Advani gives in, Modi remains BJP's poll campaign chief
The political crisis triggered by senior BJP leader L K Advani on Monday when he resigned from the party’s National Executive, Central Parliamentary Board and Central Election Committee was resolved with the patriarch stepping back. The BJP decision to appoint Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as Chairman of the party’s Election Campaign Committee remains unaltered.

Research shows immigration rules are tearing families apart
The immigration rules of Britain are so rigidly enforced to prevent Britons bringing foreign spouses into the country, who they cannot afford to support, are leading to prevention of high-earning executives from settling in the UK, a research has found.

War widow asked to pay £12,000 to acquire what is rightfully hers
UK is preparing to mark the centenary of the First World War next year. A candle light vigil in Westminster Abbey, a service for Commonwealth leaders at Glasgow cathedral, and an event at a Military cemetery in Belgium will start the official celebration in Europe.

   

PIL against Muslim clerics issuing divorce certificates
Badar Sayeed, the first woman to head the Wakf Board and the Tamil Nadu Minorities Commission in Tamil Nadu, has filed a PIL in the Madras high court to stop the practice of Muslim clerics or kazis issuing talaq (divorce) certificates.
The first bench comprising acting Chief Justice R K Agrawal and Justice M Sathyanarayanan issued notice to the state and central government, returnable in two weeks.

Amritsar-Kolkata industrial link
In a big push for industrialisation in the northern states, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave the go ahead for the Amritsar-Delhi-Kolkata industrial corridor. It will cover the cities of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana in Punjab and Ambala in Haryana.

BJP sweeps Gujarat by-pass, RJD defeats JD(U) in Bihar
In a big victory for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party has won all the six seats (two Lok Sabha seats and four Assembly seats) in the by-polls.

Manmohan’s choice for foreign secy rocks MEA
The much-vaunted ministry of external affairs (MEA) is facing a summer of discontent. While there has been a storm brewing over the appointment of next foreign secretary for several months, matters seem to have come to a head now with several top diplomats, including

Suraj Pancholi held for abetting Jiah Khan's suicide
Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi's son Suraj was arrested on Monday evening for abetting actor Jiah Khan's suicide. The action follows the delayed discovery of a letter by Jiah in which she holds an unnamed person responsible for her extreme step and mentions abortion, pain, abuse, torture and rape.

Medical tourism counter proposed at airport
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has issued a tender for opening a medical tourism counter - a first of its kind - at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at Ahmedabad to facilitate the international tourists get the best medical care in the city.

Forced marriage and honour-based violence conference held
Leicester: Social workers were given guidance on recognising potential victims of forced marriage and honour-based violence at a conference organised by West Midlands Police on June 11.

Supermarket fined for selling illegal pills
Birmingham: A shopkeeper has reportedly admitted that his shop sold potentially deadly tablets to pregnant women.
The illegal pills, known as Shikor, were sold under-the-counter for £5-a-bag at Sheikh Uddin’s Sonali Supermarket in Small Heath.
They were believed to have been made from polluted mud from developing countries and contained dangerous levels of arsenic and lead, Birmingham Magistrate's Court was told, the Birmingham Mail reported.

Police looking for 3 men after robbery
Leicester: After a violent robbery in Leicester police have released images of three men they want to speak to.

An Insight into the British Sikh Community
Tuesday June 4th the British Sikh report was launched in the Betty Boothroyd room in Portcullis House.
The British Sikh Report (BSR), organised by a special BSR committee, is raising the bar for Sikhs in the UK by examining the state of the Sikh community here with facts and figures, and also by making key recommendations.

New law to clean up Parliament to be introduced soon
A bill to expel peers caught taking cash or found guilty of misconduct or bringing the House of Lords into disrepute is expected to be introduced in the next session of parliament.
The planned legislation, which is backed by the Liberal Democrats,

Youths jailed over street fight
Leicester: Six youths have been jailed for their part in a street fight in June 2011 that involved a number of armed men. A total of eight men, aged between 17 and 23, appeared in the dock at Nottingham Crown Court having played a part in the disturbance in Highfields, Leicester.

Nadal makes history; wins French Opens for 8th time
Rafael Nadal defied David Ferrer as well as a worrying security breach to become the first man to capture the same Grand Slam title eight times on Sunday with victory in the French Open final.

BCCI suspends Kundra, launches 'Operation Clean-up' IPL
The Indian cricket board decided to do away with IPL after-match parties and cheerleaders as part of "Operation Clean-up", and also suspended part-owner of Rajasthan Royals Raj Kundra on the Delhi Police commissioner's assertion that he had admitted to betting.

Champions Trophy: Shikhar Dhawan Ravindra Jadeja take India to semi-finals
After Ravindra Jadeja's career-best figure restricted West Indies to modest 233/9, Shikhar Dhawan slammed second consecutive ton of the tournament to help India reach the target comfortably and reserve a berth in ICC Champions Trophy semifinals.

Beckham to weave his magic in India soon
Indian fans will soon have the opportunity to watch David Beckham’s nimble footwork live in stadiums in India. If all goes according to plan, the former England skipper along with international stars such as Thierry Henry and Michael

Bangladesh's Ashraful admits fixing, apologises
Former Bangladesh cricket captain Mohammad Ashraful admitted match-fixing and apologised for the latest damaging scandal to hit the sport. "I should have not done this injustice to the nation.

Super Sunday for Indian badminton
It turned out to be a Super Sunday for Indian badminton as the Kidambi brothers etched a new chapter in the history of the sport.

Pakistan PM Sharif allocates portfolios, keeps foreign affairs
Islamabad: With new Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif deciding to retain Pakistan’s foreign affairs portfolio, former minister Sartaj Aziz will play a crucial role as his advisor in charting a way forward on issues like relations with India and the US.

China agrees to build economic corridor in PoK
Beijing: China has begun discussing deals for projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which India claims as its own. The Chinese foreign ministry has said China is looking forward to building an economic corridor with Pakistan, which would start in its border city of Kashgar, pass through PoK and terminate at Gwadar port in Baluchistan.

Israel exports military equipment to Pak: Report
Islamabad: Israel has exported military equipment, including hi-tech gear used in combat jets over the past five years to Pakistan and Arab countries with which it has no diplomatic relations, according to a media report.

Musharraf to be tried at his farmhouse in judges case
Islamabad: A Pakistani court allowed the trial of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf for sacking and detaining dozens of judges in 2007 to be conducted at his farmhouse that has been declared a "sub-jail".

US renews Iran sanctions waivers for India and China
Washington: The US State Department renewed six-month waivers on Iran sanctions for China, India and seven other economies in exchange for their agreeing to reduce purchases of oil from Iran.

Suu Kyi wants to run for president
Naypyidaw (Myanmar): Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi declared her intention to run for president, calling for all of the country's people to share the fruits of its dramatic reforms.

Air Cadets to Tour with Military Wives Choir
Teenagers from 1846 (Southall) Air Cadet Squadron are about to start a major theatre tour with the famous Military Wives Choirs. Last year girls in the Squadron asked if they could form a Bhangra dance team, little expecting that it would lead them to some highly prestigious performances. After appearing at a military tattoo last June, the Squadron was approached to dance in two try-out concerts with the Military Wives of Wattisham Choir at Skegness and Kings Lynn. By then the youngsters, whose number now included two boys, had been training hard with a choreographer from Bollywood Dance London and wowed the audiences with their routine. This success led to the dancers performing at the Ministry of Defence Diwali reception at HMS President in October and an invitation from top music promoter John Hessenthaler for the group to appear in a series of concerts with Military Wives Choirs across the UK in 2103.
“It all started after we won our wing drill competition” said Flying Officer Amen Manget, “and the girls asked if we could do some dance. I felt it would be good for team working and attention to detail so they spent weeks putting a routine together.”
Cadet Warrant Officer Priyanka Narain said: “We are all very excited to be part of these concerts which will help to raise money for service charities. The Military Wives are inspiring and it is such an honour to be appearing in their show. We have all enjoyed working hard for these concerts and getting some expert tuition from our choreographer has been amazing.”
An equally unexpected outcome from this project is how much the cadets have learned about themselves. “None of the staff really expected this, “said Amen, “but the quiet self discipline that dance requires has brought out qualities in some of the young people that we hadn’t previously seen in other cadet activities. For example, there are two cadets who, through helping to develop the dance team, have demonstrated real leadership. These could well be among our cadet NCOs of the future. We are all very pleased that this idea, which came from the cadets themselves, has taken off in this way, it will be such an experience for them”.

You can see the Air Cadet Bhangra Dancers at the following venues as part of the Military Wives Choirs tour:

Saturday January 26th    The Central Halls Chatham Kent.
Saturday February 9th     The Royal Theatre Harrogate.
Saturday February 16th   Bradford St George’s Hall.
Sunday March 10th          The Beck Theatre. Hayes. Middlesex.
Sunday March 17th          The Alban Arena St Albans.
Saturday April 20th           Shanklin Theatre Isle of Wight.
If you are between 13 and 19 and want to find out more about joining the
Air Cadets visit raf.mod.uk/aircadets