaster area,” Macron will go to the Mamoudzou hospital center, according to an itinerary released Wednesday, to “meet with the health care staff and the patients being treated.”

He will also visit a neighborhood razed by the storm, meet with Mayotte officials, and outline a reconstruction plan.

A preliminary toll from France’s interior ministry shows that 31 people have been confirmed killed, 45 seriously hurt, and more than 1,370 suffering lighter injuries.

But officials say the toll could rise exponentially.

Besides declaring “exceptional natural disaster measures,” authorities have also imposed a nightly curfew to prevent looting.

In response to widespread shortages, the government also issued a decree freezing the prices of consumer goods in the archipelago at their pre-cyclone levels.

Products affected include mineral water, food and beverages, batteries, as well as basic hygiene, everyday and construction products, and animal feed.

Cyclone Chido, which hit Mayotte on Saturday, was the latest in a string of storms worldwide fueled by climate change, according to meteorologists.

Experts say seasonal storms are being super-charged by warmer Indian Ocean waters, fueling faster, more destructive winds.

An estimated one-third of Mayotte’s population lives in shantytowns whose flimsy, sheet metal-roofed homes offered scant protection from the storm.

At Mamoudzou hospital center, windows were blown out and doors ripped off from hinges, but most of the medics had taken to sleeping at their battered workplace on Wednesday as Chido had swept their homes away.

“It’s chaos,” said medical and administrative assistant Anrifia Ali Hamadi.

“The roof is collapsing. We’re not very safe. Even I don’t feel safe here.”

But staff soldiered on despite the hospital being out of action, with electricians racing to restore a maternity ward, France’s largest with around 10,000 births a year.

“The Mamoudzou hospital suffered major damage,” said the hospital’s director Jean-Mathieu Defour. “Everything is still functioning, but in a degraded state.”

In the small commune of Pamandzi, sheet metal and destroyed wooden structures were strewn as far as the eye could see.

“It was like a steamroller that crushed everything,” said Nasrine, a Mayotte teacher who declined to give her full name.

With health services in tatters, and power and mobile phone services knocked out, French Overseas Minister Francois-Noel Buffet on Wednesday night declared “exceptional natural disaster” measures for Mayotte.

Under a new emergency system for overseas territories, the measures will hold for a month, and can be renewed every two months after that.

It will “enable the local and national authorities to react more quickly while streamlining certain administrative procedures,” Buffet said.

Much of Mayotte’s population is Muslim, whose religious tradition dictates that bodies be buried rapidly, so some may never be identified.

Assessing the toll is further complicated by irregular immigration to Mayotte, especially from the Comoros islands to the north, meaning much of the population is unregistered.

Mayotte officially has 320,000 inhabitants, but authorities estimate the actual figure is 100,000 to 200,000 higher when taking into account undocumented migrants.

French military planes have been shuttling between Mayotte and the island of La Reunion, another French overseas territory to the east that was spared by the cyclone.

A “civilian maritime bridge” was launched between both island groups, said Patrice Latron, the prefect in La Reunion.

As of Wednesday, more than 100 tons of food was to be distributed.

“We’re moving to a phase of massive support for Mayotte,” he said, adding that around 200 shipping containers with supplies and water would arrive by Sunday.


Kite-making picks up in India’s Gujarat as harvest festival nears

Kite-making picks up in India’s Gujarat as harvest festival nears
Updated 19 December 2024
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Kite-making picks up in India’s Gujarat as harvest festival nears

Kite-making picks up in India’s Gujarat as harvest festival nears
  • People in Gujarat celebrate Uttarayan, a Hindu festival, in mid-January that marks the end of winter by flying kites
  • At least 18 people died from injuries related to kite flying across Gujarat during this year’s Uttarayan festival

AHMEDABAD: Huddled over piles of colorful paper, Mohammad Yunus is one among thousands of workers in India’s western state of Gujarat who make kites by hand that are used during a major harvest festival.

People in Gujarat celebrate Uttarayan, a Hindu festival in mid-January that celebrates the end of winter by flying kites held by glass-coated or plastic strings.

“The kite may seem like a small item but it takes a long time to make it. Many people are involved in it and their livelihoods depend on it,” Yunus, a Muslim who comes to Gujarat from neighboring Rajasthan state to make kites during the peak season, told Reuters.

Kite enthusiasts fly kites during the eight-day-long International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad, India, on January 7, 2024. (REUTERS)

More than 130,000 people are involved in kite-making throughout Gujarat, according to government estimates, many of whom work from homes to make kites that cost as little as five rupees (6 US cents).

At the start of the two-day festival, people rent roofs and terraces from those who have access to them, and gather there to fly colorful kites that criss-cross each other in the sky.

Gujarat is a hub of the kite industry in the country, boasting a market worth 6.50 billion Indian rupees ($76.58 million), and the state accounts for about 65 percent of the total number of kites made in India.

A woman makes kites inside her house in Ahmedabad, India, on October 10, 2024. (REUTERS)

While the kite flying season in the state is limited to almost just 2 or 3 days in January, the industry runs year-round providing employment to about 130,000 people in the state, according to government figures.

But these paper birds are also harmful and can be fatal, especially kites that have plastic strings, which can cause serious cuts to birds in the sky, killing and injuring thousands of them during the festival.

At least 18 people died from kite related injures across Gujarat during this year’s Uttarayan festival, including being cut by a string and getting electrocuted while trying to extricate a kite from an electric pole, local media reported.

A worker applies colour to strings which will be used to fly kites, at a roadside kite market in Ahmedabad, India, on December 31, 2023. (REUTERS)

 


Five suspected militants killed in Indian-administered Kashmir

Five suspected militants killed in Indian-administered Kashmir
Updated 19 December 2024
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Five suspected militants killed in Indian-administered Kashmir

Five suspected militants killed in Indian-administered Kashmir
  • The disputed region is home to a 35-year insurgency in which tens of thousands of civilians, soldiers and militants have been killed
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government canceled the territory’s partial autonomy in 2019, bringing the region under its direct rule

SRINAGAR: Security forces in India-administered Kashmir on Thursday killed at least five suspected militants in ongoing clashes, the army said, the latest outbreak of violence in the disputed Muslim-majority Himalayan region.

Kashmir has been divided between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan since their partition at the chaotic end of British rule in 1947, and both countries claim the territory in full.

“Five terrorists have been neutralized by the security forces in the ongoing operation,” the Indian army’s Chinar Corps said, adding that two soldiers had been wounded in the firefight.

Half a million Indian troops are deployed in the far northern region, battling a 35-year insurgency in which tens of thousands of civilians, soldiers and militants have been killed, including at least 120 this year.

Separatist groups demand either independence or the region’s merger with Pakistan.

New Delhi regularly blames Pakistan for arming militants and helping them launch attacks, an allegation Islamabad denies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government canceled the territory’s partial autonomy in 2019, bringing the region under its direct rule.

The territory of about 12 million people has since been ruled by a New Delhi-appointed governor who oversees a local government that voters elected in October in opposition to Modi.


5 suspected militants killed in Kashmir fighting, Indian military says

5 suspected militants killed in Kashmir fighting, Indian military says
Updated 19 December 2024
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5 suspected militants killed in Kashmir fighting, Indian military says

5 suspected militants killed in Kashmir fighting, Indian military says
  • India and Pakistan each administer a part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety
  • Militants in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhi’s rule since 1989

SRINAGAR, India: Government forces in Indian-controlled Kashmir killed five suspected militants in a gunbattle on Thursday, the Indian military said.
Soldiers and police launched a joint operation after receiving a tip that rebels were hiding in a village in southern Kulgam district, the military said in a statement. The militants opened “indiscriminate and heavy volumes of fire” at the raiding troops, leading to a gunbattle, it said.
Five militants were killed in the fighting, the statement said, adding that two soldiers were also injured. Troops continued to search the area. There was no independent confirmation of the battle.
India and Pakistan each administer a part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety.
Militants in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhi’s rule since 1989. Many Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels’ goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.
India insists the Kashmir militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, and many Kashmiris consider it a legitimate freedom struggle. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.


Wife of jailed former Malaysian PM Najib Razak acquitted in latest graft case

Wife of jailed former Malaysian PM Najib Razak acquitted in latest graft case
Updated 19 December 2024
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Wife of jailed former Malaysian PM Najib Razak acquitted in latest graft case

Wife of jailed former Malaysian PM Najib Razak acquitted in latest graft case
  • Rosmah Mansor faced 12 charges of money laundering and five charges of failing to declare her income
  • Rosmah was sentenced to 10 years in jail on separate graft charges in September 2022 but has appealed

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian court threw out more than a dozen money laundering and tax evasion charges on Thursday lodged against the wife of jailed former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak.
Rosmah Mansor, 73, faced 12 charges of money laundering involving 7.1 million ringgit ($1.6 million) and five charges of failing to declare her income between December 4, 2013, and June 8, 2017.
High Court judge K. Muniandy struck out all 17 charges, saying they lacked “probity, propriety and legality” and ordered a “discharge amounting to an acquittal,” according to a copy of the decision seen by AFP.
The Attorney-General’s office said it would appeal against the decision, Malaysian media reported.
Rosmah was sentenced to 10 years in jail on separate graft charges in September 2022 but has appealed against that conviction and remains free on bail.
She was charged in that case with seeking and receiving bribes for helping a company secure a solar power project for rural schools in the Malaysian section of Borneo island during her husband’s rule.
Rosmah has long been criticized by Malaysians for her reported vast collection of designer handbags, clothing and jewelry, acquired on overseas shopping trips.
Her collection of luxury items came under the spotlight after police raids on their family home in 2018 following her husband’s election defeat.
It drew unflattering comparisons with former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos and contributed to accusations that the ousted ruling establishment had lost touch with economically struggling and middle-class Malaysians.
Najib is serving a six-year jail term for corruption related to a massive financial scandal at sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.
He has filed an appeal to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest and a hearing has been fixed for January 6.
The 1MDB scandal, allegedly involving billions of dollars siphoned from the now-defunct state company, sparked investigations in the United States, Switzerland and Singapore.