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Wales Celebrates Indian Independence Day

“The Indian diaspora in Wales has thrived, integrating seamlessly while contributing significantly to the prosperity of Wales,” said Raj Aggarwal, the Honorary Consul of India in Wales. “Their success is a testament to their hard work and commitment to both their heritage and their adopted home.

The 78th India Independence was marked with a grand flag-raising ceremony at Cardiff Castle, where distinguished guests and communities gathered to celebrate the strong ties between Wales and India. Cardiff Castle was lit up in Indian tri-color and flags.

Organised by Indian Honorary Consul Raj Aggarwal, the event featured colourful performances and was attended by Rt Hon Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Helen Lloyd Jones, Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, Kanishka Narayan MP for the Vale of Glamorgan, Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan Morfudd Meredith and senior officers of the armed forces, Police and community leaders.  The ceremony reflected the unity and shared values of both communities.

“Wales continues to demonstrate its commitment to recognising and embracing the rich cultural contributions of the Indian community,” said Raj Aggarwal. “This event is another example of the vibrancy and warmth that defines the strong relationship between Wales and India.”

The event began with Ty Krishna welcoming guests with live traditional music, followed by powerful speeches and performances. The key moment was the flag hoisting, led by the Indian Honorary Consul Raj Aggarwal and dignitaries, accompanied by the stirring beats of dhols from Raj Singh & Co. The Rekha Natya Academy beautifully rendered the Indian National Anthem, followed by patriotic songs from Atreyee Saha, creating a truly immersive cultural experience.

Special congratulations were extended to Sujatha Thaladi, newly appointed as Honorary Air Commodore of RAF 614 Sqn, Emmanuel Ogbonna for receiving a CBE, and Usha Ladwa for her OBE.

The Indian Prime Minister’s message from the Red Fort in Delhi echoed throughout the celebration, emphasising pride in the Indian diaspora worldwide. This year’s theme, Viksit Bharat (Developed India), highlighted the nation’s focus on economic growth, social progress, and wellness.

Rekha Natya Academy sang the Indian National Anthem at Cardiff Castle for India Independence Day.

 “The Indian diaspora in Wales has thrived, integrating seamlessly while contributing significantly to the prosperity of Wales,” said Aggarwal. “Their success is a testament to their hard work and commitment to both their heritage and their adopted home.”

The event concluded with warm greetings from the President of India and the Indian High Commission in London, extending best wishes to the people of Wales.

Event Highlights:

●            Flag-Hoisting: Led by Indian Honorary Consul Raj Aggarwal.

●            Live Performances: Music by Ty Krishna, Rekha Natya Academy, Atreyee Saha, and Raj Singh.

●            Special Recognitions: Sujatha Thaladi (Honorary Air Commodore), Emmanuel (CBE), and Usha Ladwa (OBE).

The event served as a powerful reminder of the enduring bond between Wales and India, uniting communities in celebration of shared history, values, and aspirations.

Categories
Events India News UK News

Wales Celebrates Indian Independence Day

“The Indian diaspora in Wales has thrived, integrating seamlessly while contributing significantly to the prosperity of Wales,” said Raj Aggarwal, the Honorary Consul of India in Wales. “Their success is a testament to their hard work and commitment to both their heritage and their adopted home.

The 78th India Independence was marked with a grand flag-raising ceremony at Cardiff Castle, where distinguished guests and communities gathered to celebrate the strong ties between Wales and India. Cardiff Castle was lit up in Indian tri-color and flags.

Organised by Indian Honorary Consul Raj Aggarwal, the event featured colourful performances and was attended by Rt Hon Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Helen Lloyd Jones, Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, Kanishka Narayan MP for the Vale of Glamorgan, Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan Morfudd Meredith and senior officers of the armed forces, Police and community leaders.  The ceremony reflected the unity and shared values of both communities.

 “Wales continues to demonstrate its commitment to recognising and embracing the rich cultural contributions of the Indian community,” said Raj Aggarwal. “This event is another example of the vibrancy and warmth that defines the strong relationship between Wales and India.”

The event began with Ty Krishna welcoming guests with live traditional music, followed by powerful speeches and performances. The key moment was the flag hoisting, led by the Indian Honorary Consul Raj Aggarwal and dignitaries, accompanied by the stirring beats of dhols from Raj Singh & Co. The Rekha Natya Academy beautifully rendered the Indian National Anthem, followed by patriotic songs from Atreyee Saha, creating a truly immersive cultural experience.

Special congratulations were extended to Sujatha Thaladi, newly appointed as Honorary Air Commodore of RAF 614 Sqn, Emmanuel Ogbonna for receiving a CBE, and Usha Ladwa for her OBE.

The Indian Prime Minister’s message from the Red Fort in Delhi echoed throughout the celebration, emphasising pride in the Indian diaspora worldwide. This year’s theme, Viksit Bharat (Developed India), highlighted the nation’s focus on economic growth, social progress, and wellness.

Rekha Natya Academy sang the Indian National Anthem at Cardiff Castle for India Independence Day.

 “The Indian diaspora in Wales has thrived, integrating seamlessly while contributing significantly to the prosperity of Wales,” said Aggarwal. “Their success is a testament to their hard work and commitment to both their heritage and their adopted home.”

The event concluded with warm greetings from the President of India and the Indian High Commission in London, extending best wishes to the people of Wales.

Event Highlights:

●            Flag-Hoisting: Led by Indian Honorary Consul Raj Aggarwal.

●            Live Performances: Music by Ty Krishna, Rekha Natya Academy, Atreyee Saha, and Raj Singh.

●            Special Recognitions: Sujatha Thaladi (Honorary Air Commodore), Emmanuel (CBE), and Usha Ladwa (OBE).

The event served as a powerful reminder of the enduring bond between Wales and India, uniting communities in celebration of shared history, values, and aspirations.

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-Top News EU News Europe

Starmer heads to Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales to reset ties 

Starmer said he wants to transfer power from the bureaucratic halls of government in London to leaders who know what’s best for their communities…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Keir Starmer headed Sunday on a tour of the four corners of the UK as part of an “immediate reset” with governments in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Starmer, who said he has a “mandate to do politics differently” after his party’s landslide victory, made his first stop in Edinburgh to meet with Scottish First Minister John Swinney in an effort to “turn disagreement into cooperation.”

“We will serve every single person in Scotland,” Starmer told a group of enthusiastic supporters. “Performance, self-interest: they’re the politics of the past.

The politics of this Labour government of 2024 is about public service, restoring standards of making sure that we always, always have in our mind’s eye the people who elected us into government.” While each of the devolved nations in the UK elects members to the House of Commons in London, they also have their own regional parliaments.

Starmer’s Labour Party trounced Swinney’s Scottish National Party for seats in Parliament. But the SNP, which has pushed for Scottish independence, still holds a majority at Holyrood, the Scottish parliament.

The trip to build better working relations across the UK is part of Starmer’s broader mission to work toward serving people as he tackles of mountain of problems.

The Labour government inherited a wobbly economy that left Britons struggling to pay bills after global economic woes and fiscal missteps.

It also faces a public that is disenchanted after 14 years of chaotic Conservative rule and fiscal austerity that hollowed out public services, including the revered National Health Service, which Starmer declared broken.

Starmer said he wants to transfer power from the bureaucratic halls of government in London to leaders who know what’s best for their communities.

After his brief tour, he’ll return to England, where he plans to meet with regional mayors, saying in his first news conference Saturday that he would engage with politicians regardless of their party.

“There’s no monopoly on good ideas,” he said “I’m not a tribal political.”Starmer continued to speak with other world leaders, having separate calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

He spoke with both about his priorities for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, the return of hostages to Israel, and an increase in humanitarian aid, a spokesperson said.

He told Abbas that the recognition of a Palestinian state as part of a peace process was the “undeniable right of Palestinians” and told Netanyahu it was important to ensure the long-term conditions for a two-state solution, including ensuring financial means for Abbas’ Palestinian Authority to operate effectively.

Labour’s initial refusal to call for a ceasefire last year is blamed for costing it support and some seats in Thursday’s election.

In advance of Starmer’s attendance Tuesday at a NATO meeting in Washington, the UK’s top diplomat reiterated an “unshakeable” commitment to the alliance during his first trip abroad.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said during a visit to Poland, Germany and Sweden that the UK government would tighten relations with the European Union and remains “ironclad” in its support for Ukraine.

“European security will be this government’s foreign and defense priority,” Lammy said in Poland. “Russia’s barbaric invasion has made clear the need for us to do more to strengthen our own defenses.”

Lammy reiterated Starmer’s pledge not to rejoin the EU single market after British voters in 2016 voted to break from the political and economic union. “Let us put the Brexit years behind us,” Lammy told The Observer. “We are not going to rejoin the single market and the customs union but there is much that we can do together.”

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said Sunday on Sky News that the UK should look for ways to improve trade with the EU and that removing some trade barriers was sensible.

But he said the Labour government was not open to the free movement of people that was required as a member of the union.

ALSO READ-French Left trumps far Right with no majority

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Business UK News

Tata Steel to shut coke ovens unit in Wales

The command of an entire unit of Tata Steel Plant will be handed over to the hands of women officers and personnel.

Tata Steel UK will increase imports of coke to offset the impact of the coke oven closures, the company said…reports Asian Lite News

Tata Steel on March 18 informed the bourses that its UK unit has decided to cease operations of the coke ovens at the Port Talbot plant in Wales, following a deterioration of operational stability. Tata Steel had previously stated that many of its heavy-end assets in Port Talbot are at their end-of-life capability.

Tata Steel UK will increase imports of coke to offset the impact of the coke oven closures, the company said.

Earlier this year, Tata Steel said that it is currently losing around 1 million pounds a day from its operations in the town and keeping a blast furnace open on the site and making steel from scratch would lead to a further loss of 600 million pounds.

The steelmaker is currently at an advanced stage of consultations with trade unions in the UK on its proposal for the planned restructuring involving the closure of the iron and steelmaking assets at Port Talbot, and subsequent transition to sustainable low-CO2 steelmaking involving a £1.25 billion investment in Electric Arc Furnace technology in Port Talbot and asset upgrades.

However, the installation of the low-emission system could lead to a loss of 2,800 jobs as electric furnaces need less manpower.

On January 19, Tata Steel said it will be shutting down the two blast furnaces in its Port Talbot Steelworks in Wales, UK in phases, a move that may affect up to 2,800 jobs even as the steel major starts talks to transform and restructure its loss-making UK business in line with its green goals.

The company said it will “commence statutory consultation as part of its plan to transform and restructure its UK business. This plan is intended to reverse more than a decade of losses and transition from the legacy blast furnaces to a more sustainable, green steel business.”

“Port Talbot’s two high-emission blast furnaces and coke ovens would close in a phased manner with the first blast furnace closing around mid-2024 and the remaining heavy end assets would wind down during the second half of 2024,” Tata Steel had said.

ALSO READ-Tata Motors Pours Rs 9,000 Cr into TN

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-Top News Sports UK News

England marches on

England will take on African Cup Champions Senegal, the Group A runners up in the knockout stage on Sunday…reports Amstrong Vaz

A brace from Marcus Rashford and a goal from Phil Foden helped England to trounce Wales 3-0 in the FIFA World Cup and qualify to the knockout stage as group leaders.

On Tuesday night at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium after a barren first half, the English strikers went on a goal scoring spree notching three goals within a span of 18 minutes.

Manchester United striker Rashford started the scoring in the 50th and added his second one in the 68th minute, in between Manchester city’s Foden scored in the 51st minute.

England topped the group after a 3-0 win over Wales and will take on African Cup Champions Senegal, the Group A runners up in the knockout stage on Sunday.

England and USA from Group B join Senegal and The Netherlands, the two teams which made it to the last 16 stage from Group A. Other teams which have qualified for the knockouts till date are Brazil, Portugal and France, all the three having made it to the next stage with a game to spare as they have won two of the three group matches.

The US, returning to the World Cup for the first time in eight years, finished with five points with one win and two draws from Group B and sailed into the knockouts as group runners up and will face The Netherlands, the winners of Group A. The USA had two draws, 1-1 with Wales and 0-0 against England.

Iran, who were thrashed 6-2 by England but recovered to beat Wales 2-0, finished with three points, for the 2-0 win over Wales, who were returning to the World cup after a 64 years’ absence, lost all their league matches.

After a sedate first half, the game sprung to life thanks to the three goals from England.

The Three Lions opened the scoring with a magnificent strike from the England forward. Rashford took a couple of steps and whipped a shot over the wall and past the diving Danny Ward in Wales goal for his second goal of the tournament and his first direct free-kick goal for England at the 2022 World Cup.

A minute later, Foden delivered on the goal scoring front of a move fashioned by Rashford and Harry Kane, the former won the highball and the latter strokes a low cross across the face of goal that Foden can’t miss, 2-0.

For the Manchester City striker, it was his first for England in 16 appearances and his first in over two years in an England shirt. The 21-year-old also silenced a few of his critics in the process.

Rashford added a personal second and the team’s third. The move started deep from the England defense and Kalvin Phillips launched the ball forward with precision to the Manchester United forward. Rashford did not disappoint as he carried forward the ball and in a swift action moving inside and finishing off with a low shot.

Rashford’s second goal was England’s 100th scored at the World Cup, while it made him just the second Manchester United player to score 3+ goals for the Three Lions at a major tournament after Bobby Charlton. “In the first half we controlled the game but we didn’t create enough clear chances. We wanted a bit more thrust in the final third, to play forward a bit quicker. The second half, once we got the two goals, we knew that their spirit had probably gone. I thought we kept our discipline right until the end,” England coach Gareth Southgate said after the match.

The England tactician praised both the goal scorers for their efforts.

“It’s great for (Marcus Rashford). He’s trained really well, I have to say, and he could have had a hat-trick. His free-kick was an incredible strike; that’s what he’s capable of. In moments I thought both [Rashford and Foden] were a bit quiet in the first half. We decided to switch them at half-time and they responded really well, and for them to both get their goals was great.”

Rashford on the other hand said they were disappointed by the draw against USA and were determined to get full points.

“It’s a great feeling. We were a bit disappointed after the USA game, and the only way to bounce back is to have a good performance in your next game; I thought we did it. It was just about taking the chances when they came,” said Rashford.

The striker was happy that he was successful with his freekick.

“I fancied a free-kick in the first half, but the one in the second half was in a better position. From there it’s about being calm and executing what you do in training. They don’t go in often but I was glad it did today.

“At half-time the manager said we’d played really but that we could work the keeper more. In the second half we did that. Moments like this, this is what I play football for. I’m really happy that we’re going through and I hope we can build on this performance. I have massive ambition for this team and I think we play even better,” he added.

ALSO READ-Portugal joins Brazil, France into knockouts stage of World Cup

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Sport Sports

Stoppage time goals help Iran defeat Wales 2-0

Iran then added their second with practically the last kick of the game when Ramin Rezaeian finished off another rapid counter-attack with a cool finish over substitute goalkeeper Danny Ward…reports Asian Lite News

Reduced to 10 men, Wales were left heartbroken as Rouzbeh Cheshmi and Ramin Rezaein scored in the stoppage time to help Iran claim a valuable 2-0 win in a Group B match of the FIFA World Cup at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium here on Friday.

Iran made the most of their one-man advantage, scoring two injury-time goals to beat Wales and maintain their chances of advancing from Group B.

Rouzbeh Cheshmi’s stunning goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time broke Wales’ resistance after goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey had been shown a straight red card for racing off his line and fouling Mehdi Taremi in the 84th minute.

Iran then added their second with practically the last kick of the game when Ramin Rezaeian finished off another rapid counter-attack with a cool finish over substitute goalkeeper Danny Ward.

Wales’ goalkeeper Hennessey was initially shown yellow for a challenge on Mehdi Taremi though it was checked by VAR with the referee swiftly overturning the decision.

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Sport Sports

US, Wales World Cup match ends in draw

Wales draw with US after 64-year World Cup hiatus.


The star player of Wales, Gareth Bale, struck with a penalty in the 82nd minute to score the equaliser…reports Asian Lite News

An eventful second day of the World Cup in Qatar wrapped up with the match between US and Wales ending in a 1-1 draw at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, some 20 km from Doha.

While the Americans piled up pressure on the Welsh through the match giving scant ball possession as Timothy Weah scored in the 36th minute, Wales tried to make a comeback into the game in the second half.

Six yellow cards were shown by match referee Abdulrahman Al-Jassim in a match that saw several fouls and exchanges among players.

The star player of Wales, Gareth Bale, struck with a penalty in the 82nd minute to score the equaliser.

Wales have made it to the World Cup after a gap of 64 years. And it showed in the eyes of Welsh fans in the stands after Bale’s successful shot.

Earlier in the day, the Iranian team was under the spotlight as players remained silent as their national anthem was being played ahead of the match against England at the Khalifa International stadium in Doha.

There were also reports in the international media questioning the Iranian team’s decision not to evacuate their goalkeeper from the field after he suffered a bloody collision with his teammate. Alireza Beiranvand was substituted subsequently after suffering an injury in the eighth minute of the match. He was carried away from the field on a stretcher after unsuccessfully trying to play on after colliding with Hosseini Majid.

Iran lost to England 2-6. In a post-match press conference, Iran’s head coach Carlos Queiroz said his side deserved to lose as the players were no match for the pace of the English team members, Qatar news agency reported.

‘Late penalty is a game-changer’

Thanks to captain Gareth Bale’s late penalty, Wales held the United States to a 1-1 drew in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup. Wales head coach Rob Page called the valuable equaliser a real game-changer.

During the post-match press conference held at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Tuesday, Page said it was important not to lose the first game.

“The first game is important for us. We kept a draw, and now we just focus on the next game,” he said, adding that the Red Dragons showed character and determination to come back and get a point.

“(Bale)’s never let us down,” he said, reports Xinhua.

“He’s very good at finding those spaces, so he puts himself in those positions in the box to be able to get us penalties, and defenders commit to making tackles, and if they don’t get their timing right in the box, inevitably it’s a penalty,” he added.

Page conveyed confidence when speaking of the next two matches, particularly the game against Group B favourites England.

“If you look on the bench now, we’ve got Brennan Johnson playing in the Premier League, he came on and made an impact. Kieffer Moore came on and made an impact. We have strength in depth, I can look over my shoulder to the bench and we’ve got players who can come on and have a real impact on games,” he said. Wales face Iran in their second Group B game on Friday.

US COACH ‘OKAY WITH THE DRAW’

United States head coach Gregg Berhalter praised his players following their 1-1 draw against Wales in the team’s opening World Cup game.

“It didn’t look like a team playing in their first World Cup. They looked mature, especially in the first half,” Berhalter said.

He added that he felt okay with the draw because his players had given it their all. “It was a hard-fought game. We left everything out there,” he said.

The United States took an early lead after 22-year-old Timothy Weah scored the opening goal before a Gareth Bale penalty tied the game at 1-1 in the 82nd minute.

“I think we lost a little bit of power. But in the same sense Wales stepped up their pressure,” Berhalter said. “And we had some good counterattacking opportunities. We kept going right to the end.”

On Friday, the U.S. play against England, who notched an emphatic 6-2 victory in their opening match against Iran.

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Indians top number of non-UK born residents in England, Wales

This is a marginal increase since 2011, when 36.7 per cent of London residents were non-UK born and 21.0 per cent had a non-UK passport…reports Asian Lite News

Nearly one in six people living in England and Wales last year were born outside the country and Indians constituted the largest chunk at 1.5 per cent of residents, according to latest statistics based on the country’s 2021 census data.

The UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that India remained the most common country of birth outside of the UK last year at 920,000 people, followed by Poland at 743,000 people or 1.2 per cent of residents and Pakistan at 624,000 (1 per cent).

“One in six usual residents of England and Wales were born outside the UK, an increase of 2.5 million since 2011, from 7.5 million (13.4 per cent) to 10 million (16.8 per cent),” the ONS said in a release.

“India remained the most common country of birth outside the UK in 2021,” it said.

The top three countries of birth outside the UK for England and Wales remain unchanged as India, Poland and Pakistan since the last census 10 years ago, with the numbers rising across all categories – India from 694,000, Poland from 579,000 and Pakistan from 482,000 in 2011.

The census data also shows that Polish (760,000, 1.3 per cent), Romanian (550,000, 0.9 per cent) and Indian (369,000, 0.6 per cent) were the three most common non-UK passports held by residents in England and Wales in 2021.

London remained the region with both the largest proportion of people born outside the UK and the largest proportion of people with non-UK passports.

In 2021, more than four in 10 (40.6 per cent) usual residents in London were non-UK born, and more than one in five (23.3 per cent) had a non-UK passport.

This is a marginal increase since 2011, when 36.7 per cent of London residents were non-UK born and 21.0 per cent had a non-UK passport.

The number of people who listed Romania as their country of birth grew by 576 per cent since the previous census, from 80,000 in 2011 to 539,000 in 2021 – marking the highest out of any country, driven by working restrictions for Romanian citizens being lifted in 2014.

“The census paints a picture of how the make-up of the population has changed in the past decade. That decade, of course, saw us leave the EU as well as live with the pandemic,” said Jon Wroth-Smith, Census Deputy Director.

“While these events may have had an impact on people’s decisions or ability to migrate or travel at a given time, the census tells us about the change over the whole decade – who was living here in March 2021, compared with March 2011. We can see Romanians have been a big driver in this change, while there have also been increases due to migration from India, Pakistan and Poland, as well as southern European countries such as Italy,” he said.

“We can also see that migration in the year prior to the census was lower in 2021 than it was in 2011. This is likely, in large part, due to the various travel restrictions in place during the coronavirus pandemic,” he added.

New Delhi, Feb 24 (ANI): Indian students return from Ukraine following advisories from the Indian embassy amid growing tension between Russia and Ukraine, at Indira Gandhi International Airport, in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI Photo/ Amit Sharma)

The United States and Jamaica fell out of the top 10 non-UK countries of birth in 2021. Italy entered the table in sixth place behind Romania (fourth) and Ireland (fifth), and ahead of Bangladesh (seventh), Nigeria (eighth), Germany (ninth) and South Africa (10th).

Those born in the European Union (EU) made up 3.6 million (36.4 per cent of all non-UK-born residents) of the population, an increase from 2.5 million in 2011.

The data does not cover the United Kingdom’s devolved regions of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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