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Virendra Sharma MP signs Holocaust Educational Trust Book of Commitment

Posted on by SAT News Desk

London — This week Virendra Sharma MP signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment, in doing so pledging his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who were murdered during the Holocaust as well as paying tribute to the extraordinary Holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people today.

This year we are marking 75 years since the liberation of the concentration camps of Europe and the end of the Second World War. At the end of the month, on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, people across the globe will remember.

In the lead up to and on Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. The theme for this year’s commemorations is ‘Stand Together’.

After signing the Book of Commitment, Virendra Sharma MP commented:

“Holocaust Memorial Day is an important opportunity for people from Ealing, Southall to reflect on the darkest times of European history. As the Holocaust moves from living history, to history, it becomes ever more important that we take the time to remember the six million Jewish victims and also pay tribute to the survivors.”

Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said:

“As the Holocaust moves further into history, it falls on all of us to ensure that their stories and the stories of the 6 Jewish million men, women and children brutally murdered by the Nazis, are never forgotten. We all have a duty to remember the Holocaust and to stand up against antisemitism and hate, now more than ever.”

Bangladesh second corrupt country after Afghanistan In South Asia

Posted on by SAT News Desk

London — Nepal has jumped to 113th spot from 124, according to Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perception Index.

The corruption perception index unveiled by Transparency International Nepal (TI-N) on Thursday in Kathmandu ranked Nepal 113 out of 180 countries with a score of 34.

Nepal has improved by three spots compared to CPI 2018 when it was ranked 124th out of 180 countries with a score of 31.
Among South Asian countries, Bhutan had a score 68, while India scored 41, Sri Lanka 38, Nepal 34, Pakistan 32, Maldives 29 , Bangladesh 26 and Afghanistan 16.

Nepal still falls under the category of 20 most corrupt countries in the world.

Countries in which elections and political party financing are open to undue influence from vested interests are less able to combat corruption, the CPI 2019 stated today.

“Frustration with government corruption and lack of trust in institutions speaks to a need for greater political integrity,” said Delia Ferreira Rubio, Chair of Transparency International. “Governments must urgently address the corrupting role of big money in political party financing and the undue influence it exerts on our political systems.”

The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, drawing on 13 expert assessments and surveys of business executives. It uses a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

More than two-thirds of countries score below 50, with an average score of only 43. Since 2012, only 22countries have significantly improved their scores, including Estonia, Greece and Guyana. Twenty-one have significantly declined, including Australia, Canada and Nicaragua, read the CPI index report.

According to the 2019 report, two-thirds of the countries scored below 50, with the average score being a mere 43. The country with the highest rank, Denmark, scored 87. Most notably, said Transparency, advanced economies were seen to be sliding in the past year, with Canada, France, the U.K., and the U.S. all scoring lower than they had in 2018. India ranked 40, with a score of 80, which is over double Pakistan’s score of 32.

“Frustration with government corruption and lack of trust in institutions speaks to a need for greater political integrity,” said Delia Ferreira Rubio, chair of Transparency International. “Governments must urgently address the corrupting role of big money in political party financing and the undue influence it exerts on our political systems.”

“The lack of real progress against corruption in most countries is disappointing and has profound negative effects on citizens around the world,” said Patricia Moreira, managing director of Transparency International. “To have any chance of ending corruption and improving peoples’ lives, we must tackle the relationship between politics and big money. All citizens must be represented in decision making,” she added.

The top five states—with the least amount of perceived corruption—are Denmark, New Zealand, Finland, Singapore and Sweden. The bottom five states are Venezuela, Yemen, Syria, South Sudan and Somalia.

To reduce corruption and restore trust in politics, Transparency International recommends that governments take steps to control political financing to prevent excessive money and influence in politics; tackle preferential treatment to ensure budgets and public services aren’t driven by personal connects or biased towards special interests; manage conflicts of interest and address “revolving doors”; regulate lobbying activities by promoting open and meaningful access to decision-making; strengthen electoral integrity and prevent and sanction misinformation campaigns; empower citizens and protect activists, whistleblowers and journalists; reinforce checks and balances and promote separation of powers.

Three hundred remarkable British Muslims shortlisted as finalists for the British Muslim Awards 2020

Posted on by SAT News Desk

London — Three hundred of the most remarkable British Muslims are shortlisted as finalists for the 8th British Muslim Awards 2020 after hundreds of nominations across the country. The award exists to recognise a wide range of achievements from inspiring individuals. This includes those who positively impact business, charity, sport, arts, culture, religious advocacy, education and medicine among others.

The awards showcase the strength of the British Muslim community, their impact on our culture and achievements over the last year.  Categories include Muslims in the Community, Young Achiever of the Year and Spirit of Britain.

The event will be held on Friday 31st January in the Mercure Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester, where some of the most accomplished and influential Muslims will gather for a night to celebrate their success.

The 8th British Muslim Awards 2020 presented by Trusted Utility Consultants and Muslim Global Relief are organised by Oceanic Consulting – the UK’s leading ethnic awards company. CEO Irfan Younis said “The British Muslim community is one to really be celebrated and talked about. They’re a community of amazing achievements, skilled entrepreneurs, business acumen, social mobility and inspiring role models who have consistently gone from strength to strength. Best of luck to all finalists, we look forward to an exciting night.”

With 13 years of experience, Oceanic Consulting hosts annual award ceremonies in major English, Scottish and Irish cities. Campaigns include the Curry Awards, Asian Business, Asian Food, British Muslim, British Indian, British Sikh and Britain’s Asian Wedding Awards.

The finalists for the British Muslim Awards 2020 are:

Muslim in the Community

Atima Khasimi (Community Chaplin)

Noreen Bukhari (FWT Coventry)

Hussein Kesvani (Follow Me Akhi)

Shenaz Bunglawala (Byline Festival Foundation)

Shabana Kausar (Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea)

Muhbeen Hussain (British Muslim Youth)

Aysha and Kiran Iqbal (Odara)

Shayra Begum (Bangladeshi Support Centre)

Munir Datoo (Hujjat Islamic Centre)

Nisbah Hussain (1 Voice Blackburn Scouts)

 

Media Arts & Cultural Awareness

Adama Juldeh Munu (TRT World)

Rashida Osman (Rashida Osman)

Zahra Gulraiz (Zahra Gulraiz)

Asif Khan (Combustion)

Aisha Zia (62 Gladstone Street)

Saraiya Bah (Black & Muslim in Britian)

Nasima Begum (Jerwood Creative Fellowship, Manchester Bangladeshi Womens Organisation)

Mobeen Azhar (BBC – Hometown)

Guz Khan (BBC Man Like Mobeen)

Qaisra Shahraz (Muslim Arts and Culture Festival)

 

Young Achiever of the Year

Amaan Ali Saqlain (Youth Member of Parliament)

Aqeeb farooq

Jewels of Jannah

Noor Hadi (Baitul Futuh Mosque)

Mariam Sohail (Youth Police and Crime Commissioner)

Aamilah Begum-Shajna (Unity FM)

Khadijah Mellah (Riding a Dream)

Maryam Wahid (Maryam Wahid)

Mariah Idrissi

Hanan Sarwar (Wilmslow Town Council)

 

Charity of the Year

Karimia Institute (Nottingham)

Insaan (Reading)

HRF Haji Rafique Foundation

Said Foundation (London)

Abu Hanifah Foundation (Blackburn)

Muslim Youth Helpline

Hajjah Naziha Charitable Organisation (Nelson)

Cambridge Muslim College (Cambridge)

The Islamic Foundation For Ecology And Environmental Sciences (Birmingham

The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (London)

 

Religious Advocate of the Year

Habib Khan (Dunfermline Central Mosque & Islamic Centre)

Haytham Tamim (Shariah Solutions)

Ahsan Hanif (Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre )

Aneeq ur Rehman (Baitul Afiyat Mosque)

Qari Asim (Makkah Mosque)

Omer El-Hamdoon (Kingston Oak Tree Institute)

Shakeel Begg (Lewisham Islamic Centre)

Muhammed Islam (Baitul Aziz Islamic Cultural Centre mosque)

Mansoor Mahmood (Kirkcaldy’s Central Mosque)

Mohammad Asrar UlHaq (Bilal Mosque)

 

Noor Inayat Khan Muslim Woman of the Year Award

Jamila Kossar (Manchester with the Homeless)

Sahar Al-Faifi (Muslim Engagement and Development)

Asma Shuweikh

Rehana Faisal (Lantern)

Nus Ghani (Member of Parliament for Wealden)

Naila Kabeer (Feminist Review Trust)

Nazneen Rahman (Royal Marsden Hospital)

Ramla Ali (Boxer)

Husna Ahmad  (World Muslim Leadership Forum)

Adeela Shafi (Services to Social Justice)

 

Food Business of The Year

CK Foods (Hull)

Eagle Foods Ltd (Peterborough)

Aytac Foods Ltd (London)

Tubzee Ltd (Halifax)

Heavenly Desserts

Regal Food (Bradford)

Olympic Foods (Merseyside)

Pepes Piri Piri (Herts)

Nafees Bakers and Sweets (Bradford)

 

Achievements In Law

Bilal Farooq (Greystone Solicitors)

Imran Ali (Ashmans Solicitors)

Abid Khan (Lawson Taylor Solicitors)

Afshan Hashmi (Broadway House Chambers)

Sahar Farooqi (DWF Advocacy )

Haqib Iqbal (Neves Solicitors)

Parvez Anwar / Umran Aziz (Zen Law Solicitors)

Siddique Patel (Shoosmiths LLP)

Neelam Afzal (Wildings Solicitors)

Nadia (Hashmi) Butt (National Legal Service Solicitors)

 

The Mohammed Sarwar Civil Service  Award

Mabs Hussain (Greater Manchester Police)

Munira Mirza (Number 10 Policy Unit)

Nabeela Rasul (Civil Service Muslim Network)

Nuzhat Ali (Public Health England)

Wasim Akhter (Cabinet Office Faith and Belief Forum)

Maqsood Ghulam Ahmad ( NHS England Strategic Clinical Network)

Shaika Sheikh (Cabinet Office)

Abdul Hamied (NHS England)

Farida Ahmed (NHS England and NHS Improvement)

Waheed Hussain (Bradford Care Alliance)

 

Achievements in Accounting & Finance 

Adnan Sajid (UHY)

Bano Sheikh (KPMG)

Zelf Hussain (PWC)

Saqib Shaikh (BDO)

Sadia Latif (Deloitte UK)

Mohammed R. Kroessin (Islamic Relief Wolrdwide)

Barkatulla Abdul Kadir (UBL Bank)

Fuad Shakshir (QIB (UK) Plc)

Harris Irfan (Gateway Global )

Mohammed Saqub (Shakespeare Martineau )

 

Business Leader of the Year

Khalid Saifullah (Star Tissue)

Rahmeez Younas (National Care Homes)

Faruk Vali (KQF )

Mo Chaudry (Waterworld Leisure Resort)

Shelim Hussain / Noor Ahmed (EuroFoods)

Annel Mussarat (MCR Property Group)

Iqbal Ahmed (Seamark )

Haroon Sheikh  (Caretech Plc)

Asif Aziz (Criterion Capital)

Naveen Ahmed (Parklane Group)

 

Entrepreneur of the Year

Farzana Rahman (The Desi Doll Company)

Roheel Ahmad (Forsyth Barnes)

Sarwat Jaleel  (Kushboo)

Suman Jalaf  (Suman Brows)

Samreen Hussain (The ModestMe Collection)

Abdel Mahmoud (Blum Baby)

Nafisa Bakkar (Amaliah)

Imran Merza (The Jealous Life)

Aamena (Eskay Apothecary Organic Natural Skincare)

 

Spirit of Britain

Shah Jahan Mosque (Wolking)

Ayaz Bhuta (Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby Paralympian)

Muslimah Sports Association

Brunel University

Football Beyond Borders (London)

Muslim Chaplains In Sport (Birmingham)

Aku Abukor (Stonebridge Boxing Club)

Zuleikha (The University of Central Lancashire Futsal Club)

Sophie Gilliat-Ray (Cardiff University)

 

Services to Education

Azeem Majeed (St. George’s Hospital Medical School)

Abida Malik (University of Nottingham)

Shuruq Naguib (Lancaster University)

Rajnaara C. Akhtar (Leicester De Montfort Law School)

Sammar Javed (University of Huddersfield’s Business School)

Zahir Irani (University of Bradford)

Nadira Mirza (Leeds Trinity University)

Jawed Siddiqi (National Council of University Professors in the UK)

Ali Massoud Ansari (University of St Andrews )

Imran Awan (Birmingham City University)

 

Community Initiative of the Year

Anisa Mahmood

Amina Shareef

Bearded Broz (Birmingham)

FC Peterborough (Peterbrough)

Cardiff ISoc Football Tournament (Cardiff)

Strive (London)

Muslims Connect (Birmingham)

YEAH (London)

Tasneem (Disabled Muslim Matrimony)

The Wirral Deen Centre (Wirral)

 

Business of the Year

Goldex Investments Essex (Southfleet)

Deluxe Beds Ltd (Huddersfield)

Arctic UK

Platinum Executive Travel (Birmingham)

EX1 cosmetics (London)

Solar Street Lighting (Manchester)

Seers (London)

Shazan Foods (Preston)

Pakeeza Dairies (Rochdale)

 

Small Business of the Year

360 Secure Systems (Bradford)

Aisha Naheed  (Rochdale)

Artz-I (Bradford)

MOC Coffee Roastery (Leeds)

Conceptual Learning (Berkshire)

Gemimas Diamond Jewellery (Birmingham)

Ibadah London (London)

Jog on (Essex)

Mini Muslims (Preston)

My Ilm Ltd (London)

Rice & Spice (Wakefield)

 

International Charity of the Year

Who is Hussain

Penny Appeal (Wakefield)

READ Foundation  (Manchester)

Islamic Relief (Birmingham)

Muslim Aid (London)

Human Relief Foundation (West Yorkshire)

Human Care Syria

Muslim Charity (Retford)

Al Imdaad (Blackburn)

Orphans In Need (London)

 

One to Watch

Ashfaq Gilkar (Guys and St. Trhomas NHS)

Mars El Brogy (The National Student Television Association)

Raifa Rafiq (Mostly Lit)

Bushra Dunne (Stand Up Stand Out campaign)

Humaiyra  (Humaiyra Jewellery)

Iram Ramzan (The Sunday Times)

Habiba Da Silva  (International Influencer)

Rizwana Matadar (Cover Me)

Nadia Khan (The Delicate Mind C.I.C)

Hafsah Dabiri (Basira the Basketballer)

 

Social Inclusion Group Of The Year

Cardiff ISoc football tournament (Cardiff)

Blackburn Girls Netball Team (Blackburn)

The Inspire Motivate Overcome Camp (Blackburn)

The An-Nasiha educational Trust (Leicester)

Civil Service Islamic Society (London)

Khizra Foundation (London)

Bangla Bantams                (Bradford)

Myriad Foundation (Manchester)

The Muslim Community Helpline

Muslim Welfare House(London)

 

Leading Lights of the Year

Anoushé Husain (Ehlers-Danlos Support UK)

Emdad Rahman (One-Third Homeless Soup Kitchen)

Maysoon Shafiq  (Al Mu’Minun)

Nagina Munawar (Almas Martial Arts Centre)

Saba Nasim (Essex County Criket Board /Chance to Shine)

Nimco Ali (The Five Foundation)

Halimat Shode (The Black Muslim Times

Shahnaz Ahmed (Knit Aid)

Nahella Ashraf  (Stand Up To Racism)

 

Rising Star in  Sport

Ibrahim Janjua (Kickboxing)

Emaan Asghar (Kickboxing / Taekwando)

Sabeha Salam/ Jasmin Akter (Yorkshire County Cricket Club)

Roman Shafiq  (Burnley Tennis Club)

Abdul Khan  (BURY ABC )

Karim Safari (Muay Thai Kickboxing)

Adam Akram  (Blackburn Cobras)

Asad Riaz (Boxer)

Moe Sbihi (Rower)

 

Dr Abbas Khan Services to Medicine Award

Mohammedabbas Khaki  (General Medical Council)

Sohail Munshi (Manchester Local Care Organisation)

Mobasher Butt (Babylon Health Services)

Mohammed Hussain (Bradford NHS Trust)

Quazi Monirul Islam (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)

Wasim Baqir (NHS England)

Mohamed Banihani (Lancashire Teaching Hospitals)

Jasmeen Islam (Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation)

 

Professional In Business

Saira Hussain (Hussain Architectural Design)

Shazda Ahmed (Monarch Solicitors)

Sabeena Din (Milson Legal Solicitors)

Qamar-ur Rehman (DV Solicitors)

Alireza Sagharchi  (Stanhope Gate Architecture)

Amir Hussain (Yeme Architects)

Naheed Taj (Stowe Family Law)

Asma Iqbal  (Chadwick Lawrence)

Kamila Rahman (Cambridge Solicitors)

Mohammed Iqbal (Medico)

 

Hajj/ Umrah Operator of The Year

Ahmed Tours & Travels (London)

Al-Hijaz (Tours & Travels) Ltd (London)

Al Israa (London)

Kalimah Tours (London)

Al Hidaayah (Birmingham)

Hasan Hajj Tours (London)

Al Hajj Travel (London)

Haji Tours (Manchester)

Madani Hajj Tours (London)

Usmania Hajj Tours (Manchester)

 

Digital Activity Of The Year

Halal  Hangouts (London)

Papillonkia  (London)

iSAY

Eat With Farah

Cook With Ania

Amaliah

Just Drive App

Sanzaa  (Bradford)

BizGees

APEX:E3

Halalbooking.com  (London)

 

Outstanding Achievement of the Year

British Hajj delegation (London)

Ramadhan Health Awareness Campaign (London)

Muzlamic (London)

Mujtaba Hasnain Nadir  (Northern Care Alliance)

Hamza Choudhary  (Leciester City FC)

Waqar Azmi (Waterhouse Consulting Group)

Farah Roslan (The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust)

Sara Khan (Commission for Countering Extremism  Person)

Jan Trust (London)

Mohammed Haroon (Greater Manchester Football Club)

 

Religious Education Provider

Al Iman Institute (Slough)

Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School (Blackburn)

Jamiatul Ilm Wal Huda (Blackburn)

Jamea Al Kauthar (Lancaster)

Leicester Islamic Academy (Leicester)

Bolton Muslim Girls’ School (Bolton)

Madani Schools Federation (Leicester)

Manchester Islamic Education Trust (Manchester)

Al Jamiatul Islamiyah (Bolton)

 

Rising Star of the Year

Joseph Hayat (ITV)

Najwa Jawahar (WSP)

Mariah Idrissi (Insanity Group)

Sabeela Malik (HMRC)

Ahsan Khan  (Leeds Building Society)

Resham Kotecha (UK Anti-Doping)

Hira Wajid (EY)

Sam Khan (Total Gas & Power)

Rija Javed (Market Invoive)

Sidra Khan (Pearson)

 

Community Group of the Year

Shazad Yaseen Foundation (Slough)

The New Crescent Society

Inclusive Mosque Initiative (London)

Purple Patch (Blackburn)

Coppice FC (Coppice)

Saliheen Scouts (Blackburn)

Naaz Volleyball Cub (Blackburn)

FC Bolton (Bolton)

The Better Community Business Network (London)

Muslim Teachers’ Association (London)

 

Rising Star In Law

Javeria Ijaz (Duncan Lewis Solicitors)

Mariam Khan (Will and Probate Services)

Sellina Kauser  (Buckles Law)

Sultana Tafadar (No5 Chambers)

Vic Younis (Wall James Chappell Solicitor)

Noreen Khan (Kaiser Solicitors)

Ismaeel Waseem (LawOn)

Zahra Rasool (Deloitte)

Arfat Khan (Oakmount Law Solicitors)

Azhar Hussain (LPS Solicitors)

 

Corporate Leader of The Year

Riaz Shah (EY)

Nadeem Baig (Dyson)

Nazreen Visram  (Barclays)

Habib Motani (Clifford Chance)

Usman Basharat (Lloyds Banking Group)

Imran Shah (UBL Bank)

Tariq Yusuf (UBS)

Asma Ali (RBS)

Mohammad Shoaib Memon (Europe Arab Bank)

Irfan Khan (SAP)

 

Community Pioneers of The Year

COUNCIL OF BRITISH HAJJIS (Bolton)

INSAAN (Reading)

Muslim Women’s Council

Muslim Women in Sport

British Islamic Medical Association

Nisa Nashim

Sarwat Jabeen  (MS Society)

The City Circle

Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan (The Brown Hijabi)

Khidmat Centre (Bradford)

 

International Muslim of the Year

Dr. Bashayer AlMajed (Kuwait University)

Asiya Islam (University of Cambridge)

Ladeeda Farzana and Ayesha Renna (Jamia Millia Islamia University)

Drakshan Khan (Purple Impression)

Huda Kattan (Huda Beauty)

Farah Siddiqui (Faithforce)

Halima Aden (IMG Models)

Namira Islam (MuslimARC)

Samra Zafar  (Author)

Ahsan Khan (Indian American Muslim Community)

 

Mosque of the Year

Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre (Birmingham)

Khizra Mosque & Community Centre Manchester (Manchester)

Canterbury Mosque (Canterbury)

East London Mosque (London)

Abu Bakr Mosque & Community Centre (Middlesbrough)

Belfast Islamic Centre (Belfast)

Central Oxford Mosque (Oxford)

Wirral Deen Centre (Birkenhead)

 

Diversity Award of the Year

Stratford Circus Arts Centre

England & Wales Cricket Board

Astra Zeneca

West Midlands Police

Manchester Metropolitan University

Royal Mail

Royal Air Force

Lloyds Banking Group

Sainsbury’s

Lancashire Constabulary

Parents’ plea for Asian stem cell donors to save three-year-old son

Posted on by SAT News Desk

Harrow  — The family of a three-year-old boy with a rare genetic disease that puts him at risk of cancer have launched an appeal to find a stem cell donor.

Veer Gudhka, from Harrow, was diagnosed with Fanconi anaemia “by chance” last August. The disease reduces the number of blood cells created by the body and creates a higher risk of several cancers. The average lifespan of those with the disease is between just 20 and 30 years. One in five will not reach 18.

An appeal has been launched for people of Asian heritage to undertake a mouth swab to register as donors. People in the Gujarat area of India, where Veer’s grandparents were born, have signed up, as has a female battalion of the Indian army. The family is also working with blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan and a website has been set up, the Standard Writes.

Veer is being kept “under observation” by Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Mr Gudhka said: “We know that finding a donor is like finding a needle in a haystack, so we are campaigning hard.”

Sarah Rogers, of Anthony Nolan, said: “Veer is a sweet and playful little boy who has touched hearts around the country through his family’s active social media campaign.

“He’s a bundle of energy and we want to keep him this way. Every single person who signs up to the register has the potential to give hope to someone like Veer in need of a lifesaving stem cell transplant.”

Find out more at helpveernow.org

SAT organising a Round Table interaction to discuss Business, Development and Human Rights in Nepal

Posted on by SAT News Desk

London— South Asia Time U.K., along with Himalayan Development International (HDI) and International Solidarity for Nepal (INSOFN) UK, are jointly organising a Round Table interaction with the aim of exploring ways to contribute towards Nepal’s development through skills transfer and promoting entrepreneurship from the diaspora community.

The program is scheduled to be held on Sunday, 26 January 2020 at Putney , London.

The event is being organised on the occasion of first anniversary  of www.southasiatime.com, the only English online news portal led by Nepali journalists based in the UK.

 

Five experts from different sectors will make their presentations, said coordinator of the program and publisher/editor of South Asia Time, said Jagan Karki, event coordinator and Editor of www.southasiatime.com.

 

The theme of the program is   ‘SAT Round Table on Business, Development and Human Rights in Nepal.’

 

The aim and the objective of the program :

 

Round Table on Business, Development and Human Rights (Nepal)

 

Background

The number of Nepali people migrating and residing in the industrialised countries in the West has increased considerably over the years.  There are no official records to show exactly how many Nepalis people are in the UK, and how many among them are professionals and entrepreneurs. Also not known yet is how diaspora entrepreneurs contribute to skill transfers and economic growth in Nepal which has, if/any, contributed to the business practices challenging corrupt practices and thereby contributing indirectly to human rights of economic, social and cultural nature.

 

At the outset, it is a notion which looks very much theoretical but what is important is to examine whether entrepreneurship contributing to fair business practices contributes to fight corrupt practices and corruption, and also contributes to the growth and increased revenues. This in turn increases the ability of the government to spend fairly in health and education ensuring the rights of deprived communities and individuals.

 

 

Aim of the Programme

Create, in the long run, a loose network of informed group of people who will be willing to contribute to skill transfer on entrepreneurship, information/dissemination, and human rights activism contributing to fair business practices, end corruption and ensuring right to health and education of the deprived (particularly in Nepal).

 

Objectives of the Programme

  • To spell out entrepreneurship for fair business practices relevant to Nepal
  • To identify how fair business practices can help Nepal to eradicate corrupt practices
  • To share our creative ideas how eradication of corruption in various levels contribute to the rights of people, particularly their right to health, education and equality.
  • To identify the preliminary joint activities of diaspora entrepreneurs, media, and human rights community.

 

Welcome and Objectives/Rapporteur: Bhagirath Yogi, Consulting Editor, www.southasiatime.com

 

Chief Guest: Dr. Durga Bahadur Subedi, His Excellency Ambassador of Nepal to the United Kingdom, Inaugural Speech

 

Chair/Moderator: Dr. Krishna Prasad Upadhyaya, Chair International Solidarity for Nepal (INSOFN) UK

 

Panels:

 

  1. Dr Kapil Rijal, Chair, Britain-Nepal Chamber of Commerce:Transfer of Skills for good Business Practices: A case of Nepal
  2. Prof. Padam Simkhada: The Privatisation of Higher Education in Nepal: Road ahead
  3. Mr Prakash Khanal, HDI: Ethical business practices and impact on Development – A case study of Nepal
  4. Dr Punam Yadav: Women politicians and political quota in Nepal: Challenges to women’s Empowerment in a patriarchal society
  5. Mr Navin Singh Khadka, Environment Correspondent, BBC World Service: Climate politics: How countries like Nepal can protect and promote their interests?

 

 

Discussions/Questions Answers

 

Summary by the Chair

Prospects for economic growth in 2020 hinge on reducing trade disputes and uncertainty, UN finds

Posted on by SAT News Desk

Impacted by prolonged trade disputes, the global economy suffered its lowest growth in a decade, slipping to 2.3 per cent in 2019.  The world, however, could see a slight uptick in economic activity in 2020 if risks are kept at bay, according to the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2020, which was launched this week.

The Report states that growth of 2.5 per cent in 2020 is possible, but a flareup of trade tensions, financial turmoil, or an escalation of geopolitical tensions could derail a recovery. In a downside scenario, global growth would slow to just 1.8 per cent this year. A prolonged weakness in global economic activity may cause significant setbacks for sustainable development, including the goals to eradicate poverty and create decent jobs for all. At the same time, pervasive inequalities and the deepening climate crisis are fueling growing discontent in many parts of the world.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that “These risks could inflict severe and long-lasting damage on development prospects. They also threaten to encourage a further rise in inward-looking policies, at a point when global cooperation is paramount.”

In the United States, recent interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve may lend some support to economic activity. However, given persistent policy uncertainty, weak business confidence and waning fiscal stimulus, GDP growth in the United States is forecast to slow from 2.2 per cent in 2019 to 1.7 per cent in 2020. In the European Union, manufacturing will continue to be held back by global uncertainty, but this will be partially offset by steady growth in private consumption, allowing a modest rise in GDP growth from 1.4 per cent in 2019 to 1.6 per cent in 2020.

Despite significant headwinds, East Asia remains the world’s fastest growing region and the largest contributor to global growth, according to the Report. In China, GDP growth is projected to moderate gradually from 6.1 per cent in 2019 to 6.0 per cent in 2020 and 5.9 per cent in 2021, supported by more accommodative monetary and fiscal policies. Growth in other large emerging countries, including Brazil, India, Mexico, the Russian Federation and Turkey, is expected to gain some momentum in 2020.

Progress towards higher living standards has stalled for many

Africa has experienced a decade of near stagnation in per capita GDP and many countries around the world are still ailing from the effects of the commodity price downturn of 2014-16, which resulted in persistent output losses and setbacks in poverty reduction. In one-third of commodity-dependent developing countries (home to 870 million people), average real incomes are lower today than they were in 2014. This includes several large countries such as Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

At the same time, the number of people living in extreme poverty has risen in several sub-Saharan African countries and in parts of Latin America and Western Asia. Sustained progress towards poverty reduction will require both a significant boost to productivity growth and firm commitments to tackle high levels of inequality. UN estimates indicate that to eradicate poverty in much of Africa, annual per capita growth of over 8 per cent would be needed, compared to the just 0.5 per cent average rate over the past decade.

Headline GDP growth misses crucial aspects of sustainability and well-being

Beyond GDP growth, other measures of well-being paint an even bleaker picture in several parts of the world. The climate crisis, persistently high inequalities, and rising levels of food insecurity and undernourishment continue to affect the quality of life in many societies.

“Policymakers should move beyond a narrow focus on merely promoting GDP growth, and instead aim to enhance well-being in all parts of society. This requires prioritizing investment in sustainable development projects to promote education, renewable energy, and resilient infrastructure,” emphasized Elliott Harris, UN Chief Economist and Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development.

Economic growth while limiting carbon emissions is possible by changing the energy mix

To combat climate change, the world’s growing energy needs must be met with renewable or low-carbon energy sources. This will require massive adjustments in the energy sector, which currently accounts for about three-quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions. If per capita emissions in developing countries were to rise towards those in developed economies, global carbon emissions would increase by more than 250 per cent – compared to the global goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

The urgency of energy transition continues to be underestimated, resulting in short-sighted decisions such as expanding investment in oil and gas exploration and coal-fired power generation. This not only leaves many investors and Governments exposed to sudden losses, but also poses substantial setbacks to environmental targets. Any delay in decisive action towards energy transition could double the eventual costs. The transition to a cleaner energy mix will bring not only environmental and health benefits, but economic opportunities for many countries.

A more balanced policy mix is needed

Overreliance on monetary policy is not just insufficient to revive growth, it also entails significant costs, including the exacerbation of financial stability risks. A more balanced policy mix is needed, one that stimulates economic growth while moving towards greater social inclusion, gender equality, and environmentally sustainable production.

 “Amid growing discontent over a lack of inclusive growth, calls for change are widespread across the globe. Much greater attention needs to be paid to the distributional and environmental implications of policy measures,” concluded Mr. Harris.

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Time has come to resolve all pending issues between India and Nepal through dialogue: Oli

Posted on by SAT News Desk

Kathmandu — Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepali counterpart KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday jointly inaugurated the second Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Jogbani-Biratnagar, built with Indian assistance to facilitate trade and people’s movement.

The project, which will improve bilateral trade and people-to-people contact, was launched by the two leaders via a video link.

During the joint inauguration through video conference, PM Narendra Modi said increasing cross-border connectivity is one of the main goals of his government’s ‘neighbourhood first’ policy, India Today writes.

“Neighbourhood first has been my government’s priority. And increasing cross-border connectivity is one of the main goals of this policy. The importance of better connectivity increases even more when it comes to India and Nepal because our relationship is not just neighbourly. History and geography have connected us with nature, family, language, culture, progress and many more threads,” PM Narendra Modi said at the inauguration.

This is the second ICP on the Nepal border. The first was built at the Raxaul-Birgunj border in 2018.

The first phase of construction of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) saw completion of Birganj and Biratnagar in 2018.

“The introduction of ICP in Biratnagar is a matter of great pleasure. This facility is already available in Raxaul and Jogbani towards India,” PM Narendra Modi said.

Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday extended an invitation to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to visit Kathmandu, saying that the visit would provide the two countries to chart the course of action for the future.

Oli extended the invitation via video conferencing during the inauguration of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at the Jogbani-Biratnagar border. “I would like to renew my cordial invitation to you to pay a visit to Nepal at your earliest convenience. Your visit will provide us an excellent opportunity to review the achievements made and chart the course of action for the future,” Oli said.

Oli said that the time has come to resolve all pending issues between India and Nepal through dialogue in the lasting interest of the two countries, and asserted that his government is committed to working with New Delhitowards this end.

Oli and Prime Minister Narendra Modi jointly inaugurated the Integrated Check Post, built with India’s assistance in a bid to facilitate trade and people’s movement between the two countries, ANI reported.

A video showcasing the remarkable progress in the Indian government-assisted post-earthquake housing reconstruction projects in Nepal was also screened during the inauguration.

The Indian government had committed to building as many as 50,000 houses in Gorkha and Nuwakot districts, of which 45,000 have already been built, the Prime Minister’s office said.

NWA UK supports Autism Care Nepal

Posted on by SAT News Desk

London– Nepalese Women Association UK has provided  NRs 400,000.00 (approx. 2,760 Pounds)  to Autism Care Nepal that is taking care of autistic children in the country.

President of the Nepalese Women Association UK, Arati Shrestha, handed over the amount to Dr Kapil Shrestha in Kathmandu.

According to Solicitor Raju Thapa, who was also present in the programme, Mrs Shrestha had raised nearly NRs 375,000.00 by organising a charity dinner at the British parliament in May last year. The rest of the amount was collected during a Christmas party in London last month.

Addressing the ceremony, Mrs Shrestha lauded the humanitarian work being done by the Autism Care Center in Nepal. She thanked all the supporters in the UK who supported this good cause.

Dr Shrestha thanked Mrs Shrestha and Nepalese Women Association UK for their continuous support to the Center.

Photo : NWA UK
Established in 2008, the Center provides  care to 21 children suffering from autism.

According to Dr Sunita Maleku Amatya, President of the Autism Care Nepal Society, the Society has been providing services to children with autism through its branches in Jhapa, Biratnagar, Chitwan, Surkhet, Pokhara, Birgunj and Kathmandu.

The Society also provides counselling, therapy and parent and child training programme.

 

Eight Indians die at Nepal resort due to possible gas leak

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Kathmandu — Tragedy struck a group of 15 tourists from Kerala in Nepal when eight of them, including four minors, died after they fell unconscious probably due to a gas leak from a heater in their room at a mountainous resort, police said, amidst cold wave in the Himalayan region.

The Indian nationals were airlifted to HAMS hospital in Kathmandu where they were pronounced dead on arrival, Superintendent of Police Sushil Singh Rathaur said.

Makwanpur police said the victims might have fallen unconscious due to asphyxiation.

“All eight were airlifted and brought to hospital in Kathmandu. A doctor from the Indian mission was also immediately sent to the concerned hospital to check on welfare of patients and to provide necessary assistance,” sources at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said.

“We have now been informed that all eight patients did not survive,” they added.

Foreign minister of Nepal , Mr Pradip Gyawali expresses his condolence and assured to provide all the support to the victims family to reach out their loved one.

The victims were identified as Praveen Krishnan Nair, Saranya Sasi, Sreebhadra Praveen, Aarcha Praveen, Abhinav Saranya Nair, Ranjith Kumar Adatholath Punathil, Indu Lakshmi Peethambaran Ragalatha and Vyshnav Ranjith, Outlook india reported.

The deceased – two couples and four children – were part of a group of 15 people travelling from Kerala to Pokhara, a popular mountainous tourist destination.

They were on their way back home and stayed at Everest Panorama Resort in Daman in Makawanpur district on Monday night.

According to the manager at the resort, the guests stayed in a room and turned on a gas heater to keep themselves warm.

Although they had booked a total of four rooms, eight of them stayed in a room and remaining others in another room, the manager said, adding that all the windows and the door of the room were bolted from inside.

The Indian mission has assured all necessary assistance to the family members of the victims.

In Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the death of Malayali tourists in Nepal.

On the directions of the chief minister, officials have taken steps to expedite procedures for the repatriation of the mortal remains of the victims, his office said.

Visit Nepal Year: one month, one programme

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RSS , GALKOT— In keeping with the possible spurt in the flow of tourists, hotel entrepreneurs of Baglung have put in place preparation to make their services tourist-friendly.

Under ‘one month, one programme’ campaign, Baglung Tourism Development Committee is planning to make on-site visit and study the hotels along lake side in Pokhara which are said to be successful in drawing tourists’ attention. Baglung Chamber of Commerce, Baglung Tourism Development Committee and Baglung Hotel and Restaurant Entrepreneurs are taking joint venture to study the hotels and restaurants being operated in Pokhara, shared committee chairperson Raju Khadka.

“The internal and external tourists will directly come in touch with hotel entrepreneurs”, he said, adding, “We are going to make onsite inspection of Pokhara-based hotels to see the techniques of hotel management so that they can also attract more tourists during the Visit Nepal Year 2020”. Hotel business is considered successful in Pokhara.

Coordinator of Federation of Hotel Entrepreneurs Gandaki State Committee Arjun Pokharel said, “Tourists do not like the hotels merely because of physical infrastructure. Food, hospitality and reception also help make the hotel service tourist-friendly”. The exposure visit and inspection is expected to enhance hotel enterprises related knowledge, skills and capacity.

According to the Tourism Development Committee, observation of hotels on the Lake Side of Pokhara along with hospitality services to foreign and domestic tourists and experience sharing among the hotel entrepreneurs involved in tourism and hospitality service will be undertaken on 22-24 January.

The team is also scheduled to obtain information from federal and state governments about tourism policy and programme, the committee informed.

Nepal falters on justice pledge for conflict abuses : HRW

Posted on by SAT News Desk
 Human Rights Watch

Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia Director

The horrors of Nepal’s ten-year insurgency weigh greatly on the country, with a heavy toll of killings, rapes, disappearances, and torture.

The conflict ended in 2006 with a peace agreement and since then, Nepal’s leaders have tried their best to shrug off responsibility for crimes committed during the insurgency. Last week, former Maoist leader, and twice prime minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who used the nom-de-guerre “Prachanda”, blurted out that he can “only” be blamed for 5,000 deaths, while “state forces” had killed as many as 12,000.

Dahal’s party has spent years working with former enemies to keep alleged abusers out of court.

The government is yet to investigate a 2005 killing and has instead proposed the appointment of one of the suspects, Agni Sapkota, as speaker of parliament. In 2010, the US had denied a visa to Sapkotadue to “serious and specific human rights allegations associated with his conduct during the insurgency.”

There are troubling signs. Last week, negotiators for the government and opposition parties, both of which have leading members implicated in conflict-era atrocities, agreed on a list of nominees to serve on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission for Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP). Victims’ groups have denounced the nominees as “loyal cadres of [the] political parties” and called the step “another ploy to add insult to the injury of the conflict victims and give amnesty to the political masters.”

Both commissions have been without members since the previous commissioners’ terms expired in April 2019. Despite receiving thousands of complaints, neither commission has completed a single case since being established in 2015.

A three hour “consultation” with victims’ groups was widely condemned as a merely cosmetic gesture and boycotted by many. The transitional justice law has still not been amended, although the Supreme Court struck down key provisions that could grant amnesty to perpetrators back in 2015.

But international crimes cannot be brushed away with political trickery. If justice is denied in Nepal, victims may be forced to take their cases to courts abroad.

Liverpool Nepali Society raises £19,000 to help children with cancer in Nepal

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London — Liverpool Nepali society handed over the donation amount to ‘So The Child May Live’, a charity that also works with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Charity to help to improve the care for children with cancer at Kanti Children’s Hospital.

The members of Liverpool Nepali Society had initially collected £8,000 by organizing cultural events in Liverpool in November last year. After knowing the fundraising campaign, the mayor of Liverpool also donated an additional £3,000 to the society.

On behalf of the Liverpool Nepali Society, Chairperson Deuman Ijam, vice-chairperson Naresh Bista, Secretary Shivaraj Pant, Treasurer Hariram Aryal, advisors duo Dr Shambhu Acharya and Bhakta Gurung had visited the Liverpool Mayor Office last week as part of their fundraising campaign.

Moreover, the British government has also pledged to provide another £8,000 to support help improve the care for children with cancer at Kanti Children’s Hospital through the ‘So The Child May Live’.

“It is a matter of pleasure to share that there is a total pledging of £19,000 as of now to help improve the children with cancer at Kanti Hospital,” the Liverpool Nepali Society said in its recent statement.

Members of the ‘So The Child May Live’ are all set to visit Nepal later this month to join hands with “World Child Cancer’, another renowned charity.

As part of the campaign entitled “Close the Cancer Gap”, the children with cancer of all seven provinces will be extended various supports.

Australian-style points-based immigration will reportedly be in place in the UK by the end of the year

Posted on by SAT News Desk

London — Australian-style points-based immigration will reportedly be in place in the UK by the end of the year.

The Home Secretary Priti Patel will reportedly make her case for the new system at the next meeting of Boris Johnson’s Cabinet.

Ms Patel wants the new arrangements in place by December 31, when the UK transitions out of the EU, according to the Daily Express.

It would be two years earlier than had previously been planned and would scrap a temporary extension of existing rules promised by Theresa May after pressure from business groups.

Australia’s points-based system is a “general skilled migration programme, where immigrants applying for a visa are typically selected based on ‘economically relevant characteristics’ like education, language skills and work experience,” Dr Alan Gamlen of Monash University in Melbourne said, the Standard writes.

“The exact  way points are allocated changes depending on policy and the labour market but typically an applicant picks a ‘skilled occupation’ from a list and needs to score a minimum number of points,” he added.

Largest Travel Fair on Asia in Flanders, Belgium

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Brussels– The Belgian touroperator ‘Joker reizen’ has organized the second edition of the largest Travel Fair on Asia in Flanders on Sunday.

Still free entry and still in Ghent, but at a new location: Gent ICC, Van Rysselberghedreef 2 9000 Ghent.

The travel grant could be visited from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

There was a lot of interest and potential visitors to Nepal came to collect information at the stall of the Embassy of Nepal.

On the occasion of the Visit Nepal Year (VNY) 2020, there were many colorful leaflets with information about different regions in Nepal and about various activities and interests that Nepal has to offer.

Mr. Sudhir Bhattarai, Deputy Chief of the Mission and other staff of the Embassy of Nepal in Brussels were present at travel fair to promote Nepal.

Whether you go on a  holiday with your partner, family or friends or prefer to explore the world in a group, you could find the necessary travel inspiration and tips at the Travel Fair Asia.

For more information about the next trip to Nepal you could visit the stall of the Embassy of Nepal.

It was also possible to attend a travel show where enthusiastic speakers talked through a presentation packed with beautiful photos about traveling in Asia.  Different countries and travel formulas were discussed.

‘The Bhutan Journal’ is published

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London– Bhutan Watch, a Bhutanese diaspora think tank, has published the first issue of its flagship journal – The Bhutan Journal — this week covering multiple disciplines related to Bhutan.

 

The journal is the first of such scholarly publication coming from the Bhutanese diaspora – available to read on their website (http://www.bhutanwatch.org/in-this-issue/).

 

‘The Bhutan Journal is the first attempt from Bhutanese in diaspora to look deeper into the Bhutanese issues that are outside the four walls of everyday domain and discussion. It is our sincere effort to engage every Bhutanese into an intensive and fruitful conversation about issues affecting Bhutan and Bhutanese people,’ the editorial read.

 

‘The Bhutan Journal shall make efforts to bridge the extreme ends of the same community and to build consensus in diaspora about our ability to contribute towards reshaping a fair and just future,’ it further reads.

 

The journal contains anything to everything about Bhutan and is published once a year.
In its inaugural issue, the journal covers areas such as climate change impact in Bhutan, the water resources of the country, Indo-Pacific strategies, human rights issues in southern Bhutan and future of Nepal-Bhutan relations.

 

Besides this journal, Bhutan Watch has also published annul reports on human rights and press freedom in Bhutan.

Four Koreans, Three Nepalis reported missing in Nepal avalanche

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KATHMANDU — Four Koreans and three Nepali national have been reported missing after an avalanche hit the Annapurna region in Western Nepal on Friday, officials said.

“110 people stranded along the popular trekking routes have been rescued over the last two days but we don’t know the whereabouts of four Korean trekkers and their three Nepali guides,” Ramesh Kumar KC, Chief District Officer of Kaski district told BBC Nepali.

Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) has sent a team of rescuers to the region. Officials with the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) said they remain stand by to send their rescuers to the region.

Ambassador of South Korea to Nepal, Park Young-sik, has reached Pokhara, which is the gateway to the popular trekking route, along with his team.

“They could not head towards the region due to bad weather. We will try to send their mission tomorrow,” said CDO Ramesh Kumar KC.

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the avalanche hit at an altitude of 3,230 meters (10,600 feet) before noon Friday. It said five other South Korean members of the same team were safe and taking shelter in a lodge, AP news agency reported.

The missing trekkers – two women in their 30s and 50s and two men in their 50s – were teachers who were staying in Nepal for volunteer work, the ministry said, according to the Yonhap news agency.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in vowed the upmost efforts to find the missing trekkers in a Facebook message posted on Sunday, reports said.