The International Siddhashram Shakti Centre UK marked International Yoga Day with a spiritual and interfaith gathering at House of Commons. The event reflected the global theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” and was led by HH Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, global Sanatan Dharma and interfaith leader.
The programme began with a minute’s silence for the victims of the Air India tragedy, followed by prayers from Guruji, Pujya Rishi Ji Maharaj, Shri Niranjan Swami, and Pandit Shiv Puri Ji, with a Navkar Mahamantra chant by Samani Malay Pragya Ji and Neeti Pragya Ji.
Bob Blackman MP praised yoga as “India’s gift to the world” and acknowledged Guruji’s leadership in bringing wellness into public life, including the NHS.
In his keynote, Guruji said: “Yoga is a sacred discipline that unites body, mind and soul. It brings balance, builds confidence, and fosters harmony.” He also led breathing exercises, underlining yoga’s role in modern wellbeing.
A special honour was presented to Pujya Rishi Ji Maharaj for his service to Sanatan Dharma and youth engagement.
Cultural performances by Chittal Shah’s team, reflections from young voices like Vanisha, Kavya, and Giya, and contributions from international guests including Mahendra and Prya Ramcharan added depth to the event. Representatives from the NHS, British Army, and faith groups also spoke on yoga’s relevance.
UK's hottest day of the year recorded on Saturday at 33.2°C in Charlwood
Amber heat-health alert remains in effect until Monday morning
Sunday brought fresher conditions with showers and lower humidity
Week ahead will be unsettled, with rain and brief warm spells
Train passengers were evacuated during Saturday’s extreme heat
Heat gives way to fresher, unsettled conditions
Following a spell of extreme heat, wind and rain have moved in across the UK, bringing relief and lower temperatures. Saturday saw the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 33.2°C (91.8°F) in Charlwood, near Gatwick.
By Sunday, the weather turned fresher with scattered showers and sunshine for most areas. Humidity levels dropped, and temperatures were significantly lower than the day before.
Amber alert remains in place
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued an amber heat-health alert for England last Thursday, which remains in place until 09:00 BST on Monday. The alert warns that health and social care services may be “significantly” impacted, particularly with increased demand and health risks for older people and those with pre-existing conditions.
To meet the Met Office’s heatwave criteria, specific threshold temperatures must be recorded for at least three consecutive days. In Suffolk, this was reached on Thursday, marking the first area to do so during the recent heat spell.
Mixed weather expected this week
The upcoming week is forecast to remain unsettled, with a mix of rain and sunshine. A weather front is expected to move in from the west on Monday evening, making for a damp end to the day.
Monday is likely to bring fewer showers and more sunshine, but Tuesday could see some patchy rain. On Wednesday, muggy air arriving from France may trigger heavy rain and thunderstorms later in the day and overnight. By Thursday, conditions are expected to improve in the south, though more wet and windy weather is forecast for northern areas.
Rail disruption during peak heat
On Saturday, passengers on trains in south London had to be evacuated after a fault near Loughborough Junction halted services. With no power or air conditioning during extreme heat, emergency services from Sussex and Kent were deployed to assist in safely evacuating passengers along the track, according to Thameslink and National Rail.
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The Lohana Community North London (LCNL), one of the largest and most vibrant Gujarati organisations outside India, has ushered in a new leadership team for the 2025–2027 term. In a heartfelt message to the community, newly elected President Ronak Paw expressed pride and gratitude at being entrusted with this role after two decades of service through YLANL and various LCNL positions.
The newly announced LCNL Executive Committee for 2025–2027 is as follows:
President: Ronak Paw Vice President: Dhiru Savani Secretary: Jeet Rughani Assistant Secretary: Rishi Raja Treasurer: Vishal Sodha Assistant Treasurer: Parag Thacker Social Secretary: Madhu Popat Assistant Social Secretary: Sheetal Baria Membership Secretary: Ashok Dattani Assistant Membership Secretary: Dilip Manek Webmaster: Amit Karia Assistant Webmaster: Dipen Tanna LCNL Rep for RCT: Pratap Khagram LCNL Rep for RCT: Dinesh Shonchhatra Immediate Past President: Meena Ben Jasani Immediate Past Secretary: Amit Chandarana
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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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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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.