NINE speakers belonging to a Hindu spiritual organisation created history on November 5
with the first ever recital of the Devi Mahatamaya in Parliament.
Hosted by Lord Jitesh Gadhia and attended by Baroness Prashar and Baroness Verma, the
event by spiritual organisation Shyam involved two hours of talks on Devi Mahatmaya and
the symbolism of Maa Kali, Maa Lakshmi and Maa Saraswati. This is also the first time that
Diwali was celebrated in the House of Lords.
Shyam has held talks on deities such as Ram, Ganesh, Hanuman, Shiva, Krushna, Durga,
Maha Kali, Mahi Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati at Diwali celebrations over nine years.
Last month’s proceedings began with a recital of Hindu prayers by Dhruv Chhatralia.
Lord Gadhia spoke about the importance of deities in Indian culture and how they symbolise a set of ideals for human beings to aspire to.
On the importance of spreading spiritual teachings in society, Lord Gadhia said it works in
creating bridges between different cultures. He also recalled his experiences of celebrating
Diwali in Kenya and the UK, and noted the importance of preserving ancient yet modern
cultural and spiritual values.
Baroness Verma delved into the meaning behind the festival of Diwali and the uniqueness in Indian culture where the divine feminine form is worshipped and revered. She also praised the work of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for empowering women.
Other speakers at the event included Vishal Jobanputra, Jay Jobanputra, Lakshmi Kaul,
PAKISTAN may reconsider accepting two convicted leaders of the Rochdale child sexual abuse gang if direct flights between the UK and Pakistan are restored, a senior Pakistani official has said.
A judge had ordered their deportation to Pakistan, but both men renounced their Pakistani nationality just before their court appeals, effectively blocking the deportation process.
Since then, the UK has been unable to remove them, as Pakistan has refused to accept individuals without citizenship. Although courts have rejected their appeals multiple times, the two men remain in the country.
A senior official from Pakistan’s Foreign Office told The Times that talks are ongoing with British authorities, both over the deportation of the two men and the resumption of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to the UK.
“This complex case involves several legal challenges, and we are currently in discussions with UK authorities, although no significant progress has been made yet,” the official said.
Direct flights by Pakistani airlines have been banned in the UK since 2021 due to concerns over aviation safety. The UK Civil Aviation Authority found that a number of Pakistani pilots had been flying with fraudulent licences. Pakistan has applied to be removed from the UK’s Air Safety List, but a decision is still pending.
British officials have insisted that the aviation review is entirely independent of the deportation issue.
Legal experts say deporting someone who has no nationality is generally against international law. However, UK law allows such deportations in limited cases, particularly if the home secretary believes the person may be eligible for another nationality.
Osama Malik, a UK-trained immigration lawyer, said it was unlikely Pakistan would accept Rauf and Khan without a change in their legal status.
“If these convicts have legally renounced their Pakistani citizenship, it would be very difficult for Pakistan to accept these deportations,” he was quoted as saying. “If they reapply for citizenship, they could be accepted, but that is unlikely.”
Malik also questioned the fairness of the approach: “They have lived most of their lives in Britain and have more ties to the UK than Pakistan. Once they’ve served their sentences, they should be treated like any other British convict.”
Meanwhile, former UK minister Michael Gove confirmed claims made by Dominic Cummings that civil servants had pressured him to stop The Times from publishing details about child sexual abuse in Rotherham. Speaking to GB News, Gove said some local officials believed the reporting could damage efforts to address the issue.
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Donald Trump walks out of the Oval Office before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on June 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
PAKISTAN government has announced that it will formally nominate US president Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his “decisive diplomatic intervention” during the recent military tensions between India and Pakistan.
The announcement was made on Saturday (21) on X, just days after president Trump hosted Pakistan Army Chief general Asim Munir at the White House.
The statement praised Trump’s role in defusing the situation that followed the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, India, on April 22. In response, India carried out targeted strikes on terrorist infrastructure across the border on May 7. This was followed by several days of retaliatory military action from both sides.
The hostilities ended on May 10 after the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan held direct talks. While India maintains that the ceasefire was the result of these direct communications, Pakistan credits Trump’s diplomatic involvement for halting the escalation.
“President Donald J Trump demonstrated great strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship,” the Pakistan government said, claiming that his engagement with both Islamabad and New Delhi helped “secure a ceasefire and avert a broader conflict between two nuclear states.”
Pakistan also praised Trump’s “sincere offers” to help resolve the Kashmir issue and called his actions a continuation of his “legacy of pragmatic diplomacy and effective peace-building.”
In response, President Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, expressing frustration over not receiving recognition for his peace efforts. “I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do,” he said, listing his involvement in conflicts across India-Pakistan, Russia-Ukraine, Serbia-Kosovo, and the Middle East.
He added that he recently brokered a peace agreement between Congo and Rwanda and described it as a “great day for Africa and the world.” Despite his achievements, Trump lamented, “No, I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize… but the people know, and that’s all that matters to me.”
Trump has repeatedly claimed that his administration helped stop a war between India and Pakistan. On May 10, he said that both countries had agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire after Washington’s intervention and suggested that the promise of future trade encouraged the nations to halt the conflict.
However, Indian officials strongly deny this claim. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri stated from Canada during the G7 Summit that there had been “no discussion, at any level, on a trade deal with the US or any American mediation.”
Misri confirmed that the decision to end military actions came through direct military channels and was initiated by Pakistan. Prime minister Modi has clearly stated that India does not and will never accept foreign mediation,” he said.
Meanwhile, former US National Security Advisor John Bolton weighed in on the controversy, suggesting Trump’s desire for the Nobel stems from the fact that former president Barack Obama received it in 2009.
“He won’t get it for solving the Russia-Ukraine war. He’s now unsuccessfully trying to claim credit for the India-Pakistan ceasefire,” Bolton posted on X.
During his meeting with General Munir, Trump publicly thanked him for not escalating the conflict and hinted at ongoing efforts to secure trade agreements with both India and Pakistan.
(PTI)
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Supporters of the assisted dying law for terminally ill people hold a banner, on the day British lawmakers are preparing to vote on the bill, in London, Britain, June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
PARLIAMENT voted on Friday (20) in favour of a bill to legalise assisted dying, paving the way for the country's biggest social change in a generation.
314 lawmakers voted in favour with 291 against the bill, clearing its biggest parliamentary hurdle.
The "Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life)" law would give mentally competent, terminally ill adults in England and Wales with six months or less left to live the right to choose to end their lives with medical help.
The vote puts Britain on course to follow Australia, Canada and other countries, as well as some US states, in permitting assisted dying.
Supporters say it will provide dignity and compassion to people suffering, but opponents worry that vulnerable people could be coerced into ending their lives.
The bill now proceeds to the upper chamber, the House of Lords, where it will undergo months of scrutiny. While there could be further amendments, the unelected Lords will be reluctant to block legislation that has been passed by elected members of the House of Commons.
Prime minister Keir Starmer's Labour government was neutral on the legislation, meaning politicians voted according to their conscience rather than along party lines. Starmer had previously said he was in favour of allowing assisted dying.
FILE PHOTO: Kim Leadbeater reacts during an interview about the Assisted Dying Bill in Westminster, London, Britain, October 15, 2024. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Opinion polls show that a majority of Britons back assisted dying. Friday's vote followed hours of emotional debate and references to personal stories in the chamber and followed a vote in November that approved the legislation in principle.
The vote took place 10 years after parliament last voted against allowing assisted dying.
Opponents of the bill had argued that ill people may feel they should end their lives for fear of being a burden to their families and society, and some lawmakers withdrew their support after the initial vote last year, saying safeguards had been weakened.
The 314 to 291 vote for the bill compared to the last November's result, which was 330 to 275 in favour.
In the original plan, an assisted death would have required court approval. That has been replaced by a requirement for a judgement by a panel including a social worker, a senior legal figure and a psychiatrist, which is seen by some as a watering down.
The Labour lawmaker who proposed the bill, Kim Leadbeater, said that the legislation still offered some of the most robust protections in the world against the coercion of vulnerable people.
Hundreds of campaigners both in favour and against the legislation gathered outside parliament on Friday to watch the vote on their mobile phones.
Those in favour chanted “my decision, my choice”, holding up posters that said “my life, my death” and photos of relatives who they said had died in pain.
Those against the legislation held up placards that said “let’s care not kill” and “kill the bill not the ill”.
(Reuters)
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An Air India Airbus A320-200 aircraft takes off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, July 7, 2017. Picture taken July 7, 2017.
INDIA’s aviation regulator has warned Air India for violating safety rules after three of its Airbus aircraft operated flights without undergoing mandatory checks on emergency escape slides, according to official documents reviewed by Reuters.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued warning notices and a detailed investigation report highlighting the breach. These documents were sent days before the recent crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8, in which all but one of the 242 people onboard were killed. The Airbus incidents are unrelated to that crash.
According to the DGCA report, spot checks carried out in May found that three Air India Airbus aircraft were flown even though scheduled inspections on the escape slides – considered “critical emergency equipment” – were overdue.
One Airbus A320 was flown for more than a month before the check was completed on 15 May. AirNav Radar data showed that the aircraft operated international flights during that period, including to Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah.
In another case, an Airbus A319 used on domestic routes had slide checks overdue by over three months. A third case involved a plane where the inspection was two days late.
“The above cases indicate that aircraft were operated with expired or unverified emergency equipment, which is a violation of standard airworthiness and safety requirements,” the DGCA report stated.
The report also said Air India failed to respond on time to DGCA’s queries on the issue, which “further evidenc[ed] weak procedural control and oversight.”
Air India, which was acquired by the Tata Group from the government in 2022, said in a statement that it was “accelerating” verification of all maintenance records, including escape slide checks, and expected to finish the process soon.
In one case, Air India said the issue came to light after an AI Engineering Services engineer “inadvertently deployed an escape slide during maintenance.”
The DGCA and Airbus did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters.
Vibhuti Singh, a former legal expert at India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, said checks on escape slides are “a very serious issue. In case of accident, if they don’t open, it can lead to serious injuries.”
The DGCA report said aircraft that miss mandatory inspections have their airworthiness certificates “deemed suspended.”
The warning notices and report were issued by Animesh Garg, deputy director of airworthiness, and were addressed to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, as well as the airline’s continuing airworthiness manager, quality manager and head of planning.
An Indian aviation lawyer told Reuters such breaches often lead to monetary and civil penalties for both the airline and individual executives.
Wilson said in a 2023 interview with Reuters that global parts shortages were affecting most airlines, but the problem was “more acute” for Air India, whose “product is obviously a lot more dated,” with many aircraft not updated since 2010-2011.
‘Systemic control failure’
The DGCA report said some Air India aircraft inspected by officials also had outdated registration paperwork. Air India told Reuters that all but one of its aircraft met the required standards and said this “poses no impact” to safety.
The report criticised the airline’s internal oversight systems, stating: “Despite prior notifications and identified deficiencies, the organisation’s internal quality and planning departments failed to implement effective corrective action, indicating systemic control failure.”
India’s junior aviation minister told parliament in February that airlines were fined or warned in 23 cases over safety violations last year. Of these, 12 involved Air India and Air India Express. One case involved “unauthorised entry into cockpit”, and the biggest fine – $127,000 – was imposed on Air India for “insufficient oxygen on board” during a San Francisco-bound flight.
Air India’s Chairman N Chandrasekaran addressed employees on Monday, calling on staff to remain focused amid criticism following last week’s crash and said the incident should serve as a catalyst to build a safer airline.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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Pro and anti-assisted dying campaigners protest ahead of a parliamentary decision later today, on June 20, 2025 in London.
UK MPs are set to hold a key vote on assisted dying on Friday, which could either advance or halt a proposed law that would allow terminally ill adults to end their lives under strict conditions.
The vote follows several hours of debate in the House of Commons and will decide whether the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill moves to the House of Lords for further scrutiny or is dropped altogether.
As MPs gather for the third reading — their final opportunity to debate the bill’s content — demonstrators from both sides of the issue are expected outside parliament.
“This is about real people facing the prospect of a painful and undignified death either for themselves or a loved one,” said MP Kim Leadbeater, who is leading the bill. “The injustice and inhumanity of the status quo means we cannot wait any longer to offer them the hope of a better death.”
The legislation would apply to adults in England and Wales with an incurable illness and fewer than six months to live.
It would require patients to administer the life-ending medication themselves, with approval needed from two doctors and a panel of experts.
If passed, the law would bring England and Wales in line with other countries that permit some form of assisted dying.
Concerns and changes
Supporters of the bill say it would offer more protection and choice to people nearing the end of life. Opponents argue it could put pressure on vulnerable individuals.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has raised concerns, stating last month that it had “serious concerns” about safeguarding people with mental illness, and said it could not support the bill in its current form.
MPs initially backed the bill by 330 votes to 275 in November. Since then, changes have been made, including a ban on advertising assisted dying and provisions allowing health workers to opt out of taking part.
The current vote comes as several MPs have shifted their stance, and political parties are allowing a free vote. The outcome remains uncertain.
Vote tally and next steps
An ITV News tally of about half of all MPs suggests 153 support the change, 141 are opposed, 21 remain undecided and another 21 are expected to abstain.
Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords must pass the bill before the end of the current parliamentary year, likely in the autumn, for it to become law.
If approved and granted royal assent, assisted dying services would not begin for at least four years.
Legal and regional developments
The government’s impact assessment, published this month, estimates that 160 to 640 assisted deaths could occur in the first year of implementation, rising to about 4,500 by the tenth year.
Prime minister Keir Starmer is expected to support the bill, but some cabinet members, including the health and justice secretaries, have spoken against it.
Assisted suicide is currently punishable by up to 14 years in prison in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Separate legislation is being considered in Scotland, and the Isle of Man passed an assisted dying bill in March, becoming the first British territory to do so.