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India finance minister Jaitley May Return From US By This Weekend

INDIA'S finance minister Arun Jaitley is likely to return this weekend from the US, where he has been receiving medical treatment, sources said.

Jaitley could also attend parliament next week, the source added.


It is unclear if he would be handed back the charge of the finance ministry soon after his return.

His portfolio has been handed to Piyush Goyal, who is also the railways minister.

In an interview in New York after the budget was presented last week, Jaitley said he was recuperating.

The budget session of India's parliament ends on February 13, and a debate on the interim budget, presented by Goyal, is scheduled to take place before next week.

"Will be back soon. I am much better now. Hopefully, will be back soon," Jaitley had said on February 1, when asked when would he come back.

Jaitley, 66, left for New York last month for medical attention.

This is his first overseas visit after he underwent renal transplant surgery at AIIMS in Delhi last year.

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Priyanka Patel Inclusive Diwali

Diwali-themed event in Coventry marks the next partnership between The Empowered Desi and local business Sugar and Spice

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Priyanka Patel’s Empowered Desi brings inclusive Diwali celebration to Coventry

Highlights

  • Diwali celebration tomorrow kicks off business with ticketed workshops and networking.
  • Model taps into growing demand for inclusive, heritage-focused experiences.
  • Platform targets not just south Asians seeking cultural connection, but everyone.

Creating cultural belonging

Priyanka Patel, curator of The Empowered Desi, a new events platform for south Asians seeking cultural connection, is here with a Diwali celebration on Saturday (18) at Fargo Village in Coventry. The venture was born from personal experience – Patel felt "isolated and neglected" growing up without many south Asian friends. Spotting a gap in the market, she's now building a business around creating inclusive spaces for south Asians regardless of religious or regional background.

Diwali-themed , Paint N Sip event in Coventry marks the venture's next partnership with local business Sugar and Spice, Patel is offering a ticketed experience featuring diya decorating workshops, Indian grazing boards with chai, and jewellery stations where guests can take home jhumkas and bangles. The Diwali format combines cultural celebration with networking opportunities, with south Asian attire preferred.

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